Healing Hearts

Chapter 1

"Ripper, come here boy! Yes, who's a good boy? Who's a good dog?"
There was a pause as three incredulous stares watched a pair of boy and man's best friend tumble together down onto the grass.
"Maybe this one doesn't have as bad of blood as I thought, Vernon."
"Humph."

-

"Potter, Harry."
Dead silence filled the Great Hall of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as a small boy, the smallest of the year, stepped out of the line in the front of the hall and walked towards an older teacher standing next to a grinning hat. The hat sank down on the head of the small boy, covering his face from the whispers and stares of the students, as it began to speak in the little one's head. 'My, quite the heart you have, Mr. Potter.'
Minutes passed as the elder students became more curious, until the placement was announced.
"Hufflepuff!"

-

"Professor Quirrell? Are you alright? You seem to be conflicted."
"N-now, M-M-Mr. Pot-t-ter, why w-wo-would you say th-tha-that?"
"Why, your soul, Professor. I can hear it wailing."
"Would you please come with me, Mr. Potter?"
"Of course, sir."

-

"Look into the mirror, boy, and tell me what you see!" A dubious, tied-up boy did as instructed and looked into the Mirror of Erised. Two faces appeared over the boy's shoulders, and his heart warmed at the sight.
"Why, sir, I see you, me, and Tom Riddle. We're all healed up and happy."
For he saw two men of similar heights standing over him, ruby red eyes shining contently on a handsome face to his right, and a turban-free head of hair swaying in a nonexistent breeze on his left.
"Liessss! He'sssss lying!"
"D-do-don't worry M-Master, I w-w-will get th-th-the stone."
A blast of magic was felt throughout the underground chamber as flames crept up the hands of a little boy's attacker.

-

"BOY! Get these damned animals out of my house, now!"
"But, Uncle Vernon, sir, they're injured."
"Then bloody well leave them to die! To hell if I care! I don't need any more freakishness in this house! It's bad enough that we have to keep you here!"
"...Of course, sir."

-

"Neville, look! That toad kind of looks like Trevor!"
A small smile came to the plump boys face as he was reminded of his familiar.
"But take a look at these snakes, they're so shiny!"
"Yes, they're really beautiful."
The snakes perked up and stared at the little boy with glowing green eyes. A speaker.
"Umm, Harry? Why are you hissing?"
Two sets of wide eyes met each other while a third cluelessly looked between them.
"What do you mean?"
"Harry, look at that snake again and say hello."
"Hello?"
Neville yelped before covering his mouth, darting quick glances around them.
"Harry, that is parseltongue."
"What's that?"
Both boys practically fell on their little friend in shock.
"Wha- what's- Harry, parseltongue is the language of You-Know-Who."
"Yeah, it's rumored to be the mark of a dark wizard."
"Wh-which is obviously not true! We all know you're a great person Harry."
"Yeah, no hereditary gene marks someone as an evil or good wizard."
Three heads whipped around to spot a gaggle of Hufflepuff girls standing near them, a small kneazle standing in between.
"Really? I'm sorry, I- I didn't know. I won't do it again, I'll make sure."
A casual hand waved dismissively through the air as the girls approached their cute, little housemate.
"Don't worry about it, Harry. Hufflepuffs defend their own. Just because we found out you have a 'dark' trait doesn't mean you're any different than the little baby 'puff we all looked after last year."
"Hey!"

-

"The name's Padma Patil. It's nice to finally meet you Harry, and you did a great job with the pixies back there."
"Thanks, I'm not quite sure what came over me though. I just didn't want anyone to get hurt."
"It's no problem, I can understand that. I'm more of a defensive person too, though my twin is the opposite. I believe that's why she's in Gryffindor and I'm here."
"Yeah, I don't like the idea of hitting or beating people. I see too much of that in bullies."
"Exactly! Say, do you want to go study some defensive and healing spells with me sometime?"
"Sure, I'd like that."

-

"Hello, Mr. Riddle. How are you?"
"Harry Potter, I presume. How do you know my name?"
"I... don't know. I just know it, I guess."
"Don't lie to me boy. That's not possible... But then again, surviving a killing curse wasn't possible until you did it, either."
"...I'm just special?"
A snort was his response, but Harry's mind was already focused on the body he just noticed lying a little bit behind Tom.
"Who- is that Ron's little sister?"
"Yes, but she won't wake. I am using her soul to recreate mine. Nothing you can do will save her."
"Horcruxes... that's what you're trying to undo, isn't it? You killed Myrtle with Salazar's basilisk in your fifth year to create your first one. You are the first, aren't you?"
"Where are you getting this information? Has Dumbledore told you already? I didn't think he'd ruin the innocence of such a young child."
A shrug was all the Dark Lord was given before Harry's attention switched fully to the unconscious female behind Tom.
"If you refuse to answer me, then I have no choice but to use force. Speak to me, Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

-

"Fawkes! Can you save her?"
A trill echoed in the chamber as Tom hunched in on himself. Any evil that hears a phoenix's song is as listening to claws on a chalkboard.
Fawkes flew over to the dying girl and, following his charge's pleas, cried onto her chest. The healing properties of a phoenix's tears did the rest.
"This will not be the last you see of me, Harry Potter!"
"I know Tom... I know..."

-

Hello Tom.