Thank you for the review and Krysania-san for betaing this story!

Enjoy!

The research consumed so much of Tom's time that without realizing it, the Christmas holiday was long gone, and they were already in the middle of the second semester. Tom had yet to meet Harry since that day, each avoiding the other. Tom's research was getting along well, and it was the last week of the year that Tom finally found the library.

He took the tomes from the Chamber of Secret with him, careful to not wake the basilisk up. The older teenager spent his holiday working and researching, almost ignoring his own homework. When he finally get the gist of what Salazar was explaining in the old English tomes, Tom started to feel confident that maybe he could make some kind of potion for Harry's asthma problems.

It was then he realized that even if he could make the potion, it would be useless if he couldn't give it to Harry. And thus, he tried to find Harry in the midst of the sea of people in the Hogwarts express by the start of next Hogwarts semester. He managed to find Harry inside a compartment with the Marauders, but he was stopped by James and Sirius. When Tom tried to explain why he needed to talk to Harry, the boy perked and stood up.

"James, Siri, it's alright. I can handle this."

"But Harry…" James whined. "He was a royal asshole to you!"

Harry shook his head. James pouted, but he let his little brother followed Tom to the outside of the compartment. Tom was glad that he could speak to Harry now, yet when he realized how unprepared he had been. He had not yet thought what to say, or how to carefully mend back the torn relationship between the two of them.

"What do you want, Riddle?" Harry asked coldly.

The cold tone shocked Tom. Tom watched the other boy. Harry has grown a bit, and although he was still rather girly, but he was not as effeminate as he used to as a first year. Harry seemed to notice Tom's way of thinking, as the boy stood even prouder.

"I trained myself in the holiday. I know I still look like a girl, but I am not weak. You can't use and dump me anymore, Riddle."

"…Call me Tom, please."

"Why should I? Wasn't you the one who think that we have no more friendship left between us?"

Tom apologized and grovelled, using his charm to talk Harry out of his anger and betrayal. But Harry wasn't moved at all, and the smaller boy politely asked Tom to go away. Tom knew when he was dismissed, so he left, promising himself that he would make that right.

And making it right he did. For the whole year he tried to gain Harry's trust again and again. He started to follow the smaller boy and with his current standing as a prefect, he has a perfectly good reasoning to follow Harry without being branded as stalker. Especially Harry's health wasn't great at all, and many times Harry suddenly had asthma attacks and it was only because Tom's quick response Harry got the immediate appropriate treatment.

Slowly Harry melted, and he started to talk to Tom again. And it was then Tom honestly told Harry what happened back then, why he was so scared when he saw how Harry was lying on the bed, almost dying, leaving him just like his mother and his nursemaid. Harry didn't really accept the answer, but he forgave Tom. He also pointed out that Tom was a selfish bastard who thought for himself and himself only.

Harry pointed out to Tom how the older student was a cold hearted idol who used people and never actually think about others. Tom knew that Harry was right, although Harry didn't know the whole sides of the story. But Tom kept his side quiet, and promised Harry he would try to change.

The smaller boy felt like he had accomplished something when Tom changed into a more caring person. He became easier to reach and helpful, in not time becoming the true idol of Hogwarts. Whenever he went, people would flock, and then the girls started giggle around him, the boys started to became too friendly around him. Tom tried his best to help others that his time was severely limited and he was unable to carry on with his research. But Tom endured it, for Harry's sake. However his fatigue was noticed by most of his Slytherin classmates.

Harry was caught off guard when suddenly Tom's house mates came to him and ordered him to stop interfering with Tom Riddle. Tom was the mascot and pride of the Slytherin house, but ever since he started to follow Harry that year, Tom's marks slowly slipping down. Tom seemed to unable to concentrate to his study, and forcing himself to change from his old way.

The Slytherins then explained to Harry (Albeit not in very nice way) how different Slytherin was to the rest of the school. Tom becoming sensitive and caring was the worst thing that could happen, because it made him vulnerable to his rivals and backstabbers. And Tom actually hated attention, so being the centre of attention tortured Tom so much.

Harry was shaken after the encounter, and he didn't tell anyone about it. He in turn started to notice and paid more attention to Tom, and he saw how true it was—how the crowd were two edge swords to Tom—and how Tom himself was uncomfortable in the middle of the crowd attention. Tom was a natural charmer, and so attention would automatically follow him. And Tom being cold and stoic was some kind of defensive mechanism to support his lonely presence. Now, when Tom trying to be charming and sincere at the same time; the older boy clearly struggled to manage everything, and in turn, ignored his own needs. If he continued, Tom would explode.

It embarrassed the boy. Harry just realized how he had hurt Tom by trying to change him. Tom was good in his own way, and Harry should have support Tom instead of trying to change him. Tom was kind in his own way, but while trying to be 'caring' and 'sensitive' just like Harry had advised him, the whole system changed and it tired Tom too much. Feeling even guiltier, Harry apologized to Tom in one of their study session together, asking Tom to return to just what he was.

Tom didn't realize he was very tired and pressured until Harry's words slowly sinking in. He was afraid that he would lose the boy's affection if he didn't follow Harry's advice, and he tried to change himself so much. He forgot why he became like that in the first place. The peer pressure and politics that he had managed to keep in control was crumbling while trying to change himself. So when Harry apologized, Tom lashed out, taking it out on Harry.

Harry, on his side, felt that he deserved such anger. So he waited and accepted all of Tom's anger, until the older boy finally calm enough to reason his words.

"I am so sorry, Tom."

"Me too, Harry. I am sorry. I am the older one, so I should have done better."

"This doesn't concern age." Harry shook his head. "This is life, and we grow with this. I need to thank you because you had shown me first that I was too naïve. And now you also shown me how conceited I am, thinking that everything that came out from my mind is the truth. No. opinion is not the truth. I was too fast making a conclusion before considering your feelings and situation too, Tom. I am sorry."

Tom laughed. "You are only a second year, yet you talk like an old man. Is that because of all the books you had been diligently reading?"

Harry blushed. "Shut up."

"I need to apologize and thank you too, Harry." Tom suddenly became serious. "It is my fault to vent my fear on you, and my cowardice hurt you so much. And it seemed I still have the stupid need to be accepted by people who matters to me—enough to change myself. It is stupid, really. I need to thank you too, for being my… friend." Tom blushed before continuing.

"I never really had friends before. I thought you would be just like another student in Hogwarts—liking my charm but would hate me when you know the rumours and gossips around me. So I was honestly surprised when you still treated me like you did in the train. And it soothed me, it really did."

Harry smiled. "Well, then, we are friends now?"

"Maybe… well, yes." Tom nodded, embarrassed and looking for a way out of the mortifying conversation. "Now, I have a lot of work to catch up on, and you have History of Magic to work on. No more talking, yeah?"

"Yeah." Harry smiled and unconsciously patted Tom's hand. Tom was surprised, but he said nothing. The touch felt good.

Two quick years went by
They were side by side
And without a plan, they conceived a little child
He said women I love you and this you know
But I only have enough for our food and clothes
But I love you and this baby
Until the day that I die
She said we'll take care of this little life
And we'll fall in love with her baby blue eyes
And we'll be alright from some advice that I know

"Tom!" Harry entered the Owl Emporium and smiled at his special friend. The young man he greeted turned back and smiled at Harry. Harry felt his chest stopped beating for a second. Tom looked good, even with the hideously discoloured leather shop uniform stained with animal's secretion and scratching mark.

"How did you find me?" Tom asked as he put down the scrub he had been using to wash the endless snake tanks. The snakes were hissing around him, complaining about every other thing under the sky, but they let Tom cleaned their tanks because they knew Tom. And ever since the owner of the magical pet shop knew about Tom's charm with snake (but nobody knew about Tom's Parselmouth ability), Tom became the most favoured worker in his shop as snake carer specialist.

"I asked Mr. Flourish from the bookshop." Harry blushed, admitting he had been searching for his boy friend (they still have space in between the word boy and friend, much to Harry's dismay. But he knew better than to push it. After all, he didn't want to condemn Tom to sadness of losing him. Harry knew his time was near…). Harry had been looking forward for the day, where he could meet Tom in the Diagon Alley. He missed Tom so much, and since Tom had graduated last year, their meeting chance would be severely limited.

"Oh?" Tom nodded and took off his gloves. He walked towards Harry, but stopped midway. "Sorry, Harry, but I think I stink now. Those tanks were so badly in need of cleaning service. Nobody dared to clean them these days, and they always made me do it. And I don't want you to have another asthma attack."

"You charmer, even snakes love you." Harry smirked. "It's alright, Tom. I don't mind the smell and I feel great today. By the way… I am thinking of maybe adopting a pet. Can you… help me choose?"

Tom raised one of his eyebrows and smirked. "Pet, Harry? Can you take care of it when you can't even take good care of yourself?"

Harry scowled. "I so can take care of myself!"

Tom exaggeratedly sighed, shrugging. "I don't know how you would survive without me this year."

Harry pretended to be insulted and looked away, starting to inspect the animals inside the shop. There were some kneazles, rats, frogs, snakes and owls. Harry was watching the rats in concentration when Tom suddenly stood behind him and whispered in his ear.

"Owl would be good, so you can send letters easier."

Harry felt his cheek became hot, but he nodded. He knew what Tom wanted. Tom wanted him to get the owl so that they could exchange letters more often since they couldn't meet much. It was the practical thing to do.

Tom and Harry ended up spending half an hour choosing between the sizes and colours of the owls there, ending up with a medium sized grey owl with big eyes and flat face, as if it has no nose. Harry felt it was perfect and Tom used his employee discount to help Harry bought it.

"What should we name him?" Harry asked as he scratched the owl's head. The owl nipped Harry's finger, the sassy little thing.

"Well, since it's yours, you should name it." Tom smiled.

"How about we name him Tommy?" Harry smirked.

"No." Tom scowled and retaliated. "Why not Harriet?"

"You dare…?" Harry fumed.

"Hey hey, calm down. How about Lord Voldemort?" Tom smirked. "I saw the name in one of the French book and the meaning is flight from death."

Harry stopped breathing. Flight from death. That was what he wanted, and Tom had said it was what he wanted as well. Harry knew that his condition hasn't been better since last year's sudden drop in his health. His parents were already teary eyed when they saw him and they kept giving him whatever he wanted, as if wanting to spoil Harry as much as they could before Harry's heart stopped beating. James was having similar fear as well, but he became somewhat bipolar. Sometimes Harry's big brother would be overly attached to Harry, and other times James refused to even see Harry's face. It helped that Sirius recently has started to stay in the Potter Manor, so the Black family's White Sheep could distract his brother. It was hard to endure, but Harry knew it was nobody's fault and nobody could do anything.

"It's a nice name, but this owl…" the owl hooted and flew around their head. Harry sighed. "…Tom, she is a girl. Lord Voldemort sounds too masculine."

"Too late. She already responds to the name." Tom smiled. "Well, let me clean myself and I'll treat you Fortescue ice cream. Wait for me here. It won't take more than fifteen minutes!"

Harry smiled and nodded. "Just take your time, Tom. Don't shortcut your bath. You smell so bad."

Tom laughed and he left, turning back just for a second to watch Harry again, making sure the boy was still there. Tom clenched his fist, feeling his chest constricted. "… But you never mind my smell, did you, Harry?"

The first thing Tom said was would you like to dance?
They moved with each other and when the music got slower
He said don't let go of my hand
He said It's only polite if I ask you tonight
Would it be alright, if I could walk you home?
That night he told of of his birth
And said when it hurt
He thought about what his mother said about tea and toast"

Well he took those words
And he made them proud
He worked day after day
And hour after hour
So that they could buy a little house on the outside of town
The little girl grew up and so did they
They said that they loved each other everyday

They exchanged letters using Lord Voldemort for the first half of the year, and Tom worked his best to get into the medicine department of Eton as well as renting a small apartment by the outside of Hogsmeade so that he could meet Harry every Hogsmeade weekend for the second half of that year.

He managed to get a small apartment, and when Harry came in for the first time, Tom was ready to go on with his plan. He pampered the boy with a simple but delicious lunch, and then he turned on the muggle gramophone, starting some slow muggle song.

"Would you like to dance, Miss Harriet?"

Harry raised his eyebrows and fumed, but Tom just laughed and took the boy into his arms. Harry didn't refuse and they spent the longest time in each other arms, moving with each other and dancing slowly as the music got slower.

Both of them were enjoying it too much, but the music eventually must end. When silent fell into the room, Harry sighed; ready to let go off his hands from Tom's.

"Please don't let go." Suddenly Tom begged, grabbing Harry's hands tighter. "…Would you be my lover?"

Harry blushed prettily and smiled happily.

It was enough answer for Tom, and they spent the afternoon in each other's company, laughing and enjoying the closeness. But the day became night, and it was time for Harry to return to the castle.

"I'll walk you to Hogwarts." Tom took both of their coats and helped Harry put on his. Harry smiled.

"Oh, gentleman, much?"

"Only for my Harriet." Tom smirked and received Harry's punch on his shoulder like a man. They walked side by side, in much slower pace than normal, both refusing to be separated too soon. But none talked, and the atmosphere was too heavy.

"You know," Tom whispered. "I was an unwanted son."

Harry turned to see Tom, but the older man stared to the sky, as if trying to detach himself from whatever he was trying to say. So Harry understood perfectly Tom's need to speak but being detached, so he could only offer a squeeze on their linked hands.

"My mother died giving birth to me. My father never loved her, or me. I was the abnormality, especially with my magic and intelligence. I grew up alone inside the big manor my rich father has, until Dumbledore came and gave me my Hogwarts Letter. I was then disowned."

Silence followed them. Harry slowly brought himself closer to Tom, taking Tom's arm into his embrace. Tom was shaking.

"I used to ask myself why, you see, why he hates me when I killed mother for him."

"It's not..!" Harry retorted, but Tom shook his head.

"And I always wished for a mother, or a father. Any parent, really. I only had a nursemaid close enough to be a parent figure, but then after I asked her to be my mother, she stopped working in the manor and left to make her own family. I know it wasn't her fault, it wasn't nobody fault, but I was… well, lonely."

"You've got me now." Harry whispered.

"Yes, thank you so much." Tom smiled. "Because Hogwarts before you was something I was never looking forward to. I was a perceived muggleborn in Slytherin. I wasn't popular at all, and until I met a weird girly looking boy in the Hogwarts Express three years ago, I believed that I was ill fated to life, a lonely life."

"Hey, I am not girly." Harry weakly laughed, but he grabbed Tom's waist.

"And when things got hard, which was always, I constantly try to remember the lullaby my nursemaid sung to me back then."

"Oh, I want to hear that." Harry smiled.

"You forget the magic word." Tom returned the smile and stopped watching the sky. Harry waited as Tom stopped walking and turned to him. Harry tilted his head, and with the cutest voice he could muster, he spoke:

"Please?"

Tom laughed. "I'll write it in our letters and I can sing it for you next Hogsmeade weekend, Harry."

Harry just wanted to agree when suddenly he was hugged tightly by the taller man.

"Please don't let go of me. Please." Tom whispered, and Harry knew Tom was crying. It made Harry's heart hurt too, and suddenly he felt like crying as well.

"I'll never let you go, Tom." Harry answered. "Until the time come, I'll never let you go."

Their first kiss was a bit salty, and was also bittersweet because it was the good bye kiss for the day.

And as they're walking down the street
Her grip loosens on his hand
He puts his arm around her side as she falls to the ground
He hears her breathing and that's the only sound
Her body on the floor attracts a worried crowd
Tears rolls off his face as he says "don't let go, now"Two years went by. Tom and Harry happily continued their relationship, side by side, through the fight and the make up, and somewhere between the second New Year and Easter, they took the next step of intimacy to their relationship. Harry moaned for sore bottom for the whole day, making Tom felt guilty and served the boy as if he was Harry's personal slave. Something of which Harry milked for all its worth.

Tom studied his damn hardest in the medical school, while simultaneously working in Diagon Alley and conducting his own research to mix muggle medical science with Salazar Slytherin's healing notes. Tom proudly told Harry—as the boy sat on the sofa while patting Lord Voldemort—that he managed to formulate one new potion to cure Harry's persistent sickness, and Harry just accepted it without hoping too much. For him, watching Tom got excited while talking about medicine was more interesting.

Yet it was undeniable that Harry might not survive his sixth year. Only for a week after Hogwarts year started, Harry fainted in the middle of exchange classes between Transfigurations and Charm. He was admitted to St Mungo, unable to open his eyes and was in delirium. His family was called and they stayed vigil beside his bed. Harry was barely hanging until Tom finally managed to get there. It was then Harry Charlus Potter closed his eyes for eternity.

James felt Sirius' arms around him and was glad that Sirius decided to come with him. Sirius was practically a family member already, for the Black White sheep was disowned by his father and accepted by the Potters instead. Sirius was the only person inside the room managed to not cry too much. James' parents were devastated. Dorea Potter cried so hard until she fainted. Charlus Potter clenched Harry's cold hand as his tears dripped onto the pale cold skin. James grabbed Sirius' arm and sobbed there.

But no one remember the one handsome pale figure in front of the door, which came a bit too late, just a bit.

James was reminded of Tom's existence when the older young man suddenly came forward and took Harry's other hand.

"Don't let go now." Tom whispered. "Harry, honey, please open your eyes. Don't go."

James rubbed his eyes, trying to keep his tears off.

"Harry, come on, dear." Tom continued to call Harry with increasing volume. "Harry, don't let go now. I almost perfected the potion. Come, now. Harry? Harriet?"

"Riddle…" James called. Sirius was faster than James, as he grabbed Tom's arm to calm the man down. But Tom refused to move and kept calling Harry's name, until he was borderline shouting.

It was then Charlus Potter spoke out in broken tone. "Let him go, son. Harry is gone."

Tom looked lost, but he stopped calling Harry to come back. It was then the young man's face became paler, and Tom suddenly ran from the room, leaving the Potter and one Sirius Black.

Tom never returned.

Tom didn't know how he could reach the front door of Godric's Hollow, but he managed to reach there and knock the door. His body felt so heavy. He didn't know why he was still alive. The emptiness was still haunting him, even after all these years. He had finished the potion, and he managed to make a breakthrough in the medical field. He even got the patent and right for the potion and the money has supported his other research. Now he had his own small potion shop, which was very famous for very potent potions. Many people wanted to learn from him, but Tom refused all except one Severus Snape. Only that man was talented enough to match Tom's intellect and silent enough to suit Tom's likings.

The invitation was inevitable. Tom knew that James has wed a girl from Gryffindor named Lily last year, and when they invited him to the wedding, Tom declined. He couldn't meet any of the Potters at that moment, for he didn't want to be reminded of what he has lost. Especially it was a wedding, which Tom knew he wouldn't be able to have with Ha… Tom sighed. He still couldn't say the name properly. Even though it has been four years since the funeral. And today he came because he was invited for the blessing of the new baby of the Potter household.

The door was opened by a beaming James, but he became subdued when he saw who was behind the door. Tom tried to smile.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon. I haven't seen you for quite some time." James smiled sadly. "How are you… oh, please come inside first?"

Tom nodded and followed James, and he was asked to sit on the sofa while James went to the kitchen to bring some refreshment. James returned with a tray of tea, and Tom politely drunk what he was given.

"How are you?" James asked, looking at Tom worriedly. "I… We have yet to see you ever since the… funeral. I was expecting you last year on my wedding, but you didn't come. Are you alright?"

Tom smiled. "Thank you for your concern. I am getting along fine."

"You know, I quite hated you since you took my baby brother's heart ever since his first year." James smiled sadly. "But watching you like this, I can't decide whether I should hate you or pity you. He wouldn't want to see you like this, you know."

Tom looked away. "I am sorry, but I don't have much time. I am here to visit your little baby, can we just continue to that?"

James nodded. "Come, Harry is almost asleep. Lily is putting him to his noon nap."

"Harry?" Tom felt like he was chocked.

"Harry James Potter." James smiled. "I want Harry's legacy to live on."

Tom wanted to shout, how could he, but then the rage and the pain were subdued when he heard the soft lullaby from the nursery.

"When the skies are looking bad my dear
And your heart has lost all it's hope
After dawn there will be sunshine
And all the dust will go
Skies will clear my darling
Now it's time for you to let go
And in the morning, I'll make you up
With some tea and toast"

Tom closed his eyes. Lily's voice was very different from Harry's soft voice, but the song was the same. It was as if Harry came back to haunt him.

"Oh, Riddle!" Lily was surprised, but she put her baby into the bassinet gently. "How are you?"

"Congratulations for your marriage… and this." Tom used his hand to show what he meant. James sighed sadly and took his wife into his arms. "This is a lovely house and I wish you two a very happy family. One thing, Mrs. Potter…"

"Lily, please call me Lily."

"Where did you know that song?" Tom asked straight to the point. "How?"

"Well…" The red headed lady smiled. "It was one of my oldest lullabies from my old nanny, and she used to sing it to me when I couldn't sleep. I have forgotten about it if not Harry. He sung it last time, and I felt familiar with it. He asked me who my nanny was. When I told him about how my nanny used to be a maid in one of the rich men's manors in the countryside and moved into the city because of her husband's job, Harry then taught me the whole lyrics of the song."

Tom felt his chest beating so hard and painful. His eyes were too watery for his likings, and he buried his face inside his palms to hide the burst of emotion. He shouldn't have accepted James' invitation. But he knew it was Harry's way to tell him that it was time to accept his death.

"When the skies are looking bad my dear
And your heart has lost all it's hope
After dawn there will be sunshine
And all the dust will go
Skies will clear my darling
Now it's time for you to let go
And in the morning, I'll make you up
With some tea and toast"

Now it's the time to let go. Tom laughed, in the midst of his tears. James and Lily didn't know what to do, so they took him to rest on the sofa. Tom shook his head, relishing the contained emotions he had been hiding since Harry's funeral. It was painful, but also he was freed that day. He even found out about his nursemaid again.

Everything happened for a reason.

And he needed to carry on with life.

END

I am conflicted to whether or not I should put the warning of character death. I dont like spoilers. and I guess the song itself has shown the plot anyway, so it should be clear, yes?

Can I have review for the whole story?

Thanks for reading. Comment Appreciated.