Me: Hello everyone! So, originally I was writing this for a competition but it became way too long so I decided to make a series out of it. This is the first story. I don't have any particular plans for it quote yet but I'm excited to write this. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own Harry Potter. J.K Rowling does but I do own the OCs.
Ministry events were something foreign to Harry. Growing up with his Muggle aunt and uncle after his family abandoned him for his brother, the supposed Boy-Who-Lived who defeated the Dark Lord Thanatos, Harry didn't have the opportunity to go to events like this, unlike his brother.
15-year-old Harry Potter felt very awkward in his dress robes as he and his "family" were getting ready for the Ministry ball. Although he was reunited with his family when he was eleven, this was the first time they were taking him to such an event and it made Harry nervous.
"Are you okay, Harry?" his mother asked, though her voice was small in fear of his reaction.
He ignored her. Even though it's been five years since he was reunited with his family, he was still angry at them and his relationship with them was still cold.
After all, where was she when he was locked in his cupboard? When he was sick with fever and his family refused to treat him so he had to do it himself? Or when he was bullied and came crying home?
She wasn't there for him now, and neither was his father or siblings. So why should he call them mom and dad when they didn't act like it?
"Harry, answer your mother," his father said sternly.
While his mother tried to comfort him and establish a mother/son relationship with him, his father was a bit on the stern side. He was still the fun-loving person from Hogwarts but as much as James tried, Harry would not join in the fun, souring their relationship a bit as they tried to find even ground.
Harry just ignored him too, though. They seemed to give up and the next few minutes were spent in silence before his siblings came down.
Jacob Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was wearing Gryffindor colored dress robes, which suited him perfectly. Jacob was the definition of a Gryffindor: reckless, brave, and leaped before he thought. He was still a good person though and Harry held no resentment towards his brother for something their parents did.
His sister, Poppy, was in a red dress, which matched her hair. While Harry and Jacob got their father's hair, Poppy got their mother's hair but their father's eyes. Out of all the Potter children, Harry was the only one to get Lily's emerald green eyes.
While he was neutral towards his brother, Harry had a pretty good relationship with his sister, hanging out often. As a Ravenclaw, she was on the more analytical side of things, the opposite of Jacob, which made it easier for Harry to get along with her.
"Is everyone ready to go?" James asked though it was unnecessary as everyone was clearly ready.
When everyone nodded, James and Lily Apparated them to the Ministry of Magic.
The ballroom in the Ministry was magnificent, with a golden, wooden floor and high ceilings painted cream white. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, completing the look.
People were still arriving as they entered and Harry was almost overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Years of hiding his emotions, however, did not let that show.
"Poppy, stay close to your friends, okay? Jacob, Harry, we're going to introduce you to some people so stay close," James ordered to which the children nodded.
Poppy ran off, presumably to see her friends, leaving Harry and Jacob to stand in uncomfortable silence. Music was playing but Harry did not pay attention to it.
James and Lily approached people all night. They introduced their children and Harry forced a smile every time someone said he was like his parents. It made him sick but he endured it in fear that embarrassing his family would bring unwanted consequences.
Then, they ran into Lucius Malfoy, who was talking to a young man with slightly curly brown hair and dark brown eyes. For a second, Harry thought the young man's eyes were red but it must have been a trick of the light as the next second, they were brown once again.
"Ah, the Potters," Lucius sneered as they drew nearer.
"Malfoy," his father said with a frown, trying to hold in a snarl.
Lily's smile had turned polite as well, none of the warmth from earlier seen. His brother also sneered slightly while Harry maintained a blank face.
The young man next to Lucius seemed amused but didn't say or do anything. Harry was far more interested in him then whatever his parents and Lucius were talking about so he tuned them out in favor of introducing himself.
"Greetings. I am Hadrian Potter, Heir Apparent to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. And you are?" he introduced with a slight bow, recognizing this man as a pureblood.
That also set Harry apart from his parents. When Harry recognized a pureblood family, he would greet them as you were supposed to while his parents remained casual. It frustrated Harry when they did that but held it in.
"Greetings. I am Marvolo Slytherin, Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin. It is a pleasure to meet you, Heir Potter," the lord in front of him said in return.
His words were smooth and soothing. Harry could tell he was dangerous, but not in the way most would think. He was charismatic, only needing to use his words to make someone follow him.
"Good evening, milord. Are you enjoying the ball?" Harry questioned, his tone even more polite if possible in front of a lord.
It was a bit surprising that someone who looked so young could be a lord but it wasn't impossible. As long as a person was 17, the age of majority, and the last of your House, then it was very possible to become a lord.
"Please, call me Marvolo, Heir Potter. And yes, I am. And you?" Marvolo replied, a not quite genuine smile on his face.
"Harry, if you please. I must admit, the ball wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it might be."
That was a lie. It was about what Harry expected it to be but out of politeness, he wouldn't mention.
"Oh? Would a dance make it better?"
Marvolo's offer surprised Harry and for a moment, he hesitated. He knew refusing someone like Marvolo could be bad so a second later, he nodded.
Marvolo led them to the dance floor and led him through a waltz. They made small talk before the lord said something that shocked Harry.
"It's not good to lie, Harry. So why did you lie earlier?" Marvolo purred, his eyes gleaming with something Harry couldn't quite recognize.
Harry gulped slightly. He somewhat expected this, as Marvolo was a lot like him in ways. Cold and calculating, waiting to make his move when it would be most deadly.
"Don't you already know?" he shot back, a smirk now on his lips, trying to cover his earlier blunder.
"Ah, there it is," Marvolo said, sounding pleased. "We are a lot alike, Harry. I am sure you realize that by now, humor me this once, yes?"
"Alright. Then I must say this is about what I expected it to be. Most everyone here is divided into Light or Dark, with some neutral. My parents introduced me to the Light families, no doubt trying to establish something to keep me on their side. They are fools, however, who blindly trust someone like Dumbledore to lead them like sheep. Is that all you want to know?"
Marovlo hummed slightly as Harry finished his rant and there was no doubt in Harry's mind when his eyes flashed red once again. It just confirmed his earlier suspicion. Lord Slytherin was the next Dark Lord.
The last Dark Lord was Thanatos. From what Harry knew, Thanatos was a powerful Dark Lord that terrorized the magical world for a bit over a decade. For some reason, he decided to attack the Potters but then something unexpected happened. Thanatos was killed instead of Jacob, and the magical world rejoiced.
After Dumbledore confirmed there was no way for him to return, the magical world grew even more joyful and Jacob was hailed as an even bigger hero.
Dark Lords did not come often, especially so closely. It had only been thirteen years since Thanatos was defeated, as Jacob was one when he attacked and he was fourteen now.
However, instead of being afraid of that fact, he was intrigued. Dark Lords were rare but they were all powerful in their own right. And Harry had a feeling Marvolo would be as equally if not more powerful than past Dark Lords.
"You are correct, of course. And you know who I am now, am I right?" Marvolo questioned more as they broke into another waltz.
"Yes, though you were obviously not trying to hide that."
"Why should I? No one else has noticed, except for you."
"But that was intentional. There was a reason you asked me to dance, wasn't there?"
That got a laugh out of Marvolo. It was more of a chuckle but it still startled Harry slightly. What he said was still true however. Marvolo only wanted him to know who he was and his reason was obvious, at least to Harry. He wanted to recruit Harry, no doubt hearing rumors of how his parents treated him.
No one in the magical world quite knew what happened in the Potter family. James and Lily concealed it as much as they could but there was still some information leaked.
It was also why he was with Lucius. Marvolo needed to talk to Harry alone but with his parents sticking by his side, that was impossible unless Lucius distracted them.
"We really are alike, Harry. Do you have an answer for me then?" Marvolo asked once he was done laughing.
To Harry, it was an obvious choice. He had no ties to the Light except for his family that abandoned him. And if he got revenge along the way, all the better.
"Of course I do. But you already know my choice," Harry replied, as the dance ended.
Before they separated and Harry returned to his family, Marvolo shot him a smirk and said the words that sealed the deal.
"Then I am looking forward to our alliance, Hadrian. I have a feeling it is going to be very beneficial to the both of us."
"Indeed."
And then Harry returned back to his family, the alliance he just made a secret, for now.