Title: Darkest Hour
Pairings: Tom Riddle/Harry Potter
Rating: R for now, it will go up later
Disclaimer: Not mine now, wasn't mine then, will never be mine in the future.
Summary: Young Harry Potter was your average normal young boy living your average normal childish life. He was unfortunately, too average and too normal. Struggling to prove his worth under the shameful cloud of being a squib, Harry forges a dark, dangerous friendship with the only person who seems to understand him.
- - page break/scene change
::meow:: - Parselmouth
meow - thoughts
Darkest Hour
Harry quickly ducked behind the large trunk of an old oak tree, the leaves providing the perfect shade from the warm summer sun. Laughter filled the air along with the shrieks and screams of children. While at any other time Harry would be in the thick of things, scheming mischief and mayhem, he was feeling a bit down today.
It's supposed to be my birthday party too, he thought with a touch of gloominess. His parents had teamed up with Neville's grandmother and planned to celebrate both the boys' birthdays together. Harry felt no ill will to Neville, but even he could feel the forced happiness coming off the adults. They had tried to "tone down the magic" for Harry's sake and for that he was glum. He didn't want their pity.
So thus the reason why he was currently hiding from everyone. Remus had sent Harry a rather large book for his present which he had laying open on his lap. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the title and already it had fascinated the now seven year old.
"I say, what are you doing hiding back here?" a voice interrupted.
Harry glanced up, his glasses falling from the bridge of his nose down to the very tip. Standing before him was a boy his age with silvery platinum hair and mercury gray eyes.
"Who says I'm hiding?" Harry retorted.
The blond scoffed, then looked rather cross at his reaction. "Well, why aren't you over there playing with the others?"
"Why aren't you?" returned the raven haired boy.
"Because I have better ways to spend my time then acting in such a childish manner." Without permission, the boy sat next to Harry, his eyes on the book laying in his lap. "Draco Malfoy, by the way."
"Yes, I remember who you are," Harry replied. "It wouldn't be proper to forget who's on the guest list, would it?"
"No, but when has proper ever been introduced to Longbottom? Or Weasely for that matter?"
"Weasely and Longbottom aren't bad people," argued Harry as he looked down at the pages of his book. "You shouldn't make such rash judgments."
"It can hardly be called rash when they've never shown a behavior that speaks otherwise," Draco stated. "Look at them, gallivanting around while the other host of honor is sitting behind a tree reading a dodgy old book."
Harry chuckled softly at the comment. "It's not dodgy but it is an old book," he conceded. "I enjoy books, they have a lot of knowledge in them."
"Yes, well, when I need that knowledge then I'll find the appropriate book to read." Draco stretched his legs out and leaned back on his elbows. "You're not exactly as I had imaged, you know," he said, his voice dropping to a soft tenor. "You're different."
An ebony eyebrow inched upward. "Different? How so?"
Draco snorted as he coolly studied the boy next to him. "You must know that everyone here knows of your . . . limitation," he began. "I had imagined you to be a sullen, angry boy who wanted everyone else around him to be miserable. I know I would be, if I couldn't perform magic."
"Then I'm thankful I'm not you," Harry chuckled.
"I am a Malfoy and we are one of a kind," huffed Draco. "Still, here you are, as content as you can be with your lot in life. You smile, you laugh, you act as if anything is perfectly fine and normal when all the adults seem to want to walk around you on their tip toes. Rather funny, that."
"Perhaps to you, but I wish they'd just stop with the pitying looks." Harry closed his book, his mind now focused entirely on the conversation. "You know, I could say the same for you. I've heard quite a few things said about the Malfoys. Stuck up, greedy, self-centered and selfish to name some of the choice words spoken. Yet here you are, going out of your way to speak to me. What is it you want?"
A gleam sparkled in Draco's eyes before he tipped his head back and roared with with laughter. It sounded slightly rusty, as if laughter was a foreign thing to the boy, and so infectious that Harry found himself giggling along softly.
"How positively insidious of you," Draco crowed. "You just might make it after all. You're right, father always said a Malfoy should never waste his time on someone who wasn't worth it. Father said that if a man has nothing to give, then a man has nothing of value. But you, you're different. You have secrets, I can tell. Positively delightful, deliciously wicked secrets and I want in on them. In doing so, you'll have the backing and support of a Malfoy. That is something that every witch and wizard desires and not many have the privilege to receive. What say you? Friends?"
Harry tilted his head to the side as he pondered the boy and his question. To be used and in turn use the influence of a powerful family. And all Draco wanted was to be let in on some of his secrets?
A grin formed on Harry's face. Well, the young boy thought. Draco never said he wanted to know all my secrets. Perhaps one or two will suffice. He stuck out his hand to the platinum haired boy.
"Hello," he said in a light tone. "My name is Harry Potter. It would be a pleasure to count you as a friend."
Draco matched his grin and reached for the offered hand. "Draco Malfoy. The pleasure is all mine."
~~~~~serpent-speakers are delightfully squishy and warm to curl up too~~~~~
"I hope you enjoyed yourself, dear," Lily spoke as she set aside some of Harry's gifts. "It seemed like you were getting along quite famously with Draco."
Harry smiled at his mother as he helped put the leftovers of his cake away. "I did enjoy myself and Draco. He's got a wicked sense of humor."
"Somehow I don't think Mr. and Mrs. Weasely would agree to that statement," James scoffed dryly. "Not with all the pranks young Malfoy pulled off on the expense of their son, Ron."
Harry shrugged. "Ron should have seen it coming," he replied. "I did try to warn him. He never should have said the things he did in public and in polite company. He's going to get in trouble one of these days."
Lily laughed as she bent down and ruffled Harry's hair. "My son, the gentleman," she teased. "Go put your gifts away for me, love. I'll start dinner."
As Harry darted around his room, putting his gifts where he wanted them, he heard the soft sibilant hiss announcing Nagini's arrival.
::There's my sweet serpent-speaker,:: she cooed as only a snake could coo. Once again, tied in a lovely bow at the base of her triangular skull, sat a box. His birthday gift.
::Nagini! I missed you today!:: Harry greeted, giving the King Cobra a kiss atop her head as he untied the package from her.
::And just what the Devil am I?:: another voiced spoke. ::Chopped liver? No greetings for me? Cheeky boy.::
::I missed you too, Tom,:: Harry replied with a giggle. ::Thank you for my birthday present!::
::How can you thank me when you don't even know what it is? Open it, silly boy. Hurry!::
With childish delight, Harry ripped away the wrappings from the rectangular box. Nestled inside was a long, almost elegantly shaped wooden object. The seven year old trembled as he softly caressed the item.
It was a wand. His very own wand.
::T-Tom,:: Harry stuttered. ::Is this . . . what I think it is?::
::Well it's not a bloody book if that's what you're asking,:: came the retort. ::And before you get too excited, it's a starter wand. Somewhat similar to a starter broom, this has reduced power and capabilities to the real thing. It will teach you to channel you magic properly, so that when you do get the real thing, you won't be a pathetic mess like most first years at Hogwarts.::
Harry burst into tears then, his hands clutching the wand possessively to his chest. Both Nagini and Tom exclaimed in startled dismay. The snake herself wound her body around the sobbing child and tried to soothe away his tears.
::No, no I'm alright,:: Harry hiccuped as he rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand. ::It's just . . . this is all so surreal. It's all my dreams coming true and to see it and to know just overwhelmed me. I'm sorry.::
::Hush, my sweet snakeling,:: Nagini crooned. ::Never be sorry for expressing yourself to us. We're so very proud of you.::
::Nagini is right,:: Tom agreed. ::You have come a long way since we first met, Harry. It's understandable to be so . . . emotional.::
Harry choked back a laugh. ::You sound like Draco,:: he murmured as he nestled deeper into Nagini's coils.
::Ah, yes. The youngest Malfoy. Heard he made himself known to you.::
::Oh? How do you know Draco? Who told you?::
::Well, ah, I know his father you see,:: Tom replied hastily. ::We both work in the Ministry so we're acquaintances of sorts.::
::Oh, that makes sense. That's how you knew my father too, since he's an Auror right?::
::Yes, you could say that,:: was the droll response. ::A word of warning, however. As witty as Malfoy seems to appear, he is his father's son. I would be wary of his dealings.::
::You mean, keep my friends close and my enemies closer? You're such a pessimist, Tom,:: Harry teased. ::Stop worrying. I know Draco loves to scheme and plot. I won't let my guard down.::
::Excellent. I figured you would be able to see through his mask but I wanted to make absolutely sure. If he hurts you Harry, I will move Heaven and Earth to return the pain tenfold.::
::I know, Tom, I know,:: Harry said softly. ::Please don't worry. Draco made my birthday a bit more bearable and your gift made it even better.::
::Well of course my gift was the best of the lot. Why ever would you think otherwise?:: Tom countered, acceding to Harry's desire to change topics. ::As I said before, it's a starter wand. I've placed spells on it so that the Ministry will not be alerted to its use. No big spells for you, my boy. We'll start small and build up the strength of your core before moving on to other things. Magical exhaustion is a serious condition that can be irreversible. I won't let that happen to you. Ever.::
A small smile fluttered across Harry's lips at Tom's voice. Others might have taken to offense, finding the tone to be possessive or forceful, but Harry knew better. He knew Tom and that made all the difference in the world.
I love you too, Tom, his heart whispered.
~~~~~serpent-speakers are delightfully squishy and warm to curl up too~~~~~
Author's Notes:
So . . . long story short. I met a man. I fell in love with the man. I married the man and had his child. We all moved. Twice. And now I update. Two days in a row. OH SNAP.
Thoughts and blessings to those suffering in Japan. I can't stand the idiots who say it's karma for Japan bombing Pearl Harbor. I bet you money you weren't even alive but my American father was and he held no grudge or ill will. Stop seeing the world in such a hypocritical light. Would it be karma if all African Americans rise up and slap the shit out of whites for slavery? Would it be karma if Native Americans do the same? Maybe the United States should invade Britain and call it karma for them doing the same to the burgeoning Americas?
I can't stand humanity some days. Makes me wish I can go back to my ancestors time and start flinging poop at people.
Didn't mean to bring politics into this.
