Through the Window

Voldemort paced as he held the letter in his hand. He was hesitant to send it. It seemed wrong to do so. Who was he to dictate Potter's life, even more? But, frankly, he couldn't deal with the constant flecks of teenage hormones that leaked into his connection.

He could hardly contain his rage during one of the meetings. He cast far too many crucios that day.

Using one of their nondescript barn owls, he sent the bird fluttering away into the vast sky.

_________

Harry shovelled a piece of omelette into his mouth. He was just about to leave when the caws of birds came from overhead.

A letter from a small barn owl landed in front of him, not even staying for a treat before retreating. Harry thought for a moment, thinking it was another hate letter, but figured that he might as well read it.

'Please stop defiling my other halves during the day. It disturbs me. - LV'

Harry stifled a laugh. But then a blush consumed him.

He knew every time Harry's thoughts grew dirty or when he was making out with Tom and Riddle. Each second he cuddled them, Voldemort got a secondhand feeling from it. He grew even redder with embarrassment.

"Who is that from?" Hermione leaned over to look, but Harry hid the note.

"Um, er, it's from Amelia Bones. She was wondering how I was holding up." Harry quickly lied.

Hermione gave him a look that told him she didn't believe him, but she acquiesced. "If you say so."

Harry took out his wand and burned the note before anyone else could glance at it. Hermione raised an eyebrow, meanwhile Ron appeared angry. He just shrugged. It wasn't their business.

In fact, it would be better if they didn't know. They'd be safer that way.

Or would they be safer away from him?

No one else seemed to suffer more than those around him.

Harry shook his head. His friends knew that it was hazardous to be his friend, and he'd never begrudge them if they left him. Their health and safety were always at risk.

And Voldemort's no-harm order did not extend to his friends.

Harry shook his head again.

A smirk lit his face as he penned his response and ran up to the owlery. He hoped that Voldemort would either remember or catch his smart-assness.

__________

Near nightfall, an owl tapped on Voldemort's window. He rushed to the bird, quickly untying the small scroll on his leg. He flattened it against the windowsill. And read one word.

'No.'

His scream echoed through the halls.

__________

Harry was dragged through the countless halls of the Chamber of Secrets. Down, they twisted through the tunnels as if it were a second home for Tom and Riddle. Which, to be fair, it probably was.

"I can't believe we hadn't thought about it before!" Tom commented as they almost slammed into a tight curve.

"I mean, it makes sense!" Riddle agreed.

"Can either of you tell me what you're talking about?" Just when he thought he understood them, they always did something to prove the opposite.

"You'll see." They said it in unison.

A smile crossed his face at their excitement. It was normal to see Tom excited - he had finally allowed himself to let loose - but Riddle was a bit more reserved. But they were both practically bouncing off the walls.