Right now since I have classes all day tomorrow there will be no post but fear not this is yet another considerably long chapter here so it should hold you over. Now in this chapter...Harry and the dark lord become closer, the pairing might be Lucius/Harry but I didn't want the focus of this story to be romance exactly. In fact this is why I started during Harry's first year, to prevent it from becoming a story with too little plot. My aim is to show you a deeper view of Harry and those around him during this first book. Harry is what he has been made to be by now, he's been brain washed to the point that he hardly even thinks for himself. This chapter is sort of an in depth view of a strangely conflicted relationship that is shared between Harry and the dark lord however I want you all to keep in mind that the dark lord isn't suddenly gaining emotions or anything, he is still a psychopath, he is still lacking the ability to feel emotions properly, however he has also had a lifetime to learn how to properly manipulate people. Still the dark lord sees a bit of himself in Harry and that draws him to Harry, makes him want to see just how far he can push Harry's potential. While doing this he might just find that he and Harry have more in common than he might have first believed...
Mistress Slytherin
WARNINGS:
FIRST BOOK IS RATED M FOR MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DESCRIPTIVE VIOLENCE
(MOSTLY BY BELLA)
THERE WILL BE A HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP MENTIONED IN THE SECOND BOOK, NOT REALLY IN THIS ONE...
HARRY IS NOT A NICE PERSON
MENTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TORTURE
Mistress Slytherin
-10-
Moving on
Harry spent the majority of the next few days surrounded by piles upon piles of paperwork and books. The dark lord had not been kidding when he'd said that Rodolphus had left things in a state of disarray. Harry had of course tried to figure everything out himself in the beginning, he'd pulled every book their vast library boasted on the various laws and financial guides and set to reading and understanding them. It took a grand total of forty-eight hours of reading and studying for him to admit to himself that he needed help. Grudgingly he wrote a letter to the dark lord with a list of questions which had been promptly answered along with a scolding for taking so long to overcome his 'pride' as the dark lord put it. Harry had scowled at the letter but he'd been properly humbled after that and his letter exchange with the dark lord became a regular thing.
Today however Harry was forced to rouse himself from the piles and piles that surrounded him. He'd bathed, dressed and readied himself before pulling out his pocket watch and adjusting the portkey. It really was an ingenious device he decided as he was tugged sharply before landing gracefully in the soft snow. Lucius Malfoy was already there along with Draco and both gave him solemn nods. Harry relaxed slightly to see that the tension between them had eased before looking towards the figure that had just apparated. The dark lord sent him an amused smile before coming to stand beside him causing Harry to frown in confusion. Just like with that- that kiss, he found himself completely confused.
He hated touch.
But he hadn't minded that. No one touched him save a precious few people and one of those people were dead. Apparently however, the dark lord had become one of those few people. Harry stiffened suddenly and a clash of metal resounded through the air as he stared Rabastan down. The man was looking at him cautiously as though something had changed; something had caused him to become intrigued rather than angry.
"Rabastan stop teasing Bella's child." The dark lord drawled. Harry didn't move his eyes from Rabastan well aware of how dangerous the man could quite possibly be. The man pulled back with an inscrutable expression on his face before nodding.
"Of course my lord." He said sliding the blade away. Harry watched the man walk around the deeply set hole in the ground before sliding his own blade away.
"I believe that you and I will have to have a chat after this Rabastan, I had hoped to accompany Bella's child however it seems that I will have to postpone my visit to another day." He said mildly. Harry glanced up at the dark lord but red eyes were watching Rabastan calmly. He didn't quite know what was going on between the two but he knew that he didn't want to be caught in the middle of it. Instead he turned to Draco who was glancing around with a frown on his lips. Harry matched the frown when he noticed what Draco noticed. Unlike Bella's funeral, there were no spectators. Rudolphus would be buried without fanfare and without friends, the only person here that was actually here for him was his brother, even the dark lord was only here out of a sense of duty. Harry suddenly found that sad, the man had turned every one around him against him, no one respected him in the end.
"I suppose that we will begin then." Rabastan said softly. Harry ignored the wizened old man that had come to perform the service; he couldn't have concentrated on such empty words any way. Bella had sealed his fate in the afterlife the moment she had decided to put these markings on him. When he died he would serve a demon for one hundred years before his soul would be consumed. It wasn't a pretty fate but he supposed that for a lifetime of glory it was worth it, especially if his lifetime would be longer than the average witch or wizard. As he lifted his gaze he was surprised to catch Lucius Malfoy's glance. Grey eyes didn't shift away like they would have usually and Harry was captivated.
It took all his strength to look away.
When he did he met red eyes and a small amused smile. Harry sighed inwardly and decided that the safest place to look at the moment without lowering himself to staring at the ground was to look at the old man who was droning on and quite obviously nearly blind. The dark lord's barely hidden snort nearly made him blush.
This was getting out of hand.
Even as he thought about it his hand wandered into his pocket where the watch sat a weight he hadn't been able to ignore since the day he'd received it. There was so much that he didn't understand. He'd been so self assured up until that night after Bella's funeral, but now…now his plans didn't matter, not really, not in the face of what his future was turning out to be. It was plain to him at least that the dark lord planned to allow him to study whatever he wished, the man obviously had high expectations for him though and it was a little daunting. Harry found his to only increase his ambitions though, he had to make up for the obvious lack he'd discovered that night by the ward lines. He had to prove to the dark lord that he was worth the man's attentions and indulgences.
He was Elite.
Now he had to prove it.
Harry watched as Rodolphus was lowered into the ground with cold determined eyes. Never again would he allow himself to be beaten down and ignored. As he turned his gaze to the dark lord unwittingly seeking permission red eyes looked him over before slowly he nodded.
"I will be checking in with your elves to make certain that you are eating properly Bella's child." He said dismissively. "Expect me to join you for tea tomorrow." He added before turning to Rabastan who was watching the interaction with an inscrutable gaze. Harry nodded and glanced at Draco giving him a small pained smile. Draco nodded in understanding his own gaze darkening slightly. No matter what they would remain friends. Harry smiled at the irony, after everything they'd been through he couldn't ignore that they had somehow become friends. His smile faded a bit and he dipped his head before glancing at Lucius Malfoy carefully hiding away everything that he didn't want the man to know.
"Have a blessed Yule Lord Malfoy." He said dipping his head slightly.
"Call him Lucius Bella's child, things have changed after all." The dark lord said absently. Harry stilled and nodded before glancing at Lucius questioningly, the man's gaze was passive and understanding as though he'd already put a great deal of thought into their changed roles.
"Have a blessed Yule Harry." The man said softly, flawlessly. Harry nodded carefully his heart in his throat...hearing his name fall from those lips did funny things to him.
"I will see you at the Yule ball then…Lucius." He said tasting the name on his tongue. A name that he'd only dared to think and never say aloud. Thin lips turned upwards in a smirk and the man tilted his head forward in greeting.
"I'll write." Draco said softly a new look of determination in his eyes. Harry felt his own gaze soften no matter how cold he should have responded. Draco had always had a way of softening him.
"Of course." He said tilting his head. "I'll send your gifts by post." He said smiling slightly at the pained smile that crossed Draco's lips. He pulled out the pocket watch and shifted the location to the preset coordinates of the mansion.
"Ah, and Bella's child." The dark lord said just before he pressed the button to activate the portkey. Harry glanced up at the man meeting red eyes. "You should practice using your watch, I think you will find that you achieve twice as much in the same amount of time perhaps three times as much if you grow used to knowing what time it is and where you should be." The man said with a small smirk. Harry blinked and nearly allowed a grin to spread across his lips. Of course the time turner…
"Of course my lord." He said before pressing the button and disappearing. He had work to do after all.
#$% #$% #$%
Harry stared at the Yule log silently. In the wizarding world there were many who practiced the Christian holiday Christmas, mostly it was a simple reason for parents to dote on their children. Bella had always adored Christmas, she didn't consider it a muggle tradition at all, in fact she was convinced that the man named Santa Clause was in fact a wizard. After all how else would he be able to travel the world and deliver gifts? And flying rein deer? That smacked of magic. But this year…Harry glanced at the Christmas tree. He'd had the elves put it up in her memory however it was the only decoration. Their family had always celebrated both Yule and Christmas he wasn't about to break either tradition though the Yule log wouldn't be lit quite yet. Still because of the dark lord's busy schedule the man had determined to celebrate with him today no matter what.
Harry turned to the tree and frowned at the small pile of gifts.
One was for the dark lord; the others were from Lucius and Draco. Oh he'd received more gifts via owl but they were all empty things to him, bribery from various Sytherins, trinkets from families that had heard rumors of the dark lord's interest in him. He took note of them, to see which families had better informational systems and which Slytherins had gifted him with gifts that meant money, and which sent him gifts that actually had deeper meanings- but they were nothing to him. He cherished the gifts he could see under his tree because he was struck with how empty this house was without Bella singing obnoxious Christmas songs and placing ridiculous amounts of tinsel everywhere. The overwhelming pile of gifts she'd always showered him with was gone too even the ones that made no sense, like the cursed candle stick or the purring rug. He smiled faintly in remembrance.
"Bella's child." Harry spun a blade in his hand before he recognized the voice. The man hadn't even alerted the wards, that's how powerful he was.
"My lord." He said sheathing the blade and bowing at the waist. A thin smirk crossed the man's lips and with a flick of his wrist he sent a package to the small pile under the tree.
"How are you faring with your finances?" The man said as he seated himself. A tea set appeared beside him and he took a cup leaning back leisurely.
"Organized now." Harry said with a nod. "The time turner was a great deal of help though it was disconcerting to see three of myself wandering around at any given time, I took to wearing different colored shirts with each time switch so that I knew which me was when and why." He said casually. He refused to sound like an idiot.
"Clever. And your affairs with the goblins? I do believe Lucius mentioned seeing you in Gringotts." The man said sipping idly his eyes nearly closed in relaxation. Harry lifted his hand showing the man his lordship ring.
"Settled, well, I am having them run inventory on what Bella had in her vaults. Rather tricky business in fact, most of it is cursed in some way." Harry said smiling thinly.
"Ah yes, I meant to mention, there is an item that I entrusted Bella with many years ago, a goblet. I should like to think that it will be kept safe in your hands as well." The man said easily.
"Of course." Harry said evenly. "I'll see to it personally that it is kept safe." He said with a tilt of his head. A single red eye cracked open.
"I mean it Bella's child, guard it with your life if you have to." The man said before taking another sip. Harry wondered idly why the goblet was so important, however he knew better than to try to figure it out. If the dark lord wanted it protected than it was in his best interest to protect it, if it was this important to the man then he would do everything in his power to keep it safe.
"Understood, would you care for dinner now?" He asked as he noted the nervous elf jumping from one foot to the other in the corner not willing to interrupt them. The dark lord nodded easily and stood striding out of the room without a thought. Harry could have rolled his eyes at the way the man led him as though it was his manor and then sat himself at the head of the table, it wouldn't have been advisable and Harry supposed that if he was in fact the man's heir it gave him a right to do whatever he wished in Harry's home. As he seated himself a feast appeared that was fit for a king, it was far too much food for the two of them but the elves were used to preparing Christmas dinner according to Bella's standards.
"Have you not made contact with Lucius?" the dark lord asked as his plate was served by the frightened elf. Harry stiffened only the slightest bit. He didn't like that the dark lord was playing with them; that he'd zeroed in on Harry's greatest weakness. At first it had all been so fantastic, the idea of Lucius being his some day but that small voice had warned him that the dark lord was prone to duplicity.
"I have been busy." Harry said quietly. He knew it was a weak excuse. "Besides I thought I'd give Draco some time with him." He said before taking a cautious bite watching the man as he was being watched. The dark lord smirked slightly.
"You think that I will use him against you." He said lightly. Harry's chewing halted and he leaned back away from his plate before swallowing.
"He is a weakness, as your elite I cannot afford weaknesses." Harry said softly.
"Yet you sorely want that weakness don't you?" Voldemort pressed before taking a bite of his own food. Harry looked away. Had he really been that obvious? "I've known you since you were a child Harry, you have always been enamored with him, so much so that it nearly made me jealous." He noted with a quirk of a smile. Harry snorted before he could help himself.
"Jealous? Of me? How so? I've been chasing a dream my lord, Lucius Malfoy loved his wife, he has no interest in the likes of me, and if anyone should be jealous it would be me of you." Harry said looking away.
"Lucius is drawn to power, he might not be drawn to you yet but he will be, I have singled you out, you have somehow proven yourself worthy of my attentions at the tender age of thirteen, there is no way he could ignore you now. However, if you want him to love you then you must act now when he is not sexually attracted to you, I have set the stage for you Harry, you will spend a great deal of time with him this summer, do not let it go to waste." The man said before turning back to his meal. Harry turned to his own plate and frowned at it in thought. His skin itched as he thought of the markings; they covered his body now and showed when his magic fluctuated. Thirteen was a magical number, the transformation would begin, yes...some day he would be more than just a half blood fluke. Could he…it was such a temptation…
"He would be targeted." Harry whispered rubbing the skin at his wrist idly.
"Then you will just have to become strong enough to protect him." The dark lord said with a small smile as he ate. Harry frowned, ah, so that's where it was, the dark lord intended to use Lucius as a driving force for him. He relaxed a bit feeling a bit better knowing the man's motives.
"I'll need training." Harry said with a frown.
"When I questioned Bella she told me that you could defeat her in a duel with both blade and wand." Voldemort said quirking an eyebrow. Harry nodded.
"I could, but there are people out there that are stronger than Bella." Harry said with a thin lipped smile. The dark lord nodded slowly.
"I trained Bella personally, I know that if you were to beat her that you are more than anyone will expect for your age. For now it would be best for you to focus on obtaining your masters from the potions guild." He said with a slow nod. "Rabastan will take some time for you to persuade however once his loyalty is assured nothing can shake it, even the fact that you were the one to effectively sign his brother's death warrant." The man said a subtle glitter in his eye.
"I intend to complete my training under Snape by mid September." Harry said with a frown. The man rose his eyebrow.
"So soon?" He said curiously. Harry nodded slowly.
"Assuming that I use the time turner." He said hesitantly. The man smiled thinly.
"Of course, however you understand that as impressive as it would be for you to complete your training in so short a span of time it would also mean that Severus may seek his revenge on you before you are ready to handle it?" He said casually. Harry nodded and a small smile lifted on the edges of his lips.
"He won't." Harry said softly. "No matter his pride he has enjoyed having a pupil who actually works hard and follows direction, I've seen it in his eyes recently. If he had really wanted me to suffer some sort of revenge he would have succeeded when Lucius gave him the information about Bella's death." He said with a slight tilt of his head. The dark lord smirked slightly.
"Ah but you are clever, however Severus is clever too he could simply be lulling you into a false sense of security." He pointed out. Harry nodded.
"He could, but it wouldn't fit his profile. He is above all a scholar, he loves to learn and loves simulating conversation, he also does not believe in wasting opportunities. If I become the youngest potions master of the century his reluctance to kill or maim me will be reduced to nothing the worst I'd suffer would be something possibly humiliating. However if he recognizes the preferential treatment Draco and I will be receiving as something you've designated he will be too cautious to do anything against me for fear of your wrath. Assuming that these facts are correct he will want to wait to make his move, he will slither under the rushes until the opportune moment. By then I hope to be under Rabastan's tutelage and in the safety of the manor I will be staying in for the summer…" Harry hadn't realized that he'd been rattling on but one glance at the amused dark lord silenced him.
"I see that I was right to be impressed by you Harry Potter, there are some things that can not be taught, some things that only come with natural ability- a natural ability that I can see in you." He said smugly. "You will be an impressive heir to have." He said leaning back as a glass of wine appeared. Harry didn't know what to say or do, it was that feeling again, the one he'd gotten out at the ward lines. He wanted to prove himself to the dark lord. For all that he may despise him he could also respect him.
"Dessert my lord?" Harry asked clearing his throat. The dark lord inclined his head as their dishes disappeared and freshly baked dessert appeared.
"I should like you to send me a copy of your grades when you get them." The dark lord said smiling faintly. Harry frowned and cocked his head to the side.
"Of course my lord, however…surely you would easily be able to obtain them." He said with a hesitant frown. Red eyes lifted and the man's smile faded a bit.
"That is true however I would like you to send them to me." The man said recovering a bit. Harry resisted the urge to shift uneasily.
"May I ask why?" He said as politely as he could. The man frowned again.
"Don't most children wish to show their parents their accomplishments? I have taken you on as my heir; I will attend to these needs as well." The dark lord said a touch of sharpness entering his voice. Harry knew better than to say anything more then that however he was…stunned.
The dark lord was…what?
Did he intend to become a father figure?
Harry felt the weight of the pocket watch in his coat, he…he didn't know what to think. A part of him, that part that belongs in the heart of every young man, wanted that father figure that he'd never had. He wanted someone to look up to, someone to rely on. He had only the vaguest of memories of James Potter but he had grown up with the Malfoys, the family that he'd always longed for, Lucius' stern yet doting guidance, Narcissa's obvious adoration, that was what he'd wanted but…could he risk the disappointment? All fingers were pointing to this idea and it was one that Harry was so sorely tempted by that he could feel it in his chest like a dull ache.
And why?
Why would this man whom he knew to be vicious and cruel, to be a monster of war, why would he want to be that figure in Harry's life? Why would he want to spend Yule with Harry? Why would he be interested in Harry's grades, in his plans, in his future? Why would he even need an heir? The man was immortal everyone knew that! His estimated age was over a hundred years old yet he didn't look a day over twenty five, so what need would he have of Harry?
"Enough thinking Bella's child you have yet to open your gifts after all." The dark lord said before standing. Harry followed suit automatically and shoved the thoughts to the corner of his mind wondering instead what he might have gotten this year. He had yet to receive Sirius' gift which in a way worried him because of how religious the man was in sending them every year but it was possible that he was on a mission or something of the sort. He shrugged idly as they entered the drawing room and the dark lord seated himself expectantly.
"Shall I open yours first my lord?" Harry asked curiously.
"I already know what I got you; I want to see what others have gotten for you." The man said gazing at the tree curiously. "And I would like to know why there are only a few gifts given how popular a topic you are as of late." He said with a mild frown. Harry winced internally before flicking his wand and summoning the ledger he kept each year.
"I open those separately; gifts from family and friends go under the tree." He said trying not to flush; it was horridly sentimental now that he thought about it. The dark lord opened the ledger and scanned it for a moment before flipping through the other pages and smirking a bit.
"I see Bella was indeed prone to spoiling you." He said amused before snorting slightly. "Really, a lamp that sings arias?" He said glancing up at Harry who smiled faintly in memory. That one had Draco rolling on the ground in laughter for hours even Lucius had to suppress a snort and Narcissa had been positively twitching in annoyance when Bella put it right next to her. "There is nothing here from Rudolphus." The man said then his expression suddenly calm. Harry shrugged.
"He didn't believe in celebrating Christmas." He said idly.
"Yet you have here that Bella received expensive jewelry every year." The dark lord said grimly. "Some of it I recognize to be nearly priceless pieces." He added. Harry was unable to hide his wince at that.
"I know," He said dryly. "Rudolphus would use almost his entire yearly salary on jewelry for her." He said in annoyance. "It made for a lot of discrepancies in the accounts." He said remembering how many times he'd had to search out the receipt for a particular piece. Sometimes he had been forced to go directly to the seller in order to receive the transaction information.
"Bella never wore jewelry." The dark lord said calmly. Harry shrugged idly. "But she wore anything you gave her didn't she?" He said grimly. Harry winced but nodded. "Rudolphus was jealous of you." The man said tracing the edge of the paper with his finger.
"I know." Harry said looking away.
"Never the less jewelry is a good investment to have, however the amount of notable pieces is a bit much, most families boast one or two, yet I wager the Lestrange household owns nearly every notable piece in existence by now most of this was owned by museums in fact. Between Rudolphus' doting on Bella and your taking bribes during your first year…" Voldemort smiled thinly. "You should certainly sell some of it before anyone realizes just how much you have. People expect you to be incredibly wealthy; they don't expect you to be a treasure trove of legendary pieces. If they find out, those who are jealous of you are likely to leak the information bounty hunters will travel far and wide to get their hands on just one of these items." He advised. Harry nodded slowly.
"I don't wear jewelry." Harry said a hint of humor in his voice. "What do you suggest I do to sell it without garnering attention?" He asked curiously. The dark lord settled the book in his lap and frowned thoughtfully.
"Sell the pieces to foreign soil through me. I will have Lucius advertise that I have a piece and others will believe that I am the seller, I will then transfer the profit to your Gringotts account-ah which reminds me." He said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a key and deftly tossing it to Harry. Harry caught it in surprise and stared down at it for a moment noticing the elaborate design and the large curvy E on the handle. His name was also engraved on the side of the key with graceful loops.
"My lord?" Harry said stunned.
"One of the perks of being my Elite, you receive a salary as large as what any Lord makes every year. Since I have monopolized the Star fire diamond industry we are able to do this." The man said with a satisfied smirk on his lips. Harry nodded in shock.
"Ah." He said without knowing what else to say or do. He would be receiving the Lestrange Lordship salary as well as an Elite salary and a exorbitant amount for each piece of jewelry sold. It was…overwhelming to say the least.
"I will transfer the amount paid for whatever piece of jewelry is sold into the account." He said gesturing to the key. Harry nodded slowly.
"Thank you." He said not knowing how else to respond. The dark lord smirked and tilted his head in satisfaction before turning back to the ledger in his hands.
"Interesting." The man said with a smirk. Harry knew what the man was looking at; several families had gone all out and had given him pieces of land from all over the world. What the devil was he to do with that? "This is a lot of land." He said glancing up at Harry who nodded grimly.
"Yet they kept the elves." He said dryly. Voldemort snorted.
"So, you have an abundant amount of land and homes but hardly the staff to care for them." He said smirking slightly. Harry nodded. "I think I may have a solution that will benefit both of us, but we'll discuss this later." He said setting aside the ledger. "It's Christmas after all." He said an ounce of dry humor in his voice as he looked at Harry expectantly. Harry smirked slightly at that before reaching for Draco's gift. He had felt when the package arrived how many protective charms were on it and had high hopes that it might be what he'd secretly been hoping to get. Carefully he unwrapped it his excitement rising when he recognized that the box was not cardboard but flawless varnished wood. Carefully he reached for the latches and opened the lid grinning before he could help himself. The dark lord let out a quiet chuckle.
"A tea set?" He said amused. Harry flushed guiltily even as he lifted one of the delicate plates from the velvet.
"A secret hobby of mine, there is a particular artist who is incredibly skilled." He said before carrying the saucer to the dark lord so that he could see the detail.
"The war of the unicorns…" The dark lord said raising his eyebrow.
"He paints history flawlessly." Harry said gazing at it with hungry eyes. "The war of the unicorns is my favorite war." He said returning to the crate to lift the tea pot and read the small Chinese lettering. "Once man and beast were brothers, but man grew greedy and began to take by force what Unicorns had once willingly given."
"The Unicorns suffered until at last they rose up against man. And so man fought with the most powerful and precious of creatures." Voldemort said with a nod.
"Until the man known as Merlin stopped the war by placing a curse on the Unicorns. Anything that was taken by force was cursed; anything given willingly was three times as powerful. He then built an enchanted forest, a forest that only the Unicorns could find."
"The unicorns, made shy by man's greed hid away- some seen running into the seas, some seen disappearing into shadows. Man mourned for his loss and rejoiced in the fleeting moments when they could see their kindred again." The dark lord said with a thin smile. Harry carefully lifted the pot and showed the dark lord the intricate image of the unicorns running into the ocean fading from sight. "You know they say that this war hints that wizards in fact came from Unicorns?" The dark lord said eyeing the piece patiently and with a skilled eye. Harry nodded and carefully accepted the dish cradling it in his hands as he settled it back into the crate.
"Or that the unicorns came from high elves." Harry said idly as he set the lid back onto the box.
"Ah so you do read between the lines." The dark lord said smiling thinly.
"I have a similar set, the war of the high elves. They were so cold and beautiful that man grew jealous, men sought to enslave them to seduce them. The elves were so disgusted that they decided to leave to a sacred place across the vast ocean. However, man caught wind of their plans and tried to stop them, a great war broke out,"
"Ah yes, but the high elves were clever, they became great beautiful animals to confuse the minds of men and made it safely to the shores where they sailed away never to be seen again in their true forms." He said with a gleam in his eye. Harry nodded and settled the box carefully. "You will have to show me your collection after this, I find myself intrigued." The dark lord said idly.
"Of course." Harry agreed before lifting his gift from Lucius. Carefully he opened the wrapping and his breath caught in his throat. Slowly he lifted the first cloak a deep blue velvet with silver Celtic knots sewn along the hem.
"Clothes?" The dark lord said amused.
"Narcissa would pick out my winter wardrobe every year to annoy Bella." Harry said softly before frowning. "These aren't her style though…" He said curiously.
"Then perhaps Lucius picked them out." The dark lord said smugly. Harry's eyes widened. His sinking heart soared and he flushed at the chuckle the dark lord let loose. He couldn't help it though, if Lucius had in fact done this then it meant that he'd actually put a great deal of thought into it. A great deal of thought focused on Harry! He was so excited that he nearly forgot the other man was in the room as he pulled out one item after another from the box marveling at the fine material. "Here now, how's this." The dark lord said in amusement conjuring a full sized mirror. Harry darted towards it thoughtlessly and held the dress robes up so that he could see them better.
It was only then that he noticed the crest on the shoulder, the elaborate E inside a shield, the same design as was on his key. He stared into the mirror for a long moment in shock before his heart sank like a rock.
"Draco will have robes like these too wont he?" Harry breathed. Red eyes which had been glittering with amusement sharpened.
"Since Lucius is the only inner circle member that knows of the Elite I asked him to organize a group of robe makers and stylists, since you are the first official Elite his primary focus has been on your individual style." He said coolly. Harry stared at his reflection for a long moment.
"So he didn't do it because he wanted to or even to remember Narcissa, he did it because you told him to." Harry said his voice empty. "I'm a fool." He said with a snort before turning his gaze back to the robes. "Dress robes. All of them. For social events, making me as something though no one will know exactly what until you are ready to tell them- this gift isn't for me then, it's for you." He said softly. He was surprised by just how much that hurt.
"Had I known you would have been this disappointed I would have had him send them to you at a later date." The dark lord said sounding mildly annoyed. Harry stared down at the velvet and shook his head.
"They are gorgeous, superb." He said without inflection.
"But you see them as an order from me rather than a gift from the man you love." The dark lord said sharply. Harry flinched visibly.
"Did you intend for me to see them as a gift from Lucius Malfoy?" He asked softly.
"I intended to see you happy!" The man said sharply. Harry looked away.
"My lord, perhaps you didn't notice, but gifts with motives behind them don't go under the tree." Harry said softly. He should have thought before speaking, he really should have. The dark lord stood so quickly Harry nearly flinched.
"My only motive was to see you happy!" He hissed furiously. Harry grit his teeth and clutched the fabric in his hand.
"Your motive was to mark me!" He said holding out the crest. "That is a political move and you used Lucius and myself to do so! I-" He cut himself off before he could cause more damage. Bella would have been furious, fighting with the dark lord, doing as he pleased! He went to that calm place, the one that allowed him to go far, far away from the pain. "I apologize my lord, these robes are spectacular, I appreciate the crest as well. Lucius Malfoy is obviously a weakness that I need to cut out of my heart." He said his voice rough. "You are as ever a wondrous lord; your only concern was for my well being as your Elite I should not have scorned your generosity." He said lowering his chin slightly and dropping to his knees. There was a long silence and he could feel the dark lord's magic as it swirled around the man.
"Don't you dare cut him out of your heart Bella's child." The man said dangerously. Of all the things he could have said that was the least likely in Harry's mind. "He is the one that will make you happy." The man added before reaching out his hand. The final two gifts flew through the air and into the man's hand. He handed the one to Harry.
"Sir?" Harry rasped staring at it blankly.
"Open it." The dark lord said sharply. Harry nodded and carefully opened the package revealing a wooden box which when opened revealed a dagger sheathed in an exquisite black leather cover with a large onyx stone bearing the Slytherin crest. "Use this only in extreme danger and I will come to you no matter where you are." The man said calmly. Harry traced the ridges of the item. "It will stay with you wherever you go, you may show Lucius and Draco but no one else." Harry stared at it for a long moment.
"You- you're offering me your protection?" He asked curiously.
"Don't tell me that doesn't go under the tree too." The man sneered. Harry flinched and unconsciously pulled the blade to his chest.
"No, this is…thank you, I will cherish it." He said lowering his eyes to the plush carpet. A part of him was wondering why he was still alive, another part of him was marveling that he hadn't been cursed to hell and back but a majority of him was reeling at the fact that he'd been gifted with something so precious. The dark lord let out a frustrated sound before turning sharply and moving to his seat sitting down with prim ease.
"You are quite confusing Bella's child. Just when I think I have you figured out I see something different and entirely confusing." The man said before beginning to peel the wrapping away. Harry watched nervously as red eyes stared blankly into the case for a long moment.
"You, that is to say if you don't like it you can shove it away somewhere, I found it when Bella was cleaning out the old house I used to wear it when I was studying because it helped me understand what I was reading a bit better but all I could think recently was that I should give it to you. There was no picture so I put a two way mirror inside instead, that way if you want to use it to talk to me it's there." Nervously he pulled out his own two way mirror which looked more like a slim silver cigarette case. He startled when a hand captured his and red eyes burned as they bore into his.
"I will wear it always." He said before lifting the chain and slipping the locket over his neck causing the emerald's which shaped the S to glint in the light of the fire. Harry stared at it in stunned silence for a long moment before nodding slowly feeling oddly out of his depth.
"Would you like some wine?" He asked grasping for anything to break the odd moment.
"I wish to know what your interests are." The dark lord said ignoring him. "What subjects to you enjoy in school? What subjects do you have trouble with?" The man asked. Harry refused to react to the sudden inquisition and instead responded fluidly.
"I enjoy all of my classes however I find myself…ahead, most of the time, especially in charms and Dark Arts." He said delicately. The man smirked slightly.
"Now doubt, you are far more advanced than the others, Lucius has suggested that at the end of the year we use a proficiency exam to see where everyone stands academically and what changes need to be made. I was surprised to note that the few students that were not doing well were weighting down those that strive for success." He said idly. Harry nodded slowly his eyes catching the glint of hard steel in the man's eyes.
"Someone was doing it intentionally on the board weren't they?" Harry said knowingly. Red eyes glinted towards him.
"It never ceases, these pocket rebellions are quite frustrating especially when they effect your generation, children born during or after the war have no business being drawn into the ideals of a dead man." He said with annoyance ringing in his voice. "The man would rather have crippled the minds of an entire generation of children than accept that he has lost." He said leaning back. "Fortunately for you I am placing Lucius within the walls of Hogwarts in order to make the necessary changes." He said with a slight smirk. Harry felt his own lips twitch slightly.
"Coincidence I'm sure." He said amused. Red eyes glittered.
"But of course. I've placed Lucius as my direct link to the Elite however he has potential otherwise. He has some fresh ideas, I want Hogwarts to return to the glory she was once known for, we have made vast improvements over the years but I want more." He said with a distant gaze.
"Ambitious." Harry complimented in amusement. Red eyes darted towards him and the smirking lips softened into an almost real smile that startled Harry.
"I want you to help him, consider this an assignment as my Elite." He said sharply. Harry nodded slowly. He'd known this was coming; it seemed that his future was here now, and for some reason knowing that it was here made him relax a bit. "And Harry, don't become distracted. I want improvement not drama, save that for outside of your work." He said firmly. Harry nodded and bowed slightly.
"Of course my lord." He said in understanding.
"Good, I believe that you are capable of this, I am not blind to the Slytherin politics and I have seen your ambition and dedication, I want results Bella's child."
"I will do my best my lord." He said bowing again.
"Very good now I do believe that it is time to light the Yule log." He said smirking faintly. Harry nodded.
As he watched the log burn he couldn't help but acknowledge that in more ways than one this coming year would mark his journey from child to adult. As he turned his gaze to the dark lord he couldn't help but wonder if it didn't mean more than just that.