Parvati hesitantly knocked on the door to the Riddle Mansion, Hermione hanging off her arm. Viktor stood silently behind them, hoping his new friend was not punished due to his foolishness. The large mahogany door silently swung open, revealing Tom Marvolo Riddle. He smiled at them, shooting a questioning look at Viktor. He did not speak but silently ushered them in and they were hit with the smooth sound of a violin being played very quickly. Like a professional would be able to do. They followed the pale man dressed in casual ruby red, silk slacks and a casual silk gold turtle neck into the living room where a family of three sat on the couch watching the Potter-Riddle teen dressed like his guardian play away on his violin. Hermione dropped Parvati's arm and glided forward, her hand resting on the piano as she watched her best friend play. What he played for her was nothing compared to this. He moved with the bow. If it went down, his body moved down. If the bow went up, his body went up. Harry's emerald orbs opened and he stopped playing when he saw Hermione, Parvati, and…… Viktor.
Tom began clapping as did the Dursley family. Harry ignored them and set his violin down, staring at his friends. Anger flood through his body. He knew not why, just that it did. His vision was blurred by red. He was confused, angry, and alone. Most of all, he felt betrayed by Hermione. She knew Viktor shouldn't be there, yet she brought him with her. Harry took deep, calming breaths and that only fueled his anger.
"Harry?!" Tom exclaimed as Hermione rushed to his side. Harry back-handed her before she could reach him.
"Harry?!" Parvati whispered. She was debating between her girlfriend and her family. She ran to Harry and pulled him into a hug, petting his hair. "Harry, are you okay, mon chéri1?" Parvati cooed. Viktor was in shock. He was under the impression that Harry was calm, collected, and… Well… Emotionless…
Harry pushed away from his cousin, murmuring, "Je suis désolé2, Parvati," before throwing himself at his guardian. Tom caught him and, murmuring sweet nothings in French to his peu d'amour3, carefully carried him from the room. Hermione glared daggers at Parvati.
"What the hell was that?!" she snarled.
Parvati turned her dark brown orbs on Hermione. "That was supporting my family, Hermione. Family is forever, you, however, are most likely not. I would protect mon chéri forever," explained the dark haired girl. Viktor shook himself out of his shock.
"Vell, that vas… Interesting…. I guess," he murmured. He looked at the family on the couch. "Vhy hello there. Forgive ve for not introducing vyself earlier. Vy name is Viktor Krum-Granger." Vernon stood up and held his pudgy hand out.
"Viktor. I am Vernon Dursley. I am one of Mr. Riddle's business partners. This is my wife, Petunia," Vernon motioned at the blond woman on the couch, "and my son Dudley." He motioned at the fat boy. "We are in town for a few months due to some business gone wrong on our other partner's side, Sirius Black's." Vernon straightened his jacket. "Yes… So much for the boy's Godfather, eh Petunia?" Petunia shrugged and looked at her husband. Tom re-entered the room, Harry trailing behind, his head bowed in submission.
"Harry, are you alright?" five voices cried out at once. Vernon, Petunia, Dudley, Parvati, and Viktor. Hermione was still angry with Harry. Harry merely nodded his head.
"What happened to him, Tom?" Petunia asked.
Tom airily waved a hand, dismissing the comment as trivial. "Angry spell. He's had them since before Lils and Jamie died," he explained.
"Lils and Jamie?" Parvati asked. Harry's eyes flashed an angry red, unnoticed by everyone.
"Lily and James Potter, débile4," the teen said dully, never raising his head to meet anyone's gaze. Not until Tom said so. Not until Tom forgave him for laying a hand on a female. That would never happen. Tom forgave and forgot when it fell under the category of the male beings, but females… Tom never forgave Remus Lupin for marrying Nymphadora Tonks, never forgave James Potter for marrying Lily Evans, never forgave Vernon Dursley for marrying Petunia Evans, never forgave Lucius Malfoy for marrying Narcissa Black, and, most importantly, Tom never forgave himself for marrying (then divorcing) Minerva McGonagall. Not only did he divorce her, he murdered her as soon as she got back from her honeymoon whence she remarried. No one ever found the murderer of Minerva McGonagall because it was a onetime thing with a weapon that was destroyed and the records of it being bought were erased from the world. Anyways, Tom never forgave any man who touched a woman on purpose.
"Now," said Tom softly, "who is this boy?" he gestured to Viktor who was watching Harry. He too was debating between family and friends.
"Hello sir. Vy name is Viktor Krum-Granger. Vhat is your name, sir?" Tom smiled genially. This boy would be good to court Harry. This boy or one of the Weasley boys. Oh, Tom would have to invite the candidates over for dinner one night.
"I am named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Tom Riddle for my father and Marvolo for my grandfather. Call me Tom, cher enfant5," the man with ruby eyes muttered, glancing at Harry. Harry kept his head bowed the entire time. "Yes…"
"Pleased to veet you, Tom," Viktor said, yet his eyes were set, not on Tom, but on Harry. "'Arry," he murmured.
"Yes…?" Harry whispered in a small voice.
"'Arry, vhy did you heet my seester?" Viktor asked.
"She… She knew you aren't supposed to come here until Tom says so… Yet she brought you anyways," was the monotonous reply.
"… Vhy?" Viktor said finally.
"Ask Tom," Harry murmured. He was pushed to the couch by Tom and silently, he sat down. He rested his head on Dudley's shoulder and closed his eyes, falling asleep shortly after.
Viktor turned to face Tom. "Vhy vas I not supposed to come?"
Tom glared. "I only allow potential suitors in my home."
"Vhat do you vean vy "potential suitors", Mr. Tom?" Viktor asked as Hermione stood and tenderly touched her cheek.
"That Harry needs to find a lover so he may give me an heir," Tom sighed in exasperation.
"Vut 'Arry is a man!" Viktor exclaimed.
"Yes, well, he was born with hereditary problems. He was born with a uterus and thus is able to bear children. He had one to many of Lily's genes in him and that enables him to have a uterus and able to reproduce," Tom explained slowly as if he was talking to a mentally retarded child. "Cher enfant, surely you have learned this in school?"
"Vell-"
"No, Uncle Tom. We haven't learned about it yet. We only learn about it in senior year," Parvati interrupted. Tom nodded.
"Thank you, mon jouet6," Tom murmured, more to himself. "I apologize for speaking to you like that, cher enfant."
"Uncle Tom?" Petunia asked.
"Why, yes," Parvati said softly. "Ma père7 is Uncle Tom's Uncle, so we are related."
"Harry?" All eyes turned to Dudley and Harry. The latter was whimpering in his sleep.
"Peu d'amour?" Tom asked quietly.
At Tom's voice, Harry's eyes flashed open. Dilated like the other night. "Is Lily alright…?" Harry asked hoarsely. Tom blinked.
"Ici, minou, minou, minou… Venez à Tom, petit Lis8," Tom cooed as he squatted down. Out of the shadows of the couch, a little black and white kitten with emerald eyes rolled, a ribbon tied around its neck. "Lis idiot. Vous avez effrayé Harry9." Tom smiled and carried the kitten to Harry. "Yes, peu d'amour, Lily is fine," Tom murmured, gently pressing the kitten into Harry's lap.
Translations:
mon chéri1- Roughly translates to 'My Dear'
Je suis désolé2- Roughly translates to 'I am sorry'
peu d'amour3- Roughly translates to 'Little Love'
débile4- Roughly translates to 'Moron'
cher enfant5- Roughly translates to 'Dear Child'
mon jouet6- Roughly translates to 'My Toy'
Ma père7- Roughly translates to 'My Father'
Ici, minou, minou, minou… Venez à Tom, petit Lis8- Roughly translates to 'Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Come to Tom, little Lily.'
Lis idiot. Vous avez effrayé Harry9- Roughly translates to 'Silly Lily. You scared Harry.'
