Beta: Flava Sava
His fingers to twitched from all his nervous energy. He looked around, and promptly swallowed the lump that started to form in his throat.
"Tom, look at this. Isn't it simply gorgeous?" Harry was still in a daze. Tom was in his store? Tom was gracing him with his presence?
"Quite. Get it if you like. It's not that expensive."
"You'd do that?" Tom responded with a toothy grin.
"Of course I would. You're the best fiancée a man could ask for." His daze evaporated. Fiancée? They were getting married now? Harry fought the urge to scowl as the couple glided to the counter with their arms full of trinkets. "Wrap this up please?" Nodding tensely, he proceeded to take note of the price and wrap each trinket into decorative paper.
"Seven gold," he said, emotionless. He was seething on the inside. This...bitch was getting married to Tom? She didn't deserve him! Oh no, she didn't even deserve to breathe the same air.
Tom took out the coins and put them into Harry's hand, brushing his skin. The bit of warmth made his cheeks red. Yes, Tom was perfect for him. No doubt about it.
Then reality hit him and a burning feeling raged in his gut.
It wasn't ever going to happen. Tom was a straight male, and plenty of people were homophobic, Tom could be the same narrow-minded fool that cluttered the town. Harry deflated but perked up when the idea of a possible façade Tom could be wearing.
Maybe Tom felt it as strongly as Harry did? Maybe those times when they would catch each other's gazes meant something more.
Or when Tom would brush against him. Yes, he was sure Tom felt it.
But what should he do? He could not watch as his Tom get married. He just couldn't.
What could he do? Nothing, a voice in the back of his head whispered. He walked to the front of the store and changed the open sign to close, before a tear fell down his cheek. Poor Tom. He's the real victim here. To have to get married to that horrid woman. Harry pitied him. He had to admit she was somewhat...decent looking. But she wasn't Harry. And that's all that counted in Harry's mind.
What to do?
What could be done? Seduce him? No, that wouldn't work. The town's people already poisoned his mind against Harry. "The town's witch," they called him. Making healing potions didn't count as witchcraft! Such fools. Of course when he heals them of their ailment they like him, but when he has finished doing his job they turn their back on him. I shouldn't have expected anything else, he thought.
"What should I do?" he asked his reflection. Anger and bitter hostility reflected in his eyes. He couldn't help but cry, and he felt utterly helpless. He blinked and tried to focus on his image. Did his reflection just smile at him?
"You really need to stop crying."
"Who are you?" he said, a slight panic in his tone. Was he going crazy now?
"Oh? So you listen to my advice now?" His reflection smirked, all traces of crying gone from his face.
"You've given me advice before?"
It put his hand to the other side of the mirror glass. "I am the voice that constantly suggests things to you. You could call me your conscience."
Maybe his conscience knew something he didn't. Maybe it could help him.
"Would you know of any way I could get Tom to love me? Please you've got to help me!" The other Harry chuckled.
"You already know the answer to that, Harry."
"What do I have to do? Just tell me," he pleaded to his other self.
"Why Harry, all you have to do is feed him that recipe your mom gave you." Harry froze. "You know you want to use it. Your mom told you for emergencies only; this is an emergency. Just think of it. Only you and Tom. No village people, no fiancée. Only you and him." It was smiling down at him. Its features reminded him of a snake. For some reason the tale of Adam and Eve flashed through his mind. Was this his apple?
"But wouldn't some of my soul be gone?" he asked.
"Yes, but isn't this worth it?" the other Harry hissed. "The truth will finally be revealed. Your Tom would finally see the truth."
"You're right," Harry said staring off dreamily. "It's only some of my soul. I would still have some left."
"See? It's the right thing to do..."
"It is." Harry shook his head at his stupidity. Of course this was the answer. He would give Tom a piece of his soul and Tom would realize who he really loves. It sounded so perfect.
"You better get making. It'll take a few weeks..." Harry wasn't listening. He was already on his way to start the brew. Joy filled his heart. What was he crying about again? Oh that's right, Tom's fiancée. He knew exactly what he would do with her. Harry smiled to himself. She would get what was coming to her. And Harry was going to enjoy every last minute of it.
