Quick notes, I have to apologize for not updating I was furiously working on a few essays and things I needed to write and then yesterday and today I sort of needed to recover from the massive outputting from my brain- seriously guys I just wrote eight five-to-six page essays and an eleven page essay simultaneously. By the end of it I came out an essay guru lol, but I swear my brain felt like a wrung out washrag- at any rate I apologize for the delay.
On another note I've had several requests for the Dom/sub list I put together, I decided I would put it up on my profile so that anyone could look at it any time they'd like. However, I would like to know from those of you who are interested, would you like me to write the list and then write my personal thoughts on the stories as I work my way through them? If so send me a note and I would be happy to do so. Thank you for your patience and I hope that you have a splendid evening!
Ah and I should warn you, this is a rather long chapter...
Allons-y!
Let me know what you think!
Mistress Slytherin
WARNINGS:
VIOLENCE
LANGUAGE
HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
QUESTIONABLE MORALS
Not for the eyes of the young!
Let me know if I missed anything.
Chapter 23
The rest of that summer sped by, for Severus, it was spent studying and preparing for when Hadrian would finally deem him ready to begin practical work, for Madam Black it was spent rebuilding bridges with her estranged father and getting back onto her feet. For Harry it was another matter all together, while there were times when the dark lord was gone for a few hours the man positively refused to be away from him for very long. Harry found it both endearing and frustrating. On the one hand he spent most of his days in such absolute bliss that when the man wasn't there he was left feeling like a rag that had been wrung out too many times. On the other hand, when the man was gone, he was left feeling like a rag that had been wrung out too many times, which meant that working was a trial. It seemed that business was better than ever and even making things in large quantities as he was wasn't enough to keep up with the demand. So with little trepidation, as the summer came to a close, Harry assigned some of the lower grade potions to Severus. The young man was more than eager to get into his forbidden lab and Harry had to admit that his potions were just as good as Harry's. But still the summer came to a close and all too soon Harry was facing returning to Hogwarts and feeling mildly put out by the idea.
"I will visit you often." The dark lord murmured beside him as he stared at the suddenly intimidating Hogwarts express. They'd said their goodbyes earlier- good byes that Harry's arse and mouth were still smarting from, but still, it somehow didn't seem right.
"You'd better, my body's gotten used to you, I don't know what I'll do without all that sex." He muttered in slight annoyance which in turn caused the man to smile smugly his fingers reaching out to caress the spot on his neck where Harry knew there were teeth marks and red spots that he'd had to glamour.
"If you have to wank send me pictures." The man said into his ear. Harry flushed and shivered.
"You fiend." Harry said his eyes flashing towards the man heatedly. Harry couldn't deny, the man was creative and every thing that he came up with so far had been…
His eyes glazed over.
"Go on my pet, you can't be late for school." The man said smirking.
"Now there's an idea, I'll see if I can't snatch one of the girl's uniforms." Harry said with a grin. This time it was the dark lord's eyes that glazed over.
"Make sure it's Gryffindor." The man said in all seriousness. Harry snorted and winked at him as the train whistled loudly.
"I'll see what I can do mister Riddle." He said with a mock bow before darting towards the train. Professors were meant to sit in the front compartment if they rode with the students which for some reason the headmaster had asked him to do, but Harry had never really been one for rules so he was content to wander down the train as it started up. An evil sort of smirk crossed his features as he came upon the compartment where Severus and Lily were sitting. With a quick glance around he cast a notice me not charm on the door. Give the two a train ride alone he thought to himself before absently flicking his wand to lock the door.
Oooh being a Professor was going to be fun.
#$ #$% #$% #$
"Hey Moony." James said as his friend slipped into the compartment. It had been a long summer. After Peter had died he and his parents had been hounded relentlessly by the Aurors. And then not two weeks after they finally left him alone they came back asking about Peter's father who'd apparently gone missing. James had been to the ministry more times than he could count and his parents were hassled every time they went out. The worst part was that the ministry had found out about Sirius staying at his house, they forced his parents to return him to the Black family, James hadn't heard from him since.
"Hey James." Remus said wincing as he sat down before promptly lying on his back and rolling onto his side.
"Tough night?" James said knowingly.
"It was worse than usual, Moony seems to know that Peter's dead, it feels like a pack mate has been killed." He said wrinkling his nose. The door slid open and James frowned at the sight of the tall man with bright green eyes and long dark hair.
"Ah, hello boys, my name is Hadrian Black." The man said frowning at them curiously.
"You're the one that took Snape in." Remus said knowingly. The man nodded before gazing at Remus for a moment and reaching into his pocket.
"Here, this will help with the pain." He said holding out a potion. Remus' eyes widened in terror. "Oh don't worry, unlike some of my family members I could care less if you sprout fur every month so long as you keep your teeth away from my charge." He said mildly though with an edge to his voice. "In fact…shall we make an accord? I'm currently working on a potion that will ease the way each month if you and your little friends agree to keep well enough away from Severus I might just be willing to supply you with the necessary potions." He said with a decidedly Slytherin smirk.
"How do we know you'll keep your word?" James Potter demanded. The man frowned slightly at him before speaking.
"Has no one told you that we are family?" He said raising his eyebrows. James paled drastically. "It's in the ministry archives if you care to look. "Darleen Potter was my mother's name." He said with a nod. "Don't go spreading that around though boy do you understand? Your grandparents rather don't like me." He said mildly.
Remus took the potion and James watched to see if he would turn blue or something, instead Remus' body relaxed completely.
"My god I feel like I haven't been through a transformation at all!" Remus said wide-eyed.
"Thank you, I am rather good at what I do, now I must be off but do think of my offer hmm? Come see me in my office if you make up your mind." He said nodding at them before stepping out of the compartment and letting the door slip closed.
"James…" Remus said, his gaze was pleading and James felt his determination fall.
"Was it that good?" He said sneering slightly. Remus dropped his eyes and nodded making him relent.
"We'll back off then, besides with NEWTS this year I doubt we'll have any time for pranking and it won't be the same without Wormtail tagging along." He said turning his gaze to the window.
#$% #$% #$%
Harry frowned as he stepped out of the last compartment. If he had been worried before, he was doubly worried now. He hadn't seen Sirius Black in any of the compartments and he'd been up and down the train checking at least three times. Something was wrong. Harry scowled slightly as the train continued to move making its way across the country side with nary a thought to its missing student. Harry worried his bottom lip as he began to make his way towards the front of the train. He stopped to check in with the head boys and girls, made sure that the wards on the train were in tact and then with a troubled mind stepped into the teachers compartment. He would speak to the headmaster immediately. Sirius might have been a hellion as a child, but in his time the man had given Harry hope, had been there for him when no one else understood. He owed the man a debt no matter the date. Besides if his suspicions were correct then Sirius desperately needed someone to find him. He tucked his legs up into one of the seats and pulled out a book hardly able to focus though he did try.
Merlin, he hadn't even gotten to Hogwarts and there was trouble…
#$% #$% #$% #$%
"Are you certain?" The headmaster was pale, Harry had told him almost the moment he'd arrived at Hogwarts. The man had immediately flooed the Potters who had told him just what Harry had feared- Sirius had been returned to his family.
"I'm going to get him, as a member of the Black family I have every right." Harry said coldly.
"Hadrian-" But Harry was already stepping into the floo calling out a name that he'd never thought he would call out again.
"Number twelve Grimmauld Place." He rasped. In an instant he was spinning away flashes of other fireplaces and homes rushing about him before he was deposited into a very familiar room.
"You." Harry turned abruptly and caught sight of the old man. He might have changed over the years, his hair gone white, his teeth yellowed and his skin sagging and paper thin, but Harry knew him immediately.
"Arcturus." Harry said with a sneer. The air around him grew cold.
"Here to kill an old man? To finish me at last ey?" The man said his eyes filled with wild fire. Harry sneered.
"Father what- who the hell are you?" Harry looked at the man and recognized him as the boy he'd known a very, very long time ago. Arcturus' grandchild.
"This is the great Hadrian Black!" Arcturus said with flashing eyes as he cackled madly.
"You are poison to your family Arcturus just as father said!" Harry hissed. "You would run your family into the mud with your madness." He said shaking his head.
"Oh that's rich coming from the man who sold himself to the dark lord!" The man hissed. Harry stiffened. "Oh don't think I don't know, it's the talk of society lately! There you were so noble in defending our father and yet there you are in the place that I should have taken!" Harry sneered.
"The least you deserve, besides I'm not here for you. Where is Sirius?" He hissed turning to the other man in the room. The man was pale though and Harry could see his hand go to his arm as he watched Hadrian with new light.
"Forgive me my lord he's in his room." The man said taking a step back. Harry sneered.
"I'm not your lord, if you must treat me with respect which I highly suggest that you do, refer to me with respect but not with that title, that title belongs to my lord only." He seethed unable to believe that he was defending this.
"Yes sir of course." The man said bowing his head.
"Take me to him." Harry demanded.
"Don't you walk away from me Hadrian!" Arcturus hollered before falling into fits of coughing.
"Curl up and die you waste of space." Harry sneered before rushing up the stairs following the man to a very familiar room. Harry's lips thinned as the man shakily pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the doors. "You will sign Sirius into my care immediately." Harry hissed coldly. The man pressed his lips into a thin line but nodded sharply. Harry narrowed his eyes. "Well? Go to the ministry and have the paper work drawn up before I turn you into a sniveling mess!" He snarled. The man jerked back before rushing down the stairs. Harry took a deep calming breath before pushing the door open.
Wide blue grey eyes peaked out at him from a too thin face. The boy was trembling and Harry had to swallow back a distressed sound as the medic in him noted the man injuries.
"Sirius?" He said softly. The boy shrank back fire gone from his eyes. "I'm here to help." Harry explained softly. "I've come from Hogwarts." He added. The boy's eyes flickered with a spark of recognition. "Will you come sit on your bed so that I can heal you?" Harry said softly. Sirius gazed at him distrustfully before carefully creeping out from where he was crouched wincing with every step he took until he settled on the bed. Harry sighed as he noted the fear in the boy's eyes. "Sirius I would like you to take this, it will put you to sleep and when you next wake you will be in Hogwarts safely tucked in bed alright?" Harry said handing the boy a Dreamless sleep. Sirius eyed it warily and then eyed him warily before nodding his hands shaking as he drank the potion. Harry helped guide the boy until he was laying down.
"Oh! Oh my lord I didn't see you there-!" Harry grit his teeth as he began to scan Sirius. He really didn't need to deal with Sirius' mum right now.
"I am not your lord, you may address me with respect but the title of lordship belongs to my lord." He said for what felt like the millionth time. "I will be taking Sirius." He added after a moment as he expertly began to heal the many wounds. "Be glad that I don't kill you for what you've done to this child." He added before pouring another potion down Sirius' throat. "As it is I will be speaking to my lord about this." He said before carefully scooping the small body into his arms and lifting him from the bed, turning to stare at the wide-eyed woman who's bottom lip was trembling.
"But sir we were only doing what was best! He has these notions sir about the mudbloods, he's been a disgrace to our family-"
"He is a child still madam, your son. And you hurt him grievously. I know my lord, and I know that he wouldn't stand for this." He said confidently. "Now if you'll excuse me." He said brushing by her.
"Forgive me sir had I known-"
"It doesn't matter madam, your excuses are weak and I tire of them, if you must insist on giving them to someone, give them to my lord, he has far more patience than I do." He said stepping down the stairs and back into the parlor just as the flames flared to life and Sirius' father strode through grim faced with documents in hand.
"They only need your signature sir." He said settling the scroll onto Sirius' sleeping form.
"The boy will be tainted if he goes with him!" Arcturus sneered. Harry rolled his eyes and tossed powder into the floo.
"Hogwarts headmaster's office." Harry said shortly before striding through. His balance was slightly thrown with Sirius in his arms but he didn't care even when he stumbled upon being ejected from the floo.
"Hadrian!" The headmaster said standing swiftly and coming around to help him. Harry let out a hiss though and pulled Sirius away.
"How many more Albus!" He cried out furiously. "How many more children will I have to take in because you refused to see that they were hurting! They used the Cruciatus curse on him for gods sake! Don't even get me started on what Severus' father was doing to him! You have an obligation to these children!" He growled before turning sharply intending to place Sirius onto one of the couches so that he could heal him better only to freeze at the sight of the two wide-eyed boys. "Shit." He hissed before taking a deep breath.
"Mister Black!" The headmaster said sharply. Harry sighed loudly.
"Budge over Lupin, I've a boy to heal." He said softly before carefully laying Sirius onto the couch. His eyes caught sight of the legal documents and he summoned a quill and some ink signing them with a flourish before setting them to the side and pulling out his wand healing the wounds slowly and methodically pausing every once in a while to pour another potion down Sirius' throat.
"You've taken guardianship of him?" The headmaster said having picked up the documents.
"Yes." Harry said as he waved his wand over Sirius using a bathing spell that would leave him slightly damp but cleaner for it.
"You have a good heart Mister Black." The headmaster said after a moment. Harry snorted and called the elf for a spare pair of clean pajamas.
"No headmaster, I am a man like any other, I have a dark side, and I do and say bad things, but I would not stand by to see a child beaten, I am not you." He said coldly. The headmaster couldn't say anything to that. He simply sat behind his desk and watched as Harry magically changed Sirius into clean clothing before wrapping him into a blanket and tucking him safely into his arms. "Potter, Lupin, I'll take Sirius to my quarters tonight, I have a feeling he will need some space, I'll call you when he is ready for visitors alright." He said grabbing up the documents as he lifted Sirius into his arms which was no easy feat considering the seventh year was about as large as he was.
"Good night Professor Black." The headmaster said softly. Harry gave the man a considering look before shaking his head.
"Good night headmaster." He said before carrying Sirius down the steps.
Tom wasn't going to like this…
#$% #$% #$% #$%
"You can't help yourself can you?" The dark lord said idly as he sipped his tea. It had been a week since Harry had taken Sirius in the young man was healing well but he still came to Harry's quarters to do his homework. Sirius said it was because the noise in the common room bothered him but Harry knew differently, it was hard being around people that just didn't understand.
"I take that to mean that you aren't entirely adverse to the idea." Harry said leaning against the man. Sirius had given them some odd looks, some terrified looks, but when after the first week neither of them had made any move to hurt him he'd relaxed.
"Well I hadn't thought about having children quite so soon…" The man teased. Harry snorted and pressed a kiss to the firm shoulder. He'd missed the dark lord terribly; their visits were infrequent and short at best. Harry had hopes for tonight though, it was a Friday, surely dark lords must get the weekend off? "I think I have a hard time viewing him as your son actually." The dark lord said eventually. More like another apprentice only not as close to you as Severus is." He said setting his cup to the side so that he could wrap Harry into his arms. "Speaking of which how is Severus taking it?" He said casually. Harry shifted closer to the man and smirked slightly.
"He was livid of course, kept saying that he hated me and wanted nothing more to do with me, but then Lily talked to him, smacked up upside the head really and Severus came back to apologize. He's ignoring Sirius now, acts like he isn't there when their in the same room." Harry said amused.
"Hn, perhaps the mudblood isn't entirely useless." The dark lord muttered comfortably. Harry snorted.
"Leave the poor girl alone she's done nothing to you." Harry said pinching the man's nipple in retaliation. The dark lord's eyes darkened and he leaned closer still his breath ghosting across Harry's jaw making him shiver.
"I'm being more than accommodating to you my consort, now get rid of the stray cat you've picked up, my patience wears thin." He said his voice low and dangerous. Harry shuddered. He loved when the man made threats like that, it usually promised for a very fulfilling night.
"Sirius it's nearly curfew." Harry said slipping from where he sat so that he could cross the room. Grey eyes narrowed and looked at the time. "Oh hush, get out of here so I can have a night with my lover, I'll take you to dinner some time to make up for it alright?" He said reaching out to drag his fingers through the messy hair. This Sirius was nothing like the man Harry had met, that summer had changed him in more than one way. Sirius winced slightly at the thought before gathering his books up and slipping them into his bag. "Do you need dreamless sleep?" Harry asked running his scan over the youth thoughtlessly. Sirius' lips twitched upwards and he shook his head slightly but Harry wasn't fooled, the boy was as proud as Remus when it came to accepting help. He pulled one out and handed it to the boy. "Just in case." He said with a wink before dragging the boy out of his rooms. Sirius rolled his eyes and swatted Harry's hands away before making his way down the hall waving absently behind him. Harry closed the door and frowned.
"You're worried about him?" The dark lord said coming up behind him and wrapping him in his arms.
"He hasn't spoken a word." Harry said tilting his head to the side as lips caressed the skin there making him burn.
"Hush, worry about him tomorrow, think only of me tonight." The man urged drawing him backwards. Harry smiled and allowed himself to relax into the man's embrace as lips trailed his shoulders. Harry gasped when the man pressed his wand to his back and the sound of fabric tearing echoed through his rooms making him shiver as his robes pooled uselessly around his feet. A talented mouth settled on his shoulder like a brand and the large hands lid around him touching and teasing possessively over his chilled skin.
"Yessss." Harry whispered when the hand wrapped around his length and slowly rubbed.
"Odd, I expect so much of so many people-" Harry gasped as he was released and spun around his back pressed to the door as the man loomed over him. "-but not you my consort." He said lifting his hand and cradling his jaw. "You make me want to go to great lengths just to please you." He whispered lifting Harry's arms and pinning his wrists above his head. Harry gazed at the man simply taking in the now familiar face that he'd become so familiar with.
"And you?" Harry breathed as their lips hovered apart teasing brushing but never kissing. "I wanted to hate you, I thought I could back out at any time yet here I am." He admitted softly. "And I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else." He breathed leaning forward to catch a kiss. The dark lord growled low in his throat before pressing their bodies together his larger one overwhelming and bold making Harry shiver and shake with want.
"You won't be anywhere else my pet not ever, I won't allow it." Harry sighed as hands moved and settled around his waist lifting him effortlessly. "None of this pet, I want you on a bed properly." He whispered as Harry wrapped his legs around the man and let out a soft groan of protest. Harry wasn't really protesting though, he liked being carried like this and wound his arms around the other man clinging to him happily.
"You have a weeks worth to make up to me my lord." Harry said softly as they entered his room before he was carefully dropped onto the bed, shivering at the missing warmth when the dark lord pulled away and smirked down at him reaching for the clasps to his robes. Harry's eyes flashed and a wave of magic swept over the man causing his breath to catch as the clasps released and fell away in an instant. A slow satisfied smirk curved across Harry's lips and the dark lord let out a low chuckle.
"My, my aren't we eager?" He said softly. Harry turned and lay on his back spreading his thighs to reveal himself as prepared and glistening with oil.
"You have no idea." Harry said smirking at the dark nearly black with want. In an instant the dark lord was peeling away his clothes and sliding across the bed gloriously naked. Harry groaned loudly when the man settled over him that strange magic winding around him making it dizzying to think or do anything but accept the intrusion that happened so quickly he hardly had the chance to breathe. The dark lord was inside him pulsing heat burning from the quick entry and seated to the hilt. Teeth bit into his shoulder deeply and he cried out as the man began to move without regret without mercy burning and aching and taking his pleasure while Harry clung to his sanity. His own body was rippling with satisfaction and he hissed when the kiss of a blade circled his nipple.
"Hadrian…" The man breathed making him shudder.
"Do it." Harry gasped. The dark lord loved this and he could admit that he loved it too. The blade pricked and bit his skin making thin raw lines that heightened the beauty of their lovemaking and intensified the pleasure that every nerve felt to impossible heights. Harry whined and groaned as teeth and lips and tongue followed the shallow cut lapping up the blood that welled and leaving a trail of red marks. Harry clung to the man incapable of doing anything more. His fingers tangled into the mess of hair and he arched his back as he felt the blade kiss his navel which was tight in anticipation and need. The dark lord cut deeply and suddenly, the pain of it, the shock and the ecstasy made Harry scream as he came shuddering when he felt the man tense up and join him in release.
"Hadrian." The dark lord breathed falling across him in a comforting weight.
"Mmm I'm bleeding all over you." He said wincing at the slight burn. He loved it during sex, but the after part was not very nice.
"I don't mind." The man said smirking against his neck. Harry wrinkled his nose.
"It hurts; get off so I can fix it." He said pinching the man's arm. The dark lord sighed and rolled off watching Harry as he summoned his wand and carefully closed the wounds. Harry sighed happily as he cast a cleaning charm and then turned pressing himself into the amused man's arms.
"Hmmm and just what do you think you're doing." He said pressing kisses to Harry's shoulders.
"Cuddling." Harry said without remorse. The dark lord snorted and bit down gently on his shoulder.
"Who says I'm done with you already?" He said lightly. Harry grinned.
"Oh I know you aren't, if you were I'd worry that you were sleeping with someone else, but either way you and I need some recovery time, we're old men you know." Harry teased lightly.
"I would never betray you that way." The man said pressing a kiss to his forehead. "And I am not old." He said as an after thought. Harry grinned.
"Prove it." He challenged gazing up at the man with burning eyes. The dark lord smirked.
"Who am I to refuse my consort?" He said before rolling them over.
Harry sighed.
So this was what happiness felt like…
#$% #% #$% #$% #$% #$
Harry groaned as the dark lord sat up.
"Stone isn't in Hogwarts come back to bed." He said pouting.
"How do you know?" The man said quirking an eyebrow.
"I don't but I want you here with me." Harry said petulantly. The dark lord snorted and tweaked his nose playfully before pressing a kiss to his scowling lips and standing. He gave Harry a magnificent view of his arse as he was getting dressed so Harry didn't really complain. "Don't get caught my lord." Harry said before rolling over. He could feel the man's smile and nearly jumped when the blanket lifted and tugged pulling up around him so that he was buried in it just his head peaking out.
"I'll be back before dawn." The man said pressing a kiss to his temple.
"You'd better, I want breakfast and you're cock is on the menu." Harry said sending the man a tired but heated look. The dark lord grinned evilly.
"As you wish my pet." He said as he pulled his cloak around his shoulders and slipped from the room. Harry sighed and tried to fall back asleep. His body was thrumming pleasantly and achy in all the right places, he was sure that should he look in a mirror he was likely to find himself marked in very many ways. Letting out a tired sigh of contentment he fell into a light slumber waiting for the dark lord to return.
#$% #$% #$% #$%
Harry grinned as he woke to find himself surrounded by his lover. "Mmmnn is that breakfast I smell?" He said sliding down the tall form.
"Greedy little thing you'd think that after last night you would have had enough." The dark lord said his voice rough with sleep.
"I could never have enough of you." Harry said his breath ghosting over the tip of the man's steadily rising interest.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
The dark lord hissed violently and Harry sighed before slowly sliding off the bed and sending the man a regretful look as he pulled his dress robe on and cast a few glamours at the bruising around his neck and collar bones.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
"Coming!" Harry said in annoyance as he pulled open the door. "This had better be good headmaster." He said staring blearily at the man's violet robes. "I was about to have breakfast." He said yawning. The headmaster narrowed his eyes a bit and smiled thinly.
"I see." He said too knowingly. "However I'm afraid I must ask you to eat in haste, there's been an accident I'm afraid, Professor Grubbyplank was supposed to chaperone today but while feeding the griffins yesterday it seems he somehow offended one of them. I wouldn't bother you if this wasn't an emergency." He added pointedly. Harry sighed. He had so been looking forward to a lazy morning with his lover…He nearly jumped when familiar hands settled on his shoulders.
"Oh do let's go Hadrian; it's been so long since I've gone on a Hogsmede weekend." The man purred pressing a kiss to the top of his head in silent apology.
"Tom." The headmaster said grimly.
"I prefer lord Gaunt." The dark lord said silkily.
"Won't you come in headmaster?" Harry said dryly. "Since my efforts at discretion are wasted." He said rolling his eyes as he bumped Riddle back into his rooms. "Honestly what if one of the students saw?" Harry scolded appropriately as he guided them into his living room and called for tea.
"Hadrian." The dark lord's voice was serious and Harry frowned at it. "Go to Hogsmede with me." The man said his lips twitching. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Very well I might as well get a date out of the situation." He said smirking.
"Would you like flowers?" The dark lord offered. Harry snorted.
"I will curse you." He warned. The dark lord smirked and tugged him closer pressing a kiss to his temple.
"Chocolate's then." The man offered.
"No tricks and I mean it." Harry said mildly.
"A real date, no tricks." The man said with a nod. Harry gazed at him skeptically.
"Fine." He said before handing the man his tea and pouring another cup for himself.
"I was unaware that you were currently seeing anyone Hadrian." The headmaster said with a frown. "There are strict rules in regards to Professors entering into relationships." He said his voice almost chiding. The dark lord smirked over the rim of his cup.
"I assure you headmaster, despite our affectionate ways I am courting Hadrian properly and openly, in fact his first gift from me is due." He said slyly before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small jewelry box. "I had been waiting for the appropriate time to give this to you last night however we were rather distracted." He said this time to Harry who accepted the box suspiciously. He pulled out his wand and checked it for curses or wards causing the dark lord to snort in mild amusement. Harry smirked at the man teasingly before carefully opening the box. His breath caught in his throat and his heart seized in his chest.
"'I will never betray you'" Harry read as he pulled out the elegant ring and stared up at the dark lord in shock.
"I don't want to bring up bad memories Hadrian but I needed to do this for you. I will not betray you the way Elizabeth did, I know you find that hard to believe right now but I will say it as many times as you need me to." He said reaching out and grasping Harry's hand slipping the ring on.
"A promise ring?" The headmaster said softly his eyebrows soaring into his hair line.
"I know you don't think well of me headmaster, but you of all people should know that when I put my mind to something there is nothing that can stop me. Hadrian is mine and he will always be mine. Touch him and I will come after you with a fury that would make angels weep." He swore snatching Harry's hand into his. Harry stared at him in shock. What was this? What were they? What was the man offering to him? His eyes dropped down to the ring and he stared at it confused and unable to understand. He shook his head.
"I need to get dressed." He said pulling his hand back and nearly running from the room. He rushed to the bathroom and closed the door behind him leaning over the sink to dry heave. He was shaking as he stared at his reflection his eyes trailing to where his robe separated showing the many marks the dark lord had left on him. They were good together, so good, too good.
"Hadrian?" The dark lord undid his wards easily and Harry felt tears in his eyes when he looked up at the worried gaze.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "It's beautiful it really is but…" He was shaking and the tears came even as he cursed them.
"You're afraid; I can feel your fear." The man said his gaze carefully blank. Harry knew why, to be honest he had known for days now, how else did one explain away the longing he felt? How else did could he explain how often he thought of the man, how he found himself wondering what the man would like to eat or drink or remembering his favorite things- It was terrifying because he had all that he could possibly want within his reach.
"I've felt this way before." Harry breathed. "So very close- so happy and then…and then…" He stared down at the ring.
I will not betray you…
"Say it?" The man said his eyes suddenly wide suddenly wanting. As Harry looked at them he could see his own fears reflected in them.
"If I do it will be real, if I do you could break me everything will change-"
"No." the man said firmly. But this was the dark lord! The man who had destroyed his younger years!
But this wasn't that man.
This was a man who was trying, going beyond his own doubts and fears to face Harry. This was the man that knew nothing of the prophesy and his part in it.
"Please." Harry wondered if the dark lord was conscious of slipping into parseltongue. Harry knew though in that exact moment, that he would fight for this for them. He would face fate if he had to.
"I love you." He breathed helplessly.
That was it.
The dark lord would laugh at him- he would cackle that high pitched cackle.
He would try to kill Harry.
Would parade him around in the streets-
"Mine." The dark lord said quietly before suddenly swooping forward and claiming his lips. "Mine…I will come to love you, give me time my pet, my consort. I will have you and I will have the world." Harry was trembling as those words were whispered across his lips he didn't know what to do; he didn't know what to think. Should he tell the man he could understand him? But then how could he explain it? Lips brushed his gently this time and Harry found himself seeking out the touch leaning into the man almost desperately. What was he to do now? All this time he'd been so firm in his convictions, never love, that was his rule, he had to abide by this or he was left open and raw. But The dark lord had sworn not to betray him, the dark lord, the man who seemed to hold him perfectly, who challenged him and made him burn. His lord. Slowly the dark lord eased back his eyes burning as they watched him. "We should get dressed." He said brushing Harry's bottom lip with his thumb. Harry nodded thoughtlessly and breathed slowly his breathing shaky as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead to the man's chest.
"Please, please don't hurt me." He begged.
"I swore not to." The man said softly. Harry shivered.
"You aren't the first person to make promises to me; I only hope that you're one of the rare few that doesn't break those promises." Harry said softly. "What can I do? You make me want to trust you, at least I know that you aren't about to tell me you're married to a Crouch." He said wryly before shaking his head. "We need to get dressed." He said looking up. But that was his mistake, because when he did all he could see was the man who stood before him, the man who overwhelmed him and comforted him, the one who felt like safety- the one he loved. Gentle fingers brushed his cheek.
"It's the oddest feeling- I can't feel your heart, I can feel your love." He said watching Harry in awe.
"Than be assured of it." Harry said smiling faintly. "Even if I have my doubts, there is no changing what I feel for you now. A part of me screams at me that I should have kept it hidden, kept it a secret, but you knew already didn't you?" He said shaking his head as his eyes were drawn to the ring where the emeralds glittered beautifully. "I am your consort…my loyalty belongs to you." He said softly before dropping his hand and slipping around the man.
They dressed in silence, their earlier playfulness broken by their thoughts and the change between them. It wasn't going to be just sex any more, it wasn't political games or social dances, they were through teasing and toying with each other. Of course Harry suspected they would always torment each other, it was too tempting not to, too much a part of who they were, but there was something behind it now, some assurance that hadn't been there before. It loomed over his shoulder and Harry couldn't help but glance back at it partly to make sure that it was there and partly out of fear of it.
$#% #$% #$% #$%
"You can stop glancing over your shoulder every five seconds." The dark lord said thinly as they entered Honeydukes. Harry frowned he really hadn't noticed that he was doing it.
"Sorry." He said forcing his gaze to remain forward.
"What the duce has you so nervous? I can feel it buzzing around in the back of my head, for Merlins sake it's just chocolate!" The man said his patience having run out. They'd been dealing with students all morning and Harry was nearly certain the outing had made the man reconsider his previous wish to become a professor.
"Every date I've ever been on in Hogsmede has ended in disaster." Harry admitted with a huff. The dark lord stared at him for a long moment.
"That is positively ridiculous." He said shaking his head. Harry snorted, tell that to Cho Chang- or Elizabeth, or any of the other girls he'd brought to Hogsmede really…wait… He grinned slightly.
"You're right; the only dates I ever brought to Hogsmede were girls." He said smugly. The dark lord quirked an eyebrow at him before shaking his head.
"The mystery of your sexuality continues to elude me." He said picking up a bar of chocolate to look more closely at the label.
"Hn, and you do spend a great deal of time studying my sexuality." Harry murmured his lips twitching upwards. The man's foul mood dissipated at this and he tossed the bar into a bag.
"And it will be studied even more in depth later, after all- what would a man like myself want with all this chocolate?" He said silkily causing Harry to look down at the small pile he'd unwittingly been carrying. Heat curled through him and he leaned closer to the man enjoying being close to him. "Ah look, your apprentice and his mudblood." The dark lord said smirking. Harry frowned and looked up through the window his eyes catching sight of Severus. A chill crept up his spine as he watched the young man laughing, so much joy in his eyes as he was dragged through the crowds by an excited Lily. Harry had a bad feeling, a very bad feeling but he couldn't quite place it. The blood rushed from his face and he swayed feeling suddenly feint.
"My lord, I don't feel very well…" He muttered through a see of confusion.
"Hadrian!"
And then he was out.
! #$% #$% #$% #$%
REVIEW!
(PS, I'm still looking for good Dom/sub fics so if you have any suggestions please pass them on!)