A/N: I'm back with a new chapter! *Yay*
Thank you all so much for giving me your opinions, questions, suggestions and lovely encouragement in your reviews! (I even got some guests to review; thanks so much guys!)
Here we go. :)
.
Chapter 11
The day after the challenge, Harry swore to himself to never use an unfinished invention ever again.
He had woken up, only to find himself almost paralyzed from his sore muscles. With gritted teeth, he had managed to stand up and examine his body. He was covered in nasty bruises and even some deeper cuts.
Apparently, his shield had indeed deflected the attacks, but somehow a part of the force was still transmitted to his body. Where the bullets had hit him the day before, were now circular blue bruises that hurt like hell, but at least weren't deadly.
He cursed Riddle for not giving him enough time to test and refine his shield. He was carefully putting back on his clothes, when he heard someone enter his shop.
"I'm closed for today," yelled Harry.
"I am not here to buy anything Mr Potter, a word if you pleased?"
Harry groaned silently when he recognised the voice and slowly walked to the front. "Mr Malfoy," he began, trying in vain to keep out his irritation, "please tell me your son isn't running around alone again."
Lucius' lips thinned in displeasure at the quip. "Rest assured, he is quite safe for the moment. No, I am here because my lord has requested your presence."
"Oh what the-… It hasn't even been a day, tell him to give me a fucking break!"
To Lucius' credit, he didn't even react to Harry's outcry.
"I'm serious, tell him I'll come tomorrow, but not now."
"Then I am afraid I cannot leave," retorted Malfoy and took some more steps into his shop. He looked at a big wooden box and apparently contemplated whether to sit down or not and then decided against it when seeing the dust on the surface.
Harry stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
He could see Malfoy's eyes coming alive with determined malice. Harry wondered if annoying him had become the new sport among Voldemort's followers.
Harry wanted to convince himself that it was fine; Lucius could stand there the whole day if he liked to, but he hated it when someone was watching him and he sure as hell wouldn't go back to sleep while a stranger was in his house.
"I can't work while someone is breathing down my back."
Lucius only shrugged lightly. "You could offer me some tea."
What was wrong with that family?
"How about a hot chocolate, your son wanted one desperately the other day. Ah, why I didn't give him one you ask? Well I was a bit busy trying to keep him alive," hissed Harry annoyed and stormed out, even though his sore body protested against the quick movements.
It wasn't like he wanted to meet Riddle the next day, so he might as well get it over with.
.
.
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black had known each other for a very long time.
A most unlikely friendship between a rich popular kid and a silent one in ragged clothes, had proven to be the only thing they could count on throughout their lives. In many ways, their characters were polar opposites, but they had also perfected an impeccable synchronisation with each other.
That was why they both stopped simultaneously when they heard lord Dumbledore's voice from around the corner. Normally, they would go and greet him immediately, but something told them to stay out of sight.
"…heard you have not only found him, but didn't contact us for several years," whispered an unfamiliar voice urgently.
"Now, now lord Scrimgeour, no reason to unsettle the guild. The boy posed hardly any threat," replied Dumbledore in his calming manner.
"And that is exactly why it would have been wiser to act then, not now that he apparently takes over London with only a handful of people!"
"There were other aspects I had to take into account. Not to mention it would have been a serious risk to simply act on a whim. Certain conditions had to be met first."
"So now they are? I can't really see it working though. You specifically told us you had him under control. We thought he joined your group, not that he is running around wildly, creating god knows what!"
"He is only a boy, and a lost-generation at that! I assure you, his survival is based on pure luck alone," reassured Dumbledore.
But Scrimgeour was not convinced in the least. "Everyone else of that cursed family died that day, there was no luck involved when he escaped those flames and disappeared! Besides, he knows his real name, he clearly remembers already way too much."
"He didn't seem to even recognise me Scrimgeour! Let alone make any connection between me and the guild," objected Dumbledore.
"This procrastination ends now Dumbledore! We have sacrificed too much to be ruined by some child. He has to die. Tell one of your-…"
Dumbledore interrupted him firmly. "No. I most certainly will not. He would pose the same threat as the child does now. We have to do it without anyone else getting involved."
They were silent for a moment, before Scrimgeour conceded. "Very well. I am looking forward to meet him this afternoon then."
They both disappeared silently from the corridor.
Sirius and Remus looked at each other, both seeing the same shock in the other's eyes.
"Err…Do you think there's another kid running around and taking over the city?" asked Sirius uncomfortable.
"I am afraid the probability is non-existent."
They stood there, rooted on the spot behind the corner for a long time, neither saying a word, yet thinking the same.
For several blissful years they had everything they could wish for. Group phoenix was their beloved family, Dumbledore their deeply respected lord and Harry their dear friend – almost thought upon as their own child.
It was time to choose.
.
.
"Ah Harry, so glad you could make it."
Voldemort was sitting in his armchair like always, the opposite chair was currently occupied by Snape.
"I'd like you to meet Severus Snape, he is…supervising… Dumbledore's actions."
Snape swiftly stood up and shook Harry's hand without even batting an eyelash. Harry decided that the man was an incredible good actor.
"You mean he's a spy?" asked Harry after reminding himself that he had to act like he never met Snape.
"Please Harry, such a spiteful word. Severus is merely…reporting certain events to me."
"My lord has granted me information that you and lord phoenix have an unfinished business," said Snape curtly, "I will do my best to gather more information about this affair."
Harry snorted. "He is the only one that has an unfinished business, I don't remember doing something that would deserve his…attentions."
"I heard you refused his offer to join his group," remarked Snape.
Harry frowned. They both knew that Dumbledore most likely wanted to kill Harry because of what happened in the past, and while Voldemort probably already came to the same conclusion, Snape couldn't very well reveal that Harry knew anything about that. Instead, Snape had chosen to come up with another possible reason for Dumbledore's actions.
"I did," admitted Harry, "but he seemed very accepting and understanding."
"Lords don't take such refusals lightly," persisted Snape, and Harry wasn't sure if they were still talking about Dumbledore or about the man sitting in this very room.
"How come you can spy on Dumbledore without him getting suspicious?" inquired Harry, even though he already knew the answer.
"He lived in the same village as Dumbledore before the chaos," explained Riddle. Harry noted that he casually forgot to mention that he had lived there too.
Severus nodded. "I made him believe that I am merely here to reconnect with an old friend."
And that you have no idea what really happened to my parents, added Harry in his thoughts.
"But I actually called you here because of this," said Riddle and held up a piece of paper.
"Great, another letter. I hope that one is not for me."
"Well at least this time he recognised the object; he's learning quickly," grinned Riddle in Snape's direction.
He then waved at Snape in a dismissive manner and Snape bowed lightly before he left them alone.
Harry looked at Voldemort disapprovingly.
"What?" asked Riddle innocently.
"He bows? Seriously?"
"All my followers bow you silly child."
Well I sure as hell will neve-… wait, when did I decide to join? Harry sighed annoyed with himself.
"What is it this time?" he asked Riddle to distract himself.
"An invitation from a quite well-known lord to attend his ball."
Harry blinked. "His what?"
Riddle looked up from the letter and frowned at him. "He is holding a ball."
"And you are holding a letter," remarked Harry.
Riddle stared at him dumbfounded – Harry quite enjoyed the expression – before he began to chuckle.
"Ah yes, you wouldn't know what that is, would you? Poor little lost-generation."
Harry glared at him but said nothing. During the chaos, he never saw the use in learning old expressions and customs, but now that civilisation was slowly returning, he began to suspect that the veterans would try their best to re-evoke them.
"Maybe you should try to read a lexicon sometime instead of a science book," suggested Riddle, obviously enjoying Harry's lack of knowledge.
"I tried. I found it boring."
Riddle smirked, but to Harry's relief went on explaining.
"A ball is a social gathering with a selected group of people. They were often hosted by aristocrats in the past centuries. Balls are a platform for political scheming and general gossip, as well as formal dancing."
"Wait a sec…Are you telling me you got invited to a dance?" interrupted Harry. He couldn't help but grin at the ridiculousness of it.
"We."
"Huh?"
"We got invited to a dance."
It took Harry several seconds to process what Riddle just said.
"They want me there? Oh wait…please don't tell me I got one of those letters and didn't see it again! If someone else is out there waiting to beat me up over not reading their stupid-…"
"Relax, they only brought me a letter, but they specifically mention you in it. I guess they enjoyed your performance, but you aren't worthy enough to send you a personal invitation."
Harry hummed, not in the least bit insulted.
"I still think those pieces of paper are absurd. I mean, someone had to ride to this lord and tell him about the challenge and then ride the whole way again, just to give you that the very next day?"
"Like I already said; it is a tradition. Truthfully, I am not sure if they send me one to insult my age, or to show me their respect."
It was the second time that Riddle mentioned his own, rather young, age and the lack of respect from the older lords. He started to wonder if it really posed a bigger problem than he expected.
"So does that mean you officially moved up in their lords-ranking?"
"Not really, I believe they merely want to make sure I'm not a threat to them."
"And, are you?"
Riddle hummed ominously. "Who knows?"
"Well you do control a good part of London – unofficially at least."
"And once our dear friend Dumbledore is gone, it will be all of London. By then the powerful lords in the country will be more than a bit unsettled."
Harry narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What exactly are you planning with group phoenix?"
Riddle sighed theatrically. "You know it would be so easy if you could just-…"
"No, I will not simply blow up their headquarters," interrupted Harry.
Riddle didn't even have the decency to look sorry.
"Ah yes your friends."
He only quirked an eyebrow at Harry's death glare.
"You do realise I could just force you," he continued threateningly.
"I'd like to see you try," answered Harry, proud that he sounded much more self-assured than he really felt.
They stared at each other, both recalling what happened the last time Riddle tried to force Harry into something, before Harry let himself fall down in the empty armchair.
"Look…I know you only see me as a tool to achieve whatever crazy plan you have in your even crazier brain, and you know what? That's actually kind of fine by me. At least that way I know what I'm getting into. But I will not stand idly by while you are hurting people I care about, so forget whatever violent plan you have for group phoenix and take a more diplomatic route, or that paint will be the only thing you could use me for."
"Yes, yes. I had a feeling you would say that," said Riddle exasperated.
"You have feelings?" quipped Harry incredulously, but Riddle ignored him.
"You don't have to worry about your little friends, my 'more diplomatic' plan is already set in motion. I have no desire to fight a full-out war with half of London. Besides, I will need someone to lead this city and I certainly do not want Fudge for the job."
"What do you mean lead London? Who will?" asked Harry alarmed.
Riddle pointedly turned away from Harry and poured himself a drink.
"Guess."
"Riddle! I'm not in the mood for your games! Who do you want to lead London?"
The lord shot him a mildly indignant look. "For a genius, you sure are slow at grasping certain things, aren't you Harry. Fine, I'll give you a hint if you do something in return, that's only fair isn't it?"
"I already gave you a good part of London, what more do you want?"
Riddle slowly took a sip from his drink.
"Strip."
"Excuse me?!"
Riddle snorted amused. "Not that kind, you idiot. Your hair looks like you've never washed it in your entire life and there are more holes in your clothes than there is cloth. And I have a hard time naming your skin colour under all that dirt. Narcissa prepared a bath for you in the adjacent room which you'll take now and leave your clothes here."
Harry gaped at him.
"If you think I'll undress in front of you, you are badly mistaken."
"Why Harry, you might be a lost-generation but you are an adult now, don't tell me you are shy?" teased Riddle.
Harry's breath hitched involuntarily and his body froze up. He abruptly stood up and walked stiffly to the door, where he paused to turn to Riddle.
"I'll take your stupid bath, but afterwards I expect some answers. Oh and if you're gone when I come back, I swear I'll blow this place up."
"I thought you liked the barkeeper?" smirked Riddle.
"Fuck off!" cried Harry and slammed the door shut.
Harry all but collapsed behind the closed door. That had been…close.
Clamped muscles, irregular breathing and a racing heartbeat…If he had to take a guess, his symptoms pointed directly to a panic attack. The question was, why?
He had never felt comfortable around other people, but Riddle took his uneasiness to a whole new level. But it wasn't the same uneasiness Harry felt when being around someone like Fudge or Dumbledore. With them, Harry felt almost a bit disgusted at their presence, but Voldemort? He seemed to experience an adrenaline rush whenever he was around the man. Harry had once read that people could become addicted to highly dangerous sports, did that mean..?
Harry shook his head vigorously. He refused to even think down that road.
He picked himself up and opened the adjacent door. A big wooden tub full with steaming hot water stood in the middle of the otherwise empty room. It only took Harry a split second to identify the women as Draco's mother. With her blonde hair and fair complexion, Narcissa – like the rest of the Malfoy's – looked out of place in such a worn-down inn.
"I left a new set of clothes on the floor over there. My lord kindly urges you to wear them."
With that, Narcissa left Harry alone.
Harry sighed and approached the tub suspiciously. He only ever washed himself when the stench became too dominant. But even then he didn't use much more than a wet towel.
He didn't like how Riddle got him to take a bath, but he wasn't foolish enough to waste such luxury.
He carefully stepped out of his clothes and entered the tub. The hot water did wonders to his battered body. He closed his eyes blissfully for a moment, before he began to scrub himself. He wouldn't want to give Riddle the satisfaction to know that he actually enjoyed it.
Several long minutes later, the water had taken on a brownish colour and Harry decided it would be contra productive if he stayed in it any longer.
The clothes fit him surprisingly well. It was an odd feeling for Harry, since he was used to layers of oversized clothes. They weren't new clothes but definitely in a better state than his old ones. Harry still decided to keep his old shoes and jacket.
When he exited the room, he heard Riddle's voice coming from downstairs. He moved to the staircase and looked down.
"…and this is the list of the smaller groups that I told you about my lord. Should they be allowed to stay independent, or should I insist on a fusion?"
Harry could see Fudge handing Voldemort several stacks of papers. He tried to read Fudge's expression and was surprised when he couldn't detect any malice or reluctance. Instead, Fudge seemed almost excited and radiated a kind of satisfaction that came from being busy.
"I don't care as long as you maintain firm control over all of them. If that is easier with a fusion…"
"No, no my lord! Not at all, I can handle them just fine. I merely wanted to-…"
"That would be all Fudge," dismissed Riddle. He sounded bored and didn't even look at Fudge while he bowed – much deeper than Snape – and hurriedly left the inn.
When he looked up from the papers, his eyes met Harry's and he walked up the stairs.
"Hmm…" he made, while assessing him.
Harry squirmed under his intense gaze.
"What?!" he hissed.
"Better," commented Riddle and walked back in his room.
Harry huffed annoyed and followed him. He could have sworn he heard Riddle murmur, "much better," under his breath.
"Fudge seemed happy," he began, when Riddle continued to ignore him.
"Of course he is."
"How did you manage that within just a day?"
"By being me."
Harry couldn't hold back his laughter at the sheer audacity of the man.
That finally got Riddle to look up. "Is something funny, Harry?"
"You are," shrugged Harry.
Riddle looked amused and insulted at the same time. "I've been described in many different words, but I doubt 'funny' was ever one of them."
Harry shrugged again and uninvited filled himself a glass of water.
"You owe me a hint Riddle."
"Ah yes…Let me think…Lupin."
Harry spurted water all over himself.
"Wha- That's not a hint!"
"With your thick head we would still be here tomorrow."
"You want Remus to-… No way! Forget it Riddle! Get it out of your head now!"
"Well, his little friend can help him too if he wants."
This just kept getting better and better. Harry didn't even notice that he had leapt to his feet in protest.
"Sirius?! He- Wait how do you even know him?"
"He's one of the best fighters group phoenix has, of course I have heard of him."
"But- they- I-…" sputtered Harry.
Riddle sighed. "Calm down will you? Just think. We can't win a physical fight against group phoenix, but we don't need to. Lupin is already highly respected among the group, the power change will go by practically unnoticed."
Harry felt the strong need to defend his friends.
"There is absolutely no way Remus and Sirius would betray their lord in any way! They are kind-hearted and loyal and-…"
"…and that's exactly why they will."
"You're not making any sense! Have you talked to them about it? I swear if you-…"
"I don't need to, you genius. I told you; the plan is already set in motion, without me doing anything. You already did all the work," smirked Riddle, pleased with himself.
"Me?! I tried to keep them out of this mess, I didn't do anything!"
"You exist."
Defeated, Harry fell back down in the chair. "That's your answer for everything isn't it?"
"Consider this my hint. You exist, Dumbledore exists, figure out the rest."
"I really can't see what you're getting at."
"The laws of physics are not the only things you can manipulate Harry. If you know where to look, you'll find that human nature is far more powerful than anything your science could come up with. The only thing you have to do is predict their actions and act accordingly."
"That's exactly what I expected a manipulative bastard to say, but I am not like that," objected Harry.
Riddle chuckled darkly. "Oh no Harry, you are actually much worse than I am."
Harry was left speechless at that.
"Well, at least you would be, but you don't seem to have any notion of what you are doing…Just wait a little and your friends will show you just how strongly your existence can change the actions of other people."
Harry threw his hands in the air exasperated.
"Yes I exist, I'm sorry, okay? Could you stop rubbing it in my face like that?"
"You're hopeless," stated Riddle, sounding mildly astonished, "But we are getting off topic again."
He waved the letter in front of Harry.
"One week."
"Huh?"
"In order to arrive in time, we have to depart by the end of this week. You have 6 days to give me a proper answer."
Harry almost asked what answer he meant, but if he was honest with himself he already knew. Riddle gave him an ultimatum to decide if he wanted to join him. If he went with them, there would be no way to turn back.
"You want to take over London in one week?"
"I think it won't take much more than a few days. In fact, Severus was pretty certain that it would start today."
"Start? What starts? Stop speaking in riddle's, Riddle!"
"Go home Harry. You'll see what I mean soon. You are armed I hope?"
"Armed? Err-…" Harry checked his jacket. He still had the shield with a little bit of energy left, as well as the pain-generator he used on Riddle. There was also a smoke-bomb and two little explosives.
He had a really bad feeling about this situation. There wasn't really anything he could do about it though. Riddle seemed determined not to tell him more and Harry certainly didn't want to stay longer than needed.
Warily, his bad feeling growing with every step he took, he moved to the door. He looked back. Riddle was studying the papers Fudge had brought him.
"Have a nice day," murmured Riddle, without taking his eyes of the papers.
That's it, thought Harry after closing the door behind him. If Riddle was wishing him a nice day, something absolutely terrifying was about to happen.
He stepped out of the inn. A chilly breeze made him shudder and he promised himself that he would change back into his layers of oversized clothes as soon as he got home. They might not flatter him, but at least they were warmer.
His sinking feeling wouldn't go away, no matter how hard he tried to not think about it. He tried to convince himself that – while everything was far from being fine – he had been in bad situations all the time over the past weeks. Seriously, what was the worst thing that could happen?
"Harry my boy!"
He froze alarmed. None other than lord phoenix walked towards him from a side alley, smiling amiably at him.
"A wonderful day to you dear boy! Such pleasure to see you again, Sirius and Remus just won't stop talking about your many talents. Say, would you care for a cup of hot tea with me? This weather is really getting to my old age, and I was hoping to have some company."
Dumbledore smiled at him expectantly.
Riddle, that bastard. He had seriously sent Harry straight into Dumbledore's arms without any warning - or plan for that matter.
At least he could be certain that someone knew where he was, in case things got bad with Dumbledore.
Considering that that someone was Riddle, Harry wasn't sure if it was such a good thing after all.
.
.
A/N: Bah, I planned so much more for this chapter! (to my fellow authors: does planning ever work out, or am I just a particular hopeless case?)
It's only a couple hundreds of words, but this is actually the longest chapter I've ever written! If that isn't worth a review then I don't know what is :P
I actually have a question for you guys: how do you feel about a Voldemort POV? There has been a few occasions when a what-the-hell-does-Tom-think scene would have helped to move the story along or just clarified certain points. But I always decided against it because I was afraid to ruin the mystery...So what do you think? Should I try writing one? It would probably be short and wouldn't dig too deep into his thoughts, but still...
Okay, now comes random rambling from my side. It will hopefully clarify some points in Harry and Tom's conversation. If you aren't all that interested just skip it and I will see you next time! :)
Tom is described as a master manipulator, who can read and predict people easily and use them to his advantage. What always bothered me is that in most fics, he seems completely ignorant of love and friendship. I am not saying the Tom in my fic thinks of love as anything but a weakness (or is capable to feel it for that matter), but he knows exactly how far people would go for their loved ones and that it is indeed a considerable force. In the books, he refuses to acknowledge love as a weapon, but here he certainly does and is not afraid to use it.
Harry on the other hand grew up in a world where everyone looked only after themselves and even loving parents abandoned their children. He does not understand that love and friendship can trigger the most selfless actions in humans. Nor does he know that people could actually go to such extremes for him. However, contrary to Tom he feels and gives love quite easily (therefore his saving-people thing is still here). He just doesn't understand that his friends are not merely nice to him but return his love and would do anything to help him.
What Riddle is trying to tell Harry is that by making his friends love him, he 'manipulates' their actions in a much deeper way than he ever could with superficial words.
Sooo, that's all :D. If you've actually read all that, well... I don't know what to say, I love you :3