Not strong Enough

Chapter 2: The Beginning

Summary:

He was going to give Tom the one thing he never had: Love.
After months of preparation, Harry was ready to go back in time and meet the source of all his pain and misery: Tom Riddle. Harry would give him his unconditional love, and that would change everything— he would make a new future, one that ended with his eternal rest and a content, complete soul. Harry never thought of failure as a possibility. He would realize too late that Life and Fate were fickle, ancient beings that answered to no one. And so Harry left to the past, a time where Tom Riddle was still redeemable, to love and change Tom for the better and create a newer, happier future— nary a thought to what Fate had in store for him.

Harry found himself surrounded by a new but familiar landscape; he had landed in the middle of a park in London that was shadowed by a canopy of trees. He immediately disillusioned himself and tucked in the time turner back behind his shirt. He noticed men in suits and fedoras with their hair slicked and combed back, women with skirts past their knees but short enough to show their ankles and calves, their hair curled and pinned back. Cars roared and rumbled past Harry; they had an antique look to them in Harry's eyes. Harry was in the muggle world, that much was certain.

Harry quickly transfigured his own clothing, randomly choosing from passersby, to match that of those around him. After he was finished, Harry was dressed in a suit of a dark grey-black with padded shoulders and single button for the jacket; tapered legs on his suit trousers; a wide tie with a simple geometric pattern of green and black which suited his piercing, intense emerald eyes; and a dark grey-black colored fedora that suited his inky, slightly messy hair. His pale skin, almost translucent, stood out against the dark colors that now adorned him. Harry made a very striking figure when he stepped out from the shadows of the trees into the sunlight. Not just because of his delicate but strong appearance but also due to the quiet aura of power that surrounded him. The muggles, while ignorant of the magical world, could still feel and practically taste the peculiar feeling in the air. The pull Harry had Muggles would describe as charisma. This was a man that drew people in.

Harry did not know the exact date he landed in— time travel was a tricky thing to master. Even in the future there was only limited information on it, so he moved quickly and stopped a pair of distinguishing pair of gentlemen walking his way. They were both better dressed than most of those around: one was tall, slim but had a strong body. He appeared to be around the age of 45, a little grey at the temples, with his hair combed back. He had dark blue eyes adorning a handsome lined face, a cane, and a brass pocket watch. The man next to him was shorter with thinning blond hair with brown eyes. He was decked out with a cane, a gold pocket watch whose chain hanged from a pocket, and an eye glass. He looked a little younger than his companion. They both wore similar dark suits and exuded wealth.

"Excuse me sirs, may I look at your paper for a moment?" Harry asked politely after stepping in their way.

They stopped and looked over Harry's striking appearance, and both men became instantly curious about the young man that stood before them. They glanced at each other and conceded, handing over the newspaper so they could observe him a little while longer. The older gentlemen observed Harry closely, his calm demeanor, tasteful clothing and overall physical appearance, before opening his mouth to address him. There was something about him that drew him in. After a moment, he realized what it was. The young man was no ordinary lad.

"You have to be new around here young man. I don't believe we have had the pleasure of meeting before. And I am sure I would have remembered you." The older gentleman asked with a questionable lit to his voice and a curiously knowing gleam in his eyes.

"Why do you say that?" Harry asked warily as he saw the look in the man's eyes.

The older man who spoke continued. "You have the most striking eyes I have ever seen. I am sure I would have remembered seeing you before... even without your remarkable eyes I would have remembered you—you stand out, so to say."