Compulsion
Chapter 8
Harry's back at Hogwarts.
In other news, should I make Ron and Hermione good or bad? I don't like Ron, at all, so he'll be bad. Hermione is up to you all.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape or form.
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The last month had been wonderful with Voldemort. He'd learned all the Unforgiveables with the continued touches. Even if they were more determined than before and had a more profound effect on a certain area. And the touches without the spells were just as wonderful. Harry still found it cute, even if he would never say, even on pain of death, that Voldemort cuddled in his sleep. Nagini found it amusing as well. The two had gossiped about his habits during Death Eater meetings. Annoying his lover completely.
It was September first and time for Harry to leave the dusty manor he had grown to love and not only the man in it. He had come up with his cover story and was ready to leave. He had dressed in a simple pair of jeans and shirt courtesy of the house-elves. Voldemort was not going to be taking him to the train station; instead he was going to go extra early and wait to be the first on the train so no one would see him. He would imagine Ron and Hermione to be the first ones to find him and he would deal with their mountain of questions then. Until then he would sit here, try to sleep and not miss his lover. He did though. Which he did for a few hours before he was rudely awakened by a loud squeal.
"Harry! You're alive!"
He jumped awake, startled and looked to the door where his two best friends stood with a look of shock and relief.
"Uh, hey guys." Harry shifted and sat up, giving the two an awkward smile.
" 'Hey guys?' That's all you have to say after having been missing for 3 months!" Hermione shouted, glaring at Harry and hitting his shoulder.
"What do you want me to say?"
Ron huffed and sat down. "An explanation on where the Hell you've been might be nice."
"I will but when we get to Hogwarts. I don't want to have to explain it twice."
Hermione sat down next to him and looked him over. "Are you alright Harry? You're not injured are you?"
He smiled at her and shook his head. "I'm just fine. Don't worry."
"But Harry of course we worry! You went missing for 3 months!"
He shook his head and smiled again. It really was nice to be with them again even if they were on separate sides of the war now. He just hoped they were true in their worries, he didn't want them killed. Harry sat there and listened to them talk, occasionally answering questions. Thankfully no one decided to peak in on their compartment. When they finally made it to Hogsmeade station Harry was more then ready for bed. He pulled up the hood on his cloak and walked out with Ron and Hermione. The three had agreed it was for the best to prevent anyone running up and jumping Harry or start rumors. Once inside he went up to McGonagall.
"Professor?"
"You should be in the-" She paused and stared at the person before her. She tugged down the hood with a gasp. "Mr. Potter? My word, you're still alive. You. You . How-"
Harry shifted. "Can I explain to everyone all together? I'd rather not tell the story multiple times."
She nodded stiffly. "I will tell the Headmaster you're here. You can go on up to his office. The password is Sweettarts."
"Can Professor Snape be there? He was there and helped. I promise I'll explain."
The Professor gave him an odd look but agreed and left to the Great Hall while Harry made his way towards the Headmasters office. He went over his story in his head, repeating it to himself. He sat down and waited, sure enough Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Ron and Hermione came walked in.
"Mr. Potter how good it is to see you again. I'm glad you're alright."
Harry controlled the urge to sneer at the man. He knew better than to believe the man now. Hiding his obvious dislike, he forced a smile. "It's good to be back."
"Isn't it just wonderful Potter finally decided to show his face."
Oh, yes. He was defiantly going to use the oath to his advantage. "I know, I figured you missed my face Snape." He gave a mocking smiled. Snape sneered.
Dumbledore's eyes gave their normal twinkle. "Now Harry, we'd all like to know where you've been."
Harry nodded. He knew the story. Voldemort knew the story. Snape knew the story.
"Well, me and Cedric had made it to the Cup but we decided to get it together. But when we touched it, it was a portkey. I don't know where it took up but it was a graveyard. The moment we got there, I remember a bright green light heading towards Cedric. He was killed and I was stunned and bound before I could get my wand. I blacked out then and when I woke up I was in a cell." He faked a shudder of fear and sob of despair.
Snape hated to admit he was impressed. The boys' story was believable, as was his acting.
"The rest is hazy between periods of gloating and torture."
Hermione gave a muffled cry between her hands. Tears slid down her cheeks as she shook her head. Oh, Harry! Poor Harry!
"It's not until a few weeks ago I can really remember anything. I remember it being time for my small amount of food to be delivered and Snape was there instead. He handed me a portkey and it took me to this small cottage."
At this Dumbledore looked at Snape, his twinkling eyes held a harsh glint. "Why was I not informed you knew of Harry's whereabouts?"
"Please, Professor, it's not his fault. After I got there I found food and clothes. I took a shower and ate by the time I was done Snape had come to heal my injuries. I begged him not to tell anything. I wanted to recover and I knew all sorts of questions were going to be asked and I didn't want to be swarmed with questions. I just wanted some time to relax and recover. Surly that isn't so bad, don't blame it on Snape."
McGonagall looked at Snape. "Severus? Is that true?"
Snape sneered. "Unfortunately yes. I managed to do it undetected to. The Dark Lord was out of the country at the time and I was able to sneak past some of the poor excuses for guards that were stationed there. Couldn't have the precious Boy-Who-Lived rot in a cell could we?"
Hermione spoke up. "Oh Harry, that's perfectly fine! We understand! What you went through must have been horrible!" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and cried. Ron kept strangely silent. Harry couldn't care; he could see the disbelief in his eyes. He should have known he couldn't trust Ron, especially after what happed during the Tournament and his betrayal.
The Headmaster sighed. "I suppose it is fine but Harry you must have known we were all worried for you. You could have told us and we would have stayed away until you felt comfortable, my boy."
Harry scoffed inwardly. Yeah, right. No, he would have been there demanding answers under his fake grandfatherly visage. "I know sir but I panicked. I'm sorry." He gave the most pitiful look he could.
"It is alright, my boy. As long as you're safe."
Bullshit. Harry wanted to say but simply nodded. "Is it alright if we go now, I'm hungry and wish to get something from the kitchens quickly if it's okay before going to sleep. I'm still pretty tired."
"Yes, of course. I'll inform the house-elves of your arrival."
Standing up, he was walked out of the Headmasters office with Ron and Hermione following. Now to start testing Hermione. He knew for a fact after that Ron was in no way going to change for Harry. He was too involved in his own self-pity and jealousy to be trusted. Hermione may be able to change if he appealed to her sense of justice and could get her to see just how manipulative the Headmaster could be.
-Bonus-
Harry waited outside the potions room the next day after the last class of the day. He would get to use that oath. Once the last student walked out he went in.
"Potter? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be off gallivanting with the other Gryffindors?"
"No, sir. I actually wanted to talk to you." The teen smirked. This was going to be wonderful.
"Then speak, I don't have the time to watch you dawdle."
"Well, alright, if you insist." Harry moved to the front of the room. "I talked to Voldemort about the oath he made you take."
Snape glared at him. He could see the hatred. This was great. "Yes and your point?"
"Well, Professor. He made you agree to whatever I say and you what?" Harry grinned. "You must agree with me, right, that the last 3 months when I've seen you, you've been nothing more than a bitter old man who needs to grow up and get over what happened more than 20 years ago. You're nothing more than a juvenile acting fool who puts his hatred on a boy he had never seen all because of some boy hood enemy who died more than a decade ago. You're nothing more than a nasty acting man who's too immature and absorbed in his own self-pity to get over himself and something that happened so long ago and to put hatred on a boy who doesn't deserve an ounce of it because you can't realize they are not the same person." Harry smirked. "Don't you agree?"
The look on Snape was wonderful, his face red with anger, rage and the slightest embarrassment. His hands were held so tightly it was a wonder he didn't start bleeding. The look utter hatred was nice. At least now he had done something that might actually warrant such feelings. He was not James and Snape needed to learn that. His father was horrible, he knew that. Voldemort had told him stories that he had heard from his other followers about the Potters. Some from Snape himself, so he knew his father wasn't the best of people. That, though, didn't mean he had to be treated with such animosity because of his sire. He wasn't the same person and didn't deserve to be treated as such.
Snape, with his teeth clinched together, finally spoke. "Yes. I do agree."
Harry grinned and started walking away. "Glad we're on the same page."
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