the gift of fear (tomarry) (harry x death)

we lost him to the stars

Chalrus is here, again. Selene slips up the staircase without so much as a second glance at Charlus. Charlus notes him in his usual spot and slides in beside him.

"Did you get my letter?" Charlus asks.

Tom clears his throat. "I did," he says carefully.

"Why didn't you respond?"

"Harry doesn't have anything other than a personal owl," says Tom, shrugging, eyes downcast. In reality, he thinks of Harry standing before his victory and proclaiming Charlus cannot stand in my way. "I'm not allowed to use it."

Despite what Klippers and Kreacher have put together, Tom thinks it is better that Charlus stay out of Harry's business entirely. They haven't seen what he has. They have little idea of the true horror behind this house. Tom has a responsibility here.

He doesn't know Charlus very well, but he knows enough to figure that he is nothing like Harry. He does deserve protection. Tom will not subject another person to this Hell of a home. Even if it means risking sacrificing liberation.

Klippers would skin him alive if she knew about this. Another lie he has to tell to her.

"Oh," says Charlus. "I'm sorry, kiddo. Did you read it, at least?"

Read it. And burned it. If Harry didn't already read it, he wasn't going to give him the opportunity to. "I did," he says. "Your handwriting is atrocious."

Charlus laughs. "Wow, shamed by a child. I'd never." He snaps his fingers and Tom flinches back involuntarily. Charlus gives him a questioning look. "Did you read what I said? About Harry?"

Tom stares at the table. He does not raise his head. "I did," he said. "I can't agree."

"Have you heard the rumours about him?" asks Charlus. "The house elf ones?"

"I live with him," says Tom. He can almost feel Harry's voice, demanding and strong, coming out of his mouth. "I don't appreciate gossip about my guardian." He is curious, however, how much of the truth the wizarding world has some idea of.

His curiosity is overrun by empathy. He is the opposite of Harry. He is no one's successor.

"But they're insane. And it's all his opposers are talking about. How have you not heard them, as his child?"

Tom bites the inside of his cheek. "We don't get that much outside news from here," says Tom. "Harry doesn't like to talk about his work." Harry has many secrets, too. He reveals some of them to Tom only because he is trying to raise a proper heir.

"Harry Potter is--"

"Stop," says Tom. "I don't want to hear you slander my father." I don't want you to put yourself further into danger.

Charlus puts his hands up. "Okay," he says. "Okay. Sorry, sorry; I've always had a problem with running my mouth like this. Ever since Harry stated being fishy, I couldn't help but start digging."

"It's fine," says Tom. "I'll..." and it is a bad idea, he's aware, to risk growing close to a man who could die for it, but he is lonely, lonely, lonely, "... take you up for that game of chess, though."

Charlus grins. "Are you any good?"

"No one here wants to play Muggle chess," says Tom, shrugging. "So I'm a little rusty."

"Ah, I'm sure you'll do great." He raises a stick -- a wand, Tom remembers -- and waves it. A cheese board appears on the table between them. Tom makes the first move.

"You're a very mature kid," notes Charlus, moving his pond.

"Thanks." It's the trauma.

When Tom's hand moves to grab his piece, Charlus's eyes lock onto it.