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Chapter Text

On September 1942, the school year at Hogwarts had begun, and everyone was asleep. Everyone except for Tom Riddle. He had grown during the summer despite still residing at Wool’s Orphanage and having to fight for food. World War II had exploded in the British Isles, and multiple deaths were reported every day ever since it started. Tom had wondered whether he would be next. The Orphanage was in the centre of London, the epicentre of the War. It had been unsettling to live there during the summer. Particularly when a bomb dropped too close to home. So when September rolled around, Tom was more than relieved. He would be safe and away from death. He had asked Cantankerus Nott to lend him some obscure books from his family library, and the mousy boy had been more than happy to oblige. War was a scary time, and Tom wanted to do anything to avoid dying on muggle ground.

So, Riddle was elated when he received his Hogwarts letter with a Prefect badge. Being a Prefect came with extra responsibility and advantages, such as access to the library's Restricted section. And Tom took his role seriously. It was later at night, and he was patrolling the corridors of Hogwarts to ensure that no students were breaking curfew. Despite being safe, Hogwarts was still a place that could be under attack. Grindelwald was roaming free in England and was steadily gaining popularity within the Wizarding community. So, it was a given that every student at Hogwarts should be safe and safe on the school grounds and tucked away in their dorms at night. Tom marched calmly in the hallways of Hogwarts, listening closely for anything that would be out of place. Children, especially first and second years, tended to be quite homesick the first couple of weeks back at school. 

At that moment, Tom heard a sniffle coming from a broom closet. It wasn’t uncommon for children to hide in hopes of not being caught. But Riddle knew all too well that hiding was a means to an end. Danger could not get to you if one remained hidden. It was self-preservation. Not wanting to frighten the child further but still having to abide by his duties, Tom carefully approached the door and opened it. Inside was a small child in baggy clothes, most definitely too young to be of Hogwarts age. The child looked to be around eight or nine. His eyes were closed, hidden by black and round glasses. He was softly rocking himself soothingly. Tom was never one to be caring or friendly, but he could pretend. Strangely, the child reminded him of how he used to feel at the Orphanage. So, the Prefect bent down to be on the child’s level.

"Hello, what are you doing in there?" He asked the dark-haired child softly. 

It was pitiful how the boy nearly jumped at his voice. It was as if the child was expecting to be hit. The boy didn’t even look up to meet his eye. He continuously spoke his head, mumbling apologies over and over again. Tom frowned at the sight. Something wasn’t right. The Prefect looked around, he was alone. So he tried to calm the child again. 

"What is your name?" Tom asked sweetly.

The boy sniffled. But it seemed to soothe him. Bright green eyes filled with tears looked up to meet his warm brown ones. The child was scarred; he had a scar. It slashed across his forehead through his eyebrow and stopped just above his left eye. The boy seemed to study him as if afraid Tom would strike him dead. 

"I’m Harry," the boy whispered.

Riddle nodded with a smile. The boy was scared. He was looking around the broom closet with wide eyes as if he was trying to comprehend where he was.

"All right Harry. What are you doing hiding in a broom closet?" The Prefect questioned.

Harry shrugged, but Tom saw him wince in pain and shudder a breath. The boy was hurt. That much was obvious. Tears welled up in his green eyes again, and he rushed to answer.

"My aunt and uncle locked me up in my cupboard because I did a freaky thing, and they said I could die inside it. But I didn’t want to die, so I wished really hard to be somewhere safe, and now I’m here, and I don’t know where is here," Harry said hurriedly.

Tom gulped almost visibly at the boy’s words. Harry had apparated within Hogwarts. And the boy didn’t know. He held out his hand to the shaken boy. The latter watched it suspiciously. 

"What was the freaky thing that you did, Harry?" Riddle asked.

The boy shrugged again and sighed.

"I just spoke to a pretty snake while I was working in the garden. And then Aunt Petunia screamed that I was doing freaky things," the young boy answered.

Tom’s breath hitched in his throat for a moment. That boy was a parselmouth. It was a very brief second, but Riddle was elated. He wasn’t alone anymore. He beamed at the little child.  And for the first time, Harry gave him a shy smile in return. 

"I can speak to snakes too, Harry. Do you know what that means?" The teenager asked almost in awe.

He heard a small gasp coming from the child, and when he looked down, Harry was watching him with wonder in his eyes. It looked like the boy was worshiping him. And Tom had never felt this good in his life. It was addicting. Tom believed that the tiny boy was a precious thing. He didn’t deserve what had happened to him. Harry seemed to recompose himself slightly but the stars in his green eyes were still very apparent. 

"It means that you are a Wizard. Like me. You can do magic," Tom concluded. 

Harry looked skeptical for a moment. But the furrow in his brows softened as he looked around the space he was in. 

"Is that why I’m here? So you can save me and teach me magic?" The boy asked, sounding almost hopeful. "Also, what’s your name?"

It made Tom smile even wider. The teenager had never wanted to be someone’s hero. And ever since he met Professor Dumbledore at the Orphanage, the man had made it his mission to ensure Tom could never be seen as such. Professor Dumbledore was constantly on his tail, waiting for Tom to make a mistake. So, for Harry to regard him as his saviour was something he never expected. 

"My name is Tom Riddle. I am a Prefect at Hogwarts. Will you come with me?" The brown-haired teenager said gently.

Harry nodded eagerly and held out his hand for Tom to take. It took too long for the Prefect to react, making the young child retract his hand and look at his feet in shame. Tom stood up slowly and held his hand out to Harry. The boy took it with a wide smile. They silently walked hand in hand down the dark corridor. The child kept looking around the castle in awe. He seemed fascinated with the moving portraits and the ghosts moving around Hogwarts. If Tom had been a more sensible person, he would have gone to Headmaster Dippet’s office to report what had happened. But the teenager was not sensible. Which was why he was leading Harry toward the Slytherin dormitories. As they reached the wall to the Slytherin common room, Tom pulled Harry closer and whispered the password. As the door appeared, he could hear Harry gasp in amazement. His green eyes were scanning everything. Only a few people were awake in the common room. It was almost instantaneous. The girls cooed at the child. Harry seemed embarrassed as he tried to hide behind Tom as best as he could.

"Abraxas!" Tom barked.

A blonde-haired teenager wearing silky pyjamas looked up from his book startled. Malfoy’s light blue eyes focused on the child behind Tom in confusion.

"Could you please fetch me some clothes that will fit a small boy?" Riddle asked sweetly.

Abraxas nodded and walked out of the common room to do as he was told. The Prefect crouched down beside the child and smiled at him. It looked like the boy was shaking so, Tom brought his hands to his small shoulders and squeezed.

"How old are you Harry?" The brown-haired teenager asked.

Whispers broke out in the dorms. And the boy looked around uncertainly. Then Harry brought up in hands, ten fingers displayed in front of him. The boy was ten years old. The room was suddenly filled with coos from the girls and knowing laughs from the guys. Tom knew that Harry had them wrapped around his fingers in an instant. Harry gave him a bantam smirk when he dropped his hands to his sides. ‘Oh, that little boy is a Slytherin in the making,’ the brown-haired teenager thought. He stood up slowly and assessed everyone in the room. They were all staring at Harry.

"Harry is our newest Slytherin and shall be treated as such. In no way, will you talk about his existence outside these walls." Tom ordered.

Just as Riddle finished his sentence, Abraxas came back with his hands full of clothes for the boy. The Slytherin students all acquiesced and smiled at the boy with genuine wonder and excitement. It was left unsaid but everyone knew. Harry was under the protection of Tom Riddle and the child was to be treated as a prince.

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks since Harry was found in a broom closet and started living with the Slytherins. They had been teaching him everything about Hogwarts such as the classes, the professors and even the extracurriculars. Tom had learned that the child was a mighty wizard when he pushed Justus Mulciber away from him when the teenager seemed angry at someone else. It was an incredible show of magic. It solidified Harry’s prince status within Slytherin House. The boy was dressed in the most expensive robes on the market Abraxas could find. And he looked like a proper little wizard. The Black cousins seemed to have adopted him, especially Alphard and Orion. They never left the boy’s side. Lucretia, Orion’s older sister was even dotting on him as an older sister would. They claimed that Harry must be a Black, for his magic resonated with theirs despite strangely looking like a Potter. It also seemed like Randolf Lestrange would do anything to protect the little boy. Despite everything, the child still came to Tom every time he learned something new or required reassurance. And Riddle was more than glad to oblige. He had yet to bring the child to his Knight’s meetings and made sure one of the girls could watch the boy while they were gone. Harry flourished wonderfully under their care and was shaping up to be a proud Slytherin. Not only that, be his magic became more controlled and powerful. The boy was always under the security of the Slytherin students, in their common room. At least one person was with Harry at all times. 

Tom was excelling in potions class as usual. Professor Slughorn had assigned them to brew the Invigoration Draught. It was said to boost one's energy. Riddle heard tiny footsteps as he added the Stewed Mandrake to his concoction. 

"Hello, there little lad. How may I be of service?" He heard his professor say jovially.

Riddle looked up from his potion and watched. Harry was there, looking around the classroom. He seemed to completely ignore Professor Slughorn, hoping to find what he sought. His green eyes met his brown ones, and a satisfied grin appeared on his young face. Harry made his way toward him and stopped in front of him. 

"Orion told me you’d be here," the boy said enthusiastically.

Tom raised an eyebrow at the child in front of him. He put a stasis charm on his potion and turned to face the boy. Every student had been stunned to silence. Even the Gryffindors who usually had unfunny comments to say were quiet. Harry marched up to Tom and settled next to him on the desk. Riddle eyed the boy suspiciously and sighed.

"Harry, pray to tell, what are you doing here?" Tom asked the boy gently.

The child looked up at him and pouted. It seemed like the boy had been crying for his eyes were red and puffy. Tom frowned at the sight. 

"Well, you told me to come to find you if people were mean to me," Harry explained matter of factly.

It was true. The Prefect had asked the boy to report anything that would be considered callous against him. And for the child to come to him despite solemnly telling him not to disturb him during his studies; the offence must have been enormous. He gestured for Harry to continue his tale.

"I don’t know how he did it, but somehow Professor Dumbledore entered our common room and saw me. He wanted to talk to me, but he was rather rude when he grasped me really hard to follow him outside. Then, Orion came in to save me and told me to come to find you because you would know what to do," Harry continued.

Tom was seething. Not only had Dumbledore entered the Slytherin’s dormitories, but he had also seen and tried to take Harry away. It was unacceptable. He looked around and saw Professor Slughorn’s eyes widen at the child’s words. At least there was someone else who found the whole ordeal despicable. 

Suddenly, a knock on the door was heard, and Headmaster Dippet poked his head inside the classroom, asking to come in. The potion’s professor merely nodded in approval. Professor Dumbledore followed suit. Tom felt Harry press into his side in fear. He saw his transfiguration professor look around the room, and his shiny blue eyes settled on the young child. Tom scowled at the man and watched as Headmaster Dippet’s face morphed into a confused expression. Then, as if nothing happened, the Headmaster beckoned Tom and Harry to follow him. They walked out of the Potion classroom. Harry kept reaching out to hold the Slytherin Prefect’s hand, which he obliged. They arrived in front of Headmaster Dippet’s office in less than five minutes, then went through the gigantic doors. Professor Dumbledore rounded the corner of the desk and stood next to Dippet. The man slowly sat in his chair. Tom and Harry remained in front of the adults in silence. Riddle heard a sigh and looked up when one of his professors cleared his throat.

"Mr. Riddle, would you mind explaining this situation?" Headmaster Dippet asked politely.

Professor Dumbledore looked too pleased to be in the office while Tom was reprimanded. His blue eyes were shining with a weird glint, and in an attempt to shield Harry from the man, Riddle pulled the child closer. 

"Headmaster, I found Harry outside while I was patrolling one night. I could not possibly leave him there. He was starved and scared, so I brought him to the Dungeons with me," Tom explained poshly.

"And why did you not report it right away, Mr. Riddle? Surely, that would have been the best course of action," Professor Dumbledore questioned as soon as he finished his explanation.

Tom scowled at the tone. Dumbledore was waiting for him to slip. Since they met at Wool’s Orphanage, the Transfiguration professor had been itching for a reason to expel him. The Headmaster seemed about ready to demand the red-headed professor to leave.

"Albus, please refrain from such wild accusations. My apologies Mr. Riddle, continue," Headmaster Dippet said softly. 

Tom inclined his head in thanks to the Headmaster and turned to face Professor Dumbledore with a fiery gaze.

"I was planning on reporting the issue to you as soon as possible, Headmaster. However, the damage on Harry was far too grand for me to risk anything less than letting him rest as much as possible. In the time of war, I was unwilling to let a child go unsafely. I am sure you would understand, Professor," the Slytherin Prefect clarified.

Headmaster Dippet gave him a fond smile and nodded in approval. Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore looked like he ate candy that was too sour. Tom felt Harry cling to him, and when he looked down at the boy, sparkling green eyes were already staring at him. He smiled softly at the child and crouched to be his height.

"Harry, do you want to tell them what you told me when we met? About your family," Tom asked the boy with a reassuring smile.

The green-eyed child blinked and looked at the adults in the room. He didn’t seem to trust Dumbledore, but the boy smiled shyly at Headmaster Dippet. Harry brought his attention back to Tom and nodded.

"You mean how they told me I could die, and they would be glad if I did?" The child asked innocently. "Or how they locked me up in a cupboard under the stairs and refused to feed me if I was doing something freaky."

A loud gasp could be heard in the office. Professor Dippet looked as if someone had killed a kitten before him. And Professor Dumbledore was pursing his lips in thought. Tom gave Harry a satisfied little smirk before cooling down his expression and standing up to face the adults.

"As you can see, his case is rather extreme, and I would never allow him to return to his family. This is why I took action to secure his safety within Hogwarts while asking around if some families could eventually take care of him accordingly. So far, the Black family seems eager to host him," Riddle concluded.

If he had not been so observant, Tom would have missed the ugly sneer briefly appearing on Dumbledore’s face. Headmaster Dippet looked delighted and grateful. They exchanged a few more inquiries about the child’s well-being, but soon enough, Tom and Harry were dismissed. Harry could remain at Hogwarts until they found a well-suited family that would be able to take him in. The boy wasn’t happy with the idea of leaving Tom behind, but the Prefect reminded him that he could always visit him if Harry needed him.

Chapter Text

It had been all over the news. An orphaned young boy was getting adopted by the Black Family. Arcturus Black, Orion and Lucretia’s father had met Harry a few days after the meeting with Headmaster Dippet and Professor Dumbledore. Needless to say, Lord Black had fallen head over heels for the young boy. Tom Riddle and his acolytes were eating soundlessly at the Slytherin table, listening to Harry animately chat with Adrien Avery about his dream that night. It was about a big white cat chasing him inside a big house full of books. Now that the Headmaster was aware of the boy's presence, Tom had allowed Harry to join them for a meal. Professor Dumbledore was avidly watching the Slytherin table with a sour expression. It seemed as though, every student within Hogwarts had grown fond of Harry in only a couple of days. It was common to see a few Hufflepuffs walk with the child toward the kitchen to steal a treacle tart since those were the boy’s favourite snacks. Most of the Ravenclaws were welcoming the boy into their study session and gladly answered Harry’s never-ending questions. Despite understanding that the young boy was a future Slytherin, even the Gryffindors welcomed Harry to play exploding snaps or Wizarding chess with them. And yet after a long day, Harry always came back to Tom and fell asleep in his arms. Riddle would never allow anyone to see how the boy melted his cold heart. He had a reputation to uphold. Even if Harry received ‘Good Night’ kisses from him every night.

The formal papers for the adoption were signed a few days before Yule. Lord Arcturus Black had arrived at Hogwarts, and they met in the Headmaster’s office. Orion and Lucretia had been invited to the adoption ceremony as they would officially become Harry’s family. However, the child had insisted that Tom be present and would not take ‘no’ for an answer. The papers were signed in blood since it was a common practice within the Dark Community; a blood adoption was the appropriate term. Harry would take on the physical appearance of his new parents despite being born from other blood. The features would take only a few days to settle on the boy's face. Riddle desperately hoped the child would keep his bright green eyes because they were his best feature. On the documents, Tom could read the name Harry would go by the end of the ceremony. Harrison Cepheus Black. Riddle could not help but think it suited the boy perfectly, for Harry would rule Slytherin once Tom graduated Hogwarts. It only helped that the name seemed to roll off the tongue nicely. 

Tom’s thoughts were interrupted by the call of his name and a small nudge on his arm. He looked down to see Harry waiting expectantly at him. Lord Arcturus Black was watching him with a strange glint in his eye.

"Mr. Riddle, it appears that my adopted son has taken a liking to you. I would like to formally invite you to join our family for Yuletide celebrations." Lord Black said.

Tom’s eyes widen in shock. It seemed too good to be true. The Black Library was, from what he heard, filled with the knowledge of the Dark Arts. And Lord Arcturus Black had generously offered him to celebrate Yule with them because Harry seemed to like him. Tom looked back down at Harry who was still waiting for an answer.

"I…Thank you, Lord Black. Celebrating Yule with you and your family would be an honour," Riddle said disbelievingly. 

It didn’t take more than a few seconds for Harry to jump in his arms and squeeze unbelievably hard for a ten-year-old child. Tom welcomed the hug earnestly with the ghost of a smile on his lips. 

When he met Harry hiding in the broom closet, afraid and confused, Tom felt a sense of duty toward him. Yet, he never would have thought that the child would come to mean so much to him. During that time, Riddle thought he was saving the child by keeping him safe and away from people who would want to harm him. He made plans to get a good family to adopt the boy yet, as he was researching, he couldn’t help but fear that no one would ever be good enough for Harry. However, when he saw how Orion, Alphard and Lucretia had taken care of the boy, he felt prideful but also jealous. Thankfully for him, Harry always came back to him. Tom had become protective of the child, so much so that he would have gladly killed Dumbledore for frightening the boy. The Slytherin had done a fair share of sins in his life due to being afraid. And when Harry hugged him for the first time, Tom couldn’t help but think they were meant to meet. The boy was the warmest person to grace the Earth. With the boy’s help, Riddle would have access to the Black Library yet, the boy in his arms seemed to be a thousand times more important than any books one might find. Tom knew that he was never meant to be a hero. Yet he had tried to play his role for the young boy he met in a broom closet. Never would he have expected to be saved instead. 

Lord Arcturus Black left Hogwarts shortly after the adoption was completed. Harry insisted he stayed in school with Tom so they could take the train home together. When they reached the Slytherin common room with the Black siblings in tow, Orion had been particularly enthused by the idea of introducing Harry as his new baby brother. And thus, the name Harrison Cepheus Black was on everyone's lips. Even the other houses were aware as the news of a new Black family member came to light in the Daily Prophet. The story spread wildly across Wizarding Britain. The news was even printed in Le Cri de la Gargouille, the French newspaper that covered important Wizarding events. And to think that Tom was the first one to save the little boy. He could have ignored the boy or even killed him. He had been researching ways to become immortal. And until now, it had been so crucial for him that he almost forgot anything else, even opening the Chamber of Secrets or researching his family. However, he met a small boy who was like him. A small boy with a knack for sly manipulation and the ability to wrap everyone around his fingers. To Tom, Harry was the most important thing in the world. More important than anything else. Tom was going to kill anyone who dared to hurt this child. He was never meant to be a hero. But he could be a Knight for a King so long as they stood side by side and ruled together. Forever.