Wedding Bells in My Immediate Future

The bonding robes were hanging in the closet, and Harry blushed profusely, insanely happy that, for once, someone else was going to worry about the state of the wizarding world. Tom and he had talked over breakfast, and the conversation still resonated with the raven.

Flashback

"The officiate will be here at one o'clock this afternoon to perform the ceremony," Tom said as they sat at the table. He was very happy to see that the injuries to his beloved were finally healed, and the teen looked, if not healthy, at least less fragile. Dishes appeared in front of them, loaded with food. Harry picked up a fork and picked at the food, stomach in knots. Riddle's eyes narrowed at the subdued behavior. "What troubles you, Harry?"

"I find it hard to believe that you really want me," he answered with a shrug. "I understand the political advantages to having me by your side. After all, I am the bloody Boy Who Lived. I just don't see how you can find anything desirable about me."

"I thought we discussed this last night at the club, and this morning after that misunderstanding, regrettably caused by me," Tom said quietly, eyes still narrowed.

"We did," another shrug, "and it all sounded wonderful. I actually let myself believe it. This morning's declaration was nice, as well, but I've been your fated enemy since before I was born. All that hatred and fear just can't change overnight."

"It wasn't overnight," Tom answered with a sigh. "Let me clue you in on a little secret. Severus has been mine from the very beginning. I was the one to help him move on from his unrequited love for your mother, which, by the way, was created by love potions given to him by the venerable headmaster. Even though Severus knew that his feelings were potions induced, he still had a hard time letting go of that desire.

"When you first arrived at Hogwarts, Severus was set to hate you on sight. Your father and he, as I'm sure you know, had a very contentious relationship, and, unfortunately, you look remarkably like him. Or, well, you did, when you were younger. Your reactions to him in that first class, when you flinched and looked cowed, made him hesitate. He started to take a closer look at you; at your behavior and actual demeanor, rather than what he expected to see. He saw the evidence of your abuse, and realized that you were nothing like either of your parents.

"From second year on, he tried to be there for you, even when you didn't know it. I'm proud to say that I encouraged him to approach you with a chance for reconciliation after our disastrous meeting in the graveyard your fourth year. You see, you and I share a connection, but I never realized how badly you'd been treated until the summer before your fifth year."

"I know," Harry interjected with a small smile. "I used to see some of the things you've done, and I've been privy to some of your secrets. I've also seen the real you; not the monster everyone tries to portray you. I kept that in mind while the headmaster tried to fill my head with lies."

"I am sorry for that, Harry. I know that some of what you saw couldn't have been easy. Getting back to what I was saying, I saw how much strength you had to withstand their treatment of you. You even tried to stand up to them once in a while.

"I realized then that I was the one to foolishly set the prophecy in motion by my actions that Halloween night, and I came to regret all of the sorrow and pain I'd caused you. It was when you were brutalized during the summer before your return to Hogwarts in fifth year that I realized I had the opportunity in my hands to change things; to make that prophecy disappear. So, with careful planning and long conversations, I eventually managed to convince Severus, Lucius and Draco to reach out to you. Never doubt that everything I feel for you is honest and true. I will never betray you. I will never use you. I will never abuse you. I will cherish, love and protect you forever."

End Flashback

Tom had told him that, once he had the Ministry, things would change. Harry was to stay completely out of the conflict; the adults of the wizarding world would either fight or surrender. There would be no Savior to step in this time. True to his word, after breakfast Tom had sent a declaration to every wizarding publication in existence, outlining his goals for the wizarding world. He also told them, in no uncertain terms, that they either surrender, or he would bring the fight to their doorsteps. This confrontation could be as bloodless or as bloody as the wide wizarding world would have it. It was their choice.

Harry quickly showered, then used the scented body lotions that the Dark Lord had left for him. Sliding the lotion over his skin, he smiled softly as he inhaled the gentle scent of lavender, which relaxed him immensely, as was intended. Dressing carefully, he left the room and descended into the hallway, walking slowly to the study door. Draco stood outside it, a small pleased smile on his face. He held his hands out to the raven, and Harry took them, squeezing them reflexively in his nervousness.

"You look wonderful, Harry," the blond said softly. "Thank you for allowing me to be here to witness this."

"You're my best mate," the raven replied with a blush. "I couldn't ask for a better friend. I need you to stand with me when I do this." Letting go of one hand, Draco turned and tapped gently on the closed door, letting those inside know that the bridegroom was waiting. Beckoned to enter, both young men went through the door, Riddle's eyes narrowing on the entwined hands, as the teens had been loathe to let each other go. Draco knew that Harry needed his support desperately, and Harry saw a sturdy, safe anchor in the blond. At the glare from his future husband, Harry quickly let go of Draco's hand, blushing. "It's not what you think, my Lord," the blond instantly spoke up. "I'm Harry's best mate, and he was just looking to me for comfort. He's a little nervous."

"Thank you, Draco," Riddle replied. "I'll take over comforting him from now on."

"Erm…that's actually not going to work for me," Harry spoke up into the tense silence. Crimson eyes narrowed on the raven, and Harry ducked his head. "Draco is my best friend. He held me when I needed it, especially after Uncle Vernon butchered Hedwig. Without my Dragon, I would've ended my life long ago. I'm going to continue to touch, hold and hug him, and he will do the same, simply because I need it." Tom heaved a heavy sigh, realizing, not for the first time, just how deeply wounded his mate was.

"I understand, Harry. I have no issue with it; in fact, if you wish, we can bond you and Draco as brothers, to make the relationship closer." Harry beamed at his future mate, darting into the man's arms and hugging him fiercely.

"Thank you, Tom," he whispered in his husband-to-be's ear. He pulled back, smiling up into his mate's face, and continued. "I'd love to claim Draco as my brother. Does that mean I can call Lucius and Narcissa 'mum' and 'dad'?"

"If we do a full adoption by blood, then, yes, you may," Lucius answered with a fond smile.

"I would love to call you son, sweetie," Narcissa chimed in, also smiling.

"I would be honored to be your godfather," Severus intoned solemnly. "I know that Sirius Black was named as such, and I do not wish to take his place, but I would like to provide a more stable support system for you."

"Sirius was never really a godfather to me," Harry said, stepping in front of the Potions Master. "He never thought of me after my parents died. His every thought was always on my father. I can't tell you how many times he'd called me 'James' by mistake. When we talked, it was as if he was talking to my dad instead of me. The things he spoke of never related to me, and I didn't know most of what he referred to.

"That didn't matter, though. It was always my father that had earned his devotion. I would be overjoyed to call you godfather, sir. You've done more for me since I came to Hogwarts than anyone else, ever." Before another word was spoken, Harry found himself wrapped in the strong arms of Severus Snape, and he wrapped his own arms around the other man, trembling with happiness at his change of fortunes.

"All right, now that everything's settled, we have a bonding to initiate."

Harry stared at the wedding set on his left ring finger with awe, still unable to believe that he was married. The engagement ring, which Tom had slipped onto his finger when he'd entered the study, was a platinum band with an embossed dragon design, in gold, on either side of the diagonal setting, which held three perfect emeralds. The wedding ring, which was slipped on during the ceremony, complimented the engagement ring perfectly. It, too, was platinum with a diagonal onyx stripe as the setting, in which three flawless blue diamonds rested.

A single tear slipped from emerald eyes as he happily admired the physical proclamation of the Dark Lord's love for him. Before he could get lost in the contemplation of the upcoming wedding night (and wasn't he nervous as hell about it), a tap on the door alerted him that it was time to be adopted. An internal (and totally manly) squee had the raven leaping toward the closed door, eyes wide with excitement.

"I've no need to ask if you really want this," Lucius said with some humor. Nodding frantically, he took the elder Malfoy's hand in his, squeezing in his joy. Chuckling, Lucius led the raven to their ritual room. If anyone noticed the pair holding hands, no comment was made as Harry was guided to stand in front of the ritual pedestal, on which a bowl was sat. In it was the blood of Lucius and Narcissa, as well as some phoenix tears and a dash of basilisk venom.

It was decided that these two ingredients should be used, as Harry already had both in his blood from the incident with the Chamber of Secrets in second year. The phoenix tears would heal all injuries both internal and external. It would also provide a barrier to prevent the poison from the venom killing Harry, and the basilisk venom would burn away the muggle portion of Lily Potter's blood. A heritage test had shown that Lily Potter was distantly related to the Lestranges. An odd turn of events, but welcome.

It was also discovered that Petunia was adopted, making her no relation, by blood or any other way, to Harry. His placement at Privet Drive was meaningless, and one more strike against the all-knowing, all-powerful Albus Dumbledore. Once the muggle blood was purged, Harry Riddle would be a pureblood. Tom had gone through the same ritual to purge himself of his father's muggle taint, using the Black blood from both Narcissa and Bellatrix to strengthen his bloodline, making him a pureblood, as well.

"All right, Harry," Severus intoned quietly as he lifted the bowl of blood, "you will need to drink this while the Malfoys incant their spells. Lucius will welcome you to the Malfoy bloodline, and Narcissa will welcome you to the Black bloodline. Although you are related to her, at some distance, through your great-grandmother Dorea, this ritual will create the closest link possible." He handed the bowl to Harry, who stood for a moment, waiting for the signal. At the nod from Tom, the raven drank while Lucius started his incantation, wand held aloft.

"Ex Evans ad Malfoy," the blond chanted over and over. Black, green and silver magic swirled from the end of his wand, circling over Harry's head.

"Ex Evans ad Black," Narcissa stated at the same time, wand also held up, the red and purple magic streaming from the end of it to join in a fascinating swirl of color over the Gryffindor's head. As Harry finished the dregs in the bowl, his own emerald, red and gold magic lifted from his core, touching and absorbing the magics of his new parents and drawing them into him, where they joined the well of magic in the center of his being.

Gasping, Harry fell to his knees as the magic and the blood, with its extra ingredients, did its work, changing Harry's blood and magic from Evans to Malfoy/Black. There were minor changes to Harry's form; his eyes lightened to a grey-green and his features elongated slightly and became paler. His hair grew a few inches, flattening out in ways his hair had never before been, and he had a minor growth spurt, going from 5'6" to 5'9". Tom hurried forward, gently tugging the raven off the floor and into his arms. Harry's body shuddered for a few moments longer as the phoenix tears and basilisk venom finished healing him and burning away the muggle blood in his veins.

"Welcome to the family, son," Lucius said with a wide smile.