| INTIMACY | - HPxTMR

Chapter 1 [A Choice]

When Emperor Slytherin, then Lord Thomas Slytherin, declared war against Britain, the public scoffed in contempt, assured that the ministry would put him down like they had the other Grindelwald aspirants. It took them over a hundred magical deaths and many more muggle ones before they began to treat him as a threat, but by then, it was already too late.

Dumbledore's abandonment of Britain and the group he had cultivated solely to bring down the Dark Lord was the final nail in the coffin. No longer than a week later, the Lord became an Emperor, Britain his Empire.

When he declared war against the world, four years after the beginning of the first, the people of the world feared his plausible victory but hid it behind false bravado and dishonest claims of resilience. These would not last long, however, as the nations began to crumble under his power, the Emperor claiming the countries surrounding his, the Empire seeping outwards at an alarming rate.

And when he completed his takeover of the world in 1975, the earth itself ground to a halt to bow down to him, such was the absurdity of his strength.

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July 1988

" Announcing his Imperial Majesty, The High Emperor of the Slytherin Dynasty!" Cheers rang through the city as the man draped in robes of mesmerising black and dazzling silver stepped forward into view, a firm expression on his face. The Emperor, the man whole held the utmost power in the Empire, rarely showed himself to the public, so even a glimpse of him far in the distance was worth the wait.

Tom, from his place on the balcony, observed the adoring crowd below with satisfaction, dragging his eyes slowly across it, basking in his accomplishment. It had been a long time coming, but now, after over a decade of secure ruling over the entirety of the world, Tom could finally feel content with his power.

The clicking of footsteps behind him drew him out of his pleasure, and he watched, out of the corner of his eye, as the members of his Harem slowly surrounded him, bowing deeply.

He paid them no mind, eyes flicking back to the people before him, clamouring and clambering, trying to get as close as they could to the being they saw as their god. He let out a small chuckle, lips twisting into a gleeful sneer. " Delightful, aren't they? Such simple things, muggles are, wouldn't you agree?" There was no response, but that was to be expected. What was his would never dare to speak out of turn in his presence. " I can even sense some wixen down there, but they seem to at least have the decorum not to push and shove like a bunch of animals. I would expect no less from those blessed by magic, but the people just keep on surprising me these days." He let out a sigh before turning around with an elegant twirl of his robe, facing them. " I have had enough for today. Let us retire. Evangeline, with me."

A blonde woman with elaborate hair decorations stepped forward at his beckoning, holding out her hand to Tom, who took it gently. She smiled at him, blue eyes twinkling in a way that made him shiver slightly in remembrance of an enemy he hadn't heard a peep from in nearly forty years." Yes, your majesty."

He quirked his lips, sending one last glance at the crowd, then led his entourage back inside.

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Somewhere below, in the midst of the crowd, stood a young Harry Potter, surrounded by his scowling parents and their friends, who were twittering angrily to one another, the comments directed at the Emperor. Harry listened halfheartedly as his parents echoed the insults, his focus elsewhere. He took one look at the man, standing upon his gilded balcony, draped in such lavish robes he had only ever seen on a few wizards, and wanted with deep fervour.