I. Am. An. Asshole. Go ahead, berate me, shank me, etc. I'm awful for waiting over two months (TWO MONTHS SHE SAYs?!) to update. Yup. That's how it is. And this chappie isn't even that long! (Only 3792) but I'm finally at the 40,000 mark. WOOOOOOOOOOOO. I just got really busy with school and everything and honestly, I shouldn't be writing anyway, but I felt the need to update. :) Anyway, I'm sorry I took so long, however, soon enough this story will be coming to a close. I'm guessing maybe 5, 6 more chapters. I MIGHT get to 20, but I don't think so. Like I said before, I know what I'm doing with this story so I just gotta write it. This also means smuttiness will be appearing soon enough! (You guys excited? :D) but not quite yet. Also, WARNING: Non-explicit rape and fluffiness within this chapter. I hope you can contain yourselves. Because the rape is non-explicit, I have no warning in the chapter itself. You guys aren't all 10 year olds so you can deal. Now, for reviews!

Rawdha: I don't know if I PMed you (I'm pretty sure I did) but no, I haven't abandoned this. I can guarantee this won't be abandoned. Like I said up there ^ I have it all in mind, I just have to write it (OH THE HORROR!) Thanks for the review though, and I hope you enjoy!

Marigold: Hey there girl! :) I'm especially sorry for not updating for you. You always leave me such amazing reviews and I feel like a jackass for waiting so long to update. Sorry :( But anywho, I do imagine Harry like that and I'm glad I'm not the only one. :D However, with Tom, I always think of him as a classical beauty (symmetrical features and all). However, I always imagine him with REALLY piercing eyes. However, I'm never too sure about the color. I never think green like I think Tom was in canon, but I usually go with blue or grey. This time I went grey :D. And then the dark hair and all, however I always thought of his as more brown than black. And yes, Tom isn't really an anime character and NO ONE could be as hot as Sebastian haha! However, I do think of his build as kind of anime-y. The super long legs and thin figure. His face is always a real person's to me though. And I'm glad someone thinks the same about Bonded One too. I actually quit reading it just because it was making me so sick. I'm perfectly fine with Harry's personality deviating from canon (since I usually make my Harry a bit more studious and less prejudiced) but that character is just WAY too out there especially for how nothing different happened to Harry to cause that change. Its just...UGH. I'm super happy you like my story so much! :D I really wish someone would do one like mine too, just so I could have the pleasure of reading one, since I prefer reading over writing. Maybe you could use my base and go from there..? (hint hint :D) I'm sure you could write a great one! That whole "harry shrugging it off" was a main point I needed in my fic. TMR/HP is my favorite pairing of all time, but people just go about it weirdly. I love the timetravel stories, but if you have a canon Harry without any personality changes or ignorance (like how mine doesn't know Tom is Voldemort) then its just REALLY weird and unrealistic for Harry to fall for Tom. I'm sorry, but even if fanfiction it shouldn't happen. Besides, Harry was never the one obsessed with Voldemort. It was always the other way around. :D Anyway, your love for this story is very flattering :D Also, I would like for someone to do fanart for me. ANYONE WANNA DRAW HARRY OR TOM FOR ME? Because it would help everyone see them like how I do. How I wish I could draw...:) Also, this Tom will not be a sociopath. Even though stories like that are AWESOME, I prefer to read those (if its a TMR/HP pairing) when Harry grows up with Tom in the orphanage from the get-go. Makes it more realistic to me. In this story, Tom is still bad, even though he won't seem that way in this chappie :D, but isn't without emotion. I just made it so he was abused and pretty much closed himself off from the world to escape the pain. Harry is gonna help him get past that. :) He won't become a sissy sweetheart though! He'll just become a softie when it comes to dear Harry :D And ya, I've read a few of those fics where people are obsessed with anime. If the setting is Japan, sorry, but I;m not reading. :D Unless its a crossover with an anime IN Japan. Have you ever read any Harry/Black Butler crossovers that have Japanese in them? Its crazy cause both of them are set in Britain (which is why they are such GREAT CROSSOVERS :D) but its just insane. I don't have any specific stories in mind though, but I know what your talking about. :D And Grindelwald is actually gonna show up soon! Later in this chappie if you can believe it :D And thanks for the school comment. :) Just so you know though- I haven't read the manga of Black Butler. I've only seen the show. I've been wanting to read the manga though. Is it really good? Dang that was super long! :D Thanks SOOOOO MUCH! for your review and please, enjoy! :D

Sedinette Michaelis: Hahah :D I'm glad you enjoyed the fluff. :D Soon enough they'll be all over each other, pinkie swear. And in this chapter, I'm giving another 40ml shot of fluff so prepared to be flying in the sky hun! Thanks for the review and I hope you like it. :D

mangoarcher1802: You think? I felt like I put WAYY too much fluff in that chapter. Eh. :) However, in this chapter there's about the same amount, but a lot more on Tom's side. Realizations and all. Things will start picking up though so there will be more dark parts. Hope you enjoy the chapter and thanks for the review! :)

Pernicia Hart: Hey there new fan! I'm super happy you found my story. :D Tell your friends about it so I can get more reviews. (MWHAHAHA my master plan is underway all the reviews shall be mine!) Thanks for all the compliments on my story. :) I had hoped this would be realistic, even if my Harry is a bit more on character than my Tom is. He's a sissy compared to the original one :D But that's just with Harry, I promise! And I'm totally with you on the tired part sister. I really like the timetravel idea, but I hate how Harry ALWAYS seems to like Tom first, which I don't think would ever happen. I much prefer my way and I hope people read this and do their own like it so I can read :D My fav pairing is TMR/HP too btw :D So expect more stories with that pairing from me! I'm pretty sure I read a fanfic with the lost boy thing though. I just hope whoever did it doesn't come to mine and thinks I'm stealing from her (him) I promise I;m not! Anywho, I really hope you like this chapter as much as the others and enjoy!

Potter's Tardis: Well then! I guess I'll just have to try harder then next time. :D Not much funny in this chapter though. Mostly just realizations and happy times for Tommy boy :) Hope you like this chapter and please review again! (But lie and tell me I'm amazing. Don't you know that's what your supposed to put in a review? :D)

Ya, review responses are about half of this chapter :D Please, everyone review and I'll update much faster and get you some smuttiness! :D Because I swear, its coming up. Also, because I haven't updated in so long, I've put a bit of a summary of what's happened so far so you don't have to go back and reread.

Btw: Words. is German. You know what that means :D

Summary: It's the mid- of November to beginning of December now (it crosses that much time during this chapter) and Harry's 17. Before, Harry was sent back in time through a specially enchanted pensieve (by a potion made by future Flamel and one of his memories). Before that, Harry had been on his own during all of his 6th year after everyone at Hogwarts had been brutally murdered at the beginning when Draco let all the Death Eaters in and the Dark Lord. Harry traveled and whatnot until June 3rd when he figured out the riddle Dumbledore gave him and went back in time. Then, spent 3 months with Flamel, who taught him stuff (just so my Harry could be smart) and helped him with his Survivor's guilt and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after all the stuff that happened to him. As of now, Harry doesn't know Tom is Voldemort and thinks the Dark Lord is in his 20's/30's. He intends on defeating him after he gains power by the 1970's, which is when Voldemort actually declared war or started actually trying to take over England. So, Harry's been fucking around at school and has befriended some Slytherin's, including his two best mates (or my other main characters) Eric Zabini and of course, Tom Riddle. Both of them REALLY like Harry in their own way, because I can't resist a love triangle where the one holding both of their affections is completely oblivious. Too cute. But Harry and Tom settled the dispute of how Tom tortured that Prince chick and they are now working on a potion for class, which will turn them into Animagi. Harry also, in the last chapter, helped Tommy out with his nightmares. So, they've known each other for about 3 months now. That's what's happened so far- sorry I suck at summaries. :D

Hope Regained

Ch. 11

"I'm not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost."
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

The small, unloved boy suddenly woke to things he had thought he would never feel again.

A thin, moth-eaten blanket.

A too-small cot with broken springs.

And the merciless chill he had been much too familiar with in the years before he discovered who he actually was. Or more like, that he was actually somebody. Someone who actually mattered. Someone whose name wasn't just boy or freak.

Yes, it had been awhile since he was still that little child, but now he was back in that position and couldn't help but feel those damned emotions like self-loathing and utter hopelessness reawaken within him. He slowly opened sleep-crusted lids at the sound of a door creaking and looked up in the eyes of someone he had wished for so long that he would never see again. The man, Ronnie Jacobs, was the third oldest male in the orphanage. As such, he required the utmost respect since the bigger and stronger you were, the more power you had. He slowly grinned at his own widened eyes and crooked yellow teeth bit into chapped lips menacingly.

The man growled, "Get on your knees.", but he needn't have said a thing because he knew the drill. He knew that the only reason someone would come visit him on the coldest of winter nights, December 31st, was to use him and throw him away like the trash he was. So he closed his eyes and tried to take his mind away from what was happening; back to the good times, but suddenly realized that there were no good times. There was not a single experience that had been even relatively nice in his entire existence. And in that moment he just gave up.

He gave up on the hope that maybe, just maybe, someone would care enough about him to hold him while he sobbed. Ask, "How are you?" sincerely, when he was obviously feeling blue. Listen to him rant on and on about all the interesting books there were at the library and how he had managed to read the ones that were meant for sixth years when he was only in kindergarten. Watch him perform cool tricks like make his pencil do flips in the air without scorning him and calling him a freak. No, in that moment he realized there would never be anybody who cared. And that's when he swore to himself that he would punish every single person who had ever hurt him. That he would grow up to be strong and smart and prove to all these worthless imbeciles that he was better. However, in the midst of his revelations, he still couldn't stop himself from screaming as he was penetrated and even though he knew no one would save him, he couldn't help but scream for someone, anyone.

But for the first time in his life, someone answered the call.

"Tom! Wake up. It's all going to be okay. Shhh. It was just a nightmare. You're not alone. It's alright." Harry whispered in a (hopefully) soothing tone.

He pet the boy's head lightly in a way he had always wished someone would do for him when he had had nightmares. Slowly, pale eyelids peeled back and an extremely tall body quit convulsing. Any other person would have been freaked out by the movements and screams, but Harry understood. He knew what this was like and exactly what you needed when it happened. That's why he wasn't surprised when said man quickly rose and grabbed onto his shoulders, wand already in hand. Wild grey eyes, the most vulnerable expression he had ever seen on Riddle, and a wand (which looked like it may be made from yew) were all shoved into his face. However, instead of freaking out at the sudden closeness, all Harry did was grasp his friend's upper arm gently and squeeze him, as if to remind him where he was.

"It's me Tom, Harry. It was only a nightmare. It wasn't real. It's gonna be alright." Riddle's eyes focused suddenly and he backed away, trying to get as far from Harry, from his weakness, as possible. However, Harry stopped him with the hand that still grasped his upper wand arm and tugged him back. Tom, who was still in a frightened and in a weak state, followed without thought. His body just knew that whoever held onto him wasn't a threat somehow, and may even provide protection. Harry then did something no one else had done for him before.

He grabbed his shoulders, making them face to face, and leaned forward. Before he could stop whatever was about to happen, Harry actually hugged him. Short arms reached around his torso and gripped him hard, helping him fully come back to reality. He laid his ebony curl-covered head upon his shoulder and pressed a heart-shaped face to his neck. Before he knew it, Tom was hugging back and enjoying the warmth more than he ever thought he could, or would.

Now, this wasn't the first time Riddle had ever been hugged. The orphanage matrons would hug the children...sometimes. So he had received a few, maybe two or three. However, this was the first hug he had ever gotten that he could actually feel the warmth and utter caring behind. For the first time, Tom felt completely accepted and, dare he say it, loved. It was weird and he wasn't sure if he even liked it, but he knew he definitely wanted more. He never wanted it to stop in fact. It just felt...he couldn't even describe it. How do you explain something that you've never felt anything close to before? He couldn't resist putting his face into the mop of hair that completely covered Harry's head and was surprised when he smelt cinnamon and raspberries.

It was a very unique scent that, mixed with the smell of boy, oddly suited Harry. Not to mention his hair was probably the softest thing in existence. The hug seemed to last hours, but only lasted a little over a minute, and was soon ended by the boy who had initiated it. He pulled back and gave his arm a kind squeeze, showing Tom the smile that he would never tire of.

"Are you okay now? Sorry I woke you and all, but you were having a really bad one tonight so I decided I couldn't let you suffer. It's only 1:20 though, so you could still get a few hours in." In the midst of his sleepiness, Tom didn't manage to completely cover his disappointment and fear, so Harry caught the look. Unlike anyone else, meaning any other Slytherin, who saw it, he didn't even think about taking advantage or making fun. His only thoughts were that he needed to help in any way he could. Harry rubbed his neck sheepishly and looked at Tom from beneath his lashes. Green eyes managed to still glow in the darkly lit room.

"Or we could stay up and talk of course. I usually only get a few hours a night anyways. Besides, I did tell you it's better to talk about bad experiences than to bury them." Tom stopped mid turn, for he had been getting ready to suffer through another night of nightmares, and thought the proposition over.

His decision wasn't based on logic though, as his choices usually were. If it had been anyone else he would have already obliviated them and kicked them out of his bed, but this was Harry. Sweet, kind Harry that managed to be cunning and devious yet completely innocent at the same time. No, this time his choice wasn't based on logic, it was based on the pureness of his companion's words and the brilliance of his AK green eyes and warm smile. How could he resist such temptation?

"Yes. I'd like that very much." And Harry's eyes brightened to an even more brilliant green (if that was possible) and Tom knew he had made the right decision.

"I swear to Merlin Eric. No one is this chipper in the mornings; it's just not natural. If you don't stop I'm gonna make your tongue swell and suffocate you." Eric widened his violet eyes comically and gasped. He sobered quickly though and said in a contemplative voice, one finger tapping his chin,

"That would be an awful way to go though...but then again it is very amusing making you irritated, so it might be worth it. Did you know your eyebrows get all scrunched up and you put on the most a-DOR-able pout-" Eric stopped suddenly, fearing that his greatest friend would realize something he had no intention of letting the boy know for a very long time, but thankfully, Harry didn't notice a thing. He was painfully oblivious, but all it did was add to his charm. Zabini didn't know how much longer he could stand it.

"You great prat! I do not pout. Children pout. I...um. Wait, I sneer! Or pull off a look of disdain for those that mock me, like you. And none of my facial expressions are adorable by the way. The only way I look is fearsome. Fearsome I say! I make boggarts shiver in their boots!" Harry yelled while raising his spoon as if it were Excalibur, a look of indignation and fake seriousness upon his elvish face. Zabini wasn't sure if he should laugh or drool. He really was too beautiful for his own good.

"So all boggarts have their own pair of personal boots they wear? I had no idea that those creatures wore any kind of clothing besides what a person's greatest fear wears." Tom Riddle said smoothly while setting his books across from Harry. His crush didn't miss a beat.

"Of course they do Tom. And you say you are the know-er of all! That's like, basic information. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to magical creatures Tommy boy. You need to read up." Once again, Lord Voldemort, as he had been trained to call Riddle in his mind, actually laughed.

Over the past few weeks his Lord had steadily become more cheerful and social, but only around Harry. In the Knights of Walpurgis sessions...well, his Master and Lord was just as vicious as always. But around Harry, he was almost...friendly? It was odd, and it made him fear Voldemort may be trying to court Harry to the dark. While he followed Voldemort, respected, and agreed with his ideas (most of the time) he didn't want this life for Harry. He was too sweet and innocent. Eric would bet his magic that Harry's core was an unblemished white. The only darkness within his best friend was that of his terrible memories and experiences. Otherwise, Harry was as pure as the driven snow.

"So Tom, you wanna go to Hogsmeade with Eric and I? We're gonna go and buy Christmas gifts before time runs out." Tom gave him a droll stare and Harry released a peal of bell-like laughter. Both Eric and Tom thought at the same time that they could never get tired of that sound.

"Okay, fine. I don't want you to be able to guess what I get you anyways." Right before either Tom or Eric could say anything else, an owl swooped down and handed Harry what looked like, "A Howler? What on Earth is this about?" Harry was just about to set it aflame when it began, not yelling, but singing.

You're a mean one... Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel! You're as cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel, Mr. Gri-INCH! -You're a bad banana with a *bum bum* GREASY BLACK PEEL!

The weird song, to everyone but Harry at least, continued until it had finished, despite all of Harry's silencing charms and attempts to burn it. It also had background music, if that helped at all. (Right.) It just wouldn't stop, much to his embarrassment. How could Nick do this! He had to admit though...it was pretty hilarious. So, right as the song ended, Harry burst out into a mad cackle, but was interrupted by the voice of his surrogate dad who yelled,

"And there you go sport! Thought that would be a great song to start out your holiday month with. I hope you enjoyed my serenade. Would that be called a serenade? Eh whatever. This is a reminder that I'm still here! You haven't sent me a letter in over three days, THREE DAYS. All because you're going off and having sex with anyone who will provide it doesn't mean you can ignore me. I'm more important than any potential partner. Remember, I'm watching you, I have eyes and ears everywhere in case you've forgotten, and, even though I know you wouldn't dare to forget about little old me, I expect a wondrous and well-thought out gift when you come home for Yule. Wait-now that I think about it, you better come home even earlier because I miss nagging you. It's my favorite past time in case you had forgotten. Also, I really hope I interrupted your breakfast and whatnot so I could embarrass you. Hey Harry's friends! Did it work? I bet you're completely red by now. You better show me the memory when you get back. Now hurry home Mr. Grinch! I need to eat your cinnamon pancakes. Do you even know how tasty they are? And remember to eat a bunch of food this morning and the next. We both know you'd look less like a fairy if you were fat. Have a great time being made fun of Harry and see ya!"

The letter exploded with a loud Bang! and Harry couldn't help but laugh even louder than before. That man was just too much sometimes! There were a few people giggling, including Albus Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling madly, but most were just in shock. That included Tom and Eric.

"That's Nick for ya." But he left it at that and continued eating his oatmeal. Tom and Eric were still stunned though and didn't even notice when Harry left for Herbology.

"We only have a few more minutes until the moon is at its fullest. Are you ready?" Harry nodded, black curls flying in the wind. Both he and Riddle extended their wands to the potion and released a bit of their magical energy. Tom noticed that while his was almost completely black, Harry's was a bright white with small streaks of grey. All it did was remind him why he had been drawn to Harry in the first place. His magic was beautiful. And very powerful. After their magic mixed with the potions they both lowered their hands and bottled up 3 of each. Just as Tom was about to destroy the rest he said to Harry, "Just so we only know how to make it."

Harry nodded in a way that made it obvious he had already known what Tom was planning on doing, put the three tubes in his robes, and went to lean on the balcony in the Astronomy tower. In that moment, Riddle yet again, (and he really needed to take care of this problem now that he thought about it) could only stop and stare.

Moonlight washed over Harry and made him look unreal. Black waves were lightly ruffled by the wind and poked in every direction in a way that let everyone know he truly didn't care about his appearance. Porcelain skin glowed and across his arms and neck there were a few spots that were silvery in appearance like scars-wait, scars? Tom quickly strode over to the small boy and grabbed his left arm and couldn't help but notice the flinch he responded with.

Before Harry could even so much as turn his way, Tom peeled away the glamor his Harry had put upon himself and his gaze quickly turned red from anger. Written across his angel's perfect hand was I must not tell lies. in a very familiar scrawl. As Riddle turned his sharp gaze up to cold emeralds, equally cold grey eyes told his boy without words to explain what exactly had happened. For a few minutes they merely stared at one another, but then Tom said the magic words.

"You once said to me that it's better to let out bad memories than to bury them deep inside. Are you a hypocrite Harry?" Said boy continued staring for a moment, but turned away eventually, however, he didn't take his hand with him. Tom didn't stop staring for a one moment and finally, small pink lips opened to speak.

"You're right Tom. You-we shouldn't bury things. But that doesn't mean I don't want to. That I don't need to." Just as Riddle was about to demand an explanation, for no one denied the Dark Lord, Harry continued in that soft, lilting voice of his.

"I'm not a hypocrite though. And I'm not a coward-so I'll tell. But, you'll owe me a story in return. You'll owe me one of your nightmares." Suddenly, green and grey met again and this time, grey turned away first. Inside, a wide array of emotions were tearing through Tom. Disbelief, anger, curiosity, fear. All emotions he usually had a tight handle on, but all that control was stripped away easily by that bright AK gaze.

I don't owe this boy anything! If I truly want, I could just rip all his memories out of him and cast an Obliviate afterwards. It doesn't make a difference; the boy is nothing to me!

But then he took a look at Harry's too bright, to green, too honest, and, dare he say it?, caring eyes. There was no deceit or maliciousness within those orbs. There was only compassion and honesty. And part of Tom, even though he could have sworn it was gone forever and had been destroyed by the orphanage, warmed and broke at the same time. Part of his cold, dead heart actually filled with emotion other than cold hatred or hot anger and for a moment, he didn't feel like the psychopath he was proud to call himself.

He felt like the small boy in the orphanage hoping for someone to ask, "How are you?" sincerely, when he was obviously feeling blue. Listen to him rant on and on about all the interesting books there were at the library and how he had managed to read the ones that were meant for sixth years when he was only in kindergarten. He wanted someone to watch him perform cool tricks like make his pencil do flips in the air without scorning him and calling him a freak.

And he couldn't believe he had missed that his old dreams were actually coming true with this boy, this enigma, and, even though the nasty monster that lived where the broken portion of his soul had been told him not to, he decided to give his Harry a chance. He decided to allow himself to...hope a little bit. To try. Something he hadn't done since that cold, dark birthday of his with bony knees being sharply pushed into the hard ground and a mouth full of cock.

"O-okay. But, n-not today alright?" Tom was heavily embarrassed with his words, for he couldn't remember the last time he lost his composure in such a way and actually stuttered, but Harry didn't comment on his blunder. The only thing the angel before him did was give him the most breathtaking smile so far, and how could that even be possible?, and flung himself into his arms. Warmth overcame him and for the first time since that fateful day, Tom honestly smiled, and he realized that maybe, just maybe, angels were real. For today, his prayers had been answered. Big green orbs looking at him adoringly and small bow-shaped lips talked about a past eerily similar to his while gently coaxing Tom into telling him a bit of his own. Grey eyes brightened to a degree that hadn't been seen in years and thin pink lips were pulled into a smile that could easily overpower the sun. Yes, his prayers had been answered. They had been answered in the form of an angel named Harry Flamel.

M-my Lord? Are you sure it's wise to-

"Crucio." The current Dark Lord voiced lazily.

Bright blue eyes so similar to another's with their shine of intelligence looked on without mercy as the small, mousy man twitched and shuddered. Just as he started frothing at the mouth Grindelwald kindly decided to end the torment.

Silly boy. Don't you remember to not question your Lord? Hazel eyes looked at him with pain and fear, but still adoration he was happy to see, and nodded vigorously. Grindelwald sent him a beaming smile in return and pat his head like the dog he was. Deep, throaty chuckles arose from his throat and blue eyes held not only the sheen of intelligence, but a gleam of insanity. Good, my little Haustier. Now, tell me news of England.

Slowly, the thin man rose, but soon fell back down to one knee in respect. Of course my Lord. The Ministry is as easy to corrupt as ever, but Dumbledore still holds a great amount of power.

At the mention of Albus, Grindelwald froze, but his eyes shined with something the follower had never seen before. So he's up to his old tricks, no? I have no doubts he's fully aware of my plans. However, I wonder why he hasn't done anything as of yet… Unless my old Liebhaber still feels for me as I always will.

Jason hesitantly continued on, even if the look in his master's eyes was a tad unnerving. It also seems to be that Nicholas Flamel has joined with Dumbledore. Before, the man had been neutral, but it seems he has a son at Hogwarts now, so he's taken an active role with Dumbledore in the Ministry.

At that, Grindelwald's blue eyes sharpened and thin lips that had been pulled into a lazy grin at old memories suddenly frowned. Flamel you say? He is a very powerful man...definitely on par with Albus and myself. He has lived for many more decades than me, because of his skills in alchemy of course. I hadn't expected this development, for he has never taken sides before. Who is his son? I thought he and Perenelle had quit having children after the fourth.

His name is Harry sir. Harry Flamel.

Bam! How'd you like that? Yes, this is where Tom starts to love Harry, even if it isn't quite there yet. I know it may seem kind of fast but please remember two things.

1. This Tom isn't a completely sociopath/psychopath in my story. I know how a character like that would act, go look at Malicious Intentions if you want that. However, I wanted this story to be a romance, and if Tom was like he was in the original, I couldn't have the romance I wanted. My story would be more like the The Fictonist's story, even though her's isn't slash. It would be something more like that. However, I wanted this so there. :) Because Tom is more of someone who's been through so much pain and suffering at the orphanage, he just closed himself off. And that brings me to two.

2. I know its been only 3 months, and that's why Harry doesn't like Tom yet. And Eric...well, you'll find out why Eric already likes Harry so much later. I'll just tell you now that it isn't normal. However, back to Tom. The reason why he likes Harry so quickly is because he's NEVER had anyone like Harry before. Then you say, well he has people who would befriend him and stuff. That makes what you're saying irrelevant! Nope. You see, when Tom first started in Slytherin, everyone hated on him. So, no, he didn't have a friend. Then, when he showed them his power and his Parseltongue stuff, they bowed before him, but none became his friend. In Tom's eyes, because they had been mean to him before, they wouldn't have been worthy. However, Harry started out as being nice and caring to Tom, which was something he wasn't used to. Therefore, his feelings for Harry are gonna rapidly accelerate. Okay, now that that is sorted out :) Haustier and Liebhaber are just German words I put in place. I felt like lover (Liebhaber) and pet (Haustier) weren't appropriate and the German just sounded cooler. :D Hope you liked and if you have any questions, criticism, and especially praise, don't be afraid to review or PM me. :) I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks a load and have a wonderful day! (And Thanksgiving if I don't update by then.)