Disclaimer:

I do not own Harry Potter, but he keeps trying to crawl into my lap.

My current dream is to actually have a penny or two, as I have none.

Therefore, you'll have to sell my internal organs to get any cash out of me.

(Ouch.)

Chapter 10 – Day 4

Minerva was in a towering rage, which was fitting since her office was in the tower. Voldemort was bound to Harry. Lucius was bound to Harry. Once the Bond was completed, the three could draw off each other's magic and use it as needed to sustain themselves. They could feel each other's presence and their emotional state. They could at any moment tell how far away and what direction their spouses were in. And, most serious of all, the dominant one would be able to command any of the other spouses to do anything.

This was intolerable. There was no other word that matched her feelings on the subject. Especially since no one had ever successfully broken a marriage bond without killing all those involved. That was why wizard divorces had been unheard of until a few decades ago when those Bonds were rejected by most of society. Now they had just about the same divorce rate as muggles.

She glared at Fawkes as he sat on his perch. The phoenix seemed completely unruffled by her mood, and even ranting about the problem for the last hour hadn't perturbed him. Her anger faded into contemplation for a moment. Perhaps Dumbledore complained so much that the bird got used to it?

She frowned. Fawkes tolerances aside, she still needed to find an answer to Potter's situation. There was no way the Wizarding world would accept his marriage to Voldemort and Malfoy. The only surprise was that Narcissa wasn't already screaming divorce over the whole affair.

She blinked as a thought struck her. Perhaps… Dumbledore hadn't seen the full measure of the prophecy. Perhaps… Harry was supposed to destroy Voldemort by dying himself.

Lucius stalked through the corridors, barely managing to keep his frustrations hidden. No one knew anything. Even Bella didn't know who did the 'dastardly deed' of kidnapping Potter. He sighed, and then brightened. Severus might know something about Harry's disappearance. If nothing else, he can help me figure out who did this. He might even let me borrow some Veritaserum.

With that thought lightening his steps, he went to search for his old acquaintance.

Scrimgeour walked into the hospital wing just in time to hear the tail end of Potter's sentence. "… got flowers every time he tried to hex me." The children's laughter rang through the ward.

He smiled as he walked up to Potter's bed and wasn't the least bit put out by the flash of irritation in the boy's eyes. "Ah, Potter, I see you're having fun with your friends." He glanced down at them. "Sorry to break up the good times, but the boy and I really must chat alone for a few minutes."

They started to leave until Potter stopped them. "I don't think so, Minister. I said all I had to say to you at the Weasley's. You can take your offer and go fuck yourself."

Scrimgeour blinked at Potter's choice of words. He didn't know the boy had it in him to be quite so colorful with his speech, but the words rolled off his lips like he was born telling the world to go to hell. Granger and the Weasley boy looked a bit surprised, but then they moved to flank Potter as if to give weight to his words.

"Do you really think you can say things like that to the Minister of Magic, child? My position deserves some respect, as I am the duly elected representative of the people."

Potter snorted. "You are the representative of those who think they have power. You are the worst kind of politician. You only want to manipulate people until they give you what you want. Thanks but no thanks." Potter's eyes steeled. "Now get out."

"But, my dear boy…."

Hermione cut him off by raising her voice a little. "Madam Pomfrey, the Minister is upsetting Harry!"

The school nurse bustled in, and Scrimgeour found some small measure of comfort in Potter's cohorts being herded out as well. "This isn't over, Potter."

Harry yawned. "When will you people get a new script?"

Hermione and Ron laughed all the way out of the room. Ron nearly fell over a few times. Hermione was a bit more dignified about the humor, but it still stung Scrimgeour's pride.

Harry, meanwhile, tried to ignore the pain in his chest long enough to sleep.

Lucius strolled into Snape's study and smiled. "Can I get a few fingers of that, Severus?"

Snape waved towards the bar, and Lucius went to help himself to the brandy. "My dear Severus, we have a bit of a problem…." He settled down in the chair across from the Potions Master. "The Dark Lord, Potter and I have become the unfortunate recipients of a Bonding."

Snape choked on his drink. "You're bound?"

Lucius nodded. "Worse yet, it's a Marriage Bond." He continued as Snape's eyes widened in horror. "There was a bit of an issue with a spell we used when he first arrived, and well…. Here we are.

"Now, someone has kidnapped Potter while our Bond hasn't been completed. We don't know who did it, or where the boy is. However, because we aren't dead he must not be as of yet. You know most of the Death Eaters better than I do, do you have any idea who could have done this and where the young man is?"

Snape's mind was whirling. Bonded, they were Bonded. This was the perfect way to rid the world of both Potter and the Dark Lord with one blow. "Have you asked Bellatrix? I know she would be more than happy to take the boy home and play with him for a while."

Lucius shook his head. "Bella can do many things, but she's a horrible liar. She doesn't know. Besides, the Dark Lord ordered her not to touch him."

Severus frowned. "Perhaps one of the Order's peons managed to break in? There are enough werewolves in the building that one more wouldn't be noticed by most of us." He met Lucius' eyes. "Remus Lupin is a werewolf and member of the Order, after all."

Lucius frowned. "It's a possibility. In that case, I will have to find a way to check Hogwarts. I can't imagine them taking Harry to St. Mungo's for treatment of anything. Not with his fame and…" he smirked, "Lord Voldemort on the loose."

Severus couldn't help laughing, even as he was plotting how best to kill one of the three.

Voldemort's teeth bit lightly at the back of Harry's neck, resulting in a tickling but pleasurable sensation. His tongue darted out to soothe the spot, and the brunette shuddered. Goosebumps raised across his flesh as Voldemort trailed kisses across his shoulder, seeming to know where every nerve bundle hid. He leaned his head back against his spouse and moaned.

Lucius took advantage of his open mouth, plundering it mercilessly. His hands slid down and teased Harry's chest, bringing another shudder to the surface. He brushed lightly at Harry's nipples, inciting another moan as Harry broke away for air.

Voldemort nuzzled into his neck, and then nipped at his ear. "Harry…"

"Harry? Harry, wake up."

Harry blinked at Hermione, glad that he was on his side and the sheets were hiding his reaction to the dream. "Wha…?"

She smiled wickedly, eyes twinkling. "You were dreaming, Harry. Though, from your moans I'd say it was a good one. Care to share?"

Blushing furiously, Harry buried his head in his pillow. Hermione laughed. "Seriously, your lunch is here and I've brought your textbooks so we can work on the summer homework together."

Harry sat up and sighed, wondering where Hermione had learned some of the fastest ways on earth to kill anyone's sex drive: embarrassment and homework.

Lucius watched his Lord's ire rise as he reported Snape's suggestion. Voldemort wasn't happy that he was apparently going to have to find a way into Hogwarts with so little warning. Lucius sighed as pansies crushed against his chest and refused to contemplate the irony of that particular flower. "Perhaps one of his friends could help us, My Lord. I know they're happy to see him, but I think they'll want to insure his safety."

Voldemort stared at the flowers littering the ground around Lucius for a moment and then nodded. "Find one of them to make contact with, quickly. I know all three of us are used to pain, but something in me is… breaking… at the thought of Potter hurting."

Lucius nodded, his face a perfect mask. "It's upsetting me as well, My Lord."

Ginny Weasley was convinced that no one appreciated her. They never noticed her when she was around unless there was trouble. Even then, she was frequently ignored. Like when Hermione had told her father what had happened to Harry. She'd been right there, but no one had wanted to hear her input on the subject. No one asked her to come to Hogwarts to see him.

So now, here she was, shopping in Diagon Alley with her slightly tipsy and over-medicated mother. The children usually didn't come to this section of the Alley without their parents, as it was mostly groceries and other uninteresting things. Really, what fourth year would want to purchase a head of lettuce or tile stain removers? She tried to ignore the boredom, but it kept her attention like a soldier waving a flag and bellowing his battle cry.

So, her gaze wandered even though she should be making sure her mother didn't buy thirty seven pounds of beets or some similarly wasteful amount of food. Her perusal skipped across most of the shoppers, many with their smaller children wailing in their arms, dismissing them as quickly as she dismissed the ten pounds of oranges her mother put in the carts. At least we can make fresh squeezed juice.

She almost missed the gesture aimed at her from the shadows, but her Quidditch-honed senses detected it and moved her eyes back into that direction. She glanced once at her mother and quickly walked in that direction, noting the distinctive lock of platinum blonde hair hanging out of the man's hood.

She was careful to keep her voice low. "Lucius Malfoy, I presume."

"Yes, indeed, Miss Weasley. I trust you have heard what has happened to young Mister Potter?"

She nodded, leaning against the wall next to him and letting her eyes watch for anyone noticing them. "What do you want?"

Ah, the plot thickens. Or, perhaps, it sickens? Tell me what you think.