Chapter Text
Tom didn't want to be adopted. He was past that now. Yes, he loathed Wool's but he hated the families and the return to Wool's more than anything. They all thought he was a cute boy but they all hated him eventually.
Tom especially didn't want to be adopted by a young single man. It was suspicious. If a man wanted a family, he would marry. What did he want Tom for?
Labor or other evil things?
Tom didn't mind doing evil things. Mrs. Cole and the priest accused him of being the spawn of Satan. Maybe now he could prove them right.
"This is your home," Harry said, helping Tom from the cab.
The smell struck Tom first. Flowers and sea. It was sweet enough to make him dizzy. Harry's house was a cottage smothered in blooms of all colors. A red barn lay nestled in fields. Green meadows spread out until jagged black rocks fell to the sea.
A farm. Tom was here to be a farm hand. That would be better than the orphanage. Tom didn't mind working if he was treated fairly. Of course, he wouldn't stay a farm boy. He was better than that. He was meant for greater things.
He followed Harry down the path and into the cottage.
"I hope you like it," Harry said. "You can explore all you want. I'll make dinner."
Tom was standing in a foyer. There was a staircase and a door on each side. Herry went through the door to the left. That's the kitchen.
Tom peeked open the other door. It was dark. He pushed in and gasped as weak light revealed an entire wall of books.
Books! Tom pulled open the curtains and stared in shock and joy. The whole room was filled with books. There was a huge fireplace and an armchair. Books lined every wall and we're stacked in piles on the floor. A book and dirty mug rested on the small table by the chair.
Tom had never seen so many books in his entire life. He hoped Harry would allow him to read them every day.
He would read anyway. It would only be easier if he didn't have to hide it.
Tom moved some books on the window ledge and sat there. It was beyond his wildest dreams.
He opened a book that turned out to be myths and folklore.
Tom woke to find Harry shaking him gently.
"Come and eat," Harry said.
Tom clutched the book tightly to his chest and Harry did make him leave it there.
The kitchen was small and warm and they sat together and ate the most delicious food Tom had ever tasted.
"Its lamb and potatoes," Harry told him.
"What are the house rules?" Tom asked. "What do you want me to do?"
"I didn't adopt you to do anything. You're my son now. I just wanted to give you love and a home and a better chance at life."
Obviously he was lying. "But the rules?"
"I spend alot of time outside," Harry explained. "If the sun is shining I will be out. You may join me or not. I will make you two meals a day. You can read all you want. You can take the books out but try not to damage them. I guess, just keep your room tidy and clean up any messes you make."
Tom wanted to laugh. He must be dreaming.
Harry showed him the two rooms at the top of the stairs. One was clearly a storage room filled with a few trunks and more old books. The other must be Harry's room. It was a wardrobe full of clothes and a bed piled with pillows.
"I'm gonna clean out that room for you," Harry said, seemingly embarrassed. "Unless you want this one. You're sleeping here until I get another bed anyways. We have to go shop and get clothes and stuff."
"But, this is your room," Tom protested.
"Its fine," Harry insisted pulling pajamas from the drawer. "Wear these tonight and we'll figure it out tomorrow."
Tom changed and climbed onto the bed. It was so soft. Harry sat beside him and tucked the blankets around Tom's shoulders.
"Good night, son," he whispered, leaning to press a kiss to Tom's forehead. "I love you."
Tom huffed his disbelief. He had never met anyone so sappy.
"Stop it, Harry," he said. "You only met me today. You can't love me already."
Harry poked his cheek and smiled. "I loved you the second I laid eyes on you. I chose you and you'll be my son forever now. Get used to it."
Tom hated how something in his chest swelled at Harry's words.
He smiled as he watched Harry leave the room and go down the creaking stairs.
Home. Dad. He couldn't say the words. Love was useless. Was this real? He rubbed his hand down the spine of the book of myths and tried to decide.
Tom went downstairs to the kitchen and found Harry sitting at the table, reading.
"Good morning, Tom," Harry said. He motioned to a plate of breakfast across from him. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Tom replied and began eating his eggs.
"Do you want to stay home and adjust more today or do you want to go out and shop?"
Tom eyed Harry's book.
"May I just stay here and read today?"
"Of course. I'll be outside working until dinner but if you need anything, come out and shout for me."
Tom sat in the chair and read until Harry came in.
"You love to read?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Tom replied. "I love it more than anything."
"Do you want to go to school or stay here and study?"
"Of course I need to go to school."
"Alright. I'm going to make dinner."
Dinner was again delicious and Tom ate until he felt bloated.
"We didn't make any progress on getting you settled," Harry commented. "We didn't get you clothes or a new bed."
"That's okay." Tom was still wearing Harry's pajamas.
"I take a bath every night. You can join if you want or you can bath alone."
"I'll join you," Tom decided. The water wouldn't be as cold as waiting until Harry was done.
Harry nodded.
The bath was behind the kitchen. It was huge. Tom didn't really consider it a bath. Harry turned on the water and it gushed loudly but still took a long time to fill. Harry cleared the dishes and busied himself with other tasks while they waited.
They undressed and climbed in. The water was hot. Tom had never had a hot bath. He laughed without meaning to. Harry held out a dish with chunks of soap and they washed in silence.
"I'm gonna stay here and relax for a bit," Harry said solftly. "You can get out whenever. Towels are right there."
Tom wanted to read but his eyes were aching so he stayed.
Eventually they got out. They towled and dressed and Tom followed Harry to the book room.
Harry sat on the chair and patted his thigh. "Come here," he said. "I'll read to you."
Tom climbed up and tried to adjust to the newness of it. He was tired and warm and full. Harry picked and a book, wrapped an arm around Tom's back and read.
Tom decided he didn't mind.
They rode a horse into town. Tom had never been on a horse and held onto Harry for dear life. He didn't fall off.
Harry filled two baskets with food from the shops. He bought Tom new clothes and shoes. He purchased a new mattress and paid to have it delivered. He bought Tom a straw hat and a soft knitted blanket in a bright green color.
Tom helped Harry unload when they arrived at home.
Harry gave Tom an apple. "You need to eat one fruit every day. Drink the milk. Go outside to read at least an hour each day."
"I knew you would have some rules," Tom replied with a smile. He had never eaten an apple. Did he dare?
His new blanket ended up on the armchair and he wrapped it around him to read.
Tom adjusted. They days followed a pattern. Tom got up and ate. Sometimes, Harry ate with him. Mostly, Tom ate alone but there was always a breakfast waiting for him when he rose. Tom read or walked around. He liked to read under a large tree near the barn. He went in to dinner with Harry. They had a bath after and Tom would fall asleep curled up in Harry's arms, listening to Harry read.
Tom was a farmer's son but he wasn't a farm boy. He felt like he was a prince. It didn't feel real. It was too sweet and so perfect.
One day, Harry took Tom down the path to the beach. They both lay on the sand and read.
"Let's swim," Harry said eventually.
"I can't swim," Tom replied, closing his book.
"I'll teach you."
The water was cold but the sun was hot. They practiced swimming until Tom was exhausted. He felt like he would cry when he eyed the rocky climb up.
"Don't worry, love," Harry said and picked Tom up. Tom hadn't been carried since he was too tiny to remember. Harry carried him as though he weighed nothing.
"Dad," Tom tried. "You're my dad."
Harry's smile was like the sun. "You know it." He kissed both of Tom's cheeks.
Tom's face burned, but he was so happy.
There was someone knocking on the front door. Tom followed the path around the house.
A man in a brown waistcoat and ginger hair stood on the doorstep.
"Can I help you?" Tom asked.
"Hello," the man called. "I am looking for a Mr. Tom Riddle."
"What is your business?" Tom asked, alarmed.
"I assume you are Tom," the man replied. "I am Albus Dumbledore."
"My father is out working in the field," Tom replied, fear filling him. "If you kindly wait I'll run and fetch him."
Tom ran without waiting for a response. He didn't care what the man wanted. He would never let them take him from Harry.
"Harry," he wheezed breathlessly. "A man is here looking for me. I'm not old enough for the drafts of factories. Please talk to him."
Harry knelt and brushed a hand gently over Tom's cheek.
"Get on my back and let's go see what he wants."
They went in the kitchen door and Harry let Tom down before he opened the front door.
"Come in, sir," Harry said and let the man into the kitchen. "Tea or lemon?"
"Ah thank you, tea please," the man said and sat. Tom hovered in the kitchen window and watched Harry fill a teapot and set out the china.
"I'm professor Albus Dumbledore. I'm looking for Tom Riddle."
"Nice meeting you, professor," Harry replied. "This is my son, Tom. What is your business?"
"I'm here to tell you that you have been given a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He flashed a letter to Tom and set it on the table. "You are a wizard, my boy and you have been given the chance to be educated in the magical arts."
"What?" Tom replied, quite stupidly, and instantly regretted it.
"Have you ever done anything strange? Or things happen around you?"
Fear stabbed his chest. He stared at Harry. He had finally got a chance at a real life and he was never going to let Harry know any of his wicked tricks. Harry couldn't know he was part devil.
"No, I've no idea what you mean." He hoped his voice was steady.
"No? If you're scared or very happy?" The professor pressed.
Harry stepped over to Tom and wrapped his arm around his shoulder.
"Explain why you think Tom is a wizard. Isn't that quite ridiculous?"
The professor sighed and took a sip of his tea.
"Magic is real. I am a wizard. Tom is a wizard. There are many witches and wizards but we live in hiding from regular people. We keep it secret. I am a professor at Hogwarts. I teach transfiguration. Tom needs to lean to control his magic and use it."
Tom knew he was better than normal people. He knew he was different. He didn't dare believe it was magic. He looked up to sense Harry's reaction. He would deny it if Harry did. He couldn't risk his new life.
Harry smiled at him.
"However interesting that is, I want proof," Harry said.
The professor suddenly had a stick in his hand. He waved it and the teapot became a grey cat. It looked around but didn't jump off the table. It became a teapot again.
"Does that satisfy you?" He asked, pulling a stack of papers from his pocket and placing them on the table. "Here are some brochures about the Wizarding World. Do you accept your place at Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Harry replied. "Tom will attend Hogwarts."
Tom gasped. Did Harry believe it?
"Excellent!" The professor stood. "I will see you on September first!" He disappeared with a crack.
That night they talked instead of Harry reading.
"You believe in magic then?" Tom asked.
"Yes."
"You don't think I'm evil?"
"I don't care if you are evil or not," Harry replied, holding Tom tight. "You're my son and I'll love you however you are."
"I can do alot of magic," Tom admitted, hoping he could believe Harry's words. "They told me I'm the devil's child."
"You're my child."
"They exorcised me and punished me."
Harry kissed the tears away. "I'm sorry."
"Everyone hates me. Why do you love me?"
"Because you deserve love and you are mine to love."
"Dad."
They went to Diagon alley together and Harry bought him more clothes and books. Tom got a wand!
Tom spent the rest of his summer reading his new books under the big oak tree. Sometimes Harry joined him and asked to see what magic he was learning.
Tom could do all the charms in his entire new book. He showed them off.
"You'll be the best," Harry said proudly. "I can't wait to see what you will do."
He hugged him and Tom felt happy and proud.
Tom turned away from the steaming red engine and looked up at Harry.
"I'll miss you," Harry knelt and hugged him. Tom hugged back. "Have fun and write to me. I love you."
Tom wanted to be excited. He wanted to go to school and study. Mostly, he wanted to stay home with his dad. Could he feel happy and sad at once? Would Harry forget about him? Would he go get another kid if Tom was gone too long?