Chapter 10: Early Morning

September 18th, 1943

Saturday Morning

Harry turned the final corner in the deep bowels of the Hogwarts Dungeons and was greeted with a familiar sight - the entrance to the classroom that hid one of Salazar Slytherin's studies.

He stopped before entering it and ensured that nobody was near to the best of his abilities, systematically checking inside every nearby room while randomly jutting his hound out in areas that looked like a person may hide in them - he did the latter portion out of paranoia, considering future him had a cloak what was stopping others from having something just as powerful? While he'd have felt like a genius if he found anybody, he felt stupid with the lack of results from waving his hands in the air expecting to make contact with a vanished peer or Professor. All he could do after having searched was to stay stock still and listen, which he did for nearly thirty minutes.

No sound greeted him and finally, he made his way into the dank classroom.

It wasn't smart to come back here with no answers and there were likely many more books he could check out using Riddle's pass, but simply put, he was curious. So much so that he woke up close to five in the morning and had taken everything he'd need to study with Riddle and Sarah later on in the day. Now normally, he'd not have woken up this early even if curiosity were about to kill him, but he'd had very good fortune the day before.

Yesterday evening on his way to the Library in hopes of exchanging books, Riddle had come across him and told him their studying time would be cut in half so she could make preparations for their upcoming Hogsmeade trip. At the time, the bright idea flashing within his mind to come here and explore again had made him say 'sure' as he carelessly went about looking for more information. However, later on in that same evening and tucked away in his bed, he was struck with a thought.

Why would Riddle need four hours of 'preparation' this weekend for their Hogsmeade trip on the following one?

Was the girl up to something nefarious? Maybe. Could she be up to something involving another sudden and deliberate attack using her lips on his helpless self? That had to be an even greater possibility with how 'interested' she'd suddenly become. Honestly, what was with her? You don't just go kissing your arch-enemy and if you do, you'd better use the distraction to do something important!

Harry sighed, how could she be this unnerving to his Housemates if the girl was that foolish?

He sighed a second time when he realized how distracted he'd become.

Now wasn't the time for getting lost in thoughts over Riddle, it was the time for observation and contemplation once he made sure everything in the room was exactly as he'd left it.

Stepping into the room and closing the door behind him, Harry examined everything, even the smallest details of footprints very similar to his leading to the door he'd just come in f- he stepped forward and let his head fall against the nearest pillar. Had he truly been so blind and senseless during his last time here that he'd not even used Scourgify to wipe away his tracks?

Right before he was about to bash himself against the pillar a second time, Harry again thought about the reason he'd run off during his last visit here. Someone or something had been coming nearby and at the time, he'd assumed whoever it was coming to this room. He turned his attention back to his faint set of tracks a second time, seeing that they were alone he moved around the entirety of the room.

Considering he'd not cleaned anything in the Classroom, anything that didn't match dust wise would be a dead giveaway to another presence. With this being a matter of utmost importance, Harry made sure to examine each area thrice over before moving to the next, that didn't mean only the floor either, he checked the ceiling and walls too. While neither the ceiling nor walls were as dusty, it would have still stuck out to him should somebody have walked across them - nobody did.

Eventually, enough time passed that it was nearly six in the morning and Harry had just about finished up his examination of the room. His conclusion was that whoever had been running by hadn't entered into the room and if they had, they were far more advanced than he. Briefly, the thought had come to him to examine the Study for the very same signs but that would be pointless considering how clean it'd been even if the air had seemed stale.

Before making his way over to the Study entrance, he turned towards his tracks while raising his wand. "Sco-"

Harry shut his mouth and lowered his wand.

Should he keep his tracks, including the ones leading to the door or clean them? Both could have consequences that would eventually lead to the same ending, at least those were his thoughts. He went to the entrance, his hand hovering just over the knob and turned back towards the room at large, debating internally the better course of action to take.

On the one hand, keeping his tracks could make it look like he didn't care and as such, meant nothing in the class or adjoining room was of any importance. Then again, come too often and people would see the repetitiveness of tracks, eventually using the camouflage as the very opposite of what it's intended use would be.

A Scourgify or two could be smart - hell, if anybody caught him coming here at some point in the future he could simply say that the room's decor stood out to him and he'd decided to turn it into his personal hangout. It'd explain the cleanliness and his reason for using the room. That wasn't to say he liked the idea of anybody in Slytherin, Aster and Reinhard included, using this room - the wealth of knowledge only next door was too great a threat.

Whatever he'd end up choosing, he came to the decision that Slytherin's study would have to be destroyed should Riddle find out about it. It was the only way to ensure more dangerous knowledge wasn't given to the girl, even if he didn't know what any book contained other than the one with names in it. For all he knew, this room might very well be one of the ones that'd given Tom in his time some of his power and if he could stop Riddle from finding it, he would.

"Scourgify."

Harry repeated the incantation a few times until the entirety of the room was cleansed of dust and other debris. His choice was made up, should he ever be discovered using the room he'd rather have the excuse of 'personal study' than whatever he'd come up with on the fly while going with the other option.

Finished with the room, he faced the Study's door again and put his hand to the knob, all the while watching for any subtle change to it - nothing visibly happened, nor did any of his other senses find anything that would clue him in on the mystery of the operation of the door.

He twisted the knob much as he'd done last time and it opened, he then stepped in to examine the room while keeping half his body out on the very off chance that a person was inside. What greeted him was nothing different than how he'd left it, it was so similar in fact that even the book with names was where he'd left it and the shelf of the desk with the blood quill was still open. Why had the room not closed the drawer or taken back the book to its proper shelf?

Had nobody ever refused to sign their name? Did the room somehow know he'd come back to it? Or, more worryingly, did Slytherin's portrait have something to do with it?

Upon that thought, Harry looked above the door where the man's portrait had been and saw that he too was as frozen as he'd been upon Harry's first entrance. At least that was nice, the man and snakes in the Portraits around the room wouldn't be assaulting his senses while he tried to come to any level of understanding.

Harry gave a cursory glance at the windows, nothing of interest stood out to him. Another towards the bed and to the same result of the windows.

He walked over to the bookshelves across from the entrance and bracing himself, tried to take an unnamed and ancient-looking book from them. Exactly as before, a shock went through his body and to the best of his knowledge, it felt as powerful as the ones he'd experienced during his prior trip.

Evidently, he could only do two things inside the room.

Speak with the portrait of Salazar Slytherin or sign his name into the book still waiting for him at the desk. He wasn't sure which option was worse.

Harry brought a hand up to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose - he was so curious about the room and was certain that it hid knowledge that could assist him in taking down the future Dark Lady, but what would be the cost?

Absentmindedly he looked back over towards the book that beckoned him, it'd been on his mind ever since he'd first seen it. All he had to do was pick up the quill in the drawer beside it and everything would be unlocked, he knew it.

Harry closed his eyes and thought about the course of action he should take - before he came to a decision, something so bright flashed within the room that even with his eyes closed, he was blinded.

Once whatever had been done wore off and he could see again, panic set in. Harry couldn't control anything about himself. His breathing couldn't be held, his muscles couldn't be flexed and his sudden onslaught of anger mixed with heart-wrenching sorrow couldn't be stifled.

Worse, As if he were in a dream and only able to watch without interacting, his body began moving towards the table.

He tried to wrestle control back, but to little success - he could only watch on as he got ever closer to the table.

Harry's hands reached towards the book and quill once he was stood near them, again, he tried wrestling control with no positive outcome.

For the first time since his arrival, Harry was truly scared as he watched his hand holding the quill descend towards the book. His fear grew larger still, now joined with a fresh sense of pain when it made contact where his signature belonged. It lasted for only a few agonizingly slow seconds but once his hand pulled back to reveal that he'd written his name in the book, those negative feelings were replaced with euphoria.

Suddenly the room exploded in a flurry of activity - he didn't know how to describe it but it felt as if he could feel the very essence of magic itself all around him as books glowed and snakes came to life from the pillars where they were wrapped around.

All he'd needed to do was write his name in the book and everything had opened up to him, even new doors he was sure hadn't existed before were now visible! Why had he been so resistant in the first place?

Harry walked over to the now moving portrait of Salazar Slytherin and looked up at the man.

Slytherin for his part was already looking towards Harry with a charming smile and look of pride adorning his features.

" My knowledge is now yours, Daughter of House Gaunt."

Elation filled Harry and before he could hear his response that was already making its way out, the very same light from before struck him blind and deaf.

When he again opened his eyes, he was standing in the centre of the room as he'd been before.

Harry whipped his head around, examining every aspect of the room and saw that nothing was different from when he'd entered. Whatever vision, dream or memory he'd been in hadn't changed anything in the present time. What it did do was leave him with even more questions, something that seemed an all too common occurrence in this era.

Who was this Daughter of House Gaunt and why had her emotions been so haywire during the time of signing? Could the room show him whatever it had seen at any given time? Were the results of her signature in that book actually so immediate and lively, or was all of it a ruse for his name to be entered?

Dumbledore wouldn't be of any assistance and Harry trusted Riddle as much as he trusted Draco. That left one person he could speak with and that option was no more trustworthy than the aforementioned Witch. Still, maybe he could learn enough from the man that he could cross-check some of the information provided at a later date.

Harry walked over to the door and once he ensured it was closed tightly, spoke to the unmoving portrait of Salazar Slytherin.

" Hello."

As before, the room came to life and so did the portrait filled with Slytherin. Immediately, the man's eyes focused on Harry as the same charming smile he'd seen in the memory formed on his face.

" You are back, Son of House Peverell, I knew you would be." Smugness filled the man's gravelly voice.

Harry would have fired something back at the man if he were anyone else, Riddle included, but for two reasons, he didn't. One, he was long deceased, in a portrait and Harry had been the one to awaken him. Two, with all prior things mentioned, he was still Salazar Slytherin, who knew what he could do even as an aspect of the man within a portrait.

" Yes, I'm back. I need answers that only you can provide." Harry hid his annoyance at asking the man for help inwardly.

Slytherin's eyes remained cold and unblinking on Harry while the man appraised him in silence for nearly a minute. When he finally gave an answer, it was one that Harry wasn't happy to have.

" All can be provided once your signature is within the book that greeted you."

" No." Harry responded on instinct and watched as Slytherin's portrait shook his head in disappointment.

" Then I fear all answers you seek will elude you."

Harry scoffed. " They won't."

" If you were truly certain that you could find them, you wouldn't have called upon me to answer." Slytherin raised a hand in the portrait, effectively ending Harry's comeback before it even left his mouth while the man continued on. " It bewilders me to no end that those who find my Study and other… areas often refuse to pass on the locations to their children. Tell me, why has it been centuries since your last relative came to me? Were they not pleased with the results I gave them?"

Harry was baffled by what the man had said and as a result of his interpretation, it was all but confirmed to Harry that the contents of the room were dark. Why else would people fail to pass on the teachings of one of the greatest Wizards to ever live to their children? Maybe the direct cause of House Peverell's extinction and the reason he couldn't recall any of the names in the book he'd seen were due to the very teachings Slytherin seemed to so arrogantly provide. Of course, Harry wouldn't put thought to words with the man looking down at him from his portrait.

" I don't know why they failed to pass on the location of this room and I have no knowledge about the 'results' you mention. What I can say is that my family has been in decline for a long while and because of that, we went into hiding, only coming out recently." Harry paused and hoped that would suffice for the man - still returning the stare he hadn't expected a shake of the head with a brief crack in the man's arrogant expression.

" Your ancestor, the one I speak of, foresaw this and tried to stop it. Our machinations were elaborate and our experiments successful, or at least we thought they'd been." Slytherin looked back at him with his expression reinforced. " Fate can be stalled but never beaten, always remember that, Son of House Peverell."

Unsure of how to respond, Harry tilted his head to the side and corked a brow. " Thanks."

" Ask me what you wanted to when you awoke me, though only that. Abuse my offer by asking more than what was on your mind at the time will result in a loss of privileges."

Had the older Wizard taken pity on him or was it another ploy? Regardless of that, how would Slytherin know what was on his mind at the time and what privileges could he possibly take that didn't just include this room? A shiver down his spine told Harry not to risk anything and so when he replied, he'd heed the warning.

" I have three questions that were on my mind at that specific time… how do I know you'll tell the truth?"

Slytherin's gaze in response was answer enough and not wanting to be scolded by a man who died long ago, Harry started off with his first question.

" Who was the previous user of the room, the one I saw in memory or vision or whatever the room had done to me? You called her 'Daughter of House Gaunt' and I could feel everything she felt at the time of her visit."

" She was the last Daughter of House Gaunt to visit me and at the same time, the last Member of House Gaunt to visit me. I will not tell you her name, nor can I, though I can tell you that her last visit took place in the year 1905. As for her emotions, 'tis not my place to speak."

Harry tried his best in searching the man for any signs of deception and came up empty-handed. He was unsure if that was due to the man being an incredible liar, impossible to read on his being a portrait or if the words spoken were true. All he could do with the information given was remember it, store it away in his mind and check it at a later date once he came across anything remotely helpful.

" Can this room show the occupants inside whatever it's witnessed?"

" All that has happened within the confines of this room and those attached can be witnessed again by any who are allowed in."

A straight enough answer and Harry had no choice but to believe it unlike the other. That left him with one final question even if he'd wished to ask more.

" When somebody signs their name into the book, is it as I saw?" Harry had decided not to question if it were a ruse. For if it were, why would the man be truthful with him in admitting that he'd tried to trick him?

" Tell me, what did you see?" Harry messed with his hair in confusion before giving a look to the old wizard in the portrait. Slytherin had to know exactly what he'd seen in the memory and based on the smugness the man was showing, he did. Still, Harry's only hope of any knowledge gained resided in the man and as such, Harry repeated word for word just what he'd seen upon the Gaunt girl signing her name away.

Once he had finished his recollection, he waited for Slytherin's response and received a simple nod.

Harry pressed for more with an impatient gesture and the aged Wizard confirmed verbally that it happened exactly as he described.

" Thank you." Harry said, not forgetting his manners as he opened and closed the door in the span of a few seconds. He'd made his exit so quickly that he'd not waited for the portrait to say anything back.

Had everything the man said been true? Assuredly not. Harry knew better than to trust fully what the man said. His problem wasn't that he didn't completely trust Salazar Slytherin, it was that he didn't completely distrust the man.

Harry cast a Tempus and saw that the time was now nearly seven in the morning, he'd spent two hours down in the darkest corners of the castle - to him, it had been time well spent.

He had the name Gaunt, the knowledge it was a girl and the last year she'd visited the study which meant that she'd been at Hogwarts that very same year. All of that was more than enough information for him to begin looking for the woman.

September 19th, 1943

Sunday Evening

"Good evening Harry."

Harry was hoping he'd not get bogged down in conversation upon his return from the library but seeing that it was Corene that wanted to speak with him, he'd make the time.

"Good evening to you too Corene."

She looked at him and then over to the seats they'd taken during their last conversation before walking over to them, her offer clear to him even without words having been spoken. That didn't mean he took it up immediately, no, he considered it for a few moments.

It wasn't out of anything the girl had done nor was it annoyance with her, he'd just had a busy day with little to no success in finding anything out about the Gaunt girl.

No book he'd checked out that mentioned her family name had the current residence of said family or the fate of it. When he'd asked the librarian if that was everything on House Gaunt, she'd nodded and turned her attention back to the book in her hands without a second glance. Harry hadn't stopped at that and bugged the woman behind the desk again, this time for a Hogwarts roster which made the woman narrow her eyes at him. He didn't relent and when the woman rolled her eyes, she told him that past rosters were only in the office of the Headmaster - before he had the chance to ask, she told him that former Quidditch rosters could be provided by any Head of House though the extent in which they went back fully depended on the records of those before them.

In other words, he'd wasted the entirety of his day to only find out that he couldn't gain access to the Hogwarts records of the past thereby stalling his quest of finding out the woman who'd come before him. Sure, he could speak with Slughorn and hope that man knew at least something of the girl, but a Quidditch roster didn't contain the same information that the school directory would.

Harry was roused from his thinking by a sudden jolt of pain in his leg, he looked around the room and eventually settled on Corene across from him who was openly smirking with her wand out.

"Oops, sorry Harry. I must've gotten lost in my mind."

Clearly, she was digging at him and to a point, he deserved it, being ignored while somebody just stood still in thought probably wasn't a great feeling.

"Sorry." He apologized to the girl as he took the seat beside her once again - thinking all the while how it was unfortunate that Aster and Reinhard weren't playing their typical games for their pleasure. Oh well, a conversation with Carrow was never a dull affair anyhow.

"Good. What have you been up to today? I've not seen you anywhere, mealtimes included and when I asked your usual crowd they'd not seen you either."

She was entirely too observant for her own good was his first thought, his second was why did she care in the first place?

"I was wi-"

Corene cut him off. "Nobody. You were alone in the corner of the library reading books on Pureblood lineages and other information that any number of housemates would willingly give you."

"How did you know that? Were you sp-"

"I walked over to you, stood beside you for five minutes and spoke her name thrice. Should I be disappointed that you're more interested in ruined Houses than my own?"

Harry's blood ran cold at the fact he'd been so careless that he'd not even noticed somebody calling out to him. What else had he missed while he'd immersed himself so far into the books he'd skimmed through? More importantly, what else had she seen or heard?

"What Houses do you think I'm interested in?"

Corene snorted. "What Houses weren't you interested in is a more apt question to ask. When I was beside you your interest wasn't on one in particular, rather, you were skimming the contents looking for something. I must admit you had my interest spiked until you stopped briefly on House Gaunt, thinking as they do is dangerous for one's mental faculties."

So she'd seen what he hadn't wanted her to then, but that need not mean anything bad would come of it. After all, if Corene thought so little of the house then she'd not suspect that his reading was anything more than brushing up on history and that could be a perfect excuse for it.

"I'm not that interesting sadly, I just wanted to see the current state of Houses without needing to bug anyone for it."

"Nobody but Abraxas is bugged by you and he'd still put up with anything you asked."

Why he'd do that is obvious, but Harry felt the need to ask regardless. "Why would that be?"

"Don't act a fool Peverell, it's unbecoming of you." Corene scolded him and began playing with the wand in her hand - he wasn't sure if anxiety had caused her to do so or if it was meant as a threat. Either way, he pushed ever so slightly in hopes Corene would potentially give anything more away than he already knew.

"Humour me?"

Corene looked at him and sighed, giving in to what he wanted after a shake of her head. "We both know Riddle is heavily interested in you to the point that she'd discipline severely anyone who did anything remotely offensive to you. Aster and Reinhard can see it too, they've been given leeway since becoming as close as they have with you out of fear that their punishment would lead to your disapproval."

That was an interesting bit of information albeit one that he'd already suspected with prior conversation between the boys.

"Have you experienced leeway as they have?" Corene and he weren't as close as the two boys that usually occupied all his time, but the girl was still the third most spoken with member of Slytherin for him.

"No. Unlike your two friends, I don't need to hide behind you from punishment."

A fair point if ever he'd heard one.

"Wh-"

"D-"

They'd both tried to speak, effectively cutting one another off before the first word had exited their mouth.

"You first." Both said at the same time, causing Harry to laugh while Corene smiled demurely.

Once that moment passed, Harry the self-styled gentleman motioned that Corene should say what she wanted to and so she did.

"Did you want to ask me anything?"

Harry scratched his head, unsure if he was missing something obvious, a quick racking of his mind brought up nothing.

"About the House you were looking up. I assume based on the manner in which you returned that your ventures were less than successful."

She was obviously right, not that he wanted to tell her as much. For one it made him seem incapable and in addition to that, the girl had already seen that he was searching for House Gaunt - what if she knew more than she was letting on so she could tell Riddle everything at a later date?

"No, that's fine, It's nothing overly important anyway."

Harry's lame attempt of deception was clearly seen through based on the look Corene gave him, though her lack of follow-through was appreciated. He supposed that came with the territory of being in Slytherin, nobody seemed to willingly open their hearts or minds with people that'd potentially be adversaries down the road.

"See me should you change your mind on that, few know Politics or History better than I."

Inwardly, he groaned. Both were subjects that Harry wasn't overly fond of in the slightest and both were subjects that he knew he'd need to learn in the coming Years - if he made it that long. Perhaps taking her up on the offer wouldn't be too harmful, he'd just need to be careful to ask about information on more than just House Gaunt, it would surely save him t-

Corene's sudden movement to stand up caused him to abruptly spit out, "No."

She turned to him in minor surprise, likely having assumed their conversation had been finished with his lack of response to her sentence.

"If it truly doesn't bother you, there were a couple of things I would love to ask." Harry stopped and waited for her to reply before remembering to add in one crucial detail. "I'd prefer it to be somewhere with a degree of privacy."

Her nod of approval and uptick of her lips were followed by words that almost offended him. "And here you were thinking you should be placed in Gryffindor of all places."

Corene then finally stopped playing with the wand between her fingers as she did an elaborate motion and mumbled something. Based on the lack of sound now available to his ears he'd assumed that she'd done whatever it was Riddle usually did, only with more movement and without silence.

"Ask what you will Harry, I'll do by best to answer your questions so long as they have no negative effect on myself or others close to me."

Harry supposed he could ask each question individually, but for the sake of both their sanities, he asked all at once.

"What did you mean about ruined Houses? What can you tell me about House Gaunt in particular considering your distaste for them? You mentioned you excel in politics too, so I'll ask something that I hadn't been thinking of until then if that's fine." Corene nodded at him and so he asked what flashed across his mind at the time. "Can you tell me anything about House Goldhorn's stances and which Houses currently have the most power?"

Ruined Houses and House Gaunt were what he truly wanted to know about, the latter of the two was the sole reason he'd wasted as much time in the library as he had in the first place! As for why he fit in a question about Sarah's parents, why not? Corene had offered her help and the girl's parents were unknown variables that he'd never heard of during his time in the future - any information on them was helpful lest he gets himself into trouble come Yule.

Corene showed no surprise or discomfort at any of the questions he'd asked, if anything, the girl leaned forward and furrowed her brows in concentration.

"Ruined Houses are those that are close to going extant in the male line, extinct as a whole or those that live in incredibly poor conditions. Most of the Houses in which you spent any decent bit of time looking at have been in ruin for centuries, the surviving ones at least. As for House Gaunt, it's no different, last I recall the last surviving member is serving a lifetime sentence in Azkaban. Unfortunately, I don't remember what for but my father had said good riddance, their family always thought themselves superior and at one point from what I've read, they had been." Corene paused her answers and looked in the direction of the Wizarding Chess table that Aster and Reinhard tended to occupy. Sure enough, both boys were seating themselves with Reinhard looking particularly murderous this evening.

"Come to think of it, why didn't you use this spell during our last conversation?" Harry figured based on the annoyance she'd shown that it didn't amuse her as much as it did him.

"Their games can be enjoyed now and again. Shall I continue?"

Harry nodded and like that, Corene continued with her impromptu History lesson. "House Goldhorn keeps its nose out of anything political, similar to Houses Greengrass and Abbott. What little is known about their political stances comes from the current Lord's father - they don't want war and they don't want society to change from the way it is now, my mother suspects it's a lack of caring rather than their being happy with the current system. Houses with the most power on the other hand… that's trickier than it used to be. Do you know anything about politics?"

"Not really." Harry saw no need to lie, Politics weren't his forte and they never would be, regardless of how much time he spent on them down the road.

"Do you know the difference between Pureblood distinctions?"

"A little? I know my family is classified as Ancient and Noble."

Corene tilted her head. "Is that all?" Harry nodded and the girl questioned him. "Did your parents fail to see the importance of teaching you about it or are they as unknowing in politics as you are?"

"Uh… the latter."

"I see. Well, let me start with the basics and do pay close attention, making me repeat myself is an insult to both of us."

"What if I ha-"

"Questions can be asked and answered once I'm finished. Take out your journal if you want notes - I would if I were you."

Harry did as Corene suggested and took out his journal along with the supplies in which to write. When she saw he was prepared, she began.

"In our society, we have ways to show how far back a Pureblood family goes. While many can be called Purebloods due to the rather lax rules, few can be called anything beyond that. For the few who can go beyond that, two titles await them. Should a family be able to prove their purity three centuries back, they're then considered a Noble Pureblood House, Yaxley who you initially met with the rest of us in Diagon Alley is considered a Noble Pureblood family for reference. As for what you said earlier, being an Ancient and Noble House, that's given upon tracing your purity back seven centuries. Only fifteen families can currently do that - one of them being the Gaunts, not that they matter anymore. With your coming back to Wizarding Society, that number won't drop to thirteen upon Gaunt's death in prison. Before you ask why all of this matters, Noble Pureblood families are afforded more political power and amnesties given their heritage, Ancient and Noble Pureblood families have even more privileges. I strongly urge you to read up on them during our next break. We can pause here for questions, Peverell."

Harry blinked a few times, not knowing where to start. Corene had just offloaded such an abundance of information that he'd hardly been able to keep up with her and now that she was finished, he had to take a moment to collect his thoughts before he could form any questions.

"Not speaking means no questions."

"Who are the others besides my own and the Gaunts?" Harry asked the first question that'd crossed his mind and it hadn't been a bad one in his opinion. At the least, it would tell him who Riddle was likely off to collect or attack first in the case of their opposition.

"Houses Abbott, Avery, Black, Carrow, Greengrass, Lestrange, Longbottom, Malfoy, Nott, Potter, Prewett, Rosier and Slughorn."

"Are any of them politically connected or powerful?" Harry knew it was a dumb question, a few of them most definitely were powerful - he knew the Malfoy's had been back in his time for certain!

"All of them are, how could one not be with that important of a lineage?"

Well, that wasn't good then, was it? Riddle already had Avery, Carrow, Lestrange, Malfoy, Nott and Rosier backing her with Slughorn infatuated with her as his star pupil.

"How many other families can compete politically speaking?"

"Other than those fourteen families, maybe another dozen are important enough to sway the Wizengamot or flex influence when it matters. Luckily for you, half of them have Heir's or Heiress's in our House - you were truly very fortunate to be sorted here."

Corene was more correct than she knew; if that many people of importance were in Slytherin than that ruddy hat hadn't been totally wrong in placing him in Slytherin. Harry had to stop a shiver at the admittance.

"Who are those six?"

Carrow looked over her shoulder and then back over to Harry. "Yaxley, who's sitting beside Riddle currently, is the most important of them. Other than him in Slytherin, we have Bulstrode, Flint, Parkinson, Rowle and Travers."

"You said Ancient and Noble Houses are afforded certain amnesties."

"I did."

"If that's the case, why was that Gaunt fellow imprisoned?" Harry didn't know what to expect from her answer but he figured that the amnesties provided couldn't be all that powerful if the man still found himself behind bars.

Corene seemed to think for a few minutes and when she gave her answer, he could see how carefully she was watching him. "While amnesties and immunities protect those in Ancient and Noble Houses from most things, there are some crimes heinous enough that your protection is voided."

She had to tell him more than that, those words weren't even a full answer for Merlin's sake!

"Well?"

"Well what, Harry?" He saw her smile softly when her reply was out.

"Was his crime 'heinous enough' to void his protection?"

"No." Corene's smile grew wider.

"What?"

"You're learning."

Harry took it as the compliment he assumed it was and pushed on. "What did he do and why was he punished more than he should have been?"

"Don't take my words as facts, I only skimmed the Daily Prophet portion on this; He killed muggles and admitted to it almost boastfully when the Ministry came to question him. Normally that's not too bad, after all, what's the difference in a world with a few less muggles? What got him was the past in crime he had mixed with his lack of wealth, enemies made and worst of all for someone in his position - he had no friends, no allies, not a single Wizard or Witch was willing to stick their neck out to save him."

Corene may be too far gone.

Harry hid his emotions and hid them well when the girl spoke about the murder of muggles so jadedly, she acted like they were insects - was this why she joined with Riddle? Regardless of his feelings on the matter, he'd have to push aside those concerning words for the time being. It's not like she was the one that killed them anyhow and he knew hatred could be overcome - she'd been one of the ones he wanted to focus on getting out from under Riddle's influence anyway. He'd just had to expedite that goal now.

"Couldn't we be put away if we have nobody that would care for our absence?"

She scoffed. "No. Even if you had avoided us during your time in Diagon Alley, your family's wealth is well known and you're not a bottom feeder as he'd reportedly been."

"I see… What amnesties and immunities do we have if killing Muggle's wouldn't put us away normally?"

"Too many for me to explain while we sit here. I'll give you a book tomorrow evening that goes into depth."

"Thank you, Corene." Harry meant it, she was already helpful enough with whatever he needed.

"You're welcome, Harry." Her smile was still present on her face while she looked at him, probably expecting more questions - something he had in large quantity for the girl but no longer felt right continuing with. Using her for information as he had been during most of their interactions didn't sit well with him. He wanted to know her as a person, not only as a tutor.

"What do you plan on doing during the Hogsmeade weekend coming up?"

Corene tilted her head again (something he noticed that she and Riddle shared as a quirk) and a questioning look settled on her face.

"Can you repeat the question? I fear I've misheard you, my apologies."

"Do you have any plans for Hogsmeade this coming weekend?" Harry watched as her eyebrows shot up and the confusion slipped away.

"No, not really. Normally Riddle would have Daphne and I join her." Corene didn't have any scorn or sadness at her lack of inclusion, not that those missing emotions stopped Harry from offering an invite.

"You should come with us, Riddle already invited Emilene, Goldhorn and Yaxley."

"Riddle hasn't offered."

Harry shrugged his shoulders in a who cares gesture. "So? I am."

"As appreciate of your invitation as I am, I can't intrude on Riddle's time with you even if that time isn't alone."

"I'll ask h-"

"No!" Corene raised her voice, making both her and Harry's eyes go wide. She collected herself not even a second later and said it again. "No. That's quite alright Harry." Corene then cast a Tempus and began readying herself to stand.

Harry didn't know what he'd done but assumed that her now choosing to leave was due to him and that the Tempus was simply an excuse.

"Wait, could you spare another five minutes?" He wouldn't continue pressing her to join them, he wouldn't bring up Riddle at all.

Corene looked hesitant and bit on her bottom lip.

Harry dared not try her patience and waited in silence while she made her decision.

Maybe fifteen seconds passed and the girl reclined in the seat again, her soft smile making a return to her face.

"What else do you want to know?"

"Anything that you're willing to share about yourself."

Based on the sudden blushing of Corene's cheeks, he'd come across flirtatiously and he hadn't even meant to! That didn't mean he hadn't enjoyed the results, she was as beautiful as Riddle and had a better personality to boot.

"Be more specific." Corene's voice sounded shyer than he'd heard it before, he almost laughed until he realized that the girl was likely to curse him if he did so.

"Well, what's your favourite colour?"

"Green." Her response was instantaneous and he couldn't help but snort.

"Something funny about that, Peverell?"

"Not at all, ma'am."

"Good." Corene's blush was gone from her cheeks, her smile was ever-present.

"Do you have more siblings than one brother?"

"No."

"Do you travel at all?"

Corene's face lit up. "Yes, often, my family has a vacation home in southern France and another in Sicily."

"Wicked. What's your favourite? Speak any French or Italian?"

"France, it's beautiful, maybe one day you can join us. Only the basics of French, not any Italian."

"If that offer is still out in a few years, I'd love to. I've never gotten to leave the United Kingdom as you can probably imagine."

Corene leaned forward after looking over her shoulder and softly grasped his hand. "You may not have gotten to leave the isles but at least you finally were able to leave your home. I'm glad to have met you."

Harry was taken aback by the girl's show of friendship, Corene never seemed like one for touching.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he returned the sentiment. "I'm glad too. I got to meet you, one of my best friends."

"I'll consider you one of mine when you return from the upcoming Hogsmeade trip with a token of your friendship." Corene leaned back in her seat again after flicking him on the nose lightly.

"Yes ma'am."

They both smiled and continued with their small talk, the five minutes Corene agreed to going out the window as time dragged on while their friendship grew. By the time either finally noticed how late it'd gotten, they were the last ones in the common room other than Riddle and Daphne - both of whom were looking over at the pair.

"I hope I didn't get you in trouble Corene."

"Not at all, Harry." She didn't look as confident as she sounded and rather than respond to her, he stood up from his seat. Corene couldn't stop him when she'd noticed him making his way over to Daphne and Riddle, all she could do was follow him and hope he did nothing stupid on her behalf.

"Riddle, Daphne." He greeted both girls.

" Harry. " Riddle returned for the both of them, her tongue slipping out to brush her bottom lip after saying his name.

"I wanted to apologize for taking up Corene's time, I expect you were waiting for her but I couldn't find it within myself to let go of such good company." He carefully picked his way through that sentence and when finished, he saw Riddle's eyes briefly flicker behind him, they were back on him after a split-second.

"No apologies necessary Harry. I'm glad you find the company I keep enjoyable - Corene and Daphne here are my two closest friends, I'm more than willing to share them with you."

Harry saw Daphne snicker and shake her head, he was confused as to why until he realized what Riddle had said. Surely she didn't mean…? His teenage mind ran wild with inappropriate thoughts until Riddle's voice spoke again.

"Well, I suppose you'll be off to bed now, I'll see you tomorrow for our lessons." Harry nodded and walked away from the girls in the direction of the boys' dorm entrance, he was thankful that Riddle had taken pity on him.

He wasn't thankful that he'd have to put up with her teasing in tomorrow's lessons.