Chapter 12

Spell C.r.i.s.i.s

The golden structure of a mini globe ramming into his stomach was rather unnecessary in Harrison's opinion. He knew there wasn't a chance of a peaceful sleep tonight but some delirious part of him, which he blamed on physical tiredness lagging the mind, was hoping it would be. Yet here I am and not in bed. Which honestly was a more prompt matter of focus than the group of fellow Slytherin-lings between himself and the only doorway. "Such a comfy bed too."

"Listen here, squib." The same boy who went by the name Flint swished their wand causing the globe statue to float away from the now awake form to be flung aside without care. "You have three options. Beg the headmaster to leave or get yourself expelled, both within a week."

"Pretty sure that's only two."

"Don't interrupt your betters, filth!"

Gray eyes rolled, paused, and lingered on the side profile of Tom Riddle.

It seemed the waking method for Riddle was being doused with water from head to toe leaving the brunette soaking wet. Which Harrison personally thought to be rather unfairly tame. His stomach still hurts! The young future Dark Lord was also lowered to the floor yet they were in a far more dignified sitting position compared to Harrison's side slump. Tom's facial features were impassive via outward sights giving nothing away yet the raven knew the other boy was probably tearing them all a new one in the safe confines of their mind. Bet he's bitching up a storm in that lil head of his. Harrison's sudden chuckle earned him a rather uncomfortable hex that drew a flicked over gaze of Riddle's brown hues. He shot the other a small wink before the eye contact fully broke off. Gaze back on the annoying second year in front of him. "Alright alright. What's option three?" Flint's hand swayed in a small motion. The other boys seemed to take it as a cue to draw out their wands.

Harrison silently cursed his own impulsive taunting tongue as a mixture of spells shot off at him. The previously dimly lit small room now looked like a colorful scene of muggle fireworks. Both boys realized a sticking charm prevented them from avoiding any of the fired spells. Each one landing on repeated or different spots all over the body. Harrison's least favorite was being forced to puke up slugs. He very much did not want to be reminded of Ronald at this time. Tom was subjected to the same kinds of spells. It was clear the brunette was far more affected by this type of magical bullying than anything else ever done so far to him. Riddle's strongest reaction was after an Expelliarmus caused his wand to shoot upward out of his grasp. The following casts didn't have the same response as that one disarming spell did; yet signs of the multiple spells showed their mark upon the flesh. Tom's flawless skin was now stained with blood, welts, boils, polka dots, animal limbs and bits of bile from the slug eating hex.

Overall the two boys looked a thorough mess.

Thankfully nothing too serious or beyond mid third year charm level. It seemed either this group of boys weren't viciously inclined or their spell inventory even when combined together was still limited. Hogwarts also had safety wards in place which acted as the unseen barrier counterpart to the highly verbalized warnings from teachers against harmful casting. However the wards weren't enough to keep Harrison nor Riddle from the effects of the spells or feeling throbs of pain in their limbs and a discomfort that would linger even into the morning hours. The two were finally left alone once the laughing group had had their fun of bullying. Flint cast a locking charm on the single door to keep them stuck. Harrison however mutedly undid it the moment the groups' footfalls sounded far away enough.

Tom's silent rage was like a balm to the aftereffects. His fingertips trembled with the need to teach those brats a lesson about just who their betters actually were. Unfortunately his own spell work was pretty much nonexistent at this time and physical altercations were more of - he snapped his gaze onto the shifting body beside him. And narrowed. "Harrison."

"Hmm? Oi, don't give me that accusing glare." The raven brushed off dust from their pajamas whilst getting up via assistance from the wall directly behind. Despite the light spell work he was physically still just a kid himself and his body wasn't used to this type of thing yet. Not that'll put up with this without retaliation though. "My only crime I'll have you know is being born."

"Agreed."

"I know you're grumpy but don't take it out on me, yeah?" Harrison wiped off the blood from the remnants of the boil hex. He was glad to know despite looking ugly as hell when cast the effects of the spell had no visual lingering. Only a throbbing discomfort on his body where it hit. As much as he hated those annoying brats he did have to give them props for their planning; even if it was still on a childish level. He was sore, bruised, and very very tired. "Gosh today has been a fuckin day. I just wanna sleep til noon tomorrow…or maybe next week."

Riddle watched as the other boy adjusted their askew sleep shirt and headed for the door. He looked down to his arm where skin boils had littered his flesh and was pleased to see it fading like those on Harrison. However it did not take away from the anger he felt toward the whole thing. This attack only added onto the humiliation he felt ever since joining Slytherin house. Tom hadn't expected to be accosted in the middle of the night let alone subjected to such a group attack. For some reason he had no thought of the action being implicateable despite the repeated shoving of verbal abuse since being sorted. Tom realized it was a muggle folly. Magic was an everyday occurrence here in this world and full in abundance. There was no need for physical clues to be dissected before each attack as every strike here wouldn't be one containing contact of touch but magic. Nothing easily detectable for an officer to make and solve unlike in the muggle world. Magic was an untouchable power only granted to those above the mundane; such as muggles. And squibs. Tom stared at the back of Harrison's head as they walked back toward the sleep quarters for first years. While part of him took some pleasure from seeing the raven be put into a similar state being in the same situation soured the feeling. Yet it did shed further light onto this topic of squibs he had heard spoken of in gross tones among the table.

It seemed this was definitely something to be researched.

Both boys returned to their beds after a much needed shower. There were only a few more hours left before the sun was due to rise and a new day filled with classes to start. Unfortunately for both of them any thought they had of last night being a one time thing was promptly corrected that very night.

After a solid week of this newly installed nightly repetition it doubled to mornings as well when no signs of departure from the school took place. Tom's and Harrison's patience for childish bullying has become less than tolerable compared to the incidents with Billy and his gang back at the orphanage. There the raven had freedom of movement. Be it fighting back with fists or escaping to the Godric house to blow off some steam or pent up aggression. And for Riddle after some time and well executed plans no one at the orphanage dared to even look in his direction wrong if they thought there was even a tiny bit of a possibility he'd catch their eye. Harrison's ability to let loose and vent within the walls of Hogwarts's castle was highly restricted. Unlike Wool's orphanage the school was like a kaleidoscope with its multitude of watching portraits, patrolling staff, nosy students and roaming ghosts. All having the ability and inclination to tell on whatever retaliation course of action Harrison took. Even the Chamber of Secrets wasn't an option since the school year officially started the morning following the welcoming feast. So after classes both Tom and Harrison directly made their way to the library. The only place where student interaction was kept to a quiet and mild level. Riddle broke off promptly from the raven the moment they passed the first set of doors. Over the course of the week Tom made sure to keep himself spaced from Harrison when needed and close enough if the other boy's presence was more preferable to have around.

Harrison paid the dull change no mind, barely noting it, as he was more focused on not losing his mind before any more of his plan could be made. I really miss that cloak. Harrison slumped over the slender wooden table built directly attached to the row of bookshelves he was seated before. Fingertips lightly brushing along the spines of stored books; feeling rather aggrieved toward the overall situation. He had thought to request Death to give him the invisibility cloak but the entity would not remove it from the placement of Ignotus's descendants. When asked why, after all the infamous wand passed hands many times, the answer was so simple Harrison could only laugh. Unlike the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak, the Elder Wand was the only one to leave the blood of its original owner. Therefore the Invisibility Cloak could not be retrieved. Which explained the old mulling question Harrison had hd on why Death hadn't just summoned back the cloak when trying to find Ignotus. Since reclaiming ownership of the cloak was clearly out then borrowing it shouldn't be a problem. Question now is which Potter has it? This would've been much easier if the others were already wiped out.

A few feet away from the aisle rows of bookshelves in the center area where group study tables were located a rather loud exclamation suddenly shouted. The following noise of laughter settled any abrupt worry from the disturbance and a reproachable comment from the Library Keeper herself.

"If you wish to keep using these facilities then you all will act accordingly." The woman's stern voice could give a future Professor McGonagal a run for her money. "Especially you, Mr Potter."

Oh? Harrison perked up at that. He hadn't taken note of anyone around since he had been staring sulkingly at the shelved books in front of him or out the window to his left. Studying here hadn't actually been on his mind but rather the knowledge of an unspoken rule among all students to keep the peace within the boundaries of the library. Of course that didn't cover mean comments or harmless covert charms yet it was far better than what was to be given outside the library; more so within Slytherin territories. Harrison discreetly shifted from chair to chair until he was seated on the one at the very other end of where he had been in the aisle. Tilting his seat back so the front legs came up he was able to get a much better view of what was going on.

A group of four boys and two girls were at the center most table; all with the telling red badge of Gryffindor house printed upon their robes. Minus one boy in full quidditch uniform who seemed to be under the reproachful stare of the Liberian more than the others. This boy was tall despite the current placement of being seated as their long legs stretched a little further under the table and yet their head height was still a bit higher than those seated among him. His dark hair was rather unruly, unknowingly preventing anyone from distinguishing their facial features from a side view. It wasn't until the quidditch player briefly turned their head to give a rogue grin at one of the girls in response to an unheard comment was his face directly seen.

It looked vaguely like Harry Potter.

Well if Harry Potter had been born with hazel eyes, was beefed up like Ronald Weasley in seventh year, and with a sizable height of nearing six feet or so. Along with a lacking need for optical glasses. Harrison couldn't help but feel a bit peeved at the sight of the other boy. Sure he was already surpassing his original first year height and weight this time around but his small satire had always been a sore spot for him. It was why he made sure to keep so fit since getting this body; the advantage of a heads start. Being forced into the role of replacement Dark Lord taught him just how good a physically fit body was to have. It's honestly what kept him alive longer than expected when certain deadly situations would've been his end. Damn Dursleys. Damn Albus's great good plan, and fuck Ronald Weasel!

CRASH!

Eyes turned toward Harrison's direction suddenly. One set a certain pair of hazel eyes from the very group previously observed. They watched as a young first year simply remained where they fell. Legs hanging over the seat of the chair, arms splayed out upon the carpeted floor, and head faintly tilted upward to stare at the ceiling above. It was a sight not seen before despite the lacklusterness of it. Potter exchanged amused chuckles with his friends at the funny scene before he decided to go check on the kid himself since no one was going over. He knew better than anyone what a head collision could do if not checked. Even the hawk-eyed library keeper didn't bother to check on the boy beyond a disapproving look; which Potter knew to be more his fault than the kid's own. He brushed off the usual "There goes saint Potter, again!" from one of his friends as he made his way toward the downed student.

"Alright there?"

Hazel eyes peered down into gray ones placed on a young face. The boy's features were rather reminiscent of those from the Black family but for some reason this kid looked a bit too much alike to a certain Black he knew. Potter's brows couldn't help but furrow a bit. He personally had nothing against the Black family, he was dating Dorea after all, however that member of the Black family rubbed him the wrong way even though their exchanges were few and far inbetween. He even saw the guy with Malfoy not too long ago either. Potter held out a hand in assistance not really expecting it to be taken. The downed boy finally slid their gaze onto him. And took his hand, pulling themselves up without a word causing Potter's body to tense in sudden use of arm muscles. His eyes noted the green and silver tie previously missed thanks to its utterly loose knot and unkept button down folds showing this boy didn't care much if at all for keeping their uniform pristine like more from Slytherin house. It was a positive point in Potter's book for the boy.

"Thanks."

"Sorry if the noise startled you from your studying."

"Nah, it wasn't you lot." Harrison tugged down the hem of his gray vest making him a bit more presentable once more. "Just lost an unexpected battle with gravity."

"I see." There was a light chuckle.

Followed by a quietness neither found awkward. Harrison debated reclaiming the seat while Potter watched the shorter boy. Curiosity rooted. When the younger decided to sit the older boy joined without invitation; prompting a raised brow but no rejection. Potter remained blissfully aware of how his presence jumpstarted Harrison's cloak collecting idea. He continued to watch as the young Slytherin pulled a random book from the shelf only to slam it shut when a burst of black moths scattered out from the pages. The Eclipse swayed around the air before deciding on the direction that would bring them closer to the nearest light source. Both watched as the moths swayed around a lamp before moving across the space of the study area then out an open window. Harrison couldn't recall ever having seen something like that until he remembered the screaming face protruding from the book he had opened when searching the restricted section of the Library in his original first year.

"That can happen. Some students purposely leave those activated as a small prank." Potter gently plucked a struggling month from the raven's hair. He paused in thought then asked, "Are you muggle raised?"

"That surprising for a Slytherin, huh?"

"Yeah, a bit." The Gryffindor said lightly enough not trying to come off offensive. "That house prides itself on pure blood and magic. Well most do in the magical world but your house has a habit of taking it to the extreme at times."

"Oh yeah, I'm super aware." Harrison put the book back. He hadn't conducted a plan when he did come up with the idea of using the cloak let alone implicating it barely a handful of minutes later. Either luck was on side for this chance encounter with a member of the Potter family or a premonition for something bad. Since nothing bad was currently taking place compared to his previous years of attending Hogwarts he figured it more likely the latter. His luck wasn't great outside dangerous events. "Surprised a lion is talking to me though. Isn't that against house rules or something?"

"Call it an unspoken rule?" Potter laughed, body leaning backward comfortably in the chair. "I think we'll get along though. My name is Charlus Potter, you?"

"Harrison Black."

"Ah, I thought you looked a bit familiar." Charlus nodded himself. "Your sorting was quite the show. Walburga really has a flair for dramatics."

"Whose that?" Harrison knew of course.

"You really have no experience in the magical world, huh?"

"Just diagonally, oh and the Hogwart stations."

"Bare minimum then." The quidditch player drummed strong fingers upon the shelf table, tapping the index twice upon the surface, then pointed toward the open area of the library. "I can show you around, if you'd like?"

"You'd do that for an ickle first year you just met?" Harrison tilted his head a bit in question. "A snakeling at that."

"You don't seem like the rest of your housemates. Let's say you piqued my interest, Black-sheep."

After a mulling moment of silence the two left the library together. Their departure not going unseen whats so ever. If anything the sight of a young Slytherin walking alongside an older Gryffindore was already brewing gossip. On the second landing above where more studying seats were arranged stood Tom Riddle. Brown eyes watching the two leave from their stance beside the railing. He wasn't sure what Harrison was doing but it was obvious it was going to cause further issues with the rest of their house. Not that Riddle was going to connect their issues together. He returned his attention back onto the text he had been reading over. With newly gained information about how the magical world worked and its stances on subjects beyond education it was clear his best course of action was to distance himself from Harrison Black. A squib was as a blotch on any magical family tree; therefore the son of one was treated nearly the same as. Disowned and never to be reintegrated properly if ever. He always knew he was better than Harrison and now it was proven. The other boy had him beat on a physical level in the muggle world but that amounted to nothing when compared to the magical world they now lived in. Tom was a level above now. He wasn't born via a useless husk like Harrison, no he was better. He was a boy who was forced to live in a muggle orphanage due to a mixture of his mother's death and his father's unawareness of location. Riddle was most likely a name given to him by one of the matrons who assisted his mother in his birth and not actually a name dubbed by the woman herself. Not that he thought any more of the dead woman. It was clear she was a weak being despite most likely being of magical blood. Tom just hoped her saving grace was to not be a witch of muggle mixed blood.

What he had to focus on was gaining as much knowledge as possible of this world as well as a way to figure out his own lineage. And the best way to do that was to research as much as possible. However he knew as a first year his time was restricted due to crew and sources he had access to thanks to his age. For the first few days after the start of Flint's bullying Riddle poured over as many books as he could to make sure he knew all the counters,prevention measures, and returned assaults. It was during one of these solo self studying sessions did he come across a spell called the Disillusionment Charm. Something he had skimmed over at first but went back as it's use rolled about in his mind. It would be the best option to get around the restrictions. Tom couldn't get in trouble if no one could actually see him.

Both remained completely unaware of their similar goals.

A/N:

I'm going somewhere with this.

Outline I got has point A.B.Cs to H.I.J so only working out the connecting bits.

I wanna get this shit really going despite the personal life upchucks.

Thanks for sticking around!