...
The rest of their meal was eaten in relative peace and Harrison found himself actually enjoying it. Tom showed an interest in learning about his studies as a Technomages. Harrison used the napkins to draw out basic magic circles explaining how they worked. Tom's blue eyes were alight with interesting and excitement.
After they ate the two teenagers left the restaurant and headed for the bookstore. Harrison felt eyes upon him almost immediately. A quick glance around told him the other students were standing off to the side whispering behind hands. Their eyes were raking up and down them with deep disgust.
Somehow they still saw homosexuality as being disgusting. Despite the fact potions could allow partners to have children together. Muggleborns were influencing their world in too many ways. Harrison wasn't against muggleborns being in the Wizarding World. They brought new blood into the old lines. What he had a problem with was them trying to change their traditions and rights.
Tom asked in a low whisper right next to his ear, "What's wrong, Harrison?"
Harrison returned to whisper, "They are watching us in disgust. Honestly the bigotry in this country is positively disgusting."
"Is France any better?"
Harrison considered the question for a moment before he answered, "For the most part yes. Those who are disgusted by same-sex relationships tend to hide it better. To show their feelings in such a way would lose the family support by most of the community."
Tom hummed but didn't say anything else. Instead he looped his arm through Harrison's and pulled him closer to the bookstore. They were able to enter without any issues. The scents of the bookstore hit Harrison like a brick. They were dusty smelling in a way that only books could be. It was relaxing for the young man.
The two boys split from there each heading to seek out their own books. Harrison was hoping to find a book on Runes. The books on Runes were in the back part of the shop in a forgotten corner. Only a handful of shelves held anything on them that weren't school related.
That was disappointing. He had hoped that the shop would have at least more books than was used by sixth years in other countries. With a shake of his head Harrison turned away from the disappointing books. He headed for the Defense books hoping to find something interesting there.
Only to run almost directly into Regulus Black, Sirius's much younger brother. They were just inches from each other. So close Harrison could smell the other's cologne. What the hell did this boy want? They were close no matter how close they were in age, Regulus being two years older. Or the fact that Sirius was his godfather.
"What do you want, Black?" Growled Harrison, "I am trying to shop. So if you don't mind?"
Harrison tried to step around him. Only for Black to grab his arm. The arm with the orange and black band on it. He froze his gaze going frosty and the air heating with his anger.
"Let go," hissed Harrison in a low voice.
Black did not release him instead moved in to whisper, "I know what you are, Potter. You cannot hide it forever."
What he was? That made about as much sense as the boy cornering him. What did he know that Harrison didn't? Dark grey eyes searched his face. Confusion spread across the boy's face before it turned into recognition and he began laughing. The air grew even hotter as Harrison's anger rose. A few people began to sweat and look around as if expecting a fire to be spreading through the building.
"Oh this is rich," declared Black still too quiet for anyone else to hear, "You don't even know what you are."
"What do you mean?" Hissed Harrison.
He was missing crucial information and it seemed the boy in front of him had it. At this point he wished they were within the walls of Nightingale. He was certain that Durant would forgive the use of Veritaserum. Information like this could mean life or death within their walls. And as King Harrison had more leeway than other students.
Black grinned madness shining in his eyes now, "This is precious. No I don't think I will tell you what you are. The fact that you haven't figured it out yet is a boon to my master."
His ma... Grindelwald. It had to be Grindelwald. Before he knew what he was doing he twisted out of Black's grip. His magic was instinctively forming Electric Shock in the palm of his hand. The CAD simply acting as a conduit instead of the activator it had been before.
Black released his arm and drew his wand ready to fight back against if necessary. For a moment they just stared at each other. The only sound the crackling lightning in between his fingertips. A flicker of interest crossed the older boy's eyes at it but he didn't look away from Harrison. They were both waiting for the other to make the first move. And it had been such a nice start to his day too.
"You can't hide forever, Potter," laughed Black, "He will find a way to get to you."
Harrison wasn't stupid. Of course Grindelwald would. He was the Dark Lord for Merlin's sake. It was all about being prepared for anything. In Hogwarts the wards would protect him from most things. Portkeys being the main one but out here he was vulnerable. Now that he knew the Dark Lord was after him he could prepare accordingly.
The only question was why. Why was Grindelwald after him? What had he done that caught the man's attention? Or more accurately what was he that caught Grindelwald's attention? He knew he was different. The band on his wrist was proof of it but he didn't know what it meant. No one did.
No one except the boy in front of him. The urge to curse Black was nearly overwhelming. He needed answers and he needed them now.
"Harrison, have you found everything... Black what are you doing here?" Came Tom's voice from behind Black.
Black turned so that he could see both of them. The Black Madness was sparking in his eyes and it reminded Harrison of Bellatrix.
"Don't worry about it, Riddle," said Black waving Tom off, "We were just having a conversation. I'll be seeing you."
Just like that the magic dispelled and the air cooled. Black then spun on his heel and stalked out of the room. This left Harrison uncertain and worried.
...
Tom was worried about Harrison since Black left. It was obvious the two had words before Tom arrived. Hell by the time he arrived they were seconds away from cursing each other. He could taste the magic in the air from what they were putting off. Not to mention the unseasonably hot hair. That had to have been magic but none like he had ever seen before.
No. That wasn't quite right. He had seen it before but only within the last month. Every time Harrison's emotions had been up high. Every time he had gotten angry the air had become like a sauna. Then there was their duel that first night. Something was happening and Tom didn't like the fact he didn't know what it was. It wasn't like he could ask either. Black wouldn't answer him, he never acknowledged Tom's place in Slytherin and followed Grindelwald.
Asking Harrison. He paused and looked at the younger boy. Green eyes were glazed not truly seeing anything they passed on the streets. Asking him wouldn't do any good right now. Any good will he earned would be lost if he pushed. So he just kept walking.
