Wed for Peace

The day of the departure dawned bright and early for Harry. For the first time since he had been going to Hogwarts, Harry felt as if he left his own home behind.

"Darling, don't pout. We'll see each other during Hogsmeade visits and of course in that mirror of yours. Do not fret, my dear, I will continue to shower you with affections. And should problems arise, Severus has a more secure way of contacting me.", Tom reassured him and Harry sighed.

"That's not the issue and you know it.", Harry replied flatly and pointed his fork at his husband.

Tom just gave him an amused look before he stood up.

Harry sighed before he too stood up and the table cleared away immediately. After a month of living with Tom Harry was finally not flinching away from the services provided by the house elves. At first every time he asked them for something he had Hermione's voice in his head telling him it was wrong and that it was slavery. It took him some time and a few leading questions to Tom to even figure out what he almost did to Dobby.

No wonder he started working at Hogwarts! He needed the magic to survive after all.

He wasn't sure how to tell Hermione this, though. She would not believe him. He was, after all, academically lesser than him, Harry thought with an eyeroll.

"Darling?"

Tom's voice brought him out of his head and he looked up. Harry had stood near the table unmoving for about five minutes and Tom looked concerned.

"I'm alright, Tom. Just thinking about how to tell Hermione about the things with the house elves. And about me being further in the curriculum than she is. Travelling sure makes you learn a few things."

Harry chuckled at the look on Tom's face. His husband was a great supporter of more knowledge about the magical world and magic in general. The man seemed to almost preen because he had been able to teach him more about magic.

Harry walked to him and kissed his cheek before grabbing his trunk - new of course - and Hedwig's perch. He had sent her to Hogwarts a few days prior so she could relax a bit before they would send her around with letters. She had healed faster than Tom and Severus had thought and Harry was glad she was alright and there would be no lingering problems.

Tom held out his hand and Harry grabbed it. Not a moment later they spun through space and landed at the crowded train station. Harry would have stumbled if Tom hadn't had a tight grip on his waist. They turned around and let their eyes wander over the platform.

Most of the people hadn't noticed them yet and Harry, starightening his shoulders and holding his head high, walked towards the train, Tom beside him.

It did not take long for most of the crowd to notice who was among them; a sudden silence descending near them.

Harry didn't look around into the faces of the people. He was done with their opinion. He had saved them once again and was being judged by most of them again and again for any and all actions he took. He was just done.

"Mr. Potter!", someone yelled and Harry closed his eyes before turning around.

In front of him stood a sturdy wizard in his forties with a camera and a quill and notepad hovering near him. The teenager turned towards Tom and waited for the slight nod.

"What can I do for you, Mr...?"

"Malda, my name is Malda.", he said and seemed relieved. "Do you have time for questions?"

Harry thought about it.

"I reserve the right to not answer questions.", he said.

The man nodded eagerly before immediately beginning.

"How has your marriage been so far?"

Harry smiled at that and turned his head towards Tom with a besotted expression on his face. He heard the camera snap but didn't pay attention to it. Let him take photos of his happiness.

"It has been a truly wonderful month so far. We've been travelling a lot and Tom just knows how to make me smile.", Harry said.

The reporter was writing furiously and Harry imagined him writing about their undying and wonderful love. He had to suppress a laugh at that.

"Where have you been during your travels?", the man was eagerly asking.

"Oh, mostly European cities and landscapes with a lot of magical background. I was shopping in Paris with him. A voucher from the Malfoys for an absolutely amazing clothes shop came in handy during that. It was very romantic.", Harry explained.

He could hear Tom cover a snort with a cough and lightly elbowed his ribs.

"Wonderful, wonderful.", the man commented and was still writing. "Have you heard about your relatives' trial?"

Harry's good mood was suddenly swept away with that comment. Tom hissed next to him and his red eyes flashed dangerously.

"No, it's alright, dear.", Harry whispered before he turned to the reporter.

He gave his best sneer and said: "That is none of your business. Neither the press nor anyone else will get to hear anything about that. It was my childhood and it still is my private life that I will not disclose to just anybody."

Harry's tone was icy enough to make Malda flinch back. Harry refused to feel bad for that. What his relatives had done to him was not to be made public. It was bad enough he remembered.

"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean... I just... I apologize.", the man stammered and Harry nodded.

Tom moved from beside Harry, laid a hand on his waist and murmured: "Mr. Malda, it was a pleasure to meet you but my husband needs to catch a train. I wish you a good day."

Harry bid his farewell and together the pair turned around to get Harry settled into the train.

Silence followed them until they stepped onto the train. The whispers and comments echoed after them. Harry tried to not pay them any attention but a few still caught him off guard.

"This is not our Saviour!"

"Why is he so different?"

"Did Riddle turn him dark?"

Harry rolled his eyes at the last comment while he felt Tom's magic spike. They condemned him for going through with his rights. As if it had been okay what Rita had done in his fourth year.

"Don't mind them, Tom. I'm used to it."

Tom's voice was deadly as he spoke: "I do not condone the slandering they are doing. I will contact Lucius on this."

Harry sighed but did not try to change Tom's mind. It wouldn't work, not when the man was this determined to protect him at all costs.

They soon found a free compartment and Harry put his trunk and bookbag - also new of course, with a featherlight charm and some useful little pockets - into the holder before turning back to his husband.

The man seemed unhappy and Harry smiled.

"I'll see you on the first Hogsmeade visit. And until then we have our mirrors."

Tom didn't seem reassured by this but inclined his head at the attempt. For a moment neither said nor did anything.

Harry sighed deeply. He would miss their solitude while at Hogwarts. Constantly being surrounded by people was not going to be easy now.

A knock near the doorframe made both of them turn around. Neville stood in the doorway and watched them curiously.

"Neville, hey!", Harry greeted his quiet friend while Tom moved to stand next to Harry and put an arm around his waist.

"Hey, Harry, Mr. Riddle.", Neville greeted them.

Tom only inclined his head but stayed where he was. The teenager couldn't blame him. After all his best friends condemned him for marrying Tom and Neville wasn't as close as Ron and Hermione.

A short, awkward silence filled the compartment before Neville said: "Well, is there room in here for me? I didn't know where to sit."

Harry smiled gently and motioned for the Gryffindor to get inside. The teenager put away his trunk and bookbag as well and sat on one of the cushioned seats. Harry sat down opposite Neville.

Harry motioned for Tom to sit with him. Tom's smile at the gesture unnerved Harry and he was right to be suspicious.

Tom sat down and immediately pulled Harry into his lap so the teenager was sitting sideways on it.

Harry glared. The man just smiled serenely at him. With an eyeroll Harry made himself more comfortable in his husband's lap and turned his head towards Neville.

The Gryffindor was sitting opposite them and watched them carefully. It seemed as if his friend was unsure how to react.

"Don't mind my husband, Neville. He's just a bit clingy and has separation anxiety.", Harry commented drily which made Tom snort into his shoulder. 

Neville chuckled lightly.

"Sure, it definitely is not weird seeing you cuddle with Tom Riddle and being happy about it."

Harry laughed at that. They began chatting about their holidays and other things while his husband was only watching curiously at their dynamic. The hand on Harry's hip was a warm reminder of how secure he was in Tom's grasp while his other hand fiddled with Harry's fingers. All the while Harry and Neville talked about anything other than Harry's marriage.

Just as Harry was describing their travel through Praha Tom interrupted: "Mr. Longbottom, why don't you ask Harry here what's on your mind? This whole situation might be much lighter after you've received your answer."

Neville gaped and Harry groaned in embarrassment.

"Tom!", the teenager chided.

The man ignored him completely, keeping his eyes on the Gryffindor in front of them.

Neville straightened his shoulders and looked into Harry's eyes.

"I wanted to ask you, as soon as your husband left, how he really treated you.", Neville said, his voice hard like steel.

Harry smiled gently at his friend. It took some nerve to ask that in front of Tom.

The teenager took out his wand.

"I swear upon my magic that I am telling Neville Longbottom the truth about my marriage.", Harry declared. "It has been wonderful so far. He's been treating me better than my relatives, that's for sure. I think... I think I can say that I am truly happy right now with how the things have developed. I feel comfortable with him - even if he's a bit possessive."

Harry could feel Tom's eyeroll but other than that the man said nothing.

The teenager swung his wand and levitated a feather from Hedwig up to the ceiling of the compartment and back down.

"There is no way that you did that! It must've been Voldemort. This can not be the truth about your marriage!", a voice cried in desperation at the door.

All of the compartment's occupants turned to see both Ron and Hermione standing in the doorway to their compartment. Harry's heart gave a painful lurch at the realization that they wouldn't believe him, no matter how he tried to convince them.

"If you have Veritaserum I would gladly take that but I also know that it's tightly controlled by the ministry and that two Hogwarts students wouldn't be able to get some.", Harry commented idly, trying not to let it show how much their behaviour hurt him.

Hermione hurrumphed and Ron only snorted in exhasparation. Harry rolled his eyes at their reaction.

"Harry you cannot truly believe that he-", at this Hermione pointed to Tom. "- is a good man! He had murdered before this! He's a megalomaniac with his focus on power. There is no way that he would treat you better than your family!"

Ron was nodding along to Hermione's words. Harry froze. They didn't just imply that the Dursleys were better than Tom, were they?

The teenager could feel his magic crackle under his skin and he kept an iron grip on it to not destroy anything on the train.

"You know, I think it's wonderful living with him as I get to eat whenever I want and I don't even have to sleep inside a damn cupboard. So yes, I do believe he is infinitely better than my so called family.", Harry spat at them causing both of his 'friends' to flinch.

A movement out of the corner of his eye caught Harry's attention and with a quiet snarl he unleashed his magic on the beetle just flying past him.

A loud thud later a very confused Rita Skeeter was sitting in the middle of the compartment.

"You did not think your disguise would work a second time, did you?", Harry growled.

The reporter was stuttering through some excuses but Harry ignored all of them.

"I am a seeker for a reason, Miss Skeeter. And you landed yourself a punishment in Azkaban." Rita swallowed heavily, her gaze wandering between him and Tom.

Harry stood and let Tom get up as well.

They had talked about Rita during their early days of their marriage as Harry had talked about the disaster during the Triwizard tournament. He had also told Tom that they had made an arrangement with Rita as she was an illegal Animagus. They had both agreed that if she didn't honour the arrangement she would get the punishment for being an unregistered Animagus.

"Miss Skeeter, I am glad to finally have the honour to meet you. Shall I escort you to the Aurors?", the man said, kissed Harry on the mouth and marched her off of the train.

Harry shook his head. The teenager had a feeling that this day wouldn't end well for the friendship between him and Ron and Hermione.

"Harry! How could you! She'll be sent to Azkaban!", Hermione cried out in shock.

"Yes, she will.", he said. After a short moment of consideration he added: "Well, keeping her locked in an unbreakable glass jar wasn't any more comfortable than Azkaban will be, I presume."

Hermione gasped in outrage while Ron growled something at Harry.

Neville stood up and moved into their line of sight before Harry could even say anything else.

"I guess you should search for a compartment before everywhere else is full. I do not want to spend my time on the train listening to you gaslight Harry.", the Gryffindor said, crossing his arms and waited.

It took both Hermione and Ron a long moment that they had been dismissed by Neville of all people before they left in stunned silence.

"Thank you, Neville.", Harry murmured.

Neville just smiled at him and sat back down.

During the rest of the train ride no one interrupted them. If the two teenagers didn't sit in a comfortable silence, Neville was asking Harry about his travels and talked about his own summer at home.

Harry was surprised when the prefects came and told them they needed to change as the ride was the most comfortable one he had had since attending Hogwarts.

Maybe Malfoy - Draco - was right in saying he should have looked for the wrong sort in his first year.

The ride in the carriages was as peaceful as the train ride. That mostly was thanks to Neville and Luna. The two teenagers were probably Harry's only supporters in this school besides the Slytherins.

Harry felt like he was in a trance. The journey to the Great Hall, the Sorting of the new students, all of that just went by him in a fog.

Until the Sorting Hat opened its mouth and called: "I want to speak with Harry Potter."