Title:The Most Dangerous Teddy Bear
Rating:M
Warnings: Child abuse, eventual male on male, swearing, angst, major fluff, hilarity
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is a stuffed Voldemort toy that I made which inspired this fanfiction story.
Summary:All Tom wanted was someone to call an equal. All Harry wanted was a real friend. Both got what they wanted but not how they expected
AN: Weeeeee~ I love all your reviews. They make me feel fuzzy inside :3 Have any of you guys gotten your pottermore emails? If so, what day did you register? I'm still waiting for mine ): ALSO, I apologize if I get a few facts wrong with regards to the Chamber of Secrets here. I haven't read the books in years.
"Normal speech"
'Thoughts'
"Parseltongue"
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
When Tom had woken up after hearing a loud noise coming from his wand, he had to conceal his deep desire to throw something. Once again, he had woken up in his own prefect bedroom and was no longer with Harry. Even if he had idle plans to recruit the boy as one of his followers, he didn't want Harry to end up the way he did. Tom's child hood had been miserable and he certainly wouldn't wish it upon another young wizard who held any similarities as him.
Lying there in his bed, he contemplated whether he should falling back to sleep or even skip out on all his classes for that day just to dedicate it to researching. He knew neither sounded useful. Even though he didn't wish to stop his nightly visits to Harry, he wasn't about to let himself be ignorant to what he was going through. But from judging how he hadn't found much use in going through the library, he decided another approach. He, however, knew that he had to find out more about the Potter heritage. and if it coincided with the Slytherin line.
"I need you to find out as much as you can about the Potter line," Tom ordered the members of the Knights of Walpurgis the moment he entered the Slytherin Common Room after he had finished showering and changing into his uniform. "If any of you find out if one or more of the Potters had anything to do with Slytherin, the founder as well as the house, or if one of them had the ability to speak in parseltongue, you will inform me. I do not care if you stay in the library all day or skip meals. You will report to me by the end of the day. You are all lucky that it is a Saturday and do not have to miss any classes"
The group took a moment to give Tom incredulous looks knowing that before that day, Tom wanted nothing to do with the Potters. However, they knew better than to question him. If anything, Tom would simply repeat the instruction instead of answering the question.
Wisely, they nodded and Tom left for Slughorn's quarters. He needed to find out more about that potion they had brewed in class. Aware that whatever facts Slughorn was going to bring up about the potion would probably be easily found in a book that rested within the library, it was possible Tom had missed something since he was in such a rush. He was, after all, trying to stuff in as much information as he possibly could before his classes started.
On his way through the dungeons, Tom didn't pass by many students and for that, he was grateful. It was early in the morning during the weekend, no less.
It didn't take long to locate the potion master's chambers after visiting the professor several times throughout the years. The man had proved himself useful. Once there, he knocked on the wooden door firmly.
"One minute!" A hurried voice called out. Tom could hear shuffling behind the door and he couldn't help but feel curious as to what Slughorn was doing. Finally, the door opened to a surprised man clad in his usual work clothes. "Tom? What brings you hear this fine morning?"
"I would like to ask you something, Professor." The prefect noticed the way that the professor stiffened at the idea. Ever since Tom asked about horcuxes, the man seemed far more cautious around him. "May I come in?"
"Yes, yes of course." As if just remembering his manners, Slughorn moved out of the way. "What could possibly so urgent that you needed to ask so early in the morning?"
"I suppose it could have waited until after breakfast." Tom mused but remained looking at Slughorn straight in the eye. The man had to know that he meant business. "But I am not a patient person, Professor."
Slughorn frowned and Tom had to bite back a laugh at how scared he looked. To relax himself, Horace got up and brought back a tray with two tea cups, a tea pot, and a bowl of sugar. "Tea?" he offered the boy rigidly. Tom nodded and poured both of them a cup.
"You look as if I am about to ask you to help murder someone, Professor," Tom smirked knowing that wasn't too far from what the man was suspecting.
"Oh, of course not, Tom," Horace chuckled rigidly and nearly choked as he took a sip of his tea. "Now what is it that you would like to know?"
"It is about the potion we brewed in class, the wishing one. I don't believe you mentioned its name, actually." Tom noticed how visibly Slughorn relaxed.
"What a wonderful question, my boy." Tom took a sip of his tea and Slughorn got up to fetch a book. "Svet Zhelanie, or Light Desire in Russian, was first made by a man in Russia over three hundred years ago. It's a simple potion but extremely powerful. Unlike Voloserum, a similar potion that grants wishes as well, it wouldn't matter if a vile of Svet Zhelanie got put in the wrong hands. You see, Tom, even if someone used Svet Zhelanie for evil like killing, the potion is used for light magic. If one wanted to take another's life to protect someone, for example, the potion would only make sure that the one who needs protecting is safe but no killing is done. However if one wanted to take another's life for selfish purposes like acquiring an inheritance, the potion would have the money fall into another person's hands and leaving the wisher penniless. As I mentioned in class, it only grants requests to those who deserve it and comes with consequences if one does not. Voloserum, on the other hand, is far more complicated and dangerous. It is illegal in many countries as it grants wishes exactly as it is phrased."
"So that's its only limitation, then. It can only grant requests with a good intention. Other than that, it has no other bounds." Tom took a small sip of his tea while deep in thought.
"It can only involve the wisher and one other person. Many have tried to use the potion to solve environmental problems, stop wars, and stop global hunger. Also, if one who has been completely selfish in the past wanted something good like a lover. The potion would find a way to bother grant a wish as well as teach the wisher a lesson. The purer the person and the wish is, the more powerful the magic is."
Tom almost froze at how close Slughorn's example was to what was happening with him. The thought of having Harry as a lover made him sick. He no longer disliked the boy but that didn't mean he wanted to be romantically involved with anyone to say the least. Not to mention that he thought of Harry as someone that needed protecting like a younger brother. But teach him a lesson? What was there to learn with Harry? That he is not the only one who had a rough childhood? It didn't occur to him that the potion was trying to teach him how to love.
"Speaking of lovers," Slughorn started, "many have used the potion for such purposes. A more common form of requesting a significant other is wishing upon a star as it is far more romantic. It is said when one half of the couple uses Svet Zhelanie and the other wishes upon a star, the magic is the strongest it can bring two people together through time. I am not certain why though. It would make more sense if the bond was strongest if both wished upon a star. Perhaps it is because wishing upon a star is often a Muggle practice and Svet Zhelanie brings the wizard or wizard's magic into the question."
Through time? Did that mean that Harry had wished for something similar but on a star? Tom had absolutely no way of finding out unless Harry explained it on his own seeing as Tom could not speak whilst being a bear.
"It is quite the interesting potion, Svet Zhelanie. I was very excited when Professor Dumbledore had suggested teaching it to the class." Slughorn chuckled and took another long sip.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Tom refrained from narrowing his eyes, "Did he mention why?"
"A week ago, he enquired if the potion could stop the war that was going on. Many have tried to alter the potion in vain. When I explained that it could do no such things, he suggested I teach it to the class."
'Dumbledore must have known that it wouldn't stop Grindelwald. He isn't foolish enough to think so. It must have just been a way for him to bring up the subject." Tom frowned inwardly, 'The old coot must have thought that I would use the potion to kill someone so he would get rid of me or something of the like.'
"Oh, look at the time, Tom!" Slughorn looked at the teenager after glancing at the clock. "Breakfast is about to begin. We should make our way to the Great Hall."
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
The rest of the day had hardly been very eventful. After Tom had finished eating breakfast, he decided to join the other Slytherin boys in the library. They were all seated at their regular table that stood nearest to the restricted section. The year before, Tom had put wards around the table so that no one else could claim the spot. If one of them was sitting there, the wards would react. They would be able to hear and see what was going on outside the barriers but it did not work vice versa. Whoever sat at the table would simply go on unnoticeable but was not invisible. It was a perception filter of sorts. It was extremely useful.
To his dismay, the boys had no relevant information to share with Tom. The best that they had come up with was that there were a few that were sorted into Slytherin or married one but held no significant power. So while his followers dug up more information about the Potters, Tom begin to research more on Slytherin's line and parseltongue. It was rather redundant to the boy. He had investigated the same thing before.
By the time acknowledged that it was useless trying to go through more books it had reached dinner time.
Tom ate without a word then disappeared into his own private quarters where he managed to finish all of his homework. He wanted to get it out of the way for the rest of the weekend. There was a possibility that something would come up with his next visit to Harry and would need to acquire more knowledge the next day.
When Tom tucked himself into bed that night, he set the alarm once more and looked forward to what would happen next.
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
"What the bloody hell?" A red headed boy exclaimed.
"Language, Ronald!" A bushy haired girl appeared from the stairs that lead to the girls' dormitories. "What are you doing up this early anyway?"
"I couldn't sleep so I came down to play chess." Ron explained then whispered a command to one of the knights. "But then that thing appeared!"
"What are yo-" Hermione froze when she looked in the direction that her friend was pointing. There was a little black bear with a white muzzle sitting on the red sofa. "It's a teddy bear, Ron. It's not going to hurt you."
"It's got red eyes! What teddy bear has red eyes?" Ron squeaked but somehow managed to continue his game of Wizard's Chess.
It was a week after the whole fiasco with the Chamber of Secrets and things seemed to have been running smoothly. Defence Against the Dark Arts had been cancelled for the rest of the year due to Professor Lockheart's inability to continue with the rest of the term, much to Hermione's and many other girl's dismay.
"So you're afraid of teddy bears with strangely coloured eyes now?" Hermione giggled, "Your phobia of spiders was much more sensible, Ron."
"Oh shut up." Ron's ears turned red, "It appeared out of nowhere. One minute, the sofa is empty then the next some creepy bear is sitting there."
"Don't be silly. It was most likely there the whole time." She rolled her eyes.
"What are you two babbling about?" a pyjama clad Harry came down the stairs.
"Harry will believe me!"
"Believe you about what?" Harry's eyebrows furrowed together.
"Some red eyed bear appeared out of nowhere!" Ron threw his hands up. Harry looked at the sofa where Ron was gesturing to.
"Tell Ron he's just bein-"
"Blinker?" Harry whispered and made his way to the red coloured furniture.
"What?" Ron and Hermione exchanged looks.
"He's my bear. I had him when I was younger. Well… sort of. He would appear at random times but then disappear." Harry had to hold himself back from grabbing the plush toy and hugging it tightly. "I didn't think he would come to me while I was at Hogwarts…"
Harry wasn't looking at his two best friends. He was more concentrated on his bear that had returned. Hermione was studying him with a concerned look and Ron glared at Blinker like it was something suspicious.
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
Tom stretched when he awoke and rubbed his eyes.
"IT BLOODY WELL MOVED! HARRY, WHY IS IT MOVING?"
Tom jumped at the sudden scream and looked around to take in his surroundings. The room looked similar to that of the Slytherin Common Room but it was adorned with red and gold decorations instead of green in silver. He was in the Gryffindor Common Room? It probably shouldn't have surprised him that Harry would follow in the footsteps of the rest of his family. But that didn't shake the fact that Harry was a parselmouth.
There were three kids that looked about twelve or so years old staring at him. Two were unfamiliar. One was a girl with big bushy hair and the other was obviously a Weasley. And then there was Harry who was looking at him with comically widened green eyes.
"He couldn't move back then." Harry whispered out.
Move? Tom could move? Experimentally, he lifted his right arm which caused the Weasley to squeak. Amazed, Tom tried the other arm curiously.
"It looks like it's the first time he could move." The girl spoke out with a tint of fascination.
Tom leaned forward and tried to manoeuvre himself into a standing position. In bear form, Tom was not used to doing so much movement and was not accustomed to the different body size. He had managed to stay up on his feet for several seconds. When he moved his head to look up to Harry proudly, Tom lost his balance and hurtled forward to the ground.
'Merlin.' Tom groaned when his bottom hit the carpeted floor of the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Maybe… we should take him to Dumbledore, Harry." The girl suggested and the Weasley was nodding his stupid head franticly.
"But he's just a bear, Hermione."
'Strange name.' Tom noted.
"But you said yourself that he couldn't move before." Hermione said carefully. "For all you know, he could be from Voldemort!"
'What?' Tom froze.
"Look! It stopped moving when you said Voldemort! It must be from Voldemort! It can probably move now that you trust it! It's trying to kill you, Harry!" With that, the Weasley grabbed the bear and made his way to the fire place.
"Stop!" Harry screamed and snatched his Blinker away from the Weasley. Instinctively, Tom clutched Harry's neck so the red head couldn't make a grab at him again. "Fine, we'll take him to Dumbledore if that settles you both."
Weasley shook his head and muttered, "Merlin, you just defeated Tom Riddle's diary. That bloke never gives up, I swear."
'What on earth are they talking about?' Tom was confused. Voldemort was the name that had made his followers use. It meant 'flight of death' so Tom thought it was appropriate. It was impossible that they meant someone else seeing as it was a part of an anagram of his own name.
Tom was even more puzzled with the mention of his diary. Had Harry destroyed his first horcrux? The thought of such a silly thing baffled Tom. He knew that Harry was no average wizard but figuring out how to destroy a horcrux at the age of what, twelve? That didn't seem likely.
As they made it to Dumbledore's office, Tom wondered why they seemed like they were on the trail to the Headmaster's instead. He couldn't possibly be in a time when Dumbledore comes headmaster, could he?
Harry muttered the password to the infamous gargoyle and moved to knock on the door once at the top. To their surprise, it opened on its own accord.
"And what do I own the fine pleasure?" a familiar voice asked. Tom didn't have to turn his head to know that those sodding eyes were twinkling.
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
Sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk, Ron and Hermione exchanged looks, wondering what to say to the Headmaster. Harry's face, on the other hand, made it obvious that he didn't want to be there. Eventually, his two friends turned to him expectantly, nudging him to explain all of this. Harry avoided all their glances.
Huffing, Hermione stepped forward. "This morning, Ron was going on about a teddy bear appearing out of nowhere. I didn't believe him at first. It was probably there the whole time and he just didn't notice it. Then Harry came down and he said..." She turned to him so he would continue the story.
"It's just a bear, Professor. It can't possibly cause any harm." Unconsciously, his grip tightened on Blinker.
"Then I assume this solves it then?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"It moved!" Ron blurted out, "Harry said that it would come and go when he was younger. I think it's from Voldemort. It must to here to kill him."
'I'm not out to kill him!' Tom wanted to yell.
"Is this true, Harry?" Dumbledore turned to the boy.
"Yes." Harry said, defeated. "He appeared and disappeared every so often. He only came twice. And it was the first time he moved this morning! He's not trying to kill me!"
"Let me see the bear, Harry." Dumbledore said firmly and held out his hand. Hesitantly, Harry gave Blinker over.
'Don't give me to him!' Tom tried to squirm away but Dumbledore' grip held him in one spot.
He squirmed under the scrutinizing glare of the man that looked older that when he last saw. Instead of dark auburn hair, this Dumbledore had a long, white beard with equally white hair. That must mean that he is in the future.
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
"You three go down to breakfast. I do not want you to miss breakfast." Dumbledore said with a certain finality to his tone.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione, stood where they were for a moment, not wanting to leave before they found out what was going on. But without a word, they left, knowing that Dumbledore's decision wouldn't waver.
When the door clicked, Dumbledore walked over to place the bear on the chair where Harry had been sitting and placed the bear on it in a sitting position.
"Do not bother moving." Dumbledore commanded softly yet sternly. That didn't stop Tom from trying to get away. Apparently Dumbledore had known better and what felt like a sticking charm kept Tom from escaping. The old man reached out and tapped Tom's head with his wand, casting a nonverbal spell.
He felt himself grow in size and eventually his feet met with the floor. Looking down, Tom realized that Dumbledore had turned him back into his human form. Glancing back at Dumbledore, Tom bit back a laugh at seeing the old man so surprised.
"Who were you expecting?" Tom smirked, hoping that it hid his intimidation.
"What do you want with Harry, Tom?" Dumbledore frowned. "How did you manage all this?"
"I'm not trying to kill him as the red head mentioned," Tom said, "And I was hoping you would tell me. You were the one who suggested Slughorn to teach the class Svet Zhelanie. I assume you know exactly how this happened."
Dumbledore remained silent but continued to study Tom, trying to extract the truth. The boy sat still, doing his best not to look as intimidated as he felt. Dumbledore was the only person who ever made Tom feel so... small. They sat there for what seemed to be hours in unadulterated silence.
"What did you wish for, Tom?" Dumbledore finally broke the silent battle.
"They say that you if you tell someone what you have wished for, it will not come true, Professor." Tom wasn't about to tell the man his embarrassingly sentimental wish.
"Tom, I have no patience to play games with you."
"I didn't wish for something malicious." Tom stated just to stop the headmaster's suspicions. The old man nodded. "And I certainly did not ask to be a teddy bear."
"I wouldn't doubt that, Tom." The teenage boy was beginning to get annoyed with the man over using his name. It aggravated him even more when he saw a smile appear on that wrinkly face. "However, I need you to explain to me what has transpired. I did not oversee any of this sort to happen."
"We brewed Svet Zhelanie in class three days ago. I made my wish when my partner had left me alone. I have been appearing to Harry every time I have fallen asleep." He refrained for giving out any details.
"I see." Creased hands were propped up on the desk and their owner was deep in thought. Dumbledore was not sure what to make of this situation. For years, he had known that the prefect had a hidden agenda filled with ideas that would not do well for the future of the Wizarding world. He knew that Tom was just a boy so he could not bring himself to take away the orphan's life. Upon finding out about the obscure potion, he jumped at the opportunity. He had counted on Tom to desire for something malevolent. The potion wouldn't harm the boy but simply teach him a lesson of sorts. Dumbledore hoped that it would be enough to stop Tom from causing any damage.
Apparently, he had been wrong to assume that he knew the boy. Slughorn had said that many wished for lovers with Svet Zhelanie. Many who didn't have good intentions in the past had ended up with a similar situation. Did Tom ask for a lover? That did not seem likely. Perhaps he wanted someone to share his power with him. The potion must have read Tom's inability to love and instead of an equal to share selfish desires, the potion had granted Tom with someone that could change him for the better.
"Why do you let him live with them?" Dumbledore's thoughts were halted by Tom's vague question. In the background, he heard the soft patter of footsteps on the other side of the door. The boy sitting in front of him didn't seem to notice.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why does he live with those Muggles? Don't pretend that you don't know what they do to him." The blank expression that Dumbledore had seen was replaced with something akin to anger.
"Why is that your concern?" he knew full well why Tom was enquiring such a thing but he wanted the boy to say it out loud.
"They beat him." Tom was doing everything he could not to blow up.
"I think it is time that you returned to your other form, Tom." Dumbledore announced then directed his wand at the other.
"Answer the qu-"
Not letting him finish, a beam of light engulfed Tom and he felt himself shrink back into a bear.
TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP TMRHJP
"For the last time, he's a bear and can't do any harm!" Harry huffed, "Dumbledore is probably just doing simple checkups just to settle the two of you down!"
"Then why would he send us out, Harry?" Hermione pointed out.
"He knows that something is off about that bear, mate." Ron agreed, "He most likely wanted you out of the room so you wouldn't have to witness seeing your childhood toy get destroyed!"
Harry frowned, defeated. He didn't want to admit to himself that Blinker was anything but good. Even if he thought it was just a bear when he was younger, Blinker had seen so much more than either of his best friends have.
"Look, let's just head back up to his office just to check up on things." Hermione said sympathetically. The best Harry could do was nod in agreement while Ron silently complained about going back and forth. The trio had eaten breakfast but couldn't shake off what had happened that morning off.
Once they reached Dumbledore's door, Hermione raised a hand to knock politely. Wanting to hear what was going on, Harry grabbed her arm just before it made contact with the wood and held a finger to his lips, silencing her. She looked like was about to protest but a voice that didn't belong to Dumbledore emitted from the other side. Squishing in together, the three of them pressed their ears to the door to get a better listen.
"Why do you let him live with them?"
Harry froze. Tom Riddle? No, it couldn't be! He had just destroyed the diary!
"I beg your pardon?"
"Why does he live with those Muggles? Don't pretend that you don't know what they do to him." The voice sounded furious. Harry was more confused than ever.
"Why is that your concern?"
"They beat him." Hermione and Ron looked at their friend with questioning looks.
"I think it is time that you returned to your other form, Tom."
"Answer the qu-"
A strong light must have coursed through the room as bits of it streamed through the crack at the bottom of the door.
"Was that Tom Riddle?" Ron asked.
"I don't know." Harry lied.
"Were they talking about you, Harry?" Hermione asked gently.
Harry tensed and did not want to answer the question. Luckily, the door swung open for the trio to see Dumbledore and Blinker sitting in separate seats.
"Miss Granger and Mister Weasley, I would like to speak with Harry alone."
They looked at Harry as if they needed approval. The green eyed boy nodded and they left. Clearly knowing that the two would eavesdrop, Dumbledore cast a silencing charm on the door once Harry sat down.
"I don't want him anymore." Harry said finally.
Tom looked up at him. If he were human again, he would have showed his surprise. What the hell was going on? What had Tom done to Harry?
"May I ask why, Harry?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"He's Tom Riddle, sir. Ron was right. Blin- it's here to kill me." Harry was looking down at his hands.
"Harry, when you first met... Blinker, did you make a wish of any sort that day?" Dumbledore's statement made Harry finally meet the old man's eyes.
"I..." Harry paused to think but then he remembered. "Yes, I wished for a friend on a star. Maybe Voldemort heard somehow and sent Blinker as some sort of trick."
"Harry, I need you to understand something." Dumbledore waited until Harry would look at nothing but back at him. "When a wizard or witch looks upon a star with a completely good natured wish, it is rare for that wish to come true. But when it does, the magic that is used to materialize the desire is one of the most powerful forms of light magic, Harry."
"But what if—"
Dumbledore raised a hand. "Seeing as Mr. Riddle was plunged through time and was unwillingly transfigured into a teddy bear suggests that the star decided to grant your wish, Harry. It is impossible for him to be sent on a mission to kill you if he did not even know who you were before this whole predicament."
Harry didn't know what to say. What had caused the star's magic to think that Harry could find a friend within Tom Riddle? It made no sense at all.
"Now, perhaps you should take Blinker back to your dormitory." Dumbledore gestured to the bear in the seat next to the boy. "Oh and would you like a lemon drop? I have forgotten my manners."
"No thank you, sir." Harry mumbled as he picked up the bear awkwardly and left the headmaster's office. He just couldn't bring himself to look at Blinker the same way.
A/N: This chapter was a bit rushed. Can you tell?