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: I apologize for the lateness of the update. There have been a few family things I've had to take care of, such as talking to my father for the first time in sixteen years… -.-" As well, I've been gathering the courage to continue reading HBP. I didn't even get halfway through before I put it down and said enough. I seriously believe that this book does not meet her usual standards as she has so far set them in earlier publications. I was severely disappointed by the book and the things I glimpsed sneaking a peak into the end.

Anyway, you won't get a special second update this time. I've encountered but overcome a slight roadblock, but it might persist. Never fear! This story will not turn out as my others, for this time I see the end of the story and have a goal set. I will have this series completed by Halloween if I have to hash the whole thing out the night prior. (And Halloween really isn't that far away, if you really look at it.)

So sit back and enjoy this chapter! Things are going to heat up real soon.

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"I'm home." His voice echoed strangely in the hall, even though he knew the house wasn't empty. Soft pounding from running feet came from the direction of the stairs.

"Harry!" The happy squeal and the noise was all that warned him of the bear hug that nearly knocked him down. He smiled softly at the excitable fifteen year old.

"Hey, Nadi." The girl smiled brightly up at him with hazel eyes.

"Dinner's almost ready, Harry. Uncle Remi got an emergency call to the hospital and Papa Siri said he is going to be late because of a new case that just came in." Harry smiled resignedly.

When he was four years old, and his little sister Nadia two, their parent had died in a tragic car accident on the way home from picking up their mother from the airport. Their godfather Sirius adopted them immediately and they moved far from their old town to escape the sorrow, moving in with Sirius' partner Remus. Remus was s surgeon at the local hospital and Sirius was a defense attorney, meaning they both had long hours and little time to spare for their charges despite their wishes.

They were used to it by now, and even had a routine. Nadi came home first so she cleaned the kitchen and living room and made dinner. Then Harry came home, they had dinner, Harry did the laundry and extra things needed around the house, they did their homework, and went to bed. When they woke up, their caretakers were either just leaving or had already left with breakfast made and a note on the table.

As they ran quickly and silently through their routine, Harry could only think that yes, they were definitely used to it.

At a quarter past nine, Harry was interrupted by a soft knock at the door and a light head of hair peeking through hesitantly. While Harry looked like their father with his mother's feminine frame, expressive eyes and fiery personality (despite what he portrayed), Nadia was the spitting image of their mother with only her hazel eyes, and their father's mischievous streak, marking the difference. Because of their similarities otherwise, the were often mistaken as twins.

"Yes, Nadi?" Nadia smiled brilliantly and took a running leap onto his bed, causing him to clutch quickly at his scattered books and papers and bedpost lest either they or he fall off. It was only as he settled himself upright once more that he noticed a rather large box wrapped in a pale yellow floral design. "A birthday present?" Harry said, giving her a confused look. "My birthday isn't until next month." Nadi giggled.

"It's not for you, silly!" She smiled sweetly and leaned forward with a hesitant look on her face. "Do you maybe know a senior at your school called Tom Riddle?" Harry's eyes narrowed.

"And what, dearest sister, would you want with him?" She smiled again, brighter if at all possible.

"Oh, you do know him!" she exclaimed happily, ignoring his dirty look. "He's practically famous at my school. Anyway, apparently it's Mr. Riddle's birthday this weekend. A classmate of mine asked me to send a gift to him." Harry stared at her for a moment before blinking.

"You mean, you want me to deliver it for him?" She waved her free hand frantically.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know you hate this sort of thing, and I told her you would probably say no, but she has this really big thing for him, so… Well, I accidentally sort of told her that my darling big brother went to Morino High." He gave her a skeptical look. She didn't seem too apologetic.

"You don't look sorry," he muttered darkly. She smiled deviously in response.

"You know, I hear he comes from a long line of successful bankers and political icons. Wow, when you think about it… tall, dark, handsome, not to mention intelligent and rich! What a catch! If you had a friend like him hiding somewhere, Harry, why didn't you ever bring him over?"

"I don't need to hear this from my little sister's mouth!" Harry snapped irritably. She didn't seem to perturbed. "Tom Riddle is not my friend; I can't stand him." She gave him a blank look.

"But you said his name so casually, how can you not be his friend? I mean, it sounded like you were really close…" Harry ground his teeth together and stubbornly looked away. "Well, it doesn't matter. Could you deliver the present for me, Harry? I'd really appreciate it, and so would she. There's a letter in there for him."

"Why bother?" Harry stood and put the package on his desk. "He probably gets so many of them that one more won't make a difference." Nadi frowned, watching him for a moment, then sighed.

"You know, they say that for every gift or letter a girl gives him, he declines her as gently and nicely as possible. Most guys would ignore the situation but keep the gift. And you know, turning someone down can be pretty stressful for a guy, especially if they start to cry on you. There aren't many guys who would be polite about the whole thing and apologize like you, Harry."

He stared silently at the wall, then looked down at the gift sitting innocently on his desk. He turned and gave her a soft smile.

"Why is it that I can never say no to you?" Nadi squealed happily and nearly knocked him onto the floor with her little too exuberant hug.

"Yay Harry! It's a deal! You better pinky promise, though." Harry looked at their entwined pinkies, then at his sister's beaming smile. Dread settled in the pit of his stomach.