Chapter 1: i'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me

Summary:

Harry Potter, raised and abused by the Dursleys ever since his parents died, lives in the cupboard under the stairs. He has no friends or family who love him and his life is dull until one day a letter arrives arrives for him, written in green ink, that promises freedom. Sounds familiar, right?

King Thomas Riddle's illness combined with his political paranoia pushes him to arrange three royal balls, after which his son, Prince Tom Riddle, must choose a guest to marry, thereby securing the kingdom's future and solidifying their strength in the eyes of their allies/enemies. Tom is convinced that he will be able to defy his father and choose no-one, or at least he is until at the first ball he meets an attractive stranger with dark hair and glasses who won't tell anyone his name...

‼️this story belongs to Merrinpippy on ao3‼️

Notes:

Edit: I wholeheartedly condemn JK Rowling's transphobic, inaccurate, and dangerous statements on sex and gender identity. If you agree with her views, please do not read, comment on, or kudo this fanfic. I support the rights of transgender people to be called by their chosen pronouns, respected in their expression of gender, and treated fairly and equally in all things.

Ranked:

#31 - cinderella
#240 - alternateuniverse
#57 - hurt-comfort
#1 - fairytaleau
#12 - dobby
#189 - hermionegranger
#47 - ginnyweasley
#152 - ronweasley
#50 - albusdumbledore
#7 - tomriddle
#99 - luciusmalfoy
#29 - bartycrouchjr
#12 - gellertgrindelwald
#11 - dudleydursley
#3 - cinderellaau
#2 - vernondursley
#14 - petuniadursley
#2 - tomriddlesr
#22 - Tomarry
#363 - dracomalfoy