Hush Little Baby
Chapter 9
BOY WHO LIVED DIES FOR BABY DARK LORD
Harry Potter, yesterday at the sentencing of the two-year old Dark Lord, announced his adoption of the child. Recognized as a minor by the magic on the courtroom, Tom Riddle's life was exchanged for the life of our savior, Harry Potter.
The article continued on, but none in the Burrow could be bothered to read it. Heartache ran rampant through the household as Harry's body lay lifeless on the sofa. Auror Pickering, after announcing his resignation, had taken special care to deliver both the child, unharmed, and Harry's body. Harry, after all he'd been through, deserved to have his body cared for those he loved most. Many in the household tried to comfort each other, but one heart refused to be soothed.
Tom may have only been two, but he'd seen a lot in his first two years that had forced him to grow up quicker than his body had. In other words, a small part of him understood only too well that his daddy was never going to wake up, that his daddy was gone forever.
"Fo'eber…" he sobbed into the kind Molly Weasley's chest.
When Harry had said he was going ahead with the adoption, and had asked for Arthur's help in getting the paperwork filed so quickly, she'd realized what he meant to do. She was proud of his bravery and selflessness, but she wished there could have been another way. She cried for the boy, no, man, she considered to be as much her son as Ron.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were in shock. Ron wanted to blame Tom. After all, if he'd only died like he was supposed to then none of this would have ever happened. Harry would still be alive. But one look at the boy killed that argument. Tom's hadn't known what would happen. Hell, Voldemort probably hadn't even expected it. Only one thing was painfully certain.
Harry Potter was dead.
Meanwhile,
All he could see was light. Everywhere he looked was light. He looked to the north, light, Looked to the South, light. East, light. And West, of course, more light. Was this death?
"Harry?"
He whirled around. Standing just in front of his was his mum, dad, Sirius, Dumbledore, and two others that he knew he should recognize but didn't. "Mum, Dad, Sirius…." he smiled as three pairs of arms encircled him.
His mom spoke first. "We are so proud of you."
"The way you saved Tom, truly worthy of a Potter." James added.
"A Gryffindor through and through." Sirius agreed. "That's my godson alright!"
The love washed over Harry, reassuring him, once again, that he'd made the right choice. "I couldn't let them kill Tom, not when he still has a second chance. He gets to do life over again, that's not something a lot of people get. I wasn't about to let them take it away from him."
Dumbledore joined the fold. "You really understand your best weapon, Harry."
Harry pulled away to look at his previous headmaster. "Weapon?"
"Harry, there was a reason your battle ended as it did." Dumbledore said. "Can you think why?"
Harry shrugged. "Because our wands linked again?"
Dumbledore nodded in a "kind of" way. "Yes, your wands did link again. But if Voldemort had won that time, would you have been turned into a child?"
Harry had to think a moment, but he instinctually knew. "No, he would have killed me. But….then why did my same curse do that to him?"
"How were you feeling on the battlefield, Harry, stuck in that final clash?"
Again, he had to think. "I…was sad. It's hard to hate someone whom you can relate so well to. He and I had lived the same type of childhood. More than anything, I wished that…there was some other way. I didn't want to be a killer, no matter who it was. I didn't think it was fair."
Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eye. "And once more we see how our choices effect our magic. Your desire for Voldemort to be able to live, perhaps a better life, changed your curse into his miracle. Love is truly the most powerful magic of all."
Harry looked again at the vaguely familiar two. A man and a woman. Harry finally got a good look at the white-clad gentleman and knew. "You're Tom's father." It wasn't a question. "And you, you're his mother."
The woman nodded, tears staining her face. "Thank you for caring for my son." Merope told him.
Tom Riddle Sr. smiled in agreement. "Like you said, our son now has another chance at life. And it's all because of you. We owe you a lot."
Harry sighed. "Honestly, I wish I could've stayed with him. He kind of grew on me. I wanted to watch him grow up." He smiled sadly.
Lily grinned. "Harry, you are going to watch him. You're going back. Tom still needs you."
"Really?" Harry asked, looking up at his mum.
"Just promise to also take time for yourself." James advised.
Harry nodded. "I will."
"Mr. Potter," Riddle Sr. called out. "Before you go, my old manor, it belongs to my son. If you ever need to place to stay, that's where you go."
Harry smiled in appreciation. "Thank you sir."
"Harry!" Dumbledore called. "Time to go back."
Harry turned and saw a tunnel forming in the light. "I guess I should go now."
"WAIT!" Merope threw her arms around Harry. "That's for Tom, be sure to pass it along for me and his father." she requested.
Harry nodded. "Of course." He turned again to the now clear tunnel.
"Harry, you need to go now before the opening closes." Sirius told him. "Go on."
Harry smiled and waved as he walked into the light. It grew brighter and brighter until he found himself staring at the ceiling of the Burrow. He tried to sit up but he was still a little stiff. He heard faint crying with a set of screaming wails mixed in. Managing to slowly turn his head, he saw Molly holding little Tom, who was simply beside himself. Pickering was right, the kid could cry. Finally he could take no more.
"Tom…" He called out, though his voice was hoarse from being so dry. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Tom," This time he was successful.
The mourners looked up from their spots. Tom was afraid to turn his head though.
"Daddy?" he thought, was it possible. Was his Daddy alive?
"HARRY!" Ron cried as he, Hermione and Ginny grabbed him all at once in a great huge hug. He felt their tears in his hair.
Harry could only hug back. "Guys, I'm okay, really. But I won't be if you don't let me breathe."
"DADDY!!!" came the expected shriek. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny barely had time to dive out of the way as Tom launched himself onto Harry, landing square on his stomach.
"Oof!" Harry grunted forcing himself into a sitting position. "Careful there, sport." he moaned as he felt a few vertebrae snap back into place. "Ooo, how long have I been lying here?"
"Approximately twenty-four hours." Hermione stated as only Hermione could.
"Ahh," Harry stated understandingly, "that explains the knots in my back."
Tom was out of his mind with simple, childlike delight. "Daddy alwight now?"
Harry grinned and nodded. "Yes, Daddy's alright now. Albeit somewhat stiff, but I think I'll live." He pulled his adopted son to him in a tight hug. "And no one can take you away from me now. Not ever. You're my son now."
Tom whooped joyfully and latched onto Harry's neck. This was a good feeling, having a daddy. He just things would be alright now.
AN: The only part left is the epilogue which is still in the works. This is the first in a long series of Baby Tom stories. I would appreciate title suggestions for the next story which will focus on Tom's first five years as Harry's son.