A/N: I Own Nothing. Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews. Please keep them coming, as I appreciate every single one. Remember I don't mind constructive criticism, but please no flames. If you don't like don't read. Here's the next chapter hope you enjoy! Okay I noticed a slight mistake. In the earlier chapters I put Kinsley Shacklebolt as the new minister of magic, and in the later chapters I put Fudge as minister for magic, it will still be Fudge, because it fits into my story better. My Apologies. Another apology to make this chapter was ready to go by Saturday night, but I am at the library's computer right now sending uploading it. My modem is down or something I have no clue with what, and I am so depressed, no fanfiction for like six days.:) Hopefully it will be fixed soon. Ahhh Want to just cry, okay that's enough of my sorrowful tale, on with the story.
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In his dreams he was still flying. Flying above the sky, above the highest mountain peaks. In his dream he was the only person who existed. There was not a single living soul who could have some kind of claim on him. In his dream he was his own person, free and able to do whatever he wanted.
His dream soon came to a bitter end, when he felt the first ray of the morning sun beat down on him. His oversensitive eyes flinched from the brightness. He refused to wake up; he was having far too much fun flying. He rolled over onto his stomach feeling softness he did not feel before. He burrowed deeper into the mattress burying his head in the fluffy pillow.
Mattress, pillow, this was not right. He was supposed to be with his mother and relatives, and Sirius. He was not supposed to be here. He opened his eyes in frustration. Fear crept into his body, and he became rigid with apprehension. The room was dark and he could not see. He could see Dudley's old toys scattered around the room. He could hear his Uncle's footsteps thudding heavily on the stairs, across the landing and making it to his room. He could see the knob turn and he could see the man enter his high cruel laughter ringing harshly in his ears.
Harry forced his eyes shut. "It's not real, it's not real, it's not real." He kept thinking to himself, over and over again. "You've just seen the sunlight, it's not dark, he's not here, and he can't hurt you." He had to remind himself that he was no longer at his Uncle's house in Privet Drive; he was far away from there. He had been rescued. His mind was playing tricks on him, and if he allowed his mind to keep up these games he would go mental.
Counting to ten, Harry opened his eyes very slowly. The room was brightly lit, and there was no sign of any danger. The layout of the room was immaculate. It was almost the same size as the boy's dormitory in Hogwarts. However that's where the resemblance ended. The colour scheme of the room was green and silver, Slytherin colours, and the bedspread was plain black. The furniture was made from the finest mahogany wood that money could buy.
Harry made his way out of the bed. He figured that he should be safe wherever he was considering that he was on Hogwart's grounds when he came here, and the school was heavily warded. He went to the door and made to leave when he was tossed backwards and landed in a ruffled heap on his bed.
He "harrumphed" and untangled himself on the bed. He tried again, this time the door expelled him on the floor rather roughly. Harry was getting frustrated he wanted out, and he wanted out now. He looked at the window; he had not tried that yet. It could work, maybe whoever had him had forgot to spell the window and he could get away using that.
He unlatched the lock on the window, and to his surprise it easily unlocked. He grabbed onto the ledge and was about to stick his head out when he felt his body flying in the air once more. This time he hit the wall rather roughly and took it as his cue to just give up. There was no way out.
He started pacing nervously; he hated being locked in a room. This did remind him of the Dursley's and what his Uncle had made him endure. He was not an animal to be locked and caged. He was a human being. Nobody not even his friends saw that. To everyone he was an object to rid them of the most hated wizard of their time.
Harry looked for anything that could have been left lying around. The least the person could have done was to have left him a book to read, or maybe this was some new way to torture him. Make him so bored he drove himself crazy and then they would kill him. Harry was so desperate he would be willing to even do the potions homework Snape set for the summer.
A smirk curled on his lips, one that would have made Malfoy quiver in his shoes. No not Snape, his father had set the work, which meant that he would not have to do it at all. He sat on the only chair in the room that was adjacent from the bed, it took all his might not to get up and start pacing again, to burn off some of the pent up frustration in his small body. He wished he had not screwed up his first attempt, and for the first time in his life he wished his father had not been alive, and that Severus Snape was still Severus Snape.
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James looked at his son from Harry's bedroom doorway. He looked small in the oversize chair; he could have passed as a ten year old. This was all the Dursley's doing, and knowing what was sentenced to Vernon Dursley did nothing to qualm his anger towards the man. James knew that once Harry became his normal self then Dursley would get his soul back. Justice was so unfair at times. If Albus had let him finish his curse Dursley would be dead. He shook his head, now was not the time to be thinking of Vernon Dursley, right here in the present he had to focus on Harry.
"Harry." James called to his son in barely a whisper. He had no idea what Harry would do, the young man before him was so fragile, life having beat him so long ago.
Harry made no notice of his father. He hoped that if he did not respond then maybe his father would ignore him. No such luck. When did his father ever do what he wanted?
"Harry." James tried again.
"Let me out of here." Harry said through clenched teeth, not looking in the direction his father was standing.
"I can't do that son." He felt bad; he would give anything to be able to let Harry out by himself. If he was with him, then that would be a whole other story altogether.
"Let me out of here, now." Harry tried to be tolerant as best as he could.
James walked towards where Harry was sitting, and crouched down at Harry's eye level, so they were staring each other straight in the face. James rested his hand on Harry's knee. Harry on the other hand lifted his knee up so that James hand fell away. "Harry look what I brought, some breakfast, yea."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Why what? Why did I bring you your breakfast? Because you need to eat." James looked puzzled. What kind of a question was that that his son was asking him?
"Why did you bring me here, why couldn't you just leave me alone." His voice broken, he looked so lost.
James just wanted to take his son and remove all of his pain, but there was no way to do it, well there was, but those would just leave emotional scars and Harry had enough of those to deal with already.
'Why? Because I love you. You're my son, and I would do anything for you." Now he just wanted to shake his son, to allow common sense to be knocked into him.
"Why? Nobody else has. I'm used to being by myself. I'm a burden. I was to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. I know I am to the Weasley's, I put their lives in danger every time I see them, Remus is still Remus, and you think I killed Sirius." His emerald eyes looked so lost and empty, he had nobody to turn to.
"I never, NEVER have thought that you killed Sirius. That was NOT YOUR FAULT, AND YOU ARE NOT A BURDEN."
"Yes I am." He folded his arms protectively around his chest, breathing very heavily. "And you told me straight out at Hogwart's that if it weren't for me Sirius would still be alive. Maybe it would have been better if I fell through the veil instead." He hung his head down and stared at the silver carpeting.
"What I said at the infirmary was a slip of my tongue. I never meant it. I was mad, and before I knew what I was saying that came out of my mouth. And let me tell you something I was so ashamed of what I said that I wanted to die again."
"Honestly I wish you were still Snape. It would make my life a lot easier." Harry finished dejectedly.
"Harry look I brought you some of your favourite foods. If I thought you were a burden I wouldn't have made it for you. Plus I already know how you feel about me, and I'm hoping later that things will change between the two of us." He lifted up the cover to the tray revealing all sorts of delicious foods; eggs, rashers, treacle tarts, pumpkin juice, and many other foods adorned the silver tray.
"Highly unlikely." Harry said.
Harry did not take notice at the contents on the tray he, however, took notice of how all the food was already pre – cut into tiny chewable pieces. The plates, pitcher and cup that were holding his food and pumpkin juice were made out of plastic. There was no cutlery or anything sharp to hurt himself on, James made sure of that.
Harry's face furrowed up in disgust. "I'm very capable of cutting up my own food."
"Yes that may be so." James said carefully, "But after the few little stunts that you pulled, I don't think I can take it anymore if you tried a new way to do yourself in. And while we're being honest I will tell you truthfully that I don't trust you with anything sharp, and you can't say you blame me for it."
"I'm not a baby!" Harry screamed.
"I never said that you were. But I want to make sure that you're safe, and not going to try and do yourself in at the first chance you get when I'm not looking. I'm only protecting you."
"I don't need protection, especially towards myself." He grabbed a plate off of the tray, and for a fleeting second James thought that this was the end of the argument, but he was soon mistaken. Harry took the treacle tarts and flung them at the door. Having the protective wards on it, the door flung the food back into the room, aiming them the way they came. Harry and James had to duck for cover, the walls and the carpet being the innocent victims in this war.
"Now that was uncalled for." James cleaned the mess up with a simple cleaning charm. "If you don't eat, then you won't leave this room." He tried bargaining.
"I changed my mind anyways I love my room here. This little prison that you've got me in is surprisingly comfortable. I could get used to this. I especially enjoy the Slytherin colours, they're just my style." He sneered, Harry had been doing that a lot lately.
"Well, I was going to take you out in the gardens. They're very beautiful, and I was thinking of a picnic. I thought that would be fun and we would be able to talk and get to know one another, put aside our differences and maybe try to become a family, but I see that you're not ready to be let outside just yet, but we could still work on becoming a family."
"What family James. I don't see any here do you." Harry did not look at his father when he said this, he knew he hurt the man terribly, but he was too exhausted from everything, he needed to get everything off of his chest before it was too late. "You keep me here, lock me up, treat me like a baby, and you say that maybe we could become a family. You're worse then the Dursley's. When they locked me up they usually chose to ignore me as well, and I don't have to hardly see them. Uncle Vernon was better than you."
James did not know what to say he was shaking so hard. He was too shocked at the words Harry said. How could he be compared to the Dursley's? He was trying to save Harry's life, not take it away from him. He chose instead to try a different tactic. He knew deep down that Harry was only riling him up to see how far he could be pushed, testing his boundaries, and James refused to let Harry win, he was the adult here, not Harry.
"First off Harry, this is not a prison. The wards are only on here to protect you, so you don't try to hurt yourself again. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you. When I found you lying down, bloody, an inch away from death, my heart literally stopped, I was so scared, more so than the day Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow. I thought I lost you for a second time. Do you know what that can do to a person? I just found you and thought I nearly lost you, Harry. You are the most important thing in the world to me, and I don't want anything to happen to you again. You are my world, my life."
"If that were true you would have came back for me that day, you would have fought, and never let me go to the Dursley's. You could have tried harder."
James had just felt like he had just been slapped. Harry was right he should have tried harder, but how could he have fought when he was bound and forced to do something he would never have wanted to do in the first place? He was just as much a victim as Harry was, and yet he was paying for the mistakes of others.
"Now get out! If you're not going to let me out of this room then please just leave me alone." Harry lost all his steam and he slumped further into his chair, looking so dejected.
"I'll go Harry only for a few minutes, there is something that I need to show you. Please try to eat something."
"I'll try." He mumbled as James made his way out the warded bedroom, he felt guilty for what he just said to his father. He knew that his father only had his best interest at heart, but Harry felt so confused. If he did care for him, why didn't he come to him sooner? There were so many times when Harry needed a father or mother, but nobody ever came for him. Why now? He looked at the tray and all the tiny pieces of food that were cut up for him. He took a hand and swiped the tray, all the contents splattering the silver carpeting, creating a rainbow of colours. With nothing else to do Harry just sat looking out the window. "The least he could have left me a book to read. Or perhaps he thought I would do myself in with a paper cut." He thought to himself.
James went to his room, and what felt like the hundredth time he pulled a silvery strand from his hair and placed it in a plastic bowl. He could not be too cautious when it came to dealing with Harry. He hoped beyond hopes that this would work.
He carried the bowl back to Harry's room, where he was not too surprised to see Harry the way he left him, or the pile of spilt food all over the floor.
"Were you able to eat any of it?" James asked.
"No." Came the blunt reply.
"Harry I came to show you something. I think it would help you in understanding what happened to me, and why I was Severus and was never able to show myself."
"I don't care what you have to show me. It's all in the past."
"No Harry I'm not letting you off that easily this time. You will see what I have to show you. You have brushed me aside since you found out I was alive, and I have put up with it pretty well lately. Now, my patience is running very low. You can fight or go willingly, it's your choice."
Harry contemplated his situation. When did he ever do anything he did not want to do willingly? Never. This time would be no different. He got up from the chair, and James at that point thought that Harry had consented, but when he walked past him, Harry headed for the doors.
"It won't work Harry, no matter how much you try to get out of here."
"Oh yeah watch me." He snarled.
James watched. He watched Harry fly through the air and land on the bed. He laughed in amusement. Harry scowled at him. His father was not supposed to be laughing, he was hurting more than anything and his father was just standing there laughing at him.
"It's not funny." Harry cried from where he just recently landed.
James took notice of Harry and saw that his son was not amused by this. "Sorry." James said, his laughter dying instantaneously. "Please Harry." James held out his hand for Harry to take.
Harry turned his back to the extended hand, never in his life would he ever take that hand.
James got up and tried to take hold of Harry's hand. Harry quickly darted away, and James went after him. What started as a way to be nice turned into a game of tag, as James tried to catch Harry, and Harry kept running around the room away from the man.
Resignedly, James took out his wand and said "Accio, Harry."
Harry found himself in James' arms. He tried to wiggle free, but James was so much bigger than him and stronger. James knew he had won. Harry slumped into the mans arms defeated. He remembered James doing that to his mother, the night before his world came crumbling down, and he sank deeper in the arms.
James placed a kiss on the unruly mop of hair. "It's alright Harry. I promise it's ok. Give me ten minutes to see my side of things."
James held Harry one handed and with his now free hand he dipped his finger into the silver substance, where it swept him and Harry into it's deep cool contents.
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Meanwhile in the underground building that was the Ministry of Magic, Albus Dumbledore went to meet with Cornelius Fudge in his office. Albus still felt that he would get to the Potters in time before the Ministry, but just as a precautionary he needed everybody and that included muggles on the alert of any spotting.
Albus entered the bright room, it was warm and welcoming, a very different one to that of the man in the room. Cornelius Fudge looked livid. His face was pink and his bowler hat fell to the floor when he saw Albus.
"What are you doing here, Dumbledore?" Cornelius asked. He was far too lenient with the elder wizard, and if he still could have his way the man would be sent to a cell in Azkaban. "We had a deal, I gave you a pardon and as much leniency as you needed, and you never set foot into this office, no matter what the situation is."
"I need your help Cornelius. I have some very grave news, and what I am about to tell you needs to be dealt with immediately." Albus sat down in the seat by Fudge's desk.
"You want my help?" Fudge was ready to bounce up on his seat; he had been waiting for this day many a year already. "What may I ask will I get in return for helping you Dumbledore?"
"How did I know Cornelius that you would be wanting something in return?" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with its usual flair.
"Well nothing in this world is for free Dumbledore, even you know that. So shall we strike up a bargain?"
"Alright Cornelius, if that's the way you want to go. How about your life and all the rest of the wizarding world for that of helping to recapture that of the "Saviour." Albus knew he struck a cord when he mentioned the fact that Harry was missing.
"Potter gone." Fudge spluttered dumbly. "Potter can't be gone. Potter's at his relatives in Surrey."
"No he's not I'm afraid. And you must let me tell you everything without any further interruptions, is that clear. Everybody's fate including my own rests upon getting Harry back to Hogwarts and in my care safely."
"Alright Dumbledore proceed." Fudge exclaimed warily. He just wanted the bloody war to end, and with the boy – who – lived gone their chances of a short war were slim to none.
Dumbledore went on with the story starting with the day that Godric's Hollow got attacked, ending with James taking Harry off of Hogwarts grounds and disappearing with the boy, not to long ago.
Throughout the story Fudge's face kept changing colour. It must have gone through every shade of red and blue there was. At the end he was quite relieved to know that Harry was still alive just missing. Finding the boy would be easy, but taking him away from his father would be hard.
"So what do you suggest we do Dumbledore."
"First off in order for us to get Harry fully back in our control we need to get him away from his father."
"I know that Dumbledore, I'm not an idiot. How do we get Potter away from his father? That's what I'm asking."
"James Potter is not all there, Cornelius if you get my drift. After everything that's happened to him he sort of snapped. Not fit to look after the boy – who – lived. Can be considered dangerous."
Fudge's eyes sparkled with glee. He knew what he had to do. Once word got around that a criminally insane man has gotten the "golden boy" every witch and wizard would be out there looking to bring back the only person who could save them from mortal peril.
Albus watched as Fudge fire called two Aurors into his office. Crubbins and Benson entered the office immediately. Shacklebolt would have been there, but he was still at Hogwarts watching over the other children that were left.
"I have an assignment for you two. I need posters hung over all the windows and shops in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Harry Potter is missing. I need one that shows pictures of both Harry and his father James. The poster should say that James is considered dangerous and mentally unbalanced. It should also report that he has kidnapped Harry and has left us no clue as to where to find him. State that there will be a ten thousand-galleon reward for the person who captures the eldest Potter and has found the wizarding world's hero. The wizard wireless needs to put out a bulletin in between each and every song that is played, with the same information as the posters. Got that?" he questioned the Auror named Benson.
The two Aurors stared at the Minister for Magic as if he had grown an extra head. "Are you saying that Harry Potter, The Harry Potter, is missing?" Benson answered in reply to Fudge's question.
"Yes. Now do you understand the orders? If not there are other less qualified ones who would gladly be wanting your positions."
"Yes we got it." Crubbins answered.
"So then what are you waiting for? Go already."
They disappeared without any hesitations.
"Well that went well." Albus sighed. "In two hours time the whole population will be in a frenzy searching for Harry."
"It will be fine Dumbledore, mark my word."
"We should also inform the muggle world. Who knows where those two could be."
"I'll go to their Prime Minister right away and have a nice little chat with him. We will find him."
Albus left, not feeling any better. He thought that he would have been able to find the pair by now, and instead he had come up empty handed.
He went back to his office at Hogwarts and started yet another plan to find Harry.
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Harry and James both landed in the pensieve very unstable. James had to let go of Harry's body in order to gain his balance. The minute Harry felt James' hold on him slip he quickly edged out of his grasp. He was ready to dart to the other side of the room, when a firm grasp around his arm held him tightly back.
"Nice try, Son." Harry thought James would be mad at him, but when he looked up at his father he could see a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Look ahead Harry. Keep your eyes focused on that chair in front of you." James said in a soothing voice.
Harry may have been forced to enter the pensieve, but he would not give the man holding him the satisfaction of watching. He firmly closed his eyes tightly shut.
James sighed. "Harry if you don't open your eyes, I will force them opened."
Harry reluctantly opened them. He did not want to have magic forcing him into doing anything anymore. He looked straight ahead to where James had told him to look before.
There was nothing and nobody, Harry wondered when the pensieve would start this was actually more boring than being locked up in his room.
Just as that thought ended a heated argument between three people broke out. The man in the chair was being ignored by the others and the other two occupants were discussing his future as if he were not there. Harry gasped when he recognized his Father, Snape, and Dumbledore. Snape and Dumbledore were talking about his father's future and from what he could tell his father was not one bit happy about this. Harry inwardly laughed, he knew how his father felt, every decision in his life was made by other people and not by him. He was always ignored and nobody ever thought to hear what he had to say about his own life.
He saw the two men stupefy James. He saw James waking up and finding himself bound magically by ropes. The fingers around Harry's arms tightened its grip as the real James looked on once more to find himself in a situation that cost him his whole life.
Harry then saw Dumbledore giving his father an ultimatum and then making him change into somebody he did not want to be. He then saw Severus apologizing to his father, for forcing him to do this. He could see the real Snape was not as mean as his father's one was. His eyes were soft and mild, and it looked like he would never harm an innocent person.
What he saw next made him want to scream out for his father. James was screaming in pain as he did not remember anything he was so lost and confused. Harry felt bad for this man. He looked into his eyes and noticed sadness, as the pensieve James cried.
He then looked at his real father, the one that he snubbed so harshly. The one who had been telling him since the beginning that he had no choice, the one that Harry wished was never alive. That one was crying too. Harry studied his father, he was so ashamed of the way he acted. He could never have figured that his father was telling the truth, and he hurt the man on purpose.
"Let's go son. There's nothing more to see here." James words were rough from the emotions that he was feeling.
Before James could take him out of the pensieve Harry swirled around and buried his head into his father's chest.
"Dad, I'm so sorry. I never knew. I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." He cried.
James held onto his son wrapping him in the biggest embrace he could muster. Tears running down his own face, he gently stroked Harry's back soothingly. They sat in a huddled form on the floor, father and son reunited at last.
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Back in the muggle world Petunia and her son Dudley were coming back from their trip to Aunt Marge's. Their return was a bit earlier then they had planned, but Petunia could not take anymore of Marge's dogs jumping on her and helping themselves to her dinner. Dudley on the other hand could not stand being away from his computer, television, and friends for so long. So after two weeks of being gone Petunia packed their bags and drove them home.
It was a welcomed sight to be back at Privet Drive. Everything looked the same and was nice and symmetrical. She sighed happily as she and Dudley started unloading the car full of luggage. She just hoped that Vernon fared better with the "freak" then they did at his sisters.
Once inside the house Dudley went straight for the cupboard and pulled out a large bag of chips, a box of cookies, and a one-litre bottle of Coke. He sat his whale-sized body on two chairs and turned on the tele. He turned it to his favourite show, and laughed hysterically along with the jokes. Missing the note that was right under his nose.
Petunia Dursley on the other hand put all the luggages in Harry's room. She figured he did not need the space; his bed was plenty, and went lazily down to join her beautiful son.
"My little Dudders are you sure you want to be eating so much? Why not take a break, Pookie." She asked her son.
Dudley glared at her from his seat. "Look what you did mum, I missed the ending to my favourite show, now I'm going to have to wait three more weeks for the repeat." He whined.
"I'm sorry babykins, what can mummy get you to make it better?" She hugged him.
Dudley smirked. This was easier than he thought it would be. "I want to have my second bedroom back." He pouted, he always had hated Harry for taking it over, and had wanted it back for about five years now.
"Anything Popkins, the nasty boy can go back into the cupboard. We'll let him know when he gets back with your father." She kissed Dudley on the cheeks.
He wiped her kisses away, when she was not looking, being a Dursley had some major advantage in getting his own way.
Petunia turned away from her son, happy knowing that he himself was pleased. That's when she noticed an envelope lying on the table near the bottle of coke. She took the envelope and carefully tore the flap away from the glue. She scanned the letter and almost fainted from shock. The freak had done it. He had destroyed their family because of him her husband did not have his soul, and could not regain it unless he made a full recovery. She wished that wherever the 'freak' was he was suffering just as badly as her Vernon was.
"Mummy look. They're showing a news clip about Harry." Dudley said pointing at the television.
Petunia Dursley pulled herself away from the letter that was addressed by Albus Dumbledore. She took a glance at the television. There was an Amber Alert set out for Harry and an arrest warrant set out for his father. Petunia was shaking so badly from anger, seeing the picture of the smiling 'freak' was enough for her to grab the saltshaker off of the table and throw it at the television. The television screen shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces.
Dudley stared mortified at the broken television. His first love was broken. "M-m-m-u-m." He spluttered. "That was my favourite television." He cried.
"There are more important things then television, Dudley." She whispered.
"Like what?" He challenged his mother.
"Like how you don't have a father anymore." She shrieked running out of the room and slamming the door to her bedroom closed.
Dudley just shrugged his shoulders and went to the living room to watch television. He could care less about where his father was as long as he had his good old tele.
Petunia sat on her bed. She had to be the one to find the 'freak' and his now undead father first, and when she did she would be the one to finish him off at last.
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Lucius was sitting at his table enjoying his brunch. He had not been able to get any real rest since he was set free from Azkaban on a slight technicality. This was his first real day off, and he was intending to enjoy it as much as he could. However, that did not last that long when a scared looking house – elf entered the dining room.
"Master Malfoy has a visitor Sir." The poor little house – elf squeaked.
"Show him in you fool." He threw an apple at the house – elf's head.
The poor house – elf ran for cover. She scurried away, far from her evil master as she could get.
"Now, now, Lucius is that anyway to treat a slave?" Voldemort laughed.
"You're one to talk, my Lord." Lucius joined in the banter, knowing full well he could not get in any trouble with the Dark Lord.
"Something to eat my Lord?" Lucius waved his hand over the magnificent spread of half breakfast food, and half lunch food.
"No thank you Lucius, I came on more pressing matters." Voldemort's eyes turned an even darker shade of crimson.
Lucius watched as the man's emotions showed through on his face, and he understood that this had something to do with Draco. Otherwise the Dark Lord would not be bothered at this time during the day to come and visit him.
"What has that delinquent son of mine done now?" Lucius was exasperated, it seemed that Draco just lost his only chance to join the inner circle.
"You are asking the wrong question Lucius, you should be asking what hasn't he done?" Voldemort hissed in anger.
Lucius knew this was not good. Draco must have done something way beyond his normal idiocy.
"What has that wretched son of mine not done now, my Lord." He asked warily.
"I'll tell you what he has not done now, your son, Draco, apparently had fallen asleep while on duty, two nights ago, and now he's lost both the Potter men. Nobody has been able to find them, Lucius. It's like they fell from the face of the planet. Do you know how long it has taken me to come up with a plan? Do you know what Draco has cost me? I am not happy Lucius. That boy of yours has ruined everything in which I have worked so hard for, I finally had Potter where I wanted him, where I could destroy him, and make the Wizarding World mine, but your son just buggered up my whole plan."
"My Lord, I am so sorry for what he has done, but please have mercy on him. He was probably really tired, I'm positive he won't do it ever again."
"Save it Lucius. I have already set a punishment for your young heir. And since you were the one that suggested he become the spy, you will be the one to administer his sentence."
Lucius paled. He could honestly say that he never really cared about Draco. Draco was just a vessel to carry on the Malfoy name, but just because he despised his mini carbon copy, he did not want to be the one to administer his son pain.
"As you wish, my Lord." He was too smart to go against the Dark Lord. It was between his pain and his son's, and he figured it might as well be his son's.
"I expect you to meet me after you have finished your brunch. I will tell you everything that needs to be done for Draco's punishment." And without another word the Dark Lord left.
After the Dark Lord left, Lucius decided that it deserved Draco right. He had disgraced his family, and anyways even if he were to survive he would be thrown from the Malfoy house forever. It was not a loss; him and Narcissa could make a new heir, a better, stronger, and more handsome one, and the new one would live up to the Malfoy name in every way that Draco couldn't.
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"Dad?" Harry asked quietly.
"Hmm." James replied his head resting against the baseboard of Harry's bed, and Harry relaxing against his father.
"Nothing." Harry answered. He had no idea why he just called out for his dad. They had been sitting in pleasant silence for the last few minutes, and he had to disturb it by speaking, but he needed the reassurance of having his father close to him.
When Harry and James re-emerged from the pensieve, they spent a good few hours talking. At first it was just on the simple things, like Quidditch, school, and friends, but as their conversation progressed so did the subjects.
"Harry tell me why you did what you did?" James asked. He wanted to get to the root of the problem, and help his son. Talking was the best solution for a person that had or was contemplating suicide.
"I – I wanted it to all end. I couldn't take the pain anymore. It seems like all my life has been one big mistake after another, and I thought with me gone, everything would end, and everybody that I cared about would be safe from Voldemort. Do you know what it's like when you have to see everybody and everything that you have ever cared for die or get broken?" James could only nod; he had felt like that, but then he was able to get it all back, unlike Harry who would never get the people or things that he lost back. "I felt like something was tearing me apart. I felt as if I would burst. I saw Sirius fall through the veil and couldn't do anything to help him. I saw Hedwig get her neck snapped by Uncle Vernon, and I couldn't do anything to help her, and then there was you, I saw you come back to life, and I thought that if it weren't for you my life could have been better. I couldn't face you, Dad. You were just a reminder of everything that I have destroyed. And if it weren't for me mom would still be alive. I wanted to find peace, and that was the only way that I could think of doing." Harry turned around from his father. He did not want James to see him like this. Talking about it helped a little, but it still did not help ease his pain.
"Oh, Harry. If I could I would take away the pain from you, and bring back Sirius, Hedwig and your mother, but unfortunately I can't. But I can promise you that with time you will feel better and I am always here to help you."
When Harry did not respond James took that as a hint that their conversation was over. He knew that Harry was feeling humiliated by what he just said. He knew his son would never have told him this, but he also knew that Harry was feeling very vulnerable with everything that happened today. And James knew that Harry would have told this to a total stranger if he were given the chance to talk. It was a small breakthrough in their relationship and James did not want to push it any further, in case it made Harry pull back. Baby steps were fine for now. James decided it would be best if he left Harry be, so he made to get off the bed, wanting Harry to sleep for a while. He could tell that the conversation that they just had had left Harry a little weak and needed as much rest as he could get.
As James was making his way to the exit, his son made a small noise and asked him to stay with him. That was the moment that James was looking for. Harry was finally accepting him as his father.
His mind coming back to the present he could hear Harry's muffled snores. How quickly that boy falls asleep. James smiled, remembering the small baby in the playpen who bit his finger with his sharp teeth. He checked to make sure Harry was really asleep; his son had a habit of playing games with him.
James watched as Harry slept. He was so lost in thought that he did not hear his best friend enter the room.
"Well this is a surprise Prongs. The way things were going I would never have expected Lil' Prongs to even let you step into his room." He laughed. "Just thought that in the end one of you would wind up killing each other."
"Moony, moony, moony." James shook his head. "You should know better than that. I always get my way."
They both laughed. It must have been loud enough because Harry awoke.
"I knew it. You little liar, you were not sleeping." James looked down at his son.
Harry looked at James confused. He was sleeping; the events of the past couple of days took a lot out of him.
"Hi ya, Harry." Remus called cheerily to him. When he was told the news that Harry tried to take his life, Remus almost took his.
Harry shrunk back away from Remus. He had not seen Remus since he threatened his Uncle at Kings Cross, and the first couple of weeks Harry was the only one who sent the letters, Remus never replied. He knew that Remus was going to blame him for Sirius' death; He did, his father did, and now he braced himself for what Remus was going to say.
"Harry are you alright?" James asked when he did not acknowledge Remus' hello.
"How did you get in? I thought you warded this place, or is it warded just against me." Harry spat out ignoring James' question.
"No Harry, this place is safe. Nobody can spot us unless I give him or her permission. The only person I allowed permission to was Remus. He's my best friend and he's going to let me know first hand what's going on outside the house. Last night I set up another Fidelius charm. Nobody can find us."
"Is Remus the secret keeper?" Harry asked them, anger starting to rise.
"No." James replied and they both shook their heads.
"Then how come he knows? What about my friends? And who's the secret keeper." Questions kept coming out of Harry full force. He did not think it was fair that James could have his friends and Harry had to stay secluded in this room.
"Harry first off I already told you why he knows, nobody other than Remus knows where we are. Secondly I don't think it wise if your friends know. They are the best friends you could have, but right now I think it best if they don't come round right at the moment, and thirdly, I'm not going to tell you who the secret keeper is."
"Well then it's Remus." Harry stated simply.
"I said nobody from the order knows I did not say if anybody else knows." James quipped back. Last night, when Harry was asleep James set up another Fidelius charm. He whispered the secret in Harry's ear. That way consciously Harry had no clue, but subconsciously he was holding the secret that would save both their lives.
"Fine be that way." Harry grumbled, and he rolled away from his father, back facing him, and he fell back asleep.
"And here I thought we were progressing." James said to his friend, body slumping in defeat.
"Give it time Prongs. You guys still have a long ways to go." Remus tried to soothe his friends hurt feelings.
"How's he doing? You don't know how much that scared me. I thought we lost him James."
"So did I. He's actually doing better than I thought a month or so, and Harry will be back to his normal self. At least I hope." James sighed.
"He hates me too."
"What are you on about, Harry doesn't hate you. The boy doesn't know hate. Well unless it's against me, Dumbledore, or himself. He's too innocent." James saw his friends expression change, and he finally understood where Remus was coming from. "He doesn't think that you killed Sirius, Remus, he thinks that you blame him for killing Sirius." James could have laughed if the situation was not so serious.
"What? How could he think that I would blame him? It was not his fault." Remus cried surprised. Stressing the words in the last sentence.
"Yea, try telling him that." James said. "So mind telling me what's really going on? You know you're not supposed to be here, unless it's an emergency. Don't get me wrong Remus I love you like a brother, but we need to be careful now."
"I know and I would never have come otherwise. I think we should take this downstairs. Let Harry rest."
James pushed himself carefully out of the bed so as to not jiggle the bed. He wanted Harry to really sleep.
He followed Remus down to the dark kitchen, and they both took seats upon rickety old chairs.
Silently without saying a word Remus took the wizarding wireless and flicked it to the all witches and wizards news station. James did not say anything, he knew something was up and waited for the announcement.
"Attention Witches and Wizards everywhere. An important News bulletin has come up. Our hero Harry Potter has been kidnapped. I repeat kidnapped. As of right now there are no real leads to where the boy could be. We do, however, have one thing and that is the name of the kidnapper, who is none other than James Potter. Declared mentally unbalanced, and a risk to himself and Harry, we need your help in finding these two right away. If anyone has any information you can owl us here or at the ministry of magic. A ten thousand galleon reward is offered to anyone who brings the 'boy –who – lived' back to us. This report will be played after every song until the capture of James Potter. Remember do not approach James Potter if found."
That ended the announcement. James looked at Remus stunned. Neither one said anything to each other.
"Are they serious." James asked stunned. What more did they want from him. "Do you know who started this loveable rumour?"
"My guess is as good as yours, but there is one person I can think of." Remus surveyed his broken friend.
"Dumbledore." James snapped. "It has to be him. I know it. At first he was ok with me being back to myself, but lately he's just been acting really strange. He's been wanting to separate me and Harry for the past couple of days."
"I think you're just in shock. Albus would not do that to you or Harry. He cares deeply for the both of you."
"But he's more concerned about winning the war. And with him that means stopping anybody who stands in his way. Right now I'm standing in Harry's, and everyone knows that my son is suppose to defeat Voldemort."
"That's not the person that I was thinking of, but, all right mate, why don't I just make us some tea? I think that would help calm our nerves."
"I don't want tea, Remus. I want things back to the way they used to be."
"I know mate, I know." Remus wrapped his arms around his friend. He had no idea what to say. Him and James were in the same position. All he could offer was a friendly ear and a shoulder to lean upon.
"DAD!" A loud voice rang from up the stairs and down the hall.
James jumped up at his son's screaming. He knew he should not feel this way, but he was happy. Harry was finally yelling for him. James ran up the stairs and into Harry's bedroom, where he saw his way too small and skinny son sitting half – up his body soaked in sweat, and his skin all pale. Compared to the blackness of the bedspread Harry could pass as a ghost.
James ran to Harry's side, cradling Harry in his arms.
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It was cold and damp in the dungeons. His body ached all over. It felt like little shards of glass were tearing his ligaments apart. Draco Malfoy had never felt this bad in all his life. His mind was not exactly there either. All the cruciatus' on his body had left him ill – minded, true afterwards he did remember a few things about his life, including Potter and the Dark Lord, but most of his memories were still a hazy fog. When he was allowed to go free, he would find Potter and kill him himself. It was all Potter's fault, Potter was the one to get him into this mess. Draco would fix him good.
Draco knew his punishment was far from over. The Dark Lord was very angry with him. For all he knew he would be kept down in the dungeons for the rest of his life. Draco wondered what the Dark Lord would choose as his punishments. He could imagine all sorts of torture devices that went along with his punishment; he had failed everyone, including himself. There was no way that the Dark Lord would ever let him join the inner circle. His father was sure to disown him when he got wind of what he had done. The only person he could rely upon was his mother. His mother would not desert him in his time of need.
Draco heard the cell door opening with a loud creak. Two figures dressed in black approached the locked iron gates to his prison. He could not recognize them, but he could take a lucky guess at who one of them was.
He dropped to his knees, ignoring the horrible pain that he felt. "My Lord." He mumbled.
Voldemort grabbed him roughly by the scruff of his neck, and sized the boy up and down. He smirked the most evilest smirk that he could. The boy in his arms shrank back as far as he could.
Draco was petrified now. He knew his punishment would be far worse than he could imagine. He just hoped that whatever it was it was over with fast, Draco could have laughed if he were not in such a serious situation, knowing the Dark Lord, he would never allow his punishments to be over with quickly, he liked to see his victims shake with agony.
A steady light streamed through his cell door. Now Draco could make out the features of the other man, and he began to relax a little bit. His father would not let that much harm come to his son, after all he knew his father would already disown him and that was enough.
Voldemort released the boy from his grip, and Draco ran to his father. Lucius Malfoy pushed his son away just as Draco was about to launch himself at him.
Draco fell to the floor and looked at his father stunned. "Father, I didn't mean for it to happen. It was an accident. I tried my best truly I did. It was Potter's fault, I swear."
"Look at you Draco. You're acting worse than mudbloods usually do. You are nothing more than a waste of sperm, Draco. I regret the day your mother gave birth to you." Lucius sneered at his now non – existent son.
Draco looked at his father in shock. There was nothing more to be said. He just wished his father would see the real Draco. He was scared and more than anything he needed the comfort of his father, but knew that he would not get it. He felt tears spring to his eyes, but he would not cry in front of the man who had just insulted him. Malfoy's never cried.
Lucius turned away from his son with a look of repulsion. He was a pathetic little thing. His new child would not cry like a little sissy. His new son would take his punishments as a man. Why he kept Draco for so long was beyond his reasoning.
Voldemort looked on the show with amusement. This was going better than he thought it would. He could not wait for the grand finale.
When Lucius faced Draco again, he was holding a very large inanimate object, almost the size of a Grim. Draco could not make out what it was, and he knew this was going to be his punishment. He would stand up and take it like a man.
Draco got up off the floor, but Lucius pushed him down one handed. "I like you better on the floor Draco." Lucius drawled his voice masking how he truly felt. He poked the object in the side, and at once it became alive.
Draco trembled with fear. His heart pounding, perspiration dripping steadily from his forehead he closed his eyes wanting to get it over with.
"Nagini, dinner time." Lucius set the snake down.
Draco took one look at the gigantic snake and ran to the other side of the cell. Though there was not that much space left. Cramped into a tight corner there was nowhere left to run, and even if he wanted to he could not run, he was immobilized with fright. All Draco could do was stand still and watch as the snake descended upon him.
Nagini swallowed Draco Malfoy whole.
Lucius looked at the spot where his son used to be. A flitter of guilt passed through him only for a second as Voldemort came up from behind him.
"Excellent show Lucius. We must do it again sometime." Voldemort crackled with glee.
"Yes, my Lord, it was." His silver eyes turned to stare at the man before him.
"Let's go Lucius there is nothing more down here." Voldemort led the way back to the main building where his most loyal servants could floo to him.
Lucius was about to leave when from behind Voldemort said, "Find Potter Lucius or if you don't you will meet the same fate as your son. And I can make it a lot worse than your young one met." He hissed.
"I will, my Lord, you can count on me." Lucius' voice wavered, but quickly returned to its normal state.
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Back at Malfoy manner Lucius paced his chambers. He did not think it would be so hard to do what he did to Draco, but seeing his son pleading and scared, was too much for him. He did not think he was capable of so many emotions, one minute he truly hated his son, and the next he was sorry for what he did. He sighed, he could not dwell on the past, Draco was a lost cause, and there was nothing he could do to change it, now he had to focus on finding Potter. How was he supposed to find the bloody – boy – who – lived?
Lucius' pacing became more frantic as he tried to think of ways to get Potter. Then it hit him. Out of nowhere the perfect idea he had ever came up with and he wondered how he could have been so stupid. A smile grew on his face, he wondered how he could not come up with it before, he had a plan and he knew just the right person that would lead him to the Potters, or that would lead the Potters to him. And when he got his hands on Potter Junior he would torture him slowly and painfully, in the most horrible way that he could think of, then he would let the Dark Lord finish him off.
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Harry had awoken when James went off the bed, but he would never tell his father that. He knew that Remus was there for a reason and he wanted to know why. When he knew his father and Remus were in the kitchens talking, he took the chance and got out of bed. Silently he went to the stairwell and listened in on their conversation.
The first part was pretty boring, and then to his surprise he found the announcer on the wizarding wireless talking and relaying a very important message. Harry listened intently considering it had to do with him; he was mortified by what he heard. They wanted to take him away from his father. He could not let that happen, but if they did find him he would not have a choice, he was still considered a minor. Harry went back to bed thinking and worrying himself. He thought that if they found him they would send him back to the Dursley's, where anything could happen to him. Most likely he would end up dead, and yesterday he would have been all for that, but not today, things had changed. He did not want his father to be taken from him again. And he had no idea what he could do to prevent that from happening. Sure the Fidelius charm was already placed, but if they even ventured out somebody would see them and then owl Dumbledore or Fudge. He was not safe anywhere.
Harry pulled the covers up to his chest, his skin paling and sweat running down his face in buckets. He was scared, and the only person who he knew would take care of him seemed a thousand miles away right now, and that is when he screamed.
Then instantly he found himself in his father's arms. He felt so safe and protected he did not want to be let go of. For once not everything rested on his small shoulders.
James pulled Harry's face away from his chest, so he could look him in the eyes. "Harry what's wrong? Why did you scream like that? Did you have a nightmare?" James was so worried, his son was in trouble and he did not know how to take away his pain.
Harry shook his head and pulled his face into his dad's cloak burying himself deep inside the smooth silky cloth.
James could not let that happen. Harry just made a breakthrough today and he would not let him become withdrawn again.
"Harry tell me why you screamed like that, and why you look like you've just flown in a marathon."
Harry pulled his face from its cocoon. His eyes were blood shot and he was trembling. "They're going to take you away from me Dad. I can't lose you again, I just can't. Please Dad, please don't let them find us." He cried and nuzzled himself once more into James.
"Harry nobody's going to take you away from me. I won't let that happen. Do you understand? You're mine. I already told you this place is warded and nobody will be able to find us, we're better protected than last time." James held his son tighter. Rubbing soothing circles along his back.
"Promise me." Harry's muffled and sad voice ripped James' heart in two.
"I promise Harry. Never again will I leave you, nor will I allow anybody to separate us." He said. "Never again."