~~~~~~!!HAPPY NEWYEAR!!~~~~~~

Guardianship

Chapter 13:

Diner, part two

Even though diner had began and everyone seemed to be paying more attention to their plates then to him, Harry was still very nervous. Besides, he wasn't exactly sure what just happened.

Lord Voldemort just told his minions to treat his arch enemy with the same respect.

Would that mean that they would have to listen to him? Probably not, because he was a prisoner here anyway. Bow to him? He felt sick at the thought.

But… why? Why on earth would he do that? Not killing him or torturing him while he had wanted him dead for many, many years was already as crazy as it was.

But ordering his minions to treat him, not as vermin, not as an equal, but as their Lord's, Harry had to restrain himself while using that word, son…!?

What is that man thinking?

Low whispers carefully begun but soon turned into loud conversations about probably anything except for the main topic. No one dared to say a word about that.

While everyone was already filling their second plate of food, Harry's plate remained untouched. And after a while, Voldemort noticed that as well.

The conversations were loud enough to not catch anyone's attention while speaking.

"Why aren't you eating anything?" was the question send to him.

Harry threw him a look which said: Why would I? without using any words.

Voldemort picked up his fork again. "You're incredibly stubborn, you know that?"

And by this, Harry opened his mouth. "And proud of it."

The diner ended without any more dialogue between them. The Dark Lord probably didn't want to draw some unnecessary attention. Even if that was the case, Harry was pleased with this. The diner looked longer then it was though. All the time, he was trying to focus on different things then the murderers he was sitting right next to. That wasn't easy though.

As the Death Eaters left the room, throwing him a last glance or glare, Harry stood up from his seat as well. He was actually looking forward being locked into his room.

But as he stood up, Voldemort grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.

"You're staying."

"What?" Harry responded while yanking his arm back. "Why?" He heard the door close as the last Death Eater stepped through it. The room was immediately silenced.

"I know that you did not eat anything this afternoon as well."

Harry glared at him. "Maybe being a prisoner doesn't make you that hungry. Can I go now?"

"Guest sounds more suitable. Either way, you were allowed to leave after diner. You haven't had any diner. Therefore you can not leave," the Dark Lord told him.

He looked at him in confusion. "Well… it's over." And as he said it, a brand new plate appeared on the table, filled with food. Harry looked from the plate to Voldemort. "You've… just got to be kidding me."

"We are going to stay here until you have had your diner," he simply stated.

"I'm not a child!!" Harry yelled.

"Then stop acting like one!" he snapped.

Their eyes locked once again for a few seconds, until Voldemort sat down his seat once again. Suddenly Harry's knees buckled under their weight and he felt into his own chair.

"We are going to stay here as long as it takes," Voldemort explained.

"This is ridiculous!!" he snapped. "I'm sixteen years old!!"

"If you didn't act like a child, I wouldn't have to treat you like one. I'm not going to let you starve yourself to death because of your stubbornness."

"And I'm not going to eat anything you poisoned!"

There was a small silence. "That's what this was about."

Harry glared at him. "There could be anything in it! Even if you don't want me killed, there could be Viteraserum in for all I know!"

"All the useful potions are ones that you would notice. As for Viteraserum… I wouldn't need it. Your mind is already an open book to me."

"Well…!!" Harry tried to think of anything to overrule this statement but nothing came into his thoughts. He couldn't think up anything else.

"We are going to sit here as long as that plate is still full. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can go."

Harry was about to say something defensive, when his stomach suddenly rumbled. Embarrassed, he looked away.

He couldn't say he wasn't hungry. After all, spending the summer with his relatives wasn't that pleasant. And everything else happened so fast… their deaths, the trial, this. There hadn't been any time to eat.

Minutes seemed like hours and the silence was making it worse. Every now and then his stomach heavily protested, making him even more embarrassed as he already was. He felt Voldemort's eyes pierce in the back of his head and the whole situation made him extremely uncomfortable.

Even though an hour must have already passed, he food was still steaming and looked to be in perfect state.

He couldn't stand the silence between them and the thick suspense hanging in the air. When he heard something like glass hit the table, he turned his gaze back again and next to his plate was a small, brown bottle. He looked at Voldemort in confusion.

"It's your decision," the Dark Lord explained. "The food or the potion."

Harry looked at the small bottle. Nothing was labelled on it. He had no idea what could be in it… he didn't recognize it at all. So the choice he had was to or drink an unknown potion… or eat the food that was lying in front of him.

He didn't like neither options, but he was sure he would be forced to pick.

"What is it going to be?" was what he was asked.

Frustrated, Harry picked up his fork, but not before muttering: "Not one word."

-

They shared a sigh of relief when Fred and George came back. There had just been an emergency Order meeting they weren't allowed to attend. Molly stayed and had kept a close eye on them, but not close enough to notice that Fred and George weren't in the garden as she asked them to. Hermione had made sure she kept her occupied with all of her knitting questions.

"Mom!" they heard Ginny say from a distance. "Err… could you tell me how you and dad met again? I love that story."

Molly's voice sounded next. "But Ginny, sweetie, I don't have ti-"

"Please mom! We can make diner together! Please tell me…"

Hermione closed the door to the bedroom before turning towards the two. "And?"

"We had a hard time finding them you know!" Fred called.

"And a harder time not getting noticed," George added.

"I actually saw Lupin staring at our direction… you think he noticed us?"

"No, idea, George, we—"

"You have information or not!?" Hermione snapped.

George looked offended. "I can see you're grateful."

"They send Aurors to every possible hiding direction of Voldemort and see if anything comes out of it," Fred explained.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Ron asked. "I mean, if I was You-Know-Who I'd put up a lot of wards… if it was only to make sure Harry doesn't escape."

Hermione thought about it. "Yes, but if anything happens to that Auror, they know where Harry is. Then we could try to attack! When will they go?"

Fred looked at George before answering this. "Well… right now."

-

It was a bit humiliating but as he took one bite he couldn't stop until his plate was empty. The food was really delicious. He didn't think he had ever eaten this fast.

As he was just finished, the door opened and a Death Eater barged in.

Voldemort instantly rose from his chair, glaring at the Death Eater.

"I told you I didn't want to be disturbed!" he hissed.

The Death Eater immediately fell to the ground, kneeling deep before him. "I-I am so sorry, my Lord! But it regards the boy, m-my Lord! Aurors… there are Aurors in front of your mansion!"

Harry felt his heart pound faster. They… they were here to save him! A smile appeared on his face but all hope flew away when Voldemort's furious red eyes pierced his. He knew instantly that this wasn't going to be easy.

Author's Note:

Secret Number Three: Mystical Tears is the name I'm going to give my own magical story some day. I've been plotting for years now, not even really writing, because I want everything to fit perfectly in. I'll probably plot away for a few more years to come. Haha, I love plotting.