the gift of fear (tomarry) (harry x death)

this is all love is

The Slytherins begin to talk. They've always talked about him -- him, that maybe-mudblood-maybe-Pureblood son of a Professor who may or may not be a Dark wizard -- mostly in low, distasteful tones. Tom does not think every Slytherin is evil, or every Purbelood is bigoted, but here is what he does think: it is like with Harry's household. Not every child is a psychopath... but with the way they were raised, it is hard not to be.

Tom and Harry's duel seems to have made an impression. They are still talking about him, but, now, they are talking to him.

"Why didn't you say you were related to Salazar Slytherin?" Avery asks -- more like confronts -- him.

"I'm not," says Tom. He gestures to Myrtle to keep walking on without him, but Myrtle doesn't budge from his side. "What are you talking about, Atticus?"

"I'm talking about the fact that you and your so called guardian can talk to snakes? " says Avery, shortly. "And -- also! -- why claim you were adopted if you're so obviously related?"

"Catch me up to speed here," says Tom to Orion, who, alongside the other members of their posse, stands behinds the usually controlled Avery.

Orion smiles nervously. "Well," he says, drawing out the L. "Salazar Slytherin could speak to snakes. Called it 'Parseltongue.' He's one of the oldest known inheriters of the trait, so everyone sharing it is assumed to be related to him, and most everyone with it is dead, so..."

Tom frowns, glancing at Myrtle, who is staring at him with what must be a mixture of glee and confusion. "I knew the ability was rare," he admits. "But, from my research, I didn't get the impression--"

"Then you obviously didn't research hard enough you fool !" Then, likely thinking better than calling the boy who might as well be Slytherin's Heir a 'fool', he adds, astonished, "Did you really not know?"

"I never knew my parents," admits Tom. "I don't care for my heritage. I care only for my legacy onward. Your lot places too much value in something so inconsequential."

"Maybe to you," says Malfoy, stepping up, still looking like he believes Tom is the scum of the earth. If there is one thing solid about Malfoy, it's that he doesn't sway easy. "But any Heir of Slytherin is a friend of ours. Welcome to the group, Riddle."

"You've all got to stop with the last names, it's freaking me out. And don't you all recall?" Tom's voice takes on a venomous quality. " I was the one that rejected you. Save for Orion; you're cool." Orion grins and sticks two thumbs up.

"What do you see in her?" asks Malfoy, pointing at Myrtle. "A mudblood with no substantial connections? What does she have that we lack?"

"Leave Myrtle out of this," snaps Tom, taking a step in front of Myrtle, who stiffens. "And don't say that word in front of me."

"And that Potter of yours -- why defend him? He's a disgrace to the Slytherin name, what with his pathetic house elves and such."

Tom's wand in his hand and pointing at Malfoy's face before he has a moment to think. Something inside him has been triggered. He can only take so much before he snaps. "Watch your tongue," he snarls. " Lest I take it. "

"See," says Malfoy, "this is what I don't get. You hate us for being Pureblood, and for having our own culture, but indulge yourself in the Dark Arts? I don't quite follow that. "

"I don't hate you cause you're Purebloods," snaps Tom, rolling his eyes. "I hate you cause you're bigoted prats who do things like say 'a Mudblood with not substantial connections,', and prattling on about your so-called culture. Let me be frank: I'm with people because I like them. I am not tied down by your brand of 'connections.' I'm better than that."