It was in their fifth year that Orpheus and Tom started sleeping together every night.

Tom, as expected, had received his prefect badge alongside his book list. In addition to his new power of authority, the accident last year cemented his position at the peak of Slytherin's hierarchy which granted him absolute control over everything that occurred in the Slytherin dorms, including allowing Orpheus to permanently reside with him. No one dared to report anything about the Hufflepuff's new living arrangements, not wanting to incur the wrath of Lord Voldemort.

The power thrilled Tom.

The summer before their sixth year, Headmaster Black summoned the two boys to his office.

"Headmaster," the two had greeted.

"Calypso," the headmaster nodded, disregarding his grandson's nugatory flinch, "Mr. Riddle. Sit."

"Fuck!" Tom yelled in frustration the moment he was back in the Slytherins' common room.

His fists were clenched in anger, magic thrumming in agitation. He couldn't believe how naive he had been. For the past six years, he had spent every summer in the castle with Orpheus, seeing it as his birthright as the Heir of Slytherin, but that was when Phineas Black was the headmaster.

On top of being Orepheus's estranged grandfather, he was also a Slytherin. Even though Tom was still a child in legal terms, the headmaster would know better than to risk offending someone as potentially dangerous as himself. Hence, Phineas Black's bias was more than expected. And so, Tom had spent the past years residing in the castle with his love every summer.

What he forgot however, was that the only reason why Tom could stay was because of the permission the headmaster had given.

Now, that the headmaster was leaving, Tom had to return to the orphanage.

Armando Dippet- the next headmaster.

Headmaster Black had told them about his supposed retirement. It was common knowledge that the man, like many other purebloods, was a blood supremacist and a supporter of Grindleward. With the war reaching its climax, the headmaster's sudden leave was no doubt due to the war. He informed them that the next headmaster was Armando Dippet, a renowned charms master- and close friend of one Albus Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore.

The thought of the meddling old coot alone had Tom's already volatile magic to convulse through the room in acrimony.

The shrieking of the portrait in reaction to a fragment of the glass piercing through her canvas snapped Tom back to reality. He didn't have the time to sulk like a petulant child.

With a wave of his wand, he pieced the shattered fragments of the window glass back together.

He schooled his enmity before making his way to the library, joining Orpheus who was reading up on emancipation.

It was at the Start-of-Term Feast did Tom see Armando Dippet for the first time.

The man was tall; even nearly as tall as the half-giant Gryffindor Hagrid. He wore a coonskin cap over his hair- strands of silvering flame that curled gently at the end, brushing the fur lining of the majestic coat he had draped over his towering figure.

"Settle down!" his voice, a deep baritone, bellowed through the room, silencing all the curious buzzing.

"I am Armando Dippet, your new headmaster. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Headmaster Black has retired. Now, eat."

Tom was making his prefect rounds when he coincidentally ran into the new headmaster at the hallway outside the headmaster's office.

"Good evening sir," he greeted, donning the most charming smile he had.

"Mr Riddle. Everything go well I presume?"

Replying in affirmation, Tom nodded a goodbye before continuing with his patrols.

It was three weeks later when Tom chanced upon the headmaster during his patrols again, this time, outside the library.

"Headmaster," he nodded respectfully.

"Mr. Riddle," came the curt reply.

"I do hope Hogwarts has been well to you," he said courteously.

"Indeed, it has. The night is deep and I think it is about time I retreat to my bed chambers. Do have a good night," the headmaster said before turning around, walking off.

"Headmaster!" Tom called, stopping Headmaster Dippet in his footsteps.

"Yes?"

Glancing subtly at the book in the headmaster's hand, then back at the headmaster, Tom replied, "I'm sorry. It's nothing."

As he scurried away, Tom smirked prepensely.

The third time the two met, was when Tom approached the headmaster.

He had waited nervously outside the headmaster's office, waiting for him to return from lunch. When the headmaster saw him, fidgeting restlessly outside his office, he invited Tom, who hesitantly accepted his invitation, to join him for some tea.

"What is it Mr. Riddle?"

"I- I would like to file for emancipation," he stuttered in reply, gaze fixated on his hands, rested on his lap.

"Why is that so?" the man asked. Tom knew he was aware of the past situation in which he and Orpheus would stay in Hogwarts over the summer; and that he was the one who denied Tom the right to. He had allowed Orpheus to stay, taking pity in the Hufflepuff's situation and to respect the previous headmaster. It was obvious that Headmaster Dippet had a soft spot for familial ties and it was on that weakness which he would use.

"I have no where to go over the summer sir; I don't have a home," he replied, tone sorrowful.

"What about the orphanage?"

"That place is not my home," he snapped, causing the headmaster to frown in disapproval.

"I- I'm sorry sir. It's just- I hate that place. The children there...the matrons...everyone there hates me. They call me a demon, a devil, all because of the accidental magic I displayed when I was a child," he apologized, noticing the softening on the headmaster's expression.

"I'm sorry Tom, but I'm afraid that I am not the one who makes these decisions. If you would like however, Professor Slughorn and I can give you advice on how to go about doing so."

Tom grinned inwardly.

Everything was going according to plan.

A/N: This is a really short chapter. Like really short, but if it's of any comfort, the next chapter will be much much much longer.

Orpheus didn't appear much in this chapter but rest assured, he will be in a large portion of the next chapter.

Sadly tho, the next update will take a while, now with my end of year exams coming up. If it's of any consolation, there may or may not be some smut the next chapter ;)

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