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The chandeliers spilt their candlelight on the wooden floor with barely any shadow. It hung with a threat of falling, swayed with the lightest gush of the wind, it was just a stroke of luck that the air had receded that day and the night was still, airy but not breezy. The foyer had a massive row of staircases on both sides which pushed themselves to the floor above.

As he assessed the foyer, his gaze fell upon a bronze statue, the metal twirling around and twisting itself to make ripples on the fabric of the statue. Delicate designs over the breastplate pooling into a gown at her feet while the spear in her right hand remained bold in her hand.

The Alpha knew this entire gathering was an unneeded requirement fulfilment. He was on a fast track to become the youngest Minister of Magic, he had already become the youngest Senior Undersecretary replacing a woman fifteen years his superior effortlessly but now the stakes had risen. He knew Fudge needed to either be involved in a scandal or murdered to be removed from his position, Tom ardently desired the latter but he knew, politically, it would be wise to use the former.

But Fudge's downfall was not the reason he deigned to make his presence known, well not the only reason at least. He had to primarily arrive at a staunchly Light party for two reasons, the first and the most important reason was to talk some Loyalist Party into putting their faith into his seemingly innocent ventures and the second, negligible reason was to scout for an Omega.

As his darling Bella had often reminded him, "My Lord, you need a pretty thing on your arm as well, you know?"

Tom had just calmly raised an eyebrow at her, daring her to continue which she did, "You can't forget that the family name must continue."

Nobody with their mental faculties undisturbed had the gall to suggest such a ludicrous thing but Bella certainly did not satisfy that criterion. He did realise that she had a point, he was nearly thirty-eight and his fifteen-year plan did involve getting bonded. Except that nobody actually caught his eye. It would be incrementally beneficial if the Omega was from a pureblood line as well because Tom knew he could be persuasive on how to cast his vote.

"She is quite beautiful, isn't she?" A voice questioned, his concentration retrieved. Focussing on the Omega before him, he smelt faint rosewood which was strapped by a neutraliser to curb his sharp scent. His eyes quickly assessed his features with a single glance, messy raven hair and bright green eyes with a sharp jaw but something about him was inherently soft, innocent even.

His eyes raised to the scent of the Omega which whiffed through the air, "She is," he affirmed with a smile, "The Goddess of wisdom and warfare."

"She was the goddess my mother chose when she got married to my father," He told him.

The Alpha hummed, not many Omegas preferred any God or Goddess who were not associated with love or fertility as their commissary, "An unusual choice, many prefer Aphrodite."

"Omega Harry Potter," He introduced himself.

He took his hand and kissed the air on top of his hand, his lips curving into his predatory smile, "Alpha Thomas Riddle."

Harry let out a shy smile and let blush dust over his cheeks which made the Alpha in him preen.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mister Potter," He acknowledged, his hand reluctantly retrieving itself from the magic which was gelling against his skin so well.

Harry's smile grew unprecedently more confident, "The pleasure is all mine, Mister Riddle. Welcome to our home."

"Harry?" A feminine voice rushed through the air, her silver robes coming into view contrasting sharply against the bright red of her hair.

Lily Potter.

She approached the pair of them and looked at her son with a scrutinising gaze, "What were you doing here all alone Darling?"

Translation: How long have you been speaking to this Alpha without someone present around you?

"I was just checking if there were any guests in the foyer to escort them to the Ballroom with Dobby," Harry artfully responded.

Lily smiled at him and looked over to Tom and greeted him enthusiastically after placing her arm around her son's shoulder. Tom courteously thanked her for the invitation and followed them into the Ballroom. On arriving at the event, he noticed it was in full swing, the posh gold decor with burgundy trimmings ruffling their way through the swarm of people. The dance floor remained centrally located with a crystal chandelier hanging right above it as subtle melodies pulled and pushing out like the ocean.

Tom indulged in polite conversation with Lord Potter and Lord Black for a lengthy amount of time before he was saved by Rufus Scrimgeour. He then politely excused his person and gravitated towards the others. His conversations roamed from one person to another but his gaze remained static upon the Potter Heir.

The Omega wasn't shy, not by a longshot. He was Gryffindor that was evident, he was also in the company of what could only be called a muggle-born and a blood traitor if he had to go by the hair. His eyes sparkled with an unfounded innocence and veiled determination. Warm smiles were tossed to anyone who spoke to him but his green, green, green eyes sparkled only with people he liked. There was a brash aspect to his person, Tom knew etiquette had been beaten into more offsprings of Ancient Lines but his jagged edges outshone his etiquette.

Tom's eyes slithered around his every move and when he excused himself to move away from the main room, unescorted, he accidentally followed him as well. He cast a wandless point-me and headed to the balcony. As he approached the balcony, he smelt the smoke given out by cigarettes and pushed himself into it.

Pretending that he had stumbled there by accident was too easy, all he needed to do was pull up his confused smile and step through.

"Too stifling in there?" He questioned as he offered him a cigarette and much to his own surprise, Tom took one and nodded his head in assent.

"I find these events extremely exhausting after a certain point, as well," He muttered with a frown.

Tom lit his cigarette and tossed his gaze to the Omega before him, "Do your parents approve of this?"

"The cigarette or wandering around without an Alpha bodyguard?"

Tom was amused as he smirked, "Both."

"What they don't know won't hurt them," Harry shrugged and took a deep drag of the cigarette, "and besides I intend to live on my own sometime soon."

At that, Tom's interest grew more heavily knitted. Omegas did not move out often from their families unless there was a marriage involved, there were many exceptions to this. Bella was one amongst them but that did not change the stigma against such a modern outlook. He did not concern himself with such outdated rubbish but the people he associated with certainly did.

"I can sense your judgement from here, you know?" The Omega informed him with a chuckle, "But it's not something I am surprised at," he continued as he let out a breath, "Alphas."

That struck a chord.

"I was not judging, Omega," Tom replied, curbing the urge to snap at him, "merely thinking, your parents are liberals but that isn't something they wouldn't be pleased with neither would your betrothed, I am presuming."

"My betrothed," Harry hummed and ran his fingers over his neck as he innocently stretched it out, "he would have a problem, he is quite possessive over my person and I would not desire to go against his wishes."

"Are you always this compliant with the Alphas in your life?"

Harry's face snapped in his direction and walked towards him, the Alpha remained still refusing to cower beneath the intoxicating magic and power around the Omega, their robes caressed each other, their breaths entangling with one another, his scent forcing his Alpha to suppress his urge to throw this pretty Omega against the wall before sinking his teeth into his neck. Tom already knew this was way past proper social niceties.

"I am an Omega but my teeth are sharp enough to tear throats," He smiled, his hand resting on Tom's shoulder, "you would not want the Slytherin line to die with you over misogyny, do you?"

The Alpha's breath was bated before he regained control and wrapped his arm around Harry's waist and pressed him to the railing, locking him in the position he initially was stuck in. "Forgive my impertinence, Omega, it's not what I meant and I could have structured it in a more considerate manner and you would not need to threaten our line."

The Omega did not focus on his words, Tom knew that. His heartbeat was too fast, his eyes fixated on his lips and his mind fuddled with pheromones.

"I must return to the gathering," Harry exhaled.

"And to your betrothed I suppose," Tom added and let go of him.

"My betrothed isn't here," and Tom noticed that Harry bit his tongue at the involuntary information given.

"Then perhaps you should leave before I cannot resist asking you to a dance," Tom dared him.

Harry turned and walked fast, fast enough to run through the hallway, his scent wavering enough in the air to poison him, his footsteps being traced gently by his own, knowing that one day it won't be him, he is running away from.

The silence which rushed down the hallways of his manor was weighing down on him. He had dressed in his finest robes on a Monday Morning. Fitting black silk which neatly highlighted his broad shoulders and stature. They billowed enough for him to remind people of his position as a Lord and constricted enough to not conceal his scent.

Every single experience of his life after exiting that balcony had been an utter waste of time. Nothing in the world held any sort of semblance if the Omega wasn't beside him, bearing his mark, smelling of him with his seed trailing down the expanse of his leg. He wanted Harry more intensely than a storm that needed rain. The Omega had bewitched him body and soul and there was no force on earth which could separate the two of them, Tom had ordained it.

He did nothing but want for him and he would assure Harry would feel the same way, eventually.

When he returned home, he had sat down and meditated for over an hour to calm his anger, lust and the need to own the Omega. He meticulously organised the next few weeks which were pushing into months to obtain his darling Queen, his consort.

He then proceeded to call for his inner circle where he instructed Rabastan and Rodolphus to obtain every single detail, public or otherwise given to him by Monday. And when they eventually came back to tell him that Harry was an Interior Designer Tom promptly decided his house needed redecorating. Lucius had been given the responsibility of subtly pushing Harry into his employment.

Now he was waiting for the contractors he hired to introduce him to his new Interior Designer.

The floo turned green and Tom felt his fingers still themselves. Pushing his occlumency shields up to pull his sense of control back was the least thing he could do as the contractors entered with Harry, his eyes went over to the Vice President who he had personally been in contact with through Lucius.

After introductions had proceeded, Tom had been very clear about seeing results accordingly to give a semblance of an employer and when the Beta assured him, he left Harry with Tom.

"Please proceed to show me around and I shall note down the things you desire to renovate," Harry informed him.

Tom gave a bare hint of a nod and dragged him around his living room, highlighting the expensive couches he had bought barely a month ago which needed to go. He asked him to get rid of his Turkish carpet as well or make it useful in the manner he wanted. He proceeded to show the other rooms with enough enthusiasm to seem indifferent.

As they moved through the hallways, Harry turned to Tom, "What about your bedroom?"

"Down the hall, I like it the way it is," Tom guided him and opened the door to show his room.

The off cream carpet washed over the floor expansively. A deep brown stained the sheets while a lighter brown painted the duvet and the couch at the bottom. The mirror was ornately designed and had been in use since the birth of Salazar Slytherin, the handles beside the dresser were beautiful cedar wood with gold handles and right beside it was the newly renovated walk-in closet which Tom was going to renovate. Again.

Harry took a while to assess the room and then looked up at him with what seemed like an idea. "I think I have something you'd like."

"Bold of you to assume you know me well enough to discern my choices."

Harry rolled his eyes and accioed a parchment before casting another charm over it. And a hologram hovered over the parchment where he went on shifting from one slide to another and arrived at a piece of furniture. More specifically, a bed which was elevated to quite a height, the wooden frame was accompanied by three steps adjacent to it and had a canopy falling over.

Tom was impressed, that was something he would like, quite modern but with a touch of vintage. He asked Harry to rotate the hologram and zoom in to realise this would cater quite well to an Omega.

"Colour me impressed," Tom admitted, which brought a smug grin on the Omega's face.

"I shall take it over from here, Lord Slytherin," Harry informed him, "I think I know what to do with your house, I shall be back in the evening to finalize the details."

"I am not available today evening, will today afternoon be amicable?" Tom questioned.

"I am unavailable today afternoon."

"Tomorrow afternoon?"

"I'm not available in the afternoons."

Tom looked at him very sceptically when Harry finally receded and agreed for the afternoon on Friday.

After Harry had left, Tom shifted his mind to return to his duties at the ministry. The day had passed without any issues until a brief knock on the door had snapped his attention out of the paperwork for the next session of the Wizengamot.

"May we take a moment of your time, Alpha Riddle?" Narcissa's sweetened voice pushed through.

"Come in," he allowed and leaned back on his chair. His eyes roamed over her person and Rabastan who entered.

He remembered delegating this task to Rodolphus and Rabastan, not Narcissa. Specifically not Narcissa. She had enough on her plate planning the wedding of her son and was stressed, plenty. He had no desire to add on to it. He knew she was much more capable single-handedly than a legion of Alphas but that did not validate exhausting her to the brim.

Tom clearly remembered the day he had entered Hogwarts without a knut to his name and Narcissa had deigned herself to mentor him. She had no reason to associate herself with orphan Thomas Riddle but she did and he never forgot the kindness bestowed by her. He was intensely possessive of her and anybody who even thought of her in the wrong way faced his ire. But that was long before she married Lucius Malfoy. Lucius was his friend, the only person he would give the title to but Narcissa was his family and boy, did he trial him by fire.

They handed him a file with nearly everything written accordingly but the Alpha looked up at Rabastan with a menacing glare, "I asked you to do this, did I not?"

"My Lord," Rabastan began, placatingly, "Narcissa barely accompanied me, the task was accomplished by Rod and me."

Tom was unconvinced but Narcissa looked at him accusingly, "I was not aware, Tom. He was leaving with Rodolphus when I caught up with them and made Rod take Lyra for her vaccination."

Tom was still unconvinced and shook his head. This was an unyielding debate and wasn't going to give fruitful results. And he knew why Narcissa was here anyway.

"Is Draco all right?" He questioned, double-checking the welfare of his godson.

"Draco is quite content with his Alphas," She allowed and then looked at her, "but why do you want to marry someone nearly half your age?"

"He is not half my age," Tom disregarded in a cavalier manner.

Narcissa gave him a look, "He is eighteen, Tom."

"He is of age "

"And he has Lily Potter as his mother," Narcissa reminded him and then raised an eyebrow, "Alpha Lily Potter."

"She is quite a problem, isn't she?"

"Quite?" Rabastan had found his voice and shook his head, "My Lord, that is an understatement if I have heard one. And no offence she would cut your throat for even thinking about it."

Tom's eyes simmered into blood-red as he glared at Rabastan but he did not back down and Narcissa added, "He is telling the truth, Tom."

"Harry was a miracle child, you know Alphas cannot give birth, right?" She reminded him, raising her eyebrow and Tom was suddenly very very curious about how exactly Lily conceived her child.

"He is not adopted?"

Narcissa clicked her tongue, "No, nobody knows how she did it but the child is one hundred per cent her and her husband's."

Tom took a moment to think about the mystery of Harry's birth and then shook his head, "Anything else, I must know of him?"

Narcissa glared at him and sighed, "Do not let Bella know until he returns your feelings."

Tom narrowed his eyes. That was an absurd request especially considering the fact it was Bella who told him to get a pretty thing, "Why?"

Rabastan and Narcissa looked at one another and sagged by a measure, meekly allowing their perfect posture to falter. But the Beta moved forward to place his hands on Tom's desk, "The present Lord Black and his pet werewolf are his godparents and at some point when Bella was visiting Andromeda, she had brought Sirius along who was babysitting ten-year-old Harry."

Narcissa let out a sigh, "Bella surprisingly got along with Harry but Lily was not pleased with her son associating with our side so she asked Harry not to do so."

"Eventually, Harry sought Bella out through Draco and wrote to her, they got into a very mentor-mentee type of a relationship."

"Lily knows?"

"We don't think so."

"Interesting," Tom noted, which made Narcissa look at him in disappointment.

"Don't break him."

"Hades didn't break Persephone," Tom retorted.

Narcissa's eyes squinted, huffing a breath, "Exactly, Hades offered half his kingdom, her freedom, made her a throne of the bones of others and a crown with bones of his own."

"I do not think you would do either," she added, seriously.

Tom looked at her with a bland expression devoid of salt and pepper. He knew her worry came from a place of concern both for himself and for Harry but she didn't know the intensity of what he felt towards the Omega. In thirty-seven years of his existence, he was the first Omega his Alpha called out to, his instincts moaning for, his magic rushed through layers of his skin only to lick the remnant scent left by the Omega. Tom did not want the Omega, he needed him, the way magic needed wixens to survive.

He was his Omega. His. And he always got the things he desired.

"Exactly, I think I will throw the entire world at his feet," Tom acquiesced.

Narcissa looked sceptical but sighed, "For both our sakes, I hope you are right."

Thursdays Tom returned from work early. Most people would prefer it if it was a Friday, Tom didn't mind very much if it was any day, he just wanted to get away from Fudge. Every day the man surprised him with his audacity and every day Tom surprised himself by the amount of patience he exercised at not stabbing him.

When he arrived at Slytherin Manor, he noticed the cold air which swept easily through the grounds. Tom always found it intriguing that although Slytherin Manor was positioned in an optimal location, the entire place was always cold. His heating was turned on all the time, the gardens were massive but there was less greenery, the trees were perpetually withering and the strongest of magics could not revive them. The only redeeming part of the landscape was the river which flowed, it was called Marvoneri according to the books he had read but as the place was magical, nobody knew where it went. And Tom did not possess the time for adventures. So when he noticed roses blooming on a solitary bush behind the statue of Salazar Slytherin, he was concerned.

He stepped before the rose bushes and called for Misty immediately.

"Lord Master, Sir," Misty greeted.

"Good Evening, How did this happen?" Tom questioned, his tone quiet.

"It bes magic, sirs," Misty informed him and Tom refrained rolling his eyes, "it bes the man who bes changing."

"Changing?"

"Omega Man."

Harry.

"There be he!" The elf pointed as Harry was surveying the dried up hedge.

Tom walked to meet Harry who was looking stunning in his fitting muggle jeans and a pale silk shirt which buttoned open enough to know it wasn't decent.

He approached the Omega whose expression melted from his stony expression on noticing him. As soon as Tom was in his vicinity, he felt a ball of anger curl in the pit of his stomach.

Harry was smelling like another Alpha.

"Good Evening, Mister Potter," he initiated coldly to which Harry chirped the greeting back.

"You are early," Harry noted.

"I am," Tom responded, curbing the urge to growl, "how did you make roses grow here?"

Harry smiled looking into his eyes, "It is a gift."

Tom narrowed his eyes and looked at the Omega questioningly, unforgetting the scent which lingered. "Can you do more?"

"I charge by the hour."

Tom grinned and took him to the greenhouse far into the backyard. The withered trees initiating a frown on Harry's face.

"Tom," Harry's eyes looked at him and for a moment the Alpha forgot everything which existed, the stars, the moon, the sun, everything seemed pointless because Harry was before him, "these are awful!"

"Get me a pot of fresh earth, please?" Harry asked him and threw light spells around.

And Tom did. Tom would bring the skies at his feet if he wished for it. If it was his wish he would follow him everywhere, even if his throne crumbled and his shiny crown turned to rust. Even if bodies piled up endlessly above the bottomless pile corpses. He would follow him. His darling perfect Omega.

After bringing the pot of earth, Tom waited for the next order but there wasn't any, Harry continued to meditate before the pots and then eventually put some soil into it. He saw him shutting his eyes again but this time the pots began to glow, magic fluttered its wings through the lovely greenhouse. And Tom felt if he needed a sign there could be nothing bigger than this.

This was his equal standing there, giving life to the things which withered because they shared the same breath as him. And Harry, he gave life to them.

It took a moment but Harry's magic flared up as he moved from one pot to another. He brought out the ones which needed to be unearthed and handed them to Tom. He directed him to handle everything with care and the Alpha sent a fond look in his direction before following it.

"I thought you were an interior designer," Tom commented as Harry pulled a poison ivy to life.

Harry shrugged, "I am but I like gardening quite a lot."

"A hobby?"

"Something like that."

Tom removed his outer robes and rolled his sleeves up, "Something like that?"

At the lack of response, Tom shifted his eyes to the Omega and saw him staring at his person. Raising his eyebrows, he noticed Harry's gaze still not averting and then resorted to clearing his throat which brought him back from the daze the Omega was residing in. The pink flush which coloured his neck and cheeks was just a bonus. He turned and shifted his focus to the plants before him.

"You're really good looking," Harry mumbled.

Tom knew he was not meant to hear that but he replied nonetheless, "I barely hold a candle to your beauty, Harry."

The back of his neck got pink and Tom considered his mission successful but that was when he had an idea. He quickly summoned the apron he occasionally used for cooking. Handing it to Harry he gave the simple reason he was wearing white. The sweet Omega thanked him and put it on instantly.

And he was no longer smelling like a foreign Alpha.

He turned to look at Tom and rose an eyebrow, "You were asking me something?"

"Just why you are an interior designer and not a Herbologist."

Harry sighed and unearthed another pot, "It is an Omega's job isn't it? Delicate, something which would be acceptable, so I didn't take it."

Tom looked at him with a knowing smile. He remembered Narcissa went down a similar lane when she chose her subjects for her NEWTs, her thirst to prove she wasn't a conventional Omega outweighed her passion and the things she genuinely found happiness in.

"Harry," Tom slowly began and then took a potted plant which was presumably dead and tried to revive it, "I cannot do this, I could be divinely gifted but I am not good enough for this, you can, do what makes you happy."

Harry wasn't convinced, "They don't say that to Alphas."

"They should, they should say that to everyone, satisfaction is of utmost importance, Harry," He mentioned, the Omega beside him looking sceptically at him, "greatness can be procured through any method."

Harry let out a huff of upset and then questioned him, "How about you? Are you satisfied with your life?"

Cheeky thing.

"Almost," Tom replied neutrally, his person too close to Harry's own but the Omega did not flinch.

Harry let out a scoff and then a thinly veiled giggle, turning to him, he questioned, "And what is it that one thing stopping you from being completely satisfied?"

Tom's attention drifted to his neck and back up to his lips before settling on his eyes, "An Omega, haven't found one and the one I did is betrothed to someone else."

Harry smirked and pulled up his innocent face, "I think if someone really wants something they'll do anything to retrieve it."

Tom felt a chill rush through his skin. Did his darling Omega even realise what he was suggesting? But the boy was still surprising him as he thoughtfully added.

"And you were the Slytherin King, weren't you?"

Silver clouds dotted the light blue sky as the sun withered easily, it was foretelling a rain spell. The weather had been letting out a call for a heavy storm since the morning. The restaurant which was chosen was in stark contrast to the weather. It was well spaced and screamed professional. Lights embedded in the ceiling emitting a soft silver glow complimented well against the tables and the setting. The walls were pale yellow with hints of the same lime green which stained the chairs. There were a reasonable number of pictures dotted around. Harry had chosen a table that overlooked the Thames and Tom was quick to observe that there was a private box reserved for them.

"I compliment the choice of place," Tom appreciated when the Omega joined him with a satchel.

He had decided to wear fitting white slacks with a lavender tunic accompanied by dark blue robes. "It is the only place which provides a private box at such a short notice with ample space to show you the renovations planned."

As they decided on an order, Tom asked him, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you" Harry replied, his green eyes falling on him.

"I am sorry that occurred."

Tom was genuine with his apology but that did not mean he didn’t enjoy taking advantage of the situation gift wrapped to him. He did not know that Harry's enthusiasm could lead to magical exhaustion. He seemed so sure of reviving the greenhouse and his happiness was nearly bubbling out of him when he did so. And the Alpha was so enamoured that he did not think with his brain. Due to the magical exhaustion, Tom had dropped him home and written down a few potions for him.

Lily Potter was not pleased. She almost looked like she would flay him but Tom maintained his calm, it was easy especially when Harry's Omega in his unconscious state made him stay an additional hour in the room with him.

Tom was thoroughly flattered and his Alpha purred at providing for his mate.

Lily Potter was not.

Harry placed the menu down and gave him a smile, "You couldn't have known and besides I love plants that way."

But Tom did know and Harry did not need to know that.

He pulled out his most endearing smile and questioned, "Your parents were all right with it?"

"Dad was thrilled, he will mostly send you something for your kindness and honour as a thank you token," Harry informed him.

Tom nodded his head and wanted to grin, was it that easy to win Lord Potter over to his side? He would have done it ages ago if he knew. "And your mother? She was displeased as I spent an extra hour with you."

Harry's expression tightened and pointed towards a dish and told him, "I think I'm going to have Veal."

Tom was a Slytherin and he knew that sort of a blatant aversion meant something happened. They placed an order and Harry then began to detail the renovations. It was curious that Harry had selected nearly everything appropriately without regular correspondence almost as if he was designing his own house.

When Tom had finalised the few furniture pieces, he noticed a slight disturbance on the far right, a wizard pushing his way through the restaurant and barged onto the balcony. Everything happened way too quick for him to react, the Alpha pulled Harry by his arm but before he could do more damage, Tom stupefied him.

The Omega's eyes widened as he looked worryingly at Tom and looked at the Alpha stunned. The brunet picked himself up and walked towards Harry but Tom effortlessly held Harry's hand and pushed his person behind him, effectively being a wall between the two

"You two knut whore!" He yelled at him and that's when Tom silenced him.

Luckily, the Aurors had arrived and were pushing the Alpha away from his Omega who seemed too still for his liking. His attention turned towards Harry whose hand was still around his own.

"Take me away, please?" Harry requested, his eyes glassy.

Tom's hand curled around Harry's arm and apparated the two of them to his townhouse in Paris. When they landed on the marble surface, Harry was choking, his eyes almost bordering white. The Alpha could sense the distress fuming around him as his eyebrows knitted in worry.

He wasn’t going to allow his Omega to drop because of an idiot.

"Harry? My Love?" Tom slowly spoke, calling him out, "you were perfect, sweetheart. You don't need to justify yourself to him, you did what any good Omega would do, Harry. You know you were in the right."

He continued to rub his back gently as he remained still in his arms. Tom felt Harry's legs give in as he clung to his robes. The Alpha slowly picked him up and sat on the chaise and placed Harry beside him but the Omega whimpered and leaned closer onto him.

"Alpha, no," Harry whispered, "please."

Tom was concerned at the clinginess, the Omega would not be pleased when his emotions stabilised. Harry was almost halfway into his lap and the Alpha was confused whether to take advantage of this situation or not. But Harry had made the decision for him and made his way through his lap, effectively straddling him.

His fingers pushed the strands of hair cupping his face. "You're fine, sweetheart."

Harry's face pushed itself onto Tom's neck scenting him worriedly as his breathing levelled down. The Alpha continued to whisper calm reassurances into his ear, rubbing his back and playing with his hair.

When Harry relaxed further into his arms, his breathing was no longer erratic. "This never happens to me."

Tom's back remained stiff as he did not dare to retrieve his hands nor did he stop rubbing his Omega's back.

"I...I don't freeze," He muttered, "I never have, I don't... I'm...not this way."

"I'm not weak." He whispered and Tom had to stop him there.

"Harry, freezing because of your biology is not a weakness," Tom explained, slowly.

"But I don't do that, I never do that," he argued which made the Alpha realise it was a completely different route that he had to take.

Sighing, he gently pulled him out from his neck which got a whimper of protest but he sat up looking at him, "Harry, you're smart, a biological response does not dictate your weakness or strength. You are aware of it."

"Some omegas are not affected by that and sometimes they are and that is all right, Harry," Tom told him.

Harry didn't want to believe him. Tom could feel that. His green eyes were repulsed by his weakness and the Alpha knew that feeling very well but this wasn't something that could be disciplined over time, Omega or Alpha responses could be controlled but not extinguished and sometimes the reaction was explosive. It took Tom a very long time to make peace with that idea but eventually, he did and it seemed that Harry suffered from the same.

"I don't want to be affected by it."

Tom remained quiet.

"And I don't want to bond with him."

"You don't need to," Tom assured him.

"A person who uses his Alpha voice to tame his Omega isn't a very good Alpha."

"A very bold statement."

His green eyes were spitting rage as they turned towards him. "You disagree?"

"There is barely anything you could say which would make me disagree with you."

"And that is because I'm pretty or because I am an Omega or you think I'm right?"

"Can it not be all the three?" Tom asked and the Omega seemed taken back but before he could excuse himself and get out of both the Alpha's lap and his embrace, he questioned something, "Why did you choose him as your Alpha?"

Harry sighed and turned his head away, "The Diggorys are a nice family, a light family, their son is doing relatively well in the ministry," Harry listed out, "and is now chosen as the seeker for the National Team."

Tom remained mum.

"They wanted us to have a marriage contract but that would be hypocritical considering my parents' marriage," Harry explained and continued, "and he was quite an exceptional student in Hogwarts, he won the Triwizard tournament, seemed reasonable, I guess."

"And how does he make you feel?" Tom inquired.

"Seemed fine, followed me around like a puppy."

"Do you want a puppy?"

Harry averted his gaze to look at his chest. He forced his eyes to stare up at him, "I'm not going to get what I want regardless, might as well settle down for the best out of the worst."

"Maybe you should have tried searching harder."

"Persephone did not seek Hades out," Harry informed him snidely.

"Hades abducted Persephone, Harry and forced her into eating the Pomegranate."

Harry's eyes assessed him the same way a teacher would to a child, "You think she wasn't aware that Hades stopped his chariot every day to see her? You think she did not know the consequences of eating something in the underworld?"

And Tom froze, his eyes looking at Harry.

"She went from Kore to Persephone, a little girl to the bringer of death," He listed out, "Hades gave her half his kingdom, called her his queen, knelt only to her, do you really think she ate the fruit unwillingly?"

"Unlike Persephone, I am not that lucky," Harry muttered, pulling away from Tom's lap as he stood up slowly.

"Maybe you need to just look."

Harry huffed and straightened his robes, "I am yet to meet a man, never mind an Alpha who would kneel before me to coax poetry out of me."

Tom appreciated Harry's authenticity. He appreciated his rawness which had a passion that could tear through the cosmos to preach its truth. He saw the flailing bird who had fallen into his arms and the phoenix which emerged moments later and it very much reminded him of how Kore became Persephone. Harry wanted a love so earth-shattering, that souls in the underworld felt relief because of its intensity. He did not want flowers which he could so easily grow because of his gift because those were for the dead anyway. He wanted the truth, he wanted fire, he wanted a love which would burn the entire world in its wake, he wanted a fire which would bend its will to his will, he wanted things which not many Omegas would. Other Omegas wanted pearls, he wanted blood as an offering and Tom saw right through that. A love which is the source of every virtue in him and every deed which deserves punishment.

"Thank you for protecting me," Harry said to him, gratefully as they moved towards the floo.

"It is my honour, Harry," Tom told him before he activated the floo, "I need you to remember my home is always going to be a haven for you if your meeting with your parents goes untowardly."

Harry shook his head and pivoted himself to look at him and kissed his cheek, "Thank you," he repeated.

"Of course, Harry."

Harry returned to him that very night. Lily Potter had insisted that Cedric and he could talk out the misunderstanding. Tom smirked at how this Demeter was pushing her Persephone into Hades' arms. He didn't even need to abduct him.

Lily had raised hell by coming down to his manor and had been forced out of the property by his elves. He had offered to buy Harry a room in a respectable hotel but the Omega sensibly insisted that he would rather remain protected here. And Tom did not want to argue with that logic, it seemed sound. The Alpha was pleased that his Omega's betrothed was such a fucking idiot, he did not need to pull strings to make him fuck up, Lily Potter, however, was a welcomed addition. He did not know that the resentment between the pair ran so deep.

So when he was woken up at half-past two in the night by Butter, Tom wasn't surprised. He asked him to take him to the greenhouse where he knew Harry was. He saw the faint gold glow in the greenhouse and stepped through to see the Omega on the floor as he remained hunched over a cauldron. He knocked politely to which startled Harry looked at him in worry.

"The potions equipment is all mine, I did not take yours," he justified quickly.

"I would not mind if you did," he shrugged, casting a cleaning charm on the floor and sitting opposite to him.

Harry did not comment, just nodded his head meekly.

"What are you making?" Tom questioned.

"Pepper up and flu reliever."

Tom narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you all right?"

Harry placed a stasis charm over the cauldron and shook his head in negation, "My firm fired me, I don't want to go back home and I already feel like I am burdening you."

"I hardly met you a week ago and you really don't need to do this for me,” He added.

Tom was good at picking sentences apart and Harry’s concern was that the firm fired him. Of course, the Alpha knew that, he was the one who initiated it. Tom needed Harry to be vulnerable for being receptive of his feeling, he required him to see that Tom would do anything for him. And for that he needed to stress his darling out a bit. Just a bit, enough to push him into his arms.

"Why did they fire you?" He questioned out of courtesy.

"For fraternising with a client," Harry sighed and turned away. "and because they cannot lose the Diggorys as a frequent client."

Tom's lips pursed into a thin line, "And your home?"

"I am not going back to a home that thinks abuse is a misunderstanding."

"You aren't burdening me, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you wish."

"Then why are you being so kind?" Harry asked as he began chopping up mandrake roots. "And I know you aren't gonna answer that, you're just gonna be evasive about it."

Tom rightfully did exactly what he said and was evasive about it but he did notice the Omega's fond expression which was shot in his direction.

"You have a Defence and a Potions Mastery, right?"

"Runes and Charms as well."

Harry gave a lopsided grin expressing how impressed he was with the Alpha, "For Potions which Master did you apprentice under."

"I did not apprentice under anyone for any of my masteries, just invented a bunch of potions, spells and charms relevant to the subject and got my mastery for it."

At that, Harry stopped chopping and looked at Tom with surprise painted all over his face. "You are serious?"

"I believe that is Lord Black."

Harry snorted and let out a giggle and questioned him. "Your praises are not exaggerations, are they?"

"Depends on the praise," Tom retorted with a smirk and averted the focus of the conversation, "you want a mastery in Potions and Defence?"

"And Herbology but the only Potions masters willing to take me are Snape or my mother, I'd shoot myself before going to either of them."

Tom sighed. This was one amongst the reasons he wanted to become Minister, this ridiculous bias against Omegas. It was hypocritical since he held something similar against muggleborns but on seeing how Omegas were treated, how Narcissa was treated, how Bella was treated, how Barty was treated, how people who were under his purview were given unequal rights because of rubbish laws. It made him curb his muggle domination ideas for a very long time.

He would get to the muggleborn laws after everyone he loved was given equal rights. The dynamics did nothing to control his hatred, they just fuelled it.

"I could be your mentor," Tom suggested.

Harry gave him a sceptical look and got up from the floor. Tom quietly followed the Omega as he collected mint leaves and the Alpha wordlessly removed the pomegranates from the tree which grew.

"Could you?"

"I could do a lot of things for you, Harry."

"Slytherins always have a motive," the Omega noted and gathered ginger root, "what's yours?"

"You should know that I was exceptionally kind even in school," Tom informed him.

“So I am a charity case?”

Tom pushed a displeased gaze towards him.

"Speaking of school," Harry turned to him and slowly removed the pomegranates from his hands, caressing his fingers very slowly over Tom's own. "Are your parents still alive?"

Tom would have killed people over this question but this was his Omega so he restrained his anger, "Mother died at childbirth, my father died when I was sixteen."

"I'm sorry," the Omega told him, his eyes showcasing his upset, "How was your father like?"

"Wouldn't know," Tom muttered, removing the stasis spell and adding the crushed ginger roots, "I was brought up in an orphanage."

"With muggles?" Harry questioned, horrified.

Tom shook his head and asked him to pass the whole pomegranate and stirred it counterclockwise again.

"I did too, you know," Harry admitted his hand layering over Tom's own as he took control of the stirring rod, "thought it was a great bonding exercise and thought that my oaf of a cousin could be married to me."

Tom froze. What in Merlin's name?

"He is a muggle, Harry."

"It took my mum a while to understand that and the fact she thought if purebloods can do it, why can't we?"

"Inbreeding? That's why."

"Yeah, Snape pointed it out to her later," Harry's voice was hoarse, almost close to crying.

"What did your cousin do to you?"

Harry's eyes looked into the Alpha's and questioned him, "What did your father do to you?"

Tom had enough, he pinned him against a row of plants and looked into him. Muttering in parseltongue, "If you weren't my Omega, I would've stabbed you, darling."

He then switched out of parseltongue, "My mother was a squib from the Gaunt line tricked him into marrying her with Amortentia."

"Stopped dousing him after she conceived me, Amortentia doesn't buy love apparently," Tom explained to him, "he found out and fled, she died during childbirth. Never tried to seek me out because I reminded him of the witch who raped him even though I'm a spitting image of him."

Harry's visage was a confused cross between pity and concern and Tom never did well with either of them.

"He is dead though," Tom muttered.

"So is my cousin, he had this game called Harry hunting and it is exactly what it sounds like."

"Your parents let it happen?" Tom asked incredulously.

"Father didn't know, mum always said it was a harmless game, she didn't realise the extent of it," Harry continued, sighing, "they never got to know."

"One day he died. I never had to go there again."

"No offence, Potter," Tom began and told him in a matter of fact manner, "your parents are pretty pathetic."

Harry didn't comment on it but interestingly didn't refute either.

Although, a smirk curled up out of nowhere, "No offence, Riddle but likewise."

And to Tom's utter surprise, he chuckled at the comment.

"How old are you?"

"It is rude to ask people's age, Omega."

"It is rude to not answer a question, Alpha."

"I'm thirty-seven."

Harry turned off the flame and placed a fresh cauldron on top of the low flame. "Why have you not taken an Omega yet?" And then amusement pushed onto his face, "It did not fit your twenty-year plan?"

Tom's eyes narrowed at that, how did the Omega know about his plans.

"Look at your face," Harry's chime-like giggle ruffled the air and made the Alpha clench his heart, "obviously I meant that someone like you would have a twenty-year plan."

"Someone like me?" Tom parroted.

"Intelligent, ambitious, handsome, Alpha," Harry listed and began grindingthe asphodel roots. "You would obviously not settle for anything less than the most powerful position in the country."

"That is presumptive."

Harry's green eyes licked Tom's person, "But do you deny it?"

Tom chopped the mint leaves and then retrieved the bloomslang skin, effectively ignoring his question.

"Maybe I never found an Omega who fit my expectations."

"And what are those expectations?"

"Messy hair."

Harry snorted at that.

"A little stubborn because if not how would they stand against me, I'm quite formidable."

"And?"

"To be my strength rather than my weakness."

"Go on."

"I want them to be resourceful, sensible and love me unconditionally."

"Anything else?"

"And not be betrothed to other people," He returned and retrieved a knife to mince the roots.

Harry paused and then looked at him, "What about you? What can you provide for them to give you all of this?"

"Everything."

The Omega narrowed his eyes and looked at him curiously, "Everything?"

"Everything," Tom responded, nonchalantly.

"Bold statement."

"I always fulfil my promises, Harry," Tom assured him, his fingers reaching out to fix the gold chain around his neck, placing the locket over his chest.

And Merlin did his goldmine of a brain formulate a plan.

"I have a locket similar to that," Tom commented, tracing the plain gold over it. He then summoned the locket of Salazar Slytherin and showed it to the Omega before him.

The string of gold looped easily around the locket. The Slytherin coat of arms embossed over it which opened to yield a vial of what seemed like blood.

"It is an heirloom," Tom told him, like that explained everything.

"The vial?"

"It has my blood, so when I put this around my Omega, the locket first focuses on the skin and pricks the chest to get the Omega's blood."

Harry expectantly waited for him to continue.

"The wards and Gringotts get a notice that my Omega has accepted my proposition and is willing to bond with me."

"And if the bonding does not happen? If the Omega does not like you anymore?"

"Both of us die."

"What the fuck?!" Harry exclaimed, losing all decorum.

"It recognises the Omega's blood, imprints our line's magic, imprints the name on the family tree, calls forth old magic and places the bond,” Tom went on slowly, “the only thing which remains is to place the bonding bite to seal it, every other requirement has already been fulfilled,”

"You can't break the bond afterwards like in a few years?"

"No, it shows the incapability of both the parties," Tom told him. "Forever is a long time, both of them should be smart enough to not commit if they are unsure."

"It's not," The Omega muttered and began stirring the potion, "forever is long only if you despise your own company or the one you decided to share it with."

"A romantic."

"Sometimes."

"Have you met anyone worth spending the forever with?"

"Maybe," Harry muttered.

The Alpha did not anticipate the surge of jealousy that tore through his chest.

"Who?"

"You, of course," Harry replied as casually as someone was when they discussed the weather but effortlessly causing Tom to still himself abnormally, "any omega wouldn't mind spending their forever with you."

"You're flattering me."

Harry reached out to the powdered wormwood and sprinkled a pinch of it over the cauldron turning it colourless, "Not really. But you're yet to offer me something priceless."

"I'm relatively sure Diggory did not offer you anything priceless."

"He did," Harry giggled and lowered the flame, "I have a cloak made of mermaid hide. A willing mermaid."

Tom's eyes shot in the direction of Harry with surprise brazenly evident on his face. It took him off his decorum thoroughly. Merpeople were magical creatures who had a semblance of human intelligence. And their hide was the most optimal for the nest of an Omega after that of a manticore.

"What is that you can give to be at the reception of such priceless gifts?"

Harry's lips curled into a smirk, "Everything."

Lord Potter was a Beta.

A Beta who had married an Alpha because he loved her. And Tom respected that, he married an Alpha and a muggleborn and never once did leave her. In fact, he had handed her thorough jurisdiction over House Potter's Wizengamot seats. And Lily Potter had made good use of them. She had obstructed Tom's way with every opportunity she got except for the times it involved the Department of Mysteries or Hogwarts. Those motions were always done in acquiesce to his own vote.

Severus Snape was employed at both places.

Regardless of how tightly wrapped the affair was, he knew. And his suspicions were, so did Harry. The venom in his voice was too intense for it to be otherwise.

But he did wonder if he knew of the affair his father was having with the Head of the DMLE, Amelia Bones.

No wonder the boy was so sceptical of everyone.

He let his gaze slip away knowing he had retrieved enough information as he offered to the man before him, "Lord Slytherin, I compliment the choice of tea."

"It's Arabian, I take it on Sundays," Tom explained kindly with a smile. He knew he needed at least one parent's consent for allegedly marrying their son. "How is work?"

"You are well aware of the budget cuts for the Auror department this year," James sighed in exhaustion.

Tom sympathised with him. He knew the Auror department needed a broader budget this year especially because their cuts were consistent for the past two years. Tom had voted explicitly against the Department of Mysteries receiving extra funds which were needed by the DMLE.

"I spoke to Cornelius about it before it was finalised and voted against it explicitly but it was all in vain," Tom informed him, "but why did Lady Potter vote in favour though, the Department of Mysteries or Income tax truly do not need the money, I thought she knew."

James Potter looked like he was slapped and Tom always took great pleasure in being a subtle cunt to people in general. "Sometimes, she and I disagree on politics."

"That is why I did not take a partner," Tom subtly jabbed him, "Narcissa and Lucius have set too high standards and I know everyone is not that lucky."

Lord Potter scoffed and decided it was an opportune moment to divert the topic, "Speaking of partners, I wanted to know your intentions for my son."

"Gryffindors," Tom muttered under his breath but then thought of taking a leap of faith, "he was my assigned interior decorator-"

"Cut the rubbish, Riddle," James interjected with impatience evident in his tone, "you and I both know you don't do anything without an ulterior motive."

Tom looked at him contemplatively and thought of riling the Lord again, "And if I say I want him as Consort Slytherin, what will you do about it?"

"Why?"

The lukewarm response was not what he expected, either James Potter had suddenly matured from the seventeen-year-old child he perpetually was or he very interestingly acquiesced to it.

"He is beautiful, intelligent, stubborn, resourceful," Tom listed out, "and my Alpha sees him as a potential mate."

James snorted at that, "Every Omega is a potential mate for your lot."

Tom shook his head seriously, "Not me, certainly not me, your son is the only Omega I have been attracted to solely by his scent."

He considered the answer, Lord Potter was considering his proposition. "How do I know that my son will be safe with you, you could just be using him."

"I am not," Tom muttered in a matter of fact way, trying to suppress his fondness for Harry's name, "I like him, quite a lot which is why I was going to visit your manor in the evening to ask for your permission but you beat me to it."

James glared at him with a dumbfounded expression, "Harry desires to be a working Omega, wishes to take over both the family potions brewery and create his own."

"As he should," Tom replied, "he is a very capable potioneer, he is wasting his time by forcing himself through interior decorations."

The Beta wasn't convinced, "He does not want children."

"That is a lie."

James narrowed his gaze, "You have discussed it?"

Tom smirked at him, "I know him."

"He won't agree with all your policies."

"I want a mate to share my world with, not a journalist to critique my work."

"He will not be happy with Narcissa's influence in your life."

"I won't be happy with Lily's in his."

James did not back down, "Lily won't be happy."

"She is never happy, Potter," Tom huffed a sigh out, "he is my Omega and if she does cause an inconvenience, she will face the brunt of my rage."

James glared at him but did not respond, "Expect Sirius to kick up a shitstorm as well."

"And you?"

"He might be of age and I know he can certainly fend for himself but you touch a single fucking hair on his body with the wrong intention," James threatened him, "you'll disappear before you are even declared a contender for the elections."

"I shall consider myself warned," Tom waved off nonchalantly.

"You are probably the only person who can both accept him and love him for who he is," James continued and then with an expression of concern, "and for that alone, I give you my permission to court him."

The Alpha wasn't able to reply to him due to Harry's sudden appearance. The Omega was dressed in Tom's robes, they were transfigured to fit him but they were his. And he internally purred at the perfect fit. His darling Omega smelling just like him.

While he remained in the daze of his Omega smelling just like him, Harry had greeted his father quite enthusiastically and even had a conversation before turning his attention to Tom.

"I had a favour to ask of you," he began slowly, "Iris mentioned you will be visiting Gringotts, could you get this polished with yours too?"

He handed him the Potter locket and Tom had to curb his grin, his Omega was practically gift wrapping himself to him.

"Sure," Tom nodded and left the father-son duo alone to tend to his errands.

He had dropped both lockets off at Gringotts and paid them triple the amount to assure Harry got the Slytherin locket and he mistakenly put that on instead. He trusted the goblins more than he trusted most of his human friends and he knew they would deliver.

He had informed Harry of his lunch with Bella in Italy and he wouldn't be present at least until late afternoon.

On reaching the restaurant Bella had chosen, Tom took a moment to appreciate the view of modern-day Florence. The stoned walls gave a rustic feel to the entire place, the maroon decor seemed to blend out well with the atmosphere. The sunlight through the windows diminished the need for the necessity of any illumination on the interiors.

The waitress had been exceedingly polite and led him to his friend.

"Good Afternoon, Bella," Tom greeted and he knew-

"-Tom!" And he was enveloped into a firm hug.

There was no chance that she grew taller at her age.

"Are you wearing heels, Black?"

"It's Lestrange, it has been Lestrange since a very long time," she informed him and broke away.

"I still wonder how you both get along at all," Tom muttered and took a seat.

"Love, of course," Bella chirped and took her seat, "and according to a little birdie, you're having a full experience of that."

"And this birdie will be tortured inhumanely if his first name is Rabastan and his last name is Lestrange," Tom told her, holding no mirth in his voice.

Bella let out a laugh and shook her head, "That's good because his first name is Rodolphus and his last name is Lestrange."

"You have him wrapped too firmly around your fingers," he commented and settled on soup and ravioli.

Bella pouted and added some wine on the self-writing quill's menu, "You say it like it's a bad thing, especially since my darling godson is effectively doing the same with you."

Tom raised an eyebrow, "Narcissa gave me the impression that you would be furious if you knew."

Bella shrugged as she charmed the bottle to pour wine into her goblet. "I would be if you had initiated it, not Harry."

At that, Tom's focus fluttered from his goblet, his mind zeroed on her statement, "What do you mean not Harry?"

Bella looked confused now, her dark eyes narrowing, "Harry insisted that you were to be invited to their Autumnal Ball, neither James nor Lily hold you in good graces," she educated him, "but he said he since you would eventually become Minister it would be wise to initiate friendship."

"Why would he do that?"

"Well, he likes you, of course," Bella chirped obliviously, "he has adored you since he heard about you from me."

"Your work for pushing the statue of secrecy, promotion Omega and Beta welfare, laws against creature discrimination, everything," she continued and then explained further, "I thought he admired you as a role model or something but I had no effing idea that he wanted you as an Alpha, full disclosure, Rab and Rod choked when they heard about it yesterday."

"He never told any of us," Bella muttered, the offence in her voice evident, "and he tells me everything!"

"When were you made aware of this?" Tom questioned, finding his voice.

"Yesterday!" Bella replied, upset, "he came to Lestrange Manor before coming to you."

"He said he came directly from Potter Manor."

Bella swallowed her wine and clicked her tongue, "Certainly not. He wouldn't outrightly lie, he is a terrible liar, he probably omitted the truth. Like any self-respecting Slytherin."

"He is a Slytherin?"

"You didn't know that?"

Tom didn't.

"Why? Why would he do this?" The Alpha let out, the question being thoroughly rhetorical but Bella answered as if he was inquiring about the salt in her dish.

"Why would any Omega do anything, Tom?" She questioned and served herself a portion of the chicken roast, "He loves you to the extent of manipulation."

Tom's mind reeled through all his encounters with the Potter Heir and the puzzle pieces came sinking in like a ship in a very heavy storm, obliterated before it even realised the true extent of what had occurred. Harry had arranged this shitstorm all on his own only for obtaining him, he was playing the same game Tom had played and the Alpha in him did not know to be enraged or flattered.

Nobody had gone to such great lengths to manipulate him because a) Tom would kill them and b) point a.

He had to find Harry. Now. Turning towards the Omega before him, he cast a charming smile, "Bells-"

"-don't even think of standing me up, I'll kill you," she threatened him before he could even complete his sentence.

But the threat was in vain and Tom had already retrieved his cloak, kissing the top of his head, he looked at her, "I will make it up to you, promise."

"I shall eviscerate you one day, Riddle," she called as he apparated out of sight onto Slytherin Manor.

Tom was immediate in bellowing for Iris and questioned where Harry was. The elf whimpered and directed him towards the greenhouse. He assessed the greenhouse flaring up in gold and silver, magic. He pushed open the greenhouse and noticed the cold his person brought, he had been that way long before he was born and after so many years, he was pleased that this was the effect it brought. But he realised that his presence was highlighted only because there was a source of warmth. They were interdependent, there was no need for warmth without the presence of cold. And his gaze trickled around to see the once dishevelled, unliving greenhouse sparkling with life, overflowing with warmth as if someone had initiated a rebirth of the entire establishment.

His eyes trailed in the direction of the robes which billowed in the corner and moved further towards the newly made gazebo inside of the greenhouse.

He gently touched the white marble which was bleeding magic. He realised it was still on its way to solidifying but the calm the place carried was indescribable. There was a table in the middle with a bench on either side. But he did notice the Evening Prophet on top of the table with a peculiar headline. 'Minister Fudge involved in potions and narcotics smuggling'.

But the Evening Prophet wasn't due until half-past five and it wasn't even three yet.

"Tom," Harry's voice seeped in through, he was carrying a crate of pomegranates but his gaze fell upon the paper in his hand and pushed out a frown on his lips. "That was supposed to be a surprise."

"A surprise?"

Harry let out a soft smile, "I did mention that I would give you everything."

He noticed his robes, deep red like the flames which engulfed hell, deep red like the crucios he threw, deep red like the blood which was spilled to ensure the advent of their love. The gold of Salazar Slytherin perched neatly over his flesh. Now, only a bonding bite was required, Harry would be perfectly adorned. His consort. His wife.

And Tom couldn't help it, this boy was perfect, in every way, he would be inclined to believe there could be no person more suited for him than Harry.

"What's wrong, Tom?" He questioned, his eyes looking up at him, the green bringing his reds to a standstill.

He then placed the pomegranates on the table, focussing on the Alpha before him. Tom held his hand and guided him to the bench which was newly made. And then knelt before him.

"You're perfect, Harry," The reverence in Tom's voice was evident and the action surprised the Omega, "the skies, the stars, everything will be at your beck and call. I will adore you, I'll only live for you, just say that you belong to me."

"Oh, Tom," Harry began, his hand tracing the Alpha's cheek, "you silly boy, I always have."