Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
"You'll have to stay off that foot for a week," Ms Gomple said while wrapping a bandage around Harry's limb. "You were lucky only your foot got hurt, if that spell had hit your knee, half your leg would be gone," she continued shaking her head and the brunet gave her a disbelieving look.
'Shouldn't my ankle be gone then?' he suspected she was overreacting as he watched her stand up. She walked to her desk and grabbed something out of the upper drawer. Walking back to him, she pointed her wand at her hand and two crutches grew from it.
"Here, with these you can still follow your classes." Harry accepted them and Slughorn burst through the door.
"Marvolo!" he called the boy's name to the youngster surprise – that was the first time, he had ever called him by his alias' name. "How is he, Theresa?"
"He'll be fine. He'll just have to walk with crutches for a week." Slughorn nodded and turned back to the wounded.
"The authorities are here, they would like to talk to you, but only if you feel capable," he reassured him, when blue eyes panicked.
'I can't tell them Tom killed them. He must have a plan!' "Can-can I see Tom first," he asked trying to sound pitiful and the professor nodded. Ms Gomple rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. A couple of minutes later the Slytherin Head Boy entered the infirmary and walked straight towards him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, and Harry smiled.
"Fine, I just have to walk around with these for a week," the brunet answered while raising his crutches, which Tom had probably already seen.
"What happened after I left?" he asked while the other leaned forward, clearly wanting to give him a kiss. The Head Boy kissed his forehead in a comforting way and laid his hands on Harry's cheeks.
"We found the second attacker," he started staring straight into the blue charmed eyes. "It was professor Marley..." The brunet's mouth fell open.
"What? Why? Why would she...?" he asked shocked. It had been clear the woman didn't like him, but to think she actually wanted to kill him.
"Don't worry, she's dead, I reflected her Killing Curse and it hit her." Blue eyes widened even more, but he understood the hidden message.
'That's the cover story!' "Just like the other?" he asked, and Tom slowly nodded.
"If you two are done, the authorities are waiting..." Ms Gomple interrupted them, clearly tired of seeing their little tête-à-tête.
"Of course, come on, Marvolo," Tom released him and watched him get up, supported by the crutches. The Head Boy led him to the Headmaster's office where the door stood open, waiting on them. The Gargoyle closed behind them while Harry took in the three men standing in the office. One was of course Dippet and the other two showed their badge of the Ministry with proud. The plumpest man walked to them with his hand stretched towards Harry.
"I'm glad to see you are all right, Mr Remus." The youngster accepted the hand and shook it. Once released the plump man's finger slid through his greasy hair and Harry had to suppress the urge to wipe his hand on his robe. He gave the man a thankful smile and took the offered seat.
"We are Mr Umbridge and Mr Pettigrew from the Ministry." Blue eyes widened in surprise. It wasn't hard to figure out who was who. The two men were each other's opposite, one plump and greasy while the other looked dignified and gracious. The greasy man was definitely a Pettigrew and the other an Umbridge.
"We would like to ask you some questions," Umbridge told him the obvious, but he nodded respectful. "I understand that Mr Riddle and you were spending an afternoon at Hogsmeade," he started, and Harry nodded. "Could you please tell us what happened?"
"Uh, well, I wanted... to find a more secluded place for..." His cheeks heated up, but Umbridge waved his hand for him to continue, a little annoyed. "We entered the court, and somebody suddenly attacked us, driving us apart, then a second person started attacking us..." Tom took a hold of his hand and squeezed it comforting. 'Still playing the perfect Head Boy, when not so long ago you killed two people,' Harry thought a little bitter. "They created a wall of fire around me and... well, without Harold I wouldn't be sitting here!" Pettigrew nodded in understanding. "We paired up, Harold and I, so they started focusing more on Tom." 'I could tell them the truth... It would solve everything... Mum, dad, Sirius, they will all still be alive...' His heart clenched – he couldn't do it. 'No, I can make a future with Tom!' he yelled mentally at himself. "Tom reflected their hexes and then suddenly one of the attackers yelled and fell down onto the court..." His hand got squeezed again. "I guess the same thing happened with the other attacker, I only remember a scream and then the attacks stopped." The two men nodded, clearly the story fitted with the one Tom and Harold told them.
"Thank you, Mr Remus. I'll leave you in the capable hands of Mr Riddle," Headmaster Dippet dismissed them and Harry stood up. He hobbled after the Head Boy and once in the corridor they watched the Gargoyle close behind them.
"Let's go to the common room?" Harry suggested and Tom nodded eyeing his crutches. In silence they made their way through the corridors and the brunet couldn't help but wonder about what had happened. "What did I do to her?" he voiced his distress, making the other glance at him.
"My guess, nothing," the Head Boy answered while opening the wall that gave access to their house.
"Then why did she..." Harry continued while hobbling inside. The wall closed behind them and Tom signalled to their room.
"I believe she was working for somebody," the black-haired teen answered once they were alone. The youngster moved to their bed and sat down on the quilt.
"And any idea who?" Tom walked to his desk and sat down on the chair in front of it, turning it to face the other person present.
"Plenty, but none who has the nerve or the capability." Harry frowned at him and Tom gave him a brooding look. "I do have to say, you're staying surprisingly calm under the circumstances." At that the youngster shrugged.
"I told you before, I get a death prediction every year." Now it was the Head Boy who was frowning.
"You've really had that many near death experiences?!" he didn't sound happy.
"Yes..." Harry answered carefully, and Tom was suddenly glaring at him.
"How dare they!" he hissed, and the brunet noted his brown eyes weren't focused on him.
'Actually, it's you who has been trying to kill me...' he thought a little hurt. "But I've been always safe at Hogwarts." 'Great Harry, you're lying again!' he scolded himself, but he had to do something to put the other at ease.
"You have?" The Head Boy blinked at him – apparently realising where he was – and leaned backwards with a thinking face. Harry took in his expression and remembered what Harold had said at the library.
'If Tom has perfected his mask, he doesn't really wear it around me.' That thought made him happy. "Yes, so don't worry. And with you here, how could I be safer?" he added a little over the top, but it made the future Dark Lord smile, even if it was a small one.
-THTH-
A week later Harry was walking out of the infirmary without crutches. "I'm glad to be rid of those," he sighed happily to Tom, who was walking beside him. The brown eyes were watching his foot for any sign of discomfort. "I'm fine, stop looking at my foot," the youngster said and grabbed the Head Boy's hand. Since the attack Tom had withdrew himself and Harry couldn't deny that he was worried. "So, what are we going to do to celebrate my recovery?" he asked very suggestive but the other didn't react. "Tom!" The brunet called irritated and finally got recognition. "What's been going on with you these past days? Your mind's always somewhere else!" Instead of answering the Head Boy stared at him and suddenly got a determined expression.
"Come!" he ordered and pulled the youngster with him. Like Harry suspected, Tom brought him to their room, where his hand got released and blue eyes watched how the Head Boy continued his step to his own trunk. To his surprise Tom pulled it open and the youngster couldn't help himself. He stepped closer and sneaked a peek. The first thing that pulled his attention, were like expected clothes, books and notepads. Tom moved some clothes around before pulling out a small bag that glistered with magic. 'Is that his dark magic storage?' The brunet wondered as the Head Boy opened it and searched through it with his finger. Finally, he pulled out a book of it and flipped it open at a bookmark. He nodded to himself while a smile appeared on his lips and Harry stepped even closer to him. Brown eyes looked up at him and the bag fell back into the trunk that got closed by the Head Boy's foot. The youngster frowned and opened his mouth to ask what the other was holding, but the black-haired teen beat him.
"How would you like to see your friends again?" Blue eyes widened surprised.
"What?" he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"You heard me; would you like to see your friends again?" He was certain Tom meant something else than he thought he did.
"Yes, but..."
"Then it's settled, tonight you'll go back."
"What?!" Harry practically yelled. His first reaction was one of happiness until he started thinking it through. "Why are you sending me away?" he asked starting to get scared.
"To protect you," Tom gave him an odd look.
"What?" he still wasn't following, which the Head Boy seemed to understand as he shook his head.
"You've said it yourself; you've always been safe at Hogwarts in your own time."
'He really means it!' Harry suddenly realised and started to feel excited. "Won't they miss me here?"
"That's where this comes in," Tom answered raising the book and blue eyes told him to clarify. "I'm going to erase you from everyone's mind."
The youngster blinked before his eyes widened and he let out an even louder; 'What!'
"It's the only way to make sure that you're safe."
"Isn't that a little drastic?" Harry asked and Tom's look clearly told him, it wasn't. "What if that spells backfires and you forget me too?" The Head Boy pulled him closer and pecked his nose.
"That won't happen." The youngster pulled an expression that hopefully made clear his doubts were still present. "Don't worry I know what I'm doing," Tom reassured him.
"Have you done this before?" The suspicious answer came.
"Well, no, but I'm positive it will work." A hand raised his chin and a reassuring kiss got pressed to his lips. Harry kept it at frowning at him in response, but the Head Boy ignored the look. "Let's enjoy our last day together."
-THTH-
Harry watched how Tom spread the book open on his desk and read the spell once more. He had done the same thing before they went to dinner and after dinner. 'This is really happening,' the brunet thought with a sigh and walked over to the other before hugging him from behind. The Head Boy looked over his shoulder and turned to face him before pulling them chest to chest. "I don't want to leave you," Harry confessed, and a smile slid over Tom's face, while one of his hands caressed the youngster's cheek. "But I understand." Honestly, one side of him was dying to go back, but another side of him was scared to let go of the other. Who knows what could happen while he was gone? "Are you sure that spell isn't going to backfire?" he had to ask it.
"Don't worry, this ring will make me immune to the spell," Tom answered to his surprise as he pulled out a simple band from his pocket. Harry pulled it from his hand and stared at it. There was nothing special about it, except a small symbol on the inside, if you looked closely. Sighing he grabbed the future Dark Lord's hand and slipped it on his ring finger. When he looked up brown eyes blinked surprised at him.
"'Something wrong?" Tom shook his head and with his ringed hand pulled the brunet's hand to his lips. He kissed it and brown eyes focused on him before those lips attached themselves on his'. They shared a passionate kiss and Harry sighed leaning his forehead against the other's when they broke for air.
"It's time," the black-haired teen whispered. The youngster nodded and they released each other. Tom pulled his wand in the open and pointed it at Harry. "Obliviate ex orbis terrarum[1]!" he sternly said, and the brunet felt a wave of magic surround him before it burst away from him. The spell wave pushed the Head Boy backwards and he blinked surprised when it had passed him.
"Tom?" Harry gently called. 'Please remember me!' The future Dark Lord pointed his wand at him, and the youngster took a step towards him. "Tom?" he asked again, forcing his fear down. The black-haired teen mumbled something, and Harry felt magic surround him again.
"It worked," Tom suddenly said, and the youngster blinked surprised at him. His alias had been dropped. The Head Boy stepped closer to him and grabbed his wrist that was decorated with the silver bracelet. "I'll call you back once I've dealt with the vermin, who're trying to hurt you." Harry felt a rush of relief as he felt those lips kiss him again. "So, don't get to comfortable." Tom wrapped his free arm around him, and the youngster could feel the other's wand poke his back. His own free hand grabbed the front of the Head Boy's shirt in a powerful grip and he felt the other's hand slip the lock from the bracelet open. His grip tightened as he looked into brown eyes and a last kiss was shared between them. His eyes moved back to the bracelet when he felt the silver move over his skin, but not disappear.
'He doesn't want to let go!' he realised when he noted Tom playing with the bracelet. He smiled and raised his hand, forcing the bracelet of him. The Head Boy hadn't expected this and didn't have a good grip on the jewel. Harry's vision started to blur but he did see Tom's fingers knock the bracelet upwards from falling and it landed to his surprise on the future's Dark Lord's wrist. Suddenly the ring sent out a pulse and their grip on each other tightened.
-THTH-
The fading had stopped, and Harry stared surprised at the bracelet hanging on Tom's wrist. "It... didn't work?" he asked surprised as he looked up and felt his eyes widen. The Head Boy still looked a little dazed, but that wasn't what got his attention. Behind the black-haired teen there wasn't the expected green, but instead red. His heart skipped a beat and he pulled away from the other taking in their surroundings. 'No way, no bloody way...' he thought surprised and turned to look back at Tom. The Slytherin was also taking in his surroundings, but his emotions were hidden behind his mask.
"This is..." the Slytherin Head Boy started but didn't finish his sentence.
"...the Gryffindors boys' dormitory," Harry ended it for him, and they stared at each other. Suddenly the door got thrown open and a whirlwind stormed inside to stop the moment blue eyes met Harry's.
"Harry?!" Neville called surprised with shocked eyes. The youngster felt a hand on his back, and he watched his friend's eyes widen as he took in the person beside him.
"Don't you run away from me!" An angry yell filled the room through the door opening and more yells – that told the one storming up to stop – followed it. Neville jumped a little in his shock and reached for the door with his hand but before he could even touch it, fingers wrapped around his wrist. Draco Malfoy stepped inside the room, pushing the shy boy backwards. His furious eyes immediately landed on Harry and they narrowed full of hatred.
"Draco, don't-!" Neville tried to stop him but the Slytherin didn't listen.
"Potter!" Harry stiffened as he felt the body beside him do the same. The name seemed to hang in the room, until the furious Malfoy continued after turning back at the shy boy in his grip. "I should have known you would run to him!"
"Malfoy!" Ron's voice bellowed inside the room as the reddish haired teen appeared in the doorway. Draco glared at him and pushed Neville further into the room. The shy boy's eyes moved from Tom to Ron and back to Tom. Like expected Hermione appeared behind the Weasley, together with Ginny, Dean and Seamus.
'This is bad!' Harry's mind was screaming as his friends continued trying to get Malfoy away from Neville. Only the shy boy seemed to be aware of their presences. The fight continued with Draco actually using his body to keep Ron away from Neville. Harry moved forwards to intervene and he felt the hand on his back come back to life. It tightened his grip as warning and the youngster felt scared. Not for himself, but for his friends. 'He knows!'
"STOP!" Neville suddenly yelled and the fight before him stopped. "Look!" the shy boy continued pointing to Harry and Tom while he pulled Draco closer to him. The youngster's eyes widened in surprise at that gestured before Ron pulled his attention.
"Mate!" he yelled and stepped closer but stopped when his eyes met the sight of Tom. Ginny gasped as she followed her brother's line of vision and Hermione stepped closer, joining Ron.
"Who might you be?" She asked with piercing eyes and Harry swallowed. For the first time since his name had been revealed he turned to the future Dark Lord. The brown eyes were only focused on him and a smirk decorated the lips underneath them.
"Harry Potter," Tom simple stated, tasting the name in his mouth while clicking the bracelet around his wrist close and Harry's heart sped up. Hearing his real name leave that mouth, excited him.
"Dean and Seamus, please lead Draco outside." His voice ordered as he kept staring at the black-haired teen.
"You're not commanding me!" Malfoy yelled angry and Harry shot him an annoyed look, just in time to see Neville pull the Slytherin's face towards him. To his surprise the shy boy claimed Draco's lips and the Malfoy visual relaxed into the touch. Ron made a disapproving sound and glared at the couple. Neville released the other again and Draco leaned forward to catch his lips once more, seemly forgotten about the others in the room.
"Please go Draco, you can get into trouble for just being here." The Slytherin straightened himself and stared at the shy boy. Then to Harry's surprise he gave a nod and turned around. He glared openly at Harry and strode out of the room with dignity. Seamus and Dean gave Harry a glance before following the Slytherin.
"Ginny close the door," Harry continued giving orders and reluctantly, the girl listened. "To answer your question Hermione," he looked back at the bushy haired girl and took hold of the hand on his back. "This is Tom. Tom, these are my friends." His grip tightened as the future Dark Lord took a step to Hermione and Ron.
"I'm happy to get the chance to meet you." Harry's eyes widened as he saw the black-haired teen grab Hermione's hand and press a quick kiss on it as greeting. Ron quickly pulled her hand out of his grip and glared openly at him. "You two are Weasleys, aren't you?" Tom continued ignoring the reddish haired teen's rude behaviour. "No matter what time, Weasleys and you just don't mingle well," Harry tried to lighten the mood and the future Dark Lord looked at him with a risen eyebrow.
"That's true," Hermione added as she glared – not that successful – at Ron. "We should go and see the Headmaster," she continued with a forced smile and looked emphasising at Harry.
"Yeah, we should." Tom glanced at him as he answered but didn't say anything. "Come," he pulled the black-haired teen with him. Ron pushed out Hermione and Ginny before them and Harry signed to Neville to also fall in step before them.
-THTH-
An uncomfortable silence hung around them as they walked through the corridors. "Harry Potter," Tom repeated again, making his boy glance at him. "Now, I understand your fascination with Harold Potter," he continued, and Harry had the dignity to blush. 'Harry,' he repeated the name in his mind again. How he liked it, finally knowing his boy's name. 'Potter, who would have thought him to be a Potter.' His first reaction had been suspicion – could he still trust his boy? Forcible, he had made himself remember that this was his boy and his actions spoke more than the meaning of his last name. With the suspicion gone, it surprised him how relieved he felt. He hadn't wanted to admit it, but he had started to see Harold Potter as a threat, a rival. He shook his head at his own stupidity, and he felt his boy squeeze his hand. They had reached the familiar Gargoyle that stood guard before the Headmaster's office. 'I wonder who's Headmaster. How far in time would I be?' he speculated as the statue looked down at them before opening. Harry pulled him with him onto the stairs and they entered the Headmaster's room under everyone's watchful eyes. His attention got pulled to the big desk and the old man standing behind it. "Dumbledore!" he snarled and glared at him while pulling Harry closer to him. He noted that the two girls and Malfoy's lover look surprised by his action. The male Weasley kept it at openly glaring at him.
"Tom, my boy, I have to say this is a welcoming surprise," Dumbledore smiled while seating himself. He waved his wand and conjured chairs for his guests. "It has been years since you've looked at me like that. Please sit down." Tom let his boy pull him to a chair and he grabbed him by the waist pulling him on his lap. If the old man was surprised at this, he didn't show it, unlike the fuming Weasley. It was fun pissing that guy off.
"Did you expect this, professor?" Harry asked trying to pry off the hands holding him down.
"I suspected it," Dumbledore smiled, and the boy gave him an odd look. The Headmaster let out a sigh before smiling at Harry. "Have you never wondered who has been funding you all of these years?" he asked, and everyone looked confused at him.
"Well, I thought... it was Sirius?" The boy answered with hesitation.
"No, my boy, the Dark Lord himself," Dumbledore answered before eyeing Tom again. "I had always wondered, from where your interest in the boy came." Brown eyes narrowed as the twinkling blue eyes glanced at his arms around Harry. "I guess I finally understand."
"Professor," the bushy haired girl pulled Dumbledore's attention. "Isn't it dangerous for him to be here?"
"I believe so, I would suggest you return to your own time with haste," the Headmaster said with urgency as he eyed Tom again.
"No," came the short reply and the old man looked intrigued while Harry turned around to look at him.
"Tom, you have to go back!"
"Not before I find out who tried to kill you when you were a baby." Green eyes widened and the boy's friends had the same reaction.
"But what about those who tried to kill me in your time?"
"I'll deal with that after I find out who tried to kill you in this time."
"What if you don't find the culprit?" The bushy haired girl opened her mouth again. He eyed her and fear was clear in her eyes, but she didn't back down. He had to admit he admired her for that.
"'Moine's right," Harry nodded looking from the girl back at Tom. "The time I spend in the past also passed here. People will start missing you if you're gone for too long."
"Won't they miss you too?" Malfoy's lover asked and Tom couldn't help but wonder what Abraxas' offspring saw in him, but there was something familiar about his features.
"No, Tom erased me from everyone's memory," Harry answered and the Weasley boy straightened while giving Dumbledore a pointed look.
"Calm down, Mr Weasley," the Headmaster replied. "If you are to stay here, there will be conditions, Tom." The future Dark Lord gave him challenging look and Harry pinched his hand. Brown eyes glanced at the boy and he got a warning look back.
'Merlin does Dumbledore demand that much of respect?' he wondered while turning his eyes back to the Headmaster. 'I'll have to do something about that. Actually, why haven't I done anything about that yet?' he wondered. What was his relationship with the old man in this time?
"You need to avoid interaction with the students. You aren't allowed outside of Hogwarts and of course the restricted section, is restricted," Dumbledore set his rules and Tom gave a slow nod.
'I can find a way around those.'
"Good, now that's settled, we still have the question about your accommodations," the Headmaster leaned backwards, and his twinkling eyes turned to the boy on his lap. "I'll prepare quarters for you near the dungeons," Dumbledore nodded to himself before continuing. "Also, I want you to be accompany by someone twenty-four-seven."
"Wait, you can't expect someone to stay with him the whole night!" The male Weasley spat and the bushy haired girl hid her face in her hand.
"I don't believe that will be a problem, Mr Weasley," the Headmaster answered, and the reddish teen stood ready to retort.
"Ron!" Harry called and the boy turned to him, wide eyed.
"You can't be serious, Harry!" Ron called out astonished and almost a little betrayed.
"Don't be like that, Ron." His boy pleaded and the Weasley stubbornly looked away.
"Ronald!" The bushy haired girl made her irritation known, but the boy didn't give her the time of day. Harry sighed and shook his head.
"What about during classes?" he asked while turning back to Dumbledore, who took his time to answer.
"Tom can use that time for his research, under supervision of me or someone else I appoint." The future Dark Lord frowned at that.
'He's still the same, still trying to control me.'
"That's good, isn't it?" Harry asked, facing him again and he nodded automatic. The youngster seemed happy with his response and turned to see his friends' reactions. Of course, Ron wasn't happy, his relative – what were they anyway, brother and sister, cousins? – looked like she was going to puke, and the two others gave their friend a supportive smile. Tom decided he'd like it best if Harry hung out with Malfoy's lover or the bushy haired girl.
"I'll excuse your classes for today, Harry, my boy," Dumbledore continued and signed they could leave. "I'll have Dobby find you when Tom's quarters are prepared, please stay out of sight until then. Maybe you can show Tom your Seeker skills?" The youngster on his lap nodded and the future Dark Lord felt annoyed.
'Translation: stay on the Quidditch field until I send for you, but I have to cooperate for now.' "You're a Seeker?" he faked interest – he might had found it really interesting if it wasn't the old goat, who had brought it up.
"Yes, Ron's our Keeper and Ginny's one of our Chasers," Harry nodded excited and his excitement intrigued the black-haired teen. His boy seemed to really like the sport.
"Why don't you all join them for the continuation of this period?" Dumbledore suggested and Ron nodded stiffly. "Now run along." The bushy haired girl was the first one to stand up and Harry followed her example. The others followed swiftly and a couple of minutes later they were walking through the familiar corridors.
R&R
[1] Hide from the world.