Theo races down the halls, not bothering to pretend like he's not running. He needs to get to the dungeons, and fast. Theo hardly notices when Ron slips his hand in his own- the other boy is keeping pace with Theo, which is actually rather impressive.
Theo's going to attribute that to Ron's height. It's like he can cover twice the distance with the same number of strides.
"Why the rush?" Ron asks as they run.
Theo doesn't answer him, not at first.
The others had just gotten back from break. Theo can admit to himself that he'd been excited to see them- but then Harry had sat them down in the library and told them what it is he's been hiding the last few months.
Theo and the others had known he wasn't being totally straight with them about something but this- this could be really, really bad.
Tom Riddle. Stuck in a diary for fifty years. 'Related to the Evans'- yeah, right. Tom Riddle is at best only related to the Dark Lord.
Theo isn't optimistic.
"Just a feeling," Theo finally lies.
Ron can't know. If Ron finds out about Harry's true parentage, everyone else might find out too- including Harry. That's not an option, not right now.
Theo knows Harry, knows that if he finds out that Lord Voldemort is his father, it will scare Harry away from his own power forever. Theo can't afford that right now- and Harry deserves better. Theo knows what it's like to have a madman for a father and if Theo can keep sparing Harry from having to know the feeling, he will.
They finally reach the entrance to the common room. No one is around- Riddle must be inside already. Theo taps his foot impatiently as Ron gives the password and the wall slides open, and then Theo tugs Ron in behind him.
The common room is empty, too- most everyone is in the Great Hall, or the library, or on the grounds outside.
Well- mostly empty. Because there, standing near the glass walls looking out into the lake, is a boy. He's on the taller side (although not so tall he could be considered lanky), with short dark brown hair, high cheekbones, and a sharp jawline. He turns to look at Theo and Ron, one eyebrow arched perfectly and mouth set in a slight smirk.
He looks a hell of a lot like if Harry was only four years older then he is now- except for one glaring fact:
Instead of a bright green, the boy's eyes are glittering red.
"Ah," Riddle says, smirk widening into a smile as he takes in Theo and Ron. "Nott and Weasley, I presume? Harry's told me so much about you."
Theo feels frozen. He's not used to feeling like this- not during the school year, anyways.
How is Theo going to play this? Does he pretend he doesn't know exactly who Riddle is? Or should he try and get Riddle to admit that he's lying? Maybe he should just start throwing knives and hope for the best- only Theo can't risk Ron getting caught in the crossfire, and it's likely Riddle won't go down as easy as all that.
Theo doesn't know what to do. Maybe he should have waited and come up with a strategy- but Theo is pretty sure time is of the essence.
What exactly is Riddle's plan here?
"Did he," Ron says, stepping up. He holds out a hand, and Riddle grasps and then shakes it with no hesitation. "Ron Weasley," Ron continues. "You can call me Ron."
"Tom, then," Riddle says, then turns to Theo. He just looks for a moment- Theo can almost see the thoughts racing behind his eyes.
"I knew your father," Riddle says finally.
"Did you," Theo says, flat as he can. "Because he certainly didn't mention you. Not by name, anyways."
Riddle narrows his eyes.
"Wait, you were friends with Nott Senior?" Ron says, looking disgusted.
"I wouldn't say that," Riddle counters.
Theo thinks his father might disagree.
"I knew him," Riddle continues. "That's all."
"I could write to him," Theo suggests, watching Riddle carefully. "Maybe he'd be interested in catching up- friends or otherwise, my father is getting on in age. He doesn't have very many peers left."
Ron looks at Theo oddly, but that's not what Theo cares about right now- no, what he's interested in is the way Riddle's smile looks suddenly very plastered on.
"No need," Riddle says easily. "I'm sure he hardly remembers me at all."
"Really," Theo says. Time to drive it home. "Because my father is pretty sharp- he's especially good with faces."
Riddle's smile goes even more wooden, but Theo thinks he only catches it because he's watching for it. Ron is still looking baffled, but that's something for Theo to deal with later.
"In any case," Riddle finally says, "there's no use dwelling in the past. I'd much prefer to look forward- I'm sure if I met up with any of the old crowd, we'd be going for each other's throats in no time at all."
Interesting. Is Riddle trying to tell Theo that he's not planning on reclaiming the title of Lord Voldemort? At least he's not trying to deny anything- or trying to kill Theo. Yet.
"If you say so," Theo finally says, forcing himself to shrug.
"Say," Riddle says, looking back over to Ron. "You two are pretty good friends with Harry, right?"
Ron nods, but Theo feels abruptly on edge (more on edge than he already is, anyhow). Riddle doesn't say anything, just watches Theo's face with those cruel red eyes.
Theo nods as well, and Riddle smiles. It looks genuine, but Theo doesn't trust it for a second. He's itching to go for his knives, or his wand, but he holds back.
"Good- it's good that my brother has so many people who care about him, who want the best for him. Harry told me all about the things he got up to last year, and I shudder to think what would have happened if he didn't have people there to protect him.
"Although," Riddle says, then laughs lightly. "He showed me some of his tricks- the fire, the healing. So maybe- maybe he doesn't need protection at all? Maybe he just needs… support."
Ron nods again, although he still looks a little lost. Theo doesn't do anything at all, just continues to watch Riddle.
He isn't sure what the boy is getting at, but he's pretty sure he and Ron were both just called supporters. Theo isn't sure how to feel about that. One the one hand, that is what they are. On the other, what does that mean to Riddle?
"In any case," Riddle continues, "I'm glad you've been there for him. Hopefully I can be there for him too- I know my story is unbelievable, but I really do think of Harry as family."
Theo doesn't scoff, but it's a close thing. As though being family means anything at all- maybe it does to Ron, who is now looking appreciative, but to Theo? No way. Family is just another thing to exploit.
Which, by the sounds of it, is exactly what Riddle is going for. He's seen Harry's power- and he hasn't tried to kill him yet. Either Riddle is too scared to try, or he thinks he'll be able to use Harry somehow. That tracks with what Theo knows about how the Dark Lord operated- collect powerful people, and keep them around until their use runs out.
And Harry- well, Harry is extremely useful. Theo knows it, and clearly Riddle does too. Which means, for now, Harry isn't in any danger from this- whatever Riddle is.
"I've never heard of something like this cursed diary," Theo hears himself say, instead of replying to what Riddle had said.
Riddle cocks his head, smiling. "It was extremely rare, and extremely difficult to destroy. That's all I know about it."
"Fascinating," Theo says. He doesn't believe it, but he can look into what it might have been later. For now, he sticks his hand out.
Riddle's grin widens, but it doesn't reach his eyes. The older boy grabs his hand (tighter than perhaps necessary), and shakes once.
"Theo," Theo says.
"Tom," Tom replies.
"You'll have to tell me more about this diary," Theo says, dropping Tom's hand and resisting the urge to wipe his hand on his shirt. "If you find out more about it, I mean. I would be incredibly interested in learning all about it."
"Yes," Tom says, arching an eyebrow. "You strike me as that sort. Perhaps we can discuss what I do know about it. On a later date."
Then, Tom clears his throat and straightens up. "As for now, however, I do believe I'm going to try and get settled into my dorm. It was nice to meet you, Ron, Theo."
"Likewise," Ron says. Theo just hums.
Ron waits until Tom is gone, at least.
"What the hell?" Ron asks, turning to look at Theo, freckled arms crossed.
"Don't worry about it," Theo says, waving him off.
"You don't get to brush me off like that," Ron says, bristling.
"I can do what I please," Theo snaps, then hesitates. He needs to tell Ron something. Otherwise he'll never hear the end of it- or worse, Ron will ask Hermione or Daphne or Blaise, and then this whole thing will turn into an even bigger convoluted mess.
"I just-" Theo starts. "I lied, just then. I have heard my father speaking about a Riddle that he knew, once upon a time. The things I heard about him put me on edge- Tom is apparently the conniving sort. I wanted to make sure that Harry wasn't being tricked."
Ron sighs, deflating. "Harry does tend to trust first, ask questions later."
"More so than any Slytherin ever would," Theo agrees.
"Let's go find the others," Ron suggests, checking the time with a quick tempus. "I'll bet they want to talk about this some more. I know I do."
Theo nods, relieved that apparently that had been enough to satisfy Ron's suspicion.
As they walk, Theo thinks.
Tom Riddle- definitely the Dark Lord, one way or another, then. But how? And why? He's a sixteen year old kid- and Theo can't think of any ritual off the top of his head that would allow for the wraith to regain his sixteen-year-old body. And the story that Tom is going with- it's too convoluted for there not to be an element of truth to it, especially assuming that Tom has talked with Dumbledore.
Dumbledore would recognize him, Theo knows he would- which likely means Tom took some veritaserum like Harry had, or submitted to a Legilimancy scan.
If Theo was Tom, he'd opt for the potion- it's downright impossible to lie under, and incredibly difficult to trick. Dumbledore would be inclined to trust it- and Tom wouldn't have had to risk a Legilimancer with an unknown skill level.
Assuming there is that element of truth… then there must have been a split of some kind- one Tom Riddle going on to become Lord Voldemort, and one to stay stuck in a diary for fifty years. The only thing is that Theo has never heard of anything like that.
Although if there's a place in the world that has the information he seeks, it's the Nott family library. Theo will just have to wait until the summer to start on his research.
Hopefully Tom Riddle doesn't end up killing anyone Theo particularly cares about before then.