Title: Crystal

Rating: PG-13/R

Genre: Romance/Humor

Summary: AU; "He's as… fragile as crystal…" To wear matching rings is believed to be the ultimate expression of love… complete detail inside
Pairing(s): Harry/Tom R.

Warnings: AU Yaoi, slash, Boy/Boy
Disclaimer: Don't own fandom. Concept behind story doesn't belong to me either. Story itself does. So does Moorinto… and various cameo characters. So don't sue me or have me erased because I'm not going to lose my very first-ever paycheck to people who don't know how to read a disclaimer.

Summary: The ultimate expression of love… In the small town of Moorinto, it is believed the ultimate expression of love is to wear a matching ring with the one you love. It could also be the deepest sign of friendship, depending on which finger you wear it on. When the semi-loner Harry Potter suddenly finds his matching ring with the person he least expects, it's an up and down coaster ride to discovering if this person could be his worst enemy… or his greatest love.

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AN: Sorry it's so late! I got caught up in Real Life (meaning work and such) and it was a drag. But I quit, so everything's cool. I can make regular updates now. To make up for my appalling faux pas of missing last week, I'm putting up two chapters. One is the longest so far, and the other is the shortest, so it evens out. I hope.

Dairygirl: Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it hasn't happened to someone else. :tries to look innocent:

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'Damnit!' Harry glared at the innocent looking ring sitting atop his desk in annoyance. It fit just fine on his right middle finger not even three hours before. Washing his hands couldn't have had that big of an effect.

"Hey, Harry!" Harry looked up at Ron, standing near the door with a few of their classmates. Ron grinned at him, waving a hand. "Come on, mate, let's go to lunch. Boot's treating!" One of the boys glared at the red-head and smacked the back of his head.

"No thanks," Harry called back. "I'm not really hungry." Ron frowned and turned to the other three, murmuring to them. They nodded and left, waving back to Harry.

"You don't still have a headache, do you?" Ron asked, sitting on the desk next to him.

"No, I'm fine. It's just…" He frowned. "My ring… it doesn't fit anymore." Ron blinked, looking confused.

"What, that ring you're always wearing, the one you never take off? What does it mean it doesn't fit? You were wearing it this morning."

"Yeah. That's what's bothering me." Ron shrugged.

"I don't know, mate. Maybe you just… gained weight or something." Harry gave him an incredulous look.

"In the ten minutes it was off my finger?" Ron shrugged again, looking sheepish.

"Okay, then, maybe not." Harry frowned at the ring again.

"But it's interesting…" he muttered mostly to himself. "It fits onto my left ring finger…"

"Oh my god, look!" A girl behind him whispered frantically to her friends, squealing softly. "Can you believe it?" Soft murmurs broke out around the room suddenly.

"He's here! Oh, wow!" Ron looked around the room.

"What's going on? Wha-! Hey, Harry, look!" Harry looked in the direction Ron was gaping. He blinked, his eyebrows raising in surprise. What was Tom Riddle doing in the doorway to their classroom?

"Who cares?" Harry muttered, turning his head to stare out the window.

"Harry!" Ron hissed, poking his shoulder roughly. "He's coming this way!" Harry gave him a dark look but didn't look up.

Soft footsteps stopped before his desk and stayed there, but still Harry didn't look up. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Tom Riddle twice in one day. Riddle didn't leave him with an option, though.

"Hey, you." Harry ignored him. "I know you can hear me. You certainly weren't deaf earlier, so answer me." Harry clenched his teeth and glared up darkly at him.

"I don't have to take this from—!" The unguarded look in Riddle's eyes threw him for a moment and their gazes locked for all of a split second. Harry scowled and looked away.

'What am I admiring that bastard for? Sure, he's good looking… but he's such an ass…'

"I have a name, if you want to talk to me, use it. Unless such an unimportant piece of information slipped your mind, in which case, it's—."

"Harry Potter. I didn't forget." Harry looked up at him again.

"What do you want?"

"I came to return something." Riddle held out a clenched hand. Harry's brows furrowed.

"Return…?" He held out his hand. "Well, what is it?" Riddle dropped it into his palm.

It was a ring. Harry held it up looking at it in shock.

"My ring…! They're…identical." He held the two rings side by side, and suddenly noticed the subtle differences. His ring was slightly bigger and more scuffed up, while the other one didn't look as worn.

"We must have accidentally switched in the bathroom," Riddle said, watching him. "I took your ring by mistake, and you ended up with mine."

"Your… You mean, we have matching rings?" Harry looked up at him, then at the rings.

"Don't remind me," Riddle said dryly.

"Wow, they are identical," Ron said, peering over his shoulder.

"No wonder it suddenly fits on my left ring finger only…" Harry murmured. Riddle's eyes widened slightly, blinking, but when Harry looked back at him, his face was impassive as ever.

"Whatever, just give me back my ring," he demanded, hold his hand out. "You think I like wearing a paired ring with you?" Harry glared at him. "Besides, it was made as a gift by a friend, and it's special to me."

"Here, take it." Harry dropped the ring into his hand roughly. "Now you can leave, and good riddance." Ron leaned down, nudging him.

"You know, Harry," he whispered, "that ring looks different when he wears it. I don't know.. classier…" Harry glared at him, but knew he was right. On himself, the ring was just some plain band of metal. But on Riddle, it looked important. "Good thing he noticed they were switched, right?"

"That should have occurred to me," Harry muttered, looking at his ring to avoid looking at Riddle. "It sure as hell beats your idea you know, where you thought I just got fat." Run flushed, looking around the room awkwardly.

"Yeah, well…" he muttered, unable to come up with a comeback.

"What are you, stupid?" Riddle gave Ron a look of incredulity. He looked at Harry. "I'm surprised you didn't think that. It was tight on you, wasn't it? It was loose on my right middle finger. Strange, though, that it fit perfectly on my left ring finger. The ring widths for each of my hands are slightly different.

"Left…?" Harry blinked at him.

"Exactly. A place I have no use wearing it. It'd cause a riot if I'd suddenly started wearing a ring on my left hand. Besides, it's disturbing to share matching rings with a guy." Harry grit his teeth.

"Same here." Riddle shrugged.

"Good. It's mutual, then. But your ring…" He looked at the ring in Harry's hand. "I was impressed at how roughed up it was. Like it had a lot of years on it."

"Yeah," Harry muttered. "I've had it a long time."

"Must be important to you." Riddle turned and walked back toward the door. "Whatever. See you."

"Wha…" Harry blinked at the abrupt dismissal. He frowned.

He controlled the conversation entirely, he realized. He said what was on his mind and left. Besides, Harry thought, he's the one who took the wrong ring. He could have at least apologized.

What does he have against me? He was nice when he lent me his handkerchief. And then…

"Harry!" The sudden squeal brought him suddenly from his musing.

"Hermione!" Ron gaped, staring at her.

"Harry, you have the same ring as Tom Riddle, right? Tell me where you got it! Please?" Harry looked at her strangely.

"Why?"

"Because it's a match with Tom Riddle's! That's why! I want one too." He was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of her friends.

"I want a ring like that, too!"

"Totally!"

"What store did you get it at? Please tell us!"

"But I can't." The girls stared at him for a moment before ganging up on him.

"What? Why not?"

"Yeah, you big meanie!"

"You could tell us if you wanted to!"

"You have to!"

"I told you, I can't." Harry scowled at them. "I don't remember where I bought it. It was so long ago! Besides, having one person share the same ring as mine is bad enough! I don't need more."

"Yeah, right!"

"You just want the ring all to yourself!"

"Stingy!"

"Selfish!"

"Keeping it to myself? Are all of you insane? I said I don't know where I bought it, and I don't, damnit!"

"Liar!"

"Meanie!"

"Argh!"