Chapter 2: The Light of His Life

The Doll's Dream: 'The Breath if Life is My Gift to You. Our Souls are Joined as One'


Chapter 2:


Tom groaned as he came to wake in a dim room. His head pounded painfully as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. All he could remember was the pain. Great pain, and he passed out. Suddenly, he remembered. The baby boy. Harry James Potter. That was his name. During the ritual of the Splitting Souls, Harry's baby memories all flooded into him. Tom knew of the cruel deeds that old lady Potter had done. He was angry. Very angry. How could she not see that young Harry is a remarkable child who is a fighter.

Tom struggled to sit up and a pair of gentle hands slowly helped him then fluffed up the pillows so he was comfortable. "How are you?" asked Perenelle gently. "Gave me quite a scare when you suddenly fell to the ground," Tom smiled tiredly at her, his raven eyes were shining with anger. Anger at the old lady. She was going to get what she deserved.


"I'm fine," replied Tom quietly. "Where's Harry?" Perenelle gave him a questioning look. Tom sighed. "Harry's the baby," And he proceeded to explain what he briefly saw in Harry's memories before he passed out. Perenelle looked dismayed by the end of it as she murmured "So young yet his life was already so disturbed," Tom felt thorough agreement to that comment and he inclined his head. "Yes, it's sad, but we will make his life a happy one. Before I ask you something, where is Nicolas?" asked Tom seriously. Just as he said that, the door to the room he rested in opened and Nicolas entered, cradling a cooing baby. Perenelle smiled as Nicolas came over and settled himself on the bed with Harry.


"Such a cute one," said Nicolas with a proud grin like as though Harry was his son. Tom chuckled. "Who would've thought. The slave driver has a soft spot for kids," said Tom playfully as Nicolas glared at him, blushing slightly. Perenelle broke down into peals of laughter and Tom joined in soon after. When they'd caught their breath, Tom said shyly "I would like it if the two of you became his godparents. Do you... mind?"


Nicolas and Perenelle exchanged delighted looks. Finally! A little child they could pamper, love and spoil! Due to some accident, Perenelle could not conceive childre. They had thought of adoption, but... Nicolas didn't want to adopt. He said that he would provide Perenelle with enough love and had jokingly said he wasn't going to share her.


"We'd love to be his Godparents Tom," said Nicolas warmly. He placed Harry on the bed, and Harry blinked in green eyes as he took in the presence of the new people. There, in the middle of his forehead rested a single lightning bolt shape signifying the only side effect of the Soul bond between him and Tom. "Welcome to the family Harry Mikhail Riddle," said Tom happily. Harry cooed his laughter and his eyes danced happily. Indeed, it seemed as though he liked this new arrangement.

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Lily tiredly placed Aidan into the cot and tucked him in with his blue blanket. Oh, the pain she went through everyday when she saw the things like Harry's milk bottle or pacifier lying around. She knew that after the 5th time she broke down, James had probably put all of Harry's baby things somewhere she couldn't see. Her precious baby. Dead of a fever. He had been a sickly child but she was so sure he would heal. As she looked down at the sleeping Aidan and his sister Rose, the dull ache lessened slightly but was replaced again when she realized, they would grow up never knowing that they had a baby brother.


She brushed away a stray tear and exited the nursery quietly. Upon exiting the room, she slumped down to the floor and cradled her head in her hands sobbing softly "Harry, oh Harry. I'm so sorry. Mummy's sorry she couldn't do anything for you,"


Old lady Potter watched her daughter in law break down at the exit of the nursery. She felt guilty, but pushed it off. No, she did it for the greater good. Now that the third triplet was out of the way, no harm would befall her family. No one would ever know the dirty deed she had committed. No one would know. She smiled evilly and went back to her room.


________


A year later....


James and Lily laughed as Aidan and Rosaline (aka Rose) stood up unsteadily and tottered a few steps towards their encouraging parents. As soon as they tumbled into their respective parents' arms, they laughed as Lily and James praised them. Lilly kissed Aidan's forehead and cooed "Such a good strong boy!" She stood up and swung him around, enjoying his loud laughter and his shouts of Mama. James chuckled and cuddled Rosaline. He stage whispered "We won't play rough like them. Especially not with a little princess like you!" Rose giggled and hugged her papa. "Wove you Papa!" she giggled. James kissed her forehead and replied "Papa loves you too sweetie,"

_____


Harry sat at a small table on a stool as Perenelle was seated on a large cushion. He listened with great attention to the story of the Goblin Rebellion. It intrigued him and his mind that seemed to sponge up every piece of information he came across. Harry Mikhail Potter was most certainly a genius and powerful child. By the time he was 5 months old, he was up and walking. By 8 months, he spoke clearly in his cute baby voice in fluent sentences and was already starting to read. By them time he was 1 (presently) he read many thick tomes that held his interest.


His father -Tom- made a timetable for him. Harry would take History lessons with Perenelle in the morning and Fighting lessons with Nicolas in the evening. Due to the fact Harry's magic was growing at a fast rate, Tom decided to personally teach him Occlumency and Legilimens. Perhaps when Harry was 5, he'd be able to get a wand and they could start him on Charms and Transfiguration. Harry was certainly a bright child that took great interest in not only his books but also the outdoors. The Flamels' gardener took it to him to teach him how to look after the plants in the giant backyard and greenhouse as well as their names and habitats.


Tom was happy Harry settled in his new family so well. When he did well, Tom would pamper him and take him out for picnics and games. If he did something bad, he was sent to the naughty corner for a period of time to think over what he did wrong. This would help to mature his mind and allow him to think things through before jumping into an action blindly. Tom shook out of his thoughts and looked up at the grandfather clock in his study and smiled. 10'o'clock.


He stood up, stretched lightly before exiting the study and walking down the carpeted corridor to the playroom where Harry had his lessons with his godmother. Tom's footsteps were swallowed by the thick and soft carpet as he knocked on the playroom door. "Come in," came the soft and gentle voice of Perenelle. He entered with a smile knowing that he would see Harry begging Perenelle to continue her story of the history tale they'd been learning.


"Please Aunty Nellie! It's just a bit more," begged Harry, using his puppy dog face. Perenelle chuckled and gathered him in her arms. "No Harry. It's time you went out to the gardens. I should think that Mike would be waiting to teach you more about the Devil's Snare," Perenelle smiled down at her godson who was pouting slightly but smiled when he heard the word garden. He kissed Perenelle's cheek and hopped off her lap.


He grabbed Tom's hand and tugged impatiently. "Come on daddy! Let's go!" he said with the impatience of a one-year-old. Tom laughed and pulled Harry up, swinging him up to his shoulder. Hearing his son's delighted shriek made him smile. As they made their way down to the gardens, Harry remained seated on his daddy's shoulders laughing happily. A jolly faced man in his mid 30's came out of one of the many greenhouses on the Flamel land with a bright grin on his face. "Here again you master?" he greeted jovially, looking up slightly at Harry who was giggling and asking to be out down.


When Tom finally mock relented, Harry smiled brightly and Mike. "Yes! I'm here to disturb you and ask you many questions again uncle Mikey!" he said excitedly. Mike chuckled jovially and held out his hand. "Come along then. Let's get cracking shall we?" he said, smiling when Harry took his hand and trotted after him into the greenhouse. Tom shook his head and smiled before he walked off and out of the Flamel estate. He had something to take care of.


_______


Old lady Potter sat on her rocking chair inside the sitting room of the Potter's house. She tried to ignore the cheerful noise out in the backyard. She could see through the sliding door's glass how much the children meant to her son and daughter-in-law. Sometimes she could see Lily sighing sadly and a wishful look appear on her face before it melted away into a smile. She knew that Lily still missed her youngest child. "It's all for the greater good. That useless sick child would've died anyway," muttered old lady Potter to herself unconvincingly. In her mind, she repeated a mantra she had came up with over the year. 'I did it for the greater good. I'm not at fault'.


Blinded by the so called 'greater good', she started to believe the lie she had come up with. Suddenly, the room's temperature dropped drastically as a man Apparated into the sitting room followed by a few other men dressed in black cloaks and masked. The man looked down at her coldly and pulled out his wand, uttering "Imperio,".


______


James watched as Lily told Aidan and Rosaline a Muggle fairy-tale. The children was so enraptured by the story their mouths were agape. Suddenly, James felt a cold shiver run down his spine. 'Mother,' he thought standing up quickly and striding back to the sliding door that separated the backyard with the sitting room. He reached just in time to see a man take out his wand and mutter a spell he could not hear. His mother's eyes glazed over as she slumped down in the rocking chair.


One of the masked man saw him standing there and James cursed his stupidity. The man took out his wand and before James knew it, the sliding door exploded. James quickly took out his wand and bellowed "PROTEGO!" The Shield Charm prevented the glass from harming him. He heard Lily's alarmed cry as she rushed over with Aidan and Rosaline.


"LILY! GET OUT OF HERE!" he shouted. Lily caught her husband's panicked look and gathered up her children and was about to Apparate out of there when another masked person -a woman by the sound of the voice- shriek "Immobulus!" Immediately, Lily and the children were immobile and was floating off the ground. The man that stood before James' mother smirked coldly. His black eyes held no pity for the family. "Good job Bella," he said offhandedly. "Bring them in along with Potter," James noted that the man spat out his last name like it was a poison or something. The woman -Bella- waved her wand carelessly and Lily and the children was floated into the house and dumped unceremoniously on the sofa. With another wave of her wand, the children and Lily were tied up.


"You either come in quietly and sit or I'll petrify you and personally dragged you in," threatened Bella. James had pride and walked in with his head held high. "Expelliarmus," muttered Bella, catching James' wand in her outstretched hand. James was about to protest but was shoved onto the couch by one of the masked people and was tied up next to his wife. "Bella, please allow the dear" spat out the man. "To be conscious for this,"


Bella nodded and muttered a quick "Finite," over the three immobilized people. They were immediately struggling but failed because of the ropes. The man was satisfied and turned back to old lady Potter. "Ah yes. Old lady Potter. I could always remember your sharp tongue back in my school days. Especially when you came to watch the Triwizard Tournament," sighed the man. He smiled coldly and glared down at her. "Now, tell your dear son and daughter-in-law what you did to Harry,"


Lily and James' eyes widened in surprise as old lady Potter started off in a monotone. "Albus approached me a few days before you delivered the children. He said that if they were triplets, I was to get rid of the one I disliked. So, when you turned out to have triplets, I immediately hated the frail one. He disgusted me. I hated his ugly eyes. So, one night and took him out and chucked him into an alleyway," After a moment she added "It was for the greater good,"


Lily let out an anguished cry as she started sobbing. James paled at his mother's words. "How could you..." he said in a hushed voice. "HOW COULD YOU!" he bellowed angrily. His children were afraid and upset so they too started crying. Tom smirked mercilessly. "Because your mother is and evil cow James Potter," he hissed. He turned his wand on old lady Potter and said "Finite," Immediately, the glassy look was gone as she stared up fearfully at Tom.


"Tom Riddle," she whispered fearfully. His smirked widened and he said coldly. "The last name you will ever utter. Avada Kevadra," Lily screamed as the blinding green light flashed out of the wand and her mother-in-law's eyes died of all light and life. James felt his tears run down his cheeks. "She deserved it," hissed Bella. Tom nodded to one of the shorter man and he took off his mask.


"Peter!" said James disbelievingly. "You! You were out Keeper! Why?!" Peter's watery eyes looked sadly at his friend. "I did it because it was the right thing to do. You allowed Harry to suffer, now you will suffer," he said quietly before Apparating out. The others followed and finally on Tom remained. He released them from their ropes and threw James' wand at him. With the skills of a Seeker, he caught the wand easily.


"You're going to need it," said Tom with an evil smile. He pointed his own wand at the ceiling of the sitting room and said "Bombarda Maxima," The ceiling exploded and Tom Apparated out of there a split second after he cast the spell. James shouted a powerful Shield Charm that protected him and his family from the falling ceiling and crumbling house. He watched as the woman who raised him body get crushed by a large piece of the ceiling.


______


Peter Apparated in Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The house was Sirius' after his brother Regulus died. Peter's friend lived here with his boyfriend Remus. He landed in the living room where Remus was reading a book. He looked up in surprise and saw Peter standing there. "Peter! What are you doing here?" asked Remus. Peter looked grimly at his friend and said mysteriously "I suggest you go to Godric's Hollow and help James," before Disapparating . Remus stood up and shouted "SIRIUS!"

___


By the time Sirius and Remus arrived at the Potters little house in Godric's Hollow, nothing was left standing except for a single sofa seating the 4 Potters. Remus ran over to them and noticed that James was very pale. Lily was cradling both Aidan and Rosaline to her chest as James was holding up the shield.


"James... Let it drop. We need to get you to St. Mungo's," said Remus gently. Sirius came over and helped carry Aidan whilst Remus carried Rosaline. Lily looked like she was about to drop into a dead faint at the ground. "No Remmy, bring us back to Grimmauld Place. We aren't hurt," said James tiredly. Remus carefully took out a portkey and activated it bringing them back to Grimmauld Place.


_____


Tom Apparated into Bella's house just after what he had done. A satisfied smile plastered on his face as he sat down heavily on the sofa. Bella came in with two drinks and a smirk on her face. She silently handed one to Tom and they clinked the glasses together before tossing back the gin. "Never had that much fun in my life," drawled Bella as she sat opposite Tom. Tom inclined his head with a smirk and gulped down the rest of the gin. "All in an afternoon's work Bella dear," he replied wolfishly.


Bella chuckled throatily before she too emptied out her glass. As the two friends sat back and contemplated the events that had happened, a comfortable silence shrouded the place. Finally, Bella spoke up teasingly "Tommy boy. How're you and Sevvy poo?" Tom blanched as a blush worked its way up his high cheeks. Bella grinned wickedly and continued "Don't tell me you still haven't told him how you felt!" She had a look of mock horror on her face as Tom glared at her.


"Zip it Bells," he muttered. Bella burst into laughter as her friend sat on her sofa in embarrassed silence. "Ah," she said cheerfully. "You should just snog him senseless," Tom stood up abruptly still blushing. "I'm going," he said, embarrassed.


Bella wolf whistled. "Going to snog Sevvy?" she asked wickedly. Tom glared at her again and grounded out "No, I'm going home to my son," Bella pouted and waved carelessly just as Tom Disapparated. She sat back and smiled. Her gay friend could be so much fun.

_____


Harry was brought back into the house by Nicolas -his uncle Uncle Nick- for lunch after an intensive but interesting Herbology lesson with Mike. Harry was telling Nicolas everything he had learned today in his cute childish voice and Nicolas was listening intently. Even when Harry was sitting down for lunch after washing his hands, he continued to talk but not when he was chewing. They had taught him table manners and Harry respected that.


"Are you full Harry?" asked Perenelle when Harry finished a second helping of pasta. Harry smiled innocently and replied cutely "Never too full for dessert Aunt Nellie!" She laughed as Nicolas nodded to Maria to bring out the dessert. After that he turned to Harry with a warm smile on his face. "Brownie and ice cream okay with you Harry?" he asked, knowing full well Harry had a humongous sweet tooth and willingly ate anything sweet.


"I'm fine with it," replied Harry cheerfully. If possible, he smile got even bigger when his dessert was placed in front of him. He wasted no time in devouring it and asking Maria for a second helping. Suddenly, their maid -Aesha- came in and announced "Master Riddle is back," Just as Tom strode through the doorway of the dining room. Harry's face lit up as he ran to hug his father. "Daddy!" he exclaimed. Tom chuckled and picked Harry up, hugging his son tightly. This little boy wormed his way into Tom's cold heart.


Just when he thought he would never find someone to love this much, Harry came along. A weak baby who fought hard to the end. Tom kissed Harry's forehead and placed him on the floor. "Harry, do you mind going to the library? I need to speak with Aunt Nellie and Uncle Nicky for awhile," Harry nodded and ran out of the dining room with Maria following along, fussing that Harry shouldn't run to fast or he may fall.


When they'd left, Tom waved his hand carelessly shutting the door and he put up a Silencing Charm. He sat down before Perenelle and Nicolas looking older than a 29 year old. His eyes were full of anguish as well as pride. "Perenelle... Nicolas... I killed old lady Potter," he whispered.


End Chapter 2. *The Doll's Dream*