Hadrianus yawned, mumbling something incoherently before turning towards the other side hugging the spare pillow; when his hand touched something cold and metallic. Hadrianus frowned sleepily. What was that?

The child Naga blinked his eyes open, still sleepy, before removing the pillow and turning his head to look at what he touched in his sleep. That's when a few big shiny golden-colored coins caught his eyes. Huh?

Hadrianus patted the bedside nightstand for his glasses. But as soon as he touched the table, something falls from the bedside table. What was that? What's happening?

Frowning, Hadrianus sat up now, finding his glasses and putting them on, then looked again before going wide eyes. There were gold coins..so many gold coins just beneath his pillow! There was - Hadrianus counted and gasped in surprise - ten gold coins! Ten galleons!

Tooth fairy really came to visit him last night?

He looked up from his pillow towards the bedside table and his eyes widened even more, if possible. The small table was probably magically expanded to hold multiple crates full of Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Sugar Quills, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Chocoballs, Skeletal Sweets, Liquorice Wands, Blood Pops, Exploding Bonbons, Peppermint Toads, Fudge Flies, Fizzing Whizzbees, and several other strange things Hadrianus had never seen in his life.

What?

Hadrianus blinked multiple times, shook his head vigorously to make sure he is not dreaming. When he opened his eyes next time, the crates full of candies and the ten galleons were still there. Does that mean the tooth fairy really, really came for him last night?

Tom was right. His father was right. The tooth fairy really came.

"MUM!" He shouted, throwing the blanket away, "FATHER! TOM! LOOK!" He jumped from the bed, grabbing a fistful of candies in both hands. He can hear someone running already, coming towards the bedroom and the next second, Tom skidded to a halt inside the bedroom, Wand in hand looking around frantically.

"Tom!"

After making sure there's no immediate danger on Hadrianus, Tom turned to look at Hadrianus losing his absolute goddamn mind and jumping up and down like Kangaroo and eating.. was that a Sugar Quill?

"Er, Hadrianus?" He hesitantly asked, not quite believing what he is seeing. Where did he found candy at seven in the morning?

"You were right! The tooth fairy really came for me last night!"

Hadrianus grabbed his hand and dragged him towards his bed. Tom raised his eyebrows, coming forward to check what had made him so elated that had him screaming his lungs out. "Look!" Hadrianus pointed at the ten galleons beside his pillow, making Tom smile inwardly and lowered his wand. He remembers placing five galleons out of those last night after Hadrianus fall asleep, the other five must have come from Voldemort. But his smile dropped, Tom gaped when his eyes fall on the half a dozen crates of candies from Honeydukes. Few of the crates were even open, and Hadrianus is happily eating from them.

Right.

Tom sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, knowing Barty must bring that for him. It's not like he can stop the child from eating them, he never had any sweets before. He can't do that!

Tom shook his head fondly at the child's antics and sighed, then sent a mental reassuring signal to panicking Voldemort: 'Everything's fine, Hadrianus just woke up and noticed his tooth fairy gifts '. He can feel Voldemort significantly calm down after that, amused. He will get all the memories of Hadrianus' reaction after the merging ritual.

"Where is mum?" Hadrianus asked, finishing his Sugar Quills and going through a crate to pick a box of Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.

"She needs milking for some venom, Barty is helping her." Tom looked at him, "Careful with those." Tom advised, taking a chocolate frog for himself, "Some might have weird flavors in them, like grass, wax, or sprouts. I even heard some had vomit flavor."

Hadrianus made a face at that and nodded, picking up a bean and take a big gulp of air. "This one smells like coffee."

"No, you shouldn't smell like that," Tom said, shaking his head and closing his mouth by his chin, "You need to open your mouth just a slither to taste the air."

Hadrianus' cheeks burned, remembering his father has already scolded him for this once and nodded. He nibbled the end of one bean and grinned broadly. Yeah, he now knows how to differentiate them. This one is coffee-flavored.

As Hadrianus was busy rummaging through the bag of Every Flavor Beans to try different flavors, he didn't notice Tom cursing mildly as the Chocolate Frog escaped his hand and landed right. At. His. Face.

Hadrianus' shriek echoed throughout the Manor the second time that day.

_____________________________________

"What's wrong?" Voldemort asked as Tom came hurriedly into his office. He went directly towards the potions shelf and started going through them, waving at him dismissively.

"Nothing. How's Nagini?"

"She's still healing." Voldemort glanced at her sleeping form beside him. Milking hurts and bruises a snake a lot. That's why he doesn't allow milking unless it's absolutely necessary. "How's Hadrianus?" He asked, remembering his screams.

"He is only feeling a little sick. He's fine."

"Sick?" Voldemort frowned, why he would scream then? "And why he is feeling sick?" He watched as Tom picked a few potions, "Tom, answer me."

"It's nothing, Voldemort. He ate a few candies and is now feeling a little sick and dizzy. He will be fine."

"Tom," Voldemort asked slowly, glancing at the clock, "Did you just let my child eat sweets at seven-thirty in the morning? The child Naga who can't stomach cooked food yet? Even before he had proper breakfast?"

"Technically, he started eating from seven.."

"Tom!"

"And I am taking the potions for him right now." Tom ducked just in time and rushed out of the door before the series of hexes and curses hit him.

______________________

"Someone looks excited!"

Voldemort turned to find Tom watching him from the entrance of his office, and glowered at him. He might be excited yes, they just finished preparations of the rituals; but he is still angry at him for what he did before, "I will finally have my own body tomorrow after more than a half-decade, of course, I am excited." He said, sniffing imperiously.

Tom gave him a lopsided grin and knelt beside where he was sitting in the ritual room, "Yeah yeah, you deserve to be happy about this. I get it."

Voldemort didn't bother to reply to that, instead focused on Nagini who entered following Tom, ":Is he sleeping? :"

": Yes. :" Tom winced inwardly at her sharp tone, ": He finally crashed from the sugar rush. :"

Tom sighed, ": Give him 30 minutes more to recover, he will be fine. :"

" :Or he could have been fine from the moment he woke up if you just stopped him from consuming so many sweets at once. :" Nagini glowered, glaring at Junior Tom. " :One morning. I was not around  one  morning to watch over my hatchling and he managed to get sick, suffer a bad tummy ache, bounce around the whole manor, and wreaked havoc on the living room. :"

": In my defense ,:" Tom grinned guiltily, ": We hate the Manor. :"

Nagini and Voldemort both give him a look that tells him that was  not  a good defense.

Tom was irked and huffed at them, ": Hey, don't blame me. It was Hadrianus who told Barty that the tooth fairy gives sweets for a tooth.  You  could have told your lackey not to sneak past the wards and buy whole shop of Honeydukes last night. :" The last part was aimed at Voldemort who looked affronted at that.

": Excuse me, :" he said indignantly, ": Who was the one to give him the idea of the tooth fairy? :"

": Are you blaming me for distracting him from being upset now? :" Tom demanded, standing up and aggravated.

" :Well, you could have used some different topic to distract him. :" Voldemort offered.

" :Well, I didn't see  you  do anything about it.: " Tom stomped his foot on the ground, both hands on each side of the hip. If Nagini had eyebrows, she would raise it at the dramatic display of anger.

": Silly boys, :" Nagini sighed, rolling her beady eyes, ": stop behaving like hatchlings, or I will ground you both .:"

": Excuse me? :" Both Tom sputtered together, offended at being called a hatchling. ": I am not a hatchling! :" 

": That's still up for debate. :" Nagini gave a very un-snake-like snort. 

Their jaw dropped together at that, ": No it's not.: "

": Is it? :" Nagini pretended to think, ": The last couple of hours beg to differ. :"

She could see the moment they realized it, widening their eyes. ": It was his idea .:" Both Toms pointed at each other. Technically, it was both of them come up with the ridiculous idea about how to deal with a Naga child under the sugar rush. Nagini rolled her eyes, muttering about 'stupid wizards' before turning towards the door to go check on her napping son.

Tom cleared his throat, looking everywhere but at Voldemort. "Are we performing the Fidelius Charm to conceal your looks today?"

Voldemort nodded, inwardly thankful for the topic change, "Yes. I have decided to that caster will be you, casting will be on me."

"And the secret keeper?"

"Hadrianus."

"Are you sure about it?"

Voldemort nodded, "It's better this way. I want to give him the choice to reveal the secret on his own. It's not like everyone knows Tom Marvolo Riddle is Lord Voldemort."

__________________________________

The night of Samhain was rather cold. Especially in the open space like the cemetery, where Hadrianus was sitting down on the chair the Winky bought for him, his small legs folded with his knees upwards and his chin resting on his right knee, arms around his legs hugging himself; and the warm and fluffy comforter protecting him from the late-night chilly breeze. Hadrianus yawned tiredly, tilting his head looking upwards at the crescent-shaped Moon that he learned called as 'waning gibbous' phase. Most of the stars were covered with scattered clouds, but not enough to call the night 'cloudy'.

Hadrianus was half tempted to shift into his mamba form to admire his emerald scales under the Moonlight, but he resisted the temptation. It was a rather cold night, after all. He doesn't want to fall ill and interrupt his father's rebirth ritual. Speaking off the ritual...

Hadrianus let his eyes fall, blinking slowly as he watched Tom checking on every rune one last time and his father who was monitoring Barty and Wormtail from his wheelchair as they prepared the ritual circle. It was well past his bedtime. Even though his father made him take a long nap beforehand, the child was still tired. Mum fought against his presence for the ritual but deflated when his father told her his presence is needed. Hadrianus had been over the Moon when he realized his father needs his help for the rebirth ritual.

That's why he must not fall asleep! Father needs his blood for the ritual!

Hadrianus shook his head vigorously, trying to shoo away the drowsiness, catching the attention of Tom. "Hey little Mamba," He approached him and went on his knees to come at eye level with him, "We still have half an hour before midnight. You can take a nap if you want, I will wake you up when it is time."

"No!" Hadrianus yawned. Even though the offer is tempting, he wanted to see it all, "I want to see." He poked his hands out of the comforter, reaching out for him.

Tom smiled, taking his hands, "What's wrong, precious?" He asked, gently rubbing the back of the small hands, noticing the sad look on the young one's face.

"You will leave me," Hadrianus sniffed, looking down at their joined hands with a sad pout, "I thought you will stay with us."

Tom blinked, before a small smile spread on his lips, taking a quick glance behind where he can feel Voldemort's eyes on them, "Who said I will leave you? You will find me in your father, little one."

"But he won't have much time to play with me. Whom I will play with?"

"Oh Hadrianus," Tom sighed, tenderly cupping his cheek, "Yes you're right. Your father probably can not give you all the time, but I promise you, he will make time for you. Besides, you have your mum, and you will soon meet new friends."

Hadrianus made a face, "No, I don't want to meet with new friends. They're bullies. I want to play with  you ."

Tom's eyes darkened, remembering his times in Private Drive where he was continuously getting hurt by everyone. He won't let his son go through that again. He absolutely refused to let that happen. "Remember I taught you how to use Wand?" Hadrianus nodded, recalling those afternoons they spent when Tom taught him how to draw Wand from the holster and how to flick his wrist properly to cast a spell, "Good. First of all, always remember that you are Hadrianus Marvolo Slytherin, Heir to Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin, and the child of the most powerful and talented wizard of the time. No one, I repeat,  no one  is allowed to badmouth you, let alone bully you. Soon, he will teach you more Magic, including how to protect yourself. If you ever find yourself in a dire situation that you do not like, you are allowed to defend yourself. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes," Hadrianus nodded, "If someone bullies me, I am allowed to protect myself."

"Yes." Tom said firmly, "Never let anyone walk all over you. Remember, no one will hurt you for defending yourself. Especially your father, he will  never  do that. He will always be with you. I will always be with you."

"But," Hadrianus frowned, "as you said, my father is the Dark Lord. What if he doesn't have time for me?"

Tom opened his mouth to protest but stopped when an idea formed in his mind. "Stay here," He said, turning and leaving for the house. Hadrianus watched him go, blinking, before looking back when he heard a sound, as though something heavy being dragged across the ground. 

Wormtail came within Hadrianus' range of vision, and Hadrianus saw the rat pushing a stone cauldron towards the ritual circle. It was full of the potions that Hadrianus knew his father and Barty brewed - slopping around - and it was larger than any cauldron Hadrianus had ever seen; a great stone belly large enough for a fully grown man to sit in.

"Stupid Wizard," He heard Barty sneered, "Do you not know how to use a simple floating charm?"

Wormtail wheezed, blinking owlishly at the realization. Barty rolled his eyes and flickered his Wand and the huge cauldron went in the middle of the rune circle.

"Here," Hadrianus blinked, looking up at Tom who came back with an old-looking black leather diary with 'T. M. Riddle' written on it with golden embedded curving - 45 years old, judging by the year imprinted on it. Hadrianus eagerly accepted the diary and opened it, sleepiness was long forgotten; only to find the whole diary is empty. He turned to the back cover of the book and saw the printed name of a variety store on Vauxhall Road, London. So his father brought it during his school days? But he never wrote in it.

Hadrianus looked up at Tom with a disappointed pout. Tom gave him a significant look and flicked his Wand on it. On the instant, the old look of the diary shimmered away, revealing its shiny new look, and the name 'T. M. Riddle' changed into 'M. S. Slytherin'.

Huh?

"That's your father's new name, Hadrianus. Marvolo Salazar Slytherin." Tom said and conjured a quill and inkpot, offering them to him, "Now write something on it."

Hadrianus blinked at him confused but accepted the quill and dipped it into the bottle the way he has seen his father did it. He was about to write on it using his quill for the first time when he noticed a drop of ink that he accidentally dropped with his unpracticed hand shone brightly on the paper for a second and then, as though it was being sucked into the page, vanished. Hadrianus looked at Tom excitedly - who was smiling softly and nodded, encouraging him.

Excited, Hadrianus wrote on it, " My name is Hadrianus Marvolo Slytherin ."

He scrunched his nose up, not liking his poor handwriting in the quill. His fathers' writings were so elegant, beautiful, compared to that of his writings were chicken scrawls. Hadrianus made a mental note to practice writings more and more so he can also have neat and legible handwriting.

"Don't worry, he will teach you how to write with quill properly." Tom smiled at the child's dismay. Hadrianus nodded, looking at the diary where his writing shone, just like before - then vanished without a trace. Then, oozing back out of the page, in his very own ink, came words that he never wrote.

" Hello, my little one. Having fun with the diary? "

Hadrianus widened his eyes impossibly huge at the very familiar elegant calligraphy, before looking back where his father is sitting near the ritual circle and smiling softly at him. A huge grin broke on his face as he looked back at Tom who was smiling just as similarly.

"This is yours now, little Mamba." Tom flicked his wand on it again, "I have unlocked the wards of the diary. It has many security wards in it, including blood wards and antitheft. No one other than you will be able to use it or take it from you now. This diary is connected with our minds. So if you wish to talk to him anytime, you just have to write about it. Anytime."

"He won't be interrupted from his work if I do? Say, if he is middle of battle - "

"Do not worry, my precious." They looked back at Voldemort who answered him this time, "You won't interrupt me. Tom is right, you can use it anytime. I will answer you as soon as possible if I am busy." His eyes met with Tom's, "It's time."

Tom nodded, looking back at Hadrianus who has hugged the diary in his chest like his life is dependent on it. He smiled, rubbing his thumb on the cheeks of his adorable boy, "Come, little Mamba."

Hadrianus nodded and stood up from the warmth of his comforter.

"Little Prince, here," Barty gestured to a spot on the ritual circle beside the cauldron. Hadrianus nodded and took his place, still hugging the diary securely in his chest. Tom gave him a reassuring smile and gave a small kiss on his forehead.

The crackling flames beneath the cauldron giving him the much-needed warmth. The liquid in the cauldron seemed to heat very fast. The surface began to bubble. Steam was thickening, blurring the outline of Barty tending the fire. The whole surface of the water was alight with sparks now. It might have been encrusted with diamonds.

"It is ready, My Lord," Barty informed his father.

Hadrianus watched as Tom removed his own robes, then flicked his wand on his father, removing the blanket and the robes on him, and then took him in his arms.

"Eh," Hadrianus gulped, "what if it hurt you two?"

"Don't worry about it. We will see you soon." Tom grinned, before nodding at Voldemort. Voldemort nodded back. Tom took a deep breath, then levitated himself inside the cauldron