Additional warning: probable non-con, coercion, chan and possible character death in later chapters. Do not read if these squicks you. Thanks.
Harry had woken up cleaned and healed, his previous cuts, scrapes and bruises gone, his torn clothes replaced by a simple brown tunic and trousers. His guard had coolly told him that he could either be an obedient boy and follow him without any tricks, or he would Stun him and float him to their destination. He had chosen the former because he really didn't want to be unconscious around any Slytherins; who knew what they would do to him. So he acted meek and obedient and followed quietly, covertly looking around for details that would be useful if they were to escape. It was best to be prepared.
"My Lord, the boy is here," his guard said, bowing to Voldemort.
Lord Voldemort's room was big, neat and decorated with interesting artifacts including weapons and still portraits. It was done in forest green and cream, somewhat at odds with what he had expected. Harry thought it would be gloomy with severe, dark colours and overwhelming in its opulence. The man was currently perusing a thick title-less tome and seemed inclined to ignore them.
"Thank you, Nott. Leave us," he said without looking up.
Harry waited, willing himself to be still. He wondered what happened to the others.
"What were your duties before?"
"What?" Harry asked, startled. He thought Voldemort had forgotten he was even there.
"What were your duties as Black's servant?" Voldemort turned a page.
That's right. He was supposed to be Sirius's squib servant.
"I… cook and clean." He had definitely done more than his fair share of cooking and cleaning while staying with the Dursleys.
"He doesn't have a house elf?"
Harry grimaced. Sirius hated that house elf. Harry had pitied him, until he almost got Sirius killed.
"Kreacher is- difficult."
Voldemort finally looked at him. Some indiscernible emotion- Surprise? Interest?- flashed across his face but was quickly masked.
"Any special talents? Maybe in entertaining your master or his guests?"
Talents? He's good at flying. But he didn't know if squibs were supposed to have enough magic to control a broom. He's pretty good with throwing knives too but it won't do to advertise this kind of talent. He wanted them to underestimate him.
"Erm… I'm good at Exploding Snap?"
Harry could swear Voldemort almost wanted to laugh but he just raised an eyebrow and looked at him in such a way that made him feel foolish. Harry felt his cheeks warm and looked away.
"Hmm… you will report to Mdm Livine in the kitchens for your duties. Nott will bring you there."
"Yes, sir," Harry said, remembering he was supposed to be a meek and obedient servant.
-oO-
The boy had surprised him. Under all the grime and dirt just now, he was no different from a street urchin. But properly cleaned and dressed, Harry had a hint of blossoming beauty with fey-like features and brilliant green eyes, and an unexplainable allure. He had hoped, maybe, that the boy would be trained in the bedroom arts because it would make him feel better if he were to bed him, but he guessed Black wasn't as depraved as him.
Despite what he said to Black, he had no intention of raping or even bedding the boy. It was just a way of riling them up, letting them stew in their own horrified imaginings, knowing they were helpless to stop anything he might do to the boy. But now…
No, he will not lust after a child. Lord Voldemort may be ruthless and cruel to his enemies but he tried to leave innocent civilians alone.
Exploding Snap indeed, he chuckled.
He pursed his lips as his gaze fell upon the book he was studying and the dagger on his table. Most of his people involved in the skirmish only suffered minor injuries, nothing that couldn't be healed by magic, but Bella, one of his most loyal, had been poisoned by the dagger. The Healers and Potions Masters are still trying to figure out what poison was used so they could find or make the antidote. Meanwhile Bella was put under the stasis spell to slow down the spreading of the poison.
The Gryffindors claimed the dagger didn't belong to any of them and he had used Legilimency to confirm that they were telling the truth. If it wasn't them, then there must be a traitor in his ranks. Or, at the very least, someone who sought to climb higher by killing Bella in the confusion of a skirmish.
He'll have to find out whom the dagger belonged to.
-oO-
Harry didn't know who Mdm Livine was but the woman in front of him certainly didn't fit the image of any housekeeper he had met before. She seemed to be in her early thirties, tall and thin with sharp features, and certainly not the motherly kind like Mrs Weasley. Of course, expecting any sort of motherly person in the Dark Lord household would be ridiculous. He was in Slytherin territory now, not Gryffindor. Still, everyone here didn't have to look so unfriendly and unapproachable.
She circled him, inspecting him like a hawk does its prey, lifting his arm and poking at his ribs, muttering things like, "too delicate", "not good for hard labour", and "too pretty to serve at meals".
Fine, he may be a bit small but he's still growing and he is not pretty or delicate! Harry tried to keep the scowl off his face and looked ahead blankly.
"I have no use for you besides preparing the food and washing dishes during meal times. But," she glared at him, "don't think you will have time to idle. In between these busy periods, you will be assigned to clean rooms or do whatever Mrs Fields needs you to do."
"Yes, Mdm," he said, keeping his tone mild, and wondered who Mrs Fields was.
"Lunch was just over. Wash, dry, and put those dishes in the cupboard," she said, pointing to a stack of assorted plates and bowls by the large sink. "You may have the leftovers if you're hungry. If not, there's always bread and jam in the basket."
Harry nodded and started towards the sink.
"And don't let me catch you slacking or you will get it," she threatened.
Harry nodded sharply and started soaping the dishes but he didn't relax until Mdm Livine's footsteps faded away and he couldn't feel the weight of her stares anymore. He sighed. In some way, this was almost like dealing with Aunt Petunia, except she ignored him more.
His mind started to wander as his hands soaped, washed, rinsed, dried and stacked the dishes expertly, muscle memory taking over from years of experience gained while living with his aunt.
Find out where the rest are, create a diversion and escape. So I need to get friendly with the staff here, especially the guards. Play the innocent card? Look out for possible allies. If not, wait for opportunity to make use of them to create a diversion. Drug the food? They can't chase after us if they're incapacitated. But we will need enough time to get outside the anti-apparation barriers. 15 minutes? No, no, what if we get lost in the forest? Brooms might be better. Where to get the incapacitating drug? Plants or combinations of common substances would be best since those drugs won't be just lying around. Ok need to find out where the brooms are kept, the meal times of castle staff, guards patrolling area and when is shift change, map of the territory, possible weaknesses, magical alarms, communicate with the rest…
Harry bit his lip. I hope they are all right…
Thanks to all reviewers:
Akume, Nicomy43, animegurl008, SailorHecate, scardi, TeeDee, wover30, BlueEyes White Dragon Sorcerer, Barranca, Saigo, HoshiHikari, BabyDragon848, DarkBellona, Amarynth, Anave Lipad, Werewolf777, tamachan444, DestinyEntwinements, Xenia Marvolo, justame, figglet, mandi, Von, Jenniyah, HecateDeMort, lemonade, The Shadow Bandit, tati1, HarrySlytherinson, Spirit White, Mystiksnake, acerbus-chan, LandUnderWave, Amylion, obsessiveluv27, Xelena, moonlight44, henriette, allieweasley, oatmeeel, not a daddy's gurl, Squibakou, Ella1331, Illuminatus, Merrymow, PaddycakePadfoot, Wolven Spirits, anonymous, Flying Bears
scardi: Harry is a wizard and minor seer (ie get visions sometimes).
HoshiHikari: Yup, it's an entirely different plotline; there's no boy who lived.
DarkBellona: Harry will try not to show signs of magic. No promises on the fluff but will try.
DestinyEntwinements: Harry is 14
tati1: Shacklebolt doesn't really trust Harry's vision and didn't see any signs of ambush so wanted to carry on with the mission.
acerbus-chan: no key role at the moment. Pretty much pointless slash unless I think of something x
henriette: Harry's parents were killed on a mission. They're not important enough for Voldemort to notice or remember the similarities.
allieweasley: sorry no lemon, not so soon at least. ;)
ilikestories: the setting is sort of like medieval times but it doesn't follow the world's history timeline otherwise it won't be fantasy fiction now would it? This wizarding society is different from real world society and the history that comes along with it. The date is just so Voldemort can tell Harry is lying when he hesitated to answer his year of birth.
There's going to be smut later but I'm getting squicked by Harry's age (14). What do you think?
