Harry broke the kiss and stood up quickly. "Umm…sorry Blaise I've got an essay due that I have to Finnish. Yea that's it." Without another word the boy who lived quickly left the common room, leaving behind a very confused Blaise.
The next day Harry avoided Blaise as much as possible, which was extremely hard considering they were not only in the same house but the same year as well. After stumbling upon the boy in the library after dinner, Harry took refuge in the one place he was unlikely to be found, his father's private chambers.
When Severus Snape answered the knock on his office door he was shocked to find Harry standing there. "Harry, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
"Well you see, Blaise kissed me last night and now I am avoiding him. But the prat shows up where ever I seem to be. So I thought maybe if it was all right with you I could just hide out here for a while, until curfew at least." Harry gave the man his best pout.
"Fine, but do not touch anything, and only until curfew, no later." Severus stood back and allowed the boy to enter the office. He shut the door and then led the boy into his own private common room. Severus sat down in a chair near the fire as Harry took the couch and set his schoolbooks on the table in front of him.
"Thank you very much Severus." Harry said as he pulled out his ink and quill. Severus looked at him for a moment before picking up his own book and reading. The room was silent for an hour except for the scratch of Harry's quill on the parchment. Harry was rolling his parchment up when he began to talk.
"Tell me about you and my dad." He said not even looking at the look that Severus sent his way. He put his essay in his bag, sat on the couch and then finally looked up at Severus.
The man was eyeing him warily before he finally spoke, "What is it that you want to know?" Severus asked slowly, unsure as to why the boy was asking him this question. "And why are you asking me?"
Harry sighed, "Well you and dad were in love right? So obviously you knew more about him then most people did. I never met him I just thought that maybe you could tell me a bit about him. "Harry said with his head down, willing his tears not to fall.
Harry had never let anyone know how deep the hole in his heart was because he didn't know his parents. Sure he got by and managed to have a pretty normal life, if you consider Dark Lords dogging your ever step normal. But not knowing his parents always left him feeling empty and unwhole.
The room was silent for a while before Severus finally spoke, "James Potter is the most beautiful person I have ever known. He appeared to be arrogant and self centered on the outside, but in reality he isn't any of those things. James is sweet and thoughtful. When he found out I was pregnant with you, he cried. He was thrilled to be a father, took to the room of requirements and we had a special dinner. All he talked about after that was getting married and having a family. That was his biggest dream was a family. He wanted what every man dreams of and we thought we had found it in each other and in you." Severus said softly.
"The first time he felt you kick his smile was so bright, I thought his face was going to burst. You look just like him Harry and you act like him sometimes. The way you walk and even hold a quill reminds me of him. And your smile, it just seems to burst from your face like his. You have his temper as well. James was always one to jump off the handle at the slightest thing. I just want you to remember that no matter what anyone says; your Dad is a good man. He always was."
They were silent again. "Thank you Severus. You don't know how much this means to me. No one ever talks about him. It's almost as if they are scared to talk about him." Harry said with a smile at the other man.
Severus nodded. "You will never know how much I regret losing the only family I ever really had. A family was my dream as well." Severus sat back in his chair looking at the fire before him.
"That's been my dream since I can remember as well. I thought I had one in the Weasley's but you see how they treat me now. Well some of them any way. Maybe if you want we can be the family we were supposed to be, minus Dad of course. I just need a little time to get used to the idea. I mean, we have disliked each other for a long time now. So if you just give me some time, I think I can come around a bit more."
Severus stood up and walked to stand in front of Harry, "I would like that very much Harry." The boy was quick to stand up and shake Severus's hand. He wasn't ready for anything more than that. But for Severus it was a big gesture of trust from his newly found son.
When they sat back down Severus brought up a very touché subject. "Have you thought about talking to the dark lord? Now I'm not saying you would have to join him. Think of it more like he would be joining you. Just think about it Harry. Think of all the lies Dumbledore has told you. Did you ever stop to think that maybe he's lying about Voldermort as well?" Severus asked him.
Harry snorted at the mention of the Headmaster, "I have been thinking about it. Blaise said almost the same thing last night. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to talk with Voldermort. I mean if he really isn't what Dumbledore has painted him out to be, perhaps he would be willing to back me and my stance in this war. It would certainly put us at a better advantage. But I would have to talk to Neville about it." Harry said thoughtfully.
"Oh yes your right hand man Longbottom." Severus said with a chuckle. "I am still uncertain what has placed him in Slytherin. Though he as managed not to be killed so far. It's as though the others are afraid of him."
"Well not really afraid of him. More like they are afraid of incurring Draco's wrath upon themselves. Since we have entered the house he has placed us under his protection. Not to mention the fact that Neville is the only one who has really stood up to Draco. The two are dating now. Odd couple they make to." Harry said with amusement.
"I always knew Draco had a soft spot for Longbottom. He helped him in potions once. I was most surprised. But that doesn't matter at the moment, it is after curfew and you must be going to bed. Let me know your answer and I will set up a meeting with The Dark Lord. Halloween is coming up. Perhaps we can arrange to meet him safely then." Severus said as he watched Harry pack up his belongings.
"Thank you Severus for everything. I promise to let you know soon." Harry said slinging his bag onto his shoulder and heading for the door. With one last hand shake Harry was on his way, and Severus was back to his book.
The next morning at breakfast, Harry told Neville about what had happened not only the night before but also between him and Blaise.
"Maybe you should listen to Snape. I really don't think that he would put you in any danger. He seems to know what he is talking about at any rate. And who knows maybe Voldermort isn't completely insane." Neville said eating the toast Draco had put on his plate.
"You really think so? You know I won't do this alone. You have to come with me Nev. I really need you to be there. You did help me set up the resistance you know, you've done more for our cause then I have." Harry said buttering his own toast.
Neville blushed and said. "Whatever you want Harry. You know I'll be there with you." At those words, Harry hugged Neville tightly.
"Thanks Neville. You are the best mate any guy could ask for." Harry said. Neville blushed again and pushed Harry away him.
"Potter let go of my Boyfriend you prat." Draco said winking playfully at the two boys in front of him.
Later that day, after lunch, Blaise managed to catch Harry alone in a hallway. "You have been avoiding me Harry. Why is that?" The boy asked Harry.
"You are imagining things Blaise. I haven't been avoiding you. We have both just been busy that's all." Harry said looking around for an escape.
Blaise rolled his eyes, "Last night when you saw me enter the library you practically ran from it. I would call that avoiding me. Didn't you like the kiss Harry?" Blaise asked the boy, blocking him from escaping.
Harry sighed, "Look Blaise, I really don't have time for a relationship right now. And even if I had feelings for you, and I'm not saying that I do. It's just not the right time to get involved with anyone. I hope you understand."
"Oh I understand all right. I just think you are making a grave mistake. No one says no to a Zambini!" Without another word Blaise stalked away from Harry.
Neville, who had just caught the last few words from Blaise as he was walking down the hallway, went over to Harry. "Way to let him down gentle. You are going to be breaking a ton of Hearts."Neville said. Harry pushed the boy playfully.
"Bugger off you git." Harry said. The two boys walked to the common room, still laughing.
A week before the Halloween feast, Harry told Severus that he would agree to a meeting with Voldermort. Severus set it up, explaining to both Harry and Neville that they would be meeting in Malfoy Manor, a sort of neutral place for them. They would be arriving there by floo powder at 6pm, the same time, as the feast was to begin.
As the day drew nearer both boys began to grow nervous. When the night actually arrived they were both downright terrified. "Come on Harry you have battled with the man since you were 11 years old. Why are you so scared of him?" Neville asked as they dressed for the meeting.
Harry had no answer for his long time friend.
They were wearing their Crimson Griffin cloaks but had not put their masks on. With one last look into the mirror the two boys headed to Severus' chambers. "Ready to go boys?" When they nodded Severus handed them floo powder and in a flash of green flames they were gone.
They were greeted by Lucius Malfoy when they arrived at his home. "Welcome to Malfoy Manor. Dinner is about to be served." Lucius took them to the into the lavish dining room, where they were seated. Voldermort was already waiting for them. After a very tense and silent dinner they moved back to the library,
"Dinner was wonderful Lucius. Thank you for allowing us to have this meeting in your home. Now down to business, shall we?" Voldermort asked eyeing the men sitting around the fire with him.
"I am wondering what you are trying to gain by asking for us to meet. I am very curious to find out what is going on." Harry said sitting back looking at Neville who nodded at him with a smile.
"I am not who Dumbledore has painted me to be. Yes I want reform and new standards in education levels. I want out magical child to be taught better then what we were taught. Each year that passes more and more muggle-born children are entering Hogwarts. And each year the level of magic education goes down. What I was taught as a 1st year is now 4th year material.
I'm not saying we should ban all muggle-borns, because in doing that we would doom our world to death. I am saying there should be regulations in how many muggle-borns we allow into Hogwarts each year. I understand the need for them, because otherwise we would have died out a long time ago.
The ministry won't hear anything about this. They want to leave things how they are because Dumbledore says it is the right thing to do. Everyone should have a fair chance at magic and a magical education. But to what point to we take it? As these students graduate and have a hard time adjusting to wizarding life, they return back to muggle life. And we are put into more danger of being discovered.
Discovery would mean the end of magic. Everything we know would be gone. I for one do not want to see that. I think we need to limit who is allowed to attend Hogwarts. As for Creature rights, half-humans, why not let them be. If we continue to regulate them, we lose them and the knowledge they can pass on to us. We lose what makes our world so magical and different. " Voldermort said.
Harry frowned, "Then why all the killings? If all you want is a new ministry and regulations why are you killing mass amounts of people?" The boy asked.
"Because this is not a battle that can be fought with politics, Dumbledore is too high respected and revered. We must battle with our magic and our education to see who is right with this matter. I am not the one who began this war but I will be the one to finish it. Dumbledore saw me as threat to what he had created; he needed a way to destroy me. And he found one.
By making up the prophecy, and staging the killings of your parents he found himself a weapon to control and win the war. Who wouldn't side with an orphan boy who was trying to rid the world of an immense evil? In trying to get rid of me he found you the-boy-who-lived.
I am not proud of the fact that I allowed his ploys to work. I am not proud to say that I became what he wanted me to become. But I can say this much, I will not continue to journey down this path his has placed before me. I will win this war even if I have to kill a few people to do it." Voldermort said his eyes never leaving the-boy-who-lived's face.
"I knew the prophecy was a fake. Trelawney is a horrible seerer; she only gave the prophecy so Dumbledore would be happy. But my parents' murder was a plot? It makes me wonder what they felt when they knew it was really him. I want to believe you Tom I really do. But part of me believes that you enjoy this entire killing thing. I am willing to work for you. But there are some stipulations to our partnership.
You will not attack, not even when provoked. The public will get the real message and it will be without violence. They will never support us if we go around killing everyone that opposes us. When the time comes we will fight, but not before then. We are equals Tom, but you will be joining my resistance; I will not become a Death Eater. You and your followers will be protected. I see no reason for you to deny this invitation. After all we both want the same things." Harry said finally looking at the other man to see his reaction.
Voldermort was not happy with every rule Harry had set upon him. Could he really follow this 16 year old boy before him. The room became silent again, as Harry sat tensely waiting for a reply. Severus and Neville shared a nervous look before their attention went back to the man with the piercing crimson eyes. Finally, Voldermort spoke.
"I think that is a very wise offer. And being that we are both looking for the same results I see no reason for not taking the offer. So I agree. And with that said I have something for you Harry. Something that I am sure you and your father, Severus, will both want back. I am sorry for taking it away from you but it was necessary." Voldermort said standing up and heading towards the library door.
Harry and Severus looked at each other for a moment before standing and following Voldermort out of the room. Voldermort lead the men down a winding hallway and stopped before a door.
"I must ask that you do not hurt me when I open this door. I know it will come as a very big shock to both of you." Voldermort said and without waiting for a reply the man opened the door ushering the two confused men inside.