SIN WITH ME
Summary: When all goes wrong in Harry's life he wishes he were never born. A normal life seems to be out of his league and the continuous jibes and lies thrown at him put him back at square one. But when Harry Potter gets a break the world suddenly hates him for it. HP/?? Slash!
"Fate is a sadistic mistress and we are her toys, Harry," He was told mournfully. "But when we do her bidding she rewards us, we have both served to her amusement, now it's time to be rewarded." Harry answered him slowly moving closer to chaste lips. "Fate rewards no one especially not sinners." he was gently pushed away. "Your lips are like sin, to touch is a sin." "Then we can sin together!" Harry cried out. (little snippet to get you interested!)
Rated: R
Disclaimer: I have nothing that would be worth suing me over, I own nothing in this story except for the plot and a few made up characters, so don't complain if I accidentally use some thing that's not mine.
Chapter 2: Gloom, Doom And The Mistress Fate
Wales is said to be a peaceful vacationing spot. During it's summers flowers sprout in yards, morning birds sing their praises to the world. The trees flourish and thicken with rich green leaves. Tourists mill on old cobbled streets and retire to rented cabins or to booked rooms in ancient remodeled hotels.
But in a fortress far, far, into the Cambrian Mountains where the wind whipped lazily against the stone walls and the thick glass windows sometimes disturbing the snow at the very peaks of the mountains Voldemort sat on his thrown looking over his newly gathered Death Eater army. His loyal followers were all eager for the events of July 31st, which would transpire in as little as two and a half weeks time from now.
His crimson eyes narrowed passing some suspicious characters that deemed themselves loyal Death Eaters. He had no doubt they were long ago during his first reign but since his come back all he could smell was fear and guilt off of them. Nagini who was curled up at the base of his throne by his feet hissing ominously at anyone who looked her way had helped him root out a few traitors in the last weeks.
"My loyal Death Eaters!" he shouted bringing them to attention. Stretching every 'S' in his words out into a hissing sound. Many were kept back from laughing at their master's lisp only by fear of being punished for it. While certain new recruits had to go as far as bite their tongues to the point of drawing blood.
"In just two weeks and three days time we will execute the plan that will ensure my immortality by taking back what is rightfully mine and once and for all ridding myself of the Potter boy." Tom Marvolo Riddle's obsession with the-boy-who-wouldn't-die had become somewhat of a joke amongst his followers. Although the need to keep their master happy silenced them many rolled their eyes behind their white masks and scoffed to themselves. They had heard enough of the Potter boy already. They were thirsty for blood, impure blood that needed to be spilled in rivers that would cascade down the streets and emphasize their power.
They had the power to take over the wizarding world, yet the snake sitting on a regal thrown looking down upon them pursued his silly immortality quest through a fifteen-year-old boy's death. Shameful, it was simply shameful to attack children. At least that is what Severus Snape thought as he listened to the full accounted plan of what would happen the night of the Gryffindor's birthday. He had heard this plan from both Dumbledore and Voldemort so many times now that he just about had it imprinted in his head.
That wasn't to say that Potter was a lost cause, son of James Potter the bane of his very existence up until his death in which case his son inherited that spot. The boy contrary to what he impressed upon the public, wasn't half bad. Over the years Severus had learned people were foolish, often underestimating him or overestimating him. This year it was the former. It was ironic how the ones that worshipped the very toilet tissue he used to wipe his arse with dropped him the moment he stepped through the large doors of the Great Hall at the beginning of the year.
But then again hadn't the Death Eaters dropped Voldemort like a sack of heavy potatoes when he mysteriously died after being hit by his own killing curse? Most if not all did only to flock to him now that he's risen again. The dark haired man that stood near the back of the group gathered for another one of the Dark Lord's speeches wondered idly if the wizarding world would flock back to Potter once he's changed? No doubt they would but the real question was would Potter forgive them like the good little Gryffindor he was?
With Dumbledore's influence he probably would. But Severus had plans to get rid of that influence as soon as possible. He just had to find it first, and try not to kill the boy while removing it.
"Ssseverusss my 'blade'," the dark lord hissed bringing him out of his reverie and he made through the crowd of Death Eaters arriving at the front and kneeling before the steps that led to Voldemort's throne. As he had become accustomed to Nagini's diagnosis as he now called it. The snake would slither down and sniff at him with her tongue trying to discern his loyalty. She would sniff out guilt most of the time. He smirked when she retreated satisfied with the examination. He felt no guilt for his betrayal so she wouldn't find anything on him.
"As usual Severus you come up clean. I had often wondered of your loyalty, spending so much time with that old fool Dumbledore cannot be healthy." A bemused chuckle touched his lipless mouth and the monster's nostril flared on his flat nose.
"I am forever loyal to you my lord." He replied repulsed on the inside but kept it covered up with a false sense of pride.
"Yes, well we shall see. What news do you have from Hogwarts Ssseveruss." For some reason the dark lord took much pleasure saying his name. It aggravated him hearing the name his mother gave him coming from that disgusting creature's mouth.
//Serves you right.\\ for a moment Severus almost imagined that that was his own voice talking to himself. He wasn't as insecure as to have doubts of his own sanity though. He ignored the pesky voice and answered 'his lord'.
"Dumbledore believes you are planning something my lord. Your silence greatly concerns him. The doddering old man has placed extra protections on Potter's house this year, and has forbade the boy from leaving his muggle residence." Now Severus thought carefully, he had to plant something in Voldemort's mind that would perhaps give him second thoughts about killing Harry, it would give them a heck of a lot more time to formulate a plan of defense or offense and it would take the suspicion off of him.
"My lord. Potter begins to doubt Dumbledore's sincerity. He's been reading up on Dark Arts in the restricted section as well. Isolating himself from everyone this past year he's been acting very peculiar."
Yes, there was definitely some small amount of glee on the dark lord's face. But Severus didn't dare mention how useful the boy would be to them.
"He is rather angry that Dumbledore won't tell him the truth of his heritage as well. And as you've asked I've followed Potter around, he's miserable about his current situation, on the brink of suicide, his mind is very vulnerable." He hinted finally. A long moment of silence reined the room while Tom Riddle contemplated the passing events with a feral smile.
"That may be Ssseveruss, he would make a powerful ally no doubt. Too powerful perhaps." Voldemort frowned absentmindedly and many Death Eaters in the room whispered perplexedly naturally knowing nothing of what was happening to Harry Potter but assuming it was a good thing as their lord had been in a rather good mood for more than half the year.
"SILENCE!" The dark lord bellowed having the Death Eaters cease all conversation. "I cannot deny that using Potter for the ultimate demise of Dumbledore would be a brilliant idea with minimal effort on our part. However." he paused raking his snake like eyes over his followers in the eeriest way making them shiver and shudder. "However letting him live could cost us greatly afterwards, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts completely. If he is allowed to live he will corrupt us."
The irony that Voldemort used a muggle quote had not escaped Severus; neither had the fact that Voldemort spoke of them as an entity but didn't mean it in the slightest. It was all about him and if you were intuitive then you would realize that Tom Riddle was afraid of a mere teenager getting the best of him. Severus was one of those intuitive people, unfortunately so was Lucius Malfoy.
Malfoy whom had been standing in front of the Death Eater group like some kind of king amongst men sauntered over like he owned the fortress and knelt gracefully at the feet of the thrown a step above Severus.
"My lord, if I may?" he asked for permission to speak with his usual haughty manner. Waited for Nagini's inspection and the Dark Lord's permission before addressing his master.
"If you must Lucius." The dark lord spoke shortly annoyed indicating that the man would be greatly punished for coming forward without being asked beforehand and further more punished if he did speak.
"My lordship what is to become of Potter on his birthday? My son Draco who currently attends Hogwarts in Potter's year tells me the boy is having problems maturing. Surely if he were powerful then he wouldn't be showing signs of muggle problems?" He spat the word muggle as if it were the lowest form of bacteria could reach. And to Lucius it literally was.
Wrong move.
"Crucio!" Voldemort's wand was trained on the blonde currently kneeling on the steps and released a red light hitting him straight in the chest and making him howl in pain stumbling backwards and sprawling on the ground behind Severus having muscle contractions. His screams of pain were rather screams of surprise had died down only moments before their master stopped his onslaught with the Cruciatus. Lucius was very accustomed to the curse by now therefore Severus couldn't find any reason for his screams either than Voldemort's rise in strength.
"You have become too arrogant for my taste Malfoy. If you dare question me again I will have you drawn and quartered before you can say your son's name. And I don't want to hear another word of your son before this Yule Lucius, I won't accept his incompetence in my circle without a proper demonstration of his power." The slight flinch from Snape whom had been waiting patiently on his knees didn't go unnoticed by Voldemort or the muttered curse that he said quietly. Setting that aside for later purpose he turned back to the blonde panting on the stone floor and fighting for control over his quivering body.
Tom Riddle was all too aware that he had struck a nerve with the blonde. Lucius Malfoy was a very influential man, but above all he was a very proud one if not slightly stupid and blunt. His son was his greatest asset. If he'd ever met a man more proud of his brat than Lucius then he was sure that man didn't mind incest in the family. As it was Tom wasn't sure what the blonde's relationship with his son was but he frankly didn't care much for blondes, brunettes were his specialty. He glanced at Severus still kneeling by the bottom step obediently. With a malicious smirk Voldemort darted his forked tongue across his mouth smelling out the air around the Potions Master.
Feisty brunettes were even better.
Severus had come to him with an offer he couldn't refuse some eighteen years ago. It was simple, he needed an expert potions brewer and Severus was just the man to do it. He showed no outward emotion and his actions along with his rumored social life or lack thereof proved he had very little on the inside. The young man was the perfect candidate able to kill ruthlessly and aimlessly just for a thrill. Fresh out of Hogwarts, Snape proved to be a great asset. Earning his trust and climbing through the ranks and into his inner circle by his second year in service giving the veneer or cool intellect and sending waves of bitter ambiance. The man's mind was absolutely brilliant, brilliant to the extent that he had to keep a distance from him. Slytherins were ambitious and they sought out glory in life. What was to say Severus wouldn't easily backstab him in the end? And Voldemort had no doubt he still would, so carefully he kept him out of his inner circle and on an espionage project that kept him in close contact with the light side.
That reminded him of a different brunette he'd had the pleasure or displeasure of meeting. Harry Potter, his number one enemy ranking number one on his hit list just above Dumbledore. In his childhood the boy was beautiful. He remembered the boy in his first year, so small and innocent. Pale skin almost the color of snow, dark ebony hair so disarrayed and messy it looked like a dark hallow. Vibrant green eyes although not quite unnatural, as some might believe. They were more of a forest green only giving the impression of precious jewels behind those hideous spectacles he wore while under the lights glare.
In a way the boy reminded him of Severus, strong, proud, and deceitful when he had to be. The only problem was that he was stupid. That stupidity that his father carried had carried through and formed into Gryffindor assets. His arch-nemesis had done well to mold that Gryffindor mind; the boy would have been a natural Slytherin otherwise. Curse Dumbledore! Curse his own mistakes for trying to kill the boy instead of kidnapping him and raising him as his own!
The dark lord sighed realizing he was acting up in front of his servants and discreetly took a calming breath watching as Malfoy finally crawled away and reentered the Death Eater crowd. No matter how hard he tried though he couldn't get his mind off the child he would soon kill.
Tom would never admit to many mistakes he had made but that was one of his biggest. Harry Potter could have been great! With a pure blood line like his that went back to the time of the founders and his mother's species' intellect and power! The mother, his thoughts often trailed to the redheaded vixen. She was beautiful, graceful, powerful, and above all a druid. As Tom had always be a stickler for the beautiful he had been reluctant to kill what would have been the last of the druid race, or the near last. In truth Tom had formulated a plan to break the woman and take her as his own creating an heir that could have possibly rivaled Harry Potter.
There were endless possibilities that could have occurred had he thought some of them through further. In his haste to get rid of a problem known as the Potters he had created an even bigger one condemning himself and leaving only one last approach to deal with the situation. To kill the boy.
The man that called himself Voldemort knew for a fact that the boy's change had been draining him of power and building it up. Proof had even been supplied in the Daily Prophet; the disgraceful picture of the-boy-who-once- was-stunning became the laughing stock of the wizarding world and no doubt part of the muggle world where Harry lived with his relatives.
Well when that power finally exploded like an H-bomb in his body Harry would be drained for more or less a few days depending on how powerful he was. Now, he really hadn't much of an idea of what would happen to Potter, it was highly unusual already that his body would be reacting that way since the only evidence of non human blood he could find was in the mother. He guessed perhaps it was the effect of the killing curse he had rebounded as a baby an infant.
The main point was that during that period while he was at his weakest it would be as easy as stealing candy from a baby to perform the ritual seizing what was once his and much, much more before ultimately eliminating the thorn in his side. In truth the ritual would leave him at a disadvantage for a maximum of a day until he would be powerful enough to blow the muggle world to kingdom come!
Someone coughed amongst the crowd of Death Eaters and impossible to discern who it was Voldemort snapped his red glare back to the man kneeling in front of him dutifully. With the wicked smirk he addressed him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Severus cursed under his breath listening to the Dark Lord's mention of the Yule holidays. He had long wished that day wouldn't come. The day when most influential Death Eaters would bring their families and among them their heirs to show them off in a battle of power, wit, financial status, and above all their sexual appeal.
It was around seventeen years ago during Tom Riddle's first reign that he wished to ensure his success by the numbering of his minions. Thus he ordered and sometimes set up his most loyal and powerful Death Eaters with women of poor blood and beautiful faces let alone grand fortunes under their family names.
Those whom had not met the dark lord's requirements and deadlines would be executed, tortured or jailed. And it was to Severus' shame that he took the necessary steps to achieve the downfall of the greatest threat the wizarding world had been under in centuries. He had lied with a heavy guilt and the knowledge that he would one day have to face the consequences to what he had done. Regardless whether Voldemort was gone or not. He had a son, a son brought into the world by force and a son born from the woman that he loved for so many years.
"Sseveruss," a low chuckle brought the dark haired man out of his daze and he looked quickly replacing his mask of indifference on his previously scowling face.
"Yes, my lord?" He asked but it wasn't necessary. Severus knew exactly what they were about to talk about and tried his hardest not to let the fear slip past him where the leather rope with fangs he'd come to know as Nagini smelled it and reported him.
"I have kept my silence for 17 years now Sseveruss." he replied slowly and tauntingly enjoying the look of unease behind the cold mask that the potions master thought he could fool him with. "When will you bring me your heir? I have waited long for a loyal Death Eater with your skill, as I presume your son must have." He waited expectantly as the man searched for a way to skirt the issue but found none finally being forced to answer.
Murmuring could be heard from the crowd of Death Eaters gathered and whispered accounts of what the older one's remembered were being spread. The noise went ignored and slowly died down by the dangerous hissing of their master's pet snake that leered at them and settle back down when all became silent.
"As promised many years ago my lord, I shall bring him during the Yules. I will have the mother relinquish her care of him. Dumbledore won't question me if I give the excuse of wanting to spend time with the brat over the holidays." He sneered not only showing but also feeling the contempt of having to stay in such close contact with the chosen boy.
"Good, good. And who my dear blade, is the said mother?"
"She is a Russian woman from a pureblood family going back several millennia, her name is Anastasia Kabachinskaya." A book that was left in his manor's library outlining the Snape family tree had indeed served its purpose after all. The Snape family which had originally started in Egypt proof of his dark eyes and hair became nomads beginning with an Egyptian princess conceived as a bastard child after a known sorcerer raped one of the Pharaohs daughters. The king in turn not only cursed the sorcerer but the child as well. That child had started the Snape line and turned the family into nomads traveling from country to country mixing with the purest wizarding lines. Akasha, the bastard daughter of a princess had done well in creating such a powerful line and emitting fear all over the world. Her name was more of a plague than Voldemort's would ever be and Severus was proud to be of that line. According to the book Kabachinskaya was from a Russian pureblooded family that descended from a powerful Czar of the wizarding Russia and a large chunk of Asia about 1500 years ago. Anastasia Kabachinskaya was his third cousin and if he knew anything of family loyalty in Russia then he knew her help would be easy to obtain.
Mainly he had picked her because she showed a resemblance to his son's maternal mother and would fit the purpose rather well causing no one to suspect any foul play on his side.
"Kabachinskaya? Of Czar Gustoff's line?" The dark lord looked unconvinced that the redheaded woman of such royal stature would mix lines with a British wizard, let alone Severus whom wasn't exactly what one would call a loving person. Then there was the fact that no one seemed to be sure of where the Snape's originated from, apparently it was a heavily guarded family secret. Something so well guarded that Voldemort himself doubted Snape knew where his family was from. "Where did you meet such a treat Sseveruss and how exactly did you get her into bed?" Several Death Eaters laughed in the back of the large chamber at the apparent joke of his anti- socialism and seeming lack of hygiene.
"On assignment in 1979 the year I joined your forces my lord. I was the one sent to western Russia to recruit willing wizards." It was no lie. Many Death Eaters had been sent on business to gather an army that could rival Germany's during World War II. It was still a good joke to laugh at for the light side. They only apparent foreign wizard to join was Karkaroff and he was a coward. Russia had its own problems to look after. And couldn't be bothered with a British dark lord.
"For your sake I hope this is true." Tom hissed venomously hoping to avoid the topic of his attempted recruiting in Asian and western European countries. "The boy is being schooled I presume? Obviously not in Hogwarts. Were you one of the smarter one's who sent him to Durmstrang Sseveruss?"
"He is schooled my lord, however privately. Last I heard his mother had a known tutor among the royals teach him. And at my request had a Dark Arts and Potions expert show him the ways of both crafts. I believe it to be a better alternative as there is no interference from silly things like Divination or Quidditch."
"Do you speak often with the mother?" Red eyes flicked over his face reading his eyes carefully secretly pleased having his future follower knowledgeable in the Dark Arts. Snape answered the question to the best of the ability.
"Once a year at the most. I frequently contact the boy's instructors for reports on his progress. Either than that I haven't seen Anastasia for seventeen years. I have never met my son although I know much about him, and he about me.
A disapproving glance was leveled his way and Severus bit his tongue knowing fully well Tom Riddle was not fond of ignorant fathers. As he had one that barely acknowledged his existence. He was sure he was about to receive the Cruciatus when a dangerous voice sent shivers down his spine.
"I am very disappointed Sseveruss, I would have expected better from you. The reason for my Death Eaters to produce sufficient heirs is for the purpose of them succeeding their fathers when they die. I plan to surpass time Sseveruss, you will not thus I need a proper replacement for you!" Nagini slithered forward without warning and encircled the dark haired man sneaking up his back and around his neck. Her tongue feathering across his cheek finding his scent and hissing in his ear no doubt to try and make him uncomfortable.
"Of course my lord. But I have no doubt the boy will turn out the way he should. He will be ready by the Yule holidays regardless. Be assured my lord you will have my heir in your service." He felt disgusted with himself practically binding himself with the promise of his son in the snake's hands. As it was the boy would never forgive him, let alone let him live once he found out what was going on. There was nothing to say his son wouldn't turn against him like he would eventually Dumbledore if he hadn't already.
"Before you are dismissed Sseveruss," those words brought a calm over his exhausted body and he exhaled slowly hoping it would be conspicuous. "What is the boy's name?"
The dark haired man was at a loss of words and his onyx colored eyes raked the stone steps where he kneeled desperately. The one flaw in his plan was the name! He couldn't let his son go by his present name. That would be suicide. And if he didn't pick a name quickly the apparent hesitation would be taken as a story made up to save his skin. It was then that Severus decided if there was some kind of a god and he was merciful then he would send him an answer quickly.
//A god? Severus, you should know better than that by now. If there were a god you'd long be in hell. My name isn't very important. But Mortifer would do for now. Mortifer Praeclarus Snape.\\ a chuckle followed the voice mocking him none to gently.
Someone had sent him an answer. Some merciful being had saved his life and filled his speechless mouth with words. He didn't care if he'd gone mad and started hallucinating voices. If the voices were as helpful as this one he certainly wouldn't mind having a head full of them.
"Mortifer, my lord. Mortifer Praeclarus Snape." He bowed and stood off his now aching knees after being dismissed without the Cruciatus to follow this time.
"Deadly beauty." The monster translated. The dark lord must have been pleased with the name as he smiled nastily and called upon another Death Eater to report to him.
"Oh and Sseveruss," Snape turned back around feeling foolish for jinxing himself. "Never turn your back on me again. Crucio!" And he fell to a heap on the floor biting his lip to the point of puncturing it to keep from screaming.
The once jealous Death Eaters now displayed pleased and smug looks on their faces as he writhed silently on the ground. The curse was excruciatingly long this time around and with the coppery taste of his own thin blood lacking in oxygen and sustained by potions he passed out hitting his head on the stone ground.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the twilight of the morning a barely muffled scream was issued from the smallest bedroom at four Privet Drive as Harry Potter awoke from a painful vision sent to him through the connection he had with the Dark Lord. A sense of confusion washed over him before the white-hot pain in his scar became too much and he too passed out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ He'd been traveling for a three and a half weeks! Three and a half bloody weeks and he called himself a wizard! Not even muggles took that long. The black form of a dog panted heavily sagging at the shoulders once he reached the familiar place, Magnolia Crescent where he had first saw his godson after twelve long years in Azkaban.
The prospect of being caught hung dangerously over his head and because of that Sirius tried his best to use as little magic as necessary in order to avoid getting tracked by the ministry. The spell he had used to heal his hand had been enough to remind the ministry he was out there and on his way out of the village his cave had been located above he noticed several Aurors scouting about. Luckily no one knew about Padfoot and he was able to stay that way and slip past them without any struggle. At the same time being forced to stay as a big shaggy dog just in case he ran across another wizard or witch.
On the bright side he concurred, at least that pesky voice had left him. In his opinion, time spent as Padfoot probably helped, as dogs didn't have alter egos or split personalities. Rabies and fleas yes, over intelligent and high on sarcasm voices, absolutely not!
He was hungry like most of his days and it was only a few streets away until he got to number four Privet Drive where perhaps he could get some food if Harry could acquire for him.
Making it to the silent and dark little house with it's immaculate garden where he could practically smell Harry's sweat and blood pouring off of it Sirius silently padded through the yard and to the back of the house.
It was nearing nightfall now and he could soon sneak into the back door of the Dursley house with the key that they hid on top of the doorframe, which he was able to reach easily and quietly slip in like Harry mentioned as a reply to Sirius' warning of his arrival.
Luckily the door didn't squeak upon admittance and Sirius snuck in heading for the stairs and avoiding the third to last one, which squeaked as he had been told. The house gave itself a normal appearance, representing a completely normal muggle family and completely normal surroundings. He knew better though for as soon as he swept passed the doors from where loud snores were being emitted the dog animagi's eyes landed on a locked bolt complete with padlock and under metal bolts. His godson's scent wafted from under the door.
A rush of anger surged in his veins and Sirius as good as saw red. A matador would be no match against the rampaging gusto that was Sirius Black when his godson was being mistreated. The only thing that stopped the man from murdering his godson's so called 'family' was the fact that he needed to be here for at least another week and a half. None the less the dark haired man made his way back downstairs and searched through every drawer he could come across checked the nails on the wall where several sets of keys were being held and even taken a very large meat knife and entered the master bedroom where there were two very strong snores coming from Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
It had been years he had to admit, at least seventeen since James and Lily's wedding since he had last seen the scowling face of Petunia Evans, now Dursley but the years hadn't been kind to her like he was sure they would have been on her sister had she lived. This stick-skinny, crane- necked, horse-faced woman had never before and apparently never would look like the late Lily Potter whom had shown with beauty even in her death. Lily had a some-what otherworldly beauty to her, impossible by most standards as she was a muggle-born but true.
Vernon Dursley was no better, in fact he was ten times worse. Perhaps the ugliest muggle Sirius had ever laid eyes on. And considering the places he'd been to he would have to admit Dursley was a disgrace to the human race. It was muggles like these that Sirius believed shouldn't be spared from Voldemort. If it were up to him he'd personally cast all three Unforgivables on them.
But before his temper got out of control and he started hacking away at the two sleeping adults with the sharp knife currently clutched in his hand like it was his life line he turned from them and began inspecting their bedside table drawers. He'd found quite a large sum of muggle money in the side table closest to Vernon and discreetly extracted half of what was in there reducing the sum drastically and giving him enough money to if needed support himself and if things didn't go right Harry as well.
There was still no sign of the keys that would match the padlock and he became frantic knowing fully well that not a breath of magic could be used as not to trip the alarms surrounding the house and wreaking magic for miles.
Growing desperate in his search Sirius went through the expensive looking wardrobe across the room once again finding nothing. He searched in the attached bathroom lavishly decorated with flowers and sweet smelling things. He searched through the walk in closet across the room; he searched under any loose floorboards and all the while silently enough as to not disturb the Dursley's.
//The necklace.\\ The voice was back and Sirius mentally groaned wondering what nonsense it was talking about. //The key is on Vernon's necklace!\\ It repeated again hissing much like a snake and very agitated.
Disregarding the fact that the voice actually came back and taking its words into consideration Sirius glimpsed at Vernon Dursley's wondering if he should listen to this 'Acerbus' character.
Would Vernon Dursley be paranoid enough to keep it on his body? Sirius shuddered at the thought but gripped the kitchen knife in his fist tightly and slowly made his way up to the man's side of the bed and hesitantly drew back the blanket enough to reveal the upper half of his torso.
And sure enough just above the collar of his pajama shirt was a golden chain leading down under the shirt and forming a lump in the shape of a small key at the end.
*The things I do for you Harry.* he shook his head and took a calming breath trying to keep his eyes from closing automatically as they usually did when something unpleasant came up.
Shakily reached under the snoring man's shirt keeping the bile rising in his throat down as his fingers came in contact with a patch of thick chest hair. A little further down and Sirius had stopped breathing completely holding his breath for a reason unknown to him until he felt the sharp edge of a small metal key. As if his life depended on it he struggled to unclasp the chain it was on without waking the sleeping muggles.
By now the man was turning blue in the face from lack of air and only when he unclasped it did he slid it off the chain and left the room inhaling sharply once the door was closed and he was in the hall once more making his way to the locked up room.
The key slid smoothly into the lock indicating it had been opened and closed many times and became worn with use. It was when Sirius stepped into the room that his grumbling stomach stopped protesting about the lack of food it had received, because the sleeping form of his godson malnourished and neglected when he felt lucky for what he had. He felt lucky that he had some form of freedom.
//Drop the knife.\\ The words were barely audible to the dog animagi and he didn't heed them instead looking around the small bedroom.
The room he was in was bare and cold compared to the others. A part of the wall where it was apparent there used to be a window was boarded up and all Harry had to sleep on was a dusty old mat. The paint on the walls was peeling off and had peculiar red splotches in certain areas. It was strange though, how it looked the exact color of dried blood.
//It looks like blood because it is blood Black. Harry Potter was created for one purpose according to Albus Dumbledore, to serve his purpose to society by ridding the wizarding world of Lord Voldemort. He had to be strong to do that and with the old fool's influence he would survive. If you don't help him, once he is changed there will be two Tom Riddle's on the loose. One, a man turned demon, the other, a demon turned Satan. No one cares if he gets a little scratched up in the process because it's assumed he'd jump back up like the little Golden Boy Dumbledore made him to be.\\
"No." he croaked falling to his knees lost to the rest of the world as the still sleeping boy unaware of his godfather's presence consumed his attention. Crawling on all fours much like a dog Sirius' hand shook as he reached out to push back the dark tresses on the teenagers face wondering what he would see. Would he see a monster purged into the depths of hate and death or would he see a child, the same child he had held fifteen years ago in his arms. His green eyes gleaming with innocence and his little mouth gurgling words only apparent to himself as he clutched to his godfathers hair and yanked it laughing at the look on the man's face the action emitted.
The hair he was currently fingering was no where as frizzy as it had been described to be, in fact it was smooth if not a little greasy from lack of cleansing which he could not be blamed for currently locked in a small room.
He moved aside a few locks gently hoping not to disturb the slumbering youth. A pale cheek became evident, silky to the touch and not a bit blemished except for one thing. A cut, a deep cut that led all the way to the boy's nose still opened and fresh seemingly clotted and on it's way to healing.
He brushed aside another few locks of hair and there were more cuts most paper thin and only enough to scratch the surface but the others deep as the last. But there were no apparent traces of acne.
The site brought tears to his eyes blinding him further with anger and thoughts of vengeance. This was no place for a child. How could someone do this to his or her flesh and blood? To a child! He wanted to scream and rant and hack away at something with the knife still fiercely clutched in his other hand. He was so occupied with future plans of murdering the Dursley's that Sirius didn't notice two sleepy and unfocused eyes opening clearly awakened by the sound of his harsh breathing.
He didn't notice he was harshly kneed in the groin and weakly tackled to the ground, a skinny hand going for one of his that held the kitchen knife and before he could do anything it wrenched free from him and the raven haired boy above him squinted down trying to discern his features without the use of his glasses and holding the knife threateningly above his face.
"W-w-who a-are you?" a voice long unused for anything but screaming croaked at him sore at its misuse. He was so taken aback by the hate in that voice that he couldn't answer. Harry must have long lost hope in his coming after so many weeks and forgotten Sirius' word that he'd be there before he turned sixteen.
"W-who are you!?" this time it was clearer and the knife was brought down near his neck close enough to his skin that he could feel it but far enough that it wouldn't cut him if he spoke.
"Harry it's me." He whispered keeping his hands where the boy could see them just in case the hand holding the knife slipped out of surprise and skimmed his throat. He should have listened to the voice and dropped the knife as soon as he stepped into the room.
Stormy green eyes stared down at him with a ferocity that he'd only encountered once in his life before, and that was when Harry thought he was the one that murdered his parents.
"Harry it's me Sirius." He tried again looking up into the face of the scarred boy. Those scars would stay with him for life he realized feeling a tear slip down his face. He was scared, trembling even but he didn't cry. He didn't think he cried when those cuts were being carved into his face, there were no tear tracks amongst the blood. Would he cry if he killed his own godfather by accident?
//I told you; you should have dropped the knife.\\ Acerbus wasn't mocking this time. He was tranquil and gentle feeling of sadness dripping from his voice and into the older man's mind. //I'll try and talk to him for you Black.\\ And before Sirius could wonder what he meant by it the voice was gone from his mind.
*I failed you James, I failed you and I'm sorry.* The look in Harry's eyes was blank and the face that once reminded him so much of his best friend blooded and changed. Changed in way that he could only notice when studying him intently. After all what else was there to do when you were being threatened by someone's blade?
It was strange how the once practically straight eyebrows now arched above his haunted eyes. The nose that had a curved tip now was straight pronounced and the end slightly upturned much like Lily's. In fact it was Lily's nose although bigger as to fit the rest of the face. His jaw once strong was now thin and pointed much like the rest of his face. Complimented by higher cheekbones he looked like a whole new person. A slightly more attractive Snape even with the scars.
*I'm hallucinating. That blow to the groin did me in and I'm in dreamland. Harry is not straddling me.wait a minute, no! Dirty mind! Harry is not straddling me with a knife to my throat and he does not look like a mix between Mad-Eye Moody and Severus Snape. In fact I scared the hell out of him and blacked out when he tackled me. I'm still dreaming.*
Sirius opened his eyes after closing them to mentally say that mantra and found that he was lying on the floor with the knife previously suspended by his jugular now on the floor by his right hand but Harry was still straddling him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*Vernon! Bastard! Think's he could get one up on me in my sleep! He'll pay, he'll pay with his own blood.* The word's churned over and over in his head until he noticed the body he was sitting atop was thin and malnourished much like his. Ragged clothing emphasized this man was not whom he thought him to be.
He demanded his identity but no answer came forth. He demanded again drawing the same exact knife that had been used to make ribbons of his skin to the man's jugular close enough to feel the knife's sharp blade.
He heard word's coming from the man's mouth but he couldn't hear them. He saw the pleading look in his dark brown eyes but he couldn't see them. He could smell the perspiration coming off the other but he couldn't smell them. He could feel but he couldn't feel as if his senses were working but his mind wasn't registering them.
He heard his own name, which hadn't been used since he had returned from Hogwarts. He heard his godfather's name but it didn't make a dent in his mind. They were just that, they were words that didn't make a difference when you were on the verge of insanity. And Harry was standing on the very brink of the abyss looking down into its deep black depth and the emptiness that radiated neither color nor feeling.
Then Ace came again. Ace would often come to him when he was this close. Draw him back a few feet and hold him there until he could move away himself.
//If you wish to murder your own godfather then do it right and do it now Mortifer.\\
*He's not my godfather! He held a knife. He held THE knife! He doesn't deserve death, he deserves the fate he wanted to throw onto me.*
//He deserves to be saved then?\\ a quiet whisper like the wind brushed his subconscious.
*Saved?* he wondered to himself not even noticing the knife slipping out of his grasp and onto the ground. The word was almost foreign by now. It had been weeks that had seemed like years of labor, beatings, starvation, being cut up like Sunday's dinner and verbal abuse. The rescue he had hoped for weeks ago seemed so far away now. That he could barely grasp the meaning of the word.
*Saved. To be safe. What's it like to be safe?* a feeling long forgotten. Something that left a mere scratch on his memory many years ago when the boisterous laughter of his parents could be heard and soft lullabies long forgotten. Warm arms encircling him and planting kisses on the top of his head. Soft murmurs of promises he's long wished to hear the same deep voice calling his name leading him from the abyss. *To be safe is to be loved.* Those touches and whispers were soon becoming reality.
"Harry. Harry wake up. Snap out of it. Harry it's me, it's Sirius." Lean strong arms wrapped around his frail body as it shook after being drawn back into reality. "Merlin, Harry I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner. If I'd known I would have risked the Aurors. I'm getting you out of this.this.PLACE! God James forgive me, I've failed you." The ramblings of the other man finally settled in his mind and Harry wrapped his own once slack arms around the other man squeezing the air out of his lungs but receiving a positive response.
"Sirius." He whispered burying his face in his godfather's bony shoulder and digging his cheek into it opening some of the newer cuts on his face. He didn't feel the pain and stinging on his cheek or notice the blood that seeped out of the many slashes on his face as he reveled the feeling of being in caring arms again.
"It's ok kiddo, I'm here. I'm getting you out of here." Sirius felt his own tears cascade down his godson's back holding him gently making sure not to jar any other injuries he might have had.
"No! We can't leave not yet!" he suddenly tensed and shook his head vehemently grasping his tattered robes with paranoia. This only proved one thing that his godson was not yet broken. However he was very close to being so.
"I don't care what this contact of yours said but I don't think they anticipated this. I'm not letting you stay with these monsters another moment."
"I can't help but feel my contact wouldn't care Sirius. He is helping me for one cause and one cause only. Because he seeks redemption for his past sins and as his son I am the only one who can give it to him."
"Son?" Sirius pulled back and looked at the boys face intently. There was no sign of insanity or confusion in his eyes just pure determination. "Harry your father is dead."
"James Potter is dead and so will Harry Potter be. I don't know the full story yet but I know my name isn't Harry Potter and James was never my father."
"Harry your speaking nonsense." His voice rose in anger. What had these muggles been telling him? Had they used his weakened resolve to brainwash him somehow or had a Death Eater gotten to him already? Could it be possible that the Dursley's were under Imperius? As far as Sirius was concerned anything was possible but there was no doubt that Harry was James' son.
"Do you know what Acerbus told me Sirius?" Silence. Deadly silence fell on the older man and he went pale as a sheet.
*We're both mad and sharing a pesky subconscious voice. That's it. Nothing out of the ordinary.* It took all of his resolve not to faint right then and there in the boy's arms.
"H-Harry did you just say Acerbus?"
"He told me that the same people that walk all over me today will beg for mercy from me tomorrow. They will grovel and snivel at my feet like they never did for Voldemort. Look at me Sirius." He spoke and ordered the man in a weak but imperial manner.
And the older man obeyed locked into place by the now blazing green eyes.
"Would the son of James Potter wish death upon the human race, would he be master sinner next to Voldemort and the Death Eaters?"
"No." he answered his godson feeling the boy wipe away stray tears that once again started cascading down his face.
"You're right he wouldn't. I wished so desperately to have something of my fathers that I charmed myself into looking like him without knowing it. But when hope abandoned me I had nothing left not even memories, my magic began failing and my body began preparing. It's preparing even now and I could feel the change only days away. You can see it too right? Despite the cuts you can see it."
He nodded feeling the boy shift in his position on his lap and rest his head on his shoulder. Sirius never relinquished his embrace.
"Who do I look like Sirius?" And the older man knew without hesitation there was only one man this boy resembled and he answered correctly.
"Snape. You look like Snape."
"And who is my contact Sirius?"
"Snape."
"Yes, and would the son of a Snape wish death upon others? Would Snape's son speak of Dumbledore like he was a fool? Would he threaten his own godfather under a blade's sharp edge? Would he have enough bitterness and sin on his shoulders to condemn him to the fiery depths of hell?"
"No!" He screamed clutching to him and making the boy wince crushing his broken ribs. "No because Snape's son still has Lily's blood in him. And Lily's son would never wish death on anyone. Lily's son took a pathetic man's word and believed him when no one else would. Lily's son would only act in self-defense. Lily's son would sacrifice himself for the one's he loved just like she did for him. Lily's son would never let his mother's sacrifice go in vain."
"And Lily made me promise her I'd take care of her son. And I will. We all sin a little Harry, it's only human nature." He declared fiercely now loosening his grip when the boy's breathing became erratic and he gripped his robes tighter.
"But what if you're not human? Then what? Are you forgiven for your past? Or are you even more heavily punished?"
"There's nothing in this world that hasn't done something bad Harry. No one is completely innocent so stop this sin crap. You haven't done anything but thought, thinking doesn't warrant an eternity in hell. And even if it did then I'd be going down with you for the same reasons."
"A wizards word only binds him until either he or the other party whom he made a pact with dies. My mother is long dead and so was James. You're released from your duties." Eyes that were blazing green flames became dulled and dilated to the point where his eyes were almost completely black leaving a thin outline of dark green around them. He was slipping away again.
"No one expected me to love you Harry. Not your mother nor James, not even myself. But the first time I held you in my arms I felt like I loved you more than either of them could. I made a promise to you that day, if you decided to become a Death Eater I'd lead you through to the very top with as little pain on your side as possible. If you want to become the next dark lord, I'll be the first to serve you. But if you want this then snap out of whatever you're in and act like a dark lord! Look at you you're dieing from the inside, your mind is slowly rotting and soon you'll become exactly like Voldemort. And when you become Voldemort you may kill him but you'd only make another Harry Potter to take your place. One that may be more abused than you have ever been. Do you want that?"
He whispered in the boy's ear gently despite his harsh words and rocked him into a lull.
"You love me?" he was met with an incredulous look and Sirius remembered how alien love was to him.
"More than Snape ever could. I found the strength to escape Azkaban for you; I continued to fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters in secret for you. I came here for you. I'm holding you because I love you like my own son. And I'm going to get you out of here because I care for you."
"I don't need another father. I won't be your surrogate son Sirius." Harry said and the look on the other man's face was dejected. "Fate has assigned a task for every father figure I've ever had. They've deserted me, abused me, used me, or jibed at my expense and hurt me intentionally. You can't be another father figure because you're none of those. Fate designed a different task for you, she designed you to watch me sin, she designed you to stand by my side."
Harry's eyes roved his rugged face and weathered lips imagining what those lips would feel like on his and somewhere in the back of his mind wondering where these thoughts were coming from. Was this the kind of love he wanted from the man? A relationship of sorts? Looking into yearning chocolate brown eyes he realized that he did. These thoughts wouldn't let him be and he all of a sudden realized why Sirius had been so important to him. His mind always knew this would happen, so did his soul.
God was going to punish him for this, but he didn't care. His punishment couldn't be worse than his current life was.
"Fate is a sadistic mistress Harry and we are her toys, we aren't told what our parts in life are we just play along." He told the young man mournfully his eyes skimming that scarred face as the jagged red marks slowly disappeared before his eyes and he had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. His eyes traveled to parched pale lips where a small pink tongue darted out to wet them. He was speaking of completely different matters now and Harry knew it.
"Harry what could I possibly do but be a father to you? I'm twenty years your senior, I'm your designated godfather. I was meant to look after you."
"Who are you trying to convince Siri? Yourself or me?" Harry's arms looped around his neck and he all of a sudden became aware of the erection he had been sporting for a good fifteen minutes now as the raven haired young man ground his own into him barely stifling a moan.
He felt a kiss being planted on the side of his neck and a soft voice whisper to him almost making him come on the spot. "Fate is sadistic, yes. But when we do her bidding she rewards us, we have both served to her amusement and now its time to be rewarded." Long slim fingers tangled in his hair and lips that could only be chaste in his eyes at the moment leaned into his own cracked ones.
*What am I doing? This is my godson! Lord I'm going to hell for this!*
//You're going to hell anyways Black why not enjoy the ride there?\\ Acerbus chuckled and the thought of bringing Harry down with him urged him to push the young man back gently.
"Fate rewards no one Harry, especially not sinners."
"Then you believe in sin? You believe in this menial god that condemns our kind? I'm being punished for something my soul did a long, long time ago. You're being punished for associating with me. What's the point in being saints?"
"I wear a catholic cross. Ideas have been drilled into me that go against my very existence. Of course I believe in a higher being. Of course I believe in a heaven and hell. But Jesus didn't come out of it unscathed either. He was like us. He was a rebel who fought for his beliefs. And he was crucified for it. I'm not going to let that happen to you Harry. We're leaving this place and we're going to lead normal lives someplace in Australia or America or Japan if need be. But I won't add to our troubles any further, we have enough." He spoke with such reverence that Sirius almost believed himself. He'd do anything to salvage a normal life for his godson, absolutely anything and if denying himself happiness was what he had to do then so be it.
"Listen to yourself talk Sirius. It's too late! I'm already on my way to being crucified! The day I received this," he pointed to the lightening bolt scar on his forehead. "Was the day my death certificate was signed. Are you going to refuse this little happiness for me? I'll die if you do for sure, I can't keep fighting in vain of everything." He paused and bit his own lip searching the other man's face and finding the same yearning in his eyes as before.
"Kiss me. Love me. Hold me. Hurt me if you must. Just don't sit there doing nothing." Liquid ruby crystals flowed from his eyes and Sirius looked at them alarmed. "It's a part of the change." Harry answered his unasked question and leaned in while the other man was still caught in surprise only to be pushed away again.
"Fate rewards no one especially not sinners. This is a test of wills Harry and if we pass it then we can be free." He pushed him off his lap and in a sitting position by his side fighting his own mind from taking the actions that he desired so much. "Your lips are like sin," he said running a tanned finger over the young man's parched lips as they slowly healed and became soft right in front of his eyes and just when Harry opened his mouth and his tongue darted out touching his finger he pulled it away as if he were burned. "To touch is a sin."
"Then we can sin together!" And the boy leapt up on his lap again. Determined arms snaked around his neck again and pale inexperienced lips finally came in contact with his.
They had sinned and Harry paid the price for it only moments after as a scream erupted from his already damaged voice chords. Privet Drive was woken up by his bellow and Sirius Black struggled to restrain the flailing young man as bright light started to envelope him and Acerbus' laugh echoed the room instead of just their minds.
//Alas! Gloom and Death will walk hand in hand again!\\
TBC..
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*ATER'S NOTE*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
WEEEEE!!!! Chapter 3 is finished! Sorry all school has really been taking a toll on me and I haven't had any time to write lately. And as you can tell this attempt isn't very good either I feel like a kinder gardener putting together these measly sentences with poor vocabulary. ARGGH!! It's very nerve wracking.
If for some reason you don't understand anything let me know and I'll do my best to clear things up. Please, please, please, please, please, please with a huge cherry on top REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!!!
Summary: When all goes wrong in Harry's life he wishes he were never born. A normal life seems to be out of his league and the continuous jibes and lies thrown at him put him back at square one. But when Harry Potter gets a break the world suddenly hates him for it. HP/?? Slash!
"Fate is a sadistic mistress and we are her toys, Harry," He was told mournfully. "But when we do her bidding she rewards us, we have both served to her amusement, now it's time to be rewarded." Harry answered him slowly moving closer to chaste lips. "Fate rewards no one especially not sinners." he was gently pushed away. "Your lips are like sin, to touch is a sin." "Then we can sin together!" Harry cried out. (little snippet to get you interested!)
Rated: R
Disclaimer: I have nothing that would be worth suing me over, I own nothing in this story except for the plot and a few made up characters, so don't complain if I accidentally use some thing that's not mine.
Chapter 2: Gloom, Doom And The Mistress Fate
Wales is said to be a peaceful vacationing spot. During it's summers flowers sprout in yards, morning birds sing their praises to the world. The trees flourish and thicken with rich green leaves. Tourists mill on old cobbled streets and retire to rented cabins or to booked rooms in ancient remodeled hotels.
But in a fortress far, far, into the Cambrian Mountains where the wind whipped lazily against the stone walls and the thick glass windows sometimes disturbing the snow at the very peaks of the mountains Voldemort sat on his thrown looking over his newly gathered Death Eater army. His loyal followers were all eager for the events of July 31st, which would transpire in as little as two and a half weeks time from now.
His crimson eyes narrowed passing some suspicious characters that deemed themselves loyal Death Eaters. He had no doubt they were long ago during his first reign but since his come back all he could smell was fear and guilt off of them. Nagini who was curled up at the base of his throne by his feet hissing ominously at anyone who looked her way had helped him root out a few traitors in the last weeks.
"My loyal Death Eaters!" he shouted bringing them to attention. Stretching every 'S' in his words out into a hissing sound. Many were kept back from laughing at their master's lisp only by fear of being punished for it. While certain new recruits had to go as far as bite their tongues to the point of drawing blood.
"In just two weeks and three days time we will execute the plan that will ensure my immortality by taking back what is rightfully mine and once and for all ridding myself of the Potter boy." Tom Marvolo Riddle's obsession with the-boy-who-wouldn't-die had become somewhat of a joke amongst his followers. Although the need to keep their master happy silenced them many rolled their eyes behind their white masks and scoffed to themselves. They had heard enough of the Potter boy already. They were thirsty for blood, impure blood that needed to be spilled in rivers that would cascade down the streets and emphasize their power.
They had the power to take over the wizarding world, yet the snake sitting on a regal thrown looking down upon them pursued his silly immortality quest through a fifteen-year-old boy's death. Shameful, it was simply shameful to attack children. At least that is what Severus Snape thought as he listened to the full accounted plan of what would happen the night of the Gryffindor's birthday. He had heard this plan from both Dumbledore and Voldemort so many times now that he just about had it imprinted in his head.
That wasn't to say that Potter was a lost cause, son of James Potter the bane of his very existence up until his death in which case his son inherited that spot. The boy contrary to what he impressed upon the public, wasn't half bad. Over the years Severus had learned people were foolish, often underestimating him or overestimating him. This year it was the former. It was ironic how the ones that worshipped the very toilet tissue he used to wipe his arse with dropped him the moment he stepped through the large doors of the Great Hall at the beginning of the year.
But then again hadn't the Death Eaters dropped Voldemort like a sack of heavy potatoes when he mysteriously died after being hit by his own killing curse? Most if not all did only to flock to him now that he's risen again. The dark haired man that stood near the back of the group gathered for another one of the Dark Lord's speeches wondered idly if the wizarding world would flock back to Potter once he's changed? No doubt they would but the real question was would Potter forgive them like the good little Gryffindor he was?
With Dumbledore's influence he probably would. But Severus had plans to get rid of that influence as soon as possible. He just had to find it first, and try not to kill the boy while removing it.
"Ssseverusss my 'blade'," the dark lord hissed bringing him out of his reverie and he made through the crowd of Death Eaters arriving at the front and kneeling before the steps that led to Voldemort's throne. As he had become accustomed to Nagini's diagnosis as he now called it. The snake would slither down and sniff at him with her tongue trying to discern his loyalty. She would sniff out guilt most of the time. He smirked when she retreated satisfied with the examination. He felt no guilt for his betrayal so she wouldn't find anything on him.
"As usual Severus you come up clean. I had often wondered of your loyalty, spending so much time with that old fool Dumbledore cannot be healthy." A bemused chuckle touched his lipless mouth and the monster's nostril flared on his flat nose.
"I am forever loyal to you my lord." He replied repulsed on the inside but kept it covered up with a false sense of pride.
"Yes, well we shall see. What news do you have from Hogwarts Ssseveruss." For some reason the dark lord took much pleasure saying his name. It aggravated him hearing the name his mother gave him coming from that disgusting creature's mouth.
//Serves you right.\\ for a moment Severus almost imagined that that was his own voice talking to himself. He wasn't as insecure as to have doubts of his own sanity though. He ignored the pesky voice and answered 'his lord'.
"Dumbledore believes you are planning something my lord. Your silence greatly concerns him. The doddering old man has placed extra protections on Potter's house this year, and has forbade the boy from leaving his muggle residence." Now Severus thought carefully, he had to plant something in Voldemort's mind that would perhaps give him second thoughts about killing Harry, it would give them a heck of a lot more time to formulate a plan of defense or offense and it would take the suspicion off of him.
"My lord. Potter begins to doubt Dumbledore's sincerity. He's been reading up on Dark Arts in the restricted section as well. Isolating himself from everyone this past year he's been acting very peculiar."
Yes, there was definitely some small amount of glee on the dark lord's face. But Severus didn't dare mention how useful the boy would be to them.
"He is rather angry that Dumbledore won't tell him the truth of his heritage as well. And as you've asked I've followed Potter around, he's miserable about his current situation, on the brink of suicide, his mind is very vulnerable." He hinted finally. A long moment of silence reined the room while Tom Riddle contemplated the passing events with a feral smile.
"That may be Ssseveruss, he would make a powerful ally no doubt. Too powerful perhaps." Voldemort frowned absentmindedly and many Death Eaters in the room whispered perplexedly naturally knowing nothing of what was happening to Harry Potter but assuming it was a good thing as their lord had been in a rather good mood for more than half the year.
"SILENCE!" The dark lord bellowed having the Death Eaters cease all conversation. "I cannot deny that using Potter for the ultimate demise of Dumbledore would be a brilliant idea with minimal effort on our part. However." he paused raking his snake like eyes over his followers in the eeriest way making them shiver and shudder. "However letting him live could cost us greatly afterwards, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts completely. If he is allowed to live he will corrupt us."
The irony that Voldemort used a muggle quote had not escaped Severus; neither had the fact that Voldemort spoke of them as an entity but didn't mean it in the slightest. It was all about him and if you were intuitive then you would realize that Tom Riddle was afraid of a mere teenager getting the best of him. Severus was one of those intuitive people, unfortunately so was Lucius Malfoy.
Malfoy whom had been standing in front of the Death Eater group like some kind of king amongst men sauntered over like he owned the fortress and knelt gracefully at the feet of the thrown a step above Severus.
"My lord, if I may?" he asked for permission to speak with his usual haughty manner. Waited for Nagini's inspection and the Dark Lord's permission before addressing his master.
"If you must Lucius." The dark lord spoke shortly annoyed indicating that the man would be greatly punished for coming forward without being asked beforehand and further more punished if he did speak.
"My lordship what is to become of Potter on his birthday? My son Draco who currently attends Hogwarts in Potter's year tells me the boy is having problems maturing. Surely if he were powerful then he wouldn't be showing signs of muggle problems?" He spat the word muggle as if it were the lowest form of bacteria could reach. And to Lucius it literally was.
Wrong move.
"Crucio!" Voldemort's wand was trained on the blonde currently kneeling on the steps and released a red light hitting him straight in the chest and making him howl in pain stumbling backwards and sprawling on the ground behind Severus having muscle contractions. His screams of pain were rather screams of surprise had died down only moments before their master stopped his onslaught with the Cruciatus. Lucius was very accustomed to the curse by now therefore Severus couldn't find any reason for his screams either than Voldemort's rise in strength.
"You have become too arrogant for my taste Malfoy. If you dare question me again I will have you drawn and quartered before you can say your son's name. And I don't want to hear another word of your son before this Yule Lucius, I won't accept his incompetence in my circle without a proper demonstration of his power." The slight flinch from Snape whom had been waiting patiently on his knees didn't go unnoticed by Voldemort or the muttered curse that he said quietly. Setting that aside for later purpose he turned back to the blonde panting on the stone floor and fighting for control over his quivering body.
Tom Riddle was all too aware that he had struck a nerve with the blonde. Lucius Malfoy was a very influential man, but above all he was a very proud one if not slightly stupid and blunt. His son was his greatest asset. If he'd ever met a man more proud of his brat than Lucius then he was sure that man didn't mind incest in the family. As it was Tom wasn't sure what the blonde's relationship with his son was but he frankly didn't care much for blondes, brunettes were his specialty. He glanced at Severus still kneeling by the bottom step obediently. With a malicious smirk Voldemort darted his forked tongue across his mouth smelling out the air around the Potions Master.
Feisty brunettes were even better.
Severus had come to him with an offer he couldn't refuse some eighteen years ago. It was simple, he needed an expert potions brewer and Severus was just the man to do it. He showed no outward emotion and his actions along with his rumored social life or lack thereof proved he had very little on the inside. The young man was the perfect candidate able to kill ruthlessly and aimlessly just for a thrill. Fresh out of Hogwarts, Snape proved to be a great asset. Earning his trust and climbing through the ranks and into his inner circle by his second year in service giving the veneer or cool intellect and sending waves of bitter ambiance. The man's mind was absolutely brilliant, brilliant to the extent that he had to keep a distance from him. Slytherins were ambitious and they sought out glory in life. What was to say Severus wouldn't easily backstab him in the end? And Voldemort had no doubt he still would, so carefully he kept him out of his inner circle and on an espionage project that kept him in close contact with the light side.
That reminded him of a different brunette he'd had the pleasure or displeasure of meeting. Harry Potter, his number one enemy ranking number one on his hit list just above Dumbledore. In his childhood the boy was beautiful. He remembered the boy in his first year, so small and innocent. Pale skin almost the color of snow, dark ebony hair so disarrayed and messy it looked like a dark hallow. Vibrant green eyes although not quite unnatural, as some might believe. They were more of a forest green only giving the impression of precious jewels behind those hideous spectacles he wore while under the lights glare.
In a way the boy reminded him of Severus, strong, proud, and deceitful when he had to be. The only problem was that he was stupid. That stupidity that his father carried had carried through and formed into Gryffindor assets. His arch-nemesis had done well to mold that Gryffindor mind; the boy would have been a natural Slytherin otherwise. Curse Dumbledore! Curse his own mistakes for trying to kill the boy instead of kidnapping him and raising him as his own!
The dark lord sighed realizing he was acting up in front of his servants and discreetly took a calming breath watching as Malfoy finally crawled away and reentered the Death Eater crowd. No matter how hard he tried though he couldn't get his mind off the child he would soon kill.
Tom would never admit to many mistakes he had made but that was one of his biggest. Harry Potter could have been great! With a pure blood line like his that went back to the time of the founders and his mother's species' intellect and power! The mother, his thoughts often trailed to the redheaded vixen. She was beautiful, graceful, powerful, and above all a druid. As Tom had always be a stickler for the beautiful he had been reluctant to kill what would have been the last of the druid race, or the near last. In truth Tom had formulated a plan to break the woman and take her as his own creating an heir that could have possibly rivaled Harry Potter.
There were endless possibilities that could have occurred had he thought some of them through further. In his haste to get rid of a problem known as the Potters he had created an even bigger one condemning himself and leaving only one last approach to deal with the situation. To kill the boy.
The man that called himself Voldemort knew for a fact that the boy's change had been draining him of power and building it up. Proof had even been supplied in the Daily Prophet; the disgraceful picture of the-boy-who-once- was-stunning became the laughing stock of the wizarding world and no doubt part of the muggle world where Harry lived with his relatives.
Well when that power finally exploded like an H-bomb in his body Harry would be drained for more or less a few days depending on how powerful he was. Now, he really hadn't much of an idea of what would happen to Potter, it was highly unusual already that his body would be reacting that way since the only evidence of non human blood he could find was in the mother. He guessed perhaps it was the effect of the killing curse he had rebounded as a baby an infant.
The main point was that during that period while he was at his weakest it would be as easy as stealing candy from a baby to perform the ritual seizing what was once his and much, much more before ultimately eliminating the thorn in his side. In truth the ritual would leave him at a disadvantage for a maximum of a day until he would be powerful enough to blow the muggle world to kingdom come!
Someone coughed amongst the crowd of Death Eaters and impossible to discern who it was Voldemort snapped his red glare back to the man kneeling in front of him dutifully. With the wicked smirk he addressed him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Severus cursed under his breath listening to the Dark Lord's mention of the Yule holidays. He had long wished that day wouldn't come. The day when most influential Death Eaters would bring their families and among them their heirs to show them off in a battle of power, wit, financial status, and above all their sexual appeal.
It was around seventeen years ago during Tom Riddle's first reign that he wished to ensure his success by the numbering of his minions. Thus he ordered and sometimes set up his most loyal and powerful Death Eaters with women of poor blood and beautiful faces let alone grand fortunes under their family names.
Those whom had not met the dark lord's requirements and deadlines would be executed, tortured or jailed. And it was to Severus' shame that he took the necessary steps to achieve the downfall of the greatest threat the wizarding world had been under in centuries. He had lied with a heavy guilt and the knowledge that he would one day have to face the consequences to what he had done. Regardless whether Voldemort was gone or not. He had a son, a son brought into the world by force and a son born from the woman that he loved for so many years.
"Sseveruss," a low chuckle brought the dark haired man out of his daze and he looked quickly replacing his mask of indifference on his previously scowling face.
"Yes, my lord?" He asked but it wasn't necessary. Severus knew exactly what they were about to talk about and tried his hardest not to let the fear slip past him where the leather rope with fangs he'd come to know as Nagini smelled it and reported him.
"I have kept my silence for 17 years now Sseveruss." he replied slowly and tauntingly enjoying the look of unease behind the cold mask that the potions master thought he could fool him with. "When will you bring me your heir? I have waited long for a loyal Death Eater with your skill, as I presume your son must have." He waited expectantly as the man searched for a way to skirt the issue but found none finally being forced to answer.
Murmuring could be heard from the crowd of Death Eaters gathered and whispered accounts of what the older one's remembered were being spread. The noise went ignored and slowly died down by the dangerous hissing of their master's pet snake that leered at them and settle back down when all became silent.
"As promised many years ago my lord, I shall bring him during the Yules. I will have the mother relinquish her care of him. Dumbledore won't question me if I give the excuse of wanting to spend time with the brat over the holidays." He sneered not only showing but also feeling the contempt of having to stay in such close contact with the chosen boy.
"Good, good. And who my dear blade, is the said mother?"
"She is a Russian woman from a pureblood family going back several millennia, her name is Anastasia Kabachinskaya." A book that was left in his manor's library outlining the Snape family tree had indeed served its purpose after all. The Snape family which had originally started in Egypt proof of his dark eyes and hair became nomads beginning with an Egyptian princess conceived as a bastard child after a known sorcerer raped one of the Pharaohs daughters. The king in turn not only cursed the sorcerer but the child as well. That child had started the Snape line and turned the family into nomads traveling from country to country mixing with the purest wizarding lines. Akasha, the bastard daughter of a princess had done well in creating such a powerful line and emitting fear all over the world. Her name was more of a plague than Voldemort's would ever be and Severus was proud to be of that line. According to the book Kabachinskaya was from a Russian pureblooded family that descended from a powerful Czar of the wizarding Russia and a large chunk of Asia about 1500 years ago. Anastasia Kabachinskaya was his third cousin and if he knew anything of family loyalty in Russia then he knew her help would be easy to obtain.
Mainly he had picked her because she showed a resemblance to his son's maternal mother and would fit the purpose rather well causing no one to suspect any foul play on his side.
"Kabachinskaya? Of Czar Gustoff's line?" The dark lord looked unconvinced that the redheaded woman of such royal stature would mix lines with a British wizard, let alone Severus whom wasn't exactly what one would call a loving person. Then there was the fact that no one seemed to be sure of where the Snape's originated from, apparently it was a heavily guarded family secret. Something so well guarded that Voldemort himself doubted Snape knew where his family was from. "Where did you meet such a treat Sseveruss and how exactly did you get her into bed?" Several Death Eaters laughed in the back of the large chamber at the apparent joke of his anti- socialism and seeming lack of hygiene.
"On assignment in 1979 the year I joined your forces my lord. I was the one sent to western Russia to recruit willing wizards." It was no lie. Many Death Eaters had been sent on business to gather an army that could rival Germany's during World War II. It was still a good joke to laugh at for the light side. They only apparent foreign wizard to join was Karkaroff and he was a coward. Russia had its own problems to look after. And couldn't be bothered with a British dark lord.
"For your sake I hope this is true." Tom hissed venomously hoping to avoid the topic of his attempted recruiting in Asian and western European countries. "The boy is being schooled I presume? Obviously not in Hogwarts. Were you one of the smarter one's who sent him to Durmstrang Sseveruss?"
"He is schooled my lord, however privately. Last I heard his mother had a known tutor among the royals teach him. And at my request had a Dark Arts and Potions expert show him the ways of both crafts. I believe it to be a better alternative as there is no interference from silly things like Divination or Quidditch."
"Do you speak often with the mother?" Red eyes flicked over his face reading his eyes carefully secretly pleased having his future follower knowledgeable in the Dark Arts. Snape answered the question to the best of the ability.
"Once a year at the most. I frequently contact the boy's instructors for reports on his progress. Either than that I haven't seen Anastasia for seventeen years. I have never met my son although I know much about him, and he about me.
A disapproving glance was leveled his way and Severus bit his tongue knowing fully well Tom Riddle was not fond of ignorant fathers. As he had one that barely acknowledged his existence. He was sure he was about to receive the Cruciatus when a dangerous voice sent shivers down his spine.
"I am very disappointed Sseveruss, I would have expected better from you. The reason for my Death Eaters to produce sufficient heirs is for the purpose of them succeeding their fathers when they die. I plan to surpass time Sseveruss, you will not thus I need a proper replacement for you!" Nagini slithered forward without warning and encircled the dark haired man sneaking up his back and around his neck. Her tongue feathering across his cheek finding his scent and hissing in his ear no doubt to try and make him uncomfortable.
"Of course my lord. But I have no doubt the boy will turn out the way he should. He will be ready by the Yule holidays regardless. Be assured my lord you will have my heir in your service." He felt disgusted with himself practically binding himself with the promise of his son in the snake's hands. As it was the boy would never forgive him, let alone let him live once he found out what was going on. There was nothing to say his son wouldn't turn against him like he would eventually Dumbledore if he hadn't already.
"Before you are dismissed Sseveruss," those words brought a calm over his exhausted body and he exhaled slowly hoping it would be conspicuous. "What is the boy's name?"
The dark haired man was at a loss of words and his onyx colored eyes raked the stone steps where he kneeled desperately. The one flaw in his plan was the name! He couldn't let his son go by his present name. That would be suicide. And if he didn't pick a name quickly the apparent hesitation would be taken as a story made up to save his skin. It was then that Severus decided if there was some kind of a god and he was merciful then he would send him an answer quickly.
//A god? Severus, you should know better than that by now. If there were a god you'd long be in hell. My name isn't very important. But Mortifer would do for now. Mortifer Praeclarus Snape.\\ a chuckle followed the voice mocking him none to gently.
Someone had sent him an answer. Some merciful being had saved his life and filled his speechless mouth with words. He didn't care if he'd gone mad and started hallucinating voices. If the voices were as helpful as this one he certainly wouldn't mind having a head full of them.
"Mortifer, my lord. Mortifer Praeclarus Snape." He bowed and stood off his now aching knees after being dismissed without the Cruciatus to follow this time.
"Deadly beauty." The monster translated. The dark lord must have been pleased with the name as he smiled nastily and called upon another Death Eater to report to him.
"Oh and Sseveruss," Snape turned back around feeling foolish for jinxing himself. "Never turn your back on me again. Crucio!" And he fell to a heap on the floor biting his lip to the point of puncturing it to keep from screaming.
The once jealous Death Eaters now displayed pleased and smug looks on their faces as he writhed silently on the ground. The curse was excruciatingly long this time around and with the coppery taste of his own thin blood lacking in oxygen and sustained by potions he passed out hitting his head on the stone ground.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the twilight of the morning a barely muffled scream was issued from the smallest bedroom at four Privet Drive as Harry Potter awoke from a painful vision sent to him through the connection he had with the Dark Lord. A sense of confusion washed over him before the white-hot pain in his scar became too much and he too passed out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ He'd been traveling for a three and a half weeks! Three and a half bloody weeks and he called himself a wizard! Not even muggles took that long. The black form of a dog panted heavily sagging at the shoulders once he reached the familiar place, Magnolia Crescent where he had first saw his godson after twelve long years in Azkaban.
The prospect of being caught hung dangerously over his head and because of that Sirius tried his best to use as little magic as necessary in order to avoid getting tracked by the ministry. The spell he had used to heal his hand had been enough to remind the ministry he was out there and on his way out of the village his cave had been located above he noticed several Aurors scouting about. Luckily no one knew about Padfoot and he was able to stay that way and slip past them without any struggle. At the same time being forced to stay as a big shaggy dog just in case he ran across another wizard or witch.
On the bright side he concurred, at least that pesky voice had left him. In his opinion, time spent as Padfoot probably helped, as dogs didn't have alter egos or split personalities. Rabies and fleas yes, over intelligent and high on sarcasm voices, absolutely not!
He was hungry like most of his days and it was only a few streets away until he got to number four Privet Drive where perhaps he could get some food if Harry could acquire for him.
Making it to the silent and dark little house with it's immaculate garden where he could practically smell Harry's sweat and blood pouring off of it Sirius silently padded through the yard and to the back of the house.
It was nearing nightfall now and he could soon sneak into the back door of the Dursley house with the key that they hid on top of the doorframe, which he was able to reach easily and quietly slip in like Harry mentioned as a reply to Sirius' warning of his arrival.
Luckily the door didn't squeak upon admittance and Sirius snuck in heading for the stairs and avoiding the third to last one, which squeaked as he had been told. The house gave itself a normal appearance, representing a completely normal muggle family and completely normal surroundings. He knew better though for as soon as he swept passed the doors from where loud snores were being emitted the dog animagi's eyes landed on a locked bolt complete with padlock and under metal bolts. His godson's scent wafted from under the door.
A rush of anger surged in his veins and Sirius as good as saw red. A matador would be no match against the rampaging gusto that was Sirius Black when his godson was being mistreated. The only thing that stopped the man from murdering his godson's so called 'family' was the fact that he needed to be here for at least another week and a half. None the less the dark haired man made his way back downstairs and searched through every drawer he could come across checked the nails on the wall where several sets of keys were being held and even taken a very large meat knife and entered the master bedroom where there were two very strong snores coming from Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
It had been years he had to admit, at least seventeen since James and Lily's wedding since he had last seen the scowling face of Petunia Evans, now Dursley but the years hadn't been kind to her like he was sure they would have been on her sister had she lived. This stick-skinny, crane- necked, horse-faced woman had never before and apparently never would look like the late Lily Potter whom had shown with beauty even in her death. Lily had a some-what otherworldly beauty to her, impossible by most standards as she was a muggle-born but true.
Vernon Dursley was no better, in fact he was ten times worse. Perhaps the ugliest muggle Sirius had ever laid eyes on. And considering the places he'd been to he would have to admit Dursley was a disgrace to the human race. It was muggles like these that Sirius believed shouldn't be spared from Voldemort. If it were up to him he'd personally cast all three Unforgivables on them.
But before his temper got out of control and he started hacking away at the two sleeping adults with the sharp knife currently clutched in his hand like it was his life line he turned from them and began inspecting their bedside table drawers. He'd found quite a large sum of muggle money in the side table closest to Vernon and discreetly extracted half of what was in there reducing the sum drastically and giving him enough money to if needed support himself and if things didn't go right Harry as well.
There was still no sign of the keys that would match the padlock and he became frantic knowing fully well that not a breath of magic could be used as not to trip the alarms surrounding the house and wreaking magic for miles.
Growing desperate in his search Sirius went through the expensive looking wardrobe across the room once again finding nothing. He searched in the attached bathroom lavishly decorated with flowers and sweet smelling things. He searched through the walk in closet across the room; he searched under any loose floorboards and all the while silently enough as to not disturb the Dursley's.
//The necklace.\\ The voice was back and Sirius mentally groaned wondering what nonsense it was talking about. //The key is on Vernon's necklace!\\ It repeated again hissing much like a snake and very agitated.
Disregarding the fact that the voice actually came back and taking its words into consideration Sirius glimpsed at Vernon Dursley's wondering if he should listen to this 'Acerbus' character.
Would Vernon Dursley be paranoid enough to keep it on his body? Sirius shuddered at the thought but gripped the kitchen knife in his fist tightly and slowly made his way up to the man's side of the bed and hesitantly drew back the blanket enough to reveal the upper half of his torso.
And sure enough just above the collar of his pajama shirt was a golden chain leading down under the shirt and forming a lump in the shape of a small key at the end.
*The things I do for you Harry.* he shook his head and took a calming breath trying to keep his eyes from closing automatically as they usually did when something unpleasant came up.
Shakily reached under the snoring man's shirt keeping the bile rising in his throat down as his fingers came in contact with a patch of thick chest hair. A little further down and Sirius had stopped breathing completely holding his breath for a reason unknown to him until he felt the sharp edge of a small metal key. As if his life depended on it he struggled to unclasp the chain it was on without waking the sleeping muggles.
By now the man was turning blue in the face from lack of air and only when he unclasped it did he slid it off the chain and left the room inhaling sharply once the door was closed and he was in the hall once more making his way to the locked up room.
The key slid smoothly into the lock indicating it had been opened and closed many times and became worn with use. It was when Sirius stepped into the room that his grumbling stomach stopped protesting about the lack of food it had received, because the sleeping form of his godson malnourished and neglected when he felt lucky for what he had. He felt lucky that he had some form of freedom.
//Drop the knife.\\ The words were barely audible to the dog animagi and he didn't heed them instead looking around the small bedroom.
The room he was in was bare and cold compared to the others. A part of the wall where it was apparent there used to be a window was boarded up and all Harry had to sleep on was a dusty old mat. The paint on the walls was peeling off and had peculiar red splotches in certain areas. It was strange though, how it looked the exact color of dried blood.
//It looks like blood because it is blood Black. Harry Potter was created for one purpose according to Albus Dumbledore, to serve his purpose to society by ridding the wizarding world of Lord Voldemort. He had to be strong to do that and with the old fool's influence he would survive. If you don't help him, once he is changed there will be two Tom Riddle's on the loose. One, a man turned demon, the other, a demon turned Satan. No one cares if he gets a little scratched up in the process because it's assumed he'd jump back up like the little Golden Boy Dumbledore made him to be.\\
"No." he croaked falling to his knees lost to the rest of the world as the still sleeping boy unaware of his godfather's presence consumed his attention. Crawling on all fours much like a dog Sirius' hand shook as he reached out to push back the dark tresses on the teenagers face wondering what he would see. Would he see a monster purged into the depths of hate and death or would he see a child, the same child he had held fifteen years ago in his arms. His green eyes gleaming with innocence and his little mouth gurgling words only apparent to himself as he clutched to his godfathers hair and yanked it laughing at the look on the man's face the action emitted.
The hair he was currently fingering was no where as frizzy as it had been described to be, in fact it was smooth if not a little greasy from lack of cleansing which he could not be blamed for currently locked in a small room.
He moved aside a few locks gently hoping not to disturb the slumbering youth. A pale cheek became evident, silky to the touch and not a bit blemished except for one thing. A cut, a deep cut that led all the way to the boy's nose still opened and fresh seemingly clotted and on it's way to healing.
He brushed aside another few locks of hair and there were more cuts most paper thin and only enough to scratch the surface but the others deep as the last. But there were no apparent traces of acne.
The site brought tears to his eyes blinding him further with anger and thoughts of vengeance. This was no place for a child. How could someone do this to his or her flesh and blood? To a child! He wanted to scream and rant and hack away at something with the knife still fiercely clutched in his other hand. He was so occupied with future plans of murdering the Dursley's that Sirius didn't notice two sleepy and unfocused eyes opening clearly awakened by the sound of his harsh breathing.
He didn't notice he was harshly kneed in the groin and weakly tackled to the ground, a skinny hand going for one of his that held the kitchen knife and before he could do anything it wrenched free from him and the raven haired boy above him squinted down trying to discern his features without the use of his glasses and holding the knife threateningly above his face.
"W-w-who a-are you?" a voice long unused for anything but screaming croaked at him sore at its misuse. He was so taken aback by the hate in that voice that he couldn't answer. Harry must have long lost hope in his coming after so many weeks and forgotten Sirius' word that he'd be there before he turned sixteen.
"W-who are you!?" this time it was clearer and the knife was brought down near his neck close enough to his skin that he could feel it but far enough that it wouldn't cut him if he spoke.
"Harry it's me." He whispered keeping his hands where the boy could see them just in case the hand holding the knife slipped out of surprise and skimmed his throat. He should have listened to the voice and dropped the knife as soon as he stepped into the room.
Stormy green eyes stared down at him with a ferocity that he'd only encountered once in his life before, and that was when Harry thought he was the one that murdered his parents.
"Harry it's me Sirius." He tried again looking up into the face of the scarred boy. Those scars would stay with him for life he realized feeling a tear slip down his face. He was scared, trembling even but he didn't cry. He didn't think he cried when those cuts were being carved into his face, there were no tear tracks amongst the blood. Would he cry if he killed his own godfather by accident?
//I told you; you should have dropped the knife.\\ Acerbus wasn't mocking this time. He was tranquil and gentle feeling of sadness dripping from his voice and into the older man's mind. //I'll try and talk to him for you Black.\\ And before Sirius could wonder what he meant by it the voice was gone from his mind.
*I failed you James, I failed you and I'm sorry.* The look in Harry's eyes was blank and the face that once reminded him so much of his best friend blooded and changed. Changed in way that he could only notice when studying him intently. After all what else was there to do when you were being threatened by someone's blade?
It was strange how the once practically straight eyebrows now arched above his haunted eyes. The nose that had a curved tip now was straight pronounced and the end slightly upturned much like Lily's. In fact it was Lily's nose although bigger as to fit the rest of the face. His jaw once strong was now thin and pointed much like the rest of his face. Complimented by higher cheekbones he looked like a whole new person. A slightly more attractive Snape even with the scars.
*I'm hallucinating. That blow to the groin did me in and I'm in dreamland. Harry is not straddling me.wait a minute, no! Dirty mind! Harry is not straddling me with a knife to my throat and he does not look like a mix between Mad-Eye Moody and Severus Snape. In fact I scared the hell out of him and blacked out when he tackled me. I'm still dreaming.*
Sirius opened his eyes after closing them to mentally say that mantra and found that he was lying on the floor with the knife previously suspended by his jugular now on the floor by his right hand but Harry was still straddling him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*Vernon! Bastard! Think's he could get one up on me in my sleep! He'll pay, he'll pay with his own blood.* The word's churned over and over in his head until he noticed the body he was sitting atop was thin and malnourished much like his. Ragged clothing emphasized this man was not whom he thought him to be.
He demanded his identity but no answer came forth. He demanded again drawing the same exact knife that had been used to make ribbons of his skin to the man's jugular close enough to feel the knife's sharp blade.
He heard word's coming from the man's mouth but he couldn't hear them. He saw the pleading look in his dark brown eyes but he couldn't see them. He could smell the perspiration coming off the other but he couldn't smell them. He could feel but he couldn't feel as if his senses were working but his mind wasn't registering them.
He heard his own name, which hadn't been used since he had returned from Hogwarts. He heard his godfather's name but it didn't make a dent in his mind. They were just that, they were words that didn't make a difference when you were on the verge of insanity. And Harry was standing on the very brink of the abyss looking down into its deep black depth and the emptiness that radiated neither color nor feeling.
Then Ace came again. Ace would often come to him when he was this close. Draw him back a few feet and hold him there until he could move away himself.
//If you wish to murder your own godfather then do it right and do it now Mortifer.\\
*He's not my godfather! He held a knife. He held THE knife! He doesn't deserve death, he deserves the fate he wanted to throw onto me.*
//He deserves to be saved then?\\ a quiet whisper like the wind brushed his subconscious.
*Saved?* he wondered to himself not even noticing the knife slipping out of his grasp and onto the ground. The word was almost foreign by now. It had been weeks that had seemed like years of labor, beatings, starvation, being cut up like Sunday's dinner and verbal abuse. The rescue he had hoped for weeks ago seemed so far away now. That he could barely grasp the meaning of the word.
*Saved. To be safe. What's it like to be safe?* a feeling long forgotten. Something that left a mere scratch on his memory many years ago when the boisterous laughter of his parents could be heard and soft lullabies long forgotten. Warm arms encircling him and planting kisses on the top of his head. Soft murmurs of promises he's long wished to hear the same deep voice calling his name leading him from the abyss. *To be safe is to be loved.* Those touches and whispers were soon becoming reality.
"Harry. Harry wake up. Snap out of it. Harry it's me, it's Sirius." Lean strong arms wrapped around his frail body as it shook after being drawn back into reality. "Merlin, Harry I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner. If I'd known I would have risked the Aurors. I'm getting you out of this.this.PLACE! God James forgive me, I've failed you." The ramblings of the other man finally settled in his mind and Harry wrapped his own once slack arms around the other man squeezing the air out of his lungs but receiving a positive response.
"Sirius." He whispered burying his face in his godfather's bony shoulder and digging his cheek into it opening some of the newer cuts on his face. He didn't feel the pain and stinging on his cheek or notice the blood that seeped out of the many slashes on his face as he reveled the feeling of being in caring arms again.
"It's ok kiddo, I'm here. I'm getting you out of here." Sirius felt his own tears cascade down his godson's back holding him gently making sure not to jar any other injuries he might have had.
"No! We can't leave not yet!" he suddenly tensed and shook his head vehemently grasping his tattered robes with paranoia. This only proved one thing that his godson was not yet broken. However he was very close to being so.
"I don't care what this contact of yours said but I don't think they anticipated this. I'm not letting you stay with these monsters another moment."
"I can't help but feel my contact wouldn't care Sirius. He is helping me for one cause and one cause only. Because he seeks redemption for his past sins and as his son I am the only one who can give it to him."
"Son?" Sirius pulled back and looked at the boys face intently. There was no sign of insanity or confusion in his eyes just pure determination. "Harry your father is dead."
"James Potter is dead and so will Harry Potter be. I don't know the full story yet but I know my name isn't Harry Potter and James was never my father."
"Harry your speaking nonsense." His voice rose in anger. What had these muggles been telling him? Had they used his weakened resolve to brainwash him somehow or had a Death Eater gotten to him already? Could it be possible that the Dursley's were under Imperius? As far as Sirius was concerned anything was possible but there was no doubt that Harry was James' son.
"Do you know what Acerbus told me Sirius?" Silence. Deadly silence fell on the older man and he went pale as a sheet.
*We're both mad and sharing a pesky subconscious voice. That's it. Nothing out of the ordinary.* It took all of his resolve not to faint right then and there in the boy's arms.
"H-Harry did you just say Acerbus?"
"He told me that the same people that walk all over me today will beg for mercy from me tomorrow. They will grovel and snivel at my feet like they never did for Voldemort. Look at me Sirius." He spoke and ordered the man in a weak but imperial manner.
And the older man obeyed locked into place by the now blazing green eyes.
"Would the son of James Potter wish death upon the human race, would he be master sinner next to Voldemort and the Death Eaters?"
"No." he answered his godson feeling the boy wipe away stray tears that once again started cascading down his face.
"You're right he wouldn't. I wished so desperately to have something of my fathers that I charmed myself into looking like him without knowing it. But when hope abandoned me I had nothing left not even memories, my magic began failing and my body began preparing. It's preparing even now and I could feel the change only days away. You can see it too right? Despite the cuts you can see it."
He nodded feeling the boy shift in his position on his lap and rest his head on his shoulder. Sirius never relinquished his embrace.
"Who do I look like Sirius?" And the older man knew without hesitation there was only one man this boy resembled and he answered correctly.
"Snape. You look like Snape."
"And who is my contact Sirius?"
"Snape."
"Yes, and would the son of a Snape wish death upon others? Would Snape's son speak of Dumbledore like he was a fool? Would he threaten his own godfather under a blade's sharp edge? Would he have enough bitterness and sin on his shoulders to condemn him to the fiery depths of hell?"
"No!" He screamed clutching to him and making the boy wince crushing his broken ribs. "No because Snape's son still has Lily's blood in him. And Lily's son would never wish death on anyone. Lily's son took a pathetic man's word and believed him when no one else would. Lily's son would only act in self-defense. Lily's son would sacrifice himself for the one's he loved just like she did for him. Lily's son would never let his mother's sacrifice go in vain."
"And Lily made me promise her I'd take care of her son. And I will. We all sin a little Harry, it's only human nature." He declared fiercely now loosening his grip when the boy's breathing became erratic and he gripped his robes tighter.
"But what if you're not human? Then what? Are you forgiven for your past? Or are you even more heavily punished?"
"There's nothing in this world that hasn't done something bad Harry. No one is completely innocent so stop this sin crap. You haven't done anything but thought, thinking doesn't warrant an eternity in hell. And even if it did then I'd be going down with you for the same reasons."
"A wizards word only binds him until either he or the other party whom he made a pact with dies. My mother is long dead and so was James. You're released from your duties." Eyes that were blazing green flames became dulled and dilated to the point where his eyes were almost completely black leaving a thin outline of dark green around them. He was slipping away again.
"No one expected me to love you Harry. Not your mother nor James, not even myself. But the first time I held you in my arms I felt like I loved you more than either of them could. I made a promise to you that day, if you decided to become a Death Eater I'd lead you through to the very top with as little pain on your side as possible. If you want to become the next dark lord, I'll be the first to serve you. But if you want this then snap out of whatever you're in and act like a dark lord! Look at you you're dieing from the inside, your mind is slowly rotting and soon you'll become exactly like Voldemort. And when you become Voldemort you may kill him but you'd only make another Harry Potter to take your place. One that may be more abused than you have ever been. Do you want that?"
He whispered in the boy's ear gently despite his harsh words and rocked him into a lull.
"You love me?" he was met with an incredulous look and Sirius remembered how alien love was to him.
"More than Snape ever could. I found the strength to escape Azkaban for you; I continued to fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters in secret for you. I came here for you. I'm holding you because I love you like my own son. And I'm going to get you out of here because I care for you."
"I don't need another father. I won't be your surrogate son Sirius." Harry said and the look on the other man's face was dejected. "Fate has assigned a task for every father figure I've ever had. They've deserted me, abused me, used me, or jibed at my expense and hurt me intentionally. You can't be another father figure because you're none of those. Fate designed a different task for you, she designed you to watch me sin, she designed you to stand by my side."
Harry's eyes roved his rugged face and weathered lips imagining what those lips would feel like on his and somewhere in the back of his mind wondering where these thoughts were coming from. Was this the kind of love he wanted from the man? A relationship of sorts? Looking into yearning chocolate brown eyes he realized that he did. These thoughts wouldn't let him be and he all of a sudden realized why Sirius had been so important to him. His mind always knew this would happen, so did his soul.
God was going to punish him for this, but he didn't care. His punishment couldn't be worse than his current life was.
"Fate is a sadistic mistress Harry and we are her toys, we aren't told what our parts in life are we just play along." He told the young man mournfully his eyes skimming that scarred face as the jagged red marks slowly disappeared before his eyes and he had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. His eyes traveled to parched pale lips where a small pink tongue darted out to wet them. He was speaking of completely different matters now and Harry knew it.
"Harry what could I possibly do but be a father to you? I'm twenty years your senior, I'm your designated godfather. I was meant to look after you."
"Who are you trying to convince Siri? Yourself or me?" Harry's arms looped around his neck and he all of a sudden became aware of the erection he had been sporting for a good fifteen minutes now as the raven haired young man ground his own into him barely stifling a moan.
He felt a kiss being planted on the side of his neck and a soft voice whisper to him almost making him come on the spot. "Fate is sadistic, yes. But when we do her bidding she rewards us, we have both served to her amusement and now its time to be rewarded." Long slim fingers tangled in his hair and lips that could only be chaste in his eyes at the moment leaned into his own cracked ones.
*What am I doing? This is my godson! Lord I'm going to hell for this!*
//You're going to hell anyways Black why not enjoy the ride there?\\ Acerbus chuckled and the thought of bringing Harry down with him urged him to push the young man back gently.
"Fate rewards no one Harry, especially not sinners."
"Then you believe in sin? You believe in this menial god that condemns our kind? I'm being punished for something my soul did a long, long time ago. You're being punished for associating with me. What's the point in being saints?"
"I wear a catholic cross. Ideas have been drilled into me that go against my very existence. Of course I believe in a higher being. Of course I believe in a heaven and hell. But Jesus didn't come out of it unscathed either. He was like us. He was a rebel who fought for his beliefs. And he was crucified for it. I'm not going to let that happen to you Harry. We're leaving this place and we're going to lead normal lives someplace in Australia or America or Japan if need be. But I won't add to our troubles any further, we have enough." He spoke with such reverence that Sirius almost believed himself. He'd do anything to salvage a normal life for his godson, absolutely anything and if denying himself happiness was what he had to do then so be it.
"Listen to yourself talk Sirius. It's too late! I'm already on my way to being crucified! The day I received this," he pointed to the lightening bolt scar on his forehead. "Was the day my death certificate was signed. Are you going to refuse this little happiness for me? I'll die if you do for sure, I can't keep fighting in vain of everything." He paused and bit his own lip searching the other man's face and finding the same yearning in his eyes as before.
"Kiss me. Love me. Hold me. Hurt me if you must. Just don't sit there doing nothing." Liquid ruby crystals flowed from his eyes and Sirius looked at them alarmed. "It's a part of the change." Harry answered his unasked question and leaned in while the other man was still caught in surprise only to be pushed away again.
"Fate rewards no one especially not sinners. This is a test of wills Harry and if we pass it then we can be free." He pushed him off his lap and in a sitting position by his side fighting his own mind from taking the actions that he desired so much. "Your lips are like sin," he said running a tanned finger over the young man's parched lips as they slowly healed and became soft right in front of his eyes and just when Harry opened his mouth and his tongue darted out touching his finger he pulled it away as if he were burned. "To touch is a sin."
"Then we can sin together!" And the boy leapt up on his lap again. Determined arms snaked around his neck again and pale inexperienced lips finally came in contact with his.
They had sinned and Harry paid the price for it only moments after as a scream erupted from his already damaged voice chords. Privet Drive was woken up by his bellow and Sirius Black struggled to restrain the flailing young man as bright light started to envelope him and Acerbus' laugh echoed the room instead of just their minds.
//Alas! Gloom and Death will walk hand in hand again!\\
TBC..
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*ATER'S NOTE*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
WEEEEE!!!! Chapter 3 is finished! Sorry all school has really been taking a toll on me and I haven't had any time to write lately. And as you can tell this attempt isn't very good either I feel like a kinder gardener putting together these measly sentences with poor vocabulary. ARGGH!! It's very nerve wracking.
If for some reason you don't understand anything let me know and I'll do my best to clear things up. Please, please, please, please, please, please with a huge cherry on top REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!!!
