Thousand
(Yours, In Murder)
–
Harry does care for Tom. A lot. Loves, him, even.
Some things, though, will never be forgotten. There are things Tom has done that Harry will never be alright with, and will never completely forgive. Time will not heal all wounds, and it will not make Tom’s crimes less severe. The trauma Tom has caused will not disappear simply because they’ve found a balance now.
Harry knows that Hermione thinks that he is somehow blind to all this. That he’s repressing all of his issues, avoiding dealing with them and with the wrongness of his whole situation. He knows that Tom believes himself to be in control of what’s going on, and Harry allows him that illusion. He allows that because he doesn’t know how to deal with the alternative.
The nightmares are not completely gone. Things are better and he’s stronger and Tom’s touch does not repel him. He can smile and laugh and be happy. He’s content. He doesn’t want or need revenge. He doesn’t think he’s holding a grudge, really. He does not wish ill upon Tom – not anymore.
But sometimes… the touch of Tom’s fingertips will ghost over him when the chaos inside his heart rises closer to the surface, and it will make him sick. Tom’s voice will sometimes shift, change into a lighter one – that of a teenage boy from a different timeline – and Harry would need to turn and take a look at him, half-expecting to see into the past.
He cannot forget that he’s living with his nightmare, only it’s now in a different wrapping. A matured body that has become familiar in all the good and bad ways.
He does care for Tom a great deal.
But there is a part of him that will never forget, will never forgive, even if he lives for a thousand years more.
marlowfication 