Disclaimer: The characters and settings, including any sentences taken directly or partly from the books or movies, of Harry Potter are the property of J. K. Rowling, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, AOL Time Link and Warner Brothers. I do not make money from publishing my story.
The Dark Lord, stepped further into the room and closed the door behind him. The tall man took several long strides towards his familiar lying in front of the fireplace and smiled softly at her, something that looked quite alien for Harry. "Master, make fire for me", she said. A wave of the man's hand had flames roaring in the fireplace, after which the Dark Lord returned his attention to the boy standing behind the desk.
"I know how you entered my quarters, as the wards showed me you entered together with Nagini", Voldemort said approaching the shocked young man. "However, that leaves the question of how you escaped from your own quarters in the first place." Harry was not planning on telling the Dark Lord anything, the man couldn't think of himself, especially about his skills in wandless magic yet. Not only because he could use them to his advantage, but also because his skills were still almost non-existent. Yes, he had been capable of dispelling the ward around his quarters, but that had more to do with his knowledge on wards, than with his skills of wandless magic.
Therefore Harry kept quiet as he let Voldemort muse about the possibilities. "Nagini was also encouraging you to light the fire, but I know for a fact that you don't have your wand-", while apparently gathering his thoughts out loud, the Dark Lord walked further towards Harry while he was talking and eventually sat down on top of the desk. Harry in the mean time has slowly created some distance between him and said desk, but not enough to feel comfortable yet. "- as I have your wand right here." The Dark Lord said while opening a drawer that had been previously locked and taking our Harry's wand.
"It means, Mr. Potter, that those books have taught you something after all", the man before Harry was clearly in control and liked every second of it. He was now fiddling Harry's wand between his fingers absently. "You do not trust me", Voldemort continued, stating the obvious as he did, "that is very wise. As I do not trust you either. However, I also think we have something in common-" Harry softly snorted at that comment, gaining Voldemort's attention. The man's eyes narrowed even further if that was possible, making it clear to Harry that he didn't like to be interrupted.
"- as neither of us trusts Dumbledore either. Someday soon, Dumbledore and his Order will try to take you from this house. Severus has convinced me that you are not likely to go willingly. Therefore I propose an agreement", the Dark Lord paused momentarily to gauge Potter's reaction and then continued. "I suggest that we make a magically binding oath that states that: as long as you are a guest in this house, I will not harm you and you will not stand against me, that includes going with Dumbledore or his Order willingly . Of course this also includes that you will refrain from hindering me or my Death Eaters in the upcoming battles."
Harry had noticed that were quite a lot of loopholes in that vow and knew he had to negotiate on the terms of their agreement. However, he had been quite relieved as this meant that the Dark Lord was ok with him remaining neutral, at least for a while. "I want this oath to last as long as I am a resident here, not a guest", Harry stated boldly, which caused a smile to appear on the Dark Lord's face, while he nodded affirmatively.
"I want it so that neither you or your Death Eaters can harm me either", Harry demanded next, but this time the Dark Lord was not easily convinced. "I can hardly be held responsible for what my Death Eaters are up to, when I am not around. Certainly the Great Harry Potter is capable of defending himself against a couple of servants", Voldemort said smiling sinisterly.
"Then I want it so that you cannot harm me indirectly by using them", Harry said ,"I will only swear to it that I will not harm you. If I get involved in the fight, then that is on me! I will promise not to aid Dumbledore or his Order in their quest to bring you down!" Harry didn't know what the Dark Lord had planned for him, but looking at the sinister smile that was still gracing the man's face, Harry knew that it could be nothing good. "I also want my wand back, before I swear to anything."
"It seems you have indeed learnt something from dear Severus", Voldemort said as he took a moment to think on the phrasing of the vow. He gathered his own wand and took a piece of parchment that laid on the desk and ran the wand over it. Words began appearing on the piece and when it was done he duplicated it. He passed the second piece to Harry, who carefully took it.
"I, Tom Marvolo Riddle alias Lord Voldemort, swear on my magic that as long as Harry James Potter is a resident of Malfoy Manor he will not be harmed by me or directly or indirectly via those known as Death Eaters. I will not take Harry Potter's wand without his permission as long as our oath stands."
Harry was listening very carefully to the words that Voldemort had spoken, he was almost sure that there weren't any loophole that could come bite him in the ass later. "You will have to accept the vow, otherwise it is not binding", Voldemort said, when Harry remained quiet. "I accept this oath", Harry said quickly before starting his part of the vow that was written down on the slip of parchment.
"I, Harry James Potter, swear on my magic that as long as I am a resident at Malfoy Manor, I will not harm Tom Marvolo Riddle also known as Lord Voldemort. I will not aid Dumbledore or members of the Order of the Phoenix in their quest to bring down Tom Marvolo Riddle."
"I accept this oath, thus on our magic so mote it be", Voldemort accepted the vow and thus cemented it with their magic. A small tingling feeling went through Harry, as if a glamour had been cast on him, but it was quick to disappear. "Now then, I think this is yours", Voldemort said as he stood up from the desk and took a few steps towards Harry before handing the boy his wand.
"Thank you", Harry said softly, trying to sound respectful and not frightened. "Severus is looking for you", Voldemort said, while he walked towards the lit furnace, "I suggest you find him and ease his concern. You might also want to tell him that you had we have come to an agreement." For Harry it was a clear dismissal and he didn't need to be told twice. Harry practically ran out of the room and back to his own quarters.
"He is interesting Master", Nagini said gaining her Master's attention. "Yes, he is", Voldemort said as he sat down in one of the armchairs in front of the fire. Nagini slithered onto his lap after which he began to stroke her scales. Voldemort had always found it a pleasant feeling and the way that Nagini curled on his lap, it would seem that she too enjoyed it. "Why did you bring him into my quarters Nagini?", the man asked. "He is like me, Master, but he is also like you", she said cryptically. Her demeanor changed, signaling that she would explain no more. The Dark Lord understood why Nagini and Harry were alike. When Nagini had asked him why the boy was still alive, he had answered that Harry had a piece of his soul in him, like she did. However, he hoped that the resemblance between Harry and him which Nagini had hinted at, was also only based on the horcrux.
"Make him keep me company more often, Master", she ordered, causing a smile to appear on Voldemort's face again, but a true smile this time. "I shall bring it up with him, he might like some company." For now, though, he would let Severus punish the boy.