Aspire

Harry stretched from his chair next to the roaring fireplace practically replicating a cat.

Harry was lounging next to the warmth while Tom sat gracefully next to him. Tom was writing his homework as Harry shut his eyes sleepily.

“Potter? Don’t fall asleep, if you are tired go back to your dorm,” Tom scowled, his mouth in a sharp line but his eyes crinkled in amusement subtly.

“Mm not tired-” Harry muttered, rolling over slightly. Tom shook his head before sighing and going back to his book.

They sat in silence as Tom finished his work.

“Tom?” Harry’s voice gently broke the silence.

“Yes, Potter?” Tom replied, closing his book sharply with a quiet ‘thud’.

“Can I stay at Hogwarts during the school holidays?” Harry asked.

“Yes Potter, most don’t, but certainly you will not be the only one here during Christmas.”

“No, I meant over the summer break,” Harry said, sitting up. Tom raised his eyebrows.

“Why would you want to?” Tom said, narrowing his eyes at Harry.

“Well, er- I don’t have any family- and the people I stay with currently would much prefer I don’t come home,” Harry said, blushing out of embarrassment.

“Who do you live with? I can get my- father, to owl them possibly,” Tom said, still staring at Harry with an unreadable expression.

“No- I- er… I live with muggles,” Harry said, his face bright red now and his eyes looked around quickly.

“Muggles?” Tom said, his lip curled.

“Yeah- um- I live in a muggle orphanage- so I was wondering if I could stay at Hogwarts, but obviously I can’t so-” Harry rambled.

“A muggle orphanage?” Tom repeated, his voice silky. Harry nodded quickly.

“I will owl my father, worry not for I will find a way you will never have to go back,” Tom said dismissively, as if he didn’t just swear that he would find Harry a home.
“What!?” Harry said, looking up at Tom quickly.

“Shhh- I am doing my homework,” Tom responded, shushing Harry and indicating that the conversation was over.

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Tom was furious. His Potter lived in a MUGGLE ORPHANAGE?! He didn’t have a magic upbringing? Of course, it was common knowledge that the Dark Lord had killed Potter’s parents, but surely he had other relatives? If not in the Potter line he is also heir to the Blacks! He is biologically related to the Malfoy’s, Lestrange’s, and so many more! So who allowed him to be shipped off to an orphanage? A muggle one too! Where he was no doubt abused, judging by his height and weight. No one should have to live like that! Especially an heir to at least 2 major lines! And a parselmouth too! He needs to-

“Riddle!” A voice yelled from behind. Tom spun around quickly, angry at how this stranger snapped at him, wand ready in his hand to curse the living daylight out of this man- he would regret ever raising his voice at him when he was through-

“Minister?” Tom asked, slightly shocked at why his older self was here before he remembered how he wanted more positive influence. (By pretending to be kind of course, and visiting Hogwarts, pretending it’s a charity.)

“Thomas! My dear son, how have you been?” Tom’s older self asked him, voice kind as he wrapped an arm around Tom’s shoulders, rather impressively, as if to show off his height, especially by making his son who already was quite tall look like a dwarf next to him. His older selves eyes narrowed at Tom, offering pain and punishment if Tom dared to utter a word against his father while in company with Rita Skeeter, who would no doubt cook up a really lovely article about it.

“I have been well Father, besides missing you of course,” Tom said smoothly, contorting his face into a dashing smile as he winked at Rita, internally disgusted at her as she blushed considerably.

“Oh yes, home has been rather quiet without you,” His older self said, raising an eyebrow as if daring Tom to say something.

Tom, on the other hand, looked over to Rita, and slowly raked his eyes up her body. Fighting back a retch, Tom smirked at her. She quickly covered her face with her empty hands.

“Oh, Minister! Your son is such a flirt!” She cried, grinning viciously at them both.

“Oh well, he learned from the best, Madame,” His older self said, swooping down and capturing Skeeter's hand in his, before lowering a gentle kiss onto it.

Tom could barely keep himself from gagging. His older self sent him a scarting look, before focusing his attention back to Skeeter.

“Would you please excuse us, my son of course wants to fill me with the latest drama and I would love for him to introduce me to some of his friends,” His older self said, before guiding Tom away before Skeeter even said a word in response.

“The things I do for a good image,” His older self whispered in his ear, scowling slightly as he cast a non-verbal as well as a wandless cleaning charm onto his own hands.

“God it stinks of sweaty Alpha’s in here,” His older self exclaimed, his nose crinkling as he whisked Tom into the room of requirement.

“It seems no one knows of hygiene or has heard of deodorant,” Tom said, approaching the two-seater table in the middle of the empty room.

“Hm,” His older self hummed in agreement, the dark room suddenly flickered with light.

Tom took a seat while his older self remained standing behind the opposite chair.

“I have some information- rather delicate information too,” Tom started, watching intently as his older self's body language indicated interest.

“It appears I have acquired another parseltongue-” Time was cut off by his older self's startled gasp.

“What? Another parseltounge? Here? A student?” His older self muttered, fixating his burning red eyes on Tom.

“Indeed. Now, I have decided I want to keep him, so-” Tom was cut off once more.

“A parselmouth as a pet? Or follower? Two different things. If you want him to follow you into battle or the ministry, that is fine, but if not, if you don’t want him, I have been looking for a pet recently- great entertainment they are-” Tom cut his older self off.

“I want him. Not you. He is mine!” Tom said, standing up suddenly, the table rocked against the fast movement but it didn’t interrupt their staring match.

“Be it. As long as one of us has him- what is his name?” His older self asked, frowning as Tom scowled.

“Harry Potter, heir to Potter and Black,” Tom replied, gorging his older self look of distaste.

“Potter? That child? A Gryffindor, unless I am poorly mistaken. A beta?” His older self asked, nose wrinkled.

“He hasn’t presented yet, he is small and fragile, so likely not an alpha, yet he does have a rather sweet mouthwatering scent…” Tom trailed off, trying to bait his older self.

“Sweet? Like an omega?” His older self asked, his eyes even more narrow now.

“Indeed. Sweet and small like an omega, he follows instruction quickly and acts exactly like an…” Tom trails off again.

“Impossible,” Breathed his older self, his face fascinated.

“Would you like to meet MY boy?” Tom asked his older self, taking delight in the unhesitating nod.

“Follow me- he will no doubt be in the library- and did you know about his living quarters! He lives in a damned MUGGLE ORPHANAGE-”

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Harry was sitting at his and Tom’s usual desk in the library when the door flew open. Startled, he dropped his book as he turned to look who was there. It was Tom and some older man- they looked identical-

“Harry?” Tom stepped forward, his arms raised slightly as if he were trying to approach a scared animal.

“T-Tom?” Harry stuttered, his eyes glancing between Tom and the stranger.

Tom looked satisfied? And the stranger looked excited? Or dumbfounded?

“Harry, this is my, erm, Father,” Tom said, indicating to the man behind him.

“Hi! I am Harry, sir.” Harry said, waddling over and sticking his hand out. The man's eyebrows rose as he wrapped his much, much larger hand around Harry’s.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Harry,” The man cooed, bending down slightly, as he towered over Harry.

“Whatcha doing here?” Harry mumbled, awkwardly trying to hide his body behind Tom’s.

“I heard something from my son about your peculiar skill, and then maybe we can discuss coming to live with me and Tom permanently instead of living with Muggles-” Mr Riddle was interrupted by a glowing Harry.

“Really!! You promise?” He asked, bubbling with excitement, smiling so widely Tom was frightened his face might stick that way.

Tom’s older self just smiled indulgently as he allowed Harry to wrap his pinky around his.

“I swear,” Mr Riddle said, something about his words felt- just so magical! Harry beamed.

Tom frowned behind Harry’s back as he felt his older self's magic surge as he swore. A swear is a very powerful piece of magic- if he broke that- Tom shuddered.

“Now about your rather unique ability?” Mr Riddle asked, looking down at Harry.

“You- you mean pastatounge? Par-parstletounge?” Harry looked up at Tom who was stifling a snort.

“Parseltounge, Harry,” He corrected gently.

“Yes, that's it!” Harry beamed once more. Mr Riddle nodded quickly.

“Can you say something?” He asked Harry.

“Tom is my bestest friend ever!” Harry hissed, watching absentmindedly as Mr Riddle stiffened.

Tom once again shuffled slightly as those hissed words shot straight to his groin. He quickly rearranged himself before looking up to his ‘father’ who was currently gaping. Tom wished in that second that his older self had the same little (but not little in the literal sense) problem as he did when he first heard Harry hiss. But of course, he didn’t, because ‘he would never yet himself succumb to those sort of thoughts’ that swot.

‘Mr Riddle’ thought he was going insane. This young boy, childishly adorable and cute, A PARSELMOUTH, about to MOVE IN with him to escape a damned MUGGLE ORPHANAGE, and has the scent of a delicious omega- what a treat. What did he do to fate to deserve this, ‘Mr Riddle’ thought as he gazed at this extraordinary kid, who was currently mouthing at the sleeve of his school robes.

Is he going insane?
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