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Harry is walking down a corridor on the seventh floor when he suddenly gets yanked aside. He whirls around and draws his wand as he gets pulled into a room.
Some of the tension leaves his body when he sees who grabbed his arm.
“What do you want, Riddle?”
Riddle lets go of him and folds his arms. “You’ve been staring at me.”
Harry’s heart clenches uncomfortably. He noticed that?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about-”
“Save your breath. Both of our time is far too valuable to waste it like this. Just tell me what’s been on your mind. I won’t let you go before you do.”
“You won’t let me?” Harry asks incredulously. “You can’t force me to stay. Where are we, anyway?”
“It’s called the Room of Requirement.” The what? “But that’s irrelevant. Stop changing the subject and tell me what you want from me.”
Harry grimaces. Riddle usually acts more like a politician than anything else, so it’s easy to forget that he can be direct if it benefits him. Biting his lip, Harry quickly goes over his options. He could come up with a lie, but there are two problems with that. First of all, Riddle probably wouldn’t believe him. He’s brilliant at detecting lies. And second of all, it wouldn’t get him one step closer to solving this stupid problem he’s been carrying around for the past two weeks.
Slowly, Harry reaches into a pocket of his cloak, deciding it’s better to be honest with Riddle for once. Harry hands over the parchment, watching as Riddle raises an eyebrow.
“You’ve been staring at me because of a letter?”
Harry rolls his eyes. “Just read it, smartass.”
Riddle glances at him briefly but does as told. Harry tries to hide his nerves by holding as still as he can while Riddle reads.
Eventually, Riddle raises his gaze. “Your father expects you to get married within the next twelve months.”
Harry shrugs, feeling uncomfortable. “He thinks it will hurt his reputation if I don’t, and my mother is on his side.”
“And you’re just going to bend to your family’s will?”
There’s so much barely hidden incredulity in Riddle’s voice that Harry grinds his teeth and yanks the letter out of Riddle’s hands. He should have known better than to confide in him.
“Of course, you don’t understand. You’re an alpha. You don’t need to worry about coming off too strong-willed.”
“You don’t either. Fuck your father and everyone else who wants you to be a helpless little boy.”
Harry stares at him. He can’t help himself. You rarely hear vulgarity out of Riddle’s mouth.
“But I still don’t understand why you’ve been staring at me. Do you want my help in finding a suitable husband? One that will give you all the space you need?”
Harry opens his mouth only to close it again and whirl around. “Fuck this. I’m going to bed.”
“Wait.”
A hand wraps itself around Harry’s arm, and against his better judgment, Harry holds still, wanting to hear what Riddle has to say. He even turns around when Riddle gently pulls on his shoulder.
“You shouldn’t have to do what your father expects of you,” Riddle murmurs. “But if I can’t change your mind...”
Harry catches his breath when Tom sinks to his knees, here and now, reaching for Harry’s hand.
“Harry, will you marry me?”
Harry’s mouth falls open.
“We’re not even boyfriends,” Harry says helplessly, very aware of the way Riddle moves his thumb over the back of his hand.
“Is that a no?”
“I... yes?”
Slowly, Riddle lets go of his hand and stands up, his face closing up. “Wasn’t that why you were staring at me all week?”
Harry runs a hand through his hair, not entirely sure how he ended up in this situation. “You... Look, I don’t know you that well, and I’m not gonna risk spending the rest of my life with someone who will make me miserable, no matter what my father expects of me. A proposal shouldn’t be the first step.”
“What should be the first step, then? A kiss?”
“That’d be a place to start, yes.”
“Alright, then.”
Riddle takes a step closer, and it takes Harry a second to realize that Riddle intends to do that first step right now. Harry hesitates before leaning towards him. Riddle stops an inch before his lips can brush against Harry’s, giving him the chance to pull back. Warmth fills Harry’s belly, and he leans forward, brushing his lips against Riddle’s.
Their lips fit perfectly against each other, and Harry adores the way Riddle gently pulls on his lower lips. To his delight, Riddle neither tries to back him up against a wall nor does he try and take control over the kiss. He hates the way most alpha try to show their dominance even during something as innocent as kissing. It’s why Harry stuck to betas, for the most part, when it came to dating — something his father criticized every chance he got.
No, Riddle keeps his lips soft and his hands gentle, and when he lightly licks over Harry’s lips, he doesn’t react offended when Harry chooses to keep his mouth closed, not quite ready to deepen the kiss. This soft gentleness feels much better anyway, and it’s nice to see that Riddle seems to respect his boundaries — for now, at least.
Eventually, Riddle pulls back, and they take a few seconds to catch their breaths. Riddle brushes his fingertips over Harry’s cheek, brushing a strand of hair aside.
“Will you marry me now?”
Harry frowns and opens his mouth, but-
“That was a joke.”
Harry exhales slowly and grins. “Good to know you have a sense of humor.”
Riddle smiles softly and brushes a kiss against Harry’s cheek before pulling back.
“Promise me you won’t marry me, or anyone else, for that matter, unless you really want to.”
Harry looks into Riddle’s eyes, looking for hidden intentions — unsuccessfully.
Slowly, Harry nods.
“I won’t.”