Chapter 12

Harry's arm rested lightly on his husband's as the pair of them walked into the dining hall for breakfast that morning. Tom pulled Harry's chair for him, gently laying a hand on Harry's shoulder and pushing him into the seat.

"Thank you Tom" Harry murmured under his breath as he took the seat. He kept his eyes on the breakfast food before him. He was rather self conscious about the situation that he was in. There were several large hickies residing on his neck; large and dark on the skin. If that wasn't an obvious sign of what had happened that morning, he was sure that Jugson would have already shared the details with the rest of the new recruits. Those details would surely spread quickly throughout the ranks. Harry didn't want to see the judgement in their eyes.

Harry was so lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the quick conversation that was had between the Dark Lord and one of his more senior Death Eaters; Abraxas Malfoy. Very few words were exchanged as the man came to stand by the Dark Lord, behind Harry. He had been summoned by the rather insistent tingle that ran up his left arm. The conversation was quick and to the point and Abraxas quickly exited the dining room without a backward glance.

Harry was soon joined by his husband who seated himself besides him, non the wiser for the small conversation that had been had behind him.

"Serve yourself Harry." Tom encouraged as Harry merely sat staring at the food before him. It seemed he was a little out of it this morning. Tom supposed that a Death Eater walking in on you having sex with the Dark Lord could make people a little…uncomfortable. He, himself merely felt anger at the situation but he supposed that it may be possible for one such as Harry to have a rather different emotional response.

Tom sighed, such a bother. His husband couldn't do anything himself. He grabbed the spoon from the bowl of scrambled eggs and placed a small amount onto Harry's plate. This was such a hassle. He placed two slices of toast next to the eggs. What a waste of his precious time, he was a Dark Lord. He shouldn't be serving other people breakfast. Tom grabbed a bowl and filled it with fruit salad before placing it next to the plate. What had he been reduced to?!

"Eat Harry" Tom hummed as he set the bowl of fruit salad next to his husband. Harry blinked before picking up a spoon. He slowly made his way through the fruit salad, a small smile hidden behind the food as he spooned it into his mouth.

He could ignore the stares of the Death Eaters, could pretend that they weren't there as the Dark Lord engaged him in a quite and rather stilted conversation. It may be awkward and a little weird, but it took his mind off what was going on around him.

"I will be attending your duelling session tonight Harry." Harry gave a small smile as he took a bite from his toast.

"Better you than Carrow" Harry said quietly as he finished his bite.

"I could have given you Avery" Tom smirked, a wicked glint in his eye. "I just might, next time."

Harry gave a small huff of a laugh; a wide smile curling its way across his face.

"You might be the Dark Lord, but you wouldn't be that cruel." Harry smiled at the man. Tom raised an eye brow; a smirk creeping up his face.

"You don't know the half of it." Tom bared his teeth in a mock growl and Harry smiled back before turning toward his food again.

"If you say so Tom," Harry smirked as he took another bite of toast.

Tom left breakfast, satisfied with the meal. Harry was seemingly loosing his fear of him. He had chatted quite freely and seemed unconcerned with the stares that had been following him. They were, after all, something that he would have to get used to. Tom's plan was going well. The boy had willingly engaged in some rather intimate touches that morning with him and enjoyed it. Harry had not later pulled away from him. In fact when his mind had cleared the boy had seemed to feel closer to Tom. This was perfect. Tom would have the boy in love with him by Christmas. He was sure of it.

Now all he had to do was deal with the potential problem for the success of his plan; Jugson. Tom knew that there was more to the boy's story than he had given him. Tom's wards on his rooms were set so that unless one was looking for his rooms, they could not find them. That way no-one could accidentally find the rooms. He knew that many Death Eaters were curious creatures. He would rather not have them all finding their way into his room by accident. Yet he still wished their allowance for exploration. It was Slytherin nature, after all. They all knew that his rooms were off limit, no matter what.

Additionally, there were more wards in place that prevented those intent on harming his person from entering his private quarters. However in the moment that the boy had entered his room, Tom had realised that those words did not extend to Harry. That was something that he would be rectifying today. He would also be gathering any information that he could from the young Jugson. If things had gone as he had ordered Jugson would have his securely restrained in the dungeons; hanging painfully from one of the walls if Tom's wishes had been carried out.

Tom would leave him there while he fixed the wards. The wards took only around half an hour to fix, as they were handcrafted by his own hand and so easily modified. But that seemed rather too short a time to let the boy stew. Therefore Tom hosted a rather relaxing mid-morning tea meeting. He had invited Malfoy Sr and his son Lucius, Severus Snape and finally Fenrir Greyback to the pleasantries. All of the members were ones that were willing to protect his husband. All had a vested interest, an emotional connection of sorts to his husband in some way. They were willing to protect him. Tom deemed that as an appropriate reason to reward them. A personal meeting with the Dark Lord was rather high praise and would be sure to spread through the grapevine rather rapidly.

Finally, around three hours after breakfast, the Dark Lord made his way down toward the dungeons; Severus closely in tow. The young man had some rather interesting potions that the Dark Lord could use on the unwitting subject. However, the young Death Eater was required to monitor the subject; new potions could be rather volatile and the Dark Lord didn't want Jugson to die. Well, at least not before he had his answers.

Tom entered the dungeon room to see a rather pale and bloodied Jugson. It was evident that Malfoy had had his fun with the young man. Maybe he had invited some friends along with him. The Dark Lord appreciated the thought. A man in pain was more willing to talk.

"Morning Jugson," Tom smirked. His voice was jolly, but there was a vicious undertone to it.

"As you can see, I have brought a few gifts along with me for you to try. I'm sure you'll appreciate them." His eyes glittered red.

"Severus" he put his hand out. A silent demand for the first potion. The potion hit his palm with a small thud.

"Now, open your mouth, my dear." Tom purred as he stepped forward. Jugson squeezed his eyes shut and ignored the order.

"Hmmmm" Tom wondered in fake curiosity. "Playing hard to get, it seems," Tom smirked.

His fingers quickly and harshly grasped the bloodied skin of the young man. His nails dug in harshly, forcing more blood to blossom to the surface; staining his nails red. Jugson gasped in pain and in a flash Tom forced the potion into his mouth. His hand then quickly covered his mouth and nose; forcing Jugson to swallow the concoction.

It took only ten-seconds before the young man started to thrash in the bonds that held him to the wall. Foam started to froth from his mouth and his eyes rolled back into his head. The Dark Lord watched in satisfaction as the pain went on.

For the next hour Tom watched in satisfaction as potion after potion was fed to the eighteen-year-old. Tom didn't even ask any questions to his target; he merely revelled in the screams of the young Death Eater before him. As a scream that was verging on those of the insane ripped its way from his throat, Tom finally fed Jugson the antidote to the most recent potion.

"Severus, the veritaserum" Tom smirked. Severus gave a solemn nod.

"Final one now Charles," the Dark Lord cooed. "Then It'll all be over." Tom smirked. The boy was in so much pain that he opened his mouth without protest. Tom fed Jugson the potion and he quickly swallowed it down.

"Now, a few questions for you" Tom mocked as he saw the young man's eyes go glassy. Tom could have used Legilimency on the young man, but where was the fun in that? It was far more entertaining to watch as the young man was forced to actually say his answers out loud.

"What is your name?"

"Charles Gregory Jugson." The young man responded perfectly.

"Why were you attempting to enter my quarters?"

Jugson blinked, as though attempting to avoid his answer. But the potion quickly pulled him back under. "To find Hercules"

Ah, just as he suspected. The Dark Lord clenched his teeth.

"Why did you want to find Hercules?" Tom growled.

"To have some fun." Jugson's voice was monotonous, but the words he said made the Dark Lord want to rip his tongue from his mouth.

"What sort of fun?" he growled.

"Some of the other Death Eaters said he was easy. That he'd do anything for anyone. I wanted to see if he was telling the truth."

"Who told you this?" Tom pulled the young man's hair harshly back. He was seconds away from ripping out his throat.

"Regulus, Crouch, Goyle and Karkaroff, they said after the party that we'd put him in his place. That we could do anything we wanted." Tom's eyes flashed red. An audible growl escaped his throat. His own brother, what a piece of scum. Tom would ensure his life was filled with suffering.

"What. Party." He growled as he held himself back from pulling out Jugson's eyes.

"The Summer ball. We put him in his place. Made he realise what a piece of shit he was."

It was in that moment, that the Dark Lord lost it.

Harry fiddled with his wand as he stood in the dueling room, waiting for the Dark Lord to arrive. The man was already ten minutes late and Harry was starting to worry. The man was not one for being late. It was as though he had an internal clock that demanded he be on time.

Harry looked up with a small smile as the door opened. However, instead of seeing Tom, as expected, Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway. Harry raised an eyebrow in question at the heirs appearance. Lucius promptly answered the unspoken question.

"The Dark Lord has called a Death Eater meeting. It will take place in 20 minutes. I am to escort you to his office before the meeting starts. Apologies Lord Hercules." Lucius' voice was solemn and to the point. Harry only gave a small nod in response before following after the blonde.

Harry was soon entering the Dark Lord's study to see the man sitting at his desk. He was wearing different clothes than those that he had been in that morning. His face looked like thunder and Harry couldn't help but notice that the hands on the desk had blood caked beneath the nails.

"Tom.." Harry tried cautiously. Tom seemed to notice his appearance. Lucius had already made his escape.

"I have prepared an outfit for you Hercules. It is on the bed. Go and change. We shall head for the meeting as soon as you are dressed."

Harry flinched at the uncaring tone that Tom addressed him with. What had he done to justify the use of his full name? He quickly retreated to the bedroom and for the first time that day he felt a tingle of fear run down his spine. What could he have possibly done? What would the Dark Lord do to him? He shuddered at the though.

He quickly dressed in the robes that were on the bed, not wanting to irritate his husband more by being slow. However he did grant himself a minute to stop and look in the mirror. His appearance was rather different from the robes that he was usually forced into for formal events.

They were jet black with highlights of green stitching. However they were void of embroidery or decoration. The cut of the robes was a far more masculine one. They were high necked and rather than stopping mid thigh, they stopped just below the knee. A pair of jet black slacks were worn under the robes along with a pair of equally black lace up boots. Even his shirt was black.

The figure that he cut was one that intended danger and intimidation rather than the submission that his previous robes he had worn had suggested. Harry had slipped on the ring, that could have been a wedding ring, that the Dark Lord gave him. It was the only sign of anything resembling ownership. But rather than that of master and slave, it suggested a relationship of equality. The ring was one of marriage. Not the brand of a slave. Harry took a breath before he returned to his husbands office.

Tom looked up as he entered and Harry saw the glint of possessiveness in the man's eyes that he had seen when Tom had tortured Fenrir in the forest. Harry's eyes widened as the looked away from the sight. His gaze returned to a safe position; the floor as Tom rose from his chair.

Tom stepped directly in front of his husband. His fingers gripped at Harry's chin; he pulled up his chin. His eyes flashed red as they met the green. His face inched closer toward Harry's.

"You are mine Hercules," the man growled out. "Mine" he repeated. He pulled his husband's chin forward. Their lips connected. Tom's other hand came to wrap around Harry's waist and pulled him closer.

The kiss was violent and claiming. The hand moved from Harry's chin to his hair, clenching his fingers tightly in the black locks. Harry's head was pulled back, allowing for more contact between the two. Tom's teeth pulled at Harry's lip and soon his tongue was running through his mouth; claiming it.

"Mine" the man growled once more as he pulled away.

Harry was left breathless and slightly confused as his husband stepped away. It had all happened too quickly that he had to had a moment to even collect his thoughts. He blinked, unseeing, as he tried to pull the scramble of his mind, back together.

"Come along Harry"