Summary: What to do… What to do… That was all Harry could think about as he lazed around his home, watching through half-lidded eyes as his adopted son plotted world domination.

Pairings: Tom Riddle/Harry Potter

Warning: AU, Time-Travel, Slash (this means Boy/Boy), Unmotivated!Harry, Grey!Harry, Killings/Torture, Human experimentations, Expect some character Bashings

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter obviously. But if I did Voldemort would be alive, happily married to Harry, and have dozens of mini-morts running around.

"English"

"Gobbledygook"

"Parseltongue"

31st December 1937
Location: Diagon Alley, Flourish and Blotts

After they had filled their stomachs, Harry brought Tom to Flourish and Blotts to shop for Tom's school supplies. For a self-proclaim genius, he had made an elementary mistake of introducing a bookworm to a bookstore. He really should've ordered everything via owl.

He had begun to think that time travelling had the side effect of decreasing his much beloved brain cells.

Just as they entered the store, he was rudely (in his opinion) waved off by his charge with a– 'You're my… father, are you not? Parents are supposed to shop for their children, and only when the child is old enough do they stop. Get the books on this list for me, please?' –after being given a list of school books Tom was required to have for Hogwarts.

Firstly, Harry had no idea about parenting or being a guardian. He had always been an independent child that did everything by himself –even going as far as to shop for his guardians (not by choice, mind you). So when the eleven year old told him that parents usually shop for their children, he just shrugged and went along with it. Tom should know, right?

…Of course not. They were both orphans for Merlin's sake. What others said about him was true, he really did have a selective memory.

He bitterly regretted his go-with-the-flow attitude so very much right now as he dragged his feet around the store, throwing book after book into the shopping basket without much care if they were being damaged in the process.

For Tom, he was fully taking advantage of his free time to read every text he got his grabby paws on.

Harry jutted his bottom lip out, pouting as he turned towards where he last saw his young charge at. The boy was leaning on one of the many bookshelves as he read through the tome with utter relaxation. Harry glared moodily at Mini-mort. He didn't want to be a father anymore. Wasn't there an exit button he could press or something?

Maybe he'll re-create his time turner… However it'll take too long and Tom will still be his son. He was stuck with the boy for seven or more years!

As he was busy bemoaning his misfortune inwardly, he slouched further, feeling his much needed energy levels depleting at a rapid rate. He needed sleep to reenergize himself… or maybe a Pureblood to dissect –for relaxation purposes of course. He never did anything without reason.

He scanned the basket once more to confirm that he had everything in the list and sauntered towards the counter. He placed the shopping basket on top of said counter –there was luckily nobody queuing at this moment, whilst deciding that he didn't want a repeat when buying other necessities for Tom's schooling. He paid the cashier and shrunk his load, before moving towards Mini-mort.

"Tom." He sluggishly poked the boy's shoulder. Tom twitched. He turned to Harry with a polite smile (which didn't fool him, though everyone else would probably be charmed). "We're going home."

Mini-mort snapped the tome shut and nodded slightly, looking far too displeased in Harry's eyes. He turned around to walk towards the exit, not even caring that he had left his back wide open for attacks –what could such a young child with no Magical experience do to him anyway?

OOOO

"Here we are." Harry pointed to the house (manor actually) he was currently staying at with his chin, hands still resting comfortably inside his pockets. They were currently in front of his home's iron gates –that looked too gothic in his opinion.

His house wasn't as ginormous as the Malfoy's, not that he could not afford it but rather he felt it was too big for two people. Really. That was all.

…

…

… Fine. Big houses meant more walking, and he didn't like that. If he were to buy a Manor the same size as those peacock obsessed blondies, it would take exactly eight minutes and forty seven seconds to walk from the entrance hall to the ballroom. Wasn't that just torturous!?

He had to walk eight, almost nine minutes, when he attended the yearly 'Pureblood' gatherings (or a meeting where they showed their wealth) that those pompous greedy politicians go to. Every time the Malfoys volunteered to use their Manor, Harry would always feel dread. He had no wish to stay for more than ten minutes (ignoring that he walked nine minutes) at the bloody gatherings.

… He digressed.

The house was colored exactly as the goblins had described it to be –oddly colored due to the previous owner's eccentric personality. Splotches of colors were mixed together in a random pattern, almost as if someone took a huge bucket and threw it around without thought.

Hadrian just left it as that. It was unique in its own way. The yard, or garden, was full of dead greenery. It was something similar to where Muggles would envision their imaginative Vampires to stay at. All the flowers were withered, leaves were nonexistent on the blackened trees, and statues had their heads or limbs missing. Harry dubbed it as the 'Garden of Missing Body Parts' and ignored its entire existence –it wasn't as if anybody would be taking a walk there any time soon.

The mansion was located at the border between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, however it was hidden by the giant trees that were surrounding the area. It was two stories high, if one would not include the dungeons below (which was off-limits to Tom), with an unknown amount of bedchambers –he didn't bother exploring after choosing his own.

The west wing held rooms with specific purposes, like the library, whilst the bedchambers were at the opposite side. His two house-elves, Bibby and Bloopy, had cleaned the whole building so Harry wasn't all too worried about there being any dangerous cursed artifacts lying around unattended, and he had already checked all the books in the library –which contained all three types of Magic; Light, Neutral, and Dark.

He of course took precaution to ward the shelves that the Dark tomes were located at, and until it deemed Tom ready, it would not allow his adoptive son to read them. He wasn't biased to Dark Magic, knowing that he could use Light Magic to torture or/and kill someone just as brutally.

Harry focused on Tom's expression, which was one of concealed awe and ambivalent, from the corner of his eyes and started to walk towards his circular double doors –which was rainbow in color by the way. Harry idly wondered if this mansion used to be owned by Albus Withtoomanymiddlenames Dumbledore before discarding that thought immediately. It would be unpleasant if it were.

Tom was at his heels and as they reached the porch, the doors opened automatically with a slight creak. His two elves (which were twins by the way) were bowed with their noses grazing the floor –it was that low.

"Welcome back Master Hadrian sir. Will Master Hadrian sir and guest bes wanting lunch?" The two asked in unison.

"No." He handed all of Tom's things to the left elf. The two looked identical so he couldn't really tell them apart. "This is Tom Riddle, or Tom Gryffindor in private, my son. Take those to the bedchamber I had you both prepared."

"Yes Master Hadrian sir." They popped away after another low bow.

Harry turned to Tom as he pulled his mid-back length hair into a (messy) top knot, with strands falling unevenly around his face. Tom's expression was full of curiosity.

"…What are those things?"

"They're creatures called House-elf. Bibby and Bloopy are their names, though which one is which is hard to tell." Harry hummed in thought before he continued. "They serve the Wizards and Witches they're bonded with, however they do not see it as slavery, but something they enjoy. They were once of a Noble race of Elves, but because of their treachery, they were cursed to be what you've just witnessed."

The Elves were an ethereal race once upon a time… With blonde silky hair and aristocratic features that could put many Purebloods to shame –the Malfoys included.

"Who cursed them? And what did they do… sir?"

"Harry." He corrected absent mindedly and sighed tiredly at the thought of more talking. "They were cursed by their Elders. These houseelves were once bloodthirsty and very dangerous creatures. Their descendants however, are humble and preferred the life of peace… some anyway." He thought about Kreacher and snorted. That elf was as blood thirsty as his Masters.

"The group rebelled against the majority of their kind. The Elves were a very peaceful race, but even creatures of the Light can be corrupted. They became more and more violent, and one day, they disobeyed the Elders and massacred a village full of our kind.

"As an act of compensation, the Elders cursed those rebellions and gave them to the Wizards and Witches that had their relatives killed. They soon became known as houseelves to degrade them of their pride, Elves are very prideful creatures, and only could they survive if they were bonded –thus their life of slavery began.

"Remember Tom," Harry's face turned serious as he stared into the boy's dark eyes. "Light is not equivalent to good, and Dark is not equivalent to evil. Be wary of everyone that holds power, because if they are strong, they are dangerous –no matter what their Magic affiliation is. Absolute power corrupts absolute."

Albus Dumbledore was the prime example. He holds tremendous amount of Light Magic, but the power got into his head and he turned into a manipulative dictator that was even frightening (to Harry only, the others all worshiped the ground that old man walked on) than Voldemort.

Voldy was honest in his world domination plan at least. He never once lied to Harry. Albus however, lied time and time, again and again, until Harry had lost faith in trusting humans –with Voldemort being the only exception. What could be said about Harry's moral and mentality if he trusted a psychopathic megalomania of all people?

Harry forcefully shrugged off the memories, his face returning to its bored and tired state once more. He blinked his half-lidded eyes and smiled at Tom.

"Welcome to Odd Manor." The name wasn't his choosing by the way. It was the previous owner's.

Tom gave him a blank stare and Harry just shrugged. Tom would get used to his behaviors and the likes after a week of staying in the same home as him –especially the way he would start explaining something half way before feeling that it was too troublesome and changed topic.

"I would give you a full tour, but I myself have not explored this place." He didn't bother to say 'yet', knowing that he would rather be cooped inside his lab than explore empty chambers.

Harry moved towards the dining area with Tom just a step behind him.

"Dining area." He gestured at the long mahogany dining table with nine seats in total, seven at each side. "You may eat whenever you like."

"Will we not be having our meals together, sir?"

"Harry please." He was getting tired of repeating that. Why was Tom so troublesome? "I eat in my study." Lab actually… and only when his houseelves threatened to spoon feed him. Even this Manor's houseleves were odd –apparently they were free and came with the house he bought. He sometimes regretted bonding with them.

"Families often than not have their meals together." Tom stated matter of factly, the smile on his face bright like a cheerful child. "Aren't we one?"

Harry inward grimaced at how real the smile looked. How he wished Tom Riddle wasn't such a pulchritudinous boy.

"Indeed we are… So will you start calling me Harry?" Harry turned around and started to walk towards the living area, near the entrance hall (and staircase).

"Harry then." Tom agreed, though there was reluctantly hidden in his way too cheerful voice. "But back to having meals together…"

… And here he thought the change of subject wasn't too obvious.

"Before I forget," Harry was quick to interrupt and smiled innocently at his charge, whom looked annoyed at the interruption. "always use this before you eat or drink anything that was given to you, even if it were from the two houseleves."

He handed a potion bottle pendant that was linked to a chain via the cork, with a silver snake coiling around said bottle. It was filled with transparent liquid –this concoction was labeled as P7 by him. Tom only stared at the mini potion bottle in his palm before looking at Harry suspiciously. Did that boy think Harry would poison him?

Really… Why would he waste his precious time to brew an undetectable poison if he could just throw the Killing Curse (this took the least effort) at Tom?

"What is this?"

"It's a potion."

"Potion?" Now Tom was looking at him dubiously.

"Ah I keep forgetting that you're Muggle raised…" He murmured to himself before speaking up. "A liquid with healing, magical, or poisonous properties." A straight textbook answer. Snape would be proud.

"… poisonous?" Maybe he should've left the last one out.

"That potion in your hand is not poisonous. It actually detects poison… So be sure to put a drop in any liquid or solid you were given for consumption purposes." He drawled, looking far too bored. "Even if it were someone you trust, one can never be too careful. Though I would advise that you do so without them noticing –it may break what little bond that person has with you."

He thought back to Dobby and grimaced. The elf had wailed and sobbed for three days straight before Harry had given up and made a bullshit of a story about him having a prank war against the twins and was afraid that they had swapped Dobby's food with a poisonous one. Luckily the elf was gullible or he would've had to endure the houseelf's constant crying for ages.

"This is the living area, and visitors would normally floo here if they were granted access."

"Floo?"

"It's a mode of transport in the Wizarding world, from one place to another by means of Floo Powder and a fireplace. I would give you a live demonstration, but we can wait until you need to go to Hogwarts."

Harry swore he saw Tom's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. He hid a grin and headed towards the staircase. He ignored the animated scenery painting of the ocean and walked to the west wing, intending to show Tom the library –which would undoubtedly be the boy's constant place of visit.

"Harry." Tom called out. "Is it normal for the paintings to be moving?"

"It is."

Tom waited for Harry to elaborate, but after another minute of walking in silence, he gritted his teeth in frustration.

"May I ask why?"

He looked over his shoulder at the boy and stopped in just in front of the library's door.

"You may. An animation charm was placed upon the paintings. It can be casted on pictures and portraits as well."

He pushed the door open and entered. The library was bigger inside thanks to the expansion charm the previous owner placed.

"As you can see, this is the library. You are welcome to read any." And he meant it.

Tom made a move to enter, but Harry closed the door and continued the tour. Only after a he was ahead did he hear the sound of feet tapping against the marble floor following after him. It seemed like there was another thing to teach his son after all –how to walk stealthily and silently. He couldn't really leave the future most dangerous Dark Lord walking like an elephant even as a child.

After another few minutes of walking from the west wing to the east wing, Harry pointed to his study and bedchamber.

"This is my study. It's attached to my bedchamber so if there is anything, feel free to enter. Yours however is over there." He waved to the chamber beside his study.

"Is that all, Harry?"

"Hmm… Yeah that would be all."

"Alright. May I be excused?"

"The library?"

"Yes si– Harry."

"Go on then. If you need anything, clap once and call for either houseelf."

Harry turned around and headed towards the direction of the staircase, intending to work on his unfinished projects… and to track down a certain someone just to be sure.

Deep in his thoughts, he didn't notice how Tom's smile had faded away and only an icy glare remained, boring holes into Harry's oblivious back.

A/N:

AHEM! Now then, sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. I've been neglecting this fic in favour of my other one, Silk Roads (such subtle advertisement), and I just remembered this story's existence… ahhahaha… Insert nervous laughter here.

No worries though, I've already prewritten the future chapters for TToaMI and only after editing will I post them –which would take a while since I have to watch all 5 seasons of Walking dead. Not a series that I like very much by the way… I thoroughly prefer Dexter or Hannibal Lecter. Geez, I seriously wish to kill off many of the main characters because of sheer stupidity on their part.

Thank you everyone for reviewing, and I have to say… I am very much glad that I wrote about a lazy Harry. You all seemed to love the very idea of an insane, and very sloth-like Harry. His inventions will come into play soon, and since he's from the future, he will be more sought after. I can't really say anything about his previous creations just yet because it would spoil the whole storyline… Sorry 'bout that, insert cheeky wave here.

Story recommendation for today: Story recommendation for today: Death of Today by Epic Solemnity. I vote this to be the BEST LV/HP fic I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I wonder why I never recommended this the first time around, I mean, it's the first LV/HP fic I've ever read about. Anyway, Harry was raised in a Muggle orphanage and is a very bitter person. He's a genius (very much like our loveable Tom) and was recruited to be an Unspeakables at a young age. He soon attracted the attention of our favourite Dark Lord and was also recruited as a Death Eater (the youngest). A lot of mind games, and this fic is long. I mean, really long. 500k words long.

Rainbows and Bookworms,
GenderlessPerson