Wands Out, Top Hats Off
The lights were twinkling with the occupants of the room dancing to the soothing music, talking amongst themselves or looking at the fine decor supplied by Narcissa Malfoy. Among the occupants, one most important being Harry James Evan Potter-Riddle.....
Sigh yes his name is now a mouthful but excuse him for wanting to pay homage to his parents who met a brutal end. Really was a bitch to clean the bloodstains out the carpet, he remembers.
Right now instead of being here with his husband's fellow followers, he'd rather be with his offspring, sitting in the drawing-room laughing with childish glee at his husband's expense because he didn't know how to build a simple lego set that their six-year-old son had mastered within five minutes.
He'd rather chase his kids around trying to put them to sleep in their respective beds but end up sleeping in a made-up fort because they wish to wait for their goodnight hugs and kisses (yes you read that right) from their father who was busy trying to annihilate anyone who posed a threat to his heirs or his adorable, slightly- insane husband who at the moment was carrying their third girl Slythindor which Harry had cleverly come up with after their third son, Ekon and their second daughter, Rosslyn but this week is going by Whimsy, who both represent their name in the most dignified manner that a Riddle can master...
Which is none at all. But creativity wasn't an apple that fell far from the tree for his little ones
Thinking about his hell-spawn made Harry smile. They were a perfect combination of Tom and Harry...but mostly Harry since they pissed Tom off every chance they could get and that was one of the many reasons why Harry woke up in the mornings
Speaking of devil spawn.
"Mommy?" a questioning voice filled the air along with a tug at his robes
"Yes, my little viper?" Harry looks down to see his one of his littlest Slythindors, Adrianus who was looking up at his mother with his mossy green eyes and dark brown hair which is now making his little one look equivalent to a storm hunter which tempted him to run his hand through the disheveled strands but alas Adrianus did not appreciate the action from anyone except a few times when his darling mother was involved but nobody had to know that.
"Father requests your company." he recites exactly what was his father said although normally Adrianus would call his 'father' daddy in the security of their home but of course Tom expected his heirs to act accordingly to how 'Purebloods' should act.
Would make sense, you know if they, including Tom himself, were actually Purebloods, but to each to their own.
"Well, darling whatever your 'father' says goes I guess." he said in a sarcastic voice. Which his son knows according to his giggle.
"Daddy's silly when he has to party, huh mommy? "
"Darling your daddy is always silly." with that his son ran to his respected space where the kids were placed to get away from all 'silly adults' in the facility. Of course not counting the mummy of the group of Slythindors.
Swiftly walking to his husband for all intents and purposes under six minutes, new record. He made it across the ballroom to see his husband taking to the Minster Fudge who looked very similar to an owl by the way he looks at Harry.
"Ah love there you are." Tom says with a drawl seeing his husband's finally at his side.
"Yes, Adrianus said you requested me." Harry's eyes cut to Tom's face in mild annoyance
"That was five minutes ago." Tom noted with a raised eyebrow
" Yes, well if you haven't noticed I'm a miniature whale carrying your seventh heir so excuse me if I have to impersonate a penguin for five minutes to hold your hand like a child." Harry snapped in Parseltongue
Raising an eyebrow Tom said " Now now, little one let's not argue in front of guests. Say hello before I take away your Monday outing. "
"I'd still find a way to go." Harry pouted. Turning around to face the Minister who was quite startled to hear the two wizards converse in the serpent language, Harry gave a bland greeting.
"Hello Cornelius I hope you've had a wonderful time at our abode."
Clearing his voice, Fudge rushed out, "Yes well it seems your oldest boy, Daniel-"
"Damien." Both Tom and Harry cut in.
"Yes of course, well Damien seems to not hold interest in the department of Aurors which confuses me since he scored quite high on his placement test within the Ministry while also scoring quite high with his N.E.W.T.S." Ugh hearing a banshee would be more entertaining than hearing the Minister go on.
"I was wondering if you, as his parents, would maybe steer him in the right direction?" Cornelius was startled to hear the Dark Lord laugh at his request and looked down to see Potter smirking.
"Cornelius I'm quite sure my son has reached his majority last year. I hold no authority whatsoever with what his future placement shall be within the Ministry."
"Well certainly a boy must not rely-"
"Man"
"E-excuse me? " Cornelius hadn't expected to be interrupted so soon.
"My son is a man, Cornelius there is a reason he is not being reprimanded so heavily like my other children although that does not happen so often with my husband's guidance." Tom smiled, reaching out to stroke Harry's hair that reached his middle back.
"Well, a man could still receive guidance from his parents I'm sure-" again with the interruptions! And this time by that Potter brat!
"We like our children to make decisions on their own. Makes them more independent at this age although, yes it does fill my heart with joy to have my babies come to their momma for guidance instead of their Father." Harry said smiling up cheekily to his husband who at this point looked very tempted to put his husband over his knee for that comment but of course not here with all these prying eyes.
"Why yes of course but like I sai-"
"Mother I was looking for you did you-" Emilia, although Harry always called her Emily, even Tom did too, surprisingly (he complained how it was too muggle but small victories), places a hand on her Mother's shoulder in interruption.
"Well like I was saying-" It's quite funny to see Fudge try to carry on when Harry's children only have eyes for their mommy. Everyone else can bugger off for all they care.
"Mummy, Adrianus won't open his lego chest!" Rosslyn interrupted very loudly, tugging on Harry's robes. Very shortly Adrianus came running while shouting and pointed at Rosslyn.
"She wants to play with the dragon!" He exclaimed
"The one we built last Sunday?" Harry questions because if so, that's a no go for his Whimsy since that dragon took six hours for the both of them to build.
"Yes!"
"But mummy it's perfect for my Princess set!" She pouted
"Whimsy we've talked about this." Raising an eyebrow at his youngest daughter.
"Oh fine." she huffs
"Good now both of you go play and if I hear a complaint like this again all your toys go into the portrait room" he threatens, both knowing the portraits in the attic complain about everything, to the cracks in the floors, to the worn-out peach paint on the walls.
Adrianus runs back to the far end of the room while Rosslyn stomps but not without a reprimand for the both them
"Walk." Both Harry and Tom command, stalling their movements until they walk at a reasonable pace
Now that two of the three urchins were gone Cornelius again tried to but in
" Well- “ again the Minister was interrupted by a loud wail
"Mummy!!! " a short replica of Tom came running with tears going down his face, behind him was his second oldest brother, Caius
"Ekon Demetri Riddle cease this behavior this instant! " Tom commanded
"Oh ignore daddy little one, what happened?” Harry cooed at him.
Still crying, Ekon raises his pants leg to reveal a nasty scrape from the pavement out in the garden.
"He tripped on a rock that was next to the bench," Caius answered for him since his little brother was too busy wiping snot off his face.
"Oh dear," Harry says while analyzing his son's injury although he does feel bad for his little boy it's a wonderful excuse to make haste away from all these tightwads since his son's behavior was so "uncouth". Oh, the horror!
Snapping his head up Harry addresses all his kids, making sure to use the sonorous charm so all his kids who weren't with him, could still hear him " Well, I guess we'll just have to go patch that up huh my darling?" He said while grabbing his injured son's hand.
With that one by one Harry's kiddies, all followed him to the massive double doors that led to the hallway all except one being his oldest child, Damien who didn't get the memo since he was conversing with his lover of interest and betrothed, Cordelia Rosworth.
Of course not seeing his mother in the crowd, he excuses himself and goes to his Father who looked like he drank one of Caius' potions.
Standing next to his father Damien raised an eyebrow at his expression.
"Father I hate to do this but I have to question why my mother and all my siblings are no longer here?" it is a very rare occurrence when he's not by his mother's side, especially when Harry was pregnant.
"Ekon had an accident outside playing his make-believe foolishness, I assume." Tom informed his son with a sneer.
"Well, I'm sure it couldn't take five people to help him." He replied
"Yes, well my little spouse and your mother are very precise on tactics to make an escape," Tom said with a small smirk.
"I'm sure that suits your taste hm? "Damien teases, adopting his mother's mischievous smile.
"I am a man of fine taste Damien which is why it works out between me and your mother." he informs his son
"Hm, well yes that and the fact you are wrapped around his finger as well Father." his son points out, mirroring his Father's smirk.
Smiling in fondness of his spouse, Tom replies "
"Yes, well my son, I cannot go against that argument but I will say the same goes for you too"
"What can I possibly say, Father? My mother is one that cannot be replaced. It is wise to cherish the greater things in life." Damien admits. He has always been one to do his mother's bidding and in this case, crucio the Minister for his sarcastic laughter.
Both father and son stiffen at hearing the words that exit the dangered Minister's mouth.
"I always knew that boy would be no more than attention-seeking whore getting by due to his husband's influence," the Minister scoffs.
Immediately the room goes into shocked silent. Deciding between anxious and fearful was a problem all the guests who weren't part of the Dark Lord's inner circle were dealing with. Every wizard and witch knew that no one made it out alive when insulting the Dark Lord's husband who at the moment was not here to defend himself.
Sensing the danger the foolish man put himself in, Cornelius had begun to sweat a vast amount making him take off his top hat. It was only a few moments later when he had a wand in his face
"Instead of untasteful insults that hold no meaning nor truth, you should be at my mother's feet. For it was he who ordered you not to be killed all those years ago." Damien growled out, beyond angry at the words that were spit about his gracious mother without any thought
"A-and for whatever reason did he agree to that?" the Minister questioned in a high pitched voice.
"Because you fool, everyone knows if you die my father will have to take over and mother thinks he spends already too much time on other things. Being Minister will decrease the quality time that should be spent with family." He explained, looking down at the pitiful man.
"Yes, that time is also used to make sure no idiots like you keep running around," Tom said, twirling his wand. "Obviously I haven't had the time since you're still alive" He tacts on, making his followers chuckle in the gathered crowd. He held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. When the hall is once again silent, Tom continues
"And yes it is true my husband can be attention-seeking but let it be known it is only for important matters that need to be brought to attention. I am also offended that you would think I would choose a spouse that couldn't make a name for themselves much less be so disgustingly dependent on me. Such qualities are a hindrance." Tom sniffed
"But since you have such false accusations of my husband maybe I should let my followers show you some truth," he said turning to his followers who at the time also had their wands out in anticipation to defend their other Lord.
"T-tom I'm sure there's no nee-"
"Crucio" the Minister fell to his knees, screaming out in pain then brutally dragged off by the Dark Lord's followers to the dungeons.
With that, both father and son exited the ballroom to find their husband and mother.
The party was officially over.
~
Five minutes later they found Harry and the kids huddled up in the master bedroom clad in his long nightshirt and shorts while the kids were all in their own set of pajamas. They were just on time to hear the end of Harry's fictional story of the night.
"And the mommy dragon burned the village to find her nestlings. Searching high and low the mother dragon found them in a chimney. There she took them back home to the mountains to nest. The end." Harry finished bopping each of his kids on the nose.
"You always were a fine storyteller Mother," complimented Emily who was holding Adrianus and Whimsy who were nodding off.
"Yes and very creative." Caius smiled big and wide
"Oh my darlings it doesn't take much, besides you all hold a liking to dragons," he replied, ruffling Ekon's hair who now had a healing paste over his knee and sleeping comfortably against his mother.
"Well isn't this a sight," Tom broke the moment with his teasing voice.
"Oh hello, Father " Both Emily and Caius greeted.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Damien questioned amusingly
"Oh, my darling where have you been?" Harry questioned worriedly he hasn't seen his son since the ball had started because of the betrothal guidelines, Damien could only see Cordelia during these extensive gatherings.
"Around, nothing to worry about mother." Damien said while walking to his mother to give him a kiss on the forehead
"You silly boy I'll always worry." Harry said, palming his son's face wondering where the time went until he felt a very harsh kick to his abdomen.
"Unfortunately my dears I have to ask you to go to your rooms because your sister demands I go to sleep." with that all the kiddies kissed their mother on the cheek and hugged their father goodnight with the exception of the youngest three who were being carried by the oldest three.
Within a few minutes, the children were in their own beds and Tom settled under the covers next to his struggling husband not before leaning down to nuzzle the rounded tummy that was carrying his youngest snake.
"Mm, how was she fairing tonight, precious?" Tom asks, concern leaking into his voice has he knows how difficult it is for Harry to be on his feet for long periods of time.
Moving his hands through Tom's brown wavy locks, Harry looks up at the picture they make in the mirror high up on the ceiling.
"Much like before." Harry answers back shortly when he feels an assault of pain on his back. Tom removes himself and settles next to Harry.
Of course, they don't just head to sleep, no, see their daughter has some sort of vendetta against Harry and won't let him sleep until he's close to crying or committing first-degree murder because Tom keeps smiling.
"You know instead of smiling you could help." Harry bit out getting a sharp pain in his lower back. Extending his arm out Tom beckoned his husband to lay on his side so he could be supported by his firm chest, making the pressure on his husband's back go away. He knows it worked by the sigh that leaves his pink plump lips.
"Better love?" making sure both his little snakes were comfortable
"Yes." with that Harry snuggles in deeper in Tom's chest while he places a long kiss on his head
Turning off the lights, Harry and the kids with the exception of Damien went to sleep not knowing the Minister of Magic was now a burnt piece of flesh.
.....
Took long enough