Author's Note: Again I remind people that are actually reading this that it's written from an RP, practically word for word I've simply edited things about so it flows somewhat better. That means there are quite a few pov changes. This chapter we get the introduction of another character that I had at first created simply for a scene in this chapter but later ended up becoming important to the plot. Go figure. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Anything you found in the Harry Potter books does not belong to us. Eleanor Cooper belongs to the imagination of Lara who gave permission for me to post her words on this website. Samantha Ozment is my character and I would appreciate you not using her even if she does seem rather mary-sue at first.

Chapter Two: Transfiguration

Breakfast was an interesting affair. Eleanor sat uncomfortably next to Minny as her friend grilled her about the night before. Ella had avoided the conversation as long as she possibly could, that morning she'd changed, organized her book bag, brushed her teeth, and fiddled in a locked bathroom until she had exactly the minimum amount of time to eat breakfast before rushing straight down to the Great Hall. But she couldn't avoid the inevitable forever.

"So how long were you up there with him?"

Ella rolled her eyes. "Minny, I was up there by myself. He caught me. I don't consider that a social gathering. A few minutes. Long enough for him to give me detention." Ella took a bite of her toast, and stood. "We're going to be late for Transfiguration. You know all of what happened now, so can we just leave it?"

Minerva still looked slightly suspicious, but she agreed. "Sorry. I suppose I did make a rather big deal out of nothing didn't I?" Ella shook her head as they exited the Great Hall and began the trek up the stairs to the Transfiguration classroom.

She wasn't the best liar. And it was hard not to tell her best friend exactly what happened, especially when it wasn't really a big eal. They had just talked, and enjoyed the view for what, ten minutes? At most? But he was right, if anyone heard, it would explode out of proportion, and next thing she knew, she'd be secretly married to him or something. That was the think about Hogwarts. There was only one thing in the castle that was greater in quantity than magic, and that was gossip. She supposed it had something to do with masses of teenagers living under the same roof. Highly combustible.

What do you suppose we're working on today?" Minerva's question caught Ella attention. She looked at her friend, her eyebrows raised.

"You mean, you actually don't know?" she laughed at her friend's expression. "I'm not saying I know, but I should record this date in history: The Day Minerva McGonagall Didn't Know Something about Transfiguration. It had potential to be a holiday."

Minerva scowled. "It's just the schedule, Ella. And besides, I've never actually claimed to know everything, have I?"

Ella shook her head, "No. But everyone knows you do anyway."

As they entered the classroom, they both smiled at Professor Dumbledore. Ella thought he was brilliant, but a bit mad. She never mentioned the mad part around Minny, because her friend simply worshiped him.

"Good morning, Professor," Ella said, and she settled in one of the two person desks that covered the room. The room was slowly filling up with people, and as Minny was about to sit next to Ella, her name was called.

"Minerva, Minny!" The girl turned around to face a very sheepish-looking boy. "Minny, could-could you help me? I've just..." he trailed off, looking embarrassed.

Minerva gave him a small smile. "Still stuck on your wand movement?" He looked up at her like she was a goddess, and nodded. "Well Derrick, how about we partner up today, and I'll see what it is you're doing wrong." She smiled at the boy, who looked like he'd just gotten out of an execution.

Ella sighed as they walked a few feet away to another desk. Minerva was always doing that. She was practically Dumbledore's assistant, and people came to her for help almost as much as they went to the kindly-looking wizard who was currently watching the class with a cheerful expression. But it left Eleanor without a partner often as well. Ah well. Someone turned up. They sort of had to, as there was nowhere else for them to sit. Ella pulled her Transfiguration textbook out of her bag, along with her wand, quill and parchment before resting her head on the desk and closing her eyes. She felt like she hadn't slept at all.

The night before, she had slept, that much she knew had to be true, but her dreams were so strange she couldn't seem to shake them. Pale hands on her arms, black eyes, and a familiar face had filled her mind. Tom was always there, in the dark shadow of the forest, and she had found him. But far from the real Riddle, the Tom in her dream had backed her up against a tree and kissed her senseless, a thought which now seemed ludicrous in the comfortable, dusty classroom she was in now. The Tom in her dreams wanted to be near her, and would smile when she saw him. But his eyes were always the eyes of something dangerous. It was ridiculous for her to be dwelling on something so unrealistic, but it had gotten her thinking very hard about the Head Boy she barely knew. She knew she was becoming a bit too fascinated with him, but he was a very interesting person, worthy of contemplation.

Right?

///

As usual Tom was the first one up. He slipped on his usual robes, wrinkleless and without a stain as usual. His Head Boy badge was pinned on just right, his ring slipped onto the pointer finger of his left hand. Feeling satisfied, he left the Slytherin common room without a soul noticing and slipped out to the castle grounds.

Ogg was already up and bustling, but that didn't surprise Tom. He sometimes wasn't sure if the groundskeeper ever really slept. Always up at the crack of dawn and sometimes not getting to sleep until well past dusk. Still, Tom was glad he had gotten up so early as it seemed as Ogg was getting read for a trip into the forest.

"Ogg, I need to know if you have a task fit for a detention," Tom said, jumping straight to the point. No point dallying any further after it had taken him so long to find Ogg. Tom was sure people were already sitting down to breakfast.

"Yeah, I probably got a thing or two..." said Ogg, trailing off as he eyed Tom. "Who be the student, Tom?"

It actually bothered Tom to be called by his first name by Ogg. He'd always had this feeling that the gamekeeper knew some power in names. But as long as he wasn't called Tom, Voldemort, they would be fine. He would only be Tom for a little while longer anyways.

"Eleanor Cooper," Tom said brusquely. "I'll have Dumbledore send down the papers and leave it at that. Thank you for your time."

"Eh," was all Ogg said as Tom walked away and back to the castle. He frowned as he noticed the Great Hall almost completely empty. He had Transfiguration next, with Dumbledore the head of Gryffindor house. That would mean Tom would be able to be rid of the trouble of thinking of Eleanor consciously once and for all.

The only problem was he was sure to be late. So Tom didn't run, no use being in a hurry. He grabbed his stashed bag in the Entrance Hall and walked up the stairs all the way to the Transfiguration classroom. He opened the door just as Dumbledore was saying something. Tom walked in and closed the door before facing the professor.

"Sorry I'm late."

That was all he was going to say on the matter until after class. No point in drawing attention to anything. But as Tom's eyes wandered over the class he saw that everybody had come to the lesson. Very few people missed Dumbledore's class and Tom was usually early, taking one of the back seats.

The only seat open was the one by Eleanor. Tom frowned, looking for Minerva, and found the witch next to Derreck. No doubt helping him out again. No matter, nothing was going on between Tom and Eleanor.

Tom strode over the seat without a second glance to Eleanor, sliding into the chair as if nobody else was sitting next to him. He didn't need a second glance to tell him most of the details around him. He had already seen that Eleanor looked tired and that people's eyes were following him. That a certain Slytherin girl was staring at the both of them intently, possibly jealously.

If nothing else Dumbledore's glittering blue eyes were taking in the pair, a small smile on his face as he launched into a lecture about a spell that would undoubtedly be on their NEWTs. More importantly, it needed to be said silently. Not a problem for Voldemort. Tom, on the other hand, was more concerned with the people in the room and less on the magic he really ought to have been learning...

///

Dumbledore had started his lesson, and still Ella had no partner. She looked around the room, trying to see who was missing. All of her house was there, all of the Ravenclaws were sitting in the front row, as usual, but she didn't know the Hufflepuffs or the Slytherins well enough to judge...Ah. That's who was missing. She scanned the room once more for Tom, and he was definitely not in the room. She turned towards the front to the classroom again, and tried to listen to what Dumbledore was saying. But at that moment, the door swung open, and a voice reached her ears. Her guess had been right.

It was Tom Riddle, amazingly late for class and apologizing to Dumbledore about it.

Ella looked up, and a small smile touched her lips as Tom slid smoothly into the seat next to her, ignoring her completely. She watched as his eyes scanned the room, looking at the rest of the students. He stopped at one in particular, and Eleanor looked around inconspicuously to see a Slytherin girl staring at her with a look very close to hatred. Or was it jealousy? Ella shook her head in disbelief. Honestly, when were they going to give up on him? It was so painfully obvious he wasn't interested.

"Human Transfiguration is very difficult to do, especially on yourself. So, that being said, you will be practicing on you partner. Not to worry," Dumbledore said as he caught the look on Minerva's face, "I will be watching most carefully to make sure there will be no lasting damage." Ella bet Minny was wishing she'd let Derrick fend for himself in this particular lesson. "Turn you textbooks to page three hundred and twenty-two, if you would, and there you will find all the necessary information to perform this spell."

As the class bustled into action, Ella whispered to Tom, "Good morning to you too, Tom." She let her smile grow a bit wider.

As she found the page Dumbledore had mentioned, her eyes widened. "Oh no. I do not want to be responsible for this if it goes wrong." The illustration on the page showed a man going through the various stages of being Transfigured into a cat. "I apologize in advance for this." She closed her eyes. "I did not get enough sleep for this. No way." But she began reading the long passage on the spell anyway. It wasn't very complicated, but it took a lot of concentration and control. And on top of it all, Dumbledore had said they had to do it silently?

She was doomed. Doomed to turn the Head Boy, and coincidentally, her awkward acquaintance, into a mutated cat. What a day this was going to be.

///

Human transfiguration? Tom wasn't sure what Dumbledore was getting at but he was certain this was something learned later on. The old fool thought himself all powerful if he thought he could keep eighteen students from turning each other into grotesque human-animals. Ridiculous.

He flipped to the section of his textbook that he was supposed to be reading and then yawned. Tom rarely yawned but he had stayed up rather late last night and gotten up a bit too early. He supposed even Dark Lords were allowed to be tired now and again and Tom still only a seventeen year old student. Yes, he could allow a yawn. Besides, it might have been a yawn of boredom. After all, he had read the entire textbook before. He had skimmed over this section, not quite sure how human transfiguration would help him in his conquest.

Though turning all the muggles of the world into sheep, or something, might be useful. Maybe some pigs and cows as well. They'd never run out of pork or beef that way. Tom was a big fan of his steaks.

Tom was drawn out of his unnerving change of direction in his brain by Eleanor's moan.

"Oh, don't worry," said Tom, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Dumbledore is all powerful."

///

Ella looked at Tom, her eyes wide. "That's all very well for him, but I'm worried about me doing something to you. Even if Dumbledore can fix it. It's the principle of the thing, if you know what I mean." She shook her head, causing a bit of her hair to fall out of its bun. "I also am worried about them." She inclined her head towards the Slytherin girls, who were all sitting near one another. "And what they would do to me if I...er, fail."

She was scared of hurting him, too. She didn't think she could cause any serious damage, but what would happen if something went wrong, and he got injured? She'd never forgive herself if she hurt him. But that could go for practically anyone she hurt. She didn't like to be the reason anyone was in pain. Ever. Ella looked down at her textbook, her still worried eyes scanning the page for the list of appropriate animals for the spell. It seemed to be solely mammals, at a glance. She read it closely, and decided against anything too small. No mice, or any kind of rodent, they ran too fast. Something carnivorous, probably, they were braver...Cat? Wouldn't be too bad. Perhaps that would work. The last thing she wanted to do is end up looking for Tom underneath desks.

///
Tom went back to trying to read the section and before long the Voldemort part of his mind had is all worked out. Yes, it would be simple enough for Tom's poor teenager magic to catch up to the dark lord in his mind. There was potential here. And maybe everybody still staring at the back of his head would forgive Tom when he turned Eleanor into a frog or something along those lines.

No, not a frog. Then there would be jokes about how he had to kiss her to turn her back. He really must not have gotten much sleep if his mind was floating back to silly fairy tales. He would turn her into a squirrel. That seemed simple enough.

"Alright," Tom sighed, getting to his feet. They were among the first to start into the practicing. Minerva appeared to be helping Derreck struggle through reading the section. Surely the woman would get frustrated with these kids at some point. Not everybody could be like Dumbledore. It had to get to you or you were mental! "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

///

Eleanor looked up from her book. Tom was being fairly calm about it all. Ella supposed Dumbledore knew what his students were capable of, and if he thought they could do it, maybe they could. Ella wasn't terrible at Transfiguration. The silent spells on the other hand...But she had to do it, and it was all about learning, right? Mistakes were accepted in a classroom, right? Ella was slightly worried about being turned into something herself, but she knew Tom was more than capable of doing a good job. Finally, she nodded at Tom.

"Would-would you like to go first? I mean, perform the spell first." There was a part of her that was terrified of going first, because she was next to positive she was going to botch it somehow. And for some reason, it made her feel better to go last. It made no sense, but Eleanor's mind often worked in a way that didn't even make sense to her most of the time.

///

Eleanor was unnecessarily nervous. The worse she would do was give him fur or give him a rat nose. Really nothing Tom was worried about. As long as she stuck with a mammal it shouldn't be painful in the least. Still, Tom led them to a corner where - hopefully - there would be no audience. By the time Eleanor had nervously followed Tom, others were pairing up. Derek seemed to have finished reading rather more quickly with Minerva's help.

Tom frowned. Not at the idea of going first - he would have suggested it - but because Eleanor was continuing to worry. For some reason it concerned him and he cast around for something to soothe her troubled mind. Unfortunately, Tom had not spent as much attention toward the girl during Transfiguration. He had usually timed practice so that he would be the guinea pig at the same time Minerva was practicing. She had stuck out as the strongest student.

But Divination had not been Tom's strong suit and he could not have foreseen this. So though he had vague impressions of Eleanor, he had never paid close attention. Until now. And now he was spending too much of his conscious attention upon her. Degrading, really, if his thoughts ever got out. Instead he heaved a sigh and tried a kind smile.

"Yes, that'll work perfectly," said Tom, telling himself that he was calming her because he didn't want her to mess up unnecessarily. "That way I can help you out since I'll have known how it works. Are you prepared?"

///

Ella stood, grabbed her book and wand, and followed Tom to a corner of the room as the rest of the students started doing the same. She dropped her book in the corner, and turned to face him. She had her wand in her hand still, and she ran her finger up and down the grip nervously. She looked at Tom's face, wondering if it would be…hairier in a half-hours time. She didn't want to think about it.

Which was probably a good thing, because at that moment, Tom smiled at her. It was bit awkward, like he didn't do it genuinely often, but still warm enough for Ella to lose her train of though slightly. She had to admit, with his dark hair and eyes, and his pale skin, he was attractive.

She smiled at him a bit sheepishly. "Yeah, that would be great. Help is good." She set her wand down on top of her book, and watched it for a second to make sure it wasn't going to roll away and set fire to a desk or something. As she straightened, she thought about how calm she was about being turned into an animal. Odd, really, that she was utterly unfazed.

Tom pulled his yew wand out of the inside pocket of his robes. He was very fond of his wand. It was a yellow white wood, completely smooth, with a phoenix feather. It had to be special, Tom hadn't heard of any other student having a wand with a phoenix feather core. It was always with him, Tom would never let it go.

"I'm going to try turning you into a chipmunk," Tom explained, changing his choice at the last instance. He liked chipmunks more than squirrels. Don't ask why, the future Dark Lord had a soft spot for the tree dwellers with the tiny tails and the dark lines down their back. "Hopefully it won't take me long."

That said, he thought the incantation Dumbledore had taught, and forced all his concentration into turning Eleanor into a chipmunk.

///

Ella looked at him, and burst out laughing. "A chipmunk?" She put her face in her hands. "Oh, that's brilliant. At least I'll be cute, huh?"

But she calmed as he started performing the spell, a very serious look on his face…

///

A few gazes turned toward the pair as Eleanor burst out laughing. Tom stood coolly, allowing her to calm down. It was usually better if you didn't transfigure someone in a strong emotional state. Which was why he tried to calm her down earlier. And now he just needed to wait for her to stop laughing.

"Indeed..." Once sure the scene was set, Tom transfigured Eleanor quite flawlessly.
///

Woah. Ella's thoughts were drawn to the funny feeling that started in her gut and traveled over her body like warm water…she was shrinking, and growing fur, her teeth narrowed and elongated, and she felt a tail begin to grow. A little one, but definitely a tail.

And then it was, look. See. Smell. Man. Fear. The chipmunk Ella looked up at the positively gargantuan creature standing before her. She was scared. But curious…slowly, she crept toward the monster, her tail shaking slightly. She looked up, way up and sniffed. The smells that met her nose…they were so many, and very powerful. And then the giant waved his stick, and she felt herself growing, her mind becoming less…animal, and suddenly, Ella was back, and practically standing on Tom's toes. There was a lot less room between them now that she was a million times bigger.
///

Tom expected the quivering lump to attempt to run away, reading to turn her back. Instead she started toward him. Interesting. Confusing, certainly. But interesting none the less. Tom thought the counter spell, waving his wand.

He had anticipated that closeness in animal and human form would be even closer once Eleanor was also human. Though she was almost standing on his feet they weren't quite touching. His wand hand hovered just millimeters from her arm, her could feel her breath on his face, couldn't see her smile unless he took his gaze away from her eyes.

///
Her mouth was open slightly, and it took her a while to gather her thoughts enough to step back for him. "You're a lot bigger to a chipmunk," she said quietly. And then Ella smiled.

///

Tom wasn't going to move first. He decided that the instant he realized they would be that close. That would show a weakness. Merlin's beard, he had been closer to girls before and it hadn't bothered him! It would show undue embarrassment to step away, to turn away from those eyes...

"Well done, Tom," Dumbledore said, clapping him on the shoulder and dragging Tom an inch or two away from Eleanor. "Twenty points for Slytherin and twenty to Gryffindor."
///

Ella was half upset, half grateful that Dumbledore dragged Tom away a couple steps. Going from furry animal to too close to the Wizard who turned you into said furry animal were two equally disorienting things. She didn't feel like doing it again anytime soon. It also, thankfully broke their eye contact, something that desperately had to happen. There was something slightly dangerous lurking in the darkness there that fascinated her.

///
Dumbledore pat Tom's shoulder twice then walked away, going about to help other students. It took Tom only a moment to realize why Gryffindor had gained points as well. Of course. Minerva. Why not? Dumbledore didn't choose favorites and he wouldn't want to look like he was out doing someone of his own house for Tom Riddle.

And Dumbledore had been able to save Tom from... whatever had been going. And now he owed the old fool another favor. Just great.

"Guess it's your turn," Tom said a little gruffly, turning back to Eleanor.

///

Oh, that.

Eleanor shook her head, trying to clear it of the chipmunk cobwebs. Slowly a bit of her nerves returned, but she shoved them in a drawer at the corner of her mind. She knew how the spell was supposed to feel, she (sort of) saw how it was supposed to be preformed. She could do this. She hoped. She turned around and picked up her wand. Its weight was comforting in her hands, and she looked at Tom.

"Right. So," she thought about it for a while, and a bit of a grin spread across her face as she though of what she was going to Transfigure him into. "Let's see if you make a good marmot, shall we?"

Less cute than a chipmunk, but she'd always been fascinated by them. Biting her lip, she pointed her wand at Tom, and began concentrating on what she needed to perform the spell correctly. It was going to be hard, and she hoped she could do it well.

///

Tom choked on air at the words, giving Eleanor a look to make her repeat that she was serious. And she was. So very serious. So much so that Tom had no need to give her a word of advice. In no time at all he started to feel furry and smaller and...

There wasn't enough sun. He felt rather slow. He looked up. Somebody was standing over him. Yes, he liked those eyes. This wasn't right though. He was supposed to be in the sun...
///

Ella looked down at the very disoriented marmot that was sitting where Tom had been moments ago. She sighed in relief as she watched him blink up at her. All seemed well. There was no trace of humanity left on the animal, judging by appearances, which she hoped meant she had done the spell right. Ella brushed a bit of hair behind her ear, before concentrating once more on the still befuddled looking animal. She pointed her wand at it and preformed the counter spell.

///
Disoriented, Tom held his head as Eleanor changed him back. His eyes hurt from the change, like they had needed to change from hard to soft to hard all over again. But he had assured Eleanor that nothing could go wrong so he gave her a weak grin despite his headache.
///

What happened next was like watching a tree growing in seconds. Tom reappeared, his eyes blinking like he was in pain. She took a step toward him in concern, ready to grab him if he fell over. He looked a little dizzy. Or disoriented. A knot twisted in her stomach. "Are-are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" Ella felt the knot slowly tighten until Tom smiled weakly. It wasn't much, and she could see the effort it took, but it alleviated a bit of her worry.

///
"Well done," Tom said, the pounding in his forehead slowly fading away. "I barely remembered who I was. That means you did it correctly."

///

She smiled at him. "It's odd to think you're a fuzzy woodland creature, isn't it?" Ella turned and grabbed her textbook, and Tom's arm, and walked back to their desk. She turned to face him again. "However, judging by the look on your face, it did not go as smoothly as yours did. Sit." She gestured to the chair. "We've both done the spell already, and we're practically finished in here, so you have no good reason not to." Eleanor studied him. He did look better than he had a few seconds ago, but she was just the kind of person who wanted to make sure all was well before announcing herself done. She plopped her book on the desk and sat, drumming her fingers on its surface.

She highly doubted he would actually listen to her and sit, even though students were slowly moving back, finished with their spells. Dumbledore was occupied in a corner with what looked like a feathered woman in Hufflepuff robes. Ella raised her eyebrows as she watched him de-feather the girl.

"I'm glad I didn't go with the bird idea. That looks uncomfortable." As much as she loved birds, and the idea of them, she didn't fancy being turned into one, or attempting to get the subtleties of a bird skeleton right on another. Hollowing out bones was hard, as the panicky girl next to Bird Girl was discovering. Ella watched, fascinated as the last of the feathers fell off, and Dumbledore turned around to face his students, which were nearly all finished with their spells.

"Well then, that went with quite a bit less trouble than I thought. You are all progressing quite well. For you homework tonight, I would like a roll of parchment," here he smiled at the two girls he had just finished helping, "On the differences between Transfiguring humans to birds or reptiles, as opposed to mammals." Dumbledore looked at his watch, a small smile showing beneath his auburn beard. "Good gracious, how time flies when one is an animal. Class is dismissed."

///

Eleanor made Tom sit back at their desk and he did so gladly. His eyes didn't wander around the classroom but he did look at the poor Hufflepuff girl at Eleanor's words. Yes, hallowed out bones would be difficult to transfigure. Tom wondered what it would be like to be a reptile, feel flesh turn into scales. Lost limps and simply become one long slender being as a snake.

Tom could already speak parseltounge, something that only Dumbledore knew about. Once again Tom was glad that nobody had figured out the thing attacking the school a few years back was a basilisk. Dumbledore would have known immediately that it had been of Tom's doing.

His thoughts were brought back to reality as Dumbledore assigned homework. Only a roll of parchment? Teachers were getting soft. Or just the old man. Their defense against the dark arts teacher usually assigned at least two if not three. And Tom could just see in Minerva's eyes that she believed she could write at least twice as much as Dumbledore was asking for.

Still, some students groaned at the fact that more course work would be added. The got to their feet and walked out of the classroom, muttering to themselves. Tom reached out and touched Eleanor's arm briefly, trying to tell her with his eyes to stay put as he got to his feet and walked to the desk.
///

Eleanor began re-packing her bag, thankful that Dumbledore had only assigned one roll. She knew she could fill that fairly easily. She was more worried about the Charms essay that was due Monday. She began to stand up when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Ella looked up, confused, into the face of Tom, who was obviously telling her to stay put for a bit. She nodded to him, and he began walking to the front of the classroom. But Ella felt his hand still of her shoulder, like it had burned her.

///
"Tommy!" said a Slytherin girl, slinking up to him. "I don't suppose you could help me with my homework..." She fluttered her eyelashes, a seductive smile on her face. Tom looked down at her in disgust.
///

Tommy? Eleanor snorted. What an idiot. She looked disdainfully at the simpering girl trying to hold Tom's attention. She wasn't ugly, but her attitude and obvious pleas for his attention made her look ridiculous and desperate. Then the Slytherin fluttered her eyelashes. Ella resisted the urge to vomit. She didn't understand why girls threw themselves at men like that. It as degrading, and they rarely ever succeeded with any level of permanence. You may get a good snog, but that was it. Eleanor had never had to resist the urge to act that way. She wasn't cut out to be a flirt.

"Some other time, perhaps, Samantha," Tom said coldly. "I have something I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore about."

The flirty look upon her face darkened and she spun around and stomped away. Women. Tom turned his attention back to Dumbledore who was sitting down behind his desk just as the last students were leaving.
///

Ella watched in mild amusement as the girl's simpering smile turned sour. She bit her lip to hide her amusement. She wasn't entirely sure why she found it so funny, but she did. She also was beginning to be curious about what Tom was going to Dumbledore for. Ella's eye followed his back until he reached the Professor.

///
"Eleanor owes me a detention," Tom said. "I've already spoke to Ogg who says he is sure he can figure something for her to do. I just need you to write up the papers."

///

Ella saw Dumbledore's blue eyes flash in her direction, then back to Tom's face. His eyes fascinated Ella. They were at the same time both amused and searching, and she wondered what tom's face looked like as Dumbledore fixed him with those eyes.

"Really? Miss Cooper has little history of bending the rules," Ella blushed. That was because when she did, she rarely got caught.

///

Perhaps because fools like Dumbledore didn't know where the look, Tom found himself thinking. Very few people risked the Astronomy Tower alone unless they knew how to not get caught. Plus teachers like Slughorn were bound to give their favorite students special treatment. Tom was pretty certain he had spotted Eleanor at a Slug Club meeting or two now that he thought on it.

///

"But to answer you question, Tom," He waved his wand and two pieces of parchment appeared, covered in writing. "Here you are. Oh, and Tom? There is a bit of a risk in the forest of late, so I am going to have to ask you to accompany Eleanor. Ogg is a very capable man, but if a problem arises, it would be safest with three people able to perform magic."

Tom wasn't going to like that, Ella already knew. She began busying herself again with her book bag, and waited to see if he would come back over to her. She shot a glance at Minerva, who was standing nearby, and mouthed, "I'll catch up, go!" Minny took the hint and walked out of the classroom, a confused and slightly suspicious look on her face." Eleanor sighed, and her head found its way back onto the desk. Well, at least he's not permanently hairy or something. That should make things a little easier...I hope.

///

Dumbledore's words were like a hard hit to the chest. A hiss escaped Tom and his eyes flashed dangerously in the direction of Eleanor. And at first he wasn't sure what part had angered him more. That there would be risk in the forest that might endanger Eleanor or that Dumbledore was sending Tom to baby-sit the young woman that he wanted to just be able to forget about after today.

Or he thought he wanted to forget about her.

No, Tom Riddle most certainly was going to forget about the young Gryffindor girl that was starting to become more trouble than she was worth. A whole night in the forest protecting Eleanor? The Dark Lord in him scoffed at it. He didn't protect anybody but himself!

And yet... Tom pushed the thoughts away and slammed his hands on Dumbledore's desk. He very rarely let his emotions out like this around Dumbledore after the first day they had met. The day Tom had let out far too many secrets so that the old man before suspicious of him.

"I don't have time to be traipsing around in the wood," Tom growled. "If you're so worried about Cooper then send somebody else who owes a Detention! Not me..."
///

When Tom literally hissed at Dumbledore's words, Ella jumped. She glanced up at him, and the look he sent her was truly frightening. He looked fearsome, like he was going to rip something apart. She didn't know what about the Professors words bothered him so much, and why his anger was directed at her.

Ella could hear Tom hissing at Dumbledore, and she didn't quite understand why. The tone of his voice was so...furious, almost venomous. She would understand if he was frustrated about missing time to do homework, but she wondered if it was more. If it was her he really had the problem with. She bit her lip and furrowed her brows, not that he could see because she still had her head on her arms. She didn't quite understand the change from the Tom that had just turned her into a chipmunk, and the Tom she was seeing now.

///
"Oh, come now Tom," said Dumbledore calmly, looking over his half moon spectacles at Tom. As always he had that feeling that Dumbledore could see the Voldemort inside him. The Dark Lord squirmed inside. "We both know that you spend quite some time in the Forbidden Forest. Why not make yourself useful to Miss Cooper?"
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She couldn't do this much longer. If Tom didn't want to go, why should he? He didn't earn a detention. He shouldn't have to go with her. She raised her head and opened her mouth to say something. "I don't-"

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"I'm sure Eleanor can take care of herself quite well," Tom sniffed, straightening up and pulling back his center of calm. But at the use of Eleanor's name a light shone in Dumbledore's eyes.

"Tom, this is no longer a request," Dumbledore said, holding out the piece of parchment. "Don't make me talk to Slughorn."

Tom's eyes smoldered and he snatched the parchment and went back to the desk to clear up his things. He didn't look at Eleanor. In fact, he tried to hide the anger from her.

///

Ouch. Eleanor saw Tom stiffen, and he turned slowly away from Dumbledore to face Ella, and the rest of the now-empty classroom. He walked toward the desk, and began picking up his things, not acknowledging her existence. He looked like he was trying desperately to control his emotions, and it made Eleanor think about this person she had begun to get to know. There was so much that she didn't know about him, like the fact Dumbledore said he spent time in the Forest. And Dumbledore knew about it. Knew and didn't punish him. It was an interesting thing.

Ella stood and put her hand on his arm. "I'll…I'll see you later, Tom," she said softly. She wanted to give him time to breathe, "Lunch, okay?" She shouldered her bag and walked out into the hallway. She had Care of Magical Creatures next, and she needed to get out to the grounds quickly so she wasn't late.

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Tom jumped as Eleanor placed a hand on his arm. He heard her speak and the sound of her voice calmed the writhing snake in his chest. He caught only the word "lunch" before she was gone. Numbly Tom followed her out of the classroom and down the stairs all the way to the Entrance Hall. His footsteps were quick but silent, his eyes focused on the back of her head the entire way.

This was getting complicated. A debt shouldn't be complicated for Tom Riddle. He ought to be able to get her promise to repay him and then forget about her until the time he called on his debt. Yet she kept popping up, kept near him, kept being a part of his life for some reason or another. Tom had never been certain he believed in fate or destiny. But something kept bringing the two - Riddle and Cooper - together for a reason.

Once at the Entrance hall Tom turned on his heel and made his way back upstairs and to Charms. He would be late. His first time. But he had been late to Transfiguration. That had turned out interesting. Maybe Charms would too... and maybe it would counteract the interesting that was plaguing his mind.

This was a fun chapter. Lara and I had fun with it for ages. Lord Voldemort likes chipmunks and is a yellow bellied marmot *laughs* Yes, I think that is quite evil, don't you? But as you might have noticed my Tom isn't quite Voldemort. He sort of plays in this inbetween state where he sometimes is Voldemort and sometimes isn't. This is because I don't think Tom was truely evil to start out with and Eleanor has caught him at his most vulnerable state of flux, while he debates between his two sides. That's my reasoning behind this anyways.

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