Title: Who Wants to Be the Bloody Boy Who Wouldn't Die?
Author: Iskjif
Pairings: Voldemort/Harry (eventually), mild one-sided Severus/Lucius
Warnings: Okay, if you have a problem with my pairings and are still reading this after my warning, well as far as I'm concerned you have no rights… just a mild description of someone under the influence of crucio and some references to masochism in this chappie
Summary: Eventual HPLV. After the events of OotP Harry is apathetic and disillusioned. The Dursley's escalating abuse only serves to alienate him further. When Voldemort's followers come for him, the idea of torture isn't too unpleasant when it's at the hands of those who don't pretend to care.
A/N: Sorry for the super long wait! My mum was decided that she hates me writing so she's made it really hard for me to write over the last couple days. She's been trying to teach me the joys of gardening but secretly she's been teaching me the 'joys' of foot pain, back pain, and blisters… Sorry for anyone who likes gardening and yard work, but it's just not for me… but anyways my mum has had me working for insane amounts of time in the yard, and apparently yard work kills my creativity! I believe that I'm not gonna be able to update much on weekends, seeing as my mum doesn't think that I need the weekend to rest from working all week… So yeah… that was my little mini rant… To everyone who reviewed, Thank you! I don't think that I would have been able to keep writing without you guys!
Oh! Just real quick, you guys should read Pain is Art by SolitaryPoison! It's absolutely loverly! I had to say something after the loverly author reviewed this ficcie and then updated hers!
OoToO
The Dark Lord shifted slightly and tried not to roll his eyes.
His Death Eaters were giving their reports today and it was all very tedious. The man currently giving his report was probably the worst so far. Despite his low rank, he spoke with the arrogance of someone of great importance. The man truly had no sense. Voldemort itched to punish him somehow. Much to his further annoyance, if the man's report was to be believed, his assignment had been highly successful.
The random Death Eater droned on and Voldemort found himself wondering how the man could continue to speak and not run out of things to say. The man's self importance sickened the Dark Lord. He didn't even know the man's name! Voldemort listened to the man babble for a few more minutes and suddenly had a realization.
He didn't need a reason to curse the man beyond that he was annoying, he was the Dark Lord! The man's droning must have hampered his thought processes. Voldemort grinned sadistically and the sight gave the Death Eater pause. The Dark Lord raised his hand from its resting position.
"Crucio"
Instantly the man was on the floor writhing and screaming. As he convulsed all those in attendance fidgeted and looked rather worried for their own safety. Days like these were the worst for the lowest ranking of the Dark Lord's followers. Most of the more intelligent men and women had made sure to be among the first to give their reports. They had limited their speech as much as possible making it quick and precise. Those who waited too long to give their reports or who were too long winded often ended up like the poor soul currently on the floor.
Meetings had a tendency to make Voldemort rather irritable. He preferred to be messing with someone's mind, plotting, or basking in the appreciative glances that his attractive form brought him.
When the Dark Lord felt that the man had suffered enough for being annoying, he broke the curse with a casual wave of his hand. Voldemort dismissed the Death Eater and smirked as he dragged himself from the room.
Voldemort called for the next report wondering who would brave his wrath.
To his disgust, it was Wormtail that approached him.
The rodent-like man quickly began to relate his various exploits and triumphs. Voldemort had to search his memory to remind himself of what he had set Wormtail to do. After a bit of thought, he remembered vaguely that he had sent the man off to 'spy' on some muggles. Any other Death Eater would have been mortified to be given such an obviously useless task. But not Wormtail. He blathered on about how much he had accomplished as if he had been asked to infiltrate some important group. Voldemort was as much confused as he was annoyed.
Wormtail couldn't truly be this foolish, he had shown himself to be much shrewder than this in the past. To be acting this way so soon after that last fool was practically like asking to be cursed….
The Dark Lord blinked and had to hold back a sneer of disgust. What if he did want to be cursed? He had heard of traitors like the rat developing a need and a liking for punishment. Well Salazar forbid that he give the vermin what he wanted. Voldemort's distaste must have shown through because the former Marauder had stopped speaking. The short pudgy man fidgeted in the silence.
After a moment's thought for a way of punishing the Death Eater, Voldemort had an idea. His face twisted into an expression of cruel amusement.
"Zabini. Nott." The two Death Eaters were at instant attention. "Take Wormtail down to the dungeons. There is a small cell that is spelled against animagus transformation. Put him there. I'll deal with him when I have more time."
The two men obeyed quickly. There was never any guarantee of their safety when their Lord was in such a volatile mood. The rat wailed and begged as he was dragged out the side door towards the dungeons. When the sniveling creature was gone, Voldemort sighed happily. That Wormtail was sometimes just too much of an annoyance.
He was about to call for another report when the main doors slammed open. All the assembled Death Eaters jumped at the unexpected noise collectively and then turned to see who had caused the commotion.
Voldemort instantly knew who it was. With his slightly elevated position, he was able to see over the crowd with ease, but in this case he would have been able to tell even without his view of the doors. The Dark Lord had practically been able to taste the powerful aura that had filled the chamber when the doors had opened.
There were startled gasps as Voldemort's followers gaped at the doorway.
For in the doorway was Harry Potter flanked by Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape.
Almost unconsciously, the men and women in the room stepped back clearing a path to their Lord. Lucius started towards Voldemort and Severus followed after leading Potter by the hand as one would a child. Voldemort was surprised by the way that the boy carried himself. He appeared slumped and not the least bit defiant. The Dark Lord had expected Potter to be bound and struggling or maybe even unconscious, but not willingly trudging to what could be his doom. This picture of a defeated child did not match the powerful aura that accompanied this boy.
When the three came to a stop just in front of Voldemort, he was once again surprised. The slump that he had taken for defeat was truly due to exhaustion and bad health. His sensitive nose smelled half healed injuries and the beginnings of malnutrition. As he continued to examine the boy he noted the way that his clothing hung off his body, obviously sized for someone practically the size of a small whale.
Voldemort began to feel a strange sort of anger start to grow inside him. He had known that Potter had not had the best of home-lives, but truly he had had no idea. In his anger he was puzzled. This was not a rage he had felt before. He all but ached to make this boy's foolish muggle relatives pay. He had felt something similar for his own father, but he had never felt it on the behalf of someone else. Voldemort shook himself lightly. He could not feel this way. Certainly not on this boy's behalf. Potter was his enemy. His enemy! He squashed down his rage, it would not do him any good.
It was then, sensing the Dark Lord's scrutiny, that the boy finally looked up from the floor and into Voldemort's eyes. He did not look away as one of Voldemort's followers would have, but held his gaze steadily. It was there, in those emerald depths that Voldemort saw the strength of Potter's aura echoed. They seethed with power, bravery, and strangely, resignation.
The Dark Lord gazed into Potter's eyes, mesmerized by the barely controlled energy they held. It was then that he truly felt how blindly foolish the boy's relatives had been to alienate such a power. After a few more moments of soaking in the boy's gaze, he reluctantly broke the contact and turned to Lucius.
"Report."
OoToO
A/N: Well that's chapter 4! I hope it was worth the wait! Again, I'm really sorry that this was so long in coming… I hope that no one's lost interest… but anyways! Tell me what you guys thought! Tell me if my Voldie was still lovable and in character! What did you think of Harry in this chappie? Gah… my review responses are getting long! Does this bother anyone? Should I move them to the end of the chappie, leave 'em as they are or what?