That night in bed Harry had a hard time falling asleep. The warm, cosy feelings of comfort she'd felt during Yule so far were replaced with fluttering feelings of anxiety.
She now had confirmation, more or less, that Riddle had been involved in Grindelwald's curse somehow. And she wasn't sure what to feel about that.
She'd known for a while now that Riddle lacked a certain something that made him able to function as a complete human being, so the revelation that he'd been involved in some shady business in the past didn't come as a complete surprise. So why then did it upset her this much that it was keeping her awake at night?
Was it even upsetting her this much?
Or was it something else?
Was it the fact that Harry now knew she was truly in love with Riddle, that the feelings she'd developed for him were real and genuine and that she honestly wanted to spend the rest of her life with him? Because those feelings hadn't changed now that Harry knew of Riddle's involvement in the event that shaped their society over the past five decades or so.
Harry knew Riddle was a bit of an unsavoury character in some ways and yet she still loved him. Still wanted to marry him. Still very much wanted for him to fuck her in front of the fireplace on that thick wool rug.
What did all of that say about Harry herself? And did it even matter, what it said about her?
There was a persistent voice in Harry's mind, that sounded quite a bit like Hermione, that insisted that Harry should be ashamed of herself for falling in love with a man who was capable of harming others like Riddle obviously was. Then again, Harry's father was an Auror, and so was Sirius. They were both capable of hurting others, even killing them if needed, because that was part of the job. A job Harry herself also wanted to do in the future. And no one commented on that, not even Hermione.
So were these objections Harry was feeling just full of hypocrisy? Because whatever Riddle had done, he'd obviously done it for the good of their society. He'd genuinely wanted to save the magical world, of that Harry was sure. So did it truly matter then that Riddle might have hurt people in the process?
And Harry didn't even know yet to what extend Riddle had been involved in the casting of the curse, so perhaps she was winding herself up over nothing at all.
Yes, perhaps she should simply wait with freaking the fuck out until she had all the details, which she'd get after they were married.
And that is what mattered most in the end, didn't it? That Riddle had promised he'd be honest with her once they were officially husband and wife. Could she truly expect more of him at this point, when he'd already promised her the truth?
No, Harry concluded eventually. The best thing she could do right now was to simply wait for Riddle to tell her the truth. And in the meantime she should keep going as she'd been doing already. And perhaps give herself permission to enjoy these newfound feelings in the process.
She loved her future husband. She could admit that to herself now and genuinely feel happy about that. She should just focus on that and not drive herself crazy with what-ifs and could-haves.
The rest of her stay at Riddle's holiday cottage was again filled with comfort and peace now that Harry allowed herself to experience those things. Every time her mind insisted on circling back to thoughts of Riddle's hypothetical past misdeeds, Harry put a firm stop to those thoughts and focused on more pleasant things instead. It worked to such an extend that soon enough she was able to relax completely again while in Riddle's presence and she enjoyed the hours they spent cosily on the couch together. They went for a few more walks in the freezing weather and they even went flying while it snowed once, which was truly a magical experience.
By the time Harry got back to Hogwarts she was glowing inside and out from her much needed holiday with her fiancé.
In January a new political movement arose, mostly amongst younger wizards, that called for the reinstatement of the Coven system. Naturally, Leander Brown and Cormac McLaggen were part of that, as were plenty of other single young men who were genuinely worried they would not get the opportunity to marry anyone now that witches were free to choose their lives for themselves.
The whole movement might have gotten some traction if it wasn't for one enterprising half-blood witch who started an international dating service. She introduced eligible young witches from around the globe to the young, often rich wizards of the UK and mainland Europe who were desperate for a magical wife of their own. Since Grindelwald's curse was now officially broken, those witches saw no problem moving to Europe in exchange for a marriage to a young, wealthy wizard.
Before long, most of the young wizards who'd made up the movement for the reinstatement of the Coven system were busy dating plenty of desirable witches and the whole thing died out before it ever really even got started. There were a handful of wizards who stubbornly kept insisting that the Coven system needed to return, but they got no noticeable support and before long the whole movement was forgotten by the majority of society.
Harry kept meeting with Riddle every Thursday evening in the Chamber of Secrets, as they'd been doing for a year now.
"Next week I'll take you to visit my home," Riddle said after their duel on a night in February. "I've been renovating it where needed, and I've prepared a room for you, across from mine."
"I'd love to see it," Harry said with a bright smile. She had been insanely curious about Riddle's actual house for months now, but she hadn't wanted to push since Riddle was an intensely private person. Thinking about Riddle's home, which would become Harry's home in less than six months did remind Harry of another issue. "What about next year? After our wedding we'll have one month together before I have to go back to Hogwarts for my seventh year."
Riddle took a few steps closer to Harry and gave her a smile that was full of wicked promises. "You don't have to return to Hogwarts. You could simply study for your NEWTs on your own and take them at the Ministry. You could probably take them as early as December."
That was a surprisingly tantalizing suggestion. Harry could simply spend her days studying at home, and then spend the nights with Riddle once he got home from work. Harry was sure they could come up with plenty of ways to keep themselves and each other entertained. "It's a very tempting suggestion," Harry said eventually while giving Riddle a cheeky wink. "But I think I do want to return to Hogwarts, finish my education the traditional way." Harry shrugged and briefly looked down. "I'm not in any hurry to get my NEWTs, not really."
"I understand," Riddle said, though there was a clear hint of disappointment evident in his voice. "In that case I can apparate you home from the Chamber a few times a week, or however often you want to spend the night at home."
Harry blinked up at him in pleasant surprise. "I could spend the night at home?"
"Of course." Riddle's grin morphed into a smirk while he narrowed his eyes as they pooled with obvious desire. "By that time you'll have your apparition license, so you can easily apparate back here in the morning in time for your classes."
Harry allowed herself a few moments to unpack that fantasy in her mind. Attending classes at Hogwarts as she was used to, but then apparating home to spend the night in Riddle's bed was a very appealing idea. "Yeah, that sounds perfect."
"I'm glad you think so." By now Riddle was practically standing against Harry and he trailed his thumb across her cheeks. "I think I'd be terribly lonely if you didn't want to spend a few nights a week with me."
"Stop that," Harry said in a chiding tone, taking a big step back. Of late Riddle had taken to teasing her with flirtatious touches and promises made in his deep voice to the point she lost control and snogged him within an inch of his life.
Fucking hell. Their wedding couldn't come soon enough because Harry was so ready to fuck Riddle, it was simply ridiculous.
Chuckling, Riddle offered a heated look that was entirely unrepentant. "Ah, my dearest, I'm just making sure that you'll be suitably eager to fuck me on our wedding night."
"No need to add to the sexual tension," Harry grumbled, but she was unable to hold back a smile of her own. "There's plenty there already."
Thankfully, Riddle let up and they discussed a few other things without Harry going to war with her own hormones.
The next week Harry was full of nervous energy because she had no idea what to expect of Riddle's home. She'd only ever seen the holiday cottage, which was comfortable and cosy, but then again, a lot of holiday cottages were that way. It didn't say anything about what Riddle's actual home would look like.
Riddle apparated them from the Chamber of Secrets, which apparently lay outside of Hogwarts' wards, to his home in Yorkshire.
Harry was surprised to see a Manor house. For some reason she'd not expected for Riddle to live in a Manor, since he was a half-blood whose pureblood ancestors had been impoverished for generations.
Her many questions must be clearly visible on her face, because Riddle chuckled before explaining, "I built it myself. Well, with the help of experienced magical construction specialists, but I designed it myself at least."
The Manor wasn't all that big. Potter Mansion was bigger, Harry could easily tell. And Riddle's home wasn't anywhere near as ostentatious as Lucius Malfoy's ancestral home. Still, Riddle Manor was a stately home with beautiful gardens surrounding it.
"It's lovely," Harry said as she looked around in the entrance hall. The interior was a lot more modern than you usually saw in houses like that, which was probably a consequence of the Manor being relatively young. There were still a lot of traditional touches, plenty of marble and hardwoods, but one could easily tell that this wasn't a home that had existed for dozens of generations.
Riddle gave Harry a warm, grateful smile and led her around the Manor, showing her its many features. There were several magically enlarged rooms in the basement. One held a duelling platform and another was a fully equipped potions lab. There was also a ritual room, which was bare but which was designed to be used for any kind of ritual. On the main floor there were several reception rooms, one stately dining room and a huge library which dwarfed any of the libraries Harry had seen in other mansions.
"So you like to read, I take it?" Harry said in a teasing voice as they wandered through the ceiling-high stacks. Harry had trouble comprehending the sheer amount of books around her.
"You could say that." Riddle chuckled and for a moment he looked like he wanted to push Harry up against one of the bookcases and have his way with her, but he controlled himself. "I've always loved to read, loved to learn anything and everything, and I've been collecting books since I was a schoolboy."
"It's certainly an impressive collection." Harry realized there and then that she must never show this library to Hermione, or they'd never get her to leave again.
The Manor had some eight bedrooms and two master suites. "This is yours," Riddle said as he pushed open the heavy wooden door of Harry's new rooms. "I've decorated it in a way I thought might please you, but you are welcome to adjust it to your liking as much as you want."
Harry stepped into the large room and looked around in admiration. Riddle had kept the colours neutral for the most part. Light marble floors and dark wooden furniture. There were a few hints of colour. Dark red curtains around the fourposter bed and in front of the windows, and a deep blue, almost black, sofa near the fireplace.
"It's beautiful," Harry said as she turned to smile at Riddle.
"You're always welcome to spend the night in my bed, my dearest," Riddle said, once again looking as though he wanted nothing more than to test out the bed behind them with Harry right there and then. "But I do believe it's important you have a space of your own, for whenever you need some time to yourself."
"And I appreciate that." Harry was sure she was going to be spending most nights in Riddle's bed after their wedding, but she also understood that there might be times that she wanted a little peace and quiet. So having a suite of her own was something she truly appreciated. "I doubt I'll do much redecorating. I don't have that many things of my own to add." And she didn't. Most of the stuff in her room at Potter mansion were remnants of her childhood which she didn't necessarily want to take with her to her new home. And at Hogwarts they simply didn't have space to collect numerous trinkets or an endless amount of new clothes.
"I understand. The only thing I had in abundance as I finished Hogwarts were second-hand books," Riddle said while his eyes glazed over a bit with nostalgia. "I'd spent a few summers working in a second-hand bookstore and they paid me in books and a few sickles."
"That must have been an amazing job for a bibliophile," Harry said, giving Riddle an amused smile. She was always really happy to hear Riddle open up about his own life, which he'd started doing more and more since the Yule holiday they'd spent together. Harry loved learning these small details about her future husband.
"Yes, I had no complaints. It certainly beat spending all day in a muggle orphanage during World War Two." Riddle gestured at Harry to follow him before she could reply. "Let me show you my room."
Riddle's personal quarters were similar to Harry's in size and design. There were hints or green and silver around the room instead of red, but that really was the biggest difference. In front of the crackling fireplace, Riddle's snake lay coiled up.
"Nagini, Harriet is here."
The snake raised her massive head and gave Harry a onceover. "Hello, Master's mate."
"Hello, Nagini," Harry said, giving the snake a polite nod. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally piss off a beast that could swallow her whole. "It is nice to officially meet you."
Nagini nodded in return and then tucked her head into her coils and went back to sleep.
"If you like, we can get you a snake of your own after you finish Hogwarts," Riddle suggested as he gazed down at Harry with shining eyes. Apparently hearing her speak parseltongue still did certain things to Riddle that made him look happier than Harry usually saw him.
"You know, that might be nice, to have a pet I can talk to," Harry said after thinking that over. "I have Hedwig, my owl. She's lovely but very independent. An animal companion I could keep with me might be fun."
Riddle caressed his hand down Harry's back. "We'll find you a perfect companion, I promise."
The rest of the visit went well and Harry found that she truly liked Riddle's home. It probably helped that she'd grown up in a big mansion and she wasn't intimidated by all the open spaces. There were enough cosy nooks to be found to make the building feel like a home. Harry was happy to say that she could easily see herself live there and that was one more worry she could cross off her list.
"Next week I'd like to take you to the Manor again, to introduce you to some of my closest… friends and associates," Riddle said after he apparated her back to the Chamber.
"Of course." Harry was instantly curious about who those friends could be. She knew a few names that Riddle associated with in his work, but he rarely spoke of any true friendships he had.
When they apparated to Riddle Manor the next week, all of Riddle's guests were already there. Harry was instantly grateful for her grandmother Euphemia's many lessons in etiquette because Harry was suddenly confronted with the cream of the crop of wizarding high society.
"Let me introduce you," Riddle said as he placed Harry's hand in the crook of his elbow so he could guide her around the room. "Friends, this is my fiancée and soon to be wife, Harriet Potter."
The first stop was someone Harry knew only too well. "Hi, Peter."
"Harriet," Peter said with a nod and a smile, not looking at all out of place between so many politicians and ministry department heads.
Beside Peter another young man sat on the sofa. "This is Barty Crouch Jr.," Riddle said while Harriet briefly shook the man's hand. "He works in International Relations." Harry remembered that Barty Crouch Senior had met his end a few years ago in a drunken bar brawl in the Leaky Cauldron. James and Sirius had worked that case and had eventually arrested a wizard named Mundungus Fletcher who'd tried to rob Crouch. The ensuing scuffle had resulted in a misfired curse and Crouch's death. Fletcher was serving a life sentence in Azkaban for murder.
"This is Theodorus Nott, who is the Head of the Wizengamot."
Harry shook his hand as well, realizing that Nott must be one of Riddle's contemporaries. Perhaps they'd even attended Hogwarts together. Nott looked many decades older than Riddle, though.
"And you know Lucius Malfoy, of course."
"Hello, Mr Malfoy." Harry smiled at Draco's dad, who she had met many times before at some of Sirius' family functions. Lucius gave her a small smile in return.
"I'm sure you also know Evan Rosier and Walden Macnair."
Harry did indeed, since they were Draco's stepfathers. She shook their hands briefly and followed Riddle to the next guest.
"Antonin Dolohov and Augustus Rookwood, both Ward Masters who do a lot of work for the Ministry."
"Pleased to meet you." Harry shook their hands as she was sure she was meeting another couple of Riddle's old classmates. She really wondered how on earth Riddle still looked so young compared to the other men his age.
"And these are the brothers Lestrange. Rodolphus and Rabastan, who both work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Harry nodded and shook their hands, marvelling how much the brothers looked like each other even though she was sure they weren't twins.
"And this is Brachium Black, who you might have met before as well."
Harry gave Draco's uncle a tight little smile as she shook his hand. Something about that wizard set Harry's hair on end across her entire body. She remembered Sirius telling her that the Black family magics had been tainted generations ago and now only offered the Black madness to any who sought to use them. Brachium very much looked like he'd done just that.
"You know my younger siblings, don't you?" Brachium asked, hooded eyes clearly shining with amusement. "Andromedus and Narcissa?"
"I do, yes. Your nephew Draco is a dear friend of mine," Harry said in her most polite tone while barely meeting Brachium's intense gaze.
Brachium laughed in a way that sounded just a bit unhinged. "Ah yes, Cissa wanted little Draco to join your coven at some point, didn't she? Too bad for the boy that he's missed out on such a tasty little morsel."
Harry felt Riddle stiffen beside her while she froze as well, unsure how to react to such a remark in polite company. If he was anyone else, she might have snapped in annoyance, but Harry was well aware that Brachium's sanity wasn't what it was supposed to be so she threaded carefully instead.
"Do mind who you're talking to," Riddle said with a real threat hiding in his deep voice.
"I apologize," Brachium said, leaning back in a way that clearly showed he didn't mean a word of that. "I am merely commenting on your excellent taste in witches, Minister."
Riddle nodded in reply but still looked like he very much wanted to curse Brachium for his insolence. Harry probably wouldn't even mind if he did.
Petal arrived to serve them all coffee and tea and that gave Harry and Riddle the opportunity to sit down in a loveseat together. After everyone had something to drink, conversation started and Harry was asked a few questions about her plans for the future.
"Quidditch first, at least for a few years," Harry said as she cradled her steaming cup of tea in her hands. "After that I hope to become an Auror."
Rodolphus nodded in understanding. "Your father is certainly talented at the job, so I doubt you'll have much trouble getting in to the department if you're as talented as he is."
"And the Minister is teaching her how to duel," Rabastan added with a sideways glance at his brother. "She'll soon surpass James, I'm certain."
Barty asked her a few questions about her ambition to become a Quidditch player and soon enough the conversation flowed between all the guests, most of it focusing on a few issues at the Ministry. Harry kept silent for the most part but she listened attentively. If she wanted to help steer Riddle towards making better decisions in the future, she really needed to start understanding all the things that played at the Ministry and in their society as a whole. What did become clear during the two hours she spent in the company of all these wizards was that she was woefully unprepared for such a role and that she had enormous amounts to learn about playing the political game. Then again, there would be plenty of time in their marriage to do so, and she was sure Riddle wouldn't mind instructing her as well.
She brought it up during their next meeting in the Chamber. "It was a pleasant meeting and I'm glad I got to meet your friends," she said after they were done duelling. They always got their duelling practice out of the way first before tackling any other issues. "But it also made me realize I know nothing about politics. Help."
Riddle threw his head back and laughed. "I thought it was rather endearing, how you sat through two hours of conversation that went straight over your head."
Harry quickly shot a stinging hex at Riddle, who barely managed to step out of the way. That did make him laugh again, though. "Yes, yes, rub it in. I am not even an adult, do remember. And I've never needed to learn these things before."
"To start with, I'll get you some books. And once you've read those I'll teach you what you need to know." Riddle brushed some of Harry's wild curls behind her ear. "I do want to tell you that you have my wholehearted permission to curse the stuffing out of Brachium should he ever even attempt to hurt you in any way."
Harry swallowed and gave Riddle a stiff nod. "Sirius mentioned once or twice that Brachium had run afoul of the Black madness."
"Yes, he has his uses but he's not a very stable individual. Do not hesitate and use the most vicious curses if it comes to that." Riddle seemed utterly serious, which tied Harry's stomach into knots. "Don't worry too much, dearest," Riddle said quickly, now trailing the back of his fingers down Harry's cheek. "I'll make certain Brachium knows to leave you alone."
Harry decided there and then that she really didn't want to know how Riddle was going to do that.
It was funny that the closer they got to the end of the schoolyear and thus to the wedding, the faster time seemed to pass.
Hermione seemed even more nervous about the upcoming wedding than Harriet was. "Are you sure you've got everything taken care of?" Hermione asked for the umpteenth time in the library when they should be studying. "How about your robes? You don't have wedding robes yet!"
Sighing, Harry gave Hermione a tired look. "My mum is taking me for a fitting in two weeks, during the spring holiday, Hermione. Please calm down. Everything is in hand, I promise." If Harry knew anything about Riddle, it was that the man was an even more meticulous planner than Hermione was, so Harry was entirely certain that every last detail of their wedding had been planned and prepared for.
Lily took Harry to Twilfitt and Tattings where several assistants took almost half an hour to measure Harry from top to bottom. The proprietor, Mrs Tattings, oversaw the whole thing to make sure that the Minister's future bride got the very best wedding robes her shop could provide. Harry choose a design that sat somewhere in between traditional and modern. The cut and the length of the robes were quite traditional but the embroidery was far more modern. The whole thing was made of ivory silk and the material flowed around her when Harry walked across the shop to try it out.
They also stopped by the beauty shop to arrange for the hairdresser and beautician to come to Potter Mansion early on Harry's wedding day.
"Let's have some ice cream," Lily suggested. It was still early spring but the weather was quite mild so they sat down on the terrace of Fortescue's and ordered sorbets.
"You seem so much more mature," Lily said in between bites of mango sorbet. "And you seem genuinely happy about your upcoming wedding."
"I am happy," Harry said with a bit of a shrug. "It's been an interesting journey to get here, but I can safely say I'm happy to marry Riddle."
"When are you going to call him by his first name?" Lily gave Harry an exasperated look, though her lips twitched with amusement.
"Not until the wedding day," Harry said before laughing. She knew it drove Riddle mad that she refused to address him as Tom, but Harry was determined to see her own little vow through to the bitter end. But if she was honest with herself, she was looking forward to calling her husband Tom once they were married. It was far more personable than Riddle.
"If it isn't the Minister's future bedwarmer and her delectable mother."
Harry whipped around in her seat and stared up at Brachium Black, who stood right behind her and stared down at Harry and Lily with a bit of a leer.
"Mr Black," Lily said in a dispassionate tone while giving Brachium a level look.
"I heard you were single again, Lily Evans." Brachium slithered around the table and hovered over Lily.
Lily barely blinked an eye, clearly not very impressed with the threatening display Brachium was putting up. Then again, Lily was an experienced Healer who knew how to keep calm in stressful situations. "You heard wrong. I've been in a relationship for six months now."
"Pity." Brachium shifted so he could stare at Harry again. "But there's always your daughter, delicious child that she is."
Harry dropped her hand in her lap, right under the table and discreetly flicker her wrist, releasing her wand from her forearm holster.
"It's truly a pity that the Coven system has been abolished. I did so enjoy sharing witches with my friends." Brachium leaned down far enough that he could rest his elbows on the table. This brought his face right up to Harry's, who immediately leaned back. "But perhaps Tom won't mind sharing you. And even if he does mind, I could always simply fuck you and obliviate it all away."
True, unadulterated terror coursed through Harry as she stared into Brachium's unhinged grey eyes. There was something deeply wrong with this man, Harry was certain. She aimed her wand in Brachium's general direction under the table but before she could cast any magic they were interrupted.
"Brachium!" Rodolphus Lestrange came hurrying up to their table. He was dressed in his official Auror robes and behind him trailed a couple of younger Aurors. "We must be off."
Brachium raised himself up and stretched his entire body in the most careless way possible. "Such a pity we must cut this visit short. I had so many more promises to make." He gave Harry a wink that sent shivers down Harry's spine.
"Healer Evans, Miss Potter," Rodolphus said with a polite nod while he wrapped his hand around Brachium's elbow in a vice grip and dragged him away as quickly as he could.
"Isn't he one of your future husband's friends?" Lily asked, face pale as she stared after Brachium's retreating back.
"Not for long," Harry said, more to herself than to her mother. And Harry knew with certainty that Riddle would not react well if she told him about what Brachium had threatened her with. Perhaps Harry should feel pity for Brachium's fate, but she couldn't be bothered to. Brachium Black was an entirely unpleasant man who'd done away with at least one witch in his lifetime. His own wife, Patricia Chastain, who was still missing and many assumed was dead.
Yes, Harry felt absolutely no remorse when she told Riddle about what had happened with Brachium Black during their meeting in Riddle's holiday cottage the next day. Riddle went very still as Harry recounted the confrontation word for word, her hands trembling just a bit as she clasped them in her lap.
"I will take care of it," was all Riddle said once Harry was done telling the story. "He will not bother you again." Then he gave her a fond little smile and changed the subject.
A week later there was an article in the Daily Prophet about the unfortunate death of Brachium Black, oldest son of Cygnus Black. Brachium had been conducting a routine inspection of Azkaban prison when one of the oldest prisoners there, Albus Dumbledore, had made an escape attempt. In the scuffle for Brachium's wand a curse had hit him and killed him instantly. The dementors had taken care of Albus Dumbledore by way of the kiss.
Harry felt nothing but relief when she read that article at Hogwarts' breakfast table. She knew very well that Riddle had orchestrated the whole thing, but that didn't nearly upset her as much as it probably should. But Harry honestly couldn't be bothered by the fact that Riddle had executed one of his own friends to keep her safe.
Now what did that say about Harry? Lots of things, perhaps, but Harry refused to consider any of them in any detail. All she cared about was that Riddle obviously cherished her enough to go to great lengths to keep her safe and Harry simply couldn't ignore how good that made her feel. No one had ever put her first to the point of simply doing away with her enemies. It was a heady feeling, to know someone out there cared for her enough to ensure her safety up to the point of murder.
No more creepy wizards showed up in the final months leading up to the wedding. Harry tried to focus on her schoolwork as much as she could because even though NEWTs were still a year away, Harry knew at all the material she was learning now would come up then. Thankfully, all Harry had to do was study whenever Hermione was studying and she'd be set.
The last day of their sixth year was one full of conflicting emotions. The next time Harry would set foot in Hogwarts was for her wedding day and she was genuinely looking forwards to it. Still, it was a big change. She would start her seventh year as a married woman.
The first month of the summer holidays went by in a flash of fittings of her wedding robes and appointments to finalize the marriage contract. She and Riddle made sure to spend at least one day a week together in his holiday cottage, but that was all they could manage thanks to their busy schedules. Everything seemed to happen so fast that Harry hardly had time for any nerves and before she knew it, she woke up on July 31st.
She was seventeen years old and about to get married.