“I suppose you’re wondering why you’re here, Severus?”
Candles flickered around him in the opulent dining room. Severus knew why he was there, just not why the Minister wanted him there. The Minister had demanded his attendance for the evening, and as Severus was waiting for the renewal of his licence to be approved, he’d have been a fool not to have accepted the invite for dinner.
“I confess, I’m not certain, Minister. However, I’m grateful for the opportunity to dine with you. Perhaps I could even pick your mind on a few of my projects?”
Minister Riddle laughed, sending shivers down Severus’s spine. It wasn’t a kind laugh.
“I shall not be dining with you this evening. Do you know what day it is?”
Severus started thinking through everything he’d done of late. Any tiny way he might have slipped up and Minister Riddle might have figured out his past lies.
“The 31st of July, Minister?”
“Precisely. Which just so happens to be my son’s birthday. And do you know what gift my son asked of me for his birthday?”
The Minister waited for Severus to murmur, “No.”
“You, Severus. All he wished for was you. Any gift in this world could be his, and he just wanted one dinner with you.”
“Minister?”
“Don’t ask me why. I did not understand the mind or logic of teenagers when I was one, let alone now.”
The pit of dread in Severus’s stomach widened.
“I’ll send for him soon, I just wanted to meet with you first. I also need to warn you that if the boy offers to suck your cock, you are to reject him as firmly as you can without breaking his heart. Do you understand me? He’s thought of nothing more than worshipping your body for weeks now. Our Legilimency lessons have become… unproductive. Dine with him, reject him, and I’ll ensure your brewing licence is approved first thing tomorrow.”
Severus nodded, not trusting himself to talk. Severus wondered if this was a practical joke, only Minister Riddle was hardly the type. Perhaps it was a test of loyalty? Would the Minister use his only child in such a way, though?
From Severus’s recollection, the two were very close. The Minister cherished Harry, keeping him out of the limelight his whole life. Severus had only met Harry once before, in fact. He tried his best not to think too deeply about the meeting in case the Minister was able to pick up on any of his errant thoughts.
From Severus’s previous, singular experience meeting Harry Riddle, he wasn’t sure if his nerve would hold steady to turn the boy down a second time, but if it was that or lose his career… Well, he would be on his best behaviour.
“Of course, Minister. I understand.”
Riddle peered deeply into Severus’s eyes, unblinking. Whatever he had been looking for, Severus must have provided. With a swirl of his cloak, Minister Riddle turned around and left the dining room without another word, leaving Severus alone.
It did occur to Severus that Riddle hadn’t said anything about future meetings, thankfully.