Chapter 12

(flashback)

Ron hovered just under Harry's window on a school issue broom.

/I told him that I wasn't done and I meant it/ Ron pried open the window. Neither occupants of the room stirred. /good/ He cast a silencing charm on the room before he cast the petrificus charm on them both. The silencing charm was to silence his own words.

Ron looked through the room for some clothes and found some boxers, and roughly pulled them on the near comatose boy. He sneered while he pulled the boy from under his lover.

Harry knew everything that was happening to him, he just couldn't do anything about it.

Ron haphazardly tossed Harry onto the broom and found Harry's map and cloak, before taking off on the broom.


/Something is not right here.../ Snape thought to himself. He had been watching Weasly for the past few weeks.

He had become more secretive. There was always something is his eyes that weren't right, lately. Weasly wasn't the same person that he used to be, by far. Weasly was always a little hot headed, but not entirely stupid. There was a maniacal gleam to his eyes, also knew. In the past, Weasly couldn't be sly to save his life. He now seems to be hiding some great secret. Everything seems have changed. Ever since his severance from the once 'Golden Trio'. Snape knew that something would have to be done about him.

Then there's Harry's disappearance. /Could Weasly possibly have anything to do with it?/


Ron kept Harry stuffed in his trunk for nearly two weeks, on and off, before he saw Snape leaving to castle, occasionally to 'play' with him. He made sure that Harry would never recover from this punishment. Never. He smiled. /never... ever... ever... never... mever... lever.../ More giggling. He reminisced over the last couple of weeks. Cutting him, beating him. He loved to watch Harry bleed. With the silencing spells on the curtains of his bed they never heard his laughter, as he hurt him. To humiliate him even more he even forced himself into Harry's mouth, who was too immobile to do anything. He had been lucky to catch him unaware. Ron knew very well that Harry was stronger then he could ever be. He had laughed when he felt the boy's body trying to choke on him but couldn't. If Harry wanted a guy, he would give him a guy. He even bet that Harry enjoyed this on some level. It made it all the more better that he could never admit it. The abuse continued, over and over. Beating him, cutting him, using him. Then it was finally time.

Ron followed Snape from the castle that night. Ron had finally found the perfect punishment for Harry, after all. He would turn him over to Voldemort. He would probably let him leave after he gave him Harry, as a reward. His worst enemy wrapped up and presented to him. Ron cackled. Just to make it even more demeaning he stripped the boy, naked, who had once been his friend, and tied his ankles and wrist.

He once more tossed Harry over his broom, and followed Snape threw the woods.

It was unbelievable how much he had grown to hate the boy. He hated him even more than he hated Voldemort. He would even become a death eater, if just to see Harry humiliated, tortured and, finally, then dead. If he had to be a death eater to get his revenge, so be it!

Snape finally reached a large manor, almost as gigantic as Hogwarts. /finally he will get what was coming to him.../

Ron tossed the cloak over them both as he entered. /it wouldn't do to be found before I got this pretty little present to Voldemort!/

He followed Snape silently until they came across a large hall. The meeting seemed to be just starting. Then suddenly the Dark Lord himself swept into the room. They all bowed low to him before straitening. Ron was taken back. He wasn't at all what he expected.

Voldemort had long black hair that swept down to his thighs, and deep blue eyes, tinged with red. He did look slightly reminiscent of Harry, only an older version. His dark robes only accented his pale skin, which seemed to glow. Ron realized that He was speaking.

"...e's gone?" Voldemort questioned Snape. His eyes bore into the potion masters, demanding answers.

"Yes. Dumbledore expelled him, along with several others several weeks ago."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner!?" He stared incredulously at the man. The other death eaters in the room couldn't help but stare. They never saw their leader loose control like this. Voldemort seem to notice them gawking at him. "Dismissed! All except you." He walked closer to Snape. The others fled back to their rightful positions.

"Now. Answer." He trying to stay calm, but this could be his chance!

"I didn't want to alert Dumbledore that I still work for you. So I waited till I was summoned. Trust me. I know how important this is to you. I-"

Before he could say anything else there was a thump. They both turned to see the very boy that they had been discussing sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Both noticed his state of undress, along with ropes on his ankle and wrist. The ropes had burned his skin and there was dried blood caked around them. The rest of him didn't look much better. There was a bruise here, a scratch there. Fluids... He also looked thinner than usual, not having eaten in two weeks. Pale, beaten and broken.


Ron had lost him grip on the boy when he tried to adjust him, trying to keep him from falling. He cursed when he knew that the wards wouldn't let him back out. He also knew that it was probably not a good idea to startle the Dark Lord, but that was exactly what he had done. He had been waiting for the right time to present himself and grandly lay his gift before the lord. But no! He has to be clumsy and brought attention to himself early.

"Show yourself!" He was furious that someone would do this the Him. Whoever was in the room would regret ever being born. He would fucking see to that! Voldemort calmed his breathing as he raced for the boy on the floor. It was all he could do not to just kill everyone in the room. At least that way he would know that whoever else was here would die. But no, that would hurt Harry. And, whoever it was didn't deserve to die so easily.

Ron dropped the cloak and Snape gasped. /Weasly!/ His eye's litter up in anger. /How dare he hurt his charge!/

"You! Explain yourself," Voldemort glared at the blustering boy in front of him. He recognized him. He was Harry's best friend. Ronald Weasly.

"It's a gift, m-my lord." Ron suddenly wasn't sure that he would make it out of this alive anymore. Instead of praise he felt terror radiating from the tall man. He had better speak quickly. "I wanted you to have him, if you would spare my life." Ron said simply, evenly. He barely felt something trickle down his leg. Ron never felt more terrified in his life. Not even Aragog had scared him so much.

"Why should I, if you would betray the one person who stood by you." His voice was like acid, penetrating every pore of Ron's being.

"He doesn't deserve to live. He has become an abomination, surely you would understand." If anything the room just got colder. He was going to die, no doubt about that.

Voldemort stared at the weasel in front of him, shaking with hate for the person that would so this to Harry.

Severus wasn't fairing much better. His dark eyes, that were almost always cool, were like ice. He was also mad at himself. He should have watched Harry better, he might have seen this. And where was that dog, Black, when you needed him! He was also supposed to be watching Harry. But instead he had died! As much as he blamed himself, or Black, or anyone else for that matter, it did nothing to lighten his feelings for Weasly.

"Severus!" Voldemort barked. "Take Weasly to the dungeons; make sure he is not alone. Then meet me in the infirmary." He carried Harry up to the resident mediwitch, Une. Harry felt like nothing in his arms.

He cried as he looked over Harry's state. Who knows what else Weasly had done to him? While waiting for the witch Voldemort banished the ropes and washed away the blood on his arms and legs. Also the blood and who knows what else in Harry's hair. Bit's of leaves, twigs, dirt, and blood where matted in it. Cleaned the rest of his body. Most of it was covered in cuts, and his ribs showed through his skin. When he was done he covered Harry with the blanket from the bed, to keep him warm. He glanced at the boys face.

Harry's eyes were open. They had been the whole time.

Voldemort wept silently as he gazed at the boy. How would he deal with what had been done to him, by his own best friend. Suddenly the idea dawned on him. He knew that rewriting a person's whole life was risky, but he would do it for Harry. Beside, his old memories would still be there, just blocked. He would give him new memories, happier ones. Harry would be loved.

(end flashback)

Everyone in the room just stared dully at Harry. Now they knew why being here was so important to him, regardless of Weasly's presence. Voldemort had protected him in his time of need.

Everyone just sat in silence before Harry laughed, a low almost silent, dark laugh. It sent chill through everyone in the room. "Don't worry. Tom makes sure He gets his punishment." Harry smirked. "I just try and not let it get to me. After all, I think Ron is a bit mental and I prefer having him somewhere where he is watched. I don't want to be changed on his account, guys. So just try and forget it." They all just continued to stare at him. They didn't know how he could take knowing what happened and not doing anything about it. "Besides, he wanted it to hurt me, and I'm not about to give him the satisfaction. And I don't want for you too either." He bent to kiss Draco chastely on the lips and Hermione and Blaise on their cheeks. "Don't worry about me. Now I have to go meet Tom." He chuckled before jumping off the bed. He pulled on a simple black robe before leaving the room. The castle was always a bit drafty at night.

He barely made it out the door before the tears came.


"Tom?" Harry peaked around the door. The man had nearly jumped before he saw that it was only Harry. He had been relaxing on his bed, reading a book. He had started to grab for his wand, but he knew that only Harry and Nagini came in here without warning. He saw the look on Harry's face and knew what had happened.

"So. You have told them." The boy said nothing, just curled up on the blanket beside the man, sobbing.

Tom said nothing for several minutes, waiting for Harry's tears to subside. He knew that Harry needing to cry, as he had never had the change to properly grieve.

"Why did he do it!?" Harry yelled. "He took everything away from me. I was happy!" He rolled over onto his back.

"Are you not happy here, now?" Tom questioned softly. He knew that he would let Harry leave if he really wanted to go.

"No. I mean, yes! I-I am." He paused. "It's just that I used to consider him family, my first family since... Well... and..." He trailed off, not knowing where he was going with this.

"You loved him. Like he was your brother."

"Yes! Then me and Hermione decided to go have some fun just to ourselves for once, and he just looses it! Why couldn't he understand, everyone else did." Harry laughed, sounding somewhat strangled. "Even Dean made a pass at her. That was funny. Then everything continued to go downhill."

"He was jealous. You are more than he will ever be. You have the fame, fortune, friends... the power. Simple jealousy. He didn't realize the family that he had. A family that most of our type would kill for."

"Yes. But I hate him. I never thought that I could hate anyone, to be honest. I didn't even truly hate you."

"He deserves it, Harry. Don't feel guilty." Harry smiled. He liked Tom. Maybe there was something that he could do for him...

"I want to help clear your name." Harry said simply, his eyes glittering.

"What?" Tom stared at him as if he had lost it.

"I want to do it. To help you. I'm sure that it can be done!"

"No, it's too dangerous." Harry glared at him. "What?"

"I think danger is in the description of being a death eater, is it not." He accused him.

"You were stronger than every one I asked you to fight. Dumbledore, on the other hand, will not hesitate to kill you, now that he knows that you are working with me." Tom said dryly. "No." He would not let Harry do this. It would be putting him right in the middle on the war, once again.

"Fine," was all that Harry said, while getting off the bed. Tom didn't really believe that he would do nothing, but there wasn't much he would do if Harry really wanted to do this.

"Harry... if you need any help just tell me. I do still have Severus in Hogwarts. We could work through him."

"Thank you." Harry smiled slightly before starting to leave. "By the way, where is Weasly?"

Tom smirked. "Oh, the same. Tied under the bed muttering to himself. I found him wondering around as usual, earlier. Seemed a bit dazed and confused about something."

After he stopped talking they heard a small voice. "...why me..." it was moaning, it a tiny voice.

Harry laughed.


"So, you're Potter's little bitch now." Lucius said softly.

"No, father. I think I prefer boyfriend. Or lover. Take your pick." Draco replied back, just as faintly.

"You know, you used to know your place, son." He said biting on the last word. Draco had apparently gotten the idea that he was his own person. He would just have to dissuade him of that notion.

"No, you won't." Draco sneered at his father. His father didn't realize that he could be read like a book, if you knew him well enough.

"What?"

"I said, 'you won't.'"

"I know what you said, Draco. What did you mean by it?"

"And I would rather you didn't call me that, either."

"What the devil it wrong with you, boy! And what about you're fiancée, that Parkinson girl. She would have made the perfect wife! The family is full of prestige. Not as good as ours, of coarse, but decent. She would have severed your every whim! And if you wanted a boyfriend so badly why not Alexander Nott. At least he comes from a pureblood family!"

/inbred is more like it/ He sneered at the thought. "Parkinson? Oh didn't I tell you! She tossed herself off the astronomy tower long ago. Back in 5th year." Draco smiled brightly at his father. "Trelawny said something to her one day after class. We found her dead body below the astronomy tower the next day. It's a shame really, I know of couple of boys, even a girl or two, if I'm truthful, that would have loved to go out with her. And I had it on good authority that at least one person in Gryffindor wanted to shag her. Though, I may be saying too much. I have to admit she wasn't horrible, as long as she didn't stalk you, that is. And as for Nott he was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs.(1) Besides he was twelve. A bit young, don't you think." But Lucius wasn't listening to this last part.

"A Gryffindor?" Lucius sneered. "I bet that you know this through the litt-"

"Do you want for Voldemort to kill you, father." Draco interrupted.

Lucius looked puzzled. "No." He said slowly. Maybe his ill begotten son had less sanity in him than he had previously thought.

"Than I would suggest that you not talk about Harry that way." Draco replied coolly. "Voldemort seems to be attached to him."

"I assure you I have noticed."

"Why." He questioned, his eyes had not wavered.

"How should I know? Why would our master tell me, a lowly deatheater?" Lucius said mockingly, rolling his eyes upwards.

"You, dear father, are in his inner circle. And he is not my master. I just want to get some questions answered." Draco said dryly, as if he didn't really care about the words or tone as long as he got his meaning across.

"Draco." He turned and saw Harry standing behind him in the doorway, smiling. He approached the two, in one of the many offices of the castle. He had been looking for Draco for almost half an hour. Harry wrapped his arms around his lover, kissing him till breathless.

"You're back." Draco smiled back, hugging him.

"Of course. I wouldn't have left for long. I've spent enough time anyway, as it is. You can leave now, Lucius." He made a shooing motion with a free hand.

/why that little brat!/ Lucius stiffened before nodding slightly and leaving. /where does he get off on telling me, the head of the Malfoy family, what to do! That insolent little bastard should be bowing to me!/ he thought while stalking off, looking much like a wooden doll. Harry sniggered.

"I've been looking for you." He said after the older Malfoy had left.

"Really?" Draco asked, sounding almost shy. It was rather uncharacteristic of him, but he was still a bit insecure about Harry not remembering him. Draco knew that he had no reason to be but it was important to him.

"Yes." He squeezed tighter, before allowing the two of them to fall back into the chair behind them. They stayed that way for a while longer, just being comforted by the other.


"What's wrong, Blaise?" Hermione asked. They were in much the same position as Harry and Draco. They had returned to their room soon after Harry left, Draco staying behind. But, Blaise still hadn't said a word.

/do I tell them? I'm sure that he was the one! The one who caused my parents to be imprisoned when I was a child. Made me learn to live without them!/ Blaise thought silently to himself, not realizing that Hermione had spoken. He just buried his face further into her shoulder.

"Blaise?" She pleaded. She was worried about him. He had been more quiet than usual during dinner, with the exception of the comment on the potion.

"He did it."

Huh? Did what? "Who?" was all she asked.

"Voldemort." was all he said for a second. "I never told you about my parents, have I."

She didn't need to reply. He was continuing.

"They were taken away from me when I was seven. But I still remember everything that happened. It was back when Voldemort was still believed to be alive by some people. They researched every means that they thought would defeat him. Including the dark arts. They would let me watch them, when it wasn't anything too gruesome." he smiled, but it was short lived. "They always told me that it was best to be prepared. Better safe than sorry. But one day the ministry arrived, someone had told that they had been practicing the dark arts. But no one could have known. I was shipped to an older cousin, who agreed to take me. That was where I grew up, with the ministry breathing down my neck.

"The ministry tried to dissuade me from the dark arts immediately, believing that my parents had probably brainwashed me, and had sided with Voldemort. It was then that I started to believe that he could have been the only one who would have wanted my parents out of the picture. He probably would have found out what they were doing through his contacts.

"I barely remember my parents, now. And I hate him for it. Then I finally find family and friends, happiness, but then one disappears without a trace, which nearly destroyed everything. Then later to appear under Voldemort tutelage. But then I hear Harry's story." He sighs, "I know that Harry is still a little sore with him, not all is forgiven. But Harry also loves him, in a way (1). Grateful that someone wanted to help him after one of the few people he trusted betrayed him. And I wonder who is wrong. Me, for hating him, or Harry for loving him. And if it wasn't Voldemort, than who sent my parents to Azkaban?"

There is silence for a while before she replies. "I don't know." She didn't have anything to say that would comfort him. So Hermione just continued to hold him.


Chapter 11
Chapter 13