Tom breathed a sigh of relief - everyone was asleep at last and he could write a letter to Severus. The ‘story' explaining his ancestry had gone smoothly. Dora had been sympathetic to his orphan status and had not asked for further details. Tom wrote that Dora had asked the questions they had expected, and would likely relay the story to her mother immediately.

Severus had brewed an adoption potion - one that with Severus' blood and Tom's in it would link them magically. It was an old potion that was not used now, as it would only show that the recipient was a family member of the adopter if a magical scan was done. There were much better adoption potions now, but it was exactly the one they wanted. It would show Tom as a Prince family member - since the Snapes were not magical the potion would default to the magical line in Severus' blood.

Albus would hear Tom's story, fairly soon, they expected. Severus would be prepared with explanations, and hopefully Albus would be persuaded that Tom was an asset. Tom finished the letter with the news that Harry was starting to complain that his glasses were hurting his eyes and they would be seeing the healer in the morning.

It had only been a few days, but everyone was missing Severus, including Tom. Tom couldn't remember ever missing someone before. The orphanage and the people in it he tried to forget every year when he left for Hogwarts, and wouldn't dream of missing them. He was never close to the teachers, and any students he ‘befriended' there were friends for what he could get from them and he never ‘missed' them

There was only one thing that he could remember ever missing in his old life...Hogwarts. The first time he had seen it - as a first year, and was about to get in those tiny boats to cross the lake he had been spellbound. He'd never seen anything half as beautiful and he'd always gotten the same surge of happiness and awe every year he came back. He'd never really understood the concept of the word home until attending the school, and he had secretly considered the castle his ‘home' until he had awakened from the diary...now he had Dragonsrest - and Severus Snape.

When they had done the adoption potion Tom had thought it was simply to enable their ruse to trick Albus a bit better. Severus had soon enlightened him:

"I want you to feel a member of this family, Tom. You and I have no blood ties, but we do have ties of common interest - we both care deeply for Harry and want to see him safe from the Dark Lord. But I have also come to respect you and I want to provide you a home. With this adoption potion I become your guardian as well as your relative in the magical world. You have the same rights as any son of the house, here at Dragonsrest - just as Harry does. I want you to remember that - this is always your home." Severus had looked at him seriously.

Tom shook the memory away. At the time he had managed to tightly control his emotions, and had ignored the band around his chest that had made it hard to breathe. Unfortunately, that sensation always returned every time he remembered what Severus had said.

"I keep telling you he was quite in earnest, Tom. He and Harry care a great deal about you, and want you to feel that you are a part of their family. It's an unusual family, to be sure, but the bonds are just as real." Yvane spoke up, speaking earnestly.

"Do you really believe this will last? Something is sure to happen to destroy it all." Tom's hand tightened on the quill, nearly to its breaking point, as he whispered his answer to the dragon. "I depend on your control much of the time, and you prompt a lot of my responses to the boys during our classes. I'd have been kick out of the tutoring job without you, and they'd never have trusted me if they didn't know you are in control of my magic." Tom's chest tightened further, making him pant in distress.

"Yes, they realize you need to relearn a lot of things that are instinct to you to defend yourself. It's only been just over a month - and already you are much improved. You controlled yourself in Diagon Alley after that first slip with Charlie. You are polite to Petunia Dursley - who represents much that you have always disliked. I assure you that Lucius and Severus would not leave you in charge much of the time if they did not trust you - not just me." Yvane answered earnestly.

Tom finished signing the letter with clenched teeth and stinging eyes and sent it off with the patiently waiting owl. Tom then crawled on top of his bed, curling onto his side and clutching a pillow. He could not remember crying since he had been very, very small - he had been four, he thought, and several boys had beaten him up after a game of marbles.

An episode of accidental magic - perhaps his very first, he now knew. He had tossed his marble, and almost all of the other marbles had exploded outside of the circle, to the other boys' fury. They had yelled that he was a cheat, although how a four year old could have achieved that, they did not know. He'd cried that night, but never again.

Now Tom buried his face in the pillow and wept, stifling the sobs as best he could. He had once heard that if you loved nothing or no one, you never had to fear losing anything. At the time he had thought that sounded brilliant and quite wise. Now Tom knew it was simple cowardice. He had grown to like the people in this house - even Petunia seemed alright. If he lost them ... he shuddered in terror at the very thought.

Tom hated to be afraid. Having Severus say that this was now home - that he and Harry were both his wards - he now had something to lose that he valued quite desperately and it was terrifying. He fell asleep with tears still flowing.

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Charlie awakened to find the charmed animals gone, to his relief. He had been told to put up a silencing charm by his irritated roommates because the animals had still been playing long after they wanted to sleep.

He had re-read the letter from his parents several times last night, they had received a letter from Percy and the twins soon after his own, and they had not been happy to hear about his ‘insulting the house of Hufflepuff'. He'd always heard any house but Gryffindor being belittled by everyone in the Weasley and Prewitt families his entire life. He thought it a bit hypocritical of them to chastise him, now.

He headed for the shower and got ready for classes. There was obviously no resorting for his brothers - they were Hufflepuffs and would remain so. Charlie sighed, he had been afraid his parents would be angry with him that the twins had been swept into the ‘wrong' house under his very nose. The parents were backing them and the Hufflepuffs instead.

Charlie trudged into the Great Hall for breakfast and listened to the giggles and whispers with resignation. He strode over to Fred and George determinedly, glad that they were alone, at present.

"Oi, Charlie, pets all gone, then?" Fred asked brightly.

Charlie managed a grimacing smile. "I got a near-howler from our parents yesterday. I guess they are okay with the sorting, then." The twins smirked happily at him, stirring up the last of his anger.

"I happen to think it's a bit hypocritical of them - and the rest of you." The twin's smirks disappeared in confusion at Charlie's words. "We've all heard our family say horrid things about Slytherins and Ravenclaws - but they were always especially sneering when Hufflepuffs were mentioned. You remember when Uncle Bilius' kid got in Ravenclaw he said ‘at least it wasn't Hufflepuff'. None of the Weasley's or Prewitt's ever mentions any Hufflepuff at their jobs without snickering - and if they like them - like Amos Diggory; they always say that ‘he's okay in spite of being a Hufflepuff'." Charlie looked at the squirming and shame-faced twins. "I don't know why you are in this house - but I bet it wasn't because you respected it; however you might feel about it, now."

Fred and George were hanging their heads when Charlie walked away. They could only hope none of the few kids at the table this early had heard that. The looked around in relief.

"He's right you know." George whispered.

"I know." Fred answered. "I vote no more pranks on him."

George nodded vigorously. He hadn't thought about things from Charlie's angle on this.

Charlie ate breakfast while scratching out a letter that said essentially what he'd told his brothers. He wouldn't have minded a letter that had said to lay off bothering the twins, but the letter had sounded like Molly and Arthur and their respective families had never had an ill word for Hufflepuffs - he resented that. His father had rarely had a negative word for anyone, but his silence in response to others disparagement had spoken volumes, he thought.

He went to the Owlery and sent the letter off, just in time to enter his first class and not be late.

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Andromeda had listened to Dora's tale regarding Tom Riddle. Dora had been quite taken with the story of his growing up in an orphanage, and then being taken in by a relative. Andy had heard of Seneca Prince - he and the whole Prince family were rather reclusive. It came as no surprise that no one had heard of the boy or that he had been home - schooled.

Several of the Prince family had been killed by the Dark Lord. She recalled reading the articles from the Daily Prophet at that time - that he had been searching for some ancient texts the Prince family were reputed to have. If Tom's mother had fled to the muggle world, she likely had good reason.

Now, she sat at her desk wondering if she should write to Albus Dumbledore. He had been quite supportive of Dora and Andy helping with the boys schooling and assisting Tom in ‘updating his knowledge'. He had said he wouldn't mind ‘if Andy would let him know how it went'.

She hesitated; it felt a great deal like being a gossipy tattle-tale. There wasn't anything bad to tell him about - if there was anything suspicious going on she would let him know in a heartbeat, but passing on tales the boy had likely told Dora in confidence...well she didn't feel right doing that. Dora had told her the story expecting mother - daughter conversations to stay private. She couldn't risk losing her daughter's trust over trivialities.

She shoved the paper aside. Albus could hear gossip from someone else.

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Harry woke with his vision still blurred, even with the glasses and grinned happily - the potion was working, obviously. He trotted downstairs and sat at the table. Harry squinted at the pale, red-eyed Tom who was slumped at the table, picking at his omelet.

"Dudley, does Tom look a little...um...ill?" Harry whispered to his cousin.

Dudley looked at him consideringly. "Yeah, he does look like he's coming down with something."

"I am right here, you know." Tom retorted smartly, but the pair just smiled brightly at him.

Petunia had entered during the discussion and looked at him in concern. "You do look a bit under the weather, Tom. Perhaps the Healer can look at you, as well, since you will be there with Harry?" Petunia hesitated to try and ‘mother' Tom in any way. He still looked at her with suspicion much of the time. But he just nodded at her suggestion, to her relief.

Harry pulled out Mafalda Prewett's letter and told Dudley her news, "Mafalda says she's related to the Weasley's. Her father is Molly Weasley's cousin. She says her father is a squib and he left for the muggle world because his family wouldn't let him work as an accountant in their business. I don't get that - they don't need to use magic to do math, do they?" The boys looked at Tom in inquiry.

Tom frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not extremely knowledgeable in how wizarding accountants do their work. I know you can buy ledgers that do the math for you after you enter the numbers, and self-update on certain things. But a squib could use those as well - the magic is in the ledger, not the wizard. Our accountant could answer your question easier - he's to see us next month to confer with us." Tom smiled a little at Harry's grimace.

Lucius and Draco arrived via floo after breakfast. Lucius intended to fill in on the morning class while Tom and Harry were at the Healers. Lucius intended to introduce them to runes, and Harry could easily catch up when he got back.

Tom stood and Lucius got a good look at him. "Are you quite alright, Tom?" He asked in concern.

"Mostly just a poor night of sleep, I'll be alright." Tom saw the stubborn look on Malfoy seniors face and sighed. "I'll let the Healer look me over while I'm there."

Lucius watched the pair leave by floo to the Leaky Cauldron, and led Dudley and Draco to the classroom, nodding to Petunia pleasantly. Petunia nodded back with a small smile. Mr. Malfoy was always so very formal; she suspected it had something to do with her laughing at him while she was in the hospital. Lucius always looked like he expected her to do something crazy. Petunia settled into the living room with some books and her cross-stitch.

Tom and Harry arrived to Diagon Alley and walked to the Healers. Tom was silent, still thinking about all that Yvane had said. Harry smiled and dreamed of getting rid of the glasses. They entered the Healers office and the mediwitch greeted them with a smile. There was whispering amongst the people waiting as they were hustled back to a room.

The Healer arrived as another mediwitch was testing Harry's eyes. They complimented Severus' potion, saying it was working more quickly than they ever expected. They adjusted his glasses and checked his weight, saying he was ‘much healthier'.

Tom smiled; it was good to hear that Harry was flourishing. He would not have liked to tell Severus if Harry wasn't doing well.

"Tom needs a once over, as well, Sir." Harry chirped, and Tom glared briefly at him, the tattler.

The Healer peered at him, noting the tired appearance. He waved his wand a few times and chanted a few diagnostic spells, frowning.

"You seem to be under a fair amount of stress, and you're quite exhausted. You may not be seriously ill at present, but you soon will be if you don't let yourself rest and reduce your stress." The Healer eyed him sternly.

"I have people depending on me..." Tom started to explain.

"You'll be of no use to anyone if you collapse. Who are your parents - I'll need to speak to them." The Healer spoke softly, but emphatically.

Tom's temper flared a little. Who did this Healer think he was? Tom needed to teach the boys and look after them, and the research he was doing on the Horcruxes, Harry's scar, the dagger were critical. He also needed to catch up on his studies to pass his NEWTS. Yvane's memories needed exploring - he was very anxious to see all the wonderful places Yvane had visited...and the new dragon from Gringotts...Tom was interrupted in his mental list by Yvane, himself.

"Have you noticed the sheer length of the things you are demanding of yourself? You are just one person, and even as brilliant as you are - you need more help, or you need to slow down on some of the projects." Yvane tried to sooth Tom's anger. "The Healer only sees what you are doing to yourself, he does not know why."

Tom calmed himself and answered the waiting Healer. "My parents are dead; Severus Snape is my guardian as well as Harry's."

The Healer nodded, "I'll let Professor Snape know my findings. I suggest more sleep and less stress and much less work, Tom....?" The Healer lifted a brow in inquiry.

"Tom Riddle. Thank you for your help." Tom found that his brief spurt of anger had exhausted him. Perhaps the Healer was right.

They left with Harry looking at him in concern. Harry insisted they stop for some tea and scones at one of the tea shops. "Are you okay, Tom?" Harry asked, solemnly.

"Yes, I was just made to realize - with Yvane's help - just how many irons I have in the fire. I'll end up getting nothing finished, or finished poorly if I continue." Tom answered tiredly. "Severus and the rest of you have welcomed me into Dragonsrest and made me a member of your family...I haven't wanted to disappoint you." Tom's voice trailed off into a whisper.

"I know how you feel. I kept expecting Severus to regret making me his ward, and call me a freak or a burden - like Uncle Vernon always did." Harry picked at the napkin in his lap. "I didn't know anything about the wizarding world - I know I make stupid mistakes...I hate it when I mess up...I'm afraid he'll be ashamed of me. That would be horrible."

Tom listened to Harry in astonishment. He had thought Harry to be rather carefree, lately. But he harbored the same fears that Tom did.

"Harry, Severus cares about you a lot. I suspect he looks on you like a son. He would never be ashamed of you, and no one expects you to know everything about the wizarding world." Tom reassured the boy. "I promise by the time you enter Hogwarts you'll know all you need to."

Harry grinned at him. "Well, I think Severus cares about you, too. Maybe not as a son - more like a younger brother."

Tom ruffled Harry's hair and they left for home.

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Severus received an owl in the Great Hall at dinner. He had already received the owl from Tom at breakfast. He was relieved that things were going as expected. The owl that brought the letter at dinner was not familiar and he opened it with a frown.

The news from the Healer was mixed; Harry's eyes were doing well to his relief. The news about Tom's stress and exhaustion was a surprise, although as Severus mentally reviewed the lengthy list of responsibilities Tom had, it should not be surprising.

Severus sighed in aggravation at himself. He knew he tended to forget that Tom was really only sixteen as yet. He and Lucius had allowed Tom to take on far too much. Albus and the others were looking down the table in curiosity at him. Severus was receiving far more mail than he had in years. Severus pocketed the letter and rose to leave.

"Bad news, Severus?" Albus asked in concern.

Severus stopped and considered his answer. Albus was likely worried that there was something wrong with his would-be golden boy, Harry.

"The tutor has taken ill, and the Healer he saw would like him to rest a bit." Severus answered - that was a safe enough answer. "I'll arrange for Miss Tonks to fill in for him for a bit."

Albus brightened and nodded, "Excellent plan, m'boy." And the Headmaster turned back to watch the Hufflepuff table with curiosity. There seemed to be a heated discussion going on among the first, second and a few of the third years.

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Fred and George escaped to the first year dorms soon after dinner; they had been bombarded with Hufflepuffs who felt they wanted to prank someone in retaliation for whatever offense had been done to them. The prank they had done to Charlie had galvanized the ‘Puffs in a way they would never have believed.

The twins had resorted to insisting their housemates submit a request in writing, and run it by Cedric Diggory first. Cedric seemed to find it terribly amusing. They now had a pile of pranks that needed doing, and it was hard to believe that pranking was beginning to look like work.

They finally sorted out the pranks: one pile of ones they felt the ‘Puffs could do on their own after the twins gave them suggestions and explained how to do the trick. The next pile was ones that would be easy to do. The last was a pile of either nearly impossible or at least very difficult ones.

George flopped back on the bed. "I think we should just tackle them one at a time - if they're impatient..."

"...they can just do the pranking themselves. We can round up the ones interested in helping, and we can vote on what one we want to do next." Fred finished the thought.

They sighed, yes as long as they paced themselves, they should be able to slowly prank every person enrolled in the fine establishment of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.

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