Harry followed with great difficulties. The forest was pitch dark, and he had the disadvantage of having to avoid all the roots and fallen leaves as to make no sound, which the other two had no problem of doing.
Harry frowned, this would not do. At this rate, he was sure to lose his targets. Just then, he tripped over a stone that was well-hidden in the darkness. He cursed silently and held still, praying that neither Quirrell nor Nagini had heard him. He couldn't be sure though, as snakes had a superior sense of hearing. He dimly saw the man converse with the snake again and fastened his pace. Harry got up from the ground as soon as he dared and tried hopelessly to catch up. He sighed as the pair disappeared into the depth of the forest, so much for a successful stalking.
It first occurred to him that he ought to go back before anyone noticed he was gone, and the fact that he was, alone, in a dangerous forest full of unknown creatures didn't help to brighten the matter, either. Just as he turned to leave, however, he heard a heart-piercing scream. The sound was musical, yet it was filled with fear and despair. Harry froze on his spot; he was sure Quirrell had something to do with that. Against his better judgment – and later he'd question his sanity, Harry took off after the source of the sound, no longer caring about the noises he made along the way.
Harry ran faster as he heard the same creature scream again, though the sound was fainter this time. He almost tripped in a silvery liquid, unicorn blood? Harry frowned; he knew what unicorn blood could be used for…but could Voldemort be that desperate? Anyhow he needed to get to there soon; Harry fastened his steps as his worry for the other man grew. If the Dark Lord would be content even with a cursed half-life, then Harry could not bring himself to think of his current state. The blood provided him an easy trail, and he could see that he was being led to a clearing in the forest.
Suddenly a slithering sound made him freeze where he stood. A bush on the edge of the clearing quivered… Then, out of the shadows, Harry could make out a hooded figure. "Voldie?" he asked, unsure of what to say. The figure tensed momentarily, for a moment Harry thought it was going to speak to him – then he was slammed into the ground most viciously.
A heavy, long object had wrapped itself around his neck and hands…he could barely breath. Harry struggled vainly, recognizing the attacker to be a seething Nagini. Traitor…ssstay away from massster… He could hear she hiss angrily. Harry tried to explain, to hiss back; but air was being denied to him. His air-deprived mind fought frantically to understand what was going on while adjusting to the shock that Nagini, the nanny-like snake of his childhood, had just called him a traitor and was attacking him. Harry felt consciousness slipping away as his lungs screamed for air…he was going to die; he just knew it now… he was going to break his neck… the bound on him was as tight as ever…air. Before he slipped into the darkness however, he thought he imagined an angry hiss of "stop…"
Harry Potter found himself in a most awkward position. If being dead was like this, then he could truly understand why so many feared death. He could feel his legs and arms dangling beside him, and as far as he knew, he was being carried by some kind of…horse? He hurt all over; every joint of his bones aching. He also had a major headache, and he could hardly open his eyes. Somehow even breathing hurt… Wait a minute, breathing? The boy inhaled experimentally, and almost cried out in pain. But he was somewhat relieved that he was at least still alive. Then he realized there were voices speaking around him.
"That little insolent brat…has no regard for school rules…" a familiar voice spat. It took Harry a while to realize who it belonged to – Snape. Had the Potion Master found him then? And who was he talking to?
And surely another voice spoke up, "It was a trap set for him…you cannot blame him for trying to stop the evil that was too powerful for him to handle."
A trap? Set for him? Voldemort tried to kill him?! No…this cannot be true… Voldie would never do that; h-he promised… Snape seemed to be pondering the same, for he voiced the exact question, "Are you sure? Why would someone deliberately try to kill a mere child?"
"I overheard them talking about the plan earlier in the forest, there was no mistaking in it…Beware wizard, an evil is stirring."
"What to you mean?" the Potions Master's voice was sharp, "You…you don't mean the Dar-"
Harry heard no more; his world was falling apart upon those words. All he could think was that there was no denying that Voldemort had tried to kill him, and it was no accident. Harry couldn't help but gave out a small sob; the truth was too painful for him to swallow. He barely noticed himself being handed over to the Potion Master and that he was being steered towards the castle.
Sitting himself in front of Potter in his office, Snape wanted to rant, to let the little idiot know how foolish his actions had been. But the sight of the boy was enough to even shun him from voicing further reproach. Harry's robe was torn and dirty, he had a small gash on his forehead, and one could see bruises and blood around his neck. What troubled Snape most though, was the way the child stared at the floor forlornly as if it were the end of the world, with silent tears sliding down his face.
"Well, I am not going to inform the Headmaster about this, and you won't be expelled, this time. So there's no need for those pathetic tears." Snape had to give himself credit; he almost spoke to the boy kindly.
The boy looked up at him stupidly; it seemed to take him a while to realize what the Potion Master had just said. He nodded and croaked a small "thank you," but his voice was hoarse, he looked unconcerned, and he coughed up blood.
Snape frowned, "Well, I suppose I should take you to the infamy…"
"No! Please!" Harry almost jumped up despite his injuries.
"Fine," Snape spat, handing the child some healing potion, "You can stay here tonight. But it doesn't mean you can get away from this. You will have to explain to me what happened, Potter."
"How could he…I can't believe he did this to me…" Harry murmured softly.
Snape went very pare. "Who was there?" he asked intently, although he already had a vague idea of who it might have been.
"Voldemort. He tried to drink a unicorn's blood," came the quiet reply.
Snape swallowed at his former Lord's name, "So You-Know-Who was there? But how dare he come so close to Dumbledore…"
"How could he…He promised he would never hurt me…" the boy was still muttering to himself, apparently not hearing a word Snape had said.
Snape snapped, "How dense are you, Potter? This is the Dark Lord we are talking about. Although I too wonder why he would even bother to deliberately set up a trap to kill a nobody like you, I have no doubt that he would have no trouble murdering people. Really, how in the Merlin's name did you manage to get into Ravenclaw?"
"Because I begged to not to be put in Slytherin?" Harry answered truthfully.
Snape snarled despite his better judgment; wounded or not, how dare that little brat insult his house like that, "And may I ask why would you consider my house below you?"
Harry looked up, in a small voice he answered, "Do you not know? The children reminded me of their parents…"
Snape felt something dangerously like guilt, but he still countered, "Well, you had no problem running after the Dark Lord…"
"Voldemort never touched me!" To his surprise, anger shone in Harry's eyes, but it was soon replaced with sadness, "No until now…anyhow…"
Snape frowned; so there was more to this boy than he'd originally thought. "Explain," he commanded.
Harry sighed, "I guess it doesn't really matter now… you're bound to know anyway. Well…Voldemort, he was nice to me before the Death Eaters came. He never forced me to do anything I didn't want to and he once promised me that he would never hurt me. I never told anyone because I know they'd think they way you're thinking right now: Harry Potter a Voldemort-supporter." He gave out a bitter laugh.
"And you are not?"
"Never, not about his goals and the way he sets out to achieve them anyway."
Snape sighed inwardly, "And what makes you think he'd want to keep someone who knows many of his secrets that would never support him?"
Harry winced; he knew his actions in these three years gave Voldemort no reason to trust him. He was what Nagini had called him, a traitor; for a moment he wasn't sure if Voldemort had really betrayed his trust or if he himself had been the one to betray Voldemort's. Still… he had thought the Dark Lord saw more in him than a pawn, and the Dark Lord had promised he didn't have to follow him…he wasn't there only to be eliminated once he fell out of the other man's grip…
Snape bent down and looked into Harry's eyes, "Listen, Harry. I have served the Dark Lord myself. I know what kind of person he is…he could make you feel that he really values you, cares for you. But all he does is to use you…you heard the centaur today, he tried murder you like he did your parents when he realized that you are forever turned against him."
Harry swallowed hard, every of Snape's words stung. In his distress he didn't even notice that the other had addressed him with his first name. What the man said was what he had been trying to deny all along, yet the words sounded so cruelly true coming out of Snape's mouth. "No…" he argued weakly, "He could have turned me…but he didn't…if he wanted to use me, then why didn't he teach me to be a Death Eater while I was with him?"
Snape looked at him, "I didn't think he planned on his downfall that particular day."
Harry did not want to listen; why did that man have to say everything out loud and shatter every of Harry's last defense? He didn't need to hear it…He had been used, fooled, by the only person he ever trusted… Stop! Harry inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself; he would not break down in front of Snape again. "What are we to do then? He is obviously planning on something," he asked conversationally.
Snape looked at him closely, and asked, "How much exactly do you know?"
Harry jumped; should he tell Snape of Quirrell's involvement? It was obvious that Quirrell was meeting Voldemort…yet somehow he could not bring himself to do so; something in his heart stopped him from uttering a word about this. "Hmm…well, today I just had this really weird feeling…And, er, I saw a shadow near the Forbidden Forest, so I took off after it. (Snape snorted and muttered "Gryffindor stupidity" while Harry rolled eyes)Then I saw his snake and this hooded figure talking to it. As far as I know, he's the only one who can do that, so I followed. Then I heard a unicorn scream and the snake attacked me." That was not all, but Harry was not ready to go dumping all of his secrets to another after being betrayed so recently. Still, he had told Snape more than he had anybody else; he almost felt as if Snape could understand his grief. In a way he suppose the other man could, as he thought of Snape's mention of his past experience with the Dark Lord.
Snape pondered the information, "Well, I will have to inform the Headmaster about certain things… he has to know that a unicorn was killed, possibly by Voldemort…and did you mention that Voldemort had a body?"
"Er…well…It would seem so…what really happened to him three years ago really?"
Snape looked uncomfortable. "That is not something you should concern yourself with," he snapped tersely, his tone clearly suggesting that the discussion was over.
Harry sighed inwardly, he didn't expect to be told much anyway, but it couldn't hurt to ask. At Snape's command he drank down some potion and drifted to an uneasy sleep.
Harry smiled a little at Ron's joke as he and Neville came over to their table for a visit during the Halloween feast. His friends had all noticed the change in him; ever since he disappeared for a night and a day and returned with bruises all over him, he had become more quiet and withdrawn. His vivid green eyes looked…sad. But none of them knew what to do. Neville and Ron had suggested flying, Hermione and Terry reading. Yet nothing could stop Harry from replaying the events of that fateful night. He noticed his friends' worries, though; and decided that he will have to act more normally to get rid of their prying and mother-hen protectiveness.
His friends were definitely encouraged by his smile, and they went on talking about school and current events. Harry nodded now and then to show that he was paying attention and let his mind drift. But something Hermione said caught his attention. "What was it?" he asked.
Hermione was obviously happy to see him participate in a conversation, "Oh, Harry. I don't see why you should be worried, but didn't you know? It was all over the news a few months ago. There was a break-in at Gringotts; but the vault was emptied earlier that same day so nothing was missing. It all died down now, of course. But what troubles me is that they never caught who did it, and Gringotts was supposed to be impossible to break in…"
A break in at Gringotts? Somehow it rang a bell; he asked sharply, "When exactly did this happen?"
Hermione looked surprised that he should be so concerned, but she answered anyway, "Actually, I think it was the day…when, you know, you didn't show up at your dormitory."
Harry thought hard. So it was the day the teachers went missing. Whatever was in the vault must be very important…and the teachers could be transporting it to Hogwarts to be protected from whoever was trying to steal it. Harry didn't tell Snape about Quirrell, but he had kept an eye on that seemingly weak-minded professor ever since. He saw no more suspicious moves, yet he was sure this had to do with Quirrell and Vol… Harry felt another painful bang; what am I to do with you? He played with his fork absently and shook his head, trying to free his mind of the issue. He would leave the matter alone, let Dumbledore and others to handle it. After all, wasn't the Headmaster supposedly the most powerful wizard in the world?
Harry stood up abruptly, his appetite suddenly gone. "I, I think I need some fresh air…you guys go on," he muttered and slipped out of the hall, ignoring his friends' exchange of worried looks.
He wandered mindlessly through the corridors, deep in his own thoughts, when he heard someone call out his name. Turning, his heart sank as he saw the ghost drift over.
"Well, well, I believe we have a little chat over-due, Mr. Potter," the Bloody Baron said.
"Er, well, sorry I've been busy…"
The Baron chuckled, "No need to fidget, just like him before you, full of ambitious plans, aren't you?"
Harry was really uncomfortable now, "I don't really want to talk about him, please."
The Baron raised one of his silvery eye-brows, "No? That is not the right attitude for your kindred spirit…I believe he cares deeply for you…"
That did it. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?" Harry shouted, "You hadn't even seen him for what, fifty years? Voldemort cares nothing about me; I am just a pawn to him, like everybody else! And don't you tell me the 'kindred spirit' crap again, I'm nothing like you guys! And I care nothing about his bloody plans!"
The Bloody Baron opened his mouth, but Harry never found out what the ghost was about to say. Grateful that the corridor was empty, he had already stormed down the corridor in his fit of rage.
Harry splattered cool water onto his face. Standing in front of the sink, he tried desperately to regain his composure. Somehow that seemed to evade him, as he not only failed to calm down, he even started having illusions of a minor earthquake.
It took him a while to realize that the ground was actually shaking; curious, he walked out of the bathroom he had been hiding in. A foul smell greeted him, and the floor sway yet again with a "boom." Looking up, Harry was transfixed to the spot he was standing on by the sight before him. Twelve feet tall, its skin a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut, a mountain troll was moving towards him, swaying its club.
The first thought that came across his mind was that Voldemort had somehow sent this thing in, trying to kill him again. Which was a bad move. Because once he thought of that, his heart went so heavy that he found himself unable to move. What was there to live for if the only person that ever understood you turned against you? Harry stood facing the advancing troll, submitting to his fate.
"Harry!" A scream made him look up. Hermione, Neville, and Ron were running towards him, with Hermione murmuring some spell frantically. A part of the wall that was hit by the troll's club flew up, hitting the foul creature on the head. It stopped a few feet from Harry, lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had hit him. Its mean little eyes saw the three approaching figures; it hesitated, then made for them instead, lifting its club as it went. Harry could see his friend's face whiten with terror, and they tried in vain to stupefy the troll. The troll could be on them any minute now, and Harry ran after it, pulling out his wand. Giving up his own sodding life was one thing, seeing his friends being threatened was another. He yelled, "Stupefy!"
The troll swayed on its feet, but was not immobilized as it was supposed to be. It roared in rage and raised its club. Harry saw red as the wood swayed towards his friends. Gathering up all his strength, he shouted again, "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" He felt a great wave of magic swept through him, and the troll fell to the floor with a thunderous sound.
Hermione, Neville, and Ron look at him white-faced. "Wow…" Loud footsteps made the four of them look up, however. They hadn't realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had burst into sight, followed closely by Snape and Quirrell.
Snape bent over the troll. Quirrell took a look at Harry and then the troll – and fainted. McGonagall, however, was looking at the four with seething anger. "What on earth were you thinking of?" she asked in cold fury, "You are lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
"Please, Professor," Harry spoke up, supporting himself on the wall, "It was my fault; they were looking for me. I left the feast early; I didn't know there was a troll…"
"Mister Potter…Well, your head of house will be informed and –" but Professor McGonagall never finished her sentence, for Harry Potter had just fainted.
Voldemort…troll…must help… Hermione, Neville and Ron…Harry gave a start and opened his eyes. He found himself lying on a hard, uncomfortable bed. It must be late at night, for the room was dark and quiet. He looked around, careful to limit his movements to a minimum, and realized it was the hospital wing. He squeezed his eyes tight as the events of past few hours rushed back at him. It was suddenly very cold.
Harry tightened the blanket around himself and curled up in his bed miserably. He felt more alone than ever. The cold was all around him, and it was stinging his finger. Harry raised his hand to find the silver ring glittering. It had been with him for so long that he was almost oblivious to its presence; besides, it had always been warm before, never cold. Harry gasped as he looked at the little serpent; if snakes had facial expressions, he could have swore the serpent looked sad. Even as he watched, a pearl tear slid down its eye.
What the...Harry's grief suddenly turned into rage as he shakily tried to take it off. How dare he...how dare Voldemort play with his emotion like this? Right after two murder attempts, too! He threw the ring down at the floor vehemently and reached for his ward, spells of ultimate destruction flying through his head –
Two minutes later, Harry still sat immobile. Slowly, he let his hand fall to his side, and his wand hit the floor with a crack. Wordlessly, he bent down to pick up the ring. Placing a soft kiss on the little serpent's forehead and slipping it back on, he sat back to bed, worn and defeated. It didn't mean anything; he still vowed to stay away from Voldemort, not that any sane person would want to be near someone who was trying to kill him. He just kept it because he was lonely, and the ring was the only thing he could talk to without caution. He had come to take a liking this silent companion, that was all. He assured himself.
"I suppose it's not your fault that Voldemort decided to use you, too," he murmured softly to the little snake. The snake stared sadly back at him.
Review Responses:
Darkmark33LV: Thank you so much for mentioning my fic! Hmm…Harry won't find out about Quirrell sharing a body with Voldemort for a while, and, er, his encounter in the forest is rather…nasty, as you can see from this chapter (don't kill me)!
Shadowface: Heehee, Harry will waver around a bit before he decides which side he'll be on. You'll have to read and find out! evil laughs
Lady Phasma: Yes the Death Eaters will be in big trouble, although obviously Voldemort will need some of them. But not every one of them did bad things to Harry, just the ones that… Well, let's just say that Voldemort will have no regret torturing them until death becomes a bliss for some.
Maryna: Thank you! Yeah I'm sorry that Harry had to see that in the mirror. But deep down I think that's the only thing keeping him from Voldie at this point, although he might not think so. So unconsciously he wants a reconcilement of some sort b/w his parents and Voldemort. Poor boy, he has lots in store for him.
Evil Enchantress: Thanks! I usually don't leave cliffhangers unless I'm not sure if anybody is reading. And the one in the last chapter can't really be counted as a cliffy…I was tempted to leave it at some point that I moved into this chapter originally, now that would be bad. Read and you'll see what I mean (hint: Nagini…attack) So don't worry, that should not happen often. I know how that feels
Ookami Kage: Thank you! I really want to see them together too, but first Harry needs to grow up and Voldemort needs to acquire a physical body.
Deliverance: Thank you! Yes, this is going to be a mild slash, although Harry will have to be a little older.
Angel Lain: Thanks! Oh and could you please point out which part you were confused about? I know I understand the story b/c I'm writing it, but I do worry sometimes if everything is clear to the readers as well.
HoshiHikari4ever: Thanks!
MadeWithLemons: Thank you! I am really trying to get the story out. But school's been very demanding, although I think I shall manage a chapter per week. And I am happy as long as I have all those supportive reviewers like you guys, no need for hundreds of reviews! :)
darkdragonlover2000 (a.k.a SwordoftheShadow): Thank you!
Malile: Thanks!