.
.
In the distance, he heard a music box playing, softly, hauntingly, its tune sending chills down his spine and simultaneous butterflies to fly about in his stomach. His heart pounded rhythmically in his ears, and in his mind there rang only a single thought, clear and focused even in the music box's freezing melody.
I have to save him!
And in the snowy cobblestoned streets of medieval London, the young Lord Riddle took off running.
OoooOoooOoooO
Eyes like emerald orbs, or pools of deadly viridian light, slowly fluttered open. In the boy's ears there came the sound of a piano, lovely but eerily so in the tune's minor key. Gentle eyes, identical to his own, smiled down at him, only thinly obscured by red hair.
Lily…no, mother
He went back to sleep.
OoooOoooOoooO
Death watched over his charges carefully, sending none to Life until Fate decided it was time. In His many years of existence and divinity, Death had rarely formed attachments to anything. And yet, let it never be said that when He did get attached, he didn't let it control him.
He'd only ever formed bonds with two humans. They now belonged to him, as embodiments of Pain and Suffering. He had no need for anyone else, until the boy came.
It was brief, not but a moment had they so much as locked gazes before Life whisked him back to fulfill what Fate had planned for him. But that was long enough for Death to realize he wanted the boy to join him.
OoooOoooOoooO
Avada Kadavera!
The sword with an emerald pommel, now enchanted, cleaved through the demon's leathery flesh as easily as a knife would cut through hot butter.
In some way, this could be considered murder. And that consideration was enough for it to be murder, and was thus enough for Tom to perform the actions necessary to find him.
That feisty servant boy whom he'd been so foolish as to trust his brother to look after…
Those fiery green eyes which had always caught him with their intense passion…
Keep strong, Harry…I'll rescue you soon, and nothing will stand in my way!
OoooOoooOoooO
There were six now.
Surely it would be enough.
The six of them, alike in every way save their amount of soul, entered Death's abode.
OoooOoooOoooO
Green eyes opened once more and he was able to better sense what was going on.
He was dressed in black, even though everything around him was white.
This place was so…empty.
He couldn't hear a thing beyond the white confines of the room, and yet he knew something was going to happen soon. Something big.
OoooOoooOoooO
Eyes like garnets, or more akin to pools of blood, stared darkly down at the tattered cloak that had once belonged to Death.
Something compelled him to take it, to slip it on. And he did, if only to see what would happen.
And all at once, he felt omnipotent and all-powerful. As if he could do anything he wanted.
An image came to him, unbidden, of dreamy green eyes and pale skin and windswept hair, and he remembered, then, and knew what he had to do.
OoooOoooOoooO
Death, who could take on any form He so chose, had form no longer.
OoooOoooOoooO
He woke up a third time, covered warmly by Death's tattered cloak, and instantly lost himself in Tom's red eyes. He smiled at him, lovingly, and Harry felt his stomach do a flip.
"You came for me."
"Of course I did. Someone has to polish my boots." That voice was just as smooth and dark as he remembered. "Besides, I've always liked the idea of taking down death."
Harry snuggled closer, deeper into Tom's chest, and smiled contentedly.
And so they returned home.