Harry appeared out of thin air, a blur of motion as he landed between the attackers and the group. His wand was already in his hand, and with a swift, fluid movement, he disarmed the nearest gunman. The firearm flew from their grip, clattering to the ground.
"Get them back inside!" Harry shouted over his shoulder, his green eyes blazing as he turned to face the second attacker.
Tom hesitated for a moment, his mind racing, but Barty was already moving, dragging Tom and Sirius toward the safety of the building despite his injuries.
Harry's wand slashed through the air, sending a stunning spell hurtling toward the second rider. The man swerved to avoid it, but Harry was relentless, casting again and again until the motorcycle skidded out of control and crashed into the rubble of the car.
The first attacker, now weaponless, attempted to flee, but Harry was faster. With a flick of his wand, he sent a disarming hex followed by a body-bind curse, immobilizing the assailant in seconds.
The entire encounter lasted less than a minute, but to Tom, it felt like an eternity.
As the dust settled, Harry turned back toward them, his chest heaving as he surveyed the scene. His gaze locked on Sirius, who was still clutching Tom's leg, the protective barrier around him slowly fading.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
Sirius nodded shakily, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I think so."
Tom's gaze shifted to Harry, his grey eyes sharp and assessing. "You've got some explaining to do, Mr. Potter."
Harry straightened, brushing soot from his jacket. "And you've got some enemies who are getting bolder, Mr. Riddle."
Tom's lips tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he turned to Snape and Barty, who were already working to secure the scene.
"We need answers," Tom said coldly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Find out who's behind this."
Barty, grimacing from his injury, nodded. "Already on it, sir."
Snape glanced at Harry, his dark eyes calculating. "And what of Mr. Potter? His… timing was impeccable."
Tom's attention shifted back to Harry, lingering for a moment. He was about to question further when a gasp caught his attention. The principal and Mrs. Carter stood frozen nearby, their wide eyes darting between Harry, the wreckage, and the golden shimmer that had protected Sirius.
Tom cursed inwardly. Spectators.
Harry stepped forward, his wand discreetly at his side. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed them. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he said. "It's not safe here. Please get inside."
Waverly hesitated, his expression a mixture of shock and suspicion. "And just who are you?"
Harry's wand flicked subtly, and Waverly's expression softened, his gaze unfocused.
"You don't need to worry about this," Harry said smoothly, the charm weaving into his words. "The situation is under control. Please ensure the children inside are safe."
The principal nodded slowly. "Yes… of course."
Mrs. Carter looked ready to protest, but another flick of Harry's wand rendered her silent and compliant.
"A memory modification spell," Tom murmured, his voice laced with something between admiration and unease. "Effective."
Harry turned back to him, his green eyes hard. "It's better they don't remember that magic was involved. It's enough that you've to explain to a bunch of school officials why someone was shooting at you."
Tom's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't argue. Instead, he gestured to Sirius, who was still clinging to his side. "What I want to know is how you knew to come."
Harry straightened, meeting Tom's gaze with calm resolve. "The pendant," he said simply, gesturing toward the small charm that rested against Sirius's chest. "The one I gave him. It's enchanted. If Sirius is ever in danger, it alerts me. That's how I knew."
Tom's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "And you didn't think to mention this before?"
"I didn't think I needed to," Harry replied, his voice firm but not defensive. "It's a precaution I put in place the moment I accepted this job. Sirius's safety is my priority."
Sirius touched the pendant, his fingers trembling as he stared up at Harry. "You mean… you were here because of this?"
Harry nodded, his expression softening as he crouched to Sirius's level. "That's right. It's like having an invisible alarm. The moment you were in danger, I knew, and I came as fast as I could."
Sirius's lips trembled, but he managed a small, shaky smile. "Thank you, Harry."
Tom rose to his full height, his grey eyes boring into Harry. "That charm... it created the barrier as well?"
Harry hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. "Yes. The enchantment is layered—first, it creates a shield around Sirius to protect him from immediate harm. It has three uses, but it alerts me, so I can get there as quickly as possible."
Tom studied him for a long moment, his expression betraying none of his thoughts. "You take your responsibilities seriously," he said finally, his tone carefully neutral.
"Of course I do," Harry said, standing as well. "Sirius isn't just a job. He's… important."
Sirius, still clutching his pendant, looked up at his father. "Father, you're not mad at Harry, are you?"
Tom glanced down at his son, his features softening just slightly. "No, Sirius. I'm not angry. If anything…" His gaze flickered back to Harry. "I'm impressed."
As they moved through the aftermath of the attack, Tom's mind raced with grim calculations. He didn't show it, of course—his face was as calm and composed as ever. But the images replayed in his head: the gunshots, the explosion, the way Sirius had clung to him in terror. And that barrier…
Three times. That's how many shots he'd counted that had been aimed at Sirius. And then the force of the explosion.
His jaw tightened imperceptibly. Four impacts. Four moments where his son's life had hung by a thread.
And Harry had said the pendant only had three uses.
The thought hit him like a blow to the chest. If Harry had arrived a second later… if Sirius had been caught in the blast… if one more bullet had been fired…
He would have lost him.
Tom's hand twitched at his side, curling into a fist. He'd told himself he'd done everything to protect Sirius. But this… this had been too close.
When they reached the waiting car, Sirius was already inside, nestled safely under Harry's watchful gaze. Tom lingered outside for a moment longer than necessary, his grey eyes dark and distant as he stared at the boy.
He didn't realize Harry had stepped out of the car until he spoke.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked quietly, his green eyes studying Tom with an intensity that was hard to ignore.
Tom straightened immediately, his usual stoicism snapping back into place. "I'm fine," he said briskly.
But Harry didn't look convinced. His gaze lingered, and then, almost too softly, he added, "It's okay to be shaken, you know. You almost lost him today."
Tom's breath caught, but his face remained impassive. "I don't have the luxury of being shaken, Mr. Potter. Not when Sirius's safety depends on me staying focused."
Harry tilted his head slightly, his expression calm but knowing. "Sirius needs you to be his father, not a fortress."
The words hit deeper than Tom expected, and for a fleeting moment, the cracks in his façade showed. The faint furrow of his brow, the tension in his jaw—it was all there, barely concealed.
"I can't lose him," Tom said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You won't," Harry said firmly. He stepped closer, his tone steady and reassuring. "Sirius is safe now. He's with us. And I'll make sure he stays that way."
Tom's eyes locked onto Harry's, searching for something he couldn't quite name. Trust, perhaps. Reassurance. He hated how much he needed it.
"You've been unwavering in your dedication to him," Tom said after a moment, his voice quieter now.
Harry shook his head. "You did everything you could. The pendant worked. And we made it in time."
"Thank you," Tom said finally, the words heavy with meaning.
Harry offered a small, understanding smile. "Sirius is a great kid. He deserves the best. And for what it's worth, he's lucky to have you as a father."
Tom didn't respond, but as they stepped back into the car, his gaze lingered on Sirius. He couldn't lose him. He wouldn't. And for the first time in years, Tom allowed himself to feel something other than anger or ambition—something dangerously close to gratitude.
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