Author's notes: Hello there! It makes me super happy that people are actually reading this (even though I'm a little shy about it). Virtual hugs for my special readers that are favoriting and following this. I'm planning on posting at least 1 chapter a week. Feel free to harass me about it if I don't get to it because I'm a major procrastinator. If you can try to leave feedback cause I wanna see what you guys think about this so far (please be nice).

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Harry couldn't tear his eyes away from Tom as the other men left the room. He just lied to the minister and an auror to their faces and Dumbledore went along with it despite knowing who he was. It was probably because of who he was that Dumbledore went along with it. The headmaster probably wanted to keep an eye on him. It would be an absolute disaster if the ministry found out who Tom Riddle was or will be (or had become?).

He watched as the older boy closed his eyes and spoke.

"You know me."

It was a statement not a question. And it was one that wasn't for him to answer.

"I don't think I could ever forget you," Dumbledore replied, "You left quite the impression."

Tom snorted slightly in response, keeping his eyes closed. "Is that so? From what I could tell it has been many years since I have been your student."

So he knows.

"It has been," Dumbledore said, although Tom could not see him, "What will you do?"

"What can I do?" Harry could see his fists tightening into the cot he sat in. "Perhaps find my future self? What has become of me, Dumbledore?"

Harry couldn't suppress his wince at the words. Were they supposed to tell him that he became the man that kidnapped them and tried to kill them? Even the Tom Riddle he knew from the diary was cold and ruthless despite being charming. That Tom didn't mind killing an 11 year old for the sake of surviving.

He didn't know what to do with this Tom. The Tom that jumped in front of the killing curse to save him. The Tom that let him sob into his robes while he had a mental breakdown. The Tom that sounded sick to hear that his future self killed and tortured for the sake of it.

This Tom felt something and Harry couldn't help but feel clueless as to why. What changed to make him into him?

Was this all an act?

Dark eyes looked over at him suspiciously and Harry felt like kicking himself. He wasn't supposed to react to those questions.

"It seems like you already have an idea of what has become of you so for all my faults I will at least confirm it. Voldemort is your future self," Dumbledore replied wearily, "But he is not you and you are not him. I don't think I have to tell you how much of a bad idea it would be to seek him out."

Tom scoffed, "I am many things but I'm not a fool. I don't know why my older self brought me here but considering he tried to curse me at the first opportunity I would say he doesn't have good intentions."

"Then I'm glad we can agree on something. I hope you don't mind staying here for the night. It's a little too late to have something arranged for you. We will discuss your situation more in the morning," Dumbledore said, turning towards Harry, "As for you my boy, I suggest you stay here as well. I know you want to see your friends but Poppy would like to check you over in the morning after everything that's happened."

Harry nodded. He expected that. His shand still shook slightly from the after effects of being tortured.

As soon as Dumbledore left there was an awkward tension in the air.

Harry watched the older boy lay down and simply stare at the ceiling. The moonlight bounced off his healthy pale skin and highlighted his sharp but delicate features. He couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of the older boy.

"As flattered as I am, could you please stop staring," Tom whispered, his words seeming loud in such a quiet room.

Harry felt his cheeks warm slightly at the words and blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Why did you save me?"

Tom turned his head to look over at him and when their eyes met Harry tried not to look as embarrassed as he felt. He hoped the darkness in the room was enough to hide his reddening face. He was glad to watch the other boy sigh and break eye contact.

"Honestly… I don't know what I was thinking," he laughed but it was quite bitter, "Partially to spite him. My mentor used to say an enemy of the enemy is a temporary friend. You seemed important to him."

It was unspoken but Harry heard the slight curiosity in his tone. Why?

"When I was a baby Voldemort targeted my family and tried to kill me. He failed and was destroyed. Ever since then he has continued to target me."

"Do you know why?"

Harry always wondered why him. Why was it his family that Voldemort targeted? Why did he survive that night? Why did they happen to have a special connection?

He wondered a thousand things everyday and still Dumbledore never answered.

I will get the truth from him, Harry thought to himself, after everything that happened I deserve it.

"No, I don't."

They didn't speak another word that night.

When Harry woke in the morning Tom was already gone.

After a quick check up with Poppy he headed down to the great hall to eat hoping that his friends were already there. Fortunately for him, they were.

He hurried over to a waving Hermione trying to ignore the stairs and whispers of the other students around him. He'd think after being kidnapped and tortured that they'd have a bit more restraint on the gossip (at least in front of him).

"Oh Harry," Hermione said, pulling him into a hug when he got close enough. "We were worried sick."

"Merlin Hermione," Harry tried to say around her bushy hair.

He spat out a few hairs over her shoulder. He could hear Ron laughing from where he sat.

She pulled away and looked over him, trying to see any injuries.

He held his arms up complacently, "Poppy said I'm fine."

They both sat down across from Ron who gave him a grin and actually stopped eating to analyze Harry too. He tried to ignore the looks from both of his best friends as he thought about what he could actually stomach. He could understand their worry for him but he couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated by it.

He wanted things to be normal. He didn't want pity or sympathy or even to talk about what happened. He just wanted breakfast with his friends.

He put a biscuit on his plate and tried to start with that. Surprisingly his friends let him eat it without a word.

"I'm surprised you guys haven't started hounding me for answers," Harry said with a sigh, "Especially you Hermione."

"Well this isn't exactly the best place to get into any details," the bushy haired girl turned to glare at the people staring, "There's been a lot of nasty rumors going around about what happened."

Harry snorted, "Yeah, because that's surprising."

"You would think they'd give you a break after everything that happened," Ron said while taking a bite of bacon, also glaring, "We heard about what happened with Cedric."

Harry froze. The great hall around him transformed into the graveyard. He could smell the dirt and feel the cold air brush over him. He remembers his confusion on where he was. Voldemort's voice yelling to kill the spare. The green light flashing-

"-Harry?"

He blinked and looked over at Ron who had a worried expression on his face. He watched Ron and Hermione share a look before they looked back at him.

"Sorry I blanked out for a second," He ran his hand through his hair trying to shake himself out of his daze. "But yeah I'm sure Cedric's death is all over the papers. I wish there was more I could have done for him but I know he wouldn't want me to blame myself for this. At least we brought the body back."

Although Harry couldn't help but feel guilty, he respected Cedric enough to carry on with his wishes. His ghost had told Harry not to blame himself for what happened so he would try.

"Oh yeah, we did hear that you came back with someone else. What's up with that?" Ron asked.

Harry laughed, feeling slightly crazy.

"You wouldn't believe it."

And they didn't. Until that night at the feast when Dumbledore made his speech.

"I know that you all have many questions about what has happened during the tournament," Dumbledore paused, "Although I cannot answer everything I will confirm that Cedric has passed away as you may have seen on the Daily Prophet. We can only mourn his loss with heavy hearts and keep his memory alive. There will be a service held at school for Cedric and if anyone has any concerns please see Pomona Sprout as she will be conducting the service as his former head of house."

Dumbledore gestured his arm to her and she stood for a brief moment with a truly sad expression.

"Although this tragedy has struck down on Hogwarts we will still be continuing exams as normal," Dumbledore said and murmuring started in the hall. "Please settle down. We cannot stop this year's exams due to ministry law that states exams are mandatory at the end of each year. If anyone is having trouble with exams due to the recent events you must talk to your head of house about the issue."

Harry couldn't help but internally groan that the thought of exams after the triwizard tournament. He would have to talk to McGonagall to see if he could potentially skip it.

"Lastly, we will be hosting a special guest until Hogwarts is closed for the summer," Dumbledore made a gesture to the side, "I know you have all heard rumors that Harry Potter returned with someone during the last task and it is true."

Harry craned his neck as Tom walked over to stand next to Dumbledore. He smirked as Hermione gasped and looked back at Harry with a shocked expression.

"Bloody hell," Ron whispered next to him, "I thought you were pulling my leg with that one mate."

"His name is Tom Riddle. I would appreciate it if you do not approach him with questions about the tournament. The ministry has asked both him and Harry not to say anything about it until the investigation is over," Dumbledore said, looking at the students in front of him with a warning look. "That is all the news I have for today, tuck in."

Harry as well as his best friends watched Tom step down from the small stage and walk out of the great hall. He couldn't help but feel slightly flustered when Tom raised an eyebrow at him as they made eye contact. It was as if the older boy was asking him again why he was staring. It was embarrassing that he kept getting caught. Not that he was really trying to hide it.

New plan- Stop being obvious, Harry thought to himself.

Hermione jabbed him in the ribs.

"Oi! That hurt," he said, rubbing the spot.

"What was that?" she hissed, "And don't you dare say you don't know what I'm talking about. I saw that."

"Saw what?" Ron asked on Harry's other side, he had already been distracted by food when it happened.

"That- that look!"

"Errrr- I have no idea what you're talking about," Harry rushed and grabbed a piece of bread, "Wow look at the time, I should really head to bed. You know what they say."

He ran out of there as Hermione yelled at him.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! You get back here-"

He slammed the doors behind him.

He took a bite of his bread and he headed towards the Astronomy tower.

Harry knew Hermione would try to bring that up later but for now, he was safe.

He wasn't completely sure why he even reacted like that. Lately anything that even had to do with his feelings made him want to shut down.

He didn't tell the two of them much about what happened between him and Tom. And he knew they would want to know eventually. He didn't want to explain his feelings towards Tom because he didn't know how he felt.

He felt confused by him. He wanted Tom to be heartless and cold. He wanted a reason to hate him. He couldn't help but be embarrassed by his curiosity about him. He should hate him. But how could he hate the person who saved him?

He was reading too much into this when the two of them barely talked.

"Just don't think about it," he muttered and took another bite of his bread.

When Harry got to the tower, he was surprised to see someone else already there. As he walked closer to the balcony he felt like kicking himself.

He sighed and walked over.

"Didn't think you would come out here," Harry said as he pressed his arms to the railing and clasped his hands over it.

"I was starting to think you were following me," Tom looked over to him and smirked,"You seem to do that a lot with your eyes."

"I-errr okay you got me there," Harry stammered. "But I'm not some kind of stalker. It's peaceful here."

Tom turned his eyes towards the sky. Harry could almost see the stars reflected in his eyes.

"I wouldn't blame you if you were," he replied thoughtfully, "Being who I am."

"Why did you come out here?" Harry deflected.

Tom sighed, "The same as you I guess. The stars are rather beautiful out here."

The moonlight once again enhanced the older boy's features. It made his eyes darker and his skin seem flawless. The sharp edge of his jaw and the definition of his cheek bones stood out further making him seem like a prince. There was not a hair on his head out of place and yet the dark locks looked soft as ever.

"Yeah," Harry said, tearing his eyes away from Tom, "They are."