Chapter 8 Call Me Tom
(italics are Ethan's thoughts, underlined italics are someone else's thoughts to him)
A/N: Sorry that my updating is slow. I really am trying to get the new chapters out. This is my longest chapter so far and I hope you all enjoy it. Reviews would be appreciated. Also, I'm not sure yet who I ant Draco to be paired with. Suggestions on a pairing for Draco would also be greatly appreciated.
They were greeted by Lucius in the entrance hall. Ethan called Bromley and had the out house elf take his and Harry's things to his room and Draco's things to his. Harry continued to look around in a mixture of fear and awe which was amusing Ethan and the others to no end, until Lucius spoke that is.
"The Dark Lord wishes for us to meet him in the parlor near his study. Draco you are to go to your room and not come out until the morning, you are expected to be on time for breakfast which will be at 9:00 am. You are dismissed," at this Draco almost wanted to pout. He knew something serious was going on and he wanted to find out what it was. But when he looked at everyone and took note of the somber expressions he decided maybe he didn't want to know after all. He nodded to each in turn then said to his father "Please send my regards to My Lord," before turning and heading for his room.
Everyone looked at Lucius who turned and started walking in the opposite direction. They followed. No one was looking forward to this conversation. Ethan kept glancing around and he noticed that Harry was doing the same thing then he remembered that Harry was the only one who didn't know his way around. He caught Harry's eyes the next time Harry looked towards him and offered a small smile, Harry seemed to immediately relax though not completely. Altogether too soon for anybody's liking they were standing outside the parlor. Lucius knocked and waited. A moment later a voice said "Come in." and Lucius pushed open the door and went in with the rest trailing behind him. Lucius and Severus sat on one couch while Harry and Ethan sat on the other, Voldemort was already seated in and armchair near the two. Even though Harry had sat as far away from Voldemort as possible he still looked as though he were about to pass out. Severus reached into his robe pocket and from it distributed strong calming draughts to everyone including himself. They all relaxed and Harry thankfully had stopped looking as if he were about to pass out.
Voldemort snapped his fingers and a house elf appeared holding a tea service which he promptly sat on the coffee table then bowed to Voldemort before disappearing with an almost inaudible crack.
"Harry I would like to properly welcome you to me and my son Ethan's home, Riddle Manor."
"Thank you, sir." Harry replied quietly looking down at the cup of tea in his hands and vaguely wondering when he had picked it up not remembering that Ethan had handed it to him only moments ago.
"Harry things have really changed and are changing. I would like you to please call me Tom. Lucius, you and Severus as well when we are in this company. The same goes for Draco."
Harry looked at him in shock but decided to just take a deep breath and look back down at his tea. He didn't have the energy for name puzzles right now. He took another deep breath and forced himself to look up and face Volde…Tom. Geez, that was weird. He stared silently at Tom and waited for someone to start speaking.
Tom stared back at Harry for a while then said, "Harry I would like you to stay with me and Ethan this summer. Or at the very least stay with Lucius at his manor," at this Harry looked over at Lucius and could see by the look of slight surprise that this had not yet been discussed but then Lucius said "Of course, My Lord." Harry looked back at Tom. " Just so you know Ethan will not immediately be coming here but he will be arriving a few days after the start of summer break."
"Dumbledore will force me to go back to my relatives. Sometimes he would let me go to the Weasley's later in the summer but never to start." Harry looked at them as if he wanted to ask them to do something but didn't dare to get his hopes up.
"Harry, you will be seventeen this summer. You will go back to the Dursleys at first," at this Harry almost looked ready to cry no matter the company he was in, "but I will be sending a team to retrieve you when you arrive. You should be there no more than a day give-or-take. It is up to you though, whether you would prefer to stay here in Riddle Manor or stay at Malfoy Manor."
Harry pondered this for a moment "But sir, er, Tom…wouldn't they be able to find me if I were staying at Malfoy Manor? No offence meant to you of course," he added looking at Lucius who nodded his acknowledgement.
"It is a possibility and the risk we run is much higher if you stay there. I would really much rather have you stay here. Once you turn seventeen it wont matter where you are but until then I want you safe. And after as well of course." Tom replied.
Harry narrowed his eyes slightly, "I got the story from all of them so I can partially understand why you are being "nice-ish" but that doesn't seem like it would be enough of a reason to me." he looked at Tom expectantly.
Tom sighed, "There are two other main factors, though I'm sure there are many smaller factors which I myself don't even know about. One is my son. Ethan is … fond of you.," he ignored his son's blush, " The other is while I do participate and have my followers participate in doling out torture, in my eyes: doing such to family members is unacceptable. It is intolerable." Harry almost flinched back from the depth of emotion in the other man's eyes and so did the rest of them sitting in the room. Then Tom spoke again, "Harry what your relatives did to you was… is not okay in my book. They will pay a price." Harry looked down into his hands, which were now empty of a tea cup, and drew in a deep steady breath before releasing it and looking back up.
"May…may I… I know that all my life I've been told revenge isn't the answer but, just this once may I be allowed to hurt them?" Harry lowered his eyes again sure that he would be refused.
"Yes Harry you may. You may not kill them but you will be allowed to torture them if that is what you wish." Tom replied in an even tone betraying nothing of his jumbled emotions.
Harry nodded slightly then looked up and said softly "Thank you. I… I think that I would like to stay here in the summer." he caught Tom nodding and smiled a small strained smile.
"Now Severus," Tom started, "will the calming draughts be in effect much longer?"
Severus knew that Tom was wondering if they had enough time for Ethan's own conversation or if they would need to stop to have more. Severus nodded "It will be fine." he and Tom looked at Ethan in turn causing Harry and Lucius to look at him as well. Even with the calming draught Ethan was very pale and he took a few deep breaths.
Father… I need a pensieve. I would rather the memories of what I need you all to know be seen, though censored, because I know that I will not be able to speak through them.
Tom paled slightly but nodded his head slowly, got up, then walked out of the room. He returned minutes later and could feel the tension radiating through the room. He conjured a small table between the seats and sat the pensieve on it. While Ethan was adding memories Tom looked at Harry again, "You got your memories back I trust?"
"Yes, I got them back."
After a moment Ethan sat back in his chair and took a calming breath. "I believe that is all I need to share. It is only one memory but it is a long-ish one. I'm not going in with you guys…I can't. I think it will be hard enough for me when you guys come out." By the time he finished speaking his voice was strained and practically a whisper. Lucius and Severus looked at him with sympathy and Tom placed a hand on his shoulder before moving over to the pensieve, they all turned and looked at Harry who had not gotten up from his chair. Harry looked at them then looked at Ethan. "Harry you go to." Ethan said quietly.
Harry shifted uncomfortably, "But I didn't show you any of mine, I mean I know we talked but that's not the same…"
Ethan sighed, "Harry if someday you want to show me anything I'm sure my father will let you use the pensieve," Tom nodded at this, "and if you never do, don't feel like you have to because of this. You don't. for now though, I want you to go in too. Please for me? I will leave it up to you though because I know seeing some of those things may…no, probably will…hurt you. They will remind you. You don't have to go in but I would like you to. If you do I just want to say that I'm sorry ahead of time." Everyone looked between the pensieve and Ethan with growing apprehension. Harry made his decision and stood.
"I will go in. For you." he gave a small crooked smile, "Maybe we can help each other heal." then he steeped up next to the pensieve.
Tom held up three fingers and slowly lowered then one at a time. When the last finger went down they all leaned into the silvery substance and were sucked into the pensieve.
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A/N: This next part contains slightly graphic to graphic depictions of abuse and may be triggering. Please do not read if you think it may cause problems. You have been warned. Another A/N will be placed after this part is over for those who wish to skip it.
They landed in a sparsely furnished bedroom and looked around. Harry was the first to notice the small huddled figure of Ethan pressing himself into a corner. The boy was no older than six or seven. Had he not used similar tactics to hide and make himself smaller he didn't think he would have noticed the boy. Harry pointed him out to the others. They all looked at he small figure perplexed as to why he was hiding in the corner. Harry thought back to what Ethan had said about the memories 'They will remind you.' confusion morphing into a look of comprehension he immediately turned to the door straining his ears. The others noticed his action and immediately were silent. Due to years of 'practice' Harry picked up the sound of someone coming down the hall almost immediately and he tensed. After a few heartbeats Tom picked up the sound as well, then Severus and Lucius. Harry held his breath as the footsteps stopped outside the door which was violently flung open. Harry was the only one who noticed Ethan had flinched…just slightly.
A tall aristocratic man walked through the door and strode over to stand directly in front of Ethan towering over the small bunched up frame. He sneered down at the young boy with a look of utter disgust and loathing.
"Don't you even know how to greet your betters anymore? Stand up Boy!"
Harry startled. Boy. That had been his name at the Dursleys, that and Freak. He had actually started primary school thinking that those where his names. The teacher was not pleased but she did nothing other than correct him. No one had ever done anything. Ever.
Ethan hastily stood, though somewhat reluctantly, and braced himself. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
Ethan's father had noticed his son's reluctance and sharply backhanded him across the face. (Tom growled but stayed where he was, they all knew this was just a memory.) Ethan didn't flinch as he saw the hand come up nor did he when it connected, he just bowed his head a little lower and repeated "I'm sorry, sir."
"Impertinent brat. As if I don't have enough to do without having to worry about disciplining you. You are an ungrateful waste of space. It pains me to have to claim you as family. I don't you know, not unless I have to. You are that much of an embarrassment." Ethan seemed to wilt in upon himself.
Ethan's father held out his hand and a whip flew through the door and into his hand. He took his wand out of his arm holster and waved it at Ethan who was suddenly naked. (Tom growled low in his throat and Severus and Lucius paled to almost transparent. Harry was digging his nails into his palms hard enough to draw blood, which was slowly dripping through his fingers and onto his pants and shoes as well as the carpet. He tried to take steady, even deep breaths in hopes of not losing it. The events playing out in front of him memory or not, and about someone he cared about, where so similar to some of his own that he was having trouble staying cognizant.) Ethan was covered in scars, some of which looked as if they were less than a day old. He was shaking ever so slightly as he eyed the whip in his fathers hands. He gasped softly as his father spun him around then hit him across the back with a cutting curse before spinning him around again. Ethan gritted his teeth together and kept his head bowed, he knew that they were playing his father's 'games' and the 'fun' was just beginning. He couldn't show pain now, it would only make the next time worse. His father narrowed his eyes, Ethan noticed and thought 'oh, no. He's had a bad day.' but that was all he had time to think as his father raised his wand "CRUCIO". Ethan held back a scream but he did fall to his knees. His body screamed in even more pain because he refused to give in to the instinct that was telling him to thrash around and instead held himself in his kneeling position. (The three adults visiting the memory stared at the young boy in awe. None of them noticed when Harry sank to his knees on the floor gasping in breaths quietly but harshly as he stared into Ethan's pain filled eyes.)
His father released him from the spell and watched him impassively as he straightened his limbs painfully and took the pose that he had previously occupied. "Turn around Boy." Ethan turned and found himself to be standing behind a chair. He heard something come whizzing through the air and then heard his father catch whatever it was. He hastily tried to relax his muscles that had tensed and bunched at the sound of the noise and was pleased when they relaxed marginally. Suddenly he knew what his father had summoned and he felt his back burned with searing heat. It was a fire poker, he was sure his father had placed it in the fire before leaving whatever room he had been in and that the poker had been there since his father had left to come up to his room. He hissed quietly as the poker was applied diagonally across the length of his back. His muscles tensed again as his father pulled back the poker only create a fire whip with his wand which he wrapped around the poker. With his other hand he drew back the whip he had summoned earlier and snapped it at his son's back, the sharp tips cutting harshly into his skin and further ripping apart his back where he had cast a cutting curse earlier. He continued to whip his son mercilessly. Finally he tossed the whip aside and grasped the handle end of the poker before ending his flame whip. He pressed the hot surface of the metal repeatedly against Ethan's back grinning evilly every time he managed to coerce a whimper out of the boy. After a while he got bored with that as well and tossed it aside where it landed next to the earlier discarded whip. Ethan tensed as his father stepped up behind him. (Severus, Lucius, and Tom felt angry and disturbed at the way Ethan had been treated. Still, no one noticed Harry kneeling on the floor staring at Ethan, even though Ethan was now standing. Harry was close to breaking down, he knew it wouldn't be long just a little more.) Ethan shuddered as his father caressed his back. It was like Ethan's back was a canvas his blood the paint and his father was a master finger painter. Ethan involuntarily shuddered then bit his lip as he felt his father caress his butt. He heard his father unzip his pants and step closer…he shut his eyes. (All three of the adults viewing the memory stepped forward despite knowing that they would be able to do nothing. Harry didn't get up, he broke down. Thankfully the memory stopped there and they were all ejected from the memory.)
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A/N: If you skipped that part you can continue reading again now.
Ethan shifted restlessly in his chair then stood. The memory would be ending soon he knew. He summoned five claming draughts as he knew the other ones were also wearing off. He downed one as soon as they arrived and sat the rest next to the pensieve for when the others came out. Taking a deep breath he relaxed as he felt the draught begin to work. He held his breath when they appeared out of the pensieve and immediately noticed that Harry was missing. His eyes frantically searched around the pensieve but he heard Harry before he saw him. The sound of gut-wrenching sobs brought his eyes to the form of Harry lying on the ground. He was curled up into an impossibly small ball and his frame was shaking hard. Ethan was immediately by his side and he wrapped his arms around Harry and pulled him into his lap. Harry uncurled enough to bury his face in the crook of Ethan's neck but he continued to sob and shake. The three adults stared in shock at Harry as they had not taken notice of him until their gazes followed Ethan across the room who kneeled beside him. Ethan was holding Harry tight to him and making soothing sounds in the distraught boy's ears. He glanced up briefly at the others, "Take a calming draught. They're on the table next to the pensieve." He no longer felt as concerned about them questioning him about what had happened, the only thing that was concerning him right now was that he make sure Harry was going to be okay. He held and rocked Harry and continued to make soothing sounds until finally Harry stopped shaking and his sobs diminished to whimpers. He scooted back and leaned against one of the couches, keeping Harry firmly in his lap. Looking up he noted that the others had each taken a calming draught and were now sitting back down watching him and Harry silently. He reached over and picked up the last calming draught turning Harry's face slightly to help him drink it before setting the vial back on the table. Harry shifted but didn't make to move away from Ethan so he held him close.
"We are so sorry Harry. We should have taken notice that you were not well. I'm sorry. We're sorry." Tom said. His eyes were full of remorse and sadness and regret. Lucius and Severus nodded in agreement with Tom, matching emotions shadowing their faces and eyes. Harry just took a small breath, "It was not your fault. You had reason to be distracted." his tone though weary left no room for argument.
Tom looked at Ethan "I am sad that you felt you had need to hide this from me, but while the news was not pleasant I am glad that you told me. That you told us."
"I know that you mostly showed us because of your hand in exposing Harry's secrets but I too am glad that you told us. I want to thank you both for that because you both played a part in it. This is not a bad thing this is a good thing. Hopefully now you can both begin to heal and we will all be here to help." Severus said.
While Severus was talking Harry had started to shake again but calmed back down again when Ethan started carding his fingers through his hair.
Lucius was still in shock. He looked at Ethan and whispered, "I'm sorry." Ethan nodded in acceptance.
Harry turned a bit and looked up at Ethan, "I know you were older than you looked in that memory. I just want to know…how old were you?"
"That was a memory from when I was nine." Ethan replied softly. "Things like that had happened before but that memory showed a sort of average I suppose. That's why I chose it. I'm sorry for the pain it caused you."
The three adults were staring at the boys in renewed shock. At Harry for knowing the boy had been older than he looked and at Ethan because of what had happened to him.
Ethan turned to his father, "Can we go up now?" he asked in an almost pleading voice.
Tom nodded and replied "You and Harry will be sharing your room for the weekend. Another bed has been added already."
"Goodnight father, Severus, Lucius." Ethan said as he inclined his head to each man in turn.
"Goodnight, sirs." Harry said quietly as he got up off of Ethan's lap. He stared at the floor rather than look at the men. After helping Ethan to stand he followed him out of the room and up to Ethan's bedroom. They walked in silence. The silence continued as they each took turns to use the bathroom to get ready for bed and then they climbed into their respective beds. Ethan floated some dreamless sleep over to Harry and they both drank a dose.
"Goodnight Harry."
"Goodnight Ethan."
Both boys were grateful as they slipped into the blissful oblivion of unconsciousness.
Downstairs Lucius, Severus, and Tom glanced between each other. They didn't know what to say. They were at a loss for words.
Tom wanted the school year to be over, even though he knew that the school year just started. He wanted his son by his side and never to leave. He wanted to make sure he was safe at all times. He knew he would let his son continue school even though he already knew most of the subjects. He knew his son needed to be around Harry.
After a moment Tom stood. "I'm going to bed. I will see you both in the morning. Or, rather later this morning. I may not be at breakfast and both Ethan and Harry are excused as well as you two. Goodnight" with that he left the room.
Lucius and Severus sat in silence for a while after Tom had left. Lucius stood and went to stand before Severus with his hand extended. Severus looked up and Lucius could see that his eyes had a haunted look about them. Severus took his hand and stood. They also walked to their room and got ready in silence, then climbed into bed together. Lucius lay on his side against Severus' back and he held him close. Tonight was not a night for sex nor was it a night for love making. It was night to hold loved ones close and accept the comfort it brought. Eventually both men fell asleep.
Tom paced the length of his room repeatedly. His emotions were chaotic. Finally sighing he got ready to go to bed. He knew he needed to sleep, he would be no good to either boy if he were dead tired. He grabbed a single dose vial of dreamless sleep potion and walked back to his bed. He was pleased to feel it's affects quickly and fell into a blissful state of unconsciousness.
