I own nothing!

It's so close to the winter equinox, also known as Christmas that spirits are running high in my neck of the woods, as such I can't help but to contemplate on my stories and my lack of updates. I truly am sorry

As such I did a horrible thing and skived off from work to re-read my story and get out an update.

Chapter 22: Murder at 15

Something was different, everyone could see it but no one could place a finger on what it was. There was just something off. Riddle had always been obsessed with Hadrian but that obsession had nearly grown a hundred times what it had been. The moment Harry walked into the room Riddles entire body would tense up like a snake ready to strike. His eyes would follow the smaller male with a hunger that had always been there but never with such an intensity.

Yet it wasn't only Riddle who seemed different. Something was also off with Hadrian. He was still quiet, a bookworm, but there was a darkness in his eyes when he would look up and power seemed to pour from him in dark caressing waves.

Added on top of that was the unsolved case of Delphane. It seemed she had vanished without a trace. The teachers had scoured the woods and the castle but no trace of the girl had been found. It was like she had simply vanished into thin air. Most of the school simply shrugged it off, said she had been unstable and had ran away, but the Slytherin's were not like most of the school.

The Slytherin's would never admit it but it was their belief that Delphane's disappearance, Riddles obsession, and Peverell's dark seductive smile were intertwined.

Yet most of the school did not have the time to dwell on one disappearance. Not when the Chamber of Secrets had been opened and a third year mudblood had perished. Poor little Myrtle, stupid Ravenclaw that she was had been the first and last to be killed. If rumor was right, and in most cases it rarely was, the filthy half breed had accidentally killed the girl. It was by sheer 'luck' that Tom Riddle had stepped forward to stop any more deaths from occurring, stopping Slytherin's monster, and keeping the school from closing.

Of course the Slytherin's knew better than to believe rumor, but they were not stupid enough to step forward and get on Riddles bad side by implementing him in the death of the girl.

Thus it was with much excitement that the school year came to an end and the summer vacation once more loomed ahead.

It was also with a shark like grin that Tom Riddle boarded the train. Soon enough Hadrian's time would be up.

It was while he was sitting in his favorite spot at the orphanage; contemplating the beauty whom held his interest that little Hadrian did something unexpected. Instead of glaring at Tom from a distance as he did every year he walked up and sat down beside the elder boy. Without saying a word he took out one of the books and opened it, leaving Tom to stare at him in confusion.

"I'm not stupid Riddle." He murmured after a moment, causing Tom to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You created a horcrux." He stated and turned his head so that emerald green looked straight into dark green. "I don't like you but I do owe you and I don't like being indebted to you. So here's a piece of advice. Don't do it." Hadrian stated softly.

"Why not?" Tom asked, not even bothering to lie.

"You're better off created false horcrux's. I know you plan on making a lot of them, but there are other ways to achieve immortality that won't leave you insane and less than human. Besides if you continue on this particular venture I will never agree to be yours. That is your goals isn't it? To have me and to be immortal?"

"You know it is Hadrian." Tom hissed softly, his eyes roaming the sweet figure beside him.

"Creating a horcrux will not help you to reach ether goal. Besides Dumbledore will try to hunt you, he knows Hagrid didn't kill Myrtle, he will find out about them and he will destroy your safety net, and in turn he will kill you. He may seem like an overly endearing grandfather but that is nothing but a façade. He is a dangerous man."

"What would you have me do little magic speaker?" Tom asked after a moment of silence. His dark eyes looking into Harry's.

"As much as I hate you, you are brilliant Riddle. Put your soul back together. You weaken yourself by tearing your soul apart. Give me time to research a different way to make you immortal."

"Why would you wish to help me my sweet?" Tom purred as his eyes flashed dangerously.

"I already told you Riddle, I owe you. Once for the Delphane fiasco and once for standing witness. I am simply repaying a debt." Harry stated with a shrug of his shoulders before returning to his book.

"Somehow I don't believe that is all there is too it Hadrian, but not to worry I will find out what you are trying to hide from me." Tom stated as he leaned back, a smirk covering his lips.

"You can believe whatever you want Riddle." Harry stated as he shrugged and stood from his seat, slowly making his way back to his room.

"He will become what he must child." Magic cooed softly to him and Harry nodded.

"He's stubborn. What happens if he decides to carry on with this chosen path? What happens then?" He questioned softly as he bit his bottom lip.

"Then he must be stopped and you will have to forge your own way. The dark must survive child, for without it there can be no light. One day he can be the greatest Dark Lord to of walked the earth, and with him the darker side of magic can and will flourish, but only if he is whole. If he believes that without being whole he will never stand a chance at gaining you then he will seek other ways."

"What am I to do?" Harry questioned as he opened the door to his room and sank onto his old mattress.

"Let me take you somewhere child." The words were the barest of whispers and Harry had barely nodded when he felt himself swirling only to land in a dark forest. An older version of himself stood before him.

"I forgot how small I was." The elder version stated with a small laugh. "Don't worry Hadrian Peverell, to the outside world we look to be sleeping. My husband would be severely displeased if I had up and vanished, as I am sure would your own suitor. Tom always was possessive, and even with all the time that has passed it still has not changed."

"Where are we?" Harry asked, his eyes scanning the forest but seeing nothing that struck him as familiar.

"Were in our mindscape, or my mind scape seeing how you have yet to develop one, something that you should fix soon." The elder stated as he gracefully waved a hand and conjured a bench, elegantly sitting on it before beckoning the younger over.

"Why are we here? How are we here" Harry demanded softly as he wearily took a seat.

"We are here because we are magic's favorites and it is magic's will that we speak. Right now you are at an interval, a place where our destinies can ether diverge or continue as is. I am here to help you pick a path as another helped me and you will help another. It is apart of who and what we are."

"And what might that be?"

"Magic speakers Hadrian. We are the voice and life of magic, here to set the balance that others have disturbed. As of this moment the light is overbalancing the scales." The elder stated as he waved his hand and a smoking scale appeared. "Tom Riddle can set it straight, but not without us there to guide him. He is impetuous, domineering, possessive, and cunning but he lacks more than even he realizes."

"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded as he sat forward in his seat.

"You know what I am talking about Hadrian. Tom holds a lot of dark magic but lacks the experience. You can help him forge his way to greatness." The elder stated with a soft smile on his lips.

"Help him how? By agreeing to be his? He is nothing more than a temperamental boy. He doesn't care about the balance of our world, all he wants is power. He nearly got our home shut down because he allowed Slytherin's pet to kill within the school. He split his soul for Merlin's sake!

"You hate the boy he is, but the man he will become is so much greater. Let me show you what I know." The elder cajoled gently and Harry found himself agreeing before he even realized what he was doing. He felt a finger press firmly against his skull as emages poped up.

It is over Tom, you have lost. The dark will never have a place in our world." Albus Dumbledore stated as he looked into the burning red eyes of a tall male.

"This is where you are wrong Dumbledore. The dark will never perish, and if by chance it does then the light shall perish as well. This is the curse of our world is it not? Without light the dark will fail but so can be said of the light without the dark."

"Your logic is folly Tom, do make the mistake in thinking otherwise. You have tried to destroy our world, and for what? For a foolish boy you think loves you?"

"Be careful of what you speak about my wife Dumbledore. I will destroy your world and rebuild it to what it was always meant to be. I will not allow the dark families to live in secret and fear. They follow me and it is my duty to see them cared for. To see our way of life returned to us."

The vision faded and once again Harry found himself looking at his older self. "I cannot make the decision for you Hadrian, but I can tell you that without you Tom will fail and with it so will the dark, and thus magic will perish from our world. Now I think we have spent long enough talking. It is time for you to get up and for me to pester my insane husband, and perhaps enjoy a cup of tea." The elder stated as he stood and before Harry could protest he found himself back in his own room, just in time for the door to open and Tom Riddle to step inside, a smirk curving his lips as he prepared for bed.

"Dream sweet Hadrian." Om stated making Harry scowl as he climbed under his own covers, but sleep was a long ways off as his mind turned over the conversation he had had with his older self.

A decision would soon be made and for better or worse Harry knew he would have to decide the fate of his world.