Death Himself | Tomarry

Chapter 8: Warm Ups

"Oh, hey Tom. Did you need something?", asked Harry, trying not to recoil from the taller boy's touch.

"Your shirt."

What.

"What?"

"You're wearing it the wrong way round", explained Riddle and pinched a bit of fabric on Harry's shoulder between his finger tips.

Harry flushed and looked down to see that he was right.

"Oh.. I guess Ramon didn't perform the spell correctly. Well I suppose it doesn't really matter."

"Nonsense. Here, I'll fix it for you."

Riddle used the same spell Ramon did and and a sparkling sheen overtook Harry's torso.

When it faded he saw that he wearing the shirt properly now.

"Oh thanks, you didn't need to do that."

"Of course I didn't but i always help my friends when they're in need. We are friends aren't we, Harry?"

Not in a million years you noseless freak.

"Oh. Yeah sure."

Riddle smiled in a way that must look handsome to most people and gently put his hand on Harry's upper arm to lead him away from the tree.

"Come on, we should go and warm up a bit until the professor arrives. Do you want to pair up?"

"Pair up?"

"Yes, you see we'll run for quite a while and will delve into the outer layers of the forbidden forest. This normally isn't allowed of course but we have a professors permission after all. To make sure no one gets hurt or lost we always split into groups of two or three."

"Oh I see, that makes sense. Wouldn't you rather pair up with Mal- Melchior though? I saw you two talking earlier."

Tom's eyes twinkled in a way that Harry didn't like at all as he said: "Oh no, Harry. Melchior over there will team up with Jonathan today. And dare I say I believe that you'll make for much better company than him."

"Oh yeah I guess that narcissistic twink isn't much use when we have to run through the forest all day, is he?"

As soon as those words left his mouth he regretted them and went to take them back when Riddle suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

To his surprise the laughter seemed genuine enough and a grin remained on his perfect face after it faded.

"I've never heard anyone describe someone of the Malfoy family in that way before. You're quite bold aren't you?"

"Just speaking my mind"

"A very admirable quality Harry. I'll have you know that I value honesty greatly among my friends."

Yeah sure except you neglected to tell me the fact that you want me to join your literal murder cult.

"We'll get along just great then", grinned Harry back, though his was a little forced.

The ravenette took a look around and saw that they were standing a little further away from the rest of the class.

From what he could make out Jonathan and Malfoy had indeed formed a team and were bitchily glaring daggers at each other.

Harry couldn't help but think that they kind of looked like siblings with their slender builds and platinum hair that was even paler in the bright sun.

Black and Lestrange had also formed a team and Ramon was standing beside a small blonde boy who was sitting on the ground picking flowers.

He didn't know who he was so he must have been from another house.

Probably Hufflepuff if Harry had to guess.

He and Riddle did some basic stretching and Harry took in his partners outfit.

It was a tight relatively high necked longsleeve shirt in a dark elegant green and he wore similar loose black pants as Harry himself did.

He had to admit that it looked good on him and he could even make out slight outlines of muscle laying beneath.

Harry blushed a bit at the strange thought and looked away.

Riddle kept up some idle chatter but Harry's mind was miles away, not listening to him.

His thoughts were interrupted when the ground practically shook with heavy footsteps approaching from the forest.

Harry tensed, hand going to his wand as he steadied his pose, ready to defend himself if necessary.

The other students went quiet, conversations dying out and then he saw him.

A giant of a man, though not quite as tall as Hagrid, with bright red hair, shoulders as broad as Harry's trunk and and the angriest scowl Harry has ever seen.

The shirt he was wearing was stretched to its limits across bulging muscle and his hands were clenched in the same way Harry's did when he was about to lose it.

No one said anything as he approached and then he stopped a couple of meters away from them, crossing his arms.

Harry swallowed and thought that one arm alone was almost as thick as he himself was.

"Welcome back. One more year and then I'll finally be rid of you brats. Anyone who is new to the class, ask your classmates for help, I don't give a shit. You're all adults and the real ain't gonna coddle you wimps a single bit.

Now, pair up and get your asses moving. I've seen a group of shadow hares just at the border of the forest. There should be enough for each pair to follow. If you can't give me a detailed explanation of their moving habits it's detention with me every Saturday for a month. Hurry it up!"

Harry stared slackjawed at the professor.

Sure he'd had more than a fair share of godawful teachers in his academic life but never someone this vulgar and blatant about their dislike for their students.

Even Snape dressed his insults up with pretty pretentious wording.

"Well come on then Harry, we've got no time to waste", said Riddle with a barely concealed dark expression on his face as he put his hand on Harry's upper arm again.

"Right, let's go." 

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Author's Note:

Sorry for the short chapter everyone but I'm really tired. 

Next chapter will be longer and up tomorrow 

-Author Icicle❄️