The first thing that hit Hadrian was the unbelievably bad headache, the next was he felt like something had crawled into his mouth and died. The third his stomach was grumbling angrily, and the most important thing of all, he was in a bed. Opening his eyes slowly, glancing at the windows, which still didn't have curtains on them, regardless it was pitch black outside, obviously too much time couldn't have passed. Tom's arm was across his middle, he was still there, and he must have meant everything he said then. He couldn't remember getting up and going to bed, which meant there was more he couldn't remember or Tom had managed to get them both here.
Moaning softly, he slid out of bed, clutching his stomach, as the urge to vomit hit him, no, he wasn't going to be sick, he absolutely refused. Making his way very slowly to the end of his bed, he unlatched his trunk and opened it, grabbing an anti-nausea potion and downing it; at once his stomach began to calm down, unfortunately for him his mouth tasted even worse. He nabbed the food box from the Leaky Cauldron and closed the lid before making his way back to his bed, grimacing at the smell of his top; he quickly removed it and threw it at the other end of his bedroom.
Opening the box he immediately claimed the bottle of orange juice and drank the entire contents of the bottle, giving a sigh of relief as his thirst was finally quenched and his mouth free of the remains of the potion. He was tempted to drink the pumpkin juice as well, but he didn't want to risk making his stomach queasy again. An arm snaked out and wrapped around his stomach, pulling him close to Tom. Sighing softly, relaxing, content to be just near Tom, he couldn't believe he was still here though, and was tempted to think this was nothing but a dream, but the tightness in which Tom held him, he knew this wasn't a dream it was reality.
"Accio potion," Hadrian said summoning a very specific one with will alone. "Here, this will help you feel better." once the potion was in his palm he handed it to Tom, well the one hand that wasn't so possessively around him anyway. It was a testament to the trust between them that Tom swallowed the potion without even so much as glancing at it or sniffing it to see what it was.
He also handed Tom the bottle of pumpkin juice, which he drank some of still laying down. He helped twist the lid back on when he was done. Shivering at the feel of Tom's wandering hand against his naked flesh. How could a touch feel so possessive? Was it just him or was Tom just so good at it?
"How did you survive that killing curse?" Tom asked, his tone frustrated, he had been trying to think of all the conceivable ways possible but his mind kept drawing blank and he didn't like it.
"Which one?" Hadrian questioned quietly, lying back against the pillows, biting his lip as Tom's hand brushed down his stomach tantalisingly.
"First time," Tom elaborated, using his elbow to take the weight of his upper body so he wasn't lying down completely, he was able to gaze at Hadrian in the darkness.
"Honestly? Nobody is sure, the entire magical world thought it was a miracle, they hailed me 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' probably didn't help that Dumbledore kept me hidden making me seem even more mystical." Hadrian replied honestly, carding his fingers through Tom's on his stomach, no longer nervous or scared that Tom would leave. "I think it was a combination of a few things, magic itself and your destroyed soul. You made a promise to spare my mum, that combined with my mum's sacrifice which was enacted by you telling her three times to stand aside, it caused a backlash." his mum, Merlin he hadn't called her that since he came here, it was quite strange but it made him feel closer to Tom.
"What happened to Myrtle?" Tom asked, remembering the pensive memory of…Harry's second year, the years had become blurred but he was sure once he had enough time to think them through, memories them they would slot easily into place.
"You used her to create your first Horcrux, which would have been at the end of the next school year," Hadrian informed him, "Accidentally, though, she'd been crying in the girl's bathroom after being bullied by Olive Hornby because of her glasses. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, you had entered the girl's bathroom and she came out to tell 'the boy' to use his own bathroom and she was met with the eyes of a basilisk and died. She had such a miserable life at Hogwarts, I wanted to change that. When she died you took the opportunity and used the diary to make it. Ironically enough Dippet had been trying to find ways for you to stay at Hogwarts that year instead of returning to the orphanage seen as you were legally of age in the Muggle world and all that, but with everything that happened…he couldn't allow it."
Tom grimaced, having a good idea how that would have made him feel and react. "So that's why you took a liking to her." Hadrian always helped those weaker than him, but he hadn't just helped her with her bullies, he had made it so she could stand up for herself. The Myrtle that interacted with Hadrian occasionally (alright more than occasionally they spoke everyday) was not the same one Hadrian had helped for the first time more than a year ago.
"No, I helped her because I detest bullies, she grew on me on her own," Hadrian declared strongly. "She's a good friend, I've not had many of those." she'd given him a book written by one of the Slytherin family for Merlin's sake, a family heirloom, nobody just did that for the sake of it. "The book she gave me is priceless, I'll give her one thing, and she's not only extremely smart but loyal,"
"She isn't completely intolerable," Tom conceded, "I am glad you helped her though."
"Why's that?" Hadrian blinked momentarily confused, Tom saying she wasn't intolerable was like him saying he actually liked her even if only a little. However, him saying he was glad he helped Myrtle? Totally unexpected but probably with a good reason behind it.
"Because it confirmed my suspicions of you," Tom declared smugly.
Hadrian snorted in amusement, understanding dawning, of course, that was when Tom originally approached him. "I am curious about that; you were attempting to blackmail me that day weren't you? Or storing it for later use?" he was a Slytherin so of course he was.
Tom hummed thoughtfully, "Yes," he admitted, but he was glad that had not worked out, it wasn't until Avery's first attack that he began to realize that Hadrian was definitely hiding something big. Not only that but he was someone he wanted onside, but even he hadn't realized he wanted more, wanted Hadrian right beside him not following not until later when his feelings didn't diminish the slightest.
"I knew it!" Hadrian muttered wryly, unsurprised, inhaling sharply as Tom's teeth found his neck and sucked sharply as if he were admonishing him. He tilted his neck to give Tom more room, arousal beginning to catch within him, as Tom interspaced between ravaging him and kissing the area he'd savagely claimed moments prior.
"You're mine," Tom breathed into Hadrian's ear, "And I want the entire world to know it, we will bond," his tone booking no arguments.
"Um…about that…" Hadrian said slowly, feeling Tom's entire body stiffen as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
"You promised," Tom stated sharply, hurt and anger flowing through him, letting the anger get the better of him because he didn't like the feeling of being hurt, especially not by Hadrian of all people.
"I know," Hadrian said sitting up against the pillows so he could see Tom, which he was able to do so when he pointed at one of the oil lamps, turning it on to cast a weak glow over the room so they could at least see more than darkness around them.
"Why?" Tom gritted his teeth, perhaps Hadrian had lied to him when he said he trusted him completely.
"Um…well…I have something else to tell you," Hadrian said, "But I think you'll like it." he added in a rush.
"You're kidding me?" Tom asked exasperated, there was more? He didn't think he had it in him to hear more, especially after everything he'd already learned. He forced himself to relax when he saw the apprehension in Hadrian's eyes, not of him, but the situation he'd bet.
"Aren't you curious about how I survived what my ex-best friends did to me? How I ended up so far in the past? It's not normal even in the magical world's standards." Hadrian pointed out, and he'd bet everything he owed that Tom had been curious about it.
"You aren't normal by wizarding standards," Tom replied. "But yes, I had intended to ask, but I was under the impression that you probably didn't know yourself."
"But I do," Hadrian answered ruefully, tightening his grip on Tom's hand. "Remember the Deathly Hallows and how I said they were more than just artefacts or legends?"
"Yes," Tom nodded, he remembered them well, the wand which Dumbledore had in the future, the cloak Harry had that Hadrian now has having stolen it from his grandfather…and the ring he had, the Gaunt ring which happened to be the resurrection stone.
"I had possession of all three of them, and the fact that I had Peverell blood in me, meant that I unwittingly became the Master of the Deathly Hallows. Master over Death." Hadrian said quietly, it was the first time he'd admitted that out loud and it made him sound insane.
Tom frowned, his brilliant mind trying to comprehend what he had just been told. "I'm not sure I understand," Tom had to admit, and it irked him something rotten, he was extremely smart so to have to admit it was unbelievable.
"I didn't either, and it happened to me," Hadrian revealed, soothing Tom's wounded ego. "I went years denying that anything happened, trying to tell myself I wasn't somehow more powerful, and I was. During the battle with the others before I came back, I tapped into it, not the powers themselves but part of the magic that I had inherited. A single thought as they killed me caused all this, me wakening up in this time, I am the Lord of Time, I can go to any time I wish, be it the founders, even back to my own time," Tom's arm snaked right back around him holding him tight enough that he could barely breath. "Which I don't intend to do, I promise."
"The Hallows gave you the power to move in time?" Tom asked incredulously.
"Not just that, they killed me, Tom, but I didn't die…I can't die. I'm immortal." Hadrian whispered.
Tom froze at the words, if that was true then he would never have to worry about Hadrian, he would always be safe. He would never be confronted with what the Boggart showed him. Hadrian would never be alone either, for hearing those words made him even more determined to find a way to gain immortal life that wouldn't rip away all that he was and all he wanted to achieve in life. They truly would be together forever, and he wouldn't need to convince him to do anything, like the Horcrux idea which had blown up in his face. "Good." he said finally after a few minutes of silence, having finally wrapped his mind around it.
"Good? That's it?" Hadrian asked, yet again feeling as though he was missing something.
"That's it," Tom confirmed, finding a great deal of amusement out of the look Hadrian was supporting. Now that the shock had worn off, and he was beginning to get back to normal, as normal as he could get with information still being blasted at him, he realized Hadrian had basically had that look on his face during the entire night. None more amusing, now that he thought back, at the look on his face when he'd shouted at him about bringing the dead body back to Hogwarts with him.
"Except the fact when we bond…you'll share my abilities and life span…" Hadrian pointed out, "You'll be immortal too." he knew THAT wasn't going to be a problem.
"I'll be able to travel in time?" Tom blurted out his surprise.
"I don't know if you'll be able to do it on your own, or if you'd need me there when you do it, this is all new to me too," Hadrian pointed out, he'd told him he would be immortal and he wasn't trying to thrust bonding books in his hand? Yes, things were definitely different from what he pictured and he honestly couldn't care - right now things felt perfect.
"So there's really someone out there called death?" Tom queried loosening Harry's grip on his arm, as he idly used his fingers to paint a pattern on Hadrian's chest, feeling the Goosebumps as he did so.
"An angel of death yes," Harry nodded to confirm it.
"That is how you know how the souls of people using Horcruxes don't pass on," Tom connected the dots, it wasn't the Unspeakables after all.
"Yeah, that and I saw what was left of your mutilated soul," Hadrian informed him, as always promising no secrets between them. "I've 'died' so to speak a few times, and ended up in limbo. Its how I found out about my powers before I was sent back here."
Tom pressed his head against Hadrian's shoulder, tightening his hold momentarily, he didn't like to think about the fact his older self had killed Hadrian, or the fact his so called best friends had murdered him as well. "Does the bonding I chose fit the requirements?" he murmured, breathing in Hadrian's scent, which was mingled in a bit with the whiskey but not overly so. If anything he smelt worse, he was still fully dressed while Hadrian had only a pair of shorts on.
"Good question," Hadrian mused, only Death could answer that one, since he had no idea himself. He wasn't even the slightest bit surprised when he felt a nudge in his occlumency shields; he barely winced used to the sensation of someone forcing their way through by now.
'The bonding he chose is perfect, it allows me to add to it,' Death spoke, amusement coating his voice.
'Add what exactly?" Hadrian asked cautiously, 'Will it hurt?' he wasn't afraid of pain he just wanted to be prepared for it if that were the case.
'It won't hurt you, you've gone through the process, it's a manageable pain, your soon to be bonded has nothing to worry about' Death said, chuckling deviously. He was happy that Hadrian had found someone, but that happiness wasn't exactly a surprise, he had seen it coming, just like he'd seen everything else. It didn't mean he didn't get enjoyment out of watching it unfold though. Not much surprised him, just the human Harry had been before accepting his gifts, and anyone else would have immediately embraced them.
'Alright' Hadrian conceded, realizing Death wasn't about to tell him more, but he could guess correctly what was going to happen, at least he knew it would occur and not end up panicking.
'Congratulations, Lord Peverell, on your upcoming bonding, may you life be a long and prosperous one, Merlin help anyone who tries to ensure otherwise.' Death informed him gracefully, with just a hint of sarcasm. Feeling the amusement shoot through Hadrian, 'Your intended is trying to get your attention,' and with that Death removed himself from Hadrian's mind, the occlumency barriers strengthening behind him.
"Hadrian?" Tom called insistently once more, giving him a little shake, actually sitting up now, staring down at Hadrian in concern. He should be used to it, Hadrian did it now and again but each time still made him worry.
"Sorry, just thinking," Hadrian said which was strictly true, even if only partially, since he had been thinking to Death. "The bonding you suggested will work fine, it binds us together in all ways," would Tom be able to converse with Death? Or would it remain between just them? Clearing his mind of those thoughts, not wishing for his mind to feel as if it was being split open (no matter how used to it he was) so soon after it just happened, he had enough of a headache as it was. He could thank the whiskey for that. His stomach rumbling fiercely made him blindly grope for the food box, open it up and take the first available thing out, a pack of crisps that would do.
"Here," Hadrian said, opening the packet to share between them. "Do you have any other questions?" he asked before chomping on the cheese and onion crisps. It made his stomach a little queasy at first but after a few more his stomach began to settle and get even hungrier if possible.
"None that I can think of right now," Tom admitted, rubbing his eyes tiredly, nabbing a few crisps himself, before washing it down with the remains of his orange juice. Merlin he was tired, even the excitement he'd felt moments prior was fading already, leaving him nigh on exhausted. "What's the time?" too lazy to even think about casting a spell. As much as he wanted to do the bonding right now, he knew they were too exhausted and it required lengthily spell work. He was even too exhausted to bathe, and he really needed to. Instead he reluctantly moved to cast a cleansing spell on both himself and his clothes to get rid of the stink surrounding him - he smelt like a brewery.
"We got two hours sleep, at least," Hadrian revealed, knowing what Tom was really asking. Having finished the crisps he flung the empty packet on the drawers - he would clean up and do the rest of the room later.
"Put the light out," Tom demanded, as he once again pulled Hadrian towards him and flung the covers over them, ready to get some sleep because tomorrow they would be busy, he was nothing if not determined that they be bonded. Surprisingly enough, despite the enticing promise of immortality, it hadn't heightened his desire to bond to Hadrian; it remained the same burning desire it had been for many months now. Hadrian turned around after turning the lamp off, burrowing his face in Tom's chest, Merlin help him, but he loved Tom so much, and he was relieved beyond belief that he was still there. With him.
Their relationship stronger than ever, their sleep came on swift wings for the pair, to say tomorrow was going to be a huge day would be quite the understatement.