Royal Potter

Tom heard it before he knew anything about it. He heard the soft thunk of something hitting the wood floor upstairs. He heard the maid’s little scream. He heard someone rushing down the stairs running across the hall to stop right in front of his study.

His study wasn’t much. He had a window behind his desk which faced the door. Bookshelves on the walls and a small table for tea.

Klunk, klunk. The sound of someone knocking on the door.

“Come in.” He said. The door opened and a maid came in. Her hair looked as if she’d been standing in the wind so she must’ve been the one running.

“What have I said about running in the halls?” He asked monotonously.

“ I’m sorry sir but I thought you’d want to see this as soon as possible.” The maid said impossibly fast. “There’s a boy upstairs, naked, I just barely saw his face but he shares uncanny resemblance to the Potters son.”

“Well I believe the running can be excused. Bring me to him at once.”

“Yes sir. ”

Tom followed the maid upstairs. When they reached the room he grabbed his wand from his pocket and opened the door quickly. He saw the boy and felt a pang in his gut. This small hyperventilating boy, curled up on the floor was his soulmate.

“Leave.” He said to the maid. He didn’t look back to see if she left he ran to the boy as quick as he could. He cast a non-verbal diagnostic spell. Nothing was wrong inside of him. But Tom could see the marks all over his body. He reached his hand out to touch the boy.

The boys head popped up. “ Don’t touch me!!” The boy had a singular bright green eye that nagged at something in his memory but he pushed it aside because suddenly the boy collapsed.

Tom decided that he’d listen to the boys wishes and levitated him to his room and laid him on the bed. He called his medi-wizard and demanded that the boy be healed.

He then went to his study across the hall and flooed the Potter family.

                                       …

Lily Potter’s head appeared in the flames.

“Hello, prince Riddle” she said.

“Hello, lady Potter.” Tom replied. “I have some possible news for you and lord Potter but I believe that it’d be easier for you and your husband to actually be here.”

“Just give me a moment, we have some business to attend to. We should be there within the hour.” She said. Then her head left the floo and the green flames disappeared.

Tom sat at his desk and pondered over what had just happened. For one this was not he expected to meet his soulmate, he’d planned to meet them fully clothed then he’d woo them with his charm and take them on a nice romantic date. He’d obviously hoped that his soulmate wouldn’t  be a muggle otherwise he would be disowned by the Slytherin bloodline.

He thought of how his soulmate had looked lying there on the floor, curled up in a little ball. He looked so scared, he looked scared of Tom. Someone had hurt him, there was blood all over.

The thought filled him with rage he would murder whom ever was responsible. He would torture them make them regret even looking at his soulmate. Then he would slit their wrists and let them bleed out.

He felt the slippery feeling of scales sliding up his leg, around his waist and something heavy settling on his shoulder.

“What’s got you in such a foul mood master?” The weight on his shoulder hissed.

“Well Nagini” Tom replied, “ I’ve found my soulmate. But someone has injured him. Someone made him hurt.”

“I shall eat that someone’s intestines master” Nagini said maliciously.

“Not yet, my darling. We don’t know who it is. But we will and then I promise, you can eat his insides.”

“Yessssssss”

“Lord Riddle?” A voice outside the door said,  “I believe Lady and Lord Potter are here to see you.”

“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.” Tom said.

Tom gently took Nagini off of him and draped her on the chair. “I’ll be back soon my darling.” Then he left.

                                  …

Tom entered the foyer of his own house to great the Potters. The walls were a dark green with mahogany accents. He had a couple of chairs that were only a shade lighter than the walls and a door on one wall led to a ballroom and another to a small tearoom. The way he came led to the rest of the house.

“Lady and Lord Potter, such a pleasure to see you again. It’s been awhile.” Tom said smooth as silk. “Right this way if you will.” He led them to the small tearoom.

“Prince Riddle,” Said Lord Potter. “I’m afraid you’re right I’d day it’s been about a year since we last had tea.”

“The pleasure is ours,” said Lady Potter. “But I would love to know why you called us here. Earlier in the floo you seemed quite stressed.”

“Ah, yes” said Tom “Well I don’t wish to rehash the past, but I believe I have found your son. Or more, he found me.”

“Now Tom, this is serious! You can’t joke about things like this.” Said Lord Potter always quick with the temper.

Honestly could he be more annoying. Yes his son was kidnapped and presumed dead a couple of years after his disappearance. But why would he lie about something like this. He’s was a prince not a peasant.

“Believe me it is not a joke.” He flicked his wrist and tea started pouring into cups. “I can call my healer he has run some tests to make sure.”

“We would be most pleased if you would.” Said Lady Potter.

“Of course. Honey!” He called. Not a second later one of Tom’s house elves appeared.

“Yes, master. What do you wish for Honey to do today?” The house elf bowed down and stood straight up.

“Call Healer Nott. Lord and Lady Potter wish to have some details confirmed before continuing with me this evening.”

“Yes sir, anything for you sir.” The house elf replied and with a snap of her fingers she was gone.

“Now I understand how this news could be devastating, tea?”

The Potters both reached for a cup and each had taken a sip when there was a loud crack and Honey appeared with Healer Nott.

“Prince Riddle” he bowed to Tom. “Lord and lady Potter. “He bowed to them as well. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Yes, there is actually. Lord and Lady Potter were just wondering about the boy upstairs, could you perhaps enlighten them?”

“Ah yes, I see.” Healer Nott said. He wasn’t a big man but he captured the attention of the room quick. He had black hair and pale skin. He wore green healer robes and he ran his hand through his hair before he began explaining.

“The boy upstairs is in fact your son, which makes him heir to the Potter throne. He has suffered terrible magical exhaustion as well as physical and is currently in a magical induced coma so he can heal. He has many scars on his body, probably the result of abuse. He also is incredibly starved and much too small for his age. We should be fifteen, but he looks like a twelve year old.

Based on his reaction to Prince Riddle earlier today, I believe he has endured traumas and has PTSD. Furthermore he was stabbed recently and the knife just barely nicked his intestines, but we were able to stitch them shut so only soft foods for a while. Any question?” Healer Nott finished his diagnostics with a flourish of his robes as he turned to face the Potters.

“May we see him?” Lady Potter spoke in a soft voice.

“Of course” healer Nott replied.

                                      …

Tom led the Potters back through the foyer, down a hall and up a set of stairs before they reached the door. He opened it slowly then walked in and sat on on of the chairs on the further side of the room close to

Harry’s head.

He heard a small gasp from Lily and looked to see her eyes blown wide. Tears began to pool in her eyes. She turned into James and buried her head in his shoulder.

James stood still from what was probably shock. The last time either had seen their son was when he was one. They had an important ministry meeting and trusted their friend Sirius Black to watch him. When they had returned home Black was knocked out on the couch and Harry was no where to be found. When Black awoke he was incredibly confused as to why he was even at the Potters. He was quite obviously obliviated. But the ministry couldn’t bring the memory’s back.

Tom had been five at the time and was quite sad at this news because he and Harry had been friends. Though Tom didn’t remember much from his childhood. He hadn’t even remembered the name before his healer had told him.

James finally tore his eyes from Harry and looked to Tom. “It’s really him.”

Lily who was sobbing into James’ shoulder turned to Tom as well. “I want to know who he was with. And why.” She said.

“That can be arranged Lady Potter. I myself wish to know as well.” Tom said.

Tom knew the moment he found out who did this to Harry he would track them down. And he’d do unspeakable things to those people.

Harry started twitching as if he were having a bad dream. Tom felt a sharp pain in his chest and emotions started blooming, fear and disgust were the most prominent. They pulled at his chest and became so intense tears sprang to his eyes. He quickly moved his chair right beside the bed and got as close as he could without touching and the ache eased just enough so that it was just barely there.

Harry stopped twitching and relaxed. Lily and James moved to the other side of the bed and Tom conjured some chairs for them to sit in. They sat there for what felt like hours when a sharp snap startled them from their trance.

“Master, sir” Honey’s voice said. “You and the Potters have been summoned to the ministry.”

“Why?” Tom asked.

“Because the chief warlock of the  wizengamet knows that you have Harry. He wishes to battle the Potters for custody of their son.”

“What?!” Tom, Lily and James all said at once.

“Honey I am trusting you to watch over young mister Potter. I also want you to put the guards on alert for any suspicious activity in the house and on the grounds.” Tom turned to the Potters. “I promise you, you will not lose your son again. Follow me.”

He then turned and walked across the hall to his study. He put Nagini on his shoulder, threw some floo powder in the fireplace and spoke loud and clear.

“Ministry Of Magic”

                                     …

Tom exited right before James.

“Lily stayed behind. ” He explained.

Tom turned and walked to the elevators, he walked in an empty one and pushed the number 77. The elevator stopped on floor 65 and Albus Dumbledore, chief warlock of the wizengamot himself walked in.

Tom turned to James and put a finger to his lips. James nodded in understanding and turned to face away from Dumbledoor.

The elevator stopped on the right floor and they stepped out. Tom turned to the right not turning his head to make sure James was following him. He continued to march at a gruelling pace until he stopped at a door with a sign that read: Minister of magic, Bartemius Crouch.

Without knocking Tom entered the room. “Mister Crouch.” He said as he walked in. “I have a couple of questions for you.” He heard the door click shut behind him and saw James Potter standing beside him.

“Well I wasn’t doing anything anyway, you may as well ask.” Replied Crouch. His eyes flicking to Nagini then to Tom’s.

“Good. Now could you please explain why Albus Dumbledoor has a case for custody of Harry Potter, when his family is perfectly capable of taking care of him?” Tom asked.

“Because Albus said that It’d be better for young potter to be raised by responsable people.”

“What’s wrong with the Potters?”

“They lost him once already.”

“Well what if he stayed with me?” Tom asked.

“That be a good argument against Dumbledoor. If you can build a case.” Said Crouch.

“So that’s what we’ll do. When is his hearing?”

“March 4th” Crouch said.

“We’ll be there” Tom turned and left the room James behind him.

Once they were in an elevator James spoke up.

“March 4th is only a week away. And me and Lily don’t have a lawyer anymore haven’t needed one in a long time.” James said panic seeping into his words.

“Lord Potter, I will contact one of my old acquaintances and see if I can call in a favour. We will keep Harry no matter what.”

“You seem awfully invested for someone this doesn’t benefit.” James inquired.

“I’ll tell you something I haven’t told anyone yet. Your son is my soulmate. Now I’d appreciate if this could be kept on the down low. No one can know especially Dumbledoor.” Tom confessed.

“What about Lily?”

“She can know. But that’s all.”

“Okay.”

                                        …

When they returned to the study they were met with a crying Lily.

“He’s awake.” She said in a strained voice. “But he’s terrified of everyone. Notts in there but Harry won’t even let him close.

“Oh, honey.” James said before sweeping her into a hug.

Left the room to give them some privacy. And walked towards Harry’s room. He could hear some yelling and he picked up his pace. He opened the door to Nott pushed up against the wall and Harry crying in his bed.

Tom closed the door and Harry’s attention snapped to him. Nott feel to the floor and Tom walked towards Harry.

“Don’t come any closer!” Harry yelled once Tom was a foot from the bed. “Who are you?”

“I’m Tom.” Said Tom.

“Where am I?”

“At my house.”

“Why am I at your house?”

“I was going to ask you the same question. You’re the one who appeared in my house.” Tom said.

“How could I have just appeared?”

“Magic.”     

“That’s hilarious.” He said sarcastically. “Now tell me how I really got here.”

Tom conjured a glass out of the air and filled it with water that came from nowhere.

“Magic.” He said.