Hi guys, I think it is time for me to thank some of you who support me greatly with their actions.

First of all thanks for the reviews to SlytherinQueen020, LucainSalesia, animehphantom, hARRYSGURL22, emerald-amethyst, Erynia, GreenFinchLinnetBird and Soulless Creature per PM.

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Disclaimer: It's not mine, okay???

This chapter has been betad by JoSchmo666. I hope that now everyting is ok, but there have always been problems after I uploaded the chapter. Thank you.

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Chapter four—The First Meeting

The Dark Lord Voldemort paced impatiently in his meeting room. He had learned from one of the house-elves that Potter was awake. That had been half an hour ago. Ever since the news had reached his ears, he felt unsettled. Pertho was alone with the boy and although he knew that he would not actually be able to kill her, he felt more than uneasy. He wanted nothing more than to go up and see if she was alright. But then again, she had forbidden him to come up when the boy woke up and he respected her demands. At least he did now. The last time he had not, had gotten her into coma and he himself had ended up as a shadow, not able to help her or care for her. So he would just stay here and wait for her…and pace…and worry…

Argh! He had to calm down. It wouldn't do him or her any good if he got more impatient and did something silly.

"I can't tell you often enough that you worry too much," a voice came from the door. He had to smile at the similarity of their last conversation. She had started it the same way.

"What happened? Why did his magic spike out?" he demanded to know. "Did he attack you? I will kill him if he did."

"Calm down, Tom. Everything is fine. You felt his magic spike when I told him what Dumbledore did to him."

"So he knows?"

"Yes, he knows and I can tell you that he is not amused. He wasn't even before he knew and now he is considering an alliance with you," she said with a small smile. "That means…if you do not try to kill him on sight," she added, her smile broadening.

Tom had by now a smile on his face but then it darkened.

"Quick. Get into the shadows. My Death Eaters arrive. We'll talk later."

Pertho became a shadow even before Voldemort was able to warn her. She had felt the disrupture of space that went along with Apparition even before the Dark Lord. Only seconds later the room filled with Death Eaters who were waiting for the meeting to begin. Voldemort himself waited some moments longer while he monitored her movements with his senses. There were only one or two of his followers in the room who would be able to tell that there was someone else in the room with them that they could not see but other than them, the others were too weak. She was safe. Then, her presence vanished and a snake emerged from the shadows. He knew that for his Death Eaters she looked like Nagini but he knew better.

The snake wound her way up his leg and settled in his lap. His followers shivered at the sight of the snake but she pretended to sleep. None of them realised that she was watching every one of them and with more than just the normal sight humans, even in an animagus form, had. He had always known what she did, even if she didn't tell him, at least when he was near her. And she always knew the same about him and even more. She knew what he wanted her to do this evening and that it was to find out if his men were loyal to him.

"What news do you have?" Lord Voldemort addressed his minions. "Lucius?"

The figure that was Lucius Malfoy stepped forward. Pertho's head rose slightly and she looked at him as if curious. Voldemort started to scratch her head and she settled down again. The Dark Lord knew he was loyal. They had played this game more than just once in the past and he was relieved that he still understood her so easily.

"My Lord," Lucius bowed, "my mission has been completed." He said no more and no more was needed since Voldemort knew exactly what he was talking about and possible spies would be kept in the dark in this way. She knew that only Voldemort and Malfoy and of course she, knew what they were talking about. His mission had been to bring more of Voldemort's men into the Ministry or to certain position within it.

Voldemort stopped petting the snake for a short time but then continued.

"Excellent, Lucius, dismissed."

Malfoy stepped back into the line of the Inner Circle members and sighed in relief that he had gotten away without a Crucio. The Dark Lord motioned for the next that had had a mission to step forward. This went on until all with tasks had been able to give their report. The animagus did only two times move more than she had done with Lucius. All the others just got his treatment but with those two she changed her position in Voldemort's lap.

The last one left to make his report over news was Severus Snape. He flinched as he stepped forwards and looked into the eyes of the snake. They held something in them that had not been there the last time he had seen Nagini and sent chills down his spine. Immediately he had the feeling that he could keep nothing secret from this being. And that she would tell everything his master. That was the thing that he most dreaded, since he had really been on Dumbledore's side for some time. But now, as he knew that Dumbledore would kill Harry if he survived and him too most likely, he was again truly a spy for Voldemort. But he was not sure if he would survive the man's wrath, when he found out that it had not always been this way. On the other side there was something good in her knowing everything in his mind because this way she could tell his master, even if he didn't have the opportunity, that there were two spies in his ranks. Two of the new recruits worked for the Ministry and the Order. All the time he had watched the snake and exactly when it had been the turn of those two she had acted differently as if to tell Voldemort through her behaviour that they were not loyal.

And now he held his breath in anticipation of her reaction towards him.

She let her eyes roam over him longer than over the others but then she laid her head back down without shifting her position. He let out a sigh of relief.

"My Lord," he started, knowing that as long as the traitors were here he could only give him information that was more or less useless. "I just got the news yesterday. Two days ago the Potter brat left the house of his relatives. He was out of the safety of the wards for one hour but then returned. Dumbledore sent him a letter in which he told him not to leave the house and that it was too dangerous to get him to the Burrow or to the Headquarters so he has to stay at his relatives' until the end of the summer. As long as the boy does as ordered there will be no way for us to get to him."

Voldemort nodded. "Is there anything else from the last Order meeting that you need to report?"

"Yes, my Lord. They know that there are Death Eaters in the Ministry and they are looking for them but they aren't that successful."

The Dark Lord looked pleased and continued stroking the snake.

"You are dismissed, Severus, is there something else that one of you has to report?" he asked into the following silence. "No? Then you are dismissed, the Inner Circle, stay."

All of his followers but seven vanished from sight. The Dark Lord studied his Inner Circle. Left were Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband and his brother Rodolphus and Rabastan, Goyle and Crabbe, Lucius Malfoy and of course Severus Snape. He was relieved that Snape was now on his side again, even if he didn't know what had caused the change yet, he was happy that he had not t kill the man. Over the years he had grown a certain fondness for him and it would be a pity and a waste if he had to kill him. And, if Potter changed to his side and went back to the school, he would need Severus to keep him safe. When did he come to care about Potter? Oh right, he did not care about him but if something happened to him, Pertho would be affected too and that was something he did not want. He heard a light chuckle from the snake.

"Is there something you wanted to tell me in more private?"

"Yes, my Lord," Severus stepped forward again. "There are two spies in your ranks. They were both recently recruited and work at least for the Order. After the last meeting here Dumbledore knew things he shouldn't. I investigated and came to the two of them. Their names' are Driscol and Gordon."

"I know that they are not loyal to me but it is actually reassuring that you are telling me this," Voldemort said still absentmindedly caressing the snake in his lap. "Have you held back information earlier because of this?"

"Yes, my Lord. I overheard a conversation between Dumbledore and Weasley that the latter will lead a party of Ministry people to search the houses of Lucius, Crabbe, Goyle and Nott. They will be looking for dark items and will come in two days time."

Voldemort looked pleased. "You heard what he said. Prepare but be ready tomorrow morning in case they come earlier. And pass a message to Nott. I don't want any of you arrested. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my Lord," they all chorused and Voldemort could Pertho actually hear chuckle.

"Is there something else?" he demanded to know.

"My Lord," Severus spoke as the others remained silent. "Could I have a word with you? In private?"

"Of course, Severus, dismissed," he told the others and they Disapparated. "What do want to tell me?"

"It's about Potter, My Lord … Dumbledore wants to kill him as soon as he has killed you. Furthermore his little friends are just his friends because Dumbledore has told them to be. They are Dumbledore's pawns. They keep him occupied and watch what he does and doesn't do something that the old man doesn't want. That he doesn't go dark. Maybe if we are able to tell him, then he will at least not side with Dumbledore and stay neutral in this war," Severus suggested cautious, not sure how Voldemort would react. Said man actually laughed.

"Severus, you proved again how Slytherin you are."

"The problem is that there is no way to tell him and I think he will believe neither of us."

"I am sure we will work something out," Voldemort said. "Is there something else that might be useful?"

"No, my Lord, that's all, do you have anything you want me to do?"

Voldemort smiled and shook his head. Severus frowned. His Lord smiled?

"No, Severus, just do want you always do and bring me the news as soon as possible."

Snape bowed and Disapparated. Voldemort sat quiet for quite some time and waited eventually he asked quietly: "What have you found, my dear?"

"Two traitors", the snake answered, "one of them is still here. Am I right, Driscol?"

Then several things happened at the same time. Voldemort felt that someone tried to Disapparate, Pertho changed her form, something flew towards him and a person was dragged out of the shadows.

"This," Pertho said, holding the silvery something in her hand, "is not yours. I think I will keep it for the time being." She looked up at Voldemort and smiled at him. "He is yours. I will care for the wards so that our guest will not be bothered."

The Dark Lord smiled back and only moments later the room was filled with the screams of the man being held under the Crucio.

"Who are you working for?"

"I will tell you nothing," he spat out, "Go to hell."

"He is officially working for the ministry, along with his little friend. The one Severus mentioned. But unofficially he works for the Order as well and will expose Severus if he is able to escape, so we should prevent it, do you think not?" she said in an emotionless voice.

Driscol started to panic. How did she know this much about him? Had she overcome his Occulumency shields?

"Your shields are pathetic. Did you really think that they would be strong enough to keep someone out of your mind?"

That answered his question quite well. But it made him shiver at how easily she had been able to see into his mind. However, he had not that much time to think about it since the next Crucio hit him square on the chest. It only lasted seconds before Voldemort banished him to the dungeons.

"Now we only have to get the other spy back here, preferably before he is able to tell any one anything. Do you have any idea how to do this?" the Dark Lord turned to the young woman. But as he looked at her his blood ran cold. She was whiter than a ghost and seemed to be near a breakdown. Quickly he put up the anti apparition wards and ran towards her as she collapsed.

"Thanks for the wards. He tried the whole time to escape," she breathed.

"Who? Potter? Or Driscol?" Voldemort was at a loss. Normally it would not be this demanding to keep one person in place and he had not thought that Driscol was able to attempt an escape.

"No, Gordon. When he Disapparated I let him Apparate into a nice cell in your dungeon. But he felt that the wards had not been up again and tried to get out all the time. I had to fight his attempts and your wards that wanted to let him go since you did not put them up again. It was quite strenuous and demanding."

Voldemort knew that if she admitted this then she could barely move, so he put one hand under her knees and the other around her shoulders and lifted her up. He left the meeting room with her in his arms and started on the way to her chambers. As long as she was awake he wanted to talk to her about the meeting and her findings.

"What about Severus, can we really trust him?" he asked.

She let her head fall against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Of course. Even if Harry does not choose your side Severus will stay with you and try to talk you out of killing him because he knows that with you it is more likely than with Dumbledore."

"Why would he want to do this?" he asked laughing, "Is he in love with him?"

"No, but he was with his mother. What do you think why he asked you to spare her? After she died he promised her and himself that he would keep her son alive. And he intends to keep this promise at all costs."

Now Voldemort did understand some of the things Severus had done and that had made no sense at the time. He was just about to ask another question when he heard her breathing evening out.

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Harry was sitting in the room he had woken up in and was reading. Beside this he thought about what had happened. This woman, Pertho he remembered, had been able to get him away from the prying eyes of the Order members that had been stalking him. Then she had treated his injuries and a lot better than most people would have been able to. He had gone in the bathroom to go to the toilet and take a shower, when he had first seen what his wounds now looked like. There was nothing left to see. Not even scars, at least, no new ones. He knew that he had looked horrible when he had left the Dursleys. Although he had only been there about two days, Vernon had done everything he could so that Harry was hardly able to walk not to mention running away. That was before he had tried the other thing.

Do not think about it, he told himself. You don't have to go back there.

So now he thought about the other thing he wondered about. What was the meeting Pertho was attending and who the Lord really was. He did not have the feeling that Pertho had lied to him. More as if she had left some important facts out. In fact he had the feeling that she would never lie to him and that what she had left out…he had the feeling that she had did it because she was not sure how he would react, to keep him safe.

Right, he was thinking what kind of meeting it was. Maybe the Lord was the boss of a company? No, that wasn't convincing at all. But the only other kinds of meetings that came to his mind were Death Eater and Order meetings. Through he did not think it was the latter because she had definitely not seemed very proud of Dumbledore and this was definitely not Grimmauld Place. And, not to forget this small fact, if he was with the old man, he would have, more than likely, already come here. So the only thing left that was likely, in his mind, was a Death Eater meeting but no matter how hard he tried he could not say why the hell Voldemort had not come to torture him yet.

He heard the door going and looked up in time to see a black haired wizard enter. He had the young woman in his arms and smiled down fondly at her. That could not be Voldemort, now could it? He smiled? He had the man never seen smiling. Never.

Just in this moment the man looked up and green orbs locked into crimson. He seemed embarrassed being caught looking this way. They heard a faint chuckle and both their gazes went to the woman. She didn't seem to have woken up but there was a smile on her face. The Dark Lord, and Harry was by now sure that it was indeed Voldemort as his instincts kept screaming it at him, sighed and put her down on the other bed. He seemed so human. Not just because he no longer had this snakelike look but most important all about how he acted was human and actually caring. Voldemort cared for someone? It seemed impossible but yet he knew it was true.

"I won't hurt you, Harry," he said quietly nearly too low to catch.

"Why?" the boy breathed.

The Dark Lord was silent for some time and came over to the bed, wordlessly asking for permission to sit down and Harry nearly thought that he would not answer.

"First of all because there is nothing I can do that will hurt you more than what has already been done to you," he held up a hand to silence him as he saw he was about to say something. "I don't know exactly what happened because Pertho says it is your place to tell if you want but I have seen how you arrived and her reaction. I also know about the betrayal from more than just one source." He didn't elaborate that. "Secondly I don't know if I can now ever hurt you again. I have granted you refuge in my house and I still don't know why if I am honest. So I think we have to come to terms. At least for the moment. You can stay as long as you want but stay clear of the lowest three levels at least. I don't want trouble because of you, okay? We are on the seventh and top floor at the moment. On the floor below is the library. You can use whatever books you want. On the fifth floor is the dining room. Breakfast is served at eight, lunch at one and dinner at seven. If you don't want to eat with me, that's ok with me. You can order your food in this room. When you are able to move around on your own then we will give you a room on your own. Now I have things to do and it is already late. Good night," said suddenly curt and stood. "The password is Pertho's name in Parseltongue."

With that said he all but flew from the room missing the low chuckle. As Harry looked again to Pertho, she seemed to sleep peacefully. Only now Harry thought that he should have asked why exactly he had carried her in sleeping.

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Hey guys. I'm thinking about writing a crossover. What would you like to read? Please write it in your review or in a private message. Till next chap. Bye farawisa