Harry was sitting on the swings, trying to evade Dudley and get his mind off Cedric. He just couldn't, images of bones, blood, and glazed eyes haunting him.
"Cedric…" Harry muttered, feeling like a murderer. Depreciating thoughts began to creep in. If he hadn't insisted they take the cup together, Cedric might still be alive. It was all his fault!
He began weeping, struggling to compose himself. He wiped his red-rimmed eyes with his bare hands, aunt Petunia not allowing him any handkerchief. Suddenly a crow flew by, it croaked a sound that almost resembled 'Cedric'.
Harry half wished for death. He was returning to the prison of his youth wondering 'When was Voldemort when you needed him?'
As he stepped in, he made quick steps to the kitchen, feeling like a thief, trying to snatch some cheese, hoping that aunt Petunia might not notice.
Mission accomplished. He hoped to get into the living and then up into his room real quick when he noticed Voldemort, freaking Voldemort in his living room…watching T.V.? There was a table in front of him, a kettle full of tea in it, and two elegant cups.
Harry started to tremble, hands going instinctively for his wand when he remembered, uncle Vernon had taken it and put it in his cupboard under the stairs. He would have to go to the living to get it.
He should have made the smart thing and run, go to Mrs. Figg, announce Dumbledore somehow, but his relatives were there…and Hedwig, which was a hundred times more important for Harry than the likes of Vernon Dursley
Despite all his instincts shouting at him to protect himself he bravely stepped into the room.
The T.V. was set on a news program. As soon as Harry stepped in, Voldemort shut it down and began to grin.
The bastard wanted him to be scared, Harry deduced. Well, he will not give him the satisfaction.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his relatives, huddled in a corner, more frightened than that time Hagrid visited them. Nevertheless, Vernon stood protectively in front of his family.
"Voldemort. What brings you here? Ran out of people to torture?" Harry asked trying to sound nonchalant while his heartbeat rapidly.
"Are you volunteering, Harry?" Voldemort asked, amused.
"No!" Harry spat venomously then asked, "How did you get past the blood wards?"
"Oh but, dear child, we share blood now, don't you remember?"
Harry flinched.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken…" Voldemort whispered projecting Harry into the morbid past, making chills run down his back.
"Are you afraid, Harry? Afraid that I have managed to penetrate your sanctuary?"
"The wards are supposed to protect us from anyone who wishes to harm us. It should keep you out!"
"Oh, but, dear boy, I don't wish to harm you. I wish to have a discussion."
"Discussion?" Harry repeated, not believing his ears.
"Like civilized people," Voldemort said with a smile.
"Fine!" Harry spat " We'll have a bloody discussion then! But after that, you'll leave!"
"Careful, child, your lack of manners is showing," Voldemort commented "Were you raised by wild animals?"
"Might as well have," Harry answered bitingly.
"How dare you, boy! We took you into our home, put a roof under your head and food in your mouth and this is how you repay us? You unnatural freak!"
Harry rolled his eyes and Voldemort started to chuckle.
"I did not know you did not get on with your relatives. Say, when's your birthday, Harry? I could get rid of them for you," Voldemort offered.
"You'll touch my family under my corpse," Vernon grunted.
"That can be arranged," Voldemort said lightly, staring at Harry.
"Leave…leave them alone," Harry said.
"You snake-looking, pupil-less bastard! I won't have freaks like you in my house!"
"Careful how you speak with me, muggle," Voldemort warned.
"Vernon, no! He's the one, the one who killed my freak of a sister!" Petunia wailed hysterically, trying to hold her husband back for his own protection.
"Mom, I'm hungry," Dudley wined at the most inopportune of moments, longing for the comfort of food in this dire situation which honestly, he could barely comprehend.
'Wasn't the dark freak supposed to be kept away? And when is Harry going to make him a sandwich?" were all thoughts that were swirling into his mind.
"Dudley, hush," Petunia said.
"Dudley," Voldemort said, testing the word and worrying the adults "What an unfortunate name."
"Well, what would you call him?" Harry challenged daringly.
"Leverage number three," Voldemort answered.
"The blood wards are supposed to protect them too," Harry argued.
"And I have no intention of hurting them unless they hurt me first," Voldemort answered.
"Go, go upstairs! I'll deal with him, " Harry said.
Petunia nodded and dragged her family upstairs with her.
"How brave. A true Gryffindor" Voldemort remarked.
"What about it?" Harry asked.
"Lord Voldemort appreciates bravery," he said.
For a minute they were silent then…
"Harry Potter…how do you take your tea?" Voldemort inquired curling the corners of his mouth.
"Free of arsenic," Harry answered, eyeing the porcelain floral cup suspiciously.
"I would never poison you, Harry. Such methods are beneath me."
"Killing a baby wasn't!" Harry shouted angrily.
"That was in the past. I realized now that you are very important to me."
Harry snorted.
More silence seemed to accompany them, Voldemort trying to act the nice host, despite being the intruder.
"Cookie?" He asked, pointing to the plate of chocolate chip cookies sitting on the kitchen table.
"Those are the cookies aunt Petunia made for Dudley," Harry stated.
Voldemort bit carelessly into one and said " Oh, compliments to your aunt."
Harry couldn't take it anymore. He sat up and said, "What do you want?!"
"There are a lot of things I desire, Harry Potter. Competent Death Eatersm power beyond measure, the world…"
"Oh, is that all?" Harry asked amused.
"All paltry things as you can see. And I would have them, if it weren't for a little boy, being a thorn in my side."
"Harry sat back down "You can't blame me for your death eater's incompetence"
"Perhaps,' Voldemort said while sipping tea " How were your O.W.L.s?
"None of your business," Harry muttered, drinking tea.
"I could just ask my informants if you don't tell me, Harry. But then, of course, I might ask for something even more personal. Make it easier on you and tell me," Voldemort ordered.
Harry sighed "Outstanding in Defence, Exceeds Expectations in Charms, COMC, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Acceptable in Astronomy, Poor in Divination and Dreadful in History of magic."
"Dreadful in History of magic. Disappointing. You can do better," his arch-nemesis said.
"It's Binn's fault. He makes the lessons so boring, nobody's awake at the end of them," Harry justified himself, not exactly knowing why he felt the need to be so defensive.
"You should have copied off the notebooks of persons capable of staying awake for longer than yourself. That's what Slytherin students do," Voldemort chided "I expect better grades, Harry."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Harry asked enraged.
"What matters is who you are, Harry," Voldemort answered cryptically, giving Harry a headache.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore found out that the blood wards had been breached, they had not fallen, but they had been somehow influenced.
Guessing that Voldemort must have been at the Dursley Residence, he summoned the Order. Severus, Minerva, Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin, literally all the Order of the Pheonix members he could find went with him to try to save Harry.
Unfortunately, none of them, except Severus, who had no intention of harming Voldemort unless necessary, as he wanted to keep his cover, was able to get inside.
He walked in, expecting to find Harry a speck on the wall but when he saw Voldemort and the Potter boy seeping tea like old friends he took a deep breath, thought 'I have seen stranger things' and said "My lord…"
"Ah, Severus. The old coot must know about my whereabouts by now."
"Yes, my lord," Snape answered.
Harry eyed him up "Snape, what are you doing here?"
"Professor Snape, Potter. Show some respect to your elders," Voldemort chided.
Harry glared.
"Potter, Dumbledore sent me to…rescue you," Snape answered, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, you're doing a fantastic job at it," Harry snarked.
"Shut up, brat," Snape muttered.
"Dear Severus. Have some tea," Voldemprt said while transfiguring another teacup.
"Tell me, dear one. What would you do if I said I wanted you to kill Potter?" Voldemort asked, wanting to test his loyalties.
"I would, of course, examine the statement, my lord. If you wanted to kill Potter you would have done so by now and as it is, that honor belongs only to you," Severus said ready to shield Potter with his own body if needed (if he got disarmed) against any incoming Avada Kedavras, while also thinking that, judging by the tea party, that Voldemort was only bluffing about killing the brat, at least for now. It did not make sense. Potter had been his worst enemy, why was he still alive?
"A wise way of hiding your true allegiance, Severus. Now you leave all of us wondering…" Voldemort told him "Harry, ten galleons say he's on my side."
"Are you drunk?" Harry asked, not knowing what to make of this whole situation.
"Merely happy, little one. For I have discovered the truth. All my hard work will pay up. And speaking of hard work, Severus, don't you think young Harry should reserve more time for his studies?"
Severus smirked "Indeed, my lord. Potter would benefit from opening a potions book every now and then."
"You could do well with not favoring the Slytherins," Harry shot back.
"A poor excuse," Snape retorted.
"Harry, what do you want to do when you grow up?" Voldemort asked in a voice similar to an adult asking a kindergartner about his future vocation.
"Likely waste his life on irrelevant things like Quidditch," Severus quipped while shaking his head disapprovingly.
"I plan to be an Auror," Harry said proudly.
"Chasing dark wizards all day long…suits you," Voldemort said "However I can't afford you to get hurt."
Severus almost choked on his tea.
Voldemort checked his wristwatch "Look at the time. We should do this again, sometimes. Farewell, Severus…little horcrux."
Then Voldemort smirked, got out a portkey, and disappeared.
Severus immediately jumped up, put his hands on Harry's shoulders, looked at him from head to toe, and asked "Potter, are you alright?"
Harry nodded and sat down, a confused look in his eyes, his heart finally beginning to beat normally.
Severus, not knowing exactly what to do in order to help, offered him a cookie and said "Mr. Potter, I've heard sugar is good in situations like this."
Harry took it mutely, not biting on it yet.
"Professor? What's a horcrux?"