Harry was six when he heard the voice for the first time. It had been one particularly hard day. He couldn't even remember why Aunt Petunia was mad at him. It must have been something awfully silly if Harry couldn't remember.

But he spent a good amount of time in the cupboard underneath the stairs crying. And suddenly an overwhelming sense of someone else was there. Harry hiccups as he readjusts his glasses to look around pensively. There was no one here.

And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something - no someone - was here. With him.

Do not fret. I mean you no harm.

There was warmth in the voice. Soothing as it reassured him. There was no doubt that this voice was very real and not some imaginary thing.

"Who - who are you?" Harry whispered so softly so his aunt and uncle wouldn't hear. His cousin's telly being so loud in the living room helped matters.

You can call me Tom, darling.

Darling? Isn't that reserved for women in reference to children? But there was no doubt the voice was a man's. There was something about the voice that Harry found trustworthy.

"Where are you?" Harry tried desperately to search for a face.

We share a body, dear Harry.

"How do you know my name?"

We share a mind, body and soul. But alas, I am my own person just as you are your own.

"I don't understand?" Harry frowned, feeling confused.

In due time you shall understand. For now you should rest. From now on you are not alone.

And thus Tom became part of Harry Potter's life. For years Harry kept this secret to himself. Tom made him swear that he tell no one about him. And as the years passed Tom taught him things.

Tom opened up Harry's eyes into the magical world. With Tom's help Harry learned spells and tricks. Without a wand he wasn't that great. Plus he was warned that any underage magic is frowned upon. And in some cases, serious punishments.

But that's not all Tom taught Harry.

He taught him how to outwit Dudley and his friends when they played their favorite past time. Soon Harry Hunting became less of a fun game and more of an inconvenient sport. And with Tom's guidence Harry used his brains to get out of every situation that made him uncomfortable.

As his eleventh birthday grew closer and closer, Harry felt waves of anxieties. Would his letter arrive? Would it ever come? He wanted nothing more than to see the castle with his own eyes. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Patience, darling. It should arrive soon. Tom would always whisper.

And then the day came. Harry happened to be the one given the task of picking up the mail. And quickly he shifted through the letters. To his amazement one was addressed to him. The envelope was made of a different kind of parchment paper. The green lettering was intricate and elaborate.

That's the acceptance letter, darling.

And so Harry quickly shoved it into his pocket. It was one of those moments where he was grateful to the clothes he wore were huge so as the letter wouldn't be too noticeable inside his pocket.

"What are you doing shifting through the mail, boy?" Vernon peered over, wondering what took him so long.

"Nothing in particular." Harry passed the rest of the letters along.

His uncle eyed him warily. Having spent years under Tom's guidance, Harry had perfected the mask to protect himself. He gave no emotion. Not even a flicker in his eyes would betray him. And it was enough to pass the test everytime.

Vernon let it go and sorted through the mail. He proudly proclaimed Dudley was accepted into some prestigious school. Petunia was quick to grow ecstatic while Dudley welcomed the praise and attention.

"Where did you get accepted into? I bet it's the one where they treat you like prisoners!" Dudley challenged.

"Actually, I've been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry just couldn't help himself. The looks on his aunt's and uncle's faces was worth it.

xXx

Getting his school supplies was a little tedious, but not impossible. Harry first tried asking his aunt and uncle dropping him off where he needed to go. When that didn't work he resorted to threats of sending letters to the Headmaster that they weren't forthcoming into his acceptance letter for Hogwarts.

In the end that worked well enough. Then came the first of September. Tom assured him how to approach the platform between 9 and 10 and just run through. Harry was unsure of it all, but in the end he made it.

And now he sat in a seat all by himself.

"I can't wait." Harry was beside himself and grinning.

Beware, Harry. The wizarding world knows of you.

"Yeah, I know. I defeated the Dark Lord and what not." He shook his head. He heard the tale multiple times.

Therefore there will be some who will want to be part of your fame. Tom warned.

"Excuse me? Have you seen a toad? Neville here lost it." A girl with bushy hair poked her head in. She didn't have any House colors, so she was another first year like him.

"No, I'm sorry." Harry shook his head.

"Keep an eye out, will you?" She asked before leaving.

Harry wondered whether she was really that confident of herself or she was coming off really snobby. It didn't matter to him. He wasn't interested in helping. He looked out the window as he waited for the train to move.

Outside he caught sight of a large family of redheads.

They are the Weasley's. They sided against the Dark Lord. Tom identified them.

"Remind me again why you sound like you were siding with Voldemort? He did try to kill me, which is essentially us." Harry wondered. He was well aware he was talking to himself, however there was no one within earshot.

I am merely pointing out potential allies, darling.

Turns out one of the redheads didn't have any luck finding any compartments and so he landed with Harry. The boy was more than delighted, although he sensed a wave of uneasiness from Tom. So he followed his lead and kept to himself. Eventually they were joined by the bushy haired girl and Neville.

"I'm Hermione Granger." She introduced curtly.

"Ron Weasley." The redhead said through a mouthful of his sandwich.

"I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom." The other boy stammered.

"And you are?" Hermione turned to the last boy.

"Harry Potter." He said so casually that Ron choked on his food. Hermione patted his back to help him.

You never cease to amaze me, darling. Tom chuckled.

The rest of the ride was spent with a lot of questions. Harry didn't mind them too much. At least they were all being civil. Although he could already see that Ron admired him. And he wasn't sure how to feel about this just yet.

Then they finally arrived just as he was beginning to hunger. The snacks he had bought hours before was fading away. And for the first time Harry was finally able to see Hogwarts for himself.

He felt for the first time he found his home. And Tom shared the same sentiment.

That was until the Sorting Hat Ceremony.