VII
....................
Setting a small cauldron to simmer, Riddle scanned the mansion briefly for Potter's whereabouts: the library, catching up on his reading, no doubt. Surveying the spanned and chopped ingredients on the workbench, Riddle wondered if putting the boy to work down there wasn't such a poor idea. But then, the ingredients were so rare and priceless it was probably better that student hands were kept free of the lab.
He could understand how one might enjoy brewing potions to some degree - maybe even find it relaxing. After all, it was easy to push stray thoughts aside and just allow one's self to concentrate on preparing ingredients. But to make a career of it...the thought didn't sit well with the dark wizard.
He moved out of the lab and further into the cellar where the portrait was kept. It was, of course, devoid of its subject - not surprising at all really. The last time Riddle had seen the portrait occupied was several months ago, and prior to that, years. Still, he found himself checking it now and then. It was a silly habit that reminded him of his early years as a dark wizard, but he refused to see it as such at the present moment.
He slid the boy's wand from his robes and fingered the cool wood thoughtfully. The subtle vibration of magic potential running through it at his touch was more than a simple hint of it's power. Riddle knew the wands were special. They were like brothers almost, both sharing the feathers of a single phoenix. He hadn't been able to directly attack the boy with it and vice versa. Those wands weren't meant to do battle with each other...they were meant for unification. Salazar himself confirmed the fact months ago during his last appearance. What was meant specifically by 'unification' was still unclear to the Dark Lord, and that was why he found himself considering the dark, vacant canvas for some sort of answer.
Yet none came, as he expected. Salazar Slytherin never lingered unless something of importance needed to be said. The very first time he came to the portrait, Riddle had summoned him there through a fairly difficult process that probably wouldn't have worked if it hadn't been for his lineage. Afterwards, the great wizard's visits had been few and far between. But, each left the Dark Lord purposely enlightened.
"You've been wrong about the boy. Think of the wands."
"Yes, I know. They're connected somehow--."
"--They're bound somehow, as are the wizards that wield them. You'd do well not to ignore it, Tom."
He remembered the words from the last time the portrait bore a face and had allowed them to govern his course of actions thereafter. No, he hadn't "ignored it" as the great wizard had cautioned against. But finding the boy's place in the war and on his side was a delicate task, especially with Albus and possibly even his own Death Eaters seeking to ruin him. The headmaster had done nothing to recapture the boy thus far, but Riddle would be a blithering fool to believe the old man wasn't planning anything. Probably waiting for the opportune moment to strike - dark forced divided, completely unawares... Unless he wanted the bothersome old coot to actually succeed, Lucius' little secret needed to be revealed and dealt with as soon as possible.
He cast a final look at the portrait, surprised to have found resolution even in the great wizard's absence. Back in the main room, his restorative draught simmered gently in the large cauldron. He needed to gather a few different ingredients for this final batch. He supposed he could take the boy along and make it mildly educational. Besides, the boy could use some time out of the mansion.
Riddle left the lab, pausing to reinforce the wards on the cellar doors. He got an odd feeling - almost a flutter in his chest - at the installation of the last one. However, it was very brief, almost nonexistent. Riddle hesitated there in the entryway before heading upstairs to the library.
.. .. ..
Lucius traced the brim of an empty brandy glass with his thumb. The glass had been empty for nearly a half hour, but this time he chose not to refill it. He wasn't drunk. No, not really. He simply brought himself to that inventive stage between tipsy and sober where the cognitive functions are adequate but thought flows much more freely.
In this stage, he mulled over his plans, already set into motion. He knew without the draught the Dark Lord's health would swiftly decline, or so Severus had assured him., making him as vulnerable to attack as they possibly could. He also knew one of his houselves would have little trouble disrupting the completion of the draught once it had been smuggled into the mansion. All they needed to do was lay low until the Dark Lord's condition weakened...and then strike.
With Voldemort out of the way, the position would be his for the taking. Severus would be kindly thanked for his input and sent into his traitorous oblivion. Lucius knew the potions master sought to bring down the Dark Lord for his own reasons, and while that was fine for now, he couldn't have the man meddling with his own ascension.
A feeling of excitement welled up within the blonde wizard. The ministry, the school, hell even the entire Wizarding world would finally be within his grasp. Years ago Lord Voldemort told him that he seemed "rather ambitious" and that it could be either an excellent or dangerous quality for a wizard to have. Lucius finally found himself agreeing...just a bit.
As for his son, he wasn't to become a Death Eater under the present Dark Lord. No...Lucius had reserved him a place as the first under the Malfoy rein. Others, like poor Crabbe, were attempting to hold off as well, but Voldemort was no idiot. He was getting impatient, which meant the draught had to be destroyed as soon as possible. At the next gathering, or they'd all be sent into an oblivion.
.. .. ..
Harry twitched involuntarily as he felt Riddle's aura approaching. It had been stationary somewhere in lower level of the mansion for a good couple of hours but it seemed the older wizard had finished up whatever it was he was doing down there. Harry was aware of him as he flipped through the last of the books he was to read - one on mind-altering spells. It was actually a pretty interesting read. Who knew you could make a person think or feel anything you wanted them to without going near Imperious. By applying the right amount of magical force, he could have had Snape praising his potion-making in front of all of Slytherin.
Well, of course there were better ways to use such a skill...
Almost instantly he thought of what happened the previous night in Riddle's study...or, what didn't happen. Why, with a little mental push in the right direction, Riddle wouldn't be able to stop himself. The strange thing was that the older wizard seemed to want him. What prevented him from just strutting in and doing as he pleased?
Harry sighed audibly and set the book down. Running his fingers through the dark overgrowth that was his hair, he came to the conclusion that he needed more from Riddle to understand him. He acknowledged the Dark Lord's power nearby by straightening his clothes and sitting up on the sofa. He hadn't seen Riddle since the previous night and wondered a tad anxiously what he'd want.
The doors to the library swung open with a soft creak and Riddle stepped inside. He was draped in a deep green wool cloak and he carried another on his arm.
"Come."
Harry got up warily and walked over accepting the cloak Riddle handed him. Riddle turned away and headed back out of the library.
"We're going out for a while."
Harry followed him to the stairs but stopped when he unfolded the cloak and his wand tumbled out.
My wand!
He honestly didn't expect to see his wand again anytime soon.
"Is there something wrong, Potter?"
Harry looked to Riddle to find him already near the second landing.
"No, I'm coming."
He hurried excitedly down the stairs like a giddy child, slipping the cloak around his shoulders as he went. He could tell the wand had been tampered with...probably to prevent him using it on the Dark Lord or escape. Figures.
When they were finally outside of the mansion Harry was overcome by the breathtaking view of Irish hills. It was as if they were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded mostly by lush green and perhaps a shore off to the west.
Powerful wards bore down on them as they neared the main property's edge. He followed Riddle right through them and away from the mansion into a patch of trees. There the Dark Lord stopped and considered the boy with a thoughtful expression. Harry looked around awkwardly.
"You're seventeen."
No he was...wait.......oh. He nodded, somewhat surprised that today was his birthday.
"Do you know how to apparate?"
"No, si--" he blundered, quickly remembering not to call him 'sir'. He, Ron, and Hermione had tried to figure it out a few times but they'd all been too afraid of getting splinched to actually try it on their own.
"Well, it's not very difficult, but it does take considerable concentration the first few times to avoid some...unpleasant circumstances."
Harry could imagine what those "unpleasant" circumstances might entail and winced internally.
"I want you to give it a try. I'm sure I needn't explain how useful a skill apparition is."
"No. Just tell me what do."
"Good. Now I want you to visualize a place nearby...like over there by those bushes. Close your eyes and imagine you're standing right there next to them." Harry complied, squeezing his eyes shut and praying he survived his first attempt. He felt Riddle move in close behind him. Warm breath tickled Harry's ear when he spoke. "Be aware of every park of yourself...every particle...and send it to the place you're imagining."
Harry breathed in deeply and imagined the group of bushes a dozen or so meters away. Every part. Every particle--
Suddenly Harry disappeared in a 'pop' and reappeared a few feet away in a half-dressed disheveled heap with a yelp of surprise. He was panting as he realized what had happened and somewhat shocked to find his shirt and cloak on the ground where he had been previously standing. Riddle smirked as Harry scrambled back into his clothing.
"That was nearly decent for a first attempt. Most don't make it anywhere in one piece."
"You mean I could have been killed?"
"I mean you could have lost a few limbs in the process. Nothing serious."
Harry blinked.
"Come, try again. Concentrate a bit harder, and this time be aware of every part of you...even your clothing."
Harry could feel the blush starting as he tried again. He filled his mind with the image of the bush cluster and imagined his body there. Within a matter of seconds, he felt the tug of magic on his being and vanished in another 'pop'. This time he reappeared in the general area he'd been aiming for. When he realized what he'd done he couldn't fight the grin.
I apparated! And only on my second try!
"You were still a bit off," Riddle criticized on his way over.
"Only by a couple of meters," he answered aloud, too excited to use mental speech.
"A few meters could mean the difference between landing on the cliff or in the air beside it. You'd do well to stick to precision."
His pride somewhat deflated, Harry glanced around. "So you want me to try it again?"
"I think that's enough for now. I have something to accomplish before evening." He held out his hand to the boy. "I'll apparate us there." Harry took his hand and instantly they vanished only to reappear in a thick, dark wood. The air was noticeably colder, especially for a summer afternoon.
"Where are we?"
"Norway. This is an enchanted forest, so be watchful."
Harry hugged his cloak about himself trying to guess what it was they were watching for. He followed Riddle through the forest and over a fallen log where they stopped.
"Do you know how to recognize sunspell?" At Harry's negative reply, he proceeded to explain. "It's a magical flower that is one plant in the daylight and a completely different plant in the moonlight. It only grows where both the sun and moon can reach it."
"What is it used for?"
Riddle continued on towards the west. "Its nightly form yields a deadly extract used in rare poisons and its day form is used to restore youth. Together they have incredible preservative powers."
After a few minutes of silence, Harry continued. "You're brewing some sort of potion then?"
"Yes."
A thought suddenly occurred to Harry. He remembered thinking it must have taken some incredible charms to restore the Dark Lord to his current state. Perhaps he used a potion instead.
"Precisely. Bet you never imagined potions could be so useful."
"Oh, I always knew potions could be useful. I failed to see how scrubbing cauldrons till my fingers bled taught me a damned thing about them."
"Surely a few measly cauldrons weren't too much for The-Boy-Who-Lived."
"Not too much...just too many."
Riddle sent a wave of amusement across their connection before stopping at a rocky slope.
"There should be some at the top." He placed his hand on Harry's shouldered and apparated them to the top of the slope. There were patches of late afternoon sunlight here and there shining on yellow and white blossoms. "Don't touch the yellow ones - they can rot your fingers right off."
A bit on edge, Harry watched Riddle pick off the petals off a small white blossom. "Take the petals of a few of them and meet me up ahead." Riddle continued up the slope to where it leveled off and disappeared over the other side. Harry quickly de-petaled five or six flowers before hurrying up the slope after the Dark Lord.
He found the older wizard stooping near the trunk of a tree holding a vile out to a brightly colored snake. There were the sounds of Parseltoungue before it gave up some of its venom.
"We have to wait a bit for the sun to set to get more petals," Riddle declared before leaning back against a large stone. He observed Harry with mild interest as Potter did the same with a nearby tree. Harry could sense the awkward silence blanketing them and his mind instantly returned to the book he'd been reading.
With the right amount of magical force....
Harry suddenly thought now would be a good time to try one of the spells. He mentally recited the proper words before attempting it with something simple. There was a fruit tree nearby - Harry concentrated on it and tried to silently urge the Dark Lord to take a fruit off the tree.
Minutes went by and it didn't seem to be working till the older wizard glanced pointedly at the tree. After a moment he pulled the sample of venom from his cloak and began to study it in the sunlight.
Well, that had almost worked.
Perhaps a stronger image would work better.
Repeating the spell again, Harry conjured up the most provocative images that he could and hurled them at the Dark Lord. As he waited anxiously to see if it worked the most embarrassing thing happened.
Riddle turned to Harry and began to laugh.
Harry colored severely.
"My, aren't we determined? Surely you didn't think your randy little fantasies would be enough?"
Harry didn't reply.
"And what exactly were you trying to have me do? You sent quite a selection."
"I was only experimenting," he muttered.
"Well, you need direction. Allow me." Riddle was silent for a brief moment before Harry found himself sprinting over to the fruit tree and snatching at a round unripened fruit. Riddle released the spell before he could actually pull one off. "You need much more force behind the spell. You're attempting to control a mind - a very strong one in this case"
Feeling very foolish, the boy slumped against the tree. He really should have known Lord Voldemort wasn't the best wizard to start practicing with. The sun set quickly in this section of the world and it was already well on its way down. He wished he knew what Riddle was playing at by leading him on. He probably wouldn't be having this problem if the man hadn't kissed him in the first place.
The earth crunched underfoot as Riddle sauntered over to the fruit tree and stooped down. Harry was pouting, unconsciously it seemed, and it was a strange site for Riddle to behold when this was the only wizard that had openly challenged him and lived to tell of it.
He lifted Harry's chin, deciding now would be a nice time to kiss those lips. But the boy spoke just as he dipped his head forward to do so.
"Why do you keep doing this?"
Riddle paused briefly, noting the genuine tone in the boy's voice.
"Because it's fun to torment you."
Harry's brows furrowed angrily, not liking the idea of having his emotions toyed with. But he didn't verbalize his frustrations.
"Honestly, all of those years of being doted upon for surviving a curse. You could have had anyone of your little worshiping school mates. Now that you truly want something, crave it even, it's being denied." He leaned in again, "I'd be a fool to let this slide, Harry."
He kissed the boy, feeling him tense under him and try to pull back. Leaning against a tree, there really wasn't anywhere for him to move but it was well noted. He kissed him as darkness settled around them and the moon peeked from behind scattered grey puffs. When he began to pull back Harry grabbed his arm.
"Just do it already," he ground out in the snake language.
Riddle looked around and shrugged Harry's grip off.
"This is hardly the place or time," he answered, getting up and heading back for the slope of sunspell blossoms. Harry trudged after him. Riddle could tell he was angry from his gait, but that was to be expected. The boy was young, and a tad spoiled where he needs were concerned. He needed to learn that he wasn't guaranteed certain things.
At the top of the slope, the white and yellow blossoms had turned pale greens and blues under the moonlight.
"Pick from the blue ones but don't squeeze the petals too hard - they're extremely poisonous."
Harry worked silently, his mood having darkened with the sky. He was too angry to speak. He just wanted to get back and get away from Riddle before he screamed in frustration. He handed the older wizard the petals and waited for him to apparate them back to the mansion.
.. .. ..
A/N:
Chapters like these make me wonder just who the badguy is. It's 3:22am and i'm too tired to proofread it once more so..its up to you to tell me if theres something seriously wrong with it. Srry about the last chapter....and this one too i guess. lol. Thats 2 big fat 'NO's for Harry. Poor thing. Will he ever get it? Next chapter perhaps, perhaps not.
Teenaged boys are funny things, aren't they?
Thanks for the reviews...they're tremendously helpful.