Embracing His True Self

Chapter 31

"My office," was all that Voldemort needed to say, before he began to move, looking as though he was gliding with his robes swirled around the way they were. Harry Potter had changed even more than he'd anticipated in the seven months he had been away; unfortunately he was still as stubborn, headstrong, cocky and defiant as before. His hair had grown a great deal longer, although it would probably need cut now, since the cutting charm had cut through skin and hair. Thankfully not bone deep, the jaw bone was a delicate one, and not so easily repaired, especially seen as you weren't supposed to move said bone for at least three days to give it time to mend. Not so easily done when one has to eat, and were totally incapable of keeping their mouth closed - which described Potter to a tee. He looked older around the face, taking on a more aristocratic look, but with those school robes on he looked younger. The quicker he removed them the better he thought in distaste, he did absently notice that absolutely nothing had changed in way of the uniform in sixty years. He was glad to see that his instruction had paid off, Harry had held his own against one of his inner circle, although no lethal spells had been used, and it was a good job for Avery, otherwise he would be dead.

Oh, he knew why Avery had refrained from the more lethal spells, he was far from stupid, and he didn't need to read his Death Eaters mind to know it. He had made it more than clear in the past that Harry Potter was his to deal with, which had turned out to be a good thing in the end. He had of course, not informed his most faithful about Harry's switch in allegiance, or perhaps more accurately his decision to opt out of the war altogether. He had high hopes of Harry in the future, and the fact he was here once more could only be a good thing. Perhaps he owed Severus a great deal for his insight into Harry.

Fenrir Greyback didn't sit down; instead he moved over to the blazing fire and stood in front of it, warming himself up. As a werewolf, he was naturally warmer than humans, but even the coldest weather had him chilled to the bone. Watching Potter remove his robe and tie and fling it over one of the leather seats as if he was used to such actions. He observed that the Dark Lord rolled his eyes, pursed his lips but inevitably said nothing. That was interesting, this definitely wasn't a new thing, he had never seen anyone comfortable in Voldemort's presence except himself, but he was appropriately cautious, the Cruciatus Curse did hurt even him. The Dark Lord's Cruciatus Curse might be preferable to the old feeling of transforming but he wasn't used to 'that old feeling' anymore, not since he became one with his wolf.

"So, what did you mean out there?" Harry asked, using his thumb to gesture to outside, a severe frown on his face.

Fenrir turned to face Voldemort, seeking his permission, he had been asked to come to the office for a reason, and this was obviously not it. The Dark Lord had been in a good mood when they interacted, nothing that showed, just the lack of curses being inflicted on those who did not deserve it - just those who let him down enough to warrant it for a few moments - that said it all really. It was said that this boy was the only one that would defeat Voldemort, so if he had turned to the dark side, he understood the Dark Lords' moods in greater detail than before.

Voldemort, in quite high spirits that Harry (and incidentally his Horcrux) was safely within his reach again, gave Fenrir a go ahead gesture, he could wait a few moments before he got down to discussing what he wanted to with the werewolf.

"Lupin, he's an idiot," Fenrir said bearing his teeth animalisticly, showing his anger at the situation.

"Yes, you said, but there's more to it than that," Harry said shrewdly, leaning forward slightly, eyes narrowed in on the werewolf, his green eyes intense, for his age anyway, silently demanding answers from him. "What do you know?"

"I know a lot more than you do little wizard," Fenrir sniped, it was his natural state.

"I have no doubt," Harry responded in a bored tone, tracing an invisible pattern with his finger, "You are older than me big bad wolf," he added sardonically. Giving as good as he got, oh he loved sarcasm, but he didn't get much opportunity in ways to display it. Surrounded by a bunch of Gryffindors who'd take it into their heart to be insulted by his comments most of the time.

Fenrir barked out his amusement, eyes gleaming, before he nodded to himself, he liked the boy, and so he elected to answer his question...by asking another question of course. "What do you know about the Wolfsbane potion?" Spitting the word out as if it was filthy.

If Harry was surprised by the question, he didn't show it, "Not much, I know it's exceedingly difficult to brew, it requires a Master of Potions to do so. The ingredients are expensive, thus the potion is itself, which defeats the purpose since most if not all werewolves cannot find work, in other words they cannot buy the potion for themselves." it wasn't just one potion, it was seven, to be drank each day including the night the moon comes up.

"Do you know how long the idiot has been consuming it?" Fenrir asked his expression and voice gave nothing away, except for the small gleam of concern he was unable to fully hide.

"I know he took the potion while he worked at Hogwarts…forgetting it once, and very nearly killing or biting four people…if he'd continued taking it then near enough two years. If not then only one, but I think he has continued using it…Dumbledore's probably making Severus make it." Harry replied shrugging indifferently. "I ask again, why?" he already had a funny feeling he knew how this conversation would go.

"Do you know the ingredients in the Wolfsbane potion?" yet again asking another question.

Harry frowned, "I don't," he admitted, but he could take a guess.

"The clue is in the name," Voldemort added to the conversation flippantly, eyeing Harry curiously and closely, wishing to know his reaction.

"Wolfsbane? More commonly known as Aconite," Harry stated, "Or monkshood, leopards bane, blue rocket or…queen of all poisons,"

Voldemort nodded it seemed as though the boy finally got it.

"But it's safe as long as it's dealt with very carefully," Harry pointed out; surely the Wolfsbane wasn't deliberately poisoning werewolves? Closing his eyes, "Just who was Damocles Belby work for?" gritting his teeth painfully. He didn't need either man to confirm it, this had been another ploy by the Ministry of magic to get rid of werewolves without lifting a hand themselves to do the dirty deed. The words that came merely confirmed his thoughts.

"After graduating Hogwarts he went on to be a Potioneer, working for the ministry of magic, years later he invents the Wolfsbane potion and was awarded the Order of Merlin first class." Voldemort said sardonically.

"The potion is nearly entirely made up of Aconite, whether it's properly brewed or not, it's poisoning him," Fenrir grunted, his fists clenching and unclenching. He held no regrets in what he had done to Lupin, he couldn't, because of his actions the exterminators had been stopped and disbanded, saving the lives of untold amount of werewolves, not too soon, unfortunately he thought, his eyes darkening considerably. He had lost many people he had cared about…and an unborn cub. Part of him wished he had succeeded in killing him, but he knew if he had Lyall Lupin would have been even worse. His one moment's desire for revenge could have cost him, but it had not, instead Lupin had become a werewolf and he had slunk into the shadows raising his werewolf son in secret.

"How can that be? If ingested it would kill anyone within two to six hours! A big enough dose will cause instantaneous death!" Harry argued, not because he didn't believe them it was contradicting his own knowledge.

"He's still consuming large quantities of a very poisonous substance, each month for five days, as if the transformation isn't hard enough…his internal organs are probably already deteriorating, blackening with decay." Fenrir barked out, angry that he was being questioned especially from a little wizard.

Harry slowly nodded, conceding his point; Lupin must know what he was ingesting surely? Nobody in their right mind would take a potion of that magnitude without first making sure they knew what was what. Surely Sirius didn't know? He wouldn't let someone he obviously loved take something that was going to kill him? It seemed he may be overdue in another conversation with the Animagus. He honestly doubted Sirius knew if he did any respect he had for him would be completely washed away - so soon after gaining it too - they were lovers after all and you didn't sit back and let your partner poison himself. Not when it did nothing other than let Lupin keep his mind, the transformation was just as painful with it.

"My Lord," Barty said stepping into the room, "Harry! What are you doing here?" he blurted out in surprise, eyes wider than normal.

"Hey, Barty," Harry grinned wryly, he looked so much better than when he'd last seen him, he had obviously taken the potion and exercise regimen Grant gave him seriously. He shouldn't have been surprised, he had seen what the potion was capable of with his own eyes, experienced it himself. "Been taking real good care of my relatives I hope?" sneering the word relative as if it was something dirty and disgusting.

"Of course," Barty insisted slightly insulted that Harry would think otherwise. "I certainly haven't been neglecting them," an insane gleam in his eyes as he chuckled wickedly.

"I'll find out if you've been a bit lax with them," Harry said continued, "Although I am hoping I'll have someone…new to have fun with." even if he had to set it up himself.

"Umbridge?" Voldemort stated his bored drawl startling Barty as well as Fenrir.

"She's mine," Harry stated, and he had just the House-elf for the job, but he had to look up bonding's, he wanted to make sure Dobby couldn't betray him like he had the Malfoy's especially when Dobby learned that he was just as dark if not more so than the Malfoy's. The only thing that Dobby didn't have to worry about was being hurt or being forced to hurt himself, Harry wouldn't do that, he knew how it felt to be treated like a House-elf. It was also how he planned on communicating with Neville, he couldn't send Hedwig back to Hogwarts, and he wasn't risking her.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes in warning, which of course Harry received, but didn't show much outward reaction as per usual. "Indeed she is, it's why she's been left alone for now…do not make me regret that decision." he retorted sharply. Well, part of the decision, the rest was just to give Harry a nudge in the right direction. Which it had, much to his not so considerable delight.

Harry nodded his head, "Where's Hedwig? Is she alright?" he hadn't actually seen her since she'd been injured; she'd still been recovering when Severus brought her here.

"She's safely ensconced in your room," Voldemort informed him, wondering why he had missed the impudent brat again? Not even an hour upon his return and he was being disrespectful and annoying as always. He did also bring with him a lot of amusement, he did ponder on what Harry would do to Umbridge when he got her. He would leave that to Harry, since no doubt it would be spectacular and he definitely would make the time to see it. He also wanted Harry to be there when Sanguini visited, the alpha vampire and representation of his side, one who was working hard to entice the others of his own kind to join the war, having similarly the same duties that Fenrir had but to the werewolves instead of vampires.

"Why are you back early? Your last letter said you were going to stay the course," Barty asked, when Harry decided something it was decided, from what he'd observed Harry was stubborn and does what he said he would. It must have been something either annoying or painful he reckoned to get him to back down or go against his word. Admittedly he might be wrong, he'd only spent a few months with the teen. It was enough time to know Harry was sarcastic as hell and stubborn to the point of almost being cursed for his pride.

"I was," Harry sighed, rubbing his head tiredly; at least he'd copied all the books in the library now, so he had gotten something out of attending Hogwarts. Well other than bloody misery at Umbridge's quill, he was going to get the teachers back for that, if it was the last thing he did he swore vengeance. "I need to go the library," he didn't ask for permission, Voldemort had made it clear he valued knowledge above all else and had encouraged it.

"The library? You just got back! I thought you wanted to see the Dursley's?" Barty said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively while his grin became bloodthirsty. "I'll tell you everything that's happened in the past seven months." he hadn't been able to write anything down, it was just too risky, so he'd just said a few 'innocent' comments about rats, that he was sure Harry would pick up on. Upon hearing his Lord clear his throat, he amended, "Well almost everything,"

"You can help me look for the book," Harry suggested, "Would go much quicker."

"Why what are you doing?" Barty asked curiously, trying to listen to Harry's reply and the conversation his Lord was having quietly with Fenrir Greyback.

"I need a House-elf, I'm looking for a bond that's better and more secure than the usual Master bond that's usually used." Harry informed him grimly. "Despite how Dobby was bound he found a way around it to warm me repeatedly that his 'Master was a very bad wizard' and that 'Horrible things would happen at Hogwarts' I'm not going to risk being betrayed."

Barty looked curiously, he'd never heard of a House-elf willingly betraying it's Master before. Winky had been loyal, and had a soft spot for him and usually did more than she'd been ordered by his filthy father, even managed to get his father to let him go outside for 'good behaviour' as if he'd ever had a choice in his behaviour under the Imperius curse. She had never gone out right against him or betrayed him. "Who is Dobby?" he enquired, which family did he belong to? It wasn't as if House-elves were ever mentioned in day to day conversations they were servants after all.

"Malfoy's House-elf," Harry said with feral amusement, "When I set it free it stood in front of me after Lucius raised his wand and proclaimed 'Master shall not hurt Harry Potter,' and when he started uttering the words to the killing curse, Dobby clicked his fingers and sent Malfoy flying down the corridor to land on his ass twenty feet away."

Barty burst out laughing, so much so that tears were running freely down his face unable to contain his amusement. Oh, this was just epic, he was going to have so much fun telling this tale, and Malfoy was never going to live this down. The pompous ass that he was, a House-elf had gotten the better of him. It explained why Harry did want the bond to be so strong he supposed. "You have to let me see the memory," it would be worth paying to see it.

Harry just smirked deviously; he would need to think about how much it was worth to Barty before that. Then again he already had a boon from him as it was. What else could he possibly want from Barty? Anything he wanted he was fully capable of collecting himself. "He'll be furious when he learns I've told you that, he's embarrassed enough at everything else when I talk about it." his tone let him know he honestly couldn't care less if he found out.

Leaning back he sank further back into his seat, already feeling at peace for the first time in seven months. He didn't understand what had convinced him to go back to Hogwarts in the first place. Perhaps he'd been stupidly hoping against hope to have at least one normal year were his life wasn't endangered…no, he had endured a lot because Hogwarts had been his home. Since it was no longer his home…he no longer had to endure, and after two months of his true nature being let out to play, the thought of playing the saviour or victim left a foul taste in his mouth. He wasn't able to quite reign himself in anymore, after finding a home and a place were he fitted in.

For one in his life he was just Harry, and part of him hated that he had Voldemort to thank for it…but it was such a small part of him that he wasn't even consciously aware of it.

"Fine, come on then," Barty grumbled, bringing Harry out of his thoughts.

Harry opened his eyes, momentarily confused before he stood up; he had a lot to do tonight so moving now was probably a good idea.

"First bookshelf, third book on the top," Voldemort stated idly, already knowing which one he would pick, since it was the same one he himself had employed upon his House-elves. He and Harry were more alike than even his Death Eaters could fathom, at least for now, soon they would see.

Harry smiled genuinely and dipped his head before he and Barty left the room.

"Harry Potter?" Fenrir asked in question after the door closed behind the two of them. "You trust him." it wasn't a question it was a statement. He had learned a lot tonight, more than he had expected, the boy had his own family here in the Dark Lord's cells, and had evidently given Barty permission to 'deal with them' so to speak. The Dark Lord rarely trusted people completely, and from what he'd observed…it seemed he did.

"Perhaps," Voldemort replied, giving an answer without being blunt about it.

Fenrir moved away from the blazing fire and sat himself down hunched in the seat looking as uncomfortable as he felt. "The prophecy?"

"Self fulfilling, had I not been so determined to hunt him down my cause wouldn't have been put back for over a decade," Voldemort stated, red eyes flashing angrily, he didn't like thinking on how he had been so reckless. Still, he couldn't complain, what was done, was done all he could do was move on. "The boy is as dark as I was in my youth, Fenrir, and I want him on my side." and oddly enough Voldemort wasn't quite envisioning it as a Death Eater, Harry Potter would one day be his equal, to see him subservient to him would admittedly be arousing but at the same time disconcerting for reasons he couldn't quite articulate.

Fenrir's eyes widened, he was letting Harry stay here when he wasn't sworn in? That was unprecedented, the Dark Lord had always been adamant about those joining his side or dying, there was no in-between unless the Dark Lord truly didn't care for the family and left them to remain 'neutral' but Harry was here, the Dark Lord did want him, it explained why he was getting away with things that no other person before him had. "He certainly has a spine," 'unlike some Death Eaters' went unsaid but certainly understood.

Voldemort let out a snort, "He is not afraid of anything, not even me," and that was with both threats and actual curses, anyone else would have been bowing before him eager to please in a bid to prevent more of his usual motivational methods. He had sensed just how content the boy was in his company just five minutes ago, this didn't surprise him he had been more than comfortable after a few weeks of his company.

After a few moments of silence Voldemort straightened up and got down to business, "Have you had any success?" the creatures that had been on his side in the past were showing reluctance to join him, due to the fact the last time it had blown up in their faces and made life even more uncomfortable for them. He reluctantly acknowledged it had, he had seen the legislations had that been passed over the past decade and it infuriated him.

"Any werewolf worth the title makes sure they aren't easily found, even by me," Fenrir grumbled out, and he respected it despite its annoyance. "I need the full moon and extra senses to track the pack down, I got as far as Rutland before I lost their tracks, it's a big pack, not as big as my own, I'm hoping to track them the next full moon. With news of your return reaching each corner of the British Isles hopefully they will leave clues if they want to be found." clues that no wizard would see let alone understand.

"Good, do not fail me, Fenrir," Voldemort warned, he needed them on his side; they were undeniably one of the best weapons against wizards.

Fenrir stood, giving the Dark Lord a curt nod, it was time to head back to his pack, the full moon was just little over a week away, and they would need to make their way to where the last caught a whiff of the pack. Then begin the tracking them again from there, hopefully they didn't move around a lot. Usually they never moved unless they had no choice but to leave it behind, whether by wizards or bigger packs fighting for territory.

"Why do you want a House-elf anyway?" Barty asked, sitting across from Harry, chewing on a half eaten apple. Harry was busy reading the book his Lord had suggested which admittedly saved time.

"To send letters," Harry informed him absently, never pausing in his perusal of the book.

Barty choked in incredulity, "You're going to use a House-elf as an owl?"

"I can't send Hedwig anywhere, not without risking someone following her or attaching a tracking charm on her…that's if someone didn't just decide to hurt her." Harry explained, "I, especially, can't let her go to Hogwarts she's too noticeable, and honestly? I don't want to buy another owl, Hedwig is enough…she's my familiar." and those three last words were enough, familiars were very important to wizards.

"Alright," Barty said agreeably, "I guess you want to keep in touch with Weasley and the Mudb…Granger," he amended seeing the dislike on Harry's face, another one that didn't like the term for Muggle Borns, between Snape and Harry he never got to say it.

"My mother was a 'Mudblood' as well Bartemius Crouch Junior, do not let me hear you say that foul word in my company again, do you hear me?" Harry growled out.

"Aww…come on, Harry!" Barty whined with a pout, he wasn't stupid enough to go up against him, he'd seen how vindictive he could be, and he wasn't ashamed to admit it but his vindictiveness was child play compared to Harry's.

"Do you know she's related to the Lestranges a few generations back?" Harry said so suddenly that it took a few moments for it to sink into Barty.

"WHAT?!" Barty was so startled that he actually fell off his chair, staring up at Harry in shocked disbelief. "What did you say?"

Harry grinned before repeating himself, "My great grandfather was a Lestrange, Marcus Lestrange, a squib who was either disinherited or just sent to the Muggle world to live. I also have Black and Malfoy blood mixed in there as well, but from my father's side."

Barty just stared dumbly before getting to his feet and sitting down unable to process it.

"All Muggle-born students are just descendants from squibs, Barty, old lines rejuvenated and returned to us." Harry stated, "Why do you think in the past six maybe seven decades the amount of Muggle-born students has tripled? They stopped killing their squib children and just sent them away. A few generations later magic is strong enough to reappear."

"That's…impossible," Barty muttered bewildered.

"It's true," Harry said wryly, before going back to the book, he had to get it done quick, he had after all promised Neville a letter tonight. He wasn't sure what he could say, he couldn't tell him where he was going or what side he truly was on. It might come up one day, but he hoped Neville understood that he just didn't want to fight…not against a side he understood…for most part, the whole Muggle-born/Mudblood thing was annoying but it was changing…Voldemort's goals were changing maybe being here he could make things even more different.

Only time would tell if he could succeed.

"Dobby!" Harry called out, knowing the House-elf could find him, he had the bond he wanted to implement now was the time.

Well I kept half my promise :) Barty was in it but I didn't get a chance to put a scene at Hogwarts where we saw Neville opening the letter which will probably be the first thing you see in the next chapter...the question is how will Harry explain it without giving away the fact he doesn't intend to fight? Will Neville work it out even though it's not said? will their frindship survive despite it? Will Harry create books for them to write in? that only works for them with a blood rune like his grimorie? so Dumledore cannot read from it? R&R please