tripping, stumbling, clumsy
Harry Potter/Tom Riddle. Written for @tomarrymortevents purge xl. Prompt: fall
Harry’s been distracted lately. Who could blame him, really? It takes so much effort, day after day, to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to himself.
He thought it would be easier. After all, before Hogwarts he had been well-versed in making himself invisible. But even now, trapped in the past and no longer the Famous Harry Potter, every eye that lingers on him too long feels like a stinging hex.
He has to stay aware of what’s happening, and just as careful not to slip and mention things he shouldn’t know. No modern slang. No careless references. Who knew hardly anyone said “okay” in the 1940s?
He can’t fall apart every time Orion Black laughs, even though it sounds too much like Sirius. He can’t flinch every time Tom Riddle—pure evil hidden behind an angelic face—offers him a helping hand as a Prefect.
Harry thought he could establish himself as someone who lingers in the background—the strong, silent type. But it turns out that after years of speaking his mind, he no longer knows how to stay silent.
He’d just blown up at Lestrange over breakfast. He’s tried—Merlin, he’s tried—to keep his temper every time the prick starts in on one of his blood-purist tirades. Occasionally, he might interject with an objection, but he’s always kept his tone careful and reasonable—until today.
Because there’s only so many times one can listen to someone go on about “good breeding” while looking like a mouldy potato with eyes before snapping. Or maybe it was the talk of pedigree—too close to Aunt Marge for comfort.
Either way, Harry hadn’t blown Lestrange up like a hot-air balloon—but he had called him a mangy bastard, overturned his pumpkin juice, and stormed out of the Great Hall with a hundred shocked stares burning into his back.
The crisp autumn air outdoors succeeds in cooling Harry’s temper, but does little to soothe him once the reality of what he’s done sets in.
The whole house will have it out for him now. Why did he have to sort into Slytherin of all places? Maybe he should start sleeping in the Room of Requirement.
But Riddle knows where it is.
Harry scowls and kicks a loose stone across the path. Riddle is such an arrogant tosser. He kicks another. The Sorting Hat is a fucking prick as well.
He’s so focused on punting stones into the distance that he doesn’t see the branch until it’s too late. He catches his foot and goes down hard, the impact knocking the breath clean out of him.
Harry barely manages to suppress another groan when he hears the voice above him.
Of course. It's Riddle. Probably followed him out to deliver a lecture on unity and house solidarity or some other self-important gobshite.
“I’m fine,” Harry grits out, pushing himself up.
Riddle is standing over him, haloed in early morning light, one hand gracefully offered out.
“It looks like you’ve finally fallen for me,” he practically purrs.
Heat rising to his face, Harry ignores the hand and rises on his own. Riddle’s grin doesn’t falter, and his hand remains extended, even when Harry is already standing and dusting the dirt from his robes.
“There’s a charm for that, you know,” Riddle says. “Would you like me to teach you?”
“Are you hurt? Shall I escort you to the Hospital Wing?”
“I’m alright,” Harry says stiffly. “Thanks, though.”
“You’re limping,” Riddle calls out, his tone infuriatingly casual.
Harry sighs heavily and changes his course to head back to the castle. He did land a bit funny on his knee.
Riddle falls into step beside him. He holds out an arm, which Harry once more ignores.
“You don’t need to come with me,” Harry says pointlessly.
“Oh, but I must,” Riddle replies.
“Right,” Harry sighs. “Because you’re the Prefect.”
“Well, yes,” Riddle says, leaning in, “but also because I’ve become quite fond of you, Evans.”
Harry lets out a short, incredulous laugh. Smug arsehole.
“You remind me of an angry cat,” Riddle goes on cheerfully.
“I might bite you,” Harry says under his breath.
Riddle tilts his head. “Pardon?”
“Nothing.” Harry forces a tight smile.