*** Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter! I never have and I never will! All credit goes to J.K. Rowling! ***

\\\ Authors note: I wrote this chapter using a different writing style! Is it better or worse? Should I just go back to the normal way I write or continue like this? Is it easier to read like this? Tell me what you think! Don't be too mean! REVIEW! \\\ -Castlerocks

Giving In

Chapter 17: Him or Us?

They all sat staring at one another. It was a few minutes before any one of them actually began to speak.

"So." Harry began, as he looked at Voldemort "why don't we just talk civil to one another. Lets be adults about this." He said looking at the other occupants in the room.

"Harry don't you realize that you are still a kid? " Snape said a little harsher than he meant. "Voldemort is so much older than you. He can't possibly be there for you. I know it may sound harsh but Voldemort is not capable of love and even if he is you will just end up getting hurt."

The hurt on Harrys face almost made Snape retract what he said, almost. McGonagall on the other hand kept a straight face. She knew that Voldemort and Harry liked each other but it could never be anything else. They were simple infatuated with one another that was all.

"Don't you think I don't know how wrong this is? I can't help it. I know that he killed my parents and I know that he has done horrible things in the past but I can't help but fall for him. We are friends and he has been there for me and I know that I want something more out of this than just friendship." Harry said trying to make Snape understand. "You and I have never gotten along. I use to hate you. You were the worst teacher at Hogwarts and you made my life a living hell. I forgave you and I think that recently we have become more than just acquaintances. You are becoming like a brother to me but if you cant understand and or accept who I fall in love with then I wont hesitate to remove you from this manner and never see you again." Harry said as he gave a glare that made the potions Master involuntarily shiver.

"Harry you cant possibly mean that." Lupin finally chimed in.

"Oh I do. It goes for all three of you. I have been alone for almost 16 years now with no one to call my own I wont hesitate to break ties with you. You may mean a great deal to me but if it comes down to choosing between you three or voldemort I will choose voldemort." Harry said as he got up and moved to sit closer to the Dark Lord.

Voldemort moved his arm around Harry's waist. He looked down at the young man and couldn't help but smile. How did he ever deserve this? He had spent decades alone but in less than a week this young man had melted his stone heart and made him feel things he had never felt before. Harry smiled as he snuggled closer to Voldemort.

Lupin, Snape, and McGonagall all sat starring at Harry, slacked jawed. They fumed at the thought of Harry choosing Voldemort over them but at the same time they admired his passion and drive. They couldn't help but be proud at the man Harry was becoming. They all turned to look at each other and nodded. They would accept this relationship only because they couldn't abandon Harry, they loved him too much.

"We will accept this new formed relationship." Snape reluctantly said. "Only if Voldemort will swear to a wizard Oath that he wont ever hurt you."

Harry sat stunned. He had never expected them to accept this relationship. Everyone had always abandoned him once he didn't do what they whished. This just showed how much they all truly cared for him.

Voldemort on the other hand was looking worried. Of course he would swear to a wizards oath if that's what Harry wanted but he was still a bit concerned. Swearing to a wizard's oath made him vulnerable. Its not that he didn't fully trust Severus but the man changed his loyalty so much that one could not bee too careful. He never allowed others to have that type of power over him. If he were to break the oath then he would die. Although he knew he would never hurt Harry intentionally he didn't want to have to swear to it. That made it seem that Harry didn't fully trust him.

"If it comes down to it. I will swear to a wizard's oath. Only if Harry wants me to." Voldemort said while giving Snape a small glare.

Voldemort stood up and so did Snape. Severus shrank back a little but he didn't break eye contact with the Dark Lord. They both looked about ready to kill one another. Voldemort was about a few inches taller than Snape and he towered over the man. Snape just kept starring. At this rate they would start dueling any minute now.

Harry looked between the two men "why don't you guys just pull out your wands and measure them already." He said with a sly grin and a wink in Voldemorts direction.

Voldemort shook his head and laughed but Snape turned beet red and turned away. McGonagall and Lupin on the other hand just chuckled because they had been thinking the same thing.

"I don't want him to swear to a Wizards Oath. I trust him and I know that he wont ever hurt me." Harry said and then after a second he added "and even if he did I would just kick his ass like I always do!"

Snape gave a soft chuckle. " I know you trust him but we don't. I'm sorry but if he doesn't swear or at least promise he wont hurt you then we wont accept this relationship and we will just see our selves out of this manor and out of your lives forever." Snape hated to say it but it needed to be said.

Harry shook his head. Arguing with Snape was like arguing with a brick wall, useless. He turned and looked at Voldemort and he shrugged "you're going to have to come up with something because I'm done arguing. My patience is wearing thin." Harry said.

"I know, mine as well." Voldemort stated. He then looked at the floor. He spent a moment just mesmerized with his shoes before his head shot up "what If I can prove to you that I actually care about Harry and that I'll never hurt him?"

Snape and the others looked at him with intrigue. "Continue" said McGonagall.

Voldemort moved and sat down again and so did Snape. Voldemort leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs. "I'm going to tell you what the actual prophecy is. That will prove to you that I wont ever intentially harm Harry."

Harry looked up "wait… what? The prophecy is a fake?" Harry exclaimed.

They all looked down. "All of you knew? How could you not tell me?" Harry said.

"We don't know what the prophecy actually says but we knew that the one in the ministry was a fake. Voldemort told us." McGonagall explained.

Harry turned and glared at the man. Voldemort just pretended not to notice. Harry huffed "fine what does it say? And how do you know that the other one was a fake?"

Voldemort just jumped right into it "Right before you joined me at the Ministry I looked into Dumbledores mind. I saw the prophecy and I viewed the memory of when it was made. Dumbledore didn't even realize his mind was under attack. It didn't even take that long. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds. " Voldemort explained to Harry. "he had altered the phropehcy to serve his own means. He changed it completely. If I had know in the beginning… I would have never done what I did." Voldemort ended sadly.

"Just get to the point!" Lupin said, "I'm practically growing old here!"

"Calm your horses, wolf!" Snape said. Lupin glared at the man and Snape glared back at him. "Ignore them and continue." McGonagall said.

"The fake prophecy went like this…

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...

I had only heard the beginning of the prophecy. As you know Severus feels responsible for your parents death because he was the one who told me the beginning of the prophecy. He was kicked out before he could listen to the rest. He had no idea it meant you. I was the one who was convinced it was you. I let Dumbledore drive fear into my heart and it made me act rash. I am the one solely responsible for your parents deaths. If I had known what the actual prophecy said I would not have done what I did. I would have protected you and given you everything." Voldemort said solemnly.

Harry sat there stunned. He looked at Snape and he could see that the man had gone deathly pale. "I already told you Snape, that it wasn't your fault. Dumbledore is the one responsible for my parents deaths not you or Voldemort." Snape turned and looked at Harry and gave him a weak smile.

Voldemort looked up. "Do you truly mean that Harry?"

"I do. I know what kind of man you are. You wouldn't do something unless it was absolutely necessary." Harry said and Voldemort easily relaxed. Harry moved so Voldemort could hug him, and he did.

After a few minutes of silence Voldemort spoke once more. "Now. The true prophecy is something else and it completely changed my perspective of you. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it but it is real. Dumbledore had charms around it and it was buried deep in his mind I had to look deep to view it. It goes like this…

The one with the power of unconditional love is born as the seventh month dies. Born to those who have disobeyed the tyrant. This child will reunite the dark and the light and whose love will save the one whose heart has died. Together they will be immortal and be the downfall of the tyrant and will rule over the wizarding world. One cannot live without the other for their love is what binds their magic together… the one with the power of unconditional love is born as the seventh month dies…

So you see. I cannot live without Harry. We cannot live without each other. He is my equal and my soul mate in every sense of the word." Voldemort finished.

Everyone in the room was silent. No one moved. No one breathed. They couldn't believe it. Harry and Voldemort were meant for each other. The prophecy had just confirmed it.

Harry did the only logical thing he could think of… he bolted. He just ran and ran and didn't stop. His mind was going a hundred miles an hour. He could hear Voldmeort chasing after him but he didn't slow down. He needed time to think for himself. He needed air…

*** That is that! Yay! I finally got to write this chapter! I'm so sorry it took this long! Please forgive me and REVIEW! Bye! Until next time! *** -Castlerocks