Together

Prompt: What if Harry hadn't died in the Forbidden Forest in the Battle for Hogwarts?

Warning: LVHP, NOT TRHP. This is going to be pure serpentine goodness. Will be rated M in later chapters. The first multi-chap fic I've written in years due to writing books, so bear with me. Writing someone else's characters after writing your own for so long is strange.

I don't own any of this stuff other than the 'plot', which I am sure has been done before. All characters belong to JK Rowling. What a Goddess.

Chapter 3: The Offer

Narcissa led Harry around Malfoy Manor, through the highly decorative hallways. Harry could appreciate its décor. The Weasley's house was a mess, but it was homely, all mismatched furniture and holes in things. It was well lived in. Malfoy Manor, in comparison, seemed as if it had never been touched. Everything was sparkling. He wondered how things had been kept so clean.

Two ebony double doors were pushed open, and on the other end of the dining table sat the Dark Lord, looking like someone who had just won a competition and was about to receive their prize. Harry shuffled in sheepishly behind Narcissa, who pulled out a chair two down from Voldemort and gestured for Harry to sit. As he did so, she turned and left the room in silence, leaving the two of them to talk.

This was it. The first time they had ever talked without trying to kill each other. Harry still wished he would. Maybe if he wound him up enough or refused his demands, he might receive a swift and sudden death out of anger? He waited for Voldemort to speak.

"Harry, there is no need to seem so afraid. Rather, I was expecting you to be angry at me for not fulfilling your wishes." Voldemort started, taking pleasure in how frightened Harry seemed to be.

"It would have been appreciated, but I've realised now that I'm not ever going to escape this war." Harry sighed. "So tell me why I'm still alive."

"I have a business proposition for you, Harry." He started. "A truce of sorts between us."

"And what are you going to do if I say no?" Harry asked. "Kill me?" Another pang of pity fled through the Dark Lord's mind.

"No. I just keep you here as Draco's servant." Voldemort grinned. Harry rolled his eyes.

"No training required. It's not like I've been serving a family since I was seven or anything." He grumbled. Voldemort stopped. That's what Harry's muggle life had been like? He made a mental note to get the full story out of him at some point.

"Or, you could agree, and have the most wonderful life you could possibly imagine." He grinned. Harry decided to listen. A reason to want to live was all he needed right now. He gestured at Voldemort to continue.

"I have told your friends that you are my hostage. That is the case for now. However…" He stopped before Harry could work himself up. "That is not my intention. I was thinking, Harry, that maybe you carried a lot of resent against Dumbledore."

"I wonder where you got that idea from." Harry muttered sarcastically, holding his face in his hand, staring at the opposite wall.

"Well, what if I said to you that I didn't want a hostage, but an ally. A way to get back at Albus Dumbledore." Voldemort continued. Harry suddenly sat upright and faced him, giving his full undivided attention.

"What are you suggesting?" Harry asked. Voldemort smiled.

"You're looking more alive already. We both know that neither of us can be killed without the other dying first. Therefore, I believe it's in our best interest to work together, making us practically invincible." The Dark Lord explained. Harry started cringing at the idea of his life never coming to an end, so Voldemort went into more detail.

"You would get your own room within the Manor. I can see Narcissa has grown fond of you. You will be taken care of. Anything you want, within reason, shall be given to you. You will have a life of luxury. A life worth living." He offered. Harry was definitely contemplating the idea. To be able to have his own space, to have what he wanted for once, it all sounded perfect. But he knew there was going to be a catch.

"What do you want from me?" Harry asked. Voldemort shook his head.

"I want you to be able to claim back the life that you couldn't have. I want you to join me. Not as a Death Eater, but as an equal." He started. "You are in the same calibre of wizard as I am, not a tool or weapon. I want to treat you as such. You will know of all plans, be able to question them and add your own ideas. I will not hide information from you as they did." Voldemort stuck a hand out to Harry.

"What do you say?"

Harry wanted to take his hand. It would mean all of his life's work so far would be ruined, but at least he would have some quality of life after. Yes, the man had killed his parents, but Narcissa was right. Lily had wanted Harry safe. Voldemort would not hurt him now. No, that was Dumbledore's job, even after death. But there were still his friends to consider. Ron. Hermione. Neville. Luna.

"Can I think it over?" Harry asked. "There's one factor I need to think over. I can get back to you tomorrow, if that's okay? It's not that I'm not grateful…"

"Harry," Voldemort sighed. "I understand. It is a lot to consider. I will give you tonight. I expect you to join me for breakfast tomorrow morning." With that, Narcissa re-entered the room. Harry nodded respectfully in Voldemort's direction and left.

The Dark Lord stared at the double doors. He could not believe how much life had entered Harry's eyes at the mere concept of being treated as an equal. Was that how much they had used him? And what of his muggle life? He seemed to be caught in the never ending cycle of being used. Voldemort didn't want to admit it, but he felt almost sorry for the boy.

He almost cared.

…

So, five followers overnight? Thank you so much. It made my morning. I'll try to get another chapter out before I go for my tattoo later, but my girlfriend is getting annoyed that I'm ignoring her, so we'll see.
Reviews are appreciated!

-Alistair