Chapter 3

Some Encounter

The combined being made of Harry Potter's soul and the 10 year old body of the deceased Marius Black gave Death such a look it was almost tangible. Death had ejected Harry's soul from its maw into the young boy's body and set Marius's soul for reincarnation with a clean slate. According to the Entity youthful deaths were not something it enjoyed as the young soul's lack of life experiences made for a bland taste upon consumption. Harry had asked if Death ate all the souls in some form of morbid curiosity only to learn the act was more of a gateway into the underworld and usually Reapers were sent to collect souls upon their end. Death had stated, with an almost amused air coming off its being, that if he had been able to eat Harry's soul it would've been the most delicious one to ever grace his mouth. And as any normal mortal being Harry wasn't sure how to take that. On one hand it was a bitter reminder of all the events in his life which would taste yummy to the Entity despite the despair it had caused him and on the other it was a nice fact he would've been able to finally rest.

The raven's glowering mood took a more negative turn when all his previously thought out ideas to get to Tom Riddle were logically shot down by the Entity. Apparently living alone as a 10 year old was too frowned upon and would eventually lead to him being sent to some orphanage or another by a policeman one way or another. So here was Harrison Black, a name combination of tribute to both recently dead persons, walking in the direction of Wool's Orphanage where one future dark lord had been residing since birth to present day. He had thought of just adopting the kid himself or faking parents to do so but the paperwork, trail of said paperwork, and the amount of lies to keep straight would overall become too troublesome. Memory wiping was also out since it would be hard to tell who and how many would need to have their mind scrubbed clean of Riddle's existence without hiccups.

How Death knew the mundane ways of humans was beyond him.

"Are you sure I can't drag him out, fake kill him, and dump a fake copy of his body for the police to see?" Harrison asked the Entity he knew was still gliding along directly behind him whilst remaining completely invisible to all else with eyes. "It'd be so easy."

"Do you know how to do such a thing?" Death's question was more of a knowing taunt than anything else. It was a being that saw and knew all of those destined to meet his divine end after all.

"Well…." He frowned some in through then shrugged. "No, but you can teach me though, right?"

"Not in the space of time between now and your arrival to Riddle."

"That's not what I mea-" Harrison was forced to cut off his words when Death's presence suddenly vanished. He couldn't keep the scowl off his face knowing the entity just ditched him. "Don't just ignore people when they're talking, so rude."

Of course there was no response so the raven was forced to sulk the rest of the two blocks to Wool's Orphanage in lonely silence. He made sure not to draw attention to himself by acting like a child sent on an errand by their nonexistent parents; which part of him found a little amusing by the irony of his continued existence without actual said figures in either of his lives. Upon finally reaching the place he was a bit surprised by its actual size. The room he vaguely recalled seeing in that pensive memory with Dumbledore seemed so small in size but the outward appearance of the building itself was so big it was a wonder how the bedrooms could be a fraction of the size of the sleeping quarters in the Gryffindor dorms. Priority over quality then or something, I guess?

He came to a stop just beyond the entrance.

"Well this is indeed a shitty 'ol place." Harrison commented dryly while his gray eyes* roamed over the washed brown brick building, completely ignoring the disapproving gaze from one of the workers who was sweeping the front entrance. He turned his gaze to the woman not bothering to hide his disdain. "You sure this is the best orphanage in this area of London?"

"Now listen here, boy." The matron's scowl was barely withheld. "Children shouldn't be cussing and you will do well to respect your elders."

"Oh?"

"Yes."

There was a blank stare from the young raven before a hand was lifted to casually flip the woman off. Her disapproving exclamations easily brushed away. If he was going to spend a large amount of time here then Harrison found no fault in expelling some of his dislike for the place out now. Damn did Riddle owe him. He rolled his shoulders and tilted his head side to side cracking away the build up in his neck before tuning back in the scolding woman. "Oi!" His sudden voice cut into her ranting. "Does a boy named Tom Riddle live here?" At hearing the name the woman's face contorted into some form of expression. Harrison wasn't sure if she was trying to keep her true feelings toward the boy hidden because she didn't know his intentions, and thus didn't want to risk ruining the chances of Riddle being taken away via possible adoption, or some other means- but he didn't care. He got his answer either way without her uttering a word. "Least it's the right place."

"Are you the son of the boy's relatives?" Asked the matron with a verbal prodding that did not escape Harrison's notice. "The head of this facility would most likely like to speak to your p-"

"Do you really think my parents would be dumb as you to send a child to adopt another child in their place?" He knew what the woman had meant by her last comment. Tom Riddle didn't have a squeaky clean record here as he would for the most part of his school years at Hogwarts. At least he knew what to somewhat expect before actually meeting the young Voldemort.

"Watch your mouth, brat. And of course not, but does this mean you're family is-"

Harrison felt the sudden urge to see the broom handle the woman was holding shoved so far down her throat she'd become a weirdly grotesque handle ornament. Gosh, she's stupidity annoying. Or maybe I'm just hungry? He waved his hand, causing the woman to freeze mid word, and quickly glanced around having forgotten just where they were. He swiftly wiped the woman's memory of their interaction and started anew. This time putting on his golden-boy persona. He introduced himself as Harrison Black and handed the woman a freshly made bullshit letter he claimed to have no idea of its contents. It went rather smoothly after she read it. The contents of the note spoke of a saddened mother sending her child there, unknowingly to the boy (aka him), because she was on her deathbed and had no other family members to take the child in. Harrison made sure to slip in some coins he had transfigured from a few pebbles on his way over with Death to sweeten the acceptance of his admittance to the orphanage.

The matron guided him to the head matron's office where he made sure to come off average as trying to play the goody-two-shoe was a chore he could not saddle himself with. He wasn't like Tom who could play a part for years if need be.

Harrison could not wait to see the bastard.

The matron set her broom against the wall outside the bedroom and gave the door a soft knock. She awaited the approving response to come in before doing so. Her aged body shuffled around the room gathering her cleaning products she had left in the room earlier. She had spent the morning mopping and tidying up the space after some of the older children removed the items previously kept in the storage room. The head matron had informed all staff of some new additions coming in the previous week so rooms and those assigned to them were shifted around.

Her watery eyes slid over to the seated form of Tom Riddle where the boy sat slightly hunched over their desk with a pencil in hand and layers of paper before him. She felt bad for him and the Daniel boy. They seemed like such good friends but she guessed even the friendships of youth were prey to quick changes too. She wasn't sure what had happened but it had been decided by the whole staff that Riddle needed peace with his books for a while. Unfortunately that time was cut short thanks to the new additional kids coming in; one of which was a sickly boy who was better suited for Tom's previous small room. She did hope the new boy would be moving into the same room as Tom was a good friend to the boy and vice versa.

"I have some good news that might cheer you up, Tom." The boy's hand continued to run across the paper as if she hadn't spoken a word. "You'll be getting a new roommate today. I hear the boy is quite nice and well-mannered. Saw him brought in this morning, you know. He's gonna be quite the heartbreaker, I thinks."

"If that's all."

It was meant as an end to the conversation but the cleaning matron took it more as a question. "Mhm that's it. Anyways you two get along now and remember he's new here so explain anything he might not know." The woman then chatted lightly to herself as she shut the door closed behind her.

Tom Riddle set the pencil down.

A frown touching his lips as he mulled over the supposed good news of this change. He did not want another roommate. More so if they were to be another imbecile like Daniel Johnson. Getting rid of that boy had almost been a prompting move by Fate to be done. He could not say the same helpful situations would commence again if the need to remove this newcomer arose. Tom was quite content to never meet this boy but it seemed their crossing of paths was to happen sooner than later.

It was about an hour later when the boy had come to the room. Their proof of manners the matron spoke of showed by how they knocked and awaited Tom's response before pushing the door open. Barely anyone else seemed to have enough thought to knock before opening doors outside of the bathrooms. He could hear them moving around, the freshly made bed squeaking from something weighted, and then silence.

Tom found himself completely caught unaware by the other's form leaning over his shoulder a few minutes later. The only thing that gave away the boy's presence was the soft exhale of their breath against the tip of his ear. He swiftly shut the journal he had taken to writing in, rose to his feet, and turned to look at them with a harsh stare. Tom was irritated to note they were a bit taller than himself with a slightly meatier build. The boy faintly tanned skin a few shades warmer in tone to Riddle's and jet black hair that didn't seem to hold even a tint of brown. However it was the boy's gaze that bit under his skin. Their gray eyes held almost a bored look upon meeting his brown hues.

"Who are you to pry into one's business?" The sharp tone didn't seem to have any effect on the other person what's-so-ever.

"That indeed would be me," The newcomer smiled almost lazily as if Riddle was merely a disgruntled little kitten. "Harrison Black, pleasure to meet you."

There was a moment's pause as the two stared at each other. More of a hidden showdown if a third party had been present. Riddle had no warning when Harrison's hand shot out to grasp his jaw, the grip almost bruising, tilting his head this way and that before Tom smacked away the unwanted contact with a harsh glare. The action caused Harrison's lips to pull back into a type of sharp grin showing naturally extended canine teeth that only added fuel to Riddle's growing anger for some reason.

"I see we finally meet, hm?"

"You'll do well to keep your filthy hands to yourself if you don't wish for an early death, Harrison."

"Oh?" The mocking tone wasn't lost on Tom. "Free game if I wash my hands then, princess?"

Riddle sneered.

There was no point in keeping up his mock façade around this newcomer. It had become a moot point the moment the boy intruded on his personal space. It would be best if this fool were to be removed from his presence soon as possible. Tom refused to be bullied again by anyone- more so by this boy who he couldn't help but feel the natural instinct to be cautious of. Such an unsettling feeling. I will not have it! He had felt the aura they gave off once he became aware of their presence. Riddle had always been able to tell such things for as long as he could remember. The reason as to how or why was something he stopped mulling over years ago as it mattered little in the long run; long as the sense kept him a step ahead. This boy however, along with everyone else, could drop off the face of the earth for all Tom cared. In fact Tom preferred it. He returned his attention back onto the desk and gathered his things to be put away into the only closet; a passive way of showing the newcomer what was his.

Harrison Black however didn't seem to be affected by the hostile airs Tom was giving off as he almost lazily pulled out the previously occupied chair and sat down with his back facing the desk. His gray eyes* watching their new roommate with an almost bemused look. Guess he was just putting on when Dumbles visited him. Harrison remembered the pensive memory he had been shown all those years ago- well years into the future now as it were. The young Tom riddle looked exactly the same even to the fine detail of their hair being parted to the side. Not even a single wrinkle to be seen in their clothing. If Harrison had to guess it would be a year's time before Albus Dumbledor was to pay that visit that will open Riddle's small mundane world into something unexpectedly grand.

"That's gonna be glorious to see."

"Excuse me?"

Unfortunately his outspoken thought was timed a tad badly as Riddle had at some point started to change clothes during Harrison's trip down memory lane. Harrison merely made a bunny with his hand and made it hop from right to left in front of himself instead of answering. Not even sure how to explain away the seemingly random choice of words. Tom gave him a bland look which barely concealed how just much Riddle thought Harrison was below him. The two remained in silence until a matron showed up to their room telling them to get some fresh air in the backyard with the other children.

A/N:

* = the change in eye color from the known green is simply due to Harry now occupying another body. A body that is related to Srirus Black who had grey eyes and most likely has this shared trait with other members of the Black family.