Chapter 31

Dark Lord's Rising

"Harry!"

Existence started around him once more and Harry found himself in Grindelwald's study. Tom had the man at wand point, holding both his and Grindelwald's wands. The dark wizard, tired and beaten, only muttered and whimpered. Harry looked around disoriented before focusing on Tom. "Tom!"

"Where's Death?" Tom said. "You and he were here just a second ago!"

"A second?" Harry frowned. Was it true? Did everything they did only lasted a second? He shook those thoughts away; they could be discussed at a later dead. More importantly, the wand. He looked down at his hand and smiled. Elder wood, fifteen inches, and brimming with magical power.

"Yes my love, a second," Tom said. "Now, shall we please take care of Grindelwald?"

"Oh—yes," Harry nodded. "But before that." He walked slowly towards Tom and smiled as he turned the Elder Wand in his fingers, holding the end as it held the handle towards Tom. "My love," he smiled.

"Such a good boy for his Master," Tom chuckled. He pocketed both wands and grabbed the Elder Wand. Both boys felt a surge of energy, magic dancing around them invisibly. The magic rushed inside them, twisting inside Harry and Tom before transferring to each other, the Elder Wand being used as the bridge. They looked at each other and smiled as Harry slowly let go.

"What happened?" Harry breathed, his face blushing beautifully.

"Our magic intertwined if I can guess," Tom said. "Another reminder of how you were already destined to be mine, my sweet little snake." Harry smiled and took a small step back. He glanced at Grindelwald, "What are we going to do with him?" he asked. "He and Dumbledore aren't supposed to have their fight until September of next year."

"So he is," Tom purred, "however…" He moved faster than Harry could react. He whipped the Elder Wand to Grindelwald and said loud and clear, "Avada Kedavra!"

"NO!" Harry yelled as the emerald killing curse struck Grindelwald, the man's quivering stopping instantly as the body just slouched, gravity taking control as the muscles and cells instantly die. "TOM!"

"We solved a problem, I saw nothing wrong with it," Tom said casually. "You should be happy Harry, we won. And as a proof of our victory, and as a sign of our new history…" He walked towards the window and Harry's heart sank as he knew instantly what he was going to do.

Tom held the Elder Wand high into the sky out of the broken window. His voice sounded sinister, like a snake cursing the sky above. "Morsmorde!"

Green exploded from Tom's wand. A violent haze darting towards the sky before exploding into a dark emerald skull with a snake protruding from its open mouth. Tom smirked at it and looked down to the men and woman staring up at the sky confused. They looked around wildly before someone spotted Tom standing at the edge. They all turned to stare at him, and Tom just stood looking victorious under their attention. He turned towards Harry, his eyes burning with a maddening glare that once brought Harry to his knees, but now it only made him afraid. Harry instinctively took a step back and shook his head.

"This wasn't what we planned," he whispered.

Tom just smiled and took a step towards Harry, holding the wand lightly between his fingers, as though it was about to fall off. He flashed for a moment in Harry's mind, his handsomeness gave away to the corruption of Horcruxes. Lord Voldemort stood, taller and reptilian with his pale scaly face instead of Tom's attractive features. Just as Voldemort stood there, he was gone, and Harry was snapped back to reality. His arm was raised, aiming his wand at Tom who stared at him confused.

"No!" Harry said, dropping his wand. He stumbled backward and stared at Tom. "I didn't mean—I—"

"Harry?" Tom said full of concern, however as he took a step, the doors to the study blasted open and Grindelwald's followers came running in, demanding to know what happened. They all looked around at the destroyed and ruined room, confused before they saw the body of their leader.

"What happened?" one of them demanded.

Tom sighed and gave Harry a look that silently told him that they were not done speaking about it before turning to the others. His expression stoned, becoming almost unemotional as he looked at the followers. "This is an end of an era," he said. "Grindelwald, in his thirst of dominance overall, saw Harry and my potential and decided to train us as you all know. However, our power, our potential, scared the older Dark Wizard. And so we overtook him and took his wands as prizes."

"You—you killed Grindelwald!" An angry voice yelled out. Tom just chuckled. "Yes, would any of you try to best the teenager who has beaten your lord?"

Harry instantly saw several wands being aimed at Tom and him. He quickly dived to pick up his wand as Tom flicked his, hissing in Parseltongue, "Avada Kedavra!" The killing curse shot out from his wand, the green spell splitting into several beams that each hit a wizard in front of them. Harry barely managed to get his Shield Charm up to protect them from a barrage of spells. Harry quickly glanced around to count how many wizards Tom killed with a single spell. Seven bodies laid before them.

The others seemed to realize that as well as they all hesitated, fear clearly on their faces. One person pushed forward, and Harry felt almost relieved as he saw the familiar face of Vasil. He looked scared, but as he stared at Tom and Harry, a cold, gruff laughter erupted from the man. He stepped over the bodies and went to Grindelwald's body. He bent down to silently check it before turning to Tom and Harry. "You've certainly done yourself good, eh 'Lord Voldemort?'" he chuckled. He scratched his chin and looked thoughtfully at the two of them. "I think we can work out a lovely business deal later on, eh boys?"

"Yes, we can," Harry nodded, glancing at Tom who still had his wand trained on the other wizards around them. "Drop your wands," Tom ordered, and a moment later they did so. "Harry, collect them."

Harry nodded and waved his wand, a dozen wands flying towards him and landing right in front of the two. Tom nodded briefly at that and then continued to look around. "Grindelwald's war is at an end," he said. "Everything you've fought for, everything you believed in is over. However, that does not leave you leaderless. Join me. I too have a vision for our world, a vision that involves breaking down the barrier between magic and muggles, not to conquer the muggles but to rule over both. We are to return to the old traditions, and so on this Midsummer, I will ask: Will you stand in Magic's way, or will you die for your ideals?"

"You want us to live with muggles?" someone demanded. "You are insane, child! They are disgusting creatures!"

Tom sighed, "I tried to be merciful," he said. He looked at Vasil, "If you would wait outside?" he asked. The potioneer looked around at the men around him and chuckled grimly. "Would you mind if I take their wands? The cores are useful in some potions."

"Yes," Harry said. Vasil grinned and went to pick up the disarmed wands and turned to the twelve other men. "Goodbye gentlemen, it was nice working with you all," he said and left the room.

Tom smirked as with a wave of the Elder Wand, the doors all locked and the twelve were left trapped in the study. "A final act of mercy," he said, "you all will die today; however it will be either by our hands or yours. Jump out of the window, and you may die with what little dignity men like you can hold."

Nobody moved. "Such a shame. Harry, love. On Three." Harry nodded and took a breath, aiming his wand at the nearest wizard. They all seemed to realize that the two had the strength to back up their threat and decided to rush the boys to try and save themselves, but it did not work. Once again the boys hissed their spells in Parseltongue, their Killing Curses forking to strike multiple targets and, before ten seconds could pass, the remanding wizards in the room all fell dead around them.

"When we return to Hogwarts, I believe a trip to Slytherin's study is necessary," Tom said, pocketing the Elder Wand. "To see exactly how our Parseltongue affects our spells." Harry just nodded and looked around. His stomach lurched at the sight of so many bodies and he quickly had to hold onto Tom's shoulder to keep from falling. There was no smell yet, however, Harry knew that it was only a matter of time. Tom saw this and hugged Harry close. "Come my Harry," he whispered. "Just one more thing, and we can go home to England."

Harry nodded and held onto Tom, not caring about the weakness he was showing as they exited the room. Vasil was just outside, sitting in a chair as he fiddled with the wands, extracting the cores. "Hello boys," he said. "This here's a skill I picked up growing up. Dead men don't need their wands, you see, and no use in letting their cores go to waste. Tricky business, splitting a wand open, but if you know what you're doing, you can do it in a minute—ah!" He smirked as the wand in his hand split in two, a long slither of what looked like a heartstring laying perfectly intact inside. "Heard you two hissing around in there, guessing the job's done?"

"Yes, they are dead," Tom said simply.

"Never liked any of them anyways, always going about with blood this and muggle that, don't care about the rest who was born and raised in slums and poverty like me," Vasil grunted. "There's one lesson you learn growing up the way I did: follow the coin, and Grindelwald was good coin."

"So, how much will your services be?" Tom asked.

Vasil stopped and scratched his chin. "For what we talked 'bout last time, fifteen hundred galleons."

"Done," Harry said quickly. "I can get you that money."

"Then I'll start working on it as soon as I got my money," Vasil said. He looked at the door and made another sound. "Looks like I'm moving again. Guessing that was also you with that skull and snake thingy in the air?"

"That is my mark, yes," Tom nodded.

"Needs work, kid," Vasil said, "don't know what you were trying to accomplish with it, but it wasn't exactly fearful, you know what I mean. Anyway, don't worry about the bodies, I have a friend who's always in need of a few fresh corpses. As for this castle, reckon Aurors will flood it soon enough."

"Leave Grindelwald's body," Tom ordered. "I want them to find Grindelwald here."

"Don't matter to me," Vasil shrugged, and he went back to work with the wands in front of him. Tom pulled Harry once more and they returned to their room, where their trunks were waiting. "Almost home, little snake," Tom said. "Then we can discuss everything."

Harry nodded and stood up, "I'm feeling better, thank you, Tom."

"Of course, my love," Tom said. The two worked quietly, gathering their clothing into their trunks before shrinking them. Harry pocketed them this time and they went to the fireplace in their common room, Tom pulling the bag of floo powder from his pocket. They both stepped in, holding onto each other as Tom dumped the whole bag. "Rosier House!"

Green flames engulfed them, and they left Nuremberg Castle.

It was early night when they arrived at Rosier House. The fire in the fireplace burst with the emerald flames, causing the occupants of the house to rush to the living room to see who was coming unannounced. Harry and Tom stepped out of the fireplace, soot trailing behind them, just as Cassius Rosier and his parents entered the room. "My word—boys!" Mrs. Rosier said, "Look at you—your clothes! And blood! What exactly happened?"

"An altercation," Tom said. "Mrs. Rosier, I am so terribly sorry for dirtying your lovely room with soot and our wounds, however, if you would please allow us to go and tidy up, we will explain everything.

"I—yes of course," Mrs. Rosier nodded. She looked at her husband and said, "Oh! These are the two I have been telling you about, Cassius' friends who will be staying with us for a small while."

"It's lovely to meet you, Mr. Rosier," Harry said politely, "I'm sorry for the sudden break-in. Tom and I had a long day."

"I—of course, Cassius told me about the two of you, and where you were," Mr. Rosier nodded. Harry couldn't help but notice that there was a twinge of fear in his eyes and voice. "Please—our house is yours, for as long as you stay."

"You are very generous, thank you," Tom said. He glanced back, "Come along, little snake."

"I'll show them to the bathroom," Cassius muttered. The three left the living room as Mrs. Rosier snapped for a house-elf to clean the mess behind them. Cassius led them to a stairwell and glanced back. "My lords, does this mean?"

"Grindelwald is dead, yes," Tom said. "The most obvious obstacle is now gone, and we all have a clear path towards our future. Inform the Inner Circle at once. Let this midsummer still be a celebration."

"At once, my lord," Cassius said, bowing as he reached the second-floor landing. He escorted them down a hallway with a few doors. "The bathroom, it has been enchanted to fit you both spaciously, my lords," he said. "Your rooms are connected to it."

"Thank you, Rosier," Tom said. He opened the door and started to walk in. "Harry?" he said when he saw his boyfriend lagging.

"I'm sorry—but Cassius, why are you calling me your lord? Tom is my Master, same as he is yours," Harry said.

"Because of how close you are," Cassius said. "In my eyes, you are not only his right-hand man but his equal. I'm sorry, I just thought to give you proper respect, Harry."

"No, no it's fine," Harry said, shaking his head. "Thank you, for letting us stay here."

"Of course," Cassius said. He gave Tom a final short bow and left to write letters.

Harry and Tom walked into the bathroom. Tom locked the door and cast a privacy charm on it as Harry went to the tub and turned on a few nozzles. Rosier was right, it was gigantic. It reminded Harry of a miniature version of the bathtub in the prefect's bathroom at Hogwarts. He turned to Tom and the two pressed together, kissing long and passionately as they undressed each other. It wasn't sexual, but more a need to hold onto each other.

Naked, they went into the tub, Tom first so he could help Harry in, and they slipped down to relax, lounging in the water. "When I saw you, I only thought of him," Harry said softly. "Voldemort. The old Voldemort. Standing there underneath the Dark Mark."

"Dark Mark?"

"The spell you cast in the sky," Harry nodded. "That's the Dark Mark. That is what it was called at any rate. It was your symbol. Your Mark. The Death Eaters all had that mark on them, usually their inner forearm. And whenever they killed for you, or torture or destroy, they would have the mark hanging in the sky. It's an omen that strikes fear into everyone's heart. Only the most dangerous, most cruel, and most evil rally under the mark. Dark Wizards who are just the same if not worse than the ones we just killed."

Tom hummed and sighed, "I seem to become a real monster without your influence, little snake." Harry just nodded silently. "But, you're here now," Tom continued. "And though I will not promise I will not stop my ways, there are some areas that I can moderate myself, and you are doing such an excellent job at helping me do that, my love. I thought my mark would be momentous, a feat of celebration, but now that I understand what it truly means to the only person in the world whom I care about, I will not use it."

"You won't?" Harry asked.

"No, I will not," Tom said. "I refuse to become the Lord Voldemort who you fear and fought. When you speak my name, I want it to come from a please of love and relevance, not fear."

"You know I love you, Tom," Harry said.

"Yes, you love me, however, I never heard you speak your Master's name lovingly," Tom said. He pulled Harry towards him so that Harry was laying on him. Tom's hand went to Harry's nipple, idly twerking and teasing it as he whispered in Harry's ear. "Breathe your Master's name Harry, I want to hear you cry out in joy."

"T-Tom," Harry gasped.

"No!" Tom said, pulling Harry's nipple roughly. "My other name."

He continued to tease Harry's nipple, his other hand holding Harry's neck, keeping constant pressure on it. Harry gasped as blood rushed to his cock. "Master," he pleaded. "Vol… Voldemort."

"Good boy," Tom breathed. "All your memories of the old Voldemort, every spark of hatred and malice, I will wipe them away forever. You belong to Voldemort, and Voldemort is me. I am your Master, your lover, and your Lord. Never forget that Harry."

"Yes Master," Harry panted, and Tom pulled him in for a searing kiss. They did not move past kissing and teasing. When they separated, Tom reached for the soap and ordered Harry to relax as he cleaned his body, his fingers moving expertly as they reached every inch of Harry. Even when he was cleaning Harry's hole, it was methodical with no teasing or sexual intentions behind it.

Then Harry did the same for Tom, washing and kissing his body as he did so. When they were both clean, the boys just relaxed in the tub, allowing their thoughts to drift away as they cuddle, Harry, laying on Tom's chest. They only got out after the water turned cold. It was getting late by then, and Harry was just realizing how hungry and exhausted he was. He glanced at Tom and hoped that he would feel the same. They went to their room which had two beds. Harry did not ask, took out his wand from his robes, and levitated one of the beds so that they were pressed against each other. After they dressed, Tom sighed and said, "Come along, we owe our hosts a small story about everything that happened."

"Okay," Harry nodded. "But first, umm Death wasn't there for a second, we were gone for what felt like hours."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. He sighed and sat down on their bed, pulling Tom to sit next to him. "We actually left, Death and I, and we met Time," Harry said, and he began telling Tom everything that happened. He mentioned the faceless workers and every floor he and Death had to cross through in order to reach Time and everything he saw in between. The higher floors scared Harry more, and he trembled as he recalled watching Fred Weasley die on the screen and he could do nothing. His voice started to go sore from use as he recounted his conversation with Time and her motives for transporting him to the past. When he was done, he felt more tired than ever, and just wanted to sleep.

"So, in the end, you were just a plaything for Time?" Tom said, shaking his head. "That does not sound fair at all."

"No, but I don't care," Harry said tiredly. "Like I told her, it's my life, and I choose how to live it. And what I want, more than anything, is to be me, just me, and turn our dreams into reality. So that I can be the proud husband, of my Master."

Tom gave Harry a soft, genuine smile. He petted Harry's hair and kissed him. "And I cannot wait until I can be the proud husband of my little snake," he whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Harry said. He could feel himself drifting but forced himself to stay awake. Tom saw this and shook his head. He easily picked Harry up, as though he weighed nothing, and helped the boy into bed before snapping his fingers. "A glass of water, please," he told the house-elf that appeared. The elf bowed and disappeared. Tom turned to Harry and ordered, "You will stay here. Relax, drink the water, and sleep. I will deal with the Rosiers."

"Okay," Harry nodded, too tired to even argue. He relaxed in the bed, allowing his muscles to finally rest. The house-elf appeared a second later with his water and he smiled, "Thank you," he said. "What is your name?"

"Mimi," the house-elf said.

"Thank you, Mimi," Harry said and the house-elf bowed deeply, her nose pressed against the floor before she disappeared. He drank the water, feeling instant relief on his throat. Feeling more relaxed and comfortable, Harry took off his glasses and turned to his side, staring at the empty place on the bed beside him. He held up his hand and envisioned a wedding band of pure cold right above Tom's ring. He smiled at the thought and closed his eyes, his mind dancing around wedding plans before he finally slept.

A/N: I've finished writing the last two chapters. They'll be up soon. I hope you guys enjoy.