Tom Riddle
- What do you think you're doing, boys?! - an elegant man left the car, looking at Harry with his cold eyes. He looked almost grotesquely with his posh, dark suit in the shabby surrounding.
- Ron, are you okay?! - Harry ignored him, heading towards his friend. His heart was beating faster than ever and he felt sick, thinking about what could have happened.
- I'm alright... - he heard the weak voice and let out a trembling breath. Ron slowly stood up and sent Harry an apologizing look. - I've managed to stop a little after I've heard your screams. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I would-
- That's charming, indeed - the man's cold voice interrupted them and Harry took a moment to look at the stranger. He was tall and handsome, his pale face and high cheekbones were giving him an almost aristocratic look. He grabbed Ron's arm with his long fingers and stared at him with disgust. - You wrecked my car.
- Hey, get off me! - Ron tried to escape from his grip. - I think you did more harm to me! I could've die-
- Shut up, whelp! - the man gave Ron a prod and Harry suddenly found himself being held by someone else. - I thought we could get it done like real men, but I see you don't want to cooperate.
- Leave us alone! - Ron earned another hit to his stomach. Harry grimaced a little at his zero survival instincts and tried to sent him a look, that would say: stay fucking quiet.
- You, Ginger - the man suddenly said, pulling Ron closer to the car. - We need to talk.
- About what?! - the previous anger in Ron's eyes was now replaced by fear. His look ran from the man to his black car and then back to the man.
Harry felt as if he was in some weird dream, millions of thoughts were running through his head, when he was thinking about their possibilities of getting out of this horrible situation. He knew Ron couldn't go into that car - he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut when needed and would put himself into even more trouble. Besides, he was already injured from his accident and if anything else would happen to him... Harry didn't even want to think about Mrs. Weasley's reaction to it.
- I'll go - he decided to say, making sure his voice isn't trembling and looked at the man with a fire in his eyes.
- Well, at least someone here has balls - the man smiled in a psychotic way and nodded at the other man holding Harry. - Get him into the car, Goyle.
- What?! No, Harry, stop! You can't-
- You're really getting on my nerves - Ron's hair were pulled back. - Me and your friend are just going to... talk. Nothing else, unless he'll choose to start something.
Harry felt an unpleasant thrill on his back and managed to glance over his shoulder once again to see Neville, Dean and Seamus heading towards them, shouting something he couldn't understand, before he was pulled into the car and squeezed between two men on the back seat.
- So, Harry... I can call you that, right? - the elegant man said right after they started off. - I realised I didn't introduce myself and I don't want you to think I'm rude...
He made a short pause. Harry quickly glanced in the rearview mirror and breathed a small sigh of relief when he saw his friends following them.
- I'm Tom.
Harry nodded, but didn't say anything. Tom smirked and shook his head. - You're not very talkative, are you? That's good, cause I need you to stay fucking quiet for couple of minutes. Understand?
Harry nodded again and flinched, when Tom put his hand on his knee, grasped it in an uncomfortable way and then reached to his pocket. Harry took a deep breath, his heart stopped for a moment, but the man only took out his phone - the similar one Dudley had, but a little smaller and more graceful - probably an even more recent model.
- Yeah... Yes, the bonnet is destroyed... no... there's nothing left to paint, you idiot...
Harry forced himself to breathe normally and tried to look outside of the windows. He could still see his friends following them, but that had to be the only positive thing one could take from this situation.
He was seating at the back seat of some unknown car, between two grown men, that were acting like some kind of a mafia, driving through the most dangerous district of Little Whinging. And it was slowly getting dark outside.
Harry suddenly felt the need to laugh, because out of all the stupid things he's done in his life, this one had to be the biggest one. And nothing came even close.
- Stop here, Crabbe - only now Harry realised, that Tom has already finished speaking through his phone. The grip over Harry's knee tightened even more and he forced himself to look at Tom, somewhere at his forehead, so he could avoid his cold eyes.
- I've just finished talking to my mechanic - he said with a little smile. - About how your stupid friend managed to crash my car.
Harry bit back a snort. After all, it was rather Ron who was crashed by his car, not the other way around.
- He says we're gonna have to change the whole bonnet. And maybe we'll find something more to do under it... You'll never know. He thinks it'll cost you at least ten grands - Tom told him with an annoying, snobbish manner.
Harry sent him a mingled look. - When I've seen it, it was just a small dent. Something like this can be easily beaten out!
Tom clucked his tongue and leaned across Harry. - Noone does anything like that anymore. And besides, if you'll be fucking with me like this more I might decide that the whole suspension needs to be changed as well. Or maybe I'll have to scrap the whole car.
Harry pulled his eyes away from the man and suddenly saw a little flare near his fingers. His eyes widened and his breath speeded up when he realised what it meant - Tom was holding a knife.
- What do you want? - he asked queietly, his voice cracked a little.
- I've already told you. I. Want. Money.
- Then you've got the wrong guy, cause I can't even afford a shitty school trip to Slough-
His words were suddenly cut by a quick hit to his stomach.
- Easy, Goyle, easy - Tom said slowly, smiling indulgently at the other man. - You see, Harry, that's a touchy subject, since Goyle's mother-in-law is from Slough. But anyway...
He made a pause and laid his eyes on Harry, who flinched uncomfortably under his gaze.
- You know what, I really like you. Seriously. - Tom continued. - That's why I have a special offer for you.
He put his hand into his pocket again and pulled out a small baggie. Harry's eyes widened and he felt a lump rising to his throat.
- What's this? - he asked, altough he knew the answer already.
- I don't think I need to explain it to you, Harry - Tom's voice was now not louder than a wisper and Harry flinched at its sound. - I want you to smuggle it for me to my clients.
Harry didn't do anything apart from staring at the plastic baggie, his eyes slowly moved to Tom's other hand. He was still holding a knife.
He needed to get out of the car. Run away, escape, break out. Preferably alive.
- I can see you're a smart boy, Harry - Tom said in an indulgent tone. He threw the baggie away and put his hand on Harry's knee again. - All I want you to do is to deliver my skunk to certain people, take their money and give it to me. You'll pay off your debt before you'll know it. I'll even let you keep something for yourself, so you could go to that school trip of yours. Or you'll just buy yourself something nice...
He started running his hand over Harry's leg, who suddenly felt, that one more minute of sitting next to this man will make him vomit at the shiny, leather upholstery.
- Listen, I think I'd rather pay off my debt with money - Harry said slowly, looking at Tom's reaction.
There was no way he could shin even half the amount of money the man wanted and Tom had to know it as well, because he sent him a sceptical look. - You're going to rob a bank? Just do as I tell you and everythi-
- I can't! - Harry suddenly shouted and had already knew it was a bad move. Tom's eyes darkened and his fingers closened on the knife. - I can't, cause I already have a social worker on me-
- Ah... Social worker - Tom clucked his tongue. - That's a serious matter. I get it, I still remember what it was like to have them on me all the time. Well, if that's your final decision... let's say we could forget about everything I've told you - he squinted his eyes. - I'll just need to do one more thing...
He nodded towards Goyle and immediately Harry was caught into a strong grip and screamed automatically.
- Shut up or you'll hurt yourself even more - Tom said in a frustrated tone. He grabbed Harry's face and turned it towards himself. - It would be almost a crime to uglify such a pretty face...
Harry closed his eyes and felt the cold blade touching his cheek. He was breathing heavily and let a small hiss when he felt it cut through his skin.
- Beautiful... - Tom whispered right into Harry's ear. - Now I shall try something else... But first you have to open your eyes for me.
Harry shook his head and felt a few drops of blood streaming down his cheek.
- I think I've told you to open your eyes - Tom repeated, cutting his skin again, while shaking his face. Harry gave up on his stubbornness and complied to the order.
- You see? It's not that hard... - the man smiled and stared at Harry's face for couple of seconds. - These are beautiful eyes... We wouldn't want to... get rid of one of them, right?
Harry froze, afraid to even breathe. Tom was still holding a knife just under his glasses. The man wasn't joking and Harry knew it perfectly well - the blade was burning his skin and he felt a single tear streaming down his cheek.
Don't look at me like that with these eyes! You only remind me of your stupid mother!
It was probably the most Aunt Petunia has ever said about her sister and Harry held to the meaning of these words the strongest he could - he had his mum's eyes. They were the only thing he had that reminded him of her and now this man was about to take it from him?
- Oh, Harry - Tom said. - Why do you have to make me do this?
He moved the knife up, about to-
- Wait, stop! - Harry finally shouted, breathing heavily. - Just... stop... I agree, I'll do it.
Tom moved the knife away, but was still holding Harry's face between his fingers. He smiled and stroked his cheek. - I knew you're smart. Sorry about that, but... you just needed a little bit of persuasion, right?
- Goyle, take Harry's backpack and... stock it up on our goods - he suddenly started speaking even more imperiously. - And you boy... my people will keep in touch with you about when and where I want you to deliver it to. When you'll get rid of half of the baggies, you'll hand the money over to me directly. To the last penny. Understand?
Harry nodded, he didn't trust his voice enough to say anything. Goyle threw the backpack into his hands and pushed him out of the car.
- I'll meet you in two weeks - Tom said.
- Here? - Harry asked, glad that he could control his trembling voice.
- I'm not sure yet... But don't worry, I'll find you.
And right after that they drove away, leaving Harry alone in the middle of nowhere, feeling like everything he's ever built, even if it was only made from the sand, was now brutally smashed and trampled in just a couple of minutes.
He crouched down, relieved to feel raindrops of an evening drizzle, falling on his face, washing the blood and tears away from his cheeks.
***
- Harry?!
- Mate, are you okay?
- Are you alright?!
- What happened-
Harry closed his eyes and smiled at the voices of his friends. He slowly stood up, glad that the darkness of the evening prevented them from seeing his face. He felt hands all over him, patting him on his shoulders. The voices mixed into an uncomprehensible chatter and he shook his head, his whole body was aching terribly and he couldn't gather his thoughts.
- I'm alright - he kept saying in a weak voice. - Everything's fine.
- You scared the shit out of us - Ron said, trying to look into Harry's face, who broke away from his grip and took a few steps back. - That man... what were you doing in his car for so long? Did he do anything to you?
- I said I'm fine! - Harry said louder than he wanted. Now it was Ron who pulled out from his friend. - He just wanted to... talk. Like he said.
His friends looked at each other and then sent Harry a dubious look
- What? - he asked confused.
- Harry... did that man... - Seamus started slowly. - Did he tell you his name?
- Yeah, he said it's Tom - their even more worried expressions started to annoy Harry. - So what about it? Why are you looking at me as if I had met the fucking devil himself-
- Almost - Dean interrupted him. - Harry, that was Tom Riddle. The biggest dealer and gangster in the whole Little Whinging, he's well known in the eastern district. Everyone shits their pants if he even comes close them, including the cops and you're telling us you "just talked"?
Harry took a deep breath, avoiding his friends' gaze. He couldn't tell them the truth, this was obvious. He just needed a convincing lie.
- He smacked me up a little - he said in a dull voice. - He just wanted to make sure I won't tell anyone about the accident. And assured I'll remember it.
Harry showed them the cuts on his cheek. They seemed almost convinced, although Ron was still looking at him a little suspiciously.
- Anyway, where are we? - Harry asked quickly, trying to turn the attention away from him. - What is this place?
- It's the old slaughterhouse - Dean answered. - I wouldn't recommend coming here alone, even me and Seamus don't venture here.
- Yeah, can we come back now? - Neville asked, sending his friends a weak smile. - My grandma's gonna kill me if someone will decide to murder me here.
They all laughed and the tension seemed to finally defuse.
- Follow me - Seamus said, already on his skateboard. - We need to do it fast, there's gonna be a tone of junkies here at this hour. Harry, you can skate, right?
- He cut my face, not my legs - he answered, already following his friends.
They skated in a complete silence, from time to time seeing blurred figures, staggering in their steps. They've past Seamus's block and Harry looked at him confused.
- We're going to see you home - he said, as if he was reading Harry's mind. - In case Riddle will come back.
Harry snorted and shook his head. - I'm fine, you don't have to do that.
- Just drop it, mate - Ron interrupted him. - You don't have to act like a hero all the time.
- I'm not acting like a hero.
- You do - they all said in unison and laughed.
- You literally saved my ass today - Ron said. - I would be dead without you.
- That's because noone has ever taught you how to keep your mouth shut - Harry said with a smile.
They didn't say anything else until they got to Privet Drive, enjoying the fresh, night air. They stopped in front of a square house with perfectly cut lawn and even flowerbeds. Uncle Vernon's brand-new car was shining even in the weak light of the street lamp. Harry glanced at the building and felt a knot clenching in his stomach.
- Sometimes I forget that you're actually rich, mate - he heard Semus say and laughed without humour.
- I'm not rich, they are - he answered with a shrug, nodding at the house.
They've only talked for a few more minutes, before Dean and Seamus offered to see Neville home as well and left Harry and Ron in front of the Dursley's house.
- I realised I hadn't even asked you... - Harry started, determined to postpone the moment he'll have to enter the house as much as possible. - How do you feel? You know, after the crash?
Ron shrugged. - It looks worse than it actually is. I'll just tell my mum I fell while skating. Maybe she'll feel sorry for me and won't kill me for being home this late.
Harry laughed, smiling at the image of Molly Weasley shouting at Ron for being late, only to hug him and start dressing his wounds, all this while feeding him with the most delicious dinner he could ever imagine. He was embarassed to admit it to anyone, even to himself, but sometimes, while thinking about his own mother, he would imagine Mrs. Weasley, but a little younger and with his bright green eyes. The woman in his head always had a warm smile on her round face, covered in freckles and a melodious voice.
- Say hello to your mum from me, will you? - Harry said, trying to get rid of these sudden melancholic thoughts.
- I will - Ron answered. - She's asking about you all the time. You should drop by any time soon.
- Yeah, I know... - he answered indirectly.
- Mate, I'm serious - Ron said with confidence. - My mum would basically adopt you if she could. You can come to our house whenever you want.
- Thanks - Harry smiled. - If the Dursleys won't let me into their house tonight, I'll know where to go - he added jokingly.
But Ron didn't laugh, staring at his friend with a worried face. - I just want to tell you... - he started hesitantly. - Seamus, Dean and Neville might have believed in all you'd told us about Riddle, but I...
He stopped and took a deep breath, staring at his feet. - Just know that if anything happens with this man or with your uncle or with anything else, you can always tell me. You don't have to do everything by yourself.
Harry nodded and for a brief moment he wanted to tell Ron about everything that happened in that car, his heavy backpack was burning him through his hoodie.
- I know. But there's nothing to talk about - he answered instead, smiling comfortingly.
He bid Ron's goodbye and watched him skate into the dark night, before he turned to the house, as always feeling as if he was entering the prison cell.