Saving the Savior
Part One
A/N: This fic was inspired by one of the stories in Kamerreon's drabble collection, If Wishes Were Thestrals, entitled Voldemort/Harry and "vacant eyes". Though she no longer writes slash, this was a good collection, and I am grateful for the inspiration. WARNING! Gender-swap. If this isn't the kind of story for you, leave now. Otherwise, enter at your own risk. DON'T come crying to me about how much you hate this story for the gender-swapping. I will just laugh in your face, and point to the big warning word above. I'm serious! Don't do it. I'll just add your pathetic reviews to the Kiwifarms message boards, and let them rip you to shreds.
"What are you doing here, Potter?" Draco asked belligerently. 'Here' was an abandoned classroom on the seventh floor. Malfoy came to the room often, to contemplate his future and try to figure out how to best serve his Lord. The sixth year Gryffindor barely moved at the sound of Draco's voice. He continued to stare out the window as he perched on the sill. Draco, hating to be ignored, stepped closer and practically snarled, "Answer me, Scar Head." Finally, the raven turned to look at the blond, and Malfoy had to struggle to hide his surprise at the desolation in Harry's emerald eyes.
"I come here to get away from everyone," he answered softly, a sad smile on his face. "I come here to enjoy the silence; to escape the non-stop training and the badgering and the planning and the nightmare that is my life." Harry snorted softly before a calculating gleam lit his eyes. "Say, Malfoy, how would you like to do me a favor?" Silver eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Depends on what the favor is, and what's in it for me?" The raven chuckled before continuing.
"I want you to take me to Voldemort. I want you to present me to him. I have a proposal that he may be interested in, and it will help him win the war."
"Potter? Have you decided when you'd like to go see the Dark Lord?" Draco asked softly. They were, once again, in the abandoned classroom where they had first discussed the proposal, lounging on sofas transfigured from desks and chairs. Wards surrounded the room, to prevent anyone from intruding or even finding them. Harry turned his head languidly toward the blond, a small smile on his face. Merlin, Draco thought absently, his eyes are so luminous. Too bad he's a bloke and not a bird. I wouldn't mind courting him if he were a girl.
"I'm thinking at the end of the school year," the raven answered absently, looking intently at the other boy. Draco blushed under the scrutiny, scowling at the discomfort the other boy caused him.
"What are you staring at, Pot Head?"
"Mmm? Nothing. Just thinking how beautiful you are in this light."
"Draco?"
"Yes, Potter?" The raven grimaced, glaring at the blond.
"Firstly, please call me Harry. We've been meeting every night for a while, so it's time you call me by my given name." Silver eyes glinted with humor as Draco acknowledged the request. "Secondly, what exactly is Voldemort's agenda? What is it he wishes to accomplish?" Draco's eyes narrowed in thought, and there was a comfortable silence while Harry waited for his answer. Finally, the blond's face brightened and he began to explain.
"The Dark Lord only wants to keep our world protected. He wants to prevent any muggles from discovering us, or exterminating us. The only way to do that is to curtail the numbers of muggleborns and halfbloods that cross our borders. Without knowing whether or not they will be staying in our world, we've opened ourselves to them, and to the inherent danger that the muggle world will find out about us through them."
"That makes sense. But what about all the talk about blood purity?"
"It's been a long-held belief that the muggleborn wizards aren't nearly as strong as the purebloods. Halfbloods are also inherently weaker magically, as well. Only by not polluting our blood or our world with muggle influences will we remain a strong and healthy society." Harry scowled at the rhetoric, and Draco was quick to continue. "Those beliefs are only held by the oldest of the pureblood families. Unfortunately, mine was one of them until the Dark Lord sat us down and explained things." He paused, a bemused smile on his face. "It came as quite a shock to Father to learn that our Lord was, in fact, a halfblood himself. Couple that with you, and your muggleborn friend Granger, and all of our beliefs were beginning to fall apart."
"So Voldemort doesn't support blood purity."
"No, he doesn't. What he supports is integrating the muggleborns and halfbloods into our world more completely. To do this, he wants to take the muggleborns away from their parents at birth, and he wants to separate the muggle parent from the magical parent in the halfblood children's homes. If the witch or wizard is not willing to let their muggle spouse go for the sake of protecting their children and our world, they will be obliviated, their magic bound, and the children taken from them. The magical spouse in the relationship will also be sterilized so that they cannot make any more halfbloods."
"That hardly seems fair to the halfbloods," Harry said, scowling. "What will he do with them? Put them in magical orphanages? That won't be any better than them being raised by their parents."
"You're right. That's why the children will be put with pureblood families willing to sponsor them and take care of them."
"And the muggleborn babies?"
"They will be taken and raised by willing families, as well. They will bring fresh new blood to our world, and strengthen our magic. It would only be to our benefit to take them in and welcome them. You see, because of the inbreeding that has occurred in our society, to maintain that vaunted blood purity, we've given birth to fewer and fewer children, and more and more squibs. There are now wizarding couples that are unable to have children of their own because of how closely tied together all the pureblood families are. These couples are desperate for children, and are willing to raise and love any child, be it pureblood, halfblood, or muggleborn." Here, Draco paused for a moment, looking at his friend sadly. "There were several loving, willing families that wanted you," he said softly. "They would've given up everything to raise you. Many of them knew your parents; had gone to school with them. No one knew where you were, or even if you were safe. Dumbledore had hidden you too well. For what it's worth, I'm sorry that you had to go through what you did growing up." Harry acknowledged the information and the apology with a nod of his head, silent for a time as he thought over what he'd been told. Finally, he asked the question foremost on his mind.
"But what about the muggle parents? It's hardly fair to steal their children, especially if they love them."
"The Dark Lord agrees, which is why he plans on replacing the muggleborn children with non-magical orphaned and abandoned babies. With a little bit of magic, the muggle babies will be as their natural children. The Dark Lord doesn't want to punish the muggles; he only wants to protect us and our magic."
"That sounds reasonable," the raven said quietly. "But Dumbledore said…" Draco sneered at the mention of the headmaster before answering.
"Dumbledore believes what he wants to believe. He wants to make our world more open to muggles, believing that we can get along with them. He refuses to believe that they are a danger to us, so he completely refuses to listen to anything anti-muggle. The Dark Lord's ideas are sound, and logical. But they smack of separatism, something Dumbledore is against." Harry was silent as he thought over everything his friend had told him. Draco allowed him the time to process the information, knowing that, no matter what decision he made, the blond would still consider Harry a good friend. Finally, after long minutes of silence, Harry nodded, and Draco knew that the brunet was on their side.
"Harry? Are you sure you want to do this?" Malfoy asked softly, his hand wrapped around Harry's elbow. The raven nodded, too excited and anxious to speak. They stood in an apparition alcove at King's Cross, and Draco pulled Harry closer, wrapping an arm around the raven's waist. Harry leaned into the comfort of the blond as Draco side-along apparated them to Malfoy Manor and Potter's new future. Ron and Hermione passed the alcove moments later, the noise of the station drowning out the sounds of apparition. They looked left and right, frantically searching for their missing friend.
"He has to be around here somewhere," Hermione said, tears in her eyes. "We didn't see him on the train, nor did we really see him at the Leaving Feast. Perhaps…perhaps one of the Death Eaters' children took him away?" The worry was phrased as a question, Hermione refusing to believe that the Savior could just vanish into thin air. Ron looked at her, his own blue eyes worried.
"Who's going to be the one to tell his muggle family that we've lost him?"
"My Lord," Draco said reverently as he bowed deeply to the man seated on the throne. Riddle's snakelike visage had faded back into his natural appearance, thanks in large part to a potion and ritual that Lucius Malfoy, his closest friend, and Severus Snape, his consort, had discovered.
"Rise, young Malfoy, and tell me what brings you here?" The blond stood tall before his Lord, and could barely contain the glee that threatened to escape.
"I have brought you Harry Potter." Silence met this announcement as every Death Eater in attendance stopped what they were doing to stare at the Malfoy heir.
"How were you able to bring Potter to me?" the Dark Lord asked suspiciously. "He is closely guarded and surrounded by nearly impenetrable wards." Draco allowed himself a small smirk.
"Potter actually approached me with a proposal. He said that he could help you win the war." Hazel eyes widened in shock at the revelation.
"Bring him to me, Draco," the man said softly, his eyes narrowed in thought. Turning, the blond strode to a door hidden in the shadows at the edge of the room. He stepped through it for a moment, returning quickly with a raven-haired, emerald eyed boy in tow. Tom's heart sped up in excitement as he saw his enemy approach him. He gasped in stunned surprise as the boy instantly dropped to his knees, his head bowed and his hands clasped together in his lap.
"My Lord," he murmured softly, making Tom Riddle shiver unexpectedly. I feel the winds of change blowing, and they're removing obstacles from my path. Harry looked up at the Dark Lord, making the older man gasp in shock as his gaze met the empty eyes of the teen before the boy dropped his gaze to the hands in his lap. Shuddering at the lack of life in those emerald eyes, the man finally spoke.
"Young Draco tells me that you come to me with a proposal to end the war. Care to tell me how you can accomplish this remarkable feat?" The answer threw Riddle for a loop; it was not the response he'd expected, but it was not an unwelcome reply, either.
"I know the prophecy in full. Would you like to hear it?" At Riddle's nod, the raven continued. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."*
Riddle's eyes narrowed in thought as the Gryffindor's voice faded, his ruminations concentrating on the emphasis of certain pronouns in the prophecy, and the silence was heavy with expectation. More than one Death Eater had stepped closer, wand drawn as if he or she had expected Harry to cast a curse at their Lord. Finally, the silence was broken by rich, full laughter. Everyone stared in shock at Riddle as he laughed and laughed, his joy spreading until everyone in the room was either giggling, chuckling, laughing, or smiling widely.
"I understand what your proposal is, Potter," he finally gasped out, breathless from his mirth. "It is a very clever way to circumvent the prophecy and end this ridiculousness. Are you sure that you want to do this? To end the war this way?" Emerald eyes full of pain, loss, betrayal and sadness met Riddle's own, and Tom felt a wave of protectiveness overwhelm him. He is but a child, he thought, stunned. In all of this, we'd forgotten that he is but a child.
"I'm sure," Harry answered softly. "I'm so very tired. I know that you're magically stronger than me. You have decades of experience that I will never hope to match. I have no chance against you and…and…I want to live. Selfish as that must sound, I want to live, and I have no chance for that if I have to fight you."
"Very well, Potter." He turned to Lucius and Narcissa, smiling gently at his dearest friends. "Set up a suite of rooms for him, and make him as comfortable as you can." He then turned to his consort, love gleaming softly in his eyes. "Severus, you must make an ex vir ut mulier potion for Mr. Potter." Ebon eyes reflected surprise as the Potions Master looked closely at the teen still kneeling on the floor. He nodded and stepped from the room, intent on brewing the potion as soon as possible. Draco looked at his friend in shock as the raven stood and waited for the Malfoys. "Rest easy, Potter," Riddle said to him as he left the ballroom. "Once the changes have been made and you've settled in, we'll talk some more."
"H-Harry? Are you sure you want to do this?" Draco asked hesitantly. The Gryffindor was sprawled on the large, luxurious bed in his suite, wearing a happy smile. Draco was astonished to see profound relief on the raven's face, and the worry and stress that the other teen had been under seemed to melt away before the blond's eyes.
"I'm sure, Draco. My mum and dad died for me, so that I can live. This is the only way I can see to fulfill that sacrifice and actually live. I'm just a tool, to be used as the powers that be see fit. Even if I was able to defeat Riddle, I'd still be treated like a thing. Like I belong to the wizarding world. I would have no real life of my own."
"But…but to make such a drastic change," the blond argued. "How will you adjust to it?" Harry sent a warm smile to the blond.
"I'm hoping that you'll help me," he said softly, shyly.
"Here is the potion, Potter," Severus intoned gravely, holding out a vial filled with a lavender colored potion. The fragrance wafting from the neck of the bottle was of honeysuckle, and Harry had an instant sense memory of smelling that fragrance while his mum cradled him in her arms. Before he could lose the tenuous control over his emotions, he took the vial from the professor and swallowed the contents, shuddering at the texture, if not the taste of it. It hit his stomach like a lead weight, and he hunched over and collapsed to the floor, gripping his belly tightly as the potion quickly went to work, pain radiating out from his abdomen and throughout the rest of his body. He clenched his teeth as he felt his bones, muscles and skin ripple and twist as the changes to his form took place. Draco stood to one side, his eyes worried as he watched his friend writhe and twist on the floor. Grunts and moans escaped the clenched teeth, and emerald eyes rolled wildly as the excruciating torment increased until it was nigh unbearable. Just when he felt he could take it no more, the agony abated. Panting heavily, Harry lay on the floor, muscles and skin twitching with the aftereffects of the changes.
Draco gaped at the form on the floor. Where once was a rather beautiful young man, with honeyed skin and emerald eyes, there was a strikingly lovely young woman. Her hair was long, and spread around her head like an ebony and auburn halo. Her skin was a pale cream color, her eyes still a mesmerizing emerald. Her face had rounded from the masculine, angular lines, and her jawline had softened as her cheekbones became more prominent. Her lips were full and pouty, formed into a cupid's bow, and her figure was trim and sexy.
"Wipe the drool from your chin, Draco," Severus snarked, a small smile on his face. He was pleased to see that, though Potter had taken on some of the characteristics of her mother in the shape of her face, her father's genes had also been implemented, and had allowed the changes to be subtle enough to negate any obvious resemblance, but blatant enough to nearly eradicate her resemblance to James Potter. No one would be able to link her to the Potter or Evans lines through her appearance.
Instantly, the blond's eyes snapped away from the beautiful young woman on the floor, who was now struggling to stand. Flushing with embarrassment, Draco held out his hand, shivering as her smaller, more delicate hand slid into his. He gently helped her from the floor, turning his eyes away as the oversized trousers and boxers, that had fit when she was male, slid down her legs to pool at her feet. The enormous t-shirt, however, provided sufficient coverage for her modesty, though she blushed furiously. Severus wrapped a robe around the slender girl and helped her to her bed, sitting her down. "I will fetch your parents and our Lord," he murmured to his godson, who had begun to stare again. Shaking his head in amusement, he left, closing the door quietly behind himself. There was silence for many minutes, until Draco finally broke it.
"How do you feel?"
"Strange," she answered, her husky voice vibrating pleasantly along the blond's nerves. "It's going to take some getting used to."
"You're beautiful," Malfoy blurted suddenly, then blushed, dropping his eyes to the floor.
"Thank you, Draco," she answered softly, her hand reaching out and grasping his. He smiled almost bashfully, his thumb stroking her fingers gently.
"You are lovely, my dear," Narcissa said as she glided into the room, followed by Lucius, Riddle, and Severus. The girl blushed and dropped her eyes, not sure how to comport herself now that she was no longer Harry Potter. Riddle chuckled softly, sitting in a chair beside the bed. Nervous, the girl pulled on Draco's hand, and he sat carefully next to her, shoulders brushing.
"The transformation was successful," Tom stated the obvious. The girl rolled her eyes as everyone else snickered. "Now we must discuss how to handle this. I think that you should stay here, under the auspices of the Malfoy family. I am sure that they would be more than willing to allow you to keep this suite of rooms as your own." Emerald eyes met frosty blue as Narcissa nodded, smiling.
"We would be honored, dear," she said. "The first thing we need to do is come up with a name for you. Has anyone any suggestions?" There was silence for a moment, until Severus cleared his throat. All eyes swiveled to him as he spoke.
"I think we should name her for a flower. Since her mother's name was Lily, I believe carrying on a tradition like that would honor her. There is a very beautiful, exotic flower whose name I believe would imminently suit her. How does Calathea sound?"
"Calathea," the girl murmured, trying it on. "I like it. I want my surname to be Prince. We could claim that I am an orphaned cousin of Severus'."
"That would be acceptable," the man said, his ebon eyes gleaming. He turned to Narcissa, smiling slightly. "I would like you to teach her the finer points of being a pureblood young lady. Lucius and I will go to the Ministry in the morning and register her, as well as register myself as her legal guardian. This will prevent anyone else from trying to place her into an unsuitable environment."
"Father," Draco said softly, his eyes never leaving Calathea, "would you and Mother draw up a betrothal contract between myself and Harr...err...Calathea?" Before Lucius could answer, the blond spoke to the girl by his side. "Calathea, would you do me the honor of allowing me to court you, with hopes of a marriage and children?" Emerald eyes widened on silver, and there was a weighted silence before she answered.
"I will. You honor me with your attentions and intentions, and I will do my best not to disappoint."
*From Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, written by J. K. Rowling; published 21 June, 2003, by Bloomsbury in the UK, Scholastic in the US, and Raincoast in Canada.
Ex vir ut mulier is 'from man to woman' in Latin.