Title: In the Absence of Memory
Author: Yih
Disclaimer: All characters & original universe belong to J.K. Rowling.
Spoiler Warning: There are spoilers of OotP in this fanfic. They are embedded into the fanfic. I won't tell you which are spoilers and which aren't, but readers that haven't read OotP should be aware that they are in the fanfic.
Thanks to my fan-BLOODY-tastic beta-reader, SERRA!
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I wake up
I don't know who I am
It's all lost
Those memories of me
Nothing's there
Not anymore, it's gone
Gone away
To a place, far away
I run hard
Attempting to get there
Where is there?
I don't know, I don't know
Wish I did
Wish I could remember
But I don't
The memories are gone
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7: Influencing (August 24, 2003 to August 26, 2003)
Lucius was pleased. He was beyond pleased. Bella was not. She was definitely not happy with the way things were going. She knew better than to question her Lord's orders, but this was getting out of hand. If the Dark Lord wasn't careful, he could find himself being out manipulated by--- by a Malfoy! And of course if there was a Malfoy that knew how to manipulate, it was Lucius.
Things were going precisely how he wanted them to go. Harry really didn't remember anything, he actually thought that Lucius was a trusted mentor. Lucius was impressed despite himself at Voldemort's skill in pulling off one of the Forbidden spells. He didn't think even Albus Dumbledore was capable of it. His Lord really was the most powerful wizard in the world.
Most powerful indeed, but he had a weakness now. Harry Potter. Lucius was going to use that to his advantage. Unlike an internal weakness, this external one could be used against him by the virtue of having a mind that made choices. All Lucius had to do was be careful in his subtle handling of Harry. He needed Harry on his side, but he had to go about it cautiously. Drawing too much unnecessary attention wouldn't do him any good. No, no good at all.
"Lucius?" came Harry's sweet voice from the corridors outside of his room. He was punctual like always. Had it really only been a month since he'd started re-teaching the practical application of magic? It seemed so short. Despite himself, he had grown to enjoy Harry's pure company. It was a change from having to keep his mind so utterly focused on the machinations of his peers. "Are you there?"
"I'm here," Lucius called out. Harry really was too innocent for his own good. Did he not see that everyone around him was using him? If the golden Gryffindor had been too naïve before his memory loss, he was even more so now. Of course, maybe it was all an act to make them all underestimate him. It was hard to imagine Harry being that cunning though.
When Harry walked into the room, Lucius was greeted with a brilliant smile from his pupil's lips. "Good afternoon, Lucius," Harry said with infectious friendliness. "Do you want me to start where we left off yesterday?"
"Yes," Lucius responded, gesturing for Harry to go and retrieve the books he'd left open yesterday from researching the methods of a glamour charm. In the month they'd been meeting, Harry had gone through a load of spells and was now working on stuff within his level of advancement. Truly remarkable, it almost terrified Lucius to know what Voldemort would be capable with Harry at his side.
Almost being the keyword. He wasn't frightened as long as he could get Harry to trust in him as well. Even though Voldemort was controlling Harry, there was something noble about him still. Most didn't notice it, but he did and he was certain that Bellatrix did. Voldemort might still be the most powerful Dark Lord since Grindelwald, but Harry was influencing him as much as he was influencing Harry.
A trade-off from the bond, no doubt. What was becoming urgent was who would be able to influence Harry. Bellatrix was trying, Lucius gave her that, but she wasn't succeeding. She could force a façade on her face that failed to transition to her eyes. That was crucial, and Harry was perceptive enough not to miss the venom spitting out of her black eyes.
Too bad for Bellatrix. He, on the other hand, felt that he was more than getting Harry's trust and by getting that was wielding a possibly significant authority over Harry. Authority that was understated, but it didn't matter as long as it was there. He'd taken anything he was given, and he figured it was only a matter of time before he got more.
His job was made easier by the fact that Harry was an attentive and good student. At first Lucius had been afraid that Severus' early spiteful words about Harry would prove true, luckily they hadn't. Then again, Severus had always hated James Potter so it was understandable that the hatred would translate over to the son. The only curious thing was that such intense dislike had blossomed into something rather on the opposite end of the stratosphere.
Severus had grown to like and care about the young man. It wasn't hard. Lucius certainly understood why. Even the Dark Lord had fallen into that feeling. Lucius was afraid he was about to do the same. It was hard being totally apathetic to someone that was so trusting. Someone that was so earnest. It didn't help either that Harry was gorgeous.
Lucius had figured out pretty darn soon that he was drawn to Harry not only in the power addictive way but from physical attraction as well. No wonder Voldemort had been so possessive of Harry early on. Even those of the Death Eater ranks that weren't drawn to same gender would have a hard time turning away from Harry's powerful aura. Lucius knew he had a hard time.
"Lucius," Harry called out as he waved his wand over a black book that he was trying to glamour to look crimson, "I'm having difficulty making the black book look red."
"That would be because black is a hard color to glamour over since it's so dark," Lucius explained patiently. "If you tried to glamour red over a white book than it would be very easy. Remember this is not like transfiguration, which you are very good at manipulating. This is a charms based spell. You aren't shifting the components of anything, just shifting the components of the air around the object to make it look different without truly changing it. It's useful since it takes less magical energy that transfiguration."
"And it also can be used to changed a person's appearances with your own spells without having to learn to become an animagus," Lucius remarked. "It's very useful at times like when something is untidy and you can't get to it, so you cover it. However, the problem with glamour charms is that they are usually easily detected. Very good glamour spells are just as hard as transfiguration, it takes a great grasp on the magical theory even if it takes less magical energy."
Harry nodded that he understood and took a light khaki colored textbook off the shelf. "Will this work?" he questioned for confirmation. When Lucius nodded, Harry placed the book down on the table and began to wave his wand. Whispering the spell's incantation carefully, Harry's face broke out into an expression of exultation when he changed the outer appearance of the book from the khaki to a dark crimson.
It struck Lucius how strikingly similar the blood red was to shade of Voldemort's eyes. It was an exact replica wasn't merely a coincidence, Voldemort had really done a real piece of work with remolding Harry Potter. Not only had he tapped into one of the most powerful wizards of the century as a power source, he'd also managed to get intimately involved with Harry.
That was another thing that he had to give Voldemort for his brilliance. To actually have someone as sweet as Harry and as innocent as he was, was not something that came around often. Voldemort was going to be able to train Harry into perfect sexual pet. If he was willing as he seemed to be, it'd be all that much more delicious of a flavor. Force was nice on occasion, but melting the resistance of someone until they were burning for your touch was much more satisfying.
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed as he placed his wand back down on the table. "It's getting late! I forgot that I'm suppose to meet him."
It struck Lucius as a bit strange how Harry never called Voldemort by his name, that he never really referred to Voldemort really directly. Voldemort was quite the opposite case. Sometimes it made him curious of the Dark Lord's real hold on his pet, though there was no doubt that Harry could be drained by Voldemort. That had been demonstrated quite clearly during the Forbidden spell.
If it had been hard enough to think about toppling the Dark Lord before, it was impossible to think of now. Lucius couldn't think of the last time that a Forbidden spell had been performed successfully. No time in recent modern history. It didn't matter that Voldemort had used draining Harry's magical energy to help him, he'd done it hadn't he?
No, no one was going to dare challenge Voldemort directly anymore. Challenging him indirectly was an option, and getting to him through Harry was certainly an intriguing option. Harry was going to be influential, all the Death Eaters were aware of the fact even if they weren't talking about it. Why else would Bellatrix try to be nice to someone other than her precious Dark Lord?
"I have to go, Lucius," Harry mumbled, looking a bit flustered and flushed. "He's expecting me."
"Then you'd better go," Lucius responded smoothly. "You wouldn't want to keep the Dark Lord waiting, would you? He is rather possessive of you."
Harry smiled with an innocent shyness that was pleasantly becoming. "I'll see you next time, Lucius?"
Lucius nodded. "You'll see me next time. Have a good night, Harry."
"I will."
Perfect, Lucius thought when Harry walked out of the room. Everything was moving to schedule. Harry was already beginning to trust him. What was even more important was that Harry looked forward to their sessions. Wanting to see someone again usually translated into growing to trust that person more[,] which was precisely what Lucius wanted. He wanted Harry to trust him; he wanted Harry to need him. But that would come eventually.
He was patient. He could bide his time. As long as he was the influencing factor with Harry, everything was going to be all right. He didn't plan to let anyone else have the chance. No, he was going to be the influence, that much he setting out for. Malfoys didn't lose either. They always got what they wanted. It was the Malfoy way.
~
"Come to me," Voldemort called to Harry when he heard his pet try to slip into the room quietly. He knew Harry had been trying not to disturb him, but didn't he realize that he didn't mind his bond-mate interrupting his work. When he saw the hesitation in Harry, his voice was no longer lenient but demanding, "Come here now."
It pleased him when Harry came to him immediately. Then again as he thought harder on it--- he didn't really know if Harry was listening to him because he wanted to or if it was because of the bond. He really wasn't sure if Harry could disobey a direct order from him. It wasn't like Harry had even tried, or had he? That was something he'd have to find out soon.
And if he was too dominating, he'd lose the hidden spirit he had the feeling was still hiding within Harry. The problem was that while he might appreciate the spirit, to his Death Eaters if Harry showed such defiance--- it would make him seem weak. He couldn't have that. "Sit down my pet," he murmured in a more gentle tone, resting his hand on his lap to signal where he wanted Harry to sit.
Once Harry had settled down onto his lap, he snaked his arm around Harry's waist possessively. "Did you enjoy your lessons with Lucius today?" he questioned with mild curiosity. "You do prefer Lucius to instruct you rather than Bella, am I right?"
"I do," Harry responded softly. "I just get this weird feeling when I'm around Bella."
No doubt that he did, Voldemort thought with mild irritation at his loyal Bellatrix. Her ferocity was sometimes misguided, even more so now after her episode at Azkaban. But the years away from the prison should have cured her paranoia, it had yet to do so. In fact, he suspected that she was getting worse. That sort of thing tended to happen when people got older. He despised that.
Closed minds were a great hindrance. "So how was the lesson?" he asked more specifically, trying to draw Harry out of the shell he had the tendency in staying in.
"It was very good," Harry answered with much more enthusiasm, more life. "Lucius explained me to more about glamour charms. I never knew that they were as complex as they are. However, the book that covers most magical theory only devoted a small section to that particular subject."
"Are you interested in knowing more theory on glamour spells?"
Harry shrugged lightly. "There isn't much to do around here," he remarked, his face paling a bit when he realized he'd complained about something. It was the first time he hadn't been careful with his choice of words around Voldemort. He always was because even though he knew he was important to his bond-mate, he knew that the Dark Lord wasn't above punishing him for an infraction.
"That's true," Voldemort agreed, drawing a stunned expression from his Harry. He almost cracked a grin at the shocked look on Harry's face, didn't Harry know that he knew everything that went on about him? That the only reason that Severus was still breathing was that he knew that Harry had no strong feelings for the Potions Master.
It'd taken him a bit of time for him to realize that he held all of Harry's 18 years of life. Short compared to him, but a lot had happened to Harry in his short lifetime. Truly, it was magnificent to compare Harry's life with even his own--- and his had been rather loaded he'd thought in the first 18 years. But nothing compared to Harry's packed life experiences.
No wonder it'd been hard for him to remember that he did have all of Harry's memories compacted with his own vast memories, most of them acquired after his 18th birthday as Lord Voldemort. Eventually, remember he did. Search through the pile of memories he did. It was strange, to draw from the memory bank that he knew was Harry. He knew it was Harry's memories but it almost felt like they his own. In a way, they were his now.
He had drawn them out of Harry, forced them out of his bond-mate so that he would be able to absolutely the most important person in Harry's new existence. It had worked brilliantly, even better than he'd expected. In doing so, he had Harry's whole being within him. Searching as he had through Harry's mind within his mind, he had discovered nothing out of the norm.
True, as unusual as it seemed for Harry and Severus to get closer--- there was nothing to suggest what Lucius had been hinting at. That Severus and Harry had been more than just teacher and student. Perhaps, Severus had wanted to be more than teacher to Harry but Harry had never given the slightest signal of encouragement and that was what mattered to Voldemort. He didn't mind Severus lusting over Harry, as long as Harry was undeniably his. What he considered his possession was unquestionably his.
"Perhaps," Voldemort began casually, knowing that Harry had never enjoyed potion making, "you might like to hang around with Severus Snape with supervision of course since he is a dangerous wizard and learn the art of potion making from him?"
"I suppose," Harry replied with no attempt to hide his reluctance. He'd made it quite clear to Harry that he preferred honesty. Lies would only make things much worse. "If there is nothing else that would ease the boredom."
Voldemort allowed his lips to curve up ever so slightly. Just as he thoughts, some things never changed. It was no wonder Harry was enamored with his lessons with Lucius. Lucius focused on the subject manner that most intrigued his pet, Transfiguration and Charms. "Or you could always join me in my private study when I'm working on new spells."
"New spells?" Harry murmured, his eyes lighting up in excitement. "Truly, you're working with new spells? But I've heard that they're extremely difficult to create--- new spells that is. To create something from scratch requires a great grasp of magical theory and powerful magic."
"That is why I need your help," Voldemort responded with a heavy emphasis that he needed Harry's assistance. "You realize that," he began in an strongly intimate voice as he tilted his face closer to Harry's own, "when I drain you, I'll have all the power that I need to create any spell anyway that I want. My grasp in magical theory has always been superior to anyone. But no wizard truly holds enough power in them to create without tiring. You give me the chance to make spells and modify them immediately rather than having to wait."
"And forgetting exactly what you wanted to alter," Harry added in finality.
"Precisely," Voldemort remarked, his crimson eyes glowing into Harry's emerald orbs. "Do you understand, my pet?"
Harry nodded. "I do." He rested his forehead on Voldemort's shoulder in a manner suggesting the closeness that Voldemort wanted ingrained into Harry. "When can we start?"
"When would you like?" Voldemort asked nonchalantly.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow it will be."
Harry smiled, and then he frowned as something struck him. "Are you going to keep Snape down there forever?"
"He is a traitor," Voldemort responded sharply and coldly. "He will remain down there as long as I see fit, even if that means for the rest of eternity."
"But he did help me," Harry commented softly.
That was true, but Voldemort wasn't willing to risk letting Severus have more freedom. As it was as Severus had been treating Harry, even though he'd scoured Harry's memories and found nothing to suggest anything more than what was suppose to be, he'd seen Severus' gentleness in handling Harry. It spoke of intimacy, or at least the call for more intimacy. That Voldemort was not going to allow.
To give Severus more freedom would be inviting Severus to pursue Harry. Lucius' pursuit of Harry he knew would fail miserably. That was why he was not that concern. Lucius didn't have quite the right kind of spirit to draw Harry. Voldemort was afraid that Severus did. He had seen the way Harry had involuntarily responded to Severus' touch. He would not allow any more of it.
Harry was his. Harry was going to stay his. No matter what. It didn't matter that he lacked Severus' tenderness or his warmth or his gentleness--- all of that didn't matter. Harry was his bond-mate; Harry was going to stay his bond-mate. He hadn't done that ridiculously difficult spell for someone else to be more important to Harry than he was. He'd made himself the most important and he was going to stay the most important.
Whether Harry knew it or not, Harry was his.
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Author's Note: Don't really know why I wrote this chapter. I didn't intend to write another one for months, but hey my muse popped in and I wrote this. Hope that you like this chapter. And please be aware of the Author's Note I've inserted into chapter 6. You should read that. It might clear up any confusion of the hint of HP/SS
Thanks to xenelle, Karaberos, FallenPhoenix721, Yxonomei, Party Girl2, ntamara, Tempest8, LauraJo, Kathy stggvk, Carya.
Abraxis: There is a catch to it. That Harry could be passively influencing Voldemort since Voldemort has all Harry's memories.
Malakai: Well, I do very well in Lucius. It's hard to do LM/HP especially after Book 5, but almost every pairing is harder except HP/SS actually.
Author: Yih
Disclaimer: All characters & original universe belong to J.K. Rowling.
Spoiler Warning: There are spoilers of OotP in this fanfic. They are embedded into the fanfic. I won't tell you which are spoilers and which aren't, but readers that haven't read OotP should be aware that they are in the fanfic.
Thanks to my fan-BLOODY-tastic beta-reader, SERRA!
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I wake up
I don't know who I am
It's all lost
Those memories of me
Nothing's there
Not anymore, it's gone
Gone away
To a place, far away
I run hard
Attempting to get there
Where is there?
I don't know, I don't know
Wish I did
Wish I could remember
But I don't
The memories are gone
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7: Influencing (August 24, 2003 to August 26, 2003)
Lucius was pleased. He was beyond pleased. Bella was not. She was definitely not happy with the way things were going. She knew better than to question her Lord's orders, but this was getting out of hand. If the Dark Lord wasn't careful, he could find himself being out manipulated by--- by a Malfoy! And of course if there was a Malfoy that knew how to manipulate, it was Lucius.
Things were going precisely how he wanted them to go. Harry really didn't remember anything, he actually thought that Lucius was a trusted mentor. Lucius was impressed despite himself at Voldemort's skill in pulling off one of the Forbidden spells. He didn't think even Albus Dumbledore was capable of it. His Lord really was the most powerful wizard in the world.
Most powerful indeed, but he had a weakness now. Harry Potter. Lucius was going to use that to his advantage. Unlike an internal weakness, this external one could be used against him by the virtue of having a mind that made choices. All Lucius had to do was be careful in his subtle handling of Harry. He needed Harry on his side, but he had to go about it cautiously. Drawing too much unnecessary attention wouldn't do him any good. No, no good at all.
"Lucius?" came Harry's sweet voice from the corridors outside of his room. He was punctual like always. Had it really only been a month since he'd started re-teaching the practical application of magic? It seemed so short. Despite himself, he had grown to enjoy Harry's pure company. It was a change from having to keep his mind so utterly focused on the machinations of his peers. "Are you there?"
"I'm here," Lucius called out. Harry really was too innocent for his own good. Did he not see that everyone around him was using him? If the golden Gryffindor had been too naïve before his memory loss, he was even more so now. Of course, maybe it was all an act to make them all underestimate him. It was hard to imagine Harry being that cunning though.
When Harry walked into the room, Lucius was greeted with a brilliant smile from his pupil's lips. "Good afternoon, Lucius," Harry said with infectious friendliness. "Do you want me to start where we left off yesterday?"
"Yes," Lucius responded, gesturing for Harry to go and retrieve the books he'd left open yesterday from researching the methods of a glamour charm. In the month they'd been meeting, Harry had gone through a load of spells and was now working on stuff within his level of advancement. Truly remarkable, it almost terrified Lucius to know what Voldemort would be capable with Harry at his side.
Almost being the keyword. He wasn't frightened as long as he could get Harry to trust in him as well. Even though Voldemort was controlling Harry, there was something noble about him still. Most didn't notice it, but he did and he was certain that Bellatrix did. Voldemort might still be the most powerful Dark Lord since Grindelwald, but Harry was influencing him as much as he was influencing Harry.
A trade-off from the bond, no doubt. What was becoming urgent was who would be able to influence Harry. Bellatrix was trying, Lucius gave her that, but she wasn't succeeding. She could force a façade on her face that failed to transition to her eyes. That was crucial, and Harry was perceptive enough not to miss the venom spitting out of her black eyes.
Too bad for Bellatrix. He, on the other hand, felt that he was more than getting Harry's trust and by getting that was wielding a possibly significant authority over Harry. Authority that was understated, but it didn't matter as long as it was there. He'd taken anything he was given, and he figured it was only a matter of time before he got more.
His job was made easier by the fact that Harry was an attentive and good student. At first Lucius had been afraid that Severus' early spiteful words about Harry would prove true, luckily they hadn't. Then again, Severus had always hated James Potter so it was understandable that the hatred would translate over to the son. The only curious thing was that such intense dislike had blossomed into something rather on the opposite end of the stratosphere.
Severus had grown to like and care about the young man. It wasn't hard. Lucius certainly understood why. Even the Dark Lord had fallen into that feeling. Lucius was afraid he was about to do the same. It was hard being totally apathetic to someone that was so trusting. Someone that was so earnest. It didn't help either that Harry was gorgeous.
Lucius had figured out pretty darn soon that he was drawn to Harry not only in the power addictive way but from physical attraction as well. No wonder Voldemort had been so possessive of Harry early on. Even those of the Death Eater ranks that weren't drawn to same gender would have a hard time turning away from Harry's powerful aura. Lucius knew he had a hard time.
"Lucius," Harry called out as he waved his wand over a black book that he was trying to glamour to look crimson, "I'm having difficulty making the black book look red."
"That would be because black is a hard color to glamour over since it's so dark," Lucius explained patiently. "If you tried to glamour red over a white book than it would be very easy. Remember this is not like transfiguration, which you are very good at manipulating. This is a charms based spell. You aren't shifting the components of anything, just shifting the components of the air around the object to make it look different without truly changing it. It's useful since it takes less magical energy that transfiguration."
"And it also can be used to changed a person's appearances with your own spells without having to learn to become an animagus," Lucius remarked. "It's very useful at times like when something is untidy and you can't get to it, so you cover it. However, the problem with glamour charms is that they are usually easily detected. Very good glamour spells are just as hard as transfiguration, it takes a great grasp on the magical theory even if it takes less magical energy."
Harry nodded that he understood and took a light khaki colored textbook off the shelf. "Will this work?" he questioned for confirmation. When Lucius nodded, Harry placed the book down on the table and began to wave his wand. Whispering the spell's incantation carefully, Harry's face broke out into an expression of exultation when he changed the outer appearance of the book from the khaki to a dark crimson.
It struck Lucius how strikingly similar the blood red was to shade of Voldemort's eyes. It was an exact replica wasn't merely a coincidence, Voldemort had really done a real piece of work with remolding Harry Potter. Not only had he tapped into one of the most powerful wizards of the century as a power source, he'd also managed to get intimately involved with Harry.
That was another thing that he had to give Voldemort for his brilliance. To actually have someone as sweet as Harry and as innocent as he was, was not something that came around often. Voldemort was going to be able to train Harry into perfect sexual pet. If he was willing as he seemed to be, it'd be all that much more delicious of a flavor. Force was nice on occasion, but melting the resistance of someone until they were burning for your touch was much more satisfying.
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed as he placed his wand back down on the table. "It's getting late! I forgot that I'm suppose to meet him."
It struck Lucius as a bit strange how Harry never called Voldemort by his name, that he never really referred to Voldemort really directly. Voldemort was quite the opposite case. Sometimes it made him curious of the Dark Lord's real hold on his pet, though there was no doubt that Harry could be drained by Voldemort. That had been demonstrated quite clearly during the Forbidden spell.
If it had been hard enough to think about toppling the Dark Lord before, it was impossible to think of now. Lucius couldn't think of the last time that a Forbidden spell had been performed successfully. No time in recent modern history. It didn't matter that Voldemort had used draining Harry's magical energy to help him, he'd done it hadn't he?
No, no one was going to dare challenge Voldemort directly anymore. Challenging him indirectly was an option, and getting to him through Harry was certainly an intriguing option. Harry was going to be influential, all the Death Eaters were aware of the fact even if they weren't talking about it. Why else would Bellatrix try to be nice to someone other than her precious Dark Lord?
"I have to go, Lucius," Harry mumbled, looking a bit flustered and flushed. "He's expecting me."
"Then you'd better go," Lucius responded smoothly. "You wouldn't want to keep the Dark Lord waiting, would you? He is rather possessive of you."
Harry smiled with an innocent shyness that was pleasantly becoming. "I'll see you next time, Lucius?"
Lucius nodded. "You'll see me next time. Have a good night, Harry."
"I will."
Perfect, Lucius thought when Harry walked out of the room. Everything was moving to schedule. Harry was already beginning to trust him. What was even more important was that Harry looked forward to their sessions. Wanting to see someone again usually translated into growing to trust that person more[,] which was precisely what Lucius wanted. He wanted Harry to trust him; he wanted Harry to need him. But that would come eventually.
He was patient. He could bide his time. As long as he was the influencing factor with Harry, everything was going to be all right. He didn't plan to let anyone else have the chance. No, he was going to be the influence, that much he setting out for. Malfoys didn't lose either. They always got what they wanted. It was the Malfoy way.
~
"Come to me," Voldemort called to Harry when he heard his pet try to slip into the room quietly. He knew Harry had been trying not to disturb him, but didn't he realize that he didn't mind his bond-mate interrupting his work. When he saw the hesitation in Harry, his voice was no longer lenient but demanding, "Come here now."
It pleased him when Harry came to him immediately. Then again as he thought harder on it--- he didn't really know if Harry was listening to him because he wanted to or if it was because of the bond. He really wasn't sure if Harry could disobey a direct order from him. It wasn't like Harry had even tried, or had he? That was something he'd have to find out soon.
And if he was too dominating, he'd lose the hidden spirit he had the feeling was still hiding within Harry. The problem was that while he might appreciate the spirit, to his Death Eaters if Harry showed such defiance--- it would make him seem weak. He couldn't have that. "Sit down my pet," he murmured in a more gentle tone, resting his hand on his lap to signal where he wanted Harry to sit.
Once Harry had settled down onto his lap, he snaked his arm around Harry's waist possessively. "Did you enjoy your lessons with Lucius today?" he questioned with mild curiosity. "You do prefer Lucius to instruct you rather than Bella, am I right?"
"I do," Harry responded softly. "I just get this weird feeling when I'm around Bella."
No doubt that he did, Voldemort thought with mild irritation at his loyal Bellatrix. Her ferocity was sometimes misguided, even more so now after her episode at Azkaban. But the years away from the prison should have cured her paranoia, it had yet to do so. In fact, he suspected that she was getting worse. That sort of thing tended to happen when people got older. He despised that.
Closed minds were a great hindrance. "So how was the lesson?" he asked more specifically, trying to draw Harry out of the shell he had the tendency in staying in.
"It was very good," Harry answered with much more enthusiasm, more life. "Lucius explained me to more about glamour charms. I never knew that they were as complex as they are. However, the book that covers most magical theory only devoted a small section to that particular subject."
"Are you interested in knowing more theory on glamour spells?"
Harry shrugged lightly. "There isn't much to do around here," he remarked, his face paling a bit when he realized he'd complained about something. It was the first time he hadn't been careful with his choice of words around Voldemort. He always was because even though he knew he was important to his bond-mate, he knew that the Dark Lord wasn't above punishing him for an infraction.
"That's true," Voldemort agreed, drawing a stunned expression from his Harry. He almost cracked a grin at the shocked look on Harry's face, didn't Harry know that he knew everything that went on about him? That the only reason that Severus was still breathing was that he knew that Harry had no strong feelings for the Potions Master.
It'd taken him a bit of time for him to realize that he held all of Harry's 18 years of life. Short compared to him, but a lot had happened to Harry in his short lifetime. Truly, it was magnificent to compare Harry's life with even his own--- and his had been rather loaded he'd thought in the first 18 years. But nothing compared to Harry's packed life experiences.
No wonder it'd been hard for him to remember that he did have all of Harry's memories compacted with his own vast memories, most of them acquired after his 18th birthday as Lord Voldemort. Eventually, remember he did. Search through the pile of memories he did. It was strange, to draw from the memory bank that he knew was Harry. He knew it was Harry's memories but it almost felt like they his own. In a way, they were his now.
He had drawn them out of Harry, forced them out of his bond-mate so that he would be able to absolutely the most important person in Harry's new existence. It had worked brilliantly, even better than he'd expected. In doing so, he had Harry's whole being within him. Searching as he had through Harry's mind within his mind, he had discovered nothing out of the norm.
True, as unusual as it seemed for Harry and Severus to get closer--- there was nothing to suggest what Lucius had been hinting at. That Severus and Harry had been more than just teacher and student. Perhaps, Severus had wanted to be more than teacher to Harry but Harry had never given the slightest signal of encouragement and that was what mattered to Voldemort. He didn't mind Severus lusting over Harry, as long as Harry was undeniably his. What he considered his possession was unquestionably his.
"Perhaps," Voldemort began casually, knowing that Harry had never enjoyed potion making, "you might like to hang around with Severus Snape with supervision of course since he is a dangerous wizard and learn the art of potion making from him?"
"I suppose," Harry replied with no attempt to hide his reluctance. He'd made it quite clear to Harry that he preferred honesty. Lies would only make things much worse. "If there is nothing else that would ease the boredom."
Voldemort allowed his lips to curve up ever so slightly. Just as he thoughts, some things never changed. It was no wonder Harry was enamored with his lessons with Lucius. Lucius focused on the subject manner that most intrigued his pet, Transfiguration and Charms. "Or you could always join me in my private study when I'm working on new spells."
"New spells?" Harry murmured, his eyes lighting up in excitement. "Truly, you're working with new spells? But I've heard that they're extremely difficult to create--- new spells that is. To create something from scratch requires a great grasp of magical theory and powerful magic."
"That is why I need your help," Voldemort responded with a heavy emphasis that he needed Harry's assistance. "You realize that," he began in an strongly intimate voice as he tilted his face closer to Harry's own, "when I drain you, I'll have all the power that I need to create any spell anyway that I want. My grasp in magical theory has always been superior to anyone. But no wizard truly holds enough power in them to create without tiring. You give me the chance to make spells and modify them immediately rather than having to wait."
"And forgetting exactly what you wanted to alter," Harry added in finality.
"Precisely," Voldemort remarked, his crimson eyes glowing into Harry's emerald orbs. "Do you understand, my pet?"
Harry nodded. "I do." He rested his forehead on Voldemort's shoulder in a manner suggesting the closeness that Voldemort wanted ingrained into Harry. "When can we start?"
"When would you like?" Voldemort asked nonchalantly.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow it will be."
Harry smiled, and then he frowned as something struck him. "Are you going to keep Snape down there forever?"
"He is a traitor," Voldemort responded sharply and coldly. "He will remain down there as long as I see fit, even if that means for the rest of eternity."
"But he did help me," Harry commented softly.
That was true, but Voldemort wasn't willing to risk letting Severus have more freedom. As it was as Severus had been treating Harry, even though he'd scoured Harry's memories and found nothing to suggest anything more than what was suppose to be, he'd seen Severus' gentleness in handling Harry. It spoke of intimacy, or at least the call for more intimacy. That Voldemort was not going to allow.
To give Severus more freedom would be inviting Severus to pursue Harry. Lucius' pursuit of Harry he knew would fail miserably. That was why he was not that concern. Lucius didn't have quite the right kind of spirit to draw Harry. Voldemort was afraid that Severus did. He had seen the way Harry had involuntarily responded to Severus' touch. He would not allow any more of it.
Harry was his. Harry was going to stay his. No matter what. It didn't matter that he lacked Severus' tenderness or his warmth or his gentleness--- all of that didn't matter. Harry was his bond-mate; Harry was going to stay his bond-mate. He hadn't done that ridiculously difficult spell for someone else to be more important to Harry than he was. He'd made himself the most important and he was going to stay the most important.
Whether Harry knew it or not, Harry was his.
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Author's Note: Don't really know why I wrote this chapter. I didn't intend to write another one for months, but hey my muse popped in and I wrote this. Hope that you like this chapter. And please be aware of the Author's Note I've inserted into chapter 6. You should read that. It might clear up any confusion of the hint of HP/SS
Thanks to xenelle, Karaberos, FallenPhoenix721, Yxonomei, Party Girl2, ntamara, Tempest8, LauraJo, Kathy stggvk, Carya.
Abraxis: There is a catch to it. That Harry could be passively influencing Voldemort since Voldemort has all Harry's memories.
Malakai: Well, I do very well in Lucius. It's hard to do LM/HP especially after Book 5, but almost every pairing is harder except HP/SS actually.