Disclaimer:

I do not own Harry Potter and know too many bill collectors by their first names.

I have not discovered a new way to turn lead into gold and I have no intention of starting a cult for money.

My tree's leaves are unfortunately not cash.

Therefore, if you sue me you can expect to receive a tattered notebook full of my ramblings.

Chapter Five

Harry would never have pictured Voldemort in a cozy study curled up under a blanket with a good book, and he wasn't. Voldemort was in a cozy study curled up under a blanket with the daily correspondence.

Every now and then, in between reading Marriage Bonds: Magically Induced Happy Homes, Harry would glance over at the hunter green couch and see Voldemort shake his head and mutter under his breath at some new idiocy. Occasionally, Voldemort would notice Harry looking at him and raise an eyebrow. He would quickly return to his reading.

In between reading his book and eyeing Voldemort, Harry would glance at Lucius. He was having a rousing game of chess against the chess pieces themselves. They were playing black and throwing insults like a group of seasoned warriors. After some internal debate, Harry conceded that the pieces of a Wizard's Chess Set could be considered veterans if they survived more than one game.

Even though he was distracted, Harry found that he was absorbing more of the book than he would have thought. Apparently, Voldemort hadn't been able to hex either Lucius or him because the creators of these spells anticipated that they would be used for arranged marriages. No one wanted any blood feuds because one spouse killed the other on their honeymoon.

Harry readily admitted to himself that he was glad that they had included that little clause.

Another issue that is common to all marriage bonds is the encouragement of a level of trust between the subjects. They will talk to each other more civilly and honestly than they would have otherwise. They will have the urge to protect each other physically and emotionally. When outside the other bond mate's presence, they will seek each other's company after a few hours. Marriage bonds between more difficult subjects will also make certain that the bonded will feel each other's pain and – in extreme cases – will kill the spouse if the other bonded dies.

Harry looked up at Voldemort, and waited to be noticed. When he met his gaze, Harry asked, "How extreme a case do you think this bond considers us? Do you think it will kill us all if one of us dies?"

Lucius' head snapped up, the conversation now had his complete attention.

Voldemort nodded. "Since before this morning I would have given just about anything to see your corpse at my feet, I would assume that is the case. Rest assured that I now have every intention of making sure that both you and Lucius continue to survive."

Lucius blinked. "I think I can safely state that your lives now have new meaning to me, as well."

Voldemort smirked. "Lucius, are you saying you didn't realize what this marriage bond would mean?"

Lucius swallowed. "My Lord, it wasn't an area I was particularly interested in studying…." He was cut off by Voldemort's laughter.

Harry smiled slightly at their interaction, feeling relieved that he didn't have to worry about either person killing him. They might torture him, but that would depend on whether or not Voldemort decided it was worth the agony he would experience. From what he knew of Riddle, Harry doubted that he would actively seek out pain.

He returned to his book, preparing to read for at least a few more hours before bed. He had just been distracted by wondering where he was going to sleep tonight, when the door to the study opened. He turned just in time to watch Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange enter.

Narcissa's arrival was a study in grace. The tall blond practically floated into the room. She was in dark blue robes at the moment, which only served to emphasize her pale hair and skin. Her makeup was expertly done, and she looked every bit the rich and influential woman.

By contrast, Bellatrix Lestrange seemed to have no time for the feminine niceties. Her thin face reflected her time in Azkaban, and told the tale of someone who didn't concern herself with health. Her dark hair – once a shining curtain – was now dull and ill cared for. Her only gracefulness was that of a predator that is looking for the telltale twitch of prey.

Bella's face lit up in a beautiful smile at the sight of her Lord. "Master, we have fantastic news for you. The Ministry has seen fit to release the Malfoy estates and monies to Narcissa because she was 'considerate' enough to show them that she didn't carry a Dark Mark. We still have all funding we need."

Voldemort quirked an eyebrow at Bellatrix, and turned his gaze on her sister. "Narcissa, your timely intervention is most welcome."

Narcissa curtsied and turned her gaze towards her husband, nearly missing the prone figure on the floor. Her eyes widened and she jerked her gaze back to him. "My Lord, have you tamed your nemesis as a pet so that he may sit at your feet?"

His lips twitched into a smirk. "Let's say that we have had a meeting of the minds and leave it at that." He spotted Bella's hand moving for her wand. "I wouldn't do that, my dear. I am rather enjoying this little truce."

Bellatrix begged. "My Lord, please let me play with him."

Voldemort frowned. "I said no, Bellatrix."

Harry stood and inched closer to Voldemort as Bellatrix frowned at him. "Then at least allow me to remove his troublesome presence from our lives, My Lord."

Voldemort glared at her and then turned to Lucius. "Is there some reason that I put up with her?"

Lucius eyed Bellatrix as she apparently realized she had gone too far and began groveling at Voldemort's feet. "Perhaps it is because she cowers so well?"

"I suppose that could be the reason." Voldemort stood, gathering his letters. "Come, Harry. Let's leave Lucius to renew his relationship with his wife and sister in law. I am sure they do not need our interference for that." He turned to Lucius. "We'll be just down the hall."

Lucius nodded and watched them leave, then turned his eyes to the two women in front of him. Let the inquisition begin.

Voldemort waited until they were in the parlor before letting his eyes settle on Harry. "Well done. I expected you to try to assault her with your bare hands."

Harry shrugged. "I really didn't want to have to deal with a Crucio today."

Voldemort's eyes widened for a second, and then he chuckled. He gestured to a faded burgundy couch and reclined in an old, high-backed, royal blue arm chair. Both had seen better days. "Sometimes, Potter, you sound dreadfully Slytherin." His gaze turned thoughtful. "Would you have attacked her if your wand had been next to you?"

Harry pondered this. "Probably." He sighed and plopped down with his book. "Do you think they're going to wind up dueling in there?"

Voldemort smirked. "I have every faith in Lucius' ability to handle any situation." He winked at Harry. "But, I have no doubt that Narcissa is the most infuriating woman in all of Britain. This will be interesting."

Harry lips twitched into a smile.

The pitch and tone of Narcissa's voice could probably be heard across all of Europe. Lucius cringed one of his Lord's expensive crystal decorations – he refused to call them knick knacks – shattered against the wall behind him. Perhaps this should have been handled a bit more delicately. "My dear, I understand that this is a shock…."

Her eyes widened in absolute fury. "A shock! You promised him you'd follow him to the death, not that you'd grant him le petit mort personally and on a nightly basis!"

Lucius backed around a couch, trying to keep the furious Narcissa and an oddly calm Bellatrix in sight at all times. "Cissa, there's no need to be crude about it. It's for the good of the cause, after all. The bond does include Potter, and that means that we've won. The rest of this war is going to feel completely anti-climactic to me."

He couldn't believe his wife actually growled. "Anti-climactic? This war isn't anti-climactic! You try marrying the rich, debonair, heir to the House of Malfoy, and then discovering that he's perfectly happy to live without sex for months at a time. That's anti-climactic."

He didn't know what stung worse: where she'd slapped his cheek or his pride. "Darling, I wasn't exactly referring to that kind of climax." He tried to ignore Bellatrix's deranged laughter in the corner. "I'm just saying that this war will be pitifully easy."

Narcissa glared at him. "You are certainly pitiful, you ungrateful, ravening, foolish, deceitful, inhumane, frigid, bastard!"

Lucius glared, and then forced himself to speak calmly. Alienating the woman who had control of his fortune was not a good idea. "Narcissa, I really had no choice on this bond. It was a simple accident." He sat down on the edge of the couch. "I wouldn't have entered into this if I had been given the chance to make the decision."

She seemed to deflate, settling onto the seat next to him. Her head came to rest on his shoulder, and he stroked her hair. "But, you're mine. All these years, I was so sure that I at least had exclusive rights to your bed…. What you did at those Revels was just for fun, I was your true lover."

"You still are, Cissa."

Neither of them noticed Bellatrix leaving.

Hmmm...? Bellatrix...? I wonder what she's going to do? Where's Harry going to sleep tonight? And is Cissa going to stay calm for long? Especially once Lucius' relationship with the other two gets going?

If anyone is interested, 'le petit mort' is the phrase the French use to refer to an orgasm. Literally, it translates as: 'the little death.' I just couldn't picture Narcissa screaming about orgasms in English. Somehow, the French seems less crude.

Jumping up and down in excitement? Planning on hiding away from the world for the next ten years? Tell me about it!