The Towers that Eclipes Darkshire

[Tom Marvolo Riddle]

Harry stirred quietly to the soft sounds of Ron’s snores-

Soft snoring? Harry thought with a sudden jolt. Since when did ‘soft’ apply to any of the sounds that could be found in his dorm, let alone Ron? That was not something that happened. Ever.

Opening his eyes Harry looked into the morning gloom beyond his four poster bed and onto Ginny’s, which was notably empty, it was only then that the previous day’s events came back to him. Blushing Harry only just realized the implications of sharing a room with a girl, let alone his best mate’s little sister, but last night neither of them had been in any state to really protest. And well it felt more… normal and not as loud.

The rest of the room was equally unadorned, as were the beds when compared to the castle. Too clean, too new, not quite lived in but they were lavish in a way. One of the doors led to the privy and the showers but by sound alone Harry to could tell that the snores were not coming from there.

A glance at the glow of the bedside clock, and oddly old-fashioned muggle looking one, told him that that it was nearly six in the morning. And for what it was worth the groan of his stomach told him it was time to get up. The feeling that came with it was also equally hard to ignore but more concerning than anything was still the absence of Ginny.

Ron would kill him if Harry lost his best mate’s sister on his second day looking out for her. If ever there was a situation where he needed Dobby trying to save him, that was one he’d happily welcome it. It’d probably be safer.

With a shudder and that thought Harry pushed himself up and flicked his fingers at one the lamps that had been provided for their room, immediately dowsing the room in a glow that surprised him. Not because of the light, that had been the norm since the beginning of his first year, no it was because a door was gone. Not just any door but the one that led out to the rest of the castle.

Awareness leapt into his chest, and he began wildly looking around. It had been right there when it gotten up in the middle of the night to use the toilet…- a sinking feeling hit him as he stared where the door should have been, if he had been in the right bed. A cursory look in the proper direction revealed that he was indeed not in the right bed at all. His assessment under the bedding had him note the body warmth he could feel from the nearness of another’s skin meant matters were far worse it had been when he had first gone to sleep.

The glib grin on the side of Ginny’s sleeping expression told Harry more than he wanted to know. Which left him the problem of trying to extricate himself from the position he was in. The blankets were wrapped around him as tight as her. It was a miracle that they weren’t in physical contact though his hands were dangerously close. With slow movements Harry wormed his way out, though which each twist his balance became more precarious- Ginny rolled onto her back with no warning, taking Harry with her.

Several things happened at once, first was Harry’s sudden yelp was overcome by Ginny’s squeaking or perhaps show of a surprise. Second and perhaps worse he fell on her which cut off both noises they were making but, was instead treated to the look of surprise and the widening brown eyes staring right into his own and the warmth under his fingers.

Frantically muttering, “Sorry!” Harry quickened his escape but only succeeded further entangling them both together rather than making a retreat. It was only when he came to a rather close stop that he heard her giggle. It had an almost maniacal ring to it even as both of her hands were pressed against his chest to give them some distance. Her face was utterly beet red and Harry was certain his own face was brighter, maybe even his entire body as embarrassment over came him.

“H-Harry-“ she snickered out in broken breathes, “stop. Just settle down.”

Guiltily Harry did as she told him, fighting his desire to run from the room and lock himself in a broom closet. Maybe Tom would let him have his own room or- Ginny’s hands fell away from him and the pressure from the blanket loosened. Looking up Harry saw the grin on her face that was blazing still with mirth and mirroring his own embarrassment to a lesser degree.

“Ginny, I didn’t realize,” Harry started but Ginny waved him off.

“It’s o-okay, I should have told you when you woke me up last night.” She said placatingly.

Harry nodded but that didn’t help the feeling that somewhere Ron was glaring at him from beyond this world. He couldn’t help but notice her stutter was almost completely gone. What would Ron think of that, the girl that ‘never shut up’ who hadn’t spoken two words to him before yesterday?

Dual stomach growls punctuated the awkward silence.

“Food?” Harry asked dumbly.

“Food” Ginny replied with an amused confirmation.

~*O*~

More than once I had been tempted to interrupt the process of refining the osmium but as often since I had come here I had to remind myself of the basic precepts of observation. One of which was learning would get me everywhere, also there was a tenant of potion making and alchemy that also had me hold my tongue. The energy that went into changing a thing left an indelible mark on it. Such things could be as useful in adding potential to the final form as well.

There was only so much to be done with my presence here.

It was an odd sensation to say the least, to add little value to a particular situation, but there it was. The most my services were to provide an enhancement to the heat that only my fire spells could produce. But even that had limits when mechanical aspirations yielded longer term quality that I had to admit was impressive. Had I been human, truly human, no doubt I would have seen myself out well before then. Instead I had been impressed by what had unfolded.

Whatever else I could say, the Goron knew the workings of smelting and refining of ores in a way that reminded me strongly of goblins. Only they lacked the very same qualities that inclined me to end their lives in a most violent manner. They were in many ways far more amiable, simple even, yet there was a distinct brilliance behind those coal like eyes that I knew would do me well to be on guard of if I ever sought to make them an enemy.

Any betrayal would have to be swift, immeasurable and absolute which meant observing them.

Much of my time spent in point of fact was mostly observing, to which I was unfortunately growing more and more practiced in the art of until finally I decided my presence was no longer needed. The only thing I learned was the fact that both Nealaphh and the Gorons had patience and diligence that would earn them a stone’s respect provided they didn’t eat it first. For myself, my endurance of monotony was at its limit.

I didn’t wait for any particular signal other than the sound of the bellow groaning to push air into an ever demanding system.

None seemed to mind me even as my wand flickered and siphoned a portion of the run off into empty space. The missing section of molten ore was quickly replaced, though it did earn me a single curious glance from one of the younger ones. No matter.

Having claimed my prize I retreated as word passed through my mind about growing dangers that the lab presented by the Osmium. Which was a curious property that I’d have to explore at a later interval. But for now, it was best not to test my durability in the presence of such toxins. The official potions and alchemy classrooms instead would be better suited to my continued existence.

Passing from the Institute’s Embassy I rounded on the Great Hall, my eyes spying the terrible twosome who I had inadvertently wrought upon Hogwarts. There was an air of awkwardness about them that I could taste even at this distance, but it was less than it had been. I still owed them an explanation to prevent their suspicions of my true nature, but that was going to be a precarious, petrol soaked bridge to cross. One wrong move, one little spark and it would burn, possibly with me on it. I did not want to bring Dumbledore to my door step.

Sending them a gracious nod, I continued on my business to the main stairway corridor and began to make my way to my favorite classroom. I had some work to be done while Nealaphh toiled. And it began with an infusion of wormwood.