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The house that belonged to Tom’s grandparents was neither large nor small. It was most definitely not considered a manor by any means but it couldn’t be thought of as a mere cottage either. It was homey, though; a garden was out front with fresh flowers that had sprouted up from the ground. The front yard was clean but nothing to his Aunt Petunia’s standards. Harry walked up to the door, knocking on it, feeling nervous. He’d never met someone’s family before, not when he was romantically involved with them. Tom hadn’t been the one to bring the idea up. It was Harry. While bringing his boyfriend around his relatives was a horrid thought he didn’t want to entertain, he was curious to have a peek into Tom’s life. He knew the Slytherin lived with his grandparents and even though he projected this persona that acted like he didn’t care about anyone or anything but himself, Harry knew he was fond of them. If the picture at the bottom of his trunk that no one was supposed to see but Harry did because he snooped was anything to go by.
“You came,” The front door opened and Tom was there in a plain green shirt and casual trousers. A strange expression came onto his face, soon giving way to a tiny smile.
“Course I did,” Harry smiled in return. “It was my idea after all.” He wrapped his arms around the Slytherin’s middle, melting into the embrace. Tom’s unique scent filled his nose and he sighed contentedly. He felt his boyfriend rest his chin on the top of his head.
“You don’t have to do this, I hope you know,” Tom murmured.
“I want to,” Harry told him simply. Then he sighed. “I just hope they like me.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Tom whacked him not so lightly on the head. Harry’s hand flew up to the spot. “They'll adore you all the same like I do. And if they don’t, their opinion hardly matters in the first place.”
“But they’re your family,” Harry frowned. “Your only family.” Tom could deny it all he wanted, but he knew the Slytherin did care about what they would say.
“You’re my family as well, dearest,” Tom caressed his cheek. “You mustn’t forget it.”
“I won’t,” Harry said with sincerity. He grinned before reaching up on his tiptoes to press a chaste kiss on Tom’s lips. He pulled back, only for his lover to grab his waist, yanking him back.
“You think that’s acceptable?” He said playfully. Their bodies were touching now. The Slytherin held him gently by the chin, tilting his head upward. Their lips met for the second time. It was longer, filled with more passion. Harry’s eyes fluttered shut, allowing himself to fall in.
Godric, Tom was intoxicating.
“Oh, Thomas, look at them. They’re adorable.”
Harry and Tom flew apart in a panic. Harry’s heart was beating rapidly, in part from the unexpected intrusion and the other being that he was in front of Mr. and Mrs. Riddle, Tom’s grandparents. Mr. Riddle was tall like Tom. He had broad shoulders and black and pepper colored hair which was nearly swept to the side. Beside him, his wife was a bit shorter. Her hair was in a bun and she wore glasses. He swallowed, his hand coming up to meet his hair where he tried to make it seem more presentable, but just ended up messing it up more.
“You must be Harry,” Tom’s grandmother said kindly with a smile. She took his hand into hers, studying his face intently. Harry felt the slightest bit uncomfortable. “ Oh! You have the prettiest looking eyes.”
“Thank you,” Harry said politely.
“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Mary Riddle and this is my husband, Thomas. We’ve heard so much about you from our Tommy.”
Harry spared a glance at Tom, whose cheeks reddened at the nickname. Or the fact that his grandmother revealed that he’d talked to them about Harry. Which surprised him. Harry didn’t think Tom was the type to do that. He’d have to ask about that.
“Really?” Harry said. “He did?”
Mary’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes! He didn’t want to, of course. Not at first. I imagine most young men aren’t too fond of talking about their loves to anyone. But I managed to wear him down,” She winked conspiratorially at Harry. “I bribed him with a trip to the bookstore. Our boy just loves to read anything he can get his hands on. He was the same way as a child. You should have seen him. If the bookstore wasn’t an option, I used to bake him cookies and read his favorite book to him doing my own little impressions. He used to laugh and laugh -”
Tom looked positively mortified.
“Don’t embarrass the lad, Mary,” Thomas said gruffly.
His wife was offended he’d say such a thing. “That’s preposterous. I’m doing no such thing. Tommy isn’t embarrassed by me.”
Harry would privately reckon that Tommy was .
Thomas rolled his eyes. He stared straight at Harry with a blank sort of look. “You want some tea, lad?”
Harry was caught off guard by the abrupt change in subject. “Err-”
“Actually, I promised Harry I would show him my room,” Tom cut in and Harry raised his eyebrows at the excuse his boyfriend gave. Which was not true at all.
“ Actually, ” Harry said, ignoring the look Tom gave, which would be dangerous for Harry's health if he didn’t listen, “I’d love some.”
“Splendid!” Mary exclaimed. “Tom will make us some. He makes the best tea. Do you mind, pumpkin?”
Harry’s lips clamped together to suppress his laughter. It was strange hearing Tom Riddle, of all people, being referred to as pumpkin .
“No,” Tom said eventually, looking as though he wished the floor would swallow him whole. “Of course not.”
////
The table was somewhat big for a family of three. Harry sat beside Tom at one end while Mary and Thomas were at the other. His lover had come carrying a tray of tea mugs, setting them down and handing one to his grandparents first before giving Harry his. He momentarily forgot where he was as he grabbed ahold of the mug, telling Tom teasingly, “So domesticated. You’d make a good wife someday.”
And then he froze, unsure of how they would react.
This got a laugh out of Thomas. “I like this one,” he declared with a chuckle.
“Oh, dear,” Mary laughed along with her husband.
Tom watched him take a drink, face impassive. “How do you know I simply haven’t poisoned yours?”
“You love me too much,” Harry shrugged.
“Or I’m lulling you into a false sense of security.”
“Oh, I hope you are,” Harry said smoothly.
Tom snorted, shaking his head with an amused smile on his lips.
“Aww,” Mary cooed at them, effectively running the moment. “You know, you’re the only one to make Tommy smile like that.”
Harry grabbed Tom’s hand, which was hanging by his side, intertwining their fingers. “He makes me smile like that too.”
“You’re such a sap,” Tom muttered.
Harry leaned closer to him.
“I don’t mean to be intrusive,” Mary began.
“Then don’t,” Her husband quipped.
She smacked him on the arm. “I’m just wondering....have you boys had your first kiss yet?”
Tom and Harry widened their eyes. Probably for different reasons.
Thomas was disapproving of this. “It’s none of your business.”
“He’s our grandson,” She said defensively. “Our baby , Thomas. I have a right to know.”
“He’s not a child anymore,” Thomas reminded her. “He’s seventeen now.”
Mary didn’t seem to care about that particular detail. She glanced lovingly at Tom. “It doesn’t matter, he’ll always be our little boy. Why, I remember when you first asked for a snake. Do you remember that, Tom?” She looked at Harry now. “He wanted one so bad but I’m deathly afraid of those blasted things so I said no, of course.” She laughed a little as she said the next part. “He threw the biggest tantrum that day. Two hours, wouldn’t you know it. Well, we certainly knew he had good lungs from that day forward.”
Tom made a strained, strangled sound. Harry was torn between feeling pity for him and amusement. It wasn’t often he got the chance to hear such intimate details. Beside him, his lover sat down in the chair. Harry rubbed his leg in a comforting way.
“This is why he doesn’t bring friends over,” Thomas said to Mary. “You don’t know when to keep quiet.”
Mary did not seem happy to hear this so Harry hastily said, to avoid a confrontation between them two, “So, er, why exactly were you asking if we’ve kissed yet?”
He barely refrained from letting out a gasp of pain when Tom slammed his foot on Harry’s.
It was Thomas who answered with an eye roll. “She found him practicing on a pillow before you two got together.”
“I was not,” Tom said loudly, flushing.
“Sweetums, use your indoor voice,” Mary told him. “You know we don’t shout in the house.”
Tom mumbled an apology.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Mary continued, referring to the pillow practicing incident. “It shows you care. I’m sure you’re a wonderful kisser.”
Tom moaned in his hands.
“It’s Potter, isn’t it?” Thomas said, diverting Harry's attention. “That’s your surname, lad?”
“Yes, Sir,” Harry said.
Thomas stroked his chin. “Never heard of any Potters. Are they magical as well?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Tom told us your parents passed away when you were a baby as well,” Mary said with sympathy. “We’re so sorry.”
“Oh, it’s alright,” Harry said. “But thank you.”
Thomas was still eying him. “Who are you living with now?”
“My aunt, uncle and cousin,” Harry said. “My aunt is my mother’s sister.”
Thomas nodded sharply.
Harry heard a distant ding . Mary Riddle jumped to her feet. “Those are the biscuits,” She told them. “I’ll be right back. Harry, are you okay with chocolate?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s fine.”
“Excellent.”
“Mary’s a bit much,” Thomas said. “She means well.”
Harry only smiled awkwardly. What else was he to do?
Tom’s grandmother returned with some deliciously smelling biscuits. They were gooey with melted chocolate chips baked into them. She lifted them on tiny plates, handing a few to him and Tom with a warning that they were still hot.
“So, Harry,” Thomas said.
“Yes, Sir?”
“What are your intentions with our grandson?”
A flash of panic crossed Tom’s eyes. Harry found this to be a curious thing. “We don’t need to talk about that, do we? Obviously, Harry and I are in a committed relationship.”
“Hush, Tom,” Thomas commanded, his eyes lingering on Harry. “I want to hear what the lad has to say. Do you love him?”
It didn’t take long for Harry to respond. “More than anything,” He said honestly.
Tom was taking a bite of the chocolate chip biscuit when Harry said that. He swallowed, face softening.
“Oh, Tommy, honey. You have a little-” Mary gestured to his mouth. Before his lover had the chance to wipe the chocolate stain off himself, she took it upon herself to do so. There was no time to protest. Tom seemed to shrink a little in his chair after that.
“Good,” Thomas nodded at Harry’s words. “My Mary and I might be a little older now but we won’t hesitate to knock you into next week if you hurt our grandson.”
Harry had no doubt they would. He nodded. “Of course, Sir. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Better not.”
“Is Tom a good boyfriend?” Mary asked Harry, taking a sip of her tea. “He’s a lovely boy but he does have a bit of a temper.”
Truthfully, yes, Tom was. But he was also a bastard that Harry loved to rile up. Them dating hadn’t stopped the two of them from being at each other’s throats. But that was probably not the thing to say to Tom’s grandparents. “Oh, he’s great,” Harry said. “We hardly even fight.”
Tom raised his eyebrows at his lie. Just last week they’d bickered because Tom was a wuss about wearing red. He refused in most instances because it reminded him of Gryffindor colors. Harry called him ridiculous. Tom didn’t take too kindly to that but the Gryffindor let him have his tantrum and eventually they reconciled.
“How interesting,” Mary noted. “I wasn’t certain as to how Tom would take to having a significant other. He can be very strong willed, you know.”
Oh, yes. Harry knew. He knew very well.
A thought occurred to him and he kept from smirking. “He was at first. He’s much better now. Honestly, a little too much at times. It’s like he can’t say no to me,” He laughed.
Tom gave him a look that clearly conveyed you’re in for it later .
///
Tom’s room was just as Harry expected it to look; bookshelves full of stacked books, a desk in the corner of the room, a neatly made bed with the majority of the color in the room being green . Harry allowed himself to be pulled down on the bed, Tom’s hands cupping his face, nipping at his lower lip. “I love you,” The Slytherin breathed.
“I love you too....sweetums,” Harry couldn’t help it, he burst into laughter. Tom’s hands dropped and a scowl came onto his face, a blush coming onto his cheeks. He grabbed the nearest pillow and jammed it on his face. Harry was still laughing as he sat beside him.
“It’s not that bad.”
“Says you ,” Tom snarled, taking the pillow off of him. “It’s humiliating and demeaning.”
Harry’s laughter died down and he shook his head. “You’re being dramatic again.”
Tom merely scowled some more, turning on his side that was facing the other way. Harry absentmindedly threaded his hands through his lover’s hair. “It’s not that bad,” He repeated. “At least they love you.”
Tom didn’t respond right away. “Yes. I know.” He sighed. “If only it wasn’t so... overwhelming at times. I’m aware I probably sound ungrateful, especially to you.”
Harry rested some of his body weight on Tom; one arm draped over his middle, nose pressed into his dark curls. “No you don’t,” He said. “I get it. Sort of. It’s okay.”
Tom squeezed his hand, whispering, “Thank you.”
////
“Harry,” Mary was over by a large bookcase, turning to face him, “Would you like to see pictures of Tom when he was a boy?”
Tom, who was sitting on the couch with Harry, sat up straight in alarm. “I’m sure Harry isn’t interested.”
Harry shot Tom a sweet smile, which he knew Tom didn’t buy at all. “Oh, but Harry is interested.”
“No, you aren’t,” Tom said through grit teeth.
“I'd love to see them,” Harry beamed at Mary.
“Oh, good!” She sat next to him and opened up a photo album. She pointed to each one. “Tom was a few months old when this was taken. He was so tiny we had to bathe him in the sink.”
Tom, Harry saw when he spared a glance out of his peripheral vision, looked embarrassed once again.
This next one Tom was sitting in a high chair, his tiny hand grabbing a fistful of cake. “He was very eager to eat,” Mary told Harry. ‘He thought it was the funniest thing when he grabbed that cake.”
She flipped the page; a widely grinning Tom was the first thing they saw, which Harry found to be adorable. He had to be around five. A few front teeth were missing.
Another showed Tom standing proudly next to a snowman.
And another; he was standing on the platform at Kings Cross. It was obvious he didn’t want to be photographed but was doing it for their pleasure only.
Mary flipped through some more pages. Harry was enjoying this. All the while Tom had his face buried in his hands. With all the teasing the Slytherin did to him, this was his chance for some payback.
“Hang on-” Harry put a hand over Mary’s. “Can you go back, please?”
“Sure,” Mary did and went back to the previous page.
Harry’s face sprouted into a grin. Oh, this was too good. It was a photograph of Tom sleeping soundly on his bed. He had his arms firmly wrapped around-
“And you said you didn’t want anything to do with it,” Hary teased, poking Tom on the shoulder.
“What are you on about-” Tom trailed off, looking horrified at the picture.
When they’d started dating, Harry gave Tom a teddy bear as part of his christmas present. It was really meant to be a gag gift. He knew Tom wouldn’t like it at all but he also wouldn’t want to throw away something he’d given him. At the time, his boyfriend had rolled his eyes, promising this would be going in the back of his wardrobe at home at once.
But in the picture, he was holding it as he slept.
Harry smirked.
Tom looked like he didn’t know who he wanted to explode at. “Why...why were you in my room?” He practically whined to his grandmother.
Mary didn’t seem to hear the distress in her grandson’s voice. “I was just checking on you. I couldn’t help but take your picture; look how adorable this is. This needs to be blown up for your wedding!”
Harry snuggled up on Tom's side, kissing his cheek. “If it’ll help, I’ll show you my baby pictures.”
Tom lifted his head back up, glaring at Harry. “You have one picture, you prick,” He seethed.