December 21st, 1997

Harry glared at his parents; James was blocking the floo in his mother's office and his mother wasn't telling him off.

"I need to go. I will be careful," he said to his mother, while looking at his father, "Because I am always careful. I won't go off alone with him, I won't antagonize him and I won't accuse him of attempting muggle and muggleborn subjugation... again. And I will be back in the castle by at least 2 am. So, please let me through!"

James frowned, "Sirius and Regulus will both be keeping an eye on you. . . You do know we just want you to be safe, right?" He grasped Harry's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze, "We don't want you to get hurt."

Harry looked away and nodded, "I know. Wait- Sirius and Regulus? Aren't you attending? It's one of those functions where half the ministry is there."

"We will be there but you know how the Sacred 27 get when there's people of lesser status." Lily answered, her beautiful face marred with repressed anger.

Harry nodded again, they were reclusive and would at times completely shelter themselves away from the muggleborns and half-bloods. Well, the more conservative members of the Sacred 27 would, "I'll see you there then." He gave both of his parents a hug and slid into the floo, "Lansdowne Palace!"

He kept his elbows tight to sides as he spun through the network, he did not need a repeat of when he had shattered his elbow when he was five. He stumbled out of the fireplace as he arrived in the entrance hall. It was already teeming with people, how he would find Lord Slytherin he did not know.

A flash of white blonde hair caught his eye and he rushed over to where he spotted it. Lucius Malfoy was speaking to the Minister and Harry slowed his approach to listen. The minister seemed to be begging Lucius for a boon of some sort.

"Please, we cannot lose what we've built over the-"

"Minister I am merely one man. I cannot control the other members of the Sacred 27 nor their votes at conclave. I imagine if you present your arguments to Lord Slytherin he will hear you out." Malfoy tipped his head and spun on his heel to leave, almost plowing into Harry.

". . . Potter." He said in a sneer that Draco must have learned in less than a year.

"Did you know that whenever you see me your forehead does this weird pucker that ends up looking like a frowning face?" Harry said before his self-control could stop him.

Lucius stared at him his eyes wide and eyebrows high. Harry wondered if the ground would be so kind as to swallow him up right now. It failed to do so.

They stood in awkward silence, both in a state of disbelief, "Have you seen Lord Slytherin? I'm supposed to meet him here." Harry said quickly, hoping to lure the elder Malfoy out of his shock induced state.

"He hasn't arrived yet. I suggest waiting near the apparition point." Narcissa answered sidling up behind her husband, who was still looking at Harry like he had grown three new heads.

"Thank you!" Harry replied and ran off towards the designated apparition spot. He would never be able to look at Lucius again. Be in the same room as him. When Draco heard about this he would just stare at Harry like Lucius had done. They would be following him around completely stiff and staring. Living ghosts that will haunt him through his life. He would likely get married and Lucius and Draco Malfoy would be standing right behind him staring in shock with a glass of champagne their hands. No one talked to one of the heads of the Sacred 27 like that.

Maybe Lord Slytherin could prevent him from being murdered.

Harry stopped just outside the apparition area and leant up against the wall and watched as the Sacred 27 and their guests slowly came in.

"Harry Potter?" Came a quiet and sweet sounding voice to his left. Harry turned and was greeted to the sight of Sirius and Regulus' cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.

She was stunningly beautiful with her black hair and heavily lidded eyes. He remembered that there had been a battle for her betrothal once she came of age. She was not only lovely but smart and an amazing duelist. There had been a controversy years later when she failed to produce an heir.

According to Draco, her husband didn't have an issue with her being supposedly barren, but Draco also said his aunt was the nastiest person he knew and no one went against her. It was easy to suspect that she was heavily into the Dark Arts given her husband and her heritage as a Black.

"Mistress Lestrange," Harry bowed low to the witch, "It's an honour to make your acquaintance. Draco has spoken highly of you."

Bellatrix inclined her head minutely and gave him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "My pleasure. Lord Slytherin has requested that I escort you to his home so you may speak beforehand."

Harry found himself fiddling with his cufflinks, avoiding looking at her ". . . Will I be making it back?" He asked quietly.

A crooked smile that reminded him of Sirius broke out on Bellatrix's face, "Who knows?" She pressed up against him, her wand in his ribs, "Maybe if you're good he'll keep you around."

"I'm always good," Harry scoffed but internally was panicking. He was going to die.

They walked into the apparition point and with a twist of Bellatrix they were gone from Lansdowne Palace.

Harry stumbled as Bellatrix released his wrist, "Not that good at side along apparition?"

"Only if I care." Bellatrix snapped, that lovely face had gained a cold veneer that made his stomach turn.

She had brought him to a Georgian style home. The room was painted in rich warm tones but was oddly sparse in decorations for a pureblood. Bellatrix opened the door to a foyer with a large staircase leading up several floors.

"Where are we?"

"Yorkshire. Follow me." Bellatrix commanded and began walking up the stairs. Harry tried not to stare as the tight blue robes accentuated her every movement.

Would Rudolphus Lestrange suffer an untimely accident and Bellatrix would become Queen? It would not surprise him to discover Bellatrix was Slytherin's mistress.

"Does this place have a name?"

"Riddle manor." She answered stiffly, "Named after a family of muggles that were murdered here."

Harry blinked and slowed slightly, Thomas Slytherin had just confirmed his suspicions "There was a Head Boy in 1945 with the surname Riddle. . . did you know him?" They stood on a landing outside of a large set of doors.

Bellatrix laughed, the perfect mask that she wore cracking, it was a high and deranged laugh that caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up. She turned and grabbed his chin, "I am the eldest daughter of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Do you think I would associate or be allowed to have associated with mudbloods? Much less ones that were twenty years older than me?"

He slapped her hand away from his face, "Don't call them that."

"Or what will you do itty bitty baby Potter? Try to curse me?" She sneered at him, those hooded eyes glaring at him, "They're mudbloods. They're the dirt the Sacred 27 have built their society on and the mudblood that owned this house was killed by the Dark Lord for it."

"Bellatrix. Enough." Came the commanding tone of Slytherin, "Harry. Come in." The man stood just inside the doorway, his wavy black hair brushed back showing his handsome face more prominently. Combined with the tightly fitted dark blue-green robes Harry thought he certainly looked regal. Small amounts of gold caught the light and Harry saw a faint accent of gold at the seams. That man's clothes were sewn together with gold. The purebloods would die for him to be king. He suited it in every way.

Bellatrix curtsied low, "My Lord." and went back down the stairs.

"We should have consulted about the clothes." Harry joked halfheartedly. He was wearing green and with silver accents. Draco had said they complimented his eyes.

"Perhaps. Come in." Slytherin turned on his heel and walked into the room and Harry followed, his sense of dread rising. If the downstairs had been lacking in ornamentation this room more than made up for it. Dark artifacts adorned the walls. He could feel the magic seeping under his skin. Harry would swear to his dying day that he could see magic literally pouring from a piece of whale bone with an odd symbol inscribed on it.

Slytherin circled the desk and sat behind it, a large cathedral style window behind him. Harry imagined that must make an imposing sight during the day when it was brightly lit. Now it was pitch black outside which was equally intimidating.

Harry sat facing Slytherin, the fireplace's flickering light catching the man's red eyes. Maybe that was why Harry was so determined that he had killed people. The man's face was completely stoic as he looked Harry up and down.

"You've been on my mind fairly often since we met in the summer. First you eavesdrop on my conversation with Lucius and then at dinner. Afterwards you insult me and accuse me of wanting to usher in a dark age for muggleborns and half-bloods." Slytherin ran his long fingers through his hair and smiled, "I feel rather enchanted by you. Have you bewitched me?"

A lump rose in Harry's throat and he couldn't find words, Slytherin had been flirtatious in his correspondence but he had just assumed the man was flattering him.

". . . No?" Harry answered weakly. Had he been invited on a date and thought it was some sort of political machination?

"Pity," Slytherin looked away, his eyes clouded, "You said nothing about how you managed to get into the Chamber of Secrets and there is no evidence of a parselmouth in the Potter line."

"You want to know how I got into the Chamber of Secrets?"

Slytherin nodded, his eyes blank as he stared into the fire.

A self-satisfied smirk danced across Harry's lips, "Ashwinders. I put them in a container, with an obvious entryway, a few inches from their fire. I listened to them trying to get to the fire. Tried all the variations I heard on the tap until it opened."

Slytherin slowly turned from the fire, his eye's open in surprise, "You bluffed your way into it?" He said in a disbelieving tone and pinched the bridge of his nose, ". . . And how did you know where it was and how to open it?"

Harry was certain Slytherin was annoyed how quickly Harry had managed to get inside of the chamber once he set his eyes on it. Harry wouldn't tell him about the term he and Draco had searched fruitlessly though.

"Corvinus Gaunt's journal. He detailed how he hid the entrance in the girl's bathroom. After I read that I spent a bit of time sneaking into the bathrooms and hissing at the taps until I spotted the little snake on the one tap. The parseltongue aspect of it was obvious due to only members of the Slytherin family having the trait."

Slytherin sighed heavily, "An astute deduction."

"Corvinus only helped me to find the Chamber. What I wanted was evidence from inside of Slytherin's safe room. It was Arcturus Black's research on the Hogwarts family lines led me to Tom Marvolo Riddle." Harry said triumphantly, "I would not have found out about him if it wasn't for that. Tom Riddle's diary detailed his search for the Chamber of Secrets which I was impressed with. He had no basis for his seaerch and still managed to find it." Harry watched Slytherin's face and body language, the man in turn watched him silently, "I assume he is your father or grandfather." Harry said and entwined his fingers together.

"You assume incorrectly." Slytherin replied with a sneer.

Harry frowned, "Tom Riddle was Slytherin's heir. I found his journal in the Chamber of Secrets, Arcturus Black's notes refer to a Slytherin Head Boy in the 1940's potentially being the heir of Slytherin, and you are living in Riddle manor. Either he had a brother or there is something I am missing." Harry hissed, leaning forward in the chair feeling incredibly upset that he could be wrong or that Lord Slytherin was lying to him.

Slytherin stood and swept his long red robes behind him as he came from behind the desk to stand behind Harry, his hands resting on Harry's shoulders. The long fingers squeezing briefly, "You are so very close Harry but there is something you are missing." He could feel Slytherin's breath on his neck and the hand slid across his chest. Harry turned his head just a bit to look at Slytherin. The man was beautiful with his high cheek bones, perfect brows and cupid bow lips. The only thing that really stood out at the moment were those red eyes, those blood red eyes. Those haunting, unnatural red eyes.

"Oh, Merlin. . . How?" Harry whispered and tried to pull away, "You don't look a day over twenty! Nott and Lestrange they both- they both-" Slytherin's fingers dug into his skin and held him to the chair.

"What did they do?" Slytherin asked in a husky whisper.

Harry bit his lip hard enough that it bled before answering, "They called you the Dark Lord." Slytherin didn't say anything but released a low chuckle, "You're just wearing a really good glamour, aren't you? Or did you transfigure yourself to look younger?" Harry slid his hand into his pocket and grasped his wand, ready to fight.

"Neither of those." Slytherin released his grip and walked away, "I have gone further than any wizard in my attempt to defeat Death. I have not aged for the last fifty years." He rubbed the back of his hand against Harry's cheek, "Tell me Harry Potter, what shall I do with you? You know my secrets. You sent me that picture of you in the Chamber of Secrets and in just a few short months uncovered my history. You are intelligent and observant and I am forced to admit I have grown fond of you.

"The problem is that I need to keep my secret's secret. I could obliviate you, but it feels like such a waste. . . I would rather have you by my side. Imagine if I sent you after my enemies. How quickly I would have their secrets." Slytherin mused.

"You certainly have a high opinion of my abilities."

"Do I? Lucius has told me that you work as an information broker within Hogwarts and you have certainly managed to dig up facts about my past which I thought was well hidden."

"I just had some good luck and resources this time. That is all." Harry wondered why he was trying to downplay his talent. Slytherin wanted him for it after all.

"That is mainly what it is. Good luck and resources. Having a personality that people like is another good asset." Slytherin mused and twirled his wand between his fingers.

"You actually like my personality?" Harry asked cheekily, "You didn't seem to like it during the Midsummer celebration."

"It was. . . refreshing. You are in Slytherin and you believe so strongly for the rights of muggleborns that you attacked me over it. A very Gryffindor trait."

"My mum is a muggleborn and so is one of my best friends." Harry snarled, "I don't want them hurt."

Slytherin stared at him, those red eyes practically glowing, "Would you fight against the Sacred 27? Would you destroy the monarchy to ensure their safety?" Slytherin's voice grew harsh and ragged, "Would you let the Malfoy's and the Black's be dragged through the mud to ensure the rights of muggleborns?"

Harry knew he was in trouble if he answered what was right. He did so anyways, "Yes." He answered firmly and closed his eyes, "I will fight to stop the blood purists that are supporting you and I will fight you." Harry snarled. He had protections in place, if Slytherin killed or obliviated him Harry's research would get out about Tom Riddle and his relation to the Gaunt's. It would be missing the one key aspect of him being Tom Riddle and not his son.

Silence reigned, all Harry heard was the crackling of the fire and the faint sounds of Slytherin's breathe. No Avada Kedavra or Obliviate heading towards him. He cracked open an eye and was greeted to Slytherin's half lidded gaze on him.

"Truly?" Slytherin's voice was husky. Did he just like people opposing him?

"Yes. I hate the Sacred 27 and how they treat muggleborns and half-bloods." Harry spat out, he wasn't sure what was happening but now was the time to get it out, "They think they're the upper crust but half of them are insane and inbred to the point of being incapable of running their estates and then they treat the people who actually do the work in society like shit.

"My father is a pureblood and is not a member of the Sacred 27 and is treated like crap because he works for the ministry. He's tried to arrest the Carrow's almost ten years ago, and it nearly doomed his career despite the fact they were torturing muggles!" Harry stood abruptly and knocked the chair down and pointed at Slytherin, "It's corrupt and rotten and broken and YOU will be at the top of it letting them have their way! You will ruin all the progress that has been made! Stop smiling like that!" Harry snapped, Slytherin's grin only grew wider, "You're a half blood too! Why would you do this!?"

"Ah, Harry. . . You know so much yet so little," Slytherin righted Harry's chair with a wave of his hand and then pushed Harry back into it.

"I know enou-" his sentence was cut off because he could not move. The bastard had cast petrificus totalis on him!

"It's my turn to talk now." Slytherin said softly and straddled Harry's lap, "I think you and I have much in common and I want to embrace this," Slytherin's hair fell in front of his eyes a bit, shadowing them further, "I would love for you to work with me to further my goals which are ultimately your goals." he pushed Harry's hair back and gazed into his eyes, "Don't give me that look. I dislike the Sacred 27 as well. You're a half blood. Imagine being considered a mudblood in Slytherin." Cool fingers rested on the back of Harry's neck, "If you had my other journals you would have discovered that was my driving force to discover my heritage. To find out if I could potentially be something more than a filthy mudblood. I hated myself for the longest time," Tom let out a heavy sigh, "When I discovered that I was descended from the great Salazar Slytherin I was beside myself with joy. Not only was I better than them academically but I was a member of an even greater bloodline. I could take the throne in time."

Slytherin's expression grew distant and he licked his lips, "But there was a small problem. . . My mother was a Gaunt. Certainly, one of the Sacred 27 for a time but they were laughing stocks. They had wasted their fortune and their prestige. If I ever revealed that I was descended from her I would be unable to take the throne. There had been a few attempts by members of the Gaunt line to attempt to claim the throne due to their ability to speak parseltongue but saner members of the Sacred 27 often prevented that from happening. Be it killing them or discrediting them entirely. There is no reason to have a crazy person ruling wizarding Britain!" Slytherin laughed quietly and shifted his position on Harry's lap.

"So, I waited. I went and I learned as much as I could about every type of magic. About the world outside of Europe. I became a master of many disciplines and I built up a reputation of being a great sorcerer. Lucius Malfoy thinks I will be the next Grindelwald when I take the throne. That I will subjugate the muggles and muggleborns. Imagine his surprise when I dismantle the Sacred 27 and the nobility of Britain by using their archaic rules against them!"

Harry's mouth was dry. He had Slytherin pegged completely wrong.

"I have been waiting almost fifty years for this. . . I would rather you not fuck it up by revealing my parentage." Slytherin stroked Harry's cheek, "Have you Harry? Have you ruined my plans?" His voice was saccharine.

The spell on him released and Harry gulped, ". . . No. No one knows."

"I wish I could believe you . . . Legilimens!"

It was chaos in his mind. Visions of discovering the Chamber, Corvinus Gaunt's journal, Tom Riddle's diary, Arcturus Black's notebook flashed before him. He could feel Slytherin digging deeper and deeper into his memories. He tried to block off the man's invasion but Slytherin used brute force to power through the barriers Harry threw up against him.

The man withdrew and Harry felt bile rise up his throat, "How dare you!?"

"I almost find it hard to believe that you sent letters to five solicitors. That must have cost you a bit of pocket change." Slytherin's fingers ran through his hair, "That was very clever of you. Especially the verification process. Cunning."

"You seem so surprised." Harry snapped and lurched forward trying to knock the older man from his lap, "Oh Merlin my head! Do you have the smallest amount of decency? You could have damaged my brain!"

Slytherin rolled his eyes and slid off Harry's legs, "I'm a master legilimens. I wouldn't have made you brain damaged." The man sat on his desk and smiled at Harry, "Tell me Harry Potter, will you join me? Will you help me take down the Sacred 27?"

Harry stared at the man with his wavy dark hair and red eyes, if that was what Lucifer looked like there was no need to imagine why half of heaven followed him, "You're telling the truth?"

"I could make an unbreakable vow on the matter. I could, but I won't."

"And what about your pureblood followers when they discover the betrayal? What will Bellatrix Lestrange do?"

Slytherin smiled, "Bella knows my plans," he crouched stroked Harry's cheek and Harry tried not to lean into his touch, "Do you think a woman like that would approve of being sold off to be bedded and bred like cattle. She knows what people whisper about her; how she's barren. Escape from that means to be disowned by those closest to you, like what happened to her sister. She doesn't care for muggles or mudbloods but she would happily dismantle the institution out of spite."

"And where does this leave me?" Harry looked into the fire, could this man really be trying to destroy the nobility? Tom Riddle was a half blood from a banished house, but he had managed to ride above it and still enter high scoiety, "But how can I know that? You could take the throne and cater to their demands. How can I trust you?"

"I cannot truly prove my intentions, unless you happen to be a master legilimens, so I would ask you to trust me. . . but how about you stay by my side and make sure I follow through on those intentions?" Slytherin said sweetly.

"You want me to be an adviser? That will go over really well with the purebloods." Harry scoffed.

"Ah. No. I was thinking something else. Something a bit more," Slytherin's hands grasped Harry's legs right above the knee and slowly traveled up his thighs, ". . .intimate."

Harry felt blood rush both to his cheeks and . . . somewhere else, "Wh-what? You've got to be- I'm a half blood!" Harry exclaimed but didn't push him away.

"I'm glad that's your only argument against my proposal," Harry's face grew redder then Ginny Weasley's hair, "because I doubt they will care too much," Slytherin leant in close, his lips brushing Harry's ear, "You are the heir to a pureblood line, and I have personally chosen you. Any complaints will be noted and then promptly dismissed."

Harry nearly bit through his lip, "But... There's... You and..." He took a deep breath and pulled his head away and looked Slytherin in the eye, "Why me?"

"Because you have thoroughly surprised me. You have hunted me down and found my past. I enjoy your tenacity. . . I also find you attractive." A long finger twisted a strand of Harry's hair around it, "I want you at my side as I start a revolution and crush the nobility."

Grasping Tom's shoulders, Harry gently pushed him away, "I... I will need to think about this. . ."

He cocked his head to the side and smiled, "Of course, but I would like an answer soon."

Harry turned away and stared at nothing, mind racing as he took in the events of the last half hour. He didn't notice Slytherin come to stand at his side, the Slytherin Locket on his chest and golden Peverell ring on his finger.

"Shall we go?" He asked rousing Harry from his thoughts.

"Go?"

"The Yule Ball? The one I invited you to."

Harry's eyes suddenly went wide, "As your date. You've had this planned out."

Slytherin gave a sort of one shoulder shrug, "I had hope. Either you agreed and we went to the ball, or you disagreed, I obliviated you, we went to the ball and you would be very confused."

"You weren't going to kill me?"

"Only if you were determined to reveal my heritage just to spite me."

". . . Oh." Harry got up and pulled his robes back into place. This evening had gone from life threatening fear to awkward first date within a few minutes.

It reminded Harry of when he had gone on a date with Daphne Greengrass. It had not ended well. You could still see house elves trying to fix the spell damage after three years.

A sharp knocking rang through the room causing Harry to jump.

"My lord?" Harry knew that voice well, Severus Snape, his mother's friend and the marauders long term archenemy.

Arch-enema according to Sirius.

"Come in," with a wave of his hand the doors opened and Harry marveled at the man's wandless magic, "What do you want?"

The hook-nosed man strode purposefully into the room, "Bellatrix was seen leaving the Yule ball with Harry Potter. His parents and godfather are currently causing a scene at Lansdowne Palace. Shall I find her and Potter?" The man had obviously not seen Harry standing in the shadows a few feet to his left.

"She brought Potter to me on my orders."

Harry stepped forward a bit and gave a small wave to the man in front of him. Snape's sneer deepened. Typical.

"He is safe and we are about to join the festivities. Why don't you go on ahead and tell his parents you have found him?" Slytherin said in a commanding tone.

". . . Yes. Of course," Snape bowed and with a quiet, "My Lord," was gone. They stood in silence for a moment until they heard the quiet crack of Snape apparating

Tom sighed, "I wish Bella and Severus could sort their differences." He took Harry's arm and led him back towards the landing.

"Does Snape know what your plans are? The real ones?" Harry was never sure of what Snape might be thinking, unless the man was near Sirius, Remus or his father, his look of distaste was very clear then.

"He is aware of those plans. Severus may be friendly with certain purebloods, such as the Malfoys, but he is a half blood. He has suffered under their heel. He is a master of potions and the Dark Arts but is unable to utilize his talents because of his blood status." Tom paused briefly, "That and he has no social skills."

Harry laughed, "It might be the lack of social skills."

"But imagine Lucius Malfoy with the same background. The man is clever and can climb the social ladder but does he have many talents other than that? He is a decent duelist and can handle money but the man has almost no skills that he could use to survive outside of being a member of the nobility."

They descended the stairs in silence and Harry pondered what his skills were outside of Quidditch, his defense class and being nosy. The last two could get him a job as an auror at least.

"What should I call you? Lord Slytherin? Thomas? My Lord?"

Those beautiful lips pursed briefly and spoke in a quiet tone, "You can call me Tom or Thomas. I wouldn't mind."

Harry smiled.

Tom took his hand as they entered the apparition point, the oddly cold ring standing out against Tom's warm hand. Harry raised their joined hands and looked closely at the ring. There was a triangle with a circle and line etched onto it.

The sign of the Deathly Hallows and Grindelwald. Which did it represent to this man next to him?

Red eyes seemed to pierce into him, "Hold on." He twisted and Harry held on tight as he traveled down that much hated tight tube that was determined to stop him from breathing.

The dark ceiling of Kensington Palace appeared before him in a blur.

"Harry!" Came his mother's voice and he was embraced in a tight hug, "Are you okay?" she whispered.

"Mum I'm fine. I just went over to talk for a bit. Bellatrix Lestrange just helped. That's all." He whispered and tried not to flush with all the eyes on them. Just how much of a fuss have his parents raised? Why hadn't Snape told them he was okay?

Lily's green eyes stared into his own, seeking, searching for a lie, to see if he was hurt, confounded or worse, "Truly?"

"Yeah mum. I'm okay. We had a good conversation. It's okay." He said in a soothing voice attempting to calm her down. Sirius and Regulus stood with the crowd watching, "Mum we're blocking the way." He took her hand and guided her into the crowd and near a wall.

"Harry, are you okay?" asked Sirius as he cast a privacy charm.

"I'm fine!" He said tiredly. Tom was speaking to several members of the nobility back near the apparition point. Likely soothing ruffled feathers, "We talked about politics and my research. He was impressed."

"Is that it?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow, "Nothing questionable?"

Harry flushed and looked away, "That's not your concern. I'm okay."

"Really?" His mum didn't look convinced.

Harry groaned, "Yes! Please stop! You're turning this into a big thing and it's not. Please stop freaking out. I'm safe, I'm fine, I'm not dead or obliviated. I understand him better now. Sirius, can you go and tell dad to calm down wherever he is? Alright. Thanks." Harry walked away from the two of them and into the crowd. He didn't need to be babied. Snape was probably tormenting his dad somewhere in the building.

Searching through the crowd he failed to spot Tom, his dark hair not standing out like Draco or Lucius'. Harry went towards the center of the crowd hoping to spot him where he thought he was likely to be. At the center of attention.

"Hello Harry," Came the genial tone of Professor Dumbledore and Harry bit down the urge to groan.

"Hello Professor. Lovely party is it not?" The headmaster was wearing bright fuchsia robes with silver snowflakes embroidered all over it. It clashed unpleasantly in the sea of dark robes. He felt another privacy ward put up around them. Harry was not impressed.

"Oh, it is. I've been enjoying myself immensely. Lucius Malfoy has this most interesting pattern appear on his forehead whenever he sees me coming and gets rather cross when I mention it."

Harry stared blankly at a spot three inches to the left and above Dumbledore's head, "How interesting. . . Is there anything I can help you with Headmaster?"

"Perhaps. I am interested in seeing how your meeting with Mr. Riddle went. Did you and Tom have a good conversation?"

"Any conversation between him and I is our private business. You may ask him but I doubt he will tell you." Harry responded. If Tom really did want Harry at his side, he would have to get used to people trying to root out answers about the two of them. Time to learn.

Dumbledore chuckled in that grandfatherly way, "I would but Tom has never been fond of me or telling the truth. A constant fear of the authority I imagine." Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling.

Harry snapped his head to look at the man. Wait, had he said Riddle? Dumbledore didn't think that Thomas Slytherin was Tom Riddle's heir? "I think you must be mistaken, sir." Would Dumbledore stop Tom before he could even start to change the wizarding world?

"Ah, I must be. My apologies Mr. Potter."

"Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?"

"No, thank you for your time Harry. Have fun with your date." The headmaster smiled and vanished into the crowd as quickly as he appeared. Harry wasn't sure how someone wearing those garish robes could manage to do so but Dumbledore had.

Harry stared at the spot vacated by Dumbledore for a moment before resuming his search. Next person who spoke to him was going to get cursed.

Someone grabbed his shoulder and he began to reach for his wand.

"There you are. I was worried I was going to lose you in the crowd again." Said Tom.

"Oh, thank Merlin." Harry sagged with relief and faced the older wizard.

"What did Dumbledore want?" He asked and lead Harry out towards the dance floor. Tom put a hand on his waist and took his other hand and they were quickly dancing among the crowd.

"He knows or strongly suspects that you are… yourself? Tom Riddle? He put that much together," Harry sighed, he shouldn't have sought out Dumbledore about Tom, "You know how he is."

"Obstinate, condescending and determined that he is right no matter how much evidence there is to prove the contrary?" Tom bit out.

Harry tried not to laugh, "Yeah. Do you have any ideas to ensure he doesn't speak of it?"

Tom smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "He won't be a threat by the time the conclave for my ascendancy comes around. Plans are in motion."

"That's only a month away." Harry replied.

"Fast acting plans."

"Are you going to kill him?" Harry asked, uncertain about how would feel if Dumbledore died.

"No."

"Oh. Okay."

"I'm. . . going to have him killed. I won't be doing it personally."

"Is there's a difference?" Harry asked incredulously?

"A bit. It's assassination instead of murder."

"Assassination sounds cooler? It's someone important instead of a random person?" Harry did not think himself to be a killer but Tom obviously did.

They danced in silence for a minute before Harry looked Tom in the eye, wishing he was a master Legilimens, "Are you really working towards what you said at the manor?"

Tom smiled softly, "Yes. You may not like how I will go about it. I am pragmatic and if anything gets in my way I will make sure it promptly gets out of my way."

"What if I get in your way?"

Tom raised a sculpted brow, "Then we will talk and I hope we will be able to reach an agreement."

"And my parents?"

"I consider them an extension of you. They shaped and molded you into the person you are today. Sirius, Regulus, and Lupin can be included on that list. I take it you have an issue with the untimely demise of Albus Dumbledore?"

Harry thought for a minute before answering, "No, I don't. I've read up on him and he has claimed dislikes the class system of wizarding Britain and that he would like to lessen the hold of the nobility but he sits with all this power and does nothing about it. I believe his hesitancy to action stems from his relationship with Grindelwald and how that had backfired."

"Yes,iIt could be that he is just afraid to use that power." Tom said absentmindedly, "Wait, relationship with Grindelwald? How did Dumbledore know Grindelwald?" Tom sounded frenzied and Harry smirked. He had made him act like that because he knew something Tom didn't.

"Oh. They were friends back when they were teens. After Grindelwald was kicked out of Durmstrang he went to live with his Aunt. The Dumbledore's were their next door neighbours. They became friends but had a falling out a few months later and Grindelwald went back to the continent."

". . . and how do you know this?"

"Didn't you ever wonder why Grindelwald agreed to duel, an at the time, unheard of Transfiguration Professor from Hogwarts?" Tom shrugged and Harry continued, "Well, I was curious about that and researched the Dumbledore family, found out they came from Godric's Hollow, where my family lives, and I went asking some of the older citizens about the Dumbledore family

"That lead me to Bathilda Bagshot who, ironically, used to babysit me. She was more than willing to tell me about Grindelwald and Dumbledore. . . I don't think many people visit her. I even snuck into her house late at night and searched for any evidence of Grindelwald."

"I assume you found nothing." It was easy yo tell that Tom's mind was racing at a mile a minute as he absorbed the information.

"You assume wrong." Harry bit back a laugh, "The woman is a pack rat. In the attic there was correspondence between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Eighty-year-old letters!" Harry laughed, "Rita Skeeter would probably sacrifice her entire family to get a hold of information like that."

"And how long ago did you find all of this out?" Tom was looking at him with wide eyed appreciation and awe.

"Fifth year, "Harry responded nonchalantly, "My friends say I'm nosy, but I say I just want all the facts. . . I used to rush into situations without knowing everything and it got me in trouble."

"Oh? Like?"

"When I was five I read a letter to my dad and it seemed to imply he was in danger. I rushed through the floo without thinking to warn him and was almost eaten by a werewolf."

"Dare I ask what information you were missing?" Tom raised an eyebrow.

"Please don't tell anyone... but Remus is a werewolf. My dad went over as an animagus to help him with the transformation. I didn't know what Remus was at the time. The entire event caused me to be more cautious and careful."

Tom chuckled, "You were probably a shoe in for Gryffindor until then."

"Yes. I learned better though." Harry felt warm, it might have been how close he was to Tom or just the press of the bodies in the room, "After this dance, can we go outside? I need some air."

Tom nodded and they finished the dance in silence with Tom leading him off the ballroom floor and out into the snow free veranda. Harry was reminded of their conversation in front of the bonfire. It was silent once they passed through the doors and no one was outside because of the chill.

Harry enjoyed the near suffocating iciness of the night, the way the dry air felt in his lungs, "What does the symbol your ring mean?"

Tom looked surprised and looked to the ugly pebble on his finger and shrugged, "I know Grindelwald used it as his mark but it predates him by centuries. You must know that. . ."

"You don't wear it out of some sort of Dark Lord allegiance to Grindelwald?"

Tom scoffed, "No, the ring initially belonged to my uncle and I just kept it. I can't stand the thought of Grindelwald. He was hardly a Dark Lord at all. Beaten by som unheard of Transfiguration Professor," Tom winked and Harry smiled, "Why?"

"May I see it for a moment?" Tom frowned but pulled the ring from his finger and passed it to him.

Harry looked at it for a moment and turned it three times like the children's story had said to. He closed his eyes before the third turn and when he opened them a ghostly Peter stood before him.

"You've grown quite a bit Harry." Wormtail said fondly, "Your parents must be so proud."

"I think they are," Harry said sheepishly, "Thank you for coming."

"Who are you talking to?" Tom asked, unable to see Peter.

Harry held up the ring, "I wasn't sure. . . I thought there was no way you could have this but. . . This is the resurrection stone. One of the three Deathly Hallows. It can summon the spirits of the dead and . . . I used it to bring Peter here." Harry said and smiled at the spirit. "I don't think you can see them unless you're holding the ring though." Harry said and passed it to Tom. Peter's spirit fading from his sight.

Tom frowned and looked at the spot where Peter stood, ". . . I had no idea. Wha are the Deathly Hallows?" The man was turning the ring the way Harry had but in reverse.

"There's a children's story known as the tale of the Three Brothers who cheat Death and in return Death gives them each a gift. The oldest brother gets an "unbeatable" wand," Tom had looked interested and Harry knew he would have to warn him off, "Middle brother got a ring that could bring back the dead, likely an ancestor of your, and the youngest brother got an invisibility cloak that never faded. Supposedly made of Deaths shroud instead of demiguise hair."

"There's a story about my ring?" Tom turned it over slowly, "Is there any evidence for the other two actually existing?" Tom asked sliding the ring back onto his finger.

"The wand has a fairly well known history. There's people you can talk to who know more about it than me. Xenophilius Lovegood is a fan of the Hallows and first told me about them. I suspect I know where it could be but I'm not interested in the damn thing."

"Why is that?" Tom looked shocked.

"The chain of custody of the wand," Harry replied and watched the snow fall in the distance, "Every single person who has owned the wand had to win it from its previous owner. It's been centuries and it remains unbroken. Having it is a death sentence. For an unbeatable wand, too many people have owned it."

Tom was silent as he considered Harry's words, "And the cloak?"

"Hallow with the least amount of information. No hallow's hunter knows what family has it or has ever had the chance to research it. All they know is that it supposedly exists." Harry tried not to smile.

"I'm rather disappointed." Tom said with a pout, his bottom lip sticking out just a bit. Harry wondered what it would taste like.

"Oh? Why?"

"I thought you were going to declare that you knew where it was and how it never faded."

"Ah. . . But I do know where it is." Harry smiled brightly at Tom. He suspected his eyes were doing that Dumbledore twinkle.

Tom was staring in confusion, "You said no one knew where it was."

"I said no hallows hunter knew what family has it. I know the family and its exact location." Harry replied.

Tom's eyebrows were high up into his forehead, "And where is it?"

"In my back pocket. I brought it with me in the case of me needing to escape you."

"You jest."

"Nope." Harry said with a smile and rested his elbows against the railing behind him, "Between the two of us we have two Deathly Hallows.

"Imagine if I could get the third," said Tom as he put his hands on each side him. A devilish smile on his lips, "I imagine it would be impressive to have all three hallows in one place."

Harry licked his lips nervously, Tom was awfully close, the cold air suddenly warm, "I. . . I could look into it." Harry offered.

"Maybe later." Tom whispered and kissed him.

Harry pressed close to him, holding onto the front of Tom's robes and deepening the kiss. Tom's lips were warm and soft and tasted of cardamom. He had been attracted to Lord Slytherin on a purely aesthetic level when he had first met him in Versailles but now, under the moonlight and in the snow, Harry felt that it was more than just a physical attraction. There was a mental and maybe even spiritual attraction.

That together, maybe they could conquer the world.

AN: The sequel is up.