
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/7876498.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_J.K._Rowling
  Relationship:
      Severus_Snape/Other(s), Voldemort/Other(s)
  Character:
      Harry_Potter, Severus_Snape, Albus_Dumbledore, Voldemort
  Additional Tags:
      Mpreg, First_Time, Drama, Romance, Established_Relationship
  Collections:
      Ink_Stained_Fingers
  Stats:
      Published: 2003-05-28 Chapters: 3/3 Words: 5561
****** Coil of the Serpent ******
by Lady of Arundel [archived by ISF_Archivist]
Summary
     A new look at Voldemort’s first rise and fall from power. What if
     Voldemort’s crusade against the Light was driven not just by a thirst
     for power, but out of the desire to protect those he loved and
     creating a better world for everyone?
Notes
     This story was originally archived at Ink_Stained_Fingers, which was
     created in 2002 as a home for Harry Potter slash fiction. To preserve
     the archive, we began manually importing its works to the AO3 as an
     Open Doors-approved project in January 2015. We e-mailed all authors
     about the move and posted announcements, but may not have reached
     everyone. If you are (or know) this author or artist, please contact
     me using the e-mail address at the Ink_Stained_Fingers_collection
     profile.
     Author's notes: A Voldemort-Severus Snape story unlike any othercome
     on, give it a try. :- The only thing AU is the TR/SS and mpreg bit,
     I’m trying to fit in their perspective into canon events.
***** Coil of the Serpent *****
Coil of the Serpent




  Pairings: TR/SS--but definitely not of the garden variety; implied SB/SS and
  JP/LE
  Disclaimer: The characters and universe herein belong to JKRowling; the plot
  is my own.
  Warnings: Slash, Mpreg, underage, slight s/m, violence, and a romantic, sweet
  Tom Riddle, (personally, that nice Tom Riddle is the most shocking...or,
  well, was...now it's eerily comfortable to write...).
  =============================================================================
  Late February 1980
  =============================================================================
  He awoke to gentle chimes and silken hair, soft skin wrapped in muted morning
  light.
  For a long moment he lay there, his husband curled up against him with his
  head pillowed against his chest, and life consisted of naught but his beloved
  sleeping in his arms and the fresh scent of lilac and lemon pressed into the
  bedclothes. But these were perilous times, and soon the unfinished plans and
  work to be done and worries of the world beyond the bed curtains intruded and
  with great reluctance set about untangling himself from the lithe form
  sharing his bed. Gently he eased himself out from beneath his sleeping
  husband, smiling softly as the younger man sighed sleepily and nuzzled into
  the warmed pillows.
  `Beautiful,' he mused, pushing errant strands of ebony out of the porcelain,
  angelic face of his husband. `So heart-achingly beautiful.'
  A vision of sweet beauty and innocence that had first drawn him to the
  younger wizard nearly a decade ago, but it was the wit and intellect and
  power of the man behind that vision which had at last captured his heart. He
  drew the duvet up around his lover, careful to guard the delicate sleeping
  man against the winter chill, his hand lingering in awe along the gentle
  swell of his beloved's stomach.
  Their child.
  This swell was his child, that was his own flesh and blood growing within the
  man he loved more than words or magic could ever express. He didn't bother to
  fight the goofy grin the thought of his unborn son or daughter inevitably
  brought forth. Little over three months since his beloved had nervously
  broken the news--he was so beautiful when he was nervous--and each time the
  simple thought that he was going to be a father filled him with such joy it
  was like he was learning of their coming arrival for the very first time.
  He showered and dressed quickly before returning to their bed, fastening the
  clasps of his winter cloak and drinking in the sight of his sleeping husband.
  With something of reverence he cautiously sat on the side of the bed, bent,
  and lightly kissed the swell that was his unborn child before sliding up the
  slight form of his husband and repeating the motion with a light brush across
  tender lips. He pulled away and his eyes locked with smiling, sleepy black
  eyes.
  "Oops," he whispered, grinning as he stole another kiss. "Didn't mean to wake
  you, sweetheart."
  "S'all right." The younger wizard stretched languidly and tugged at his
  husband's cloak. He acquiesced--he always did for him--and settled down for a
 deeper kiss, mindful of the distribution of his weight. His husband laughed
  into his mouth, long eyelashes fluttering against his cheek.
  "I'm not going to break, you know."
  "Yes, sweetheart, I know," dashing quick kisses across his beloved's brow, "I
  can't help it. You're both so precious to me, if anything ever happened...
  You never complain about anything, or say when you're in pain, you give me so
  much and you've given me this," his hand caressing his love's stomach, "the
  greatest gift of your love for me, and if I ever were to hurt either of you,
  I don't know if I--"
  "Hush, sweetheart. I understand..." He watched as his husband yawned and
  nestled into the covers, light lines of exhaustion apparent to his practiced
  eye. With a quick flick of his wand--yew and phoenix feather--he charmed the
  duvet to stay warm. Concerned, he lay a hand on his beloved's forehead.
  "Are you feeling alright? No morning sickness?"
  "I'm fine, love, no morning sickness, I'm only tired. Stop fussing or you'll
  be late."
  "Very well." He paused in contemplation as he did each morning, wishing he
  could share his plans for their future with his husband, but he didn't dare
  put his love and his child in that sort of danger. His beloved, nearly asleep
  again, didn't seem to notice the hesitation. "I fear I might be away for
  several days this time, Ministry business, sweetheart. Promise me you won't
  worry?"
  "I'll always worry, but I promise. Honestly, I don't know how you can stand
  working with those incompetents at the Ministry, demanding such long
  hours..."
  He hummed in reply and kissed his husband once more, pushing aside the
  powerful urge to climb back into bed and spend the day holding his love and
  their child. Now more than ever it was vital that his work proceed according
  to plan, now that together he and Severus were bringing a new life into the
  world. The day his beautiful Severus broke the news that he was expecting, he
  had plunged into his work, vowing that his child would be born into a world
  to be proud of, a world that would be at his command. The wizarding world was
  on the verge of its own destruction and only he could put a stop to it. The
  old ways were being forgotten, ancient wisdom corrupted, magical culture
  diluted by muggle-loving old fools--
  He broke his line of thought before he became too angry and lost control of
  his magic--as it still had a tendency to do in moments of fury, despite years
  of training; surely raw magical energy was unhealthy for the baby and his
  husband. Despite his protests to the contrary, Severus was rather frail, the
  pregnancy overly taxing on his system despite his young age of twenty-three.
  Which was why it was increasingly important that he not involve his husband
  in his plans--their plans, truly--until after the child was born and Severus
  was well again, and why he had to be more careful now than ever before, for
  if he put his husband and child in danger, no matter how inadvertently...
  "It's only for the time being, sweetheart. Someone must keep an eye on old
  Dumbledore. Sleep well, Severus. I love you. Owl me the instant anything
  feels wrong, alright?"
  He caressed his love's cheek fondly before at last taking his leave. He
  turned at the doorway once more--Severus was smiling, a hand protectively
  resting on his stomach.
  "Yes Tom, I promise. I love you, too. Hurry home to us."
  =============================================================================
  TBC...
***** Coil of the Serpent - Part II *****
Coil of the Serpent - Part II




  =============================================================================
  Part II
  =============================================================================
  Severus Snape first met the enigmatic Tom Riddle at the end of the summer
  before his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
  Mr. Riddle was a former associate and partner of his father, the honorable
  Judge Thaddeus Snape, and so when his old friend had at last returned home to
  England after years spent on the Continent, the generous Lord Snape had
  hosted a select celebration. The young master of the house was then a boy of
  eleven (and a half!) who had inherited the strong will of his father and the
  haunting beauty of his mother, not to mention the power of both. He was
  terribly excited for at long last, now that he was a Hogwarts boy, he had
  escaped the clutches of the gossipy women gathered in Mother's drawing room
  had been allowed instead to join the older men as they adjourned to father's
  study.
  Severus lingered in the background politely entertaining Father's guests
  while Father periodically allowed him to steal small sips of his brandy. He
  felt inexplicably drawn to one man in particular, a man with bright green
  eyes and wild ebony hair--which vaguely reminded him of James Potter from
  school but didn't annoy him nearly as much. Mr. Riddle exuded an aura of
  power and wisdom matched perhaps only by Headmaster Dumbledore, and Severus
  couldn't help but sit back and simply watch the guest of honor as he worked
  the room. He was so caught up in this mysterious stranger that he barely
  noticed his father's approach, and most certainly missed the calculating
  twinkle in Father's eye as he determined the object of his son's attentions.
  "Perhaps there's a chance..." Thaddeus murmured to himself, and young Severus
  sharply looked up at his father, startled and blushing at being caught
  staring. Lord Snape inwardly scolded himself for speaking aloud and smiled to
  put his son at ease, motioning for him to follow him. Thaddeus crossed the
  room and pressed a hand on Mr. Riddle's shoulder and proudly nodded to his
  child.
  "Tom, I would like to present my son and heir, Severus Adieus Snape."
  Severus colored shyly, looking up at Father's friend through wisps of the
  renowned Snape black hair.
  "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
  Mr. Riddle smiled and extended his hand.
  "Severus, I do believe the pleasure is all mine."
  =============================================================================
  Mr. Riddle had seemed as intrigued by Severus as Severus had been by him. Mr.
  Riddle entertained him with tales of his many travels through Eastern Europe,
  describing the wilds of Romania, the special blend of magic practiced in the
  Baltics, the dark magic of Siberia. Master Snape the younger politely
  answered Mr. Riddle's inquiries to his studies: how proud he was to be sorted
  into Slytherin, how intolerable it was to share classes with the Gryffindors,
  how excited he was to try out for a spot on the house quidditch team (Father
  had bought him the new Comet 220 for that very purpose!), how he thought he
  liked potions class the best and even Professor Bulywig, who was as
  Gryffindor as they came, had grudgingly admitted Severus was quite gifted in
  the field.
  Mr. Riddle had picked up a number of volumes on potions in his travels, some
  of them quite advanced and certainly rare, and perhaps as the younger Master
  Snape progressed in his studies, would he someday be interested in viewing
  Mr. Riddle's private collection?
  Severus was most interested indeed, and Mr. Riddle laughed that perhaps
  Severus ought to have been sorted a Ravenclaw instead. Before the boy grew
  too indignant he chuckled and assured Severus he had been joking, tipping the
  boy's chin with his finger and gravely made him promise never to be ashamed
  of his thirst for knowledge, that it was a great gift indeed and knowledge
  was the key to great power.
  All too quickly it was time for the adults to be left alone. Severus was
  quite reluctant to bring one of the most exciting evenings of his short life
  to a close, and only could be consoled by Mr. Riddle's assurance that he was
  certain they would see much of each other in the future.
  =============================================================================
  Tom Riddle watched as the beautiful, innocent boy allow himself to be led off
  to bed by his mother, young Severus nearly bouncing as he excitedly told the
  lovely Adara of his evening, eyes bright and hands moving wildly. Adara
  smiled at Thaddeus and shepherded her son from the room as the boy
  acquiesced, but not before glancing over his shoulder at Tom with a shy smile
  that made Tom's spine tingle just as the study doors swung closed. A smile
  tugged the corners of his lips and Tom's gaze lingered a moment in the
  direction the boy had taken before he allowed himself to be drawn back into
  the conversation at hand.
  =============================================================================
  The following day, an owl arrived from Mr. Riddle, sending heartfelt thanks
  to his dear friends Thaddeus and Adara for their gracious and warm welcome,
  congratulating them on raising such a brilliant and courteous young man as
  Severus, and asking Thaddeus if he would like to continue their conversation
  from the previous evening at a small gathering Mr. Riddle would be hosting--
  a house warming of sorts--Friday next. A postscript had been added, wishing
  Severus the best of luck at quidditch try-outs next month. After much gentle
  prodding from Mother, Severus sent a brief thank you to Mr. Riddle. He sent
  the note with Nestor, his favorite owl.
  =============================================================================
  Lord and Lady Snape sent their son an owl of congratulations to Slytherin's
  new seeker (one of the youngest in over a century, although not quite the
  youngest) for his success. On the heels of Father's prideful boasts Mother
  hinted that perhaps Mr. Riddle would be interested to hear the good news from
  Severus himself rather than his parents.
  =============================================================================
  They began to exchange letters.
  Severus's first notes were timid and brief; he was painfully afraid he was
  wasting the brilliant and popular Mr. Riddle's time and hoped he wouldn't
  write anything that sounded too stupid or immature for the likes of his
  father's best friend. After all, why would an adult such as the great Mr.
 Riddle want to waste his time writing to a now twelve-year old boy?
  But Mr. Riddle's replies were always kind and flowing and never condescending
  and after a time Severus opened up in his letters and soon they shone of the
  bright, eager boy Mr. Riddle met in the private study of Snape Manor. Their
  letters increased in frequency, filled with stories of the latest prank
  played by the dumb Gryffindors, suggestions of new pranks bound to surprise
  the so-called Marauders, caricatures of professors, Severus's excited reports
  on new spells learned in class, and stories from Mr. Riddle's days at
  Hogwarts--old Dumbledore allowed the oaf Hagrid to stay on as the
  groundskeeper? How appalling!
  Around the transition from third to fourth year Severus's letters once more
  became hesitant and the boy himself closed off. Mr. Riddle quickly became
  concerned and delicately coaxed the matter out of his young friend, assuring
  the boy he had his fullest confidence and that he would think no less of him.
  Shyly the boy began to send him questions about potions and spells he dared
  not ask his professors and frustrations over the limitations on the topics
  discussed in classes. At last Severus drew up the courage to ask directly,
  still fearing the rejection and outrage of his closest confidant.
  Did Mr. Riddle happen to know anything about the Dark Arts?
  Mr. Riddle felt intensely honored the boy trusted him and had at last opened
  up to him, and told Severus so in his next letter. Yes, he happened to be
  quite knowledgeable in the Dark Arts, and would be happy to tutor Severus if
  he so wished. He furthermore assured the boy that his curiosity about the
  Dark Arts was nothing to be ashamed of--had he not told him long ago that
  knowledge was power?--and that in fact in learning the Dark Arts he would be
  continuing a proud Snape family tradition. He could practically read the
  crimson blush and excitement in the boy's reply, ever the Ravenclaw in
  Slytherin snake skin.
  This prompted a long letter from Father, heavily warded, congratulating him
  on his interest in true magic and detailing the lesser-known aspects of the
  Snape family history. Father assured his son he knew this must all be
  overwhelming for the boy and expected nothing from him, explaining that he
  and Mother had decided not to actively raise him by the Dark Arts until he
  was old enough to truly understand them. To embrace the Dark Arts was a life-
  changing decision and not one to be taken lightly, and he and Mother had
  wanted Severus to make the decision himself and not be forced into it. Only
  conscious acceptance, Father wrote, gave the Dark Arts true power. "Knowledge
  and will are the true keys to power and the self, my son. Remember that
  always."
  Severus's mind made up, Mr. Riddle began to send the boy works on the Dark
  Arts (under concealment, of course); some the boy realized he recognized from
  Father's private library but others were deliciously foreign to him. He read
  them all furiously, sending his Father and Mr. Riddle long scrolls of
  comments and observations and questions, and he quickly excelled at his
  newest subject as did he in all his regular courses.
  In the midterm report sent home to parents, Defense Against the Dark Arts
  Professor Wilkes commented on Severus's increased interest and attention in
  class (and, of course, his standard top marks), adding that he looked forward
  to seeing Thaddeus and Tom that following Saturday night.
  =============================================================================
  Mr. Riddle was a frequent visitor to Snape Manor, particularly whenever
  Severus returned home for school holidays, invariably setting aside time to
  spend with his favorite protg. Thaddeus had entrusted his son's
  extracurricular education in his dear friend's hand--after all, who was more
  qualified to teach his son than the rising Dark Lord? Not that Lord and Lady
  Snape, nor Mr. Riddle, felt it was quite time to share that sort of
  information with the boy.
  Severus and Mr. Riddle spent summer holidays pouring over Dark texts, playing
  quidditch, or experimenting in the Snape potions lab. Long hours were devoted
  to simply wandering the grounds and talking, Severus picking out the tree he
  had fallen from when he was six and pointing to the scar from the resulting
  broken arm and sharing other childhood adventures, Mr. Riddle teaching
  Severus the names of plants that they passed and their uses for both Light
  and Dark. On one such walk Mr. Riddle insisted that Severus call him Tom when
  they were alone, and Severus in return implored him to promise that they
  would always be the best of friends. Tom had smiled and ruffled the beautiful
  boy's hair, promising him they would be together forever.
  =============================================================================
  Early on in fifth year, after several rather awkward encounters in the girls'
  dormitories of Slytherin (and Gryffindor), and one remarkably more pleasant
  experiment with Lucius, Severus at last admitted to himself that sexually he
  much preferred the male form.
  Homosexuality was not the least bit unusual or considered untoward in the
  wizarding world, yet the Snape heir found himself reluctant to engage in any
  serious entanglements beyond quick snogs in the team locker room. As one of
  the princes of Slytherin and the heir of his mother's charms he certainly had
  no shortage of offers from boys or girls alike, but Severus was never really
  interested. Instead of sneaking off to the Astronomy Tower Severus would
  wander off to the potions lab he had set up with Professor Bulywig's
  permission (grudging, of course), preoccupied more with resolving the
  instability of his latest invention than returning the increasingly forward
  advances of that slag Sirius Black.
  =============================================================================
  Mr. Riddle extended an invitation to the younger Master Snape to join him for
  the last week of Christmas break at Salazar's Fen, his ancestral home on his
  mother's side. Tom simultaneously wrote Thaddeus and Adara reporting on their
  son's magical progress, suggesting that Severus had advanced enough for him
  to make good on his promise given years prior to show his favorite student
  his book collection. Severus had hurriedly asked Mother and Father for
  permission, breathless and with invitation still in hand. They had of course
  consented and Severus had raced off to owl Tom to accept. Severus was so
  excited that he completely missed the knowing smile shared between the Lord
  and Lady Snape at their son's slip of the tongue when he begged to be allowed
  to visit "Tom."
  =============================================================================
  That New Year's Eve, Tom and Severus shared their first kiss, chaste and
  unhurried and sweet, over an Albanian treatise on renacius serum in the
  library of Salazar's Fen.
  =============================================================================
  TBC...
  =============================================================================
***** Coil of the Serpent - Part III *****
Coil of the Serpent - Part III




  =============================================================================
  Part III
  =============================================================================
  For the rest of Severus's holiday, they did little more than kiss.
  The two spent every waking moment together, separating only at night to
  retreat to the separate bedrooms Tom insisted they keep, much to the nearly-
  turned-fifteen year old's dismay. When they weren't pouring over books from
  the library or discussing magical theory they would simply sit and hold each
  other, whispering and sharing kisses for long hours. The night before Severus
  was due back at Hogwarts they spent in Tom's study reading, the older man
  sitting in an armchair with Severus snuggled against him. Before long the
  book was cast aside and Severus had turned and straddled Tom's lap, running
  his hands through the older man's messy black hair.
  The beautiful boy trailed messy kisses up his neck, grinding his hips against
  Tom's and making the older man gasp. He could feel the boy's hardness burning
  against his hip through the layers and yards of cloth between them and
  undoubtedly Severus could feel his own aching erection. Summoning all his
  strength he closed his hands over the small, nibble ones working open the
  clasps of his robe. Severus whimpered, pressing his body against the older
  wizard's and they both moaned at the contact.
  "Please, I want to touch you, I need you to touch me," Severus gasped between
  heated kisses, struggling in vain to continue his task of undressing Tom.
  "I've never wanted anything, anyone this much...take me to your bed,
  please...I want you..." Tom's heart fluttered and swelled but nevertheless he
  pulled away the sweet, beautiful, tempting hands and sought to console the
  boy with a passionate kiss. Breathless he pulled away, lightly running his
  hands down the boy's back, letting them settle on his hips.
  "I know, sweetheart. Which is precisely why we can't." Severus stiffened and
  tried to move away from him but Tom pulled him back, desperately trying to
  kiss away the fear and rejection in the boy's eyes. He pressed his forehead
  to the boy's, drowning in onyx.
  "I care for you too much to ruin this by rushing, sweetheart. You're still so
  young, and I'm so much older..." he silenced Severus's protests with another
  kiss, the boy squirming in his lap as Tom plundered the sweet mouth. "I know,
  sweetheart, I know. I just don't want you to do anything that you'll regret."
  "I won't," Severus rested his head on Tom's shoulder, voice breathless and
  rough in his ear. "I swear I won't regret it. Ever." To accentuate his point
  he thrust his hips, panting into the older man's neck.
  "I know you believe that, Severus, but I don't want to hurt you. I couldn't
  bear for you to hate me." The boy continued to grind himself into the older
  man's hip, and Tom could not help himself but slide his hands lower onto the
  firm ass, evoking a groan.
  "I won't, ever...oh gods...please...please, Tom...take me, I need to feel
  you...don't you want me?" The wild thrusts continued and quickened in pace as
  the boy begged, voice breaking in self-doubt.
  "Sweet Merlin...Yes, I want you, to claim you" Tom claimed the bruised lips
  and allowed himself to rock against the firm body in his lap. "I want you so,
  so much...which is why I could never hurt you, sweetheart, why we can't...you
  don't know how long I've watched you, imagined you..."
  Severus moaned and threw back his head, eyelids heavy with arousal and lips
  parted as he desperately rubbed his aching arousal against his would-be
  lover. Tom rocked and kissed the angel in his lap, the boy's moans going
  straight to the groin that had long-ago betrayed him, still amazed the object
  of his desires wanted him so. He slid a hand from the sweet, rocking arse in
  between their bodies and cupped Severus's straining cock through his robes
  and clothing. Severus cried out and thrust erratically against Tom's teasing
  hand.
  "Oh yes, please...feels so...oh gods..."
  "Such a vocal little one," he purred in Severus's ear.
  "Yes...oh, harder...only for...you, yes Tom...please..." Tom kissed Severus
  sweetly, stroking and squeezing the boy through his robes, knowing he
  wouldn't last long.
  "Hush, sweetheart, it's alright. Come for me, Severus. Come for me..."
  Severus thrust harder into Tom's hand, completely lost in his lust. It was
  the most mesmerizing sight Tom had ever seen.
  "...please, gods, oh....oh....yes, almost...going to...love you, love you,
  love you....oh, TOM!" Severus's neck snapped back and his back arched, the
  sweet young body strung taught and shuddering before collapsing bonelessly
  into the older wizard. Tom pulled his hand away and rubbed the boy's back
  soothingly.
  "There, it's alright, I have you...you're so beautiful, sweetheart...so
  beautiful when you come," he cooed into Severus's ear as he held the slight
  form, ignoring his own need. "Rest now, sweetheart ..."
  They sat in silence, Severus curled in his lap, until at long last the boy
  shifted against him and sleepy black eyes looked up into his own. Severus
  beamed.
  "That was bloody brilliant!" Tom chuckled and squeezed him tight. Severus
  shifted again and blushed at the hardness pressing into his stomach. "You
  didn't...do you want me to...if you want to...?" Tom cast a quick cleaning
  and drying spell on Severus before scooping the boy up in his arms.
  "No, sweetheart, not tonight." Tom swiftly carried the boy to Severus's
  bedroom and gently lay the boy, already half asleep in his arms, on the bed,
  kissing his brow and tucking him in. He knew what he felt for the boy was
  true, and if Severus could possibly feel the same for him...Tom smiled,
  extinguishing the light and easing the door closed. He had waited this long--
  almost four years and countless lifetimes past--so he could wait a bit
  longer, for he had long ago promised the boy forever, a promise he intended
  to keep.
  =============================================================================
  "--evil rising...swear I'm not lying...as if I would make something like this
  up..."
  As the voices approached, Severus hastily stashed the letter he had been
  writing--yet another rather graphic protest to the agonizingly slow pace at
  which Tom insisted their budding relationship proceed--between the pages of
  one of the books stacked on his desk. He tipped his chair into the shadow of
  the alcove and pretended to read his potions text, cheeks tinted red and text
  in his lap, conveniently concealing the semi-aroused state his letter writing
  had left him in.
  "...heard it from my own dad, I did! Works for the Ministry itself!"
  "Why would he tell you of all peo--"
 The pair ducked down one of the side aisles, but not before Severus caught a
  glimpse of Weasley-red hair and freckles--the Gryffindor first year, no
  doubt. What was his name, Ben, Bob, Bill, or something?
  "Dad sent me a letter, warning me to be extra careful. Said there's been an
  increase in Dark activity and that the Dark wizards have been gathering."
  "But the Daily Prophet hasn't--" The other boy interrupted loudly.
  "Shh!" hissed Bill, and Severus had to strain to hear as the pair moved away
  from his alcove. "Dad didn't quite say this, but I think that stuff has
  already happened, terrible things that the Ministry has been forcing the
  Prophet to keep quiet. He said that there's word of a new..."
  The rest of the sentence was lost as Bill and the other first year moved out
  of Severus's hearing. A new gathering of the Dark wizards? Severus swallowed
  uneasily, his stomach a conflicting tumble of excitement and apprehension.
  Rumors of a growing gathering and the rise of a new Dark Lord had flowed
  throughout Slytherin House since his own second or third year and Severus had
  come to pay little attention to the hushed whispers, but to hear the same
  rumors from another house, and Gryffindor no less...He crossed his arms,
  teeth absently worrying at his lip.
  A new Dark Lord.
  Severus loved the Dark Arts. The casting of his first Dark spell had been
  like the discovery of a part of himself that he hadn't even known he had been
  missing. In a way, it was precisely that. He had found his true art and had
  excelled in it, knew it was in his very blood. Dark Magic was not itself bad-
  -it was simply a different approach and field of the Magical Arts, the one
  more often misused in the name of evil. It was the wizard, and not the magic
  itself, that was evil. After all, to know how to cast the Cruciatus was one
  thing, to actually use it was quite another.
  He shivered, drawing his robe tighter around him. Severus had read of things-
  -in History of Magic, tutoring sessions with Tom, or otherwise--of the reign
  of Grindelwald, the last Dark Lord, when wizards had committed terrible,
  horrific crimes allegedly in the name of the Dark Arts. It both angered him
  and made him want to retch. But if these new rumors were true, Father or Tom
  surely would have told him; since neither had, the rumors were probably only
  brazen conjecture.
  Thus resolved, he pushed the matter completely from his mind and resumed
  writing his love letter.
  =============================================================================
  The summer after fifth year was much like the summers before. Tom had decided
  to hold off any more visits to Salazar's Fen for the near future, dryly
  noting over dinner that not much tutoring or revising had been accomplished
  there over Christmas break. Tutoring sessions resumed, therefore, at Snape
  Manor and once more Tom became a near constant guest of Lord and Lady Snape.
  Severus thought he would go mad from lust and sexual frustration.
  The times he did manage to corner Tom all to himself the older wizard allowed
  nothing more than tender kisses and chaste touches, telling Severus he
  refused to repay the courtesy of his best friend by committing lurid sexual
  acts with his underage son under his own roof. Even something as relatively
  innocent as their last night together during holidays was set off limits.
  "Besides, sweetheart," Tom had winked, caressing Severus's flushed cheek with
  the back of his hand. "You underestimate the pleasure of a simple kiss.
  Perhaps I should demonstrate..."
  Severus had reluctantly agreed to Tom's terms, contenting himself with long
  talks, longer looks, and stolen kisses with Tom during the day and furious
  bouts of self-pleasuring and fantasies alone in his bed at night. It wasn't
  so bad, after all. For if anything a greater emotional intimacy had been bred
  between them, and probably because of it Severus had made his discovery.
  It happened one August evening over dinner.
  Severus had been fondly watching Tom converse with Father, admiring the grace
  of how Tom held his wine glass, smiling wryly at the infuriatingly-incorrect
  way Tom held his knife when cutting his food, and feeling simply contented by
  Tom's nearness when it struck him--he was in love with Tom Riddle.
  It wasn't just infatuation mistaken by a schoolboy for love, but it was real
  love. It wasn't just desire or lust. He didn't merely like Tom, didn't only
  admire him, trust him, respect him, and believe in him. It was all those
  things and something more, a completion even greater than the one he had felt
  when he had discovered the Dark Arts. Being with Tom made him happier than
  could anything else. He felt safer with Tom than with anyone else bar, maybe,
  his parents. He loved Tom for the way he held his wine glass and despite the
  irritating way Tom held his knife. In love with him because of the irritating
  way Tom held his knife. He was really, truly in love.
  Severus smiled so brightly that he momentarily distracted Tom and Thaddeus
  from their heated discussion. Tom gave him a quick smile, one more apparent
  in his eyes than his mouth, before turning back to Father.
  And maybe, just maybe, Tom was in love with him, too.
  =============================================================================
  Severus decided to keep his revelation to himself for the time being and gave
  up any attempts to convince Tom to rethink their summer arrangement. Severus
  rightly interpreted Tom's insistence that they wait to mean that the older
  wizard really cared for him rather than the physical pleasure he could offer
  the older man. Perhaps he had intended that Severus sort out his feelings
  without the further complication of sex. Severus had promised Tom he'd never
  regret anything they might do together, but it was only know that he knew he
  really meant it. He would wait patiently until Tom would take him to his bed,
  it would be worth it.
  =============================================================================
  "Promise me you'll write?"
  "Haven't I always?"
  "I know, I just...I'll miss you."
  "Sweet, sentimental Severus." Tom chuckled at Severus's mock scowl, and swung
  his arm over the boy's shoulders. "I'll miss you, too. Even more, I dare say,
  without adventures and studies to distract me."
  "Severus!" Adara called. His parents had already gone out to the car, leaving
  Tom and Severus behind in the entrance hall. "We must leave for London now or
  you'll miss the train!"
  Severus smiled apologetically at Tom before standing on his toes and meeting
  the older wizard's lips for a kiss. Tom slid his arms around the boy's waist,
  deepening the kiss until they broke apart breathless. The boy pressed his
  reddened lips against Tom's ear.
  "I'm glad we waited this summer. I'll wait as long as you want me to, `cause
  I know now that I really love you." Severus pulled back, blushing, and raced
  out the front doors to the car, leaving a stunned but smiling Tom Riddle
  alone in his wake.
  =============================================================================
  TBC...
  =============================================================================
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