A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

Part 75

Reposted: February 20, 2022

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Happy belated holidays! Have a chapter.

Summary: Tom continues his search for Harry.

Before Tom reached the hospital wing, multiple wizards leapt out and surrounded him. He managed to knock out two before his wand was wrenched out of his hand. Undeterred, Tom punched one of his attackers in the face, feeling their nose break under his knuckle. As they tried to staunch the bleeding, Tom retrieved his wand and had them bound in rope.

He continued to the hospital wing, only to come across another fight between the intruders and a cluster of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. Tom glimpsed the Patil sisters fighting side by side and four boys, three from from Ravenclaw, one from Gryffindor, were driving back several people who looked like they were regretting coming here.

Then someone let out a scream.

All fighting ceased for a moment as something very long and very large appeared at the other end of the corridor.

'Athanasia!' Tom exclaimed, grinning. 'How did you get out of the Chamber?'

"Me!" To Tom's astonishment, Sirius jumped out beside her. He was bleeding from a cut in his forehead, but his were bright. He bounded over to Tom's side. "I told her not to use her eyes. Don't want to kill any of the students by accident." He cast a sly glance at the gaping intruders. "But they won't know that."

'Perfect!' Tom hissed. 'Athanasia, you know what to do.'

'On it, Tomling!' Athanasia lunged forward and snapped up one of the intruders.

Lavender squealed and looked away as the wizard's cry was abruptly cut off.

"You!" Tom called to the nearest Ravenclaw. "Get your housemates out of here. It's gonna get ugly."

"On it!" The Ravenclaw grabbed one of his friends by the arm and began pulling him away. Seeing this, Hermione did the same with the Patil twins.

Tom hadn't been wrong; Athanasia was snapping up the intruders like they were twigs. No spell seemed to penetrate her hide, and when the intruders realized this, it was too late for them to run.

"Where are the others?" Tom demanded.

"Severus is at the hospital wing helping Madam Pomfrey, Remus is looking for injured students, I don't know where Harry is."

"Isn't he in the hospital wing?"

"He must've left right before I arrived."

"Shit." Fear churned in his stomach.

Sirius seemed to be struggling to remain calm. "But you know he's still alive, right?" he demanded. "You can feel him through the bond?"

Tom nodded. It was the only thing keeping him from completely losing it. He concentrated now, mentally reaching for Harry.

Sirius watched with bated breath.

Then Tom's eyes snapped open, alarmed.

"What is it?" Sirius grabbed his shoulders.

"I — I don't know. One moment, he's there, the next he's not." No. This couldn't be it... Not after all these years of waiting.

Then the voice came, echoing through the castle.

"Tom Riddle," boomed Albus Dumbledore, "I have with me your bonded."

"Harry!" Tom whispered hoarsely, gripping Sirius' arm.