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 8: A Lesson in Love
Harry rose early, excited for his morning lesson. To be able to be taught by such an esteemed wizard was a great honour, and Narcissa wouldn't let him forget it. She fussed over him all morning and all through breakfast, much to Lucius' dismay. Draco gave him a hug, a smile, and a pat on the back, but nothing more. He had learnt his place at the table the day before. Getting too close to Harry was a death sentence, and that made Draco even more worried.
Just what did the Dark Lord have in store for the poor boy?
After eating and dressing, Harry was led to a room at the end of his corridor, next to Voldemort's room. It was large and nicely decorated; beautiful pictures scaled the walls and it reminded Harry of a ballroom. What was a ball again? He couldn't remember, but it somehow reminded him of a ball room.
He was stood in the corner of the room. Once Harry was left in the middle, Voldemort gestured for Narcissa to leave the room. Harry waited patiently for Voldemort to begin the lesson.
"Harry, my dear boy," He started, finally making eye contact with him. "These lessons will not be easy. They will be hard, and the spells fatal. I will make you into a weapon. A glorious weapon. The one I use to win this war." Voldemort glided closer to him.
"Maybe you are not ready." Voldemort suggested, lowering to Harry's eye level, letting a hand trace softly down Harry's face, whilst never losing eye contact. The boy didn't question the motion. Wonderful.
"You were a rather sensitive soul, Harry. Maybe you're still a bit too soft." He turned to walk away when he heard a voice blurt out behind him. He grinned as he listened.
Harry was already eager to impress.
"I can do it!" He yelled after the Dark Lord. "At least let me try it."
Voldemort returned to stand beside Harry. He summoned a rat to the room, an abnormally large one.
"Fine. The first spell we will focus on is the Imperius Curse. Point your wand at the rat, and say clearly, 'Imperio'."
Harry, scared of the results, did as told. He did not want to let the Dark Lord down. That hand on his face…he had a nice side.
"Imperio."
The rat froze in place.
"Wonderful, Harry!" Voldemort smiled. "Now move your wand around. Will the rat to do something."
Harry made it run in circles at first, to test the waters. He started to laugh as the rat did exactly as he told it to. He made it crash into the wall several times. He looked at Voldemort for confirmation the he was doing it right, and the Dark Lord smiled and nodded approvingly.
"Let me have a turn. Imperio!" He hissed, immediately making the rat scuttle around the ceiling. Harry laughed harder, the sight of it completely obscene.
"I can make him throw himself into the fireplace, or jump out of the window." Voldemort grinned. "But I have more spells to show you. The next is only funny if you're a dark humoured as me, I'm afraid." He caused the rat to sit in the middle of the room again.
"The next spell is the Cruciatus Curse. A Crucio is all that is required. Try it."
Harry summoned the courage, and spoke the word. The rat started to squirm on the floor, screeching. Voldemort grinned wickedly at the sight. Harry couldn't see the rat anymore. There was an old man on the floor with a long grey beard, and Harry couldn't help but feel as if this man had wronged him, and that the revenge felt good.
Voldemort turned to find Harry grinning. He used their mental link to see what he was seeing. Albus Dumbledore, writhing on the floor, begging for death.
"Harry," he asked. "Do you remember who that man is?"
Harry shook his head. Voldemort stood behind him, placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, and spoke to him in hushed tones.
"That man was the reason you asked to work with me in the first place, before the accident. He put you through hell, Harry. He took you from your parents and brother and put you in a house of Muggles who treated you like dirt. And for years, he masqueraded as your most trusted ally."
"I want to kill him." Harry growled, a familiar sense of betrayal washing over him. Voldemort had never seen Harry in such a vicious mind set. He was going to make a brilliant weapon.
"Unfortunately, you can't. He is already dead. Draco helped to set it up, you'll be happy to know. But you can kill the one in front of you." Voldemort smiled.
"The third is the Killing Curse. Avada Kedavra. Do it, Harry. Kill him!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
A burst of green. A dead rat. A new feeling of strength and power.
Voldemort shrunk the rat down and called in Nagini, who was very pleased to have a pre-killed meal.
Harry didn't take his eyes off it for a second.
"Harry, are you okay?" Voldemort asked. He nodded.
"It felt…better than I expected." He admitted. Voldemort darted in front of him, allowing Harry to break eye contact and settle down.
"You weren't able to do that spell before the accident. I'm proud of you." He patted Harry's shoulder comfortingly.
"If you need me, you know I'm down the corridor. Or just think it, and I'll find you. You are dismissed."
…
Harry and Draco sat down in the dungeon where their conversation wouldn't be interrupted. Draco had been interested in the lesson, and harry had explained what he'd had to do.
"The Unforgivable Curses." Draco nodded. "Even I can't do those. They…they scare me."
"I think I know why. I thought I lost myself for a bit at the end." Harry chuckled nervously. "But I could do it because I saw someone. An old man. Voldemort told me you helped to kill him."
Draco nodded, and sat quietly for a few seconds.
"I was meant to kill him. But I couldn't do it because I didn't hate him enough. Had I known what he'd really done to you, though, I might have been able to."
"Who was he?" Harry asked.
"Our old Headmaster." Draco sniffed. "Doesn't really matter anymore. How was he as a teacher? The Dark Lord?" Draco asked curiously. Harry paused for a moment.
"He's…not as bad as he makes out he is. He…he seemed like he actually cared if I was okay."
Draco suddenly smirked. So that was why they weren't allowed to get too close. Voldemort seemed to want Harry to himself.
"Well, you are his favourite." Draco smiled. "All he's done is gush over you since you went missing. He was the one that saved you from the accident. You're the only one on equal terms with him. Harry, the Dark Lord's house pet." He laughed. Harry threw one of the dungeon's pillows at him.
"Maybe that's not a bad thing." Harry muttered to himself.
…
Sorry it's taken so long, my first art degree unit is due in Monday, and I've only just managed to get the work done. Between this, my web comic, my foundation degree, my relationship and my third book, I don't stop. Add that the keyboard on this is broken (s, d and . don't work properly), it's a constant battle.
I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am. I promise it starts getting juicy soon!
And thank you SO MUCH for all the followers.
-Alistair