Chapter Four

Negotiations and Contracts

The negotiations took place at Hogwarts the next day. Harry was invited, but he refused adamantly, and Lucius agreed with the boy. He was not ready to go back there. The Order of the Phoenix, most of the teachers of Hogwarts, and half the Ministry had shown up. Hermione had contacted Luna and Neville, and the four friends were admitted and allowed a seat at a small table nearby. The last group to arrive was Voldemort's party. He entered flanked by Lucius and Severus, followed by Nott, Bellatrix, and the Lestrange brothers. Draco and Blaise followed behind, taking up the remaining seats with the four Gryffindors that gave the two Slytherin baleful glances, but none spoke.

He stopped in the middle of the room where a table for his party had been set up, he looked around. "I suppose the glamour isn't necessary," he said, banishing the visage of the snake-like man and sat down in his younger body.

"Where's Harry?" Remus asked immediately.

Lucius spoke, "Harry requested to remain with my wife. He is most certainly not yet up to this sort of thing."

Dumbledore frowned. "I specifically wished to hear Harry give his own voice to these proceedings, and find out his opinion."

Severus stood and handed over a paper. "You can't be serious? He's agreed to whatever we decide without a second thought?"

"He has, sir. Whatever contract is written here and agreed upon, he has preemptively signed. The dark lord and he have already signed a contract that he will agree to any requirements of him, provided the war ends and his friends and family are kept safe from harm," Severus said with a nod. "I heard it from him directly, Albus. He is under no duress and understands completely what he is agreeing to."

"I don't like not talking to him myself…" he began.

Lucius snorted. "The next you speak to him will be in the fall, Dumbledore, and only then under the supervision of his bonded."

Voldemort smirked. "It would seem that Lucius has taken a fair amount of liking to your little weapon, Dumbledore," he said, gaining a breathy gasp from those around them. He rolled his red eyes.

"Don't act so surprised. I know about your plans for the boy to die fighting me. I know you realize he is a horcrux, already," he said, eyes steadily taking in the others, and seeing frowns of dismay and astonishment. "Oh, dear, did I let the kitty out of the sack?" he asked with mock innocence.

He saw Dumbledore glaring at Severus as he sat down. "And no, don't blame your spy for telling me, I figured it out on my own when I was attempting to scramble his brains in the Ministry. To my surprise, I couldn't do it, and since then I've been regaining my sanity. It seems splitting your soul too many times does that, strips you of sane thought. Contact with my human horcrux left me changed, and once I was able to sit down with him again yesterday, I confirmed my suspicions. So yes, if your plan to destroy me by destroying my horcruxes had worked, Harry would have had to die. I'm still amazed at you, Dumbledore, never knew you had it in you to sacrifice a child like that..."

Dumbledore looked abashed and was receiving glares from around the room. "That would seem to be not an issue, since you will be taking Harry's freedom from him," he retorted.

Voldemort smiled broadly. "Yes, yes I will. And I will enjoy it immensely. I think being my little bonded will be better than dying, don't you?"

Hermione saw Draco's face drain of color as he glanced down at his hands beside him. Blaise reached over and whispered to him, which Hermione barely caught. "He'll be okay, you know that." Draco sat next to her so his reply was quiet but easier to catch. "How will it be better than what his uncle did? Force is force, Blaise."

Hermione's heart beat hard in her chest. She hadn't realized exactly what this would entail for Harry. Not really. She'd imagined him giving up his freedom, but now she was realizing what it would be. Her attention turned back to the conference.

Voldemort stood and began to walk around. "We'll start with the non-negotiable items. Harry will be mine, he's already signed the marriage and bonding contract, and we will hold a formal ceremony after his birthday at the beginning of August. He will be allowed to return to Hogwarts, but he will room with me, of course, in the married professor's quarters. He will have a set schedule, and will be permitted certain liberties, but he will be within my reach at all times. To this end, I've given Severus the task of a magical item that allows me to disapparate him through the wards here anytime I deem it necessary, as well as track his comings and goings when he is not currently with me. He will also never be far from one of my Death Eaters if I am not here, and yes, my Death Eaters will be housed in Hogwarts. Lucius will remain the school governor, and I will take up a position teaching knowledge of dark arts, 2nd through 7th years. Severus will remain the potions teacher, and Remus Lupin will return to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."

"You said the school would be left to run as usual," Dumbledore said, frowning.

He smiled. "Did I? And it will. I will be no more than a teacher, Albus, Professor Tom Riddle, after all. My other demands have to do with Harry's safety and my own."

"And controlling him," Dumbledore said, frowning deeply.

The dark lord smiled. "Of course. He's spirited after all. I don't expect him to come quietly into submission. But it is where he will be, fight as he likes, if he wants to end this war, and if you want to end this war."

Fudge spoke next. "The ministry wishes to discuss the changes you request for the Ministry."

"I see you are not keen to give me an official position. I will have one, or this deal will be for naught, and I'll take Harry anyway," he said with a devious grin.

"What? Harry's part of this negotiation!" Fudge said, standing. "His agreement is hinging on what we do here!"

Voldemort had all bases covered. "Actually, no. If you read what I gave Albus, the wording clearly states, he's already agreed to the marital contract regardless of what happens here. These proceedings would definitely make things easier for the boy, after all, if I'm happy, I'm less likely to harm my little bonded one. I tend to be more violent when I'm displeased."

There was a sudden hush. "You…you would take it out on Harry if you don't get your way?" stammered Minerva.

"Childish, I know. But I will have what I desire. And I can make Harry's marital life a very pleasant experience, with access to friends, family and Hogwarts, or I can make him miserable until he curses each and every one of you for your very existence by the time I'm done with him. You get to choose what you like. You already gave him to me, and I've accepted him as the greatest bargaining chip. He is the only reason I am sitting here willing to negotiate this truce. Consider his submission to be the thing that opened the door for this," he said with a shrug, and even those who had never cared much for Severus or Lucius saw the uncomfortable look that passed between them.

Lucius spoke up, "My Lord, might I suggest that instead of an official posting to the Ministry that is made public, you remain in the shadows as a final stage before anything is done."

Voldemort looked ready to dismiss it and then thought better. "Perhaps you are correct. No official position, but the power behind the throne, eh Lucius?"

Lucius nodded and looked to Fudge. "That is acceptable," he said quietly. At least the takeover of the Ministry by the dark lord would not be public.

"Good!" the dark lord said with a smirk. "Anything else that you deemed unacceptable?"

There were murmured discussions breaking out throughout the room. "No, we find the terms agreeable."

Voldemort nodded and waved his wand. A long scroll detailing the agreement spun out in the air before him. He cleared his throat. "I'll read the document, then we shall sign it."

Treaty Agreement

The undersigned do agree to the following conditions of a complete truce, ceasefire and future treaty agreement. This is a binding magical contract. To deviate from the contract will result in the undersigned losing access to their powers until such time as the contract is rectified or situation renegotiated.

The agreement has the following items in immediate effect:

Voldemort, AKA Tom Riddle Jr., agrees to cease all hostilities toward the Light, Ministry of Magic, and Muggles.

The Light, AKA Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry of Magic and any that identify themselves as Light wizards, agrees to cease all hostilities toward the forces of the Dark, including creatures of a dark blood ancestry. Restrictions places on followers of the Dark and Dark creatures will be lifted, allowing them to freely move about and maintain lives equivalent to those of the Light.

Death Eaters caught breaking any laws in current effect will be turned over immediately to Voldemort for punishment. Death Eaters will not be permitted to break laws. Those that perpetrate against Death Eaters shall also be remanded to Voldemort for punishment.

Unforgivable Curses are banned unless a case for self-defense can be made. Judgment on usage of any Unforgivable falls solely to Voldemort, whether the perpetrator is Light, Dark, or Gray.

Tom Riddle will gain a teaching position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the subject of Dark Arts.

Tom Riddle will be given a Shadow Ministry position, giving him full power to veto or change any laws written by the ministry. This will have no public impact on the Ministry.

Finally, Tom Riddle will enter into a bonding marital contract with Harry Potter, granting him all the rights and privileges thereof including marital rooming at Hogwarts. This contract will be separate from this treaty, and will also be signed by all parties.

The status of Muggle born wizards and witches will be addressed in proper negotiation in the future. The options that will be decided are whether they should be taken from Muggles at birth and given to a wizarding family to raise, if they should be kept in the wizarding world exclusively once they come of age, and if their parents should be allowed in the wizarding world or obliviated of their knowleged of the wizarding world. Muggles pose dangers to the wizarding world, but muggleborn witches and wizards deserve a chance to have their wizarding education or if they choose, have their powers sealed and returned to the muggle world.

Tom scribbled his name on the bottom and Severus took it to the other two. They both signed and there was a loud boom of magic sounding through the air sealing the agreement. He then looked them over.

"Must we discuss the marriage contract or can we dispense with this?" he asked, ready to summon the paper.

"We will know what you are expecting of Harry," Molly said from her position down past Remus.

Voldemort rolled his eyes and handed the paper to Lucius who took it forward. Dumbledore frowned and looked up. "Has Harry even seen what you expect of him?"

Voldemort smiled again, a flashing grin that reminded those around him why he had been so popular in school. "Of course he hasn't seen the finished product, but he understands his wishes do not matter. He is mine to do as I wish, and the official contract only specifies things that may be questioned in public or while he is in school. What exactly do you take issue with, oh great headmaster?"

Dumbledore glared daggers at his former student. "The fact that Harry is completely at your whim. Provisions to answer to your needs anytime you wish, even if he is in class?"

"You never know what the fancy will strike to relieve some school related stress," he said nonchalantly.

"Is that all he is to you?" Remus said, slamming hands down. "A toy? A possession?" he nearly screamed. "He's a person, a good person to do what he is doing, and you can't treat him like this, you greedy, gutless bastard!"

People to either side of Remus were trying to calm him but he continued. "You want to take him from one rapist and continue the same treatment of him? He'll break! He's stronger than anyone I know, hiding what was happening all these years, but you will kill him if you expect him to be nothing but your personal servant! He is not a thing! He is Harry, for Merlin's sake! And I would die before I let you treat him like that!"

Lucius and Severus exchanged nervous, but impressed looks, and then looked to see Voldemort starting to laugh. "Good! At least one of you has some backbone! Lucius, make sure you bring Remus with you. For defending my lovely little one's honor in the face of certain death, he can stay with him until we are wed."

There was a stunned silence. "And as for the marital contract that Harry already signed with me, that is none of your business. He will have a mark that shows that he is mine that he will wear openly, though I haven't decided what yet. And it will allow me to find him and disapparate him to me at a moment's notice," he said, standing. "With that, Draco, Blaise, come now, and Remus, follow Lucius and the boys back to the Malfoy's home."

When they were gone, the room was silent.

Remus followed closely to the Malfoys still unsure what he was going to find. Soon enough, they stepped outside the grounds and he grabbed the portkey and appeared in the sitting room of Malfoy Manor to see Harry curled against Narcissa Malfoy engrossed in a book. He looked up immediately, his eyes wide.

"Remus!" he called and leaped up and was swept up into the werewolf's arms. "Remus! You're here, oh Merlin, you're here!"

Lucius smiled at Narcissa as Draco and Blaise went to sit on the divan and watch. "How are you here? They said that no one would be allowed in until after the bonding ceremony was finished!"

Remus smiled. "I guess when I shot my mouth off at you-know-who at his wording when talking about you, he figured I was good enough to come see you."

Harry frowned and looked over to Lucius and Severus who both stood with amused smirks. Severus sighed. "My Lord baited them a bit, out of his own amusement, to draw out who, if anyone, felt strongly about the way he would treat you as a his husband. The wolf here was rather adamaent that you be treated well no matter what agreement you signed with Voldemort."

"I haven't signed anything yet," he said, frowning. "He said we had to wait for the treaty with the light."

Lucius smiled and ruffled his hair. "Well, he gave them another story. I'm sure your negotiation with the dark lord will be much less filled with baiting and sarcasm, little one."

Harry frowned. "Why are you all calling me that? I'm almost sixteen, for Merlin's sake," he groused.

Narcissa smiled. "Harry, you look more along the lines of thirteen due to your…stature."

Harry put hands to his hips and frowned at her. "Are you saying I'm short?"

Draco jumped out and draped an arm around his neck, leaning over a bit to be even with his five foot four inch frame. Draco had already reached five foot eleven this year. "Yes, shorty."

Harry sighed, accepting it. "Yeah, I guess. I don't understand, my parents were both tall!"

Severus shook his head. "You were malnourished as a child, Harry, from what I can tell, it severely stunted your growth. You actually may not grow much more in height or width than you are now…"

He groaned. "So now not only do I get married off like a girl, I stay short and little like one."

"You aren't being married off like a girl," Lucius said with a sigh. "He didn't choose to marry you because you look like a girl, Harry. If he wanted a girl, I'm sure he could have found one, or if he really insisted, he could get you to take a gender changing potion."

Harry gaped, looking to Severus and Remus. "That actually exists?"

"It's a bit of gray magic, so it isn't taught in regular potions at Hogwarts," Severus said with a sigh.

Harry flopped down on the chair with arms crossed. "I still feel weird about this. I just…I thought I'd marry a witch and have kids after falling in love, and now…"

Narcissa smiled at him. "Bondings between wizards are quite common, Harry. Just think of it like Lucius and I. We had an arranged marriage as well. And we've come to love each other and make it work."

Harry nodded, making no protest as three potions were handed to him, downing each one in succession before he looked up. "What am I taking now?"

Remus snorted. "Shouldn't you ask that before you drink them, Harry?"

Severus smiled. "Nutrient potion, blood replenisher, and pain potion, the usual, Harry. I want you on all three through tomorrow, then just the Nutrient potion and the pain potion as you need it. I've done the full course on anti-virals and anti-biotic potions, and you still need to get at least three full meals a day. You still don't eat enough."

Harry frowned. "I eat enough to get full! I can't help it I'm not used to eating much…I have to get used to eating again. My stomach's shrunk."

Narcissa smiled. "Speaking of which, let's have lunch, and invite your…?" she said, looking up at Remus.

He shrugged. "With Sirius gone, I suppose I'm closest to being his godfather now…" he said, and choked a bit on his mate's name. They all headed off, continually encouraging Harry to eat more than he was. Eventually, he told them if he ate more he'd throw it back up. They let him be at that point.

Voldemort paced. He wanted, for some reason, to give Harry something for his birthday that he couldn't soon forget. He thought about it and saw Bellatrix pass and he had it. What better birthday gift to his future spouse than to bring back his beloved mutt of a godfather? He smiled wickedly, calling Bellatrix into the room, knowing she had sent the curse that knocked him into the Veil.

"Bellatrix, I'm going to get Sirius from beyond the Veil, and I need your help," he said.

"Why do you want that dog back?" she said with an incredulous stare.

"Because it will please my soon to be bonded, and will make him more pliant to my requests," he answered truthfully.

She rolled her eyes. "Very well, how do we do that?"

Voldemort smiled, and even Bellatrix felt the malice leaking off that smile. "I'm sure you won't like it much…"