To Live is the Rarest Thing

Chapter 24

Throughout the rest of the week it became clear that Harry and Tom's plan to drop deliberate hints about the Great Hogwarts Quest was working. More and more curious whispers could be heard around the Great Hall about something the staff was obviously trying to keep a secret. Harry and Tom shared many knowing smiles during their meals but otherwise pretended to be just as oblivious as all the rest of the adults.

It stood out to Harry that Dumbledore wasn't present for most of their meals. The headmaster showed up for breakfast a few times, but they rarely saw him for lunch or dinner. Harry didn't remember this to be the case during the first week in his original life as Harry Potter.

"He's probably spending all his time looking for poor little lost Harry Potter," Tom whispered to him during dinner on Thursday. "Up until this week the old goat still had high hopes of you turning up for your sorting. But when that didn't happen, he had to admit that he's well and truly lost you. I imagine the Ministry isn't exactly pleased with his conduct either, since he placed you with those muggles in the first place."

"Yeah," Harry said with no small amount of satisfaction. It amused him to no end that Dumbledore was running around like a headless chicken, desperately trying to find Harry Potter. All while Harry was happily teaching Potions at Hogwarts. "I sincerely hope the Ministry gives him hell for losing their precious Boy Who Lived."

Tom toasted him with his cup of tea and went back to his lambchop.

Throughout their many lives they had learned long ago that whenever they started a new life, it was necessary to let go of all aspects of their old lives. They needed to start every life with a clean slate to make their endless cycle of reincarnation work without losing their minds. They couldn't dwell on previous lives or on the loved ones they inevitably lost with each transition to a new life.

And yet, this time around Harry caught himself thinking back to his original life as Harry Potter far more than he probably should. Being back at Hogwarts in a world where Harry Potter should be attending brought back a lot of memories that Harry couldn't hope to ignore. Seeing Ron and Hermione on a daily basis also didn't help, probably.

There were many moments throughout the first week when Harry remembered his original first week. How happy he'd been to be away from the Dursleys. How overwhelmed he'd felt at suddenly being a person everybody recognized. And how delighted he'd been that he finally had a friend all of his own.

Harry also fondly recalled all the times he and Ron got lost trying to navigate the huge magical castle with its ever-changing staircases and its disappearing doors. Yeah, no matter that Harry actively tried to steer his thoughts in different directions, he still spent most of that first week walking around the castle full of warm feelings of nostalgia.

It was therefore, perhaps, that Harry didn't immediately remember a rather pressing matter now that he and Tom were back at Hogwarts. It wasn't until Thursday evening, after they'd retired to their own quarters after dinner that Harry suddenly recalled something they desperately needed to take care of.

Tom sat opposite him at their dining table while they were both grading the first pieces of homework they'd received. Grading was without question the most tedious part of being a teacher, but no matter how boring it was, it still needed to be done.

"The basilisk!" Harry yelled, as he finally remembered the urgent matter they needed to talk about. "Tom, we have to take care of the basilisk!"

Tom blinked large, brown eyes at Harry. "What do you mean, take care of?"

Now it was Harry's turn to stare at his soulmate in disbelief. "You know...take care of...get rid of it...permanently."

Tom inhaled a sharp, offended breath. "Why on earth do you want to get rid of her? She's not bothering anybody at this time."