Lucius
An argument with Tom always left him feeling miserable. It was different than when he argued with his Lord, not that he did that often. Lucius knew the line. He knew when he was allowed to question and bicker, and he knew when to bow his head and follow orders. They had been in bed this morning and he made the mistake of bringing up Potter.
Tom had growled before rolling on top of him, eyes red and power rolling off him. He knew it was stupid, he knew what to boy meant to Tom. But he was starting to have doubts that the young man was still alive. He had been trying to prepare his lover for that. Tom hadn't seen it that way. He had told Lucius that he would know if Potter was dead and not to bring it up again unless he had proof one way or another. Then he stormed off.
Now Lucius was wandering the house, trying to think of a way to apologize. Frustrated, he swept his cane wider than necessary and with a thud it hit one of the bookshelves in the room. The soft clink that followed had him stopping and looking back at the shelf. Nothing on the shelves looked out of place.
Looking at the floor he saw nothing. He was about to shrug it off when a flicker of light caught his eye. He bent down and picked up a leather strap.
Or what he thought was a leather strap. It was in fact a collar, a green tag hanging off it. His breath caught when he saw the name etched into the metal of the tag. Harry James Potter.
"Impossi-" the words stopped as he thought back to the cat he found in this very room a couple weeks back. The thing had been thin, ribs sticking out of his sides, labored breathing and whimpering in pain. A forced transformation could do that. But why? Why would the young man stick around? Why not run as soon as he was healthy enough?
Lucius started for Tom's study, he needed to tell him. Now.
Only when he rushed past the kitchen, he heard something that had him freezing in place.
Harry
He woke up to the sun shining and his stomach growling. He was alone in Snape's bed. Which told him a couple things, that the man was probably back at Hogwarts and that Barty hadn't told Voldemort.
Hungry, he jumped off the bed and made his way out of the room and towards the kitchen. He half expected Voldemort to be there again, but when he entered the room was empty and Harry found himself frustrated that he couldn't just feed himself.
"Glaring at the cabinets won't work," Barty teased behind him.
Harry jumped, then he turned and glared at the man.
Who grinned, "You know that should have been the first clue, your glare. It's not very cat-like." Harry rolled his eyes and meowed at the man.
"Want fish?"
Harry hissed, not in the mood for fish again.
"Chicken?" He shook his head.
"What about those meat stick things?" Barty asked, pulling open one of the doors and holding out said sticks. Harry thought about it. He hadn't had any since the first week he was here and they had been pretty good. But truthfully he was craving fruit. No one had thought about feeding him any since he got here, probably because it wasn't something one feeds a cat.
He shook his head no. Barty shrugged before putting them back.
"Eggs?" The man asked. Harry sighed.
For some reason Barty laughed, "I didn't realize how frustrating this must be for you," the man muttered, before he reached down and picked Harry up, placing him on the counter.
"Okay, so no meat?" The man said leaning down in front of him, staring him in the eyes. Harry almost snorted, but instead he just nodded his head.
"Bread?" Barty was grinning and Harry realized the man found this amusing.
He shook his head no.
"Leftover Piz-"
"What are you doing?" Both Harry and Barty's heads snapped towards the entrance where Lucius leaned against the doorway watching them.
"Luc, how long have you been hanging about?" Barty asked nervously.
"Long enough to wonder how the cat seems to know what you are asking it?"
Harry's blood ran cold, as the platinum blond death eater eyed him.
"Don't be ridicul-" Lucius shot Barty a glare that had the man snapping his mouth closed.
"Bartemius." The man drew out the other's name and Harry was hit with a sudden need to giggle. Lucius sounded just like Snape had yesterday, and for some reason Harry found that funny. Or it could just be his nerves. Yeah probably his nerves. Malfoy looked pissed.
"I taught him," Barty said lamely, and Harry lowered his head because that was a lie he would have tried.
"Bullshit." Lucius snapped.
Harry raised his head when he heard footsteps coming his way, he couldn't stop himself from stepping back as the man approached.
"Luc," Barty sounded like he was pleading as he moved into the man's way, "please just let this go." The two Death Eaters stood there staring at each other, and Harry could feel the magic in the room building.
"Bartemius, tell me what is going on or I will call for our Lord."
Fuck, Harry thought. So much for Voldemort not finding out about him. How could his luck be this bad?
"Luc, don't please." Barty asked, "You know I would never do anything that would be bad for our Lord."
"Then tell me," the blond man replied.
"I can't." Barty said.
The sad look on Barty's face made Harry squirm. This man was supposed to be a Death Eater, a murderer, a bad guy and here he was standing in front of one of his friends trying to protect Harry. He knew it was because the man thought he was going to join the dark side but still Barty could have just as easily handed him over.
"Then I shall be going." Malfoy said, As he turned for the door, Harry meowed, loudly. Malfoy stopped and looked at him, an eyebrow raised in question. Harry dropped his head. He hadn't meant to do that. He just wanted the man to stop, he didn't want Voldemort to know about him.
"Barty, explain now!" The command was cold and Harry swore there was power to it, not unlike the man's Lord and lover.
"Potter." Barty said, looking at his fellow death eater. Malfoy's eyes widened and he walked around Barty to pick up Harry. Harry growled at the man, but Malfoy ignored him.
"How?" the man asked, looking Harry in the eye.
"Dumbledore," Barty answered, "some kind of spell and potion. Severus is trying to fix it."
The room fell silent for a minute as Malfoy poked and prodded man even pulled out his wand and tried a handful of spells before he turned and handed Harry back to Barty.
"You and Severus walk on dangerous ground. If our Lord finds out you are hiding this from him he will not be pleased," the man took a breath. "You have till the end of the month. If you can't fix Potter by then, I will inform our Lord."
"Thank you." Barty whispered.
Harry however was staring at Lucius in complete shock. Some part of him understood Barty's reaction and decision to help him. After all, Severus had told the man he was trying to get Harry to switch sides. But Barty had said none of that. And yet Lucius still had agreed to keep quiet at least for a little while. It didn't make sense. The man should have grabbed him and rushed to the Dark Lord as soon as he knew who he was. Harry groaned, why did nobody make sense anymore?
"You okay?" Barty asked, Harry looked up at the man holding him and meowed. The man gave a sad smile, "yeah, I wouldn't be either."
Severus
Severus was grading another worthless essay when he heard his classroom door open. He looked up to see his godson storm in, door slamming behind him. He raised an eyebrow when Draco came around and sat on the edge of his desk, anger clearly rolling off the young man.
"Weasley." Draco muttered, "the idiot thought he was important when he was the Golden boy's best friend, but now, " the blond huffed, "now he thinks he is the golden boy."
"What do you mean?" he asked leaning back in his chair. He hadn't asked Harry about Granger or Weasley the night before. He got a glimpse of Granger's betrayal in Harry's memories, and felt it wasn't necessary to bring it up. That didn't mean he wasn't curious as to their reasons or how they were reacting now that Harry was 'dead.'
"Besides the fact he has gathered all the Gryffindors around him, and they hang on his every word? I always thought Potter was an attention seeker, but he never had an entourage when he walked the hallways. He never used his fame to belittle or attack anyone. But Weasley, he and the others are walking around like a pack of animals, targeting anyone they find 'dark' or 'evil.' I've had to escort three first years to the hospital wing since yesterday. Blaise found two third years hiding in a closet this morning. And Theo said he found a Ravenclaw hiding in the boys bathroom a couple days ago. Each of them was targeted or attacked by Weasley and his friends." Draco growled, "Then the prat has the nerve to tell anyone in the hallways that we, the Slytherins, killed Potter. That we sent him off to the Dark Lord."
"It's becoming unsafe to go anywhere alone, Uncle. I don't know what to do. You and father ordered us not to attack anyone, not to draw attention, but we need to be able to defend ourselves and the younger students."
"You're right. Pass the word along that I'm allowing those who need to, to defend themselves, but Draco that is not permission to start fights." His godson nodded.
"Thank you." He expected Draco to get up and leave, return to the common room and tell the others, however the younger man sat there in silence for a moment before he muttered, "Is Potter really dead?"
"According to the headmaster and the press, yes." He answered. He didn't want to lie to Draco and he wasn't worried about Dumbledore being able to read his godson's mind, as Draco was trained in Occlumency. But Draco's loyalty was to his father first, always. So he couldn't tell him without telling Lucius, who would tell their Lord.
"That wasn't a yes, Severus." His godson said, looking him square in the eye.
He had to smirk, "No it wasn't. Now go tell the others." His godson sighed but hopped off his desk. When he was at the door, Seveus called out, "and Draco, be careful."
"I will."
When Draco was gone, Severus went back to grading papers. Or at least he tried to. The press had gotten word about Potter's death the day before and the rumors and theories were already spreading.
None of the papers named a source of the information, but Severus knew it had been the headmaster. And after seeing Harry's memories he knew why the old fool was doing it. But what didn't make sense was why the man was so sure that Harry was dead.
The transformation, collar, transportation spell, all got Harry to the Dark Lord, sure. But even if the man had found Harry before the young man had hidden the collar, there was no guarantee the Dark Lord wouldn't have held him prisoner. Was the headmaster so sure of his plans that he didn't consider that?
He pushed the thoughts away and tried to get back to the essay before him. But a knock at the door had him tossing it aside with a sigh.
"Come in."
He half expected another of his students to walk in, not Remus Lupin. Who looked exhausted and half dead on his feet.
"Lupin," he said in lieu of a hello.
"I want to see him," the man said, summoning a chair before sitting down.
"I see you have spoken with the twins," he said. Lupin gave him a dark look.
"I need to see him," the man said, "I can't tell Sirius about this, not until I know for sure. And Severus, it has to be true. Siri, he, "Lupin cleared his throat, "he's not okay."
Severus' stomach knotted. As much as he hated Black, he couldn't imagine what the man must be going through.
"I can't bring him there," he said, "nor can I walk you into the Dark Lord's headquarters."
"I know." Lupin muttered. "Fred said he saw him at their shop, can you get him back there?"
He thought about it, but with Albus and his Lord watching him more and more, he wasn't sure he could. Not without one of them questioning him.
"I can't." Lupin groaned. "But I know someone who can," the wolf looked up with a questioning gaze.
He sighed, "The twins' potion worked, for about an hour Harry was human again. But just before he changed back, Barty- Bartemius walked in and saw the transformation. I was able to convince him to keep quiet about it." Severus rolled his eyes, "The idiot seems to have grown attached to Harry, and if I ask him to take Harry to the twins shop for a couple hours he will."
Lupin chuckled, "Only Harry," the man muttered. Before straightening up in his chair, "Tomorrow? Noon?" he asked.
"I'll write a letter to Barty now." He found a piece of parchment and started writing. He heard Lupin stand and start to walk away.
"Severus." The man said softly. He looked up, "thank you."
His mouth went dry, that was the second time in two days someone had thanked him. It left him feeling unsure, he wasn't sure he would ever get used to it. Neither the headmaster or his Lord were prone to showing gratitude. Surprising out of the two it was his Lord that did from time to time.
Because he didn't have the words he gave the man a slight bow of his head. Lupin let out a breath before he turned and walked away.
Lucius
It was getting late when he heard his bedroom door open. He knew it was Tom, the man didn't spend many nights lately in his bed, but he was still the only person who would dare enter without knocking. He didn't move as he listened to his lover strip down and move toward the bed. He shivered from the sudden cold when the blanket was pulled back and Tom crawled into bed. An arm was tossed over his chest and he was tugged close. He smiled despite himself and he was held against his Lord's chest.
When he felt the other man relax, he turned his head enough to press a kiss against Tom's cheek, "I believe your Heir is safe," he whispered, before turning back and closing his eyes.
