The last day came before Harry wanted it to. He awoke reluctantly like if he stayed asleep he'd have more time. The thought occurred to him that Voldemort would want to keep his horcruxes protected and would have them stay at the manor.
Harry didn't want to leave them.
Over the mere month that they had known each other, each had carved their separately shaped hole into Harry's heart. It ached not to have them around and he adored their presence.
He was more at peace and security than at any other point in his life.
Harry's thoughts continued as he took a moment to bask in the presence of the two. Tom liked tucking him under his chin while Riddle preferred to bury his face in Harry's neck. He enjoyed how he could hear Tom's heartbeat and feel Riddle's hair tickling him. It was a constant reminder that it wasn't just all a dream.
That they were as real as he was.
The only problem he ever had with their arrangement is they often trapped his arms, eliminating his ability to hold hands. Currently, Riddle was wrapping around his arm and his other was under Tom's waist.
If only he had more arms.
Riddle shifted, nuzzling him sleepily. A soft yawn came from him. He lifted his head, his hair fluffy and sticking out in all directions. He released Harry's arm and walked his hand from Harry's waist to his jawline. Riddle tilted his head.
Their lips locked firmly. It was more intense than their normal kisses, having more force from both of them. Riddle propped himself up on his elbow, not leaving him for a second. They drew away for a quick breath and kissed again.
Harry's head was light - whether from his fluttering love or lack of air was debatable. Riddle cupped Harry's face with his hand, lightly thumbing the cheek. Harry grasped at Riddle's button-up, clinging to him.
They finally drew away.
Harry breathed in. He blushed, still not used to that type of attention.
Beside him, Tom stirred.
Riddle rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb anything. He shuffled to the door and left without a sound. Confusion bubbled up in his brain, but he shook his head. Riddle worked in mysterious ways.
Tom finally awoke. He hugged Harry tight then let him go. Harry flopped to face him, wiggling up to be face-to-face. He needed affection from both of them today. He leaned forward, connecting their lips.
It appeared that Tom was just as antsy that day. The boy pulled him in, moving his lips aggressively against Harry's. Harry matched his pace, kissing his back just as hard.
Tom's tongue flickered out. Harry knew exactly what he wanted. He parted his lips with eager anticipation. There was a moment of hesitation before Tom took action.
A tongue invaded his mouth. He was gentle with him, less forceful than needed, and he lightly cupped Harry's cheek, drawing in him. There was the soft taste of mint.
Their tongues brushed against each other. There was a light chuckle from Tom. He drew back but kept his lips parted.
Harry took the chance and similarly tongued Tom's mouth, him not being one to completely submit to Tom. Tom toyed with him, pushing back against him then letting him move freely in short bursts. They would take a short breath, then go back to each other.
After another minute, they drew back for the final time. Tom lightly patted his wetted lips dry. Harry panted, now surely oxygen deprived. Tom leaned forward and softly kissed his forehead. A hand brushed through his hair.
"Tom?" Harry asked, finally brave enough to ask the question that was brewing in his mind.
"Yes, love?" Tom's hand went through his fringe and traced his jawline.
"Do you ever get jealous of Riddle?" Harry asked, biting his lip.
They really hadn't discussed it at all. Both of them just fell into line with cuddling, kissing, and overall loving him. It wasn't conventional at all, and he knew it. Even if they were technically the same person, he viewed them separately.
"A little, more at the beginning," Tom admitted after a breath. "But I figured that he makes you just as happy, and I really don't mind almost all of the time."
Tom laced their fingers. "Though I will admit, I was jealous he got to dance with you first."
"Oh." Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't know what he would do if Tom said he was very jealous. He didn't want to abandon either of them. If he had to choose, it would be Tom; he was his first, but he wouldn't like that decision. It would hurt Riddle. And he didn't like that either. But having both… was his ideal situation.
There was a knock at the door. Riddle entered after a "Come in!", holding one tray and levitating two more beside him.
"I brought breakfast!" Riddle exclaimed.
Harry and Tom sat up, yawning. Riddle handed them each a tray, and they sat in a small circle on the bed. Harry had an array of pancakes, eggs, toast, and, of course, two treacle tarts with pumpkin juice on the side. Both Tom and Riddle had more reserved tastes for salads, eggs, and tea.
Riddle smirked at them, giving them a look that told them he knew what they did. Both looked away, with Riddle laughing lowly but not saying anything.
They chatted as they ate, avoiding the topic of Harry having to leave. They all knew of the real possibility of Voldemort forcing the horcruxes to stay in the manor. None of them liked the idea.
Another knock sounded at their door. Harry yelled for him to come in.
Voldemort entered, looking a bit disappointed. It quickly faded as his eyes found Harry.
"I could not find you anywhere," Voldemort stated.
You didn't come to breakfast.
"Will you join us?" Harry asked, moving a bit out of the way to accommodate another space.
Voldemort stared at him flatly. But he could see the idea weighing on his mind.
"Fine. I will be back." Voldemort backed out of the room, closing the door gently.
Harry happily munched on his first treacle tart when Voldemort came back into the room. He carried a tray of salad, tea, eggs, and beans on toast. Harry hummed; his taste had hardly changed through the years.
Voldemort awkwardly crawled onto the bed. He sat cross-legged between Harry and Riddle. Harry hadn't seen it before, but Voldemort was much taller than Riddle. They were just on another level of tall, and he just assumed they were similar heights.
"Why are you so tall?" Harry blurted out the words before he could stop himself.
"Genetics," Voldemort answered without missing a beat.
"No, like you're a lot taller than either of them." Harry put his hands on top of each other and raised his top hand in the air.
Voldemort thought about it for a second. "I started puberty much later than my peers."
Harry could sniff the omissionable lie but didn't push further. If he wanted to keep secrets, he could. He could keep a whole chamber of them.
Voldemort broke the silence. "This is your last day."
"Yeah." Harry sighed. "Really wish it wasn't."
Voldemort looked at him in surprise. "You -" He shook his head. "I thought we all could do something on the last day."
"What?" The three asked at once.
Voldemort smiled. "We're going swimming. It serves another task for me as well."
"Where?" Tom asked, finishing the last of his tea.
"Dirus beach."
Tom and Riddle's faces went dark, with sinister smiles on their faces. But Harry found that he held no fear. He was, however, a bit suspicious about it.
Harry knew that they were not good people. That the change of heart was very, very recent. He wasn't sure what they'd do to other people, but they hadn't attacked any Death Eaters (besides that one time), and they hadn't wanted to go away and torture someone (besides Umbridge). Harry knew they wouldn't do anything to him.
But it unnerved him nonetheless.
Riddle cleared his throat, sensing Harry's confliction. "It's a white beach with rocky cliffs and caves. I assume you know how to swim?"
Harry thought. "I'm not a strong swimmer. Will I see a lot of fish?"
Tom nodded. "It's fairly lively. Has a bunch of sharks, but they're harmless. Seahorses, other small fish, and lots of vegetation. And we'll stay in the shallows."
"I will have Pipskey fit you two for swimwear. Potter, you said you already had some?" Voldemort inquired, cutting into his food.
"Yeah. They're a little torn at the bottom, but it's still good." The merfolk were pretty accurate with their weapons.
"Hm." Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "I will have all three of you fitted then."
Harry was about to object but figured he needed new ones anyway.
He was a bit embarrassed being fitted, but in the end, he was left with dark red swim shorts that wrapped around him perfectly. He stood in the mirror, spinning around. He'd never had something that was snug without being uncomfortable.
"Though I'm sure we'd all like to admire your ass, we do need to get going." Riddle called from the doorway, Tom beside him.
Harry jumped. "Don't scare me like that!"
The fright was soon replaced by something else. Sure, he had seen quick glances of them when they got out of the shower, but no lingering gazes. Now, he had them on display.
Though not particularly muscular, he could see the beginning tones of muscles just under their skin. Tom was a bit thinner, just barely able to see the bottom of his ribs, but he looked lean. Riddle was much the same, but more filled out.
Harry didn't know which he preferred.
"Believe me, I can be more spooky." Riddle laughed.
"Uh - " Harry was at a loss for words.
"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies," Tom smirked, walking over and patting his jaw.
Harry shut his mouth. Redness crept up his face. They both laughed, ruffling his hair. He was glad they were able to see some humour in it. He was frankly too distracted to think of any comeback.
"You three," Voldemort entered the room, dressed in a full-body wetsuit that cut off at the neck.
Harry was glad there weren't more shirtless men around him.
He stared at Harry and his apple-red cheeks. Voldemort quickly turned away.
"We will be taking a portkey." Voldemort held out a large, sky-blue crystal.
They all placed their hands on the portkey without another word. Voldemort muttered something, and the world twisted before them. Harry felt his arms being hooked under him.
The first thing he felt was cold. Next was dampness. Then, it was the feeling of hard rock under his feet. He felt himself being pulled back and turned face-to-face with sharp, jagged rocks.
"AH!" Harry scrambled backwards, only to hit something solid. He whipped around, only to see he had run into Voldemort.
"Calm, calm, you're fine. We're just in a cave next to the beach." Tom reassured him.
Harry sighed in relief. He looked around to see more sharp, jagged rocks with some stalagmites and stalactites all over the black. The end of the cave opened up to a short section of beach, then water.
"Come on." Tom pulled him along. "Let's go swim. I want to find seahorses."
Harry was walking behind him when he saw the pocket of Tom's shorts wiggle. Harry raised an eyebrow but waited until he was out of earshot of Voldemort (who watched them leave) to speak.
"What did you smuggle?" Harry asked, shielding his face from the bright sun.
Tom looked back with a mischievous smirk. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the serpent they acquired in Russia. Which had remained unnamed.
"She wanted to come with us," Tom said, averting his eyes.
"Filthy liar. I was yanked from my lovely tank." The serpent hissed.
"I still think we should just call her Oil." Harry reached over and scratched her head.
"Midnight," Riddle retorted.
"Raven." Tom quipped his lips.
They seemed to never conclude.
"You two do whatever; I'm looking for seahorses." Tom waved them off and hoisted himself into the water down below carefully.
He edged to an area of long sea grass and waded through it as gently as he could.
"Wait, I want to see seahorses!" Harry was about to hop into the water, but hands wrapped around his waist.
Harry leaned his head back, and Riddle smiled down at him. Cold water brushed against his feet as he was slowly lowered into the water. Riddle slid in next to him, holding his hand.
"Gentle, you don't want to crush them." He warned Harry.
"Oh, right." Harry stared down, afraid he'd see the pieces of seahorses rising to the surface.
Luckily, there was none.
Riddle and Harry slowly made their way to Tom. He was kneeling in the water, slowly sliding along despite the occasional sharp rock. The serpent was swimming nearby, dodging in and out of the seagrass.
"Over here, human." She hissed, sticking her head above water. "The yellow thing."
They all arrived to see Tom parting the grass. There, a small canary-yellow seahorse with a large belly had its tail wrapped around a blade. Lower down, a smaller seahorse was there, hardly bigger than Harry's pinky.
"They're so small," Harry said, slowly crouching down beside Tom. They brushed shoulders.
"Very," Riddle agreed.
He knelt next to him and snaked a hand around Harry's waist. He was once again reminded that all of them were shirtless. Riddle chuckled lowly at Harry's inflamed cheeks. He winced at his inability to keep his mind clean.
"I want to keep them," Tom said, very lightly petting the larger seahorse with the back of his curled index finger.
"No." Riddle sighed. "The serpent wouldn't want to share her tank, and there wouldn't be as much enrichment in there either. Plus, that seahorse is pregnant, and you do not want to take care of hundreds or even thousands of baby seahorses."
"I could do it," Tom reassured.
"Yeah, I mean, you could, but should you?" Harry said, catching a glance at an orange seahorse swaying in the grass further down.
Tom hmphed.
The serpent slithered over. She caught sight of the smaller seahorse and prodded it with the tip of her tail. The smaller seahorse released the blade and hooked onto her tail. She tried to shake it off, but its grip was stronger.
"I have been adopted as a mother." She swished her tail. The seahorse stayed on.
"See? The seahorse chose her." Tom gestured to the two.
Harry and Riddle looked at each other.
"Well… It's small." Riddle said.
"And it won't give birth to hundreds of babies…" Harry pointed out.
"And she won't eat the seahorse," Tom said.
The two of them sighed.
"You're really going to kidnap a baby?" Harry spoke in a judgmental tone.
"Apparently older me tried to murder one, so I think this is a step down." Tom smiled. He gently stroked the smaller seahorse.
"What are you going to name it?" Harry asked.
"Hmm. Topaz, like the stone." Tom said after contemplating for a second.
"I was going to say Banana," Harry said.
Tom and Riddle looked at him, furrowing their eyebrows.
"You… have an imagination." They settled on.
Harry rolled his eyes. They never thought that his names were good. "Can we let her watch Topaz while we swim?"
"I will care for my child." The serpent hissed.
The three carefully waded through the water until they reached waist-deep water, a safe distance from the seagrass. Harry could smell the intense salt in the water. How unlike it was compared to the freshwater of the lake.
It was also clearer water. Not murky until he kicked up sand with his feet. Riddle took his hand and guided him deeper into the sea until he could tread water. The two of them, of course, could still stand.
Harry was deeply offended that he was so small. It was nice to be able to curl up in their arms, feeling completely protected as they shielded him, but at times like this, he wished he was taller.
"Are you fine moving further?" Riddle asked, helping Harry keep his head above water by lightly lifting him by the waist.
"I'd rather not drown," Harry admitted.
"We could just put a bubblehead charm on you." Tom pointed out.
Tom raised his hand and muttered a short phrase. Harry didn't feel any different, but he looked down to see the water around his face being pushed down. He hesitantly wiggled away from Riddle's grip and let himself sink.
The water around his head distorted, and he was able to breathe. He felt something take hold of his leg and he yelped in alarm.
Looking down, he saw Tom's mischievous smirk as he released his ankle. He swam deeper into the sea, waving him along. Harry copied his movements and followed him as the water grew colder.
On the sandy floor, he could see an array of sea life. Small fish swam away from them in terror. Starfish littered the floor. Harry turned one over and was horrified to see the flailing little tubes of flesh that decorated the limbs.
He shuffled around in the sand and found a large spiral shell. Harry threw it as far as he could when he saw a little claw peek out. In the distance, he could see dark shapes moving against a blue background.
The ocean was both magnificent and horrifying.
Riddle stayed close to him while Tom explored further on. It was reassuring, especially as they slowly inched forward into the depths. Before long, his ears hurt, and they were so deep enough that the sunlight was starting to fade.
In the distance, he could see a small, dark shape quickly coming their way. Harry grabbed Riddle's arm and pointed to the shadow. Riddle tensed and pulled Harry behind him. It grew a little bigger and quickly approached.
A shark.
A small shark, but a shark nonetheless. Its tail was long, the tip stretching on. Harry clung to Riddle. Meanwhile, Riddle relaxed.
Riddle opened his mouth, but he shook his head and then raised his hand. White letters began to form as he wrote in the air.
'It's a thresher shark. Harmless.'
Harry shook his head. That thing didn't look harmless. His nails dug into Riddle's arm.
The shark moved slower and approached them. Harry tried to pull Riddle away, but the immovable object stayed put. He buried his face into Riddle's shoulder, his heart pounding in his chest. A shadow passed over him.
Riddle grabbed his hand and raised it. He could feel a rough, scaly surface under his fingertips. Harry took a peak.
Riddle was forcing Harry to pet the shark.
He thrashed, trying to pull away. The shark seemed to stare at him before slowly swimming away. The end of its tail travelled over Harry's hand. Riddle smiled at him, releasing his hand. Harry pulled it back, clinging it to Riddle's shoulders as he watched the shark disappear into the blue.
His stomach twisted as he stared at the other shadows in the depths. Riddle caught the fear in his face and grabbed Harry's legs, wrapping them around his waist. Together, they treaked to the surface.
As soon as their heads were above water and the bubblehead charm was cancelled, Harry began to yell.
"You absolute asshole!" Harry pounded against Riddle, but he could tell his action didn't bother him.
"Did anything happen?" Riddle asked him, lightly grasping Harry's wrists.
"I nearly pissed on you," Harry replied.
Riddle laughed. "But did anything happen?"
"No," Harry admitted. "But that doesn't mean that anything wouldn't happen."
But Harry stayed clinging to Riddle, resting his head on his shoulders, as Riddle walked around half-submerged. He would occasionally offer Harry a shell or a crustation to inspect. Harry's heart began to return to normal.
"Hey! Look what I found!" Tom's voice rang out from further down the beach.
He was dangling a shark by the tail.
Harry's heart rate instantly shot up.
"Put that thing down; you're air-drowning it!" Riddle yelled back.
Tom nodded and threw the shark far into the water with a resounding SPLASH.
Harry was about to admonish him for throwing the animal, but he felt… off.
A sudden headache overtook him. From their connection, he could feel the cold claws of rage. He gasped, clutching his forehead. He had never experienced anger like that; it consumed him and set a biting freeze inside of him. He collapsed into the water. It soothed him for a second, but another wave of anger struck him.
Salty water filled his mouth as he inhaled sharply. A panic struck deep within him as the water flowed down his airway. His throat closed, desperate to keep the liquid out.
Riddle yanked him from the water. Harry tried to spit out the water, but it felt like he couldn't get it all out. He kept on hacking, his mouth feeling flooded yet dry at the same time.
Riddle hauled him over his shoulders and rushed to shore. The pressure on his chest made some of the saltwater leave his throat.
He was thrown onto the sand. Riddle hovered his shaking hand over Harry's throat and closed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed. From the corner of his splotchy vision, he could see Tom get onto the beach and run towards them.
"Evacuo." Riddle spoke with a clear voice.
Harry felt the rest of the water leave his system. The dryness stayed, and his throat was still closed, his migraine only increasing.
"Pipskey!" Tom called, dropping down next to him.
A pop sounded. "Yes, Youngest Master - "
"I need a pain reliever, a relaxer, and anything else that can help with a drowning," Tom commanded.
Harry could feel the pressure building up in his lungs. It cramped him, and he felt oddly warm. Tom lightly patted his cheeks.
"Stay with us. Try to breathe. Try to stay awake." Tom asked of him.
Harry found that request increasingly challenging to achieve. He could hold his breath for a long time, but this time it felt different. He could hardly move his limbs and would have fallen backward if Riddle hadn't caught him in his arms.
Pipskey arrived with the potion bottles. They tried to pour the pain reliever down his throat, but Harry could hardly swallow it. It mostly pooled in his mouth as it slowly dripped down his throat.
"Pipskey, are you able to spell the potions into his stomach?" Riddle asked the house elf.
"Yes, Young Master. Pipskey is trained."
She took the remaining vials and snapped her fingers. The liquid disappeared as Harry felt a cold sensation in his abdomen. The coldness spread through his body, and he felt himself lose more control of his body.
But his throat was finally opened.
Harry gasped for air, trying to breathe in and out. He sputtered a bit, the pain reliever still in his mouth. The potion was spat into the sand.
But he managed to breathe.
His mind was still like a slushie, a mixture of oxygen deprivation and second-hand rage making him confused. He could feel Riddle lightly shaking him, but his vision was already swimming without it.
"Can you hear me?" Tom asked, lacing their hands. "Can you squeeze my hand if you can hear me?"
Harry weakly squeezed his hand with all his strength. Tom sighed, running his hand through Harry's hair. His headache subsided from the action.
It only cemented the fact that everything got better with them by his side.
He wondered why this time it was different. Usually, he experienced more of a brain freeze than anything else. It was a bit better than the crippling pain that filled him before, but he could normally deal with it.
Voldemort was just so angry that it overwhelmed him. He could not comprehend that amount of rage within someone. It was an inferno of ice—and so quick too.
The answer would soon find him.
Riddle deposited Harry into Tom's arms and stormed off to the cave entrance. Harry stared up at Tom, watching as the seawater rolled down his cheeks. He reached up with a shaking arm and wiped it away.
"You're a bit wet." He joked.
Before he could think, Tom's lips were on his own. Salty. It was different from their other kisses. More desperate, grasping at him as if he might slip away into the sea.
Tom withdrew, his eyes reddened with salt. Harry shifted in Tom's arms and curled up to his chest. He listened to Tom's erratic heartbeat. His brow furrowed. Nonetheless, the fast beat of his heart still calmed him.
He could hear screaming. Not in pain, but arguing. He could recognise Riddle's and Voldemort's voices. Their words were overlapping each other, stacking on top of each other to the point that Harry couldn't filter out either of them.
The rage that flooded from Voldemort's side only intensified. Harry groaned. He could not imagine being so angry. It was so intense that it hurt. But it was like ice that coursed through his brain. The most horrible brain freeze to exist.
Not even burrowing into Tom's chest nor the bright sun warmed the chill.
"Are you… cold?" Tom asked, using his spare hand to stroke the goosebumps on Harry's arms.
"Yeah." Harry groaned. "Brain hurts."
Tom's grip on him intensified. "The ritual was supposed to stop that."
"Mhh… Only the touch. Not the rage-aches. Doesn't hurt as much. It's cold, not fire." Harry muttered.
"This is less pain?" Tom exclaimed incredulously. "I know it hurt, but I thought I saw the worst before."
Harry nodded. "Has hurt more before. So angry."
Tom brushed the hair away from Harry's face. "Do you want anything for it?"
Harry shook his head. "No, it's normal."
Tom's fingers could have left bruises on his skin. Harry shied away from his grip.
"Sorry, sorry," Tom repeated, loosening his grip.
Harry heard the stomping of feet. He turned his head to the side and saw a furious Voldemort and an equally pissed-off Riddle walking towards them. A string of fear coursed through his veins. He cuddled up as close as possible to Tom.
"Why are you so angry?" Harry asked in a small voice.
Voldemort snarled his answer. "I was retrieving a horcrux and found that it was missing. Regulus Black betrayed me and stole it."
Oh.
Everyone: (breakfast in bed!)
Harry: Wish I could just stay here ):
Voldemort: you what?
Harry: gaygayhomosexualgayhomosexualgay
Riddle: nice ass
Tom: haha, you think we're sexy
Tom: I want one
Harry: No
Riddle: No
Tom: What if I want a small one
Harry: Fine
Riddle: Fine
Harry, after finished drowning: Your eyes are red. Bet it's the salt water.
Tom, sobbing: Yeah
Meanwhile:
Riddle: (is screaming at Voldemort)
Voldemort: (is screaming at Riddle)
