Harry Potter and the Perfect Stranger: Updated Book 3 - Page 36

Originally posted by: Periopaque

:) thanks! But I am not as happy as I should be..1.i feel really bad for tom and 2.it feels lonely to celebrate alone:(will you join in celebrating with me? Btw, honestly, was it your intention all along or did you change her character after seeing the distrust for her in this forum?? Also, a bit confused with the end of the chapter...so...riddle has rabastian and has threatened Roy??? But rabastian died, isn't it? So...what is going on??I don't quite understand:(

Edited by guy3 - 9 years ago

The Lure of Love

"Harry, he's my brother."

"Tom, what are you--_"

"He is, he told me so after taking the potion, he wasn't lying and he's not up to anything, he said so himself, after he had taken Veritaserum." said Tom, not being able to control himself. He turned away from Harry too. He couldn't see anyone in the face. The deed he had done was horrible. Roy had trusted him. He had broken that trust. He hated himself to have done that.

"Tom, are you---are you sure, about, what--_" Harry who didn't know what to say could only muster that. "Does Roy know you and him are---_"

"No."

Harry who had no idea what to do or say or how to handle this decided he should leave Tom on his own for some time. What he didn't understand was that even after taking the potion Roy had said everything that they already knew, that didn't make any sense. He went back to his office and slumped down in his chair with Ron, Hermione and Ginny all staring at him. Harry told them everything Tom had told him. He had gone to Tom's room when Dumbledore had informed him he had returned and hadn't said a word since his return.

"He didn't take the potion, did he?" said Hermione.

"I don't think so, but Tom says, he gave it to him, he drank it and then told him everything." replied Harry.

All four of them thought as much as they could but none could get to a conclusion except Hermione.

"That's it, Harry. You've let Tom handle it for a long time, now, is the time for you to take matters in your own hands. You call Roy and lay things out straight. He knows we know he's been sent by Riddle. He'll answer if you'll confront him."

Harry didn't reply but he knew he would have to do things his way. He had been lenient with Tom too, he couldn't do that anymore.

Tom woke up the next morning with the sound of the twittering birds. He opened his eyes and found Estella beside him fast asleep, her face inches from his and her wrist in his hand. He stared at her for how long he didn't know until at least she opened her eyes. The twinkling green light of her eyes met his brown ones.

"Oh, you're up." She said when she saw him awake. She made to get up but he pulled her back.

"Stay, please." He didn't want her to go. Something like a trailer of their life ahead was going on in his mind. He liked the way they were lying staring at each other. He wanted to keep it up for hours and hours, he wanted to lose himself in those sparkling green eyes.

"Tom, you're making me blush." He let go and she got off the bed. "I'll go to my room, you should change too."

"Ok, by the way, when did you come in?"

"Last night, after you had fallen asleep. I tried to wake you up...we had an arrangement..." She stopped seeing him remember and realize that he had forgotten well about meeting her after the feast. "So, I stayed... I think I should leave...Got to run for the first unit."

Tom got up as she left. He looked at his watch and got a shock. The first unit was due in 10 minutes. He rushed to the bathroom took a quick bath, dried himself with the tip of his wand and started dressing himself with the same as he rushed out of his room. Everybody stared as on the way his belt wrapped itself around his waist, the buttons of his shirt started closing out themselves, a comb was combing his hair while a mirror hung in mid-air in front of him as he examined himself into it. Once done with everything he sent his mirror and comb back to his room and summoned a Sandwich from the kitchens which followed him right inside his class as the first years watched in awe.

All in all he was glad that his first two units were with the first years, had he been with any of the seventh years, they would have laughed their heads off at the sandwich following him around. Anyways, he had given them the liberty to do so. They were more friends than students. But he really liked to teach the first years, their interest was phenomenal. They would listen to everything he told them intently and make notes. Among them were Josh and Silvia feeling a little out of place but as soon as the lesson commenced their attention was totally on the subject.

Tom was very close to his students. Their progress meant his progress. When he had been offered this post he hadn't thought of becoming a teacher. He had been interested in the Law Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Magic but the prospect of leaving the only place he could call home wasn't easy and he was being given such a good post, it was all very overwhelming. He wanted to accept but one thing that had held him back was the fact that he had a brother who looked exactly like him. He knew that his taking the post of the Deputy Head would give him authorities and if ever his brother got into his place he would misuse those and he himself wasn't sure if he could handle a responsibility the kind he was being given. But everyone had insisted, especially Malfoy and he had agreed.

As the bell for his units to end rang, the first years started to leave but something stopped them right outside the classroom.

Tom went outside to see what was going on and to his surprise found Roy and Eric having a row at the top of their voices.

"This is my unit Professor Bouganwille."

"It was your unit Professor Lestrange, now, I'll be taking it."

"But my students will be practicing a bit more balancing on their brooms today, I'm already behind schedule, I need this done."

"Well, I think knowledge about magical herbs is way more important than learning to hang on to a ridiculous broom."

"You won't mind if next year any of these learned students become the best Quidditch player of the century, Professor Flower." Roy's taunt almost made the students laugh but they controlled themselves because if they hadn't they would have found themselves in detention with Eric who opened his mouth to reply when Tom interrupted.

"Professor Bougnwille, as I seem to remember your unit comes after break on Tuesdays."

"It does as you say, Professor Riddle, but Professor Potter has re-arranged today's schedule for apparently reasons best known to him."

"Professor Potter didn't mention to me about any changes."

"Well, I've no idea about that, but all I know for sure is that this unit is mine, do you understand, Professor Lestrange?" Eric added staring directly at Roy who started saying something but his voice was drowned by a louder one. A stag had just called Roy in Harry's office.

Tom watched as Roy made to Harry's office. The first year students happy earlier at the prospect of spending the next hour on broomsticks made their way sadly to the greenhouse behind Eric. Tom who didn't know exactly what was going on wanted to go behind Roy but he had to take a unit with the third years, so he made his way down stairs. He would be teaching them about Grindylows today so he had arranged the class down in the grounds beside the black lake.

When he reached down there the whole of the class was already there waiting for him.

"Ok everyone, gather around." He told them to gather around a tank filled with water and weed only. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the lake. "Accio Grindylow!" The creature came rushing at him and he threw it inside the tank. Once all students had taken a good look at it he started explaining its characteristics.

"Now, I want you all to draw a sketch of this Grindylow, you are allowed to go closer to the tank in order to label it but, please, refrain from putting your hand into it. You have half an hour." Tom started roaming around watching as everyone did what they were told. Albus was the first one to have finished his sketch, it was a beautiful one and completely labeled. Tom scratched an excellent over it with his quill and handed it back to him as one of the girls screamed.

"Miss. Ruritiana, are you alright?" said Tom as she cried. She put up her finger which was bleeding and at the same time turning green. "You put your hand inside the tank, didn't you?" she nodded even more scared. "Ok, now, there's nothing to worry about. We're gonna get you alright in about a minute. Everyone, for today, class dismissed, go back to your dormitories, I don't want anyone straying around the castle. Miss. Ruritiana, accompany me to the hospital wing." He took her to Madam Brown who lectured her for fifteen minutes before healing her wound. While she was at it Tom had nothing to do. His work was done when he had brought her to the wing. He could have sent her on her own but he had taken her accident as an opportunity to visit Harry and see exactly why he had called for Roy when Tom had cleared out everything only last night.

Originally posted by: guy3

Hell YESSS!!!! 😃😃😃 Your intuition about her was right on track since the beginning 😛

It was my intention since I started posting in this forum...but before, when i wrote the first draft, she was a simple beautiful character that I wanted to develop into a perfect couple but somehow, Tom's story took a turn and i decided to explore my writing skills but twisting her character...let's c if you like the twist 😉😛😃 but i enjoyed denying it all along 😆 that's y i wanna celebrate with you 😃

Regarding the end of the chapter...you'll get your answer as the story proceeds

Happy Reading 😃

Hell YESSS!!!!😃😃😃Your intuition about her was right on track since the beginning😛

It was my intention since I started posting in this forum...but before, when i wrote the first draft, she was a simple beautiful character that I wanted to develop into a perfect couple but somehow, Tom's story took a turn and i decided to explore my writing skills but twisting her character...let's c if you like the twist😉😛😃but i enjoyed denying it all along😆that's y i wanna celebrate with you😃

Regarding the end of the chapter...you'll get your answer as the story proceeds

Happy Reading😃

"Enter."

Roy entered Harry's office.

"Have a seat." said Harry as Roy sat down. "Everything alright?" asked Harry looking at Roy's face and anyways he knew there was a row going on down stairs between Roy and Eric.

"Yes, Professor, may I ask you, why was I called?"

"Well, you may, but I'd save you the trouble. I've called you here to ask you a few things." Harry stopped. "Roy, I know who sent you here, but I'd like you to tell me that yourself."

Roy stared at him a moment, his face set. Harry knew, but he wasn't sure or he wouldn't have asked. "The Minister wants well for me, and no place could be any better than Hogwarts to live into, so Mr. Malfoy sent me here as the Quidditch coach."

"And what about your family, they just let you go?" asked Harry getting to his feet and making to the bar in a corner of the room.

"Professor, why are we talking about this, now?"

"Because we need to. You didn't answer."

"You know I have no family. My father passed away last year and I had no one else so I came here."

"Your father, Rodolphuus, right?" asked Harry his back to Roy adding Veritaserum to the drink he was making.

Tom had told him. "Rabastian, Professor."

"Are you sure?" asked Harry.

Roy knew what was coming, he stood up taking his wand out at the same time. He didn't reply.

"Don't even think about it." said Harry turning back. "Expelliarms!" Roy's wand flew right out of his hand. "Now, why did Malfoy send you?" asked Harry, his wand pointed at Roy's heart. He knew he would spill anything to save his neck.

Roy stood there wandless. He didn't know what to do, what to say but he could not accept anything that Harry had said. "I don't know what you're talking about, Professor."

"You don't know? Well, then, let me remind you, Legilimens!" Harry's spell hit Roy like a storm. Harry could see flashes of his memory. Harry saw Riddle, Malfoy, the Ministry, Tom, Estella... He concentrated on that memory and to his horror saw Estella at Roy's door telling him to take care of the drink while she distracted Tom, he saw Malfoy again he concentrated on that memory and saw Malfoy talking to Roy, he was telling him something... 'Bring him by the lure of the love he's never known...the Dark Lord needs____-'

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"Expelliarmus!" Tom had entered Harry's office to see a horrible sight. Roy was on his knees on the floor and Harry was standing over him going through his head as if going through his daily journal. He disarmed Harry to stop him whose wand flew right out of his hand knocking over the tiny veritaserum bottle on Harry's bar that Harry didn't notice. "Protego!" Tom cast a shield charm between Harry and himself and Roy.

"Tom!" shouted Harry. If Tom hadn't disarmed him, he would have known what Voldemort needed. Harry picked up his wand. "Tom, remove this shield, now."

"Harry, please, don't do this. You know he's done nothing."

"I'll tell you what he's done if you'd let me see." Harry removed the shield charm with a flick of his wand as Tom stared in astonishment.

Roy who had gotten his head back in the right place stood up. He too had frozen at the sight of Harry standing there with his wand pointed at the two of them. Very easily he had removed Tom's shield charm. He decided he'll stay out of it. Be the innocent one and let Tom save him.

Harry raised his wand again but this time Tom covered Roy by standing in front of him. He knew if it wasn't his magic that could protect his brother, it would be his own self. "Tom, get out of my way. I do not intend to hurt him, you know that. All I need is to know the truth."

"Harry, I told you the truth. He hasn't done anything. Please, believe me, he took the potion in front my very own eyes."

"He didn't take it, he knew about it, he was told by Estella! She visited you, didn't she?" Harry said finally seeing a shadow of doubt cross his face.

"Yes, she did." He finally answered after a moment. "But she came to warn me..."

Harry shook his head. "She came to warn him! To tell him you had veritaserum. The moment you turned to her, he threw the drink away."

Tom considered everything for a moment but he couldn't believe what Harry had just told him. "Harry, you've probably misunderstood...she came to see me...she has nothing to do with any of this..."

"I just saw it in his mind!"

"Fine." Tom said quickly. He wanted to clear this up now. "He'll take Veritaserum again."

Both Harry and Tom turned to Roy who looked angrier now that he had his head back in place. "What is going on?! Why is everyone either cursing me or poisoning me?!"

"No one's poisoning you." Tom said quickly trying to be as reassuring as he could be. "We just want to know if you're telling us the truth."

"With what?!" Roy retorted glancing at the shattered bottle on the floor.

"With this." Tom pulled out his own bottle of veritaserum that Harry had given him only last night. "It is just a truth potion. I promise. It won't hurt, at all."

"Did you give me this last night?!" Roy asked with apparent comprehension and anger dawning upon his face looking from Tom to Harry.

Tom shut his eyes miserably. "Yes...but apparently, Harry needs to see the truth himself..."

"Like he'll take it now!" Harry retorted pointing his wand again at Roy who to both their surprise snatched the bottle from Tom's hand pulled open the cork and dripped a few drops onto his tongue and handed it back to Tom with the cork.

"Ask what you will!"

"Who sent you?" Harry asked still not dropping his wand.

"Malfoy."

"Why?"

"He knows I love Quidditch and since I can't play in the National team and no one else will hire me on their team after the foul at the Tournament, he sent me here as the Coach, to stay close to what I desire."

"What do you desire?" harry asked before Tom could say, I told you so'.

"The rush of the game...the whooshing sound of brooms...excitement of the crowd...zeal of the players and above all the feel of looming above the crowd on my own Firebolt3000..."

"Who do you belong to?" Harry asked, very irritated but still adamant.

"Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange-_"

"He's lying!" Harry had raised his wand again but he couldn't do anything because Tom had again covered Roy.

"Stop it!" Tom said quietly. "You heard him, loud and clear..."

Harry didn't want to talk anymore. He didn't know how Roy had done it but this simply couldn't be true. He couldn't be just a hoax. He needed Tom to get out of the way so he could know more. "Tom, I'm warning you, don't make me do this, get away from him."

"I won't, not this time. I stayed out of your way before because you weren't sure. Now, you are. Trust me, Harry, at least for once. You have always made the mistake of not trusting my judgment and see where that has brought us. We've lost Bolt... the Army...Please..."

Harry felt his patience leaving him. "How dare you?! How dare you blame me for Bolt's death?!"

Tom sighed. "I am not holding you responsible but we did make an error in judgment back then...I told you then Harry, it was a feeble plan but you felt otherwise...Today, I am telling you, Roy's just a hoax...trust me..."

"Well, then, who is the real culprit? Estella?"

"You don't know that yet...Let me find out... Give me time..."

"I've given you enough time... I need to see more, Tom, get out of my way."

"Harry, think of it...he just took veritaserum, how do you think he lied under its spell?"

"Right now, I don't know or care about that...all I do know is that legilimens works...I'll take my chances with anything I can get."

"But I won't." Tom answered resolutely.

Roy stood watching Tom, he couldn't believe him. The only knowledge that Roy was brother to him had led him to stand up to Harry Potter. Hadn't he himself longed for a brother like Tom? But now was not the time to flow away with emotions.

"Let me do what I want to."

"I won't let you torture him."

"Get away." Harry had said it with finality. Tom shook his head. He pocketed his wand and stood his ground, he knew his protection will not override the power of the Hallow. Harry raised his wand once more his heart pounding hard enough to fall right out of his thorax. He needed him out of the way, he had to do it. "Stupefy!"

Harry's spell hit Tom squarely in the chest. He crashed into the wall behind him as Roy moved out of the way. But it was the first time that a spell performed by the Elder wand hadn't done its work.

Tom hadn't been stunned but all air was knocked out of him. He got off the floor swaying a little as Harry's office door crashed open and Eric entered. He looked from one end to the other end of the room. Harry stood in a corner with his wand slightly alarmed. Tom stood by the wall supporting himself and Roy stood between them quite lost.

Harry who was shocked by whatever had happened was pulled back to his senses by Eric's voice who had apparently come here to complain about Roy. Harry realized his mistake the instant he had made it. He should not have tried to stun Tom. It would do no good at all. And he couldn't see him in pain. "Tom, I--_" Harry stepped forward but Tom held up his hand to stop him. He balanced himself and left the office followed by Roy.

Harry stood speechless with Eric who could do nothing but to stare at him. He had forgotten well about his complaint.

Originally posted by: guy3

Oh no! The trust factor is going to play again between Harry and tom. Keep the faith, guys!

Originally posted by: guy3

Evilla rather than Estella! Heartless girl! How can she play Tom like this? What has she got against him?
Getting impatient now...where are riddle and malfoy? What are they planning? What was the potion? Did Harry find any more info about it? Wish there had been a portrait in the room that could have seen when Roy dumped the veritaserum-laced drink. That's the only way Harry and tom will now trust each other:(