Chapter 13

Who needs space?

Harrison awoke alongside the rising sun much to his groggy annoyance. However the call of nature could not be ignored. With a bleary sense of awareness of current surroundings he made his way toward the bathroom. In a bed on the opposite side another student shifted upward. Eyes trained on the back of the raven's shuffling form. Once out of view they followed quietly behind without any sign of the other being aware. However neither first year were aware of the unworldly eyes trailing both. Harrison filtered in the extra presence when the door to the restroom took longer to click into place. Yet he chose to ignore whoever it was in favor of relieving the built up bladder pressure. It was essentially a public area. He shivered when a small gust brushed along the back of his neck causing him to glance briefly over a shoulder mid shake. Doing a double take upon seeing more than just one extra body in the room than expected. Harrison tugged up the waistband of his sleep pants while using his other hand to flush before turning around to properly see what was going on.

The fuck…is this? One was an unconscious boy he recognized from Flint's annoying group and the other was the kid from the orphanage. It took the raven a moment to understand why the sense of familiarity stirred upon seeing the latter. Thanks to black suddenly bleeding into the boy's eye sockets it triggered the answer. Death tilted its head briefly toward the slumped form dangling from their grip. Well if I wasn't awake before I am now. Harrison shook off the sight, washed his hands, then turned to leave the bathroom only to pause. An idea struck him. It was something he had always wanted to try ever since Dudley Dursley had done it to a young Harry Potter. He paced a few steps backward, took the unconscious Slytherin boy from Death's hand, and dragged the boy into one of the stalls. Vaguely remembering to put up a repelling ward on the bathroom door. The raven lifted the seat with a wandless Wingardium Leviosa then forced the boy's head into the porcelain bowl.

"What are you doing?" Death's voice came from above the raven's left shoulder.

"Uh...Testing the protection wards of Hogwarts castle."

The boy's head jostled from the force of the toilet's flushing mechanism. There was no response to the partial drowning beyond the Slytherin waking up and thrashing to get free. Something Harrison took care of quickly despite the lacking speed of his movements to do so. He now knew for sure there was nothing implemented into the castle wards to prevent bodily harm via muggle methods. Really it was an oversight of the school but it worked out for him. Harrison looked upon the form with its head encased in the toilet with a touch of giddiness. "Perfect."

"Some would deem you a petty person."

"Some would applaud someone overcoming a childhood trauma."

"I believe that is only valid if they are indeed inflicted."

The raven couldn't help but faintly chuckle at that. "If being the over-ruler of souls ever gets boring for you, you could try being a therapist." He cast the disillusion charm on his fellow first year followed by the levitating spell. Both heading back to the shared room assigned to them with Death walking behind in disinterest. He humored the politeness of putting the other boy into bed for a second then decided to just drop them on the floor beside the four-poster instead. He was nice enough to spell them dry before getting into his own bed without anyone else any the wiser of what took place.

Three hours later.

Harrison muffled a yawn with the palm of his hand; nails dragging down his face leaving faint trails. I absolutely hate mornings now. His glare was almost tangible as he made his way toward the Great Hall with the other first years. He shot an annoyed look to the boy whose head had been buried in a toilet bowl earlier this morning. The boy visibly shivered before looking backward from the group to meet the irritated gaze of Harrison Black who was walking a few paces behind. Harrison had done the kid a favor by making it seem as if the other Slytherin had never gone through their plan to tail him. However that didn't mean they were safe from his ire. "Better run from me."

"Not a morning person, hm Black-sheep?"

Harrison's gaze slid to the left and somewhat upward toward the voice. Charlus Potter tossed him a grin. He gave the Gryffindor a once over but verbalized nothing in response to their words or about them falling into step beside him. He didn't care about the house rivalry as he always saw it as something ridiculously hypocritical. After coming across people such as Gildory Lockhart, a Hufflepuff, had done some vile deeds to obtain fame it was proven house definition traits were invalid. The notion was further solidified when it came to light Peter Pedigru, a Gryffindor, had betrayed the Potters due to mere cowardice and a greed for power fueled by jealousy. Severus Snape was another plot twist example. Far as Harrison was concerned the Hogwarts houses meant absolutely nothing.

"If you've taken to callin' me that, do I call you pottery then?"

"Finally found a snake with a jolly sense of humor!" The lion laughed heartily. It was almost reminiscent of a hero's deep laugh Harrison had seen on T.V once in passing. "You can call me Arlus, I like it better than Charlus."

"Sure?"

"Harris, young snake- you don't mind Harris, do you?" Said raven shrugged even as the two had to squeeze a bit together from a passing crowd once within reaching distance of the entranceway. The breakfast crowd was never to be taken lightly. More so by older students who had no qualms about mowing down other students if it meant more time for study. Charlus Potter of course held no such need nor drive toward academics. So his steps were well within pace to the young Slytherin's, allowing him to sling an arm over the younger boy's shoulders, and promptly guided them to the red decorated table. "Glad you could join us here!"

Harrison sat down on the bench completely ignoring the questioning stares from those already seated there. He proceeded to pile food onto a plate and set to satisfying his growing hunger since he couldn't return to bed. And judging by this talkative bloke, that isn't gonna happen. He stabbed a few cubes of perfectly cut steak after a few bites of scrambled eggs before he finally decided to acknowledge the hazel eyes watching him intently. "You want something don't you?"

The cheerful air around Potter suddenly seemed to go out but the lone Slytherin didn't show any outward reaction. Even when the older boy leaned in close with a serious expression. Those around the two would still glance over, some staring outright at the oddity of a Snake at the Lion table, and others who expected a volatile scene from such a mixture made sure to keep clear. Harrison wasn't bothered either way and it seemed Charlus didn't care either about the attention as he answered simply enough.

"I need a favor of sorts." Potter slipped a letter from their robe pocket and tapped a corner of the envelope onto his still bare plate. "Can you give this to Dorea Black? I asked Abraxas since she isn't talking to me right now but that little brat just ignored me."

"Why ask me?"

"Because you're a Black and thus related to my girlfriend- Hey!" Charlus jerked back at the sudden spray of pumpkin juice from the Slytherin's mouth. "You're supposed to swallow that, not spit."

Harrison took the offered napkin even as he waved his wand over himself to spell away the mess; mind distracted by the information. Thankfully Potter didn't catch the use of wandless magic since their gaze was downcast momentarily to clear drops of juice from their own shirt. Did Sirius or Remus ever mention that? I can't remember. "What's in it for me?"

"So you'll do it?"

"I doubt you'd ask that oh-so-lovely Walburga girl." The raven almost laughed at the look that came over Potter's face. "Thought as much."

Potter lowered his voice while leaning in a bit even as the Slytherin bit off a piece of squarely cut beef from the two stacked on their fork. "There's something wrong with that girl's head in my opinion. The others in the Black family aren't nearly as uh, off kilter shall we say." Charlus gave the other boy a once over. "You kinda remind me of Dorea."

"Should I take that as a compliment to her character," The fork's trio divided tip was pointed centimeters away from the lion's face; one slice of meat remaining left speared on the base. "or an insult to essentially being called a girl?"

The Gryffindor grinned easily despite the temporary 'weapon' pointed at him. Instead the older boy plucked the last piece off and popped it into their own mouth. "Depends on how you do, but for now you better get going." Potter then motioned to the head table where the heads of each house were gathering together their respective first year students for something.

Harrison didn't bother with a reply since Potter was easily pulled into another conversation with their housemates. He took the letter, gaining a short appreciative wink from the quidditch player, and joined the rest of his fellow year mates of Slytherin house by Slughorn without a departing word. He ignored the looks he got coming from the wrong direction as he stepped up behind Riddle. Whose brown eyes slid from him to the Lion table from over a shoulder. It was easy to ignore the disapproving gazes of fellow first year snakes except for Tom's. "What?"

"I did not realize you were colorblind until now."

"I'm not." Before anything else could be said Harrison cast a glance over the Slytherin table. "Any idea who Dorea Black is?"

"A member of the prestigious Black family does not even know?" Tom's voice was cool in tone but the raven knew there was a bite in those words. "How incompetent."

And there's the actual bite. Harrison rolled his eyes. "That's a mouthful for saying 'you don't know-"

"Dark haired girl. " The brunette cut in. "Five seats up toward the staff table from the third year prefect Carrow."

"You already have names memorized?"

"Only those that matter."

"Awe, does that mean I matter?"

Harrison laughed in reply to Riddle's physical response. He took the offered paper that was oh -so-gently pressed to his face and gave it a glimpse. Slytherin's head of house apparently was going over the contents although the raven was ignoring whatever the portly man had to say. It was clear this timeline's Slughorn was similar to their future self if only more bias. Even toward first years. Seriously a useless man. Harrison knew for a fact there were many more skilled Potion Masters than Horace Slughorn. As to why neither of those people were scouted he chalked it up to the weird hiring standards of the school. He could see the flicker in the man's eye when they landed on Riddle as well as the contemplative gaze set upon himself. A squib's son but still a holder of the prestigious Black family name. Harrison paid the man no attention even as instructions were given. He followed along with the body of year mates toward some destination while his mind roamed; unconcerned about those within his own house who sought out chances to cause interference in his daily life. Harrison focused back into his surroundings thanks to his bag suddenly splitting open. The contents spilled onto the floor, loose paper fluttering away, one ink pot breaking upon impact and another rolling away to stop a few short feet away. It was this insignificant ink pot that caught the raven's attention. Even more than finding out who had caused the incident in the first place.

Tom Riddle had been standing right where the ink pot was.

And now he's not. Gray eyes shifted off the lone bottle to the partly empty hallway. It seemed Slughorn had been leading the first years of his house to a kind of small auditorium room. Harrison had been stopped just feet from the doorway allowing him to see the open space inside the room. There were benches lined up around a center podium where whoever was leading or speaking stood to be seen and heard by all within. He didn't see Riddle among the faces in there though. Or the boy from this morning. Damn are Flint's pests annoying. It wasn't hard to locate where Tom had gone. Whoever else was in the room chosen to accost the brunette hadn't bothered to put up a silencing ward or even anything to keep anyone from becoming aware of what was going on inside. So Harrison did it for them without ever making his presence known. After all, I am indeed a petty person. The young Voldemort's change of treatment interaction hadn't escaped the raven's notice. Who was he to get in the way of someone's character building? So he turned away from the doorway to make his way back down the hall to the small auditorium room and slump into the nearest seat. Dozing off without a care to Riddle's situation or the disapproving ire of his housemates.

"Incompetent fool…"

The soft hissed words stirred the slumbering form. Hmm? Harrison's lips twitched upward. Is Riddle mumble cursing? He shifted his head subtly to get a peek. Riddle was indeed there. Seated upright, notebook open, and gaze surely set somewhere more interesting behind Slughorn's talking head. The brunette looked relatively the same. How boring. He raised himself up from the desk enough to prop an elbow upon the table and rest his chin on a palm. Gaze swept over the room then back to Tom when he heard the whispered voice again. "Dares to lull about…" Harrison was about to say something when he realized the other's jaw never slid closed. Or open for that matter. How'd he do that? He tapped the nearest limb to himself and prodded the tip of his tongue against the corner of his lips with a faint head nod. Riddle merely glanced at him for a moment before dismissing him entirely. Wow, rude! The raven was about to verbally ask how the other boy spoke parseltongue without moving their mouth when he heard it again. "Nothing but disgusting rats to eat. How I hunger for proper flesh."

This time it was clear it had not been Tom Riddle at all.

Some vague memories coasted in. Water flooding an empty hallway. A small stiff hand holding a crumpled note. Marble sinks moving to reveal a deep dark drop. Shit. Harrison sat up fully, hand jerking into the air instantly catching the professor by surprise. Getting the okay to leave for the Hospital Wing not a further second was spent within the room. The raven shrunk his bag as he walked to the closest wall and pressed his ear against the cool stone listening. If Hermione's theory was correct and his own later on musing when using the Chamber of Secrets himself as a hideout then it would mean the Basilisk could only travel along the pipes yet not exit through them. Harrison had mulled over why the snake had never been caught within the school let alone even seen. After some digging around in Slytherin's personal office he found out the wizard had put protection barriers on all the ports minus the big one leading into the depths of the great lake. It seemed despite the Founder's mass dislike for dirty-blood the overall safety of Hogwarts and its students took priority. The hissed cursing toward himself and lackluster food options continued. Sounding clearer when stepping along a certain direction. Harrison gave the wall an odd look. Is it hangry? He snorted in amusement at the obvious fact. Soon enough he was pulling open the door for the boy's bathroom directly across from the future famous girl's restroom. He summoned his doppelganger forth with the intent of the clone killing time in the Hospital Wing since his head of house expected him to be there. Once it was instructed the raven spelled the door closed behind it; adding a forgetful charm on the handle.

The raven levitated one of the drain grates and peered down into the darkness. It was times like this where he missed his enhanced sight. Then again staring at shit sludge coated pipes wasn't something on his to-do list. Or something to be done willingly. Ew. "Oi, I can hear you trash talking me." There was a lengthy gap of silence. Harrison was about to question if the snake was actually near the bathroom plumbing but not slithering within them as he had thought when a reply came. "Feed me flesh, foolish imposter." I don't remember the Basilisk being so sassy. Then again it had been a few decades since the Chamber was opened again. And I doubt Tommy-boy put the snake under the same protective dormant spells or whatever as Salazar had. Harrison crouched down in front of the opening, elbowing resting on the knees, as he rolled over food options. Students and staff were out. Even the muggle study professor. Riddle really did have all his support in wanting to have tortured and killed the woman. It was a feat how muggles didn't know of their existence because of witches and wizards like her. Rats are a hard no, can't bring in people and I can't just leave either. So what else... "Sushi work?"

"...What is Sushi?"

Oh right.

"Can you eat squid?"

"If I were to eat Rowan's companion, I may gain it's stupidity."

Ravenclaw was the owner of the giant squid? The raven could picture it. A smaller version of the creature helping Ravenclaw with all her knowledge projects by using its eight limbs to stir potions, turn pages, and whatever else required more than a pair of human hands. It was a funny thought. "How did such a big creature fit in the school though?"

"Calmar gained its size from an accidental potion swap." The snake's voice was much closer now. If the drain was bigger it may have been able to make its way directly underneath the young wizard. However its size had it remaining in the main pipe. "Master was furious after finding out Gryffindor had switched their potions."

"Can you change size at will?"

"No. Magic is limited in my current state."

"Huh." Harrison plopped back onto his butt to sit cross legged. He couldn't just fling a shrinking spell into the pipelines and hope it would connect to the giant snake. However making the serpent smaller would be his best bet; and not just for him either. He knew Tom would start looking for the Chamber soon enough and it wouldn't do for him to come across the Basilisk too prematurely. Which would definitely happen since the snake was no longer dormant in a deep protective slumber. An idea struck him. Hey Death. "Can you shrink the Basilisk?"

"I can."

"Do it and bring it to me."

In the next few minutes a mythical creature of great lore was shrunken down to the size of an average common snake. And glaring up at the grinning face of the boy looming above it. Harrison poked the area between the serpent's eyes, finger barely escaping encasement. He held up his hands in mocking surrender for a moment before he slid the grate back onto the drain. Death in its altered adult form from Diagonally watched the interaction silently. The basilisk took to its presence far better than Harrison's house elf. Another house elf popped in with a tray of requested chicken and left without a single question. None of the house elves that worked at Hogwarts dared to ask or tell anything about the student who was the companion of such a powerful unworldly entity. Many of them liked the young Slytherin first year who had come into their kitchens just weeks into the start of the school year.

Harrison set the plate in front of the Basilisk and watched it eat alongside Death. "Are his eyes still gonna be deadly if seen?"

"A blindfold or a blocker can be applied to her eyes."

"Oh, that's an ide-wait her?" Harrison pointed to the noming serpent. "Her?"

"Female."

"Explains the sass." The raven requested the Entity to put the blocking barrier on to eliminate any possibility of it failing at an inopportune time. And with Harrison's track record when it came to luck it would happen at the worst time possible. He did however spray the snake with water in an attempt to clean its body of whatever clung to it only to get snapping jaws millimeters from his face. If Death hadn't covered his face his lips would probably be consumed along with the chicken. "Look, you're filthy and I'm not bout to have a literal shit-stain around me." Harrison stated bluntly, pulling down Mort's hand by the wrist, with a returned glare. "Rather I scrub your scales?"

"Master stores my bathing potions in a storage box."

"..." Harrison stared at the shrunken snake in disbelief. He turned his head to the side. "You heard that correctly too, right?" Death's affirmative hum sounded near his ear. "Never thought Salazar Slytherin would be the dotting type of pet owner."

A/N:

None. Late update.

Real late.Is what it is-