Chapter Text
Harry collapsed against the bedroom door that he had firmly shut behind him. He had done it. His plan was officially in motion. Operation “Stop The War From Happening” was officially a go! Harry was under no delusion that he could fully change the teen in the room next to his, he just hoped to stop the boy from losing his sanity through Horocruxes and seeking to rule the world through vigilante violence. If he could push Tom in a better direction, such as politics, maybe their world wouldn’t suffer as much in the future.
Harry hadn’t lied to Tom, Luna had suggested this path of action. She had been rather tightlipped about how it ended but said it was better than the death and destruction they had suffered at the mad man’s hands.
At twenty years old Harry was no stranger to violence and death. It had been incredibly easy to do away with the Riddles and the remaining Gaunts. In doing so Harry removed horocrux sacrifices and cleared the way for Tom to receive an inheritance that would ensure he would never have to suffer and scrape in that shop in Knockturn Alley; not that Harry would allow that to happen again. Tom was Harry's now, his to care for, his to look after. He would ensure that the teen would want for nothing and hopefully turn his brilliant mind to greater things than death and destruction.
He was the Master of Death, who had turned back time for one man, he would not be stopped. Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald and the ministry had better watch out!
***NGDGU***
Tom woke up feeling like he was at Hogwarts, he was warm, comfortable, full and at peace. Opening his eyes he found himself not in the Slytherin dorms but in his room at Castle of Shadows. Yesterday came flooding back to him in waves and he smiled a dark content smile as he remembered the beautiful angel of a man who had been sent to save him from his muggle hell.
A loud pop signalled the arrival of a house elf “Good morning Master Toms” greeted Bloom with a curtsey. “Master Deathy is awake and asks that you join him for breakfast before heading to the Alley”.
That's right! Hadrian had said that Tom had inheritances to claim today and that he was going to give Tom access to the Peverell vaults. Remembering his plot to ensnare the man and keep his attention forever Tom carefully went through his morning absolutions making sure not a hair was out of place. He selected the pair of slacks that he knew made his ass look fantastic and paired it with a green button down shirt with the top few buttons undone. Checking himself out in the mirror Tom bit his lips till they were red and smirked proudly, he looked ethereal and other worldly, who could resist him?
Exiting his rooms, Tom followed Bloom through the winding halls back down the dining room from last night. Entering the space he spotted Hadrian sitting at the head of the table dressed in black slacks and a navy blue button down today. The man was reading the Daily Prophet when Tom entered. He looked up hearing his approach and did a double take upon spotting Tom. Success!
“Good morning, Sir”
“Good morning Thomas, and it’s just Harry, no need to call me sir just yet” said Hadrian with a teasing smile.
“Oh?” asked Tom intrigued
“I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts this coming year,” explained Hadrian.
“What happened to Professor Merrythought?” wondered Tom.
“She is leaving on extended sabbatical to work on a research paper, she’s apparently been planning the trip for years” said Hadrian distractedly as he flipped through the last few pages of the day’s paper.
“So is there a Lady Peverell for me to know about?” asked Tom, helping himself to some eggs, toast and fresh fruit. He needed to know about any possible competitors who would be facing an unfortunate death at his hand.
“Not really my area” smirked the handsome man.
“Oh? You have a consort then?” asked Tom, the man’s comment reassuring him of his chances with Hadrian. Sixteen was courting age after all, and Tom would be sixteen in December, giving Tom seven months to turn the man’s head permanently towards him. This powerful dangerous man would be the perfect consort for Tom’s rising star.
Homosexual relationships were not frowned upon in magical society as there were potions which allowed a same sex couple to procreate.
“Not yet” allowed the man, turning to his own breakfast and offering Tom the paper.
Good… Tom would just have to keep it that way. He took the paper and flicked through it, not used to having access to the news over the summer. Normally Tom would have to rely on his knights to give him the important news upon their return to school or in their meager letters. Now though Tom would be on top of things upon returning to Hogwarts in September, and he would be returning with a secret weapon - Hadrian.
When the pair finished their meal, they made their way to the atrium where Hadrian apparated the pair to Diagon Alley. Upon landing Tom continued to hold onto Hadrian’s arm as they made their way through the Alley. The man had quirked an amused eyebrow at him but didn’t protest escorting Tom through the streets.
Their first stop was the bank. Tom had never been inside Gringotts before, why would he? He was a poor orphan without a vault. Stepping into the opulently designed space Tom was blown away by the sheer power and wealth the Goblins had amassed.
Hadrian led Tom over to an open teller off to the side.
“Good morning Master Sharptooth, may your gold ever flow”
“And may your enemies fall at your feet, Master of Death. How may Gringotts assist the Peverell line today?”
“Sharptooth, this is my ward Thomas Riddle, we are here to get his heir rings and add him to the Peverell vaults”
“Very well, you will need Deathstriker then if you’re here for heirships” said Sharptooth, hopping down from his stool and leading the pair through a set of side doors.
The trio stopped before a door marked “Inheritance Matters - Manager Deathstriker”
The door opened to reveal another goblin sitting at a desk who actually smiled when he spotted Hadrian. It was a terrifying looking thing. Sharptooth left them then, returning to the front.
“Master of Death”
“Deathstriker it is good to see you again”
“It is always a pleasure to assist the Peverell family. Though I thought your lordship had been sorted out” commented the goblin.
“Mine has been, you did an amazing job with that Deathstriker. But we are here today for Thomas” said Hadrian, placing his hand on Tom’s lower back. “I have taken him in as my ward. We are here for him to claim the Gaunt and Slytherin heir rings. On the muggle side he will also be taking over the Riddle estate once he is of age. I trust that you can handle that with the Queen’s Bank?”.
“Of course Lord Death, let’s get your ward sorted” agreed the goblin, gathering a couple parchments, ring boxes, a crystal bowl, a dagger and a blue potion. “How convenient that those families have passed and an heir has been found so quickly”
“Quite” agreed Hadrian with a mean smile… had Hadrian killed his family? No way! Sure the man was dangerous and apparently the Master of Death… whatever that meant… but he wouldn’t have killed Tom’s family for him, right? Tom would have to investigate that more later…
“Young heir, please add five drops of your blood to the potion” ordered Deathstriker, pouring the potion into the crystal bowl and offering Tom an elegant dagger.
Tom easily slit his finger, and added the required blood to the potion. He turned to Hadrian and pouted deviously. “Kiss it better?”
The man smirked and took his hand wandlessly and wordlessly healing him before raising his finger to his lips and laying a feather light kiss to it. “As you wish”
Deathstriker cleared his throat loudly, regaining the couple’s attention. He had poured the potion on a parchment to reveal Tom's results.
Name: Thomas Marvolo Riddle Jr.
Mother: Merope Medusa Gaunt
Father: Thomas Christian Riddle Sr.
Magical Guardian: Hadrian James Peverell
Heirships:
Slytherin (Mother)
Gaunt (Mother)
Riddle (Father)
Vaults *can not be accessed until heir is of age*:
Slytherin - #20
Gaunt - #148
Riddle - Queen’s Bank #34875
Maladies:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Soul Bond:
Hadrian James Peverell
Tom stared transfixed at the last item on his blood test. He was right! Hadiran was his in every way. Tom didn’t quite know what a soul bond was but it seemed like magic was giving Hadrian to him.
“Well young heir it seems like we have some rings for you” said the goblin. He passed over the first ring box which included a silver ring with snakes carved around it with emeralds for eyes. “This is the Slytherin Heir ring. Place it on your right ring finger. The rest of the rings will meld with it”
Tom followed Deathstriker’s directions. The next ring was a simple gold ring with an R engraved on the top. “This is the Riddle heir ring”. Tom slipped it on and watched transfixed as the two rings heated up and merged leaving only the Slytherin ring behind.
“Finally the Gaunt ring” said Deathstriker passing over a silver ring with a single snake forming the letter G. Tom slipped this one on too. “Focus on which ring you want to show and the ring will respond”
“Thank you Deathstriker” said Tom respectfully. He was in awe of the power and wealth that now rested in his hands.
“I believe you also have the ring I commissioned?” prompted Hadrian.
“Yes, Master Death” nodded the goblin, pulling out another ring box and handing it to Hadrian.
Tom turned to look at Hadrian in question.
“I promised you access to the Peverell Vaults didn’t I?” said the man, opening the box to reveal a beautiful golden ring in the shape of the Deathly Hallows with diamonds encrusted in it.
Tom smiled demurely and lifted his left hand towards Hadrian. “Put it on me?” he asked coyly, batting his long dark lashes.
“As you wish” replied the man in a deep tone, sliding the ring onto Tom’s left ring finger. The pair locked eyes and as Tom stared into the man’s darkened eyes, he had never felt more powerful. Tom was the spider wrapping the fly in his web, and as much as Hadrian might struggle he was now Tom’s for eternity.
“This ring will work for purchases and is directly connected to the vault that I set up for you” said Hadrian. “It is a spin off of the Peverell family vault, number one here at the bank”
“Thank you Hadrian”
“Of course, Thomas, anything you wish”
Tom was making a list.
***NGDGU***
Harry did his best to hold in the smirk he felt as the pair finished their business at the bank. Tom was good Harry would admit, but after years of outmaneuvering his older self, Harry could easily spot the boy’s manipulations. If there was one thing that Harry knew about Tom Riddle it was to let the boy believe that he was in charge. All the while Harry would be spinning his own web around Tom, binding him ever closer to him and changing the fate of the world in the process.
Harry hadn’t come to the past seeking to take Tom as his consort, but the boy’s obvious interest in Harry was flattering and another way to bring him ever closer. If the boy wanted to flirt, Harry would let him, he wouldn't act on it though until the boy turned sixteen and was of courting age. At which time a betrothal contract might just come in handy… Harry would need to get the goblins working on that.
The pair left the bank and Tom retook his place on Harry’s arm letting the older man lead them through the streets to Twifflet and Tattings. Stepping into the shop, Harry instructed Tom and the seamstress to put together a full wardrobe, everything from the basic underthings to dress robes to shoes all on Harry’s galleon.
Tom’s eyes lit up as he felt the various fabrics such as acromantula silk and dragon hide. All new and all for him. Harry’s heart warmed at the true joy in the boy’s eyes.
The seamstress took the teen’s measurements and quickly began flipping through magazines pointing out different options which Tom either approved or vetoed. Around them cloth was cut, ribbon spun and clothing came together by magic.
Tom shot a look towards Harry at one point during the ordering process, it was faint but Harry noted the fear in his eyes. “Thomas?”
“I can get anything I want?” checked the boy.
“Yes, anything you desire” said Harry, the gods knew that the Peverell family had enough gold to dress Tom in pure acromantula silk from head to toe ten times over and still have vaults overflowing.
Tom stalled for another moment, before motioning towards a different stack of magazines… “Can we look at those too?” he asked the seamstress.
She positively lit up eagerly grabbing the magazines gushing how Tom “had the shape for them” and how he would look “absolutely gorgeous”.
A lightly blushing Tom picked out a couple items that Harry couldn’t see. It didn't matter though, whatever made him happy.
Harry paid for the purchases and was assured that the items they were not taking today would be delivered to Arce Umbrarum by owl order no later than the end of the week. Shrinking their purchases, Harry stored them in his magically expanded robe pockets.
The pair headed out of the shop stopping at Scribbulus Writing Implements for new quills, parchment and ink for Tom. Harry even bought the boy a Slytherin branded writing set that Tom had been eyeing covetously.
Their final stop for the day was Magical Menagerie. Harry had to pick up some treats for his new owl, Selene, and Thomas was likely to find something that would catch his eye Hadrian was sure.
Collecting his owl treats, Harry looked around for Tom and was unsurprised to find him in the back of the shop hissing at a familiar, though much smaller than he remembered, snake.
“Something catch your eye, Thomas?” asked Harry.
“Isn’t she just gorgeous?” cooed Tom, looking down at a young Nagini. “Can we please take her home? I promise to keep her under control”
Harry caved almost instantly looking into the boy’s hopeful eyes, plus he could hardly leave Nagini here until Tom could afford her himself.
Turning to the snake Harry leaned in and hissed, “You will protect your new master with your life. You will not harm me or your new master”.
“Yes speaker” hissed Nagini
“What is your name?”
“Nagini”
“You speak!?! How??” asked Tom with stars in his eyes looking up at Harry.
“Later, Thomas. Get your snake and let’s head home” ordered Harry, making his way to the counter to pay for everything Nagini would need.
Shrinking Nagini’s cage, supplies and food Harry stored them in his robe pocket before turning to where Tom and Nagini were eagerly hissing at each other. Tom was telling her all about the castle which would be her new home.
“Come Thomas, it’s time for us to return home, if we are any later Sage and the others will be cross with us” ordered Harry, placing his hand on the teen’s shoulder and steering him out of the shop and apparating them home.
