Waking up in the morning is not a thing Ailill particularly likes to do however his biological clock never seems to get the memo and loves to chuck him awake at the asscrack of dawn every day. It had some benefits like being up to use the bathroom first or finishing last-minute work that he'd forgotten to do but other than that it was unwelcome. Waking up in Hogwarts was rather disorientating him, the rooms were too flashy compared to the bare walls of the orphanage and the beds too soft, it disrupted his routine. He supposed though that he will have to make a new routine.

Tom was pressed to his side like a leech sucking away all warmth Ailill had to offer, Tom had not even attempted to sleep in his own bed before crawling into Ailill's and making himself comfortable in the crook of the other boy's side. Ailill laid on his back absentmindedly tracing shapes into the skinny, far too skinny, back of one Tom Riddle; he contemplated getting up right there and then but that would more than likely rouse his bed leech awake, instead he'd wait till at least seven o'clock.

Ailill flicked his wrist to summon the Gringotts reports he had been sent a few days ago but was indisposed to read them. It seems that Hornwak had been named the official goblin overlooking the affairs of Marvolo Slytherin and Ailill Peverell, from what the boy could see the goblin took his job very seriously. The goblin had set up the arrangements for the Vita Cottage that was left to Ailill to be renovated and seemed to be moving along quite well, if all comes to pass Tom and himself should be living there come summer. Hornwak had used Ailill's instructions and invested in many oil companies around the world, it was his way of providing an income for himself and Tom before they got jobs. The whole process was running spectacularly. The goblin had spoken about rings, the kind held by old families to signify their standing. Apparently, both boys had one, they had decided to not pick them up from the goblins until summer believing it was best to receive them in person instead of over mail.

Ailill looked at his accounts and was penning suggestions for about two hours before Tom decided to rise from the land of sleep. Contrary to popular belief Tom was not a morning person, in fact, the boy was rather cantankerous in the early light no matter what he tried to portray. Tom rolled and stretched like a cat, brushing up against Ailill's rather amused form. Icy blue eyes were bleary with sleep and his mouth was dry from disuse. Tom looked up at Ailill and groaned in discontent, in an act of childishness he rolled completely onto Ailill's laid-out figure taking up all of his space. Humming in question Ailill ran pale thin fingers through dark curls scratching at Tom's scalp producing full body shivers from the half-asleep boy.

"Tom," Ailill spoke gently. "Wake up now and we can clean up. You wouldn't want to be late for our first day would you?"

Grudgingly hauling himself up Tom painstakingly crawled out of the warm blankets and stood up tugging Ailill after him. The other boys in the room were still all fast asleep but would soon be awake as well. Ailill grabbed his bathroom necessities and made his way to the shared washroom. There were two, one was strictly for toilet purposes and the other was from washup, this was for efficiency and privacy after all no one wants to do their business in a shared space. Doing a rather simple hygiene routine and making sure Tom didn't fall face-first into the sink, it wouldn't be the first time that had happened. Just as the two were finished in came a rather rumpled-looking Malfoy followed by a dazed Black. The two just stared at Tom and Ailill unseeing,

"You 'kay there, Malfoy? Black?" Ailill asked.

"Hmm," the blond responded brushing past Ailill to use his abandoned sink.

Alphard walked straight up to Ailill and face planted into his shoulder, surprising him.

"So tired," Alphard complained just as he was shoved off Ailill by Tom who then hauled his beloved out of the bathroom and back into the sleeping quarters to change.

The other two boys were making their way out of their beds intent on getting ready for the day. Getting dressed in their new school uniform that had been altered sometime during the night to now display the colours of Slytherin Ailill thought he looked rather dashing, if no one was going to toot his horn he might as well do it himself. He had just finished knotting his tie when a noise of frustration from his left made him look over. There with the cutest scrunched up face was Tom struggling with his tie, the poor thing was not cooperating with the first year. Snorting in silent laughter Ailill made his way in front of Tom and batted his hands away before taking the tie and quickly knotting it patting Tom's chest when he was done. Tom just stood there staring at Ailill's face until said boy snapped his fingers to pull Tom away from his thoughts.

Both boys looked very well done in their uniforms, Tom was the picture-perfect looking student with ironed shirts and pants, jumper fit snugly, and robes finely pressed. His hair was immaculately brushed and parted to the side curls effortlessly tidy. Ailill was similar if not a bit wilder with his loose tie and opened top button, his hair was half tied up and his robes a bit longer than recommended for the 'dramatic flair'. The two looked right standing next to each other, balancing the stiffness or carelessness of the other out.

The two left the dorm without the other and made their way to the common room; it was sparsely occupied with Gemma being all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed reading a book and Yedan sporting bags so big they could be designers. Upon seeing the firsties Gemma gave a beaming smile and quick wave,

"Up early boys we're not set to be leaving for another half hour, excited for the day?"

"Very," Tom said with a fake smile. While Ailill ignored the girl, not out of malicious intent, he just didn't want to talk.

Ailill sat on the couch with Tom following close behind and waited for their year mates to appear, it didn't take too long until two of the four girls joined them, and then with five minutes till they left the rest of the year came rushing down.

Having everyone present the two prefects ushered them out of the common room and started the journey to the great hall. As they were walking Tom started to think of courting gifts, maybe Ailill would like-, Tom stopped himself, he isn't courting Ailill. He never brought it up after mentioning them being 'husbands' back at Gringotts. It's best not to think so hard, Tom could feel the building of a headache starting.

"Ailill," Tom called. "What do you think of courting?"

"Courting?" Ailill kept a calm face, "I think it's nice, not something I would do however, I don't particularly have an interest in it."

"Oh." a burning grew in the back of Tom's throat. "I see."

The rest of the walk was in silence. Upon reaching the great hall the clamouring of children met their ears. The hall was just as magnificent in the daylight as it was at night, there were fewer people occupying it, some not having arrived yet. The gaggle of first-year Slytherins seated themselves down and started to eat breakfast as they waited for their head of house to give them their schedules. The spread of the morning was wide and varied with many different jams and marmalades, fresh bread, oatmeal, porridge, and even English fries. Ailill settled for some porridge while Tom ate some bread and jam still a bit sullen from the talk the two shared. After twenty minutes Slughorn made his rounds, handing out schedules and giving cheery greetings.

The first years got their schedules with no problem and were then left to their own devices, the teacher preferring to head off and speak to more well-known students. Ailill was enjoying his own company when the seat in front of him was taken by a rather snooty-looking girl and Tom was faced with an arrogant prick-looking lad. Ailill raised an eyebrow but didn't comment thinking perhaps they were just looking out for the first years.

"I don't believe you're really a Slytherin."

Ailill sighed really loudly and threw down his cutlery. Tom side-eyed him knowing this won't turn out well if the two don't fuck off to where they came from, Ailill isn't very accommodating in the mornings.

"I'm sorry?" Tom asked, keeping up his polite outward appearance as he sneered in revulsion on the inside.

"We," the girl said once more with emphasis. "don't think you're really a member of Salazar Slytherin's line."

Just who are these plebeians to question his blood? His birthright?

"And are you going to elaborate why we should care for your theories or thoughts?" Ailill said with a cold voice and hard eyes.

"Listen Peverell, if that's even your real last name, everyone knows only the Gaunts were the only ones from the line of Slytherin, the disgusting family never let anyone forget it. However, the Gaunt line is practically barren, there's no way for them to have produced a child of inbreeding again. They would have died. So you're lying."

"Wow, I'm impressed," Tom said. "Your own lives must be so boring that you go around looking into others hoping to live through them. And while your claims are very accurate and close to the truth they are not completely true. My mother was Merope Gaunt, daughter of Marvolo Gaunt and she did not marry her family members thankfully, she married outside the family. When I visited Gringotts I changed my name to honor her death," Tom adopted a morose look on his face that made the other two look like huge bullies to those that were watching the drama. "are you shaming me for honoring my dead mother?"

"Well," the girl said, looking decidedly more uncomfortable after the revelation. "No, but who is your father then? If she didn't marry her family, who did she marry?"

"I don't think I want to tell you," Tom said, playing up the wary uncomfortable atmosphere he cultivated. "What if you start spinning tales again?! It's actually making me very uncomfortable how obsessed you two are with my life, are you stalkers?"

The looks the two were getting now bordered on anger, why were older students harassing a young boy? He has done nothing but from what they could see try to eat his breakfast. And on top of it, the child was obviously uncomfortable with them.

"We're not- stalkers?- No we're not stalkers!" the boy spluttered.

"Then you can leave," Ailill said, tired of the idiots.

"We weren't talking to you."

"Well, clearly I'm telling you your presence isn't wanted here. Not only have you made Marvolo uncomfortable but you've made me lose my appetite by hearing that you stalk first-years. It's quite easy to notice you are unwelcome."

"Listen here child," the girl pressed her splayed fingers into the table right in front of Ailill as if it'd help her get her point across. "It's best you learn how to know when to shut your mouth-"

During her little 'advice giving' Ailill had picked up one of the golden knives that lay before him. Not caring about who witnessed it he drove the knife straight down between the gaps of her fingers skimming the skin.

Her pained and shocked gasp tore out of her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the hollow eyes on Ailill, whiskey irises looked right on back with dark intent. His dark hair cast shadows over his face even in the bright light of the morning, the spirals of darkness heightening the eeriness that always hung off the young boy's shoulders, the uneasy nagging at the back of your mind that told you to get away from the child that looked like a vengeful entity setting your fate.

"How about you learn to know your place."

The girl wrenched herself back from his grasp cradling her hand to her chest, not saying another word she got up and left the bench her companion followed not long after. Ailill grabbed his napkin and wiped the blade of the small amount of blood that stained it.

"Hmm," he said, not looking at the widened eyes of the first years staring at him. "I wonder what classes will be like. Thoughts, Tom?"

"I'm sure it will be enlightening to us and a worthy challenge," Tom assured.

Ailill only smiled bemusedly before standing up, "I'm heading back to the room to pick up my books. Come join me when you're finished eating and we can walk together."

As Ailill left the hall Tom was bombarded by others as they tried to speak to him,

"What the hell was that, Slytherin?"

"Is Peverell always that violent?"

"It was kinda cool though."

"Shut up Black we all know that."

Tom sighed before finishing his bread and leaving. The other boys didn't even notice too busy squabbling and the girls only gave him a nod of acknowledgment. He walked fairly quickly but made sure to not look overexcited, that would be embarrassing. As Tom made his way back to the Slytherin dorms he could help the smile that lifted on his face, he was really here! A world for wizards and witches, a place of magic. Here he and Ailill aren't devil children or freaks, they aren't unwanted or demons. Here they're appreciated, respected, and to some revered. All Tom has to do is work hard in class, be the best in school, advance his magic and keep Ailill by his side.

It shouldn't be too hard, academics have always come naturally to him, people flock to brilliance so he had no need to worry about networking yet. As for Ailill well, the biggest obstacle is that mind of his, maybe a few tweaks of magic, would that work? Are there even spells for that sort of thing? Surely there must be, its magic after all. It doesn't matter too much Ailill would never be able to escape him anyways, to ensnare the bee you need some honey and Tom is more than happy to provide. Like it or not Ailill will be courted by him, no one else. It's Tom Riddle or no one at all.

Entering the common room Tom scanned the area before heading up to his room after not seeing Ailill. The dorm was a bit messy after the rush to get ready in the morning and sitting at a vanity was just the boy he was looking for. He was brushing his hair with the comb he brought back for Tom months ago from a day of work. The soft humming of an old nursery swaying softly in the air. The opening of the door brought whiskey eyes to meet icy blue. Two contrasts of warm and cold. Without saying a word Tom dropped his bag on his bed and took the comb from Ailill's hands drawing it through soft strands of ink. The two were in silence basking in the stillness the other had to offer. Words not needed but wanted as a weight burns a hole through one of the boy's soul,

"Tom," Ailill whispered. "Do you know why life is hard?"

"No," Tom said back. "I can't imagine why."

Ailill paused, "It's because our brains are made to keep us alive, not happy. To be happy means being ignorant of the troubles held by others and living in denial. It means being able to ignore the hurt and sorrow you witness while finding the bright side of life. After all, you cannot experience what you do not know."

"And could you not try for me?" The whispered request held weight unknown to its words. "Death doesn't take your pain Ailill it just passes it to someone else."

Two sets of eyes stared at each other through the shining of a mirror one unreadable and the other searching.

"You cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick, Tom."

"Then let me dig it up and replant it for you, let me remodel and bring you the garden that can never hurt you again."

"And when I grow tired of the soil?"

"Then we will go to a place anew and restart."

Tom leaned his head down to place a kiss on the crown of Ailill's head,

"Let me bear your burden, please."

Ailill didn't respond only smiling, after all, it is scary how much a smile can hide.

Some people are going to leave, Tom Ailill spoke to the comfort of his mind but that is not the end of your story just the chapters they feature in.