"She did what?" Marvolo roared, glaring at the back of Harry's hand, clenching a fist as if it was itching to wrap itself around Umbridge's throat and squeeze.
"She had this quill…"
"Bloodquills." The Dark Lord spat. "I will kill her."
"Can you?"
"Are you doubting that?" Marvolo scoffed, looking at Harry with a raised eyebrow.
"I know you can. I meant, won't she be missed?"
"I don't care." The man said, fingering his wand. "She hurt you, and thus, gruesome torture will be her punishment, after which I will murder her. I'll make something up… Besides, Hogwarts is better off without her. From what you told me, she is a horrible teacher as well."
"Yes she is, but she was following the orders of the Ministry. They'll just send someone else."
"From what I gathered, Fudge himself sent her. I have many people who work close with him. I already smuggled two Defense professors in here the last… four years."
"And Umbridge's death will just remain unnoticed and entirely unsuspicious?"
Marvolo began to pace, trying to think of a solution. Harry watched his expressions with interest, until the man's head suddenly shot up. "She hates half-bloods. There are centaurs in the forbidden forest. They wouldn't take it lightly if someone tried to insult their intelligence… what if, hypothetically spoken of course, she might have come across a bunch of them, offended them and got dragged away and killed?"
"Hagrid often speaks with the centaurs… if he asks… Oh wait, you had a truce with a couple of centaur tribes, right?"
"Indeed. They will tell Hagrid and Dumbledore whatever I want them to."
"Can I come with you then? I want to see her going down. Plus, I also want her to see that I did not lie."
"As I said, there will be torture… very gruesome torture…"
"Exactly. That's why I want to look." Harry said, a sly grin on his face, and Marvolo licked his lips.
"Perhaps I can give you your first lesson…" he said. "We'll go in a couple of hours, when the rest of the castle is asleep. Now, come here, I want to kiss you."
The teen laughed and dragged Marvolo to the bed, pushed him down and sat on his lover's chest, one leg to each side. He lowered his head and closed his eyes when their lips met. Just as he slipped a hand under Marvolo's robe however, he heard an annoyed, hissing voice from the floor.
~Can't you do that somewhere in private? I'm trying to sleep here…~
~Nagini… this is my room.~ the man answered her, glaring at the snake, who gave a hiss that sounded very disapproving.
~Hey Nagini. Long time no see~ Harry said cheerfully, reaching out to scratch the scales on her head. Nagini nudged his hand with her snout and licked one of his fingers.
~You smell like blood. Did someone hurt you?~
~Yes.~ Harry answered
~I trust Marvolo wants to take… care of that person?~ she asked when seeing the murderous gleam that had returned again in the Dark lord's eyes.
~Oh, I will…~ he softly answered.
~Harry? There's someone who wants to talk to you… do you remember my brother?~
~That boa constrictor from the zoo? Yes, is he here then?~
~Yesss… It's good to see you again, amigo.~ someone else said, and a giant snake entered the room, Marvolo grumbled something about a lack of privacy and too many nosy snakes in his home before he shooed Harry off of him and got up.
~Good to see you too… What is your name now? Nagini told me that you constantly changed it. ~
~Arzón. I think that this time, I'll stick to it.~
~You always say that~ Nagini said, smiling.
~So, I heard from your sister that going to Brazil didn't really work out?~
~No, too far…~ The snake said sadly. So I'll just stay here. I have trouble finding company though. Most humans and animals, including other snakes, move out of the way when they see me. I can stay with Nagini and her wizard right now, but he said that I can't stay.~
~Why not?~
~Because one of them already makes me crazy, let alone two!~ Marvolo said from the other side of the curtain that separated the bedroom from the living room.
~I'd volunteer, but I'm not allowed to have a snake at Hogwarts. ~ Harry said, petting the head of Arzón.
"There's no rule against it." he heard, and he looked up, seeing that Marvolo had come in again, a glass of firewhisky in his hands.
"There's not?" Harry said, surprised.
~Keep it in parseltongue please.~ Nagini said, annoyed
~Sorry, I can't yet differ English and Parsel. I can only speak it when you speak in Parsel to me. I don't hear the difference yet though.~
~Isn't it a complete other language?~ Arzón asked, surprised.
~It works a bit strangely.~ Harry huffed. ~Anyway, Marvolo, what do you mean that it isn't forbidden? On the letter it said cat, toad or owl.~
~And haven't you seen people with other pets? Rats, frogs, snails, dogs, spiders… they just don't explicitly say it, so that people won't bring the strangest creatures here. But only animals that are too dangerous are forbidden. As long as you can keep Arzón under control, you can keep him as a familiar.~
~Won't Dumbledore be suspicious though?~
~Not if you explain your noble deed when you freed him. He'll probably won't like it, but he can't say anything about it either. Where'll you keep him though?~
~If it's not forbidden I can keep him in Gryffindor tower, in the boy's dorms. I think that all of the guys will just think it cool. And if not, I'll ask Fred and George to take him in. They and their friend Leo will adore him.~ Harry smirked.
~So... I can stay?~ Arzón asked
~On one condition.~ Harry said, putting up a very grave face.
~hmm?~
~That you and Nagini leave this room this instant.~
~Oh Circe… rabbits.~ Nagini sighed, looking like she was rolling her eyes. As gracefully as she could, she slithered out of the room, followed by Arzón.~
~Have fun.~ The boa constrictor said with a hissing laugh before disappearing.
Dolores woke up from a voice. She stayed in bed with her eyes closed while she came to awareness.
"She's asleep?" someone whispered. She didn't know who it was, or even if it was a student or a teacher… that was the problem with whispers. The voice could never be identified… Still, she began to doubt that statement when hearing a second voice, as the whisper was spoken with such coldness that she would be able to recognise it anywhere if she were ever to hear it again. She could not imagine anyone in the castle with that voice.
"Not for long. But then again, she soon will be again, forever."
Dolores' eyes shot open at that and her hand sought her wand on the nightstand. Gripping the wood, she slowly sat upright.
"Who's there? Show yourselves!" she commanded, but she couldn't help that a panicked tone entered the words.
"Silencio."
She tried to shriek, but no sound came out, and with nonverbal magic, she lit the room. The moment after that, she wished she hadn't, for she stared death in the face. She couldn't avert her stare from the thing before her… was it a ghost? An evil spirit who haunted her? But no, when he came closer, she heard his feet hit thud on the floor, and the wand he pointed at her throat was very real as well.
"Get up."
She couldn't agree on what she found creepier, his whispered words or the ones spoken out loud. She tried to speak again, demand who he was, what he was doing here, and that he should leave, but nothing was said, and a claw-like hand gripped her arm and hauled her out of bed. She staggered to her feet, almost falling down in shock. She didn't understand what was happening, or who the one in front of her was. When she finally had the guts to look away from those blazing red eyes however, she saw the second person, who was leaning against the wall with a blank expression.
"Potter!" she spat, and then blinked, finding out that she could speak again.
"Not going to scream anymore?" the boy said, a smirk flashing across his face all of a sudden.
"What are you doing out of bed?" she said, before realising how ridiculous those words must sound, but well, order and rules were all she knew, all she could rely on, nothing else. The boy blinked, apparently taken aback, but then he let out a huff.
"Strange. I would've thought that you'd be more impressed. More… terrified. Marvolo, did you lose your touch?"
"Never, you brat." The man said, sounding annoyed. Dolores thought that his name absolutely didn't fit him… he should have a far worse name, something like…
"Lord Voldemort never loses his touch." It was growled, now.
"Speaking about yourself in third person? You know that that is a bad sign, no? Beginning madness and stuff…"
"Madness… wouldn't you know all about that, hmm?"
"It's not my fault that I got detached back then."
"And killed one of my followers… not that it was such a great loss. But what if there had been other people in that room? I find myself wondering if they would have survived."
"It was her fault, and could we switch subjects? I thought you took me here to punish her, not let her grow tired of our bantering."
"Maybe I am losing touch." The man muttered, nearly inaudible.
Dolores swallowed and only noticed now that she was near hyperventilating. It couldn't be true, despite the man admitting it himself, it couldn't be true. "Is this one of your tricks again Potter?" she said, her voice high in fear. She backed away to the wall, wishing she could disappear through it. "Something to make me believe you were speaking the truth? It's not working, and I believe that you should get another detention tomorrow! I—" she gasped as her voice was cut off again.
"Actually, I was speaking the truth. Not that it matters a lot now anyways. You shouldn't have hurt me however. Now you've angered him." The boy said matter-of-factly, with just a hint of sadism lacing his voice.
Ropes appeared out of nowhere and she was bound by them. She looked up, and even though she wanted to believe it was a lie, she couldn't get around the fact that there was a man here who claimed to be Lord Voldemort, and, if she remembered the description right, he looked the same as what she'd been told thirteen years ago by a colleague who had seen him… a few minutes before he had died as a result of a curse that was cast by the Dark lord himself. Dark Lord… it seemed silly to call him You-Know-Who if said man was in front of her, and when a red light struck her without warning, leaving only pain, she knew it for sure. It was hell that she wasn't able to scream, but by Merlin, did she try. Her nerves were on fire, but she was still aware of her surroundings to a degree, still aware of what was happening and who was doing this to her, with a smile on his face. She knew that she would die tonight, without knowing the answer to her questions, without even knowing the crime she had committed to deserve this.
When the pain stopped for a moment, she remembered that the boy had said that it was because she'd hurt him, but that was plain ridiculous. And yet here they were, Harry Potter and his archenemy Lord Voldemort, side by side, one of them torturing her, the other watching, now with curiousity. She wanted to curse, to scream for help, to free herself and scratch that face open.
She'd always hated children…
"Not very inventive…"
"But most effective."
Harry couldn't disagree on that, and fingered his wand as the woman's eyes bulged out, looking at him. "Do you think that she has even realised that you really are you?"
"Does it matter? I just want her dead."
"It does. I don't like being called a liar."
"Don't pout love." Marvolo smiled as Harry whined that he wasn't pouting. He turned back to the small woman, who was trying to catch her breath. "And she does realise who I am. I cast the Cruciatus curse in such a way that pain would not be all that was left. She is still aware, even through the pain. As I told you before, there are levels of pain, and the Cruciatus curse is just a way to stimulate nerves. I can choose which nerves, and leave her brain undamaged."
"And I still won't let you cast it on me, no matter how much you want to."
"Ah, but my dear, I can give you so much pleasure with it…" he grinned, his eyes lighting up. He pondered on just catching Harry by surprise sometime and cast it anyway. He knew that the teen would forgive him once experiencing that."
"No."
Marvolo hissed at the flat comment, trying to get his attention from Harry to his victim again. Damn it, he really was losing his touch. It was much more fun teasing his lover than it was to torture some woman. But no, this was not just some woman, he corrected himself. This was someone who had hurt his Harry, and thus, revenge had to be carried out.
"Fine then, I'll show you something more creative." he said, flashing a grin. "Serpensortia." he said, and a large, brilliant green snake slithered over the floor.
"A snake?" Harry asked.
"Just for preparation… ~Skin on skin~" He watched with growing malice how the snake wound around her, and looked like it was melting, until the whole skin of the woman was covered in green scales.
"Emotional torture?" his lover asked, obviously amused. "Because she hates half-bloods?"
Marvolo laughed. "Good one, but no, that was not my intention. You see, snake skin has a very peculiar trait. Like with other reptiles, it can be shed. Human skin, of course, cannot, because we do not have another layer under that."
"So?"
"Firstly, I'll put up a silencing barrier. It is getting annoying that she can't scream…" Marvolo waved his wand around the room, and for a moment, the air seemed to tremble before going back to normal. Another wave, and they heard a few sobbing sounds coming from Umbridge.
~Shed the scales~ he hissed, and he loved the scream he tore from her throat, like her skin, which was ripped away as the snake skin was shed. Dark magic rose within him, leaving a giddy feeling, and he knew that soon, he would be lost in it if he wasn't careful. It was so hard to not give into the call though… From the corner of his eyes he saw Harry come closer, and he knew that the teen could feel it as well.
"This magic…. is amazing." Harry gasped, hands twitching to grasp it.
"No… this is." The Dark Lord said, and placed his palms on Harry's head, using the contact to let the magic flow into his lover. Harry moaned and for a moment, his eyes turned completely black.
"More." The teen demanded.
"You can make it yourself." Marvolo said, throwing a purple flash at his victim, which would let her intestines rot, very slowly, but enough to be deadly in a couple of hours. Whatever they would do to her now, her fate was sealed. She wouldn't live through the night. "Now… your turn, my little Salazar." He purred before cupping Harry's face with both of his hands, his fingertips brushing the cheekbones. He pressed a rather possessive kiss to those pink lips and drew back. "Try a Cruciatus curse, my love."
Harry raised his wand, and Marvolo knew that he would get it right on his first try. He was too far taken by the darkness already to fail. He remembered the first time he'd experienced this, and he could say with certainty that every trace of humanity was gone at this moment in Harry's mind.
"Do it."
"Crucio!"
And as laughter and screams mingled, the rest of the humans in the castle slept, completely unaware of anything that happened. That is, all except one.
When he'd first seen the boy, his… project, he'd thought it was a bit of a nuisance. Not worth his time, just another child. He was seriously reconsidering his opinion now. After having followed Potter to his detention and seeing how completely stubborn he'd been while getting tortured by that bitch, he'd found out that the teen had character and bravery. Now, after seeing what Potter was capable off, he saw the potential, the sheer power that lay hidden behind those striking green eyes.
He hadn't been able to see everything well from the place where he had sat –or hung, in fact, at the outer wall of the castle.- The lack of light had not been a problem for his well-trained eyes, but even in the shadows, he had seen the rapture in those eyes as Potter indulged in the darkness, as he delighted in the pain he inflicted. And then there was, of course, the Dark Lord, and Eyolf was very, very glad for the choice he had made, more than thirty years ago, to be with him instead of against him. He doubted that he would be alive now if he'd chosen otherwise. Still, whatever could have shocked him, the spells used, the magic, the screams –he had been within the range of the silencing barrier-, the thing that left him frozen was the revelation of tonight. The Dark Lord and Harry Potter were lovers…
Whatever possessed the boy to get together with someone as dangerous as Voldemort, Eyolf couldn't understand, but the sole fact that he had made the assassin shudder. Potter appeared to have more guts than he'd ever thought possible. On the other hand, he wondered why Voldemort would take the boy as his lover. To do so only because it would ensure that Potter remained at his side was a bit far-fetched, but then again, the Dark Lord never had been to most predictable of men. The image of the man roughly kissing the teen multiple times and the words of endearment casually thrown back and forth between them while they were torturing another human was plain sickening to him, and he'd seen bad things in his life. Eyolf chuckled darkly, remembering the favourite sentence of Voldemort. If the evilness of magic depended on how it was used, then the Dark Lord was evil himself. Or could be, at least.
He wondered if their relationship was a secret, and if not, who knew of it… he guessed that he had to find that out soon. Suddenly, he thought of the first night he'd followed Potter, and he ridiculed his own naivety when he had tried to come up with a reason for them to have their meeting in a bathroom… Now he reflected on it, he didn't think they did much talking…
"Harry Potter…" he muttered. "Just who are you?"
"George?"
"Hmm?" the other boy asked, rolling on his side to look at his brother who lay in the bed next to him, a few yards away.
"You know, it's about Harry…"
"Shh, come here, I don't want the others to wake up." Fred snuck out of bed, and sat down next to where George lay. "Now, what is it about Harry?"
"I just wondered how… involved he really is. With the dark, I mean. Do you really think that he can get us an audience with the Dark Lord?"
"I don't know." George admitted, and pulled Fred down so that the teen's head was on his stomach. While playing with strands of hair, he sighed deeply. "I hope he can. Shall we seek him out tomorrow?"
"He's always hard to find though. It might be better if we wait till Friday. We'll see him during Quidditch practice. We can ask afterwards, okay?"
"Fine." George yawned. "And then we can write a letter to Charlie and Bill after that. Hey, have any test subjects shown up yet? For the products?"
"Yes, a couple of first years. I'm still thinking about what Harry said though, about the purple halves."
"But to test that, we'd have to get test subjects who are ill. There's no way that we can sneak into the hospital wing. If Madam Pomfrey discovers us, we're dead."
"Hmm-mm." Fred said, and George smiled.
"You're not listening to me, are you?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry, what'ya say?"
"Hey, stop spacing out." George huffed, slapping his brother softly on the head, who grumbled and lifted his head to look at him.
"It's your fault."
"How?"
"You're distracting me."
"Again, how? I don't… Fred?" George said with uncertainty as Fred propped himself up on his elbows and leaned closer so his breath tickled the other's face. He felt his heart speed up as a hand was placed at his chest, softly stroking it. In the moonlight, he could see his brother's brown eyes, where hesitation, fear and determination mingled.
"Georgie…" he breathed, and leaned even closer, placing his lips against his brothers cheek once, and then pulled back to see George's reaction. Said teen froze and closed his eyes, not knowing what to do. "George? I'm sorry, I didn't know… Please don't be mad." He heard, and he opened his eyes, seeing Fred, who had scrambled off him and was looking at him with panic. "I didn't mean to…"
Before the other was out of reach, George sat up and grabbed his brothers arm, pulling him back on the bed. He roughly tugged at Fred's hair and crashed their mouths together. Both of them gasped at the feeling before devouring each other again.
"Fred…" George moaned, rolling on top and pinning his twin down. He sat up and gazed down at the other for a few seconds, brushing the hair out of Fred's face. Years ago, he'd noticed that he began to like Fred in another way. A way that wasn't…proper, and ever since, he'd tried to suppress his emotions. And now…
"You're not mad?" he heard in a whisper, and gave brother an incredulous look.
"No. I'm not mad." He chuckled, tracing his twin's neck. "Since when?"
"As long as I can remember…" Fred mumbled, closing his eyes and shivering under the touches. "but I really know for sure since a few years."
"Why tonight?"
"I don't know." His brother mumbled. "I just felt… something. We're at a new start… I figured that now would be a good moment. Whatever your answer is…"
"Didn't I already answer?" George asked, surprised.
"Not yet. Georgie… do you love me?"
"You know I do."
"love-love?"
George snorted at the term. "What are you, a schoolgirl with a crush?"
"Schoolgirl: no, crush: yes." Fred answered, grinning as well.
"Yes. Love-love, if you want to put it like that. I'd never have thought that you felt the same though… I mean, normally I practically know everything you're thinking… but I never saw a sign..."
"Same for me, so I finally decided to just go for it." his brother said with a wolfish grin, and reached out to wrap his arms around his brother.
"This will be difficult."
"Yes, it will be." Fred said solemnly, biting his lip. "Mom's not going to be happy."
"Oh my, talking with the Dark lord will be a piece of cake after we talk to her." George joked.
"If we survive."
"Hmm, best speak with him first then. Good for practice."
"Georgie?"
George smiled and leaned down in answer to the unspoken question, kissing his brother again.
A girl sat at the edge of the lake, looking up to the nearly full moon. The night sounds of the forest behind her didn't scare her at all anymore… No wait, they didn't scare her, period. Never had either. She lay down on her back with spread arms and smiled at the sky, with its twinkling stars.
Somehow I know, I was never alone,
somehow I know, my angel, you're there.
Watching me, guarding me,
I'm always in your care.
And now as I'm here, underneath the open air,
I can finally catch, a glimpse of your hair,
Your eyes and your smile, your fluttering wings,
All of those things…
They warm my heart,
but it's all bitter smart,
For somehow I know,
even though I'm not alone,
I'll never be shown,
More than that, a glimpse from so far away…
while staring at the milky way…
"Isn't it a bit late to be out here? The forest can be quite dangerous." A voice behind her said, and Luna saw a man who bowed over her with an amused smirk.
"I like the forest." She simply said, and smiled dreamily. "You know, you smell of Harry… do you know Harry?"
The man quirked an eyebrow. "And how would you know how Harry smells?"
"He's one of my few friends. You should know how your friends smell, right? So that if it is dark and quiet, you can still recognise them, right?"
"Who are you, girl?"
"Luna. Luna Lovegood."
"My name is Thanos. Thanos du Fuga. I'm Harry's lover."
Luna frowned and sat up. After thinking for a second, she dug up a feather and a piece of parchment from the pocket of her robe and held it out to him. "Could you please write something down? Your name or so."
Obviously taken aback a bit, the man wrote something down and handed it back again. After casting a glance at it, Luna beamed and patted the grass next to her. "You are the one who wrote the research of magical creatures!" she stated. "And you're the Dark Lord!"
The man, who had nodded at the first, froze and looked at her as if he tried to burn a hole in her head.
"What?" he said in a low voice.
"You're the Dark lord… I recognise your writing." She said.
After Umbridge was so far gone that she couldn't even scream anymore, Marvolo ended her life with a quick slash to her neck. Harry staggered back and yawned, cuddling up to him when he hit the chest behind him.
"What will you do with the body?"
"I'll give it to the centaurs. I'm sure they'd like to have it. She tried to make it legal for them to be locked up in stables…"
"You'll go now?"
"I'll first bring you to bed, and then I'll go."
"Nah, I'll find my way. Can I help with cleaning up?"
"No need, just get some sleep. You have school tomorrow."
His boyfriend nodded and yawned again before leaving the room. Marvolo magically vanished the blood on the walls and floor, and then grabbed the body and flew out of the window to the ground, careful that no blood was spilled on the grass which could leave a trail.
He found the centaurs quickly. He'd often spent time with the herd in his younger years, and he'd learned a lot from them. He probably was the only person alive who had any knowledge of centaur magic. Not that he told others that. He'd promised them to keep it a secret, and he always kept his word, so he did not brag about it. He waited for them in a clearing and dropped the body of the woman on the forest ground.
Muffled clop announced their arrival, and he put his wand away, knowing that it wouldn't do to look hostile. He turned when hearing rustling behind him, and a large, chestnut centaur stood before him.
"Mars is clear tonight, isn't it?" he said in a greeting, and the centaur looked up to the sky with a musing expression.
"Yes… blood of enemies must have been shed."
"That is why I came here, to offer you an enemy."
The dark eyes focused on him and the centaur came closer with a slow tread. "Ah, now I understand my dreams… I already wondered why you would return to us after so many years. We accept the gift, and will help you with whatever you need."
"Tell Dumbledore that she came here, insulted the herd, and was killed."
"I have seen a future, quite different from this one, where you did not bring this body. However, she came here on her own, bringing two foals with her. She indeed insulted us, and would have been killed if the old fool who lives in the castle had not stopped us. We will do as you ask, if only because it would have happened either way."
"Thank you, I am in your debt." Marvolo spoke, bowing in respect. "Again." He added, smiling ruefully .
"The day that your debt will be paid is near, do not worry about that. About the other thing you came for, the answer is that we will support you, if it means that you will respect our laws and that, once you rule your kind, you will let us rule our kind."
"That is what I had in mind."
"Good. Now, leave the forest, but before you return to the castle, go to the edge of the lake, where three old willow trees hang over the water. Do you remember the place?"
"How could I not? I will do as you say."
"May the stars watch over you."
"And over you and your herd."
Marvolo turned and walked back, taking a different path this time to find his way to the lake. He didn't need to walk for a long time though, and he heard a girl's voice sing a sad song. Morphing back into the form he'd used during the day, he approached the girl, wondering why the centaur had sent him here.
"Isn't it a bit late to be out here? The forest can be quite dangerous." He said, surprised when she didn't yelp or gave any other sign of being startled.
"I like the forest. You know, you smell of Harry… do you know Harry?" Taking aback, he wondered if she was joking, but she couldn't be. He hadn't seen her before, so she would not know that Harry was his lover. One thing about her phrase disturbed him even more though.
"And how would you know how Harry smells?" he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. If this was a girl with some crush on his Harry, then she too wouldn't live long…
"He's one of my few friends. You should know how your friends smell, right? So that if it is dark and quiet, you can still recognise them, right?"
It wasn't exactly the answer he'd expected, so instead of replying to her questions, which sounded rhetorical anyways, he asked: "Who are you, girl?"
"Luna. Luna Lovegood."
Marvolo relaxed a bit. Harry had told him about her before. She was the one Harry had given his research to. –a fact he still was a bit miffed about but well, it wasn't this girl's fault.-
"My name is Thanos. Thanos du Fuga. I'm Harry's lover." The girl just frowned, as if she was thinking about something. Didn't she believe him?
"Could you please write something down? Your name or so."
He blinked in surprise and wordlessly took the offered parchment and quill. There was still a bit of leftover ink in it, so he decided to keep it short and, like she had asked, wrote his name. Or well, his fake name.
"You are the one who wrote the research of magical creatures!" she stated, and he nodded, wondering if she deduced that fact from just his handwriting "And you're the Dark Lord!"
He stiffened at the last comment, not knowing if she was joking or not. He stared at her and tried Legilimency, but a mental wall stopped him. Of course, it was nothing he couldn't break, but she would notice for sure.
"What?" he said in a low voice.
"You're the Dark lord… I recognise your writing." She said.
In a blink of an eye, he had his wand out and pressed it to her throat, narrowing his eyes as she calmly stared back. "Explain." He hissed, morphing his eyes back so they were crimson again.
"In my first year, my first friend got hold of a diary. She showed it to me. It was written by Tom Riddle, and later, after a few dreadful things had happened, it became clear that Tom Riddle was the Dark Lord. You have the exact same handwriting as him. I noticed when reading the list. I didn't say anything to Harry yet, because he was kind of secretive about it and obviously didn't want to be pushed on the subject. I figured that he knew though. You're really his lover?"
Arching an eyebrow at her honesty and unfazed look, he said: "Yes, I am. And yes, he knows who I am."
"Oh, good. I would hate it if you had deceived him or something… I didn't really think you would have though, Harry is smarter than that."
"You are odd." He commented, and sat down beside her.
"I know." She said, throwing a stone in the lake and watching the ripples on the surface. "Hey, this means Harry is dark as well, yes?"
"Yes." There was no use denying it, and frankly, Marvolo enjoyed saying it out loud, especially to one of Harry's friends.
"And the rest?"
"What rest?"
"Ron, Hermione… Harry's friends."
"Oh. They don't know yet." He said, feeling oddly peaceful.
"Hmm…" she hummed, closing her eyes. "This is not exactly how I had imagined meeting you." She said, glancing at him.
"What part lacks? The grand fights, the threatening, the torturing?"
"Actually I was talking about your face." She said matter-of-factly, and he had a hard time remaining composed.
"Right. Of course. My face." He said as calm as possible. A few seconds of silence later, he snorted and got up. "It was nice meeting you Ms Lovegood, but I should be going. Have a good night."
"I will, bye." She said and went back to staring at the moon.
Read and Review!
xx GeMerope
