Voldemort sat pensively at his desk, mind switching from thought to thought in rapid succession. He was not pouting, as Nagini had so eloquently put it. The snake was still laughing at him from her curled up spot in front of the fireplace and Voldemort frowned at her.
"I don't see what's so funny." Nagini sighed, sensing how tense her master was. She missed the days where they could joke and laze about.
"You are acting like a child who's lost their favorite toy. Pouting and moping about." Voldemort hissed, snapping forward at his desk to shout at the snake.
"I am not pouting!" Nagini rolled her eyes as best she could as a snake. Her master was falling apart before her eyes and refused to seek help. He refused to do what he knew he needed to.
"Of course Master." Voldemort huffed, falling back into his chair. He knew Nagini was right but that didn't mean he wanted to listen to her. He wanted to be free, or at least he thought he wanted to. Now that he was free he wasn't sure what he wanted. "You will have to go to him eventually. You know how things must be."
Voldemort frowned, turning away from his familiar. He knew how things were supposed to be. He knew what the balance needed but he was angry and afraid. He wasn't like his master. He didn't remember his past lives as the man did. Each time was a new and frightening experience that he had to live through and this time his master had left him alone. He'd been alone for so long and then suddenly his master had appeared and expected Death to just forgive him. It wasn't that simple.
He knew, deep down, that his master hadn't left him on purpose. Someone had restricted his birth and Voldemort had been left alone while his master tried to free himself. But his master had not hesitated to abandon him when Voldemort was being difficult. His master was supposed to be there no matter what but instead he'd left Death for a younger guardian. His master didn't want him anymore and now Voldemort had to live with that. Live with his position as Death taken from him. Live with the choices he and his master had made.
A brush of smooth scales against his skin had Voldemort looking up from where he'd been staring at his desk. Nagini had slithered up his arm, trying to comfort the man and belatedly Voldemort realized he was crying.
"I'm sorry Master. I didn't mean to hurt you." Voldemort smiled weakly and gently ran a finger down Nagini's smooth scales.
"I'm fine Nagini. I just need to do something." Voldemort retreated back into his mind, making sure to avoid the twisted ball of thoughts that made up his master and instead turning to his cause. He needed to do something grand, something that would really catch everyone's attention.
"I'm going to kill them all!" Every head in the Slytherin common room shot up in surprise at the sudden shout. Their master was standing there, seething with rage that had a few students nearly wetting themselves in fear. Draco stood slowly, hoping to stop his master from doing something drastic.
"Master?" Harry swept the blond into a burning kiss that left Draco dizzy before tucking the teen against him, glaring at everyone. A few students flinched when his eyes landed on them and a vicious smirk grew on his face.
"We are leaving. If any of you are loyal you will join us. The castle will be taken tonight." Gasps spread about the room as the Slytherins forwent decorum and ran around, trying to gather their things before fleeing. Severus met his gaze through the commotion and nodded before herding the third and below years into the tunnel that led out of the castle. Parkinson stepped forward in the middle of the swarm, sneer already on her face as she addressed the two.
"Why should we go with you? You no longer follow our Lord." Harry grabbed her, letting his power flow through her and watching as she fell to the floor, screaming in her death throes. There was no emotion in his eyes, only the glossy reflection of death that had Draco tensing in fear. This was why he was not worthy. This was why his master needed Death. Harry turned towards the other students, ready to kill every one of them if he had to.
"Any other doubters?" Silence returned as each Slytherin stared at Pansy's dead body. There was no turning back now. Harry surveyed the solemn faces before nodding. "Good."
With that he marched out of the room, Draco at his heels. Distantly he thought he was scaring the blond but he had no time to dwell on the thought. They needed to get to his Pet. Draco followed silently, trusting his master to have the best judgment. They arrived at the astronomy tower, hearing Bellatrix's cackles far before they made it up the stairs.
The sight that met their eyes was surprising. Voldemort was on his knees before Dumbledore, clenching himself in pain as Dumbledore pointed his wand at the man. Bellatrix and Lucius were bound to the wall, being watched over by Professor Mcgonagall and Auror Moody. There were more Death Eaters that were held by even more Aurors and Harry seethed. Someone had ratted them out.
Draco had given a soft cry at the sight of his father that had all heads turning towards the newcomers. Glares were sent their way and the look in Lucius's eyes, the silent plea for them to run was bringing Draco to tears. Draco let his eyes drift over to the Headmaster, wary as the man had pained Death. Harry's gaze was stuck on the wand in the man's hand as whispers assaulted his ears.
The Elder Wand.
His wand.
Dumbledore had taken his wand and was using it to hurt Death. Rage filled him and Harry finally let go of his control. He was the Master of Death. He was Death's protector and insured the balance of the world. Death and Dumbledore had disturbed that balance.
"Albus Dumbledore." All heads snapped towards Harry as he spoke. The inhuman tone swept throughout the room, sending shivers down each spine as they took in the full power of the Master of Death. Harry tilted his head slightly towards the bound Death Eaters and Draco, watching as they disappeared from his sight until only Aurors, teachers, and Dumbledore remained. Dumbledore's face was a sickly grey as he watched Harry stalk closer to him. The teen was glowing with an unnatural energy, green radiating from his eyes and magic from his very being. An omen before them.
Voldemort still knelt behind Dumbledore, head still bowed and Harry spared a thought for his pet. He hoped he was fine.
"H-Harry-" Harry held up a hand for silence. He would not be stopped now. Dumbledore had finally gone too far, stealing the Elder Wand and using it against Death.
"I am the Master of Death. You have stolen from me." If possible Dumbledore grew paler and Harry took a small amount of satisfaction at the fear radiating from the man. Dumbledore was currently rethinking his entire strategy. He had hoped to shape Harry into the perfect soldier to carry out his plan for the greater good. How had he not realized that Harry was the Master of Death? He had been so sure that Harry was one of Voldemort's horcruxes. Instead Harry was something far more eternal.
The Master of Death. The immortal ruler of eternity.
And Dumbledore had taken from him. Had taken his wand and tried to take his cloak and the ring. He would not make it through this encounter. From the twisted curse that was slowly eating its way up his arm to the pure rage radiating from the entity before him Dumbledore knew he would not step foot out of this tower alive. At the very least he and Harry could get rid of the Dark Lord. The man was throwing off the balance of the world.
"Harry please. I didn't- I didn't know, my boy. The wand is yours. I just need to-" Before he could finish the wand was ripped from his grasp and flew into Harry's open palm. He knew what Albus wanted. What he wanted to do to his pet. With a wave of his hand the headmaster went flying. Immediately spells flew towards him as the gathered Light Side tried to defend their leader. Harry sighed and glared at them and watched as a section dropped dead. Dumbledore was struggling in the corner, trying to lift himself up. He needed to call off his forces, they couldn't hope to beat Harry now. Not when he finally knew what he was.
Harry ignored the spells that clattered against his shield, instead moving towards his pet and kneeling before the man. Voldemort was shaking, trying his best to hold himself together in silence.
"Master." Harry gently cupped the man's face, tilting it towards him. Voldemort's eyes were full of tears as Harry pulled him close, letting his arms wrap around his pet.
"Let's go Pet." Voldemort gripped tightly at the man's robes as they apparated away from Hogwarts