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.
A moment of pride at seeing Harry Potter, golden boy of Gryffindor so openly mock the Headmaster of Hogwarts was quickly followed by a moment of uncontrolled rage. How dare the boy defy him. Taking his gaze of Dumbledore he looked around until he met the stunned expression of Severus Snape, the boy's mentor and guardian for the last few weeks. The Dark Lord didn't need to use Legilimency to see that Severus had nothing to do with the stunt his ward had just pulled. Nor did he need it to influence the man's actions to get Severus to search for the boy, as a simple nod delivered that message just as accurately.
Severus quickly apparated away to search for his student, leaving behind a raging battle. He was contemplating how to punish Harry as soon as he found him, because just when they had gained a sliver of respect and trust from the Dark Lord, the boy had ran off and thrown it all away. He had already searched the boy's rooms and several of the more common places like the library when he saw a magical wave distinctive for a ward, move across the grounds.
Since Severus was unaware of the exact type of ward that was erected, he took what might be his last opportunity to apparate onto the grounds and started making his way towards one of the ward stones. His hoped to find Harry at one of these places before the Dark Lord did, otherwise Harry might get more than he bargained for.
Running around the manor, Severus was getting out of breath when he reached the third ward stone and saw his student standing there, with his wand drawn, ready for battle. He slowed down his pace to his usual long strides and covered the last few meters between them. "You have certainly outdone yourself Potter! I have never seen the Dark Lord this stunned nor angry! I am beginning to think you truly have a death wish!", Severus barked, but not really raising his voice at all.
Harry didn't have any time to respond, however, as Voldemort appeared just a few meters away and mere moments later yelled his first curse. As Harry had prepared himself for a fight, he was capable of dodging the first of Voldemort's spells. Harry's shield also deflected the second and third, after which Severus intervened by stepping between the two battling wizards. "My Lord, let me explain", Severus managed to say before a flick of the Dark Lord's hand had him flying into the stone wall enclosing the grounds. When the Dark Lord took another step towards Harry, Harry met the movement with a step of his own. Both were completely ignoring Severus' attempts to move against the Dark Lord's raw magic that kept him in place.
"I shall take it from you now, Potter", Voldemort said, leaving no room for discussion, but Harry was not easily impressed. "I would rather keep onto it for a while, sir", Harry said boldly, "I find that my position at this manor is easily threatened. For insurance purposes only, I think I will keep this horcrux for now." If the Dark Lord was shocked by Harry's knowledge about the significance of the locket, he did not show it, for on his face there was only pure rage.
"What makes you think, I will allow you to keep it", the Dark Lord sneered, "I could easily take it from you, Potter. You are hardly a match for me." Severus was looking shocked while still struggling against the spell keeping him immobile. Harry who was quite aware of the power difference between then, was only hoping that Voldemort would not torture him to death.
"I realise that you posses far more power and knowledge than I do", Harry began, while trying to be aware of his surroundings and not let all his attention go towards the Dark Lord, "I think that we can work out a deal that we can both live with." Harry was aware that Voldemort had a temper. Even back when he had only been Tom Riddle, there was impatience and rage lingering beneath his skin.
However, the time for lingering rage had passed. Full blown anger showed in the fierce red eyes and there was little warning before the Dark Lord fired of his next curse. "Crucio", the man had yelled, while Harry tried to cast a shield. The Dark Lord's curse went straight through, shattering the shield in the process. Harry fell to his knees, crying out in agony and in the mean time lost grip on his wand, which fell to the ground. When trying to stop himself from screaming Harry had bit his tongue and blood now flowed freely in his mouth, leaving a bitter taste.
Seconds after the curse took effect, several things changed. The Dark Lord had joined Harry on the floor. Even though the man was capable of holding in the screams of agony, he was clearly in a lot of pain. At the same time Harry's screams were slowly dying out, even though the boy was still moaning in pain.
Severus who had been trying to reach his student despite the spell holding him back, was suddenly released of his bonds and ran towards Harry. Severus quickly healed the wound inside the boy's mouth, but was not capable of giving him other relief right now. In the mean time Lucius Malfoy had appeared and ran directly towards his Lord's side. The Dark Lord had apparently been released of the curse as well. When Lucius tried to support his Lord in standing up, his efforts were ignored and he was forcefully pushed away. Without another look at Harry or Severus, the Dark Lord turned around and walked towards the manor, with Lucius following not far behind.
"It's the oath", Harry said shakily ,"That's what I was hoping for. Even though I haven't given him his horcrux back, I haven't gone against him through Dumbledore either. I haven't violated our oath. By casting the Cruciatus curse the Dark Lord was the only one who violated it and therefore was punished accordingly." Harry smiled weakly at his teacher, while his hand went to grab onto the locket hanging around his neck. "Sleep now, Harry", Severus said, as he pointed his wand to the boy's temple, casting a silent sleeping spell. Casting a slight lightening charm on Harry he picked him up and carried him back to his quarters.
Severus was looking at his sleeping student from his place in the armchair. He had dosed the boy with an anti-cruciatus potion and sleeping draught. Harry had been asleep for a good fourteen hours already, during which Severus had kept watch over him. The house elves had brought him some food every once in a while. They also tried to sway him to join the meals with the other residents, or 'Masters' as the elves referred to them.
During the last few weeks Harry and Severus had grown closer. Even Severus had to admit that the boy had grown on him. Sure, the boy had proven himself in his studies, not only those taught in Hogwarts curriculum either. Besides that Harry had also proven himself to be capable of understanding and taking adult decisions. He was quite proud of development Harry had gone through during the summer.
Severus had not only considered the past: his love for Lily, his responsibility towards Harry and their betrayal to Dumbledore. No. Severus was also considering their future; Harry and Severus' entwined future. He knew the Dark Lord was still sore on the happenings with the locket. Luckily Severus also knew that both Harry's and his own vow with the Dark Lord prevented them from being attacked directly.
From his armchair he could only see his students face, his unruly mop of hair and one arm laying above the covers. All features resembled his school time enemy James Potter. The features Harry had inherited from Lily were left unseen, hidden by eyelids and sleep.
Once he had judged Harry Potter to be arrogant and attention seeking, now he saw him as foolishly brave and somewhat brash. But he also saw Lily's kindness and stubbornness. Her aptitude to see opportunity Harry had combined with the battle techniques recently learned from Severus. He was proud of how much progress his student had made.
Severus' arm burned heavily for a few seconds. He was called. Severus stood up quickly laying down the book he had tried to read. With long strides he walked out of the room. Just before he closed the door he took one last glance at Harry, who was peacefully sleeping.
Lucius had followed the Dark Lord inside even though his concerns for the man were blatantly ignored. His Master had even refused to take the pain-relieving potion he had offered. It look longer than usual to reach the Dark Lord's chambers, which gave Lucius some time to think on the situation. So by the time they had arrived, Lucius wanted to make one thing clear. Even if it meant he would be cursed as badly, or even worse than Harry Potter was.
"My Lord", Lucius began, gaining his Lord's attention just before he reached for the door to his quarters. "I do not think today was a failure. Or at least not all of it." Lucius was aware of the tension that hung in the air. The Dark Lord turned around and if he could, he would have raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me, Lucius, before I lose my patience. Why do you think so?" There was quite a bit of annoyance that could be heard in that statement and Lucius was doubting whether he should have raised the issue at all. "Even though, Potter still has your locket. You could have lost both you locket and the boy today", Lucius started. Maybe it had been a bad idea to emphasize the failure. "But. Today had proven that the distrust the Boy has for Dumbledore is greater than his distrust for you, milord. That in itself is a small victory."
It had the Dark Lord thinking for a moment. "Leave me", he said stoically and Lucius left him immediately. Lucius, however annoying he had been, had been right. Thus a small smile graced the Dark Lord's face as he turned back to the door. Yes, this had been a step forward indeed.