My Dear Dark Lord

Chapter 36: Car Ride

The days after Harry had given him the locket passed smoothly.

The friendship between the Court members strengthened. The group had become famous in Hogwarts. The teachers adored their group.

Snape and Dumbledore were being their usual biased self.

There was one attempt from some fourth year students to take his place as the Slytherin Prince, but Tom had put them in his place.

True to his words, Tom and his Court did not let any student laze around during the exams.
Not being the smartest was acceptable, but not even trying wasn't.

Now, every student was sitting in the Great Hall for the Leaving Feast.
It was Ravenclaw who won the House Cup.

Tom was sitting peacefully on his seat, enjoying the jokes and gossip shared by his friends.

His gaze travelled to the Teacher's table.

Harry was engaged in a deep discussion with their Ancient Runes Professor.

The man was in deep blue and bronze robes, as honour to Ravenclaw's win.
Tom swore that the man held some sort of fondness for the House.

His gaze shifted from Harry and landed on Dumbledore.

The man was glaring venomously at him.

Looking down at his plate, Tom hid his smirk.

From what Harry had told him, the man almost threw a fit when he got to know that Tom was not going back to the Muggle World, but was staying with Harry for the summer.

Though Harry had told him not to take the matter lightly. There was a reason why the man wanted him to stay in the Muggle World.

Inheritance was their best guess.

They had decided that Tom would take the train to the King's Cross and from there, Harry would pick him.

Headmaster Dippet gave his usual speech and bid them goodbye.

He was excited for the next day. He was finally going to spend his summers in the wizarding world, on the top of that, with Harry too!

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Sitting with people on the train was really different. A good different.

Every year, during the train, to and from Hogwarts, he'd sit alone in a compartment, fearful and dreading of the summer.

But this time it was different. He was happy. Elated. Looking forward for to the summer vacation.

"So tell me Tom, what are you and Mr. Hottie going to do this summer?" Astoria asked with a grin.

Glaring slightly at the girl, which was kind of ineffective with the blush on his face, he said, "We haven't decided much. Though he promised to teach me about the House duties and some Dark Magic." Seeing the disbelief on their faces, he added, "He said something about dates and a Ball too."

"Ahh! Dates and Ball! A perfect way to spend the vacation. Which ball was he talking about? Please tell me it is the Annual International Ministry Ball?"

"Yes. A Ministry Ball." Honestly, attending some ball, dancing and gossiping did not sound appealing to him at all.

"Merlin! That's great! It is an honor to attend the ball." She looked really excited and started bouncing on her seat.

Tom, who was seated beside her, shifted a bit away from the girl. After knowing her for months, he got to know one thing for sure. If Astoria starts getting really, really excited about something, get the hell away from her. He still shuddered remembering Astoria's one hour long speech on Celestina Warbeck's new song.