Ok so I have to apologize for not warning you about the whole Harry is a Veela thing I'll also have to apologize after the next chapter for something else too but I just can't bring myself to give it all away. Anyway no worries about this being the typical Veela mate plot Harry's far too stubborn a character to go down so easily. Anyway, things are going to begin to speed up here so hang on! By the way this chapter is a looong one so I won't upload again till next week.
NOT FOR THE EYES OF CHILDREN
MALE/MALE RELATIONSHIPS
TORTURE
NOT MY CHARACTERS
Mistress Slytherin
-LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
-6-
Harry growled, there were a thousand curses that he wanted to use coming to mind as he dodged the few dark ones sent his way. He winced as the gash across his chest was stretched and wrenched as he dodged and ducked. He should have known. Lucius had warned him after all. Breathing deeply he sent his own volley of curses towards the two crazed looking woman as they attacked him. Something seared across his back as he twisted out of the way and he held back a scream all thoughts of restraining himself gone. The ache was too familiar; the pain brought him to a place without mercy. He let out a hiss and his wand slashed forward his magic reacting to his wants. Bella let out a scream as she fell to the ground writhing under the effects of the cruciatus curse. For Lucius' sake he had refrained from killing her the moment he saw her. For the chance of happiness he had held himself back trying to ignore the memory of Sirius falling into the veil. But not any more, not now! His eyes blazed as he pushed the curse through the borrowed wand feeling it crackle as her screams pierced the air. "Suffer." He hissed fury written on his face as he released the spell long enough to disarm Narcissa and bind her with ropes. "Suffer as I have suffered!" He cried out sending a dark curse at Bella watching as thick lines of blood appeared through her robes long slashes appearing through the cloth.
"Filth!" She cried out her own eyes blazing with madness. Harry growled and sent another curse at her which she dodged uneasily.
"Damnable woman!" He hissed slashing his wand in front of him watching in undisguised glee as it hit causing the bones on her left arm to shatter. She let out a shriek of agony and Harry grunted as a wave of dizziness came over him. Bella stood her arm limp at her side and raised her wand pointing it determinedly at him. Harry bit is lip and dodged as the spell cut into his left shoulder causing a spray of blood to hit his face. He closed his eyes against the pain and let out a dark chuckle as he stood using the numbness inside to create a barrier around the pain.
"You think…" He said panting as he stood. "That you can hurt me!" He growled sending spell after spell at her his magic sparking out around him. "I am beyond pain woman!" He cried out as a spell cut her side open and dark bruises appeared across her face and neck disappearing under the hem of her torn dress. He wanted…he wanted to kill her. For the first time in his life he truly wanted to kill a person, and for the first time in his life- nothing was stopping him. He roared rushing forward pulling a dagger from his belt. Her eyes widened at the fury written on his face and suddenly she was before him and the blade was sliding, slipping through her with ease. Something lit within him and he raised it again his fury, sadness, and lust careening together as blood showered him and another blade appeared in his other hand.
Suffer.
Pain.
Feel it Bella?
FEEL IT BELLA?
He snarled as he met her wide eyes his hatred sedated by the agony and fear he could see written there. Yes. Suffer like we did. Like Sirius did. Then the light slipped away like sand dripping through his fingers and he felt cleansed. He panted coughing painfully. The Longbottoms had been avenged, Sirius, and all the others that she'd hurt had been avenged. He pulled his blades from her torn flesh with a sickening squelch and stumbled to his feet. Narcissa was staring at him her eyes wide with horror and he smiled a slow sweet smile.
"Ares!" He gasped as Lucius crested the hill eyes wide hair in disarray followed shortly by Severus and most surprisingly by the dark lord. Harry shivered as the wounds on his fevered body began to take their toll and stumbled forward towards the man.
Severus gasped at the bloody scene as Ares stumbled towards his father. The Trestles that had been used to drive the carriage lay on the ground necks and bellies split open, the carriage its-self on its side. "Merlin your hurt!" Lucius cried out in worry. Severus' nostrils flared and his eyes zeroed in on Narcissa but before he could take a step forward the dark lord was striding forward his dark eyes glittering as he lifted the woman by her hair.
"Ligilimens!" The man hissed. Narcissa screamed.
Voldemort watched as the two woman met with each other from Narcissa's mind.
'Come Cissy you can't accept such a thing! He is unpure!' Narcissa in her rage agreed.
'But there is nothing we can do! Lucius has accepted him publicly as his son!' Voldemort's eyes narrowed as a familiar expression appeared on Bella's face. Blood thirsty, longing for violence. The memory swirled and he watched as they left the party following the carriage until it was in an uninhabited area before attacking taking down the beasts with ease. He watched with growing fascination as the young Malfoy burst from the carriage as it tipped over his wand already lit with a spell. He watched the boy hold back using primarily defensive spells until a spell caught his back causing him to cry out in agony. Ice-gray eyes glowed inhumanly when they opened once more and all restraint was gone. Voldemort watched, impressed as the boy cast spell after spell at Bella one of his best fighters and cut her down his cruciatus strong enough to have even Bella writhing in unadulterated pain.
'Suffer.' The boy hissed lifting the curse long enough to incarcerate Narcissa. 'Suffer as I have suffered!' Voldemort's eyes glittered at what he saw there, the hatred was intoxicating as he watched the two battle heatedly. 'I am beyond pain woman!' Voldemort hissed in pleasure as the remembered darkness rolled over him in steady waves as the boy lashed out blades cutting through Bella with ease while the boy's eyes continued to glow until at long last he stopped staring into Bella's dying eyes in satisfaction until she was gone. Voldemort sucked in a breath as the boy raised himself blood spattered and victorious a look of contentment on his face as he slowly looked directly into Narcissa's eyes and smiled and unholy glow filling them. Voldemort pulled out of Narcissa's mind reluctantly and looked towards the boy who was staring at him warily while Lucius fretted pulling the boy's arm over his shoulder. Voldemort turned to Severus as Lucius apperated himself and his son.
"Take me where the boy is going." He demanded. Severus looked as if he wanted to say no but nodded obediently before grabbing his arm and apparating them.
Lucius was glaring down at the Mediwizard as they appeared his pale blonde hair flipped through the air as he began to pace his hands clutched behind him. "Oh my young master Malfoy, what have you done to yourself?" The mediwizard said shaking his head as he cast a spell cutting the expensive robes open. Ares grinned deliriously.
"Me? You should see the other guy!" He said laughing weakly. The doctor rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue. A crack filled the air and a worried looking elf set down a bowl of warm water and a sponge.
"Considering most of this blood isn't yours I dread to see the 'other guy' as you put it." The man said dryly as he began to wipe away the mess being careful of the long gash across the young man's chest. Ares smiled sleepily as he swallowed the potions he was given. The mediwizard tisked and drew his wand holding it over the gash as the rust colored water and sponge popped out only to be replaced with another bowl. "You may stop pacing now Lord Malfoy; he'll be fine now that I've given him the blood replenishing potion." The mediwizard said sternly. Lucius spared the man a glare before moving to sit beside his son. Dazed grey eyes met his as he took hold of the pale hand.
"Funny." The boy said softly. "I always wanted someone to sit by me like that." He slurred. Lucius frowned.
"Alright over we go!" The mediwizard said. Lucius let go of Ares hand as the boy was raised into the air and turned over. The mediwizard stilled at the sight of the long ragged scars and spared a glance at Lucius' torn expression before reaching into his bag and pulling out a burn salve spreading it across the blistering burns.
"Lucius those marks…" it was the dark lord this time. Lucius felt sick.
"The people who had him before I did." He said softly. "Ares told me that they are dead and that they suffered before they were killed." He said clenching his fists. "But they couldn't have suffered enough; they could never have suffered enough for what they did." He said admitting aloud that rage he felt towards them for the first time. Severus placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed watching the strong shoulders tremble. The mediwizard sighed as the last of the wounds was sufficiently taken care of.
"Would you like me to perform the physical once he awakens?" He asked looking at Lucius who nodded tightly.
"I would like to see the results." Voldemort said his voice booking no argument. Lucius nodded again this time helplessly. Voldemort's eyes glittered strangely as he watched the boy's chest rise and fall. "You will divorce your wife and take custody of your son." He said smoothly a dark look crossing his features. Lucius nodded again anger rising in his own face.
"Of course my lord." He said tilting his head. Voldemort nodded.
"I will return tomorrow, Lucius, Severus." He said curtly before with a swirl of robes disappearing. Lucius turned as Ares whimpered and shivered the loss of Voldemort's dark presence affecting him deeply. Severus reached forward and brushed his fingertips across the pale forehead causing the boy to relax. He shared a look with Lucius, the man was frowning at the empty space where the dark lord had been and he knew that his fears were shared; the dark lord had taken an interest in Ares. Sighing he reached out his other hand and settled it on Lucius' shoulder. The man frowned worriedly up at him before leaning into the touch. The future was as unclear as ever. Severus sighed and took a seat ignoring the mediwizards inquiring look when Lucius gave in to his veela and rested his head on Severus' shoulder accepting the comfort offered.
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Harry huffed as Lucius paced wondering what on earth the secrecy was about. Despite the fact that the mediwizard had cleared him Lucius had insisted he stay in bed for at least another day. However, now all the man did was pace across the room while Snape stared at the floor brooding his eyes unreadable. At first he had attempted to bring humor to the situation but one look from the two men silenced him. Then he had tried to catch up on his studies but Snape had cursed him after the first hour for his 'infernal scratching and page turning noises' so he'd put that away as well. Now he could only lay in bed and watch his father pace with growing annoyance. A sudden crack in the silent room startled him and his curse barely missed the elf who squeaked piteously.
"He is being here sirs!" The elf said after finding its-self pinned with various degrees of annoyed glares. Harry frowned.
"He? Who he-" His breath caught in his throat as power leaked into the room and his chest tightened. Oh…that he. Harry fought to keep his expression passive as the tall man glided into the room his striking beauty causing Harry to give an involuntary shiver. Despite his tendency to flirt he'd never truly thought of sex at all. At first he had thought himself abnormal because of it after all what pubescent boy didn't think of sex? But then he realized that he hadn't really had time to think about it, he was constantly having to watch his step and the thought of just sex for the sake of sexual gratification did not appeal to him in the least. But Voldemort, as much as the thought might have horrified his previous sensibilities, was sex. He oozed it with every step he took. Of course it didn't help that the veela inside of him thought his power enticing and that still small part of him from his days as Harry Potter remained connected to the man.
"My lord." Lucius said bowing gracefully distracting Harry from his thoughts. Voldemort have him a jerky nod before sitting beside Harry's bed. Harry kept his gaze cautious.
"Sir…" He said looking to Severus who was crossing the room in long strides.
"Stay Severus." Voldemort ordered clearly his eyes not straying from Harry's already tense form. Harry forced himself to meet the red gaze and clenched his jaw.
"Mister Malfoy I'm sure the dark lord must be ravished would you mind ordering us some tea? Could you see if they have the chocolate biscuits that I love so much?" Harry asked the power in the man's gaze too much for him to bear. Lucius made to move but Voldemort rose a hand stilling him. Harry watched a smirk slide across the wine red lips and his breath hitched.
"No Lucius, no chocolates, no Severus keeping him under control, I know what he is and how I affect him you two will stay where you are." Harry trembled at the raw power he could feel flowing from the mans' rich tones. Harry forced himself to remain still despite the way his body called to him to move. Red eyes softened minutely in a way that only Harry could see. "Do what feels natural to you Ares." He fought it with every fiber of his being but the man raised his hand and settled it on his head and he couldn't help the way his body leaned into the touch a slow contented purr falling from his lips. That touch! Come to think of it he hadn't touched the man before this. Now he understood why Lucius had insisted on buying him countless numbers of gloves. His body positively sang as the electrifying touch controlled him. Then it was gone and before he could let out the mewling sound that threatened to erupt past his lips his mind returned to him and fury ripped through him. He tore out of the bed with a hiss and moved towards Severus gripping the front of the man's robes tightly as he glared furiously back at the dark lord. Lucius was pale his lips pressed into a thin line as he turned slowly to the dark lord.
"With all due respect my lord, do that again and I shall tear you to shreds." He said the last bit coming out like a suppressed growl. Red eyes were ignoring him though their gaze intent on Harry's still trembling form Harry could tell that he hadn't been the only one to feel the electricity formed between them. He had touched other witches and wizards, but nothing came close to the sensation he'd felt just then.
"May I ask just what the point of that was?" Severus said dangerously. Harry had yet to understand just what Snapes' part in his veela life was but he knew that the moment the man's arms tightened around him he felt safer than he'd ever felt before.
"You may ask but I will not answer, not just yet anyway. Young Ares it seems has found his way into my plans." He mused a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "You may come back now; I'll not do that again today. Lucius I believe the boy was asking for biscuits?" Lucius and Severus shared a look and Harry only moved at the gentle prodding of the potion master's hand. Lucius called for a house elf as Harry slipped back into the bed leaning as far away from the dark lord as possible distrust evident on his features. Harry clutched Severus' arm and glared at the dark lord not caring one whit about respect. The man tilted his head to the side and smiled faintly. "Are you angry with me?" Voldemort asked his voice vaguely amused. Harry sneered.
"Positively incensed." He snapped. "You took away my will, made me vulnerable and had the gall to assume that I would let it slide." Severus tensed but Harry could care less the man could use the cruciatus on him and he would still have his say. Voldemort merely chuckled proving to anger him more.
"Ah but you are a little spitfire aren't you?" Harry sneered but let it drop, he wasn't a child anymore, he wouldn't raise to the bait.
"What is it you want dark lord." He hissed between his teeth. Voldemort frowned apparently expecting him to fall for the childish taunt.
"I could curse you for the disrespect you're showing me." The man said with narrowed eyes, Harry sneered.
"Go on then make my day." He ground out, he was decidedly unbalanced by now, the weakness he'd shown was getting to him. Voldemort raised his wand and Harry glared at the man not backing down. "I'll bare my neck to whom I please." He said silkily. "I gave you respect for Lucius' sake and his sake only that respect is gone. If you think that you can control me using fear think again, pain has no hold over me. Go ahead and try to break my body if you wish, my mind will always be safe from you." Voldemort narrowed his eyes and lowered his wand. Harry ignored that screaming thing inside of him that feared the wrath of this man and held the powerful gaze. Slowly a smirk crossed the man's lips and he leaned back in his seat a smug look on his face.
"You amuse me to no end Ares." He said with a smirk. Harry simply glared at the man his temper still sharp. A small crack filled the silence as a tray of tea appeared. Harry grabbed one of the biscuits and bit into it nearly sighing as the air in the room seemed to become lighter. "I'm actually here to inform you of your new position." Voldemort drawled. Harry frowned.
"What position?" He demanded. Voldemort gave him a grin.
"When you killed Bella you evoked some very old magic. The ranks of the death eaters have always adhered to this magic though I have final say in every decision made." Harry narrowed his eyes suspiciously not liking the sound of this.
"My lord you can't be serious." Lucius said shock and panic warring in his eyes. Voldemort smiled.
"Oh but I am, Ares will take up Bella's post as head of the lower tier." Harry scowled. The lower tier was the new initiates, those who had to prove themselves in order to move up a level, each member of the inner circle had a tier they were in charge of. He had heard that Bella was especially hard on the new initiates, meaning that she was prone to killing them. Harry huffed.
"Victor gets the spoils, yes I've read about that law I should have known." He shook his head. In killing Bella he had received her place among the death eaters and respect in the wizarding world. Voldemort's lips twisted into a smile.
"You have also inherited her wealth and position as heir to Rudolph Le Strange's fortune." Harry furrowed his brow. He supposed it would make sense; Bella and Rudolph were bound to have separate wills in order to prevent fowl-play, by killing Bella he had become heir in her place only able to inherit should Rudolph die without him planning it or in fact having anything to do with it. Harry sighed.
"I refuse to take your mark." He said lifting his chin. Silence filled the room.
"What?" Voldemort said dangerously. Harry narrowed his eyes.
"I am not related to her by blood- the only way I could have inherited that requirement as well is if I were related by blood. The mark is a slavery mark, if she'd had children they would have been required to take it. However, I am not her child and I therefore am not required by magical law to take your mark nor will I willingly do so. You will not own me dark lord." He said crossing his arms across his chest. It was a gamble because he was in fact related to her by blood; he had added a quarter of her blood as well as her husbands' blood to the potion he'd taken but Voldemort didn't need to know that. Harry was unprepared for the cruel smile that stretched across the dark lords lips. Suddenly and quicker than he could see Voldemorts' face was hovering beside his head his breath hot against his cheek.
"There are other ways to mark you Malfoy." He said silkily. "You will be mine whether you take my mark or not." And with that he was simply gone his seat empty and the air around Harry cold and desolate. Harry let out a roar.
"DAMN HIM!" He shouted clenching his fists. Lucius and Severus were pale their expressions terrified.
"Severus?" Lucius said his voice soft and frightened. "What did he mean by that?" Lucius asked. Severus frowned and shook his head.
"I have no clue." He whispered his voice coming out dry. Harry trembled and fell back against his pillows.
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Harry adjusted his cloak once more before giving Lucius and Severus a look which he'd meant to be reassuring only, their nervous faces told him he hadn't done a very good job of it. Sighing he dropped his handful of floo powder into the grate. "Hogwarts, headmaster's office!" He said firmly. The world spun in a million different directions for a moment and it was only his duel honed instinct that made it possible for him to find his bearings rather than sprawl out of the floo. He nearly grinned in triumph when he landed gracefully on his feet mid stride; it was only what he saw upon exiting that caused his grin to die. Dumbledore's office had undergone several changes, for one it was darker than he could remember and the paintings of past headmasters had been removed from their usually messy placement. The headmaster's walnut desk which had once been strewn with scrolls and baubles had been replaced with a monstrous mahogany desk which was organized meticulously and without decoration save the one picture frame in the upper right hand corner. The rather tacky sitting chairs had been replaced with a tasteful plush sofa and chairs and the rug which had been red was blue. Book cases lined the walls all neatly organized and he suspected alphabetized. "Ah, Ares." The velvety voice drew him to the corner where the dark lord was entering through a door that had never been there before a glass of something red in hand. Harry tilted his head still wary of the man.
"Sir, I hope I'm not late." He said. Voldemort waved him off with a grin.
"Not at all, now, let's get started shall we? I'd rather not preoccupy Amycus' office for too long poor dear tends to get a bit twitchy when people are around his things." He said making his way to the door. Harry frowned.
"Amycus?" He asked hesitantly, red eyes glanced back at him lazily.
"Yes, Headmaster Carrow to you I suppose." He informed setting his glass on a small side table beside the door. "That aught to piss him off." He said cheerfully. Harry glanced at the glass warily before following Voldemort down the stairs. His jaw clenched when he noticed that the gargoyle defending the headmaster had been changed to a rather fierce looking dragon but said nothing as he followed the dark lord his eyes taking in the tall hallways he'd missed so much. Hogwarts was cleaner he noticed, and the many paintings that had lined the walls had been removed along with the suits of armor.
"Did you attend Hogwarts?" He asked taking in the rather large window which hadn't been there when he'd last been at Hogwarts. Of course he knew that Voldemort had come here but he couldn't help but wonder what the man had thought while in these walls. He could guess of course, but it wouldn't be the same. Voldemort paused his gaze wistful as he reached out a hand and caressed one of the arches lovingly, the way Harry had noticed that he tended to caress his wand when he was thoughtful.
"Yes." The man said at last. "Hogwarts was my home." He said softly. Harry had to look away, this emotion that the man was showing it was private but Harry could understand his soul too was rooted deeply in Hogwarts walls.
"I've never had a home." He said aloud, which was true, Hogwarts had been his only home. He screwed up his face at the irony of it. "What is home?" He asked curiously. He could only guess. But he had betrayed his home hadn't he? He'd let Hogwarts fall into the hands of death eaters. Would she ever accept him back? Could she still be home after all he'd done and seen? He jerked back suddenly a scowl crossing his features. "It doesn't matter though does it? Home makes you weak; it's a baseless emotion one gives to a place of dwelling, a word perhaps but nothing more than that." He turned and caught deep red eyes which seemed to burn quietly with some unknown thought. Voldemort turned away looking once more at the stone walls.
"I don't know Ares, to me, home is something that can never betray me." Voldemort said dropping his hand. Shock raced through Harry, he hadn't expected that…such a human emotion. Dumbledore had once told him that Voldemort couldn't love; that he was incapable of it- yet, here the man was gazing at Hogwarts walls with a familiarity he'd only seen in the closest of families. He found himself wondering at the words the man had said and hesitantly he spoke.
"What if you betray home though?" He said confused as he carefully reached his own hand out snatching it back before he could touch the cool stone. Red eyes were gazing at him when he turned away a look of deep thought marring graceful features.
"No matter what you do, home will always welcome you back- that is why it can never betray you." Voldemort said softly. Harry wondered what the man must be thinking, Hogwarts was his home and somehow she had accepted him back into her walls. Hesitantly he reached out his hand and pressed it to the cool wall gasping at the magic he felt swelling up to meet him, to welcome him as Ares Malfoy, and as Harry Potter. He found it suddenly hard to breathe and pulled his hand away if only to keep himself from submitting to the well of emotions the action had caused to spring loose. He looked at the wall with a new reverence then holding his wrist with his other hand as it tingled from the magic. When he looked up Voldemort was smiling. A small smile, but a true smile, it was disconcerting.
"Shall I show you the Great Hall then?" The man said brushing off the emotional scene with all the grace of a practiced politician. Harry nodded ducking his head as he tried to gain control of himself and followed the man quietly to the large doors which he noted had been replaced at some point and a large glittering chandelier had been placed above it, he could only imagine what it must look like at night. Voldemort smirked down at his wide eyed look and pushed open the doors causing Harry to gasp. The hall was larger than he'd remembered, and tall cushioned seats had replaced the long uncomfortable benches. The tables had been replaced with nicer tables made with a lighter colored wood. The ceiling still depicted the sky however several chandeliers also dripped from the ceiling and more windows had been added to the walls making the room brighter and more open. The head table had also been replaced and the professor's chairs looked far more comfortable, the podium where the headmaster sometimes made announcements now depicted a ferocious looking dragon that had been painted silver.
"It's beautiful." Harry said honestly as he noticed once again the sheer cleanliness that Hogwarts showed. Voldemort chuckled.
"We've made a few changes, and more are still to come. It seems getting a competent caretaker was the key, the last one was rather lazy and a squib, so he couldn't even use magic to keep the place up." Harry nodded absently not daring to wonder what had happened to old Filch and his cat. "We bought more house elves too, the few Hogwarts had before couldn't keep up with taking care of students and cleaning up after the caretaker as well." Harry nodded slowly still taking in the changes before turning to find a smirking Voldemort looking at him. Immediately he found himself wary and straitened himself out forcing his expression to become more neutral.
"What?" he asked guardedly. Voldemort shook his head smiling slightly.
"Reminiscing perhaps." He said his voice warm as he looked over the hall again before standing and striding over to the Slytherin table. "I sat right here you know." He said pulling out a chair half way down the table. Harry watched the man curiously as he sat down and gazed across the empty hall. "My head full of dreams, of things that I was determined I would accomplish- dreams that I did eventually accomplish." He said leaning back into the chair his face shifting from content to wistful. "Many of them any way." He admitted. Harry could only watch transfixed as the man he had hated so much denied his claim of the man being anything less than what he was in the end- a man. Slowly Harry made his way across the room and traced the Slytherin table.
"There will be students here." He said aloud. "People I've never met before all with their own plans and ideas, people who have spent the last six years at this school making friends with each other or at least comrades in arms." He shook his head at the image of him sitting at this table with the others avoiding their schemes and plots, ignoring their snide comments and sharing cold looks. Was this really what he'd come too? Could Hogwarts remain home despite it all?
"Nervous?" Voldemort asked curiously. Harry's mouth opened ready to vehemently deny it but instead he paused his face falling slightly.
"Perhaps." He admitted. Voldemort nodded.
"So was I you know." He said. Ah, quid pro quo. Harry's admittance allowed Voldemort to admit, it wouldn't always work but it was a tactic he could try again at another time. He quirked an eyebrow.
"You?" He asked causing the man to grin wickedly. Harry shook his head. "Somehow I doubt it; I can see you striding in here confidently your head held high as you awaited your future." He said imagining the small Tom Riddle standing off to the side as the others were sorted, always standing out from the group even then when the future was so uncertain.
"I'm flattered." Voldemort chortled lightly. Harry rolled his eyes.
"No doubt." Voldemort sneered halfheartedly as he stood and pushed in his seat.
"Now, now mister Malfoy lets' not tease." He said making his way to the doors. Harry followed the man with a snigger. It was hard to stay mad at the man he realized, the colder part of him said that it was quite possible for him to hate Voldemort for what he was and everything he'd done. But hatred was tiring and apathy much more rewarding. Silently he followed the man as he was guided to the library which had remained much the same if not larger. Harry's eyes traced the books hungrily and he wondered how it was he'd ever been able to sit in here and not want to read. There was so much information, so much potential in the written words and dusty spines.
"Did you spend a lot of your time in here?" Harry asked pulling a book out at random. Voldemort traced the spines on the shelves opposite with reverent fingers.
"Yes, I didn't have friends you see, only classmates with uses and they grew tedious from time to time.
"I had friends." He said quietly causing red eyes to snap towards him. "They're dead now though." In all likelihood they probably were or if they weren't he couldn't possibly dream of making friends with them in this frightening new world. They'd turn their back on him in a second if they knew what he'd done.
"May I ask what happened?" The man inquired feigning casual interest. Harry smirked at the man telling him that he'd seen right through the act.
"In order to survive I killed them." He said softly the words rolling from his mouth too easily and with too much coldness. "I didn't realize how much they'd come to mean to me until they were gone, a weakness I can't afford. I'll not be making that mistake again." He said before frowning wondering what that coldness in his chest meant. "Actually I'm not quite sure I could do that again after all who could understand…" He trailed off his mouth clicking shut loudly. He was getting too comfortable around the man. What was his motive? He sighed and slid the book back into place before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a chocolate. He'd been doing well so far keeping just enough distance between them and eating chocolates every once in a while but he knew it wouldn't be long until the man pulled something, it was better for him to be prepared. Cautiously he turned around to find the man frowning at something unseen the look in his eyes telling Harry that he was deep in thought. Red eyes snapped towards up upon realizing he was being watched.
"Lets' go on shall we?" The dark lord said breezing past him. Harry frowned startled at the move but didn't argue. The air was chilly as they climbed the steps and Harry found himself hard pressed to keep up with the dark lords' quick strides. "This is the Quidditch field." Voldemort said suddenly and Harry looked up in shock. Quidditch, he could remember the freedom of flying the limitless lines in the sky, but there was also a part of him that understood that Quidditch associated him too closely to Harry Potter, in fact in his mind it was something he couldn't touch. He couldn't tell if it was out of fear of being found out, or perhaps out of respect for the Harry Potter he had once been. The brash boy who would make death defying moves simply to catch a small golden ball. Either way he felt hesitant upon entering the enlarged stadium. He glanced at the red eyed man and found him smiling slightly as he sat on the bleachers. Harry cocked his head to the side and sat on the bench below the man relishing the soft cool breeze for a moment.
"It peaceful out here." Harry said after a while, the long silences were making him uncomfortable.
"Hmmm? Yes quite peaceful." The man was smirking tracing his lips idly.
"Any particular reason you sound so smug?" Harry asked unnerved. A red eye cracked open and the smile widened.
"I was just remembering I received my first kiss on the Quidditch pitch." Harry's jaw would have dropped- instead his eyebrow twitched. He chuckled, the thought of Voldemort kissing some chit clumsily a hilarious thought.
"And what did you want so badly you were willing to kiss some girl for it?" He drawled a smirk on his lips. Amused eyes turned towards him.
"A job, it was a boy though, quite a bit older than me actually." Harry blinked the thought of Voldemort allowing some older boy to hiss him. His mind was flooded with images of the young Tom Riddle eyes determined as he watched the older boy dip his head, widening at the last moment- he shook his head dispelling the images and with them the slightly disgusted feeling he felt towards the older boy. Taking advantage of a child! "What about you Ares?" The man asked watching him with lidded eyes. Harry frowned sneering slightly. Quid pro quo again? Very well.
"A girl- she was also older than me." He shuddered at the memory. "Not something I particularly want to try again she was bawling the entire time bloody messy and…wet." Voldemort let out a loud laugh clutching his stomach as he tossed his head back the rich sound filling the air making Harry smile slightly. No matter the man's faults he had the most wonderful laugh. Lucius laughed like that some times and Severus too, but neither of them matched the color that filled Voldemort's laugh. Red eyes caught him and he quickly looked away.
"Perhaps you were kissing the wrong person? I find that given the right person kisses can be positively orgasmic." Voldemort drawled with a lazy smirk as he leaned back on his elbows. Harry snorted his expression indignant.
"Yes well the second his wasn't very intense either, nor the third nor the fourth, it seems that no matter who I kiss I simply mphh-!" Harry was cut off as a strong hand grasped his jaw tilting his head back. Voldemort leaned close his expression closed off and dangerous.
"Just how many people have you been with Mister Malfoy? Be careful you're beginning to sound like a whore." The man said his voice deep and velvety with a dangerous edge to it that sent shivers down his spine. He struggled with himself desperate to gain control of himself. He'd known this would happen, that the man would do something, that the man had something planned! He jerked away from the touch panting at the effort it took and rubbing his chest where that icy cold spot had settled.
"What the bloody hell are you on about!" He hissed furiously. "I'm no bloody whore!" He spat. "If I can't even feel anything from a single bloody kiss what the hell makes you think that I'd let someone get any farther!" He shivered in disgust. "Is that what you wanted?" He asked suddenly as things began to click into place. "To know that I find sex and the very idea of intimacy disgusting? That kissing makes me cringe and anything more than that makes me want to run away? Is that what this was all about?" He shook his head backing up from the man his eyes burning. "Well there you go then, I flirt but I feel nothing you have your bloody proof!" He hissed before turning his back on the man and storming off. He couldn't be here any more, not when the man was able to control him through something as simple as physical contact. It was too dangerous. He needed…He needed Severus and Lucius. The thought shocked him. He'd never willingly gone to anyone for help before; it had always seemed so pointless because for the main part he knew that he wouldn't get help. He ran through the hallways cursing the dark lord and his inability to control himself. He stopped upon reaching the gargoyle and stared at it for a moment realizing that he didn't have the password.
"Malfoy!" Harry flinched at the harsh tone and gripped his upper arms in a parody of a hug as his breathing began to come out in cold spurts. He coughed and reached into his pocket his fingers stumbling as he tore at the chocolate wrapper and shoved the sweet in his mouth his body feeling weak his head spinning from the intensity of his reaction. He stumbled away from Voldemort as the man approached his eyes distrustful and the man clenched his jaw.
"I'll not hurt you." He bit out. Harry let out a bitter laugh.
"Oh but you will, everyone does in the end!" He said clutching at his chest with one hand as he pulled another candy from his robe and tried to open it with the other. He leaned against the wall heavily as tremors raced through him.
"You're hysterical." Voldemort said with a frown. Harry chortled.
"You're illogical!" he bit out with a laugh. "You go from having a conversation about kisses to accusing me of being a whore! What does it matter to you! How does that of all things fit into your grand schemes?" He asked shaking his head in disbelief. He nearly cheered when he managed to open the small bit of foil and dropped the chocolate into his mouth nearly melting against the wall as it took effect.
"You're veela." Voldemort said with a frown Harry rolled his eyes. Honestly did the man ever make sense!
"You know that already!" he said with a huff as he crossed his arms feeling calmer now that the chocolate was in his system working to rid him of that cold spot in his chest.
"No, veela have high sexual appetites it would make sense if you slept around-" Harry smiled grimly his face pale.
"Well I don't so forgive me for going against my nature, a nature I didn't even have until I reached my majority recently!" He ended snapping slightly. He looked away from the man, he couldn't handle this right now, he felt as if the walls were falling apart around him. He cheered inwardly as the gargoyle began to move. Now if he could just get to the floo-
"So you're a virgin?" Voldemort all but demanded. Harry froze his mind spinning out of control. Virginity could be used in any number of rituals, had Voldemort planned on using one? He felt almost hurt by the idea, something that rather quickly twisted into anger.
"Yes." He said coldly. The man leaned back looking mollified and Harry could only sneer. "But you won't use that!" He snapped. "Whatever your planning be it ritual or some terrible act meant to break me it won't work! I won't let it destroy me. No matter what terrible plan you weave I'll not give in to it, I'll learn your motives and I'll come out on top!" He snapped before climbing up the steps two at a time. "Bloody manipulative bastard." He hissed to himself as he strode through the office giving the tall slender man a jerk of a nod before striding strait to the floo.
"Malfoy!" The sharp voice rang through the room and Harry noticed the headmaster twitch visibly. Harry paused, his face twisted into an ugly sneer as he looked at the dark lord.
"Yes sir?" He hissed annoyed. "Do you have any more degrading comments to spit at me? Or perhaps you want to-"
"Crucio." Harry should have seen that coming. He clenched his jaw and fell to the ground trembling as he resisted the urge to scream letting out a loud pained growl instead as his arms jerked. He would not scream, he would not scream for this man! He lifted his gaze despite the pain and met the man's gaze head on. Numb. Cold. Go back to that place. That dark place where he was safe. He felt himself slip away felt his eyes go flat and his body go limp twitching like a broken toy as he retreated into the back of his mind watching it all happen as if it were happening to someone else. He watched Voldemort's eyes shift his expression screaming confusion as he lifted the curse. "Ares?" But his body stared forward unblinkingly. Slowly he felt a tug and followed it catching a glimpse of Voldemort's wide eyes just before he was yanked back into his body awareness making its self know to him. Pain...The familiarity of it was almost comforting. He felt his lips twist slowly.
"You cannot break me." He said his voice rough as the lingering feeling of that cold dark place ebbed away. "My body is but a shell." He laughed softly. "Tell me dark lord, how is it that you think you are going to convince me to serve you when all you seem to do is convince me that I don't want to kneel before you?" He shook his head. "I don't know if I am the same way now, but there was a time when I would have done everything for those I was loyal to. You cannot break me because I a have already been broken and I have picked up the pieces and put them back together, I know where each one goes and no matter how many times you think you've shattered me I'll just put those pieces back where they belong." He smiled cruelly at the man whose eyes glittered with something unknown.
"Amycus leave us." He said sharply. The tall man hesitated before darting out of the room his eyes wide and frightened. Voldemort strode forwards pausing just before him and leaning forward so that he could speak directly into Harry's ear. "Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to break you? That I was genuinely interested in who you are when I asked you those questions? Tell me Malfoy what will it take for you to bow to me willingly hmmm? Money? You have that, fame? You aren't the type. There isn't much that I could offer you that could entice you and I am well aware of that. But I am also aware of the fact that you are worth whatever I pay in the end. I would not use some one like you for a ritual and I do not aim to harm you in any way, do not under estimate your worth in my eyes." He hissed softly before pulling back his eyes narrowed his jaw tense. "Despite how things ended today I quite enjoyed myself." Voldemort said his shoulders relaxing slightly as he made his way to the door. "Go home Malfoy, I'll see you at the coronation." Harry watched more confused than ever before as the man left the room. What was that? He shook his head slowly. Voldemort had never looked at him that way before and he'd certainly never spoken to him that way- as if he was worth something beyond grandiose scheming. He rubbed his face wearily and stood on shaky legs before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pouch of floo powder tossing some into the grate.
"Malfoy Summer House." He said tiredly before slipping into the floo. The dark lord would never cease to confuse him.
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Harry sighed as he looked himself over in the mirror, he had to admit- the uniform looked good. He sighed and slid his finger down the tight dark material. At least he wasn't the scrawny thing he'd been at the start of the year, the moment Lucius and Severus had seen his report from the mediwizard he'd been placed an a very strict regimen of nutrition potions and Lucius had decided to eat all of his meals with him ensuring that Harry ate everything on his plate and urging him to take seconds and thirds. This combined with the dulling and combat classes he was taking had lead to a rather nicely filled out body and while he wasn't overly muscular the muscles he had were tight and deceptively hidden. His stomach looked flat but one touch would tell of the corded knots just beneath the skin. His legs and arms while appearing muscular were by no means a body builders arms though his speed and agility made up for that. He sighed heavily once more. How did he get himself into these situations? A chuckle drew himself away from the mirror to where Lucius was leaning against the doorframe his own uniform making him look tall and imposing. "You look smashing in a high collar Ares." He said smiling fondly. Harry couldn't be mad at the man, he couldn't even muster the courage to be annoyed with him instead he just sighed again.
"Why did I kill her again?" He asked himself aloud. "Oh yes, she was a bitch." He confirmed to himself causing Lucius to chuckled once more. The man crossed the room a soft look on his face as he ran his hands over the material on his shoulders testing the thick, cleverly hidden padding and armor smoothing the cloth of invisible wrinkles.
"She deserved it though I should have been the one to deliver the blow." Lucius said with a helpless look on his face. "The road ahead of you is not an easy one Ares, I would have preferred for you to have some means of childhood left to you." Harry caught the man's hands in his noting the similarities in shape and size.
"I was never a child Lucius, it is a sad fact but one we must come to grips with." He said tiredly. Lucius nodded and raised his hands hesitantly touching the circles beneath his eyes.
"Your eyes have seen far to much for one so young as you, I wish sometimes that I could simply disappear with you, Severus and Draco and hide in a cave somewhere. I know it's not possible though." Harry smiled sadly.
"I did try not to catch his attention you know." He said smiling ruefully. Lucius chuckled.
"Ares there was nothing you could have done to hide yourself, you are a Malfoy, it is a given that people will take notice of you." Harry nodded and Lucius pursed his lips. "Of course it didn't help that you killed his favorite and refused to take his mark." The man said quirking an eyebrow. Harry grinned.
"Oh come on! I couldn't just give into the man after he did that! He pissed me off!" Lucius rolled his eyes.
"He's killed people for less." He said dryly. Harry winced.
"Yes, well I'll tread carefully you know that." He said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Lucius smirked and opened his mouth to retort only to be cut off by a knock on the door frame.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Severus said with a smirk. Harry grinned.
"Forgive me mister Snape but after losing Bella I simply couldn't help but seek comfort from the arms of another!" Severus quirked an eyebrow unimpressed and snorted before entering the room.
"Impertinent brat." He said reaching out to wrap his arm around Lucius' waist. "I'll show you not to play games with what is mine!" He said grinning evilly at Lucius who rolled his eyes at the two of them. Harry had wondered about the two of them, but after Lucius' divorce with Narcissa Snape had proven him correct by moving in and demanding that Lucius just accept the fact that he wasn't going any where this time. Harry had taken it in stride teasing them mercilessly whenever possible.
"What is that Severus?" Lucius asked his eyes darting to the oblong package Snape was trying to make unobtrusive. Severus sighed and held it out for Harry.
"This is a family heirloom." He said smiling thinly. "My mother hid it away along with a few other possessions, I was intended to have it but…I think its better for you to have it now, I couldn't bring myself to use it." He admitted softly. Harry took a step away.
"But I'm not even-" Snape thrust it into his hands.
"Take it." He said softly. "Bring honor back to the Prince name." Harry clutched it to his chest and looked at the man carefully before nodding and slowly tearing the brown paper and twine away revealing a handsome case made of mother of pearl. He traced the smooth silver at the hilt reading the words softly.
"Abyssus abyssum invocat." He said softly looking to Severus who nodded a soft smile on his lips.
"Hell invokes Hell." He said his voice a deep rumble. Harry bit his lip and slid the blade from its sheath gasping at the power he felt thrumming through him as the scrawling gold filigree contrasted beautifully with the silver metal. "Its Elvin made, a treasure that one should not take lightly. It is said that the Prince line came from the royal line of elves." Severus said smirking. Harry's eyes shot up meeting the dark gaze.
"That's why…" Snape nodded and put a finger to his lips.
"It is a secret, one that only a few of the oldest lines are aware of." Harry nodded his head holding the sword reverently as he tested its weight. He gasped as the Sword shimmered and words slowly etched themselves into the blade.
"Aspicio diabolus causidicus." Harry read frowning at the delicately engraved words. Severus was pale his eyes shining as he looked at Harry.
"Behold, the devils advocate." He said breathlessly. Lucius gasped softly and Harry frowned at the words. "The sword is magical Ares it works on old magic, earth magic, the kind that elves used in their time before wars and humans drove them into hiding. What is inscribed there could mean anything but-" He licked his lips smirking slightly. "-I have an idea of what it means." Harry tilted his head to the side sliding the blade back into its sheath.
"What do you think it means?" He asked tying the strap around his waist. Severus grinned slightly.
"That you're going to raise hell."