CHAPTER 19
THE QUIET FAREWELL
"I don't know how to take it. Perhaps it is only for good that no one knows the details." Harry said.
"But Harry, the Army knows about Tom's brother, how will we explain this to them?"Hermione said looking quite anxious.
Harry and Hermione were sitting at Tom's bed at St. Mungoes discussing the Daily Prophet while Ginny was at school and Ron at the Ministry. Due to the events that had occurred at the Ministry the Daily Prophet had published the return of Voldemort completely contrary to what it was, nevertheless, in real it would help them cover up the truth of the Hallows. The daily Prophet had published the return of the Voldemort who was killed 20 years ago. They thought he had returned again like he had done earlier, that he had not died at all, he had hidden all these years and now had come back and he had regained his powers in full as he disapparated (flickered and disappeared) despite the apparition blocking spell on the Ministry and one of his deatheaters (Riddle) had to make to the fireplace while the deputy head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Tom Riddle dueled with him and that the deatheater also 'attempted' to kill Harry Potter on whom the Killing Curse would perhaps never work as it bounced off him again.
"Hermione they think Voldemort's back and Riddle's just a deatheater. It's insane to know how far they are from reality but it seems best. We didn't want to go into details anyways. Now the wizarding world is aware of the danger that stands facing them and the secret of Tom's relation with all of it and of the Hallows remains intact. As for the Army they left us when they felt betrayed about Tom, so there's no point explaining anything to them or even if we would try to do that it would be a complete lie because we can't tell them about the Hallows,."
"But Harry, they've got a right to know. And what do you think we'll be able to do without them?"
"We'll figure it out. But Hermione as long as the Resurrection Stone remains with Riddle anyone else's involvement might risk into exposure about the existence of the Hallows. It's best if keep it only between you, me, Ron, Ginny and Tom."
"Tom shouldn't have done this, you know." Hermione said looking at him. He was sleeping now but both of them knew he was hurting.
"He didn't exactly have any options." Harry replied her. "He obviously didn't want anyone else to die for me."
Hermione sighed. "But transferring his powers to you was foolish, he was left vulnerable without them, yes, eventually, his powers returned to him but that's like playing with fire, Harry. What if Riddle had turned back to him after being thwarted? How would he have protected himself? It's like taking a shirt off your back to clothe someone when you yourself have nothing else to wear!"
"He'll be fine, Hermione." Harry said not quite getting her. "He knew what he was doing."
"I don't think so, Harry! He's very sensitive, he doesn't really think straight, does he? That really scares me. His habit of sacrificing himself for others could get him into a lot of trouble."
"May be..."
Before Harry could answer, Tom replied her. He had just awoken and heard her last words. "But then I wouldn't get Hermione Granger on my side, would I?"
Hermione turned a slight shade of pink knowing he had listened to her.
"Don't think I am on your side now!" Hermione fumed as Harry propped Tom up by pillows.
"Alright, I didn't hear you worrying about me. So, you can go back to being angry with me because I was so completely careless!"
"Careless? You were downright reckless!" Hermione exclaimed. "What were you doing there in the first place?"
"I was worried something like this might happen." He replied. But at their confused expressions explained. "Riddle has the resurrection stone because of me. I had to stay around Harry, to protect him.
"I wish the restriction on unforgivable curse would lift and we could finally kill you so we wouldn't have to visit you in the hospital each time you hurt yourself." Before either of Harry and Hermione could reply, Duds loud voice rattled them from the doorway. He entered followed by Porch.
Harry and Hermione couldn't say anything anymore but both exchanged looks. Hermione was right, Tom was more sensitive than any of them had ever noticed. Dumbledore had always rightly said, he used his heart more than he used his mind.
On the last day of June on a hot summer's day Tom was finally discharged from St. Mungoes fully recovered. The flesh wounds had healed leaving behind scars. He had taken the first dose of the antidote for the werewolf venom. He felt calmer than before now. The constant pain was gone now which was a great relief. After days he felt fresh. It was of course also the last day of school for millions of little witches and wizards to come back next year for another year at Hogwarts and for seventh years' graduation. Harry and Ginny had not been able to attend to Tom as they wanted to see to it that the students were on the Hogwarts express safely. So Tom left for his home on his own.
He apparated in Hogsmeade and walked the length of the Hogwarts grounds and entered the castle to find most of the students in the entrance hall exchanging good-byes. He entered the Great Hall and saw Harry and Ginny there with the rest of the teachers some of whom were leaving. The teachers and the Headmaster had always had a choice. If they wished to stay during the summer holidays they could and if they wished to leave they were most respectfully allowed to do so. Tom who had stayed every summer holiday at Hogwarts was going to do the same this year but Estella was leaving, along with Professor Bouganwille, Padma, Louisiana and Madam Brown. Moreover, to all their disappointment Madam Hooch was retiring and so were, Professors Trelawney and Firenze both of them thought they were too old to teach anymore and deserved a quiet life. So, they would be looking for new teachers this summer.
Tom approached his colleagues. He met them all himself, after all, they were his only family. Once everyone started leaving Tom looked around for Estella but she wasn't there. He asked Ginny if she had seen her and Ginny told him Estella went downstairs a bit earlier. Tom made to the grounds and found Estella standing by the lake, lost in deep thought. She didn't know Tom was to be discharged today. He hadn't told her. He wanted to surprise her by appearing before she was expecting.
"Hey." He approached her and put his arms around her.
"Tom, what--? You should be at--_?" She hadn't even finished when Tom kissed her.
"I want to keep this with me for the rest of the summer."
"Oh, Tom, I'll miss you so much. I don't know how I will spend these two months without you."
"You won't have to. I'll write a letter five times a day and if you'll miss me anymore I'll make it ten times." They both hugged and held on to each other for a long time to remember the feel of one another.
"I have something for you." Estella said as they broke apart. She pulled out a locket and put it around his neck and as she rested it on his chest her eyes fell on his scars and her smile faded.
Tom noticed her. He lifted her chin up softly so she could look into his eyes. "I am fine... And thank you for the locket... It would help me stay with you, even when you're not around."
Tom walked the length of the grounds to the Hogsmeade with Estella and once she had disapparated went back to the castle. He went through the castle checking each and every nook and corner to see if no student was left behind. Once he was absolutely sure of that, he locked all the doors of all the rooms in the castle except for the Great Hall and the main doors to the Castle and of course except for those who were to stay at Hogwarts and of the Headmaster's. These doors would remain closed till the end of the summer holidays when everyone would come back. While doing so he met Dudley who was also doing his duty, collecting trash and spell books that had been left behind, cleaning corridors.
When Tom was done with all his last minute tasks he went to the Headmaster's office, he knocked and heard the familiar voice of
"Enter."
Tom entered. Harry and Ginny were standing with their bags packed.
"You're leaving?" Tom asked looking at Harry.
"No, Ginny is. You know how much work's left. We've got to appoint teachers, then the Ministry would send the list of new students, we've got to decide the new prefects and the new head prefects as well and of course the new Quidditch captain as the last one just graduated, so I won't be leaving, not just yet anyways."
"And whenever will he leave to come home, he won't be alone. You and Duds are most welcome to accompany him." Ginny added.
"Oh, Ginny, Thank you so much." Tom hugged her as Harry said, "And I don't think you'll have a choice, you'll come quiet or I'll drag you along with me."
Ginny left with Tom who would escort her to Hogsmeade then check up on the platform to see if anyone was left behind, leaving Harry alone in the office. As they left Dumbledore from his portrait spoke up.
"So, Professor Harry, how was your first year at Hogwarts?"
"You know Dumbledore, it went hysterical. I don't know what's going to happen next. With Kingsley gone and the Hallow with Riddle..."
"It's fate Harry, you simply cannot outrun it."
Harry nodded. He had come to accept it now but he felt even more unsure than he had been before he had come here, before he had met Tom Riddle.
Harry smiled, he knew what Dumbledore meant. He approached his window looking over the hills at the setting sun, thinking about what lay ahead and what was left behind.
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