AN: Once, again any recognizable content belongs to JK Rowling, and all OC's are mine! As a side note Phe is pronounced Fe or Fi. All reviews are welcome, I hope you enjoy!
Minerva and Albus, rather Albus was waiting patiently on a chair near the fireplace with a book in hand, while Minerva paced around muttering to herself.
Albus put his book down and peered at her through his glasses, "my dear, what is it that you are saying to yourself?" he asked. "Oh Albus I don't understand how you can be so calm, when our daughter is this late, she is NEVER late. You don't think something happened do you? Oh what if Tom did -" Minerva was cut off by a quick peck.
"Min you need to relax, they are children, and I'm sure they needed some time to prepare themselves for tonight. And might I add, we should refrain from saying too many negative things about Tom." Albus finally replied, giving her shoulders a light massage.
"How can you even say that? After all that business with Myrtle last year and the school almost closing down. I am sure that was Tom's doing!" Minerva exclaimed.
"Look at me Minerva" he said using his hand to move her chin towards him, "you know I share your suspicions, but for the sake of our relationship and more importantly, your relationship with Ophelia, please try to keep that Scottish temper I love in check."
Knowing her husband was right, Minerva shrugged and made her way to the sofa. She realized there was no point in pacing around the living room worried. Tom and Ophelia would arrive when they were ready.
A few minutes later both Minerva and Albus' heads shot up to the sound of a knock at the front door. They made their way over and Albus motioned for Minerva to open the door.
"Mother, hi, I'm so sorry we're late, I completely forgot the time as I was getting ready." Ophelia stated as she went in to give her mother a hug and peck on the cheek.
"Yes dear, don't worry, your father and I did not even realize." Minerva said, returning the hug. Albus almost wished he could let the mother-daughter interaction stay like this forever. He hadn't seen the two embrace or even exchange civil words in months. However, he remembered Tom was there.
"Ah, Tom, Ophelia please come in. I'm glad you could join us Mr. Riddle." Albus' words brought mother and daughter back to reality and Minerva pulled away, allowing Tom and her daughter to enter.
"It's a pleasure Professor Dumbledore." Tom said, shaking the headmaster's hand. Looking towards his transfigurations teacher, Tom nodded and continued "Professor Mcgonagall, these are for you. Thank you both for inviting me to your home" he said handing the transfigured bouquet.
"Thank you, Tom, these are very nice." Minerva responded curtly. Glancing at Ophelia, she realized both children were still wearing their coats, "Ophelia, why don't you take Tom and your coat to the closet, while we move to the living room. I have Finny setting up dinner, or else I would've asked her."
Ophelia looked weary about leaving her parents with Tom alone, but before she could get a word out her mother continued "don't worry, we won't eat him alive in two minutes." The smile on Minerva's face ignited hope in Ophelia.
Gathering the coats, she headed to the coat room. Once she hung both her and Tom's, she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror since she hadn't had a proper moment since her quick touch up earlier. Ophelia's face widened in shock as she saw a hickey she forgot to cover up. After playing around with the collar of her shirt for a minute, she realized she was going to need makeup to cover it up.
She dug through her bag and finally found her concealer powder. Just as she was about to apply it, the door opened and in walked her mother. Ophelia squealed at the disruption and spun around hand over hickey in an attempt to hide it from her mother.
Startled by her daughter's reaction, Minerva let out a gasp, "Ophelia! What in godric's name is taking you so long. I know I told you two minutes was nothing, but I didn't actually expect you to take longer. Wait," Minerva stopped mid rant when she noticed her daughter's hand.
Walking up to her she asked "what is on your neck?" As she attempted to pull Ophelia's hand, Ophelia pleaded with her mother "please, it's nothing, I promise I'll be out in a minute!"
"What are you trying to hide?" Minerva continued pushing until she finally got Ophelia's hand off her neck. Another gasp. "Is this why you were late? You were too busy fraternizing to notice the time?" Minerva half shouted in disgust.
"Mother seriously can you just leave it alone, I already told you I lost track of time." Ophelia replied, trying to keep calm.
"Ophelia, that mark was not on your neck this morning, why are you lying to me? Is Tom making you do something you don't want to?" Minerva pushed, hoping to get some answers from her daughter. Fear that Tom was perhaps controlling Ophelia started to plague her thoughts.
Turning back to the mirror, Ophelia began to put the powder on the mark in order to cover it up. Once she was done, she turned back to her mother "Look at it, with a little bit of makeup you can't even notice it's there. Just because you didn't see it before means nothing. And would you please stop accusing Tom, we are together because we want to be, I promise there is no manipulation." she said.
Minerva's only response was "should we get to dinner." She knew her daughter was lying about the mark on her neck, but for the sake of everyone, she would stop questioning, for now.
While they made their way back, they overheard Albus and Tom discussing human transfiguration, but they quieted down as the two women came back in.
"Minerva dear, Finny informed me that dinner is ready, shall we head in?" Albus questioned.
"Yes, of course." Minerva motioned for Tom and Ophelia to go in with Albus and Minerva following behind. Before entering, Albus pulled Minerva back for a second and asked "are you okay?"
"No, she's lying to me and I'm afraid he's making her." Minerva replied and continued into the dining room without another word.
Tom was surprised upon seeing the table, it was long and made of finely polished dark wood. Draped over it was a red runner with a beautiful emerald border and two crests, which he assumed belonged to the Dumbledore and McGonagall families.
The table was set for only the four of them on the far right side. Tom decided it would be best to wait for the Professors to dictate where everyone should sit.
"You okay?" Ophelia asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, I was just admiring the room. It's beautiful, like you." Tom loved bringing out Phe's signature eye roll and blush.
Before she could respond Minerva and Albus walked in "Shall we sit? Minerva, to my left as always and Ophelia, my right?" Based off of Albus' words, Tom seated himself next to Ophelia.
"Well then, now that we're all seated, dinner is served." Albus waved his hands and the food appeared, but before they began to eat Tom added "just like Hogwarts." With a twinkle in his eye Dumbledore responded "Yes, just like."
Getting through dinner was an awkward affair for everyone. Much of the conversation was between Dumbledore, Riddle, and Ophelia as Minerva was still reeling from her conversation with Ophelia. She was becoming more and more uncomfortable as she paid more attention to Tom. She watched as at times Tom's hand would go under the table and Ophelia would shift in her seat.
Albus noticed what his wife was doing and tried to reassure her by entering her mind that Tom was just holding Ophelia's hand. Minerva just wasn't convinced and she could not let it go.
The three others were discussing quidditch when Minerva suddenly blurted out "are you forcing my daughter?"
Tom nearly choked on his drink "Pardon Professor?" Ophelia's hand gripped Tom's harder and Albus looked at Minerva.
"I said, are you forcing my daughter to be with you? Is that why she is lying to me?" Minerva asked again.
"MOTHER! Wh-" Ophelia was cut off by Tom. "No it's okay Phe, let me talk." Ophelia looked at him skeptically, but gave in. She trusted him with her life, he'd never given her a reason not to.
"Professor, I promise you, I have never done anything to your daughter without her consent. No matter what you both think of me, I care for Ophelia. Is there anything I can do to reassure you?" Tom was being as kind as he could, using all the strength he had. Ophelia's parents were an obstacle in his professional and personal goals. He loved Ophelia, but also needed her.
"Then tell me what you did to Myrtle." Minerva replied. "Mom!" "Minerva!"
"I'm not quite sure what you would like me to say. I had nothing to do with that unfortunate incident. And it was Hagrid's beast that was deemed the culprit, was it not?" Riddle replied calmly.
Before Minerva could reply Albus jumped in "Minerva please, this is not the time and place to discuss this."
"No Albus, don't you want to protect our daughter? Did you even notice the mark on her neck, ask them, ask them what they were doing before coming here, why they were late." Minerve shouted.
Ophelia had enough, she shot up from her seat "ENOUGH. You want to know why we were late, its because we were having sex in the headmaster's office and it was as much my idea as Tom's. Are you happy now? Satisfied? I've had enough." Ophelia had gone from pure range, to the verge of tears.
"I- i can't keep fighting you on this mother. I just can't." The pain evident in her voice was enough for Albus to try and intervene again.
"Ophelia, Minerva please let us discuss this another time, when we are alone." he tried.
"No, I'm sorry dad I can't, not anymore. We have all been fighting for so long. I'll be seventeen at the end of term, and I think I'll stay with Malcolm for the summer." Ophelia said throwing her napkin on the table and standing up.
"You don't have to do that, I'm sorry" Minerva started, "Save it mother, we are beyond baseless apologies. Goodbye" with that she looked over at Tom and walked towards the door.
"Well, professors, this is not how I imagined the night would go, nevertheless thank you for dinner, but I do think I should go after Phe." Tom looked over at Minerva and said "Professor Mcgonagall, I am sorry that you couldn't put your hate for me aside for one night, it'd be a shame if you lost Ophelia forever because of this." he said the last part slyly with a smirk forming on his face.
"RIDDLE that is enough!" Albus shouted, but Minerva got ahead of him "YOU, I knew it! You're doing this on purpose."
"I assure you I am not, but you are doing a great job of it all on your own." he laughed and walked out before Albus or Minerva could say anything.
Tom found Ophelia standing outside the gate of the manor, tears trailing down her face.
"Are you okay?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her. She turned to look at him "No Tom, I've just lost my parents and Malcolm and Michael always listen to them. I'm all alone."
"You have me and all of Slytherin house. You have your friends, the only Gryffindors I tolerate, Anna and Talia." Tom replied, bringing a smile to her face. "You know," he continued, pressing a kiss to her temple "we have permission to be off of school grounds tonight, why don't we take advantage?"
Ophelia looked up at him "hmm are you sure Mr. Riddle, we wouldn't want people to say you took advantage of me would we?" she laughed. He looked at her seriously, "Who cares what people think, one day we will have the respect of everyone. But for now, where should we go?"
"Anywhere, just away from here. I want to forget who we are in this world for the night." Ophelia said, grabbing onto Tom's arm. He apparated them away.
AN: Longer update, since it took me longer to update! Let me know in the reviews what you think!