Harry had never anticipated his birthday more. He'd always imagined some distant relative taking him away, but never did he actually consider he'd be leaving the Dursley's.

Dudley it seemed was terrified of Harry for once; usually it was the invisible presence of Tom that had him running to his parents.

It had taken Harry a good few days of contemplating to realise that magic truly was real. Tom was however, thriving on the thought, he had been recounting every suspicious moment that they had experienced. This included the time when Harry had incidentally turned his teachers wig blue.

And now it was Harry's birthday.

Harry had been shaking with nerves all morning, he'd already burnt Dudley's toast. Tom however seemed more subdued then in the approaching days, he was currently watching the front door with his brow furrowed.

Harry was about to start on his own breakfast when the doorbell rang. Uncle Vernon shot him a warning look as he got up to answer.

Harry moved at once to stand in the doorway, not caring that Aunt Petunia and Dudley were glancing at him in fear. Tom came to stand beside him, a grin plastered on his face.

Uncle Vernon opened the door and his head tilted up, eyes widening. There was an awkward silence before someone replied.

"I best not come in," a man started. "Don't want te break anything."

Uncle Vernon's hand was gripping the door handle so tightly that it had turned purple. It seemed to be taking all his self restraint from slamming it shut.

"People will notice if the boy suddenly disappears," Uncle Vernon began stiffly. "The school-"

"Ahh, don't yeh worry about that," the voice interrupted. "We'll deal with that, Arry abou' then?"

Uncle Vernon seemed to be really struggling as he nodded, jerking his head towards Harry. With rising trepidation Harry approached, Tom close to his side.

Harry and Tom moved outside as Uncle Vernon slammed the door shut with a bang.

Harry couldn't help but stare. Outside on the front path was the largest man he had ever seen. He was practically a giant, and was covered in the wildest beard, with black eyes shinning underneath his mane of hair.

However this was hardly the focus of Harry and Tom's attention, what was a lot more shocking was the huge semi-translucent dog. The fact that the animal was shimmering in the light really threw Harry off guard, this was clearly the man's dæmon, but Tom was completely solid.

Whatever the giant was going to say seemed to fall from his lips as his eyes fixed onto Tom. Even the massive dæmon responded, stance turning aggressive. Harry pulled Tom behind him.

"You can see him?" Harry said.

He had just assumed that other people couldn't see Tom, even Aunt Petunia hadn't seen his mothers dæmon.

Hagrid's expression was very unfriendly, and he looked wild as he stared down at Tom coldly.

"Yeh I can see him," he growled. The enormous dog was snarling, teeth bared. Harry backed up quickly, taking Tom with him. If he could see him, did that mean he could touch him too, that this giant would hurt Tom, he certainly looked angry and violent enough.

"I'm not going te hurt yeh, Harry," the giant offered, clearly noticing Harry's discomfort but not moving his eyes off Tom regardless.

"Who are you?" Harry started. "How come you can see Tom?"

"Rubeus Hagrid," the man stated stiffly. "Keeper of Keys and grounds at Hogwarts and I can see him same reason as you can see my dæmon, Ilaria." Hagrid's hand moving to grip into his dæmon's fur. Ilaria barked at this as Harry stayed clinging to Tom who was remaining startling quiet.

"The Dursley's can't see Tom," Harry pointed out.

"That's because they're muggles isn't it," Hagrid said bluntly.

"Muggles?"

"Non magic folk," Hagrid replied gruffly.

Harry's head was spinning. Hagrid had come to take him to London to buy school supplies but something was wrong as Ilaria kept her sharp eyes fixed on Tom.

"Come on," Hagrid muttered. "We bes' get going."

Harry followed mutely, not entirely sure what to think of this situation, he was feeling incredible self conscious that Tom was on view.

It wasn't long until they were on the train zooming towards the heart of the city. It had been a tense affair and Harry was beginning to lose patience. Tom had forced a cold mask onto his face which Harry hadn't seen before.

"What's wrong with Tom?" Harry started, defensive.

It seemed Harry had asked the wrong question for Hagrid didn't answer straight away. The country side sped past the window but it didn't deter Harry's gaze as he waited for a response.

"Dæmons are animals for a start," Hagrid offered at last. Harry and Tom looked at each other. Did this mean that even in the wizarding world they were going to be freaks.

"So why is Tom human?"

"Because something is very wrong," Hagrid answered bluntly.

Harry frowned.

"Aunt Petunia said my mother used to talk to her dæmon."

"That's because dæmons can talk isn't it," Hagrid pointed out.

Both Harry and Tom looked at Hagrids dæmon, transparent and shimmering unlike like Tom, but for whatever reason the dog didn't offer to speak. Instead it growled again.

"And why is Tom solid?" Harry asked.

"To my eyes Ilaria is solid," Hagrid explained gruffly. "It's how dæmon's work. Everyone else's will look like a patronus."

"A what-?" Harry asked.

"Complicated bit o' magic," Hagrid shrugged as they fell into another silence.

Harry shifted on his seat. Tom was sitting with a slight distance between them, one which usually wouldn't have been present.

It was eventually Tom who broke the silence.

"How did Harry's parents die?" he asked coolly.

Harry raised his eyebrows at this. Tom had been convinced that something else had happened, something far greater than a car crash.

"Don't speak," a voice growled suddenly towards Tom. "You do not have the right to ask that."

It was so unexpected but the sound had clearly come from Ilaria, Hagrid's dæmon. Her voice moved in sync with her mouth, but it looked normal, as if all dogs could speak.

Again oddly enough Tom obeyed this, his lips thinning as expression darkened. Harry didn't like how things were turning out.

"Answer him," Harry stated tightly.

Hagrid's expression softened automatically as he stared at Harry with pity.

"But surely yeh know that?"

Harry swallowed.

"They died in a car crash."

Hagrid exploded, his mouth opening in sheer disbelief.

"Car crash," he roared. "How could a car crash kill Lily an' James Potter? It's an outrage!"

Some of the passengers turned round to stare at them startled. Harry blinked, totally taken aback by this giant and his monster of a dog.

"Your parents were murdered," Ilaria responded with a growl towards Tom.

"Murdered?" Harry gaped, stomach churning. Tom had been right.

Harry's surprise obviously caused a reaction in Hagrid.

"Surely yeh Aunt and Uncle told yeh?" He started frighteningly angry. "You should know-?"

Harry shook his head, as Tom's face remained startlingly cold and blank.

"Harry doesn't," Ilaria said slowly, her voice unlike Hagrid's was warmer and kinder now she focused only on addressing Harry.

"Does he know?" Hagrid spoke to his dæmon, apparently not even happy with saying Tom's name.

"No."

"Ignorant to what?" Tom asked coldly, eyes glaring.

Both Hagrid and Ilaria ignored him.

"Aunt Petunia said I got my scar when my parents died," Harry began slightly hesitant.

Hargid nodded, eyes watering.

"That's right."

"What happened?" Harry's throat was oddly dry.

"I'm not sure I'm the one to tell you," Hagrid said awkwardly. "I can't believe yeh don't know, when everyone else does-"

"Know what?" Harry pressed anxiously.

"I never expected this, I had no idea, when Dumbledore told me there might be trouble, how much yeh didn't know. Ah Harry, I don't know if I'm the right person ter tell yeh – but someone's gotta – yeh can't go off ter Hogwarts not knowin-"

"Who murdered my parents?" Harry asked.

Ilaria however seemed to take control.

"You're famous," she started. "Your parents are famous."

Harry really tried to ignore the sharpness in Tom's eyes at this as his stomach jolted.

"What? My Mum and Dad weren't famous were they?"

"Yeh don' know, yeh don' know-" Hagrid ran his fingers through his hair, fixing Harry with a bewildered stare.

Again Ilaria answered.

"There was a wizard who went bad, really bad. And your parents were killed, but there is more too it than that," she explained. "He tried to kill you, too, but he couldn't do it."

"He tried to kill me?" Harry gaped.

"The mark on your forehead, that is no ordinary cut," Ilaria gestured her large head towards him. "That's what you get when a powerful, evil curse touches you – took care of your mum and dad and your house, even – but it didn't work on you, and that's why your famous."

Harry couldn't breathe, how could he be famous for something he didn't even remember.

"Who was he?" He whispered.

The train halted to a stop.

Hagrid didn't even look at him.

"That's us," he said as he hurried them all off.

Tom was unusually silent again and Harry could barely stand it, he was dying to speak to him privately.

"Hagrid," Harry stopped at the entrance to the underground. He didn't want to go any further until he had more information.

"Who killed my parents?"

Hagrid's eyes distinctly settled onto Tom before he answered.

"Nobody says his name, Harry,"

Harry frowned at this, how was he ever going to find out anything.

"They call him You Know Who," Ilaria said.

"That's not a name," Harry pointed out, but Hagrid was already moving down the steps and out of sight.

Ilaria didn't expand any further as she too motioned her head for Harry and Tom to follow.

Hagrid continued to avoid Harry the rest of the way, even Ilaria was silent as they walked through the crowded streets of London.

It was a lost hope, Harry wasn't going to get his answers directly. Tom rolled his eyes at him, following mutely, he seemed content in playing the observer.

Harry pulled out his school list once more, he may as well try to make things more comfortable.

"Can we really buy all this stuff in London?"

Hagrid actually answered him.

"If yeh know where to go."

Harry however almost froze, Tom running into the back of him.

"The Dursley's didn't give me any money," his stomach churning as Tom pushed himself away with a wary look.

"Ah, don' yeh worry about that. Yeh parents left yeh plenty."

"My parents?"

"Course they did," Hagrid nodded. "Anyway, let's get on, lot's the buy."

They entered a small dingy pub called the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry was at once struck by how many witches and wizards were packed into this small pub. He could immediately tell that they were different by the number of animals also dotted about.

One man actually had a crocodile lying lazying about in the shadows of a table, another a parrot perched high on a dim light fixture, both were semi-translucent like Ilaria.

Harry couldn't keep his eyes still as Tom moved closer to him, a hand tugging slightly on his sleeve.

"Ah Hagrid," the bartender began "The usual?"

"Not today I'm afraid," he nodded his head towards Harry. "I'm on official Hogwarts business."

"Good Lord," said the barman, peering at Harry. "Is this – can this be?"

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

"Bless my soul," he whispered, an old mouse scuttling into his grip. "Harry Potter – what an honour."

And then his eyes shifted across to Tom and they widened. It was like a ripple effect as all eyes shifted, even the dæmons looked cautious and afraid, as if unsettled by something different.

To Tom's credit he didn't say a word, only held himself still as Hagrid placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Come on Harry," he began, already trying to move him away, but they didn't get far.

"P-P-Potter-" someone stuttered.

Harry was startled, but Hagrid seemed pleasantly surprised as he turned towards a man with a large turban on his head.

"Ah Harry, this is Professor Quirrell, he'll be one of your teachers at school," he explained.

Harry was about to say hello and ask what subject he taught but he didn't get that far.

"W...w...what an unusual dæmon" Quirrell stuttered, voicing allowed the one question everyone seemed to want to ask. It was so horribly quiet as everyone leaned in to listen.

"His name is Tom," Harry stated tightly. He had barely finished when his scar twinged painfully. Wincing, Harry moved his hand to his head.

"Are yeh okay, Harry?" Hagrid asked.

"Fine," Harry muttered, glancing towards Tom, slightly unnerved that he hadn't reacted.

Instead Tom was staring at Quirrell with an odd look on his face as Harry rubbed his head feeling a bit dejected. Everyone was still watching, as mutters began to spread.

Harry wanted to get out of the pub, but Tom seemed to be dithering. Hanging back as he stared at Quirrell openly, a look of intrigue on his face. Harry tugged his arm, almost startling Tom from his stupor.

"Let's go," he muttered, barely resisting the urge to rub his forehead again. Tom relented silently as they walked out the back of the small pub. Quirrell only watched them both as Hagrid steered them away.

As soon as they were outside in a small corridor, Harry jumped at the question.

"Is everyone always going to look at me differently because of Tom?"

"Yes," Ilaria replied, but Hagrid was already moving on as he pulled out what looked like a pink umbrella. Harry barely registered that everyone had recognised him, Tom however had other things on his mind.

"How come that man didn't have a dæmon?" he asked, finally speaking up again. Harry blinked, he hadn't noticed anything odd about Quirrell at all.

Ilaria looked between him and Harry before she nodded towards Hagrid.

"Some powerful witches are wizards can separate themselves from their dæmons. Dumbledore for example," Hagrid added. "He can go a long way from his dæmon."

Harry's mind raced back to his letter, Dumbledore was the headmaster at Hogwarts.

"So Professor Quirrell's dæmon is just far away?" Harry gaped. Him and Tom had of course experimented and not managed to go far.

"Well that's the thing," Hagrid stated uncertainly. "He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but the he took a year off ter get some experience...They say he met vampires in the Black Forest and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag – never been the same since, he came back alone see."

"Came back alone?" Harry asked.

"He lost his dæmon," Tom prompted quietly.

Harry turned to look at him horrified.

"Leaves a man hollow," Hagrid sad sadly, ignoring Tom once more. "Empty inside."

Harry could believe that, as he swallowed tightly. Even Ilaria looked disturbed as Hagrid tapped his umbrella on the wall. It began to move.

Harry stared stunned, this was the first piece of actual magic he had seen.

"An umbrella?" Tom sneered.

Hagrid glared at him as Ilaria growled.

"Yeh'll get a proper wand," he directed gruffly towards Harry. "Firs' stop is Gringott's though, need to get yeh money."

Gringotts was certainly an odd place, full of small creatures called Goblins. Harry was feeling more overwhelmed already, just from the sheer amount of gold his parent had left him, stunned that his inheritance was buried deep under London.

Tom's eyes had widened, his shock so open on his face as he stared at the gold.

Harry gathered a few strange looking coins into his pouch before Hagrid promptly moved them on.

"Next, vault 713," Griphook, the small goblin showing them round, declared.

Tom was about to enter the small cart when Ilaria moved in front of him, teeth snarling. Harry froze, she looked ready to lunge.

"Riddle shouldn't," she growled towards Hagrid.

Tom just glared at her and didn't say a word. Hagrid was looking at Harry carefully, seemingly debating something.

"We'll go back up top first," he stated to Griphook, much to his dæmons satisfaction. "You can wait up there Harry, I have something I need to collect." He looked queasy at the thought of spending more time on the rails.

"What's in vault 713?" Tom asked coolly.

Both Hagrid and Ilaria ignored him.

"Come on Harry," Hagrid gestured towards the rails.

Harry relented, choosing again not to comment on Tom's dismissal. He was used to the Dursley's not interacting with him anyway. It was only when they were up in the large entrance hall, and Hagrid had gone back down below, that Harry could finally talk to Tom freely.

"I think he knows you," Harry whispered, not liking the number of Goblins eyeing them up.

"How can he know me?" Tom asked coldly. He clearly was annoyed with Harry for not sticking up for him.

Harry paused, before voicing his thoughts out loud.

"Ilaria called you Riddle, does that mean you used to be a person?"

"Of course not," Tom replied tersely. "I would remember something like that."

"Why not?" Harry added. "Magic is real after all, why can't it be possible?"

"I've always been with you," Tom argued, his stance slightly aggressive as if insulted by Harry's implications.

"I know that," Harry answered plainly. "I'm just considering the options. There must be a reason they hate you."

Tom crossed his arm and raised a mocking eyebrow as Harry continued. "And dæmons are meant to be animals?"

"So?" Tom replied coldly.

Harry sighed. "You're different, I'm just trying to work out why. Plus Hagrid seems to like me, if you are a part of my soul why does he hate you so much?"

Tom glared at him.

Harry stepped forwards, hand tugging on Tom's sleeve. Tom didn't reciprocate, his body tense as eyes swept back over the foyer. Harry felt sick at the realisation, it wasn't going to be the same now everyone could see Tom.

His arm dropped slowly back to his side.

Hagrid had excused himself promptly when he returned, looking quite sick from his journey through Gringotts. So Harry and Tom were now entering Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions alone. The witch had smiled, although it had slipped at the sight of Tom before she moved them into the back room.

Another boy was already getting fitted and he at once focused his eyes onto Harry and then Tom.

"Your dæmon is a human," the blonde boy stated, mouth gaping in shock.

"Your dæmon is a rodent," Tom sneered.

The boy's dæmon was a brilliantly white ferret, perched on top of a stool.

"This rodent has teeth," the ferret hissed, fur at once sticking up as her back arched.

"Hush," Madam Malkin scolded them as she pulled a robe over Harry's head.

The boy however looked vaguely impressed and he eyed Tom up with interest.

"What are your names?" he asked, rephrasing his direction towards them both.

Tom seemed slightly appeased.

"I'm Harry," Harry offered. "He's Tom."

The boy who had at first been looking towards Tom snapped his attention back to Harry in an instant.

"Harry," he stated. "Harry Potter?" Eyes flicked up to his forehead. Directly where Harry's scar was.

"Who-?" Harry began, thoughts on his parents muderer, but Tom interrupted.

"Who are you?" Tom asked.

The boy pulled himself up tall. "I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is my dæmon Adara."

Draco held his arm out proudly as his dæmon moved up it to to sit on his shoulder. She actually was quite stunning, as her fur glistened in the light.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," Draco continued, before he paused. "Who are you with anyway?"

It was odd, every one seemed to know more about Harry than he did himself.

"Hagrid," Harry replied tightly. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh, I've heard of him. I heard he's some sort of savage – lives in a hut in the school grounds and every now and then gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to is bed."

Tom smirked, clearly warming to Draco Malfoy.

Harry however didn't comment, he was reminded oddly enough of Dudley.

Draco looked appraisingly towards Tom, lips curling into a smile. Adara too seemed oddly excited.

"Which house do you think you'll be in?" Draco asked after a slight pause.

Again Harry didn't know what to say, he was beginning to like this situation less and less.

Tom however was in his element.

"That should be obvious," he lied, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

Again this statement only seemed to impress the boy as he grinned.

"Yes, I suppose it is."

"What about you?" Tom asked.

"Slytherin too of course," Draco smirked, again puffing out his chest proudly.

Harry didn't have a clue what Slytherin was, and he knew Tom didn't either, but apparently that's where Tom had implied they'd be.

"Are both your parents magical?" Tom asked. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes, Tom thrived on information.

"Of course," Draco nodded. "But I heard you went off to live with muggles. What was that like?"

Harry really didn't like where this was going, vaguely wondering if this boys dæmon spoke at all. Currently Adara seemed content in just listening.

Tom's eyes had darkened as he answered.

"Disgusting."

Harry eyed him warily, not sure if that had been the best thing to say. Draco however looked pleasantly surprised, as Adara squeaked.

"You'll have to meet my father-" he began at once.

Luckily at that moment, Madam Malkin seemed to have finished.

"That's you dear."

Harry didn't hesitate as he jumped down off the stool.

"See you at school," he rushed, giving Tom a very pointed stare.

Draco only grinned back. "See you Harry, Tom."

They couldn't get out the shop quicker.

"Do you really have a problem with me talking about the Dursley's?" Tom asked casually.

Harry glared at him.

"They're not the same as all muggles and you know it."

"Draco and Adara didn't seem to think so," he smiled widely.

"His parents are both magical," Harry replied angry. "You don't need to go spreading your prejudice."

Tom just smirked at him, as they walked along. Hagrid it seemed was still in the pub.

"Anyway, why did you interrupt me back there?" Harry asked still annoyed.

"Everyone knows you Harry, ignorance would appear weak," Tom offered mildly.

"Weak?" Harry blinked.

"Knowledge is power," Tom explained.

"But if nobody tells me about You Know Who, I'll never know," Harry pointed out. "Draco could have told me-"

"You Know Who is infamous Harry, and you're famous," Tom paused outside of an odd looking bookshop and raised his eyebrows.

Harry groaned, "You think I'll be in some book?"

Tom grinned, "Of course you will be."

Harry then proceeded to deliberately spend ages picking up his school books, anything to delay Tom's point. Tom was deep into browsing through the shelves and produced a few books smugly.

Begrudgingly Harry brought a thick book called 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts', in which Tom said Harry's name was referenced on at least a dozen pages. He also picked up a book about dæmons which looked like it would answer most of Toms questions. Harry hadn't had any time to read into them in detail at all when Hagrid and Ilaria showed back up.

"Right," Hagrid stated, at least he no longer looked sick. "Best get yeh wand."

Harry had been looking forward to this the most, Tom too was momentarily distracted from researching further.

It wasn't too far too Ollivander's as Ilaria led the way. It was a shabby sort of building, and looked like it would be just as run down inside. Hagrid seemed content in letting Harry and Tom enter alone. He excused himself at once, saying he had a letter he had to send.

They entered, and Harry really wasn't looking forward to another encounter where Tom would be stared at. The shop looked empty at first and it wasn't until Tom nudged Harry gently to look up that he saw they were being watched.

A large transparent owl was staring down that, watching from the darkness. It was quite clearly a dæmon, which meant only one thing; her human was nearby.

She hooted loudly, startling Harry slightly as an old man appeared.

"Mr Potter," he breathed at once. "I wondered when I would be getting you."

His owl flapped it's wings, before swooping down to land on his shoulder intimidatingly. He looked positively frightening as his old eyes peered over to Tom, widening slightly.

"I have just the wand," he whispered suddenly.

"Sorry?" Harry asked.

Ollivander looked away from Tom briefly to focus on Harry. His Barn Owl however kept her eyes sharply on Tom.

"The wand chooses the wizard Mr Potter," he explained, a look of fascination on his face. "And I know just the wand which will suit you."

He moved away before Harry could say anything further, immediately rummaging through dusty boxes with haste.

"No no no," he was muttering. "That's not the one."

Harry really didn't know what to do, as Tom only shrugged.

"Ah ha," Ollivander exclaimed moments later, a non distinct box in his hand. "Here it is."

He turned back to Harry, his hands were shaking.

Ollivander held it out to him as Harry took it carefully, feeling slightly confused. The wand had a pretty decent weight to it, but that wasn't really what Harry noticed first, he could feel the rush moving through him, and it felt brilliant.

Tom too seemed affected as his eyes widened, staring at Harry in surprise as sparks flew from the end of it. Ollivander looked positively fearful as he pulled it abruptly out of Harry's hand to package it up for him.

It was only when Harry handed over his gold that he heard Ollivander's owl muttering until her breathe.

"Curious," she was hooting repeating and softly.

"Sorry?" Harry said awkwardly, staring up at her. "What's curious?"

Ollivander fixed him with a very tense stare, his own owl dæmon hooting towards Tom.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold Mr Potter. Every single wand. In fact the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother gave you that scar."

Harry felt his stomach flip.

"I sold its brother over fifty years ago," Mr Ollivander breathed.

"Who to?" Tom demanded, arms crossed as he stared at the man coldly. Harry would have complained at this hypocrisy, but he wanted answers too.

Ollivander didn't seem bothered by Tom's hostility, in fact he was relishing in the moment as he turned towards him.

"To you," he whispered.

Chapter two updated June 2017