A/N: First I'd like to thank those of you who've reviewed. It's almost always a wonderful experience. Then, on the subject of Harry growing darker: Well first of all it's a matter of perspective although I have to admit that I like him a bit less goody-goody. But there's also some other factors that come into play and really, who can coexist with Voldemort without letting ones sadistic tendencies come forth? Because Voldemort will always be slightly evil. Now onto more important matters, the story:
Chapter seven: A Death Eater gossip and Leaving the Lair
As the summer drew to an end and the time for returning to the Dursleys and eventually Hogwarts was closing in, Voldemort and Harry had quite a lot to go through. Among other things they needed to put the finishing touches to Harry's occlumency so that nothing would be able to leak out to nosy outsiders. Especially those nosy outsiders situated at Hogwarts. Now, in reality it wasn't really necessary for Harry to be at Hogwarts for their plans to work out but it was easier that way. Not many suspects a kid still in school to try to overthrow the ministry, even if that kid is Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived. They also needed to decide upon what exactly they would do during the school year as Harry wouldn't be able to meet up with Voldemort very often, although he would have to sneak away sometime so that they could have a DWIB-meeting where all the important members would be able to meet. It was after one of those long and tiring planning sessions that Harry decided to stretch his legs by taking a walk through the house. But for safety reasons he first had to don some Death Eater robes and one of their masks.
The house was only a two-storied building, cellar not included, but it was built in a square around a one thousand square meter courtyard, and as such it had by far enough room for Harry to take a walk. Voldemort and he had finally recovered completely from their all-out fight on the twenty-eighth. It had been a painful time but now he actually felt stronger than before. Maybe one needed to exhaust their magic once in a while so that new fresh magic could take its place, sort of like spring cleaning?
By now Harry had wandered into the area where all Death Eaters, no matter what rank, were allowed. So when he passed through the door to one of the small studies the house held it wasn't that surprising that he stumbled upon on one of them working on what doubtlessly was a report for Voldemort. The man was sitting with his back to the door Harry entered from, but he looked up and turned around when he heard the sound of footsteps. At least Harry hoped it was a man, because he certainly didn't want to believe that women came in that size and with large hairy forearms to boost. While the Death Eater's hood wasn't down his mask lay beside his parchment on the table so when he turned his wheat blond hair and his rough features were in full view.
"Hi there buddy!" the now smiling man called out. "Why don't you sit down with me for moment? I've been spoiling for some company."
Harry sat down in the free chair opposite the man and stared across the small table at him.
"Hello." He responded.
"Not much for talking huh? Well no matter; I've been told I talk enough for a whole battalion."
Harry grunted. While most Death Eaters probably wasn't overly familiar with his voice it was best not to take any chances.
"You can take off your mask, nobody'll bother you here."
"Ah no, I'd rather not."
"Eh, it's okay. I remember being new. It's always worst in the beginning, but you'll get used to it. I know I did." He paused a bit before saying in a low conspiring tone: "So, did you feel that shock of magic 'bout a week ago? That was some powerful dark magic there all right. I reckon that was some other Dark Lord come for a visit that pissed of our Lord. Don't want to say it, but our Lord has one fine temper, he has."
Harry almost burst into laughter. Even his own Death Eaters thought Voldemort had a bad temperament. Although he wasn't sure if he liked being mistaken for another Dark Lord he responded. "Yeah, I felt it. But another Dark Lord? Surely there can't be that many of them, especially not ones who'd have time to come to England for a visit?"
"Well, actually there are quite a large number of them that call themselves Dark Lords but there's only a couple that really are all that strong. You're right about the time though, but I can't imagine someone other than a Dark Lord having such strong dark magic. It's really rather interesting how some wizards…" the blond Death Eater stopped abruptly and glared at something behind Harry's back.
"Don't just stand there rat!" He spat as Harry gripped his wand and turned to see what he was yelling at. "Didn't your mother tell you it isn't nice to listen in on others' conversations? Of course I can't imagine any mother wanting to spend time with the kind of ugly baby you must have been!"
And who stepped into the room after that if not Peter Pettigrew? Nobody could mistake that rat-like mug for anybody else's.
"Well now see here," Pettigrew responded as Harry felt his anger start bubbling up his throat. "I never did anything to you mister!"
"You didn't have to you stinking little coward! Always hiding and spying never doing anything to help the rest of us. Always complaining about everything you're made to do when the Dark Lord orders you, as if you're supposed to be something special for helping with our Lord's revival."
"Crucio" Harry who finally snapped hissed , sounding so much like Voldemort in that moment that the blond Death Eater felt a shiver travel up his spine. Harry had never really liked using the cruciatus and as there was quite a lot of different pain-causing spells to choose from he usually avoided it. But now he desired from the bottom of his soul to cause his parents' betrayer pain and so the cruciatus seemed the only curse appropriate for the occasion. And pain Peter Pettigrew felt, at least judging from the high rat like screeches he gave. But it wasn't enough for Harry he wanted him to feel pain, pain so intense that screaming wasn't enough, that lying curled in foetal position shaking would be the only available option.
"Hey buddy! Maybe you should stop: He isn't worth it! The Dar…" the man was stopped by a glare from Avada Kedavra green eyes glowing with magic. Dark magic. Intense enough for him to suspect it was the same magic as the magic battling with the Dark Lord's a week and a half ago. By the time the magic stopped Pettigrew had stopped screaming and lay staring at nothing with empty soulless eyes.
"Who are you?"
Harry turned around to face the Death Eater and slowly took off his mask.
"Harry Potter" he said "obliviate". While he found the charm slightly difficult, it was worth it to be able to see the look in the blond man's eyes when he revealed his identity.
The last week of Harry's stay passed quickly. In the end Voldemort and he had decided to kill Pettigrew and get rid of the body. Him just being alive wouldn't help prove Sirius' innocence and it just wasn't worth the trouble of admitting him to Saint Mungus. As for Voldemort's reaction: Well he hadn't really cared except for regretting not being able to torture Pettigrew himself. He had meant to as revenge for the botched up resurrection, but hadn't had the energy to look or call for the little sneak. And privately he felt rather proud of Harry for being able to torture someone to insanity, but he didn't tell him that.
Today it was the thirteenth of August and Harry was returning to the Dursleys so that he would be there tomorrow when some members of the order were supposed pick him up for his trip to Diagon Alley. At the moment he was sitting in the armchair in Voldemort's study waiting for him to finish up some last minute business before they would apparate to the Dursleys together. Harry supposed it was lucky that the order hadn't been able to post guards around number four this summer as they had done the previous, not that Mundugus had been much help with the dementors all in all. But now he was digressing again, he didn't know why but he seemed to think almost too much this summer. Anyway, the guards… They hadn't had enough people available with the war against Voldemort stepping up, well as they perceived it anyway.
Harry and Voldemort appeared a couple of streets away from the Dursley residence at dusk, which considering that it was summer was fairly late.
"You remember how to reactivate your shielding, I hope?" Voldemort asked only half-jokingly.
Harry glared at him and mockingly imitated tapping a wand at something while hissing. Voldemort sighed and clasped his shoulder while he looked Harry in the eyes.
"Just remember to be careful, alright Harry?" Voldemort looked away a little uncomfortable. "After all, I am the only one who has any right to kill you." He added with a slight sneer.
"Don't worry grandpa. You'll die of age before I keel over." Harry grinned, though he did feel a little touched.
"Why you little…! I ought to…" was the only thing Voldemort had time to say before Harry sprinted around the corner while waving backwards without looking.
When Harry arrived at the house the two adult Dursleys were asleep. Dudley was out… somewhere. Harry felt he really didn't want to now exactly where. He used the magical lock-pick he'd bought this summer, to replace the penknife he received from Sirius so long ago, to sneak in quietly through the front door. He hoped any neighbours looking would remember him and not mistake him for a burglar, and if they remembered him not call the police. He also hoped that aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon wouldn't scream loud enough when they discovered him in the morning that the neighbours would call the police then instead.
Harry needn't have worried. The fourteenth was a Sunday and all the Dursleys took the opportunity to sleep in that day so Harry was picked up by the Order before coming in contact with them at all. Although he did leave them a note recommending them to leave the country as it wouldn't be very safe any time soon.