Hi guys! I'm back again!
Aaaah, I'm so excited about this chapter! Massive development at the end, so look forward to that! Also, Hermione is in here and she's one of my favourite characters, so that was fun to write!
Anyway, I don't have much to say except thank you guys so much for the lovely reviews I got for the last chapter! You all just made my day! :D
Now, enough cheesiness from me! On with the chapter!
Pacing back and forth in front of the large entrance doors, Harry kept glancing at the clock hanging on the wall. He had gotten a reply from Hermione the day before, just after his talk with Voldemort, where she expressed her shock and worry about Voldemort also staying at the Manor. Though having ended her letter with the word 'I will judge for myself when I come over. If you believe he isn't the man Dumbledore said he is, then I'm willing to meet him and try to not have any preconceived notions about what he might be like. However, I can't promise you anything.'
Harry was rather certain that his friend would judge the situation correctly, watching from the side-lines and forming her own opinions, as she usually did, but he also knew that the witch was rather opinionated and stubborn, just like the Dark Lord. Worst-case scenario, they would get into a fight over some issue, and Harry was absolutely certain that, no matter how talented Hermione might be, Voldemort would brush her off like a fly that was annoying him.
A crack coming from outside made him run to the doors and throw them open, revealing a rather dishevelled Hermione next to Snape, who had been ordered to bring her to the manor, to the man's immense displeasure.
"Hermione! You have no idea how happy I am to see you!" Harry exclaimed and enveloped her in a hug and drawing in the familiar scent of her brown hair. She laughed and hugged him back.
"So am I, Harry. Hogwarts just hasn't been the same without you!" Stepping back from him a little, she looked him over, just like a worried mother might after not having seen her son for a long time. Apparently deeming his appearance acceptable, she nodded contentedly. "I see you're being well taken care of. You're not so skinny anymore and" she added with a wink "I assume Malfoy junior has been partly responsible for your change of attire?"
Ignoring this little remark, he instead took her hand and dragged her inside, completely ignoring Snape, who just sneered in his general direction before heading towards the chambers he used while staying at the manor. The agreement was that he would bring Hermione, Draco and Harry back to Hogwarts in time for the afternoon potions class, and then Harry would go back to the Manor, leaving Hermione and Draco behind in the castle, as they were both regular students and obligated to stay in the castle during term.
"Come, I want you to see my room first!" Feeling much like an excited five-year-old, Harry ran ahead, with Hermione right behind him, until he reached his room. Opening the door, with not a small sense of pride of being able to show Hermione something that completely belonged to him, they both walked in.
"Oh dear, Harry! This is stunning!" Hermione whispered, while her eyes tried to take in all details at once. A sharp intake of breath warned Harry that his friend had spotted Medusa, and he was quick to calm her.
"Don't worry, she won't harm you." He explained, letting the snake wrap around his forearm. "Voldemort bought her for me when we went to Diagon Alley. Her name is Medusa."
Hermione's brown eyes filled with the usual look they got when she was contemplating something, and she bent forward to better get a look at Medusa, who stared defiantly back.
"Hello Medusa. I'm pleased to meet you." This greeting seemed to please the snake immensely, because she looked up at Harry with a satisfied hiss.
"I like this female, she knows her manners." Harry chuckled.
"Well, she is a smart witch, after all." He hissed back before thinking, and only when Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide with shock and amazement, did he realize what he had done.
"Before you say anything, Hermione, let me explain." He said, one arm stretched out towards her in a calming manner. When she gave a feeble nod in return, he gave out a sigh of relief before guiding her towards the armchair, which she plopped down in rather inelegantly.
"First, how much do you know about courting periods preceding Wizarding traditional marriages?" Knowing that asking her a question would make her direct her mental energies more towards answering him than thinking too much over the fact that he could talk to snakes, Harry silently prayed that Hermione would prove the excellent witch he knew her to be. She didn't fail his expectations. With the tell-tale frown she got when trying to remember something she had read, the witch seemed to piece something together.
"When two people, either wizards or witches, are courting, it is essentially for their magical cores to become used to one another's presence. A successful marriage, according to traditional belief, should only be entered into by two people of equal magical powers. If one of the two parties is more powerful than the other, the weaker of the two will eventually have his magical core depleted by the stronger part, resulting in either a loss of magical capabilities or, in some cases, death." At Harry's encouraging nod, she continued.
"In the book I read while trying to gain some deeper understanding of what you are going through, it also said that during the courting period, the two magical cores, if of equal power, fuse and some abilities are given from one part to the other, though this is rather rare. Usually, the fusion causes the two parts to form a link between them, which can alert them if the other part is in danger or is experiencing strong emotions."
Her eyes had, while she was talking, lighted up as if with understanding and she turned towards Harry.
"That's what's happened between you two, right? You-know-who is a famous Parselmouth, and that ability has somehow been transferred to you as well."
Before he had time to answer her, tear started forming in Hermione's eyes and she suddenly hugged him tight, gripping the back of his T-shirt as if she desperately needed it to support herself.
"Oh, Harry! Please be careful, okay? I'm still not convinced that the man Dumbledore, though he has proven himself to be a backstabbing liar, and all the people we know… They all say that Vol-… You-know-who is the darkest wizard of all times, unscrupulous and cunning. That he won't bat an eyelash over killing whoever stands in his way." Looking into his face with those brown eyes, her cheeks lined with tears, Harry's eyes softened as he realized how things must seem from her point of view.
"Shh, Hermione, I'm okay, I promise." He whispered while hugging her just as tightly. "I will give you whatever proof you need that Voldemort, and it's okay to say his name," he added in a teasing manner "is not the coldblooded devil that the Light side has made him out to be. Yes, he is cunning, smart, rather aloof and overprotective to a fault, but he isn't evil. He has very definite views of what he wants and how to get to those goals, but even he would not lower himself to simply be a sadistic killing machine, committing genocide left and right."
Once again directing Hermione to the armchair, Harry knelt in front of her, gripping her hands tightly and looking her in the eyes with what he hoped was an honest and calm expression.
"He has told me of his goals, Hermione, and they are nothing like what Dumbledore told us they were. I truly believe that his idea of the perfect Wizarding society is good and also, that it can be accomplished. No killing is necessary, but Dumbledore and his Order have decided that Voldemort is evil and that he needs to go down. Because of that, blood has been spilled unnecessarily."
While Harry was talking, Hermione had been sitting completely still, except for a few hiccups from crying. When he stopped talking, he watched her anxiously, waiting for something that could give him an idea of what she was thinking.
With a sigh, she broke the silence. "Very well, Harry. I trust your judgment on this, but we both know that the only way I will be fully convinced is after listening to the man himself." She had raised her chin, as in defiance, and her eyes had once again got that steely determination in them that Harry knew meant that nothing could stop her now that she had a tangible goal in front of her.
At the other side of the Manor, Voldemort was pacing quickly back and forth in front of the large fireplace in his chambers. Today was the day when Harry's friend was visiting, as well as the day where Harry would be going to Hogwarts. Though he would be at the school for only a few hours, Voldemort was anxious.
A troubling restlessness had gripped him all day and he couldn't figure out what the feeling unsettling him so, was. He knew it was connected to Harry, everything lately seemed to have something to do with the boy, but he couldn't for the life of him understand what it was.
With a frustrated growl, he stopped and stared moodily into the glaring flames. Why was Harry affecting him like this? Sure, the boy was rather clever when he wanted to, he was loyal and trusting, even now everyone could see that the boy would grow up to be a very handsome man, but even so there was something about him that went deeper than all that. And Voldemort could not figure out what that elusive 'something' was. Nagini had been watching him from her usual place on his bed and had now seemed to grow tired of his pacing.
"Will you calm down? You're upsetting my slumbering." She hissed, the annoyance clear in her voice. Voldemort only glared at her, which made her look like, if snakes had been able to do so, she was rolling her eyes.
"Come on, how hard can this be? Obviously you want the hatchling, it's only natural to want your mate close at all times." Nagini, quite self-contently, stretched her large, thick body a little, admiring the way her gleaming scales reflected the light.
"It still doesn't explain it all. If possessiveness was it, I would've gone over to Harry's room right now. However, it doesn't feel right to intrude on him now. At the moment, he has someone who matters more to him than –' he stopped suddenly, realizing what he had just said. Was that it? Was he, dare he say it, jealous? Jealous because someone mattered more to Harry than he did, would probably ever do?
With a rather shaky hand, he brushed a lock of hair from his face. He had grown so used to the disguised form he used around Harry that he often forgot to change back into the more snake-like appearance that was his true form.
It simply could not be the case, could it? Because if he was jealous, that meant that there was something more, something deeper than he thought possible.
A knock on his door brought him out of his reverie. Years of practice made him slip easily into an air of nonchalance, and he leant back in the chair. "Come in" he ordered, pushing the revelation he had just reached into the back of his mind. He would ponder about its significance later. However, the person whose face peeked out from behind the door, made him almost lose his calm mask again.
"I hope we're not interrupting you?" Harry asked in that sweet, innocent voice. It took Voldemort every ounce of self-restraint he had from showing just how much seeing the boy at that exact moment impacted him. Instead, he simply shook his head.
"No, Harry. I wasn't doing much, but I thought you would be busy catching up with your friend? I was under the impression that you intended to spend your time with her until leaving for Hogwarts?" Voldemort silently congratulated himself for this smooth shifting of the subject over on Hermione and school, and away from himself.
The boy nodded, before looking over his shoulder and then once more faced him. "Well, I was talking to Hermione about this whole situation with me staying here and you also living here, and-"
With a small sigh, Voldemort finished the sentence for him. "And she is still doubting whether my intentions of being near you are good or not, is that it?"
Harry nodded, with a small, apologetic smile on his face that seemed to wipe away whatever annoyance Voldemort might have felt at being questioned by a twelve-year-old muggleborn witch.
"Very well, both of you come in and I'll answer whatever questions she might have." He conceded, but quickly added "but I don't have all day and you are both to go back to Hogwarts when Snape comes to get you."
Harry, who seemed very relieved at this willingness on Voldemort's part to listen, gestured for the girl to follow him, before he hurried over to the small couch opposite the armchair Voldemort was currently sitting in. A bushy-haired brunette followed him, large, intelligent eyes scanning first the room, then him, with an intense scrutiny. Voldemort was struck at once with the level of perception this young girl seemed to have, and realized that when she grew up, she would certainly be a witch he would want to have on his side. From merely seeing this talk as something he would do just to humour Harry, Voldemort sat up straighter and the possibility of actually seeing for himself just how smart this witch was intrigued him.
After Hermione had sat down next to Harry, Voldemort leant back in his chair and folded his hands, neatly placing them on his knee.
"So, Miss Granger. I understand you have some questions that you are rather anxious to have an answer to?" he said, mostly to break the rather uncomfortable silence that seemed to settle over the room like a wet blanket.
His voice seemed to snap Hermione out of her thoughts, because she startled a little, before nodding quickly.
"Yes, I do. I'm sure you're aware of the fact that until recently, both Harry, me and our… friend, Ron have been under the influence of headmaster Dumbledore. He has told us rather the opposite story of what Harry is now telling me you have presented him with." Voldemort had noticed her pause when mentioning the youngest Weasley boy and drew the conclusion that the boy no longer had the same place in her heart that he might previously have had.
"What I'm most anxious to know, as a muggleborn, is what you, if you were to gain control of the Wizarding world, intend to do about those of us who are either muggleborn or half-bloods. From what Dumbledore has told us, you have a none to pleasant idea of us being somehow inferior or 'dirty' compared to the pureblood wizards and witches in our society." She continued and he had no choice but to admire the poise and seriousness she carried herself with, her face serious, but still eager to know. Despite her age, Voldemort knew that he would regard this girl as someone not to be patronized, but to talk to her as he would anyone he would normally discuss strategies with.
Stopping for a moment to reflect on how to explain his vision of a Wizarding world where muggleborn and half-bloods born into families who were negative to the possibility of having a magical child, Voldemort nodded to acknowledge the validity of her question.
"Despite what Dumbledore has told you, about me wanting to exterminate all muggleborn and to regard half-bloods as somehow 'less than' purebloods, my goals are quite different. I have no problem with muggleborn wizards and witches. What I do have a problem with is them not knowing that they have the gift of magic until they are eleven and receive their Hogwarts acceptance letter. My vision is for the Ministry to have a special branch whose job it is to go out to these families when the child is born and explain to them what they can expect in the future. Explain accidental magic, that their child will go to Hogwarts when they are eleven and that this child will most likely go on to live in this society, mostly cut off from the muggle society where their families belong. In the cases where it is deemed dangerous for the child to live, in cases of extreme prejudice against our kind, the child will be taken in by a magical family and raised as one of their own." Seeing that Hermione opened her mouth to question this, Voldemort quickly added. "However, the child will be informed as soon as he or she is able to understand, that the family they now live it is not their biological one and that the reason for them being moved from a house where they would be in potential danger was only because the Ministry regarded staying there for an extended period of time as a danger to the wellbeing of said child."
Hermione was silent for a minute, seemingly thinking over what Voldemort had said. "I think I understand. So, what you are saying is that you wish for people of magical abilities to be informed, so as to be better equipped for their future in Wizarding society? It certainly makes senses, given that pureblood families have an advantage in that respect, and that pureblood children grow up being fully aware of the workings of the magical world." Glancing over at Harry, she continued. "I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure Harry went through the same as me, the confusion of being able to do things that you couldn't logically explain, having your parents look at you with worry, of doubting yourself because something was happening to you and you didn't know why… And then you receive a letter, which promptly tells you that you are a witch or wizard and that you are to attend this school of magic for the next seven years… To tell you the truth, it was all very overwhelming and it took much time for me to realize that the future I had envisioned for myself, a life of relative normalcy, was no longer plausible and that I would have to rearrange my view of the world. Suddenly, the stuff of fairy tales came true. I frankly had no idea how to deal with it at first and as such resorted to the first thing I could think of, to read as much as I could about the subject of magic and how the Wizarding world works."
If he had to be honest, Voldemort was surprised at how easily she seemed to accept his explanation and that she, as far as he could see, essentially agreed with him in his vision. Harry had been quiet this whole time, eagerly looking from Voldemort to Hermione and then back to Voldemort again. It was rather endearing, really, how he seemed so anxious for them to get along.
"So, say I accept that you have no intention of turning the Wizarding world into a class system where muggleborn are essentially excluded from society. How would you go about accomplishing your goals? I assume you would use the same system the Ministry now uses to detect magic?"
Voldemort was taken aback, but then nodded, pleased with how this girl had grasped how the inner workings of the Ministry functioned and how easily they could really pick up when a child of magical abilities was born.
With a satisfied nod, Hermione rose from the couch. "I can't say I trust you one hundred percent yet, but I know that Harry does and that I can trust his judgment." With a small, yet honest smile, she continued. "I will think about what you've told me and view things from the side-lines for a while before I reach any conclusion, but I can assure you that me going back to Dumbledore after what he did to Harry is absolutely out of the question. I might not be on your side, but I am on Harry's side, and if he trusts you, so will I try to do the same."
She walked towards the door, and when Harry rose to follow her, she waved a hand at him. "No, Harry, I think you and V-Voldemort will want to talk for a bit before you go to Hogwarts. I want to think over what we've just discussed anyway." With what Voldemort could've sworn was a small wink in his direction, the girl disappeared out the door, leaving Harry and him surrounded by a slightly awkward silence.
"So, what did you think? I told you she was bright." Harry exclaimed and looked at him with an excited grin on his face.
"And so you were right. I'm very happy that she is standing by your side, Harry. I'm certain having her as a supporter will prove to be very valuable, both now and in the future."
The pleased look on Harry's face was more than enough for Voldemort and he decided there and then that if praising Harry's friends would garner this reaction, then he would make sure to praise them more often. The feeling from earlier once more sprung up in his chest.
"Are you okay? You look thoughtful." Harry's words made him look up, meeting those worried green eyes seemed to just further agitate him. Merlin, why did these newfound feelings he was experiencing make this so confusing? It had been decades since he last knew how to feel anything and now it was all coming back to him. To say it was disconcerting was putting it mildly.
With a groan of impatience, mostly with himself, Voldemort rose from the chair and walked over to the window, hands behind his back, while trying to compose himself. However, Harry, who had no idea what was going on and who was worried about there being something wrong with the Dark Lord, followed him.
A light hand on his elbow made Voldemort start and look down once again into emerald depths of concern and worry. "Are you okay, Voldemort? Did anything happen just now with Hermione? Did she say anything that you're upset about?"
This endless questioning, about Hermione no less, by the one person who lately seemed to occupy his mind from the moment he woke up till the moment his head hit the pillow at night, caused him to finally snap.
He snatched his arm away from Harry's hand and stared at him, his red eyes overflowing with, to him, foreign emotions ranging from anger, frustration, elation, but also a little bit of something else.
"You really do not get it, do you Harry?" his voice was a whisper, as if his entire being was fighting against admitting to feeling anything out loud.
Cocking his head to the side, Harry just watched him confusedly. "Get what? I can't understand if you don't tell me anything! You just go off on these random bursts of emotion and I have no idea how to handle that!" Now it was Harry's turn to glare at him, green eyes staring defiantly into flinty red ones.
"I'm sure you think this whole marriage proposal is just a political move on my part, don't you? I guess you never even considered the possibility of there being anything more to it than that! Never even considered that I might actually have feelings and that marrying you when you turn seventeen, the day you become of age, will be a day I long for so much that it is almost painful."
Realization dawned on Harry's face and the boy stepped away from the man in front of him. Voldemort turned away and stalked towards the door, stopping just long enough for the words 'You never even considered that I might just love you', to reach Harry, but before the raven-haired boy had any opportunity to reply, the man was gone and he was left standing in the office, Nagini watching him curiously from where she was lying near the fireplace. Only her eyes saw how Harry slowly fell to his knees with a stupefied expression and how his eyes seemed to reflect all the turmoil of emotion on the inside. Then, with a sudden jolt of determined energy, Harry sprung up and ran after Voldemort, for once planning on actually getting to the bottom of the enigma that was his fiancée.
*GASP!* Confession! I know some of you might be uncomfortable with the fact that Harry is only twelve, but this is the only way for me to keep this story relatively short (I have no plans of turning this into an epic story with 100+ chapters), while still trying to show how their relationship is evolving. Also, there will be no sexual interaction until Harry is much older. If I do decide to include some underage sexual scenes (more than kissing) I will place warnings both at the top of the chapter, as well as before the scene itself.
Hopefully you guys enjoyed this chapter! Looking forward to hear what your responses will be! (whispers quietly: please don't flame too hard!)
