(One Month Later)
The train screeched to a stop on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the scarlet engine letting loose a last whistle to announce it's arrival to the gathered witches and wizards.
The doors slid open and teenagers and children hoped off, wearing black robes over school uniforms. Some held small bags or animal cages in their hands, and all surged towards the waiting crowd of parents.
Draco stepped off and brushed imaginary soot off his shoulders, taking his time to locate his waiting parents, who stood next to a young boy and a hooded figure.
"Took you long enough." Harry smiled when Draco was pushed over there by Daphne, who then scurried off to meet her own parents.
"Do you honestly see me as the type to go running to anyone?" Draco asked, making Harry cock his eyebrow.
"We'll see."
"Better watch out Draco, Harry's got his thinking face on." Daphne laughed from nearby, her little sister, Astoria giggling next to her.
"Ooh I'm so scared." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Allright enough is enough," Lucius said, drawing Draco close, "I propose dinner at our place, everyone's invited. Oh, not you Weasley. I don't think the house elves need any help." Mr. Weasley had happened to be standing to close, greeting his children and turned to face them at the wrong time. He was now glowering at Lucius, ears pink.
"Why would he eat with you?" A gangly red haired boy in too small robes snarled behind Mr. Weasley, Harry recognised him as the boy who'd glowered at him from across the platform months earlier, "I bet the Dark Lord's cooking sucks." His siblings had paused in their greetings to watch. One of the older looking one's puffed out his chest importantly, muttering how his little brother didn't need to be so rude in front of their mother.
"Ronald!" The plump woman, Mrs. Weasley if Harry remembered correctly, admonished, "There's no need to talk like that in public!"
"Oh so you let him talk like that at home then?" The hooded figure, Barty, snapped, "Well no wonder his manner's are completely shot."
"Honestly do we have to do this everytime you two see eachother?" Narcissa whispered, "It's like you're two wet cats!"
Harry, Daphne, and Draco smirked, making the tall boy in the robes glow as red as his father.
"Let's go Ron," Mr. Weasley said, "We should be getting home."
"Got those pigsty's to muck out and all." Draco said as a parting shot. He turned and walked off to get his luggage with Daphne, Harry following to help. The boy, Ron, merely stood there with ears going purple, unable to say anything. His siblings standing around him, varying in degrees of lividity.
"That was bloody brilliant." Harry laughed, unloading Daphne's trunk for her, "I do believe his ears turned about three colors in that whole conversation."
"Honestly Harry, you shouldn't be encouraging it." Daphne said from the platform, "Those two went at it all year. It caused Draco at least three detentions and me a whole year of grief."
"Oh?"
"Everytime they saw eachother there was a fight, and the minute they were on their merry ways I got an ear full of how bad the Weasley's are and how much Draco's eyes must be poisoned just by looking at the 'little Weasel'. Ugh, it was annoying to say the least."
"Well, now I really wish I went to Hogwarts, this sounds like fun." Harry said. Daphne growled and Draco laughed as he got the last of his things. The boys manuvered the luggage over to where Daphne stood in time for Harry to be knocked over by two red headed twins. Weasels obviously.
"Harry!"
"Sorry mate, didn't see you there."
Harry shook his head to clear it, "Why is it that whenever I visit this platform I end up being knocked down by a Weasley?"
"Oh, have we met before?" The twin grinned, helping him up.
"Don't touch him Weasel, not everyone is immune to your parents brand of stupidity." Draco sneered.
"So I guess it's safe to assume you're thouroughly infected?" One of the twins asked, completely sincere. Harry grinned, despite himself.
"Come on Fred, I don't wanna have to spend anymore time breathing in the Slytherin Stench." The other twin whined, waving his hand in front of his nose as though there was a foul odour in the air.
"I'm comin' George!" Fred said annoyed before turning to Harry, "I'm just curious, I didn't see you on the train or at school. Aren't you eleven?"
"My Dad wanted to teach me magic, but I'm good friends with Draco so we came to greet him."
"Ah, so Hoodie is your dad." Fred said in mock understanding.
"No, he's my dementor."
Fred's eyes grew wide and he turned to look at Barty, who was talking to Lucius. He turned back to see a chuckling Harry.
"I'm a great liar by the way." Harry added, making Fred relax, his twin nearby scowling in annoyance, yet a faint twitch of the corner of his mouth was giving him away.
"No you're not." Fred laughed, "But you are good for a laugh. Who knows, maybe not all of Slytherin's friends are that bad. Anyway, I should go, George'll have an anyurism if I don't. Bye Harry." Fred grinned, walking off behind his brother. George cast Harry a wary glance before waving goodbye as well and like that the red headed twins were gone. Harry turned back to see Draco glaring at Harry and Daphne rolling her eyes in Draco's direction.
"Oh don't be such a drama queen Draco, simple conversation hasn't killed me yet. And anyway, did you see how much pain it caused the other for his brother to be near me? That must have been fun to watch."
Draco shrugged, "Yeah maybe, but don't make it a habit okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of it."
It was almost midnight when Harry returned to Riddle Manor, a house elf taking his cloak as he shed it.
"Where's my father?" Harry asked, he hadn't seen him since he'd sent Harry to lessons that day from his cradle.
"Misteh Riddle sir is in bed restin'." The house elf said meekly, "He doesn't want to be disturbed."
"Well I don't think he minds being disturbed by me." Harry said firmly, marching upstairs.
Death Eaters, mostly the one's with healing experience, had been in and out of his father's actual room for weeks. They were always chattering with each other yet Harry hadn't been able to glean any information from them, to afraid of what he'd learn.
Tonight though, he felt slightly empowered, ready for what the world was waiting so clearly to throw at him from behind his father's bedroom door.
Harry knocked lightly to announce his arrival before turning the handle and opening the door to a dark room.
"Father?" Harry called softly, flipping a light switch and flooding the room with light.
"Harrison!" The shriek was groggy and in parseltoungue, the owner of the voice slightly confused but thouroghly annoyed. Voldemort had a sheet covering his face, his arm raised to hold it there.
"Dad, I just wanted to see you... I haven't all month-"
"Harry it's late and you know I'm ill." Voldemort said sternly. He lowered the sheet and recoiled at the shock that spread across his adopted son's face.
Voldemort had been bald and looked more snake than human to begin with. But now he also looked starved, the cheeks tight against his face and the eyes red and sunken. His whole body looked light a cellophane wrapped skeleton, the skin threatening to break against the sharper bones. He looked all in all like the kind of stuff Hell spit back out after it was done chewing. He did not look at all like the king Harry had invisioned.
"I wanted to say good night to you father." Harry said, looking down; ashamed.
Voldemort's emaciated features softened from anger to annoyance. Then sunk further to a reluctant acceptance.
"It's allright son, I was just asleep. Come, tell your father goodnight." Voldemort held an arm up and Harry's features brightened. He crossed the room and hugged his father.
"How was the dinner party?" Voldemort asked.
"It was fun, but the adults seem very preoccupied with your health. Even Barty seems sane he's so worried you'll will take a downturn."
"Ah, this couldn't be avoided. Besides, in due time I will be myself once more. As long as I take that potion we need not fear anything until then."
Harry looked at his father in concern, "You still need it?"
"Sadly yes. The accident I was involved in should have killed me. I may be relying on that potion the rest of my life."
"Dad, that's not a good idea." Harry said warily, concerned about what kind of danger this posed to his father.
"I know son, I know. But it's the best plan at the moment so there it is." Voldemort shrugged. Harry smiled at how relaxed his father seemed and released from the embrace.
"Aunt Narcissa said she'd send more potion with Barty tommorow. And Uncle Lucius said he'd taken care of the school governors, but Dumbeldore is to remain as headmaster."
Voldemort growled in anger, "I'd atleast hoped the disappearance of the stone would have had some sort of impact on the old fool, but it seems he's got a tighter hold on those governors than I'd thought. No matter... his time will come."
"Dad, there's one thing I want to ask you."
"What is it Harry?"
"Last summer you said I would be more help to you in your plans. Well, it's been almost a year and I haven't done anything except ask Draco for his hair for you..."
"Ah, don't worry Harry. Your time will come. But you must understand, I can't put you in some of the more dangerous situations like I do the regular Death Eaters. You're to important, to me and to my vision of the future. But do not worry, before you come of age I can garuntee your involvement in my plans will increase. In fact, I'm planning a stunt that will remove Dumbeldore from Hogwarts before next school year ends."
Harry smiled with excitment, "What do you plan to do father?"
"Ah, ah ah, not yet." Voldemort smiled, leaning in to kiss his eleven year old son goodnight, "But very soon Harry, very, very soon."