A Change of Heart

Chapter Twenty Two

The dog took on human form in a deserted alleyway. Black had his wand out, Tom noticed.

"Why are you following me?" he asked; his voice tight with anger and suspicion.

"You claim to care for Harry," replied Tom. "If you do, stop doing stupid things and stay somewhere safe. I don't think he's going to be too happy if your recklessness causes you to get into trouble."

"Says the man who murdered his parents," sneered Black.

"I cannot change what happened," remarked Tom. "But what you do now is on you, Black. If Harry loses you, it's going to destroy him."

Black stared at Tom. "You really care for him, don't you?"

"I do, but the question is, do you?"

"What kind of question is that?" bristled Black.

"You are no longer in school, Black and you are facing more than a detention if you get caught. Stop taking stupid risks and learn some responsibility, for Harry's sake."

Black lunged at him, snarling, wand forgotten. Tom stopped him with a mere flick of his wand, freezing him in the air. "You can be angry or you can be sensible. It is your choice. I couldn't care less about whether you live or die or rot in prison, except for how it might affect Harry. He happens to love you. You are the nearest thing to a father he has. But if you care more for seeking thrills than about your godson, that is on your head."

He released Black who crumpled to the ground. "Then why don't you turn Wormtail into the authorities and clear my name?" gasped Black, pushing himself up painfully.

"Wormtail happened to be of great assistance to me at a time when I needed him," said Tom coldly. "Whatever his reasons, he helped me. And I'm not about to reward it by betraying him. I might soon run out of followers, were I to do such things."

"Really? Fear of you not enough to keep them?"

Tom shrugged. "Don't change the topic. Your priority should be to stay out of prison!"

"Where I am right now, is no different to prison," Black grated out.

"I hardly think your parents' house is as bad as an Azkaban cell," replied Tom.

"You lived in an orphanage once, didn't you?" Black asked.

Tom's lips compressed in anger, but he nodded.

"Just imagine how it would feel if you were forced to be in that place now, day in day out! I am not doing this for thrills, Riddle! You have no idea how it is for me!"

"I spent twelve years without a body, Black," said Tom. "So, forgive me if I don't feel any sympathy for your plight."

"And I spent twelve years in Azkaban, having the Dementors suck out every good thing in my life! It was as good as being without a body considering I spent the major part of it as a dog!"

"I have no interest in your whining, Black. Harry is my only concern. But if you are determined to drown in self-pity and neglect him, so be it. I have other things to do."

He turned around and disapparated back to Malfoy Manor, leaving Black alone, in the alley.