Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Harry chewed his lip nervously. This is what you wanted, he thought dryly. Escaping the Order had been surprisingly easy. After all, the defensive spells were meant to keep people out, not in. He waited till everyone was asleep and snuck out under the invisibility cloak, thanking God that Moody hadn't stayed overnight.

Voldemort, if you can hear me, I need to talk to you. He thought.

No reply came. But Severus Snape did.

"Potter," Snape snapped, "What are you doing out here?"

"Just getting some fresh air, Professor. Is that something I should add to the ever-growing list of things I'm not allowed to do now as well?" Harry retorted.

"Those restrictions are to keep you out of the hands of the Dark Lord, as you well know. I knew you were arrogant, but not this arrogant. The Order takes measures to assure your safety and you undermine them for your own little pleasures." Snape sneered.

"Why don't you cut the shit, Snape? I don't know what you're playing at, being a double agent for God knows who, but either way you'll end up burned." Harry growled.

"You cut the shit, Potter. We both know you didn't come out here for fresh air." Snape answered in a deadly calm voice.

"And what are you going to do? Ten points from Gryffindor?" Harry jeered.

"I'm not going to do anything, Potter. I'm going to sit back and watch you get burned." And with that Snape turned on his heel and went back through the door of 12 Grimmuald Place.

Harry stared with his mouth open as Snape disappeared back into the Order HQ. Then he snorted, he's probably gone to rat me out to Dumbledore so he can keep me under house arrest.

Pain exploded in Harry's scar.

"Well, that was quite an interesting exchange, wasn't it Harry?" Harry turned—his hand still clutching his head—and faced the snake-like man standing behind him.

Voldemort smirked.

"What do you expect me to do if you turn me?" Harry asked bluntly.

"My dear Harry, you have already been turned." Voldemort stepped closer. Harry met his crimson eyes head on, refusing to look weak. Voldemort still grabbed his chin, forcing his head up. Harry kept eye contact, despite the almost unbearable pain in his head.

"No, I haven't. The Blood Vow forces me to do your bidding, but that doesn't mean I'm loyal to you. You could order me to blow the Order to pieces and I'd do it because I'd have to, but I would still be loyal to my friends."

"I could force you to be loyal to me, I could manipulate your mind until you thought right was wrong and up was down." Voldemort murmured.

"You could, but you won't." Harry replied.

"And why wouldn't I, Harry?"

"Because I still wouldn't be truly loyal to you. I'd fight you ever step of the way and even though I'd probably lose, I still wouldn't really be yours." Harry stated curtly. He pulled out of Voldemort's gripped and took a step back, eying Voldemort calmly.

"It would still be beneficial to have an obedient little pet at Hogwarts."

"Isn't that Snape's job?" Harry asked seriously.

Voldemort chuckled quietly. It sent shivers up Harry's spine, which he tried unsuccessfully to hide.

"Well as much as I love watching you shiver from the cold, I think it's time we went somewhere more private." Voldemort said with a mocking inflection in his voice.

Voldemort rested a hand on Harry shoulder, Harry repressed a shiver. "Think about Malfoy Manor." Voldemort instructed. Oh, yeah, 'cause there's so many happy memories there. Harry thought cynically, but thought about the wretched place all the same.

There was the uncomfortable feeling of being pushed through a rubber tube, Harry felt suffocated. Than his feet smacked into solid ground and he stumbled. Voldemort's hand was still holding his shoulder in a loose grip. His grasp moved to Harry's upper arm, catching him before he fell to a heap on the floor.

"All right there, Harry?" Voldemort asked mockingly.

"M fine," Harry mumbled, pulling away from Voldemort.

They were standing in the bedroom Harry had occupied while being held at Malfoy Manor. It didn't bring back good memories. Most were hazy and confused, as he'd only spent time in this room when he was recuperating from Voldemort's "lessons". And this was the room that he'd pledged himself to Voldemort in. And now he was back. Willingly.

"So you wish to speak with me?" Voldemort asked, amused.

"I've already asked you what I want to know."

"Ah, yes. You wish to know what I will expect of you once you have truly become mine." Voldemort smirked as anger sparked in Harry's green eyes.

"I'm not your property, and I never will be." Harry growled.

"You are my Horcrux, are you not?"

"I'm still a person. Not that you have any reverence for human life." Harry glared.

"The muggle-lover has brainwashed you. I have very high reverence for Wizard life. It is the way of life, my dear Harry. The strong command the average, and the weak die. Is it so wrong to let those who know best get the respect and power they deserve?"

"Who says they know best, just because they're Pureblooded? I'm a Half-Blood. You're a Half-Blood—"

Voldemort growled, cold anger ignited in his eyes. "Listen here, boy. My filthy muggle father was a wrong I corrected long ago, when I slaughtered the bastard." He had Harry backed up against a wall, much like Harry had done to Draco. "I am as pure as my ancestor Salazar Slytherin. If you ever call me a filthy Half-Blood again, I will strike you down where you stand, Horcrux be damned. Is that understood?"

"You're mad," Harry breathed out.

"Mad am I, Potter? When I'm done with you, you just might be!" Voldemort hissed. "Crucio!"

Harry cried out. Voldemort held the spell for nearly two minutes before releasing Harry. He crashed to the floor gasping for breath and trembling. Voldemort hauled him up by his under arm and slammed him against the wall, his wand poking into Harry's neck. "Are we understood?" Voldemort hissed. Harry nodded.

Voldemort stepped away. Harry crumpled to the floor again. He stayed there for a time, trying to get his breathing under control. He finally got shakily to his feet, eying Voldemort warily. It seemed that he had calmed down a bit himself as well. The pain in Harry's head while Voldemort tortured him was worse than the actual spell.

"As I started before your rude disruption, I would expect you to continue at Hogwarts and gather any information you can on the Order, amongst other things."

"What about . . . killing . . . Dumbledore?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Ah, yes, that you would wait to do until you have orders from me."

"Why me?"

"Because he has betrayed you. He still expects you to go along with his plans, correct?" Voldemort asked.

"Yes." Harry said tightly.

"And you don't want to? Do you?" Voldemort asked.

"I—it was never my choice. I . . . always felt like I had to do it. I had to stop you from getting the sorcerer's stone. I had to kill the basilisk and stab the diary. I had to save Ginny. Because no one else would. But this . . . dying for something because it's what's expected of me . . ." Harry trailed off. "I would rather not be part of this at all."

"Dumbledore does not understand that, Harry. But I do. Help me end this war. The sacrifices on both sides have been great. Join me and when this is over, no one will expect anything of you."

Harry looked up. "I can't."

"Why?"

"I can't sit back and let you kill the people I care about." Harry answered honestly.

"What if I assured you they wouldn't be harmed?"

"Any of them? The Weasleys, Hermione, any of the D.A., Lupin?"

"I can guarantee you that none of your loved ones would die at my hand or on my orders." Voldemort replied.

"But other innocent people . . ."

"Die every day. What's a few more. Things are not always black and white Harry. Are they really innocent? They lust for my death, they will fight for Dumbledore. They are not innocent." Voldemort said.

"What about the muggles you kill for sport?" Harry glared.

"If it will appease you, I will order my Death Eaters not to wreak havoc on any muggles."

"You would stop doing that just because I don't like it? But I thought you didn't care about your servants." Harry said, wide eyed.

"I don't. But you would not be just a servant. You are also my Horcrux. You are a piece of me, so I would keep you pacified." Voldemort replied.

"Make an Unbreakable Vow."

"You do not trust me, Harry?" Voldemort smiled.

"Would you?" Harry retorted.

"Ah, Harry. You become more like me every day. Why would I lie to myself?"

"Just do it." Harry growled.

Voldemort smirked. "I have something better. The Blood Vow allows for added agreements."

"It does?"

"Yes. Hold out your arm." Voldemort ordered. Harry looked at him warily. Voldemort hissed and grabbed his arm. "I, Lord Voldemort, heir to Salazar Slytherin, promise that I will not harm any of Harry Potter's loved ones. No muggles will die by my hand for sport, nor will they die at the hands of my Death Eaters."

A thin string of light wove around their hands, entwining with phantom forms of the other bonds. Then they all faded.

"I have upheld my side of the Bargain. Will you become a true servant and take the Dark Mark?" Voldemort asked.

Harry took a deep breath.

"I will."

Dun, dun, dun! So what did you guys think? I'm so terribly sorry I haven't updated all week. I've been really busy with Finals (damn them), swim team, homework, etc. But I'm now on Christmas Break! Three weeks of freedom! Thank God. Anyway review! Thanks to all of you who review, favorite, or alerted my story. It really makes my day to read your opinions or just to know you like my story.

It came to my attention that I made a mistake last chapter. Lupin didn't know what a bomb was because I thought he was Pureblooded. But someone pointed out that he is a Half-Blood so would of course know what a bomb is. Thanks to said reviewer for pointing that out.

P.S. to any British readers—there's got to be some of you out there—I need your help. If you could give me some tips and pointers on how you guys talk, it would be much appreciated! I want this to be realistic (as realistic as a story about magic and evil snake-men can be, anyway)

I'm on break so expect lots of updates! Reviewing will give me more incentive! If anyone wants to guess what will happen next, feel free! And I'm open to ideas, so if you want a certain character in here, tell me. I might just add them. Thanks again, until next time!