Note: Thanks for the 30+ reviews for the last chapter. This is the second chapter from Tom's POV. I hope you enjoy seeing things from Tom's perspective. I know the chapter is on the shorter side, but I said what I wanted to say and I don't like to drag out introspection chapters.
Double thanks for getting me over 200+ reviews!
Important note, if one more person complains about how short this is, I'm going to rip my hair out (for this chapter and any others). I told the part of the story I needed to tell and I didn't want to drag it out. The title is "the night before hogwarts" and that is what it is about.
THE HAND OF FATE
by Yih
The night before hogwarts/1937
Everything had been packed neatly into the trunk that had been purchased the day before when Tom had gone with Harry to Diagon Alley to shop for his school supplies. Tom had arranged and rearranged all the belongings he was taking with him to Hogwarts, making sure everything was in the perfect spot. But he had stopped packing hours ago and now he was lying on his bed, staring up at the bland ceiling.
Tom had been dreadfully excited about attending Hogwarts until he had finished packing and realized that going to Hogwarts meant leaving Harry behind. Was it worth it? Tom wasn't certain. Staying at home and staying with Harry meant he would be safe and not alone. Tom hadn't realized how lonely he was until Harry had taken him from the orphanage, only then had he realized how utterly miserable and alone he had been.
Of course, he had always realized he was miserable, but until then he hadn't realized he needed anyone other than himself.
At least, Harry had gotten them a falcon to carry owls back and forth. Tom hoped deep down that Harry would write him letters, not just responses to his own letters. At worst, Tom would make certain to include questions that force Harry to make a reply, in the circumstance that Harry wasn't much of a letter writer.
This was ridiculous, Tom thought. A little less than a year ago, he hadn't need anyone but himself, and now he was scheming on how to get Harry to write frequently to him without saying it outright. That would just be embarrassing.
Tom sighed and tried to make himself fall asleep again by closing his eyes, but a half an hour later he still found himself unable to drift to sleep. He was thinking intently about what life was going to be like now, without Harry being there most of the time. True Harry did go to work and was gone for a good part of the day, but they had all day on the weekends and the evenings and nights during the week.
And yet, he wanted to go to Hogwarts. He wanted to learn great and powerful magic. He wanted to become as strong and as skillful as Harry so that he could earn the other's respect and love.
Because, honestly, who could love someone like him?
TBC
Please review!
A/N: I find Tom's POV rather challenging at times to write, mainly because I don't do it often and well his line of thoughts are quite different from mine (and Harry's, who I'm far more comfortable writing from). I hope you enjoyed the chapter, as short as it is, as a glimpse into Tom's mind, however short, is quite divulging.
Thanks to the 100+ readers that have added this story to their favorites!
Released on May 31, 2010.
