Harry

Somehow the next day Harry found himself curled up on Bastan's lap as the younger Lestrange whispered to his brother. They were waiting for Voldemort, Lucius, and Snape to enter before the meeting got started. Harry was a little weirded out by the thought that he, Harry James Potter, was about to attend a Death Eater meeting. On the other hand he was excited to hear what they were up too.

There was a sudden creak as the large wooden doors blew open and Voldemort walked in. Snape and Malfoy behind him. Every Death Eater stood and bowed down to their leader, which meant that Harry yelped at the sudden movement. Voldemort gave a questioning look to Bastan and Snape glared at Harry.

Harry felt the death eater holding him shrug, "want me to put him in the hall?"

"No, Bastan, the cat can stay." Voldemort said, earning Harry an impressive glare from Snape. When he was sure no one was paying him any attention he stuck his tongue out at the man.

Voldemort moved to his seat, which sat at the end of the gathering of chairs. Lucius at his right and Snape at his left. Surprisingly Barty sat next to Lucius while a man named Theodore Nott sat next to Snape. Harry recognized the man as the father of Theo Nott, a friend of Draco Malfoy. The Lestrange brothers sat one after another next to Barty. Next to Nott was Bellatrix Lestrange who of all the people in the room including the Dark Lord scared Harry the most. Harry was a little surprised that Narcissa Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle weren't there.

"Have any of you been able to find anything on Potter?" Voldemort asked, pulling Harry's attention away from the other occupants in the room.

"No Sir." they all mumbled together.

The Dark Lord growled but didn't destroy anything, which Harry felt was an improvement.

"What of the Order members?" The Dark Lord looked at Snape, "How are they reacting to the news? Do they believe Potter is dead?"

Harry saw Snape's eyes shoot to him before returning to Voldemort.

"Black is a mess, hasn't left his room in days. The wolf Lupin has been staying at his side, however he has pulled me aside twice now to ask if I believe the headmaster or if I think the man is lying. Moody, Fletcher, Dodge, and Tonks believe him wholeheartedly and are currently trying to make different plans to defeat you. The Weasleys seem split, Molly will always believe Albus. Arthur seems saddened and unsure what to believe, but I believe at the moment his focus is on his children. Making sure they are dealing and grieving. William has only been around once, and he asked about a body and a funeral."

Snape snorted, "he is the only one that has asked about a body. And when the headmaster said there wasn't one, Bill asked how he was sure Harry was dead. The old man lied through his teeth. I don't believe Bill or his younger brother Charlie believed it." The potions master sat back, "The only other member is Shacklebolt. I don't know where he stands."

"What about the twins?" Barty asked suddenly. Harry hissed at the man. Which thankfully was missed by Snape making a choked sound.

"The Weasley twins?" Snape asked his eyes going from Harry to Barty. Nervously Harry scooted back against Bastan, who just patted his head.

"Yeah, they have a shop in Diagon Alley, now. I saw them the other day when I was shopping. I was just curious where they fell amongst the Order and their reactions." Harry dropped his head when Snape's eyes narrowed at him.

"I haven't gotten a chance to speak with them. But they are rebellious and seem intelligent enough to think on their own unlike their younger siblings. Did you speak to them?"

"Only about Mischief here." Bart said point at Harry.

"Mischief?" Several voices asked at once. Harry debated jumping off the warm lap he was on and getting the hell out of the room before Snape strangled him.

"Kitty here wandered into the Weasleys' shop. I found them playing with him and when they asked his name, I didn't have one." Barty shrugged, "so they gave him one."

Harry winced from the dark glare the potion master sent his way.

"Barty," Voldemorts voice was calm and even, "I know you found them amusing while teaching them last year but remember who their parents are and where their loyalties lie." Harry watched as Barry's grin fell and the man ducked his head.

"Yes, My Lord." The man mumbled looking at the floor.

There was a sigh for the Dark Lord, that had Harry looking up at him. The man didn't look annoyed or angry about Barty's actions, in fact he was looking at the younger death eater with worry in his eyes. Harry wondered what that was about, as he'd never gotten the impression Voldemort cared about anyone other than himself or perhaps his snake.

A throat cleared, causing everyone to look at Nott, "We have another problem. The Ministry is trying to push through the Dark Creature Registration Act, again." There was a snarl for the Dark Lord. Harry confused looked at Snape hoping the man would clue him in.

Snape noticed it and exhaled slowly before speaking, "If they pass it. There will be an uprising. Vampires, werewolves, Fae, even the Veela would resist. A law forcing them to reveal their names, families, location, and species would never be accepted." The man''s eyes never left Harry's as he spoke and Harry wanted to shiver as the words sunk in.

The Ministry wanted Remus to register who and what he was. People already looked down on him. What would happen if the dangerous one, the ones that thought all werewolves should be collared or killed, could just look up his address and find him? He whimpered. Remus could be killed.

"Will Albus stop it?" Bastan asked. His finger rubbing soothing circles along the back of Harry's neck.

Harry heard Bellatrix snort but it was her husband that spoke, "He'll make a show of it. Defending the poor creatures. But the vote will pass and the esteemed headmaster will speak out against it. Pleading for the people to not accept the law and the horrible treatments that are sure to follow. All while he holds a majority of seats in the wizengamot "

Wait, Harry's brain raced, the Wizengamot? Harry shivered remembering his trial over the summer. He remembered Hermione talking about it endlessly before his hearing.

It was the High Court of the wizarding world. Everything from laws and regulations to trials were handled by it.

The number of active seats varied over the years depending on how many Lords or Ladys took up their families' seats. From what Harry remembered there were originally three sections: Light, Neutral, and Dark, each with an even number of seats and votes. But over the many years and two wars the number of active members dropped exceptionally and now Light held the majority of seats.

A majority that it seemed Albus Dumbledore controlled. How had he missed that in Hermione's speech? She had bragged about Dumbledore being Chief Warlock, but Harry had thought it was just a title, especially after the headmaster had shown up and argued his case. Never once joining the seated people surrounding him. But it seemed Harry was wrong that the man could have easily stopped Harry's hearing, but he hadn't.

And it wasn't just Harry that the man could have helped but didn't.

Sirius.

Dumbledore could have helped him. He could have demanded Sirius get an actual trial not only 14 years ago when Harry's parents and all those Muggles had first died, but also during his third year, when Harry, Remus, Ron, and Hermione all saw and talked to Peter! Instead the manipulative old man had sent them back in time to free Sirius. Sirius could have been free, Harry could have lived with someone who cared about him, someone who wanted him.

Suddenly he couldn't breath.

Dumbledore was the reason Sirius spent 12 years in Azkaban.

His heart raced.

Dumbledore was the reason he had to go back to the Dursleys every summer.

His ears started ringing.

Dumbledore hadn't just betrayed him, the bastard had orchestrated everything.

He barely registered being picked up. It wasn't until the world went black around him that he realized he was moving. His already panicked brian thought something was wrong with his sight but the flickering of faded blocked light told him he was more than likely covered. Probably by a dark blue or black robe.

While he couldn't see anything he could hear feet pounding on the stone floors of the manor. It did nothing to stop the blinding fear and anger that now raged inside him.

How could the headmaster done all of this? And why?

The darkness fell away but before Harry could take in anything his head was forced back and his mouth pried open. Afraid and confused Harry whined and struggled, trying to free himself. But whoever held him kept him still and his head tilted back. When the liquid reached the back of his throat, he had no choice but to swallow or choke.

The claiming effect of the potion was instantaneous and Harry found his thoughts clearing as he looked up at panicked expressions on Barty and Snape's faces. He cringed and lowered himself to the ground- well Snape's bed, giving both men a sad look.

"He okay?" Barty asked, looking at the Potions Master.

The other man nodded, "Probably just fell asleep and had a nightmare. Not uncommon in neglected or abused animals."

The blond Death Eater let out a relieved breath, "I'll let Luc know."

Harry watched as the man left, not sure he wanted to look at the professor, who he was sure was glaring at him.

"Potter," the man said softly. Harry dropped his head into the bed and closed his eyes. He heard the older man sigh. When the bed dipped he jumped, not expecting the fingers that started running through his fur, comforting and soothing him.

"Are you worried about Lupin?"

He meowed and tried to nod his head. Not an easy task with him laying flat on the bed.

"I'm not sure if you will find this comforting or not. But the Dark Lord will not let this pass. His relations with Fenrir's pack and the local vampire coven are too important to him." Harry growled at the name Fenrir, the man was the one who bit and turned Remus. But the rest of the statement comforted him. It shouldn't have, because it meant that he was grateful for something Voldemort was doing. But if it saved Remus and the others like him, he'd be able to live with it.