Unexpected Soul Mates

Harry felt immense pain as his vision blurred and he fell to the floor. He heard Dumbledore telling him to fight it but the memories he saw, the memories he relived, they were extraordinarily realistic. He saw Voldemort raise his wand but before he did anything, his eyes went wide. Harry leaked into Voldemort's mind, seeing the pain and sorrow Tom had felt for all of his life.

Harry stilled. Maybe he and Voldemort weren't as different as he thought. Lord knows how many times Harry has thought of leaving the light. He never got a choice, it was expected of him. But maybe now he can talk to Tom, no disputes between them.

Dumbledore shouted. Harry wasn't moving. All his friends and family ran to Harry, his eyes fogged over.

Voldemort put his wand down curiously. Harry entered his mind, somehow working it like the room of requirement. He sat in a chair, licking his lips.

"Tom." Tom twitched. "We're not as different as we think." Harry told him. Tom raised his eyebrow.

"You're meant to die at my hands." Tom said indifferently. Harry nodded as if this didn't affect him.

"Maybe that's not what the prophecy meant." Harry said. Tom looked at him curiously.

"You heard the rest?" Tom asked, reaching for his wand. Harry stopped him, gently.

"Meet me in the Chamber. I know it's the only place you can apparate on Hogwarts grounds. Be there in an hour." Harry ordered before forcing both of them out of his mind. Voldemort nodded at Harry slightly before apparating. Harry took a gulping breath.

"Harry, are you okay?" Dumbledore asked as the ministry workers panicked over Voldemort. Harry nodded.

"I'm fine. I want to go home." He croaked. Dumbledore nodded, helping him up and directing him to a portkey.

They landed back in Dumbledore's office. Harry told Dumbledore he wanted to go to Madam Pomfrey so he let him free. Harry scrunched his nose as he walked to the second floor girls lavatory instead. He slid down the pipes and walked the familiar path to the main chamber.

Tom was already there, waiting for him.

"Potter." He acknowledged. He wanted to hear what Harry had to say.

"Tom." Harry hummed, sitting in a couch he previously transfigured when he came down here. "You want to hear the rest of the prophecy." Harry stated. It wasn't a question. Tom nodded once.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..." Harry intoned. "I don't think it means what we first think." Harry swallowed. He knew telling said Dark Lord was a huge mistake and why everything happened that night but he needed to explain to someone who understood.

"You think you know?" Tom asked curiously. Harry nodded.

"Tom, I'm sure you know what soul mates are." Tom looked at him oddly but nodded non the less. "Lives while the other survives. Neither of us have been living, Tom, we've just been surviving." Harry said, exasperatedly. "I saw your memories. I know you haven't had the best life. Neither have I. We've both been abused and neglected as children then had destiny thrust upon us as we entered our escape." Harry explained.

"You think we're soul mates?" Tom asked flatly. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Yes, but that's beside the point. You gave me the power to be able to defeat you, Tom. I deflected your killing curse, Dumbledore thinks it was love. But, was it? I don't think it was. We have a connection, whether you believe me or not. The only way I can conclude deflecting an unavoidable curse and having the power to defeat the most powerful wizard in the world is us being soul mates." Harry sighed.