Harry
He panicked as a wave of magic shot through the room and everything started to shake and rattle. Then with a loud roar the fireplace erupted, causing Barty to scream as he and the others tried to scramble away from the building flames, with Barty clutching him close the whole time.
"My Lord!" Harry heard Snape shout, but it was muted by all the power that was quickly filling the room.
Harry looked around until he found the source. The Dark Lord stood in front of a dark green couch, his wand out but at his side, eyes burning red. Lucius sat behind him wide eyed and pale.
"My Lord!" Harry was sure it was Barty that screamed this time, but the Dark Lord didn't react. Harry tried to understand it, this reaction. Why did Voldemort care that he was dead? Why was he so angry? And why did all the death eaters look terrified.
"Tom!"
Everything and everyone stopped.
There was a clatter as things fell to the floor and Harry watched as the Dark Lord turned toward Lucius. The blonde stood and took Voldemort's wrist sliding his own hand down to take his lord's hand. Harry watched transfixed, as Malfoy leaned in and whispered something into the Dark Lord's ear. Whatever the blond said seemed to calm the other man,because the feeling of tension and magic in the air dwindled down to nothing.
"Severus, you implied it wasn't the truth." The Dark Lord turned and stared at Snape.
The man nodded, "I believe he is lying. I just don't know the reason why. All I can assume is Potter is missing, and either Dumbledore is hiding him or doesn't know where he has gone."
"Are you sure?" Harry looked away from Snape and towards Voldemort, had the man sounded...worried? The man's eyes had changed back to a light blue and he really did look concerned. What the hell?
"Positive." Snape said.
"Can you find Potter?" Harry snorted, it came out choked and from the twitch he saw of Snape's mouth the sound hadn't been missed.
"I can try." The man said, but Harry saw the side eyed glare the Potion Master sent his way.
"Do it."
The dismissal was clear and Harry wiggled and squirmed until Barty put him down. He darted out of the room and almost crashed into Snape's legs. It seemed the man had been waiting for him. Snape snorted before reaching down and picking him up.
"That was foolish." The man whispered, "I don't know what he wants with you. You should be more careful." Harry nodded his head in understanding.
They ended up back in Snape's room. The man called for an elf as he dropped, literally dropped, Harry onto the bed. Harry righted himself on the bed glaring at Snape, the man smirked and ordered them dinner.
While they waited, Snape removed his coat and shoes. Harry watched as again the professor sat down behind the desk, picking up the parchment and looking at it. Harry meowed loudly. The man ignored him. Harry hissed and went to jump off the bed, only to be caught in the air by magic and dropped back onto the bed. He hissed at Snape who still wasn't looking at him.
Dammit! He had questions. The headmaster just told everyone he was dead. What about Sirius and Remus? How had they reacted? Did they believe him? He growled and tried to jump off the bed again. Failing again.
"Dammit, Potter, I'm trying to think!" Snape shouted at him, finally looking away from the parchment and up at Harry.
Harry meowed at him.
The man dropped the parchment on the desk, "You worried about the mongrel and Lupin, I take it?" Harry nodded. "Black destroyed the dining room and kitchen before your wolf was able to take away his wand and drag him upstairs." Harry meowed, why the hell didn't you tell them I wasn't dead!
"I don't know what you're saying," the man muttered, "I can assume it's about you not being dead?" Harry nodded, it wasn't exactly what he said but close enough.
"And pray tell, how would I go about telling them that? Would I tell them you are here, living amongst their enemies? Or that the headmaster himself cursed you and wished you dead by the Dark Lord's hand? Or maybe I should tell them how while you are alive you're trapped in this form and that I have yet to find a way to help?" Harry stopped glaring at the man.
"Harry, if I told them, they'd want me to bring you there. And that is if they believed me. And I don't see the Order believing that Albus would do this to you. They would think I had a hand in it and take you straight to him. I can't help you if you aren't here." He hadn't heard Snape move but the bed dipped suddenly and there was a hand petting his head.
"I will try to find a way to tell Black or Lupin. But for now it's too dangerous," the man said quietly. "I'm sorry."
It was a week later before Harry did something completely rash and stupid. Something he knew Snape was going to lecture him for.
He had taken to stalking the Death Eaters around the manor, namely Lucius and Barty. Mostly because he liked Barty. And because he was dying to find out what it was between Malfoy and the Dark Lord that had allowed Malfoy to use Riddle's real name and to touch him the way he had.
So far Lucius had only spent a short amount of time around the Dark Lord and Harry was right, there was something there. Malfoy leaned into the older man, touched him, whispered to him when others were around, and more than once Harry had seen the Dark Lord touch Malfoy gently, either on the hand or cheek. It was strange. He never thought about Voldemort having a lover or being gentle with someone. But it was clear that he and Malfoy were in some kind of relationship. And it seemed the others all knew, even Narcissa, and they didn't care.
It was during one of his stalking trips he heard Barty telling Rodolphus he was going to take a trip to Diagon alley to buy some things he needed.
Harry's ears had perked up as he remembered the twins sending him an owl about a new shop they had bought. They had vowed him to secrecy as they had to finish school first and if their mother found out she'd kill them.
They had told him about how they planned to open this coming summer right after they graduated. If Harry was right, it was a weekend and they might just be at the shop setting things up. Or at least that was his hope as he chased after Barty meowing and whining until the man picked him up.
"You want to come?" The blond asked with a grin. "I bet we can find you some toys or a better bed. I heard you tore a hole in the one Luc got you." Harry tried not to drop his head in embarrassment. He had had a nightmare about Dumbledore and half asleep he had clawed and ripped at the bed, as if he was trying to get away.
Malfoy hadn't seemed upset, just repaired it. But Harry hadn't been able to lay in it again. Which led to him sleeping in awkward places. More than once in the last week he'd woken up in Barty or Malfoy's beds. He had squealed and rolled off Barty's bed the first time but now he just woke up and jumped off trying not to think about it.
Shaking off his thoughts he pawed at the blond Death Eater's hand. The man patted him and started walking towards the Manor's front doors. Barty waved his wand, glamouring himself, and then he carried Harry out of the house, past the wards, and apparated them to London.
It didn't take long for the blond to find his way through busy streets and into the Leaky Caldron.
Harry waited until Barty was distracted outside one of the shops before he jumped out of his arms and took off. He heard the man shout and call out but he didn't stop.
It was hard to find the twins' shop from his low level. Craning his head upwards and walking was horrible and he found himself stumbling and crashing into a number of people before he heard a voice he knew.
"Fred, we can't just live above the shop." George said. Both redheads were a few feet away from Harry. They had bags in their hands heading towards the way Harry just came from.
"Why not!" Fred asked, "think about it, we'd never be late." Harry heard them laugh as he darted across the crowded street. He ended up in front of them, howling with everything he had.
From the shrieks he heard, he had scared the hell out of the brothers. Fred quickly shoved his bags at his brother and bent down to check Harry over.
"He doesn't look hurt." The twin said to his brother.
Harry meowed when Fred went to stand. The redhead raised an eyebrow and crouched again. Harry seeing his chance leaped toward the twin who cursed as he caught him. Harry let out a purring noise and tried to burrow into Fred's chest.
"The hell?" He heard one of them mutter but he didn't care. He had gotten to them and they would take him into the shop and he would somehow get them to figure out who he was. He had to.
Thankfully the twins did what he wanted and he was only placed on the floor once he was inside their shop, which was impressive as hell as he took the time to look it over. From the stocked shelves he could see the twins had been busy and he was surprised they were waiting until next summer to open.
"Alright kitty, what's wrong?" George asked after he had dropped all their bags on the store counter. Both redheads had dropped to their knees and were looking at him with big concerned eyes.
He whined and tried desperately to think of something.
George looked over at his brother, both looked more than a little confused.
"You think he's sick?" Fred asked.
"He doesn't sound like it." George replied.
Harry looked around the shop until he saw a small broom on one of the shelves. In fact, there were a number of them, he walked over and nudged it with his nose until it hit the floor. Then he started to look around again. He found a small red and gold blanket that when he tried to drag it off the shelf it started floating. Which led to him squeaking loudly in surprise, the twins laughing behind him. He turned his head as much as he could to glare at them.
George seemed to somber up a little at the glare. The twin gave Harry a searching look before he waved his wand and the blanket fell to the floor. Harry huffed before turning and dragging it to the broom. Once the two items were together he tried to find anything else that might make the twins think of him.
A fake galleon and a stuffed wolf later, Harry almost jumped out of his skin when he was picked up and he found himself face to face with two shocked redheads.
"Harry?" They said at once and Harry meowed and licked Fred's nose.
"But-"
"Mom-
"Said-
"Dumbledore-" He cut them off with a growl and a hiss. The brothers looked at each and then back at him.
"What happened?" Harry sent George a glare at the question which got a chuckle out of the other twin.
"Umm ink?" George asked, carrying Harry over to their counter. And like Snape before them the twins pulled out a bottle of ink and a few pieces of parchment.
It took more time than he would have liked to write a list of facts.
- Dumbles evil.
- Cursed me
- Him and your mom made Marriage contract btw me and Ginny
- Dumbledore sent me to LV
- LV doesn't know who I am (thankfully)
- Snape does. Trying to help.
He sat back and stared at it, wishing he could write out the actual details because this just looked ridiculous. He sighed, nothing he could really do about it.
"The hell," they muttered together.
"The headmaster did this?" Fred asked looking at him, fear and worry in his eyes.
Harry nodded.
"He sent you to You-Know-Who to get you killed didn't he?" George asked.
Again Harry nodded.
"Fuck." They muttered together.
"Do you think you can trust Snape?" George asked.
Harry pawed at the parchment in the redhead's hand. George set it down.
Snape and my mum were friends
He clawed out carefully.
"Really?" Fred asked, sounding as bewildered as Harry had been when he found out. He nodded his head.
"Okay." One of them muttered.
"Was it a spell?" George asked suddenly.
Harry hesitated then shook his head.
The twins shared a look before Fred started writing down something on the parchment.
Harry would have laughed if he could have when Fred finished and turned it toward him.
Random words scattered across the paper.
Yes. No. Maybe. Unsure.
Spell. Hex. Curse. Charm.
Potion. Drink. Eat.
Green. Red. Yellow. Blue. White. Black. Brown. Mixed.
Friend. Foe. Lover.
Help. Danger. Fine. Hurt. Sick. Safe. Stop.
Be Careful.
The twins must have noticed his amusement because they chuckled and then Fred patted his head.
"Okay, let's try this again." George said, sounding amused.
"How'd he do it?" Harry pawed at Spell and Potion.
"Both?" Fred asked.
Harry hit the yes.
"Do you remember the spell?"
He hit the no. Then thought about it and hit maybe and unsure
"Remember anything about the potion?"
Sadly he had to hit the no again. The headmaster had magicked it into him, so he hadn't gotten to smell or taste it.
"What did it feel like?"
Hurt. Sick.
He saw both brothers wince, "sorry," they said together.
"Does the headmaster know you're alive?"
He hit no, and hoped he was right.
"Snape's trying to figure out a counter?" Fred asked, leaning down and petting Harry's head. Harry pushed his head into the hand enjoying the feeling before he used his paw to tap the yes.
"He got any ideas?" George asked, pushing his brother's hand aside so he could pet Harry too.
He thought about it. Snape had only known a few days and Harry had seen him looking through book after book, but he hadn't mentioned if he was having any luck. Not sure, he tapped the unsure.
"Should we ask him?" Fred asked and Harry pulled his head out from under their hands to look up at them.
He knew the potions master wasn't going to be happy about him finding the twins and telling them, but they were his friends and brilliant when it came to spells and potions. They might have an idea that the Professor didn't. He leaned down and hit the yes and then be careful. Because he couldn't have anyone else overhearing them talking to Snape.
"Harry, what about Sirius and Remus?" George asked and Harry whined. He hit Friend, Danger, Be careful. The twins gave him a confused look.
"Their friends, but are dangerous?" He hit yes and then no.
"They're in danger?" George asked. Harry hit yes.
Fred made an ah ha sound, "Snape's worried they'll blame him?" He hit yes.
"Okay," the twins muttered together, "so we can't tell them because they will go to the headmaster, who did this to you," Harry nodded. "And we can't ask anyone for help besides Snape, because we don't know who to trust?" He nodded again.
"Hell." George said, dropping his head against the counter top.
"Okay, at the next meeting we will find a way to get Snape alone and talk to him. Hopefully he will have an idea on where to start-" He was cut off by the door opening.
They all looked to see a frazzled looking Barty.
"Damn kitty, do you know what Luc would have done if I lost you?" The man asked moving towards him, only to stop when the twins moved to stand in his way.
Shit, Harry thought, he needed to stop this before it started.
He whined until Fred turned to look at him. Harry had carefully placed his paw on the word friend. Fred raised an eyebrow before nodding in understanding.
"Is this little guy yours?" He asked, getting a weird look from his brother.
"A friend's." Barty said, looking the twins over. It seemed he finally realized whose shop he has walked into and now looked like he was trying to think of a way out before they realized he was a Death Eater.
"What's his name?" George asked grinning, turning to pick up Harry, knocking the parchments off onto the floor behind the counter as he did.
"Ummm…" Barty stopped and his cheeks reddened. Harry huffed a laugh which was covered by both twins snickering.
"We think Mischief, don't we Gred?" Fred asked his brother who grinned and nodded his head happily. "It fits him well, it does Forge"
Harry had to turn and bury his head in George's chest to keep from making un cat-like noises.
Barty laughed, "Yeah it does, cat's a little trouble maker," again the twins laughed.
"Well I should be getting home." Barty said and Harry looked up as the man took an unsure step towards them. Harry felt George's arm tense like he didn't want to give him up but then the twin carefully handed Harry over. Harry heard and felt the relieved breath Barty let out once he was cuddled against his chest.
"Thanks." Barty said, turning to walk away.
"Wait!" One of the twins shouted.
Barty stopped and him and Harry both looked at the twins.
"We aren't open yet-" Fred said, rushing over to a shelf.
"However-" George added, moving to a different shelf.
"We have some-"
"Magnificent animal friendly products-"
"We'd love to have tried out."
Harry and Barty watched as the two Weasley's ran around the story shoving things into red and gold bags before they came to a stop in front of Barty, bags out towards him.
"You have to let us know if the little guy likes them." Fred said, winking at Harry.
"There is a card inside you can fill out and send it back." George said.
Both twins were grinning widely and Harry got the impression he and the Death Eaters he was living with were about to be pranked... hard.
Barty looked a little bewildered as he took the bags and thanked them.
