Riddle Me This
Apologies: I am so, so sorry that I have not updated in so long. I really did just lose all inspiration for my HP fics, but hopefully I can change that now. I do hope you haven't all lost hope completely.
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This chapter is set one month after the last one.
Chapter 9:Confusion
"We've been in here for over a month now. We've told you all that we know, what else is there?"
James sighed; he could understand that frustration his former friends were feeling with their captivity at the moment. If anything, he was feeling much the same, as Tom was still determined to keep him from going on dangerous missions after the ordeal he had suffered during his capture after the last one, "He wants you to swear allegiance to him. Take his mark and you'll be allowed out; it really is that simple," in the weeks since the interrogation, he had found himself coming down to the dungeon where his old friends were being kept almost every day. Regulus and Remus seemed pretty intent on getting his trust back, but Sirius – ever the stubborn and hot headed one – was still being somewhat intolerable.
"And if we don't?" questioned Regulus. "We're stuck down here forever more, or will he have us killed?"
"I am the only reason you three are still alive," replied James in all seriousness. "I know Tom, and he is not going to put up with this for much longer. He's already taking his frustration out on anyone who so much as looks at him in anything other than fear and awe, and to be quite honest, if losing his trust is the price I have to pay because you're being stubborn then I am done with you," he felt a sharp burning pain run through his left arm and he knew his Dark Mark had blackened from the Dark Lord's call. Getting to his feet he walked towards the entrance to the large dungeon cell, "Am I to tell the Dark Lord that you still refuse his allegiance?"
When his question was only met with silence, James shook his head and left the cell. There really was nothing more he could do now; he had to leave the lives his old friends up to the mercy of Lord Voldemort, and if he gave up trying to sweet talk the man then they would surely die. The Dark Lord had been pushing him aside in his most recent attempts at begging for their lives to be prolonged a bit more, and it was obvious to James that even he, the Dark Lord's own lover, would be tortured if this continued for much longer.
It wasn't very Gryffindor of him really, giving up like this and being afraid that the Dark Lord would take his annoyance out on him. But what else could he do? He loved Tom, and despite what they had done to him, he still loved his friends as well, but he couldn't force them to swear their allegiance to the Dark Lord. Of course, the Imperius Curse could be used, but he sure as hell wasn't going to do it.
Tom was sitting at the desk in his study pouring over documents and maps; he had not acknowledged James's presence, nor did he intend to until he was good and ready. Ignoring the younger wizard would have been a lot easier though, if he wasn't aware of James glaring steadily at him from one of the armchairs, "James, just say whatever it is you want to say and get it over with," he didn't even bother looking up as he spoke.
"I want to know why," started James, leaning forward in the armchair and resting his elbows on his knees. "Why does it bother you so much that they won't take your Mark? Is it some sort of power thing? Is it because youneed to know that you can get even the hardest of Dumbledore supporters under your thumb, despite the fact that you're winning this war anyway? You have all the information that they can give you, none of which is really going to help, because clearly Dumbledore had doubts about where their loyalties lay. You knew full well that they were never going to willingly give in. I just don't understand why you've even let them live unharmed for so long, because you've made it perfectly clear that you think I'm an idiot for wanting their friendship back," James finally paused to take a few calming deep breaths before he got himself too worked up; he was mostly just getting irritated now because Tom was yet to even glance at him. "Do you enjoy torturing me like this? Is that it?"
Ah. That had gotten Tom's full attention.
"It was not my intention to torture you, James," the younger wizard was frowning at him now. "I would have thought it was obvious why I have made sure to keep them alive for so long, but apparently I was wrong."
"Apparently so."
Tom narrowed his eyes slightly, "Perhaps I do not understand why you are so hell bent on wanting them back in your life after they abandoned you, but I do know what I would lose if I allowed them to be killed," he could see that James was trying not to look too curious, but his attempt to school his features into a look of indifference was quite pathetic. "I trust you above all the others, James, no matter what they might think, and I know that killing off your childhood friends would lose me your trust. If they take my Mark, then I have no need to order them to be killed along with the rest of Dumbledore's army; if they don't then they are fair game for all of us. Letting them go is completely out of the question."
James slumped back into the armchair as Tom's words washed over him, "So you'll just leave them down there to go mad then? But... What if they did take the Mark and then they did a runner? Would you have them hunted down then and killed?"
"Yes."
James sighed; he didn't really know what he had been expecting, but Tom actually being truthful and blunt with him was not something he was really accustomed to. Swear their allegiance to Lord Voldemort and run, they would die; refuse their allegiance and they were fair game, and would more than likely die; fight as Death Eaters in this war, and they were open to death from Dumbledore's side. Yes, James could understand now why this was such a difficult decision for his old friends and he didn't really blame them.
"You haven't been keeping them alive this past month because I've been begging then?"
Tom raised an eyebrow, "I admit that I have enjoyed the sexual gratification for 'keeping' them alive, but no, it was not my intent to immediately kill them."
"So you've been lying to me."
"Don't be affronted, James, you're not stupid. You should have known there was more to it than what I've let on to you."
James didn't care if he should have known, he was still upset about this and he was growing increasingly more annoyed with Tom's seemingly careless treatment of his feelings. Of course, being the Dark Lord's lover, he had never expected it to be all sweet pillow talk and fluffy kittens; but was a little concern for his mental and emotional well being really too much to ask? He didn't think so.
"What would you have them do if they were to take the Mark?"
"They would be in your charge, and they would be free to come and go as they please, as the others do," replied Tom. By now he had turned back to what he had previously been doing at the desk, knowing full well that he had a severe soft spot for those puppy dog looks that James was prone to giving him. "I would expect periodical updates and routine legilimency checks to make sure that they are not attempting to deceive you or myself. I would also expect you to treat them as you would any other Death Eater, rather than give them special treatment."
"Special treatment like you're giving me, you mean?"
"Don't be cocky with me, James."
"I swear I didn't do anything!" James's eyes were burning with tears as he desperately pleaded for his life. "Tom, please... You know I wouldn't do something like that," he backed away when he saw those normally green eyes flash red.
"You have tried my patience for too long, James. Enough!" Tom had his wand pointed on the young wizard that he had taken to his bed; the one that he had put his trust in. He had never felt so betrayed before. "I put my trust in you, James. I have given you more leeway than you ever deserved, and this is how you repay me?! By whoring yourself out to the highest bidder? By allowing what is rightfully mineto be used and sullied by the lowest of scum?"
"Tom, please..." by now, James was sobbing brokenly; he was so scared and he didn't know what to do anymore. He wasn't even entirely sure what it was he was supposed to have done, but the moment he had entered the meeting hall this afternoon he had found himself magically thrown against the wall by the very angry Dark Lord.
"Don't call me that!" spat Tom, his eyes narrowed to slits at the terrified younger wizard. "You disgust me, James. I regret the day that I laid eyes on you."
"You don't mean that-"
"Don't presume to know the way my mind works!"
"Tom-"
"Avada Kedavra!"
James violently jerked awake; he was breathing heavily and he had broken out in a cold sweat. As he tried to calm himself he gazed wide eyed around the darkened room, his eyes finally falling on the sleeping figure beside him in the bed.
What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he dreaming of Tom killing him? Why on earth would he dream of whoring himself out to the 'highest bidder'? Was his subconscious mind trying to tell him something? Be careful, maybe? Don't sleep with anyone else? Why would he sleep with someone else in the first place? Tom was a lot of things, and being an attentive and adequate lover was one of them.
"What's the matter, James?"
James sniffed and focussed his fuzzy vision back on Tom who had apparently been woken up by his own distressed sleep, "N-nothing... Just a bad dream."
"Hm. Take some Dreamless Sleep potion."
"I-I'm fine."
"Go back to sleep then."
James sighed and settled back down in the bed, but he knew he was not going to sleep again tonight. He had never dreamt of Tom being like that with him before, so why now? What had changed?
Author's Note: Short chapter, I know, and I do apologise, but itis an update. I promise I'll try and lengthen it out with the next one.
Let's take a vote! Should I add mpreg to this fic in the future or not? I'm undecided and I'd like to know what the readers think.
