Possession
Chapter X - Grief
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Voldemort looked down at his sleeping prize as he considered his next move. He had Harry here but he knew, having wasn't keeping and his prize would still fight him before bowing to the inevitable. The Dark Lord was actually looking forward to the fight...

Harry had his true memories back now and he had a new memory to combat the truth with but it was unlikely that he would be ready to accept either. In time, there would be no choice but for the immediate future... Acceptance would not come easily either. The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes, idly running one hand through Harry's sleep tousled hair, feeling the beginning of an idea form but his train of thought was broken as sleepy green eyes blinked and Harry looked around confused.

Emerald eyes flicked around wildly and Voldemort made soothing noises to his pet but he failed to prevent the inevitable as Harry remembered. Crystal tears collected in his eyes and then rolled over his creamy skin. The Dark Lord moved long white fingers to Harry's face, cupping it and gently wiping away the tears before raising his hand and licking at the salty liquid. "My poor little one," he murmured before embracing Harry, pulling the boy into a sitting position.

Harry held back only for an instant. All unknowing he clung to the man who was offering him comfort, sobbing into the fine black fabric. Warm arms were wrapped around him and hands were running up and down his back, stroking him gently. A soft litany of comforting murmurs sounded in his ear and he felt safe... protected...

But nothing could protect him from his memories.

He had... They had... They had all... It had hurt, it had hurt so much... He'd asked them to stop, why hadn't they stopped? What had he done wrong? Shouldn't they at least tell him that? It hurt... It hurt so much... He couldn't tell anyone. He'd tried but he just couldn't get the words out and they had watched all the time. They'd hurt him when they thought he might have been thinking about telling. There had been no way out.

He'd been used... He felt so cheap. He was dirty. He was so dirty...

"Shh... Harry... Shh... I will not hurt you... It's alright, I won't let them hurt you again..."

"I'm dirty..." Harry gasped through his tears, not looking up. He trusted the man... They wouldn't hurt him again but he still felt like used goods...

"No Harry," Voldemort soothed him. "No, you're not. Not to me. I will always be here for you."

Harry looked up dazedly, blinking tear filled emerald eyes, focusing on the crimson eyes that looked down at him. He sniffed and shook his head before bowing it back again, gripping tighter to the man. He remembered those eyes... They had been comforting... They had been soft as they were now. And he knew the voice, it had soothed him before and it had been rough with the sound of his name at the moment of release and it had been the only one to whisper endearments to him.

"Let me show you what it means to be loved," Voldemort whispered into Harry's thick hair reminding him of the better time as he inhaled his scent.

Harry gulped feeling himself become weak again. He was warm and the words brought back an incredible feeling of pleasure as if he was wrapped in a cocoon. He was protected and cherished... He was safe. His eyes became heavy again and he sighed... He felt a little better but he was still dirty. He'd still been used.

"I won't ever leave you."

Harry nodded slightly and sighed as he felt himself lose consciousness again. The words were comforting... The man would stay with him... Perhaps he could face the darkness.

Voldemort looked down at his treasure as he laid Harry back down, keeping one hand on the boy's chest, rubbing gently. His reaction was expected. Grief... It would be followed by guilt, then anger, before acceptance and then Harry would be ready to move on. He narrowed his eyes; grief he could handle but he had never dealt well with guilt and anger... He could help with those reactions but he would kill for Harry and that would spoil what he had planned for Harry's ascension gift.

No... Dumbledore created this mess. He could help Harry through the last four reactions until Harry was ready to come back to him.

"It looks like I will only get to keep you for a little while, my pet," he hissed the words softly as the path became clear. "But I have claimed you, never forget that Harry, I have claimed you."

The Dark Lord walked silently towards the door, after willing a small meal into existence for his pet. He looked back once before smiling. The boy wouldn't be here long this time but the image of Harry sleeping in his bed was enough for Voldemort to know that it was the sight he wanted to see every time he entered his chambers.

---

The Dark Lord surveyed his assembled Death Eaters. They were talking quietly amongst themselves as they waited for the final few to arrive. No one knew why they had been called tonight and they were all curious. There was a mix of Elite and normal here but they all wore plain masks so only he could tell who was who.

Cold red eyes glittered as the doors clanged shut, effectively calling order and the Death Eaters all bowed to him.

"You have gathered for a reason," he announced coldly. "I wish a number Muggles found," the Dark Lord continued, waving his wand creating images of the one's he had seen in Harry's memory.

"Muggles?" The question came from several Death Eaters.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Muggles," he hissed, silencing all questions. "They may be connected to each other so if you find one he may lead you to the others. I want them found. I want them marked and I do not want the Ministry to have any idea. Once they have all been found they will be collected." He looked around again. "These may be Muggles but the one's who deliver them to me shall be rewarded."

His Death Eaters bowed, wisely keeping their questions to themselves. "Severus," Voldemort called. "Stay," he ordered as the others filled out.

Once they were alone in the large throne room Severus bowed, removing his mask, "My Lord."

"At Hogwarts I doubt you will be able to find Muggles so I have a different task for you."

The tall man nodded, waiting for his Master to continue.

"Dumbledore has not announced it yet but I have claimed what is rightfully mine."

Severus blinked, keeping his expression schooled into strict neutrality. He had no idea what Voldemort was saying.

"Ah... You don't know, either, do you?"

It wasn't a question that could be left unanswered. "I do not know, My Lord," Severus admitted and was surprised as Voldemort laughed.

"Of course not." The Dark Lord raised his wand, creating a new illusion.

The image was of a sleeping Harry Potter. He appeared calm, curled up on black silk sheets with his head resting on green silk pillows. A small snake was coiled beside him, sampling the air and looking about with dull eyes. Snape recognised the snake. It was the type Voldemort set to guarding select individuals.

"My Lord?" Severus fought to keep the tremor out of his voice. If the Dark Lord had Harry then... He didn't even want to know what it meant.

"My prize has come to me," Voldemort said proudly, "but he is not ready to accept fully and Dumbledore has much to answer for."

"I do not understand, My Liege."

"You will help the Order of the Phoenix recover Harry Potter," Voldemort announced. "Such an act I'm sure will be beneficial for you in securing your position and the trust of Dumbledore."

Severus gulped. "My Lord," he forced the words out. "You honour me."

Voldemort waved one white hand dismissively. "I merely wish to preserve several items within my fortress. You will lead them to Harry and I will have him suitably confined."

"The dungeons?"

"No... Nothing so crude... He will be in my chambers. The password will be 'Salamir Ascendant'. I'll tell my pets to leave you alone but I cannot guarantee all the Order Members."

Snape bowed again but the Dark Lord waved him off with the final instruction, "Don't be late."

---

Dumbledore sat alone in his office considering events as Fawkes sung quietly. He had made a mistake. He had made a mistake that might damn the Wizarding World... Those Muggles... How could they do that to their own? 'The Worst Kind of Muggles'... Minerva had called them that, right at the beginning... But then there had been no thought of that in their minds... He had checked... He had checked very carefully... What had changed..?

He shook his head, forcing himself to look at the letter. Harry's letter lay on the desk in front of him... Mocking him... It was true... All of it... And it was mocking him. He had put such power with those Muggles... He reached out to read it again. Tom had been brutally honest but had left out key pieces of information... He had explained enough that Harry would understand but only see one half of the truth...

With a sudden hiss the letter burned and the Headmaster looked on with mild curiosity. It appeared Tom had reactivated the charms embedded in the paper. With a grim smile Dumbledore looked on, knowing his student would see him and would act upon that information.

The letter burst into flames but from the ashes of the old letter a new parchment emerged, one labelled 'AD'. It hovered before him and then unfolded itself.

Dumbledore,

Why am I not surprised that it is you who hold this parchment?

'The Walls have memories...'

You know the truth now... Very unexpected, I assure you but nothing I can't handle. They hurt my prize and for that they will suffer. Do not worry about Harry's Muggle Relatives. I have not hurt them.

Yet.

I can see you still... You are shaking your head, perhaps wishing you had taken your chance to kill me so long ago... I assure you though, I will not kill Harry's Relatives... I have something else in mind for them. And for the other Muggles who have dared to touch him. There were twenty-six in all, not counting those who claim to be his relatives... I have plans for all of them.

Heprah is another matter though... I trust you will make the appropriate arrangements..? If you do not, I will and I will not be so merciful as to grant him the Kiss. Xeoaph is useful to me so the Vampire will be given a chance of absolution. He, after all, the one who granted my prize mercy by making him forget...

I would have left Harry thus... But you know, as do I, that he must remember. He must be whole...

I will not keep Harry for long. Your Order can come for him soon for the time has not yet come for me to claim him fully although it is growing closer. He knows what I want now... And he knows how good it can be.

I am disappointed though. You should have told him the truth... As I have done... But you've had your chance and now I shall take mine. You read the letter I wrote to him so you know what I have seen and you know the truth I believe. Harry will come to believe it and then I shall claim my prize.

You have failed in keeping him safe. Do not fail again or you will discover exactly how safe Hogwarts really is.

Keep him safe or you will not survive my wrath.

Lord Voldemort

Dumbledore looked at the parchment. So Tom would be giving Harry back soon..? That would be a comfort for Sirius and perhaps he could work to undo the damage that had been done.

"Harry..." Dumbledore whispered, laying the parchment aside. "Forgive me..."

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