Something was definitely wrong, Severus thought as he approached the Potter teens quarters. He didn't appreciate being a messenger but he was his Lord's servant which is the only reason he'd agreed to this. When Harry opened the door Severus tried to hide his flinch but even after years of being a spy he could never imagine seeing the emptiness again in those emerald eyes.

"Professor" drawled Harry, his voice made Severus feel like he'd entered a magical void he did wave a hand to instruct the Professor inside.

"Harry, are are you well Harry?" He asked finally finding his voice, Harry's magic was thick, wrapping around the teen. A warning he supposed, typical he'd be sent here on a bad day.

"I'm fine Professor, was there something you needed?" Harry asked politely, but Severus interpreted it as a 'State your business and fuck off'

"I've been sent to inform you that the meeting is to be held at 2pm, this will grant you access" Hurried Snape, sensing the teens impatience and placing a familiar looking necklace on the table. "I know we're not close Harry, but if you do need to talk to someone my door is always open" Severus added, before exiting.

Harry left his room shortly after he wanted to be free, a moment of peace, free from pitying looks or failed attempts at understanding because no one could, he thought Tom could or was at least trying but again he was stung by the snake and instead of waiting to hear more tired excuses of 'it's not you it's me' or 'you deserve more, you're worth more' because he understood, but Tom didn't understand that all of his life adults have controlled him. Taking what they wanted and then left him an empty shell, Lady Magic was the only reason now why he hadn't left the school, this life; if it was really living. He valued more then sex, but that didn't mean he didn't enjoy it frequently and sexual frustration was tiring him out. He didn't want a cheap fuck, a meaningless one night stand. Once he knew he had a soul mate he hadn't looked at anyone else in that way, he didn't want marriage proposals or emotion he wanted a fuck, all the obstacles they'd faced together already and they couldn't even fuck without hurting one another. Maybe there'd been a mistake or something, maybe there was a different heir or Hogwarts and that's who Tom was supposed to bond with...it was something to look into and then maybe he could go be Harry some place else.

Before he knew it he was outside walking towards a place concealed away from prying eyes, a quick flick of his hand for privacy wards and he transformed into his phoenix and couldn't help but do a happy thrill now he was truly free as he flew over the forbidden forest, soared as high as he could before rushing back towards the ground and levelling out. Lazily flying up and around the castle, even in this form he could feel her humming at him, he wanted to remain here but knew he couldn't even if there was another heir of Hogwarts he still had agreed to this meeting. Sighing he shadowed back in to his rooms, maybe if he took the potion maybe then Tom would be content he'd practically be a drone but his Mother would be saved; he could do that.

"Neither of those will work brother dearest" Luna said brightly behind him

"Right, need to get ready. Excuse me" Harry said, already moving past her. Luna looked at him sadly but moved aside to help him squeeze past and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Do you have our masks?" she asked as he returned, he nodded and with a wave of his hand masks floated to his team. They were all dressed in black duelling suits. Form fitting with many holsters for the weapons they used; knives, guns, daggers, throwing stars and Fred and George had many tricks in the extra pockets the suits included. The stitching around the weapons was the only difference between the entire team each having a different colour.

Luna – Baby Blue

Draco- Silver

Ron - Gold

Hermione- Purple

Blaise - Black

Neville/Orion – Orange

Fred - Red

George – Yellow

Harry's suit was slightly different to his teams, as he moved killing curse green would shine through the scales of his graphorn hide suit rather then just the stitching around holsters. Their masks were nothing fancy, he wanted plain but Luna suggested that for them too match their suits and even in his current state he couldn't deny her. Their masks were mostly grey but he'd carved runes on each face for added protection and they were carved in each persons preferred colour. Decorative yet practical, Luna looked pleased as she inspected her mask and Harry took that as her approval.

"You alright Snake?" Ron asked inspecting his best friend with worry frowning his forehead.

"Don't worry about it mate, you'll get wrinkles" Harry joked, though he only managed a small smile as the rest of them laughed at his joke. Blaise moved Ron's hand away from where he was flattening his forehead, Luna and Harry shared a private smirk as the red head blushed slightly.

"Ready for this?" Hermione asked him, when he shrugged he wasn't too concerned over this meeting after all what did it matter. Yes he'd see him but they'd not be alone so there was little to no chance of conversation regarding the previous night and he didn't plan on sticking around after to give him the chance; they were allies nothing more. He offered them the snitch necklace before they all felt a tug and they were pulled away.

They landed in a large circular room with no windows lit up only by wall sconce, guises in place they left the room and followed the sconces dotted along the narrow hallways until Harry stopped in front of two large doors, not surprised when the doors opened of their own accord. They entered together and the room's occupants eyed them suspiciously before turning to their lord in question, if Harry was surprised at the number of Voldemorts followers he showed nothing.

"Ah, our guests have arrived do make yourselves comfortable" drawled Voldemort, Harry saw a throne next to the one Voldemort was seated and held back a scoff of course the man had a throne on a raised dais. He stepped up gracefully and sat in the throne Voldemort indicated for him to seat to Voldemorts right. His team chose to sit on the steps of the dais. Murmurs broke out through Voldemorts followers all wanting to know just who these newcomers were, increasing in volume when their Lords familiar slid from her spot on a warm rock to slither closer to Harry. He didn't let it show that he could understand but allowed her to coil herself around him resting her head on his shoulder. She felt almost as warm as Tom, and Harry stroked her scales gaining a pleased hiss from the snake.

"Quiet, You are not at liberty to know who our guests are. Their identities will remain secret until myself and their leader see fit to disclose it. Anyone found trying to determine who they are will be punished." Murmured Voldemort, though his face couldn't be seen through his large black hood Harry knew Voldemort wasn't in his snake face form currently.

"Yes My Lord"

"Good, now Red team report" Voldemort ordered

"My Lord, we have gained intelligence that two Gryffindors have been sharing photos of our world not only with their parents but their filthy muggle friends"

"Photos of the Hogwarts express, diagon alley and that filthy half blood Harry Potter, My Lord" someone sneered and Harry recognised him as Selwyn, pureblood but with little to no magical power; figures

"Trail the parents, take them out quietly and ensure that the two Gryffindors are made aware just why they no longer have parents." Ordered Voldemort

"The Gryffindor mudbloods parents have packed up and left, we followed them too Australia they have no memory of their daughter or magic. Looks like they have been obliviated my Lord" Travers told him. Harry knew why Hermione had chosen to keep her filthy parents alive, but made it so they'd never try to find her again.

"They are no risk to our world, let them live" Voldemort said after contemplating options.

"Yes My Lord"

"Severus, what of the old fool?"

"He's asked me to brew love, compulsions and liquid imperious potions. My Lord I believe they are for Potter, the old man believes that Potter isn't as amenable as he'd expect after a summer with his relatives." Severus informed him

"Are you insinuating that Golden Boy Potter may not be so golden?" Nott demanded sneering at Severus, turning to his Lord expecting him to Crucio the potion master.

"You talk out of turn Nott" hissed Voldemort before his Crucio hit the surprised man and his scream filled the room once the curse was cut he addressed Severus again "Look into it Severus"

"Very well My Lord" Murmured Severus bowing his head politely

"Blue team report" Voldemort ordered

"We've been tracking elves and veela in the Highlands. We weren't the only ones my Lord we detected a presence of other wizards, we approached them and they agreed for us to erect wards to help them keep hidden and detection wards so we will be alerted if the other wizards will return" Rabastan told him

"They are not willing to agree to an alliance unless you meet them personally and vows given they have questions. They intend to remain neutral but they have a seer who has spoke of a change in the tide of the war, and they are aware that there are some factions of Veelas already discussing meeting with you" Dolohov added

"I'll think on it. For now leave them as they are, do not approach them unless you are alerted by the wards." He turned to address the entire meeting "The reason I required you all here today was to give you a warning. I expect you all to train magically and physically you will all be called and tested. If you fail, you will have chance to learn from our guests if you fail again I have no use for you. Elite remain, the rest of you are dismissed leave your reports" it wasn't long before only the Elite Death eaters remained, Harry's team would be introduced to them. Most would expect it, but Nott's reaction was sure to be amusing.

"Our guests identity will be revealed to you, but first I require vows of silence" Voldemort said as the elite conjured chairs to sit around the dais each facing their lord after the vows were given the teens removed their masks and Lord Nott's choking amused the teens greatly.

"You?!" he hissed finding some composure

Nagini turned her head to the spluttering fool and hissed "Would you permit me to bite the insolent fool?"

"I think that would be too quick a death Nagini" Harry hissed back and Nott's eyes widened in surprise

"You! You're a parselmouth? You filthy half blood!" snapped Nott, Harry didn't react to his words and Nott face exploded in rage and he pulled out his wand. No one moved to stop him, Nott taking that as permission to send an attack at the teen who just returned to looking bored not even that empty. The familiar green curse left his wand and shot towards the teen who flicked it away like it was nothing but a fly and Nott found himself bound to his chair with a group of teens watching him with fury, even his Lord seemed furious with him; that didn't make sense, why would his Lord care? Potter was a thorn in his side, a thorn he intended on removing.

"How?" he asked shocked, before his mouth was snapped shut

"That's non of your concern is it Nott? Now sit there quietly like a good little boy" Harry said softly, and Nott wanted to retort but he was bound and silenced.

"As Severus and Lucius are already aware you will be meeting regularly with Harry's team to train. Before any of you object remember that these are the group of teens that you failed against at the ministry." Tom said and Bellatrix frowned but nodded along with the rest

"Listen to them and learn quickly, you will be tested in two weeks" added Tom, Harry felt eyes flicking towards him but he wasn't willing to contribute to this meeting. Here he was willing to save the wizarding world whilst there were vermin such as Nott who'd fling AK's at him because of his fucking blood status. "What do you want to do with him?" Tom asked him.

"Nothing." Answered Harry, surprising the entire room Tom included but Harry didn't mind; Nott wouldn't expect it when he did seek his revenge and that is what Harry wanted.

"He tried to kill you!" Exclaimed Snape, the usual stoic wizard looked utterly furious and Harry wasn't sure he like the tone; made it sound like he was stupid.

"Tried being the operative word, you should get started two weeks isn't an awful lot of time." Harry said and his team stood each grabbing an elite member, before Ori took hold of Nott he sent a questioning look to Harry who nodded they vanished; they would train at Potter Manor.

"Harry.." Tom said when they were alone, Harry just gave him a blank look removed Nagini and shadowed away without a word.

That had been a week ago and Harry had gotten used to avoiding being alone in the man's presence, Tom had relentlessly tried to gain his attention but he just couldn't find it in himself to open up to anyone. He'd decided he'd finish school, travel and then have a child by then he'd be content in the fact that Lady Magic was saved and yes he'd never be rid of the immortal dark lord but he couldn't imagine a life without magic. He awoke and instantly knew something was wrong, there on his bedside table was his Father's resurrection stone with only two words on the note in Tom's handwriting 'Use it' choosing to ignore it he warded a box and placed the stone inside before hiding it in a hidden compartment of his trunk.

He'd started to not hate potions, that seemed to be changing since Snape seemed content enough to snap and sneer at him. Maybe it was to do with his Lord, but since that had absolutely nothing to do with his schoolwork he didn't understand why he had to suffer during his lessons. Even as he tried to slip out the Professor barked him back inside like he was some dog.

"Yes Professor?" he asked politely

"Why are you punishing yourself?" Snape asked concerned

"I'm unsure what that has to do with my schoolwork Professor" Harry pointed out, his tone polite and his face blank.

"A professor doesn't just have a duty to a students schoolwork, he has a duty to the students themselves" he drawled

"I appreciate your concern but it's unwarranted. If that's all may I leave now Sir?"

"No. I'm going to call your elf, who's going to bring us the stone and we'll sit in my quarters until you're ready to use it" Snape told him choosing to ignore the teen as his magic pulsed around him in his concealed fury instead he called for Winky, who flicked in and out after quiet words from Snape returning with that stupid fucking box. "Let's move this to my quarters Mr Potter" Snape said his robes flapping behind him as he lead the way to his rooms, Harry tried to flee but the castle refused him only allowing him to follow Snape he felt like a fucking sheep.

"And just who am I supposed to summon Sir?" Harry retorted

"Your mum and dad" drawled Snape, passing Harry a glass of firewhiskey and sitting across from the teen on battered leather sofas. "Some time today would be appreciated Mr Potter, I do have a blonde I'd like to see"

"Right this was your plan, be sure to tell your blonde that" Harry tisked downing his firewhiskey and fiddling with the box, the wards shredding as he did so. The stone was small and black etched in the front was the deathly hallows symbol, it felt dark beautifully dark before Harry knew what he was doing he turned the stone three times and he was face to face with a enraged witch and a sheepish looking wizard who he did look similar too. He barely registered when they embraced him, still a little stunned that it worked; he thought it would be more of a ghost not a very real, warm human appearance.

"Harry James Potter" snapped Lily, so that was the thrill of Harry your full name used by your parent. Merlin why were witches so scary. "You need to get out of your mind Harry, I haven't even started being scary yet"

"I wasn't ready" Harry said to Snape looking at the offending stone still in his hand and then back at his parents, James laughed before he too was silenced by his angry wife.

"Get over it, we're here and I won't leave until my baby stops this nonsense" Lily told him

"I'm not a- no I will not finish that sentence" Harry corrected, summoning more firewhiskey and downing it before his mother told him he couldn't do that either.

"Good boy, now I'm going to explain something that you may have skipped over in relation to having a baby" Lily said "Love, yes you and Tom are soul mates but to be blessed with a child then you need to love each other, purebloods struggle to conceive as they marry out of convenience and let's not forget how incestuous some of those lines have become. Narcissa and Lucius love each other, yes in an non romantic setting but there is a lot of love between them."

"I can't do that" Harry said in horror, forgetting all etiquette and drinking from the bottle he'd buy Snape more.

"I'm sure you're capable son, you just have to let yourself" James said

"That's for other people, I don't want it" Harry admitted and Lily pulled him closer quickly removing the bottle from his grip.

"Do you think you don't deserve it?" Snape asked and Harry frowned

"Why wouldn't I deserve it? I just don't want it, why is it so wrong to just not want it? Why the fuck is that a requirement! You two loved each I get that but what effect did that have on your child when you fucking died? Why do the two have to coincide" Harry snapped making the wizard flinch, Lily seemed unfazed.

"Do you truly believe that having us as parents had no effect on your life?" she questioned

"I don't know did it?"

"I think you share many qualities and not just your looks with your Dad, the both of you almost got sorted into Slytherin did you know? Life could've gone very differently for us all if he didn't argue with the hat" Lily said and Harry saw a look he often saw on Luna's face when he unintentionally upset her. He almost apologised but then he frowned.

"and I surround myself with witches like you. Like an idiot"

"You're also very protective over your friends even if they let you down" she added

"You're not going to try and convince me to keep pettigrew alive are you?" Harry said his face twisting into disgust and James laughed

"No definitely not. Actually me and padfoot want him to see us"

"Wait you want me to keep using this stone?" Harry asked

"You're the necromancer, you'll figure it out" James said evasively

"And no you can't just ask Death to bring us back, he's siding with us on this" Lily added

"Well that's rude, don't I already have enough to do?" Harry sighed dramatically

"You are risking loosing yourself entirely, you have too many mask it's time to let some go Harry. You're making it harder on yourself" Lily said softly, Harry didn't need to look to know there were unshed rears in her eyes.

"Tell me how? I don't want too but if it'll stop you from fucking crying then just tell me and I'll do it. Fucking witches and tears, why is it so fucking scary to see a witch cry. Even the tiny ones!" Harry said already trying to shadow away, as it failed he cursed Hogwarts mentally whilst rubbing his chest and scar

"You do that often" Snape murmured, Harry's hands halted in their movement before he continue this time watching himself with a curious expression. "Have you figured it out?"

"That I've picked up a habit?" Harry shrugged

"Think back to the books you read on soul bonds" James put in

"Guess I skipped over that too. Ohh no wait something about experiencing pain during long breaks away from your soul mate until the bond is established or if you choose to severe it. He's in the castle though it's not like he's far away." Harry said rolling his eyes

"Tom may well be in the castle but you're both emotionally retarded, the bond was soothed by touch yet you are both actively avoiding each other now"

"What you're telling me is that this shit is impossible and I should give up now?" Harry asked his Dad, who laughed and shook his head.

"I married her, me James Potter prankster extraordinaire and a complete bully at times until I experienced love from thee best woman. Yes that complete prick married your Mum, now I know you know some of what I participated in whilst I was at Hogwarts but I got away with a fuck ton more then I should have and numerous people could have died. Yet your mum loves me, so if we're talking about impossible things then doesn't it prove that some how somethings just work out if you let them"

"That comparison doesn't really help, but yes you somehow managed to convince mum you were redeemable and she scolded you until you showed yourself" Harry said seriously and Lily laughed whilst James pouted in protest.

"You should have given him a chance to explain himself" Lily said her face returning to a slight glare

"I heard them, every one of his scattered thoughts. Yeah he thought I was drunk, too young, to naive they didn't bother me. He fucking feared me. At that moment he thought I'd destroy him if he gave in, insecurities of something that happened when I was a baby. That I was seeking revenge or some other crap. That I'd be just like what those people did to me seek pleasure and then laugh or something" Harry sneered, thankful that Snape had chosen to leave the family to discuss it. It wasn't an issue of trust but well his parents were already dead and half aware of everything if not more so.

"You understand why he'd think like that?" James asked but already knowing

"Yes of course I do, but this was just sex and this is only going to get worse. I don't have much of a choice do I?, neither of us do. It's this or no more magic" Harry said sounding dejected

"I think that's enough for today, just think about it baby. We'll be here when you need us" Lily said softly, embracing him again before stepping back and watching tearfully as James embraced their son.

"We're proud of you son, no matter what you decide we'll be with you" he whispered and Harry held on a little tighter before pulling away completely and turning the stone over in his hand. When his parents were gone he pushed the stone away from him. It wasn't far enough he quickly scribbled two words on a piece of parchment and had Winky return it. He shadowed to Peverell training room intent on releasing his magic away from Hogwarts, him or anyone who could give him more to consider.

He called for dummies and cleared his mind, concentrating on the magic of the spells darting towards him the feel of them as they skimmed his body as he ducked and dodged them. The sounds of the walls absorbing the magic that failed to hit him and if he focused enough he swore he could hear the sound of the magic itself for what else could explain the high frequency buzzes as he subconsciously shot off spells to strike down the dummies until all that left was rubble and him panting.

After he'd showered, dressed and had a bite to eat he used his time turner to go back for the lessons he'd missed during his meeting with his parents. Charms and Herbology, then he'd surely have to sit through lunch with the weaslette and if that wasn't torture enough he had double defence after. After his two tedious lessons with Flitwick and Sprout, Harry began to think that today would be manageable. He only had lunch, defence and then he could concentrate on The Sanctuary; maybe go see Moony but with lunch came Ginny, and with Ginny came more bad news.

"Professor Dumbledore would like to see you after you've eaten Harry, he prefers Liquorice wands" Ginny said sliding on to the bench next to him pouring them both some pumpkin juice; really did she have to dose him so often! He noticed the headmaster leave his chair and that presented an opportunity he could not deny himself.

"Thanks Gin, guess I should go see what he wants" he said rejecting the drink and fighting a smirk at the fury in her eyes.

"What about your drink Harry?" she said shoving the offending goblet to his chest

"Not really thirsty, thank you though" he said giving her a boyish smile before he climbed off the bench.

"Okay Harry, see you later" reaching up to place a kiss that would have landed on his mouth if he didn't tilt his head, leaving a sticky mess on his cheek.