Next chapter…that one was a bit difficult I had to admin. My English isn't that great, and it takes 5 hours to write that chapter.

Hope you like it.

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As they appeared at the front gate of Durmstrang, they were greeted with the laughter of children playing tag. It was summer, and this year nearly 30 children of 9 to 17 years old were staying at the school.

Some of them were looking curiously at Tom and his charge, but after a light shake of his head, they stayed away from them.

"This is Durmstrang Harry. As you can see, you aren't alone here. Some of the kids are around your age, and the older ones look after the youngest. They are like a grand family, and protect each other. I think you will feel comfortable with them."

He smiled encouraging. Hoping Harry would like it here. The boy only nodded slightly, but didn't show any signs of feeling uncomfortable. Together they walk the way up to the castle, seeing the headmaster in front of the heavy entrance door.

"Already back, Tom? And I see you brought young Harry right with you." Anyone who knew Igor Karakoff from the outside would never call him a nice guy, but his students and the teachers knew that he cared for all his charges and was doing a wonderful job as headmaster.

"Harry, I want to talk with you about your new living arrangement. Would you like Tom to stay, or do you want to talk alone?"

Harry didn't need to think long. After all his experiences with men, he had a great dislike for being alone with an unknown guy. He clenched his fist in Tom's dark green cloak.

"I would like Tom to stay with me, if he would." Hopeful, he looked up, seeing the man nod.

Together they walked to the headmaster office, a really comfortable room with a massive desk and soft plush-armchairs. The walls were covered with many books and pictures.

After they had taken their seats, Karakoff looked at the boy thoughtful.

"Harry, first of all, you don't have to worry about being a burden. We care about all children here. I hope you will find peace now. Since you don't have a surname anymore, we arranged it so that you can choose your new name. It will enable new pure magical families when you will be older, and won't charge you with the prejudice for other, old magical families. Tom for example was an orphan when he came here, he didn't want the name of his magical family and chose to remain by his muggle-surname. I personal think that 'Riddle' suits him well, since he is full of it."

Tom seemed to be a bit embarrassed as the headmaster twinkled at him friendly, but it made it easier for Harry to relax.

"You have some weeks before decide which name you want, it's a great decision after all. For the moment you will stay with the other non-student younger than 11. We will decide later if you are ready to be part of the new school year this September. First you should be able to settle in and maybe make some friends here. If you have any problems you can come at anytime to me. And I think Tom would help you too. Have you any questions?"

Harry didn't really know what to say. He truly would have a new life. And he could show that he wasn't as stupid as his parent had wanted him to be. Harry only was hoping he would never had to 'work' like before. He was ashamed about him that he had allowed something like that happen and hoped that they would never find out about that.

Karakoff could tell that the boy was deep in his thoughts and wouldn't probably answer anything.

"Harry? You don't have to talk, but if something bothers you, I'm always here, yes?"

After he was sure Harry had listened to him, he asked him to wait a moment outside, so he could have a short talk with Tom. Harry obeyed without complaining and left, like a shadow, the room.

"How bad is it Tom? He doesn't act like a child. What have his parents done to him?"

Tom's face changed. He looked concerned and his turquoise-blue eyes were showing anger and pain.

"First, you have to know that Harry is partly a magical creature. That's the reason why his parents abandoned him. He has done nothing wrong! And they treated him like a slave! He was locked in the dungeons, they had starved him, and I think beat him as well. I haven't seen any marks yet, but his body language speaks for it.

You should have seen them! They were celebrating, doting that little wale Dave and didn't care a bit about Harry. And the worst thing is that we can't even charge them with something since the law support treating magical creatures like that."

Tom was angry and frustrated. For years they had worked for equalisation of all magical beings and it made him mad to see that nothing had changed. In Romania they didn't have these problems. Most of the countries didn't do the difference between all of them. But Great Britain was a dark spot in this scheme.

Igor was concerned. He knew that Tom was seeing himself in this little boy. Abandoned from his living family and avoided because of his heritage.

"Don't let you fall back into the hate for those people, Tom. I almost lost you the last time; I don't want to see you in that state ever again. Please keep an eye on young Harry. I think that what you have seen today was only the little piece of all the things he had to endure. He should have as much of his childhood as he can get."

Tom had thought about that. He really wanted to take care of Harry. He didn't want him to be as bitter as himself in his childhood.

"Do you think I could take him in as a charge? I don't think I would adopt him, that doesn't feel right, but I want to help him…"

He looked like a tad clueless, after all, he was only 21 and taking care of a child might be a bit difficult for him.

"That might be a good decision. After all, we know he had been isolated for a long time, and only one person at first to live with sound easier for him. Talk to him, what he prefers; he is part of this, too. Does he know about his heritage? If not, when do you plan to tell and test him?"

They had some creatures at their school. As the headmaster, he was trying to offer to every child an adult with the same genes, to help them to learn their personal issues. This year, they had 5 vampire-children, under the care of their potion Master Severus Snape, 3 Veelas under the care of the tradition-teacher Narcissa Malfoy, 4 imps (two twin-pairs) troubling their defence professor Nymphradora Tonks, 1 werewolf under the lead of their magical creature Professor Fenrir Greyback and he knew about 2 half-fairy sisters and one banshee which would attend to Durmstrang in the next years.

"No, the Potters haven't told him anything, maybe in some days when he will feel better I will talk to him about that, he seems to be really bright. I will ask Severus to brew a heritage-potion, it would be the easiest way to find out, and maybe a soulmate-test, but that can wait some years."

After some more words, Tom finally left the office, smiling as he saw Harry sitting on the floor, drowsing. He tried to hide his anger when the boy flinched away as he woke him carefully.

"I'm sorry; I didn't want to scare you, Harry. I would never do something to you. Are you ready to visit you new home? You can choose if you want to stay at the dorm in 3 bedrooms or you can stay with me. The house elves will add a new room to my apartment and it would be easier for me to help you."

Harry wasn't looking confident. He didn't really trust Tom not wanting anything.

"What would I have to do? Sure you don't want me stay with you for free? Everyone wants something in exchange."

Tom was shocked. Harry let it sound like he was someone perverse! He would never do something like that! He shivered as he thought about what Harry might have endured at Potter manor.

"Believe me, I will never want anything from you. And I will never touch you in any way you might fear, I swear. If you would prefer staying with the others it's ok, I won't be angry."

To his surprise Harry vehemently shook his head. He definitely didn't want to stay with other guys in one room, no matter how young they were. He didn't think Tom would harm him, but the years had marked him. He had to be cautious.

Happily, Tom stood up, and followed by Harry they went to their new quarters.