Joining the forces of evil was not what Harry had originally planed for his life, but then neither was being cursed by the Dark Lord and ending up sorted into Slytherin. Harry was just working with what life was giving him, but as perusal, life was giving him the one path that no one, not even Harry, expected him to take.

A/N: I own nothing this is all J.K.R.'s, what a brilliant mind she has.

Chapter Seventeen – Giving in to Madness

Harry put down his Grandmother's book and rubbed his tired eyes, as small smile forming on his face. It had taken him only an hour to read the book, and get all he needed to know from it. It was really a glance through, but he retained almost every word that he set his eyes on. The book had some incantations, but it was more a true diary then anything else. It was a diary from the first Heir, Athlena Mordent, as written on the first page.

At this point, the incantations really meant nothing to Harry. It was the magic mentioned halfway though the book, that had Harry fascinated. Apparently once discovered, it had never been used, though Harry was debating that truth. The root of the magic was not Wizard in origin, but Phoenix. Harnessed by a Wizard, and combined with a simple deflection spell, phoenix song could deflect any dark spell. That was all that was written about it, but Harry was definitely going to look into it more.

He looked up at his head of house, who was grading first year's essays with a scowl on his face. Harry was sure the man was writing scathing remarks to his pupils, meant to give them nightmares of failing for life. The detrimental remark that Hermione had first gotten from the once potions professor, had certainly done that to her. Harry almost scoffed aloud at the thought, that it was a clever, yet, nasty incentive to make the students do better in classes. It had obviously worked on Hermione, and probably every Ravenclaw.

This was the longest time that Harry could remember, ever spending in the same room alone with the man, since his disastrous Occlumency lessons the year before. Harry was rather surprised that they hadn't killed each other yet, let alone cursed each other. Harry smirked slightly as he closed his grandmother's book, making it sound out, with a loud thud. Snape gave him an annoyed glare, as he lifted his eyes from the essays.

"It's not in here, it may be in one of the other diaries," Harry rolled his eyes at the look on Snape's face. He didn't believe him. "I'm telling the truth, Professor. This is an entirely light magic book, there are counters to dark spells, but nothing that would interest Voldemort. The Dark Lord may want his original body back, but he's not going to find the spell in here."

"It's got to be in there, Potter," Snape snapped before he stood from his desk and walked towards Harry. "Perhaps it's concealed. The Dark Lord has never been wrong."

Harry rolled his eyes, never been wrong. "Well he's wrong now," Harry sniffed. Honestly, the book was meant for only one person to be able to read it. What was the purpose of concealing something inside of something else that is already concealed? Harry opened the text to the first page and held his hand above it. "Reveal," he muttered in a bored voice. Harry jumped up in surprise from the chair he was sitting in. "That wasn't supposed to work," Harry looked up to Snape.

"I can see that… Is that?"

"Yes," Harry's eyes widened. Words were rapidly writing themselves in silver ink, into the inside of the blank cover, not just any words, "Parseltongue… It's a message from… Salazar Slytherin." Harry's face paled and his jaw clenched. What was a message from Slytherin doing in the Heir's book? "I'm not sure I'm getting this translation right, I've never seen Parseltongue written before. Harry read aloud what was written.

To my heir, follow the prophecy and you will find what you seek. Salazar Slytherin."

"What's the prophecy? It's clearly written there," Snape sneered. "What does the rest say?"

Harry ignored Snape's impatience as he read on.

"Two houses entwined; two souls entombed; two bloods divide. Knowledge they sought; power begot. Two worlds destroyed; born anew."

Harry swallowed hard before he finished.

"Three houses entwined; three souls entombed; three bloods divide. Speak with knowledge for power is what you seek."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Snape's snide remark went unnoticed by Harry as darkness crept into his eyes, causing the emerald of his eyes to look shadowed.

Harry picked up the book and held it in front of him, he knew the words to speak. It wasn't a prophecy. It was a Riddle, that Harry knew the answer too, only because he had heard the words spoken. Luminous had spoken them to Harry just over a month ago. Harry breathed out as he began to speak, and unbeknownst to him a frosty mist came out with the words. "Sino Omnis Quidnam Requiro Scientia, Lucrum Potestas." Magic shot out of the book and Harry was thrown across the room while the book flew to the other side. Harry hit the wall behind him, knocking the air from his lungs. "Allow All Who Seek Knowledge, Gain Power," Harry whispered hoarsely, as he called the book to him with less then a thought. He ignored the pain that was building in the back of his head, from where he hit the wall. Gain Power.

"Potter are you…" Snape didn't even bother finishing that query, as Harry stood with the book in hand, and a stony look in his eyes, that was hidden from view, by his hair, which had fallen to cover his face.

Harry held out the open book to Snape who took it from him. "There is the Dark Lord's spell Professor. I hope you know what you are doing… I hope I know what I'm doing…" Harry whispered the last statement with a light chuckle to his voice, as he turned and left Snape's office, leaving the changed book with Snape.

Harry was pleased, he knew he shouldn't be. Power, beyond anything he had ever felt before, coursed through his veins. This wasn't Merlin's magic. This was darker, and far more intoxicating. Harry felt it slowly consuming him and part of him welcomed it. Dark Magic had saturated the book, which had once belonged to his grandmother, but first belonged to Slytherin's wife. Athlena Mordent was not only the female Heir of Merlin. Harry had released that magic onto himself, and revealed the book for what it truly held. Now even the white pages were darkened.

Harry bound down the hall of the dungeons minutes later. He stopped outside of the entryway into the Slytherin common room and slammed his fists into the wall. "Damn," Harry seethed as he closed his eyes tightly. What had he done? Harry took in a few deep shuddering breaths, as emotions washed over him, dark emotions, hatred, anger… "Power…" Harry whispered before he pushed himself away from the wall, "All Power." The Slytherin dormitories wouldn't be the best place for him right now, too many people. He needed to be alone to sort out what he had just done to himself. This was bad. He had essentially just downloaded the knowledge of every truly dark spell into himself, and the power to use them. He could feel the magic leaking into his very soul.

Harry started back the way he had come. He didn't stop until he reached a certain girls bathroom on the second floor. He briefly looked both ways before entered the deserted bathroom. Harry hadn't passed a single person on the way there, unusual for a Saturday, but probably a good thing. He didn't even bat an eye as the ghost of a girl in Hogwarts robes, came out of one of the cubicles to great him. "Hello Myrtle," Harry said politely.

"Oh, Harry, you've come to visit me?" the ghost asked somewhat breathlessly.

Harry refrained from rolling his eyes. "No, I've come to go down to the Chamber of Secrets. Care to come with me?" Why he was going to Salazar Slytherin's Chamber, Harry had no idea, but he felt as if he should be there, like he belonged.

"No, no, Harry, even we ghosts have self preservation. Nothing but death resides down there. And even we ghosts can die a second time," Myrtle said quite seriously all at the same time with a sweat voice and a smirk on her face. "But if you die down there, you're welcome to share my bathroom with me."

"Umm, thanks Myrtle, I'll consider it," Harry said briefly before he turned away from the ghost and found the tap in the sink that had the snake engraved into it. Harry was just about to command the hidden entryway to open, when there was a bright flash of fire and Fawkes appeared in front of him, forcing him to back into the wall and away from the sink.

"Fawkes, what are you…" Harry started but then he noticed the man behind the flying phoenix who was still smacking himself free of the flames that had consumed him only moments before. The phoenix abruptly disappeared at that moment.

"Bloody phoenix fire, swiftest way to travel, but really," Luminous Friedens muttered as he patted the last of the flames from his robes.

"Luminous, why are you…" Harry began.

"What the Hell did you do? All of Merlin's books I gave, just returned to the Chamber. They only return to the Chamber like that when the books feel the Wizard is no longer worthy of them," Luminous stepped closer to Harry. "What have you done?"

Harry shook his head in confusion, his hair falling back away from his face as he did. "I…" he said but was cut short by Luminous when he grabbed the front of his robes and dragged him across the bathroom, to where a row of grimy mirrors lined the wall. Harry was forced in front of one of the mirrors. He took one look at himself in the mirror and fell to his knees. Red tinged around the outside of the green of his eyes, a sure sign that he was saturated in too much dark magic. "I…" Harry looked up to Luminous, "didn't know," Harry's whispered voice trembled. He was scared, more scared then he'd ever been in his entire life. He was turning dark.

"I think we should see Dumbledore," Luminous said seriously, as he put his hand on Harry's arm to help him up. Harry flinched back but got to his feet at the sternness in Luminous' voice, "Now, Harry."

Harry followed Luminous through the halls of the castle, silently, with his head down, and his hair draped over his face. He was deep in thought, how was he supposed to explain this one? Dumbledore would never trust him again and Merlin's diaries, they'd abandoned him…

Harry was so absorbed in thought that he didn't realize that they'd arrived at the headmaster's office until Dumbledore had said 'come in.' Harry kept his head down as they entered.

"Harry has done something," Luminous said as he steered Harry towards Dumbledore.

Harry took in a deep breath and then calmly looked up at his headmaster. "I didn't know what it would do," Harry said as his hair fell away from his face.

The look of anger that arose on Dumbledore's face, after a brief moment of confusion, was enough to make any man take a step back, and Harry did. He had only ever seen Albus Dumbledore this angry once, and it hadn't been directed at him.

"Harry, what have you done?" Dumbledore asked through a calm voice that didn't belay the anger in his eyes.

"The Heir's diary," Harry spoke calmly and freely for the first time. "I'm the Heir of Merlin. I can read the diary. There was a hidden passage in the book, in Parseltongue… I read it and said what's written above the entryway to your castle," Harry said to Luminous. "The book originally belonged to Slytherin's wife, Athlena Mordent, Merlin's heir. When I said the words, magic shot out of the book and hit me. It's dark magic," Harry looked at his shaking hands as he spoke. "I can feel it in me."

Dumbledore sat down heavily into his armchair behind his desk. "You knew he was the Heir of Merlin?" Dumbledore asked Luminous.

"I didn't, but I suspected. Where is the book now Harry, you didn't have it when Fawkes and I found you?" Luminous asked.

Harry didn't look either man in the eye. He was going to shoot himself for protecting Snape again. "Destroyed," he answered quickly.

"How did you get it?" Dumbledore questioned.

Harry closed his eyes, the trust was already lost. "I stole it," he lied, before he looked back up to the disappointed eyes of his headmaster. "I thought it could help me."

"I'm sorry Harry, I should not have let you dwell in the magic's that you have been learning these last couple of months. You have made some horribly bad choices this week," Dumbledore spoke firmly. "Where did you find Harry?" Dumbledore suddenly asked Luminous and Harry gave the Minister a pleading look.

"A second floor bathroom, of all the places I thought Fawkes would fire-port me, I did not think a girls lavatory would be one of them," Luminous answered.

"Sir, I was only going to go there to think. It's deserted now, Professor. I just wanted to be alone. I didn't think that there would be any harm..." Harry pleaded.

Dumbledore stood from his chair and paced the room for a moment in silence. He turned back to Harry with sternness in his eyes. "Harry Potter, as of this moment you will be under twenty-four hour watch. Until, either this magic dissipates, or I feel you can be trusted again. All but your essential school learning materials that you have been learning from these last months will be confiscated. With it I want you to bring me the Marauder's Map," Dumbledore said very severely.

"The map, but it's my father's, you already have his cloak. Why do you have to take this away from me as well?" Harry let his anger shine through about this. Merlin's diaries were gone, he was loosing his privacy, and now Dumbledore was taking the last thing that he had belonging to his father away. This all because he had diminished the trust Dumbledore had for him.

"I will not have you turn into another Tom Riddle!" Dumbledore shouted in a thunderous voice that made Harry flinch away. He soften his voice slightly towards Harry. "Harry your actions have consequences. I know you are well aware of that. Your belongings will be returned to you when I feel you can be trusted with them again."

"Yes, Professor," Harry said in an angry whisper.

"Minister, I believe that Miss Tonks is free from Auror duties to watch over Harry, is she not?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, I'll floo for her now," Luminous said as he walked over to the fireplace without looking at Harry.

"Professor is it really necessary that I be watched all of the time? It was an accident. I didn't know what would happen," Harry said with an almost hesitant voice, but the anger of the situation drowned it out.

"Harry, you almost went into the Chamber of Secrets this afternoon. Do you feel you were going there under your own violation, or did you feel as if you needed to be there?" Dumbledore asked calmly and Harry looked down to the floor, not having to answer. "This is one of the many reasons why you must be watched." Tonks appeared out of the fireplace moments later and gasped when Harry turned his eyes on her. "Miss Tonks, welcome," Dumbledore said as soon as Tonks had gotten over her momentary shock.

"Thank you Professor," Tonks replied after a hard look at Harry. "Minister Friedens informed me that you need me to keep an eye on Mr. Potter, Sir?"

"I do indeed, it seems he needs watching," Dumbledore informed her with a slight sigh in his voice. "If you please, everyone take a seat," he beckoned to several plush chairs that appeared in a semi circle around his desk.

Harry hesitated before taking the closest chair to the door. He shook with barely suppressed rage, a rage that wasn't entirely his own. He felt like running, but he squelched that feeling as he watched Dumbledore touch a red stone on his desk, that Harry had never seen before. It glowed momentarily before returning to it's original condition.

Luminous and Tonks both took their seats, and it was then that Harry truly acknowledged that there were more chairs then necessary. He was about to voice that thought when there was a knock at the headmaster's door and it opened to admit all the Head of Houses and a few other staff members. Harry lowered his gaze until Severus Snape, who was the last to enter, took a seat far away from Harry. Only then did he let his eyes show from behind his curtain of raven hair.

There were gasps from the initial few that had been looking at Harry, and then more gasps and cries as the others noticed. Harry didn't lower his eyes, he had gotten himself into this situation, and he would get himself out. But a sudden thought came to him, and he realized that this could help him greatly. But having a minder was going to hinder his plans, that he had only really started forming that morning.

"You all can clearly see why I have summoned you here. Mr. Potter has accidentally dealt in some seriously dark magic this afternoon, and I felt that you all should be aware of this fact. We do not yet know the full extent of his actions, nor how long this magic will last. I have asked Auror Tonks to help keep an eye on him until we can ascertain the consequences that, may or may, not develop from this situation," Dumbledore explained quickly. "Severus," Dumbledore said and it took Snape a few moment to acknowledge that he was being spoken to, as he had been staring at Harry severely, and Harry at him. Snape had under his arm the, yet to be noticed, Heir's diary.

"Yes, Headmaster," Snape said as he looked from Harry to Dumbledore.

"I would like you to act as Miss Tonks' eyes while Harry is in his dormitory, as Miss Tonks can not be there," Dumbledore spoke his obviously none negotiable command to Snape, before he spoke to the staff in general. "If any of you have any questions or concerns feel free to reveal them now." No one spoke up and after a moment the Headmaster continued. "Very well, you are all dismissed, Mr. Potter, Miss Tonks, Severus, if you would all stay behind please," Dumbledore waited until the staff had filed out before he called McGonagall back. "Minerva, if you would inform Hagrid of what has occurred, it would be kindly appreciated." Minerva McGonagall nodded briefly before disappearing down the winding staircase.

Harry subconsciously watched all of this but his mind was in overdrive. Dumbledore had noticed the book, he was certain of it, and Luminous who had remained seated had also noticed it, and was now looking critically between the too. It was painfully obvious that the carefree Minister, which Harry thought he knew, was no longer on his side.

Dumbledore slowly and quietly closed his door before he turned on Harry, barely suppressing his anger and disappointment. "You have lied to me again, Harry."

'You have lied to me again Harry,' a mocking voice that was just short of a cackle sounded in Harry's head and Harry looked around the room, half expecting to see Voldemort standing before him. Thankfully, he was not. Harry easily ignored him.

"What did the two of you expect to attain from this book?" Dumbledore summoned the Heir's diary to him, and Snape shot his head up in surprise at having it taken from his hands.

"Professor Snape had nothing to do with this, Sir," Harry stood up and stared Dumbledore in the eyes. "I took the book of my own violation, he must have found it in the hall. I did not lie. I thought it had been destroyed," Harry briefly glared at his Head of House, an unwise move on his behalf as Dumbledore notice the exchange.

"Sit down Harry," Dumbledore said sternly, before turning his eyes on Snape. "Severus, I want the truth."

It was then, as he sat, that Harry realized why Albus Dumbledore trusted Severus Snape. It was ingenious, but cruel and a Dark Arts spell. Snape was under a Truth Incantation. He could not lie directly to Dumbledore when asked for the truth, and if he did, he would be rewarded with pain. The knew information Harry now had scared him slightly. Harry could even recall how to perform the incantation perfectly.

"I took the book and asked Mr. Potter to find a spell for me. The Dark Lord was looking for a spell to regain his un-mutilated human body. He informed me that it is there that I would find it," Snape motioned towards the book. "He also informed me that Mr. Potter was the only one with the ability to read it. So I enlisted his help," Snape spat the words.

Harry sighed inaudibly and leaned his head back in his chair with his eyes closed, dismissing the conversation that was taking place around him. A headache was coming on, but it was not from the situation, but more from the Dark Lord's banter in his head.

'I don't seem to understand something, Mr. Potter; you despise Severus Snape. You loath the man to the point that you wish to kill him at times, which pleases me to no ends. Yet, you always seem to try to cover for him. Perhaps that it is just me, but I seem to find that rather… contradictory,' Voldemort rambled on with amusement, to the point that Harry had had enough.

'Shut up and get out of my head, Voldemort,' Harry spat with his inner voice, which sounded dismally inferior to Voldemort's. 'I wish that my potion would work the way it is supposed to, and get rid of you for me,' Harry hadn't actually meant to say that to Voldemort but the thought just popped into his mind.

'No, I don't think it will. It seems to have worn off already. But then that could be do to the fact that you have something new to purge your system of the potion, power that even I envy. Tell me Harry, how does it feel to have power in you, which is truly evil?'

Harry's head shot up as he opened his eyes and a small smirk unknowingly came to his lips, but no one but Tonks took notice. 'Wonderful, I feel as if I could do anything,' the words ran smoothly through his mind, and Harry felt them as truth.

'Prove it Potter, join me!'

The invitation was laid out before Harry again. His eyes blazed furry and a small voice somewhere in his thoughts tried in vain to tell him this was wrong, to say, no, but Harry squashed it. 'YES!' Harry screamed in his head before the Dark Lord disappeared and Harry was thrown sharply back into reality. Had he done what he thought he had just done? Harry looked at the people around him with a brief moment of fear in his eyes, before they turned stone cold. Harry noted that they were now all staring at him, and the conversation seemed to be over.

Harry stood up, he had no idea what the conversation around him had been, and Harry didn't care at this point. "Are we finished here?"

Dumbledore stared at him calculatingly for a moment. "Yes. Miss Tonks will escort you down to dinner. My suggestion is that you don't look anyone directly in the eye, at least until your eyes return to normal. We do not wish to panic anyone, and you are already going to be drawing enough attention with having Miss Tonks with you," Dumbledore said, a semblance of regret reflecting in his aged eyes.

Harry just nodded and mumbled a few profanities under his breath in Parseltongue, before leaving the office with Tonks trailing behind him. Harry hated attention.

A/N: Perhaps Harry is making the biggest mistake of his life, perhaps not. But how, exactly, will he join Voldemort with having eyes on him twenty-four hours a day?