AN: Aloha, thanks for all the story alert and reviews. Question, do you think I should continue this, or focus on Past's player (the prequel) ? Neither is slash, but I'm not doing any particular Harry pairing, so on your own head be it on how you choose to view it I suppose. Thanks again.

Chapter 6.1

Harry bit his lip, walking down the familiar corridor to the Gryffindor common room. His head was pounding. Tom made his head hurt in all ways possible - literally, figuratively and metaphorically. He was just so…confusing. He was more dangerous than Voldemort would ever be, more of a threat. He was saner, subtler and a genius. The worst thing of all? You could forget what he was. He could make you care. Harry shut his eyes tightly, feeling off balance. Slightly shakily, he stumbled up the steps into the circular Gryffindor dorm. His bed. Crimson hangings, his trunk, his one shot at peace. Except, a bed was no longer sanctuary. Not with the dreams. The nightmares. Every night. With a heavy sigh, he collapsed under the duvet, wrenching the curtains around his bed shut. The light from outside eclipsed, soothing his eyes and his head. The duvet was cold. He plumped the pillows slightly, a scowl on his face. Then he let his eyes close.

___

He was up early the next morning; so early. It must have been about four am. Harry knew he would sleep no more. With a sigh, he pulled on some clothes, heading to the room of requirement.

___

'You're friends are looking for you.'

Harry tilted his head at the familiar voice of Zevi Prince. The ashy-haired teenager stopped next to him, pausing to lean next to him on the wall. They were outside potions, the walls were gloomy, cast in shadow. Winter always made the dungeons darker.

'Hmmm,' he said in reply. Zevi grinned at him.

'Eloquent as ever, I see.'

'Shut up, Zev,' he snapped mildly, not really all that bothered. There was a moment of silence.

'You seem close,' Zevi noted.

'We are,' he sighed. 'Or we were, I'm not really sure how we stand now.'

'Tom will kill me for saying this; but don't push them away,' Zevi imparted, his expression unreadable.

'Tom?' he questioned. 'What does he have to do with it?' Zevi looked a little annoyed now.

'Don't be so oblivious Evans. You really think my lor- Tom - travels through time for most people?' he snapped. Harry's head shot up.

'I suppose you can't elaborate?' he asked. Zevi had always been his ally in his constant power plays with Riddle, perhaps with some reluctance, but an ally all the same. He would always choose Tom though, if it really came down to it. All of them would.

'Ha! And risk Tom's wrath? You must be joking,' Zevi retorted dryly, confirming his thoughts. The conversation halted as more people arrived for the potions class - Tom included. The future Dark Lord gave them both a scrutinising look, but didn't comment. Zevi grabbed his arm before moving over to join the others. 'Just be careful, okay?'

___

'Harry!' a voice called behind him. He inwardly flinched, then, steeling himself, turned.

'Are you going to tell me what's going on between you and Prince?' Tom asked, coming to a halt in front of him. He pretended to consider it.

'No.'

'I'll go find Zevi then,' Tom held his gaze for a moment, his eyes challenging. He merely raised a brow, calling the future Dark Lord's bluff…when Tom shrugged and walked away, he began to curse his hero complex. He doubted Zevi would do all too well in the face of Tom's interrogation methods.

'Riddle,' he called softly. Tom turned, looking slightly smug. He barely refrained from rolling eyes. Very deliberately, he walked over, only stopping when he was looking the older boy right in the eye.

'He merely informed me that my friends were looking for me.' He smirked slightly at Tom's expression, then once more, walked away. Oh he loved messing with Tom's head. It was so much fun.

'Your lack of trust in my offer of friendship is wounding,' Tom yelled after him.

'How will you ever recover?' he mocked lightly, not looking back.

'Shut up, chosen one!'

'Touché Tommy boy, touché.'

This fic isn't really going all that well. I have the ideas but I'm having trouble linking it together into a story without it being a series of events. Might hiatus and work on PP? What do you think? Anyone want to collaborate/and/or offer some thoughts?