*******************************************
Riddle who had left a lunch rather reluctantly, dropped Tom off in their room and returned to Padma only to find that she was in the middle of the invigilation of the second half of the day. Nevertheless, he marched inside the class room casually as if he had been called in as the second invigilator. However, he met Eric Bouganwille as soon as he had crossed three desks. Apparently, Padma had found a substitute for him.
"May I speak with you, Miss Patil? Without so much as a greeting to Eric, Riddle spoke loud enough for the entire class to hear. He got a rather menacing stare from Padma before she answered.
"Of course.
Once outside Riddle got more than just a menacing stare.
"What is wrong with you? We are in the middle of an invigilation, students are watching not to mention so is Professor Bouganwille. I know we are friends but I would rather you did not forget I am your senior let alone the fact the once I was your mentor. I didn't expect such ludicrous behavior from you. What's gotten into you?
Riddle who had never been spoken to like that, advanced on her but stopped after a moment as he saw her standing resolutely in front of him. "Why did you call for a substitute? He asked rather politely, perhaps politer than he himself had expected.
Padma stared at him. That was his first concern? "You were unavailable even after 15 minutes into the examination, I needed a substitute.
Riddle sighed. "I understand. However, I am here, now. Send him away.
Padma stared at him. Was he out of his mind? Surely, there was an exam happening somewhere in the castle where he could be needed, he could go there. "I can't send him away like that. It is very rude. Besides, I am sure, you are needed elsewhere. I will ask Professor Bouganwille where he was supposed to be and you -_
"Good, he can go back there.
"Why is it so important for you to be here?
"It is not, you, however, are very important to me.
Padma stared at him petrified. Riddle realized what had slipped out of his mouth and stood waiting for another explosion gulping down. To his relief it never came but he felt something that he had never felt before, a dread crept on him at Padma's next words.
"We will talk about this, later. And she turned back to go back inside her class.
"Padma. Riddle stopped her as he saw her turn back to him exasperatedly.
"What?
Without another thought, Riddle stepped forward and kissed her. "If we are going to be talking about anything, it is that. He said the moment they pulled away. He didn't like feeling dreaded much and now he didn't. Now, he felt good as he saw her lips twitch into an unmistakable smile. It was after he had walked down a corridor that he realized, he too was smiling, something that had become a habit of his when he was with her.
He had only walked down another corridor when he came upon a rather strange sight. About 30 house elves seemed to be in a war with Lestrange and they seemed to be dragging him downstairs. Lestrange was having no trouble flying them in different directions but as soon as one would fly away another one would spring up.
"Who is Twix amongst you? Riddle understood this was Harry's doing. He asked the elves getting up groggily after being knocked down several times.
"Twix has taken Professor Lestrange further down. An elf answered.
"Why?
"Professor Potter's orders keeping Professor Lestrange away from you, sir.
Riddle stared then realized what was going on. Apparently, Roy wanted to reveal himself to Tom and Harry didn't want him to do that before he himself had spoken with him. Riddle himself felt it would be unhealthy for Tom if Lestrange suddenly barged into his room.
Riddle pulled out his own wand. "Retreat and ask your companions to do the same. I shall be able to keep Lestrange away from me.
Riddle followed after Lestrange as the house elves returned to the Kitchens one by one. By the time he reached Lestrange, Lestrange and Twix were the only ones dueling in the middle of the Entrance Hall.
Thankfully, the Great Hall doors had been closed due to an exam going on inside. It prevented anyone else from seeing a house elf and a Hogwarts faculty dueling with one another.
"Leave, I shall take care of him. Riddle told Twix the moment he came face to face with Lestrange.
Twix, who had been given orders by Harry Potter did not move.
"It's alright, we will take care of it, thank you. Harry, who had just entered through the double doors had heard Riddle relieve Twix. Twix bowed to Harry and walked away to the Kitchens massaging his neck.
Roy who felt like he would have a heart attack any second couldn't take it anymore and decided just to get over with it. He had his way blocked by Riddle and Harry and before either of them could he shot a stunning spell at Harry who blocked it and Roy ran for the staircase to get back to the third floor to Tom's room. Riddle shot a stunning spell at him which Harry blocked.
"This is not the way!" He hissed at him as he too followed Roy. "What are you doing?" asked Harry as he caught up with Roy.
"It's now or never. He knows I'm here this way or he doesn't know at all."
"So, you're just going to march into his room without him having a clue about it. He'll not be able to endure it. Let me talk-_-_" But before Harry had finished Riddle fired another stunning spell at Roy who ducked to avoid it. Harry would have to stop Riddle. He turned around to face Riddle as Roy turned into the next corridor. "Stop doing that or--_"
"Or what?" Riddle knew it was an empty threat. Harry couldn't disarm him or stun him. "If it wouldn't be for Tom, Potter, you'd have your wand snapped in half."
Harry couldn't believe Riddle had just threatened him. "You think-_" He had said as much when he was interrupted, though this time, to both their fear, by Noah.
"Is everything alright?"
Both Harry and Riddle lowered their wands.
"Yes, it is." replied Riddle gaining his composure back.
"It doesn't seem like it."
"Just a little disagreement on the choice of Head Prefects." answered Harry trying to end their conversation as soon as possible.
"I didn't know Hogwarts' teachers settled their disagreements by duels." Both Harry and Riddle froze. Latnok was walking towards them followed by a young girl. He had apparently gone to Harry's office, found it closed and searched for him in the Castle. He had heard Harry's last words.
"Latnok, Pleasure." said Harry shaking his hand.
"Good to see you too." replied Latnok.
Then he extended his hand to Riddle. "Hello Tom." Riddle shook his hand recognizing him from the Shell Cottage. "How are you doing?"
"I am fine."
"Haven't blown up any wards lately, have you or perhaps, caught any other deadly curses?" said Latnok and laughed out at his own joke as Harry's mouth went dry. Latnok was observing Riddle closely. There was no hint of him being touched by any dark curse and yet his tracker had been removed from his flesh. He noticed the change in his clothes, but there could be any number of reasons he had changed in the middle of the day. Tom was also not showing any signs of fear at the fact that Latnok had nearly caught him cursing someone today. In fact, he did not even seem taken off guard at seeing him again, so soon. Latnok had enjoyed leaving him spooked at the Hogs Head this morning, though right now, he seemed rather unafraid of him. Perhaps, his two near escapes from him in one day had made him more confident than before. No matter, Latnok would soon change that.
"No." replied Riddle quietly but Harry could feel his temper rising. Riddle had an utter dislike for nosy people and Latnok was interfering on purpose.
"Good, good." replied Latnok then turned to Harry. "Shall we go to your office? I have business to discuss with you."
Harrry nodded and followed Latnok as Riddle turned to go back to his room but the moment he did Latnok stopped him. "Where are you going?"
"I thought you had business with Potter."
"Why, yes, but if you remember the last I came, you didn't verify Harry's statement about that night. I don't have time enough to come to Hogwarts daily. I would not take your statement after today. Accompany me to the Headmaster's."
Riddle didn't need telling twice. He followed them quietly as Noah went back to his class. Both Harry and Riddle were worried sick inside about what would be happening with Roy and Tom. Harry was hoping against hope that whatever would happen, at least Latnok wouldn't come across it because if he did they'll all be dead.
"I think you received my letter?" asked Latnok the moment he sat down.
"Yes." replied Harry.
"Well, I am here concerning that. I have assigned Miss. Repherd here to take over Zavatti's place." said Latnok pointing at the young girl sitting beside him. At his mention Harry saw her clearly for the first time. He remembered her. She was a student here merely a year ago.
"Dory Rephered?" He asked looking at her.
She nodded. She hadn't said anything yet. It seemed as if she was confused. But since she had entered her eyes hadn't moved away from Riddle. She had stared at him since the second she had seen him in the corridor. Maybe, she had noticed something different about him. After all, she had been Tom's student.
"Miss. Repherd here is an excellent find of mine. She's very good at transfiguration. It'll be her first experience as a teacher but I assure you of her hard work."
Harry nodded quietly. Then, "You may make yourself at home, Miss. Repherd. My caretaker will escort you to a resting place." said Harry sending at patronus to Dudley. So, Repherd was assigned to keep an eye on Tom and Harry had to admit she was doing a good job.
As Dudley took her away Latnok asked for what he had actually come. "Where's Lestrange?"
Both Harry and Riddle stared at him. "I'll call him but I think you should take your statement from Tom first." said Harry not wanting the two of them together with Latnok. If Latnok cross questioned them their statements might differ. Although he had told Roy to stick to the story they had told Latnok, he didn't want to take any chances.
"No, call him now. As both of them were present at the Ministry that night, I'll take their statements together."
Harry felt like he was stuck in a nightmare again as he raised his wand to send a patronus to Roy.
***********************************************************************************************************************
Tom stirred back to consciousness feeling weak and sour. He lifted himself on his elbows wanting to sit up but fell back on his bed immediately. It was after a moment that he realized he was in his bed. He looked around his room. No one was here. How had he returned to Hogwarts? Who had brought him here? He closed his eyes and tried to clear the haze. The last thing he remembered was Riddle appearing out of nowhere to save his life. He sat up uneasily. Ted had been about to kill him and he would have if Riddle hadn't found him at the very last second. Tom sat up straight. He remembered he had no strength left to duel with Ted or even to move out of the way of the killing curse. He had gone there to confront Ted and found him very indifferent. He couldn't believe Ted would prove to be so sick. He stood up with the support of his side table. So, Riddle had saved his life once and then Ted had kicked him into his dining table. Tom touched the back of his head as the memory came back to him. He wasn't bleeding anymore, in fact, he was completely healed. Apparently, that too was Riddle's doing. He walked slowly to the rest room. By the time he had returned to his room with his face washed and his hair dripping in cold water, he felt a lot clearer.
Where was Riddle? Why had he just left him here alone? The thing that was bothering him the most was, what had become of Ted and Latnok. He was almost expecting Latnok to burst in here following him still like he had been since morning. Tom realized that Harry didn't know Latnok had captured him nearly twice today. As he realized that, he remembered that Harry also didn't know that Tom had handed over his post of the Deputy Head to Riddle and that Riddle had been invigilating during exams while Tom had snuck out of the Castle. Tom turned to his window, staring out of it, feeling scared. What was he going to tell Harry now? Ted had also seen Riddle and had discovered that the two of them were roaming around together when Harry had specifically asked Tom to make sure Riddle stayed inside his room at all times. Tom had, instead, handed Riddle the metaphoric keys to the Castle and taken the liberty to relax while he fooled Harry thoroughly.
Roy entered Tom's room to find him staring out the window, with his back to the door. The moment Tom heard the door close he turned around.
"Riddle where-__" He had just started when his eyes fell on Roy and his frown disappeared. He simple stood there petrified. After a moment he stepped closer towards him to see him clearly. It was indeed Roy, the very brother he had held on to in time of need and who had let go when Tom had needed him the most. He stopped in his tracks as everything that had happened on that night flashed by his eyes. Anger rose inside him, all questions that he had kept inside him for so long were suddenly at surface again.
As Tom stopped, Roy moved closer to him. For a couple of minutes, they stood staring at each other. One judging the other. Then Roy threw his wand in a corner and fell to his knees as tears sprang out of his eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry for everything I did, for all lies I spoke, for the pain I gave you, for my betrayal to you, for all my false acts, I'm very very sorry."
Tom backed away from the knelt down figure of Roy and turned back to his window. He was feeling so angry he couldn't even stand facing him.
"I trusted you." That was the one thing that had kept him in so much misery for the past so many days. His trust had been broken. His voice shook as he said it.
Roy looked at his back with tears running down his face. Tom didn't even consider him worthy of his sight. He stood up. "I'm sorry, Tom. I was compelled to do it. I had to choose between my father and my brother. I had to choose between the father who had kept me off streets when my real parents had abandoned me and the brother I had found after 24 years of my life. I had to choose. I didn't have any other options."
"You had an option." said Tom turning back to him as he remembered all the time they had sat together in his room talking about all the rubbish in the world. "You could've told me the truth. I could help."
"Had I told you my father would have died."
"He died anyhow, Roy." as Tom said it Roy felt like he had been slapped right across the face as he remembered his father's words when he had been captured and he had met him once to tell him he would have him freed by betraying Tom and Harry. 'I'll be dead anyhow, Roy.' At that time he had overlooked what his father had meant but now he knew that evil was never to be trusted.
"What would you have done, had you been in my place?" asked Roy pure out of anguish. Tom wasn't even ready to accept his justification.
"I would have died saving my father but would never have betrayed another man to save his life!"
"It's all very easy for you, Tom. You can penetrate your twin's powers, I cannot-_"
"Shut up!" said Tom as his mirror shattered to pieces beside which the two of them stood and he felt the floor underneath him mobile. He couldn't stand Roy for another second let alone stand on his own yet he strode out of his room.
The moment he left Harry's stag appeared beside Roy calling him in his office.
***************************************************************************************************************************
Debate Mansion
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Book Talk
329