Embracing His True Self
Chapter 35
Harry groaned as he stretched out, languidly rubbing his eyes as a yawn fell from his parted lips. He had missed this, he wouldn't admit it, but he did. Having his own room, being able to get up whenever he liked - although at a respectable time - since if he did sleep in too long a House-elf would definitely come for him and tell him to get up. He had finally found out everything that had been added to the blood quill, Voldemort was brilliant at what he did, no contest there, Umbridge was going to find herself in a world of agony, and he couldn't wait to see it.
Shoving his covers aside, he got up, still thinking of the witch, she had gotten enjoyment out of torturing kids, which he found unforgivable, those eleven-year-olds had not deserved her punishments. So everything he doled out would be fair play, and he was going to enjoy every moment of the witches torture, give her a taste of her own medicine. A smirk of pure satisfaction stole across his features as he shrugged out of his nightwear, and grabbing a set of clothe to wear from his wardrobe. The House-elves had put everything in his trunk away into the drawers and cupboards, or at least his clothes and such, his other things like his books and stuff had been left inside the trunk.
Stretching out once more, curling his arms at the back of his head, getting the last of the kinks out of his system. Absently waving his hand, his nightwear zoomed over to the laundry basket and his cupboard door closed and last but no least his bed made itself. Harry didn't even bother glancing back to see if it worked, merely glanced at the time as he made his way through the halls until he got to the dining hall, he blinked in surprise at the sight before him.
He had expected Barty and Voldemort…not the three Lestranges, who were looking at him. The brothers' faces were impassive, their eyes though betrayed their interest, much like Barty's had in the beginning after being warned against hurting him. Bellatrix though…her eyes were wild and suggested an untamed soul. He would never be able to figure her out, probably because even she didn't know herself. He would need to be constantly wary around her that was for damn certain, he'd like to think Voldemort had control over them but he wasn't going to rely on that.
Barely four seconds passed as those thoughts ran around his head, before he continued on, his pause barely noticeable, especially for those who didn't know him. It would surprise nobody that Voldemort and Barty had probably realized Harry was assessing the situation. They'd been out of Azkaban for months now, and if this was them just getting better, he wasn't sure he liked the thought of how they would have been just after they got out.
Their bones were still visible, gaunt, delicate even, and the clothes they wore still hung off their frames. Their features were pale as snow, and he would bet they still felt cold even sitting next to a fire. They had suffered a great deal for their actions, Azkaban was torture, and you could see it when you looked at them. Harry wasn't sure how much longer they would have survived in that hellhole they called a prison to be honest. He couldn't say he was surprised frankly, Sirius had been the same, but unlike those Voldemort had rescued Sirius hadn't been given the same treatments, wasn't helped to get better, just locked up away from the general populace. He was getting the help he needed now, and without the prospect of war hopefully it would heal Sirius completely.
Rodolphus' despite his blank mask, which he had honed well before attending Hogwarts was intrigued. It was unbecoming to appear anything but to a pureblood, emotional displays were a weakness after all especially in public. He observed the boy right back, he couldn't tell what he was thinking, but if what Barty had been telling him it was no surprise. He was Slytherin to the core, Harry Potter wasn't what he expected. Not that he'd thought much in Azkaban, too difficult, but when he had, he had cursed Potters existence, wished him dead, it had been his fault their Lord had died and they were placed in Azkaban without their Lord to come to their aid.
Then not too long ago, he had felt it, the most joyous pain he could have ever received. The mark had burned searing hot for the first time in a long, long time. He'd known it was only a matter of time before his Lord came for them, they had been loyal after all and would remain so. They'd ensured that the Aurors had remained ignorant to the return of the Dark Mark, fearing that if they found out that something would happen to prevent their Lord coming for them. The anticipation had nearly killed him, then the prickling started…Bellatrix started cackling and thankfully she'd listened, to keep quiet. Since the attack had been evasive, he had someone on the guard rotation on his side and he'd helped, one by one they'd all been retrieved and a doppelganger, a Muggle, had been put in place of them. They were officially dead now, nobody was looking for them, and apparently it had been all Potters idea.
As if that hadn't been shocking enough, he'd been given the results of Potter's genealogy test, not only had he been lied to about never having a squib in the family…the boy was family. He was lanky like the Lestranges, tall too, not as tall as the rest of the family yet. Other than that, he couldn't see anything of the family in him, too much of the Potter family in him. No sign of the Black or Malfoy heritage either, although Sirius and Regulus had uncontrollable hair, more curly than wavy. Then again, they were related to the Black's a few generations back and nothing screamed out 'Black' to them. He'd need to keep an eye on Bella, make sure she didn't make a mistake she'd not live to regret long.
Rabastan tightened his grip on his cutlery, family, it wasn't just him and his brother anymore, to think he'd been forced to grow up with Muggles. If only they'd known, they would have raised him, he'd always wanted a child, and he honestly wouldn't have cared if the child had 'defeated' his lord, he would have raised him to support the dark side anyway. He'd always been the 'softer' twin his mother often commented with a soft look in her eyes. He and Rodolphus had been ten when she died, from a tripping hex an Auror had sent her way just because of who she was married to, she'd went into labour right there on the cobbled stones of Diagon Alley, and died giving birth, dying alongside their little sister, Rhea Lestrange. Their father had never been the same after that, despite it being an arranged marriage, they always insisted they'd been 'soul mates' and meant for one another. Unlike most other husbands or wives after they'd had an 'heir' or heir and a spare' depending on the family, his parents hadn't sought other partners, his father hadn't even looked at another person with carnal appreciation let alone bedded them. Things may have changed since then, but Rabastan doubted it, their father would have mentioned it, he'd spent a great deal of time with him and his brother while they healed, only leaving occasionally. Today was one of those days.
Harry gulped down his potion, which was as always sat at the table waiting for him in his usual space, he noticed that there was one for the Lestranges as well. He gave Voldemort a look his lips twitching as he usually did, although he wasn't quite as talkative. The potion he took wasn't his own specialised one, he no longer needed it, he was merely still taking the weaker version of the potion until Healer Grant actually gave him the all clear. The last time he'd seen him he'd commented that everything looked good but Harry had a lot to make up for. He'd rather have too much than not enough, he knew what the consequences would have been if he hadn't taken the potions, what the malnutrition would have done to him long term.
"Hey, Barty, how much or many of the books have you read?" Harry asked, smothering a grin at the wide eyed look he supported glancing at the Lestranges as if the book was suddenly going to sprout legs and dance in front of them.
"Still on the first one, nearly done though," Barty explained relaxing back into his seat when it became obvious Harry was asking out of curiosity and not spite, as a Ravenclaw he thirsted desperately for knowledge, and this new information was unlike anything he'd ever read before. It was a good job he was so smart, otherwise he knew, he knew, he would have struggled with it. It was just the right amount of frustrating, made him have to think to comprehend the words, and that was his favourite kind. He often compared it to things he knew, like spells and potions, which helped a lot too.
"If you need help let me know," Harry informed her seriously, he was no expert when it came to Science, but he knew more than Barty, even if he didn't remember every single little thing from primary school - he remembered enough. Whereas Barty was a pureblood, he presumably hadn't learnt absolutely anything regarding science.
Bellatrix couldn't help but roll her eyes but deftly withheld a snort of derision, it was obvious her lord held the boy in some sort of high capacity for the moment. She'd need to tread carefully, see for herself what her Lord saw in him. It wasn't her business, but she was going to make it hers. She wasn't going to allow him to betray them, she couldn't trust the boy, he was the reason for their downfall, and she absolutely refused to let it happen again. So yes, she'd keep a good eye on him, see where his true loyalties lay. Barty didn't just trust people, so he must have done something to prove himself to the wizard. The thought of Barty needing help was humorous, Barty was probably the smartest next to their Lord and Snape, even if she loathed to admit it.
She was reluctantly impressed with him, he had all the airs and graces of a pureblood, especially for a Muggle raised boy. She couldn't exactly call him a Mudblood without insulting her family now could she? She had seen the proof with her own eyes, he was related to both her families, the Black and Lestranges. She hadn't been ignorant to the Gaunt's on the list either, or the Malfoy's. A few months ago she wouldn't have been able to comprehend it, but thanks to the aid she was getting through therapy and the potions she was beginning to feel a little bit more mentally stable.
Voldemort meanwhile watched it all unfold with sadistic amusement gleaming in his eyes, oh, he knew the Lestranges were still reeling over the information he had shared this morning. He also knew that the twins wouldn't dare to even look at Harry the wrong way, Bellatrix though would bear watching carefully. He wouldn't trust her with his familiars food let alone his actual familiar or Harry, and it wasn't just because of the Horcruxes. She would need to prove her loyalty to him, a willingness to listen to his orders without deviation, he needed people who would do as he asked, not whatever they pleased. He had made that clear to her, whether she would follow through was anyone's guess.
It was decidedly odd to have Harry so quiet, he would have assumed he was intimidated if he wasn't for the calculating gleam in his eye and the emotions he could sense through the band. Oh, to see his thoughts would be wondrous, truly, regretfully his mind was sealed shut tighter than a vault at Gringotts. He had made it his mission to try and penetrate Harry's shields at random times to ensure that he was keeping himself safe. It had been one failure after another, the boy was good, just as he predicted. Anything to do with mental power, whether it was the Imperius curse or Occlumency came naturally to the boy, just as the Dark Arts did.
As soon as Harry was finished with his breakfast he was up and away without saying a single thing. Voldemort arched an eyebrow in curiosity as his eyes trailed after the boy. Then again, he remembered the conversation he'd had with Harry regarding who the Lestranges were, perhaps their actions didn't endear Harry to them. Severus had informed him of the budding friendship between Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Harry. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he sat up straighter when he felt the wards in the dungeons give way, not many could get into this section of his home, so it was obviously the boy.
Umbridge. He remembered. she had been brought from Hogwarts, and the boy had a bone to pick with her. He wasn't going to miss this for anything, so without more ado, Voldemort stood, ignoring the others standing to give him his due respect.
He moved swiftly towards the dungeons himself, eager to see, and most definitely unwilling to miss anything. Just imagining what the boy could do made desire and a delicious thrill to pulse through him.
Harry trod down the last step and made his way inside the dungeons with a slide of his foot, the quill and paperwork he'd brought with him specifically for this was secreted into his pocket, for the moment. He gazed at the cell the Dursley's were in, or what was left of them really, the three of them were broken, shells of who they used to be, and he didn't feel even an ounce of guilt over it. They were just getting a slice of what they'd put him through for ten years of his life when he didn't even have the comfort of returning to Hogwarts to cling to. Them just accepting their fate was no fun either, its largely why he'd stopped visiting them so much. The most mesmerising thing to see was the three of them fighting for scrapes of food. They'd gone to giving Dudley as much as possible to outright punching and shoving at each other for just a morsel of food. It was like they couldn't recognize what they were to each other, their drives for survival overtaking everything. It was beautiful.
His eyes soon landed on Figg, she was sat on the floor, arms wrapped around her raised knees, the plate with some food on it lay untouched at the side of the cell. Harry hummed at that, obviously she wouldn't last much longer if she didn't eat, then again she might not be awake yet. Other than trying to get him to 'see sense' she hadn't once tried to worm her way out of it, or talk him out of doing what he was. It was almost as if she had resigned herself immediately to her fate, and it wasn't usual, most people would fight tooth and nail, like the Dursleys…and like he hoped Umbridge would.
Shaking his head, removing Figg from his line of sight, his eyes narrowing in on Umbridge's huddled form, wedged in the corner of the cell, her pink cloak wrapped around her sleeping in a sitting position. He pondered for a moment on whether to take the cloak or not, but nixed the idea, he didn't want her getting sick so soon or heaven forbid dying on him. He had a lot of plans for her, he wanted to torture her to her bare bones and remake her.
She would regret the day she chose to give him detention and use a blood quill on him.
On those eleven-year-olds. Nobody deserved that pain. Well…except her, he thought viciously.
His wand slid out of his holster, as he narrowed his gaze on her, viciously wondering how to wake her up…blasting charm near her head or…the Cruciatus curse? Hmm, what a silly question, she deserved that and more, "Crucio!" Harry uttered coldly, pushing as much of his hatred for her into the spell as possible, knowing it hurt more.
She immediately startled awake, body convulsing out of her control, screaming like a banshee, the smell of urine permeated the air as she lost control of her body. It wasn't the first time this year and if Harry had anything to say about it, it most certainly wouldn't be the last time. Harry didn't keep it on long, only a few seconds before he sheathed his wand and stood with a lazy demeanour against the opposite cell door which was empty.
"D-do you know who I am?" Umbridge choked out though watery eyes, trying to sound confident and cocky, as if her old job could somehow save her here. Unfortunately it came out petrified and weak, half perhaps because of the spell she'd just been under.
"A stuck up bitch who thought she could torture children and get away with it?" Harry's voice however WAS cocky.
"I AM DELORES UMBRIDGE UNDERSECRETARY FOR THE MINISTER OF MAGIC!" she managed to shriek shrilly as her body continued to spasm occasionally.
"Correction you were," Harry said coldly, idly wondering when she would recognize him.
"I demand my lawyer!" Delores insisted, "When he finds out how I've been treated I will sue every single one of you!"
Harry choked out an incredulous laugh, "Do you even realize where you are?" Harry asked stepping forward green eyes gleaming wickedly as he cocked his head to the side, "Do you really think you're in the Ministry of magic? Seriously?" a vicious laugh leaving his lips, oh, perhaps he should have let her think that for longer, it would have been amusing to see it play out.
"Potter?" Umbridge muttered disbelievingly, as she finally sat up shakily taking in her surroundings for the first time with actual light to guide her, the light was weak at best but it became evident she most definitely was not in the Ministry's holding cells like she'd feared. "When I get out of here I'm going to make sure you end up in Azkaban this time boy, using the Cruciatus Curse means a lifetime in the prison." her face twisted in victory.
"Oh, that's cute, you think you're going to get out of here?" Harry grinned, "The only way you're leaving that cell is if you're dead…when I'm finished with you. Considering the wrongs I've seen you committing to me and others…that won't happen for a long, long time."
She closed her eyes in fear as she was unable to find her wand, worry began to gnaw at her, she wasn't used to feeling powerless. She always made others feel powerless and she loved it. She remembered the letter from Cornelius, sacking her, telling her to turn herself in lest she make it worse for herself. Everything she'd done she had done for him! Sending the Dementors after Potter! Sticking in at Hogwarts to keep the boy quiet, punishing him for his lies and making the Ministry seem weak.
Ironically enough…Harry hadn't said a word in that regard, Dumbledore had done for both of them. Yet Harry had paid the price for it, but that was typical when it came to Dumbledore. He did what he wanted, when he wanted, regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately for the old fool, he could no longer do it when it concerned Harry.
"Why so quiet?" Harry practically crooned mockingly at the witch, his eyes glancing very briefly at the entrance, noticing that not only had Voldemort come down but so had Bellatrix…not together though, Voldemort had appeared much earlier. Revelling in her fear, "I am going to enjoy breaking you," he told her coldly.
Bellatrix cackled, skipping forward, "Oooo, ickle baby Potter all grown up, I like you!" she said, pinching his cheeks gleefully.
"Gerroff!" Harry batted her hands away, his cheeks red, but whether it was from embarrassment, pride or just the fact she'd been pinching…well Bellatrix didn't know.
"You!" Umbridge froze on the spot, looking even more like a cornered rabbit.
"Ooo you'll have to let Fenrir have a go," Bellatrix sang cheerfully, "He doesn't like you very much," she cooed in explanation to the terrified witch as if they were children on the playground. Gnashing her teeth as if in warning of what exactly Greyback would do to her.
Harry's green eyes brightened considerably at the sight of Umbridge's terror escalating to new proportions. "Well…." Harry mused thoughtfully as if he was merely considering it. "I suppose he does deserve to have a turn,"
Umbridge squeaked, huddling further into the corner shaking her head denying this was happening.
Bellatrix laughed again almost jumping on the spot, how she loved a spot of torture in the morning.
"After everything she's done to werewolves, made their lives hell, including someone I actually care about," Harry patted his finger on his chin.
"The filthy Mudb-" Bellatrix paused as Harry dug his wand into her chin, the tip burning hotly, as he channelled his anger into his wand.
"You really don't want to finish that sentence," Harry stated seriously, "Say what you like about Muggles, but he's a wizard, he has magic, he's extremely smart and ten times better than some people…he's not the only powerful half-blood either," he added in warning, yes, he knew Remus was a half-blood, his mother was a Muggle, his father was a pureblood…a horrid one to be sure, but still one nonetheless.
Bellatrix swallowed before inclining her head to the side, she honestly didn't want to test the waters so soon to whether Potter would get away with cursing her…considering that her Lord had yet to speak up she heavily suspected that the boy could get away with murder when it came to his actions and without consequences too. She knew if she tried anything though she would be stuck in her bedroom and forbidden from going anywhere or doing anything to help their cause and that was the last thing she wanted.
Umbridge's beady eyes were watching what was happening like a hawk, looking decidedly more nervous now than she had moments prior.
The boy…the boy was practically untouchable if he could lead You-Know-Who's inner circle without retribution…even You-Know-Who had trouble with that before he died.
Then she saw the eyes glowing as someone stepped out of the shadows.
She needed nothing more to confirm that all the rumours were true.
Voldemort was back.
She fainted dead away as the implications finally sunk in completely.
Well I do want Bellatrix and Harry getting on but it realistically (as this story can be) will take Bellatrix a long time to get over her prejudice she's held them a long, long time...but they're going to have so much fun together :D so Will Fenrir bite her when Harry's through with her? Letting him get his own vengeance? how will she be killed? ripped apart at the full moon by Fenrir slowly? or left to suffer for years and years as the magical world is transformed into something better than the twisted way it is right now? R&R please