I'm Oliver You, Tom Riddle

Back to Hogwarts - Shortly thereafter

Sorry for the delay, bros. I got caught up in that coffee shop au and another fanfic I'm working on. But as recompense, I'm introducing like, 6 new characters in this because... like, why not?

Enjoy (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
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It all happened so quickly, the events after that.

A person's heartwrenching sobs filled the hallway with a terrible misery.

Tom couldn't believe his ears. What had happened in his absence to cause a person to create such a tragic noise? He rounded a corner, then another, before finally making it to the stairs that lead down to the dungeon and was horrified at what he found.

The gurneys, in their still silence, and the Heads of House, looking, of all things, stern and unforgiving.

And there, dear Oliver, at the end of the line, tears and sorrow, pain and heartbreak, rolling off him in literal waves of sadness, comforted, if only barely, by Professor Slughorn.

"Oliver!" Tom called, rushing down the hall towards him. "Oliver, what happened?" As he neared the line, he slowed his pace and forwent the Headmaster and Professor Dumbledore entirely, solely focusing on getting to his friend to wipe away his tears and offer him a desperately needed handkerchief.

"Tom, it's awful!" He cried. "We were just messing around! They shouldn't have died!" He sobbed miserably.

Tom neared Oliver, who he noticed, the closer he got, was trembling in possible fear of what was to come. Tom spread his arms just so, a clear invitation to a warm, welcoming embrace.

Oliver took the offer, wound his arms around Tom's neck, and buried his face in his chest, sniffling and choking back more sobs. His trembling eased quickly, now that he had the comfort he truly needed.

Tom closed his arms tightly around his dearest friend. "I've got you now, Oliver."

"Tom, return to your common room. Your dormitory room has been quarantined until our investigation is finished. You may wish to tell your other dorm members to make new, temporary, sleeping arrangements. Your," he paused, "compatriot, may be returning later this evening, if the ministry wishes it." Dumbledore spoke sternly, as if priority #1 was to get corpses to the infirmary for further processing and make a fire-call to several ministry officials, instead of making sure a living, breathing student was alright.

Oliver was no criminal, Dumbledore must see that.

Tom barely held back rolling his eyes. "Are you alright, Oliver?" He whispered, pulling back just enough to see Oliver's sweet face.

"I didn't do anything, Tom. I swear." Oliver whimpered.

"Tom. Return to your dormitory immediately." Dumbledore demanded, much more forcefully than last time.

Tom was on a mission, Dumbledore and his silly request would have to wait just a moment more.

"I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding, Oliver." He pulled back just a tad more to wipe at Oliver's wet cheeks, completely ignoring Dumbledore. "Everything will be alright, you'll see. The ministry will see that you didnt do anything wrong, and you'll return to me tonight. We'll talk, and we'll laugh, and we'll sleep until next week, you'll see." He smiled a small smile at Oliver.

"Tom! This is your final warning. Return to your common room, or face a months worth of detention and your prefect privileges revoked. I will not repeat myself."

Now Tom did roll his eyes, and he added an extra, much heavier than necessary, sigh of exasperation to boot. He pressed his mouth to the top of Olivers head in a not-quite-kiss, before he released him. "You'll be alright, I promise." He whispered, bringing his hand up to caress his cheek, possibly the last time, before leaving.