A/N: Firstly, I'm sorry for not updating last week. I had a math test, and my mental health has not been the best lately. You may remember that I felt somewhat out of it already two weeks ago.

Secondly, the first half of this chapter is from Tom's pov. It's his take on some of the scenes from earlier chapters. You can skip it if you want, but then you'll be as oblivious as Harry as to what Tom thinks. There are also a few scenes that are purely Tom. The pov change isn't marked, but you'll notice it if you skim through.

Lastly, I have given up on correct tense and grammar. I hope you can forgive me, especially since this chapter is about 5,8k words.

Tom Marvolo Riddle saw himself as an extraordinary person, and didn't care much what other people thought. He never spoke of his late parents, both technically dead by his hand - one far more direct than the other. He had no need for family or friends. Tom liked to think of himself as a puppet master, or the player, pulling on strings and moving pieces as he saw it fit. He kept to the shadows of the political scene, since he prefered to have others do his will for him. To keep his puppets and pieces happy, he cut a string here, took out a piece there. With some bloodshed, he came far. It was all so horribly dull. He had made himself known in hope to spice things up, but after a few years, the Aurors were no closer to capture him than before. The only drawback was the lack of intelligent company, since his name and face was known by wizarding kind as the infamous Undesirable no. 1. He didn't see a change in the pattern any time soon. Then, Nagini became sick.

"My shadow viper is sick. Do you have any potions?"

Tom looked around the cluttered pet shop distastefully. He disliked being out in the open, and he didn't feel secure even if he had weaved a strong compulsion web before talking to the distracted pet shop worker. Had he only been able to pinpoint Nagini's sickness himself, he would never have come here. As it was, he was no professional healer, and his familiar deserved the best. Not that he thought the teenager behind the desk at the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley could even come close to the best. Sadly, he had to try all safe options first. The teenager would be easy to get rid of if anything went wrong.

"Did you hear me?" Tom asked with a raised eyebrow when he felt that the boy had stared long enough. He knew he had been recognized, but he was going to play it to his advantage. Otherwise, he could just have cast a glamour on himself. This had the chance of being far more entertaining than hiding his identity would be. For a paranoid person, he enjoyed plaiýing with faith too much.

"Loud and clear." the boy answered with an obviously fake smile. Not much of an actor… Tom thought disinterested. He noticed that the boy straightened up, but it didn't make much difference in height.

"You need to bring your viper here for a check-over, or tell me which sickness it is, otherwise I can't get the correct potion for you."

He was tempted to roll his eyes. If he had known which sickness it was, he would already have said so. As it was, he would have to let the boy take a look at Nagini before he decided to find another option.

"I'll be back." Tom promised, and left.

He waited two days before showing up again, both to make sure that Nagini was ready for it, and to make sure that the Aurors weren't contacted. He trusted his compulsion web, but one could never be too sure. It would have been foolish of him to not take preventive steps, only because he had used magic. Too big trust in magic had been many great sorcerers downfall.

"That can't possibly be a shadow viper!" the boy exclaimed when Tom entered the shop, Nagini curled around his shoulders. He noted with amusement how the boy fumbled with a bag of rat treats.

"She is. Magic and good care can do a lot." Tom answered nonchalantly. It was true, though the magic was on the darker end of the spectrum. He watched as the boy got himself together and finally put away the rat treats.

"If you'll follow me into the backroom then, sir…"

He followed the boy into the room, which looked like a makeshift Healer room. Tom glanced around, and gave a snort when he saw the Muggle equipment. He hadn't expected to see anything Muggle, especially not in a pet shop. It was almost nice to meet someone else that didn't trust magic too much.

"What's her name then?" the boy asked and brought Tom back from his thoughts. He helped Nagini from his shoulders down on the table, as they boy's gesture had indicated that he should.

"Nagini." Tom answered fondly, as he took a step back from the table. Nagini followed him with her eyes before turning towards the boy that had come closer.

"Hello Nagini. If you would be so kind to let me take some venom from you to test, I would appreciate it." the boy said. Tom blinked, the only outward sign of his surprise. A parselmouth? He had thought that he himself was the only one left in Britain.

"Another speaker!" Nagini said, her surprise obvious. The boy looked up, first at Nagini and then at Tom.

"Excuse me?" the boy asked. Tom felt a predatory urge growing as he stared at the boy. An oblivious speaker capable of talking parseltongue without looking directly at a snake? Impressive.

"You speak parseltongue." Tom said, as if it was a mere statement and not an important discovery. He made sure to sound disbelieving yet fascinated, instead of showing his predatory side.

"Impossible. There's no parselmouths in the Potter line, and my mother is muggleborn." the boy protested. Tom wanted to grin. The boy had just revealed his last name and blood-status without a second thought. A Potter and a half blood… makes finding information so much easier, Tom mused.

"So you can't understand me?" he asked teasingly, and raised an eyebrow at the frowning boy.

"I understand you perfectly."

Tom smiled, just a hint of his predatory feelings shining through. He had fresh prey, and the hunt was on. The boy had caught his interest.

"Then you're a parselmouth. How… interesting." Tom all but purred out the last word.

"If you say so…" the boy mumbled, and turned to Nagini.

Tom smirked to himself, before masking his emotions again. He kept his gaze on the boy as the boy moved around.

"You can go if you want." the boy offered, obviously unsettled if his body language was anything to go by. "This will take some time."

"I think I prefer to stay, if you don't mind." Tom answered sweetly. The boy grimaced.

"I don't." the boy answered. It was obviously a lie. Tom decided to let him work, and instead turned to Nagini.

"I want him." Tom informed Nagini, after he had decided that the boy wasn't listening.

"As your mate?" Nagini questioned, as she tasted the air to get a sense of the boy.

"As prey." Tom corrected, as he gave the boy a once-over. "To begin with." he added. Nagini's suggestion of taking the boy as his 'mate' did have some credit. Potter didn't look half-bad, and since the term had already started the boy had to be of age even if he was of a smaller build.

"I approve." Nagini said. "You'll give me beautiful grand-hatchlings."

Tom chuckled.
"I have to capture him first, Nagini." he said, as he had decided to humor her.

"Will he heal me?" Nagini asked, already bored with their discussion.

"Hopefully. Will you stay with him if he needs more time? I have business to take care of."

"I will, if you believe it safe."

"Don't worry, there's a strong compulsion web around him. He can't tell anyone anything." Tom reassured her.

"Then I can stay with the hatchling." Nagini nodded her head. Tom gave her an amused smile.

"Hatchling? Here I thought I was your hatchling…" he said.

"I can have two, Tom." Nagini answered. "You're too old to be my child."

Tom tisked.
"You should call me Master when speaking in front of another parselmouth."

Nagini gave a short, hissing laugh.
"As you want, hatchling."

Tom shook his head slightly at her actions.
"For that, you can stay with your new hatchling more than one night. I rather have him suffer your company than me."

"As you want." Nagini repeated.

Tom apparated to Malfoy Manor directly from the pet shop. It had surprised him that there weren't any anti-apparition wards, but as the shop clearly doubled as a Healer office for pets, it could be understandable. It could likely save lives, since the alley itself had anti-apparition wards and it took time to walk from the Leaky Cauldron to the Magical Menagerie. It helped him too, although he prefered to enter from outside to make sure that the shop was empty from customers. He decided that he had given it enough thought when Lucius Malfoy entered the study that he had apparated into.

"Can I be of assistance or is this a pleasure visit?" Lucius asked, his mask as stoic as always.

"I find myself very interested in the Potters." Tom said, as he gracefully sat down in the armchair in front of Lucius' desk. "Especially, the youngest. Do tell me what you know, Lucius."

"If I may, I believe Draco can be of more assistance than me. He was in the same year as the Potter heir." Lucius answered as he sat down behind his desk. Tom inclined his head.

"Let me hear you first, then you can call your son here for the missing information." Tom decided.

"As you wish." Lucius answered. "I went to school with them. They started in my sixth year, but James Potter quickly made a name for himself together with his fellow Gryffindors - Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. I believe they called themselves the Marauders. A very obnoxious group. Severus often fell victim to their pranks. He was childhood friends with Lily Evans, and they were usually seen together. From what I understood, Potter was attracted to Evans already at the train. He sought Severus out since Severus was Evans' friend. I don't know everything that happened after I graduated, I didn't keep in touch with Severus, and had no interest in the other two."

"As much as your infatuation with Severus amuses me, it's not what I wanted to hear about." Tom drawled. "I do hope your son has more valuable information."

"My apologies, Marvolo." Lucius said softly, and inclined his head. With a snap of his fingers, a house-elf was called and ordered to get Draco for them.

Tom stretched out lazily in the armchair as they waited. He had met briefly with the younger Malfoy before, but they had yet to be formally introduced.

"May I offer you any refreshments?" Lucius inquired, using the facade of a proper host even if Tom had arrived unexpected. The offer was belated, but he decided to not put it against the man.

"A glass of wine wouldn't go amiss." Tom replied. He watched out of the corner of his eye how Lucius stood up and walked over to the liquor cabinet. "Elven, if you will." he added.

"Of course." Lucius answered with a short nod. Elven wine was rare, and extremely expensive. Tom liked to indulge when he could.

The door opened just as Tom took the wineglass from Lucius.

"You asked to see me, father?" Draco softly inquired. Tom looked at him through hooded eyes.

"Yes. Our guest has asked about Harry Potter. Anything you may know will be of help." Lucius said as he sat back down. Tom straightened slightly as the name of the Potter boy was revealed. Harry? How ordinary...

"Our guest?" Draco repeated, and glanced towards Tom for the first time. His mask faltered with recognition. Tom grinned.

"Yes, Marvolo Gaunt." Lucius said cooly. Draco gave Tom another weary glance before nodding in acceptance.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr Gaunt."

"I assure you, the pleasure is all mine." Tom said, a dark undertone to his words. "Now, what can you tell me about Harry Potter?"

"Depends…" Draco started awkwardly. "What do you want to know?"

Tom smiled darkly.
"Everything."

He's more trouble than he's worth… Tom mused as he delved around in Lily Potter's mind. He had to remove certain vital information that Harry had told her about Nagini's sickness. He took the moment to glance through her other memories of Harry, but there weren't many recent ones and he didn't have the time to linger. He could feel Harry's eyes on him. The boy was foolishly worrying about his mother most likely. Tom sighed mentally as he drew back. He had to alter his entrance, as much as her knowledge of it amused him. He made the change vague for entertainments sake. Too bad he wouldn't be there when she realized his intentions for her son.

He withdrew gently from her mind when he was finished. There was no need to upset Harry by hurting his mother further. Speaking of upsetting Harry… Tom shot a nonverbal stunner at the boy and watched how he fell with a predatory glint. It was not necessary by any means, but it would surely prove itself to be entertaining when the boy woke. He couldn't wait.

"Do I really have to be kidnapped? My family is going to be so worried about me, and I'm not in any danger at all…" Harry sighed.

Tom smirked inwardly. Harry had taken the kidnapping act remarkably well. It had definitely been entertaining when the boy lunged at him after waking up, and he found himself slightly disappointed by how well Harry handled it now. This was the perfcéct opportunity to play the boy.

"No danger at all? Are you sure?" Tom asked with a raised eyebrow. He was almost tempted to chuckle darkly.

"I'll kick your ass before you have time to blink if you try anything." Harry promised. Tom laughed inwardly as he made himself pale at the supposed threat. Even if he believed Harry could be a worthy opponent, the boy was too young and inexperienced to play with him. It would only aid him further if Harry underestimated him.

"You can send them a letter if you want, so that they know that you're okay and that you'll be free when the potion is done." Tom offered. Best to make Harry see him in a positive light, even if he had no intentions of ever letting the boy go. Playing with prey was just too entertaining. His life had been decidedly less dull since he met Harry.

"That's… thank you." Harry answered with a weak smile. Tom marvelled at how sincere it was. He swallowed noticeably and looked away, as he smiled to himself. The best way to ensnare the boy would be through love, and he could certainly play the role of the lovesick fool until Harry would only want him.

"I have more to do in the potions lab." Tom excused himself, not at all ashamed as he seemingly fled.

It was 4 in the morning when Tom apparated into his apartment. He had sent Harry's letter hours ago when Harry was in the shower, as well as informed Lucius of his new duty as delivery owl. Of course, the service didn't come free. Lucius had sent him to dispose of Uprix. Tom had left as soon as he had made sure Harry was asleep, and was just now coming back home. His clothes were drenched in blood, but in his delirious high he couldn't care less. He hadn't had a real plan when he chose to apparate into the living room instead of his bedroom, but when he saw Harry lying defenseless on the transfigured bed, Tom congratulated himself on his choice. The boy looked simply delicious, and any lesser man would have taken advantage. Tom settled for sinking down on his knees next to the bed. He rested his head on Harry's chest and watched the boy as he slept. Nagini was curled next to the boy, likely enjoying his warmth. Tom lost himself in the feel of Harry's chest rising underneath his cheek, and the beauty of Harry's visage.

It would have been the perfect opportunity to take some of the boy's blood for a lineage ritual, but Tom brushed it off. Committing Harry to memory was far more interesting in his current mood. There would be opportunities to take blood later. Potion making was prone to accidents after all…

Tom quietly left his bedroom. He had been working on a new legislative proposal to give Lucius when he noticed the strange shadows coming from under the door. He had his wand in hand, wary about the source. His wards were intact, so it couldn't be that there was an intruder. What he saw made him stop and stare.

There was magic dancing around Harry's sleeping form. It was coming out of his chest and eyes- no, it was attacking the boy's chest and eyes. Tom took a step closer, his curiosity winning over his wariness for now. It was beautiful. The magic was a dark green, slightly too dark to be the shade of Harry's eyes. There were bursts of white sparks as it attacked. They boy slept, most likely not aware what his magic was doing. It was enchanting. The word had never fit the boy as good as it did right now.

He was absently aware that he had sunk down on his knees next to the bed in an abstract mirror of yesterday. Where he yesterday had been bloody, delirious and obsessed, he was now captured against his will. His mind raced with the possibilities, and he regretted not going through with the lineage ritual yet. He had thought that perhaps they had a common ancestor, but this show of magic… Was it attacking Harry's magical core? Why would it be attacking his eyes?

Tom stayed mesmerized by Harry's side until morning. He only became aware of the passed time as the magic died down and Harry started to wake up. He could leave, pretend that he hadn't stared at Harry's sleeping form for a third time, or he could stay. His curiosity won once more. He needed to know if there would be any change to Harry's eyes after the magic attack.

Harry woke up slowly. He was painfully aware of the eyes on him. It seemed as if Tom fully intended to make a habit out of watching him sleep. Perhaps he should start putting up a privacy ward before he went to bed… It was definitely worth a try. With the watchful eyes still on him, Harry sat up and stretched. He opened his eyes groggily, and then blinked. He hadn't fell asleep with his glasses on, had he? He touched his face lightly to check, but the comfortable feel of his glasses weren't there. What…? He glanced warily towards the Tom, and Tom looked back with clear fascination.

"What did you do?" Harry asked wearily.

"Why?" Tom asked, not even attempting to hide his curiosity. "Is anything different?"

"Yes!" Harry glowered. "I can see!"

Tom glanced towards the glasses on the floor. He breathed out in silent astonishment as he seemingly connected the dots.

"Amazing…" he whispered to himself. Harry's glare grew in intensity. He didn't understand what was so amazing. If Tom had done something, shouldn't the man already know what he did? Or… had Tom not done anything? Why would his vision suddenly be perfect overnight? For once, magic didn't seem an acceptable answer.

"I'm going to sleep, I would appreciate it greatly if you don't disturb me." Tom announced and got up gracefully from the floor. Harry stared after him.

A few hours later Harry could be found next to Tom's bed. He sat in the same armchair that Tom had been sat in when he first woke up after being kidnapped. He had spent the morning marvelling over his fixed sight, before giving in to his inquisitiveness. Since Tom devoted so much time to watching as Harry slept, there had to be something fascinating to it, right?

Currently, he was disappointed. There was a certain amazement to being able to watch the likely paranoid murderer sleep, but he also felt vaguely insulted that Tom could sleep soundly even with his presence. He had been under the wrong impression that Tom understood that Harry could be a threat. Giving in to his childish feelings, Harry shot an aguamenti at Tom's face to wake him up. The man got to sleep for at least a few hours without getting disturbed after all, and Harry found it hard to focus on the potion without Tom to discuss ideas with. As great conversationalist Nagini was, she didn't know much about potions.

Tom sat up straight and glared at Harry. If looks could kill, Harry would have been dead at least three times over.

"Child." Tom hissed. Harry shrugged off the insult. It was better than being called endearments.

"I let you sleep undisturbed. You said nothing about waking you up." Harry answered as he rose from the chair. He levelled Tom with one last glance, absently tracking the waterdrops running from his hair, down his chin, his neck, over his collarbones… Harry abruptly straightened his head, to see Tom smiling knowingly at him.

"Like what you see, child?"

"You're gonna catch a cold." Harry answered, and walked over to the door. "Don't call me child." he added under his breath. He was sure Tom heard him if the low laughter was anything to go by.

"As you wish, dear."

Harry slammed the door behind him.

"Have you calmed down?" Tom inquired from where he was looking over Harry's shoulder. Harry stubbornly ignored him to calculate the proper amount of chizpurfle carapace needed. Since the ingredient was mainly used in the antidote for uncommon poisons, he needed to make sure it would interact with Nagini's soul and not her venom. Too much could have catastrophic results while too little would likely upset the potion.

"You wrote the wrong number." Tom interrupted, after he had spent a moment just hovering. Harry paused to read through his calculations. He quickly found the problem and corrected it.

"Thanks." Harry mumbled, without looking at Tom.

"You're welcome, darling." Tom answered, his breath hot against Harry's skin. Harry shivered.

"Don't you have anything else to do?" Harry murmured.

"How's your eyes?" Tom asked, ignoring Harry's question. "Your vision is not acting up?"

"No… it's perfect." Harry answered. He turned his head slightly to the side, just enough to be able to watch Tom. "Assuming that you're not the one that fixed it, why do you think my vision corrected itself?"

Tom hummed.
"Magic."

"Bullshit." Harry answered, and looked down at his calculations again.

"Believe what you want, child." Tom said lightly. Harry felt how Tom's hand gripped his neck before stroking down his back. The hand lingered before Tom moved away from him.

"As it happens, I do have something to do. Don't overwork yourself, dearest." Tom said, as he disappeared into his bedroom.

When he saw Tom again hours later, the man was looking at him with a new light in his eyes. It was almost obsessively. Harry chose to pretend that he didn't see it, but he could feel Tom's eyes linger just as the hand had done earlier. He didn't know how to feel. On one hand, he hated the attention, but on the other… this was the first time someone had eyes for him, and only him. Harry felt treasured, and he hated it.

The worst part was that he felt himself getting just as obsessed with Tom. It was hard not to, when he wanted to - needed to - figure the man out. There was something more than aesthetic attraction, and Harry couldn't figure out what. He buried himself in working on the potion, but it backfired quite spectacularly since he worked better when Tom helped. To make matters worse, he was stuck in the small apartment, and Tom didn't seem to leave as long as he was awake. He could talk to Nagini, and he did appreciate her greatly, but she seemed to believe that he belonged there, with Tom. Harry reluctantly agreed to some of what Nagini said, but he couldn't agree that he belonged with Tom. Not unless he could figure the man out, a task that seemed harder than inventing the potion. He would make himself insane if he continued thinking in circles like this.

A hand curling around his shoulder startled Harry out of his thoughts. He blinked sheepishly up at Tom.

"I told you to not overwork yourself." Tom sighed. It almost sounded as if the man was fond of him. "Child."

Harry bristled at the term.
"I told you to not call me that."

"Yet you insist on acting childishly." Tom sighed once more, the fondness more heavily implied this time. Harry didn't trust it, and less so when Tom ran his fingers through Harry's hair. He suspected that Tom was playing games with him, and he needed to even out the playing field if that was the case. Sadly, he was at a loss for where to start. Tom had too great of an advantage already.

"My behaviour is only matching yours." Harry answered.

Tom laughed.
"Your years too early to play my game, child."

"So you admit that there is a game." Harry countered.

"Yes, and I'm winning." Tom answered with a dark smile. Harry bit his lip to not reply anything that he would regret.

"Have you eaten anything today, dearest?" Tom asked, changing the topic.

"No." Harry admitted. "I doubt you have any food though."

Tom tisked.
"You need to take care of yourself, child. I'll cook us something. You, rest."

It was obviously an order. Harry found himself obeying it.

Harry stared at the letter he held in his hands. The other laid beside him. He had been resting - for about five minutes - before he remembered the cursed letters under his pillow. He needed to read at least one of them, hence the letter he was holding in his hands. He had chosen the lesser of two evils, that is to say, the letter from professor Snape. Harry took a deep breath to calm himself and opened it.

You foolish boy,
you should have informed someone when Riddle first came to the Menagerie.
Don't come with any weak excuses, if you can break the Imperio, you can break a compulsion web - which is the only acceptable reason I can come up with as to why you didn't tell anyone.

Unfortunately, I harbor some feelings of concern for you, and because of that I'm offering my help.
I expect you to send me a copy of the recipe, and your notes that concern it. Now.

Reply to your mother.

Regards,
Severus Snape

He laughed. He couldn't help it. The letter was just… so Snape. He couldn't believe he had been afraid of reading it.

"I told you to rest, child." Tom called from the kitchen. Harry glanced at him.

"I am! You also told me to read my letters."

"That was yesterday. Today, you rest." Tom replied. Harry heard him muttering something about 'not even obeying for five minutes'. He gave the letter from professor Snape a last glance, before stuffing both letters back under his pillow. As he laid down on his bed, he came to think about something.

"Do you own socks?" Harry wondered out loud. He hadn't gotten any to wear yesterday, and he hadn't been able to find any today when he ventured into Tom's bedroom for clean clothes.

"Rest!" Tom repeated, exasperated. "I don't own socks, they're constricting to wear and shoes are protective enough when spending time outside."

"Did you wear shoes at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, you silly child." Tom answered. "The castle was cold during the winters."

"What about the summers?"

"The dungeons were cold during the summers as well, and you needed to wear shoes during herbology."

"The common room wasn't cold though, was it?"

"I was usually barefoot in the common room. Are you happy now?"

"You could have used a heating charm instead of wearing shoes." Harry suggested.

"I did, sometimes. Shoes happen to be protective in more ways than one. Now, I'm done with you. Be quiet. I'll tell you when the food is done."

Harry hummed as an answer, and closed his eyes to take a nap.

He woke up to the feeling of fingers in his hair.

"I wouldn't mind that you're somehow always there when I wake up if you played with my hair every time." Harry mumbled as he nuzzled his head against Tom's hand.

"If you sleep in my bed, I'll play with your hair both as you fall asleep and as you wake up." Tom offered.

"Tempting, but no. I rather like sleeping with Nagini." Harry said. Tom started to withdrew his fingers and Harry whined.

"Not quite awake yet, are you?" Tom teased, but went back to playing with his hair.

"You're the one that told me to rest." Harry mumbled. He opened one eye to look up at Tom. "Is the food done?"

"It's under a stasis charm. I've been trying to wake you up for at least twenty minutes."

"Playing with my hair is not the same as trying to wake me up." Harry answered, as he opened his other eye too. Tom shrugged instead of giving a response.

"You wouldn't approve if I kissed you awake."

"I wouldn't approve if you kissed me at all."

"I promise that it would be better than your mistletoe kiss."

"More playing with my hair, less talking." Harry mumbled as he shut his eyes again.

"Child." Tom sighed fondly, but obeyed.

Harry reluctantly opened his eyes again a few minutes later. He was pretty hungry after going the whole day without eating…

"You promised food." he mumbled, and sat up. Tom's fingers fell out of his hair.

"It's on the table." Tom answered and got up from the bed. Harry stretched before following. Tom had lifted the stasis charm from their plates by the time Harry sat down at the table.

"You can't have cooked this with the food you had." Harry commented as he took his fork.

"Lucius has a house-elf come with food every couple of weeks,"

"How would you live without Lucius?"

"There's always people willing to help for the right price." Tom answered with a smirk.

"How are you able to be so dependent on others?" Harry questioned.

"By making them depend on me."

"You're a clever bastard." Harry said, as he put a fork full of food of his mouth. "This is delicious." he added after he had swallowed.

"Thanks." Tom answered. Harry wasn't sure what he said thanks to. The rest of the meal passed in silence.

Harry washed up after them the Muggle way. He could have used magic, but it gave him time to think when he did it for hand. Tom was working on something in his bedroom, again. Harry hadn't bothered to ask what. He wasn't sure he would get an answer even if he did.

"You smell different, hatchling."

He turned his head slightly to see Nagini on the floor. She was flicking her tongue at him.

"You're not confused by the washing-up liquid?"

"You insult me, hatchling. I can distinguish your smell from the bubbles."

"Apologies, Nagini. I don't know why I would smell different."

"Perhaps for the same reason you're not wearing the circular glass frames." she suggested.

"Tom said that was because of magic."

"Your smell reminds me of a snake." Nagini answered, and slithered towards the bathroom.

Harry shook his head slightly. Why would he smell as a snake? If he did, it was surely her fault for sleeping in his bed. Disregarding it, he went back to doing the dishes.

"Could I borrow a book?"

Harry was standing in the doorway to Tom's bedroom, as he cautiously looked in. He hoped he wasn't disturbing, but he was utterly bored and there wasn't much else to do. Draw perhaps, or copy his notes for professor Snape, or read the letter from his mother… but a book would be the best escape.

"Go ahead." Tom answered and waved a dismissive hand towards the bookshelf.

"Thanks." Harry mumbled and walked over to the book-filled shelves. He didn't have high hopes for any fiction, but even theory would be to prefer over his other options. He had definitely not expected any Muggle books, and was therefore pleasantly surprised as he read through the titles.

"Breakfast on Pluto..." he said to himself in surprise, and picked the book from the shelf. Not only was the book published only last year, he would never have expected Tom to have read it, even less own it. The only reason he recognized it was because Hermione had mentioned it in one of her monthly letters. It would certainly prove an interesting read. Harry was about to leave Tom's bedroom with the book when a hand on his arm stopped him.

"You could read in here." Tom suggested, and nodded towards the armchair. "Company is better than solitary, is it not?"

Harry hesitated.

"I guess…" he answered slowly, and glanced towards the armchair. It did look comfortable… "At least for a while."

Tom smiled at him and let go of his arm. Harry glanced at the papers on Tom's desk, before he walked over to the armchair. He made himself comfortable and opened up the book.

Chapter One: Merry Christmas, Mrs Whiskers

It was a beautiful crisp Christmas morning. All across the little village which lay nestled on the southern side of the Irish border, one could sense an air of tense but pleasurable expectancy. Already the small birdies, as if conscious of the coming mood of celebration and acceptable self-indulgence which was so much a part of the much-loved season, had begun their carefully co-ordinated invasions, their industrious beaks like so many arrowheads stiletto-jabbing the frosted gold-tops of the early-morning milk bottles. Even at this early hour, there are one or two children playing - cork guns being proudly displayed and nurses' uniforms flaunted in so many mix-like parades. In places, the snow has begun to melt but this is still….

Harry was soon fully immersed in the book, unaware of Tom's eyes that rested on him. For a moment, everything was quiet. Their breathing filled the room, the sound of it seeming bigger than it was in the lack of any other noise. It only gave room for the sound of turned pages once every few minutes.

Tom's chair scraped against the floor, and Harry was about to look up from the book when his ears caught the end of the incantation for bewitched sleep. He barely had time to blink before the spell hit him in the chest. Harry fell back against the armchair, deeply asleep. The book slipped from his lap and fell to the floor with a low thump.

A/N: I have never read or seen Breakfast on Pluto. I honestly just searched for books published in 1999, found it (although it was published in 1998), and decided that I would like to read it. I just found the thought of Tom owning it funny. I copied the bit from the first chapter from Google Books.

I trust that someone tells me if my characterizations stops making sense, I'm not sure if I'm able to be consistent. I rarely look at what I've already written when I write new parts.

The plot is slowly moving forward! Is anyone able to find all the clues?

As always, please review x Also, the amount of favs and follows this has astounds me!