Don't own. Sorry I promised a quick update. Review and I will update.

Celia's POV

It's your own fault.

Shut up. Who knew Voldemort was so boring?

I pushed the sponge against the wall again. Soap squirted out and I began to scrub the spray from the wall.

I'm not Voldemort! Would you stop comparing me to that idiot?

I smiled to myself. You just called yourself an idiot. Tom closed his eyes for a second and threw his hands in the air. I give up.

Good. You have to admit, this prank was pretty funny. I stopped for a moment to take a bite of the sausages.

Yes, watching your father get up with a Mohawk was hilarious. I was laughing my head off. Tom rolled his eyes.

Party-pooper. I complained as I wiped off purple spray.

Dad walked in, smirking. "Still not done? You can continue after you go to the Hospital Wing. Pomfrey had a heart attack when she realized you weren't in bed. She thought you'd been carted off by Black." And yeah, I knew who Sirius Black was, because hanging out with Hermione, Harry, and sometimes Ron would help me catch up.

He was some, apparently, stupid murderer that killed, like, what, 10 muggles and a wizard? Pettigrew? And now, also apparently, he was after Harry.

It dawned on me that I had never told her I had left. "You didn't tell her?"

"Apparently she didn't believe me. You can continue after you go see her." Dad opened the door for me. I wiped my hands on my pants and huffed.

She's a bit protective over you, isn't she? I rolled my eyes. Just a bit. Please note the heavy sarcasm.

Noted. He smirked.

I turned the corner and made my way to the Hospital Wing. So cocky, aren't we?

Oh, yes. It runs in the family. The sentence made me snort. I opened the door. "Madam Pomfrey?" I called. She came bustling in, and let out a shriek as she saw me.

"Oh, dear! I was so worried! You need to stay in bed!" She frowned and ushered me to a bed, next to Harry, who was currently sleeping.

"But I'm fine-" I protested. She waved her hand and pinched my cheeks. Ow. "You must rest!" She insisted, and shoved me in bed, tucking in the covers.

"But my dad-"

"Oh, I know Severus! I'll floo him and tell him you need to rest!" She hobbled away, muttering something that sounded like, "just like your father, won't stay in bed, had to all but strap him in last time…"

I snickered. I would have given anything to see that. Tom smirked faintly as he heard my thought.

How come I can't feel and taste what you feel and taste, but you can?

Tom sent me an irritated look. I altered the charm. It's better that way, unless you would like to feel and taste what Voldemort feels and tastes through me. It would be dim, but everything he feels and tastes will go through me and to you. Besides, every time he summons me, there's a pain in my stomach. I don't think you want that.

Aw, you DO care! I rolled my eyes.

He gave me a bewildered look. That sounded disturbing.

Um…no comment.

Sorry. I didn't mean to say- I mean, THINK-that. Occlumency shield slipped. Gets tiring.

You can do Occlumency? Woah.

You can, too, though it's a miracle it worked on the first time. I reckon you're a lucky beginner or a talented witch.

I closed my eyes and imagined that wall again. Pushing against the link strongly. Tom yelled and his presence dissipated. What are you-HEY-

As soon as his presence disappeared, I let him back in, grinning. Talented witch?

He rubbed his head, wincing. Why'd you push me out so roughly? The first time wasn't as hard.

I wanted to prove that it wasn't a coincidence, but I didn't know if I'd need more power.

Bloody hell. Just don't let that unintentional compliment get into your head. Your ego is already too big.

Look who's talking-oh, Pomfrey's back. I glanced up to see a very annoyed Madam Pomfrey.

I couldn't have noticed. Tom thought back sarcastically. The wonders of sarcasm. If it didn't exist, Tom and I would probably be talking way less, and my dad would be mute.

"What did he say?" I straightened. Pomfrey grumbled something about rest, then replied, "Severus informed me that you are perfectly well(she huffed), and that you need to finish your punishment…? Something about purple paint spray and hair gel?" She gave me both a curious and disapproving look.

I snickered. "Yeah. Bye, Madam Pomfrey." She nodded, eyes darting towards the abandoned bed I had occupied just seconds ago, like she was trying to tell me to go back. "Severus." I snickered again under my breath this time. "What kind of person names their son Severus?"

One that knows that their granddaughter is secretly insane and annoying? Tom suggested. His eyes sparkled, kind of like Dumbledore's twinkle in his eyes.

Tom choked. You know, sometimes, I wish I had acquired a…simpler mind.

Did you just call me smart? Wow.

Again, don't let it get into your head. Tom snorted. I did mean it as an insult.

Well, it didn't work.

Obviously. I opened the door, and was greeted by a nod and a sponge in my face.

"Can't I just use magic?" I complained as he made me hand over my wand again.

"The whole punishment would be ruined if I did. Do you not agree?" He remarked dryly as he stashed my precious wand in his robe pocket.

I am so teaching the first years this prank. Did you not see him in the Mohawk? I smiled as I purposely smeared the spray over the wall.

You're going to set a bad example.

Me? Set a bad example? Psh. I scrubbed with minimal force, taking my time, and of course, enjoying watching my dad huff in annoyance whenever I let the soapy water drip down onto the carpeted floor.

After I spilled, smeared, and dripped my way through one section, Dad snapped. "I'll do it! Go to your room…just go." He sighed and massaged his temples, muttering.

I blinked at him innocently. "Are you sure? I'm glad to help!" I clenched my fist a little tighter, and watched in satisfaction as muddy-colored purple water dripped onto the floor.

"YES. Go. To. Your. Room." Dad grinded out, and with a flick of his wand, the sponge flew out of my hands and splashed into the bucket. I grinned and left.

I lay on my bed, bored. Tom was beginning to doze off, and his shield slipped a little. I felt his tiredness, and slipped into sleep eventually.

My eyes flashed open. Feet scrambling to get up, I noticed Tom was talking, furiously, to a bald man.

"I…told…you. I don't…I haven't…there's no information I can give to you on Harry bloody Potter!" Tom was saying, wincing on the ground. One knee was on the ground, the other supporting his left arm, which was holding him up.

I realized the bald, red-eyed man was Voldemort.

"Ah…the miracles of dreams. Yield…you will become me…accept your fate!" Voldemort hissed, and flicked his want, barely murmuring a Crucio. Yield. Woooooow.

Tom gritted his teeth. "I'm not you! And I never will-ungh-be!" He nearly crumpled to the ground. I took a step back, horrified.

"Oh my gosh..." I whispered.

"You are though, are you not? Tom Marvolo Riddle…." Tom crumpled, but regained his footing. Voldemort's voice was raspy. I watched the Crucio in horror.

"HEY! VOLDY!" I screamed. I'm not quite sure what I was doing. Voldemort turned. "Who dares-" He hissed, but his eyes passed over me without recgonization.

He couldn't see me. Tom could. His eyes rose briefly because of the break from the curse, and he did a double take. He looked stricken, and Voldemort must have had a connection to him, because he whirled around like he knew.

"You know who it is…do you not?" He hissed and raised his wand.

I cupped two hands over my mouth. (AN: Some insults are respectively not mine, pulled off from the internet) "HEY! NOSELESS! I heard you lost your nose ramming into the wrong platform wall! Is that true, or did Fate just decide you needed to look ugly?" I ran in front of him as he whirled around again.

"Show yourself!" He hissed and growled the "s". Tom stared at me with wide eyes, and I felt him struggling to pull up his shield.

"I don't need to know who you are. You know…tell me…" Voldemort rounded on Tom, who was still struggling with the shield.

I tried again. "Maybe that's not it…hm…I know! When you tried to kill Harry, the curse rebounded off him and killed your nose!" Voldemort began to turn around, but then decided against it and grudgingly rounded back on Tom, who, despite the situation, was covering up his snort.

"Is…that it? Will I end…up as…a noseless…baldy who threatens…infants?" Tom coughed into his hand, and I tried not to look mortified at his bloody hand. Did Crucios even do that?

I needed to keep Voldemort distracted. "Hey, Tom!"

"Yeah?" Tom played along, wincing. I backed up as Voldemort whirled around again, trying to distract him.

"Does Voldy here usually practice his ballet spins in front of you?"

Voldemort stopped mid-turn, growling. "Show yourself!" He raised his wand.

I sat up, gasping for air. Instantly my mind probed for Tom's presence. I reached the weak barrier. I could easily blow it down. Tenderly, I tried to support it.

Though I couldn't directly feel him, I could feel him gratefully sapping the tendrils of power. I got a little tired, and the sapping stopped, uncertain.

I pushed more energy at him. Take it! Hurry up! I thought fiercely. Slowly, Tom took the energy. I probed the barrier again, weakly now. It was fairly strong.

I sunk into my pillow, tired from the sudden turn of events. I had met Voldemort. Surprisingly, my first reaction was not: RUN! IT'S VOLDEMORT! It was actually: Wait a minute. He doesn't have a nose? He doesn't have a nose... But don't worry. My second thought was to run, trust me.

Suddenly Tom's presence filled my mind, and he appeared slightly with hacking coughs. OH MY GODS! Are you okay? Okay, that was a stupid question.

I-I can't believe…the first thing you said to the most feared wizard was 'Hey, Voldy, I heard you lost your nose'! He let a small smirk fly across his face.

Then he straightened and glared at me. You could have been killed! Or hurt!

You were coughing blood. I pointed out, resting on my pillow. My cheek crushed against the softness of it, wanting to sleep but scared to sleep.

I'm used to it. He thought without…well, thinking. You know what I mean. His eyes strayed warily over me to see if I had caught his slip.

My eyes narrowed as I tried to stare back at him in my head. You're…what? Tom. No way. No. Tell me this doesn't happen every night.

Tom shifted. He wouldn't look at me. I'm fine. It's okay, he's not-

Oh my gods. The next time I get my hands on him-I was so mad, I was pressing crescents into my palm from my nails.

Next time? What makes you think-Celia, stop. You're punching holes into your palms. I let go of my fists slightly, breathing heavily.

I didn't reply. Tom let out a deep breath. Celia, you do know I'm part of Voldemort? If Harry manages to kill Voldemort-

When Harry kills him-I corrected firmly. Tom rolled his eyes.

Yes. When he kills him…I'm pretty sure, that, well, I might not survive either. It's just a heads-up. I knew that. We both kind of did.

Tom was quiet for a while. Then he lifted his eyes under his lashes and stared at me. Ha. He had long eyelashes. Thank you for trying to help. I didn't expect that.

No problem. You don't need to thank me for that. I'm going to get lunch. I slipped off my bed and trudged out of my room.

I started walking, slowly, to the dining room. Tom?

Yes?

I thought about my response, then, truthfully answered: I don't regret meeting you. At all. Oh, and one more thing. What kind of middle name is Marvolo?

Sorry. I couldn't resist. But seriously. Marvolo.

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