Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! It's been so nice hearing that people like what I'm writing. I'll actually be starting a college course in writing and publishing this year so it really means a lot to know that people actually want to read my work. Anyway, here's the second chapter. Enjoy!
Tom and Harry never actually planned to go to Diagon Alley on that particular day for more than just a trip to Gringotts bank to finally look in on the state of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter. To be honest, Tom had been putting it off, as he knew he wouldn't like what they discovered. Unfortunately, Harry's annual Hogwarts letter arrived that morning, meaning that their plans had to change and fast. Harry had already bought all of the books Tom thought he could possibly need and more. This year was going to be incredibly easy for Harry as he was now working through third year material in all core wand subjects and beyond even that in potions. Originally, he'd been worried about breaking the Underage restriction but Tom had explained that his house was warded so heavily that the Ministry would never be able to detect a hint of magic from within the property. In fact, the Ministry would never know the place even existed with the amount of powerful wards Tom had used.
Therefore, Tom was incredibly displeased to discover that the DADA teacher was asking Harry to buy the complete works of some ponce named Lockhart, forcing them to spend far longer than Tom was comfortable with beyond the safety of his wards. These were the rather in fortuitous events that led to a wary Harry making his way inside Gringotts with a grumpy former Dark Lord sulking in a corner of his mind. Upon approaching a Goblin and requested an audience with the Potter account manager Harry was surprised to receive a glare and a rude "Come." Before being marched along several corridors and shoved into a large office where a fierce looking Goblin regarded him coolly. Finally, it broke the silence, "Mr Potter," It barked; voice decidedly angry, "I would like to know under what misguided thoughts of superiority you were operating under when you ignored our numerous letters and requests for meetings."
Harry stared at the Goblin, dumbfounded before spluttering, "What letters? What requests? The only time I've interacted with a Goblin was the few words I exchanged with Griphook when I came to withdraw money for school supplies."
It was the Goblin's turn to splutter as it regarded Harry in growing horror.
"This isn't right," It muttered lowly to itself, "That indicates that someone has been tampering with a clients mail."
Finally returning his attention to Harry, the Goblin bowed slightly.
"Forgive me Heir Potter," he said professionally, "I am Barchoke, your accounts manager here at Gringotts. It appears that a crime has been committed that I shall have to rectify quickly."
Throughout the conversation Harry had felt Tom's anger grow exponentially until it exploded as the slightly older boy materialised at Harry's side.
"You mean to tell me," he roared, face flushed lightly, "That Dumbledore not only left my charge with abusive Muggles, denied him access to knowledge of his parents and birth right, attempted to mind-rape him repeatedly throughout the year, but he also withheld Harry's legal inheritance. I'll kill him!"
The Goblin was, understandably shocked at the sudden appearance of this ghostly figure but Harry wasn't so easily distracted. Knowing that a magical explosion was imminent and wanting to spare the poor Goblin's office he did the only thing he could think of. He tackled Tom to the ground before wrapping as much of his own body as he could around the taller boy. Everything instantly stopped. The crackling angry magic, the shouting, the very air seemed to still as Tom abruptly came out of his rage. Blinking, the grey wizard looked down at his chest to find himself face to face with a determined looking Harry.
"Feeling better?" Harry joked weakly, expression turning slightly sheepish. Chuckling, Tom manoeuvred them so he could sit up with Harry still wrapped tightly around his frame, one hand rising to run lightly through the other's tousled strands. "Much better, thank you Harry. Although next time, a simple hug would work fine."
Blushing, Harry nodded. A throat clearing broke the quiet moment however and the two wizards turned to find Barchoke regarding them with an air of disgruntled disbelief. Sighing, Tom opted to explain.
"I am a fragment of the Dark Lord's soul." Tom had to raise a hand to stop the Goblin doing anything rash," Let me finish." Sighing, Tom wrapped both arms around Harry for support as he continued; "I have spent the last eleven years growing up again while living within the very core of the purest, lightest wizard you are likely to meet. This allowed me to not only regain my sanity but also worked to lighten my own magical affinity to a smoky grey. I am currently attempting to reabsorb as much of my soul pieces as I can before the Master soul regain a body. My sole purpose now is keeping Harry safe."
The Goblin watched the pair for several minutes in complete silence before replying, "I would not believe your story Mr Riddle if it wasn't impossible to lie within my office walls. I will help all I can in the reclamation of your soul. Goblins abhor the things you speak of and we will jump at the chance of ridding the world of them."
Smiling, Tom nodded his head in understanding before speaking again.
"You can help me already then as I know that a Death Eater by the name of Bellatrix Lestrange has one stored within her personal vault. It is Hufflepuff's cup."
Growling, Barchoke stalked from the room, returning fifteen minutes later with a small golden chalice grasped lightly in his hands. Reluctantly, Harry stood as Tom faded back into his body before taking the offered cup. Just like last time, Harry felt Tom surge forward towards the dormant soul piece, growing stronger as another piece of Tom's fractured soul returned to the remorseful wizard. Soon enough, it was over and Tom withdrew to rest and Harry handed the cup back to Barchoke. Grinning wickedly, the Goblin accepted the treasure before handing Harry a signet ring bearing what could only be the Potter coat of arms. Harry couldn't see it properly at the moment so merely slipped it on to the finger indicated by Barchoke and swore to look at it more carefully later.
"You can access the main vaults when you turn fourteen and can take an inheritance test at the same time. We cannot show you your parents will as the Chief Warlock sealed them before they could be read. You will be able to unseal them upon reaching your majority."
Harry nodded along to all this dazedly, only really wanting to get out of there, finish his shopping and go home with Tom. Luckily, his accounts manager seemed to realise this as Harry soon found himself leaving the bank.
Harry was horrified to discover that Flourish and Blotts was overrun with witches and wizards all in a state of complete confusion. Quickly realising that he wanted no part in this, Harry hurriedly hid behind a convenient bookshelf and prepared to wait it out. It was, of course, at this moment that the Weasleys arrived. Their swarm of red hair easily spotted amongst the crowd. Upon spotting them, Harry hastily sent off a small note charmed like a paper aeroplane to hit one of the twins in the head. The twin (Harry quickly identified it as George) read the note before grinning, grabbing Fred and dragging him over to Harry's bookshelf, expertly dodging through the mob of rabid fans. Harry then found himself lifted off his feet and passed between the two red heads as they cooed over him, "Look, Gred! It's Ickle Harrikins. Our partner in crime!" Cheered George, beaming. "I know, Forge. Who would have thought Harry had it in him?"
Fred replied, a mischievous smirk plastered across his features.
Laughing, Harry wriggled out of their grasp before straightening his clothes slightly.
"Hello you two menaces." He greeted, smiling brilliantly. Making friends with these two had been the best decision he'd ever made. He felt relaxed in a way he'd never been around Ron. He knew he could tell them anything and they wouldn't judge. He could probably be Dark and they wouldn't care at all beyond wanting to experiment with a wider magic base. The twins, he had worked out, were Grey. They didn't care about the magic they used as long as it got them the desired results. Unlike their younger brother, they were completely unbiased outside of the Quidditch pitch, as Harry had discovered when he'd shared what the sorting hat had said about Slytherin. Turns out, the twins had had the same problem. The three of them chatted quietly together about prank ideas and who to use them on until a disturbance drew their attention. Draco Malfoy and someone who could only be his father were facing off against Arthur, Ron and Hermione. As Harry watched, Lord Malfoy picked up one of Ginny's schoolbooks before goading Arthur into a fistfight. Suddenly, Harry caught sight of Lord Malfoy adding a small black diary to the book still clutched in his hand. At that exact moment, Tom hissed urgently, "That's my Horcrux! You must get it away from that girl before it awakens and possesses her."
Hurriedly, Harry turned to the twins, eyes wide and filled with anxiety, "Guys" He whispered, "Malfoy senior just slipped a black diary into your sisters cauldron. I need you to get it for me. I'll explain on the Hogwarts Express just please do this for me."
The twins, thankfully, wasted no time and were soon on either side of Ginny as they went on about having dropped their journal in her cauldron and that they would soon have it back. In no time at all, the diary was retrieved and the pair of them returned to Harry's side, diary clutched tightly in their arms. Taking it, Harry smiled in relief and nodded his thanks. Returning the nod, the twins disappeared back to their family, eyes promising that they'd question Harry later.
Sighing in relief, Harry pocketed Tom's first Horcrux and slowly edged out of the bookshop. He wasn't going to risk being spotted in this crowd, he would just have to mail order them later or maybe just borrow someone else's copy. They books were practically useless anyway. Letting out another sigh, Harry found a quiet spot and apparated home.
Once safely behind Tom's wards, Harry sat in his favourite forest green armchair with his legs tucked under him as Tom's presence surged forth for the second time that day. Harry actually gasped as he felt how much stronger this Horcrux was making Tom. It was a truly wonderful feeling. Sooner than Harry would like, he felt Tom withdrawing back into Harry's core, whispering, "You should send that to the twins. They will need it in case someone asks to see it."
Harry only nodded as his head drooped sideways where it was cushioned on the chair's armrest. Today had been surprisingly exhausting and between one breath and the next, Harry's eyes slid shut.
When he finally came to, it was to discover that he had been moved and was now draped over the matching sofa, head pillowed in someone's lap with a hand running through his hair. Yawning, Harry glanced up only to freeze. Tom looked solid. Harry could no longer see through him. Laughing, Harry launched himself up to wrap his arms around Tom's neck, head buried in the crook of his neck as he cried with joy. This meant that Tom could walk around Hogwarts without raising too much suspicion. People would just think he was another student. Tom's hand never stopped it's soothing movements as his other arm moved to encompass Harry's waist, pleased to note that it wasn't as tiny as before. Thanks to the nutrition potions, Harry was a couple of inches taller and had put on some much needed weight. He was still small for his age but no longer looked like he was too young to be attending Hogwarts. Without the glasses Harry's gaze was lethal. The beautiful colour and shape of his large eyes proved to be Tom's downfall every time Harry asked for anything. Needless to say, Tom couldn't wait to see Snape try his usual antics on Harry now. Still smiling, Tom stood up and moved through to the kitchen, setting Harry down on the work surface as he started to prepare their dinner. It wasn't much, just Bolognese sauce and pasta with garlic bread but Harry loved it. They worked together in comfortable silence, Harry chopping ingredients and Tom adding them. They'd become an excellent team over the holidays and they'd both miss this quiet time at the end of their day. Once everything was ready, the pair sat down to eat their meal, the silence remaining unbroken as they relished in their success so far. As far as Tom knew, they only had the locket and the ring left to absorb. He'd decided to leave off from separating fully from Harry just yet so that he could stay by Harry's side for as long as Voldemort and Dumbledore were out there and a threat to Harry's safety. Shaking off these slightly dark thoughts, Tom focused back on Harry who was actually looking nervous about something, finally, he blurted out,
"Can you stay all night Tom? You know I have nightmares and I want you physically there, not just in my head. Maybe then they'll stop."
Tom's heart melted even as he cursed Dumbledore and the Dursley's for what they'd done to this innocent little boy, "Of course I will Harry. You only ever have to ask me for something and I'll do it. You know this."
Harry smiled softly up at Tom. Both of them had been struggling on what to label the other but had now agreed to just forget about it and enjoy the closeness they had. This was one boundary they hadn't crossed in the physical world even though Tom had been living inside Harry for years. That night, Harry James Potter, Boy-Who-Lived and supposed saviour of the Wizarding world fell asleep curled into the side of Tom Marvolo Riddle, Heir of Slytherin and ex-Dark Lord. Sooner than they'd like, the new school year would begin bringing with it new trials, friends and revelations.