Chapter 2
"Oh dear, what is it this time?" Madam Pomfrey spoke as Tom lowered Harry into his bed.
Considering how often he was in the hospital wing, he had his own bed.
"He blew the Thunderbrew potion. I leviated him here because it is all over him." Tom answered, having just read that anyone who touched the thunders surrounding the person or the person themselves would be stunned for thirty seconds. This was one of the main effects of the potion.
How could he be so reckless? What if something serious were to happen to him?
"Thank you for bringing him here, dear. I will take care of him, so you should return to class right now."
Returning to the classroom? Leaving him here?
Tom would typically be the one asking to return to class so he would not miss anything, but...
What made him so doubtful of it now, though?
"You can visit him later if you like." She said, and Tom instantly smiled and headed back to class after realizing he had been frowning. Without wanting to.
Harry awoke with a sore back and a dull headache.
What the hell had happened?
He opened his eyes a little, but the bright light made him quickly close them again. It was excessive even though it was not that bright.
"Ah, Harry!" He recognized the voice right away as that of Hermione, one of his closest friends.
It was only when he opened his eyes that he realized he was in the hospital wing.
"You have no idea how anxious I was! You might have suffered injuries from the way you fell, even though Snape claimed it was not fatal." After expressing her worries, Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Ron was hugging him shortly after that. It was quite awkward, but it gave Harry a nice feeling.
"So what happened?" He then inquired because he could not remember how he got here.
"The potion, of course!" Ron said aloud.
"I thought you were dead because of the way you blew it off." He went on, making hand gestures to indicate how the cauldron had blown off.
Right..
He blew up the potion. In front of the entire classroom. In front of Riddle.
Merlin...
"I—what? Erm, uh well.." Harry felt the embarrassment cause his face to flush bright red. How in the world could he have been so dumb? He detested potions so much, it was the worst thing ever.
"Harry, really, how could you be so dumb? Did you miss what was written on the board? And I am pretty sure Riddle told you what to do; I heard him as he left." Hermione complained, and as much as he hated admitting it, she was correct.
He was terrible at potions; when he had the chance, he ought to have enrolled in the additional foundational courses Hermione had suggested.
"'Mione! Stop being so rude. Harry doesn't know the basics." Ron now faced her.
"Well, he should, and that part—which was merely time management—did not even call for the fundamentals." He winced as she shot him a glare. Her gaze softened, and she sighed, so she must have felt bad at that.
"Look, Harry, I am only worried about you. If it had been another potion, the consequences could have been far worse." She explained, and Ron nodded and looked at him softly.
Harry was truly lucky to have them as friends.
"She's right you know, we're worried about you. Oh, and Snape mentioned that you would receive a potions guide for the remainder of the year because he believes that if this continues, you will score a troll? And he said he will either assign you a helper or something."
What? A potion guide? Why? He did just fine—well, perhaps he did need it. In any case, it is a good thing it is not Snape and someone else.
Right...?
"Well, let me tell you about something." Harry listened as Ron continued to talk about Malfoy and his actions, while Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to a book.
"Visiting time is up! Get to bed before your curfew, kids. He will be released tomorrow morning; you will see him later." Madam Pomfrey interrupted their conversation.
They left after wishing each other goodnight, and Harry ate his hospital dinner reluctantly and was told to take a potion before bed.
Soon after, he was down and sound asleep.
Tom was out patrolling as usual. He had been on it for an hour and was becoming tired of it. Restless, even.
Why, though?
This was not how he had ever felt before. Usually he relished the walks and had plenty of time to reflect on various topics. Like the book on immortality he discovered in the library's restricted area.
But tonight, he could not concentrate.
He rounded a corner and recognized a door leading to the hospital wing.
However, he was not even meant to be here. He was not supposed to be patrolling this area.
Well, he might as well pay someone a visit now that he is here.
He crept into the room, looked around, and saw Harry's bed right away. The curtains were drawn halfway around it. He approached the bed quietly and slowly removed the curtains.
The sight of a soundly sleeping Harry Potter greeted him there. In the moonlight, his face seemed to glow, and he was devoid of the typical frown. He looked gorgeous.
His lips were lightly parted, and his chest moved up and down slightly.
In order to explain his actions, Tom later believed he had been possessed or imperioed as he was leaving the hospital wing.
He had kissed Harry.
"Harry! Breakfast is almost over, so hurry up. Why did it take you so long?" Ron yelled as soon as he spotted Harry approaching the Griffindor table the next morning.
Hermione, who had finished breakfast and was looking through a book, looked up and motioned for Harry to join them.
"Sorry, guys; I woke up late." Harry said with a slight grimace due to his lie. He hoped no one would notice it or figure it out.
He had actually not slept the entire night.
Or at least, he had until he heard someone open his curtains. He wanted to reach for his wand right away, but he surprised himself by relaxing. As if he was aware that Tom Riddle was present.
How? He really does not know. He does not understand how he knew it was Tom without opening his eyes. Maybe because of the way he smells.
Alright, Harry, that sounds spooky. Stop.
But Harry nearly froze when he felt Riddle's breaths fanning against his face. He almost opened his eyes, but paused when he felt...
When he felt a pair of lips against his.
Riddles, to be exact.
Harry was internally screaming because this could not be happening-
Why on Earth was Riddle kissing him?
He quickly stopped complaining when he felt the lips brush against his. They were gentle on his slightly chapped lips, but Riddle did not stop kissing him. He continued to move slightly, and Harry almost flinched as he felt his tongue on his lips. He opened his mouth unconsciously, and Riddle was inside in a matter of seconds.
Harry thanked God that it was only the moonlight in here because he was flushed and very red. He was absolutely certain.
Unfortunately, Riddle soon came to a halt and resumed breathing quickly. Harry tried to calm himself after realizing he was too.
Then, he was certain he flinched as Riddle grabbed both sides of his face and kissed him violently.
Kissed him repeatedly. Until he wasn't, and he heard the hospital door close.
He finally opened his eyes and began to panic.
What in the name of Merlin just happened?
That is why he had not slept all night. And this is how he ended up being late for breakfast.
He had been eating slowly while glancing around. His gaze, against his will, fell on the Slytherin table. and finally landed on Riddle, who had been staring at him for maybe the entire time.
Riddle winked, and Harry looked down, blushing at once.
Why was he staring at me?!
Well, he did kiss you last night, he's obviously interested in you. His brain provided, but it was unlikely. Given that practically the entire school was wanting him, why would he ever be interested in someone like me?
Harry sighed, and Hermione finally looked up to ask him what was wrong.
Should he be honest with her? No. Absolutely not. She would literally curse Riddle. Everyone was aware of the two's academic rivalry. Or rather, Hermione's. Riddle did not appear to care. He simply excelled in every class.
"Nothing; I am still feeling tired. That's all." He responded, and Hermione frowned slightly.
"Have you told the nurse about this? You know you have to, right? She wont know everything. Come on, let us go back and see if this is a side effect or not." Hermione lectured. Harry dismissed her comment with a shake of his head, telling her that he was fine and that it was a common occurrence.
After letting out a sigh and shaking her head, she gave them a long lecture about being late for class and then the three left to class.
There was one more potion class left before classes ended for the day.
Oh no, now Snape would have to make fun of him for what happened yesterday. Fantastic.
He also nearly forgot about the idiotic guide class.
He let out a sigh; at least this was a theory class instead of a practical one. Might as well get it over with and see what is going on with the extra classes. Merlin knows he needs them.
Snape came in and told Harry to stay behind in class as soon as he saw him. Then he ordered Riddle to stay too.
Why?
It was not until after class that he went to Snape, who informed him that Riddle would be teaching the classes.
The prefect had volunteered it seems, when Snape mentioned that Harry would require additional classes. As that would mean less work for him, Snape naturally agreed.
Riddle had abruptly stopped Harry as he was leaving class, telling him the schedule and essentially pinning him to the wall. Quite almost.
Harry gave him a fierce look, and he knew he had to listen to this, so he did and it was twice a week.
Wonderful.
After giving Harry a knowing smirk, Riddle took off. And Harry was dead. He desired to die, at least.
Sighing for what seemed like the hundredth time today, he made his way back to the tower to head to bed.
He has a long week ahead after all.