~Chapter 13~ You're my…! – August 1993~

Harry's birthday had been held the previous day, and he'd been relieved when it had simply been a small affair with his closest friends as well as Severus and Salazar. Surprisingly enough, Severus had also given him a gift that apparently came from Voldemort himself…a beautiful amulet that depicted a rearing stag with a lily wrapped around it.

He could feel the protective magic and it didn't take him long to realize that Voldemort had shaped it with his magic, instead of simply having it made. Was the man trying to prove that they didn't need to be enemies, or was he unconsciously responding to his gifts? Salazar had warned him that their magic already held a connection…with the shard and their shared past…so it wasn't impossible.

Harry glanced sideways at Severus as the man double-checked his pockets for the necessary potions and other items. A tense Salazar hovered close to the man, "I hope you know how unhappy I am about this…"

Severus rolled his eyes, but there was a fond smile hovering around his lips, "Yes I know, but you have already given me every single protective item you have stashed around, so I will be fine, and so will Harry."

Salazar shoved away from the wall and started pacing while Harry and Severus gave each other a knowing look, "Even so, I still don't think this is a good idea. Maybe I should come with you, I could…"

Severus shook his head with a sigh before leveling Salazar with a stern look as the man paused in his pacing, "We both know that it would be a bad idea, besides, let me warn the man about you first. This is just going to be a quick meeting…we will be back before you know it."

Harry knew why Salazar was so wary of the whole thing. It had, after all, been Salazar that healed the years of damage that Severus carried because of the Cruciatus curse, and to state that the man had been furious…well…it would be a gross understatement.

Harry just hoped that Voldemort didn't pay close attention to either of them. They had used the potion to muddle their scents already, and both of them carried more should it be needed, but Harry was still wondering whether he'd missed something.

Finally, Salazar stepped back with a stiff nod after Severus promised that he could listen in on their conversation with their bond, and the two of them quickly moved to use the floo before the man could stop them once more.

Voldemort had given Salazar a portkey to use during the last meeting, but neither of them wanted to activate it in the house…just in case it ended up being a reverse-portkey.

They rented a room at The Three Broomsticks, and Severus activated it just as he closed the door behind them, quickly pulling Harry to his side in the process.

The trip itself was normal, but Harry could feel how tense Severus became as the portkey disappeared from his grasp. They were now essentially stuck, or they would have been if Harry hadn't been the MoD. They walked towards the door of Slytherin castle and it opened without them having to knock.

An elf led them towards the study and Harry felt that strange hum enter his body once more as he caught sight of the man. It was his first time seeing the Dark Lord in his current form as he hadn't been able to see his face during the ritual, and he wasn't disappointed. In fact, he had to slightly avert his gaze and shut down his thoughts before his mind started influencing his body…too late…thank goodness the battle robes that Severus had forced him to wear underneath his robes hid the evidence.

He blinked and realized that they were all tense, though for different reasons, and Harry could see that both Voldemort and Severus made sure not to let their hands stray close to their wands, so he did the same.

Voldemort slowly stepped forward, "I would suggest that we complete the vow first, given the circumstances, after that we may speak about the terms and conditions before we write up a contract that we may both agree to."

Severus and Harry nodded before Harry stepped forward without hesitation, much to the other man's surprise, though Harry doubted that the man would ever suspect what he was. To Voldemort, he was merely a thirteen-year-old boy…at least the man hadn't tried to repeatedly kill him this time.

Voldemort met him in the middle of the study, and Harry hoped that his hands weren't as sweaty as they felt when he clasped the man's hand.

An electric jolt erupted from where their skin touched, and Harry forced down the instinctive need to throw off the man's hand to run away. It wasn't that he was scared, but having his crush so close really unnerved him. Voldemort's hand tightened around his to prevent him from escaping and Harry did his best to look as nonchalant as possible.

Severus stepped forward and spoke the vow to which they both swore. It was fairly straightforward, but it included terms that stopped them from physically harming one another, or getting someone or something else to harm the other instead. At the last second, Harry added that Voldemort was not allowed to hurt his godfathers or his friends, or anyone close to him, and Voldemort proceeded to stipulate the same regarding his Death Eaters, though Harry almost laughed at the expression the man made while doing so.

The vow glowed as it fell into place and Harry made a move to remove his hand from Voldemort's, but the older wizard tightened his hand once more before unexpectedly reaching for his wand and Harry experienced a slight flashback, where the Dark Lord killed him in the forest, all over again.

Once again he was reminded that there was something important that he'd forgotten.

Though it might not have been the death curse that left the man's wand, it was something equal as damning as Voldemort's eyes grew wide when a golden light erupted from him, "…You're my Horcrux…"

Harry's mind froze before it abruptly started up again as he realized he had two options, deny it or run, but seeing as Voldemort still held his hand, he had to go with the first option for now, "Horcrux?"

Even Severus seemed frozen at that very moment, but at least the man managed to pull off the same puzzled expression.

Voldemort nodded before giving a slight hiss and Harry jolted as he realized that Nagini had been curled up in slumber on the chair behind him ever since he'd approached the center of the room. She approached him before scenting him and giving an affirmative hiss in return.

Harry really didn't like where this was going and he didn't dare glance at Severus because he knew the man would find himself in a difficult situation if he helped him, not that Harry ever doubted that the man would if needed.

He decided to play it dumb, "What is a Horcrux?" He almost shivered at the slightly haunted look that overcame the Dark Lord's face at his question.

"A Horcrux is a soul-piece, and it is the result of a mistake I made a long time ago. It seems that you have been carrying a piece of me inside you all this time, though I wonder why I hadn't been able to sense it…" Harry ripped away from the man as he readied his wand.

He had an idea about what spell Voldemort wanted to cast next, it was a spell to unlock the blocks that he'd cast on the detection of the Horcrux and if the spell hit him, Voldemort would forever know where he was no matter how far he tried to run because he wouldn't be able to reapply them.

He struggled to act like the frightened child he was supposed to be as his entire body screamed for him to escape for now, "What are you trying to do?"

Voldemort looked at him closely, even as he readied his wand once more, "I want to remove the blocks, it seems we do not need the contract, you will stay here where I can keep you safe…it is too dangerous to leave you where Dumbledore can easily get to you…"

Harry dodged the spell with a glare as he saw Severus discreetly motioning to the door. "What makes you think I want that? I doubt you would let me go anywhere ever again if I allowed that!"

He dodged another spell as Voldemort spoke, though the man seemed to be moving as if he was merely trying to corner a frightened animal while lulling it into a false sense of security, "Of course, I will let you out, but only after I kill Dumbledore."

Another spell missed him by mere centimeters and Harry realized that he had to leave…NOW!

He glanced at his godfather and the man nodded urgently, and the last thing he heard as he apparated out using the shadows, was Voldemort's frustrated growl as he reached forward and missed him by mere inches.

He felt slightly shaky as he materialized at Peverell Castle. He knew that Severus would be safe, both the vow and Salazar would see to it, but he hated leaving the man behind and he was about to go back when he felt a familiar hand upon his shoulder.

"The Dark Lord merely asked him to find you, nothing more. I would suggest you lay low for a while if you want to evade the man's clutches…"

Harry nodded before sinking down onto a couch…why couldn't things just go his way for once?