Disclaimer: Nope, I still don't own Harry Potter or anything in this universe, everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. And I also do not own the idea of the Blood Seer, it belongs to Anne Bishop or the original HP fanfiction "Little Seer" by HuskyWalker which inspired this one.
AN: Thank you all for reading, following, reviewing and favouring.
I had something completely different planned for this chapter but as I started writing it, the scenario you have now demanded to be put in. I am so not sorry that it happened, as I had a lot of fun writing it. I hope you have as much fun reading it.
The chapter title says it all.
As always it is not betaed, so all mistakes are my own.
On with the story
Chapter 10: Temper
"Seriously?" Harry looked in shock at the goblin. He, more powerful then Lord Slytherin or Dumbledore? Certainly not. Not even in theory.
"Seriously." Ranglock nodded in confirmation, but Harry's mind still refused to proceed the fact.
How could he even be near the magical power Lord Slytherin had? Him?
Harry shortly glanced to Lord Slytherin and the look in those crimson eyes caught him off guard. He gulped and looked away, not sure how to decipher the expression.
So, if he had been born a normal wizard he could have defended himself against Dumbledore? His parents certainly would not have given him away, which would mean he would have grown up with the rebels, perhaps even believing them, fighting for them. He would have been a rebel.
If he really was as powerful as Ranglock suggested, it would have opened the door for a totally different kind of manipulation by Dumbledore.
Instead of being a tool, he would have been a weapon.
A weapon to be wielded against Lord Slytherin and his people. Against Severus… against Draco…
Suddenly he was glad to be born a Blood Seer.
Marvolo was not sure what he felt about Ranglock's statement. But when he locked over to the Seer and thought about all that unusual magical power in such a petite body and the character and mind behind it, a rush of possessiveness and craving spread through him.
It was a good thing that the Seer was already his.
And whatever he was thinking, Marvolo had no intention to let him go after the year. He normally got what he wanted, even when he was not entirely sure what exactly he wanted from the Seer.
He was sure some of his feelings showed in his expression, as he caught Mr Potter's eyes, the young man swiftly looked away.
Severus at his side had a small smug smile on his face. That expression was not hard to decipher.
Dear Merlin, how had he never realized that his friend and Lieutenant was a proud, protective father? Had he always been one or had he channelled Lucius lately?
He shifted his attention back to the manager of Gringotts.
"Thank you Ranglock. It is good to know that the test functions as well with wizards and witches as with goblins. I need three copies of the test results. One for the register in the Ministry, one for Severus and Mr Potter themselves and one for me. Please draft a first version for a contract how the testing in Gringotts shall be conducted and we will meet in the next days to talk about it and finalize it."
Ranglock nodded in confirmation.
"We also want to open a vault for Mr Potter, as he will receive a salary for his service as a Court Seer and Potions assistant to Severus, which will go directly into his vault."
"This will not be needed, as Mr Potter inherited the Potter vault."
Marvolo saw Mr Potter's head come up in surprise. "I did?"
"Yes, Mr Potter. As your father and mother left no will, everything goes to you as their only heir." Ranglock confirmed.
"We thought he was perhaps disinherited due to his lack of magic." Severus remarked.
The goblin looked thoughtful, wrote something on a small piece of parchment and vanished it with a flick of his long fingers. A few moments later, the door opened, and another goblin brought in several thick folders. Ranglock picked one up and shuffled through it.
"No, Mr Potter was never disinherited. He is entitled to everything from the Potter family. Sadly, there is nearly nothing left of the Potter fortune."
"What do you mean?" Severus sounded shocked. Marvolo could only mirror the feeling. The Potters were an old family, not as rich as the Malfoys, but Mr Potter's grandfather, Fleamont Potter had contributed greatly to the family wealth by inventing the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion.
"The late Mr and Mrs Potter visited Gringotts in the summer of 1984, cancelled the trust vault for Mr Potter here and emptied the Potter vault." Ranglock looked up from the parchment he was reading.
So, one year after he had conquered Hogwarts and with it the last stronghold of Dumbledore, taking over the whole British wizarding world, the Potters had managed to slip into Diagon Alley and Gringotts. He was sure they took also most of the heirlooms, sold them and used all the money funding Dumbledore's vigilant group.
And because they thought their son was a Squib and would live in the Muggle world, they thought he had no use for a trust vault.
"So, there is nothing left?" Severus enquired, while his ward was sitting at his side, stunned.
"There was nothing left when they emptied it, but the invention of Fleamont Potter still brings in money, so a few galleons are back in there. Do you want to visit the vault today?"
Marvolo shock his head. The magical strain on the Seer had been huge and even with the Pepper-up Potion Mr Potter certainly would be at the end of his energy shortly.
"No, we will come back later for this." He decided for them.
At this he got a slightly annoyed look from the Seer.
"Very well. Then I will draft a contract for the testing ritual and send a copy to you, Lord Slytherin, to look it over. We will also send a copy of the Potter vault accounts to Mr Potter and his guardian." The goblin placed three roles of parchment on the table between them. "Here are your copies of Mr Potter's test results. Gringotts and the goblin nation will watch with interest how you will proceed with the knowledge and the evidence that magic can take many forms."
Marvolo inclined his head at this, rose out of his armchair, signalling that they were finished and waited for Severus to help his ward stand up.
They travelled back to Hogwarts via the floo network, and Marvolo, who went first, watched with amusement how Mr Potter stumbled out of the fireplace in his office, and caught him before he could fall flat on his face.
"It seems we developed a habit here, Mr Potter." Marvolo chuckled and hold him upright.
The Seer only scowled and tried to stand on his own, but the exhaustion of the day was clearly written in his face.
The floo opened and Severus stepped through. He sighed when he saw his ward being hold upright by Marvolo.
"At one point we have to teach you how to travel by floo without stumbling every time."
Mr Potter mumbled something which was not understandable due to the huge yawn coming out of him.
Severus took his arm, nodded to Marvolo and led him out of the office.
"Up to bed with you".
The Seer's answer was not heard by Marvolo anymore, as the door closed behind them. He smiled a little to himself. What a fascinating day.
Then he sat at his desk and reached for parchment and quill. He had things to do.
Harry woke the next morning, feeling groggy and disorientated. He could not remember having a vision, why was he feeling like he had a major non-accidental one?
Then he bolted upright as the memories of the previous days rushed back. His mind tried to catch up with everything that had happened since the Yule ball, but he felt somehow lost. Everything had happened so fast, everything had changed drastically in such a short amount of time.
His mind was a mess and his emotions were a mess.
As his subconsciousness caught up with everything, a maelstrom of feelings made him dizzy. He looked down at his hands, clenched into fist on top of his covers. Everything was too much.
He did what he always did when he had a particularly disturbing, violent or abstract vision, he took a mental step back and compartmented the emotions and thoughts running havoc in him.
Once he successfully untangled them, he analysed where they were coming from.
There was joy and excitement. That was easy.
They had evidence that he was a wizard. He was a wizard!
Not official for now, the laws needed to be changed for it, but…
He was a wizard… he would be allowed to enrol into Hogwarts!
He could walk through Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade without been scorned upon, because of his grey robes, identifying him as a Squib. Nobody would stop him to ask if he had his guardian's permission to be there. He could now go everywhere he wanted.
He even was allowed to have his own vault now.
He could buy his own broom! Now that it was clear he was a wizard, he did not have to hide that brooms were functioning for him. He had only flown twice, to test Severus suspicion of his magic, and he had loved the feeling of lightness's and freedom.
He was free of the burden to hide parts of himself. He could be himself, bloody visions and everything included.
Harry felt the wonder, excitement and joy growing inside him.
…
Then there was fear, he could feel the all-consuming terror inside him. That was also easy.
With the law changing, and Lord Slytherin's wish to announce him openly as his Court Seer, a lot of people would be getting interested in him. No, not him, his ability, his magic.
Even with Lord Slytherin's protection, there were people in the world who were greedy, who would want to use his ability, buy it, coax him or force him.
And then there was still Dumbledore out there…
He had felt safe in his life at Hogwarts, and now so much was changing. And Lord Slytherin was the cause and he was so unapologetic about it, because he got what he wanted. Harry was frightened of it.
And if he was true to himself he was frightened of Lord Slytherin. Not of his magical and political power, not even of his infamous temper and taste for cruelty. It was the man itself.
The way Lord Slytherin demanded respect through his sheer presence and his whole demeanour screaming confidence, power and the ability to control everything and everyone around him…
It frightened Harry.
Lord Slytherin was so… intense.
He was scared, scared that he would be swept away and caught in the maelstrom that Lord Slytherin was.
And now he had willingly gone into a contract with exactly this man and had given him the power over him.
But fear, Harry was accustomed to, he was used to it. Had lived with it since he had his first vision. Fear he could overcome.
…
What he was not used to, was the fury. White-hot anger running through him. Where was it coming from? It made it hard to think.
Harry raised his occlumency shields higher. Then he looked at the rage from all angles, and suddenly he understood.
His life had spiralled out of his control since the Yule ball. He always had lived under the radar here.
The moment he had arrived at Hogwarts he had taken his life in his own hands, had only given away control where it was unavoidable.
And now the most powerful wizard of Great Britain knew what he was and had manipulated him into giving him control over him.
He was angry with himself for allowing it, not seeing the trap and the manipulation, but also because he felt a little relieved that now someone else beside Severus was there. He had sworn to himself never to allow someone to have that much power over him again, and now he had given it willingly.
Harry hated it, hated that Lord Slytherin had manipulated him in giving it over without taking time to think. Hated how smug the Lord was that he got what he wanted.
He had always known the man had some controlling issues. He was the leader of magical Great Britain after all. And Severus had grumbled more than once about him.
Harry knew he had control issues himself. How could he not? The control over his body and ability had been taken from him at a much to young age. The hate and the fear of not being in control only amplified his fury.
How could he have been so stupid? The anger was licking at his insides again.
And they had dragged some of his darkest secrets out if him. Had guilt manipulated him in telling them if his time with the rebels.
Lord Slytherin was so much more dangerous then Dumbledore.
Harry was angry with the Lord, the situation and himself. Angry how his life had completely changed again. Angry how terrified he still felt.
He carefully put the anger behind strong shields, breathing in and out. The fury diminished, leaving mostly frustration.
That was enough for now.
He was determined not to let it sully is excitement over all the new possibilities that he was a wizard now.
He got out of bed, washed up in the bathroom and started changing into simple everyday robes with comfortable black trousers, shirt and pullover underneath, still thinking about yesterday.
The blessing had been interesting and wonderful. But the morning talk with Lord Slytherin still made Harry scowl. And the man had even talked for him at the end in Gringotts, taking the decision if he wanted to see his family vault from him.
Yes, he had been beyond tired, but still… bloody controlling Dark Lord.
Annoyance flared up in Harry again. At himself, the situation and mostly at the Lord.
Then he groaned, he had an appointment with him today. Lord Slytherin would decide on Harry's wardrobe, another aspect he took control over, so surely of himself that he knew better.
Harry had no illusions, that the Lord would decide everything, and Harry had no say into the whole matter.
Arrogant, annoying and controlling bastard of a Dark Lord that he was.
He certainly liked to be acknowledged as a wizard, but having to deal with Lord Slytherin regularly? No, certainly not.
Struggling to get his emotions under control again left him drained.
His stomach growled, deciding he needed breakfast.
Sighing he went to the living room, finding his guardian with a cup of coffee in his armchair, already dressed, only his teaching robes were hanging over the back of the armchair. The sight of Severus made him feel better.
Severus who had come and gotten him out of the hellhole, who had given him a home and a family. Who understood his fears.
"No breakfast today?"
Severus looked up. "You are looking better. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, how did I get into bed?" Harry frowned, realizing that he did remember coming back to Hogwarts, but not how he found his way to their quarters and into bed.
"I carried you and tucked you in."
Horrified green eyes were met with a smirk. "Tell me you are kidding."
"No Harry, I am not kidding. You had two occurrences of a major magical depletion on one day. It was no wonder that you were completely out of it afterwards." Severus told him.
"So, err… breakfast?" Harry certainly did not want to think about being tucked in by his guardian with sixteen.
"From now on we will have the majority of our meals in the Great Hall." Severus drained his cup, set it aside and slipped his robes on.
"Lord Slytherin?" Harry asked while he followed Severus out of their quarters.
"Lord Slytherin." His guardian nodded.
Sighing Harry followed his guardian up the dungeons to the Great Hall.
As not many people stayed at Hogwarts after the blessings yesterday, the Great Hall was nearly empty. Lord Slytherin and a few other teachers were already sitting at the Head table and Harry saw Draco sitting among his Slytherins friend.
On one of the other tables he saw the two Indian girls sitting with a dark-skinned boy, an Irish boy and a girl with a lot of bushy brown hair. The girl saw him, and Severus enter the Hall and her gaze fixed on him with an intense expression. Harry looked at her in bewilderment and heard Severus chuckle at his side.
"That is Ms Granger, Gryffindor, insufferable know-it-all, overall bookworm and eager to show that coming from a Muggle background is no hindrance to be successful. I would not be surprised if she tries and ambush you to learn about your special branch of magic."
"Is she succeeding?" Harry shuddered, her gaze felt like he was an especially interesting puzzle only waiting to be solved.
"With what?"
"Showing that Muggle-borns are as good as Pure-bloods?"
"Oh yes, she is the best in her year, which will be your year, too. Or at least at the theoretical part, but she is mediocre in the practical part. She has better manners then even most purebloods, when she is willing to apply them, and a feeling for our magical history than some children coming from old families. She practically inhaled the etiquette, ritual and traditions class given by Narcissa in first year." Severus could not hide a sneer.
"You don't like her." It was not a question.
"No, she is a typical Gryffindor, even with all her knowledge and intelligence, she jumps into action without considerations and is worse than a Niffler who smelled gold when something catches her interest. She is too honest and believes too much in books and can't think beyond them."
"Ah, I see the problem. She has the intelligence, the perfectionism and tenacity you search in students, but she relies too heavily on the instructions and books and can't work with Potions intuitively. She can't adjust them. So, it is not that you don't like her, you are disappointed." Harry teased his guardian with a knowing smirk.
Severs scuffed. "As I don't have high expectations of the dunderheads, I am certainly not disappointed. And if you don't behave, I will tell Lord Slytherin, that your entire wardrobe is grey, black or white. I am sure he will not only demand robes for you in this case."
Harry was appalled. "You would not dare."
"I certainly would. And if you are quite finished to psycho-analyses me, Draco is trying to catch your attention." With this Severus headed to the Head table, while Harry made his way to the Slytherin table, taking the seat beside Draco, who had looked his way since they stepped into the Hall.
While they ate breakfast, Draco wanted to know everything about the testing ritual. Harry relied the ritual and the results to be as best as he remembered but left out the point about his magical power. He had to laughed at the other Slytherins, as they all tried to mask their eagerly curious looks.
Midway through the post arrived and Harry looked astonished at the headliner. Draco grinned at him.
"Looks like Lord Slytherin and father worked faster then anticipated." The blond opened the newspaper and Harry read along from the side.
The hidden wizards and witches!
New Revelation were presented in a Wizengamot meeting yesterday evening by Minister Malfoy and Lord Slytherin, that Magic is by far more wonderous then we had assumed so far. Believed to be weak wizards / witches or even Squibs because of their insufficient magical core, highly specialized wizards and witches were hiding in our society for centuries now.
From there the article explained non-core magic, gave an example of someone who had a nearly non-existing core but all of his magic concentrated in other parts of his body (Harry was quite sure they talked of him) and another example of a weak wizard who could wield a wand and had been tested, where they found that most of his magic was concentrated in his vocal cords (apparently he was a very famous singer, Harry had never heard of him).
The option to be tested at Gringotts was explained and why the Ministry test could not detect this kind of magic. They talked about the new laws entering into force this morning giving these specialized wizards, as they proceed to call them, all the rights wizard and witches had and about the possibility to enrol at Hogwarts, where their classes would be fitted individually. If they needed a wand to utilize their magic, they were entitled to get one.
It was a good article, perhaps on some parts too excited, but the message came across and the non-core magic was well explained, Harry had to admit when he looked up from the newspaper.
All around him in the Great Hall whispers had broken out and Harry could feel a lot of eyes staring at him.
"Quiet an audacious article, don't you think so?" Draco folded the newspaper and placed it aside, where Parkinson snatched it.
Harry prepared himself another cup of tea. "But everything was explained in a way that everyone should understand. I am sure the evidence were the memories of me at the blessing and the results from the testing ritual at Gringotts. I am glad that my name was left out."
"I would love to know with what Lord Slytherin threatened the Chief editor of the Daily Prophet to not mention your name." Draco smirked and finished his plate.
"I do not want to know." Harry said deadpanned, he had seen enough visions of what Lord Slytherin could do, that he really did not want to know.
"You do not want to know what, Mr Potter?" A smooth voice called out behind him.
Harry jumped, turned around to glare at the red-eyed wizard, growling in irritation. "Could you please not do this?" He really did hate it when people sneaked upon him. The annoyance which had settled by now, flared up again.
He would not bow and cower and had no qualms in showing it, not even before the leader of wizarding Great Britain. He had something the Lord wanted and therefore some leverage. What could Lord Slytherin do? He knew Harry could endure pain and he had sworn to protect Harry, even against himself.
Harry narrowed his eyes, showing his irritation openly, but the only reaction he got was a raised eyebrow and an amused expression in the red eyes. Which annoyed him even more.
"Do what?" The innocent tone was not convincing.
"Sneak up on me, I could accidently cut myself, you know." Harry glared at the wizard before him, while he saw Draco and the other Slytherins sit there dumbfounded.
"And on what could you accidentally cut, here at the breakfast table?" Lord Slytherin enquired.
Harry still glared. "There is a knife beside my plate, which could fall down for example or I could grip it stronger then I wanted. The plates or cups could have a crack, or the table could have a splinter. I could even bite my tongue or cheek accidently."
"And does such accidents actually occurred?"
Harry nodded vehemently. "Every example did happen so far."
"Then I will refrain from, how did you phrase it?... sneak upon you. Now, let's talk about why I approached you. The tailor will arrive in an hour, please present yourself at this time in my office. We will have lunch there, as I assume it will take some while."
Harry narrowed his eyes again. "Why should it take some while? I only need a few robes for social functions and dress robes for balls and so on."
Lord Slytherin grinned at him and Harry felt something akin to dread settle in his stomach, he did not like that grin.
"Oh no, Mr Potter. I had one of the house-elf check on your wardrobe and found it severely lacking. You will get a completely new wardrobe, and in different colours then black, grey and white. We will also use the opportunity to order your school-robes. In one hour, be on time Mr Potter."
Then he turned around and left and Harry could only glare frustrated at his back, before he returned to the rest of his breakfast.
He came across the whole table staring at him.
"What?" He crossed his arms defensively.
His question broke the ban on the others and Parkinson and Zabini started grinning and Draco coughed.
"Err… we never saw someone… talk like that to our Lord or look at him like that or saw him grinning."
Harry cooked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
Zabini started laughing outright. "You were bold and cheeky, and I think the last one who glared like this at Lord Slytherin was withering on the floor under a Cruciatus seconds later."
"And?" Harry asked in confusion.
"It is nice to see that our Lord is also human."
Not quite sure what they meant Harry went back to finish his breakfast. He was definitely not looking forward to the tailoring and spending time in the company of Lord Slytherin for a longer time. He was too scheming and demanding. And Harry was still annoyed with him.
"So, you, as you need dress robes, will attend the New Year's Ball?" Parkinson addressed him.
Harry nodded around the mouthful of mushrooms, gulped and answered. "Yes, as it seems I have to accompany Lord Slytherin to balls, gatherings and such in the function of being his Court Seer."
"You will accompany him? As his companion?" Greengrass looked at him with wide eyes.
"Yes, I think so. Why?" Harry frowned, he was certainly missing some background information.
"Lord Slytherin never attends a social function with a companion, neither male nor female." The blond girl elaborated.
"But I am only accompanying him in my function as a Court Seer."
"You could easily do it by attending by yourself. Even if he uses the Ball to announce you, to demand to be his companion sends signals."
"What signals? And to whom?" Harry sighed. That was again some old pure-blood stuff he would never get. He certainly could not do subtility.
"To the whole magical community and it means that he holds you in high regards and considers you more then a simple follower. Yes, you are in his servitude, but to present you at the New Year's ball while you are his companion, shows that he considers you of more equal standing." Greengrass explained.
"I am not sure what it means."
Draco smirked at him. "I am not sure Lord Slytherin knows exactly what it means."
Harry looked confused at his friend and caught sight of Parkinson frowning intensively at him.
"What?"
"Can you even dance?"
An hour later, on the way to the Lords office, Harry was still pondering about the conversation. The only explanation he had so far, was their contract was only for a year and the Lord wanted to show him that he was not a simple servant who he would order around. Harry had no illusions that Lord Slytherin would try and convince him to renew the contract between them after the year.
To show him that he was on nearly equal standing and allowing some leeway could be a way to win him over.
He was not entirely sure that it was not functioning. Even if he still was annoyed with the Lord.
Beside Severus and Draco, never had anyone treated him as someone worthwhile.
Reaching the office door, he took a deep breath and knocked. After getting permission to enter he opened the door and stepped inside.
Lord Slytherin was sitting at his desk, a stack of parchments in front of him.
"Ah, Mr Potter, perfectly on time. Please take a seat, the tailor will be with us in a few minutes." He gestured to a small assembly of armchairs beside the fireplace without even looking up.
Harry sat down, apprehensive of the whole situation, he was quite satisfied with his clothes. Why would he need new ones and more? Yes, one or two dress robes he understood, but a whole new wardrobe?
Then there was a knock on the door and with Lord Slytherin's permission a man stepped into the office and Harry had to remind him not to stare, unsuccessfully.
The tailor was tall, not as tall as Lord Slytherin, but at least a full head taller then Harry, and slender. His skin was honey-coloured, and he had fine boned hands with long fingers.
He wore very tight-fitting clothes. Black trousers set very low on his hips, a bright turquoise shirt, which looked like it was painted on, and a black vest with silvery embroidery, under a dark blue robe, open at the front.
Harry was not sure why the man even wore clothes, as every line of his body was easily visible. But what draw his gaze the most were his hair. It was unevenly cut. The left side reaching down to his chin, while the right side was nearly completely shaven, and the colours made Harry stare.
The left side were coloured in bright pink with the tips done in turquoise, while the shaven side was multi-coloured and looked like a rainbow. But every time Harry blinked the colours shifted, and the brightness and swirl of colours made his eye hurt if he looked too long.
He was certainly the strangest and flamboyant person Harry ever had seen, and he had to see Dumbledore's preferred colourful robes every day for five years.
He did not even register when Lord Slytherin greeted the man, but then amber-coloured eyes shifted to him and he desperately tried not to flinch when the tailor stalked towards him like he was prey.
"Mr Potter meet Xerxes Cavendish, my personal tailor."
Mr Cavendish bowed slightly before Harry, took his hand, grinned mischievously at him and kissed the back of it. "My pleasure." He drawled, and Harry felt a blush creeping up.
Out of the edge of his eyes he saw Lord Slytherin smirk behind the tailor.
Then he was pulled out if his armchair and Mr Cavendish moved around him, scrutinizing him.
"I really must say Lord Slytherin, you are right indeed, he certainly is a fine specimen. Such beauty should not be hidden under colourless rags. This will not be a difficult job, quite the contrary, with his colouring and this body he can wear everything. A full wardrobe?" Mr Cavendish turned to the Lord while Harry desperately tried to control his complexion.
Nobody had ever called him a beauty.
Lord Slytherin nodded. "Yes, a full wardrobe for every day use, student robes and several attires for different social and political gatherings, fitting for my Court Seer. He will mostly attend these with me. You know my wardrobe."
"What kind of gatherings?"
"Everything from tea parties to balls, from small meetings to the Wizengamot."
At this the tailor clapped delighted and swirled around to Harry. His eyes roaming up and down his body, then he flicked with his wand and the small suitcase he had placed near the door moved over to them, increased in size to a very large wardrobe and opened, revealing shelves of different kinds of fabrics in every colour.
"Do you have a favourite colour Mr Potter?" Mr Cavendish addressed Harry directly.
"Err…" He had never actually thought about it.
"He would look good in dark green and blue." Lord Slytherin's voice snapped Harry out of his confusion. Mr Cavendish nodded, while his eyes were still glued to Harry, or better Harry's body.
Harry tried not to nervously fidget under the stare.
"Dark purple would also go very well with his complexion. Then, Mr Potter –"
"Harry, please." Harry interrupted him, if he had to play dress-up doll for this man he wanted at least to be called by his name, he would feel more comfortable in an already uncomfortable situation.
Mr Cavendish looked shortly to Lord Slytherin, who nodded, and Harry hated that the man got to decide how the tailor was allowed to address him.
"Certainly, if you wish so, then I wish for you to call me Xerxes. As I was saying, Harry dear… let us begin." The smile from Xerxes was not reassuring at all.
Then Harry had to undress and stand on a small platform. He really had to congratulate Xerxes how he managed to not react to his scars. Xerxes carefully measured his whole body and trapped Harry in different fabrics, while humming and making small remarks.
"You are much too thin darling."
"No, no. Yellow is certainly not your colour."
"We have to show off those lovely hips and the luscious buttocks." Harry was certain he heard a laugh covered with a cough from Lord Slytherin at that and flushed deeply.
"Dark red should also highlight those pretty red lips, delicate cheekbones and those beautiful unique eyes." Xerxes did not even see the horrified look Harry was giving him. He was certain Lord Slytherin was trying not to laugh out loud at this, even if he could not see him in the moment, because Xerxes pushed a dark red robe over his head.
Was Xerxes blind? Nobody would call any part of him beautiful.
Merlin, he needed his eyesight corrected, he was small, scrawny, full of scars, hair like a bird's nest if he cut them too short and his eyes had once been described as creepy.
Harry frowned, perhaps Xerxes was really colour-blind or something similar, his choice of hair colour pointed in this direction at least.
What Xerxes definitely was, was being enthusiastic about his work and Harry found himself in the middle of whirlwind of fabrics of all kinds and colours in no time.
The whole event went as Harry had expected, Xerxes made suggestions and Lord Slytherin answered for Harry and decided everything. It was infuriating.
And the entire time Xerxes was constant rambling about his non-existing positive features, confirming Harry's presumption that the tailor was not only colour-blind but also utterly crazy. It was awkward, and he feared he would never lose the blush settling on his face.
The glance he managed to catch of Lord Slytherin, made it even worse. The Lord was sitting comfortable in an armchair, long legs gracefully folded, his eyes glued on him with an intense gleam.
He quickly looked away and decided to find the robe Xerxes had put on him very interesting.
It was in such a dark shade of green it nearly looked black, closed at the front and Xerxes was in the process of deciding what buttons would went well with it, and it had a low collar, a very low collar. Harry's hand automatically flew to his throat to cover the scar there.
"No."
It was the first word he voiced since one or two hours ago and Xerxes immediately looked confused at him.
"What no, Harry darling? I think this green looks wonderful on you."
"It's not the colour… but…. no low collars please." Harry licked his lips nervously. He had been standing nearly naked on this platform for a while, but somehow, he felt the scar on his neck was more visible when he was actual wearing something. He did not like it.
He saw Xerxes and Lord Slytherin exchange glances, then the fabrics hovering around him in the air stilled and floated down.
"I think we need a break." The tailor stepped away and left the office, while Lord Slytherin gestured Harry to take a seat.
Harry nervously pulled at the sleeves of the robe and stiffly took his seat. He knew what Lord Slytherin would ask.
"Mr Potter…"
"It's the scar, I don't want it to be seen." Harry interrupted, his hand uncomfortable tracing the scar. He felt the slight rift of the thin line under his fingers. Self-loath shortly flared up, but Harry repressed the feeling instantly.
Lord Slytherin regarded him with a glance Harry could not decipher.
"Why? You are a Blood Seer, your scars are a testimony of your abilities and you should not hide them or be ashamed of them."
Harry shrugged, unsure how to explain without telling too much.
"My other scars don't bother me so much, I mean… I don't like to show them, but that is mostly out of habit, but this one…"
"What is so different with this scar? How did you acquire it?" It did not sound like a question.
Harry looked away, struggling to suppress the memories. But the emotions from that day still surfaced. Self-loath, shame, hurt, hopelessness…
'I am not that person anymore.' He shortly squeezed his eyes shut.
"Mr Potter?" Lord Slytherin sounded impatient that Harry did not answer directly. "How did you get this particular scar?" He enquired.
Harry glanced at the red-eye man, and the irritation he saw there and the tone in which the Lord had asked – 'asked, Merlin's pants,' Harry growled inwardly, 'more demanded.' – ignited the feelings he had felt early this day again.
The fear and fury set the pit of his stomach in fire.
"I do not want to talk about it." Harry snapped heated and knew he had made a mistake when the crimson eyes narrowed dangerously, but he could care less in the moment.
"I want to remind you, that I am your Lord and will not be talked to in this tone. And you swore an oath – "
"Only to tell you when I have a vision and the details of it and to be your Court Seer! Yes, that gives you control over my life, isn't that enough?"Harry interrupted him resentful and with a touch of bitterness. "You don't need to know everything! My life and my memories are still mine! You don't own me!" He did not shout, but his voice had a hard edge.
"Mr Potter – "
If Harry had not felt so out of control of his own life since the Yule ball, perhaps the look in Lord Slytherin's eyes had him halter in his anger.
That Lord Slytherin demanded to know the memory linked to the scar, which was full of bitterness and self-loath, did not help at all.
He snarled at the Dark Lord. "NO! You don't need to know!"
He had been on the edge, but now Harry's temper took over. He was seething, furious and terrified…
"I am. not. your. property!" He spat out every word venomously. "I think we are finished here." He stood up, his magic boiling under his skin in answer to the rage he felt.
But the office door would not open when he turned the handle.
"I will not be spoken to by anyone in this manner." The hard voice behind him could have cut steel. "You swore an oath, without further stipulation to the service as a Court Seer. This basically makes you my property in the eyes of the Court Seer laws."
At these words, Harry turned around.
"I AM NOT A THING. YOU DON'T OWN ME! YOU OWN THE BLOOD SEER, NOT ME. THE BLOOD SEER IS ONLY A PART OF ME. YOU CAN CONTROL MY LIFE, PERHAPS EVEN MY MAGIC, BUT NEVER ME! MY MEMORIES, MY MIND AND MY FEELINGS ARE STILL MY OWN." Harry shouted, breathing loud and harshly, staring at the wizard in front of him, his worst fears in the forefront of his mind.
Lord Slytherin looked calm, calm like the sea before a storm, only his eyes burned. He rounded on Harry caging him against the wall.
"You are mine, make no mistake, Mr Potter. If I wanted I could hide you away in a tower and as your Lord I do not tolerate disrespect." His voice was cold.
Harry clenched his fist and stepped into the personal space of the Lord, glaring into his crimson eyes, not intimidated by the height difference and the magical power rolling from the wizard in waves now.
"Then do it!" He yelled, his rage turning the blood in his veins to fire and his fear the blood to ice.
"But do not blame anyone then yourself if the outcome is not what you expected." The snarl coming from his mouth sounded nearly inhuman.
"Yes, I swore an oath, a year of servitude, a year of visions, I swore it on my life and magic. Do you think even for a second, that if you force me that I would uphold it? Even if it cost me my life? Do you really think that with everything I went through, with everything I witnessed due to my visions I would be afraid of dying? Then you thought wrong. Do it and prove that you are not better then Dumbledore." Harry hissed venomously.
The Lord stood speechless before him, and if Harry had not been beyond the simple feeling of anger, the widening of his eyes would have looked comical.
"I am only bound to you for a year. I am not one of your blind followers, not one of the people who believe in you and your goals. I agreed to this oath for protection. I have something you want, and you have something I want. We have a business agreement. I am not willing to give you more. I love my life, but it is not worth living under the complete control of someone else. Never expect me to cower and bow before you. If you want my respect, then you have to earn it." Harry nearly whispered at the end, a deadly edge in his voice.
This brought the Lord out of his stupor and his eyes narrowed.
"You are a citizen of wizarding Great Britain and I am the Lord and leader of said wizarding Great Britain. I am your Lord, I am everyone's Lord." He practically hissed.
Harry laughed humourless. "You may be the Lord and Leader of the magical community in the United Kingdom, but that does not make you my Lord. And even if you were, you would not be entitled to my inner thoughts and every memory. I am not your puppet!"
Lord Slytherin grabbed his arms furiously, and Harry winced as the fingers pressed painfully into his skin, but he did not broke eye contact and only stared at the man.
"I should kill you for your irreverence and insolence." They were practically nose to nose.
"Then do it. Finish what I never could." Harry wrenched his arms from the Lords grasp as the door opened and Xerxes stepped inside, haltering and looking from one to the other, going completely white as he saw the fury in both of their faces.
Harry walked to the door only stopping shortly when he was beside the tailor.
"You have my measurements, I think I am not needed here anymore, as I am not even deciding what will be purchased."
Without a second glance at the Lord Harry left the office, white-hot rage and ice-cold fear still licking at his inside.
AN: Thanks for reading, let me know what you think.
First published: 26th of September 2018