Chapter 3: The Meeting

Well, this one is a dud. I got only a few views and reviews. Meaning that no one is reading it. So short chapters. It'll probably be a short story with a lot of time skips.

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Harry Potter and Tom Riddle junior met up in the cafe in the muggle world. They decided that this would be the best place to meet since it was neutral ground. Harry snuck out of the castle under a delusional charm that he had learned from the muggle books. He did know loads of magic that the wizards didn't and hadn't even scratched the surface of what they did.

Riddle just casually walked into the café. He was quite comfortable in the muggle world. He had grown up there after all. He looked like any average good looking 19-year-old boy. He was dressed in some old-fashioned clothes, but nothing too outdated. Something that would have been seen about fifty years ago but didn't look too out of place. Slacks, a jumper and a trench coat. All in shades of black and brown.

Harry was dressed in a worn T-shirt and faded jeans and a dusty peacoat. All looking like they had come from charity shops. His runners were worse for wear, but they would do for now. The same clothes that he had been wearing when they had found him on the streets. He hadn't been clothes shopping since they picked him up and wasn't about to wear wizarding wear in the muggle world.

The two men stood and looked at each other for a long time, then shook hands and ordered tea, and sat in the table in the corner, away from all the other patrons. Tom and Harry both put up wards that kept people from hearing them. Tom wizarding ones, and Harry ones he'd read from books.

"So, Tom Riddle, you want me to throw in my lot with you?" inquired Harry as he took up his cup and sipped the tea inside. They had ordered at the counter and brought it to the table. It was that kind of café. A newer version of the service.

"Yes, I think we could get on better together if we are on the same side," said Riddle, fiddling with a cake that was light and delicate. It was a vanilla one and he preferred chocolate. But he was not going to tell Potter that, that would be giving the enemy information.

"You know they're paying me to 'take care of you', don't you?" Harry threw out casually. He took up a chocolate cake and ate it. He didn't care what Tom knew about his eating habits. He ate everything. Having lived his entire life not knowing where his next meal was coming from, he didn't care what his food tasted like.

"I could pay you more to forget about that," offered Tom, thinking that might not be a bad idea. He didn't have to pay his other minions, but Harry might be helpful to be on the payroll. Much like Greyback. "I could point you in other directions," he enticed, thinking the boy might be for hire.

"I don't think it's so much about pay, as to what would benefit both of us," said Harry, leaning back in his chair with a confident air. He had news that the other teen did not, and he was going to use that news to get what he wanted.

"What do you mean?" asked Tom, his brow scrunched in confusion. If the boy wasn't in it for the money, what was his motives?

"I'm going to let you in on a secret that I'm not sure you know, but it was informed to me by somebody who knows the future. The wish demon that created this reality. I'm sure you heard about that," he said, and waited for the man to nod that he had heard. When Tom nodded, he continued. "An older version of you is coming back at the end of this year and he's going to want the top position as Dark Lord," Harry said, leaning forward and tapping his finger on the table. His eyes never left the older teen's face. He wanted to gage his reaction.

"This is not good news," said the younger Riddle, his brow still puckered only now in concentration. He was the Dark Lord. He worked hard at getting there and he was going to keep the position. He didn't like to think that there would be an older version of himself running around. If that man did the things that he dreamed of doing, then he'd be cultured, and educated. Not only that, but there would be Horcruxes to worry about. Dammit.

"No, but I think if we can team up together, we could take on the older version of you," Harry said, leaning back again with great confidence. He was sure that the two of them together would make a great team. Now that he met the younger Riddle, he was surer.

Tom Riddle had to sit and think about that for a while. He knew that given the chance; his minions would run to the older version of him because he would be more powerful. And they would have protection under the more powerful version. He would need to make plans now. Not later. Perhaps this teen in front of him had some ideas. It was a good thing he knew a thing or two about himself, that he might know how the older version of him would think. He might have an idea where and what the Horcruxes were and where they might be hidden. If not, he could make educated guesses.

"What do you have in mind?" he asked Harry, voicing his thoughts. He tilted his head to the side, not giving away any emotions but curiosity.

"Well, I don't have any concrete plans now," confessed Harry as he finished what was in his mouth, "but I think that if we get together, we can form some that would thwart his plans. I don't know how he sees me. I don't know what rumors are going to be about me by the time he comes back, but they see me as the boy hero, and he'll see me as the enemy. He'll see us as adversaries. Together we will make a formidable opponent against him," the would-be hero stated, lounging in his chair like he didn't have a care in the world. He was like a big tomcat. All relaxed, but ready to pounce at any given moment.

"I can see where that would be beneficial," said Tom, thinking that two against one would be better, but he'd still be top dog. Harry would work under him. "You would do as I say?" he asked, wanting to get that cleared up.

"Not on your life," Harry stated. "Equal partners across the board, or it's a three-way war," he said, looking at the other teen. "Look, I am an independent type of man, but I am willing to work with you, and not against you. However, I am not subservient to anyone." His tone and facial features made that very clear. The scars on his face gave the look an even more distinction.

"Fine," the teenage Dark Lord said, not liking it, but not wanting to fight on two fronts. He'd put the boy in his place if he ever thought to take over. But he could deal with someone as an equal, probably. Well, he'd try. If not, then he'd see where the curses fell when it happened. He didn't know this kid, but he was sure he could take him in a magical battle. The boy was only fourteen.

"Don't worry, I won't try to run your organization. That's all you. However," Harry stated, lifting up a finger and an eyebrow, "there are a few things that we need to change about your platform, as I can't see you and him having the same belief system." That was something that needed to change. The two Dark Lord couldn't be seen fighting for the same thing. That was just ridiculous.

"What do you mean?" Tom asked, his brow pucker up again this time in confusion.

"You and I both know that you're a half-blood. I am half-blood. He is a half-blood. The fact that you are discriminating against half-bloods is just hypocritical. I think it's about time you stopped doing that," the teenage hero stated, glaring at the Dark Lord, like he was an idiot. "Also, the fact that you're showing prejudice against muggleborns is just plain stupid. So, you need to think of a new cause." He narrowed his eyes in frustration. He knew the older teen knew he was right.

"I've based my entire battle cry around the purebloods from the start. I can't change that now," protested Riddle. He didn't see how that could adjust. He had structured the entire government over it. He had made laws showing that was what he believed in.

"Sure, you can. You're a Dark Lord. Think of something else," Harry said, flipping his hand in the air like it was nothing.

"I'll lose all my minions, not to mention my other supporters," Tom cried, like that was important, which it was. All his financial backing came from purebloods that believed they were top dogs. If he changed his stance, they would pull their money.

"You're going to lose them anyway once the other Dark Lord comes back. Perhaps if you think up a new platform, you'll gain other subordinates. I don't have any minions and I don't see any problems in taking down the Dark Lord," said Harry, though his forehead scrunched in concentration. Perhaps he should start thinking about that.

"No, I must have an army at my back, and I can't just change what my belief system is overnight," Riddle stated, knowing that to win a war, you must have backers.

"Don't give me that bullshit. You don't believe the things you're preaching," Harry stated, giving him a flat look.

"Fine. I'll think of something else. Perhaps the discrimination against purebloods is something that I can get behind. For we are victimized, they're taking away our cultures," Tom said, thinking hard on what he could get behind that his followers would accept.

"Their culture. You. Are. Not. A. Pureblood," Harry pointed out enunciating each word. The other teen had been preaching it for so long that he seem to believe that he was.

"Fine, their," Tom said, slumping his shoulders. He knew Potter was correct. He needed to stop thinking of himself as a pureblood and remember is own roots.

"And I can get behind that," the younger teen said, smiling a winning smile. "I think tradition is all well and good. I don't see why we should have to celebrate Christmas when Yule will do just fine. I don't see why we must celebrate Easter at all. It is a Christian holiday and none of us are Christians. The Spring Equinox is just as important." He had been studying the calendar and saw what was celebrated and was shocked to see it resembled the muggle calendar.

"So, you can see what I'm saying then," the Junior Dark Lord said dramatically, complete with hand gestures.

"Yes. And if you can get some of your minions to back you on that, then I can see some of them staying with you. Then again, you have some bloodthirsty ones that just want to kill people and that would just go over to the Dark Lord just to kill others. You're going to lose them no matter what," Harry pointed out, finishing off his tea. He picked up one of the last cakes and ate it. They had been picking at the tea the whole time they had been talking. The cakes were all but gone. It had been a delicious spread. Well worth the money they paid for it.

"Yes, I can see that," Tom said, knowing the likes of Yaxley was just a bloodthirsty killer.

"Then you have the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry said with an evil smirk. Neville had nightmares about her and let the whole dorm know all about her. He would tell stories about her deeds. That he was glad that she was locked up in Azkaban.

"How on earth did you hear about her?" a shocked Tom asked. He'd only learned about her from his minions. He had thought about releasing her from prison, but… there was something keeping him from doing that. He didn't think he could control her.

"I'm roommates with Neville Longbottom," Harry pointed out.

"Ahh…" he too had heard all about her from his lackies.

"Well, it's been fun, but I really must get back to the castle. Uh, we'll have to meet like this again sometime soon. Let me know how things go with your minions," Harry said, getting up and throwing his napkin on the table.

"I'll send you a letter," Tom said, folding his napkin and placing it on his plate.

"Alright then."

With that, the two men parted each with a better understanding of each other and what they stood for.

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Harry felt fantastic when he got back to the castle. He felt like he had accomplished a great thing. He didn't feel so worried about the new Dark Lord showing up. With the younger Dark Lord by his side, it would make fighting the new Dark Lord even easier. Now that he got the younger Voldemort into thinking along a new line, there would be less killing on that front and more political battles. That would put people in better spirits. And hopefully prepare them for what was to come.

"I hope you're proud of yourself," said Neville as the boy looked at him with disgust. He knew where Harry had been and what he had been doing. Well, at least he thought he did.

"I am," said Harry, buffing his nails on his shirt. He knew the other boy didn't understand what was going on behind the scenes and he wasn't going to waste his breath trying to explain it to him.

"I can't believe you did that," said the round-faced boy. There were some tears in his eyes from the fact that the Boy-Who-Lived did what he did.

"I can't believe that you can't believe it, when I told you I would," Harry said, confusing himself with his turn of phrase.

"I'd just drop it," said Seamus. "It's done and over with." He could see that there was something else going on and he was going to wait and see what was what.

"I'm never going to trust you again," said Neville, brushing the tears off his cheeks and turning away.

Fred and George Weasley watched it all from the sidelines. They were of two minds about the whole ordeal. They were unsure what to make of Harry Potter. He wasn't the boy hero they wanted, but he might be the boy they needed. He might have the right idea in joining with the lesser of two evils. They were going to play it by ear for now. They weren't going to throw their wands in yet, but they were going to watch and see.

There was the fact that he was instrumental about Ron disappearing, but it really wasn't the boy's fault so much as Anyanka's. Not to mention Ron's. They had thought it over and they couldn't really blame Harry, but that didn't mean they had to like the kid. They, unlike the rest of the student body, did remember the demon's warning that a second Dark Lord was coming. And if he was a greater threat, they were going to fight him.

If that meant throwing their lot in with Harry Potter, so be it.

"Not my problem," said Harry as he plopped down on the couch next to the Granger girl. She wasn't likely to question him about his whereabouts and happenings.

"So, tell me what happened," said Hermione, shocking the hell out of everyone, including Harry. She didn't talk to anyone, ever. Now she was opening a conversation with Harry. This was unprecedented. Everyone was unsure as to how to react.

"Why do you want to know?" asked Harry, lifting and eyebrow and tilting his head to the side.

"I have a feeling this is going to be extremely important," said the bushy-haired girl, looking at him dead in the face. She knew it was going to be life-changing on her part and she wanted in.

So, Harry told her what words were exchanged between him and Tom. She nodded at appropriate places and got a thoughtful look upon her face.

"I think I'll be your right-hand man," she said with a prim look on her face, once more shocking the hell out of those around them. The two speaking weren't quiet, like they didn't care who was listening. Which they didn't.

He looked at her and chuckled and said, "Why do you think I need a right-hand man?" He didn't think it was a bad idea, but he wanted to know what her thinking was. Did she think he couldn't do it himself, or that he was too stupid to handle it alone? Or did she just want to be part of the action?

"I think I could be very important to you," she said, folding her hands on her lap and crossing her legs. She thought she could be quite useful.

He looked her up and down, took in her bushy hair, her slightly bucked teeth. And then her very, very serious face. She wanted to be involved, he concluded. He looked around the room and looked at all the other faces that were looking at him warily. They all looked scared. Then he looked back at her and said, "Okay."

"The first thing we have to do," she said, settling down into the couch more relaxed, "is get you organized." If there was one thing Hermione Granger knew how to do, it was organizing things.

"How do you mean?" he asked, tilting his head. He was organized, or so he thought. He had all his ducks in a row. He was sure he hadn't missed anything since he'd gotten here.

"We need to make you appointments. We've got to get people to rally around your cause," she stated, tapping a finger on to her chin. She had a few ideas running through her head. She had run a few champions in her primary school.

"Do you even know what my cause is?" he asked with a chuckle. Heck, he didn't even know his complete cause. He only had a vague idea of what he wanted besides killing Voldemort Senior.

"To kill the older Dark Lord, and stop the oppression of everyone," she said, thinking that was a good start.

"Well, yes. That's as good a cause as any," Harry said, thinking he could use that. Tom Riddle Junior and he didn't need to see eye to eye. The other teen could do what he needed to do to keep his supporters happy, while Harry did the same. They'd meet in the middle and fight the older version together.

"That's simple enough," she said. With that, she took out a piece of parchment and started writing on it. She jotted down many notes. Scratched off a few, wrote down a few more, turned and showed it to him what she wrote. Upon it were campaign notices.

Things like, 'Do you want to off the Dark Lord? Come talk to us.' Or. 'Get behind Harry Potter. He will take care of your Dark Lord problem for you'. Or. 'Harry Potter is the one who will take care of everything, just rally behind him.'

There were a few other phrases like that, but most of them were things that would draw people to Harry Potter and most pertained to killing the Dark Lord. It was what he was here to do after all. He couldn't do it alone.

"I notice you don't say which Dark Lord I'm going to be killing," Harry pointed out, reading the parchment. He chuckled at the silliness of a few of them but could see the dunderheads of the wizarding world getting behind them. Wizards weren't known for their logic.

"That's something you'll have to tell them when they come to your cause," she said, primly. She knew how illogical the magical folk were, and they would follow anyone they thought would protect them.

"And when I tell them that I've rallied around the younger Dark Lord?" he asked, handing the parchment back to her. He was well aware of the whole common room listening to their every word.

"Then it's up to them whether they want to stay with you or not," she answered with a casual shrug. She could care less. She just wanted them to get people to fight with them, she wasn't there to hold their hands.

"And when I tell them that they have to do some killing themselves?" he asked, looking to gage her reaction. He could hear the whispers of some of the gossiping girls starting up behind him.

"I find that most people don't have it in them to kill. At least they don't think they do until such time that they must do it. But you'd be surprised what some people think they can do," she answered, thinking about the books she'd read on that mentality.

"Well, we'll have to see. I know most people are gung-ho for a fight, but chicken out when it comes to dealing the final blow," he said, knowing he had it in him to do the deed. He'd kill the older version of Voldemort.

"Like you said, we'll have to see. But I want to be there when you interview people. You are not a people person," she said, looking him up and down and finding him lacking.

Harry scoffed and said, "Yeah, right, and you are." He laughed at the very thought. She had been so standoffish since he met her. It was one of the reasons he'd hung around her so much.

"I might surprise you," she said, lifting her nose in the air. "At least I'm more interactive than you are."

"I haven't seen you talk to anybody since I got here. The only person you've talked to is me and this is the longest conversation we've had," he pointed out and looked at all the nodding heads around him as everyone that had been listening to them agreed.

"Before my second year, I was quite a people person. I'm sure I can be again," Hermione stated, quite smugly.

"You mean, you were quite the bossy person," said Parvati Patil from her place by the fire.

"Who asked you?" snapped Hermione, whipping her head around making her hair fly into Harry's face.

"Ohh, yeah, you're a people person," said Harry, pushing the hair out of his face.