This is almost 'The Secret History of Tom Riddle,' telling the story suppressed by the official account.  The Black sisters are part of the pure-blood clan, and they deserve special attention - even one disowned by her famiily.  He does do right by them, even though it goes beyond social mores and even though it is at a cost to them.  But perhaps his excessive clannishness and deire to do right by his own caused him to transgress enough that it brought about his downfall.As you observed, he both empowered them and dominated them. 

Your review is encouraging since the objective was to present each sister as unique with Tom giving each what she needed.  Thanks for the generous commentary.

Your review manages to transcend standard morality and find the positive aspects of an ambiguous situation.

Yes, it was intended to depict financial problems causing a downward spiral with the solution to the finances causing even more problems since the best monetary option is working for a group that considers her husband a lesser form.  (The destructive effect of poverty.)   Thanks for reviewing a painful chapter.

A verbal seduction with Tom pressing Bellatrix's buttons (and Bellatrix): her pride, her passion, her desire to be recognized as superior.  A difficult chapter to write.  Thanks.

I have been hoping you would discover this story.  I worked hard at giving the sisters their own personality and having Tom respond appropriately.  Thanks.

Jumping out of sequence for your welcome reviews, 'In the Valley of the Lily' is almost a sequel.

Thanks for all the reviews of a story that violates canon (except possibly for Bellatrix).  No, none of them would be pleased if they knew all that Tom was up to.

An encouraging review since I may have invested more in these psychological portraits than in any other work.

This is a rough chapter for anyone fond of the Tonks family, but did Andromeda make a poor choice of employment?

Bellatrix is quite the character, and Tom plays to her traits.

Thanks.  Glad you like the dialogue.

Narcissa and Lucius are similar.  The tale takes place in the mid 70's.  I hope this Tom was not tedious.Your comment on Lily summarizes the subversive nature of this story.  If it were to continue, Tom would wait until James reverted to type and Lily was vulnerable.

Oh, sorry, your Tom isn't tedious.  The Tedious One, or TO, is the short hand between my beta and myself for him.  We find the hyphenated euphemisms that are all through the canon to be tedious.Part of my interest in your story is due to the fact that I recently wrote one about Ted & Andromeda.  It's a bit more heroic, but I come to the same conclusion you did, which is that the TO draws the people to whom he can offer something.  Not so much the people who are just fine without him.  You're right about Lily.  While James is a faithful husband, Tom has no chance with her.

There is another chapter, and Tom is not finished with Narcissa.  I tried to write Tom connecting with each of them differently and on several levels.  Your insights are good and rewarding to the author.

Good call on the lack of appreciation which Tom has guessed extends to her childhood, making her extremely vulnerable.

For tossing her aside, the story is silent on the matter, but there is no reason to think that he will since he has not tossed Bellatrix aside, and this may be a deeper Tom than canon.  It would be kinder to toss her aside since the alternative is that she loses her sister, husband, daughter, and son-in-law in the conflict with Tom, and if he has not tossed her aside, she loses her lover, the primary cause of the conflict, as well.

I don't see the Tedious One making that long-term a committment to anything other than his own quest to live forever, myself, but it's an interesting question.  We see in both the end of OotP and DH that Bellatrix wasn't one of the normal DEs in his mind.  You're writing a a story that's on the AU side of things, but in a way that highlights good questions about the canon.

I keep thinking this is much deadlier than threats.

Would almost any husband behave as Ted is reacting if placed under similar stress?  It is all mind games on Tom's part.  What do you  think his hook will be for Andy?  The story relates everything that Tom is doing.

These characters are outside my experience to some extent.  I'm used to married people working together when things get difficult.Given the way you've painted things, I think your Andy wants recognition that she's doing all of this working and juggling and managing pretty well.  She's also almost as big into family loyalty as her baby sister, so someone who promises to fix either her family or marriage would rate pretty high with her, too.

The question is 'What will seduce Bellatrix?'  Money?  Not likely.  An offer of eternal love?  Not likely.

And he has to offer her something, as well as everyone else who comes to him.  He's good looking and all, but he's poor and doesn't have pure blood.  So he has to offer that one thing that they each crave.  I'm interested in seeing what that thing is for Bellatrix in this story.

Since Narcissa has been married a while, this chapter takes place in 75 or 76, and Tom has become a powerful figure.  What did seduce Bellatrix?

The story attempts a series of somber psychological portraits.  Yes, Tom is in their father's generation, early forties, which can be regarded as young for a wizard.