Together

Prompt: What if Harry hadn't died in the Forbidden Forest in the Battle for Hogwarts?

Warning: LVHP, NOT TRHP. This is going to be pure serpentine goodness. Will be rated M in later chapters. The first multi-chap fic I've written in years due to writing books, so bear with me. Writing someone else's characters after writing your own for so long is strange.

I don't own any of this stuff other than the 'plot', which I am sure has been done before. All characters belong to JK Rowling. What a Goddess.

Chapter 10: The Meeting

…

Harry woke up the next day, slightly startled at the night before and not quite sure the events had actually taken place. He laid in bed, thinking to himself. Had he enjoyed it? Yes, but he could never bring himself to talk about it. Voldemort would have to do that. Instead, he laid back and tried to go back to sleep, when there was a knock on the door.

Narcissa entered, a huge smile gracing her face. Harry liked to see her smile, it was comforting and made him feel safe. She ruffled his hair lightly before starting the conversation.

"The Dark Lord is holding a Death Eater meeting today. He wishes for your company. He said, however, that if you needed rest, you could have it. Is everything alright?" She seemed slightly concerned, but was trying not to show it. Harry waved it off.

"Just bad dreams. He…he came in and checked on me last night. He heard me from down the corridor."

She frowned for a split second, before becoming all cheery again. Harry, however, sensed something fake about it.

"He seems to be very fond of you. Well, here are your robes. He wants you there at ten to ten. The others arrive on the dot. As his equal, he will share his plans with you before the others arrive."

She handed him his robes, before going to leave the room. Harry stopped her just before she did.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

She paused for a bit.

"I-I'm just nervous. My little boy is growing up and working with the most powerful wizard of all time. I just hope that he doesn't get you hurt."

Harry didn't quite understand, but Narcissa had rephrased the last part of her sentence on purpose.

'…I just hope he doesn't hurt you.'

…

Harry walked into the main hall nervously, unable to hold eye contact with the Dark Lord. Voldemort noticed that his face was red. If he became too embarrassed, Harry would start putting distance between them, which would ruin the plan. He had come this far, and decided that he had to keep them close. Harry was putty in his hands at this point, and he couldn't lose that.

The kiss the night before had felt good. He didn't quite understand why, but it was one of the best feelings he'd ever had. He didn't know if there was any actual emotion behind it, however. He kept telling himself there wasn't, that it was all part of the plan, but the truth was that he had no idea himself. The feeling was so pleasant that he could understand why many people became addicted.

Was he even capable of love? He didn't know as he had nothing to compare the experience too, but he knew that the pleasant feeling was a very foreign one.

Still, he wouldn't allow himself to entertain the idea.

"Harry, why so shy all of a sudden?" Voldemort smiled, stroking the back of the boys hand with his thumb in soothing circles. Harry blushed harder. He shrugged, but turned his hand over and clasped their fingers together. He finally looked up, and when there was only comfortable smiles, he loosened up.

"I thought maybe that you would think I was stupid? Or that you'd think I was some dumbstruck kid…"

"Harry, it was I who kissed you. I wouldn't have done it if I had thought that. Relax. Now," Voldemort fixed his attitude to work mode.

"We are plotting an attack on your old school. All the people who did you wrong shall be killed. We have asked the Werewolves for assistance, as well as the giants, and they have both agreed. Also, before the others get here, I have a firm instruction." He stared into Harry's eyes, and something about it signified that he wasn't going to like it.

"My follower Bellatrix Lestrange is not fond of you, Harry. She wished to be my equal. She was not worthy. If she causes any concern, such as an attack, you have full permission to use the Cruciatus Curse on her. Understood?" Voldemort asked sternly. Harry nodded.

…

"What's Potter doing here?" She screeched, almost Banshee-like.

"Do not question my work. Harry's memory loss means he has to be filled in." The Death Eater's faces all changed to ones of shock.

"You're glad to have your son back, aren't you, Lucius?" Voldemort smirked. Lucius nodded, unfeeling.

Voldemort filled them in on the plan to fight Hogwarts. Harry was able to follow until they mentioned they had already attempted it once before.

"When did that happen?" He asked. Voldemort smiled at him, gliding behind his chair and ruffling his hair.

"When we rescued you, Harry. All these people here helped to plot the death of Albus Dumbledore, your rescue. They wanted you back with us, working with us. You're valuable to us, Harry."

"Why?"

"Because you were the spirit of that school. You gave them hope. They thought that, with you, we didn't stand a chance. Now, we have you and that hope, and all the power we could possibly want. We can't lose."

…

Bellatrix had only had to be Crucioed twice in the meeting. The first time, she had tried to throw an Avada Kedavra Harry's way, and Voldemort had done it. The second time, she wouldn't shut up, and had obviously been flirting with the Dark Lord, and Harry had done it out of annoyance. He really hated the woman, not just for her voice and volume and temper, but because…there was something else he couldn't put his finger on.

He spent the rest of the day thinking and reading about Voldemort in the papers. For some reason, there was nothing past June 1980. He had searched the house, but there was nothing to be found.

Harry wasn't stupid. Narcissa acting weird, Voldemort generalising and not explaining anything that happened at the school in detail…they were hiding something from him.

And he was going to find out what.

…

Hey guys! Thanks for reading. I'm finally at over 100 followers!

To be perfectly honest, I've found another ship in another fandom I am desperate to do a giant animation project on, which means I have to finish this soon.

HOWEVER:

.This does not mean I'm not going to complete it. There will be sixteen chapters in total, and will be published as they are completed. Most of them will probably be done tonight, if not all.

.I will not rush them. No matter how much I want to move on, this has been fun, and I want to give you guys what you deserve.

Stay with me, and I hope you enjoy it!

-Alistair