Pretend

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/24234649.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories: M/M, Multi
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Relationships: Harry Potter/Tom Riddle, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Hermione
Granger/Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy/Ginny Weasley
Characters: Harry Potter, Tom Riddle, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Ginny
Weasley, Lucius Malfoy, Regulus Black
Additional Tags: Fake Dating, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Spoiled Heir Harry Potter,
Intellectual Tom, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha/Omega, Non-
Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha!Tom, Omega!Harry,
School Romance, DID SOMEONE SAY TROPE?????, Fuck Yeah!
TROPE!
Language: English
Series:
💜
Part 8 of Power Couple, Part 1 of Tropes... As Far as the Eye can See
Collections: Love these stuff UwU, Tomarry , Favourite HP works, Avidreaders
HP completed faves, Top-Tier Complete Tomarrymort Fics, Tom and
Harry- HP.TR, S-Grade Tomarry Fics! ♡, fics that kept me on the edge

🐍 🥰
of my seat (in a good way), Harry Potter, Fave Harry Potter, "Let's finish
it the way we started it... Together" , My Absolute Favorite ,
Tomarry works
Stats: Published: 2020-05-17 Completed: 2020-06-06 Words: 22,225 Chapters:
8/8
 Pretend
by temptresslove

Summary

Draco Malfoy breaks up with his childhood sweetheart Harry Potter. There's only one thing
to do, of course. Win Draco back with the help of the illustrious Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Or: Harry Potter and Tom Riddle fake date to make Draco Malfoy jealous.
 Chapter 1
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“What?” Harry Potter asks not quiet sure if he heard Draco Malfoy, his boyfriend, right.

“We need to break up, Harry,” Draco says slowly, with a sorry look on his face as if doing so
would lessen the panic and anger Harry was feeling right now.

“Oh you must be joking, babe,” Harry laughs nervously. “I mean, we—you said—we—we’re
in love!”

“Harry, I do love you,” Harry nods enthusiastically at Draco’s words. Yes, exactly—“But like
a brother.”

A brother? Last time Harry checked brothers did not hold hands everywhere they went and
most especially did not put their tongues on each other’s throats whenever they could.

Why would Draco suddenly do this? They were fine yesterday. They’ve been fine since
Harry could remember. Unless…

Harry frowns a sudden realization hit him. “Is there another omega? Who is he?”

Draco swallows. Harry does not miss the action. “No, Harry.” Draco smiles weakly. “There’s
no new omega.”

“What’s his name?” Harry asks again, eyes hard.

Draco looks at him for a long time. Harry glares at him in both disbelief and anger. Did
Draco think he could lie to Harry? Harry Potter?

“It’s a she, Harry.” Draco finally admits, closing his eyes in resignation.

“A she?” Harry almost screams. “Since when did you—“

“Stop it, Harry,” Draco says. “We never really loved each other, you must know that.”

Not love each other? What? This was all crazy talk. They were meant to be together. They
promised. They were almost promised. They even carved their initials on one of the trees in
the gardens of Malfoy Manor.

“Who is she?” Harry asks scathingly. It must be that blonde bimbo Astoria Greengrass. That
bitch has been flirting with Draco since she presented, even when Harry was around. Harry
was going to show her just what an angry omega could do—

“It’s Hermione, Harry.”

Harry freezes and something hot and disgusting spreads through his chest. “Hermione…
Granger?”

Harry Potter was perfect.

All omegas knew this.

It was a universally acknowledged opinion. Everyone wanted to be Harry Potter. If you didn’t
want to be Harry Potter, it was because you wanted Harry Potter. That was just it.

Harry Potter was the quintessential omega.

He was small and he was pretty. His laugh sounded like tiny little bells ringing and his voice
was light and high like honey. When he walked, it looked like he was floating, like walking
normally was too… too normal for him to ever do.

And the smile. Oh, the smile. The way he would look up at you under his lashes, his eyes big
and child-like. He always dressed in red to contrast against his very green eyes but mostly, to
represent his house proudly. He was a Gryffindor through and through, feisty and
courageous.

Harry Potter was the perfect omega.

At least, in appearance.

It’s been said that he was the only student who could walk in late to Professor McGonagall’s
class without batting an eyelash. Rumor has it that the Transfigurations professor has long
since given up on trying to discipline the omega as detention didn’t really work at all, and
failing him in class only meant James and Lily would appear and demand justice for their
son. And well, Headmaster Dippet always had a soft spot for the two of his old favorite
students and would try to reason with Minerva to pass the boy.

Some omegas just really had it. And Harry had it in abundance. Perhaps it came from being
Lily Potter’s son. Perhaps it came from being born with absolutely everything—doting
parents, riches, winning the genetic lottery, and the right blood status.

Or maybe it just came from being Harry Potter.

Harry Potter had a tan complexion that went perfectly with his dark hair and luminous green
eyes. These were the things that made other omegas admire the Potter heir and perhaps even,
hate him for it.

Harry Potter also had the coolest clique in Hogwarts. Ginny Weasley, a redheaded beta who
knew all of the latest gossip in Hogwarts be it about students or the faculty, and the newest
addition to their little clique, Hermione Granger, a mudblood surprisingly, and also an omega
—another surprise—plain and not very pretty.

Above all of these, though, Harry Potter had Draco Malfoy.

Oh, Draco Malfoy was a dream. He was tall and he was so handsome. It didn’t help that he
was somewhat of a bad boy, not really caring much about school rules, and was always
dressed like a proper pureblood heir—tie loose around his neck, hair disheveled deliciously.
He always had an arm around Harry and they were always seen together, mostly with Harry’s
immediate circle.

Until they weren’t.

And it was a victory for omegas everywhere when it happened, when Harry and Draco broke
up.

As seemingly, the flawless Harry Potter was not as a perfect as he always seemed.

Harry lifts his chin up.

Well, there was no use crying now. It was done. He couldn’t feel sorry for himself. No. What
would his mother say? That he must always rise above these things. Yes, he was still Harry–
the prettiest omega there was in Hogwarts. It was just that Draco was probably tempted by
that Hermione omega who wasn’t even remotely pretty.

Draco was just distracted.

All alphas got distracted.

Harry took a deep breath and opened the doors to the dining hall. The usual chattering buzz
louder than usual but suddenly died down when everyone realized that it was Harry who
entered the hall. He lifts his chin higher and struts slowly and surely towards the Gryffindor
table.

If there was anything that Harry was good at, it was staying coolly unfazed when attention
was directed at him.

Ginny was the first to greet him with a hug. “Are you okay?” She whispers in his ear.

Harry nods slights and smiles widely. He flips his hair and smirks. “Of course I am.”

Ginny still looks at him worriedly and whispers, “I didn’t think Hermione could do this, you
know. She seemed so nice.”

She did. She always looked at him the same way all omegas looked at him—admiration. But
they were all the same. They respected Harry’s alpha more than they respected him. Because
Draco has always been attractive with his blonde undercut and stormy grey eyes. Harry didn’t
blame them. Draco was a dream.

But Hermione seemed so sweet. She even offered to help Harry with his homework. And
well, Harry had taken one look at the bushy-haired witch and felt so sorry for her—she
looked like Hagrid from the back, what with overly frizzy hair like that—and took her in
their little group against his better judgement.
But she was a snake.

Not very befitting of a Gryffindor to steal boyfriends. This is what Harry gets for helping a
mudblood.

Harry takes a look around the Gryffindor table to see if the witch had the guts to show up
today. Ginny looks at him and says with a little bit of pity in her eyes, “She’s not here.”

Harry flips his hair. “At least have some courage when you take someone’s boyfriend.”

Ginny doesn’t smile. Instead she pretends to eat her soup. “She’s in the Slytherin table,” she
says nonchalantly, quietly, not letting the eavesdroppers get the satisfaction of hearing their
conversation.

Harry whips his head fast to the Slytherin table. His eyes widen.

The… the bitch! She was giggling in Draco’s arm! They were scent-marking! Harry feels a
grip on his arm and looks up to see Ginny shaking her head.

“Harry,” Ginny says with a warning tone. “No.”

Harry almost bares his fangs in anger but he stops himself. Direct confrontations were very...
unclassy.

And almost all of Hogwarts were looking back and forth between the Gryffindor table and
the Slytherin’s.

He straightens himself and takes a bite of his breakfast. He smiles at Ginny and Ginny smiles
back. They are so pretty together, this Harry knows, it was one the reasons why they were
friends. Her redhead best friend the little freckles on her face and the bright, charming smile.
Harry is a dark seductress beside her.

At once, Ginny understands what they were doing. Harry laughs and Ginny does as well.

They looked like poster card for a summer vacation—happy and beautiful, and most of all,
totally unbothered.

They were the prettiest things in Hogwarts and no boyfriend stealer was going to change that.

Harry looked at Hermione who was blushing with Draco’s attention.

She was so… plain.

But she was smart, Draco said. She’s the brightest witch in her age, Harry. She’ll help me
reach my dreams.

Draco also said that Harry was too much of a pureblood omega. Too boring. As a future
governor, he needed someone who spoke to the people, who was the people. Elitism was a
thing of the past, Draco said. Draco. A Malfoy heir.
“It’s time to usher in the era of accepting mudblo—er, muggle borns, Harry,” Draco says.
“They are the people of our society. They’re trendy.”

Harry had asked Draco what his parents thought of this. Draco said they supported his
decision, because only those who adapted, survived.

To say that Harry was shocked was an understatement. Abraxas and Narcissa supported this?
Why? They were always so welcoming to Harry. Why the change of heart?

Harry walks away but not before he sees Draco nibble on Hermione’s ear.

Ginny squeezes his arm again as Harry’s sight darkens.

“I’ll make her pay,” Harry whispers. “She’s going to regret ever approaching me or breathing
the same air as me. I will destroy that bitch.”

“I need to make him jealous,” Harry says to Ginny back that night in their dorm.

“Yes, well, the only alpha Draco hates is Tom Riddle, and thing is,” Ginny laughs. “He’s too
good for yo—“ Ginny stops suddenly and looks at Harry innocently. “I mean too good for
most people. He doesn’t even date. That’s like, below him.”

“Yes, but he hasn’t exactly met me yet, Ginny,” Harry says as he runs his hands through his
hair. “Everybody loves me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure a about that,” Ginny says uncertainly. “He’s Tom Riddle, Harry.
Tom Riddle. I’ve never heard so much as a gossip about that man except that he’s bloody
brilliant and super attractive. He’s an alpha too, but has never even singled out a single
omega when they all but throw themselves at his feet.”

“There’s always a first time,” Harry winks at his reflection on the mirror.

“He’s not even around most of the time!” Ginny says. “He represents Hogwarts in interschool
competitions around the world.”

“I heard he’s going back tomorrow.”

Ginny’s eyes widen. “What? Who did you hear it from?”

“Lucius.” Harry says with a smug smile on his face.

“How did you even—“ Ginny asks but stops when Harry keeps looking at her with the same
smug face. “I won’t even ask.” Ginny sighs. “Look, Harry, Tom Riddle... he’s not like other
guys. He’s on the running to graduating with the highest marks ever given to a student. He’s
not like us. He’s not like you. He’s not like Draco. He doesn’t have time to play your little
games. Harry, I don’t mean this in a bad way but Tom Riddle is not the guy for what you’re
trying to do…”
 Harry finally turns to look at Ginny. She looked very serious and it wasn’t everyday that she
was. She frowns. “Don’t come running to me when all this goes to shit.”

“It won’t,” Harry assures her. “And besides, he’s still an alpha, Ginny,” Harry says with a
twinkle in his eye. “And no alpha has ever resisted me.”

“No,” Tom Riddle says blankly, voice unfairly rich and deep, already starting to walk away
from Harry.

“B-but,” Harry says, at loss for what to say. No has rejected him so casually before. “Y—you
—I—Why did you even come to see me then?”

Tom stops and turns slowly towards Harry. His face is unreadable, unbelievably handsome,
like marble carved by the gods themselves. Then, slowly, he smirks. Something about the
way Tom moved always looked like he was moving in slow motion. Like he had all the
luxury of time in the world. His movements were sure and elegant. Like everything he did
was deliberate. A true alpha.

“I had to hear what you were going to say,” Tom says. “Pity its not worth my time.”

Harry has never felt more humiliated in his life. Who was Tom Riddle anyway? He wasn’t
even a pureblood! Riddle is a muggle name! How dare this abnormally tall attractive
monstrosity insult him like this? Like he was... stupid or something? He was not stupid.

Harry supposed he could cry. Alphas could never resist crying omegas. But something told
Harry that would only make Tom be more disgusted. Tom Riddle was not like most alphas.
Harry had never dealt with an alpha who functioned more on intelligence than instinct.

“Just hear me out.” Harry reasons. “I—I—“ Harry remembers what Ginny said. About Tom
being ambitious. Ambition. Draco also wanted to be a politician. Maybe Tom with his
ambition... This time, Harry smirks. The alpha stares at him. And then turns to leave again.
Oh for the love of God this man.

“Dating a Potter heir would certainly be...” Harry almost feels triumphant when Tom turns to
him again. “Beneficial.” Harry says with a sly look on his face.

Chapter End Notes

A multi-chaptered fic?! From temptresslove?! WHAT! This fic will be very trope-y, with
my own signature spins of course. Now the real question: Will I ever finish this fic?
LOL. In due time, you will know why this is under Power Couple, because our favorite
pair will ALWAYS ALWAYS be THAT Power Couple. Hahaha!

Ps. Don't expect too much this might end up being five chapters or something.
HAHAHAHA.
 Chapter 2
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Tom Riddle has never looked at the Potter heir before.

He’s always dismissed the omega as vapid. Certainly pretty… but lacking in the intelligence
department. Tom distinctly remembers being the student assistant to Professor Snape and
when the potions master asked Harry how he would describe the potion on his desk. The
omega smiled widely and said, “With adjectives, of course!”

Everyone had snickered behind their hands and Snape had actually sighed before moving to
ask another student.

Tom also remembers a time when he was about to get some papers signed by Professor
McGonagall when the omega suddenly gasped in Transfigurations class and loudly
exclaimed, “So you’re the cat?!” to the professor when she transformed right before their
eyes.

Everyone laughed and Harry continued to look at the Professor in utter amazement.

And then out of nowhere, Harry asked Tom if they could talk. He was more than surprised.
Surely, he was not going to confess to Tom? Tom knew that Harry and the Malfoy heir were
together. So what exactly was it that Harry wanted from Tom?

But he was the Potter heir. The only one. He was going to be influential eventually, even if he
did not see it yet.

Tom also knew that Potter exercised some kind of power over Hogwarts, as attractive people
often do. Tom was not a stranger to the effect of good looks. He preyed on it. And Harry did
as well, from the looks of it, but not as intentional as Tom used his.

To see so much of Harry’s potential put to waste all because of an alpha. It really was a
shame to be an omega.

So Tom had agreed, more on respect for his family name more than anything else. He
obviously would not want to spite someone who he knew held a teenage influence over the
student body when Tom was very careful about his reputation.

“Oh, pish-posh, Tom,” Harry rolled his eyes. “We both know what you are.” He turns to face
Tom with a smirk on his lips. “And my last name is very influential.”

Tom is silent. It is true. The Potters were rather powerful, if not, even more influential than
the Malfoys but in an entirely different crowd.
“Are you actually thinking about the Potter brand name, right now?” Harry asks utterly
amused, a disbelieving look at his face. “You already have a good standing in your circle,
Tom.” Harry says suddenly serious. “It’s time to expand. Charm my circle, charm my crowd.
Imagine that Tom.”

Harry takes a deep breath. This was his pitch. “Imagine having them all at your feet.” Tom
only looks at him, not entranced as most people were when Harry tried to persuade them.
Still, Harry had hope. “So please, help me get Draco back.”

Tom snorts and somehow makes the action elegant and dignified. “I don’t even know why
you want that asshole back.”

Harry ignores the blatant insult directed at the love of his life.

“He’s my one true love,” Harry says seriously not caring how ridiculous and immature that
sounded. “We’ve been together since we were young. We’ve always belonged together.”

Tom highly doubts that. The young alpha was rather reckless and immature. Then he looked
at Harry who talked about love as if it was real. Maybe they did belong together.

“Alright,” Tom acquiesced. “Until I get Draco back.” Tom sticks out his hand. “Deal.”

Harry does the same. “Deal.”

“How do we do this then?”

“I was thinking,” Harry says slyly. “We could start slow. Build it up a little bit. A few rumors
here and there. I want it to be believable.”

“You will go with me to luncheons and galas,” Tom says smoothly.

“But those are so boring,” Harry whines.

“Then what use is your Potter name when I can’t even use it?”

“Fine! Fine!” Harry exclaims. “But you have to go to my Quidditch games.”

“You will accompany me to all my Champion duties.”

“Champion duties?” Harry asks incredulously not quite believing what he was hearing.

Tom’s face doesn’t change. He looks so sure of himself. “For the Triwizard Tournament.”

Harry can’t believe it. Harry can’t actually believe it. The Triwizard Tournament? That
wasn’t even happening for a few months! And the Cup hasn’t even decided the Hogwarts
champion. Heck, they haven’t even started submitting their names as possible champions yet!

He tells Tom all this but the Slytherin prodigy just raises his eyebrow. “You think I won’t be
the Hogwarts champion?”
Harry gulps at the utter certainty of his words. It reminded Harry that this was an alpha he
was talking to.

“It’s just that—“ Harry stammers. “D-Draco wants it too—“

Tom laughs as if the very idea is absurd. “Draco Malfoy?”

Harry almost seethes. That was his boyfriend Tom was laughing about but stops himself just
in time. He reminds himself that he needed Tom’s help to get said boyfriend back so he keeps
his mouth shut.

“You will accompany me to all my Champion duties and watch all of my tournaments,” Tom
continues as if Harry did not interrupt him. “We also need to have our pictures taken.”

Harry frowns. “For someone who was just against this whole idea, it certainly sounds like
you’ve already thought about it.”

Tom looks at him blankly. “I have thought about it in the last two minutes,” he says as if it
was obvious.

Harry rolls his eyes. Prodigies, he thinks as if he’s met one before.

“Okay, any more demands, sir?” Harry mockingly asks.

“No,” Tom answers. “How about you?”

Harry blinks. Yes well he hasn’t actually though about it yet.

“You just have to act really sweet when Draco and Hermione is around,” Harry says,
realizing that that was all that he really needed. “That’s all I really want. I’ll do the pictures.
I’ll attend all your social functions but you have to act really sweet to me.” Harry looks at
Tom in the eye. “Can you do that?”

Tom was very… attractive. Harry wasn’t going to lie. It was like God took all his time when
he was making Tom’s face because he was—Harry was forced to admit—perfect. Too perfect
almost. But maybe it was the devil who actually made Tom. Nobody could look so sinfully
handsome if they weren’t meant for seduction and sin.

Still, Harry thought Tom had no emotions. Can someone like this ever be a perfect, doting,
and sweet boyfriend?

“What limits will you set for how far I can touch you?” Tom asks seriously.

“E-excuse me?” Harry blushes. Because in spite of all this… Draco and Harry weren’t
actually very touchy except for hand holding and a few stolen kisses here and there. “What
do you mean touch me?”

“Your limits. How far can I go in public?”

 “I-uh-I—“ Harry swallows. “K-kissing?” Harry asks, suddenly unsure of himself. Was
kissing too much? Would Tom think he was… loose? Or that he would kiss anybody who
pretended to be his boyfriend?

“No,” Tom says seriously. “We’ll have to be able to scent mark.”

Harry’s eyes widen. Scent marking? Wasn’t that a little too… intimate? Not to mention it
wouldn’t be platonic at all. Harry’s never even tried it before. Not with Draco. Harry heard
rumors that romantic scent-marking was—

“But that’s—“

“No one will believe this relationship if we don’t,” Tom says. “They’ll all see right though
it.”

Harry flicks his dark hair as he enters the room, and all the alphas stare. It’s messy, like it’s
always been but Ginny knew Harry spent hours to perfect that look, that sex hair look that no
one could copy, not even the gorgeous Cho Chang. His smile is smugger than usual and that
could only mean one thing… He looks sultrily at Tom and winks at him. The Slytherin
smirks and insanely, winks back.

Ginny’s eyes widen.

Holy shit.

He’s actually succeeded. Harry Potter made Tom Riddle agree to fake dating him?

Ginny smiles excitedly. There really was nothing on this earth that his best friend could not
do.

Ginny’s eyes go towards Draco who was busy feeling up Hermione in her skirt. The little
nerd giggles. Ginny supposed no one has ever touched the omega—with her looking like,
well, like that.

This was going to be the biggest gossip in Hogwarts ever.

Chapter End Notes

It's quite short but!!! As a gift to the positive reception this series has gotten from just
the first chapter, I'm going to post the third one on Sunday!

I'm very thankful for all your unexpected support for this series. I'm really scared of
disappointing you but I will try my best to just write!

Hope to hear your thoughts!

 Chapter 3
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Tom Riddle?” Lavender Brown’s asks unbelievingly. “Dating?!”

Padma Patil wipes her eyes and sniffles. “It’s so unfair.”

“And you know who he’s dating?” Neville asks them with the smugness that came from
knowing gossip first. “Harry. Potter.”

Lavender starts wailing and Padma starts screaming.

“Nooooooo,” Lavender denies. “Not Tom too.”

“Harry gets to have anyone who’s worth having.”

“And he’s not even remotely smart!”

“It’s always the air-headed pretty ones that get the alpha!”

Despite his initial doubts, Harry’s found that being with the alpha was rather easy.

He thought that Tom would need coaching, but the man was effortless.

It was as though the rumors were true, Tom Riddle really was good at everything. And he
was very good at making Draco look incompetent compared to him. Draco had never been a
romantic, never gave him anything. Even Hermione didn’t seem to be getting any gifts.

But Tom Riddle had given him an extravagant bouquet of silver roses. Harry's gasp was real
as he saw them, admiring their beauty. Harry didn't know the alpha had it in him to give
something so sweet. Harry found them as he sat at his usual place at the Gryffindor table.
They were gorgeous, magically-made, and required a certain skill and discipline in
Transfiguration and Charms to achieve that gleaming shade of silver that almost made them
look real.

The Slytherin might be an arrogant bastard but... Harry took the bouquet in his hands,
couldn't help but smell its sweet fragrance. He's never been given anything like this before.
No one has courted him outside of Draco.

Harry blushed prettily and looked shyly at the Slytherin table to where Tom was seated. The
alpha was smirking at him, Harry unknowingly tilting his head to the side in submission,
finding himself smiling back. He wouldn’t have noticed it too if Ginny hadn’t elbowed him in
the rib.

Harry comes back to his senses.

Harry didn't dare steal a glance to where Draco and Hermione was seated.

Harry hoped Draco saw it, but who wouldn’t?

The size of the thing was enough to blind the Great Hall.

It could have been an accident, but no accident ever ran this long.

Tom had given the omega a specific set of instruction of how they were to act as a couple.
There was a lot that Tom wanted to achieve from this relationship, and he wanted it, as all
things that he did, to be perfect.

Tom had thought that he would need to remind the omega again and again until he got used
to it. But surprisingly, Harry was always there.

When Tom came to pick him up after class, he would be waiting for him with an excited
smile. When Tom kissed him on the cheek, the omega was already tilting his head so Tom
could kiss him easily. He would blush too, like a cherry on top.

Malfoy must have been under a love spell to leave Harry for Granger. If Draco really was a
teenage alpha, hormonal and hot blooded, it was hard to believe that that blonde brat would
pick a bushy-haired nerd when it was no wonder why alphas always looked at Harry. He was
the prototype for the ideal omega. A fantasy. The very same kind you'd find in adult alpha
magazines dressed in skimpy lingerie.

Tom remembers the omega's hesitation when Tom asked how far the alpha could touch him...
He's seen Draco feeling up the muggleborn under her skirt. That must be it.

Yet underneath all that prettiness, Tom couldn't shake off the feeling that his initial
assessment of the omega was flawed. It was the omega’s memory that made Tom question
Harry’s intelligence.

He remembered all of Tom instructions and acted them out perfectly.

Tom was... surprised. He was skeptical that this would go as they planned at first, already had
a back up plan in case things went wrong. But being with the omega was not as taxing as he
thought it would be.

Tom thought both of them might actually benefit from all this.

Then one day, the omega, with the sweetest of smiles, sat at the Slytherin table and did all the
things Tom told him not to do.

After spending a lot of time with alpha, Harry also found out that Tom had a gift for annoying
the living hell out of him.

It was the way the alpha just talked. Like he expected Harry to follow his every command,
like Harry was some kind of servant. Nobody has ever dared to talk to Harry that way, and it
was somewhat of a first; Harry didn’t know what to do when it happened but obey the alpha
while muttering under his breath.

He was to sit with Tom after a week. He was going to walk with Tom to every class. He was
going to be kissed on the cheek every time they were going to say goodbye. After a week,
they were going to start scenting. No pet names were allowed until Tom approved of it. No
talking to other alphas alone.

Tom gave him so many instructions that Harry knew it would beat Lily’s pureblood omega
etiquette rule book by a hundred pages. It would have annoyed him—and it did—but he was
also kind of thankful that the alpha thought it out because he certainly did not.

But Harry was prideful and spoiled, and he didn’t want the alpha to think that he’d just be
obeying mindlessly.

Today was the day Harry was going to sit at the Slytherin table as well.

Tom always sat at the near front of table, close to the teachers, Harry found out. And his
friends were Regulus Black, the Black heir—who was dark and rather smart as well. Harry
knew him from Quidditch, knowing the Slytherin to be quite brutal on the broom. And then
Tom was also friends with Lucius Malfoy, another pureblood, Draco’s cousin, who was a
year higher than Harry, infamous for injuring his duel mates in Defense Against the Dark
Arts classes.

Harry struts to where Tom was seated on the Slytherin table, flipping his hair prettily and
waving his hand at all the people he knew.

He stops right in front of the alpha and gives him a peck on the cheek. “Good morning,
baby,” he says, eyes shining. Harry knew Tom hated pet names, but it was worth it when the
Slytherin’s eyes widened just a fraction, before the most charming smile appeared on his
face.

“Pet,” he says leaning forward and kissing Harry on the lips before he could stop him.

Harry keeps the smile on his face. He started it. Of course Tom wouldn’t back down from any
challenge.

“Do you want me to feed you today?” Harry asks sweetly, batting his eyelashes, and shoving
one of Tom’s friends aside, sitting right beside him. Lucius looks slightly aghast at the
treatment but looked too amused by the situation to complain. It was the first time that Tom
Riddle was dating someone and for that someone to be his cousin’s ex…

Harry forcefully takes Tom’s spoon who didn’t want to give it up. It moves slightly back and
forth between them. But people were staring, and with a triumphant smile, Harry won in the
end. He takes what Tom was eating and lifts up the spoon to his mouth. “Say aah…” Harry’s
voice turns into baby talk. He could feel the Slytherin cringe; they were still both smiling
their plastic smiles.
“Is this gratitude for me feeding it to you last night?” Tom asks, quirking an eyebrow in the
air. Harry hears the whistling and the cheering from the people sitting next to them. Harry
laughs prettily.

“Baby,” he moans suggestively. Harry meets Tom’s sexual innuendo head on and takes
advantage of Tom’s open mouth, forcing the spoon into it. “Isn’t he the cutest thing?” Harry
giddily looks at Tom’s classmates around them. They were all trying not to laugh and
nodding at Harry.

Harry spends the entire breakfast spoon-feeding and baby-talking Tom until all the Slytherin
could do was nod, smile, and swallow tightly.

Gossip about Harry and Tom’s relationship spread across the four houses of Hogwarts.

Harry had been waiting patiently for Draco to do something, anything really.

But…

Draco and Hermione were too engrossed in each other to notice. Harry stole glances at them
when he could.

In fact, they looked far more in love with each other than Harry and Tom did. What else
could Harry do?

With renewed resolve—and even though he was hesitant at first and he's only ever done it
with Draco before—the the first thing Harry did when he reached the Slytherin table that day,
was grab Tom and kiss him, full on the mouth, thrusting his tongue in as passionately as he
could and moaning load so everyone could hear, praying to God that Tom wouldn't try and
push him away. He was getting desperate, he needed to do this.

But then the alpha started kissing him back, lazily stroking Harry's tongue, taking his time,
making Harry gasp in surprise at the shivers that ran down his spine. Harry felt Tom's hand in
his hair, tugging at his scalp, making him open his mouth more. Harry's never felt anything
like it. Kissing Draco was always done fast, desperate, two hormonal teenagers wanting to
touch each other. But with Tom... Harry doesn't realize the real moan that escapes his mouth
as Tom teases the roof of his mouth, didn't even know that he was sensitive there.

Harry was panting when the Slytherin finally pulled away, smirking, looking unfairly put
together when Harry felt like a mess.

“Miss me?” The alpha asks egotistically.

“Yes,” Harry says prettily, thankful that he was still in the right mind to respond to the alpha.
“Didn’t you miss me?” He asks, pouting. Harry knew he was pushing his luck. Tom didn’t
like being overly sweet.

The alpha flashes his teeth. “Come here,” he commands suddenly, making Harry almost
jump. “Let me show you how much I missed you.”
And then he scents Harry when they weren’t supposed to do it yet, as if he knew exactly why
Harry did what he just did. But that didn’t matter, and Harry didn’t exactly remember,
because the moment the alpha’s nose touched his scent glands... Harry felt his knees weaken,
finding himself whimpering at the contact. But that only seemed to encourage the alpha,
scenting him more until Harry could barely smell himself.

The scenting did it.

Harry was still in a daze, didn’t know that scenting felt like that. No wonder Draco and
Hermione did it all the time. Harry felt strangely calm and giddy. Like everything was right
in the world. Harry wondered if Tom would mind doing it again at dinner...

He almost didn’t see Draco angrily making his way into Harry in one of their shared classes,
slamming his hand on the table. “Is there something going on between you and Riddle?” He
spats the name out with so much hatred that Harry needed the extra effort to not let his smirk
show.

“Tom?” He says the name prettily, like they’ve always been in a first name basis. “Well….”
Harry lowers his eyes and blushes. “We… we haven’t really talked about it,” He says shyly,
enjoying the way Draco’s eyes widened.

“Be careful,” Draco says, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Harry, you know I care about
you. That asshole will hurt you, I just know it—“

“Oh, like you hurt me?” Harry says, voice rising. “Well, unlike you, Tom’s actually nice and
takes the time to court me!”

Harry leaves the room angrily, with Ginny following closely behind him.

Tom was not nice but of course Harry wouldn’t let Draco ever know that. Harry turns to
Ginny who was smirking at him.

“Court you?!” Harry hears Draco shouting after him. “You barely know the man and you’re
already scenting!”

“Oh, and you and Hermione can just do it because you’ve already known each other while we
were in a relationship?” Harry shouts back.

“Well, well, well,” The Ginny says as they walk away, raising an eyebrow in the air. “It’s
working.”

“I know!” Harry says excitedly. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Harry liked reading Teenage Weekly.

He read it religiously from cover to cover without missing a writing. In fact, the secret for his
highly-copied sex hair can be found in Volume 24 Issue 11, Page 13, at the bottom right
corner. It wasn't overly flashy, used a simple font, and it contained a spell on getting
voluminous waves. It was barely noticeable. But not to Harry.
Harry nods to himself happily as he turns another page. He and Tom were at Hogwart’s
grounds, knowing Draco liked going here for the sunlight and the fresh air.

“Pet,” Tom calls beside him.

Harry fights the urge to roll his eyes. He faces the alpha, the sweetest smile on his lips. “Yes,
baby?”

“Come here,” the alpha motions for Harry to sit on his lap.

Harry’s eyebrow rises. “Why?”

Tom only smiles at him, eyes hardening. “Because I know you want to.”

“No, I don’t—“

“Harry.” It was Draco. In a motion too fast for wizards and ordinary humans alike, Harry
jumps into Tom’s lap.

“Draco,” Harry greets sweetly, batting his eyelashes. Draco’s arm was draped around
Hermione’s shoulders. The witch was blushing and was avoiding eye contact with Harry,
clutching a huge tome on her arms, nerd to the core even when she was dating the Draco
Malfoy.

“Malfoy,” Tom says icily, alpha bite present. Harry fights the urge to bare his neck. That was
the thing with Tom, the alpha was too prominent for Harry not to naturally submit to it. But
he tried.

“Riddle,” Draco greets just as coolly, clutching Hermione closer to him.

The action alone makes Harry’s eyes widen in disbelief. Really. Like Tom would ever want
someone as bushy-haired as Granger. Harry tried to keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t help
it. “Hi, Hermione.” He greets pointedly, willing the mudblood to at least look at him in the
eye.

To Harry’s surprise, the mudblood looks up, meeting his eyes dead on. “Hello, Harry.” She
looks at Tom as well, and with a backbone that Harry’s never seen on her before says, “I’m
glad you’ve finally moved on.” Steel brown eyes looks at Harry’s.

Harry has never heard venom from the muggleborn’s mouth before and for a moment, he
cannot react. Finally moved on? Like this bitch could ever compete with Harry? She was
being used for her blood status and she had the guts to insult Harry like this?

He feels Tom hands on his waist, digging in with pressure, reminding him of what he had to
do. He laughs, the sound sweet and thick as honey, daring flies to get trapped in it. “There’s
nothing to move on from.” He says, moving closer into Tom’s hold.

Draco nods a goodbye before pulling the omega with him, kissing her on the cheek as they
walked away.
“It’s no wonder,” Tom muses as Harry felt his entire person weaken. Draco has never been
that tender with him before. “She’s got the guts and the brain.”

Harry clutches his beloved Teenage Weekly closer to him.

“You say your Draco is an aspiring politician.”

Harry doesn’t answer.

“He’s with someone who will support him nicely once he ascends to the top.”

Harry flinches, can’t believe that even his supposedly fake boyfriend was taking Hermione’s
side. Harry knows exactly what Tom means. It was the very same thing that Draco said to
him when they broke up. Hermione was smart, someone who even know is already
supporting Draco. Draco’s always been second to Hermione in grades, that was one thing
Harry used to gloat about. But Harry watches them now, sitting in one of the benches… they
weren’t just sitting and laughing like Harry and Draco used to do. They were actually
talking. Discussing. Hermione was pointing out something in the book she was carrying, and
Draco was nodding at what she was saying.

Was that really what Draco wanted?

Harry turns to the alpha who already had one hand with a book, reading as one hand held
Harry’s waist.

The Gryffindor sets aside his magazine and picks up one of the books Tom had with him. He
lays his head on Tom’s neck, Harry could smell him, his scent strangely comforting.

Harry opens the book and starts reading.

“What will you do?” Ginny asks. “If Tom Riddle’s name is announced as Hogwarts'
champion?”

“I have to support him,” Harry remembers the determination in Tom’s voice when he said he
was going to be chosen. Harry still cannot believe it, but if Tom won then their romance
would even be more public than it was. Harry was torn over being happy about it and worried
about Draco’s reaction. Draco’s wanted it since they were young, dreaming about being a
Triwizard Champion in the Malfoy gardens, pretending to be winning the tasks as he played
with Harry. “Draco will have Hermione to comfort him now, anyway.”

Ginny and Harry separate as they reach the Great Hall, Ginny hugging him good luck.

Harry sits beside Tom, who was already being hyped by his best friends.

Tom kisses Harry’s cheek as the omega sat down.

“Are you ready to be a Triwizard’s Champion’s girlfriend?” Lucius teases Harry.

Tom laughs, placing and arm around Harry’s shoulder. Harry returns Lucius’ smirk. “Of
course. There really won’t be much of a difference,” Harry sees the glint in his eyes reflected
in Lucius’. “There’ll only be reporters and photographers to take pictures as I spoon feed my
alpha.”

“Your Triwizard Champion alpha,” Tom corrects him. And just like that, Tom scents him
without warning, Harry feeling himself melt and submit, the giddiness he felt sparring with
Lucius doubled, can smell the masculine musk that was Tom Riddle making Harry sigh
contentedly.

Headmaster Dippet officially starts the tournament by introducing the two international
schools who would be competing.

Harry fights the urge to roll his eyes as the alphas hoot at the Beauxbatons students who
seemed to parade their endless string of gorgeously French omegas, delicately dancing their
way around the Great Hall. Even Tom seemed to look at them appreciatively. He scooted
closer to Tom to remind the alpha just who he belonged to.

Durmstrang is announced next and Harry almost gasps at the obscene amount of alphas
showing off their natural physical strength as they marched into the hall in their all black
uniform which just made them appear more masculine. Harry recognizes one of them, Viktor
Krum, leading the students.

“Viktor,” Harry whispers in awe without thinking, and as if the alpha hears him, looks
straight at him and smirks. Harry has only ever met him once at an International Quidditch
match, Harry letting his father use all his connections so Harry could have an autograph.

Harry feels the arm on his shoulder tighten, and Harry laughs nervously. “He’s a Quidditch
star.” Harry explains defensively.

“Too bad I’ll crush him in competition then.” Tom says casually.

Harry laughs again at the alpha’s confidence. “And if you don’t?” He goads.

“I will.” Tom says simply.

“We’re not even sure if he’s going to be Durmstrang’s champion!”

Headmaster Dippet interrupts their conversation as he starts the boring speech about the
tournament’s history. And then finally, he was going to announce the champions.

Surprisingly, an alpha female is picked from Beauxbatons—Fleur Delacour. Tom nudges

Harry smugly as Viktor Krum is picked from Durmstrang.

Harry held his breath as the headmaster waited for Hogwart’s champion to be picked. He
raised his hand to touch Tom hand on his shoulder, squeezing his hand.

A paper flies out the cup. Harry doesn’t dare breathe.

 “Tom Marvolo Riddle!” The Headmaster shouts. The cheer was deafening. Everyone knew
Tom Riddle was one of Hogwarts most talented students in history. Harry cheers alongside
him, kissing the alpha full on the mouth before he got up, smiling a charming smile at the
Hogwarts crowd that has gone crazy. Even Headmaster Dippet looked quite smug at the
announcement. Harry claps as loud as he can.

The bastard really was right all along.

“Students!” The Headmaster booms. “The three representatives are complete! These are your
Triwizard Cham—“

Everybody gasps in surprise and in confusion as suddenly, the Triwizard Cup lights up again,
another small piece of parchment coming out. Headmaster Dippet catches it his hands, eyes
widening. Murmurs fill the hall. A fourth champion? Harry sees Tom’s unreadable face
upfront.

And then—

“Draco Malfoy!” The Headmaster shouts.

Harry freezes. Hogwarts starts clapping slowly in confusion. All of them looking at each
other unsurely. This has never happened before.

Draco stands up, a cool expression on his face. But Harry knows Draco inside out, there was
a strain in his mouth that said he was just as surprised as any of them. Then someone else
draws Harry’s eye.

Hermione, clapping proudly, looking utterly smug at his side.

Chapter End Notes

Erratum: Lucius is actually not Draco's father but his cousin. Also, the Triwizard
Tournament is happening in a few months, not weeks.

I'm also not going to focus into the tournament itself as I write but more on the
relationships as it is happening, so! Please don't expect too much from that! Hahaha!

I truly am humbled by the amount of support this series is getting. I can only hope to
meet your expectations.

If I finish the next chapter tonight or tomorrow, I might upload it tomorrow. Or next
week if I feel like improving it more. LOL.

Hope you are enjoying this so far! Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated!
 Chapter 4
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Tom’s plan was only to appear with the omega at his arm. He would do all the talking, the
charming, and all Harry had to do was smile prettily.

But Harry did more than simply being an arm candy. He seamlessly blended with the crowd,
clearly feeling at home even when meeting new people. There was something about the
omega too, the subtle way he established himself and Tom as the center of every
conversation, laughing prettily and engaging all of those he talked to.

It was almost natural, the way Tom and Harry knew exactly when to speak to supplement
each other. Harry was obviously born for this, born in this—being a Potter heir has prepared
him for this all his life.

Pictures are taken as they move around the ballroom. Harry holds on to Tom’s arm as the
alpha leads him around, whispering intimately in the taller boy’s ear when he could, and
looking up at him affectionately whenever Tom spoke.

“Mr. Potter! Mr. Riddle!” It was Rita Skeeter.

Without having to say to each other why, Tom and Harry move fast, once again surprising
Tom. Of course Harry would know Rita Skeeter. He did grow up here, after all. But did the
omega know why she was needed to be avoided?

They walk quickly, pretending not to hear the reporter, Tom knowing whatever was coming
would not be good for either of them. But the witch catches up and both alpha and omega,
without having to tell each other, don their most charming smiles at once.

“Hello, Ms. Skeeter,” Harry says politely.

“Hello,” Her eyes move to Tom’s form, hungrily taking him in, an excitement filling her face.
“And hello to your new friend.”

Harry keeps the smile on his face. “This is Tom Riddle, as I’m sure you already know. The
Hogwarts Champion who has won the first task.”

“Ms. Skeeter,” Tom says, flashing her a smile that made many omegas blush. “The papers do
not do your beauty justice.”

The reporter giggles. “So this is the man who replaced darling Draco.” Rita looks at Harry
slyly. “I didn’t think you’d ever be dating a mudblood, Mr. Potter, no matter how tempting he
might be.”

Tom stands still for a few moments. It’s been a long while since somebody called him a
mudblood straight to his face. He should have been immune to it now, but—He felt the
omega’s hand on his arm tighten. Harry’s smile widens but Tom’s seen that look on Harry’s
eyes many times before. It was the same expression he wore when he was sweetly
threatening any omega whoever came too close to Tom or when he was talking to Hermione
Granger.

“I’ve never met anyone who thinks so backwardly, Ms. Skeeter,” Harry says, words clearly a
threat even when he was smiling. “I will let it slide if you apologize to my boyfriend at
once.”

The older witch is obviously irked by this response, scandalized that someone who was so
much younger was ordering her around. “You forget who I am, Mr. Potter,” she threatens.

“And you forget who I am,” Harry says without batting an eyelash, smile now sweeter than
ever. “Your pure blood could not even attract marriage,” Harry steps forward, and even when
he was a few inches shorter than the witch stared right into her eyes. “And now you work as a
professional gossip with no husband to support you.”

They stare at each other for a long time, but Harry stood his ground until the reporter walked
away, huffing in disbelief.

“Are you alright?” Harry asks suddenly rousing Tom from his thoughts, the omega looking
up at him with those green eyes. Tom finds himself staring for half a heartbeat.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Tom says nonchalantly.

Still, it’s as if the omega knows what he really is feeling and goes on his tiptoes, scenting
Tom gently, making Tom almost jerk at the sudden contact. Harry has never initiated the act
before.

Only then did he see the Malfoy heir staring right at them.

Harry starts to wrap his Gryffindor scarf around him when Tom reaches out and does it for
him. Harry grins at the man, liking it when he was forced to act sweet to Harry in public,
especially here in a luncheon where so many influential people were watching.

He’s been attentive to Harry all night, hand always at his waist when Harry wasn’t holding on
to his arm, smiling charmingly at everyone Harry introduced him to, and proudly introduced
Harry to people he didn’t know. Harry took complete advantage of it, of course, hinting that
he was thirsty every now and then just so he would see the smile tighten at the alpha’s face as
he said, “Let me get some refreshments for you, love.”

Ah, Harry grinned, in a place full of important people even his pet name became more
sophisticated and loving. Not once did he hear Tom call Harry pet.

Harry found himself smiling all night, liking Tom and the crowd’s attention towards them.
They were bound to look. Tom Riddle was the Hogwarts Champion who all but won the first
task with just a simple flick of his wand and on his arm was none other than Harry Potter
himself, heir to one of the most prestigious inheritances in Britain.
So this is what Tom meant when he wanted Harry to accompany him in luncheons and galas.
It was the first time he experienced how just his name would make people widen their eyes in
surprise and at once become almost reverent when they heard him say Potter.

If he’d known, he’d have spent more time fixing his appearance.

Photographers have taken pictures of them all night. Harry was excited to see them in the
papers tomorrow. If he appeared in Teenage Weekly somehow, he would die.

It wasn’t really as boring as Harry expected it to be. The mingling surprised him. Tom was
effortlessly charming everyone they met and talked to and when Harry tried to speak, the
alpha didn’t interrupt him. He listened attentively to whatever Harry said and even
encouraged him to go on speaking. It was exciting, if Harry was being honest to himself.

When he and Draco used to go to these things with their parents, Draco would always drag
Harry into the back of the ballroom where he could at least play some games while Harry
watched. Draco hated social gatherings like this.

And as always, Harry has seen Draco and Hermione tonight, not even bothering to go around
as they sat in one table all night, totally lost in each other.

Harry huffs. So much for Draco’s political ambitions.

Overall, the night went really well.

Except the little hiccup with Rita Skeeter.

The nerve of that woman insulting Harry’s boyfriend! Harry put her in her place. Skeeter
wasn’t even entirely pureblood and everyone knew they were destitute. Still, when Harry
looked up at Tom, his face was frighteningly closed off, a Tom Harry hasn’t seen since they
first met.

Tom Riddle was indeed a muggleborn, but that didn’t matter because he was everything that a
pureblood can only hope to be.

Harry wouldn’t even bat an eyelash when someone like Granger was called a mudblood…
But Tom… The words came out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying. It was
probably dangerous to threaten someone who held so much public sway, but Harry would
seek the help of his parents if she ever did do something against Harry and Tom.

When Harry looked up at Tom, the omega didn’t like what he saw.

The alpha has probably dealt with worse when he was younger. After all, being sorted into
Slytherin and not having a pureblood name must have been almost traumatic.

The Slytherins believed in tradition and purity.

The countless harassments he must have experienced; the Blacks and the Malfoys were
especially prejudiced. But to think that those two from the main family branch were his best
friends now…
Moved by this thought, Harry, not caring as to who might see, stood on his tiptoes, scenting
the alpha right in the middle of the ballroom. He remembered the way the alpha’s scent
calmed him down and hoped that his own would do the same to the Slytherin.

“Love,” Tom calls affectionately, finally finished putting Harry’s scarf for him, tucking a hair
strand behind Harry’s ear. Harry hears a couple of cameras flashing.

It’s probably just for show but Harry’s relieved that this Tom was the Tom Harry knew now.
Now this, Harry could work with.

“Let’s go, you must be tired.” Tom says gently.

“Thanks,” Still, Harry can’t help the shit eating grin at his face even if he tried. “Baby.”

Harry grins even wider as he sees Tom eyes twitch in irritation.

Tom won the first task without so much of a fuss, not even giving the slightest a chance for
the other champions to at least try. Draco and Fleur had looked dumbfounded, perhaps not
expecting Tom’s abilities. Only Viktor showed his frustration, cursing as he left the arena.

Harry had been gloating so much, one would have thought he was the one who won. He was
constantly beside Tom like a mother hen, preening and picking at everything the alpha did.
The only thing missing, Lucius thought, was perhaps Harry holding up a recording device to
document everything the alpha ever did.

Lucius was entirely amused as the omega has never been that attentive to his cousin before.

What’s even better was that Tom Marvolo Riddle, his famously indifferent cold Slytherin
friend, who has never dated anyone in his whole life as far as Lucius knew, was allowing it
all and even kissing and scenting the omega as if they’ve been dating for months.

Still, Lucius could see why, if there ever was a well-matched couple, this was one.
Appearance-wise, it was no question that the two looked good together. Draco was
handsome, sure. But Harry and Tom, both dark-haired, both charismatic to a fault… was
something else too see entirely. When they walked together, everyone looked. Although the
both of them never really noticed, perhaps because both were already used to being stared at.

When Harry first approached Lucius, looking for the alpha, he had been surprised, and
thought, perhaps, that it would do no harm to nudge his friend towards any semblance of a
love life. The man was entirely too focused in his career. So when Harry batted his eyelashes
at him, Lucius took one long look at the beautiful omega, and said the alpha would be back
soon.

And here they are now.

Lucius was expecting a thank you from either one of them any time now.

And, Lucius must say, although he’s never noticed it before, in the past, they never really
interacted as Harry was always too preoccupied with Draco but Harry Potter was… witty. He
thought fast on his feet whenever Tom teased him, or even when Lucius teased him. He
always had a comeback ready, not once missing a beat when it came to clever retorts.

No one else could look at Tom straight in the eye while saying half the things that the omega
said (some of them so scandalous, Lucius knew Lily would faint if she ever found out his son
ever said them), let alone look at the Slytherin with that suggestive, mischievous glint in his
eyes every time they spoke. It was obvious that the two enjoyed sparring with each other,
sexual tension so apparent in the air that it was no wonder the two of them couldn’t help but
scent and kiss all the time.

And ever since the couple returned from the champions’ luncheon together, they have even
gotten… Lucius couldn’t describe it but… they’ve gotten more intimate. Tender, perhaps. It
was obvious that Tom was now more patient with the omega and Lucius would find Harry
nodding submissively to whatever the alpha said.

It was like their relationship has gotten deeper when it was all but teasing and laughter
before.

“You have to sit near our benches,” Harry instructs Tom as the omega prepares for his
Quidditch game in the locker room.

“Why?” Tom intones, watching the omega turn away from him to change his to his Quidditch
gear, giving Tom a generous view of his toned back.

“You’re my boyfriend and you have to support me.”

“I can support you perfectly fine while sitting with Lucius and Regulus.”

Harry rolls his eyes, finally facing the Slytherin. “Either you sit with the Gryffindors,” Harry
bites out. “Or you wear my Gryffindor scarf, which would you prefer?”

Tom looks at him for a long time before wordlessly walking away.

Everyone looked at him nervously as he sat at the first row of Gryffindor’s benches, finding
that Harry has already reserved a seat for him. Tom smiled at them and took his seat.

The crowd was already so noisy, and the game hasn’t even started yet. This was exactly why
Tom never attended Quidditch matches, it was far too disorderly.

Finally, after a few minutes, the game started and Tom immediately understood exactly why
Harry was the youngest recruited Seeker in a hundred years.

Harry was fast.

That was the first thing that entered Tom’s mind as Harry effortlessly flew up in the air. He’s
heard about the omega’s skills before, of course. But Tom wondered how Harry could
possibly lose to anyone if he rode like that.
There was an absolute confidence in the way he handled the broom, like he’s been riding it
all his life. Even Malfoy looked distracted, staring at the omega from where he was.

The game is finished before Malfoy could even see the snitch.

The moment his feet touches the ground, Harry goes straight to Tom, waving the snitch
proudly, grinning like child.

Ginny’s eyes widen as Harry flies faster than she’s ever seen him fly. Ginny has been
guarding the posts and scoring for the team, but Harry, who usually waited to catch the snitch
when the game was tie to make things more exciting, seemed to be determined to set a new
record to win as fast as they can.

Ginny knew that the Hogwarts level Quidditch was like a game to him but now, there was
steel in his eyes as looked for the snitch. He didn’t even glance at Draco who looked like he
was seeing Harry for the first time in his life.

Harry has always held back when it came to Quidditch with Draco, knowing his short-
temperedness and pride. But it was as if Harry did not entirely care about that now.

This strangely reminded Ginny of watching Tom Riddle dominate at the first task.

Gryffindors win easily, Harry not even giving a chance for Slytherin to score before catching
the snitch.

As Harry hops off his broom, he goes straight to Riddle, kissing him excitedly, waving the
snitch in front of his face.

Ginny realizes he’s never seen Tom Riddle laugh before but he does, pulling the omega into
him to celebrate his win.

Ginny didn’t even know how Harry managed to convince Riddle, who has never been in any
Quidditch games before, to suddenly show up, and appear in Gryffindor’s benches no less,
looking entirely out of place in his Slytherin green and tall height, and the way he was
looking at Harry as he sped across the field…

Ginny frowns.

There was something about Harry and Tom that was not sitting right with her.

If Ginny were being honest to herself, the way they moved did not look like they were
pretending at all. It was all in the subtle ways that they reacted towards each other; it was too
natural to be called acting. The way Tom held Harry possessively was something she’s only
seen mated couples do, and the way Harry almost instinctively always tilts his neck a little bit
when the alpha was around…

Maybe they were really good actors.

 Harry was one, Ginny knew, and obviously Riddle was too if they way they were eating each
other up now was any indication.

Chapter End Notes

Erratum: Hermione is NOT a year younger than Ginny, Harry, and Draco. Lucius,
Regulus, and Tom are all a year older than them. I'm sorry. This is why I don't like
publishing unfinished works. The details! Huhuhu. I'm doing my best to make this the
last correction.

THANK YOU to everyone who gave their kudos and reviews! The amount of support I
receive still takes me by surprise. I read all your comments and am finding the right time
to reply to them. I get occasional migraines so I can't stare at the computer screen for too
long. This is also the reason I couldn't post this chapter early.

I hope you are still enjoying this chapter and if you've noticed, there will be eight
chapters in total! I'm looking forward to share the upcoming chapters with you. I hope to
hear what you think!

PS. This is now officially my longest fic after World Burn. 😮

 Chapter 5
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

In a… weird turn of events, Lucius, Regulus, Ginny, and Harry were now training with Tom
in the Dueling Club Room for the second task. The clue all but pointed to fighting a creature
of sorts and Tom didn’t know anyone better than Lucius and Regulus to train with. Harry had
tagged along and took Ginny with him, saying they wouldn’t be a bother and would only
gossip as Tom practiced with his friends.

It was strange.

Seeing how fast the Weasley charmed the Malfoy and Black heir as if they’ve known each
other their whole lives. It was no wonder why Harry and Ginny were friends. The tiny
Gryffindor was now the entire focus of the two alphas as she animatedly told a story of how
she beat all of her brothers in a bloody dueling match. Her mother had been forced to
interfere before one of her brothers got seriously injured.

In a few moments, Lucius had risen to the redhead’s challenge, and Regulus,
uncharacteristically enthusiastic, agreed to umpire for them.

“They’ll be finished soon enough,” Harry sheepishly says to Tom. “Ginny’s pretty good at
dueling.”

Tom seriously doubted that. A Gryffindor? Against Lucius, his best snake?

But to his surprise, it was Ginny that he ended up practicing dueling with that night, the
redhead easily defeating Lucius and Regulus with a playful grin at her face. Tom didn’t miss
the way the Lucius looked at her.

When Tom and Ginny finished, Tom expressed his acknowledgement of the Gryffindor’s
abilities, asking why he’s never heard of it before.

“Oh, it’s too boring to duel with people who can barely keep up with me,” Ginny says
without a trace of exaggeration. That made sense. Tom hasn’t heard of anyone notable in
Defense Against the Dark Arts in their year. “But I think I also took them by surprise, maybe
they underestimated a beta.” Ginny looks to where Lucius and Regulus were now dueling
with each other. “But I’m no match for you,” Ginny admits. “You should ask Harry for help if
you want something serious. I think you’re right at about the same level.”

Before this night began, he would have questioned that. But after seeing the Weasley girl’s
abilities…

Before Tom could talk, Ginny opens her mouth again.

“That is,” Ginny adds. “If you can get him to duel with you. He doesn’t like messing up his
uniform. Or his hair.”

Tom looked to where Harry was seriously reading yet another issue of Teenage Weekly as if
it contained the secrets of eternal life, totally uninterested to what was happening around him.

The next morning, it was not one Gryffindor that sat with the Slytherin trio but two, Ginny
casually sitting in right next to Lucius, greeting everybody with a girlish smile, as if she’s
been sitting with them all her life.

For the first time since Tom knew the man, Tom actually saw Lucius Malfoy blushing.

Harry was only looking at Tom innocently, already filling up the plate they shared every
meal, slicing up a pancake he was preparing to spoon feed Tom with.

Harry yawns as he accompanies Tom to the library.

“You do not have to come with me,” Tom says, irritation starting to show. Harry has yawned
about five times now. The library was so boring. But he didn’t have a choice.

“And for what? Rumors to spread around that I don’t support my alpha?” Harry scoffs. “No
way!”

And anyway, Harry was just going to sleep beside Tom. That at least would make a cute
picture.

But when they enter the library, the first sight that greets Harry is Draco… having an intense
discussion with Hermione.

“If it’s this spell—” Hermione whispers fiercely.

“That won’t work,” Draco replies. “A potion perhaps, before—“

Harry makes a point to click his shoes as they near their table. The two look up and Harry
nods at them in greeting, a fake smile at his lips. The moment he and Tom pass them, he huffs
disbelievingly.

“They think they can actually win against you,” Harry says as they sit in a table not too far
away from the pair.

Were they blind? Did they not see the difference between Draco and Tom’s abilities in the
first task? Even Harry could admit how far Tom’s skills were from Draco’s, and Harry hasn’t
even seen most of it yet and he’s has seen Draco’s for most of his life. There was a huge gap
that can’t be filled unless—

Hermione and Draco were the smartest students in their year. With Hermione helping
Draco…

Harry faces Tom with a determined face. “Tell me everything about the Second Task’s clue.”
Harry stands with Tom at the champions tent, restlessly fixing his uniform even though it was
already perfect as it always was.

Tom lets him, knowing the omega has been tirelessly working himself as if he was the one
competing, making sure that Tom was going to win the second task as well, after finding out
that Granger was helping the Malfoy brat. He didn't know why they bothered. Even from the
start, Tom knew that the Malfoy heir had no chance of getting picked. And it wasn't because
Tom knew he'd be the one to represent Hogwarts but because the boy simply lacked... skill.
Lucius was had more ability than he did. When the brat's name was suddenly called, Tom
already had his suspicions about that Granger girl tampering with the goblet. It would be
doable. Especially for someone relentless.

Tom had been surprised at Harry’s intensity when he asked Tom to tell him everything about
the clue for the second task. It was obviously fighting against something, that much Tom was
already sure. But against what, that was something Tom didn’t have the time to figure out yet,
his plate full of responsibilities and his time with Harry.

Two days later, Harry came to him, even more smug than usual, telling him that he knew
what Tom was fighting against for the second task.

Tom raised an eyebrow. “Dragons?”

Harry nods excitedly, saying that he got the information from a very trusted source. Tom
wonders who exactly could let—Tom sniffs the air. He smells Harry’s scent. It was Harry’s
usual sweet smell but… he could smell the pungent air of the Forbidden Forest. Only one
person could be found there.

“Hagrid?” Tom asks, not quite believing that the omega would go the half-giant’s hut. “What
did you do to the poor creature?”

“Nothing.” Harry blinks innocently, voice child-like in denial.

“Why did you go alone?” Tom asks, crossing his arms.

“It’s okay,” Harry waves his hand dismissively. “It’s still school grounds—“

“Tell me next time,” the alpha interrupts. “We already go everywhere together.”

For a moment, the omega just stares at him, like he didn’t understand what the alpha was
saying. “O-Okay,” he says unsurely.

And then his eyes suddenly becomes excited, remembering why he came to Tom in the first
place. “Ginny’s brother works with Dragons! I bet we can force him to tell us some helpful
information. They might even ship the dragons from their company!”

Tom was dragged to the Head Boy’s office, his own office, where Ginny, Lucius and Regulus
were already waiting.
“I’ve blackmailed my brother into telling me what’s going on.” Ginny says, throwing the
word blackmail casually as if she did it all the time, an uncharacteristic seriousness in her
face.

And it was exactly that evening, that five of the most unlikely students discussed the best
way for Tom to win.

Now Harry was needlessly reminding him of all of their discussion from that day until
yesterday.

“Remember, if it’s a Chinese Fireball female dragon, you have to be cast—“

“Harry,” Tom interrupts amusedly, clutching the omega’s fussing hands in his. “Did you
forget who I am?”

For a moment, Harry stares at him blankly before his face fills with barely concealed
annoyance. “I swear to Merlin if you ever forget even one tiny information because you
stopped me from reviewing you now, I will kill—“

“You’re too tense,” Tom leans forward and scents him. Harry instantly relaxes under his
touch. “You’re worrying over nothing.”

“I know but—“ Tom kisses him to quiet him. Really. Tom has done his own fair share of
research and his reflexes were quick thanks to the training sessions he had with Ginny and his
friends. “Shh,” Tom shushes him, kissing him again until he finally felt all the tension from
Harry gone.

“O-Okay,” Harry stammers. “But… but be careful out there.”

Tom smirks. “You should be saying that to the dragon.”

Harry only smacks him in the arm, totally forgetting that they were supposed to act sweet
when Draco and Hermione were only a few steps away.

Ginny covers her yawn delicately as History of Magic classes starts, turning to Harry, half-
expecting the omega to already be asleep in his desk. A third of the class certainly was.

But Harry was wide-awake, looking at the Professor Binns with more energy than he had the
right to have, as they were up late last night, celebrating Tom’s victory in the Head Boy
office.

It was forbidden, of course. The same way that bribing Hagrid with any endangered magical
creature he wanted was forbidden.

But when Harry wanted something done, no one could really stop him. Even Tom’s initial
disapproval disappeared as Harry started playing cheesy muggle music and dancing.

The win was a close call, surprisingly.

Ginny didn’t know that Draco had it in him. He’s never seen the Malfoy heir serious before.
It was no wonder. The first task was probably a wake up call to him. He placed last among
the four champions, to Riddle’s obvious amusement. For this task, Draco’s obviously
practiced hard, firing spells after another. But ultimately, Tom’s experience and exceptional
talent won again, Draco managing to rank second.

Harry straightens up beside her.

This was something that Ginny noticed was happening more often. It started out small, Harry
muttering to himself that he needed to read at least one book before he could read Teenage
Weekly. He started going to class on time, stopped making deliberate dumb comments that
used to amuse him and Ginny.

And when that wasn’t enough, the recitations suddenly started happening, iust carefully
answering one question per class. Then Ginny accidentally saw some of Harry’s quizzes and
could barely believe her eyes at his scores. And now…

“Who can tell the class the origins of the first Dark Wizard from Hufflepuff?”

Ginny saw Hermione frown when there was not only her hand up in the air but Harry’s as
well. Even Professor Binns seemed surprised at Harry’s sudden participation, but also
suspicious of Harry’s real intentions. All the professors has been traumatized by Harry
before.

Still, his curiosity won in the end, and he called for Harry’s name.

The look on Harry’s face as he smugly stood up, batting his eyelashes as he started narrating
the events that happened in the life of a dark lord from hundreds of years ago.

“Very good, Mr. Potter!” The Professor exclaims, looking very pleased with Harry. “I say, I
couldn’t explain it better myself!”

“Thank you, Professor,” Harry says charmingly, flashing a shy (yet obviously conceited,
Ginny knew) smile, Harry then looking straight to where Hermione was sitting.

Ginny sees Hermione clench her hand, snapping her fingers in front of Draco, who was
staring at Harry as if he couldn’t believe what just happened.

The clue for the third task all but pointed to a maze of sorts, battling magical creatures, and
possibly even the other champions.

With that in mind, Tom wanted something more of a challenge. Lucius, Regulus, and Ginny
were becoming too predictable for him now, their scope of knowledge of different spells too
limited for Tom.

He'd been leading Harry, who was smiling at a copy of this week’s Teenage Weekly, through a
sea of students to the Dueling Room. As soon as they arrive, Tom closes the door and turns to
Harry.
“Duel with me.” Tom says.

“What?” Harry asks distractedly, turning a page in his magazine.

“Duel with me.” Tom takes the thing out of Harry’s hands. The omega frowns trying to grab
it back.

“Tom, I don’t want to—I’m wearing Madame Malkin’s Premium Robes—“

“Expelliarmius!”

Harry’s widen before he sidesteps the spell. “You—You bastard!” Harry’s eyes darken and he
raises his wand. “You could have ruined my robes! You’ll pay for this!”

“How so?” Tom smirks, finally succeeding in riling the omega up. “Stupefy!”

“Confundo!” Harry shouts in retaliation, eyes flashing. Harry was a different creature when
his clothes were threatened.

Tom takes in Harry’s movements. He was fast, definitely. And he thought right on his feet, no
hesitations, just confidence and a bit of arrogance, even really. He probably didn’t even
notice it.

He enjoyed dueling, that was obvious to see by the way he was still grinning at Tom like an
idiot while almost sticking his tongue out every time Tom missed.

Tom only smirked at him. Tom wasn’t even half-serious yet.

Harry bursts into a fit of giggles. “Stop—get off—Tom!” He laughs. “You’re heavy!”

Tom pins his arms on the sides of his head and smirks. “Checkmate.”

Harry only looks at him with a playful glint in his eyes. “Oh no,” Harry says mockingly.
“What’s a helpless omega to do? Have mercy on me, Alpha.”

They’ve been dwelling for thirty minutes now, throwing spells back forth without rest as they
tried to hit each other while avoiding each other’s hexes.

Harry has never felt like this before—the excitement, the challenge. For the first time in his
life, he found himself panting. Tom was not an easy opponent. It was like he was dwelling
with his father or mother. The Slytherin knew his spells and just when Harry thinks he’s
thrown one Tom doesn’t know, Tom only smirks at him and says the counter spell with so
much arrogance that Harry just wants to wipe that stupid look off his face.

Harry was quite sure that this wasn’t even Tom’s full power yet. Oh, but the thought that Tom
could still do so much better. He might actually win if Tom wasn’t using his true strength.

So they went on and on until Harry realized that Tom was actually getting closer to him.
Harry laughed because that was cheating—there was to be at least ten steps between duelists
—and he loudly said that if cheating was the only way Tom won any of his medals then he
didn’t quite deserve them.

Harry desperately tries to step back while fighting a fit of giggles to keep an even playing
field between them. But Tom had only smirked at him before he was finally only a step away
from Harry.

Harry had fire a rather nasty spell at Tom and the next thing he knew, Tom was on top of him,
from trying to avoid Harry’s jinx, both of them falling on the floor.

“Surrender, Omega,” Tom says in Harry’s ear, looking smug as ever.

Harry laughs again as he struggles to get free. But Tom was so heavy, his weight fully on
Harry.

It was clearly time for another tactic. He grins at Tom cheekily, and with a playful look in his
eyes, leans closer to Tom. He breathes right into Tom’s scent glands and pulls back to look at
him in the eye. Tom was silent, looking at him, eyes darker.

“Stupefy.” he says mischievously.

Tom’s eyes widen.

Then, he collapses wholly into Harry—heavy and unmoving.

“Oh my god—oh my god—“ He looks at Tom who was still unconscious on the floor. “Tom,
you idiot!”

Why did Tom not counterattack him? This was not like him. He was always ready, always
had something up his sleeve. Harry's seen it during his sessions with their friends. He was
Tom Riddle.

What was Harry going to do?

The infirmary.

Harry needed to get Tom to the infirmary.

“Oh, Tom, please be alright.”

Tom wakes up to a scent he did not like. He opens his eyes to see a worried-looking Harry
stroking his hand.

“Tom?” He asks biting his lip. “Are you okay?” Harry huge green eyes are looking at him

“Are you crying?”

Harry smack him in the arm. “This is all your fault! You just suddenly collapsed on me!”
Harry screams at him hysterically, arms throwing themselves around Tom in both relief and
annoyance.

Tom rubs the omegas back giving him some comfort.

Then he remembers. Harry had looked at him from under his lashes, whispered closer to his
scent gland than his ear, hot breath teasing Tom’s skin, and had started purring, of all things.

Then he got that sultry look in his eyes that he was prone on doing, licking his lips while
looking at Tom’s. The alpha couldn’t help but trace the movement with his eyes. Then out of
nowhere, Harry had attacked him with hand magic.

The little omega possessed hand magic.

“You never told me you had hand magic,” Tom says.

Harry doesn’t let him go, still distraught. “I never had the chance to tell you.”

Figures. Of course Harry would not think it was a big deal. Only ten percent of the wizarding
world could do wandless magic. And even then, they had to train for years just to get a clear
grasp of their gift. So the omega was not only exceptional in dueling but possessed hand
magic as well.

“Tom, I’m sorry,” Harry murmurs into his chest.

Tom strokes his hair and nuzzles Harry’s neck. “It’s alright,” he rumbles, trying to steady
himself for the omega. Harry relaxes into him and turn his nose so he can scent Tom as well.
Harry purrs, the stale scent finally changing into a sweet one. “Your magic is powerful,” Tom
says idly.

Harry stiffens in his arms and looks up. “What?”

“Your magic is strong,” Tom says.

“What made you think that?” Harry asks quite sure that Tom was just humoring him.

“We duelled for thirty minutes,” Tom says. “No one lasts that long against me.”

“But you were holding back.”

“Not that much,” Tom shrugs. “I just didn’t use any dark spells. Mostly because Hogwarts
won’t let me.”

“Tom, no,” Harry says in panic. “You can ask Lucius! He’s so much smarter that I—“

Harry gulps. “Harry will fill in for me.”

“Me?” Harry asks incredulously. “I—I’ve never—Tom!—“

 “You’ll do it.” Tom commands, radiating utmost authority even while sitting in a hospital
bed.

“Ah, sir, but he’s an omeg—“ Tom gives him a hard look, daring him to finish the sentence.
The International Dueling Club representative gulps. “Of course, I only meant that he’d be
instructing a room full of alphas.”

“And?” Tom asks irritated.

The man doesn’t know what to say and helplessly looks at Harry for help. Harry looks back
just as helplessly to him as well. He didn’t want to do it. Tom was set to demonstrate his
dueling prowess in the club meeting this evening, students from Beauxbatons and
Durmstrang were invited as well. Harry didn’t know if he had that kind of confidence. What
if he screwed up?

“My omega can do it.” Harry trembles at the authority in Tom’s words, the alpha’s tone low
and commanding. The Gryffindor realizes that he’s bared his neck slightly in submission. The
sentence was not even directed at him.

The club representative looks at him, waiting for his consent. Harry looks at Tom in
desperation but Tom only nods at him. And there it is again. Harry sees it. The utter belief
Tom had in him. The confidence that he could do it.

Just like that and he’s decided.

He nods steadily back at Tom, eyes suddenly more serious.

“I’ll do it,” Harry says, surer of himself this time. If Tom believed he could, then he could.

Because if there was one thing Harry learned from all the time he spent with Tom, was that
Tom was always, always right.

Chapter End Notes

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! Another chapter! I've been so happy with all the feedback I'm
getting that I decided to release this early! Hoho! You guys have no idea how much
simple reviews can make a writers' day. Three more chapters and we're done! I never
thought I'd be able to write a fic this long but I was too frustrated with a writing slump a
few weeks ago that I decided to publish the chapter one for this even though it wasn't
finished. Your kind words have certainly sped up the process of me finishing this.

Thank you again for the support!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you to all who were worried about my migraine.
<3
Hope to hear your thoughts again!
 Chapter 6
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Harry hums as he remembers what happened yesterday. Harry had beaten all of them, alpha,
beta, omega alike—fresh from his fight with Tom, energized by his alpha’s total belief in
him. He’d also demonstrated some skills he learned from Tom in their duel. To say that
everyone’s mouth was hanging open by the end of it, would be an understatement.

Alphas and betas all spoke to him afterwards, complimenting him on his abilities. Even the
club representative was rubbing his head in apology, saying he was sorry for doubting Harry.

Best of all was that near the end of it, Harry noticed that Tom was observing him from the
back. The Slytherin probably tricked Madame Pomfrey in releasing him early even though
the witch insisted he should still be resting. Harry did hit his body close with the spell.

Tom had casually made his way to the omega in the sea of the people congratulating Harry
and kissed him right in front of them. Harry couldn’t help but look smug at being publicly
claimed like that, and by Tom Riddle nonetheless. All the alphas and betas immediately
backed off, and the omegas were staring in obvious jealousy.

Harry could hardly shut up about it the whole night, forcing Tom to listen to all his
ramblings.

Ah, what Harry would do to relive it all over again.

“Hello, little omega.”

Harry freezes, knowing a threat when he heard one. It was an alpha and he was not alone.
Harry tries to walk faster. He’s never dealt with this kind of thing before. Everyone knew him
in Hogwarts, no one would dare. But there were visitors now. Hormonal teenage alphas from
schools who have never heard who he was.

“Woah, woah, slow down there, darling,” The group catches up with him, the leader grins in
front of him while the others snicker behind. “Are you lost?” He asks slyly.

Harry can’t believe it. It was Viktor Krum. Did the alpha not remember who he was? Did he
just happen to look in Harry’s direction when they paraded in the Great Hall? Harry’s seen
that look in many other alphas before and knew that he was in trouble.

It would take about two seconds to reach for his wand and another three to cast a spell. Were
alphas faster than that? There were four of them. Harry wasn’t so sure—but he could do
wandless magic magic. He just had to utter the words—Harry tries to talk but he can’t. Why
couldn’t he open his mouth? Just one word—

“Viktor,” A condescending voice says.

Harry gasps. It’s Tom. Harry runs to him before he can think. Tom wraps his arms around
Harry, and only then did Harry realize he was about to cry.

“This is your omega?” Viktor asks mockingly, never really knowing the alpha to ever be
interested in romance, ever.

“Yes,” Tom says, voice cold. “Did they touch you?” He asks the trembling omega.

“N-No.”

The alpha whispers something he can’t hear. And the next thing Harry knows is the other
alphas were laughing uncontrollably.

“What did you do?” He asks, wide-eyed as they settled into one of the benches in Hogwarts’
grounds. He was still so shaken that he wouldn’t let go of Tom. Tom has been gently rubbing
a hand on his back, letting out low purrs to calm him down.

“Made them suffer.”

“But they were laughing.”

“And they’ll be laughing until they die.” Harry stiffens. “Or until somebody finds them.”

Harry smiles against Tom’s chest. “You’re mean.”

“Only when people deserve it.” Tom says soothingly into his ear. “And besides,” his hand
tugs at Harry’s hair lightly, making the omega look up into his eyes. There’s a darkness there
that made Harry shiver. “They hurt you.”

“You never told me you knew Viktor Krum.” Harry said, remembering that the alpha once
promised to destroy him in the Triwizard Tournamnent.

“We see each other a lot in international competitions,” Tom explains. “He’s never managed
to win against me.”

Harry can’t help but roll his eyes at the alpha’s casual boasting.

“What’s wrong?” Tom sitting elegantly in the Madame Malkin’s exclusive tailoring room
while reading a book was a sight to see.

Harry honestly thought that the alpha would be prideful, rejecting Harry’s offer to buy him
new robes for the ball, but Tom had only smirked at him and dragged him into the tailor's
without so much of a word.

When Harry asked him why, Tom shrugged, saying first impressions could make or break
you. That was the first thing people would notice.

“And the second?” Harry asks, not quite believing the man was all too happy to use Harry’s
money for his own benefit. Well, both their benefits really. Harry wanted to exaggerate the
man’s handsomeness as much as possible.

“Your last name.” Tom says casually.

“Oh.” Harry says in surprise. “And the third?” Harry asks, hurrying to move the topic along.

“Your charisma.” Tom explains with a smirk.

Harry was suddenly afraid that the the gold he brought would not be enough.

“Nothing feels right,” Harry whines, almost ready to burst into tears from the stress of it all.
Harry can’t believe he’s forgotten about the most important event in history—the Yule Ball.
There were going to be so many people looking at them, Harry was a Champion’s girlfriend,
and he wanted to make an even better impression from the luncheon. This ball was going to
be even more crowded. Harry wanted everything to be perfect.

It certainly didn’t help that Tom looked good in anything he wore, Harry thinks unfairly. The
man had fit on several of the ready-to-wear wizard tuxedos and looked effortlessly expensive.
They didn’t even need to be tailored to him anymore. It was like they adjusted themselves to
make Tom look good.

Harry sighed, looking at himself in the mirror. This was the eight gown he tried on. He
wanted to wear red to look like a sexy temptress beside Tom… but nothing seemed to work.

“You should wear green,” Tom suggests, not looking up from his book.

Harry blinks.

Green was… green was a Slytherin color.

He’s never even worn green for Draco before.

There’s an audible gasp as the spotlight hits the Hogwarts champion and his omega
girlfriend, arm in arm, stepping forward to open the couple’s dance.

Both seemingly glided as they walked forward, drawing everyone’s eyes in their direction.

Harry was wearing an emerald silk gown that hugged his figure; silver jewelry hanging on
his ears, his arm, and his neck; rich black gloves managing to make his arms look more
slender.

Harry Potter has always been beautiful, but tonight he glowed with an obvious self-
satisfaction—he, alone, was the girlfriend of the Hogwarts champion who was completely
destroying his enemies.

Tom Riddle, at his side, the Hogwarts Champion who looked like an aristocratic heir himself
—dashing in his own right—commanded the room in perfectly-fitted black robes that showed
off his broad shoulders and made him look impossibly taller. Dark green accents artfully
accenting his robes, as if he could not resist showing off his own house even when he was
representing Hogwarts as a whole.

Tom Riddle has always been attractive, but tonight he was like the devil—sinfully handsome,
a conceited smirk on his lips, and arm wrapped around the most prized fruit of all—the Potter
heir.

It was quite a scene when they slowly turn towards each other, looking at each other like they
were the only two people in the world. Everyone watched as Tom raised the Gryffindor’s
hand to his lips. The moment his lips touched the Potter heir’s hand, everything went still.

Everyone held their breaths.

“You look delicious tonight.” Tom says, his eyes alight with teasing and his lips in a smirk.

That statement alone would become Hogwarts’ topic of gossip for days to come.

The Potter heir grins and with equal enthrallment in his eyes says, “So do you.”

The music starts and they dance, graceful and refined.

No one could take their eyes off the pair even if they tried.

Tom twirled Harry in his arms, watching as the omega giggles and spins lightly on his feet.
The gown he wore was just as Tom suggested. Harry had fitted gowns, each more revealing
than the last… Tom had spoken up before he could stop himself.

They left the tailor’s with Harry not saying anything.

But now he was here, looking like a true Slytherin in his arms—the alpha in him can’t help
but be pleased.

He holds Harry closely to him, ego stroked as other alphas looked on at the sight his omega
made.

And then he sees Draco Malfoy, who was looking at Harry with the same awe that everyone
else had.

Tom loosens his hold.

Hermione always knew that she was a plain Jane.

Which was why, when she first saw Harry, she couldn’t help but want to be him.

She wormed her way into the exclusive clique made up of only purebloods by offering to
make Harry’s homework for him. She felt a shameless pride at being friends with Harry,
feeling herself walk taller and prouder whenever they walked together.
But being close with the omega did something to her. The mean smiles, the nasty gossip, the
lavish spending… and of course, Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy who Hermione sometimes caught looking at her when Harry wasn’t around.

The admiration for the Potter heir eventually led to jealousy… and Hermione slowly found
ways to encourage the way the alpha looked at her through subtle touches here and there,
making sure to smear her hand with her scent before touching him.

She tried her best to be charming, laughing at the alpha’s jokes when all Harry did was roll
his eyes. She offered to help him with his homework so they could spend time alone together,
knowing Harry would find homework too boring to hang out with them.

It started with Draco just looking at her while she pretended to focus on the homework. But
she and Draco surprisingly got along well. It was no wonder the boy was second only to a
Hermione in their year. Hermione and Draco understood each other.

Forbidden things were sweeter on the mouth.

One day, Draco kissed her. She told him no, telling the alpha that it was wrong.

Hermione would have been contented knowing that the alpha had attempted to kiss her once,
that was enough for her, watching Harry totally clueless as he continued to parade Draco
around like a trophy boyfriend.

Then Hermione found out that Draco had broken it off with omega, and for the first time in
her life, Hermione felt like the happiest, prettiest girl in the world.

After that, both of them became more daring, Draco touching him in public, Hermione shy
but very much willing. Hermione couldn’t blame him. Harry, despite his reputation, didn’t
indulge the Slytherin in anything more than kisses. Draco was an alpha, a teenage one at that,
he needed release and Hermione was only too happy to give it to him.

They were compatible in all ways, even Hermione could see that. Except maybe their
appearances. But Draco didn’t seem to mind. Well, if the way he looked at her and kept
touching her was any indication…

The way people looked at her changed. She wasn’t Hermione, Harry Potter’s nerd friend
anymore. She was Draco’s intelligent girlfriend. Harry was yesterday’s news.

Until the rumors started.

Harry Potter dating the unobtainable Tom Riddle.

No omega has certainly succeeded before but if anyone can do it, it would surely be Harry
Potter.

That’s what the rumors said.

And Hermione watched as Harry Potter was all but courted by the alpha himself.
The alpha who looked so confident when he entered his name in the goblet, as if just by
dropping his name he already was the Champion.

No. No way.

Draco wanted that too.

But Hermione knew that it wasn’t enough to just let Draco enter his name.

Hermione did everything in her power to make sure her boyfriend would become Hogwarts
champion. If there was one thing that Harry could not take away from her, it was her
intelligence.

She didn’t tell Draco but the alpha knew right away. Draco had been upset but his childhood
dreams of becoming a champion far outweighed his initial discomfort. Hermione only
wanted to see him succeed. Maybe he would have won if Tom Riddle wasn’t his competitor.

Even Hermione knew the difference was too wide so Hermione and Draco spent their days
figuring out ways to beat the alpha. She couldn’t bear to see Draco frustrated.

Their relationship improved overtime. They were intellectual matches. Hermione and Draco
understood each other.

At least that’s what Hermione thought until she started catching the alpha staring at Harry
Potter for moments too long.

And now, Hermione could barely keep Draco’s eyes off of Harry as he glided with Tom
Riddle across the dance floor.

“He’s wearing green…” Draco whispers.

Hermione felt her heart stop. She doesn’t say anything. She’s going to take the alpha up the
Astronomy Tower later and make him forget.

She can always make him forget.

“So why were you never a Ravenclaw?”

Harry said it was normal for couples to disappear for a while from the Yule Ball to do things.
There was also a chance that Draco and Hermione might come here. This was one of the
spots where Draco and Harry used to make out all the time.

Harry almost forgot about their plan, enjoying teasing Durmstrang’s headmaster right into his
hands. Tom had to remind him that it was time. Harry had reluctantly ended the conversation,
feeling unsatisfied as Tom led him away.

But talking with the alpha like this was good too.
Tom smirks. “The sorting hat made me choose between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. My
intelligence already comes naturally—“ Harry rolls his eyes. “—I needed a house that would
further my ambition.”

Harry nods. It made sense. Slytherin helped Tom get to where he was now. And how far he’s
gotten, from that first year muggleborn to… this. “How about you?” Tom asks. “Why weren’t
you sorted to Slytherin?”

Harry almost smiles. Slytherin wasn’t so bad, and maybe he should have been sorted in
Slytherin. God knows he was more suited to it, with all his manipulation and underhanded
tactics.

The sorting hat had also made him choose. He was so young then and chose Gryffindor
because his parents also belonged in the house. The sorting had told him that Slytherin would
be better for him, would encourage his... personality. But Gryffindor hasn’t exactly
discouraged it. They simply couldn’t do something about it. Maybe his stubbornness was
what ultimately made him a Gryffindor.

“I didn’t know any better,” Harry says looking at Tom. Tom looks at him too. They don’t
talk.

But it was true. How his life would have been different if he were a Slytherin... maybe he’d
met Tom earlier. “But I would’ve still chosen the same if I knew you were going to be there.”
Harry says disgustedly.

Tom laughs. Harry feels warm inside. It was rare for Tom to laugh so freely.

“You’d certainly grow in Slytherin, Harry,” Tom says tucking a stray hair in Harry’s ear.
“Gryffindor is not pushing you to your potential.”

“It’s good that I have you then,” Harry grins. “The sneakiest snake of them all to teach me.”

Tom smirks at this, hand stilling on Harry’s cheek. “You are already a Slytherin.”

The look in Tom’s eyes makes Harry almost purr but he stops himself. This wasn’t real. This
was all part of their act. Tom only saw him as a friend, maybe a junior he could teach things.
Harry remembers what Ginny told him.

“When all omegas all but throw themselves at his feet…”

“No time to date anyone…”

“Above romance and love…”

“Too good for you…”

Tom would never look at him like that. He was… he was meant for greater things. He was
above romance. He was ambitions and accomplishments and talents… all of which Harry
was not.
And besides, Harry loved Draco. Harry loves Draco. This was why they were doing this in
the first place.

Tom’s hand strokes his cheek. It’s so tender that Harry can’t help but melt into it. The alpha
was looking at him intently. He was so close Harry couldn’t help but look at his lips. They’ve
kissed a lot of times, but only once did they ever—

Tom kisses him.

It was so gentle, so soft, so short but left Harry breathless nonetheless.

Then they kissed again.

It wasn’t like the kiss they shared in the Great Hall, where Harry was desperate for Draco to
notice them.

Tom didn’t take his time this time. The alpha went straight for it, teasing Harry's mouth open
the moment their lips touched, skillfully stroking Harry’s tongue. Harry found himself
moaning before he could stop himself. The alpha was good at his, too good, and Harry didn’t
protest when he felt that alpha lift him into his lap, letting the alpha support his weight
because he felt weak all over.

With just one kiss, Harry feels himself submit, can feel himself against Tom, making him
whimper. And as if that wasn’t enough to make him lose his mind, Harry felt Tom brush a
thumb over his nipple, gentle and teasing, making Harry arch his back to beg the alpha for
more.

Harry feels heat in in his lower belly, Harry vaguely remembering Ginny’s said something
about this before. Harry spreads his legs more, making room for the alpha, needing him
closer to him in all ways, Tom’s scent nearly making him blind, didn’t even know that he
started grinding his hips.

The alpha licks his scent glands and Harry mewls, feeling slick between his legs. Harry
would definitely go crazy if the alpha kept going. But then he started sucking on Harry's
neck, the sensitive skin of his mating gland stimulated, another gush of slick coming out his
hole, absolutely driving Harry insane.

“Tom,” he begs. He doesn’t know what he wants. But the alpha does. He nibbles on Harry’s
scent glands and Harry screams, eyes rolling at the back fo his head, back arching even more,
Harry almost positive that he came from that alone, and still he wanted more, needed more.
He wanted all of his clothes gone, all of Tom's too, wanted to feel the alpha’s naked skin
against his—

“HARRY!”

The angry voice came from behind him. Harry’s too disoriented to realize that it was Draco’s
voice that he heard.

“Malfoy.” Tom’s grip on Harry’s waist tightens. “What the hell are you doing here?”
 “I could ask you the same thing,” Draco answers back vehemently. “Get your mudblood
hands off of Harry!”

It’s Hermione who gasps first. Harry’s focus finally returning upon hearing the word
mudblood, an insult everyone seemed to throw at Tom.

He stands and faces Draco. “How dare you!” He pushes the alpha angrily at his chest. “How
dare you call Tom that, you bastard! Apologize!” Harry shouts. “Apologize now or—“

“You do this with him and not with me?” Draco asks in disbelief. He looks at Tom straight in
the eye. “If you ever hurt Harry, I’m hunting you down.”

With that, the Slytherin leaves, Hermione hurrying after him.

“Draco,” Hermione struggles to keep up with the alpha. “Draco.”

The alpha stops to face her, face furious. “What?”

Hermione falters, her first time seeing the alpha angry. “Are you jealous?” Hermione asks,
unbelieving, clenching her fist.

Hermione knew she had nothing against Harry, knew that there was a possibility that Draco
might like Harry more now that he was in another alpha’s arms, and not just any alpha but
one who’s managed to appear superior to Draco in every way.

They were both outmatched, and Hermione knew that only too well. She couldn’t keep him,
didn’t know what else to do if he decided to go back to Harry. Especially now that Harry was
starting to show his true intellectual power. He’s already managed to surpass Draco. Even
Hermione was starting to question her intellect. What else could she offer Draco but that?

Draco was breathing hard, eyes slowly coming back into focus, as if he was becoming aware
that he was getting angry at Hermione.

Hermione feels her heart hammer loudly against her chest.

The alpha grabs her shoulders, looking so intense that Hermione was suddenly scared.

“Hermione,” Draco says voice serious, willing the omega to meet his eyes. Hermione gulped,
feeling that she was finally going to be discarded.

She can’t read his eyes, can’t read what was going on in his mind. The alpha’s next words
shocks her.

“Let’s bond.”

Chapter End Notes

Three consecutive updates?! In three consecutive days?!

You guys blow my mind. Seriously. I got double the reviews from the last chapter, it's
like you're forcing my hand to reveal all my cards early! Hahaha! The last chapter and
this chapter is seriously two of my favorite chapters so I'm glad that you all reacted so
positively to the last one!

Thank you all for continuously sending in your kind words. I couldn't believe I've
written so many words and trust me, it's all because of you guys.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I had fun writing it. Hoping to hear your
thoughts!
 Chapter 7
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Are you alright?”

Harry forces himself to smile, didn’t know what was happening to him or around him.

Tom kissed him.

Tom kissed him.

When there were no people around. Where there was no one to pretend for.

And Harry… Harry…

Harry asked him why. Tom said he heard footsteps so he kissed Harry.

“Oh.” Was all Harry could answer.

Harry should be relieved. Why didn’t he feel relieved? Harry didn’t know why he felt this
way. Was he expecting another answer? And for those footsteps to actually be Draco and
Hermione… he should be ecstatic. Draco looked so angry, leaving a petrified Hermione to
chase after him.

But…

“Yes.” Harry answers Tom. Why wouldn’t he be? “I’m fine.” There was no reason not to be
fine.

“It’s good they saw us,” Tom says, pulling away from Harry.

Harry felt cold. “Yeah.” he agrees softly.

“Draco looked jealous.” Tom intones.

Harry looks away. “He did.”

So why was Harry not happy?

Tom runs a hand through his hair. This was bad. The omega was doing things to him. Tom
was out of control. He kissed Harry without thinking about it. The omega was just looking up
at him, his green eyes just—so Tom just—

How could he resist when the omega looked like that, submissively baring his neck, melting
right into his arms the moment he kissed him, moaning and grinding against him like he
would let Tom do anything he wanted and for a moment, Tom did, couldn’t resist the omega’s
smell, almost sure he smelled slick—

Tom had never felt so out of control before.

But the moment he laid eyes on Harry in green, looking utterly his...

He was almost grateful that Malfoy came in the middle of it. Tom was so close to—it was
good to be reminded of what his relationship with Harry was.

This was all pretend.

That’s right, Tom calms himself, pacing in his dorm room.

This was all pretend.

So why did Harry not push him away?

“Who?” Harry asks looking at the mirror, judging his hair Just a little pat at the back and his
hair would be perfect.

“Hermione, Harry,” Ginny says impatiently. This was important gossip! “Lavender said she
heard Hermione say they might bond soon.”

Harry looks up fast. “Bond? What do you mean bond?”

“Bonding, Harry, as in biology bonding!” Finally, Harry was paying attention. “They’re
planning to do it for Hermione’s birthday!”

“Bonding?” Harry asks emptily. “He... he never even opened up the idea with me. He said it
was meant for adults... he...” Harry looks at Ginny in panic. Ginny runs to him in haste.

“Harry... What are you going to do?”

Harry runs to find Draco.

“Draco…”

Now that he has the alpha alone, Harry finds himself speechless. Harry was surprised to find
him without Hermione. But Draco didn’t look surprised that Harry was here, out of breath,
that they were alone together for the first time in months.

Draco was looking at him, his storm gray eyes serious and determined.

“Harry.”

“Are… are you sure?” Harry asks the alpha. He wasn’t crying like he thought he would be.
Still, there’s something in his heart that he can’t describe. “Are you sure about this, Draco?
Bonding? At our age?”

“Harry,” the alpha steps forward. He was close. Too close. Harry takes a step back. “I still
love you.” Draco puts his arms on Harry’s shoulders.

“Wh-What?” Harry stammers.

“I just said we’d bond hoping you’d come to me, to stop me—“

What? What was Draco saying? All that talk just so Harry would run to him?

“But Hermione—she—“

“I’ll leave her,” Draco says, taking Harry’s hands in his. “It was always you,” Draco looks
into his eyes and closes the gap between them.

And then Draco kissed him.

Harry’s eyes widen. He can’t believe it. Draco still loved him. But—

A sudden sound behind Draco interrupts them. As soon as Harry saw who it was, his body
moves in its own accord, removing his hands from Draco’s quickly, taking a few steps away
from the alpha, like a child caught stealing from a cookie jar.

“Tom,” Harry whispers. “I—“

“Riddle,” Draco spats, taking Harry’s arm to pull him closer, putting a hand hard on his waist.

Tom doesn’t say anything, but his face was frighteningly unreadable.

“T-Tom,” Harry says, not sure what he wanted to say, but hoped Tom understood anyway,
hoped he understood like he always did without Harry having to say anything.

“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” A brief flash of relief washes over Harry. Then
he sees the look in Tom’s eyes. They were hard and cold.

They look at each other.

This was it. Tom was giving him an out. They’ve finally achieved what they meant to
achieve. Harry doesn’t understand why his throat hurt and his vision became blurry.

“It’s over, Harry.”

It was. It was over. Harry has finally gotten Draco back.

They had nothing to pretend for anymore.

This was exactly what Harry wanted, wasn’t it?

Harry tells himself that it was as Draco clutches him closer.

But as Tom walks away, Harry can’t help but wonder why what he’s waited for for so long…
didn’t feel at all like he thought it would.

“Where are we going?” Lucius asks the Gryffindor who has been dragging him around
Hogwarts for quite some time now. Ginny had been holding on to his hand for so long that
Lucius was afraid that he might have started sweating. This was bad. Malfoy heirs did not
sweat.

They haven’t talked for weeks, after Tom and Harry broke up, Harry now surprisingly back
with Draco. Lucius and Regulus had tried to ask Tom what happened, but the alpha was tight-
lipped, saying it was a mutual decision. He looked so cold that Lucius didn’t dare ask any
more details.

Ginny didn’t sit with them anymore, why would she? They didn’t get a chance to talk, Ginny
being a year younger meant they had fewer opportunities to run into each other.

“It’s Harry,” Ginny says, looking back at him. “He says he needs our help.”

Lucius nods, letting Ginny lead him. Although Harry was not with Tom anymore, he’d
manage to become Lucius’ friend as well.

In a few steps, they come to a stop in a deserted hallway.

Ginny starts pacing back and forth. Lucius starts to worry until a wall opens. Lucius hasn’t
even articulated his surprise when Ginny all but pushes Lucius inside, the secret entrance
closing behind them.

It was… a common room of sorts. But it couldn’t be Gryffindor’s common room. The color
was off, all deep browns and and missing the red and gold the house was famous for.

“Where’s Harry?”

“He’ll be coming in a while.” The beta flips her hair, and even in the darkness of the room
did Lucius see that her hair still shone. It hits Lucius that this is the first time he’s alone with
the beta.

Ginny was an infamous serial dater, dating alphas and betas alike left and right without so
much of a second thought.

Lucius feels his entire body heat up, suddenly reminded of how many times he’s imagined
the witch as he touched himself. How she would look on her knees, would those teasing eyes
be the same when Lucius forced his cock at the back of her throat? Would she cry,
embarrassed and aroused? Or would she be the same—a tease even as she was mouth-
fucked?

The beta was looking at him. Eyes holding fire that Lucius saw very well when they first
dueled.

Suddenly, he was pushed into a couch.

“Ginny—“

The omega straddles him before he could protest, looking at him intently before—Lucius
fights the urge to groan.

Ginny started grinding her hips in a slow experimental motion. Her breasts right in front of
Lucius’ mouth, drawing closer every time she grinded.

“I know a spell,” Ginny whispers in his ear, breath hot. “That can take all of my clothes off in
a heartbeat.”

Lucius could only look at the Gryffindor, her eyes lowering sultrily, her hips moving in
torturous slowness.

“Yeah?” Lucius asks, unable to keep his own hips from moving.

The beta squirms at the sudden friction she felt, not expecting it, grinding faster now.

“Then do it,” Lucius murmurs in her ear. “I want to see you naked.”

Ginny moans from that alone, nodding her head, eyes dazed.

The next thing Lucius knew, the redhead was very much naked in his arms, pale skin soft
under his hand, breasts huge and begging to be touched, pussy teasing his cock, Lucius
looked down to see that her wetness was starting to drench his pants.

“Ginny,” Lucius groans. He presses the redhead against him, kissing her, reveling in the
sounds that she made as he massaged her tongue with his own, feeling her tits against his
chest. She was already arching her back, hand taking Lucius’s and guiding to her already hard
nipples. His own hand was scarcely enough to cup her breast.

Merlin.

She was so soft and so big, whining loudly the moment Lucius finger teased her nipple.

“Lucius,” Ginny begs, panting in his ear. “Please—“

Lucius spells his own clothes away, couldn’t believe the way her wetness was already
spreading on his cock.

“Inside me,“ Ginny commands. “I need you inside me.”

Lucius doesn’t waste time and does exactly what he’s told.

The third task did nothing but prove Tom’s unmatched excellence.

Lucius was worried that his friend would perform… less than he usually did. But his
movements were cold, emotionless, clinical. He’d battled through the dark magical creatures
like they were nothing, defeated his fellow champions without giving them a chance to fight
 back. Fleur and Krum came out brutally injured. Only Draco managed to get out with a minor
injury.

But Lucius knew the alpha was tempted, saw it in the way his eyes darkened, and the
momentary pause as he pointed his wand towards Draco’s throat.

But Tom walked away, finding his way into the Triwizard Cup almost as if an arrow pointed
him towards it.

The game was finished in a record eighteen minutes.

Tom was not only making history as he graduated with the highest marks ever but his
landslide victory in the Triwizard Tournament.

When he is awarded, Lucius feels the empty space where Harry should be—standing next to
Tom with one of his self-satisfied smirks as if he was the one who was being awarded. But
Harry was supporting Draco now, an idle smile in his lips that Lucius has seen in all those
Malfoy parties they had before.

Tom was standing tall in the Champion’s platform. He still wore that perfect smile, stood and
walked proudly, thanked everyone who congratulated him graciously but…

There was no celebratory party afterwards. Only Lucius and Regulus congratulating their
friend as the Champion excused himself to retire to his bedroom when it was only nine in the
evening.

Lucius watches as Tom walks away quietly.

It didn’t feel like Tom Riddle just won one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world
at all.

Chapter End Notes

Sksksksk. This really isn't one of my favorite chapters but LOL! Had to give my favorite
mans Lucius a happy scene in there somewhere. Haha!

Anyway, I'd like to thank once again all the people who took the time to write a review.
You have no idea how much it warms my heart to read them. This fic has been sitting on
my laptop for a whole year with nothing but 6k words. But because of your support, I've
managed actually finish it! Thank you!

I hope to hear your thoughts!

ONE CHAPTER LEFT :O

 Chapter 8
Chapter Notes

And so it ends.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Mr. Riddle,” The Zabini matriarch purrs.

It’s been a year since he graduated. He’d been working now in the Ministry , winning the
Triwizard Tournament and graduating at the top of his class earned him a position anyone
would be envious of.

Tom smirks and reaches for her extended hand. He kisses it, keeping eye contact, and says,
“You grow more beautiful everyday, madam.”

“Please,” the matriarch giggles. “Call me Adelaide.”

A flurry of movement behind the matriarch makes Tom look.

He instantly regrets his decision.

This is the first time Draco and Harry attends a ministry ball. They make quite a sight. Draco
with his porcelain Malfoy skin and blonde locks and Harry with his tan skin and dark black
hair. No couple was more beautiful.

Even Ginny and Lucius who were usually the center of the ball with their adorable baby, Leo,
who had Lucius’ aristocratic face and Ginny’s red bright hair, dulled beside them.

Harry laughs charmingly at something Ginny—who was now pregnant with their second
child, showing no signs of following the Malfoy’s family tradition of having at least only one
offspring—says, hand delicately reaching out to smoothen the baby’s hair, the child looking
at Harry with absolute enthrallment. Tom couldn’t blame him.

Harry looks every bit of a pureblood omega while he holds onto Draco’s arm.

Their family heirlooms twinkle as they were caught in the light, a reminder to everyone of
what their lineage was in a world where old blood was not as celebrated and respected as it
was before. Yet, here they were, two direct heirs, with their pureblood grace, making
everyone question just why blood didn’t matter as much anymore.

Tom looks away and smiles once again to Mrs. Zabini. She’s looking at him expectantly, like
she was waiting for his reaction. Tom completely missed what she said so he settles for,
“Your wit is sharp as always,” and this seems to be a good response because the woman
blushes.

“If you’ll excuse me,” he says, suddenly feeling like not himself. The matriarch looks
disappointed and Tom makes a mental note to make it up to her next time.

But for now, he needed... he needed a drink.

Tom drinks the firewhisky in his hand. It was too early for something this strong, and tonight
of all nights, he needed his wits about him. The Minister was here. This was the night to
widen his influence. This is what he’s been waiting for.

He drinks the last of the alcohol and starts making his way to Undersecretary Umbridge. The
witch was rather close to the Minister and Tom had already begun his relationship with her
months prior just for this day. The witch liked him which was unsurprising.

But before he could reach the woman, he saw Harry and Draco again, arm in arm.

And they were going his way.

Harry holds tighter onto Draco’s arm as they walk around and greet every family they know.

He was going to be here tonight, Harry knew. He didn’t dress so ostentatiously for him
though. This was Harry’s first appearance as an adult in one of the ministry balls. This was
Draco’s debut as well.

Harry wanted to look pretty in Draco’s arms tonight, remembering what Tom taught him. His
influence as an omega was his appearance first, the prominence of his Potter name second,
and his charm third. It was what he looked like that people immediately saw, it was important
that he look dazzling. Then, they’d be interested in who he was; this was where his last name
came in, what would draw them in. Finally, it would be his charm that would seal the deal,
make them stay. What was a pretty face and powerful last name if he did not keep their
adoration?

All of this knowledge and he looked at Draco who did not seem to know what he was doing.
Nervously smiling at the other families, trying to keep a confident facade, yet he was failing.
Harry wouldn’t allow him to just sit at one table as the night went by.

Harry slowly surveys the room, looking for someone who was taller than the others and true
enough, Harry found him right away, already surrounded by an adoring crowd.

Being reminded how handsome Tom was after not seeing him after a year almost knocked the
wind out of Harry.

He looked like the devil, ready to ensnare anyone who looked his way.

Harry involuntarily takes a step forward, remembering all those time running toward him was
natural, expected of him, even. He stops himself. That was not his role now. His role was to
stay by Draco’s side.
Harry sees the way Tom’s audience all laugh at something he says. This was who Tom was.
This was his natural habitat. He was made for this. There was a time when Harry was on his
arm while everybody else around them laughed.

“Isn’t that Tom?” Draco asks.

“Yes.” Harry says quietly.

“We should go to him.” Draco says, face unreadable.

Harry feels his hands shake.

Harry was like an angel, dressed in silver that was almost white, an old Hollywood glamour
about him, jewelry reflecting all the light so he looked as though a spotlight was always on
him while he walked.

Tom knew that the omega’s taste was impeccable, but it was more defined now, calmer…
more elegant. It suited him.

“Tom,” the omega greets, a slow smile on his lips, even more dazzling than the jewels he
wore. His words were clear, his voice a deeper, more sophisticated, sultry sound. It takes Tom
entirely off guard.

“Harry,” he nods towards the omega. He turns towards the alpha, who has certainly grown in
the year they haven’t seen each other. He looked more mature, almost like his father. Gone
was the youthful arrogance, replaced with a cultured confidence. It suited him. “Draco.”

Draco leads Harry to Tom. He feels a hole where his heart should be. It doesn’t feel right to
be with Harry like this. Draco has been jealous, always been a jealous child who wanted
something just because it wasn’t his. And he hated Tom Riddle the most, the man who wasn’t
even a pureblood, yet commanded everyone as though he was.

So Draco snatched Harry right back under the alpha’s nose.

But Draco… Draco did not feel happy. The moment Harry was in his arms, he didn’t want
him anymore. He didn’t know why. Harry was beautiful, and everything that his political
future wanted and needed. But he didn’t feel right. There was no doubt that he was the most
beautiful omega here tonight, and he knew it, from the calculated movement of every part of
his body, and the little varying smiles he offered everyone he talked to.

Harry felt like he belonged to another world.

Draco couldn’t understand him now. Harry has always been mean, in that self-entitled way,
but… now… he was… Draco couldn’t find another way to describe him but… calculating.

Harry was complicated. And Draco didn’t how to begin to understand him.

His mind sees brown eyes and brown hair, girlish smiles and honest hardwork… Hermione…
Hermione was someone he understood. She was kind, and gentle, and the cute blush that
filled her cheek every time Draco kissed her… Everything felt right. Where Hermione was
like spring, flowers and warmth… Harry was the worst of winter, mesmerizing but terrifying.

“Tom,” he hears Harry say. The omega was looking at him, eyes focused entirely. His chest
was not moving, as if he’s forgotten how to breathe. There’s a faint blush at his cheek that
Draco has never seen when Harry was with him.

Tom Riddle was looking at Harry as well, doesn’t even spare a glance at Draco. Tom Riddle
always made Draco feel inadequate. He wasn’t so insecure now that he felt the same
annoyance when he looked at the man. But now he felt begrudging respect. Tom Riddle, the
orphan, who has built nothing from the ground and was now one of the most high-ranking
officials in the ministry in his young age. He looked exactly the part—hair flawlessly coiffed
to the side and robes impeccably pressed.

The alpha nods towards Harry and then turns slowly to Draco. “Draco.”

Draco stands his ground and smiles. He was not born a Malfoy for nothing. “Tom,” he greets
back.

Just as he suspected, he did not feel satisfaction in holding Harry in front of the alpha.

He felt ordinary.

“How are you?” He hears Harry ask. It’s not the same calculated conversation he does with
everyone else. His eyes were wide, honest. He looked strangely sincere.

“Same as always,” Tom says with a smirk, something in the glint in his eyes that suggested
an inside joke. Harry laughs.

“You always downplay your achievements,” Harry teases.

“It’s true.” Tom says smoothly. “I am the most humble person alive.”

Draco sees Harry’s arm raise, about to smack the alpha in the arm, obviously—he’s seen the
omega do it a number of times when he and Tom were still together—but he puts it back
down as quickly as he raised it, as if reminded of something.

Draco didn’t feel jealous as they talk. They don’t even include him in the conversation, like
they’ve completely forgotten that he was there.

As he and Harry walk away, Harry is oddly quiet, the brilliant shine from when he entered the
room dulled. Harry didn’t hold on to him as he did earlier.

When they talked to the Greengrasses, Harry was still smiling and engaging them in polite
conversation… but there was an ordinariness about it now. Harry was trying very hard not to
fidget, as if he was willing himself not to look somewhere else.

Draco didn’t hold him again the rest of the evening.

Harry didn’t even notice.

“What?”

“We need to break up.” Draco says. They were different. Where Draco wanted a family and
enter politics, he could not begin to fathom the omega’s ambition. He never had one, if Draco
could remember. But it rippled in warning now, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Harry
wanted more and Draco could not give him that.

The omega’s mouth was set in a straight line, like he wanted to protest. But Draco sees the
wheels turning in his head, thinking fast, weighing the pros and cons. But Draco sees it in his
eyes before the omega realizes it himself.

Relief. Harry felt relieved.

But he wasn’t going to agree so easily, his Gryffindor pride won’t allow it.

“What do you mean?”

“We both know it’s the right thing to do.”

“We don’t feel anything for each other.” Draco says. It was true. Theirs was a comfortable
companionship that was for knowing each other since they were children. Their relationship
was too smooth-sailing, too boring. More friendship than it was a romantic relationship. Even
their scenting was platonic though no one said anything about it. They even agreed to save
sex for marriage, neither of them wanting to admit that they didn’t want to do it with each
other. Kisses were scarce, habitual. Even touching was minimal.

With Hermione, Draco could barely control himself. Everything about her drove Draco crazy.

But Harry…

They’ve known each other their whole lives. Yet, Draco did not know Harry now. But he did
know one thing. “You don’t shine as much when you’re with me.”

Maybe that’s how it’s always been. Draco has never managed to draw out who Harry was
now. Harry, who people often forget was the son of Lily Evans, the brightest witch of her
generation and James Potter, an undefeated high-ranking auror. It’s always been there but
Draco never truly saw it until Tom entered Harry’s life.

Now the omega was almost like him. Accomplished in all ways that he could be.

Harry doesn’t talk and Draco sees the slow admission in him, he relaxes and if he were not a
pureblood, Draco knew he might have sighed in relief. They were both wrong. Harry was
never really in love with him and so was Draco.

They were just children then, but they’ve grown up now.

“This is it then,” Harry says and he smiles. It’s a real smile. “Friends?” The omega asks,
extending a hand.

“Friends,” Draco agrees, shaking Harry’s hand in agreement.

Hermione was finally hired in the Ministry’s Department for the Regulation and Control of
Magical Creatures. It’s been a long dream of hers to help unfairly treated magical creatures.

She’d been excited to get the letter from the Ministry. But even graduating at the top of her
class—barely, Harry had almost beaten her for first place but he started a little too late to
catch up to Hermione’s final general average—didn’t mean she was off to saving them right
away. Her first task was organizing the records room, double checking the muggle way
because even magic had the tendency to make mistakes.

This was just as well. A boring job for a boring girl.

A knock on the door startles her, the stack of papers she was carrying falling on the floor. She
groans to herself. “Come in!” She yells, gathering the last pieces of paper. “Sorry about the
mess. You can take a seat right the—“

She drops the papers again as she sees who it was. She turns around abruptly, very aware that
she looked like a mess. Her hair was in a disarray, reading glasses askew, and sweater full of
her new kitten’s fur.

What was he doing here?

The last time they saw each other was when Draco finally broke up with her, saying his
family didn’t approve after all, and that Harry would be a better match for him. Hermione
knew they didn’t approve. Hermione has always known that it was a lie because he’d never
once invited her to meet with his parents and never once said he mentioned her in a letter to
them. But Hermione hoped he was just buying some time, finding the right way to introduce
her. She hoped that he really did love her and she wasn't just a passing fancy for a spoiled
alpha who had everything he ever wanted.

But of course that was stupid. Brightest witch of her age. Stupid for love. Stupid for Draco.

“Hermione,” she hears the alpha say.

Hermione gulps. There was nothing to be ashamed of. Draco’s seen every part of her. She
straightens herself and turns back around. “How can I help you?”

“I just wanted to say hi,” the alpha says.

Hermione’s escaped gossip for at least a while when she was looking for a job. She’d spent
her days trying to forget the alpha but the moment she arrived at the ministry, all she heard
was gossip about Draco and Harry. How perfect they were for each other, how beautiful they
looked together.

Hermione didn’t need the reminder. So she avoided her co-workers as much as she could.
“Hi.” Hermione puts the stack of papers on her desk. Even from here she could smell the
alpha. “How are things going with Harry?”

Silence meets her question.

“You don’t know?” The alpha was looking at her.

“Know what?” Hermione asks. If they were getting married, she didn’t want to hear any of—

“We’re not together anymore.” The alpha takes a step forward.

“Oh.”

It was a scandal when it happened.

Everybody thought that the Potter and Malfoy heirs would finally unite into holy matrimony.

But the omega and the alpha showed up separately in the latest ministry ball, talking to
everybody else but with each other.

By the next ministry ball, Draco had a pretty brunette in his arms—not quite as charismatic
as his past girlfriend, but held an honest innocence about her. She was bright too, finishing at
the top of their class, and was now working an honest job in the Ministry.

Harry watches them and after all this time, they still look like the lovesick couple Harry
always saw in Hogwarts. They were so in love, how had Harry never seen that?

Now that Harry and Draco has finally admitted that they were just friends, Harry finally
realized that what he often felt for Draco was sibling-like affection. When he heard Draco
was planning to bond with Hermione, it wasn’t jealousy that he felt. He really was genuinely
worried about his childhood friend.

But there was nothing to worry about now.

Except Harry’s own lack of love life.

Ginny had long since seduced Lucius. Harry remembered the way Ginny cornered Harry in
the Gryffindor common room after the dueling practice they had with Tom.

“I want him.” Ginny said with a conviction Harry’s never seen in her before.

Harry had been amazed to see Ginny, who has dated countless alphas and betas, look
absolutely whipped. Who would have thought that it would be a Malfoy prince who would
ensnare Harry’s best friend?

They were happily married now, Lucius’ mother relieved that Lucius had enough taste to
bring a pureblood girl home as a daughter-in-law. Even more relieved that the girl had been
already pregnant, their Malfoy line continuing on.
Even Regulus had made progress, meeting the former Beauxbatons champion, Fleur, in in his
travels.

And Tom… Tom was focused on his career as always. He’d risen so high, so young, so
quick. There was no man more favored in the Ministry than he was, no man more
prominently published in the Daily Prophet again and again.

He probably had no time for someone like Harry.

But they could at least be friends now. Harry was certainly willing to try.

In a few weeks, another ministry ball was going to be held.

It was painfully obvious, the way Harry made his way to the man the moment he saw him.

“Tom,” Harry calls out.

The man turns, a charming smile on his face. It’s a smile Harry’s seen many times. But this
isn’t Tom’s real smile. Harry felt as though he was one among many admirers.

“Mr. Potter!” Someone else greets him before Tom could. Harry was horrified to see it was
the Minister himself. Cornelius Fudge turns to Tom. “My boy! You didn’t tell me you were
friends with the most beautiful omega here tonight!”

“I’d hardly call us friends, Minister,” Tom says, charming to the core. “I wouldn’t want to
assume.”

“Well?” The Minister turns to Harry again. “What business do you have with Tom, Mr.
Potter?”

Harry’s back straightens, a coy smile on his face. “Oh, I was only using him to find a way to
talk to you, Minister.” He bats his eyelashes. “An omega like me can’t simply have any
reason to be noticed by you. I have to be smarter than the others.”

And just like that, the Minister chokes on his drink, coughing and going red in the face.

“Do you think he’ll be alright?” Harry looks back at the Minister who was still a great deal
redder than when Harry’s first seen him, being fawned over by his constituents.

Tom laughs, the sound taking Harry in a complete surprise. “You teased him way too much.”

“Did I really go overboard?” Harry asks, honestly worried this time. At that time, it seemed
like a good idea. To throw the Minister off guard and to impress Tom at the same time.

“Of course not.” Tom says amusedly. “I’d say he’ll never forget you for all his life.”

They walk around the ballroom together, greeting some of their friends and acquaintances.
Harry’s reminded of all the times he accompanied Tom, how people would sometimes stutter
at their very presence, the power they had together…
Month after month, they do it again and again. Find each other in a ballroom. Harry had once
mistakenly tried to spoonfeed him out habit, cursing himself for making a stupid mistake. But
the alpha had smoothly accepted it. As if it were normal. As if they did it all the time.
Rumors have started to go around; they were always together. But not once did Tom bring it
up to Harry, and Harry didn’t have the courage to ask the alpha.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” Tom asks as they finish talking to the
Lovegoods, now walking in the uncrowded Ministry gardens.

“What?” Harry wondered if Tom would consider it an impertinence if he were to reach out
and grab his arm.

“Back when we first saw each other with the minister.”

Oh. That was so long ago. Why was Tom bringing it up now?

“Nothing,” Harry realizes he’s not lying. “I just wanted—“ Harry stops himself. He just
wanted to be with Tom, to be together in a ball like this. Just his presence was enough. “I just
wanted to say hi.”

“Oh?” Tom raises an elegant eyebrow.

“You look disappointed.” Harry jests.

“I am.” Tom says without missing a beat.

“Why?” Harry asks as they turn into a corner where there were certainly no people now. If
somebody found out, it would be a scandal.

“I thought you were going to ask me to date you again.”

Harry stops walking.

Tom stops to look back at him.

He’s absolutely forgotten the alpha’s unnatural ability to make him blush. And yet,
excitement blossoms at his chest. Harry wouldn’t back down just like that. It’s been so long
since they could talk like this.

“Maybe you should.” Harry shrugs noncommittally, cocking his head sideways. “I heard
dating a Potter heir would certainly be…” Harry blinks his eyes innocently. “Beneficial.”

Tom looks at Harry with an unreadable glint in his eyes. “Surely, there is something more
beneficial than dating a Potter heir.”

“More beneficial than dating me?” Harry asks, a frown on his face, as if he never heard of
such a blasphemy. “What’s more beneficial than dating me?”

Tom smirks.
 “Marrying you.”

Chapter End Notes

WAAAAAH! It's done! It's finally done! Now THIS is one of my favorite chapters and
the tone really makes a perfect Power Couple Series fic, don't you think?! Argh! I hope
you enjoyed all of this as much as I had fun writing it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me from the start, and I do mean with this fic
and all my other fics. Thank you to all of you who inspired me to keep going because of
your reactions!

I hope to hear your thoughts once again! <3

PS. So what's next? I've got a couple more tropes in development. This fic has literally
sucked the life out of me. Maybe I'll see you guys again in a year? HA!
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!