Tom Riddle had spent his Christmases at Hogwarts for four years, until he realised that visiting one of his followers was an excellent way to avoid the scrutinizing eye of Albus Dumbledore, the only professor with so dull a life he stayed to chaperone the students every single Christmas. It was interesting. When he was much younger, he had wanted a family. A father who would bring home sweets for him, a mother to read to him by the fire, just like all those tattered children's tales at the orphanage. The familial lives of his pureblood associates had proven that was just another lie.

Rabastan Lestrange lived in a literal haunted house. All his Lestrange ancestors, it seemed, far prefered having a shadow of their former lives of glory than braving death. His mansion, though large, was filled with tens upon hundreds of dead Lestranges who dominated their house with their ghostly affairs. Cassius Selwyn's family was a long line of seers, real and fake, and all his relatives were fond of speaking to Riddle in a spooky predictive voice, claiming things that could be incredibly useful or absolute bullshit. This year, they would be hosted by the Rosiers. Remembering well the few times Rosier had mentioned his family, Riddle was darkly amused at the prospect of further eccentricity.

His Knights were waiting for him at the gate, but for Rosier, who had left early to prepare for their arrival. Riddle strode towards them and their chatter died down as he drew close. A few of them shook back the sleeves of their robes to check not their wristwatch, but their Infinium Bracelet, the recently given mark of their service, which would be tested for the first time today.

"Get ready," Riddle said to them, and the boys nodded, pairing up the few of them who had not yet reached their seventeenth birthday and learned to apparate.

Riddle held out a hand to little Lucius Malfoy, who fitted himself into Riddle's arms with a sly grin. Riddle pushed down the hot desire to slip his hand into the boy's robes and pinch his pale skin. He waved away the image in his mind of Lucius sobbing, looking up at him with glistening grey eyes and begging for a kiss. That would not do. Riddle reached for Lucius' right hand and pulled up his sleeve, running a finger over the boy's pulse point. The pale grey lines that encircled his wrist, barely noticeable, darkened and materialised, rising out of his skin in the form of a silver serpent wound tightly around itself, tail in its mouth. Riddle tapped it with his wand and it began to spin. Within moments, Rosier answered, and it began to burn. One arm draped around Lucius' waist, Riddle spun and disapparated.

Riddle and Lucius reappeared on the front steps of a sprawling manor house. Rosier stood in the open doorway with an anxious looking house elf. Several more pops sounded behind them, and Riddle glanced around in satisfaction to find all of his followers had gotten safely through the Rosiers' anti-apparation barrier. Rosier and Lucius had done an excellent job on the Bracelet.

"My lord, my friends, welcome to my humble home," drawled Rosier, directing the house elf to take their bags. "Leave your things, Mippy will take them up to your rooms. I must introduce you all to my mother. My lord, she is most excited to see you."

"And I, her," said Riddle, flashing a smile.

The old pureblood houses all looked like they had been designed by the same architect, stiff and proper three-storey manor houses that tried to intimidate through high ceilings and sharp lines. Riddle was utterly unphased, for all that he had grown up in a destitute orphanage. It took him three weeks in his first year, after he realised that his upbring was a weakness, to methodically research everything he could find in the Hogwarts library about pureblood culture. Then he put the stupid bullies in their place and reinvented himself as Tom Riddle, heir of Slytherin. At first they had scoffed at him, but by second year they were convinced, and by third year Riddle realised that his unlikely bluff was true . He was here for a reason, and magic itself was on his side.

As he expected, Rosier showed them into the first parlour, where Angelina Rosier stood silent and elegant by the window. Sandy hair was entwined into a long, neat braid, a few flying tendrils framing an intelligent face with sharp blue eyes. The famous matriarch of the house. Riddle dropped smoothly into a bow, wand hand spread to the side - the dramatic, flourishing bow of two purebloods making first acquaintance. Riddle pulled it off like he had been taught by tutors since he was three.

Pleasantries were exchanged. Riddle only gave half a thought to the conversation, his mind racing ahead to wonder where on the grounds was a good place to perform his ritual. This Christmas was the last before he left the comfort of Hogwarts and set his plan properly in motion. This Christmas, he intended to become immortal.

It was when Angelina had turned to address the rest of the Slytherins that Riddle heard something that caught his attention.

"- Nine rooms, all side by side in the north wing -"

"That's very kind, Angelina, but only eight rooms will be necessary," said Riddle, pulling Lucius to his side.

Mrs. Rosier's eyebrows shot up as she peered at the two of them over the top of her glasses, Riddle poker-faced, Lucius blushing and mortified.

"That won't be a problem at all," she declared after a small pause, clapping her hands for Mippy. "Well, I shan't hold you any longer, I'm sure we can get to know each other very well at supper. Mippy will show you to your rooms and you can get settled in."

"Thank you, Angelina," said Riddle. He smiled widely and bowed again.

Walking down the corridor, Rosier caught his eye and made an obscene gesture, smirking knowingly. Riddle raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. Lucius caught the exchange, walking right next to Riddle, and looked mortified. The erotic fantasies started playing in his head again. How bothersome it was to be a hormonal teenager.

As Mippy closed the door behind them, Riddle saw no reason he should deny himself any longer. Riddle spun round and pinned Lucius against the door.

"Master," the boy gasped with wide-eyed innocence.

"Do you think you shall enjoy sleeping in my room, Lucius?" Riddle asked lightly.

"Yes, Master?"

"For such a privilege, I shall expect you to make yourself useful."

"Yes, Master. Whatever you want."

"When you're in here you should be naked. You should be prepared to serve your master at all times, don't you agree?"

Riddle pushed a knee between Lucius' legs and spread them, trailing a hand down Lucius' abdomen to rub against the hardened outline of Lucius' cock. Lucius breathed heavily, gazing at him plaintively, trying to keep still and keep quiet, things Riddle had taught him to do under whip and cane. In truth, Riddle rather enjoyed Lucius buckling and crying, but he enjoyed it all the more when Lucius couldn't help doing so despite fear of punishment. Riddle enjoyed it, too, when Lucius tried so hard to deny himself, just because it pleased him.

"Do it now."

Lucius shed his school uniform, something he had learned to do quickly and neatly, as he had practiced doing so several times a day under Riddle's predatory gaze. In fact, he had learned all things Riddle taught him remarkably fast, from bedroom techniques to deadly curses. Whatever it was, Lucius would give it all his effort, and then look to Riddle, anxious and anticipating, desperate for a word of praise. It was lovely.

"Where's your lubricant?"

A while ago, Lucius had brewed them a large supply of lubricant with healing and soothing properties, that he carried everywhere with him, since Riddle often decided to fuck him in all sorts of places and conjured lubricant left him terribly sticky.

" Accio lubricant," Lucius said, and the little vial flew out of his bag.

"Get on all fours on the bed and finger yourself. While you do that, you can tell me how much you like it when I fuck you."

Lucius was so obedient. It was not the first time Riddle had thought of him as a little puppy, foolish and enthusiastic. Yet he was not this way with others. At first, Riddle had thought Lucius' attraction was to power, but Lucius was undaunted by any of the Knights, not even his second-in-command Rosier. Another of the many reasons that Lucius pleased him.

Lucius knelt on the edge of the large bed, arse in the air, fingers wet with light blue gel pushing in and out of his dusty pink pucker. Obscene.

"Don't you have something to say to me, boy?" Riddle reminded, flicking a Stinging Hex at Lucius' arse.

"I like it, I like it when you fuck me, Master," Lucius yelped, his voice muffled and embarrassed.

"Really. How so?"

"Um."

"Nothing to say?" Riddle threw out another Stinging Hex. "I must assume you're lying to me, then."

"No, Master," Lucius cried, fucking himself with three fingers. "What should I say…? It's a privilege...to serve you...like this."

"Go on."

"When you fuck me, I'm so honoured you want to...use me," Lucius whimpered. "I love having my Master stretch me open...I love your cock, Master…"

Already there was a hint of tears in Lucius' voice. Perfect, polite little pureblood, Lucius was so embarrassed to say such shameless things. Riddle was painfully aroused, and he palmed his erection through his breeches, watching Lucius' fingers sink into his own arse.

"Is that all?"

"I really like it, Master. Please believe me."

Riddle almost laughed. Before he could answer, their door swung open. Rosier and Selwyn stood frozen in the doorway, Selwyn's mouth half open as though he had been about to speak before he realised what a bad idea that would be.

"So much for being a Seer, Selwyn, doesn't help your manners much. Don't you dare move," he added to Lucius, who scrambled at once when he said Selwyn's name.

"We knocked," said Rosier in their defence, backing away.

"No. Don't leave," Riddle said bitingly. With a wave of his wand he locked the door behind Rosier and Selwyn. "That's twice, Rosier. Evidently you have a great interest in what happens behind my closed doors. It would be impolite of me to curse you in your own home. So please, have a good look."

Rosier and Selwyn looked at each other, deathly uncomfortable. Little Lucius was still on his hands and knees, his fingers fisted in the sheets, legs brought in a little closer, shaking with humiliation. Riddle was rarely angry, and no more than slightly annoyed now, but he was very adept at controlling people and this was one of the more fun maneuvers.

"I'm sure your legs were spread wider than that. Spread them."

Lucius gave a strangled gasp. He obeyed, shifting his knees open more.

"Wider." Riddle aimed a Stinging Hex at Lucius' inner thigh. "As you were. Finger yourself. Do it."

Choking back sobs, Lucius obeyed him.

"Now what did you two want?" Riddle asked calmly.

"My lord, we're deeply sorry," said Selwyn, looking green. "We have learned our lesson. We respect your privacy."

"It's not a problem. What did you come here for?"

"We were...going to invite you to tea in the Spring Room. It's fine. Take your time. Take all the time," said Rosier.

"Oh! How could I keep you waiting. Just a second." Riddle turned around and summoned an item from his bag, and held it up to Rosier and Selwyn. It was a large knobbly butt plug. "I'll make it quick."

Riddle walked over to Lucius, pushed his hand away, and shoved the plug into him carelessly. Lucius cried out, his voice breaking. Riddle tapped his wand to the protruding end, and it began to vibrate.

"Get dressed."

Lucius stumbled to his feet, cheeks smeared with tears. He took one look at Riddle and gave up on protesting. He grabbed his clothes and put them on as quickly as he could.

"Let's all go and have tea," Riddle said brightly.

The walk down the stairs was delightfully awkward.

On entering the Spring Room, Rosier pulled out the chair at the head of the table for Riddle and bowed. Sensing the atmosphere from how subdued Rosier and Selwyn both were, the other Knights respectfully stood up. Riddle took the seat. He indicated the seat opposite his own, far down at the other end of the table, for Lucius. Rosier and Selwyn took the seats on either side of Riddle. Riddle may be fucking Lucius, but he knew better than to give him preferential treatment just because of that. Riddle had designed a strict hierarchy into his ranks, the better to rule. It gave them a position to be proud of or covet. Riddle took a great satisfaction in the formalities, in the respect and deference he was shown. With a personality so naturally domineering, his childhood as a poor downtrodden orphan had given him much to compensate for.

Riddle stirred a splash of milk into his tea. The china was dainty. Rosier's mother's feminine influence was apparent.

"You have a fine house, Rosier," he said casually.

"Thank you, my lord. After we've had tea, I can give you all a tour. There are a few spots you're recommended to avoid, like my brother's rooms on the third floor."

Riddle paused. "You have a brother? I have only heard you mention a sister."

"Yes, well, he's not much of a brother," Rosier shrugged. "Every pureblood family has a dirty secret, right? My brother is...disabled. He's not a squib, but he certainly can't go to school."

"Is it in-breeding?" Avery asked.

Rosier shrugged again, the only outward sign of his defensiveness. "My parents aren't quite brother and sister, but who knows? All the glorification of blood purity has been laying waste to the noble houses of old, mine is no different. Look at all of the Sacred Twenty-eight."

"It's a gamble," Avery said. "Look at you and your sister."

"Ophelia and I are fine due to good luck and an extraordinary mother. But even then, what is the point? My lovely sister, Ravenclaw Head Girl, absolutely formidable witch, had to marry at twenty-two to that moron Black, because of some ludicrous marriage contract my father signed when she was born. How dare they? Witches were so formidable in the days of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, then after the Statute passed and the pureblood Houses formed, all of a sudden witches had to marry young and pump out little brats. Now how many powerful pureblood witches do you hear about? All at home, having children. The few good witches in the Ministry are all half-bloods. Mudbloods get nowhere either, who would believe they'd be good for anything? It's absolutely ridiculous."

"You know, I've heard you go on about it a hundred times, but it does hit a little harder after meeting your mother," said Selwyn.

"Everything I do is to get her the justice she deserves," Rosier said matter-of-factly. "Also me, but my mother deserves far more."

"A noble goal," Riddle said, nodding. "When you are in the Ministry, you will be able to change the way things are."

"I've decided to go to the Morphina Institute of Higher Arts, first," said Rosier, glancing at him. "They sent me a conditional invitation for Ancient Runes. And you, my lord? Didn't the Headmistress write you a personal invitation back in November?"

The Morphina Institute of Higher Arts was the only wizarding university in the world, situated in an unplottable valley in the Alps. Riddle remembered being surprised when he had learned that it was the only one, when there were so many universities in the muggle world. He had understood better when he learned that wand-magic was the sole form of magic only in Europe and the New World. In Asia, in Africa, when the tradition of magic was old and undamaged, there were many ways magic manifested, and magic was taught, more often, from master to apprentice. There was so much he had yet to learn, and he thirsted for it with intensity.

"'It is not the magic you do, but the impact you make'," Riddle said, quoting the school motto of the Morphina Institute. "Such ethics. I doubt they have much to teach me."

"True," said Rosier. "You would not benefit much there. All the years I've known you, you've been bored to tears. You could have graduated long ago if that was an option."

"Despite that, Hogwarts has been useful to me," said Riddle, looking down the table with a small smile. He had gathered the best of Hogwarts, and with their help he would break the system. "Morphina will serve you well, Rosier. The prestige of that school will make your ascent through the Ministry that much easier."

Catching sight of Lucius, the boy looked away from his conversation with Rookwood to give him such a pleading glance. Riddle finished his tea, a smirk spreading slowly across his lips.

"Rosier, why don't you give the boys the tour?"

Rosier followed his gaze, and obeyed without question.

As the others set down their tea and biscuits and left the room, Lucius pushed back his chair and all but ran towards Riddle.

"Please?" He began, tears brimming at once. He must have been trying so hard, pretending he didn't have a vibrating knobbed monster in his arse.

"Shh. Finite. "

Lucius groaned in relief as the plug stopped moving inside him.

"Thank you, thank you. Can I take it out?"

"No," said Riddle, "let's go for a walk."

Riddle put a hand around Lucius' waist and guided him in the direction of the patio doors, exiting into the chill of frozen December grounds. Lucius shivered, and Riddle cast a warming charm around him without thought.

"Did you hear what Rosier and I were discussing?"

"Was it about jobs after you graduate? That's what Rookwood and Dolohov were talking about."

"Yes. Rosier hopes to attend the Morphina Institute. He will make an excellent politician for me. We all have our places in the vision."

"And you, my lord?"

"I plan to travel. There are things Hogwarts cannot teach me, things I need to know."

Lucius bit his lip, so obviously anxious.

"You want to know what I will do with you, hm?" Riddle said, smiling. Lucius was such a child, pathetically transparent.

Lucius nodded.

"Why don't you come with me?"

"What?" Lucius stared at him. "This summer?"

"All of it," said Riddle. He paused to brush a lock of white blond hair behind Lucius' ear. "I can take you with me, if you would like to join me."

"What do you mean? I'm fourteen. You want me to drop out of school for you?"

"It's your choice, Lucius. You already use NEWT material in Arithmancy, Transfiguration, and DADA with ease. If I spend some time with you on Potions and Charms, you could sit those five NEWTs at the end of the year, graduate, and leave with me."

"But I can't sit NEWTs. I haven't even sat my OWLs yet, the only one I have is Arithmancy…"

"I can take care of that. If you want to sit the NEWTs, you can."

Lucius looked down, visibly conflicted. "I don't know, my lord. I - my father would never agree."

"I can take care of that," Riddle repeated, silently irked.

He disliked how much Lucius was still tied to his father. He had told Lucius to join him here at the Rosier House, rather than go home to his father, and Lucius had obeyed. It was a defiance, a step to release Lucius from the wizard's grasp. His wayward son would not come sobbing and begging for forgiveness for besmirching the family name, as the old man expected. Lucius had been glad to avoid the confrontation, but he was hesitant to break of his only family connection completely. Riddle would have to take care of that. Lucius could not be allowed to have loyalties to anyone other than him.

"Could I think about it for a while, master?" Lucius looked at him apologetically.

"Do you understand how much of a privilege I am offering you?"

"Yes!" Lucius stopped, turned, clung to the front of Riddle's robes, his eyes wide and earnest. "I know, my lord, I am so grateful. Please, give me a bit more time."

Riddle gave him a long, calculated look.

"If you wish."

He gently brushed Lucius' hands off himself and continued walking. He could feel the silence pressuring Lucius better than any threat he could make. Of course, he could just order Lucius to come with him, he could even put the boy in a full-body bind and throw him in his luggage, but making him choose was far more effective. Lucius was a long-term investment, and keeping the balance of fear and adoration was essential.

Lucius would need to stew a bit longer than this, he knew. He scanned the grounds of the Rosier estate and headed for the woodlands. Lucius remained quiet all through their walk, as Riddle led him deeper and deeper into the woods. Was the boy frightened yet? He ought to be, if he had any brains at all.

They stopped in the perfect clearing. Riddle threw out a hand for Lucius to stop at the edge, and he paced around it, checking the size and the debris on the forest ground. This would be an excellent place to conduct his ritual.

Riddle turned around. Lucius stood where he had put him, watching him anxiously.

"You're wondering why we're here, are you not?"

Lucius nodded.

"I intend to conduct a ritual," Riddle said. "One that will require a human sacrifice."

Lucius flinched, and his eyes widened with terror. He turned to look back at the way they had come, as if he could not help himself, registering how far from the house they had now come. Riddle felt the dark amusement curl in his gut, pooling into arousal.

"Come here."

Lucius walked towards him, with every step trembling more pronouncedly. When he was a pace away Riddle tugged him in, pulling the smaller boy flush against him, and smoothed his hands down the back of the boy's robes to cup his arse.

"Strip," he whispered.

"Master," Lucius whimpered, shaking in his arms.

"Don't question me. Just obey."

So lovely. Riddle watched with dark eyes as Lucius fumbled with his robes. He had not been able to make Lucius so afraid since the beginning of their little affair. He enjoyed this recreation, though that had not been his original intention. It was intoxicating.

Once Lucius had dropped all his clothes to the ground, Riddle made him kneel on top of them and spread his arse open with his hands. The end of the butt plug protruded from between Lucius' cheeks, and Riddle caught hold of it, dropping to one knee, slowly pushing it in and out, watching fascinated as Lucius' hole stretched wide around the toy. Though he had not considered fucking boys before Lucius, he now found it quite preferable. It was neater, tighter, and Lucius did not require much coddling at all.

He did not undress but to release his cock from his robes, and replaced the plug with its blunt tip, his hands wrapped around Lucius' narrow hips as he rolled him down onto his cock again and again. He didn't speak, and Lucius was quieter than usual, no words, just soft gasps and occasional whimpers as he rocked into him. As he began fucking him harder, it occurred to Riddle to reach a hand around to fondle Lucius' cock. He found the boy completely flaccid. Withdrawing his hand, he pounded into the boy at an increasingly brutal pace until he came.

"Get dressed," Riddle said, the first words spoken in the clearing for at least half an hour.

Lucius flinched, then sat back on his heels and looked up at him. Riddle gave him an impatient look, and started walking towards the edge of the clearing as soon as Lucius started to do as he said. Lucius caught up with him a minute later, out of breath. Riddle slowed his gait.

"You thought I was going to kill you." He kept any hint of his amusement from his voice. His tone was flat and factual.

Lucius glanced at him and down again. "I - um. A little."

"Did you not recall that I had just been asking you to accompany me around the world?"

"I'm sorry, master."

"That's not an answer."

"Well - I thought, maybe you would kill me if I refused."

"How would that achieve my end?"

"I'm sorry, master." Lucius sounded so guilty. As if it was his fault Riddle had led him into an abandoned clearing and then said he needed a human sacrifice. Already he was taking the blame on himself for misunderstanding, even though he thought he was going to be murdered, and had been terrified of his impending death the whole time Riddle was fucking him. People were so endlessly amusing.

"Try not to be so stupid, Lucius. You know I expect more of you."

"Yes, master."

There was an interlude of silence as they cleared the woodland and the house was within sight.

"Master?"

"Yes?"

"I'll come with you after you graduate. Thank you. It's a great honour."

Riddle finally allowed himself the self-satisfied smile that had been dying to burst through. He aimed it at Lucius, and the boy thought he was proud of him.

"Good. You can start by accompanying me to London tomorrow."