Chapter Text
The Gaunts and the Potters were unlikely friends. Both purebloods, sure, but both run in different circles. Still, a few hundred years ago, the Felix Potter came to the aid of one Gregory Gaunt that saved his life. Thus, a blood pact (so to speak) that lasted generations was made. It was an agreement stating that each Potter and Gaunt can call in one unbreakable favor if one family seeks the aid of another. Through the years, the Potters and Gaunts have had a mutually beneficial relationship and have grown to trust one another as friends. Though the Gaunts were particularly more proper than the Potters and would not be seen coddling in public, everyone knew of the friendship between the two families. They were both powerful families in their own right and in their own circles, so nobody would dare to touch the two in fear of the other.
That is, until Merope Gaunt got pregnant from a muggle and borne a son. Merope and her father, Marvolo Gaunt, loved the little boy with raven hair. She decided to name him Tom Marvolo Gaunt after his father and grandfather. She vowed to keep him safe and well-loved as her life permitted it.
But tragedy struck. A group of blood supremacists got together and shared their dismay and disgust over the Gaunt’s new addition. They plotted to kill off Merope for her crimes of tainting the pureness of Slytherin’s descendants, and kill little Tom. They planned to do so when the Gaunt patriarch was away on business, and then they struck.
Along the way, Marvolo was made aware of the plan and rushed home, heart pounding in his head. He arrived in his estate, finding his enemies trapped by his wards and unable to leave by any means, and his daughter, lying in the ground in her own blood, dead. His grandson, missing.
Marvolo cried out in grief and tortured his enemies, some of which were his own friends. They felt righteous in their murder, until Marvolo had each and every single one of them rightfully sent to their deaths.
Marvolo looked for his grandson, and found Tom in a room protected with his mother’s strongest enchantments, refusing to let anyone who has any ill will and harmful intentions inside. Marvolo, filled with nothing but protectiveness and grief, bypassed the enchantments with ease and cradled his grandson close to his chest, vowing to do everything he can to protect the little bundle in his arms.
Marvolo Sr., grieving the loss of his daughter and fearing for his new grandson’s life, saw the impending demise of his bloodline.
With Little Tom in his arms, he went to the Potter estate to call in his favor to Fleamont Potter, the Potter patriarch. He was welcomed into their home, the Potters immediately rushing to his side after seeing his grief-stricken face. He was sat in the living room, surrounded by Fleamont and his wife, Euphemia, as well as his son and daughter-in-law, James and Lily. Fleamont placed his hand on Marvolo’s shoulder and asked him what happened. Marvolo tightened his hold on his grandson and told them what happened in a hushed whisper. Gasps in the room were heard and the grip on Marvolo’s shoulder tightened.
He knew of the Potter’s connection to Ignatius Peverell and the unique protection of their familial blood. He also knew that this protection was extended to new members of the family. So, with a determined but anguished face, he begged his friend to make a marriage bond with his Tom and whatever grandchild Fleamont has in the future. He turned to James and Lily and pleaded for their protection.
With their kind hearts, the Potters agreed and Marvolo vowed his eternal gratefulness to the Potters. 2 years later, the two families were once again tied in magic. And Tom Gaunt and Harry Potter was sealed in destiny.
———
Harry is five years old to Tom’s 7. Their parents and grandparents watch as Harry follows Tom around like a little duckling, almost tripping over himself as he shows Tom another one of his garden finds. Interestingly, Tom never lets himself be too far from Harry.
As they watched the two grow up, Marvolo and Harry’s family agreed not to tell the two until Tom was of age, giving them a chance to fall in love naturally, or at least build a trust between the two. As Marvolo watches Tom worryingly help Harry up when he falls down, he thinks it was only a matter of time.
Tom, despite being cold and a bit standoffish to others, always had a certain warmth when it came to Harry. Hewas protective of Harry and Harry revelled over the fact that only he could make Tom laugh.
When Harry was nine, he was having a sleepover over at Tom’s when Tom got his Hogwarts acceptance letter. He got scared that Tom would be leaving him and begged Tom not to come. It was their biggest fight at the time with Harry screaming at Tom that he hates him. Later that night, Harry went to Tom’s room and cried saying he didn’t mean it and he didn’t hate Tom and he just didn’t want Tom to leave Harry. Tom carried the younger boy to his bed and lied down next to him. Harry burrowed his face into Tom’s neck and continued crying. Tom pulled Harry close to him and patted his head, told him he would never leave him.
Harry looked up with tear-stained eyes, face blotchy from crying. “You promise?”
Tom gave Harry one of his genuine smiles.
“I promise.” he said, planting a kiss on Harry’s forehead.
Harry slept soundly that night, in the arms of Tom.
When it was Harry’s time to go to Hogwarts, Harry was so excited to be able to be with his Tom. Tom was in Slytherin and Harry was sorted in Gryffindor, but the two didn’t let the house rivalries to get in the way with their friendship. It was a well-known truth anyway that the Gaunts and the Potters were good friends.
Tom was always good to him. And Harry soon came to realize his own feelings. He was 13 years old, high above the ground on his broom looking for the snitch, when he saw Tom in the stands, wearing Gryffindor colors despite his disinterest in Quidditch and the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, in an obvious support to him. And he realized he loved the older boy with all his heart.
All changed when they both learned of their predestined marriage on Tom’s 17th birthday. Tom’s grandfather and Harry’s parents sat them down and finally told them the story of Tom’s mother. Harry held Tom’s hand throughout, Tom’s grip tightening as the story went further along. Harry was crying by the end, feeling for the love of his life. He removed his hand from Tom’s grip so the other wouldn’t feel the way he was shaking. He wanted to be strong for his friend, not weak like he always was. He didn’t notice the way Tom’s hand twitched as if reaching out to his hand when he pulled away.
Harry looked at Tom and his heart broke once again at the grief in his friend’s face. Tom clenched his fist in his lap and left without saying a word.
Nobody heard of Tom that night. Harry waited in Tom’s room all night, until he fell asleep in his worry. Early into the morning, Harry was startled awake with Tom’s noisy arrival. Harry squinted at Tom’s stumbling form and thought something was amiss.
“Tom?” asks Harry, hesitantly. “Are you alright?”
Tom grunts in response. Harry watches as Tom stumbles into bed and choked on the strong smell of alcohol and… was that women’s perfume?
Heart beating hard, Harry reached for the light and gasped when he saw Tom’s form illuminated. He looked disheveled, his usually proper hair unkempt and his clothes wrinkled. But what devastated Harry was the lipstick all over Tom’s neck.
Harry’s heart broke at the sight. The first night that they learned about their marriage, and Tom already found another. Did he hate being engaged to Harry that much?
Harry held in his tears and got out of bed. He was shaking all over, but he refused to break down now. He gathered his stuff and left the room. If he had looked back once, he would have seen the tears running down Tom’s face, the silent ‘Harry’ still in his lips.
——
Harry’s 5th year at Hogwarts was nothing like the past years. Tom ignored him and Harry avoided the other. The student body and the professors alike whispered amongst themselves as the school’s power duo refused to talk to each other.
For his 6th year, Harry begged his parents to let him transfer to Ilvermony.
Tom wasn’t there to stop him.