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Chapter Four

Harry sat on the floor beside the bed, staring up at the door with amazement. He acted as if he had never had anyone knock before coming in. Tom smiled at him.

"Harry, love, what are you doing on the floor? You have a perfectly good bed to sit on."

Harry's only response was to scurry beneath the bed and peer out uncertainly. Tom scoffed lightly.

"Now don't be that way. Do you not want to come see me?"

Harry shook his head, eyes fearful.

"Why not?"

"You'll punish me…"

"Whatever for?"

He bit his lip adorably, sucking it into his mouth, an action that Tom gathered was an impulsive way to both comfort and punish himself by causing pain.

"For setting the drapes on fire…"

Tom scoffed, waving off his fear and sitting on the floor beside the bed, allowing Harry to remain in his safe place. That was where the child felt comfortable at the moment so that's where he could stay until he was ready to venture out.

"I hated those curtains anyways, "Tom turned smiling, charming eyes on the boy with a mischievous grin, "I've brought you a present, Harry." He whispered conspiratorially.

Harry's eyes widened and his lips parted in a small O of surprise. A present? For him? The Dark Lord could practically see the thoughts flying across his face. It was absolutely adorable. She would love him.

"A present?" The boy asked tentatively, bringing more of himself out from under the bed.

It seemed his plan was working splendidly.

"Yes. I've brought you a mother, Harry. Would you like to meet her?"

Harry's eyes were bigger around than Tom had ever seen them. He nodded anxiously, pulling himself out, tugging nervously at a hole in his shoe, folding himself up with his knees against his chest. He was so thin and bony that it took no effort at all, Tom noticed. He would have to address that problem. Harry had only looked on with extreme disgust when he had offered him food earlier. He'd been there two days and had only ingested tea and water. Tom would start him on juice and see how he handled that and then maybe move on to broths and soups. He got up and crossed the room while Harry pulled his long sleeves over his hands, suddenly self conscious of his grotesque scars. Tom winced at this and smiled, pulling the leather riding gloves he had been wearing on his way back from his trip out of his pocket. He walked back over to the boy who sat shaking on the floor. He plucked Harry's hand gently from the sleeve and slipped the gloves over the scars much to the boy's immense confusion.

"For you." Tom whispered and got back up to open the door.

Harry sat, once again amazed and confused at the man's actions. Tom opened the door and a woman that seemed vaguely familiar to him walked in with a bright slightly crazed smile on her face. He instantly liked her. She was just like him. Tom bowed her inside.

"Harry, this is Bella Lestrange. She is one of my dearest friends and she wants to adopt you."

Bella grinned brightly and he offered her a small smile, biting his lip nervously. She cooed, scooping him tenderly into her arms. She was able to pick him up without much effort.

"Adopt?" He whispered hoarsely, wondering who on earth would want to adopt him.

She nodded emphatically.

"Yep! Wanna be my baby, Harry?"

Harry's personality changed in an instant, something Tom had noticed happening quite often. Hopefully, Bella could help him recover a little.

"Alright! I always wondered what mothers were like! We should play games and make cookies and watch movies!" He said quickly with that bubbly slightly crazed voice he got when he changed.

Tom watched the two ramble with a small grin. This could be very good for them all. Hopefully, he could find out a little more about Harry beyond his tragedy.

"Mum! We gotta go make cookies right now! Chocolate chip! With sprinkles!" Harry exclaimed, bouncing through the room and dragging her out the door with enthusiasm.

He could hear both of them cackling as they went down the hall and he couldn't help the bought of laughter that trickled out of his chest at the thought of everything as it was. A moment later, Severus poked his head inside the room, an eyebrow raised curiously.

"Why do we have two rather insane people waltzing unchecked down the hallways? My Lord?" The potion's master asked at his odd unexplained laughter.

"They're going to make cookies. Chocolate chip." He responded with another laugh.

Severus looked at his lord as if he had officially lost it.

"Bella is adopting Harry." He said in way of an explaination.

Severus snorted, rolling his dark eyes.

"They deserve each other. They're both as nuts as can be. Potter is admittedly more pleasant to be around, however."

"Admit it, Severus. You like the boy. He's grown on you." Tom said with a grin to his colleague.

The potion's master shrugged simply and admitted to nothing although they both know he had developed a small fondness for the last Potter. They both did. For all of his faults, insecurities and absolute insanity, Harry Potter had gotten a foothold in them and it didn't seem like they would be shaking him off anytime soon.

Tom walked into the kitchen earlier where he had seen a couple of elves dash by and Bella's cackling. He peered inside and nearly burst into laughter at the sight. Harry was sitting on the ground where he had clearly fallen, the hole bowl of cookie dough sitting atop his head, dripping down the side of his face. He was clearly more lucid now for he sat in stone silence, seemingly pondering how he had come to this situation. Bellatrix was covered in flour. That was not unusual seeing as how she had probably never baked a day in her life. Harry looked up at him when he approached and suddenly his eyes filled with tears. The Dark Lord tsked, picking him up and cradling him in his arms gently. Harry was just small enough that he could hold him like this.

"Bella, go clean yourself up. I'll take care of Harry for now."

She nodded and made her way down the opposite end of the hall. He carried the crying boy to his rooms, somewhat amused by the tears. Once they were inside he smiled and lifted the bowl from the boy's head.

"Are you well, Harry?"

He nodded, his lower lip trembling with his tears.

"Then what has you so upset?"

Harry sniffled, letting him wipe the dough away from one eye.

"I can't even make cookies! And…" Tom raised an eyebrow in question, especially as he noted the deeply distress look on his boy's face, "I'm sick…Aren't I? There's something wrong with me, isn't there? I can tell because of the way people look at me."

The Dark Lord's smile faltered slightly but it returned, although somewhat sadder than before.

"You are sick, Harry. But I'm going to make you all better again. You'll see. I'll make you better again, I promise. And then, I'll marry you."

Harry's eyes grew wide as if he were telling a story about a princess being rescued by her prince.

"Really?"

"Really."

Review!! Yes, Harry has been reverting back alittle but it's only because he has a parent figure now and so psychologically he reverts back to the childhood he never had because he finally can have it now. It is a small way for him to begin the healing process.

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