The students mill out of the room as the last class for the day is dismissed. Harry cleans the blackboard and organises the papers into the correct shelves. When he turns around he sees Slughorn and Voldemort at the door to the classroom. Slughorn is gesturing towards Harry.
"I don't need to ask for permission," Voldemort snarls and leaves.
"But I do," Slughorn replies with a sigh although the words are lost on Voldemort who has already disappeared.
Harry raises an eyebrow. Okay? He wonders what that was about just as Slughorn comes up to him.
"What was that all about?" He asks.
Slughorn gives him a sad smile. "Frustration I would imagine. Harry, I was wondering if I could borrow Tom for a couple of hours. I am working on a potion project that I could use his help with."
For a couple of seconds Harry can't really figure out why Slughorn is asking for his permission. Then it hits him. Of course. Voldemort doesn't have a say in how he spends his time anymore. That decision now lies with Harry. Once again it hits Harry just how fucked up the situation is.
"If he wants to help you then I have no problem with it but you have to ask if he wants to." Harry is not going to force Voldemort to help Slughorn if he doesn't want to.
Slughorn nods. "Yes, yes, of course. I have already asked him and he has agreed. Do you want me to send you a message once we are done so you can come and collect him?"
Harry blinks. At least Voldemort isn't there to overhear the conversation. He would have been furious to hear Slughorn talk about him like some pet that can't be trusted out on his own.
"No, that's not necessary. He can find his way back on his own."
Slughorn nods in what Harry thinks is understanding. "Yes, I agree."
Harry has no idea what the man is agreeing to.
"He will be perfectly safe from the students now that the bond is common knowledge, you are right about that. None of the students will risk angering you by harming someone that belongs to you."
Right. That hadn't crossed Harry's mind but he smiles and pretends that it was the sole reason behind his decision.
The truth is that he thinks Voldemort might have thrown caution to the wind and tried to strangle Harry if he had shown up at Slughorn's door to collect him.
Slughorn turns to leave but a thought suddenly occurs to Harry. "Professor."
"Yes, my boy?"
Harry hesitates. "After he leaves, could you send me a patronus to let me know? Just so I know when to expect him back."
Slughorn smiles. "Of course, Harry."
######
Harry twirls the content of his whiskey glass around as he stares blindly into the fire. The wireless is playing some music or another in the background but the sound is set so low that Harry can't really hear what they are singing.
A pop signals the arrival of Tinsy who bows so that her long ears are flat against the floor. "Good evening, master Harry. Will master Harry be wanting supper?"
He glances at the clock on his wrist. Nearly eight. Voldemort isn't back yet. If this evening is to be anything like yesterday then Voldemort will go straight to his room when he comes back. Harry is starting to wonder if the man is avoiding him.
"Yes, please, Tinsy. Enough for two please."
At least he can put the food under a stasis charm and Voldemort can decide whether he wants to eat it or not.
He eats without tasting what he is eating. Then he ends up back at the couch. After a little while he goes into his room and gets the book Snape has given him. It's big and heavy. Harry stares at it for a moment before opening it at a random page.
"The owner's liability for the slave's actions."
Harry blinks. He tries again, opening the book at another random place.
"The expectations of a slave's behaviour while in the presence of free wizards and witches."
He throws the book on the table just as the door opens and Voldemort enters.
Slughorn must have forgotten to alert Harry when Voldemort left.
Voldemort stops just inside the door. Then he removes his cloak and hangs it on the hook by the door. As he turns his eyes catches the book Harry has just thrown on the table. Something flashes over his face before he heads towards his bedroom.
"There is supper for you if you are hungry," Harry says just as the door closes behind Voldemort. He sighs and downs his glass. Apparently not.
He reaches out to the bond to try and figure out what has put Voldemort in such a mood but the bond is more or less blank. Like Voldemort is blocking it on purpose.
######
By Thursday afternoon Harry gives up. Voldemort apparently does not want to talk to him at all or be around him.
"I am helping Horace with his project this afternoon," Voldemort says as they are tidying the classroom after the last class. He looks at Harry as he speaks and Harry gets the impression he is daring Harry to say something.
"Okay. Thanks for letting me know," Harry says with a shrug and picks up his cloak from the desk he has thrown it over. "I am spending the afternoon playing Quidditch with the students." He glances over his shoulder and sees Voldemort roll his eyes. "Useless activity," the man mutters under his breath. Harry hides a smile.
######
He eats supper in the Great Hall for the first time since they arrived at Hogwarts. It is nice to be around people and get the opportunity to catch up with everyone.
Slughorn arrives towards the end of the meal and takes his place beside Harry. "Harry, my boy. How nice to see you out and about for once."
Harry smiles as he chews the piece of sausage he just put in his mouth. "Nice to see you too, Professor."
"Horace. You are not my student anymore, Harry," Slughorn scolds him as he picks from the different dishes on the table. "How was Quidditch practice?"
How? His confusion must be visible because Slughorn continues. "Tom told me while muttering something about wasting time on childish games."
A smile tugs at his lips. "I can imagine. How is your project going?"
That prompts Slughorn into a long, complicated speech about a spectacular new potion that will change lives. Harry pretends to understand and tries to nod in all the right places.
"I have to admit I am glad Tom can help me out a bit. That brilliant mind of his, what a waste." Slughorn looks almost depressed for a moment. Then he seems to remember that Voldemort is now teaching at Hogwarts. "Brilliant idea, Harry, to offer him the chance to teach even if it comes with the cost of his freedom. Albus should have given him the teaching position the first time the boy asked for it. Then we might have avoided two wars."
Harry doubts that. Voldemort would never have been content to simply teach. The only reason he has agreed this time around is to avoid dying. Still, Harry smiles and nods and lets Slughorn speak.
Briefly he wonders if Voldemort is eating. He hopes so.
Before Slughorn can continue McGonagall places a hand on Harry's arm.
"Horace, you have had him to yourself the whole evening, let the rest of us get a word in as well."
Slughorn looks like he wants to protest but then he sighs and relents.
His old professor pulls him towards the almost empty Hufflepuff table. "How are you, Harry?" She asks, voice full of concern. She takes his hand in hers and looks at him intently. "How are things with him? Snape told us that you finally figured out the truth. I am sorry I couldn't tell you anything but we were all sworn to secrecy."
"He forced Voldemort to tell me."
She flinches slightly at the name. "Why didn't you research it before agreeing?"
This again. "Honestly, professor, I was so relieved that I didn't have to become a murderer that I don't think I cared what it was. I had hardly slept for two months and when Voldemort suggested it and the Wizengamot voted it through I just wanted to jump up and down in joy. I also trusted Kingsley not to get me into a situation that could hurt me."
"And now, how do you feel knowing the truth?" She asked. Still looking at him with those concerned eyes.
How did he feel?
"I don't know," he answers honestly. "I don't think the reality of it has hit me yet."
She nods. "It is a big responsibility to be in charge of another human being. Perhaps too big for a boy your age."
Perhaps. "Well, not much to do about it now." And it's not like he is in charge of Voldemort either. The man does as he pleases. Like Snape said, the bond is a fail safe in case something goes wrong.
"How is Riddle taking the whole thing? Can't imagine he was happy about you finding out about the bond and how much power you do have over him?"
He shrugs. "I have hardly seen him for the last week. He keeps to himself in his room. The only times I do see him is during the classes."
She nods. "Is that unusual?"
"I don't know what is usual with him. He used to spend time in the living room with a book. He often cooks although he hasn't during the last week." Harry waves a hand in the air.
"Do you feel safe sharing an apartment with him - if not I am sure we can have Snape make other arrangements?"
"No. I don't feel unsafe around him. He can't hurt me. If he could then he would have done so a long time ago. And since I now know about the bond and the claim it would not do him any favours if he was to anger me."
"You know you can come to me, to us, if he does something untoward." It isn't a question, just a statement.
######
The apartment feels empty. Harry reaches out towards the bond and this time he pushes a little. Instantly he can feel that Voldemort is close. He can also feel some muddled mix of feelings he can't quite decrypt. He frowns. Without thinking he steps towards the door to Voldemort's room.
He stops as he lifts his hand to knock and steps back. Perhaps it would be wise to simply give Voldemort space.
Being here with Harry when Harry didn't know about the bond is one thing, but being around the man who quite literally holds your life in his hands and can do whatever he wants with it is something else.
He assumes there is an aspect of humiliation in the mix as well. Considering how proud Voldemort is it can't be easy for him to acknowledge that he now has to answer to someone else. Someone he can't disobey.
Fear can make people do the strangest things Harry thinks. He settles on the couch and stares at the book on magical conquest before picking it up. He has read a couple of chapters. The first half of the book seems to be the history behind the bond but it also touches upon the ritual itself. Apparently there is a lighter version of it that doesn't bind the slave so close to the master that he or she has access to the slave's mind the way Harry now does. The book cautioned to choose the lighter version of the ritual only in cases where the master is sure that it will be enough to subdue his or her nemesis.
The book talks about the ritual as being the ultimate punishment and encourages the master to be heavy handed and not tolerate any missteps on the slave's part.
Harry wonders once more what Voldemort had been thinking.
He remembers the bruises and damages on Voldemort's body from Azkaban. How he had not been able to get off the floor. How could Voldemort be so sure that Harry wouldn't abuse him? Perhaps not at the moment, but down the line as Harry grows older. From the book it's clear that the bond is for life. Unbreakable.
Voldemort has no choice but to follow if Harry decides that teaching isn't what he wants to do.
He sighs. What a mess. It doesn't help that Voldemort is avoiding him for whatever reason the man has.
######
Scrambled eggs and bacon are waiting for him on the table the next morning. Harry sighs but eats the food. Just before he can finish the door opens and Voldemort appears.
"Finished?" he asks without looking at Harry.
"Almost."
"We are going to be late."
His cloak is being held out and while Harry puts it around his shoulders Voldemort puts the plate and coffee mug in the sink before turning back.
"Voldemort-," Harry begins.
Voldemort brushes him off however and opens the door. "We are going to be late," he repeats and gestures for Harry to exit.
"Horace has agreed to help me put the duelling club back together," Voldemort says as Harry struggles to keep up with his long steps. "It would be useful if you would allow me to access my magic to teach the brats, but since that is not going to happen then you will have to step in to teach along with Horace. It will only be for the students in fourth year and up." The tone is clip and neutral.
Once more Harry gets the impression that Voldemort is testing the waters. Waiting for something.
"Okay," Harry says.
"I want access to the grounds."
Harry blinks in confusion. "The grounds?" He asks as he tries to follow the change in the conversation.
Voldemort stops and turns so fast that Harry almost stumbles into him. "Yes. I am not some pet you can keep and take out for a walk whenever it suits you. I want to be able to leave the castle when it suits me. I will not leave Hogwarts' property of course."
It hits Harry then and there. Voldemort has not been outside for as long as they have been at Hogwarts. The order that he can only leave the castle with Harry's permission is still active and Harry hasn't offered him the chance either. He suddenly feels bad. Then he tries to think, to remember that this is Voldemort. The man always has an agenda. If he asks for this now, then there must be something else behind the request.
He doesn't see the harm of allowing Voldemort access to the grounds but he is getting the feeling he is going to lose control somehow if he agrees right there and then.
For all he hates the situation he suddenly realises that with Voldemort this will always be a power struggle unless he draws a line in the sand. It hits like a sledgehammer. If he doesn't then he will lose control somewhere down the line.
He steps back and crosses his arms over his chest. "You have barely spoken a word to me during the last week and now you want to talk - or more to the point - demand?"
Voldemort glares.
Harry pushes against the bond and annoyance travels back. Good. It confirms his fear that Voldemort is trying something.
"We can talk about it over supper," Harry says without taking his eyes off Voldemort, his tone final.
Voldemort opens his mouth, but Harry cuts him off.
"No. You don't get to ignore and avoid me for a week and then demand things of me while we are in the middle of a corridor." His voice comes out with an authority that surprises Harry.
Voldemort closes his mouth. He looks completely pissed.
"Come, we are going to be late," Harry says, his tone final as he starts down the corridor.