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The Forever Game	By : uqui Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 109808 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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12/09/2012

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On with the show!

The Forever Game

Courting and Consolidation

       “And finally our new Minister, Tom Marvolo Riddle.”

       A few of the Wizengamot were stunned. They obviously did not know his birth name. A few looked horrified at the distinct lack of Lordship attached to his name. Those who actually did not care about birth only about power and ability shrugged. They had already known who he was behind his self-chosen name. Dumbledore was grasping at straws if he thought that a lack of title would truly stop him. He was a dark wizard; the mores of society did not overly bother him and there wouldn’t be much left of the Wizengamot once he was finished if they truly wished to make this an issue.

       “You can’t be here!” The statement came from Frank Longbottom and Voldemort allowed his smile to become a toothy grin. How they could have honestly believed that their weakling son had stopped him was still something he struggled to understand. The statement was a break in protocol but typically, Dumbledore made no move to censure it.

       “Actually, in accordance with Wizengamot protocol, he truly cannot be there.” The voice was dusty and old but the words brought the attention of everyone. Voldemort resisted the urge to strike the cretin dead. There was no protocol that said that!

       “I believe the wording of the protocol states that the Minister should have the aspects of a lord,” one of Voldemort’s followers said and the Dark Lord allowed his aura to wash through the chamber.

       The cretin was obviously not sensitive, for while most of the gathered wizards shivered at the power displayed, a true aspect of a lord, the doddering old fool just shook his head. “That aspect has always been taken to mean Lordship.”

       Dumbledore smiled and made no move to stop the conversation. While he had obviously forgotten some aspects of the protocols he remembered others and no doubt, on the concerns raised, he would call for a revote. If that was the case, the red eyed wizard may have to ... stretch his assurance to his beloved that there would not be a war or as many deaths. He would not be denied by some petty codger with no power.

       “There is an easier solution.” It was the Lord Black who spoke, rising to his feet. From the way the Lord Potter was smiling he knew exactly what his friend was about to say. While all knew of the depth of friendship between the Houses of Black and Potter, as the two Lords were sitting one on each side of the Moderate block, only the most rabid would accuse them of collusion here, though the Dark Lord was sure whatever Sirius Black was about to say, was actually James’ idea. Sirius was far more likely to provoke trouble than to solve it.

       “There is?”

       “There is,” Lord Black projected his voice in a theatrical tone. “If there is to be such an insistence on the actuality of our newly elected Minister holding a Lordship, then it should be observed that he is the last of the House of Riddle, which are themselves the last traceable Heirs to the House of Slytherin. I would move therefore, that the Minister be acknowledged as the Lord Slytherin.”

       The suggestion stunned many, even those loyal to the Dark Lord were silent. Voldemort felt a small stir of wonder. The current Lord of the House of Black had been known to be firmly against him and the dark wizard did not think that that would have changed even with James’ tolerance.

       “While that is an imminently sensible suggestion, the House of Riddle only ties back to the House of Slytherin through matriarchal lines.” The speaker was one of the new Lords, young and impulsive but very much tied into tradition and obviously wanting to make a name for himself. It was a pity he’d just dug his grave.

       “I see no problem. Blood ties are blood ties.”

       “Lordship is conferred via the male line,” Frank Longbottom said condescendingly.

       “Not always.”

       “Yes always,” Frank snapped.

       “So you deny my Lordship?” the wave of directed menace that accompanied the Lord Potter’s question was impressive.

       “Your Lordship is not in question,” the father of the Wizarding world’s saviour replied, his reasonable tone not quite hiding his confusion.

       Sirius was grinning openly and Voldemort took a deep breath as he watched the argument. It was now clear why Lord Black had opened since they had undoubtedly been anticipating this objection and the Dark Lord was truly curious as to how the two Marauders had discussed it. He was also mildly surprised at the level of support he was receiving from James Potter. They had come to an agreement two years ago but this was not a part of it. His own forces should have been doing what the Marauders were and he would be having words with them soon about their lack of support though from the worry on a few faces, some were already thinking about that.

       “But it is,” James ground out. “The Potter line is inherited by the best suited child, regardless of gender.”

       “That’s quaint, but your line has not passed through the female side.”

       “Not so. The House of Potter has been passed through daughters more than once but most recently through my Grandmother. She was the daughter of the Lord and Lady Potter, and became the Lady Potter. My Lordship has been accepted and confirmed by this body, as was my Grandmothers. The passing of inheritance exclusively through the male side is merely tradition, not the law. I would therefore ask the Lords Longbottom and Hever to withdraw their objections, least their words be taken as a challenge against me and mine.”

       It was only in that moment that Voldemort truly understood the depth of power James Potter wielded with an almost casual ease. He suspected that his epiphany was shared by the other immortal present and a peek at Dumbledore confirmed this. Harry’s father did not show this side of himself often but as a politician he was confident, suave and controlled. His arguments were logical and his presentation was aristocratically correct. He was the very picture of a Wizarding Lord and already those who were not in his political block were gravitating towards him. The Dark Lord realised that on the day Dumbledore had lost James Potter’s support, he had lost far more than the pawn Leader of the Moderates, he had lost any chance he had of victory. And the old man was only now realising this, two years after the fact. Voldemort resisted the urge to chuckle.

       Facing the steady gaze from the Lords Potter and Black, the Lords Longbottom and Hever were cowed and nodded before they both sat down, officially withdrawing their protest. This time Voldemort did smirk. Frank Longbottom was known to be a belligerent man but against true opposition he showed himself to be naught but bluster.

       “While I have no issue with bestowing the title of Lord Slytherin upon our newly elected Minister, do we truly wish to take such a draconian path?” James Potter mused into the silence. “We have worked for years to promote the equality of all witches and wizards and if we now insist upon Lordship for our Leaders, we risk alienating fully half of our population. I would ask the gathered to consider this, would you be loyal to a body which gave you no representation?

       “I think the answer is very easy to see. I agree with the protocol, the Minister should have the attributes and virtues of a Lord, but the actuality of that title should not be required. The Wizengamot exists to progress our society, not to regress it.”

       “Here, here!” The call came from many around the room and Voldemort hid a smile. There was the Lord Potter he remembered. Harry’s father was not trying to deny him the title merely out of spite but out of his belief in the future world for wizards.

       “We have had Ministers who are not possessed of a title before,” Dumbledore finally spoke and the Dark Lord guessed that he had realised the implications and had concluded that it would be best to deny him any title. Official recognition as the Lord Slytherin would have opened quite a few more doors and one of those might even have been Hogwarts Gate. “Though many past Ministers have been awarded titles for their work, it has not been an absolute requirement. The aspect of Lordship is sufficient.” If the Headmaster felt disappointment, he hid it well.

       Once more Voldemort held his tongue and once this was done, he would be able to speak freely before the Wizengamot. Doing this thing legally was tedious and he forcibly reminded himself that while it had taken almost sixteen years to get here, changes would be swift from now and while he might have been ruling if he had continued the war, he’d still be fighting that war.

       “To the Minister,” One of his supporters cried.

       “To the Minister!” the accolade was repeated by the Wizengamot with a few notable exceptions. Dumbledore being one but it hardly mattered as the Dark Lord rose to his feet, a gracious smile on his lips.

       He bowed, barely deep enough and looked around red eyes shining as he took in everything. “To my colleagues,” Voldemort finished the phrase, speaking for the first time officially as the Minister.

       The rest of the session was tedious, filled with the usual nothingness of the opening Wizengamot session and he amused himself by thinking of which positions he wanted to make love to Harry in tonight. It was after the sitting that he was witness to one of those conversations he never thought he’d see. Dumbledore chose now to confront James Potter, with one of the alcoves of the corridor providing at least the illusion of privacy.

       “What do you think you are doing, my boy?”

       “I was supporting the Minister.”

       “So you think you can control him?” There was scorn in the immortal’s voice.

       James laughed. “I have no intention of attempting to control the Minister. We both know that control and compulsion is more your thing, though I do assure you, if I wanted to control the Minister, of everyone here, I’d have the best chance.”

       Voldemort nodded to himself. While Harry would always choose him in the end, he loved his father and James was wise enough not to use that link, even though he could see it.

       “You’ve have no chance!”

       “Because I wouldn’t use charms? Oh, you have so much to learn. Go back to your prophecy child Dumbledore and leave the governance of the realm to those of us less interested in playing games.” With that James swept out and walked away.

       As the immortal raised his wand, no doubt intending to place some sort of charm on Lord Potter, Voldemort stepped out, one hand on his wand, the other shaking in the universal gesture of disappointment.

       “I would have thought you knew by now, all the Moderates are on a strict decontamination regime for controlling and compulsion charms and methods of every type. And they always start with the charm for cambions.”

       Dumbledore’s eyes widened and after a moment he glanced around, ensuring that they were in private.

       “Oh come,” Voldemort chided, “you didn’t think you’d be able to hide that from me forever?”

       “What are you doing here?” Dumbledore hissed.

       “I’m the Minister, I’m meant to be here.”

       “Not that!”

       “Ah, why did I not continue my petty little war? Why am I still alive after suffering little Neville’s attack?” The Dark Lord sighed as he questioned, perpetuating the lie most wizards believed. It was so like Dumbledore to be stuck on the past, thinking that the knowledge of the reasons would give him power. “Sixteen years ago, after encountering your prophecy child, I decided I did not care. I decided that I truly did not care. I’m honest enough to admit that at least a part of what I was doing was to show you that I was better but then as I looked into little Neville’s face, I realised, I already knew I was better and I did not need to prove it.” He almost gagged on the lie. As if Neville could have invoked any change in him! “And this is where we are today. I am the most popularly elected Minister in history and you are merely the speaker of the House.”

       “You won’t remain.”

       “Of course I will remain!” Voldemort laughed. “I wasted so much time in the past trying to anticipate and counter your schemes, time I should have been using planning my own. Once I realised I should just do what I wanted, things fell into place so much faster.”

       “Neville still has the power to vanquish you.”

       “Then you had better train him well.” Glowing red eyes bored into Dumbledore’s artfully fading blue and that was all Voldemort had said to the old immortal for quite some time. There was nothing more to say if Dumbledore was still going to pursue the false prophecy.

       And so now, five years later, he found himself looking into blue eyes again, a soft smile gracing his features with the knowledge he had finally won.

~x~x~x~

I realise that’s kind of a bad place to leave this chapter but hey! What can I say? It was the logical break point. Take special note of the last line because we jump a few years :D

The next chapter will be uploaded regardless of feedback and while I know everyone has read this one thousand times before, feedback, both good and bad, helps to improve writing and is really appreciated. So don’t be shy!

Please rate and/or review :D Both preferably :D

Until next time…
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The Forever Game