ali-scamander-lestrangeā:
romainticlettuceā
Everyone at the table smiled as Ali lit up, both at the pet name Tom used when addressing her and at the opportunity to tell her favorite story. āYes!ā she said eagerly. āOk, it was so much fun!ā She started to ramble a bit as she told the story.
Tom Sr. interjected every now and then to get her back on topic, or to slow her down when she started to talk too fast.
Meri looked at her husband adoringly. Sure, he might be a dork, but sheād always admired how he could calmly handle conflict, and the kids. Especially how he treated the kids.Ā āLooks like you wonāt end up only with a daughter but two,ā she told him quietly after he finished talking.
āI intend to join the ministry,ā said Tom as they enjoyed dessert. āSlughorn said he got all the contacts so itās all set.ā He heard that Theseus was disappointed to find out that Ali wasnāt going to follow his footprints as an Auror. This might cheer him up a little bit.
Tom Sr. smiled at Meri. āIt seems so,ā he murmured back. āAli is a very sweet girl. I enjoy our time together.ā He hoped she saw him as a father too. He desperately wanted her to be comfortable with him and to come to him when she needed something.
Theseus perked up. āReally?ā he asked eagerly. āWhereabouts are you thinking of working?ā He was thrilled; at least one of his children would work at the Ministry. Donāt get him wrong; he was so proud of Ali and her aspirations, but a small part of him had wanted her to follow in his footsteps. Tom doing so was just as great.
Meri smirked.Ā āGreat. I wonāt have to bear you another child then,ā she stuck out her tongue playfully, remembering how he told her before their marriage that he wanted to have three children. She quickly counted Tom Junior in, and only two to go.
āThe Department of International Magical Cooperation,ā answered Tom. The Law Enforcement Division sounded too much of a goody for him, especially with how much he was interested in the Dark Arts. āIād like to occupy a seat in the International Confederation of Wizards. I plan to reach farther, Sir. Itās not like I donāt trust the elders but I think the government could use a newer, fresher take on things.ā Oh yes, he did not at all trust the elders. Especially those who allow people like Dumbledore to be in power.
Tom Sr. pretended to pout and looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. āBut you look so pretty while carrying my children!ā
Theseus looked amused. āLetās be frank: those who trust Dumbledore are fools. Heās a senile old man who treats people like chess pieces. He did it to Newt, heās done it to you, heās done it to Ali, and he tried to do it to Leta and I. His regime needs to end. There is only so much I can do even as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; I can keep his men out of the Aurors and I can make sure those pawns of his face justice, but I cannot touch him. I believe you can, however, and I will help you do so.ā
Meri almost choked on her wine. She blushed instantly and was at lost for words before turning to face their guests. Fortunately they seemed to be quite occupied with the political talk about Junior joining the ministry. But how could he, when their daughter was just barely over a month old- and he was already wooing her into having another child??Ā
How unimaginable this man, Tom Riddle. And why was she allowing him to have such control over her, still? Narrowing her eyes, she told herself that she should put him inĀ place. Before itās too late.
Tomās face broke into a hungry smirk, oh he loved having this conversation. Heād usually not show this side of him to the people he didnāt trust yet, but Theseus and Leta were to be his in-laws, and seemed to be on his side also.Ā āThat sounds real great, Sir. I am going to need people who werenāt in Slytherin House on my side. Dumbledoreās been trying to dishonor me and my visions by preaching this idea that they were fueled by Slytherin-esque pure-blood supremacy and anti-Muggle sentiments. While completely disregarding that I am in fact a living by-product of exploitation of magic against Muggles, and heās never bat an eye.ā
Tom looked down slightly, still a bit hurt each time he remembered how hypocrites like Dumbledore continued to blabber about Muggle rights while he was never there when someone like his father needed help. For months.
Tom Sr. looked like the cat whoād caught the canary dipped in cream sauce. He wasnāt afraid at all. Meri was honestly too easy to rile up; it made for fantastic sex later so thatās why he did it.
Ali gently kissed Tomās cheek and squeezed his hand. āWell, with me, my maman, and Papa, youāll win over anyone in other Houses,ā she promised. āKingsley already supports you, and heāll talk sense to the other Claws,ā She smiled sheepishly when her fatherās sharp gaze landed on her.
āI thought he hated Tom?ā Theseus asked. His eyes grew sharper at his daughterās sheepish look. āWhat did you do?ā
āI justā¦gathered evidence of Dumbledoreās wrongdoings,ā Ali placated. āSlowly, over the years youāve been holding him off. I started investigating the Weasleys, but that led me to Dumbledore almost instantly, so I just started investigating him. I have tons of evidence and Kingsley caught me with it earlier this year. He wouldnāt let it go, and heās my best friend, I couldnāt lie to him.ā She started talking faster at her fatherās stormy eyes. āAnd so I told him everything that Dumbledore had done to us, but I didnāt tell him about you, Tom,ā she said, turning to Tom beseechingly. āI swear, I only implied heād turned a blind eye to something horrible thatād happened to your father. I didnāt say anything specific. And Kingsley was furious! He immediately promised to support us, you, when time came to take Dumbledore down.ā She stopped, panting slightly, and looking more than a little afraid at the reactions sheād get.
Meri, snap out of it! Warned her inner voice. Forget the look on his eyes that makes her swoon! Ignore that smile that makes her weak at the knees! This is what happened when she spoils Hubby too much! He forgot to remember whoās boss.
āReally, Shacklebolt did that?ā asked Tom. Since he and the pure-blood Ravenclaw were involved in some kind of rivalry since first year, he wouldnāt think that he would be willing to help him. Especially since Dumbledore had been trying to get on his good side. Yes, Dumbledore would kiss the ass of anyone who might serve as his potential enemy.Ā
āNow we got Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw in our hands, that leaves the Gryffindor House,ā said Tom with a bit of a sigh.Ā āDumbledoreās influence is high on that house, especially since he was the head of it too. I donāt know anyone on the inside, soā¦ā
Tom Sr. just sat back and smugly sipped his wine, smirking unrepentantly. Oh heād probably pay for this laterā¦but what a price it would be!
Ali relaxed at Tomās response but winced as her fatherās stern glance promised a long conversation later. Hopefully Tom would see the logic in what sheād done and help defend her position to her father. āYes, and I donāt really have any friends in that House,ā she said apologetically. āTheyāre all too loud and abrasive, for me. My friends have friends there, but no one I know directly. I could ask Cassandra and Kingsley for help? I know Kingsley is friendly with the Potters and Weaselys.ā
If only she could just wipe that smugness off his face⦠But no, she liked her husband dirty like that. So that she could have a reason to spank that ass all night⦠She thought as she smiled to herself.
āPotter and Weasley? I mean, sure Potter could try to look beyond his funny glasses for once but what makes you think Weasley would listen? Their whole family have been Dumbledore supporters, the lot of them. I heard they would even disinherit the family members who donāt make it to Gryffindor!ā He shook his head. āAnd really they thought of themselves better than the Blacks?ā
āBut Darling, please make sure that youāre safe when you investigate. You never know what the Dumby-minions are capable doing. They are extremists thinking theyāre playing for the good side,ā He palmed Aliās hand gently.
Tom Sr. knew that smile and knew heād be in for it. Oh well, at least itād be fun!
Ali nodded. āYes love,ā she promised. āYou know me, always careful. The documents are warded under every single spell I know, every spell Kinglsey knows, and some spells that Orion looked up for me in the Black library.ā
Leta nodded approvingly. āGood girl! Use your connections wisely,ā she complimented. āEspecially one so powerful as the Blacks. Excellent work, befriending the Heir.ā Ali preened under her praise.
Theseus looked grumpy. āOh so you listen to him and not me?ā he complained.
āAt least wait till your daughter fell asleep,ā she warned. When people said that it would be like as if she was taking care of two babies, she never expected them to be true. She found the big one to be even needier.
Tom recognized that stare, and decided that making a rival out of his future father-in-law wouldnāt be a good thing for a start. He remembered what happened with Percival Graves and would not want the same thing happened between him and Theseus. āAli had never forgotten the qualities that Scamander blood has given her, Sir. She has always been loyal to her friends and myself. It was one of the things I treasure most about her, among her many talents.ā
Oh, silver tongue. Please work.
Tom Sr. huffed. āIām not that bad, excuse me.ā
Ali blushed and kissed her Tomās jaw in thanks for the compliment.
Theseus snorted. āYou think I donāt know flattery when I hear it, boy?ā he asked with a razor-sharp smile. āI may not be a Slytherin, but I married one. Do try a little harder next time and maybe Iāll be impressed.ā
Leta took a big gulp of wine to hide her exasperation.
Tom just sat there agitated, looking towards his parents for support. If only they werenāt so busy debating about their own sex life.
āBut it wasnāt, Sir.ā He continued, expression turning serious this time.Ā āGrowing up in such environment, all I knew was the family pride, my ancestorsā pride. If Ali had turned out to be as rough and calculating as I am, she wouldnāt be able to love and accept me for me. Itās undeniable that you played a huge role in her upbringing, and for that Iām forever grateful.ā
Ali squeaked and blushed deeper at Tom's sappiness.
Theseus grunted when Leta dug her nails into his arm. "Easy woman," he muttered at her.
"Do not alienate him," Leta hissed back. "I'll eviscerate you if you upset my darling girl."
Theseus gulped. "Yes dear." He eyed Tom but said nothing more.
Ali groaned into Tom's shoulder. "Why are men idiots."













