"Speech"

'Thoughts'

*Parseltongue*

'Writing'

Chapter 4:

Tom eyed the platform with a sort of wistful reminiscence, as well as disdain. The vast majority of the platform's visitors showed next to no decorum and shouted over each other as they pushed this way and that way. He fortunately remained untouched in his corner. It would be ever so inconvenient if he were to snap and incapacitate someone in some less-than-legal way. Particularly whilst in his 'disguise'.

He hadn't changed much. No more than he had when he appeared in public with Harry or Airi. He made his eyes a lighter colour, changed his haircut ever so slightly and made it so his dark tresses were more of styled waves than outright curls. If anyone were to recognise him, it would be Dumbledore. The coot was no doubt suspicious of him already. Not that he cared. The old man couldn't do anything. Not when to all the world, Lord Voldemort was 63 and dead. Certainly not a teenage boy. Definitely not a half-blood.

Tom smirked. Even now, he was untouchable.

"Tom?" a voice squeaked.

He flicked his gaze to the speaker: Harry. The raven-haired third-year was staring at him as if he had grown two heads. "Harry," he acknowledged smoothly.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked. 'More, demanded.'

Resisting the urge to cackle, he smiled innocently. "Did I not tell you? I'm Hogwarts' new fifth-year student."

Harry's eyes widened. "What?"

"Tommen Slytherin-Gaunt. Half-blood bastard. At your service." He was aware he likely looked similar to a cat who had just gotten the cream.

"Bloody hell," Harry swore, tugging his hand through his hair. "Does Airi know?"

"No, and language Potter. There is no need to be so uncouth."

The brat rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Harry?" a bushy-haired girl called out over the crowd, pushing through. "Who are you talking to?"

Harry faltered. "Er, 'Mione, this is, um, Tom. We met whilst I was staying at The Leaky Cauldron."

The girl frowned at Tom for a few moments, before smiling and holding out her hand. "Hermione Granger."

"Tommen Slytherin-Gaunt," Tom responded, shaking the hand. "Harry has spoken of you."

"All good I hope," Hermione said, eyes wide with surprise at the surname, glancing at Harry.

The boy hastily nodded.

"I thought the Slytherins had died out?" Hermione continued, eyes now narrowed in suspicion.

"You thought wrong, Miss Granger," Tom said, forcing a pleasant expression.

"What the bloody hell are you two…" The redhead who had so rudely barged over trailed off. "Who are you?" he questioned bluntly, gaze directed at Tom.

"Tommen Slytherin-Gaunt," Tom answered, "friend of Harry's."

"We met over the summer," Harry added hastily. "Tom, this is Ron Weasley."

"Ah, so this is the one who persuaded you to select such useless subjects for your optional courses." Tom barely resisted the urge to sneer.

Ron glared. "So, you're the git who made him change!"

"His education will be the better for it, I assure you." Tom raised an eyebrow. "Or do you not want your friend to do well?"

Red with rage, Ron pulled his wand from his jean-pocket, aiming it at Tom's face.

"RONALD WEASLEY!"

A look of horror passed over the ginger's face. A round, homely woman was storming up to them – her expression dangerous.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you are doing?" the woman – evidently his mother – demanded. "Put your wand away at once!"

Mortified, Ron thrust his wand back into his pocket.

Mrs Weasley gave her son a stern look that had him cowering back. "If I ever see you drawing your wand on someone again, you will not see it until the day you die! Do you understand?"

Ron nodded, looking anywhere but his mother and Tom. His ears were burning crimson.

"Now apologise," the matriarch demanded.

Ron's gaze snapped up. "What? But he…" He cut off at the withering glare he received. He turned to Tom. "Sorry." It was so forced it hardly sounded like the word it was supposed to be, but everyone understood it.

"Apology accepted," Tom said smoothly.

Mrs Weasley then grabbed Ron's ear and began to tug him away. "You will stand by me until it is time to go. Clearly you cannot be trusted not to attack your classmates!"

Hermione, Harry and Tom stood in silence for a few moments, then a soft voice interrupted,

"What happened?"

The three turned to see Airi standing there, looking confused.

"Ron pulled his wand on Tom," Harry explained. "And then Mrs Weasley told him off made him apologise."

"You were the boy with Airi last night!" Hermione suddenly shouted. "The one who took Ron's rat!"

Tom shrugged lightly.

"But…you can Apparate," Hermione continued. "How? I thought you weren't allowed until you were 17. Lessons aren't until sixth year."

Tom gave a playful smirk. "It isn't allowed."

The girl's eyes widened in horror. "But…but… You can't!"

"I can, I have, and will continue to do so." Tom turned to Airi. "Where are the Malfoys?"

"Draco and I arrived alone," Airi shrugged. "He's already on the train."

The train let out a sharp whistle.

Tom placed his hands on Airi and Harry's shoulders, forcing them into the throngs of people, and gave Hermione a suave smile. "Pleasure meeting you Granger. Have a pleasant journey."

A/N - I have so many apologies. First of all, I'm sorry you haven't had a chapter in forever. My excuses are writer's block and that I am now sitting my GCSEs (for those of you who don't know what those are, they're super important exams that are what OWLs are based off) so my time is incredibly limited. I've had this on my laptop for a while and I kept going to make it longer but it's just not going to happen, and I figure you'd rather have something than nothing considering you probably won't get another chapter until June (sorry!).

Thank you to all who've reviewed, I'm afraid I can't answer to each of you personally for the last chapter, and also thank you to all the new followers.

Promise the next chapter will be better and longer,

Hazel xx