Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
"I'm back!" Harry called out when he entered the house again and found Tom reading the paper in the living room.
"How was it? Did you find me something?" the older teen asked as the youngster sat down beside him on the couch. Before Harry could answer, the other dropped his paper and leaned over him catching his lips in a quick kiss.
"Yep," Harry smiled as the future Dark Lord straightened his back again and brown eyes glanced at him in curiosity before turning back to the newspaper. The youngster appreciated that the other wasn't going to try to hear him out. 'Ignatius would be whining until he found out,' he chuckled and gave Tom's leg a squeeze before getting up. He made a quick visit to the bathroom before returning to the living room and crawled – in more comfy cloths – against Tom on the couch. As reaction the older teen raised one of his legs over the other forming a support for his paper and wrapped his now free arm around the youngster's waist. Dopper appeared from the shadows and handed Harry the book he had to read for Defence Against The Dark Arts. "Thank you," he thanked the house-elf, who had the courage to shyly smile before disappearing again. Blue charmed eyes glanced at the man beside him and Harry felt warmth spread through his body. 'I wish I could stop time at this moment,' he caught Tom looking at him and smiled brightly.
-THTH-
"How great of you to come!" Harry watched Spave greeted the guests, who had just arrived before Tom led him deeper in the mass. He could see the nurse patting the sick man's back before bodies blocked his view.
"Tom!" An old man shook the future Dark Lord's hand and turned to Harry. "And as usual, you have the lovely Mr Remus accompany you," he released the older teen's hand and shook Harry's, who smiled politely.
"Of course," Tom had his business smile in place and pulled the youngster against him in a possessive manner, "it's good to see you, Sebastian."
"I've heard an interesting rumour from a little bird." The old man wiggled his eyebrows and the future Dark Lord put his charm on maximum.
"And what had this little bird been telling you?"
"Well," Sebastian inched closer and fleetingly looked around them before answering, "we all know Spave's at his wits end and he'll be announcing later in the evening who his chosen successor will be." Again his eyes shot from left to right before settling back on Tom. "Someone is going to fight you!" His voice barely above a whisper and Harry noted a murderous expression flash through the older teen's brown orbs.
"Who?" The youngster frowned as Tom released his hand and leaned his body closer to the old man, unconsciously blocking Harry.
'What's going on? He told me about the election! Did he think he would be the only participant?' "T-" The youngster's lips parted but he didn't get past the first letter as someone linked their arm with his and pulled him away from the future Dark Lord. A little angry someone would rudely pull him away from Tom, he turned around to give a mouthful to that person but not one word left his lips as he stared at Walburga Black. An angry looking Walburga, none the less. "What can I do for you?" he asked confused and the woman glared at him.
"You need to get your little Gryffindor devotee away from here before he hurts our Lord's plan!" she hissed angry and Harry gave her a confused look.
"Gryffindor devotee?" he asked and with a hiss the woman pulled him outside. She hauled him to the back of the house and pointed to a reddish haired man sneaking peeks inside the building. "Who?" Harry said and the man turned around with wide eyes. "Perry?" The youngster asked in disbelieve and the Weasley cursed. The Gryffindor jumped up and pointed his wand towards them. "What are you doing?" The youngster asked confused before looking around. "Are you alone?"
"Stop!" Perry ordered and Walburga raised her eyebrow at him.
"This is a private party!" she retort with a hiss before turning to Harry. "Get him away from here!" she growled angry and the youngster narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why are you helping us? I would think you would take any chance to..."
"Do I look like I'm stupid?!" The Black interrupted him. "They will link that turncoat to you and you'll hurt our Lord's reputation!" she narrowed her eyes to the most menacing glare she could muster. "Why don't you just leave him? Make room for someone whose worthy of him," the venom dripped from her voice and Harry couldn't contain his anger any longer.
"I am worthy!" he yelled and he unconsciously clutched his wand. "You have no idea what I've been through to be able to be with him!" Walburga rolled her eyes.
"What did you do?!" Perry suddenly yelled and the youngster briskly turned to him. He had almost forgotten the Weasley. "Open the Chamber of Secrets?!" The Gryffindor continued and Harry shook his head in disbelieve.
"I didn't open the Chamber of Secrets! Why are you still hammering on that?" Perry fixated his wand on Harry.
"We'll see." His voice suddenly calm and the youngster's breath hitched.
'This is bad!' His mind supplied and he pulled his wand in the open, but the Weasley was already casting his spell. Walburga beat him with a Protego together with another voice, he would recognize out of a million. The three spells met in front of him and Perry's got redirected. Harry's blue charmed eyes followed the trail and met brown eyes. "Tom? Tom?!" he called out as realization hit him. The spell had hit the future Dark Lord. His feet moved towards the other, but another version of Tom's voice made him stop. Surprised, he twirled around and found himself in the living room of Spave with said politician sitting before him with Tom facing the sick man. "What is this?!" he called out as his mind had already made the connection with watching a memory in a pensieve.
"Riddle was looking at you," Perry mumbled before meeting the youngster's eyes. "This is was he doesn't want you to know." Blue eyes glanced at Tom, who had a blank face.
"I'm certain the doctor has the best intentions." Memory Tom said to Spave, who huffed and Harry turned to watch the memory play out.
"What did you do to him?" he asked aloud knowing he wasn't going to get his answer from the teen behind him. He was going to watch it.
"They destroyed Dalian!" Spave muttered and the teen before him stood up to take place beside him. Patting him on the back as reassurance, it went unnoticed by the politician that his right hand man had pulled out his wand and aimed it at the back of his head. A mumble left Tom's lips and Spave's breath hitched as the room before him changed. Harry watched how a hospital bed with a small boy appeared in the room. "Dalian!" Spave called out and turned to Tom, who gave him a confused look.
"Arte, he isn't here. You know that." The pity almost seemed real, almost.
"But he's right there!" The politician called out and the teen sadly shook his head. Desperate, Spave turned to the boy and hesitated. Clearly, he wanted to go over to him, but his sane mind told him it couldn't be real.
"Papa..." came the weak voice from the bed and the older man shot up.
"Papa's here, Dalian. Don't worry."
"Arte!" Tom called out and followed the politician to the bed, but pretended not to see it. Spave slowly reached his hand to the boy and let out a breath of relief when he touched the sweaty locks of hair on the boy's head. "Arte, there's nothing there!" Tom raised his voice and angry the politician turned around pushing him away.
"You won't take him from me! No one will do that ever again!" he turned back to the boy and his eyes widened suddenly. Harry took a step forward to immediately take one back. The boy had changed into a cut open corpse covered in blood. "No!" Spave yelled and moved backwards until the couch blocked his path.
"Arte!" The memory Tom was still trying to get through to the older man, but without luck. Harry felt his stomach contains rise when he saw the bloody boy standing before his bed.
"Papa..." the weak voice came again and suddenly the boy opened his eyes to stare with empty eyes at his father.
"No, don't come closer!" Spave screamed and crawled over the couch. When he looked up the boy was leaning over the back support.
"Arte, I'm going to call for help. Hold on!" The memory Tom strode out of the room but Harry couldn't miss the smirk he gave with a last glance directed at his boss before leaving.
"Papa," the boy leaned over the frightened man and Spave wiped away imaginary blood that dripped on his cheek, "it's your fault!" The boy unexpectedly screamed and didn't stop. No longer able to take it, the father joined his son and slowly the memory started dissolving. The last thing Harry saw was the screaming Spave.
-THTH-
"That you could do that to your own superior," Perry broke the silence that settled afterwards. The Gryffindor briskly turned to Tom. "But I guess I shouldn't be surprised!" The future Dark Lord ignored him. His brown orbs were fixated on his boy, who still hadn't turned around to acknowledge him. Walburga chose to move closer to him also with her eyes on the youngster.
"Marvolo..." His voice didn't betray his dread, which he congratulated himself on. Every step calculated, he moved closer to his boy and reached for his hand, but Harry pulled it away before he could touch him.
"You!" The word got whispered with disgust and blazing blue eyes turned to him. "You haven't changed at all!" Harry stepped away from him, like being near him would corrupt him. "You're still becoming Voldemort!" His boy spat before turning around and practically ran from him. Tom could only stare in shock after him with the picture of the bald snake guy in his mind. The Gryffindor moved away from them and Tom let him.
"My Lord?" Walburga asked uncertain, but he didn't spare her a glance. Slowly, he started to move after his boy and speeded up with a new determination of finding him.
'I can't let him leave!'
-THTH-
Without stopping Harry moved to the fireplace. 'We're should I go? We're can I go?' he hesitated. 'Dumbledore? No, he'll use this to his advantage.' Biting his lip, he ignored the buzzing around him and glanced around to see if Tom was already hot on his trail. As expected he found the future Dark Lord pushing himself through the mass towards him. A sudden thought came to mind and he picked up some Floo powder. "Kingsdrive 11!" he called out and stepped in the fire. Stepping out, he took a moment to breath before taking in his surroundings. He had landed in a small but cosy living room that just radiated hominess. Before him a stiff Harold was pointing his wand at him with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
"Ma-Marvolo?!" he called out astonished and Harry gave him a forced smile.
"Hi, Harold."
"What... Why..." His grandfather stammered before his face fell into an angry expression. "What did he do?!" he demanded and the youngster hiccupped. Harold had put his wand away again and led his grandson to a couch. "What did he do, Marvolo? Did he hurt you?" A comforting arm around his shoulder, made Harry feel like he still had people to count on and he shook his head.
"He wouldn't..." he mumbled still shaking his head. "I don't want to talk about it," he hid his face in his hands and the older teen squeezed him closer for a minute before pulling back.
"You can talk about it when you're ready. Do you want to stay here tonight?" Harold asked as his body rose from the couch. Harry nodded without looking up and his grandfather patted his shoulder before moving away. "Then I'll go prepare the guest room." The youngster listened to the footsteps moving away from him and sighed.
'How could I think Tom has changed?' he wondered as he shook his head. 'What am I going to do?'
-THTH-
"Where's the boyfriend?" Tom could hear his rival whisper to the gathering around him with mock in his voice. Gritting his teeth together the future Dark Lord forced himself to look calm on the outside and stare at Spave who was ready to announce his favourite. He could look calm but inside he was boiling and brown eyes glanced at Tristan, his rival. Sebastian had been so friendly to give him the name of the one opposing him. In fact he wasn't really surprised. Tristan was only a couple of years older than him and a cousin of Gael. Having the youngest of the group pass by the second youngest hadn't been taking in gratitude and now Tristan saw a way to get back at him.
"- Riddle!" Clapping started around the teen, startling him out of his thoughts and he put up his charming smile as people started congratulating him. Spave beckoned him closer and he moved to the sick man. Standing beside the leader of the group and having almost all of the members before him side with Spave's choice, should have pleased him, but without his boy standing in the crowd –smiling up at him proudly – he didn't feel the satisfaction. He smiled at the next one who wanted to congratulate him person and forced himself to stay long enough with each of his admirers to give them the feeling of appreciation. When he deemed he had stay long enough to catch some fresh air without anyone finding it strange, he moved to the fireplace with the intention of finding out to whom Harry had run off too. He expected one of his guards and chose to ignore the nibble at the back of his head giving him more options. Naturally, his plan fell apart when Tristan decided the interrupt his getaway.
"To-m," the teen wanted to sneer with how the other stretched his name, "congratulations are in order." Forcing his smile back in place he accepted the man's hand.
"Thank you, Tristan, but I haven't gotten the position yet."
"Not yet, no." Tom didn't like the smile he received with those words. "I can't help but notice that you're suddenly alone. Where has your company disappeared too?" Tristan innocently glanced around to emphasize his words.
"Marvolo wasn't feeling well."
"Really? He looked fine to me. He did look shocked and angry when he stormed to the fireplace." It got harder to keep the smile in place.
"He didn't want to go. He wanted to stay here to stand by my side, but I forced him to go. His health is more important than a party, no matter what will be announced," he stared intently into Tristan's eyes to read his reaction.
"Of course, his health should go before anything." Tom could clearly read between the lines. "Now, if you will excuse me," Tristan gave him another smile before waving at someone else and went to talk to them. The future Dark Lord's eyes followed his silhouette with mistrust.
'I need to keep him away from Harry,' he made a note to himself before continuing his way to the fireplace. With his wand he checked for the last destination and his face altered into pure rage. 'Kingsdrive 11?!'
-THTH-
Harry woke up and for a moment thought he had had a nightmare, but the unfamiliar room shattered his hope. Realizing last night had really happened, made the hole in his chest painful and he stared aimlessly at the ceiling. He didn't want to get up. He just wanted to lay there and forget everything. Sadly enough, reality came knocking on his door. Hearing the handle of the door move, he knew it was being opened slowly as to not wake him if he was still asleep. "Marvolo?" Harold's voice entered the room in a whispered and lazily Harry turned his eyes to the door. He met his grandfather's eyes and saw the pity. "Perry is downstairs." The teen standing in the doorway dropped the bomb and blue eyes widened as the youngster bolded upwards.
"You know." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Harold nodded.
"Just as Septimus. I just informed them you are here and think it is best we sat down together to talk."
"All right, just give me a moment to get dressed." Harry's thoughts were running wild. 'This could destroy the entire new future Tom's building!'
"Of course, I put some clean clothes in the bathroom," Harold gave him a last reassuring smile before closing the door again.
'What am I going to do?' The youngster's eyes darted over the door. 'This can destroy everything!'
-THTH-
Ten minutes had passed when Harry moved downstairs and took a deep breath before entering the living room. "Good morning," Septimus greeted him as Perry sent him a distrustful look.
"Good morning," the youngster tried to smile politely, but the dread running though his body made that a hard achievement. Harold patted the open space beside him on the couch and his grandson took the seat with a beating heart.
"So I..." Harold started but Perry interrupted him.
"Why are you here?!" he accused the youngster, who shifted uncomfortable on his seat.
"I didn't know where else to go too," Harry whispered as his grandfather gave the Weasley a warning look.
"Perry, you don't have evidence, so hold your tongue!" Septimus snapped at his younger brother – who looked like he had received a hit to the head – and turned to Harry. "Please, tell us your side of the story."
"Euh, well, Walburga pulled me outside to Perry where he cast a spell directed to me. Walburga and Tom both used their own spells and made Perry's spell bounce from me to Tom. Next thing, we're standing in a memory of Tom..." Harry's word got stuck in his throat as he remembered what Tom had done to Spave and a shudder ran up his spine. "He made Spave insane," he continued not wanting to elaborate. Perry had probably already done that. "Afterwards I left," Harry sighed, "I couldn't stay near him," he shook his head and Harold patted his shoulder in comfort.
"All right, that sums up what Perry told us," Septimus leaned backwards against the chair support and glanced at his brother.
"What were you doing there anyway?" Harry suddenly realized he didn't know why the Gryffindor had crashed the party and Perry glared at him.
"I wanted prove of what you did!" he hissed and the youngster rolled his eyes.
"And what did I do?" he asked sarcastically before immediately coming to his own defends. "You keep accusing me of something I didn't do!"
"No, there's no one else who could have opened the Chambers of Secrets. Riddle didn't have the opportunity, which only leaves you!" The youngest of the Weasleys countered.
"Actually, there was one more person," Harry honestly answered and the others gave him a surprised expression.
"Who?" Harold asked and the youngster hesitated.
'I can't name Mabel, they'll hurt her.' "It doesn't matter who, what matters is that that person was being affected by an evil source."
"Where's that source now?!" Septimus interrupted him.
"It has been destroyed."
"By who?" The oldest Weasley continued.
"Tom," Perry gave him a disbelieving look, "under Dumbledore's pressure." Both Weasleys turned their eyes on Harold, who gave his grandson a thoughtful look.
"Did Dumbledore say anything to you?" Septimus asked as his friend didn't seem intent on answering the brothers' expression.
"I told you, he said he had succeeded in making Riddle take a step back."
"Right, it had something to do with securing Marvolo's safety," Perry pulled a thinking face and nodded to himself.
"Yes, that's what Dumbledore told me." Harold's eyes slid back to Harry. "And I guess you won't be elaborating."
"No." His grandson answered with clear undertone, which accentuated that his mind wasn't going to be changed.
"At least we now know Marvolo didn't open the Chamber of Secrets," Harold turned back to Perry, who glanced at Harry and gave him a short glare.
"Fine, he didn't open the Chamber, but that doesn't mean he can be trusted. He is sleeping with the enemy!"
"Yes, and that makes him the only one who has any influence on Riddle," Harold said with an intrigued expression.
"I can't help but wonder how you got under his skin," Septimus eyed Harry, who blushed.
"Yeah, how did you two meet anyway?" Perry asked before he sneered in disgust. "And how the hell did you fall for him!" The youngster blinked.
'Remember the cover story, Harry!' "Well, I met him at the orphanage," he started, "and he found out I had magic."
"Tom is the only half-blood registered at Wool's Orphanage," Septimus narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, I wasn't really put up for adoption. I lived with my muggle relatives and basically they found me a freak, who they rather be rid off. I only stayed for a week at the orphanage."
"So, to summarise, you two had a lot in common and only had each other when it came to magic," Harold decided and Septimus shrugged.
"I guess that explains it. You got under his skin when he was still a naive child."
"You were the only one he could connect to," Harold added and Perry huffed.
"Great, and now enlighten us, how the hell did you fall for him?" The youngest Weasley ignored the disapproving look he got from his brother, instead kept his attention on the youngster. Harry hesitated for a second.
'Actually, how the hell did I fall for the one who had been trying to kill me since I was born?' "I don't know," he answered honestly and got a frown from Perry, "nobody has ever giving me the attention... and devotion he has given me. And well, we all know Tom goes after what he wants and... I was just swept away," he knew a silly smile had appeared on his lips but he didn't care.
"But, he's evil!" Perry waved his hands in front of him like he wanted to wave a disgusting thought away and Harry's smile fell.
"From the start I knew he had an evil side and," the youngster searched for the right words, "I want to save him from that side." Harold's eyes seemed to be looking through him as he stared intently at the youngster. "It is one of the reasons I stay with him," Harry confessed and a silence settled around them until Harold broke it.
"That's admirable," Septimus nodded and Perry had lost a little of his hostility.
"How can you be certain he can change?" The oldest Weasley asked and Harry glanced sideways as memories of his last trip to the future surfaced.
"Trust me, I know he can," he answered with a smile.
"All right, if you think he can truly be changed, I think we should help," Harold revealed his thoughts and looked at the two brothers. Septimus stared at Harry for a minute before nodding.
"You can count on me." All eyes moved to Perry, who sat glaring at the three others before suddenly sighing.
"Someone has to keep an eye out for the moment everything fall apart," he leaned backwards and put up a smirk that reminded Harry of Ron. "I'll be saying: I told you so, when it happens." The youngster nodded at him in understanding. He would have to be careful not to offend the youngest Weasley, because he would be looking out for an opening to ruin everything.
"Good to have you on our team, Perry," Harold smiled and turned business. "Now, first thing first, we have to make certain Riddle tries to get you back the right way. It won't do anyone good if he turns evil because he can't have you." Harry grimaced at that thought and Perry gave a look, which said he expected just that to happen.
"You should go talk to him," Septimus said to the youngster.
"Yes, make him understand what he did was wrong and you won't stand for it," Harold continued and his grandson agreed with them.
"I need to confront him, but not get back with him, immediately." Already, Harry knew that was going to be difficult. He didn't want to stay away from Tom, but he had too or else he wouldn't learn.
-THTH-
Sighing, Harry stared out of the window as he was sitting on the windowsill of the guest room he had been occupying and again his mind trailed to the upcoming confrontation. 'How will I convince Tom to stop hurting people? Should I make him undo the damage he has done to Spave or not? If it isn't permanent already and if I do who says his political carrier isn't over.' Another sigh left his lips and suddenly he got a fright as a door slammed against a wall. "What?" he wondered and heard his grandfather yell at somebody. His heart accelerated as only one person came to mind who could rile up Harold like that. Almost hopeful he stared at the door, which got thrown open only a couple of seconds later. Enraged, Tom stepped inside with his eyes flashing over the room until they stopped on him. He seemed to calm down a little as he saw the youngster before he closed the gap between them halfway. "Tom." Harry's voice made him stop and they just looked at each other.
"Great, you found him. Asking would be too easy, wouldn't it?" Harold said sarcastically from the doorway but the two occupiers of the room didn't even glance at him. "I'll leave you two at it, but don't go wrecking my house!" he warned before closing the door behind him.
"What were you thinking coming here?" Tom started and Harry swung his body towards the older teen before putting his weight on his feet.
"I didn't know where else to go too."
"You could have gone to that Parkinson or Crabbe!" The future Dark Lord raised his voice and the other simple shook his head.
"They would have gone to you the second they could. No, I needed time alone." Slowly, the youngster stepped closer to the other. He wouldn't look intimidated and knew Tom would appreciate it.
"I would have given you time!" Tom retorted and Harry shook his head.
"We would have fought and not gotten anywhere." Again the older teen opened his lips to retort, but the youngster gave him a look.
"We would," Tom admitted against his will and with a growl he dropped down on the bed. He glared at the ground as Harry stepped closer.
"Why did you do that to Spave? No, that's a stupid question. Wasn't there another way?" he corrected himself and now the future Dark Lord shook his head.
"You do realize that I did that when I didn't remember you." Brown eyes glanced upwards and the other realized he hadn't thought about that. "You didn't!" Tom accused him and got up again. Harry suddenly found the other too close, but refused to step backwards.
"You could have undone it at any time, but you didn't!" he didn't want to raise his voice but he did.
"Because it wouldn't have provided us with anything. Spave's already too far gone," the other immediately answered and the youngster felt warm breath caress his lips in a distracting way.
"You could have made amends."
"No, I couldn't," Tom leaned forward and Harry closed his eyes attempting to ignore the affect the other had on him. He forced the memory of last night to resurface and felt disgust rise. With newfound courage he opened his eyes again and stared straight into brown orbs.
"Whenever I look at you, I keep seeing that memory. I keep seeing you turning into Voldemort." His eyes fell to the ground. "I need time," his feet carried him away from the other, "I want to trust you again, but I need time."
"Harry..." Tom made a grab at his arm, but he avoided him.
"No, Tom, you keep breaking my trust and every time I ignore what has happened, but it is getting too much," he could see the body before him stiffen and glanced up into angry eyes.
"Do you know what I have done for you?! Already there are people calling me soft, because of you!" The future Dark Lord roared and blue charmed eyes widened in surprise before they narrowed again.
"And I am certain you've already silenced them."
"Of course I have and in a much gentle way than would have been usual of me."
"If I make you look that weak, why are you still with me?!" Harry regretted his words immediately but couldn't take them back. Tom put up his poker face and closed the distance between them again. His hand rose and with a ghostly touch his fingers caressed the youngster's cheekbone.
"Because you are my bonded one," the hand retreated. "But maybe you should prove that you are worthy to be mine." The other's eyes widened in disbelieve.
"Are you serious?" Tom gave him a challenging look. The youngster narrowed his eyes and glowered in acceptation.
"Fine, I'll prove that you're lucky to call yourself mine and you'll stop playing with peoples' lives." The future Dark Lord's lips moved into a smirk and he held out his hand.
"Deal," Harry accepted it and Tom all of a sudden pulled him flush against him.
"You do know what day it is today, don't you?" The youngster blinked before it dawned to him.
"Christmas," he realized and suddenly wished they could simply make up. Such a day as today shouldn't be spent away from loved ones. His blue eyes flashed over the other's face and saw the reluctance to leave. "Stay," the words left his lips before his brain registered it, "just for today." The older teen closed his eyes for a moment and smiled sadly before kissing the youngster's forehead.
"No." Harry's heart fell although he had expected the answer. "Enjoy today with your grandfather," Tom released him and made his way to the door. "Merry Christmas," he glanced backwards once before disappearing from the youngster's view. Harry's feet moved by themselves and rushed to the doorway but the other wasn't in the corridor any longer.
'Damn, small houses!' he cursed and laid his head against the doorframe before letting a sigh escape from between his lips.
-THTH-
"Riddle's gone," Harold said the moment he entered the corridor and saw his grandson. "What happened?" Another sigh left Harry's lips before he straightened himself.
"We talked," he started, "and I've been challenged." His grandfather gave him a cynical look.
"And is that why you're standing here like a love-sick puppy?"
"I'm not...!" Harry sputtered while squirming on his spot and Harold started laughing. His grandson gave him a playful glare and the older teen took a deep breath to stop his laughter. "I need to prove that I'm worthy of him and if I do, he'll stop hurting people," the youngster continued and Harold's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"It keeps surprising me how you influence him." Harry shrugged as answer but his grandfather wasn't having him brush it off. "You don't seem to notice how he tries for you." Blue eyes widened in surprise.
"I know, but I can't help but think that he's only trying when I'm near. Who knows what he does when I'm at Hogwarts."
"I can't answer that. I can only say that the old Riddle would have dragged you out of here and definitely wouldn't have challenged you." Harold's words brought hope with them. "And the nature of said challenge is also strange." The youngster frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The challenge holds in that you've got to prove yourself to get back together with him and then he will never hurt anyone again." Harry nodded.
"Riddle's possessive, he's never going to let you go." The world seemed to stop for a second to the youngster.
"You're correct." Harold watched his grandson frown.
"He must be planning something, but what?"
"I don't know," Harry ran his hand through his hair in frustration, "he wants to get back together, but not at the cost of the power he gets from playing with people," he huffed in irritation. "It doesn't make sense; he'll take me back no matter what happens." His grandfather gave him a sad smile that was painted with pity.
"But that's what you want, isn't it?" Surprised by the underlining doubt of those words, Harry looked straight into his grandfather's eyes.
"Of course, I would have left him long ago if I didn't."
"Then blow his mind," Harold smirked at him.
R&R