AU: Tom and Harry are in Wool's Orphanage at the same time.
History may hate us, but they'll never forget our names.
How wonderful; how strange. To be loved by something that hates all else.
Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, b...
A few days later, once they had explored most of the Chamber, Tom and Harry looked around Salazar's Library.
Harry wandered the dust filled shelves as Tom read a book titled, "The Secret of the Darkest Art."
Suddenly calling to Harry, Tom said, "Love, look at this."
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"I've seen that term before." Harry muttered, "In that book about Dark Nobles."
"Yes, Herpo the Foul created one." Tom confirmed, "I always wondered what it was and here it is."
"The page is completely in Latin." Harry pointed out
"It wouldn't take that long to translate." Tom said, "Salazar most likely is fluent."
"He talked with us almost all day yesterday, his magic is most likely tired out." Harry reminded
Tom sighed, "Then what would you suggest?"
"There's a Slug Club meeting in two days and there's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow." Harry started the plan for him
Tom caught on quickly, "And Slughorn is so tightly wrapped around my finger he'd answer any question I asked if I did it correctly."
Tom pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead, "Love, you're a genius."
***
"Sir, is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?" Tom asked two days later at Slug Club
"Now, Tom, I couldn't tell you if I knew, could I? I must say, m'boy, I'd like to know where you get your information. You're more knowledgable than half the staff." Slughorn replied, making the other boys laugh, "By the way, thank you for the pineapple —you're quite right, it is my favorite— how is it you knew?"
"Intuition." Tom answered, as Slughorn glanced at the clock
"Good gracious, is it that time already? Off you go, boys, or Headmaster Dippett will have us all in detention. LeStrange, Avery, don't forget your essays are due tomorrow." Slughorn reminded, as the boys —save Tom and Harry— left
"Look sharp, boys. You don't want to be caught out of bed after hours." Slughorn warned them
"We know a secret shortcut or two." Harry dismissed
"Yes, I would imagine you boys do." Slughorn laughed, "Is there something on your mind, boys?"
"Yes, sir." Harry replied, "We couldn't think of anyone else to go to. The other professors, well, they're not like you. They might...misunderstand us."
"Go on." Slughorn urged
"We were in the library the other night, in the Restricted Section, and we read something rather odd, about a bit of rare magic and we thought perhaps you could illuminate us. It's called, as we understand it...a Horcrux." Tom said
"Excuse me?" Slughorn asked, his smile gone and his eyes wide
"A Horcrux. We came across the term while reading and we didn't fully understand it." Harry repeated
"I'm not sure what you were reading, boys, but that's very Dark stuff, very Dark indeed." Slughorn warned
"Yes, sir. Which is why we came to you. We mean no disrespect to the rest of the staff, but we thought if anyone could tell us...it would be you." Tom said
"A Horcrux is an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul." Slughorn answered
"Yes, we thought it might be something like that. But we don't understand how that works, sir." Harry pouted
"One splits one's soul and hides part of it in an object. By doing so, you are protected should you be attacked and your body destroyed." Slughorn continued
"Protected?" Tom asked, one brown eyebrow rising
"That part of your soul that was hidden, lives on. In other words, you cannot die." Slughorn concluded, eyes wide
"How does one split his soul, sir?" Harry asked
"I think you can guess the answer to that, boys." Slughorn said
"Murder?" Tom asked
"Yes. Killing rips the soul apart. It is a violation against nature. After, one is never the same." Slughorn answered
"Out of curiosity, sir, can you only split your soul once?" Tom asked, "For instance, isn't seven the most powerful magical number."
"Seven! Merlin's beard, Tom! Isn't it bad enough to think of killing one person? To rip the soul into seven pieces." Slughorn said, shaking his head in worry
"Also, sir," Harry asked, "is it possible for two people to share one Horcrux?"
"I wouldn't see why not, though according to the theory there would have to be one murder per person." Slughorn replied, his eyes widening even more, "This is all hypothetical, isn't it, boys? All academic."
"Of course, sir." Tom promised, smirking, "And we promise that we will not speak of our conversation. It'll be our little secret."
Tom pinched the candle's flame and both he and Harry left the stunned professor behind...
