Into the Arms of the Night

Chapter 2: The Dawn's Embrace

Sunlight filtered into the room and bathed it in a radiance that had never felt as welcoming to the dark lord as it had that morning. For the first time in he didn't know how many years, Tom Riddle woke up feeling lighter than he had for what seemed like decades; it probably had been, and with the inclination of thought to how he didn't want this new but pleasing feeling to go away.

This pleasant state had also seemed to allow him to awaken with an almost fully clear mind; one clear of any left-over anger. His highly switchable emotions appeared calmer, and he had a mood that bordered upon...almost completely relaxed and satisfied with the current situation he found himself in.

And this was all because of the situation he found himself currently in and because of the other person still lying beside of him; peacefully asleep and undeniably still present.

He had woken up in slight shock to find that Harry was still there beside him; that the teen-aged boy had not woken during the night hours and panicked from what he had done; he had not moved himself away to distance himself or tried to go to another room, nor had he even woken to simply force Tom's now flaccid member out of his body.

He had simply continued to sleep; to rest and take in the comfort of the protection that Tom had offered to him last night, and obviously that Harry had allowed to stay.

Tom really did look to this younger wizard now in respect and slight wonderment at how extraordinary Harry Potter actually and truly seemed to be. Irregardless of all the stories and rumors of the boy's luck and abilities; he had marveled at the thought of what this could mean. He continued to do so as he simply lied there and felt no desire to move away

He was puzzled over this as much as he was content with it. He was curious; both for himself and Harry as they came to an arrangement for his part that would aid his side of the wizard war, and what it could potentially mean and do for his campaign as a whole...

His scarlet gaze softened as he contently watched the powerful magic of Harry cocoon its master and he slightly tightened his arms around the younger man. Not wishing this moment to end and for Harry to walk away once he realized what he had done. He breathed in his scent; to remind him of the teen as he was in this moment with him, which was musky and smelled of a dense forest and low-burning campfires.

He smelled of it to calm his frazzled nerves. Nerves he had not been aware were there before with his very content sense of self.

Harry shifted slightly as Tom's arms wrapped themselves about him more securely and then he waited to see if Harry woke. The boy had moaned softly before the dark lord had sensed his breathing change pattern; assured that he had woken. Tom felt Harry stretch out against him like a cat before freezing momentarily and then relaxing again.

Tom forced himself to not moan or to thrust at him as Harry's walls gripped at him while he stretched. The boy sheathed him so damn well; it would be harder for him to let go if he ever had to. The younger man then turned his body slowly as his head looked to his and he smiled, "Thank you. I owe you now more than I could possibly repay you with."

That smile; the softness and genuine sincerity in it directed at the Dark Lord made Tom feel that even if he had not been sure of this before; it had been well worth it. To see Harry smiling like that.

Tom's hand came up to caress his face as his lips quirked into a half-smile, "The only thing I ask of you in repayment for this is to help me win this war in whatever manner you think you can."

Harry nodded slowly, "But what of my blindness? What did you have in mind for me to do while I cannot see?"

Tom smiled, " Firstly, I want you to be aware that while I would have liked for you to side with me and to be an active agent to the fieId operations for me and my associates; I was also comfortable with you assuming to opt out of the war and offer only financial support to me or helpful information.