Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
Tom could only stare at Dumbledore. The Headmaster was calmly sipping from his tea while going through a stack of papers on his desk. Feeling the brown eyes on him, Dumbledore glanced at the teen before him. "Something the matter, my boy?" he asked so friendly that it made Tom's blood boil.
'No matter what has happened, I can't believe I would be friends with this old git,' the black-haired teen told himself as he narrowed his eyes at the Headmaster. "I would like to do something more productive."
"Something that has to do with Harry, I presume?" Tom gave a nod, not looking away from the twinkling blue eyes – they reminded him of Marvolo's.
'Keep thinking about the objective.'
"Would you like to move to the library, my boy?" Dumbledore asked like he was talking to a five year old.
"Yes, professor," the future Dark Lord forced himself to say and the Headmaster smiled at him while getting on his feet. Tom followed his example and followed the old man through the castle.
"Here we are, Tom," Dumbledore opened the doors leading to the library and let the teen enter. "When students enter, please refrain from coming into contact with them." The black-haired teen nodded before walking between the racks.
'Best start with history,' he decided while scanning the titles of the books he walked by. The first book he took in his hand contained information about the greatest wizards and witches from the past fifty years. He flipped it open at the contents table and it annoyed him more than he wanted to admit that Dumbledore's name was the first one that popped at him. The second thing that he noted was that his name wasn't on it. 'Why aren't I mentioned?' he turned it open at different persons and scanned their achievements. It quickly dawned to him all of them were light wizards. Not one dark realisation was mentioned. He closed the book and put it back before scanning the other covers. He opened some more books that looked promising, but not one mentioned a dark wizard. The closest thing he found was a reference to Grindelwald in a volume of a series he knew from his time. Putting another book back in its place, he turned around and watched through an empty book space at Dumbledore, who was talking to the librarian.
'He's behind this,' he decided on the spot. 'I bet everything dark is in the restriction section.' His eyes moved away from the Headmaster to the potion section. 'At least the arrangement is still the same. I should check the dark spells,' he decided and start walking towards the appointed section. Books got pulled from racks and he continued his search. After half an hour he had confirmed his suspicion – only the books, which contained history on dark wizards, were put in the restricted section. 'There's no way, the students of this time aren't allowed to read about dark wizards. Especially Dumbledore would want them to learn about them – about their mistakes.' His eyes turned in the direction of the librarian. The Headmaster had left twenty minutes ago and had obviously instructed his conversation partner to keep an eye on him. 'I'm the one the old git doesn't want to read about them.' Brown eyes slid to the entrance of the restricted section. 'But that won't keep me out,' he decided with a smirk.
-THTH-
"I hope he's in his room or with professor Dumbledore," Harry said to Luna who was walking beside him.
"The professor will know where he is," the Ravenclaw reassured him with a bright smile. The Gryffindor gave her a small smile before stopping in front of the door that led to Tom's quarters. He knocked out of politeness before opening it.
"Tom?" he called and saw the teenager sit at the small table they had eaten breakfast on.
"I want to introduce you to Luna," Harry said while stepping forward and waving his friend inside before closing the door behind her. The future Dark Lord straightened himself and made his way towards them with an intrigued look in his eyes.
"Nice to meet you, Luna," he put on his charming smile and held out his hand. Luna accepted it, still with her bright smile in place. "I'm glad to see that Harry also has friends in other houses." Brown eyes glanced at the youngster before turning back to the girl before him.
"Yes, Harry's someone a lot of people look up too." Immediately the youngster knew she had said too much and his suspicion got confirmed when the future Dark Lord's face showed an interested expression.
"Could you elaborate?" he asked nicely.
"Has he told you he won the Triwizard Tournament?" she continued and brown eyes turned surprised to Harry.
"You won the Triwizard Tournament?" Tom asked clearly surprised.
"Actually, I tied."
"With Cedric," Luna nodded to herself and a pain flashed through the youngster's heart – he would never forgive himself for Cedric's dead and looked up at the future Dark Lord.
'Voldemort killed him... but I can save him if I save Tom.' The Slytherin met his eyes and looked confused. "Cedric – died, because I wasn't fast enough." Luna petted his shoulder in comfort.
"He's happy in the afterlife the shades[1] told me. They're actually not that happy he moved on before them. Jealous creatures they are," she nodded to herself and the Slytherin got a weird look in his eyes and once more glanced at Harry – never losing his smile. The youngster just shrugged – he was already used to Luna's oddness and understood what she was saying.
'She's telling me not to feel guilty.'
"That means you won," Tom stated, and Harry looked at him, startled.
"NO!" he raised his voice. "We touched the Goblet of Fire at the same time, making us both the winners." The future Dark Lord was clearly surprised by his reaction. "What caused his death didn't have anything to do with the tournament."
"Then how did he die." Too late the Gryffindor realised that now he himself was saying too much and glanced at the girl beside him.
"It was a trap," she helped him – Harry didn't really know if he would classify that as help.
"For who?" Tom demanded with a look in his eyes that made clear he already knew the answer.
"For who do you think?" Harry retorted and brown eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Someone tried to kill you during the Triwizard Tournament!" 4
"I told you I've gotten a lot of death predictions?" he shrugged, not wanting to elaborate, but Tom's eyes still held a dangerous glint. "It happened two years ago, and the culprit got caught." 'Actually, only your underling got caught... and you resurrected.' That seemed to ease the future Dark Lord a little.
"Why did he want you death?" Harry had feared that question and glanced at Luna.
"The murderer of his parents is after him, the nargles told me before they borrowed my shoes." Tom blinked at her before dismissing the last part and focused back on the youngster.
"I'll find him and stop him," he sounded so serious that Harry almost felt bad for lying and forced his lips in a smile.
"You have the best chance of stopping him," Luna nodded and the Slytherin blinked at her again. A pop behind them announced the arrival of dinner. Harry took in the amount and calculated it was more than enough for three people.
"Would you like to join us, Luna?" he asked and got a happy nod as reaction. A little to late he remembered he should also keep in mind what Tom wanted, but the black-haired teen moved to the table and pulled out two chairs.
"Please sit down," he invited both of them and Luna happily accepted. Like a gentleman the future Dark Lord moved the chair under her and even spread a napkin over her lap. He did the same for Harry, who couldn't keep a teasing smile from his face and when the older teen wanted to step away, he grabbed him at the back of his neck, pulling him down. Their lips met in a quick kiss and the youngster loved the surprised look he got when he removed his hand, releasing Tom again. As the black-haired teen moved to the unoccupied chair, he met Luna's eyes and she was smiling even more dazzlingly than before if that was possible.
"Let's eat," he said with a blush and watched the others dig in before following their example.
-THTH-
"You're happy," Luna said while Harry was escorting her back to her house and her friend gave her a surprised look. "You keep smiling when you're with him."
"Ah, well, I-... You're right, I am happy," he sighed. "Sometimes it's hard to remember who he'll become." The girl nodded in understanding.
"He'll become You-Know-Who, but the way he keeps glancing at you, says enough." The Gryffindor couldn't keep the smile from his face hearing that.
"I hope... I can influence him enough," he confessed his uncertainty.
"You're the only one who can," Luna honestly answered, and Harry didn't know it that really made him feel better.
"Is Neville happy?" he asked, changing the subject. The Ravenclaw thought for a minute.
"Sometimes," she chose to respond, and the youngster gave her a look that told her to clarify. "It depends on Draco's mood."
"What do you mean? Is he hurting, Neville?" Harry asked a little demanding.
"Not physically, but... I've kept an eye on him and..." the girl was carefully choosing her words. "He seems to be troubled by something." Green eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Do-do you think he's planning something... That Voldemort is planning something?" he clarified, and Luna got a hesitating look.
"I can't answer that... The only thing I know is that Draco has the stubbornness of a centaur and Neville means a lot to him, even if he won't acknowledge it." The youngster frowned.
'Who will he choose when he has too? And that time will come... Who would I choose? Who will I choose?' he sighed. He couldn't deny that the both of them seemed stuck in an odd relationship. "Their relationship isn't secret any longer," he remembered the way the blond had acted at the end of Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Only to the people close to them."
"And how do the other Slytherins react?" The girl got a pensive look.
"They ignore it, except Pansy of course." Harry frowned again. "But Neville can take them, he's as strong as a griffin."
'He's a Gryffindor after all,' the youngster told himself. "I've heard that before," he smiled – Hermione had told him the same months ago. They arrived at the moving stairs and Luna turned to him.
"I'll continue on my own from here."
"Okay," Harry nodded, knowing he should really get back, but Tom had been set on one of them walking Luna to her house.
"A young lady shouldn't be walking alone in the dungeons in the evening," he had stated, and Harry suspected he actually took a liking to his friend.
'Or maybe that's because she seems to accept him the most,' he waved a last time at the Ravenclaw before turning around and walking back to where he came from. 'I wonder if Dumbledore has set some sort of detection spell on Tom's room. He must have known he was alone before Luna and I arrived.' That was also the reason he had allowed the future Dark Lord to remain alone in his room. When he arrived back at the door, he opened it without knocking. "I'm back," he announced, and Tom glanced at him from the table. The food had disappeared and now books were spread over them. "What are you doing?"
"Researching," the black-haired teen answered, and Harry felt his heart jump.
"What are you researching?" he stepped closer and leaned with his arms on the other's shoulders. His eyes fell on the books and after a quick scan he found the one thing they had common. "Dumbledore?" His heart accelerated. 'Does he suspect something?'
"Yes," Tom answered without taking his eyes from the paragraph he was reading.
'Dumbledore must have taken precautions.' "What are you going to do? Figure out his entire life?"
"If it helps." Harry was starting to find the other's behaviour annoying.
"With what?"
"With what am I looking for?" Tom finally looked up.
"For the murderer of my parents," the youngster answered and got a nod.
"You Potters," the future Dark Lord gave him a look, "have always been close to Dumbledore. I figured maybe a reference to your parents might have been made in one of these books." Harry let out an: 'Oh...'.
'If he finds such a reference, it would probably be about Voldemort, but he'll be referred to as You-Know-Who. Tom shouldn't be able to find out it's him.' "Then I'll let you continue. I've got homework," he ruffled the black locks of the other before grabbing his books from his pocket. Tom watched him enlarge them and when he glanced at the older teen, he saw him smirking. "What?"
"You've picked up something, I see."
"Well yeah, I've seen you perform that spell plenty of times." The other kept smirking as he turned back to the book in front of him and pulled out his assignment. He read it again and smiled. 'I've already seen this in Tom's time.'
-THTH-
Days passed and Tom was starting to get even more annoyed with Dumbledore than usual. He hadn't found anything that looked really promising. Letting out a sigh, he picked the next book from its place on the rack and coughed when a wave of dust hit his face. 'How long has this one been sitting here?' he wondered while flipping open the flap. In the back of his mind he had already decided this was another failed one. 'It's too old...' Ready to close it again, his eye fell on the date and his eyebrow rose in surprise. '1985, that's only forty years after my time.' Intrigued he opened it and the first thing that pulled his attention was the name Grindelwald. Reading the paragraph, he wasn't surprised it was about how Dumbledore defeated him.
'...and with that came an end to the war. Grindelwald has been sentenced to a livelong imprisoning at Azkaban and Dumbledore had earned the name of one of the most powerful wizards in history. It isn't surprising he was the main figure, who stood against You-Know-Who,' Tom frowned at that name.
"You-Know-Who," he mumbled aloud wondering who that name referred too. 'It must be someone important enough for Dumbledore to provide resistance. Someone against the mudbloods, probably,' he reasoned staring at the three words. 'And someone who's known well enough to have such a general name as reference,' he continued reading but didn't find anything else interesting. 'Maybe Harry knows something about this Who-Know-You...' Tom wondered as he put the book back in his respective place before pulling out a folded paper from his pocket and adding the title to the list on it. He took in the four titles before folding the paper again and placing it back inside his pocket.
"Tom, my boy!" Dumbledore appeared beside him and he forced the annoyance from his face before turning to the Headmaster. "How is your research coming along?" The old man asked seemingly interested.
"Slowly," Tom eyed him suspiciously. "It would help if I had more researches." Dumbledore sighed.
"I understand your eagerness for answers, but I also hope, and expect you to understand that it is a risk for us to let you know too much about the future." The future Dark Lord gave a nod – that was the same reason Harry had been giving him to keep everything secret.
'The only reason I know his real name is because of that Malfoy and his lover.' "I realise that, but with the limited resources I have now, my research will take time and I won't leave until I find my answer," he stated the last and the blue eyes curiously stared at him.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," the Headmaster answered with a smile. "Well, I was wondering if you would like some lunch, my boy?" Tom took his time to observe the old man before accepting the invitation. "Good, I've prepared a dining room," Dumbledore was already moving to the door and the black-haired teen followed him. As they walked through the corridor, the students who had been let out early, were starting to fill the maze of hallways. A group Ravenclaws passed them and greeted their Headmaster before glancing at the future Dark Lord. Tom ignored them, not even entertaining them with a glance, until long blond hair pulled his attention. His eyes slid to Luna, who brightly smiled at him. He gave her a nod of recognition and Dumbledore followed his look.
"Miss Lovegood," the Headmaster greeted the girl, who addressed him back with his title as they passed each other. Both males continued and Dumbledore led them to an empty living quarter. When they entered, the first thing that got Tom's attention was that the table in the middle of the room was set for three.
'Who's the third person?' he wondered while glancing at the Headmaster.
"I hope you don't mind that I've invited a third person. You know her, so you don't have to worry."
'She, then it isn't Harry,' the black-haired teen reasoned and wondered who it would be. 'Hopefully not Walburga Black,' he silently prayed as he heard someone enter behind them.
"Albus... and Tom, it... is good to see you again," McGonagall announced her entrance a little forced.
"Minerva McGonagall?" Tom asked surprised and the woman nodded. 'With her age I could calculate in which time I am now,' the future Dark Lord's mind immediately reasoned. "It's a pleasant surprise to see you here," the teen greeted as he stepped closer to her and with a feather-like touch guided her hand upwards to his lips. He gave her a ghostly kiss before retreating again.
"Always the gentleman, aren't you," Minerva stated a little grimly and Dumbledore invited them at the table. Once seated, food appeared on the surface and the Headmaster signalled them to dig in. Carefully choosing a piece of meat, Tom laid it on his plate before raising his head to McGonagall.
"You became a teacher," he stated, and the woman nodded a little startled – she clearly hadn't thought he would be addressing her so soon.
"Yes..., I teach Transfiguration." The black-haired teen turned to Dumbledore with played interested in his eyes.
"She's your successor?"
"Yes, she took over my classes when I became Headmaster," the old man smiled.
'So, since my time the position of Transfiguration has only been occupied by Dumbledore and McGonagall.'
"I've informed Minerva of your search and she's willing to help you." That surprised Tom until he thought it over. McGonagall would definitely do anything Dumbledore asked of her.
"I gladly accepted your help, Minerva." Somehow it felt better to address her with her first name than with her last.
"Of course, Harry is one of my students. I'd put my hand on a blade for him."
"You're the Head of the Gryffindor's house?" The woman nodded and Tom had to hold himself back.
'She really took each one of Dumbledore's jobs, didn't she?' "Then I'm certain Harry's in good hands." 'She has been doing... has done a good job as Head Girl.' Even he had to admit that. 'And years of experience should have improved her.'
"Have you found any leads?" The woman asked with interest.
"Not a lot as Dumbledore has restricted any books that could contain information." Brown eyes looked accusing at the Headmaster who sighed. "Also, newspapers could help." Another sigh.
"I'm certain you understand why I can't let you read newspapers, my boy."
"I do, but you could scrap the articles that contain important information on my future," Tom suggested and saw the old man doubt.
"It would take a couple of days to go through them," McGonagall stated, and the Headmaster nodded in agreement.
"Harry would be more than happy to help," the black-haired teen tried. He'd like it if his boy was more involved with his search. Tom didn't want to think about it, but he didn't like it that Harry seemed to be swallowed up by his past – it was the past, as his future was in Tom's time.
"I'm certain he would, but he also has classes he needs to attend," Minerva told him off and brown eyes glared at her.
"He can catch up when we're back in my time."
"What if he doesn't want to go back? What if he wants to stay here?" Dumbledore suddenly asked dead serious and Tom's glare moved to him.
"He'll come!"
"It's just hypothetical but what if things don't work out between you two, will you let him return?" Now the future Dark Lord looked oddly at him.
"Don't our future selves proof that we belong together?!" Minerva blinked trying to hide her confusion, but Dumbledore didn't react.
"They only proof that you'll be together in your future, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been a break between you two." Brown eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Clarify!" he demanded, and the Headmaster let out another sigh.
"I don't know the details about what happened, but you have told me once that Harry came back to you. It must have been a couple of months after he had seemly disappeared from the surface of the earth. He also all of a sudden appeared again by your side if I remember correctly," Dumbledore looked at McGonagall and she quickly nodded.
'He's telling me that we'll break up for whatever reason and Harry will return to me eventually,' Tom translated. 'That means he would have to know the spell I use to pull him through time.' "I see," he answered, and the old man smiled at him. The rest of lunch continued with a lighter topic and the future Dark Lord was more than happy when he could retreat to his quarters.
-THTH-
"Did you have an interesting day?" Harry asked as he crawled on the bed Tom was occupying. The future Dark Lord was still reading the same book as when he had entered the room.
"I've had lunch with Dumbledore and Minerva," the older teen answered without taking his eyes from the page before him.
"McGonagall?" the youngster asked to clarify and the other nodded.
"She has offered her help."
"That's good, we need any help we can get." Now the brown eyes did turn to him. "What?"
"You haven't been participating in the search," Tom accused him, and green eyes widened.
"Ah, I'm just busy with classes..." His voice died down when those eyes slightly glared at him.
"You've been integrating pretty well."
"What's wrong with that?" Harry decided this discussion was a waste of time – he hadn't crawled on the bed with this in mind.
"You like being back." It was a statement.
"Yes, I'm happy to see my friends again." 'What's he hammering about?' The Gryffindor wondered.
"Do you want to stay here?" Hearing that made green eyes widen in surprise.
"Where did that come from?"
"Answer the question, Harry. Do you want to stay here?" The youngster shook his head – finally he understood.
'He's scared I'll want to stay and leave him.' "Honestly, I'd like to stay..." brown eyes widened in alarm, "...but I could only do that if you also stayed." Harry felt his cheeks heat up.
"You'll go wherever I go?" Tom had to be certain.
"Yes," the youngster answered with a soft voice and the Slytherin laid his book down. Green eyes watched how the other's arms wrapped around his body, pulling him closer. They shared a sweet kiss and Harry sighed in happiness. If he thought about it, he didn't want to leave his entire life behind, but he couldn't imagine one without Tom any longer. 'I'm hooked,' he thought with a chuckle.
"I did find out a lead today," the future Dark Lord interrupted his thoughts and his eyes focused on the other with interest shining out of their depth. "Have you heard of someone who's referred to as You-Know-Who?" Harry's heart seemed to stop, and he felt like he couldn't breathe. 'I have to lie!' was his first thought, but the look in the other's orbs told him, the future Dark Lord had already decided Harry knew of him.
"I've heard about him," he answered, hoping with whole his heart he wasn't making a mistake as the brown eyes were asking him to continue. "He's... a second Grindelwald, but worst, a lot worst." It hurt him to look at Tom and tell him about his future self. 'But I won't let you become him.'
"Were your parents opposed to him?"
'How much can I tell him?' "I believe so, my mum was a muggleborn after all." That sounded logical, the youngster decided but the future Dark Lord got an odd expression.
"You said, the authorities didn't know who killed them. If they died in a war, wouldn't they suspect they were victims of You-Know-Who?" Harry felt like a deer caught in headlights.
'That was a mistake, Harry! Fix it!' "I said..., I believe they were opposed to him, but there's no proof they were publicly opposing him. There's no proof he killed them!" The Gryffindor felt bad – it felt bad to lie so openly.
"Nobody brought the dead of a mud-muggleborn together with You-Know-Who in the middle of a war?" Tom asked with disbelieve.
"It was more at the end of the war," the youngster defended himself weakly.
"Still, the connection should have been made," the older teen pushed, and Harry felt a little helpless.
"You're right and they probably did, but... I don't know the details."
"Haven't you tried to find out?" The future Dark Lord sounded like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I have, but it isn't that easy. I didn't know anything about the wizard world before coming to Hogwarts and then," Harry sighed, "every time something comes up."
"Dumbledore," Tom pointed the finger.
"Maybe, all I know is that he's just trying to protect me." Brown eyes narrowed.
"I would believe you're old enough to know the truth by now."
"He's probably waiting until I turn seventeen, if he's the one behind it!" he stated the last clearly. The other gave him a doubtful look and he sighed. "I've tried to find out what happened, but the reports are minimal. There isn't a lot to find." Tom seemed to finally believe him, and he straightened himself releasing Harry in the process.
"Someone must know something, we just have to find that person," he decided as he got off the bed.
"Where are you going?" the youngster asked surprised. He had expected they would fool around, but instead the older teen walked to the table, supporting the books he had brought and flipped through them.
"I need more information on You-Know-Who," he said without looking up. Harry frowned and joined him at the table. He slipped his arms around the other's waist and kissed the back of his neck.
"Can't you leave them for tonight?" Brown eyes glanced backwards at the youngster.
"You've missed me?" Tom asked as he released his hold on the books.
"Of course, I did. I've barely seen you all day and when I do, you're submerged in those books," the youngster tried to pout and saw the other smirk before turning around in his arms. Hands rose and caressed his face before lips started massaging his with a light touch.
"Then I need to make up for that, don't I," Tom softly whispered before he started to move them back to the bed.
-THTH-
"What has been bothering you, Harry?" Hermione asked as they were walking to the Great Hall for lunch. The youngster glanced at her and guessed his sighs hadn't passed without notice. He glanced around them, but they were alone with Ron. Briefly he wondered were Neville was, since he had been with them when they had left Charms.
'Draco probably got to him,' he still didn't know how to feel about their relationship. "Tom has led the link between my parents and You-Know-Who." His friend's eyes widened in alarm.
"Does he know who You-Know-Who is?"
"No, but I don't think it will take long before he finds out," Harry sighed.
"You aren't planning on telling him, are you?" Ron asked with a warning undertone and the youngster glanced at him guilty. "You are! Are you insane? The moment he finds out, he'll kill you!" Hermione gave the Weasley an icy glare before looking pitiful at Harry.
"You're the one who knows Tom the best. If you're certain he won't turn against you, you should tell him, because if he finds out by himself..." she didn't have to end her sentence – both boys knew what she meant.
"What if he does find out by himself?" Ron asked ignoring Hermione the best he could.
"I guess then... I'll have to find a way to send him back before he can hurt anyone," Harry felt another sigh coming up.
"We can't let him go back with knowledge of the future!" The bushy haired girl pressed, and the youngster knew she was right.
"It will be hard to Obliviate him." His female friend shook her head.
"A normal Obliviate won't do." Both boys oddly looked at her. "Think about it, a powerful wizard as him must have scanned himself on memory altering spells at one point."
"So, we would need to erase his mind with a spell that doesn't leave any traces?" Ron asked and the girl nodded.
"Is there such a spell?" Harry asked on his turn and Hermione sighed before shaking her head.
"There isn't, but I think with Luna's help I could make one."
"You're going to make a spell?" The Weasley said in awe and the girl proudly nodded at him.
"That will be our last resort, I'll have to put him on the wrong path or tell the truth in such a way he can handle it," Harry decided, and the others nodded in understanding before they entered the Great Hall. As they sat down, Hermione suddenly turned all quiet as Lavender appeared behind Ron.
"Hi Ron, have a nice meal," she greeted the Weasley before skipping further to her own place after Parvati. Ron turned a little red but did nod to her and Harry raised his eyebrow in question.
"What did I miss?"
"The next Quidditch match is closing in. We should start increasing our trainings," the reddish haired teen quickly changed the subject and Harry had to chuckle.
R&R
[1] The ghosts of dead people before they are admitted entrance to Hades.