Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
"I'm happy we've come to an agreement," Dippet said as he shook Tom's hand.
"Yes, I'll arrange the next meeting when I've figured out the details." The headmaster nodded and said his goodbye before leaving the Cluster's Booth. 'And that was the last one,' the future Dark Lord thought relieved and turned around to the patron. "I would like my evening meal delivered to my room." The patron was quick to nod and Tom knew he wouldn't have to wait for long. He moved to his room and felt a smile creep on his face when he looked at the bed. 'Tomorrow!' he told himself and let out a sigh. His eyes closed and the face of his boy immediately came to mind. He hated how he missed him. "Tomorrow!"
-THTH-
"You're packing?" Alistair asked surprised as he entered his room. Harry glanced backwards before continuing packing for the weekend.
"I thought you did a background check," he answered sarcastic and the other stepped closer.
"You're going to stay at the Cluster's Booth with Tom."
"Yes," the youngster did a last check before closing his bag. He rose, turned around and quickly stepped backwards bumping against his bed. "Don't stand so close!" he called out and Alistair leaned forward. For a moment Harry thought he was going to kiss him, but the teen stopped in time.
"I can't help it," his breath caressed the youngster's lips and the youngster let himself drop down on his bed.
"Then do something about it!" The other was quick to lean over Harry, who almost laid himself completely down on the quilt to escape him. Holding himself up with his arms, Alistair traced the other's face with his eyes.
"I don't want too." His captive rolled his eyes. "He doesn't deserve you." And those blue eyes moved into a glare.
"You can't be the judge of that." Using his foot the youngster tripped the other teen and pushed him on the bed beside him. "I'm going," Harry quickly got up, grabbed his bag and fled from the room.
-THTH-
Harry closed the door behind him before practically throwing himself at the future Dark Lord. "What's wrong?" Tom immediately knew something was bugging his boy.
"I'm so glad you're here," the youngster sighed and quickly kissed the other before answering the question. "We've got a new transfer," the older teen didn't like the angry look in those blue charmed eyes, "Alistair!" Harry spat the name and hugged the other closer as Tom tightened his grip.
"What!" The future Dark Lord felt his anger rise.
"And he's been bugging me none-stop. He's driving me insane!" His boy complained and the other sneered.
"I'll deal with him!"
"You can't!" Harry said to his surprise. "Dumbledore!" One name was enough to prove his point and Tom grumbled a couple of curse words under his breath. "If I could just get him out of my room I would be a lot more comfortable."
"You're sharing?!" The future Dark Lord's grip tightened again as the other nodded. "Yes, as we were both the last ones to enter Hogwarts." Blue eyes glared at the other's clothes. "And when I try to change with Alex or Ignatius, he also switches."
"I'll fix it!" Tom promised as ways of torture passed by his mind's eye.
"Please do!" The youngster nodded as he focused on the future Dark Lord's face once more. "Just don't do anything illegal." Brown eyes met his.
"Of course not." Letting out a sigh, Harry nuzzled against the other's cheek.
"I've missed you," he confessed and the first real smile broke through on Tom's lips.
"I've missed you too." Blue eyes glanced at the other's lips before claiming them. They lost themselves in each other and the older teen started to move them to the bed. The moment they reached it the youngster broke the connection between their lips.
"Stop!" he panted and Tom groaned.
"Come on." Those two words sounded too much like a whine for the older teen's taste, but he was horny and dived in for another kiss.
"No," Harry stopped him again, "we're not going to have sex!" he stated and the older teen's hand fell on his crotch.
"Why not? You're also horny."
"You really think I'll forget what you did because Alistair is annoying me?" The future Dark Lord groaned again before releasing the other.
"Fine!" he moved to sit at the table and stared at the youngster with a blank face.
"Don't look at me like that. You're the one who started to whole 'prove your worth to me' bullshit," Harry told him off before turning to the closet. He unpacked his bag under the other's watchful eyes.
"I'm sorry," Tom said after a while and his boy turned to him with a surprised expression. "I shouldn't push you into doing something you don't want too," he clarified and got half a smile from the other.
"Tell me about your week. How was your first day as leader?" The youngster asked as he put the last of his things away before walking towards him and joining him at the table.
"Good, not much has changed actually," the future Dark Lord shrugged as Harry kept staring at him with those blue eyes. Suddenly it annoyed Tom. He raised his wand and quickly dispelled the disguise. Green eyes blinked in surprise at him and he relaxed a little. "I definitely prefer you looking like this." A smile bloomed under those green eyes and Tom knew he was repeating himself.
"I'm glad the real me appeals to you," the youngster chuckled.
"Always." A promise and Harry leaned forwards to kiss him. Before the kiss could deepen a knock interrupted them and a groan left the older teen's mouth as they broke appeared. Swiftly, he rose from his chair and with two large steps stood before the door. Hastily he threw it open and the patron seemed ready to bolt when their eyes met.
"A letter..." he held up the scroll like it was his lifeline. The future Dark Lord held out his hand and shivering the paper got dropped in it.
"Thank you," Tom hissed before slamming the door close again.
"Don't wind yourself up." His boy whispered as arms appeared beside his face. He let the youngster embrace him from the back and lay his head on his shoulder. Together they inspected the scroll to find it was addressed to both of them, but Harry was named first. The future Dark Lord frowned at that before slowly rolling open the paper. "It's from Harold." His boy called out in surprise and Tom felt something like relief settle over his heart. "They're getting married!" Harry continued and the older teen knew the youngster would be grinning like mad. "My grandparents are getting married!" he said in a whisper only meant for his ears.
"Congratulations," Tom smiled and to his own surprise felt pleased with the news. 'This secures Harry's birth,' he told himself. He wasn't happy that Harold would be marrying the love of his life. A kiss pulled him out of his thoughts and he turned around in his boy's arms to continue where they left off. Harry was happy to comply.
-THTH-
"We need to think of a present," Harry said and sipped from his butterbeer. Tom's eyes zoomed in on the drop of beer on his boy's lips and held in a groan when a pink tongue licked it away. What he had been doing to that tongue only an hour ago. "Tom?" The youngster pulled him from his thoughts and looked up in blue charmed eyes.
"We could give them a charm they can give to your dad." The blue eyes frowned at him.
"But they aren't expecting. Wouldn't it be presumptuous?"
"Of course not," the future Dark Lord shook his head, "we would be wishing them a happy family."
"I guess," Harry didn't sound convinced.
"We could give them a multiply of charms," the older teen suggested.
"Aren't those expensive?"
"Not if you know who makes them," Tom smirked and a smile appeared on his boy's lips.
"Then it's decided. Which charms will we choose?"
"Happiness and health, riches?" The future Dark Lord shrugged. He only wanted his boy's father to be born safe.
"We'll decide at the shop," Harry nodded more to himself than the man before him, but Tom wasn't insulted. The happiness radiating through his boy's eyes was enough to appease him.
"Excuse me, my Lord." A panting Alex suddenly appeared beside their table, fidgeting.
"Alex?" Harry frowned at his friend and Tom immediately glared at the door. He knew what Crabbe was going to tell.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, my Lord, Marvolo, but Alistair is on his way over." At the same time as his name was called the teen entered the Cluster's Booth and met the future Dark Lord's glaring eyes.
"What?!" His boy called out as the intruder moved towards them with grace flattering every step. With a smirk plastered on his face he announced his arrival.
"Marvolo, Tom, what a coincidence." Tom gave more heat to his glare as Harry turned around with big eyes, which quickly narrowed as they captured the teen's vision.
"What are you doing here?" he spat and Alistair had the dignity to look hurt.
"I'm just visiting Hogsmeade." Alex's face told a different story.
'He sought us out!' The future Dark Lord had to keep himself under control. "Why do we have the honour of your visit?" His voice sounded deathly with a warning attached. Alistair ignored the tone and sat down at their table with a large smile in place.
"When I saw Marvolo, I just had to come over." Alex seemed to be trying to burn a hole in the liar's head, which Tom could appreciate. Putting his charming face up he leaned backwards to appear not affected by the other's presence.
"You did come at a great time." Alistair raised his eyebrows at that. "I have a proposition to make to you." A hint of interest passed by the uninvited teen's eyes.
"Please," he asked the older teen to continue.
"I'd like to challenge you to a duel." Three pair of eyes widened in surprise.
"A duel?" Harry asked confused as Alistair narrowed his eyes. He was catching up quickly.
"What would be the stakes?"
"If I win," the future Dark Lord leaned forward with an intimidating aura, "you'll never appear in Marvolo's life again." Blue eyes widened in shock as the uninvited guest kept staring at him with narrowed orbs.
"Then if I win," Alistair didn't let any doubt shine through to who would win, "you'll break up."
"What! No!" Harry immediately intervened and Tom smirked at his competition. "I won't break up with Tom over some stupid duel!" The youngster declared and the uninvited guest gave in too quickly for the future Dark Lord's liking.
"I crossed the line, excuse me," Alistair apologized. "But I don't see why I should be the only one to compromise." Brown eyes narrowed but the youngster beat the older teen to answering.
"Fine, if Tom wins we can be friends, but you'll stop with your advances!" Alistair pulled a thoughtful look.
"And what if I win?" Blue eyes flashed from left to right before answering.
"Eh, a date?" he asked and the uninvited guest immediately smiled brightly while Tom's expression darkened.
"I can agree to that," Alistair finally turned his attention back on the future Dark Lord with a huge smile on his lips. The older teen kept it at a glare.
"You'll also switch rooms!" Tom knew he had to give in, but he promised he would get the annoying teen out of his boy's room and was going to do just that.
"Deal!" Alistair's smile only brightened and he held out his hand. Reluctantly to touch the other, the future Dark Lord shook it with barely the touch of his skin.
"Tomorrow at noon," he said before raising his body from the chair it had been occupying. "I do believe we were going shopping?" he held out his hand to his boy, who accepted it with a smile.
"Yes, we were. If you'll excuse us," Harry said to his friend and glanced sideways at Alistair. Before the uninvited guest could say anything, Tom dragged the youngster out of the inn. Once outside he wrapped his arm around his boy's waist and could feel the jealous eyes burning into his back.
'Watch, it will be the only thing you'll ever do!' he promised Alistair in silence.
-THTH-
Harry glanced at his companion and frowned in worry. "Is a duel the only solution you could come up with?" he asked when brown eyes met his.
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Not really," his orbs moved to the shop they stopped before, "I'm just worried."
"Don't be," Tom smirked at him and led him inside the shop. As the bell rang their arrival, a curtain behind the counter shifted and a thin man appeared.
"Mr Riddle!" The man called out and stumbled against a box in his way to the counter.
"Mr Quirrell," the future Dark Lord greeted charmingly and blue eyes widened in surprise as the man started to shiver a little.
"Please, what can I do for you," his eyes shifted to the youngster and he seemed to be shocked to see someone else by Tom's side, "and - and for your company?" A smile seemed to appear and disappear within the second.
'He's terrified!' Harry realized and gave the older teen an accusing frown. Brown eyes just rolled around in their socket before the future Dark Lord addressed the salesman again.
"We're interested in buying some charms," Tom smiled and the man immediately started bowing his head as he dashed from left to right behind the counter.
"Of course, I'm honoured you came to my shop." The youngster's frown worsened and the older teen shook his head to his unasked question. "Here you have charms for health, riches, love, prosperity..." Quirrell started putting small boxes on the counter and Harry sneaked forward to get a better look at them.
"Do you have something for a pregnancy?" The older teen asked and the shopkeeper blinked surprised at him before his eyes moved to the youngster's stomach. 'He isn't thinking I'm pregnant is he?' Harry frowned at the man, who quickly looked away. 'Is there even a way for a man to get pregnant?' he wondered and glanced at the future Dark Lord. 'Would Tom want a successor?' Quickly, he shook his head and got a look from the older teen, but before Tom could say anything Quirrell appeared with another box. One for one he started picking the charms up and placing them on the counter.
"This one is for a safe pregnancy, this one for getting pregnant, against baby diseases..."
"Do you have one for a safe delivery?" The youngster asked and the shopkeeper immediately took a small token out of the box. "That's the one!" Harry immediately decided and gave Tom a confident look. The future Dark Lord nodded and aimed an intense stare at Quirrell.
"What would be an agreeable price for let's say three charms?" His brown eyes didn't leave doubt that if the price was to high the shopkeeper would pay.
"Fifty galleons?" Quirrell asked and brown eyes narrowed dangerously.
'That's not high,' the youngster though but clearly the older teen disagreed.
"Forty? Thirty?" Quirrell seemed ready to flee at any moment, but finally the future Dark Lord nodded his agreement.
"Thirty it is," he decided and turned to Harry. "You can pick two more." The youngster couldn't believe his ears. Tom had actually forced the innocent man to drop his prices.
'What did he do to him?' "One to wish a couple happiness in their marriage." Blue eyes glanced at the shopkeeper, who eagerly nodded and disappeared through the curtain to the back of the shop again. "How much is the real price?" Harry immediately turned back to Tom and gave him an angry glare.
"Too high, he rips people off," the older teen didn't seemed faced by his heated stare. "I confronted him," he shrugged. "Now he gives special discount to members of the group."
"Just how did you confront him?" Harry mumbled loud enough for the other to understand and brown eyes gave him a warning look.
"Don't ask what you don't want to know!" The youngster opened his mouth to retort but stopped himself as Quirrell made his way back to them.
"This is the one you asked for, my Lord." Tom had to smirk at the way the shopkeeper addressed Harry, who threw a quick glare his way before smiling sweetly at Quirrell.
"Thank you, now..." Blue eyes suddenly turned to meet brown ones.
"You should choose the third charm." The brown haired teen felt a tad of satisfaction swell in his chest at the other's surprise. "It will also be a present from you," he shrugged casually and had to smile as the future Dark Lord's attention moved to the charms on the counter.
"Prosperity," Tom picked out the third charm swiftly and ordered the shopkeeper to wrap them up as a gift. Harry let him be; only frowned when the black haired teen paid but didn't say anything.
'There was a reason that professor Quirrell worked with Voldemort. He wasn't innocent,' he eyed the man behind the counter, 'which this man isn't either and I can't ignore that even with Tom's behaviour.' "Thank you," he smiled politely as he accepted the handed bag. The future Dark Lord nodded at Quirrell before laying his arm around the youngster's waist and led him outside. "What will we do next?" Harry asked as Tom shifted himself closer to the other in a futile attempt to shield them both from the cold.
"Choose."
-THTH-
As the night darkened the sky, Harry sat on the windowsill staring at the dark clouds playing hide and seek with the stars. Worry was clear to see on his face. Quietly Tom walked over to him and raised his hand to softly slide through the black locks. He appreciated that Harry had let the Marvolo disguise go for the evening. "Someone is going to see you," he said the opposite and the youngster looked up at him with a sad smile.
"I charmed the window," he mumbled and brown eyes frowned down at him.
"You don't have to worry. It is just a duel." Green eyes glanced away. "It has rules," Tom tried again but the eyes still didn't return to his face. "Harry!" Having enough of the other's silence, the future Dark Lord took a hold of his boy's chin and forced him to look at him. "Stop worrying!"
"I have a bad feeling about this," the youngster said in the end and got raised eyebrows as answer. "How will the group look at this?" he changed tactics and Tom finally understood.
"Tristan isn't behind this."
"How can you be sure?" The older teen shook his head as he released the other's chin. Those green eyes weren't leaving his face any longer.
"I doubt that he could predict that I would challenge his cousin to a duel," he huffed and moved his body beside the other's to lean against the wall.
"Maybe not specific that, but he knew you would do something as..." Harry had trouble saying the next part and let out a sigh before continuing, "I'm your weakness." Tom immediately pushed his body from the wall and leaned over his boy with an intimidating air.
"Don't you dare believe that!" he hissed threatening and the youngster just blinked at him. "Without you I'd go for the easy way out and we both know how that ends for me." A flash of acknowledgement passed through Harry's eyes. "You aren't my weakness, you are my strength," the future Dark Lord stated and straightened himself again, "and you make me a better person," he added and the green eyes glowed with warmth.
"Thank you for saying that, but not everyone sees it like that," the youngster pressed and Tom understood what was bothering the other.
"I don't care what other people think."
"But you should! In your position your image is important." Brown eyes narrowed as the future Dark Lord started to wonder what his boy was getting at. "Maybe I should duel instead of you," Harry said bravely and Tom didn't even need a moment to think about his answer.
"No."
"But you shouldn't be fixing my problems!" The older teen was annoyed as his boy didn't want to see that that wasn't an option any longer.
"I can't back out of the duel."
"I'm not asking you too."
"Yes, you are." Green eyes looked stubbornly into his. "Not fighting myself would be backing out and as you pointed out: my image is important." Now Harry was getting annoyed, but clearly he couldn't deny the truth in those words.
"Then we're back to the point that I'm a weakness as I don't seem to be able to fight my own battles." Tom shook his head at the stubbornness directed at him.
"They will see that without you," his eyes found his boy's again, "they would be dead!" Green eyes widened at that before narrowing again.
"You promised not to kill anyone!" The future Dark Lord narrowed his eyes at that. He never made such a promise and they both knew it.
"I never said that. I made an unbreakable vow with Dumbledore, which only covers muggles and muggleborns." Harry didn't let himself be thrown of balance.
"You won't kill anyone as you know that would be the only thing I can never forgive," he didn't disguise his hard words and Tom never hated the Gryffindor in his boy as much as now.
"I know," he admitted and took a deep breath to calm down. It wouldn't do to start a fight now. "So you see, you aren't a weakness," he stated more coldly than he meant. Harry gave him that sad smile again and his annoyance rose again. His body leaned over his boy again and this time he trapped him between his arms. "Anyone who knows you, knows you're someone they should take into account." The youngster just took in his face without saying a word. "And anyone who doesn't, will find out and hopefully for them before it is too late." Those green eyes kept taking in all the emotions he could show and finally an honest smile appeared on the lips beneath them.
"Thank you," Harry said and gently kissed him. Tom hated that he couldn't read his boy's mind.
'I should do something about that.' A tapping on the window drew their attention and the older teen recognized the owl of the Malfoys. Pushing himself off the other, he opened the window and let the animal inside. The owl flew towards a chair and sat down on the back support before holding out his paw. The future Dark Lord gave the bird a small glare and used his wand to release the small scroll. It flew towards him as the owl let out a screech of annoyance. Tom could feel his boy's eyes on the paper and twirled it around in his hand to show him it was from Abraxas.
"The owl has the attitude of his owners," Harry chuckled and the other took it as a sign he could move, which he did. He leaned with his butt against the small dresser as the youngster gave the bird a snack.
"We're going to need another gift." The youngster looked surprised at Tom. "Abraxas' also got engaged."
"He finally met his wife-to-be?" Harry joked and got a smile as reaction.
"Yes, Miss Bloomblair, the only heir to the Bloomblair's fortune. An intelligent choice of the Malfoys."
"A loveless marriage," the youngster shook his head.
"Love can come," the other shrugged to the youngster's surprise.
"I guess, but still the inbreeding will get too much." Brown eyes captured his with intrigue.
"There are enough pureblood families to not worry about that."
"Sure, how many of those families aren't already related to each other through at least one marriage?" Harry asked sarcastic and Tom blinked at him.
"They are smart enough to make certain enough blood is between the two betrothed."
"Until there are no more purebloods left to choose from," the youngster pointed out and the future Dark Lord had to admit he was correct.
"I'll make sure that won't happen then," Tom smiled and turned back to the letter.
"No..."
"As you're his cousin, we are invited to meet the lucky girl," the future Dark Lord continued as he stared thinking about a gift.
"Tom..."
'A jewel would be a good choice. A necklace?' he nodded to himself and looked up at the other, who let out a sigh. "Did you need something?"
"Forget it," Harry shook his head and the older teen blinked at him. "When are we meeting them?"
"In two weeks, Saturday." The youngster nodded at this.
"All right, what are the customs of such a visit?"
"We'll present a gift to Miss Bloomblair and you'll have to formally accept her into the family," Tom had to smirk as he pictured Abraxas' face at that.
"I can do that," his boy shrugged and the future Dark Lord quickly wrote down a response. He let the youngster bind it around the owl's paw as the animal seemed to prefer him and watched the bird fly away.
"What kind of gift should we give her?" Harry turned back to him.
"I've got some ideas."
-THTH-
Blood flavoured Harry's mouth as he had bit too hard on the inside of his cheek. He licked the wound as his eyes watched Tom shake Alistair's hand. The duel was starting. Both wizards walked away from each other and the youngster felt his heart accelerate. They had chosen an open grass field only a kilometre from Hogsmeade. The only cover they had were a couple of trees and one rock big enough to hide one person behind. Harry had been ordered to stay behind the rock at all cost and he had every intention to listen... if everything happened as it should. Alistair playfully saluted the youngster and the first curse left Tom's wand.
-THTH-
"Touchy," Alistair chuckled as Tom glared at him and sent the next spell towards the Stromay.
"Incarcerous!" His opponent avoided the robes with a graceful move and sent a flirtatious smile towards their audience. Rage flared inside the future Dark Lord's chest and he blazed another spell in the other's direction.
"Protego!" Alistair was on the defensive and Tom increased his attacks, which were blocked or avoided with professional practice.
'He knows how to move! I'll give him that.' "Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus! Confundo!" The teen moved as graceful as he could, but his face betrayed that he was having a hard time. 'Come on, attack!' The future Dark Lord mentally scolded.
"Titillando!" Alistair finally switched tactics.
"The Tickling Charm, really?" Tom smirked and his opponent glared at him before throwing a train of spells towards him. Swiftly the future Dark Lord moved between them, not once using a Shield Charm. He didn't need too and that only seemed to fire up his opponent even more. At the same time they threw their next curses and started to close the distance between them.
"Incendio!" Stromay suddenly yelled and brown eyes widened, but instead of aiming his wand at Tom, the teen aimed it at the grass under his feet. The future Dark Lord was quick to roll away, landing on his feet again and found out that a half circle of fire had appeared around him. He sent Harry a look to keep him at a safe distance as he was already making intentions to leave the safety of the rock. Alistair had the dignity to smirk at the youngster, who glared back at the teen.
"Expelliarmus!" Tom tried to use the short moment of distraction, but his opponent was quick to pull a Shield Charm between them.
"Expulso!" Again brown eyes widened and he moved backwards to avoid the exploding sand. "Expulso! Expulso! Expulso!" The teenager was forcing him closer to the flames around him and the future Dark Lord knew he had to do something unexpected. An idea popped in his head and abruptly he turned around facing the flames. As the next spell reached him, he started sprinting towards the fire. A quick Flame-Freezing Charm left his lips and he jumped through the dangerous blaze. With a somersault he landed back on his feet and decided it was time to raise the stakes of the game. One spell after the other – mumbled or even unspoken - left his wand and the first blood got spilled from a slash on his opponent's cheek. By now both of them were barely moving to avoid the other's curses, but instead heavily relied on their own ability to cast protection spells at the same time as offensive. A Jelly-leg Jinx attached itself to Alistair's legs and the teen fell down sending his next spell in mid air. An evil smile pulled at the older teen's lips and knowing he was victorious he aimed for the final spell.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Confringo!" Alistair yelled only a second later and both curses met just in front of his face. His eyes widened as Tom's narrowed. After a short battle of strength the Stromay suddenly let go of the spell and muttered something, but before the future Dark Lord could make out what, the joined curses exploded. Quickly, Tom tried to put up a protection spell, barely succeeded and flew backwards. His body got stopped by something softer than a rock, but before he could register what a curse had hit him. His head seemed to explode and with trouble he kept his eyes open; they were stinging. Something seemed to want to hold him down, but he crawled up anyway and stumbled towards the smoke that was clearing. Next thing he saw made his blood boil. Alistair was leaning half against Harry, who was caressing his cheek in an intimate gesture as worry creased his face. His boy asked something and the wounded chuckled before Harry suddenly pressed their lips together. Rage filled Tom's mind and his body moved by itself.
"Crucio! Confringo! Crucio! Diffindo! Crucio! Crucio!" His entire being demanded blood and death, but something was trying to hold him down. Without a second thought he aimed a Repel Charm on himself and whatever it was that had been constricting him was gone. Next a bone crushing curse left his wand and he seared in bliss as Alistair screamed it out "Crucio!" he started laughing like mad as the teen before him suffered in pain. 'End it!' His mind ordered him.
-THTH-
Desperately, Harry tried to reach Tom again, but the Repel Charm kept him away from him. 'What did Alistair use on him?!' His mind yelled frantically and his eyes widened as he recognized the hypnotising look in those brown orbs. "Expelliarmus!" he tried but the spell got repelled. 'Damn it!' The youngster knew he needed a stronger spell to get through the one Tom had put on himself. 'He's going for the kill!' His heart skipped a beat as he raised his wand. 'I'm sorry.' "Crucio!" The curse bounced of the repel but the future Dark Lord had felt it and turned to him. Harry's breath got stuck in his throat as the unfocused eyes didn't seem to see him. 'What kind of spell did Alistair use?' he wondered once again as he saw the culprit use his last strength to aim another spell towards Tom. The youngster didn't doubt a second and sent another Cruciatus Curse towards the future Dark Lord, who blocked it and got hit by Alistair's spell. Immediately his eyes focused again and he put up protection spells around himself as he looked confused from Harry to Alistair and back. "Tom remove the Repel Charm!" The youngster ordered him and brown eyes narrowed at him. Finally it seemed to click inside the older teen's mind and he removed the spell. Harry immediately ran towards him and Tom dispelled the spells that would block him. "Are you all right?!" The youngster asked him frantically as he searched for any sign of insanity in his brown eyes.
"You!" The older teen hissed before turning his wand to Alistair's trembling body. "And him!"
"It was a spell! Whatever you saw was a spell!" Harry stepped closer but stopped as the wand moved to him.
"Was it?! Don't you want him?!" The future Dark Lord accused him.
"What? No!" Now he did step closer and the point of Tom's wand pressed into his chest. "Think rationally, I was behind you the entire time," he pointed out without raising his voice. Brown eyes got a calculating look in them and after a while the wand dropped down to rest beside the future Dark Lord's leg. "Tom?" Carefully, Harry raised his hand and felt something brush past his little finger. Next Tom was touching his neck and pulled something out of it. Confused both of them took in the dart that the older teen held in his hand before Tom suddenly started to wobble. "Tom!" Harry yelled as he caught the future Dark Lord with one arm and his other moved around them putting the protecting charms back up.
"Apparate!" Tom huffed as he tried to stay conscious.
"I can't..." the youngster mumbled as his eyes fell on the heavily breathing figure of Alistair, who was cradling his broken arm against his chest. "We can't leave him," he said and look down as he didn't get the reaction he expected. "Tom?" The future Dark Lord didn't react. 'He's just unconscious!' Harry told himself and shrunk a little when a curse hit his protection shields. A movement captured his attention and he noted Alistair trying to get up. 'He can move...' Another curse tried to break down his barriers. 'Tom will be safe here, for a short while. If I can get Alistair here I can Apparate everyone safely out of here,' he made his plan and the next curse that hit the shields made him realize he didn't have a lot of time. Carefully, he laid Tom down and with a last deep breath he sprinted towards Alistair. In time he saw a curse coming his way and jumped over it, tripping over a piece of dirt that flew in the air with the explosion the spell created and rolled further until Alistair stopped him.
"M-Marvolo!" he panted as his wand waved a shield in front of them.
"We have to be quick!" Harry ordered and grabbed the teen's good wrist. As he pulled both of them up his eyes were trained on Tom's unmoving figure and he didn't see the explosion until it was too late. Alistair immediately pulled him down, protecting him with his body and his wand.
"Get off!" Harry ordered, pushing the other of him and crawled up to fall down again and tried to get up once more, succeeding this time. He stumbled through the dust of sand the blast had made with his wand pointed ready to attack any movement he saw. Alistair could be heard stumbling after him and he remembered his plan. Swiftly he turned around and grabbed the teen's wrist again before dragging him with him. He could feel the remains of his' and Tom's protection spells and knew Tom must be lying beneath him. Falling to his knees he felt around, but didn't find the body he expected to find. "Tom... Tom!" His voice sounded frantic and Alistair dropped down beside him.
"Lumos," the teen tried to help and the light together with the thinning dust showed them that Tom wasn't there any longer.
"Where is he?!" Harry jumped up again and started throwing one spell after another around them until Alistair forced him to stop.
"Marvolo!" he wrapped his good arm around the youngster and forced him to listen. "He's gone!" he stated as the dust had finally cleared up enough for them to see their surroundings. Nobody was around; they were alone.
"No!" Harry pushed him off. He started running in the direction the spells had been casted from, but didn't see anything. In the end he had to stop and turned around to see Alistair trying to wobble after him a fare distance away. Suddenly he started shivering. 'Someone took Tom.' His mind forced him to acknowledge. 'Someone took Tom,' he repeated and his eyes focused on Alistair again. 'We need help!' he suddenly decided and ran towards the teen. "We need to inform the authorities!" he panted when he reached him and Alistair nodded tiredly. "Hold on, I'll Apparate us to the Cluster's Booth!"
R&R
Stephke23: Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the Auror that's watching Tom.