Here's the latest chapter. Next update should be within about 24-48 hours.
Hope people are enjoying this and would still encourage as many reviews as possible.
Voldemort opened his green emerald eyes and gazed around sheepishly before settling on Harry beside him. "Harry?".
Harry smiled. "Shh, you'll be fine now"
Voldemort's breathing was still labored but Harry knew it might take him time recover properly.
"What happened?" his voice was scarcely audible.
Harry shook his head in reply "I could ask you the same thing. You passed out in the bathrooms. Ron found you and helped me carry you in here to the bed". Voldemort grimaced and pressed his hand to his bandaged side. "but it was Hermione who saved your life". Harry finished.
Voldemort finally seemed to noticed there were more people in the room and he made to sit up. His eyes narrowed on the sleeping forms by the table. "Harry, what are you doing here?".
Harry shrugged. "I was here shopping with Ron and Hermione but there was a report in the Witch Weekly about an attack on you. It said you were dead" Harry snorted "It said Fudge killed you".
"He almost did" Voldemorts admittance stopped Harry dead. He didn't look at Harry as he spoke but instead his eyes rested on the sleeping pair by the couch.
"The ministry found my headquarters. How I'd I love to know" He replied darkly. Harry reached over a poured him a glass of water which he refused. "They didn't make so much as a sound. I never heard so much a spark cast but of a sudden five Aurors and Fudge had cornered me and tried to kill me. I did the only thing I could. I apparated here". He said.
His eyes finally turned to met Harry's. The emerald green color that reminded him so much of his own reflection stared back. Voldemorts gaze softened. "How have you been kiddo?".
Harry smiled at the name, it brought back memories of the last time they'd been together.
"Good, I'm just glad we found you". Voldemort nodded. Harry told Voldemort he was going to get them some tea. He sighed as he reached the bar which now a little frantic.
"How's your friend Harry?" Paul appeared in front of his smiling. Harry nodded.
"Just need to sleep it off" Paul chuckled "What can I do for you?"
"Pot of tea would be great" it appeared in front of him on a floating tray. "Free of charge".
Harry smiled and thanked the friendly Wizard before making his way back down the corridor.
When Harry returned to the room he found Voldemort sitting at the table with Hermione.
"You're back" Hermione greeted him. Voldemort rose his wand and the floating tray made its way over and landed carefully in front of him.
"Hermione was filling me in on some things" He spoke. Harry was amazed he was even speaking to her. Voldemort hated Muggles and Half Bloods. Harry looked at Hermione questioningly as he took a seat.
"You're a lucky guy Harry, don't let this one go". Harry took her hand under the table and smiled at her
"I don't plan to". He said.
Voldemort placed a cup in front of him and Matrix seemed to wake up at last. She poked her little head out of Harry's pocket. Harry picked her up and placed her on the table. She raced back up and down it in excitement.
Voldemort grinned, stretching his unusually tight mouth "She seems to like you anyway" he said. Something in his voice gave Harry the distinct impression that he wasn't only talking about Matrix.
"She's great" Harry agreed "And the Durselys don't even know she's there, which is perfect".
Voldemort rose the cup to his lips and took a sip. "Ah yes, how is life with the Durselys?"
"Fine" Harry replied. "They've been nice to me lately though, it's a bit weird".
Voldemort chuckled and rose an eyebrow "Have they now". He nodded and took another sip of his tea.
"You didn't" Harry said, more shocked that Voldemort had actually chuckled.
"Oh yes I did" he replied. "But I didn't hurt any of them".
Harry laughed in shock. The image of a black robed scary wizard like Voldemort standing in the Durselys sitting room discussing his best interests was almost comical.
A yawn sounded as Ron finally stirred. "Harry? What?..Oh" He said noticing Voldemort sitting across from him.
"I owe you a thank you" He said. Ron rose an eyebrow and nodded tightly.
"What will you do now?" Hermione broke in. Voldemort frowned caught out by the question.
"Go up north I expect" he said taking up the kettle and tipping a little extra hot water into his cup. "I don't just have one hideout you know. It more like twenty in England alone".
As he spoke Harry couldn't help but notice how different his farther was from when they'd last met. He was still pale in complexion but his eyes looked more human somehow. His skin wasn't as taught and clung less tightly to his bones. He had a thin layer of Dark messy hair on his usually Bald head, not to mention smiling and chuckling.
Hermione squeezed his hand under the table and pointed to the cauldron shaped clock on the wall.
"I've go to go" she muttered apologetically. Harry nodded and stood up.
"I'll walk you out" he said.
Hermione smiled at him and nodded. She looked to Voldemort "It was nice to meet you". Voldemort gave her a stiff nod in reply.
She bid Ron a goodbye and they left the room. As he closed the door behind him Harry reached out enfold her within his arms. She smiled and kissed him sweetly. "You were right Harry. There still is some good in him". Harry smiled and leaned in for a deeper kiss. A few minutes later they broke apart and Harry unwillingly released her.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the station" she said and waved him goodbye. Harry watched her leave the corridor before he reentered the room to find a very red faced Ron and a grinning Voldemort.
"What?" harry asked. "What is so funny?"
Ron shook his head. "Speaking of time to go, it's ours". Harry nodded and ok. Ron bid Voldemort a quick goodbye before waited outside the room.
Now alone Voldemort stared at him with a half smile as he took a seat again. "You have some good friends there"
Harry shrugged. "I told they weren't all that bad"
Voldemort huffed. "Well you found the exceptions". Harry smiled, Voldemort was never going to admit he was wrong and Harry decided not to push it.
"Where will you go now?" Harry asked. He didn't want to have to say goodbye so soon again but he knew that it was too exposes for his farther here.
"I'll leave for Wales tonight. My Death Eaters will be waiting for me their" He spoke.
Harry nodded "Just be careful, Fudge will be looking high and low for you now". He said and stood up, Voldemort followed suit and the pair stared at each other.
Unsure of whether or not Voldemort would tolerate a hug, Harry held out a hand to be shaken.
Voldemort stared at it for a few moments before taking it. He nodded in approval "I tell you if I had your quick thinking". He said and pulled harry closer for a hug.
It was an uncomfortable hug, neither of them grasped the other very tight but it was progress and Harry felt the emotion bubble up within his chest.
Voldemort let him go and looked down at him "Keep in touch".
Harry nodded and walked for the door. He glanced back at Voldemort, who smiled before he closed out the door behind him.
As Harry and Ron made their way out to the bar Harry stopped to inform Paul that his friend would be leaving after the first night but had requested no visitors until then.
Paul waved them both goodbye.
Harry inserted his keys in the front door and twiddled with them. He opened the door pausing for the sound of the Dursleys in the sitting room or tv. Not a sound was to be heard from the house. He gazed back out at the drive way. In his shock Harry realized the car was gone, something that would usually stand out like a beackon to him.
He sighed heavily and made his way into the kitchen. He fixed himself a sandwhich and returned to his room; and just in time.
Harry listened for the sound keys as Uncle Vernon, Aunt Patunia and Dudley came bustling noisely in the front door. Holding his door handle hostage he softly closed it so only the faintest click could be heard. He didn't want to explain to the durselys where'd he'd been all day, not that they'd care to ask him.
For the next few hours Harry packed up his trunk up and gathered his belongings. He stacked up his books neatly and searched through his clean clothes. It was a struggle to disentangle Matrix from his underwear who'd left him little presents all over the draw but it kept his mind off the earlier events of that day, at least for a while.
The shock of even seeing Voldemort again after their last emotionally challenged parting last year had been great but at least it had left Harry with a lingering sense of pride in his farther.
Harry flopped down onto his bed and switched off the lamp. He stared at the sleeping form of Hedwig in the dark room.
Harry shook his head. It had taken them a lot of agonizing weeks to build up the little relationship they'd had. And even though he loved his dad they were not weeks Harry would ever be willing to repeat. Harry sometimes still awoke in the middle of the night with dreams about Wizards dressed in White and running, always running.
Truth was they owed it all to that night he'd spent in Lupins while waiting for Dumbledore to arrive the next day. That dream had changed everything;
Harry closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. He found himself standing in the clearing of a dark forest, rather similar to the one that Lupins guest rooms were designed to look like. The shuffling of robes and voice reached his ears. Before Harry a man emerged clothed in black, his face was impossible to make out drenched in shadow. He stood silently and as he raised his head Harry Recognized to two red eyes that stared straight back at him. Even from such a distance Voldemort was truly the stuff of nightmares.
From behind Harry came the distant sound of a thump and the unmistakable swoosh of rapid feet, someone was in a rush to meet them. Even though his counterpart hadn't arrived yet Voldemorts stare continued to pierce the night, not even stopping to blink.
"My lord!" Harry recognized that voice and sure enough in the next moment someone else appeared out and walked right through Harry. The distinct hook nose and Black greasy hair of Professor Severus Snape. However even though Snape had appeared Voldemorts eyes remained fixed on a point behind Harry as if he were a window. Snapes beady black eyes were matched only by his dark wardrobe. Harry tried to process what was going on. It was true that Snape had been a Death Eater, but here Harry was witnessing it first hand.
"My Lord" He inclined his head respectfully, his voice more controlled now. "Potter wasn't there".
"I know" said the chill voice.
If Harry hadn't heard it himself he probably wouldn't have believed it. As his head erupted with sirring pain the look of surprise on Snapes face was, he guessed only matched by his, as he was met with an almighty roar of laughter from Lord Voldemort.
Snape stood frozen and confused.
Harry thought. What did Snape mean by 'Potter wasn't there'? Had he he gone to the Durselys? Were they ok?
The laughed stopped then and Voldemort titled his head sidewards still staring beyond him. Harry felt goosebumps begin to form all over his skin. A strange thought began to niggle at the edge of is consciousness; could Voldemort see him?
His head was full of pain that Harry now thought it might explode. Snape looked over at Harry and back at Voldemort as trying to see what his master was at.
"Hello Potter" said Voldemort.
Harry was paralyzed. This was dream how could Voldemort possibly see him.
Snapes face changed to one of shock. He gazed at Harry as if peering through a looking glass.
"My lord, there is nothing there" he said.
"Shh!" Lord Voldemort rose a hand to silence him. "Nice to see you again Harry". A cold grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "confused as to how I can see you?".
Snapes face became furrowed with lines of worry. That wasn't right. Snape hated Harry, why should he show concern for him or was it for his master?
Voldemorts voice was nothing less of sinister as he spoke. "This is the first time I've experienced tis myself. I believe we share an extraordinary connection as a result of your scar" He circled his wand around his fingers like a snake to charmers a rope. He grinned devilishly.
Harry had had enough if this. He began to back away but in the next second Voldemort had sent a red ray at him. Harry shrieked in shock as his limbs clamped together and he hit the ground with a loud thump.
Voldemort had attacked him in a dream. Harry tried to pinch himself but his limbs refused the movement. He could only stare up at the canopy and wait for Voldemorts red eyes to appear over him.
"Potter?!" Snape spat. "That was Potter".
Harry now tingling in pain spotted his wand only meters away. Every nerve in his body was numb with fright and his insides turned to ice as Voldemort appeared over him grinning like a fox in a hen house. He hired his wand and pointed it directly at Harrys chest.
"Crucio" he muttered.
Immediately Harry felt the pain of a thousand needles pierce deep into every part of his body. He was screaming in pain. Then it stopped.
Harry panted and his vision cleared to see Voldemort over him still. 'Wake up' he told himself but to no avail.
"Master" Came Snapes breathless voice. "May I?"
Voldemort narrowed his eyes on Harry. He rose his wand again and a purple light glowed around him for a moment before the telltale gasp from Snape gave way that Harry, it now seemed, was visible.
He appeared over him looking ashen faced, his beady black eyes huge.
"Bindo" Muttered Vodamort and ropes shot from the end of his wand wrapping themselves around Harry pinging his useless limb to his torso .
Voldemort lowered to his hunches then and gazed into Harry's eyes. "As they'll soon no doubt be waking you, let me leave you with a little something". From inside his robes appeared the glint of a knife. Harrys eyes widened as he lowered the point to his chest.
"Sir! Help me please!" Harry called out then. Snapes jaw opened slightly. Voldemort gazed up at him in delight and back down at Harry. "You disappoint me Harry. After showing such reckless disregard for your life in that graveyard last year you now cry out like a child". Harry shook his head an insane look on his features. "MaybeVoldamort you are no better than those bloodtraitor parents of yours".
This enraged Harry and finally broke the stunning spell over him. He struggled in his binds to get up, to hit him, to do something but Voldemorts hand pressed down on his chest restraining him. His eyes flanked a dangerous color of red. "If your parents were so mighty why are they dead Harry?" He said in his tone conversational. "They were weak that's why. So are you, but I will correct that". Voldemort plucked Harry's robes in his first and inserted the knife into them tearing them to just above his midriff. Harry felt the cold steel of the knife pierce his chest. The pain was extreme. Harry cried out. Pained tears leaked from his eyes and he jerked wildly but Voldemort ran the blade in smooth curves along his chest keeping him pined. After what seemed like an eternity he stood up and backed away. Harry blinked the tears from his eyes.
Voldemort grinned "See what your precious Dumbledore thinks about that" he spat.
Harry opened his eyes and breathed deeply. He took hold of his pajama top and lifted it. There sat a black tattoo like mark just over his heart. Harry ran two fingers over the raised scar. Such a small mark and yet it had changed everything. Ultimately it had opened the gates for the discovery of his parentage. It had brought the White High Council down on top if him and Voldemort and almost gotten him killed on many occasions.
Harry let his top fall back down and realized how tightly his body was wound. He forced his shoulders to relax and uncurled his fists.
It's not like that anymore he told himself He's not like that anymore, and neither am I for that matter.
Harry law back down in the bed. Matrix stumbled up to his pillow and lay down in front of Harrys face folding her shapely legs under her. She closed her eyes and Harry smiled and followed suit. Tomorrow would see him back at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione and on that happy note he felt himself begin to drift off.