AN: Aloha, it's been a while, but here it is. Thank you for all the reviews and alerts; I'd just like to say again that this isn't slash. Sorry. I don't write it. Enjoy - The Fictionist.

Chapter 13

The wizened headmaster paused by his bedside, staring at Tom.

'Harry, my boy, I wish to talk to alone for a moment,' he said, smiling placidly. Tom raised a brow at the snub.

'What, so you can talk about me? I wish to stay, I don't trust you with Harry, and we know that what I wish counts over what you wish,' Tom replied coldly. A hand came round his chest, pulling him away from Dumbledore's arm reach. The headmaster took a step forward, looking furious, before the smile was back and he sank gracefully into a conjured armchair.

'What do you say, Harry?' Dumbledore asked. He looked at the old man, once his mentor and still a fondly thought of but irritating and manipulative as hell grandfatherly figure.

'I don't mind if Tom stays,' he said simply. The headmaster looked a little displeased.

'Very well,' he said tightly. There was a moment of silence. 'Can you tell me what you saw, Harry? I know this is difficult for you, but I need to know what Tom said.'

'Voldemort,' he corrected automatically. Dumbledore gave him a long, piercing look.

'What did Tom say?' he continued. Harry could feel Tom's magic starting to crackle ominously.

'I don't know, I was trying too hard to get Voldemort out of my head to pay Tom all that much attention,' he returned, his voice growing deadly calm. Dumbledore stared back at him for a moment, not a twinkle in his eye.

'What did Voldemort say?' The headmaster asked finally. Score. Harry 1, Dumbles 0,

He smirked innocently.

'Nothing that concerns you,' he replied smoothly. 'Lets go. I can't stand another second in this whiteness.'

Tom laughed.

___

DUMBLEDORE:

How had things slipped so far out of his control? Harry Potter was Harrison Evans and Tom Riddle was in his Hogwarts. It was so unfair. He couldn't even openly challenge them at the risk of pushing Harry to the dark side even more - or start another way entirely. They both drew people, especially together - there just seemed to be a magnetic field of charisma and power around them. They were both good-looking boys too. Damn. Harry was going to get hurt, like him with Grindewald, then he would be so far gone that he wouldn't fight the way for them. Damn it! He glared at the entrance, where the Slytherin duo had left. He needed to get back in the game. Soon. Tom wasn't going to let the boy go without a fight.

RON WEASLEY

He started as the two figures stormed out of the hospital wing, their voices a low hiss. Parseltongue. Why was Harry talking snake with Riddle? Did they have something to hide. He seethed miserably. Ever since the snakes had slithered in Harry had had less and less time for him - him and Hermione. He thought they were best friends. But it seemed that Harry had new friends now. A Malfoy?! How could Harry be friends with a Malfoy.

'What did Dumbledore ask you, mate?' he asked, stepping into both of their way. They paused in their conversation to look at him. He hated that cold, calculating look that Riddle regarded with him. The evil bastard would probably slaughter them all in their sleep. Harry, his best friend, was going to get hurt or worse. He bristled slightly.

'Wanted to talk to me about Voldemort,' Harry shrugged, his eyes darkening. He looked dangerous.

'What did you say?' he asked eagerly.

'To sod off,' Tom replied, pulling Harry past him. 'Later Weasley.'

___

HERMIONE GRANGER

Harry had changed, that much was undeniable. But it was also undeniable that he was still the same at heart - courageous and heroic. The little boy with too much unwanted attention and weight on his shoulders that had rescued her from a troll in the bathroom. Her best friend. Practically her brother. They had been through thick and thin, hell and high water together, no new attitude was ever going to change that. He seemed more open around Tom, yet more guarded. He laughed more, he smiled more - bitter smiles, genuine smiles and smiles so bright that they eclipsed the sun. He had more confidence, he got better grades. He had someone who understood. Because Harry and Tom, despite their arguments - witnessed many a time in the great hall, and their power plays and banter: they understood. She would have liked to be the one to do that for Harry, but she couldn't. He was happy. Sure, he was still a brooding, moody person who pushed everyone away at times, but he was happier too. Slytherin seemed to cater to his brooding side in a way that Gryffindor, with all of its boisterous cheer couldn't. He was a Slytherin. He was a Gryffindor. She knew how that felt, and couldn't begrudge him for indulging in that vital bit of Harry that no one else saw. She was a Ravenclaw. She was a Gryffindor. Harry had shown that she could be both. She would stand by him. Thick of thin, hell or high water. That was what friends did.

CYGNUS LESTRANGE

He hated Potter - with a vengeance. He was so disrespectful and impertinent. Yet somehow his Lord stood for it. It didn't make sense. Him and Tom had once been close, but now he spent more time with Harry. Harry! He didn't know the first thing about being a pureblood, and his power would have been so much better in capable hands. The lion didn't even know how to use it properly. He still had Tom, Zevi, Alphard and even Abraxas wrapped around his little finger. It was sickening. Why couldn't this dark lord just hurry up and kill the brat so that the natural order of Slytherin could be reinstated. He was Tom's right hand man, his most loyal and faithful. Harry didn't even support Tom. Where was the justice?

'Mr Lestrange?' he stopped at the twinkling blue eyes that met his, feeling his insides curdle with dislike, Another muggle lover, just like Evans.

'Sir?' he asked sullenly. The old man beamed at him.

'I was wondering if you could help me with something?'