*This is not a Dresden crossover. Inspired by it? Sure...but the story is something born of my fucked up muse.

Chapter 5

"I missed you Harry…" A soft, female voice crooned.

It was her again.

"It's time to play little Harry." She giggled. "But you're not 'little' are you?"

Maybe if he kept his eyes shut she'd…

"Wake up." The voice suddenly got cold. "You know I don't like being ignored Harry…you know I don't."

Not this…not again…

He could feel her breath on his face.

"You will learn…" Her voice was getting husky again. "I'll teach you to never say no…"

Maniacal laughter snapped his eyes open, panic clouding his mind. His eyes registered the violet ones gazing down at him as he desperately tried to wriggle out of her grasp. He didn't want this, why couldn't she understand…

"She's dead dearest." That voice…

He blinked. Those eyes…they're not what he remembered.

"We killed her." The voice continued gently, the eyes softening.

So similar to his tormentor's and yet…

"She's gone." The voice was different from before as well. Not crazed…not ridden with lust.

He wasn't in the dark room. He was back in his room. In Privet Drive.

And he was lying down on his bed.

"You were having a nightmare." The soft voice continued.

Fingers were carding through his hair, almost making him moan in pleasure. It had just been so long since he'd experienced something other than pain…

And not something that had been forced upon him.

"Look at me Harry." It said softly.

He willed himself to look. Not just concentrate on those eyes, but gaze at the face of the woman who's lap his head was currently resting on.

She smiled down at him, her hand never stopping as she kept up with her ministrations, her silver eyes gazing down at him affectionately.

His initial fear ebbed away slowly. This was not Bellatrix. No…

Even as he watched she bent down, her dark red hair tickling his cheek as she kissed his brow.

And almost instantaneously, it was like the dream became a nightmare as her lips made contact. The beautiful face transformed, the silver eyes were gone, nothing but empty eye sockets remaining in their place.

"Forgive me." Her voice was no more than a strangled whisper as he looked on in horror. A hideous smirk stretched her lips as her hand came up, showing him chunks of black. "I forced too much of you that night…we're both paying the price."

The night? "Who are you."

"Auriel." The hideous apparition transformed again, her smile turning beautiful as she resumed carding his hair.

"Auriel…" His voice came out in a strangled whisper as she cradled him closer to her chest.

"And you are my beloved host." She said quietly, her eyes tearing away from his as they gazed at something off the side.

Following her gaze he was met with an unpleasant sight.

There, on the floor beside his wardrobe was a baby.

It was lying face up, its crimson eyes fixed on the ceiling, a deep gash on its side.

It was unmistakably dead. The floor was stained an ugly black.

"You don't need to be concerned with that pathetic thing." She said conversationally, never stopping her ministrations. "I got rid of it for you."

"What-"

"A piece of a soul that was clinging to yours for survival. It's gone now." She smiled down at him. "I am the only one here with you."

It was then he noticed the locket hanging off his neck.

Voldemort…the locket. The memories were coming back to him.

His eyes widened.

"Bellatrix…" He whispered. "It was you…"

She nodded at his unasked question.

"Thank you." He muttered. "Thank you…I-you don't know what she..."

"I know." She said softly, tightening her hold on him. "But it doesn't matter now. You don't have to worry about her."

He nodded slowly, not trusting himself to speak.

It was a while until the silence was broken.

"Why did you help me?"

"Because you are my host." She said simply. "I cannot let anyone else take what's rightfully mine."

"This is real then." He mumbled, glancing down at the locket.

"It belonged to me." She said with a hint of sadness before laughing bitterly. "Back when I was in his good graces."

"His…?" He asked uncertainly.

"I used to be an Aspect a long time ago." She sighed. "Not anymore…I am anything but." Her appearance rippled before it shifted again.

He didn't need it spelled out for him. He'd feared the truth behind Voldemort's words when he'd gotten his 'gift'.

While the gift aided him escape one hell…it would only pave the way towards another. And judging by what he was looking at, he was no longer unsure of whether a literal hell existed or not.

And yet…

"I don't care." He felt her shift. Her expression was unreadable due to her face lacking certain features but he knew she didn't expect that. "What do you want from me?"

"You and that locket is all that ties me to the mortal world." She said quietly. "I intend to use this opportunity to finish what I started." Her lipless mouth twisted slightly. "And I require your aid. In exchange I offer you my power and wisdom for the trials that lay ahead."

Her features shifted back, the illusion in place. While her silver eyes felt warm as they gazed at him, he was also horribly aware of the hunger behind them.

It was then he understood. Even if he was unwilling, he had no choice in the matter.

"I knew you'd understand." She cooed, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb. "I just need you to be brave for a little longer."

Ever since Fleur's encounter with Harry, Poppy had decided to keep someone posted at all times to watch over him in case he woke up and suffered another panic attack.

The week after the incident though, everyone had fallen back to their usual stupor. He'd shown no signs of waking up or any sign that the potions were having any effect on him. If anything, his condition simply worsened with the passing of time.

It was difficult to explain. It was like something was leeching off him, no matter what they did his body just kept deteriorating…almost like a corpse would if kept out in the open.

Promfey had practically given up all hope. The last few days had just consisted of her staring at his body, her notes forgotten on the table.

So…to say Fleur was shocked to see Harry sitting up on his bed today when it was her turn to watch over him was an understatement.

"Poppy?" She called uncertainly, her voice wavering slightly. She was surprised she hadn't screamed.

He flinched at her voice, but otherwise seemed unperturbed. His eyes met hers for a couple of seconds, a dead, hollow look in them before they quickly looked away.

"I need someone in here now." She called again, this time more urgently.

"No more." His voice made her freeze, his eyes finding hers again. "Please…just let me be."

That alone made her move towards him automatically, abandoning all caution. Her heart broke at the soft tone of his voice, the way he cowered at every step she took. At that moment all she wanted to do was to reassure him that he was alright, that he was in a safe place.

But to him she was more threatening than not apparently as he tried to move. She stopped almost immediately, not wanting to distress him further, retreating a few steps back as he watched her warily.

"Eet's okay." She said softly, "'You're safe now."

"Just stay away." He said weakly, pulling the bed covers up around him.

There was something wrong in the way he was looking at her, something that made her feel dirty. As if she'd done something to him.

"Fleur?" She heard Poppy's voice making her jump as the door slid open. "Harry!" The matron exclaimed in a loud voice before she could stop her startling him even more.

Unlike her the matron had no reservations about her patient. Completely ignoring his weak protests, she was already next to him, fussing over him as she ran her checkups.

"He was awake?" A different voice muttered right next to her. She found Daphne standing next to her. She nodded, unable to tear her eyes away from the pair.

While the matron was clearly doing her best to be as gentle as possible, Harry still looked extremely uncomfortable. He kept trying to avoid coming into physical contact with her, but the matron just kept disregarding it.

To Fleur, this seemed wrong. It was something she couldn't put her finger on. She couldn't tell what it was but in her gut she knew this was not helping.

"Poppy. Stop that." Daphne cried making the woman pause.

"What?"

"Stop it! Can't you see the state he's in?"

"I know!" The matron snapped before adding in a much softer voice; "I know you're afraid Harry, but you have to let me help you."

"But…" Daphne's voice fell to deaf ears, so did Harry's feeble protests.

It wasn't wrong what Poppy was doing. As his healer she had the right to do whatever she could to ensure her patient's safety…but this was just distressing.

Unable to take anymore of it Fleur moved forward, putting an arm on the matron's shoulder before pulling her away roughly causing the woman to round on her.

"Take a moment." She said coldly before the matron could open her mouth. "Just stop what you're doing and take a moment to look."

Whatever the matron was going to say seemed to die in her throat as a dry sob escaped Harry. Tears were sliding down his cheeks, his arms wrapped tightly around him.

"No…" Poppy whispered. "Harry? Dear…I'm not going to hurt you."

He simply hid his face, his shoulders shaking violently.

Poppy tried to approach him again but he just seemed to cover away from her. Fleur looked on helplessly, exchanging a look with Daphne who was standing at the back.

At that moment a loud crash made them jump as the doors behind them flew open. It was the headmaster and Snape.

"I just got your word…is he?" Dumbledore asked, pushing Fleur aside as he moved forward, Snape right behind him.

Words seemed to fail him as he saw the way the boy was covering. "Harry?" He ventured hesitantly. Unlike Poppy, Dumbledore seemed far more cautious about breaching his personal space.

"Get away!" Harry rasped, a fit of coughs escaping him.

Dumbledore seemed to hesitate for a moment before he got his wand out.

"I'm sorry."

There was a flash of blue and Harry collapsed. Poppy was there next to him in an instant while Fleur rounded on the headmaster.

"What are you zinking? 'Ow could you do zat to 'im?"

"It was the only way." He said shortly before looking at the man beside him. "Severus, he will need some of the strongest calming draughts you have."

"Let me-" Poppy started, half rising from the bed when Dumbledore held up a hand.

"No. And for the time being I want you to keep your distance."

"What are you-he's my pa-"

"I said no Poppy." He rounded on Fleur and Daphne. "You two are not to go near him either. Do you understand?"

"So I suppose you and Severus are going to be enough to treat him?" Poppy asked incredulously.

"Treat? No. We do nothing to him until he gives his permission. And…" The headmaster's voice grew heavy. "And for now, I do feel it's better if no one came into physical contact with him."

"Albus this is not the first torture victim I've treated." Poppy said in a hard voice. "I know the procedures."

"How many of those were victims of sexual abuse as well?" Snape's asked, causing a long silence to follow his words. "A male at that." He added.

It took Fleur a few moments to process what she'd just heard, and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to throw up as her eyes flitted over to Harry. Poppy had a look of pure horror on her face as did Daphne who had a hand covering her mouth.

"No…" Poppy said weakly, turning to glance down at him. "By…him? That man?"

No." Dumbledore took a deep breath. "No…" He glanced at Snape who merely shook his head before leaving. The sound of his footsteps the only thing echoing in the room. "Voldemort handed him to Bellatrix Lestrange. She…well…"

Fleur felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

She finally understood the look in Harry's eyes as he'd stared at her.

Earlier

"My little Harry is all grown up." Bellatrix rasped.

Her feet were dangling, her arms trying to claw at his as he held her effortlessly by the throat.

He could feel her windpipe. He could feel it beneath his fingers as he closed them slowly. Her pretty face was rapidly turning pale, her violet eyes wide.

Despite the maddened smirk on her face, her eyes betrayed her fear.

"You did enjoy it though…I know you did." She hissed. "You enjoyed playing with me...stop this now and maybe we can continue."

Almost as soon as she'd said it he let her go, her body crumbling to the ground as she started wheezing and coughing. Blood was trickling down her lips.

"He is not yours to play with Bella." Another voice entered the fray. He hadn't even noticed this woman standing beside him the whole time.

Bellatrix hadn't been aware of her either it seemed.

"Where did you come from?" She growled, her hand still massaging her throat.

"Me?" The other woman crooned, putting her arm around Harry's waist. "That doesn't matter…what matters is that you are no longer in the picture."

"Get away from him." Bellatrix snapped. Somehow she'd recovered her wand since a sickly green light suddenly sped towards the woman beside him.

Harry was mildly surprised to see the woman simply absorb it.

"I don't die that easily." She smiled. "But you do...don't you?"

Harry didn't know what was happening, he felt her disappear from his side and once again it felt as if he was not in control of his body as his feet moved of its own accord.

"Harry?" Bellatrix's eyes widened. Her wand was pointing straight at his chest.

"Do it." It was his voice that came out, but it still felt foreign to him.

"I-"

"Kill him" He whispered.

Whatever he expected from her, it was not this. Her wand arm slumped, her eyes were fixed on his but there was something there that shocked him to his core.

"I can't." She said quietly. Tears were streaming down her face, the madness was all but gone from her face.

"Pathetic." He sneered. "You really are pathetic Bella." His voice became mocking. "You have actually fallen for him."

"Get away from him." Bellatrix hissed. "I will kill you if you don't give him back."

"He's mine now." He said, his mouth twisting into a smile. "He's mine for all intents…you think you already claimed him? That can be taken care of."

"Bitch." Bellatrix growled. She was struggling to get up, her back against the wall. Her wand was shaking in her hand.

"Stay down Bella…this is a fight you cannot win."

His words fell onto deaf years as her wand moved. But before Bellatrix could form a spell, his hand was back on her throat, and this time he was offering her no leeway.

"Enjoy the afterlife." He grinned. "And here…I know you want to see him again."

He felt like a haze lifted off his mind, his eyes widening as he realized what he was doing. He let go of her throat making the woman gasp.

Pick up her wand A voice commanded.

Her eyes followed him, making no effort to stop him as he pried her wand from her hand.

Point it at her

Her violet eyes were soft as they gazed at him. There was a smile on her face, not a maddened sneer as he'd gotten used to, but a reassuring one.

He hated this woman…he hated her. She ruined him.

And yet, those cursed violet eyes were offering him affection.

Avada Kedavra The voice whispered almost lovingly in his ear.

"I'm sorry." Bellatrix murmured.

The voice urged him to do it, but he ignored it.

A few moments of silence passed between them before he spoke.

"I know."

The smile on her face was the last thing he saw before he was blinded by the green light.

AN: Time in between updates is long. I know. But it can't be helped. Just got too many things to do and fanfiction, while I enjoy writing, is regrettably not something I place as high a priority on anymore.

Next update will be for the witcher crossover I've been doing. And then back to this, and so on and so forth.

I've had a few concerned people asking for reassurance that I don't give up on either of my stories…all I can say to that is, as long as there's at least one person reading and I don't lose my own interest in writing, I'll try my best to keep updating.

Other than that, see you all next time. And thanks for reading.