Harry's POV;
How could he forget about Barty!? Buggering hell! This is shit! And Harry needs to calm down so he can get a handle on what is happening right now because he can't lose his shit while there is a dangerous criminal in front of him with Neville also right there.
''Oh shit.'' He says with exasperation before throwing his invisibility cloak off him and stepping into the light. Barty flinches before his eyes go wide, and Neville yelps a little at his sudden appearance.
Then Barty grinds his teeth and looks with a glare full of hatred at Harry, something Harry can understand. Because Barty thinks Harry is his Master's biggest enemy. Bugger.
''Neville, step behind me,'' Harry says with his eyes and wand still trained on Barty.
''H-Harry he's-'' Neville tries, and Harry can understand the struggle Neville must have right now. This is the man that has tortured his parents into insanity. And Harry feels for the guy, he really does, but he really doesn't want anything to happen to Neville, so Neville needs to listen.
''I know, Neville-'' Harry interrupts in a soft tone. ''And I understand your desire for revenge but step behind me. Right now.'' Harry commands, and Neville hurries to comply, but because of his movement, Barty has a distraction he was hoping for. He whips out his own wand and sends a killing curse towards Harry. Harry pulls Neville with him out of the line of fire and sends some slightly dark curses himself towards the wizard. He pushes Neville behind him while he duels with Barty. Determined to keep the boy safe.
But Barty is crazy. It's clear in everything he does and every step he takes. As if the manic grin wasn't enough of a sign.
Harry can't keep dueling Barty while also shielding Neville. He's thinking up a plan when he hears a sudden hiss, then a scream and Barty stops his attack, then he cries again in pain.
Harry is confused. What the hell happened? It's too dark to see clearly, so he conjures a couple of balls with light to hover around them. Then he sees a little gruesome sight.
Nagini is attacking Barty, but the venom must've already run his course because Barty isn't moving anymore. The blood on the floor and the swollen flesh from the bites are enough for Harry to know that Barty isn't going to survive this.
'' Nagini ?'' Harry questions in Parseltongue.
The snake whips her head around to look at Harry, and if Harry didn't know any better, he would say that the snake is glaring at him.
'' You worthless two-legs! You left me in the cemetery, and I couldn't follow Master! '' The snake hisses while advancing on Harry. Harry backs up as fast as he can while the angry snake is advancing.
'' Oh! I'm so sorry !'' Harry says in a panic. He really hadn't thought about Nagini after the ritual, figures that the smart snake would follow him to Hogwarts.
Before Harry can step out of her way again, she circles around his legs and climbs up on his body until her head is hovering in front of Harry's face.
'' Never again, two-legs, I demand a lot of mice for an apology. '' She says while narrowing her eyes at Harry as if daring him to disagree, which Harry has absolutely no desire to do.
Harry breathes a sigh of relief. '' Sure, I will give you mice. As many mice as you want. You did help me .'' He tells her, and he reaches his hand out carefully before giving in and stroking her head. She leans into the touch.
'' Of course, I did, '' She replies with a humpf. She doesn't elaborate on why she decided to help, but Harry is glad nonetheless.
''Uh, Harry?'' Comes a small voice behind him, he curses himself, he forgot about Neville for a moment. He really is exhausted if he keeps forgetting things that are too important to forget.
He turns around with Nagini still on his shoulders. She tightens around his shoulders but doesn't object. ''Neville! Uh- are you okay?''
''U-uh, I don't know.'' He answers and seems confused for himself. Something Harry can relate to. Neville's eyes are focused on Barty's corps, and Harry curses himself again.
Harry rubs his hand through his hair and groans. ''So- It's probably better for you to forget about all of this,'' Harry tells him with a pained expression.
''No! No! Please! Please, I don't want to forget.'' Neville hurries to say. He is looking with pleading eyes, and Harry can understand why he doesn't want to forget in some way. But on the other hand. It's nothing for a fourteen-year-old boy to see.
''Neville-''
''No! He - he deserved this. I'm not going to tell anyone, but I don't want to forget.'' Neville is still trembling while telling Harry this, and Harry sighs.
''He's dead, Neville, he's been imposing a teacher all year, he's connected to Voldemort-'' Harry says plainly, curious about how Neville is going to take this. He should just wipe his memory, make sure the body is gone, and then open the lock on the seventh layer trunk so the real Moody can escape. But he notices how Neville's shoulders relax and how he didn't even flinch at Voldemort's name. ''-I need to hide the body. Otherwise, there will be too many questions nobody wants answers to.''
At this, Neville looks away from the body and into Harry's eyes. ''You're planning something, aren't you?'' He muses. It isn't an accusation, just an observation.
Harry debates with himself about what he should do before he decides to go broke.
''I am. It's not going to be pretty for a lot of people. That's why this man can't be found. So let me ask you again. Are you sure you don't want to forget? Because you can't share this with anybody,'' Harry tells him, and silence falls around him. Harry feels Nagini shifting around his shoulders and sees Neville's eyes fill with determination.
''I don't want to forget. And I will keep your secrets. I trust you, Harry. I know you aren't a bad wizard.'' He hesitates for a moment before nodding.
''If you ever need any help-'' Neville starts but doesn't know how to finish.
Harry smirks. ''You're going to be Lord Longbottom in a couple of years, aren't you?''
Neville snorts and shakes his head in amusement, making Harry grin.
''You really have become a Slytherin, haven't you?'' He askes with amusement. Making Harry preen a little. ''Yes, I will. My grandmother is Regent now. As soon as I turn seventeen, I will go to Gringotts to get the title.''
''How will she think about a new alliance with the Potter's?'' Harry asks, barely holding back a smirk. Neville snorts again.
''And Peverell's?'' Neville adds with his own grin. Making Harry chuckle and shrug.
''She would be ecstatic. If you want, you can already talk about it with her this summer.'' Neville tells him with a smile.
Harry raises his eyebrows in surprise. ''Are you sure? I don't want to impose.''
''Believe me, Harry, she would love to talk to you, especially if you share your memory about this evening with her,'' Neville tells him, and Harry laughs.
''Tell your grandmother to expect my owl,'' Harry replies, a dismissal clear in his words, and Neville nods. He glances one last time at the body of Barty before turning around and walking away.
'' That was unexpected ,'' Harry tells Nagini.
'' If you say so. ''
The snake sounds like she couldn't be bothered, but then she suddenly perks up.
'' Can I eat him? ''
Harry makes a disgusted noise. '' No! You already killed him. You can't eat him. He's too big. ''
'' No, he's not! ''
'' Yes, he is! ''
'' No, he's not! ''
'' Oh my Salazar, you are annoying! You can't eat him. I will dispose of him in another way. ''
Nagini sags, and Harry almost buckles under her weight. '' Mean two-legs. '' He hears her silently hissing, and he rolls his eyes.
''I can't believe that I'm actually bickering with a snake.'' He mutters while shaking his head. He thinks for a moment about how he can dispose of the body before he remembers Death's lackeys.
Groaning, he tries to remember how to summon them. Summoning a demon to this realm will probably not be the best idea, but Harry doesn't care. Death will forgive him. He quickly checks the Mauraurders map and sees that the coast is clear.
Then he pulls his wand again and draws a small pentagram on the floor with it before chanting in Latin. It goes easier than he expected, especially since he is still this exhausted. But Death always told him that Dark Magic and especially the brand that is used for summoning would be easy for Harry, being the adopted son of Death and, in the future, his Master.
The black creature brings a smell of sulfur with him when he appears.
''Clean up the body and make sure nobody will find it.'' He orders. He could be polite, but he knows that the demon doesn't care for pleasantries.
The demon doesn't speak, just nods before turning to the body. Shadows erupt around the creature, and Harry feels the temperature rising. When the demon has reached the body, he touches Barty's forehead. The body erupts in flames, and within seconds the body is gone. Not even a scorch mark remains. All the blood is also gone, and Harry breathes a sigh of relief.
The demon turns towards Harry again before bowing, and with a plume of smoke, the demon is gone.
'' You are frightening. '' Nagini hisses, and Harry can't help but feel a little smug.
'' Don't forget it, and make sure your Master doesn't either. ''
Tom's POV;
Tom looks around the mansion they apparated to and feels a little jealous. Of course, Potter has a mansion. Why is he even surprised?
He follows Sirius and the werewolf, Remus, towards one of the wings and tries to take everything in. It's ridiculously big, but it still feels like a home. Mmh, he hadn't expected that. Not that he ever had a real home. Not until Hogwarts, but that's something else.
''-and this is going to be your room,'' Sirius says before opening a set of doors with a flourish. Tom wants to scoff because certainly, he won't get this room. It's really big.
''Funny. Now point me to the dungeon where Potter wants to put me until he can use me for his nefarious scheme.'' Tom deadpans while crossing his arms.
Remus just raises one eyebrow before waving at the room. ''This is the room where you can sleep or do whatever you want. You are free to roam the entire estate, but don't leave. We like to think you aren't a prisoner, and hopefully, it won't feel like that if you have free reign in the mansion.''
Tom sees only sincerity in the werewolf's eyes and is stunned for a moment. ''You're kidding, right? Potter wouldn't-'' Then suddenly something dawns on him. ''- where is Potter's room?''
Sirius gives Tom a smirk. ''Across the hall. We're a couple of doors down, next to the library. Remus loves his books.'' Sirius tells him with a fond look at the werewolf. Tom rolls his eyes. So that's why Potter put him here, to keep an eye on him when he's back. That's the reason, surely.
Tom looks around the room, not entirely sure what to do now. He never had this kind of space. And this is just his room. Not sharing with anyone else, it's kind of freeing.
''If you want to change the colors on the wall or anything like that, you can ask for Dobby, but be nice to him. He's Harry's friend. Now- we are going to put Wormtail in one of the dungeon rooms, and then we will go to bed. If you want to join us for breakfast tomorrow, you can come to the kitchen in the morning.'' Remus looks around the room before nodding to himself as if satisfied with everything.
Tom is stunned again that they just left him alone in the room. He feels a little odd about that. Why are they so civil ?
He's too tired to do anything else but undress and fall into the bed. It's so soft that he groans in appreciation. He can't remember the last time he had slept in a bed. He was, thankfully, alone in his humiliation for showing a moment of weakness.
It doesn't take long before he falls asleep.
'Lily! Take Harry and go! It's him! I'll hold him off!'' A booming laugh is heard in response. The monster that blasts the door off its hinges looks at the poor attempt to stop him. The man isn't anything special, and with just one flick of his wand, the man crumples to the floor, unseeing eyes locked on the ceiling above him.
The monster hears running feet and follows the sound. When he reaches the upstairs landing, he sees a door slamming and a flash of red hair. The witch tried to block the door with a simple locking spell, but the monster rips through it without a second glance.
''Please! Please! Not Harry!'' The witch sobs, but the monster is undeterred. But he did promise something to one of his most loyal followers. ''Move.'' He rasps out. But the witch locks eyes with him. Avada-green-eyes lock with his red ones. She is pleading, but it does nothing for the monster.
''No! Please, not my Harry! Take me, but please don't hurt him!''
The monster is getting irritated. He wants this over and done with already. He will be unstoppable.
''Move. I won't ask again.''
"Not Harry! Please- have mercy- have mercy- Not Harry! Not Harry! Please — I'll do anything!" The witch begs again, and his lips curl into an irritated sneer.
''If you won't move, I will go through you.'' He grounds out.
The witch is trembling but stays in front of the little gremlin that can destroy him. She shakes her head.
''Very well. Avada Kadavra!'' Green light fills the room, and a high-pitched scream is heard before the woman falls to the floor. There in the bed of the child is the little devil himself. His cheeks are wet from the tears he had shed, but it is silent. It is looking with the same Avada-green-eyes as his mudblood mother into the monster's own red ones. For some reason, he doesn't seem frightened. Something the monster is sure that the gremlin should be.
''Harry James Potter, prepare to die.'' The little gremlin doesn't do anything but sit there, and for some reason, it angers the monster even more. Before he can think twice about it, he raises his wand again. And screams the words that will be his downfall. ''AVADA KEDAVRA!''
Tom wakes up gasping, covered in sweat and completely tangled into his sheets. He tries to run for the bathroom, but he doesn't succeed. He empties his stomach next to his bed, the sour taste burning his throat.
He sits there on the edge of his bed, panting and afraid to close his eyes. Bugger. Bugger. Bugger. FUCK! What had he become?! How can Ha-Potter even look at him!?
Tom doesn't know. He knows nothing. How can he go through with all of this? How can he repay all the shit he had put on people? Witches and wizards were still afraid to even utter his name! Why was he necessary to come back?
What more can he do to completely wreck the wizarding world?
''You won't wreck it. Not with Harry's help.'' A voice says suddenly next to him. He startles so bad he falls back into his own sick. He grimaces and looks up into Lady Magic's eyes. He shrinks on himself.
''My Lady, my apologies for - this,'' He says, waving a pathetic hand to himself, he feels humiliated, but he can't find the energy to be angry. He feels empty after that particular nightmare. He is resentful that he doesn't have his magic. He feels so mundane. Especially next to Lady Magic herself.
Lady Magic rolls her eyes and then waves her hand. The sick is gone from the floor and from Tom's body. He also feels refreshed, like he has just taken a shower.
''Thank you, my Lady,'' Tom says before standing and bowing to the deity. He's silently freaking out in his head, but he won't show it to the deity. He wants to look calm and collected.
She giggles, and he thinks that she is reading his mind. Something he really doesn't like. He trained forever to be the best Occlumens there is. But he stands no chance against a deity.
''Can I help you?'' Tom asks carefully. He doesn't know what time it is, but from the heaviness in his limbs, he would say that it isn't morning yet. He still feels too exhausted for that.
''No, but there is something I want to help you with.''
Tom is intrigued, if not wary. What could she possibly help him with? World domination? He doesn't even know if he wants that anymore.
''Ah, and what could you mean for me then, my Lady?'' Tom gives her his most disarming smile, and the deity smirks at him.
''Oh, Tom, gentlemen like you, they don't make them anymore like that.''
''I'm going to take that as a compliment,'' Tom replies with a smirk. Lady Magic rolls her eyes.
''You could, for your manners are impeccable. But the psychopathic tendencies are not something to be proud of.''
Tom rolls his eyes. ''I'm not a psychopath. I am more a machiavellist.'' He replies with a wave of his hand.
Lady Magic scoffs, ''Based on what?''
''That the normal to above average intelligence doesn't apply to me. I'm completely above the average intelligence, thank you very much. I can think rationally, I was trustworthy because you can say what you want, but I did as I promised. I was always a social butterfly-'' He is just summing things up, for now, enjoying himself until Lady Magic interrupts him.
''How about your poor judgment or your nonexistent ability to learn from your mistakes? Or the fact that you couldn't feel regular emotions, certainly no self-love. Or how about the fact that you couldn't connect to anyone on a deeper level, or was the impersonal and trivial sex life something you wanted to have for the rest of your life.'' She says in a drawl.
Tom was gaping at the deity before he blushed. ''I really did a number on myself, didn't I?'' He finally whispered after about five minutes of silence.
Lady Magic kneels in front of the place he is sitting on the edge of the bed. ''You did, but you're here again, with a lot of your emotions intact. That's probably why you feel so scattered. So I want to make you an offer.''
Tom is still wary but gives her a sign to go on.
''You heard a little about Harry's stint in Death's realm, didn't you?'' She asks, and Tom nods before Lady Magic raises an eyebrow as to say reply with words .
''Yes, Lady,'' Tom quickly amends, making Lady Magic smile at him.
''I want you to go with me, to my realm, and I will try to heal you mentally, so when Harry returns from Hogwarts, you are in a better place, for yourself and for the world you want to help.'' Lady Magic proposed.
Tom's mouth had fallen open, he didn't want to admit that he was struggling, but he was. And this was just the first night! How was he going to keep up with Potter? How was he supposed to help the wizarding world?
''You would do that for me?'' Tom hates how small he sounds, but he feels out of his debt for the first time in his life.
''Of course, Tom. Before you tore yourself apart, you were one of my favorites. I want that back.'' She tells him with a wink, but her tone is sincere. He feels a little lost. Nobody had ever cared for him. They admired him, sure, they followed him, sure, but cared for him? Nobody had ever done that.
''How long would I be gone?'' He asked, feeling a little nervous. Sirius and Remus had told him not to leave the premises. Did Lady Magic's realm count?
''You would be back before they would know you were missing. You will only age a little. I hope I can help you within a year, so it won't be much.'' She explained, and Tom felt himself getting eager with the idea.
''Fine, I will go with you.''
She beamed at him, and before he knew it, they were gone from his room in Peverell manor.
Harry's POV;
Harry stepped off the train with a smile. He said goodbye to his friends before Hermione hurtled herself at him in a bone-crushing hug.
''You will write to me, right? I cannot believe that you aren't going to be at school next year.'' She choked out, and Harry could feel his neck getting a little wet where she had put her face.
''Of course, I will write you. Hedwig would have my hide if I won't.'' They stood there for a moment, and it wasn't even awkward. Harry could feel how much it meant that he wouldn't be at school for the next year. He had been at Hermione's side from almost the beginning.
''I'm going to miss you,'' Harry told her sincerely, and Hermione let out something that sounded like a sob. He gathered that she would feel the same.
They finally extracted from each other when Draco came walking over. He was looking around nervously, clearly avoiding his parents.
''Do they even approve of your choice in witch?'' Harry said to him with narrowing eyes.
''No, well, mother wouldn't mind, at least, I think she wouldn't. And let's not talk about my father.'' Draco was flustered and clearly a little angry, but Hermione didn't seem to mind.
''They will understand it, eventually,'' Harry said before holding out his hand for Draco to take. Draco stood there looking at the outstretched hand before grasping it. Hermione glanced at Harry, who only shrugged with a smirk.
Hermione and Draco walked away with one last goodbye when Izzy sidled up next to Harry again.
She hugged him tightly, and he did the same. She has been one of his closest friends for the last year. He's sure that without her, he wouldn't have survived even if she could be extremely annoying.
They turned together to the gathered people that came to pick someone up. Remus would be there for Harry, something about that he wanted to show Harry something. Harry hadn't asked questions, but when he spotted Remus, he saw he should have.
Next to Remus was a well-dressed, incredibly good-looking Tom Riddle. Tom had a relaxed smile on his face while talking to Remus. He didn't even seem to be aware of the attention he was getting. Several people's vision seemed to gravitate towards his good looks, but the nonchalant air he excluded pulled them in even more.
Harry could hear some whispers around him, asking who the stranger was. Even Izzy was buzzing next to him with questions. Questions Harry really didn't want to answer right now.
''Oh my Goddess, he's beautiful. You could rub his cheekbones and cut your finger. What is he doing next to Professor Lupin?'' She asked in a whisper while grabbing Harry's arm in a painful hold.
Harry focused on the point of contact because he was lost. Especially when Tom looked up and looked straight at him. There was a surprised expression on his face for a moment before a relaxed smile took over, and he waved.
Harry almost choked, but there wasn't enough spit in his mouth to do that. He waved woodenly back and felt like a moron. Salazar, he was making a fool of himself. He knew Tom was hot. He had even seen him naked. Why was he this affected?
Oh, right, this was the first time Tom seemed relaxed and genuinely smiled.
Harry was fucked.
''Oh, Salazar! He's waving at you, Harry James Potter - Peverell! Why didn't you tell me you knew people this beautiful?! I'm your best friend. I deserve to know these things.'' Izzy hissed in his ear, startling Harry out of his stupor.
''Uh, yeah, I know him. Oh, isn't that Septima? She seems like she wants your attention. Go to your girlfriend.'' He then pushed her not too harshly in the direction where he had seen Septima. Izzy gave an indignant sound but was soon swallowed by the people walking up and down the platform. Harry chuckled before turning and walking towards Remus and Tom.
When he was within hearing distance, Tom spoke. ''Was that a Blackwood? She looks a lot like Elena Blackwood. She was a couple of years older than me.''
Harry nodded, ''Isabella Blackwood, one of the closest friends I made in Slytherin this year.'' He responded, still looking at Tom.
Tom nodded, and there was a little blush on his cheeks. Was he getting ill?
''I apologize. I haven't even introduced myself.'' Tom then said with a smirk before holding out his hand. Harry narrowed his eyes but took the offered hand.
''Thomas Slytherin,'' He then said with a smile. Harry chuckled. ''Of course, you would go with that-'' Harry murmured, earning a chuckle. ''Harry James Potter - Peverell. Nice to meet you. I hope.'' He added as an afterthought. He squeezed Tom's hand for emphasis.
Tom nodded, and Harry realized that they hadn't released their hands, so he slowly let go. His hand suddenly felt way too cold.
''Well, with that out of the way, can I get a proper hug, or do you two want to keep staring at each other?'' Remus snarked, making them both jump and blush. Harry scratched the back of his head before recovering.
He hugged Remus tightly. ''Sirius is probably going out of his mind, right now, isn't he?'' Harry asked, earning a laugh from the werewolf.
''You know it. He has missed you terribly.'' Remus told him with a fond look. Harry grinned.
''Shall we go then?'' When he received two nods, they quickly apparated to Peverell mansion, where Harry was immediately jumped by one Sirius Orion Black.
He laughed and stood his ground, clapping his godfather on the shoulder with enthusiasm. He had missed him too.
Dobby was the next one to welcome him back, announcing that dinner was ready and that he and Kreacher had worked really hard on it.
They all talked and had a lot of fun. Harry felt immediately at home and was surprised with how well Tom fit in the picture. He hadn't expected it at all, he had expected a surly, sour man that couldn't be bothered, but he was talking with Remus about some book and sometimes snarked at Sirius.
Harry had been gone for two weeks. How the hell had it changed this drastically?
Then he saw it. Tom waved his hand, and the sauce he wanted flew straight into his hands. Harry dropped his cutlery and stood.
''How on earth do you have your magic?'' He demanded before crossing his arms in a defensive stance.
Silence was a heavy thing suddenly at the table, and Harry regretted reacting like this a little, but he needed to know. How could Tom have broken out of the bond on his magic?
''Ah, I thought, Lady would've talked to you,'' Tom replied easily while wiping his hands on a napkin.
''Clearly not, and what does she have to do with it?'' Harry asked with a frown.
Tom let out a sigh but gave Harry a small smile that warmed him. Harry shook the feeling off roughly. Tom then began explaining.
''Lady Magic came on the first night I was here after I had a nightmare about my - past life.'' He seemed a little pained telling this, but Harry was listening intently. ''She offered me the option to go with her to her realm so I could heal. With the goal of being better when you would return so we could make progress to fix the wizarding world.'' Tom never broke eye contact with Harry while explaining this, and now Harry really looked - something in Tom's eyes seemed a little less broken than when he had woken up. His mouth was less tight, and he seemed more relaxed than Harry could've imagined.
Harry sat down again.
''Harry, Tom has been really trying to be better, to feel better. We have talked a lot with him, and you know we wouldn't say anything in his defense unless he had earned it. It's not all okay, of course. But we are getting there.'' Remus said honestly, and Harry was glad for words from the werewolf. Lady Magic had never told him that this was her plan, so Harry was a little overwhelmed. He had thought he would get some progress with Tom in the summer, but seeing how well-adjusted he was was a shock. He was curious how long Tom had been in Lady's realm. Maybe he could ask Tom that.
''He's still a snarky asshole sometimes. Just so you know.'' Sirius commented with a smirk making Tom look at him, seemingly outraged.
''Me a snarky asshole? Pot, kettle, Black!'' Tom said with narrowed eyes. Sirius laughed in response.
''So, Lady gave you your magic back?'' Harry asked, just to interrupt the response his godfather had on the tip of his tongue.
''Yes, she helped me a lot, and when she thought I was ready, she brought me back here. For Sirius and Remus, no time at all had passed. When I told them in the morning what had happened, they didn't believe me.'' Tom said before sipping his wine. A drop stayed on his lips, and he licked it away. Harry suddenly noticed he was following the tongue with his eyes. He quickly tore his eyes away so he wouldn't stare anymore.
''How did you convince them?'' Harry asked curiously. Tom smiled at him.
''I turned Sirius into his dog form,'' Tom said with a mischievous look aimed at Sirius. And showing magic while Remus and Sirius both knew that Tom couldn't have broken the bonds by himself would be a big clue indeed.
Harry laughed, while Sirius looked a little disgruntled but not mad.
''OH! Wait, I have something for you!'' Harry suddenly said before quickly pulling out the minimized trunk from the inside of his robes. Tom was looking curiously at what Harry was doing, but Harry was focusing on the trunk to bring it back to its original size, and then he opened it.
'' You forgot me! AGAIN! '' The hiss came before Harry could pull her out of the trunk.
Harry sighed. '' I know, but your Master is here. You can go bug him. '' Harry responded before lifting Nagini out of the trunk and bringing her to Tom, who looked at the snake with barely contained glee.
'' Master !'' Nagini hissed before wiggling out of Harry's grasp and onto Tom's shoulders.
'' Nagini! You're just as beautiful as I remember. '' Tom replied, stroking Nagini's head with fondness. An expression Harry had never expected to see.
Nagini began to talk to Tom, and he listened intently. Harry wasn't paying attention. That was until Nagini suddenly started talking about Barty.
'' -and then I killed the dirty two legs who smelled of too much potion, and then second Master called a black creature who smelled of death, and he took the body away.' '
Tom looked sharply at Harry, who grimaced. ''Ah, I think I forgot to tell you about that, didn't I? Such a shame.'' He chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. He quickly took a sip from his wine to gather his thoughts for a moment. Tom smirked at Harry, and Harry didn't know if he liked that. For some reason, it looked dangerous.
''What haven't you told us? We can't talk snake, so what was the snake saying?'' Sirius said while looking between Tom and Harry.
''It seems that Potter had a busy two weeks, why don't you tell us all about it, Harry ?'' Tom purred his name, and Harry felt a shiver go over his spine. This was the first time Tom ever had called him Harry. He was actually distracted for a moment before he remembered that he needed to tell them what had happened.
Harry scraped his throat and told them about the encounter with Barty, he saw Tom clench his fist, but the man kept silent.
''-and then I summoned one of the low-level demons from Death's realm so he could get rid of the body.'' He then looks up at Tom again, who has a thoughtful expression on his face. ''That was what she meant with the black creature that smelled like death.''
It was silent for a moment, everyone gathering his thoughts.
Then Tom spoke. ''I'm glad you're okay.'' It's a soft confession, something Harry hadn't expected at all. ''I remember Barty, from before he went to Azkaban. He didn't seem so crazy back then. He was quite clever—a Ravenclaw. But I think trauma wrecked him. If I think back to the times from last summer where he planned with Voldemort, he was clearly dangerous. In a way that I feel bad that he went to Hogwarts to impersonate a teacher. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.'' Tom takes another sip from his wine before he stands.
''If you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room.'' He doesn't look at Harry again before he leaves the room, and for some reason, it feels like Harry has done something wrong. While he didn't even do anything.
Nagini slithers after him without a care in the world, clearly not picking up on the tension in her Master's shoulders, too happy to be with him at all.
Harry waits until he hears the door to Tom's room close before looking at Sirius and Remus. They are whispering to each other. Their heads bent together. When they notice they have Harry's attention again, they scrape their throats, and Harry sighs at the pained expressions on their faces.
''I didn't want him dead,'' Harry says, plain and simple. He didn't. He actually wanted to capture the man and deliver him to the Auror's. That's why he used the imperious curse on him so he would stop taking his potion that night—knowing that Fudge would lose his head over it. And probably give him the Dementor's kiss. He doesn't know which scenario would've been better.
''Harry,'' Remus sighs. ''We don't really care that that man is dead. He did some pretty awful things. And since you told us what your plans were, it was clear that we were going to war. Hopefully, it will be less bloody than the last one, but we just hoped to leave you out of some of the more gruesome things that come with war.'' Harry sees how Sirius is gripping Remus's hand.
And he understands, Salazar, does he. If he could leave them out of it, he would do it too. You will always try to protect the ones you love.
''But, I'm in the middle of this war. I have been since birth. There is nothing you can keep from me.'' Harry says to them, and they both nod solemnly.
Harry looks back to the way Tom went. And something in him tells him to go after Tom and apologize, but for what he doesn't know.
Maybe expecting the worst and not knowing how to deal with the best.
''It's late, Harry,'' Sirius says with a sympathetic smile. As if he was reading Harry's mind.
''Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a new day.''
Harry nods and tells them goodnight before making his way to his own room. Nothing has really changed, and he's glad for it. He falls onto his bed after getting into his sleeping clothes and stares at the ceiling, painfully aware of Tom's bedroom just on the other side of the hall.
Tom's POV;
Tom stands in the middle of his room, lost for a moment in thought. He doesn't really know what he's feeling, but he thinks it's remorse. Voldemort planned to do awful things to Harry, Voldemort planned with Barty to infiltrate Hogwarts, a death eater that has been with students, children, and Voldemort thought it was fine.
Tom knows he isn't Voldemort. He goddam knows it! But still, a part of him was .
He puts Nagini on the bed, she is looking worried at him, but he ignores her, wanting to get into a shower, get warm, and scrub away the feeling of being a monster.
He puts his clothes on the chair next to his bed, folded. He hates it if something is messy, especially if it's his room. He then walks into the ensuite and lets the warm water cascade over his body, feeling the tension drain out of him. He thinks back to this afternoon when Harry came off the Hogwarts express and seemed genuinely surprised to see him.
He had hoped that they could make progress, but Tom knows that he still needs to do a lot before Harry begins to trust him.
Tom punches the wall, feeling frustrated, he had hoped that it would be easier, but as soon as he saw Harry, he knew everything would be difficult.
Why did his eyes have to be that intense green? It isn't freaking fair.
He shuts off the shower and grabs a towel, roughly drying his hair, before drying his body and putting the towel around his waist.
He walks back into his bedroom and freezes when he sees Harry standing there in a faded t-shirt from some band Sirius is a fan of. Harry probably uses it now as a sleeping shirt now he's living in the mansion again. He's also wearing pants with snitches on them, and Tom wants to snort at the ridiculous outfit, but then he catches Harry's eyes. Well, not exactly.
It seems like Harry is a little distracted by Tom's chest. Then suddenly, Tom remembers that he's standing in only a towel with his hair all mussed from the shower. Oh, dear Salazar.
''Can I help you?'' It comes out more snidely than he intended, but he thinks he has a right to be snidely a little. The other boy is standing in his room without knocking!
Potter seems to snap out of his daze and holds up his hands in surrender. How many times would have his other self hoped for this moment? A surrendering Harry Potter.
''I'm sorry! I thought you replied when I knocked, but apparently, it was Nagini, who seems to think this is funny!'' Harry replies quickly before glaring at the sniggering snake on the bed.
'' Master should've seen his face! '' Nagini hisses while sounding like a leaking tire.
Tom shakes his head. Nagini clearly has been living with Harry for the last couple of weeks. This level of mischievousness was never a problem before. But- maybe she was too afraid to act like this with Voldemort.
'' You're a pain in the ass. '' Harry hisses back at the still laughing snake, making Tom chuckle.
''It's okay, Harry, but I don't think you came to apologize for barging into my room before you barged into my room. So-?'' He waves his hand at Harry, trying not to feel embarrassed by the fact that he's still practically naked. Especially because while he's naked, Harry is there with him!
Bad thoughts invade his brain immediately, and he tries to shut them down forcefully.
Lady Magic explained that he would be more a twenty-year-old boy/man now, more than he even was when he really was twenty, because back then, he only wanted one thing, and that was more power.
He knows now that how he went for it was completely wrong. With Harry's help now, he could truly become powerful, the rightful Dark Lord everybody needs to balance out the Magical world.
Back then, he never did anything about his carnal desires. Maybe that was one of the reasons he was so frustrated back then, but he knows it was more because homosexuality was not something that was normal back then. Hell, people were killed for it back then, sent to camps. He never truly could get aroused by the female gender, so he mostly never did anything with it. Sure he had sex, but it was never personal and mostly just to relieve some stress, but at some point, that didn't work anymore, so he stopped.
Lady Magic explained that everything he might feel or desire was completely normal. He had admitted to feeling like a freak back then, wanting men but never acting on it because it was not done.
But to think about Harry in that way is something he really shouldn't do.
He has turned Harry's life into one of torture. Maybe it was Voldemort who did all the bad things, but even Voldemort started with Tom. And Tom can't even forgive himself for that. How could he ever expect Harry to do so? Tom is pulled out of his musings by Harry.
''No, you're right. I came to apologize for what I said during dinner. I'm sorry if I upset you.'' Harry tells him, looking everywhere but Tom.
''I wasn't upset. It was just a lot to take in.'' Tom lies smoothly. He will not tell Harry about how he hopes that they can come to trust each other or how he wants Harry by his side, just as friends, of course, when they fight back for Dark Magic.
Harry nods and rubs the back of his head. Tom thinks he does it when he feels nervous. Tom wants to cross his arms, close himself off, but Lady Magic told him how he would never come further if he keeps closing himself off. And he's a little afraid to let go of his towel.
''Uh- okay, great, still wanted to apologize though, I should probably go now, sorry for intruding again. Night!'' Harry blurts out before practically running out of the room.
Tom waves his hand to close the left open door and sinks down on his bed. Nagini slithers up to him and drapes herself over his shoulders.
'' Are you okay, Master? '' She asks, and Tom gives her a little smile.
'' I am. I think it will be fine. He came to apologize, but I'm not even entirely sure if he knows for what. '' Tom muses.
'' He was an ass, second Master can be like that sometimes, but he mostly feels bad about it. Unless the people really deserve it.' '
Tom laughs. '' Why do you call him second Master? '' Tom can't help but ask when he's finished laughing.
Nagini gives him an incredulous look. '' Because he can speak with me. '' As if that's the most obvious answer. And if Tom thinks about it, she has a point.
He falls on the bed with a sigh. Trying to keep the boy with the intense green eyes out of his mind, but for some reason, pants with snitches attached to narrow hips and rock bands across broad shoulders cross his dreams that night.
But he will never tell a soul about that.
Harry's POV;
Harry walked into the Atrium of the Mystery of Magic with an air of self-confidence. He was there to take his first NEWT's. Unfortunately, he can't take everything in one day. That would be mental torture, according to Remus, Sirius, and Tom. The three of them ganging up on him is something Harry is still getting used to, but he can't say he particularly cares.
He walks up to the registry and registers his wand so he can go to the testing location.
When he reaches the correct corridor, he sees a familiar face and smiles. ''Cedric! Hey!'' He says before giving the other teen a hug and a slap on the back.
''Hi Harry, are you here too for your NEWT's?'' Cedric asks with a smile.
''Yes, I have Runes, Transfiguration, and Alchemy today,'' Harry replies.
''Good luck! I just have Charms and Herbology today.'' Cedric looks like some sort of puppy with the big smile he's wearing, and Harry tries to hide his amusement.
''Good luck to you too,'' Harry says before his name is called to enter one of the rooms. He waves over his shoulder to Cedric and steps in for his first exam.
He feels a little brain dead after taking his exams, but he knows he needs to do one last thing. He walks towards the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
When he gets there, he sees a small red-headed witch sitting behind the front desk. She is reading something very intensely, and Harry is afraid of interrupting her, but he needs to talk to the head of this department.
She doesn't even look up when he sidles up to the desk. Harry scrapes his throat, but the witch only holds up one finger as to say one moment. But after two minutes, Harry doesn't think she even remembers he's standing there.
''I'm sorr-'' He starts but -
''Just a moment.'' She replies briskly, irritating Harry even more.
Harry stands there for another minute before he has enough. He releases his magic, knowing how much power he excludes, and the witch goes round-eyed before finally lifting her head and looking at him. Her eyes dart from his green eyes to his black as night hair before settling on his scar.
Her posture shifts into professional, and other than her words, she doesn't even seem sorry for ignoring him for five minutes.
''Mister Potter-Peverell, I'm sorry for the wait. How can I help you?'' She says while batting her eyelashes a couple of times too much. She even pushes her shoulders back, so her breasts are more prominent, and Harry does his best to suppress an eye roll.
''Hello, I want to speak with Madam Bones, so could you please let her know?'' He says in his most pleasant voice, the woman in front of him melts a little by it, but Harry doesn't really care.
Then she looks a little pained. ''I'm sorry, but I can't just let you through without an appointment. Madam Bones is a very busy woman.''
''Please just let her know that I'm here for her and that it's very important. I know for a fact that she wants this handled as soon as possible.'' He gives her his most disarming smirk, and the woman seems torn before penning on a piece of paper. She then taps her wand on the paper, and it folds into an origami bird and flies away.
''Do you want to wait here?'' She asks, and Harry shrugs. He's fine with waiting here. He doesn't even know what he should do otherwise. She then asks if he wants something to drink, and he agrees. She quickly gets some tea, and while Harry is sipping his tea, she starts to flirt with him.
Harry can be oblivious, but the flirting is obvious. He doesn't really care about it. It's not that the witch isn't attractive. It's that his mind is elsewhere. He still reacts to every question pleasantly, but he doesn't flirt back with the witch.
After talking for about twenty minutes, the office in the back opens, and a square-jawed witch with blonde hair and a monocle walks out—an air of confidence around her.
Harry straightens, knowing that this is Madam Bones.
''Mister Potter-Peverell, what a surprise, well met.'' She says as soon as she is within touching distance. She holds out her hand for Harry to take, and Harry shakes her steady and firm hand.
''Madam Bones, I presume. Well met.'' He responds before turning her hand and kissing her above her knuckles. He hears the witch behind the desk sigh but ignores her, afraid that he will blush because of her.
''What can I do for you today?'' She says, instantly getting to business. Harry smirks.
''Maybe it's better to talk about this in your office.''
She narrows her eyes at him and seems skeptical. ''Why? I can't imagine why that would be necessary.'' Madam Bones asks, and Harry smirks even broader, he wanted to do this as public as possible, and it seems like he's getting his wish.
''Well, if you insist.'' He tells her before drawing a miniature trunk from the inside of his robes. He gestures for Madam Bones to tap the trunk to enlarge it so he won't have to draw his wand.
She raises an eyebrow in question but does as told.
''Do you mind if I unlock it, Madam Bones?'' Harry is talking a little louder now, knowing he has spectators. A lot of curious heads are poking out of different places.
''Go ahead.'' She sounds a little dubious, but Harry just smiles and waves his hand as a display of power before the trunk opens.
A rat is squeaking inside, and Madam Bones looks disgusted, and the receptionist shrieks.
''What is the meaning of this Potter-Peverell?'' Madam Bones demands, and Harry raises his hands. ''Please let me explain.''
He gets a small nod from Madam Bones, and he starts speaking. ''Fourteen years ago, my parents were betrayed and killed. Everybody thought my godfather Sirius Black was responsible. But he wasn't the secret-keeper.''
Madam Bones is frowning, and the receptionist is gaping. Other Aurors are gathering around them, wanting to see what is happening.
''What are you talking about? He confessed-'' Madam Bones starts, but Harry interrupts her.
''Did he? Did he even receive a trial?'' Harry asks, and Madam Bones frowns.
''I wasn't in office back then, so I don't know, but I assume-''
''You assume? Aren't there records for these things?'' Harry demands, and Madam Bones seems irritated from being interrupted.
''Of course, there are-'' She turns to the gaping receptionist. ''Lydia, please dig up the records for the trial of Sirius Orion Black.''
The receptionist, Lydia, immediately walks to the wall where it seems like there is some kind of vault door. She then draws her wand and murmurs a spell Harry can't hear. It doesn't take long before the door opens and a single file flies into her hands. She closes the door again before turning back to her desk. She then hands the file to Madam Bones, who takes it with a frown. She immediately opens up the file, and her face goes white as a sheet.
Madam Bones closes the file again.
''He-he hasn't gotten a trial.'' She says gasps sound all around the Aurors, and Lydia joins them.
''Who cares! He betrayed them! He was a Death Eater!'' Someone in the back yells, making Harry scowl.
''He deserved everything he got!'' Another voice yells, but Harry can't pinpoint the men the voices came from.
''No, he didn't. Because like I just said, Sirius wasn't the secret-keeper.'' Harry then pulls out an envelope from his robe and hands it to Madam Bones.
''This is a letter from my mother to me for when I became of age. Because of my stint in Death's realm, I am of age earlier than expected and only just received the letter from Gringotts.''
That isn't entirely true, but Harry thinks this lie is necessary. It is a letter from Lily Poter, true, and it describes the secret-keeper, but Harry had it from the moment he turned seventeen in Death's realm because Death thought he would like it.
''What's in the letter?'' Madam Bones asks before opening the letter, she holds it gingerly, and Harry is glad for it.
''The real identity of the secret-keeper,'' Harry says, and Madam Bones quickly reads through the letter. She gasps when she finally gets to the name.
''This isn't possible! He died because Black killed him!'' She says with wide eyes.
Harry shakes his head.
''Sirius didn't kill him, tell me Madam Bones, what did they find of Peter Pettigrew?''
''A finger, only his finger, everybody assumed because the explosion started with him.'' She replies instantly.
Harry nods. ''But isn't it curious that twelve muggles also died but are all whole, nobody missing anything from the blast, while nothing was left from Peter?'' Harry says with narrowed eyes, hoping that Madam Bones will work with him and believing that he's telling the truth.
Amelia Bones frowns, and Harry sees the wheels turning in her head.
''That is curious.'' She finally replies, and Harry sighs in relief.
''And could you tell me, Madam Bones, if this rat is missing a toe on his right paw?''
Madam Bones' sharp eyes find Harry's, and he indicates his head to the still squeaking rat. He hears voices of denial behind him, but he ignores them.
Madam Bones peaks into the trunk, and her eyes grow wide again when she sees that the rat is indeed missing a toe on the right paw. The rat starts squeaking even more, but Harry doesn't mind. It's almost at an end.
''You're telling me that this rat is Peter Pettigrew?'' Madam Bones demands, and Harry nods.
''Yes. He is an illegal animagus, just like my dad was, and Sirius Black is.'' Harry replied while carefully looking at how Bones would react.
Madam Bones turns sharply to Harry again. ''Sirius Black is an animagus? Is that the reason we still haven't found him, and you talk about him as if you know him, are you hiding an escaped convict Harry James Potter-Peverell?'' She asked sternly.
''Are you really focusing on that fact, or are you going to see for yourself that Peter Pettigrew is, in fact, alive-'' Harry asks, irritated. He understands why she asks, but really?!
Madam Bones seems to struggle with herself for a moment before nodding. She calls two Aurors to stand guard on both sides of the trunk.
''Wands ready!'' Madam Bones exclaims, and Harry takes a step back. Lydia, the receptionist, sidles up next to him, and Harry leans to the other way when she tries to get closer to him.
The Aurors take a fighting stance, and then Madam Bones casts the spell to reveal the person out of their Animagus form. The instant she utters the spell, the rat deforms and squeaks in pain until a panting and frightened Peter Pettigrew is in their midst.
For a moment, everybody freezes, then chaos erupts.
Madam Bones and the two Aurors who stood guard immediately conjure ropes to bind Pettigrew. He resembles more a mummy than a wizard after just a minute. And Harry holds in his snort.
Lydia jumped a foot in the air before wrapping almost her whole body around Harry's right arm. He is afraid that the circulation is cut off for a moment, but he only rolls her eyes. If she feels safer with him, it's okay, but when she starts rubbing his bicep, he slowly tries to pull his arm away.
Madam Bones is reading Peter his rights, and the man is only gaping at her. Harry knows for sure that it's only good that they fixed his memory, so he won't remember anything about Tom.
Then she asks for a trial immediately, the other Aurors and, thank Godric, Lydia, go to work, calling the whole Wizengamot for the trial, and Harry tries to hide his glee.
Just when Madam Bones is ready to march to the trial, Harry interrupts her. It was clear she had forgotten him in the mess.
''Madam Bones, I know I'm not an official member of the Wizengamot just yet-'' He will be later this summer, but not just yet. ''-but he betrayed my parents. Is-is it possible to come with you?'' Harry puts on his biggest eyes, hoping that the stern woman will let him. She seems to scrutinize him before nodding.
''Of course, Lord Potter-Peverell, you have the most right to be there.''
Harry barely holds in a fist pump and only rightens his robes, trying to look serious, before striding after Madam Bones to the trial room.
This is going to be fun!