Here is the next chapter. For future reference Tom Senior is Tom Riddle and Tom Junior is Harry Potter. For the purposes of ease in this story Tonks will be in her third year now not her last one. Please read and review thanks, love Angel x
The Dursleys had come a long way since Harry had first entered their lives. They had learned that not all magic was awful or dangerous and that some of it did indeed have a place in society when used properly. They regularly asked him to do things such as fixing things and they'd saved a fortune thanks to their nephew. They liked Tom very much now. They would never be able to love him but he was liked and appreciated which went a long way towards healing any rifts that may have ever existed between them. Sirius understood more what had happened and had been stunned to learn that not only did they know of Severus Snape but that some of it had even been his fault. This disturbed Sirius more than he cared to mention. He had since written to Severus to apologise for everything James had done stating that although he wasn't here any longer he would have wanted to apologise. He also apologised for having a hand in some of the pranks as well but said he'd suffered in Azkaban for something he'd not done and wished to make amends in every area of his life he could. To say that Severus had been stunned totally would have been an understatement. For the first time ever he sat at the heads table his mouth hanging agape in shock thankfully though no students had been present in the hall when he'd received the letter.
He was in awe of the apology having seen it coming from nowhere. He responded to say he accepted the apology and had moved on but that if Sirius ever shocked him that greatly again he'd kick his arse from here to kingdom come. Sirius laughed when he received the response. Tom knew Severus worked at the school but had no idea he was in fact the head of Slytherin house. It was something he would be very excited about once he'd learned of it of course. He woke up in the morning practically bouncing with energy as Petunia and Vernon giggled at him. He was off to school and Sirius would be there to pick him up at any minute. He had an odd request of Sirius he hoped the man wouldn't mind. Sirius knocked on the door as Tom ran out into his arms his trunk shrunk in his pocket. Sirius looked at the bouncing child before him and giggled.
"Calm down Tom or you'll scare your familiars!" he chided lightly as Tom sagged a little bit looking at Demios who looked and said he felt a little nauseous from him jumping up and down.
"Sirius can you leave me at the muggle entrance to the station but go into the station ahead of me yourself. I want to experience entering it the muggle way so I can do it the magical way later on. Please do this for me!" he said as Sirius looked at him and smiled.
"Of course Tom now come here. We'll need to take the knightbus which will not be pleasant but so very fast. Say goodbye to your aunt and uncle and come with me!" he said as Tom turned hugging them both and left with Sirius who put his wand hand out as the purple triple decker pulled up before them.
"Hello Stan. Two to Kings Cross Station please and no hot chocolate for us today either!" he said paying an annoyed and stunned Stan as he helped them aboard. He hadn't even had the chance to ask them who they were or how they knew him before they were off. He tried to pry but Sirius gave him such an intense look that he merely huffed in anger and backed off. He so looked forward to being able to tell his wife who had been on the bus that day and now he couldn't. They arrived and made a beeline for the male toilets making sure no one was in there where they resized Tom's trunk and put it on a trolley which he brought in for Tom before heading through the barrier himself. Tom situated his trunk as he wanted it and let Demios out to fly to school ahead of him. He shrunk his cage and quickly placed it inside his trunk before setting Flora's cage on top of it. He exited the bathroom and headed in the direction of the platform entrance. As he was walking he heard her before he even saw her.
Tell me again kids which platform number is it and how do we get there? We wouldn't want any of these MUGGLES to see us now would we? She called out really loudly as many muggles looked at her as though she was insane and Tom face palmed. He sent a wandless stunner at her as she fell to the floor her family screaming all around her and drawing much more attention to themselves then necessary. He continued and as he got nearer he almost growled in rage again.
But mummy he must be here. Professor Dumbledore said I must become his friend and help him out no matter what. I am scared he's not here. What if he's afraid, confused and all alone? Oh dear!
Hermione darling calm down he'll show when it's time. We are early here after all.
You don't understand mum he knows nothing of the magical world he'll be so amazed by it all that he'll do many things wrong! I don't want to let Professor Dumbledore down. He's counting on me to guide poor Tom on the right path and be his friend. He's never had any of those and will indeed need some.
She didn't get to say much either as he wandlessly stunned her too before entering the platform with a smile. Everyone was stunned when no less than ten aurors appeared there exiting the platform and returning with a subdued Hermione and Molly Weasley and co. They all looked stunned and far too stunned to talk. Tom was rumoured to have messy hair and glasses which he did not so everyone seemed confused when it looked as though he wasn't coming to school. Hermione was utterly heartbroken. She'd failed and Professor Dumbledore would expel her as soon as she arrived because she'd not been able to locate Tom. He was actually stunned when she and Ron at separate intervals peeked their heads into his compartment looking highly put out when they saw that he had no messy hair and glasses. In fact it looked like someone had told them there wouldn't be any more Christmases. He chuckled at that and then scowled when Neville Longbottom who had a new wand of his own entered the compartment chasing after Trevor his toad who didn't seem to want to stay in his hands. Why in the hell didn't he have a terrarium for it? He sealed his door shut when he entered using an impervious charm so they wouldn't be disturbed. He used a quick spell to make Neville sleep.
"Lolly please tell me all about this sleeping boy and his pet?!" he asked as Lolly nodded and scanned him scowling.
"His name is Neville Longbottom and he has a toad but he doesn't want it. He wanted a cat but his vile uncle forced him to have a toad. His grandmother doesn't like the toad though!" she responded as he smirked. It was time to have fun.
"Well now we can't have a pureblood without what he wants because someone says he shouldn't have it. That's not on especially when the person who does so is as vile as you say. Take him to the Magical Menagerie and pick him up a cat which becomes his familiar. I will pay for it and everything he needs. After that let the toad go and make his grandmother think he always had one. I can tell from his mind he lives with her!" he said as Lolly smiled popping away but not with Neville surprising Tom as he'd not expected that. The toad was gone and she returned with a cage which glowed when it was near him. He made Neville always think he'd had a cat too. It was only twelve galleons and he would consider it a gift for now. After all as he'd learned at the bank this was his godbrother. Augusta was made to believe he'd always had a cat and Algernon was made to forget giving him the toad in the first place. Lolly used special charms for punishment on Algernon having seen in his mind what he'd done to Neville and so each time he ever thought of harming Neville again he'd be the one to suffer immediately. She was satisfied and left at once. Back on the train Tom removed the charms on the door and woke Neville again.
"Hello I'm Lord Tom Potter and it's a pleasure to meet you kind sir" he said extending his hand to Neville who gasped and took it in his hand properly.
"Hello Lord Tom Potter I am Heir Neville Longbottom. We are godbrothers although I must admit I didn't know it was you. I daresay anyone who has read those foolish childrens books about you will struggle to place you without the so called famous wild hair and glasses. Please call me Neville of Nev if you prefer!" he said kindly.
"Likewise Neville, you may call me Tom too. There is no need to be formal with family. I adore your cat what is her name?" he asked as Neville smiled at him taking the cat from the cage on his lap and smiling as he cuddled her the glee practically radiating from him. She was a gorgeous unique Bengal cat.
"Well I'm calling her Fauna because she is beautiful like the earth and loves gardening like me. I'm her familiar. Your cat is lovely too what's her name?" he asked stunned as Tom laughed.
"You will not believe it but her name is Flora. She was originally named after who I thought was the Nordic goddess of love, magic and divination but I have since learned that she is named after the goddess of flowers. I can't believe I made that error but it's ok now. I have two familiars actually. Flora here and my owl Demios who is flying ahead to the school. Demios was named after the god of terror because I thought it sounded cool. You're my first friend in our world Neville and I want you to know you may also use Demios at any point to write to your relatives ok?" he asked as Neville giggled.
"That's so awesome. I mean the god of terror and everything. Thank you so much. My grandmother will be delighted to hear from me. What house will you be in do you think?" he asked casually as Tom smiled. Before he could answer however Draco barged in Crabbe and Goyle at his sides attempting to look threatening but actually just looking highly confused and lost.
"Potter! What are you doing in here alone? Oh right yes Longbottom I'd not seen you there. Word had it you were a squib. Clearly Hogwarts is letting anyone in these days. How are mum and dad be sure to give them my regards oh that's right I forgot you can't can you? You see Potter you'll soon learn that there are some wizards who are better than others and I can help you out there!" he said pompously extending his hand as Tom looked at it briefly.
"Well thank you Mr Malfoy for saying you'll help me out. It was good of you to warn me against the bad types so I'll know what to look for next time. Might I suggest you look at a mirror (like you don't always carry one on you somewhere) and promptly get out? The next time you think to speak ill of someone's parents be sure no one knows about them first. You have all the tact of a troll attempting ballet. Gentlemen I am Tom Potter. I can see your friend or whatever he is to you didn't think to introduce you which is just bad manners all round. Twice you've slated me now. How long are you going to continue to screw up?" he ordered as Draco seemed to flounder.
"Yes well what house are you going into then?" he all but demanded.
"Mr Malfoy can you not ask something politely without demanding to know or do you actually need to use the toilet or something? As for me Neville I'll be in whichever house I am placed and I will not whine about it. What about you?" he asked ignoring a fuming Malfoy who hated being ignored so much. He was never ignored at home. His mother and father had told him Tom Potter would most likely become his friend and a family ally once he knew who he was and so on. It wasn't like that at all. Tom didn't care who he was once he'd learned about it and looked like he wanted nothing more than to dispose of him immediately. Draco realised that to Tom he looked like a bit of annoyance more than friendship material which he was furious about. Why weren't his parent's right? Why did no one he ever informed who he was actually care about it? No one gave two shits about him and it sucked. He was not used to being second best to anyone or ignored. It wasn't fair at all. Had he been at home he'd have thrown a massive tantrum and all would have been better ten minutes later when he got whatever it was he wanted.
"Well Tom I'll go into whatever house I am placed. I don't really mind. My parents were Gryffindors but I don't want to be in Gryffindor. I told my gran and she was ok with it when I said I wanted to be my own person and carve my own path whatever it happened to be. She tried to force me to use my dad's wand when I told her I couldn't form my own path with his wand and then I got one of my own. Malfoy you are right now one of the most heinous people I've ever met in my life. I could ask you how your aunt Bellatrix is but because I am better than that and indeed better than you I will not. Get out now before I curse you silly and take those two ridiculous beefcakes with you" he snapped waving his wand as Draco was kicked out and the door was slammed on his face. Draco was furious and tried to curse his way back in but was stopped by a prefect who moved him on quickly and quietly. The fact that it was Hufflepuff too was the icing on the cake. Neville burst into tears as soon as he was gone.
"I am so sorry Tom it's just so hard having my parents alive when they can never be a part of my life in the way I want. We know what that's like but people like him never will. I miss them so much. No one gets it. I am so sorry you lost your parents Tom!" he said hugging a stunned Tom who reciprocated likewise. Tom Riddle never would have hugged anyone but Tom Potter did it all the time because it satisfied him to do so.
"Oh Neville thank you so much. You never need to apologise to me. I know it's tough but we can support each other and get through this together. How about we become blood brothers? I've never had a brother and this way we can be close always no matter our house placement even if we're not together!" he said as a still slightly sobbing Neville dried his tears and agreed. Using their wands they both sliced each other's palms and held hands repeating the phrase Blood of my blood make a brother of thee three times in a row. They were stunned as their cuts healed and they were both surrounded with a golden glow. In fact their whole compartment was glowing. When the glow died down they could feel each other's emotions and tell what the other person felt upon command. It would remain off until one of them switched it on again but being surrounded by this much love and care was wonderful. Both boys were left healing in a way that neither of them suspected. It would gradually heal them as time went on. As the snack cart arrived they ordered some hot foods such as pumpkin pasties and sausage rolls and a few sweets for later. It was shaping up to be a great trip. They'd arrive in school shortly and both were bouncing on their seats with excitement.