Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!
Now, a couple things before we start.
First: I apologize for the delay but I have deployed, the third time in two years and before that it was the holidays and I was trying to focus on family. I will try to work on this and my other fic, The Right of Conquest, that I also post on this site as often as I can. But, I can't give any guarantees.
Second: Confrontation is not my strong suit and I'm really trying to work on that in regards to my dialogue, so any feedback is appreciated.
Third: Here is a Time Frame for Reference of the story so far
July 31 - Inheritance. Kills Vernon and Hestia Jones. Trapped in Grimmauld basement.
August 6 - Friends save Harry from the basement
August 7 - Wakes in twins apartment, flees with Slytherins, goes to Voldemort. Kills Pettigrew.
August 8 - Visits Gringotts. Dobby returns Map and Cloak. Voldemort offers Harry dueling lessons. Dumbles visits the Burrow. August 9 - Introduction Ceremony
August 11 - Article by Dumbledore. Meeting with Lucius and Avery. Hedwig returns.
August 12 - Interview with Skeeter and Bones
August 13 - Harry's article is published. Meets with Avery and Lestrange brothers. Purposefully harnesses magic for the first time and kills rose bush.
August 14 - Meeting in Grimmauld Place
August 16 - Encounters Slytherins/OWL scores
August 18 - Weasley kids and Hermione talk to Weasley parents and Remus
August 25 - Theo's perspective. Harry casts his Patronus and sees it is a thestral
September 1 - Hogwarts Starts.
Not Today
Sunlight streamed through the dark blue curtains and Harry squinted at the light. He had been lying in bed for almost an hour now, unable to get the motivation to move. His mind kept replaying scenes of this day from the past five years. He could easily imagine the movements of his friends. Mrs. Weasley would be calling everyone to bring their luggage down, fussing at Ron for not having finished packing last night. The Burrow would be filled with chaotic noise and shouts.
It was September 1st. So many students would be returning to Hogwarts today, crossing the magical barrier at Kings Cross and entering Platform 9¾. His gut twisted. Harry wouldn't be joining them. He never would again.
To make matters worse, if that could even be possible, Harry hadn't been able to meet up with his friends like he had planned. Now he'd have to wait until the first Hogsmeade trip to see them.
He wondered if it was possible to just not leave bed at all today in order to make the misery end. If he never got up and just slept the day away maybe it would be easier to handle. Easier to accept that he wouldn't return to Hogwarts. Would never enter the Great Hall as a student, never listen to the Sorting Hats song. His throat constricted and Harry found it difficult to swallow as the pain clenched his chest.
"Master Death Master," Tobi's squeaking voice broke him from his spiraling thoughts. "Great Master is being demanding you join him for breakfast."
Harry sighed forlornly, not at all in the mood to deal with that devil creature of a man. It was another poignant reminder of how drastically his life had changed. No longer would he spend his years trying to solve the mystery of how Voldemort would try to kill him and face the adrenaline of actually facing the monster at the end. Now, he was starting the day by sharing breakfast with him and later this afternoon they would have dueling practice, as they had done for the past three weeks or so.
Grumbling, Harry rolled out of bed and dressed in a fog. His movements automatic, brushing his teeth and hair, pulling the robes on that Tobi had laid out. His feet led him to the dining room, his thoughts still reliving his past years. He glanced at his watch. The Weasley's would be leaving for Kings Cross now.
Harry entered the dining room and saw Marvolo sitting pristinely, reading the paper. "Finally decided to leave bed?"
Harry glared but didn't respond. The food while just as delicious as always it just couldn't compare to Mrs. Weasley's lovingly cooked breakfast this morning.
"You're in the paper once again," Marvolo continued. "Ms. Skeeter has decided to print more of your interview with her today. Explaining how you won't be returning to school and the scandal of your scores being kept from you."
Harry again didn't respond. He had figured the journalist would draw out the information he gave her for as long as she could. She had already printed another article about five days ago gushing about the torture Harry had suffered under after his Inheritance, hinting at Dumbledore's involvement.
Glancing at the paper in Marvolo's hands, Harry glimpsed a picture of himself on the front cover. It wasn't one he was familiar with and he wondered who had donated it. It was him looking a little younger, maybe his third year, looking harmless and innocent, his glasses adding to his youthful look.
Anger bubbled in his stomach and mixed with the bitter nostalgic resentment that was building in his chest.
"I'll be having a meeting today."
"Congratulations," Harry quipped dully. He wanted this day to be over. He flicked his fork through the scrambled eggs but didn't eat anything.
"I believe it is time for you to start sitting in on meetings, start learning about the side you have aligned yourself with."
"Not today."
"Why not?"
"I can't deal with minion stupidity today."
Crimson eyes narrowed. "Those in my service do not lack intelligence-"
"Could have fooled me."
"-and per our agreement," Marvolo continued ignoring Harry. "You need to learn about my ideals in order to make an appropriate decision."
"Fine," Harry snapped out. "I'll attend your meetings. Just not today."
Skin prickling and wanting to fight something, Harry left the room before Marvolo could say more and went to the gardens. Maybe killing some plants would help his dismal mood. His magic already fighting to be released before he fully left the patio space. The magic of his Necromancy gave him distance and he soaked it in. He didn't want to be in his head today of all days.
He felt trapped.
He couldn't control his inheritance. He was trying to make the best of it and for the most part he was happy with how things were going but seeing the stark contrast of how his life would have been had nothing happened on his birthday hurt. Though he had to wonder if Dumbledore would have always been so quick to turn on him, so quick to attempt drastic methods to subdue him.
With a scream, he pushed his magic farther then ever and collapsed to his knees panting. Blinking back to the present, after the high of his magic faded, he grimaced at the destruction he had caused. The entire garden was dead. There was not a green leaf anywhere. Butterflies were dried crisps scattering the footpath and the few birds that had inhabited the trees were no better than rocks on the grounds now.
Wincing, Harry looked about. He pushed himself to his feet and turned to the manor. He'd seek out Marvolo and apologize for completely demolishing the beautiful gardens. Maybe then he'd think about apologizing for his rudeness at breakfast but he stood firm on not wanting to deal with Death Eater meetings just yet.
Merlin, the thought of apologizing to Voldemort still rankled him. It twisted his mind and turned his stomach anytime he considered it deeply. So he tried not to think deeply on the issue. Live in the moment and plan for the future, don't look into the past. As he left the gardens he heard the pops of house elves and a few mournful cries at the sight of the gardens. Harry winced again.
"I'm sorry!" He called out.
"It is being fine, Master Death Master," a mournful voice responded. It sounded like it came from behind the fountain, still bubbling merrily away.
Glancing at his watch, he sighed, his friends would be on the Hogwarts Express now. Ron and Hermione would be at the Prefects meetings, as would Draco and Pansy. Neville, Luna and Ginny would have found a compartment for themselves. His throat constricted once again. Nope, instead of riding the Hogwarts Express with his friends, speculating on the newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and playing Exploding Snap, he was killing the garden of the Dark Lord and planning to apologize.
His feet led him to the Gathering Room, following the call of Marvolo's magic. It was almost second nature to sense the darkness, it came in handy when trying to find the Dark Lord in such a big house. Thoughts still swirling, he pushed the door open.
"Hey, Marvo—lous to see everyone." Damnit! The meeting! Embarrassingly it had been the shrill screams that filled the room that had clued him in. Silencing charm on the Gathering Room, Harry thought absently. He definitely planned on entering a room full of Death Eaters, he had remembered the meeting, this had all been planned. His eyes fell on the Death Eater currently crumpled in a pile on the floor. The one that had been doing the screaming and writhing under the torture curse.
The mans' eyes were bloodshot and tear stains stood out on the pale cheeks. The man was favoring one of his arms so Harry was certain he had a few broken bones. Swallowing hard, Harry glanced at the rest of those in the room.
A long table was set up, the dais where he and Marvolo had stood during the meeting a few weeks ago was gone. Marvolo in full Voldemort persona sat at the head, skeletal and pale, red eyes more prominent without the hair and nose and lips. His wand held lazily in bone-like fingers, pointing at the man on the ground. Over twenty Death Eaters held the seats on either side of the table.
Harry recognized most of them, which also made his skin crawl. Snape sat next to Malfoy who held the seat to the right of Voldemort. Harry felt ice gather in his gut at the sight of his former Potions Professor.
Feeling highly underdressed but refusing to fidget or grip at his casual robes Tobi had set out, he gave a nod to the table. His eyes sought Voldemort's. The crimson was familiar and helped him settle the twist in his gut. A thought he refused to dwell on.
"Changed your mind?" Voldemort queried, reclining regally but his eyes sharply tracking every movement Harry made.
"Hm? Oh, no," Harry chuckled lightly, he hoped it didn't sound too forced, holding tight to his unaffected mask. "No, I came to inform you that all of your gardens are going to need updating."
"Updating?" The skeletal monster blinked, obviously not having prepared for this course of topic.
"Yeah. I killed them."
"You killed my garden?"
"Yup. The entire thing. The trees, bushes, flowers, birds...yeah all dead. Well I haven't checked the front, but the back is a corpse. Thought you might want to know."
"Your warning is...appreciated…" Harry gave a lopsided grin, his eyes glancing over the Death Eaters sitting straight backed around the table. "Was there a reason?"
Harry shrugged. "Felt like it?" The color loss in the more unknown Death Eaters sitting farthest away from Voldemort and closer to him was satisfying and made up for the lie.
"Your timing is good," Voldemort hissed, many of the Death Eaters stiffened.
"Why? Got bored with your minions screams?" Harry hissed back. He gave a nod to the man on the ground. "What did he do?"
"Needed more motivation." Harry hid his shudder by digging his nails into his palm currently hidden by his robes. "Now. Sit." The order was made so all at the table could understand.
Before Harry could respond, Voldemort conjured a silver chair right next to him. Not fully along the edge of the table with the rest of the minions and not sharing the front edge that Voldemort had, but more on the corner, it looked like an advisors seat not involved directly but close enough to hear everything.
"I'm not a dog. And I said I didn't want to join your meeting today," Harry hissed back.
"Yet you are here now. No need to beat a hasty retreat. Where is that bravery you always boast of?"
"I don't boast."
"How do you plan on turning down my offer? I already made you a chair and you have nothing else to do seeing as you killed my garden. You don't want to look weak do you? Appearances and all that."
Jaw clenched, Harry glared but made no moves.
"Come now, lion, afraid you might agree with me?" Voldemort hissed, crimson glinting. Squaring his shoulders, Harry met the challenge with his own glare but his feet strode purposefully to the seat and he swiftly sat as pompously as he could.
"Careful, Marvolo," Harry hissed back as he leaned back in the hard backed, uncomfortable chair. "You'll find lions fight with claws."
"Yes, well, snakes strike with fangs."
"Lions have a mouth full of teeth. They have no need for fangs."
"Continue with your brief Dolohov," Voldemort command and Harry smirked at having won that round. The man on the ground, Dolohov, pulled himself to his feet and sank into his seat, about five seats down the table. Harry noted that Travers was delegated to the far end of the table and felt smugly satisfied internally knowing that he was the reason for the seat placement. While Avery and the Lestrange brothers were closer to him on the left side of the table. Bellatrix was missing again.
Harry distracted himself by looking ominous and seeing which Death Eaters he could scare while Dolohov rambled. If he focused on the Death Eaters then he wouldn't have to remember it was Voldemort and not Marvolo next to him. Though try as he might, Harry couldn't completely tune out of the conversation.
"My Lord," Rookwood quivered, having been called upon next to speak. "We can place the Ministers advisers under the Imperius within the next week." Harry yawned extravagantly just to annoy the Death Eater whose eye twitched but didn't glance at him. "This will allow us to influence the man more directly than just relying on money." Good to have that piece of bribery speculation confirmed, Harry thought with a small snort.
"Do you wish to add something, Lord Potter?" Voldemort questioned his voice quiet but the danger edged it like a knife. The Death Eaters seemed to have turned to stone at the dangerous tone.
Harry hesitated. Did he want to contribute? Contributing would mean agreeing wouldn't it? And he didn't agree! But, he reminded himself, this wasn't actually an idea, more of a criticism. Yes, he could criticize them. That wasn't going against any morals. He criticized Death Eaters all the time.
"Just surprised by how unimaginative and lazy your Death Eaters are."
The Death Eaters stiffened even more. "How so?" Voldemort's hissed coldly.
"Well, you lot are supposed to be Slytherins, right? Or at least the majority of you are. Where is the cunning? Where is the ambition? Where is the sly, manipulative dealings? Imperius Curse is overused and takes no skill. Boring. All I'm saying."
His eyes drifted over those at the table and saw the fearful flickering glances between him and Voldemort. Finally giving in, Harry turned to look at Voldemort too and saw the crimson gaze staring at him but the eyes were unfocused. It probably wasn't noticeable to others but Harry detected the slight dim of the red. The sight sent a shock through Harry. Voldemort was actually listening to him! Voldemort was actually considering his words, his thoughts! The realization warmed his chest while the ice twisted harder in his stomach.
The awareness returned to the bloody red turning the gaze more calculating and Harry couldn't help the challenging fire that started to flare within him. The responding glint brought a smirk to Harry's lips as a victorious feeling swelled within.
"Yes," Voldemort breathed, but the word carried in the silence. "Laziness cannot be tolerated." Voldemort turned his attention to those at his table and a few shrank tighter into themselves, sensing the danger of the gaze falling on them. Without warning, Rookwood was soon screaming. Falling to the floor, the chair clattering unheard over the screams.
Harry jerked, his head snapping to the source, but gripped the chair arms to stop his further reaction. The screams reached higher levels. Breathe, Harry cautioned himself. Don't listen, just breathe. Turning away from the writhing man or closing his eyes against the sight would only be seen as a weakness. His grip on the arms became painful and he worried they would break. Breathe.
Unbidden, Harry started seeing the life force of those around him. It was the first time seeing it on something other than plants or on the people he had killed. The man's aura was flickering, flaring and diminishing like a heartbeat. Harry was transfixed at the sight. Against his will he could feel the detached feeling creep in. The screams faded and the flaring life force was the only thing consuming his thoughts. His fingers itched to claim it, to call the life to him.
"...Potter ...Lord…..Lo...ter… Harry." Harry blinked slowly, the first blink since he had seen the life aura around the now panting man on the ground. His eyes felt dry and he blinked a few more times. The detached feeling faded and Harry's field of sight grew from the narrowed focus it had dwindled to.
Voldemort had called to him. Harry took a shuddering breath and forced his hands to unclench from the chair arms. "Gotten a taste for the screaming?" The tone was smug and Harry clenched his teeth.
"No," he denied, his words carried out on a breath, though he didn't turn his gaze away from the man on the ground whose life force was remaining steady though not as bright, the light was fading the more Harry came back into himself. "I saw...his life...flickering…" He took another breath and forced his gaze away from the man and wished he hadn't. He'd forgotten the surrounding minions. No, he didn't want to deal with the stares right now, he still felt raw.
"You saw his life flickering?" Voldemort hissed and Harry forced his eyes to the Dark Lord beside him. Harry nodded, his heart rate slowly declined. Odd, he didn't remember his heart racing so drastically when dealing with plants. "We will discuss this more later. This might require further experimentation." Harry felt sick at the thought.
"Now, laziness," Voldemort continued. "Something that cannot be tolerated. Lord Potter is correct that you have all become far too complacent. Rookwood, rework your plans and incorporate a bit of ingenuity while you're at it. This goes for all of you."
Eyes flickered to Harry once more who hoped he had regained his previous composure as he reclined in the seat. Distractedly, Harry wondered at the significance of Voldemort using his own ideas and advice and in front of the others too. To steady his nerves and to show the minions that he wasn't still shaken, he brought his wand out and began twirling the plain stick of wood between his fingers once again and hoped his face looked bored.
"Severus," the hiss curling around the name would have made a lesser man shiver and Harry couldn't stop himself from flicking his eyes to the dark robed man sitting diagonally from him, two seats down from Voldemort. "What news, my spy."
"My Lord," the silky tone caused Harry to swallow hard, there couldn't be any real doubt now. His Potions Professor really was a Death Eater. Dumbledore was a fool. No one could fake that kind of reverence. "The Order is scrambling. The interview that Lord Potter conducted has caused doubt. Moody and Kingsley being put on trial has many trying to distance themselves from the two Aurors. However, Dumbledore is still holding tight. No one seems willing to believe the accusations against him."
"They won't vocalize it just yet," Harry heard himself say without planning to, fingers still twirling his wand. Eyes snapped back to him. "I know of a few, whom I've spoken to directly, that have been turned against the Headmaster."
Sure, Harry hadn't actually spoke with Mr and Mrs. Weasley or Remus but he was confident in his friends assessment. He planned on meeting with the three adults in person in a few days.
Snape must have realized that Harry wasn't going to speak further because the man swiftly continued. "Dumbledore still remains unquestioned publically," the Potions Master amended. "Will you reveal your supporters?"
"Your the spy, surely you can figure it out."
Harry could swear he saw the man's fingers twitch as though wishing to curse him. It made Harry grinned even more. Snape looked back to Voldemort and continued though. "However, he has spoken of needing to start training the Longbottom boy. Claiming that perhaps the prophecy was misinterpreted."
Harry grinned at this and it seemed to make those nearest him nervous. "Lord Potter?" A touch of exasperation touching the voice of the Dark Lord.
His grin grew as he tilted his head back to look at Voldemort, his wand still twirling. "Neville's loyalty is securely with me. Dumbledore can try all he wants. It will only waste his time," Harry hissed smugly. Voldemort gave the barest of nods before flicking a hand at Snape to continue.
"Dumbledore has also called upon a former professor, Horace Slughorn, to return to his position as Potions Master. I have been shifted to the role of Defense Professor." Harry blinked at that. It seemed strange to see the Potions Master in any role but prowling the dungeons, hovering over simmering cauldrons.
"It can be assumed that Dumbledore is doing so as a means of displaying trust in you. Use it." Snape nodded to his Master.
"There is nothing further occurring, when I return, I will begin gauging the response of the professors."
"His hand is still damaged?" Voldemort questioned. Harry struggled to keep his face smooth. Why was Dumbledore's hand damaged? When had that happened?
"Yes, My Lord."
"Before you leave," Harry cut in, again speaking without fully thinking. Spinning his wand slightly faster. "I wish to speak with you privately, Pr-Severus." Harry didn't look at Voldemort as he gave an order to one of his minions. He felt unbalanced by it himself. But knew he needed to talk to Snape before things continued. Snape could be beneficial to his friends if the talk went well. Harry noted the clenched jaw that was covered by the nod. A flicker of smug satisfaction flickered before Harry pushed it aside.
"Lucius, updates."
"My Lord, things are progressing well. However, nothing of note has occurred yet."
A quick blast of orange light had the Malfoy Lords eyes widening with a convulsing of the throat as the blonde man held his mouth shut against the scream and hunched over against the pain.
"Do not waste the air if you have nothing to contribute."
Harry gripped the armchair again with his free hand and clenched his teeth. His wand spun faster. His anger flaring at the unnecessary violence but it served as a satisfactory reminder of who he was actually dealing with. He had allowed himself to slip into a comfortable routine. He couldn't forget where he was and who was with him.
"Yes, My Lord. Forgive me, My Lord."
Harry turned away from the Death Eaters to keep his sneer from forming. It was disgusting to see grown men groveling. He looked at the Dark Lord next to him and saw the vile monster leveling his wand once more. He wouldn't speak out though. They had an agreement to not injure the other but Voldemort had warned him about interrupting before. It wasn't Harry's business anyway. He had no sympathies for the Malfoy Lord, who was he to criticize the Dark Lords methods. He wasn't part of this, it was all temporary. He couldn't become too invested. His wand spun faster.
Malicious glee burned in the crimson gaze as the Dark Lord shot off another spell. Spell holding, Voldemort tilted his head and caught Harry's eye. Harry wasn't sure what his face was saying but the spell was released, as Voldemort's full focus turned on Harry. Words weren't spoken but Harry didn't lower his gaze. The speed of his wand twirling slowed.
"Dismissed. Severus you shall await Lord Potter in the library," Voldemort ordered as the crowd left, not dropping his gaze either. Snape gave an additional bow before sweeping out of the room.
Silence settled for a moment before Harry stood, pulling his eyes away, and took several steps to put distance between him and the Dark Lord. He shoved his wand away, not sure if he could stop himself from firing it now that they were alone.
"Something troubling you?" Voldemort asked, the attempt at innocence set Harry's teeth on edge.
"Yes. You." Voldemort was Marvolo now and the man quirked a pristine eyebrow. Harry gripped his hair. "Why do you torture people? So much more could get accomplished if you didn't. Why do you drag me into things? You're very aware of how I hate the spotlight and I would think you'd want to keep me, as your ally, happy."
"Other methods are tedious and time consuming."
"You get off on it."
"The thrill of power and control is addictive." Harry stopped in his furious pacing. "No need to be shocked. I am very aware of myself. To not know your own mind and understand your own desires is a weakness. To be ignorant will get you killed."
"It's vile!"
"It's truth." Marvolo stood and braced himself against the table. Harry started pacing again. "However much you wish to pretend blissful ignorance, Harry, you cannot deny the truth. You are here now. You live here with me, the Dark Lord. Do not fool yourself otherwise. These are truths that you must accept."
"It's a waste."
"It's not. Fear keeps people in line. Fear prevents disloyalty."
"Fear creates cowards. Do you really want a bunch of cowards fighting your battles?"
"I fight my own battles."
"No. You command battles, you don't fight them. You and Dumbledore are the exact same that way."
Marvolo's hand was around Harry's throat before he could blink. His legs pressed against the table edge. "Never!" Harry stared into the flames burning in the handsome face. "If you wish to keep this agreement, to keep this truce in tact, you will watch what you say. Is that understood?"
Harry should have backed down. But he didn't. "It's truth," Harry spat back. His blood boiling now, things had been too calm for too long. "Or is this not a weakness you can allow yourself to know?" The pale fingers tightened slightly and Marvolo growled.
Harry pushed off the table and momentarily choked himself by pushing harder against the hand on his throat but the movement surprised the Dark Lord enough for the man to back away. "Admit it. You and Albus Dumbledore are fucking chess masters and everyone else is merely pawns. "
"I am nothing like that crackpot old fool."
"The two of you sit on your thrones and manipulate everyone!"
Roles reversed Harry managed to back Marvolo into the side of the man's own throne. "Do not think an alliance will protect you forever," the man's voice was low a contrast to the anger that Harry could clearly see. The man was so furious he was even gaining color to his normally porcelain skin. "Cross too many lines and I will have you disposed of, agreement or not."
"How are you different?" Harry breathed just as lowly.
"I am the Dark Lord Voldemort! I have studied more magic than any before me. I know power that fool can barely dream of. I will not be sullied and tarnished by a comparison to Albus Dumbledore.
"Power doesn't mean shit. Who cares what you know? You still act like arrogant bastards that expect the whole world to cave to your every desire."
"It's only arrogance if I'm wrong."
"My mistake. You're not arrogant. No. You hide behind your pawns. You're a coward."
Marvolo jerked forward and Harry stumbled backwards. But he kept his back towards the open space of the room, refusing to be backed into anything again. Marvolo stood inches from him, a few inches taller, so Harry had to look up which ignited his fury more.
"Prove that you are different. Then maybe I'll take this partnership offer more seriously."
"Do not attempt to change me, little lion."
"Not changing anything. But you claim to want me on your side. I'm just giving some advice."
"You're advice isn't needed."
"Yet you took my advice just minutes ago," Harry tsked before backing away to the door. Determined to have had the last word and knowing he had to go have another conversation he slipped out the door and grinned triumphantly at the furious "Harry!" hissed as the heavy door shut.
Blood still hot and wanting excitement, Harry made it to the library doors far quicker than usual. He attempted a breath to calm himself but knew it wouldn't help. He'd be operating on adrenaline until his dueling practice where he could unleash all of his pent up energy.
The library was quiet when the door slammed open and Harry strode in. Severus Snape turned to face him promptly having never sat down. The two faced each other the silence growing heavy. Finally, Snape gave a small jerky head nod and Harry returned it.
"Sit," Harry ordered, claiming his own armchair. He watched the sneer threaten to form before Snape sat as well. Harry stared at his former professor and tried to decide how to start everything. "Now, from my observations it seems pretty apparent that you are playing two pretty powerful men for fools. It is my belief though that you swing more for the Dark team. Is this true?"
Snape stared at him with those cold dark eyes but Harry was no longer a student and had been having staring competitions with a fiery eyed Dark Lord for weeks, so was no longer intimidated by the dark depths. "I am on the Dark Lord's side," the words felt careful and not completely true.
"You aren't always though," Harry pressed. "You have saved me in the past and gone against his orders. Why?"
"I needed to fulfill my role as a spy."
Harry stared at the man. He was missing something. He knew it. Something Snape was hiding. Internally he groaned, he was too tense and restless for word games. This was why he fit best as a Gryffindor.
"Given my inheritance I am now immune to any and all Legilimency attacks. And I'm under no obligation to tell Voldemort anything that his followers tell me. I don't owe him my loyalty. Now. The truth. Circumstances have changed and we might be able to come to a compromise of sorts. Now, who is your loyalty to?"
The silence stretched. Harry could almost see the man weighing his options. What must life as a spy be like, he wondered briefly. "You." Harry blinked. Snape looked like he had drank the vilest poison.
"Sorry?"
"You hold my loyalty."
Harry snorted. "I said the truth."
"It is the truth, Potter," Snape growled.
"How? You hate me."
"I loathed your father and I strongly dislike you," Snape corrected with a sniff. "However, your mother was my only friend as a child and through loyalty to her the Headmaster received my Unbreakable Vow to protect you at all cost."
Harry opened his mouth but quickly shut it again. Not sure how to fully respond to this. "Right. However, of the two chess masters. You personally lean more towards Voldemort. Don't you?" Snape only nodded. "I guess me changing alliances is making your life easier," Harry chuckled. Snape looked like he was sucking on a lemon.
"Is there a point to this conversation, Lord Potter? I do need to return to school today."
Harry scrunched his nose in distaste. "Just call me Potter when we are alone. The Lord bit gets old. Now, you owing me your loyalty will actually work out well," Harry said leaning back into his favorite armchair and tapping his fingers against the armrests. Snape's sneer stretched larger. "Oh get over yourself. I have friends in Hogwarts still and I need ways for them to safely pass me information if they need to. Or a safe way for them to get out if the need arises."
"I swore to keep you alive and protected. I swore nothing of the sort for your little friends."
"Keeping them safe, keeps me safe. Plus, I'm your Lords ally and by helping me gather information you also help him if that appeases your twisted sense of loyalties."
The Potions' Master seemed to be attempting to make Harry spontaneously combust before standing. The suddenness had Harry rising to his feet in surprise. "Fine, Potter. I will assist your little friends. Is there anything else you require?"
Harry sighed. "No, I guess that's it. Look, can we try to be civil with each other? We will be working together now. Think you can tolerate me enough for that?" Harry asked, holding his hand out to the surly man.
Snapes lips thinned but eventually did grip Harry's hand with his own for the briefest of moments, a mockery of a handshake. After a brief nod. The Potions' Master spun on his heel and in a flurry of robes left the library. Harry groaned loudly as he collapsed back into the chair.