Kudos for recognizing what Tom's life in the orphanage could easily have been like (and probably was, based on the person he became); also for Harry's point out the problems with Yoda's Code to him. I'm not that familiar with the Code (prefer Trek to Wars, sorry, but still...) but I've always felt that the Jedi Council in may ways got what they deserved from Palpatine in the third movie. Palpatine played them like a pipe organ, and they were too focused on their own issues (or blinded by hubris) to realize it.
I'm loving this story more and more...oh, and I like your 'conditions' for Harry's return.
Author's response
History has always been a fascination of mine, and Dickens' tales, are frighteningly accurate. It, in fact, was his books, specifically 'Oliver Twist' that sparked the social outrage, and provided the political incentive to begin to work on the first of the child-labor laws. Watching 'Oliver' (the musical version of the early 1960's) I could never understand the words 'GOD IS LOVE" painted on the wall, when the orphans were treated so horribly, and the governors feasted behind that glass wall.
In Riddle's time, the time, orphanages were little better than workhouses, or sweatshops.
I am also one of those few who are Star Trek fans. I believe a small percentage of us are fans of both sagas.
In the case of the Jedi Council, I believe they allowed their own hubris to get in the way. They had blinded themselves to reality for so long, they couldn't see anything beside their own vision. (Sound like somebody we know?)
Doesn't the word 'balance', after all, mean 'equal'?
Conditions: Well I couldn't just have him go back the way he was, could I? Where's the fun in that?
Alorkin