A/N: heh heh. sorry. Told you it would be up in a week// well i suppose my excuse could be... its been a long week? :) well sorry for taking so long, i had two versions of this story and it took me awhile to choose the way i wanted it to work. Mostly writers block but yea.... sorry!
BUT if you review,the next one may come up alot quicker, i think i have an idea of the way i want Voldemort to go... he is gonna end up good. and if you want a bad guy, let me know and i'll see who i can get :)
so please read, and review!! love youu!
Disclaimer : there would be no way i would be sitting in my house writing about Harry Potter if Harry Potter was mine to begin with. We would be doing something much more imaginative :) and i dont own aladdin, as much as i want to....
After debating what ways he could make those 'funny things' reoccur, they arrived in a little street located somewhere in London. Tom caught a glimpse of the street name, private? Something along those lines anyway.
They came to a narrow two story house; soft purple curtains draped the windows hiding the house's secrets. The shutters were faint purple-grey and outlined simple bay windows. A large white door stood tall in the centre of the house.
As all houses in the street, the garden was in a pristine state, not one blade of grass stuck into the path, not a single leaf stuck out at an abstract angle from the bushes, the flowers in full bloom.
Although all houses looked very similar, there were varying differences. Besides the numbers, the colours of the houses were different shades of cream, white and light brown. There was no pattern but each had its individuality. They were simple.
They stood there for a while, as Mrs Figg watched Tom's face and its reactions. Tom looked up and down the street, there were cars lining the curb and there were little kids playing outside a few doors down. He decided he wouldn't make anymore friends; not since Lily hurt his feelings, he would make others miserable.
Mrs Figg took him inside and showed him to his room, a simple room painted baby blue and a car bed in one corner. A dresser stood on one side with a white framed mirror and there was a door leading onto a balcony that was locked. Tom placed his bag down and followed Figgy to the kitchen. It was white and the benches were a cream colour. A small table sat in one corner with odd chairs. The window was opened as the fresh garden smell came from the backyard, which is accessed from the door beside the lounge room. She was making a sandwich, with what, Tom wasn't sure. He had to jump a few times to get onto one of the chairs that lined the kitchen bench, and sat there watching the short stumpy lady make him lunch.
"Here you go Tom, enjoy!" Mrs Figg said to Tom and left the kitchen. A confused Tom sat at the bench, waiting for her to come back and supervise his eating time; someone always watched him eat.
"Come on, I promise I didn't poison it" As Mrs Figg walked back into the kitchen Tom took the first bite.
"Ishisderishous!" Tom spoke through a mouthful of sandwich. "Pardon? You know Tom, it really isn't pleasant to talk with your mouth full" Mrs Figg replied with a stern look in her eyes but a small smile on the corner of her lips.
"I said this is delicious!" Tom said exasperatedly, taking another chunk out of the small sandwich left.
She looked at Tom as if he was off his rocker, he was talking about a vegemite sandwich and personally, she hated the stuff.
"I'll be back in a moment Tom; I just have to go grab something from the Post box." She gave him a small smile and toddled off out the door. She was muttering something about child TV shows and dragons.
Tom sat there, taking one of the last bites left of his vegemite sandwich as Mrs Figg's words made him think of a show he once was told about. It had a small furry animal, he was picturing it in his mind; its tail was the length of a small car, and it had small black rings around its eyes. Two small white ears protruded from its head, pulled back. Its round face was too small for its spindly limbs, and its body was stretched in odd proportions.
This small monkey was dangling from a tree, hanging upside down like a bat. It was making a sound, sort of like a dog bark but much more musical. It was swaying on this branch, leaning towards the next tree. It was captivated by a similar sound about fifty meters away.
Tom heard this sound, clear as a bell. His eyes snapped open; sitting on the kitchen bench, leaning towards the front door where Mrs Figg stood talking to some old man, was the exact animal he had just been imagining. Tom was taken aback, he was just thinking of this animal in his mind, and yet, here it was sitting two meters away from him, completely unaware of Tom's existence.
It cocked its little head to one side, trying to listen to the conversation outside; it then gave a small squeak and leapt of the bench.
Tom was shocked; he had no idea what to do. He chased it outside, down to the letterbox, where Mrs Figg stood chatting away with an odd man in what looked to be a dressing gown of blue. He had a shortish beard of shiny silver and a pair of half moon glasses that were perched on his crooked nose. To Tom, he was ancient and looked slightly familiar.
He glanced at Tom, and stared deep into his deep blue eyes. It felt like he was searching through his soul, searching for a particular thing. Tom stared back, he was locked with this old mans look, it was frustrating but calming at the same time.
Before he could distract himself from the staring competition, the little furry monkey clambered up the leg of Mrs Figg. She couldn't see the poor animal but she could feel it; she let out a high pitched squeal and started running in circles yelling "Get it off me! What is it?!"
The old man gave a quick glance at Tom, looking at him in a strange way, as if he knew why this had happened. He then ran off to help Mrs Figg, who by now had reached the street and started pulling off her cardigan and shoes while messing up her hair.
Tom stood, distracted by the animal; where had it come from? What did that old man know? Did this have anything to do with that funny business? It must be the funny business, thought Tom. And before he could ponder on that fact—
"Tom, get back in the house! Hurry!" Mrs Figg's voice echoed off the house and reverberated around Tom's ears. Tom stood, frozen on the sidewalk facing the street; two little children sat on a front lawn playing hand games. He had a mind to go over to them, but then Lily's face filled his head and he turned on the spot. Mrs Figg was rolling on the road while the old man was standing a few metres away petting the little monkey on his shoulder with great interest.
"Come on Tom, this way" The man with the monkey lead Tom back inside to the kitchen and stood on the opposite side of the bench. He pointed to the seat for Tom to sit and finish his lunch.
"My name is Albus, Tom. It's a pleasure to meet you after all this time" Poor Tom, not being able to put his finger on the familiarity of this character, asked, "what time?"
Albus chuckled and the lines around his eyes and mouth grew.
"Since the day I met you at the orphanage. Surely you don't remember, as I recall you were such a little child." Tom had no clue as to who this Albus fella was, but he definitely had seen something like him.
"I expect Arabella will have cleared herself up, I have matters to attend to at my school, look sharp Tom." And with that, Albus left the cream house and headed down the street till he disappeared around a corner.
That evening, after Mrs Figg had cleaned up and overseen Tom with some activities throughout the afternoon, dinner was dished up. A simple meal, with no mishaps or interruptions saw Tom and Mrs Figg at the small table sitting in silence. Once Tom had finished his vegetables and fish, he looked over at the small squat lady and asked "What will I be doing now?"
Mrs Figg glanced at him and smiled a gentle I-know-exactly-what-you're-thinking smile. "Well school is out for now, so you won't be going to school. I can introduce you to the children down the street; I think they got back from the hospital just last night. Or we can get you doing some chores for me; I'm getting old Tom, and need assistance."
Tom had a look of anger on his face at the mention of other children; therefore Mrs Figg suggested the chores and cleared the frown.
"I think I might start with the chores if you don't mind Mrs Figg, I don't think other kids like me much"
This was the moment that Tom decided he didn't want a friend. Besides Lily, and the hurt she made him feel, he had never had to deal with emotions. He didn't want to either; especially after the orphanage. At the orphanage, all the kids picked him out as the strange or weird one. He was never approached, except by Lily, and had never had a proper conversation. Tom was going to have a sad life, thought Mrs Figg. She would get him introduced to those two girls down the road. That might cheer him up and change his mind.
As Tom slept that night, in his new racing car bed and surrounded by his blue walls, a whisper of a man, similar to that of Albus, visited Tom while sleeping.
Tom was standing in the middle of the hall at the orphanage once more, Lily was standing near him and the other children were opposite them. They seemed to be laughing at something, Tom had missed the joke but felt out of place. Lily was looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Is it true Tom?" she asked with an It-Cant-Be-True expression over her fragile face.
Tom, missing the conversation asked "Is what true?" with a confused look.
Lily just shook her head and looked at her feet. Tom thought he saw a drop of water hit the tip of her toes.
Once again she looked up, a hurt expression made Tom cringe inwards. He couldn't have done this could he? It mustn't have been all that funny business?
One of the kids opposite them suddenly looked at Tom as if he was dirt on his shoes and said ' Course he isn't going to tell you Lily, He doesn't admit anything!"
Another child of a broad build spoke up, "Maybe we should just leave him s'not like he has any friends anyway. I mean, who would wanna be a freak's friend?"
That was when Lily spoke even louder than anyone, with a stubborn streak, she practically demanded "I want to be" in a forceful voice that anyone who wanted to cross her would never see the light of day again.
The other children snickered at the statement and scoffed at her. They didn't understand that Lily was almost the same as Tom. Tom looked at Lily as she was glaring at the other kids; he saw her as a human, someone who would be there to protect him, stand up for him, be a friend for him.
No. Tom didn't want friends. He had decided that; but this feeling, this thing he had never felt before was different than he had expected. Maybe if having a friend felt like this, I could make up with Lily? Tom wasn't sure what to make of the situation. So he looked at Lily once again and she had puppy eyes filled with water as she turned around and ran out of the room. Tom decided he didn't want Lily to have no friends, so he followed and found her in their little hidey hole that she hid them in last time he was here. She was crying and hugging her knees to her chest. Tom sat down beside her; not knowing what to do, he just sat and waited.
A few minutes later a mumble came from Lily, "is it true, Tom?"
Once again, Tom felt confused and as the reaction of last time he asked, he rephrased the question.
"I'm not sure what you mean Lily, what don't you want to be true?" He put all the sincerity into his voice that he could muster and if must have convinced Lily because she looked up at him and said
"You didn't really leave because of me did you? All the other kids are saying you left because you didn't want to be my friend anymore. Is it true?" a hint of longing and desperation at the true filled her voice as she gazed expectantly at him.
Tom wasn't sure what to say; He wanted to be friends the day he left but then after the hurtful things she said to him, or what she didn't say, he never wanted a friend again. What could he say? No it wasn't you, I just never had a friend before? Yes, it's true, you hurt me before I left and that's what did it? He couldn't hurt Lily more, so he tried to explain his situation.
"Lily, I never had a friend before that day you asked me to sit next to you. I never felt things like that day, I felt happy and hopeful, I think. I never had someone speak to me; if they did it was in a manner of hurtfulness. I wanted someone I could talk to, someone I could count on to help me, someone to trust with my secrets and thoughts. But then the day I had to leave, and you didn't say anything, I thought my 'friend' was just another one of those things that never lasted. I decided then that if I ever wanted a friend again, it would be you and you only. I didn't want to meet any other kid because I knew they wouldn't understand. But from the day that I met you, I thought that I could finally have someone that would stay. Do you understand now? How it would have felt? How I didn't want anyone else? How important you really are to me now?"
Lily was watching Tom's expression, changing from hurt, to frowning, to longing, to a distant look and back to hurt. She took a few moments to take in everything he said and replied
"I didn't understand why you left. I thought it was because you didn't want to be my friend. But then after what you said, it was my fault you left. I don't know what to do, everyone I try to be friends with leaves and I think it's my entire fault. Tom, what do I do?"
Tom wasn't sure what to say. She blames herself that Tom left; not because he didn't want friends. They should be friends; they have been through much already. Maybe I could have a friend; even if my only friend is Lily.
"Will you forgive me Lily? I didn't mean to make you cry. Can we be friends?"
They stared at each other, gazing at each other and Lily replied
"Yes, but I think I'm going home soon. You should come visit, aren't you staying with that Figgy lady?"
"Yea, why?"
"She is my neighbour, so you must be living near me!"
Lily stood up suddenly, surprised at this new information. Tom just looked puzzled.
"What do you mean Lily? Aren't you staying here? I thought kids only got to leave if they get adopted?" Tom wasn't sure what was happening. His best friend can't be in a house near him, that's just too hopeful.
"No, my mummy and daddy left me here while they visit my nanna with Tuney. She's my sister" she added the last bit proudly, to make sure Tom knew everything.
"They're coming back soon to take me home and then we can play together because Mrs Figg lives just down the road from me and Tuney. We used to visit her and she would make really good sandwiches!"
Lily got all hyped up and was so happy that Tom would be her friend. She couldn't wait to get home to see him again. Tom was still shocked but was happy that it wasn't just a dream. It wasn't just hope. It wasn't just his imagination playing with him.
As they stepped out of the hidey hole, a voice called for Tom to get up and a white light shone on the place they were standing, blinding both into reality.
"Come on Tom, its almost 8 o clock! Time to get up!" Tom groaned. It was all a dream; the conversation, the realisation, the happiness, the hope? It can't have been; Lily wouldn't lie, would she? A lot of people lie, thought Tom, especially those I talk to. Maybe I can get Mrs Figg to take me for a walk down the street. I might find Lily.
Before Tom could get his hopes up more, Mrs Figg told him to change into some normal clothes and come down for breakfast.
Breakfast was over, a quiet affair that left Tom sitting at the bench awaiting Mrs Figg's instructions for the day.
"Alright Tom," she started after a few more minutes, "Today, I think we should clean the garden, and the paths out the front, trim the hedges and water the flowers. It's a sunny day, so it should be nice to get outdoors after the orphanage. Does that sound okay?"
Tom just nodded. If he was lucky he might get a glimpse of the street, of Lily's house; if he was lucky. But, being Tom Riddle, he wasn't the luckiest person of the bunch.
They headed out into the front yard after Mrs Figg had cleared the kitchen, and Tom was handed a pair of gloves, a watering can with happy suns all over it, and a hat.
"Don't forget to put the hat on Tom, can't get you burnt now can we?" Mrs Figg walked past him and headed to the closest lot of flowers. He followed and asked what he was to do.
She told him to water the flowers and then pull out all the flowers that looked like they didn't fit. She showed him some weeds and let him know they were the ones that didn't belong.
Tom set to work for a few more hours, working up a sweat and stealing some of the water out of the can. If this was what he was doing for the rest of the holidays, and he didn't know how long that would be, he was going to die of boredom.
Mrs Figg had worked around the side of the house and past the front lawn, all the flowers looked in a pristine state, but then again, to Tom they looked just as they did when he arrived yesterday.
Tom sat down on the path, waiting for more instructions and pondered on the dream he had.
He decided he did want a friend. He liked the feelings of being whole, having someone to share everything with. He liked that Lily wanted to be friends with him too. He really hoped that she did live here, otherwise he will be hurt and everything that Lily did to him will be forgotten. Oh, how Tom wished.
The next few days passed with little adventure. Tom was stuck doing the garden, cleaning each room to a more pristine state, wiping over all shiny surfaces till he could see every detail on his face, and keeping his mind from wandering off to Lily and their friendship.
He had arrived at Mrs Figg's house on a Tuesday and almost a week had passed. Sunday arrived, with a grey covering and a dull wind. Warm and humid weather signalled a storm was on its way. Tom and Mrs Figg were in the den, Tom on a lounge reading 'Aladdin' and Mrs Figg sitting in her armchair knitting a pink scarf.
"Tom, would you like to go for a walk with me? We could get a look of the neighbourhood before that storm arrives."
Tom looked up from 'Aladdin', excitement filled his eyes as he nodded and placed the book unceremoniously on the little table beside him.
Mrs Figg chuckled at his enthusiasm, ignoring the earlier expression she saw that week. She didn't think he would want to come, but something must have changed his mind. It must have been all that boring housework, she thought; that's what has him excited.
They walked out the door, Mrs Figg pulling it shut behind her, and headed off down the street. They went the opposite way to the children down a few houses and Tom didn't notice where they were going. He was hoping that Lily would either see him or be outside waiting.
Mrs Figg had troubled keeping Tom beside her, he kept jogging ahead to look into the next front yard. Maybe he was looking for something to play with; or someone. Tom was watching each window he passed, not one front lawn went by unnoticed by him and every corner was gazed at for a short period of time before being tossed aside.
Mrs Figg was trying to explain to Tom that many of the residents had been on vacation, one of them having won the garden of the year prize, others visiting relatives. She didn't get far, as Tom wasn't really listening. But then when he heard the name 'Petunia' called out from somewhere up ahead, he cocked his head to the side and came to a stand still. Mrs Figg walked straight past him and kept heading off up the street and turned a corner. Tom then noticed that they had gone around the block and had almost reached home.
Once again he heard "Petunia! Lily! Inside! The storm is almost here!"
Tom's heart leapt into his throat as he recognised Lily's straight dark red hair facing a taller girl with short brown hair and a long face.
"Come on Tuney, give it back to me. I want to take it down before we have to get inside. Please Tuney!" Lily started jumping for what looked like a letter, and Tom watched with a frown on his face that the girl was teasing Lily and pulling faces.
"You want to send a letter to someone you don't even know lives there? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in my life! Ha!"
Lily was still jumping for the letter, but all of a sudden a gust of wind picked it up and blew it high into the air.
"No! Tuney! Get it back!"
"I'm trying! Leave me alone!" Lily was attempting to use Petunia as a ladder; she was grabbing her arm and pulling it to get herself higher. It wasn't working.
Mrs Figg finally noticed that Tom hadn't followed her down the street and turned to call him. The letter reached the house that Tom stood in front of and blew towards him. With all his concentration, he waited till it got close enough and put his hand up and caught a folded piece of paper.
"Tom! Hurry up! The wind is picking up, the storm is almost here! Get inside, quick!" Mrs Figg's voice reached the girls and Lily stopped on the spot. She hadn't just heard Tom's name had she? No, he can't be near her that just wasn't possible.
Tom walked up to the girls, and went still in front of the red-head. She was frozen and wide-eyed. Her best and only friend stood before her, and holding the letter she wrote him; how is that possible?
"Lily?" Tom's voice was soft and full of uncertainty but curiosity drowned it. He had found her, his best friend. Maybe these holidays wouldn't be so bad after all.
A/N: i figured out how to add the lines :) took me awhile. Anyways, if you wanna see more of Tom and Lily, leave a review and i might be nice enough to bring out the next chapter soon!
