Harry Potter and the Return of Voldemort: edited the post on page 32 - Page 47

Ginny is clearly very angry with harry but does not react in the presence of Alex.

Harry had just opened his mouth to ask more about why he had been out in a curfew when Tom spoke up. As far as he was concerned, Alex had told them everything they had needed to know.

"Very well, you may return to the Wing, Madam Brown's waiting for you."

Alex sighed with relief and left hurriedly.

"I will escort you to your room." Tom turned to Estella as she nodded. She had told them enough to fill in the missing pieces. The Army couldn't discuss Greyback's fate in front of her.

The two of them left Harry's office. Out into the Castle everything lay still and silent. Everyone had apparently been sleeping.

"Are you feeling alright?" Estella asked as they strode to her room.

Tom smiled. He knew she was worried about him. He had been reckless, now he could actually agree with Duds and Harry but he had to do something, he couldn't have counted upon the Army to save Alex and he was glad he hadn't. The Army had not even been present when Greyback was about to get his filthy hands on Alex.

"Yes." He answered her shortly. "but I think you're not." He said as they approached her door. She had only just opened it and entered when Tom's words had stopped her short. Tom stood in her door frame waiting for her answer.

"What do you mean?" She turned back to him confused.

"You pretty much forgot out there you teach Transfiguration and Ancient Runes and not Defense against the Dark Arts. You're not trained like me or Harry or Ron and Hermione or their friends. Why did you go into the forest alone? You could have called Porch, you could have called me. The two of us were right there in his hut. You could have sent me a patronus."

Estella walked slowly to him. He seemed dead serious. "I am sorry... I just felt like I was being watched...and I don't have to be trained like you or any aurors to go into a forest. I am old enough and skilled enough to protect myself. Didn't you notice? I don't even have a scratch on me." She smiled and winked at him pointedly. "You, on the other hand, did not even seem whole, and I am still worried if Harry fixed you right... if he's put your brains back in place or not." She winked again as Tom chuckled at her sarcasm. "So, remind me again, who was it that could hardly stand about half an hour ago?"

"Alright, I give in." Tom smiled pulling her in his arms as he stood against her door frame. "But I would feel much better if I knew you wouldn't walk into the forest alone again. You can say I'm the one scared and you're the brave one but be that as it may, nothing matters to me more than your safety."

She nodded seeing he was quite serious.

Tom saw her smile faltering and realized he had been too serious. He smiled again. "So, where's my present?"

Estella looked embarrassed at his question. "I... well... lost it in the forest..."

"What was it?" He asked pure out of curiosity.

"It was a locket. I had bewitched it myself. I promise you, by the end of term , I'll be able to get another one."

"Really? What if I don't want it?"

"What do you want then?" She asked putting her arms around his neck.

"I think you must all return to your homes as well." Harry announced to the Army. "It's nearly dawn." The clock had just turned 5 am.

"What about Grey back?" Terry asked. "We want to be here when you interrogate him."

Harry had wanted to keep them from that only. If Greyback knew anything about Riddle, the Army could not stay here.

"Ron, Hermione, Padma, Porch, Tom, Dudley and Lavender will be able to assist me." Harry replied calmly. "All of you have your jobs to attend to and before that at least a couple of hours to sleep. I shall call a meeting once I'll have extracted his purpose of invading the Castle."

"Leaving?" Tom who was returning to Harry's office found the Army leaving.

They nodded as he shook hands with every one of them.

"You did good today." Terry said patting his back. "Now I know why Harry trusts you." He smiled and left.

Tom stood staring after them. They had taken Harry's word about him on his induction in the Army but now, they truly trusted him. If they ever found out about Riddle, they would never trust him.

Originally posted by: nilusoni

Wonderful

Originally posted by: FleurDeJuillet

nice update...truth coming out slowly...

does harry not know that james is following his footsteps in being out after hours?

Originally posted by: asha_mehta

Ginny is clearly very angry with harry but does not react in the presence of Alex.

Tom knows that Alex is trying to protect James. But harry is not willing to let the matter go with getting to the bottom of things.

Continue soon

Originally posted by: nilusoni

Amazing

Originally posted by: alicepuppy

wonderful update.

Keep Reading and Commenting! 😃

Smash!

Tom ducked the moment he entered Harry's office as a flower vase struck the wall behind him and smashed to pieces.

"I am sorry, Ginny!" Harry said yet again as another vase flew at him and flew right out the window as Harry ducked to avoid it.

"Sorry!! That's all you have to say?! What you did was so"so-_" Ginny seemed so beside her self that she could hardly speak.

"Admirable?" Tom completed her sentence and gained her full attention as Harry got a couple of minutes to wipe some sweat off his face.

"By what means it was admirable?" Ginny asked him folding her arms.

Tom looked at Harry. He knew what harry had done and why. He turned back to Ginny. "He had the courage to choose his love over his obligation that is admirable."

All of their smiles faded.

Harry looked embarrassed. Tom was right, he had chosen his love over his obligation.

"Some would not call that courage..." Harry replied him.

Tom understood what he meant. "But you cannot name it cowardice." He answered looking at Ginny. "He had a chance to save the love of his life and he took it... Besides, even I didn't want to see you where you were today."

Tom ducked again to avoid another vase flying at him.

"About that... What do you think you were doing?" Ginny said looking even angrier than before brandishing her wand at him.

"What did I do?" Tom asked playing innocent. He knew exactly what Ginny was talking about.

"I am serious!" Ginny replied as his smile faded. "I was trying to protect you and I would have succeeded. I needed a few more minutes to send a message, Harry would have been there. You had not needed to jump in front of him!"

"Ginny's right." Harry turned to him.

"I sided with you, didn't I?" Tom asked turning to Harry not being able to conceal his smile.

"Even I would side with Ginny on this one, mate." Ron spoke up making his smile falter again.

"And you?" He turned to Hermione who looked surprised at being asked at all.

"Well, since you're already outnumbered there's not point adding more people on the other side, but I do agree with them. And just so you haven't yet understood, what everyone is trying to say is that you have to stop throwing yourself in danger for others. Try learning from Harry, he played selfish, didn't he?" Hermione's words were quite clearly meant for Harry as much as they had been for Tom. Harry flushed but did not argue or reply her. He knew she was right, they all were but Tom was not going to give up. They just didn't understand.

"Well, of course, he did. He has everything to lose, hasn't he? He doesn't deserve to lose anything any more." All four of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stared at him.

"What do you mean, he has everything to lose?" Hermione asked sternly.

"Well, he has, hasn't he?" He asked not getting her meaning.

"Don't you, mate?" Ron asked making him stop short.

He thought for a moment then spoke. "Not really... I have nothing... How could I lose what I don't have..."

"That does not in any way mean that you're expendable!" Harry had finally understood what had been going through his head. He had been utterly careless with himself because he thought he was expendable.

Tom looked at him. Why was it so difficult to understand? "But don't you see? I am, in fact the only one in this room expendable. You and Ron, you have families, the four of you have responsibilities, the weight of the world on your shoulders... I don't have anyone who would care if I wasn't around, may be even something good will happen if Riddle did snuff me off... I am still curious why he didn't, which makes me wonder if he had, maybe he would have suffered a loss."

"That's not the point!" Ginny spoke up pocketing her wand. "What makes you think no one would care if anything happened to you?" She approached him and took his face in her hands. "What you did today made me mad because no mother could ever live at the cost of her son's life...that's what you mean to me... so if you ever feel like you're expendable again, just remember what you're doing to the woman who considers you a son because you have apparently no place for any of us in your heart..." She turned away from him truly hurt as Ron, Hermione and Harry stood watching him.

"Ginny..." Tom had no words. No words could define what he was feeling. His eyes glistened with tears as he continued and his voice cracked. "If ever I could assume I was born to you and not to Bellatrix, I would happily do that, but fate has not chosen so for me... The four of you have meant to me more than anyone else since Neville and Hannah...and I couldn't protect them, I wouldn't make the same mistake with you all."

"This isn't your burden!" Harry looked into his shining eyes that held tears to their brinks and that fell at his words.

"I am afraid, it is." He replied and before any of them could stop him, he left.

I am extremely sorry for such a late and such a small post... but I will most certainly post more in the next couple of days 😊 Sorry to keep you all waiting... I am completely overloaded with work 😭