An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Summer after the traumatic end of the Triwizard Tournament, instead of Harry Potter getting visions of the latest evil plot from the Dark Lord, it is Voldemort who gets visions of The-Boy-Who-Livedâs childhood.
And theyâre not pleasant.
When Newt accepted to become one of Harry Potter's secret guard as a favor to Albus Dumbledore, he hadn't anticipated being faced with a choice concerning the welfare and safety of a child: obey Albus Dumbledore's orders or stay at Voldemort's side to protect Harry.
Though difficult, the right choice was clear.
âWhatâs wrong?â asked Harry. âWhyâre you looking so serious?â
The prominent Adamâs apple in Voldemortâs throat contracted. Newt waved the magic in the air away and took a seat next to Harry.
Voldemort nodded. âIt is. Harryââ His grip on Harryâs knees flexed. âI have sworn to you that you will never return to your muggle relatives, you know this, correct?â
Harry slowly straightened in his seat. âYes, sir,â he said.
âAre you prepared to aid me in securing this?â
âI need your consent,â whispered Voldemort. âYou must choose whether or not youâll allow yourself to be bound to your enemy.â
Harry tilted his head. âI donât follow.â
âThe only way I can ensure you never return to your relatives is⌠is toâŚâ Voldemort shifted his weight; his lips pressed together briefly. âI must adopt you.â
âBut your approval of this is required.â
Harry stared at him, at this man kneeling on the floor in front of himâhang on, Voldemort wasâŚÂ kneeling. Harryâs eyes drifted downwards; his gaze traced the line of the manâs arm to his wrist to his hand to the pale fingers as they curled into his trousers.
I⌠I misheard him, didnât I?
Voldemort cleared his throat. âI realize that I am wholly unworthy to ask this of you,â he said in a low tone. âI am the one who put you in this position in the first place. There are others more adept to handling a child in their care; however, I will protect you. I have sworn this to you and I have zero intention of going back on my word.â
Heâs⌠Heâs having me on, isnât he? Is he serious? He canât beâŚ
âIs this real?â whispered Harry. He rubbed at his eyes, quickly wiping away the tears in the corners. âIs this real?â
A hand rested on his leg. âPoppet, look at me.â Harry lowered his hands and glanced over at Newt. âYes, itâs real. Weâd like to adopt you, if youâll have us.â
âHang on, you, too?â asked Harry. âYouâre bothâŚâ
âBoth of us,â said Voldemort, nodding. âA single parent adopting a child is nigh impossible. This is why we would both adopt you.â
Bloody hell, what is even happening?
âAdopting you is the only way to protect you. Dumbledore is trying everything he can to send you back and I refuse to allow that.â
âIf I say yes, you both adopt me and thenâŚâ
And then what? Were Voldemort and Newt going to be his parents or guardians? Was there a difference? What did it mean?
Am I really considering this?
Sure, the Dursleys are really bad, but does that mean I shouldâŚ
He should go back to the Dursleys. He should go back to them and beg their forgiveness and then maybe theyâd accept him. Going back was the right thing, right? Staying with Voldemort, of all people, had to be the wrong choice.
But he couldnât go back. He couldnât do that. Every part of his soul resisted the idea. Crazy as this wasâŚÂ I rather stay with Voldemort than go back to the life I had before.
âI wonât have to go back to the Dursleys, right?â asked Harry softly. âIf you adopt me, Dumbledore canât make me go back, right?â
The unknown was terrifying. Though Voldemort had proven himself thus far, he could always change his mind. He could always go back to being the villain of Harryâs story and thereâd be nothing he could do to stop the man.
Yet⌠it was a risk Harry was willing to make.
He didnât want to leave this place. If there was even the tiniest of chances that this was all real, that Voldemort had changed, Harry wanted to see it through.
âWhether you agree or not, that does not change the fact that I will never allow you to return to such disgusting muggles who dared to lay a hand on a magical child.â
Newt wrapped an arm around Harryâs shoulders and tugged him into a hug. âAdopting you makes it easier, legally speaking. But if you donât want this, then we will still protect you from Albus.â
God, I want this so much.