Author's Note: There's a part of this story, at the end of this chapter, that I'm leaving out for now. This is just to get the rest of it put online here. I'll still come back and finish it and put that part back up here. Please excuse me for this delay. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this story. E-mail me if you have any questions. And REVIEW.
The entire family were all so happy to have Ginny back home, back at the Burrow. Each of her brothers had given her a hug and told her they loved her. Bill, the eldest, summed it up best: "Ginny, we all love you without question. You're the light of our family, being the only sister. We'd do anything for you. Ginny, your fears are our fears – we're here to help you."
"Thanks, Bill." Ginny whispered. She looked up at everyone there, almost everyone, that is. "I've kept everything inside me for so long. I've had my own set of fears that I'd long ago thought I'd laid to rest." As Ginny said this, she looked over at Tom who'd not said a word. Everyone saw Ginny take a furtive glance in Tom's direction, but owing to Lily being there, no one said anything. "But times have changed, and I guess I have to also." Ginny looked over at Tom, who was standing next to Lily. Oddly enough, Tom felt better here because he knew she wouldn't hurt him, the others, well, he was not quite comfortable.
"Tom, you're here to help Lily?" Ginny asked quietly.
Tom looked up at Ginny, hesitantly. He started to speak but instead looked at Lily as if asking for permission to speak. The look on his face showed fear, fear of making a mistake. Tom could not afford to make ANY mistakes.
"It's ok to answer her, Tom. Anytime anyone asks you a question, you may answer to the best of your ability. Don't be afraid." Lily had her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, I am. I'm here to serve her in whatever capacity she wants me in." Tom spoke up, but very softly. He glanced up briefly, then looked back down again.
"You seem whole again, like you're all here." Harry asked. He was referring to the Horcruxes that he'd destroyed.
"Yes, I am. I'm like I was when I was in school, before all this started with me. I can't even speak Parseltongue anymore, that was taken away from me. A lot was taken from me, but I don't miss it, any of it."
"How do you feel, Tom?" Molly asked.
Tom looked up at her, his eyes glistening over. His hand started to raise up, palm up, as if he was reaching outwards for something. All Ginny's brothers started for their wands out of pure reflex, but Tom spoke up: I've never had a family. I don't know how to feel, or what to say. I can feel some good from you, mostly from Lily and James, and you, Molly, I never knew what it felt like to really be loved and accepted with no fear involved."
"Tom, that's how we all are in our family. We love each other. We help each other. Don't try to make it complicated." Molly tried to ease some of his fears.
"While I'm here, if I can help you in any way, just ask. I was suppose to say that while I'm here."
"Lily, when you're at Hogwarts, what will Tom be doing? Will he be with you there or will he be staying here?" Bill asked.
"He'll be with me the entire time. His magic is severely limited to not hurting people. So what that means is he can't cast any of the unforgivables nor any transfigurations towards anyone. That includes curses, hexes, and the like."
"Does he have a wand?" Fred asked.
"No, not yet. In fact," Lily looked at James as she said this to confirm her thoughts, "Mr. Ollivander has a wand that's been set aside just for Tom."
It was Arthur who asked next: "Who set it aside? And when?"
"Don't worry any. When I was pregnant, James and I went to see Mr. Ollivander and it was then that Mr. Ollivander showed me some of his wands that he was constructing. One of them didn't have a Magical Core, so, with his permission, I put into it some of Fathers Protection that He's bestowed on me. The wand will know Tom as soon as Tom goes into his Shop and it'll go to Tom."
"You mean you're giving HIM a WAND! After all he's done?" Arthur was looking much like Harry's uncle Vernon used to, but with fear in his voice.
"Please, you don't understand. The wand can't hurt anyone. It has some of Father's Grace and protection in it, it's just a little of what I have. He can't hurt anyone."
"You're sure about this, Lily? I mean, well, look at what the potential is that you're letting loose here. I mean just look at what's happened in the past. If he can cast charms with your Grace, won't he be more than we can handle?" Arthur was getting very nervous.
"It doesn't work that way. It can only be used for good. Evil, has no effect on it. Remember what I said, that he'd be punished immediately if he EVER hurt anyone, for any reason. I explained all this to Ginny while we were gone. We'd found her at Hogwarts, in the Gryffindor Common Room."
Lily walked over to Molly and held her hand. "Molly, all will be ok. Just teach him how to love by example. That's all you have to do. As long as you're doing that, you'll be protected just as if I were right beside you, even though some of the time I won't be, you'll always be protected. You're doing Father's work so, you'll be ok."
"I'm still a little afraid, but I'll do what you ask." Molly was biting on her lower lip as she said this, her eyes looking from Lily to Tom. Molly looked back at Lily again, "It'll take some time, so please, be a little patient with me."
"I will Molly, I will." Lily smiled and hugged Molly.
Arthur remained silent for a long time after he had last spoke. Being the Minister of Magic he had many responsibilities and this 'opportunity' that Lily was fostering upon his family was certainly pushing things to the limit. 'If any of this EVER got out . . . ,' Arthur thought as he was walking towards the windows and looking outside to think his thoughts.
He felt a hand on his arm, and it wasn't Molly. He knew her touch. It was Lily.
"What's wrong, Arthur? Please, talk with me. I really need all of you now. This is one of the reasons you all are here."
Arthur turned around and looked at Lily, sighing a great deal. He looked at Lily and silently shook his head, his eyes were looking deeply into Lily's.
'Just so much like her son's eyes, she's certainly marked Harry as her own, that's for sure.' Arthur shook his head to clear that thought and spoke up to Lily in response to what she asked him. "Lily, what do I do, as Minister, that is? What do I tell people? I just can't say 'Oh, remember Voldemort? Well, he's come back and he's living with my family back at the Burrow and Lily is protecting him. She's got some plan for him and she's trying to teach him how to love.' Lily, I just can't say that! Our entire world would be in pandemonium. I'd be thrown in Azkaban and every Auror, including the retired ones would be out here with one thing on their mind: to Kill Tom. Period."
Arthur just looked away for a while and walked away. He stopped by the windows and just looked outside a bit before he went out. He needed to think. 'Lily's trying to do the right thing, but she's so far ahead of me and everyone else I just don't know how to keep up.' He just sat down outside under one of the trees and bowed his head in his hands and stayed that way for a long time. He didn't want to say no to Lily, but he was being placed in a difficult situation. Something had to give.
Lily walked to the window and just looked out at Arthur. She crossed her arms, extending her mind towards Arthur and felt his feelings, lightly. She needed to know just how he felt and to what extent his fears were leading his down his current path of thoughts and actions.
For the first time she was really worried about what she'd attempted. This is something that just had to be done. Not just for Tom's sake, but for the benefit of the rest of the Magical World. They all needed to learn to Trust her, and this was their first big lesson in Trust.
Lily extended her mind into Arthur's'. She plumbed the depth's of his mind going down to see where his worry lay and she'd found it: The people's strong negative reaction, even after so many centuries, it still lay there, like a dormant disease waiting to rise up again.
Lily turned back to the rest of the family and walked over to Tom. Placing her hands on his shoulders as she spoke to him. "Tom, I want you to stay here. Maybe Molly can make you a cup of tea and you can sit at the kitchen table. Here, sit here, this is the spot I sit when I eat here." She looked at Molly and gave her a pleading look of help. Molly picked up on it. After all, that's what she was good at.
"Here, Tom, I'll make us a pot of tea and I'll sit with you until Lily returns. You'll be alright." Molly set about in the kitchen to brew a pot of tea while Lily walked outside to talk with Arthur. Molly was worried about her husband and his responsibilities.
Molly set the pot on the table and sat down with Tom, pouring them both a cup of tea and letting him get used to having her close to him. He kept his hands on the cup, warming his hands around the steaming cup and sipping it a little.
Molly noticed his hesitation, his nervousness so she reached out and held his hands in hers. They weren't here to drink tea. That was just a vehicle to get him to relax, something to be familiar with so she could be with him. She wanted to show him how to be with people and actually CARE about them.
Tom looked up at Molly and looked at her. He was so scared of what the events were playing out to be so far. "Maybe I shouldn't have come, even though it wasn't my idea."
"Tom, don't say that. You've changed a lot. Lily can see that, and so can I. Even Ginny has started to come around. Don't worry, The twins will come about next."
"This isn't working out too well. I can see it. This was my last hope." Tom placed his head down on the table on his folded arms. His body shaking.
Molly looked at him. She was startled at just how vulnerable he really was. Molly just reached over and hugged him, putting her arms around him.
"All of us will be your teachers for the time that you're here, Tom. You can watch us, our example, and learn from that. Also, at some point you'll have the chance to be with each of us. Of course, with the twins, you'll be with the both of them. They're always together, that's just how they are. They're rather unique. But, they're fun to be with. Maybe you can help them with their joke shop, give them some ideas, harmless ideas. That's all they do. They do provide a lot of laughs."
Tom stopped shaking some with Molly rubbing his shoulders and back some. Molly noticed it. "Drink some of your tea before it cools too much, Tom, dear. It's ok, it's just tea."
Meanwhile, outside, Lily approached Arthur, very timidly, and sat down beside him.
"Arthur?" She placed her hand gently, softly on his arm.
He slowly raised his head and looked at Lily. He trusted her very much, but this was something that terrified him in it's potential for possible harm. But his memories of the war and all the families who'd been lost were still fresh in his mind. Time had not softened that part yet.
"Lily, I've been faced with so much pain and lost and suffering and just plain fear of what he'd caused. It's just so hard for me to let go of all this just because you say so. My faith is very small when it comes to understanding what you're doing. I'll help you, Lily. But it won't be easy on me."
"Arthur, I'll keep Tom with me at all times while he's here. When I go back to school each day, he will go with me and stay with me throughout the day. I'll make sure he will never be alone."
Arthur turned to look at Lily when she mentioned school.
"No one outside this family knows who he is. No One, Arthur, and it'll stay that way. When Harry and I went with Tom to locate Ginny, we were in the Gryffindor Common Room. Tom stood beside the door out of sight of Ginny while I talked with her. Everyone there saw him but didn't recognize him. They knew he was with me, but that's all. Everyone knows I befriend students at times, and even take some in to stay with me. That's pretty much common knowledge throughout the many generations of students I've taught here."
Lily looked at Arthur directly into his eyes and held his look. "It'll be ok, trust me on this. No one recognizes him. There are no pictures of Tom from when he was a student here. Everyone who'd ever had any contact with him then is gone now. We're the only exception. And we all know why he's back here: For him to be shown love and how it works. Arthur, we've been given a magnificent opportunity here, and it'll pay huge dividends in the future."
"Ok, Lily, I'll go along with this, but only because of who you are. That's the only reason. But just to let you know the risks I'm taking, if anything about who he is gets out, all of us will be in Azkaban for life. Including you."
"I know the risks, Arthur. They've all been outlined to me a long time ago. Arthur, just to belay your fears none of us will be going to Azkaban. Father has already anticipated that and provided for us all if it gets that far. Father will be looking out for our welfare." Lily smiled at her Father in Law whom she's known for so long.
Arthur just sat there looking at Lily, looking into her Emerald Green Eyes, and for the first time since he's known her, he just now saw truth and everything else that she has been trying to teach. "I'll trust you Lily, there's just something in your eyes that tells me to." Arthur looked away for a while and just shook his head in wonderment and awe over this seemingly incongruous statement. 'Were things moving too fast for him to perceive?' Arthur just looked out and away for a moment.
"Thanks, anyway, Arthur. I won't let you down. And to show you where you're putting your faith, I've got some good news for you, and JUST for you. Sometime, in the future, something will happen, something important, and Tom here will be a great blessing to you. You'll be very glad that he was allowed to stay."
"Lily, I've never doubted your word but what you just said, let me just say that I'll reserve judgment when that time comes."
"I'll settle for that, considering the circumstances." Lily smiled at Arthur. She got up and bent down and kissed Arthur on his forehead. He blushed like a teenager at that. "Thanks, Lily. You've been good to me and my family."
"Lets go back inside, Arthur, our family is waiting for us."
Lily and Arthur went back inside the house, Molly had been talking to Tom and things seemed sort of quiet. Now that Lily was back in the kitchen area, Ginny casually walked in and went through the motions of preparing a cup of hot tea for herself. Lily noticed her here, due to Ginny's not really wanting to be too close to Tom. Lily decided to ask a few questions and see where it'd lead her.
"How do you feel now, Ginny?" Lily asked.
Ginny was silent for a moment or two, continued stirring her tea. "Much calmer, I think. My past memories are what I have to go on. I hear what you've said, but this new situation will take me some time to get used to." Ginny put her cup down and looked at Lily, right at her: "Lily, I'm trying real hard to be as nice and calm as I can. You're the only reason, your presence here, is what makes things easier for me. I know you, Lily, you've proven yourself to me many times." What Ginny left unsaid was Tom has not proven himself and she was still very much scared of him.
"Ginny, I want to tell you something. It goes for you as well as the entire family. I want you to trust me on this, have a little bit of faith. I tell you this because there will come a time when all you'll have to protect yourselves with will be your choices and your faith in Father. You and the rest of us have this small bit of courage and faith you'll be ok. Father is using Tom here, as an example. Someone for us to focus our faith on. Already, he's done us much good. Most of you have already seen how different he really is."
Ginny looked at Lily, long and hard. So too did Molly and Arthur and the rest of the family. But the one who did not look at her, he was the most afraid of all, and that was Tom.
"Molly, can Tom have Ron's old room? He will be across the hall from James and myself."
"Yes, of course. Let me go get it ready, sheets and all." Molly got up and went to prepare the room for their most unusual and unexpected guest. After all, Molly was still a good host.
The next morning, they'd all eaten breakfast and went their various ways. Arthur to work at the Ministry, Bill at Hogwarts to keep the Dragons, Charlie at Gringotts as a Curse Breaker, The twins to their store in Diagon Alley, and Percy to the Ministry. Lily stayed behind for a short while so she could floo the school to let them know she'd be a little late. No explanations were given.
"Well, Tom, today I'd like to take you to Diagon Alley and get you some more clothes and other items. You ready to go?"
Tom looked at Lily rather nervously. "I don't have any galleons to purchase any of these. I feel like a charity case on you, Lily." Tom cast his eyes down, ashamed to look up at her.
Lily walked over to Tom, holding his face gently in her hands. "Tom, you're not a charity case. Look at me, please. Father has asked us, Molly in particular, to help you. You are giving all of us an incredible opportunity to increase our faith in Father's Plan. In you own way, you're actually helping us. As far as being a charity case, we'd never think of letting you go without. That'd not be charitable of us."
Tom stood there, very quiet for a long while. "ok, I understand what you're saying. But, it's difficult for me. If you understand."
"Then come with me, time to go. Nothing will happen to you, you'll be with me." Lily held out her hand to Tom while going to the fireplace to floo out. "There is one thing I ask of you and that's not to tell anyone, no matter who asks you, who you are or what your background is. Just say that your name is Tom. This is for your protection, and ours, too. People still have long memories and I don't want to provoke them unnecessarily."
Tom nodded his head, "I understand and do as you ask."
"Thanks, Tom." Lily smiled at him. It was perhaps the first time he'd ever had such a warm word, other than the hug from Molly which was the first time anyone had ever hugged him in his memory.
As the two were flooing out to go to Diagon Alley, Tom thought that this was a very nice family. They were truthful with him about their fears and at least some were wanting to help him. He appreciate that.
The first place Lily took him was to Madam Maulkins Robes where he was fitted with all the standard Wizard's clothing. Lily saw to it that he got all the latest fashions. She remembered how Ron felt, and Ginny, too, when they had to wear hand me downs. It did the job but sometimes, others can be hurtful when they see just how little you truly have. James still has a little problem with those awkward feelings of inadequacy over not having enough or being able to 'measure up'. She didn't want Tom to face those problems with all the other problems he has.
"Well, Tom, you look fine in you new outfit." Lily smiled at him. They got the rest of their purchases including extra clothes of everything Tom needed to wear. Lily never hesitated at getting him what he wanted.
Leaving the Shop, she told Tom there was one more stop that was necessary. She approached Ollivanders' and just as she got to the door Tom hesitated at going in.
"Tom, what's wrong?"
"This is Ollivanders'. They only sell wands. I . . . .I . . . .I'm afraid, Lily. I don't want to ." Tom was visibly afraid.
Lily faced him. "It's alright, Tom. You're allowed to have a wand, but not just any wand. Long ago, James and I set a wand aside just for you. I imbued it with some of my protection. It won't hurt anyone nor can it be used in any Dark way. You won't be committing any offense by having this wand. Trust me, Tom. I'll never lie to you. That'd go against my nature."
Tom looked at Lily, shaking some, and trying to hide it.
"Ok, I've trusted everyone so far.. . ."
He walked inside, slowly.
Once inside Mr. Ollivander welcomed Lily. "Hello, Lily. Nice to have you here in my shop. How may I help you?"
He looked at the young man who stood beside her, a puzzle passing across his face. He looked at Tom as if something in the back of his mind had been disturbed. But, that'd be for later.
"I've brought one of my young charges with me. His name is Tom and he will need a wand, but not just any wand. Remember long ago I came in here and had a wand set aside?"
Mr. Ollivander nodded his head. That instance had triggered his memory working again. "Yes, I do seem to remember that wand. It had no magical core, but you did something to it and had me set it aside; You said it would recognize it's owner when he came within it's presence. Let me go get it."
He came back a moment later with a long slender box and opened it.
Tom looked at Lily, unsure still and put the wand back on the counter.
"I can't."
Mr. Ollivander looked at the young man and thought him very strange for not wanting a wand.
"Is there anything wrong with the wand? It does seem suited to you."
"It's not the wand, Mr. Ollivander," Lily replied for Tom. "He's just afraid."
She looked at Tom, "I set this wand aside for you many years ago, Tom. You'll be needing it. Please, don't worry, you'll not be able to hurt anyone with it. It's core is not like any other wand, it has some of my protection in it."
"I remember what it was like before I came here, I don't want to make any mistakes and this could be too much for me to handle." Tom told Lily how he truly felt.
Lily stopped and thought a moment. She didn't want to push him into making a decision or doing something he was afraid of. "Suppose I pay for it now and just leave it here. When you feel ready to use it you may come get it." Looking up at Mr. Ollivander Lily was asking an implied permission.
"Of course, Lily. I'll have his wand set aside for him. It'll be here like it has in the past." Mr. Ollivander replied.
"Thank you, Lily." Was all Tom said. He looked sad and fearful.
As they left, Mr. Ollivander looked at them. Something in the back of his mind was trying to click over, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
"Lets go to Hogsmead Village and get a Butterbeer." Lily suggested.
She apparated them both in front of The Three Broomsticks pub.
"Come on in. You're with me, Tom. It'll be alright." Lily offered him her hand and she lead him in, found a table and sat down.
After ordering a Butterbeer for the both of them, Lily began to talk some. She wanted him to open up and be more forthcoming with his feelings – and fears.
"Well, what do you think of your success?" Lily asked, starting the conversation.
Tom looked up at her, perplexed. "I've not done anything to be successful with."
"Good Butterbeer, isn't it?" Lily asked.
Lily sat her stein back on the table. "Sure you have. First you didn't do anything to provoke the family's fears."
"What? Didn't you see . . . , - what about how they reacted to me?"
"That was all based on their memories of your past, not who you are today. There is a distinct difference."
"What's that?"
"You're different now, you're not who you were then. If father wants to give you a 2nd chance, the rest of us should also. It's that simple. That's how forgiveness works."
"what if they don't? What'll happen to me then?" Tom asked getting more nervous by the moment by the way this conversation was going.
"They'll come around, but it will take time. Meanwhile, stay with me, you'll be ok."
Tom looked at her.
"Trust me, Tom, please." Lily said, patting his hand.
"It's easy for you to say that but you're not me. I'm the one who is on the line."
"True, but I have a job to do here, too. We're both being helped. I was also given a 2nd chance, James was too. Just like you are." Lily added.
"But, you're . . ."
"We're all the same, Tom. It's what you do with what you're given . . . ," and Lily looked at Tom directly as she finished her statement. " . . . no matter how much or how little."
"Tom, you've been put into my care for a number of reasons, the foremost is to learn to love, to recognize it and try to give it to others, regardless of what you receive in return."
"You'll help me then?"
"Of course. Now, back to what you've done. The good: Secondly, you showed me compassion and care when I thought they wanted you gone. You were willing to die and not for me to be hurt nor have it held against them."
"Tom, very few magical folks here, muggles included, have demonstrated that capacity of compassion."
They both remained quiet for a while. Tom was thinking on it.
Lily could tell she was getting through to him by the length of time it took him to ask questions.
Lily looked at Tom, "You showed me the best part of what it means to love another – the Sacrifice of your own self. As far as love and self are concerned, that level of love is the epitome."
"Oh, and I must not forget – you helped us find Ginny."
Lily drank some fore of her Butterbeer while Tom remained silent, in his own thoughts.
"What do I do now, Lily?"
"You work with me, and in due time, I'll put you with some of the members of my family, those who would be comfortable with you. It'd only be for a few hours, at first."
"But, for now, lets go to school and I'll show you around." Lily got up and paid the tab. They both left, walking back up the road to Hogwarts."
Classes were still in session, students everywhere, some in class, others in the halls. Everywhere they went, Lily was acknowledged and greeted, some took note of the frail looking young man who accompanied her everywhere she went.
Lunch time was upon them when Lily took Tom to the Great Hall.
"Here, Tom, Sit here at the Gryffindor Table here on the end. This way, you'll be out of the way of most students and least likely to be asked too many questions that you may be uncomfortable in answering."
During the meal, Lily noticed Hagrid looking at Tom.
'I need to talk with him now.' Lily thought to herself.
She leaned over to Hagrid, "Would you care to walk with me after lunch, please? There's something very important I need to talk with you about. I'll need your help on this." Lily put her hand on his arm.
"Of course, Lily." Hagrid answered.
Lily smiled and 'beamed' a little. She liked Hagrid because, well, to put it as simply as possible, he was like a 'grown up little boy in his awe and wonder' of everything around him. He was not complicated.
Lily and Hagrid left the Great Hall together. She had Dobby take Tom back to her offices where he'd be safe. "Tom, I need to talk with Hagrid for a while; Please stay here, read all the books you'd care to. If any of the paintings of the previous headmasters care to talk with you, feel free to talk with them, especially with Headmaster Dumbledore. I do believe he has a few more 'insights' that would help you. He's helped me a lot in the past, so, please, trust him. I'll return."
Walking out on the front lawn, Lily began her 'trials' of swaying Hagrid.
"How do you feel?" Lily began.
"Oh, well, alright, I guess. This talk isn't about me health, isn't it?"
Lily looked at him, "No, it isn't."
"But, to put your mind at ease, you've done nothing wrong and you're not in trouble. It's just the other way around: I'm the one coming to you for help. This is one of those reasons why I've asked Father to permit you to tarry with me. You can help me a lot and learn a lot."
Lily bit her lip a little, trying to figure out where to start. "Do you remember the night you took my son from our home in Godric's Hollow and took him to my sister's home?"
"Ay, I do, Lily. It was one of the saddest times in me life." Hagrid answered her truthfully.
"I was there, in Spirit form, along with James; we were watching over my infant son. Hagrid, I just can't adequately express to you how helpless I felt then. But, I want to tell you how much I appreciate you taking care of Harry then, if only for that short time."
Hagrid looked at lily, and remained silent. He felt good at hearing what she said. It wasn't often he received a real compliment.
"During that evening, before you got there, Professor Dumbledore told Professor McGonnagal, he was speaking of you, he said 'I'd trust Hagrid with my life'.
"Thank ye, Lily, for being so kind to me. You and you're family are the only one's who are."
Lily stopped walking, turned to him and held both of his gigantic hands in her small ones. "I've got something to tell you, something out of our past. Something I'm trying to 'right'. It's a job Father has asked me to do." Lily cast her eyes downward for a moment. She was thinking.
"Do you trust me, Hagrid?" She waited a moment, adding, "I mean REALLY trust me?"
Hagrid paused a moment, "Ye know I do, Lily."
"Ok, let me explain, and whatever you do, don't get mad at me or run off and do whatever. I ask this of you because I went to my family last night and their reaction was so strong, it was so negative that they had their wands pointed at me and, well, let's just say that I had to defend not only myself but one other. Oh, Hagrid, I thought I had failed!" Tears were streaming down Lily's cheeks at this point. "I fell to the ground and asked father to forgive them for their reaction and to take me then for failing Him. Arthur even had the Ministry's Aurors, even the retired ones, come out to the Burrow and surround the place. No one got in or out. They had orders to stop ANYONE who tried, with whatever force they had to to stop anyone from coming or going." That's why I didn't want you there. You could have been hurt, or worst."
Lily remained silent. They've calmed down a lot, but it was because of the tenderness he showed me during my lowest point. Molly saw that and her heart just melted and hugged him. She was the fiercest one of all! Can you believe it? Molly at the forefront of her family, ready with wand pointed and every curse needed poised on the tip of her tongue ready to use them. She would not have hesitated! But it didn't come to that because of the tenderness he showed me, the compassion. Him and Molly get along well now. He's just a frail young man now, none of his former life exists."
Lily looked up at Hagrid.
"Lily, ye really surprise me. Ye and the Weasley's are a matched pair. Ye'd take on anything. Well, it doesn't surprise me none. Is he the lad who sat at the end of Gryffindor table?"
"Yes, he is."
"He looks familiar, but I can't place him."
"You know him Hagrid, you know him."
Hagrid's face paled.
Lily knew, without going into his mind, she knew he knew who the young man was.
"Hagrid, he can't harm anyone now. His abilities are not what they used to be. He's being watched all the time now. Even Ginny is somewhat used to him being here, and she was so scared she even flew out of the Burrow, on a broom and out raced ever Auror and lost them all! He helped us locate her and I talked with her for a long time. She was up in the Gryffindor tower Common room."
"Ye say he can't hurt anyone? Ye sure of that?"
"Yes, Hagrid. Absolutely."
"What's he want?"
"He's been sent back to learn how to love. Amazing, isn't it?"
Hagrid was silent. Perplexed.
"Well, ok, then, I don't know how I can help ye. But, you've got my support in this. I'll keep it a secret. If ye need me to do anything, just ask. I owe ye a lot, Lily."
"Thank you, Hagrid, thank you." Lily pulled him down to her and kissed him on his forehead, causing him to blush.
They walked back to Hagrid's Hut and Lily went back to her office. Tom was still there, having a conversation with the portraits of the Past Headmasters who knew him.
Lily walked in her office and saw Tom talking with the portraits – she liked that part of having the past Head Masters her to help her some. Thoughts were forming in her mind pertaining to how to use Tom while he was here. She had some time but, she knew someof the future and it disturbed her.
"Tom, I've been wanted to use you here at School. To try to tutor some students who need help. What do you think?"
He looked over at her, surprised that such a request would come his way so easily. "I'd like that. But, I don't want to put myself into a situation that could go wrong. This idea of yours has so much potential for that to happen. I don't want to cause any problems for you, Lily."
"Well, at first I'll be right with you. You can help a few students with what you know. Maybe you can show them, demonstrate, some of your technique. Or explain it?"
Lily walked over to Tom, placing her hands in his, "Tom, I really need you. You have all these wonderful abilities. I don't want to waste what you have. You'll have to try on your own soon and I think by helping others would be a great way."
"I did promise that I'd help you in whatever way you needed me to." Tom sighed a little, fear definitely showing on his face. "Will I need the wand you set aside for me?"
"Yes, eventually, I'd like to send you to Ollivander's, by yourself to get it. This will be your first test. I want to see how well you do."
"As you wish, Lily. I'll not get into any trouble."
"I know, Tom."
As Tom turned to leave, Lily said one more thing to him: "Oh, Tom," Lily looked at him with a most loving look on her face. "Make me happy at this."
Tom smiled, "I will."
While Tom was gone, Lily set up some study times where Tom could help some of the students with their homework in the areas of Charms, DADA, Potions and Transfigurations. These were the three main areas of the Magical World plus defense.
Tom went back to Diagon Alley to Ollivander's Wands. "Hello, Tom. Are you back to pick up your wand?"
"Yes, Lily convinced me that it was to my advantage to have one."
Mr. Ollivander gave Tom his wand. As he handed it over to Tom, Mr. Ollivander looked at it: It was just a plain wooden shaft with no true magical core in it. Instead it contained a portion of Lily's protection and grace that she was given by her Father. "Take good care of it, Tom. This is one of my most unusual wands I've ever given out. There is none like it anywhere to the best of my knowledge."
"I know, Mr. Ollivander. I promised Lily I'd make her happy and serve her well."
Tom left the shop and went back to Hogwarts, twirling his wand as he went, going through all the basic movements to refresh himself. 'This is a big responsibility which will either make or break me.' Tom thought to himself. He wanted to do his best and help Lily because by doing so, he'd be helping himself. 'My past is behind me, I can't change that, but I can try to be the person Lily envisions me to be.'
"Tom, I've got some study periods arranged for you to help anyone who may need some help with their homework. Mostly, you'll be getting the students who may be falling behind. They are the ones I'm most concerned about. But I was thinking that with you helping them, they'll be more confident. You'll see how good you feel when you see how well your students are succeeding."
"My students?"
Lily looked up at him, her eyes dancing with laughter. "Why, yes, your students. Unofficially you'll be a teacher here, but you'll only be helping those who are either assigned to you by the professors or who willingly come to you because they like you. I want to try this out for a couple weeks and see what happens. If it's successful then I'll see about making it permanent and putting you on our regular staff. It'll be slow but that's the way I'd want it to be. Give the students time to warm up to you. Don't volunteer anything about yourself. Take it easy and we'll see what happens."
Tom nodded his head in assent. May I go back to my room for a while?" Tom asked Lily.
"Yes, please, go ahead. I'll have the elves set up a separate office for you. I'll let you know tomorrow where it is."
"Thanks, Lily. I appreciate all your help."
With that said, Tom left. Lily just sat back in her office, contemplating her work so far. She'd done what she'd set out to accomplish as far as getting Tom settled in. Tomorrow will be a real test to see just how well he will fit in, temporarily, until her family can teach him the lessons he needs.
After Tom left Lily's office to return to his separate quarters at school, Lily had her faculty meet with her.
"I've asked all of you to meet with me this afternoon for a short while so I can ask a favor of all of you. I've noticed that some students need tutoring, not many, but the need is there."
"We all would like to give the students individual lessons, but Lily, we just don't have the time." One of the faculty mentioned.
"I've got another plan, and this is where I need your co-operation." Lily stopped talking and composed her thoughts.
While looking out of her office windows towards Hagrids' Hut, she began – "I've got someone in mind to begin tutoring the students who need help. He will be available while I'm here." Here, Lily stopped and turned around to look at their reactions.
They were all passive.
"What can you tell us about him? Is he qualified? Where did he go to school?" some of the faculty asked.
Lily remained quiet for the longest time while everyone waited.
"The second question first – He is qualified – very qualified, especially in charms, transfigurations, potions and spells in general. And, Defense against the Dark Arts."
"You said 'he', is that the young man we saw at meal time yesterday?"
"Yes."
"Lily, are you sure about his ability to act as a tutor? He is very young and with no experience . . . ,"
Lily held up her hand to quiet all the questions. "Let me interrupt. First, there's a lot about him I'm not mentioning, especially his background. My family knows him, his name is Tom." Lily hesitated when another faculty member started to ask what his last name is, ". . . , and I will not give out his last name."
"Tom has been sent here to be with me. You'll see him and I together a lot, even with members of my own family.
He's here for me to help him. That's about all I can say. It's best to leave it at that."
"Lily, you're sure he's good, that he knows the material?"
"Yes, absolutely, like I said, especially about D.A.D.A."
Everyone was silent for a while, finally, one spoke up: "If he's got your confidence, that's good enough for me."
"Thank you for saying that. I'll makae the announcement this evening at supper and you can start either assigning or recommending students to Tom. His office will be down the hall from mine on this floor."
That evening at supper, Lily made the announcement: "Before we start eating, I have a short announcement. Beginning this evening, a new faculty member will be made available to you. His name is Tom and he will be here strictly for tutoring all class years in Charms, Transfigurations, potions and D.A.D.A. His office is right next to mine, so feel free to stop in and see him. If you have any questions, please ask either me or one of the faculty." She hesitated a bit, looking around at her students who were looking at Tom. "So, if that's all, then as my former Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore would say, 'Tuck in' everyone."
After supper, some of the Gryffindors waited around to talk with their Headmistress. Most of them were together in little crowds or 'knots', they were obvious.
Lily took her time eating, just sitting at the table, watching them, finally, she put her fork down and sat back and folded her hands in her lap.
She was smiling, knowing what they wanted.
Subtlety never was a Gryffindor strong suit.
"Come on up here, I know you want to ask me a question."
They all approached their Headmistress – one of them getting up the courage to ask the obvious question: "Uh, about the new tutor – was he the one we saw in our common room the night you were there with Ginny?"
Lily sat for a moment, thinking. "Dobby?" Lily called out for her favorite elf.
There was a loud pop when beside her stood Dobby. "Lily Potter, how may Dobby help you?"
Lily reached out and put her arms around Dobby, hugging him close to her. 'he seems almost like a little child. He seems to want to please me.' Lily thought to herself briefly, the thought just popped into her mind, wenst from where, she did not know, but it did not surprise her.
She had her own private thoughts, and at that, she smiled cryptically.
Dobby looked up at Lily, a 'nervous look' appeared on his face like he'd been caught at something.
"Why, Dobby, from the look on your face, I'd say you've got something to hide? Or maybe you've got something you're not telling me?"
Lily looked up at her students, who were just standing here, wondering about this small digression their Headmistress took. They all knew she was unusual, they'd heard about her all their lives so they'd come to expect this from her. It was all for a purpose, so they just waited.
"Anyway, I was wondering, the elves have very powerful magic, and no fear. I've always wondered . . ., The elves here are under my protection. I'll never let anyone or anything, hurt them – ever! They are the least of us in our magical world and I will protect them . . ," and Lily added wistfully at almost a whisper '. . . as if they were my own."
She looked back at her students, they were all looking at her.
"I don't know why I said al that, but it does seem appropriate, somehow. Now, back to your question – Yes, Tom was there that night. He was with me and assisted me and my son, Harry, her husband in locating her. Tom will be here, with me, for a while. How long, I don't know, but he's here for a reason that I can't, and won't, divulge."
"Ginny seemed so afraid of someone . . . " one of the Gryffindor's said.
Lily held up her hand to quiet them.
"Please, lets not go there. We dealt with that and she's recovering nicely. I've got a favor to ask of you, each of you, since you're all here."
"What is it, Professor?"
"Would you be willing to act as examples for the other houses and go to Tom for tutoring or help with a specific academic problem? Please?"
"They all looked at themselves, a perplexed look crossing their faces.
"Uh, sure, Headmistress." One of them answered.
"Don't be too obvious, but just a few of you ask him a question pertaining to school work. It'll give him confidence, but I want you to really mean it. Be nice to him. And, for your information, Tom is a very powerful Wizard. He'd very knowledgeable in the magical arts. His depth of knowledge would truly astound you, so take advantage of him while he's here. Afterall, my two brothers, fred and george, are already asking him for some ideas."
"Your Brothers?"
"Yes, you know "Weasley's Wizarding Weezes. I'm sure you've heard of them." She smiled knowing they had.
"Oh! Yes! Our favorite store!"
Lily watched them talk animatedly as they walked away. 'What other wizarding enterprises would this develop?' She wondered to herself.
Tom slowly merged into life at Hogwarts; he taught the beginning students in charms to begin with, slowly gaining their confidence. 'Lily was right,' he thought, to himself, 'it is easy.'