Snape deposited a sleeping Harry back onto his bed in Riddle Manor. 'How far the boy has fallen,' he thought as he replaced the coverlet. 'The Boy Who Lived has joined with the Dark Lord. We failed him. I failed him.'
Albus had Memory charmed him, and placed him in a deep slumber, before Snape removed him from the bonds. Lupin had stayed very quiet after his last outburst, but Snape knew that he had been thinking of how to tell Black.
"Milord?" Snape asked, gently shaking the boy's shoulder. "You dozed off, milord."
"Severus. I'm sorry. Did you need anything?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"No, just wanted to see if you required any more," Snape lied.
"No. I think I'm just going to go to sleep tonight. Severus, I haven't had the flu before. Do aches usually come with it?" Harry asked, rubbing his wrists, where the cuffs had laid.
Snape mentally kicked himself. He had forgotten to take care of that. "Yes, milord. Muscle aches are very common. I have a potion for that as well," he said, handing him a green potion.
"Thank you, Severus. If I didn't know better, I would think you were trying to coddle me," the teen replied, shifting himself on the bed. "Would you send in the reptiles when you get a chance?"
"Of course, milord." Snape walked to the door and left.
Seemingly moments later, the three serpents slithered into the room and up the bedposts to Harry's side. Cedar snaked around his right wrist, which caused him to flinch. "Cedar, Alexander. Watch the wrists. They're a bit sore." They nodded and moved up to his elbows.
Alexander sampled the air around Harry with his tongue. "Milord, why do you smell of stale dirt and straw?"
Harry raised his eyebrows. So, Snape wasn't being entirely honest with him. "Do not ask questions of me, Alexander. I do not need to explain myself to you."
"Yes, Master. Of course not."
Paladin slithered across the covers. "Master, we are glad that you are feeling better."
"Ah. I'm happy to be better too."
Remus watched his friend nervously tap his foot in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. No one had told Sirius the reason for this meeting, but he knew it couldn't be good. Nothing that concerned the war recently brought good news, at least not since the Silver Serpent rose at Voldemort's side.
"Sirius, if you don't stop that, I'm going to have to bite your foot off on the next full moon," Remus said. "You're not going to get detention this time, alright? We've graduated, remember?"
"I'm sorry, it's just, he can usually talk to me by Floo," Sirius said, stopping his foot.
"I know."
"Moony, what aren't you telling me?"
Volumes, but Remus couldn't bring himself to say anything.
Albus walked in, with Snape by his side. "Sirius, Remus. I'm glad you're here."
Snape took one look at Black and walked to the window.
"Snape, did you get him back safely?" Lupin asked.
"Of course. Unfortunately, we forgot to deal with his wrists. He noticed that something had happened. I don't know how much he suspects," Snape said, sighing.
"What is going on? Who are you talking about?"
"The Silver Serpent. Severus managed to obtain him for a short questioning," Albus replied, sitting at his desk.
"So have you found out who he is?"
"Yes. He is a former student of mine."
Sirius stopped. "Well, what's his name? We know who he is, we can find his weaknesses."
"Sirius, remember to breathe. It's Harry."
Sirius laughed. "Right. The most dangerous and sinister Death Eater since Snape joined, and he's my godson."
"He admitted it, Black. Of course, we Obliviated him as soon as we finished, and returned him to Riddle Manor," Snape replied, leaning against the wall.
"Why would he betray us?"
"He was sent to Azkaban, Sirius…" Remus started, looking down. "The Ministry thought he was guilty of murder, and Harry couldn't defend himself adequately."
Sirius looked crushed. "Azkaban?" he asked in horror. "I wouldn't wish that place on my worst enemy, much less Harry."
"Well, it seems that Fudge did. He's the only one who could have had the final say in Harry's incarceration," Snape said, walking toward a bookshelf. "He's the only one with the political clout to cover something of this magnitude."
"You think he's hiding something?" Lupin asked.
"I can only suspect. I can prove nothing. One does not simply walk into his office and ask him what he has done with The Boy Who Lived."
"What can we do, Albus?" Sirius asked, looking at his boots.
"You, Remus and I can do little at this point. Severus, you must contact Harry on our behalf and attempt to talk him into coming to speak with the four of us."
Snape looked at him, then laughed. "You want me to inform Harry that we know his identity, and attempt to convince him to come speak with us. Would you like me to do this before or after he tries to kill me?"
"Severus, it is imperative that the overture be made. We must know what he does with regard to the Ministry," Albus said, standing and walking to the Potions Master. "I have faith in your ability to reach him."
Snape sighed. "Yes, but you don't know him any more. He just may hex me."
Harry stood by the window at Riddle Manor looking out at the green spring foliage in the carefully manicured gardens. Voldemort didn't care about the gardens, but someone evidently did. Anticipating someone would come and want to speak to him, Harry drew the curtains to almost closed, and stood in the shadows looking out.
A knock came on the door, and Harry sighed. "Come in."
"Milord. I came to check on you. You are hurt?" Snape said, walking closer to him and handing the teen a handkerchief.
"Am I?" he looked down, then ran his hand across his face. He was bleeding rather profusely on his right cheek. "Ah, they actually hit me with the slashing hex. Their aim is improving." Harry smiled and pressed the cloth to his face. Seeing Severus' face, his face dropped. "What is it?"
"Milord, I saw your scar."
"So that's why you have been acting so strange lately." He turned back to the window. "Have you told Dumbledore yet?"
"No. But he knows anyways," Snape replied.
"Did I finally manage to piss that man off?"
"Yes," Severus sighed. "As a matter of fact, you did. I was unaware that you were capable of angering him. Was it your attempt, milord?"
"No. But under the circumstances, I would say that it was not entirely unexpected, would you, Severus?" Harry said, dabbing at his cheek again. They lapsed into a silence. "Severus, your mind is a great asset to the both of us, but I can only benefit from its use if you tell me what is on it."
"Harry – milord, tell me what is going on."
"Playing the caring father, Snape? That's Voldemort's role," Harry retorted, laughing. He stopped and moved closer. "You know precisely what's going on."
"May I speak frankly with you, milord?"
"No, Severus, not here," Harry whispered, summoning his coat.
Remus sat in a chair in front of the fireplace in Albus' office, chatting quietly about the war with the wizard, while Sirius lay in Animagi form by his side. Remus patted the silent dog reassuringly as he waited for Albus to speak again. "What are you waiting on, Headmaster?"
"Severus is coming to give a report of his daily activities. Do try to be civil, gentlemen."
Sirius snorted and lay his head down on his paws.
A knock came on the door.
"Come in, Severus."
Snape strode in, then paused at the door and closed it. "Albus," Snape said, shaking his head as Sirius transformed.
"Are you okay, Severus?"
"Yes, Albus. I was unaware that you were meeting with the canines. Shall I return later?" he asked dryly.
"No. They can hear this. Anything to report?"
"I have new intelligence for the Order."
Sirius walked closer. "It finally happened. Snape bought a brain cell," he retorted.
"Yes. After all these years, you've worn out the one that you've been using, Black," Snape shot back.
"Gentlemen, that is enough," Dumbledore cut in, sighing. "Severus, how did your meeting go?"
He turned toward the corner. "I'd say that it went rather well, wouldn't you, milord?"
Harry appeared, lounging in an armchair with one leg thrown over the corresponding arm. He was dressed in all black, including his now trademark jacket. His jaw length black hair was highlighted with chunks of silver, and his wintry eyes gleamed dangerously. He cracked his knuckles, then folded his hands in his lap and seemed to have an expression of pure apathy on his face. The cut had ceased bleeding, but the trail of red still lay on his cheek, providing a single streak of color on the otherwise pale face. "Perhaps, Severus. That much remains to be seen."
"Thank you for coming."
Harry glared at Dumbledore. "I came at Severus' request, not yours, Dumbledore," he snapped.
Sirius restrained the urge to move closer and take Harry in his arms. This wasn't his godson. Harry Potter would never take that tone with Dumbledore, or completely ignore his godfather. "Hello, Harry."
Harry turned to look at Sirius and Remus. "Well, well, well. Isn't this a kick in the teeth? I thought the three of you wouldn't be in the same room unless it was for a funeral so you could spit on the other's casket," he said wryly.
"We have put aside a vast majority of our differences to deal with the important issues," Remus replied quietly.
Harry snorted in disgust. "And somehow, I have become involved with one of these 'important issues'?"
"No, Harry, you are the important issue," Sirius said.
"How very touching, Black," Harry spat. "Get on with it, Severus. My absence must not be discovered, or we will both be in a great deal of danger."
"Of course, milord. Albus, here is what I have pieced together. Sometime during the past summer, Harry's wand went missing for a week. He wrote as much in a missive addressed to you, but the letter was never delivered, most likely due to some Ministry interference. The husband and wife Auror team, the allies of ours, which died in late June, were believed to be murdered using the Killing Curse, but the only wand found at the scene was Harry's."
Harry laughed bitterly. "As if I would be foolish enough to leave it there," he muttered. "I may be many things, but I am far from stupid."
Snape continued. "But Fudge knew that public opinion would prevent Harry from receiving the punishment that he thought the teen deserved. So, he lied to everyone, and acknowledged the return of the Dark Lord so that others wouldn't believe that he was taking Harry in for anything but protective custody. Fudge sent him to Azkaban, and forbid him to use his name, for fear of swaying someone who came to visit. And since he had acknowledged Voldemort's return, he could hold Harry indefinitely without trial, under the martial law that he declared."
Harry and Sirius both reacted at the name of Azkaban. Sirius' eyes took on their haunted look, and Harry's glinted with rage.
"Harry was indeed found by Voldemort…"
"He is your Lord, Severus," Harry reproved, harshly. "Do not let him hear you say his name in that way."
"My apologies, milord. Lord Voldemort, who took him from the prison and the rest you know."
"How did Voldemort find you?" Dumbledore asked Harry.
"Avery was placed in the cell next to me for a month of my incarceration. He claims that I kept him from suicide and praised me in front of the Dark Lord. They found me in my cell, and refused to let me die, as I wanted. You see, he turned coincidence to his advantage, a strong suit of his. He didn't know that I was there, but he decided to take me along anyways," Harry replied. "He cared for me and treated me as a son and protégé. And he has shown me love, something I have been deprived of my whole life, Dumbledore. Because of you."
--
Well… Thanks are in order for my multitudinous reviewers!
Amy- thanks. I did. Hope you enjoyed DarkLord'sSon!Harry in this chapter…
angelhitomi- thank you. I enjoy them too.
Maria- don't worry… he's not dead yet. and keep looking hopeful… it could happen
Snape coolgirl- hope that explained part of his back-story… otherwise, it will come out soon.
Kynight- thank you. I hate repetitive fan fiction.
Jayce- I like Dark!Harry too. You'll just have to wait and see… but even if you don't like what I am doing, you still need to read through to the end of my 3rd story in this arc. Otherwise, you may not get what you wish for… hint hint…
Wittchway- thanks
RaistlinofMetallica- Close enough. hint. Summa means the whole… often used to replace the Latin word Mundus… Since tenebrae is fem. pl. anyways, I thought I would use a fem pl noun as well.
amy- I hate those type of Harry in Azkaban fics… we'll see what happens next… because I just realized that I skipped a crucial scene, and must rewrite it for ch6.
Nicole- don't worry… I had planned on it. Even if only one person read it, I would still finish it.
Heather- I hope you did end up waiting… sorry if you exploded because you couldn't. :P
HPIceAngel- thanks.
Katy999- see Raistlin's note… maybe it would help… but even if you never get it… you get a gold star for being my Beta!
Futon- *listens to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in your honor* Thanks. Here's more
xikum- Hope the email answered some of your questions. I enjoy answering them. –S
Usagi Serenity Yui Cosmos- may I call you Usagi? :P Anyways, hang on to your seat and wait. This fic will be over before you know it… and you'll hate me if I tell you too soon. Thanks for reading Fire and Ice as well. That's one of my faves too… and I don't care if it's factually incorrect… it's the principle of the thing :)
Veritas4Eternity- I dunno. Allow me to spill my sadness. It's been 4 years since my last date. So romance is something I have no experience with… it's pretty pathetic. In terms of relationships… you sorta get hit with it in Ch 6. But so yeah… I have no experience writing anything more than kissing in terms of slash or het. If it fits in the story, it goes in… if it doesn't, you don't see it. Right now, sex is not a big thing in SS… so again… I dunno:P
izean- See above. Thanks for reviewing.
Skull Bearer- *blushes profusely and ducks under computer desk* First of all… with School of Shadows, I didn't want to be the idiot who had to read it twice before she realized who the character was… but wouldn't it be great if a certain raven-haired Gryffindor went there? :P But other than that… I did review… just waited a bit until I got everything meshed in my mind. Sorry. Thanks for being a faithful reviewer.
Dark-past- Thanks. PEACE!
Asha Dreamweaver- Thanks. Hopes this answers one (or more) of your questions. At present, he rivals Voldemort in power, because Voldemort holds nothing back from him… and he possesses wandless magic. In the future? We'll see. :P PS… I love your fic History Repeats Itself. You update! No! You!
me- (no, not me. you) Thank you so much. I feel really good about this series of stories that I am writing (starting with the Silver Serpent). I dunno if I will ever write anything worth publishing, like really *publishing*… but I hope that my ideas entertain well, and you never know. Maybe JK will use some of my plots to give her a head start on the rest of the series.
By the way, on my yahoo egroup poll, Fire and Ice now leads for favorite fanfic by this author. If you want to say otherwise, please vote!!!
Go ahead… make my day… please review. (Okay, so I'm not really Clint Eastwood. *shrugs*)