Dissindere Temporalis
So here we are again, but this time with Harry's perspective.
This chapter felt odd, it was both easy and hard to write, as I wanted to hit the beats I had slated, but also wanted it to feel natural. Strangely while Harry was complying...some of the others were being difficult in my head.
Grrr.
As always THANK YOU for reviewing, you guys are my insporation and drive to keep writing. Everytime I get an alert it's like an instant endorphin rush! So thanks!
I hope you all enjoy!
Statera
There are many who doubt the concept of Dimitera, seeing it as both fanciful and ridiculous, or potentially as overly romantic. The concept of Soulmates after all is inherently about finding your one true love.
Dimitera however are something far deeper, far more ingrained into the very depths and mysteries of magic. Magic simply is. It is a part of time, space, and it is not simply an empty, dead concept that you might subjugate to your will.
It is both a blessing and a curse, to have one who is both your equal, your greatest competition, the balance to your failings. Almost all Dimitera have brother/sister wands, harking back to a longing for co-operation between the two halves. Dimitera in concert, as well as brother/sister wands, are far more potent together than average witches and wizards magic.
However this has rarely come to pass, as Dimitera have been torn apart by rivalry, fearing the others power, envying their gifts until the bond is destroyed.
Some theorise that it is because of the unstable nature of two. Magically three or four or seven are the stronger combinations. However Dimitera only ever have two, equal halves. And if one half is lost...magic seeks to replace it, to restore the balance.
- "Bonds of Magic" by Rhiannon Moreland
Some part of Harry had expected that the Defence Club would echo the Duelling Club that Lockheart had attempted to form back in his original Second Year.
So he was surprised when he walked into an unfamiliar room on the third floor and took in the sight of a practical duelling hall, which strongly resembled Charlie's training room back at Linn.
Unlike the Duelling Club, there were no fripperies, no over the top adornments. It was utilitarian and, surprisingly, immediately put him at ease.
This was familiar.
It also appeared like every single one of his year-mates had elected to turn up. The Gryffindors for a chance to prove themselves, the Slytherins because they couldn't have any Gryffindor's showing them up, the Ravenclaws because, while this was practical, it was still learning and would give others the edge in their exams and the Hufflepuffs because everyone else was going and they didn't want to be left out.
It made him smile a little, until his gaze flicked over Tom.
The dark haired boy was nearby, observing the hall with interest, Sebastian at his side.
Harry was keenly aware that Tom had been keeping his distance, still coming to terms with the revelations that had nearly split them all apart. But where Tom had come to terms with Malfoy, with Ron and most recently with Hermione, he had yet to fully forgive Harry.
It stung, even as Harry appreciated that Tom didn't try to lie to him. Until he was ready he would keep his distance.
Until he was ready, Harry would have to wait.
He hated waiting.
"Welcome Fourth Years!" Tia greeted them all from the centre of the square hall and the 60 odd students gathered around her and the man standing beside her.
"Hey Harry, isn't that-" Ron whispered, and Harry blinked as he took in the sight of his guardian, Charlie, who was wearing loose robes, and held his wand casually in his hand.
"What's he doing here?" Hermione hissed back, frowning slightly.
"He's a friend of Professor Merrythought's remember?" Harry murmured back, "And he's a master duellist. Makes sense that she'd get his help."
"Welcome to the Defence Club," Merrythought smiled, hands on her hips, "I'm sure that while all of you can think of reasons why you'd need to defend yourself, thankfully most of you will never need to use the skills you learn in this room."
"However," Charlie's warm tenor voice flowed over the crowd, "There is always the chance of maybe needing it. So it's important to have the skill, even if it's never used." He gave the crowd a little crooked grin, "For those of you wondering who I am, I'm Professor Merrythought's former year mate, friend and also an Unspeakable at the Department of Mysteries."
A ripple of interest spread through the crowd, and Charlie's grin turned wicked.
"I'm also Harry, over there's, father,"
All eyes turned to Harry.
Instantly he felt his cheeks flame with colour, and could feel Ron silently laughing behind his back.
He awkwardly waved and a titter filled the room.
Inexorably he looked towards his friends, all of whom looked amused, except for Tom.
Who had an eyebrow arched.
Of course they all knew Charlie wasn't his father, but was rather his great-uncle. By blood anyway.
Harry had never really had a father the first time around. For all that Sirius had been someone he very much loved, he'd always felt like an uncle, his parents friend, not really a parental figure himself.
Dumbledore had at times taken the place of a wise mentor, but with hindsight and distance Harry had realised that very little of it had been the old man actually caring for him, not for his own sake. He'd wanted to guide a future hero…not be a father, or grandfather, to a little orphan boy.
Hagrid had loved him, of that Harry was sure, but although the half-giant had often been a source of comfort and stability, he'd often had to find himself babysitting the older man rather than being looked after himself.
Molly and Arthur had always been the closest to parents he'd had, but he'd always been keenly aware that they were Ron's. His friend was giving, but he also had a tendency to feel… unwanted. He'd seen his best friend's face when Molly had showered him with a bit more affection.
Other than them, the only person who had consistently and fiercely supported and fought for him had been Professor McGonagall, and he missed her greatly.
Strange to think that she was only six years old, right now.
But Charlie and Dorea had taken him into their home, and taken on his burdens too as their own. Both of them had given him more support than he'd ever thought they would…
He remembered Dorea holding him over the Yuletide break, her fingers combing through his messy hair in a way that felt like every dream he'd ever had of his mother.
They were his parents now, as much as his birth parents were. They loved him.
It was a strange sensation.
But it also meant that his guardian and adoptive father still had the opportunity to embarrass him.
"When you think of Duelling," Merrythought drew all the gazes back to her, much to Harry's relief, "Many of you think of flashy magical battles, the hero and the villain standing in the centre of a cleared battlefield and facing off one on one."
Harry couldn't help it. He looked toward Tom again.
And locked gazes with him, as he looked his way too.
For a moment they stared at each other, Harry remembering that final day in the Hogwarts Great Hall…
"That does happen, but it is usually far more complicated than that." Merrythought's voice continued, and snapped them out of their private reverie.
"Formal Duels are an ancient tradition and even a formal sport. Many of you would be aware of the Duelling Championship, which started as an only English institution, but is now a Worldwide event. This is often a test of a witch or wizards repertoire of spells, but also their ability to problem solve. You may not know the exact spell your opponent has cast, but you must be able to solve the problem it causes you, before you lose the match."
"Formal Duelling is very different to combat." Charlie's voice was firm but low, "The skills can translate but overall, Combat Battle magic is far more spontaneous, and far more deadly. There hasn't been a death in Formal Duelling competitions in centuries. Whereas magical battles often come with a body count."
All the students glanced at each other nervously and Merrythought smiled, "Not in this classroom obviously. Here we will prepare you with the skills to hone both of these skills. Some of you will master Duelling, some of you will gravitate more to Battle Magic. A rare few will excel at both. Some of you will enjoy neither…" and she chuckled warmly, "Which is fine. But it is my hope that each of you leave this club with the ability to at least defend yourself, and escape to find help."
"Now!" she clapped her hands together, "Would you all like a demonstration?"
An eager chorus of chatter swept through the group and Charlie chuckled.
Merrythought smiled too, and waved her wand, ushering the crowd back slightly before activating a large circle in the centre of the room.
There was a deep line carved into the floor, forming the circle and when she waved her wand it formed a clear shield that was clear like glass. It sealed Charlie and Merrythought inside, but gave the spectators a perfect view.
The crowd closed around the circle, jostling until everyone could see and the two adults took their places opposite each other.
"Ten galleons on Tia," Sebastian whispered behind him.
"I've seen Charlie fight," Ron immediately replied, "I'll take that bet."
"Ten galleons," Hermione hissed at them both, "Are you mad?"
Both of them shushed her, and turned back to the two teachers just as the fight began.
At once Harry saw the difference to the battles he'd been a part of.
This was very measured, and reminded him a bit of a choreographed dance. One would cast and the other would counter. Both were obviously very familiar with each other and both were obviously going for big flashy spells.
Both were also not using non-verbal spells.
Harry knew Charlie knew quite a number of non-verbal incantations, and he was sure that Merrythought did as well. But there was no point in showing off, they were trying to provide the students with a demonstration…
And looking around he could see his classmates were completely enthralled.
In the end Merrythought ended up victorious, encasing Charlie in a bubble that bounced him around gently in a way that makes him, and the delighted students, laugh.
"He let her win," He murmured before Sebastian could crow too loudly, "Because she's the teacher and needs the students to respect and admire her skills. He knew exactly what he was doing."
Bash paused, considering his words and then nodded at Ron, "Not really a fair bet then is it, Weasley?"
"Worse luck," Ron agreed and winked at the Slytherin in a way that made him smile, "Next time…"
A sharp rapping sound came from the Teachers, quieting everyone down once more.
"What do you think is the most important spell, when it comes to defence?"
"Expelliarmus," Ron snarked in Harry's ear.
"Stupefy," Hermione snickered on his other side.
"Shut up." He hissed at them both, struggling not to laugh.
Their classmates gave a few answers, before Tom slowly, lazily, raised his hand.
"Mr Riddle?" Charlie nodded, lip quirking, "What do you think is the most important defensive spell?"
"Personally I think a good offence is the best defence." Tom answered, voice carrying, cool and clear over the group, "However…"
Surprisingly he hesitated, and Harry twisted to look at his friend, in time to see Tom glance at someone else, something complicated on his face, before he turned back to the instructors.
"I would have to answer Shielding Spells and…. Expelliarmus."
A beat and then Tom's dark gaze flicked to meet Harry's, and away once more.
Shock shivered down Harry's spine.
He remembered crying out Expelliarmus, remembered the green of Voldemort's Avada, remembered the Elder Wand flying into his grasp in that moment as his enemy's spell rebounded.
He hadn't told Tom what spell he'd used in that final confrontation.
In fact he hadn't overtly told anyone in this time his particular attachment to that spell.
But the way Tom had phrased his answer…
His gut told him that somehow, someway, Tom knew.
How? He wasn't sure… but he was sure he knew.
Hermione stilled beside him, but when he turned to ask her about it, her face was already smoothed to impassivity, apart from a tiny furrow on her forehead.
"That's an excellent answer, Mr Riddle." Charlie nodded with a smile, "Shield Spells and Disarming Charms are two of the most defensive spells you can have in your repertoire, and are invaluable, particularly in Battle Magic."
"They are simple to cast, but hard to master spells." Merrythought agreed, nodding, "They require power, and a clear intent. The strongest Shield Spells and Disarming Charms come from purpose and emotion. They draw off the caster. For example…"
The two adults shifted and Charlie cast a stunning spell that crashed into the 'Protego' that Merrythought conjured in response.
"That is a passive and structured response, and met with equal measure. Desperation, fear, need, loss, pain, love… those emotions fuel spells like Shields, Disarms and Stunners."
"Like Olde magic," Kel murmured to Tierra who made a soft noise of agreement, "I wonder if those spells started there and made the transition over…"
Tom glanced at her at that, appreciative speculation in his gaze. But was distracted from whatever he'd been about to say by all of them being split off into pairs to practice Disarming and Shield spells.
Harry half expected Tom to turn to him, to indicate that they should be partners.
But while Tom did look over at him, hesitating for a long moment, his gaze had been drawn back to lock on Tierra.
"You have the best Shield Charms," he informed her, haughtily, "Come on let's put them to the test."
Tierra blinked at him and then shrugged easily, following him to a corner of the hall.
Harry watched them go with a frown.
"What's all that about?" Ron muttered, just as confused as him.
Hermione meanwhile had a 'Look' on her face.
"You know," Harry accused, frowning at her, as she sighed, "Hermione…"
"It's not important. It really isn't!" she insisted as Ron scoffed, "He just… worries about her, I think. She's… well she's a Hufflepuff."
"That doesn't mean she's helpless!" Harry insisted with a scowl, remembering the many times that the young woman had managed to send him flying with her defensive spellwork, "If anything, she's potentially the most talented at pure defence out of the lot of us"
"And Tom? Worries?" Ron scoffed softly, "He doesn't do worry. Not like that. He sorts the problem out himself…"
Hermione pursed her lips, but it was Draco who answered, "And if he wasn't there to protect her? To protect any of us? I think that worries him more than you give him credit for…"
That might be very well true. Harry mused, watching the way Tom mocked Tierra as she cast, the girl getting progressively more irritated with each nitpicking comment.
"Anyway, shall we?" Draco waved at Ron, clearly brimming with anticipation, "I've been itching to send you flying, Weasley."
"Oh you're on," Ron grinned, just as delighted.
Leaving Harry and Hermione to pair up together.
It felt familiar, and for a moment he thought wistfully of the practices they'd done in the lead up to the Third Task, that first time they'd been through their Fourth Year. Hermione had drilled him, making him practice on pillow after pillow until he was proficient. Knowing that he would learn best by doing.
It made his body warm with a surge of affection, and a bit of sadness for the innocence of that time…now long gone.
A time when his biggest struggle had been a magical maze and surviving to the end of a mad Magical Tournament.
Strange, to miss it.
"What do you fancy doing in Hogsmede this weekend?" Harry asked Ron the following week as they all worked on their Potions essays in the Room of Requirement.
It was odd, he'd used to hate potions. But while Snape had been abrasive and downright awful, he had been pretty good at getting the information across to his students. Whereas Slughorn was a far more easy going tutor and encouraged experimentation. Neither had made the subject really click for Harry.
Hector, however, a master brewer in his own right, had helped him understand what Snape had been on about in that first class their First Year. Hermione's guardian had tutored them all bringing their skills up another level, but it was a surprise when he found himself enjoying it.
There was something relaxing, almost meditative, in brewing a potion.
It was like cooking, where he'd used the old women's magazine recipes Aunt Petunia had kept in a drawer as a guide, but had known instinctively that he needed to boil it for a minute longer here. Add a bit more salt there. More herbs at this point.
He'd known it would have the effect he'd wanted. And Potions was the same.
He'd never be a Master, not like Hector. He didn't have the passion for it, the obsession that it required.
But he was certainly doing far better in it since it had clicked in his head.
And the essays had definitely gotten easier
Ron, meanwhile, squirmed in his seat at his question, and flushed red, splotches going all the way down his neck.
"Well I-uh…" He coughed and shot Harry an apologetic look, "Well I… have a date, actually."
Harry blinked.
"You-what?" he blinked again, feeling like his brain was shifting gears like an old car, "You have a-?"
"A date, yeah." Ron rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Been keeping quiet about it a bit…"
"Why?" Harry asked, confused.
There were reasons that dating might be weird to them now, they were after all de-aged and thus physically and hormonally 14. But they had the memories of being older, and emotionally this time around they were far more mature than they'd once been.
The potion had blunted the effect of him feeling like an adult in a child's body, sometimes it felt like his previous life was a dream…
But it had only been this year that he'd actually started looking at his female classmates and felt that tickle of attraction.
Kara with her hair half tied up and sleeves rolled to her elbows, confident and capable as she learned a spell.
Kel, daydreaming out the window, serene and peaceful, hand holding her cheek.
Aurora, beautiful, dark and flashing with fierce temper like a thunderstorm.
Tierra… soft and warm, safety embodied in a human form.
Druella… the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, like a princess or a queen and always with a faint floral scent.
He'd noticed them…but it hadn't gone beyond that.
So he was surprised to hear that it had for Ron, and that he'd actually asked the person out instead of…well… everything he'd usually done in their past life.
Honestly he was a bit impressed.
Ron rubbed his neck again and then peeked up at Harry, as though unsure of his reaction.
Harry tried to look as comforting and understanding and supportive as possible.
It seemed to work, as Ron sighed and admitted, "It's Druella."
For a moment Harry felt a flicker of something under his breastbone, surprise maybe, or shock…maybe even possibly….slightly… a hint of jealousy.
And then it clicked.
"Draco's grandmother."
"Yeah."
Harry bit his lip.
But the laugh built up in his chest until he couldn't help but burst out laughing, cackling even harder as Ron started mercilessly beating him with a pillow.
"Shut your bloody face!"
Harry couldn't though, every time he thought he was settling down, he thought about Draco's face when he found out Ron was dating his grandmother, and lost it all over again.
Eventually he wheezed to a stop, flushed and feeling sore from the force of his laughter, but he also felt oddly free and relaxed.
"Okay, so you're going to Hogsmede with Druella on a date," He attempted to get back on track as Ron glared at him without any heat, "Is Madam Puddifoots around at this time?"
His voice wobbled treacherously on the last few words, as he struggled not to laugh again.
"You couldn't get me in that place if you paid me," Ron snickered, shuddering theatrically.
"Fair." Harry smiled at him, "But if you go to the Three Broomsticks everyone will see, and you can't take Druella to the Hogshead… not on the first date anyway. And besides… you should tell Draco."
"I shouldn't have to get his permission…"
"Get his-? Ron…" Harry snorted, "You're not asking for permission, you're giving him a heads up so he won't throw a diva fit in front of everyone. His instinctive reaction to it is never going to be good."
"Well that's his problem then isn't it..?"
Harry shook his head at him fondly, "Alright then, be a stubborn idiot. Don't say I didn't warn you…"
Near the end of the next Defence Club, Merrythought clapped her hands together, drawing all their attention from their Disarming and Stunning practices.
A few people hadn't come back for the second class, having come to see what it was about but deciding they didn't want to spend an evening each week on the topic. But Harry was pleased to see that every single one of his friends had shown up.
Today he'd been practicing with Draco, and Hermione was paired with Tierra who had refused to work with Tom for the second week in a row. This had left Tom and Ron steadily Disarming and Stunning each other for the whole practice.
Now Merrythought smiled at them all and said the words that Harry had quietly been dreading, "Best way to learn is by doing. Time for some freeform duelling. Who'd like to volunteer?"
Hands shot up around the room and a Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were chosen.
Harry barely noticed, because he could feel Tom's gaze on him, boring a hole through his back, and both Hermione and Ron were shooting him worried looks.
He'd known this would happen. Eventually they'd be covering duelling in Defense. He knew that now Tom knew the truth he wouldn't be able to resist facing Harry.
He'd just thought he might have a little longer.
The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's duel was short and clumsy and when Merrythought called for volunteers again it was Tom she chose.
"Mr Riddle, would you and Mr Weasley-"
"It will be me and Potter, Professor." He interrupted her smoothly, causing mutters around the room. The two of them had always competed for the best marks in Defence, and now the whole Year was gazing at them interestedly.
Charlie's gaze flashed to Harry, concerned, but Harry gave him a small nod, trying to show confidence he really didn't feel.
The two of them stepped into the circle and the shield barrier flared up behind them.
Anticipation and nerves fizzed in Harry's belly as he stood across from Tom.
He hadn't had a duel like this since-
The fights with Death Eaters in the Auror department had been more spontaneous…more desperate.
This…
This was haunting.
And familiar.
"Begin!" Merrythought called, and instantly Tom shot a full-body bind his way, which bounced off his swiftly conjured shield charm.
Instinct kicked in, instinct honed through years of fights, years of duels in which either he would live and subdue his prey, or die in the attempt.
The magic surged to his call, almost like it was hungry, eager.
Tom held his own, countering and counterspelling with a fluidity that Harry envied.
He was a natural. A prodigy at this.
Both of them worked off instinct, feeling the tempo of the fight as they flashed swift jinxes and hexes at one another, never trying to hurt but disable their opponent.
They never cast at the same time.
It felt like a dance.
Some part of Harry idly wondered if he should let Tom win, if that would soothe his hurt pride and return his friendship. If he won, would Tom see him as his friend, or as a rival to his power and potential?
If he beat Tom would that lessen him in the eyes of Slytherin House?
If he lost, would Tom ever truly respect him again?
He went with his gut.
He upped the tempo, throwing Tom off his rhythm with a flurry of swift spells before he cast the spell he'd been avoiding, purely on instinct.
"Expelliarmus!"
Tom's wand sailed into his hand, and Harry looked up to see his friend standing there, closer than he'd thought, chest heaving and eyes dark with battle.
Tom's face was inscrutable as he considered him.
"Shake hands boys," Charlie's voice broke into their own little world, and he realised with a start that the other students were clapping and hollering, all of them looking very impressed.
When he looked back, Tom was standing before him, holding out his hand.
"My wand, if you please."
He handed it back, and then offered his hand, "Tom."
Slowly the dark haired boy took the hand offered and shook it gently, smiling wryly, "That was illuminating, Potter. Thank you."
And let go of his hand before re-joining their friends.
Leaving Harry feeling a little lost, standing in the duelist circle as Merrythought dismissed the class.
"You did well," Charlie murmured to him, unheard in the chatter of the class as they left, "You have a talent at this."
"I've had years of practice over him," Harry sighed, hearing a note of self loathing in his voice, "It wasn't fair."
"Fair isn't real Harry." Charlie gripped his shoulder firmly, "No one is ever given the same opportunities, nor are they given the same gifts and talents. Do not feel guilty for taking the opportunities handed to you. You earned your experience, it was hard won. It would only ever be disrespectful if you wasted your gifts. You hear me?"
Harry nodded, feeling a little better, and his adoptive father smiled down at him, "I'm proud of you Harry. You're an exceptional wizard. And I don't mean your talents. I mean you."
The praise warmed a place deep, down inside of him, and he impulsively hugged the man before he followed the others leaving the room, Hermione and Ron falling into step behind him as Malfoy trailed along beside him.
"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked quietly.
Harry watched Tom up ahead, talking intently with Bash and Druella, but when Harry tried to catch his gaze, the other boy deliberately turned away.
"Yeah," he replied quietly, stomach sinking, "I'm great."
Harry had warned him.
That's what he told himself as he covered his mouth to stop from laughing himself sick, as Draco ranted at Ron.
In the middle of the Entrance Hall, with an avid crowd watching, and hoping for excitement.
"Are you kidding me, Weasley!" Draco howled, looking positively dishevelled, blond hair completely askew as he ranted at the other boy, "How could you do this! It's completely unacceptable-!"
Something tingled in the air, and then a moment later Tom was at Harry's shoulder, affecting complete nonchalance.
The hairs on Harry's skin stood up, something electric shivering through him as they stood together, watching two of their friends yell at each other.
"Potter," Tom's voice was low, silky, "What's all that about then?"
Harry swallowed, struggling to be as calm as him, "Oh. Ron is going on a date with Druella."
Tom stilled beside him, before he made a low, thoughtful noise in his throat.
"And Malfoy objects…why?"
Harry smiled wryly, "In another life she was his grandmother."
Turning his head to the side slightly he saw Tom's eyebrow shoot up towards his hairline in surprise, before his lips quirked up in amusement, "I see…would he be this upset if it were you?"
"He'd still be upset…" Harry shook his head slightly, "But there's the whole… Weasley and Malfoy thing too. Mostly I think he's just objecting on principle."
Tom nodded, a soft huff of amusement leaving his lips, before his gaze turned back to Harry meeting his gaze without reservation for the first time in weeks.
"Are you particularly…interested in going to Hogsmede, Potter?" he asked quietly, "I thought we might…take the moment to talk. Alone."
Harry had been looking forward to Hogsmede, he always enjoyed visiting the quaint town and stocking up on sweets.
None of that mattered though, not when Tom was actually talking to him again.
And they needed to have this talk.
"We should talk." He murmured back, and was rewarded with a slow, small smile.
Together they left the Entrance Hall behind, where Druella had turned up to chastise the boys.
They went to the Chamber.
Harry didn't object. This was a safe place for Tom, a place that he was comfortable, by virtue of his bloodline and also his gift as a parseltongue.
It was also oddly poetic.
This was the first place he'd really met Tom Riddle, the version of him that had been kept in the Diary and Horcrux. A skill Harry suspected he'd learned from the Diary of Ominis Gaunt, which had been given to him by the man's daughter in this timeline.
That Tom Riddle had been beyond Harry's help, beyond anyone reaching him. He'd already committed to his path, to his future as Lord Voldemort.
The Tom that stood before him now might as well be a different man entirely.
This Tom was intelligent, fierce, brilliant, handsome, charming, gifted, clever, and above all he was Harry's friend.
He was his balance. The other side of the coin.
Together they formed a partnership that could change the wizarding world forever. Apart, they had the capacity to destroy it utterly.
A part of him wondered… wondered what might have been if he had kept the secret longer…or never shared it.
But his gut, his heart, the part of himself he'd always trusted when the chips were down, was certain.
If they'd kept it a secret it would have been discovered.
If it had been discovered, Tom would never have trusted him again.
And one day they would have faced each other on a different battlefield.
One which neither of them would have survived.
He didn't want that to happen. He didn't want to fight.
He wanted to fix things…
Tom looked at him, gaze steady, and then finally he spoke.
"I want to know only one more thing Harry."
He licked his lips, "Okay. What?"
Tom stepped a pace closer, their eyes not leaving one another.
"Why?"
"Why?" Harry blinked, frowning slightly, "Why what?"
Tom's lips quirked up faintly, before dropping back into seriousness, "I mean why did you come back to this time. Not why you shattered time and space to fix things, I know that," he hurried to add when Harry's mouth popped open, "I mean why did you come back to now. Why, when you had spent your whole childhood attempting to bring me down… why come back? Surely you must have wondered… wondered if you were simply signing yourself up for another go?"
"No…" Harry said quietly, and when Tom's brows snapped together, he couldn't help but smile, "I mean it Tom. I always believed you deserved the chance."
Tom shook his head, "How?" he asked, and there was a world of…something in that word, "I destroyed your entire childhood. How could you-?" he made a frustrated sound, "I just do not understand."
"I know." Harry moved forward, "I really do know Tom, because it's impossible to explain, not in a way that makes rational sense. From the first time we talked, through the Diary… I felt like I knew you. You felt familiar. Every memory I saw… it felt like an echo. Like you were how I might have been if I made other choices. If I'd not had the chances I did…"
"So it's pity then?"
"No!" Harry swiftly disavowed and gripped Tom's shoulders, pleased that while the other boy tensed, he didn't pull away. "No, it wasn't pity. It was sadness. It was regret. It was… the loss. The loss of someone who felt like…like he could have been a friend. Someone who understood."
Something flickered in Tom's dark eyes, "I always thought we were equal. We can't be. We can never be. You will always hold a power over me Harry…I hate that."
Harry swallowed, and followed his gut yet again, pulling him into his arms, hugging him tightly, "Tom you've always had power over me too. And you always will."
There was silence for a long moment before Tom coughed slightly into his shoulder.
"Really?" he whispered, "It feels terrible."
Harry laughed quietly, "Yeah it does. But… I trust you Tom. That's why I told you. Because we're friends, we're equal. We're… we're Dimitera. And I had to destroy you once… I don't…"
He hesitated for a moment and then admitted the truth that he hadn't, couldn't tell anyone.
"I couldn't do it again."
Slowly, almost like he was afraid, Tom's arms came up and stiltedly wrapped them around him in return. When Harry smiled and gently squeezed, Tom almost collapsed into him, hugging him back so tightly that Harry thought his ribs might pop.
"I missed you." Tom whispered, so quietly Harry almost thought it was his imagination.
"You too." He breathed back, and for a moment he thought he saw gold shimmer in the air.
And the universe felt just right.
To Be Continued...
Reviews
Shiara - I really enjoy writing slightly more grown up Ron. He's learned from the major mistakes, but he's still himself...and as Tom says, he'll make many more new ones! But I feel like his better qualities often get overlooked next to Harry and Hermione. And he deserves his moments to shine!
11Devil - I think it's an eternal thing. No matter what universe...Ron will always be a bit clueless about girls!
amk - We shall have to wait and see, won't we!
Guest - I hate that feeling, the plot being super engaging but something about the writing style making you want to brain yourself. We've all been there, and I'm glad this story doesn't do that to you!
MantisToboggan - have you been reading my documents on their original timelines! This way too close for comfort! Excellent deep diving, keep up the good work!
Smithback - You gotta have loving chapters sometimes.