A/N: Thank everyone SO much for participating in my 'Tom's alias' contest! I got so many reviews in just a few hours! Congratulations to La Nanita for winning! She gets to choose who she wants to be! Everyone's ideas were great, and I wish that I could use them all, but that would mean I would have to make Tom a spy… But don't be disappointed if you didn't win, I love fan input, and there are sure to be more contests! Now, onwards to the plot! In this chapter, Remus and Harry must decide what they should do.
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Remus sat down at the kitchen table with a thud. "I'm not sure I understand, Harry." He flicked his wand towards the tea kettle wearily. It began to steam immediately, and with a quiet, "Accio kettle," it flew towards them. Remus grabbed it and poured them both a cup. "Are you saying that the little boy asleep upstairs is Tom Riddle?"
Harry sighed. "I don't know, Remus. I really, truly, don't. That's what he said his name was, and since he was exactly where Voldemort had been, it's the only explanation."
Remus rubbed absently at his new growth of beard. He's letting himself go, Harry thought. It's been four years since Sirius died, but Remus is just now letting himself realize it. He's been so busy with the Order that he hasn't had time to grieve.
"I think it really is him, Harry. I think he's been given some sort of second chance at life."
Harry slammed his fist into the table. "What do you mean, second chance? He doesn't deserve one! Besides, even if that is what happened, how did it happen?"
Remus grimaced. "Harry, you know that magic has rules, and guidelines." Harry began to speak, but Remus held up one scarred hand. "The truth is, though, that magic doesn't have rules. We made them up to help ourselves. Magic is a force upon itself. It can do whatever it wants to. I think that something happened in that clearing. You felt pity for Voldemort, right?" Harry nodded. "Well, perhaps it's the same principle as your mother's love saving your life. Your emotion caused Tom Riddle to come here and get the chance at a better life."
"But if he's no longer in the past, wouldn't that mean that Voldemort would have never come into existence? Wouldn't the entire world be changed?"
The lycan's brow furrowed. "That's a good question. I don't know. Obviously the world hasn't changed, so Tom Riddle did become Voldemort all those years ago. Who knows, maybe this Tom Riddle isn't the Tom Riddle. Maybe he's just a copy with the same memories as the original. I don't think we'll ever know."
Harry stood and began to pace. "So what do we do? Keep him? I mean, I'd rather just kill him now."
"Harry!" Remus looked at him with dismay. "How can you say that? He might be a snotty, cruel little boy, but you can't blame him for things he hasn't done yet. Maybe if we raised him-" Harry's eyebrows went up at this, "Then maybe we could change him for the better."
Harry put his palms face down on the table. "Remus, think of the people that have died because of him! Ron, Ginny, George, Molly and Arthur, Tonks, Luna, Dumbledore, Sirius! And that's no where near all of them! Severus probably won't live, and Hermione's still paralyzed! How am I supposed to deal-"
"Damn it, Harry. You act like you're the only person he's hurt. The people that died were my friends as well. I lost people I loved, but that doesn't mean I want to automatically kill the boy!"
Harry grimaced and sat back down at the table. "You're right, Remus. I'm sorry. It's just…hard. But if we do let him live, what do we do with him?"
Remus leaned back in his chair slowly. "Raise him, I suppose. Send him to Hogwarts. We'd have to tell Minerva, of course. We'll say he's my son."
"Your son?"
Remus smiled. "There was a period of about twelve years when I wasn't with Sirius, Harry. It's possible. We'll say his mother was Rosalie Morlam, and his name is Oliver. Rosalie was an old friend of mine," he said, seeing Harry's puzzled look. "We were rather close about twelve years ago. She died a couple months back. People knew Rosalie, knew we were close. He looks nothing like either of us, but it's more than believable."
Harry frowned. "Why Oliver?"
Remus glanced away. "It was Sirius' favorite name."
There was a slight pause. Harry wasn't really sure what to say; he hadn't known about Remus and Sirius until after Sirius had fallen through the veil.
Remus broke the silence with a chuckle. "How ironic."
"What?"
He smiled at Harry. "If we name him Oliver, then his middle name will have to be Todd."
Harry looked at him incredulously. "Why?"
"Think about it. Mix up the letters a bit."
Harry frowned. Oliver Todd Morlam…What does that make? He gasped. "No, Remus, we can't name him that! That makes-"
"I am Lord Voldemort. If he does end up evil, at least his name will be the same. That way we won't mistake him for someone else, I suppose."
Harry groaned. "So, what? We're going to rename him and send him away? What are we going to tell him?"
Remus gnawed on his lip. "The truth, I suppose. Or a version of it. He has to be aware of the fact that people won't appreciate knowing who he really is, and he'll need a cover story." He paused. "I'm not sure I want him at Hogwarts without one of us, though."
"You could always teach Defense again, Remus."
He laughed. "I would never be allowed, not in a million years. On the other hand…Madam Pince has retired… No. There are too many people that would disapprove. I couldn't."
"Perhaps… I could teach Defense."
Remus looked at Harry appraisingly. "Perhaps."
