Embracing His True Self

Chapter 59

Voldemort watched Luna Lovegood and Rodolphus closely, as he did whenever someone – or several someone's – were in his presence. He felt annoyance thrumming through him to begin with, that they had interrupted both himself and Harry. He didn't like his time with the wizard being interrupted, they barely had any time together as it was. Not like they used to, Harry no longer needed training and with the war heating up he was constantly assigning missions, doing paperwork and keeping order in his own home. He would deny this on pain of death, but he missed it, missed his humour, his bloodthirst, his powers, just everything that made Harry who he was.

So, yes he'd been annoyed, that was until he heard the reason behind their appearance in his office. He should have guessed that Rodolphus wouldn't have called upon him if he didn't feel like it was important. He was tempted to ask them to repeat themselves after they'd explained it all.

"Let me get this straight, the visions have changed but the outcome hasn't, right?" Harry asked, wanting confirmation.

"That's right," Luna's head bobbed up and down in agreement. Slightly surprised by the fact Rodolphus had been correct. Despite his general annoyance at the interruption, he had waited to hear them out before speaking.

"Okay, so Dumbledore has some sort of backup plan, it's not really a surprise," Harry said, glancing at Voldemort, arching a brow silently asking for his thoughts on their current situation. "Actually, scratch that, it is a surprise, his hubris is his belief that his plans will always work out."

"Hmm, it's my belief that Dumbledore plans for every eventuality he can foresee," Voldemort disagreed with Harry there, but for most part Harry did know Dumbledore well. "It is perhaps, rare, that he needs to enact those plans, since his first ideas usually bear fruitful results." Another thing that truly annoyed the Dark Lord immensely.

"That's not really the question though, is it?" Harry said grimly. "Who." Harry and Voldemort uttered simultaneously, knowing what the other was thinking immediately.

"Back up plans, you think that the potion is still in play?" Rodolphus questioned, his stomach twisting unpleasantly despite the potion he'd taken earlier that day. Quite honestly, he didn't want to hear more, the little he had heard was just down right barbarically cruel. To take someone's free will away, permanently, and then leave them stuck with a personality not their own? Damn, it was a wicked, wicked thing to do.

"I hope not," Harry admitted darkly, green eyes gleaming with viciousness that spoke of a desire to cause the ultimate pain. Rodolphus was familiar with that feeling, the savagery that overcame when things became too much. Like when the Dark Lord was defeated, that hadn't been a good time for them. Not that the next decade and a half was a walk in the park. He didn't need three guesses to accurately predict who he was envisioning on the other end of his curses.

"And if he does?" Rodolphus enquired, his tone cautious, he wasn't about to piss off Harry Potter. He knew it was only a matter of time before Harry was held in a status that was higher than all of them. officially anyway, since he was positive that the Dark Lord already considered Harry far greater than the rest of them. He wasn't jealous, that spot had never been open for anyone. Contrary to what Bellatrix would believe.

"Then we have to make sure we get every single vial of it off the streets," Harry retorted, green eyes flashing in fury, it was just like Dumbledore to pull bloody cards out of his sleeve even from Azkaban. "Do you have anyone in the Ministry who could give us sneaky permission to get into Azkaban to visit the old fool?" although, why bother with permission? He knew Voldemort had control over the dementors, and the prison basically.

"Veritaserum?" Voldemort questioned, as always able to keep up with Harry's train of thoughts.

"That and ripping his mind to shreds, it might be the only option we have," Harry said disdainfully, and it wasn't the idea of basically torturing the old fool…it was the prospect of entering his bloody depraved mind.

"Why wait for permission?" Rodolphus scoffed, "Our Lord can go wherever he pleases,"

"Yeah, he can, but why risk someone seeing him and the whole thing blowing up in our faces? They aren't aware of our claim on Azkaban and quite frankly I don't want it happening. The last thing we need is someone poking into the death of the Death Eaters, and finding the fucking Muggles we have masquerading as you lot." Harry retorted in annoyance, going so far as to be vulgar. "If any of them are still alive that is,"

"Very doubtful that any of the Muggles have lived this long," Voldemort snorted derisively, he loathed muggles and made no secret of it.

"Probably not," Harry conceded, scratching his head, relieving the itch, as he frowned, "I doubt he'd use anyone like Moody or Doge as his back up plan guy, it's too obvious…but that kind of obvious is why he'd use them." he knew everything about the Order and Dumbledore. Through memories or meetings he'd had over time.

"May I see the memories?" Voldemort asked, he couldn't believe that the girl had come to him in the first place. Seers were usually neutral, they never took on sides. Not willingly at any rate. He should probably be grateful for the odd assortment of 'friends' Harry seemed to pick up. Between House-elves to seers. He couldn't deny he was curious about what she saw when she had visions. The books that held information on seers was…incomplete, contradictory and half the time, he felt complete absurdity.

Luna pursed his lips, and Voldemort was sure she'd deny him his request, and he wouldn't hold it against her truthfully. She'd given him more than he honestly ever expected, but the visions would help in the long run. He wanted to see if he could spot what she was missing.

"Alright," Luna agreed, very grudgingly. She'd had it drummed into her to keep it secret for her own safety. So of course she was very reluctant to do this.

Voldemort didn't waste any time, before he had the pensive in front of the girl.

"Think on the memories," Rodolphus whispered to her, his wand at her temple, helping her without even thinking about it. "I'll take them," she was so unfailing brave and beautiful, to sit there so unafraid and determined to do the right thing. He was honestly in awe of her, it was going to be a long two years.

One by one, Rodolphus began to extract the memories that Luna was freely giving up. Each one was dropped into the empty pensive. Not that it was empty for long, Harry and Voldemort watched them with impassive gazes, neither looking forward to or dreading immersing themselves in the memories Luna was offering up.

"That's it," Luna murmured, sounding lighter and freer than she had in days if not over a week.

"Rodolphus," Voldemort commanded, his Death Eater glanced his way before nodding in realization at the unspoken order. Breathing out, Voldemort gave Harry a glance, and the three of them prodded at the translucent memories in the pensive, the three wands drawing them into the bowl leaving Luna alone to watch over them.

Luna watched the swirling pensive, wondering why Voldemort really wanted to see the memories. She suspected he was curious, he was a very smart wizard, judging on the books surrounding him. They weren't for display, they had been well used, loved one might say. He cherished knowledge, he was smart despite his chosen way to deal with a war. Consider what she was seeing, it was the only way. He was also drop dead gorgeous, it was little wonder Harry was attracted to him. He'd never spoken of it though, he was used to being an ear for other people…but when it came to himself? He never spoke of his life, considering how the news constantly put everything out of perspective when they wrote about him…he didn't blame him for never opening his mouth. It would just give more ammunition.

"Whoa," was the first thing spoken when the pensive finally, after half an hour, ejected them from within its confines. "Well, that was…something," Harry murmured, he wasn't sure how Luna put up with that, it would be a utter nightmare, truly, to see all that night after night.

Luna nodded, "That's how I felt," what they'd just seen was what she'd seen just before she went after Harry to stop it. A few were from afterwards, but there weren't many, since they were basically all the same. Same things happening and same outcome.

"I think you've been interpretation them wrong," Voldemort stated, a thoughtful look on his usually blank features. "These visions you think that haven't changed…they have. You're quite correct however, in your belief that something is in play."

"I don't think it's the potion, I think it's the Order," Harry mused, "I think despite my best efforts, Dumbledore's fan base is much larger than anticipated. So much for not making him a martyr,"

"That and something else," Voldemort scowled, distaste written across his features.

"The Muggles find out about us, by the look of it, and in quite the near future." Harry nodded, getting what Voldemort was talking about without any verbal indication. "The war is drawing attention to us, it has to stop." He warned Voldemort, thankfully he hadn't been going out on raids in order to bloody draw out the Order and Dumbledore. "We have to get rid of the Order in an unobtrusive manner as possible…and as many of them together…if not all of them and in our own world ASAP." He and Voldemort knew better than Luna and Rodolphus about the true dangers Muggles actually posed to them.

"Wait you think Dumbledore and the Order are responsible for the Muggles finding out about us?" Luna asked, befuddled, where on earth did he get that in the visions?

"Nobody here makes a move without Voldemort's permission," Harry shrugged, they knew better than to disobey. "None of them go into the Muggle world, except me and Barty sometimes. We don't use much in the way of magic, and I doubt Voldemort's orders are going to change any time soon."

Luna got what he was saying and nodded, no raids, no general unpleasantness. The Dark Side had no intention of bothering the Muggles, and actually hadn't done so since Voldemort returned actually. It was one of the reasons people refused to believe that he had returned.

"It's not easy to get everyone in the Order, we've tried, multiple times," Rodolphus informed them, a frown marring his features as he thought on the best way to go about it. They'd gotten maybe seven or eight during the last war, not that it mattered, Dumbledore just replaced them with newer and younger wizards and witches.

"Because you reacted impulsively, honestly, I'm astonished you got any of them," Harry revealed shrewdly, "It's a surprise, since I know you're brilliant at strategy," with Voldemort at the helm, moving all his pieces, it truly did confound him that he hadn't won last time.

"That I am," Voldemort stated smugly, he was just too impatient really, and didn't take a step back to see things from a different perspective. Perhaps because he'd grown so used to the magical world that he didn't see things from a Muggle-raised perspective like Harry did.

"Bellatrix is not to be involved in any stage of the process," Harry declared seriously.

"You are forgetting who is in charge," Voldemort stated with deceptive mildness. Giving Harry a warning look that he was pushing it, he would not allow such blatant disrespect to go around, not while his Death Eaters were there. In private he'd tolerate it, part of him found it extremely titillating if he was honest.

"Have you spoken to or seen her lately?" Harry asked, instead of bowing down or giving any indication of deference. He wouldn't be Harry Potter if he'd done such a thing.

Luna rubbed at Rodolphus' back and neck, he was tightly wound, stiffer than a board. Honestly, you'd think Rodolphus would have more confidence in Harry by now. Plus, since Voldemort had returned he hadn't been like he was. She'd been regaled that information by both Harry and Rodolphus. It was almost as if they were trying to make her see that everything was different, and it wouldn't be like before. she of all people, didn't need the memo, she could see well enough, thank you very much, both figurative and literal. Was he angry over Harry's so called 'disrespect' or worried about her due to her being in the line of fire?

"Meaning?" Voldemort commanded, voice cold and demanding. He did not like the implication that he was somehow missing the obvious. He spent most of his time keeping an eye on his followers, so that they didn't go and mess up everything they were finally accomplishing. It had taken him decades to get to where he was, with a genuine chance of winning this. Not like the last time, he'd realized he couldn't win through fear, that someone would always rise up against tyranny. Nobody would know that Lord Voldemort was alive and well, and sneakily taking over the magical world.

"She's insane!" Harry cried out in exasperation, "She's made no effort to get herself better after all this time in Azkaban. Nobody can stand being around her, and her temper tantrums are getting worse. Everyone does what she wants because they know the consequences! And her having been a fucking favourite of yours while you were insane nobody wants to mess with her!" and he wasn't jealous about that, not at all. "If she gets her hands on the Metamorphamagus Potion it will be even more difficult to keep an eye on her!"

"Nonetheless an eye will be kept on her," Voldemort retorted immediately, eyes flaring in genuine annoyance and anger at Harry's words.

"The Lestranges found it difficult to control her, for years, they ended up caught and in Azkaban because of it," Harry argued, "You can't expect them to keep watching out for her like that they've done enough!" and that was true, Rodolphus had divorced her, cut all ties, he shouldn't fucking have to clean up his ex-wives messes.

Rodolphus clenched his jaw to stop it dropping open in shock, he hadn't expected that at all. No matter how true it was, he wasn't used to anyone defending him or his family full stop. It was exhausting constantly keeping an eye out on Bellatrix. Especially these days, due to the fact she couldn't be seen in public, they had to ensure she was happy and didn't end up going off on one in anger. The divorce though…he'd jumped at it, without really thinking of the possible repercussions. The most disconcerting thing about it all was how quiet Bellatrix was over the entire ordeal. With him spending so much time with Luna, his brother and father had picked up the slack. He should feel guilty, but he couldn't feel anything remotely resembling guilt when he spent time with Luna. She made it impossible for him to feel bad.

"I will not kill her," Voldemort argued vehemently, she was one of his most loyal followers. She'd endured Azkaban for him, sure that he'd return and save them. Which he had. She did not deserve to be killed for absolutely no reason at all. He refused to repay that loyalty by killing her.

"I'm not suggesting that," Harry threw his hands up in the air a visible sign of his exasperation.

"Then what are you suggesting?" Voldemort questioned in annoyance, completely forgetting that Luna and Rodolphus was here to witness this. He wasn't used to anyone arguing with him let alone giving him a straight honest answer or reprimand. All he could think of was how attached Harry was getting to a few of his Death Eaters, it made him feel jealous as well as smug and self-righteous. It meant that there was less chance of Harry deciding to – Merlin forbid – go back to Dumbledore. Which he knew wouldn't happen, he knew that, but he also thought he knew Regulus Black and look what happened there. He'd rather take all the preventative measures he could to ensure no confliction took place. Out of them all, he was granting Harry more trust than he'd ever given before. so it was hardly surprising he was cautious.

Rodolphus arched a brow staring at Harry as well, genuinely interested in hearing that answer. Just what was he up to? Why now? His gaze wandered to Luna, and realisation struck, of course, it was very like Harry he supposed. He was protecting Luna, he knew what a ticking time bomb Bellatrix actually was. He wasn't going to spend his entire life hiding his relationship with Luna. He couldn't do that to her or himself, he wanted to marry her, start a family, Merlin help him he sounded like a love struck fool, a seventeen year old idiot, but he honestly couldn't bring himself to care.

"Give her the same treatment you gave to me," Harry stated firmly, "So she can't leave the manor."

Rodolphus' eyebrows rose in shock, it can't still be attached, he'd seen him leaving…unless he could only go when given permission?

"What the hell?" Luna stood up, "What does that mean?" suddenly finding herself enraged by what she was hearing.

Harry gave her a dry look, "Don't worry, it's been off for ages, I decided to go back to Hogwarts,"

Luna sighed, sitting back down at Rodolphus' urging, understanding the unspoken words, he'd chosen to return. He had freely chosen his own side, and she didn't have to worry she'd picked the wrong side.

"And would that stop your complaining?" Voldemort asked wryly, finding himself amused, by Luna's reaction, Rodolphus' paling and worried countenance and Harry's vehemence. Bellatrix would listen to him, she always did, she knew better than to disobey his orders.

Harry gave Voldemort a disbelieving look, "When she does something you can't overlook I'll get to say I told you so." he stated, walking towards the door, "And if Luna pays for that…nothing will stop me taking my vengeance." He warned Voldemort "I've given her the reassurance she's safe here." With that Harry left the room, his own annoyance getting the better of him.

"My Lord…he has a point," Rodolphus said suddenly feeling weak, his grip tightening on Luna. "Even we were struggling to keep her in line." By we he meant his father and brother as well as himself. She was worse after all these years in Azkaban. The fact she hadn't followed the healers advice made it infinitely worse. It didn't help that they were recovering too. Or that she had hindered his recovery as well, without him realizing it. He would have taken the entire course of potions if he'd realized how important they were.

"I will deal with her," Voldemort stated firmly, he couldn't just dismiss their concerns, not when more than one person was coming to him with them. Confining Bellatrix to the manor wouldn't solve anything, she could still wreak havoc here just like anywhere else. Just as she apparently was. They were obviously having to deal with that havoc, and he had missed each incident. Plus, Harry would keep his word, if Bellatrix did anything to Luna she'd find herself in a world of pain. Harry, when slighted, was worse than Bellatrix – or even him if he was honest – could hope to be on a bad day. He was vindictive, brutal and down right terrifying, to others perhaps, he on the other hand found it extremely arousing to see what Harry Potter had become upon being freed of his gilded cage.

"If that is all, My Lord?" Rodolphus asked, uneasily, he was used to Voldemort being challenged like that. Let alone his reaction, years ago if anyone had dared to say a single thing like that, they would have been suffering under the torture curse within seconds. Just in case he was furious and hiding it better, he wanted Luna away from here just to be on the safe side.

"You may go," Voldemort stated dismissively, waving his hand in the direction of the door.

They may as well have apparated, the haste in which Rodolphus quickly got Luna out of the room.

Voldemort's lips twitched, it was good to see that his Death Eaters still feared him, despite his different approach as of late. Nobody else would get to speak to him the way Harry did, and if anyone tried, well they would find themselves in a world of hurt. Harry was different though, he respected him, respected his passion, his honesty and most importantly his fearlessness. He was just waiting for someone to gather the courage to speak to him out of turn.

A knock on the door interrupted his musings. "Enter," he called out, annoyed at the constant interruptions, added to the fact he had more on his plate courtesy of Bellatrix apparently. He needed to speak to Harry about what exactly Bellatrix was doing.

It was Lestrange Senior.

"My Lord," Lestrange said, giving a nod, "I have done as instructed, there will be a new opening in the Ministry of magic soon."

"Sit," Voldemort asked of his old friend, "I've just had Harry Potter in my office warning me against Bellatrix, and your son was quick to back him up. What is going on?" knowing without a doubt that if it was concerning Bellatrix he would be aware. He along with his sons, constantly kept an eye on the witch. Had been doing since she was married into the Lestrange family. Anything she did would reflect badly upon them. It had already occurred after all, she'd gotten them all arrested for the Longbottom debacle. Voldemort was aware that Rabastian regretted the match, which was a shame, she was powerful, just regretfully not…quite right in the head. Neither of the other Black ladies suffered from whatever ailed Bellatrix. As Harry said, she had a screw loose. He had found her amusing for most part, until he begun to see how everyone around her was reacting.

"The usual," Lestrange explained, and it was, there was no need for further clarification on his part. "I think that Mr. Potter has just begun to see more of her and her reactions to everything."

"Meaning?" Voldemort questioned perplexed, not that he showed it.

"Ever since Mr. Potter dissolved the marriage between my son and ex-daughter-in-law she's been loitering around the vicinity of either Rodolphus or Harry." Lestrange informed him, "Not always hiding, much of it is in his presence. He is very…observant, he makes no effort to conceal his observations either. Just a while ago he was watching her careful with…something in his eyes as, I noticed when we took the Metamorphamagus potion, he also observed us too. And our reactions to her. Which just deepened the expression on his face, but whatever that emotion was…I'm afraid he wasn't giving much away. He has a way of sensing her moods, much like we do, and can sense her impending loss of control." There were times when they didn't receive any warning, she just literally explodes and rants and raves.

Voldemorts brow rose, admittedly Bellatrix had been around the manor more often since the lockdown. Before then, there had only been sparse interactions between Bellatrix and Harry. "Do you believe that Bellatrix feels slighted over Harry's actions in enforcing the divorce?" was Bellatrix planning something? The thought of her touching Harry – if she could successfully accomplish that feat – left him feeling cold, fury was quick to replace that. Truthfully in comparison to power, Harry was more powerful, but experience wise, Bellatrix won hands down, even after over a decade in Azkaban. He quite honestly, had no idea what the outcome between a duel between both of them would be.

"Normally I would say no," Lestrange admitted, well aware of Bellatrix's attraction to their Lord, "Unfortunately, I can't help but feel I'm missing something." It wasn't as if he could read Bellatrix's mind after all, that was Voldemort's job.

Voldemort accepted his words with a nod, "Any suggestions on the matter?" Harry certainly had them in droves.

Lestrange's eyes widened subtly at the implications behind the question. The first is that the Dark Lord actually intended to do something about it. Not something he'd ever expected to occur, second, he was actually being asked his opinion it was a rare happenstance, especially during the end of the last war. He was speechless, he literally had no idea what to say. The Dark Lord had always had a fond spot for Bellatrix, just like he had for Barty, his sons and Severus Snape. Out of them all, he believed Bellatrix was definitely Voldemorts favourite.

Or had been, up until Harry Potter, who outshone them all.

"Rabastian?" Voldemort repeated himself yet again, asking for suggestions.

"I don't know, it depends entirely on what you want to do with her," Lestrange replied seriously, still a little speechless. There was no way the Dark Lord would take Bellatrix out of the picture completely, which was too bad really. "House arrest, perhaps?" somewhere far away from them all where she couldn't ruin his sons life anymore. This thing Rod had with Luna Lovegood was a breath of fresh air, perhaps his line wouldn't die out after all. He didn't want anything done to jeopardise that.

And Bellatrix was a loose cannon and could potentially jeopardise it.

Sudden and rapid knocking had both of them glancing at the door in surprise.

Whoever it was, was in the danger of being cursed judging by the look that came on Voldemort's face.

"Enter!" Voldemort barked his eyes gleaming with viciousness.

"M-my lord…" rasped out Avery, panting outrageously, "B-Bellatrix…Lovegood…duel…Potter…"

"Where?" Voldemort demanded standing up suddenly very much at attention.

Avery merely wheezed, bent over unable to breath properly.

"Dining…room," he managed to get out, only to be shoved aside as both Voldemort and Lestrange burst out of the room as though the hounds of hell were upon their asses.

Short I know, I'm sorry but this chapter was actually really hard to write for some reason! I've never had trouble with this story but this is how it came out :D I hope you enjoy it regardless next chapter will start with Luna and Harry's POV I promise or maybe Bellatrix's ;) The question remains will Draco have gotten into bed with Bellatrix's insanity (not literally) or will he have nothing to do with the ensuring happening but witness the ruthelessness that Harry is and have a whole doze of respect for him! and realize he doesn't hold a candle to him and back off? they'll never be friends unfortunately but how about some of the others? Those that will definitely not use him for their own ends or to further themselves? hmm, Sirius and Remus haven't been included in a while or Neville are you missing them and would you like to see an update? R&R please!