The last chapter! If you don't want a sappy ending you should probably not read this chapter.
Because it is complete fluff- this last part.
Thank you all so much for reading this story and following it 3
Enjoy!
Tom's POV;
He was hailed like he was a hero.
It made him sick. How could they think of him as a hero, when the one that made all this possible, the one that changed his entire life, was gone.
Dead.
Hadrian was gone.
But here were all those people applauding for him and his Knights.
Tom couldn't stay here, in the Ministry where flowers and fireworks were going off around him. He couldn't accept all these worshipping people. Tom hadn't done it alone, but they were acting like he had!
It was disgusting.
Hadrian should be the one hailed as a hero. He was the hero.
He is- Hadrian was everything.
Tom stumbled as soon as he landed in his home before falling to his knees. Not caring where he landed.
He didn't care about a lot of things anymore. Not now. And probably never again.
He didn't know that losing someone could hurt so much.
Tom didn't know if he could even keep breathing with the pain he felt in his chest.
A small pop startled him, but he kept his eyes on the floor.
''Oh, Master Tom.'' The sadness in Mipsy's voice gave Tom the last push, and he fell down on the ground, not proud to say that he started sobbing.
Mipsy kneeled next to him and combed a hand through his hair, making comforting noises. Tom hadn't known that a house-elf could be like this. That they could soothe something, he hadn't expected that he would ever let a house-elf touch him. At least, he didn't know he would until Hadrian.
His Hadrian.
He's gone.
He didn't know how long he stayed on the ground, collapsed in misery until the floo activated. He didn't care about getting up. He didn't care who saw him like this.
He didn't care.
He only cared about Hadrian.
And he was gone.
''Tom-'' Charlus Potter's voice broke on just his name, and the heavy steps that followed told him that Charlus wasn't alone.
Tom refused to open his eyes to see who else was there, who saw him at his weakest. It was something he never would have tolerated before he met Hadrian. But now- now he didn't care.
His everything was gone.
They stayed with him. All these purebloods were sitting on the floor surrounding Tom. All grieving about their lost friends.
It took some time, but then Billius started talking about Hector, how smart and clever he had been, and how badly he wanted to be part of the Wizarding World! And how quickly he could hex someone if they looked wrong at his friends. How he was loyal to his friends until his dying breath. Tom felt guilt rip through him. Hector died because he was protecting his father. Hector saved his father and paid the price of dying.
Alexander started talking about one of the Slytherin Knights they had lost, Mulciber. Tom hadn't put any effort into him since his crude words to Hadrian and the attack that followed, but that didn't mean he wished him dead. Apparently, Mulciber had shielded an Auror who was dueling before he died.
Charlus started telling them about Professor Merrythought, how she was incredible as a dueler, and how she could've fought everyone there if she had been twenty years younger. Tom believed him.
Alphard told them brokenly how he had planned to ask Hermione to court him after graduation. Tom's stomach turned when he heard. Not wanting to think about how Hermione would have been flustered but loved Alphard. Even Tom could see that.
After the others fell silent, Tom knew they wanted to hear about Hadrian from him. But how could he speak about the one that left such a gaping hole in his chest? How could he possibly explain what Hadrian meant to him?
How could he explain that he lost half his soul?
His mind spun to his Horcrux, and he wanted nothing more than to destroy his diary before putting an Avada through his temple.
But something in him told him that Hadrian would be disappointed.
Another thing told him it wouldn't work. And that it wouldn't matter how hard he tried, that he wouldn't die. In some sort of twisted irony, Death had been wrong. Hadrian wouldn't ensure Tom would die eventually. Because Hadrian was the one who was gone.
''What do we do now?'' Billius eventually asked, despair and grief clinging to his voice.
Tom had no answer, his throat was clogged with emotion, and he couldn't swallow the lump that had formed, but apparently Charlus had.
''We carry on. We continue the research Hermione started. We start the progress Hadrian wanted for the Wizarding World. We make Tom Minister-'' He said resolutely, but that last sentence snapped Tom out of his stupor.
''Excuse me?!'' His voice sounded hoarse, but the others didn't seem to care. ''Why would you want me as Minister?'' He asked incredulously. The last time he checked, they hated him and wanted to keep an eye on him no matter what Hadrian said. And Tom had agreed!
Charlus gave him an unbelieving look. ''Wasn't that your plan? Rule the Wizarding World so it will become better?''
''Well- yes, but-'' It had been a long time since anyone else, but Hadrian had gotten him this flustered.
''You and Hadrian were working on the Wizengamot for the betterment of all Wixen and magical creatures, Hermione was writing papers about the Squib descendants, Hector wanted to keep an eye on you, make sure you don't lose yourself to madness, and now we are all going to do that.''
Tom was speechless.
He couldn't even fathom how he could do all that without Hadrian. Without Hermione researching by his side? How could they expect him to just move on?
''I don't th-''
''Hadrian would be furious with you if you just gave up.'' Charlus snapped his brown eyes were spitting fire, a fire that reminded him immediately which family Hadrian was descended from.
Charlus continued as if he hadn't just shaken Tom's world. Because he was right . ''He will be born on July 31, 1980. And we will make him proud. We will make sure he has a good life. And you will make a difference for him.''
Alphard seemed confused, and Alexander looked like he had just gotten confirmation about a lot of things.
Tom looked at Charlus, and for the first time, he truly saw Hadrian in Charlus reflected- even if it was to a lesser extent.
Nobody could have Hadrian's green eyes, and nobody could have his wild raven-black hair. But it was close.
''For Hadrian?'' He proposed carefully.
Charlus gave him a sincere smile and a nod. ''For Hadrian.''
''And for Hermione,'' Alphard said, and Tom nodded gratefully at him. Before Billius spoke. ''And for Hector.''
Tom looked around the room and noticed he truly was among friends.
''For all of them.''
They echoed his words. But Tom's mind still went to Hadrian.
The next years were hard on Tom. Every single moment he missed Hadrian next to him. Almost turning to his side, waiting for a sarcastic remark, but none came.
He worked hard with his friends to get laws and legislation approved in the Wizengamot.
The Slytherin, Nott, Potter, and Black names became an eyesore for the truly bigoted oldtimers of the Ministry.
Eventually, Malfoy, Longbottom, Diggory, and Weasley joined them.
The next generation of the Knights of Walpurgis they were called. Bringing modernization with them to the Wizarding World.
Tom did travel for some time, learning magicks that he was itching to show Hadrian.
It always was a blow to his heart when he remembered he couldn't.
In 1966, Tom was elected Minister of Magic of Wizarding Britain with an overwhelming majority against his opponent.
Four years later, he was re-elected. Knowing he would be Minister for the rest of his life, or at least the life the people thought he lived. Thankfully, there wasn't a law against how long a Minister could stay in office in the Wizarding World, and people were still ridiculously happy that Tom had stopped Grindelwald and Dumbledore.
The British Wizarding world was also already so much more than it had been in Hadrian's original timeline. Muggle-born, sorry Squib descendants- Wixen were introduced as soon as they had their first accidental magic. A nifty spell Tom had invented with Alexander. Their homes were monitored, and their safety was ensured. Tom didn't want any children to have a childhood like he and Hadrian had.
The Next-gen Knights had also established an elementary school. Accessible to every magical child, even creature children. The school taught the children languages and maths, as well as how to write properly with a quill and how to prepare your potion ingredients. They were also taught simple wand movements with sticks so they could get a heavier course load at Hogwarts as soon as they reached the age of eleven.
Tom, in the meantime, watched his friends closely. Seeing how they aged and how they looked.
Because he wasn't aging. At first, he thought it was because of the Horcrux, but something told him it had more to do with the cloak, stone, and wand he had under the heaviest wards of the British Wizarding World.
Death had not been forthcoming to him as he had to Hadrian. Which Tom could understand, but a simple explanation would suffice!
Tom started wearing a glamor after his thirtieth birthday because he wasn't aging. Not at all, and Hadrian had hinted that he couldn't die, but if Tom didn't age at all, it would look too suspicious. That's why Tom started to wear a glamor. Aging himself, creating rimples and greying hair.
Tom hated it. Because every time he put on his glamor, he could see how long it had been since Hadrian.
Hadrian would never see how much he had done in the Wizarding World. His Hadrian would never know how much Tom had done for him .
His heart ached. And even if he got offers to warm his bed every other week, he didn't want those witches or wizards. He still only wanted his Hadrian.
And he would never get him again.
Tom was thinking about resigning as Minister of Magic after this timeline Hadrian had left Hogwarts. He did not want to encounter this timeline's version of his soulmate. Seeing his little lion in Auror robes, wanting to step in his father's footsteps.
No . Tom couldn't stomach it.
Time unfortunately slipped away from Tom. Thankfully, his friends stayed by his side and informed him about happenings he desperately wanted to know but didn't want to ask for.
''James has been sorted into Gryffindor!''
''According to Slughorn, Severus Snape-Prince is a genius with potions. Slughorn says he could be the youngest Potion master ever!''
''Lily Evans has beaten your OWL record on Charms, Tom.''
''-And Barty Crouch Jr. has gotten twelve OWL's, very clever boy, unfortunate that his father is a dick.''
''McGonagall has been hinting that Remus Lupin is a very clever lad. She wants him to get his Defense Mastery. Yes, he's the werewolf.''
''Sirius ran away from home. I don't know what Orion had been thinking marrying my hag of a sister! I have demanded from Grandfather Arcturus that he can stay with me, and I'll take Regulus away too if I even see one bruise!''
''Fleamont has gotten Dragon Pox, I'm afraid he won't make it to James's 18th birthday. What if he infects Effie too?''
''James and Lily are going to be married.''
Tom's senses sharpened. ''How old are they now?'' Tom couldn't help but ask Charlus. Of course, his mind went to Hadrian. Have they changed the timeline? Will Hadrian even be born? Hadrian seemed to have been of the mind that his parents had married because of the war. But that is not a problem now.
What if Hadrian wouldn't even be born? What if he was born at the wrong time?
What if- What if - What if-?
''Nineteen. Euphemia thinks they are too young, but nothing seems to be stopping them. James has been waxing poetry about her since eleven, so it shouldn't even surprise her.'' Charlus snorted.
''So you think-?'' Tom let the sentence stop there, hoping Charlus would fill in the blanks himself.
Charlus gave him a soft smile. ''As soon as my ears reach the news of a baby, you'll know.''
Tom's face hardened.
''He won't be the same.''
Charlus sighed, knowing Tom was right. And that Tom would never take advantage of Hadrian.
''No. No, he will not.''
Harry's life;
Harry James Potter was born on July 31, 1980. His parents are James Fleamont Potter, and Lily Potter née Evans. They were very happy to welcome him into their lives.
Even if they were still a bit young. They didn't think they would ever regret being parents to the little wonder in their arms.
Lily had tried to introduce Harry to her sister, but it hadn't ended well. Petunia didn't want anything to do with the freaks, as she called her sister and nephew.
But, Harry had other people in his life, and he didn't need his blood aunt.
Because Harry had his grandmother; Euphemia Potter née Chopra - she had almost died of Dragon Pox like grandfather Fleamont, but his brother, great Uncle Charlie had taken her to safety.
He had his godfathers; Sirius Orion Black and Remus Lupin.
He had his godmothers; Alice Longbottom née Fortesque and Marlene McKinnon.
He had his great uncle and aunt; Charlus Potter and Dorea Potter née Black.
Harry had his mom's best friend, Severus Snape, and his godfather's brother, Regulus Arcturus Black.
He also had all his parents and other friends that came by. It was rare that the Potter home was empty. And Harry reveled in the attention.
Even if he needed to share that attention just a year and a half later with his baby sister, Rose Euphemia Potter.
It didn't matter because he loved his big family! Even his screeching sister.
Harry was six years old the first time he saw Minister Slytherin, and he gaped at him.
''Oh,'' He said breathlessly. The Minister towered over him, and a small smile played around his lips. ''You're beautiful.'' Harry breathed out.
The Minister froze, his eyes wide before he swallowed heavily and nodded at Harry. ''Thank you, Mr. Potter,''
Harry scrunched up his nose. ''My name is Harry, not Mr. Potter, that's daddy's name, or so Auntie Minnie calls him,'' Harry nodded seriously. Minister Slytherin seemed to be holding back a laugh at that.
Harry felt brave and grabbed Minister Slytherin's hand. ''I am going to marry you, you are pretty, and nice, mommy always tells me your story, it's my favorite!'' Harry babbled happily to the Minister.
Harry stared up, up, up straight into those blue eyes, and he smiled. He was going to be the best husband to the Minister, he just knew it!
''Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry, Minister, Harry loves the stories that have been written about you, I will tak-'' Harry's mommy started, but the Minister held up his hand, stopping her rambling.
''It's quite alright,'' Then the Minister sat down on one knee, and he was still taller than Harry, but Harry would grow! He would! Mommy and Daddy said so. It doesn't matter that Uncle Padfoot always teased him that he was the smallest, and it wasn't even true! Rose was the smallest because she was just a baby!
''Harry, I am honored that you would want to marry me,'' The Minister said, and Harry beamed at him but felt a little shy when the man was so close.
''But my heart belongs to someone else, someone that isn't here anymore, do you understand?'' The Minister said, and Harry nodded while looking at the floor.
''Your little lion?'' He asked, looking at the Minister through his eyelashes.
The Minister only nodded before standing back up again. Harry wasn't sure, but he thought that the man maybe had hurt his knee because he looked as if he was in pain.
Harry was almost bouncing in place, it was almost his turn to be sorted! He didn't know which house he would be in, but he knew his parents would be fine with anything.
His mother and father had been in Gryffindor, even if his mother had confessed that she was almost sorted into Slytherin, but Uncle Regulus had been in Slytherin, and he's Harry's favorite Uncle, even if Uncle Padfoot doesn't know that and would die of embarrassment, and Uncle Severus is a bit scary, but he's the best potion master that has ever existed, and he's from Slytherin too!
Harry does think Theo maybe will go to Ravenclaw, but Draco will go to Slytherin, and Neville to Gryffindor, and the Squib descendant Witch he met on the train, Hermione Granger, will probably go to Ravenclaw because she is crazy smart. He liked her, he didn't know why, but he felt a bit of a pull towards her.
The Weasley twins are in Gryffindor, too, and he likes their pranks, but he thinks Ron will go there, and he doesn't like Ron. He gets a bad feeling every time his parents bring him and Rose over to the Weasley house to play. Well, a bad feeling because of Ron and a bit for Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, but that is just weird because she is just a baby, well, in Harry's eyes she is just a baby, because she is the same age as Rose. Even if he does like Luna, who is the same age as well. She sometimes is a bit weird, but nice weird, not weird weird.
So every time he went over to the Weasley's he spent most of his time playing with the twins- he's proud to say he knows which one is Fred and which one George, but according to Mom it's because he is sensitive to some magicks. Or something like that.
Not that it will matter because the hat will sort them! Harry looks at the Professor's table just checking if he can wave at Uncle Moony- and sees, to his astonishment, that the Minister is right there next to the Headmistress!
Something inside Harry twinges in sadness, but he doesn't know why.
''Potter, Harry!'' Professor McGonagall calls, shaking Harry out of his thoughts. He takes a deep breath before stepping forward.
His eyes meet the Minister, and he ducks his head with a blush before the hat is put on his small head.
'It's been a long time, my friend,'
Harry frowns in confusion, 'sorry, sir, but I don't know who you are,'
The hat chuckles, ' no , I gather you don't, but you will,'
Before Harry can really think of what that means, the hat speaks again and laughs. 'let's see where you fit best. Ah, yes! This is good, very good! Slytherin it is!'
Harry is running to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, he may be a bit late, but it was not his fault!
George distracted him while Fred tried to prank him. Thankfully, he has grown up with the Marauders; no way he will be caught unawares. His father will never forgive him!
Now, they were both stuck to the wall on the sixth floor, and Harry needed to get out of dodge if he wanted to escape punishment from Uncle Sev. The man may be his Head of House, but he had made it very clear that he or Draco on that hand, would not get special treatment.
Just when he reached the second floor, he heard someone cry and froze in his tracks.
He looked around him but couldn't find where the crying was coming from for a moment. Harry looked around before getting out the Maurauder's map and activating it. It was an updated version, since his father and Uncle Padfoot had lost the original in their last year at Hogwarts.
He searched for his own name and quickly spotted a hidden alcove where the name Hermione Granger was hovering. He made his way over and softly spoke.
''Hermione? Are you okay?''
They had talked some since the train ride over, but with them in different houses and not all in the same classes, they hadn't interacted much.
''Harry? W-what are you doing here?'' Hermione responded, quickly wiping her eyes as if Harry didn't recognize a girl in tears.
''Oh, I was late to the feast, so I took a shortcut, and then I heard you. Are you alright?''
She started nodding before quickly shaking her head no. New tears brimming in her eyes.
''Do you think I'm a know-it-all?'' She asked in a small voice. Harry snorted and quickly explained before Hermione could take it the wrong way.
''A bit, but that's not bad, my mom is a bit of a know-it-all, too. And Barty- that's a friend of my Uncle, is almost as smart as you, I think, and he can be a bit much sometimes, but he means well, or so Uncle Reggie says.'' He muses and loses his train of thought for a moment before shaking his head and looking at Hermione.
''But you mean well, right? You aren't lording it over anyone that you are smarter, you just are, and that's okay.''
She is shaking her head and takes a shuddering breath. ''I just wanted to help, but Ronald didn't like that, and said I was a know-it-all without friends.''
Oh, she is almost crying again, Harry really doesn't like that.
He throws his arm around her shoulder. ''Well, that shows what he knows, doesn't it?''
Hermione is wiping her eyes again. ''What do you mean?''
''About you having no friends, I am your friend.''
She looks at him with hope in her eyes, and he feels wholly unprepared for the hug she gives him. ''Really?''
''Really, really!'' He responds with a hug of his own.
She giggles, and together, they make their way to the Great Hall, Harry shoots a glare at Ron Weasley as soon as they walk through the doors arms entwined. He guides Hermione to the Slytherin table and grabs Theo Nott from the Ravenclaw table.
If Harry has something to say about it, Hermione would never ever be without friends again.
Harry Potter, seventeen years old, is mortified, embarrassed, and all other things! Here he was, snogging his boyfriend during a party of his parents when the freaking Minister of Magic walked in on them!
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, feeling a pang of sadness shoot through him while looking at Lord Slytherin. He always felt the same when looking at the man, which was just a shame because the man was hot like burning, even with his hair greying and the wrinkles around his eyes becoming more pronounced with the years.
But Harry could admit that he was way too old. He was just as old as his great uncle, for Merlin's sake!
''I'm so sorry, Minister Slytherin, we will make our way-''
''Don't apologize Heir Potter-'' Harry must've imagined it, but it looked like the Minister glared when he turned to Draco. ''Heir Malfoy.''
''M-Minister,'' Draco stuttered. Harry couldn't wait to tease him, Draco always had a crush on the Minister, but his grandfather had drilled it in him that the Minister would not ever seek another partner.
Harry couldn't help but feel as if he was forgetting something, every time he heard or thought about the nickname for the Minister's dead lover he knew he was missing something. It also always stood out to him that his name had been erased from everything, only 'little lion' could be found. And Harry had searched everywhere. His great uncle Charlie always had described the man as a pain in the ass, but that he had balls of steel. Something that was needed when dealing with the Minister, or so Harry believed.
Harry's POV;
Harry was twenty-one when he woke up, a massive headache pounding against his skull while his eyes prickled with tears. A gasp tore out of his throat when he suddenly understood why his body and mind decided that they hated him this morning.
He remembered. He remembered everything . Oh fuck.
Flying out of bed, he got dressed and ran downstairs, not even saying hello to Rose, his sister , who just looked at him flabbergasted, which wasn't strange. Harry wasn't known for getting out of bed this early in the morning on the weekends.
He barged into the kitchen where his mother- oh Godric. He had been raised by his mother! - not in a cupboard under the stairs - before he could think of asking what he wanted to ask, he ran to her and hugged her tight against him.
''Are you alright, honey?'' his mother's voice asked, sounding concerned.
Harry just nodded while trying to keep the tears at bay, he towered over her- getting enough nutrition and light had been great for his stature. Merlin.. He looked entirely different than when he had last seen Tom.
TOM!
''What's is Minister Slytherin's floo address?'' He asked hurriedly when he pulled back. His mother frowned at him at the strange question.
Yeah, maybe he should think this through-
Ah. Nope, he needed to see Tom right now!
''Why on earth would you want the Minister's floo address? It's nine am on a Sunday.'' She deadpanned with a raised brow.
''Please, mom, please, I need to speak with him right now.'' He was desperate, he needed to get to Tom. He couldn't wait. Not when Tom had waited for him, for more than sixty years the man had waited. Holy shit, Tom loved him.
Oh fuck. Tom loved him.
And Harry loved him back.
He was stunned for a moment before suddenly knowing what to do. His mother, oh Salazar, he will never get over that, was asking questions and trying to get his temperature as if he was sick.
He couldn't explain it now, he needed to go.
''Mipsy!'' He called, ignoring his mother for a moment.
A pop was heard, and his own house elf, old to the bone, was in front of him.
''Is that a house elf?'' Rose asked from the doorway with a frown. They never had any house elves in their house, so it was a strange thing to suddenly have.
''Master Peverell called?'' She asked with tears in her eyes. Harry fell on his knees and hugged the little house elf to him. ''Is he at home? Our home?'' He whispered, and he felt the old house elf nodding.
''Thank you, Mipsy, go rest,'' He said before turning to his mother.
''What is happening?'' Lily asked slowly, trying to understand why that elf called her son Master Peverell of all things.
''I'll explain, but on a later date, I - I need to go see him first, I'm sorry mom,'' He said quickly before he ran out of the door to the apparation spot.
''HARRY JAMES POTTER! YOU BETTER EXPLAIN WHEN YOU'RE BACK!'' His mother yelled after him, and he let out a delightful laugh.
''I WILL!''
A loud crack, and there he was- standing in front of their home. He breathed out, feeling just at home as the house he grew up in this time around.
He couldn't wait any longer. He ran to the door.
Tom's POV;
Tom was working in his study when pounding on his door sounded, he had felt the wards ping, but Sunday was his day off for Salazar's sake, he refused to have visitors on his day off!
He ignored the pounding, but it stayed insistent. ''Mipsy!'' He called, wanting to get rid of the intrusion. He didn't care if the Ministry itself was burning, he refused to go to work.
His secretary, and wasn't she a freaking delight, would let him know if it was truly dire. He knew that if she had remembered their time together, she would have hexed him, but alas, thankfully, she was amazing as his secretary. He had been hounded by dozens of owls as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts, asking for a chance and coming up with so many ideas for the Wizarding World, that Tom hadn't had another choice then to hire her on the spot. No, he will never regret hiring Hermione Granger as his secretary.
''Mipsy?'' He called again, confused as to why his elf wasn't responding.
She was getting old; he couldn't help but think before sighing. He was getting a headache from the pounding on the door. He decided he would curse the intruder and go back to his tinkering.
The pounding was still going on, and he couldn't help but think that his door was going to be damaged if the rude asshole didn't stop.
''What do you think you-'' His words faltered when he saw a disheveled Harry James Potter on his doorstep. The young man was breathing hard, and even if he looked a bit different from Hadrian, he couldn't help but admire the beauty of him.
''Mr. Potter, can I help you?'' He said, trying to regain his composure.
The younger man was silent momentarily, just staring at Tom, and Tom could almost feel those eyes bore into his. The words that tumbled out of Harry's mouth left his throat dryer than dust.
''I remember,''
Tom almost didn't dare get his hopes up. How could he? ''You remember?'' He swallowed, almost afraid to have the answer to his next question. ''What exactly do you remember, Mr. Potter?''
''Everything-'' His green Avada eyes seemed to glow at that moment before they started tearing up. ''I remember everything, Tom! And fuck- I'm so fucking proud of you, you gave me my parents, you gave me a childhood, you gave me EVERYTHING,'' He was almost shouting, and Tom's heart was pounding, he had so many hardships in the last sixty years, he had waited and waited and waited some more. And now, now he was rewarded.
''Hadrian?'' Tom whispered, afraid that this was all an elaborate dream, but his little lion laughed while rubbing the tears from his face. ''I hate you,'' He said, and Tom laughed.
He laughed so hard that he almost couldn't catch his breath before responding sincerely, more sincere than he ever had been. ''I hate you too, but I love you more,''
He reveled in Hadrian's gasp before lips descended on his.
Tom didn't hold back anymore and kissed Hadrian with everything he had. Desperation is clawing inside him. It has been so long since he had held his Hadrian. His grip turns bruising on Hadrian, and he can't decide where he needs to touch Hadrian more, just that they need to touch, and that he doesn't want to stop. Tears are rolling down his cheeks even if he will deny it till his dying day. ''I missed you so much.'' He whispers in between kisses as if it's a secret.
''I didn't even know you were the one I was missing all these years,'' Hadrian replies desperately.
For a blissful moment, he let Hadrian take control before pushing Hadrian back a bit. ''What? What's wrong?'' Hadrian asks while frowning.
Tom brushed his hands through Hadrian's wild mane of curls before dropping the glamour he had been wearing since he noticed he wasn't aging.
Hadrian gasped and put his hands softly on Tom's cheeks. ''How?'' He wondered aloud.
Tom rolled his eyes. ''You, you sneaky Slytindor-'' Hadrian still looked at him with a confused expression. So Tom explained. ''I was wearing the cloak, the Gaunt ring, and you gave me your wand. Death visited me instantly after you disappeared from the battlefield-'' Tom marveled for a moment at the softness of Hadrian's curls before a small snort pulled him out of it. ''-He told me that I was tasked to take care of the title until his true master could return. The sneaky bastard clearly knew that you would return, eventually.''
''Oh, Godric. I- What does this mean?'' Hadrian asked, feeling confused and out of his depth.
Tom cradled his face. ''Does it matter?''
Avada Green eyes almost twinkled at him. ''Not right now. Now it matters why we're still in clothes.''
Tom let out another laugh, he couldn't help it. His soul has returned to him.
His Hadrian was back in his arms.
And he would never let him go.
Much, much, later, they were lying in bed, satisfied for the moment but unwilling to let the other one go.
''I can't believe I dated Draco,'' Harry says with a shudder, making Tom grumble against his collarbone. ''I can't believe I saw it and still let the little shit live.''
The End.
I just want to thank everyone who has read this story!
I was thinking of adding a bit of Hermione's POV, but in the end I didn't want to take anything away from Tom and Harry.
But my notes on this were the following:
Hermione does get her memories back, a lot sooner than Harry. This because she died at a younger age. Unfortunately, Alphard isn't alive anymore, so she can only talk to him through a portrait. But she does hear a lot of stories eventually from Sirius and Regulus, who had been taken in by Alphard when their mother became unstable.
She knows about the past when she applies to the Minister's application for an secretary. And loves to work for Tom. She can see how much it pains him, because he remembers all their past banter, but she is adamant not to reveal anything to him that she remembers, because what if Harry doesn't? She would only give him false hope.
Hermione is close to Harry in this life too, they are best friends, even if they don't share that desperate sibling bond they had in their past life. But she is sure, that if Harry remembers, they will bond like that again.
Again thank you all so much for reading, following, and the lovely comments! I love you all!
xxMBlack93