~Chapter 33~ Tying up loose ends – 31 July 1995

Notes: Sorry for this chapter being so short, between loadshedding, being away from technology due to random birthdays and finally being able to come visit my dad after not seeing him for a year, I haven't had much time to write. But seeing as my dad and everyone works during the day and I don't have my games or anything else to distract me during the day until Friday, I am planning on either finishing this story this week or getting quite close to it, so expect another update tomorrow as well :).

~Salazar~

Salazar knew that something extraordinary had just happened, but even with the infamous Gryffindor luck, he hadn't expected so many things to happen all at once. It left him feeling slightly unsure about whether he should be expecting something bad to happen to even things out once more, but he shook off the thought. Too many bad things had already happened and waiting for something else to happen would not help anyone.

He glanced toward his heir and promptly decided that whatever happened next, Voldemort and Harry (Dimitri?) first had to decide on what their next steps would be. He removed the orb from his pocket and wordlessly handed it over to Voldemort, who then gave him a nod before he pulled Harry into his arms and disappeared.

Salazar then turned to Godric, "I think we need to try and contact Helga and Rowena. I don't know if they managed to survive as we did, but Hogwarts isn't up to standard anymore and the current Ministry will only lead to the ruin of many if not all, magical races. A new age must be ushered in."

Godric's expression turned serious at the mention of the current state of the Wizarding World and he nodded, "And it seems our heirs are going to be at the forefront of the changes."

Salazar nodded in agreement before Godric grabbed hold of his arm and ported them out of the dimension. Neither noticed the ghost of a woman as she smiled sadly at the duo, before turning to the altar with a furious expression on her face. How dare someone try to harm their heir?

Shadows darkened behind her and she calmly turned toward the being, who gave her a slight bow in acknowledgment, "Lady Le Fay, I thought you were resting?"

She gave a pointed look towards the bloodied altar, "How can I rest when one of my own is harmed? I just barely managed to stay at rest with Merlin's assurances during his own ordeal, but no longer."

Death nodded in deep thought before a shark-like grin graced his features, "I do have the soul of the one responsible if you are interested? It has been munched a bit by the hounds, but it deserves to suffer so much more."

The smile that graced the woman's features even gave Death a shiver as she dipped her head slightly in agreement, "Please lead the way…"

The shadows seemed to embrace them before they disappeared from the dimension and even the reapers felt shivers run down their spines as the screams of a woman echoed throughout the Deathlands, though none of them could deny that they also felt glee at the pain of the one that dared to harm their master.

~Voldemort~

They reappeared in the ballroom, where Lucius, Narcissa, Barty, Bellatrix, and the Twins were still waiting for them. They all froze as they saw Harry Potter standing next to the Dark Lord instead of Dimitri, but a few seconds passed before Bellatrix happily skipped forward and gave Harry a bone-crushing hug, which Voldemort allowed, but only after he skimmed through her mind first.

He chuckled at the deer-in-the-headlights look that Harry gave him, "Apparently you are related somewhere along the line, and she REALLY likes the pastry puffs that you make so in her mind, being family gives her permission to visit more often."

Lucius stepped forward a little at the mention of the pastry puffs, which he also had developed quite a weakness for, "My Lord is this…"

He didn't get any further as Harry managed to release himself from Bellatrix's hug-of-death and, after a nod from Voldemort, proceeded to explain that he'd turned himself into Dimitri to both get away from the rabid light supporters and to get to know the dark side better.

Barty looked slightly hesitant as he stepped forward and Harry gave him one look before he sent a wandless stinging hex at him, causing the other man to yelp and glare at him before his eyes rounded comically as Voldemort growled at him.

They may be friends, but Voldemort couldn't help that his creature was very protective of his mate. Even more so after what just happened.

Harry, on the other hand, laughed before his expression became serious, "I really did see you as my friend Barty, still do. I just didn't know how you would react when I told you about me really being Harry Potter and all that."

Barty narrowed his eyes slightly before he started laughing and it took a few moments for him to calm down before he looked at Voldemort, "So Harry Potter is Dimitri, who also happens to be Ghost, your mate, the one you had been looking for the entire time, and the one that sent you Dumbledore?"

The Dark Lord gave him a smirk and nodded, causing the man to laugh again before he looked back at Harry, "I am glad you're ok, you had us worried for a bit there." He sobered up a bit and looked Harry up and down a little hesitantly, "You are alright, aren't you?"

Harry nodded before he was grabbed by Bellatrix again as she sent Voldemort a pleading look, "My Lord, may I please have the honor of taking care of the wench? I will make sure that no one dares to harm even a hair upon his head ever again."

Voldemort looked toward Harry to determine his reaction to Bellatrix's question. He still wanted the woman to suffer, but he didn't want to be away from his mate now that he regained his true form so it was up to Harry to decide on what he wanted Voldemort to do.

He felt Harry's fingers curl around his own for a second before he seemed to casually pull away and shrug, but the bond between them clearly shared his reluctance to be apart after everything that had happened.

Voldemort looked toward Bellatrix and nodded, which had her giving Harry one last hug before she skipped towards the dungeons with an echo of demented giggles trailing behind her.

He pointedly ignored the look of relief in Harry's gaze as he pulled him closer towards him. Harry would soon learn that it was perfectly fine to request things of him. After all, the worst he could do is say no.

~Harry (Dimitri)~

Harry mentally grimaced as Voldemort's thoughts carried over to him. He was starting to realize what a big influence the Dursleys' upbringing still had on him, and it would take quite a while for him to adjust to how things were with Voldemort.

But first, they had to figure out what to do next. Not just with their own relationship, but also with the Ministry, seeing as many Ministry officials had attended the party and quite a few of them had been swayed to the Dark, so to speak, even though there wouldn't be a dark and a light side once they fully manage to take over things. Those terms would merely determine the magic that best suits each witch or wizard, and they would then be taught accordingly as…

His thoughts were interrupted as the room started spinning and a concerned Voldemort gently gripped his shoulders, "I think you need to rest, it's been a long day and your body needs time to heal."

Harry nodded reluctantly before he quickly said goodbye to Lucius, Narcissa, Barty, and the Twins, as Voldemort ushered him towards his room…and then past it. He looked at Voldemort in confusion but soon realized that Voldemort was leading them to his own room instead.

Once there, Voldemort proceeded to undress him, causing Harry to freeze in a slight panic at the unexpectedness of it all, but his mate merely growled, "You have so many other scents on you that it is hard to cover it with my own. I know you want to wait until this body's 17th birthday so please just allow me to bathe you? I will not do anything that you do not want me to."

Harry hesitated slightly, but Voldemort waited patiently for him to either agree with or deny his request. Finally, he nodded and Voldemort seemed to release a breath he didn't know he was holding before he conjured a soft gown, which he placed over Harry's shoulders to keep him warm.

He then picked him up as if he weighed nothing and carried him to the bathroom, where steam was already rising from the bath as warm water mixed with various oils, and the scent caused Harry's body to finally realize how tense and tired he was as his body sagged in relief.

Harry tiredly managed to nudge Voldemort's shoulder, "Do I look like some sort of girl to you?"

Voldemort chuckled slightly and shook his head, "I assure you that I do not think of you as female, nor do I believe you to be any weaker than I am, but it is my privilege to be able to care for you like this, and I will take full advantage of it. The oils are simply meant to aid your body while it heals."

Harry grinned slightly in understanding before he quickly pressed a kiss to Voldemort's lips in thanks, which earned him another growl, though this one seemed to be more heated than irritated, "If you want me to keep my promise, then I would advise you to behave. Otherwise, you might find that I have very little resistance when it involves you."

Harry was tempted to give Voldemort a cheeky grin, or what he hoped to be one at least, but Voldemort gave a tortured groan before he proceeded to kiss him senseless. He then leaned their foreheads together, "You are bad for my self-control."

For a moment Voldemort seemed to be tempted to join him in the bath, and Harry was tempted to let him, but Voldemort merely lowered him into the bath, after he wordlessly banished his own robe and the shirt underneath it, as well as his shoes and socks. Harry tried very hard to keep himself from drooling over his mate, but it was a lost cause.

Luckily the oils began to calm his body and he felt his eyes become heavy as his mate came to stand behind him and Voldemort's hands worked some other oils into his shoulders and back. Some time later he hummed as Voldemort dressed him and placed him in his bed before curling around him.

Despite everything that happened, he decided that it had been a pretty good day.