Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Harry Potter, the character, settings or plots that have been born from the magnificent mind of J.K. Rowling. For those too incompetent to understand words longer than two syllables: I do not own Harry Potter.

Beta: angelhitomie

They knew.

Harry lay in the white room he recognised as a part of the Hospital Wing where he had found himself upon his awakening mere minutes ago. He kept his breathing even and eyelids half lowered in case anyone entered the room so they would not notice he was awake.

He supposed that he should be thankful. He's back at Hogwarts, behind wards where the rebels had no hope of reaching him. His body was healed, though the soreness lingered and his limbs felt somewhat heavy. The potion's effect had ended, leaving Harry with a clear mind, the long chain of visions having been sorted through before he had even awoken fully.

Breathing deeply Harry forced the tears back, ignoring the burning feeling in his eyes.

They knew.

For so many years he had managed to keep it a secret. He had just been a squib, nothing unusual albeit he had been lucky enough to be taken underneath a removed Potions master's wing.

He had been safe.

Harry supposed that it was over now. The Order now knew where he was hiding. They would be looking for him, eager to get him back among their ranks where they'll be able to keep an eye on him and use him for their benefit.

A great sadness filled him when Harry realised that he could no longer stay at Hogwarts. By now Draco had probably delivered his report on what had happened during their short capture. Someone hearing would probably be able to connect the dots and figure out what he was.

And even if that was not the case, Harry was unable to bear any illusions. He was in the Hospital Wing. Someone was sure to have watched him while he had been unconscious. Severus would not be able to watch him all the time and the mediwitch was duty bound to report anything strange to the nearest authority.

Harry supposed that he should consider himself lucky that someone had not been there to demand answers from him the moment he had rejoined the world of the living. It gave him time to do what Harry knew he needed to do.

Lifting himself into a sitting position Harry pushed the cover aside and let his feet touch the floor. It didn't surprise him that no warming charms had been applied to the floor. Madame Pomfrey probably believed that her patients were less likely to wander off without her permission if the floor was cold.

Pushing himself up from the bed Harry stumbled before he gained his balance. "I have to get out of here." Harry stared at the door, biting his lower lip thoughtful. He was dressed in white pyjamas. If he walked out like this he would stand out like a sore thumb among the robe clad students. How was he supposed to make it back to the safety of the dungeon.

Looking around Harry found nothing which could be of help. It was almost as if they had known what he would do once he awoke. To him it merely meant that they had cut off his most convenient escape route.

As he walked over to the big windows, Harry gained a sureness in his steps. Outside everything was covered by a fine layer of snow. The sun was high on the sky with not a single cloud in sight. Most important of all, there was no wind.

Harry unclasped the window and opened it. He let out a breath when no alarm sounded. He had half expected Severus to have done it to stop him from fleeing

Heights had never been a bother to him, which Harry was thankful for as he stood at the window sill. Hogwarts was an age old castle, build of stones. By not even magic could even the stones out, leaving the walls as a perfect climbing practice places.

Glancing at the door Harry noticed that it was still closed and he slowly crawled out of the window and hung down on his arms.

Panic grabbed him when Harry's feet sought for a standpoint and came up with nothing. "Stupid, stupid idea." Harry mumbled to himself, banging his head against the hard wall. A small smile graced his face when Harry managed to place both feet on something which didn't feel like it was about to give out under him as soon as he placed his full weight on it.

Slowly Harry made his way downwards. More times than not he found himself moving sideways while looking for something to hold or stand on while avoiding coming too close to the windows were he knew he would be spotted. Luckily no buildings were on the opposite side, which meant that he at least did not have to worry about that front.

His arms were starting to shake and Harry took longer breaks to catch his breath. Despite the cold sweat had formed on his back and forehead. Harry blinked rapidly to stop the sweat from getting into his eyes and the tip of his tongue stuck out from between his lips.

Currently Harry found himself in a tight spot. He had gotten to a place where there was no stones to hold or step on further along the way and the ones he had used to get to this point simply seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

"Scarhead, what are you doing?" Harry's head whipped around and for a moment Harry forget where he was as his body turned so he could see Draco. Surprise coloured Draco's face as Harry started to fall. Instinctively Harry pushed against the wall with his feet and latched his arms around the closest thing to hold on, which proved to be Draco's broom.

Gaining control over his breathing Harry looked up at the blond and grinned. "Fancy meeting you here Draco, do you mind if I hang onto you for a while?" He watched as Draco regained a little of his colour and scowled down at him.

"Merlin's pants Potter, are you out of your mind? What in the world compelled you to do such a reckless thing? If I hadn't come past what do you think would have happened?"

"Not that your concern isn't touching." Harry interrupted while trying to get a better grip on the broom. "But could we possible have this conversation where I'm in a little more comfortable position?" Draco's hand closed around his arm and the blond helped him to sit in front of the broom with very little effort, much to Harry's annoyance.

"I should just have left you where you were. Honestly, Scarhead. Do you wake up in the morning and think: hey, I want to do something idiotic, why not climb the castle's walls and see how long it'll take to get myself killed? Do you live to give me a heart attack?" Draco murmured against Harry's ear while sneaking his arms around Harry's waist so he could grip the broom handle.

Grinning Harry leaned forward so that Draco had better access. "You just guessed the whole purpose of my life, Draco you are a genius."

"If you do not watch your mouth, you might be dropped. Now shut up and I'll show you just why the Firebolt is the best broom on the marked." Without further warning Draco leaned forward so he was pressed against Harry's back and they headed straight for the ground far under them.

Harry's hair whipped around because of the wind, though Harry found himself unable to care about it unless it obscured his view. It felt like they were flying like some of the birds he had sometimes watched. Unable to ignore the sudden urge which hit him Harry threw his arm into the air and hollered with laughter as they continued to drop.

All too soon the tour ended. When the ground came so near that Harry wondered if they were going to crash Draco changed the course of the broom so they now flew horizontal and slowed down.

Harry's eyes were shining when he got down from the broom and he stumbled slightly over his feat through the snow. "That was bloody amazing!" He clapped, jumping from one feet to another to get some warmth back into his body.

Draco dismounted the broom and stood in front of Harry with crossed arms. "Not that I do not appreciate your compliment about my skills on the broom but now I want to know what got you to do something so stupid. So Gryffindorish. I would have thought that spending time with me had gotten that notion out of you."

The smile slipped from Harry's face as he remembered the whole reason to why he was not lying in a comfortable bed instead of standing in the snow in nothing else but nightclothes. "I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about?" When Draco tried to get near him, Harry took a step back. Already he was speculating how long it would take him to reach the edge of the Forbidden Forest and disappear among the old trees. He was at disadvantage. Draco had a wand and would be able to stun him before Harry could get away. As much as he knew he would regret it, Harry knew that he would do the necessary to make sure that his friend would not be able to stop him. He hated the mere thought of possible harming Draco but neither was he willing to stay at Hogwarts.

Raising his fists Harry pondered on how he was supposed to do this. While he was no novice in fighting, it was rather long ago since he had done it, especially against a magical person. "What are you doing?" Draco asked wary, looking like he was facing a frightened animal. Harry guessed that it described his situation rather well. Forced to fight because he was unable to flee.

"Potter!" The yell made Harry freeze mid-step towards Draco. He recognised the tone only too well. It had been used quite a few times in his first few years at Hogwarts whenever he had been about to make a grave mistake when working with potions. Usually it ended with a big explosion.

Turning his side to Draco, Harry stared wide eyed at the approaching man. Severus was dressed in his usual black robes, like a foreboding shadow. Seeing the man Harry took a grudgingly step backwards, feeling his heart sink as Severus came closer. "Take one more step, and you will find yourself cleaning cauldrons for the rest of your miserable teen years." Knowing Severus it was no empty threat.

He already knew that he didn't have much of a chance. Against Draco he could have had the element of surprise. But Severus was a fully trained wizard and he knew him well enough to counter anything Harry would be able to think of.

As soon as he was within reach Severus seized his arm in a strong grip. Harry knew he would not be able to get out of it before the man decided to let go. "Imbecile brat. Are you trying to undo all my hard work by getting yourself killed by walking around in the cold dressed like that? You can consider yourself lucky if you do not catch yourself another round of pneumonia."

As he spoke Severus forced him to walk with him the way to the castle. "And how did you escape from the Hospital Wing? There are wards placed on the door so everyone entering or leaving is registered. We would have been noticed about your leave."

"I found him climbing on one of the outside walls like that American man dressed in red and blue." Draco said with a huff. Apparently he was none to amused by Harry's antic and he must be influenced by his godfather's mood.

Oblivious to Severus' thunderous expression at Draco's words Harry gaped at his friend, stopping momentary before he was yanked along by Severus. "You know about Spiderman?" He managed to say with a horrified expression. "I'm not sure if I should like it or take this as a sign on the end of the world. You are the model on the perfect pureblood heir." The last part was whispered as they stepped inside the castle.

"Nonsense. Blaise merely had a rebellious period where he decided that muggles were what he wanted to learn about. For some reason he decided that I had to participate and dragged me with him into a cinema." Apparently lessons were over, because the hallways were filled with students. It proved to not be a problem. Though only teaching the N.E.W.T. students Severus was rumoured to be the most feared professor at Hogwarts. It meant that no one wanted to risk nearing the man in case that house points would be deducted.

It didn't take long for Harry to figure out where they were heading. After passing the corridors leading down to the dungeons, where Draco parted from them, there were only a few places Harry could think of he would be allowed to get in.

Harry wondered if he should put his foot down as they turned down a corridor which leaded to the Hospital Wing. However one glance from Severus was enough to get him onto better thoughts. He wouldn't put it past Severus to simply carry him if he was too bothersome.

He would at least walk towards his doom with dignity.

Glancing at Severus again Harry was surprised to see how tense the man was under his anger. He probably knew or at least suspected what was going to happen but he offered Harry no words of comfort. Either he was too angry to bother with words or someone had sworn him to secrecy.

Harry was not sure what he preferred. No matter what he didn't like that he didn't know what he was heading towards. Harry was pulled inside the Hospital Wing and the doors were closed behind him.

"So you managed to locate your wayward ward, Severus." Harry took a step backwards, walking into Severus, who placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him in place.

"Yes my lord. Draco was so kind to hold him up until I could find them. Apparently Harry decided that it would be a good idea to climb out of the window without any aids. He might still have been there if my godson had not decided to pick him up on his broom." Harry stepped down on Severus' foot hard to silence the man but with bare feet he doubted it had much of an effect on Severus' boot clad ones.

Harry's eyes darted around to look anywhere else than at the two other men in the room. Under their searching gaze he felt naked. Luckily the blush on his face could easily be blamed on the fact that the warmth had started to return to his body.

Footsteps alerted Harry that someone was nearing. Still he tensed as someone came to stop in front of him. With one in front of him and Severus behind him there were not many places he could run to. Long fingers closed around his chin and craned his neck until Harry was forced to lift his gaze from the floor.

At the moment Harry had a rather good feeling of how a deer caught in a headlight might feel. Red eyes were staring into green, binding him in a way that made Harry unsure whether he would be able to move away even if he had wanted to. Voldemort was dressed in dark green robes, much like the ones he had been wearing on his birthday party. Harry noticed that Voldemort had ink stains on his hands, as if he had been interrupted in his work.

Lucius Malfoy was standing in the background. He was observing and seemed to wait for something to happen. One thing Harry was highly aware of, was how much he hated having everybody's attention on him.

He knew that proper protocol required that he bowed for them, since they were his superiors, but Harry could not get himself to move even if he had had the space to do so. "Mr. Potter how dare you to sneak out without me saying so? And you three, stop acting like this. It's no wonder that the boy looks ready to pass out when you corner him like that. Now, move aside." Having met Madame Pomfrey before Harry supposed that he should not be surprised when the woman showed the dark lord out of her way.

"Now Severus, take Mr. Potter back to the bed, get him into dry clothes and then I'll perform some tests to ensure that he has not managed to harm himself." Harry assumed that Severus nodded since no verbal answer sounded. Harry found his feet moving automatically as he was led back to and placed upon the bed where he had first awoken.

Once he was back on the bed Severus was pushed out of the place and Madame Pomfrey took over his spot. When she took forth her wand Harry instinctively moved back to the bed's headboard to get out of reach. A blush coloured his face when he realised what it was he had done.

A quick look around told Harry that none of the wizard showed any outward reaction to his reaction. At the same time Harry noticed how the three males had placed themselves around the room.

Severus was standing nearby, offering his silent support. Harry knew that the man was ready to react in case he should make a run for either the bathroom or the door out of there. Lucius looked to be enjoying the warm sun as he stood near the windows. It seemed like they had learned not to leave any openings for him to use.

Voldemort sat down on a visitor chair, on the opposite side of Harry's bed where Madame Pomfrey was bustling around. Despite the chair being simple and probably also uncomfortable Voldemort managed to look every bit like the dark lord he was. There was not a wrong fold in his robes and confidence seemed to shine out of the man as he sat there, the scarlet red eyes resting on Harry.

The man's perfect appearance made Harry aware of his own less than spotless one. After climbing around on the walls dirt marks covered Harry's otherwise white pyjama. His hair was windswept and his shin was flushed as warmth started to return to his body. "I can only wonder what you were thinking wandering outside without being properly dressed and after you have just been healed too. Perhaps next time you'll wait for me to give the clear before you leave my domain."

Harry was startled when his body started glowing violet. "Wha-"

"You have a rather impressive luck, Mr. Potter. Being dressed like this outside you are lucky if you do not get sick. I've just finished treating your frostbites. Luckily your shoulder was sat right upon your arrival so we'll not have to worry about it. However, because you left bed without permission and went outside without being properly dressed you'll have bed rest for the next few days, just so I can be sure that you will not fall dead as soon as I let you leave my supervision."

As soon as Harry opened his mouth to protest the mediwitch cut him off. "I can easily make it a week or longer if you as much as think about sneaking out again. As long as you are here you will rest and do no strenuous activities. Wards have been placed around the bed to alert me if you should have any late after effects to the Cruciatus curse or the potion you were given. Though at the state I doubt that we will have to worry about it, but better safe than sorry."

For a moment Madame Pomfrey looked about to say more. Instead she waved her wand over Harry so the purple light died out before she decided to speak over his head. "I would like my patient to get the rest he needs, but you have already expressed your urgent need to talk with Mr. Potter, my lord. Since he is not in a life threating danger I'll allow it this time. A Pepper-up potion is allowed and I will be in my office if a need for my assistance should arise. But I warn you, do not rile him up. And you, Mr. Potter, will stay in bed." With that last warning Madame Pomfrey left the room and closed the door behind her.

Well aware that he was on his own in this matter Harry sat with tense muscles, ready to jump into action if they as much as pointed a wand in his direction. "So for all those years instead of letting a squib live at Hogwarts, I've had a seer nearby without being made aware of it." Voldemort's loud musings dragged Harry's attention to the man. Voldemort was watching with an intense gaze that made Harry shiver. No, shaking. There was definitely no pleasure in the way Voldemort was watching him.

"I am a squib." Harry found himself protesting, ignoring the seer part though he knew that it probably was what weighted most on the other occupants' minds. Hoping that his mental shield would be strong enough to hold Harry looked directly into Voldemort's eyes. To his relief he felt nothing more than a brief poking before Voldemort's presence withdrew from his mind.

"I have no wish to destroy your mind just to look past your shields. Impressive, if I may say it myself. Not many non magical people can manage to keep up Occlumency shields to protect their minds from intruders. Severus?"

The Potions master stepped over to Harry's side where the mediwitch had previously been with a filled vial in his hand. "It is not something which I can take the honour for my lord. Our theory is that it comes natural with being a seer, as a need to protect the visions he gets from getting known by unwanted persons." Harry felt the blood be drained from his face at Severus' words.

Lucius Malfoy spoke for the first time since Harry had been brought into the Hospital Wing. "I remember you telling that you found him near one of the old rebel camps. I believe that you were allowed to keep him since it proved that he was a pureblood, even if he was a squib." Lucius said, studying his nails as if they were of greater importance than what they were talking about.

"Stop talking like I'm something that doesn't understand what you are talking about." Harry gritted out through clenched teeth. He was used to it whenever he was around purebloods, but it didn't make it any less annoying.

"Perhaps, then Harry Potter, you will be willing to tell me everything?" Harry stiffened at Voldemort's suggestion. He cursed in his silent mind for falling into such an open trap. If he had just stayed silent and let them continue with their assumptions or whatever it could be called he could have had more time to think up something.

Crossing his arms Harry glared at the three men, well aware that he probably looked like an offended child at the moment. "I don't see why you are so interested. Other than Severus none of you have ever shown the slightest bit of interest in me before." He said, trying to move away from Severus and the offered vial until he realised that it brought him closer to Voldemort. After that he opted on just staying where he was.

"Drink this." Seeing an opportunity to avoid answering the questions right away Harry grabbed the vial from Severus' hand. Since he was no longer plagued by visions Harry knew that the potion Moody had given him was out of his system. It should not have any effect on him to drink this. With that decision Harry placed the glass opening at his mouth and tipped the vial up, emptying its contest. Experience had taught him it was best to empty them in one go instead of dragging out the torture.

A dullness filled his body, spreading all the way to his toes and finger tips. Harry fell back against the pillow, his body slack from his throat and downwards. "That was not a Pepper-up." He exclaimed.

Severus picked up the now empty vial and placed it on a nearby nightstand. "Of course not. The Pepper-up is Bordeaux red while this one is more red with a touch of purple. You of all people should know that my potions are nothing else than perfect. This is one of my own creation, a muscle relaxer with a very weak form of the Veritaserum." Despite the plain voice Harry caught a very brief flash of regret in Severus' eyes.

Harry looked pleadingly up at Severus, but the potion still in his system kept him from truly panicking. His attention however didn't stay at the dark man for long when Voldemort broke the silence. "Tell me your story. How long have you known that you are a seer and what else do you think might be important for me to know."

Against his will Harry felt his mouth open and the words spilled over his lips without him having any say over what was happening.

"I was five when I had my first vision." Harry finally said, losing the struggle with himself for now. Though his eyes had averted to his hands Harry could feel the red gaze rest on him as a heavy burden. "Until then I had been living with some muggles. Apparently my parents would rather fight in a war they had no hope of winning than live with the shame of having a squib son."

Breathing deeply Harry continued, finding it easier to talk the more he spoke. "In my first vision I saw two people die. It was always the same two people, a dark haired man and a woman with red hair and green eyes. The scenery never changed. And neither did the bloody outcome." A grin spread across Harry's face.

"Those muggles I lived with tried different ways to stop what we believed was nightmares." Even now he felt a cold fear whenever he recalled those memories. "Then a letter arrived. From what I've heard those two people I had seen in my nightmares were my parents. It's funny to think that I never cried over my parents' deaths, rather I hated them because I saw those things before I even knew about them."

He clearly felt the effect of the potion. Harry doubted that he would have managed to stay this calm otherwise. On the other hand, neither would he have been speaking about this subject if he had had a choice in the matter.

"Unfortunately my U- one of the muggles had heard enough details about my nightmares to know that I had somehow dreamt of this before it even happened." The grim grin slipped of his face and finally did Harry look up from his lap through his gaze was slightly unfocussed. "Shortly after that Dumbledore showed up at the doorstep. Apparently they had used the owl delivering the news about my parents' deaths to contact him. He took me away. Now that he found out that I was no longer just a squib, I was suddenly useful to his case and therefore I should be among my parents' kind." Harry trailed of, not wanting to continue.

"Then what happened?"

Because of the circumstances Harry could only throw an angry glare at Voldemort. If the man had planned on cursing him it would have been done after his failed escape attempt. "While my visions probably were a huge advantage for them, some people at the top of the food chain apparently decided that they didn't come frequently enough. From some chubby brewer they manage to produce a potion which took care of that problem." Despite the muscle relaxation potion Harry felt his body was tense. He longed to be able to run in case one made as much as a wrong move in his direction.

"The potion worked. Whenever they forced me to drink it, I had to view whatever came to me." It was strangely hard to put much of any emotion behind his words. "After a few accidents I found a way to break the control the potion had over me, at least for short amounts of time. In theory I suppose you can compare it to the effort put behind breaking the Imperious curse. But here something else is needed. Pain. So in between one of my visions when I was eleven years old, I got hold on a knife and carved a wound on my forehead."

Looking past Voldemort's shoulder Harry tilted his head enough to the fringe would move and he knew his scar came into view before he let it fall back into place. "It distracted me long enough to manage to get out of where I was and later same night Severus stumbled over me where I had fallen, and he decided to bring me with him back to Hogwarts. After hearing my story he decided that the best way to keep me safe would be to take me in."

Harry kept his lips tightly pressed together. He refused to reveal the threats he had told Severus when the man had contemplated to tell anyone else about him and his skills. Luckily for both of them Severus had given in or else Harry was not sure that he would still be alive.

So in a way he supposed that he owed Severus a life debt though the Potions master denied it.

A goblet was placed on his lips and Harry eager drank the cool substance, not caring if it was poison at the moment. To his surprise it was not the case but rather did he feel the mobility return to his body, much to his relief.

When the cup was emptied the dark lord placed it aside, an all knowing smirk on his face which immediately sent Harry on the edge. The feeling and control had returned to his body, proving that not only water had been in the cup and he subtly flexed his limbs, checking that everything was as it was supposed to be.

Not that he didn't trust Severus' brewing skills but he just didn't like taking potions of any kind and find it better to be safe rather than sorry. "I have a proposal for you, Mr. Potter."

Harry blinked, not sure how he was supposed to react. No matter what this was not what he had expected to happen. Why hadn't they just thrown him into a locked room and doused him with experimental potions to see which one would provoke him to have visions?

After all that was what Dumbledore and his Order had done.

When Harry made no sign to react Voldemort spoke again, apparently not put off by Harry's silence. If anything the man looked approving, though it might just be that his brain was still affected by the potion he had ingested.

Looking overly comfortable as he sat in the chair next to the bed Harry was in, Voldemort finally began speaking. "Back in the old Greece seers were not a rarity. They were known as oracles at that time. However, what made them so special was that they always claimed to be neutral, no matter what. And people respected this because they knew that otherwise the oracles would either refuse to tell them anything about what they saw in the future or simply leave."

Harry peaked up at Voldemort's words, while trying to figure out just why the man was telling him this. "It would not be strange if you considered going the same way as the old oracles did."

Harry couldn't help it as the laughter bubbled over his lips. Remembering who his company was, Harry quickly got control over himself, whipping the tears out of his eyes. "Even if you and your people would be willing to do that, you forget that I have a so called light lord and his crazy order after me. They know where I am and as long as I live they will be hunting me. Either to use me or to make sure that no one else is able to."

Somehow he doubted that the hunt would stop unless his corpse was thrown at Dumbledore's feet and various tests were made to confirm that it really was him.

"I will give an oath that I will do everything in my power to ensure that you do not end in the hands of Dumbledore, his order or anyone who supports him. Furthermore if you are captured I will do everything to make sure that you are freed." Though the words came rapidly Harry got the distant feeling that this was something lord Voldemort had been planning.

"For what price?" If any of the men felt surprised by his question they hid it before Harry was able to detect it in their faces. Before Voldemort could start and lead him around in circles Harry decided on continuing speaking. "There is always a price. Do not claim that you have suddenly decided to take the role as the good Samaritan. What do you demand to protect me?"

From the looks of it Severus was pleased that he did not just jump right into it with both legs. Harry supposed that something from the Potions master's many rants actually had managed to stay.

"One year." In confusion over Voldemort's words, Harry tilted his head slightly to the side while looking unequivocally at the man. "That is the difference between the time you have spent with the Order and here at Hogwarts, providing information to the different parties. It would only be fair that you turned neutral when that evened out. Once that year is over you will be able to retreat, and be under my full protection for the rest of your life, if that is what you want." Voldemort said.

"And what does that enclose?" Enquired Harry.

"Merely that you continue what you have done before. But unlike before, you will tell the visions you have to either of the three of us in this room. I would prefer it if you came directly to me whenever possible. And you'll not report a vision to someone who does not already know of your ability and has my approval. To make sure that no misunderstandings arose I will make sure that you know who those people are. Furthermore you will not leave Hogwarts without notifying someone of your going and coming."

Mulling over what had been said Harry was surprised to find that there was not much he could argue against. He didn't like the feeling that his every move would be restricted. But it would only be for a year and then he would be free to do whatever he wanted to.

And for not telling anyone about the visions he got, Harry was sure that he could work around that problem. After all he could still warn people if needed without directly telling them about the vision itself, it was what he had been doing for years already.

"Okay." Harry agreed. Voldemort nodded, and rose from his chair, surprising Harry. He did not know much about how wizards completed a deal, but he had thought that there was more to it than just this.

"One last thing." Harry said, making the dark lord pause near the door and turn his head to look over his shoulder. Swallowing Harry met the man's gaze head on. "If I should be captured and there isn't a way I can be freed I want you to send someone to kill me."

"I will see you on a later time. For now you will rest, and I advise you to do no more neck breaking stunt or the year will be spent under Madame Pomfrey's supervision. We will speak later, little seer." Voldemort replied with a curt nod, having spoken the last part in parseltongue. Harry gaped as Voldemort left the Hospital Wing, shortly followed by Lucius.

When they were alone Harry turned to look up at Severus. "Please tell me that he was kidding." He pleaded, though getting no answer from the dark man.

)00(

After leaving the Hospital Wing Voldemort went for the Headmaster's office, the only place in the school where one could use the floo connection. Next to him Lucius walked, having caught the sign for him to follow.

Harry Potter was truly an enigma. Before the New Years Eve Voldemort could hardly recall seeing the boy around the castle, since he tended to spend his time in the safety of Severus' dungeons.

To think that such a treasure should be hidden in a squib was rather ironic. It made him wonder what other secrets the boy might carry.

He definitely wasn't a weak person, as Voldemort had first assumed, that much the boy had already proved. Following the Malfoy heir onto a dangerous mission just to save the brat's life, if Severus' report was to be believed. His escape attempt from the Hospital Wing, and lastly his request to be killed in case that he should be captured by the Order of the Phoenix.

Not that Voldemort intended for that to happen. He would not lose such a great source now where he had gotten his hands on it.

"My lord, may I ask, why a year? This is a unique opportunity to gain the upper hand against the rebels. It does explain how Dumbledore and his followers had that surge of success a few years back.

"Are you done with questioning my methods?" Voldemort asked as the gargoyle moved aside, revealing a moving staircase which took them up to the door leading to the office.

"I apologise my lord." Lucius bowed his head briefly.

Waving the words away as if they were mere flies Voldemort took the seat which was usually reserved for the headmaster. Lucius took a seat on the opposite side of the desk, watching him closely. "As you said yourself my lord, seers are quite a rare phenomena. There are few born and most tends to go crazy or commit suicide because of what they are forced to witness. And even if they survive those seers tends to speak prophecies they do not even remember afterwards."

Voldemort folded his hands and rested his chin on top of them. "From the boy's little speech it's clear that the boy has gotten used to people using him like a tool instead of seeing him as a human being. He would only fight me all the way if we tried to force him into something. You heard his request. He will rather die than being risk being with the so called Order. He is willing to go far to escape what waits for him with those people. However if I just offered him protection for no price, not only would he not believe me, but he would not be willing to hand over the information he has access to unless he feels that it is absolutely necessary. And even then there would be no guaranty that he would tell everything."

"I see." Lucius nodded to himself. "Now he will feel that he has gotten the better part of the deal. He only has to serve you for one year and then he will be protected for the rest of his life. But what about afterwards? Even if you have him for a year, after that he will not have to report to you." Lucius tapped a finger against his silver cane. "Unless the year is used to our advantage. Perhaps something can be done so he will stay here, or at least somewhere safe, and offer his service."

Voldemort watched with a smirk when Lucus grew silent, clearly considering possible ways for the plan to success. "At the party it became clear that there is a connection between your son and Harry. One would actually call them friends."

Lucius sneered until he remembered that Harry was no longer only a squib. "Yes, Draco enjoys Potions and visiting Severus. I believe that it's because he would not see his precious lab blow to pieces that Severus forced them to get along. It has developed to friendship from there, though Draco thankfully didn't bring it out in the open."

Humming lowly to himself Voldemort spoke. "We will use the boys' friendship to introduce Harry to the Wizarding world. Even if he's a squib his seer status allows him to be among purebloods. Make sure that Draco introduces him to other young purebloods and ensure that they understand his new position so no misunderstandings happen."

The old man had probably started searching for the seer now. It would be of no use to keep the boy a secret since rumours have already started to flow. No, it was better to have him out in plain view and at the same time make it so everyone knew that Harry Potter was under his protection.

Seeing the thoughtful expression on Lucius' face Voldemort decided that it couldn't hurt to hear what the blond lord had to say. "He told that he had been left with muggles for a part of his childhood." Lucius said, the sneer back on his face. "I suggest that we look into it. If we can find out who those people are we might visit them and find out something about the boy's past."

Voldemort mused over what had been suggested. It could indeed give him an advantage when handling the boy in the future. "Find those muggles' identities. It shouldn't be hard. They have some kind of magical connection to be contacted by owl and know how to respond with one. Knowing Dumbledore they might be some relatives of the boy or some other of Dumbledore's known supporters. I'll decide their fate when I have gotten the knowledge from them that I want."

After that the silence was only broken when Lucius came with suggestions to how they might be able to win the little seer over. Voldemort would either brush him of or simply nod in agreement.

His thoughts went back to when he had exited the Hospital Wing. The little seer had had a startled expression in the green eyes when he had spoken to him in Parseltongue. Since it was a well known fact that he spoke his great ancestors language, Voldemort could not let go of the gut feeling that something else had put that look in the youth's eyes.

Little seer.

Yes, that was a rather good description of the petite built boy, Voldemort mused.

So, options?

Next: A lifedebt and Harry gets a vision.

I was wondering if any of you people know a good story where Hermione goes back in time to where Tom Riddle is in school. I think it could be funny to read how the two geniuses are when they have class together. It would be... interesting, in a lack of better words.