Chapter 11: Dark Risings

Spring time had always been a favourite point in the seasons for Severus because during the first week of spring several rare and tedious ingredients were in plenty. He could always stock up on those ingredients in a single week and never run out until the next spring. It was one of the few things in his life that were simple. The man glanced at his lover, his hand spayed across Severus' chest, and he chuckled mutely.

Harry shifted slightly, his head moving up to nestle against Severus' arm; sighed. He shivered and tugged the blankets over them. "I'm here, Harry," Severus voiced softly. Severus wrapped his arm around Harry and then let himself drift back into slumber.

Severus opened his eyes to a dark and desolate area where he felt recognition to the strange place he found himself now. Where was Harry, his mind wondered as he started towards the dark foreboding towers that marred the crystalline sky. Severus feared for Harry in such a place; evil radiated form the very depths of this region. He froze in mid-step. He did know where he was, he was at La Château de le Sombre Maître; the castle of the Dark Lord. Merlin, Severus pleaded, don't let Harry be in there.

He walked into the castle with ease, he'd been summoned here on a few occasions, but he was unprepared for what he had found within the desolate walls. Harry was bound, naked, before a throng of unhappy Death Eaters which were surrounding him. Severus repressed a sob as a whip lashed onto Harry's delicate body; he gasped in pain. Lucius stepped into the middle of the circle and sneered at Harry.

"Everything would be easier if you'd just give in, Harry Potter; it is now your destiny to lead the Death Eaters into victory. You already know that...so why are you fighting us?"

Another whipped hit Harry before he answered. "I can't accept my destiny because you wouldn't... a) follow my orders, b) treat me with respect, and c) you refuse to accept a turncoat back into your ranks; among other things of course..."

"Of course," Lucius muttered quietly, "but you know that those things could be corrected with a simple solution of you joining us; as to the matter of accepting back the traitor... We'll accept him back if you so desire it, but only if you are our lord," he paused, smirking, "which you are not, as of yet."

Severus saw the look in Harry's eyes, knew that he would surrender. "Harry, don't listen to them," Severus was lashed from behind, cutting his phrase off midway. Severus was about to black out.

He heard Harry scream for him, but he couldn't respond. Additionally, he heard Lucius' muttering, "I'll kill you myself this time, so no one can screw up."

Severus shot up from the bed his was in and looked over to the face beside him, slightly confused, and blinked. It had been a dream; they were in his rooms at Hogwarts. Harry cocked his head to one side and stretched so his lips would brush against Severus' own. "What's wrong, love?"

"Just a dream, Harry, sorry for waking you," he whispered. Harry just shook his head and got out of bed. "What are you doing," Severus inquired softly.

"I'm getting ready for class, breakfast starts in twenty minutes from now," Harry's voice faded, "anyway, I need to talk to Draco about our transfiguration project." Severus nodded as Harry dressed and fled.

A month had passed Severus by and one of the only things that he could remember was his nightmares of Harry and Lucius. He knew that he had nothing to fear, at least not in a jealous way between the two, but that still didn't ease Severus' heart. Each night the vision would differ from the last only slightly in the beginning but the ending result was always disastrous to him.

Severus sighed; last night had been the worst. Harry had become the Dark Lord, had killed Sirius, nearly killed him, and had taken Lucius as his lover. In reality most of that dream would only be a dream, but Harry was most likely to become the new Dark Lord. He was already well on his way, his mind whispered.

Severus frowned as he looked across the dais at Albus, Minerva, Remus, and Sirius. They all feared the rising of a new Dark Lord, double worried that the position would be filled by Harry; that they'd have to either join their friend and family or kill him. Severus looked into his soul; he knew he would be loyal to Harry no matter what... But would the others think that as well? Would they understand Severus' decision if it came to that? Severus didn't know and that bothered him.

He glanced at his young lover and his closest Slytherin friends and sighed, they too were feeling the darkness rise within Harry's body. Though they didn't understand what it was as easily as the teachers did; that wasn't entirely true. Several students had already sworn to be loyal to Harry and accepted a Mark of Harry's choosing. He wrapped his hand around his Mark, Harry's design; Severus sighed and glanced at Hermione and Ron, both of whom looked like they had insufficient sleep, they two were feeling the restlessness of what was happening to Harry.

Severus returned his gaze to the dais and heard Minerva mutter softly to Albus, "With only three weeks left of school... I'm afraid of what might occur with Harry," she paused, "Or to what extent he could rise to become the next Dark Lord. What will we, or the Order, do if that occurs?"

Albus sighed; looking out at Harry with weary eyes. "I don't know." Severus, Minerva, Remus and Sirius blinked; Albus actually didn't know what to do at a given situation, this could be very bad. Albus lowered his head and looked back to meet Severus' eyes. "Severus... Tell Harry to come up to my office after dinner tonight. Minerva, tell all the staff the same; I think its time to talk about what's going to happen." Both Severus and Minerva nodded. Albus gazed at Remus for a second, "Issue a summons, an ordinary one, let us see how many Order members we can get there as well." Remus smiled slightly and nodded.

Harry glanced at the dais and sighed; they were talking about him. He locked eyes with Severus and cocked his head to one side in questioning. Severus glanced towards the doors and nodded. Harry nodded in agreement.

After a short while Harry left the Great Hall and walked to his class; Advanced Potions with the Gryffindors. Severus told him about the meeting and then continued with the preparations for the N.E.W.T. Potion Practical. That was the only thing for the Slytherins and the Gryffindors to do that day anyway. After the initial brewing, which took until the school was called to lunch, Harry and the others only ate a small bit; they were going to have to test their potions and then write a four or more foot report about the potion's history, it's properties, it's effects, and it's ingredients with their histories.

Harry walked slowly into the Great Hall for dinner, casting a dark glare at his lover. He laughed as he heard Draco whispering, "You think the Potion N.E.W.T was bad; wait until you see what McGonagall and Flitwick are planning, at least we didn't have to write the entire day!" Harry nodded; it was true; he already knew that McGonagall was going to have them write a ten foot paper about some spell they'd already learned. Unlike Severus who introduced the potion today, well today... But with the added instructions it was simple, well, the paper wasn't but as a whole it was simple.

Dinner ended far too soon for Harry's sake. He really didn't want to go to this meeting, but as always Severus was already on his way to Harry's side to take him up to the Headmaster's Office. "I really don't want to do this tonight, Severus," he murmured softly as they began walking. Severus said nothing as they made their way and he sighed as they reached the stair.

"If it was only going to be me, Albus, Minerva and you... I'd say I'd extend your apologies but this meeting is not with just us, so you must go."

Albus nodded to Severus as he took his seat and Harry took his own. He looked around the room, spelled to be larger then it already was, and decided that everyone was there that should be. "I've called this meeting because it has come to my attention that there have been some dark risings that need to be addressed."

A gasp reverberated throughout the room; Poppy asking meekly, "Where Albus?"

As the attention returned to Albus, Harry realised what this meeting was really about. "From me, Madam," Harry voiced in a whisper.

"What! From Harry, but that's impossible," Professor Sprout accused.

Albus answered this time, "No, Harry is correct, it is from him... This meeting is to discuss what is happening, and what we are going to do about it."

All eyes turned to Harry, and beside him, Severus. Harry stayed quiet as his companion spoke, "Harry has been fighting evil a new way all year. Instead of fighting battles outside of the school or Voldemort doing something to hinder him, Harry has been fighting the overpowering wills of the Death Eaters. They have made it their mission to have Harry become the new Dark Lord," Severus' voice faded, knowing what Harry was about to add.

"And they're winning..."

Minerva closed her eyes, sighing; Albus nodded in understanding, it must be difficult to fight them all the time. Several people took a few steps back, doubly so if they were close to Harry. Severus' eyes looked haunted; he'd been dreading this conversation all year. Albus spoke, "Harry, please explain to them what you mean."

"Since I defeated the previous Dark Lord, you all must have learned that I had inherited some of his powers; well, in truth, I received all of them...compiled with my own, well," Harry stopped, unsure.

"It makes him twice as powerful as Voldemort had been and at least half stronger then Albus, but Harry has control of that aspect of what's happening," Severus inserted for Harry.

Harry smiled slightly in thanks. "The big problem has been the Death Eaters; they're demanding my succession into Dark Lorddom. I've been fighting them but when this year ends and I graduate... They'll be hammering me as hard as they can. When that happens..." Harry just turned his gaze to Fawkes, unable to formulate his next thoughts into sentences.

"What will happen?" Flitwick asked in a frown.

Albus looked at both, Severus and Harry, neither was going to answer. "Harry will then become the Dark Lord because he'll be unable to fight it," Albus and Minerva whispered in the near silence. A breathless gasp escaped from the staff members as they realised what was going to happen.

"Isn't there anything that we can do help him?" Remus murmured.

Albus looked at Harry, wondering the same thing. "No, there is nothing that anyone can do... I've all ready become so close to becoming the Dark Lord that I'm beyond all help."

Poppy glanced at him, "There was a point that we could have stopped this?"

Severus sighed; "Harry went beyond all help when he saved Dean Thomas' life. He had to use a vast amount of Dark magic to save him... Our only reason for calling this meeting was to discuss what is going to happen when he becomes the Dark Lord."

Sirius shivered; "He'll become the main evil, ruling the Death Eaters by what they want; Harry won't truly be in control of them." He glanced at Severus then at Albus. "He'll end up having to be worse then Voldemort was..."

"Actually," Harry interrupted, "I'll be in perfect control after about a week." Harry smirked; "Being that I will be twice as dangerous as their previous lord... They'll do as I say, or I can guarantee that there will be a severe punishment," the voice Harry used to say this in sent shivers up everybody's spine. Even Severus. Pure twisted torture laced and dripped from that statement and everyone could tell Harry was just waiting to be able to do the devious thoughts that had derived in his mind as he accepted and practiced his powers.

Remus inquired softly, "You mean to say that you will be in control and could potentially use the Death Eaters for whatever you choose," his voice grew softer, "you could use them for," Remus paused, searching for a word, "maters of the Order."

Harry smirked; he knew the Order was thinking about conspiring against Fudge. "Yes, I could order them to do something of that," he stopped, smirking, "particular nature."

At this all of the Order members smiled, understanding the implications of Harry's answer. They realised what type of ally Harry could be; it could be wondrous. Albus spoke, "What will we do for the week, or so, that Harry isn't in control of them; being that we've all just silently agreed to have the Dark Lord be an important member of the Order?"

Minerva chuckled; "We'll keep the minister off his case until we are untied... then it really doesn't matter."

Everyone shared a smile and then looked over to Harry, who gasped in pain, eyes closed. Severus reached towards him and then screamed, falling to the floor clutching his left arm and the Mark. Blood was welling around Severus' hand and Harry was silently screaming. Harry's eyes opened to reveal deepest green, nearly black, and angry. Severus relaxed, the pain subsiding; his arm still seeping blood sluggishly.

Albus' face had a sheen of fear instead of the usual joy and Minerva had transformed into her cat self and had hid under Albus' desk.

After another few moments, Severus asked softly, "What is it, Harry?" but Harry was unhearing. He pulled himself off the floor and moved over to Harry; the closer he got, the more powerful the dark waves were that escaped Harry's enraged body.

Harry's hands began to glow an Avada green. Only Severus could hear what Harry spoke. This is the last time, Nott! I told you that if you tried to force me to become the Dark Lord sooner then I have agreed than I would kill you. So this time, I hold to my vow... Avada Kedavra. Harry's eyes returned to normal quickly. His gaze landing on the bleeding Mark on Severus' arm; "Oh, Severus, I'm sorry; here let me heal that..." Harry moved to Severus' side and waved his hand over the Mark, it healed without a spell. "Forgive me, I lost control momentarily... I need to be excused; others with the Mark need tending to...Severus, explain what happened."

Harry fled as Severus' returned to his seat, eyes weary, noting the confused look in the other faces he begin to explain, "Avery Nott has been trying to force Harry into becoming the Dark Lord and Harry swore that if he tried to do it again that he'd kill him," Severus paused but decided there was no better way for him to explain, "...and he just did. Unfortunately, Harry didn't realise what he was doing to the Mark before he killed Nott, so as his pain and anger grew we, anyone with the Mark, was met with his wraith...He'll heal everyone who's within Hogwarts and let the others suffer for a while," Severus smirked, "as a way to confirm that he will kill them if they try anything else to persuade him before schools out."

Albus chuckled and turned to look under his desk, "You can come out now." Minerva quickly returned to her seat. "Severus," Albus began seriously, "who else has the Mark in Hogwarts?"

"Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and Seamus Finnigan have the Mark... there are others that are to be Marked...but they are unharmed."