AN: Thank you so much for your reviews! I loved them all to bits :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I do not get paid for writing this story. Please don't sue me.
Warning: Some colourful swearing, a few naturalistic details and the very dirty mind again ;)
AN: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! :)
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
The weak rays of the morning sun were doing their best to squeeze themselves through the tiny window and illuminate the tacky bedroom on the other side - and were failing miserably. Covered in sparse grey shadows the oblong room looked quite grim and the two motionless figures facing each other in obstinate silence imparted an air of strange solemnity to the picture. Although the tension between the two men was almost tangible, there was no easy way of telling what it was exactly that was going through their heads since both their expressions were perfectly dispassionate giving away no emotion.
There were many disconcerting aspects of the scene. Still, what was most unsettling was the silence. One could be all ears but there was simply nothing to be heard - no sounds of London from outside, no sounds of commotion inside the building, not even a ticking of a clock. Nothing.
Harry was currently in what was proving to be a rather lengthy process of testing Severus' patience. Having known the man had been waiting for him to speak Harry had chosen to remain silent and make use of the gained time by weighing his options again. However, it was starting to get boring and he came to the conclusion that Severus had either nerves of steel - at least as far as Lilly Potter wasn't taken into account - or had fallen asleep with his eyes open.
"Would you tell me about my parents?" Harry asked finally breaking the silence which had been coming in almost audible waves by then. This was not part of his scheduled interview and he would have to get back to it eventually, yet he simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally hear something potentially truthful about the people that had given life to him.
"I seriously doubt I am the best man to do that," Severus uttered obviously irritated and Harry was certain it had nothing to do with his patience-testing. When he quirked an eyebrow at the man, Severus added: "I don't think I would be able to present you with an objective overview," he sneered more to himself than at Harry.
He narrowed his eyes at Severus and for a moment pondered commenting on the fact that the man clearly had a problem with his father since he'd seemed to enjoy talking about Lily. In the end Harry decided against voicing his suspicion. No benefit could possibly come of him making Severus furious this early in their relationship in the making - although he was sure that the wizard's display of temperament would be fairly entertaining.
"If you don't do it, then who will?" he inquired matter-of-factly not batting an eyelid at the look disturbingly close to a death glare Severus was currently giving him.
Harry would be probably much more alarmed at the open show of animosity if he believed it was directed at his person. However, he had come to notice it was sometimes hard to tell who Severus' emotions were aimed at and by whom or what they had been triggered - the fact that there were only the two of them in the room didn't reduce the number of people preserved by that brilliant memory of his that Severus was carrying in his head. The man was so complex Harry had taken it as a challenge to understand him. He had met enough simple people, Severus was sure to be a refreshing stimulation.
"I take it you intend to enrol at Hogwarts," Severus estimated forcing a friendlier expression on his face which happened to be just as disturbing as the previous hostile one. Having seen Harry's nod, he elaborated: "Then you are bound to meet many people who will be more than happy to share the information - with you especially. However, I wouldn't count on their impartiality either," Severus informed bitingly.
Many people? That sounded as if his parents were widely remembered. Not like him, forgotten and abandoned on the verge of reach of the world he belonged to, but loved and cared for even beyond death. Should it hurt? It didn't.
He supposed he knew why he had been dumped at this hellhole - he had given it some thought during the long years spent here at Winter's and had focused on the matter even more these past few days - and despite the somewhat dismal moments he had gone through in the muggle world he had come to understand and accept the reasons behind the decision to leave him here.
In consequence of that conclusion he now realized he was trying to enter a world where someone knew his most closely guarded secret. With that in mind, he was grateful for the entrance ticket to come at this point when he was fully prepared for facing whatever difficulty may arise and not earlier. He was certain he was ready to deal with every obstacle on his way to achieve his goals - which were presently somewhat vague and incomplete considering he didn't know much about the current situation in the Wizarding World but the draft would have to do until he had the time to work on it some more.
Nevertheless, at the moment the main questions were: Who was the wizard holding the means to destroy his reputation by sharing one single memory with the Ministry or the press? Had he shared it already? What position did the man have in the Wizarding World? How much did Severus know about the matter?
"I've waited for years. I guess I can wait one more month," he said and watched a flash of guilt cross Severus' features, though it was skilfully concealed in an instant.
Severus now thought he'd never heard a word about his parents. That wasn't entirely true. To set the record straight, he'd never heard a truthful word about his parents. At least not from a reliable source. He hadn't believed Vernon's stories about drunkards and drug addicts and riff-raff and car crashes out of the desperate childish need for something to be proud of - however false it might have been. Now he was given hope it possibly hadn't been false at all. And had to wait a month for it to be proven right or wrong. He had no problem with waiting. Yeah, tell yourself that.
"Do you know anything about my childhood or about the way my parents died?" he inquired combining one question seemingly illogical for him to ask concerning his most recent worries with one that had been expectable from the beginning. If Severus had even the slightest hunch on his secret, he would spill.
From the way Severus paled - which was quite an admirable thing for him to manage considering that under regular conditions his complexion was nearly white - Harry inferred the man either knew his secret and was afraid to break it to him or had something to do with his parents' death. After a few unreadable ones an expression of deep self-loathing settled on Severus' face and with great relief Harry made a mental note to anticipate the later. Crossing his legs he leaned back in the hard wooden chair and let the man stew in his own juice for as long as he may desire.
"Your parents were killed by a dark wizard," Severus said after a while looking at Harry expectantly as if hoping he would make do with that piece of information. Harry, however, had no such intention and having raised an eyebrow he waited patiently for the other man to reconcile himself to the fact.
After a minute or two - he had forbearance down to a fine art, Harry had to admit - Severus sighed resignedly, folded his hands in his lap and as if in trance - most probably steeled against the worst of reactions he anticipated from Harry - he began talking.
"When you were born a war was raging in the Wizarding World - the Light led by Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix on one side and the Dark Lord with his Death Eaters on the other. Your parents were among the leading members of the Order of the Phoenix-"
"Which side were you on?" interrupted Harry knowing the answer already but wanting Severus to look him in the eye and say it - for the sake of the man's peace of mind.
He was coming to understand where all the guilt connected to him in Severus' mind had been coming from. The man was subconsciously begging for his forgiveness and however despicable his actions might have been, Harry thought Severus had suffered enough. Such amount of remorse couldn't be remedial anymore, it had to be agonizing and highly damaging to the intellect - and Harry couldn't have that now, could he? He had to wonder if this Dark Lord had seen his follower's inner turmoil for all these years.
Then it hit him and he felt as if he had known all along. This was the mysterious master to whom both Lucius and Severus answered. The Dark Lord, Severus had called him - the arch enemy of his parents and most likely also their murderer.
He should be disgusted by the fact that he had been drawn to the wizard so strongly and had flirted with the idea of seeking the man out with the petty intention to simply get to know him - and play with an undoubtedly skilful player. However, in Harry's opinion it was too soon for disgust. Who am I to judge? He hadn't even heard the whole story yet. There was no need for making hasty conclusions. Not to mention there was no denying that to Harry merely thinking about the powerful wizard as a Dark Lord was somewhat...exciting.
Bringing his attention back to the black-haired man sitting stiffly opposite him, to his amusement Harry noted Severus was now most likely as close to making puppy dog eyes as he would ever see the man and had the situation been a tad less grave he would have laughed at the image. As it was he tried to appear as encouraging as he could without seeming patronizing and waited for the man's answer.
"I was a Death Eater," Severus confessed visibly bracing himself before going on. "And I am also partly responsible for the misfortune that befell your family. A prophecy had been spoken about you and the Dark Lord saying that you were the one with the power to destroy him. I happened to overhear a part of it and not knowing whose child it spoke of I went directly to the Dark Lord with the information.
"On the night of October 30 in 1981 the Dark Lord came to your parents' house with the intention to murder you. He killed both your father and your mother but for some reason didn't manage to kill you. His own curse having left you with a mere scar on your forehead made him disappear without a trace for years. Many still believe he's dead," Severus finished, his voice flat and perfectly emotionless though his eyes were telling. The shiny black irises showed all the loss, regret and guilt this man had kept buried in the pit of his heart for years so that no one could see. It was quite touching, Harry thought.
Suddenly all the pieces, one by one, started falling into place. Holding his breath Harry watched the jigsaw puzzle assembling itself in his mind. And he saw it all. Only then did he fully understand why he had been left at Winter's Orphanage. Of course there were blind spots here and there but he had the general idea.
Then it occurred to Harry that a Dark Lord wanting to remain undetected wouldn't mark his followers in a way which pointed them out in a crowd for everyone to sense - well, considering a Dark Lord with a brain. So it had to be only him who could feel the Mark. Disturbing.
He also understood why Lucius had been so horrified when he had in his drunken delirium blabbed out about his master. The Dark Lord had obviously returned to his position of power after twelve years of absence and was trying to renew his forces without attracting worldwide attention to his restored activity. And Lucius had disclosed the information to a complete stranger. No wonder the blond had been afraid of his Lord finding out about the incident.
Lucius would be in even more trouble taking who Harry was into consideration. Judging by Severus' snide remark about impartiality, in the minds of most Light wizards he had rid the world of great evil and had won their war for them. Harry Potter was a hero, an icon, the saviour of the Wizarding World. I can't seem to find the golden mean. I either end up between the scum at the bottom of the society or as a bloody celebrity cherished in the hearts of all - and never by my own efforts. He found it partly hilariously ironic and partly infuriating. Yet from a detached point of view, it was also highly advantageous.
And he was very lucky to have been caught unaware by a man of Severus' calibre - who had proven quite oblivious of his opportunity and had told Harry everything instead of abusing the power he'd had over him - and not by someone like Lucius. Harry barely contained the shiver following that particular thought.
Then there was the prophecy. In any case it was important if not crucial to Harry's planning. It could be a threat as well as a shortcut to his goals. Harry wasn't exactly well-informed about the matter at the moment - that would have to be remedied as soon as possible - but what it told of the Dark Lord was quite clear. Considering he had known only a part of the prophecy, there could have been fundamental miscalculations in the Dark Lord's reasoning, which had probably resulted in Harry's survival - and his present disappointment in regard to the rash and ill-advised decision the Dark Lord had made. What did you think? Men tend to err from time to time. Had he truly managed to idealize the Dark Lord - the man who had tried to kill him? Just great.
He almost shook his head to clear it but caught himself in time. Now, he wanted to meet the man more than ever. To learn his motives, his opinions and primarily his objective. There had to be a good one since he had prudent men like Severus and Lucius following it. An objective so important that the life of an innocent baby was insignificant in comparison. Even if he wanted, Harry couldn't let himself judge the picture of the Wizarding World now painted in his mind hastily or according to the view of a man seeking retribution for his parents' death - that would be ridiculous and in his position positively deadly.
In light of the many revelations, Severus' involvement in the death of his parents stung only a little if at all. In the end, to an unbiased observer it spoke of the man's unconditional devotion to both his love and his conviction. As fulfilling as it had been to finally discover the reasons behind the course his life had taken, Harry was aware his main task at the moment was to convince Severus of the truth - that he didn't hate him for what he'd done - or he might soon be stuck with another nervous breakdown.
"Obviously, it was a tragic accident that you had brought to light the information which in the end resulted in my mother's death. I believe there were no malicious intentions involved on your side. What you did was reasonable in your position and possibly beneficial to your cause. Should the contemporary generation of Germans hold grudge against Alan Turing for having constructed a device to decipher the Nazi codes and therefore indirectly having caused the deaths of many of their ancestors? Of course they shouldn't and it is my firm belief that they don't. And I'm not talking in the good-side-bad-side mode, mind you. When a man does his best to serve his conviction it isn't despicable - it is admirable. You can justifiably hate the cause but the people following it rarely deserve hatred. Once presented with the whole complexity of their motives, you'd find there is nothing left to hate," Harry explained serenely.
He knew he was being "unnervingly rational" as Mike had once aptly put it - and it was exactly the approach he needed when dealing with a self-accusing Severus. His little speech was meant to lull the guilt to sleep, invoke confusion and then with a few controversial statements point the blaming self-analysis in a different direction - somewhere near the Dark Lord and his cause if Harry's assumptions about the wizard were correct. And it all had to be done through sense and reason since that was the only possible way to persuade Severus of...well...anything.
Covertly amused Harry watched different emotions chase themselves in and out of Severus' face as his words hit home - though the nuances were barely recognizable. He could make out hope, doubt, confusion, more confusion, disbelief, an incredulous look aimed at Harry, caution, hope, mild interest, and when his features settled on "thoughtful", Severus spoke:
"Do you want to discuss the main concepts that gave rise and formed the Dark Lord's movement?" he asked drily, awe leaking through his stony mask.
Having quickly overcome his surprise Harry sent Severus a appreciative smirk. Besides following the train of thought Harry had set up for him the wizard had managed to see through his manipulations. Having seen the man's brilliant mind, it really shouldn't have astonished him that much.
Yes, I'd like that," he said with a nod not taking his eyes off Severus.
As unforeseen as it was, Harry was now closer to making a potentially equal friend than he had ever been in his life.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
On a thorny twig hidden deep inside a bush of bourbon roses there was a nightingale. It sang as if its life depended on the perfection of the tones formed in its fragile throat. Perhaps it sang for the flawless pinkish blossoms around. Or maybe it sang for the motionless man leaning against the wrought balcony railing high above the cold ground apparently lost in thought. The hem of his black robes was flapping near his pale bare feet in the light morning breeze blowing from the seemingly infinite blooming garden and bringing the delicate rich scent of roses along with the captivating song of the nightingale to the man's senses.
However, all the beauty was lost on the man. He was not one to appreciate such things – and his mind was otherwise occupied at the moment anyway. His imagination had chosen to provide him with an endless supply of different fantasies concerning the exact same person each and every time. Hundred times he had ravished the boy. Hundred times he had tasted those delicious full lips, had his hands all over that sinful body and then proceeded to fuck it into the nearest flat surface available. Hundred times – and it still wasn't enough. Whenever he had been faced with the image of the steady green gaze and had found the unwavering confidence and boldness in it, he'd felt a strong wave of excitement run through him at the challenge and the vicious circle had begun again.
For a long time he couldn't stop thinking about those eyes sure that he should know to whom they'd belonged. And then it had hit him. He had seen those eyes twice in his life. First he'd watched with satisfaction the light dying in them and in the following second, he'd met them again – just as stubborn and determined as those that had been making his cock twitch for the better part of the past hour – in a baby's face. And the image ensuing from that connection was too sick even for his taste. However, worse than the sickest of images had been the fact that he, Lord Voldemort, had been taken with none other than Harry Potter whom on top of that he had repeatedly fucked senseless in his mind's eye.
With that realization he had left for his bedroom – or rather for its balcony. Usually he never used it but in that moment he had been in desperate need of fresh air. He was in serious trouble – and couldn't afford it.
Nevertheless, right now the one in trouble was most definitely Lucius Malfoy. The idiot had been blithely conversing with the Boy-Who-Lived for hours and hadn't done a thing to bring him to his Lord. Moreover, he had let himself be lulled into false sense of security by the boy's magic – while being aware of it from the very beginning – and had been eating out of his hand ever since. And to top it all he had allowed Potter to make him unable to tell the tale. He needed information. He couldn't very well approach the boy at the orphanage, it would be too risky at this point when he wanted to stay undetected. The blond moron was a dead man.
Strong chilling wind swept through the rose bushes and made the sweet pink blossoms near the balcony freeze so that with the first touch of the gentle morning breeze they fell apart and turned into dust.
The blank moments, that's what irritated him the most. There were some shorter ones in the bar, than a long one after the strange Apparition and a few instants in the morning conversation. In all honesty, he had to admit it was as infuriating as it was fascinating. There was no spell he knew of that would enable a wizard to erase the exact parts of a man's memory which he wanted to disappear – well if you didn't cast the Memory charm every other minute, which clearly wasn't the case. Lucius didn't know what he could and couldn't reveal – which meant the missing moments hadn't been erased, only hidden from prying eyes and to Lucius the memories were still fully visible. What an exasperating and admirable piece of magic.
After a thorough examination of the blank spots of the memory he had discovered there were two kinds of them. Well, the long whole-night one and the others. The long one was clearly covered by a spell which was anchored to a certain place – a room specifically. Obviously Potter had Apparated them to said room and that had been when the spell had activated. From later conversation, this room could be Potter's office. The theory was also fuelled by the beginning of the morning memory. It was impossible for Lucius – however drunk he might have been – to have fallen asleep during Apparation and wake up in mid-step on his way down a staircase.
Taking all the facts into account, his next action should be to search for the building where it had all taken place, find the room and dislodge the spell. Except nothing in Lucius' memory gave any indication to where it might be – which was probably the consequence of some of the shorter blank spots. They were not all-consuming like the long one. In most cases they covered only parts of the scene leaving the conversation between Potter and Lucius without intervention, though there were also a few suspicious unintelligible words – presumably names.
Those shorter missing moments were all apparently also anchored to an object. Now that he had something to compare them with, he could feel it. Considering Potter's strange farewell present causing a surge of magic to encompass Lucius, he would guess the anchor was the book. He would have to examine it later.
"The room upstairs isn't a flat, it's my office and it is in every way possible a work of magic."
It was this statement that at first wouldn't stop nagging at him and then gave sense to a lot of things – while not resolving any.
It would be pointless to search for a room, because there was no room to be found. The little bastard had keyed it to his magical core. That way the boy could carry the room around in his head and make it materialize anywhere he wanted when having enough space and privacy. And apparently he could make it materialize for other people as well. It was a functional fantasy place that could become real by thought. What had the boy called it? His Office. If what he had assumed was true, it was…incredible.
From the conversations he had witnessed, Voldemort had inferred that the boy was not only witty but also highly intelligent – that was what turned him on so much aside from the unyielding confidence and the sauciness and the wicked sense of humour and the never-ending playfulness and thousands of other things. However, this little trick called for the word brilliant.
He ran all the facts, every last detail of the memory through his head. It was flawless. There was no way for him to break the spell unless he was in a room only Potter's magical core could call to existence. While it was hard but still practicable to take one's magical signature of an object charmed by the person in question, to imitate one's magical core was simply unfeasible. As much as he detested it, he knew defeat when he suffered one.
Another thought was persistently nagging at him. It was a part of the memory, the moment when Lucius was about to take Potter's offered hand just before the Apparation to be exact. Something that didn't fit? There was nothing "missing" in the scene – not a spot bleached or a word mispronounced. Potter and Lucius are sitting in a dark corner of an empty bar. The only other person in the room is a dark-haired lanky bartender frowning furiously at a glass he's absently wiping with a tea towel in the background – nothing fishy about a filthy muggle hating his job. What was it then?
There was nothing out of order with their surroundings so it had to be the two of them. Potter has a cheerful expression plastered to his face while Lucius seems thoughtful. As Potter prepares for Apparation a wave of his magic hits Lucius – who is suddenly surprised and high. Then his wide grey eyes travel to the half-finished glass of scotch - no, to the piece of paper lying on the table in front of Potter.
"Don't worry"
Why would Potter write that? To whom? There was no one in the bar apart from Lucius he had spoken to or had given a second look. He had to have an appointment and the note was meant for the person whom he would have been meeting had he not left with Lucius. Except that didn't make sense at all. The boy didn't act impulsively, he planned and if he planned, he wouldn't leave the damned note lying on the table so that anyone could take it or throw it away – he would have given it to the bartender. The bartender who was now piercing the shadows covering their corner with worried eyes! Of course, all the blind spots in the bar were Potter's interactions with the barman. The boy may be brilliant but he is not faultless.
This was it! He had to contact the bartender of – what was the name of the place - Shaw's Café Bar? He had all the information he needed. This was his way to approach the boy!
And then what?
Suddenly a dark shadow settled over the blooming garden.
The prophecy.
The shadow was torn to little pieces which then spread across the bushes and flowerbeds covering every single blossom, crushing it mercilessly and ridding it of its colour. In a second the whole garden was drowning in monotonous greyness.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies …
The nightingale gave one last gurgling trill before choking on its own blood and falling onto a bed of rose leaves with its fragile throat broken – warm blood staining the delicate pinkish beauty underneath.
Potter had the power to destroy him. It was as if the boy was dead already. All that genius for naught. Pity. Well, in light of recent events he was thoroughly fucked first and dead second. Maybe a short conversation wouldn't hurt either, just to explore exactly how far that brilliant mind could go…
The hem of black robes fluttered in the doorway and disappeared leaving a woefully colourless and deadly silent garden behind.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
Severus tried to conceal the waves of bewilderment, admiration and relief which in turns coursed through him as he watched the boy. Now, that he thought about it, there had been hints but he hadn't paid much attention to them at the time. Being too occupied with his raging emotions, he had failed to notice that this boy didn't behave like a boy at all - and after the years of teaching experience Severus was bound to recognize the symptoms at a glance. Harry was undoubtedly playful but that was where his boyish nature ended - and the rational, insightful and calculating mind of an adult began.
And for that matter, how had it happened that a thirteen-year-old boy knew more about history than an adult. Severus was not exactly an expert in the field - since he was a wizard - but he sure had at least average knowledge of muggle history. Well, the lad certainly hadn't loafed around.
As he replayed Harry's last speech in his head for what might as well be the fourth time, Severus came to realize that the closer he studied it, the more artful it was proving to be. He knew he wasn't exactly an easily predictable person, yet Harry had read him like an open book. Of course, allowing him entrance into his mind - which now seemed very imprudent to Severus - might have helped the boy slightly. Hadn't he met the Dark Lord he would have been caught off guard by such subtle manipulation. As it was he was merely forced to consider Harry well on his way to becoming a mastermind - and it did scare him a little, he had to admit.
However, taking the boy's intention into account, the whole manipulative act was rather endearing - Severus couldn't recall the last time he had used that word. Harry had wanted to assure him that he hadn't blamed him - which probably meant that Harry truly didn't blame him! - and also take his mind off the whole precarious matter. See? Endearing. And he was getting far too excited about it for his taste.
Now, that Severus had caught up with Harry in reading his character - at least to some extent - he was sure their interactions would go quite smoothly. He could even see himself enjoying the boy's company. Potter's son, who would have thought...
However, considering his current situation, he didn't have a very pleasant job ahead of him. He'd never expected he would need to explain this particular matter to anyone - moreover to the Boy-Who-Lived. But it was necessary that Harry knew. Having cleared his throat and with the first words ready to be pronounced, his preparations were interrupted by Harry's melodious voice.
"I almost forgot to ask you. Which side are you on now?" the brat inquired innocently probably knowing exactly how difficult it would be for Severus to answer the question - he would have rather explained the Dark Lord's cause, really. Still, it was a very logical and sensible question for Harry to ask.
"At the moment it is very hard to choose a side. Dumbledore has his flaws, so do the ideals of the Light and as far as I know, the Order of the Phoenix isn't active. Regarding the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, I can only speculate since I haven't been called into service yet but it is my belief that the Dark Lord has returned. As you can see there is nothing for me to join or take part in right now," Severus finished mentally congratulating himself on having managed to postpone the final decision.
Apparently highly amused Harry asked:
"And when the war bursts out again? Which side are you going to take then?"
You have postponed the decision for five seconds. Well done.
"Maybe there won't be a se-" Severus continued in his evasive manoeuvres.
"You haven't made the decision yet, have you?" the boy said simply and Severus couldn't but glare at him.
The infuriating imp only chuckled and went on.
"When none of the existing ones are satisfactory, why not make a third party or at least plant a strong influence in one of the two and change it to your liking?" the lad inquired matter-of-factly with a calculating glint in his eyes.
"There is no one powerful enough to form a third party or to change anything when joined with either of the two already on the scene - at the moment," replied Severus understanding perfectly what the boy was implying - having forgotten all about his anger somewhere in the process. He didn't really know what to make of it though. Should he be more afraid for Harry or of the chaos his colossal influence could cause in the wizarding world when shifted ineptly?
Harry watched him with an unreadable expression for a while. Then a knowing smile crossed his face as he spoke.
"Don't worry, Severus. I think I understand my position in the wizarding world quite well - the dangers as well as the advantages. But above all, I am aware of the responsibility and assure you that I don't take it lightly," the boy said and Severus knew it was one of the few times he'd ever hear him speak in true honesty and all seriousness. Why in the world did he feel honoured? You respect Potter's son. You will have to face it eventually, you know? Or, you can as well respect Lily's son if it helps you any, a voice cared to enlighten him. It wasn't the one he had been hearing these past few years but it was just as annoying.
"Tell me about Dumbledore and his flaws now, would you?" the boy requested and Severus barely stopped himself from snapping at him.
It was the phrasing that made his blood boil and run cold at the same time - so close to the Dark Lord casually requesting a report. However, as he met the familiar warm green gaze, Severus had to admit it was his mind and harsh memories playing tricks on him. What he had considered to be an order to report had been a plea for help and advice - coming from a boy too proud to present it as such.
"First thing you need to know about Dumbledore is that however harmless he may seem he is not to be underestimated under any circumstances. He did defeat the Dark Lord Grindelwand and did not do it with either his ramblings or lemon drops - although it wouldn't be completely out of character for him to try. However, as things stand now, the Light is pinning all their hopes on a memory of a man that has been slowly fading away before their very eyes as the years have passed and they have somehow failed to notice their hero growing old.
"Albus Dumbledore, however wise and knowledgeable, has long since been reliable to be completely rational when placed in front of an important decision. The man isn't hasty or reckless, quite the opposite. He tends to see the simplest of issues as overcomplicated ploys and make giants out of gnomes. Nevertheless, not all the people are able to view him objectively, therefore he remains a widely respected and admired moral example and currently also the unofficial leader of the wizarding world - since the present Minister isn't much of an authority. Yet, he is still a genius, mind you, only a little irrational at times," Severus concluded and waited for Harry's reaction to his summary.
The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, then gave Severus a bright smile before making another request:
"Now, if you would tell me what you remember about the Dark Lord - and his flaws if there are any," the last remark was snide as if Harry had been already aware of some grand failure of the wizard's. Severus just hoped Harry didn't believe it was a piece of cake to take the man on when he had managed it as a baby - but by thinking that he was insulting Harry's intelligence, Severus was sure.
"The Dark Lord is the most dangerous man I have ever met. He is irresistibly charming, brilliant and powerful, has very little morals, very little patience when faced with incompetence or disobedience, and very high tolerance for gore - if you know what I mean. He is insightful and perilously perceptive on one side but on the other he often turns a blind eye to obvious facts simply because they don't fit his point. However in regard to matters of no personal importance to him, he is strictly rational and unbiased.
"I didn't have the opportunity to witness the rise of his influence since it began in the 40s when he still was at Hogwarts. Some say his opinions have their origin in his wretched childhood - although no one knows exactly where or under what circumstances he grew up. It is believed that his profound interest in the Dark Arts was formed at the same time as his deep hatred towards muggles - very early in his life. Supposed-"
"You talk about him as if he were a character from some ancient myth. Some say... No one knows exactly... It is believed... He is a living man for God's sake!" Harry interrupted incredulously. Although not indignantly, out of pure curiosity it seemed.
Severus watched the boy with something akin to sympathy. Concerning the Dark Lord, Harry was probably in for a surprise.
"To be honest with you, I think it would be an understatement to call him a man - at least considering a man to whom the rules of nature can be applied," Severus almost shivered as he remembered the seemingly infinite reserves of raw power the Dark Lord possessed.
"Would it really?" Harry asked cocking his head to one side and suddenly resembling an inquisitive child. "Is it clear to you to what extent the rules of nature correspond with magic and where the boundaries lie - if there are any? Because it isn't clear to me," he added mock thoughtfully.
The boy was making a point - once again showing his masterful ability to play with Severus' mind - making him smirk. He wasn't one to openly show his admiration but he simply had to ask:
"Tell me, where did you learn the art of persuasion? How is it that you know exactly what to say? It is unnerving."
The boy sniggered and then gave him a long searching look. Having found whatever it was he'd wanted to find, he smiled and said:
"Plato already knew that the best way to bring a man around is to plant questions in his head - because men tend to trust their own thoughts the most."
Before Severus could wrap his head around the statement properly, the boy was already speaking again.
"Which side do you feel loyal to?" Harry inquired changing the subject abruptly.
Severus was starting to get used to the unpredictability of the conversation. Having run the question through his mind he answered honestly:
"I don't feel loyal to either of the sides."
"Interesting," the boy murmured more to himself than to Severus. "Well, good for you. This way you can choose what will prove to be more convenient," said the boy conspiratorially but Severus could tell there was a hidden query somewhere.
"What is it?" he inquired and had to once again search in the depths of his memory for the last time he had asked the question.
"Is your mind a safe place to put something I wouldn't like the Dark Lord to find out just yet?" Harry queried in that innocent tone again but there was caution in the green gaze.
"Of course it is," Severus spat indignantly. How dare the insolent brat imply that he couldn't hold his own-
"No offence," Harry interrupted his mental ramblings obviously barely containing his amusement.
"None taken," Severus muttered grumpily - which seemed to amuse Harry even more. "Now, what is it?" he inquired again feeling his patience slowly slipping from his grasp.
"Well, isn't the Mark kind of binding?" the boy asked curiously.
Severus only stared at him for a while before composing himself enough to speak.
"How do you know about the Mark?" he whispered in disbelief.
"I can feel it," Harry whispered back mysteriously widening his eyes significantly, the left corner of his mouth twitching.
"You arrogant oaf!" Severus flared up unable to help himself. Potter had risen from the dead just to bite him in the ass.
Fuming internally he watched as the impudent whelp struggled to suppress the laughter threatening to bubble up his throat - and made a surprisingly good job of it. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath Severus tried to find his lost patience before the insufferable nuisance of a boy opened its mouth again.
"So, is it binding?" Harry inquired calmly as if he hadn't been just yelled at.
"Yes, it is," Severus retorted stubbornly keeping his answer short and giving no additional information.
"Stop pout- oh, never mind," the boy muttered and Severus forced himself not to ponder what he'd meant to say.
"To sum it up," Harry continued having cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly. "The Light is more suggestible and despite its wider base of followers it inevitably ends up weaker in comparison to the Dark which is potentially much stronger but hasn't managed to reach the turning point yet. Do I get it right?" he quarried.
Severus nodded. His introduction of the two main leaders of the opposing sides didn't imply any of those things but they were indisputably correct. When it seemed the boy had nothing more to say about the matter, Severus remarked:
"You make it sound as if the whole conflict was already resolved in the future and all we could do about it was sit and wait for the result to come."
"It most likely would be the case, if the third influence stayed out of the matter – which it won't. Although at the moment it is impossible to tell which side it will take – or create for that matter," Harry uttered and chuckled when he saw Severus' bewildered expression.
Was the boy truly saying that he was willing to join the wizard who killed his parents should the circumstances call for it? Could there be hope for him to support the side he felt he should support and stay loyal to Lily's son at the same time?
When he looked up he caught the boy watching him intently again. Still holding eye contact with those unnervingly observant green orbs he listened to Harry's question:
"Do you feel inclined to join either of the two sides? I don't ask so that I could judge you. I ask so that I know," he concluded with such gentleness in his eyes that Severus was once again painfully reminded of Lily – and that was what made him answer honestly.
"I do feel that the ideals of the Dark are closer to my own views on the wizarding world, so I would be inclined to join the Death Eaters again, should the opportunity present itself. Although that definitely doesn't mean that I agree with all the opinions the Dark holds – some of them are quite...extreme," he said and was glad to have done so. It was pleasant to know that Harry was aware he was siding with the Dark and didn't hate him for it – well, at least Severus believed so.
"I expected you to," informed the boy and Severus had to wonder where he was heading with this speech. "You don't seem like a man who would blindly follow a stubborn irrational old coot and kept his mouth shut – and it is even more absurd to imagine you trying to talk some sense into him," Harry chuckled and Severus found himself smirking - having finally realized that the boy was teasing him. When had been the last time he'd had somebody tease him?
"So, is there anyone in the wizarding world who actually knows where I have stayed all these years or am I a complete mystery?" Harry inquired in a light playful tone.
"As far as I know, only Dumbledore was privy to where you lived. I asked him many times but he wouldn't tell saying you deserved your privacy," he sneered as he remembered the careful way in which Dumbledore had treated every information concerning Harry - not that there were many.
Severus watched realization dawn on Harry's face whose expression then abruptly changed into one of utter horror. The lad jumped up from his seat and started pacing from the small rickety table to the door very much like Severus had barely an hour ago only there was much more force to Harry's steps - making Severus wonder why there wasn't a well-trodden path showing on the linoleum already.
He stopped near the door running a slightly trembling hand through the mess of his black hair, his back facing Severus and there he stood still for almost a whole minute. He then turned slowly with an unreadable expression skilfully set on his features, though Severus could tell the boy was still upset.
"You mean Dumbledore, the leader of the Light, the widely respected and admired moral example, the headmaster of Hogwarts, the man who is highly regarded by the wizarding world for having defeated the Dark Lord Grindelwald?" Harry asked in a cold voice but his eyes were boring into Severus' begging him to say - Merlin knew what.
"Yes," he replied not able to feel any resentment at Harry's stupid question – knowing that there was something deeper to it.
"Well, that changes things," murmured the boy to himself walking back to the hard wooden chair and sitting down absently apparently lost in thought.
Severus watched him think and marvelled at how ridiculous this boy made him feel. When Harry had been teasing and playful one part of Severus had felt entertained while the other had been murderous and secretly willing him to shut up. However, when he was serious and silent, Severus' previously entertained part turned worried and the murderous stayed murderous although now the grudge was aimed against whatever had made the boy lose his good humour. Funny feelings.
The boy finally seemed to reach his decision and looked up at Severus with a perfectly serene expression.
"Would you tell me the exact wording of the prophecy? Although even if you have learnt the rest of it by now, I only want to know what he knows," Harry demanded softly.
When Severus obliged the strange request, the boy smiled sardonically and noted:
"Doesn't say much, does it?"
"No, it doesn't," replied Severus his lips stretching into a bitter smile of their own.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
Screams of sheer agony were echoing in the cold spacious corridors of Malfoy Manor making Dobby curl up in the far corner of a kitchen cupboard between pots and saucepans, cover his ears with the palms of his bony hands and wail desperately.
When the screams finally died down, the scrawny creature laboriously climbed out of the cupboard, the clumsy motion followed by loud clanking of the casseroles.
"Someone has to help…Master hurts and Dobby hears…someone has to help…Dobby knows…" the house-elf murmured feverishly smoothing out the wrinkles on the filthy rag covering his scraggy body with furious fervour.
The next second he heard a hissed call and popped into the largest room of Master's Master's quarters. Immediately the vile metallic smell of blood filled his nostrils. He bowed deeply squashing his upset stomach in the process and his tiny fists chose to betray him and flew to his lips in a desperate attempt to force the bile back down his throat.
He stared at the shiny black tile under his feet in horror and waited for punishment to come. There was a smear about the size of a bottom of a huge coffee cup in the right corner of the tile which made him squirm internally - since he was forbidden to move.
"Bring Avery and Yaxley from the parlour," the icy voice hissed.
Dobby hurriedly brushed the tips of his ears against the cold black tile hoping to clean at least a part of the monstrous smear and popped out.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
Another unnervingly long silence stretched in the tacky bedroom and this time Severus was sharp enough to realize that there was something seriously wrong about it.
"Aren't there supposed to be children in an orphanage?" he asked suspiciously surprised that he hadn't noticed the obvious lack of noise before.
Harry sniggered quietly and replied:
"This place is full of children, if there weren't wards on these walls," he gestured wildly, "the little monkeys in the neighbouring rooms would be listening to our every word." he informed his tone varying between fond and exasperated.
"So you used Silencing charms too?" Severus inquired hopefully.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked with a genuinely confused expression and it occurred to Severus that the boy truly wouldn't know since he didn't have any wizarding education - which was by the way the topic they should have been discussing all along in the first place.
"The spells you use so that others wouldn't hear you are called Privacy wards and those you use so that you wouldn't hear others are called Silencing charms. Did you use any Silencing charms on this room?" he clarified.
"No, I didn't. Why do you ask?" the boy looked even more taken aback at that.
"I know how a house full of children sounds," he drawled out sceptically.
"Oh, that would be the early morning," Harry replied as if that explained everything. The boy was covering it well but years of experience told Severus that he was bored with the conversation.
"Early morning?" Severus snorted, drew out his wand and cast a quick Tempus. "It is almost ten for Merlin's sake!"
"Well, for Walkinglard that is early morning," the boy said in a carefully indifferent tone. "There are a few simple rules that you learn by heart if you want to live a tolerable life here. One of them says: If you wake Dunnaby, you don't eat," Harry informed matter-of-factly.
Severus' temper was well on its way to flare up at the outrageous news when all of a sudden his left forearm started to burn as if it had caught fire. It was so unexpected that he didn't quite manage to stop a pained hiss from escaping his lips.
"He's summoning you," Harry noted offhandedly but his eyes shone with excitement.
Severus only nodded and bit down on his lower lip to ensure he wouldn't make a sound as the pain would grow worse.
Finally a summons. He tried to work out what it meant to him. He hadn't been – quite understandably – summoned in the first call but this was still early and most importantly while the movement was meant to stay undetected which told him that he was trusted – to his surprise. His post-war desertion to Dumbledore - which couldn't very well be called desertion since there was nothing to desert at the time - was an open secret and he had always expected that he would have to go to hell and back to gain the return ticket to the Dark Lord's service.
Well, at the moment he could only guess if it was a summons to service or to death. He shivered at the thought. Answer the call and you are a dead man this time tomorrow, sing-sang the infuriating voice. Very encouraging.
"I'll see you out," Harry interrupted Severus' musings cheerfully jumping up from his chair and heading for the door.
"What are you so happy about?" Severus growled out taking out his wand and sending a cooling charm at his forearm to ease the pain.
"I would be inclined to join the Death Eaters again, should the opportunity present itself," the boy recited. "You knew the dangers when you said that just as well as you know them now," stated Harry determinedly and walked out of the door leaving it open for Severus to follow.
He was aware that the boy was doing it again - playing with his mind, swaying his thoughts - still Severus couldn't but be infected by his determination. He rose from the bed and walked out of the door into the empty corridor.
As they walked down the tumble down staircase - which was suspiciously quiet in its response to their footsteps - Harry broke the companionable silence with a question:
"How do people who aren't his servants address him?"
Why in the world did the boy ask that? And where was he getting such crazy ideas?
"You mean the Dark Lord?" Severus quarried incredulously. "That would be probably something like: Please, have mercy," he uttered sarcastically.
Harry laughed and paused on his way down the stairs to turn around and give him an appreciative look.
"You have lived between the Light wizards, how do they call him?" he then asked curiously continuing on his way down the stairs.
"Most of them fear to speak his name and when mentioning him in speech, they refer to him either as to You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Severus replied.
"Cowards!" exclaimed Harry in outrage turning again to pierce Severus with indignant eyes as if to make sure he was telling the truth. "How do Light wizards with a backbone call him?" he specified gritting his teeth. Then he swirled around and stomped down the stairs muttering to himself furiously.
When Severus caught up with him in the murky hallway, he responded:
"Many of the former members of the Order of the Phoenix use his name-"
"Which is?" indicated Harry eyeing Severus suspiciously.
"Voldemort, his name is Voldemort. Although Dumbledore has always called him Tom for whatever reason," informed Severus shaking his head over the old man's infinitely eccentric attitude.
"Tom, I like that," stated the boy before making the dipterous unvarnished front door fly open with a wave of his hand and walking out into the blinding sunshine.
Severus followed shortly after him shaking his head over Harry's manners for a change.
"Can I watch you Apparate? I want to see how you do it - Lucius said your way is different from mine," the boy babbled excitedly.
Severus could marvel at the fact that the boy could Apparate and had a different way about it than the rest of the wizarding world on top of that, though he decided that a simple nod would suffice as a response.
As he followed Harry down the thin path splitting the lawn into two equally wild and overgrown parts, he caught sight of a tabby brown cat basking in the sunlight sprawled out on the wall surrounding the plot. He couldn't but notice that apart from the missing eye, the cat's ear was strangely disfigured and one of its legs was dangling over the edge of the wall in an unnatural angle.
"What happened to that cat," inquired Severus unable to supress his curiosity.
"Oh, you mean Brownie? I think you don't want to know, really" the boy chuckled and there was something about the sound that gave Severus the chills and made him believe that he probably truly didn't want to know.
"Maybe we could discuss my schooling as soon as you are finished with the Death Eater business?" the boy suggested cheerfully changing the topic along with the atmosphere.
"Yes, I will find you here," Severus agreed.
"Great, otherwise I think I would die of curiosity," Harry actually winked at him. Severus chose to respond by quirking an eyebrow.
Harry sniggered and wished him amusedly:
"So, good luck with Tom, I guess."
At that point Severus was closer to rolling his eyes than he remembered ever being.
"Thank you," he said drily, walked through the iron gate - which he had forgotten to shut when he'd come - on the sidewalk and making sure there was no one watching he prepared for Apparation.
This was the turning point. Whatever he chose to do now, there would be no way back, he knew. He either answered the summons and stayed in the Dark Lord's service for the rest of his life or ignored it and lived in fear for the rest of his life. What a choice. He had already made his decision anyway - and knowing that Harry approved of it only assured him of its rightness. Wait, what? Oh, do it already, you dolt, said the irritating voice in a strangely gentle tone.
He took a deep breath and turned on the spot. As he was sucked into the tight tube he felt a small hand firmly clutching his left arm. Foolish boy.
-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-
AN: Wow, it had taken me so long to write this chapter! I hope it was worth the time and you enjoyed it :) Please, leave a review for me?
AN: I also hope the hints - what do you make of them by the way? - don't irritate you too much. I would love to just tell you everything... but that would spoil all the fun now, wouldn't it? ;) I am so looking forward to the "great revelations"! Aren't you? :)