Disclaimer: nope, nope, and... nope! still don't own never will T.T

~o~

Eyes Closed Tightly

Chapter 14

Flashing lights, and loud voice screamed at him, asking him questions, and babbling nonsense, Sirius and Remus holding his hands, and ushering him quickly to a squad car. Harry breathed in and out, having to concentrate his every thought on just doing that. He was still in shock even as a blond, red lipped painted woman yelled out to him her talon like hand trying to snatch his arm. Sirius blocked her, letting Harry's hand go; knowing Remus would get him to safety.

The voice muffled as the car door slammed shut, Harry put his hands to his ears and shuffled down in his seat. He tried to block out everything; closing his eyes he let out a small whimper.

The feeling of a hand rubbing his back sent him back into hysterics. Doubling over Harry tried to remember how to breathe, Remus gently coaching him all over again, his smooth voice helping Harry calm down.

Just when he got himself back together Sirius jumped into the driver seat dangling the keys.

"Guess I'm driving." Remus scowled quipping out loud.

"No reckless driving we have a kid in the car." Both looked at each other baiting the other, then shared an amused –but small- smile. Then they were off, and Harry continued to breath.

~o~

"Rita Skeeter here, reporting live for Daily Profits News. I am here at Wilkinson's warehouse, were it is said ten-year-old Harry Potter has been found. There is no news as to rather or not Voldemort has been apprehended. And we are now waiting to catch sight of our darling Harry, the only known person to live an encounter from Voldemort. Little is known and details at best are sketchy." Glancing to the side Rita could here the commotion; she looked back to the cameraman. "It looks like Harry has emerged." She pushed her way though the crowd egging the cameraman on just as she got to Harry she tried to reach him.

A tall hansom man stopped her. Sirius gave her the evil eye snapping at her that Harry was not talking. Then he was gone leaving a bewildered reporter behind, she shakily turned looking into the camera. Gathering her wits she closed the segment quickly.

"As you can see Harry is safe and sound, let us all breath a sigh of relief. We may not have all the answers we want. But we have one young life saved. This is Rita Skeeter signing off for Daily Profits channel 8 news."

~O~

He sat in the chair, his arms crossed and his legs dangling beneath him. Across from him was a sour looking man, with shoulder length greasy black hair, a hooked nose and dark black eyes. He was seated behind a desk his arms propped up on the wood and threaded together, as he assessed him. Harry kept his glance just to the side of the man and let out another huff of air.

"Mister Potter, I am Severus Snape. I will be your psychiatrist." Severus watched as Harry slid down in his chair and turned his head to the side. "Do you know why you are here Mister Potter?" He watched Harry huff then snap his mouth shut pretending he hadn't heard a word he had said.

Not one to be detoured Severus placed his hands down on the desk and leaned forward his dark features watching Harry's every move. "You are here, due to your lack of communication, and but of course your unfortunate encounter with Voldemort." He saw the small flinch, narrowing his eyes Snape leaned back. "Do you have anything to say Mister Potter?" There was a long pause then slowly Harry turned looking at Snape his green eyes wide.

"I miss him."

"I take it you are referring Voldemort?" Harry shook his head and gripped the chairs arms.

"No I miss Tom."

"Is there a difference between Tom and Voldemort?" Severus watched Harry giving the now 11 year old the time to process the question.

"Yes, I never really knew Voldemort, I only knew Tom." Harry pressed his hands into the hard wood of the arms chair then relaxed.

"Are they not one and the same?" shaking his head Harry pouted. "I see, and how are they different?"

"Tom, Tom cares." His hand rose clutching at a pendent of a sliver snake with red eyes. Harry looked at Severus making eye contact. His fingers playing with the pendent. "I only ever got to know Tom. I may have met Voldemort; but when he was with me he was just Tom."

"And Tom cared?"

"Yes." Harry glared at Snape pausing in his tinkering with the necklace.

"How do you know he cared?" there wasn't even a pause.

"Because he saved me."

~O~

It was one month after the incident, and a week before Harry started seeing Severus Snape. It was also Harry's 11th birthday. Sirius and Remus stood on the front porch of Harry's foster parents home. Remus holding the small gift for said birthday boy. It wasn't anything big just a sketchbook and some art utensils. As it turns out Harry loved to draw. This little tidbit was given to them by Harry's foster parents; exclaiming that he had an amazing imagination. Thus leading them into getting the small boy the gift.

Remus and Sirius knew that by the end of the case, which was still open, they would still keep contact with the small boy. They had raked the body of water Voldemort had jumped into, and found nothing. Of course some thought that the murderer had just been carried down stream and lost somewhere, but most likely dead. Others thought he could be walking among them. Due to the lack of bodies they went with the later. Sirius and Remus went with MIA.

Sirius raised his hand and knocked on the door. The pattering of feet could be heard rushing to the door, then it was open reveling a small 13-year-old girl with frizzy brown hair, she gazed up at the two and smiled.

"Hello officers please come in, we're about to start." She opened the door wide allowing the two in. Both stepped into the homey house.

"Hello Hermione it's nice to see you again, and please it's just Remus and Sirius." Remus smiled at Hermione. The Granger's were a very nice loving family willing to help out a small troubled child. Hermione had taking a liking to Harry almost instantly, easily taking on the role of big sister.

"But you're officers of the law, it's only respectful to address you as such." Sirius grimaced, his hand patting Hermione on the head.

"Oh child you wound me, what with your formalness." He grinned down at her catching sight of her puzzled look he added. "Why I feel we're almost family with how much we see each other. But alas you only see us as officers of the law." He faked a sorrowful look; Remus shook his head, as Hermione played right into Sirius hand, apologizing as she gripped the older mans arm.

"It's alright Hermione, now where is the birthday boy?"

"Oh he's in the living room, we were just opening gifts." She led the two to a cozy looking room. Hermione's parents were sitting opposite to a quiet Harry. His green eyes wide and a shy blush covering his cheeks, as he looked at the opened gifts in front of him.

"Hi-ya Harry, Happy birthday." Bewildered eyes looks from Remus to Sirius then the gift Remus was holding out to him.

"Hello."

"Well go on, it's for you." Shyly Harry took the present and unwrapped it, smiling at the book and tools.

"I've never gotten gifts before." He looked around the room at everyone. "Thank you." He gave off a small rare smile, Hermione happily jumped up to sit next to him. It was a nice cozy setting and even if Harry was quiet Sirius and Remus knew this was a good place for him.

~o~

Harry sat on the porch, having escaped the house. Not that there was anything wrong with the Granger's, in fact he very much liked living with them. It was just, well they weren't Tom, and they didn't understand that he missed Tom. If it ever came up it was either swept under the rug, or he was told Voldemort was a bad man. Like that even helped. Hermione was the worsted for the latter.

Letting out a sigh Harry looked up and froze.

"T-tom?" sucking in a breath he jumped up and ran down the steps and path, throwing open the gate he went to run out on the road but skidded to a stop as a car drove by. When it was gone he was on the other side as fast of he could. He looked left then right, his eyes straining to see what he had hoped he had seen. A small frown set on his face, then arms wrapped around him from behind dragging him backwards. Harry let out a squeak and struggles against the hold. He heard a hiss as he hit the person's shoulder, then a smooth even voice calmly said.

"Hush Harry." His breath caught and tears flooded his eyes.

"Tom." His voice shook the arms holding him tightened; he felt Tom nuzzled the side of his face the tears fell, a feeling of relief filling Harry. "I thought you died." Tom gentle kissed the side of Harry's face.

"Hush child, dry your tears I'm fine." Harry went to turn but Tom stopped him. "No Harry, not yet." Harry frowned his hand coming up to rest on Tom's arms.

"Your not taking me with you, are you?" the arms tightened holding Harry close. Harry held his breath waiting for Tom to tell him he was wrong.

"No, it's to dangerous right now." Harry gripped Tom's arms letting out a small sob. Tom cuddled Harry. "Come now no crying, you've done that more then enough now." Harry hiccuped clutching at Tom.

"But, but you don't want me now." Tom flinched, then in whirlwind Harry was spun around to face Tom hands cupping his flushed face.

"Never say that again. Don't even think it." Tom's eyes were narrowed, Harry let out another sob. "I will always want you, but if I took you now, they would just come after us. And I don't know if we will be so lucky next time."

"But-"

"No buts' Harry, you know I'm right. This hurts me as much as it dose you. But it's for the better. And one day when everything settles I'll come for you." He wiped at Harry's tears.

"Will you really come back for me?" Tom smiles at him.

"Yes." Harry jumps at Tom his arms wrapped around the taller ravens neck.

"I'll miss you, I'll miss you so much." Tom's own arms wrap around him.

"I know I'll miss you too." They held one another both longing for it never to end. But knowing they were running out of time, soon someone would check up on Harry, and Tom had to be gone by then. Tom pulled back and looked into Harry's bright green eyes.

"I have a gift for you." He unwrapped him self from Harry to pull out something from his coat pocket. Holding it up he showed Harry a necklace. A silver snake pendent with red eyes dangled from the chain. Harry looked at it in awe. Then looking to Tom he tilted his head. Tom reached out and around Harry's head he clasped the necklace together and then pulled away. Harry was looking down his one hand playing with the pendent. "Just something to remember me." Harry looked at Tom smiling.

"I love it, but I wont ever forget you Tom." Tom smiled leaning down to wrap Harry in another hug. "Besides I'll be waiting for you to come get me." The arms tightened around Harry. "Don't you forget me."

"Silly child, you're to far ingrained in my mind to forget." Harry smiled into Tom shoulder clutching the older man to him, and taking in his scent.

"I love you Tom." He felt the change; Tom gripped him just a little tighter, his hands clenching him and Tom whispered to him.

"And I you." Then he was pulling away his hand sliding to Harry's face, fingers sliding against his cheek and tucking a piece of Harry's hair behind his ear. "I'll be back for you." Harry leaned into the touch, even as Tom stood his hand sliding away.

"I'll be waiting." And then Tom was gone.

~o~

Tom hated leaving Harry, but he knew that where he was, was a good place. If that ever changed he wouldn't hesitate to take Harry, no matter what the danger or outcome would be. But for now he had to lay low, bide his time and wait.

He was patient he could do that. Besides he would always be watching. Tom took one last look at Harry seeing him run across the street back to the house, where a small bossy looking girl was babbling to the younger boy. Letting out a sigh Tom turned and continued walking his one hand rubbing at his mostly healed shoulder.

As long as Harry was waiting, he could wait. Putting his hands in his pockets Tom walk down the street going un-noticed by everyone.

~o~

END.

and that's the end of ECT it was a good ride, I hope I didn't disappoint anyone. And Tom's ALIVE! woot. also I know it's open ended, I don't know if I'll write a sequel I kind of want to run around with other ideas first before I decide. so for now thats all there is, if I change my mind I'll let you all know.

Sorry for spelling/ grammar I still suck at it.

thanks for all the support may they be from faves, alerts or reviews. I love you all, you really do blow me away and I can't thank you enough.

love you

sheetamoon