Harry looked in the mirror with a critical eye and attempted to slick back his hair again.
He failed.
He always did.
Sometimes he could force his hair into a modicum of order, but today was not one of those days. Too many random hair strands were in full out rebellion against him, his fringe was more behaved, but the ones in the back were assembling the guillotine and calling for a revolution.
Not even Sleekeazy's could quell the revolt, and if he tried any harder he would end up looking like Draco when they first met. Frankly, he would rather die than look like an eleven-year-old Draco.
All he wanted was to look presentable.
Welp, it wasn't going to happen.
With a resigned sigh, he grabbed his winter robe and slid it on. He contemplated bringing his bag which no longer contained a very angry chocolate frog card that had been yelling at him for at least 20 minutes for even thinking about doing this.
Shoving him into a silenced drawer had been satisfying, but at least he didn't wrap him in somnus paper beforehand. He was still free to wander the portraits of Hogwarts.
Harry hoped he wouldn't be yelled at on his way out.
Painting Tom's ability to interact with the Hogwarts paintings had surprised Harry, and he had actually had the decency to explain that being within a chocolate frog card while within Hogwarts allowed him to roam freely. Any wards that the card entered would allow him to access other magical paintings, and the moment the physical card left he would be returned to the small bit of cardboard, or the painting in Tom's home.
Before tonight's little shouting-fest he had barely seen the prick for a few days. He had been sulking somewhere around Hogwarts, maybe spying on the teachers or some of the students. Maybe being scathing at the Gryffindors. At least it meant that there was less of him whinging about how Harry should focus on learning occlumency.
It wasn't that Harry was bad at clearing his mind, but nothing ever seemed to happen; he would just lay there in bed with his mind blank and then fall asleep. How was he supposed to make barriers if there were no barriers to construct? Sometimes he would swear that painting Tom was very bad at teaching people without verbally ripping them apart.
The painting had told Harry that he would pull him into a dream at some point and go over it then. Harry prayed it would not end with injury given that the painting was almost always aggravated.
With a quick glance at his dresser drawer and a nod to Blaise, the only person who had opted to not attend any festivities, he left the dorms.
Now, the question was, which route to take out of the castle? His invisibility cloak was in his pocket, so he was safe to sneak to an exit; he wanted to be presentable, which meant no sweat, red face, no frostbite, no dirt, or anything of the sort. That only left the passage inside the witch, it would still be quite a long walk to get to the apparition point but it was his only real choice, even if the slide was horrible to climb out of.
Merlin, he wished that students that were of age could just come and go freely. They shouldn't be beholden to the rules of Hogwarts over the rules of the ministry.
He walked through the common room and into the dungeons proper and began his ascent to the hallway with the witch. No teacher should theoretically bother him as it was only just after dinner, and if asked he could say he was going to the Owlery. Given the late hour and the fact that the witch statue was not near the library or any of the common rooms, he was safe.
"Harry! Harry! Stop! Are you deaf!?" Shouted a familiar voice from behind him.
Harry turned and felt like he had been hit in the face with the killing curse, ". . .H- Hermione?" Hermione was rushing towards him, her hair pinned up, but with a few curls escaping to frame her face for a stylish look. She wore a dark blue travelling robe that he had never seen before, and had a bit of makeup on, accentuating her brown eyes; simply put, she looked gorgeous.
"I've been chasing you since the Great Hall!" She said between gasps of air, holding onto her knees as she fought to catch her breath, "What are you doing up here?" She eventually asked, eyeing his own travelling robes with suspicion.
They were both dressed to go out and the other knew it. Given that there was only one event that was going to be happening, it was clear where they were going.
"Walking," Harry replied glibly, "It's not a crime to walk is it?" He brushed some invisible lint off his robe, "What about you? You're all… looking stunning and everything."
Hermione's eyes widened briefly at the compliment, and she bit her bottom lip before looking away, "I was just on a walk as well." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Harry licked his lips, "Was your walk going to take you to Kensington Palace by any chance?"
"Was yours?" She shot back but regretted her tone immediately.
He chuckled, and put a hand on his hip before responding, "Perhaps."
"Care to escort me then?" She asked in a haughty tone that he knew was a mockery of Pansy. Hermione held her chin up and stared down her nose at him, daring him to say no.
Harry would never admit it but in this moment, she reminded him strongly of Narcissa instead of Pansy.
He glanced around the hallway to ensure no one was present, "Alright." He took her gloved hand and lead her further down the hall to the statue of the crone and tapped it with his wand, muttered Dissendium . The tunnel opened with a burst of dust that sent Hermione sneezing.
She covered up her nose and cast Tergeo, syphoning all the excess dust away, "How far down does that go?"
He shrugged, "Maybe 6 feet. I'll go first." He cast Lumos and slid down. "Okay, maybe 8 feet."
A frown graced her face as she tucked her feet up on top of her travelling robe and slid down as well. Hermione hit the stone floor with a small "oof" and he helped her to her feet.
As the statue slid back into place she said, "I'm not even going to ask how you know about this. Where does it come out?"
"Honeydukes," He answered as they made their way into the tunnel, "Don't tell anyone about this. It's one of the few tunnels that's still available and I'm fairly certain you and I are the only people in Hogwarts that know about it." Harry looked back, his wand illuminating Hermione's face, "And how were you going to sneak out tonight if you hadn't found me?"
The look she gave him was absolutely cheeky, the little quirk of her lips, "I was going to borrow one of the school brooms and fly over the gates. Apparate from there."
Harry was impressed, given how much Hermione hated riding brooms and breaking rules, but she had been entirely ready to do so. "Care to tell me why you're trying to get into Kensington Palace? I didn't think it was your kind of party"
"It's a historic event! Even if the results have been tampered with," he could feel her glare burning the hairs on the back of his head, "it is a historic occasion and I would like to somehow be apart of it. Even if it's just watching."
"Want to tell your theoretical kids that you were there when Lord Slytherin had his celebration party? It's not like he's going to be coronated tonight."
"Well, no, but it would still be nice to experience something like this. I've never been to one of these types of parties. . . It might be one of my last nights to do so." Her voice had softened, and he heard her stop walking.
Harry turned, "Hermione? Wh-What do you mean?"
She was wringing her hands together, her bottom lip quivering, "Harry, I don't understand you! Your mother is a muggleborn, and I'm your friend and he's—" she swung out her hand, attempting to make a grand gesture but just hitting it on the tunnel wall, "He supports hurting muggleborns! All of his friends are purebloods that want people like me!" Hermione's voice broke and tears formed in her eyes.
He approached slowly, afraid that she would run if he moved any faster and pulled her into a tight hug. "Hermione. Please. You have to trust me. Tom is a good person. I swear it. I know him differently than you do. You've only seen his public visage. He doesn't want to enslave or kill muggleborns. I swear it."
She held onto him and sniffed, "I want to believe you, Harry. I do. . . but do you actually know him? What if that is a face he wears just because he wants you to think that?" Hermione pulled away, her makeup had run a small bit around her eyes and he pulled out a handkerchief for her.
"I feel confident that I know the real Tom, and one day, hopefully after we've graduated, you'll get to know him too. I know he will love you. You're a certifiable genius. You're passionate, and you always think about things that need to be done to help better society. The two of you are pretty similar."
Hermione had pulled out a compact and was dabbing at her eyes, but gave him a strange look that he couldn't identify, "You think I'm like him?"
"I do, and I want you to get the chance to see that one day. I know that when you meet, be it today or at Hogsmeade, that the two of you will hit it off. Hell, I'll probably end up being the third wheel while you two nerds talk." He said with a weak chuckle, "Please trust my judgement on this."
Her lips pursed and her brow creased, looking similar to McGonagall and his mother, "I will try. Shall we continue on? I've never been to Honeydukes while closed."
"Oh, we won't be going into Honeydukes, the apparition ward is about halfway down the tunnel and we can leave from there."
Hermione blinked, "How will we get back in?"
"We can either break into Honeydukes and go through that entrance, one of the other's, skirt the edge of the forest for a while, or, knowing my luck, get caught by a family member and escorted back later."
Hermione chuckled, "If we end up in the society pages of the Prophet, we will definitely be caught."
He shrugged, "Draco and a few others will be there too. Maybe they'll focus more on them."
"I think they'll focus on you . You are Lord Slytherin's paramour , after all." Hermione had smirked when she said paramour and he fought the urge to smirk back, "Why can't they just say you're his boyfriend?"
"Too casual for a king, I think. And as it is. . . I don't know if we'll be able to get through the door and into the party proper."
"What!? You don't have an invitation?!" She had paused again and was staring at him.
"Well, no. I'm supposed to be in school right now. I'm sure he would have sent one if I had aske—Actually, I doubt he even planned this thing or was involved in the least. How were you going to get in?"
"I was going to sweet talk the guards into letting me in."
He wondered if she would actually be able to do so, "And if that didn't work?"
"I would have figured out something. When I saw you dressed to the nines, I thought that all my problems were solved, but apparently not." Hermione chuckled, and he could imagine that small quirk to her lips she did when she felt something was amusing but annoying as well.
"Hopefully the guards will recognize me and let you in as my plus one. If not we can stand outside and heckle the obscenely rich."
"Do you mean your boyfriend?"
"I wouldn't say he's obscenely rich. Wealthy, yes."
"MmmHmm. Sounds fake."
Harry paused, his eyes falling onto an etched in line on the wall, denoting the end of the wards, "We're here. Shall we go?"
Hermione nodded and they both apparated to Kensington Palace.
They arrived on the edge of a huge crowd of people surrounding the palace, pressing up close to the gates, cameras flashing, and people shouting at those who were entering.
There was a flash of white-blond hair and Harry could spot the Malfoy's at the entrance, showing the guard a set of invitations.
Shit.
He didn't have invitations. Tom hadn't actually invited him. Although he imagined Tom had nothing to do with this celebration and that it was organized by someone else, someone lesser in status than him and before him and Harry had been an item. Who would think to invite the school-age something-or-other of Lord Slytherin? Certainly not the person who arranged all this.
Shit.
Okay, he knew that this was coming, he had told Hermione as much. The challenge was getting past the guards.
Harry grasped Hermione's hand and began to drag her through the crowd, pushing up against people in the pulsing throng.
Merlin, this reminded him of the muggle paparazzi and the princess. It was madness. He heard several people shouting at one another in different languages. He guessed this was international news at the very least. It had been over 3 centuries since they had a King after all.
He recognized a few faces amongst the crowd, Bernard Crocker, the reporter from the Prophet, was one of them. No blonde with an acid quill and a history of being a vicious cunt was present though. Maybe she had snuck her way inside.
Merlin, he would not weep the day she got what was coming to her.
Slowly but surely, they managed to push people to the side and get to the cleared spot for the invited guests to enter the palace. It wasn't a red carpet -it would have been a waste of carpet anyways given the snow- but instead a completely cleared walkway that glittered like gold. It was blocked off by a small fence that Harry and Hermione jumped without getting their dress robes tangled within.
The people they had nearly landed on gave them a dirty look for a moment before seemingly recognizing Harry, before nodding and turning away. They stepped into place behind them and ahead of a white-haired man that was by himself.
The people in front of them were the Selwyns. Old money, old power.
"I can't believe the guards didn't notice us," Hermione whispered, holding his arm tightly.
Harry couldn't agree more but thanked his lucky stars that someone seemed to be watching out for them. The trick would still be getting through the doors.
The line moved slowly, each person had their invitations diligently criticized before being allowed in.
"Mister Potter!" Came a shout from his left, and he turned to a blinding flash of light as his picture was taken. Bernard Crocker stood with the camera in his hands as Harry blinked the light out of his eyes, "What do you think of Lord Slytherin's win?" He continued to shout over the rabble.
Harry had no desire to shout back, so he merely gave Bernard a thumbs-up and a smile before turning back to his wait. They were at the bottom of a set of stairs now and the people in front of the Selwyns were being given a critical eye before being allowed to enter.
Hermione's gloved hand shook slightly on Harry's arm. He put his own hand to cover it. "We'll get in."
"It would be so embarrassing to get kicked out in front of all these people." She hissed through her teeth as they approached the guards.
"Invitation."
Harry stood up straight, "I was personally invited by Lord Slytherin to this event."
The guard gave him a critical look, "Good for you. I need to still see your invitation."
"He didn't give me one."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes."
"Then you cannot enter."
"I'm Harry Potter. He and I are dating. He'd be pretty cross if I wasn't allowed in to see him."
"How do I know you're Harry Potter and not an assassin in disguise as Harry Potter ready to assassinate his Lordship?"
Harry blinked, "But- but- I'm not."
"Exactly what an assassin would say. I can't let you in without an invitation just in case Harry Potter did receive an invitation, but you missed it while nicking his hair for polyjuice. His lordship's safety is more than my job is worth."
Harry and Hermione gaped in unison.
"Look, I'm Harry Potter. I am involved with Lord Slytherin. I've been in the paper for it! How could someone polyjuice me? I've been at Hogwarts for the past month!"
"No invitation, no entry."
Harry groaned and was prepared to work at finding another entrance when a voice spoke up behind him, "Let them in. They are my guests."
The man who had been behind them stepped forward, and Harry paid a bit more attention to him; white hair, white eyes and a white cane.
The air was pulled out of his lungs and his heart plummeted as he realized who it was. He had only seen him from a few old newspaper clippings, but this was apparently the mastermind of Tom's rise to power. The blind spider with a web of information.
Avery.
"But they don't have invitations, Sir." The dumb guard said.
"They are my guests as of now. " Avery said and put a hand on each of their shoulders, his cane resting on Harry's spine, "I will ensure their good behaviour." With a small push, Avery guided them through the door and into the party proper.
Hermione's brow furrowed, trying to identify who the man was and why he would help. Harry squeezed her hand, hoping to reassure her.
He doubted that it worked.
Avery smiled, his unseeing eyes seemingly settling on Harry, "Why don't you go and check the robes, Miss Granger. I wish to speak to young Harry for a moment."
He didn't see the frown on her face, but he knew it was there as she took Harry's robe and left for the robe check.
Probably cursing pureblood men who thought they controlled the world.
Chills shot straight up Harry's spine as the man guided him further into the party, his hand on the base of his spine, and then into a side alcove, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Harry. May I call you Harry?"
Harry nodded mutely before remembering, "Er- yes. You can. How can I help you, Lord Avery?"
Avery smiled, "I didn't expect you to know who I am. I am but a minor member of the Sacred 27."
"All members of the Sacred 27 are equal, my lord."
"If you say so. Now, Harry. I have heard that you have a talent for secrets. I am intrigued by this," Avery pressed something into Harry's hand, "I won't be able to speak to you again tonight, but consider that a standing invitation to meet with me at my home. I wish to offer you an... apprenticeship of sorts." And with that Avery was gone into the crowd.
Harry's hand shook slightly.
The painting was going to flip. He was going to absolutely flip his shit. He couldn't tell if this was good or bad but it was progress of sorts.
Numbly, he made his way through the crowd and to the coat check hoping to find Hermione.
She wasn't there.
It took several scans of the crowd before he realized that she was only ten feet away and that he had not recognized her. He had never seen her wear something truly feminine as the white dress she now wore; a gold embroidered peacock crawled up the skirt and into the bodice, white flowers were stitched into the tulle that floated an inch away from the skirt. She looked absolutely stunning.
There were more people who clearly felt the same as they looked at her and smiled. Inspecting her as she attempted to make herself look small, her hands clasped together.
Harry smiled at her and held out his hand, "Hermione, I didn't know you were coming here to find a husband." He said jokingly.
She slapped his hand lightly but took his hand, allowing him to lead her away from the door and further into the party, "I did not!"
He chuckled at her coy smile, "I know you didn't. You just look really, really, really pretty. I don't even want to ask how much that dress cost."
Hermione sniffed, as haughty as any pureblood woman, "It cost nothing. It belonged to my mother."
"Ah, your mum has good taste."
They walked through a set of double doors into a proper ballroom, and her grip tightened on his arm, it was white and gold, and a glittering crystal chandelier reflected spots of light all through the room, bathing them in a set flickering light. "I don't know why I decided to come here. Well, I know why I decided to come here but now that I'm here I don't know what to do."
Hermione was a confident woman but even in the face of the elite and powerful, her nerves were beginning to get the best of her. "Mingle? Make connections?"
"Make connections? They all hate my kind." She scoffed, eyeing the people eyeing her.
The gazes that were on her weren't hate filled or predatory, more appraising or appreciative. "Not everyone hates muggleborns."
A dainty snort escaped her as she put her hands on her hips and took in the room with a more critical eye. Harry certainly hoped that they would be able to make it through the night without anyone being hexed.
"Granger?" A high-pitched voice rang out from their left. Draco stood with his jaw practically on the floor and his eyes wide as possible.
"Oh, hi Draco," Harry waved him over, "Anyone else around that we know?"
Hermione was staring at Draco like he was a slug. Draco was a slug, but Harry was fond of this slug. He was an agreeable slug.
Draco still looked gobsmacked at Hermione and stuttered, "P-Pansy and Theo are here and Smith is and- this is Granger right?"
"Would you like a scathing analysis of why everything about you is obnoxious?" She asked bitterly and turned away to look around the room.
The fact that Draco had a crush on Hermione and showed it by being a piece of trash was his own business, but it would be nice Draco just came out and asked her out and let her turn him down. It was the only way he would get over her.
The thought that Hermione would say yes was so unlikely that Harry didn't even consider it.
"Oh, yes, that is indeed her. Well, you clean up nicely." Draco muttered, his cheeks flushing. He turned on heel, ready to scarper off when Harry grabbed the back of his robes.
"Nu-uh, have you seen Lord Slytherin?"
Draco's throat pressed into the high collar of his robes and he gagged briefly, before nodding and pointing further back into the palace. "Near the veranda." He answered before escaping into the crowd.
Harry looked around the crowd before turning to Hermione, "Can you handle yourself?"
She raised a sculpted brow, "Can you?"
"I'll take that as a yes." He replied and left her in the crowd, making his way further into the palace, past the dancing, the musicians, the food -oh Merlin, that smelled amazing- and into a throng of people near the veranda (where he and Tom had first kissed)
Was this what it was like in France before the revolution? They probably still had a bit to go before that kind of ridiculous extravagance took place. He doubted Tom would allow anyone to let meetings happen when he was still in bed.
He approached the crowd and weaved into it until he found someone he recognized, which happened to be Regulus. "Hey, please tell me that he's in the centre of all this?"
Regulus' eyebrows travelled up, and his mouth formed a small "o" as he saw him, having clearly not expected Harry to be present, "Um- yes. He is. What are you doing here?"
"It's a party? I'll come if I want to?"
"Oh. Of course. Where there's a will..." Regulus muttered, almost distractedly.
Harry tried to ignore Regulus and how he was acting odd. How he had been acting odd for a long while, ever since he had seen him in Knockturn Alley with that vase, "Indeed. Is it going to be like this all night?"
Regulus shrugged, "Doubt it. He's been holding this little court for the past hour but I know he has things to do. People to talk with outside of these sycophants."
A few people who were eavesdropping shot Regulus dirty looks before turning back the centre of the crowd.
Harry left Regulus alone and pressed his way further inward, elbowing freely and maliciously. Someone elbowed him back, another kicked him and a third pushed him.
Pushed him hard enough that he tumbled out of the crowd and onto Tom's feet.
Harry was on his hands and knees looking up at Tom, who was seated with a glass of something –wine?- in his hand.
Tom's smirk was lewd and effervescent. He licked his lips at the sight, "Well, I must say, this is the first time I've had someone greet me by kneeling. I could get used to it."
"Probably, not the first time he's been on his hands and knees for him." Came a grating low-pitched, faux-whisper as he climbed to his feet. He recognized that voice.
Zacharias Smith.
He took a page from the youngest Weasley's book and shot a silent bat-bogey hex at Smith once he located him in the crowd.
There was a scream and he was rushing out of the crowd, holding his nose and squealing. That hex seemed harmless, but it was nasty; feeling little booger bats crawling around in the back of your nose and throat was just wrong .
Harry turned to Tom and brushed off his robes, hoping that he didn't look like the dork who had tripped but the cool cat that had just hexed an asshole.
Tom appraised him with a lazy smile, his eyes only on Harry, "I guess we should be happy that it was not something more serious." He looked at the group of courtiers and lazily flicked his hand at them. "Go away."
The group dissolved, shuffling towards the party, but many remained within 30 feet of them. It was like he and Tom had the plague, and they were watching. Listening.
Tom climbed to his feet, the glass of -Harry could smell it now- firewhiskey, swirled about, splashing onto the ground. "Let us find someplace else to talk. I wish to speak to you." Tom wrapped his arm around Harry and they sauntered off onto the veranda, into the wintry night air, just like when they had first kissed.
The smell of alcohol was strong on Tom and his cheeks were rosy with it. Harry had never seen him drunk or even buzzed before. Usually, it was Harry that was drunk and being irrational, but right now Tom's hands were travelling up and down Harry's arse and his face was nuzzled into his neck.
Had he been celebrating the win a bit too hard instead of keeping his wits about him?
It was concerning to see Tom like so.
There were a few shouts from the crowd below, Tom guided him over and gave them a lazy wave before continuing to a different door down the veranda. It was a French-paned door that opened at the slightest touch of Tom's hand.
The room was dark until Tom flicked his wrist, causing it to come alight. Candles flared up, so many candles all over every flat surface.
Except for on the couch. The very big, comfy looking couch.
Oh boy.
The door closed with a click, and Tom was flush against Harry, pressed into his back, "I didn't expect to see you tonight Harry." Tom dropped the glass on the table just inside the door, the firewhiskey sloshing out of the glass. "Shouldn't you be locked away at school? Away from my touch?" Tom was still holding him close but his free hand, newly divested of the firewhiskey, was playing with the front of Harry's robes, "Red robes hmmm? Being brave like a naughty Gryffindor?"
Harry could feel something that was not Tom's wand pressed up against him, "I thought I would match your eyes."
Tom smiled, much wider than Harry had ever seen on his face, "That is awfully kind of you," He kissed Harry then, his lips burning with alcohol.
Harry returned it eagerly before breaking away, "Are you drunk?"
Tom licked his lips and smirked, "I might be slightly buzzed."
"I can't believe you would give up control like this." Harry kissed Tom's neck, his hands fanning across his chest.
"You're one to talk. The way you get drunk it's amazing you haven't been buggered."
Harry flushed slightly, and ignored the implication, "May I ask why you're buzzed? I don't think I've ever seen you like this."
"Harry. Harry, dearest." He kissed the top of Harry's head, "I am the future king of magical Britain. Years of work have finally come to fruition, and… and… and now I have to deal with all of these fucking idiots ."
Harry did his best not to laugh and guided Tom to the divan and laid him out on it, "How about you sober up a bit. Imagine if Rita Skeeter got a picture of you vomiting on Lucius' shoes."
Tom laughed, it was rich and hearty and went on for longer than Harry would have thought.
He loved it. He had never heard Tom sound so cheerful.
"He would deserve it. Arrogant toe-rag that he is." He reached up and pulled Harry onto him so that he was straddling Tom. "Let's not talk about obnoxious people. Tell me about what brought you to me. Tell me about. . . things." Tom's hand spun in circles in the air as Harry struggled to sit in a slightly dignified position.
With a small smile, Harry told him of how he and Hermione had snuck out of the castle and managed to get inside. He didn't mention Avery by name, just that an older man had got him into the event.
"You brought your beloved Hermione here? I hope she will be able to tolerate it. Given her opinions and headstrong nature," Tom's eyes closed for a moment, "I am meeting her in Hogsmeade soon aren't I? That shall be fun."
"Will it? I think she wants to rip you a new asshole."
"I'd like to see her try. I doubt she even knows the basic of dark curses."
"I meant verbally."
Tom snorted, "As if a schoolgirl could do that. I'm over seventy now. Silly child."
Harry's finger twirled around a coif of Tom's hair, enjoying the silky softness of it, "Hermione may surprise you, but yes, I don't think it's anything that you won't be able to withstand."
"Maybe I'll invite her to be part of… the latter process of my reign."
Harry frowned, "I don't know if she'll be able to handle the requirements of it. What needs to be done. She has a soft heart."
"Then I will obliviate her and that will be it." Tom's wand emerged from his sleeve and he locked the door and the curtains fell in front of the window, only leaving a sliver of the outside night visible. "Harry?"
He turned to him, Tom's red eyes were hungry, "Yes, your majesty?"
"Kiss me."
Harry kissed him.
"Worship me."
Harry, with hands shaking, began to undo Tom's robes, revealing his pale, lean chest that he wished he was more familiar with. The little scars that were on it. The rune etched into his skin, below his ribcage that he had never noticed before.
Tom watched him, lust in his heavily lidded eyes. Harry tried not to be intimidated. It wasn't like it was their first time.
Harry smirked and deftly undid Tom's trousers'. He slid his hand inside and grasp Tom's length, enjoying the feel of its firmness in his grip and the softness of his flesh. He stroked him briefly, watching as Tom let his head fall back and his eyes flutter shut at his ministrations.
Pulling Tom's trousers down and his cock out, Harry lowered himself between Tom's legs and worshipped him. Worshiped his prick. Each lick, each bob of his head was an act of devotion to itself. Every time swallowed him, with Tom pressing against the back of throat.
In this moment and every moment after he worshipped Tom.
There was a hand on the top of his head, and he paused, looking at him. There was so much more in his gaze, want and desire.
Harry knew what they both needed.
His throat felt dry, despite that he had just been doing, but Harry slid off of Tom and let his robes fall to the floor, stripping completely in the dim candlelight.
Tom hadn't moved, just laid there, waiting for Harry.
With a small grin, Harry stripped Tom's lower half down completely, leaving him with only his undone shirt and robes. A perfect specimen of haughty royalty, heavily lidded red eyes, and a glass of firewhiskey in his hand. A throne would suit him well, like he was born to the role, or moulded for it. The candlelight painted him in a chiaroscuro of resplendence and Harry was once again shocked that he was the one privileged enough to see him, to experience him like this.
Harry climbed on top of the divan, on top of Tom. There was almost a comfort of him being fully situated on his lap, feeling Tom's shaft pressed against his arse. It was a promise of what was to come.
He leaned forward and cupped Tom's cheek, his thumb stroking his cheekbone.
There was a desire, a need to tell him he was beautiful, that he was divine, that he was worth worshipping now and forever.
But he didn't. He couldn't.
Tom already knew this. He knew he was beautiful, he knew he was divine, he knew he deserved to be worshipped, he knew he was a genius.
Tom knew everything already, so there was no point in reiterating them.
He bucked up against Harry, a small grin on his full lips and whispered, "Be mine." He pulled Harry down into a kiss with one hand and began to slowly press a finger into him, stretching him, pressing into him.
Harry rocked on his fingers, enjoying the feeling that it was Tom that was inside of him.
He withdrew them, leaving Harry feeling hollow, but it was quickly replaced with Tom's well-lubricated prick, pressing into him.
A moan escaped his lips as he slid down fully onto him. Tom's cock buried deep inside him, pressing up against his prostate. He began to rock again on him, not riding him, not quite yet, but enjoying the fullness that Tom provided.
It was different from their previous times, those times had been almost frantic and rough, unexpected, but also completely delightful.
But this?
This was tender. Sensual.
Harry rode him, rode him slowly, his arms back and gripping Tom's legs as he lifted himself off and slid down to his base. Again and again and again.
Tom's grip was on Harry's thighs, his thumbs brushing near his groin but not quite touching it.
It was a gentle teasing. One that left him wanting more, but not needing it. He hungered for more of Tom's... everything, but he was content with having the privilege of Tom's cock within him. Everything else could wait for now.
His focus was on Tom and pleasing him.
Harry clenched around Tom, causing the older man to buck up at the sudden sensation. Harry enjoyed it and continued on him, hard.
Harry's prick was gripped, and Tom began to pump it in rhythm with Harry, but it wasn't long before they grew a bit more frantic as Tom began to pant and thrust up, taking control of the movements.
Tom released a string of hisses, his hands releasing his cock and gripping his hips as he released within Harry, filling him.
Tom laid there for a moment, still inside Harry.
Harry smirked at Tom's full body shudder, but soon Tom's hands were back on his cock, pumping it slowly.
Their gazes connected, and Harry smiled.
They both loved this.
It was something else this time. Something more.
He bucked his hips into Tom's hands. He was close to completion, oh so close, with Tom still inside him and his hands pumping away.
He leaned forward and kissed Tom as he came, his seed shooting thick ropes onto the future king's chest. Harry held himself up with one hand and slowly separated from Tom, pressing up against his side.
Tom vanished the remains of their encounter and held him close.
Harry laid comfortably in Tom's arms, the quiet noise of people passing by outside almost lulling him into a sleep.
"I've never felt for someone as I do you. I didn't think I was capable of it." Tom's voice was a near whisper and Harry wasn't sure if he was supposed to hear it, "I thought that I was too fractured and fragmented to ever care for someone. To ever lovesomeone, but when I'm with you. . . I feel whole."
Harry sat up and inched towards Tom's face before kissing him slowly, tenderly, "I think I understand what you mean." Harry whispered, "All I think about is you. Helping you. Protecting you. Loving you. All I want is to be with you."
Tom's fingers brushed through Harry's freshly tangled mess, "I don't think you can understand what I mean, fully, but thank you."
Harry pondered his words but couldn't determine their exact meaning. Maybe it had to do with Tom being much, much, much older than him. Age and wisdom and all that.
Tom groaned slightly, "I guess I should go out and talk with people. Again ." He said it with such loathing and vitriol that Harry was almost afraid the paint was going to peel off the walls.
"It's part of being King though."
Tom nodded, "I'm just going to miss a quiet night in. Maybe I'll start it off with a string of executions… or if anyone disturbs my dinner they will get a dose of the Cruciatus."
Harry raised a brow, "That's illegal though."
"I'll make it not illegal. For me only." He said with a grin as he slid off the divan and began dressing.
Harry appreciated the view he got, enjoying the sight of Tom's semi-nude body, how his muscles moved, the hint of how fit his thighs were through his pants, and the way the candlelight flickered off of him, throwing his features into a stark relief.
He was a work of art.
"Get dressed. We have people to meet. We need to talk to Barty about Skeeter."
Okay, so this one took a bit of time because I rewrote the beginning twice, changed it completely again and restructured it then after that.
AN: I also recently started dabbling in a GanonLink fic and it made me realize that while I do push myself to get 10k chapters lately that it's negatively effecting my writing, so I'm going to aim for 5-6k chapters now which should ensure a more timely chapter upload instead of 1.5 months which I do not want to /
But given some irl stuff that I have to do, and a gift project that I'm a part of there is a chance that the next chapter will be about a month but hopefully it won't take that long.
Anyways, I want to thank everyone who leaves kudos and comments and my readers. You guys are all so sweet and important to me and I love you all so much.