A/N: So before anyone says, yes, what Voldy does is somewhat...ah, cruel in some ways, but he had good intentions. Remember, he's not used to be all humany-wumany again yet. But it does get the job done. Enjoy!

Chapter Six

A Wedding Gift to Remember

The morning started slowly. Harry woke at his own time, sitting up in his room at Malfoy Manor, rubbing his eyes. There must have been an alarm or something, because no sooner had his feet hit the floor than two house elves arrived chattering about the wedding. Harry groaned. Truthfully, the wedding wasn't what he felt intense foreboding about. It was what came after. He swallowed hard at the lump in his throat. He really, really could do without the physical aspect of the union, but it was in no uncertain terms a part of the contract with the dark lord.

Draco was the first person he saw as he came down to breakfast where the Malfoys usually ate. "Harry!" he exclaimed. "I've invited our friends to come over beforehand, to help you get ready, if that's okay?"
Harry nodded, knowing that today was less about him and more about the show that would be put on about who Harry now belonged to in no uncertain terms. He swallowed as bile tried to make its way up his throat. He sat and picked his way through toast this morning, nerves thouraghly shattered until the floo could be heard and he looked up to see the Weasley twins, Ron and Hermione walking in together.

"Harry!" Hermione said, coming to sit beside him and glare at his barely touched toast. "Eat!"

He gave her a small smile. "Not really hungry."

The twins came up beside him, giving him a hug from either side. "Harry, Harry, look at you, getting married before us!"

He nodded. "Not what I had planned," he said, looking up between Fred and George.

George smiled. "But at least he brought you…"

"Sirius back! That's something…maybe…" Fred continued.

"He's not so bad as we thought, eh?" George finished, squeezing his shoulders.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I guess."

Just then Sirius and Remus came in and smiled at him. Sirius hugged him after the twins had moved away from him.

"I can't believe he let me come back, Harry, I'm so glad…" he said again. "I have Remus, and I have you, I couldn't hope for more!"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, just took me marrying the dark lord to do it," he said solemnly.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a pained glance over his head. "You know if there was any way to avoid him for the rest of our lives, I'd take you and run away, but we both know that wouldn't work. He'd find us eventually, and he'd use me to get you to do whatever he wanted," Sirius said, pushing him to arm length and locking eyes with the green ones in front of him.

"I know, Sirius, I know," he said softly, nibbling on the toast. "But at least I'll have you nearby at Hogwarts. I guess you will be staying with Remus?"

Sirius nodded. "I will. And he already promised you could spend time with us. Provided you abide by the other conditions."

Harry nodded. "I…scared, Sirius," he said softly, where only his godfather could hear him. "Wh-what if he…he does what Uncle did…I…I…"

Sirius pulled him into a hug. "Shh, no don't think about it, Harry. He said he wouldn't hurt you, he promised me, Harry. I…I know it may not mean much, but he brought me back. I'd like to think he did it so you'd be happier."

The others weren't sure what to say, they looked up as the Malfoys entered, and Lucius spoke up. "Harry, time for you to put on the ceremonial robes," he said. "Your friends can help you get ready, I've laid everything out in the dressing room for you."

Harry nodded and the group followed him into the large mirrored room. Narcissa handed him the underclothing, a set of black slacks, white silk button up shirt, and a green tie. He disappeared into one of the attached rooms and changed into it and came out. Then the robes came. He was the "bride" in the situation, because in their marriage, Tom would be the head for their family, and he was considered the second partner. Granted, in the wizarding world, gender had little to do with the ceremonies, the person to head the house wore darker robes and the other wore the lighter robes. The head of house also retained their last name while the other took that of their spouse. Now, the head of house could be female or male, even in female/male marriages, where the male took on the female's name.

Harry would take Tom's last name, becoming Harry James Potter Riddle, and his robes were a soft green, very nearly white, with a sheer silver overlay that sparkled. Tom's robes were a deeper green, almost black, and edged in silver. Instead of rings, they would exchange the bonding cuff and collar, though Harry was happy to say the "collar" looked more like a fancy choker than an actual collar. The cuff matched exactly, and there was little doubt who they were bonded to, and neither could be removed except by Tom's wand. It still unnerved him a bit, but it was a magical piece of jewelry.

Finally, Narcissa had finished layering the rich green robes and the silver overlay. She then set about trying to tame his hair, which she quickly abandoned, and set to pinning a fist sized metal broach of the Potter family crest to Harry's lapel, and then another that carried the Black family crest. She stepped back, nodding.

"Wow, mate, you look prettier than half the girls at school…" Ron said, arching his red brows appreciatively, and getting twin smacks to the back of the head from his brothers and a poke in the ribs from Hermione. "What? He does."

Harry smiled. "Yeah, well since I'm the girl in this…" he said with slight shudder.

Narcissa put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed. "You are not the 'girl' in this, Harry. That is a very muggle way to think of it. Even in marriages like Lucius and I it isn't a 'girl' and 'boy' thing. The more powerful family keeps their name, simple as that."

Harry nodded slowly. "I guess. But your marriage contract wasn't as…detailed."

He missed the pained look and sad frown that graced the normally unflappable Narcissa's face. The others didn't. "I know, Harry, but considering who you are…and how powerful you are…it had to be."

He turned then to look at her. "Is that it? I mean, is that why he had to do this like he did? Does he think I wouldn't be good on my word if he didn't write it all in the contract?"

"No, Harry," she said, pushing him forward. "No, he just knew that the Light and the Ministry would find any loophole they could and use you against him. This way…they can't."

"Would they? Use me like that?" he asked thoughtfully.

By now, Luna and Neville had come up, unsurprisingly, hand in hand. Harry knew that their relationship would blossom, given time, and it made him happy that at least someone could be together out of love, even if he couldn't. "Yes, Harry. They would," Neville answered for him, getting everyone's attention and curious looks.

Neville shook his head. "Look at what they did, not even a second thought about turning Harry over, only Dumbledore cared about what was in the marriage contract, Fudge was just worried about losing public face. No, they would have found a way around the marriage contract if they were able to."

Harry's shoulders slumped. "I feel like a thing. I mean, handed over like some prize to the winner. I'm not even worth them asking me what I wanted. It was just assumed."

He felt Hermione's arms around him. "I know, Harry. But you're just Harry to us."

"I've always been something to everyone. The chosen one, the bloody boy-who-lived, more like boy-who-wouldn't-die, and now I'm just a means to an end. I'm Voldemort's final victory over the Light and the Ministry. He gets to parade me around like some sort of trophy showing how he got the upper hand in the end. And to the ministry I'm some sort of bargaining chip so they can end the war and save their own asses," he said mournfully.

Fred and George exchanged glances. "Not to any of us, Harry. We are here for you, just for Harry," Fred said, putting an arm around him.

"And no one can argue with that. We tried, and I'll tell you, there were a lot of people bloody mad as hell at the Ministry," George continued.

Harry smiled and looked up. "Like who?"

Hermione smiled. "I thought Professor McGonagall was going to throw an unforgivable at Fudge at one point, and then Ron's parents were both furious, and of course Remus practically attacked you-know-who when he was being flippant about the marriage contract… We weren't really involved, we were let in but told not to say anything or we wouldn't be allowed to see you again. Well the ministry said that, so I don't guess that was true. And Sprout, Flintwick and Pomfrey were screaming at them too…Tonks's hair had gone bright red, and I swear there was smoke coming out her ears…"

Harry smiled at them. "I guess it's nice that some people were angry. Did anyone in the Ministry seem bothered by it at all?"

"I think Percy was a little beside himself, but the rest were quiet," Ron said nodding at him.

There was a loud gong and they heard Lucius using a sonorous. "Guests, please take your places, wedding party, please take your own places."

Ron and Remus were to stand with Harry, while Lucius and Severus were to stand with Tom. Sirius, of course, was walking Harry to the front and standing behind him as his father. The wild haired Black came up beside Harry as they stood at the doorway facing the wedding area. He smiled, wearing his own crest on his robes, and grasped Harry's smaller hand in his own.

"You okay, Harry?" he asked.

Harry bit his lip and shook his head. "Sirius, I'm not ready."

"I know, pup, I know. But nothing to do but walk forward, okay? I'll be there for you to come to and cry on, pup, always," Sirius said as a slow march began to play.

They opened the double glass doors and the sun streamed in on them. There were reporters on either side of the corridor that lead to the altar. They could take pictures, but no sound could get in or out, and they couldn't enter. Harry clutched at his godfather's hand desperately as they slowly walked. Remus and Ron stood in their formal robes, a few shades darker than the robes he wore, and on the other side, Severus and Lucius stood in robes that were a few shade's lighter than the deep green that Tom wore. He looked…so human and it was hard to remember that he had been a monster not long before. And as far as Harry knew, underneath the perfectly human skin, he still was.

He looked on his side, in the front row were his friends and the Weasleys. Draco and the Slytherin sat in the second row. Behind them were the Hogwarts professors and Luna's family. Beyond them were the rest of the Order of the Phoenix and others that had come for Harry. On Tom's side sat the Death Eaters, their families, and Ministry officials. Harry felt very much on display as all eyes followed the progress he and Sirius made. He felt strange in the thick robes and could already tell he was sweating. He felt the prickle of tears in his eyes and fought them away. No he wasn't going to cry, not yet, but he was sure he'd cry before the day was over.

They stopped at the end of the corridor. Minister Fudge was presiding. "Who gives Harry to be married today?"

Sirius cleared his throat. "I, Sirius Black, give Harry James Potter to be wedded today in place of his father, James Potter."

Sirius pulled Harry forward and placed his sweaty hand into Tom's cool, dry one. Harry looked up to see him smiling warmly at him and a shiver shot through him. How much of that smile was real? Sirius then stepped back beyond where Ron and Remus stood.

Fudge smiled and Harry resisted the urge to hex him. Right now he really hated the Minister of Magic. "Now, we are gathered to bear witness to the momentous union of Harry James Potter to Thomas Marvolo Riddle, Jr. This union will bear great fruit of peace and tranquility for all the wizarding realms."

All Harry wanted to do was slap the man. Hard. And he felt the tightening of the hand holding his, so he knew that Tom wasn't much farther away than he was. He prattled on about nonsense that neither of the bondmates listened to very much. Soon, though, he finished his speech about such a union to bring the Light and Dark together.

"Now, if we may have the bonding items," he said. Ron handed Remus the cuff, and Severus passed the collar to Lucius.

"Harry, if you will please bond your mate. Repeat, please. 'I, Harry James Potter, do so bond with Thomas Marvolo Riddle, Jr., from this day forth.'" Harry took the cuff. It was very beautiful, a silver cuff, around an inch wide, studded with green emeralds, and diamonds. He clasped it around Tom's left wrist.

"Thomas, do you accept Harry's bonding?" Fudge asked.

Tom nodded. "I do."

"Now, Tom, if you will bond your mate. Repeat, please. 'I, Thomas Marvolo Riddle, Jr., do so bond with Harry James Potter, from this day forth.'" Tom took up the collar. Again, it was delicate looking, an inch thick silver band studded with emeralds and diamonds. More like a choker necklace. Tom leaned forward and clasped it gently around Harry's neck.

"Harry, do you accept Tom's bonding?" Fudge asked.

There was a hesitation, and fear bloomed for a moment in his eyes. "I…I do," he said softly.

Fudge smiled and held his hands up. "Then I do so pronounce the bonding ceremony complete, to be sealed with the first bonded kiss."

Tom leaned forward and kissed his lips softly and there was a bright flare of magic from the collar and the cuff and they both felt them seal the bond. Harry realized he didn't really feel any weight now from the collar, and it was like there was nothing there. Except he felt the magic from it. It was magic that was entirely Tom's. He didn't realize it, but a similar thing happened for Tom. Harry's powerful magic radiated out from the cuff and up his arm.

Fudge grinned broadly as they turned. "May I present Harry James Potter Riddle and Thomas Marvolo Riddle Jr!"

There was applause all around, even from his side, and he knew they were trying to be happy for his benefit. Tom held his hand and pulled him over to the side where they walked toward a tented area that the reception and dance was to happen in. Several tables were already filled with food, and all the guests came in. The reporters were around the outside the warded area, again shut out. For the duration of the ceremony, they could hear and record, but for the reception, they only got silence again.

Harry was far too nervous to eat much, and he chatted idly as people came up and shook his hand and congratulated him. Only his friends could see how miserable he was and nervous. Tom paid little mind to him it seemed. Then, everyone quieted down and Tom stood. "Now, in the tradition of cake, we shall partake!"

A large wedding cake was brought in, three tiered and accented with green roses and at the top was a golden snitch. Harry frowned and looked at Tom. He smiled back. "I know that you love Quidditch, my little one."

Harry wasn't sure what to think as they went through the cake and champagne ceremony. Then it was off to the side where the wedding presents were laid out. He saw that there were three people he didn't recognize off to the side that hadn't moved at all since the start of the ceremony. He'd noted them in the wedding area, standing in the back unmoving. If they hadn't been breathing he wouldn't have thought them real. Odd, he thought as he was sat down, Tom pulling out his seat and then sitting beside him.

"Little one, you open them, I shall watch," he said gently as they moved through them.

They were typical wizarding world wedding gifts, he supposed. There was a large box with a book attached to the top from Severus, which surprised him. He pulled the book off and opened the card.

"I thought it best you prepare for the future, and I rather you have my potions in the off chance something were to happen to me before the time comes. Severus," the card read simply.

He unwrapped the book and blushed at the thing. Tom leaned over and grinned, throwing a wink to Severus.

"Well, don't you have my future at heart!" Tom said to his Death Eater/spy. It was a book for male wizards wishing to carry a child, what to do, and how everything worked. Inside the box was the full course of potions that made such a thing possible, and the book contained the appropriate spells and rituals and how to perform them. He put it to the side and moved on, seeing the looks the others gave it as he did so.

From Narcissa, he had gotten a portkey back to Malfoy Manor in the form of a skeleton key. They had a desire for the old stuff, he thought smiling at her. The Weasleys had bought him a set of photo albums that he appreciated a great deal. Along with them, he got a camera from Hermione. Fred and George gave him a certificate for what was labeled the "special section" of their store. He frowned and both winked at him at the same time. That was a little unnerving. He didn't know if he wanted to know what was in their special section.

Before long, he had been hugged and kissed and touched by about everyone. Then, the dancing started, and Tom drug him onto the floor for the first dance. He led, spinning and holding him close. Despite the fact he was dancing with the most feared man in all the wizarding world, he felt his pulse quicken at the closeness. He felt no malice, no ill intent, and it was actually nice to be held in such a way. After the dance, he was spun across the floor by just about everyone, he thought. He danced with Sirius, Remus, all his friends, and to his surprise Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Theo, and even Crabbe and Goyle. He'd been spun around by most the Death Eaters, too, including the boys' fathers, and then Lucius and Narcissa took turns, both giving him hugs as they broke to leave him.

Eventually he found himself sitting at the present table and noted the three strangers still stood there. He sighed and felt his eyelids going heavy. Tom came over and sat beside him, brushing his hair away from his eyes. "Tired, little one?" he asked, smiling.

"Tired, overwhelmed, scared out of my mind," he muttered, feeling the sting of tears behind his eyes.

Tom reached out and hugged him against him. "Do not fear, little love. My final gift will be given to you soon enough, before we leave for our new home."

Harry frowned up at him. A final gift? He wondered what it would be. Before long he found himself dozing off against the warm body beside him, and didn't feel himself being lifted and cradled into Tom's lap. Tom looked down, noting how nicely he fit in his arms. He was smaller, but by no means childish. Granted, he could pass for thirteen still. He held him and watched the others swirl around the floor, feeling the beat of his heart and the pull of his magic on his soul. He was still amazed. The longer he was near the boy, the clearer his mind became. It seemed that Harry was, after all, the cure to his insane mind.

Harry woke with a start and looked around, realizing that he was very warm and realized he was sitting in Tom's lap as he spoke with Fudge.

"Oh, little one, you're awake. The guests are departing, well some of them. The Minister was bidding us farewell," Tom said, holding tightly to his waist.

Harry nodded. "Good night," he muttered, and Tom felt the warm rush of anger that flared in his bondmate. Tom couldn't blame him. But retribution would come later against the Ministry. Tom had plans for that. A lot of plans.

Slowly, all the Ministry officials, Hogwarts professors, and Death Eaters had left. Only his closest friends, the Malfoys and Draco's friends remained. Tom still hadn't let him get up. Severus came over.

"Are you ready to give Harry his gift, my lord?" he asked softly.

"I am, come stand up, little love," he said, helping Harry to his feet. His friends had gathered around at this point. "I chose to do this in a semi-private environment, because this is very personal to you. Once I show what I have, you can choose who you wish to allow to stay and who you wish to send on their way."

He was given a vial by Severus which he handed to Harry. Harry stared at it. "Vertiserum?" he said, looking up very confused. Tom smiled and walked him over to the three frozen figures. They still hadn't moved. "Lucius, remove the glamours," he said. Lucius waved his wand and the glamours fell. Harry nearly choked and fell backward to find himself staring at the three Dursleys.

"Shh, little love, they can't move. They've heard and seen everything, though, from the beginning to now," Tom said, holding him gently. "I wanted to kill them, but Lucius and Draco seemed to be of the opinion that you might not be happy if I did that. So instead we decided that you could ask them what you want to know, under the serum, and you can do what you like with them. I'll cast the killing curse on all of them if you wish, or we can torture them first…or we can simply set them free into their lives."

Harry was shaking, unable to meet Vernon's eyes, because even frozen, he still looked down on Harry with disgust and rage. He looked at Severus and handed him the bottle. "Y-you do it…I can't…I can't get that cl-close to him."

Severus nodded and tipped each of the Dursleys' heads back and administered three drops of the serum to each of them. He unfroze Vernon's mouth then and he snarled.

"Let me go, you bunch of freaks. How dare you bring me here to watch this freak marry another freak?" he asked.

Lucius was who stepped up then and slapped him soundly across the face. Vernon's eyes went wide as he stared at the blonde. "You remember me, you filthy muggle? You remember what I did to you when I found you raping your nephew before I took him away to live in my house? I can easily do it again, so shut your disgusting mouth and answer the questions you are asked."

Vernon said nothing. Lucius stepped back and crossed his arms. "Why would you sexually assault your own nephew?"

"Because he deserved it. He's not really human so what does it matter if I made him my personal little slut."

Harry had buried his head in Tom's robes by this point. Tom knew it would hurt, but in the end, Harry had to deal with this. He knew that from personal experience.

"How old when you did it the first time to him?" came Narcissa's voice.

Vernon was trying hard not to answer but the serum willed it. "Ten."

There were mumbled words around him. Narcissa's face was enraged as she slapped the man with all her force, her family ring leaving a thick line of blood across his face. "You disgusting, filthy piece of trash," she said softly, her rage giving her the appearance of a vengeful angel.

Harry choked back a sob into Tom's robe. Now no one would want him. Harry shushed him and pulled him out and smiled at him softly. "Harry. What do you want to do with him? Do you wish me to kill him for what he did? I will, anything you ask, for you."

Harry swallowed and saw no lies in his eyes. "But…you'll still have me…knowing that he…he…"

"You have never been touched by your own will, little love. I already told you that. This creature has no claim to your first experiences," he said softly.

Harry nodded. "I don't know, I…don't want you to kill him…but…I want him to pay…because I didn't ask for what he did to me."

Tom smiled. Such a kind heart. Even after this. "Very well, we'll figure out an appropriate punishment."

Lucius waved his wand, stealing the man's ability to speak and released Petunia's mouth. "Please, please, I didn't know!" she cried out immediately.

"What did you know?" Narcissa asked, offering no mercy for a fellow mother. "Tell me how much you did know. And why you let it happen in your house."

"He hit him, beat him, and I couldn't stop him, he would have hurt me or Dudley, he has such a temper, and when we fought, he must have taken it out on Harry. I…I never wanted Harry, I was afraid of him, his magic, this world, but I didn't want him to be hurt or starved…I gave him food when he didn't know I was giving it to him…I tried…" she gushed, and Narcissa waved the wand to shut her up.

They turned next to Dudley who's eyes were dashing about. Narcissa let his mouth be freed and it was Draco that pushed through the front of his mother, who looked down a bit surprised at the sudden aggressive motion of her son.

"What about you?" Draco asked, he was about the same height as Dudley. "What did you know? And did you try to help your cousin?"

Dudley tried not to speak. "We beat him up, me and my friends, we chased him now and then…but if I didn't I would have got in trouble. I didn't want to get beaten like he was so I didn't say anything, please, don't kill me, I was wrong, I knew I was wrong then, and I couldn't do anything to change it after it was too late! Last year, I…I figured out what he did…I…I stopped the others from picking on him, but I couldn't do much else…"

Draco frowned and shook his head. "Disgusting. All of you."

Tom turned to Harry who had turned away from them. "Little love, tell me, what do you wish to do with them? This, my love is your present. To face those that hurt you, to heal you, and punish them. Know that I didn't bring them here to hurt you. I want you to move past it."

Harry nodded. In some way he understood. He pulled his wand out, quick as he could and with tear filled eyes he whispered "Crucio," and the spell impacted with Vernon's stilled body. He held it and held it, the spells hold him meaning all that happened to him was his body vibrated and a low keening escaped from his lips. After a while, he felt Tom's hand wrap around his hand and helped him lower the wand. He hadn't realized he was sobbing as he held the spell, something that he shouldn't have been able to do. He fell to his knees and Tom held him against him.

"Take them back, all of them, and I don't care how you punish Uncle, I don't want to know, just don't kill him," he whispered when his tears had stilled. Tom glanced up and nodded to Lucius, and when Harry next looked up they were all gone.

Tom gave him time with his friends, who hugged and held him and there were no more tears. He hoped that his little love could move past what had happened to him. He really did. And that was strange. The Dark Lord Voldemort caring about what his little husband felt. That was strange. But then, he felt Voldemort slipping away, and Tom was returning. The person he used to be far too long ago. And it was all Harry's doing.