Harry Potter and the Return of Voldemort: edited the post on page 32 - Page 10

Originally posted by: nilusoni

gr8 update

excited for more revelations

continue soon

Originally posted by: asha_mehta

Interesting part.

Despite all the doubts that harry and the gang have against tom, they all have come to like him and trust him. Hope that he is not in some big trouble. Waiting to know about tom's secret and his powers.

Continue soon

Originally posted by: asha_mehta

Nice part. But a little small.

Tom found a good way to get Alex to open up. And tom would not mind having himself beaten up everyday if it would help him help Alex.

Waiting for the next part to know what tom has planned.

Continue soon

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"I wonder why exactly Dutchmen endorsed Tom for the position of the Deputy." Hermione blurt out the moment she had slumped down in the chair opposite Harry taking off the invisibility cloak.

"Why?" Harry asked not getting the sarcasm in her voice. He had only just replied Malfoy's patronus for a visit which he had politely rescheduled for tomorrow. He had no intentions of seeing Malfoy's sour face before the magnificent feast that was being prepared at the moment.

"He was ambushed by Seth and Malcolm, again! I mean he's not living up to his reputation at all."

"Actually, he is." Dumbledore put in from his portrait. "He's quite prone to injuries."

"That's exactly my point! Why appoint someone who cannot even protect himself?"

"I beg to differ. He can protect himself, it's only a question of whether he wants to or not."

"Doesn't that sound strange to you? By the way, he did look quite alright, although Alex didn't."

"Alex, where does he come in?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I am sorry." Hermione realized she hadn't old Harry everything. She explained everything she had seen while she had followed Tom out of the Great Hall.

"How did he react to it?"

"He was concerned and surprisingly helpful. He took Tom to the Hospital Wing afterwards. In fact, this was the first time he had been polite with Tom, although, minutes ago he had been quite rude to him."

"At least some good came out of it." Harry said as Dumbledore burst out laughing from his portrait.

"What?!" They chorused at him.

"Ah! That boy's mind works its own magic in its own different ways! Or should I say his heart?" Dumbledore smiled knowingly at their blank looks. He rolled his eyes at them. "Don't you see? It's Alex! Tom got himself caught so Alex could have an opportunity to talk to him. All this time, Alex has been so withdrawn, he hasn't responded to anyone trying to help him. Even when Tom helped him Alex remained as rude as he had been before. Perhaps, we've all been trying to get Alex involved the wrong way. Tom obviously figured it out. He allowed Alex to help him for a change and Alex took that opportunity. While before he had been the victim, he had been the helpless, now Tom gave him a chance to become a savior."

Hermione looked like she didn't approve of such reckless methods but didn't say it out loud. She was in no mood to be lectured by either Harry or Dumbledore again. But she did feel that whatever happened was rather good for Alex. "Tom also invited Alex to tea at Porch's hut come Saturday and Alex agreed to go."

"That's brilliant! Alex and Porch used to get along so well. Porch hasn't been able to talk to him either, this would allow him to rekindle his relationship with him." Harry truly felt amazed now. They had all been dead worried about Alex. But Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had been trying to get to Alex through their children rather than talking to him themselves. They felt that perhaps, someone his own age might be able to get through to him. But how could Harry have forgotten, when he had been Alex's age Hagrid had been the one that had understood him best. He remembered how he awaited Hagrid's invitations on Saturdays. Perhaps, Tom knew that Alex needed someone who could understand what he was going through. None of their children could ever understand that. They had just about everything they could wish for.

Tom spent the rest of his day wishing people up and down the corridors. His students were quite gracious with their greetings except one who had a general habit of embarrassing him at just about every occasion.

Isadora Rephered, more commonly known as Dory among her friends, was a Seventh year Witch who belonged to Slytherin. She had fancied Tom for as long as he remembered. When he was a librarian she would be stuck to the library shelves and he literally had to peel her off at the end of the day in order to close it. Since he had become a teacher she had become the most efficient student in his class. Her improvement had been quite remarkable, the only fact that Tom felt good about.

At just about every occasion be it Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Start of Term or End of Term Dory always wished him with a box of Chocolates and a red rose. He was only glad she hadn't yet attempted to give him anything on Valentines.

Today too she caught him at the end of the day in the Entrance Hall with a rose and a box of chocolates. Eyes turned to look at them as she wished him a Happy Halloween almost stammering.

Tom gulped down. It was embarrassing enough to be given chocolates and red roses let alone in front of the entire Castle. He had to, however, reply her like he always did. "Happy Halloween to you too, Miss Rephered."

"Call me Dory." She replied beaming at him.

"Happy Halloween, Dory." He nodded and turned on his heal as quickly as he could.

Tom made straight to Padma's room like every year. He had to wish her anyways but whenever Dory wished him first he would go straight to Padma to have the chocolates inspected before he tried a bite out of those.

"Chocolates and roses, again?" She asked the moment she saw him enter.

"Yes." He put both of these on her side table and slumped down on her bed. "The only good part about this is that this is her last year to gift me anything."

Padma sat down beside him. "Don't be like that. Poor girl, she has her own way of expressing herself." She smiled and took the box.

"It's not dripping in poison, is it?" He asked as Padma took a long sniff at the chocolates.

She smiled widely. "Poison? And why would she want to poison you?"

"Probably, because, after years of receiving gifts, I haven't returned her any."

"Cheers!" Padma pulled out a chocolate handed him one and took one herself. They cheered it and ate.

"It's great." Tom suddenly realized how tasty it was. "Now, I regret not returning her anything."

"Then, gift her something."

"Nah, it won't look well. I mean, there would be questions of bias if I start gifting students."

"That's true."

Tom finished his chocolate then stood up as did Padma. He took her hands in his, smiled widely and wished her. "Happy Halloween." He came to wish her at all occasions. Not just her, he went to wish every faculty. They were more family then faculty.

Padma had been with him through the thick and thin. She had guided him a lot when he had taken up the responsibilities of the Deputy Hogwarts. He owed her a lot and not just for this time but for all the guidance she had given him all his life. He had always been unsure and unconfident. Padma had given him a lot of character. Most of who he was came from her. He had spent a lot of quality time with her, her and Neville and Hannah, Robert, Heldar, Porch, Dudley, Andrea, Louisiana, Madam Brown and Dutchmen. They comprised of most of the Hogwarts faculty and staff. The only oddities were Firenze who had started living in the Forest again and only came to take classes and Professor Trelawny who could hardly recognize anyone these days.

"Happy Halloween." She replied. "Tom."

Tom had just turned to leave when she stopped him. "Yes?"

She thought for a moment then decided not to say anything. Just because she wasn't feeling well didn't mean she had to ruin his mood too. "Nothing." She smiled and turned her back to him to allow him to leave.

Tom knew what she had been thinking. If she was feeling low she ought to talk someone about it. He wasn't going to let it be now. He walked right in front of her. "I don't think so." He smiled at her surprised look. "Something's bothering you." He took her by the hand, sat her on the bed and sat down beside her. "Tell me, what is it?" She had been exceptionally wonderful to him all those years; the least he could do was be there for her when she needed a friend.

The moment Tom sat down Padma realized now she would have to tell him. He wouldn't leave without finding out what she wanted to say, now. "It's just, I remembered last year's Halloween and what a wonderful time we had with Neville and Andrea, Heldar and Dutchmen... I was missing them a lot. Also, you've been quite busy this year...what with House responsibilities and duties of the Deputy...I know how hard things become having done all that last year myself and for a newcomer you must be loaded but I felt like we've not spent the time we used to..."

Tom's smile faded. He had himself been feeling that. He missed spending time with her too but she had been right. He had been loaded with work. She didn't know but he had more to worry about than work. What with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny following him, trying to discover the missing pieces of his life and Alex, his entire attention had been on Alex in the past two months, so much so that he had forgotten his usual haunts and one of those was Padma's room where he visited her sometimes for dinner, or a drink or just to catch up. He knew what it was like to be alone and he didn't wish that on any one. He always did the best he could to keep her cheerful but in the past two months he had hardly had any time or the heart to do so.

"You're right." He held her eyes as he spoke because he wanted her to know that he was being completely honest. "Everything you've said is true. I have been utterly busy and I am extremely sorry I didn't come to visit. It's just as you said, with Neville and Andrea and Heldar and Dutchmen gone, nothing feels like the same anymore. It took me a while to get back to what used to be. I was hoping that, perhaps, Halloween will provide that opportunity. I came today, didn't I?"

Padma smiled. "Yes, you did." She took his face in her hands. "But you should know, you don't have to wait for festivities to visit your friends."

He smiled widely. He was glad she had told him rather than keeping it inside. At least she wasn't feeling bad about him. "I'll keep that in mind." He stood up, hugged her solemnly and left.