Chapter 12

He woke to the sound of hush voices. Slowly, one eye at a time, the emerald orbs flicked open. At first, everything was a blur and he could make nothing out of anything. An inaudible groan escaped his dry lips. Then, with a jerk, he sat up.

Pain immediately entered his body. His head pounded, and his limbs ached.

"I see you've rejoined the living, Master" Harry painfully looked around. The voice was so familiar, but he couldn't make out the speaker. Squinting, he could make out a pair of rubies that seemed to be flying. Then, from out of nowhere, he realized who it was, and it scared him, a chill running down his back.

"Vol….Voldemort…"

Two pairs of footsteps hurried over. Something was placed over his eyes, and his vision became clear. He was staring at Malfoy. Behind him, Bella looked on with concern.

"Easy Master, easy. Lie, down, you need rest." Lucius spoke with a concerned voice. "Bella, he's awake. Get Severus!"

Bella, rolled her eyes. "I can see that Lucius." Still, she made her way out of the room, without any more comments.

"Don't move, otherwise you'll reopen your wounds. Thank God, you're awake, Master. We thought we might have lost you." Lucius looked on with concern. Harry didn't seem to react. Instead his eyes seemed distant, staring past him, at something else. Looking back, he quickly trailed the younger man's vision, noting that nothing and no one was there.

"Voldemort…" Harry spoke again, uncertain. He was staring at the Dark Lord who was standing behind Lucius, staring directly at him, making no comment. "Impossible. You're dead. You can't be here. he breathed out.

"Harry?" Lucius asked, very concerned. He had not seen the Dark Lord for some time now. It was not a good sign if Harry was able to see him. He didn't want the Master seeing the dead. That wasn't a good sign. The only time when anyone did see the dead was when they themselves were close to death.

"Harry? Harry! Harry! Look at me. Look at me Harry." Lucius spoke again, anxious.

The only response he got was another "how can it be, you're dead, unless, unless I'm dead too?"

Malfoy looked on, slightly frighten by the distance in the boy. He didn't want to lose Harry, not when he and the others had spent so much time trying to keep him from dying.

The transparent, ghost, spirit like Voldemort took a glance at Malfoy, before speaking again, at the hypnotized Harry. "Answer him Harry. Answer Mr. Malfoy. Show some signs that you are indeed alive." The Dark Lord seemed to chuckle. "I haven't seen Lucius in such a desperate frantic state to get anyone's attention. In fact, I never knew a Malfoy cared about everyone else. You must be doing something right. Indeed you were destined to take me place."

"What?" Harry seemed to only respond to Voldemort.

"Not now, Master. We will speak later. However, now, you must rejoin the living, where you are meant to be…" In a blink of an eye, Voldemort disappeared.

The door creaked open, and Bella returned with the last person that was expected to be mingling with the others here: Snape.

"I said look at me." Malfoy spoke softly, repeating each word as clear as crystal. The emerald eyes didn't respond as numerous questions rushed through him.

What happened? Why does my body ache?

The answer to that slowly came as images of what occurred flashed through him. He could somewhat see the people before him, and could faintly hear Malfoy talking.

"I don't know what's wrong. He just woke up. He seems so distant. He spoke of the Dark Lord, as though he could see him.." Malfoy explained. Anything else that was said could not be registered.

Why is Voldemort here? Impossible! He's dead! There's no way he could be here. I killed him myself!

"Potter!!" Snape growled out, surprising the others with the harshness and disrespect. "Potter! Are you dead or alive? Or are you still stuck up in you're little world? Do you still believe you're above the rest of us? May you bestowed us with your almighty presence anytime soon?" The Potion Master spoke sarcastically. Still, it seemed to work, as Harry did respond.

"You! You!" Harry choked out, eyeing Snape with disgust, as though seeing him for the first time. In the hand of the Potion Master was a vile of clear liquid. Snape seemed to smirk, as though he was enjoying himself.

"You Spy! You spy! Dumbledore's lap dog!" he growled. "How dare you show up here?"

Surprisingly, Snape didn't seem to grow angry at the comment. "I have no idea what you speak of Potter. There is no need to blacken my name further."

Harry cut the man off. "You know exactly what I speak of. You're part of the Order! You are a spy for the Order. Get him out, and kill him."

No one moved. Lucius gave him a funny look. "I do not know what the two of you are speaking of. However, I do know that Snape did save your life…."

"He what?"

"We thought we were going to lose you Harry. Snape produced a potion that stabilized your life so that it was for the better. Without him, you would have been dead right after the blast." Bellatrix finished.

"As for being a Spy, yes, that I will not deny. However, you must get this straight, Master." Snape took advantage by looking directly into the younger man's eyes. He lowered his defenses, just to prove that what he was saying was not a lie. "I worked for the Dark Lord. I work for you. I was never a spy for Dumbledore. I was never a spy for the Order."

Snape paused, choosing the words carefully. Though he had practiced and had his lines recited in his head, it was still a difficult task to try to convince Harry that it was the other way around. It needed to be short and simple that is if he wanted to live through it.

"I was under order's to pretend to be a spy for Dumbledore, to give him and his men false security."

"Dumbledore would never believe you. The way, I don't trust you now." Harry said levelly.

"Dumbledore trusts me with his life." Snape said just as softly. "And the reason is, if it was not for me, he would have died a long time ago. At that time, Dumbledore could not be defeated. The Dark Lord knew that the only way to do so was to do so was from within. So, he sent me to be a spy for him. Like you said, he wouldn't just trust me, not after all that I've done in the past." Snape seemed to savor some of the olden days. "So the only way was to save his life at the most critical point. This was carefully planned out, and it succeeded."

Harry listened quietly, still unbelieving. "If you still don't trust me, then I'm sure this would make you trust me."

"What?"

"If I was really a spy for the Order, for Dumbledore, would I hand over the Light's best men to the enemy. If I was truly a spy and did that, wouldn't I just have sealed away my life?"

Harry took a look at Bella and then at Lucius, who nodded as a confirmation.

"After you were knocked out, Master, Hogwarts came crumbling down, as the remaining walls did not support the weight of the school. We were force to go through a hasty, not so good looking retreat." Malfoy spoke, before Bella picked up.

"However, we have gained more then we could ever imagine."

"How can that be?"

"Hogwarts crumbled. The school fell. Panic and confusion ensured." Bella waived her hand at Snape. "While we were retreating…."

"Bella, may I?" Bellatirx nodded and let Snape finish. "I led a small group of Death Eaters waiting outside the castle." Harry looked suspiciously. "I am in the Inner Circle. I do have special powers and privileges, including leading men into battle

Well, so I had these men ready, for drastic change. Then, when I've finally decided that we were meant to be inside and not out, luck came forth. Hogwarts began to crumble. Then, instantly many staff and students apparated outside. Slipping on the whole Death Eater gown, I led my men to do our work." Another smirk. "I may add that we did catch plenty of big fish."

"Indeed…" Harry said, eyebrows rose for a split second before stopping as pain began at the slightest movement. The pain must have been clear on his face as Snape held out the vile for him.

"Drink. It will help you recover." Still suspicious, Harry nodded and begrudgingly let the liquid be pored into his mouth, as he could not move himself. Warmth entered his body and the pain seemed to cease almost immediately. "Now, get some rest Master." Still facing Harry, Snape inched his way out of the room, letting the door close behind him.

"What was that?"

"Dreamless sleep, pain reliever and some other things to keep you alive and healthy and would allow for faster recovery."

"Not poison?" He asked incredulously.

"Positive, no poison. If he really wanted to kill you, he would have done so already. You were unconscious for the past two weeks. You were tended alone by either one of us, if not all three. He could have killed you a long time ago and make it look like an accident."

"Two weeks?"

"Yes, it's been tough, for all of us." Bella spoke. "Get some rest."

"I will…"

With a final nod, both Lucius and Bella retreated to let their Master rest.

The door had not closed shut when Harry finally noticed how tired he was actually and fell into a deep sleep.

That night, Harry barely slept. He tossed and turned in bed, relentless as the pain from the incident increased the normal pain caused by his nightly sufferings from the curse.

"If it is better for you, I'll get Severus to tend to you.." Harry nearly bolted out of bed at the voice. Squinting, he faintly made out the figure before him.

"Voldemort." He said before he could stop himself.

The spirit glided closer and peered at the bed ridden man before him.

"Though I doubt you would want that. Not in this condition, looking like this. Pity, if I didn't know better, I would have mistaken you as a mere reflection of me, only gone worst, very wrong. Master."

Harry pulled up the sheets and growled. He didn't want anyone seeing or even knowing about his other side, his other half.

"Manners Voldemort. Shall I again remind you of them?" Somehow, Harry managed to remain calm, though he was curious why or how the other could be here. His eyes darted to the Dark Lord's wand, which was still on the bedside table.

Voldemort seemed to smile. Then in a mocking, sarcastic way, he performed the complete necessary greeting that everyone, no matter what rank they were in was suppose to do before the Master even paid any attention to the Death Eater, or in this case, the Dark Lord.

"Satisfied?" Neither spoke for a long time, Harry glaring at the other.

"What do you want? How is it that you are here? You are dead, aren't you? Come to finish me off?" The Master sneered, breaking the silence at last. Voldemort growled at the manner that he was being treated by his arch nemesis, now Master, but still he was pleased to say the least.

"I bring you no harm, my Master. I wish you no harm Master…"

Harry cut him off. "Cut the crap Tom. Don't go Master this, Master that!"

"Oh? Still carry a grudge between us? Can't let me rest in peace? Am I that low in the eyes of the Half-blooded Prince?" Voldemort spoke tauntingly.

"Why wouldn't I? After all, you've been scheming and failing in killing me, for the first 16 years of my life! How could I not hold a grudge? Give me a God damn reason why I shouldn't!"

"Without me, you are nothing. I gave you everything. Power, Fame, Glory and even Life itself." Voldemort paused. "And you know it…."

Though, Hary understood the first three, he could not understand how the man could have given him life. "Explain."

"I am a spirit, not a ghost, not a human. I am dead. Do you remember the diary?" The question caught Harry by surprised and it took awhile before he knew what the man was talking about.

"A memory, only this time, it's a very recent one, not one of your 16 year old Tom Riddle self…"

"Almost but not quite." Harry wondered why the other was so patient with him. "I did not come out from a book. I came from the very soul of my wand. Yes, I had imprinted myself into my very wand. I knew a day like this would come, and therefore I was prepared."

"We all know, at least Dumbledore and I and you, that the day will come when you will replace us, take one of our places. There was no question about it. The day would come. The question though was who. Who would you replace? Face it Harry Potter, even you yourself knew it. It was all within you. It is all within you. I placed too much of myself in you. I am a part of you. I live within you." A quick pause as Voldemort studied the other.

"Do you really think I would truly leave you? You think that you won't recall me more clearly then ever in times of great trouble? I am alive in you, Harry, and show myself most plainly when you need me. How else could you have survived that particular mix of magic? I was once again reborn."

"The night that Hogwarts fell, you were using my wand. You had cursed Remus in hopes of destroying him in what you thought was going to be worst then death. Then Dumbledore attacked you and caught you by surprise." The Dark Lord waited until Harry gave a nod of confirmation. "What you didn't know was Remus was not alone."

"What?"

"Your parents, and Black was with him." There was a huge jolt in Harry's heart. Inside he was a complete mess at hearing this, but he did not let it show.

"They were protecting him, the way they protected you when you were merely one. However, this time, they were all intent in destroying you. They would rather have you die, then let you go on with what you had become. With Dumbledore's blast, added with the four of their powers, you were sure to die.

However, I couldn't let that happen, could I? No, no. Not now. Not when you were using my wand, which my spirit resided in. Not when you had taken my place as my heir. Not when I am duty bound, and I, weather you like it or not, I am forever bound to you in service. I answered your call. With the extra strength I leant, though you weren't able to rebound it, it did save your life."

Harry looked up at Voldemort, with a new pair of eyes as though seeing the man for the first time. He wasn't angry, he wasn't sad. He was more grateful and relived.

"Will you protect me? Will you still hurt me?"

"No Master, I will not hurt you. Yes, I will protect you, as long as you keep my wand intact. Otherwise I will forever be gone."

"Will you stay?"

"No, I exist in the wand. I must return there. However, I will show myself again, when you need it.." Harry nodded. "You must at all cost keep my wand safe. It cannot end up in the wrong hands, as a matter of fact, in any hands except yours. Do you understand?" Harry nodded. "Good."

Voldemort then turned away and glided over towards his wand. Before he touched it, he asked briefly. "Why do you not use your own. You are not soft are you?"

"Of course not. Who do you think I am? According to the world, I'm worst then you."

The Dark Lord turned to face the other man. "Then why?"

"I will use it when I can control it." Harry hesitated. "I cannot control my own wand, ever since I turned my back on the world. I fear that if I use it, and not be able to control it, life will not exist. Even I will die."

"Then learn to use it. Learn to control it. There is a limit to how far you can use my wand to your likening."

"Like I need to be told that."

"Good." There was once again silence as though the two ran out of things to say. Then with a pop, Harry watched Voldemort disappear once again into the wand.

Staring at empty space for a while, Harry twisted to his side to sleep. Thoughts about the conversation that had finally led to a mutual understanding and a common goal between him and the Dark Lord churned around in his brain, appearing over and over again in his dreams.

"Master, how are you feeling today?" Malfoy asked early in the morning. It had been week, and Harry had recovered quickly. In fact, the Prince was back to his normal healthy condition.

"Very good thank you" There was slight excitement in the younger man's voice as he stretched and for the first time in three weeks, stood and strode around his room.

"Excited are we?" Snape spoke slyly.

"Who wouldn't? I finally get to meet your catch. Finally get to see what you have reeled in."

Snape seemed to bow modestly. "Indeed it would be refreshing to attend to my favorite hobby."

"Quite agreeable." Bella smiled, she too seemed excited. "The way they scream and squeal, such a beautiful melody, quite like a lullaby." It was obvious by her tone that the three of them had already had some fun with them.

"Shall we get going then?" Harry asked eagerly, feeling like a child again.

"In a minute." Malfoy stepped closer and swiftly fixed the cloak, the collar and straighten out the young Prince's outer appearance.

Snape watched sideways, half smiling. He himself was dressed in the Death Eater robe that he had worn on the night that Hogwarts fell, the one that he knew the prisoners could recognize easily. When Harry was ready, he placed on the mask, as even now the prisoners did not know who had betrayed them. Giving them a confirmation that he was ready, he took the privilege of leading them to the dungeons.

Harry had barely entered the dungeons when delight filled him. Indeed, Snape had a big catch. He was sure that he would have plenty of fun with them.