Children ran around the drab lot behind the orphanage, playing games and overall enjoying themselves as children do. Shouts were erupted in a random order so much that they blended together to create an odd kind of static. The crisp fall air had moistened, a sign of winter being on the horizon, making the dreary playing spot even more grey. On one side, a group of five children were standing, having a leisurely discussion.

One scrawny, messy haired seven year old stood a little apart from the other boys in the group, behind an animatedly talking blond boy, and a large mousy haired child with glasses pushed up to the bridge of his nose. His clothes were a little too small for him in height, but too large for him around the arms, waist, and legs. Coupled with washout colors and the material obviously handed down several hands before reaching him, his clothes gave him a strange look. He laughed along with the other children, but didn't contribute to the discussion in any other way. Instead, his eyes constantly strayed to the opposite end of the lot.

A dark haired boy stood leaning against the wall of the orphanage, staring back, unrelenting, at the scrawny child with almost black eyes. While his own clothes were in a similar sad state, he had made an effort to look proper and upright, making him stand out even more amongst the other orphans. His eyes never strayed from the messy haired child, not even appearing to blink when children ran past between them.

To Tom, the feeling of detachment from the rest of the world was normal. He was so different, that everyone else's mundane lives often became a blur to him. People moving around, speeding up but never slowing down in fear that if they stopped, it would all end, and him sitting in the same place, not caring to hurry, knowing that he wasn't like the rest of them. It wouldn't end for him. It wouldn't.

But, now it was different. He wasn't the only one standing still. No, there was now someone else that would do that with him. That would do everything as he did. Tom would make sure of it. Even if Harry himself didn't know what he was supposed to do...

Back on the other side of the lot, the blond boy glanced back at Harry, his blue eyes narrowing as he followed the boy's emerald gaze. Billy reached over and grabbed onto Harry's wrist, breaking apart from the other children with a wide smile, pulling Harry along with him.

"Come on, let's all play a game! It's getting boring just standing around!"

Harry's surprise died down, and he smiled, laughing as he was pulled around by Billy as the children all started to chase each other around. He didn't look at Tom again, and Billy refused to let his eyes even stray in Tom's general direction, convinced that it served the freak right. The blond ignored the stinging in his hand like he had all morning, unknowingly touching the second 'freak' of his own free will.

If either of them had looked towards Tom in those moments, they would have seen the suddenly upright and trembling boy. His hands fisted to keep himself from running over there and unleashing his anger, his teeth gritted to keep himself from screaming in rage. They would have seen the fury in his black eyes, narrowed and glaring at the back of a blond head. But they didn't see. Tom was safe. Safe to imagine all sorts of things inside his head. Safe to scream silently to himself, how dare he?! I had warned him! I warned him!

It was definitely time to hurry the plan along. He just needed to do some early preparation. Billy Stubbs would stay far away from Harry, and would never touch Tom's belonging ever again.


The children were walking to their rooms for the night, and Harry was walking behind Gabe and Billy as he usually did in the halls when a pale hand reached over and grabbed his wrist, pulling him discreetly further away from the other two. His bright green eyes widened in surprise, he turned his had to look at Tom, who had come to walk next to him, never releasing his wrist from his firm grip.

"Come up to my room at 11. Don't be late." Tom's eyes stayed fixed on the heads of the children in front of them, Billy and Gabe a few people ahead. He whispered anyway, not wanting anyone else to hear and tattle.

Harry turned his head forward again, his eyes cool, but excitement shone on his face at the idea of another secret meeting. Tom smiled to himself in satisfaction as Harry replied.

"Alright."

"Perfect. Now get back over to those two, we don't want to draw attention." Only then did Tom release Harry, letting him race nimbly around other children to return to his previous spot. Tom consoled himself with the idea of setting the plan into motion, and he managed not to pull the scrawny boy back to his side.


The door to the attic creaked open, and after the careful click of it closing, the panels of steps sounded as well. A messy head of black hair followed by the rest of Harry made it's way up, and the boy smiled happily at Tom, who was sitting on the bed in his night clothes like the night before. The bright eyed boy then proceeded to bounce over and launch himself on the bed beside Tom, causing the springs to creek.

"Careful, I don't want to wake anyone," Tom warned, only receiving a laugh as a reply.

"So," Harry tilted his head at Tom, sobering enough to appear serious underneath his giddy behavior, "why did you need me to come up here?"

Tom was silent for a few moments, studying Harry as he had become wont to do. Harry for his part simply waited, having started getting used to Tom's mannerisms.

"I wanted to test something out," Tom finally answered, and Harry tilted his head the other way in a silent request to continue, Tom lapsing back into silence before doing so. "Harry, have you ever... talked to animals? Specifically snakes? Harry's eyes widened, and he slowly shook his head.

"No, I haven't, sorry." Harry's eyebrows furrowed, appearing to think on something for a second. "Why call me up here just to ask me that?"

"I can." When the messy haired boy's full attention was directed at him, Tom continued. "I can't talk to all animals, just snakes. Sometimes I can even make them do what I want. Though, I'm not very good at it." Tom glanced away, acting embarrassed and shy, and felt the other boy scoot a little closer in response. Fighting a smirk, Tom went on. "I wanted to test it out with you, to see if you can do it too."

"Oh," Harry stated in a manner that would suggest he was drawing a blank on what to say to that, then eventually managing to speak, "I see... how'd we test it?"

Tom grinned secretively as he hopped nimbly from the bed, and got on his hands and knees before reaching for something underneath the bed. Harry crawled to the edge and peeked over to watch Tom. After a minute, Tom sat up, withdrawing his hand, a small garter snake coiled around his wrist and arm. Harry drew back with a sharp intake of breath, pressing up against the wall.

"When did you bring that inside, Tom...?!" Harry whispered urgently, more shocked then frightened as he slowly relaxed and crawled closer again.

"Calm down, I brought it in after we were inside. It was inside my shirt the whole day, coiled around my arm. I just let it roam around when I got in the attic. It said it was getting stir crazy." Harry stared up at Tom in awe, his voice a different kind of hushed.

"You mean you really can talk to snakes?"

"Of course. And I bet you can too." Tom let the snake go on the bed on the end near Harry, then took his original spot on the other side. "Go on, try it," he urged, genuinely excited for what felt like the first time in his life, looking over Harry's shoulder as he admired the tiny serpent.

"A-alright, but I really have no idea what to do," Harry warned as he fiddled with the hem of his old borrowed shirt, looking down at his hands.

"Just... look at the snake and imagine the snake understanding you." Tom tried to help by getting up and moving behind the other boy, resting his hands on his shoulders, turning him towards the snake. "If not, we'll keep on trying. I have a feeling you'll be able to do it."

"I suppose..." Harry trailed off, his eyes glued to the small creature. Tom rubbed his shoulders slightly, leaning over to talk quietly in his ear. Harry fidgeted from the close contact, but pushed his discomfort away, attempting to grow used to Tom's odd touchy-feely attitude. He tried to speak in some... hissing language, but all he got out of it was feeling like a fool. The bright eyed boy's shoulders slumped, and he fought down a blush of embarrassment, letting out a small huff.

"Don't worry. We're just not doing it right. Forget about imagining, just focus only on the snake, and speak like you normally do." Tom chuckled slightly, and lifted up Harry's chin, glancing at the serpent with a gleam in his eyes. Harry tried to turn his head to look over his shoulder at the other boy.

"Tom, I don't know-"

"Come on. Try just one more time. If you really can't, I won't ask you again," Tom interrupted, turning his head back sharply, even when his voice was as soft and gentle as always. "I promise."

"Um..." Harry was perfectly still, not sure how to react, but eventually looked back at the animal since it seemed, slowly focusing only on it, his eyes growing slightly dim.

"Good boy..." Tom trailed his hands down Harry's shoulders, his arms, before holding the other boy's hands in front of him, leaning his chin on Harry's shoulder, watching the snake with calm eyes. "Now, say hello to her," he said with a sweet, coaxing tone. Harry obediently complied, so focused that he barely registered that Tom was near holding him to himself. His words came out in a slurred hiss, and Tom instantly recognized it as the language he could use to speak to snakes.

"Hello," Tom's eyes sparked with an strange anticipating hunger as Harry spoke, staring at the snake which was now focused just as intently on Harry as he was on it. The serpent swayed to the words, and answered in a hushed, silvery voice.

"Good evening." Tom bolted up and off the bed, releasing Harry and letting the snake slither up his arm and coil loosely around it, a triumphant smirk on his face.

"Well done, Harry! I knew you could do it!" Tom hurried to the window, excited as he pushed it open and released the snake onto the trellis, giving a quick farewell and thank you before closing it up again.

"Err... what did I do again?" Harry looked confused as he watched Tom hurry back, sitting back next to him on the bed. If Tom had been a normal child, he would have been absolutely giddy, jumping all over the place and making loud noises in victory. However, he was not a normal child, so instead he sat there, gazing at Harry with immense pride. Like the scrawny child was a pet that had done a trick correctly for the first time.

"You talked to it, Harry. You can talk to them, just like I can." Tom shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, and his expression turned warning. "We'll practice every night, but, you have to promise me something."

"What?" Harry asked curiously, abandoning the thought of being able to speak to snakes for a time when he could analyze the new ability properly.

"You can't do it in front of other people. Only do it when absolutely necessary, just like with your magic." Harry nodded, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

"That sounds reasonable."

"Do you promise? Only when necessary?"

"I promise to only talk to snakes when necessary." Harry nodded again, and suddenly turned hesitant, like he suddenly remembered something he had wanted to say. "But on another note, um, Tom..."

"Yes?"

"Um..." Harry trailed off, looking at Tom reproachfully. "Can I... just sleep up here again? I can sleep on the floor." Tom's eyes widened slightly from surprise before he smiled, just like he usually did.

"Of course. I don't mind, especially if you use the bed."

"Especially?" Harry questioned, tilting his head like a small puppy would.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't use the floor. I wouldn't be able to get a good nights sleep, thinking you were uncomfortable. Besides, as much as I try," Tom climbed under the sheets as he spoke, leaving them pulled back for Harry, "they're always dirty."

"Oh," Harry replied simply as he cautiously got under the sheets next to Tom, "I'm still sorry if this is strange to you, I'm just so-" he yawned, covering his mouth with a hand, "tired."

"It's alright. And I don't mind, really. I assume Billy and Gabriel were asleep when you left?"

"Mm-hm..." Harry murmured sleepily, his eyes already closed and his mind going off into a dream.

Tom chuckled and watched him fall into a deep slumber, the two boys laying down on their sides to face each other. Tom thought of the door to the attic locking, and after hearing a quiet click, closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep himself.

No part of Harry, no matter how small, would ever belong to someone other than Tom.


Harry ran away from Billy, doing laps around the lot, a huge smile on his face. Everything was going perfectly for him right at this moment, even if he was the only one being chased in a game of tag. But he was playing it with friends, he had friends. Tom, despite being strange, was someone that Harry could talk about everything with, especially about their abilities. For the first time in his life, he could be happy, not lonely.

Speaking of Tom, Harry stopped and looked around when Billy, much more athletic than Harry, caught up and he was "it" now. Harry found him crouched by a wall, peering into a bush. Harry turned back to the game after a few seconds of watching the unmoving Tom. After managing to tag a boy named Eric Whalley, he excused himself from the other children, making his way over to Tom.

"What are you looking at?" Tom suddenly whirled at Harry when he spoke, causing the other boy to jump back from the angry glare the other boy had. But Tom's expression quickly lost it's almost defensive countenance when he apparently recognized Harry, and he smiled slightly, as if to apologize.

"I'm looking for something I dropped this morning." Tom pointed upwards, and Harry followed his finger, not sure what he was supposed to be looking at. "I had opened my window for some fresh air, and it slipped out of my hand."

"Oh," Harry mumbled. Indeed, at the top story of the orphanage wall, Harry could indeed see Tom's attic window, right above the bushes the dark eyed boy was crouched by. Harry looked back at Tom, smiling a little. "Do you need any help?"

"No, you should go back." Tom shook his head as he spoke, smiling kindly back at him. He glanced behind the other boy, and made eye contact with a blonde boy who was glaring at Tom with growing fury. Tom fought back a taunting smirk, but his eyes glinted with open gloating, causing Billy to stiffen with wide, angry blue eyes. "You're attracting attention from the others." Harry startled, and looked around, slight fear creeping into his expression.

"Alright... that's probably a good idea." Harry waved as he went back to the group of Billy's friends. After one last secret glare from the blonde at Tom, Billy fixed his expression to not worry Harry, refusing to look at Tom. The blue eyed boy obviously was trying to monopolize Harry, but Tom ignored it, focusing back onto his task.

Ten minutes later, Billy's group of friends and Harry were still playing tag, and Harry was "it" again, chasing after the blonde. Tom was leaning against to orphanage's wall as per usual, apparently having found what he was looking for. But Billy suddenly screeched to a halt, looking in fright at something slithering on the ground only a few inches from his feet.

It's body was curved naturally into an "S" shape, slithering closer to the blonde, who took a slow step back, Harry almost crashing into him, but narrowly avoiding bumping into the other boy. It was around two feet long, colored black and pale yellow. The pattern reminded Harry of one of those Native American rugs or something, diamonds and squares dotting all over the snake's back. It's head rose up, and it hissed, venom dripping from it's fangs.

Harry's eyes widened in horror at the realization of the venom. It was poisonous. It was going to bite Billy. Harry stepped urgently around the blonde, standing next to him, a glare at the snake, his expression and body language demanded obedience.

"Harry...?!" Billy whispered, staring with frightened, but now worried for someone else's safety, eyes at the scrawny boy.

"Stop," Harry commanded in a hiss, "you will not hurt him."

"Harry?! What- what are you-?!" Billy started, and just as the snake had started to draw back, ready to move away, the bristles of a stick broom smashed on top of it violently.

The children all watched as Mrs. Cole brutally beat down the snake, killing it after the first five tries, and still continuing another twelve before dropping the house keeping tool down onto the dried up grass. She was breathing heavy, a few strands of her hair flying out of her tight bun. She glared at the scrawny child, who stepped back when the warden stepped over and grabbed onto Harry's arm, causing him to flinch, his eyes tearing up from the pain.

"I should have realized you'd be a freak too, you little monster," she growled between clenched teeth, pulling him away from Billy.

"Wh-what?" Harry stared up at the woman with wide eyes, growing more frightened by the second. He tried to turn back to Billy, struggling against Mrs. Cole who was trying to keep him still. "B-Billy, please, I-I wouldn't-" Harry succeeded in twisting away, facing Billy quickly before the warden grabbed him again. And he wished that he hadn't even tried.

Billy was staring with wide eyes at Harry, horror and disgust openly painting his expression as he shook his head, stepping back. Gabriel hurried over to the blonde, trying to give support, his eyes carefully avoiding Harry, fear also evident on his face. Eric and the rest of the children crowded behind Billy, their cold gazes on the poor bright eyed boy.

"I don't know what you were trying to do," Billy spoke in a shaky voice, taking another step back, "but you stay away from me."

Harry could only look on with dazed eyes as Mrs. Cole ordered Martha to keep Harry from running as she walked to Billy, muttering as she checked him over.

"That was an adder... not poisonous, thank God, but painful nonetheless... you poor boy... I'm sorry that I didn't come sooner. Let's get you inside now." She stood after confirming the blonde was not bitten, and started steering Billy around Harry to the orphanage door. But a dark haired boy stood in her way, his almost black eyes glinting with an emotion that Harry couldn't bother to try to decipher.

"Harry isn't the one at fault! Billy almost stepped on it, and Harry told it to stop." Harry stared at Tom for a few minutes, his eyes starting to tear up.

"Do you think I'd believe you? I think you planned it with your little monster friend." Mrs. Cole said accusingly as she rubbed Billy's shoulders comfortingly, the blonde looking down at the ground. The warden glanced at Martha, and ordered, her words like ice. "Take them both into my office. I'll deal with them later." She then guided Billy away, calling to the rest of the children to come inside, which they complied to.

Martha looked at Tom and Harry, as if not really sure what she should be doing. But she grabbed them both anyway, pulling them inside and down the hall to Mrs. Cole's office, ignoring Harry's protests. Tom, just like the time the warden had locked them both up in the attic, was glassy eyed and loose limbed, only taking effort to keep from falling over.

When they were locked inside the office, Harry stared at the door silently with wide eyes. Emerald colors shimmered under the light from the water welling up in the scrawny boy's eyes before they squeezed closed, and he started quietly sobbing. He felt someone's hands gently turn him around and wipe at the tears.

Harry opened his eyes to see Tom smiling as kindly as ever, an apologetic tint to his expression.

"I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner... and after we had tried so hard to keep everything a secret," he said, carefully wiping at Harry's eyes. Harry shook his head slightly, squeezing his eyes shut again, trying to wipe at his own eyes.

"N-no, I'm glad you showed up rather than none at all. I-I'm the one who should be sorry... I-I had promised you-"

"You promised to do it if it was necessary. You saved a friend a lot of pain. If only... he hadn't reacted that way." Tom's tone was disappointed as he leaned his forehead against Harry's, holding onto the other boy's hands. "It's... a shame. But for now, focus on being presentable."

Harry nodded, and let Tom rub at his cheeks with a sleeve. After Tom found Harry to be acceptable, he led him to a pair of chairs on the other side of the wardens desk from Mrs. Cole's chair. After Harry was settled down, Tom placed himself next to him, staring ahead at the wall.

"Tom..."

"Yes?" Harry was silent for a short while, and when he spoke, his voice was small and pitiful.

"You won't hate me, right?" Tom glanced at Harry, not pausing for a second. He was perfectly prepared for when this happened, after all.

"Never."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Harry could only nod again, dropping his head down to try and stop the tears from coming back without Tom knowing.


"Well, I really don't know what to say to the two of you," Mrs. Cole spoke with a reprimanding tone, like a teacher scolding a few boys for starting a fight. Harry supposed there wasn't much of a difference, except that it was almost funny given what had really happened.

But from experience with the Dursleys, he knew that trying to explain was useless. He glanced over at Tom, who was looking at the warden with a blank, uncaring expression, before turning his gaze forward again, following the dark eyed boy's example.

"The most obvious thing is that you will not be allowed around the other children when they sleep," the woman huffed, sitting back in her chair, fiddling with some things on her desk, her voice now lazy. "So, Potter will be moved so both of you freaks can sleep together."

Harry didn't react, since he could care less if he was moved. Besides, it was better this way. He didn't want to room with Billy and Gabriel anymore anyway. He had known this would happen. He had known that they would change their attitude in this way. But still... he had hoped that they wouldn't. That they would listen, and be the kind of friends that Harry had wished for. He had been stupid. In the end, it had turned out like this.

"The both of you are not to interact with the other children. If there is so much as a cut on another child, you both will be punished severely."

Tom was the only one that wouldn't turn on him about his abilities. Because he had the same curse. It didn't hurt that he was being alienated. It didn't.

It really didn't.


Tom continued up the small set of stairs to his bed, while Harry stood and watched as Martha closed the door, turning the lock. The young woman hadn't bothered to even look at either boy on their way up, and she kept her gaze down until her image was blocked by the wooden door.

"Harry," Tom called quietly from the top of the stairs, looking down at him, "come on. We should rest since we're here. We've had a long morning."

Harry nodded, silently walking up to him, and the two boys made their way to the bed. Harry collapsed down on top of it, resting his head on the pillow. Tom crawled onto the bed with far more grace, laying down close to Harry so they could share the pillow. The bright eyed boy laid on his back, and tried to sleep. He honestly did, but it was just impossible. His mind kept going to Gabriel and Billy's faces when they had seen him order the snake back.

He told himself that it didn't hurt. He had Tom, so the rejection and disgust that had and would be directed at him didn't matter. But deep down, he knew that it did. He couldn't stand it, and tried to fight down the tears for what felt like the umpteenth time. Harry felt Tom's hand on his neck, rubbing soothingly, causing the wild haired boy to startle and look at the other boy.

"It's alright," Tom whispered, smiling slightly at him, "I know it's not enough to make the pain go away, but I'll always be here. I'll always be by your side. I promise." Harry gazed at Tom for a few moments before his eyes slowly teared up again. Tom moved closer, hugging Harry to himself, speaking in a soothing hush. "Shh... it'll be alright... I'm sorry this had to happen to you too..."

As Harry's body was wracked with quiet sobs, he decided right then and there that it really didn't hurt anymore. That he and Tom would get through it. Together.


Tom allowed himself to finally smirk in triumph. It had all gone so well.

The dark eyed boy pulled him even closer, tightening his grip just slightly.

Harry was all his.

And it was glorious.


AN: Is the snake plan cheating? I hope it's not cheating. But it was too good to pass up, and it made the most sense. I'm aware that it's extremely similar to what happened in the second book. So... I do not really own the snake plan, that much...? Disclaimer? Also, I realized that somewhere in the earlier chapters, I had made Harry aware of his being a Parseltongue. That was a mistake on my part, and I will go back and fix it as soon as I can.

For some reason I feel I should mention that when I'm writing something like Lightning, I listen to a lot of classical music. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and my favorite, Debussy to list a few. Classical music has a strange effect on me. Instead of writing something calming and pretty, my stories turn dark and twisted. So get ready, my dear readers, because from here on out Tom and I are going to have a lot of fun with soothing background music playing in the background.

On that not-at-all-creepy note; reviews are welcome and appreciated.