The Boy Who Was Given Up

Chapter twenty: Answers and secrets

Meanwhile, in Snape's room

As soon as Harry left, Snape's mind started racing. "How could this have happened?" he muttered, running to the Floo.

"Tom promised me he would not seek out the boy and tell him the truth," Snape muttered right before saying, "Malfoy Manor."

"Tom!" he yelled, running up to his room.

"Tom, where are you? We need to talk!" Snape shouted again. A man with chestnut brown, wavy hair appeared.

"What is the matter, Severus?" he asked, worried.

It was a peculiar scene. Everything about the man was frightening, though he did not seem frightening. His eyes were as red as blood yet full of love. Everything you could see in this man radiated pure, untouched love.

"I thought we had an agreement that you would not seek out Harry. How could you betray me like this?" Snape asked sadly.

"I did not. I promise, Sev, I would never betray you!" Tom answered defensively.

"Then how does he know everything?" Snape asked.

"I do not know. Would Draco have told him? He seems very fond of Harry."

"No, he would not do that, no matter what. He gave me this and said he knew everything and informed me of a deal you both made. That is not all. He told me to say hi to you," Snape said accusingly.

"I did not. I swea—" A look of realization crossed Tom's face as he looked at the diary Snape was holding.

"Is that—" he asked.

Snape nodded and handed it to him. "You were saying," Snape said bluntly.

"The diary... my diary... it is a Horcrux. Seeing as it has been sitting there for many years..." Tom trailed off, then turned on his heel and ran into the room he had come from.

"Hey, get back here! What are you doing? We are not finished!" Snape yelled, running after him.

When Snape entered, he saw Tom sitting on a chair next to a desk, waving him over. Snape cautiously took a chair. Confusion marked his face.

"This—" Tom motioned toward the book. "This is how Harry knows," he said plainly, as if speaking to a toddler.

Snape frowned. "So you indicated, but how?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Look," Tom said, and wrote:

Hello, Tom. Well, past Tom.

It disappeared, leaving Snape's eyes wide as the book replied:

Hello, future Tom. Good to see Harry delivered it to Snape. Good to see you are still in touch with him. Is he still super hot or did you get over him?

The last comment made Tom blush while Snape snorted.

He is right beside me, and you got me in trouble with him for talking to Harry. I promised I would not, Tom wrote.

Oh, I am sorry, Sev. I did not know. Oh well. Now you need to deliver on the deal I made with Harry and tell him everything. Also, you need to stop the basilisk.

Damn, I knew you would try something one of these days. You stayed dormant for so long, there had to be a relapse of time. Pity Harry did not take my advice and avoid Hogwarts, Tom wrote.

Well, if anything, that made it worse. He got curious as to who you are.

Damn, oh well, what is done is done.