Draco blinked at Harry with his mouth hanging open.

          "Y-You, what?" Draco inquired. "You want to be adopted by the Dark Lord? Why?"

          "Because I want to be and I know if I'm adopted by Severus, Dumbledore would try to intervene."

          "But the Dark Lord, Harry? Why not just a death eater?"

          "Why are you so scared?" Harry challenged and Draco shook his head swallowing a bit.

          "I'm not. Just surprised." He answered. He let go of Harry's hand and gently stroked his face. "It's worth a shot. But don't you think you'll be taken out of school? He'll want to keep you safe."

          "Then so be it." Harry shrugged and Draco looked crestfallen. 

          "What about us?"

          "What about us." Harry repeated. "We'll still be together, I'm not going anywhere without you." Harry leaned in and rubbed his nose against his. "Plus, I'm sure old moldy Voldy will get Hogwarts shut down for the rest of the year anyway. Okay?"

          "Are you sure you wanna do this?"

          "It's the only way to bring the old manipulative headmaster down for good." Harry told his boyfriend causing Draco to nod slowly.

          "I'll send Severus an owl explaining the situation. I am sure he can get us off of the grounds and cover for us long enough to get you adopted." Draco nodded but then paused. "What about your relatives?"

"What about them?"

"They're your guardians." Draco pointed out and Harry bobbed his head from side to side.
           "Well, you were appointed my legal guardian which automatically renounces their guardianship."

          "I think that was only when you're a child though."

          "On the contrary. I do remember Dumbledore saying that I was going to be put in the care of the Dursley's before Severus stepped in and appointed you. Dumbledore then indirectly renounced his "magical guardianship" over me when he said you would be my new guardian. He never specified until when." Harry explained and Draco blinked at him. "What?"

          "Damn Harry, I think you need to be resorted into Ravenclaw." Draco blurted causing Harry to giggle. He leaned in and kissed Draco's lips.

          "Come on write to Severus, I want a proper cuddle." He mumbled against Draco's lips. Draco grinned and pecked Harry one more time before getting out of bed.

          He quickly wrote to Severus explaining the situation and everything that Harry explained to him about guardianship. He sent it and then curled up to Harry. He laid his head on Harry's chest as the other boy ran his fingers through his hair.

          "Goodnight baby." Harry murmured with a yawn. Draco grinned sleepily and yawned.

          "Goodnight sweet boy."

          The next morning sought the two teenage boys rushing around. Severus had answered them later that night telling them that they could floo via his chambers but only before breakfast was to be served.

          They had woken up about ten minutes before that time so they did their best to dress and get ready for the day. They sprinted out of their chambers and all the way to the dungeons. They got there five minutes late and once they stepped in Severus glared at them.

          "We're late, we know." Draco yawned. "Over slept."

          "I don't care of the reasoning. He is expecting you any minute. I have briefed him on what the meeting is about, you just have to talk to him." Severus sneered. The two teens nodded and hopped in the floo before thanking him and flooing away.

          They landed roughly in the office of Tom Riddle. They tumbled and landed on the ground with Harry on top of Draco. A blush crept on both of their cheeks and Harry gently lifted himself off of the boy.

          "Sorry." He muttered.

          "It's okay." Draco grinned and sat up.

Someone cleared their throat causing the boys to snap their heads to the source. Tom Riddle sat his desk, one eyebrow raised, and an amused smirk on his face.

          "Good morning." He nodded to them.     

          "Good morning my lord." Draco bowed as Harry just nodded his head.

          "What has you calling?" He asked. "Severus explained you wanted to ask me a question. Potter, it's very nice to see you as your old self."

          "Thank you Tom." He said. "May I have a seat?" He asked and Tom nodded so Harry sat down as did Draco. "I wanted to ask you something very important."

          "Yes?" He questioned.

          "I want you to adopt me."  Harry spoke. If Tom Riddle was surprised by the question, he didn't let it show. He just stared at Harry before nodding slowly.

          "Adopt you? As in you'll be my ward?" He questioned and Harry nodded his head. "Why?"
           "I don't want to be a pawn anymore. I'm tired of Dumbledore manipulating me into getting what he wants. First he'll take down you, then me." Harry explained. "Because after you, I'll be one of the most power wizards in the world."

          "Very true. He is just where he is because of the power he craves but why me?"
           "Dumbledore fears you the most." Tom nodded and then looked at to Draco.

          "Young Malfoy, would you mind leaving Harry and I to ourselves? I believe your parents are in the meeting area if you'd like to see them." He told Draco who glanced at Harry who gave him a nod. Draco kissed his head causing the other boy to scrunch up his nose and then he left the room.

          "You and he seem to be a bit overly friendly." Tom mentioned.

          "We decided to be a couple. When I was fourteen, I developed the biggest crush on him and practically begged him to be with me. Then we agreed to be with me when I aged back to 16. So here we are." Harry grinned and Tom smirked.

          "Very well. Back to being adopted, you are aware of what I stand for, correct?"

          "Blood pureness." He nodded. "I think it's a fine idea."

          "Your mother was a muggle born."

          "Yes I'm aware. You're all for blood pureness but I do believe there is a way to keep muggles separate from wizards."

          "What is that?" Tom asked.

          "First, I need to know something." Harry intervened and Tom nodded. "Who imperialized you to kill my family?" Harry asked and this time Tom showed emotion. He looked horrified and gulped.

          "Do you really wanna know?" He asked. "The answer may hurt you."

          "I need to know. Also, all the other times you hurt me, it was because of the light, correct?" He asked and Tom nodded. "Okay, tell me."

          "Remus Lupin." He told Harry.

          His whole world slowed down when he heard the name. Remus Lupin, someone he cared for so deeply, killed his parents.

          "Lupin? T-That can't be."

          "Why do you think he was never around when you were a child? Or bothered to clear Black's name?" He questioned and Harry had to swallow hard before continuing.

          "Okay." He took a shuddering breath. "And Sirius was completely innocent? He never hurt anyone?"

          "He didn't mean to if he did. Bellatrix was aiming for Lupin but Black got in the way, we're terribly sorry."

          "It doesn't matter anymore." He shrugged.  "So yes or no? Will you adopt me?" Harry asked and Tom took a breath.

          "Yes I will adopt you." He said and Harry grinned. "Now all we need to do is the paperwork, Young Malfoy need to renounce his guardianship over you, correct?"

          "Yes. We can get him here plus I do believe you have an inside with the ministry, we can get this done in less than an hour."

          "Perfect, let's find him."

          They both got up and went to the meeting area. Draco was there talking to his parents but stopped once he saw the dejected look on Harry's face. He asked for a moment alone with Draco and then pulled him out of the room.

          He broke down then telling Draco who really killed his parents. Draco held Harry and let him cry himself out. Despite the pain he was feeling, Draco surely knew how to make him calm.

          When they returned, they were able to the adoption process right there with an insider from the ministry, Draco and Tom Riddle. A few drops of blood needed to be given which was not an issue. Within a half an hour, Harry Potter became Harry Riddle.

~~~

          They didn't return back to Hogwarts until lunch where they went to the Great Hall.  Neville and Blaise instantaneously knew something was off and bombarded them with questions.

          "Where have you been?" Blaise whispered.

          "Getting adopted. How were classes?" Harry told them. It took several seconds for them to react to Harry's news.

          "What?" They yelled in unison.

          "Shh." Draco whispered. "Harry decided that the only way to get anything done, meaning our problem with the old man, he'd need to be adopted by the Dark Lord." Draco explained as the other two just stared at them.

          "Seriously?"

          "Yes." Harry agreed. "I'll be going there for the Easter hols." What he wasn't expecting was the two of them to hug him. They did and pressed a kiss to his head.

          "That's wonderful Harry!" They rejoiced. "You have a father now! A real one who will take care of you."  Harry grinned.

          "Yes I do and I'm actually really happy about it. Who thought that that would ever happen? Me excited about being adopted by the dark lord?"
           "Well I'm happy for you Harry." Neville grinned. "In five months, we're both gonna have the parents we deserve." Harry grinned and then leaned his head onto Draco's shoulder.

          "You alright?" Draco whispered into Harry's ear. Harry frowned at the question for he had forgotten about the whole thing.

          "I'm devastated actually." He admitted. "H-he betrayed me. Sat there and pretended he loved my family but never really did." Harry's eyes started to fill up so he covered his face into Draco's shoulder. Draco ran his fingers through Harry's hair trying to lull him as he felt tears start to wet his shirt. He looked at Blaise and Neville who looked on with concern. He gave him a look that said later and tried to console his hysterical boyfriend.

          He pulled him out of the Great Hall and to the bathroom which was empty allowing Harry to cry into his neck.

          "You know, it's harder for you to cry on me now that you're taller." Draco pointed out and Harry gave a teary chuckle. He pulled away from Draco's neck and Draco took the opportunity to wipe his eyes.

          "Do me favor." Harry pleaded.

          "Anything." Draco rubbed the back of Harry's hand with his thumb.

          "No matter how much I want to, don't let me kill him." Harry said and Draco's thumb stilled. He looked at Harry very intently. Studying his features which were hard but softened by the tears. His eyes were serious and it was then when Draco realized his boyfriend was capable of anything. Draco leaned in and pressed a kiss against his lips. He nodded into the kiss and pulled away placing his forehead against the other's.

          "I promise."