Hi all! Just a quick note my email is being retarded so I wasn't able to see the reviews via email the way I usually do. Anyone else having this problem or is it just me? At any rate I read them directly from the story thank you thank you, I live to torture you mercilessly with complex characters *wink* Now on to this chapter, Harry is bound and determined to show his worth, Lucius is being a prat but a sexy prat so we forgive him (mostly) you'll see later that how Harry initially sees Lucius and how Lucius is really are two separate things, love is blind in Harry's case though more will be explained in the second and third book. For now things will begin to heat up in a different way, the political climate is unstable, Harry is learning to be the dark lord's heir and the past is creeping up on them. What does the future have in store for them all? Have fun reading, and I know I didn't update as often as I would have liked last week I had midterms and yata yata, not to mention several projects I'll be dealing with this week *sigh* so I will update when I can but you should see another chapter before Friday so no worries!
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
-12-
The dark lord stared at Lucius for a long moment after the young heir had stormed away. Casually he summoned the portfolio to him and began to skim its contents eyebrows rising slightly at the quality and obvious effort that had been put into the task. He knew Bella's child, and the young heir was correct, the boy didn't do things in halves. Bella's child would have worked for weeks weeding out different ideas from historical documents. Ideas, that combined with Lucius' fresh way of thinking would ensure that the quality of wizards and witches Hogwarts produced would be beyond even his greatest hopes.
Unfortunately Lucius was failing spectacularly to uphold his side of the bargain. He glanced up at the man and found him positively white with fury.
"He's left." The man muttered. "My son just left Malfoy manor." He ground out.
"He's gone to see Bella's child no doubt." Voldemort said dismissively even as he continued to skim through the stack of neatly written documents. His eyes flashed upwards though in a dead cold stare catching Lucius' gaze. "I must say I don't blame him." He said before closing the folder his finger idly tracing the seal on the front.
"My lord?" Lucius said obviously enraged.
"You've failed me Lucius." He said calmly. "I have tried to be merciful and I have tried to guide you back to the right path but you have ignored my warnings. Draco is your son, yet you ignore him, I gave you time away from him to lick your wounds which is more than I've given to anyone, yet when it was time for you to come back you snubbed not only Draco but myself as well." He said leaning back.
"I'm afraid I don't understand my lord." Lucius grit out.
"Oh you understand perfectly well, you see I might not feel human emotions the way others do but I have done an extensive study on them. Your son needed you, a child needed you and you ignored him, and you know how I feel about such things don't you?" He said dangerously causing the man's lips to tighten in fear this time. "I fear that my trust in you has led me to a dilemma, I must now apologize to Bella's child." He said shaking his head at the oddity of the situation. "It is obvious to me that he has in fact shown a level of maturity and professionalism beyond his years, he is in fact acting more like a responsible adult than you are." He said coldly. Lucius was seething, he was barely keeping himself in check because he knew that he had no chance of winning a duel with him and the pain he would suffer for it would be far beyond anything he'd ever experienced before.
"My lord with all due respect-"
"No Lucius I'll not listen to your pathetic excuses and I will not interfere should Bella's child decide to do something drastic in order to teach you a lesson, in fact I'm quite looking forward to it." He said standing. "This is your last warning Lucius, get your act together or you might just lose your son." He said before turning sharply and striding from the room.
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Harry snorted slightly when he found the dark lord seated in his foyer at four o' clock in the morning red eyes thoughtful. Harry had just bathed and pulled on some clothing, sleep was evasive after his trip to Malfoy manor so he'd decided that he might as well get some work done. However, by the looks of it the dark lord had been there for quite some time. A tea set had been laid out for him and a copy of his portfolio on Hogwarts' curriculum was sitting beside it.
"My lord." Harry said bowing slightly as he reached for his own cup of tea only to startle when the man's hand was suddenly around his wrist. He looked up surprised and found red eyes boring into him.
"Funny thing about fathers Bella's child, is that most have no idea what they are doing. They muddle about pretending that they know everything because that is what they want their children to think." He said slowly. "That they are perfect, that nothing can hurt their children because they are invincible." He said. Harry frowned deeply wondering for a moment if it was Lucius he was talking about. He turned his gaze away landing it on the tea set.
"I'm afraid my lord that I have no experience that I'd care to remember regarding any one that might resemble a 'father' figure, however I do believe that Draco is the closest family member I know right now. It might be foolish but he's all I have and I'll protect him even if it means Lucius hates me." He said lifting his chin. The dark lord watched him for a long moment before releasing his wrist.
"I have seen loyalty like this before, I have never understood it, my men would rather go against even me if it meant keeping their family safe. But Bella's child I think you are misunderstanding something." He said seriously. Harry poured his tea calmly.
"What is that?" He asked carefully.
"That I am the closest thing to family that you have." He said settling a document between them that made Harry's pulse quicken and his breath stop in his chest.
"But this is impossible Sirius is my godfather…" Harry breathed once the words stopped spinning and made sense again.
"It is possible to have more than one godfather you know." The man said amused. Harry reached out to grasp it but snatched his hand away.
"You wouldn't- I'm nothing but a half blood! Please, don't dangle this in front of me, I'll apologize to Lucius if that's what you want but don't play this game!" He said taking an alarmed step back. He'd never felt so frightened before, never felt so unsure of the world around him.
"This is no game." The dark lord said sharply. "I intend for you to be my son do you not understand that?" He said his tea cup hitting the saucer with a loud click. Harry stared at the dark lord as though the man had grown two heads.
"No I'm afraid I don't." Harry whispered. "Why would you want me? It's been made plain to me that I have no place in high society, I'm lucky that I get to attend Hogwarts! For me to have to positions that I do have is remarkable. My blood is dirty, even the blood of the Lestrange and Black families couldn't make the likes of me pure!" He said yanking his robes off and pulling his sleeves up to show the markings that appeared slowly in curling lines. "They tried my lord, Bella did everything in her power to cleanse me of it but I am filthy still!" He cried out trembling. The dark lord stared at the markings for several long moments before looking up at him.
"No Harry." He said softly. Harry's breath caught at the use of his name and he watched fascinated as the dark lord himself pulled his own robes off and lifted his sleeves. "Fathers try to make themselves out to be infallible, but in my experience this only makes their flaws more pronounced." He said gruffly. Harry's breath caught in his chest as familiar curling lines began to appear on the man's skin, these more pronounced, bolder, and complete.
The dark lord was a half blood.
"I had wondered why you would push yourself to such an extent using the time turner. Surely you are clever enough to figure out for yourself that it would push you into an early maturity but that's what you wanted wasn't it? Even if it meant damaging your core- you wanted to complete the ritual. Tell me child do you hate yourself?" The man said seating himself slowly. Harry watched the lines and curls slide away before falling into the opposite chair feeling more shaken than he'd ever felt before.
"You…the dark lord…" He whispered softly.
"With enough ambition you could do anything you wanted regardless of your blood status." He said smiling thinly. "This world is run solely on those who strive to make it better- that is how I designed it to run, blood purity allowed me the tools I needed. If you are bold enough, if you have enough ambition and a will to work hard there is nothing in the world that can stop you, that is the kind of world I wanted to live in."
"You cut out the lazy people, a useless death eater is a dead death eater, the wizarding world isn't run by blood purity, its run by you." He said seeing the man before him as if for the first time. All this time he'd thought that the dark lord had no real goal; he was a merciless dictator, the man who had robbed him of his parents and changed the world to suit his need to kill anyone who wasn't pure enough.
But this?
Harry looked away because he couldn't argue with the idea. It was his own belief staring him in the face and willing him to call it father. And how he wanted that, a person to guide him and protect him. He was used to his independence used to Bella pushing him but never stopping him even if it meant he was hurt in the process. Harry stared at the parchment that sat between them. An official document stating that he was in fact the dark lord's heir and adopted son.
"What should I do?" He said feeling lost. "What you're offering me…" He shook his head in disbelief.
"I don't promise to be perfect; however I will do my best to give you what you need." The dark lord said seriously. Harry turned his gaze to the man and knew that he would, the dark lord would do whatever it took to be the man he might need in a father.
"Why?" He asked feeling lost and unsure.
"Because you remind me so much of myself, and someone opened doors for me that allowed me to become what I am today despite my blood. So tell me Harry Potter, Bella's child, are you willing to do what it takes to reach your full potential whatever that might be?" The man challenged with glittering red eyes. Harry stared at them for a long moment before nodding slowly giving in to the hope and knowing that this might be a trap but it also might be everything it promised to be and Harry wasn't foolish enough to ignore an opportunity this good.
"Yes." He rasped.
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"Huh, hard to believe…" Draco muttered as he climbed down the stairs his eyes wide as he took in the many guest bedrooms which had somehow become offices for the enormous force of 'Harrys' that seemed to be entirely focused on what they were doing only glancing up from time to time to nod at him as he passed. He'd woken up in a bedroom that had obviously been furnished to his tastes though he didn't know when or how. It touched him deeply though. Harry was a rock most times, people tended to forget that under all the cruelty he'd grown used to, was someone who was incredibly in tune to his own rare emotions. Even Draco forgot some times, but in moments like these when Harry was prone to doing things that showed more deeply than actions or words could even do that he did care somewhere under all the blood and gore.
The boy who had tortured and killed for a majority of his life had tucked him into bed and held him while he wept. It put him in awe because he was scared sometimes that he would lose himself the way his aunt did to the cruelty, yet Harry managed to keep that small part of himself pure.
No matter what Harry could and would love.
It was that fact that kept Draco from becoming jealous and led him to instead try to be more like Harry.
Draco yawned delicately as he pushed the door to the dining hall open and froze. Instead of food there were papers everywhere and books and scrolls, the elaborate centerpiece that he was used to seeing was gone and several of the chairs had been pushed back against the walls.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
The dark lord glanced up in annoyance when Harry trailed off mid-sentence green eyes scanning Draco critically. The dark lord had removed his robes, they sat discarded over the arm of a chair and the sleeves to his shirt had been rolled up to his elbows. His hair which usually cascaded down his back framing his face had been haphazardly tied up into a pile at the back of his head and there was a smudge of ink on his cheek. Likewise Harry had done similarly his wavy hair caught up messily, his outer robes tossed to the side and his sleeves rolled to his forearms a spot of ink on his nose.
Draco did a double take before glancing down and checking the time. He thought for sure Harry had said he would be gone before seven- it was going on eleven thirty now. As if sensing his thoughts Harry frowned and pulled out his pocket watch to check the time.
"Oh well I'm sure the prime minister of France won't mind." The dark lord said raising both eyebrows.
"Or the Norwegian ambassador?" Harry said dryly.
"Ah yes there was him wasn't there?" The dark lord said glancing around himself reluctantly.
"Just tell him there was a state of emergency, you had to bribe your only heir into forgiving you." Harry said with a lift of his chin. Draco felt his jaw drop when the dark lord merely snorted indelicately.
"Cheeky brat." He noted almost fondly. Draco stared at the scene in disbelief for several long moments before narrowing his gaze at the stacks of books and scrolls as well as the portfolio he knew all too well.
"You cheated!" Draco accused before he could think. Both sets of eyes rose to meet him one set glittering the other warning. "You buffed his ego, you pat him on the head and he forgave you." Draco said recklessly before he could realize that he'd just accused the dark lord of something.
"Draconious Lucius Malfoy you apologize this instant." Harry's voice was sharp and Draco winced visibly at the sound of it, Harry only used his full name when he'd made a serious blunder.
"I apologize my lord." Draco said bowing stiffly. He most certainly didn't mean it though, the man was playing Harry! But then Harry knew it didn't he? Harry always knew, which meant he'd allowed it, which explained why he was cross with Draco for pointing out the white elephant in the room.
Grand.
"I'm sorry Harry." He said then truly apologetic. After all Harry was risking his arse and the anger of Lucius Malfoy in order to house him at the moment. "I shouldn't have barged in making accusations, especially to a guest." He said his shoulders sagging.
"He would have had every right to kill you Draco." Harry snapped making him flinch. He hated when Harry was right.
"I still do in fact." The dark lord said toying with his wand thoughtfully. Draco caught a glimmer of fear in Harry's eyes before they hardened and felt something cold settle into the lining of his own stomach.
"He has potential to become one of your Elite though." Harry said casually.
"He's headstrong and brash." The dark lord snapped.
"So am I." Harry said capturing the man's full attention. Draco was well aware that Harry was sacrificing his own pride for his sake. That burned and Draco was more certain than ever that he needed to work hard to get to the point where he didn't cause Harry so much grief.
"No, you Bella's child are determined to drive your elves into madness with your relentless ambitions, this is not particularly a bad trait except that it doesn't allow you to enjoy what is left of your childhood." The dark lord said sternly. Draco was surprised to see a certain amount of annoyance crossing Harry's features.
"Honeydukes and Zonkos don't compare to the thrill of changing the world as we know it I'm afraid." Harry said with a slight aristocratic tilt to his voice. The dark lord snorted lightly.
"Fifty Harry, that's all I'm allowing you and one of those fifty preferably the most recent should accompany me through out the day. Think of it as training, I want you to get to know the important international contacts, it will help smooth your way come summer." The dark lord said as he rolled his sleeves back down and flicked his wrist at the knot in his hair causing it to fall flat again. Harry began doing the same except manually a look of annoyance and a hunger in his eyes that told Draco that it wouldn't be long before Harry figured out how to wandlessly fix his attire.
"You have ink on your cheek my lord." Harry said lifting his chin slightly.
"You have ink on your nose Bella's child." The man said haughtily before tapping Harry's nose causing him to wrinkle it. Harry did hate it when people touched him, though if Draco was correct there was a slight look of curiosity in the tightening around Harry's eyes. As though he didn't in fact mind it all that much and he didn't know why which was both confusing and frustrating enough to distract him from the discomfort of the touch its' self.
Draco shook his head wondering what on earth had happened to the world he thought he knew.
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"He's being sentimental." Lucius tried with a lift of his chin. He'd already raged, had already pleaded and bribed the dark lord for his aid in the return of his son, but the man had ignored him- Lucius hated when the dark lord ignored him. "Draco will do no good under someone as emotional and headstrong-" The dark lord lifted his gaze and tossed a document across the desk so that it slid in front of Lucius before he stood and turned towards the window.
"What is a weakness in many is a strength in Bella's child. His emotions are a driving force that none can compare to, he is the first person who has impressed me with emotions rather than making me think him pathetic."
"Forgive me my lord I had no idea." Lucius was pale shaken, it was a good look on him, he'd been cocky for far too long Voldemort thought.
"I've never had a son." The dark lord said smiling thinly. "It's almost as frustrating as it is rewarding, do you ever find that?" He said smirking slightly. A knock resounded and he turned expectantly as it opened and Sirius Black entered with an oddly stiff Harry causing him to lose the slight smirk he'd been wearing.
"Ah Bella's child do come in I believe Lucius was just leaving." He said pointedly. The blonde haired man stared for a long moment at Harry before bowing sharply towards the dark lord.
"Of course my lord." He said as he straightened.
"Oh, and Lucius, don't forget what we've discussed hmm? I plan to make my announcement rather soon; I would hate to have anyone think that the Malfoy family didn't support my decision." He said pointedly as his hands traced the length of his wand warningly.
"Of course my lord." Lucius said only the slightest tremor in his voice.
"Mister Malfoy." Harry said before the man could take his leave. Gray eyes flashed towards him and Harry held his gaze steady. "I did everything I could to save her for you please don't assume otherwise." He said before looking away. Lucius' gaze flickered but before it could be read he strode from the office the door clicking behind him. The dark lord caught Harry's soft smile and snorted.
"Oh do say it I already know what you're thinking." He said seating himself. Harry frowned slightly and feigned confusion.
"I'm afraid my lord that I don't know what you're talking about." He said his lips twitching slightly in annoyance.
"Lucius' life is crumbling around his head; everything he knows is apparently wrong and he is furious, yet has the presence of mind to close my door quietly. You admire him for that." He said pointedly. Harry blushed faintly before he could help it causing the dark lord to snort.
"If that is all my lord?" Sirius Black said tightly from where he stood.
"So impatient-and here I thought you might like some extra time with Bella's child. Very well hand me your report, I need to make sure it was done properly we can't have this getting back to us." He said holding out his hand. Sirius strode across the room and placed the report in his hand standing expectantly as he glanced through it. Sirius let out a strangled sound causing both sets of eyes to land on him.
"No." He whispered softly. Harry frowned in worry and red eyes glittered.
"You really shouldn't be nosing through my things Black." The dark lord said with a thin smile before snapping the folder shut. "You're dismissed." He said silkily. Harry frowned as Sirius' eyes blazed to life.
"You won't, I won't let you! I won't let you have this too!" Sirius cried suddenly. Harry stared at the man in shock. Did he know who he was talking to? "He belongs to James! JAMES! James gave up everything for him! He'll get out soon!"
"Sirius Black control yourself or I will have you removed from my office." The dark lord said narrowing his eyes.
"No, never again, I won't let you have Harry!"
Harry moved quickly years of training being put into play as he knocked the blade cleanly from Sirius' hand. Betrayed blue gray eyes stared at him for what felt like an endless moment before Sirius thrust his hand out and hit him square in the chest. Harry flew backwards from the force of it staring in shock as Sirius disappeared. Harry hit a strong chest and the dark lord instinctively wrapped his arms around Harry before hitting the wall behind them.
"Well." The dark lord said dryly. "I'd say that went well." Harry grunted.
"I think he broke something." He hissed. Voldemort frowned and carefully lifted him settling him on the desk before prodding at his chest until Harry let out a choked cry of agony.
"He did- two ribs." He said a dangerous glint in his eyes. Harry hissed.
"Great that's one thing I can't heal." Harry griped but the dark lord was already flicking his wand and carefully lifting Harry who winced before he could deny the action. "I can walk you know."
"You shouldn't have to." The dark lord said. "You were defending me; I have no idea why since I am quite capable of defending myself if anything I should have been the one protecting you." He said settling Harry carefully on the couch. "Isn't that what fathers are supposed to do?" He said raising his eyebrows. The door burst open and a man in healer's robes rushed towards them followed shortly by several lower level death eaters.
"My lord I came as quickly as I could-" The dark lord grabbed the man's arm and yanked him towards Harry.
"Fix him." He said sharply.
"My lord I fear that you will not find Black." Rabastan said slipping through the door. "He's gone underground." He said gazing at Harry for a moment who was marble faced and completely calm even as the healer shifted his broken bones and healed them.
"The rebels." The dark lord said calmly. "Do you know how long he's been in contact with them?" He demanded his gaze on Harry's still form.
"He's never been out of contact with them my lord, he might not have joined the final stand but he most certainly didn't fight for you." He said his gaze ever watchful.
"Idiot healer did you even bother to offer him a numbing potion?!" The dark lord hissed suddenly. "Crucio!" He roared sending the red jet of light towards the healer who promptly began to scream. Harry sighed and lay back against the arm of the couch feeling slightly dizzy.
"I've had worse my lord." Harry croaked. "I'll be fine." He said closing his eyes for a moment. A second later his eyes were flying open and a blade was clashing against his. Harry choked then his eyes growing wide as he struggled to breath but no air entered his lungs.
"You need a new healer my lord." Rabastan said smirking widely. "That one couldn't even tell that his lungs had collapsed." Harry grit his teeth against the panic and the dizziness.
Most healers will be the death of you Harry love.
Harry didn't need a spell, he didn't want one. He pressed his hand against his chest and concentrated on everything he'd ever learned about the human body. He felt his magic react to his call felt it pull and tug painfully at his lungs. Gently, gently he coaxed them the ripping tearing stretching pain a mere memory in the back of his mind until with a flutter like those of a butterfly's wings his lungs unfolded and air, blessed oxygen filled them in one great gasping breath. He took another and another until the spots cleared from his eyes and he was faced with a stunned room filled with people.
"Foolish headstrong boy." Harry blinked up at the dark lord who was shaking his head a rueful smile on his lips. He didn't try to say anything he was too busy trying to breathe. He swayed and stiffened when large hands steadied him.
"You should lay down boy, performing wandless magic when your short of breath is probably more dangerous for you than the collapsed lungs." Rabastan said from behind him. Harry looked up at the dark lord questioning and the man nodded. Harry didn't need more prompting, in a moment he was settled onto the couch fast asleep.
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