Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
Tom wake up to the feeling of pressure against his lips. As the pressure disappeared his mind registered that it were lips that had been pressed against his. Slowly, he opened his eyes to find Harry smiling down at him. "'Morning." A yawn escaped from between the older teen's lips before he could answer.
"Good morning, love." Immediately a grin appeared on the face above him and the lips descended again. When the pressure disappeared again, Tom followed the lips for a second before letting his head fall down on his pillow again.
"Come on, let's get up," Harry removed himself from the bed and the future Dark Lord turned on his side to get a good view of his boy's ass.
'It's been too long...' his thoughts betrayed him and he quickly shook his head.
"Anything special you want to do these two last days?" Harry turned towards him and his mind immediately pictured the two of them in bed.
"Spend them with you," he answered honestly, but without going into detail. His boy rolled his eyes and turned to walk out of the door.
"I wasn't going to let you out of my sight, anyway," Harry glanced backwards with a teasing smile on his lips before disappearing from the room. A huge smile appeared on Tom's face as he got up to follow the other's example.
-THTH-
Entering the kitchen the future Dark Lord expected to find a continuation of the teasing of before, but got greeted by a frowning face reading the newspaper. "Last night made the paper and what some made of it is astonishing," the youngster shook his head and laid the newspaper down. Tom was quick to pick it up and read the article that had captured the other's attention. His forehead moved into a frown of his own as he read the made up story and his anger rose. "It's full of bullshit!" Harry quickly said making the future Dark Lord look up and meet the cautious expression in his green eyes.
'He's waiting for me to blow up!' Tom realized and forced himself to calm down. "Let them think I tried to kill Potter!" he hissed and got a hurtful look back. Too late the future Dark Lord noted his mistake. "My apologies, I didn't mean to..." Harry just shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. Just ignore it." The older teen raised a piece of toast to his lips while glaring at the article.
"Ridicules..." he huffed and stuffed his mouth with another large bite of toast.
"What will we do today?" The youngster asked changing the subject and nibbled on an apple.
"We can't go out." They could but the future Dark Lord would never intentionally put the other in danger. He was in enough already as it was. "Let's stay in." It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order and Harry let out a sound that could have a multiple of interpretations.
"I should check up on Harold," he stated with a distant air before excusing himself. Tom could only watch him go. The distance between them seemed to grow enormously as the youngster left the room. A sigh fell from his lips. Last night he thought they had grown closer again, but apparently he could ruin the progress even faster. If this continued he would eventually lose his boy, it wouldn't matter if they still lived in the same house. Not having the youngster's trust would destroy him – Voldemort would come to close – and that was the one thing he was never going to let happen. He knew what he would have to do if it got to that point. He would have to give up on his plan. He would have to give in. It was only a matter of time anyway, if he was honest. His boy had already proven himself a multiple of times.
'Last resort! It would be my last resort!' The future Dark lord shook his head and aimed his attention back to the newspaper. Tapping on the window made him look up and he watched how Dopper let in an owl. The bird flew to him and sat down on the table in front of him handing him the envelope, which he held in his beak. Tom accepted it and nodded to the owl. The bird didn't wait long before flying towards the house-elf again and accepting the snack it offered. Opening the envelope the older teen immediately noted that it was from Spave and a smirk pulled at his lips.
"Harold's fine... What's that?" Harry re-entered the kitchen as Tom's eyes reached his boss' signature at the end of the letter. Looking up the future Dark Lord noted absentminded that his boy had put his disguise back in place.
"The votes have been counted and we've been invited to hear the announcement of the results."
"It doesn't hint to who won?" The future Dark Lord shook his head. "When is it?"
"Tomorrow. The winner will be announced in the afternoon and a party will follow in name of said winner." The youngster nodded.
"All right, than we only have today." Tom felt his heart skip a beat at those words. He hadn't blown it completely.
"What do you say to a game of chess?" Harry raised his eyebrows at him before nodding his agreement. The older teen was quick to scoop the rest of his breakfast in his mouth before jumping up and moving to the study. He could hear Harry chuckle behind him as he entered the room walking straight to the chess board.
"You could have taken your time for your breakfast. You didn't even drink anything!" The youngster signalled to Dopper who quickly handed him the older teen's cup. "Thank you," Harry accepted the cup with a smile before moving towards the future Dark Lord. Without a word he put the cup down beside the board on Tom's side before taking the opposite seat. The older teen sipped from it as he waited for the other to start the game.
-THTH-
Tristan and Tom greeted each other stiffly before both walked to Spave, who had called for the two candidates to join him in the spotlight. "Who will be the lucky winner?" Alistair had been bidding his time and finally saw his chance to appear beside Harry. The youngster gave him a friendly smile as answer. Tom would win. He was certain of that. The future Dark Lord had made his reputation for this moment. He wouldn't fail.
"I'm happy to announce..." Spave let tension creep up his audience as Tom had his eyes trained on Alistair, "that Tom Riddle has received the most votes!" the head politician cheered not hiding that his favourite had won. Congratulations rose out of the crowd and Harry started grinning like mad. Alistair patted the youngster on his shoulder and let his hand linger as the future Dark Lord's eyes fell to them. Harry had the urge to brush the hand away but kept a hold on himself.
'All for the good cause!' he reminded himself and met brown eyes, which held a clear warning. Alistair's body moved closer and the youngster knew he was doing this intentionally. 'Tom can't blow up only minutes after he's elected!' Harry wisely stepped in the future Dark Lord's direction and Alistair let him.
"He's going to need saving," the teen chuckled as he let his hand slip away and the youngster took the opportunity to escape with an apologizing smile on his face. His eyes scanned to the press, but none of them had been watching them. The last thing he needed was to be accused of even more cheating on Tom. He tried to slip through the mass of bodies before him, but failed until someone noted it was him. Quickly a path cleared before him and Tom held out his hand to him. The moment Harry accepted it he was pulled into the future Dark Lord's embrace and their lips pressed together under rising cheers and flashes of cameras. When they broke apart the youngster was back to grinning like mad while Tom was smirking. The press yelled for more pictures and the new leader wrapped his arm around the other's waist before turning them both towards the cameras. They posed for a while until Spave declared he needed to borrow his successor. Harry received a last kiss on the corner of his mouth before the future Dark Lord disappeared from his reach. Alistair was quick to appear again.
"Why do you always look so lonely when Tom leaves you?" The youngster gave the other a look and the teen just laughed. "Don't be mad at me. I think it says something about you that you just don't seem to get along with any of the members." Harry's look only darkened at that.
"Something wrong with that?"
"Not in my book," Alistair shrugged, "but I don't think everyone else sees it that way." The youngster couldn't deny that his words made sense. He took a moment to look around them and take in everyone's reactions. Every person in the room was cheering, except Tristan who wore a forced smile on his face together with his supporters. His eyes fell on Walburga and Orion Black. It was almost funny how they stood together but at the same time were talking to two different groups. Orion was talking to a group of men – Harry could recognize Sebastian among them – while Walburga was surrounded by gossiping women. Suddenly the women's eyes turned to him and they glared at him. Walburga gave him a victorious look before she sneered at him.
'They don't like me,' the youngster realized and turned back to Alistair.
"It seems that the rumour about Harold and you broke the perfect picture the people had of your relationship," the teen shrugged as he grabbed two glasses of champagne of a plateau a waiter carried by. He gave one to Harry, who accepted it and immediately took a big gulp.
"That anyone would believe that!" he hissed angry and the teen before him gave him a thoughtful look over his glass.
"People like rumours and this one gives them hope of winning Tom's heart." The youngster narrowed his eyes at him.
"No one is getting Tom's heart! It's mine!" he hissed possessively and the other's eyes widened surprised by his crush's reaction.
"Of course," Alistair recovered himself and plastered a friendly smile on his face, "but it still makes people hope," he sipped from his glass before continuing. "I could help you." At that suggestion Harry gave him a sarcastic look.
"You're not even a member."
"Not yet, but I do have made connections to ensure my acceptance." The youngster took a moment to observe the other before a sigh left his lips.
"Fine."
"Great!" Alistair suddenly beamed and grabbed Harry's glass. He ushered him with him to where his cousin was talking to an older black woman and placed both glasses on a small table as they passed by it. "Tristan," the teen greeted his cousin, whose face fell when he noted who accompanied his cousin, "Madame Prince," Harry's eyes almost fell out of their socket when he heard the name, "how are the children?" The woman's face fell into a pleasant expression.
"Fine, thank you for asking. The little one is starting to sleep through the night."
"That's wonderful news!" Alistair joked and the woman's eyes fell on Harry. "Marvolo Remus, I'm happy to make your acquaintance," the woman held out her hand, which the youngster shook with a friendly smile.
"Which was long overdue," Alistair said and got a glare of his cousin.
"Yes," the woman agreed, "Mr Riddle has the habit of keeping you all to himself. It must be suffocating." Her eyes twinkled with mischievousness.
'She's fishing!' Harry realized. "Not at all, I like him closeby." The mischievousness made place for intrigue.
"So close that you stayed with Mr Potter for a short while?" Blue eyes narrowed at her.
'She has been reading those lies.' "I did stay with him as he's a good friend of mine," he wasn't going to lie and leaned closer to her, "and keeping Tom on his toes keeps our relationship exciting." Madame Prince actually giggled like a young girl at that.
"Oh, I know what you mean. Jealousy keeps a relationship healthy," she signalled to a waiter, who came running towards her. "You are an interesting fellow. Please, have a drink with me." Her hand waved to the plateau full of glasses and being friendly the youngster took one. "Now tell me," Madame Prince led him away from Tristan and Alistair, "how is Mr Riddle in private?" Blue charmed eyes widened at that.
'This woman isn't ashamed of anything!' "He's... satisfying," he teased and the woman's brown eyes started twinkling again.
"Oh, if only I was forty years younger," she sighed as she looked at him playfully.
"It wouldn't matter," his teasing expression turned serious, "nobody can come between us." The playfulness also disappeared from Madame Prince's face and gently smile formed on her lips.
"Mr Riddle's lucky to have you by his side." Her eyes moved over his shoulder to something behind him. "And it seems you've been from his side for too long." Harry glanced backwards and saw Tom making his way over to him.
"If you would excuse me, Madame Prince."
"Please, call me Alexandria," she smiled before shooing him away. Harry gave her a last smile before making his way over to the future Dark Lord.
"You've been meeting interesting people it seems," Tom smiled politely at Madame Prince, who raised her glass at him as the youngster slipped his hand in his.
"Yes," brown eyes met his and he pressed a quick kiss to the other's lips, "now when are they going to serve something to eat? I'm starving!" Tom could only laugh at that and led him to the kitchen under the approving eyes of Alexandria Prince.
-THTH-
Sipping from a glass of water, Harry stared down at the garden that stretched out before his eyes. He was standing on the balcony of one of Spave's guestrooms and was enjoying some privacy. The only reason Tom had left him alone, was that nobody was supposed to be here. Behind him he could hear the door open and a smile formed on his face as he imagined the newly chosen leader entering. "So, what did you think of Madame Prince?" Alistair made his presence known and he briskly turned around.
"Alistair!" he took a moment to breath. The other had caught him by surprise. "How did you get here?"
"Same way as you did probably; through the door," the teen shrugged and the youngster gave him a look.
"You're not supposed to be here."
"You're here," Alistair seemed to have his answers already on the tip of his tongue.
"I have permission," Harry stated although it was a lie. 'If asked, Spave would back me up because of Tom,' he reasoned.
"It is gorgeous here," the other changed the subject and the youngster took that as sign to stare out over the garden again.
"It is. It's peaceful." Alistair joined him by the balustrade and for a couple of minutes they just enjoyed the scenery. "She's a feisty lady." The teen looked surprised at the youngster. "Madame Prince," Harry explained.
"Oh, yeah, she is," Alistair smiled. "And you made a great impression on her." Blue eyes glanced sideways.
"Yes, but how is this going to help me?" At that the teen smirked.
"Walburga Black may be the biggest gossip in the group, but everyone knows Alexandria Prince doesn't tell a lie."
"What?" Harry turned his head to him with a disbelieving expression.
"Just imaging the power that that woman has. She can break you or make you." Blue eyes widened in understanding. "Which is probably the reason Tom has kept you away from her."
"And you just introduced us!"
"Yes," the teen smirked, "I knew she would like you." Now Harry turned his body completely facing the other.
"How do you do that?"
"Hmm?" Alistair faced him.
"How can you be so full of confidence?"
"Why shouldn't I be? I'm in the prime of my life with a future that looks pretty good." The teen stepped closer and slipped his hand over the balustrade towards the other's. "And being in the presence of a handsome youngman does make me put up my best face." His hand grabbed Harry's from the balustrade and brought it to his lips. He pressed a kiss on the youngster's knuckles not taking his eyes from the blue ones staring down on him.
"I'm not a woman." Harry pulled his hand away and stepped backwards. "And I'm with Tom. I love Tom."
"But has he ever said it back?" Alistair stepped closer again and the other took another step backwards.
"He doesn't have too. I know how he feels about me."
"He has never said it?" The teen followed every retreating step with one of his own.
"It doesn't matter."
"It should!" Harry stopped retreating and gave him a glare.
"And why should it?" he asked icy and the other chuckled.
"Well, a man like Tom will only say it once." The youngster gave Alistair a confused look.
"So? I know that."
"Of course you do, just as you know he hasn't completely committed himself to you yet."
"What?! That doesn't make any sense!" Harry was starting to get angry.
"Of course it does. He's possessive over you. You're his in every way, but does that mean he loves you?" Blue eyes glared at the man before him. "I'm just of the opinion that as long as he doesn't commit himself completely, you should keep your options open." The youngster started shaking his head in defiance.
"He is committed and I know that because I know him," Harry stated while taking a step closer to the other and poking him in the chest. Alistair was quick to take the hand in his and before the youngster could pull it away the door of the balcony got thrown open, breaking all the glass in the process. A killer aura reached the two before they saw the future Dark Lord. Immediately, Harry realized what this would look like. They stood close to each other with Alistair holding his hand. Roughly, he pulled himself free and stepped backwards. "You should leave!" he said angry with a glare at Alistair. The other slowly nodded and made his way over to Tom, who let him pass while clenching his wand in his hand so hard it look painful. On high alert they watched each other until Alistair left the room, afterwards the future Dark Lord strode over to the youngster. "He's such an obnoxious brat!" Harry huffed before Tom could start the questioning. He was still angry at Alistair. "Who does he think he is, anyway?" he questioned and the older teen gave him an unreadable look. "He actually had the nerve to tell me you didn't love me!" That got a reaction.
"What?!" The word was said so low it sent chills up the youngster's spine. The wand got clenched even harder and Harry quickly moved closer to the other. He slipped his arms around the other's neck and felt an arm creep around his waist as reaction. As he stared at the other's face he desperately wanted to ask the forbidden question.
'Do you love me?'
"How dare he!" Tom looked ready to murder someone and the arm around the youngster pressed him closer to the other's body.
"Forget him." A kiss to the jaw line made the future Dark Lord give him his whole attention. "It seems Tristan is still trying to break us up as he knows which buttons to press to get you to react." Tom grumbled something and Harry pressed another kiss to his jaw line. "Don't let them get to you and my plan's actually working." Brown eyes narrowed in his direction. "Alistair is trying to get on my good side and is helping me get better accepted in the group, which means he's making me in a better accepted spouse for you," the youngster had the dignity to smirk at his words and Tom finally relaxed a little.
"Spouse," a small smirk of his own appeared on his lips, "I like the sound of that." Harry's smirk turned into a full smile and they kissed shortly. "We should head back," the new leader said and the youngster nodded. Tom held out his wand and with a quick spell the glass windows and door were fixed. Harry had to laugh at that and his eyes caught Alistair's looking at them with a jealous expression through a small opening of the door. He narrowed his eyes at him and tightened his grip on Tom, who looked at him in question.
"They can wait for another minute, can't they?" he said suggestive and the future Dark Lord was quick to claim his lips.
-THTH-
"So..." Ignatius dropped down behind Harry on the seat of their cabin on the Hogwarts' train and the youngster shifted to look at him sideways, revealing him to Tom on the other side of the glass. "My Lord, apologies, I..." Tom waved his greeting away and aimed his attention back on his boy.
"I could have just brought you to Hogsmeade." Harry had to smile at that.
"You know just as much as I that this train is part of the whole Hogwarts' experience." The older teen had to give him that. The train sounded his departure and the youngster kissed the future Dark Lord's ringed finger before Tom pulled his arm back to his side of the window. "I'll see you next weekend," Harry smiled and the other stepped backwards to a safe distance. Alex chose this moment to enter the cabin and nodded politely to his lord before sitting down opposite of Ignatius. The youngster took a seat beside the Parkinson but kept his eyes on the future Dark Lord. When the train started moving he raised his hand and waved his goodbye with a sad smile on his face. As the train moved out of the station Tom felt his heart drop. He hated seeing Harry leave, but knew he couldn't show it. Gracefully, he turned around and walked off the Nine and Three-Quarters Platform. He had a group to lead and a meeting to prepare for.
-THTH-
"So..." Ignatius repeated once Tom was out of sight, making Harry roll his eyes.
"What?"
"You guys seemed to be cosy again," the Parkinson suggestive waggled his eyebrows as he leaned closer and the youngster pushed his face away.
"We're doing fine and how is your love life?" Harry bit back and with a huff, Ignatius leaned backwards in his seat. Smirking, the youngster looked at Alex, who shook his head at his friend.
"My cousin got engaged," he revealed and Harry turned back to his friend beside him with large eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"It doesn't matter!" Ignatius interrupted him.
"Clearly, she wasn't interested and now my parents are breathing down my neck to find another girl." The youngster looked apologizing at him.
"She was interested," Alex countered and both looked at him, "but she was already promised to another family."
"You're just saying that," Ignatius huffed and Crabbe shook his head.
"She would never have kissed you if she wasn't interested." That seemed to have the right effect as the Parkinson straightened himself a little.
"Her lose, I'll make some other girl the luckiest woman in the world," he declared and his friends cheered him on.
"How's your engagement?" Harry asked Alex as Ignatius started flexing his arms to show his muscles through his clothes.
"Good, the more we get to know each other, the more I'm certain this is a good match." A faraway look and a happy smile made known that the Crabbe was actually really happy with his match.
"Great, one more happy couple," Ignatius huffed jealous and the youngster patted his shoulder in comfort.
"You'll find someone, don't worry."
"Easy for you to say, you've known our Lord like forever." Harry gave his friend a look full disbelieve.
"Maybe I've known him for a long time know, but that doesn't mean I loved him from the start."
"You didn't?" Alex asked surprised and the youngster looked from one friend to the other.
"Come on, you know how Tom is," Harry waved his hands around to emphasize. "I was scared shit of him the first time I met him." 'Which isn't that far from the truth – minus of course the time I was a baby.'
"I can understand that," Parkinson nodded while staring aimlessly in front of him. "The first thing our Lord does is establish his position and with you being the first wizard he ever met..." Alex's eyes widened as he nodded in agreement.
'They must be imagining the worst,' the youngster shook his head. "So you see, just don't give up! You'll find someone."
"Or your parents will," Crabbe added with a shrug a got a glare from his friend.
"My parents want me to marry the Prince chick. Have you seen her?" he shuddered at the thought and Alex had the dignity to look constipated.
'Prince? That's Snape's family,' Harry remembered as his eyes took in the reactions of his friends. "Is she that ugly?" he had to ask and Ignatius nodded fiercely.
"There's a rumour she does it intentionally," Alex contributed and blue charmed eyes turned to him once more.
"She intentionally makes herself look ugly?"
"Yes, to make certain no wizard wants to marry her."
"She wants to turn into an old lady with cats?" Parkinson joked, but his friends ignored him.
"They say she has lost her heart to a muggle," Crabbe whispered conspiring to Harry, whose eyes widened.
'Must be Snape's father!'
"And of course her parents won't let that happen, so they're going over every possible match, leading them to me!" Ignatius rambled and glared at the fabric of the seat opposite of him.
"You should check out the girls at Hogwarts, maybe you've overlooked the one meant for you," Harry tried to comfort his friend, who pouted at his suggestion. The youngster's eyes met Alex's, who let out a sigh.
"Apparently someone is transferring into our year," Crabbe got the hint and changed the subject.
"Into the seventh year?" Harry asked surprised and Ignatius nodded.
"Yeah, I also heard that. Someone from a good family."
'Meaning a pureblood family,' the youngster uncovered the hidden meaning. "I wonder who it is? Well, we'll find out once we reach Hogwarts," Harry shrugged and nestled himself comfortable against the back support.
"We could go look for him or her," Ignatius suggested and was already straightening himself. His friends were quick to shake their heads.
"Let's enjoy our last bit of freedom," the youngster sighed and a knock announced the arrival of the candy stroll.
"You're right," Parkinson mumbled as the candy got revealed as the door slowly opened. Alex and Harry shared a look before laughing at their friend's behaviour.
-THTH-
Harry was sitting on the couch with Alex, while Ignatius was picturing something that happened during his holiday in front of them, when Slughorn entered. "Boys, girls!" The professor called everyone's attention. "We have a new student in our seventh year."
"So, the new student is a Slytherin," Alex mumbled getting a look from his friends.
"Please welcome Alistair Stromay to our house!" Slughorn called out and stepped sideways to reveal the teen behind him. The ones who recognized the Stromay name were quick to surround Alistair with greetings while Harry stared at him in shock.
"Didn't we see him at our Lord's birthday party?" Alex mumbled and the youngster had enough sense to nod.
"Wasn't he flirting with you?" Ignatius sat down on the other side of Harry, who again nodded as answer.
"And he still hasn't stopped," the youngster mumbled and his friends frowned at him.
"Even with our Lord..."
"Yes," he shared a look with both of them before turning his attention back on the new Slytherin and wasn't surprised to meet the other's eyes. A teasing smirk appeared on Alistair's lips and Harry frowned at him. 'What's he planning?'
-THTH-
"Marvolo!" Alistair called out as he made his way through the mass towards the couch. Some students looked from the new Slytherin to the youngster to decide they shouldn't be surprised.
'I'm Tom's boyfriend after all,' Harry reasoned as the teen stopped before him.
"I was hoping I would see you here. We're going to be roommates!" Blue charmed eyes widened at that.
'Of course, I was put in the spare room, which was the only room with still a free bed.' "Then I'll show you around," he forced a smile on his face and gave his friends a look to tell them to stay put. Alistair followed him to their room and when Harry heard the door close behind him, he briskly turned towards the teen.
"What are you doing here?!" he demanded and the other gave him a radiant smile.
"I'll admit there are two reasons," Alistair moved around the youngster and walked to his trunk, which clearly had been delivered by the house-elves. "I want to get into Tom's group," he started explaining and raised the lid of the trunk. After a quick survey he closed it again and turned to the other present. "And most of the people in his group graduated from Hogwarts," he stepped closer. "This school is the perfect breeding ground for connections." Harry shifted his weight from one foot to the other as Alistair took another step closer. "And second," he moved closer until he stood before the youngster. "You're here." Blue charmed eyes rolled around in their socket.
"Don't start that again. You know I'll never choose you."
"A man can hope," Alistair didn't waver for a second as he traced the youngster's jaw line and roughly Harry pushed him away.
"Don't push your luck," he moved away from the new Slytherin and grabbed the door handle.
"You're a mystery that I'm going to reveal." The youngster raised his eyebrows as he glanced at the other.
"I do hope you've got better lines than that."
"Certainly and that wasn't a pick-up line." That got Harry's attention and he faced the other teen once more.
"What are you talking about?" 'He couldn't have found anything.'
"Tristan did a background check on both Tom and you." Blue eyes narrowed. "He didn't find anything about you. It's like you don't exist" Alistair cocked his head. "Why is that?" he asked and Harry felt his heart accelerate.
'This could be dangerous.' "Tom," he answered and the other also narrowed his eyes.
"He removed every trace of you? Why would he do that?"
"To protect me." The answer came too quick; it sounded memorized.
"From Grindelwald?" Harry nodded but the other didn't seem convinced. "He's gone. So whatever Tom did, he should lift it." The youngster glared at Alistair in an attempt to threaten him to stop digging.
"He can't," he answered stiffly and the new Slytherin got a doubtful look.
"Tom, who can't undo his own work?" Harry's expression softened as he thought of Spave.
"That happens more than you would think." Alistair pulled an intrigued expression and the youngster escaped from the room.
R&R