Chapter 1
Albus was reading over the applications for the Defense position (the Aurors still hadn't found Gilderoy) when Severus burst in, looking paler than usual.
"Severus? What is it?"
"The Dark Lord is back!"
"Are you sure you want him to know right away?" Severus asked his master. He was aware that his face was bright red, but Tom was fucking hot. Certainly more attractive than the bald, nose-less being he'd been before.
Tom nodded. "Albus is incredibly clever, and I doubt you were his only spy." Severus twitched. "I don't blame you for that, Sev. I was the one that killed your sister."
Severus' face went somehow redder at the nickname.
"This is just in case that spy tells him as well," Tom continued. "I need you to stay in his good graces."
"Alright."
"Meanwhile," Tom grinned, "I have my new identity, and I'm planning on applying for the Defense position -- at least until I have my full strength back. I'm planning on keeping most of my followers in Azkaban, given they are too violent for my current, Horcrux-free plans, so I'll need to build my ranks again as well. And I'd prefer to wait until Harrison is at least fifteen, and has his Dark Lord title, before starting said plans."
Severus said nothing. This was the eleventh time he'd applied for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, as he'd wanted desperately to teach it since he'd started working at Hogwarts. Yet every time, Albus had refused, saying that the curse would take him out, and he needed his spy. Now, he couldn't apply for the position because his master (and crush) was going to apply for it, as well.
Tom frowned. "Sev? What is it?"
"Nothing, mas- Tom," Severus replied blankly.
"Try again," the man said sternly but gently, taking Severus' hand.
For some reason, Severus' brain decided to stop working. He blinked many times before he heard himself say, "I wanted to teach Defense."
His master looked surprised, then thoughtful. "Well," he said, "I also have a Mastery in Potions, so I could apply for the Potions position instead."
Wait, what? "Why would you-" Severus paused. His brain was still struggling to form any thought except his hand is soft and warm-
"Because I like you," Tom replied simply, looking slightly amused as well as fond. He squeezed his hand and let go, and Severus could think again. "I want to take you on a date," the man declared suddenly.
Severus blinked again. "What?"
Tom looked even more amused. "You heard me."
"I..." Severus swallowed, then took a deep breath. "When?"
Tom beamed.
"Hello, heir," said Rowena Ravenclaw, gazing down at Harrison Potter-Black. "I have much to tell you."