Chapter 15 is here! I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. Just remember I've made Harry morally grey in this fic. There are also mentions of past abuse (Harry) as well as torture, physical assault and murder (not Harry). It's not explicit but there is some talk of it after the fact, just so you're aware. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 15

Voldemort raised his wand and touched it to the dark mark on his arm concentrating hard on Severus. Severus would know he was being called and if he was smart, he would come quickly. He rarely called on the potions master unless it was an already agreed upon meeting, it made keeping his cover as a spy for the dark much easier.

He waved his hand tweaking the wards to allow Snapes arrival… and then settled down to wait. The room was tense. Everyone focused on their own thoughts. Rabastan and Rodolphus were visibly shaking with rage, and he was unsurprised when Rabastan stood and started pacing the room. Even he had been astounded at the level of abuse that the young Potter had suffered. He abhorred child abuse, having suffered enough of it in the orphanage to last a lifetime.

Narcissa and Lucius were the only ones talking, discussing something quietly between themselves, though they stopped when a flash of light and a thud announced Severus's arrival. The potion master straightened his usual black robes as he glanced around the room, taking in all the occupants before his eyes settled on Voldemort.

Rabastan headed straight for the new arrival, no doubt ready to curse the where abouts of Harry's relatives home out of the other man. He stopped only at a raised hand from Voldemort.

"Severus, welcome" Voldemort hissed, his eyes narrowed. He saw Severus' throat bob but otherwise the man looked cool and collected.

"My Lord, you called for me?" Severus' tone held a touch of genuine curiosity. Could it be that the light were still unaware of their saviours disappearance?

"Yes, Severus. I need the location of Harry Potters home" Voldemort said, his tone steely.

"I am afraid I do not know it" Severus said regretfully, looking down at the ground as he spoke. "That is not information that Dumbledore has deemed me trustworthy enough to receive."

A snarl sounded from the other side of the room and Voldemort's eyes narrowed at the obvious lie. He was much more adept at detecting actual deception now that he was sane again. A cruciatus flew from his wand, hitting Severus squarely in the chest and causing the other man to collapse to the floor twitching, a small groan slipping from pale lips. Draco shifted, but otherwise no one moved. He waved his wand to end the curse, standing as he made his way towards Severus, who was breathing heavily on the floor.

"Why do you lie to me, Severus" Voldemort hissed, anger thrumming through him. He clutched his wand tightly.

It seemed that Rabastan could hold back no longer and before Severus could formulate a response the younger Lestrange brother was flying across the room and had punched Severus square in the nose. Blood poured down Severus' chin as Rabastan gripped the man around the throat and started shaking.

"Tell us where to find his relatives home, now!" Rabastan snarled. "His family will not survive till morning!"

Severus blinked up at Rabastan, mind whirling as he gasped for breath.

"And what of Harry?" Severus rasped, eyes calculating. Rabastan loosened his grip infinitesimally.

"He is safe" Rabastan knew that Snape was a very clever man, he saw the moment understanding flashed through the dark eyes.

"He is safe?" Severus asked again and Rabastan felt a flicker appreciation, answering with a simple nod.

The potions master risked a glance around the room, a small nod from Lucius seemed to convince him. He reached up and slowly prised Rabastan's loosened fingers from around his throat, rubbing slightly as he returned to his feet.

Focusing his attention back on Voldemort he confessed, "I do know where Harry's relatives live."

A cold smile slid across Voldemort's face. "I know. Why did you lie to me?"

Severus hesitated, seemingly weighing up his options.

"I did not wish you to kill him, my Lord."

Voldemort merely raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.

"Every time you face him, something - something goes wrong. I do believe it is mother magic trying to stop you from destroying each other."

Voldemort looked curious at that, while someone in the room hummed thoughtfully. It couldn't be denied that things never seemed to work out when Harry Potter was involved.

"Also, I- I believe he has been through enough."

"And what would you know of his suffering, Severus?" Voldemort hissed dangerously.

Rodolphus walked over to stand beside his brother, arms folded across his chest as he fixed Severus with a hard look.

Severus let out a weary sigh. "I don't know everything. Dumbledore alluded to the fact that his relatives didn't treat him kindly though he never got into specifics. It wasn't hard to guess though, from just looking at Harry, to work out some of what was going on."

"Dumbledore knew what was happening and yet he did nothing?" Rodolphus said coldly

"We all know Dumbledore has his own agenda. Always." Carmel sneered.

Severus's eyes flicked around the room during this brief interruption. Something had changed. Something major. He knew that Voldemort had been planning on focusing his attention away from Potter now that his sanity had been restored, but there was more going on than just that.

Taking a gamble Severus spoke again.

"I did what I could to help him. I brewed concentrated nutrition potions and had the house elves add it to the food I know Potter enjoys at the Gryffindor table. I would surreptitiously cast healing charms at the start of every year to help heal any lingering injuries and I would cast protection charms at the end of the school year. It didn't do much, just a suggestion that they had somewhere else to be if his relatives tried to hurt Harry. Unfortunately, the charm fades after a few weeks."

Rabastan and Rodolphus looked slightly mollified at that explanation and Severus knew he had said the right thing. It wasn't for nothing that he had managed to survive years as a spy.

"Where do Harry's relatives live?" Voldemort asked, though Severus knew it wasn't really a question.

"4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey."

"Let's go" Rodolphus said, already preparing to leave and Severus blinked non plussed, it seems they had not been exaggerating.

"Wait a bloody second" Carmel hissed. "You can't just take off with no plan in place, besides, Harry will be awake for dinner soon, do you want him to wake to find you both gone?"

Severus's eyes widened in surprise. Harry Potter was here. Even more surprising, was that Carmel's words had actually had an effect on Rodolphus, with the older Lestrange slowing to a stop.

"I think" Voldemort spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "It would be better if some were to go and… take care of Harry's family, while some stayed here."

Everyone could read between the lines and knew that Voldemort was saying one brother would not be attending the nights killings.

Rabastan and Rodolphus had an intense staring match, before Rabastan nodded. "I will stay here with Harry" he said slowly.

Rodolphus' eyes were lit with a fervour rarely seen outside the Black family. Severus felt a shiver run down his spine.

"I will go tonight" Rodolphus said, his voice verging on cheerful.

"I will come with you" Lucius said and Rodolphus nodded to him in gratitude.

"Me too, me too!" Bella cheered and Carmel rolled her eyes adoringly.

"I would advise against using magic, in case it alerts Dumbledore to your presence" Severus said calmly. "I'm not sure of all the wards and spells that are on the dwelling."

Rodolphus nodded in understanding.

"I should return before my absence is noted" Severus continued with a quick glance at his Lord, and Voldemort nodded in agreement.

"I will be expecting you soon with an update."

Severus inclined his head before apparating away.

Voldemort rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Severus seemed surprised that Harry was here, could it be that the light are still unaware of their hero's disappearance?"

"They don't give a shit about Harry" Rabastan growled.

"To them, he is merely a means to an end" Voldemort said, and his tone was laced with regret.

The room lapsed into silence.

Dinner was a quiet affair that evening. Harry drank his first lot of nutrition potions before eating a light soup and a slice of bread.

"As delicious as ever" Harry murmured appreciatively to Dae, who beamed at the praise. He glanced around the room; at the way Rabastan sat stiffly in his chair, of the maniacal gleam in Bella's eyes of the way Draco and Blaise wouldn't meet his gaze. Something was going on. Was it just that everyone was still processing the revelations of his childhood or was it something else? He surreptitiously glanced around the room. His scar ached and he focused his attention on Voldemort, who outwardly looked calm, but Harry could tell something was bothering him.

"Did something happen while I was asleep?" Harry asked watching the room carefully for reactions, bugger that he was eating with a group of Slytherins. No one so much as batted an eye.

He rubbed his scar and looked at Voldemort again, to find the dark Lord already looking at him, those calculating eyes taking in everything.

"We met with Severus earlier, things got… heated" Voldemort said lightly, and Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise at actually being told the truth.

"Snape was here?"

"He had information that we needed."

Harry felt Rodolphus shift beside him and glanced at his soulmate, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"What did you do?"

Rodolphus shot him an innocent look that Harry didn't trust at all.

"Nothing…yet."

"Yet?" Green eyes narrowed in a glare and Rodolphus let out a sigh.

"I am going out tonight to kill your family" he said bluntly.

"W-what!?" Harry choked out. "Why are you going on your own?" Harry asked swinging around to look at Rabastan wildly.

"I- I'm not, Lucius and Bella are coming with me, Rabastan was going to stay with you" Rodolphus explained haltingly.

"I would feel better if Rabastan went with you" Harry said imploringly, turning his large green doe eyes on his soulmates. "I will be perfectly safe with Narcissa."

The Malfoy matriarch smiled smugly at that.

"Of course," Rabastan said, he knew Narcissa would let nothing happen to Harry. "You- You don't have a problem with the murder of your family?"

Harry blinked slowly, as though just processing that part of the conversation, he had been more focussed on any potential danger to his soulmates. He didn't answer for a moment.

"I don't know" Harry glanced down unsurely, thinking of the years of abuse and neglect that he had suffered through. "I want them to suffer for what they did to me, but I guess I shouldn't want that?"

"Oh sweetheart" Rodolphus said gripping Harry's chin gently and lifting his face to meet his gaze. "No, there is nothing wrong with getting revenge on people who have wronged you as terribly as your relatives have."

Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"There is no judgement here" Rabastan said softly.

"Nothing I say is really going to make a difference though, is it? You're still going to go?" Harry asked imploringly and Rabastan and Rodolphus could tell that their soulmate didn't want this decision to rest on him. They would take that burden for their soulmate, not that they saw it as a burden at all.

"Not really" Rabastan said honestly. "For what they did to you, their lives are forfeit."

Harry's eyes darkened and a shiver ran down his spine.

"Not Dudley" Harry said quietly after a moment more of thought. "He may have been… horrible to me growing up, but he's only 15. We all do stupid things when we're 15" Harry said, thinking sadly of Sirius' death and his part in it.

Rodolphus nodded, "we had thought as much."

Rabastan reached out and rubbed his hand along Harry's shoulders, easing some of the tension there.

"Did Snape say anything else, while he was here?" Harry asked, taking another sip from his soup.

"No, nothing."

"Oh" Harry said quietly. The arm on Harry's shoulder tightened and Harry found himself leaning into the comfort.

"Would you like to go for a fly after dinner, Potter?" Draco asked trying to tactfully if not subtlety change the subject.

Harry nodded gratefully; he knew there was no way he could sit inside worrying all evening. Strangely he was barely upset about the thought of his aunt and uncle's deaths at the hands of his soulmates. It seemed fitting. He wasn't sure what kind of person that made him.

They finished dinner and as they stood Rodolphus pulled Harry into his arms, Harry didn't hesitate to hug him back. Soaking in the warmth. Rabastan hugged him just as fiercely, though mindful of his still tender back, after his brother had let go and Harry surprised them all by standing on his toes and kissing first Rabastan then Rodolphus on the cheek.

"Please be safe" he whispered, and the brothers nodded solemnly, both looking dazed.

Bella snorted behind them, whacking one on the back of the head and then the other. "Focus" she growled, "there will be plenty of time for that when you get back."

"We have some things to prepare before we leave, but we will come and find you when we return. Please don't wait up for us."

Harry just rolled his eyes, he doubted he would be getting much sleep tonight.

With a final wave Harry followed Blaise and Draco outside. Walking past the gardens and down a long winding path until they reached the quidditch pitch.

Anxious energy ran through his body, and he knew from years of experience that flying would help with that. He grabbed the broom Draco handed him and kicked off into the sky without a backwards glance. The wind rushed through his hair, whistled in his ears and Harry blocked out the rest of the world, letting his anxious thoughts drift away, at least for the moment. He floated along, eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of nothing and everything. He opened his eyes and flew a few laps, speeding up and practising the wronski feint every time his thoughts became too loud to ignore.

"Feel like a game, Potter?" Draco called out and Harry nodded, flying down to land beside the pair.

"No teams" Draco explained, handing each person a bat. "Every man for themselves. I will release the snitch and the bludgers, try to find the snitch while staying away from the bludgers."

Harry grinned widely. "Sounds like fun."

Blaise snorted at that assessment but took his bat and flew up into the air, staying well clear of Harry as Draco released the snitch and bludgers.

Adrenaline flooded Harry's body as a bludger zoomed straight for him. He whacked it towards Blaise with a terrific crack, laughing at the squawk Blaise let out as he had to quickly veer off course to avoid being hit. Dark eyes glared at him playfully as Harry zoomed off toward the other end of the pitch laughing in delight. He did a quick loop the loop to avoid another bludger as his eyes scanned the field for the snitch. Nothing. The game turned more vicious and more fun as the three teens got warmed up, bludgers flying every where and still Harry saw no sign of the snitch. Harry couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun and all thoughts and worries for his soulmates were pushed out of his head as he struggled to avoid another bludger.

He flew a wide circle around the pitch for the third time, pausing for a moment when he spotted a glint of gold close to the ground beneath him, before he could even prepare to dive, he was knocked forward on his broom, his right shoulder flaring in pain as a bludger collided with him with a loud "SMACK!"

He pitched forward as his broom zoomed to the ground, landing with a thud. He rolled sideways off his broom, collapsing onto the cool soft grass as he tried to catch his breath. His shoulder ached but it wasn't too bad. He'd definitely had worse. He heard voices calling his name.

"Harry!"

"Oh shit, Harry!"

Before running footsteps announced Blaise and Draco's arrival.

"Dae!" Draco called out frantically. Harry supposed the house elf had arrived because Draco kept talking. "Get mother and Carmel and bring them here immediately."

"Potter, are you OK?" Blaise asked, careful not to touch him in case he caused any more pain.

"I'm completely fine" Harry said with a small laugh as he struggled to sit up, his shoulder twinging painfully.

"You are not bloody fine" Draco hissed, "you were hit by a bludger! Oh, uncle Rodolphus and uncle Rabastan are going to kill us. What was I thinking, you are already unwell." Draco continued to moan, before Harry reached out a hand and rested it gently on the blonde's arm.

"Draco, I'm fine. Thank you for the game, it's exactly what I needed."

Draco just gaped at Harry, eyes flickering over Harry uncertainly.

Running footsteps had them all turning to the arrival of Narcissa and Carmel.

"Oh, my goodness, Harry, what happened?"

"Just got hit by a bludger" Harry said with a grin. "They tend to like me" he finished, thinking fondly of all his quidditch matches.

"It hit his right shoulder" Blaise explained, with a look at his mother.

The woman leaned forward, running her hands gently over the shoulder, before slowly lifting the arm and rotating it around. It was sore but nothing too bad.

"Not broken" Carmel said in relief. "You will probably just need a pain relief potion and a healing potion as well as a salve to clear up the bruise I'm sure is forming."

"Sounds good" Harry said, distracted by a glimpse of white he saw over by the tree line. He turned his head to catch a better look, spotting a white ball hurtling toward him. As it got closer recognition lit his eyes.

"Hedwig!" he cried out joyously as his owl swooped down to land on the grass before him. Harry held out his uninjured arm and Hedwig quickly flew to it, trilling softly as she rubbed herself against Harry's cheek, nibbling softly at his hair.

Harry felt tears prick his eyes as he ran his fingers over her soft feathers.

"I've missed you girl" he said quietly, and she let out a mournful hoot, letting him know that she had missed him as well.

"This is Hedwig," Harry said, suddenly shy as he turned to introduce her.

"Hello beautiful girl" Narcissa cooed, and Hedwig puffed up smugly at the praise.

"I sent her off when I ran away from Privet Drive" Harry explained. "I wasn't sure where I would end up or if it would be safe."

"And now she has returned to you" Carmel said with a soft smile as the small teen lovingly petted the snowy white owl.

"Come, let us return to the manor and see to your injury as well as some food and water for your owl. No doubt she has had a long journey, wherever she's been."

Harry nodded happily as he followed Narcissa back to the manor.

Arthur and Molly jerked awake as a loud banging on their door broke the quiet of the night.

Dumbledores voice called through the door.

"Meeting in the kitchen, immediately" the voice shouted, and Arthur struggled out of bed, pulling on clothes haphazardly as he went. He heard footsteps and more banging throughout the house and his mind cleared of sleep he began to feel worried about what had happened.

They hurried down the stairs, finding, most of the order already gathered in the kitchen and Dumbledore pacing the length of the room looking particularly grave. Arthur felt a shiver run through him; he'd never felt quite right staying here after Sirius's death.

"What's happened, Dumbledore?" Remus asked in concern.

"Harry is missing." Gasps sounded through the room at the announcement.

"How? When?" Moody asked seriously, his magical eye whirling.

"I received a missive from Mrs Figg this evening that there was some kind of commotion going on at Harry's home. When I went to investigate, I found his aunt and uncle dead, his cousin unconscious and no sign of Harry at all."

"They killed the aunt and uncle but left his cousin?" McGonagall said sharply.

"Was there any trace of magic?" Tonks asked over her.

"None" Dumbledore said.

"So, we might not be dealing with you know who at all?" Molly said hopefully.

"It is possible" Dumbledore said lightly, "though doubtful. Their murders felt personal" Dumbledore continued, thinking of the scene he had walked in on that evening.

"Everything of value in the home had been destroyed. China smashed, photos set on fire, doors pulled off hinges, furniture destroyed." Harry's bedroom and cupboard and been the worst of it. "His aunt and uncle didn't fare much better. They both had broken bones and were bruised and bloodied. Vernon had large portions of his stomach removed, apparently while he was still alive as it seems his attackers attempted to force him to eat the flesh. While Petunia had been whipped with something and several layers of skin had been cut away from her face. A mirror sat beside her."

Several people looked slightly green at that.

"Dudley seemed unharmed physically, though he has been unable to be awakened. He has been sent to St Mungo's for assessment."

The room was solemn. Mrs Weasley wrung her hands, anxiously thinking of Harry and where he could be.

"We assume Voldemort has him?"

"I think that is a fair assumption to make." Dumbledore said heavily. "It is imperative that we get Harry back, the war is lost without him."