The right path

Twenty

That strained silence stretched for over a minute, Tom's mind rushing like a headless chicken. His thoughts were flashing so quick he couldn't even distinguish most of them, but there were three ideas that stuck like glue.

One, Potter had called him Tom. Two, that same boy had contradicted what he had said. And three, that exact same boy was also a parselmouth.

Riddle didn't know how to reply. He felt betrayed, the only person he was in his way to tolerate truly was keeping secrets from him. And it was definitely not a tiny little secret. Then again, he had his secrets too, and he hadn't asked Potter if he was a parseltongue, he just assumed he wasn't. The boy had never lied to him. But still, it was bothering him that Harry wasn't using his ability to climb up the hierarchy ladder just as he had done. Why?

"Potter, explain."

Harry was standing there amused, yet worried. Stupid Gryffindor recklessness, he thought he was well past that. Apparently not. He had always been reckless when he found a situation he didn't approve of. And definitely, hear someone calling you his property was one of those situations.

Still, it was weird that he wasn't panicking, given that he had revealed the secret he had  bowed not to tell, not even ten minutes ago. Instead, had been making up the better explanation before Tom had asked him.

"There's not much to explain, I am a parselmouth, end of story. Although I wasn't aware that I was one until I was ten years old. That's it."

Tom felt somehow proud of himself. He had known he could talk to snakes ever since he was a toddler, making him the winner in this regard. Still, there was another thing that was bothering him. Was Potter related to him? As in family? He didn't know why, but that idea made him anxious and kind of angry, disappointed even. Wasn't that strange? He should be elated to have such a powerful wizard as his family.

"Are we related?"

Harry didn't know if he listened right, but he could swear that he heard a hint of disappointment in Tom's voice when he said that. Did he hate him that much? That he would feel disappointed in having him as a family? He sighed, rubbing his green eyes as he did so.

"We must be, at some point. All of the British families are related, in their stupid quest for purity. But I don't think we are so closely related, maybe ten generations ago? If we wanted to know for sure we would need to do a genealogy potion, which is, by the way, pretty expensive and just as much difficult to brew. And I'm confident we would manage nonetheless."

"Sure we would. Maybe after we finish with the anti-trace project we shall do that. Or the map, whichever we need the most by then. And Potter, don't ever contradict me."

"Hmmm, I think I will do it whenever I feel like it, unless there are other people in there, I wouldn't want to tarnish your reputation, oh mighty one."  Harry rolled his eyes as he said so. Truly, the lack of sleep was getting to him, making him act childish and rash. And he couldn't care less by now. "But do admit that you enjoy the debates that come out of some situations of the sort." 

Tom grunted, irritated, but not furious as he would be if someone else was telling him that. Potter was making him soft.

"Fine. Whatever lets you sleep at night."

The newborn basilisk was just staring, both boys acted like she wasn't even there, just glaring at each other. Those humans were strange, they spoke to each other like mere acquaintances, yet bantered like a married couple. Were they even aware? She could even feel the attraction between those two, like a magnetic pull, but they were so dense to notice it.

"Master, now that I've successfully proven that human caster is a speaker, can I now get my soft blankets and warmth? I am a majestic creature! Take care of me!"

Both boys snapped out of their glaring contest, suddenly remembering why they started to argue in the first place.

"Yes, we are going to the Room of Requirement to work. And being the benevolent master that I am, I will get you blankets and a fire for you to stay close to. Although don't expect any attention from us, as I said, we will be working."

Harry just rolled his eyes. Of course they were going to work, who cares that he had exhausted most of his core and hadn't gotten any sleep? It was his fault after all, if he had stayed in bed he wouldn't be complaining. But here he was, walking towards the Room of Requirement, fully aware that he was going to be in a foul mood by dinner.

Suddenly, he felt the familiar wave of fresh privacy charms being casted.

"Potter, are you aware that you could climb the hierarchy by revealing this secret?"

"Of course I knew that, I just couldn't care less. If people are going to respect me, they will do it because of what I worked for, not something I obtained by chance."

Harry was kind of shocked by the question. Why would Tom care about telling him that, wasn't he some sort of competition for him? Why would Tom tell him something that would even the ground?

"Still, now that I know of it, I will simply use it to talk to you if I feel like it. You are powerful enough to be respected as such, you just don't want to broadcast it. And no, I'm not doing it for you, I'm only staying do to maintain my reputation, I cannot be seen with someone considered average."

"Sure...whatever lets you sleep at night."

And now it was Tom's turn to roll his eyes. Potter was using his same retorts against him. He didn't know if he should be mad, or amused by the fact.

"You should not push your luck Potter, I might just hex you."

"You could certainly try."

Right then, they arrived to the corridor they were looking for, and Harry started pacing in front of the well known segment of wall. When the door materialised, they both entered and collapsed in one of the couches, the small basilisk slithering to the ground and going to the small place next to the fireplace, where, indeed, some blankets were piled.

"You know Riddle, now that you know of my secret, I may as well tell you that I'm intending to learn parselmagic. I also know that you already know the basics, so, after I get started, we might as well have another spar, just this time we will not be holding back that part."

After some time, a hum was heard.

"I don't see why not, it's been a while since I last practiced."

Then, both boys migrated to the table, where they discussed for hours, trying to figure out the anti-trace pendant they were designing. The fact that Tom had claimed Harry belonged to him forgotten, at least for now. The fact that Harry had called Tom by his first name also forgotten. And the uneasy feeling of them being family pushed aside, because it was impossible in their minds, still not knowing exactly why. Could these boys be more oblivious?