Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Harry couldn't be happier. After Tom had put him down, he had invited Tom into his mind to show him exactly what had transpired in the Ministry earlier that day. By the end of it, Harry was shaking like a leaf. But he had insisted he felt lighter, that he felt less ashamed after seeing other people being outraged-not at him, but for him.
Tom had asked him if he wanted to have a meeting with the death eaters tonight or the next. Harry just wanted to get their ideas in motion sooner rather than later and since he had taken a nap earlier in the day, he didn't think he would be too tired by the time the meeting would start.
Somehow he felt more powerful in his robes now. The crimson fabric enveloped him like an old friend as he marched in after Tom. It was only when they sat down that the meeting commenced.
Many ideas were thrown around, but Tom concluded that the best route of action was to cause as much distrust in what Dumbledore was doing before this turn of events as possible before they speak out. Lucius, on the other hand, had different ideas.
"But, My Lord, I'm sure that if we were to jump in now then things would pan out for us. Others might try to take Dumbledore's place if we don't strike while the iron is hot." Tom had just opened his mouth when Harry spoke up. He was quite proud of himself when his voice came out strong and didn't waiver.
"Lucius. Dumbledore was just sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss for allowing Harry Potter to be raped by his family. Not once. Not twice. But many times in a week, every week he stayed with them. No one will want to try to take his place, he has soiled the purpose of his little group by allowing the boy to be taken advantage of for so long just for the sole use of having a weapon that would be pliable to his wishes! Think for a moment! If we try to advance our beliefs, then what will we look like? We will look like we are taking advantage of a situation where a magical child was raped his entire life! Say it were Draco in this scenario. Would you think someone coming in with new beliefs to play off of Dumbledore's downfall because of Draco being raped-even just once-would have good intentions for the rest of us?" Lucius's mouth hung open.
"N-no, My Lord. I suppose not. I didn't see it that way."
"No, you did not. How can you expect to play upon the emotions of others when you yourself cannot fathom what others will be feeling?" He turned to Tom and calmed himself. "Exactly when do you think we should strike, My Lord?" Desire dripped from his voice at Tom's title. Mostly it was to imply to their followers that they had better things to do, but there was a part of him that genuinely wanted to see how Tom would react. Since the realization dawned on him that he was well and truly free of Dumbledore and the Dursleys, he felt incredibly bold. Even his dinner had been a bold choice-curry with extra spices. And right now he was incredibly happy that he got to see Tom's eyes widen in surprise at his brazen attitude.
"When the public demands change. We will have to wait for the Ministry to finish with their investigations into Hogwarts. It is highly likely that the masses will demand a reform of the rules and regulations involving the school and students who live with muggles while they are away from school. This will, in turn, will cause a lot of questions to surface regarding current ministry officials and the laws that are in place. Which is where my lovely followers will come into play. Those of you who have made names for yourselves in the ministry will have to be playing the lines carefully. You will have to push for change as soon as new information surfaces. But legally. Go to your heads of departments demanding certain laws be reformed to help prevent this from ever arising again. The proper way. No bribes. No threats. Bring up reform in meetings with as many higher-ups as you can. The public will likely want change but not know how to achieve that. This is when you, Lucius, will go to the papers. Report that things are slow moving with certain...roadblocks that do not wish to move. Plant the seed that the ones with power don't want to change how things are done. Give them a general idea of why certain laws are outdated and that they need updating. Then the public will want new faces in offices to speed things up, to see change faster. I no longer wish for moles in the ministry. I wish for officials. You're dismissed."
Harry didn't miss the look of hunger he was given, nor did he miss the knowing looks from the people leaving the table. Severus stayed behind.
"My Lord, may I have a moment of your time and the permission to speak freely?" Tom inhaled and nodded once for him to continue. "May I ask why you have given my son your eyes?"
Tom didn't miss the thinly veiled threat behind his question. And apparently, neither had Harry.
"Have they all left the wards, My Lord?" He continued when Tom confirmed the rest had left. "Firstly, I don't see how an act could hurt anyone. I wished to stay informed and this was the only way to conceal me in plain sight." He pulled off his mask and lowered his hood. "Secondly, although the age difference between us is significant, he makes me feel safe. I've never once been asked to do something I don't want to do. Look me in the eyes, and find the truth there if you must."
The silence between the two hung in the air as Severus searched around in Harry's mind for proof that Tom was treating Harry right. Finally, Severus relaxed his shoulders.
"I apologize. I worry for your safety, both as my son and as my leader." He looked to Tom. "With all due respect My Lord, if you so much as lay one toe out of line with him, I will be sure to murder you myself. I know more about potions than anyone else on this planet and I assure you there are many that not even the ministry would be able to find a hint of. Out of all your followers, I have the best working knowledge on every single type of magic out there and trust me: blood magic is a brutal thing when you combine it with potions darker than death himself." Tom noticed Harry shiver at how cold the man's voice had gotten.
"Severus, I have no intentions of ever hurting him. He is the one who leads me. Perhaps one day what we have will be a more level playing field but right now he holds all the cards, the wand and the chains. I am simply at his service, to follow his wishes." Tom looked to Harry. "I do not know how else to describe our relationship other than I follow his lead and will stop when he cannot move further." Severus's eyes narrowed and cast a silencing spell over Harry's head.
"Yes, but will you stop if he has you just on the edge of release and he cannot continue? Will you stop if he trusts you enough to penetrate him and he starts to have flashbacks? Are you capable of stopping your own hips from moving if he decides he wants to taste you? Because you have to be willing to stop through all of this, and also ensure that he does not feel guilty for needing to stop. You have to be willing to sacrifice your own needs to take care of him first. Is this remotely within your power, old friend?" There was no hesitation on Tom's part.
"I am willing to never come again if it means he feels safe around me." Severus nodded, content with the answer. "And Severus? I refuse to push him farther than he wishes to go. For a long time at night I simply lie in bed with a good book to read while he simply does nothing more than touch me. It drives me mad. He's been doodling words in parseltongue on my body and let me tell you it is maddening, feeling the source of your fantasies write out explicatives on your stomach. Nevermind the added factor that it's subconscious. And yet, I have never once asked him to do anything more than what he was comfortable with. What is it I tell you, Harry?"
"You tell me to never feel obligated to do more than what I am comfortable doing and that I can stop with or without explanation at any moment." At the shocked look on Severus's face, Harry continued. "These robes have many protections on them. Silencing an area even remotely around me won't work. I could hear everything. I appreciate your concern but please don't describe me in any of those positions again. What would people think of my own father describing such lewd activities that involve me?" While Harry's cheeks were tinged pink, Severus's went bright red.
Tom simply laughed.
"No harm done Severus. Go back to Hogwarts, they will wonder where you are." Tom watched him reach the door when he saw Harry stand and start towards the door.
"Severus?" The man turned, his cheeks still red. "Can...I mean...Can I call you dad?" Warmth overtook Severus's stance and he rushed to Harry, hugging him tightly.
"Yes, my son." Tom could swear he saw tears run down Severus's face.
Harry took off his robes in his room and knocked on Tom's door. He was happy when it opened, and started laughing when he saw Tom standing there with a toothbrush in his mouth and foam coating his lips.
"Phut if fo funneh?" Harry laughed harder.
When he finally regained control over his emotions, he realized Tom had already spit out his toothpaste and put his toothbrush away. "I'm sorry Tom, that was just very unexpected."
"Typical. I do one normal thing and you lose your mind over it." Harry just rolled his eyes at him.
"Tom, I wondered...well...instead of just hoping into bed, can we have a bath? I've been dying to use it again and I would enjoy company…" He smiled when Tom nodded and led the way to the bathroom.
It was interesting, watching Tom methodically fill the tub with hot water, bubbles, oils and salts. The unique combination reminded him of cinnamon and apples with a touch of vanilla and something else he couldn't quite place. Sandalwood, maybe. Tom left him to undress and he sunk into the hot water and bubbles.
Sitting in this tub was like heaven. The sides had been charmed to feel like the softest cushions, making him sigh in happiness as he leaned his head back with his eyes closed. The door opened and he heard gentle footsteps on the floor before Tom joined him in the water.
Harry opened his eyes and watched as Tom came closer to sit next to him.
"You know Harry, you really shouldn't tease me so in front of our followers. They'll think I've gone soft." Harry reached out a hand and brushed against Tom's erect member.
"I actually think they'd be left to believe that you're rather hard these days." Tom chuckled, the noise making Harry painfully aware that his own member wasn't exactly soft either. It was a weird sensation, usually that didn't happen to him when he was around other people. He chose to ignore it and let his hands roam the length of Tom's member while Tom scrubbed shampoo into his hair.
Hearing Harry moan in pleasure as he scrubbed his scalp was pure torture. It didn't help that he was hyper aware of Harry's fingertips sliding up and down his shaft and even gently grabbing once or twice.
"Rinse your hair out Harry." He did as he was told and came back up from under the bubbles with a grin. It was the grin he made when he had an idea.
Before Tom could process what was happening, Harry was straddling him and their erections were sliding against one another. He heard himself cry out and clenched his hands into fists to prevent himself from taking charge. He was so deep in his own pleasure that he almost missed Harry's moan from above him.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" Tom mentally slapped himself. This could go either very good or very bad for him. The last thing he needed was Harry getting all self-doubtful because of some idiotic thing he said without thinking. A pink hue crept up to Harry's cheeks.
"Do you always talk to people in parseltongue when you're in compromising situations? I don't think I'm beautiful, but you haven't lied to me yet I suppose. You're allowed your own opinions." Tom shook his head and gently stroked his fingers over Harry's blush.
"I didn't used to. What's the point if they can't understand? With you, however, I don't even try. It just happens. I'm not used to not having control over what bloody language I'm trying to speak. I'm not used to letting someone else set the pace. I'm not used to being with someone so young. I'm not even used to being with someone at all anymore. And I find with every single damn day you're in my life that I don't want to control everything that happens in my life anymore. I don't care what language I'm speaking as long as you can understand it. I don't care about what I'm doing as long as you're doing it with me. As much as I loathe to admit when I care about someone, I care very deeply for you Harry. I've never been so pleased with myself for one single decision in my life."
"What decision would that be?"
"To send you that journal."
They finished their bath and dressed in pajamas for the night. Harry didn't spend the night exploring Tom's body. Instead, he laid down with Tom and fell right to sleep as Tom read his book.
He looked down at the teen, brushing his hair from his face. It had grown long enough to cover his scar and was darker now than it was before. Perhaps the sun had lightened it over time when he played Quidditch at school. He gently kissed Harry's forehead and tried to slide out of bed without waking him.
Without warning, Harry clutched at his pajama shirt and tugged. It wasn't enough to really do anything but it was enough to get the point across. He didn't want Tom to leave.
"I'll be right back Harry, give me a moment. I promise I'll be right back." Harry eased his clutch and let go. After putting his book on the nightstand, extinguishing all the candles and pulling the covers over Harry's shoulders he climbed back into bed and smiled as Harry started pulling him closer still. They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms with smiles on their faces.