Learn From the History

Chapter 14: Promises

After the sudden appearance of the mysterious phoenix, Alex, Tom and Lestrange successfully sneakeded back to the dungeons before anyone noticed their absence. Well, the Slytherins did notice of course, but none of them would betray their fellow Slytherins to the professors. The three of them were relieved by this; they knew clearly that if anyone discovered their "adventure", they would surely be expelled instantly. No professors seemed to be aware of what happened in the Forbidden Forest that night, though Dumbledore was clearly suspecting something; the old man kept staring at them with his infamous all- knowing gaze. But a new "possession" of Dumbledore attracted Alex's attention immensely. The day right after that night, the said professor happily presented his new "pet" to the whole school at breakfast. The three Slytherins recognized the bird resting on the old man's shoulder immediately. That was the phoenix which saved them, Fawkes, as Dumbledore named it. Dumbledore said the phoenix flew into his quarter the night before and he decided to keep it.

Alex was eager to learn more about the mysterious creature and he guessed so was Tom. But Alex knew Tom would rather face the Chimaera again than having a private discussion with Dumbledore, not to mention that Tom was currently ignoring him, so he went to find the professor alone.

"It is beautiful, sir," said Alex one day when he found Dumbledore pacing around the lake, with Fawkes on his shoulder.

"I see you and Mr. Riddle seem to be very interested in Fawkes," said Dumbledore, eyeing Alex with that annoying glance again. "Interesting creature isn't it?" the old man continued, stoking Fawkes' feather. "Burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes."

"It will be reborn?" said Alex, momentarily forgetting all the formality. "Does that mean it will never die?"

"It will, eventually," the professor said, "when it has fulfilled its purpose."

The answer only made Alex more confused. "Purpose?" he asked.

Dumbledore just smiled and continue stoking the phoenix's feather.

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Alex looked up from his sitting position in the common room. I had been a week after their "adventure" and it had been a week that Tom started to avoid him. He thought of the conversation he had had with Tom right after they escaped from the Forbidden Forest that night. Tom told him everything happened after he fell unconscious and he was not at all approved of the boy's use of the unforgivable curse. He still remembered the debate he had with Tom...

"You used what?" Alex exclaimed. Luckily they were now in the Room of Requirement, so no one could hear their little "conversation".

"That is the only thing I can think of to get that Chimaera off you," Tom said, looking uneasy. "I... I didn't mean to kill it, I just want it to stop, I'm afraid..." he trailed off, lowering his gaze.

"But that's Dark Magic!" said Alex.

"But that's just a name. Dark or Light is just a label, both of them are magic, and I don't see why they should classify them apart... " Tom muttered and pursed. Then he bit his lip and in a low voice he said, "I am sorry." before walking out of the room and leaving Alex alone.

Alex sighed. Tom had been avoiding him since then. He knew Tom did that to save him. So did it really matter that the spell was Dark Magic? And an unforgivable one at that case, even it's not illegal to use the killing curse on a creature. It was at that time Alex started to ponder on what Tom had said. Is dark magic really as bad as other people thought? He had learned from Defense Against the Dark Arts that a spell was classified Dark when the spell involved emotional control. That was, took the killing curse as example, the person who wanted to cast it must really mean to kill for the curse to work correctly. And because of the aid of the caster's will, dark magic was normally much more powerful than other normal spells. But the draw back was that this powerfulness was highly addictive and might easily corrupt the mind of the ambitious ones, making them sink deeper and deeper into the sea of darkness. Since most dark arts were served for purposes like killing or torturing, most people regarded the use of dark magic as "evilness". But how could you say that was evil if the spell was used to save someone? The more he thought about it, the more he realized what Tom meant. It was the intension that made one evil, not the form of magic the person used. As long as the person could control their own mind, he didn't see any problem of using dark magic for good use.

Alex knew he should apologize to Tom for yelling at him like that and thanked the boy properly for saving him. But first, he needed to find him.

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Alex groaned in frustration. Now he knew how hard it was the find Tom Riddle when he didn't want to be found, especially in a castle like Hogwarts. If only he got something to locate his direction... then he thought of something. He did have something like that, didn't he?

Alex closed his eyes and relaxed. He thought of Tom and focused on the link between them. He felt the wall that was built by his Occlumency to block the link. He slowly let the wall dropped until it became nearly non-existent. With more focus he finally was able to reach Tom's side of the link. Though Tom would not have noticed, they were now connected.

Alex walked around the castle unconsciously, letting his "mind" to direct him to the location of Tom. Finally he found himself in a room which the entrance was hidden behind a shelf in an abandoned storeroom of the dungeons. He began to think maybe finding that "hidden" mark of Slytherin was not a difficult task for Tom at all. That boy was unbelievable, finding a room in place like that.

"Here... you are," said Alex, panting heavily. He was exhausted and he thought he could fall asleep at any moment now. He had mastered Occlumency a long time ago, so closing a link was like nothing to him and he could do it constantly without even realized he was doing it. But opening a link and try to "connect" to the other side was new to him, and that was consuming.

The room was a mini conference room. In the middle of the room was a long table, with four or five chairs on each side. Sitting on the only occupied chair was Tom, who was, of course, reading. He jumped as he heard Alex's voice and jerked up his head to look at Alex in wide eyes.

"What a hiding place you choose, Tom," said Alex, dropping himself on a chair beside his friend. He waited until Tom got over his initial shock and started speaking before Tom could say anything. "I am sorry," he said quietly. "I shouldn't yell at you, after all you've done for me."

Tom frowned. "You don't need to say that for me. I know you hate the dark arts."

Alex shook his head. "No," he said. "I didn't say that because of you. You're right, dark magic or not, it's still magic and can be put into good use too. It's the intension that makes it evil, not the spell." When Tom didn't respond, he shifted nervously in his chair. "I am sorry. Forgive me?" he asked softly.

Tom sighed. "You've nothing to apologize for," he said quietly.

Alex frowned. 'What happened?' he thought. He looked into Tom's eyes and said again, "I don't know what happened and why you've been avoiding me, but no matter what, I want thank you, Tom, for saving my life."

Tom looked away from Alex's gaze. "You shouldn't thank me," he said quietly after a long silent, looking more and more uneasy. "I should be the one." He paused for a while and sighed. Looking back at Alex, he said, "I am sorry. It's because of me that you got into that situation." He looked down and continued in a more quiet voice, "I... I guess it would be better if I was left alone."

"Oh, stop that!" suppressing his urge to roll his eyes, Alex said before Tom could continue. "So that's why you kept avoiding me."

"You nearly died! And it's all my fault!" Tom yelled.

"I do believe it is my decision that I jumped on that Chimaera," said Alex, "so it is not your fault. Besides, as I said, you saved my life."

"You didn't need to be saved in the first place if it's not for me!" yelled Tom. He closed his eyes as if thinking of some painful memory.

"I chose to do that, and I will do the same if I have a chance do it again."

"Typical Gryffindor," Tom said weakly.

Alex smirked. "I think you are more of a Gryffindor than me, Tom."

Tom sighed. "It will do you no good to be so close to me, Alex," he said softly.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Would you stop that for a minute please?"

Tom shook his head. "You don't understand," he said. After a long pause he continued. "It's always the same. People got hurt because they are close to me. I... I had several friends in the orphanage, until one of them was seriously injured when I first showed my magical talent. They have never talked to me since then, same with the other orphans. I saw it in their eyes, they were afraid of me. The only one who was still willing to come near me was a girl. We were... sort of friends I guess. But one day we argued and..." Tom gritted his teeth. "I didn't mean to hurt her, but I just couldn't control my magic. No one came near me since then. They all looked at me as if I was... a dangerous animal or something... I..."

"That's enough, Tom," Alex interrupted, raising his hand to stop Tom from continuing. "Stop saying all these nonsense. It is my choice that I befriended you, my choice that I helped you to find the Chamber of Secrets and my choice that I jumped on the Chimaera to help you, I never regret my decision, so stop pushing me away," he said firmly. "I won't be here in the first place if I blame you for what happened. Honestly, did you really think I would not talk to you because of that, or because I am afraid to get hurt again? You really think I would leave you alone just like those orphans did?"

Tom shifted uneasily in his chair.

"You did?" Alex asked unbelievingly.

"It always ends up like that..." Tom looked up at Alex and rubbed his forehead. "You made me feel really stupid."

"That you are," said Alex mockingly.

"I should have known I couldn't get rid of you that easily," said Tom, sighing dramatically. "After all, you are a stubborn Gryffindor and I don't think something as little as mortal danger could stop you. But at least let me say this." He stood up and placed his right hand before his heart. "Thank you for saving my life, Alex. I own you a life debt," he said solemnly, looking into Alex's eyes. "I will find a way to repay you, to help you whenever you need my help."

Alex frowned. "You don't need to take it so seriously, Tom..."

But obviously, his friend was as stubborn as he was.

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Alex was growing more and more nervous when the end of the school year drew by; he didn't want to leave Tom, not after what he had learned about Tom's past. But if he forced to stay, he might be stuck in this time period and he could not regain his lost memory forever. Besides, he did not belong here. He sighed. He needed to find a way to tell Tom he was going to leave.

"Tom, I need to talk to you," Alex said to Tom the day before the end of school year.

Tom was playing chess with Lestrange, a game Alex lost every time when he played with Tom.

Lestrange finally accepted Tom as a worthy member of the Serpent House after he saw Tom's powerful killing curse. He also learned what happened to Tom and Alex before he came into the scene. The boy was shocked to hear that Tom was a parselmouth and was sticking around Tom since then. Rumors of Tom being the Heir of Slytherin were soon spread all over the house, thought they never came further than the Slytherin common room, the Slytherins made sure it was kept secret from the rest of the school.

Tom looked up at Alex's voice. "What..." he started, but stopped as he saw the seriousness in Alex's eyes.

"I need to talk to you... in private," Alex said quietly.

Tom frowned but nodded. He excused himself from the chess game and followed Alex out of the common room to their secret base- the Room of Requirement.

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"I... I am not coming back in the next school year," said Alex uneasily after they settled down under their accustomed tree in the room.

"What?" shouted Tom. "But you still haven't restored your memory!"

Alex looked down at the ground and bit his lip. He didn't want to lie to Tom, especially after all the painful truth Tom had revealed to him concerning the boy's past.

"I... I didn't lose my memory due to an accident as the headmaster said," he said. "I am sorry, Tom. But... as much as I want to, I... I just can't stay here, I don't belong here."

Tom frowned. "What do you mean?"

Alex sighed. 'I am sorry, Nicolas,' he though, 'but I can't lie to him.' Then he went on and told Tom everything, about the time travel, the memory loss, baring only the part about parselmouth, his scar and the connection between them.

Tom listened to his story with wide eyes. "Time traveling?" he said disbelievingly.

Alex nodded. "I am telling the truth," he said. Then quietly he added, "I am sorry. But I can't stay, I don't belong here, my staying will only interfere with the timeline..."

"I understand," Tom said quietly after a long silence. He looked at Alex. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked.

"I am sorry," Alex said again.

Tom lay down and stared at the leafy top of the tree wordlessly.

"Tom..." Alex drew closer and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I..."

Tom shook his head. "You have nothing to apologize for, as I have said before." He shifted his gaze from the tree top to Alex. "You are not even supposed to tell anyone about this, right?"

Alex sighed and nodded.

"I am glad you told me, really, and I don't blame you for not telling me before," he said. "It's just..." He looked away from Alex and said softly, "I will be alone again."

"You will not be alone," said Alex. "The other Slytherins are willing to befriend you now. And I saw you were getting along with Lestrange quite well."

Tom laughed dryly. "Friends?" he said. "They stick around me only because I am a parselmouth, supposedly the Heir of Slytherin. They will never be my friends."

"But you still will not be alone," said Alex. "Remember what you said before? You will not get rid of me so easily."

Tom looked at him questionably.

Alex smiled sadly. "I must go back, as much as I want to stay, but it doesn't mean we will not see each other again in the future. I just have to find you when I get back."

Tom mused on Alex's word then said, "But you don't even know when you came from," he said. "What if you came from hundreds of years from the future? What if I've already... died at the time you came from?"

"Then I'll find a way," said Alex firmly. "Another time travel or whatever, I will find a way to get to you."

Tom eyed Alex for a moment then sat upright and said, "Promise?"

Alex nodded.

"Promise."

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/But, master.../

/He is a speaker of your kind too, you will like him. /

/Are you sure, master? /

/He needs your company. Besides, I don't know how my 'home' is, so it will not be wise you bring you with me. You belong to this time, and you'd do better to stay here.../

/If that is what you want, master. /

/It is. I will miss you, I'm sure. But I am worried about him; he needs someone to talk to. /

/I will miss you too, master. Will I meet you again? /

/You will. Oh, remember not to tell him I can speck to you too. /

/All right. /

/Take care of him. /

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"Where did you go last night?" asked Alex as the two of them settled down in the last compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Tom had disappeared after the end-of-year feast, saying he had something to do.

Tom grinned. "Hogsmeade," he said simply.

Alex raised his eyebrow. "Sneaking around again?" he teased. "What for?"

Tom searched his robe pocket and grabbed out a small box. "For this," he said, handing the box to Alex.

Alex opened the box to find a necklace in it. "This is..."

"A gift for you," said Tom.

Alex took out the necklace and observed it carefully. It was very... Slytherin. At the end of the silver chain was a silver ring. When examined closely, Alex found that several ancient runes were carved on it. Right below the small ring was a deep green crystal in the shape of a water droplet. Alex could feel power emerging from the crystal as he clenched his hand around it.

"The shopkeeper told me that it is a protection amulet. It is used to protect the one who wear it. He said the crystal itself doesn't have any magical power; all the protecting power of the amulet is from the one who gives it to you, that's me, in this case. I don't know how it works, all I know is it based on how much the person who gives this to you wants you to be safe at the moment you received it."

Alex felt the strong power emerging from the crystal and smiled. "It's strong,"

Tom grinned. "As long as I am still alive, it will protect you. Well, if it really works, that is."

"It's a wonderful gift, Tom," said Alex softly. "Thank you."

"This is the best I can think of... the best that I can find in Hogsmeade anyway. I am glad you like it," he said, reddening slightly.

"Well, it's my turn then," said Alex, pulling out a box from under his chair, which he shoved in when Tom was unaware. The box quite large with several holes drilled on it and it was... moving.

Alex handed Tom the box. "This is my gift for you."

Tom jumped as he felt something moved in the box. "What's that?" he asked, eyeing the box with caution.

"Open it, she wouldn't bite... much," said Alex, amused.

"She?" Tom continued to stare at the box with uncertainty for a long time before lifting the lid cautiously and peered inside.

"You gave me a snake!" said Tom, amazed.

Alex smiled. "I guess you'd like to have someone to talk to."

Tom grinned happily. "Thank you, Alex, its great!" He looked back at the snake in the box and started hissing softly.

/Hello. /

/So you are my master, /the snake answered.

/Just Tom is alright. /

Tom looked up at Alex. "Does she have a name?"

Alex nodded. "Nagini."

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The rest of the train ride was uneventful. Tom continued to talk to Nagini for some time while Alex pretended he did not understand a word they said. He had already told Tom about time traveling, he did not want to break another promise he made to Nicolas.

They also spent lots of time to talk; talk about the moments they shared, talked about the past, and the future. Tom was not at all looking forward to going back to the orphanage.

"But at least I have a company this time," he said, looking fondly at the snake which curled herself around his forearm.

They also played several rounds of chess. Tom won all the time, as always, much to Alex's annoyance.

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Alex stared at the magical barrier in front of him then turned to face his friend, who was standing beside him, staring down at the floor.

Alex placed a hand on Tom's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll meet again," he said firmly.

Tom looked up to face his friend. His face filled with reluctance. The two of them stared at each other for a while before embraced each other brotherly.

"I'll miss you," said Tom softly.

"So will I," said Alex. "I will find you. No matter what, I will find a way to get to you, I promise."

They stayed that way for a long time. When they finally broke away, Tom smiled sadly and extended his hand to Alex.

"See you in the future." he said.

Alex nodded, taking Tom's hand.

"See you in the future."

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"Before you leave, I have something to give you," said Nicolas.

Alex eyes the thing in Nicolas' hand with suspicion. It was, of course, a stone. "Um... what is it?"

"It's a portkey."

Alex took a step back from the stone and eyed the older wizard uncertainly.

Nicolas smiled at Alex's reaction. "Don't worry, child. It will only activate if you ask it to. After you go back to your own time, you can use this stone wherever you want to come here, my home, for a visit, if I am still alive at the time you came from. Just place you fingers on it, say the activation spell 'vado' and it will bring you here like a portkey does. Say the same spell and it will bring you back to where you have been before you come to my house. For safety reason, only you can activate it, but make sure no one was touching you when you use it, alright?."

Alex nodded.

Nicolas handed Alex the stone. It stone was deep red in colour and had a smooth surface. "Come visit the old man when you have time, will you?"

Alex smiled. "I will."

"So..." Nicolas grabbed the blue stone which brought Alex back in time a year ago from his cabinet and bring it before Alex. "Here we go. As I said before, no time will pass for you during your stay here, so you will find yourself in exactly the same time as you leave when you get back."

Alex hesitated.

"Go on," Nicolas encouraged him softly.

Alex gave Nicolas a brief hug. "Goodbye, Nicolas," he said.

"See you soon, child," said Nicolas warmly.

Alex turned back at the stone and swallowed. He looked around the house of Nicolas which he grew familiar with for the last time. He knew he would never forget the year his spent here, no matter what the future was. He lean forward and took a deep breath before touching the stone and disappear in a bright blue flash.

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Time continued to run. People changed as time went by; old promises were broken and precious memories were buried deep down in people's heart...

The two path walkers continued their journey, until their paths crossed again; until the two best friends met each other again...

End of part I