No more lies (To Victory)

CHAPTER 8

°°••°°

For the umpteenth time this week, Severus Snape wondered if evading Azkaban and becoming a professor was really worth it. 

As the Yule Ball drew closer, the students became more and more crazed about the event, to a point they could barely concentrate on actually paying attention to what they were brewing, which only ended up in several explosions and dozens of points lost.

But the most annoying of all was Ginevra Weasley.

Even during his class, after multiple lost points and a detention, she would not shut up about the ball and her date , Harry Potter.

Which Severus knew to be a complete and utter bullshit; Potter was going with someone from Beauxbatons, according to his slytherins. And thank Merlin for that.

Although he couldn't wait to see what happens once Weasley finds out the truth; it will certainly be a show worth watching.

Yet he still wondered if this was one of Albus' ploys; he seemed insistent on pushing Potter and Weasleys together from the get-go. His chosen and favoured light family. And since Potter and Ronald were at odds and clearly had no intention of getting the Golden Trio back together… it seemed plausible. 

Although the witch seemed obsessed with the boy from the moment she stepped foot into this school and her stalking tendencies didn’t go amiss. It was disturbing. 

He should warn Potter to check his food for potions, just in case. But since Harry was eating almost every meal at the Slytherin table, Severus highly doubted that the Weasley chit could slip anything in it - nobody would let her get that close.

He's still yet to find out what happened, but the Slytherin house as a whole acted as if Potter was one of their own, and not only that, but someone respectable .

And from his personal experience Severus knew that it takes a lot to get slytherins on your side. They will sense any weakness and snuff you out sooner than you can say quidditch. 

But they would cling to power. Like moths to a flame.

It fit though, didn’t it?

First, it was Potter’s yearmates; then the whole Slytherin house.

Severus shuddered to think of what was next.

He was certain that his show during the first task was a catalyst to it all; parseltongue was seen as an epitome of power, after all, and Potter had it in spades. The fact that he had an actual bloody snake mustn’t have hurt either. 

They probably believed Potter was the heir of Slytherin.

Was he?

Albus was insistent that Potters were always light and always sorted into Gryffindor, which Snape knew for a fact to be a lie. Dorea Potter nee Black was a Slytherin. Charlus was a Gryffindor, but his parents - if Severus wasn’t mistaken - were a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin respectively. 

Lily herself was almost sorted into Ravenclaw, with her insatiable curiosity.

So in reality, Potters were a mixed family, no matter how many praises to Gryffindor Dumbledore likes to sing. 

So even if Potter was an heir to Slytherin, there was no way for Severus to find out for sure, apart from trusting that he got parseltongue from the Slytherin blood. The only legitimate proof would be the heritage test or the heir ring.

Was Harry even aware they existed? He’s going to have to ask. Potter may be a sly little snake and know things he shouldn’t, but he still needed looking after, with how much trouble he tends to attract, and with Albus so intent on controlling him.

He thought the Marauders were a nightmare - causing trouble and mayhem wherever they went - but they couldn’t hold a candle to one Harry Potter; a boy who snapped and was insistent to leave nothing but destruction in his wake.

Once again, he was witnessing history being made.

Sometimes Severus really hated his life.

Harry instantly felt nervous when he saw two grinning Weasleys skipping towards him.

Those grins never meant anything good.

“You better not prank me,” he warned them.

“Oh, Harrykins, we would never-

“-prank the son of our marauding masters-"

"-the one who did the impossible and-"

"-made Bagman return our winnings!"

The twins bowed to him, much to Harry's horror and amusement.

""We thank our benevolent Lord for his kindness!""

Harry snorted, shaking his head. "Get up, you two."

This was good to know though. He wondered if Bagman would dare to go back on his promise, even though it was highly unlikely. "I'm glad the bastard paid up." He paused for a moment, frowning. "Did he return everything?"

The twins nodded enthusiastically. "Yep, in fact, he gave us more ."

"400 galleons. And a very short note saying he was sorry for not doing it earlier."

Harry’s smirk stretched into a full-on satisfied grin.

"What did you do?" The twins asked in unison, now looking highly suspicious.

“Me? Oh, nothing, just encouraged him to pay up his debts. After all, it wouldn’t dwell well if it got out that the Head of the Ministry’s Department was scamming school children for money.”

“Something tells me it was more than that,” Fred looked unconvinced, so Harry just smiled sweetly at him, which just deepend his suspicion, but evidently, they said nothing.

You shouldn’t look a gifted horse in the mouth and all that.

“So, Harrykins, we haven’t seen you around much,” Gred looked at him questioningly. “Are you exchanging us, brave lions, for sneaky slytherins?”

Harry snorted. Twins were delightful.

A wonder how the younger two turned out to be such obnoxious, backstabbing traitors.

“And if I was?”

“We wouldn’t blame you.”

“Yes, a lot of griffs became increasingly annoying after you didn’t show up to the party and then cursed everyone out.”

“Which was funny as hell, by the way.”

“They say you’re betraying your house, hanging out with slytherins and Beauxbaton students.”

“But we think they’re just jealous.”

“Just like our dear brother Ronnie-”

“-he still hasn’t shut up about you being a traitor and a prat-”

“-and all he does is whine about the detentions he got from Snape and Moody-”

“-along raving how slytherins are turning you dark.”

“It’s pathetic, really.”

Harry listened, his amusement growing with each word.

He honestly couldn’t care less what any of them thought - they’re not the ones living his life and he owed them nothing - but it was good to know they haven’t forgotten him. After all, he only went to the Gryffindor tower to sleep or change, and even then it wasn’t every day. The Room of Requirement and the Chamber were preferable, especially when only a few days were left until the Yule Ball. 

People were still asking him out. The hordes of witches still tried to follow him, giggling and whispering among themselves, leering at him.

It was madness, and Harry was very close to snapping.

Thank Merlin for his invisibility cloak and secret passages; he’d have gone insane if not for them.

And slytherins too - they simply didn’t dare to annoy him too much or at all.

What a bliss.

“Are you guys ready for the ball?” Harry asked, genuinely hoping that they wouldn't cause any mayhem during the thing. Tom would skin him alive if he missed this precious opportunity to network, especially considering how sheltered he’s been so far.

The twins grinned. “Yep. Our dear Ronnie, on the other hand…”

“Truly tragic,” Fred nodded solemnly.

“Heard he wants to ask Fleur out. He’s going to try it during lunch.”

There was a pause before Harry burst into laughter. Ron? And Fleur ?

Merlin and Morgana, Fleur would never go with someone like Ron. The fact that he received robes that looked to be from the Victorian times off-put anyone who actually wanted to go with him.

After all, everyone in the dining hall saw what he pulled out from the box. Draco still cackled every time he thought back on it.

“Now, I simply must see this,” Harry said to the twins as he cast tempus . Less than half an hour till lunch. “Are you coming?”

Two enthusiastic nods and offers to bet on the outcome where his only answer.

Harry, being the bastard he is, sat down next to Pierre at the Ravenclaw table, while the Weasley twins sat behind him at the Gryffindor table, so they could have the front row seats for the show they were about to witness.

He was greeted warmly by others - part Frederick, who still continued to sneer at him whenever possible - and patiently waited for Ron to show up.

He still had trouble understanding how Ron thought he had a chance with someone like Fleur Delacour. She was the eldest daughter of the French Minister of Magic, was clearly popular and magically talented, otherwise she wouldn’t have been picked to be a champion. Ron, on the other hand? He was average, annoying and lazy, no matter what the boy liked to tell himself.  Either way, Ron wasn’t even a blip on her radar.

Hell, they’ve never even spoken before.

His chance was below zero.

And besides, Fleur is going with Roger Davies - a ravenclaw, whom she was currently passionately discussing magical plants and their properties with.

What would Ron even speak with her about? Quidditch ?

“Oh, it’s starting,” Harry heard Fred say and glanced up at the entrance.

Ron, accompanied by Ginny and Hermione, was looking around the Great Hall, and once he spotted Fleur, he confidently strode towards her. 

What a fool , Harry thought. In front of everyone, too.

He must truly believe Fleur would say yes; why else would he choose such a public setting if he could be humiliated by a rejection? For all his talent in chess, Ron really lacked strategic thinking in real life.

Ginny and Hermione stayed back, while Ron came up to Fleur and stood behind her silently, like a loon.

Harry barely held in a snicker.

“ Ehem ,” Ron cleared his throat, but nobody paid him any attention.

Fred and George snickered behind him.

“Do you need something, little boy?” Anette asked Ronald after a very long and painful moment, finally noticing him standing there, staring at them like a creep.

Little boy ? Harry couldn’t help but snort loudly, and finally, finally Ron noticed him and his eyes widened, then narrowed angrily.

“I’m not a little boy; my name is Ron,” he said quite rudely. “I’m here to speak with Fleur.”

Everyone around them quieted down and stared at Ron expectedly.

Fleur turned around to face him. “ Oui ? Do I know you?”

“Uh- no, probably not. But I wanted to ask if you’d like to go to the Ball with me. I’m Ron- Ron Weasley.”

Fleur grimaced.

The twins started laughing hysterically behind him and Harry couldn’t hold in his giggles as well.

“Shut up, you traitor!” Ron snapped at him, erecting a deadly silence with his outburst.

Harry’s eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything, Pierre interrupted:

“Don’t you dare speak with ‘Arry like that. Have you no decorum?”

“And no manners either. Such a rude boy,” Annete tutted from aside. 

Harry felt oddly warm when they defended him. Seems like he’s gaining more friends than he initially anticipated. 

“ Me ?! Potter is consorting with the enemy!” Ron screeched, and Harry couldn’t contain his glee. Ron was destroying himself without a single word needed from him. 

Publicly too.

“We are not enemies, boy,” Fleur snapped at Ron, who, surprisingly, cowered away from her no doubtfully terrifying glare. Harry knew for a fact that she was a part veela, and those were ruthless when angry. It also made Harry wonder if Draco had any veela blood in him as well - he’s yet to see him truly angry, but if the stories Cassius told him were not exaggerated, then Draco was quite terrifying when he finally snapped.

He’ll just have to wait and see.

“Weasley, get the fuck out of here,” Davies spoke up, looking at Ron as if he was shit stuck on his shoe. “Nobody cares about your dramas. Nobody wants to hear your demented ramblings, so stop embarrassing yourself and bloody leave .”

Ron spluttered, looking highly offended, and Merlin, what a show this was. Not so quiet snickers all around them was a proof of that, but Ronald looked anything but amused. In fact, he narrowed his eyes and trained his glare onto Harry , as if this was somehow his fault.

Perhaps his brain short-circuited every time he saw Harry?

That was the only rational explanation for this spectacle.

“How come he sits here then? Potter is-”

“Welcome here, unlike you, Weasley,” Davies cut him off, clearly done with this nonsense.  

“Don’t speak to him like that!” Granger came up to stand behind Ron, hands on her hips, and Harry recognized the ‘I’m always right’ lecturing mode she was in. “He has every right to be here.”

“And we have every right not to listen to your obnoxious idiocy,” Harry illuminated her and flicked his wrist, creating a privacy bubble around them. “There. Much better.”

“Ah, thank you ‘Arry,” Fleur gave him a small smile, as did the others, but those looked more like smirks. 

“Nice ward, Potter,” Davies nodded appreciatively at him, as he too watched Ron and Hermione shout at them from the other side, but they were unable to come any closer. 

“Thanks. I don’t know about you, but I don’t fancy getting a headache this early.”

“Why are they so rude?” Pierre asked. “And called you a traitor too, non ?”

Harry shrugged. “This is what happens when you’re an entitled moron with no functioning brain capacity.”

Others seemed in agreement, and Harry was pleased to see the newest gossip visibly spreading.

And then his ward was hit with magic.

Harry was slightly startled, not expecting any sort of attack, especially in the middle of the Great Hall. With hundreds of witnesses .

Maybe Ron’s really off his rockers.

“Are they mad?” Pierre stared wide-eyed at the enraged redhead, as did others, most pulling out their wands in case Harry’s bubble fell, but it hadn’t even wavered.

“Yep,” Harry answered playfully and waved at Ron, fueling his anger even more. Not even Hermione was able to stop him from flinging more curses, and Ginny was already halfway out of the hall.

Running away from the professors, surely.

“Flitwick is coming over. Ohh, and Snape . Weasley is dead meat,” Davies looked pleased to have his distraction taken away.  “Your shield looks completely unaffected. How did you do that?”

Harry smirked, leaning in closer as to whisper a secret, pausing for a dramatic effect until they leaned in as well, unable to contain their own curiosity, and said: “ Magic .”

Students around him snorted, already used to Harry’s snarky commentary and non-answers, and turned to watch the spectacle happening beside them.

The whole Great Hall was watching.

Harry figured he’ll have to get rid of the ward for everyone to hear what’s being said, and with yet another wave of his hand, the bubble was gone.

“-ut of your mind, Mr Weasley?! Attacking students in the Great Hall?!” Flitwick was raving at the teen, irked beyond belief now that his claws were targeted. 

The little man could be quite vicious, Harry found. But that was to be expected; the wizard was half-goblin, and those would chop you to tiny pieces without a second thought, and yet, the wizards seemed to forget this little fact. Morons. 

“A hundred points from Gryffindor and two weeks of detention, Weasley,” Snape drawled, looking way too pleased with himself. Something in Harry told him that Snape was just waiting for an opportunity like this. He was sadistic like that.

“What?! It’s not fair!” Hermione screeched, and Snape turned to look at her, raising a brow elegantly.

“Another fifty points, Miss Granger, for not only not stopping your delinquent friend, but promoting violence. And here I thought you’re one for the rules.”

She spluttered angrily, strongly reminding Harry of a hyena about to attack.

“What about him ?!” she pointed a finger at him .

Harry looked at her mockingly. Did she honestly believe that they would punish him? For what?

Eating lunch? 

"How rude. ' Arry didn't do anything, did he?" Annete asked innocently.

"Yes, you came here and attacked him with no provocation," Pierre added, and Harry could barely control his grin at their expressions. Even Snape's lips twitched, but he, more than anyone, could control his facial expressions. That's slytherins to you.

"Would anyone mind telling us what actually transpired here? Mr Davies?" Flitwick asked, exasperated.

"Of course, professor. We were all having a peaceful lunch until Weasley here interrupted. He wanted to ask Fleur out to the dance, as if he isn't aware that she and I are going together-" snickers followed Davies pompous tone, and Harry was delighted to see Ron's face turn scarlet red, "-but before he could be turned away, he started going off on Harry, completely out of the blue."

"It was not-" Granger started, but Snape silenced her immediately. 

"When Granger joined in, Harry courteously blessed us with a silencing shield, I'm sure you can agree that it was a splendid example of magic."

Well, would you look at that? Davies had some slytherin in him.

"Yes, yes, we did see, didn't we? Impressive shield, Mr Potter, indeed." Flitwick nodded, and Harry couldn't help but preen at it a little. It wasn't often he received praise in his life, and now that he can show his true capabilities, it felt good to be appreciated. Daggers Hermione was shooting at him also warmed his heart.

"I believe twenty points for it would tie up nicely-"

"Surely not to Gryffindor professor?" Harry asked with faux innocence and noticed Snape closing his eyes in what was definitely an upcoming headache. "I don't think they deserve any points from me anyway, with being backstabbing traitors. But Ravenclaw could do with some points, especially since I'm sitting at their table. If you will, professor..?"

Harry pretended not to hear the gasps of shock and outrage, whispers rushing all over the Great Hall; the intense glaring at the back of his head from the lions.

He simply smiled and waited for Flitwick to do as Harry wishes, because really, who would deny him such a heartfelt request?

Not Flitwick. 

"Twenty points to Ravenclaw, Mr Potter. I must say, this hasn't happened yet in my long career," the half-goblin said to him fondly . Then his face hardened when he recalled just why exactly he was here. "As for you two-" he turned to Granger and Weasley and gave them a stern look. "You’ve been adequately punished by professor Snape, but I better not see you anywhere near the Ravenclaw table again."

"This is your que to leave," Snape drawled, ignoring the snickers as the two made a run for the door. "As for everyone else, return to lunch, and if I see such a spectacle in the Great Hall again, you'll have detention with me until summer."

Snape's threat was highly effective, as everyone averted their eyes and turned to their closest neighbour to share gossip.

"It's never quiet with you around, is it, Potter?" Davies shot him an amused look.

“What can I say,” Harry made an exaggerated gesture to stab a piece of meat on his plate while looking half-crazed. “I’m a joy to be around.”

“I can’t believe we missed it,” Draco whined, looking like he might cry. 

“I’m sure Harry will share the memory with you. Snape has a pensive, doesn’t he?” Theo looked at Harry with hope in his eyes, but the boy simply raised a brow.

“What’s in it for me?”

“Dancing lessons?” Blaise suggested, looking like he knew something they didn’t.

“And why would I need those?” Harry asked nonchalantly, but inside he was panicking. He simply couldn’t get into the rhythm of the dance and was too self-conscious. It felt unnatural and he didn’t want to mess up in front of so many people who will be undoubtedly staring at him, just waiting for him to fuck up. 

And Pierre! Oh, Merlin, he’ll probably be embarrassed too.

Perhaps Harry could persuade someone to polyjuice themselves as him.

“Daphne mentioned something about you needing to practise,” Theo supplied. 

“And when was that?”

“Uh… last week?”

“And you know I never got better, how?”

“Your panicked expression gave it away,” Theo grinned, and really, the boy was too sharp for his own good.

Harry simply pursed his lips and refused to say anything else.

“Oh, come on, Potter. We simply cannot let you embarrass yourself. If you trip, I’m afraid our association will be over,” Draco stated pomptly. “Slytherins cannot abide by such an example.”

“And don’t you dare use the ‘but I’m a gryffindor’ excuse, because that one’s getting old,” Theo added, prompting Harry to glare at them both.

Sometimes he forgets he is playing with sneaky snakes and not foolish lions.

“Fine,” Harry declared regally, shooting daggers at their matching smirks. They probably planned this all along anyway, considering they were awfully insistent on getting him robes alone. “If you tell me who was teaching slytherins dancing. I didn’t see any of you with McGonagall, or any slytherins, to be honest. And please don’t tell me it was Snape.”

That would be horrifying. 

Snape was a bastard enough during Potions, but imagining him teaching students dancing was something of a comedic tragedy, if Harry was honest.

Most students would end up cursed or poisoned by the end of it.

“Oh, we didn’t have any,” Draco said proudly, while Harry pouted. How was that fair? “We all were taught dancing from a young age, thus uncle Sev thought it was an unnecessary waste of his time. Other houses weren’t so lucky.”

“No, they were lucky it wasn’t Snape teaching them,” Harry grumbled. “That would’ve been a traumatizing event for the populace of Hogwarts.”

“He’s not wrong,” Blaise muttered, then fixed his eyes on Harry. “Well, Potter, let’s go. Merlin knows how long it’ll take to teach you some grace- ouch ! What was that for?!” he shouted, gripping his buttocks after Harry spitefully sent a stinging jinx.

“I didn’t like your tone,” Harry turned his nose up, ignoring the snorting. “Well? Let’s get on with it. I am busy, after all.”

Perhaps he shouldn’t have agreed, because the looks he received from the slytherins were downright predatory.

He could still run… right?

“I hate my life.”

Harry fell back into the armchair, groaning loudly. His muscles ached .

“Come on, Harry. Share your drama. Salazar knows you get yourself into the most ridiculous situations. What happened?”

“Ugh, they forced me to dance . Dance!”

“Who did?”

“Draco, Theo and Blaise. Well, Theo just got the gramophone and not much else, but the other two....”

“Thehorror,” Tom looked completely unsympathetic. “And how did that go?”

“Awkward? Tom, dancing is not my skill, trust me. And my legs hurt . This was more tirening that bloody quidditch! How is that bloody fair?!”

“Oh, you poor dear. The horrors you must endure. Should I massage your feet to make it better?”

Pillow came hurtling towards Tom’s face. “Fuck off,” Harry grumbled, unimpressed by Tom’s mocking, and annoyed he somehow managed to duck and miss the pillow. “Can’t you placate me for a moment? You’re supposed to be my friend .”

Tom moulded his face into one of concern and understanding.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Harry dear. Should I go ahead and kill your newfound slytherin friends, for forcing you to commit such atrocious acts? Or shall I just eliminate the entir- oomph! Stop throwing things at me, Harry!”

“No.” Harry spitefully threw the last pillow at the boy, just because he could.

Tom growled in frustration as he was hit, but Harry just stuck his tongue at him. 

Bloody hormonal teenagers, Tom thought.

“You certainly have Black’s temper. They were insane in my time too.”

“ Excuse you?! ” Harry screeched, highly offended, and Tom winced.

“See? That right there? A Black trait. No, Walburga trait. She screeched about the most innocuous things too. She was even rumoured to have banshee blood at one time.”

Harry’s eye twitched and he took off his shoe, aiming for Tom’s head, seeing as there was nothing else around to throw.

“I’ll give you Black’s temper, Riddle. In fact, I’ll give you a real Black. I’ll ask him to come to Hogwarts and lock him here with you. See how you like that .”

Tom’s eyes widened, because he knew Harry would do that just to spite him. 

“No, Harry, don’t . You know I was only joking-”

“Didn’t sound like you were,” Harry pursed his lips, crossed his arms and stared, secretly enjoying Tom’s brief moment of panic. Those were rare, after all.

“Just don’t send your idiot godfather here, alright? You know it would end badly.”

“Oh, I don’t know. According to you, Blacks are insane and you’d get along wonderfully, if that’s the case.”

Tom’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you’re not… what completely sane person cracks their soul when they’re sixteen?”

That was a good question, however…

“A brilliant and immortal one. One that has no patience for mutts .”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Oh, please, you haven’t even met him. He’s…”

“Absent? When was the last time you’ve even spoken to the man?”

Harry froze. “It’s been a few months…” how did he not think about this before? Sirius completely slipped his mind…  “I should probably send him a letter.”

“Aren’t you suspicious why your beloved godfather hasn’t reached out to you, when he most likely knows you’ve been entered into a life-threatening tournament against your will?”

When Tom put it like that…

“We’ll see what he answers,” Harry muttered, and Tom smirked, having successfully distracted Harry. He didn’t want the boy to be mad at him for any reason and leave him here alone .

Tom shuddered, remembering the long days where he didn’t know if he’d ever see Harry again.

Never again , he promised himself then. And Tom tended to keep this promise, whatever it took.

“I doubt he’ll receive the letter before the ball, and- oh, Merlin, Tom, the Ball! ” Harry’s eyes widened as he remembered why he was panicking in the first place. “ Dancing. It will be a nightmare. I can feel it.”

“Or you haven’t found the right partner yet,” the boy smirked, stepping closer to Harry, extending his hand. “May I?”

Harry stared at the hand as he wasn’t sure it was real, then looked at the still smirking slytherin.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Of course not, Harry dear. But I simply cannot allow you to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone. Merlin forbid you dance like a troll.”

“Imagine. The shame ,” Harry said dryly. Yes, it would be embarrassing, but he doubted anyone would remember in a few years. And he could just avoid dancing altogether after the Ball.

“Quite. So allow me an opportunity to teach you the masterful skill of dance.”

Harry was surprised. “I didn’t know you could dance. I thought you were too preoccupied with taking over the world thing.”

Tom grinned. “Why not both? Dancing, Harry, is a fine skill to possess. You will find that all pureblood children are taught how to dance from a young age, since gatherings such as the one you’ll soon attend are frequent, and to appear anything less than your best is simply unthinkable. Everyone is always watching, just waiting for you to show weakness. And if you’ll stumble your way through the dance floor, well… people won’t take you seriously, will they? They’ll see you as a child. Perception matters .”

Harry knew. Tom’s been telling him that for - oh, the past few years. He might as well start an acting career with how much shit he had to do at this point in life. 

However, Harry was once again flabbergasted by Tom’s… everything really. He had a way with words to drive it straight to the point while not being directly insulting, but…

“Are you calling me an idiot?”

“Hardly. But someone of your stance is above stumbling on their feet like a blushing virgin.”

Harry blushed, because he was a virgin, and now, because of that bastard, he was blushing . Tom looked completely unrepentant as he knew exactly what he was doing.

The utter shithead.

“So come on, dear,” he extended his hand for Harry to take once more. “Allow me to teach you the art of dancing. You’ll even like it, in the end. I promise.”

“Doubtful,” Harry said as he put his hand in Tom’s and allowed the boy to pull him up. “There’s no music.”

Tom smirked, and not a moment later Harry heard a faint sound of violin. His eyes widened. “How-?”

“ Magic , darling. Really. We’re wizards.”

Ah, his own comebacks are coming to bite him in the arse.

“I know that, but-”

“No more but’s. Come.”

“I still need my shoe, Tom.”

The older boy looked at his feet and sighed. “Should’ve kept it on your feet then.”

Harry shrugged. “You deserved it.”

Tom chose to be smart and kept quiet, summoning the offending item and handing it to Harry, who offered a cheeky smile.

After that, Tom led Harry out of the room and back onto the Chamber, where they’d have more space. Music seemed to follow them.

“Put your hand on my shoulder,” Tom instructed, as he snaked a hand around Harry’s waist and unabashedly pulled him closer, taking his other hand in his left. “I assume you were taught the steps?”

Harry nodded meekly, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by just how close to Tom he was. Too close . And Tom’s intense staring wasn’t helping either.

Merlin, he wouldn’t complain if the earth swallowed him whole. It would be less embarrassing than being shit at something that sounded so simple, but was anything but. It wasn’t Harry’s fault he couldn’t relax and was always on alert.

People were out for his head, after all. And quite frankly, dancing wasn’t one of his priorities right now. Hell, he never even thought about learning to dance, but Tom was determined.

Suddenly, they moved.

Harry immediately looked down so he wouldn’t step on any toes, but the moment he did, Riddle stopped, hand releasing his.

“Wha-”

Tom lifted his chin back up so their eyes could meet, and Harry shuddered at the intensity of that gaze. “Do not look at your feet. Keep your eyes on me. No- don’t argue, Harry. Trust me to lead you.” He took Harry’s hand again, moulding him back into position, and they moved again.

Harry fought the urge to look down. His body didn’t want to comply; he wanted to- to do his own thing. He felt stiff. Like he was in the wrong place. 

“Harry, you need to relax,” Tom muttered, as if to not break him out of the trance he was slowly but surely getting into. “Let your mind go. Concentrate on the music, the rhythm, the dance. Just do what feels natural and I will do the rest.” He leaned in so much closer and Harry could feel heartbeat thrumming in his ears. “I won’t lead you astray.”

Harry did as he was told.

It was hard to give up control - practically impossible, but it was so easy to give into Tom .

Into the rhythmic movements of their dance.

No matter how many times he stumbled or stepped on Tom’s foot, the slytherin continued leading him until Harry felt his legs doing their own thing without him having to think about it.

It seemed like forever, but eventually, Harry managed to relax and just go with the flow.

Tom pushed and pulled and spun him around, those dark eyes never leaving his, as they danced in an ancient chamber below the castle. 

It felt like a dream. Like a spell has taken over him and… 

Harry liked it.

It came as a surprise, but after he started feeling comfortable and not just worrying about the next step, when it started to feel natural… he could finally truly dance .

With Tom.

And wasn’t that a revelation?

A thought that wouldn’t cross anyone’s minds, but their own?

Harry Potter spinning in circles with Tom Riddle, in the Chamber of Secrets and secretly enjoying every minute of it.

He didn’t mind Tom’s attention either. When he wasn’t acting like a lunatic, Riddle could make you feel as if the world revolved around you, and with a charm like that it was no wonder Voldemort had so many followers. 

If he was born decades earlier, Harry might've followed him, too, if Voldemort was anything like his Tom. Although… he enjoyed standing equal to him much more.

Both of them were more or less even magic-wise. Subjects too, except arithmancy. That thing could go suck on a lemon.

“I hope you’re not falling asleep on me, Harry. That would be highly rude.”

Harry snapped out of his trance, cheeks reddening, because his mind might've just… wandered away for a bit.

“Oh, shut up. I bet you’d enjoy that.”

“What? Being your personal pillow? I think not.”

Harry pushed Tom back playfully.

“Although I do believe I was right. You enjoyed dancing.”

Harry spluttered and stepped away from Tom, who was grinning triumphantly at him. “I- no , I didn’t! I-”

“Oh, don’t even try to deny it, darling. Once you relaxed, you did wonderfully. Nowhere near my level, of course-”

“Oh, no, no one can compete with Mr Perfect. Merlin forbid. Your talents and grandeur outshine us all.”

“I’m glad to see you finally came to accept it.”

Harry glared at the boy half-heartedly, while Tom grinned. After a moment, Tom stepped up to Harry, reaching out, but he petulantly crossed his arms, and pouted.

Tom snickered at the other boy’s antics. If only Harry could see how adorable he was right now.

“Alright, no more dancing.” The music abruptly vanished. “But come on. I know you’re just itching to tell me all the gossip over some snacks. You look famished.”

As if on cue, Harry’s stomach growled and Harry wanted to disappear from mortification.

Tom’s eyes narrowed. “Did you skip dinner?”

"...no?"

"Harry," Tom was drilling daggers at him. "I believe we've spoken about you missing meals before-"

"You're not my bloody mother, Tom." Harry rolled his eyes, not wanting to hear about this again . "It's not a big deal, and-"

"You know damn well that it is, Harry," Tom snapped. "Do I really need to monitor you again?"

Harry bristled. "I'm not a bloody child! So what, if I missed a meal? It changes nothing. No, do not start again, Tom Marvolo Riddle,” Harry held up his finger in warning. “We’re not talking about this. I don’t want to argue.”

Tom appraised him critically, and must’ve seen something in Harry’s gaze that warned him off, as he eventually nodded.

“Fine. If you go to the kitchen and eat something.”

Harry would have argued out of principle of the thing, but he really was hungry.

“Alright. Fancy coming with me? I don't think my poor legs could take the journey back.”

Tom was shocked. “You want to take me out of the Chamber?" he gaped, but quickly scolded his expression into one of gratitude and added: "Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

Harry paused, suddenly feeling nervous.

It’s been months since he took the diary with him. It was dangerous. If someone noticed… it could be catastrophic.

And there was the little fact that the last time Tom got out on his own, he hurt Harry to do it. 

But they fixed that, right?

Then why was he feeling nervous about this?

“Yes. As long as we’re discreet and careful, and you don’t appear corporeal to anyone but me.”

“You take fun out of everything, Harry. And here I was going to appear to the old coot and give him a heart attack. Would've made things so much easier."

Harry snorted.

“That would solve a lot of problems, however-”

“I know, I know. I’m not an idiot, Harry.”

Harry rolled his eyes and went to pick up the diary, putting it in one of the secret pockets he had warded against being opened by anyone else, but him.

Moody should give him an O for being so paranoid. Constant vigilance, and all that.

He walked with Tom up until the exit, groaning when he had to climb up the stairs again.

“Hogwarts should really invest in some magical elevators,” he muttered, wondering if it was worth it going to see Madam Ponfrey for some muscle pain relief potion.

“Elevators?” Tom frowned.

Harry snorted. “Sorry. Forgot you’re ancient and have no knowledge of how modern muggles have become- ouch! Why’d you do that?!” he asked, rubbing the place where Tom pinched him.

“I’m not ancient,” the boy hissed, slightly insulted. “I was stuck in my journal for fifty years. I didn’t age, therefore-”

“Okay, okay, I get it, Merlin. You’re stuck being sixteen. There. Better?” Harry couldn’t help but tease. “But are you still sixteen? I mean, you’ve been with me for two years, so…”

“I’m timeless, Harry. Unless I obtain a body, I will stay just as I am.” Forever .

Harry nodded sadly.

They’ve spoken about this before, vaguely.

Tom didn’t particularly like talking about his current predicament, after all. Got all defensive and secretive.

“So, what are these elevators?”

“Ah, it’s… well, kind of like stairs, except you step into this box, and it takes you into whatever floor you need to be on. I’ll show you this summer, if we get to go to muggle mall or something.”

Tom looked slightly wondrous at the prospect, but the muggle part of it clearly off-put him.

Muggle attempts at magic, that’s what Tom was thinking, Harry was certain.

“Get your cloak, Harry,” Tom suddenly ordered as they stepped out into the Myrtle’s bathroom. “Merlin knows who’s wandering around.”

Harry didn’t protest and did as told. “Do you want to walk around Hogwarts corporeal, Tom? Get inside.”

“Oh, come on, it’s after the curfew. I’ll just disappear if someone approaches.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Fine. Don’t blame me if something happens.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

They walked briskly to the kitchens, avoiding the main hallways were someone would certainly be patrolling the corridors. Thankfully, they didn’t meet anyone, Harry thought as he tickled the pear.

Immediately, he was greeted by dozens of overly excited house elves.

“Master Potter!” they squealed. “What an honour! What would you be wanting?”

“Bring Harry something to eat; he missed dinner,” Tom ordered, ignoring the glare from Harry. The boy still had a soft spot for the creatures.

“Right away, sirs!”

“You could be more polite, you know,” Harry grumbled as he sat down to wait.

“I could,” Tom agreed.

“But you’re not going to?”

Tom smiled coldly. Of course he wasn’t. The elves were there to serve, nothing else. He didn’t see the point of being overly polite to them. They’d just get excited and start babbling. It was so utterly annoying.

At that moment, the elves presented Harry with some fruit, some finger sandwiches, a few fresh baguettes and chicken soup.

“Thank you,” he said, receiving excited and grateful squeals.

Tom couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“You don’t need to be a pompous idiot with me, Tom. Here, eat a baguette,” Harry pushed the plate towards the other boy, ignoring the look of surprise on the other's face, and then pushed more magic into the diary.

He wanted Tom to actually be able to taste it, after all.

It might make him more tired later, but he knew it would be worth it.

“Harry, you don’t have to-”

“I want to. Shut up and eat.”

Tom carefully reached for the baguette, tearing off a piece and putting it into his mouth.

A look of wonder crossed his face and Harry grinned like a loon. “Good, huh?”

Tom nodded. He’s never had a baguette before. They didn’t serve such things back in his time, and it’s not like he could get anything as luxurious as this as a dirt-poor orphan in Second World War-devastated London.

“I’m bribing elves to keep serving this next year, after international students are gone. I mean, British food is kind of dull in comparison.”

Tom nodded. He could certainly get used to this.

He wondered if his older insane counterpart had time to enjoy different world cuisines during his time after Hogwarts.

If not, then what a waste.

He wondered what Voldemort was doing. Plotting, most likely.

“What are you thinking about?” Harry asked suddenly, and Tom was startled to realize he zoned out.

He wanted to answer with ‘Voldemort’, but that would most certainly ruin the comfortable atmosphere of their date-

Tom choked .

Harry stared, unimpressed and pushed a glass of water towards him.

It took Tom a few minutes to calm down and stop coughing, and Merlin- a date? What was wrong with him?!? They were simply eating dinner, nothing more, nothing less.

Merlin gracious.

Where did that thought even come from?!?

“Thanks for the help, Harry,” he said snidely instead, trying to hide his own mortification.

The boy shrugged. “It’s not like you would've died or anything.” Tom glared and Harry shot him a cheeky smile. “You wouldn’t have. Stop glaring. You look like a grumpy cat.”

Tom’s eyes narrowed even more.

Harry sniggered. “Fine, a kitten then.” He laughed out loud at the look Tom was giving him. If he was anyone else, he’d probably be already running away, but this was Tom . Harry wasn’t scared one bit.

He was amused.

“I’ll murder you, Harry Potter.”

“You can try. Doesn’t seem like something your counterpart was very successful in, though. Should probably brush up on your moves and what not, they must be quite rusty,” Harry quipped helpfully, knowing this was annoying Tom beyond belief, but he couldn't stop himself. This was simply too good to pass up. 

“I’m not a kitten ,” Riddle bristled. Nobody has ever dared to call him something so… derogatory. Nobody ! "And they're not rusty! "

“Whatever you say, dear," Harry smiled and continued to tease. “Do you need me to scratch behind your ears for you to calm down? Need more treats? A belly rub ?”

Harry knew he was pushing his luck, but this was so much fun.

Tom looked murderous.

“Potter,” he hissed, “I-”

“ Bad , kitten ! No hissing!”

Tom’s eye twitched and he lunged at Harry across the table, food forgotten.

Harry laughed loudly and jumped away, running as fast as his aching feet would carry him.

“Harry James Potter, you utter menace to society, stop this instant!” Tom shouted and chased after him.

Harry giggled but didn't stop. He opened the portrait and sprinted down the hall instead.

He knew Tom would find him eventually - they were connected, after all, but this was just so refreshing. Delightful .

And as he hid behind a portrait leading to a secret passage, as his heart thundered in his ears and he was out of breath… Harry has never felt more alive .

He felt Tom approaching from the other side and bolted away, not wanting to be caught as of yet.

He slipped out of the secret passage and ran down the corridor, knowing there was another secret passage behind the tapestry.

Hogwarts had hundreds of secret passages; it was utterly ridiculous and incredibly convenient at times, such as this.

"Potter! Come back here!" Riddle shouted from behind him.

"Run, kitten , run!" Harry couldn't help but yell and he heard something very similar to a growl.

Whoopsie .

He ran faster.

However, Tom was taller, thus, faster than him, and just as Harry was halfway through the passage, someone tackled him and pressed him against the wall.

Tom .

"Got you," Tom whispered in his ear, breathless. “No more running now, hm?” Harry vaguely realized Tom’s hands were wrapped around his wrists and weren't budging when he squirmed.

But instead of being afraid, he was excited .

"Aw, did the kitty catch his prey?" Harry couldn't stop himself and asked, eyes twinkling with mischief when Tom squeezed his wrists tighter and practically growled in outrage.

"You're pushing it, Harry," Tom said lowly. "You forget kittens have claws too."

Harry grinned. "You admit it then?"

For the briefest second Tom looked startled, then confused, and then angry.

Harry wondered if he perhaps pushed a bit too far this time.

"Going to lick me too?" Harry happily continued on, knowing fully well he was not too far from being cursed into oblivion. Perhaps he'll awaken that murderous rage in his Tom that Voldemort held for Harry. 

Better not.

Tom's anger turned into exasperation and then - smugness .

Harry was thrown off by the sudden change and tensed, suddenly felt wary.

This couldn't mean anything good.

Tom shifted, moving to grasp Harry's wrists in one hand and used his other to slowly brush up all the way from Harry's hip, until it reached Harry's chin and gently cupped it.

Heat flared to the gryffindor's cheeks and he suddenly felt extremely self-conscious.

He only now seemed to realize how close he and Tom were standing in this narrow passage. How intimately close.

His breath hitched when Tom smirked and painfully slowly started leaning towards him and…

Harry panicked.

He jerked sideways and sent both of them tumbling out of the secret passage into the hallway.

Harry landed painfully on his back and yelped when Tom landed on top of him, knocking the breath out of his lungs.

That bloody hurt .

Merlin.

"Get off of me," Harry grunted, having trouble getting his breathing under control. 

"No, thank you. I'm perfectly comfortable here," Tom answered, and even wiggled to prove the point.

Bloody bastard.

Was this his payback?

“You don’t need to act like an actual cat, Tom. Get ooooff,” Harry whined, but his prayers went unanswered, because the prat had the audacity to smirk at him.

“Tom-”

"What in the name of Merlin is going on here?" a very familiar voice asked, and Harry froze.

Oh shit .