Chapter 57
‘So… so, the Dark Lord wasn’t really his father before?’ Draco asked again, confused.
Lucius smoothed a few flyaway hairs on his son’s head as they walked up the wide path from the front gate. ‘He was acting as Harry’s father, because Harry needed one. Today, they will do a ritual and ask Lady Magic to make it official.’
‘What does that mean? What will happen?’ Draco asked curiously.
‘It means Harry will be the Dark Lord’s son, even though he had different parents when he was born. If Lady Magic agrees, Harry might change to look a bit more like the Dark Lord. He might have a new name too.’
‘Why?’
‘Because his previous parents gave him that name, but now he will have a new parent.’
‘So if I got new parents, my name wouldn’t be Draco anymore?’
Lucius smoothed his hand over Draco’s hair again, more to reassure himself than his son. ‘It depends on many things. There is a good chance that your name would stay the same, Draco. But Harry’s name is different, because to him, it is new. It is not something he has grown up with. His name may stay the same, or it may change – we don’t know yet. His last name will change, we know that much. He will have the Dark Lord’s last name.’
‘Lord?’ asked Draco.
Lucius fought down a smile. ‘Riddle. The Dark Lord is a title. His name is Tom Riddle.’
‘Oh. Right.’ Draco nodded. ‘Does Harry get to pick his new name? Maybe I could help him think of one! We came up with lots of dragon names last time!’
‘Lady Magic will decide his name.’ Lucius said gently. ‘We have to listen carefully so we hear it too.’
‘Now?’ asked Draco, tilting his head to listen.
‘During the ritual.’
‘Right.’
**
Harry was shifting restlessly on the couch in the sitting room while they waited. ‘We go to magic room again?’
‘Yes, the ritual room.’ Tom agreed.
‘Magic room where my glow is fixed. Good good room. I like it.’ Harry signed, nodding emphatically.
A few pairs of eyes turned to watch.
Tom licked his lips. ‘Can you explain that further, Harry?’
Harry looked contemplative, signing slowly. ‘Before glow broken, glow weak. Hurts. Something pulling me down. Burning me inside. Too bright, too heavy. Go to magic room, magic fills me up. Dad take away burning thing, magic fills me up more. Feels good good good.’
‘You could feel – ‘ Tom broke off, clearing his throat. ‘We found out there were Light ward attached to your core. They would feel heavy, I’m sure, because they are far too much for a child to hold. And because they were Light, and your core is Dark, I would imagine it might feel like burning.’
‘And empty. Too much work for my glow.’ Harry signed, shoulders slumped.
‘Yes, wards are –‘
‘Not that. Too much work fixing hurts. Too many hurts, can’t fix them all with empty glow. Hurts in my glow and hurts in my body. Always empty empty empty, can’t fix it all. Go to magic room, finally glow is full.’
Tears prickled at Tom’s eyes. ‘Oh.’ He said, voice tight. ‘Oh, my boy.’ he whispered, heart clenching in his chest. Harry tucked his head under Tom’s chin as Tom pulled him closer.
‘Everything alright?’ Lucius asked as he entered the room, taking in the scene before him. Angry and pained expressions and a very tight hug between the soon-to-be official father and son.
‘Just found out another disturbing and heart-breaking fact.’ growled Barty with a shrug far more casual than he was actually feeling. ‘So, you know…’
Lucius glanced around in question, but after a couple of pointed glances at Draco and Harry, he dropped it for now. Apparently not something young ears needed to hear.
Draco was quiet as they waited, to Lucius’ surprise. He seemed to grasp the weight of the upcoming ritual, as well as the strange mood in the sitting room, and was leaning against Lucius and playing with his fingers quietly.
It didn’t take long till everyone arrived, and the rather large group made their way through the manor and down to the ritual room below the manor. The whole group paused in the doorway, waiting for direction.
‘You two first,’ Sirius said quietly, directing Tom and Harry inside. ‘Everyone else in a circle around them.’
The group shuffled into place, eyes focused on the two in the centre of the circle.
Tom glanced nervously at Sirius.
‘Just ask Lady Magic to bless you both,’ said Sirius quietly. ‘The words will come.’
Tom cleared his throat. ‘In the name of Lady Magic,’ he started, then paused, glancing around as if waiting for a sign.
Nothing happened.
Tom began to sweat. What if it didn’t work? What if Sirius was wrong and it was actually a complicated ritual? What if Lady Magic didn’t agree? What if Harry actually was supposed to destroy Tom, and this had all been an exercise in humility? Who was he to think he could manipulate a prophecy and change the outcome so drastically? What kind of fool was he that he would drag all these people here to watch him fail? And Harry – the poor child. How could he be so foolish as to lead the boy here, completely unprepared, and set him up to have his heart broken again, to be abandoned again?!
Tears burned at his eyes, hit throat tight and heart thumping uncomfortably against his ribs.
Harry’s hand wrapped around his fingers, and Tom sucked in a breath.
Harry tugged at him, and Tom went to his knees, looking the boy in the eyes.
Those beautiful, deep green eyes.
Tom felt his heart breaking as he looked at the boy who would never be his – the boy he already loved wholeheartedly. Who had he been trying to kid all this time? He loved Harry like a son, only now it was all going to be taken from him.
‘Er, Tom?’ Sirius prompted, when the silence dragged on for several minutes and Tom just knelt in front of Harry, looking ready to cry. ‘Are you going to say anything?’
Tom swallowed several times, trying to get himself under control. ‘I don’t know what to say. I don’t think – it’s not going to – ‘ he broke off with a choked down sob.
‘Intention, my Lord.’ Carrick spoke up quietly. ‘It’s all magic, my Lord. Focus your intention, and speak.’
Tom’s mind flashed back to Carrick’s silly little prank all those weeks ago, and gave a hesitant nod. He looked into his little boy’s eyes and firmed his intention.
He loved this child.
He wanted this child – as a son, as his family.
The boy needed someone too.
Tom could be that someone.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke.