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The first time Tom had seen him was in Samhain, at the Diagon Alley.
The man looks to be a young graduate, perhaps searching for available jobs considering the proper attire he's wearing. He wore the appearance of a brunette — though in the night of Samhain, the light had made his hair more ginger than the brown Tom was sure he'd looked good in. He also had a stunning pair of green eyes, emerald green that sucked a breath out of Tom's lungs when they locked eyes.
Tom was the first one to break it. His eyes looked very much like Tom's favourite Unforgivables.
He pushed the feeling aside, though. Not quite sure what to make of it. Falling in love isn't on his list of plans on conquering the world. It's better if he acts stupid about it.
He thought that would be the first and last time he'd ever see the man. Even if his heart aches at the thought and his mind sniggered at the feel.
Of course, he was wrong. Even if Tom had never been wrong, this time around he is. As if Fate had come to torture his heart with the unfamiliar feeling again.
The man, now known as Hadrian Evans, is Professor Merrythought's twice-removed niece. Honestly, Tom couldn't see any resemblance at all, but maybe that was because their blood had been mixed too many times with others, and their genetics didn't match up.
Evans, according to Merrythought, will be helping her teach Defense since he is in desperate need of a job.
Even if what they'd say was not exactly that, Tom could guess that much when they were fiddling with their stories trying to explain to the whole class. In the end, the students just accepted Evans as Professor Merrythought's little helper.
"Can you answer this question, Tom Riddle?" Evans' voice called for him. Tom stood up, though not without his most charming smile.
"I'm afraid I didn't catch that question, Sir Evans." He said almost sheepishly when in fact, he'd started cursing himself the moment Evans called for him. Gosh, he was so out of it. He didn't realise there was a question thrown around because he was in his head earlier.
"That's because I didn't ask before," Evans replied. And the students muffled a laugh and giggles. Tom felt as if he had just been humiliated. He did not like this new 'helper' at all.
His reputation would fall if he even slipped in Defense class starting today it seems.
"Settle down, class," Merrythought hushed.
"Well, Riddle, do you know about the Unforgivable?" Evans started his question. And Tom nodded.
"Yes, I do. Three curses are classified as Unforgivable. It's the Imperius Curse, the Cruciatus Curse, and the Killing Curse." He explained, trying not to go in-depth in case of Evans belittled him again.
"That's right. Thank you, Riddle. You may sit down now." Evans dismissed him.
"Today, as per what your classmate had explained, we are going to be learning about the Unforgivable," Merrythought took over the class, letting Evans sit at the desk, and it looks highly inappropriate and improper if Tom were, to be honest.
The class went on without a hitch, except for Evans to be an eye candy all the time. Tom blamed the man's majestic looks for his lack of interest in Merrythought's teaching afterwards. Well, not that he didn't study about the Unforgivable by himself, but the utmost focus must also be given in the classroom if he wants to keep his reputation.
And now, whenever it was time for Defense and Evans' annoying pop quiz lesson, Tom had to prepare himself because most of the time, Evans had targeted him to answer.
The next time he found Evans irritatingly buggering his feelings, it was when he stayed around for Yule. It was the usual Yule in Hogwarts. The school was quiet without the mass of students, and Tom was left alone for Yule until the next semester.
Nothing peculiar you would expect.
Except.
☆
It was a normal Friday if he could ever define it normally. Well, it was unlike any other days he had.
Tom was walking down to the library. He had nothing better to do than try to find other ways to stay immortal, but the Hogwarts library is limited even if it doesn't seem so.
He had been spending his time in the library a lot more than usual.
He was minding his own business before a hurried step came from the corridor, and a larger body crashed onto him.
He groaned, not expecting it. He could hear the man on top of him groaning too, but he did not quickly stand up.
Tom opened his eyes, feeling irritated by the man who made him fall. What he saw though, was Evans on his chest and groaning his heart out. Tom had almost wanted to keep him right there and then.
He had never noticed it, but Evans had pretty locks of brown hair that fell beautifully onto his face. Well, he did, but he couldn't admire it when the time was so short before. He had beautiful tanned skin that almost made Tom want to touch it. To feel the skin underneath his hands. And when Evans slowly got up and brushed his hair to the side, Tom noticed a scar that added more to his handsome features.
He watched as Evans opened his eyes, painstakingly slowly. And when he did, those green majestic eyes locked with his, and they stared for what felt like an hour before Evans finally got up from him.
"Merlin's tits, Riddle! Are you alright? I'm so sorry," finally, his voice. His voice sounds like hissing to his ear, melodious and majestic. Like a parseltongue speaker. And bloody Merlin, ain't that just what makes it hotter?
A hand was extended to him, waiting to be pulled. He took his time to assess the situation.
"Sir Evans… that is impolite to Merlin's name." He sighed, slowly accepting the hand. Merlin's balls — forgive him for his impoliteness too, but Evans's hand fit perfectly into his. It's as if they're made for each other.
Or well, his hand fit perfectly into Evans'. And when their hand touched, Tom felt an electric shock go through his body. The same could be said for Evans because he saw how the man suddenly gripped his hand and widened his eyes.
"Of course, you would say that," he mumbled quietly, but not quite enough because Tom heard it. Yet he paid it no mind because he was too busy trying to feel the feeling again. He was upset when he didn't. Though he didn't know why.
Their hands are still intertwined, and Tom could only stare at them with mixed emotions.
"Uhm, Sir Evans. May I know where you are trying to head? Given that you are still only a few weeks in and may not be familiar with the castle, maybe I could show you around?"
Evans, finally out of his stupor, let go of his hand first, and Tom fought so hard to not let his feelings slip.
"Uhm, I- well, I was just heading to the library." He said awkwardly, looking like a kid trying to tell a lie. But Tom smiled his best smile and indulged the lie, amused.
"I was also heading towards the library too. Do you mind if we go there together?" He wondered what Evans would have for a comeback, but it seemed that the man truly was heading to the library, judging by the way his eyes lit up so suddenly.
"Really?" He asked expectantly. And Tom, aghast by the turn of events, nodded. Did he get lost? How is he so spot-on with his guess, now?
"Oh thank goodness, you see I'm not quite familiar with the school. It's so big and spacious. The last time I was here, I didn't get the time to take in the scenery well." Tom listened to the man's rambling attentively. He nods and nods and he can't help but feel that annoying feeling rising in his chest again.
At the time they had gotten to the library, Evans thanked him profusely. Tom said that it was not a big deal and that he needs to do something in the library anyway.
They parted ways, into their own desired sections.
☆
"It seems like we keep on running into each other, Riddle." Evans greeted him in the corridor, smiling as he did so.
Tom laughs, "So it seems, Sir Evans."
The fourth time — well if you didn't count most of the times he had felt weird in Defense class because of Evans before, he felt his insides made all sorts of flip-flops, was a few days later.
"Oh please, when it's just the two of us, call me Hadrian. I insist. Not only did you call me by my surname, but you added 'Sir' to it too. It makes me sound like an old person. Plus, you and I are about the same age, don't you know?"
He… can't be jesting, is he?
Tom knew the barrier between a teacher and a student, no matter how close he was with Slughorn, but that's a different story. Sure, Evans wasn't a teacher, but he is Professor Merrythought's assistant in the classroom.
So surely, he knows what he's offering, right? Did Evans fancy him or something? (Maybe it's him who fancied Evans, honestly.)
"Hadrian," he tested the name in his mouth. "It's a pleasure, but please, call me Tom in return." He smiled a charming one. And Evans returned it.
Or well, he should say, Hadrian, returned it.
"Tom," he can't explain it, but he quite liked the way his name was being called. "Where are you heading? If you don't have anywhere to go in particular, why not join me in my broom practice?"
And well, it was an offer. From Hadrian too. So it would be such a shame if he had rejected it. He blamed his agreement on his sudden flip-flop insides. Feeling weird just to get close to the man.
Tom should remember that Hadrian could be considered a teacher too, not to mention an adult. So he needs to stop feeling like this. It could be bad for him and his future 'Dark Lord' plans. If what he thought is true, then maybe he truly is in love with the man, but that can't be right. He would never consider falling in love a possibility.
But when he saw the smile, Merlin- that smile. The smile that sits on Hadrian's face, it made Tom enraptured, knowing that he is the cause of such a smile.
☆
The nth time — he couldn't keep track now — where Hadrian made him feel weird, it was when Hadrian tried to protect him from Dumbledore's cheeky comments. Well, Tom wouldn't describe it like that. He much rather prefers the term insults, but he's trying not to be too mean here.
It was supposed to be a normal day after the Ravenclaw against Slytherin Quidditch match. Tom hadn't participated in either the game or the cheering crowds. He much preferred to stay in the dorm and plot his next move.
Today though, he wanted to check on the secret room he'd found a while back. The room that Salazar Slytherin had entrusted to the Slytherin heir.
In other words, he. Getting cocky, but it's true. He might need to visit the room again since it's been a few weeks since he last set foot in the place.
He walked as usual, with no rushing at all. It would avoid suspicion much more, and he preferred to go at his own slow and steady pace. After all, there weren't many people at the castle since most of the students went to watch the Quidditch match. A pointless thing to do.
As Tom walked quietly, his eye caught a scene of Dumbledore and Hadrian walking together, looking like a cat pissed into their drinks. Merlin's beard, what's gotten their mood so sour?
Tom strides confidently past them when they'd noticed him. Though not when he gave them a friendly smile of his. Hadrian smiled back just as friendly, gone the uptight face like he had to shit. Dumbledore just kept frowning, though not at him, it'it was directed towards Hadrian.
He walked past them quickly much after. But Hadrian was quick to latch onto him.
"Oh, Tom, it's great that you're here now." His arm was grabbed by the man's hand, and Tom was pulled back to the company of the two without his consent. Though he kept smiling to avoid misunderstandings.
"I'm sorry if I'm taking up your time to do something, but professor, do you mind reciting the words that you've said to me just a few minutes ago? The man in question is, after all, here." Hadrian's grip on his lessened as the hand slithered to his back now.
Tom could only stand by idly. Perplexed by the situation, but seeing as it's Dumbledore Hadrian was dealing with, the man had probably said something stupid about him. Which is true, but he wouldn't say anything about it. Dumbledore had the right to be wary of him, he just didn't have to be a total bollock about it though.
Dumbledore coughed to the side, "Evans, I'm sure our conversation earlier was a privy matter."
"Not when the one we talked about is here. He deserves to know too, Dumbledore." Hadrian pipes back. And oh, wasn't it satisfying? Sure, Tom didn't know the true context of it, but he does get the gist of it now.
"Sir Dumbledore, I respect you. I do, but please do not badmouth a student just because you deem him unstable." Hadrian continued, the hand on his back was gone and it fell to the man's side. Tom kind of missed it, the hand resting on his body part.
Dumbledore was quiet. And Hadrian huffed. "If that is all, sir. I'll humbly back out from this conversation first."
He grabbed Tom's hand and Tom let himself be dragged. "Come on Tom," Hadrian whispered.
Their steps echoed throughout the hall, and Tom squirmed quietly under the hand that gripped his tightly.
"Uhm, Sir Evans…"
"Hadrian. There's no one around here," he snapped, though he still hadn't stopped his walk.
Tom sighs inwardly, "Hadrian, sir, you're hurting my arms." Immediately, the other let go of his hand, feeling rather guilty quickly about it.
"Merlin's hair, I'm so sorry, Toms. Let's go to my office, I have an ointment stored. I think your hand might be bruised." This time around, he offered a hand to hold. Tom accepts it quietly with his other hand.
This time, their walk wasn't as brash as earlier. Instead, it's slow and time-consuming, and Tom lets himself fall into the rhythm.
"Uhm, Hadrian," he started. The other hummed, not seeing his eyes as he continued to lead the way to his office, "You don't have to do that."
This caught the man's attention, and he abruptly stopped and searched his eyes for something. "Do what?" He asked, but Tom knew he knew what Tom had meant.
"Well," he indulges, "saying that to Dumbledore would only get you on his bad grace. The man has a good reputation around here."
"And?" Uh, Tom doesn't know how to reply to that.
"I'd rather be in your good grace than his. He seems like he'll die any other day now, why should I try to befriend him?" And oh, wasn't that the boldest thing to have come from the man's mouth?
And Tom, couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh. Hadrian stood there, stunned. Before a beetroot blush sits on his face.
By the time Tom finished laughing, Hadrian looked quite embarrassed by his words.
"Thank you," and it was the most genuine thank you he had ever given to anyone.
♤
Harry. Harry Potter. That was his name before. Now in this unknown time, he is called Hadrian Evans instead. And that's fine.
It was not fine. For a while, he was struggling with how to tell his story to Dumbledore. Seeing as he had no money to even send an owl.
But a kind lady at the Diagon Alley took him as his worker. And he had been living as a server ever since.
Then, Merrythought visited the store and took a liking to him. And when she heard of his surname, she casually said that Evans is her family twice-removed. And oh, wasn't that such a perfect coincidence to get into Hogwarts? It's a perfect cover-up story.
So he asked for the woman's help to get a better job. His excuse was that he didn't have enough money to pay the month's rent, and he'll be kicked out if he doesn't pay the month.
If it's not pity that's working out, he isn't sure what was. Because right now, he found himself as Merrythought's assistant and it was the luckiest incident to have ever happened.
Tom Riddle, Voldemort, the person he's so keen to nitpick in class, was sitting quietly in front of him. His hand was a little bruised from Harry's doing earlier. And Harry can't help but feel bad about it.
These past few months, he saw more and more of the other's gentle side, and Harry couldn't help but think. Was this the same man who had killed thousands of people in his timeline? He doesn't look the same.
"Tom," the hand that rubbed gently on the other's sore spot stopped as he finished putting the balm on it. "I'm sorry."
The teen looked up at him, confused. "For what?"
"Everything," and a breath shuddered. Harry doesn't quite know what everything means too. He just knows there's a wave full of guilt inside him, battling and belittling him. He felt responsible for the other's feelings if that says anything at all.
"Hadrian, you're not entitled to anything that's going on." Well, a great way to break his dam huh?
Harry sighed, fiddling with the other's hand as he nodded. "Thanks, I guess."
When he looked back at Tom, he felt himself flinching at his looks. Tom had an indescribable look on his face. Not quite indescribable when he knew exactly what that looked like.
Oh, it spelt trouble. And love. And Harry wasn't quite sure if he was seeing it right or not. Because it's the same look Ron had for Hermione. And gosh he missed his friends now.
"Can I kiss you?" The question fell from Tom's mouth and it surprised the both of them. It seems like Tom didn't expect to say it either, but it slipped.
Harry gulped, well, what's the harm in trying? Not as if kissing the soon-to-be Dark Lord would change anything. If anything though, it would increase the chance of his survival.
Probably.
Harry put his hand onto Tom's cheek, his thumb on his lip and Merlin's sack — well that's inappropriate, but it was the softest pair of lips he'd ever touched. Not that he had felt any, other than Cho and Ginny.
But currently, Tom looks. Divine. As if waiting for a reward. And what the hell is this obscene scene in front of him? Lewd. It's so—
Without waiting any longer, their lips touched. And Harry could hear a sigh of relief coming from the younger man. And maybe when he heard it, he smiled into the kiss, knowing that the boy had been waiting for it for a long time.
They kissed for what felt like forever. A hand on his neck and his hand rested on the younger, pulling them closer.
And when the air was in need, they pulled back together, gasping heavily.
When Tom wanted to lean in for another, Harry stopped him with his index finger on the other's lips.
"No more."
Tom wanted to protest it seems, as the hand on his neck started to pull him closer, but Harry pulled back as soon as their lips almost touched.
"Hadrian- "
"No more, Toms. I don't think my heart could handle it." He says quietly, hands hugging his face as he buries himself into them, refusing to make eye contact with the student in front of him.
Oh, that was quite cute honestly.
And Tom could only stare quietly. Hungry from the kiss. Slowly, he grabbed the pair of hands and moved it aside, revealing a very red Hadrian. Tom decided he likes seeing Hadrian like this.
"Hadrian, look at me," he says, and the older man slowly looks up. Tom felt himself smile at the act, getting closer and closer, now his hands on the other cheeks as he murmurs, "That wasn't so bad now, right?"
Their lips locked once again, and it took every sane will inside Tom to not ravish the man.
If Hadrian thinks it's bad for his heart, then this kiss is also bad for his heart too. It was a contrast to the slow and gentle pace they'd gone for before. Now, it was filled with steamy and passionate feelings in the kiss.
It's as if Tom was given a luxury.
Tom pulled him closer by the neck, desperate for more contact. The hand on his waist kept him still as if Hadrian was controlling his urges. When Tom grinds onto Hadrian's lap though, every wall inside Hadrian crumbles just like that. And Tom was kept in his lap.
Hadrian was the first to pull out, desperately in need of air. His hair falls onto his face beautifully as he pants. There was a hint of disappointment inside Tom when the older suddenly pulled out.
"Merlin, you're such a vixen," Hadrian said, red visible on his face. Tom smiled.
"Harry," Hadrian said and it perplexed Tom. Agog, he listened. "If we're going to be boyfriends, call me Harry."
There was a quick kiss on his forehead, and Tom thinks he likes kisses. Oh, his heart. Whatever happened to not falling in love? Tom can't help it. The moment he locks eyes with Hadrian at Samhain, he supposed they were destined to be together.
"Harry," he smiled. "I like Harry."
And it took every fibre inside Harry to not kiss him again.