Author's Note: Birthday Continued!!

Lil' Harry: *glomps kittyfiction2008* LOVES!!!

Sable: *eyeroll; buries nose in book*

Matthias: Harry, you are such a weird one. You should focus on more important things! *eyes Tom hungrily while the Dark Lord inches away slowly*

Sin: Mmmm. Time to gather my Harrys! *ties Bad Harry to a chair, keeping all blades and weapons away from him*

Disclaimer: Nope.

Chapter Twelve Which Is Which?

Tom had been unable to shirk his duties for the day but before he left, he treated his princeling to the time of his life. For the first time since Harry's arrival, Tom took him out of the house. They went to Diagon Alley, under an assortment of glamours of course. Harry had been glamoured as a small child, that way no one did a double take when they saw their Boy Savior getting picked up by some strange man. They did have a few rules on their outing though. Harry had to hold his hand at all times and promise not to go off anywhere without him. Lucius would be accompanying them on their trip and Draco would be taking lunch with them back at the manor. Harry needed to get used to socializing with new people again, especially those his own age. He had dressed his princeling in his new clothes, casting various spells silently to repel dirt and wrinkles that Harry would inevitably come into contact with. He secretly sent Harry's clothes from the Dursley's to the house elves to be burned. They would be buying him even more clothes today at the Alleys. He looked breathtaking in his stylish black slacks and white button up. His crisp black tie and vest and the black boots just completed his ensemble. He looked exactly what he was. A young lord. Lucius smiled down at him, a strange pride in his eyes. Tom knew the man would make Harry a pureblood prince in no time. Harry seemed determined to be as well behaved as he possibly could be. So far he had held their hands and tried his hardest to keep his outbursts to a minimum.

First, they went to the bank, getting the teen emancipated from his relatives and the manipulative Headmaster, beginning the paperwork to have custody given to Tom Riddle. This ended up being a lengthy process since Tom had to prove to the bank that Harry had in fact been abused and that the old man had not acted in his best interest. Tom then had to prove that he was able to provide the child with a safe and wholesome home life, so he sent Harry and Lucius ahead to pick up everything he would need for his private schooling. Hints of charges against Dumbledore for child neglect and child endangerment were dropped and the goblins graciously agreed to have the paperwork in his hands the next morning. He eventually found the pair in a bookstore in the entrance to Knockturn Alley, hovering over some books in the back. Harry turned to look at him as he approached. The teen had his nose buried in Alchemy Over The Ages.

"You're the Dark Lord." He stated calmly, without feeling or inflection, merely fact.

"I am. And this is Lucius, your godfather. I am your guardian."

Lucius seemed very pleased at being labeled the boy's godfather. No doubt severus would also gain the title. Harry nodded, slowly, visibly mulling over the information.

"I am Sable." he said softly but clearly and concisely, giving a small bow. Tom smiled and gestured toward the shelves. "I am hiring you a private tutors, Sable. Are there any subjects in particular that you would like to study?"

Sable's lips lifted gently. So he was the studious one. The intellect.

"Alchemy, potions, spell crafting, summoning, defensive and offensive fighting styles, and battle tactics, and strategies. He said calmly and in quick succession.

Tom and Lucius looked at him in surprise, making the boy blush.

"Ignorance is what defines the weak. Knowledge defines power." He whispered. Tom smiled and helped him pick out his books. Once they walked out of the dusty shop, though, little Harry returned.. They headed to the ice cream shop to appease the boy's sweet tooth next. He ordered a funfetti, strawberry ice cream with gummy bears all over it. Tom sincerely hoped Severus had more anti-nausea potions. They collected the rest of Harry's things and headed home for lunch. Tom had them go ahead while he ducked down Knockturn for a moment. Lucius threw him an amused glance but led Harry to the house. Tom joined them again within fifteen minutes.

They settled in the drawing room with a game of exploding snap that Harry jumping happily in amusement. The fireworks they threw off made him practically bounce with excitement in Tom's lap. Draco finally stepped through the floo with Severus at his back. Harry stood silently, frowning as the two boys eyed each other. He tilted his head to the side before turning back to Lucius sitting at the table.

"Lucius! He looks just like you!" He said in childish glee.

Draco cleared his throat softly. Lucius, Severus and Tom had all briefed him on Harry's…condition and what he could do and what he should avoid.

"He should. Harry, this is my son, Draco." Lucius said calmly, beckoning the boys and Tom to the Dining Room.

Harry gave Draco a friendly little wave and a shy smile, holding Tom's hand the whole way down the hall. He was hanging rather close to Tom as if he were nervous but was also overly curious about the new boy.

"So, Harry, how old are you?" Draco ventured slowly, like he was afraid that Harry would jump out at him at any moment.

Harry stopped in the hallway, a frown on his face. Tom was watching the interaction like a hawk. When the boy seemed to be entirely puzzled by the question, he quickly stepped in on his behalf.

"Harry would you care to share your birthday cake with Draco? I understand he is fond of strawberries as well."

"Ok!"

"So you go school? That's so cool! I would be too scared to leave Tom." Harry said happily, sitting in the Dark Lord's lap.

Draco seemed completely perplexed by him. He didn't understand anything that Harry Potter did or said. How could the boy completely forget four years of fighting and constant bickering? How could he forget everything he had been before? Draco kept testing the waters with the boy. Hinting at things from Harry's old life. His father had said that Harry hadn't forgotten, that his personality had broken and fractured so it was like Harry actually believed himself to be a different person, or several at different times.

"It can get annoying though. Living with your classmates can be trying and all of the mud bloods running around like a zoo-"

Several things happened in quick succession. Harry had jumped up from his place in Tom's lap, the glassware on the table shattered, spilling juice over the table cloth. A knife was suddenly buried halfway to the hilt in the table between Draco's hand and his plate.

"Watch your filthy mouth, ferret!!" Harry snarled, suddenly full of rage, the sweet Harry gone in an instant.

Draco sat pale as a sheet and everyone had frozen, unused to this new violent teen. Harry suddenly paused, frowning and looking around at them all. His eyes widened comically as the emerald orbs alighted on the blade in the table. He spun around to Tom.

"Tom! Someone hurt the table!" He cried, making Draco's jaw drop.

Severus cleaned up the spills with a wave of his wand. Harry saw all of the glass and spills next and clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Oooo, someone's in trouble…" He laid his head on the table next to the knife, coming to eye level with it. He had a sorrowful expression on his face, "Poor table…" He moaned, running his hand over the table gently.

Draco looked about ready to pass out but a small chuckle escaped his lips, causing Harry to look up with a beaming smile. The chuckle became a full laugh soon. The two seemed to be doing well with each other even though Harry seemed to frighten Draco alittle.

Tom sighed, walking into his room, running his hand through his hair. Harry was rubbing his eyes in his arms, nearly ready for bed. He set the boy on their bed wearily and went to the dresser to pull their pajamas out.

"Tom?" Harry called, his voice hoarse with fatigue.

They had had a long day.

"Yes, my prince?"

"Can I have my kiss now?"

The Dark Lord paused, setting their clothes on the bed. He smiled and started helping the boy out of his shirt. He had Harry in his pj's in no time, still marveling at the bones jutting from his body. He tilted the boy's head up gently, and breathed against his lips softly. Harry's breath seemed to catch in his throat so Tom ran his thumb over it lightly, making sure the boy didn't stop breathing all together.

"Anything you want, dearest."

His lips connected with Harry's gently and a shiver of electricity ran through him. He could feel the same shiver run down his princeling's spine as well through the thin silk night clothes. Harry was glad he was already sitting down because his whole body suddenly felt light and weak. Like warm pudding. Too warm. Tom was practically in Eden. He felt thin arms slide around his neck and prayed it wasn't Matthias again. Tom parted reluctantly from him only to see a strange broken clarity he hadn't seen since the Dursley's home settle in the teen's eyes. Harry gasped alittle, looking up at him in wonder.

"Oh Tom…Where am I…?" Harry whispered a trickle of fear leaking into his voice.

Tom tugged him close, rubbing his back to offer what little comfort he could.

"You're safe, Harry." He said gently.

The boy nodded, his whole body shaking like a leaf. Tom settled him into bed joyful at finally seeing the true Harry peaking out at last.

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