Embracing His True Self

Chapter 83

"Something has to be done about Gellert," Harry said softly, loathing to break the comfortable silence, but feeling he must. He didn't care that Voldemort was busy flicking through the paperwork, it was probably the second time he had done so anyway.

"What do you mean?" Voldemort asked, brow furrowing, genuinely perplexed by Harry's statement. He was an old man, well past his prime, considering his abode for the past couple of decades…well, it was a genuine surprise that he's still alive. No, he suspected news would break at one point or another in the next few years about his death.

"He was fundamentally changed…" Harry murmured from where he lay staring at the fire across their bedroom, from his head in Voldemort's lap. He'd had a hell of day, he could scarcely believe that Neville had even been willing to look at him. Oh, they were nowhere near the friendly terms they'd been before, but that was okay, he didn't mind overly much. Neville was going to be busy anyway, for the next year at least maybe longer. There was nothing that could possibly tear Neville away from bonding with his parents for the first time in fourteen, nearly fifteen years. "Who Gellert Grindelwald was…is gone, lost forever. Leaving behind a copy of what Dumbledore wanted. To be so fundamentally changed…and not be aware of it…that we know about anyway…what if he does know? What if he does remember what if there's a part of Gellert in that body screaming to be let out?"

Voldemort couldn't help the full body shudder that crawled up his spine. It was a horrifying thought, to be so controlled for decades. Not the actions of course Voldemort didn't much care about that but whether Gellert did or not…well, who can safely say what the wizard was like? There wasn't one alive whom had known Gellert since he was a child, not even any of the teachers at Durmstrang. Thinking over Harry's statement, "You're suggesting a mercy kill?" surprised by that.

"Maybe," Harry sighed, not even moving a muscle from where he lay quite comfortably. Not even to nestle in the extremely luxurious and comfortable pillows on offer.

"Severus is working on an anti-dote," Voldemort felt the need to remind him. "Gellert Grindelwald might be able to live out his golden years in freedom."

"You're assuming an anti-dote will ever be found," Harry said, stretching a little, "I have complete faith in Severus' abilities…it's certainly way over my head, I don't know a thing about alchemy. Explains why Dumbledore removed it from the class electives. I just…I would have preferred to be killed than do what Dumbledore wanted of me…and I know for certain that I'd rather have been mercy killed than endure decades in prison…I mean he's been there for the majority of his life." sympathy for the wizard stirring within him.

Voldemort grasped Harry's hair tightly – but not enough to hurt – at the mere mention of him preferring death and being mercy killed. Death had always terrified him, having seen too much of it during his childhood, during the war, the bombs…he blotted it out for the most part. The thought of losing Harry was even more daunting, which greatly surprised him and left him feeling unmoored for a few seconds before he regained his composure. He thought on what it would be like if Dumbledore succeeded with him, and couldn't help but agree against his most vehement inward protests. Death would indeed be preferable. "It would be preferable." He conceded, "Why don't you give Severus a chance to create one? You can bet your entire fortune that he's not the only one attempting it." the Ministry would be too, using all Potions Masters they could get their hands on, including Severus, who had declined their actually very generous offer. They'd made an offer, without actually stating what he'd be asked to work on, but neither he nor Severus were stupid, they knew why the Ministry was gathering as many Potion Masters from around the world to do.

"Yeah, I suppose so," Harry murmured, "How did your meetings go?"

"The legislations were spread out amongst our people, mostly known neutral Lord's and those who are sympathisers." Voldemort explained, he'd been working all day, he'd worked through dinner, this was the first time he'd seen Harry since this morning. "We'll see how it goes during the wizengamot meeting…which has not yet been set."

"It's been a month!" Harry snapped in annoyance, "How much longer are they going to lick at the same wound before they get on with their lives?" yes, what Dumbledore had done was wrong, but Merlin balls! To stop the Ministry, to stop the laws and such just because? Honestly, "Even the ICW is up and running…admittedly not at full capacity." It was actually rather sweet that they were allowing those affected keep their jobs despite the fact they were not able to perform their duties.

"The British magical community is smaller and vitally less important than the ICW, they operate internationally, but I agree, it is disgraceful, everyone wishes to get back to some degree of normalcy." Which might have happened by now if Dumbledore had not been taken from the Ministry without trace scaring everyone completely.

"Not to the British magical community is it not!" Harry said indignantly, "How do we get back to normal?"

"Vote in a new chief warlock," Voldemort said automatically, repicking up his paperwork and reading through it. "He's responsible right now for the lack of progress,"

"And it can be anyone in the wizengamot?" Harry stated shrewdly, already aware of the answer but seeking confirmation. He loathed politics so he didn't spend too long immersed in the books, only enough to have passing information.

Voldemort hummed in agreement, "Correct," pondering what his partner was up to this time.

"We have enough people to accomplish that, right?" Harry looked at Voldemort, chin resting on Voldemort's leg.

"With your votes now in play, we most certainly do," Voldemort replied smugly, with or without the damn Dumbledore supporters or light supporters getting in the way.

Harry smirked wryly, "Yeah, yeah," Voldemort naturally had gotten his way, and much to the controversy, Harry had given his votes to a woman, a Dowager, she'd had political aspirations since she was a young girl, but her husband had refused to allow her to sit on the wizengamot, and had passed it on to their son and heir, with the stipulation that she could not sit on the seats otherwise the entirety of the estate would be passed onto a squib's son. Something they would never allow to happen. "Cecilia Yaxley is perfect for the part." Her son was a piece of work, Lord Corbin Yaxley, thought he was all that, when he wasn't even in the inner circle.

The previous Lord Corin Yaxley, Cecilia's husband had a real distain for women. Regardless of their magical powers, and had loathed the fact that he was still in the lower circle when Bellatrix, Narcissa and Carrow were all highly thought of and in the inner circle, well, Narcissa only by technicality since she wasn't a Death Eater but her husband was. He'd transferred that boorish and prejudice behaviour to his son Corbin. Now Corbin was going to have to ensure the fact that his own mother, a sympathiser only – for now – was higher up the ranks. Corbin's wife, Margaret and their son primarily lived with Cecilia, refusing to live with Corbin due to his behaviour. The first time he'd hit her had been the last, married or not…her parents had raised her well, and she'd known if she stayed she'd go down a slippery slope. Corin saw his son maybe two or three times a year. Always supervised.

The dark sect were nothing but a bunch of nosey gossipers, Harry thought wryly, he knew more about them than he'd ever found out about the slight side or even his own two 'best friends' so to speak.

"She is indeed," Voldemort agreed thoughtfully, "She was a strong woman, works quite diligently." to ensure she could keep her property, as small as it may be. She'd been kicked out of the Manor the second her husband died from what he'd found out when Harry suggested her. He had been kind enough to give her a small cottage and an allowance so he hadn't struck her off entirely. That allowance was pitiful at best, hence why she worked, she probably would have anyway, even if it was just for human interaction he assumed.

"Yeah, oh, the Weasley's found out it was me who warned them about Arthur," Harry said, muffling his yawn, Merlin, he was so very tired. "They're trying to 'pay me back'"

"That was rather…reckless of you," Voldemort frowned, but not entirely surprised. "Do they suspect you had anything to do with the attack on he Order?" this was why he had made sure Harry always had a guard.

Harry snorted, "Merlin no, they'll think it was just good timing, I mean how often can you get a last minute appointment for a healer at St. Mungo's at a time of your own choosing?" he said wryly, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.

"Pay you back when?" Voldemort asked derisively, "Their financial situation is a mess,"

"Okay, you know the state of the Weasley's finances? I don't know how to feel about that," Harry sat up, gaping at Voldemort. "How bad?" he asked his curiosity overriding his surprise.

"They have at current five loans from Gringotts," Voldemort stated with a unapologetic shrug. "They could have paid at least three of the five loans off with the winnings Arthur Weasley gained a few years ago. Instead they chose to holiday in Egypt. If they don't pay then they lose the burrow and the land it sits on. It's been in the Weasley family for generations and Arthur Weasley does not get enough money to cover the interest on those loans let alone everything else."

"Molly was fiscally irresponsible no surprise there, Ginny always wanted to visit Egypt, no doubt Molly wanted to cater to her daughters every whim." Harry said shaking his head, "So, that's why they're still struggling…I had wondered. They must be helping Arthur pay off those loans. With Arthur now out of commission they're working even harder." It also explains why they weren't always with their father.

"Indeed," Voldemort muttered, clearly uninterested in the conversation.

"How long will it take for them to pay it off?" Harry asked, clearly interested in the conversation.

"Fred and George Weasley could theoretically pay at least two or three off within five months, if their shop continues to do as well as it is currently on their own." Voldemort sighed, why were they having this conversation again. "You are not contemplating paying it off." He ordered, he'd given enough money to the Weasley's, by paying for the Hospital visit, potions and the actual stay.

"No, I'm doing one better…" Harry said smugly.

"Oh?" Voldemort asked, peering at Harry curiously, wondering if he wanted to hear what comes next.

"I'm going to be going to visit Anthea Dolohov, Antonin is coming with he can see her from a distance." Harry said sympathetically, Merlin, the wizard had nobody other than a sister he hadn't seen and niece and nephews he didn't know. His son was a grown wizard, and Antonin hadn't seen him since he was incarcerated, his mother had fled the country.

"Always trying to fix the worlds problems," Voldemort replied wryly, shaking his head, he wondered if Harry did it so he didn't have to think on his own problems. Either that or he just wanted to help everyone…it was his life, for once, to live as he sees fit, without having to worry about Dumbledore grabbing him. So, if that's what Harry wished to do with his life, then he was all for it.

"Nah, not the world, just…I dislike injustice," Harry said thoughtfully, "I want to help correct the wrongs Dumbledore's done to the world."

"Then that's all you'll spend your life doing, it's no way to live," Voldemort pointed out, reclaiming his paperwork. Not pointing out that he had once been an 'injustice' in the world, that had cost Harry his parents…there was no point really. Harry always claimed he couldn't miss what he didn't have, and quite frankly he was correct on some level. He didn't miss parents because he'd never had them. He was entirely indifferent.

"Probably true, have you decided on a Headmaster yet?" Harry asked, shifting and lying down on the pillow, wrapping his legs around Tom's absently.

"I have an idea on a few, its whether they'd agree to it or not that's the problem," Voldemort conceded, "I contemplated asking Severus."

"I think he'd secretly like it, and being Headmaster doesn't leave him too busy to brew potions to his hearts content. Rabastan and Barty would love to teach…using their new ID's they could without a stink being raised." Harry said thoughtfully, "It's not too political that it would get on his nerves. Who else were you thinking off?"

"Rowle, he's calm, consistent and not known as a Death Eater," Voldemort said thoughtfully. "They'd definitely my top two."

"Not someone like Filius Flitwick?" Harry questioned someone most definitely neutral, "I think someone completely neutral should run the school."

Voldemort smirked, 'someone you cant manipulate' was certainly heard and understood.

"Would you risk his life should he antagonise myself and the board of governors?" Voldemort asked pointedly, he had no qualms about killing, wasn't it better having someone in the school who would abide by his terms than someone who might irritate him to the point of him getting rid of him?

Harry gave him a look that suggested he wasn't impressed or surprised actually.

"They might be more inclined to go to Rowle if they needed help," Harry did eventually admit after he thought about it extensively. "Severus isn't exactly well liked by the students…then again, Rowle can look intimidating, he's a big guy,"

Voldemort snorted, "Indeed," agreeing fully. "I am not having Filius Flitwick become Headmaster." He stated firmly staving off a potential argument they might have. Although he had a feeling Harry was too tired to argue much.

Harry sniggered, shaking his head, "It's your choice," he murmured, muffling yet another yawn. He honestly didn't care who became Headmaster, as long as the students there got to be students, weren't hurt, weren't scared, weren't forced to take sides, and were allowed to just be kids. To have a childhood, to have normal problems…what he wish he'd had.

Voldemort gave Harry an odd look, he hadn't been quite so agreeable since the whole Dumbledore thing a month ago. Still, you'd think he'd know better than to look a gifted horse in the mouth, but it looked and sounded genuine. Harry honestly didn't mind, but he knew there would be stipulations to that 'not caring' attitude. He could imagine just what they were, which was why he had chosen someone like Severus or Rowle. The Carrow's were most definitely out of the question. In fact, a lot of his people were out of the question, mostly because of their status as an ex-Death Eaters.

Also there was the fact quite a few of them were considered 'dead' and buried in Azkaban when in fact they were very much alive. They were all in the process of getting impeccably backstopped ID's that would even pass inspection with the Ministry of magic and the goblins at Gringotts. It helped that they were gaining permission from the Head of the family or actually the Head of the family themselves, and they were keeping their last names. Preserving the family, he wondered if they would marry again. He knew Rabastan and Rodolphus probably would, to Severus and Luna respectively.

"Still, did you at last make a plan to get rid of those two on the Board of Governors?" Harry asked, acting as if he wasn't actually asking if two people had been killed. They weren't good people anyway, wife and child abusers to the extreme, old school, and an extreme annoyance to everyone, Lucius was of the opinion that they had some hold on the other governors. They 'disagreed' but when those two spoke, nearly everyone's tunes changed. So yes, it was vital that they took care of him.

"We've planned out a few potential accidents," Voldemort conceded.

"Accidents why? Just have them attacked coming out the damn pub, they have that many enemies that they won't make any headway." Harry snorted, "Won't be the first time someone has started something with the wrong person."

Voldemort looked thoughtful at that, "Perhaps that would be easiest," arranging accidents was no easy feat, but it's normally how he'd been operating as of late. To keep them on the downlow so that nobody figured out he was back. People were still breaking the law, still attacking one another…it probably wouldn't be odd to deal with them swiftly.

"Certainly less complicated, from what the information gathered on them, they're big on drinking." Harry murmured quietly, Merlin, he was too tired to remain awake much longer. "Either way, it gets them out of our goddamned hair and gives us more leeway…although maybe you should find out what they have on them…might be good incentive in future if they prove to be difficult again."

Voldemort chuckled, "Now you want to kidnap them?" entirely too amused.

"Nah, just get the information from their mind," Harry muttered, yawning once more as he rolled over onto his side, staring sleepily up at Voldemort. He was extremely handsome, and wondered how he'd really dealt with the blow of losing his looks way back when.

"So a Legilmens then," Voldemort replied, "That certainly narrows the list farther."

"Oh, please, you've already chosen someone, whether you enact the plan or not," he murmured, pulling the covers up and flicking his hand over his side of the room which was then bathed in darkness as the oil beside lamp dimmed before going out entirely.

"Perhaps," Voldemort admitted, not denying it at all, there would be no point. He wasn't surprised that a few seconds later, Harry was completely out of it. He'd been brewing rigorously and constantly, while having meetings and doing what needs to be done, keeping up on top of his correspondence and still finding time to play poker at least once a night with a group. The one night he's at poker is the only time they didn't spend together in the evening. He wasn't jealous. "Goodnight," he said leaning over and brushing his hands over his cheeks reverentially. Before Harry nobody had so much as looked bored let alone actually fallen asleep in his company, losing consciousness was different naturally.

Voldemort glanced at the paperwork, before back at Harry, who was still wrapped his lower body like an octopus. He probably should get everything read, if he didn't he'd have hardly any time tomorrow to do so, groaning softly, he picked it up before narrowing his eyes, he was the boss, he should be able to decide when to sleep. Nodding firmly, he set the paperwork aside, putting it in his drawer.

Turning to face Harry, he turned his own lights off, just in time for Harry to cuddle into his side. He sighed and rolled his eyes unseen, but he didn't try to stop it, which spoke volumes. He had chosen to allow Harry into his personal space, his sanctuary, not expecting it to be as easy as it had been that's for damn certain. He had not said anything against Harry keeping his other suite due to the belief he wouldn't be able to endure another person in the room while he slept. He'd been wrong, so very, very wrong. He felt more at peace, fell asleep more easily, relished in the contact.

Never in a million years would he have allowed any of the others to stay with him.

It spoke volumes really.

Grunting as Harry moved yet again, plastering himself across Voldemort's chest. Absently and automatically wrapping his arms around Harry, which caused him to still, breathe more deeply and settle entirely.

It didn't take long for them both to be in the slumber that's Morpheus' arms.

"My Lords," Antonin Dolohov bowed to both of them respectfully, waiting patiently at the door to the dining room, where he'd been gestured to go by the House-elve .

"Come," Voldemort gestured for the wizard to join them.

"Ah, Antonin, I was just about to get a House-elf to summon you," Harry admitted, as he watched the wizard approach them. Severus and Rabastan weren't up yet, neither was Barty, either that or he was already out, so it was just him and Voldemort enjoying a quiet breakfast for once. Voldemort had definitely gotten up earlier than normal though, since he'd woken up alone, only to find him reading the same documents he'd had last night.

"I've been up for hours," Antonin admitted, a subtle redness on his cheeks, blushing, at what he'd admitted, despite his words being gruff. Twenty odd years since he had last seen his sister, he'd acted like a complete and utter peacock, no an idiot, picking between his newest attires, pondering on whether to get something new. It had been a long time…would she even recognize him?

Harry smiled softly, "Yeah, I get that," well, actually, he didn't personally, but he could imagine Neville, or Barty or maybe Luna or Hermione in Antonin's place.

"You didn't tell me what time we were leaving, so I thought to get here near the end of breakfast." He informed Harry, and judging by the plates he was quite correct that they were nearly done with breakfast.

"Have you eaten?" Harry questioned, he'd spent a bit of time with Antonin in the past month, they mostly talked about his sister.

"No," he admitted.

Voldemort watched on in amusement, he didn't think he'd ever observed Dolohov in such a frazzled state. Not even when he had given him some of the most impossible missions he could just to see him sweat. He'd done it all impassively, yet visiting his sister – even from a distance – had him all out of sorts. Families, he thought wryly, they were always everyone's undoing, but that was not something new he'd just learned.

"Here," Harry stated, putting food into a bowl for him, porridge, "Eat, you're going to need it, I don't have a clue how long we'll be there." Could be hours, could be days, it was entirely up in the air.

Okay, it was doubtful it would be days, maybe well into the night, depending on what their conversation turned out to be like. There was hardly any information known about her, the Dark Lord's contacts couldn't find anything about her, and her letters…Antonin said…were normal for her in the past two decades. It's what he was used to.

They had no idea what kind of condition she'd be in, or what 'conditioning' she'd endured under her husband.

"I still think you should bring someone with the ability to bring down wards," Antonin grumbled, as he ate reluctantly ate the food placed in front of him. not daring to say no due to the look on the Dark Lord's face when he opened his mouth to decline. After the first few bites, the sickness actually passed and he felt better. Maybe he knew what he was talking about after all. "From what I've managed to glean, they live very secluded, the closest neighbour is bloody miles away. Most of the acres they have is a vineyard." The husband ran that winery, and made quite a bit of money doing it too. Very well off, his sister had never hurt for money, and every time he asked after her she just doggedly ignored or blatantly misunderstood his question and answered all wrong.

Soon she wouldn't be able to avoid him.

Soon, Antonin would get to see his sister again and meet his nieces and nephews for the first time.

Shorter than normal I know but I'm afraid I didn't get to write as much today that's after promising that work wouldn't interfere *tut tut tut* lol Well, anyway will Arthur Weasley get his happily ever after and the Weasley family numbers doubling? or will the kids keep their real name? Will we see a new property being built on the Weasley land? and finally after so much damage and hurt they begin healing? Or will like real life...sometimes things just dont work out...I need to remember and edit that chapter! I keep saying I will but I don't LOL! tomorrow i'll get it done :D R&R please!