Wish Three - The Devil Meets its Match
Having to wake up so early in the morning may as well be considered as the bane of almost every student's life.
So seeing the notorious Harry scribbling quite furiously into his notebook at this time of the day was rather peculiar. But being alone in the usually monotonous classroom must have its perks when the boy just kept concentrating jotting down notes.
Suddenly, he was slapped hard on his back and Harry nearly winced at the impact.
"Harry!"
"Ron, 'Mione, Good morning!" Harry smiled as he realized it was only his best friends trying to catch his attention. "Although it is truly a miracle seeing you wake up this early, Ron," he then teased.
"Ron needed help for our exam in Physics later so I forced him to come early if he wanted to pass," Hermoine said exasperatingly.
"We had? Hmm… I'll find time later to cram the information. Professor McGonagall won't mind."
"Harry! Is that our assignment in Chemistry?! You're doing it last minute! Again! You know how much Professor Snape seems to detest you."
Harry shrugged, "It doesn't matter besides our assignment this time is just about the reactions of alcohols."
"Still…" Hermoine looked worriedly.
The redhead of the three chose then to interrupt the growing tense conversation, "Oh yeah! Before I forget, mate! My family is inviting you over for dinner during Christmas Eve once again."
"The usual?" Harry's eyes shone with excitement.
"Yup."
Hermoine looked back and forth at the two boys and pouted, "Why do you get Harry on Christmas and I don't. That's not fair."
"Can't be helped, 'Mione. Harry loves me best."
The two began to bicker back and forth like an old couple.
Having heard enough of their flirting, Harry broke up their fight, "You know you can come with us as well for Christmas, 'Mione."
"I know! And I really wish I can come with you guys! But my family is already skeptic that I chose to live in dorms and well…"
Ron nodded his head in understanding, "Well Hogwarts is one of the most well-known institutions to actually produce brilliant students. You must not have wanted to miss an opportunity."
As the two couple began to bicker once more but this time about the school's reputation, Harry took it as an opportunity to excuse himself, "I'll be going to the lockers for a while."
The two kept on arguing even when he left the classroom.
Wandering his way to the lockers, Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's quite rare to see you stressed, Harry," a familiar voice said.
When said boy turned his head around, he saw his childhood friend looking back at him smugly.
"Well… Just burdened with school requirements as usual," Harry responded.
His companion's handsome face remained all-knowing, "With Yule break coming soon, of course the professors will give away that much requirements."
"I don't want to be told by you. You're practically juggling everything in the palm of your hands. Quite effortlessly I might add. How you're not even looking even slightly ruffled I have no idea."
"It's a secret. Do you want something for Yule, my dear Harry?"
Flushing at the endearment, Harry stuttered, "I- It doesn't matter what you give… I'll appreciate it still the same."
"Is that so? Oh and meet me at our usual spot today, Harry."
Harry nodded, "I'm going then. You can go back to doing whatever rituals you prefects do before you start scaring the lower years."
As he walked away, Harry's ears tingled at the sound of his friend's laughter.
Harry Potter was only four when he lost both of his parents.
Five when he was placed in the so called care of his cruel relatives.
He was seven when he realized how cruel life could be.
Ten when he finally made his first friend.
He was eleven when he met death face to face.
Thirteen when he fell in love.
He was fifteen when his feelings were reciprocated.
Sixteen when everything fell apart.
Now at the age of thirty, Harry couldn't help but smile gently as the manifestation of death itself was struggling to open a bag of nuts. As time flew by, he had lost so many things that broke his heart. But at the same time he realized he had gained more people whom he had grown to love along the way.
"Hades?" Harry said taking the bag of nuts from his friend.
Even when his focus was at the bag at hand, he responded, "What is it, Harry?"
Opening the snack easily, he gave it back and said, "I believe I have never said it enough but thank you… For everything."
Having now caught his full attention, Hades looked almost confounded but decided to pat Harry's head the moment he placed the tasty snack aside, "I would do anything for you, my friend. But I know you well enough that you wouldn't like me interfering in this realm. Besides that's like the hundredth time you expressed your gratitude."
Harry hummed in response.
"You know Harry before we first met I used to think that humans are foolish, merciless, and better off dead. And yet you showed me that there is goodness in them as well. I have seen many things, did so much cruel deeds, and practically existed since the beginning of everything."
"Hades… You don't have to-"
"But I do. I want you to understand, Harry, that you are special to me. Whether you are aware of it or not but you have changed the lives of many with just your kindness. You were always courageous to a fault. People would often tease you for having hero complex but really, I see it as your strength."
Hades golden eyes practically glowed, "That is why it angers me to see people use you for their selfish deeds... I may not be omniscient like Life is since my purpose is only to take the souls of the dead. But I only wish for your happiness, Harry."
"I am happy, Hades. Why would you think otherwise? I've finally got my family, friends, nieces, nephews-"
"But not HIM… He is still the one you want to be with the most."
Harry winced, "I thought we were over this already. He's gone in my life. We no longer have any connections."
"Do you really think that? Fate loves to mess to mess things up. While I may have superiority over her, she still has the power to manipulate destinies."
"You seem really fond of her."
"I'm not. She's ridiculously annoying and sometimes wrecks my job just to spite me."
Harry laughed brokenly, "I chose to cut my ties with him, Hades. I no longer have the right to be part of his world."
"Even if Fate had set her goal in pulling you two apart, I wonder how long she can last until she tires. I may hate that man for all he has done to you but your love for him is beautiful and pure," Hades said as he clenched his fists in frustration.
Harry's green eyes shone with unshed tears, "Is that so? I only wish that was enough…"
"Remember my friend… You had started with nothing but now you have a family, a house you can call your own and people who absolutely love and adore you."
"And soon a stable job."
"Harry you can't possibly go through with this. You're too-"
"Too what, Hades?! Fragile?! Weak?! Helpless?!" Harry said exasperatingly.
"No Harry… It's just your health might deteriorate even further."
"That's the point! Either way it might get worse or it might not. But at least I'll be doing something I love."
The man in black suit groaned, "You're making this hard for me to stop you."
Harry knew that at his age it's now or never. Whether his time is coming to an end or not, he absolutely did not want anything even his sickness to deter him from doing something meaningful in his life.
Well… Harry James Potter did live quite an exciting life especially when he was younger. He was admittedly a hellion and often played pranks on almost anyone. Even Professor Snape loathed having to handle him during detentions.
Because according to Snape, "Spending time with you brat is like asking the gods to worsen my already budding gastric ulcer."
'Snape was truly a piece of work,' Harry recalled fondly.
Knowing that this conversation was going nowhere, Hades said, "As long as you don't force yourself too much then I'll help you in this endeavor no matter how reluctant I feel."
Seeing Harry's heartfelt smile somehow made it worth it.
"I spoil you too much," he lamented. Standing up, Hades walked by the window, "I believe it's time for me to go, my friend. Work is calling."
"Take care, Hades."
Ruffling his friend's bird's nest of a hair, Hades left vanishing in thin air just as Sebastian entered the room all ruffled and flustered.
"Seb? Are you alright?"
Sebastian could only shook his head as he responded with a weak smile. He could no longer even recall where the food he just bought had gone. His mind was in a mess.
Somehow understanding his younger friend's need for comfort, Harry opened his arms wide as an invitation. Without wasting any second Sebastian embraced the older man tightly.
Sebastian wanted to cry as he began to feel the burden of having to continuously bottle up his emotions, his feelings, and his wants in order to please his father... In order not to bother HIM.
Feeling torn from having to keep his mouth shout out of necessity, the young teen just wanted to succumb to screaming his frustrations and feelings away. And he was very well aware that he cannot just shut it all off and reset his mind like some bloody robot.
No... He has reached his limit.
"I- Harry I…" Sebastian's brown eyes showed so much emotion which was completely unlike his usually detached one.
Time seems to have flown by in silence as Harry kept stroking his hair in patience.
Finally, he broke down, "Why couldn't you have been my father instead? Why did my mother leave me with him of all people?!" As tears began to fill his eyes, Sebastian wiped them in frustration, "I swear he is practically incapable of love, of remorse, of any bloody feeling."
Sebastian stood abruptly and paced, "I never understood why. Even when I was a child he'd look at me with blank eyes as though I am nothing but another work he needs to finish. I'm sick of it!"
"Sebastian…"
"I did my best to be like him. To emulate him! To make him proud! But not once did HE look at me! He only bothers to talk to me when it's about his work or when I disappoint him… Am I nothing to him, Harry?"
Harry gently tapped the side of his bed, "Come sit by me, Seb."
As he did so, Harry gently kissed his forehead, "You and I both know that you are not just nothing, Sebastian."
Staring back at the older man's vivid green eyes full of love and compassion, Sebastian confessed, "I… I… And yet I still love my father." Helplessly, he covered his already weeping face, "Because I knew he could have left me to another family or even to an orphanage. Aunt 'Cissa even said that he would have normally done so... And yet he did not."
Sebastian then gazed back at Harry as he shook his head in confusion, "Even when I was born a mistake… My father likes to strategize things, Harry… And I am most definitely a blunder in his plans.
Besides I hate myself for wanting him to look back at me proud."
Harry who said little throughout his rant understood what it means to desire for someone's approval. He was the same when he was under the abusive care of his relatives. The only difference was not once did he harbor any form of attachment for the Dursleys' but instead craved to discover how it feels to love and to be loved in return.
"Seb? Look at me..." Sebastian reluctantly looked back at Harry in embarrassment knowing his face was now all puffy and red. Harry then said, "It is not a crime to desire the love of your own father. But remember he is still human…"
"More of a devil if you ask me," the young teen mumbled under his breath.
"Tut-tut. No more of that. The way I see it you had already realized that he does care about you. And if he is as workaholic as you make him sound to be then your father could have easily chosen the easy route but he did no such thing."
Tenderly, Harry held Sebastian's face with both his hands and continued, "Because maybe just maybe he shows his love in a more different way than what you would normally come to expect… Since no matter how cold-hearted he may be, Sebastian, he willingly chose to be a father."
"A foolish decision if you ask me."
"You're quite the loveable child, Sebby. I'm pretty sure you had already wormed your way into his heart. Both of you are just too stubborn to see it," Harry added with a small smile.
"… Maybe."
"I do not want to put your hopes up but really the way I see it, you are what kept him sane and grounded."
Sebastian knew what Harry was trying to explain but he had chosen to forget all of those possibilities in favor of enveloping himself in the pain and frustrations of having to compete for his father's attention with something he never truly understood. Times likes this he can't help but reminiscence the first time his father made an effort to show that he did care.
"Vladimir… Just what did you intend to achieve climbing up that tree?"
"… I wanted the fruit…"
Tom exhaled heavily, "You could have asked the butler or even Lucius if you had to. I asked him to bring his son to entertain you enough that you would not do something as foolish as this."
"But the mini Malfoy is so-"
"I don't want to hear your complaints so for merlin's sake get down from the tree."
"But I can't… I… I'm scared."
Simultaneously, a familiar ringing was heard from his father's pockets. The very same ringtone that Vladimir ALWAYS hears when he usually sees his father walk away to do more work.
But his expectations where shattered when Tom answered the call and yet remained still as he stared intently at Vladimir who was stuck on the tree. "What?! This better be important… I don't care. Do what you have to do and make it quick." Throwing his phone on the ground, he swiftly removed his suit jacket leaving only his collared shirt and green tie.
Tom, his very own father who'd rather deal with work than spend time with him and whose ego might as well reach the heavens (according to Uncle Sev) began to climb the tree.
Vladimir nearly stuttered, "Father?! What are you doing?!"
"I'm pretty sure your eyes aren't just for decorations, Vladimir," Tom responded. As he sat on the same branch as his son, he added, "Now move closer to me. I'll be sure not to let you fall no matter how foolish your actions can be."
Flustered, Vladimir Sebastian held his father's hand as he was instructed to climb onto his back and hold on tightly. "Don't let go, Vladimir," his father said.
Effortlessly and quite gracefully, Tom got down safely from the tree with his son clutching him tightly from his back.
Crouching down, Tom said calmly as he could to his son how it was now safe to let go but Vladimir only grabbed his neck tighter.
"Vladimir."
"No! You'll leave me alone again... I don't want that!" With Vladimir bawling his eyes out, Tom can feel his son's tears and snot as he buried his face into his back.
"My Lord! Wellington Company just called wanting to discuss with you the dealings-"
"Shut up, Bartemius. I'm in the middle of something right now. So deal with them yourself and inform me your success later."
"Success? But it's the Wellington's, my Lord! I can't-"
"I do not care. I hired you myself knowing you are not incompetent as the others seem to be, so prove it."
"Y-yes my Lord!"
"I expect only the best news, Bartemius."
Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldemort walked away the gardens still carrying his son piggybacked leaving a pale Crouch Jr. behind.
Sebastian smiled. If he recalled correctly, his father had took the time to spend with him and even brought him to a carnival.
Noticing his younger friend's calming mood, Harry said, "You know someday you just might understand the reasons behind the actions of the people you care about. But even if you do not, it does not mean your love will ever be any less."
"Apparently so. I often forget the times I spent with my father… Few it may be but perhaps this time I should take the initiative, right Harry?"
Harry laughed, "Sounds as though you're courting someone but yes. Might as well be the one to make your father remember what it means to have fun."
"I am truly glad to have met you, Harry…"
The two shared a quiet moment until Sebastian had noticed the time, "My father might punish Rabastan even worse if I get home any later than this..."
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Seb."
Wiping his face clean of any evidence of ever crying, Sebastian beamed at Harry like a child, "Harry… You may never be my father no matter how much I want you so… But I never did have a mother. Many attempted to do so to win his favor but then again they did not really matter. You on the other hand would have done a perfect role as my mother figure."
Harry was torn between forlorn or amusement but chose to grin in response, "Why thank you, Sebastian."
"Professor Snape?"
"Potter brat?"
"Yikes." "Ugh." The two said instantaneously upon confirmation.
Snape may have loved Lily Evans but he absolutely hated James Potter. While it was unreasonable to treat their son terribly when they had first met but in his defense he looked very much like his childhood tormentor. In which it did not help subdue his hatred except for the fact that the brat was more skin and bones. Not only that, Harry Potter inherited his father's penchant for trouble. That was why Snape made it a mission to avoid Harry at all costs unless he wanted to worsen his day with their unbelievable and ridiculous adventures.
But Snape will never admit that the Potter spawn grew up to be like his beloved Lily. Not that he was never girly looking to begin with, but Harry Potter looked… Ugh… He refused to say it out loud but he was undeniably stunning even with his now short black hair.
If Severus were to remember correctly while the Potter brat may have been a pain to look after, he was actually a great student. Good grades, great leader, and a freaking social butterfly. He was somehow like Riddle. Both have an aura that was capable of attracting the masses.
"It is unusual to see you here professor."
"I got shot a few days ago," Snape bluntly responded.
Harry didn't even blink, "Are you sure it's alright for you to be walking around then?"
"… It did not hit any of my vital organs if that's what you're asking, Potter."
"Uh-huh."
"Brat, the bullet hit my upper arm so I am not fainting in your presence or ever in this lifetime."
"Still you should rest. Experiencing blood loss is not something to be underestimated, Professor Snape. No matter how invincible you think…" Harry said in such a grave tone.
"I most definitely don't want to be told by you, Potter."
Harry grinned not losing his composure, "It was merely broken bones, I knew my chances were high when I kept playing ball."
Snape responded in the same tone as Harry did few moments ago, "Uh-huh."
"Why don't we continue this conversation in your room then, Professor Snape?"
"No."
Seemingly out of nowhere, a rectangular board game appeared in Harry's hands, "I just purchased this board game called Scrabble. I'm pretty sure it's something that would go well with your tastes."
"No! By god I shouldn't have left my room for a walk. I wouldn't have had to deal with you."
Not at all deterred by the insult, Harry persisted, "But I've been bored all day since my usual visitors are quite busy until later. So please! Let's play at least one game. Okay professor?
"Not my problem, Potter. I absolutely refuse to spend time with you!"
They did play. Scoreboard being ten to twelve wins, with Snape in the lead.
That was how Sebastian found them with Harry looking at the board with so much intensity and his teacher in Chemistry looking smug. Or at least it looks like a smug. You can never tell it with Professor Snape.
"I did not expect the two of you to be close."
"Sebby!" "We're not." The two once again said instantaneously.
"Care to join in?" Harry asked.
"I think Professor Snape should be in bed already. Uncle Lucius would throw a fit if he finds out you haven't been resting as he requested."
Snape's eyebrow twitched, "I have been. But I'd rather spend my day playing with the Potter brat than do nothing."
Sebastian responded with a frown, "Professor Snape, you have just recovered so it is not ideal to strain yourself."
"I am not and I can promise you that Mr. Riddle."
"But…"
Harry interrupted their growing argument by placing a hand on the teen's shoulder, "Calm down, my friend. Professor Snape is yet to be on his deathbed."
With a despondent sigh, "I know. Forgive me... But it is just rare for Uncle Lucius to request me to do something for him so I only wanted to do my best. Plus you are still our Head of the House, professor. The Slytherins have been worried."
Snape guiltily nodded, "Fine I'll rest… After I take my tea that is. It's hard to find any decent drinks in this hospital which is only full of disgustingly flavored vending machines."
"Well I know someone who makes great tea in this hospital."
"Really Potter..? It better not be Ollivander." Recalling his afternoon tea with the old man last time, it was traumatizing to say the least. It was like having to deal with Dumbledore and his weird affection for Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
Snape never knew there were so many wood flavored teas. And it was not the good kind.
Nodding sympathetically, Harry said, "I was talking about Dobby actually. I'll go ask him for the tea."
"Do you need the great me to accompany you?" Sebastian immediately asked.
"No need Seb. I know where to find him. You can keep him the professor company for now."
"Oh and Potter? Call me Severus. I am no longer your professor."
"Please call me Harry then, Severus."
Harry left the room with no haste knowing full well where to find the adorable little helper Dobby at this particular time. But as he turned into a corner, Harry bumped into someone. And parallel to those romance novels he had been reading lately, he was easily caught by his waist before he could even fall flat on the ground.
Finding his balance, Harry was about to say his thanks when an unbelievably alluring voice said, "Harry Potter. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person." The full blast of his savior's smile almost made Harry recoil from the sight.
Nodding in acknowledgement, Harry said in embarrassment, "Uh… Tom Riddle. Hey."
"It's Riddle-Gaunt now," he responded still not letting him go from his grasps.
"… So you're really Sebastian's father?"
Arching an eyebrow, Tom said with a curious tone, "Vladimir? You're a friend of my son?"
"He's a student of Sirius actually. Sebastian has been a really lovely companion of mine these past few weeks since we met."
"… So you're the apparent maiden he's been secretly meeting after school? It was rather unusual for him to skip prep school."
"Prep school? Seriously Riddle? You're robbing him of his youth."
"I'd rather not talk about my family business with a stranger."
"I'm not really a stranger now am I?" Harry almost pouted.
Tom smirked, "Well not really. We have never really been in the same social circle but even your misadventures have reached my ears, Potter."
Harry blushed, "I'm not really a bad influence on Seb. He's already ingenious to begin with."
"He is, isn't he?" Tom said as he thought how adorable the man in his arms was.
It was true that he never did get the chance to meet the infamous golden boy in all his years in Hogwarts which was unusual since they were both pretty popular in their own way. But maybe it was due to him being two years older and them being part of different houses.
But ever since the boy, the young man rather, enrolled… Well school was never the same. At least once every semester Tom heard some sort of crazy adventure that the Golden Trio got into. It entertained the student body but while it infuriated the professors, they could not help but be amused themselves. Fortunately for them, Tom did not need to compete for territory or populace since Harry had apparent different goals than himself so the two never did clash.
Tom had only seen glances of Harry Potter. And the last time he did properly saw him was during his stay in the hospital when Vladimir got poisoned by some wench. Even then it was only to incidentally eavesdrop on his enlightening conversation with a teenage boy named Diggory. But with work piling up, Harry had become a fleeting thought on his mind that was until recently…
But even before he had always felt oddly-
"Riddle? Mind letting me go?" Harry grumbled as he attempted to push his body away from Tom using all his strength.
Tom did not even realize that they have been gaining attention because of their current position with him grasping the younger man so tightly from his waist. But in the end, he reluctantly let go.
"I've never formally introduced myself haven't I, Harry?"
Harry looked confused at the sudden question, "No need. We pretty much already know each other's names and I really got to go."
Not wasting any moment, Tom placed a chaste kiss on the back of Harry's hand and said, "Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt."
"Uh… Yeah. We pretty much established that earlier."
"I know. But I still wanted to properly introduce myself this time. I would also like to make a good impression with someone as incredibly lovely as you."
Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion even when his cheeks were pink from the compliment, "Thank you?"
"I hope we'll get the chance to meet again, Harry… Next time in a more appropriate circumstances of course."
Getting as much distance as he could from the taller man, he responded with a small smile, "Sure. I'll see you later, Riddle."
"Please call me Tom."
Harry nodded and left hurriedly. His still red cheeks did not go unnoticed by Tom.
When Harry was no longer in his line of sight, Tom smiled. He did not regret showing a part of his real intentions to the beautiful younger man. Even if this was not how he wanted their first meeting to go, after all, he did initially have a plan to meet Harry sooner but it seems things had been set in motion earlier than he intended simply because of his budding friendship with Vladimir.
Nevertheless, Tom was master of his craft. He'll most definitely win the affection of this enigmatic Potter.
"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories?"
— George Eliot
A/N: Voldemort and Harry have now finally met. Now hopefully the two can find their way through each other's hearts before times up…
P.S. I did not say anything before since I was trying to adjust my new term in college but now I can proudly state that I'll be doing my very best to do weekly updates (particularly on Sundays) since I am trying to free myself from the stress of having to live in a wearisome and pressured life. Plus I just successfully bought my own new laptop recently after years of saving and disciplining myself from temptation.
But nonetheless my new year's resolution was to tackle on this particular series so it shall be done.
Besides I have so much other stories I want to write and it keeps piling up. But I absolutely REFUSE having to move on without giving this story a thorough closure.
But do expect an entirely new series with LV/HP still being the main pairing since for merlin's sake, I LOVE THEM, once I do reach the end of Make a Wish, Voldemort.
In any case, I am truly grateful for your patience.
