A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

65: Ding Dong! Tomalonga is Back!

"Oh, yes," they said together. Then they got down on their knees and began groveling.

"We bow to your greatness, O Great Riddle."

"Oh, honestly!" the bushy-haired girl— Hermione, if Tom recalled correctly— said. "You hadn't even introduced yourselves!"

"Oh, damn!"

"We did not!"

"Forgive us, O Great Riddle." Again, being in sync.

"I am Fred." That was the one of the left.

"And I am George, the more handsome between us."

Ginny rolled her eyes at Tom. "You'll get used to them."

Before Tom could answer, a dark blur rounded the corner, colliding into him.

"Harry?"

"Hello!" Harry said cheerfully.

"What the hell are you running from?"

Harry opened his mouth, but then they heard a yell.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER!"

"Shit," said Harry. "Forge, Gred, you might want to run."

"You got it."

All three took off in different directions just as Remus appeared.

The effects of whatever it was they had done were wearing off, but Remus' hair was still mixed with light purple, as if he had been dunked in grape juice. It actually didn't clash too badly with his normal brown and gray. Not like the bright orange fur retreating from his face.

"Um, Remus?" Tom said. "Care to explain all the fur? It isn't a full moon."

"Har har," Remus deadpanned. "The twins have been trying to prank me for the past three years now. They finally got me with Harry's help. If anyone asks why Gryffindor is down by ten points," he added to the other three, "now you know. Now if you excuse me..."

He took off in the direction of Harry.

Hermione's eyes were wide like an owl's. "A-anyway, I'm Hermione Granger."

Tom shook her hand. "And you're Ron?" he said to the boy who was just as tall as him.

"Yeah, and you already know Ginny."

"Do you want us to show you around?" Hermione asked.

"No, thanks. I should be fine. But can you do me a favor and make sure people don't make too much of a hassle? I'd rather not be surrounded by a hundred people."

"Course we can," Hermione said, eager to help. "Come on, Ron."

"Let's get the other prefects to help," Ron suggested as they moved away. "And, Ginny, do not use the Bat-Bogey Hex."

"Damn!" Ginny groaned.

Tom shook his head slightly, amused. Then he continued on in the opposite direction at a leisurely pace.

But even with the prefects all banding together to reduce overwhelming Tom, there were enough people that were making up excuses to get even a glimpse of Tom.

"He wants some privacy!" Ron said, ushering a group of wide-eyed girls from all houses away with one of the Ravenclaw prefect's help. "Show some respect!"

At another point, Draco and a Hufflepuff prefect were arguing with a handful of sixth- or seventh-year boys. One of them let out an audible gasp and stared at Tom.

"All right, you got a look at him," Draco said. "Now move."

Tom managed to slip away, letting out a short breath of relief.