The Tale of Tom
Chapter Two: A Day at the Orphanage
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The bright light spilling through the window woke a sleepy
Tom. He opened his eyes groggily and suddenly remembered what today was. Today was
the day Miss O'Flan had promised him a surprise. He jumped out of bed and
quickly dressed. He took the Hogwarts letter and stuffed it in his pocket. It
had been a week since Tom had received his letter, but he still carried it with
him, as though it was some unspoken talisman that would protect him from harm.
Tom walked to where breakfast was being served and sat in a seat next to a four
year old boy named Henry.
"Hi, Tom," Henry said in his soft voice.
"Hello, Henry. Sleep well?"
The younger boy nodded, and they both returned to their breakfast. Henry
finished quickly, leaving his bowl at the table with Tom. Tom sighed and went to
wash it out. He often took care of the younger kids for Miss O'Flan but he
didn't like feeling he was supposed to.
"Tom?"
"Yes, Miss O'Flan?" Tom called over the running water.
"Can you watch the kids for a bit? I have to go do something."
"Alright, Miss O'Flannery," Tom said, trying to keep the bitterness
out of his voice. Somehow he didn't feel it was fair to him, but he had long
ago stopped complaining about things not being fair. The world was not a fair
place, a lesson oft repeated.
Tom took a deep breath and tried to be optimistic. After all, he did like
watching the babies. They were very cute.
"Hi, Tom!" Rose bounded up to him, her strawberry blonde hair shining
in the sunlight. "Can I help?"
"Sure, Rose," Tom said smiling. "I'm just going to warm up the bottle,
and then you can feed William."
Rose seemed too absorbed playing peek-a-boo with William to hear. Tom smiled at
the sight and grabbed a bottle. He held it over the stove, using tongs, until
it seemed the right amount of time had passed.
Tom walked back to the nursery and saw Rose in a chair holding the baby. He
cringed and ran forward. "No, no Rose. You have to be sure to support his
neck," Tom said, moving her hands.
"Oops," Rose said, dismissing it easily, an act that slightly annoyed
Tom.
Tom handed her the bottle and stood thinking of what to do, when he heard the
start of a cry. He rushed over to the cradle of the unhappy baby and scooped
her up. "Hush, hush," Tom whispered into her ear as he hoisted her up
onto his chest. "Come on," Tom said quietly, walking around the room.
The baby became quiet and Tom heard the door open. He suspected it was Miss
O'Flan as people rarely came without appointments.
"Tom?" Sure enough, he was right.
Tom set the little baby back down in her cradle and took the empty bottle left
from the feeding. "In a minute," he responded washing and drying the
bottle. He tucked it in a cabinet under the sink and proceeded to walk to the
entry room where he couldn't believe his eyes.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Tom Riddle or anything of the like.
