Disclaimer:

I do not own Harry Potter, and I live in my own little world.

Money is not my object, thus I am tragically poor.

The moral of the story being: even Lawyers can't get blood from either stone or turnip.

Chapter 7:

Harry woke to the heavy scent of fresh brewed coffee and buttery croissants. He sat up on the hunter green satin sheets and yawned. His eyes traveled the room – more grey stone interrupted sporadically by wall hangings and rugs – then stood to walk over to the small table where Voldemort and Lucius sat conversing. Lucius smiled, taking in Harry's rumpled hair and borrowed ankle length sleep shirt. "Did you sleep well, Potter?"

"Yes, thank you." Trying not to focus on his relief that all they did was sleep, Harry picked up a croissant and curled up in the unoccupied seat next to Voldemort. Riddle, ever the perfect host, handed him a glass of orange juice. Taking a sip, he glanced around. "Does any room in this place have a window? I'm getting a little tired of staring at fire-lit grey stone all day."

Voldemort chuckled. "And, what makes you think you can escape?"

Harry blinked at him after nearly choking on his pastry. "Escape? Even if I did escape this blasted bond would bring me back. I did read that book you gave me."

Lucius smiled as Voldemort's chuckle upgraded to full blown laughter. "I'm glad you realize that. I'd hate to have to deal with chasing you all over the countryside because you were too stubborn to listen."

Harry sighed. "So, do we have windows?"

Voldemort, having sobered a bit, shook his head. "I'm afraid that this complex is completely underground, Potter. I couldn't have to order running around looking in windows to find me, now could I? And I, of all people, know better than to trust a Fidelius Charm."

Harry nodded, not a bit surprised that he wouldn't want to trust his life to someone else's hands. "All right, there are no windows. Is there anywhere I can get some fresh air? Though I'm staying with a large number of Slytherins right now, I'm not used to dungeons."

Lucius looked at his Master. "We can't keep letting him wear our clothes. Perhaps we should take him somewhere he won't be recognized and get him some?..." He frowned. "Though, I must admit that I don't know of anyone who wouldn't know his scar."

Voldemort snickered. "For once, muggle ignorance works for us instead of against us. I somehow doubt that anyone in muggle London would recognize the boy. It should be a simple matter of purchasing ready-mades at one of their department stores."

Lucius smiled. "My Lord, that's a brilliant idea. And, it will allow us to test the limits of this bond. Shall I prepare to take him out?"

Voldemort nodded. "I need to see to a matter with Rosier. It appears that he hexed four of our younger members and no one wants to tell me why."

Harry looked at him. "But, I thought that cursing the inferiors was just something that Death Eaters did?"

Voldemort's smile turned malevolent as his eyes narrowed. "I torture my inferiors, Harry. However, they do not do so without my permission."

Harry nodded.

Rosier walked into Voldemort's throne room and bowed before his Lord's stone throne. "I have come as you commanded, Master."

Voldemort raised his eyes about the room. "Leave us." The other Death Eaters filed out quickly but Voldemort, feeling dramatic this morning, decided to wait a few extra seconds to see if Rosier fidgeted. He sighed when he couldn't find a reason to hex him right then and there. "Rosier, would you like to explain why you were cursing our younger recruits?"

Rosier frowned. "I found their commentary on your personal business to be offensive, My Lord. I hexed them as a reminder that they should show you respect both in and out of your blessed presence."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed to tiny red slits. "I am the one who dispenses justice, Rosier. However, I will overlook your proactivity on this one occasion. Now, what were they saying?"

Rosier resisted the urge to ask if "proactivity" was really a word and, if so, in what language. He confined his report to the speculations about his Master engaging in sexual acts with Lucius Malfoy and Harry Potter. His lower jaw did begin to hover at something approaching ground level at his Lord's next words. "Well, that may occur in the future but I agree that it was none of their business. Do you find this so amazing? Am I not permitted an active romantic life?"

Rosier swallowed, thinking quickly. "Of c-course you are, My Lord. I am simply amazed at the brilliance of using your wiles to seduce Potter to your side, thereby neutralizing him." He knew he was laying it on thick, but Voldemort had always liked his ego stroked in the past. "I would never have dreamed of such an… insidious… solution. It truly is worthy of the Heir of Slytherin."

Voldemort smiled. "That's enough, Rosier. Even I can recognize it when you go overboard. Why don't you go fetch those young friends of yours and we can have a little fun with some experimental curses?"

When Rosier's skeletal face lit up with a smile, some said it made him look like the image of Death on his Tarot card. They were right.

Lucius, meanwhile, was standing in the middle of Harrods in a pair of fashionable black slacks and an elegant silk shirt. Next to him, Harry looked a little incongruous in the sleep shirt he'd been wearing that morning. Lucius seemingly didn't notice the stares they received from the passersby, but Harry found himself wanting to drop through the floor in embarrassment.

No sooner had they arrived in the young men's department, than a concerned employee walked over. Her large blue eyes met Harry's, apparently asking if he needed help from the authorities, while she asked Lucius if they needed more mundane help with the clothing.

Lucius correctly interpreted the look and led her off to the side. "Ma'am, you have no idea how much help I need. My brother's house burned down last night leaving my nephew there as the only survivor. I have never had the responsibility for a child before and, even though he's already a teenager, I haven't the foggiest notion of what I should be purchasing for him. I know he needs clothing and the like, but I could use your suggestions as to what labels would be best."

Her heart seemed to melt at his sorrowful request, and Harry soon found himself in a whirlwind of activity. He tried on jeans, dress pants, casual slacks, shirts of all variety, shoes, belts, even underwear. He was more than a bit embarrassed at how much the woman handled him in order to check the fit of the clothes she was suggesting. Lucius didn't seem concerned, though, so he let it pass.

After they were done, the clerk recommended several other places for Lucius to get the things a growing boy needs. Things like video games, computers, school supplies and the like. When they walked out of the store, Lucius practically shoved the list she'd written out at Harry. "Do you want any of this?"

Harry glanced over it and shook his head. "What's the point? None of this works in a magical environment, anyway."

Lucius gave a relieved sigh. "Thank, Merlin. Are we done with our outing for the day, then?"

Harry smiled at him. "Not quite. It's almost lunch time and I'm hungry."

Lucius sighed again. "I suppose it would by hypocritical to complain about feeding you after I spent most of yesterday ranting about those muggles, wouldn't it? So, in light of that, I shall not complain." Harry laughed as he stuck his nose in the air and flipped his hair over his shoulder. Lucius glanced around. "I don't suppose you know a muggle place to eat, do you?"

Harry shook his head. "Not a clue. Why don't we go that way and try the first place we find?" Harry pointed off to the left and, at Lucius' nod, they went.

For those who don't realize, Chapters 1 and 2 are the first day. Chapter 3 is the overnight period between days one and two. (It is a bit out of chronological order. Voldie's breakfast with Harry is happening in the early morning. The Minister meets with Minerva approximately five hours later.) Day two runs through chapter 6. The interlude is set at breakfast of day 3.

Keep in mind that the reason Harry was able to stay awake from the bonding until the end of Chapter 6 is that he was asleep for most of day one. Really, what else is there to do in a pitch black cell?

Sorry about the rhyme on "stone throne." I just couldn't help myself.