S I X T E E N
Baby Tommy

"I'm home—OH MY GOD!" I yelped at the sight which was staring me straight in the face.

The female under Balthazar's naked body began screaming upon seeing me. Balthazar looked to me in surprise then back down to his 'partner'. In an instant he had snapped his fingers and suddenly he was standing in front of the couch I had found him on, his female friend no where to be seen.

Balthazar and I lived in an upper class Manhattan penthouse, to say we were well off was an under statement.

We were fucking loaded.

I had taken it upon myself to teleport into our living room, a place where I had stumbled upon an unfortunate sight. Balthazar screwing one of his many lady friends. Balthazar himself brought home a different woman almost every night, it was just the way he rolled—but he never screwed them in the living room.

He obviously had been taking advantage of my absence.

"Ah, my darling niece! Finally decided to visit I see!" He sarcastically smiled, tying his silky robe around himself.

"You know better than me that I can't just leave everyday." I huffed crossing my arms over the Gryffindor uniform.

Eagerly, I walked across the hard wood floor going to the huge wall of windows leading to a breath—taking view off Manhattan. I smiled at the familiar scenery, admiring the skyscrapers. Balthazar padded behind me to the bar.

I turned around not very surprised to see him with a glass of red wine in his palm. He took a large gulp leaning against the bar.

"Why do I have a hunch that you didn't just visit because you wanted to converse with your favorite uncle?" He sipped at his wine.

I laughed sarcastically. "Very funny." I deadpanned, before scratching the back of my head nervously. "Um... question... so earlier I felt really odd around Tom. I mean my soul-" I was cut off by him.

"Who's Tom again?" He picked at his nails in a bored fashion.

With an annoyed huff I answered, "Young Voldemort." He rose a brow giving me a nod to go on. "Well my soul began trying reach out to him, it was like time stopped. It was really weird—I mean-" I was cut off by my uncle yet again.

"Hate to break it to you Dori." Balthazar began, using my nickname. "But to me it sounds like you're soul-bound to the one and only no nose snake-face." He scoffed a laugh. "Damn, and I thought Alexius and you would end up together."

My nose scrunched at the thought of Alexius and I ever getting together. That would be too weird, he was more than my best friend, he was my brother. Then, what he said hit me.

Soul-bound?

"Excuse me?" I questioned, not understanding what he was getting at.

"Soul-bound?" He asked as if I would catch the term. "Soul-bound, beloved, heart's desire, Soul-mate?" He inquired, the last name ringing bells in my head but not enough for me to understand.

Slowly, I left my spot by the windows making my way toward the seating area of the room.

"Nope." I shook my head. "I have no clue what you're talking about." I took a seat on our fancy cow-print styled chair, swinging my legs over the edge. "However, feel free to explain." I motioned for him to continue making him roll his eyes.

"Is it really that hard to understand? You and Voldy are soul-bound, your souls are physically bound together by a rope-like force." He sighed, refilling his glass with Whiskey.

"So our souls are connected?" I tried to understand what he was getting at.

"It's more than just connected. The two of you essentially complete each other, your souls constantly call out to one another. It's something alike to a person you're fated to love for eternity." Balthazar casually shrugged me choking on air.

"Excuse me! Love each other?"

"Yes, love each other. Soul-bounding's in themselves are a rare occurrence because the person you are bound to can be born in any given time-period. Of course you-" He motioned to me with his drink. "Have an advantage, you travel through time, go all over the world—I'm honestly surprised it didn't happen sooner." He shrugged taking another swing of the whiskey.

"So you're saying the man I'm destined to love for all eternity is the darkest wizard lord of all time, and not only that but he dies to Harry Potter's hand?" I incredulously asked, not believing him.

"Yeah, haven't you noticed anything odd happenings between the two of you? Perhaps taking a rather quick liking to one another? I don't know finding each other immensely attractive?"

I couldn't help but see his point. From the moment I met Tom, I felt this strange desirable attraction to him. Not only that, but I'm pretty positive Tom Riddle doesn't get as close to people as he's gotten to me.

"Holy shit you're fucking right." I stood from the chair when realization hit me. "Tom fucking Riddle is soul-bound to me!" I panicked slightly. "Oh my God! I'm destined to be with Voldemort!" I cried in hysteria.

"Hey." He pointed to me. "Technically he dies before you're even born, so honestly you could abandon your mission and never even see him again." He pointed out a probable solution.

It made sense, ditch the mission—stay in my own time and never see my damned soul-bounder again. However, something about that didn't settle right. Even if Tom Riddle was a sinister son of a bitch, he was my bounder. We virtually had no choice, no matter how much we fought it we would fall head over heels for each other.

That caused another issue though. Right now, I was simply trying to stop Tom from killing so many—not change any major historical events. Voldemort's death was one of those events. How was I suppose to stand by and allow my own bounder to die.

"No." I said, a new plan hitting me. "I won't leave the mission, I am still going to help Tom change—save so many people from dying. However, in 1998 he will not die, or at least he won't stay dead." I nodded to myself at my own forming plan.

Balthazar gave me a weary look, "What do you mean?"

"It's simple, I stay at Hogwarts until we graduate. If what you say is true, then me disappearing toward the last months of the year will destroy him." My chest tightened at the thought of doing that to my own bounder. "Tom will be a mess, but he'll also be angry. This will keep him on his original path, albeit hopefully killing less people. I let history play itself out until 1998, I travel two minutes before his death. I allow him to die, allow everybody to think he's truly gone." I began pacing running my fingers through my hair.

"Then, I bring him back exactly how he was the day before I left him at Hogwarts. An eighteen year old boy, that's when he'll find out the truth about me. I link our lives, happily ever after." I finished content with that plan.

There was a short moment of silence.

"That is a disastrous idea!" Balthazar yelled, standing straighter. "There are so many facts that can go wrong. You can't just leave him after two years, soul-bounds are tricky; if one is gone the other isn't just destroyed they are completely shattered, Pandora!" He yelled.

"You will put that poor boy in so much pain, and it won't be that bad for you because you won't need to live over fifty years without him! It'll feel like seconds to you, but for him—if he doesn't go mad trying to find you then he'll probably turn out worse than before. Go on a rampage of just killing anyone in his sight." Balthazar exclaimed, slamming his glass to the bar top.

"And let's say your plan does work out how you say it will. You just bring him back, and link yourselves? Do you understand how linking works? The two of you feel each other's pain, each other's emotions, and because you won't age past twenty one—neither will he! Not to mention the chance of Heaven and Hell finding out! Do you understand how big of a risk this is!" He asked, making me look down.

Linking lives together, an intriguing subject matter. This was something that could only be done by angels. Essentially an angel could pick any other creature and link their life to said angels existence. By linking lives that human now becomes part of the angel.

Angels are immortal; therefore by linking lives that human is now immortal. Enochian a language purely spoken and written by the angel; said human can now both speak and write in Enochian. Emotions and thoughts are said to be felt too, but no one knows for sure as linking is rarely ever done.

The reason being because most angels simply dislike humans, and because there are negatives to this.

Because I was half-angel I can link myself to someone as well.

"I know the risks." I said with a deep breath. "But I won't let him die. I cannot change history too much or fate will be on our ass. This is my only option, Balthazar." I ended staring him straight in the eyes.

"Fine, but the second anything goes wrong—I will get Alexius to haul your ass back here." He told me sternly.

Fate was a tricky ass bitch. Yes, that's right she was an actual celestial being.

Fate was the one who basically wrote everything that was to happen, it's hard to get anything past her.

My father somehow managed to hide my existence from her snooping ass, and trust me when I say I was not keen to grab her attention. That was why I was so hard on history; yes the little things could be changed, but I couldn't stop something so drastic.

Like World War two for example; if I stopped that fate would notice and she'd come after me. I wasn't particularly scared of her, as she wasn't all that powerful. However she could easily tell heaven of my existence and then I'd have a problem. With Tom as long as I kept the big story in check; then yes, I could bring him back after death.

"Fair enough." I held my arms up. "By the way, where did your hoe go?" I changed the subject with a question that was on my mind.

"Oh, I erased her memory and sent her home." He shrugged, beginning to walk up the spiral staircase to his room. "Goodbye, my dearest niece—I expect a visit sooner this time." He warned waving me away.

"Bye." I said, looking down to my Hogwarts attire.

With just a thought, my entire outfit changed. I looked like someone straight out of the twenties, with my white fedora and long button up dress.

I held a disdain for the slight heel to my shoe, but sucked it up as this was what woman from the twenties usually wore.

Before I went back to school, I had to make a quick pit-stop.

~

"A young girl like you has plenty of opportunities, get married and have children, or even become nurse. Why on earth would you want to become an orphanage matron before giving anything else a shot?" The head matron of the orphanage asked me.

Jane Dewitt as she told me her name was the head matron of a small England orphanage. She was in her mid forties, and was a stern looking woman. She was curvy, having the body of a woman who had obviously birthed a good amount of children.

Unlike most women her age her hair was not graying, but remained a pale blonde and her eyes a dough-like brown. The woman's features were fine and soft, but somehow she was able to make them look forbidding.

"I know, but I just love children you see. And to know there are so many orphans out there—I just want to help out a bit, you know?" I kindly told her in an overly soft voice, making sure to put on my best naive look.

Jane Dewitt nodded, writing down my response on a piece of paper she held to a clip board. It was April fifteenth, nineteen twenty-seven. Tom Riddle was currently still a newborn, approximately four-months-old at this point.

I was at Wool's orphanage; Tom's home. I don't know what made me come here, especially when Tom himself was only an infant. I labeled it down as simply wanting to see how he acted as an infant as odd as it was.

So, here I was inside the matron's office being interviewed for a potential position. I had lied about my age, stating I was eighteen so I was liable for a job. Of course I would only be here for a few hours before I ran off again.

Wool's Orphanage was a square building surrounded by high railings. It was run-down, but clean, and the orphans that I had seen were well cared for. Despite this, it seems the orphanage had some unpleasantness—I didn't know how to describe it but it just didn't give a very friendly vibe.

Just as the head director was about to question me further, the door to her office slammed open. A young woman who looked to be in her twenties entered, looking particularly frazzled. Her brown hair was tied in a tight bun, and she had a sharp-featured face. She was a rather skinny girl, with grey eyes and long legs.

"Oh Ms. Dewitt—I am sorry to interrupt." She eyed me curiously. "But we have an issue."

Jane sighed, placing her fingers upon the temples of her head. "It's quite alright Ms. Cole." She addressed her, looking to me with a look that said she had made up her mind. "Alright you have a job Ms. Pines." She told me.

Mary Pines; the false alias I had come here as.

"Great." I happily smiled at her, giving a firm hand shake to both her and Ms. Cole.

Ms. Dewitt turned her attention to Ms. Cole with a look of exasperation. "What's happened now."

"It's about the new baby." Ms. Cole sighed, earning a look of confusion from Ms. Dewitt.

"Tom?" She inquired disbelievingly.

I immediately got involved with the conversation. They were talking about Tom Riddle, my bounder.

"Yes." Ms. Cole sounded confused herself. "Baby Tom's been non-stop screaming for the past hour and a half. We've tried everything, he doesn't need a diaper change, he is refusing to eat, won't sleep, nothing anyone has done has worked. He's screaming like he wants something, I've never seen him act like this." She shook her head.

Ms. Cole made a perplexed face as well, seemingly thinking about something. Clearing my throat, I smiled at the two.

"Who's Tom?" I innocently questioned, wanting to get the full scoop on him.

Both women gave each other knowing looks before turning to me.

"Just a few months ago on New years Eve, this pregnant girl not much older than myself comes staggering up the front steps. She was no beauty I'll tell you that." Ms. Cole paused, blushing bright red at the look the director was giving her. "Well we called the midwife, and the woman gave birth within the hour and was dead within the next. She lived just long enough to name her baby boy; Tom Marvolo Riddle. She must have been from the circus, I mean such a peculiar name." She was cut off by Ms. Dewitt delivering a harsh warning glare to her.

She continued for Ms. Cole, obviously deeming her comments too brash. "Well despite her son being perfectly healthy, he is a strange one. The boy barely ever cries, even when he was born—he was completely silent! He only ever cries when he needs something, and when he does cry; he does not just cry." Ms. Dewitt began rambling. "That baby screams, I mean you would think he was a banshee with that scream. Other than anger, he's practically emotionless. The four months he's been alive he hasn't smiled once." Ms. Dewitt looked stressed just thinking about him.

"Yes, but right now he won't shut up. It's as if he wants something." Ms. Cole placed her hands on her hips.

Ms. Dewitt crossed her arms over her chest. "You've tried everything, you say?" She rose a single brow.

"Everything." Ms. Cole declared with a long sigh.

Figuring this was all I was getting from them, I butted in. "Perhaps I could meet this baby?" I hesitantly asked.

"Of course, maybe he'll actually like you." Ms. Dewitt muttered both her and Ms. Cole leading me out of her office and through the hallway.

The walls were an impeccably polished tile looking impossibly smooth. I quickly noticed compared to all the other matron's, I was the youngest as well as the one who looked the least tired.

After a few minutes of silence, my hearing picked up on it. The matron's weren't wrong when they said Tom had some pipes. Good god that boy could scream.

I noticed as we all got closer that his screams seemed to get louder if possible. Almost like we were teasing him with something he couldn't reach. As soon as we got just by the door to the room which he was in, Ms. Dewitt turned to me.

Just as she was about to say something, the door flew open. Everyone including myself jumped at the sudden ferocity of the door, it took a moment before we all realized the door opened on its own accord.

My eyes widened at baby Tom's showcase of magic. Was it even possible for a wizard to have magic this early on? Upon the door opening, Tom's furious scream became even louder.

Ms. Cole wasted no time in gripping my arm and pushing me into the room. The room was grey walled, with one single crib against the window and rocking chair next to it. In the center of the room stood a younger woman, whom looked absolutely exhausted.

She paced back and forth rocking a small bundle, which held baby Tom inside. She desperately shushed and cooed him, yet he didn't let up.

I couldn't help myself from letting out a small 'aww' at Tom, finding him to be the most adorable infant I had ever laid eyes on. Even with his loud crying, he still was undeniably a cute little baby.

He had short little strands of curly inky black hair, growing from his head. He was still pale, with red little cheeks. Unlike most children; Tom didn't have much baby fat, his look was one of pure refined elegance.

His icy blue eyes, which looked even paler than normal glared up harshly into the face of the exhausted matron. His arms and legs were flailing about, as tears ran down his cheeks. This wasn't a cry of sorrow, but a cry anger. He was angry because he didn't get something that he wanted. But what was it that he wanted?

At our entrance the matron turned to face us, Tom turning his head slightly to get a look at who interrupted his torment of the matron. The matron looked to us all desperately, Tom's gaze solely focused on me with a gleam.

Suddenly, Tom began screaming and squealing even louder in the matron's grasp, his body obviously trying to get out of it. The matron; alarmed, tightened her hold on him, as to not let go by accident.

It didn't take anyone very long, before we realized he was trying to get to me. The newborn baby, who was unarguably quite smart for his age made grabby hands toward me.

The young matron wasted no time in shoving Tom into my arms, eager to get the child away from her. Almost immediately his screams turned into coos of comfort, as the young baby desperately tried getting as close as physically possible to me.

I was surprised along with everyone else; however, I thought back to exactly what it was I learned in my Early Childhood class that I took in my freshmen year. Carefully I held him bundled in my arms swinging him back and forth gently.

"Aw, what?" I cooed gently with a large smile on my face. "What's the matter, Tommy? What's the matter?" I baby-talked him, cooing softly bouncing him up and down.

All the matron's looked gobsmacked when Tom actually let out a small laugh grabbing for my face. Leaning down so my face was closer, he quickly had placed his small hand on my cheek.

"You are a miracle from God!" Ms. Cole cried out dramatically, making me jump at her words.

How ironic.

Tom made a noise of disappointment and anger at Ms. Cole scaring me away from his hand.

"I never thought I'd see the day baby Tom shows emotion." Ms. Dewitt was shocked as well.

"By God I have never seen that baby laugh." The exhausted matron said, staring at Tom who happily cuddled up to me.

Before anyone could utter another word, something else caught my attention. Tom's tiny hands were oddly enough tapping my breast, I mean his hand was literally hitting my boob. My eyes widened immensely when the baby placed his mouth on my clothes covered breast.

I was at a loss for words when he desperately began suckling, and pulled away with a frown when nothing came out. Surely this wasn't normal, he had to know that I had no milk in my breast. Obviously not when he looked to me with a confused frown, and began continuously hitting my breast.

"I'll get you a bottle." Ms. Cole rushed off, along with the other's when they saw Tom was hungry.

Now by myself with the baby, I let out a sigh. Going to the rocking chair and sitting down, I gave a small laugh when Tom repeatedly tried milking my breast.

"Oh, baby." I ran my hand through his hair. "I don't have any milk in there." I rocked him on the chair.

As if he could understand me, he suddenly stopped messing with my breast—going back to just cuddling into me.

"I know." I cooed. "All that screaming must have made you thirsty." Tom simply looked into my eyes intensely, gripping my arm as if I would be gone soon.

"I going to have to go soon, Tommy. But I promise I'll see you again." I softly said to the little baby. "You just won't remember me the next time I see you." I sighed.

A few minutes later Ms. Cole popped in with the bottle. I fed Tom gently, watching as he eagerly suckled on his meal. He gaze refused to leave my face watching me sharply making sure I didn't run off.

He was halfway through the bottle when his eyes started drooping, yet the poor baby refused to go to sleep in fear I would be gone. Which I would.

"All your life you've never seen
a woman taken by the wind.
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?" I sang softly, attempting to lullaby him into sleep.

It was working by the way his grasp on the bottle left, and the fluttering of his eyes. My voice was not the worst, nor was it by any means the best. I won't lie; I'm not a bad singer, hell my dad used to make me sing to him. However, I was no prodigy with my voice.

"Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon."

Tom Marvolo Riddle fell asleep in my arms.

Stevie Nicks, you never fail me. What most people didn't know was that Stevie Nicks actually was a witch herself. However, at age eleven she refused the opportunity of Ilvermorny and instead stayed in the muggle world.

I was gentle in putting Tom in his crib, careful not to wake him. I placed the half filled bottle of milk at the edge of the crib, before making my way out of his room. I left his door cracked so that when he awoke people would know.

Looking around the halls to make sure they were empty, I wasted no time in transferring the nice twenties attire back into my Hogwarts uniform. Alike to always my tie hung loose around my neck, and my robe was no where to be found. The hair on my head was plaited into the usual side braid.

I turned giving baby Tom one last kind look, sad that I had to leave him in the awful place. However, I would be getting back to him at Hogwarts. Slowly, I made my way through the hallways making sure to avoid every matron. Occasionally a child would see me and give me a curious glance.

It wasn't until I stepped through the gates out front and into the empty street that I heard it. With my advanced hearing I was perfectly able to hear the shrill wailing of a new-born child coming from the orphanage.

Tom's angered cries of sorrow filled the orphanage louder than ever before, making me give it a sad glance. They say babies can sense many things. I have no doubts in my mind that earlier Tom somehow sensed my arrival and began crying because he wanted me. Now, he senses my retreat and he cries with sadness because he wants me back.

"You'll see me soon." I barely whispered sending the words into baby Tom's mind, hopefully giving him some sense of comfort.

Facing the empty street once more, I was gone in the blink of an eye.