Harry wants to fucking stab something.

He's only just entered the Slytherin common room — he made sure to look extra confused — and now bloody Tom Riddle wants to talk to him.

"Hello, Ri—Tom," Harry says stiffly. He almost says 'Riddle,' but covers it up quickly.

Tom doesn't seem to notice because he smiles back pleasantly. "Hadrian Peverell. Hmm... Slytherin. Why did the hat take so long to sort you?" Tom's eyes glint dangerously. "What are you hiding, Hadrian?"

"Shut up," Harry growls. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

Tom eyes the bruises on Harry's face and the way Harry limps as he heads for his dorm. "What the bloody hell happened to you?" Tom scoffs. "Got in a little scuffle?"

"I was locked in a cell and tortured for two months straight," Harry deadpans, bored. "Can I go now?"

Tom's face flickers with... concern? No, that can't be right.

Harry groans and limps into his dorm, where he claims the bed furthest from the door. There are two other beds, one of which has a trunk at the foot of it. He hasn't bothered to check the posting of who his roommates are, knowing it may only give him more anxiety about fucking up the future.

Then footsteps sound behind him and he whirls in panic. His hand flies to his wand, eyes wide, but he visibly relaxes at the sight of a handsome platinum haired boy with familiar gray eyes.

Harry's voice catches. "Draco...?"

"Hello, there," the boy who looks like Draco replies. "I'm Abraxas Malfoy. A fifth year. I believe we'll be living together."

Malfoy. Draco's grandfather? Why is every Malfoy so bloody attractive?

Harry coughs. "Oh, um, hello. Hadrian Peverell. Pleasure to meet you."

Abraxas raises an eyebrow, smiling. "Oh? Peverell, huh?" He turns around and calls, "Riddle! Have you met our roommate?"

Harry's eyes narrow to slits. Hell no.

Tom smirks at Harry's now pale face. "We've met."

"Roommate?" Harry asks weakly. Tom nods, maintaining intense eye contact. Harry gulps uneasily. "Wonderful."

"I'm going to meet up with Orion," Abraxas nods to both Harry and Tom before exiting the dormitory.

Tom steps closer to Harry, his breath on the time traveler's neck. "You can't hide anything, Hadrian," Tom whispers. "Trust me, I'll break you."

Harry internally shudders. "Try me, Riddle," he cocks an eyebrow.

Tom's shoulder brushes Harry's as he makes his way to his own bed and Harry can feel his stomach churning.

This mission to stop Voldemort is proving to be harder than he thought.

Befriend Tom Riddle? What is Death even thinking?

Knowing the young wizard, Harry would say that befriending Tom Riddle is even harder than destroying all of Voldemort's horcruxes.

It's going to take all of Harry's willpower to not kill him where he stands.

- - -

Harry wakes up to an unpleasant face standing over him. Harry yelps, realizing that he's only wearing boxers, and scrambles to pull the sheets over his chest.

"Merlin!" Harry flushes as Tom pulls the covers off of him again.

"Up, Hadrian," Tom barks. "Breakfast is in half an hour."

Harry runs a hand over his long jagged scar that runs down his chest, the injury still sore. "Alright. I'm getting up."

Tom wrinkles his nose at Harry's unruly black curls. "Oh, and get a hairbrush."

"I'm broke," Harry says, extremely serious. It's not a lie, his 'aunt and uncle are dead' and he can't access his vault until he's 'eighteen.' Of course, in his timeline he's already eighteen, but there's too much at stake for Harry to blow his cover.

Tom rolls his eyes like it's a joke. "Tame it. Use magic if you must, but please, for Salazaar's sake, make it less..."

Harry raises his eyebrows. "Less what?"

Tom's face reddens. "Meet us at breakfast. There is much to discuss." Then he turns on his heel and exits their dorm, disappearing down the stairs.

Harry sighs. If only Tom was the worst of his worries.

— — —

"There you are, Hadrian," Abraxas smiles as Harry sits down across from him and Tom.

Harry mumbles a quick hello as he stares down at an empty plate.

Tom clears his throat. Harry looks up, bored.

Abraxas smiles. "So, Hadrian. Tell us about yourself. Where did you attend school before this?"

"Homeschooled," Harry mumbles.

"No, there's more." Tom narrows his eyes. "Why are you so injured?"

"Oh, please, as if you care—" Harry scoffs.

"You're keeping something," Tom's eyes glint, "and that intrigues me."

"Don't pry, Riddle," Abraxas protests.

Harry looks at him with a grim smile. "Thank you, Abraxas, but if Tom really wants to know..." Harry turns to Riddle. "I was kidnapped."

"Oh, really?" Tom raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Is that it?"

"Riddle!" Abraxas hisses. "I apologize, Hadrian, that must have been awful."

Tom tilts his head. "No, that's not it. What else are you not—"

"Who's the new guy?" A tall Slytherin boy with dark curly hair saunters over to Harry, smirking.

Harry grimaces. He cannot deal with a bully on the first day living in the 40s.

"Orion, this is Hadrian," Abraxas nods.

Orion... Orion Black? Sirius' father?

Okay. Not a bully, then.

"Pleasure to meet you," Harry forces a smile. "Hadrian Peverell. Sixth year."

"Ah, same year as me, then. What are you doing, hanging around these children?" Orion jokes.

Harry's doesn't know if he's serious until he hears Abraxas snickering.

"I'm kidding, Peverell. We're all friends here," Orion assures him, sticking out his hand. "Orion Black."

Harry shakes it, his body trembling.

"You're looking quite pale, Hadrian. Are you alright?" Abraxas asks, brow creasing. Then his attention turns to Harry's empty plate. "And you haven't eaten a thing."

Harry's stomach churns. He knows that if he tries to eat, his body won't accept it. Two months of starvation does that to you.

"Not hungry," he states simply. Tom eyes him suspiciously.

Merlin, why won't he leave me alone?

"Let me see your timetable," Orion nods at Harry. "I can help you get to classes. I'm sure the professors won't mind if you're a bit behind, seeing as you're new to the castle."

Orion looks down at Harry's timetable which is sitting in front of him, all of his classes listed.

Harry's hand shakes as he grips the table, his knuckles turning white. He completely forgot about the side effects of the Cruciatus curse.

"You look like you're about to faint, Hadrian," Tom remarks.

"I'm fine," Harry growls. His body quivers as he stares at the ground.

Abraxas and Orion eye each other.

"Oh, you have Potions with us first!" Abraxas snatches Harry's timetable out of Orion's hands. Orion wraps his arms around Abraxas' neck, looking at it over his shoulders. Abraxas kisses him playfully, resulting in Orion turning a deep shade of beet.

Harry's mouth falls open slightly in surprise. Are Abraxas and Orion dating? And isn't   Orion marrying Walburga?

"Oh, don't gawk, Peverell," Tom snorts. "Any issues?"

"No issues," Harry responds, smiling to himself. "Just... thinking."

"If you think this one here is hot," Orion laughs, "I wouldn't blame you. Just be warned, he's mine."

"Noted," Harry smiles slightly.

"We'll talk more in Potions," Orion clears his throat. "Nice meeting you, Hadrian."

"You as well," Harry replies, trying to steady himself by clutching the table.

He stares down at his bruised hands. If Tom isn't going to be the death of him, will it be his trauma that finally drives him mad?