Chapter 37: For the Sake of Love
This is it! The second to last chapter of the story! It's been fast coming and I'm so glad it's here.
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Several hours later, Harry had all he needed to do the soul draining except, of course, the desire to take even one soul out of Gemini's small and likely fragile body.
In his right hand, he held his wand. In his left, he held two glass bottles joined at the middle by a thin glass tube, together about the size of a pixie. On his face, he held a look of uncertainty and worry: brows furrowed with half conviction, mouth drawn into a thin line, eyes wide and stormy. He stood before a black cauldron—potion already brewing with only three choice ingredients missing—not sure what to expect. This could all go well, like they theorized it could. Otherwise, it could go terribly wrong, ending up with all three of them dead.
Of course it was my idea, Harry thought. It's a bloody awful idea.
Gemini stood on the other side of the cauldron, his face steeled but his eyes flashing colors like Harry had never seen. It was so sudden, it was hard for Harry to watch for more than a few seconds. Instead, Harry was staring into the bubbling contents of the cauldron, hoping he knew what he was getting them all into.
Harry took in a breath and released it shakily. "Are you ready to do this?" he asked Gemini, hoping the boy would voice the fears he undoubtedly had.
At last, his eyes darkened to a deep brown, its colored stilled, and he nodded.
"We don't have to do this, Gemini," Harry said, looking right into his eyes, sensing the hesitation in them. "We can do more research. Find out a better way."
"We've got everything ready," Gemini replied, voice steady and more confident than Harry's. "Everything we've read suggests this is going to work. There is no reason we shouldn't do this." Gemini took in a breath. "All we've got to do is wait."
Waiting. It was what they had been doing for the past few minutes, now, after finishing the preparations. Everything they needed for the potion—except that which was a part of Harry—was on a table to Harry's right. Everything they needed for the spell—except, again, that was a part of Harry or in his hands—was with Gemini: a vial of unicorn blood mixed with snake venom and a piece of parchment on which Gemini had written. The only other item they needed was a supervisor, someone who could watch the proceedings and ensure that nothing would go horribly wrong, or to at least let someone know that they were dead when it was over.
The longer Harry waited, the more he was sure said supervisor wouldn't show. They could do it alone, of course, but Harry's confidence was slipping. Having another wizard around who knew something of what they were doing made Harry feel more confident that he wouldn't be murdering an eleven-year-old student by trying to bring the man he loves back to life. Harry would never forgive himself for that.
Of course, it was the only thing on his mind.
"Any day now," Harry said impatiently. A part of him just wanted to get it over with, like it was a Band-Aid to pull off. Another part of him wanted nothing to do with it whatsoever. After some thinking, Harry knew which part was him and which part was left over from Tom's time in his mind.
"What do we do if he doesn't come?" Gemini asked.
"Well," Harry said, still looking for the answer. "Good question, honestly."
At that moment, there was a crack behind them.
"It wasn't a joke, then," the voice said as it drew nearer to them. Harry turned his head to find the platinum blonde hair, pale face, and grey-blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. "Why are you doing this? This is dark magic, Potter." Harry's name came out of his mouth with a venom Harry could remember from times when they went to Hogwarts.
"We're not killing anyone. It's only dark magic because terrible wizards used it first," Harry said back, certain his voice had matched Draco's cool, haughty tone out of habit.
Draco scoffed. "Do you know who you sound like?" His eyes bore into Harry's, as if he would be able to drill into his brain with just his eyes. "Voldemort. He thought what he was doing was good. Did you know that? Did you know that Voldemort saw himself as a great wizard who was doing the world a favor? He thought that dark magic was his best weapon because no one on the other side would dare to use it, for good reason. He called you all cowards for it."
"And maybe we were cowards," Harry bit back. "Maybe everyone on my side didn't use dark magic, but they were fine with manipulation, withholding information, putting a god-damned child on the front lines to defeat a man with magic I could never hope to understand on his side-"
"Gemini is a child!" Draco interrupted. Harry continued anyway.
"But it's not about the 'light' or the 'dark' this time. It's about Tom, and it's about me, and it's about Gemini. We are not perfect, but Merlin be fucked if we're not meant to be together on this bloody earth. Now, Tom died for us, and I will not let him stay dead because I was too angry to fight that bloody battle with Thomas."
The words cut into the air like saws, and Harry knew they were his. He had to do this now before he lost his nerve.
"Now watch us do these damned spells," Harry said at last, "and do your best to make sure we don't die."
Draco pressed his lips together but nodded.
Harry looked to Gemini, his eyes still dark brown and intelligent. He was as ready as he would ever be. Let's give it a shot, he thought to himself.
Harry opened one end of the tiny glass bottle in his hand and placed his wand at the ready. Just like you practiced.
Harry began to chant, moving his wand in circles before Gemini's face. Harry could feel his magic working. The book had stated removing the soul was a complex process requiring concentration. Which meant that removing a soul from one with more than several souls inside it was that much more so.
After a moment, Harry watched as Gemini's face and hair went pale. For a moment, the spell flickered as Harry stopped chanting. He quickly resumed, moving his wand slightly different than he had before. In a moment or two, Gemini's colored returned. Harry felt relief somewhere in the back of his mind, but ignored it. The spell required everything, so that's what he gave it.
For a long while, Harry was just chanting, moving his wand in the same motions again and again. The words began to sound odd to his mind, as if they weren't really the words he had started saying at all. Still, he continued on, feeling the seconds passing like grains of sand in an hourglass, turning into minutes. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes later, Gemini's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his mouth opened.
One silvery ball of light came out, its glow reaching out to Harry's wand. Harry continued to chant, pulling the ball closer to the bottle.
It was almost safely inside it when another ball, almost exactly like it, followed.
He only needed one. How did Harry stop this? Harry stopped chanting, fearful that the souls would keep coming. Simultaneously, Gemini snapped his mouth shut and the first soul landed in the bottle, leaving the second still floating in the air, unclaimed.
Harry reached out with the bottle and caught it, letting it fall into the open end of the bottle. At once, the two souls merged like liquid, creating a bigger ball of silvery light.
"Whatever potion it was that Thomas used…" Draco commented quietly, "it defies all soul magic I know."
Harry's eyes were on Gemini, waiting for his eyes to go back to normal. After a moment, the boy gasped and his eyes opened wide, revealing a vivid yellow.
"Oh thank Merlin," Harry muttered to himself.
Harry then swallowed. He quickly recorked the open side of the bottle and uncorked the other side. It was now his turn. Or rather, Tom's turn. This was the tricky part.
Harry pointed his wand at himself. According to their research, a soul draining could occur with the souls outside a body, as long as they were in horcruxes, since a soul piece would die if its host/object ceased to exist. Also according to their research, a horcrux could become uninhabited if the soul took on a new host in order to regain a 'main body', were its old one to die. Of course, their research didn't tell them anything about a wizard moving the soul piece from the horcrux to another object. Their research also didn't tell them whether the draining magic could be done outside the item that housed the souls, as it is typically done by one of the souls involved.
Harry began to chant again before he was quickly stopped.
"You're going to pull out your own soul." Draco said dully.
Harry stopped chanting and stared at him. "What?"
"Once you reach a certain part of the spell, you can't chant anymore, anyway," Draco said, ignoring the fact that Harry had said anything. "I'll do it."
Harry let his wand hand fall to his side.
"I'm practiced enough at this," Draco said, then muttered to himself something about rabbits. Harry honestly didn't care. He wanted this done.
Draco pulled out his wand and stared at Harry like a test subject. Then, the chanted words came from his mouth, sounding dark and brooding in his voice. He learned from more than a book, Harry thought.
A few moments passed where Harry felt nothing. He was sure that something had already happened when he had done this to Gemini just a moment ago. What was taking so long? Was Draco doing something wrong? He was about to ask when he felt something tingle at the back of his mind.
Draco's chanting continued through bared teeth, becoming faster and fiercer. Was the soul piece stuck?
After a bit longer, Harry felt a blinding heat in his head. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and his mouth fell open. He nearly dropped the bottles and his wand, but was able to think enough to tell his hands to grip them tighter.
The heat grew greater, moving from Harry's head to the back of his neck, to his jaw, and then his throat. By the time it reached his lips, the heat subsided.
Harry felt the heat fade away into a dull ache, and then a memory of a pain. Then, his lungs took charge, forcing air into his lungs and refilling his body with life.
Instead of gracefully returning to breathing normally, Harry sputtered and coughed.
"Sorry," Draco said. Harry realized he'd stopped chanting, but couldn't place when it had happened. "I had to take the last part pretty fast. It didn't want to leave."
Harry shook his head, calming his throat after a few seconds. He looked at the glass bottle, finding a thumbnail sized ball of silvery light in the opened side of the bottle. He quickly closed it and readied his wand.
This spell had no incantation or wand movement. There was simply the magic and the spilling of dark secrets. They hoped Gemini's would do, since the souls inside him had been part of him for a long while, but they couldn't be sure.
Harry nodded at Gemini. The boy looked to the paper and began to read.
"I truly believed no one would love me for over eleven and a half years," he said, his voice quiet and shaky. He had said before this all that he didn't mind sharing these details with Harry, but with Draco there, it felt invasive. Harry told him to pretend he wasn't there. Apparently that wasn't working.
Harry began the spell, doing his best to point his wand only at the small ball of silvery light. With no incantation or wand movement, it was difficult to tell, at first, if the spell was working. After a moment, could see the tiniest bit of light coming off the big ball in the other side of the bottle.
"I've always felt like a monster," Gemini continued. "Like I don't belong anywhere. The ladies at the orphanage told me that I didn't deserve a family or love. I grew up thinking I was going to spend eternity in Hell. Every Sunday in Church was Hell on Earth. The priest always looked at me with sad eyes when he told the congregation to come to confession. I never had anything to confess, of course, other than I had thought about killing myself, or running away. Anything that would save me the pain of having to stay where I was."
The stream was large now, engulfing the soul piece in more light. It hurt Harry's heart to hear these things, but he couldn't tell Gemini to stop. Not yet.
"Once, I lost my temper. I ran out of the house to the forest and the winds came. I didn't know that they were me, at the time, but I let them happen. When the ladies at the orphanage found me, they saw the slices in the trees and the dead birds that surrounded me. They thought it was an omen. That maybe the Devil himself had possessed me. They left me there until the priest arrived to perform an exorcism. That was when I woke up and told them I wasn't possessed. They never believed me. That was when they started calling me Satan behind my back. I believed them for a while. No one should be able to tear apart a forest like I did that day."
Harry watched the spell intently as the two souls began to grow dimmer and more transparent. It won't be too long now, Harry thought.
"I never played with any of the kids at the orphanage since the ladies told them to avoid me. They did avoid me, mostly. They only time they spoke to me was to call me names, like Satan and Hellhound. One kid, though, Charlie, was almost thirteen when he came in. He told us all he knew about sex and his relationships with girls before his parents gave him up. He liked to tell me that I would die alone, never to have a girlfriend or wife. I hated him for a long time, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't want a girlfriend or wife. And I didn't want a boyfriend or husband or anything. I could imagine the most perfect person for me, my soulmate, but I couldn't imagine doing anything with them like Charlie had explained. I don't like people like that. I won't ever like people like that."
Harry watched at the large silvery ball seemed to fade into nothing, leaving one much brighter, much larger ball of silvery light left in the bottle. Harry stopped the spell.
"It worked," Harry told Gemini. "It's done."
Gemini let his hand holding the parchment fall to his side as he sighed deeply. His eyes a bright pink.
Draco had a smirk on his face. "It's called asexual," he said to Gemini. "You don't experience sexual attraction. If you also don't experience romantic attraction, that's aromantic. Keep that in mind."
In response, Gemini's cheeks grew a fierce pink to match his eyes.
Harry let himself half smile, too. He hadn't known that about Gemini. But he didn't have time to worry about it just yet.
"Let's continue," Harry said, his smile fading.
The pink faded from Gemini's eyes, but not his cheeks. His wand was at the ready.
Carefully, Harry opened the bottle once more. He held it upside down over the mouth of the cauldron until it fell into the depths of the churning potion inside. Quickly after, Gemini levitated the corpse on the table into the potion, as well. It bubbled and hissed before calming.
Harry set his wand on the table. He really hoped this would work.
"Bone of the father," Harry announced, picking up an incredibly old bone off the table with his hands. "Unwillingly given." He lit the bone on fire and quickly dropped it into the potion, causing it to sizzle once more.
Harry took in a deep breath. "Flesh of the servant," he said, holding his hand over the cauldron. "Willingly sacrificed." He picked up a knife and cut off a large chunk of the heel of his left palm as quickly as he could manage, letting it fall into the cauldron. Blood ran down his arm quickly and pain shot through his bones. He ignored it and went on, hugging the hand to his shirt to stop the bleeding.
"Blood of the enemy," Harry continued, picking up a small potions vial with a few flecks of Thomas' dried blood in it. God, I hope this counts, he thought as he said, "Forcibly taken." He dropped the flecks in, and, sure enough, the potion came to a rolling boil.
Harry watched, feeling the warmth grow on his chest as the blood soaked into his shirt. He had really done this. This was dark magic and he had done it. All to see Tom alive again. Merlin, he hoped he was really in love with this one. There was no turning back now.
From within the waters, a fire broke out. Harry, Gemini, and Draco all quickly stepped back as the cauldron caught the flames, being engulfed until there was nothing but a body in the air, holding out a hand above its smooth, bald head. Darkness circled around it, covering it gently, gracefully, until it revealed itself as black robes, covering the pale body of one Tom Riddle.
Tom's feet touched the ground, his back to them all, and hair sprung his head, a dark chestnut like before.
Oh thank god, Harry thought. I thought you'd be bald.
No one replied, he realized. He was now alone in his mind.
The pale hand in the air gently lowered itself down to feel the silky hair on his head, joined shortly by the other. For a moment, he just relished in the feeling of touching his head. Then, he let his hand fall to his sides.
For a moment, no one said anything. Harry, Gemini, and Draco all stared at Tom, wondering about him. Was this the Tom they had known before, or a different one? He wasn't Voldemort, was he? Surely he couldn't be.
After a moment of silence, a voice came: Tom's, crisp and clear as it had been before.
"I hope you realize what you've done," he said, mysteriously dark and deep.
Harry's breath hitched. He could remember a time when it would have been because of fear, but now, he felt the blood rush to his face and…well, probably his hand. He was losing a lot of blood. His mind was clouding over, but not enough so that he stopped watching Tom's new body.
"Who did you murder to use this body?" Tom asked, turning around at last.
All his features were in the exact same place as they should be, from his smooth nose and chin to the curls at the front of his hair. The only thing that was different was when Harry looked into his eyes: bright crimson red, like blood.
Like the blood that stained Harry's shirt.
"Harry, you are bleeding," Tom said with concern, walking over to him immediately. "What happened?"
Harry pulled his hand from his shirt and let everyone look. Apparently, he'd cut more than just the heel of his palm. Not only could he see the bone, he had cut many of the blood vessels that were in his wrist. No wonder he was bleeding so much.
Draco pulled out his wand, but before he could, Tom took Harry's hand and held it in his own. For a moment, Harry just watched as the blood began to flow onto Tom's hand as well, but after a moment, he felt the cool tingle of a healing spell. When Tom released it, Harry's hand was just like new (with the exception of the blood that covered it and him).
Harry smiled large.
"Tom, your magic is back," he said, hoping it to be full of meaning. Rather, it came out as a lame statement of fact. Harry didn't care. Tom was back.
Without warning, Harry put his arms around Tom, pulling him into a strong hug, not caring how much blood he smeared on him or soaked him with.
Tom chuckled, letting the brass sound ring throughout the room. "This hug is much too warm," he said, mirth in his voice.
At once, Harry felt something push against his mind, somewhat invasive, but also slightly familiar. He let it in, feeling Tom's presence. It was not like what they used to have, but it was the next best thing. Harry found comfort in it all the same. He could finally relax.
Suddenly, there was another pair or arms squeezing at their waists. Harry and Tom looked down to smile as Gemini joined their hug.
Inside Harry's mind, Tom brought up a thought. Harry smiled and followed it, stretching his mind out to Gemini's.
Relief, like staring death in the face and escaping. Happiness, like finding a lost loved one. Fading fears that were too old for the circumstances. Hope taking its place. Harry could feel it all.
A large smile popped up on Gemini's face and he looked up at them with large tan eyes.
"I like hugs," he began. "But this is a bit messy." He stepped back, finding a few streaks of red on his clothes. "This is honestly kind of awkward."
Harry chuckled and pulled out his wand, performing a quick cleaning spell on them all.
"Better?" he asked Tom.
Tom smiled, revealing white teeth between his pink-tinted lips. "Yes. Thank you."
True smiles, Harry thought. I love how they look on you.
At that, Tom leaned in, closing the distance between their faces. Their noses brushed, and Harry could feel the tickle of Tom's breath down his neck. For a moment, Harry wasn't sure he was breathing himself, though he was sure the whole room knew his heart was beating like crazy.
With a lift of his chin, Tom pressed his lips against Harry's, soft and warm, like Harry's best dreams. A moment later (not long enough for Harry), Tom pulled away, his eyes moving gently below his lids, like he was dreaming, causing his lashes to flutter. Harry thought it was the most perfect thing in the world.
"Thank you," Tom whispered.
Harry let go of a breathy laugh. "I wasn't going to let you stay dead," he said, a small bit of accusation in his tone, washed out by the relief and love. "I nearly gave my own life for you. Gemini said it was a bad idea."
"Good," Tom said, putting a hand gently on the back of Gemini's head as they met one another's gaze. "Someone has to keep the idiotic Gryffindor in check."
Harry and Gemini laughed. This is real, Harry thought. This is Tom. God, I missed you.
Behind them, Draco cleared his throat.
Instantly, Tom released both Harry and Gemini, and they let him go, too.
"I'll…" Draco was staring at the floor, a soft pink blush on his cheeks. "I'll leave you to your reunion."
"Draco," Harry said as the blond man lifted his wand to disapparate. "Thank you so much for your help."
Draco nodded.
"Actually!" Harry called out quickly as a thought ran through his head. "I hate to ask, but could you do us another favor?"
Draco lowered his wand. Harry's smile faltered.
"Well, see, everyone thinks Tom is actually dead now. That's honestly for the best, I think, but Tom wants to adopt Gemini. Is there any way that…as someone who works in the Ministry of Magic…you could slip in some documents to give Tom a new identity?"
Draco pressed his lips together. His grey eyes glanced from Harry to Tom and then to Gemini. Harry searched his face for signs of his reaction, but found it perfectly poised: the Malfoy Mask.
"I suppose. Obviously he will need a new name," Draco stared pointedly at Tom.
Harry looked to Tom, for once seeing thoughts run across his face. After a few uncertain draws of his lips, Tom smiled.
"Samuel Tom Gaunt," he said at last. "I'll go by my middle name."
Draco nodded. "I'll get that done while the Ministry is still rebuilding. I doubt they'll notice something so small." He looked back to Tom. "But I suggest changing your eye color. And send The Prophet the obituary you want in it…with a picture of a different person before they get their hands on a real one, Harry," his gaze flicked over to Harry, "and they'll put it in as fast as they can. Actually, they'll probably print anything you send them, so I'd take advantage of that."
Then with a turn and a crack, Draco was gone.
"Well," Harry said, his tone sarcastic and playful. He had other thoughts on his mind, which he knew Tom could see perfectly well. "I guess I better start writing that obituary."
"Obituary?" Tom said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's what you meant?" His voice sounded genuine but his eyes looked suggestive.
Harry chuckled. "No, but I honestly should get it soon. The Prophet isn't the type to lay around waiting."
Harry slipped his left hand into Tom's and held his right one out for Gemini, who took it gladly. Harry squeezed them both.
"We've got a lot of stuff to ready, too. School starts back up on Monday," he said. "I worked very hard to put together those lesson plans, and I'll be damned if I'm not going to use them."
Gemini and Tom laughed and Harry joined in. It was good to feel at once like life was complete. Maybe he didn't have Tom's mind attached to his, but that wasn't what he fell in love with. It was simply what showed him everything he needed to fall in love.
And it was the best stupid thing he'd ever done in his life.
Harry walked through the door into his classroom, a smile on his face and a pep in his step.
"Sorry I'm…" Harry said, noticing the clock on the far wall. Had that always been there? Maybe he could vaguely remember it from before… "On time? Wow, I guess I'm not late after all."
His eyes scanned the beaming faces, all familiar, but one particularly so, with bright purple eyes and mousy brown hair.
"Today, I've been instructed to, first of all, welcome you all back to Hogwarts. I appreciate the fact that you all came back. Second of all, I have been instructed to answer all questions you have for me about the happenings of the past week. I'm sure you've heard some from your parents, but I'd like to put to rest all rumors before they start getting ridiculous. Anyone have any questions?"
Every hand went in the air except for one.
One by one, Harry answered questions about Thomas Gamp and Tom Riddle.
"Yes," he said after the fifth or sixth question, "they really are both dead. Thomas is buried in a graveyard in France with the rest of his family, and Tom in Little Hangleton graveyard beside his father."
Still, half the classroom had raised hands.
"Merlin," Harry said. "You've all got loads of questions. This lesson might have to be cut short today. Yes?"
"My mom told me there was a student at the battle against Thomas. Is that true?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, there was."
Chatter erupted in the room.
"Settle down," Harry said. "It wouldn't be the first time a student here has had a part in bringing down a dark wizard."
"Was it a Gryffindor?" one student shouted out.
"Was he a sixth of seventh year?" another yelled.
"Who said it was a he?" yet another cried.
Harry chuckled and held up his hands. "Yes! Alright! Calm down, and I'll tell you."
The frenzy faded into silence, watchful eyes, and listening ears.
"A student from Hogwarts was at the battle. No, it wasn't a Gryffindor, so don't think any of my children were there, no matter what they tell you. I know some of you have been saying that, as well." He eyed the room sternly. "The student is a boy who was very brave. However, he is in Ravenclaw, just like all of you."
The students gasped and muttered to one another for a moment. Harry met Gemini's gaze. In moments, he was inside Gemini's mind.
Would you mind if I told them? Harry asked. Once you're famous for defeating an evil, it never seems to go away. Even years after it's done.
Thoughts ran through Gemini's mind a moment.
My name is already in the papers, he thought. Might as well put a face to it.
Harry pulled his mind back and waited a few more seconds for the students to calm.
"He was no sixth or seventh year. In fact, he is a first year. The most advanced first year I've ever seen." Harry smiled.
"Tell us!" one student said. All the others murmured their agreement.
"His name," Harry said at last, "is Gemini…" Harry smiled. "Gemini Swalton-Gaunt," he said a bit quieter.
A large smile grew on Gemini's face.
"Who's that?" one student in the back asked. A few students, more observant, were already staring at Gemini in the front row.
Harry gestured to Gemini with one hand. "Gemini, please stand."
The smile faded from Gemini's face as he stood on shaky knees. For a moment, there was no sound, everyone just stared at Gemini, disbelief on their faces.
"I'd like to award one hundred points to Ravenclaw for Gemini not only facing a dark wizard with incredible bravery, but also for proving indispensable to me in a time when I needed him most," Harry announced.
Cheers erupted then from the students. They stood from their chairs with glee, many of them reaching to pat Gemini on the back, offering him praise.
"Nice, Gemini!"
"Way to show those Gryffindors how it's done!"
"Brain over brawn!"
"Good work!"
The uncertain curl that was on Gemini's mouth grew back into a smile.
"Yes, yes," Harry said, trying to calm them once again. "You can all ask for his autograph after class is over." He winked at Gemini. "For now, we've got a special lesson for you all."
Harry pulled out his wand and shot a spell at the door. It opened, revealing the deep burgundy robes of Tom.
"This is my good friend, Samuel Tom Gaunt. If you like, you can call him Mr. Gaunt…" Harry looked over at Tom, humor in his eyes, "or Mr. Tom. Maybe just Tom. Whatever you prefer."
Tom stepped into the room with poise and grace, an amused smile on his face which he tried—and failed—to hide.
"Yes, whatever you prefer, as long as you prefer Mr. Gaunt."
A few of the students chuckled softly. Most watched him curiously.
"Mr. Gaunt," Harry announced, "will be in from time to time to help me demonstrate certain types of magic, as well as offer expertise where I cannot."
"I have studied the dark arts for many years," Tom said. "Strictly theoretical and observational," he added, matter-of-fact. "I find that there are few things in the world that give me such pleasure as being able to predict the actions and motives of dark wizards."
"Since this is Defense Against the Dark Arts, Tom may now more about what we are defending ourselves against just as much, if not more, than I," Harry said. "Today, for example." Harry flicked his wand, and the chalk began to write on the blackboard. "Today's lesson is on the wand-lighting charm."
"This charm is excellent for repelling forces that require darkness," Tom explained. "These creatures include Gyntrash and malevolent spirits. Now, Gyntrash, which I am incredibly familiar with, are white spirits who appear like dogs or wolves with forked tails. Their bites are vicious. A few will be enough to kill a child. They travel in packs, invisible to their prey until they are but a few feet away. It is at this point where protection comes into play."
Harry smiled a moment before continued explaining to the students. "A dim wand-lighting charm will keep them at bay, and a fully lit one will likely dispel them. It's a simple enough spell. The incantation is 'Lumos.' What you all may find causing you difficulty is the wand movement."
The chalk drew the pathway on the board: a loop that looked like a cursive, lower-case L.
"As I understand, the wand movements you have learned so far have been fairly simple up to this point. This one is not too difficult, but it is different. Everyone try it. Do the wand movement, and right at the top of the loop, say Lumos."
Wands went up in the air and voices began to speak the same word over and over. He watched as students tried, some getting flickering lights, others incredibly dim ones. Harry noticed that the first time Gemini tried, he got a bright, white light emitting from his wand tip.
A natural, Harry thought.
After a moment, Harry went around the room, helping various students who were having trouble with the spell. With a sly smile, Tom went over to Gemini.
"I notice you are having some difficulty casting this spell," Tom stated ironically. "If you would like, I have some notes here for you to look at," Tom pulled out a few manila-colored papers from his pocket and passed them over Gemini's desk. "Notes which, I know for a fact, Harry has already spoiled."
Gemini carefully unfolded the papers, noticing they were not stapled together. He smoothed them out on his desk, reading the words Adoption Processing Form at the top. The rest of the form was filled out in faded, grey lettering: a carbon copy.
"You've finished already?" Gemini asked, tone incredulous and bright purple eyes going tan.
"I did just this morning," Tom answered. "While you ate, no doubt, a delicious breakfast, I spent a good half hour convincing the ladies at your orphanage that I wanted to adopt you, and yet another half hour filling out the paperwork." Tom's mouth drew up into a wicked smirk. "I may or may not have flashed my red eyes at Miss Marbury when she called you a name."
Gemini giggled. "That's terrible. She probably thinks a demon adopted me."
Tom shrugged. "She can think what she desires," he replied easily. "She was the real demon."
Gemini just smiled up at Tom, eyes large and filled with admiration. Tom felt his heart spill over with affection.
"Well, I need those back now," Tom said softly, picking the paper gently from the desk and refolding it, "as of right now, this is the only proof we have. A certificate will be in the mail in a week or two, I'm sure. Until then." He placed the papers back into his pocket.
Gemini watched for a moment as Tom walked to a student a few rows behind Gemini to help him with the spell, then swiveled his head around back to the front of the room. He just stared at the air before him, a goofy grin on his face.
He couldn't believe this was real.
"Gemini," a girl beside him asked, a light pink just barely gracing over her cheeks.
Gemini snapped out of his trance to look at her. She had dark eyes, almost black, with tan skin underlined with a hint of yellow. Her hair was chin-length and spiked at the ends, filled with so many bright colors, from sunset orange to spring grass green to rich lavender. Gemini wondered how he had ever missed seeing her before, as her hair alone could be seen across a field.
"You got the spell, right?" she asked, uncertain. "Could you help me? It looks like Mr. Potter and Mr. Gaunt have their hands full."
Gemini nodded and smiled politely. "Sure."
"Alright," she said, sitting up straight in her chair and readying her wand. "So, the theory is that we do the wand movement, which looks very much like a loop, and in the middle of it, we say the incantation. Lumos," she cast, getting just barely a flicker of dull light from her wand tip.
Gemini nodded. "Okay. You're doing everything right, as far as the theory goes. What you need to add is magic. Give the spell more power. Don't be afraid to cast it."
The girl nodded, taking her gaze away from Gemini and staring once more at her wand, eyes narrowed slightly. "Lumos!"
A blinding scarlet light came from her wand, causing her and Gemini to close and turn away their eyes. A few students behind them uttered complaints, dropping their wands in surprise. After a few seconds, it faded.
Gemini let out a soft laugh. "Maybe that was a bit too much."
The girl laughed too. "Just a smidge."
"Too much power, Amaryllis," Harry called out from the back of the room. "But I assure you that you are more than ready for other spells."
Gemini and Amaryllis laughed together again.
"Amaryllis?" he asked.
She nodded, lips curling out. "Not very fond of it. My parents call me Am. I think that's much better. Less flowery."
"Am," Gemini said with a nod. "I think it suits you."
Am smiled. "Thanks. I think so too."
She must have noticed Gemini staring at her hair, because she began to run her hands through it, showing off all the colors.
"You like it?" she asked. "I had it done by a witch at some salon my parents took me to. They wanted me to get some curls, but I got colors."
Gemini's eyes must have changed because Am's confident appearance changed. Her eyes studied his, making Gemini just the slightest bit uncomfortable. He'd never get used to the scrutiny.
"I know a bit about colors," he joked half-heartedly.
"Where," Am began, a smile growing on her face, "can I get contacts like that?"
"Well, I'm not sure," Gemini replied. "These are just my eyes."
"Wicked," she said.
Gemini was sure his eyes would change again as he felt the warmth of blood rushing to his face.
Before he could reply, Harry announced, "Excellent! All of you! Not bad for your first day back."
Harry and Tom came back to the front of the room. Harry looked around the room, meeting the eyes of his students for seconds at a time.
"I'm really proud of you all. Keep up the good work. I'll see you all on Thursday."
Harry watched as they all filed out of the room, chatting amongst themselves. He waited until they were all gone, to glare at Tom through narrowed eyes.
"You were late," he accused. "And I was nearly late waiting for you."
"I apologize, Love," Tom purred, pulling Harry to him by the waist. He put his mouth close to Harry's ear and whispered, "I was rather busy taking care of those papers."
A chill ran up Harry's spine before he pushed out of Tom's grip with a laugh. "My next class will be on their way shortly. We've got to be professional."
Tom flashed a charming smile at him. "I have absolutely no idea to what you are referring," Tom said innocently. "Samuel Tom Gaunt is the pinnacle of professionalism, Mr. Potter, sir."
Harry laughed once more as his first students for his next class entered the room. He pointed a finger at Tom.
"I'll deal with you later."
Tom feigned offense, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I have done no wrongdoing."
Still glaring playfully at Tom, Harry waved his wand and the board erased itself.
"Later," Harry promised as more students filed into the room.
Harry checked the clock. Right on time.
"Students!" he announced with a smile on his face. "Welcome back!"
As Harry looked out, smiling faces stared back at him. This was everything he had ever wanted. He had a job he loved, people he cared about, and people who cared about him—the real him, not just the hero. And best of all, he was truly happy.
He couldn't believe it was real.
The day was long, but Harry had hardly noticed. He was thrilled to see all of his students once more to teach them what he knew best, see all his friends who were professors, and just enjoy everything Hogwarts was. Before he even realized the day was passing, dinner was over and he was walking back to his room alone.
Padma hadn't officially hired Tom yet, but she had allowed him to help Harry teach. For now, she wanted Harry focused on the story of what happened, ensuring they all had it correct. She knew what happened when rumors grew nasty, and didn't want any of that happening to Harry, Gemini, or (especially) Tom. Harry couldn't agree more. There were many things he knew such rumors would ruin. He liked this job, and never wanted to lose it. And he loved Tom, so of course he didn't want to lose him, either. He was his life. Most importantly, Tom had revealed something to Harry.
Once Tom was hired at Hogwarts, the curse on the teaching post would be gone for good.
But until Tom was hired, he still returned to his own home, unable to stay at Hogwarts, nor did he get a seat at the professors' table at dinner. Tom had gone home, and now Harry was missing him.
With a sigh, Harry unlocked his door and stepped into its darkness. When he turned the light on, he jumped at the body lying on his bed.
"Merlin, Tom!" he exclaimed, pressing a hand to his booming heart. "You scared the shit out of me."
Tom smiled charmingly. "I do apologize. I just figured you wanted to keep true to your promise."
Harry's heart calmed a bit, though his brows joined together. "Promise?" he asked, walking across the room to set down his papers on the table.
"Yes," Tom purred, getting off the bed to stand behind Harry and nuzzle his nose into his neck. "Your promise that you would deal with me later."
Harry let out a quick breath, a shiver running down his spine. "You mean scold you for being late to the first class of the day?"
Tom hummed lowly, sending vibrations into Harry's back. "I thought it was a euphemism."
A breathy laugh erupted from Harry's lips. "Is that so?"
Tom pressed kisses down Harry's neck and shoulder, not bothering to answer the question. Harry's breath hitched underneath him, and Tom knew he was doing it right.
Harry spun around to face Tom, their noses just barely touching.
"I ought to teach you a lesson or two about euphemisms," Harry said softly.
Tom grinned. "Please, do."
Harry grabbed the front of Tom's shirt and pulled him forward, locking their lips together. After a moment of tender pressure, Harry's lips moved to allow his tongue to move past them to Tom's lips. He licked at them once before Tom opened his lips, allowing him entry.
Without warning, Harry's mind pressed into Tom's. Without hesitation, Tom allowed him in.
You taste like mint and chocolate, Harry thought, his tongue exploring the details of Tom's mouth.
I ate mint candies before I came, Tom thought, his tongue pressing against Harry's to get into Harry's mouth. There, they battled for a moment before Harry allowed him entry.
You taste like wine, Tom thought. Wine and Harry.
Harry hummed into Tom's mouth. What exactly is Harry as a taste?
Tom pulled his mouth from Harry's and pulled him around enough to push him down on the bed.
"I intend to find out."
Tom easily pulled off Harry's robes and shirt, tossing them on the ground. He climbed on top of Harry, pressing kisses along his collarbone to his chest.
Beneath him, Harry's pulse danced and his eyelashes fluttered over his closed eyes. He felt every touch of Tom: the grace of Tom's lips on his chest, the pressure of Tom's thighs on his legs, the feeling of Tom's ass. Everything was Tom. Harry marveled in how new it was, and how exciting and good it felt.
Tom's kisses continued down Harry's chest to his stomach, much more sensitive. Every few kisses, a rogue eyelash would tickle Harry, and he would tense and let out a breath.
Are you doing that on purpose? Harry thought.
Tom did not respond, but continued on, trailing his kisses until he reached the hem of Harry's pants.
May I? Tom thought.
Harry nodded, a blush overcoming his cheeks. This wasn't his first time, so why did it feel like it was?
Tom carefully unbuttoned Harry's bottoms and pulled them off, revealing his hardening prick. With gentle fingers, Tom caressed it, the teasing touch making it harden more.
Merlin yes, Harry thought. More.
Suddenly, Harry's prick was in Tom's mouth, feeling his tongue lick at the shaft. Harry let out a gasp. Tom pulled his mouth off just enough to lick at the head and glands, making Harry quiver with pleasure. Tom repeated the motion, taking it all in his mouth and then licking the head.
Yes, was the only thing Harry could manage to think. Yes.
Once again, Tom took all of Harry's prick into his mouth and pulling back, this time pushing back on just as quickly. He started a rhythm that had Harry's hips bucking, every movement of Tom driving Harry wild.
He'd never done this before. How could he be so goddamned perfect already?
Tom hummed, his lips still firmly around Harry's cock, in response, eliciting a moan and a curse from Harry.
You are an excellent teacher, Tom thought.
Merlin, Tom's voice in his head was damn sexy. Deep and rich, like the wine he'd had with dinner.
Harry's fingers wove into Tom's hair, gripping at the curls. Harry wanted to finish now. He was getting pretty close.
Tom's hands removed Harry's from gripping his hair so Tom could fully pull his mouth off Harry, leaving him cold and wanting.
Tom leaned forward to whisper, "Not yet," into Harry's ear.
Suddenly, a bottle of lube was in Tom's hands. This was new.
"Is this okay, Harry?" Tom whispered again, the air tickling at Harry's neck and making him shiver.
"Is what okay?" he asked. He wasn't sure where Tom wanted to go with this. He hadn't ever thought about sex like this before.
I want you inside me, Tom thought. Please, Harry.
That voice. Harry was sure he'd never been this hard before. He wanted Tom more than anything.
"Yes," Harry said at last. "A thousand times yes."
At that, Tom squeezed some lube out of the bottle and covered Harry's cock in it.
Wait, don't you need to…like… Harry's thoughts lagged at the feel of Tom's hand pleasuring him…stretch?
Tom kissed Harry's cheek. I came prepared.
Squeezing more lube out, Tom closed the bottle and tossed it to the floor. He pressed a finger around and inside himself. Harry felt the breach in Tom's mind, sensing the need and desire around it. The feeling only turned Harry on more.
Tom removed the finger and used that hand to guide Harry's cock, lifting himself until, at last, he pressed Harry into him.
"Fuck," Harry groaned. Not only could he feel the tightness of Tom around him, but how the pressure of his cock felt to Tom. It was like fucking and being fucked at the same time: twice the agonizing pleasure. Tom slowly lifted himself again only to press down, taking in Harry's length to the very bottom. Harry cursed again as Tom released a moan. How did anyone do it any other way when this existed?
Tom lifted himself once again and pressed down, faster this time working up a rhythm. His fingers grabbed at Harry's arms, nails pressing in hard. "Oh Harry," he whispered into Harry's ear.
Eyes closed again, Harry let himself feel it all: the burning heat building where their bodies met, the stickiness of Tom's leaking cock pressed between their stomachs, the soft whispers and moans of his name coming from Tom's lips. This was it. The peak of their connection. They were one body.
Harry wanted it to last, but found himself drawing closer with every frenzied breath, every agonizingly slow press of Tom's hips downward. He wanted it to last, but he also wanted nothing more than to feel the electricity of their bodies clashing to a thunderous finish. Yes, he wanted that more.
Sensing his thoughts, Tom removed himself from Harry and laid on his back beside him.
Harry stood, hoisting one of Tom's long, slim legs onto his shoulder.
Is it time for that scolding? Tom teased.
Harry grinned, sweat brimming at his hairline. Letting his actions answer for him, he pressed into Tom, letting a loud, unstoppable moan pass from his lips.
He pressed in again, hitting Tom's prostate as Tom squeezed, both of them feeling the unnamable bliss in their groins.
"Harry," Tom moaned. "God Harry."
Harry held hard onto Tom's hips and continued pushing into Tom, faster and harder, trying with every bit of his being not to come just yet. This was heaven. Nothing but incredible pleasure as their muscles contracted and beads of sweat broke out across their skin.
A couple more thrusts and Harry couldn't take it anymore. Tom's fingers clutched onto the bedsheets hard as they both came rushing to orgasm, vision going white and starry as their bodies released at last.
Harry pulled himself out of Tom and let his wobbly knees rest as he collapsed on the bed next to him. Every pore in his skin was sensitive, feeling the sheets beneath him and the cold air brushing over him gently. His body was exhausted. He was a mess. A huge, beyond-satisfied mess.
With what little effort he had left, Harry extended his arm beneath Tom to pull him close. Tom turned toward him and nuzzled his face into the crook of Harry's neck. This was Tom and Harry, connected in every way: mind, body, and soul.
Harry grinned. I hope you learned your lesson.