Yay! Another update. Took a little longer than I thought to get this all typed up, but here it is. Now this chapter is kind of like a filler chapter and it is all about Wynter! With some serious stuff at the end. I saw my cousin, who is about a year old, and he was so cute! I just watched him the whole time, which is why I wrote this chapter, also because Wynter is a cutie and should have a chapter to herself to show how she is growing. There are not many fics out there that have babies in them, actually talk about them and have them interact with the main characters, I try not to do that; she is as much as a part of this as Harry and Tom are.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this Wynter filled chapter.
EDITED: 8/5/17
Meant To Be
Chapter 27
It didn't take long for Harry to settle into the new house. It already had a homey feel to it, so it wasn't hard. That same day, Tom left back to the manor to get Harry's trunk with all his valuables while Harry and Wynter got comfortable. Wynter adapted fairly quickly, for sure. He had fed her lunch and immediately after she knocked out. So he had placed her in her new crib and she had snuggled in, already at home, her bear underneath her like a pillow. Harry had left her to sleep, taking the baby monitor that was sitting on the dresser; it was the kind with a camera so he could see her, and took another walk through the house, looking at everything more closely. He focused on the kitchen specifically.
When Tom came back with his trunk and one of his own, they went around and unpacked, placing little trinkets he had in different spots around the house, and put their clothes away, leaving Wynter's things for later. After, Tom took him around again to give him a more detailed run down of the place. Along with his trinkets, Harry had also gone around filling the empty picture frames with the ones in this photo album; most of them of Wynter, one of his friends, and he did have a few of Tom, so he put those out too. After Wynter woke up from her nap, Harry put her clothes away brought her downstairs; setting up her new play pen behind the couch of the entertainment area for her to play in. Everything ran so smoothly, it was already starting to feel like home. The rest of the day was like that, just settling in, getting a feel for the new home. It was nice to be able to move around again and not stuck in one room. He couldn't seem to sit still, he was constantly moving, rearranging things to how he wanted it. Tom only watched him and helped him as he turned the house into a home,
When it was time, Harry made a nice dinner in his new kitchen using all his new appliances, and pots and pans; serving it out on new plates and utensils; Tom had gone all out. When they were done, they sat down and watched TV like they used to. Wynter eventually got sleepy, so they gave her a bath and put her to bed. Then they made it an early night and went to bed; making love between the new sheets to christen it, to make it theirs.
After that first day, Harry and Tom fell back into their routine like before, only this time Tom came home and stayed. It made Harry really happy, more than he thought he would be, that he got to see Tom every day. He had gotten used to falling asleep next to him and having him still be there in the morning while at the Manor, it was nice. He could tell Tom enjoyed it too, seeing Wynter so early in the morning with her hair all over the place, and she was happy to see him too with her big smile and wrapping her arms around his neck and curling into his neck, so content. And Tom was now a pro at holding her; he was able to hold her with one arm and able to do things with his other without fear of dropping her; it helped that Wynter wasn't an overly fussy baby, to begin with. Besides seeing them, Tom also got a free breakfast in the morning cooked by Harry before he left for work.
Harry still got letters from Ron and Hermione, though they took longer to get to him, they had certainly noticed and had asked why, so he had told them that they had moved to a safer location. Harry hadn't even known where they were until he asked Tom and found out that they were in Australia. Australia! It had blown his mind; he was on a different continent! He had never been so far from home before, though it was good, no one would be able to find him. Tom had also told him that the beach house had a name: Haven Hall. A very pretty and fitting name since it was their safe haven, but really it was just named after the city, which was Whitehaven Beach. He didn't tell this to Ron and Hermione though or they would try to find him and they had finally given up asking, though now they wanted him to come see them. But that was a whole other argument.
Harry did want to go see them, but he was sure Tom wouldn't let him, but maybe in the future. He would have to give a solid reason why in order to get the okay from Tom. He could probably just go, but it wouldn't be safe. It was a sure fire way to get Tom worried or pissed, he didn't want that, so he just left it alone. For now.
Other than that, the days passed peacefully. Harry and plenty to do around the house, he could watch TV, surf the web on the new computer, play with Wynter and her new toys. He figured out how to use the BBQ and how he had a new variety of foods, not without trial and error of course.
Within the first few days, Tom had found Harry outside tearing out a section of the plants near the back wall, using his wand to jerk the roots out of the ground. Harry had always wanted a vegetable garden and there was more than enough room, so he had decided to make one. So after shopping for the vegetables he wanted, he had grabbed some gardening supplies, took Wynter and went outside. He placed Wynter in the swing at the playground and lightly pushed her with his magic as she watched in fascination as things floated up and settled in a pile; babbling back to him as he did his gardening. Tom didn't mind it, not when there was something to come out of it; who didn't like fresh vegetables.
Harry also found the time and went down to the beach with Wynter. Harry had applied a vigorous amount of sun tan lotion on Wynter and himself so they wouldn't burn and then had taken the steps that were carved out of the cliff all the way down to the beach. He had worn sandals so he had taken them off, Wynter was already barefoot, and put his feet into the warm soft sand. When they had gotten down to the shore line where the water washed up, he placed Wynter down so that she was standing, holding onto her hands, and watched as she shrieked in glee as the water rushed over her feet; stomping her feet to splash the water. They had spent half the day on the beach, burrowing their feet, in Wynter's case, half her body, in the sand. Using a cup that Harry had brought with their lunch to make small mounds in the sand; he said mounds, not castle because Wynter would destroy them before they got very far, but they had fun anyway. She eventually tired herself out and they headed back to the house; she fell asleep on the short walk back, tired after a long day of fun. It had been a good time. Harry made it a point to have Tom come along the next time they went.
It had been about two weeks since they had moved in and had made themselves at home. Tom was at work and Harry was sitting down in the sitting area playing with Wynter. Harry smiled down at his daughter who was in his lap giggling as he tickled her tummy. He was always so happy to see her smile and hear her bubbly laugh. He had to admit that he had been worried when, he found out he was pregnant, that he wouldn't be able to love her the way she needed to, especially with how she had been conceived and by who. But now, having her here, those worries had been unfounded. He loved his little girl with all his heart and he made sure she knew it every day. Harry was sure Tom loved her too, he may not say so, but he showed it in other ways. But Wynter was happy and was loved by both of her parents and god parents and she would want for nothing if Tom had anything to say about it. Staring down at her, Harry could hardly believe that she was already six and a half months, going on seven. She was getting so big! it seemed like just yesterday he had given birth to her, now she was already sitting up on her own and rolling over, grabbing things. And now she was starting to talk! Not actual words, more like sounds that she picked up, but the more vocal she got the more they started to sound like words. He would always try to get her to talk by talking to her, but she couldn't get her mouth around the words; it looked like she knew what she wanted to say though, she was really smart. She got that from Tom, he knew, not that Harry wasn't smart, Tom just got things a lot faster than he did. He was glad that Wynter seemed to too. But she got her curiosity and adventurousness from him.
"Wynter! Can you say, mama?"
"Mma, mma!"Wynter exclaimed happily.
"No, ma-ma."
"Mmma!"
"Mama."
"Ma!"
"That's it. Mama."
"Mma, mma, mma!" she kept saying.
Harry sighed, "Guess not. How about dada?"
"Mma?"
"Dada."
"De?"
"Dada."
Wynter looked at him confusedly, "Ma!"
"No. Da-da."
"A-De...mma..." she said again, putting her fingers in her mouth.
Harry lifted her so she was standing on his knees and she bounced up and down with her legs while he held on to her waist. "Come on Wynter, say dada."
"Mma, mma, mma!"
"Mama?"
"Mma, mma!" She looked around distractedly for a moment before focusing on Harry. "Ppapappapapapa," she started saying, making noises, trying them out with her mouth.
"Papa?" Harry asked her, "Papa or dada?
"Papapapa," she babbled, "Wwa Wwa Wwa."
"No, no. Not wawa, Mama."
"Wwa wwa wwa!"
"Stop changing it on me. It's mama," he said shaking her slightly and she bounced on his legs again.
"Babababababa," she changed it again.
"Baba? You want this?" Harry asked holding up her bottle. Wynter took it and took a few sips from the nipple before throwing it on the couch where it bounced and rolled off onto the floor. "Hey!" he exclaimed, while she giggled. "You don't do that," he scolded.
Wynter gazed at him and put her hands on his face, "Mmma, mmma."
"Mama."
"Wwwa."
Harry sighed, "Not yet, huh?"
Wynter shook her head, "O."
Harry let out a surprised laugh, "No? Not yet?" she shook her head again and smiled at him, bouncing. "Okay." He sat her back down in his lap and leaned back on the couch, "You're exhausting," he told her.
Wynter only babbled and grabbed hold of his fingers, drawing them into her mouth.
"Daddy will be home soon," he said out loud, mostly for her benefit. "I have to make dinner soon...what should I make? I made chicken yesterday, maybe pork-Ow!" he gasped, jerking his fingers away and looking down at Wynter. "You bit me." She gazed up at him uncertainly, wondering why he reacted that way. Harry smoothed her hair down to reassure her until it sank in. "You bit me..." he repeated. He gently tilted her head back, "Can you let mommy see?" he asked her and put his finger into her mouth, running it over her gums until he felt it. Harry peered at it and saw it, a little tooth peeking out on the bottom, right up front."Oh my god!" he exclaimed, "You have a tooth!"
Wynter grinned at him and he lifted her up above his head. "You have your first tooth!" he said again and she giggled. He pulled her back down and held her close. "Oh my god," he repeated. She had her first tooth, the first of many. He looked down at her and framed her face with his hands. "Stop growing," he told her and kissed her forehead, then just sat there holding her; Wynter didn't mind it and was content to be there in his arms.
They stayed like that until Tom came home, Harry's head buzzing with the news and what it meant, mainly that Wynter was growing up. When Tom walked in the door, Harry got up and carried Wynter over to him. "Look!" he said, holding her out to him.
Tom looked at him, trying to figure out what he wanted as he took his daughter. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with her and Harry was not freaking out, so it was nothing bad; if anything he looked excited.
"Mma!"
"No, that's dada," Harry said to Wynter who was kicking her legs as Tom held her at arm's length, watching her. "Look," he said to Tom and lightly pulled her lip down and ran her finger over her gums.
Tom took the hint and shifted Wynter to his hip and ran his own finger over the same spot and felt it. His eyes widened and he looked in her mouth, not without some resistance, and saw the little piece of white in the pink of her gums.
"I know, right?'' Harry said, seeing his reaction.
"Already?" Tom said looking at his daughter with pride and a bit of sadness.
"I thought the same thing, but...there you go."
"De!" Wynter exclaimed, patting his face.
Tom smiled at her and kissed her fingers as he covered his mouth, "Anything yet?"
"Not yet. Isn't that right?" he said to Wynter and she shook her head.
"No?" Tom asked her following Harry further inside and she gave him a hug instead.
"I'm going to start dinner," Harry said and left Tom in the sitting area with Wynter.
So Harry made dinner while Tom entertained Wynter and when it was ready, they sat around the dining table with Wynter at the head in her highchair and ate. After dinner, they sat in the entertainment area and watched TV. Well, Tom watched somewhat, mostly he watched as Harry played with Wynter to try and tire her out so that she would go to sleep. He would tickle her and play with her bear and peek-a-boo, which was her favorite; it made her laugh.
"Where did you go?" Harry asked with the bear in front of his face, then removed it suddenly, "There you are!" and Wynter giggled and watched as he did it again and again. "Are you sleepy?" he asked her as she rubbed her eyes.
She shook her head and reached for him, "Umma, op."
"Up? You want up?" She nodded. "Okay, up you go," Harry said and pulled her up so she was balancing on his knees. She reached up and wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, a hug!" he hugged her back tight then let go. "What a nice hug."
Wynter grinned, then looked around. "Mma, bbbbababab"
"What is it? You looking for your bottle? Where is your bottle?"
She continued to look and spotted it on the other side of Tom, she pointed and babbled at him. "There it is," Harry said. "Daddy has it. Tell him to give it back."
Wynter held out her hand to Tom, "De!" she said in a scolding tone.
"I was just holding it," Tom teased lightly and gave it to her.
She took the bottle and sucked it as she leaned against Harry and he rubbed her back. He looked over at Tom and gave him a little smile which he returned; it made his heart flutter. It was moments like these that Harry cherished, they were simple, yet so full of meaning. Family that is what it was.
When Wynter was done she handed to empty bottle to him. "All done? Your tummy full?" he asked, rubbing her stomach. She patted her stomach and Harry poked it, making her giggle. Then she launched herself at him to give him a hug. "Another hug? Can I have a kiss too? Kiss?" he made kissing noises and her face lit up. She leaned forward and put her lips against his, no puckering, she didn't know how to do that yet. "Mwah!" he said kissing her loudly. "Thank you. Oh, do I get another one?" he asked as she leaned in again. "Mwah!" he laughed as Wynter giggled and she leaned in yet again. "Another one? I'm so lucky. Mwah!"
"That's not fair," Tom said from beside him.
"Daddy wants kisses too, can he have one?" Harry asked her. Wynter looked at Tom the back at Harry. "Daddy kisses?"
"Ye," she cooed and reached for Tom.
"Okay give daddy some kisses," Harry said and handed her over to him.
Wynter immediately started to give him kisses. "That's what I'm talking about," Tom said kissing her back, "You know what?" he dropped his voice to a loud whisper, "I think your kisses are better than mommy's."
"Watch it," Harry said slapping him in the arm, then got up, "I'm going to go get her bath started."
"Ma!" Wynter cried out as she saw him leaving.
"I'll be back, sweat pea," he called and disappeared upstairs.
Wynter made a noise of distress and kept looking at the stairs where Harry had gone, kisses all but forgotten.
"What? Am I not good enough for you?" Tom asked her.
Wynter looked at him with her big green eyes, then back at the stairs, then back at Tom. Her face was so completely serious, Tom wanted to make her laugh. So, checking to see that Harry wasn't coming yet; he stuck his tongue out at her. Wynter's eyes went wide in surprise before she started giggling, then stuck out her own little tongue and giggled again. "There is it," Tom said and kissed her forehead as her smile made a reappearance. He lifted her up above his head with both hands and watched as she waved her arms around and screeched in joy. "What are you doing?" he asked as she kicked her legs. "Are you trying to kick off?"
She continued to pinwheel her arms and legs, so Tom got up and used her like an airplane, flying her around while she laughed. "Go right!" he said, turning her, "now left!" he turned her the other way. "Oh no! Window, window!" he exclaimed making her go toward the back window. She shrieked and waved her arms as it got closer and closer, but he turned her to the right before she was going to hit. Tom turned around with Wynter above him and saw Harry standing there with a smile on his face. Tom felt his face heat up in embarrassment, which was a first for him, and looked away.
"Mma, mma!" Wynter cried happily.
Harry came forward, still with a smile, "Time for a pilot change." Tom sheepishly handed her over and Harry resumed his stance, "New destination," he said with Wynter above his head. "Bath time," and zoomed her across the room and up the stairs where he could hear her giggling.
Tom let himself drop down on the couch of the entertainment area and closed his eyes. He couldn't believe he had allowed himself to do something so embarrassing, and to be caught too, by Harry of all people. He didn't know what had possessed him to do such a thing, but yet he couldn't find it in himself to regret any of it.
After a while, Harry came back downstairs with Wynter, all fresh and clean from her bath and droopy eyed. "Daddy! Kisses!" he announced.
Tom got up and met him at the foot of the stairs and gave Wynter a good night kiss, "Sweet dreams, princess."
Wynter gave him a sleepy smiled, then burrowed her face in Harry's shoulder. Harry flashed Tom a smile and headed back upstairs, "Time to go night, night."
It didn't take long for Harry to come back, "She's out!"
"Is she?"
"Yup," Harry said and gave him a sly smile.
"You keep your mouth shut," Tom said turning his attention back to the TV.
"Oh come on, it was cute," he said sitting next to him.
"It was not. I was just-"
"Being a father," Harry finished for him, "the things we do just to get a laugh. Believe me, I've done some things that I never ever would have done," he shook his head with a fond smile, "but I guess that is what being a parent is."
"I did not expect to turn into such a sap."
"You're not a sap. You just love your little girl and want to make her happy."
"I guess," Tom muttered.
"Hey," Harry said and got up to lightly straddle his lap, sliding his fingers into his hair on the back of his head, "You are just being a good father. And you are. I mean, sure, we don't really know what we are doing, but you are not bossing her around or yelling at her or ignoring her..."
Tom nodded, but he had a feeling Harry was drawing from experience. He knew he had a few of his own that he never wanted to happen.
"...So anyway, I think we are doing okay. And you playing with her just shows you care."
Tom nodded again and closed his eyes as Harry's fingers carded through his hair in a soothing way. He felt better now that Harry had spoken to him. And what he said was true, he had caught Harry doing things that looked out of character for him, but he had brushed it off as it had to do with Wynter. It was just so not like him, but now he guessed it was happening to him now too. Not that it was any less embarrassing. He could only imagine what he would do in the future, but he found that he didn't really care. "You are not going to let me forget this, are you?" he asked opening his eyes.
Harry smirked, "Nope," he said popping the 'p.' Tom groaned and dropped his head back against the couch. Harry chuckled, "I wish I had my camera..."
"Don't you dare," Tom growled.
"What? Not like I will show anyone. No one would believe me anyway."
"Still..."
"Have to protect your Dark Lord-y image?" Harry asked with a smile, leaning up so he was on his knees and flush against Tom's chest.
"Yes," Tom replied, running his hands over Harry's ass and down the back of his thighs.
"Thought you weren't a Dark Lord here."
"That's true."
"Then nothing to worry about. I won't tell my friends," Harry said trailing kisses up Tom's jaw.
"Better not," Tom murmured and returned the kiss Harry had bestowed on him; sealing his mouth with his own in a slow kiss.
"I won't," Harry said between kisses, "and you won't tell your...friends?" he pulled away and looked down at him, "Do you even have friends?" Tom frowned at him. "No, I'm serious. Don't you have someone to talk to? Besides me."
"Not really."
"No one?" Harry asked sitting back down so he was eye level with Tom again.
"I don't have friends, Harry. I have followers, acquaintances at most."
"Do you talk to your acquaintances at least?"
"N-" Tom paused, "maybe."
"Maybe? Who?"
Tom paused again and Harry tilted his head to the side; green eyes alight with curiosity. "Fenrir Greyback."
"The werewolf?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Despite what you might think, Fenrir is quite easy to talk to. He is one of the only ones who is able to talk to me so casually; though he is still careful."
"Wow," Harry said in awe. He had only heard bad things about the werewolf, but it just goes to show that he shouldn't judge a book by its cover; Tom was a prime example.
"He's also the only one that knows that I use a glamour," Tom said.
"He knows?"
"Yes. Unfortunately. He has a very sensitive nose and can smell the magic on me, though I have never shown him my true face and he doesn't ask." Harry didn't say anything; only stared out in thought as he tried to visualize it. "Not that we sit down and chat," Tom continued, "...just mundane things once in a while."
"Really? So you're friends with one of your followers," Harry commented.
"He's not one of my followers. He follows me, yes, but he is not a follower."
"I don't understand."
"Werewolves, most anyway, are very independent creatures. Especially Alphas, they follow no one."
"And Greyback is an Alpha. So he's not a follower."
"Correct. But he does follow my cause."
Harry was silent for a minute, debating with himself, then just decided to ask, "What is your cause, exactly?"
Tom looked at him and only saw curiosity and interest. He was surprised because Harry had never shown any interest in what he was fighting for before. "Equality...in part," he answered.
"Equality? Really?" Harry asked surprised.
"What? Did you think I just wanted to take over the world for power?"
"...Uh..."
Tom smirked, "What do you take me for, that isn't it at all. Though I don't blame you. For a while, I was not myself and lost sight of my goals. Then I was...defeated." Here Harry grinned lightly. "And I had a lot of time to think."
"So now you are back on track?"
"Trying to. A lot has changed."
"Yeah...So what kind of equality is it for?"
"Werewolves, Vampires-"
"House elves?"
"...I never thought of them."
"If you do, Hermione will love you."
"I am not sure if house elves even want it. Well, any magical creature that can think for themselves basically. "
"I get it," Harry said thinking of Remus. "You said 'in part,' is there more?"
"Yes. To bring back wizarding traditions."
"Wizarding traditions? What's that?"
"You asking is exactly my point. No one really knows anymore, except the purebloods that still practice it. Muggleborns and Halfbloods come into our world bringing their own traditions like Halloween and Christmas, and that is fine, but it is overriding our own traditions that have been around for centuries."
"Like what?" Harry asked getting off his lap and sitting down next to him on the couch; his knees were starting to hurt.
"Samhain, Yule, Summer Solstice...There are all kinds, some darker than others, but they are all centered around becoming one with magic and the earth. And it is so...enriched with magic...There is nothing like it Harry," Tom said.
The way he spoke of it, so excited and elated by a simple ceremony, Harry could see that he was very passionate about it. It made him a little excited just listening, he could only imagine going to one. "I didn't know about any of this."
"No one really does anymore and it's a shame. It is amazing. It's like a magical high that doesn't leave you for days...I can't really describe it, you would have to experience it yourself."
"It sounds amazing."
"It is."
"Can you show me?"
Tom looked at him in surprise, yet he was excited. "Of course. I would love to. Summer Solstice is coming up soon. It is a good one to start with. I would like Wynter to experience it too, but she is too young. When she is older maybe."
"Okay," Harry said simply and they fell into a comfortable silence, each deep in thought.
Harry was surprised to hear about these traditions; they sounded fascinating and the way Tom explained it, almost like a little kid, it wasn't something that one should miss. He wondered if Ron knew of it or if they did something on these holidays, he had never spoken of it so maybe not; he would ask anyway. Hermione probably had heard of them though. Tom's thought were along the same line. It had made him unbelievable happy that Harry wanted to celebrate the Summer Solstice with him. He had never celebrated one with someone he was intimate with, he wasn't sure what to expect but it was bound to be unforgettable, especially as it was Harry's first. He was going to make it as special as possible and he started to calculate the things that he would need and how he was going to do the set up this year.
"So. Is there anything else or is that it?"
"Huh?" Tom asked, blinking as he became aware that Harry was talking to him.
"Your cause. Is there more?"
"Not really. The rest is more...personal."
"What do you mean? Harry asked.
Tom hesitated for a moment. "You know where I grew up, correct?"
"Orphanage," Harry answered.
"Yes...It was not the best place, especially being different. And having to go back every summer..." he shook his head as if shaking off bad memories. "I always wished that there was somewhere I could go, with people like me, like us."
"Magical children?"
"Yes, and not just any one. The orphans, the abused ones, the unwanted. Somewhere where we could fit in," Tom said passionately. "Be-" he trailed off.
"Loved," Harry finished softly. An old pang went through his chest, one he had shoved way a long time ago.
"Accepted," Tom added.
They both fell silent and let out identical deep sighs and smiled at each other.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Harry said and reached over to lace his fingers with Tom's, "An orphanage for magical children."
"Yes," Tom replied, looking down at their laced fingers, "but that is not all. I also want an educational plan put in place for children new to the wizarding world."
"Why?"
"When Muggleborns, and some half-bloods, turn 11 they are brought into this new world of magic and know absolutely nothing. We are thrust into a new school where we know no one, while others around us greet each other like old friends."
Harry nodded. He remembered feeling so lost when he first got onto the train to go to Hogwarts and some of his classmates did already know each other. Draco Malfoy immediately came to mind; his cronies already by his side at his beck and call.
"Not only that, but they were born in this world, grew up around magic and its customs, some even know spells before they even have their own wand and know how to use it. It can be very intimidating and unfair that they are already so far ahead."
"That's true. So what? You want a magical primary school?"
"Exactly. That way we can learn magic early too. And it doesn't have to be just Muggleborns, it can be all magical children."
"Ages five to ten," Harry commented, seeing it in his mind already.
"Sounds about right."
"Wow. That all sounds great. I wish we had something like that while I was growing up."
"Me too."
"Past and future children too, no doubt," Harry said, "you have good ideas."
"I know." Harry threw him a look and Tom grinned, "Thank you."
"Anything else?"
"No. That's it."
They lapsed into silence again and turned to watch the late night news that had turned on during their talk. Harry curled into Tom's side, his head on Tom's shoulder and kept their fingers laced and Tom let him, as they got lost in their own thoughts. Harry kept thinking about what Tom had said; about his cause. For being a Dark Lord, it was actually very appealing. It was a wonder why people flocked to his side. Not to mention that he was very passionate about it and made it very clear why he wanted it, that and with his charm, Tom could easily sway people to follow him. And his cause wasn't just one thing wither, there was a little something for everyone. It was also something that the Light side could get behind; that is if they had ever even listened to what Tom wanted.
"Why didn't you just take the easy way? Go through the Ministry. I'm sure you are smart enough to make your way up to get things done," Harry asked.
"I would have, but the chance of it getting done would be slim to none. People don't like change, too set in their ways to even want to," Tom replied.
"That's true." Harry could think of many ways that it was; the most prominent was when he had told everyone that Voldemort was back when he was 15. No one had wanted to believe him because it would have broken the bubble they were in, things would change if they acknowledged it. And they all knew how that turned out.
"And equality for werewolves?" Tom continued, "They are too scared because of one or two isolated incidents among thousands, so you can forget that. So I had to do it by force, to make them see, to acknowledge these issues, or they would just blow me off."
"That's kinda sad. I mean, wouldn't the Ministry want to move forward?"
"You would think so, but things work just fine right now and they don't want to take the risk of something going wrong."
"But that's the whole point of moving forward. Making mistakes, learning and fixing them to do better," Harry said. Tom said nothing, only nodded. Harry was starting to see his point. "That's messed up."
"It is. But that's how it is. Why do you think we are so far behind the Muggles?"
"Fear of change," Harry answered.
"Fear of change," Tom repeated.
"That sucks."
"Indeed."
They fell silent again for a moment. Then Harry sighed deeply. "Well, that was sort of depressing."
"A little," Tom looked over at him and gave him a wicked smile full of promise, "I know what we can do that is not."
Harry's eyes widened and he gasped "Pervert!" he cried in mock outrage but didn't resist when Tom turned off the TV and pulled him up the stairs to their bedroom.
Sorry, no smexy time this chapter, it seemed a little weird to put it in here, but there will be some in the next one, promise. I hope the ending wasn't too much information to throw at you guys. I wanted to put in Tom's view of things in somewhere and here seemed a good spot. Also, some of you guys asked if Tom had any friends and I thought Greyback was a good fit. I may add one more in the future depending on how things go.
I hope you all liked it, don't forget to leave a comment/review!
phoenix
