"The most dangerous enemy is that which no one fears."
Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
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Harry moaned and held his head as he awoke, groaning as his forehead throbbed. Getting stunned had not been part of the plan.
Harry rolled over and groaned again as he realized where he was. The room he'd shared with a Ron in Grimmauld place was one of the last places he wanted to be right now, but at least it wasn't the hospital wing, where Harry's lack of humanity ran the risk of being discovered by Madame Pomphrey at any moment.
It was time to face the world and start acting…The dummy had been so realistic, if Harry hadn't known that Ron had taken a safe Portkey away he would have been much more distraught, probably to the point of tearing Moody's arms off to get to his friend if he had to. Harry shook his head as he sat up. Some of Ron's blood had been used in the spell that constructed the doll, so any tests of the thing would come up with a positive identity as Ronald Billius Weasley.
Seeing the dummy 'dead' on the ground had given even himself a moment of heart-wrenching horror. Harry couldn't imagine what it must have done to the Weasley family…Harry felt his chest clench, but shook the feeling away. It would be painful for them to see Ron dead, but not nearly as much as if the redhead lost control in school and killed someone…Harry shuddered.
A knock at the old wooden door startled him out of his thoughts, and the bedraggled face of Nymphadora Tonks appeared in the doorframe.
"Harry?"
…It was time to face the world and start acting. Harry felt so drained…
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Voldemort's red eyes swept the room, and all the Death Eaters shivered with a sense of impending doom.
"Who killed Weassssley?" the Dark Lord hissed, his wand already tapping the arm of the chair he sat in. Naturally, none of his followers came forward, as Voldemort had expected. Who would confess to a crime they had not committed? On the exterior his expression became angry, but inwardly Voldemort smirked at the cowards looking to each other, looking for anyone to serve as a scapegoat to endure his wrath.
"Rodolphus!" he called to the elder Lestrange brother. The member of his inner circle hesitantly stepped forward, radiating tension even under his bone-white mask. "Were there any other casualties?" the lord bit out.
"Er, only one, on our side, my lord…Antonin Brookes took a Blaster through a shop window. His head cracked open on the wall," there was a hint of incredulity in Rodolphus' voice, causing Alecto Carrow to snort and several heads to turn her way. Silently Voldemort agreed; that was a ridiculous way to die, even for a new Death Eater such as Brookes.
"Very well…I have urgent business to attend to. You are dismissed," Voldemort finished impatiently, getting out of his seat to leave the room. The congregation stared at his retreating form for a moment, disbelieving of the situation. The Dark Lord left without punishing, or even reprimanding them for failure.
Had their Lord just shown mercy?
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Ron sighed and looked around the room in dismay. This was where he'd be staying, at least until the end of the war. It was so…boring! Not a hint of real color besides gray or brown; Ron desperately longed for the smashing orange of his room at the Burrow or the cheerful red and gold of the Gryffindor dorms.
On the plus side, he'd already equipped the place with a chess board, it was clean, and he didn't have to worry about waking up in the morning to find he'd killed all his dorm mates - the red head huffed again at the thought. Voldemort was a few hallways down (enough to ensure his privacy) from Ron, so he didn't have to worry about the voices getting control again. The dark lord even supplied his room with headache potions for when things got too stressful.
The youngest Weasley boy threw himself on the drab but comfortable bed, trying not to look at the desk in the corner. The entire top surface was swamped in stacks of parchment, all containing stratagems, statistics and "troop counts." Voldemort had been reluctant to let Ron stay in his manor until Harry casually mentioned Ron's seeming genius at anything connected to strategy, even if just on the chess board. Ron was still uncomfortable with the glint the snake-man had gotten in his eyes at the words. Voldemort finally buckled under Harry's will, under the condition that Ron was to help him with devising strategies to bring down the Ministry - bloodlessly.
Later Ron understood Harry's enthusiastic agreement when the vampire explained that it meant Voldemort was starting to embrace the new ideals Harry was trying to introduce by giving him Slytherin's journal. Ron took a while to grasp the concept, but eventually he comprehended what the other was going for and agreed. He wouldn't feel nearly as guilty about helping the Dark side if no one got hurt.
Groaning, Ron pulled himself from the bed and padded to the desk. The sooner he finished this paperwork, the sooner he could play chess and visit with Harry.
It felt almost like he was still in school with all this bloody homework.
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There was the softest of cracking noises as Remus appeared in the dapple-dark forest. He stepped out of the cover of trees into a nearby clearing, tipping his head to the moon's half-shaded face gazing benignly down at him; Remus felt Moony whine softly with pleasure.
He might have been too worried about his cub to come here on this night, but Harry'd sent a letter to him reassuring the werewolf that he was peachy and Ronald Weasley quite alive - Remus felt glad that the plan had worked though. The Daily Prophet was no longer hounding his cub about being evil, instead setting him up once again as their savior and an object of pity for losing his best friend.
"Cub," a voice growled from the darkness surrounding him, wrenching his thoughts away. Remus' hand jerked involuntarily to his wand, but he stilled with a large amount of self-control. Fenrir padded into the clearing soundlessly, despite his bulky figure. He was closely tailed by several others; werewolves, Remus could immediately distinguish from their collective scents and body types.
Remus bowed his head the smallest increment in acknowledgement to the alpha, knowing the man would see it. He felt slightly leery of Greyback, even in such a comforting environment. Remus had spent years hating the man for the hell he'd made of his life. It was only now, with the knowledge of his reasons coming to the forefront and the Light side of the war out for werewolf blood, that Remus could even think of joining the man who turned him into something both less and more than human. Even with the acceptance of his wolf side Lupin found Fenrir's taste for biting small children repulsive.
"Greyback," he growled lightly back to the wolf-man. The weather-beaten face grinned, revealing pointed teeth that glowed white in the moonlight. Fenrir laughed deeply, striding forward and slinging an arm over Remus' shoulder. Startled, the younger stiffened, amber eyes meeting grey-brown.
"No need to be so formal, Remus!" Fenrir said, ignoring the tense form beside him, "After all, we're all pack here."
The men and women surrounding them growled their happy assent, eyes shining from the under brushed untouched by light. Remus noticed many of them were naked. As this pack lived mostly in the wild, he supposed it didn't matter since werewolves produced more body heat than most. However this made him feel severely overdressed, even in just his patchy robes.
Fenrir's arm on his shoulder was daunting, but when he tried to move away the shaggy-haired man caught him in an iron grip and leaned close, heated breath gusting over Remus' face and his fanged mouth too close for comfort.
"Welcome to the family, cub."
A hot tongue swiped over his jaw, tasting him in the space of a moment; Remus couldn't quite hold back Moony's whimper as the wolf cried something terrifyingly familiar. Fenrir grinned and suddenly let him go, throwing his head back in a howl of delight.
"Let's go home!" and Greyback took off at inhuman speeds. Stunned and mortified, Remus had no choice but to follow as the rest of the laughing pack disappeared into the forest.
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"Harry!" he wasn't prepared for an attack the moment he appeared, so barely restrained himself from injuring the redhead that latched onto him as he Flicked into the room. Harry stumbled and swayed a bit as Ron hugged him fully before letting go. "You're finally here! You wouldn't believe how boring it's been! I get to go out on the grounds to fly, invisible of course, but V-Voldemort's piling so much paperwork on me that I hardly have any time. I missed talking to someone! How are you?"
Harry blinked as Ron ended his rant, surprised to see his friend acting so open. After the events a couple weeks ago he didn't think that spark would ever return to Ron's eyes, but there it was, nonetheless. However, despite recent complications, Ron grew up in a large family and was used to interacting with people. It was obvious he'd longed for Harry's company. Tom wasn't the most social creature unless you knew what to talk about. The vampire grinned at the thought of Ron trying to strike up a conversation about the Chudley Cannons' chances at winning the World Cup this year with the taciturn dark lord.
"Things are fine, Ron. Everyone was easy to fool. All I have to do was look mopey and glare at anyone that comes near me. Have you been reading the Prophet?" Ron rolled his eyes and pointed at a stack of newspapers on his desk, "Oh…well, seems I'm not a nutter anymore since my best friend died. Now I'm the slightly off-kilter icon of the Light again, ready to take revenge against my friend's killer. It bloody sucks because I'm being stared at more now, if possible."
Harry plopped into a chair in front of the chess board without invitation, leaving Ron to set up the pieces with an ease brought from years of playing the game.
"I got a letter from Remus yesterday. He's gone to join Greyback's pack, so they should be here in a few days. I told him about the plan, so he knows your alright and he's someone else you can talk to."
Ron nodded without speaking, his gaze suddenly so turmoiled that Harry tensed under it.
"Everything went according to plan…no one suspected the body wasn't real, right?" Confused, Harry nodded. "How…how did my family take it?" Ron's eyebrows drew together, and the raven boy suddenly realized that his friend was feeling guilty for the pain he knew he must have caused them.
"Er, I went to your funeral, but no one really talked to me, understandably. Your mum and dad looked pretty torn up, Ron. She was crying all over his coat. The twins and Bill and Charlie were pretty quiet the whole time. Percy wasn't there, I think Fudge had him working. Ginny, well…" Harry frowned and shrugged, not really wanting to go into the way she almost completely ignored her brother's funeral, choosing to stare unnervingly at Harry the entire time instead.
Ron was staring dejectedly down at the board, a mumbled phrase causing his white knight to make the first move of the game. Harry's heart ached as he was suddenly wracked with his own guilt. It was his fault his friend felt this way - all of this had been his idea.
"Ron, I promise that after this war is over we'll find a cure, and you can go back to your family. It'll be over soon-"
He was interrupted by the redhead's bitter laughter, "Easy for you to say. You're not the one being constantly threatened with death by piles of tactics papers!" even so he cracked a smile, finally breaking the foul mood. Harry was startled that his stubborn friend dropped the matter so easily, but didn't look a gift thestral in the mouth. Both of them were eager to change the subject, drowning in the chatter of lighter matters as Ron thoroughly trounced Harry on the chess board.
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It was with both relief and disappointment that Voldemort finally closed Slytherin's journal. The last three pages of the book were blank, indicating in all probability that Salazar died before he could extend the journal's contents further with the aid of magic. Somehow, the Dark founder of Hogwarts was far different from any persona that Voldemort had ever imagined for the man. While far from having a pacifist nature, the man did not kill his enemies and Mudbloods alike indiscriminately.
Though the Dark Lord supposed he couldn't call them that anymore, descendants of Squibs that they were.
Voldemort sighed and placed the book beside him, being careful not to shift and disturb the head that lay on his lap. Absently his fingers wove into Aspen's long unbound hair, delicately separating red strands from black. Ruby eyes trailed down the sleeping form that took up the entire couch, his hand following them. The dark lord smiled in pleasure as he only lightly felt the young man's ribs, assured that the teenager was getting enough to eat. Sometimes he worried about the young man's health, with him spending all his late nights here with Voldemort.
Settling a hand on the slumbering vampire's hip, he pondered on his relationship with the younger wizard. Since the eve of the rediscovery of his love, Voldemort had not seen Aspen with more than his shirt removed. In the beginning the dark lord was too shocked at his former lover's return to even think of reinstating sexual relations. Afterward, he'd been comfortable with the heated kisses, and just being able to hold his love in arms that lay cold for so long.
Back when he was still know as Tom Riddle he'd taken many lovers, both male and female, trying to dull the incessant ache that pounded relentlessly after the passing of Aspen Noir from his life. But he never kissed them, never touched his lips to theirs, was never satisfied with what those wizards and witches offered. None could know him as Aspen had, down to his very blood and murder-filled heart.
But still, having him back made Voldemort wonder what the delay was. Aspen had already made it clear that he was in no way repulsed by the grotesque body Voldemort found himself housed in - his willingness to kiss and be close to the dark lord dismissed those doubts out of hand. Still, Voldemort found himself starting to want more. It had been a long time - too long since he last beheld Aspen's ecstasy-filled eyes and held the other close as their skin cooled from exertion. The dark lord's hand wandered over the muscled plane of the slumbering wizard's stomach.
How he would dearly love to wake him, but Aspen needed his sleep when he was so desperately exhausted…
The hand still entwined in Aspen's hair fisted as the voice of his familiar drifted to his ears.
-Revolting half-breed vampire…he isss not worthy of your time, massster,- the constrictor hissed, causing Voldemort to look sharply at her, eyes narrowed but saying nothing. A stir of anger flooded through the dark lord as her words sank in - he had still not talked to the snake since her attack on Aspen's familiar. Nagini slithered closer over the stone floor, her yellow eyes pleading as she raised herself for Voldemort to see clearly.
-Have I not ssserved you faithfully? Have I not been by your ssside all this time, Massster? There isss nothing the new pet can do that I cannot, nothing he can give you that I cannot do better. Why have you abandoned me, your faithful ssservant for thisss piece of filth? Am I not your life, your sssoul, massster?-
Voldemort's fury rose at his familiar's foolish words - he let go of Aspen's hair, not wanting to jerk it and hurt him, -What brought thisss on, Nagini?- his tone threatened punishment if she said more against his love, but the snake either did not hear or ignored the warning.
-He isss undessserving of your attention, master! You do not realize, but I sssee how he triesss to control you. That mongrel isss good for nothing, he isss not better than me, massster!" The dark lord felt his anger increase from simmering to a boil as the reptile continued to speak, oblivious to the death she was laying out for herself as she spoke ill of the one thing that mattered most to her master. It was one phrase that nearly made Voldemort nearly snap and expunge one piece of his soul than and there.
-He will feed on your kindnesssss and leave you forever! He doesssn't…-
Nagini froze, paralyzed by magic that held the hiss of her words back. Voldemort had drawn his wand, barely restraining green light at its tip as his magic lashed in his rage to fix his familiar to the spot.
-Nagini,- his voice caressed, full of the darkness that suddenly suffocated the air about them like a thick cloak, -If you want to continue to live you will leave me presssence…and never ssspeak badly of my mate again. Do you underssstand me?- Voldemort's sheer ire shook rattled along the walls in the form of shadows. He allowed the snake to nod before he sneered, banishing her to the grounds outside where the weather was unbearably cold, normally deadly to a snake, but as a Horcrux she would survive.
As Voldemort tucked the yew wand away his anger settled but did not disappear completely; it lurked beneath the surface, ready to burst free at the slightest provocation. His psychosis grew exponentially, and Aspen slept on, unawares.
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"Albus, I'm telling you, there's something wrong with Potter!"
"He just lost his best friend, Severus, of course there is something wrong. They were close-"
"That is not what I meant, Minerva! The boy is going Dark. I can feel it…you're losing him, Headmaster."
"I assure you, I'm already investigating, my boy. But Harry is in a delicate condition at the moment. Upsetting him after such a loss would not be wise."
"Albus, I hate to admit but I agree with Severus. Is there nothing we can do? Some way to monitor his activities so we may be sure?"
"I already have a plan in the works, not to worry. Severus, have you noticed any changes in the actions of your Slytherins towards Harry lately?"
"…I have. They seem to be avoiding Potter. I questioned Nott and Parkinson, but neither would tell me why. There is nothing more I can do, unless you wish me to use Veritaserum, Albus?"
"What?! On students? Albus, I don't think-"
"Hmm, that will be unnecessary, Severus, thank you. Minerva, what of young Hermione's interactions with Harry?"
"As far as I know, they are still avoiding each other. What does that have to do with-"
"Thank you, Minerva, Severus. Sherbert lemons?"
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Rushing, rushing, rushing. Blood pulsed and danced in his ears a Voldemort drummed his fingers on the chair where he sat. Wand in hand, he listened as yet another anonymous mask reported the outcome of their assignment.
Anger colored his vision red.
"Failure," he hissed. The Death Eater scrambled back in hopes of avoiding punishment. Sneering, Voldemort ignored him to search out his inner circle. Feral eyes watched from the corner, but his anger was focused and disregarded them.
"Amycus! Where are the wands I sent you for?"
The masked figure came forward, dropping to his knees in subjugation.
"I-I am sorry, my lord. The French wandmaker has closed her shop, and no other supplier had the proper materials. I tried Germany, but-"
Fury pulsed again, and Voldemort felt another slice of himself slip away, lost to madness once more.
"Failure," he hissed, "again. All of you failures!" before he realized what he'd done, Voldemort pushed out of his chair and pointed his wand at Amycus Carrow; the tip swirling with a sickly green miasma.
A ripple of terror ran through the watching Death Eaters. Their lord tortured, he berated and ridiculed, but the only ones he murdered were enemies and traitors.
Never his followers.
"Avada-"
Before the spell sent death flying, their Lord fell. His head hit the ground with a crack and his wand went flying to the opposite wall. A wave of gasps went through the Lord's loyal followers once again, as a shadowy figure with a naked chest stood above their lord. Golden eyes full of danger sent the followers skittering further back.
"Leave," the man growled, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. Finally the panic set, as every single Death Eater in the room turned and ran for the door or Apparated away, their minds too focused on getting to a safe place to worry about the man who'd just saved them or what he would do to their lord.
A/N: I really have to say that I'm surprised Harry's plan worked so well, even on the readers:D Congrats to the few who picked up on the numerous clues last chapter. I've been wanting to write this part of the plot for so long! On the other hand, another cliffie! Enjoy and please review.