AN: Apologies for the long wait. I've been busy and lacking the will to write. The ultimate tragedy, that. And I lost my notes for this chap which really didn't help. *commence dramatic crying*

Also corrupted my dad into a tik tok addiction. Probably should've thought that one through cause now he stalks my page. Oh well. At least he's not on here. In case anyone's interested my tiktok is iampseudonymous I just post random shit on there.

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Harry had a lot to think about as he headed back to his dorm. They decided to give him the day off classes to come to terms with what had been done to him. He honestly wasn't surprised to learn just how much the headmaster had been controlling his life.

But to think he was using mind altering potions on him? Not just manipulation. The old coot had needed potions to make him more malleable. So, so many. Although most seem to have been added after his behaviour of late. Madame Pomfrey said he hadn't been on them long.

Only a few of them he had been on since his introduction to the wizarding world. The most ridiculous of all is the one specifically dedicated to making him hate the Slytherins! Like, come on! Was that really necessary? It was a truly unholy concoction of aversion, distrust, and hate potions. He was also given loyalty potion after loyalty potion. Funnily enough none of this being obtained from our local potions master.

Harry's mind was a mess. Madame Pomfrey said it was only a matter of time before something went wrong. Harry scoffed at that. It was all so very wrong from the start.

Madame Pomfrey grimaced but continued on.

She talked about the basilisk venom and phoenix tears that had evidently never left his blood like they should have. But the thing that sent everything tumbling down like dominoes?

A happiness potion.

A fucking happiness potion.

Something to do with the phoenix tears. He doesn't know. He stopped listening.

He wasn't even sure why Hermione felt the need to dose him with it behind his back. He would've taken it willingly if she had offered it to him. Maybe. Ok he probably would have blown up at her, but still. She had no right to do that.

But if she hadn't then where would he be?

He would've torn himself apart as Dumbledore's pawn.

So maybe things went horribly right.

Because apparently somehow it made it so that the other potions could no longer have any sway over him. The him that is here now is the real him. He should be happy.

He couldn't be too mad at her.

He needed a distraction.

'Hey Voldie!

So, you may have already gotten this wonderful news from someone else by the time you see this, but aurors came to arrest the Great Leader of the Light today.

They didn't succeed of course, but it was quite the show and Dumbles was forced to flee. Can you believe it?!

I wonder who'll be headmaster now. I mean the logical conclusion would be Minnie, but does that mean she'd have to juggle both the headmaster duties and Transfiguration classes? Seems like a lot. Especially with the mess Dumbles made. Maybe we'll get another professor.

I also wonder where Dumbles got the potions he's been dosing me with. It wasn't Snape.

Oh! I forgot to mention the part where the reason he was in trouble was 'cause he was dosing me with some pretty illegal shit, didn't I? Well, he was. He used the poor house elves to sneak it in my food. Told them all sorts of lies about what it was really for.

Anyway, how've you been? Feels like it's been ages since I last saw you. Tell Nagini hi for me!

I trust the paperwork I sent back was to your satisfaction? It was quite the task, but I persevered. Malfoy only had one nervous breakdown while I was filling it out! He's been very helpful, you know. Do you think I could keep him?

…'

The letter rambled on and on.

Voldemort was oddly still, face carefully blank as he stared down at the letter. More importantly the tear tracks on it.

The boy had been crying when he wrote it, and something Voldemort couldn't explain curled around his heart. He didn't understand it. He did, however, understand the other emotion coursing through him. Yes, he knew possessiveness quite well.

AN: Merry Christmas! I have made so many presents. Some I already gave cause I was an impatient little shit :) The rest I have to control myself. *sigh* not long now.

This was my present to all you lovely folks! I hope you enjoyed it.

Farewell for now! As always, I love to hear your thoughts.