Disclaimer: I own nothing at all. Except my BA plotline.

Chapter Ten

Voldemort walked into the conference area the next day with a grimace. Demetri and Severus were not to be found. L'Etias was looking around thoughtfully, discreetly scanning the crowd. He could only assume that it was for Harry. Well, at least he could be free to be with the teen now. Voldemort was giving up his claim to Harry's heart. \\

He made his way through the crowd somberly, hiding his feelings behind his stoic mask. He hadn't really allowed the despair to set in yet. It felt like he was operating through shock. Everything was numb, unreal. It wasn't a good way to be in the midst of negotiations as cutthroat as these but it was better than wallowing in misery. Angelick of the Fae convoy winked at him before sashaying over, a determined and pleased gleam in her ever-shifting eyes. She was a nymph, full of sensual curves and gleaming skin.

"Lord Voldemort. You have a beautiful home." She said, her voice lilting and exotic.

He gave her a slow, charming smirk. Perhaps this is what he needed. He needed to get Harry out of his system. People moved on all the time right? So he would just move on too.

"Why thank you, Lady Angelick."

"Would you care to be my escort to the party tonight?"

Bingo. To ask someone to be your escort to these parties was lingo for 'I would LOVE to shag you if you can handle it.'

"My Lady, I would be honored."

"-And those are the plans I have for our world." Voldemort finished his speech, looking out over the delegates.

Many of them were nodding in agreement but some were skeptical. Among the doubters was L'Etias. The Incubi stood and stared down the Dark Lord.

"And where is the Puppet Master for these negotiations? Why does he not have your side as usual?" The demon asked out for everyone to hear.

Many spoke up in agreement of this question, many making small observations aloud as well. Victoria stood next while Xaven sat back to watch the chaos, a calculating gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, Lord Voldemort. Does the Puppet Master no longer hold you in esteem? Does he no longer stand by you?"

Voices raised and general craziness ensued. Even the allegation that Harry no longer stood beside him made several of his potential allies raise eyebrows. He stood himself, taking the opportunity to ease the crowd.

"Harry has merely been detained, as far as I know. He is very likely working out the details of his newest projects with my potion's master now."

It hadn't gone unnoticed that not only was Harry missing but Severus and Draco were missing as well. It was a natural assumption that they were probably working. This quieted the crowd down enough that they could get back to their talks but both Victory and Xaven traded unconvinced looks.

Draco stood in the doorway of the old library where he and Harry had taken up residence with their experiments. He stared out at the room with a horror building inside him. The bookshelves and furniture were all covered with their respective sheets, as they had been when they had first taken up the room as their own. All of the experiments, all of the ingredients in their crystal vials and the buckets of mixtures, everything was gone. It looked as if they had never been there at all. As if Harry's existence had been erased from the face of the earth. He felt himself turn green. How was he going to explain this to the Dark Lord? In the very center of the room on the floor was a small puppet, its strings cut, with a small but easily discernible lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

Severus stood in his room and watched the lithe, dark cloaked figure walk from the manor grounds miserably. Harry was going. He was going and it was all Voldemort's fault. He was losing him…He didn't bother stopping the moan of despair that trickled from his chest as he watched his beloved walk away. His hands ghosted over the box that Harry had given him for his protection. Even after he was gone, Harry was protecting him. Inside, the tiny puppet was dressed in a cloak and had a painted smiling face.

Harry looked at his new apartment in the Americas. It was quaint and subtle, situated in New York. Tom would never think to look for him in muggle America, especially such a populated place. He sighed. The apartment itself was small but seeing as how he had bought the whole complex for privacy, he supposed he had plenty of space. It would be fine…He looked at his new home and finally let his heart sink. This was his new home. He didn't like it but this was how it had to be. Distance. He nodded to himself and set about on organizing his things and writing a letter to Demetri for his aid with his contacts. The Sluagh would be along in a few days. He had after all, sworn to protect Harry. No matter how strong or powerful he was though, Demetri couldn't protect him from heartache.

Voldemort paced through his study frantically. It had been a week since Harry had said goodbye. He never thought that goodbye had meant for good! He had his forces scouring the country for his ex-lover and he had his contacts in other countries searching as well. All had come up empty so far, though. He had not seen Severus yet but he knew that man was sitting in his rooms. He had summoned the man just moments ago and was waiting, pacing repeatedly. The door opened quietly and Severus emerged from the depths of the dungeons at last.

"Severus."

"My Lord."

They stared at each other for a long time, the potion's master blank expression, a sure sign that he was hiding something.

"Where has Harry gone?" He demanded finally, bringing those obsidian eyes up to his face.

He didn't like to see such a proud man being as quiet and reserved as Severus was being.

"I don't know. Harry was very careful not to reveal his location to me. He doesn't want you to find him." The Potion's Master responded quickly and quietly.

Voldemort swore and continued his pacing. Damn! He was so sure that Severus would know! Harry had at least told him that he was leaving. He growled and dismissed the man, allowing him to disappear once more. He couldn't bring himself to invade Severus's mind or to punish him for helping Harry leave. Severus had lost him too…He tossed back a glass of scotch and grimaced. He had to find Harry.

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