Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make money from this.
Harry was listening to Mr Greenwich making excuses to defend his Auror, who had been ordered to keep the newly elected politician safe and he was getting annoyed. Headmaster Dippet and professor Dumbledore were also present together with the Minister. All four were standing around the small table in Tom's and his room in the Cluster's Booth with Coraline running around to provide everyone with drinks. Suddenly he reached his boiling point. "Shut up!" he yelled and walked over to the table. Dippet and Dumbledore made room for him as the other two gave him offended looks. "They took out the Auror, fine! We know that! Now, who had access to such information? Because whoever did this; knew how the man thought and where he would hide!" he pointed out and Mr Greenwich blinked at him completely taken by surprise. Eventually the man nodded and the youngster turned to the Minister. "Whoever did this has connections inside the Ministry. Fine them!" Mr Stormlin nodded dumbly and signalled to Coraline.
"Let Ms Grelyon start a background check on every employee," he ordered and Harry rolled his eyes wondering why he just hadn't brought the secretary, who could actually do her job.
"We'll take it from here, Mr Remus," Mr Greenwich said stiffly with a calculating look in his eyes.
"Yes, son, you've been through a lot. You should rest," Dippet nodded to Dumbledore, who was eyeing Harry with a worried expression. "You should let Ms Gomple check you," the Headmaster continued.
"I told you I'm fine. I would have gone to St. Mungo's with Alistair if I wasn't!" he hissed annoyed. They were wasting time!
"Please Mr Remus, we will do everything in our power to get Mr Riddle safely back," the Minister said and patted his back. Harry knew when he was being blown off.
"If you'll excuse me!" he hissed and departed from the room without a glance backwards. 'Everything in their power!' The youngster sneered. 'Everything to keep themselves in power!' he strode straight to the patron behind the counter. Once the man noticed him, he seemed to want to dissolve where he stood. "I need a fireplace, a private fireplace!" he said with warning underlining his voice.
"Of course, Mr Remus," the patron was actually making short bows towards him, "I'll give you my private quarters!" his eyes pleaded for the brunet to find this a good idea.
"That would be approvable," the youngster tried to calm himself down a little. It wouldn't help him if he scared the man to death.
"Great, please follow me," the patron rapidly moved to a door beside the counter and directed him through a small corridor to his living room. Overdramatically the man pointed to the fireplace and quickly disappeared from the room once more. When he heard the door close behind him, Harry got into action and immediately threw some Floo powder in the fire.
"Abraxas Malfoy!" he articulated and didn't have to wait long before an annoyed blond appeared in the flames.
"My dear cousin, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Tom has been kidnapped!" The brunet went straight to the point and the annoyance made place for disbelieve.
"What?"
"I'm serious. Tom has been kidnapped during a duel with Alistair." It was dawning to the Malfoy that Harry was meaning every word he said.
"Alistair... The culprit knew of the duel. Most likely it is someone inside the group then."
"Tristan?"
"Possibly. I'll use my contacts to find out. In mean time don't trust anyone of the group," Abraxas warned the youngster.
"I wasn't planning too," Harry had the urge to roll his eyes.
"Good, be cautious with how you inform Spave."
"I will." They nodded to each other and the connection broke. Next, Harry called his grandfather.
"Marvolo, what a pleasant surprise!" Harold greeted him warmly and the brunet gave him a small smile.
"I need your help, Harold." The other's eyes immediately turned serious. "Tom has been kidnapped." For a moment they just stared at each other until finally the oldest Potter seemed to snap.
"What?! That's terrible!" It helped that he meant it. "Do you have any leads?" The brunet shook his head.
"Not officially, but..."
"You've got a hunch." The youngster nodded as he continued.
"I believe it's someone inside the group."
"Someone who isn't happy that he won? His opponent?"
"Maybe? But wouldn't it be too easy to put the blame on him?" Harold took a minute to think before slowly nodding.
"Yes, you have a point."
"And I don't think he would want to endanger his cousin," Harry added and his grandfather gave him a confused expression.
"What was Alistair doing with Tom?"
"They were duelling," the youngster answered just too fast and a smirk appeared on Harold's lips.
"Duelling?" Harry could guess where this was going. "Over you?!" It was more a statement than a question and the brunet huffed before nodding once. The oldest Potter's smirk only widened and the youngster glared at him. "I have to ask. What were the stakes?" The blue charmed eyes gave him a look full disbelieves.
"Really, Tom got kidnapped and you want to know why they were duelling?" Harold blinked at him.
"Yes." The youngster dropped his head in his hand and shook his head before raising it again.
"Fine, if Tom won Alistair would move out of our room..."
"You shared a room?" Harry gave his grandfather a look that told him not to interrupt him, but answered anyway.
"Yes, Alistair transferred to Hogwarts and we ended up in the same room. Now, if Alistair won we would go on a date," the brunet ended.
"He only wanted a date?" Harold had to ask further and once more he got a look from his grandson.
"No, he wanted Tom and me to break up, but I told him that wasn't going to happen."
"Okay, thanks," Harold turned serious again and a pause settled between them. "Tristan would know about the duel," he said in the end and Harry nodded.
"Yes," a sigh escaped from between the youngster's lips, "could you look out for... anything."
"Of course... also," the oldest Potter eyed the younger, whose eyes told him to continue, "if something happens during this kidnapping..." he searched for the right words, "Tom could relapse." Harry's eyebrow raised in a sarcastic movement.
"Relapse?"
"Yes," Harold was clearly uncomfortable, "since your relationship has been public Tom has been..." the oldest Potter again struggled to find the right words, "friendlier," he decided in the end and the brunet gave him a smile.
"You're saying I'm a good influence?" Harry had to tease and his grandfather nodded fiercely.
"You are!" The youngster sighed turning the conversation serious again.
"I understand your point. A kidnapping has consequences." 'Voldemort.' Harold only nodded and his attention got pulled by something beside him.
"I've got to go. I'll keep in touch and if you need anyone to talk to... I'm here."
"Thanks," Harry smiled in gratitude and watched the flames turn normal again. For a moment he just stared at the fire, preparing himself for the next call he would have to make. Talking to Spave would have to be calculating. He wouldn't get any comfort out of it. His hand moved to the Floo powder once more and he called for Arte Spave. The nurse answered and asked who he was and what his business was. "I'm Marvolo Remus," a twinkle in the woman's eyes told him she knew exactly who he was, "and I need to talk to Mr Spave urgently," he didn't say more and apparently being Tom's boyfriend worked as she quickly went to fetch her patient.
"Marvolo, what can I do for you?!" Spave's voice sounded before he was fully visual in the flames. The politician looked thinner than the last time the youngster had seen him and he was certain if the flames weren't colouring his face, Spave would look really pale.
"Mr Spave-"
"Arte, please." Harry gave him a polite smile.
"Arte, I have bad news." The politician's eyes immediately got a stern expression in them and a good amount of fear was also present.
"Tom?" he guessed correct with a broken voice and the brunet nodded.
"He's been kidnapped." Despair instantly took control of the sick man and he started mumbling. "I'll find him!" Harry raised his voice to get Spave's attention back on him. He had to avoid the politician losing himself in his mind at all cost.
"You will?" The small helpless voice made Goose bumps appear on the youngster's skin.
"Yes!" The brunet sounded more confident than he felt, but it did the trick. Spave's eyes widened with admiration and a shy smile appeared on his lips.
"I can see why Tom chose you," the politician said to the youngster's surprise and Harry gave him a small smile.
"I'll get someone to look through Tom's schedule to see if we can find a clue to who could be the culprit," the politician suggested and Harry thanked him before breaking the connection. He was tired and for what seemed like hours just stared at the flames in the fireplace.
-THTH-
The moment Harry entered Hogwarts' castle Ignatius and Alex were on him. "Are you all right?" Ignatius seemed to flutter from one side to the other to assure himself that the youngster was unharmed.
"I'm fine, but clearly you got the news."
"It spread like wildfire," Alex answered honestly and the brunet sneered.
"Of course it would."
"What's the plan?" Crabbe continued and Harry felt a little relieved he could count on his friends.
'They're just like Ron and Hermione in that aspect.' A pain shot through his chest at the thought of the friendships he had given up. 'No, Tom's who's important now!' he forced the memories to the back of his head and gave his attention to his present friends. "Let's talk somewhere more private," he nodded in the direction of the dungeon and led them to the Slytherin house only stopping when they entered his room. Finding it empty like expected, he guarded the door and the room with spells before facing his guests once more. "I've already contacted Abraxas, Spave and Harold."
"Harold?" Ignatius frowned and Harry nodded.
"Yes, Harold Potter." Doubt was visual in his friends' eyes but at the same time they knew he was friends with Dumbledore's pet. "Harold will look at this from another perspective, which we need or do you want Tom to revered back to how he was before we were together?" Alex was quick to shake his head while Ignatius took a moment before hesitatingly making the same movement. "Now there has to be a tracking spell or something that we can try!" The brunet's voice made clear he wasn't going to accept a no for an answer.
"Wouldn't the Aurors already be using those?" Parkinson asked carefully and blue eyes narrowed at him.
"Yes, but I'm talking about something less... legal." Both Alex and Ignatius blinked at him before they leaned closer towards him.
"I know about a couple, but if I was the captor I would use charms to block such curses," Parkinson answered. It went unspoken that the captor would have knowledge of dark magic. The youngster's face darkened and he turned to his other friend. Troubled eyes betrayed Crabbe's inner turmoil. Harry's eyes forced him to spill the beans.
"My family has a curse, a curse so dark it has been banned in the Middle Ages." Ignatius' eyes seemed to want to pop out of his head as he watched his friend. Harry only nodded. He would weight every option. "All records of the curse were destroyed except the ones in possession of my family. We were sworn secrecy and only allowed to use it for our research," Alex continued.
"No, unbreakable vow?" Ignatius mumbled and Crabbe shook his head.
"Didn't yet exist."
"What is it?!" Harry demanded to know and Alex took a deep breath before answering.
"With the witch huntings of that time, purebloods kept a tight control on the mudbloods-"
"Muggleborns!" The youngster warned him and Crabbe quickly bowed his head in submission.
"Muggleborns and muggle-lovers. When one crossed the line they captured the muggle partner or relative and casted this curse on them. The muggle got tortured while a red ball of light would move out of the muggle's body towards the blood traitor. Most of the time the traitor didn't reach the captive in time," Alex ended clearly uncomfortable and blue eyes widened.
"It's a race against time?" Crabbe nodded. "So, it depends on how far the blood traitor is and how strong the captive."
"Then it's of no use!" Ignatius quickly said but the brunet could see that Alex wasn't done yet.
"The original is, but my grandfather has succeeded in altering it." That grabbed Harry's attention.
"Go on!" he was ruder than he meant.
"The alteration keeps the torture to a minimum for as long as the captive has the strength to fight it, but when it breaks through it breaks through with a vengeance." Ignatius gasped.
"No one can survive that!" Alex sadly shook his head.
"Than what's useful about it?" The youngster asked not ready to give up on the idea just yet.
"My grandfather invented a potion to stop the effect," Harry got hopeful, "but it requires blood of the blood traitor." Parkinson shook his head, clearly not in favour of the curse but the youngster couldn't ignore it.
"What you're saying is if I cast the curse I would have an undefined amount of time to find Tom and add his blood to a potion before I die of immense pain?"
"Don't forget you have to get past the kidnapper," Ignatius had to put his two cents worth in and Harry glanced at him before turning his attention back to his other friend.
"Yes," Crabbe answered and Parkinson seemed to blow up.
"Are you two insane?!" Both Harry as Alex looked surprised at him. "The risks to this plan are way too high and did you forget that we don't want our Lord to revered back to his old self? Which will certainly happen if you die!" Ignatius was panting when he was done and his friends were looking at him with large eyes.
"Yes, that's true," the brunet admitted. "This will be our last resort," he decided and Parkinson shook his head while refusing to look at the others.
"The curse will probably also be stopped by the blocking charms," he mumbled and the brunet turned to Crabbe.
"It's a strong old curse that shouldn't exist any longer. No blocking charm will stop it." There was no doubt in Alex's words.
"Last resort... We'll wait on news from Abraxas or Harold. One of them must be able to find out something." Crabbe nodded at the youngster's words while Ignatius huffed. With a wave of his wand Harry dispelled the spells he had casted on the room, calling this meeting to an end.
"What happened to Alistair?" Alex all of a sudden asked and again two pair of eyes were trained on the youngster's face.
"He was taken to St. Mungo's," the brunet answered disinterested.
"Is he... whole?" Parkinson carefully asked and Harry nodded.
"He has a broken wrist and the after effects of the Cruciatus Curse." The expression in his friends' eyes made clear they were surprised at how light he was taking this.
'What can you expect from me? I've lived through a war!' The youngster defended his peace of mind, but had to admit he had gotten too used to the use of the Unforgivables. 'Remember Harry, they don't know you were in a war! You're just Marvolo, who had been in hiding for Grindelwald.' "Dippet went with him and when Dippet returned he assured me that everything would be okay. Also it appears that Alistair told the authorities that the Cruciatus Curses were casted by the kidnapper." That seemed to relieve his friends and with a short nod of him they moved to the common room. There a multiple of students were crowded together, clearly waiting on him. Just seeing the questioning looks directed his way made him want to turn around and escape to his room. Of course he couldn't do that and for the first time realized that no matter how Tom didn't want his job to have a major influence on Harry's life, it still did. With the future Dark Lord's absence, the community would look at him and test him. A sixth year took the lead and walked up to him.
"Marvolo," the brunet took in the boy before him and realized he looked familiar, "is it true that our Lord has been kidnapped?" Everyone's face demanded an answer and Harry knew he had to do some damage control. This could turn out to be the death blow of Tom's carrier.
"Someone had the nerve," he sneered at the last word, "to kidnap Tom during a friendly duel." The way his spectators glanced at each other told him they knew the duel hadn't been that friendly and probably all about him.
"Are there suspects?" The sixth year continued and the youngster suddenly determined he was a Black.
'A brother of Walburga?' he wondered as his eyes fell on a smaller boy behind the sixth year, who looked like the splitting image of the sixth year. 'Did Sirius have two uncles?' he wondered slightly and tried to remember the Black family tree he had seen at Grimmauld Place, but his mind failed him. 'One of them must be Bellatrix and Narcissa's father.' With a criticizing look Harry took a moment to take in the older Black before narrowing his eyes at him. "I apologise, but such information could jeopardize the investigation. I'm sure you understand." The sixth year stiffly nodded and the youngster let his eyes fall on the other students. Not one dared to meet his eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me," he stepped forwards and the crowd made place for him. Only when he was alone with his friends in the corridor of the dungeon, did he let out a breath of relief.
"You did well," Alex assured him and Ignatius nodded.
"I acted like Tom would," he sadly smiled at them.
"Which is the right way to address Slytherins," Parkinson told him. "Everything you said will find its way to their parents. You did the right thing."
"I hope so."
-THTH-
A week had passed and still no news had reached Harry. It also didn't help that the authorities were keeping everything from him. In his own time he could pressure them as the Boy-Who-Lived, but here he was just the troubled boyfriend. His friends had taken to guarding him in turn as they wanted to keep an eye on him and at the same time his mood made them want to hide from him. Alex had digged up the old curse, which made Ignatius only more alert as he suspected the youngster to use it at any moment. Thing were going from bad to worst. Sighing, the brunet stared at the ceiling above his bed. He felt locked up in his own room. As they couldn't guard him during the night, Ignatius had had the idea of putting up a charm that would wake him if Harry left his dorm. He was a prisoner. Shaking his head he closed his eyes and once more tried to let sleep take over. This time his attempt got interrupted by someone barging into his room. Instinctively he grabbed his wand and shot upright pointing it to a wobbling Alistair.
"I'm back!" The Stromay called out with a fake laugh and Harry let himself dropped down again.
"Alistair?!" Ignatius called out as he stormed in the room also armed and the youngster glanced at his friend. "I didn't know you would come back today."
"Yes, I couldn't stay away from Marvolo for that long," he wiggled his eyebrows and the brunet rolled his eyes.
"Please, stop that!" It was an order and the Stromay's eyes turned serious.
"Still no news about Tom?" Ignatius was the one to shake his head and Harry closed his eyes. "Then I might have a lead!" Alistair dropped a bomb and the youngster bolded up.
"What?!"
"I don't know if it will help, but I find it coincidental that Tristan lost the papers he had on Tom's and your backgrounds." The brunet frowned and Parkinson gave Stromay a confused look.
"He probably made them disappear," Ignatius said and the other shook his head.
"No, he was freaking out when he noticed they were gone. And I know my cousin; he isn't that good of an actor."
"You mean that you think someone found something on Tom and kidnapped him because of it?" Harry asked sarcastic and Alistair nodded.
"Maybe they decided he's too dangerous." Blue eyes narrowed themselves.
"Just what was in that report?" Stromay glanced at Parkinson and the brunet came to the conclusion that maybe it was better to not reveal Tom's past to just anyone. "Ignatius, could you give us a sec?" His friend gave Alistair a warning stare before slowly departing from the room. When the door closed the youngster was quick to put up some charms before turning his attention back on the other still present. "All right, talk!" he ordered and Stromay nodded. He wobbled to his bed and sat down on it before starting.
"Tom..." Alistair looked unsure at the brunet. "He has killed people," surprise settled on his face as Harry didn't react, "his own father." The youngster nodded.
"I'm aware of that." The other gave him a shocked expression.
"You know he killed his own father and you're okay with that?" A sigh escaped Harry's lips and he lightly shook his head.
"I can never approve of murder... and I am trying to change him."
"I know," Alistair admitted to his surprise. "When I read the report it was notable that Tom has become more amenable since your relationship became public."
"Then at least I'm succeeding," the youngster sadly smiled before frowning. "If you know that then why are you fighting him over me? It could ruin your entire carrier." The other hesitated for a moment.
"I mean it when I say I can't help it," Alistair glanced away from him before continuing. "I can only explain it as love at first sight and every time I learn something new about you it makes me fall harder," he confessed shyly. Harry could see his cheeks colouring and knew he meant it.
"I'm flattered, but... I'm sorry." Alistair gathered his courage and looked the brunet in the eyes.
"I know it is a lost cause and can only hope Tom makes the stupid mistake of letting you go." The youngster gave the other a small smile and a comfortable silence settled around them. "Back to the background check," Alistair was the one to break the silence. "Tristan has been trying to gather a list of everyone who has been in his office, but no one has caught his eyes yet. The only thing that I can say for sure is that only people of the group have entered the office." The last sentence made blue eyes narrow.
"You aren't the first one to point your finger to the group," Harry leaned forward. "Could you get me a copy of that list?" A smile bloomed on the other's face and he pulled a folded paper from his pocket.
"I thought you were going to ask that." Blue eyes widened and the youngster jumped up. In a couple of strides he was before the Stromay's bed and ripped the paper from his fingers. Quickly he opened it and scanned the names. A couple jumped at him, but more because of the fact that he could put a face to the names than suspect someone.
"Thanks, this will help." Alistair smiled at his words.
"Great, now if you'll excuse me, I'm in need of some rest." The brunet pulled a painful face as he remembered Stromay had only just been discharged from St. Mungo's.
"Of course." Quietly he moved back to his own bed with the list of suspects clenched in his fist.
-THTH-
Painful Tom tried to raise his eyelids and slowly succeeded as gravity worked against him. He glanced sideways and found himself still on an upright surgery table. Darkness hid the most of the room from him, only a curtain the size of a double door before him was illuminated by a small oil lamp, which filled itself magically. He didn't know how long he had been out this time and didn't get the time to wonder as again a wand appeared from between the curtains before him. The wand was the only thing he had seen of his captor; the person didn't even talk to him. A spell was casted and his torment could begin again.
Like always Harry appeared before him. He could see the youngster through the window of their house and guessed he was supposed to be looking from a hiding place just outside their property. The brunet opened the front door and only then did the future Dark Lord noticed Alistair. A wave of jealousy rose but he suppressed it until it flared again when the two started passionately kissing. Once more he forced himself to remember that this wasn't real. Harry pulled his companion with him, bumping into a couple of walls in their enthusiasm until they reached the bedroom. The youngster appeared by the window and made the intention to close the curtains when Alistair pounced him from behind. Pleasure filled Harry's face and made him forget the curtains all together. The brunet's body started bumping against the window and Tom clenched his hands. The Stromay's head moved swiftly in and out his vision and a growl escaped from deep in his throat. The window was starting to fog with the heat the two bodies were radiating but the moment they reached completion was still very visual. The future Dark Lord's body screamed for punishment and revenge for the betrayal he had just seen.
'It's not real!' he repeated and the first curse hit him, making him scream in pain. The Cruciatus Curses seemed to continue for hours before suddenly stopping and when he finally opened his eyes again he was met with a new vision. He was inside the Cluster's Booth nursing an alcoholic beverage and had a clear sight on Harry, the Weasley brothers and Harold. They were having a heated discussion until the younger Weasley said something insulting and the youngster briskly stood up. Angry the brunet moved away from the table, passing Tom's to go to the bathroom. Harold shot the Gryffindor an accusing look before following the youngster. The body the future Dark Lord was occupying stood up and follow them.
"Marvolo!" For the first time he could hear something and glanced around the corner to find Harold leaning against a wall beside Harry. The rest of the conversation seemed to be blurred out and he could only watch. Suddenly, the brunet pushed Harold completely against the wall and yelled something inaudible in his face. The oldest Potter was quick to pull the other in his arms and hugged him close in comfort. Harry seemed to relax and Harold released him enough to be able to look him in the eyes. Some more words were said and the oldest Potter raised his hand to wipe away a tear falling from those blue eyes. The youngster seemed to pull the other closer again and their eyes met in an understanding. Almost in slowmotion their faces seemed to lean towards each other and their lips met. The kiss was sweet and nothing like the passion Tom had seen in the previous vision. Forcing a smirk to keep off his lips, the older teen looked at the vision.
'Big mistake,' he repeated in his head. At first he had denied the reality of the visions but doubt had seeped into his mind until he saw Harry with Harold. 'Harry would never go for his own grandfather!' he mentally chuckled. His captor had made a big mistake showing him that. If he had stayed with Alistair there could have been a chance that Tom would have started to believe the lies, but never with Harold. The vision disappeared again and the round of curses started again.
R&R