The Nightmare Man

Summary: In the depths of the Ministry, there is a cell for the world's most dangerous man… and he wants out.

Pairing/s: None.

Warnings: Time travel, OOC-characters, Light!bashing, Twisted!Harry, Evil!Harry, violence, mention of gore. Yeah, stuff like that.

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter nor do I make any money writing this.

-o-

Edited 2021

-o-

Chapter Fifteen

Logically, Voldemort had nothing to fear from Harrison. The ancient dark lord wasn't going to hurt him. They were allies.

Yet, he couldn't help but be nervous. Judging by the looks on Lucius' and Rabastan's faces, they weren't any calmer than him.

Harrison was pacing around in the main hall, magic sparking between his fingers. The long hair swayed with his steps, the robes swishing against the floor. Every now and then the lights flickered, disturbed by Harrison's magic.

"Master, could you perhaps… calm the magic a bit?" Severus was hesitant, standing a fair distance away.

"Why?" Harrison asked.

"You're interfering in the process with the twins."

"Twins."

"Yes, the twins."

"Twins," Harrison repeated. "Oh, those twins. Weasleys."

"Yes, those twins," Severus said. "Their bodies and souls have yet to reconnect properly. If you want them back in their bodies by tomorrow, you need to stop interfering with the magic in the dungeons."

Harrison stared at him. For a moment he looked like he was going to rip Severus' head clean off. But then he breathed in, and the magic that had filled the room, radiating out of his body, vanished back into him. He breathed out.

So did Voldemort and the others.

"Thank you, master," Severus said.

"Do you… like those twins?" Harrison asked.

"You must like them too, master. Why else did you make two of your Dementor vomit up their souls again?"

"I like twins," Harrison said. "And it'll be fun having them around."

Did he know about the Weasley twins? Voldemort had the impression that beyond Cornelius Fudge, Albus Dumbledore and perhaps Lily Potter, Harrison knew nothing of people from that side. And even if he did, why focus on two brothers that barely counted as adults?

The doors opened and Elise came through. She looked at Harrison and said:

"Small, serene village, four hundred people. This close to the holidays there aren't many movements, but I put them all to sleep for the moment and warded off the entire place. No Muggles or magical people besides us will feel the need to go there as long as the wards are up. Of course, should they wake up they won't be able to escape."

"Good," Harrison said.

"Exactly what are you going to do?" Voldemort asked.

"I'm going to kill them of course," Harrison replied. "A whole village, been a while since I last did that. One usually gets to live, wonder who I'll pick today…"

He smiled, and a chill ran down Voldemort's spine. His eyes hadn't gone back to its clear green, and there was something awful in those eyes. Something old and cruel.

"Let's call for the Inferi," Harrison continued as he began to walk towards Elise. "Cornelius and his side won't be met by a pretty sight by the time I'm done with that place."

-o-

It was truly the picture of a serene village. A fresh layer of snow covered the houses and streets. Cheery, Muggle Christmas lights lit up almost every home and street, to the point of over-doing it.

Elise and Lucian were with Harrison, straight-backed and quiet. The others had been instructed by Harrison to stay behind and Voldemort had glimpsed someone else. Not the odd, slightly scary Nightmare Lord but someone completely cold to the core. Frightening even Elise and Lucian.

Most people had feared him, Harrison said. Back then, there was no Harrison, there was the Nightmare Lord and the few that followed him usually wanted something back. Which is why he sometimes had killed his own followers.

The strange charm he had had so far was gone, or at least hidden inside for now.

He was surveying the village with those black eyes, arms crossed and a black cloak slung over his shoulders. He tilted his head after a while.

"Master?" Lucian finally said.

"There will be a lot of noise, Elise. Is there any villages nearby?"

"I've included noise cancellation in the wards," Elise replied. "We can hear them where we're standing, but people further away than us won't be able to."

"Good."

Harrison shifted his stance, and breathed out. He raised his arms, and magic began to fill the area around them. Voldemort backed away a bit more and watched. Harrison's magic truly didn't work the way he was used to magic working. It shouldn't be that easy to just pull it up and out like Harrison did. Did it exhaust him afterwards?

Harrison took a big breath, and pushed his hands down. The magic disappeared. Voldemort glanced over at Elise and Lucian. They gave nothing away on their faces.

"Let's start it, then," Harrison said, and snapped his fingers.

The main street cracked. The ground rumbled, and people woke from Elise's magical sleep judging by the fearful screaming. Harrison raised a hand, and they all saw the ground rising with him. Houses began to shift. He turned the hand over and brought it down fast.

The ground collapsed, and houses began to fall apart. More people screamed, in fear, or for help. Or both. Harrison grinned.

"I love that sound," he said, looking over his shoulder at them. Then he saw something else apparently, and continued, "Oh, just in time."

Voldemort turned around. The Inferi didn't slow down; instead they ran past their little group and down towards the village, growling and snarling.

"Lucian, Elise, stay here," Harrison said. "You'll know if I want you to come."

"Of course, master," Elise said.

"Have fun," Lucian added.

Harrison took after the Inferi, and they parted to let him pass, leading the way down to the village.

"How many times has he destroyed an entire village?" Voldemort asked the two servants.

"We forgot to count," Lucian said.

"No, there's a tally of it somewhere," Elise replied. "But it doesn't really matter how many times, because we'll let him do it as many times as he wants."

"Why?" Voldemort wondered.

"Because it makes master happy."

-o-

Harrison looked around the village. The snow had shifted, and bodies littered the ground. Many more still tried to flee the Inferi, running away from partially destroyed houses.

Not that they could escape. Not that he would let them. A couple took a right turn when they spotted him, and he sent magic behind them. The woman's arm was torn off and she shrieked, tearing herself away from the man's side. Another wave of magic broke his leg and Harrison laughed as the woman left the man behind, to be consumed by Inferi.

A family of five ran out of their half-collapsed house. The mother was holding an infant, two children running alongside their parents. A boy and a girl, with the girl holding her father's hand. Harrison smiled a bit. One of them would get to live. But who?

Not the infant, it wouldn't be able to tell Cornelius what happened here.

The mother or father perhaps? Parents always got so upset seeing their families destroyed. See the devastation on their faces as Harrison murdered their children.

But then the girl glanced back. Golden hair and so very blue eyes. A little angel, he could imagine people saying. Harrison thought of his own Angel, safe and sound in the manor. His hand moved before he thought it through, and the father's head separated fro his body, and down it went. The girl stumbled and looked down at his body, while her brother screamed. The mother stopped as well, began screaming a name but Harrison interrupted her by snatching the infant from her arms, landing a few feet away.

"No!" the mother cried out, her arms out. "Please god, no, please! Don't hurt her, please don't hurt her!"

Harrison back away and looked down at the crying child. Red face, toothless mouth, tiny fists tightened over that small chest. Angel looked like that sometimes when she was upset. Her screams annoyed Harrison, and he had already thought at least five times that he would kill her, but that always came with a second thought and a fleeting feeling of guilt.

That didn't come with this child.

"Please, I beg you, don't hurt her," the mother continued.

"You beg me?" Harrison said. "What will you do to save her?"

"Anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes, please, anything!"

"You said it." Harrison smiled. "Kill your son. I'll spare this one if you kill him."

The mother grew pale, then almost green. But with the fear also came the anger. It was a lovely sight. He always enjoyed making people react that way.

"No?" he said, tilting his head. "You can't do it?"

"You're the one doing all of this!" she screamed. "Why are you doing this? You killed my husband!"

"Yes, and I will kill your children too," Harrison said. "Then again, if you kill your son this one gets to live."

"I can't do, I can't…"

"Why not?" he asked. "One child or the other, just pick the one you love the most."

"Why are you doing this?!"

"For revenge on someone else, it has nothing to do with you. You won't pick, so I'll pick for you then."

"Don't hurt my baby!"

Too late. A little bit of magic was enough to empty the infant of life. He had never been one to torture children, or prolonging their suffering. He watched the light fade from those clear eyes, and the infant exhaled. Then those tiny lungs didn't breathe anymore. Harrison closed her eyes and said:

"You wouldn't pick."

The mother screamed and attacked him. Harrison summoned enough magic to his leg to kick her away several feet before putting the infant down by the side of the street. He then summoned the boy to him and held him by the throat. He picked the boy up, ignoring the kicking feet, and sank magic into the small body. The boy felt no fear. Only sleepiness. But Harrison liked the fear and anger on the mother's face, and so he added magic to make the body fight.

As soon as the boy began making choking sounds, the mother struggled to her feet and screamed:

"No!"

She came at him again, just like he knew she would. Some mothers really went to great lengths to protect their children.

A slash of his hand sliced her stomach open. She staggered backwards, blood pouring out of the wound and she was trying to hold her hands over a way too wide of a wound. The girl still wasn't screaming, just staring around her. Harrison wondered if she was too shocked.

He broke the boy's neck and threw him aside, glancing over at the mother and said:

"Pray that you die before the Inferi gets to you."

He then began to walk to the girl. She found herself and began to run away, calling for someone.

Uncle, aunt. So she had family nearby. Just a few houses down, there was a family coming out and the girl charged right at them, arms out. Judging by the way the woman caught her, it had to be the aunt.

The uncle first then. Harrison jumped up in the air, landing before the man and pulling his arm out. His fingers cracked, changing into claws and Harrison grinned. He thrust the arm right into the man's chest, breaking the breastbone. The other hand went in and he pulled the chest apart, pulling at the lungs. The new children were screaming and Harrison tore the lungs out, letting the man's body fall.

"Hi!" Harrison said, holding the lungs up. "Want some?"

They shrieked and ran. Harrison laughed. He kept the girl alive. Usually it was a parent… or was it children? He couldn't remember. Maybe he switched it up? But he knew the moment she had looked back at him, she would be the one. The only one allowed to live. She would be the witness.

He chased her around, picking her family off one by one as the Inferi tore into people and Dementors broke out of the cloak to suck people's souls before the Inferi could completely kill people.

In the end, she was so exhausted he could walk up to her and pick her up without her protesting. She was crying silently, staring up at him. Harrison hushed her when it looked like the crying would be getting louder, and stroke away some of the tears, smearing blood on her flushed cheeks.

"Hello there," he said as he began to walk. "Do you hate me now? After all, I killed your mother, and father, and brother and that wee sister of yours. But you know what? Hmm?"

She slowly shook her head.

"I wouldn't have bothered with even glancing at this village if it wasn't for two men. Now, I'm not trying to say those whole mess wasn't on me. It is on me, because… well, I'm the one doing it. But I am saying it's also their fault. Mine, and theirs."

She was listening to him.

"What a good listener you are," he praised her before putting her down on the ground again. "Let's see this then…"

He took a dagger from his belt, and put it in her hands, closing those small fingers around the hilt. He then held the dagger against his throat. Some children had tried to kill him, without him encouraging them. But she just stared.

"You don't want to kill me?" he said. "I've killed a lot of people, you know. A lot of people who didn't deserve it. Just like your family."

The blade was cold against his skin. But she didn't move it.

"Well, that's a lot more admirable than me," he said with a smile, wiping her cheeks again. "Maybe there's something wrong with me. Alright, come on then. You can give those two men a message from me, and blame them too if you like."

-o-

"Master is a bit unstable today," Elise said.

"A bit?" Rabastan said before he apparently could think about it. They looked out over the village, half-ruined as it was now, overrun with Inferi eating people alive. "This is a bit unstable?"

"He's killing the children in front of their parents, yet leaves a child as a witness," Elise said. "Usually one of the parents is left as a single witness."

"What do you mean?" Voldemort said.

"Master used to leave children as witnesses first, when he began attacking villages. Then he switched over to parents, because it was more fun to see their reaction."

"Their reaction?"

"As he killed their children in front of them," Elise said. "He liked seeing their anger. It was funny to him."

Eventually, Harrison came to them. He was holding a girl in his arms. She had tears on her cheeks, but was less freaked out than Voldemort expected her. Probably the shock that prevented her from it. Once Harrison reached them, he put the girl down in the snow. She was in a nightdress and oversized slippers, and looked up at Harrison.

"Repeat it once more for me," he said.

"You… you're called, you're called the Nightmare Lord and you, you, you killed my family… but it's not just your fault, it's…" She looked down for a moment. "It's Cornelius Fudge's and Albus Dumbledore's fault as well."

"Perfect," he said. "Say that to the people in robes that will arrive here. Alright?"

She nodded and he straightened up.

"What?" he told Elise.

"Why a child, master?" Elise wondered.

"Because I felt like it."

"All this chaos for some destroyed Inferi?" Rabastan said.

Harrison's black eyes zeroed in on Rabastan. He held up a hand and magic began to swirl.

"Master, ally," Lucian told him. "He's an ally."

"Voldemort's my ally," Harrison said. "I don't care for the man. The blond one is pretty, I'll let him live."

"Voldemort's men are our allies too," Lucian said. "He would be upset if you just killed his Death Eaters."

"… Oh." Harrison put his hand down. "Voldemort, tell your Death Eater to shut up before I rip his lungs out through his mouth."

"Rabastan, just don't speak for a while," Voldemort said and Rabastan nodded rapidly, getting that he'd stepped over a line.

Harrison snapped his fingers, and in the village the Inferi stopped attacking. They all turned to Harrison and began to walk back to him. Some were still chewing. A few fought over an arm, or a leg, or an organ. The Inferi leader came up to Elise and held up an eye next to her. Elise looked at the eye.

"Nice colour," she commented. "Why are you comparing it with mine?"

"We'll prepare underground protection for the Inferi near the manor," Harrison said. "I want them close from now on."

"Understood," Elise said, pushing the Inferi leader away. "What about the village? People are still alive in there."

Harrison waited until all of the Inferi had left the village. Then he held up a hand. Magic once more came out of him, too much to be logical, and still coming out. It rippled over the ground, like a wave, and after a full minute he closed his hand into a fist. Fire, green as the Killing Curse, erupted in the village, tore through the streets and engulfed the houses. Screams rose as those still alive began to burn alive.

"There," he said. "Problem solved."

-o-

By the time the Ministry and the Order made it out of the village, there was barely anything left beyond charred houses, blackened roads and corpses littering the ground. Cornelius and Albus walked side by side through the devastation, only to see a girl staring at them.

"A survivor?" Cornelius said.

"Oh, that poor child," Albus said.

"After seeing her memories, we must Obliviate her."

"Naturally. At such a young age… she shouldn't be forced to remember this horrible day."

Poppy, having come with the Order, walked ahead and conjured a blanket to wrap around the girl's shoulders.

"You're alright now," she said. "You're safe."

"It's your fault," she said, looking at Cornelius and Albus. "The Nightmare Lord said so. It was his fault, but also yours. Because you made him angry. He killed everyone here, because you destroyed things that belonged to him. This was his revenge. It was your fault."

"What?" Cornelius said. "She can't mean…"

"Your fault. This was his answer. For what you did. You could have saved them… by not making him angry."

"The Inferi," James realized. "This village is payback for the Inferi. He destroyed an innocent village for some reanimated corpses?!"

"I'm taking her to St Mungo's," Poppy said.

"We'll take a look at her memories and then remove them," Albus said.

"You can't do that," the girl said. "He said he made sure no one could take today away from me. So I'd always remember whose fault it was. His… and yours."

She looked at them still, unblinking, eyes wide.

"You're evil too," she said. "Aren't you?"

She wasn't speaking of magical people as a whole. She was addressing Cornelius and Albus. She finally blinked, and tears began to fall. She stuttered for breath, and soon began to wail for appeared to be the first time. She screamed even as Poppy picked her up, trying to soothe her. She shrieked seeing the burnt corpses, as if only now able to take it in.

"He killed mum!" she shouted. "He killed daddy, he took daddy's head off, he killed mum and my brother, and my sister, he said it was his fault but theirs too! He said they shouldn't have made him angry!"

"Take her away," Cornelius said, looking more pained by the minute. "Get her out of here, get her whatever she needs to calm down."

But she'd never forget. The Nightmare Lord wouldn't let her forget. She'd always remember this day. The day her whole world fell apart. And for that, they couldn't just release her into the world.

"What are we going to do with her?" Cornelius said. "She can't just… oh, Merlin, what are we going to do?"

"We'll find something for her," Albus said.

"It would have been kinder to kill her," Cornelius said. "Probably why the Nightmare Lord didn't do it."

The Aurors and Order members worked together to search the houses for survivors. They weren't having any luck. The most intact bodies were the charred remains of people that never made it out of their homes. The ground seemed partially collapsed, meaning some had died beneath the rubble, never making it out to the street.

Many corpses on the street bore signs of being eaten on. Some had to leave after a while. The smell of burnt flesh was too much, even for some of the older, more experienced ones. Remus had to use a spell so the stench wouldn't overwhelm him.

It was he, Sirius and James who saw part of a building move, lift entirely and then a girl staggered out. She was in pyjamas and slippers, unharmed, with long, red hair trailing down her back.

"Hey," Sirius called out, putting his wand away and holding his hands up and out.

She turned around, eyes shining golden before it faded away. The wall, it appeared, fell to the ground with a crack and she jumped.

"She used magic," Remus realized.

"I'm cold," the girl said. "What happened? Who are you?"

Remus picked her up.

"She's a witch," he said. "But this is a Muggle village."

"Muggleborn then," James said. "You think she did accidental magic, saved herself that way?"

"Witch?" the girl said.

She couldn't be more than five years old.

"It's alright," Remus deflected, shielding her eyes from the carnage. "Let's get you somewhere warm."

"Okay."

-o-

Lucian found Harrison in the throne room, lying on the floor. He was still covered in blood, staring up at the ceiling. Voldemort had left them by the village and gone back to his own manor.

Once they got back, Elise had gotten herself busy with the manor while Lucian kept an eye on when the Ministry would arrive to the destroyed village. So he had information now, but seeing his master look… lost, Lucian was temporarily stumped.

Then he shook his head slightly and said:

"Master."

"I know I overreacted," Harrison said. "Inferi are just reanimated bodies. You aren't supposed to make individuals out of them."

"You created the first ones," Lucian said. "You get to decide what kind you wish to make."

"Still… corpses don't last forever. Whatever. They know now. Perhaps a bit stupid, letting them know I treasure corpses this much, but I've never been a clever man."

"You're still here. That means something."

"Dumb luck doesn't mean shit, Lucian. I'm mostly insane, and I know that. It doesn't matter, I'll destroy all that they are. Voldemort can kill Albus Dumbledore if he wants, though."

"Why?"

"Because I've already killed Albus once."

"Oh… in your past?"

"My past, technically future," Harrison said and sat up. "Or something. I chased them. I didn't plan on it, but then things happened. I saved him for a good while. So he would see."

"See what?"

"That everything he worked so hard to build up, could be ruined by me. They thought they could make me forgive them, isn't that strange?"

"Forgive them?"

"They condemned me, left me to rot, and then three years later I'm hailed a hero and expected to forgive and forget. I did neither."

"That seems rather silly of them."

"That's an understatement," Harrison said, picking at some dried blood under his nails.

"So you killed them."

"Most of them. I missed a few, but you know, time travel and all that. Not much I could do about it."

"But you killed those who mattered?"

Maybe Lucian was buying time, or giving Harrison time to calm down more.

"Yes, I killed those," Harrison said, frowning up at him. "Why are you here? Everyone else has left me alone, Elise fiddling with the wards and I didn't get to hold Angel because blood is bad on clothes, master."

"To be fair, I don't know why Joanne thought you'd ever care about that part. But I do have information. I'm not… I'm just not sure how to tell it."

"Just spit it out. Lay it on me, beat me while I'm still on the ground."

"There was a second survivor."

"What?" Harrison looked at Lucian. "You're joking."

"No, master. There was a second survivor."

Harrison got up.

"I don't leave second survivors unless it's intentional," he said. "I just… I don't do that. Am I losing my touch? No, I can't. Did I miss something?"

"Yes," Lucian said, something he wouldn't have dared to say very often to Harrison back when he was only the Nightmare Lord. "She's a witch."

"She?" Harrison walked closer to him. "It's a her."

"Yes. They tried to keep it hidden, but evidently not very good. The girl is five years old, and they concluded at the hospital that she used accidental magic to hide. You were never near her location, so you probably didn't notice it."

"At the hospital?"

"Yes. Aside her immediate family, the girl has no one."

"Oh," Harrison said and smiled. "I don't leave second survivors. But if she's a witch… let's go."

-o-

Tonks kept pacing the corridor, flipping her wand over and over again. She had tried to stay in the village and help finds clues, but Albus had sent her with Alastor Moody to protect the five-year old girl that somehow survived the carnage.

"Why?" Tonks said at last to Moody. "No one knows about her."

"Oh, they do," Moody growled. "That little break you took? Reporter was in and tried to snap pictures."

"What?"

"People are starting to hear about the village too. Someone at the Ministry is sharing too many damn details."

"Arseholes!"

"Watch it, you're an Auror. Could be a fellow."

"You're also an Auror."

"Retired," Moody replied.

"Yeah? Minister Fudge didn't treat you as such."

"Less chatter, more guarding."

"We're at St Mungo's. There are guards as you enter. What's the worst things that can happen? I mean, Skeeter's pretty bad but we can deal with her."

Moody didn't answer, and then a healer opened the door to the girl's room.

"Lucy is tired," she said, "and she's had a long day and night. So how about you come inside, but don't excite her?"

Moody ushered Tonks in, and closed the doors. Lucy was in the lone bed, lying with her back towards them. Tonks leaned back against the wall next to the door. Someone was arguing down the hall.

"How long do we have to stay here?" she asked Moody.

"As long as we need to," Moody replied. "Don't go rushing out to meet your own death without reason."

They spoke quietly to not disturb Lucy.

"You knew Kingsley," Tonks whispered. "You saw what was done to him. What the Nightmare Lord ordered them to do."

"Yes. We avenged him, and look where that led us. We need to be more careful about that Nightmare Lord. Voldemort was bad enough before the other came along."

The arguing outside grew louder, and a bit closer. There was an edge of panic in one of the voices, and Tonks tightened her grip on her wand. But before she could leave, Moody put a hand on her arm.

"I'll see what's going on out there," he said. "You have people to protect in here."

Tonks relented, and nodded, stepping back and putting herself between the room and the door, shielding the healers and Lucy. Moody opened the door, stepped out, and then reached for his wand. Tonks moved her hand, showing her wand.

"No fighting inside of the hospital!" one of the healers said.

"Listen here—" Tonks began.

But she didn't get to finish before magic pulled at them all. She and the healers were dragged out of the room and slammed up against the wall, Moody following shortly after them. Their wands clattered onto the floor.

Lucy came out of the room as they struggled against the invisible force. The arguing had stopped.

"Who was it?!" Tonks said.

"Nothing, there was nothing! More… a decoy!" Moody fought against the grip. "Why is no one sounding any alarms?!"

Why indeed. The hospital was quiet, aside from them. Lucy tilted her head and said:

"Are you doing this, mister?"

They all turned their heads. Tonks drew in a breath, eyes widening. The Nightmare Lord stood at the end of the hallway, pale-faced and clothed in black, his clear eyes solely on Lucy.

"Yes," he replied. "I'm doing this."

"How?"

"Run!" Tonks told her. "He's here to kill you!"

"Well, that's a lie," the Nightmare Lord said. "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Are you magical?"

"Very," he said. "You did a great job, you know."

"I did?" Lucy said.

"Yes, you hid from me. I can tell you will be a powerful witch one day. Why don't you come with me and find out?"

"No, no, don't!" Tonks screamed at her. "Run!"

Lucy did run. But at the Nightmare Lord. She collided with his legs and wrapped her arms around them, giggling as she looked up at him. The Nightmare Lord very gently, almost hesitantly, tapped her nose, making her giggle even more.

Tonks was fighting against the bonds.

"Lucian, knife."

"Where did you put yours, master?"

"Doesn't matter. Knife, here, gimme."

A second man had appeared out of nowhere, pale with marks on his skin, and a silvery sheen in his eyes. He handed over a knife without further questioning.

"What is he going to do?" Tonks said. "Leave her alone!"

The Nightmare Lord pricked his own finger, handing the knife back before picking the girl up.

"Here," he said, holding out the bleeding finger.

Lucy frowned.

"Why?" she said.

"Master, really, blood magic on a child?"

"She's mine," the Nightmare Lord told Lucian.

"Blood magic?"

"Just a drop," the Nightmare Lord told Lucy. "I'd be very happy if you did."

"You're weird," she said, but did take the blood.

"Blood magic," Tonks said. "What kind, Moody, what kind is he performing?"

"I don't know," Moody said. "Probably a claim, if she had to consume it."

"Tastes like candy floss," Lucy told the Nightmare Lord, lips stained with blood.

"That's good," he replied and then turned to Lucian, smile dropping. "What's candy floss?"

"Hmm…" Lucian looked up at the roof for a moment. "Yummy."

"What?"

Lucy hugged him, which made the Nightmare Lord freeze up.

"She's not going to bite," Lucian said.

"Right. Now, among this information you found out, was there something else?"

"Not much." Lucian glanced at them. "One of the healers tried to make it look like the girl was a Muggle."

"Did she now? Which one?"

"Her," Lucian said, pointing at the healer next to Moody.

"Right. Deal with her then."

The Nightmare Lord then turned away from them, while Lucian walked up to the healer.

"What did he mean by that?" Tonks demanded to know.

"Ah, I keep forgetting there are people who don't understand what master means," Lucian said. "When he says deal with her, he means kill her."

"I haven't done anything bad!" the healer screamed.

"Master doesn't care about that. Now, this will hurt a lot. But the upside of it is that you can scream as loud as you wish."

With that, he used magic to cut into her and break her breastbone. Then he reached into the body and began to pull the ribcage apart, the healer howling with pain. Blood began to dribble out of her mouth and nose, she gagging on it; her body convulsed against the wall.

Lucian didn't react to the sound of her organs wetly slapping down on the floor in front of him, or when blood sprayed his face. Instead he kept digging, pulling; whatever remained in her chest he took out and threw over his shoulder. The lungs and heart were last. He punctured one lung. Her breathing became erratic and almost choking.

"And at last, the heart," Lucian said and took it out.

It pumped in his hand. Tonks swallowed back her own vomit, trying to breathe through the stench of blood.

"Master is fascinated with hearts," he said. "But I don't think he'll want yours."

So he ripped it out and let it drop to the floor. The healer finally died, head hanging down, blood dripping from her mouth.

"Well, that was rather messy," Lucian said and began to walk away.

At the end of the corridor, the Nightmare Lord said something that made Lucy laugh.

"You'll be released once we're gone," Lucian said, looking over his shoulder at Moody and Tonks.

"We'll kill you," Tonks said. "I swear I'll kill you, and your lord!"

"I wish you all the luck in the world then, young lady," Lucian said. "Because people was telling master that before Hogwarts existed."

Then he vanished along with his master, and the girl they had tried to protect.

-o-

Elise was fixing some tapestry on the wall in the main hall when Harrison returned. She glanced over, looked back at the tapestry, and then froze. She let go of it and turned back to Harrison.

"What?" he said.

"Ywgraine, Joanne!" she called.

The two women came running, Joanne quite dusty and wielding a broom.

"What?" they said to Elise.

"You're going shopping."

"But it's Christmas," Joanne said.

"It's a holiday you don't care for."

"It's a holiday with gifts, I care about it now."

"Well, you're going to buy presents."

"To who?" Harrison asked.

This made them look at him. Or more like what he was holding. Joanne dropped the broom. Lucy looked at them, Harrison's hair loosely gripped in one fist.

"To her," Elise said before turning back to Ywgraine and Joanne. "Non-presents are the essentials. A few changes of clothes, I'll get more later, some toys she can use already later tonight."

"Plushies?" Ywgraine said, cooing. "Like ones she can sleep with?"

"Yes, that. Books too. Not too many, we need to get a sense of what she enjoys. But also some easy learning books."

"Those are boring things," Joanne and Harrison said.

"Those are important things, master," Elise said. "And you too, Joanne."

"But I want to get her something for her hair."

"Oh, like pearls and jewellery?" Ywgraine said.

"Yes, exactly!"

"She'd look good in that. That red hair, those clear eyes…"

"Alright, get that too," Elise said. "But make it quick."

"On it!" they shouted and made a run for the nearest fireplace they could Floo from. With that sorted, Elise turned back to Harrison and put her hands on her hips.

"What?" Harrison said.

"Another one, master?"

"Oh, shut up. What's candy floss?"

"Yummy," Elise replied.

"Not you too! Lucian said the same thing!"

"Why do you want to know what candy floss is?" Elise asked.

"She said my blood tastes like candy floss."

"It tastes like candy floss?" Elise said.

"Oh no, no, no, no," Harrison said, pointing at her. "Get that light out of your eyes, you're not tasting it."

"It does taste like candy floss," Lucian said. "Master smacked my head after I tasted it."

"You're not bloody vampires!"

Elise pulled out a knife. Lucy didn't appear at all disturbed when Elise came wielding it, or when the woman forcefully took a sample of her own. She stepped back, licking her lips.

"Yeah, it's candy floss," she said.

"How do you two even know about… whatever candy floss is?!" Harrison pointed a bloody finger at her. "You didn't step outside the manor while I was in prison, how do you know?!"

"Ways," Elise replied.

"But what is it?!"

"I'll go and buy some."

"Buy?"

"Or steal it, whatever," Elise added. "I would ask Lucian but he appears to have bathed in blood."

"Not even master has ever bathed in blood," Lucian said.

"Wouldn't it congeal eventually?" Harrison asked.

"Why did you put that image in my head, master?"

"You're welcome."

Lucy had stopped listening and was now playing with Harrison's hair, trying to make knots and making sloppy braids.

"What's her name?" Elise said.

"Lucy," Harrison said.

"Are you trying to start an orphanage?"

"Angel's parents weren't dead," Harrison protested. "And no. Angel was an accident, Lucy was deliberate. She's my consolation for losing my Inferi? Taking her away from people trying to protect her from me makes me feel better."

"Don't call her consolation, master," Elise said. "That's for objects, not people."

"She doesn't mind."

"You still shouldn't call her that. Hi, Lucy."

Lucy turned to look at Elise, and smiled brightly.

"We flew," she told Elise. "That was fun."

"I can imagine so," Elise said.

"Mister's blood tasted like candy floss, can I have candy floss?"

"Sure, I'll get you some," Elise said.

"I want some too," Harrison said. "Because you're delusional, blood tastes like blood, not like… candy floss or whatever."

"It's just spun sugar," Elise said.

"So?"

"It's just a sweet taste."

"Blood doesn't taste sweet," Harrison complained.

"Well, yours did just now."

"Could be the blood magic still being in effect," Lucian said. "He performed blood magic to claim her."

"Doesn't that mean I claimed you two as well?"

"You claimed us a very long time ago," Elise said. "I'm going now."

"Bye, bye," Lucy said and returned to gripping Harrison's hair. "Can I braid it all?"

"If that's what you want, just don't pull at it that much."

Elise looked back before she left.

"I'm taking a bath," Lucian said. "Please don't kill her in the meantime."

"It would defeat the purpose of stealing her," Harrison snapped.

He was awkward with children. Elise remembered that master had never really interacted with children in a peaceful manner. He hadn't held them quite as close as he was holding Lucy now. She remembered he didn't know how to act around children, nor how to raise one and had at one point accidentally spilled he was afraid of hurting a child like he had been hurt.

Because he had no trouble killing children. They were the only ones he didn't torture though. Their deaths were always quickly done, to spare them. Their deaths were almost always meant as torture for their parents.

"You're staring at me," Harrison said.

"You seem rather relaxed despite the fact you're holding a real, human child without the intent of harming or scarring her for life, master."

"Don't remind me I'm holding something so small," Harrison replied. "But she's not as small as Angel. Will she still break if I drop her? I already know I'm not allowed to drop Angel."

"How about we don't drop any children at all?" Elise said. "Now, practise your smiling, master. There will be photographs taken in the near future, and you will be in it."

"Oh dear Merlin, someone smother me."

"Not while you're holding a child, master," Elise said. "I will return shortly."

-o-

Hours later Voldemort made a detour to Harrison's manor, after a raid. Did he usually perform raids or attacks during holidays? Yes, but not on the same day every year, or at the same time. It wouldn't do if he became predictable. As it stood now, he had probably aggravated both the Ministry as well as the Order, but that didn't bother him much. In fact, he rather enjoyed the experience.

Landing in front of the manor, he briefly wondered about his appearance. But Harrison apparently showed up with blood on his person often enough that he probably wouldn't care that Voldemort occasionally did the same. Besides, just because it was Yule didn't mean Voldemort was a big celebrator of the event. Why should he have to dress up?

However, it seemed like someone in Harrison's manor was a celebrator. There was a certain cheerfulness in the air, even if the decorations were slightly unnerving considering whose manor this was.

Also, was that a skull peeking out behind a tapestry? And there was definitely a garland made out of bones hanging in the roof.

"I thought only I looked that messy. Bit unusual for you, Voldemort."

Harrison had appeared by the stairs, dressed in a dark green robe, and his hair braided.

"We can't be perfect all the time," Voldemort said as he wiped away from blood from his cheek.

"Have you been having fun?"

"Yes. A small raid; one of life's greatest pleasures is making life difficult for my enemies."

"Lovely; what did you do?" Harrison wondered as he came closer.

"We had destroyed half a village by the end of it. Oh, the look on Albus Dumbledore's face… it was already there because of you, but I made it worse."

"Excellent. I've always excelled at making life difficult for others, I'm so happy to hear it's been passed on."

"You seem to be in a better mood," Voldemort said.

"Oh, I am still upset about my Inferi, but I got something in return. No. I stole something in return. Did you duel with Albus Dumbledore?"

"I didn't give him much of a choice. It was lovely, for a change. He's always been a challenge, but the anger in him made him commit so many mistakes. I could have cut off his arm."

"Why didn't you?"

"I suppose I was a bit too nice to him."

"Their end is coming anyway. His and Cornelius. Dumbledore seems more concerned about you than me, which is causing some tension, because Cornelius is allowing whatever method available to either kill or capture me."

"You personally tortured Fudge, while Albus has always been the one to fight me," Voldemort said. "So they have their own dark lord to conquer, whilst thinking theirs is more important to take out sooner than later."

"That's a very good point."

"All this has made me think about how we're going to win," Voldemort said. "Because taking out one out of the two won't work. We have to overthrow both the Ministry and the school at the same time."

"Eliminates chances for fast recovery," Harrison said. "Elise would approve. I do too, I'm just never too technical with things like that. Also I didn't need to overthrow places because I like Hogwarts and the Ministry didn't really form until after I was imprisoned?"

"That's true."

"So what are you thinking for this overthrowing of yours?"

"Your Inferi would be quite useful in taking over the Ministry. The discipline you have over them is remarkable."

"Ministry. Ah, yes, I do believe that's a good idea. An enclosed environment means people don't dare to throw fire around. I like it."

"Mister Harrison!"

Voldemort looked around. That was definitely the voice of a young girl, and there was no way in hell that Angel girl was old enough to speak that much, or clearly.

"Ah, yes, the thing I stole," Harrison.

"What?"

Harrison didn't get to answer before a girl in a red dress literally ran right into Harrison's legs, and clutched on like a barnacle. Her red hair was curled and complete with a tiara on top.

"Why must she do that?" Harrison asked before bending over to grab her and lift her up. "Ah, yes, tiara. Bouncy hair too. Wait, is that a real tiara with actual gems and such? Where the hell did they get that from?"

"Dunno," the girl said. "They said I look pretty."

"I'm sure they did."

"Exactly how… did you acquire this child?" Voldemort asked.

"I said so, I stole her," Harrison replied. "From St Mungo's. Elise keeps telling me not to call her my consolation prize."

"Why did you steal her?"

"She was a survivor from the village I destroyed."

"How did she survive what you did to that place?"

"With the help of magic of course," Harrison said. "Turns out she was the only Muggleborn witch there. So naturally I had to steal her."

"Naturally?"

"Naturally."

Voldemort stared at him. Harrison tried to avoid his eyes before saying:

"What? It's not like I snatch every child I see! I don't even like children, normally."

"Snatching is stealing," the girl said. "And stealing is bad."

"Who told you that?" Harrison asked.

"My mum. She said thieves were bad people."

"Well, I suppose that's right, but in this house, we don't care about that."

"No?"

"No. Not that I think you have to steal stuff, we will probably just give it to you. Within reasonable terms, I imagine. Now Lucy, why don't you go and find Ywgraine and Joanne? Present-time will be later."

Harrison put her down but Lucy didn't run off. Instead she stared with wide eyes at Harrison at the mentioning of presents.

"I get presents?" she said. "Really? Like, for real presents?"

"That was a lot of questioning for presents," Harrison said. "What, you didn't get presents before?"

"No. Mum said presents weren't to be given freely."

"That's the entire concept of presents," Harrison started before stopping himself and breathing out before crouching down to her level. "It sounds like your mother and I wouldn't have gotten along very well. Because she reminds me of my aunt."

"How?"

"Neither of them seem very friendly. No matter, just… listen to me, presents are supposed to be given freely. Alright?"

"Really? I don't have to do anything in return?"

"Thank the person who gives you the present, but that's about it I guess."

"I'll do that!"

"Good. Now, go, go on, go find people."

Lucy ran off and Harrison straightened up.

"Hmm," he said. "I also killed my aunt."

"What?"

"Yes, it was a very satisfying feeling."

"What about your parents?"

"Oh, they were already dead," Harrison replied. "I wouldn't mind doing it now though."

"But they are already dead."

"In a way, yes."

"You're being a bit confusing right now," Voldemort had to admit. "You are very old…"

"Yes, I know, please don't rub it in."

"I wasn't finished. You are very old, but sometimes it feels like you come from this time. You know this time too well, and say things that… I can't really explain it."

"I'm a mystery," Harrison said. "I love being one. Now, are you staying? Apparently there will be food, and if a guest stays Elise probably won't nag as much as usual."

"Nag on what?"

"On me. For me to eat, I mean."

"She nags on you to eat?" Harrison nodded. "You're letting them get away with a lot."

"Yes, I know. I mean, it's fine. I wasn't always like this. When I was younger I was a pain in the arse, I can't believe they actually… stay. I don't think I ever truly ordered them to stay indefinitely."

"How much of a pain in the arse were you?"

"I just killed a whole Muggle village as revenge for seventy destroyed Inferi."

"Yes, I'm well aware of that. I was there."

"In my youth, I killed a lot more for a lot less," Harrison said. "I could kill an entire village just to escape boredom for a few hours. I was better, for periods. Calmer, like now I suppose but there was always times when I was being hateful just to have something to do."

"Each to their own, I suppose, but that does sound rather bad."

"Oh, I know that now, and I knew it back then, I just don't care," Harrison replied. "So are you staying?"

"I suppose I can clean off the blood and stay for a while. Since there's food."

"Oh, nice," Harrison said and they started walking. "It's been a while since we've had guests. In fact, I can't remember the last time we had guests… Elise, when did we have guests last?"

-o-

After Voldemort had left, Harrison snuck off for a moment alone. He sat in a small library connected to his room, holding a glass of Firewhiskey that Constance had acquired earlier. Elise must have lit the fire in the fireplace, and he watched the flames.

It had been a… nice dinner. Good company, with actual laughter and smiles. Harrison had faked cheeriness many times during holidays, both as the Nightmare Lord as well as when he went to Hogwarts. The true happiness he had felt during that first year disappeared and never really came back. He learnt to fake smiles, and no one could tell a difference.

Even as he grew older, holidays were never his thing. It had taken Lucian and Elise several decades to dare defy him to that degree that they would celebrate different holidays whether he wanted them to or not. He strangely hadn't punished them for that.

Why hadn't he though? He had ripped out their tongues for speaking too loudly, or on just a whim. But not for placing out decorations throughout the years.

"I don't even know my own head," he said. "I'm a mystery even to myself."

"Talking to yourself is never a good thing."

"I haven't been sane in a while, Severus, it doesn't matter. This is also my private library."

"You never said we couldn't come in," Severus said as he came inside with two tumblers and a bottle in his hands. "The children are asleep, happy and content. You made them both smile tonight."

"Angel is easy to please. Babies are easy."

"No, they're not," Severus stated, sitting down next to Harrison. "They're fussy. They don't know how to communicate, so they cry and scream. She's fussy with everyone but you; for you, she's behaving."

"Have I scared her that much?"

"No, you fool. She adores you. Lucy likes you too."

"She's five, and I gave her many presents. Of course she likes me."

"And she knows you murdered her entire family," Severus replied. "Not once has she condemned you for it. She loved her family, and yet… she seems to already love you too."

"Maybe she's a bit mad in the head," Harrison said. "Why are you really here?"

"The twins are reconnected again, and their process began an hour ago," Severus said. "Their personalities should be intact; the only different is that their loyalty is to you, and not to the so-called Light."

"Good. Is that all?"

"I want you to have a drink."

"I have one, thank you."

"That you haven't touched," Severus and just took the glass out of Harrison's hand.

"You know, I used to threaten people who did things like that," Harrison said as Severus put an empty tumbler in his hand.

"Look at me being all frightened, master," Severus replied. "This? This is Scotch. Muggle. I find myself liking Muggle liquor more than magical ones. I don't know why, maybe we don't have the knowledge to make it as good."

"We like to make useless spells instead," Harrison said as Severus poured him a glass. "I don't exactly love alcohol. Not as a teenager, nor now. Pardon in advance if I get drunk."

"One glass won't make you drunk."

"Really? Had a thing that knocked me out for a good week."

"What?"

"Well, I wasn't unconscious for a week, but I didn't move from my bed for four days," Harrison said. "Then again, that was a magical drink. Something probably went wrong with it. Maybe that's why I really don't like alcohol now."

He took a sip anyway. The smoky flavour wasn't the best in the world, but it did warm his stomach up as it landed.

"Do you and the Dark Lord have a plan regarding the Ministry and Hogwarts?"

"A vague one," Harrison said. "I knew it was always coming to that, but we haven't really sat down to talk about it. We will soon."

"Hogwarts will be hard to break into. The wards are strong."

"Yes, I know what to do. It might work."

"What?"

Harrison sipped some more. "That's a secret. It'll be rather embarrassing if it doesn't work so I'll keep it to myself for now."

"You like being mysterious."

"Yes, I do. It's fun. When will the twins wake up?"

"Tomorrow most likely."

"Maybe we should repeat the feast, so they can feel included," Harrison said. "I used to like Molly Weasley's cooking. I was even envious of her children, having her for a mother."

"And now?"

"I took the twins mostly because I wanted them, but also because taking her children would torment her the most and I don't like her."

"Only her?"

"No, everyone. Well, the twins, I like them. But Fred died, leaving George alone. He was the only person who ever supported me. He visited me in Azkaban, told me I was alright. I was an okay kid, and he wouldn't let anyone tell me different."

"In short, he was your friend."

Harrison laughed. "I guess. But I liked them both. They're like one person that just happened to be born in two bodies."

"I can't argue with that. So you'll see them yourself in the morning?"

"Yes."

"Will you tell them about your past?"

"I see no reason to do that," Harrison said. "They aren't the Fred and George I knew. They don't need to know that the Fred I knew died and George was left alone. He seemed alright most the time but… then he'd get this look on his face, as if he was lost. I couldn't help him there, because I had never lost something so important like he had."

Harrison drank the rest of the scotch and grimaced.

"Let's see then, a pair of teenager, two children… oh god, it's as if I'm trying to create a family."

Severus did chuckle for a bit. Then he got quiet and looked at the fire for a while. Harrison waited.

"Might I ask for a favour, master?"

"What is it?" Harrison wondered.

"What is your opinion on this time's Harry Potter?"

"He's what… fifteen?"

"Yes."

"Teenager. Impressionable. Destined to be Voldemort's killer?"

"Yes," Severus repeated.

"Been there, done that. I wouldn't recommend it. I got thrown into Azkaban after killing Voldemort, but not because I killed Voldemort. Now, I don't think there will be quite the same response considering he still has both parents and such. Why are you asking about him?"

"He's different. Not at all like his parents."

"Yeah? He likes you?"

"He wanted to be potions master," Severus said. "I'm not sure now though, if something changed when James and Sirius attacked me."

"You want him here, don't you?" Harrison interrupted.

"… Yes."

"I wasn't going to let him have a chance at Voldemort anyway."

"Had you planned on killing him?"

"Now, killing is easy. Believe me. It makes people hate you, but you know what's even worse?"

"What?"

"You steal the people your enemies love. I stole the twins, because it will torment Molly seeing them on my side. So no, I never planned on killing Harry Potter. Didn't have much of a plan before, actually but now? Give me some time, and I'm sure he'll be quite happy to join our side."

-o-

Lily Potter had been awake for almost thirty minutes before the Order arrived, and James with Harry. Once they both saw she was sitting up, they stopped.

"Mum?" Harry said.

"Oh, Harry…"

She opened her arms and he ran over. They hugged and Lily smiled. It was her smile. Her eyes were sparkling with joy at holding her son in her arms. Their Lily was returning.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked, looking at her.

"I'm getting there, sweetheart," Lily said, stroking his hair. "Now, I want to talk with you, but I need to speak with the Order alone for a little bit. Okay?"

"I'll stay with you," Poppy said. "It'll be over in a jiffy and you'll be back with your mother."

Harry looked at James who nodded. So Harry slowly let go of Lily and went with the healer. Lily watched him go. Then she turned to the others.

"How are you feeling?" Albus said. "This can wait, until you're stronger…"

"No, it can't wait," Lily said. "I need to tell you, so I can forget it happened. But first… my sister's dead, isn't she?"

"Yes," Albus said. "She is."

"What about Vernon? Dudley?"

"Dudley was found in the house," James said. "He'd been killed quickly. We haven't located Vernon yet. I don't think we will at this point."

"I don't want to know what he did to Tuney," Lily said. "I can already imagine what he did to her."

"Lily…" Albus began.

"Voldemort is just a child in comparison to the Nightmare Lord," she continued. "Voldemort is dangerous, yes, but we need to take out the Nightmare Lord as well."

"Do you know where his manor was?" Albus asked.

"No. It seemed remote though. There was nothing but empty fields and forest around."

"Mountains?"

"Not that I could see," Lily said and closed her eyes. "The place could have looked nice if it wasn't for those twisted trees…"

"What about the Nightmare Lord? What did he say, what did he do?"

"He took me to find out where Petunia was," Lily said. "It sounded like he had a grudge."

"She's a Muggle. Perhaps that's enough."

"He knew the nickname I gave her," Lily said and looked at them. "He mocked me, using that nickname. He called her Tuney and he knew her. Somehow, he did and he hated her. I was his ticket to finding her, and I gave it up."

"Lils, not on purpose," James soothed.

"He broke into my head and took it all," she said and looked away. "I tried to shield my mind, I tried so hard… but it didn't matter. He tore through every shield I put up, laughing the more resistance I put up. He found it funny."

"Lily…"

"But I found something out," she continued. "Something he probably doesn't want people knowing about. You know the Patronus spell?"

"Yes," Albus said.

"It's like fire for him," she said and smiled. "I used a Patronus, and he screamed the moment the light hit him. He's just as affected by the spell as any Dementor."

Finally. Finally. There was their advantage.

To be continued…


Next chapter: The twins awaken to a new reality, of sorts, they like scary trees and Harrison set out to win someone over to his side…

See you later,

Tiro