Four Hours Later.
Well, the boy was stubborn, Voldemort would give him that. Perhaps that was why the boy never died. Ah, well. He took out a piece of parchment and started writing. When he finished, he called Nellie. "Nellie, please take this to Master Potter. You will find him on the stone bench out back." Nellie bowed and popped out of sight.
Harry jumped when Nellie popped up in front of him. "Master Potter, sir, a message from Master Voldemort." She handed him the letter. He eyed it momentarily before taking it.
Harry,
I know that you do not trust me and feel safest outside. It is getting cold and dark, in case you didn't know it. I suggest you come back inside and go back to your room. Dinner will be waiting on you. I will leave you alone if you like, and the only person you will see is your doctor, who is sitting here, stewing about your actions. You will come to no harm here. Come back inside.
Voldemort
Harry re read the note several times. No way was he going back into that house. He could easily die the minute he stepped onto the front porch. Nellie stayed next to him while he thought out the situation. He had been vulnerable. Voldemort could have easily killed him then, and thought nothing of it. He had wanted Harry Potter out of the way; it could have easily accomplished through that means.
It did not make sense, and Harry held his head, trying to figure it out. Something was missing, something that usually happened when Voldemort was near. He couldn't put his finger on it. Something was missing. He shook his head to clear it and looked at Nellie. She looked at him and then back at the house. Something seemed to urge him on. He shrugged and stood, holding his cloak underneath his arm. "Okay, Nellie. I'm going back in." A huge smile spread across the elf's face.
"Oh, wonderful Master Potter! I'll get your dinner right away!" She popped out and Harry shook his head, wondering why she had seemed so happy. He went back up to the porch and entered the house. He looked around cautiously. No one was about. He ran up the stairs and counted the doors to his room. He opened his door and entered, closing it behind him. Nellie was there, standing next to the table. "Dinner is served, Master Potter!" Harry put his cloak on the bed and looked at the table. Nellie had outdone herself.
"Thank you, Nellie. I doubt that I would be able to eat all of that." Nellie smiled.
"The house elves just wanted to welcome you to the manor. We found out your favorites from the Hogwarts' elves." Harry thanked her again. "The doctor will be here in half an hour." She informed Harry. "He is a very funny wizard." She giggled. "'Boy's out there risking his injuries, not strong enough!'" she giggled again. "Lord Voldemort just laughed at the doctor, saying that you were too stubborn to injure yourself again!" She went off into a hail of giggles. The laughter was contagious, infecting Harry as well. He chuckled a bit, releasing some of his tension.
He sobered when a thought caught hold of him. "Nellie, has your master changed recently?" He asked. Nellie stopped laughing and sat up from the floor.
"Changed?" Harry nodded.
"In personality, in his actions." Nellie appeared to think for a few minutes.
"Yes." She said. "Master has changed. Before, being here was terrible, just terrible. He would kill anyone without the slightest need. Now, though, he is different. No death touches this place anymore. No harm befalls us, no pain or fear." Harry took all of this in. Something had changed. Voldemort had changed. "He is caring now, for all the house elves. And for you." Harry choked on the juice he had been swallowing. Nellie's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" He asked when he found his breath.
"Spent several weeks, looking for Master Potter. Worried for Master Potter he was, wondering how the Muggles would treat Master Potter. He found out and rescued you." Harry stared at her in amazement. Voldemort must have hit his head or something. Rescued Harry Potter from abusive Muggle relations was not something that Voldemort would do. He would have laughed maybe before killing them all, but not remove Harry from harm's way. Nellie giggled again, distracting Harry from his thoughts. "Your hair, Master Potter, it is standing straight up!" She laughed again, causing Harry to grin. He moved back from the table and went to the bathroom. It wasn't standing straight up, but it was close. He smoothed it down with his hands, took up the comb, and started to maneuver his hair closer to it's usual style. Some of his bangs fell aside, revealing his scar. He stared at it for a few minutes. That's what was missing. He had been in close proximity all this time, and his scar didn't tingle or hurt in any way. Not even a twinge!
Harry returned to his meal, finished what he could. Nellie disappeared with the remainder just before the doctor came in. "Well, it looks like you're no worse for the wear after spending the day outside. Over here, please." Harry moved to the bed and obediently sat down so that the doctor could examine him. "Any pain?"
"No, sir." Harry replied. The doctor grunted and looked at Harry's face.
"You appear to be healing well." The doctor told him, taking out two potions. "Take these before falling asleep tonight. Any questions?"
"When do the bandages come off?" Harry asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Harry nodded.
"Do you have an explanation as to why my scar isn't hurting?" The doctor's eyes widened.
"Which one?" Harry moved his hair aside to allow the doctor to see the scar on his forehead. "Oh, that one. Does it usually hurt? I'm told that you had it since birth."
"It hurts only when I'm around Voldemort. I don't even have to be very close. The only thing is, he and I have been very close to each other already, and I haven't felt anything, not even a twinge." The doctor paused for a moment, as though trying to find an explanation.
"I don't have an explanation for it, no. I would ask Lord Voldemort, if I were you. You will let me know if it starts hurting though, won't you? I can easily give you something for the pain."
"I'll tell you, but it never hurts that bad. Just a little." The doctor nodded and looked Harry over again.
"Well, Master Potter, I suggest you get some sleep soon. Don't forget about your potions. Also, no running around outside tomorrow. I want you inside, resting. If you get bored, I'm sure that Lord Voldemort will be able to find you something to do." And with those comments, the doctor left, acting as though it were normal to be discussing the Dark Lord's ability to keep little boys amused. Harry shook his head and looked around his room. It was very nice, something that you should not expect from your worse enemy. He shook his head, still not able to trust the logic in all of this. For there was no logic, and Harry had never been more confused in his life.
"How is he, doctor?" Voldemort asked as the man stepped into the study.
"He is fine, for all of the running around he did today. He should be able to sit up for most of the day tomorrow without any ill effects." Voldemort nodded.
"Do you think that he will allow me to speak with him?" The doctor shrugged.
"I'm not sure, my Lord. He asked a question that I find peculiar. Perhaps you'll be able to make sense of it." Voldemort motioned for him to continue. "He asked if I could give him a reason as to why his scar was not hurting."
Voldemort paused for a moment. So that was how the boy had known something had been happening in the past. "The boy and I are connected through that scar, do not ask me how, I do not know. It usually gives off some pain when I am near. Other than that, I have no explanation for why his scar is not hurting now." The doctor nodded.
"Perhaps you should tell Master Potter that, my Lord. He was very concerned about it. It might help to calm him down a bit, too. We don't want another repeat of today, for he will be feeling it tomorrow. He many spend the whole day in bed." Voldemort nodded.
"I will. Thank you, Doctor. You have been invaluable." Voldemort rose, dismissing the doctor as he set off down the hall, towards Harry's bedroom. He just hoped the boy had taken the potions already. That would make this a bit easier.
Harry looked up as Voldemort entered his room. "I thought you said that you would stay away?" Harry demanded as Voldemort stopped by the door. Harry didn't notice the glance that Voldemort gave the empty vials sitting on the nightstand next to the bed.
"I was told that you had a question that I might be able to answer." Voldemort told him. Harry considered it. It was true.
"Yes. My scar isn't hurting. I was wondering why." Harry suddenly felt his body start to go limp. What had been in that potion? He fought against it and managed to stay in his sitting up position.
Voldemort paused for a second, as though waiting for something. Harry's muscles were shaking from exertion in trying to maintain his upright position. "I'm not sure. I know that your scar connected us somehow, but I do not know the full mechanics of it." Voldemort went off into thoughtful silence for a moment. Harry's muscles were almost gone. He didn't understand it. What had been in that potion? Voldemort seemed to not see a thing that was happening on the bed. Harry gritted his teeth, trying to bring more strength to his muscles. The last thing he wanted the Dark Lord to see was Harry Potter collapsing in front of him. Harry mentally urged the man to think faster and leave, so that he could collapse onto the bed and try to figure out what had been slipped to him. Harry didn't have that chance as his muscles finally gave out. He fell backwards into the pillows. "It's about time." Voldemort said a little sarcastically.
"What was in that?" Harry demanded.
"Just a normal muscle relaxer, Harry. I wanted to speak with you, but I couldn't do it if you were able to move, because then you would not listen." Voldemort pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down, facing Harry. "How are you feeling?"
"Weak and tired. Get to the point." Harry snapped. He was tired of being confused and feeling around in the dark for answers he couldn't find.
"That's normal, after fighting that potion for so long." Voldemort paused. "You might be wondering why I have brought you here?" Voldemort had the boy's attention now. "My offer of a better education was not a jest. I fully intend to do that. I am glad that you were removed from the Muggle home. They do not realize exactly how able you are." Harry frowned.
"I planned it that way. They do not know of the wizarding world's obsession with me." Voldemort smiled. Harry stared in shock. A genuine smile. Not one trace of malice.
"I understand the wizarding world's obsession quite well. You baffled me for a long time, Harry." Voldemort paused again. "A long time." He shook his head. "But those days are over now." Harry frowned again. "I no longer care how or why you managed to survive the Unforgivable, Harry. I could care less." Instead of answers, Harry was just getting more confusion.
"So what's different?" Harry asked, thinking he already know the answer. Voldemort nodded and looked Harry in the face.
"I am." Harry stared at the Dark Lord for a minute.
"How?" He demanded.
"I'm not sure, not exactly. Something that happened slowly, finally causing me to become the man I am today." He told Harry. "I no longer wish to cause more death and destruction. But, I'm sure you could imagine the world's reaction if I were just to come out and say 'I don't want to hurt anyone anymore.'" Harry thought for a moment. If Voldemort did such a thing, he might get the Dementor's kiss, if he was lucky. Otherwise, it would be death. And with his death would come Harry's. Some of the pieces clicked into place.
"You're protecting me from my protectors." He told the Dark Lord. Voldemort smiled and nodded.
"I always knew you were quick." Voldemort complimented. Without Dark Magic behind Voldemort, he could easily be taken and killed. With Harry there, he could insure the fact that both of them would stay alive. Harry didn't know whether to curse the man or thank him. "Dumbledore, noble as he is, will stop at nothing to see my demise, even if it risks your life. I can't let that happen. All of the people I have killed, tortured, kept coming at me. Not just in my dreams, either. All the time, every hour. They demanded something of me. I didn't know what. When you were brought here, I saw your parents." Harry looked up. His parents? "They were smiling at me, as though I had finally started atoning for my crimes. They seemed to thank me for removing you from the Muggles' care. They asked me to protect you in a dream." Harry wondered if the man could be telling the truth. Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he was.
"Do the ghosts still haunt you?" Harry asked. Voldemort shook his head.
"Not so violently. They are still there, in the background. But now they seem to be happier. They really like you being here. Some of them haven't stopped smiling since you were brought here." Harry glanced around but failed to see anyone. Voldemort smiled at Harry's attempt.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked. He had wanted to say, 'what's going to happen to me?', but didn't want his enemy-turned-protector to hear such a childish phrase come from his mouth.
"I protect you, of course. I'm sorry to say that you can't go back to Hogwart's this year. Dumbledore is still in charge there, and if he gets you in his possession, well, that would not be a good thing, Harry." Harry nodded in understanding. At least he wouldn't have to deal with Snape.
"What about my friends?" he asked. Voldemort seemed to ponder this question. He knew that a child needed friends, even one like Harry Potter. Staying in one place would give the boy a lot of tension that he would not need in his already stressful life, what with his fame and all.
"We might be able to work out some kind of visiting method." Voldemort told him. "I could teach you how to Apparate, it should be very easy for you to pick up, considering your strength in magic. You could meet them in several different places very easily from here." Harry thought about it. Apparating. That would be kind of fun. He was set to get his license the next year, but he figured that he would be happy to do it a year sooner.
"Could I write to them?" He asked hopefully.
"Not for a little while. The Muggles have yet to think that anything is wrong. They thought you ran away. I'm sorry to say that they had a little party the next day after you disappeared." Harry smiled.
"That's my family." He said sedately, wondering how big the dessert had been.
"When do your friends usually write to you?" Harry thought about it. They were always cautious. Uncle Vernon did not like owls about the house.
"My birthday." Harry answered. Voldemort nodded.
"When is it?"
"Um, in two weeks." He answered.
"So we have two weeks until the wizarding world explodes with the news of Harry Potter's disappearance. Well, this is going to be interesting. Tell me, what will your friends do if there birthday greeting are sent back to them."
"Assume something is wrong." Harry told him. "They would write or call each other, and then tell Ron's parents, who would then contact the Headmaster." Harry paused. "I don't know what will happen after that." Harry admitted. "You mean you don't know what Dumbledore would do." Harry shook his head.
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose." He looked over at Harry's trunk. "Before the wizarding world does explode with the news, I suggest a trip to Diagon Alley, to get you some suitable clothes. Those castoffs look much too big for you." Harry smiled. "They were my cousin's." Voldemort looked up. "The massive one?" Harry nodded. Voldemort shook his head. "Definitely a trip to Diagon Alley. I'll get one of the Death Eaters to take you." Harry looked up at that comment. "When I commanded that all death and destruction stop, Malfoy and several others formed their own group. They didn't like the fact that I told them they were no longer allowed to attack innocent Muggles. I'm afraid the only ones left are the nice ones, ones who had been forced into my service by their families, and have now decided to stay because of my changing nature." Harry nodded in understanding. "They're all very nice. I'm sure one of them will be happy to take you." Voldemort stood. "Well, Harry, you look like you're just about asleep. Any questions before I leave you for the evening?" Harry nodded. "What should I call you?" Voldemort smiled. "Call me Tom." Harry nodded as his eyes drifted shut. Tom. No more Voldemort, just Tom. Voldemort watched as the boy fell asleep. He looked over to the corner next to the bed. James and Lily stood there, smiling at him. He nodded and left the boy's room. He had done the right thing.
Harry woke up the next morning to see Nellie's eyes just a few inches from his own. "Good morning, Master Potter!" She said cheerfully. Nellie has brought your breakfast." Harry yawned and sat up. "Thank you, Nellie." He stumbled to the bathroom, stumbled back to the table and smelled coffee. He added milk and sugar and sipped. "Master Potter would need something to wake him up this morning, Nellie thought. I was told that it would stunt your growth." Harry chuckled as he sipped some more. "Whatever they gave me last night really knocked me out. How long were you standing there?" Harry asked. "Not long, no more than a few minutes." Nellie told him, pulling a chair next to Harry. "Master Voldemort is very excited. He is happier now than I have ever known him to be." Harry nodded, picking at a muffin. "Has plans to be made, plans for you." Harry looked at her. "What kind of plans?" He asked. "Plans for your education. He spent most of last night before he went to bed in the library, looking for books for you education. He found all the ones he wanted, too. They're over there." She pointed to a stack that had been sitting on his nightstand. "He left those for you to read." Harry picked up an orange and started peeling it as he looked at the titles. Standard Book of Spells, Level Six, The Dark Arts: How to Avoid Them and How to Detect Them, Advanced Transfiguration for Students and Professionals, Herbology and Its Uses in Today's Society, Advanced Potions Study, Occulmency and Its Practical Uses, Dueling for Today's Wizards, History of Witchcraft Around the World, Muggle and Wizard Relations, Arithmancy, Magical Creatures and Their Societies, Potions for the Healer, Obscure, but Practical Spells, Divination for the Eyeless. Harry chuckled at the last title. Eyeless. He smiled and shook his head. For those who do not like Professor Trelawny should have been the title. He counted the books. Fourteen! No way was he going to be able to study that many. After he finished eating, he went back to bed. He was tired. He curled back up and fell asleep in just a few minutes. Nellie collected the breakfast tray and disappeared to the kitchen. When he woke up again, the doctor was there, removing bandages. "Good morning, Master Potter. How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, just a little tired." The doctor grunted as he removed the last bandage. "That's understandable. You ran around all day yesterday when you should have been resting." The doctor rubbed some kind of astringent on Harry's face where a bandage had been. "Well, I suggest you rest the whole of today. You may get up, but I don't want you to be exerting yourself. No running around, no fighting off anything. You get the idea." Harry nodded. "Are you in any pain?" "No, sir. Not really." The doctor nodded and packed up his bag. "Lord Voldemort spoke to me of a trip to Diagon Alley. I'll let you go tomorrow, but only with the firm promise that you rest tomorrow evening." Harry smiled. "Of course, doctor." The man seemed satisfied with this answer and left the room. Harry showered and dressed. After that, he was at a loss. He pulled out Standard Book of Spells: Level Six and started reading. He thought it pretty funny about the way the book talked about spells the Mrs. Weasly used in the kitchen. He had just finished the first two chapters when someone knocked on his door. "Come in." he called. The door opened and Tom came in. "Good morning, Harry. How are you today?" Harry closed the book and set it own his lap. "I feel fine. Just a little worn out." He eyed Tom, looking for a wand. He didn't see one. "Do you really expect me to learn all this?" He asked, motioning towards the stack of books. "Oh, that and more." Tom said. He sat down in one of the chairs. "Don't worry, it won't seem like too much after we're done. A lot of that is compatible to another subject. It will be easy for you." Harry shrugged. It felt awkward, sitting there discussing lesson plans with Voldemort. The eyes weren't the same that they had been. They weren't red. They were a gentle blue. Harry smiled a little at that. That was proof of the different man who sat in front of him. "Well, let's start, shall we?" Voldemort pulled his chair closer to the bed and opened one of the books. "The important thing to remember about this subject is it's uses. You can learn all of the theorems you want, but if you don't have the practical aspects, you will not be able to use them in any form." Harry kept up with the pace of the lesson, amazingly, considering how fast Voldemort had been going. Towards the end, however, Harry ended up falling asleep in the middle of the explanation about the dangers of using a house- cleaning charm on something other than a house. Tom smiled, closed the books, and set them aside. He marked which chapters they had covered and crept out of the room.
A knock on the door interrupted Vernon Dursley's comments about the world's problems in general. He growled something about salesmen and answered the door. "Vernon Dursley?" A man stood on the doorstep. His long, black, flowing robes dispelled any thoughts about his being a salesman. "Yes?" Vernon demanded. The man held up credentials. "My name is Severus Snape. I am employed at Harry's school. I've been sent to check on Harry, as there has been a new threat to his safety. May I come in?" Severus did not wait for the man to allow him to enter. Severus strode into the house, looking around. He saw a hog like boy cowering in the corner, and a thin woman standing in front of the child. He bowed. "Good evening." He looked her over. How could anyone look less like a sibling he would never know. "I assume you are Petunia. Pleasure. Where is Harry?" "The freak ran away!" Vernon Dursley said from behind him. "And good riddance too!" Severus turned sharply on the man. "Ran away?" Well, that idea certainly did fit with the Harry that Severus thought he knew. Though the boy would not do anything without Dumbledore's permission. "Yes. He and all his things are gone." Vernon informed the man. Severus reached into his pocket and pressed the small button that Dumbledore had given him. With a "pop", Dumbledore appeared in the hallway. "Severus?" Dumbledore said, coming into the living room. "Not more freaks!" Vernon said, exasperated. "Headmaster. It appears that Potter is missing. His uncle here said that he ran away. All of his belongings are missing." Dumbledore took all of this in quietly. "We must check for residues of spells." Dumbledore told the family. "It will not take long." Dumbledore and Severus spent the next fifteen minutes casting about the house, finding a few spells throughout the house. Whoever had been here had done their work well. "It appears that Harry has been kidnapped. We must inform the Ministry, as well as the Muggle authorities. If the boy is spotted by either world, we will be able to rescue him." Dumbledore looked out the window. "Let's just pray that we are not too late."
Well, the boy was stubborn, Voldemort would give him that. Perhaps that was why the boy never died. Ah, well. He took out a piece of parchment and started writing. When he finished, he called Nellie. "Nellie, please take this to Master Potter. You will find him on the stone bench out back." Nellie bowed and popped out of sight.
Harry jumped when Nellie popped up in front of him. "Master Potter, sir, a message from Master Voldemort." She handed him the letter. He eyed it momentarily before taking it.
Harry,
I know that you do not trust me and feel safest outside. It is getting cold and dark, in case you didn't know it. I suggest you come back inside and go back to your room. Dinner will be waiting on you. I will leave you alone if you like, and the only person you will see is your doctor, who is sitting here, stewing about your actions. You will come to no harm here. Come back inside.
Voldemort
Harry re read the note several times. No way was he going back into that house. He could easily die the minute he stepped onto the front porch. Nellie stayed next to him while he thought out the situation. He had been vulnerable. Voldemort could have easily killed him then, and thought nothing of it. He had wanted Harry Potter out of the way; it could have easily accomplished through that means.
It did not make sense, and Harry held his head, trying to figure it out. Something was missing, something that usually happened when Voldemort was near. He couldn't put his finger on it. Something was missing. He shook his head to clear it and looked at Nellie. She looked at him and then back at the house. Something seemed to urge him on. He shrugged and stood, holding his cloak underneath his arm. "Okay, Nellie. I'm going back in." A huge smile spread across the elf's face.
"Oh, wonderful Master Potter! I'll get your dinner right away!" She popped out and Harry shook his head, wondering why she had seemed so happy. He went back up to the porch and entered the house. He looked around cautiously. No one was about. He ran up the stairs and counted the doors to his room. He opened his door and entered, closing it behind him. Nellie was there, standing next to the table. "Dinner is served, Master Potter!" Harry put his cloak on the bed and looked at the table. Nellie had outdone herself.
"Thank you, Nellie. I doubt that I would be able to eat all of that." Nellie smiled.
"The house elves just wanted to welcome you to the manor. We found out your favorites from the Hogwarts' elves." Harry thanked her again. "The doctor will be here in half an hour." She informed Harry. "He is a very funny wizard." She giggled. "'Boy's out there risking his injuries, not strong enough!'" she giggled again. "Lord Voldemort just laughed at the doctor, saying that you were too stubborn to injure yourself again!" She went off into a hail of giggles. The laughter was contagious, infecting Harry as well. He chuckled a bit, releasing some of his tension.
He sobered when a thought caught hold of him. "Nellie, has your master changed recently?" He asked. Nellie stopped laughing and sat up from the floor.
"Changed?" Harry nodded.
"In personality, in his actions." Nellie appeared to think for a few minutes.
"Yes." She said. "Master has changed. Before, being here was terrible, just terrible. He would kill anyone without the slightest need. Now, though, he is different. No death touches this place anymore. No harm befalls us, no pain or fear." Harry took all of this in. Something had changed. Voldemort had changed. "He is caring now, for all the house elves. And for you." Harry choked on the juice he had been swallowing. Nellie's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" He asked when he found his breath.
"Spent several weeks, looking for Master Potter. Worried for Master Potter he was, wondering how the Muggles would treat Master Potter. He found out and rescued you." Harry stared at her in amazement. Voldemort must have hit his head or something. Rescued Harry Potter from abusive Muggle relations was not something that Voldemort would do. He would have laughed maybe before killing them all, but not remove Harry from harm's way. Nellie giggled again, distracting Harry from his thoughts. "Your hair, Master Potter, it is standing straight up!" She laughed again, causing Harry to grin. He moved back from the table and went to the bathroom. It wasn't standing straight up, but it was close. He smoothed it down with his hands, took up the comb, and started to maneuver his hair closer to it's usual style. Some of his bangs fell aside, revealing his scar. He stared at it for a few minutes. That's what was missing. He had been in close proximity all this time, and his scar didn't tingle or hurt in any way. Not even a twinge!
Harry returned to his meal, finished what he could. Nellie disappeared with the remainder just before the doctor came in. "Well, it looks like you're no worse for the wear after spending the day outside. Over here, please." Harry moved to the bed and obediently sat down so that the doctor could examine him. "Any pain?"
"No, sir." Harry replied. The doctor grunted and looked at Harry's face.
"You appear to be healing well." The doctor told him, taking out two potions. "Take these before falling asleep tonight. Any questions?"
"When do the bandages come off?" Harry asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Harry nodded.
"Do you have an explanation as to why my scar isn't hurting?" The doctor's eyes widened.
"Which one?" Harry moved his hair aside to allow the doctor to see the scar on his forehead. "Oh, that one. Does it usually hurt? I'm told that you had it since birth."
"It hurts only when I'm around Voldemort. I don't even have to be very close. The only thing is, he and I have been very close to each other already, and I haven't felt anything, not even a twinge." The doctor paused for a moment, as though trying to find an explanation.
"I don't have an explanation for it, no. I would ask Lord Voldemort, if I were you. You will let me know if it starts hurting though, won't you? I can easily give you something for the pain."
"I'll tell you, but it never hurts that bad. Just a little." The doctor nodded and looked Harry over again.
"Well, Master Potter, I suggest you get some sleep soon. Don't forget about your potions. Also, no running around outside tomorrow. I want you inside, resting. If you get bored, I'm sure that Lord Voldemort will be able to find you something to do." And with those comments, the doctor left, acting as though it were normal to be discussing the Dark Lord's ability to keep little boys amused. Harry shook his head and looked around his room. It was very nice, something that you should not expect from your worse enemy. He shook his head, still not able to trust the logic in all of this. For there was no logic, and Harry had never been more confused in his life.
"How is he, doctor?" Voldemort asked as the man stepped into the study.
"He is fine, for all of the running around he did today. He should be able to sit up for most of the day tomorrow without any ill effects." Voldemort nodded.
"Do you think that he will allow me to speak with him?" The doctor shrugged.
"I'm not sure, my Lord. He asked a question that I find peculiar. Perhaps you'll be able to make sense of it." Voldemort motioned for him to continue. "He asked if I could give him a reason as to why his scar was not hurting."
Voldemort paused for a moment. So that was how the boy had known something had been happening in the past. "The boy and I are connected through that scar, do not ask me how, I do not know. It usually gives off some pain when I am near. Other than that, I have no explanation for why his scar is not hurting now." The doctor nodded.
"Perhaps you should tell Master Potter that, my Lord. He was very concerned about it. It might help to calm him down a bit, too. We don't want another repeat of today, for he will be feeling it tomorrow. He many spend the whole day in bed." Voldemort nodded.
"I will. Thank you, Doctor. You have been invaluable." Voldemort rose, dismissing the doctor as he set off down the hall, towards Harry's bedroom. He just hoped the boy had taken the potions already. That would make this a bit easier.
Harry looked up as Voldemort entered his room. "I thought you said that you would stay away?" Harry demanded as Voldemort stopped by the door. Harry didn't notice the glance that Voldemort gave the empty vials sitting on the nightstand next to the bed.
"I was told that you had a question that I might be able to answer." Voldemort told him. Harry considered it. It was true.
"Yes. My scar isn't hurting. I was wondering why." Harry suddenly felt his body start to go limp. What had been in that potion? He fought against it and managed to stay in his sitting up position.
Voldemort paused for a second, as though waiting for something. Harry's muscles were shaking from exertion in trying to maintain his upright position. "I'm not sure. I know that your scar connected us somehow, but I do not know the full mechanics of it." Voldemort went off into thoughtful silence for a moment. Harry's muscles were almost gone. He didn't understand it. What had been in that potion? Voldemort seemed to not see a thing that was happening on the bed. Harry gritted his teeth, trying to bring more strength to his muscles. The last thing he wanted the Dark Lord to see was Harry Potter collapsing in front of him. Harry mentally urged the man to think faster and leave, so that he could collapse onto the bed and try to figure out what had been slipped to him. Harry didn't have that chance as his muscles finally gave out. He fell backwards into the pillows. "It's about time." Voldemort said a little sarcastically.
"What was in that?" Harry demanded.
"Just a normal muscle relaxer, Harry. I wanted to speak with you, but I couldn't do it if you were able to move, because then you would not listen." Voldemort pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down, facing Harry. "How are you feeling?"
"Weak and tired. Get to the point." Harry snapped. He was tired of being confused and feeling around in the dark for answers he couldn't find.
"That's normal, after fighting that potion for so long." Voldemort paused. "You might be wondering why I have brought you here?" Voldemort had the boy's attention now. "My offer of a better education was not a jest. I fully intend to do that. I am glad that you were removed from the Muggle home. They do not realize exactly how able you are." Harry frowned.
"I planned it that way. They do not know of the wizarding world's obsession with me." Voldemort smiled. Harry stared in shock. A genuine smile. Not one trace of malice.
"I understand the wizarding world's obsession quite well. You baffled me for a long time, Harry." Voldemort paused again. "A long time." He shook his head. "But those days are over now." Harry frowned again. "I no longer care how or why you managed to survive the Unforgivable, Harry. I could care less." Instead of answers, Harry was just getting more confusion.
"So what's different?" Harry asked, thinking he already know the answer. Voldemort nodded and looked Harry in the face.
"I am." Harry stared at the Dark Lord for a minute.
"How?" He demanded.
"I'm not sure, not exactly. Something that happened slowly, finally causing me to become the man I am today." He told Harry. "I no longer wish to cause more death and destruction. But, I'm sure you could imagine the world's reaction if I were just to come out and say 'I don't want to hurt anyone anymore.'" Harry thought for a moment. If Voldemort did such a thing, he might get the Dementor's kiss, if he was lucky. Otherwise, it would be death. And with his death would come Harry's. Some of the pieces clicked into place.
"You're protecting me from my protectors." He told the Dark Lord. Voldemort smiled and nodded.
"I always knew you were quick." Voldemort complimented. Without Dark Magic behind Voldemort, he could easily be taken and killed. With Harry there, he could insure the fact that both of them would stay alive. Harry didn't know whether to curse the man or thank him. "Dumbledore, noble as he is, will stop at nothing to see my demise, even if it risks your life. I can't let that happen. All of the people I have killed, tortured, kept coming at me. Not just in my dreams, either. All the time, every hour. They demanded something of me. I didn't know what. When you were brought here, I saw your parents." Harry looked up. His parents? "They were smiling at me, as though I had finally started atoning for my crimes. They seemed to thank me for removing you from the Muggles' care. They asked me to protect you in a dream." Harry wondered if the man could be telling the truth. Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he was.
"Do the ghosts still haunt you?" Harry asked. Voldemort shook his head.
"Not so violently. They are still there, in the background. But now they seem to be happier. They really like you being here. Some of them haven't stopped smiling since you were brought here." Harry glanced around but failed to see anyone. Voldemort smiled at Harry's attempt.
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked. He had wanted to say, 'what's going to happen to me?', but didn't want his enemy-turned-protector to hear such a childish phrase come from his mouth.
"I protect you, of course. I'm sorry to say that you can't go back to Hogwart's this year. Dumbledore is still in charge there, and if he gets you in his possession, well, that would not be a good thing, Harry." Harry nodded in understanding. At least he wouldn't have to deal with Snape.
"What about my friends?" he asked. Voldemort seemed to ponder this question. He knew that a child needed friends, even one like Harry Potter. Staying in one place would give the boy a lot of tension that he would not need in his already stressful life, what with his fame and all.
"We might be able to work out some kind of visiting method." Voldemort told him. "I could teach you how to Apparate, it should be very easy for you to pick up, considering your strength in magic. You could meet them in several different places very easily from here." Harry thought about it. Apparating. That would be kind of fun. He was set to get his license the next year, but he figured that he would be happy to do it a year sooner.
"Could I write to them?" He asked hopefully.
"Not for a little while. The Muggles have yet to think that anything is wrong. They thought you ran away. I'm sorry to say that they had a little party the next day after you disappeared." Harry smiled.
"That's my family." He said sedately, wondering how big the dessert had been.
"When do your friends usually write to you?" Harry thought about it. They were always cautious. Uncle Vernon did not like owls about the house.
"My birthday." Harry answered. Voldemort nodded.
"When is it?"
"Um, in two weeks." He answered.
"So we have two weeks until the wizarding world explodes with the news of Harry Potter's disappearance. Well, this is going to be interesting. Tell me, what will your friends do if there birthday greeting are sent back to them."
"Assume something is wrong." Harry told him. "They would write or call each other, and then tell Ron's parents, who would then contact the Headmaster." Harry paused. "I don't know what will happen after that." Harry admitted. "You mean you don't know what Dumbledore would do." Harry shook his head.
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose." He looked over at Harry's trunk. "Before the wizarding world does explode with the news, I suggest a trip to Diagon Alley, to get you some suitable clothes. Those castoffs look much too big for you." Harry smiled. "They were my cousin's." Voldemort looked up. "The massive one?" Harry nodded. Voldemort shook his head. "Definitely a trip to Diagon Alley. I'll get one of the Death Eaters to take you." Harry looked up at that comment. "When I commanded that all death and destruction stop, Malfoy and several others formed their own group. They didn't like the fact that I told them they were no longer allowed to attack innocent Muggles. I'm afraid the only ones left are the nice ones, ones who had been forced into my service by their families, and have now decided to stay because of my changing nature." Harry nodded in understanding. "They're all very nice. I'm sure one of them will be happy to take you." Voldemort stood. "Well, Harry, you look like you're just about asleep. Any questions before I leave you for the evening?" Harry nodded. "What should I call you?" Voldemort smiled. "Call me Tom." Harry nodded as his eyes drifted shut. Tom. No more Voldemort, just Tom. Voldemort watched as the boy fell asleep. He looked over to the corner next to the bed. James and Lily stood there, smiling at him. He nodded and left the boy's room. He had done the right thing.
Harry woke up the next morning to see Nellie's eyes just a few inches from his own. "Good morning, Master Potter!" She said cheerfully. Nellie has brought your breakfast." Harry yawned and sat up. "Thank you, Nellie." He stumbled to the bathroom, stumbled back to the table and smelled coffee. He added milk and sugar and sipped. "Master Potter would need something to wake him up this morning, Nellie thought. I was told that it would stunt your growth." Harry chuckled as he sipped some more. "Whatever they gave me last night really knocked me out. How long were you standing there?" Harry asked. "Not long, no more than a few minutes." Nellie told him, pulling a chair next to Harry. "Master Voldemort is very excited. He is happier now than I have ever known him to be." Harry nodded, picking at a muffin. "Has plans to be made, plans for you." Harry looked at her. "What kind of plans?" He asked. "Plans for your education. He spent most of last night before he went to bed in the library, looking for books for you education. He found all the ones he wanted, too. They're over there." She pointed to a stack that had been sitting on his nightstand. "He left those for you to read." Harry picked up an orange and started peeling it as he looked at the titles. Standard Book of Spells, Level Six, The Dark Arts: How to Avoid Them and How to Detect Them, Advanced Transfiguration for Students and Professionals, Herbology and Its Uses in Today's Society, Advanced Potions Study, Occulmency and Its Practical Uses, Dueling for Today's Wizards, History of Witchcraft Around the World, Muggle and Wizard Relations, Arithmancy, Magical Creatures and Their Societies, Potions for the Healer, Obscure, but Practical Spells, Divination for the Eyeless. Harry chuckled at the last title. Eyeless. He smiled and shook his head. For those who do not like Professor Trelawny should have been the title. He counted the books. Fourteen! No way was he going to be able to study that many. After he finished eating, he went back to bed. He was tired. He curled back up and fell asleep in just a few minutes. Nellie collected the breakfast tray and disappeared to the kitchen. When he woke up again, the doctor was there, removing bandages. "Good morning, Master Potter. How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, just a little tired." The doctor grunted as he removed the last bandage. "That's understandable. You ran around all day yesterday when you should have been resting." The doctor rubbed some kind of astringent on Harry's face where a bandage had been. "Well, I suggest you rest the whole of today. You may get up, but I don't want you to be exerting yourself. No running around, no fighting off anything. You get the idea." Harry nodded. "Are you in any pain?" "No, sir. Not really." The doctor nodded and packed up his bag. "Lord Voldemort spoke to me of a trip to Diagon Alley. I'll let you go tomorrow, but only with the firm promise that you rest tomorrow evening." Harry smiled. "Of course, doctor." The man seemed satisfied with this answer and left the room. Harry showered and dressed. After that, he was at a loss. He pulled out Standard Book of Spells: Level Six and started reading. He thought it pretty funny about the way the book talked about spells the Mrs. Weasly used in the kitchen. He had just finished the first two chapters when someone knocked on his door. "Come in." he called. The door opened and Tom came in. "Good morning, Harry. How are you today?" Harry closed the book and set it own his lap. "I feel fine. Just a little worn out." He eyed Tom, looking for a wand. He didn't see one. "Do you really expect me to learn all this?" He asked, motioning towards the stack of books. "Oh, that and more." Tom said. He sat down in one of the chairs. "Don't worry, it won't seem like too much after we're done. A lot of that is compatible to another subject. It will be easy for you." Harry shrugged. It felt awkward, sitting there discussing lesson plans with Voldemort. The eyes weren't the same that they had been. They weren't red. They were a gentle blue. Harry smiled a little at that. That was proof of the different man who sat in front of him. "Well, let's start, shall we?" Voldemort pulled his chair closer to the bed and opened one of the books. "The important thing to remember about this subject is it's uses. You can learn all of the theorems you want, but if you don't have the practical aspects, you will not be able to use them in any form." Harry kept up with the pace of the lesson, amazingly, considering how fast Voldemort had been going. Towards the end, however, Harry ended up falling asleep in the middle of the explanation about the dangers of using a house- cleaning charm on something other than a house. Tom smiled, closed the books, and set them aside. He marked which chapters they had covered and crept out of the room.
A knock on the door interrupted Vernon Dursley's comments about the world's problems in general. He growled something about salesmen and answered the door. "Vernon Dursley?" A man stood on the doorstep. His long, black, flowing robes dispelled any thoughts about his being a salesman. "Yes?" Vernon demanded. The man held up credentials. "My name is Severus Snape. I am employed at Harry's school. I've been sent to check on Harry, as there has been a new threat to his safety. May I come in?" Severus did not wait for the man to allow him to enter. Severus strode into the house, looking around. He saw a hog like boy cowering in the corner, and a thin woman standing in front of the child. He bowed. "Good evening." He looked her over. How could anyone look less like a sibling he would never know. "I assume you are Petunia. Pleasure. Where is Harry?" "The freak ran away!" Vernon Dursley said from behind him. "And good riddance too!" Severus turned sharply on the man. "Ran away?" Well, that idea certainly did fit with the Harry that Severus thought he knew. Though the boy would not do anything without Dumbledore's permission. "Yes. He and all his things are gone." Vernon informed the man. Severus reached into his pocket and pressed the small button that Dumbledore had given him. With a "pop", Dumbledore appeared in the hallway. "Severus?" Dumbledore said, coming into the living room. "Not more freaks!" Vernon said, exasperated. "Headmaster. It appears that Potter is missing. His uncle here said that he ran away. All of his belongings are missing." Dumbledore took all of this in quietly. "We must check for residues of spells." Dumbledore told the family. "It will not take long." Dumbledore and Severus spent the next fifteen minutes casting about the house, finding a few spells throughout the house. Whoever had been here had done their work well. "It appears that Harry has been kidnapped. We must inform the Ministry, as well as the Muggle authorities. If the boy is spotted by either world, we will be able to rescue him." Dumbledore looked out the window. "Let's just pray that we are not too late."