Fallen
by Yih

Disclaimer: This is slash. If that squeaks you, avoid it and don't read it! It will contain possibly all the following pairings: HP/LV, HP/LM, HP/SS, LV/LM, LV/SS, LM/SS.

Beta'd by Blackumbrage.

15: Progress

It was good to be going home for Christmas, Harry thought.  There were many reasons why.  He got to escape the pressures of preparing for his OWLs.  He also got to run away from Hermione, who being the perfectionist that she was, was driving him nuts getting him to prepare for his OWLs.  In addition, he got to get away from Draco who despite the rejection was still watching him with eyes that stripped him naked.  And in going home, there were no more Gryffindors that would ridicule him anymore.  Ron Weasley was by far the worst. 

But the biggest reason that he wanted to go home was because Voldemort had promised to be back from his series of meetings in Eastern Europe when he came back for Christmas.  He was going to hold Voldemort to that promise.  If Voldemort wasn't there, he was going to throw a flaming fit.  The only reason that made him sad to leave Hogwarts, Harry reflected, was that he wouldn't get to spend his evenings chatting away with Severus in the Potions office. 

"Did you pack everything?" she asked.

Harry nodded.  "I have."

Hermione grinned and linked arms with him.  "Then what are you doing here staring out the window?  We ought to be going down to the Hogwarts Express and nab ourselves a cabin." 

"I guess," Harry mused, "I drifted." 

Hermione chuckled.  "You're always drifting nowadays.  Come on, let's go." 

Harry allowed Hermione to drag him down the stairs and to the train station.  When they arrived there, he was surprised to see Severus Snape standing there.  It was usually Hagrid that sent them off.  So what was Severus doing here?  His curiosity was satisfied immediately when Severus spotted him and started stalking over to him with his robes billowing behind him.  One of these days, he was going to have to ask Severus how he did that. 

"Professor Snape?" 

Acknowledging Harry with a nod, Severus pulled from out of his robes a small sack which Harry presumed held some potions for him to take over the Christmas break.  "This is for you," Severus responded.  "You are to take the potions as I've instructed on the labels.  Do you understand me, young man?" 

Harry grinned.  "I understand." 

"Off with you then," Severus snapped, whirling around and heading back to the castle. 

"Bye, Professor," Harry whispered. 

When Severus was gone, Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder.  "You know, it's weird." 

"What is?" 

"When Professor Snape looks at you, he doesn't seem to have that same look of aversion that he has for all the rest of us.  He likes you." 

"Perhaps." 

The whistle to board the train was going off… cutting off any further discussion about the relationship between Severus and Harry.

-

{You're back home!} Nagini hissed with joy as she wrapped her body around Harry exuberantly.  {You're finally home!  I've missed you so much, Harry!  You ought to write more!}

{Two letters,} Harry teased, {a week, aren't enough?}

{There should be a letter everyday!} Nagini retorted.

Harry chuckled and dropped his bag on the floor, knowing that a house elf would pop out of nowhere to pick it up and carry it back to his room.  He had been very glad to see Nagini, but he couldn't help but be disappointed that only Nagini had been there to greet him.  {Where's Tom?}

Before Harry could catch Nagini's serpent-like grin, he heard Voldemort's voice behind him: {Here.}

Harry whirled around and saw the object of his desires standing there with a smirk on his face.  Without thinking, Harry launched himself at Voldemort, wrapping his legs around his waist and burying his head into Voldemort's chest.  "I've missed you," Harry whispered.  "I've missed both of you." 

{And we have missed you.}

It was so good to feel Voldemort's arms around him, and it was even better to hear him speaking parseltongue to him.  He had missed it while he had been away.  After so many years of falling back to speaking parseltongue mostly, it was strange to start speaking English mostly.  {It's good to be home,} Harry murmured.  {It's very good to be home.}

-

Sitting in Voldemort's study reading a book while Voldemort was conducting Ministry business from his desk was like old times, Harry mused.  He'd forgotten how many times he had done this in the past years.  How many times he had read a book, only to fall asleep and have to be carried back to his room.  Harry smiled as he glanced up from the book he'd just finished reading about more Charms theory that had been loaned to him from Professor Flitwick and spent a few moments studying Voldemort. 

It was his favorite activity other than reading about magical theories, Harry thought.  He loved to watch Voldemort when he was working.  The intense concentration that was on the older man's brow was apparent in the fine wrinkles that marred his forehead.  But Harry thought it gave him character, showing him to be a hardworking man despite the terror that he was supposed to be.  Not many people knew the real Voldemort, he concluded.  If they did, they would never be as frightened of him as they were. 

"What are you studying so intently?" Voldemort questioned lightly, having raised his head up to find Harry's eyes fixated on something with such intensity that his eyes seemed to be dazed. 

"You," Harry answered without thinking.  When he'd gotten out of his mind drift, Harry blushed at what he said but he didn't even attempt to take it back.  What good would it do but make him look even more foolish than he already looked? 

"Me?" Voldemort inquired, amusement gleaming in his crimson eyes.  "Why me?" 

"Why not?" Harry responded softly, not trying to be smart but it was the only thing that he could think of to say that didn't sound desperately pathetic.  "You are the most powerful, the most brilliant, and…"

"And?"

"The best friend I could have?"

Voldemort smiled faintly.  "Severus has told me you have been doing well in your classes," he said instead, knowing when it was time to switch subjects and making that transition smoothly.  "He says your preparations for the OWLs has been first rate in all your classes." 

"I have help," Harry murmured modestly.  "Hermione's brilliant at everything and she's helping with Herbology and Transfiguration.  And well, you know that Severus is still giving me private tutorials when I have time and I have restarted the special Charms sessions with Professor Flitwick." 

"And you feel well?"

"I feel very good," he responded.  "If there is anyone that would spot anything, it's Hermione.  She watches me like a mother hen.  She won't let me do anything that she thinks might be overdoing it." 

"It's good that she's watching over you."

Harry did feel a twinge of annoyance that they still didn't believe he couldn't take care of himself, but he knew better than to press this issue when Voldemort had already allowed him to go back to Hogwarts.  "And if Hermione isn't henpecking me, Severus is making me swallow potions after potions to try and get me back to where I was."

"He is only doing what I tell him to do, and I have told him I want you better," Voldemort responded tightly.

"I know.  I am getting better.  I promise."

"You aren't overdoing anything?" 

Harry shook his head.  "I'm not."  It's not even like he was given the chance with all the watchful eyes watching over him.  Hermione.  Severus.  And Draco.  When did he have the chance?

-

It was Christmas Eve and all Harry could think about was what he wouldn't give to have Voldemort realize what he felt for him for Christmas.  He had tried penning a letter to give to Voldemort to tell him about what he felt, but nothing seemed to seem right.  He didn't know what to do.  It made him frustrated and his frustration only added to the tension in his arousal, an arousal he found when he tried to satisfy it was becoming much less satisfactory. 

His intention when he had come home for the holidays was to tell Voldemort about his feelings for him, that his feelings were not that of a son to a father or that of a younger brother to an older brother either.  That his feelings were something more than that, and by that he meant that of a lover to a lover.  He wanted what Voldemort had with Lucius.  And he wanted Voldemort to want him in the same way, enough so that Voldemort would give up Lucius. 

Nothing was turning out the way he had planned though, he thought glumly.  Every time he tried to approach the subject, every time he thought that he might be able to say something--- they were interrupted either by Lucius or Nagini or some urgent affair that Voldemort had to acknowledge and handle.  To say that it was annoying was a tremendous understatement.  It was enough to make Harry want to throw a tantrum like a child if only to get the attention that was being diverted.

He also wanted what was done in the book Lucius had given to him done to him by Voldemort.  He wanted Voldemort's hands to wrap about his penis, not his hands.  He wanted Voldemort, and it should have felt wrong but it didn't.  Voldemort was the wizard that he most admired and loved and he was everything to him, so who else could there be?  The only wizard he'd even thought mildly attractive was Severus and that was more for his mind than any physical attractiveness.  Nothing could compare to the magnificence that was Voldemort, Harry thought dreamily as he stroked his growing arousal. 

"Voldemort," he moaned as he stroked harder, {Tom…}

-

Voldemort froze outside of Harry's room when he heard Harry moaning his name in two different languages in two different names.  He felt his cock harden and lengthen in his robes immediately.  Did Harry know how arousing it was to hear him moan his name when Voldemort knew very well what Harry was doing in his room?  Oh god, what he wouldn't give to see Harry wanking off. 

What was stopping him? He wondered.  It wasn't like he had any upstanding morals to hold him back from claiming a boy that was young enough to be his grandson as his lover.  If he had any morals, he wouldn't be where he was today--- a power in the wizarding world that no one could rival on the British Isles.  Because to get there he had had to be rather cruel, killing or torturing anyone that stood in his way. 

The age difference would have mattered more to him if he looked his age but he didn't look any older than Lucius and well… despite the softening that Harry had caused in him, he was still the dark and evil wizard that had used his sheer force to seize power.  That much hadn't changed at all.  He could be malicious and be downright evil if called for, it was just with Harry he wasn't as inclined to be.  Then again, not all evil men were evil to everyone--- were they? 

What made him hesitate from storming into the room and letting Harry know that he would very much be obliging in helping Harry get rid of his erection was that he didn't want to ruin what he had with Harry.  But didn't having Harry moaning his name while he was masturbating mean that Harry wanted him as much as he wanted Harry?  It was what finally caused him to break down the barriers that had been holding him back for the past year or so.  Was it more?  He didn't care anymore as he opened the door and felt his pants get far too tight at the beautiful sight of Harry's hand stroking himself hard. 

{Harry,} he hissed.  When Harry looked up, there was no mistaking the look in those eyes, there was undeniable lust.  {Whatever are you doing?}

Harry blushed a bright red, but it was too late to stop what was going to happen as he came onto the silk sheets and shuddered until he finished his release.  He wouldn't have come that quickly if he hadn't seen Voldemort staring at him with those crimson eyes that seem to darken with desire when they saw what he'd been doing.  It was seeing Voldemort see him do this to himself that had been the final push to fulfillment. 

{I,} he stammered, how could he explain that he had been fantasizing about having Voldemort fuck him through the mattress? {I…}

{You said my name.}

Harry closed his eyes and didn't even bother to deny it.  It was painfully true.  While he wanted Voldemort to know what he felt for him, this wasn't the way he planned on Voldemort finding out.  It wasn't what he'd planned.  It made it seem like it was trivial physical attraction that he felt for Voldemort when it was so much more.  They had a connection, Harry was certain of it.  There was pull of magic between the two of them, and didn't their brother wands from Ollivander's prove that? 

{I want you,} he blurted out all of a sudden, not able to keep it in any longer.  He was horrified by being rejected, but there he had just said it.  What would Voldemort say?  What would Voldemort do?  Would he be rejected or would it possibly turn out well? 

{Do you know what you have done?} Voldemort whispered softly, not looking the least bit upset.  Was it Harry's imagination or were those eyes darkening with desire and the passion that he'd wanted Voldemort to feel for him?  {Do you know what you are asking for?} 

{Yes,} Harry found himself responding, {I know exactly what I've done and what I'm asking for.  I want you in the way that Lucius wants you.  I want you to have me in the way that you have Lucius.}

{Are you sure?} Voldemort asked softly, wanting Harry to be sure--- letting it be his decision because he wanted Harry to be the one to make it, even if he knew that Harry wouldn't say no, he needed to hear Harry say yes.  He wanted to hear Harry say yes because… even though he knew he could seduce Harry if he half tried, he wanted Harry to come to him willingly without him having to do a thing.  {Harry?}

{I'm sure.  I want you.}  Harry bit his tongue.  {Do you want me?}

{Come here,} Voldemort commanded and Harry couldn't help but move toward him.  It was like he was compelled by an external force, a will of some kind that had to be his own even though he couldn't remember telling his feet to move.  He'd been so stunned to hear Voldemort not reject him that he hadn't known how to act.  {Don't you know how much I want you?}

Whatever remaining hesitation Harry had was erased with those words and he found himself lifting his head up, offering himself for Voldemort to ravish how he wished.  He wanted to feel Voldemort's lips against him in a way that would erase the kiss that Draco had forced onto him.  He had expected Voldemort to be forceful like Draco, so he was surprised when Voldemort's lips descended upon his gently. 

And while Draco had pressed against him roughly, Voldemort's pressure was everything but that.  It was done with a sophistication and skill that showed he knew what he was doing and Harry felt himself falling hopelessly under his spell.  No wonder Lucius looked at Voldemort with such rampant desires.  He would have sooner if he had known that Voldemort wouldn't have rejected him. 

{You do?}  Harry felt foolish for saying this when Voldemort had clearly stated that he did want him, but he felt so uncertain--- so insecure.  It didn't seem possible that his wildest dream was coming true; it couldn't be--- could it?  Dreams weren't supposed to come true.  Fantasies weren't supposed to be fulfilled and yet… here he was and here Voldemort was. 

Voldemort laughed, and it made Harry tense even more thinking that Voldemort was laughing at him… about to tease him and be cruel that he couldn't possibly feel the same way.  He was thinking the worst that he was stunned out of his mind when Voldemort started to kiss him again.  This time the kiss was even more hungry, more like Draco's.  The lips were trying to devour him and well… if Voldemort wanted to… he could devour him, Harry thought as he helplessly pressed himself into Voldemort's hard body. 

{I do,} Voldemort hissed briefly before he captured Harry's lips again, letting himself drown in the sweet taste that was Harry.  He couldn't believe that he had waited this long, and yet he still have more time to wait.  There was still the summer before he could officially claim Harry as his own.  As much as he didn't want to… there was no other option.  {You're mine, Harry.}

{I'm yours,} Harry agreed. 

Yes, Harry was all his and this summer he was going to make sure of that, Voldemort thought possessively.  There was never going to be anyone that would ever take Harry away from him ever again.  {No one is to touch you but me,} Voldemort growled, wanting to make this clear to Harry if he thought he could dally at school when he returned.  {No one.} 

{No one.} 

He had to stop kissing Harry, if he didn't stop he was going to lose control.  It would be a nice and delightful way to lose control of himself, not at all like it had been last time when he had really lost control and had killed his basilisk friend.  As much as he would have liked to give himself up to his urges, Voldemort knew that it wasn't the right thing to do.  It would only be a few more months for Harry to be of age and when Harry was of age… well it would only take one small inconsequential thing and then… Harry would be all his. 

Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing.  I hope you liked this chapter.  The next one will be the last.