'Mind guides the soul to a view of true reality which nourishes and benefits the soul.'
~ Plato
Come mid September, Harry just wanted to go home. Some of his house weren't as sympathetic as his classmates, and it took every ounce of willpower to refrain from hexing them. The Slytherins on the other hand were more his sort of people. Many never knew how to act around him. The son of the Dark Lord was relatively unknown to those whose fathers were not in the inner circle. It was advantageous to have allies with him, but their almost 'hero worship' of him was not helping his credibility with Dumbledore. He chose to ignore them most of the time, and the only Slytherin who never treated him as if he was actually the Dark Lord was Draco. His childhood friend had helped him immensely throughout his stay. It allowed him to blow his frustration out onto the blonde, and he would mention his usefulness to his father.
Severus Snape, however, was only one word 'greasy'. In one class with the man, Harry could see why his father had chosen to keep his existence a secret. The Potions Professor was not trustworthy. He never knew how he had figured this out. Perhaps it was the way he kept looking at him, or more his eyes, and when he saw the Potter traits he would make a snarky comment. He loved Lily, or at least there was some emotional attachment to his mother. His mother was Light, however, and so he would not confide in this man.
He had finished all his homework. It was more a step down than up from his father's teachings. Hermione had looked at him, disappointment in her eyes, when she saw he had finished the fifteen inch essay on vampires so quickly. He had been there when his father had recruited them.
Lord Ventrel, this is my heir Harrison Riddle," said his father. Harry looked steadily at the magical being. His face was pale, chiselled almost, and his long raven hair was tied back. His dark navy cloak was fastened with a large brass clasp with had a crest on it - two tigers holding up an ornate 'V'. Apart from that all Harry saw was slender legs encased in tight black trousers and tucked into dragonhide boots. He looked regal, and Harry straightened his posture.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Master Riddle," replied Ventrel, smiling, revealing sharp fangs whilst extending a pale hand. Shaking it, Harry marvelled at the texture. It was as if he were made of marble, and obsidian eyes scanned his face, waiting for a reaction. He got none.
"Ventrel, have your council reached an agreement?" asked his father, directing the vampire's gaze back at him.
"Yes, Count Firelli presented fierce opposition, but he was… dealt with," said Ventrel delicately. Coldness radiated from the man, and it was only Harry's upbringing that made him almost immune. The opponents, however, would not be so lucky.
"Good," said Voldemort, "Harrison will dictate the finer details of the contract, and I wish you a safe journey home". His father rose, sweeping from the conference room.
They managed to get swiftly through the details, and Harry watched as the vampire signed his name, binding him to the magical contract. The parchment furled up before bursting into flames, the fire twining round Ventrel. He chuckled, darkness dripping off the sound, and Harry felt the first stirrings of unease. Escorting him to the front gates, Harry smiled at the creature.
"It was lovely meeting you, have a safe journey," Harry offered his hand again. This time, however, Ventrel flipped it over, running his smooth fingers over the blue veins he found there. Withdrawing his hands, his tongue darted out, licking the tips of his fingers. Tasting him. That was all he did, however, and frowning, Harry watched him as he left.
He recalled that day, it wasn't long ago, perhaps a month or so. The vampire's behaviour had confused him, but he hadn't told his father. Growing up around the Dark Lord, one had to be tough. He was tough, and he would ignore it. Shivering slightly, he was startled to find that he was back in Hogwarts. He had gotten away from Gryffindor tower, and was now - he looked around - somewhere near what appeared to be the Astronomy Tower. Heading up the stone spiral staircase, he ran his fingers over the rough bricks, feeling dust and sand dislodge as he did so.
Breathing the fresh night air, he looked over the dark grounds. He could see thestrals, moving in the forest's tree line. Their dark coats glistening in the moon's harsh light. Stars twinkled above him, their crystal coldness, not warming him up. An icy chill seemed to have settled in his bones, freezing him from the inside out, and wrapping his cloak around him tighter, his ears picked up on footsteps, slowly climbing up the stairs.
"I knew I would find you here," came the familiar drawl of Draco.
"Did you now?" asked Harry, not turning to greet the Malfoy heir, instead watching as a flutter of crows flew from the forest, their cawing echoing in the night. He felt the hairs of his arm rise as Draco erected a silence shield.
"It isn't that hard once you get used to it," the gentle voice took him off guard.
"I am not finding it hard," said Harry, his hand gripping tighter to the guard rail.
"And the bags under your eyes are a product of a restful nights sleep!" He turned to face his friend, feeling the familiar mask break slightly.
"It is a little more difficult than I had envisioned," he lied.
"And now you want to know how I manage it," finished Draco, smirking a little.
"Yes, that would be useful," replied Harry, smiling in spite of himself. Draco always knew what he needed… what he was to stubborn to admit that he needed anyway.
"There isn't really a way. Just remember that no one can see you in the confines of your bed. You can't pretend all the time, or else you risk changing yourself."
"Since when did you become so knowledgeable?" asked Harry, chuckling slightly.
"You'll find that living amongst the Light changes people," said Draco grimly. Just then Harry felt a seething pain shoot up his arm. It was as if molten lead had been poured down it, and rolling back his sleeve he saw his tattoo had emerged, the red eye of the snake eyeing him critically.
"I need to see you, just touch your mark and whisper my name," hissed the snake, his fathers voice coming out of it's small mouth.
"Of course, father," replied Harry. Turning to Draco, he saw the blonde look at him, his silver eyes containing a hint of worry. "Draco, father needs me, I must leave now."
"What should I say if anyone asks?"
"Say I got lost and am wandering the halls trying to find my way back to the common room," said Harry. Needing no more instruction, Draco made his leave. Looking at his mark, Harry touched the snake's back, stroking it slightly before whispering "Voldemort."
He appeared in the conference room. His father and Lucius sat at the head to the vast table. No one else was in attendance, and so Harry took a seat on his father's left.
"Harry, welcome home," hissed Voldemort, smiling down at him.
"Thank you, father. I confess I have missed this place in my absence," said Harry, smiling back.
"Lucius here has had an idea. Since you are our operative in Hogwarts it will be up to you to enact it," said his father.
"What is the mission?" asked Harry, getting down to business.
"In Dumbledore's office, there are certain documents pertaining to the Order of the Phoenix and their agents in my operation. If you can get your hands on this then we can find those within our ranks who are spies and use them in any way I see fit."
"But can't you already detect who are the spies?" the words were out before he realised, and he felt the sharp sting of a cutting hex across his right arm. Bundling up his sleeve he staunched the bleeding, looking at his hands as he waited for what his father would say next.
"I do not have time to go through all our ranks. If the Order found out I was on to them, then they would get their operatives out and our chance would be lost," hissed his father angrily.
"I apologise father, I did not think," said Harry automatically.
"According to Lucius they are in Dumbledore's office. He was so clever as to place a tracing charm on them when Kingsley had them in the ministry, but this was neutralised when they were taken within the Hogwarts boundaries as Dumbledore felt they were no longer safe."
"I shall try and retrieve them for you," said Harry quickly.
"Good, now I need you to go back to Hogwarts before anyone realises you are gone. If I collect anymore information to the whereabouts then I shall inform you" said Voldemort, grabbing his arm and placing a cold finger to his mark.
Back on the Astronomy Tower, Harry shuddered for a moment before heading back down the spiral staircase. Part of him couldn't help but wonder how his father thought he could pull this off. Dumbledore's office was most likely the most protected room in the castle, and getting in there alone would be a miracle. Moving quickly through the corridors, he froze when he heard someone call his name. Fingering his wand, he turned and saw Ginny by the statue of Velmar the Vicious. Her red hair gleamed in the moonlight, shining through the grimy windows. She looked pale and worried, and Harry felt what he supposed was guilt stirring in the pit of his stomach.
"Harry, there you are!" she smiled as she approached, and he returned one, albeit it tentative.
"Sorry, I got lost," he murmured.
"Yes, Malfoy mentioned something like that to Hermione," the way Ginny said this, he guessed his friend had been less than kind about his 'predicament'.
"Sorry if I worried you," he said, as they turned to walk down the corridor.
"It's fine, I'll have to call the search off though," she laughed.
"That is rather embarrassing," said Harry, running his fingers through his hair.
"Wait, you're bleeding," said Ginny concernedly, grabbing his arm and rolling up the sleeve. Harry had almost forgotten about the cut, his system was too full of adrenaline to really focus on the pain. Looking at the bleeding gash, he cringed at how he would explain this.
"Did Malfoy do this to you?" she asked angrily, running her wand down it. His arm felt like it was full of pins and needles, and unpleasant sensation, but the wound faded and moments later was only a small pink scar.
"Yes," said Harry reluctantly, his friend was going to get hell for this.
"Bastard, we'll get him back, don't worry," assured Ginny.
"I can fight my own battles," he said coldly, the warmth cascading through his system contrasting with his tone.
"I never meant…"
"It's fine, thank you anyway," said Harry hastily.
They had reached the Gryffindor portrait hole by now. Letting Ginny in first, he tried not to groan when he saw the people grouped in the common room.
"Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione, rushing over to him.
"I'm fine, just really tired. Sorry about all this," he gestured to the group of students who were barely awake.
"Don't worry about it. We'll let you get up to bed, just next time ask one of the paintings and they'll be able to help," replied Hermione.
"Don't go near Sir Cadogan though," interjected Ron, "He'll have you running all over the school on some quest of his."
Harry laughed, but the laugh quickly turned into a yawn.
"Come on guys, lets get to bed," said Ginny, ushering everyone to their respective staircases. Throwing her a grateful smile, he climbed up the staircase, trying to push all his thoughts of the night's events away. But as he lay in bed, his mind filled with the thick fog of sleep, he had not dreams of his mission or his father, but of Ginny.
A/N: Thank you for the feedback! Sorry for the late update, life caught up with me and I'll try not to make it too long next time. Also the flashbacks are designed to show you Harry's life with Voldemort, to give more insight into his background and contrast it with Hogwarts, they aren't just random.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
I apologise for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes.
Please Review!