Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter 17: Enslavement

My teeth clattered in the dark chamber. I must have been several hundred metres beneath the school, not a single source of light existed apart from the 'lumos' of my wand. The pale white light illuminated the tomb eerily and I crept along the passage with hesitant steps. I had expected cobwebs, dust and deterioration in a tomb about a millennia old. The walls stood firm, the floor was shiny enough to reflect the light back at me. I turned a corner and found myself awestruck.

The chamber in front of me was the same size as the chamber of secrets. Like Slytherins chamber, this one also held statues. Four great statues made of four different materials towered before me with all their might. Godric Gryffindore stood closest to me with a familiar sword in his hand, the entire statue was made in well polished gold. I stared at it in awe for longer than I wanted to admit before I tore my eyes away to observe the others.

A man with vaguely familiar features stood next to Gryffindor, entirely made of silver. His face resembled that in the chamber fairly well. In the middle stood a woman I'd never seen before but it wasn't hard to guess who it was. What made this statue stand out among the four was that it didn't shine or glimmer or look extravagant at all. It was made entirely of wood, birch, if the white shade of it was anything to go by.

Last, but not least stood a woman I recognised very well by now. She looked older here, but her stance was all too familiar. I could picture her too clearly with her hands folded neatly as she observed my work silently, or with a scathing comment. Naturally, the statue was made entirely of crystal the colour of purple. I smiled fondly, anyone who said that Ravenclaw's colour was blue was deeply mistaken.

I shook myself from continuing to stare at the founder in awe and got on with the task I had come to do. To the far right of the room was a large stone coffin, like Rowena had explained. I approached it warily and paused a couple of decimetres away. It felt strange standing by the grave of someone who you met every day.

I felt no desire to disturb the peace of someone who had rested here without interruption for over a thousand years. The woman who taught me was but a memory of the person who rested in the very tomb I stood by. I conjured a rose in the deepest colour of purple. I stared at the flower for a moment before I laid it down at the grave.

There was no name on the grave.

I took a deep breath and braced myself, then knocked on the coffin seventeen times like Rowena had explained. It was very important to do it exactly seventeen times, no more, no less. I hadn't asked why, I assumed it had something to do with protections around the place.

Nothing happened for a whole minute and I was just about to try knocking on it again when I heard a scraping sound.

-()-

I woke up startled and fumbled for my wand in my pocket. It wasn't there. I scanned the room for it. My brows furrowed in confusion, I was lying in my bed in my master's place. How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was opening the crypt and then, complete darkness.

My wand was resting on my nightstand and I picked it up hesitantly. I looked it over for any signs of what could have happened but it was the same as always. The silver doors to the main room opened without a sound when I got up and I found the main room completely empty. Rowena was nowhere to be found, only the crackling of the flames could be heard, and something else. One of the other doors was opened and the sound of something boiling came from inside.

I peered inside the room and was met with a smell of freshly cut grass. My master stood huddled over a cauldron and was muttering something, what drew my attention was the table next to her. On that table there was not just the skeleton of an arm, but also a piece of meat. I felt myself grow queasy at the thought of what that was, I tried to feel if I felt any pain anywhere from where that slab of flesh had been taken. Next to them stood a large parcel with a large, golden seal on it. The seal of Gringotts.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked in disbelief.

Rowena wiped her hands on a conjured towel and turned around. "I've prepared the potion for you, the only thing needed is inside that box."

"Hold your horses. How…how did I end up here?"

"Let's just say that I told my grave that you would be coming, so to save a little bit of time, I told it to give us an arm and return you here."

"You can do that?"

"Yes, it is my grave, remember?"

"You could have told me instead of knocking me out cold," I responded sourly. "But that doesn't explain why there is a piece of my own flesh there?"

"I took the liberty to…extract it when you were unconscious. But don't worry, you shouldn't feel any difference." Rowena smiled at me brightly and I grimaced.

"Right…but if you want to…extract a piece of me another time, please confer with me first, okay?"

"If I deem it necessary."

That was as good as I was going to get.

I nodded and picked up the parcel from the bank. "The vial of blood is in here?"

"Yes. Along with the three contracts."

I lowered the box gently back towards the table and broke the seal. Inside were indeed three large stacks of documents and a bottle. I grimaced as I picked the bottle up and examined it. "So this is my father's blood?" The liquid was a dark red shade and was sluggish. Rowena snapped the bottle out of my hands and placed it next to the other things. "Yes. Let's get this over with."

I shut the box again, I felt that I could wait with the knowledge of my future until after I was free from Voldemort's soul piece. This was the end of a chapter. Let's begin the next chapter with a revelation.

I turned back towards my master where she was currently levitating the three objects ominously over the boiling, green liquid. The piece of flesh was shining in the light, there was some kind of liquid over the whole thing, I didn't even want to think about what that could be. I gulped and tore my gaze away from the disgusting ingredients. "So what do I need to do?"

Rowena gave me a brilliant smile. "Just take a bath." The three ingredients stopped levitating and dropped inside the cauldron with a splash and two plumps which made me shudder. They disappeared completely beneath the green liquid which turned a dark shade a blue. I could see my own reflection and I stared at the reflection with wide eyes.

Could that dark haired man I saw in the liquid really do this?

Yes. Yes he could.

Rowena was still smiling at me with a smile which would have made me blush if I hadn't been so disgusted by this whole debacle. I was almost entirely sure that she was teasing me with this, but I definitely had to dive in there. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then I made to climb inside the cauldron, the less I thought about it the better.

Rowena cleared her throat. "You can't wear your clothes, obviously."

I froze in my movement and stared at her incredulously. "You think this is funny, don't you?"

Rowena adopted an expression of faux disbelief. "I would never think this is funny." She gave me a stern look. "Now, get those clothes off. We've wasted enough time already."

I scoffed indignantly and took my outer robes off. Rowena observed me with an impatient look as I undressed and I couldn't help but feel very self conscious. "Mind giving me some privacy?"

Rowena rolled her eyes but turned around. "Hurry up and just get inside."

I undressed quickly and stood completely naked with one foot just above the surface of the liquid. I braced myself and jumped inside with both legs. Then, before I could think of how it felt, I submerged myself entirely in the liquid. I had expected the liquid to be boiling hot, burning and painful, but no. It didn't even feel like a liquid at all, if I closed my eyes, I would have just believed that I was floating in mid air. Then something plumped inside the cauldron and I felt a slight tickle at my left ear. Then that tickling feeling spread across my entire body and I felt myself laughing against my own will. Then the tickling slowly became painful, before it felt as if a thousand hot irons were put all around my body. I screamed in pain but no sound was made. A loud screeching sound erupted from inside my head and I thought that my head would explode. Just as the screeching grew so loud I was sure my eardrums had actually burst, it disappeared. For five long, blissful seconds, I was floating in the cauldron in complete silence and peace.

An explosion occurred.

The cauldron had burst and I laid on the ground in the lab completely naked. What perplexed me the most was that there was no sign of the liquid, or the bones, or the…the piece of flesh. It was just me, all naked and something cold resting against my feet. Rowena towered over me and handed me a bundle of clothes to preserve my dignity.

She pinched her nose and I felt myself blush. "Put these on."

I dragged the clothes on quickly and then my eyes darted to the object which had been together with me inside the cauldron. It was nothing special, just a small stone which didn't look special in any way. Something felt off, I could swear I heard whispers coming of it and the room felt distinctly colder than it had before. "Did it work?" I asked in nothing but a whisper.

Rowena walked past me and levitated the stone up in the air. "Yes. This is now a horcrux."

"So how do we destroy it?"

Rowena levitated the object inside a silver box and the lid shut resolutely. Suddenly, it was as if the sun appeared behind a cloud and warmed the room once again. The warmth was back and it was all silent again.

"We don't," Rowena said in a neutral tone.

I frowned at her and opened my mouth to protest but was broken off.

"At least not yet. This thing could be useful to have, there are things we could learn."

"Right…" I said slowly. "You're the expert, but we have to destroy it eventually."

Rowena met my eyes with an exasperated look. "Obviously." She picked up the box which still contained the contracts and walked outside. "I'll have a look at these, come back tonight and we'll go over the details."

"Okay, you know I leave for summer break tomorrow, right?"

"I'm fully aware. We'll discuss it later."

I sighed and walked out of the silver doors to her room. My fate was sealed, in a few short hours, my future would be revealed to me. For better or worse, probably worse.

-()-

Whispers accompanied my every step throughout the entire day, going to lunch was an experience. Ron and Hermione almost had to take on the role of bodyguards. It wasn't that I got attacked by everyone. I think most people were too scared after witnessing my performance in the final. They just accosted me and asked what had happened.

"How did Cedric die?"

"Did you kill him?"

"Why did you kill him?"

Ron had to physically drag me away from Ernie Macmillan who said that, I had never liked the guy but that was a few steps too far. Since Ron tore me away, that left Hermione in the open to essentially tell him off like an angry teacher.

Ron and Hermione hadn't left my side since I returned from my…bath, which I appreciated but it was somewhat annoying at times. The entire time together I could only think about whether I should tell them or not. Dumbledore said it was my own choice but strongly implied that he wanted me to tell them.

"Three can carry a burden easier than one," he had said with a forced smile.

Which he was right about, but carrying that burden may also result in them getting injured, or worse. After Cedric, I wasn't too keen on putting anyone at risk, and definitely not my friends. On the other hand, they deserved to know. If they didn't want to be part of this coming war, then they shouldn't stay with me.

The last day of school always had a special feeling in the air. It looked like every student had an extra spring in their step, everyone had a certain glow to them. We had finally arrived at the light at the end of the dark tunnel.

This year was different. Perhaps it was the aurors in their red robes patrolling around the school and the hinders preventing anyone from going near the maze. The maze in question was being torn down aggressively and several teams of aurors came and went as they performed their investigation of what happened.

My claim that Voldemort had returned had not been accepted by Fudge at all, he even removed a piece of evidence in Barty Crouch Jr who had been the impostor and in direct contact with Voldemort. No, the Minister of Magic had declared a faulty portkey the reason for Cedric's death. It was his word against mine, and I didn't even bring Cedric's body back as evidence. Something told me it wouldn't have mattered, Fudge would have still explained it away.

The knife of guilt stabbed me again.

"The best way to win a fight is to have someone else fight it for you."

That was what I had told myself before bringing him. How could I have become so callous? Why didn't I realise that I'd been putting him in danger if I brought him?

The quote I'd invented after the first task was all wrong. It couldn't be further from the truth. The first task wasn't a good example. Having someone else fight for you also makes sure that someone else is in mortal danger.

The knife stabbed me again and again and again. Metaphorical blood poured out of me. When people asked why I killed Cedric, they thought I killed him though a curse or a weapon.

No.

I killed him by bringing him along. I shook my head to rid myself of the thoughts, I would have enough time to think over the summer. Now I needed to pack my things.

I just sat on my red bed as my roommates were scrambling around our dormitory to make sure that no belongings were left behind.

I got up abruptly, in a mechanical movement. My hands started to pack my clothes and necessities inside my trunk. It didn't feel like I was doing it. I felt so disconnected from my body. As if I was experiencing my life in third person, not first person. Before I had even registered that there was nothing left to pack, my trunk was full to the brim with things pushed down in an attempt to avoid having to fold things. It would be a mess when I got home and Petunia would throw a fit over having to clean the clothes. I could almost imagine her shrill cries of frustration. It made me feel even more despondent than I already was, I was going back to the Dursleys. A mass murdering maniac was on the lose and I was going to live with a bunch of muggles.

I resolved to study as hard as possible during the summer. No aimless wandering of the streets. No lying around doing nothing. I had to catch up to Voldemort as much as possible. My classmates may be going on vacation for a nice time of rest, perhaps going abroad. My work was only beginning.

"You alright there, mate?" Ron smiled at me but it looked a little too forced for me. Only the two of us were left in the dorm, strange, I hadn't noticed anyone leaving.

"Sure." I let out a heavy sigh. "Let's go to the feast."

Ron grimaced. "The feast is in two hours."

"Isn't it at six?"

Ron scratched his head. "Yeah, and it is four now."

"It's only four. Huh. I thought it was more."

Ron smiled at me but I didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, well the others are going to a party in a classroom on the fifth floor, you want to go?"

I scowled in disgust. "Someone has died and people are partying?"

"I think it's good. The castle has been all gloom and doom these past few days. Lights up the mood a little." Ron didn't meet my eye as he said it.

"I guess," I replied absently. "There is something I need to tell you and Hermione," I blurted out before I had even thought about it.

"Is it about why you have been acting so…well you know…different these past few days?"

I smiled at Ron tiredly. "Partly, yes."

Ron patted me on the back and walked to the exit of the dorm. "Me and Hermione will be waiting downstairs. Come down when you feel ready." Ron left through the door and the wooden door shut with a low thud behind him.

I sat down at my bed and just sat there for several minutes in complete silence. It was rare to come across these days. After a few minutes of gathering resolve, I pushed myself up and walked down the stairs inside the common room.

Ron and Hermione were together on a couch and was whispering heatedly as I entered, their discussion ended abruptly as they spotted me enter. Very discrete.

"Ron told me you wanted to tell us something," Hermione began tentatively as I sat down in an armchair in front of them.

It was a warm day in July and with the fire spitting behind me, it was scorchingly hot in my seat. "Yes." I paused for a moment to think about if I really wanted to tell them the truth. I could still spin up some tale which would leave them satisfied.

No.

They deserved to know the truth. That was the least I could do for them. This information would affect their decisions too, not just mine.

I let out a deep breath and began explaining my situation to them. From how I was taken to the graveyard to Dumbledore telling me the prophecy. All three of us sat in oppressive silence for a long time.

"I understand if you don't want to keep being my friend," I said to break the silence.

Both of their heads snapped up in an almost comically synchronised movement to look at me. They shared a brief look. Ron smiled at me and it didn't look forced this time. "Mate, I know this year has been…tough. We have almost fought more than we have been at peace," Ron said tiredly. "But surely you know that we won't stop being your friends over this."

"We will always stand beside you," Hermione said, continuing where Ron left off. "No matter what happens, we will always help you. I'm sorry if we've been absent a bit this year, but not anymore. We will help you, and will be there for you, always."

I didn't dare speak for a few moments and felt my eyes water slightly. "Thanks guys," I croaked out eventually. I smiled at them tiredly. "I really appreciate it, it means more than you will ever know." I paused and looked each of them in the eye seriously. "But there are things you can't help me with. Things that are too dangerous. Things that you are nowhere near skilled enough to go against."

Hermione started to protest but I broke her off. "I'm not saying that to be mean, but if either of you faced a fully grown adult in a duel…" I trailed off and let it be unsaid what would happen.

Ron nodded along with what I was saying.

Hermione frowned at me and didn't look happy. "But it is okay for you to put yourself in danger? You're as old as we are. Do you even hear how hypocritical you're being?"

I smiled at them weakly. "I've…prepared in ways which you can't. I'm far better at defending myself than you are, no offence."

"Then we will train with you," Hermione returned stubbornly. "I don't care if it's every free hour of time we've got. I won't sleep for a week if that is required to study."

Hermoine stared at me with defiance, her arms folded and Ron tried to do the same. He didn't seem as keen to spend every second possible to study.

I sighed and gave them both a serious look. "I can't let you do that." I held up my arm to stop Hermione's protests. "I won't train you to become soldiers. You're still kids, you should worry about assignments and your crush. Not training to defeat fucking Lord Voldemort."

Hermione shook her head, but it was Ron who spoke. "Mate, Hermione's right. Do you hear how…hypocritical you're sounding?"

"It's different with me," I said decidedly. I held up my arms to silence the incoming protests. "My fate is to fight, I have to do it. You don't. I won't help you become good at something which will put you in danger. I've already got one death on me, I don't need more." I looked at them sternly. "I won't let you train with me."

Hermione looked heartbroken at my declaration. "Don't leave us behind, Harry," she pleaded. "We've helped you with everything so far. Quirrel, the chamber, Sirius. It has all worked out fine, hasn't it?"

I shook my head. "No, it was just pure luck, and by the look of things, my luck is running out."

"You can't do this alone Harry. We won't let you."

I smiled at them tiredly. "Don't worry, you just being here is more than I could ever want."

Ron gave me an undecipherable look and Hermione looked like she wanted to cry.

"Don't worry guys," I assured them gently. "I'll be fine on my own."

-()-

The pressure in the back of my throat kept building. I had half a mind to run to the nearest restroom to puke. It was the strangest sensation, it felt like I was about to puke, like my stomach wanted to greet my mouth. But nothing ever came. After I had sat like that for the entire feast I realised it was all because of my anxiety. Because that was what it was, I had never felt so anxious in my life before. Every single step from the Great Hall to the fourth floor was a struggle. My legs had forgotten how to walk. Every single extension and contraction of muscle had to be pictured in my mind to keep me from stumbling around the corridors like a drunk.

The shining silver doors had always looked beautiful to me when they shone with the flickering of the torches in the corridor outside. The inviting inside with the warm fire of the purple torch was cosy and just felt like…home. All of it looked dull to me now, everything looked dull to me. Dull and colourless. I wouldn't have been surprised if someone had jinxed my glasses to be a black and white filter.

I gulped and took a step inside the room. Every step was a conscious movement, I felt like a baby who had just learned to walk. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How can a fourteen year old forget how to walk?

I could only imagine the nervous expression on my face, but Rowena looked as neutral and impassive as ever where she sat in her chair. On the small table in front of her lay a stack of documents. I froze in my step and stared at them for several moments before my body decided that the brain had done enough and it guided me to sit in the chair.

"Let's begin with talking about the summer break," Rowena said with an amused look.

I nodded with resolution. "I know. I realise that I can't sit around and do nothing. I'm prepared to work, I'll work every single second if necessary. I've already found some books to read up on. I looked at some notes about maintaining good physical health too." I let out a long breath. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Rowena stared at me blankly for a few seconds. "You're sounding like your friend."

"I'll take that as a good thing."

Rowena let out a deep breath and looked at me, unimpressed. "There is one thing I want you to do this summer." Rowena paused and I leaned forwards in anticipation. This could be the key to learning something crucial to defeat Voldemort.

"I want you to have a vacation. Don't work your ass off, take some time off to have some fun. Hang out with your friends, try to get to know your future wife. I really don't care what you do as long as you come back with your batteries full."

"Do you even know what a battery is?"

Rowena growled in frustration. "That's irrelevant."

"Okay," I said solemnly. "But why do you want me to not learn things, that's just counterproductive."

"Trust me when I say that it can do more harm than good."

I shrugged absently. "If you say so."

Rowena gave me an amused expression and cleared her throat. "Anyway, I've read through all three contracts." My master gave me a pointed look. "It could be worse."

I physically shook at the sudden change of topic and I was suddenly brought back to reality.

"The two contracts which aren't the marriage one will only cost you 534 galleons," Rowena continued briskly.

My heart was banging like a gavel in my chest.

"That's still a lot of money."

"It is, but I was prepared for that number to be a five digit number, not three."

"Ever the optimist," I said with a forced smile.

"Of course."

"Is there anything else I should know about the contract?" I whispered.

Anything to delay.

Rowena nodded slowly. "You will have to marry at the 31st of June 1998 at the latest."

I met my master's eyes. "So she is older than me then?"

Rowena nodded shortly. "Unless you are born on the same day, yes."

My master fell into silence. She waited for me to ask.

Time to prove that I was worthy of the colours I wore day in and day out.

"What is her name?"

Rowena tilted her head at me and didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"Daphne Greengrass."

A/N: It's is finally done, the fourth, or first year, depending how you look at it, done. This year has been very canon-compliant; next year will not be.

I know the marriage contract is a bit of a trope and I have to admit that there is no real defence I can install against that claim. However, what I have planned isn't something I've ever seen done, so hopefully it'll be at least a little refreshing.

I suppose that is something every author would say though, oh well.

I would very much appreciate a review.

To the future!