Heather pov
"Remember who he is Ronald Weasley." I hissed. He blinked slightly surprised; I'd caught him before he'd made a grab for his want. "You may hate me at the moment, for stupid reasons. Right now I don't desire to witness you injured and spread more trouble for me seeing as in the eyes of most of the school this is my fault." I reasoned but he doesn't really care about being logical. The only words which grabbed his attention was 'remember who his is'. Self-preservation rules most people, and I say most because in all honesty I don't care about my life. To be honest though, I tend to be the exception to most things…
"Why the hell do you care?" He spat, while I merely rolled my eyes.
"Ron if you had actually been paying attention you would have heard." I replied annoyed. "Oh by the way, don't even start saying I sound like Hermione, and they is nothing wrong with the way she speaks. Just because she's intelligent doesn't mean that all she says is just facts and figures." I glared. "Right now you've caused enough problems for me now don't end up dragging me into a fight that I have no part of. You know the Slytherin's use any excuse to make me lose points and look bad."
Tom blinked stunned. "Out of interest why do Slytherin hate you?" He asked. His voice seemed to just anger Ron further, even though the question is fairly reasonable question. His reputation would have just caused more problems. Ron's anti-Slytherin attitude is really beginning to get on my nerves.
"Like you don't already know you filthy snake!" Ron burst with anger. "Slytherin hate her because she is the only person who stands up against them and their anti-muggle attitude! She defeated your filthy future self!" His eyes narrowed, I literally groaned. Great what he didn't already know had been revealed to him, the dark lord now knew everything.
I paled considerably. Sweat formed on my forehead. "What do you mean my future self?" He asked coldly but not directed towards me but towards Ron flaming Weasley. His voice was alike ice as it trembled threw my soul; his eyes were as emotionless as hell. No wonder he'd become the dark lord in this time, though to me Tom was more chilling as he is. Although the distorted human merged with a serpent scares you, it is nowhere near the level it does such on a face as hansom as this.
Startled Ron stepped back, stunned at the change of demeanour, well to be truthful I doubt he even know what the word means but I guess you get the picture. Before Ron had underestimated Tom Riddle thinking he was only slightly more powerful than the Slytherins of our time. He was wrong. Ron Weasley was wrong, and his mistake had awakened the inner soul which had become the twisted dark lord who had cost me the lives of my family. All I could do was watch, frozen in position. My whole being shook with fear it had never felt, even when coming face to face with the current Voldermort. This Tom Riddle scared me more than the dark lord of our time ever could of because…with Tom you could see he was human. With Tom Riddle you can empathise and within this lose control of who you are. Voldermort looks like a monster, but Tom Riddle doesn't yet is just as cold. All I could do was stand motionless as he advanced towards him. Yet why was it me who was left alone standing?
"I'll ask you again; what did you mean?" He hissed, his words bordering parseltongue. Ron shook in fear, as he watched Riddle. I cannot say that I envied Ron right now. Never would I say I would want to switch places with him, not even for some noble reason. As many have said 'your famous for defeating you know who' but Tom wasn't him. He was much, much worse and no matter how much my Gryffindor instincts command me, my Slytherin ones tell me to stay.
"You attacked the Potters…" He murmured, trying and failing to avoid Riddle's gaze. "Tried to kill Heather but the curse rebounded on you. No one knows why but Heather's nothing special. Anyone who has a class with her can tell that much." Contempt crept into Ron's voice. It was clear to me that the only reason he had come over was to cause trouble or defend the Gryffindor symbol. Personally I believed the first.
It was at this point Riddle's gaze attacked mine; it was like staring into two dark portals to hell. "Oh I can certainly object to your statement Weasley, Heather is certainly powerful. I can sense it but then again you wouldn't have the ability to read aura's and cores…. I can certainly say hers is more powerful than yours, compared to yours her power is the sun while yours is merely a rock."
"No, she's not powerful at all." Ron sneered. "Dumbledore says she's average, it was Hermione and I who did most of the work when stopping your retched self from stealing the stone in first year!"
In disbelief I stared at him; how could he say that at all? He has no right! Did he have to go through my past? Did he of all people fight the imprusius and win? No, and he certainly couldn't defend himself against dememtors. Ronald Weasley is on my hit list right now, well I don't want him to die but well at least pay… Great now I'm sounding like a certain psychopathic dark lord. "Oh really?" His voice was cold.
"Yeah apparently it was love that saved her, the love of her mother. No freaky powers that shouldn't exist. She's not as powerful as me." He boasted but he was being really stupid. Who boasts about this in front of the young dark lord? The answer is no one who wants to keep their heads.
Rage was burning threw Riddle but it was so controlled and contained I sensed it was going to burst. "Millions of mothers have died trying to save their child, mine for one did. Many mothers love their children enough to die for them Weasley that's something you wouldn't understand seeing the little loyalty your showing her right now. If I'm honest I could bet even I'm more loyal than you are Weasley." Was Riddle actually defending me?
Ron couldn't seem to believe this ether. "So she is on your side?" He hissed under his breath.
"No, she wouldn't join me. For one she's smart, and two she probably has trust issues not that I blame her." He replied annoyed at Ron.
"I must insist that you serve a detention Riddle." Dumbledore's voice boomed. What for? Tom had done nothing wrong this time. "You have insulted Ronald Weasley and for that you shall serve detention." Bad idea seeing as Tom had not yet unleashed his rage. Honestly wasn't Dumbledor able to see Tom's rising anger like I could?
"For what though sir?" I spoke for the first time since Ron had barged over here.
"For insulting Ron and almost leading to a fight." The headmaster spoke calmly trying to shove the blame on Tom. "It would have caused numerous problems and the ministry may have had to have gotten involved. Although it is none of your business Miss Potter, I can assure you this punishment is fair."
"Then may I enquire to why Ron hasn't been given a detention?" I replied smoothly, both Tom and Ron looked slightly shocked. Tom because I'd dragged Ron into this too, and Ron because I hadn't also defended Riddle.
"It was Riddle who started it Miss Potter, not Ron-"I cut the headmaster across sharply.
"Then I ask why did you not interfere then? If you knew who started it then you'd punish Ron because it is his fault for this. I assure you it was him. You can even use veretersirum on me and my answer shall not change. I'll also say that you may punish me too if you punish Tom because I just stood there. Effectively Tom did as much as I encouraging nothing." I challenged the headmaster. Tom smiled at the cunning of my plan. I could sense his confusion for I had no reason to actually help him. Other than the fact that I wanted Ron punished he could not see why I would do such a thing, but the fact I also said the headmaster should punish me if he does Tom shocked Tom.
"Miss Potter am I to think that you are defending a boy from the past against your own friend?" He asked trying to show disappointment in a grandfatherly way.
"Yes because right he is being as prejudice as the death eaters are to muggleborns, only to Slytherins instead." I replied. "You know that it is very offensive to me seeing as the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin." My voice was cold and icy though very different to the tones Tom had used. I spoke in a monotone which rather shocked everyone. "Prejudice is never something that is right for everyone has their own tale to tell. Circumstances shape everything, even your motives and you heart but prejudice is blind and stupid for there is always an exception."
"Headmaster what do we have here?" Coming into my ear was the annoying voice of Umbridge, but for once I was grateful because for once it would help us.
Bowing my head respectfully, I replied to her. "Marm you see the headmaster wanted to give Riddle a detention unfairly for what Ronald here had done. I was merely defending Riddle as I saw that he was being unrightfully punished as I was with him throughout the period of time he was supposedly breaking school rules professor." With a respectful even tone I spoke. Hopefully making sure I hadn't angered her. Seeing as she obviously dislikes him more than me because of the fact that it was he who was trying to 'take' over the ministry.
"I see Miss Potter, thank you for your honesty given. I agree with Miss Potter it is unfair for Riddle to be punished and it should be Ronald Weasley who shall take it instead. Miss Potter and Mr Riddle I believe you should be making your way to your classes. Mr Weasley I'd like a further words with you and the headmaster." Her voice was sharp but Tom and I nodded echoing a nice simple 'yes professor'.
Quickly we hurried down the corridor before Dumbledore could attempt to get us into more trouble. Our eyes met, both watching the other with caution. It was clear nether one of us truly trusted the other for we didn't understand the motives of the other. Why had Tom defended me? It is so weird… I'd never really thought in all my time it would be him who proved to be my saviour, although somehow there is some part of me that wants to trust him completely. It is so strange, after the chamber the young lord Voldermort keeps on surprising me. In the chamber he seemed to care when there was no reason to even try to act, here he defended me and there was truly no reason to. Then again it was me who defended him to seconds ago.
"Why?" I asked softly.
"Why what?" He arched an eyebrow.
"Why did you defend me Tom Marvolo Riddle?" I lengthened the question.
"I don't know why, I shouldn't but I cannot help but want to protect you." He murmured. His dark irises pierced mine like fire. "Why did you defend me?" His voice was as soft as a summer's breeze yet deadly serious. He wanted to know why I had. In truth I honestly don't know. IT is so weird, in all my life I'd never felt like this before and it worried me.
"I guess you could say instincts, but then again I honestly have no clue. It seems we are similar in that respect Tom. Maybe we should just stay away from each other in the future; we seem to cause trouble when we are together. No matter what time we attract problems it would be best if we avoid the other." I murmured, though I my heart I felt regret flood through me.
"Then again we both attract each other whether we want to or not. Maybe it would be better not to fight it anymore…" He murmured.
"True but then again it causes you problems with Bellatrix." I noted his eyes latched onto mine.
"You're that perspective?" He gaped slightly.
I snickered. "I'm smarter than most give me credit for you know. I sense emotions I'm almost empathic I guess you could say. Then again I feel the emotions strongly too sometimes…" I smiled at him.
"Was it true what you said about the hat wanting to put you into Slytherin?" He asked curious.
"Yes…" I nodded.
"Shame…" He smiled. "I think I would have preferred it if you were in my house it would make things ever so much more interesting…"
"That's true but imagine the headlines 'Girl who lived to go dark' honestly they'd be complete chaos everywhere." I rolled my eyes. "I hate the way people are so quick to judge whether muggle or wizard we're too quick to exclaim things. Sometimes though we can't help but jump to conclusions but you would have thought not to believe anything written in the papers…"
"Good point, then why would I have a reason to fight you in the future?" He tried to joke about it but it seemed to concern him. I could just sense it, but that was one of the more worrying things. I couldn't help but wonder why. In many ways it scared me that I could sense these emotions so strongly in Tom. It is weird how much I can sympathise with him to; even understand why he hates muggles so much. How similar yet different we are… Almost opposites stemming from one point where everything changed. Maybe if my magic had fought back against the Dursleys more then maybe I'd be like Tom…
What would the world be like if I was like Tom? I doubt it would necessarily be better but then again I don't know. All in all Tom is unique none could be identical to him in anyway. If they could be that would be plain creepy. "Maybe…. What class have you got next?" I asked softly changing the subject quickly.
"Potions with Professor Snape what is he like as a teacher?" He asked.
Mentally I groaned. "He'll be good to you but not to Griffs. You see like everyone in this school he is biased." I rolled my eyes. "It won't affect you too much because he favours Slytherin unlike most teachers. I honestly hate the way he treats us but it wouldn't do any good. He hates me a lot because of my father who bullied him at school here. That and I'm the girl who lived, he thinks I'm worse than him."
"It's all about perceptions…" He murmured. "Very rarely do people see things as they truly are. You do Heather but most don't. What do you have?" He asked softly.
"Defence against the dark arts." I replied smoothly. "With Umbridge."
"Well she doesn't seem to hate you…" He spoke trying to look at things positively.
"For now…." I sighed.
An: I know it has been ages since I last updated; I had the flu but I'm better now so updates will probably be more frequent. AS to a reviewer who said I spelled a word wrong my laptop stupidly automatically changes it, it is really annoying. It is also why I haven't typed it or it would be useless right now. I apologise for any words consistently spelt wrong I'm currently trying to solve the issue. Thank you for sticking with this story right now. Is the pace of this story ok right now? IF it isn't please review, I love to hear from you! It is currently the holidays so I'll write more over the next couple of days. Please stick with the story and continue to update! Reviews are always welcome!