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Chapter Text

Harry was a fairly happy kid. He lived with his parents in his house in Godric’s Hollow. Well, he called it a house, but it was more like a manor. He had three house-elves who helped with the cleaning, cooking, and gardening. And he had a nanny who helped with the playing, studying, and training.

He didn’t use to have one, not before he presented at nine years old. But when he woke up as an Omega, his parents decided to hire the nanny . An Omega with dark, oily hair, a hooked nose, piercing dark eyes, and a big “don’t bother me” attitude.

Harry liked him.

Mr. Snape was fun to play with (he always found Harry during Hide and Seek), easy to learn from (he took his time teaching Harry exactly how to slice a bat spleen), and terrifying to duel against (he’d slashed the last wizard who tried to kidnap Harry from Jr. Quidditch practice).

Harry loved being with him, learning from him, and—especially—prying dangerous spells out of him.

Mr. Snape agreed to teach him, as long as his parents consented and Harry promised to be extra careful with those spells.

Harry had easily agreed, of course. He promised to only use them if he was in danger or if someone else was.

That got a snort out of his nanny-slash-mentor, but his parents were happy and agreed to let Mr. Snape oversee Harry’s magical training as well.

And then they were attacked.

Harry didn’t remember much. 

First, he was sleeping peacefully in his room. Then, Mr. Snape was shaking him awake and dragging him toward a window. The air was thick with heat. Smoke poured in from under the door. Everything smelled like burning.

Harry didn’t see much—he felt it. The panic. The heat. The way Mr. Snape levitated him through the window, down into the garden, where a single house-elf was waiting.

“Mr. Harry! Sir! Dobby is so happy you’re alive!”

“What’s happening?” Harry asked, blinking hard, disoriented. “Where are Mum and Dad?”

“Dobby saw them by the library when the fire reached it, sir,” Dobby whimpered, pulling on his ears. “Dobby tried to stop it, but Fiendfyre is not easy to control, not even for a house-elf! Master and Mistress ordered Dobby to get out before Dobby could try to save them!”

Harry blinked again, confused. Then, as the words sank in, his gaze snapped toward the manor, scanning the smoke-filled windows for any sign of them.

“Harry!” Mr. Snape shouted from above. “Don’t move! Dobby, keep him there while I find a way down!”

Mr. Snape couldn’t levitate himself like he’d done with Harry, nd the rest of the house was no longer accessible. The structure was collapsing, flames curling around every stone and wooden beam. Fire-snakes slithered across the walls. Dragons of smoke and flame roared down the hallways.

Everything inside was being devoured.

Everything and everyone.

“Mum!” Harry yelled, tearing away from Dobby and running toward the front of the house. The library was closer that way—that was where his parents usually met guests.. “Dad!”

Dobby chased after him, desperate. Mr. Snape wasn’t his master, but Dobby had already failed the ones who were. He would protect the boy, no matter what.

“MUM!”

Harry’s eyes stung with tears, blurring his vision.

“DAD!”

He was sobbing now—loud, messy, breathless. And he didn’t see them. The shadowy figures waiting along the path, just past the front gates. The ones who had stayed behind to catch any survivors.

“There’s the kid!”

“ Avada Kedavra! ”

Harry turned just in time to see the green light shooting toward him—only for it to strike something else instead.

Dobby.

The elf's small body hit the ground with a dull thud.

“No—!” Harry’s scream cracked through the night as he stumbled toward him, but the attackers were still there.

“You missed!”

“Ugh, that damn elf. I won’t miss again. Avada Ke-egh! —”

A black robe swept over Harry. Mr. Snape shoved him behind his body in one fluid motion and fired hexes at the attackers, trading deadly spells without hesitation. Harry could hear the sharp clash of magic, but all he could see was Dobby—motionless, eyes open but empty, lying in the grass like a broken toy.

“Harry,” Mr. Snape called, softer now, but firm. “Harry, we have to go.”

Harry didn’t respond. His wide green eyes lifted toward him, glassy with shock. In them, Snape saw not just a child—but grief. The kind of grief too big for someone so small. His parents. His home.

Snape saw not only his charge, the kid of his employers, but also the people who had become his friends. Lily’s eyes, James’s looks.

He found himself, too. 

He’d broken the rule.

Don’t get attached.

Don’t let it get personal.

Too late.

“I’ve got you,” Snape murmured, scooping the eleven-year-old into his arms and disapparating them away.

The crack of apparition was too loud in the unforgiving silence.

I’ve got you.

The wards had fallen.

The Peverells were dead.

Chapter Text

Harry woke early, as always. He got up, stretched, applied his eye drops, checked the wards around his room, and got dressed. Not a single ward had been disturbed during the night—a small victory. His wards were always sturdy, but other Omegas saw that as a challenge. And Severus, of course, had a habit of randomly choosing dorms to break into, only to test ward strength or reaction time.

He’d never admit it aloud, but Severus favored Harry. Treated him like a son more than an apprentice.

Harry felt the same. After his parents were murdered, Severus—his mentor and former nanny—took him in and enrolled him in the Omega Magical Academy, where he studied, lived, and taught when not on assignment.

At first glance, OMA looked like a typical boarding school for Omegas. But as Harry grew older and honed his specialty in Defense Against the Dark Arts, he was invited into a top-secret program: National Authority for Nurturing Youth —N.A.N.Y., for short.

Harry had snorted so hard when he first heard it, he choked on his saliva for a full three minutes before Severus cursed his legs to be like jelly. To have something to truly laugh about, he’d said.

Now, with only outstanding marks in every subject, Harry was ready.

He just hadn’t expected to be called the day right after graduation.

“Tom Riddle?” Harry asked, looking at the file Severus handed him. “As in the Gaunt family? I didn’t know they had a kid.”

“Four, technically. But only one heir,” Severus replied, pointing to the photo of a young girl. “Delphini Riddle. Her mother disappeared three months ago. No leads, no motives, nothing to explain why she left, if she left, or if she’s even alive. Mr. Riddle believes his daughter is in danger and requested our services to keep her safe.”

The Gaunts .

Harry glanced at the man’s photo. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark aura—even on paper.

“You have the right to decline,” Severus added quietly.

Harry shook his head.

“It won’t get personal,” he said firmly. “We don’t even know if they did it,” the memory of fire and screaming from his nightmares flickering in his mind. “Besides,” he looked at the girl. Four years old. As dark as her father, but with wide, innocent eyes. “A child needs our help. I’ll keep her safe.”

Severus studied him. Always so serious, the man’s gaze almost made Harry crack a joke just to deflect.

“I’m proud of you, Harry,” he said. “Help them, yes, but also remember your safety comes first. Call if you need anything,” he placed his hand over the younger Omega’s shoulder and squeezed. “And I mean anything .”

Harry covered the hand with his own and squeezed back.

“I promise,” he vowed. “It’s only for one year,” he smirked. “I’ll be back before you can miss me. Someone has to make sure those white hairs keep growing.”

Severus chuckled and pulled his son into an embrace.

“You cheeky brat,” he scolded playfully. “Be safe,” he whispered.

Harry didn’t reply—just held on.

By the next morning, Harry was gone.

He’d received some coordinates to apparate. He did so, cautious of his surroundings and the people mingling about. But to his surprise, it looked like a common Muggle neighborhood: shops, a park, joggers with dogs, and people rushing to work.

He scanned the place until he found him.

Sitting on a bench near the fountain was unmistakably Tom Riddle. Same hair, same aura, same nose and cheekbones. Harry transfigured his robe into something more discreet and got closer, only to be intercepted by a blond man who had been lurking by the sidewalk.

“Hey, what are you looking for?”

Harry tilted his head, sizing him up. Not a threat. A bodyguard, perhaps?

“Hi,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Harry. I have a meeting with Mr. Riddle.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, his magic brushing over Harry in a subtle but dangerous sweep.

“Huh,” he huffed. “Thought you’d be… bigger, I guess.”

Harry blinked, both offended and intrigued. He dropped his hand.

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah, I mean,” the man babbled. “I knew you’d be an Omega, but I imagined even an Omega bodyguard would be bigger. More imposing, you know?”

Harry stared until the man began to fidget.

“I don’t,” he finally said. “May speak to Mr. Riddle now?”

“Sure, sure! I’m Barty, by the way,” Barty replied, offering his hand now. Harry glanced at it, unimpressed. “Mr. Riddle’s waiting. You go ahead.”

“Thanks,” Harry said curtly, walking past. “I thought Betas were taller, too.”

Barty spluttered behind him. Harry ignored him.

Mr. Riddle glanced at him briefly before his eyes focused back on the little girl sitting at the fountain where she was feeding some ducks.

“I see Barty’s already said something idiotic.” Mr. Riddle’s voice was smooth and deep but with a dangerous undertone, like the caress of a knife before plunging into its victim. “I apologize.”

“No problem,” Harry shrugged. “I’m not here to socialize or make friends. Is that your daughter?”

Riddle arched an elegant eyebrow, studying him with more attention now.

“Yes,” he finally replied. “Delphini, or Delphi for short. She’s six. I trust you’re capable of ensuring her safety?”

“Of course,” Harry said confidently. “And petty arguments with your staff won’t interfere with it. I promise.”

Riddle nodded, satisfied, turning back to his daughter.

“I don’t expect you to be best friends with them,” he agreed. “However, I believe that good relations provide good results. Barty is my… assistant , and therefore, Delphi’s. You and he might spend more time together than you and I.”

Harry nodded in understatement.

“As I said,  I won’t let prejudice affect my job,” he said. “I practically grew up in OMA; however, I know how people see Omegas. I thought your team wouldn’t mention it since you contacted us.”

“And it shouldn’t happen,” Tom sighed. “Barty is just… Barty. You’ll likely witness him getting drinks thrown in his face more than once.”

“And he doesn’t retaliate?”

“He doesn’t need to,” Tom shrugged. “He knows he deserves most of it.”

“Huh,” Harry hummed. “As for Delphini,” he started. “Is there something specific you’d like me to teach her? I’m a Dark Arts master myself, focused on Defense. But I know my way around Potions and Transfiguration.”

“I’ve seen your records,” Tom interrupted. “Outstanding in everything but Herbology. You got the note anyway because of extra projects. You won’t be teaching her. Just keep her safe. Make sure she eats, plays, sleeps, and completes the tasks I assign.”

So Harry would be the glorified babysitter. A bodyguard-friend. He wondered how Delphi would feel about that. Then again, Severus had been his nanny, and he’d turned out alright.

“What about… emotionally?” Harry asked carefully. Tom’s gaze sharpened. Harry didn’t flinch. “I read her file. She lost her mother recently.”

“Leave that to her ,” Tom said coldly. “And to me. She knows she can come to me. She will, when she’s ready. Don’t push her,” he leaned closer. Harry could easily smell the Alpha musk coming off him. “Don’t push me either.”

Harry swallowed and nodded.

“Understood.”

“Good,” Tom said, rising to his feet. “Delphi! We’re going home!”

The little girl turned. She blinked at Harry, then narrowed her eyes. She approached, brushing crumbs from her green dress. Harry looked her over. She looked well taken care of. She didn’t smile, nor did she greet Harry, taking her father’s hand in hers and following in silence.

Harry was surprised to see a car waiting for them. Barty grinned from the driver’s seat and winked obnoxiously. Harry rolled his eyes and climbed in, sitting by the window with Delphi between him and Riddle. 

Delphi eyed him. Harry offered a polite smile. She moved closer to her father.

“Delphi, this is Harry,” Riddle introduced. “He’s your new nanny.”

She glared at Harry and stayed stubbornly in her father’s personal space.

“I don’t need a nanny,” she snapped. “You take me everywhere, Daddy.”

“Not anymore,” Riddle replied, though he didn’t pull away from her. “That’s what Harry is for. He can take care of you while I’m gone. And he can play with you when I’m busy.”

Harry offered his hand to the little girl. He had the impression she wouldn’t be impressed if he treated her like the little girl she was.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Delphini,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. I can teach you how to turn your daddy’s hair white,” he stage whispered, making her smile tentatively.

“Okay,” she shook his hand, returning to her seat. “I guess you can stay if you’ll teach me magic.”

“Oh, we don’t need magic for that,” Harry winked.

Riddle sighed in resignation. That made Delphi more sure she wanted to keep the new nanny.

“I guess I could ask Great-Uncle Morfin to take you away,” she said sweetly. “If you bore me or annoy me.”

Harry’s smile froze. Riddle stiffened beside her.

“Delphi—” he began sternly.

“It’s fine,” Harry said, sitting straighter. “I’ll just have to make sure I’m never boring or annoying, right?”

Riddle sent him a sidelong look. Even Barty chuckled

Harry would be lying if he said he was really fine with the girl’s words. He didn’t exactly fear Morfin Gaunt, but he knew the Gaunts had the biggest network and the darkest knowledge of magic. He wasn’t too sure if he could take Morfin or his allies in a duel—especially if it wasn’t a fair one.

He glanced out the window and sighed.

He was really going to have his hands full with Delphini.

What a task.

Chapter Text

Delphi was a quiet child.

In fact, she was too quiet for her own good.

At first, Harry thought nothing of it, taking advantage of her silence to stand back and keep an eye on her while she played with some dolls or practiced basic spells. She didn’t whine, didn’t ask for help, didn’t throw tantrums. She just… existed. Calm and watchful.

Nothing like Harry had been at that age.

He knew it likely stemmed from her recent loss, but still—there was something else. He didn’t want to think badly of Mr. Riddle. The Alpha clearly loved his daughter. But Severus had taught him how to spot signs of abuse. 

And there was more than one way to damage a child.

Harry had had Severus after the fire. Delphi deserved someone, too.

So Harry made a decision: whether Delphi appreciated it or not, he’d become a safe space for her.

Speaking of, Delphi had just finished her tasks for the day—light meditation and basic spells. They were in the garden of Mr. Riddle’s estate, the one used for his public business. Potion ingredients for magical clients, cleaning services for Muggles.

Harry had been surprised to learn Mr. Riddle operated in both worlds.

“ Pounds and pence can be exchanged for galleons ,” the man had said. “ I have several investments in Muggle companies. Delphi won’t need to work or worry about money when she’s grown .” And of course, they had less public business as well.

Harry was fairly certain she didn’t need to worry about money now, but who was he to argue?

The estate was massive. Riddle’s office sat on one side, Delphi’s room on the other. She wasn’t allowed past the office wards, and therefore, neither was Harry. Only Riddle, Barty, and a select few could pass unimpeded.

And those wards… they were no joke.

Harry had tried tweaking them on his first night, purely out of curiosity. The alarm nearly got him hexed by Riddle’s “associates.” If not for Barty, he’d probably be dead.

Mr. Riddle hadn’t been pleased, but his lips had twitched when Harry explained himself.

“Wanna play a game?” Harry asked, crouching down in front of his charge.

Delphi shook her head. 

She didn’t play silly games , no matter if she had never tried them before.

“A tea party?”

Another shake.

Harry accepted the rejection with a shrug. She had boundaries. He’d let her keep them.

“I—” Delphi hesitated. Her voice dropped as her fingers twisted in her lap. “Could we go for ice cream?”

Harry blinked. That was… unexpected. “Ice cream?”

She nodded.

That would mean leaving the estate, the wards. No one had said he couldn’t take her off the property, and she never asked for anything.

“Sure,” he said, offering his hand with a warm smile. “Let’s go.”

Once they each had a cone, Harry led her to a nearby park. They sat on a bench together, watching the other children play.

“They look normal,” Delphi said after a while. “Well, most of them.” Her nose scrunched as a boy ate sand from the sandbox.

Harry snorted. “I guess your ‘normal’ is different from his.”

She licked her ice cream thoughtfully.

“I can tell you now,” he added, “it’s not normal to have deadly bodyguards at home. And most kids don’t live in mansions.”

Delphi frowned, chewing that over. “Weird,” she mumbled, returning to her treat.

Later, she wandered off toward a fountain while Harry kept watch. He glanced at her, then at the other kids, wondering again how he could help her socialize better. Mr. Riddle was capable enough, but Harry knew he was as closed off as his child. He didn’t want Delphi to grow up like that: lonely.

And then—he felt it.

He stood immediately, wand sliding to his hand with a flick of his wrist.

“HARRY!” 

Harry whipped around in time to see Delphi disappearing into thin air. He ran to the fountain, casting Revelio to find any trace of his charge or her kidnapper.

“Shit,” he muttered, finding a sliver of magical residue. He grasped it before it could dissolve and pulled on his magic to direct him to its origin.

It was dangerous to apparate like that, with only a vague idea of what direction to take. Harry had done more dangerous things, though, so without hesitation, he apparated.

He landed heavily in the middle of a clearing. 

And he wasn’t alone.

“ Protego !”

His shield burst outward, flinging attackers in all directions. One tripped, one slammed into a tree, the third—still standing—raised a wand.

And Delphi, safely out of the battle but firmly in place with a rope wrapped around her arms and torso, was watching in fear. Her mouth was moving, but no sound came out. They had silenced her.

Harry’s eyes flashed gold, and he growled lowly under his breath.

He deflected a stunning spell with a twist of his wrist and retaliated with a silent Expulso . The standing man’s legs shattered beneath him with a scream.

The second attacker—now up—aimed a curse. Harry ducked, spun, and sent a Confringo to the head. It hit the ear. The man screamed, clutching the side of his face.

Harry followed with a cutting spell. The man dropped, throat bleeding, dead.

Only one left.

The broken-legged one whimpered as Harry approached, stepping on his knee.

“You’re going to tell me who sent you,” Harry said calmly. “If you lie, I’ll know. Don’t lie to me.”

Behind him, the last attacker—a woman—groaned.

She stood shakily. Then pointed her wand—at Delphi.

Wrong move.

“ Sectumsempra .”

The woman collapsed in a heap of shredded robes and blood.

The man at Harry’s feet screamed louder.

“You’re not professionals. You’re not trained enough,” Harry mumbled, mostly to himself. “You were just meant to scare me, weren’t you? Hurt me, maybe. But not Delphi. She was bait.”

“Not yet,” Harry hummed. “Now tell me. Who gave the order?”

“I—I don’t know his name,” the man stammered. “We—we just got gold. Said there’d be a target—Omega, dangerous—test the limits. That’s all I know. Please—!”

“Not good enough,” Harry said flatly.

The Cruciatus Curse wasn’t easy to cast. But Harry had learned long ago that some things come easier when you're not casting them in anger—but in cold, controlled calculation.

The man’s screams tore through the air.

Only a few seconds, then Harry stopped.

“Last chance,” he said. “Who gave the order?”

“…a—a blond man —black snake tattoo on his arm—said he worked for the Gaunt heir—said the kid would be safe, just wanted to see you fight, swear it—”

That was enough.

“ Avada Kedavra ,” Harry muttered flatly.

He looked down at his hands. Steady. Too steady. There was some blood on them, and on his clothes. He cast Scourgify to clean it, then turned to Delphi. 

She wiggled, trying to break free, and Harry waved his hand in her direction to dispel the ropes and the silencing charm.

“Are they- dead?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Harry said and held out his hand. “You're safe.”

She took his hand. It was small and cold in his.

“You… you killed them.”

“I did.”

“...Will Daddy be mad?”

Harry paused. “No. I think he was hoping I would.”

Later that night, Tom Riddle stood at the end of the hall when Harry returned with Delphi.

She was asleep in his arms.

Harry raised a brow. “Come to check if your trap worked?”

Tom’s expression didn’t shift, but something dark flashed behind his eyes. “She wasn’t harmed.”

“No thanks to you.” Harry brushed past him and carried Delphi to her room. When he returned, Tom was waiting.

“I expected you to subdue them,” Tom said. “Not kill three trained recruits.”

Harry crossed his arms. “They aimed at Delphi.”

“They were under strict orders not to hurt her.”

“She was silenced, bound, and used as bait. I don’t give second chances when a child is at risk.”

For a moment, the silence stretched.

Then Tom’s lips curled, the faintest smirk breaking through. “Efficient.”

Harry didn’t respond.

“I wanted to know how far you’d go,” Tom said. “Now I know.”

“Do you still want me here?”

Tom looked at him, gaze unreadable. “More than ever.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Harry stared at his back until he disappeared around the corner.

He let out a breath, turned, and quietly walked to Delphi’s room.

She stirred as he laid her down, but didn’t wake.

Carefully, he tucked the blanket around her and knelt beside the bed.

“Your daddy is completely mad,” Harry murmured, brushing her bangs away from her forehead.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of dark eyes lingered in the doorway—calculating, quiet… and, for just a moment, warm.

This assignment was going to be more trouble than he’d expected.

Chapter Text

Harry’s and Delphi’s routine was easy: wake up, have breakfast, do study work, have a break, finish study work, have lunch, and then play, read, or spend time in the garden. It depended on Delphi’s mood, to be fair.

However, a day after the fake kidnapping, Harry decided to skip the study work and relax. Maybe as a kindness to Delphi—who’d technically been through something traumatic, even if she had known it was coming—or maybe as a silent protest against Mr. Riddle, who Harry was still furious with.

So, right after waking Delphi up, he took her to the kitchen. Still wearing pajamas and forgoing shoes. Delphi stole his hoodie, claiming she was cold, and Harry relented easily. He sat her on the counter and then went resolutely to the stove.

It didn’t go as planned.

“Why is it smoking?” he muttered, prodding the pan with his wand.

“Because the fire is too high,” Delphi said matter-of-factly from her perch on the counter. She looked a little ridiculous in Harry’s oversized hoodie. The sleeves hung well past her hands, but she looked quite pleased with herself.

“I’m a bodyguard, not a chef,” Harry grumbled, waving away the smoke and flipping the sad excuse for a pancake. It folded like a letter of resignation.

“You’re my nanny,” Delphi corrected primly. “Which means you have to feed me, protect me, and braid my hair. That’s the job.”

“Cooking was not in my training,” he frowned. “I thought it’d be similar to Potions,” he turned to the nervous elf waiting at the corner and offered a smile and a shrug. “You can finish breakfast. I failed.”

The elf rushed to take over, practically pushing Harry away from her precious stove. Delphi giggled into her hands, and Harry flopped down on a chair with a dramatic flair. He offered her the failed pancake with a teasing smirk.

“Bon appétit, princess.”

“It’s ugly,” Delphi sniffed.

“Well, so am I, but deep down you like me,” he pouted. “Try it?”

She snorted, taking a bite.

A soft cough from the doorway made Harry glance up—only to freeze when he saw Tom Riddle leaning against the doorframe, dressed in black slacks and a crisp shirt, hair still damp from a shower. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flicked from the anxious elf cleaning and cooking to the flour on Harry’s cheek to the girl devouring a misshapen pancake like it was the best thing she’d ever tasted.

“We’re having a breakfast party,” Harry explained, as if daring Mr. Riddle to argue against his nanny choices. “After yesterday’s field trip , I decided to have a slow day.”

 “Relax. You’ve passed the loyalty test,” Tom held up a hand, almost amused. “No need to burn the house down proving it.”

“I didn’t burn anything down,” Harry muttered.

A small explosion sounded behind him, and the house-elf squeaked as he fixed Harry’s tea attempt. Harry blushed slightly. He had forgotten about that.

“Yet,” Tom added, stepping aside as Barty rushed in, wand in hand and half asleep, as if they were under attack.

Barty took in the smoke, the ruined pancake, the elf’s panicked expression, and the tea dripping down the side of a scorched cabinet.

“… You’re cooking?”

“I was trying,” Harry said with a pointed glare. “Pancakes are difficult.”

Barty looked at the elf, then at Tom, then at Delphi, still eating the disaster like it was a treat.

“Aren’t Omegas supposed to be good at cooking?”

To Harry’s utter surprise, Tom let out a sharp, genuine laugh when Harry’s wand flicked and a jet of freezing water blasted Barty in the face.

Delphi giggled too, but Harry thought she looked happier about her daddy’s mirt than Barty’s misery. He couldn’t help the soft smile that formed on his face as he watched the little girl.

After breakfast, Harry dragged Delphi back up to her room and pulled all her blankets and pillows onto the floor.

“Now what?” Delphi asked, eyeing him like he’d finally lost his mind.

“Now,” Harry declared with a dramatic wave of his hand, “we build a blanket fort.”

Delphi blinked at him, stunned.
“Why?”

“What do you mean why ?” Harry gasped, clutching his chest like he was having a heart attack. “You’ve never built one? That’s a crime. We’re fixing it right now. We can even invade the library. I’ll show you a cool trick to make the stories come alive.” He bundled up the blankets like it was a mission. “It’s just lights and sparks, but if you focus, they take shapes. Choose two books. I’ll teach you with one, and you can try the other.”

Delphi hurried after him, clearly intrigued by her nanny’s nonsense.

Together, they pushed and pulled chairs into a rough circle and covered them with blankets, stuffing the inside with pillows. Once Delphi got the idea, she bolted to her room, returning with her favorite toys and not two, but five books, including The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

“We need snacks,” she declared seriously. “Winky!”

The same elf from the kitchen appeared with a soft crack and a low bow.

“What can Winky do for Mistress Delphi?”

“We need snacks. And juice. Also—make this room darker.”

“Please,” Harry added with a look.

Delphi sighed, “ Please .”

“Of course, Mistress!” Winky squeaked. She snapped her fingers once, and a floating tray appeared, topped with fruit, crackers, cheese, and cookies. A jug of iced grape juice followed, along with two spill-proof, unbreakable glasses.

Another snap and thick curtains dropped over the windows, blocking out the sun. A soft golden glow from floating candles shimmered overhead, casting gentle twinkles like fairy lights.

“Wow,” Delphi breathed, eyes wide in wonder.

Harry grinned, heart light.

“Thanks, Winky,” he said. “This is perfect.”

The elf beamed, clearly pleased by her mistress’s delight, and vanished with another crack.

“Now then,” Harry turned to Delphi and offered his hand like a courtier. “My lady, if you’d follow me into your fortress? We have a show to prepare.”

Delphi giggled and skipped inside the fort behind him, grabbing a handful of cookies on the way. Harry floated in the tray, jug, and glasses with a flick of his wand and sealed the entrance behind them.

“First things first,” he said, holding up his empty hand.

With a spark of energy, golden lights shimmered between his fingers, dancing like fireflies.

“This,” Harry explained, “is the vermiculus spell. Wandless, non-verbal, and most importantly, non-flammable. Ready to learn some magic?”

Delphi’s grin was so bright, Harry thought they didn’t need the spell at all.

Delphi was sleeping peacefully in her blanket fort. Harry sat at the entrance, snacking from the tray that hovered beside him.

Once you got past her sudden violent threats and angry silences, Delphi was a truly sweet child. Innocent, imaginative, and extremely loyal to her father…

Honestly, if Harry hadn’t known Mr. Riddle’s line of work, he wouldn’t believe the kid was in any danger.

Then again, in a world like theirs, no child was ever truly safe.

He would focus on protecting Delphi. For now. But maybe… Maybe he could talk to Severus about expanding their business. Maybe they could do more than just protect the elite. Maybe they could protect every child.

“Harry?” Delphi sounded small,  scared.

“Hey, I’m here, Delphi,” he said gently. “You’re safe.”

“And you?” She asked, half-asleep. “Are you safe too?”

Harry’s smile turned a little sad.

“I am,” he assured. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mommy used to say the same,” the kid mumbled, voice trembling a little.

Harry sat up straighter, concern sharpening in his chest. He crawled toward her and pulled her into his arms.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he whispered, holding her close. “Bad dream?”

“They took you,” she whimpered against his shoulder. “Like they took her.”

Harry’s eyes darkened.

“Your mama?”

Delphi didn’t answer, only clung to him tighter, like a little koala. Or a monkey. Or maybe a baby opossum.

She fell asleep again soon after, still curled against him.

Harry didn’t move. He felt if he did, she would wake up still panicking about whatever dream she had had before.

One thing was clear… Delphi saw what happened to her mother.

Chapter Text

Harry and Delphi were playing in the garden. Harry transfigured a rock into a dragon, and a tree into a tower, and he was mid-fight with the dragon while Delphini laughed merrily from her tower. He had to use a flower to transfigure it into a sword, and if he was being honest, he was also having the time of his life.

“Don’t fret, princess!” He exclaimed. “I’ll defeat the dragon and save you!”

Harry noticed Barty and Mr. Riddle watching from the second-floor window. But he couldn’t afford distractions; he had a dragon to slay.

“I wanna be the knight now!” Delphi yelled down at Harry.

Grinning, Harry froze the dragon mid-roar.

“Then I’ll be the damsel in distress,” he agreed without hesitation, making Delphi giggle behind her hands.

He helped her down from the tower and handed her the sword, after casting Spongify on both it and the dragon: it might be fake, but still, it was dangerous to get hit.

“Dragons breathe fire, don’t they?” Delphi asked, dragging the sword to the now-slow dragon.

“Delphi, your dad already told me not to burn the house down,” Harry said, climbing into the tower. “I’m trying to respect that rule at least.”

“Boring,” she huffed. 

Harry flicked his wand, and the dragon roared to life again, charging toward her. Delphi squealed and ducked behind the bushes.

“Knights are supposed to fight the dragons!” Harry teased, making the creature swoop low over her head and circle back to the tower. “Aren’t you going to save me?”

Delphi peeked out from behind a bush. Her eyes narrowed with determination as she focused on the dragon. Harry made it roar louder.

“Don’t worry, Harry!” she cried, running toward the tower, sword raised. “I’ll save you!”

“And I will help!” Barty appeared out of nowhere, sprinting alongside her.

“Barty!” Delphi whined. “I’m the knight, I’m supposed to save the princess!”

Barty was clearly laughing at Harry’s expense.

“Every knight needs a squire,” he shrugged. “I’ll assist you, brave knight, in your quest to rescue Princess Harry .”

His tone was serious enough to convince Delphi, who pointed her sword at the tower and shouted:

“Onward!”

Harry was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. He moved his wand like a puppeteer and directed it at the two knights trying to defeat it. Delphi’s squeals and bursts of laughter echoed across the garden, accompanied by Barty’s startled yelps when the dragon nearly toppled him.

“Don’t worry, Omega!” Barty smirked in his direction. “We will save you from the dragon. Then you can kiss us in gratitude,” he winked.

Harry groaned and rolled his eyes. With another flick of his wand, the dragon belched fire at Barty.

“Hey!” Barty yelped and dove for cover.

“You said no fire!” Delphi scolded, though she was grinning. “Do that again!”

“No! Don’t do it again!” Barty scrambled to his feet, fleeing from the dragon.

Delphi forgot she was supposed to be defeating the dragon, instead cheering it on as Harry shot harmless fireballs at Barty, vanishing them before they hit anything.

And then, he was swept off his feet.

“What-!?”

Harry would deny that he squeaked. He didn’t. Anyone who said otherwise was a big fat liar.

Mr. Riddle held him bridal-style, walking with infuriating confidence and a smirk playing on his lips.

Harry blinked up at him, stunned. At least Barty was now safe from fake-dragon fire.

“My Lady,” Mr. Riddle said smoothly, kneeling in front of Delphi and helping Harry back to his feet. “I have saved the princess for you.”

Delphi frowned at her sword, then looked at her father. After a pause, she smiled, stepping into the role of a merciful queen.

“Good job, Lord Dad,” she stated, placing the sword over Mr. Riddle’s shoulder. (Harry was so glad he’d spongified it.) “I name thee, Lord Dad, Nanny Savoir.”

Harry snorted. Barty, still catching his breath, burst out laughing.

“Now,” Mr. Riddle said, standing, “time to put the garden back in order. We have a dinner party to prepare for.” He didn’t sound thrilled. “Which means we’ll need robes and a quick refresher on the rules,” he added, looking more at Harry than at Delphi.

Delphi’s face lit up with excitement.

“New clothes!” She grabbed Barty’s hand and dragged him toward the house. “Come on, Barty, we need the car!”

“I think your dad said robes, nugget,” Barty replied, letting himself be pulled along. “That’s Diagon Alley, not London.”

“And where exactly is Diagon Alley?” Delphi asked with a smug little smirk.

Harry smiled at their backs. He was so happy to see Delphi out of her shell. He ended up more tired that way but… Totally worth it.

Someone cleared their throat behind him. Harry almost jumped. Almost.

“Nice transfiguration work,” Mr. Riddle said, eyeing the dragon and the tower.

Harry narrowed his eyes.

“Thanks,” he offered. Then he flicked his wrist, and the rock and the tree were back to their original forms.

Mr. Riddle’s gaze lingered a moment longer, subtle and unreadable, but Harry swore he saw a glint of approval

“Say,” he started. “I just saved you from a dangerous dragon from a very high tower,” he smirked down at Harry, Alpha scent playful. “Don’t I deserve a kiss?”

Harry raised an eyebrow.

“You’re lucky the dragon’s gone,” he said. “Barty got fireballs for the same comment.”

“But Barty didn’t save you, did he?” Mr. Riddle’s voice had gone lower, his eyes darker, his scent sharper. “And your dragon- your magic. Truly exceptional .”

A blush crept up Harry’s neck before he could stop it. The scent, the voice, the gaze—it was too much.

“I-”

Then. Mr. Riddle took a step back. 

Harry blinked, clearing his mind.

“We’ll find you a proper robe,” Mr. Riddle said, back to business. Still intense, but guarded. “I’m thinking… green will suit you perfectly.”

With that, he turned around and walked to the house, leaving a confused and slightly breathless Harry behind.

“What the fuck was that?” Harry muttered.

Chapter Text

Harry pulled on the collar of his new robe. It was itchy and a bit uncomfortable. Green with a silver lining and complemented with black pants, a black shirt, and black shoes. Mr. Riddle also had Winky use something on his hair to make it more manageable and soft.

He felt ridiculous.

“Stop that,” Delphi admonished, slapping his hand away. She was putting some fake glitter stickers on his face. “You’re supposed to be a Lord of the Forest. Lords don’t fidget or pull on their robes.”

“You know a lot of Lords of the Forest?” Harry asked, smirking.

“Daddy knows lots of things, and he told me that,” Delphi replied. “There!”

Harry glanced at the mirror on her vanity and raised his eyebrows in surprise. Delphi had actually done a very good job. He didn’t look as ridiculous as he had expected. He actually looked very… ethereal.

“Wow, Delphi,” he awed. “This is great. You’re amazing! I feel like a Lord of the Forest.”

Delphi grinned proudly, hiding the Muggle stickers in one of her drawers.

“Now we are ready to meet the family,” the kid announced, dusting her brand-new lilac dress and white robe. “You’ll meet Granny, Uncle Morfin, Cousin Draco, Pansy, Theo,” she numbered with her fingers, then frowned. “I have so many cousins,” she breathed. “Don’t talk to Aunt Walburga unless you want a lecture, and avoid being alone with Uncle Cygnus; he likes to give etiquette lessons,” she shuddered.

“You’re the expert,” Harry shrugged, already planning on staying near his kid all night.

“Practice,” Delphi waved off, smiling warmly at her nanny. “And daddy’s advice,” she added as an afterthought.

Harry chuckled and followed her out of her room, only to find Mr. Riddle and Barty walking in their direction. Mr. Riddle stopped momentarily when he saw Harry, looking him over from head to feet with an almost hungry look. Harry couldn’t help but fidget under that dark gaze. Lord of the Forest be damned.

“Daddy!” Delphi ran to her father, breaking the spell between Alpha and Omega. “Harry did my braid today! Isn’t he getting better?”

Barty closed the distance with Harry and leaned against the nearest wall with a shit eating grin on his face.

“Who knew you’d look so dashing in green, nanny?” He said with a knowing look. “Were you aware those are the colors of the Gaunt Faily?”

Harry’s eyes widened. He hadn’t thought of it. Delphi was definitely not wearing green and silver. But now that he could focus again (with those eyes firmly on a kid and not on him) he noticed Mr. Riddle was wearing a matching robe: silver, with a green lining and similar dark clothes underneath.

Harry’s wide eyes found Barty’s knowing ones.

Suddenly, he wanted to flee and become an actual Lord of the Forest,

“Barty,” Mr. Riddle warned, then, not stepping over any other invincible boundary, he turned to Delphie and offered his hand. “Shall we?”

Delphi grinned and grabbed her father’s hand, allowing Harry and Barty to follow at a safe distance. Allowing Harry to breathe and come up with a logical reason as to why Mr. Riddle dressed him in his family colors.

In ancient times, that was part of a claim . A sign that an Omega was part of a pack and unavailable for other Alphas.

Was Mr. Riddle worried his extended family might try something on Harry? The Blacks were known traditionalists, maybe he worried one of them would try to claim Harry if they thought the Omega was available.

Yes. That should be it.

Why didn’t he ask Harry to wear scent blockers instead?

“Hey, Harry,” Barty asked when they took their places near the main entrance to welcome the first guests. “You’ll dance with me, right? These reunions can be rather tedious, but I bet we can have some fun.”

“Depends on your idea of fun,” Harry said, treating carefully.

“Ah? Oh! No!” Barty shook his head, showing his hands in surrender. “I swear I only use innuendos to rile you up,” he smiled sheepishly. “I mean good fun. As friends,” he cleared. “Or, colleagues with good rapport, you know what I’m saying.”

Harry narrowed his eyes at him, staring until the Beta started to fidget. Then he smiled charmingly.

“Of course I’ll dance with you, Barty,” he agreed. Barty was thrown off whack by the sudden shift in personality, causing Harry to grin. “Right after my obligatory dance with Miss Delphini, Lady of the Dragon Realm.”

Mr. Riddle snorted, hiding it behind a fake cough.

“Stop fooling around, you two,” he ordered, back in control. “Harry, you can stay with the children while everyone arrives. Then I want you near me for the duration of the party.”

Harry stared confused at his boss.

“What? Then who’s protecting Delphi?”

“Are you insinuating my family would try anything against my daughter in my own home?”

A beat of silence.

“Yes?” Harry replied, slowly, as if testing the waters. Then he shook his head when Mr. Riddle shot him a look . “No, of course not. Sir.”

“Harry is-”

“An adult who shall spend time with other adults,” Mr. Riddle interrupted his daughter in a soft, understanding tone. “You can play Forest Lords and Dragons Lady tomorrow. I’ll even get you a more fitting robe,” he crouched in front of her, arranging her robe to cover her shoulders better. “Tonight, you look more like my princess.”

Delphi glanced at Harry with a pout. She didn’t argue against her dad, though, nodding in understanding.

“He’ll keep the glitter, right?”

“I’ll glue it myself with magic,” Mr. Riddle promised.

Harry opened his mouth to object, but Barty shushed him and straightened his posture, making him look taller and… smarter in his dark brown robes.

“Tom!” An old lady walked in. “It’s been a while. How’ve you been, my sweet?”

Mr. Riddle looked slightly uncomfortable at the attention, glancing at Harry to gauge the Omega’s reaction when his mother took him into her arms, coddling him. 

Harry grinned.

“Mother,” Mr. Riddle greeted. “Nice to see you again. I thought you would arrive with Uncle Morfin.”

“Nonsense, I can apparate myself,” Lady Merope said, shaking her hand. “I couldn’t wait another second to see you. And you!” She turned to the little girl, trying to become invisible. “My, you’re more adorable every time I see you, dear Delphi.”

“Hello, grandma,” Delphi greeted with a somewhat strained smile.

Harry realized why she wasn’t too happy to see her grandma when the woman painfully pinched her cheek. 

And then Merope’s eyes found the Omega standing behind her son. In their family colors.

“Barty will escort you inside, mother,” Mr. Riddle cleared his throat quickly. “I’ll wait for another couple of minutes and then join you. I have news on the Indian Silk you wanted.”

Merope narrowed her eyes at her son but willingly followed a flirtatious Barty into the ballroom.

Harry got the impression Mr. Riddle didn’t want anyone talking to him. Maybe that’s why he wanted Harry with him all night. That way, he could control the narrative and conversations.

The clothes were still kind of a mystery, though.

As more guests arrived, Harry stood dutifully by the entrance, nodding and smiling as Delphi greeted her endless parade of relatives like a tiny politician. 

Mr. Riddle sighed in exhaustion, turning to Harry and Barty.

“Let’s go inside,” he ordered. “Whoever arrives later than this can come find me themselves,” then he turned to Delphi. “You can go play with your cousins now.”

Delphi grinned and fled immediately to find the kids who had already arrived. Harry watched her back in part with envy and protectiveness.

“See you at the dance floor then,” Barty smirked at him in farewell and disappeared behind the ballroom door.

“Harry,” Mr. Riddle got his attention back, offering his arm.

Harry stared at it, sunned, before reaching slowly to take the offered arm.

He followed Mr. Riddle to the ballroom, looking like a couple, ignoring the whispers and murmurs. Mr. Riddle dragged him to Narcisa and Lucius Malfoy. Narcisa was a Black, connected to the Gaunts somewhere in their family tree. They had a young boy around Delphi’s age, and Harry took the opportunity to glance around the room in search of his child.

Surely they wouldn’t be to far from their kid, right? Delphi must be close.

Narcisa and Lucius shot him curious glances, but didn’t mention anything when Mr. Riddle simply started a conversation. Harry didn’t attract attention to himself either. Let them think what they wanted or what Mr. Riddle wanted them to think, more likely.

“Oh no,” Narcisa’s voice pulled his attention. “Who let him in?”

Him in question was a young man with shoulder-length curly black hair and grey eyes. A familiar resemblance to Narcisa, but none of her pose or elegance. 

The man was wearing Muggle clothes, to begin with. Black jeans and a leather jacket. He looked ready to start trouble, and Harry straightened and kept his attention on the man.

He stepped away from Mr. Riddle, only to glance at the corner where Delphi was playing with three other kids. Making sure they were far away from the predator entering the scene.

When he looked back, the man’s eyes found Harry’s.

With sure steps and ignoring the glares he received, the man closed the distance with Harry.

“Well, hello, ” he said, breathing in deeply the obvious Omega scent. His eyes widened. “I was told there’d be dullness and disappointment tonight, but clearly someone lied.”

“Excuse me?” Harry blinked.

“You must be the mysterious nanny.” The man took his hand and kissed the air above it. “Or perhaps… the forest spirit haunting my dreams?”

“Oh Merlin,” Harry muttered, pulling his hand back. “You’re worse than Barty.”

“Blond, Beta, talks too much? I’m hotter,” he winked. “Also, I’m an Alpha. Sirius Black at your service.”

“Is that your version of a warning label or a pickup line?” Harry shot back, amused despite himself. “Pleasure, Mr. Black.”

“Sirius is fine,” Sirius grinned like a fox.

“Harry,” the Omega offered, professionally shaking the man’s hand.

Behind them, Mr. Riddle’s footsteps echoed closer, calm but deliberate. His voice, when it came, was smooth as ever.

“Black.”

Sirius didn’t flinch. 

“Cousin.”

“You’re crowding my staff.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. Interesting choice of words.

Sirius smirked and took a polite step back, hands raised. 

“Just saying hello. Your staff has quite the bite.”

Mr. Riddle’s eyes never left Harry. 

“Only if provoked.”

Before Harry could ask what that was supposed to mean , a strange silence fell over the room. The air shifted, thicker, colder. Delphi, who had been bouncing around the corner with her cousins, paused mid-spin and ran to Harry with wide eyes.

“Who’s that?” Harry asked softly.

Mr. Riddle’s jaw tightened.

“Morfin Gaunt,” he said. “My uncle.”

Sirius stood taller, crossing his arms over his chest.

Harry felt suddenly like prey. Delphi was standing in front of him, looking ahead. Mr. Riddle was to his right, and Black was on his left. As if they were protecting him, or shielding him.

He focused on the man in question: tall, robed in deep forest green, with piercing eyes like cracked glass. Something about him made the air feel unclean.

He took one look at Harry and sneered.

“So, this is the Omega,” Mr. Gaunt said. His voice sounded like splinters. “The one the child clings to.”

Harry didn’t back down. He stepped slightly in front of Delphi, gaze even.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m her nanny.”

Mr. Gaunt tilted his head. “A pretty thing. Strange choice for a guard.”

Harry smiled with no humor. 

“Strange times.”

Mr. Gaunt’s lip curled, but he said nothing more, just turned away like Harry wasn’t worth arguing with. 

“Nephew,” he greeted Mr. Riddle in passing.

“Uncle,” Mr. Riddle greeted back, but stood firmly in Harry’s space when the man motioned for him to follow.

Harry could see how that annoyed Mr. Gaunt. He just hoped they didn’t pay for it later on. Morfin Gaunt looked like those Alphas who couldn’t control their emotions.

“Delphini,” Mr. Gaunt called. “Come, child. Tell me all about your studies.”

Delphi glanced unsurely at Harry and her dad. Mr. Riddle gave a curt nod, and she hurried to talk to her great-uncle: the head of her family.

Harry tensed, keeping his gaze on them. Mr. Riddle crowded him. Harry could easily smell his scent, and his shoulders tensed a bit more. Unnoticed, but there.

“You handled that well,” he murmured.

“I’m not afraid of him,” Harry replied. “But Delphi is. I’ll stay close.”

“I was counting on it,” Mr. Riddle said, and then, before Sirius or Barty or anyone else could jump in, he offered his hand. “Dance with me.”

“What?” Harry blinked. 

“Dance with me,” Mr. Riddle repeated, tone light but firm. “Delphi will be busy for now, and Barty is currently trying to get into Rabastan’s pants,” he grimaced. Harry glanced Barty’s way and found him, in fact, chatting up an Omega. “So, I’ll take advantage of that and dance with you myself.”

“You sure?” Harry hesitated, smirking despite himself. “Your family already has opinions.”

Tom’s eyes darkened with amusement.

“Let them talk.”

Barty smirked from across the room. Delphi grinned in approval, watching from where she sat with her grandmother and great-uncle.

And Sirius… Sirius cackled and moved away before Harry or Tom could say something. Sirius did send Harry a knowing smirk. Harry had the impression Tom asked him right before Sirius had the chance… And when did he become “Tom”?

Harry rolled his eyes and took Mr. Riddle's hand.

“If I fall,” he warned, “I’m blaming the shoes.”

Tom smiled, genuinely, just for him.

“I won’t let you fall.”