See first chapter for disclaimer and summary.
Author: ShaeLynn Teelle
Polite constructive criticism is welcome; FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.
Chapter 9-16 years old –
It was early in the morning or late at night when a figure stumbled to a door that glowed slightly in the quarter moon. Arms were wrapped around the figure's stomach and he was stooped. No cloak covered the messy black hair nor the nearly white skin and the hand that fumbled on the doorknob was covered in streaks of something dark that glinted in the moonlight.
The door opened and the figure moved inside, the door closing behind him and shutting out the world. In the light of the moon, the glowing door faded and only a brick wall remained on the side of a small business near Magnolia Crescent.
Beyond the door that could no longer be seen, the figure had reached the counter of the room and leaned against it, gasping slightly. Gathering his strength the door behind the counter was opened and the figure tried to walk through only to reach out and grasp the doorframe with slick hands as a wave of dizziness passed over him.
Then, a light was created just as he fell into the room, making the dizziness worse. Gentle hands were on him then, turning him over, but he didn't even have the strength to flinch away. A voice came to him from seemingly far away and he tried to focus on the words.
"Noir, can you hear me? What happened? Noir! Miina, get your cousin, I cannot heal this all!"
Strong arms wrapped around him and lifted him from the floor. Harry had a vague sense of moving upwards before being placed on a hard wooden surface.
"No! Please, don't! Please!" Harry cried out softly, the most he could manage in his panic with his raw throat, his hands shifting weakly against the table.
"Calm, Noir! It is William. I will not harm you. You are on the table in my back room so that I can heal you. Calmly," William spoke soothingly, repeating the message several times before he received a coherent response.
"William? Harry's eyes cleared enough to recognize the man and he relaxed, knowing things would be okay.
"Yes, Noir. I have a sleep potion I want you to take so you aren't in pain while we heal—"
"No! Please, allow me consciousness. Bad things happen… pain… hurt…"
"Okay, Noir. Calm. No sleeping, I promise."
William pulled out a wand from one of the cupboards and proceeded to gently remove Harry's outer clothing, ignoring the blood and watching for the injuries he knew were there. Despite his earlier panicking Harry made no motion to stop the man, but did have him cut away his shirt and trousers when it became too much on his injuries to remove them otherwise.
With only visual inspection William found several deep cuts on Harry legs and a long gash across the young man's chest. He began casting healing spells and localized cleansing charms to repair some of the damage and make visible the bruises and other surface injuries.
As William waited for his daughter's return he began what healing he knew against the dark bruising that he could now clearly see around much of Harry's torso. His pants were removed to get at several deep bruises on his hips shortly before Miina walked through the doorway that led to the living chambers on the floors above. She blushed lightly at the young man's nudity, but calmly went to Harry's side and took one uninjured hand into her own in comfort.
No more than a minute later the man she had been sent to retrieve entered the room and Harry closed his eyes, stifling a groan. Of all people that might have come, Harry would never have believe to see Severus Snape within the shop and he did not wish to be seen by the man as he was either.
"I am surprised at you, William, for having not yet put him out of his pain." The smooth voice, calm and indifferent grated on Harry's nerves, but he held silent.
"There will be no sleeping potions for him, Severus. No matter your arguments. He does not wish it," came William's defense.
"Were you a Slytherin or not?" Snape demanded and Harry almost began laughing. He had nearly convinced himself that William had been a Ravenclaw.
"Of course, but I will not betray his trust, not for any reason nor under anyone's orders but his own."
Snape grumbled a bit, but it was unintelligible to anyone in the room. The greasy man pulled out his wand and began to cast spells. "He has a bruised kidney and several cracked ribs."
The wounds were healed quickly then more scans were cast. "I do not have the scan to determine where the rest of the bleeding is coming from."
"Noir, where else were you injured? Noir?"
Harry still had his eyes closed lest Snape realize whom he was and so did not see Snape's head jump upwards as he stared at him, taking more interest than he had before.
"Not with him here," Harry was almost thankful for the screaming that had turned his throat raw as the gravelly tone would not give away his identity.
"I can heal bruises, simple cuts, light burns, I do not know anything else about healing. Please, Noir, you have known too much pain already within your short life."
Harry clung tightly to Miina's hand, drawing strength from the girl as he fought an internal battle. He knew he needed the help and knew without doubt that William would protect him, but he did not wish to have Snape know the worst that his uncle had ever done to him. Finally, after several silent, tense minutes Harry rolled himself away from the two men, onto his side facing Miina. There were twin horrified gasps from behind him and Harry began to tremble in shame now that they had seen where the blood and other fluids continued to slowly leak from.
Miina understood what had happened as she understood so much else without being told. She held tightly to her friend's hand as her third cousin and her father began to heal him. Her other hand brushed gently over Harry's neck and the side of his face, collecting the single shiny tear that had escaped his control. The hand reached his shoulder and she leaned over him, holding him as best she could in their positions.
She did not pull away until William told Harry there was nothing more they could do. Then Snape spoke, demanding to know if William was aware that a Vrai Noir was being heavily sought after by the Dark Lord for over a year.
"As I said before, Severus. I would not betray this young man's trust for any reason."
Harrry began to laugh quietly then, his eyes still closed, "Such a manhunt he has sent you all on. You now know where I am, Snape, and just how badly I am injured this time. I guarantee you that I will not leave here until William kicks me out or the school year begins. Go and tell him where I am at, what you know. From his reluctance to query William himself I am certain he is aware of the protections that abound here."
"Two may accompany him, Severus," William's tone left no room for argument. "My protections will be on full alert. No spells from anyone that is not of the household. I am certain as well that Voldemort understands the chance he is receiving here."
Snape nodded once and left shortly. William stayed with the two teenagers after draping a blanket about Harry's shoulders for a few minutes before he helped the young man to his feet. Between Miina and William's help Harry managed to get through the back room and up a set of stairs hidden in one corner. There were only two bedrooms, but Miina offered her room without a word. William trusted the two enough to not object when Miina stayed at Harry's side for the rest of the night.
/\ \/ /\ \/ /\ \/
It took two days before Voldemort decided to come to the shop to meet the elusive Vrai Noir. In that time both Miina and William had been exposed to Harry's nightmares from the time spent with his relatives.
Just after the three had cleared up from their lunch, three figures entered the downstairs shop and William went to greet them. The wards and enchantments woven into the very walls of the building with its embedded stones had been explained to Harry that morning. Two of the three men would be unable to cast any destructive or detrimental curses while in the building, and the third would not out of respect.
Harry had not ventured far out of Miina's room in the time he had been there as excessive movement was still painful, despite the strong pain relief draught he'd taken regularly. He was sitting up against the headboard of the bed, a clean, muggle-style shirt of William's on and the blankets laid smooth over the thin sleep pants covering his lower half. His eyes remained closed and he made certain that his hair covered his scar in anticipation.
Miina sat next to him, holding one of his hands as support and comfort when the three entered. William left them to their conversation, but kept within hearing distance if Harry needed anything. Voldemort gave a brief nod of acknowledgement in Miina's direction, but his eyes remained fixed on Harry's form.
"Flight of Death," Harry spoke casually, his eyes lowered to the blankets to keep the game from being given away.
"True Black." There was a heavy pause before he spoke again, "What is your true name, as I know that you are aware of mine."
"Why ask a question you can answer yourself?" They had made sure that his scar was completely covered and the gift which had kept Dumbledore from obstructing his mind, now kept the sharp pain from Voldemort's presence at bay.
"You insignificant street whore! Dare you—" Lucius was cut off and pinned to the wall a few feet from the floor, his wand dropping uselessly below his feet.
Wiliam was suddenly in the doorway then, chuckling quietly under his breath. "I told you before, Lucius, that Noir was not someone to get on their bad side. How many insults will it take before you realize this?"
Miina took Harry's attention for a moment and closed her hands into fists before letting them hang down loosely. Lucius hit the ground unprepared and he landed flat on his face. Harry smirked.
"If you will not admit to your name, yet, what will you tell us?" Voldemort asked, ignoring his second as he regained his feet.
"How often has the Sorting Hat ever been wrong in placing a student within their house?"
Snape sputtered for a moment, "Never!"
"So it would take someone truly Slytherin to convince the hat to put him somewhere else then, wouldn't it?" Harry asked, his smirk growing.
He lifted his head, shaking the hair away from his forehead. The clamor of denials from both Snape and Malfoy was more entertainment than Harry'd had for a long time.
Voldemort matched Harry's smirk as he nodded, unshocked at whom he really was. "So, a 'snake in lion's clothing' indeed. I agree, a perfect way to 'know thy enemies'. What do you plan to do now, Vrai Noir?"
"Continue the game until I'm of age. Then, fuck them all. However, there remains a few slight matters that I wish to discuss with you for assistance, if you will. I can only surmise that you have received my instructions on the deranged, psychotic Black in your possession. When I am no longer under Ministry watch, then I will deal with her at my own discretion."
"As you wish. Your revenge is deserved now that I am certain who you are."
"Also, a favor, a show of goodwill. A Muggle, Vernon Dursley, works at this address." Harry waved one hand and a piece of parchment with writing appeared in front of Voldemort. "He leaves Little Whining in Surrey at exactly 7:15 AM every morning. Waylay him, if you could. An accident or something, no Dark Mark in the sky to keep Dumbledore unsuspicious. Hold him for me. Just until I am of age. Play with him if you are bored, but don't kill him and don't break him. I want him with all use of his faculties, such as they are, when he sees me again."
"If I may, Noir. Whom placed you into the state you arrived here in?"
Harry's face dropped and his eyes became cold and cruel, knuckles turning white against the bedspread. "My uncle, Vernon Dursley."
- 16 years old - Chrismas
Harry chuckled darkly behind the closed and silenced curtains of his bed as he finished the latest missive from his… partner. There had been no power struggle between the two as they discussed in private their wants, needs, and formulated plans that could satisfy them both. Harry had deferred to Voldemort's experience when it was warranted and the Dark Lord did not question Harry's power, well aware that it would shortly exceed his own.
Voldemort had no need to challenge it though. Harry did not want to lead and explained as much in their first private meeting. He'd had enough of the attention, the Boy-Who-Lived stigma that followed him around. He would not be subservient to the man, no marks, no bowing, but neither would he try to overthrow the man. He was far more content to be the unknown power in the shadows.
Harry pulled the small box that had come with the letter closer to him. He lifted the lid and a small black snake raised its head to look at him. It was only about six inches long and thin as a pencil. Harry carefully picked it up and explained whom he was to the new pet. A few minutes later the snake was curled up by his headboard and Harry was opening the other gift that had been sent to him.
Miina had sewn him a leather wand holster that had stones and runes embedded in it. The leather was a dark brown and fit perfectly around his forearm. Harry hoped that she liked her gift from him as much as he did of hers. Harry had taken one of his most protective stones and embedded as much power into it as he thought it could handle. It had then been strung on a chain long enough for a pendant and spelled so only Harry or Miina herself could remove it.
It was the first of many steps he had planned to keep her safe as the war progressed. He wouldn't let any harm come to her. He refused to lose another person he cared deeply for, and she was his most precious.
- 16 years old - Year End
Harry stood patiently waiting in William's back room. His guest for the Weasley wedding was soon to arrive, polyjuiced as a random wizard by the name of Ian, Ian Igma. Voldemort had been quite amused when Harry produced his name. None of the Order that would be there on guard would realize they were being had until long after they'd left. Harry'd just managed to not deal with an honor guard to the Burrow for the ceremony, a fact he was still impressed about.
Their plan for being present at the ceremony went off without a hitch and Voldemort smiled the entire time. Little did the Order or the Weasleys know that it would be the last they would see of Harry Potter for some time.
The downfall of Dumbledore had been executed perfectly, except for Greyback's injury to Bill Weasley. That had not been in the plans and Harry was already working out a suitable punishment for the upstart werewolf. He did feel slightly bad for Draco Malfoy, though. The sixth year had never been intended to succeed in his task of killing Dumbledore. That had been Snape's pleasure and his public declaration to the Order of his intentions in the war.
Of course, the Unbreakable Vow had simply ensured that Snape would get his fondest wish. Harry knew that no matter how much Draco had wanted to prove himself, he would never have been able to actually kill someone. It was no matter. Harry had a better idea of where Draco's talents could be put to use.
The Wizarding World wouldn't know what hit them by the time Hogwarts began on September first. And now, there would be no Harry Potter for them to turn on or turn to. Vrai Noir was coming out to play.
Reviews are appreciated.
Potential sequel is in the works. Not sure if it will be written or not depending on real life, but potentially.