No more lies (To Victory)

Chapter 20

When he came to, Harry found himself lying somewhere incredibly green.

It was a shock when his mind caught up and he realized: it was a forest.

But… how?

“Harry Potter. What a pleasure it is to finally meet you.”

Instinctively, Harry jumped back and went to point his wand at the voice, except his wand was nowhere in sight.

And in front of him was Tom, staring down at him with a smug smirk.

“What the fuck, Tom, you could’ve-” Harry’s eyes narrowed. Something wasn’t right. “You’re not my Tom,” he stated.

“Acute observation.”

This Tom was wearing a wizarding robe, one that was clearly a bit out of time. Decidedly not his usual Hogwarts uniform. He was-

“You’re older.” Once more, it wasn’t a question. Harry turned his head, uncaring that he must’ve looked like a curious child observing something strange. “Hmm… How curious.”

“Are you ever going to get off the ground?”

“Quite comfortable here, thank you. The view is quite nice.”

“Oh?”

“Yep. Should see it for yourself.”

A small smirk made its way on Tom’s lips and Harry counted it as a win. It was, however, incredibly unfair that Tom seemed to be even more attractive as he got older.

“So, you’ve made more than a diary,” he said casually, looking around. “Where the fuck are we? I know you enjoy being outside, but this is a bit much, no?”

Tom just stared at him.

It was unnerving.

If he was anybody else, Harry would feel uneasy or downright scared, but this was Tom. Or a version of him anyway.

“Aren’t you scared? I lured you here; you are at my complete mercy. And yet, you act so… nonchalant. It’s… odd.”

This time Harry rolled his eyes.

“If you’re about to start monologuing about being evil and your great plans, or whatever other egoistical nonsense you like to spew, I’m going to stop you right there; I’ve heard it all before and don’t fancy going through it once more.” Harry chose that moment to get to his feet and take a look around - he pointedly ignored the other man. “Tom used to bring me into his memories of Hogwarts - were you created here? In the forest? Is that why we’re here? Because I found you at Hogwarts and I’ve no clue why you’d choose this place to be in.” Harry shot Tom a weary look after the man continued to be silent and just stared at him. Unblinking. Face completely blank. “Hello? Anybody home?” He started waving in front of Tom’s face, hoping to get a reaction, and he did - a hand caught his and squeezed, trapping it into an unrelenting iron grip.

It hurt.

“Do not mock me.” Tom hissed, eyes furious, and for the first time Harry noticed a red gleam in his eyes that wasn't there before. 

Interesting.

His Tom and this one weren’t the same.

Harry rolled his eyes, unwilling to back down or bend even a little; giving Tom an inch never ended well. “Oh, for fucks sake, learn to take a joke. So, what should I call you? It’s… weird, calling you Tom when my Tom is sixteen and you’re like… well, I don’t bloody know, but it’s weird. So…”

“Marvolo will suffice.” The man said eventually, his gaze weary. He was looking at Harry like at something he’s never seen before. Someone he didn't know how to act around. How to manipulate.

“How creative. How old are you?”

“I’m twenty three.”

“Huh. So, why are we here?”

For the first time since waking up in this place, Marvolo’s face gained a semblance of life - he grinned.

It wasn’t a friendly grin.

Harry forced down the ever growing feeling that he was in the presence of a great predator. Unfortunately for Marvolo, two could play this game.

“Has nobody taught you not to touch sentient objects… Harry?” he asked quietly, suddenly stepping closer, the grip on his hand becoming even more painful than before. Harry was sure it was going to leave bruises. “Has nobody taught you that they can ensnare you, take over your mind, drive you completely insane?”

“You did, but otherwise - no. Besides, my magic recognized yours. Otherwise I would’ve turned you into a crisp for daring to manipulate me.”

“Oh?” the other man was amused. He clearly didn't believe him.

“What? You didn’t think I’d feel the compulsion? The only bloody reason I put the damn thing on was because I was curious about the bloody Diadem that supposedly belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw. Figures it’s you who’d have something to do with it. But… we were in the room earlier, Tom and I. How didn’t he feel you?”

Marvolo froze.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“He found me near the cabinet the last time, the one where the diadem was hidden. Why didn’t he feel you? I- I now know it was you I heard that day. I was drawn to you, but Tom wasn’t - well, he was preoccupied, obsessive bastard that he is, but still.”

“Oh, I felt him, but… what do you mean, he found you? Aren’t you-” Marvolo’s expression was unreadable, eyes scanning all over Harry, stopping to stare at his neck, but eventually coming back to his eyes.

Harry couldn't read a damn thing.

Infuriating. 

“I don’t know what you were expecting, but if you would’ve shown yourself, we could’ve brought you back to the Chamber with us.”

“Chamber?”

“The Chamber of Secrets? Have you forgotten?”

Marvolo shook his head.

“How do you know about the Chamber?”

“I found it? Duh. I hang out there often. It's a place that Hogwarts wards can't reach, which, I'm sure you're aware of. Kind of like having my own secret hideout." Harry smirked. "Tom lives there as it has become too dangerous for me to carry him around all the time - Dumbledore, I'm sure you'll understand." From the sneer on Marvolo's face, he did. "I'd appreciate it if you'd let go of me. I know you're handsy, but quite frankly, I'm only fourteen."

Marvolo snatched his hand back as if it's been burned. The boy grinned.

However, Marvolo’s silence was truly becoming unnerving. He kept staring at Harry, analysing him yet his face gave nothing away.

"What?" He snapped eventually, his patience running out. "Something on my face?"

"What a weird creature you are," the man drawled. "You claim to have my diary, yet, you don't seem to be under his control at all. You hold no fear of me."

Harry’s eyes hurt from rolling.

"It's a mutually beneficial partnership. We’re in this together and whatnot. Dumbledore needs to be burned at the stake and who’s better to do it than us? I’m sure you’ll be pleased to learn that his reputation is crumbling and it won’t be long until he’s dead, hopefully. Filthy bastard, ain’t he? Might even let Voldemort do the honours once he gets his body back.”

“Back?” Marvolo hisses, voice dangerously low. “What do you mean by that?”

Harry chuckled uncomfortably. “Ah, you don’t know anything that transpired after you were uh… made?” the man shook his head, glaring, as if that was somehow Harry’s fault. “Well, loads of crap happened, honestly.”

“Tell me.”

“What, now? I got places to be, you know.”

Marvolo had no fucking right to look so damn intimidating. If there was one thing all Voldemorts had in common, it was going from 0 to a 100 once they were denied something.

Truly, just like a common toddler.

“You will tell me on your own, like a good little boy or I’ll rip it from your mind,” Marvolo threatened, gliding closer until he was face to face with Harry, who did his best to look disappointed. He wasn’t about to act like a good little follower just to appease the other’s need to be in control. “I already have access to your mind, darling. It wouldn’t take much, but here I am, being so mercifully considerate.”

“How terribly kind of you. However, you should know I don't take kindly to being threatened, Marvolo. I was going to tell you everything, but now? I simply don’t feel like it.” Harry shrugged, sending a shit-eating grin towards the other wizard. “Maybe next ti- umph! What the fuck?!”

Harry was lying on his back, vines, ones so much like devil’s snare curling all over him, rendering him immobile and completely helpless; at the mercy of a man on his way to become the Dark Lord.

That bastard had the gall to smirk at him.

“You should’ve done as you were told, boy.” Harry flinched. He couldn’t stand being called boy - not in that tone.

Never, not like-

Marvolo loomed over him, his long pianist finger’s brushing over Harry’s cheek, then over his hair… until his head was yanked back painfully by a painful grip on his birdnest, like Tom would say.

“Be still, darling, and don’t fight me. It’ll be all over soon.”

Promises of violence covered in honey fell from Marvolo’s lips. How unfortunate was it that he had no idea who he was dealing with.

Harry was never one to go down quietly.

The moment Marvolo tried to legitimise him, the moment Harry felt a foreign mind brush against his own… he summoned fire.

It burned the vines away like they were made out of paper, and the moment he was free he slapped Marvolo across his face.

Juvenile it might be, but effective nonetheless; the wizard fell back, gripping his aching cheek, mouth gaping open in shock.

“You- you dared to-”

“Yes, I’m terribly daring, we’ve already got that over with your other parts - keep up. Now. Don’t you ever dare to force me into shit like this again. You do that I’ll throw that pretty tiara down into a sewer. Or give it to moaning Myrtle - you should hear her; she’s becoming even more annoying as the years go by. Pretty sure she still likes you, despite the fact that your basilisk killed her. Can you imagine? Her here with you?”

Marvolo tried to hide his horror, but Harry knew him better than anybody else; for some reason, threatening Tom with loss of peace or something disgusting always seemed to do the trick.

“How did you do that? You should have no control here. We’re in my mindspace,” Marvolo whispered in wonder, gaze calculating.

“I’m a miracle, duh.” Harry chose that moment to get to his feet, dusting off a non-existent spec of dust from his shoulder. “Now, if you are done with your temper tantrum, may we get out of here? I can take you back into the Chamber. Or leave you to collect dust in the Room of Requirement. It’s your pick, Marv.”

“Do. Not. Call. Me. That-,” the wizard hissed, eyes bleeding red and- was it a reason to worry that Harry felt excited? Annoying Voldemort and all of his extra pieces was his favourite pastime.

Well, maybe not this Voldemort - he looked ready to crucio Harry, and that was never a fun experience.

“Whatever. The Forbidden Forest is also open to you, if you’re so fond of the woods.” He was still annoyed at not having been answered why the fuck they’re in one in the first place. “Fair warning, though; it’s full of acromantulas. There’s a whole nest of them; Hagrid’s fault, of course. I’m sure you can draw to conclusions of how that happened.”

Marvolo’s face gave off nothing.

“A nest of acromantulas… how come you’re still alive if you’ve come by them?”

“I’m a wizard, aren’t I?” He wasn’t about to tell Marvolo just what kind of idiocy he got himself into because of having to be a perfect nosy gryffindor. It was already embarrassing enough as it was. “So? Chop chop, daylight’s burning and whatnot.”

“How certain are you that I haven’t taken over your body already?” Marvolo asked suddenly, a smile spreading over his face. “You allowed me inside; I could do whatever I wanted with you. Your body might already be halfway to murder all your friends.”

“I know what possession feels like, Mr Dark Lord. You forget I’m in contact with you on daily basis. As a matter of fact, I’d appreciate that not happening again because I already have a paranoid professor breathing down my neck - I’ll tell the story once we’re in the Chamber; I don’t fancy telling the same things twice.”

After a dramatically long moment Marvolo inclined his head. “Very well. I can be patient.”

Harry snorted.

Patience wasn’t one of Tom’s virtues. Neither was it his.

"Besides, my friends, as you call them, aren't bloody helpless. I'm sure they'd realize it's not me in control and curse me, then get Snape - who is aware of some dealing regarding possession. Either way, it wouldn't turn out all that well for you. Just sayin'." The slytherins better be competent enough to curse him if that ever happened; actually, he'll have to talk to them about getting some training in once he's out and not so exhausted. 

Marvolo nodded, contemplating his words.

Harry straightened his back and glared at the man.

“Well then. You pulled me here - you can do the honours of getting me out.”

One moment he’s passing through the entrance and the next Harry’s slammed against the wall.

“Wha- umph!”

Not that he was complaining.

Snogging Tom was the opposite of a chore. Surprise snogging?

He’s hooked.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what’s this about?” Harry asked after they’ve pulled apart for air, his cheeks rosy.

“Felt like devouring you, love. What, can’t I have hobbies anymore?” Tom smirked and leaned down once more, intent on continuing their lewd activities, when Harry suddenly yelped. “What’s wrong?” Tom asked, even though he was sure he wasn’t the one to- whatever that was.

“Ah, I’ve got… something for ya. Sure you’ll love it.”

“Oh? And whatever that might be, dear?”

What Tom wasn’t expecting was for Harry to pull out a… crown?

“I got you a tiara for when you lord over everything.”

“You-” Tom froze when he finally got a good look at what Harry was truly holding. His eyes widened. “Harry, darling, that’s… that’s the lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.”

“Yep.”

“How in Salazar’s name do you have it?”

“Stumbled upon it. Truly.”

Tom really wanted to shoot an unimpressed look towards the boy, but he couldn’t; he literally couldn’t pull his eyes away from the Diadem. It… felt weird.

“That’s not all,” Harry bit his lip, drawing Tom’s attention back to him. “It’s uh… well, you know how you’re stuck in the diary?”

“It’s a journal-”

“Well, there’s another you stuck in the diadem as well.”

It got so silent that Harry could swear he could hear Myrtle crying in the distance.

“Excuse me?” Tom uttered, b;inking owlishly, unable to comperhand the words that had come out of Harry's mouth.

“Yep. Said he’s twenty three and- well, you should see for yourself.”

“I-” Tom was truly speechless. He zeroed in on the Diadem, reaching out to touch it and oh- he could feel it.

The magic. His magic.

Another soul.

He made more. He found the Diadem.

Pride.

“He’s a bit of a prick, though,” Harry chuckled, scratching his head. “And kept staring at me. I don’t know, maybe you were a creep before meeting me- ouch!” Harry dropped the Diadem, staring wide-eyed at his burnt fingertips. “This motherfu- he burnedme!” Harry screeched. “The audacity, after I so generously didn’t leave him with Myrtle - Tom! Control your other self!”

Tom honestly didn’t know what to do.

On one hand, he had a priceless artefact that stored his soul, lying on the damp Chamber’s floor and he had Harry, his upset partner that was already at odds with his alternate selves.

The choice was clear.

“Calm, darling. I’m sure it was an odd experience for you both.” Tom gently took Harry’s hands into his own, bringing them to his lips. He whispered a healing charm, watching how the skin healed and returned to a slightly healthier colour - it was still going to be tender for a while. He knew from his own experience. “Here, better?” The boy nodded, a pout on his lips.

Tom was never one to deny himself. Good thing Harry wasn’t one to deny him either.

“Let’s go to our sitting room, then. I think… well, you could feed it some magic, like you are to me, so all three of us could talk?” Tom asked after picking up the Diadem. Merlin, the diamonds alone-

“Sure. whatever. Not too much though - that health exam? Well, it was a shitshow. Thanks for encouraging me to take it; now Snape knows a dark artefact is leeching on my magic and I’ve been recently possessed. I’m sure this whole thing is going to go swell.”

Tom froze mid-step.

“What?”

“Yep. whatever the fuck they did to me was in depth. Don’t worry - I have it handled. For now.”

“I didn’t realize such things would come up at all. Good thing they are under contract.”

“And threatened upon the wrath of their Lord. I’m not happy about it, but for now, it’s a problem for another day.”

“Indeed. It seems I have my hands full,” he motioned to the Diadem in his hands.

“You’ll owe me for this,” Harry hissed, cheeks darkening at the suggestive wink Tom sent his way. “Okay, there we go.”

Harry reached out so he was touching the Diadem and send a pulse of magic its way.

The effect was immediate.

The man Harry saw earlier was now standing in front of them - translucent, but no less intimidating.

Tom Marvolo Riddle was made to take up space, it seemed.

“Well, that’s disturbing,” Tom was the first to speak, watching his counterpart with unbidden curiosity.

“Likewise,” Marvolo said, eyes darting over every single inch of the space he was in. “We truly are in the Chamber. And here, I thought you were lying to me.”

“See? I told you he’s a prick.” Harry crossed his arms, glaring. “And what do you mean you thought I was lying? Why would you go with me then?”

Marvolo shrugged, grinning. “I was curious. And there was always the option of possessing you, forcefully subduing your mind and leaving altogether. You are quite susceptible to possession, Harrison. And I believe it is you I have to thank for it.” He bowed his head slightly to Tom.

Harry hissed. “Seriously? I do all the hard work, get my occlumency shields beaten to shit and not even a 'thank you, Harry? I owe you my life?'”

 “The Diadem must’ve bypassed your shields without damaging them, but…” Tom narrowed his eyes at Marvolo. “You better not have damaged anything - it’s been tough going on repairing them after the last stunt.”

“How… curious,” Marvolo hummed. “You two really seem to be,” he grimaced, “involved.”

Harry rolled his eyes.

“Get over it."

"And… It must be because of our link. You don't even think about it when sharing your magic - and… his," Tom nodded to his older counterpart, "is too similar. Your magic doesn't see it as a threat."

“Just great. Exactly what I needed.” Harry grumbled. “So… now what?”

“I believe the best course of action would be filling me in on everything that had transpired between the time of my making and now.” Marvolo looked expectantly at Tom, who just raised his brow in question.

“Why are you looking at me? I’ve been made earlier than you have.”

Annoyed, Marvolo turned to Harry, who raised his brows as well. “What are you looking at me for? I haven’t even been born for most of your insane life.”

At that, Marvolo looked from Harry to Tom, and back to Harry, sighting heavily. “You both are acting like children.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. “I cannot believe this is where we ended up. What happened to our cause?”

“You ended up in your ancestor’s super secret evil chamber, your majesty, that’s less of a shitty place to be than a dusty room of lost things,” Harry chirped up helpfully. “Just imagine, you would’ve spend eternity there if I haven’t been snooping around. How utterly… dull, wouldn’t you say?” Harry couldn’t stop himself from teasing Marvolo. What? This was a part of Tom and, well, talking shit was his Mastery.

There was a flash of anger in the man's eyes that Tom took notice of immediately; after all, he knew himself well.

“Don’t tease him so much, dear - he’s not used to it.”

“You mean that fragile ego of yours?” Harry grinned. “I’m well aware of how sensitive you are, kitten. No need to extend your claws- bloody hell, relax,” he spat at Marvolo who looked moment’s away from cursing him. “You’re the Dark Lord - shouldn’t have you learned to control your emotions by now? I’m so sick and tired of you being like an impulsive toddler - don’t,” he looked at Tom. “Don’t even deny it. We’ve spoken about this.”

“It’s unwise to provoke him while he’s unaware of what is going on.”

“So why don’t you two enlighten me?” Marvolo hissed through clenched teeth. “And why are you… corporeal?” he spat at Tom.

“I’ve been around for a while. Naturally, Harry supplements me with his magic.”

“Willingly?” Suspicious eyes lingered on Harry who rolled his eyes again.

“Yes. We do have mutual plans, you know. Considering your main part is without a normal body and is bloody insane, we’ve been hatching a plan to bring him back. But we do have limitations and the fact that fucker is trying to kill me with this bloody Tournament! Can you believe it? Here I am, working my arse off, trying to get that senile old man fired and discredited, but do I even get a thank you? No!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, dear, you enjoy sowing chaos wherever you go. I’m sure ruining that man’s reputation wasn’t such a hardship as you make it out to be.” Tom turned to… another Tom, wondering how he should break it down before he inevitably explodes. After all, he had a temper, but even his older part looked flabbergasted.

What an odd thing to see.

“Come. i’ll fill you in about everything that transpired, and you,” he turned to Harry, “You should fetch the egg.”

A pout formed on Harry’s lips. “No way in hell am I going back to my dorm. Just nope. Actually, while you two girls gossip and plan world domination, I will do something even more productive.” Harry started walking towards the bedroom, then stopped, only to turn and give Tom a cheeky smirk. “I’m going to take a bloody nap. I deserve it.” Harry blew Tom a kiss before quickly shutting the door behind him, but not before: “Later, Tomcat!” could be heard.

Heavy silence reigned for what felt like eternity, before Marvolo turned to stare at Tom with the most flabbergasted expression Tom’s ever seen on his face, as Marvolo muttered:

“What the fuck was that?”