Snow was falling outside the train window. It was the first time Sam had ever gone home for Christmas. It was the first time he had ever wanted.
"Come on tell me." Draco whined. He'd been trying to get Sam to tell what he had gotten Tom for Christmas for the past few minutes.
"Why would I? You'll be there to see when he gets it."
"But I'm curious what you got the worst Dark Lord of all times for Christmas." Draco said and pouted like a petulant child about not getting his way.
"I'm not going to tell you so stop sulking."
"Who's sulking?" Fred asked and stepped into the compartment.
"Sam won't tell me what he got Tom for Christmas." Draco said and crossed his arms over his chest and continued sulking.
"That is something I would like to know too." Gorge said. "What do you get a Dark Lord?"
"I bought a gift for my father, not the Dark Lord."
"Is there a difference?" Draco asked from his corner.
"Of course there is." Sam said and he too crossed his arms over his chest.
"Now, now, don't you two love birds get upset at each other at something so small." Fred said teasingly.
"Shut up Fredrick." Draco snapped.
"Ouch." Fred said. "No one ever calls me Fredrick."
"Well get used to it - Fredrick. Fred is a stupid name."
Gorge snickered. "Well Fredrick is even more stupid, and are you trying to tell me Draco isn't stupid?"
Draco huffed and Sam joined Gorge in his snickers. "T least it doesn't sound like a commoner's name."
"It's a commoner's name now. Then let me tell you that Draco sounds like a stuck up little…"
"Ok, that is quite enough." Sam said before someone had a fatal accident in the compartment. "Was it a reason beyond socializing that brought you here?" He asked the twins.
"We wanted to know how to get in contact with you before our visit." Gorge said and ignored his brother who was still staring angrily at Draco who stared back equally angry.
"We will be meeting you at the Leaky Cauldron at eleven o'clock on the 27th."
"Sounds good. Or do you think you could make it twelve? It would be easier with getting away from everybody else without attracting too much attention to ourselves."
"I don't see why that should be a problem. Twelve then." Sam and Gorge sat in silence for a moment watching Fred and Draco trying to kill each other with their looks. "Maybe we should…" Gorge started but was cut off by the sound of his younger brother's voice.
"What are you two doing with them? Ron asked and glared at the two Slytherins.
"Talking little brother, that's all. No making plans of joining the dark side."
Sam almost choked at Gorge's words. Did he have to say that?
"You better watch yourselves, we may not have anything on you yet but it's only a matter of time." Ron said to Sam and Draco.
"You can't do anything without your little hero. Where is he by the way do you even know?" Draco taunted. They had stayed as far away from Ron and Hermione as possible during the past four months. That didn't mean they had completely had been able to avoid confrontation with the Gryffindor after all they did have classes with the house of the lion.
"Leave Harry out of this Malfoy." Ron seethed. "When Harry comes back you won't be so cocky."
Sam shared a look with Gorge at Ron's words. The red head was in for one very unpleasant surprise when the time was right.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ronald." Ron turned on his heal and left the compartment.
"Poor, little Ronnikins." Fred said. His argument with Draco forgotten.
"I actually feel a bit sorry for him." Gorge said and looked at the door where Ron had been only moments ago.
Sam silently did too.
Slytherin castle was beautifully decorated when Sam and Draco apperated in with the help of Lucius and Narcissa. Sirius, Remus and Tom were waiting for them in the large entrance hall. Hugging both boys too them tightly.
"Did you have a good first term?" Sirius asked.
"Yes and for once it was almost normal. No mysteries, voices in the walls, murderers on the loose or competitions to partake in." Sam said and hugged his godfather tightly.
The other laughed at him. "Who would have guessed this would be the year that you would find the most normal?"
"It wasn't what I expected when I started but since no one that hasn't been told has been able to connect me to you. I've been left pretty much alone."
"I wouldn't say you've been left alone." Draco said. "First you were the new student then the whole Slytherin house you found out you were Salazar's heir. Luckily they didn't spread it. Then everybody noticed how good looking you are." Draco didn't look too happy about that.
"At least they don't stare at me for being the boy who lived anymore."
"Being stared at for being hot is much more pleasant I would imagine." Lucius said with a sneer.
"It really is." Sam said and Lucius rolled his eyes making the other laugh.
Tom looked over at the two teenagers sitting in one of the large armchairs. They looked good together. He should talk to Lucius about marriage between the two. If he were to do that however he would have to talk to Lucius about a new heir to the Malfoy name as well. There were ways that would ensure Narcissa had a boy if they had another child. He couldn't very well ask Lucius to marry off his only heir to his son without having someone to take Draco's place as the one to carry the Malfoy name into the future. Since Samael was the higher standing of the two the name Riddle would be taken by the young Malfoy in an eventual marriage between the boys. He looked at the two boys cuddling in the armchair again. He really had to talk to Lucius about that.
Christmas Eve Sam and Draco were called to Tom's study. The boy's looked at each other worriedly before knocking on the door.
"Come in." To their surprise it was Lucius who called and not Tom. Sam opened the door and felt like turning around when he saw Tom and Lucius sitting by the enormous desk.
"You wanted to see us." He said and walked into the room.
"Yes, please have a seat." Tom said and waved at the two chairs that had been placed next to Lucius's. They sat down and waited for their fathers to continue. "We would like to discuss your relationship with you." Tom said and Sam felt a cold spread in the pit of his stomach. He had known from the beginning that his relationship with Draco may not last. That he or Draco in the end would be married off with someone else. He just had hoped that it wouldn't be this soon.
"What about it?" He asked and took Draco's hand into his own an action that didn't go unnoticed by either of the men.
"How serious are you about it?"
"I really like Draco. What is this about? Are you going to forbid us to be together?"
"We would do no such thing." Lucius said and Sam and Draco both relaxed slightly.
"Then what is it?" Draco asked.
"Would you say there is love between you?" Tom asked. He looked at both boys searching their faces.
"I don't know." Sam finally said. "I don't think I love Draco yet but given time I'm sure it could come to that." Draco nodded his agreement.
"I'm very glad to hear that." Tom said with a small smile. "Lucius and I have been talking. We have decided that a marriage between the two of you would be very profitable for everybody involved." Sam stared at Tom like he'd suddenly lost his mind completely.
"You want me and Draco to get married?" ¨
"Yes, I don't mean now of course, but when you are of age and have completed your education. For now you would be betrothed to each other."
"What about the Malfoy name. I'm not naïve enough to think Sam would take on my name." Sam himself had not thought of that. The whole thing was to bizarre to be thinking about last names.
"Me and your mother will produce s new heir, you don't have to worry about that Draco. Your mother always wanted more children but I could not take more than one at the time."
"If you say it like that it will definitely be twins." Draco said and watched as Lucius paled at the mere thought of two screaming babies in the house.
"If I and Draco get married, what about children?" Sam asked, he'd always wanted a family and didn't want to give that thought up to marry someone who he couldn't have children with. He guessed they could adopt but he wasn't sure Tom would agree to that.
"You will be able to have children. I wouldn't put you in a marriage that would not produce an Heir." Sam really didn't like the word produce while talking about children but let it slide. "Draco will with the right potion be able to carry children once you are bonded in a marriage ceremony."
"He will?" Sam looked at his boyfriend who looked slightly pale. Sam guessed he'd never expected to be the woman once he got married. "Well then." Sam said easily and almost had his fingers crushed by Draco who probably thought he had accepted the deal a bit too easily.
By the 27th both Sam and Draco had accepted the change in their relationship. They were sitting at a table in the Leaky Cauldron waiting for Fred and Gorge to appear. Christmas had been wonderful in Sam's opinion. He had given Tom a rare book on curses and a ring that had belonged to Salazar that he had found in the castle before he left for school in September. Draco hadn't understood why he couldn't have told him about the presents on the train. Sam said it wasn't about the things but about the giving and the surprise. Draco clearly didn't get it. As they waited Sam looked down on his left hand where a small silver ring circled his ring finger stating his status as betrothed to the world. The silver ring was part of the Slytherin marriage set that Tom had taken from the Slytherin castle vault. The engagement ring was simple in its design in plane silver with a single emerald. Draco's was similar but held three smaller emeralds in the shape of a triangle with the top pointing inwards, indicating he belonged to someone.
"Draco, Harry." Fred said and sat down, Gorge sat down next to his brother.
"Please don't use that name in public." Sam said. "I private I don't mind, but in a place like this you never know who listens."
"You right, I'm sorry." Sam nodded. "Are you ready to go?"
"As ready as we'll ever be." Gorge said.
They walked into the same sitting room Sam had met Sirius and Remus in several months ago and saw the adults sitting spread out throughout the room waiting for them.
"Everything went well?" Sirius asked.
"You know it did." Sam sat down next to his godfather on the sofa.
"Right I do." There was no way the grownups would let him and Draco go to the Leaky Cauldron on their own without some kind of supervision. "Fred, Gorge it's good to see you again." Sirius said to the two young men standing just inside the doors.
"Hello Sirius, you too."Gorge said. "Professor Lupin." He greeted the werewolf.
"Fred, Gorge." Remus nodded at the twins. Tom got up from where he was sitting next to Severus and walked over to Fred and Gorge.
"Welcome to Slytherin castle." He said and held out his hands for the two to shake. They took his hand and introduced themselves. "So you have decided to take our side in this war?"
"We have." Fred said with a slight inclination of his head.
"That pleases me greatly you should know." He took a back. "If one of you would come with me we could get you initiated."
"We would prefer to be together when we did it, if you don't mind." Fred said.
Tom looked at the twins and gave a nod of his head. "You should know that it is painful. I do not want to discourage the one who goes second."
"If my brother takes the mark I will too." Gorge said stiffly.
"I see, twin loyalty though and through. It's impressive."
"We're going to interpret that as a compliment." Fred said coldly.
"It was. Would you like to go somewhere else or would you prefer to take your mark here?"
"If the others don't mind we can do it here." Fred said.
Tom turned and faced his family. "Do you mind?" He got shakes as answers. "Good. Fred was it?" He asked and looked at the twin to his right.
"That's right."
"You wanted to go first?" Fred nodded. "Roll up your left sleeve." Fred did as told and Tom put his wand to his bared arm and muttered an incantation under his breath. The air was soon filled by painful screams as the Dark Mark was branded into the arm of Fred Weasley. When it was done the young man sagged down on the floor where he lay dragging raged breaths. Remus got up from where he was sitting and went over to kneel by Fred's side.
"The pain will soon go away." He said and helped him sit up.
"You are next." Tom turned to Gorge who rolled up his sleeve without being told too. Tom nodded in assent. Not many wanted to take the mark after just having seen someone receive it. Scream filled minutes later and Gorge too fell down on the floor next to his brother. "Welcome to the dark side." Tom said and looked down at the Weasley twins.
Christmas was over and the students were back at Hogwarts. Unfortunately a change had taken place during the break. It would seem Dumbledore had finally told the order about the loss of Harry Potter. Fred and Gorge had informed their new master as soon as they had had a chance. Tom in his turn had informed the family and the inner circle. Sam had been worried about what this meant to his continued attendance in the school but had been calmed down by his father telling him it was a surprise they had been allowed to go this long without word spreading.
"Did you do something to him?" Ron Weasley showed up behind Sam and Draco in the hallway.
"What do you meant Weasley?" Draco drawled.
"Harry, he's missing and t has something to do with your father's boss." Hermione stood next to Ron and tried to make him not jump the two Slytherins.
"I haven't done anything to in anyway harm your beloved savior, and neither have Sam so would you please just run off to your pretty little lions' den and leave us alone."
"What's the matter with you Malfoy?" Ron spat. "Ever since the start of the year you've been acting weird."
"It's called growing up Weasley, you should really try it." HE turned on his heal and lest a spluttering Ron in his wake.
"You should listen to him Weasley." Sam said. "Being stuck in old patterns may kill you one day."
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a word of advice." He turned and followed Draco.
Things from thereon out only got worse. The rumors about Sam being the son of the Dark Lord started to spread for real. After it became common knowledge Sam was the heir of Slytherin no one doubted that anymore. He officially was the second leader of the dark and the Boy-Who-Lived was missing. At the third attempt on his life Sam along with Draco, Blaise, Pansy, Greg, Vince, Theo and several others were removed from the school by their parents. Their official report to the ministry had the headmaster waiting for a hearing about not being able to protect the students under his care.
"I am officially totally bored." Theo said and dropped his head on the table in front of him. It wasn't as if their parents had let them do as they pleased just because they were no longer in school. No, hardly. Instead they had even more work than before, a lot of which never had and never would be covered at Hogwarts.
"Just shut up and get back to work." Pansy hissed. She had complained about the work load the day before and after returning from Tom's office had no longer done that. They had asked what had happened but she had refused to answer and had simply done her work without a single complain.
"Fine." Theo picked up his quill again to continue his essay on theoretical dark arts when he was interrupted by his father and several others coming into the room.
"It's finally done." Mr. Nott said with a bright smile to the students.
"What is?" Blaise asked. His mother had officially been neutral in the last war and had started out like that in this as well, but Blaise's friendship with Sam and Draco, and all of his other year mates for that had swayed her in her opinion.
"The ministry is under our control and with Dumbledore up for and official hearing he is practically out of that school as well." Everybody forgot about their homework as the cheers and joyful exclamations filled the room, for once they forgot all about being well behaved pure-blood children.
The battle went better than anyone could have expected. In reality the battle was rather unnecessary with Harry on the side of the dark there was no one who needed to get killed in order to win the war, but Tom wanted a battle, and want Tom wanted Tom got. So in April there was a final battle on the grounds of Hogwarts where those who had not surrounded to the Dark Lord could show that by casting spells on him and his followers.
"You traitor!" Sam heard a familiar below from behind him and turned to see Ron Weasley coming chagrin against him.
"Hello Ron." Sam said in a calm voice.
"Don't you dare call me by my first name." Ron's face was the same colour as his hair and he was visibly shaking.
"Ron, I wish I had the time to explain it all to you, but this really isn't the time."
"I don't want any bloody explanations!" The red head exploded. "How the hell could you just turn on us like that?"
"The light turned on me before I even was born, I only took the final step and as you very well know Tom's my father. I stand by my family."
"We were your family. You were a part of my family!"
"So that's why you turned on me every second year? Don't give me any crap about the light being better and nobler than the dark. I've seen both sides and made my decision. Petrificus totalus." Ran fell back on the ground with a thud. He didn't want to kill the red head. He had been a good friend now and then after all.
"You ok there Sammie." Gorge asked and came to staid next to the Dark Lord's heir.
"I'm fine just had a little chat with your brother." Sam could see Ron's eyes buckling out of his head at friendly conversation taking place between his brothers and Sam. "Yes Ron. Your brothers' have been on my side since Christmas. Excellent spices they are."
"Now, now, don't give Ronnikins a heart attack Sammie." Fred said with a pat on Sam's shoulder. Sam was about to answer when he saw Dumbledore and Tom battling in the corner of his eye. It was the only true duel taking place and it seemed like Dumbledore was getting the upper hand. Sam couldn't have that. He raised his wand and aimed it at the former headmaster.
"Avada Kedavra." A green light shot from his wand. The whole battlefield stilled when he leader of the light hit the ground. A part of Sam felt sorry for bringing the old man's life to an end, the part of him that was and always would be Harry Potter.
