Author's Note: So this is an AU written as a gift for a tumblr fic exchange. The chapters will alternate Tom and Harry's POV, but this first mixture is a mix of both and spans their youth together. From next chapter it will be a regular timeline :) I hope you enjoy the story. I also update on AO3, so check out my profile page to find my account info!

Also, this is aiming to be very in-character so Tom will be a bit of an asshole at times but he'll get there ;) lol

1st Year

1st September, 1991

"Excuse me! Could you tell me how to get to platform nine and three-quarters?"

Tom looked up at the sound of the platform number. He spotted a small boy, who couldn't possibly be any older than Tom himself, talking with an unamused Muggle station worker.

The boy was thin, perhaps overly so, with messy dark hair, glasses that had a mass of sellotape wound around the middle, and clothes that were far too big for him. Tom couldn't help but feel a connection to the boy; the last foster parents Tom had stayed with certainty hadn't cared enough to dress Tom in clothes that were clean or fitted properly.

"Excuse me, boy?" Tom called out as he hurried over to him, glancing up at the clock which said there was still ten minutes to go until the train left.

The boy looked towards him, confusion morphing into hopefulness when he saw the large trunk that Tom was dragging behind him.

"Hi!" The boy greeted breathlessly. "Are you going to-?"

"School, yes," Tom cut in. "I couldn't help but overhear that you don't know where the platform is."

The boy flushed. "Nobody thought to tell me. I only heard it existed a month ago."

Tom crinkled his nose. The boy appeared to have been raised by Muggles like Tom, but when Professor McGonagall had visited Tom she'd been very professional and told him everything he needed to know.

"You have to run at the barrier, right between platforms nine and ten," Tom explained. "I'll go first so you can see."

Tom took a confident stride towards the barrier and felt magic wash over him as he passed through it. The boy appeared moments later, looking much more relaxed.

"Thank you," the boy smiled, green eyes sparkling behind his glasses. "I don't know what I'd have done if I hadn't run into you. I'm Harry, what's your name?"

Harry offered out his hand, and Tom eyed it warily for a moment before shaking it.

Tom wasn't the kind of boy who made friends easily, or felt the need to. He was plenty happy on his own and didn't need anyone else. Something about Harry seemed to resonate something within him, though.

He offered Harry a smile of his own.

"I'm Tom."

12th November, 1991

Draco glowered as Harry sank down onto the bench beside Tom.

"Problem, Draco?" Tom asked snidely.

"Gryffindors don't belong at the Slytherin table," Draco sneered, but there was little venom in his voice. Draco had quickly learned that Tom was in charge.

"Neither do whining babies," Harry retorted, stealing the bread roll off Tom's plate and giving him a sly smile.

It was a shame that they'd been Sorted into different Houses. The other Slytherins were just about bearable now, but they'd started off the start of term by mocking Tom for his Muggle heritage until Tom had made a point of showing them why nobody should mess with him.

Since then they'd fearfully tried to befriend him or politely avoided him, but Tom considered nobody a friend but Harry—Gryffindor Harry who came from a broken home like Tom, and had courage and heart bigger than his body. He was so different to Tom in character but they got on so easily, like they belonged together, two parts of one person.

The other Slytherins were just going to have to get used to Harry, because Tom wasn't going to ditch him anytime soon.

19th June, 1992

"How long have you been able to talk to snakes?"

Tom looked away from the adder and to Harry, whose hair was gleaming in the sunlight.

The school year was drawing to a close and lessons with it. The weather was pleasantly warm so, like most students, Tom and Harry had chosen to relax outside in the shade of some willow trees.

"As long as I can remember," Tom answered, petting the snake's head gently. "One of my foster mothers lived in a rural village and there were lots of snakes there that I spoke to. She sent me back to the children's home because of all the snakes coming into her house; she blamed me and said I was a freak."

"My aunt and uncle think I'm a freak but they don't have anywhere to send me," Harry said quietly. "I wish I didn't have to go back to them this summer."

"It can't be worse than the children's home," Tom muttered darkly. "I hate it. I wish we could both just stay here for the holidays."

"I'd like that," Harry smiled. "Having Hogwarts to ourselves would be brilliant."

"Pity that idiot Dumbledore wouldn't let us," Tom growled. He already wasn't fond of the headmaster, who was the only professor who didn't think that Tom was the best student in the year, even better than that Granger girl.

"I like Dumbledore," Harry shrugged. "I suppose he just has rules he has to follow."

"You're so naive sometimes, Harry," Tom said, and when Harry frowned he quickly added, "I'll miss you this summer."

Harry's expression softened again.

"I'll miss you, too."

2nd Year

1st September, 1992

Tom was waiting for him on the platform.

Harry grinned widely, running towards his friend and dodging the crowd. He almost made it to Tom clean until his trunk got caught in a pothole and Harry fell onto Tom instead.

Tom caught Harry easily and looked down at him with an amused smirk. Harry wasn't sure if it was just the angle but Tom seemed to somehow be even taller now than he had been at the end of term.

"Hey," Harry greeted sheepishly, untangling himself from Tom's arms and standing straight.

"And you want to try out for Quidditch this year?" Tom teased, giving Harry a slow look up and down. "Come on, I want to make sure we get a compartment to ourselves."

He grasped Harry's wrist, pulling him towards the magical barrier that led to platform nine and three-quarters.

Once they were settled on the train, indeed in a compartment of their own, Harry finally felt able to relax.

He'd had a miserable summer and the thought of being back at Hogwarts and with Tom had been the only thing that had got Harry through it.

"Rough summer?" Tom commented, demonstrating his uncanny ability of always being able to tell what Harry was thinking.

"The worst," Harry stated. "The Dursleys are scared of me using magic against them so they completely ignored me which seemed good at first, but after a week of no communication, scraps of food and being shoved outside all day…"

"I can't believe they get away with treating you like they do," Tom growled. "You must have some other family somewhere. I must have. I think I'm going to research our families this year."

"I've got you, at least," Harry smiled. "That's all the family I need."

25th December, 1992

Christmas at Hogwarts was quiet but beautiful. Hardly any students stayed behind, and Harry and Tom were the only two from their year.

It almost felt like having the castle to themselves, and as all the other Gryffindors had gone home, Harry invited Tom to Gryffindor Tower every night where they slept in the common room in front of the fireplace.

They sat there now, both wrapped in a duvet and sipping creamy hot chocolate. Firelight cast golden shadows across their forms, and allowed them to read the research parchments Tom had found.

"I had a godfather," Harry said quietly, looking down at the photo of the handsome Sirius Black. "And he's the one who murdered my parents."

"I'm sorry," Tom said, patting Harry's shoulder. "Azkaban have visiting hours if you ever want to go and talk to him."

Harry shuddered at the thought. "What is there to say to a man like that? I'm sorry you couldn't find anything about your family."

"I must be looking in the wrong places," Tom shrugged. "I'm sure I'm an heir of Salazar Slytherin—I have to be, being a Parselmouth—but his lineage is almost impossible to trace for the last two centuries."

"Always knew you'd have some powerful wizard as an ancestor," Harry grinned. "No wonder you're best in class."

"Natural skill has also taken me far," Tom smirked. "Fancy a game of Wizard's Chess? I'm sure you'll come close to beating me one day if you keep trying."

Harry's grin grew. It was always easy being with Tom.

18th April, 1993

"Are you sure about Arithmancy? Isn't that just maths?"

Harry crinkled his nose at the thought.

Tom rolled his eyes. "Arithmancy is far more than just maths; numbers have immense power and importance in magic. Divination, on the other hand, is nothing but superstition; cross that off your list, Harry."

"Ron's taking it," Harry said with a shrug, scratching a line through the subject anyway. "I don't know what options to take! How am I supposed to know what I'll like until I get there?"

"Think of the value of the subject instead," Tom suggested. "Divination we've already discussed, and Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures are both pointless; that leaves Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. But do what you want, Harry; I can't pick for you."

Harry went for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes anyway, because then even if he hated them, at least he'd have Tom in his class.

3rd Year

21st August, 1993

The summer sun glinted off Harry's dark hair as he closed his eyes and turned his face towards the sun.

The rooftop of the old, abandoned train station gave a perfect view of the centre of London, the Thames stretching out in front of them.

Tom stretched his legs out and looked over Harry fondly. He'd sent Harry some money, that Tom had stolen from his social worker, so that they could spend the summer in London together.

So far it had been perfect, better than lurking the streets of London on his own.

"Do you think we'll be caught up here?" Harry asked, running his fingers across the rooftop and flicking loose stones from it.

"We're magic," Tom answered simply. "Muggles can't touch us."

"Muggles aren't as bad as you seem to think, Tom," Harry said. "They're not all bad."

Tom rolled his eyes but didn't answer. Harry was simply too sweet to understand; Muggles had done nothing but let them both down until they'd been accepted by a world of magic instead.

Magic was power, magic was strength, and magic was might. The other Slytherins knew that, and were coming to respect Tom as their better, but Harry's heart was just too sympathetic and kind to truly resent anyone.

Tom couldn't hate Harry for it, though. Regardless of Harry's naivety, he was still Tom's best friend and perhaps the only person Tom actually cared about.

4th October, 1993

"I just don't understand Arithmancy," Harry huffed, tossing his book onto the desk where it landed with a heavy thud.

"It's quite simple really," Tom said smoothly. "You just need to clear your head so you can figure out the numerical equations easily."

Harry snorted. "That's easy for you to say, Mr-Best-In-The-Class."

Tom fixed Harry with an amused smile. "You're smart too, Harry, you just need to focus a bit more. Academic intelligence is by no means equal to street smarts."

"Street smarts doesn't get me through school though, does it?" Harry pointed out.

"You're not going to fail, Harry," Tom retorted calmly. "I'll tutor you."

There were lines of Slytherins begging Tom to tutor them, but he had no interest in helping them and gave them excuses that still managed to make them think he was polite.

Tom would gladly give his time to help Harry, however.

"Thanks, Tom!" Harry smiled. "If we can get me to an A then I'll be happy."

"I'll get you an O," Tom said confidently.

1st June, 1994

"I think my godfather is innocent."

Tom stared at Harry unblinkingly.

"Sirius Black, found guilty of three counts of murder and conspiring against the Ministry, is actually innocent?" Tom repeated. "How did you come to that conclusion?"

It wasn't that Tom didn't believe Harry—he certainly believed the Ministry capable of making such a mistake—but Tom liked to go on fact rather than faith.

"I was doing some research," Harry said, lowering his voice, "and it turns out Sirius's family were all blood purists who disowned him for going against their beliefs. His cousin Bellatrix was sent to prison not long after Sirius, and there were rumours she'd been the one to frame him along with the supposed third victim Peter Pettigrew, but the Ministry never bothered to follow up on that lead. And I just have this feeling, you know?"

"I imagine the Ministry wouldn't have wanted to look incompetent by admitting they'd arrested and immediately jailed a man who was actually innocent," Tom murmured.

"I can't leave him if there's a chance he could be innocent, Tom," Harry said seriously, eyes glistening in a way that had Tom yearning to protect him. "I know it's far-fetched-"

"But there's a chance you're right and you need to go for it," Tom cut in. "I'll help you, Harry; what are friends for?"

4th Year

31st October, 1994

"And the Champion for Hogwarts is...Cedric Diggory!"

Harry watched as Cedric got to his feet beaming, and walked towards Dumbledore to shake his hand.

"Diggory?" Tom murmured from beside Harry. "I suppose he's the best Seventh-Year had to offer. I could have easily bested all the Champions."

Harry grinned. "Shame you're too young. It would be fun to be a Champion but I reckon you'd have to prepare a lot for the tasks."

"And we all know preparation is not your strong suit," Tom said with an amused smirk of his own.

"It would have been something more fun to do than schoolwork, though," Harry pointed out, because as much as he loved Hogwarts he still found living at school a bit dull at times.

Unless he was with Tom, of course. Harry could never grow bored with Tom.

25th December, 1994

Harry couldn't help but glare at Daphne Greengrass. She was easily the prettiest girl in their year, with long legs, blonde hair, and an ample chest. She was every boy's dream date, and as Tom was every girl's dream date it was natural that they had ended up going to the Yule Ball together.

It made Harry's stomach twist for all the wrong reasons. Tom was his best friend; Harry wasn't supposed to fancy him.

But Harry still fancied him regardless.

Tom was tall and handsome and witty, and the star in some of Harry's more confusing dreams. He'd recently realised that he liked boys the same way he liked girls, and that he liked Tom more than anyone.

Harry knew he couldn't say anything, though; his friendship with Tom was far too important to him and he didn't want to make Tom uncomfortable.

No, Harry would just have to stay quiet.

But watching Daphne smile brightly as Tom span her round in a dance, Harry knew that staying quiet would be difficult.

30th June, 1995

Sirius Black had wild hair, scrappy clothes, and an impossibly tight hug.

But still his arms around Harry were comforting in a way he'd never experienced before, like the hug of a father.

"Oh, Harry," Sirius breathed into his hair. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you all these years."

"It wasn't your fault," Harry said, patting Sirius's back gently, not quite able to reach his shoulders.

Harry pulled back from Sirius before the hug became too crushing. He glanced at Tom who was waiting patiently at the side, looking rather pleased with himself.

Sirius followed Harry's gaze and sent Tom a grateful smile.

"I can't thank you enough, Tom!" Sirius said seriously. "All those letters you sent to the Ministry...convincing my insane cousin to give a confession…"

"I said I could do better than the Triwizard Champions," Tom replied confidently. "Besides, I care about Harry and I want to see him happy."

The words made Harry's heart feel warm, and he took a shot and drew Tom into a hug. Tom stiffened for a moment but quickly relaxed and rested his cheek on top of Harry's head as he wrapped his arms around Harry.

It felt exactly where Harry needed to be.

5th Year

5th August, 1995

It wasn't that Tom hadn't expected Harry to spend time with his reunited godfather, but he certainly never expected Harry to suddenly spend all his time with Sirius.

The last two summers Tom had spent with Harry had been wonderful with just the two of them, but now Harry was too busy with his new godfather and his new house to see Tom.

Luckily Tom knew where Harry lived, so he told his social worker he was staying with a friend for the summer and invited himself over to Harry's.

Harry readily invited him inside and offered him a room to stay in, as Tom had known he would. And he didn't even bat an eyelid when Tom suggested he move a bed into Harry's room so they could sleep together.

Tom knew he was probably being a bit petty, far more than he would be with any other person, but Harry mattered to him a lot and he wanted to make sure Sirius knew that.

Sirius was a decent enough man, if not a bit depressed, but that was to be expected after spending over a decade in Azkaban. Besides, anyone was better than the abusive Dursleys, and Tom would rather fight for attention than see Harry sent back there.

No, it was a good thing that Sirius was out of prison an innocent man with custody of Harry. Tom knew he would always be Harry's number one anyway.

23rd November, 1995

Harry was attractive, that was clear to see. He had a cute face, striking green eyes, and a kind smile.

All the girls fancied him, and it made Tom hate them for daring to look at Harry like they did.

Harry was sweet and lovely, and didn't deserve to be treated like a piece of meat. None of them were good for Harry; nobody would be but Tom.

Tom couldn't quite say when his affection and friendship turned into a crush, but he knew that his feelings for Harry were now stronger than ever.

Tom didn't do people. He'd grown up only ever able to rely on himself, and most of his 'friendships' were nothing but cosmetic, people who could be of some use to him in the future.

Harry was different, though. Harry had always been different. He was the one person Tom trusted and respected, the one person Tom gave a damn about.

The one person he might one day be able to fall in love with.

20th June, 1996

"I can't believe the OWLs are finally over," Harry grinned, linking his arm with Tom's as they hurried across the grounds of Hogwarts.

Night was falling, the sun already set low in the sky. Their curfew had been extended to allow them to celebrate the end of exams, and they were making the most of it.

Harry had been given a couple of bottles of Firewhisky by Sirius, and he and Tom had already almost finished one bottle between them.

The alcohol had brought a flush to Harry's cheeks and a smile to his face, and Tom thought he had never looked so beautiful.

They stopped by a willow tree on the shores of the lake, stumbling over one another as they tried to sit down with their arms still linked.

Harry laughed brightly, eyes almost glowing in the almost darkness.

Tom didn't even think before he kissed him. But then Harry was kissing him back, and everything was perfect.

6th Year

2nd December, 1996

Dating Tom was blissfully easy.

Going from friends to best friends to boyfriends felt natural, like things were meant to be, and nothing had changed between them but also everything had.

It was still easy for them to talk for hours, to have complete trust in one another, and to make each other smile like no one else could. But now there was kissing and touching as well, and Harry adored kissing Tom.

Tom's lips were sinful, his fingers electric, and cosying up on sofas or in broom cupboards or empty classrooms to kiss and be wrapped up in one another was wonderful.

Every time they walked through Hogwarts together they would hold hands so everybody knew that they were off-limits now.

And even the people who disapproved of them together were too intimidated by Tom to say anything. Tom was polite and charming and almost everyone loved him—even the Gryffindors who'd initially been wary—but Tom also took no shit and everyone knew and respected that.

For the most part, though, their fellow students had accepted their relationship with ease. Hermione had told Harry she had seen it coming.

But really, Harry couldn't care less if the people around them accepted Harry and Tom together or not. All Harry cared about was the fact that he got to be with Tom, and he'd never been happier in his life.

3rd March, 1997

"How can you defend them?!" Harry hissed at Tom. "The Cruciatus Curse-"

"I'm not defending them," Tom cut in smoothly. "I simply said it's Longbottom's word against theirs and without proof I'm not going to make a judgement on Theo and Blaise."

"Neville wouldn't lie about something as serious as that!" Harry urged in defence of his friend. "And besides, even if Neville was lying I still don't like Nott and Zabini. They're blood purists and into Dark magic, and I don't know why you still talk to them."

"They're harmless," Tom said easily. "And Dark magic...it's not as bad as you think, Harry; you're just buying into what the Ministry tells you. Obviously some spells have ethical implications, but so do some supposedly Light spells."

Harry shrugged. Tom's fascination with Dark magic worried Harry sometimes, and even though Tom swore his interest was purely academic, Harry still hated that Tom chose to hang around with boys whose interests weren't so studious.

"Couldn't you just stay away from them unless you need to, for me?" Harry asked softly. "I don't trust them, and I don't want them trying to influence you."

Tom scoffed. "I can look after myself." But his expression softened and he leaned in to kiss Harry gently. "Thank you for being concerned for me, Harry, but really, everything will be fine."

Harry tried to ignore the lingering discomfort and lost himself in Tom's lips instead.

25th June, 1997

Lounging under a tree by the lake, with Tom's body on top of his, their lips moving soundly together as the sun shone warmly onto them, it was easy to ignore the stress of the last year.

Exams and homework felt a world away, and even Tom's unsavoury friends couldn't bother Harry in that moment.

"One more year to go, then we're free," Tom murmured against Harry's lips. "We're going to be great, you know; we're going to be able to do anything we want."

"That sounds great," Harry said softly, running his fingers through Tom's hair. "Me and you versus the world."

"We'll always win," Tom said confidently. "Together we can't lose."

7th Year

1st November, 1997

"Will you stop biting your nails?!" Tom hissed at Harry. "There's no need to look so nervous."

"Didn't you hear McGonagall?" Harry retorted sharply. "The NEWTs are getting closer and closer and unless we focus-"

"You'll do fine, Harry," Tom insisted. "You're clever, and the fact you're worried now means you're hardly going to throw everything away at the end of the year.

Harry wasn't naturally smart like Tom, but he was intelligent enough, and with a bit of focus he did do well in exams. His exam-confidence was low, though, and it was that which held him back.

Tom couldn't imagine having a lack of confidence in any area of his life.

"I'll even help you set up a revision plan," Tom added, noting that Harry still didn't look at ease. "But relax for now, okay? You're going to do fine."

31st December, 1997

"It's beautiful."

Tom looked down at the bracelet Harry had given him, a simple but stunning silver band that was etched like the body of a snake, the opening raised like a snake's head, and was masculine but elegant all at once.

"I thought of you as soon as I saw it," Harry said with a smile. "I was going to give it to you for Christmas, but then I thought it would be more special as a birthday present."

"I love it, thank you," Tom said softly, sliding the bracelet onto his wrist where it fit perfectly.

He leaned in to kiss Harry, but found Harry's response slightly uncertain.

"Everything alright?" Tom asked, pulling back.

Harry dropped his gaze and wrung his hands together, and his cheeks flushed pink.

"I have another present for you actually, if you want…" Harry said, so quietly that Tom could only just hear him.

"If I want?" Tom repeated with an amused smirk. "And what is it?"

Harry didn't answer, instead falling flat on the bed and pulling Tom on top of him before drawing him into another kiss.

Harry took Tom's hand and moved it between their bodies, ghosting over Harry's prick and going further still, right between Harry's thighs.

Oh.

They had yet to have sex, though Tom had always been rather keen. But Harry, the big romantic he was, had wanted to wait and Tom had respected that. But if Harry was ready now…

The wait had been worth it, and later, as Tom blissfully buried himself deep inside Harry's body, he knew he would never want to share his life with anyone other than Harry.

30th June, 1998

Tom didn't do well with feelings. He didn't understand how to empathise with people, and didn't see the need to.

But as a result he never knew had to handle people crying, not even Harry.

Especially not Harry.

"I don't see what the deal is," Tom said with a huff. "So I hurt that third year a bit too badly...it was only an experiment."

"An experiment?!" Harry cried incredulously. His face was pink and blotchy with tears, his hair wilder than usual from where he'd tugged at it too hard. "You call slicing a kid's arms open an experiment?! You almost killed him! Oh my God, Tom..."

"He survived," Tom said dismissively. "It's not like I aimed to kill him."

"That's not the point!" Harry hissed. "That was Dark magic! I knew your friends were trouble!"

"I make my own choices, Harry, don't forget that," Tom said darkly.

"Don't you even care what you've done?" Harry cried, and when Tom didn't answer he said, "you don't, do you? I can't do this anymore, Tom."

"What?" Tom asked sharply. "Harry-"

"Unless you're prepared to turn your back on Dark magic, I...I don't want to be around you anymore. I've ignored it and made excuses for too long, but you're hurting people now." Harry swiped at his eyes. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I'm sorry you couldn't understand me," Tom said simply, and Harry left in a flood of fresh tears.

Tom sank into a chair, running his fingers over the bracelet Harry had given him. He felt angry and detached all at once, and the thought of Harry never talking to him again made Tom feel like he had lost a part of himself.

But Dark magic was addictive and made Tom feel powerful; he could accomplish so much through it. And if Harry couldn't understand that, it was his fault they were apart.

And with Harry gone, Tom didn't have anything to care about anymore, and caring about Harry had always held him back. He had no reason to stay quiet anymore—Tom could now simply go ahead and conquer.

Because if Tom couldn't have Harry, then he was going to have the whole Wizarding World instead.