Harry Potter and the Perfect Stranger: Updated Book 3 - Page 40

A long silence followed Tom's words, after a few moments he started packing again but Dudley wouldn't let him go. "Tom, please try and--__" he started only to be interrupted by him.

"I understand, Duds. I understand that I've made many mistakes in the past few days and trust me I'll make them all right before I leave. I'm leaving the Castle now but it'll take some time for my resignation to be approved, so I'll be teaching here for another month during which I'll finish off my course. I will not burden Harry with the load of another subject."

Tom finished packing and sat down with a quill and a parchment as Roy paced up and down the room trying to find out a way to stop him. In a few minutes Tom had completed his resignation. He stood up to go to Harry's office when Roy stopped him.

"Where are you going?" asked Roy.

"I need to submit my resignation." replied Tom.

"But you said you'll resign after a month." said Roy not knowing what else to say.

"Oh, no, if you want to resign you have to submit a resignation a month before you have to leave because after the approval of the Headmaster, his options for the substitute, it takes a almost a month for the Ministry to approve the resignation."

Roy listened quietly as his worries mounted. If Tom submitted a resignation now and if Harry approved it, Malfoy wouldn't take a month to approve it. He'll pass it out the moment he'll see it and Voldemort's plans will come in action rather early. He would have to stop this resignation from reaching Harry.

"Ok, so, uh, y-you should finish off your packing and I'll go give Harry your resignation." said Roy trying to be as casual as he could.

"Roy, I'm already finished and anyways I wanted to see Harry. I've to talk to him."

Roy looked at Tom, there was hope. If Tom wanted to talk to Harry, it might mean a settlement rather than this. "You've to talk to him? That's good, you know. I'd really like it if you guys settled this with words, cause' leaving Hogwarts was the worst option since the beg--_"

"Hey, who said I'm not leaving? I want to talk to him about the transfer of my post. Being the Deputy Head I cannot resign, because my protection prevails throughout the Castle, so I'll need to transfer my post to someone else. The final decision will of course be Harry's but I'll propose Padma's name for it."

"You'll propose her name after what she did to you?" said Roy who didn't know what else to say to prevent Tom to give away his post like that.

"I do not let my personal prejudices get in the way of my profession, Roy. Padma deserves this post in every way. She could have had it before but she let me have it. It's time I give her back what was hers"

"Oh yeah, you think you do not let your personal prejudices get in the way of your profession? Then, why are you leaving?"

"Roy_--"

"Because professionally speaking, Harry might have been very right about Estella and professionally speaking, he had every right to expel her, so, why are you going against him?"

"Because, Harry didn't fire her for professional reasons. He did so because he thinks she's conspiring against him. Look, I don't wanna talk about this, I need--_" Tom broke off as the bell for the fifth unit rang. He had decided to resume his classes but he needed to submit the resignation.

"Submit it after you're done with your work." said Roy quickly.

Tom nodded and left the room as Roy sighed with relief. He had left the resignation on the bed. Roy knew exactly what to do with it.

*************************************************

Harry sat there thinking in his office when someone knocked.

"Enter."

Dudley entered in quite low spirits. He told Harry everything that Tom had told him making it quite clear to Harry that Tom had indeed decided to leave.

At the end of the day, Tom went back to his room. He felt exhausted for he had gotten very little sleep and then he had gone to take classes and hadn't eaten anything all day. He lay down on his bed for some time making a mental note to remind himself when he woke up to grab something from the Kitchens to eat. He had just closed his eyes when Roy entered his room.

"Ready to leave?" he asked. Tom sat up. Roy stood there with the whole of his luggage. As Tom looked at him he remembered he had decided to leave. And as the thought struck him he realized something. He looked around his room for a whole minute. He was so attached to this place it hadn't even sunk in on himself that he would be leaving and yet he had decided.

When Roy saw him lost like that, he dropped everything he had brought with him and ran to sit beside him dropping all pretence of sadness all at once. He had decided to threaten him that he would leave too if Tom left but now it seemed like he wouldn't have to do that. "Have you changed your mind?" He asked nearly jumping.

Tom thought for a whole minute which seemed like an eternity to Roy then said,

"No."

His face fell. Nevermind, his plans would work. He wouldn't let him leave.

Tom who had felt peace when he had entered his room felt like he was stuck in a nightmare. He had never thought of living outside of Hogwarts. This was literally his home because he didn't have any before here. When he had come here he had been uncared for, unhealthy and starving. Hogwarts had nurtured him more like a parent than anyone. Life outside it was awkward to him. But he couldn't take back what had happened.

He looked around the room once more and saw his luggage in a corner of the room completely packed. He realized he would have to submit his resignation and he would have to talk Harry about this himself. "Where's my resignation scroll?" he asked Roy who pointed at his side table in answer to his question.

There it was already enveloped. "I don't remember putting into an envelope."

Roy had thought he would ask. "I did you a favour."

"Thanks." said Tom and started to leave the room with the scroll when his fell on Roy's luggage. "Why are you packed?"

Roy had thought he would never ask but thankfully he had. "Well, I guess, I'm doing you another one."

Tom understood but Roy didn't have to leave because of him. "Roy, you don't have to leave because of me."

"I know, but I can't help it, I can't leave you alone i-in th--this, you're my brother, Tom. I can't-t- shove you down the stairs and stay up here to wave at you when you leave. I can't let you go th-through this a-alone." Roy knew he had done the trick as a tear fell down his eye. Tom had turned around and come towards him. Sure enough he would now announce that he wouldn't leave.

"Roy, I'll be fine. I'll take care of myself and I'll be right here, in Hogsmeade. You don't--_"

Roy couldn't wait anymore. "Tom, we're in this together."

"No we're not. I can't let you ruin your career for me and besides, I don't want to burden Harry with everything that he already has to cope with."

Roy looked him right in the eye at his words. No matter how much he pretended to dislike the man Tom still had every concern in the world for him. Roy and Estella had worked together to turn Tom away from Harry but as Roy saw it he didn't know if it was even possible.

"I don't know about all that. All I know is that I don't want to lose the brother I found out after years. If you leave, I leave."

Tom knew he would have to give in. Roy didn't seem like he was going to unpack unless he did and anyways if Roy left Harry would have trouble finding another teacher.

"Roy, you know I can't stay after I've resigned. I'll have to leave."

"Then, don't resign."

"You know that's not possible."

"Ok, if that's not possible than at least stay until your resignation is approved." said Roy. "Otherwise I'm leaving with you, in the middle of the term." he added when he saw Tom open his mouth to argue. "If you stay until your resignation's approved, I'll finish off my course as well. We'll leave together."

"But Roy why would you leave? It's between me and Harry, I don't want you to get involved in this."

"You know if you'll leave I won't stay either, so, no arguments there."

Tom shut his mouth at his words. But Roy needed to be sure of his decision. "So, you're not leaving, are you?"

"No. But I've to submit this." said Tom waving the resignation in his hand. "I'll be right back." he left to go to Harry's office.

Roy felt jubilant. Tom wasn't leaving the Castle and as far as what he considered his resignation, he'll know about it a month later. Until then things would be different.

Originally posted by: i_yatharthk

You are saying it as if you don't know it eh??

Btw once again a nice and intriguing update...wanna know the reason behind riy's betrayal...and wanna see dumbledore's involvement I know that tom and he are not that close but he has experience and he can guide his students very much...so would like to see his involvement somewhat as I feel Harry is also doing mistakes which dumbledore's once did...not the same but still you get my point right?? Would like to see him advice Harry...

Originally posted by: guy3

Good that Roy and Dudley are trying to convince tom for whatever reasons. What did Roy think? He knew all these days about riddle and tom being ethically and morally opposite and yet he chose to betray tom for whatever reason he has. What's the point now after betrayal? I know Roy had a reason; what about Estella? Who or what made her join riddle's forces?
And a ridiculous thought just stuck me-Estella and Ted will make a great pair;-P both obnoxious backstabbing people.

CHAPTER 14

Vandalizing Valentine's

"Enter."

Harry called as Tom knocked on his door. He entered to find Harry bent over several parchments. Apparently, home works of the students. He coughed to get his attention.

"Er, I needed a word with you, Professor." Harry looked up at his voice. He didn't like him calling him Professor instead of Harry, but he knew it was too late for any of these formalities to be taken back.

"Yes?"

"I need to submit this to you." said Tom handing the envelope to Harry.

"What is it?" asked Harry.

"It's my---_" Tom had just started when Harry's office door opened up and Padma entered immersed deeply in a file in her hand speaking at the same time.

"These are the candidates who can substitute for Estella, Harry. I've marked out their--_" Padma had just looked up and found Tom standing in her face.

"You are looking for a substitute for Estella?" asked Tom more hurt than concerned.

Harry dropped down his quill and sat up straight. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because after what happened last night, Tom, I believe I'm going to have to take care of more than just one subject."

Tom felt quite bad about this. Back there he had Roy who had done all in his power to stop him leaving and here was Harry, instead of trying to stop him he had already made arrangements for things to work after he had left. Well, Tom wouldn't disappoint him and would rather help.

"So do I, Professor." said Tom making Harry's worst assumptions confirmed.

"I think I should leave." said Padma when she sensed matters were getting worse between the two of them and her being there wasn't helping.

"No, Professor, I want a word with you too." said Tom as she turned to leave. He looked at Harry, and began. "Considering the events of the last night and the results there of, I've decided to hand over my post of the Deputy Head of Hogwarts to you." He stopped to see their stunned faces.

"Tom, you can't--_" Padma began but he stopped her.

"Yes, I can and I want to do it. I just needed both of you to know that my preferences lie with you, rest I believe Professor Potter has the right to take the decisions he wants to. I don't know whom he would want the post to be transferred to but I do know that I'll be leaving it."

He left Harry's office in more a rage than anything.

Harry opened the sealed envelope. Padma had left, the moment Tom had, without a word. Inside was a scroll completely empty except for a single word written in the center of the scroll glimmering different colors.

'SORRY'

Harry stared at it for a whole minute before he realized what it was and why had Tom come to him. He sank back into his chair with his eyes tight shut. Tom had come to apologize and Harry had behaved so harshly with him. Maybe that was why he thought he should give up his post, because he thought he didn't deserve it. Harry should've seen through him, he should have controlled himself. Now what will he do? How will he make Tom understand that he totally deserves the post he has? But above all this, at least one thing was certain, that Tom wouldn't leave and by the looks of it he was getting Harry's point of view of expelling Estella well enough. If it remained as it was, then Harry would be able to get back on the same page with him.

********************************

Tom went back to his room half planning to tell Roy he wanted to leave now then changed his mind. He had already resigned and he had no right to stop Harry from doing whatever he wanted to do. If Harry didn't need him then he'll be able to manage himself without him as well.

When he entered his room everything was back at its place. All of his luggage was unpacked, Roy's was back in his room. Roy stood in the middle of the room with his wand out. He had finished off everything by the time Tom had returned to the room. He put his wand back in his jeans pocket.

"Hey, let's go down to the Great Hall. I'm starving." said Roy sounding quite exhausted and hungry, perhaps more than Tom was who, at the moment, wanted nothing more than to be with the one he had just resigned for.

"You go, I'll go to Hogsmeade."

"Hogsmeade? You gave me your word you weren't leaving?"

"I'm not leaving, Roy. I'll just have dinner there, with Estella. I want to spend some time with her."

Roy who knew what Tom meant didn't want Tom to be alone with Estella. She could harm him. Roy felt a bit strange. He was suddenly worried that she would harm his brother and yet if she wouldn't do what she was doing it would all be for nothing. He didn't want Tom to leave his lifetime of work but he couldn't help him escape what awaited him in future. And he would have to be a part of it.

"Oh, ok. You don't mind if I accompany you, do you?" asked Roy.

"Of course, I don't. Let's go."

Tom and Roy entered the Hogshead to find it empty like usual. Tom made to Estella's room while Roy sat down on a table and ordered food and drinks.

Tom knocked at Estella's door for five minutes and then she opened it. She had just come out of the shower. She looked just so beautiful in her wet blonde hair shining with streaks of water all over it. Her face was shining like a moon, with a smile over it which took away all his worries. Tom watched her for a whole minute, taking in everything that stood before him. He didn't know why but every time he looked at her he felt mesmerized.

"Hey, how are you doing?" he asked her swimming out of the haze of her beauty that had covered him the moment he had seen her.

"I'm ok. I just feel very bad for what Harry did." she said turning away from the door to let him in.

Tom sighed. He felt the same way. "I know but he'll come around. I promise." He put his arms around her. "He'll take you back."

"I hope so, Tom but I don't think so..." Estella shrugged with a little frown.

"What do you mean?" Tom asked a little confused.

"I mean if you could change Harry's mind, he would never have expelled me but apparently he trusts your word as much as he trusts mine. He thinks I haven't done justice to my work, I don't think you'll be able to convince him I have..."

Tom gulped down. She was right. Harry had never trusted his judgment. Only she didn't know all of this, it wasn't about her performance but nonetheless Harry didn't trust him no matter what the subject.

"It doesn't matter what Harry thinks as long as we're together..." Tom said quickly lifting her chin up so she could look into his eyes. "If he doesn't take you back, he'll have to let me go too. I have resigned. In a month's time, I'll be able to leave Hogwarts too."

He wanted her to know he wouldn't leave her alone in this.

She smiled widely. "Thank you. I don't know how I would have survived all this, without your support. When you leave, we'll start fresh, you and I." She stopped as he looked at her strangely. "And Alex..." She added seeing relief sweep over his face. He could never start anew without Alex and Estella knew that. She kissed him and he let her allowing her to feel she owned him.

Originally posted by: guy3

What is Roy playing at now? So, riddle's plan comes to fruition when tom leaves...is his plan to attack hogwarts? So many questions!! Please update more frequently peri as we readers don't have the skill of occlumency to read your mind and figure out what happens next in the story:)

The next morning Harry received a patronus from Ron and Hermione asking for his invisibility cloak. They had finally decided to sneak into the Department of Mysteries to try and find out exactly what Malfoy was after as they had seen him go down there several times. They felt sure now that Malfoy was doing something there instead of trying to steal something from there.

While Harry felt confident that they had a lead in finding more about Voldemort's plans Tom hadn't been able to get Estella's words out of his mind since after last night. Roy who had been observing him since morning finally asked him during lunch.

"Spill it, dude."

"It's nothing, really..." said Tom taking a deep sigh and resuming on his tea.

"Oh really, if that's the case then why are you swigging an empty cup?"

At Roy's words he looked into his cup and indeed found it empty. Lost in his own thoughts he hadn't realized when his cup had gotten empty.

"Ok, I admit, there is something that's been bothering me. Actually, last night, Estella... well she said something, that forced me to think..."

Roy who was lying low in his chair suddenly sat up straight when Tom told him that. "What did she say?" he asked.

Tom sighed. "Nothing but the truth. She too has observed that Harry doesn't trust me, at all. And now that I think about it, why should he? Look who I am, son to the Darkest Wizard of the Century, son to his arch enemy... I have his powers, I have his charm...I even have his name..."

"But, you're not him." He said it firmly looking into his eyes. "And Harry knows that. You are right, he doesn't trust you nut not because you are son to his arch enemy but because you trust me and he thinks I am working with his arch enemy and he thinks you're taking my side in the flow of emotions or perhaps because I've confunded you or something." said Roy with a wide grin.

Tom smiled too. Roy was right. Harry was just unsure about Roy. But then, he couldn't just forget all the other times Harry had hardly trusted him.

Harry who had wanted to see Ron as soon as it was possible skipped dinner and went down to Hogsmeade before time. He had decided to wait outside Hogshead under the invisibility cloak. And anyways, he didn't like dinner in the Great Hall anymore. He didn't like it without Tom. True, he would never stay at the table but it was pleasant to see him roaming around the Hall. It seemed that a part of Hogwarts was gone without him.

He put on the cloak the moment he left the Hogwarts' grounds. As he stood by the Hogshead, invisible, he saw Tom and Roy walking towards the inn. He half waved at Tom, then realized he was under the invisibility cloak, far beyond his vision. As he looked the two of them strode inside and vanished from sight. At first he made to follow them but then stopped. It was after all none of his concern whatever they did, but then he decided he couldn't stay put and strode in right behind them, still invisible.

As Harry watched, Roy sat down on a table and Tom went upstairs. Until Tom and Estella came downstairs Roy ordered food and drinks. When Tom and Estella walked down they were so absorbed into each other, they had no idea who else was around. Harry could see the happiness beaming on Tom's face but he knew Estella was all fake.

"Have a seat." said Roy as Tom pulled out a chair for Estella. "You look great with each other." Roy complimented them. "You complete each other."

"Just like our lockets do--_" said Estella looking down on her chest to see the locket dangling but it wasn't there. "Oh, I guess, I forgot it in the bathroom upstairs." said she standing up again to go and get it.

Tom pulled her back down. "I'll go get it." As Tom climbed the stairs to go up Roy started on Estella.

"Why are you telling him all that rubbish about Harry?"

"It was your job to have done that, not mine. I'm doing you a favor."

"Well, you don't need to. I'll do it my way. You don't need to indulge into my work."

"Oh really, if that's the case then why hasn't Tom left Hogwarts, yet? He should have done it the very day I left. His resignation hasn't reached Malfoy so far. What will you tell him?"

"He doesn't need to ruin his career, he'll regret anyhow in the end. We needn't ruin Harry's image in front of him anymore. And I don't know what harry did with the resignation after Tom submitted it." Roy replied harshly. His own mind stayed protected by occulumency. He easily concealed the fact no resignation had ever been submitted because he had replaced it with an apology scroll.

"I don't care what you think, Roy. I'm working on the Dark Lord's direct orders. He believes if we do it until we get him out of here, it'll be better."

"Fine. But leave the rest to me. You keep out of it." Roy would do what he wanted to if he could only have Estella off it all.

She looked like she would murder him but perhaps she controlled herself. "So, are we taking care of our brother now, eh?" she shot at him sarcastically.

"It's none of your concern." Roy replied with as much hatred as she had shown him.

"It's all here, on your face Roy...concern...care...love..."

"Shut up!" said Roy as Tom came back into view with Estella's locket dangling in his palm. The moment she saw him, she stood up and turned towards him with her beautiful smile. All hatred, anger, everything gone from her face leaving nothing but beauty and Harry knew how horrible this beauty could turn out to be.

Harry left the inn and found Ron right outside it waiting for Harry. Harry pushed past him and told him quietly it was him and to follow him in the Three Broomsticks. The moment Harry entered inside he took off his cloak rolled it and handed it to Ron. They grabbed a table and Harry told him everything he had seen moments ago.

"What are we going to do now, Harry?" asked Ron.

"I dunno, they're doing this all behind his back and he has no idea of it all. He wouldn't believe me if I'll tell him any of that."

"Harry, you expelled Estella to get him out of her influence, but it's not working, is it? He's visiting her every night. What was the point of expelling her?"

"Ron, I can't bind him to the Castle. He can go where ever he likes."

"I know, but Harry you've got to stop this. Put him to work, make him do things every second he spends inside the Castle. Don't give him a chance to leave. In a few days, he'll have a clear head without Estella filling it in with bad things about you and he'll come around himself."

Harry nodded, that was perhaps the only option now. He wished Ron a goodnight, and left him wishing him luck for breaking into the Department of Mysteries.