Chapter 18

An Unexpected Father

"Start at the beginning," Tom said. "My snakes told me some, told me how happy you and he were. What happened now that made my little snake so sad?"

"You knew?" Harry asked.

"Of course I knew," Tom nodded. "My snakes read your dreams, remember? And besides that, I knew that Mulciber made you happy, very happy. I like to see you when you were happy Harry." Harry could hear the jealousy in Tom's voice but decided to not comment on it.

Harry gave a sad laugh, "Of course you knew," he said bitterly, "You're Lord fucking Voldemort."

Tom opened his mouth to counter Harry, asking him how he learned of his other name but decided to pocket that discussion for later. Right now, all he wanted to do was fully comfort Harry. Harry sniffled and glanced at Tom. "Sorry," he muttered.

"How long?" Tom asked.

"A little after Samhain," Harry admitted. "You and he were dueling and I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I knew he was gay before because, well, you were there." He gave a sad sigh and shook his head. "Anyway, it was all my idea. I approached him. It was … it was supposed to be just for fun. I needed touch, I needed someone to hold me, to stabilize me. I missed that so much." Harry's voice grew hollow as he continued, tears still falling but he started to sound more and more disorientated. "I missed a boy hugging me, kissing me, being inside me. I missed the love and affection and—Xavier was there. Xavier was there and he just held me the right way, kissed me the right way, treated me the way I wanted to be treated."

"Why not Jasper? Or me?" Tom asked.

Harry looked a little shameful. "He reminded me most of Viktor," he said.

"Viktor?"

"My first boyfriend," Harry said, not noticing Tom's eyes going sharp. "He was the one who taught me everything, sexually," he began. "I missed everything, and Xavier was there, and it just started as fun, perverted sexy fun but it grew."

"You fell in love," Tom said, his voice sounding forcefully even.

"Yeah, I did," Harry sniffled. "and I thought that he did too."

Tom sighed, he pulled Harry closer and started petting his hair. "What were you even thinking was going to happen?" he asked, "That you would keep your secret forever? That you would use human transfiguration to look more 'proper' for the wizarding world?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I grew out my hair for him. Talked about getting small breasts. God, I was so fucking stupid."

"No, you were just in love," Tom said simply. Harry tried to glare at him but couldn't bring himself to it. He was too sad, too emotionally drained. "What else?" Tom asked. "Tell me everything."

Harry didn't know what compelled him to keep talking. Maybe it was because in a way he was bottling it all up, all these secrets between him and Xavier. Him and Grindelwald. Him and himself. Too many secrets burdening down on him, weighing him down, and in his moment of weakness, he just wanted it all gone. So he nodded and continued. "We were good for each other. I was his puppy, his excitable puppy," Harry gave a short emotionless laugh. "And what a 'Master' I found. I honestly thought he loved me, that he cared for me. So much so that—that in my locket," he looked down at Slytherin's Locket. He held it close to his chest before whispering for it to open. The locket sprung open, revealing the picture of Xavier. "He gave me this," he whispered.

Tom reached out slowly, and Harry instantly pulled it away. Tom tried again and Harry held onto the Locket tightly, but Tom just pulled the picture out with one hand, as he used the other to close the locket and hold onto Harry's hands.

Harry watched as Tom stared at the picture, guilt bubbling in him as his tears finally dried. "What are you going to do?" Harry asked.

Tom glanced at Harry before looking back at the picture. A small ashtray slid towards them and Tom placed the picture in the ashtray before looking at Harry, as though silently asking for permission. Harry just stared at him before looking back at the picture. The corners curled as it caught on fire, and both boys watched as Xavier's smiling face burned and curled into blacken ash.

"What happened after he gave you the picture, my little snake? My pet?" Tom asked.

Harry sighed and continued, "That first Hogsmeade visit, it was supposed to be a date for Xavier and me. It still happened, however before that, Grindelwald got me."

"What!?"

Harry nodded, it scared him a little how emotionless he sounded as he recounted everything that happened to him. "He had one of his minions kidnap me. He used a Time-Turner on us so that nobody even knew that I was gone. He brought me to Grindelwald, and we talked."

"What did he want?" Tom asked.

"Me on his side," Harry said with a dry chuckle. "Imagine," he muttered to himself, "Two Dark Lords fighting for my help and one of them already won."

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Harry shook his head. "Anyway, we talked. Talked about what we thought about the current state of things, how we can never have what we wanted romantically. For me, it was Mulciber. For him, Dumbledore." He shook his head but did not comment. "Our ideals are similar, I have to admit, but he's too violent. Too focused on killing all Muggles with his 'Deathstick.' But still, he is persistent and kept hounding me to join him. Those beautiful robes I've gotten during Yule? They were from him. Along with this," he pointed to the mirror. "A two-way mirror—"

"Hang on," Tom said, "What did you just call Grindelwald's wand?"

"Deathstick," Harry said, "Why?"

Tom's eyes were filled with intelligence as he stared at Harry, a serious expression on his face for a long moment before a smile broke out and he kissed Harry. Harry froze, not sure what to do. Tom immediately moved away, his happiness replaced by worry, "Shit! I'm so sorry my little snake—you're in pain and I just kissed you like that—"

"It's fine," Harry said shortly. "Just tell me what is going on?"

"Do you remember what Barnabas Deverill called the Elder Wand?" Tom asked.

Harry stared at Tom for a second, working through his grief-stricken mind until it hit him. "We found it," he whispered, "we found the wand."

"We did Harry, we did," Tom nodded. "But you're more important, pet. Please tell me what happened next."

"Okay," Harry nodded. He thought for a moment, "We just loved each other, at least I loved him. I gave him everything, I started researching human transfiguration during the break. On Yule, Xavier gave me that ring. It was a declaration of love I thought. It must have been. But then he came back, and instead of telling me immediately we had one last go, one last round of sex and he left me on our bed, still leaking."

"That horrible man," Tom growled out. Harry could feel his anger. It excited him. It made him happy that Tom was angry at Xavier.

"He told me that he was engaged. To a bitch named Leonie Tremblay," Harry snarled. "He's getting married to a bitch, a proper lady who will never love him the way I do, and all I am was a whore for him to use!" Harry screamed. The ashtray on the table soared in the air, slamming into the wall and shattering. "That fucking letter!"

"Shh, it's okay pet, relax," Tom hushed, holding Harry tightly. "Fuck her, yes, fuck her and fuck this letter, they're all in the wrong. Shhh… everything will be okay, listen to me, okay?"

Harry did not say anything. He instead stared at the two-way mirror. Tom's eyes moved towards it as well. "What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Call Grindelwald… talk with him," Harry said. "I'm just—I hate this world we're in. And I want to change it but, I need to use him to do it." He looked at Tom. "I believe in the world you are trying to make. But we need him to make it, at least, we need him to lay down the groundwork." Harry took a breath, and at that moment he finally submitted to what he has been fighting for the past month. "You are my friend Tom. I am loyal to you, Tom Riddle, you are my lord now. And I will do everything in my power to make sure the world we crave will become a reality."

"You're loyal to me?" Tom whispered.

"I am," Harry said, his confidence growing. A victorious smirk appeared on Tom's face and he kissed Harry's forehead.

"I have you at last," Tom said.

"You do," Harry nodded. He picked up the mirror and looked over at Tom, debating if he should include him in this talk or not. Tom made up the decision for him as he looked in the mirror and said, "Gellert Grindelwald."

The mirror shimmered for a moment until the unmistakable face of Grindelwald appeared. "Harry! I knew you would call sooner or later," Grindelwald smirked. He looked over at Tom, "Who is your friend here?"

"You should remember him too," Harry said, "he killed some of your followers during our dance, Grindelwald."

Grindelwald stared at Tom for a long moment, frowning, "Nope."

"Riddle, Tom Riddle," Tom introduced himself, "and you should be happy, Grindelwald, because it is a very lucky day for you."

"Oh? The only lucky day I will have is when I have two cute, budding dark wizards call me dad," Grindelwald chuckled, "Unless that appears to be today."

Harry glanced at Tom; the older teen's face hard as Harry looked back at Grindelwald. "Both Tom and I are willing to help you," he said. "We will do whatever you desire of us. However, I need you to make two promises."

"Done!" Grindelwald said cheerfully, "Done, done, done!"

"You haven't even heard what they are," Tom pointed out.

"No price is too big to have Harry Peverell by my side," Grindelwald said, smiling at Harry. "But fine, however, what are the two promises I will uphold, young Harry?"

"First, you must promise never to subjugate or kill muggles for the sport of it," Harry started. "Instead, you are going to work with Tom and me to make sure that our reality will come to fruition. A world where magical people and muggles live in peace, where there are magical schools that serve to educate the young witches and wizards from muggle families about the world they are about to come into, about the traditions we are going to uphold. And more importantly, a world without labels such as purebloods, half-bloods, and muggleborns, a world where we are valued because of who we are, and not because of our last name, where we can marry who we want to."

"No, not possible," Grindelwald said.

"Why not?" Harry demanded.

"Muggles are muggles," Grindelwald said simply, "They all deserve to be controlled or exterminated. Besides, they are doing a good time of it themselves with their little world war."

"Harry, if I may," Tom said. Harry glanced at him and nodded. He gave Tom the mirror but still stayed close to him. "Hello Grindelwald," Tom said, "I would like to ask if you know the percentage."

"Of what?" Grindelwald asked.

"Of how many wizards there are compared to muggles," Tom said. "You see, I've done that a couple of years ago and it is quite telling. We are less than five percent of the entire world population. Five percent. Isn't that quite small? Quite, well, diminutive. We both have an uphill battle, no matter how you look at it. Harry and I would approach them with a standing of firm peace, where we will stand above, yes, but ultimately equal to our muggles. The world will continue spinning, wars will end, and we will work towards a utopia. You, however, would have us all fight against Muggles and their weaponry. Have you tried stopping a bullet? I haven't, but I imagine it would be quite impossible. There is no shield against the Killing Curse, yes, however, can you shield yourself from bombs? An endless bombing from your enemy who lives all around you? Do you not remember what happened to England not even two years ago? Three years ago? I remember. I remember the sirens, I remember the constant fear, the sniveling children holding onto each other as they cried for long-dead mothers and fathers. I remember them looking hopeless, powerless, as the Germans exploded London indiscriminately. Now imagine that power, and more. Imagine the rumors from the Americas and whatever they are up to aim, not at their fellow muggles, but us, wizards. They will see you as an enemy, and you will be the end of wizardkind. Would you like that legacy to your name, Gellert Grindelwald?"

Grindelwald was silent for a long moment, before looking at Tom, "And what makes you so certain of that?"

"Because you are going to lose," Harry said, taking the mirror gently from Tom. His voice turned cold and uncaring as he looked at Grindelwald. "You will lose. Not to me, not to Tom, but to the only man you fear: Albus Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore! Ha!" Grindelwald laughed. "Why should I fear him?"

"Because you loved him," Harry said, "and he loved you before he and his brother blamed you for Ariana's death. And now, he will duel you, and you will lose in 1945 while Tom and I graduate Hogwarts, you will be sent to an eternal prison, and lose your precious wand." He added a deadly smirk, "We all know what it is, how it is passed. Do you really want Dumbledore to hold your precious Deathstick?"

Grindelwald stared at the two of them, "How did you find out?" he demanded.

"Research, and pure dumb luck," Harry said simply. "However we could just tell Dumbledore where you are now, and we don't need to wait two years—or we can work together and hopefully see a different outcome when that date comes."

Grindelwald was stunned silent. He looked between the both of them before looking down, supposedly at the Elder Wand, Harry guessed. Harry and Tom waited quietly as Grindelwald decided what to do and how to move forward. A few times, he looked up at them once more, and Harry tried to figure out what the man was thinking through his face, however, the mirror was still small, and it was hard to tell at times. After a few minutes, Grindelwald looked up one more time, this time with a determined face, "What is your second promise?" he asked.

"Do you accept the first?" Harry asked.

"I do," Grindelwald said.

"Excellent," Harry said. "The second one is easier for both of us to debate if it is needed at all. I need a poison."

"Who are you killing?" Grindelwald asked.

"No one," Harry said. He looked at Tom, "What do you know about her?"

"Oh—you are talking about Tremblay?" Tom asked. Harry nodded. Tom looked pensive for a moment, "She is an only child," he said after a moment. "Her mother and father tried to have a son; however they were never in luck. The Tremblay family is pureblood, but in terms of importance, they are hanging on the edge. Their daughter's marriage to Mulciber, then, may be seen as a last attempt to save themselves from obscurity."

"Then we shall kill their hopes and reputation," Harry said. He turned to Grindelwald. "This bitch named Leonie Tremblay stole my heart, my Xavier. They are getting married when they graduate this summer. I want a poison, a curse, to make that girl infertile."

Grindelwald smiled in approval before laughing, "My Harry! My sweet, devilish Harry! I knew that you were right for me. There is exactly a poison for that, very fast-acting and very potent. However, we require basilisk venom—"

"That is easy to obtain," Tom interrupted. "Do not worry about that. Harry and I will make it together if you do not feel safe sending the poison to us or meeting in person. However, I must admit that I am interested in meeting with you once more."

"As am I," Grindelwald smiled, "However before we do I have a counteroffer. I will do all you ask, and in return, I ask two things of myself: One, your loyalty, you will do the task I assign you, and will forever be my loyal subjects."

"Of course," Tom purred easily.

"Secondly, Harry, you will call me Dad," Grindelwald said with a weird smile and glint in his eyes. "I will teach you all that you need to know, for I can feel that you need a proper father figure in your life."

He'll never replace Sirius, Harry thought bitterly. Instead, he said "Of course, Dad," rather easily.

"Then we have our agreement boys," Grindelwald said, "I will write to you later." And the image of the mirror went blank.

Harry dropped the mirror immediately and turned to Tom, "My loyalty never changed," he said.

"Of course it doesn't," Tom said. "You will always be mine, little snake. Just as I am loyal to no man." He looked at the mirror and sneered, "Let that man play his game, he will die soon enough. More importantly, I ask you that you give me another chance, Harry. What we did during Yule was special, it never left my mind. And unlike Mulciber, I will not be scared of showing our relationship in public. Be mine Harry, and I will treat you the way a dark prince like you should always be treated."

"I—thank you, Tom," Harry said, his hands curling into small fists. "Can I please think about it? I still feel hurt over Xavier."

"Of course my pet," Tom said. He leaned forward and kissed Harry's cheek. "I will always wait for you," he whispered. He stood up and held out his hand. "Come along, I believe we have some more planning to do."

"Yes, my lord," Harry said, and he took Tom's hand.

A/N: reveal after reveal! What will be revealed next time?