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Warning: Slash (male/male) Don't like, don't read.

This chapter is donated to Devils-only-one, who helped me figure out how to add chapters! Thank you!

Chapter 2 – The Finding of Abuse

Voldemort was waiting on the front steps of the mansion as impatient as ever.

Fear, pain, realization, anger and fear mingled together, more pain, then…nothing.

He knew long ago that these emotions were Harry's, and the nothingness he now felt made him anxious. What is happening? He had given Snape, Lucius, and Draco explicit instructions not to hurt him. So, where was all the pain coming from?

A movement at the edge of the forest caught his eye. He looked up and saw first, the battered and unconscious figure being levitated, then his servants.

Anger rose inside him and confusion. He knew that these particular people would never go against his orders. Which meant that someone else had harmed his mate. but who?

When the two Death Eaters, Draco, and Harry reached the steps, Voldemort knew it would be unwise to ask what happened to his mate while he was in this condition.

"Top floor, my chambers," was all he said then he went to the fire place and fire called one of his Death Eaters who specialized in healing.

Her name was Oval and as he hurriedly explained what he had gotten into and then the condition of Harry, she cut him off and just asked, "Where is he?"

Voldemort's chambers were two rooms: a study and a bedroom with a full bath. The bedroom could only be accessed from the study and the study could only be accessed from the hallway. But do to recent circumstances, Voldemort had changed his study into a bedroom. His study was now his room and his initial bedroom was going to be Harry's. Voldemort reasoned that if Harry tried to run away he would have to get past him first, and he could also be contained more easily.

When Oval and the Dark Lord reached these rooms they saw that the trio had a dilemma. They weren't sure which room their Lord wanted him in.

Voldemort pointed to the second bedroom and there Harry was laid down on the bed. Then the tree men and Draco stood away from the bed while Oval bustled around sizing up the damage her charge had sustained. She looked up and seemed to just notice them standing on the side lines looking like they didn't know what to do with themselves.

"All of you, outside!"

Voldemort started to protest but stopped short at the glare he received. She closed the door behind them.

Voldemort created four chairs and a table in the middle of the room, then called for a house elf to get them some much needed scotch. He motioned to the chairs, inviting them to sit down.

Four glasses of scotch and the decanter appeared on the table. The three men took a sip, but when Draco tried to do the same Lucius slapped him upside the head.

"If your mother found out I let you have even a drop of alcohol, she'd skin me alive!" That being said he tapped the glass with his wand and it turned into a teacup and the liquid inside steamed.

Draco screwed up his face but made no other complaint.

After Voldemort had his first glass he poured another then said, "Explain."

And explain they did, in detail, what had happened from the time they got there to the time they left.

"Did he say anything about who had harmed him?" Voldemort asked, with forced calm.

"Well, if he did it was in parseltongue." Snape answered.

"He spoke in parseltongue?" Voldemort felt a shot of jealously that they had heard his mate speak the ancient language of the snakes before him.

"Yes, but I can't understand why." Voldemort's eyebrow rose, urging Snape to continue. "He knew that only you and himself could speak parseltongue. So, why did he speak that language to three people who he knew wouldn't understand?"

Voldemort thought about this for a moment. "What I was younger I found that when my emotions were more than I could handle I would start to speak in a language I was comfortable with and not even realize it."

"But I've seen him angry before." Draco said.

"Not this angry or this frightened." Snape replied.

"Yes, those two emotions combined must have a heavy impact on the human psyche." Lucius commented.

Then Snape thought of something. "My Lord, I know that what I'm about ready to say doesn't have anything really to do with what we're talking about at present but I think Lucius and I should go back to Potter's house and get his school things."

Voldemort nodded. "Do so quickly, for I fear that his absence will not go unnoticed for long." Snape and Lucius were about to walk out the door when a request stopped them. "Have a little chat with his relatives about his state, will you?"

"Yes, My Lord." They answered, and left the room.

Voldemort then looked over at his remaining guest. "You may go home now, I'm sure your mother must be worried."

Draco nodded and got up from his seat and walked to the door, but before he left he looked over at the Dark Lord. "Can you tell me when he gets better?"

Voldemort gave him a scrutinizing look. "And why would I do this? It is my understanding that you and he are enemies."

Draco became uncomfortable. "We are. It's just…I have a feeling I know who did that to him."

"As do I."

"And I don't think this has been the first time."

"How so?"

"Well, when I saw him at school for the first time he looked rather small for his age and was jumpy a lot. He got better through the school year, but…as each new term started he looked…worn out."

Voldemort looked contemplating. "I must think on this, now leave."

Draco did as ordered and went to use the fireplace to floo home.

XXX

Snape and Lucius apparated again to Privet Drive but they were met with a rather unpleasant surprises. Dumbledore was already there along with half the Order. The Order was searching the grounds and Dumbledore was speaking to the Dursleys.

Luckily, the two Death Eaters had yet to be spotted. So, they made their way down the street ducking between bushes, cars, and fences as they went.

"How much do you want to bet that his 'relatives' are telling the truth about how he disappeared?" Lucius asked.

"Not sure, but I don't think we'll be able to get anything now. Besides, Dumbledore would probably take Potter's things back to school until he was found."

"I agree. Let's report back, and then go home. I'm tired and Narcissa must be more than a little concerned."

Snape nodded, then they apparated back to the mansion.

XXX

Voldemort was anxiously standing with his ear to the door listening for Harry's voice.

It had been so long and Oval had yet to come out. He yearned to hear Harry's voice. He tried imagining what it would sound like in parseltongue, but couldn't quite envision it. This started to irritate him. When would she call him in?

As if in answer to his prayers the door opened making him jump back. Oval appeared looking more than a little grave. "You can see him now, just don't touch him."

He nodded. Anything to see his mate.

When he entered. The smell of blood and healing potions hit his nose. He went to the bed immediately and sat down on a chair that was already waiting. The Dark Lord wanted to at least hold Harry's hand, but Oval's warning kept him at bay. For a stout woman, she was very intimidating.

Harry looked a little better, at least, better than he first had. Most of his face was black and blue, he also had a cut lip and eyebrow, plus a large gash on his cheek. All had bandages covering them of course. If there was anymore damage the bed covers were pulled up to his chin.

After Voldemort had finished examining his mate he heard footsteps and then Oval arguing with two people who wished to speak with him.

"Let them in." Voldemort said, teeth clenched in anger at the people or person who had done this.

He stood up to face Snape and Lucius as they entered the room, Oval was standing behind them with her lips pursed.

"Oval, you speak first. Tell me his condition."

She seemed to mull over how much she should divulge, but decided to go at it pointblank. "One broken rib, bruises all along his body, internal bleeding, malnourishment, inflammation…the list goes on and on. I gave him healing potions to stop the internal bleeding and to help him gain back all of the nutrition that his body was deprived of, but any more healing potions and I'm afraid that would have done more harm than good, hence the bruises that are still covering him and the inflammation he will feel when he tries to move." And seeing her Lord's look she hastened to continue. "But there is still hope for those ailments. I found a salve that will cure the inflammation as well as help the bruises in as little as two weeks." She looked at him, a bit apprehensively.

"That's fine, I can use that to my advantage." With Harry not being able to move properly that would make him more manageable. "When must it be administered?"

"Ounce in the morning, ounce in the evening. But I don't think you - ."

"I will be the one to care for him from this point on." He couldn't bare the thought someone touching his mate, even if they were a doctor. Voldemort then turned to Snape and Lucius who looked just as grave as Oval at what they had just learned about the golden boy. He could understand their shock. How could Dumbledore do this to the Boy-Who-Lived? But he would address that later, for now, he wanted to know why they were not able to obtain Harry's things.

"Severus, Lucius, what happened?"

And so, the two Death Eaters told their Lord what had happened.

"My Lord, may I suggest something?" Snape asked, after he and Lucius had finished.

"Go ahead." Voldemort said, half angry and half tired at the present news.

"What if you were to write to Dumbledore about your…position. Such as why you had to take him and why he could die. Dumbledore's soft heart, I'm sure, would keep you alive…for if you were to die, that would result in Potter's death as well."

"How can you be sure? Dumbledore has all but sentenced Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, to death by keeping him with his relatives!" Voldemort snarled.

Lucius came to Snape's defense, "Unless he didn't know about the abuse. I remember many of my friends at school who were abused," Snape shifted uneasily, "but they never told anyone until they were away from their abusers, who mostly turned out to be their parents. I'm surprised that the famous Harry Potter was able to keep it secret for this long."

Voldemort knew he had a very good point. It was quite possible that Harry hadn't told anymore about his abuse, but he had at least expected Dumbledore to suspect that something might be going on. Even Draco, who commonly thought that the world revolved around him, had noticed that something was off. But it seemed that he had no choice, he would write to Dumbledore and wait for an answer. Should that answer be less then pleasing…well, then he would protect himself and his mate at whatever cost.

"I will consider it. You may all leave now." Snape and Lucius bowed and then left, but Oval made another attempt to stay and take care of her patient. "No, I will be able to care for him. Hand me the salve." She obliged a little unwillingly. "Now go." And out the door she went.

XXX

Harry will be appearing in the next chapter, you have my word!

Acknowledgements:

Thank you everyone for your wonderful input! And yes, I will try to update at least once every two weeks, depending on how long my muse is willing to stay around:) And I do plan on completeing this...I hate it when people leave a story just hanging and never finish it, so I'll try not to do that to you!