Fickle Fate:Chapter 26

My friends! It's already 2 weeks into the semester and I'm...actually doing ok. Hopefully I didn't just jinx it. XD I'm probably just at a point where I don't really care and realize there's not much reason to be worrying as much as I normally do. Anyway, I got an interesting question in a review that I actually want your help with.

PLEASE REVIEW YES OR NO: SHOULD HARRY HAVE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP IN THIS STORY? IF YES THEN SUGGEST WHO (DEFINITELY NOT GINNY OR AN ADULT). No guarantees, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter that should hopefully help me make up my own mind. :)

Warnings: Angst

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I wouldn't have to apply for so many scholarships to get through school.

Please enjoy!

Anger and Assistance

Lucius's head popped up in surprise as the doors to his borrowed office burst open. He set his quill down as a large group of people flooded in. His attention immediately went to Harry who was essentially being dragged into the room by Ronald Weasley and Remus Lupin.

When Lucius's eye lighted upon a large bruise beginning to form on Harry's cheekbone, rage flared in his chest.

"What happened," he hissed as he hurried forward. Lucius slowed his movements when he was in front of Harry and made sure the boy could see his hands before touching him. It was a habit he was slowly learning to use with his son as well (which broke his heart just at the thought but was not important at that moment). The blond wizard was concerned at the lack of reaction he got from the boy. Harry had a blank expression and let himself be moved without protest.

"If I tell him, I'll end up leaving half way through to go murder someone," Remus growled, encouraging someone else to retell the events that happened not moments ago. Lucius silently gestured them to guide Harry to a couch which they did.

"Sirius and Professor Snape started insulting each other," Hermione slowly began, tears of sadness and anger slipping down her cheeks. "The professor insulted James Potter and Sirius just flew at him. Harry tried to stop them from hurting each other but…" She trailed off looking at the bruise on Harry's face.

"Harry got caught in the crossfire," Ron picked up. "He was in the wrong spot when Sirius finally wrenched his hand free from the Git's grip. I still want to kill the both of them but it was an accident. They didn't mean to hurt Harry." Lucius wasn't the only one surprised at Ron's statement. Given his usual temper it was shocking to hear Ron talking rationally about the incident.

The Malfoy Lord shoved his feelings on the matter to the back of his mind and pulled up a chair to sit right across from Harry. Nobody paid the Twins any mind when they slipped into the room. Lucius gently moved Harry's head around so he got a good look at everything.

"It looks like just a bruise, but I'll still cast a Diagnostic Charm to be sure, alright Young Man?" Harry didn't respond which was troubling. With a wave of his wand, magic swept over Harry and Lucius's suspicions were confirmed: deep bruising on the cheekbone, some cuts on the inside of Harry's cheek. He summoned a bruise salve and reached out to apply it to the bruise. Lucius froze when Remus growled at him.

Deciding on a safer course of action, Lucius handed Remus the bruise salve so the wolf could apply it. That seemed to calm Remus's creature side pretty well, much to everyone's relief.

"You might need a little more of this before bed, but after that it should be completely gone," Lucius explained.

Remus finished applying the bruise salve and Harry still didn't react. Hermione crouched in front of her friend when Lucius moved his chair, and laid a hand on Harry's knee.

"Harry, are you alright? Please say something." A few seconds went by and nothing and then Harry flinched.

"Voldemort is really mad at them," he whispered. Harry blinked a few times and seemed to shake himself and finally 'came back.' "I…Sirius hit me," he said dumbly. Several emotions flashed across Harry's face in the span of a couple seconds. "I…I don't…I can be mad right? He didn't mean to but he was being a git and fighting with Severus who was also being a git and then he HIT ME!" Loose items in the room began to shake and the others looked about warily. None of them knew that Harry had been practicing wandless magic but Hermione remembered how she saw him summon his wand from Dumbledore's robes.

"You have every right to be angry, Harry, but maybe…try and reign in your magic." Hermione didn't think telling Harry to calm down would be a good idea, and she was right. Harry furrowed his brow at her.

"What do you mean?" He looked around and saw things shaking and only then realized that he was doing it. Harry quickly put a lid on his magic and tried to calm his anger a bit so he wouldn't make the room shake again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I didn't…I'm sorry."

"It's perfectly alright, Harry," Remus assured, having reigned in his wolf enough to speak more than growl. "It's a little…atypical…to still have magical outbursts at your age, but it just shows that you are quite powerful." Ron nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, Mate. Most people stop doing that a couple years before they go to Hogwarts. It's said that only super powerful magical folk still have control issues later in life, usually linked to strong emotions." Harry huffed and gave Ron and shaky smile.

"Careful, Ron. You're starting to act like Hermione, being all smart and considerate and emotionally mature." Those present chuckled while Ron playfully scowled. His cheeks reddened a bit when he muttered,

"And is that really a bad thing?" Hermione's own cheeks pinked when she heard Ron say that and the two wouldn't look at each other. Harry rolled his eyes. Instead of addressing the obvious crush in the room, Harry turned his attention to Lucius.

"Thank you for your help, Sir. I appreciate it." Lucius inclined his head.

"Of course. Know that you can always come to me if you need help again. All Inner Circle Death Eaters have at least basic first aid skills." After a pause he added, "I also want you to know that I am not mad at you nor will I take Severus's side over yours in this matter, not that I think it will come to that." Harry was strangely touched by that and smiled at Lucius. Then a thought occurred to him and he frowned.

"Can someone help me glamour this? I don't really want Draco or the Lestrange brothers to see it. I don't think Sirius or Severus need anyone else mad at them, and the Lestranges might actually kill them." When no one answered right away he added, "I also don't want either the two gits to stare guiltily at me for the next day or so. It would just make me more mad." Again, no one answered right away. Finally,

"If that is what you want, Harry," Remus sighed. "I guarantee you that at least Sirius will do that, glamour or no, even after you forgive them…should you choose to." Harry clenched his hands into fists on his thighs, irritated that Remus was correct.

"I know you're right, but…I still want to do the glamour." Remus nodded and with an easy flick of his wand, a glamour made Harry's bruise disappear.

"Alright; it's all gone. Now why don't you go spend some time with your friends. I want to have a chat with Lucius." Harry was a bit suspicious and wary about whatever Remus wanted to discuss with Lucius but nodded. Hermione took his hand and led them out of the room, with Ron and the Twins following closely behind.

It was lunch time and Severus's muscles were trembling so hard he wasn't sure he'd be able to use his utensils. The Dark Lord had made it very clear just how unhappy he was. Even though he hadn't been the one to hit Harry it felt like he did. He couldn't describe in words how his heart had dropped into his stomach the minute Black got his hand free Snape's grip. Severus had only just then noticed Harry's proximity to them and could tell from the trajectory where Black's fist would land.

The Potions Master hadn't breathed until Voldemort asked him a question.

"Are you two so driven by rage and bitterness that I need to lock you up for everyone's safety?" The Dark Lord's voice was icy though his red eyes flashed with flames. "Is your school-time rivalry so all consuming that you cannot be expected to control yourselves without help from the Imperius curse?" Sirius was still staring at the spot on the floor where Harry had fallen.

"My Lord-" Severus gasped. He was horrified by what their actions had caused. Part of him was still trying to process it.

"Crucio," the Dark Lord said without any trace of pity or mercy. Severus fell to the ground and clenched his jaw tightly to keep his screams contained. He waited for the curse to stop but after long moments it was still scorching his nerve endings.

"I would do the same to you if I didn't think it would worsen your already addled mind, Black. Instead, I will set you a task. You must beg me to stop torturing Severus. Only once I hear satisfactory pleas from you will I release him from this torture. When I am finished you must assist Severus to his rooms and help him recover. Isn't it sad that the greater torture for you is to be kind to someone?" Black had finally torn his eyes from the spot on the floor about halfway through the Dark Lord's instructions.

When he took a step back to separate himself from the situation, Nagini hissed threateningly.

Severus didn't know how long he had been held under the torture curse before Black had even begun to beg. However, once the man started, he didn't stop and only got more desperate. At that point Snape's throat was raw from screaming.

The Potions Master was torn from his memories of just a couple hours ago when Sirius Black came to help him up from his bed. The Dark Lord had ordered them take their meals together for the rest of the day, knowing that Severus would need assistance. Severus hated that he needed to lean on Sirius Black for help (which was the point) but he also knew that the situation was supposed to get the two of them to move past their anger for each other.

Sirius was quiet as he helped Severus walk the short distance between the bed and the small table the house elves had set up with covered trays of food. Snape couldn't contain his groans and hisses of pain. When they got seated at the table (a trying process I must say) the tray covers disappeared, revealing soup. Both men sighed knowing what they meant given Snape's extremely shaky hands. They shared a put upon look before Sirius silently moved his chair over next to Snape's. With a grimace Sirius took hold of Snape's spoon and so began…lunch.

Harry wasn't too surprised when his godfather and Severus weren't at lunch, however, he really got concerned when they weren't at dinner either. Halfway through the final meal of the day Harry tapped into his connection with the Dark Lord.

"You…you didn't kill them did you?" Tom didn't even bother gracing the question with an eye roll.

"No, I thought of something much worse for them." After a worrying pause he said, "They have to help each other." Harry blinked as he took in Tom's words. That was their…? Then again, the more he thought about it the more he realized that really would be a punishment for the two men.

"Until I deem them suitably chastised you will not be having Potions or Dueling lessons," the Dark Lord informed him. Harry hmmm'd under his breath in answer. His lessons weren't the high on the list of his priorities at that moment. Nagini slithered between his ankles and laid on his feet with a comforting pressure.

"I want to talk to you after dinner." Harry didn't bother listening to the Dark Lord's response. He could feel the man's surprise and agreement which made a part of him shudder now that he knew why he felt those things. Harry turned back to his food though he couldn't seem to find his appetite. A few seconds later he felt a finger poke his side and jumped at the ticklish sensation.

His head whipped to the side to see Hermione smiling at him and Harry rolled his eyes. He waved his fork at her threateningly and she giggled. Remus watched the exchange and relaxed a little. The werewolf was happy that Harry had such great friends in his corner. In fact the short exchange between Harry and Hermione seemed to be enough to spur the boy into eating again.

The atmosphere at the table was awkward. Draco and the Lestrange brothers were unaware of what had occurred after they left the room though they knew something happened. They were also curious to know where the Potion's Master and animagus were though they didn't dare ask. The two older wizards were especially concerned as they could sense a glamour around their Little Lion. They knew they would have to ask soon.

Finally the meal ended and Harry waved his friends and mentor…father figure?…off. They reluctantly left him and he was eventually left alone with the Dark Lord. The two sat in silence, Nagini still offering Harry comfort, and Harry could tell Voldemort was waiting for him to start.

"I don't know what to think about you anymore," he finally admitted. Tom only raised a brow. "I can't trust Dumbledore and you killed my parents. Dumbledore sold me and you bought me. Dumbledore probably wants me dead. You used some of the darkest magic known to man to create vile things…one of which is me." Harry stopped talking for a moment. "I…can you take it out," he asked quietly. Tom's face fell, showing the first emotion other than anger since that morning.

"Unfortunately, I have no idea. Everything I read about Horcruxes spoke of an inanimate vessel. It was only in the height of my madness after my return that I intentionally created Nagini. I know how to remove my soul shard from those objects but living things…I can't know that I won't hurt you or worse by enacting the ritual. I cannot express how-"

"Yes, how sorry you are, I get it. That still doesn't help me," Harry interrupted angrily. "I want to be involved in the rest of this Horcrux stuff. I don't care what you say about not wanting children involved. I'm already involved." When Tom opened his mouth to respond Harry spoke quickly over whatever he would have said. "And I want Ron and Hermione to be allowed to help too. Hermione's the smartest person I know and Ron's great at strategy and stuff. Besides, I need people I really trust to help."

Tom waited a few moments and raised a brow when he made to speak again, waiting for Harry to speak over him once more. When it became clear that Harry was actually going to let him say his piece, the Dark Lord spoke.

"Alright."

So what do you think of my punishment? I figured Severus and Sirius needed to pay and to learn, for Harry's sake. They can't keep fighting. Keep in mind that I do NOT plan to make them get together romantically. If they can get along civilly it will be a miracle.

Don't forget to review and answer the question I posed in the top author's notes!