I first got this idea in a dream, but of course as you do with all good dreams I forgot most of it. However, I remembered the main idea so I could recreate the rest. I mentioned the idea at one of our school library's Library Committee meetings and one of my friends pushed me to finally write it, therefore I dedicate this first chapter to WisdomEyes

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Chapter One: Natural Instinct

'Mum! Mum!' Dean Thomas shouted through the open door of his house. It had been over half a year since he had been there. The war was over, Voldemort was dead and Harry potter was victorious. Dean wasn't on the run or in hiding anymore. He was a free man with a new wand, returning home to see his family. He ran down the hallway as fast as he could, still on edge after the ordeal, to the small kitchen were his mother would be. He didn't know the day or the month, he wasn't even sure if it was the same year, but someone would be home.

'Mum?' he said once more.

A short dark woman walked out of the pantry, she stared at the boy in front of her and dropped the bag of flour which she held. She ran to him "Dean? Dean, my son, you are home; you are alive"

She covered him in kisses and hugged him tight. They sat and cried for half an hour until Mrs Thomas said "we must tell your sisters, Sarah and Anna, and your step father Mark. They will be so pleased; we have missed you so much. Come now, I assume you know where the phone is."

The family celebrated for a long time. He told them all about the snatchers, their escape, Shell Cottage and then the Battle. He also told them about Voldemort's death and how Harry was the hero of the wizarding world yet again. His sisters wouldn't let go of him, but soon he noticed that his mother wasn't there. He gave a pleading look to Mark, who suggested that the girls go to bed. They grudgingly did after wishing their brother goodnight. Dean walked down to his mother's bedroom

"He's home darling, our little boy is home. He's alive, I knew he would be. You'd be proud of him, he's so strong and he looks just like you well he has my skin colour, but he is amazing" she was saying.

"Mum? Who is that?" Dean asked seeing the picture she was holding. It was a photo of a pale man with brown hair and eyes like his own. He was smiling

"That's your father Dean" she smiled

"Tell me about him"

"He was a wonderful man. He was a soldier, that's why he wasn't home that often, but he was here when ever he could be. We wrote letters as well. I almost had to tell him about being pregnant with you in a letter, but he suddenly came back and proposed before I had ever told him. He stayed for several months, but he was needed at the front. He came back as often as he could and he sent us the most amazing gifts, he sent you that soft toy rabbit, the yellow one. The last letter I got from him was on Halloween, it was 10 days before your 2nd birthday, saying he'd be home soon and he loved us both. However, the next day a tall hook nosed man came and told me he had died. You started to cry so hard even though you were so small"

"What was his name?"

"Tom, his name was Tom"

Snow whirled around the hem of the man's cloak. He walked quickly to the Muggle pub. This man was known all over the world for the crimes he committed, but that didn't mean he didn't want a drink now and then.

Luckily, wait he did not believe in luck, he looked in a window before entering the bar. He still had those red eyes. After a complex bit of magic he walked into the bar with brown eyes flashing.

It had a smoky and hazy atmosphere. A short black woman stood at the bar; though he loathed to admit it the Muggle was beautiful. She laughed with the bikers and held her own. He took a seat and looked at his long pale fingers

"Now what would you like sweetheart?" she asked him

"Red wine" he said taking in her beauty. She opened him a bottle "thank you... Sorry your name?"

"Milly, call me Milly" she smiled before going to serve someone else. He poured himself another glass and waited for her to return.

She did. After 20 minutes she walked over and asked him "You're new in town, I haven't seen you around here before"

"I'll be around for business" he said while thinking 'and other things'

"Well why don't we make that bottle a welcome gift Mr- sorry I never learnt your name"

"Tom, my name is Tom"

Dean sat on his bed; he hadn't slept in it for a long time. It seemed as though his mother had kept remaking it with new sheets as it didn't have a speck of dust on it. Looking down at the photo he held he felt his stomach drop.

He should have known, his mother wasn't a witch so she wouldn't have known, but he as a wizard should have. His father was no Muggle, he was a wizard. He was one of the most famous wizards of the age. Harry wasn't the only Parselmouth at Hogwarts. Oh no Dean knew that Harry had not egged on the snake,

That he had told it to stop. He was one of the only ones. The first time he'd ever been to a zoo all he had wanted to do was visit the reptile house. When his mum finally took him there he found a huge snake. It talked to him; actually it told him a joke. When he told his mother she didn't believe him. He didn't mind, he knew it told him a joke even if it was a bad one.

Dean had heard the Basilisk in his second year, but he didn't let anyone know. Talking to snakes wasn't a good thing in the magical world, even he knew that. He could also add two and two. There was only two other men who could speak Parselmouth. Harry Potter and a man called Tom, his father, for his father was Voldemort.

The man yet again walked down the road. However this road was no longer covered in snow, but littered with sunlight. Tom Marvolo Riddle walked into the bar. Milly served the usual crowd of bikers, she looked up and smiled

"What are you going to get me to drink today Milly?" his voice usually so cold was as warm as the road outside

"Hmmm let's see, apple juice I think" she laughed

"I have never had apple juice before, good choice" Tom said

Her eyes went wide "Never had apple juice? That is amazing"

"No I haven't. I like green apples though, so I imagine I'll like it. Also I have a good reference"

A large glass of cold golden brown liquid was put in front of him. He picked it up and took a large draft of it. It was sweet and slightly tangy. He liked it and finished the glass in one go. Milly's dark face broke into an even larger smile. She poured two more glasses and sat down across from him, they clinked glasses and drank. He smiled willingly. However he looked down, what was this? He kept visiting this pub when he should have been taking over the wizarding world and he felt something in his chest whenever he looked at this girl. His chest filled with warmth and what felt like- but no it couldn't be. He couldn't love her, he didn't believe in love, for he was Voldemort.

There was a light thump on Dean's window. He frowned his bedroom was on the second floor. There was another thump, but this time Dean saw the pebble hit the window. He frowned again, wondering when had his life turned into a cheesy movie. Luna sat on the top of the fence surrounding the property with a hand full of stones. Chuckling he remembered when they had sat on the fence of Shell Cottage throwing pebbles into the sea until Bill told them off, Fleur laughing through the kitchen window. Sliding open the window - and hoping that Luna wouldn't through another pebble - Dean shouted "Hey Luna! Want to use the door like a normal person?"

She smiled dusting off her hands on her vibrant orange robes, some wizards never learn, and jumped off the fence "Now why would I want to do that?"

There was no reference to magical beasts only she thought existed, or insane ideas her father reported, just a simple question. Luna had changed a lot while at Shell Cottage, sure she still believed in insane facts, but she didn't quote them all the time like she used to. The last time he had heard one of these announcements was at the meal after the Battle of Hogwarts one week ago and he had seen her several times since then. Luna lived with her Father a town over in a house shaped like a Rook. So practically every day since they had come home one would apparate to the others house to hang out, they even once passed each other in mid apparition. Startling Mrs Thomas no end when it was a girl in her backyard and not her son.

"How are you coming up then?" Dean asked, rolling his eyes.

Luna took a leaping jump and grabbed the window sill, he grabbed her arms and pulled her into his room

She beamed "That's how"

Dean dragged her down stairs, both of his sisters snickered at their clasped hands as they left for school. As he walked into the pantry to grab some cereal for the both of them – Luna was fascinated by the Muggle coco pops – and realized that he still wore his pajamas. He poured their cereal and ran upstairs to change; taking off his flannel pants he hurried to put on jeans and a t-shirt with the logo of the Weird Sisters on it. When he arrived back Luna sat eating his cereal "Oi! That's mine"

"Oops" She winked and pulled out another bowl to fill. They sat and ate in comfortable silence. When they had finished Luna grabbed both of their bowls and put them into the dish washer, she had learnt a lot about Muggle life in a week "Talked to anyone else since the battle?"

"I've talked to Seamus a few times, he's okay though his Mum won't let him out of her sight, and Bill, him and Fleur are okay if not a little sad. Fred's funeral was on Friday and Lupin & Tonks' was the next day, but services were very small" Dean replied

"Yes Harry has been run off his feet, he feels a personal responsibility to attend every funeral there is. But he's staying with Ron and Ginny till his house is sorted out, Hermione's there too. Mrs Weasely believes Harry's house elf, Kreacher, is a Godsend. Bill and Mr Weasely are getting rid of all the jinxes Mad Eye Moody put up around Harry's house. I'm going to help all of them redecorate it after they are all done, Harry said you could come and help if you wanted because they all want to see you. Everyone else from the Order is coming, but I'll have to get Harry to tell you the address as the Fidelius charm has been redone –"

"Luna what happened to Voldemort?" Dean asked quickly, interrupting her

"Um… Harry insisted that he was buried. So him and a few order members took him out into the Forbidden Forrest and buried him, they gave him a headstone and everything, it only said Tom Riddle though. Harry decided he was only human when he died so he deserved it in a way. Why do you want to know?"

Dean looked down. Why did he want to know? He had never meet his father, he had seen him of course, but he had never met him as he had 'died' before Dean's second birthday and had left for war before he had even been born. But Tom Riddle was still his father and it was only right that he would feel something for him; it was only natural, right?

Tom heard the light thump of the door as a young blond haired man entered the room; Lucius Malfoy. Lucius was a proud man, a clever man, a cold man, a cunning man, a man of purest blood. He was the image of Slytherin, tall and long haired "You wished to see me, Master"

"Ah Lucius as polite as ever, yes I did wish to see you. I have a question to ask you my loyal friend. I understand you have just married Miss Narcissa Black" Lucius nodded, wide eyed terrified for his wife "What does love feel like?"

Tom stopped his pacing and looked into the flames licking the half, they were green even though no floo powder burned amongst them. He was sure this question scared Lucius more than anything he had ever told him.

"M-my lord?" He stammered paler than usual

"Lucius" Tom chuckled putting down the glass of golden brown liquid which he held "Lucius, do not fear. I do not plan to kill you or your wife, unless you displease me in the future. Tell me honestly what does love feel like?"

His servant smiled and his cold grey eyes filled with warmth "When you love someone you feel like you're filled with fire, but it doesn't matter because it doesn't burn. You feel warm and you can't help but smile. You act like your true self because you don't have to be anything else. You would die for the person you love"

"I see, thank you Lucius. You may go" Tom whispered, but Lucius heard every word and left. Tom looked at his hands and put them to his chest which felt like it was on fire. Did this mean he was in love with Milly? Was he even able to love, he'd loved nothing before. He changed into one of the only Muggle outfits he owned, a dark suit and a green tie, and apparated to a small village where there was a cozy little pub and a beautiful bar maid.

The pub was empty due to the late hour, but as always the door was open. Milly stood with her back to the door cleaning glasses "It would be so easy for someone to murder you right now"

She jumped and turned around "oh Tom! It's been a while"

It had been a month since he had last been here and since then Milly had cut her hair short, it suited her. Tom hesitated, which he had never done before. He always let out an air of surety around him when around people, so that they would either respect him or fear him. He took a deep breath and looked Milly in the eye "Are you about to close up? Because there is this nice restaurant down the road which I wish to try and, of course, I cannot dine alone. Would you care join to join me?"

On the last word he bowed and took her hand to kiss, Milly giggled "Tom are you asking me out?"

"I believe I am, Miss Milly, I believe I am" Tom smiled, Lucius was right when you loved someone you could be himself

"Then yes I would love to Mr Riddle"

Tom smiled at the woman on his arm, she was beautiful and smart and kind and it was only right that he would feel something for her; it was only natural, right?

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So there is Chapter One. I hope you enjoyed it :D

Amy aka Luke (aka Drakkie) xxoo