Hello Hello! I'm here! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This is a bit late from my usual Christmas/New Year update but was running a bit behind due to some family matters. But I finally got around to sit and write and here is the next chapter. Extra long for you guys. So go ahead and read!
Enjoy!
Meant To Be
Chapter 35
Two weeks passed quickly as Harry wrapped gifts and sent them off to his friends, getting a few stray gifts to put with their growing pile under the tree. Before Harry knew it, it was Christmas.
That morning had Harry waking up early, excited to share the joyous holiday with his family and he rolled over and shook Tom awake.
"Tom! Wake up, it's Christmas!"
"Ugh," Tom only muttered and rolled over onto his other side.
"No, don't go back to sleep," Harry said laying over him, "Wake up."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes. There's presents!"
"They're not going anywhere."
"But, but...presents," Harry whined.
"Wynter is not even awake yet," Tom said.
Harry pouted as he looked at the baby monitor and saw that she was still asleep. "Fine. Let's have sex then." Tom's eyes snapped open, suddenly awake and Harry laughed. "That caught your attention."
"I'm always up for sex," Tom said.
"I know, I can feel it," Harry said with a grin then laughed as he was pulled underneath him.
A while later after a fantastic tussle under the sheets, they heard Wynter fussing in the next room causing them to get up.
"Wynter, Wynter! Are you awake?" Harry sang as he went into her room.
"Ye, Mama!" Wynter called from her crib.
"It's Christmas! Christmas!" He exclaimed picking her up and lifting her in the air. "You excited? You get to open more presents." Wynter just clapped her hands at his excitement. "Let's get you dressed, okay?"
"Oke."
"Alright," Harry said placing her on her changing table and started to sing his changing song he had made up. "First is the diaper. That comes off...gross!"
"Os!"
Harry smiled and quickly removed the soiled diaper. "Stinky, Stinky. In the trash. Now we clean your butt, so you don't get a rash," Harry sang. "Now for a new one, nice and fresh, now that's done, time to get dressed! First are your pants, to keep your legs warm. Legs up!" Wynter lifted her legs in the air and Harry put the pants on. "There you go. Time for the shirt. Arms go up, up to the sky," Harry said as he sat her up and Wynter put her arms up for him to put on. "Shirt goes on, there we go. Arms go down, down to the ground. And now the socks. One Sock."
"Ock!" Wynter said proudly.
"That's right," Harry laughed, "And there's the other sock." He said slipping them onto her feet. Seeing someone at the corner of his eye he turned to see Tom in the doorway, looking at him strangely, shaking his head. "Daddy thinks I'm weird, but I don't care," Harry continued his little song. "Now it's time to do your hair. We get the brush. Brush, brush, brush," he sang gently brushing her fine hair so it wasn't sticking up so much. "There we go, all nice and pretty. Do we want a bow?"
"No!" Wynter said.
"Okay, no bow. And now Wynter is all ready to start the day!" Harry said lifting her up and lightly shaking her, "Yay!"
"Must you do that everytime you change her?" Tom questioned as he passed to go downstairs.
"Yes. I. Do." Harry sang. "Besides, Wynter loves it, don't you?" And Wynter smiled and hugged him. "Okay. Let's go and open presents."
They headed downstairs and Harry and Tom separated gifts into piles for the three of them. Harry could tell Tom was a bit excited himself when he saw the gifts for him, or rather for Marque from Harry's friends. They then sat down on the floor in front of the tree to open gifts.
They spent time ripping open wrapping paper and examining the things they got with excitement, Harry stopping to take pictures of Tom and Wynter. So far, Wynter had gotten several new outfits and even more toys she didn't need. But he couldn't fault the gift givers, there was something about buying things for a baby that was just heartwarming; it was hard not to go overboard. At least Wynter was set in the clothes department.
"What is this?" Tom asked holding out the sleeve of a blue sweater.
Harry laughed in joy, "You got a Weasley sweater!"
"A what?" Tom asked looking at the garment like it offended him.
"A Weasley sweater," Harry repeated, "Mrs. Weasley knits sweaters for everyone every year. Look," Harry said reaching for a present and opening it to reveal a red sweater with a big golden "H" on it. "I got one too."
"Why?"
"Because," Harry shrugged with a sheepish smile, "You're part of the family now."
Tom frowned and held out the sweater that had a big "M" on the front in disgust and uncertainty.
"It could stand for Marvalo," Harry commented, "Put it on."
"I don't think so."
"Come on," Harry reasoned as he pulled his over his head, "They're really warm." He smiled fondly as he lightly ran his hand over the wool sweater. "One of these sweaters was one of the first Christmas gifts I had ever gotten. The Dursley's never bothered to get me anything, so when I woke up on Christmas of my first year, I wasn't expecting anything. But Mrs. Weasley made me one of these. It was a little big and a bit tacky, but I loved it all the same. She's given made me one every year ever since."
"They never got you anything?" Tom asked quietly.
"No," Harry said, "Well, one year they gave me a sock and a 50-pence piece, but that was only because Hedwig pestered them until they gave in."
Tom glanced down at the sweater and then hesitated, thinking about what Harry had just revealed. It was something he too understood very well. He sighed and then pulled the sweater over his head. When he had pulled the material over Harry was beaming.
"It looks good on you. Brings out your eyes."
"Which ones?" Tom said narrowing his eyes and thinking of taking Harry on the couch to make them swirl with red.
"Do you want a red one?"
"No," Tom said quickly.
"I thought so. Oh! I wonder if Wynter got one." Harry turned to find Wynter and found her surrounded by wrapping paper having the time of her life as she ripped the paper to bits, toys and clothes lying about, forgotten. "Oh my god, Wynter," Harry admonished her looking at the mess she had created. Wynter only giggled and took another hold of some wrapping paper on a gift and gave it a tug to give a satisfying rip. "Are you having fun?"
"Ye!" She exclaimed and tore off another piece.
"I have no idea who gave her what now," Harry said not sure which wrapping paper had gone to what gift, least of all where the gift tags had gone.
"Well, you did give them all to her to open," Tom said.
"Not all at once! Ugh, oh well. Oh!" He said spotting a familiar sweater. "She did get one," Harry said holding up a smaller version of their sweaters in purple with a "W" on the front. "Come here, jelly bean." Harry picked her up from amongst her mess and slipped the sweater over her head. "There now we all match."
"I feel ridiculous," Tom stated flatly.
"You look fine."
"Mama," Wynter called.
"What jelly bean?" Wynter pointed to her sweater and at the letter in curiosity. "It's a 'W' for Wynter." Wynter babbled in happiness and picked at the 'W' with a smile. "You like it?"
"Ye!"
"I need a picture," Harry said sitting her down with her presents and snapped picture after picture of her as she played with the new toy that sang to her. She would press a button and it would start playing music making her wiggle side to side like she was dancing.
Harry smiled and turned his attention to Tom who was flipping through a book he had gotten. "What did you get?"
"A few books I already have, a shirt and 3 scarves."
"Well, they don't really know you, so the best they could. At least you got something."
Tom nodded and pulled a dark green, almost black button down shirt toward him, "I like this one," he said lifting it.
"Do you really like it? Or are you just saying that?" Harry asked.
"I really like it," Tom confirmed.
"Good. You're really hard to shop for, you know. You either already have it or it's something mundane that you wouldn't like or even use."
"I would like it regardless of what it is."
"Yeah, but I wanted to get you something that you would actually use. A shirt was all I could think of."
"I'll definitely be using it then," Tom said, making Harry smile.
"Oh! There's one more," Harry said rooting around under the tree and pulling out a wrapped gift, "It's for you."
Tom took the gift, obviously another book and looked at the tag, "It's from Fenrir," he commented and tore open the gift wrap. He held back a laugh as he looked at the title.
"What? What did he get you?" Tom turned the book so Harry could read it. "'The Art of Great Sex'" Harry read with a gasp. "Oh my god! He knows about us right?"
"Yes, he does."
"Then, why?!" Harry exclaimed, his face warming up. Tom shrugged and opened the book with interest. "Don't read it!" he said grabbing the book where it opened to a very provocative position and he slammed it shut, his face turning red.
"Why not?" Tom asked, "It was a gift. And I think I want to try whatever it was you just saw."
"No!" Harry exclaimed hiding the book under the other books Tom got. "I can't bend like that."
"We can still try," Tom said suggestively.
"Definitely not," Harry said hotly and turned away from him to tend to Wynter who wanted out of her sweater.
"We'll see."
The rest of the day was uneventful and lazy, which was just fine. Harry made a nice Christmas breakfast with scones and eggs, then they just relaxed on the couch and put on a cartoon movie for Wynter to watch as she played with her new toys.
Sometime in the afternoon, Harry was dozing against Tom's shoulder as he read the paper when he was suddenly roused by Tom urgently whispering his name. "Mm?"
"Harry," Tom hissed. "Look!"
Harry opened his eyes and looked up at Tom sleepily. "What?" Tom gestured with his head and he turned to find Wynter standing on unsteady feet as she reached for a brightly colored bow on the coffee table. "Oh my god," he whispered, "She's standing."
"I know."
"She's standing!"
"I know!"
Harry sat up straight and picked up his camera next to him. "Wynter! Look at Mama! Look at you, standing, my big girl."
Wynter turned her head to look at him and gave him a big smile, but with her concentration diverted, she plopped back down onto her butt.
"Uh oh! Come on try again!" He prompted her as he switched the mode on his camera to video.
"You can do it, sweetheart," Tom encouraged her.
Inspired, Wynter turned over onto her hands and knees and faced the table. She put her hands up on the table so she was sitting on her knees and pulled herself up so she could get her feet under her and push to a standing position.
It took her a few tries to regain her footing, but when she did she looked at her parents proudly and both Harry and Tom showered her with praise and excitement. It was such a small thing, standing, but to them, it was a major accomplishment and as Harry held his daughter close with Tom by his side, he wondered if all parents went through this simple joy.
They continued to praise her each time successfully stood on her own as she did it throughout the day and she got better at it each time. Once she even tried to step to the side but she fell down as she lost her balance, so she wasn't going to take her first steps that day, but it was going to be soon. For now, Wynter just sat down with Tom on the couch as they watched an animated movie, both of them fascinated, as Harry started on Christmas dinner.
Harry was almost done making dinner when the phone rang from across the room. He glanced up at Tom who was totally absorbed in the movie (though he would never admit it) that he didn't even hear it. So he put his food on stasis so it wouldn't burn and went to pick up the phone and was immediately deafened by screaming on the other side. He jerked the phone away from his ear as the excited screaming mixed with words came through. "Hermione stop screaming, I can't understand you," he said smiling at her obvious excitement. He could hear her take a deep breath, then...
"I'm getting married!" Hermione screamed.
Harry smiled, happiness spreading through him. "He finally asked you? Good!"
"You knew?"
"Of course, I knew, who do you think I am?"
"For how long?"
"Um…a month or so. It's all about timing you know."
"Yes, and it was perfect. I really can't believe it. It's beautiful," she said referring to the ring on her finger.
"Well, it's about damn time."
"It is, isn't it?" Hermione asked with a giggle.
"Congratulations Hermione, really. To the both of you."
"Thank you. I'm just...I'm so happy."
"Good. You deserve it," Harry said going back to the counter and continuing on with dinner.
"Maybe..." Hermione started slyly, "You and Marque..."
Harry sighed, "Hermione stop, just stop. This is about you, not me."
"Fine," she pouted.
"Good. Now tell me all about it."
xxx
The rest of the week passed in a blur. He got calls from Hermione and Ron, each excited about their upcoming nuptials. They had so much to plan and wanted to make sure to include Harry in them and Wynter too of course. Ron had immediately blurted out and asked Harry to be his best man to which Harry readily agreed. They even asked if Wynter could be their flower girl, she should be walking by then. Harry was already looking forward to it.
But he was looking forward to something a lot closer. Tom's birthday. Tom was a lot like how he had been, not really looking forward to birthdays, but that was before he had made friends who would give him stuff. He wanted it to be like that for Tom, plus it was the first one together, he wanted to make it special. Kind of like how Tom had done for his. He even got the perfect gift, a rare find that he had just happened to come across. And he had Wynter make something for her Daddy, something simple but meaningful. He knew Tom would love it.
Yet, Wynter seemed to have an early birthday gift of her own.
Harry was making dinner one night and Tom sitting on the couch with Wynter just babbling away at him as she bounced up and down on his legs as he held her.
"Dadee, Dadee!" Wynter exclaimed.
"What princess?"
"Dadee, uff oo! Uff oo!"
"Uff? Woof?"
"Uff!" She exclaimed again and reached forward to give him a kiss. "Uff oo!"
"Fluff? Stuff?" Tom tried again "Do you know what she is saying?" he called to Harry.
"Let's see," Harry said coming over from the kitchen. "What are you trying to tell Daddy?"
"Uff oo Dadee! Uff, Uff!" Wynter exclaimed bouncing on her legs.
Tom looked at Harry puzzled, but Harry understood and he smiled softly. "She's saying, I love you, Daddy." If only it was that easy to say, he thought.
Tom's eyes widened and he looked at Wynter. "Do you love me, sweetheart?"
"Ye! Uff oo!"
Tom smiled wide and pulled her close and Wynter snuggled against him and said "Dadeee," happily.
"I guess she decided to give you an early birthday present," Harry commented.
"I'll take it," Tom said and lightly kissed the top of Wynter's head again and just held her as she snuggled close.
Tom felt warmth spread through his chest and wondered if this was love. He had heard about unconditional love from a child to a parent, not that he had ever experienced it, but Wynter was here showing him just that and he felt…warm. It was a pleasant feeling. A nice contrast to the last time he had been confronted with it, it had nearly destroyed him. Harry had told him once that it was his mother's love that had protected him that night, though Tom didn't understand it. How could something so simple, so...mundane and unimportant be his undoing? But now, if this was it, he could sort of understand it. He would do anything to keep his little girl safe. And Harry...
Tom glanced at Harry who was back at the kitchen counter cooking dinner with a bittersweet smile on his face. He didn't know, he...felt things he didn't understand, they were unfamiliar and he didn't know what they were. Tom did recognize possessiveness and desire, but this, this he didn't know. It was a different sort of warmth and it...scared him. Though he would never admit it. And since it did instead of trying to figure it out, he pushed it away back in the furthest part of his mind so he wouldn't have to think about it. Yet it didn't stop the strange feeling from happening from time to time.
Harry looked over at him and quickly looked away so fast he would have missed it if he had blinked. That was another thing he didn't understand. Harry was an open book with most things, Tom could usually tell what he wanted just by reading his face, yet he had been very...secretive wasn't exactly the right word. He was keeping something from him, yet it sometimes looked like he wanted to say something. It was irritating and frustrating because he couldn't read the particular look Harry always had these days.
Seeing it would quickly sour his mood because he hated not understanding people and with Harry, he had to be extra careful. They had a...difficult past and he sometimes said something that would put Harry in a quiet mood, which Tom quickly learned led to no sex. Plus, he really didn't like the silent treatment, he found. He would rather Harry yell at him for being insensitive and cruel then have that wounded look. It was like kicking a puppy...not that he has, of course, but with those green eyes, so expressive, it made him feel bad. Yet when they darkened when he was aroused and lit up when he was happy, it made Tom feel those things in his chest, squeezing almost painfully so. And when Harry smiled at him a certain way...
"Dinner's ready!"
Tom shook his head. He didn't have time for these thoughts. So he put them out of his head and went to eat some delicious dinner.
xxx
A few days later, Tom woke to bright green eyes peering down at him. Harry was hovering slightly above him with a big smile on his face. "What?" he grumbled, he had been sleeping so well.
Harry just moved forward and gave him a lingering kiss and gave him another smile. "Happy Birthday."
Tom's eyes widened in remembrance. Ah, that's right, it is, isn't it, he thought. Now he understood Harry's secretiveness over the past few days. He never really cared about his birthday, he had never had a reason to. People who did know would, of course, pay their respects, obligatory gifts, etc, but they never really meant it. But this, this was different, he could tell by Harry's face. "Thank you."
Harry smiled again and leaned his against his crossed arms on Tom's chest, "Anything in particular for breakfast today?"
"I get to choose?" Harry nodded. Tom relaxed back against his pillow and ran a hand down Harry's bare back making him shiver as he thought about what he wanted.
"Pancakes?"
"Just pancakes?"
Tom thought a moment, "Hashbrowns?"
"Any bacon or sausage?"
"Sausage…and strawberries?"
"Chocolate chips in the pancakes?" Harry asked. Tom's eyes lit up and Harry laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. Okay, I'll get started on that." He kissed Tom again, slipped from the bed, got dressed and headed to the connecting door to Wynter's room. "Wynter, Wynter? Are you awake?"
"Ake!" Tom heard Wynter respond.
"Good. We're making Daddy breakfast for his birthday. Let's get you changed."
"Dadee!"
Tom smiled to himself as he listened to Harry get their daughter changed. He never thought he would actually enjoy his birthday. It had meant nothing to him from the beginning, a purely symbolic date when he had been brought into this world and promptly abandoned by his mother. There had never been any cause for him to enjoy it; he got nothing on his birthday at the orphanage, it was never celebrated nor acknowledged and he grew up not caring. It wasn't until his Hogwarts days that he could use it as a way of getting what he wanted from people, people loved pleasing him and gave him whatever he wanted. And any way that would pull him up in the world, he would use it. Yet with Harry, there were no strings attached. It was a day that was cause for celebration simply because he had been born.
So for once, he was actually excited for his birthday. What he could get out of it from Harry, he will have to see. For now, he just got up and got dressed to join Harry and Wynter for breakfast.
xxx
"When Daddy comes you are going to give him a big big hug," Harry told Wynter as he carried her around the kitchen as he got stuff out of the fridge.
"Ug?"
"Yup. And say 'Happy Birthday'"
"Ap Berty!"
"Yes, just like that," Harry said and set her on the floor to wait for Tom to come down. It didn't take long and when Wynter heard his footsteps on the stairs she crawled over to greet him with a "Berty!"
Tom laughed "Birthday?" and Wynter nodded and gave him a hug. "Thank you, princess."
"Berty!" Wynter announced again.
"Close enough," Harry told her, "Good job." Wynter just smiled and clapped her hands in excitement. "Breakfast is ready," Harry told Tom, "And when you're done, you can open gifts."
"I get more presents?"
"Of course, it's your birthday isn't it?"
"Yes...but Christmas was a few days ago."
"Yup. And now it's your birthday. Now eat before it gets cold."
"That's what we have warming charms for," Tom responded as he placed Wynter in her highchair.
"Shut up and eat."
So Tom ate his breakfast: Chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries, sausage, and hash browns as promised. If there was one thing that he enjoyed, besides the sex, it was Harry's cooking. Harry did things all by hand with minimal magic usage because it "took out the joy" of it, so he knew this was purely Harry's skill. And there was truly nothing like a homecooked meal.
After breakfast was done, plates cleaned and put away and Wynter cleaned of stickiness, it was time for presents.
"This one is from Wynter," Harry said handing Wynter a bag for her to hold. "Give it to Daddy," he told her as he handed Tom Wynter.
Tom accepted his daughter and sat her down in his lap and she handed up the small gift bag to him "Dadee! Opn!"
"Is this from you?"
"Ah!"
Tom smiled and he dug around in the bag and pulled out a heavy object wrapped in tissue paper. Unwrapping it he held in his hand a plaster mold with a small handprint in the center. Across the top said "Happy Birthday, Daddy" and on the bottom corner "From Wynter, age 1."
"An!" Wynter said happily pointing at it, then she placed her hand on the mold where it fit perfectly.
"Is that your hand?"
"Ye!"
Tom kissed the top of her head and looked across to Harry, "Thank you."
"Do you like it?" Harry asked nervously.
"I love it."
"Good," Harry said relieved. "I couldn't think of anything else to get you."
"It's perfect. How did you do this?" Tom asked turning it over in his hands.
"Standard molding kit. Do you have any idea how hard it was to get her to sit still for that? It was a nightmare. She kept sticking her fingers in it and splashing it, did you know you can splash plaster?"
"No," Tom said with a laugh.
"Yeah, well you can."
"When did you do this?"
"When you went to work one day," Harry said with a shrug. "I had to work quickly because I didn't know what time you were going to be home, especially because of the holidays, you were sometimes home early. Didn't help that she was being uncooperative. But we got it done, huh, Wynter?"
"Ye!" Wynter agreed.
"Well, thank you, princess," Tom said and kissed her on the cheek. Wynter just gave him a big smile.
"Okay, my turn," Harry said excitedly as he handed Tom his gift. "I've been waiting to give this to you since I found it."
"When did you get it?" Tom asked running his hands over the wrapping paper. It was clearly a book.
"During my Christmas shopping."
"Then you could have just given it to me for Christmas."
"I could have," Harry replied, "But I wanted your Birthday gift to be special. You're kind of like me from before, not really looking forward or caring about your birthday. That is until I made friends and actually got stuff. So I wanted it to be good. The first gift from someone who cares has to be good," Harry then frowned in thought, "Though you probably do get gifts so it's probably not the first."
"True, but they do not care. So I will love it."
"You don't even know what it is yet."
"It doesn't carry a returned favor, so I know it's good."
"Just open it," Harry said with a smile and held out his arms to take Wynter.
"Opn?"
"Yes, Daddy is going to open," Harry said settling her into his lap to watch.
Without further prompting, Tom tore open the wrapping and was struck speechless. It was indeed a book, one that he didn't have nor seen before. It was old and still in pristine condition. In gold lettering, it said The Life & Work of Salazar Slytherin written across the top written by the man himself.
"Where...Where did you find this?" Tom asked in awe as he ran his fingers down the cover.
"By chance actually. I went back to England during one of my shopping trips to some shopping center I heard about from a bookkeeper down at the Plaza. He told me about a small out of the way bookstore that rarely gets visitors and I'll tell you, it looks like it. And I just," Harry shrugged, "I found it there on a shelf hidden behind some other books. The bookkeeper there said that it had been there for a long time." Tom just stared at the book in complete bewilderment and joy that Harry knew he had done well.
"You'll have to tell me where this place is," Tom finally responded.
"I will. It's in parseltongue, you know," Harry added, "It's kind of hard to tell because it just looks like English to me." He smiled as Tom lifted the book to eye level and tilted it in a similar way he had when the bookkeeper said no one could read it, yet he could. Harry had known then that he had found the perfect gift.
"Most of Salazar's books have been lost to time and generations of neglect. I could never find anything no matter how hard I tried," Tom said cracking the book open to the cover page.
"Can you blame them? What good is a book if you can't read it?" Harry responded.
"They could have still preserved them," Tom replied in irritation, "It's still history. It's irreplaceable and an invaluable piece of knowledge."
Harry chuckled, "You sound like Hermione...So? Do you like it?"
"Yes. This is...amazing," Tom said looking up at him, "Thank you, Harry. I mean it."
Harry smiled and bounced Wynter in his lap, "He likes it! Yay!" Wynter shrieked in joy and clapped. "I think we should leave Daddy to his book," he told her, "I think he wants to read it really bad."
Tom smiled sheepishly, "That obvious?"
"Yes. I flipped through it, it looks like a good read," Harry said and took Wynter with him to read a book of her own while Tom settled in to read his.
A few hours later, Tom was still absorbed in his book and Wynter was playing with her toys while Harry did a few things around the house then started making a cake for Tom and while it was in the oven, he started in on dinner.
Wynter, tired of her toys, looked around and saw her Daddy still in the same spot so she crawled to the kitchen to find her mama. "Mama, Mama," Wynter said trying to get his attention.
"Mama is busy, sweetheart," Harry said stepping around her as he focused on dinner.
"Mama," she whined, tugging on his pant leg.
"I can't right now, Wynter. I'm making dinner."
"Enr?"
"Yes, dinner for you to eat."
"Et?"
"Yes. Eat. Why don't you go to Daddy," Harry asked.
"Oke," Wynter said and crawled her way over to where Tom was sitting on the couch reading his new book.
Tom could hear the scoot of Wynter's hands and knees as she scooted across the hardwood floor to him, so he knew she was coming. It took her a little bit to cross the space between the kitchen and the entertainment area.
"Dadee!" Wynter called to him, tapping the corner of his book after she hauled herself to her feet.
"Yes, Princess?" Tom asked and put his book down with his finger as a placemark to see Wynter standing before him
"Et?"
"Yes, we'll eat in a bit. Go play with your toys for now."
"Oy?"
"Yes. Toys."
"Oke," Wynter said…and stepped around his legs, holding onto him while doing so, then let go and took a few tottering steps to her toys before she fell over.
"Harry…Harry!"
"What?" Harry asked him.
"She's..." Tom trailed off, "She's walking!"
"What?!" Harry exclaimed and rushed over. "Walking?"
"Yeah," Tom said in shock and put his book aside, "Well she was. She fell over, but she did. She took, like, 3 steps. I saw it!"
"Damn it, I missed it?" Harry groaned. "You're sure though. She was walking?"
"Yes. Dead sure."
"Wynter, did you walk?" Harry asked her coming closer to her.
Wynter looked up at him. "Aowk!" she exclaimed and handed him a toy.
Harry took it and put it on the floor and picked Wynter up. "Let's see if we can get her to do it again. Come on," he gestured to Tom "Stand there," he told him and walked a couple steps away and placed Wynter on her feet as he knelt behind her. "Go to Daddy."
"Dadee!" Wynter said and tried to get down on her knees, but Harry stopped her.
"No, no. Walk to Daddy."
"Aowk?"
"Yes, walk. I know you can do it," Harry coaxed her. Harry held her hands and let her take a few steps with some help like what Tom would do, then he let her go so she was standing on her own.
"Come here sweetheart," Tom beckoned to her.
Wynter stood there and swayed in place before taking one step forward then another and another.
"Oh my god! Do you see that?!" Harry exclaimed. "Keep going, Wynter. Go to Daddy."
"You can do it," Tom kept saying watching as Wynter smiled and held her arms out to him slowly taking tottering steps toward him. She stumbled halfway across and started to fall, so Tom just scooped her up.
"Dadee!" Wynter exclaimed happily.
"She did it!" Harry cheered, "She's walking!"
"Good job, princess," Tom said with a proud smile.
"Oh. I'm so proud of you Wynter," Harry said nuzzling her back and giving her kisses on her cheeks. Wynter just giggled. "Well, I guess that's her birthday present to you."
"Did you walk for me?" Tom asked her.
Wynter didn't understand but nodded anyway, fingers in her mouth, "Ye."
"Thank you. That made me very happy."
Wynter just smiled and gave him a hug.
"Oh damn, I should have taken a video," Harry grumbled.
"She'll do it again."
"True," Harry said smoothing down Wynter's hair in the back that was sticking up. "Ugh, she's getting so big!"
"Yes, she is," Tom said looking down at his little girl nestled contentedly against his neck.
"Ah!" Harry suddenly exclaimed and ran to the kitchen as he became aware of the beeping noise that had been going off for the past few minutes. "The cake!"
"I get a cake?" Tom asked.
"Of course you do."
"What kind?"
"Chocolate."
Tom hummed appreciatively. His mouth was watering already, he couldn't wait.
"Ak?" Wynter asked him.
"Yes, cake. Do you like cake?" Wynter nodded. "I'll let you have some, okay."
"Oke," she said with a smile and put her head back down against his neck.
Tom just smiled and rubbed her back. She was getting so big and now she was walking. Where did the time go? It felt like yesterday he was meeting her for the first time. Holding her...now she was walking, talking. He could see her turning into her own tiny person. Her own personality shining through. Harry was right, he did wish he could turn back time to when she was smaller, but he did want to see her grow up.
The only issue was what sort of world did he want her to grow up in. It was a question that came to mind more frequently these days.
"Dinner's almost ready," Harry called.
"Cake?"
"No. That's for after. Wash up."
"Time to wash up," Tom said getting up with Wynter in his arms.
"Ak?"
"Mama said no cake until you eat your dinner," Tom replied.
Wynter just agreed and focused on washing her hands.
Dinner was a lavish affair with roasted cornish hens, mashed potatoes and stuffing. As always, Harry outdid himself and it was all as delicious as it smelled. And after there was a freshly frosted cake sitting on the counter. Tom was looking forward to it.
After dinner, Tom helped Harry clean up and made sure Wynter was clean because she enjoyed her mashed potatoes a little too much. Then it was time for cake. Harry made him sit through that ridiculous birthday song (he enjoyed it but he wasn't going to admit it) with Wynter clapping and babbling along. Then the cake was served and it was just as delicious as he knew it would be. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, just the way he liked it.
"How is it?" Harry asked across from him. Tom just answered by putting more into his mouth. Harry just smiled and turned to Wynter. "How about you, huh? You like the cake?"
"Ak!" Wynter exclaimed and breaking off a portion with her fingers and put it in her mouth, wiggling side to side in joy.
"Use your fork," Harry reminded her with a sigh. But it was no use, she was enjoying herself too much. "Are you done?" he asked her when she cleared her plate.
"Or!"
"No, no more. Time for a bath."
"No bat!"
"Yes bath, you have chocolate all over your face."
"No bat," Wynter said again but went willingly as Harry picked her up.
"Enjoy yourself?" Harry asked Tom Tom as he finished his own slice of cake.
"Very much. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm going to give her a bath and put her to bed. Say night night to Daddy," Harry told Wynter and she reached out to Tom and gave him a chocolaty kiss.
"Good night, princess. Sleep tight."
"Ay Dadee!"
And so Harry took Wynter upstairs for her bath and to put her to bed.
Tom took the dirty plates to the kitchen and set them to clean themselves, then went to sit on the couch to read his book as he casually listened to the sounds of Harry giving Wynter her bath upstairs.
Sometime later, Harry came back down, slightly damp from giving Wynter her bath.
Harry sighed as he dropped down on the couch next to him, "Wynter is down for the night."
"Took a little bit."
"Yeah. I think she was just a little wired from all the excitement from today. But she'll sleep good tonight."
"That's good," Tom said distractedly.
"What are you reading?" Harry tilted his head to look at the cover. "Ugh. You're reading that?" Harry said in disgust.
"Yes. It's very interesting."
"Why not the one I gave you?"
"Because I wanted to look at this one. We've actually already done some of these," Tom commented as he flipped through the book Fenrir gave him.
Harry visibly struggled with himself before scooting closer to look over Tom's shoulder, "Have we really?" he asked.
Tom hid his smirk as Harry became interested, "Yes. Or some variation of them. We've certainly done this one and this one and this one."
Harry followed Tom's finger to one provocative moving picture to the next and despite his embarrassment, he did recognize being in them. Reverse Cowboy, Missionary, Doggy Style...he definitely remembered them...and how amazing they felt. "How can you read this? I feel so dirty."
"Mm," Tom hummed in agreement, "But you can't look away can you?" he asked, voice husky.
Harry slowly glanced up at Tom's face and noticed there was red swirling in his blue eyes; Tom was getting aroused and Harry felt himself perk up in kind. He looked away, flushing.
"I can see us doing some of these," Tom said turning toward him and sliding a hand up Harry's arm leaving goose pimples in its wake as he turned Harry's face back to him.. "Legs over my shoulders as I pound into you, doing it from behind, you riding me with those strong thighs of yours," Tom continued to whisper huskily as he lightly started to kiss Harry's jaw. " Can you feel me inside you?"
"Merlin, Tom," Harry panted and pushed him away, "What are you doing to me?"
"Trying to turn you on...is it working?" Tom said as he slowly stalked forward so Harry was leaning back against the arm of the couch, the book falling shut and to the side, forgotten for now. He slid his hand up Harry's leg and gently pressed against the erection straining through Harry's jeans.
"Y-You know it fucking it is."
"It's my birthday..." he said suggestively.
Harry gasped, "You seriously did not use that against me."
"And if I did?"
"You play dirty," he accused him.
"If I remember correctly, you tried the same move on me."
Harry went silent and pouted as he glared at the book. Then finally bit out, "Fine. Just this one time."
Tom gave a Cheshire grin and quickly flipped to a certain page, "This one."
Harry looked down at the provocative position and reddened, "Y-You already had one picked out?!"
"Of course I did. I have several."
"Just one!"
"We'll see," Tom said and hoisted Harry up into his arms and carried him upstairs to their bedroom.
"I can walk you know."
"And give you the chance to run away. I don't think so."
"I won't run," Harry grumbled, "I said I would, and I will."
"I'm just making sure," Tom said and placed him on their bed, crawling over him in the process.
"I won't," Harry repeated and pulled Tom down by his collar to kiss him, opening his mouth for Tom's tongue.
They kissed, the intensity increasing as things started to heat up. Harry even took the initiative and started unbuttoning Tom's shirt.
"Eager now, are we?" Tom murmured against Harry's mouth.
"You said it was your birthday. I can stop," Harry said letting his arms fall away so he was lying prone beneath him.
"I didn't say to," Tom said but sat back to take off his shirt while Harry worked open his belt and pants.
Harry turned his head when he felt Tom doing something and found the 'porn book' as Harry was starting to know it as on the bed beside him."Did you have to bring it?" Harry asked turning his head away and feeling his face grow warm.
"How will we know what we are doing?"
"You probably have it all memorized by now."
Tom's only answer was a grin and he leaned down to kiss him again, this time divesting Harry of his clothes.
"W-What are we doing?" Harry asked breathlessly as they lay tangled in each other, naked; Harry already open and prepared.
"This one," Tom said tapping the page of the book beside them. "It's called the Sitting Suspended Congress."
Harry looked at the picture nervously but felt himself harden as the picture moved. One of the men in the other's lap with his legs over the other's shoulders, as well as his arms so they were bound tightly together. "I don't think I can get my legs up there."
"I'm sure you can. This one is quite tame compared to the others," Tom responded and gently rolled him onto his back. "Ready?"
Harry glanced at the picture, "It will feel good, right?"
"I'll make sure it does."
Harry gave a deep breath and nodded.
Getting the okay, Tom pulled Harry's legs over his shoulders and slowly sank himself deep inside until he was fully sheathed within him.
"Oh, God," Harry groaned as Tom filled him completely.
"Good?"
-Yes- Harry hissed slipping into Parseltongue.
-Arms around my neck, and hold on- Tom hissed back.
Harry did as told, wrapping his arms around him bringing them close together. Then, quickly, Tom pulled him up, so Harry was hanging from his neck with just Tom's support. Tom then sat down with his legs spread out in front of him on the bed and gently started easing Harry back and forth on his cock.
Harry gasped and squeezed his eyes shut in pleasure as Tom hit his prostate repeatedly, with the angle he was in, Tom hit it spot on each time. It was a tiring position, just hanging there, and he clung to Tom tightly, sliding his fingers through the hair on the back of Tom's neck. But it felt...so good.
"Okay?" Tom whispered to him, lightly nuzzling the side of his face and lightly leaving a trail of kisses.
"Yes," Harry moaned, he just kept. moaning. He couldn't seem to stop.
-Keep moaning like that and I'll come too soon-
Harry shuttered at the hissing, "Shut up," he groaned and blindly kissed him.
After a few minutes of this, Tom whispered to him, "I'm going to put you down."
"Good. My legs hurt."
"You should say something if it does."
"But it feels good."
Tom only chuckled and had Harry place his hands back so he had the leverage to pull his legs off Tom's shoulders. "Just like this," Tom murmured to him as he rearranged Harry a certain way.
"What is this one called?" Harry asked as he started moving on his own. Tom was laid down on the bed with his legs spread behind him and Harry put his hands between them to support his weight as he had his legs spread around Tom's waist, and with Tom still inside him, he started to bounce on him.
Tom moaned as he had the perfect view of Harry riding him, wide open. "It's called the Crab."
"I like this one," Harry said as he let his head fall back and just focused up the up and down movement, bringing in Tom's thick cock deeper inside.
"Thought you might," Tom said sliding his hands over Harry's strong thighs. His hand traveled up further and took a hold of Harry's cock and started stroking him.
Harry moaned and started to bounce faster until he could feel the beginning of his orgasm approaching so he stopped; he didn't want to come yet. He sat up so he was sitting on Tom and in response, Tom sat up too and they met together and kissed deeply as Harry moved gently in his lap, Tom's arms around him to hold him there. "This one?" he asked against Tom's mouth.
"Lotus."
"Mmm," Harry hummed and continued to kiss him sweetly, sliding his hands into Tom's hair because he loved to muse the normally immaculate hairstyle that he had. Plus, Harry loved kissing Tom, it was heaven and Tom was a great kisser.
"Want to pick one?" Tom suddenly asked.
"Pick what?" Harry asked as he rolled his hips toward Tom to keep the friction going. Tom just pulled the book toward them and Harry's eyes went wide. "It's your birthday."
"And I want you to pick one," Tom responded.
Harry stopped all movement and pulled back a little to look at Tom's hopeful face and looked at the innocent (not!) book in Tom's hand. Then, biting his lip, he took it. He looked at Tom's pleased expression and pulled the book in front of his face so he wouldn't look as he flipped through the pages.
Merlin, they were erotic and there were so many! It didn't help that Tom's cock was deep inside him and he could just feel what it would be like to try each one. To have Tom pound into him seven ways until Sunday. And suddenly that was exactly what Harry wanted.
Harry peeked over the edge of the book and wondered if he dared.
"Find one?"
Harry hesitated, then gave Tom the book, pointed at what he wanted and looked away in embarrassment.
Tom took in the position called the 'Pyramid' in surprise and delight, cock twitching at the thought, which Harry felt. "You are really making me work for it, aren't you?"
"N-No," Harry stuttered, face turning red. He then squared his shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "I just want you to fuck me."
Tom raised an eyebrow and grinned, "I can do that."
Tom then tipped Harry over onto his back and pulled out so he could get to his knees. Then pushed Harry's hips up so that he was bent in half and Harry put his hands on his waist to hold himself up. Tom then sat up so he was near standing on the bed and slid his cock back inside of Harry, letting gravity take him down.
Harry let his head drop back against the bed and groaned loudly as Tom started to fuck him by pounding down into him, using his weight to slam rapidly into him. He probably sounded like a dying animal, but Harry didn't care, he was too far gone to care.
-This what you wanted?- Tom hissed.
-Yes- Harry hissed and moaned at the same time. He didn't even know he could do that. -More. More Tom. More-
-Merlin, Harry- Tom hissed and continued to drive himself downward, penetrating Harry deeply to the point that he was losing control.
-Make me come- Harry said as he took a hold himself and started jerking his cock to Tom's thrusts.
-Merlin, Harry. You're going to make me come-
-Do it. Inside. Hurry- Harry threw his head back and gasped slipping between English and Parseltongue, "I'm coming." -Coming- And he promptly came, thick ropes of semen spilling out across his chest.
Seconds later, Tom came himself coating Harry's insides with his own cum. He then pulled out and collapsed down beside Harry to catch his breath. And Harry just dropped the rest of his body to the bed and stretched out his tired back. It had felt damn good but it was brutal on his body.
"Okay?" Tom asked pulling Harry against him.
Harry hummed happily and curled into him."I can't believe you convinced me to do that," Harry muttered tiredly as he lay snug against Tom's side.
"Mmm," Tom hummed in agreement and glanced over at the open book Fenrir had given him for Christmas. "See, you could bend that way."
"Shut up."
"Hey, hey. It's still my birthday, you have to be nice to me."
"I was already nice to you," Harry grumbled.
"Yes, you were," Tom hummed running his hands over Harry's back.
"Ugh. And you say I'm insatiable." Harry sighed and glanced at the clock that read 11:53. "It's almost midnight."
"Is it?" Tom asked sleepily.
"Mm-hmm," Harry hummed in affirmative, "Almost a new year."
"So it is."
Harry just lay there, completely content and happy. The sex had been amazing just as Tom had promised and Harry, despite his reservations, was looking forward to trying out some of the other positions he saw inside the book, and if it was anything like this, he would definitely be up for trying it. But as the clock struck closer to midnight, his mind went to other things that had happened this year.
And an eventual year it had been. Ron and Hermione got engaged. Wynter was now walking and starting to be more coherent in her talking. Tom had found them, the fire, now they were living together like it was the most natural thing in the world. And it was. Inside their own little world it was like anyone else, but in reality, it wasn't. If anyone else knew, they would most likely freak out and chaos would ensue. And then there was Tom himself. He had changed from psychopathic killer to a father and a lover. No way would he have thought he would be in love with the man who had been trying to kill him for his entire life. And yet...it had happened.
Harry had accepted that now. He had fought it, oh, he had fought, but in the end, he was in love with Tom Riddle. Not Voldemort, an important distinction for him, but just Tom. Despite his condescending, know it all attitude, he was kind and sweet and funny and just wonderful with Wynter. And the more he interacted with her and was patient with her, the more he fell in love.
Starting at the clock, one minute to midnight, Harry suddenly wondered what would happen if he told him.
"Tom?" Harry asked sitting up to look down at Tom's contented face.
"Yes?"
Harry opened his mouth, I love you. But nothing came out, he couldn't say it. What would Tom do? What would he say? Harry didn't want to think about it because he knew what the outcome would be. So Harry just shook his head, "Nevermind, it's nothing." he said.
"You sure?" Tom asked through slightly closed eyelids.
"Yeah," Harry said and laid back down and placed his head back on Tom's chest, "It's not important." The clock struck midnight. "Happy New Year."
And there we have it. I gave you a bit of everything that I could think of. Christmas, Tom's birthday, New Years and some good sex. (It's not my best, but I was in a rush) And now we have little Wynter standing and walking! She's so big now. I hope it's believable because I have no experience with babies and all of it is just speculation and info off the internet.
I know I say it every year, but I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can, which usually means around next Christmas/New Years, but sometimes I surprise you (and myself) with an earlier one. I usually have the time to write during my Christmas break since I'm not doing anything but shopping, not that I am not writing during the year. I write different scenes that are all over the place; for the current chapter, for the next chapter, for chapters that are way off and some that may not even make it into the story. I just have to put it all together so it makes sense and that takes some work. But I'm trying.
And thank you all for your comments and story adds, I see you and I respond to each one of them and those of who sign in as guests I respond on my Tumblr. It means so much to see that people are still following my story after all this time. I love and appreciate each and every one of you!
Now I hope you enjoyed the chapter because it's going to go downhill from here. Things have to get bad before they get good, and they will don't worry! Until then! Mwah!
Don't forget to follow me on Tumblr! phoenixmaiden. tumblr .com
EDIT: Since I've gotten so many questions about it, no Harry did not get pregnant. I know many of you want him too, but he's not. I just forgot to put in the protection charm. Unless I specifially say that they "forgot" to put it, then you can say he is. But for now, there will be no sibling for Wynter. Sorry!