Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count: 1494

Hogwarts Assignment 2: Web Design: Task 3: Write about having a productive/meaningful interaction with someone.


Save Me A Dance


Tom stared out of the windows at the surrounding grounds. The sun was shining over them, the flowers shifting in the light spring breeze. It should have been a beautiful day, but it wasn't.

Because there was no music.

He sighed, and shook his head at his own thoughts. It was ludicrous that a Dark Lord was missing music, and yet, he truly was. The manor was quiet, so quiet that Tom felt like he was drowning in the silence, because it hadn't been truly quiet for months.

It was almost like someone had died.

He supposed the music really had died.

"My Lord?" Tom turned his head to see Lucius standing before him, a sombre look on his face. Tom raised his eyebrows slightly in question, and his fingers twitched towards his wand when Lucius shook his head. "No change, My Lord."

Tom supposed he shouldn't be so angry when he'd already known the answer before Lucius brought it to him.

"Very well," he said eventually. "Perhaps it's time for me to intervene myself."

Lucius only looked down. "As you say, My Lord."

Tom waved him away and turned his eyes back to the window. A battle warred internally as he considered his options. As a Dark Lord, as the reigning ruler of Wizarding Britain, he felt like he shouldn't need to worry about the actions—or lack of—of one person.

As Tom, who'd grown used to the music flowing through the house, who'd come to rely on the one playing the music for more than he'd ever relied on another before, he thought it was time for him to act.

He wasn't immune to emotions, as much as he'd tried to make himself so. The return of the majority of his soul had made that impossible.

He tapped his fingers on the window ledge and then swept down the hall towards the room he'd been avoiding for weeks. It was time to fix this.

A soft 'meow' from Merlin warned Harry of the approaching Dark Lord, but he didn't react. Merlin was an excellent alarm system, and he'd made good use of her warnings in the past, but he just couldn't bring himself to care anymore.

He couldn't bring himself to do much of anything anymore.

Brushing his hand over the cat's head, he felt her nuzzle closer to him. It was almost like she could feel his heartache, like she knew that he was hurting, and wanted to help.

The door opened quietly, and Harry saw, in the periphery of his vision, Tom slip into the room, closing the door softly behind him.

"Harry."

Harry sighed, but turned his head to look at Tom.

"Harry, what in the world is wrong with you?" Tom asked, walking closer. He conjured a chair with a lazy flick of his hand, and sat down beside the bed Harry was lying on. His fingers brushed the burgundy sheets as he leant forward, so he was eye to eye with Harry. "This is getting ridiculous."

Harry stroked Merlin again, his fingers playing with the soft fur as he bit the inside of his cheek. Eventually, when it became clear that Tom wouldn't be leaving without an answer, he said, "I heard about Ginny getting married."

Tom frowned. "Who told you about that?"

"Does it matter?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes. "I heard about it, and that's enough."

"Okay," Tom said, nodding his head. "You're… hurt that your old girlfriend got married?"

If only that was it. Harry wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. "Not particularly," he said, shaking his head. "I suppose I was just… starkly reminded that life is going on without me. I'd… It's been five years. Five years since I've left this Manor, Tom. And Ginny getting married… I suppose it reminded me that while I'm alive, I'm not really living. Not like she is. Not like everyone else is."

"I… provide you with everything you ask for," Tom said, and Harry felt a little bad for Tom's clear confusion.

Trying to explain what he was feeling, he said, "I did everything I was supposed to, and it didn't work. I destroyed all of your Horcruxes. I fought you, time and time again, Tom. And I thought I was either going to die, or I was going to win and have… freedom. And I didn't get either, and I was reminded of that."

"And that's why you're so…" Tom trailed off and looked at Harry. "This."

Harry sighed. "I… yeah."

Tom sat back in his chair. "How do you propose we fix it, Harry?"

Tom hadn't been sure what he'd been expecting when he entered Harry's room, but this wasn't it. He hadn't even realised that Harry still missed his old life; as he'd just pointed out, it had been five years since the end of the war, and Tom's victory.

Harry stared at him, apparently not expecting Tom to ask him how he wanted the situation to be fixed. Or perhaps he was as clueless as Tom.

"I want…" Harry shook his head and looked away.

"What do you want, Harry?"

"I want to go outside, Tom. Beyond the Manor grounds. I want to see my friends, get a job, and… I want to live."

Tom couldn't allow that, but he stopped himself from saying as much immediately. Harry was his Horcrux—his only remaining one—and Tom had to keep him safe. Going out into the world, getting an undoubtedly dangerous job… Tom couldn't let him do it.

But perhaps… Perhaps there was a compromise.

"What about if you come out with me?" he offered. "I'll take you to see your friends, or preferrably, they could visit you here. You can come with me to functions, as long as you promise to remain by my side while not on the Manor grounds. You know that I cannot allow you complete freedom, harry. You are entirely too vulnerable, which makes me vulnerable, but I do not see why you cannot accompany me. So I may keep you safe."

Harry tilted his head, but there was a glint in green eyes that had been dulled for weeks, and Tom already knew he'd won.

"I can go out?"

"With me," Tom pressed forcibly.

"Ron and Hermione can visit me here?"

He nodded, knowing that he'd have to warn his Death Eaters thoroughly about causing them harm.

Slowly, a small smile grew on Harry's face. "Thank you, Tom."

Tom smiled slyly, an idea crossing his mind. Perhaps both of them could get what they wanted. He nodded. "I'll have the consort ring brought from the vaults immediately."

"I—wait, what?" Tom watched as Harry struggled with his words. "Tom, we're not, I'm not—" he stuttered, before he cut himself off, staring at Tom.

"You'll need a reason to be by my side so frequently," Tom pointed out with a smug smirk fixed firmly on his face. "And… let us just say it's not the first time the thought has crossed my mind."

He watched as thought after thought crossed Harry's mind, clearly displayed on his face. It was always fun watching Harry work through things. Given Tom spent the majority of his time around Slytherin's, it was sometimes nice to talk to someone that didn't have a poker face.

Eventually, Harry seemed to settle on an answer and he looked back at Tom. "Okay. Get me the ring then."

A whimsical tune played as Tom walked towards the music room, and he smiled, rolling his eyes. Before he'd approached, Harry had been playing something peaceful and melodic. It was that damn cat of his, Tom was sure of it. The thing had a sixth-sense for when Tom wanted to see Harry.

He opened the door to the music room and slipped inside to see Harry watching the door with an amused grin on his face. Tom just shook his head at him, and approached the piano bench Harry sat at.

He leant down to press a soft kiss to Harry's cheek. "Hello Beloved," he murmured.

Harry's fingers slipped on the keys, and he stopped playing, instead laughing and turning to face Tom. "Hi," he murmured, leaning into the older man briefly. "You look very handsome today."

"Time for you to do the same, dearest," Tom replied, reaching up to stroke a hand through Harry's hair. "You have an hour to prepare yourself for tonight's ball."

Harry groaned. "Another ball?"

"And one in your honour," Tom said, smiling. "It is your birthday, my love. Allow me to celebrate you."

"Did you invite—"

"Mr Weasley and Mrs Granger-Weasley will be there," Tom promised. "As will some of your other friends. For tonight, my dear, you have your freedom, so long as you promise that you will remain in the ballroom."

"I promise," Harry agreed. "As long as you promise to save me a dance."

Tom smiled. "My entire dance-card is for you and you alone."


Written For:

Lyric Alley: 5. When I am drowning in this silence

Amber's Anime Adventure: 21. Animal: Cat

Days of the Year: 30. January 24th - Compliment Day: Write about giving someone a compliment.

National Hobby Month: 11. Playing an instrument

Appreciate a Dragon Day: 20. Jabberwock: Whimsical

Colours: 3. Burgundy

Crystals & Gemstones: 14. Green Opal: (word) Heartache

365: 104. Ludicrous

Musical Yearly: 2. 70's: American Pie: The day the music died.

Insane House: 478. Harry/Tom