Embracing His True Self

Chapter 109

The chaos that happened in the Ministry's Atrium was beyond ridiculous considering it was the centre of the magical world. It kept law and order, kept everyone civil for the most part. How were they meant to keep the general public safe when they couldn't even keep their own building in an orderly fashion.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Screaming rose up shriller than ever.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Auror Proudfoot ran at full speed, faster than the other Aurors and tried to yank both Harry and Tom to the floor. Unfortunately, the two were an entirely immovable force, and he failed. The green spell blasted against the Aurors' back, and Tom noticed in delight that the Minister was literally at the back of them. Glancing forward, noticing the next spell was already looming ever closer. He could have of course, let the spell hit them, after all a dead body was still an adequate shield against yet another curse being sent his way from a slip of a girl. Instead, Tom allowed himself to use this to his advantage. He allowed his legs to buckle, crying out as if the weight was just too much. He kept his arms wrapped around Harry, forcing him down with him, stuck as he was between the dead Auror and him.

He would not risk Harry for anything.

Likely having just been sworn in, the Minister for Magic could only watch helplessly as the green spell loomed ever closer. It would be leaving only one other possible person to run for office even only on an interim basis. The Minister for Magic fell to the ground, smacking his head against Tom's. Then blinding pain consumed him, after the curse had sailed on by and hit the Minister for Magic himself. The pain temporarily blinded him, leaving him dazed and disorientated.

In that moment he couldn't have even told you his own name.

The last spell bounced off the wall, leaving a burnt residue in its wake.

Finally, the offender – a girl perhaps seventeen, eighteen years of age, and wearing a badge that indicated an intern of sorts, was brought down with extreme prejudice. She had just killed the Minister for magic! Auror Proudfoot, and two reporters (who had both been in the path of yet another killing curse) and attempted to kill Harry Potter and Tom Riddle. Most people didn't care that the wizard was related to You-Know-Who most had relatives they'd really rather not mention. Or at least most people didn't care. There were those that did, but they weren't in any position to complain.

"Let me go! Let me go! I've got to, I've got to kill him, I've got to kill him," the restrained witch shrieked, sounding entirely undone. Becoming more aggressive when one of the Aurors wrenched the wand from her, effectively rendering her unarmed. "You don't know what you're doing, you don't know what you're doing! Let me kill him…Potter must DIE!"

That had everyone going wide eyed, they'd wrongfully assumed she'd been aiming at Tom Riddle. Blaming him for his fathers' actions, a father that had long since been vanished when he was but a Toddler. And someone he grew up unaware that he was his father. Believing Tom when he said he only found out when he was older, and was clearly very upset with the knowledge.

It was all quite romantic really; no doubt Tom had sought Harry out in an attempt to apologise for his father. To make amends that weren't his to make. During that the must have fallen in love with one another, and to stay together through public judgement meant they fully trusted one another.

Harry Potter's reaction to anything negative about his beloved parents was well documented. He'd never let himself be deceived; he was too powerful for that. The speculation that Tom Riddle was actually You-Know-Who was completely ludicrous really.

She'd been aiming for their hero; she'd tried to kill the Boy-Who-Lived!

"Who is she?" Tom asked, standing up, his gaze deadly, if he could he'd be spitting fire at the witch.

Harry stiffened, body thrumming with rage, "She's um, Romilda Vane," realization dawning, "And I'm pretty sure she has already attempted to um…give me the potion."

"Meaning?" Tom arched a forbidding brow seething in silent fury.

"She gave me a box of chocolates, I um, only tested one, the rest went straight in the bin." Harry confessed, sheepish, annoyed and quite furious with himself. "It was way back after the first summer I spent with you. She was either determining the efficiency of the idea of putting it into chocolate to disguise it. Or actually did attempt it." how could he have been so stupid as to not test every single one of them?

"Sir, we need to take you to Court Room one, we need to swear you in," one Auror said urgently, as he rounded the corner, clearly knowing what the Aurors had been doing.

"Swear in…I…that's impossible!" Tom declared vehemently, pale and sick looking. As if he knew the Aurors wouldn't be playing around and that he realized how many people had died for him to be 'sworn in' so to speak. "I'm nowhere near the top of the list." He protested looking a little green.

Harry watched him with awe and amazement, he honestly truly was an absolute amazing actor. He would have won Oscars for all the performances he did if he'd been a Muggle and chosen to act. He did keep his face solemn, and a little confused, it wouldn't surprise anyone since he was Muggle Raised.

"I'm afraid you shot up to the top of the list this evening," the Auror explained, tone grim. "There has been dozens of murders and more abductions. We are very pleased to have gotten you in time, there is someone targeting you."

Tom turned to Vane, "She must be part of it then, how she knew I'd get here…why target Harry? Is the families of those taken been murdered too?" he trailed off acting slightly befuddled.

"Sir, follow us, please," the Auror sounded more haggard, glancing suspiciously around the room, as if suspecting every single person in the Atrium.

"Well, yes, see to it that she's sent straight to the cells, immediately, two of you take her and make sure she's put on suicide watch." Tom declared, straightening his spine, as he gestured for the Auror to lead the way.

"Lord Potter you cannot be in the Court Room, I'm sorry it's against the rules and regulations," the Auror said apologetically, beginning to swiftly move. "He can wait outside until you're done."

"Then I want at least two Aurors with him at all times, trusted ones," Tom declared, refusing to leave his partner without protection. That was what any sane boyfriend – they weren't married in the strictest sense so they were just boyfriend's really, to the general public – would do to protect their loved ones. Plus, it wasn't acting the part, he was genuinely worried about him and he did not want anything to happen to him. They moved at a hurried pace, Aurors ahead and behind them, Tom tugging Harry with him, refusing to let him go for even a second.

"It will be done," the Auror declared, at this point they'd do anything to ensure that the guy was appointed Minister for Magic tonight. They needed a leader in face of the chaos happening right now. Homes and businesses burning, people killed, injured and abducted. It wasn't Death Eaters, from all accounts from bystanders, their memories too, no masks, no Dark Marks nothing. Some of them looked very familiar though, it was something that requested further insight. After they had their orders of course.

"Smith, Ugner guard Lord Potter, keep watch," the Auror – who Tom still didn't know the name of – opened the doors to Court Room one and gestured for him to enter. This room wasn't used as a courtroom despite its name, it was used as a ritual room, to swear in Minister's and there were tapestries depicting everything they accomplished – even if they were the worst of the worst at Ministership. Some were long, some were very short – not all of them lasted long after all – and regardless they were cleaned and maintained with great painstaking care.

And Tom Riddle was about to join the rest and hopefully he'd leave a good legacy behind.

Nobody really knew what was said or done when they were sworn in for their Ministership, it wasn't talked about or gone over. Except, of course, those that were in the room, which is usually the Wizengamot and of course, the Aurors and protection.

As Tom was urged into the room, most of the Wizengamot exuded relief, Tom noticed. However, there were those that were deeply unhappy, he made a mental note of them all. He knew whom they were, and would make sure that a few accidents happened, they were to be trouble, he could tell. He was so very close to having it all, he was not going to let a few of Dumbledore's most ardent followers mess it up for him.

It's funny the belief they had in the old man, even without an ounce of proof.

Hmm, perhaps they could be set to die at the hands of the terrorist group that was currently running amok?

"Place your hand here, and recite these words,"

Tom was getting very annoyed with the pushing and shoving being done of his person. He did not like it the slightest, and it was one of the first things he was going to put a stop to. He was smart enough to do what needed done without their pushing and shoving.

"I Tom Marvolo Riddle swear by Merlin that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to magic herself, her heirs and successors. So, help me, Merlin." The magic in the stone thrummed under his hand, making his breathing hitch, it was almost too much to bear. How had someone pathetic like Fudge borne this? It was difficult to keep his hand atop of the stone, that was definitely not just a stone, there was something distinctively strong about it.

Then came the longest three hours of his life, as he was introduced to everyone of note within the Ministry of magic. He spent more than shaking hands, asking questions – he was charming when he wanted to be – and luckily, he had learned patience. Although, his bonded wasn't quite feeling that patience right now.

None of his impatience showed through.

"Sir, there's a massive crowd threatening to riot in the Atrium." A Ministry intern called out, breathless and afraid, as he entered the court room. The door was left open and Harry made no bones about being nosy and glancing around the room curiously.

"How big?" came the Auror's demand, straightening up, lips pursed.

"Hundreds…and more are coming through the Floo!" the intern squeaked out eyes wide realizing what he'd interrupted fully for the first time.

"What exactly are they protesting?" Tom asked coolly and calmly, which helped the wizengamot calm, this was why they needed a leader, someone to help them.

"You, Sir, they think you're You-Know-Who," terrified at the mere mention of the name they used instead of Lord Voldemort.

Tom sighed in exasperation, barely refraining from rolling his eyes, "This again," pinching the bridge of his nose, shoulders tense, looking and sounding defeated. "Is it ever going to end?"

"Sir?" the intern questioned warily.

Tom straightened, "I'll speak to them, prepare the Atrium, use as many Aurors as needed, it's time I ended those pathetic rumours once and for all." he told the head Auror firmly, "Imaging believing I'd be stupid enough to pretend to be my own son!" he muttered under his breathe, but making sure he was heard and that the exasperation was deeply twined in his voice. Yes, he knew, in a way he was insulting himself, apparently, he was that stupid, but he'd only one it because it was unlikely that they'd think someone was daft enough to do it.

Logic wasn't something wizards were known for.

"But Sir…" the intern interrupted.

"Do not speak to the Minister with such impertinence! You're an intern! Know your place!" the Auror barked, seething in fury that a lowly Intern thought it right to speak so openly in front of the Minister. It would surprise nobody that this particular Auror was a part of the dark sec and an ardent follower of the Dark Lord.

"At ease, Auror, let him have his say," Tom eased the tension expertly, he was a bit too defensive of the new Minister, and it wasn't to do well if they screwed up now. Throwing a real angry glance at the Auror, which was luckily not seen by anyone else.

"The Atrium is nearly out of control, Minister Riddle," the intern said quietly but firmly.

"I understand, but the Aurors are very good at their job, and they will hold the crowd at bay," Tom replied, making a show of understanding the little guy. "Thank you for your concern nonetheless." Giving him a firm nod when all he actually wanted to do was put him under the Cruciatus Curse for his impertinence.

Fortunately, he was used to such disappointments when in public, all his public personas had been polite, intelligent and a bit distant.

"Return to your station," the Auror urged the intern using a vastly different tone of voice. Even just a look from the Dark Lord could command compliance from nearly everyone.

"Yes, Sir!" the intern replied, making a mad dash out of the room.

Tom strode towards the door, with three Aurors on his heels, he was not going to be parted from Harry again.

"Your Ministership has been announced over the wireless, and they've named the group causing trouble 'Chaos Makers' not very original." Harry whispered hastily, telling him everything that had gone on in the last three hours and then some. "I think those in the Atrium believed what was anonymously aired on the radio after the Ministership announcement. Oddly enough, it sounded just like Ginny Weasley…and Dean Thomas, the idiots didn't even try and attempt to conceal their voices. I doubt Dean believes it, but well…men have done worse for their girlfriend or a scrap of attention from someone they fancied."

Tom gave him a look that suggested it didn't matter, that he would pay regardless.

The Aurors true to their word, was controlling the crowd, purely with magic. He presumed the Floo network had been temporary restricted. Magical barriers were preventing the wizards and witches clamouring to reach him. To do who knows what, kill him likely, he respected that, although it wouldn't save them if they continued their nonsense.

The shrieking and shouting, the result of his appearance, no doubt, raised higher than ever.

"SILENCE!" Tom's shout was short but effective, "For the last time, I am not the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort, I have never been him and never will be." too vexed to wax poetically, plus, he did need to nip this in the bud quickly.

"LIES!"

"KILL HIM!"

"GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE!"

"GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!"

"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

"There have already been multiple deaths this evening as a result of a crazy witch's insistence that I should be killed for reasons beyond me," Harry's voice was heard all around the atrium, over their squabbling and shouting. The disappointment had the desired effect. "To shout so callously where an Auror has just given his life to save me and suggest that Tom deserved to die for a nasty rumour in an attempt to make sure his time in office was short…it diabolical and unconceivable. I've never been more disgusted and disappointed to be magical in my life."

"You've been duped! It's You-Know-Who!" was yelled out by one single person hoping to continue this endless night.

"Right, because we've got a way of de-aging someone until they're in their teens!" Harry oozed so much sarcasm that everyone in the immediate vicinity actually cringed. "We addressed all this at the press conference, I held it to prevent something like this…well, not even I thought you'd actually try and kill someone innocent just because of some half-baked rumours!"

"What about the relationship you ended with Ginny Weasley so abruptly?" came the next question.

Harry blinked, and then blinked again, "Excuse me? What relationship?" so befuddled that everyone did begin to doubt the words they'd heard broadcast over the radio.

"Just to be clear, Ginevra Weasley has had an enormous crush on my partner for many years, even before they met. You see, Molly Weasley told tales of Harry Potter and the brave Boy-Who-Lived and it implanted upon the girl, the desire to own him, claim him." Tom said, his tone seductive and soft, bringing everyone to his way of thinking. "Unfortunately, for the girl, Harry has never seen her more than his best friend's sister. He saved her life, bringing forth an enamour that will be difficult to break."

Harry grimaced and conceded the point, "I saved Ginny's life, down in the chamber of secrets, all the teachers know this. She was possessed by Voldemort. I had to defeat a sixty-foot basilisk, in order to save both our lives ultimately. In fact, I actually ended up bitten by that aforementioned basilisk."

"Who wouldn't be enamoured with their Savior? He would do anything for anyone, even a stranger he hadn't met a day in his life." Tom told the crowd, ignoring the flashes as camera's went off, showing the closeness they shared. It doubles with their last words. "We as a society owe Fawkes a debt that will never be able to be repaid. For without the phoenix of Hogwarts…we wouldn't have Harry with us this day."

A big ball of flames burst behind them, causing them to duck instinctively, Tom shielding Harry as they dropped to the floor.

"Fawkes!" Harry breathed up, a small smile on his face as he stood, awed by the bird as he always had been. He had naturally released the bird from it's confines upon Dumbledore's death. To no surprise, it had taken off quickly, and until now…there hadn't been a sighting of the phoenix.

Fawkes thrilled, before both its claws were digging into Tom's shoulders.

And everyone began to chatter excitedly, camera's flashing and quills writing everything down.

After all, if a phoenix could vouch for him…was he not then worthy of Ministership? It hadn't done that for any Minister since Merlin.

Everyone naturally, conveniently seemed to forget that Dumbledore had kept Fawkes bound to himself for decades. While this wasn't the case here…it could have been.

Logic, it definitely wasn't a wizard's strong suit.

Everyone was now suddenly convinced that Tom was exactly whom he said he was.

Long reign Minister Riddle.

A/N – that's all I could find about being sworn into office – pretty anticlimactic I guess – and the Ministry is supposed to be mirrored on the Muggle world so I left it similar instead of expanding on it. I hope despite the fact there's no massive fighting and a dramatic ending that you're still enjoying it 😊 although, to be honest…I'm struggling on what to write next, I might have to go to the next thing on the schedule until I come up with it…because I am drawing a blank…and my schedule is on my Facebook group if you're interested in seeing it 😉 it might be because I'm tired and I'd really love to do some reading but I have to choose between reading and writing (how else do you think I get so much written every week for you guys 😉 lol) and for the most part writing always wins out. Thank you all for following me with this story I can't believe it's nearly over (I know I'm repeating myself lol) 😊 R&R please