Chapter 11: Unexpected Turn

September 25th, 1943

Saturday Morning

"You're early."

Harry was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes when her voice greeted him upon his entrance into the Slytherin common room.

"I am."

His eyes were momentarily blurry, similar to when he'd tried to see without his glasses, back when he'd still worn them, but not quite so bad; well enough to see Riddle's smirk at least.

"That means we have some time to ourselves then."

He'd not meant to come down early to spend time with Riddle, that was truthfully one of the last things on his mind. What he wanted to do was speak with Walburga or possibly one of those who served her, such as Mulciber. Ever since the girl had beckoned him to speak with her he'd been curious but other matters had been more pressing.

"I was actually thinking about heading back up, maybe catch a bit more rest." Harry took a small step backwards.

Riddle took three forward. "I would rather we speak."

"Imagine we'll be doing a lot of that today." He took another step backwards and angled his body as if he were going to turn around if another moment passed.

"Good morning Abraxas." Riddle greeted while looking past him, causing him to turn fully around to look at the boy in reflex.

Abraxas wasn't behind him was the first thing that registered, second was his feet no longer being on the ground.

"Rid-" Harry could only get out the first syllable of her name as he was shot towards the chair she'd had him sit in whenever they were speaking with one another in the common room. He didn't know the spell she'd used to do so, but thankfully, she'd done it with finesse enough that the chair's impact was little more than a slap on his skin.

"Thanks for taking a seat Harry, I do so appreciate your willingness to spend your morning with me." Her voice was teasing and smug, her appearance matching that when he looked at the girl approaching.

'"If I weren't so tire-" Harry tried to warn only for Riddle to wave her hand.

"Always be on your guard, Harry. You should know by now that I expect better from you."

He sighed and rubbed the remaining stubborn pieces of sleep from his eyes - it was far too early in the morning to be dealing with Riddle. Next time he wouldn't make the mistake of coming down early.

"Get on with it then, what did you want to discuss?"

Riddle cocked her head at him, finally taking the seat beside his, though not before moving it until their chairs were connected. "I don't believe I told you I wanted to discuss anything, I simply wish to spend the early morning before our day out in your company."

"Great." Sarcasm dripped from his voice, a thought popping up a moment after. "Maybe we could see if Sarah is up too, I'm sure she'd enjoy spending her morning with the both of us."

For the most fleeting of moments in his observation of Riddle, he saw her hands constrict and her breath at the time of his speaking go uneven; it was hidden so fast Harry half wondered if it were what he'd made it out to be.

"Gol- Sarah, excuse me, is probably still enjoying the warm embrace of sleep, as you should be." Riddle's voice was fine, betraying nothing.

"Are you sure? One of her sisters or friends could wake her for us, it'd only be twenty minutes earlier than most." He knew it was far from smart to taunt the girl beside him, but sleep still had a minor hold on his brain and he'd wanted to know if Riddle's feelings were real or a figment of ambition. Based on the firmness of her response and the slightest of agitation in her affirmation, Harry feared that the future dark lady just may have the most minor of crushes on him. He wasn't sure if that was worse or better than being the centre of her ambitions.

"I'm very sure, Harry, so sure in fact that I'd told her to meet us twenty-five minutes from now." Riddle then stood up from her chair and sat on the arm of his, using one of her hands to steady herself by grabbing a hold of his shoulder. Her touch was cool enough to feel through his clothing and the gentle caress from her pointer finger added to the tenseness he'd felt upon her new choice of seating.

"What are you doing?" His voice must have shown the sudden discomfort he felt based on the wide smile the girl fixed him with.

"Sitting closer to my Hogsmeade date." Her voice wasn't teasing, far from it.

"What if somebody comes down? Are you sure you want others to see us acting this… close, with one another?"

Riddle cocked her head at him for the second time in the morning. "Acting? That's something performers do, Harry," she leaned downwards to whisper into his ear, the moisture from her breath causing goosebumps to flourish across his neck, "Does this show the concern I have with others seeing us in this way?"

He didn't know how to respond to the girl and thankfully, he didn't have to. All too suddenly footfalls sounded from the girl's dorms and Harry jolted from the seat as if scalded; that was the first time he believed he heard a true laugh from Riddle.

Not even a full second later the figure emerged.

"Good morning, Heir Peverell." Emilene Nott, the other Slytherin girl joining them for the trip greeted him with a curtsey. She was wearing a conservative dark green dress with black stockings and a black ribbon sitting prettily in her hair. Harry enjoyed the looks of the girl and slid into something he'd seen a fair few times now.

"Good morning, Scion Nott." Harry took hold of and kissed the girls outstretched hand after bowing to her.

"You're earlier than expected, Emilene." Riddle's voice sounded from behind, giving away nothing as to how she felt about that.

"I, yes, sorry Riddle." Emilene's nervousness was evidence enough that Riddle's tone had been deceptive.

Harry stayed in front of Emilene as he waved away the girl's concern both verbally and physically, "It's fine, Riddle and I were finishing up our conversation anyhow. Say, do you have any places that you wanted to go to today? I know La Fudgerie seems to be on everybody's list."

Riddle should know better than to treat those who answered to her so lowly and he'd show both of the girls that. With any luck, if he continued treating her followers better than her and did almost as good as she'd done in the subjects of importance, he could take them from her. They'd just need a bit of encouragement that he was a suitable alternative to the tall dark-haired dangerous beauty known as Elaine Riddle.

Emilene looked over his shoulder searchingly and when her eyes darted back to him, he figured Riddle had given her the go-ahead. "La Fudgerie is assuredly on our list of stops today. Most places in Hogsmeade are, considering you've never gone."

Harry stepped closer to the girl and whispered conspiratorially, "Know any places to grab gifts?"

Her cheeks turned red as she once again glanced over his shoulder and back to him. "I, uh, is it for Riddle? Sh-she doesn't like surprises very much."

For once he wasn't the one uncomfortable in the proximity with a member of the opposite sex. "Yes, it's for," Harry stopped and looked over his shoulder, seeing Riddle sitting lazily in his chair while watching them. Unlike how he'd been when mentioning Sarah, she appeared relaxed and even a bit amused if the lazy wiggle of her fingers was anything to go by. "Riddle. Don't worry about surprises either, I have a feeling I know just what she'd like."

Emilene swallowed and this time didn't glance at Riddle. "There's a small place to buy jewellery, not huge mind you, considering where we are. Other than that there's a small clothing shop and… a sweets store, Honeydukes it's called. Please don't grab her anything from Honeydukes."

Harry chuckled and finally stepped back from the girl. "I won't, thank you."

With their conversation finished, Emilene made her way over to Riddle and began speaking in hushed tones with the much taller girl. Harry wouldn't be surprised if she were recounting everything he'd whispered with her about only a few seconds earlier. Either way, he was content to wait for Yaxley to come down in silence while the girls gossiped behind him.

Finally, after another ten minutes, more footfalls sounded and this time from the boy's dorms. All three current occupants of the common room looked over to where the noise was coming from and saw Aster, Reinhard and Yaxley exit.

"Good morning Pev." Aster greeted.

"Pev," Reinhard grunted, in no mood for the morning.

Yaxley waited to do his greeting until he stood closer to Harry, the other two boys after greeting him had already exited the common room.

"Good morning, Heir Peverell, thank you for the inclusion on this trip." The boy's bow was farther down than Harry thought he could go without falling over - that was saying something too considering the balance and athleticism he had.

"Good morning to you too, Heir Yaxley. Not a problem too, it'll be nice to finally know you even half as well as I know Aster and Reinhard, troublemakers as they are." Harry hoped to lighten the mood after returning the customary bow, "Please, call me Harry. Now, do you know any place in Hogsmeade that we could buy something… mischievous?"

Yaxley's smile was friendly. "Thank you, Harry, you may call me Cliff. As for a place in which we can acquire goods that are fun for us and not so much for those we use them on, I know just the spot. Assuming our company doesn't mind going with us," Yaxley said before looking at Riddle like Emilene seemed to, the boy likely receiving the same go-ahead when he turned his attention back to Harry with a sheepish look, "Zonko's."

"Gre-"

"Now that we're all finally here, let's make our way to the Great Hall where I'm sure the final member of our small party is waiting." Riddle had cut him off and stood up, already making her way towards the exit of the common room as she spoke.

Harry sighed, he could already tell who'd be calling the shots for the entirety of the day - she better hold up to her end of the bargain or he'd never do this again with her.

"Good morning Elaine, Harry!" Sarah's cheerful and not at all tired sounding voice greeted as soon as they entered into the Great Hall.

When Harry asked why Riddle had chosen the Great Hall rather than the courtyard or anywhere else, the girl had shrugged and said this is where Sarah had wanted to meet up. He couldn't help but think it was a smart move that was encouraged by the many tales Potter and Weasley had told her - thinking of them, Harry still needed to get close with the pair. Maybe he'd run into them at Hogsmeade too.

"Good morning Sarah," Harry replied warmly with a smile on his face.

"Yes, good morning Sarah, I take it you're ready to depart?" Riddle's voice sounded tense to his ears, a quick look at the two other Slytherin's and Harry knew he wasn't the only one that thought as much.

"Yup! Thanks again for inviting me Elaine, I'm so excited to get to know you and your friends better!" Sarah emphasized her thanks by bolting forward and wrapping Riddle in a hug, the taller girl appearing very taken aback, awkwardly returning it for all of a second before trying to pry the girl off her.

"As I've told you before, think nothing of it." Riddle carefully moved behind Harry, which happened to be the farthest possible spot from Sarah, "We'll be taking a carriage to Hogsmeade rather than walking, I'd rather not dirty or exert myself if there's no need."

Riddle didn't wait for anyone to respond to her and after hooking her arm through Harry's, began leading the group of five off in the direction of the Hogsmeade Carriages. When they arrived they saw a few other students milling about, likely waiting for the carriages to arrive rather than take the walk down to the village. Unsurprisingly, Aster and Reinhard were arguing while waiting; surprisingly, Marcus Potter, Veronica Weasley and much of that group were also waiting for a carriage.

Harry mistakenly forgot who he was in the presence of as he took a step towards Potter only to be yanked back by the arm still wound around him.

"You have time to speak with Potter and his ilk when you're not with me," Riddle had leaned in when saying that, avoiding offending Sarah if he had to hedge a guess. Rather than pull back, Riddle leaned forward and as she did in the dungeons, surprised him with a kiss.

This time, it was on the cheek rather than his forehead, not that the placement mattered, as it was still shocking for him. Try as he might to recoil from the contact, memories of Voldemort in the graveyard flashing in his mind, her grip was like steel as it kept him from retreating.

"I knew you two were a thing!" Sarah said loudly, a few steps away from Riddle and Harry.

His eyes must have been incredibly wide when he turned to look at Sarah as he clocked expressions of amusement on both her face and Emilenes - Yaxley looked decidedly different, nervousness and discomfort were visible in his expression.

Seeing his failure to respond, Riddle took the initiative, "Oh I wouldn't say that, not yet at least. I was simply rewarding Harry for being the gentleman he's shown himself to be."

Riddle had to enjoy shutting him up with words or actions, as he'd been about to speak once Sarah's words stagnated only for Riddle to once again imply she wanted more than the 'friendship' they had. First, she didn't want romance, then she said that she did, now the girl was showing impatience - how undecided could she be?

Sarah laughed at his expression and spoke to the pair of them. "You better make a move soon if you want him, I know quite a few girls who're interested in our good friend Harry!"

"Really now?" Riddle let his arm go, hooked it around Emilene and dragging the girl with her until she was beside Sarah - whatever earlier discomfort from the sudden contact the Hufflepuff had initiated gone. "Do tell me exactly who's interested in Harry."

"I couldn't possibly do that! Not until you're together at least." Sarah laughed, switching to raising her hands in surrender at the mock glare Riddle sent her.

"We're all girls here, I'm sure we could discuss it when Cliff and Harry go off to do whatever it is that boys do." Emilene tried, earning herself a subtle nod from Riddle, something Harry was very much watching out for. He'd learned enough by now with his being in Slytherin that no matter how minute an interaction could be, Riddle's followers would always look for approval whenever they acted.

"I don't know, I wouldn't want to betr-" Sarah couldn't finish when Riddle cut her off.

"Fret not, it can wait for another time." Riddle then looked back at Harry, or more aptly, past him. "Finally, our ride has arrived. We'll be taking the foremost one."

Riddle strutted past Potter and those in his group as they'd begun slinking towards the same carriage. When one of the boys he didn't know made a noise of disapproval, Potter shook his head in the negative and gave a wink at Harry when he passed by. Harry returned the conspiratorial gesture and mouthed the words 'Thanks mate' to the Potter of this time.

Both boys didn't want a conflict on a Hogsmeade weekend.

Their ride to the village had been casual and mostly in silence. Riddle had taken advantage of the closeness the carriage provided and 'accidentally' brushed his leg with hers or grasped his hand during a bump. She'd even gone so far in her playing that when the other three had disembarked, she fell backwards on his lap and had taken a few seconds more than needed to properly right herself, wiggling all the while.

Harry wasn't proud of the reaction it caused on his body but based on the lascivious look she sent him, Riddle had achieved exactly what she'd aimed for. She'd even had the gall to laugh when Harry prolonged his getting off the carriage so as to calm down, explaining to the others when asking what was taking him so long that he was having 'a hard time' getting down.

He'd not do anything in retribution today or at all, no, Harry would do his best to show that her actions earned her nothing.

When he'd finally gotten off and moved past her, dodging her arm, he couldn't help but look back to see the flash of annoyance that went across her face. He was half tempted to take hold of Sarah's arm just to be petty but cooler heads prevailed when he thought about the potential ramifications such a move would bring.

"Where are we going first?" Sarah asked the group.

"I find myself being peckish, perhaps a bite to eat from that new restaurant?" Riddle looked around after speaking to see if anybody disagreed - it looked as if Emilene might but when the girl spoke it was to clarify the name rather than decline.

"The Seventh Fox you mean? I hear it can be a tad… expensive."

Harry had his pouch from Gringotts on him, thinking it would come in handy today in purchasing gifts and hearing Emilene's words, decided the wealth House Peverell had amassed surely wouldn't miss a dozen or so Galleons if he were to pay for the lot of them. "Don't worry about it, I'll treat."

Emilene chewed on her lip and shot a look over to Riddle who was observing him pensively. Yaxley shook his head just enough for Harry to see it while Sarah looked at him like he was crazy.

"Are you sure you wish to do so, Harry? None of us is in particularly poor circumstances." Riddle finished and observed him closely.

He saw no reason to take back his words and it wouldn't be a lie if he told them a few Galleons wouldn't be missed. "I'm sure, think of it as an appreciative gesture towards the goodwill you've shown me if that's what it takes."

Riddle must have seen that he was being fully transparent and dipped her head. "Then allow me to thank you for all of us, Harry," he couldn't contemplate what that meant when she confidently strode forward in front of the other three, once again planting a chaste kiss on his cheek.

No observation could be made on his behalf in examining the group's reaction before Sarah laughed and after looking at the much taller girl that'd just kissed him, dashed forward to plant one of her own on the opposite cheek.

When she'd pulled back giggling to herself, Harry observed the sharpness Riddle's expression took on after Sarah's imitation of her through the fog his teenage brain was currently experiencing. He assumed if he could make it out, the others could as well and at that point in time decided he should probably stay between the two girls for the remainder of the day.

Maybe he should also shelf the idea of using Sarah as a means of annoying Riddle for a week or so too, only long enough for any ill intentions to die down. Hopefully not literally, either.

Corene could do in that span of time.

"Don't expect a kiss from me too, Harry, I'm sure Aster would be fuming if he heard I'd stolen you from him." Yaxley's stoic voice spoke up from behind Emilene, causing all of them, Riddle included, to laugh.

"Good afternoon and welcome to The Seventh Fox, will it just be the five of you?"

Upon the groups entering the restaurant, a middle-aged woman dressed immaculately and standing behind a lectern greeted them.

Harry waited for one of the others to answer before realizing he had been referred to by the group based on the prompting looks they'd all casted him. Something that surprised him initially but that he later understood was done out of respect due to the fact that he was the one paying for their outing.

"Yes ma'am."

The woman smiled at his manners and after picking up a few vaguely muggle looking menus, told the group to follow her over to the table they'd be taking. He wasn't sure if it was air the group gave off or if the woman was that exceptional at reading personalities, but whatever it was, she'd given the group a seat in the backmost corner of the restaurant. Harry appreciated the privacy afforded to them.

Each table, including the one they were seated at, had two comfortable benches with back support, a wide enough table for maybe four adults aside and a great glass window that looked out into the village. For Hogsmeade, he could imagine how the place would be pricey.

"Ah, they serve a limited portion of French cuisine too." Riddle sounded strangely pleased with that. Harry racked his brain for anything that suggested Voldemort in his time had any dealings with the French and came up empty - maybe this one had another minor difference to his.

Harry picked up the menu and began examining it just as the others all had - his decision came far quicker than them once he'd seen that they offered a meal similar to that served on Christmas. It even came with treacle tart as a side dish!

His quick selection was noticed by Riddle, the girl putting down her menu from her place beside him.

"Already made your choice so soon, Harry?"

"Yes, the roast dinner served with treacle tart." He provided his choice before the girl asked, saving himself from answering that as the next question.

"A bit bland, is it not? You could have gone with something a tad more… exotic ." Riddle swiped her tongue across her lips in emphasis, Harry scooted to the far edge of the bench in response.

"Bland as it may be, it's safe and something I'm familiar with." Harry wasn't sure if he was fully talking about food anymore.

Riddle snaked her way over beside him, brushing his hand as she picked his menu back up and flipped it open to a page titled 'Cuisine Française'.

"Will you not split something with me? Expand your taste buds, as they say." Riddle had extended in such a way that for once, she was the one looking up at him; for a moment it made him feel above the girl, that was until he realized the move had been done purposefully as she gazed up at him from under her thick eyelashes. Her gaze joined with a smile had him enthralled by her natural beauty, at that moment he'd have done a lot for the girl if she'd only asked.

Simply being near her seemed to fill him with an unnatural sense of happiness. Based on the slight widening of her eyes and the way her hand sought out his, she felt it too. Their distance shrank more so than it already had and Harry was unsure if he was moving closer, she had or if it were a combined effort. All he knew for certain was that for once, he didn't see Voldemort in the girl beside him - instead, he saw a beautiful dark-haired and pale girl that he'd not mind getting another kiss from.

Her eyes went incredibly wide when that last thought of his manifested itself and he realized that the girl may very well be using this time to read his mind as she'd done before. Showing great mental resilience, he tore his gaze from the girl followed by his hand.

Harry took a deep, calming breath and looked back at her. "What would you want to share?"

"Perhaps the mini croque monsieur plate?"

He shrugged when she looked over at him for an opinion, which he had none. Only once had he tried French food and it had been two years prior - he hadn't been a fan of it.

Seeing that she'd not stop staring at him until he gave an answer, he nodded his head. That would be all she'd get from him in a way of response, at least on the topic of food.

"Were you doing it again?"

She cocked her head at him as her face took on a questioning expression. "By 'it' I imagine you mean looking into your thoughts?"

"So you did do it again." He knew he'd caught her.

"Not that you had any sure way of knowing that, I may have accidentally read your frontmost thoughts." Riddle raised her palms towards him but not her arms, not wanting the other three at the table to think a confrontation would be ensuing, "It's hard not to when they're all but flashed to me, honestly, you can't place the blame solely on me."

Harry looked at her as if she'd grown another head. Of course he could blame her, she was the one using magic on him!

"You should learn Occlumency better than those minor shields you've showcased if you don't want me looking in." Riddle wouldn't apologize it would seem, she was happier placing the blame evenly on the both of them rather than own up to her mistakes.

"It's not as easy as you make it sound." If she thought his shields weren't great after all the time he'd spent with Snape, then they'd never get to a decent enough level to stop her.

"It can be with the right instructor, perhaps I co-"

Harry cut her off right then with a resounding "No."

"What's the matter, Harry? " She leaned closer to him, "Do you not trust me after all the time we've spent together?"

He was quick to think of a response after removing his gaze from Riddle - the sight of the girl proving too distracting. He faltered in speaking said response when he noticed Sarah half turned towards them; she seemed to be eavesdropping on their conversation, not that anything being said was overly important, more so embarrassing. Riddle too seemed to notice it if her devious look was anything to go by.

If only he'd opened his mouth before her - he would've too, if he knew what she'd chosen to say while they were being listened to.

"You still don't trust me after our alone time in that classroom?" Harry snapped his attention fully to her and began fervently shaking his head, all but begging Riddle to stop. She didn't, her tone took on an air of shyness as she looked away from before speaking again. "I thought I'd shown you something new and unique, but I suppose you were just using me at that specific moment."

His eyes went incredibly wide when she'd finished and darted back over to Sarah, for the brief second he saw the girl's face, it had gone completely red. She'd tried to mask it by taking a drink but it proved too soon when Sarah coughed immediately after. He asked if she was alright to which she squeaked out 'yes!' as an answer. Any further conversation he'd want to have with her was cut off when the girl turned her body away from him and Riddle both, not allowing them to speak with her as she dove into Emilene's and Yaxley's interactions.

With his only options being to sit in silence or turn back to speak with Riddle, he begrudgingly chose the latter.

"Great going."

A perfectly kept eyebrow being raised and her trademarked smile was sent his way. "Whatever do you mean? I was simply exclaiming you'd used me for your own personal gain, something of which I must express surprise considering your personality."

He didn't buy that for one moment. "You knew she was listening and made it sound like… like we did… things."

"Did we not do 'things' as you so eloquently put it?" Riddle seemed amused at how flustered he'd gotten as she leaned against the table while gazing at his face.

"You're infuriating, you know what I mean and just want to make me say it for your pleasure," Harry swung himself around until he perfectly mimicked her calm pose, "Maybe Walburga and her group would be a better fit for me, I hear House Black is a powerful ally to have."

While it could be obvious that he was bluffing considering he'd not spoken with the girl since his initial meeting of her at the Malfoy's Manor, Riddle still took his words seriously. Her expression hardened and all traces of enjoyment were gone. Finally, he was seeing the true Riddle instead of the carefully manufactured one she'd act like while in his presence. "You've not spoken with her once since you arrived at Hogwarts, nor have you met with her or any in her circle. I doubt you even know what that foolish trollop wants with you - if you did, you wouldn't be so recklessly trying to speak with her."

He was on dangerous ground now and he couldn't afford to show weakness. "You're right, I don't know what she wants with me," Riddle smiled, satisfied and likely thinking she'd won until he spoke again, "Though neither do I know what you want with me. You've gone from being serious to teasing in the near month I've known you."

She opened her mouth to respond but stopped, her eyes flickering over Harry's left shoulder. Before he could turn around he heard the approaching steps followed by a woman's voice.

"Hello dearies, what could I get for you all?"

Harry turned in his seat so he could see the middle-aged woman and motioned for Riddle to speak first, which she did, requesting a Lobster Bisque and their shared mini croque monsieur plate. Emilene went next, followed by Sarah, Cliff and then finally he placed his order. Once all of it was written down and she told them she'd be back with their food in twenty minutes, the woman set off.

Rather than fall back into two separate conversations as they'd been in, Sarah clapped her hands together and looked between everybody, speaking only once all four pairs of eyes were on her.

"Why don't we all say a little bit about ourselves while we wait for the food to come?"

Emilene and Yaxley did the usual look towards Riddle, the girl herself looking like she'd entertain the spontaneous suggestion.

"What would everyone share?" Riddle questioned.

"Your favourite hobby and what you want to do once you're out of Hogwarts!" Was Sarah's quick response.

"I see… Harry, will you be going first?" She'd pivoted and put the attention fully on him.

"Please! I've never asked you either of these questions!" Sarah begged, giving puppy dog eyes towards him when she saw doubt flicker in his expression.

He sighed and looked around the table, seeing everyone was interested as to what his answers would be. "Fine."

Sarah made an exclamation of happiness while the others stayed in eager silence.

"My hobby is flying, not that you've seen me do it since I've been at Hogwarts. As for what I wish to do once I graduate, working as an Auror is something that's interested me." He saw the flicker of surprise across Emilene's face, Riddle for her part showed nothing on how she felt about it.

"Why Auror? Surely you know the dangers such a job entails and far be it from me to speak on your family's wealth, but with how quickly you offered to pay for this meal, you can't be needing the pay as dreadful as it is." Yaxley asked while Sarah nodded in agreement.

"You're right, it's not about the pay regardless of how high or low it is; it's about doing something I'm good at and something that improves wizarding society." Harry couldn't add that he'd been fighting dark wizards and witches since his introduction to the wizarding world.

"How positively light of you to do." Riddle snarked, causing Emilene to giggle and Yaxley to mask a laugh with a cough.

Sarah didn't look amused as the others had, her expression showed happiness. "If you end up pursuing that profession, I know you'll do great Harry."

"Thank you, Sarah." He smiled at the girl which seemed to sober up Riddle.

"Emilene, go. Cliff, you're next."

Emilene's hobby had been hunting with her father, something that surprised Harry and Sarah both but not Riddle or Yaxley, the latter two likely already being privy to that information. As for what she wanted to do, her answer was 'nothing', she wanted to do whatever pleased her whenever the idea struck rather than find a job. Merlin knows her family was well enough off to do that.

Cliff, on the other hand, his hobby was everything quidditch. He knew the name of every player, along with their position, status and even their merits. Frankly speaking, Yaxley could tell you whatever you wanted to know about the game and its professional players. It came as no surprise that the boy wished to play quidditch professionally, though he knew that he'd be tied down with the Wizengamot.

"Alright Elaine, it's your turn!" Sarah spoke up once Cliff had finished.

"I don't believe I have a hobby, at least not one you all don't know." Harry figured she meant studying - it was unlikely she meant plotting to take over all of Magical Britain, "What do I want to do once I finish Hogwarts… ah, yes, work in the Ministry of Magic. Perhaps in a decades time, I could be the Minister."

Harry suppressed a snort. Who was she kidding that she'd wait patiently and work her way up?

A sudden clanging of metal on metal caused him to look towards the sound; their food was on the way out of the kitchen atop a tray and the enchantment levitating it towards their table had caused it to hit a door when the waitress had opened it, almost spilling all their food. Luckily, everything was fine and in short order, they all had their meals in front of them.

Lunch and the discussion before it ended abruptly, the food being of such high-quality nobody seemed interested enough in conversing.

He did have to give it to Riddle, she'd picked the best bloody restaurant he'd eaten at.

After they'd enjoyed their Lunch, the group had worked their way around a few different shops, Zonko's and the Jewelry shop included. In the latter of the last two, he'd ordered a few custom pieces for Corene, Sarah and - because he had no choice, or at least that's what he told himself when he had been in the shop - Riddle. Other than his jewellery expedition and Zonko's adventure, nothing extraordinary happened nor did anything important come up. Instead, the group had been exactly what they were - teenagers enjoying time away from education.

"Only one stop left," Yaxley told Harry from his place beside him.

"La Fudgerie?" Harry made an educated guess, that store being the only one they'd not yet gone to, at least from what he knew.

"La Fudgerie," Cliff confirmed.

"I hear Harry's made a promise to our dearest Corene that he'd be picking up a few things for her," Riddle's voice spoke up from behind the two boys, the girl walking between Emilene and Sarah after having sent them ahead for 'girl talk'.

Of all the things to tell Riddle, why would that be one of them? Oh well, Corene had earned the chocolates.

"Yes, Corene's helped me many times over, I figured I'd show my appreciation." Maybe there was a small portion of him that liked seeing the smile on the Carrow girl's face too, not that Riddle knew that… he hoped.

"Aw, that's sweet of you Harry. I'm sure she'll appreciate it!" Sarah piped up while Emilene nodded in agreement.

"I hope you asked her for what she likes, Corene is the epitome of a picky eater." Harry turned to Riddle after hearing the girl say that.

"Truffles. Corene made it clear to me that her preferences from the shop are truffles." He knew he was right and so didn't bother with taking in Riddle's facial expressions after having said it.

"Yes, truffles, but will that be all you're getting her? Surely she has a taste for other items offered." Harry's spent more than enough time around Riddle by now to know the girl was very clearly alluding to something. Question was, did he bite?

"Oh, I think I recall her liki-" Sarah, ever the always informative girl when it came to others, was quick to offer up what she'd heard. Riddle wouldn't allow that however and interrupted the girl.

"Do tell, Sarah, what is your hobby and ideal job? I only ask as you'd not been given the chance to share with us during lunch and admit it's gotten me quite curious."

Sarah looked suitably distracted, much to Harry's annoyance and Riddle's pleasure, the girl looking thoughtful for a few seconds before replying, "Well, it's no secret that I love knowing anything there is to know about anybody. You all know that! Even yesterday I remember Ri-"

A very deliberate cough from the girl in question cut her off, it was joined with a firm shake of the head.

For her part, Sarah looked embarrassed and continued, "Where was I… yes - my hobby! I'm a gossiper that doesn't deal in rumours! Ideally with that as my hobby, working for the Daily Prophet wouldn't be horrible, but I'd much rather do a mixture of what my parents do! I know two of my younger sisters feel the same too! We could continue the family business and do something we love."

"Enlightening," Riddle remarked upon Sarah's closing words, a touch of annoyance in her voice due to having been ratted on.

Sarah picked up on it and offered an apologetic smile while Harry chuckled lowly, trying to avoid becoming the centre of attention as so often seemed to happen. Yaxley heard it however and nudged him in the side to get his attention before signalling with his eyes behind them. Harry hid his look backwards in a cough, seeing that the girls had gotten closer to them. While Harry doubted that Riddle would do anything in retribution towards his laughter, he still appreciated the heads up from Yaxley; that was the second time he'd warned him in regards to Riddle.

That struck him soundly enough that he missed a step, tripping for a moment until he righted himself. Behind him he could hear a few giggles, not that he cared, what he cared about was the fact that he'd missed something so obviously in front of him. Yaxley had actively assisted him twice now - maybe Harry was reading into it too much, but that seemed to suggest the boy didn't want to stay in Riddle's circle. Two other groups seemed to exist and while Harry's not had the chance to speak with either of them if Yaxley were staying in the current one, that had to show it may very well be the best of them.

That was a scary thought when one thought of the contents of the group.

"Notice anything boys?" Riddle smugly called out while Harry and Yaxley continued on walking, halting only when they failed to hear the trio of girls footsteps behind them.

Both boys turned in sync and stayed silent, waiting to be let in on why Riddle seemed so smug and the other two seemed to be snickering.

"Well? Have you noticed it now?" Riddle motioned around them, the smugness staying in her tone and manifesting itself on her face.

Harry rolled his eyes at the sense of superiority she was trying to show and looked around, he noticed a few homes, one small shop that seemed to specialize in quills and lastly, some small wooden sign that appeared to have the words… he sighed. He and Yaxley both had failed to notice the miniature sign with the words "La Fudgerie" on them.

"Ah, a look of understanding, very good Harry," Riddle slithered towards him, no other word quite fitting as to how she'd approached him other than that, and slid her arm into his, "I applaud your restraint earlier in not falling for the bait I'd put down in regards to our mutual friend's appetites. As a reward, I'll tell you her other treat of choice with you having to give me nothing."

"I doubt that." Harry reflexively said.

" Harry, Harry, Harry," Riddle said in mock hurt as she dragged him into the shop, the others following, "You wound me, have I not been a generous friend?"

He didn't bother with an answer to that question, "What does Corene like then?"

Riddle pouted at him and after seeing that it'd not work, went back to her smirk. "Maybe I should ask something of you after all, considering you think me not a generous friend, or perhaps not a friend at all."

"You still haven't told me what you'd promised to - the thing that's the reason for this outing together in the first place." Harry saw Riddle roll her eyes.

"I was planning on telling you tonight, after our trip. A girl can never be too careful with her secrets, Harry." Riddle then levelled him with another pout, this time stressing her bottom lip.

Wanting to get whatever this was, over with, he said what she wanted to hear. "Fine, you're a generous friend, what's the other thing Corene likes?"

Riddle smiled at him and walked them over to a corner in the shop where some sort of rolled chocolate log with a cream filling was. "Here you are, her true favourite. Her parents tend to disallow her getting these on account of their unhealthiness, but I've since gotten her to live a bit more… freely."

More like you've gotten her to disregard what her parents say and listen to you instead. Harry thought to himself, or maybe not if the snort the girl gave was any hint. He really needed to find an Occlumency instructor to finish off his shields, Snape had seemed to muck them up something fierce.

"Thanks, Riddle."

" Anything for you, Harry. "

He hated how she accentuated two of those words.

After she'd shown him what Corene liked, he went back to the shopkeeper and bought ten boxes of truffles, three logs, a basket of assorted sweets and something for each of those in his company as a treat for the lot of them. Riddle had seemed hesitant to take another offering from him, but upon his and Sarah's insistence, she allowed it - only on the basis that Harry came with her again sometime so she could repay the kindness.

He blamed it on a moment of weakness that he'd accepted.

When they were all finished up and back at the carriages, Riddle had them seat as they had before rather than changing it as they were going to. In doing that, it meant he'd be seated next to her with nobody else on their side while opposite of them sat Cliff, Emilene and Sarah, in that order. He didn't know for what purpose she'd done it but figured that a purpose did exist, otherwise, why bother requesting that in the first place?

As it turned out, her purpose was far from what he'd expected. It was upon reaching the halfway mark that the girl waved her hand as she'd done before and all sound of conversation from the other three was gone. Harry had thought the spell was something she could only do at a large scale and was surprised when it only seemed to encompass their half of the compartment.

"Harry, you'll listen while I speak and give no outwards show to the others that anything I say has any effect on you more than that of embarrassment from the words they'll presume I'm saying to you. Nod if you understand." Riddle's tone was strict and in her true, deeper voice. That couldn't be a good sign.

He nodded and very slowly reached for his wand; thankfully it was on the side opposite of Riddle.

"My fascination with you harbours no ill will, far from it. I've no idea why you seem to think otherwise and truthfully, I don't care. We can work around your distrust of me by doing what we've done today - I very much enjoyed it, by the way," Riddle sighed contentedly and placed a kiss on his cheek, making him blush while she laughed breathily, "Good, keep that look a little longer," she then jumped back into seriousness, "Walburga's fascination holds nothing beneficial for you, or nearly nothing, depending on how dictated by your hormones you are. She's been working to catch you alone, which is why I or others who spend time with me are always in your presence. I get that you may not believe me, but I ask that you give me a chance to show you that being with me is better than the alternatives."

Harry stayed in silence.

"You can say something now."

"How can you show me?" For all he knew, she was using this made-up plot to keep him close.

"Give me a month, two at the most and I will show you the nefarious intentions she has towards you."

"We've known each other less than a month, why go through all this trouble?" Harry turned to her and saw her looking deep in thought, he added a second later, "Only the truth."

Riddle looked him deep in the eyes and grasped his hand tightly, the girl getting that faraway look of pleasure on her face as she did so. "My interest in you is the foremost reason, I want you to understand that. I can't explain what attracts me to you, perhaps it lies in the baser portion of my brain on a level beyond explanation, perhaps it's something to do with magic itself. Beyond that, tell me, Harry… what do you know of the Deathly Hallows?"

He knew nothing at all about them and said as much to the girl.

For once, she looked briefly shocked before masking her features into indifference and playing with a ring on her left hand - one that he'd seen her play with a fair few times. It made him wonder about the significance of it.

"Perhaps your parents haven't told the tale to you yet… yes, yes that's likely." She thought aloud while seemingly looking past him.

"Go on then, what are the Deathly Hallows?" Harry inquired, Riddle somehow being the best bet to find out information on the family he was masquerading as.

"It's not my place to speak on, write home to your family or if for whatever reason that option isn't viable - get creative."

"Can't you j-"

"No." Her tone was firm and the look given matched it. Rather than let him try again, she waved her hand and the sound of the others' conversation greeted them.

They were talking about Harry and Riddle.

"… kiss him now?" Sarah asked while looking towards Emilene, the girl fervently shaking her head and trying to motion with her eyes towards the couple across from them on the carriage.

"What? Are you okay?" Sarah didn't seem to get what the other girl was doing and took out her wand, saying a spell Harry had no knowledge of though he could surmise it was medical in nature.

"She's fine, Emilene was attempting to let you know that we were no longer speaking in private," Riddle spoke up, amused and with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh… uh, that's quite awkward isn't it?" Sarah said that while blushing and looking anywhere but the two new to the conversation. That caused all in the carriage to laugh to some degree, Riddle included - the girl chuckling while the others laughed fully. Even Sarah, being the girl who'd made the remark laughed.

Unfortunately for her didn't, that remark didn't escape comment by Riddle once the amusement died down, the taller Slytherin girl leaning towards the shorter Hufflepuff.

"Were you wanting me to kiss him again? I didn't take you for a voyeur."

None of the four occupants in the room made a single sound, Harry had even stopped breathing, based on the shade of blue Sarah was turning, she had too.

Riddle leaned back and gave a self-satisfied smile as the carriage once more sprang into laughter.

September 25th, 1943

Saturday Evening

"After you, Riddle," Harry said after stepping aside from the Slytherin common room entrance.

After they'd arrived back at the castle, Cliff and Emilene excused themselves to the library where a few others were waiting for them in a study group - Sarah, loving learning as much as she does, tagged along once they told her they'd not mind.

Riddle waited to see what Harry would end up doing and he'd done the same, wanting to choose the opposite so he could find Aster to speak with the boy after procuring some of the goods from Zonko's.

Abraxas was going to be having a rough next couple of weeks.

She'd seen what he was doing and without words slid her arm into his, telling the others that they'd be headed back to the common room so they could deliver goods to Corene - Riddle had gotten something for the girl from the jewellery store too, an item she'd ordered last year the week prior to Hogwarts ending.

The others had accepted that readily enough and now here he was, standing outside the entrance while Riddle peeked in rather than entering outright.

She had to have seen something she liked when she leaned back out of the room and pulled him aside, telling him, "I see an opportunity, enter in with me and try not to act as if my presence unsettles you as you so often do."

He couldn't offer up a rebuke as with surprising strength, the girl pulled him into the common room at the same time she burst into a fit of giggles - the very sound emanating from the girl was alien to him.

She'd eventually manoeuvred them so they stood in the centre of the room, other conversations quieting down as they all watched with interest.

Riddle, seeing that all eyes were on them, spoke with an exaggeratedly sweet voice, "Hogsmeade was very enjoyable, Harry, thank you." She followed those words up with a wink before abruptly leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

A strangled noise of frustration and the sound of billowing robes greeted him as a girl stomped into the dorms to his right - it was Walburga.

He'd not noticed that, it had been Aster to later inform him who the girl had been.

Harry had been far too focused on the fact he'd finally had an enjoyable kiss, and it'd been with the girl who could very well be the scourge of Magical Britain later in her life unless he could change that.

He had to change that, for everybody, for himself and even for Riddle. Harry only hoped it wasn't too late for the girl.