It's quite warm in here
Tom frowned. He was in a meeting with the Knights of Walpurgis and he was really doubting their intelligence.
Harry was seated at his right, simply swinging his feet under the table silently. Tom almost smiled when he saw Harry yawn softly. He is so adorable. Harry must be so tired- Hadrian normally goes to sleep much earlier than it is right now.
Tom quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts as Nott finished his report.
“Thank you, Nott. Lestrange, please inform us of your findings,” Tom said, cutting Nott’s last few words off. Tom internally smirked as Nott quickly scrambled to sit back down.
Tom grew still quickly as Harry leaned over to his ear,
“Tommy? Back in my time when I have to be in meetings you normally allow me to sit on a cushion on the floor,” Harry mumbled, blushing slightly.
Tom smirked. So his son can’t even sit still for long. Understandable. It’s not like Harry will ever have to remember this information. Tom fished his wand out delicately, watching as all of the members of his gang pale at the sight of it. He silently transfigured Harry’s old chair into a large beanbag-looking cushion as Harry’s face lit up into a huge smile. Tom saw the looks of disgust on some of his member's faces as they saw the cushion too. No doubt the purebloods saw it as a disgrace to be sent off the table, especially from Tom’s right-hand seat too.
Harry curled up on the cushion before dragging it slightly over to Tom. Riddle rose an eyebrow at it but stayed silent as Harry snuggled into the cushion with his back pressed against Tom’s leg under the table. Tom stiffened as he felt Harry cuddle slightly into his lower side but didn’t think twice. His older self probably made Hadrian sit on a cushion at his feet as some twisted sort of dominance. Harry can’t possibly willingly want to cuddle on a cushion next to his feet? Could he?
Tom quickly dismissed his members out of the room before bending down slightly to Hadrian.
“Harry? Hadrian?” Tom gently whispered attempting to wake the sleeping boy.
“Tom? Tommy?” Harry mumbled, slightly drowsy as he rubbed his eyes with his hand.
Tom stifled a smile at the sight of a sleepy Harry. How lucky his older self is to get to see this every morning. Harry climbed out of the cushion nimbly before standing upright. Tom ruffled his hair up gently as Harry groaned and tried to swat his hand away.
“-ommy, Tommy!” Harry mumbled. Tom grinned and walked out of the door indicating for Harry to follow. As expected, Hadrian trotted after him like a lost puppy. So cute. Tom straightened his back and leaned up tall as he walked down the corridor. He froze as he felt a warm hand squeeze his own frosty cold one. Looking down at Harry who was clutching Tom’s fingers sleepily. Tom started at Hadrian, not moving as the younger boy tilted his head slightly in confusion. Tom flashed a quick smile before walking again, softly holding the warm hand too. Tom’s mind raced as he walked at the feeling of another human holding his hand. He never knew he craved something he had never had before. Tom gently turned Harry’s palm over as un-stopping, marveling at the size difference. Tom had long, thin pale hands while Harry had tiny hands, with a warm, healthy glow to them. Tom’s face broke into an uncontrolled smile as he tucked both of their hands into his Slytherin sweater pocket.
Warmth.
That was a new feeling. Different yes, but certainly not unwelcome.