Chapter 102:
Harry's heart was thudding wildly in his chest, a hammer and nails rhythm, and his fingers closed tighter around the golden Horcrux
"Something like that," he agreed warily. Tom's eyes narrowed, his walk forward measured and deadly. Harry backed up, circling, hopefully in the direction of the door. Tom stopped again, and held out a hand.
"Give it to me," the Slytherin Heir ordered, softly. Mutely, Harry shook his head, muscles coiled for fight or flight. "Now."
"I'm sorry," Harry murmured. "But you can't have it. I need him."
"Need him?" Tom repeated, delicately. "And pray, tell, what do you need him for?"
Harry was silent, stubbornly so. He knew Tom was expecting a confrontation, for him to evade like he normally did, but essentially and resolutely stand his ground. Tom stared at him, darkly.
"Harry," Tom continued, voice somehow becoming even more dangerous, and even more soft. "The locket is clouding your judgement…can't you see that? My Harry wouldn't be so stupid as to fall for so obvious as an enticement and trap…you knew perfectly well that I wasn't going to let it out of my sight."
"Maybe you just didn't know me as well as you thought you did," Harry suggested, carefully, cautious not to glance at his chance of escape.
Tom was expecting a fight…
"Clearly not-"
…so he ran instead.
Draco's head shot up as the door to the fifth year dorm slammed open, violently, a blur of motion darting out of it, a wand sending tables and chairs flying behind the movement.
Harry was tearing to the door.
Barely a second later, there was another blur, exuding danger, taking chase with the lethal grace of a panther, things flying out the way.
Everyone was frozen, instantly silent, eyes snapping to the common room exit where snakes were coming alive, ready to block anyone from leaving…and…and Harry had leapt over them, out into the corridor, not looking back, a glint of gold in his hand, sprinting.
The young Dark Lord didn't spare his gob-smacked audience so much as a glance, hot on the heels of his prey.
It lasted only a few seconds.
But it felt like a lifetime.
"Oh shit…"
Harry's adrenaline was racing through his body, spurring him on.
There was only the clatter of two sets of footsteps against the otherwise silent castle, suddenly seeming so alien despite its familiarity.
His breathing was ragged as he skidded around a corner, daring not to look back, fully aware of the tail he had, and knowing he had to do anything he could to lose it.
He couldn't hide, Tom could track him down in seconds - especially since he was also holding the Horcrux - and though he was a faster runner than Tom, Tom was by no means lagging and was keeping him quite clearly in sight.
He didn't stop, racing across the classroom, hightailing it out of the dungeons, where every snake on the wall was an enemy set to ensnare him.
He was a Parselmouth.
Tom was the Slytherin Heir.
He dived for another corridor, a curse narrowly missing him. Tom was also a deadly shot.: should have played for beater, if he didn't think Quidditch was a total waste of time.
Almost there…Harry skidded to avoid crashing into a wall, frantically manoeuvring a tight, dark corridor…and the next second hands had closed around his shoulders, but he was shaking off the grip, running again, shoving Tom back, wildly, not looking to see what damage he had done before he was running again…only to scream in agony as his right knee shattered beneath him, sending him buckling to the ground.
He was thrashing, but this time the grip was relentless, and a wand pressed painfully into the side of his head. He could feel breath against his skin, just as harsh and gasping as his own, and then whispered words.
"Stupefy."
When Harry woke up, his leg throbbed, and his arms ached…and bloody hell, he couldn't move. He lifted his head, warily, instantly alert and squinting as his vision cleared.
Tom swam into view, standing in front of him, dangling the locket mockingly in front of his face. There was nothing mocking in his gaze. Harry's took in his surroundings - an abandoned classroom by the looks of things, and heavily warded, and…
"You tied me to a chair?" he questioned weakly, disbelieving.
"You ran away," Tom said, uncaring, eyeing him like he was some creature he was experimenting on. "I'd rather you didn't try again." Harry swallowed.
"Untie me," he ordered, tersely, heart pounding, eyes flicking to the locket still inches out of his grip.
"Well," Tom said, his magic utterly devoid of the carelessness he spoke with, "I could. But you know…it's rather amusing to see you so completely helpless. I dare say it's the sadistic streak."
Harry sucked in a sharp breath.
"Tom-" he began.
"-Start explaining," Tom hissed, commanding, stock still, regarding the locket he twirled through his fingers instead of him. Harry clenched his jaw, fuming at his own inadequacies and failures.
He looked away, dismissively, knowing the Slytherin Heir would sense the lack of intent attention and be infuriated by it. Strong fingers gripped his jaw, almost immediately, and Salazar, Harry wished he could edge back… but he wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction.
"Tell me," Tom all but purred, "and we can skip the part where I force it out of you."
"Oh but I wouldn't want to deprive that sadistic streak of yours," Harry returned sweetly.
Tom regarded him for a moment, before shrugging, pulling out his wand. Harry stiffened despite himself, corded with tension, jerking his head away.
Tom tapped the wand against his chest, so lightly, but so very menacingly. He couldn't help but praying someone, anyone, even Snape, would walk in.
"How do we do this then?" the young Dark Lord murmured. "I could torture you, but that would hardly work…it might be fun though."
Harry jutted his chin out, holding Tom's gaze, not saying a word. Tom smiled slightly, but it wasn't a nice smile.
The wand tip played with his collar, sweeping it aside, lazily, and Harry held his breath, unable to look away now even if he wanted to. He knew Tom was doing it to unnerve him, but it was working. Then, to his utmost relief, the wand trailed a path upwards, across his lips and settling on his temple.
"Or," Tom continued, with a silkiness that jarred with the situation, "I could take your defiant little mind apart with Legilimency, what do you think of that option, darling?"
"You're going to have to," Harry dared, as evenly as he could. Tom studied him for a moment longer, and then spoke, not releasing his gaze.
"Open."
Black smoke issued almost instantly from the Horcrux, forming that becoming-familiar figure. Marvolo. Red eyes surveyed the scene with the preciseness of a viper analysing its pretty.
They stopped on Harry, taking in his position, before glittering as Marvolo turned to Tom, a smirk in his voice.
"Isn't this a pretty picture," it said.
Harry's eyes narrowed, but Tom simply stared back dispassionately.
"Tell me what's going on between you and Harry," Tom commanded, coldly. Marvolo was silent for a moment.
"It's all fun and games with you, isn't it?" it deadpanned, sarcastically.
"That was an order," Tom said, tightly. Marvolo's eyes had hardened, but still retained that cruel gleam.
"Business propositions - it's all work and no play with our esteemed Golden Boy, have you ever noticed that?"
Marvolo circled the chair, leaving Harry to feel torn over which one of them to keep his attention on; he went for Marvolo as he was standing behind him. Shadowy, but alarmingly solid, hands rested on his shoulders.
"We could always share him, I get weekends-"
Harry felt his temper crackle, and his aura flare with it, causing Marvolo to snatch his hands away as if he'd been electrocuted, even as Tom simultaneously snapped for the Horcrux to
"-get your hands off him."
"Oh relax," it drawled. "Honestly, I'm so glad I'm not an adolescent anymore, they're all so sickeningly emotional and you're one of the worst, child."
"I'm not emotional," Tom hissed, "and I most certainly am not a child. Now elaborate, or I'll roast you under my wand."
Harry's eyes widened with panic, and Marvolo froze faltering, eyes glaring.
"What do you think makes boy wonder go obsessive?" it returned, coolly. "Not I, humble soul, certainly."Tom shot him a sharp look, to which Harry kept still, once more wishing he had freedom of movement. Marvolo circled once more to stand next to Tom, cupping shadowy hands to stage-whisper mockingly in Tom's ear. "He's trying to play the hero."
Tom was rigid, and Marvolo near danced away, and if he were so inclined, Harry was sure he would be cackling. Tom was quiet for a moment.
"The Weasley girl?" he questioned. Marvolo clapped, slowly, derisively, but Tom didn't even glance at the Horcrux. "You're attempting a deal to save her life - what's the deal?"
This time dark eyes did flick to Marvolo, indicating to who Tom was directing his enquiry.
Marvolo's posture, indistinct as it was, barely leashed violence and rage at the forced submissiveness of survival instincts.
Tom was in control in this room, and both Harry and Marvolo were aware of it, so avoided clashing gazes.
"I tell him how to fix her, and he helps me return to my body."
Tom was silent, and then his wand lifted - and Harry guessed he was about to burn the Horcrux with Fiendfyre-
"No!" he said, quickly. "Don't! I'll talk to you. Just don't kill him. Please.
"He could feel both Marvolo and Tom staring at him.
"Why the sudden appreciation for Horcruxes?" Tom questioned, still in that casual, deadly tone of voice.
"I still have need of him," Harry said evenly.
"Tell him how to fix the girl," Tom ordered, irritably.
This time, Marvolo didn't speak, but stared at Harry - words clear in his eyes. He obeyed Tom because Tom would kill him if he didn't, so he had no obligation now to speak and tell Harry anything.
And yeah, Ginny would be okay…but…he'd never be able to put Voldemort together, or have someone else do so…Marvolo couldn't die.
Marvolo didn't need to be alive for him to save Ginny, but to save Tom - and the compromise to that was Marvolo being alive and telling him the non fatal way of saving Ginny.
"Promise you won't harm Marvolo," Harry said, uncomfortably aware that he didn't exactly have the strongest leverage here.
"Marvolo?" Tom questioned. Harry made to shrug, but found he couldn't, ropes cutting into his skin, biting at it his wrists.
"Well, he's not you, and he's not quite Voldemort, and I needed some kind of name for I-him."
Tom did not look impressed.
"And you chose Marvolo?"
"As opposed to what…?" Harry replied, dryly, "he-who-must-not-be-named? It's a bit of a mouthful. Regardless, promise you won't harm him."
Tom rested a hand on one of the arms of the chair, and Harry barely caught himself from shifting.
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I'm asking you nicely…?" Harry offered, smiling brightly. "And friends do nice things for each other."
"We must be some friends for you to be tied up in a chair for my amusement," Tom replied. Harry stared at him, confused, utterly confused.
Tom smirked, dangerously, before the smirk vanished.
"Try again hero." Harry bit his lip, before staring back intently, trying to silently relay his message, and hoping Tom would comply and get it.
Tom normally understood him well enough, though his happiness with that varied on a situational basis. Tom straightened, pointing his wand at Marvolo, who in seconds had disappeared back into the locket, shooting Harry a penetrating expression Tom directed his wand at the Golden Horcrux instead, and Harry flinched, but couldn';t tear his eyes away.
Tom glanced at him, and simply cast more charms on it - locking and silencing ones. Harry nearly sagged in relief.
Tom folded his arms, and this time there was no room for compromise or evasion. Harry's stomach twisted.
"I was never going to give up my life to bring Marvolo back," he said, quietly. "Whatever your opinion of me, I'm not entirely thick or reckless. If there's no time limit or how on the deal, I have no immediate obligations to him…and…I need him to piece Voldemort back together."
Tom's eyes tightened.
"Excuse me?"he hissed.
Harry sat up straighter, as straight as he could, leaning forwards with engagement.
"The Horcruxes, if we put them back into Voldemort then-"
"Then what?" Tom questioned sharply. "I wouldn't allow you to do it."
"Why not?" Harry snarled, furious all of a sudden. "You do want a solution to this - tragedy - or whatever, don't you? Because with your attitude sometimes I'm not sure!"
"Of course I do," Tom spat. "But I don't believe a solution with my criteria is possible, even for you to pull off."
"Then why are you here?" Harry demanded, and Tom went absolutely silent, barely even seeming to breathe.
"If you think everything to do with our history and our fate is doomed why are you even bothering with this? The sadistic streak?"
"God damn it Harry-"
"-You could at least help me try and do something about this, instead of just watching as if you don't even care!"
"I won't let you do it because I care, as you put it Potter," Tom snapped. "Putting Voldemort back together, which may not even be possible as I don't really have all that big a capacity for remorse, would involve taking the Horcrux around your mind…the Horcrux, which your child's mind developed around…" Tom clenched his jaw. "You do realise that removing that Horcrux would rip your mind to shreds? You'd have the mental age of one year old if it wasn't done properly!"
"Then teach me how to do it properly," Harry challenged, livid. "We both know you're not the coward who will roll over and accept this when you have the possibility of doing something about it!"
"When I have the possibility of doing something about it," Tom repeated, terribly soft. "I'm out of possibilities."
There was a moment of ravaged silence, broken only by their breathing.
Tom hooked the locket around Harry's neck, pointing a wand to have the ropes release him.
"Don't do anything stupid. I will know, and kill him," the Slytherin Heir murmured, before turning and striding away. Harry swallowed.
"You're better than surrender, Tom…"
A/N: So. Um. Yeah. Hope that wasn't too bad and that you enjoyed it.
Does anyone know what happened to Eos?
Thanks for the reviews! You are amazing…still trying to write the reward…and the portfolio…
STILL NOT. AND NEVER WILL BE SLASH! They might tease, specifically Tom, but they're not going to start kissing or having a romantic relationship of any sort. Maybe that ruins it, and you're free to view it how you like because in all honestly I don't see either of them seriously dating in the middle of all their issues, but yeah, for me, this isn't a slash story...