OotP spoilers: Yes, I know this is AU for OotP, but we might use some information from book 5, because it is so lovely detailed.

Disclaimer: We don't own anything except the plot. Written by Guardian Angel of wolves.

Choices and consequences

A man  is 100% free to do with his life as he pleases,

He is also 100% responsible for the consequences of his actions.

---Sartre---

"All you've got to do is join me, Harry. Then you won't have to suffer the pain anymore and you don't have to worry about the safety of your friends." He spoke softly.

"You won't hurt my friends?" Harry echoed.

"Yes."

"And you'll let Remus go?"

"If you ask it of me."

"Why?"

Voldemort stood and took a few steps in his direction. Harry's head felt like it was about to split in two. Somewhere in the background he could hear Lupin's laboured breathing.

"Does it matter?" Voldemort answered with a question of his own.

It was time for Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived to make the choice between everything he'd always known to be right and the guarantee of the safety of those he loved in a time of war.

Harry tried to think beyond the pain, there were still issues that needed to be solved first.

"You won't mark me and I won't be a servant."

"I don't have to be, child, I already marked you as my equal when you were but a year old." The repley was neutral, which did not fit Voldemort.

But perhaps it does fit Tom, Harry thought briefly, before cutting the random thought off.

"Do we have an agreement?" Voldemort asked.

Harry's mind was racing. There had to be a catch. He had to be overlooking something, but what?

"I don't want to be bound to you forever, like your Death Eaters are."

"Give me a year, Harry, that's all I ask."

"How do I know that you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"I always keep my word, it's a matter of honour."

Harry bit on his tongue to keep from saying: 'What would you know about honour?' Instead he settled on: "That's rich, coming from you."

"Do you accept my offer or not?" Voldemort asked again, while signaling for Pettigrew to grab Remus with his silver hand again.

Harry closed his eyes. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, but if it would truely protect his friends and Sirius and… The head-splitting headache and Remus' surpressed groans of pain in the background weren't helping either.

"I need more time."

Voldemort thought this over for a bit.

"Very well, if you agree to come to me when I ask for you, then I'll make sure no harm comes to your friends. But in the end you will have to make your choise. Do you accept these terms?"

Later on Harry wouldn't be able to describe how he'd felt the moment he looked Voldemort in the eyes, switched subconsciously to Parseltongue and said, "I accept."

Voldemort smiled. It wasn't his usual horribly cruel smile, just one that held content and satisfaction.

"Agreed," he beamed. Then, looking to his left where Lestrange and Pettigrew were waiting, he ordered,

"Bella, go find Severus for me and tell him to bring his potion, he'll know what I'm talking about."

Without any comment, Lestrange did as she was told. When she returned with said Death Eater, Harry was barely conscious anymore.

"Give him the potion, Severus." Immediately and with perhaps a bit more care than was needed, Snape applied the potion.

In a matter of seconds Harry's thought became clear again, his vision refocused and for the first time in his life while being near Voldemort the pain in his scar was reduced to a minor dull burning. More iritating than painful. Harry couldn't help but sigh in relief as he sat up straighter. And that's when realisation hit him flat in the face. He'd just agreed to a new sort of connection with Voldemort, who was his grandfather. With a groan he hid his face in his hands and told Tom to do something that he would not have dared say in front of McGonagall.

Voldemort frowned a bit, but dismissed it as he sumoned Pettigrew to his side. With a baribly audiable groan, Wormtail did as he master ordered. He cringed as his master touched the Dark Mark.

Ignoring both of them best as he could, Harry rushed to Remus' side, who lay on the ground and was obviously in a hell lot of pain.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered to him, "I'm so sorry. This all happened because of me. But I'll get you out od here, I promise, even if it's the last thing I do."

"Harry, come over here, my servants will join us soon." It wasn't a threat, but it wasn't a question either.

"Not until you let Remus go, you promised." Harry dared.

"If you ask me." Voldemort supplied.

"Oh alright, will you let him go?"

"I believe you forgot the magic word, Harry." Tom said, utterly calm.

Harry clenched his fists in anger and would have liked to curse Voldemort on the spot, but a new moan from the werewolf stopped him.

"Will you let him go, please?" The last word was spat like a curse.

"Of course, child." Voldemort chuckled. "Severus, take the werewolf away."

Snape levitated Remus' body and they made their exit. Tom drew up a decorated chair next to his own and beckoned Harry over. Knowing that he had no choice, Harry stood up quickly and nearly collapsed again as his knees buckled.  

Tom shook his head to show his disapprovement. "Lucius, lend him a hand, my pet."

Malfoy's nickname made Harry smile a bit, just at the irony of it all. Lucius Malfoy such a powerful and even feared man was Voldemort lapdog.

Pathetic really.

Malfoy was none too pleased with Harry's amusement and his 'helping' was therefor none too gentle. As soon as he'd done directed Harry to his seat with a barely hidden disgusted look on his face, Voldemort raised his wand.

"Crucio,"

Lucius couldn't hold back his screams, but once the curse was lifted he was soon up on his feet, kneeling for his master.

"How have I displeased you, my lord?"

"By not showing my heir the respect he deserves, Lucius." Both Malfoy and Harry goggled at those words. "I hope you will do better in the future, my pet."

Malfoy bowed his head in a submissive gesture, which covered his angry glare mostly. Harry knew he'd have to be careful around Malfoy, no matter what Tom said. 

A knock on the door interrupted his musings.

"Enter,"

One by one, every single Death Eater entered the grand room and Harry was stunned by their numbers. He'd never know they were with so many! Of course, he only knew some of the inner circle Death Eaters, but still…

It must have been at least seventy cloaked and masked men ( and, Harry guessed, some women) who formed one huge circle around their master and they all -including Lucius and Severus, who'd returned -kneeled simultaneously, paying their respect.  

Voldemort stood and -like Dumbledore- he seemed to broadcast some kind of powerful aura. The difference was that even if Dumbledore was angry, Harry would have still described his aura as 'light' whereas Voldemort's aura was so 'dark', it just made him feel cold.

"Rise, my faithful Death Eaters. I've got a very important announcement to make and I advice you to heed my warning." He paused for a bit as everyone scrambled to their feet. "I want you all to take a good look at our guest."

They did and some of them were even drawing their wands, Harry tensed even further.

"I want you all to remember that Harry Potter will not be harmed." Harry would have bet his Firebolt that behind a lot of masks jaws dropped at that statement. "For I've made a deal with him. None of you shall harm him in any way for he has my protection."

This is where the world ends. Harry thought, and he wasn't the only one in the room. A few more hours like this and I'll be a cynical git just like Draco Malfoy.

"He is my heir and one day the world will know it. Until then I hope this," He fished a ring out of his pocket and slid in unto the middle finger of Harry's right hand, "- will be enough prove for you."

A murmur went through the Death Eaters. Harry studied his new possession. It was a small silver band, a miniature Basilisk -made out of jade- was curled around it; its two small eyes were shiny rubies. If Harry had taken the ring of, he would have found a latin inscription on the inside:

'Impero est solum modum exsistentiae.' (The only way of existence is to rule.)   

As Harry refocused his attention on the Death Eaters, he never saw the ruby eyes on the ring light up. Voldemort did, however and he permitted himself a subtle smile. Everything would work out the way he wanted it to, in the end.