Author's Notes: Hi everyone! I'm back with a new chapter. This is a little short though, so I might decide to add more to it later, or scrap the chapter and write something longer later. But for now, this is the tentative chapter three. I hope you enjoy!

Harry Enchanted
By heeha

Chapter 3

Harry was not one who liked to attract attention. He preferred to lay low, going unnoticed by everyone except the few he called friends. The only exception to this was when he saw someone being taken advantage of or abused. When seeing these incidents, Harry's tendencies for heroics would kick in, making him step into the line of fire to try to put a stop to these incidents.

Unfortunately for Harry, his tendencies for heroics had given him a well-known reputation for being a protector of the weak, making it impossible for him to remain anonymous to the student body. Still, even though he was well-known throughout the university, Harry hardly expected himself to be known outside the walls of the school. He was famous, yes, but he wasn't that famous.

So Harry was entirely surprised when, after school, he saw Prince Riddle leaning casually against his locker amid his horde of fan girls. As far as Harry knew, Prince Riddle had no business being there. They weren't acquainted with each other, let alone friends.

Yet there he was in all his handsome glory, eyes closed and back pressed against Harry's locker, as if he was the one who owned it. Harry watched Prince Riddle's fan girls fawn over him while trying to figure out a way to reach his locker. Deciding that the only way to reach his locker was through Riddle's fan girls, Harry began to push through the crowd, excusing himself politely as he made his way to his locker.

When he finally reached his destination, he stood in front of Riddle, waiting for him to move out of the way. When Riddle did no such thing, Harry cleared his throat and politely said, "Excuse me, Prince Riddle. That's my locker."

Prince Riddle's eyes snapped open and latched onto Harry immediately. They analyzed him, giving Harry a once-over before settling to meet Harry's own lime green eyes. Harry stared back at him patiently, waiting for Riddle to move.

"Harry Potter, I presume," said Riddle instead, lips upturned in a smirk. Harry frowned, Prince Riddle's knowledge of his identity coming entirely unexpected.

"Yes, that's me," affirmed Harry. "Could you please move out of the way so I can get to my locker?"

No idle chit-chat, no friendly greeting. Harry's direct approach to getting what he wanted was a breath of fresh air to Tom, who was so used to his subjects fawning and sucking up to him. He surveyed Harry calmly, wondering what would happen if he said no to Harry's request. Curiosity peaked, he remained still and said, "I'm afraid I rather like leaning against your locker. The view is marvelous from here." Harry turned around to face in the same direction as Riddle, seeing nothing but Riddle's fan girls and, further on, a painted beige wall. He raised an eyebrow at Riddle.

"Marvelous view, you say?" said Harry skeptically, looking at Riddle as if he'd just declared that black was white.

Riddle slowly looked him over again from head to toe, smiled, and said, "Yes. Absolutely stunning." Harry's cheeks blushed a rosy pink at Riddle's insinuation.

"I didn't know that you played for the same team," Harry said boldly, watching Riddle carefully for his reaction.

Unperturbed, Riddle smirked, "Actually, if you must know, I play for both teams. I get more options that way."

Harry snorted. "Like you need more options. You have the whole kingdom at your feet as it is. Eliminating one sex would hardly put a dent in your list of choices."

"Are you sure I have the whole kingdom at my feet?" asked Riddle, eyes searing into Harry's own, challenging him. However, the challenge went unnoticed by Harry, who furrowed his brow and said, "Of course. How could you not?"

"How could I not, indeed," agreed Riddle, pushing away from Harry's locker to come to a stand in front of Harry.

Harry moved towards his locker, opening it and gathering his things into his backpack before closing and locking it. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he turned to look at Riddle. "I'm going home now. It was nice seeing you," he said politely. He turned away from Riddle then, ready to head home, when Riddle suddenly said, "Wait." Harry inwardly cursed as his body instantly froze, waiting like Riddle had commanded.

Riddle moved to face Harry and said, "Harry Potter, you are not like other boys and girls."

Harry rolled his eyes at the statement. "I'm sorry if I don't dote upon you twenty-four seven like your fan girls over there. It's nothing personal. It's just the way I am."

Riddle laughed. "On the contrary, your lack of fondness for me is quite refreshing. I've grown bored of praise and adoration. Too much has made it lose its charm."

"I'd imagine that too much of anything would make anything lose its charm," said Harry wisely. He urged his body to move forward, to no avail. Riddle's command had him helplessly glued to the spot. Gazing imploringly at Riddle, Harry asked, "If that is all, may I go now?"

Riddle frowned, wondering why Harry would ask for his permission to leave when he seemed perfectly capable of dismissing himself and leaving. Chalking it up to politeness, Riddle replied, "Of course. You may go."

Harry's body, however, remained frozen to the spot, unable to move because Riddle hadn't commanded him to go. Inwardly sighing in frustration at his predicament, Harry tried to think of a way to get Riddle to command him to leave. "I can go?" he asked again, hoping Riddle would grace him with a command to leave.

Riddle stared at Harry. Had Harry not heard him?

"Yes. Go," Riddle commanded. Harry felt his body unfreeze. Mentally cheering at his own cunning, Harry stepped aside and walked past Riddle, saying goodbye before heading towards the school's doors.

Riddle stared after Harry, brow furrowed in contemplation. There was something peculiar about that interaction. Riddle didn't know what exactly it was, but he made a note to himself to analyze his future interactions with Harry Potter.