Thank you, everyone, for the support of this story. It makes me very happy to see so many people enjoying my friend's birthday gift and I won't lie, just something I've written in general. And thank you so much for reviews. I love reviews, even if it's just "update" or "good". I'm a pathetic creature who needs encouragement. Actually, I think most writers do...does not justify that, just saying.

Warnings: It's shonen ai, yaoi, slash, Harry Potter/ Tom Riddle

Notes: (X) is pov change and or time jump

Chapter, 3

The entire room filled with applause. "Now, I know all of you are quite excited about this year's awards. There were so many exciting breakthroughs, discoveries, and an overwhelming amount of helpful healers this year! There's no telling who will win an award!" He threw his hands into the air, the crowd screaming.

What is this, a concert? Harry knew the awards were important to a lot of people, but to think that these healers spent their entire year working hard to possibly obtain some recognition was just sad. His father was always acknowledged for his work as an Auror, regardless if he just helped someone out or caught a relatively bad wizard. Healers helped people every day and deserved to be recognized for that.

"What's wrong," Tom had leaned in towards Harry, his mouth close to Harry's ear.

Harry gave a quick look around. His parents and Dumbledore were leaning forward in their seats, eyes glued to the stage. Harry was sure they wouldn't notice if he kicked the table over on top of them and set it on fire.

"This is kind of pathetic, isn't it?"

Tom smirked.

"Whatever do you mean? Healers deserve some sort of recognition, don't they," he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but this? This is a joke. They should be getting recognition every day from the people they help, not once a year in some kind of flashy extravaganza."

"I do believe you may be smarter than I was giving you credit for."

Harry scowled, both annoyed and pleased at Tom's words. He didn't want his approval and yet, he craved it more than anything right now. How was it so easy to fall into Tom's traps?

"Why are you such a git?"

"I only seem that way, because my intelligence far exceeds most of the people in this room. In truth, I'm merely being rational—"

"Says the guy who decides he wants to date me after a single run in at a bookstore."

A blush crossed Tom's features and vanished just as quick.

"I had not planned that, but…" He gave a small shrug. "What can I say? The way you acted was adorable. And imagine my delight when I followed you out of the bookstore and saw we were staying at the same inn."

He stalked me!? Was it really stalking if the person in question had to return to the same building as you? But, Tom said he'd followed Harry. Again, all Harry could do was stare. What kind of creature was sitting next to him? His struggle to not jump Tom at the bookstore had come off as adorable? Draco and he had been followed, unknowingly, back to the inn? Had he listened to their conversation? Not the beginning of it, there was no way. Tom had still been in the bookstore. But, what about the rest of it?

"Our first award will be presented to the best breakthrough in healing advancements!"

"You seem bothered."

"I…don't know." It was too much. Not just now, but his entire summer holiday that was just barely passed the twenty-four-hour mark. To think yesterday morning he'd been on the Hogwart's Express talking with his friends, none the wiser to all the crazy things he'd be enduring as soon as he got off.

I shouldn't have left the school. Or he could have tried walking home. Sure he would have gotten lost, he might not have even made it home at all, that probably would have been for the best. He could have wandered the streets of London until he stumbled into Diagon Alley. There, he could have wrote Sirius and been spared for whatever it was that he was currently dealing with it. Hermione would have called it a situation, but situations ended. His seemed to keep going and getting worse as it did.

"And the award goes to, TOM RIDDLE!"

Tom let out a sigh.

"I told them I didn't want the reward. I'll be right back." He stood up, looking like he had to tolerate some awful task, and strode towards the stage while the hundreds, maybe it was thousands now, of witches and wizards cheered. He moved through the chairs and tables, Harry watching his every move.

He was in town to receive an award, he thought blinking. It wasn't the highest prestige award to be offered at F.A.I.R.Y., but still a reward none the less. He was glad he hadn't tried to use his mother's own win to put Tom in his place. He would have looked like an idiot.

"Is that healing ointment that important," Harry asked Dumbledore. The headmaster was clapping and cheering louder than anyone around them.

"This award wasn't for the healing ointment," Dumbledore said, a large smile on his face. "It was for a cure for the Wizarding flu."

A cure…? Tom was maybe a year older than he was and he was creating cures for magical diseases?

"Within the end of the year, Wizarding flu will be completely eradicated," Dumbledore said proudly.

Harry stared at the headmaster dumbfounded. This arsehole really was a genius. Tom stood on the stage, the people around them clapping. He looked bored, maybe even annoyed. The wizard announcing names shoved a large trophy, a gold wand and potion bottle crisscrossing ontop a black square pedestal, into Tom's hands.

Tom must have said some words, Harry was sure, but he couldn't remember them. What he did remember was the large smile that graced Tom's features. The witches and wizards around him whispering in delight, their voices almost giddy as they spoke of how wonderful Tom was for his contributions. How wonderful it was that there was a cure for the Wizarding flu. How amazing Tom must be. Harry agreed with them. Tom was amazing. So why was someone so brilliant wasting his time on someone like Harry?

Tom returned to the table, trophy in hand. He tossed it to Dumbledore like it was something unworthy of him before sitting back down.

"Be careful with that," Dumbledore said.

"Why?"

"It's an honor to receive such an award," Dumbledore said glaring at his adopted son. "You worked hard on that cure."

"No, I didn't," Tom said his voice flat. "I read the research from a good ten other healers that knew what they were doing and compiled them. The cure was already found; it just needed to be put together."

"And you were the only one capable of putting it together," Dumbledore said.

Tom rolled his eyes and grabbed Harry's hand. The Gryffindor shot up in his seat, Tom laughing.

"Did my amazing speech and good looks up there hypnotize you?" His eyes scanned Harry, his smile growing as he did.

I didn't hear a word you said, Harry thought deciding he shouldn't admit to that. After all the rewards were handed out, the ceremony would be over. That's all he needed to get through. This night, whether it was some half dream or half nightmare would end and he could try to enjoy the rest of his summer holiday.

He watched other healers parade onto the stage, but he wouldn't be able to tell anyone what any of them looked like or what they'd said. Tom's attention kept shifting from the announcer to Harry. Harry heard his mother's name called out and heard Tom say congratulations. He clapped and tried hard to listen to his mother's speech, but his mind just would not focus. Just hearing that Tom had managed to find a cure had somehow broken his brain and he didn't understand why. It wasn't like he'd ever believed Tom and him were equals or had anything in common once he'd found out who he was. Yet somehow seeing Tom receive an award during F.A.I.R.Y. destroyed what little hope he had had about any kind of relationship between them. Harry was not smart enough. Hermione probably wasn't smart enough.

"Are you okay?" Harry turned. Tom was looking at him with what looked like genuine concern. "You haven't said a word since the ceremony started."

"Yeah…Sorry." He was sorry he'd ever seen Tom. That for some reason Tom thought they'd make a good couple. He would never be able to understand the way Tom thought or how he did the amazing things he did. Tom was destined for far greater things and people. The realization that they weren't just slightly different, but in completely different dimensions hurt. The sooner he could get away, the sooner he could begin healing. With any luck, he'd completely forget about Tom during his stay in Switzerland.

Tom lifted Harry's hand and kissed it, Harry's face flushing.

"If something's wrong, tell me."

"It's nothing; I'm just not a fan of gatherings like this." Not really a lie. He despised gatherings like this. A quick look at his father told him he was not alone. His dad was rapping his fingers on the table in fast repetition. The chances that the table under the cloth was damaged was high. His mother had found out fast enough that the Potter men were not proper gentlemen and taking them to social gatherings that required any sort of manners beyond the norm was pushing it. She had given in quite fast, and now only took them to events she considered of utmost importance. Harry definitely believed this to be one of those times, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it. Especially not when his mental state was a complete mess.

"Your mother's already accepted her award, why don't we go outside for some air?"

The sentence tore at Harry in ways he'd never expected. He wanted an excuse to bolt from the stuffy atmosphere, the looks he sometimes noticed from complete strangers, despite behaving. The ones that told him he didn't belong and never would. But, the escape came at the cost of having to endure alone time with Tom outside. Something he would have gladly accepted if he thought they'd actually remain together once this ceremony ended.

He frowned, his hand tightening around Tom's own. It was stupid. He hardly knew Tom, beyond all the facts that he'd learned that evening, which was only enough to tell him that Tom was out of his league. He didn't want them to part ways and yet he did. None of it made any sense. If he had a choice, he'd get a time turner and stop all of this from happening. He'd go back far enough to yell at himself to study for his O.W.L.S. harder and then, fight or no fight with his parents, lock himself in the bedroom at the inn. Then he would only meet Tom in passing at the awards ceremony and there would be no illusion of a relationship between them.

Harry looked up vacantly when he felt a tug on his arm. He shook his head trying to guess how long he'd been obsessing over his thoughts. Long enough it seemed, because all the candles in the room had relit and people were chatting again, others leaving. F.A.I.R.Y was over. His father was on one side of him looking at him with worry, Tom on the other.

"You okay," James asked. "I know you're not a fan of these get-togethers. Why don't we get some ice cream?"

Right, because ice cream would fix everything. The frozen treat would somehow wash away all memories of him being in Wiltshire.

"Not tonight." He stood up, his father looking alarmed now.

"No ice cream?"

Harry closed his eyes. His father probably wanted ice cream more than he did. Maybe the dessert would make him feel better. A small dose of sugar ingested away from the awards ceremony might make things seem a little better. Perhaps he was taking everything too seriously anyway. Tom only seemed like such a big deal to him, because he'd actually shown some interest in Harry. He didn't know if it was real or not, but it had nothing to do with him being a Quidditch player at school. He wasn't obsessed with Tom, he just liked the idea that someone wanted to date him. There would be others. Maybe when he went back to school he would try dating one of the girls who only started talking to him once he became a star Quidditch player. After a few dates, it might actually lead to a real relationship.

"You're right, I probably could use some ice cream."

His father's eyes brightened, the concern vanishing from his face.

"Perfect! I'll go tell your mother!" He vanished into a group of people leaving Harry alone with Tom.

"….Your father is rather immature," Tom said shaking his head. "Not that I'm one to talk. I tend to leave any sanity I have behind where puddings are concerned."

Harry looked at Tom, really looked at him. He wanted to make sure the teen's image would forever be in his mind so he could freely daydream, at least until he went back to school and acquired an actual girlfriend. He doubted anyone on earth had the same chiseled cheekbones or alluring red eyes. His eyelashes were long, beautiful, just like his thick black hair.

STOP IT! He'd managed to get his entire body temperature to skyrocket in a matter of seconds.

"He can be," Harry agreed trying to get his emotions under control. "He likes pranking people and when he gets with Sirius and Remus, it can get real bad." He laughed despite everything else running through his mind. Sirius and James were horrible when left alone and often did their best to include Harry in whatever mischief they were getting themselves into. If Remus was present he sometimes stopped them, but more often Sirius managed to convince his lover to join in and well, that was that. When they had Remus' brains helping them, the world was at their mercy.

"I feel like I've heard the name Sirius before," Tom said.

"Probably, he's from the Black family. They're an old wizarding family and like to think they're better than everyone else. Sirius is great, he's my godfather. His brother was a git at first, but he came around after he moved out of his parent's house. At least that's what Sirius said. I've only met him once." The one time he'd met Regulus had been at a gathering at Sirius' house. The man said maybe twenty words the entire time and spent most of it sitting in a chair alone in Sirius' kitchen. The only words he'd said to Harry was "hello."

Tom nodded.

"I've heard of the Black family. They've contributed to quite a few…choice causes," he said taking obvious care of his word choice.

"Sirius won't have anything to do with his parents. He works as an Auror with my dad. He moved out when he was still in school into my dad and grandparent's house. He moved out because Remus refused to stay the night at dad's house." Harry hadn't been born during that time, but he'd heard plenty of jokes that referenced those times. Sirius had told him the whole story anyway years ago when Harry asked how Sirius had ever gotten Remus to agree to live with him. The story had lasted well into the night, Sirius not wanting to skip a single detail.

"You really care about them," Tom said, his voice quiet now.

"Yeah, they're my family," Harry said surprised.

"How long until you'll talk about me that way?"

Harry felt a jolt surge through his body.

"Wh, what?"

"You speak of Sirius and this Remus with a smile on your face, with warmth in your voice. You're smiling. All I've seen you do the last two days is get angry and yell at people."

"Well yeah, I've been having a bad start to my summer holiday," Harry said. He'd been hit with one problem after another the second he stepped off the Hogwart's Express. No one could expect him to be in a good mood after all of that.

"Want to talk about it," Tom asked tilting his head.

Harry did want to talk about it, but doing so with Tom seemed pointless. He might have insight Harry would never have, but Tom was going to be out of his life in a good five minutes once his father returned. And whether or not Tom thought they were somehow a couple after knowing each other for a day and a half, really only a few hours, he was in all reality, a stranger. A handsome stranger, but a stranger nonetheless.

"It's okay. I'm sure things will look up once I get to Switzerland."

"The quality of their chocolate is amazing," Tom said smiling. "You won't know what to try first."

"Alright, Harry. I had to swear an oath we would not ruin our dress robes, but we are free to run," James said brightly walking towards them.

"Well, I guess I'll see you then," Harry said wondering if he should hold his hand out to Tom and shake it or what. "I don't know how long we'll be in Switzerland and I don't have an owl with me. So if you want I could send an owl when I arrive at the hotel."

Tom raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why?"

Harry winced at that.

So much for being subtle.

"R, right. Um, I'll…tell Dumbledore I said congratulations than the next time I read about you in the Daily Prophet?"

Tom's arms came up and he folded them across his chest, his eyes narrowing, left foot tapping. Harry had the eerie feeling he was seeing his mother in a male form that was three times as dangerous.

"So that's it? You're just going to leave—"

"I told you I was going to Switzerland," Harry said. It took all of his courage not to take a step back. Tom looked like he was going to murder every person still inside the building. A second later the storm passed, his eyes widening.

"Oh, Oh! You thought," he laughed the energy he'd been building in his body relaxing. He threw his arms around Harry and pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm going with you to Switzerland. There's no way I could tutor you through owls and as you pointed out, you have no idea how long you'll be gone. Besides," he pulled back grinning at Harry. "I could never pass up a chance to visit Switzerland." He draped an arm around Harry's shoulder and pulled the Gryffindor's frozen body towards him. "In fact, while you were in your little dream world, your mother told me what hotel you were staying at. Dumbledore's sending my reservation now."

Going…with…? Harry's mind could not process beyond that point. The words simply repeated in his head.

"About that," James said uneasily. "We actually have one more stop to make before we go to Switzerland." He coughed and kicked the floor lightly with his foot. If past actions were of any indication, this was not a good sign.

"Huh?" The tone of his father's voice had brought him somewhat back to his senses.

"Not another gathering," Harry said.

"No, not really. Just a few people," James said walking towards the exit.

Harry went after his father, Tom following.

I guess he's going with to get ice cream too, Harry thought. They were outside and going down the sidewalk before Harry managed to catch up with his father.

"Is it Sirius and Remus," Harry asked hopefully.

"How I wish it was," James said darkly and Harry's heart fell. He had really wanted to see his godfather and Remus before he went back to school. "Maybe we can get them to meet us in Switzerland or we can have a barbeque when we get back."

"So where are we going," Harry pressed.

"Little Whinging," James said as quietly as he could. Harry still heard those most dreadful words.

"WHAT!?"

Tom actually jumped at Harry's words.

"What's so bad about Little Whinging," he asked.

"It's not Little Whinging, it's who lives there," Harry groaned. "Why? Didn't we suffer enough at the awards ceremony? Didn't they say they never wanted to see us again, or any of our kind, for the rest of their lives, even if it meant certain death for them?" So, that's why they'd brought the car. His mother had known they'd have no choice, but to drive into Little Whinging or risk questions coming up for her dear sister and her family when they arrived without a vehicle. How could his mother do this to them? Didn't she love them? Care about them even a tiny bit? Didn't she at least like them? What had he done to deserve such consistent bad luck?

"Well, your mother wants to attempt to forge a truce," James said. Every word seemed to be a struggle for him to get out.

"Couldn't she just go alone and meet us in Switzerland?"

"Harry, it wouldn't be fair to leave your mother to fend for herself," James said, a small smile on his lips.

"It's her family," Harry said stressing the word her. "Aunt Petunia was quite clear I was no nephew of hers and that she would never consider you a relative in any sense."

James thought about that and grinned.

"Probably lucky there," he said laughing. "Come on, it won't be too bad. Your mother wants us to behave, which means we can't actually do anything, but the threat is still there."

"Care to fill me in," Tom asked when Harry had been reduced to a walking blank statue. It just wasn't fair. None of this was fair.

"Family, mum's family. They're a bunch of snobbish Muggles. They hate everything to do with magic or anything odd. They tolerate mum because she's aunt Petunia's sister, but they pretend dad and I don't exist."

"On good days," James said happily. "They acknowledge us on the bad ones."

Harry gave a small grunt in agreement. When they acknowledged Harry and his father, it was usually to throw some horrible snide remark their way. Again, that was during mutual times. At their worst, casual meetings turned out into huge fights, often with aunt Petunia screaming, his mother crying, and his uncle and father yelling at each other that each other's family was to blame for the fight. Then there was Dudley, his whale-sized older cousin who, from what he'd gathered, was the town bully. He was one of the reasons Sirius had taught Harry how to defend himself a little physically, because as much as he wanted to, Harry had promised his mother he would never hurt her family with magic. There was also that pesky little law about Muggles and magic and underage usage that actually kept his promise enforced.

"I thought you'd take it better over ice cream. We're heading over there tomorrow."

"Is there anywhere else we're going before Switzerland," Harry asked, his teeth gritted. He knew he should have just stayed with Ron or better yet, he should have gone to Sirius' house from Ron's. If his parents couldn't bother to remember to pick him up from the train station or have someone else do it, they didn't deserve his presence either.

"No, think of it as eating your vegetables to get to your pudding."

Harry wanted to say he liked vegetables, or most of them anyway, and the Dursleys were no vegetables, but didn't. It wouldn't do him any good. He would be dragged to Little Whinging whether he wanted to or not, kicking and screaming, or sulking in the back of the car. He wished he were of age already. Then he wouldn't have to deal with these kinds of things. He could tell his parents no and just not go. He could meet them in Switzerland after they dealt with his mother's family.

"It's just a few hours, I promise," James said eyeing his son. "Even I have my limits and I told your mother, one dinner."

"At a restaurant," Harry asked, pleaded. His mother's family was of the "proper" type and wouldn't dream of causing a scene inside of a restaurant. They would scowl, give disapproving looks, and manage quiet snorts of disgust because just seeing Harry and James during dinner was far more revolting than having cockroaches and maggots running or wiggling across the table and silverware.

The one time they'd tried to eat at his aunt and uncle's home had been a disaster. His father had made a comment about putting away a wizard who'd been tormenting some Muggles only for his uncle Vernon to say something along the lines like "aren't all wizards like that?" James had immediately defended his magical community and a war between the two men had started followed close by the two women. Harry had been delighted that after it was over, he didn't see that part of the family for over a year.

"Harry, even I wouldn't have agreed to go if it wasn't at a restaurant," James said.

"Okay…"

They found the ice cream shop soon after that. James paid for all three of them to have two scoops each on waffle cones, which Tom thanked James a little too much for.

"Let's find a seat," James said. Finding one was not hard. The small shop was empty save a few couples and a family of three sitting in the back. They sat down in a booth next to the large windows looking out onto the street, Tom and Harry on one side, James on the other

"So, I guess I should get right down to it. You have a crush on my son," James asked raising an eyebrow at Tom.

Harry crossed his arms and dropped his head onto the table, a loud thud reverberating through the shop. He was sure people were looking at him, but that was the last thing he cared about.

"I do," Tom said unphased. "Is that a problem?"

"No, I'm just curious. I am his father and you two just met today. Just seems a little sudden." Harry mentally groaned. He allowed one eye to look up at his father from over his crossed arms. James looked like he was having the time of his life and Harry wanted to kick him for it.

"So he's told me," Tom said leaning back in the booth. "I'm not interested in wasting time. He caught my interest and so far, I've been pleasantly surprised."

Sure, talk about me like I'm not here, Harry thought bitterly. And pleasantly surprised about what? He felt something cold and sticky drip down his hand and sat up frowning. His ice cream had started to melt.

"He's a unique one, that's for sure, probably my fault," James said. "Good luck."

"I'm not that bad," Harry said glaring at his father. He grabbed a napkin, wiped off the melted ice cream from his hand, and grabbed another one to wrap around his cone. Who was his father to talk about being difficult or unique? His father was a nightmare to deal with when he was in his prank mode or left alone too long with Sirius. Harry didn't lose his mind when he was with Ron or Hermione.

"Of course not, you've been nothing, but a wonderful treat this whole holiday so far." He winked at Tom, Harry growling.

"And whose fault is that? You forgot me at the train station," Harry shouted. "I waited over an hour for you guys to come and get me, you didn't even bother to send word to the Weasley family to take me home! We thought something horrible had happened to you!"

The grin slipped off James' face, for once he looked serious.

"Harry, I had no idea you were that worried about us." He patted Harry on the arm gently. "You should have said something."

"Why? You two were fine," he muttered. "I was worried for nothing."

"You left him at the train station," Tom asked looking from Harry to James.

"We did apologize," James said. "His mother and I got caught up in the excitement of her winning the Superiority in the Healing Arts Award. She'd been nominated a few years ago but didn't win and she didn't even know she was nominated this year."

Tom shook his head, his arm going around Harry's waist.

"You still don't forget your only son, because of an award. You should have been thinking about him more than ever and sharing the news with him," Tom said.

"I guess," James sighed. "We went straight from surprised to panic, because we'd packed for Switzerland, but not an awards ceremony." He seemed to hesitate after that and decided not to go on. "It was a stupid thing for us to let happen."

"Yes, it was," Tom said before Harry could utter a word. "See to it that it doesn't happen again."

"Of course sir," James said starting to laugh again.

Harry noted the dark look in Tom's eyes. He did not seem to be joking. A warmth Harry had felt before from both his parents and Sirius when he was younger swept over him. He couldn't quite explain it, trust, hope, the expectation of being protected, and a hint of jealousy. Even though he knew this entire supposed relationship would not last, he wanted this protection. He wasn't stupid though. He knew it was his job to provide someone else with protection. Still, whoever ended up with Tom, as their forever partner would be lucky.

"I'll let you two kids have your fun. Maybe you can actually get to know each other. Harry, be back before we leave in the morning." He laughed again sliding out from the booth. "I can't wait to tell Sirius how much he's rubbed off on you." James left with that, Harry glaring in his father's direction.

"So, your horrible summer holiday started with you being forgotten at a train station," Tom said after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. No point in denying it.

"How did you get home?"

"My friend's mum took pity on me," Harry said. He licked some of his ice cream, butter pecan. It didn't make his bitter feelings ease up.

"So you were forgotten at a train station, forced to go home with a friend, managed to get home from there?"

Harry nodded.

"Where you were assaulted with the news you would be going to an awards ceremony, which you hate."

"Yes."

"And now you find out you have to endure a visit with family members whom you despise, and the feeling is mutual on their side?"

"That sounds about right." Tom had conveniently not mentioned that he'd intruded into Harry's life, caused him enough grief to last him a year or more, had broken his glasses, and had destroyed what was left of his mental state in a matter of hours, but he was sure visiting his aunt and uncle would be far worse. Tom at least thought he liked Harry.

He sighed and decided to abuse his situation by dropping his head onto Tom's shoulder.

"I would have cursed Dumbledore if he'd forgotten about me."

"I believe it," Harry said remembering Dumbledore's words at the tavern.

"Well, even if your parents are foolish enough to forget you, I will not." Tom moved slow, Harry lifting his head up, and climbed out of the booth. He held his hand out to the Gryffindor and helped him out of the booth.

"Hmph." Harry had wanted to stay leaning on Tom. I guess he's only okay with small amounts of touching. He wasn't sure if it was him or if Tom just wasn't a touchy person. He remembered how shocked Tom had been when he'd fallen on him, how he'd taken his hand away when Dumbledore had approached them at the awards ceremony. Perhaps he just didn't approve of public affection? Stop it; I know perfectly well, why he pulled away. There would be no protection, no one watching his back. Tom was a superb actor and while Harry had been fooled, no doubt because of all the shocking news he'd gotten in such a close time frame, he needed to get himself under control. Tom wasn't going to be waiting for him in Switzerland when they left the Dursleys, and he wasn't going to tutor him or write to him. All of this was just part of Tom's game. He would play his part until they parted ways and that was that.

They didn't talk as they walked back to the inn. Harry kept expecting Tom to just walk off without a word until he remembered they were staying at the same inn. The thought annoyed him. Maybe he could stay at Draco's and Sirius could come fetch him? Or even better, the inn might be connected to the Floo Powder network. He could just head straight over to his Godfather's house; send an owl after to his parents after he arrived, if his parents even realized he was gone.

The entrance to the inn and its lobby was bright. Tom stopped at the staircase and gave Harry yet another look over.

"What?"

"I'm simply debating something…" He moved towards Harry and then stopped. "I suppose I've done enough."

You know you have you asshole.

"Thanks."

"I'll be sure to talk to you before you leave in the morning. Perhaps…" his words trailed off and he sighed. "We'll see."

"Yeah," Harry said. "We'll see." They parted ways, Tom going up the steps, Harry down the hall. It'd taken longer than he'd thought, but he'd finally done it. He'd gotten away from Tom. The manipulation king had gone back to his own world and Harry could focus on a far more pressing matter. Avoiding the Dursleys. He didn't know how he was going to manage it, but he would. For his sake, he needed to, because he didn't think he could handle any more stress.

He entered the room they were renting, surprised to see both his parents awake and waiting in bed. They both turned to look at him when he stepped in, his father especially looked shocked.

"I told you, you had till tomorrow morning to come back, why didn't you make a run for it?"

Harry paled at that. Had his father really given him a chance at not going to the Dursleys and he'd stupidly come back?

"But, I mean," he screwed his face up. Sure, he'd thought about it, intended to act upon it if given the chance, but he hadn't even realized he'd had a chance. "I—"

"Harry, I'm joking, what's wrong," his father asked sitting up.

"Nothing…I just…I don't want to go," he said moving towards his bed. He could feel hot tears struggling to come out and with sheer stubbornness refused to let them out.

"Harry, it's only a few hours," Lily said getting up and sitting beside Harry. She wrapped her arms around him and his emotional wall broke, tears streaming down his face. "Harry, come on now. This is a bit much for just going to see your aunt and uncle."

"They hate us," he said angrily. Of course, he knew the real reason he was crying. His fake relationship had lasted less than ten hours, but it'd felt so real and he'd wanted it more than he was willing to tell anyone. Maybe he'd let Ron know, but probably not.

"Hey, I have an idea, why don't we ask Tom to come with," James said. "That way you have a friend, eh boyfriend, with you?"

Harry shot the darkest look he could muster at his father. It must have been a good one, because his father threw his hands up in surrender and backed away to the other bed.

"I promise Harry, it gets better," his mother whispered. "You've had a bad start to your summer, and your father and I are mostly to blame for that." She began stroking his hair. It was as if he was six years old again and he'd gotten hurt on his fake broom. "How about we let you choose the restaurant we go to?"

"No, I don't want to be held responsible for making that decision," he said offering his mother a smile.

"Good point, Petunia can choose," she said returning the smile. "Feeling better?"

"A bit."

"Go take a shower and get to bed. We'll leave early and do something fun before we visit. I promise we'll have a quick dinner so we can get to Switzerland and enjoy dessert."

That brightened Harry's mood more. He slipped out from his mother's embrace, still embarrassed that he'd allowed Tom to get into his head so easily, and stepped into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

(X)

Click….click….click…

Harry frowned turning over in his bed.

Click…

He opened his eyes, the room a blurry mess between the darkness and him not wearing his glasses. He grabbed the glasses from the bedside table and slowly sat up. The only light was coming from a dim candle in the bathroom.

Click.

He climbed off the bed. The sound was coming from the sliding glass doors that lead outside. The curtains had been pulled over them so no one could see inside. He doubted anything dangerous was on the other side of the door, but just in case, he grabbed his wand from the same bedside table his glasses had been on and approached the door. Wand ready he pulled back the curtain and almost fell back and screamed.

Tom was standing outside, his wand lit and looking rather impatient.

Harry jerked a look behind him. The scream must have only been in his head because his parents were still fast asleep. He looked around until he found the lock on the door and undid it. Tom was kind enough to open the door for him and pull him outside. He stumbled out through the door, Tom closing it behind him.

"Wh, what are you doing here," he demanded. This wasn't right. Their parting at the staircase was supposed to be the end of it, the finale. Never again unless by some cruel fate coincidence. No, he was positive he had not pissed off fate so bad that, that would happen.

"I couldn't sleep," Tom said angrily. He dropped his wand into his robe pocket, the only light source now coming from the stars above them. "I've never, once, in all the relationships I've ever been in, had to just walk away when the date ended."

"I'm sorry," Harry asked blinking. Tom was acting like this was somehow his fault, but the older teen had been the one to walk away, not Harry. Harry had wanted, despite his better judgment, to spend as much time with Tom as possible.

"You should be," he hissed. He grabbed Harry's chin and held it tight. Harry tensed, waiting for Tom to do something. Dumbledore's words crossing his mind, begging Tom not to harm anyone. "I understand you want to take this slow, but I am not, I should be. I said I would be." He released Harry's chin. "But I won't." Harry didn't have time to react. Tom was in front of him and then their lips were touching. Harry was sure he was dying, that there was no way his body could withstand the heat rising within him. Tom's arms went around his waist, somehow pulling Harry closer. He bit down on Harry's lower lip. Harry had no experience with kissing, but luckily, his body seemed to know how to respond. His own arms went around Tom, and he leaned forward, the kiss deepening.

They broke apart gasping, Harry wishing it could have gone on, but breathing was important and perhaps if Tom had taken the time to come visit him in the early hours of the morning, all because they hadn't kissed when they'd separated, perhaps he did have a chance.

Tom licked his lips, his eyes falling onto Harry.

"You've had practice."

"No," Harry said. "I just…no." He looked away.

"No?" Tom was beside him and he kissed Harry again, this time slow.

Harry's hand came up to Tom's neck.

When their lips separated again, Harry wasn't sure how long they'd been snogging, but the sky was beginning to lighten. Harry dared to place his head on Tom's shoulder again. This time the teen did not attempt to move away from him.

"That was a much better promise to see you again," Tom said lowering his mouth to Harry's ear. "Tell me, did our original departure leave a bad taste in your mouth?"

"Yes…"

"Is this okay," he asked and Harry nodded quickly. "Good." He kissed Harry's neck and then reluctantly, pushed Harry to arm's length. "I do want to see you again."

"Me too," Harry said giving in. There was no point in having pride. He was never coming back from this one. He didn't have the energy and while he was being honest, he really didn't want to. "My dad suggested you come with, to Little Whinging and then we can all go to Switzerland," he said. He hadn't intended to ever let Tom know his father had offered such a thing, but what did he have to lose? If Tom was playing some awful mind game, Harry had lost hours ago.

"That might not be a bad idea," he said, his fingers running through Harry's hair. "I admit, I'm not entirely convinced I should let you out of my sight."

"No one is going to harm me," Harry laughed. "But I'd appreciate the company. Maybe if you're with me, seeing my mother's family won't be so bad."

"If your father is any indication, I'm not sure even I'm that good, but I can try." He kissed Harry again, on the cheek this time. "I really do not wish to leave your side."

The sky was getting bright now, birds chirping.

"Will Dumbledore care if you come with us?"

Tom chuckled at that.

"Let him try and stop me." He reclaimed Harry's lips one more time before finally taking a few steps back. "I won't stop if I don't leave and I do believe I need to get ready…."

Harry could see everything outside now and was surprised to notice dark circles under Tom's eyes.

"Didn't you sleep?"

"…No. I tried," he said frowning. "But that parting was too…final. I thought about coming downstairs and getting you, but I didn't know your room number. Finally, I forced it out of the manager." He rubbed his eyes with one hand. "By the time I had put my plan into action, it was well past midnight and I thought I should wait till morning, but I couldn't so…here we are."

Harry grinned at him. So, Tom had been as distraught as he had. He doubted the older teen had surrendered his dignity and cried while Dumbledore held him, but at the least, Harry had kept him up all night. That was good. It meant Harry had a lasting effect on him.

"We're taking a car, so you can rest in there."

"A muggle car," Tom asked his curiosity showing. "Why?"

"Because mum doesn't want to upset her sister," Harry said rolling his eyes. "We'll have the whole back seat to ourselves and a good hour and forty minutes until we get there."

"But we're only entertaining these Muggles for an hour or so," Tom said.

"That's all I'm entertaining them for," Harry said. If his mother lied or tried to extend their time there, that was fine, she could do whatever she wished with them. He would be in the car or in Switzerland.

"I'll see you soon." He gave Harry one last smile and walked off towards the inn entrance. Harry quickly went back inside the room and locked the door again. His parents were still sleeping. A good sign because he was sure Tom and he hadn't been quiet. Grinning he climbed back into his bed.

(TBC)