The atmosphere was tense.
If it weren't for Severus Snape keeping a calm composture, they probably would have just sitten there all evening silently staring at each other.
But it went great, actually, except for Bellatrix Lestrange staring daggers at Sirius Black. It could have turned out much worse, but Remus placed his hand reassuringly on the other male's arm and never let go for a second the entire evening. He couldn't stop the occasional exchange of nasty insults though.
The contract was already written and just being looked over by The Dark Lord.
Of course he would not trust anyone with this task than himself.
Harry and the others only function seemed to be to hand the diary over as soon as the Unbreakable Vow would be taken. Again, everyone seemed to just ignore that they were even there.
However, every once in a while Harry noticed a glance being directed at him from two blood red eyes. He didn't know what to think of the man. Before they'd met in the library, he'd thought of him as some politician pulling the strings in the background. And eating... donuts.. or whatever.
Then again, it had been an important occasion, hadn't it? Because he'd needed to protect a trump card.
It was dead silent in the room, the party was long over.
They all just sat there and watched Lord Riddle read the piece of parchment, his eyes flying over the words with an impressive speed.
"Alright", the tall brunette said after a while and put it down onto the table.
His eyes met with Snapes, his gaze unforgiving, but not giving away anything. Even though his face showed no emotion, everything around him was screaming with raw and powerful magic. It was thick, ever surronding the man like breathed out air.
It was similar but all the same different with the potions professor: His face was like stone, unmoving and entirely expressionless. Other than Tom Riddle, everything about the bat like man seemed to be strangely concealed, his mind, his thoughts, his magic.
"There's one more thing", Sirius said and Riddles eyes snapped to him.
"And what would that be?", he asked in a slow but even voice.
Several members of the Order exchanged glances then.
Harry himself earned a questioning glare from Draco and Luna, but he didn't know more than the other two.
"You'll need to marry. Soon. And it'll have to be a light wizard. It'll have to be a symbolic gesture, to give people reassurance, somehting for them to see. A contract alone isn't enough", Severus said.
The Dark Lord acually seemed to be caught off guard by that for a moment before his face became once again expressionless.
"That's a ridiculous request. There'll be a Vow. What better reassurance could they have than that?!", Bellatrix exclaimed, obviously furious.
"As I said. It's not enough. People need to see."
„Bullshit! Those stupid-"
"Bella", the Dark Lord said, only one word, but she immediately fell quite when she heard his warning tone of voice.
His eyes fell on Harry once again, green emeralds meeting red and all consuming orbs.
"I have no objections", he then said, sounding calm and cold as ice.
"Oh your wife's gonna be a lucky one", Harry murmured drily, earning a soft short laugh from his godfather.
"How dare you... Who the fuck even are you three?", the dark haired witch cried, for the first time acknowledging the presence of the masked trio.
She always seemed so aggresive, it couldn't be healthy. But then again, she was a crazy bitch.
"Fine. When there's nothing else to discuss...", Remus spoke up and it was a weird feeling. To know that the war would be over after today, that they'd be free to do whatever they wished to do- in peace.
"There's one more thing", the Dark Lord interrupted. All eyes landed on him.
"I want a consultant, someone who'll help me to choose a fitting partner."
For a moment, it was silent again.
"This isn't a request. It is a condition."
The potions master stood up, entirely unaffected by everything that was going on.
Sometimes, Harry was very glad the man was on their side. Or rather... had been. Because he couldn't imagine the Light could have stood a chance against a combination of the Dark Lord and Severus Snape working together in a team.
"Understandable", he simply agreed and Riddle stood up.
It was settled. They'd make a Vow. Harry would give the Diary back. And then he'd leave.
"I don't want one of the Order members to consult me", Riddle declared cooly.
Snape raised an eyebrow and briefly let his gaze wander over the people in the room, lingering at Remus and Sirius for a while.
"That's equally understandable. So who do you want to consult you?"
A grin split Tom Riddles face, revealing perfect teeth in a sharp smile. It was quite disconcerting, there was nothing friendly or kind about it.
"The green eyed mask man."
O dear hell.