"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet of the ground." -Teddy Rosevelt

Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Marvolo Slytherin, You-Know-Who, He-who-must-not-be-named and Lord Voldemort, was met with sounds of soft musical giggles the moment he entered the Manor.

Draco Malfoy had to complete an errand for him, Lucius Malfoy was at a meeting with Lord Flint and Narcissa Malfoy was currently shopping at a high end boutique in France in order to update and glamorize a certain emerald eyed girl's wardrobe.

So, he knew that the great Manor had only two occupants at the moment, excluding him of course. Despite himself, he couldn't help the small smile that threatened to show on his face at the sight of two of his most and only favourite people in the world.

Rose Potter was seated on the royal green coloured sofa with Nagini at her side. Her hair was held up in a loose ponytail and she wore fluffy slippers on her feet. She was also wearing sweatpants and a green sweater that was obviously too big for her. It was his, he realized. Nagini must have helped her nick it from his cupboard, again.

Rose was laughing at something. Her head was thrown back slightly, pony tail slightly swishing and her green eyes literally sparkled. The corners of her lips were tilted upwards entirely and she looked completely at ease.

Rose Potter just had this casual and natural elegance around her that you couldn't help but admire.

Her eyes lit up even more –if that was even possible- upon seeing him and she smiled brightly. "Hello Marvolo!" she greeted happily.

"Rose." He nodded in acknowledgement.

Rose's pretty eyes scanned his face and a frown descended upon her face. "You look tired. Had a long day?"

It would have been impossible for anybody to know, considering he physically did not project things he felt mentally, as he considered it a sign of weakness. But Rosalie Dorea Potter was not anybody. She was his horcrux and was –to some extent- able to feel emotions that he felt and hid.

"A bit." He admitted, moving towards the pair before eventually sitting comfortably beside the Heiress of House Potter.

A few seconds later, Rose Potter gracefully got up from her spot and moved behind him. She then proceeded to lightly massage Marvolo Slytherin's shoulders, in a similar fashion to how she had seen her mother, Petunia, do to her father, Vernon after he had come home from a particularly long and tiring day of work.

Marvolo raised an elegant eyebrow, "What are you doing?" he asked as he internally melted at her touch.

Being close to his horcruxes always calmed him immensely, and Rose Potter truly had a magical (pardon the pun) way when it came to giving massages. He could almost feel his worries slowly disappearing away.

"Shh, Marvolo." Came the reply. "Don't over think things. Relax, and just go with it."

And for once, the Dark Lord complied and felt himself relax. Nagini also slithered closer toward him until she was cuddled to him in a coil. He lightly started to pet his familiar's head as his eyes shut themselves in bliss.

Today had been a hectic day, for a lack of a better word.

One of the not-so-important Death Eater who had obviously wanted to be recognised had caused quite a commotion in Diagon Alley in his name.

While he did not care about such minor things, the Death Eater –a half blood Ravenclaw alumni named Sawyer Grant- had shot a Crucatious Curse to an unsuspecting man, who along with his two daughters, had been exiting an ice cream parlour.

This would also not be a concern for the descendent of Salazar Slytherin, had that man not have been Lord Cyrus Greengrass, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass and the unofficial Leader of the Grey Faction.

Tom had recently made contact with the Grey Leader and had found himself pleasantly surprised when the Lord of House Greengrass had revealed that he would no longer be neutral in the war, but rather support the Dark Faction. There had been many conditions and clauses, obviously. He would expect nothing less from a fellow Slytherin alumina.

However, thanks to the foolish actions of this frankly stupid half blood, he had come very close to loosing this heaven blessed alliance.

Lord Greengrass did not take kindly to being put under the torture curse, and had reacted aggressively as expected. The factors that contributed in making the situation worse was that:

1. His torturer was a Ravenclaw and more importantly, a half blood.

2. The incident had occurred in public.

3. And most importantly, it had happened in front of his daughters.

Say what you would about him, but nobody could deny that Lord Cyrus Greengrass was damn proud of his daughters and loved them to bits.

He didn't care that the other Lords of the Wizengamort would belittle and pity him that he did not have any sons. He loved his two beautiful daughters more than life itself. And seeing Daphne and Astoria's big blue eyes –the eyes which he was extremely proud to say that he had given to them- look at him so scared and worried had been where the metaphorical line had been crossed by a binary mass and shit had officially hit the fan.

It was only after honey filled words and promised tortures to the half blood that the Lord Greengrass had calmed down. Daphne's betroth to her childhood sweetheart Theodore Nott Jr (a Death Eater) and Astoria's relationship with the Draco Malfoy (another Death Eater) that could in the simplest of terms be classified as 'love', probably helped as well.

Sawyer Grant's mutated body was currently scattered across the Pacific Ocean, courtesy of Lord Greengrass. But honestly, death had been a merciful option compared to what Lord Greengrass wanted to originally do.

It was times like this that people were reminded of the fact that the calm, composed Cyrus was sorted into House Slytherin. Not to mention his maternal grandmother had been a Black before marriage. And being directly related to a Black was also synonymous to being –just a little bit- clinically insane.

So yes, being with Nagini and Rose did make him feel calm and release his pent up tentions.

Rose Potter hummed a song as her petite fingers made patterns of soothing circles in his hair, having moved up to his head minutes ago.

"Tily," she called to a House Elf. "Would you please make Marvolo a hot chocolate with a dash of cinnamon and two mini marshmallows?"

The House Elf visibly looked happy with Rose's order and nodded enthusiastically before disappearing with a pop.

"I do not drink hot chocolate, Rose." Said Marvolo, his eyes still softly closed.

"Nonsense." Chided Rose, laughing softly. "Everybody drinks hot chocolate, Marvolo. And don't frown so much, you'll get premature wrinkles. Handsome as you are, not even you can pull off that look."

Marvolo's lips curved to create a smirk, "You think I am handsome?"

"As if you have been told otherwise." Came her reply.

The smirk remained on Marvolo's face as Tily brought the cup of hot chocolate over and handed it to Marvolo before disappearing once again.

He sipped it cautiously, Rose's hands working miracles with his stress.

It was good.

A cup of hot chocolate was truly what he had needed after today's events. That and Rose's massage. Not that he would ever tell her that.

A comfortable silence engulfed the trio for the next twenty minutes or so, each of them doing their own thing. Tom Riddle felt himself feel a tad disappointed as Rose's hands slowly came to a stop.

"It's still a little early for dinner." Said the Potter Heiress as she gave him a glance. "How about I make you a quick snack?"

"You will be cooking?" asked Tom Riddle, remembering the last time she had tried to cook. Emphasis on tried.

Rose rolled her eyes, "I can cook Marvolo. I am deeply upset that you happened to think otherwise. I shall make you a pureed nut spread with a grape relish reduction paired with brioche bread, and I'm not taking no for an answer." And with that she dramatically flipped her perfect golden locks and walked towards the kitchen.

Marvolo felt worry consume him a bit.

He remembered the awful taste of Rose's cooking that had left his palette numb for a week. He also remembered the admittedly embarrassing digestive problems that had also been the result of the mentioned girl's attempt at cooking. Once again, note the emphasis on attempt. Thank Morgana for healing potions.

He also knew that he would never be able to say 'no' to his beloved horcrux, which was quite literally a part of him. He wasn't even going to mention the mysterious effect and super powers of Rose's beautiful emerald eyes that caused everybody who looked at them to be bewitched.

"Worry not, Master. She is making you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Not even she can mess that up." Came the hiss of Nagini shortly after, before adding a quiet, "Hopefully."