HARRY'S POV:
I woke up groggily, disoriented and unsure of where I was. Instinctively, I cuddled into the warmth of the sheets around me before reality hit—these weren't the scratchy blankets of the Dursleys' cupboard. Panic surged through me, and I was about to bolt or scream when strong arms enveloped me in a gentle embrace.
For a moment, I tensed, expecting punishment like I'd always known. But then, a calm voice broke through my fear, soothing me, and telling me to calm down. Slowly, the panic ebbed, and I remembered the events of the previous night with the stranger who had come to save me.
I looked up and saw Voldemort—Tom Riddle—holding me. Fear gripped me anew, and I struggled against his hold, wanting to escape. Yet, he didn't let go, and his voice, strangely calming, reached through the turmoil inside me. I glanced up at him through my eyelashes, uncertain and afraid.
Tom spoke softly, promising to protect me, to care for me instead of causing harm. Something in his words and demeanour made me feel like I could trust him, just a little. I nodded hesitantly, a silent gesture of tentative trust.
He asked about my medical report and whether there were any mental conditions he should know about. I hesitated, nervous, before finally admitting in a small voice that I had a "little side." Tom didn't seem to hear me, so I repeated it louder. His expression shifted to surprise, and I feared rejection once more. Tears welled up, but before I could break down completely, he pulled me close, rocking me gently and whispering words of reassurance and praise.
After a while, exhaustion took over, and I still felt safe in his arms. Tom noticed my tiredness and gently asked me to open my mouth. Confused, I obeyed, and he placed a pacifier—a dummy—inside. It was a strange comfort, but it helped soothe me further.
As I drifted off to sleep, he continued to hold me close, offering the kind of security I hadn't known in years. For the first time in a long time, I slept without nightmares or terrors haunting me.
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Tom's little serpent
FanfictionHarry is severely abused by those people he's supposed to live with. what happens when Severus snape finds Dumbledor trying to hide this evidence. Well, he tells Tom about their similar upbringing in the next meeting. how will tom react and what pat...
