AN/ ~this is parsletounge~

Everyone give a round of applause for the wonderful Persephone-Gaia for beta-ing this story.

Chapter 4

They had moved the bed into his room exactly four days ago.

Mrs. Cole had come in one day a few hours before lunch and placed it there, stating that the orphanage would soon reach a near max capacity and that Tom was the only child left without a roommate. The woman had seemed extremely reluctant to pair him with another child and had spent several minutes lecturing him and stating that if he did not behave when the child arrived he would be severely punished.

Tom, in response, had merely sent a sneer in her direction and returned to the book he had been reading. Tom honestly couldn't care less if some snot nose brat was going to be living with him. They would leave eventually anyway. They all left, whether because some family adopted them, or because they decided Tom was someone to be avoided, feared- it didn't matter- they would all still abandon him in the end because Humans were an illogical, spineless, unintelligent, selfish, species that Tom loathed to be apart of.

He knew he was special, somehow different than them, he felt it in his very bones and yet he could not escape his unfortunate humanity. He still craved companionship, kindness, acceptance….it sickened him. Tom wished he didn't feel anything at all, it would be so much easier.

Sighing far too heavily for a five year old, Tom set his book down, sent another glare at the bed set against the right wall of his room, and then began making his way to the mess hall for dinner. A few moments later, Tom entered the mess hall and made the familiar motions of waiting in line- procuring his food, sitting himself at his table, and ignoring the hatred and fear filled eyes of the children around him.

Tom pulled out the copy of A Midsummer Night's Dream he had nicked from one of the matrons and began to read. Completely submerged in the Shakespearean novel, Tom actually jumped when a tray was dropped on his table with a loud thump. Looking up in anger, Tom came face to face with a pair of brilliant green eyes. The owner of said green eyes plopped down in the seat adjacent from him.

Scowling, Tom assumed the the boy was new or he would not have had the audacity to sit at his table. Intent on getting the boy to leave, Tom delivered a terse "This is my table find somewhere else to sit." Putting as much steel in his voice as possible.

The boy looked at him in what appeared to be surprise, before he frowned and retorted, "Oh? I was unaware you had claim to this table, your highness."

Shocked at the rebuttal, Tom took a moment to compose himself before glaring heatedly at the boy and filling his voice with as much venom as possible, "Look, I know you are new here, but mess with me and you will regret it.~Just leave me alone~" The last part of the sentence he hissed in the language he used to speak with the snakes that he sometimes found in the garden. Tom pushed as much of it as possible, behind the words as well.

Everyone obeyed when he used it. Further proof that he was better than the filth around him. Smirking at his perceived victory, Tom reached for his book fully prepared to go back to ignoring the existence of the children around him. "Was that supposed to intimidate me? Nice try, but it will take more than a threat and a glare to scare me away. If I want to sit here I will."

Tom stared in utter befuddlement. Impossible. There is no way this boy should have been able to resist it. How? Was this boy immune to it? Could it be possible that the boy was different like him? Could he use it too? Tom watched as the boy went back to his food and studiously began ignoring him. The child looked to be about the same age as Tom, he had short curly black hair that just barely reached his ears, full lips and a thin long nose. All and all, the boy was very striking, but the most phantasmagorical part of the boy were his verdant jade eyes.

The boys eyes held a weary intelligence that Tom often saw when he looked into his own eyes. In so many ways, looking at the boy was like gazing into an inverted mirror. Tom could feel how alike they were. Tom wanted him. This odd green eyed child would be his.

"Tom Riddle."

The boy looked up startled, "Pardon?"

"My name is Tom Riddle." Tom watched the boy wearily. He hardly ever attempted to actually hold a polite conversation with someone his own age. Tom worried he would do something wrong and send the boy away like all the others.

To his pleasant surprise, the boy did not retreat he simply held his hand out and introduced himself, "Haydn Prince, it's nice to meet you Tom." Wiping the surprise at the kind response from his face, Tom reached out and took Haydn's hand in a firm handshake. Tom could feel it flow through their hands at the contact and wondered if Haydn could feel it as well.

Moving to stand, Tom said, "You are new here, what room are you staying in?"

Haydn watched him for a moment before answering, "345, apparently I have a roommate, but I have yet to actually meet them."

Tom could barely stop the contented smile from breaking out on his face at the discovery. Covering his slip, Tom quipped, "You have met your roommate seeing as that person is me. I was told someone would be rooming with me soon, I'm just glad you don't seem to be too much of an imbecilic child."

Instead of becoming angry as most of the children would, Haydn merely smiled and said, "Well, I'm glad I've made such a wondrous first impression."

Tom smirked, pleased that his new friend was intelligent enough to notice sarcasm and respond in kind. "Do you wish to retire; I will show you the commons and the baths."

Haydn nodded quickly and followed Tom as he gave a small tour. Tom asked a few questions here and there but they mostly walked in silence. A little while later, they arrived back at room 345. Tom moved and sat on his own bed before returning his attention to Haydn who was looking at him curiously.

"Is something wrong Haydn?" Tom asked gesturing for Haydn to sit down as well.

Haydn seemed unsure for a moment, before taking a seat and casting his gaze back towards him. "You are being exceptionally kind. Why?"

Slightly taken back by the question, Tom pursed his lips and leaned back "I am simply attempting to form a friendship. As I said before, you seem to be more engaging company than the rest of the mindless children that reside here."

Haydn looked at him, apparently stunned with his answer, before his face was schooled and his features once again become blank. "You don't seem the type for whimsical friendships."

Tilting his head to the side, Tom answered honestly " I'm not usually, but you are different. I appreciate different, therefore I will make an exception to my usual rules"

Haydn smiled, "Well then I am glad I fit your standards. Do you mind if I run to the Loo? I want to go ahead and get my shower out of the way."

"That is fine." Tom watched as Haydn made his way to their shared dresser and pulled out his bath supplies.

"See you later then, Tom" Tom nodded staring at the closed door for a moment, before turning back to his book that he had abandoned in favor of speaking with Haydn.

Tom had a feeling that this was beginning of a beautiful friendship.

5 months later

They were going to be late, Haydn thought with a sigh. Curfew was in ten minutes and if they didn't make it in time the gates would be locked and he and Tom would be punished once again. Pulling the books they had procured from the library closer to his chest, Haydn quickened his pace and grabbed Tom's hand yanking the scowling boy along behind him.

"I don't see why you are in such a hurry Haydn. It's not as if we haven't been late before. Mrs. Cole will lock us in our rooms and not allow us out until she deems we have learned our 'lesson'. It's not that big of a deal- we spend most of our time there anyways."

Frowning, Haydn turned back and gave Tom a look. "I want to show you something tomorrow, and if we are grounded I won't be able to."

Perking up a bit, Tom asked "Show me something? This wouldn't have to be the same thing you have been mumbling about for the past month, is it?

Sighing yet again, Haydn nodded " Yes it is. Howev-" Before he could finish his sentence, Tom reversed their grip and began pulling Haydn behind him instead.

"Well then what are we waiting for!?" He said as he took off running, dragging Haydn along. Smiling at his antics, Haydn set into a run as well before allowing his thoughts to drift.

Haydn had decided to tell Tom about the Wizarding world.

He had been contemplating when to tell him ever since they became friends months ago, but had never found the right time. That was until Tom's most recent burst of accidental magic caused one of their fellow orphans skin to turn green, making Haydn decide that waiting any longer would be detrimental to the both of them.

Looking up, Haydn saw Wool's gates and checked his wristwatch. Five minutes to spare. Making their way up the steps, Tom and him started the trek towards their room. A few minutes later, Harry flopped on Tom's bed burying himself in the covers to ward off the cold November air. Tom scoffed, "Make yourself comfortable then."

Grinning, Haydn said "I will, thank you." Before rolling over onto his stomach to watch Tom pull out a book from the makeshift bookshelf Haydn had put together one particularly boring day.

"So are you going to tell me about this place you wish to take me or is it a surprise?"

"Well...It has to do with what happened to Lea Little." Tom froze and tensed.

"I did nothing to her." Haydn stared at Tom a moment, before casting his eyes to the ceiling. Tom was extremely defensive about his bouts of accidental magic. Haydn had only personally witnessed a few episodes, but from what he had heard from his limited conversation with the other children it was a rather common occurrence.

"Yes you did." Tom scowled, dark eyes narrowing into a glare he hadn't seen since that day in the mess hall five months ago.

"Oh? I did?" He sneered. "Going to start calling me a freak now too, Prince?

"No, Tom I'm not. I don't think you are a freak. I think you are special just like me."

Tom's glare turned into a look of curiosity. "Special?"

Smiling lightly, Haydn answered, "Yes special. Tom, what do you think of magic?"

Tom blinked. "Magic? It's just something from fairy tales."

"No, it is very much real, but only special people like you and I can use it. They call us Wizards."

Tom stared for a long moment, dozens of emotions filtering through his eyes, before he slowly made his way to his bed, eyes unreadable. "You are saying there are other like me? That you can do what I do?"

"Yes." Collapsing next to him, Tom buried his head in his hands.

"I knew I was different than them. That I was special." They sat in a moment of silence as Tom processed what he had learned.

"This place you want to show me, it is related to Wizards?"

Smiling slightly, Haydn responded,"Yes. It's called Diagon Alley. It's something of a wizarding shopping mall." Tom looked up, eyes filling with excitement.

"Do they have a bookstore?" Haydn let out a surprised laugh.

"You and books Tom!" Still laughing, Haydn continued, "Yes, they do have a bookstore."

"Good. Now tell me what you know of this Wizarding world." Relaxing back onto to the bed, Haydn laid down and began to explain about Hogwarts, his parents, and the world he grew up in.

"So the Prince's are an old line?" Tom asked eagerly, absorbing all the information Haydn was giving.

"Yes. However considering I was born out of wedlock and that my father is dead, I don't know if I have a true claim to the name. Tomorrow we will visit Gringotts and see if I was left any inheritance. While we are at it, we can check to see if you descend from a wizarding line or not." Haydn already knew that Tom was a descendant of Slytherin of course, but considering he hadn't even heard Tom speak parseltongue, he couldn't explain where he came about the knowledge.

"I thought you said I was a muggleborn? Are you saying I might actually have a wizarding family?" Tom seemed exuberant at the prospect.

"It is possible." Noticing Tom let out a yawn, Haydn said. "Now I will explain more tomorrow. If we are going to go to Diagon alley tomorrow, then we will need to get up early."

Tom frowned and then nodded, pulling the covers over the both of them and blowing out the candle on his nightstand. He and Tom usually slept in the same bed on unreasonably cold nights to keep warm. Heating systems were one of the few things Haydn missed from his own time. Rolling on to his side, Haydn said quietly

"Goodnight Tom."

"Goodnight Haydn."

AN/ For every review I name a raccoon. (that rhymed!)

PS. Tom uses the term it to describe his magic.

Edited 12/21/2014