Named
It had been all over the news. An orphaned young boy was getting adopted by the Black Family. Arcturus Black, Orion and Lucretia’s father had met Harry a few days after the meeting with Headmaster Dippet and Professor Dumbledore. Needless to say, Lord Black had fallen head over heels for the young boy. Tom Riddle and his acolytes were eating soundlessly at the Slytherin table, listening to Harry animately chat with Adrien Avery about his dream that night. It was about a big white cat chasing him inside a big house full of books. Now that the Headmaster was aware of the boy's presence, Tom had allowed Harry to join them for a meal. Professor Dumbledore was avidly watching the Slytherin table with a sour expression. It seemed as though, every student within Hogwarts had grown fond of Harry in only a couple of days. It was common to see a few Hufflepuffs walk with the child toward the kitchen to steal a treacle tart since those were the boy’s favourite snacks. Most of the Ravenclaws were welcoming the boy into their study session and gladly answered Harry’s never-ending questions. Despite understanding that the young boy was a future Slytherin, even the Gryffindors welcomed Harry to play exploding snaps or Wizarding chess with them. And yet after a long day, Harry always came back to Tom and fell asleep in his arms. Riddle would never allow anyone to see how the boy melted his cold heart. He had a reputation to uphold. Even if Harry received ‘Good Night’ kisses from him every night.
The formal papers for the adoption were signed a few days before Yule. Lord Arcturus Black had arrived at Hogwarts, and they met in the Headmaster’s office. Orion and Lucretia had been invited to the adoption ceremony as they would officially become Harry’s family. However, the child had insisted that Tom be present and would not take ‘no’ for an answer. The papers were signed in blood since it was a common practice within the Dark Community; a blood adoption was the appropriate term. Harry would take on the physical appearance of his new parents despite being born from other blood. The features would take only a few days to settle on the boy's face. Riddle desperately hoped the child would keep his bright green eyes because they were his best feature. On the documents, Tom could read the name Harry would go by the end of the ceremony. Harrison Cepheus Black. Riddle could not help but think it suited the boy perfectly, for Harry would rule Slytherin once Tom graduated Hogwarts. It only helped that the name seemed to roll off the tongue nicely.
Tom’s thoughts were interrupted by the call of his name and a small nudge on his arm. He looked down to see Harry waiting expectantly at him. Lord Arcturus Black was watching him with a strange glint in his eye.
"Mr. Riddle, it appears that my adopted son has taken a liking to you. I would like to formally invite you to join our family for Yuletide celebrations." Lord Black said.
Tom’s eyes widen in shock. It seemed too good to be true. The Black Library was, from what he heard, filled with the knowledge of the Dark Arts. And Lord Arcturus Black had generously offered him to celebrate Yule with them because Harry seemed to like him. Tom looked back down at Harry who was still waiting for an answer.
"I…Thank you, Lord Black. Celebrating Yule with you and your family would be an honour," Riddle said disbelievingly.
It didn’t take more than a few seconds for Harry to jump in his arms and squeeze unbelievably hard for a ten-year-old child. Tom welcomed the hug earnestly with the ghost of a smile on his lips.
When he met Harry hiding in the broom closet, afraid and confused, Tom felt a sense of duty toward him. Yet, he never would have thought that the child would come to mean so much to him. During that time, Riddle thought he was saving the child by keeping him safe and away from people who would want to harm him. He made plans to get a good family to adopt the boy yet, as he was researching, he couldn’t help but fear that no one would ever be good enough for Harry. However, when he saw how Orion, Alphard and Lucretia had taken care of the boy, he felt prideful but also jealous. Thankfully for him, Harry always came back to him. Tom had become protective of the child, so much so that he would have gladly killed Dumbledore for frightening the boy. The Slytherin had done a fair share of sins in his life due to being afraid. And when Harry hugged him for the first time, Tom couldn’t help but think they were meant to meet. The boy was the warmest person to grace the Earth. With the boy’s help, Riddle would have access to the Black Library yet, the boy in his arms seemed to be a thousand times more important than any books one might find. Tom knew that he was never meant to be a hero. Yet he had tried to play his role for the young boy he met in a broom closet. Never would he have expected to be saved instead.
Lord Arcturus Black left Hogwarts shortly after the adoption was completed. Harry insisted he stayed in school with Tom so they could take the train home together. When they reached the Slytherin common room with the Black siblings in tow, Orion had been particularly enthused by the idea of introducing Harry as his new baby brother. And thus, the name Harrison Cepheus Black was on everyone's lips. Even the other houses were aware as the news of a new Black family member came to light in the Daily Prophet. The story spread wildly across Wizarding Britain. The news was even printed in Le Cri de la Gargouille, the French newspaper that covered important Wizarding events. And to think that Tom was the first one to save the little boy. He could have ignored the boy or even killed him. He had been researching ways to become immortal. And until now, it had been so crucial for him that he almost forgot anything else, even opening the Chamber of Secrets or researching his family. However, he met a small boy who was like him. A small boy with a knack for sly manipulation and the ability to wrap everyone around his fingers. To Tom, Harry was the most important thing in the world. More important than anything else. Tom was going to kill anyone who dared to hurt this child. He was never meant to be a hero. But he could be a Knight for a King so long as they stood side by side and ruled together. Forever.