Albus Dumbledore paced back and forth in front of the wide window in his office.
The quiet, after the hours of turmoil, felt oppressive.
Ronald Weasley was dead.
How could things have slipped so quickly?
He had been sure that he could contain any damages caused by his trap for Voldemort. He had been sure that the benefits outweighed the risk.
After talking to Arthur and Molly, he was less sure.
Perhaps it was time to call off the plan?
But the bait was already laid. Quirrell was already trying to steal the stone, but Albus couldn't be sure if it was for Voldemort or just for Quirinius' own benefit.
If he couldn't confirm Tom's survival, the loss would be for nothing.
Perhaps it was time to move up his timetable slightly. He had hoped to use the Mirror to get an idea of Mr Potter's mental state, but based on Severus' reports, the boy was doing well and was a very responsible young man. Albus decided that it would be more beneficial to remove the risk that Quirinius could steal the stone for himself.
He would continue as planned, with a heavy heart.
…
"Daphne! Come on, I know you're hiding something; you've been acting off for weeks."
Daphne looked up at her best friend as she plopped down on the four-poster bed next to her.
She wasn't sure what to do about Tracy. She wanted to tell her but didn't know what her Lord would think.
She didn't think that Tracy had the… temperament… for her Lord's chains.
She closed her book and stared into her friend's worried face, considering.
"Tracy… you remember our talk with Pansy, right?"
Tracy nodded, her eyes narrowing.
"I… I went to Him. I told him… about mum and dad, about their… expectations, all of it. And he promised to help."
Tracy looked like she couldn't decide whether to be worried or suspicious. "How can Potter help, Daph? I mean, I guess he has some influence because of the whole boy-who-lived thing, and he's the heir to the Potter fortune and Wizengamot seats…"
Tracy's eyes widened.
"Did he agree to… to…"
Daphne snorted. She couldn't help it. "No, Tracy. He didn't agree to marry me or something equally ridiculous."
"Then what did he do?"
He offered to help me gain power and freedom through murder and dark magic, with the implication that he would either slaughter anyone who hurt me or stand by and clap while I kill them myself.
Oh, and then I drank his blood as part of a fell ritual in the Chamber of Secrets that involved sacrificial murder and the consumption of a piece of someone's soul, which has given me eyes and the ability to call my Lord's power to my soul at any time.
She didn't think that she should say any of that to Tracy.
"He's powerful, Tracy. In so many different ways. I can't… I can't give away his secrets, but if you want anything, anything at all… you can always talk to him."
Tracy pursed her lips and looked unsure. "Even if I wanted that, why would he help me?"
"I don't know for sure that he would, but…" Daphne didn't know how much to say. Or how to say it. "He likes making… deals? I guess? If he thinks you could be useful to him, then he's willing to bargain."
And he liked collecting souls. Although his methods were a bit… random.
Daphne didn't think that Harry really planned anything. He just… smiled and danced through the dark, doing whatever he wanted when the urge struck him.
She loved it.
"Did he make a deal with you, Daphne?"
Tracy looked worried again.
"Oh yes. But I couldn't be happier."
She couldn't resist. Her Lord's love of chaos was rubbing off on her.
The eyes in the walls opened and Tracy recoiled in fear and awe.
"I'm finally free, Tracy. Free in my chains."
…
Quirrell Quirrell Quirrell.
Squirrel.
Harry giggled.
What to do about the squirrel?
The squirrel that wanted the stone.
What a waste. For something so small to find something with so much weight.
But why?
Why did the squirrel man want the stone?
Aside from the obvious. Vice. Gold and Life.
Harry liked Music and Death so much more. Living forever would be BORING.
What was the point, if he could never add his own beautiful melody to the symphony?
But not just yet. He hadn't reached the bottom of the rabbit hole yet. He hadn't even found his Alice.
He saw a brief flash of infinite silver-gray-blue eyes in the darkness.
Where did that thought come from?
Interesting.
Back to the Squirrel.
Harry decided to let the Squirrel skitter around and look for his nuts, for now. It might help him find some interesting nuggets for himself.
Better to let the Squirrel do the hard work.
He was already getting bored bored without any music to listen to. Hmmmmmm.
He couldn't use the dog again so soon. It would be suspicious, and the old man might get suspicious. He didn't want to ruin the game so soon.
How to leave the school without drawing the Dumble Bumble man's eyes?
Harry giggled again.
Maybe he should ask Severus.
His pet needed a reminder to smile more often anyway.
…
Harry woke up in the empty dorm room.
CHRISTMAS!
Harry loved Christmas.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Joy joy joy to the world. So much lovely music to make.
Oh. My. God.
He had presents.
People actually got him PRESENTS?
No one ever got him presents.
Empty empty empty.
He still smiled, though.
Daphne got him a knife. It was a very pretty knife. He preferred to use his power to make his melodies, but sometimes it was fun to get his hands dirty dirty.
Draco got him some very interesting books on dark magic that he must have convinced Lucius to send over. Harry doubted that lovely Lucius would be happy if he knew where the books ended up.
Harry wondered if Lucius would be a good pet. Or if he would have to be part of the symphony.
He'd had to ask Draco when he got back.
Hermione had gotten him a new suit. It was a dark, bloody red.
She was so thoughtful. He would have to find something nice to do for her, since she hadn't really liked his last present.
And last but not least…
Oooh. What's this?
Albus was playing games. Or was he?
How did he know that was the Bumblemans handwriting?
Eyes eyes eyes.
Harry cackled madly into the empty room as he disappeared.
This was going to be so. much. fun.
…
Harry skipped down the tunnel underneath the murder tree. Definitely his favorite tree, out of all the trees that he had met. His new cloak flapped around him and parts of him disappeared into the night.
Severus was so thoughtful, to know about this little escape hatch.
Harry stood in the shack shack shack.
What to do now?
Did he know how to apparate?
What even was an apparate?
But yes. Yes, he did.
Neat.
He was just deciding when and where deserved some new music when he felt a strange tug on his soul.
His emerald chains?
Who was pulling on his chains?
Daphne?
Well. Wasn't that fun.
…
"You're telling me that you've spent three months at school and have made zero progress?"
Daphne did her best to keep her cool facade in place as she sat in front of her father's wide wooden desk.
"Of course not, father. I have befriended both Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, potential heirs with significant resources and-"
"Potter? You've been galivanting around with a half-blood instead of locating suitable company?"
"The Potter heir is-"
"I will hear no more of this. You are clearly useless. I should just ship you off and start working on Astoria-"
"DON'T talk about her."
Daphne knew it was a mistake as soon as she raised her voice.
She stumbled backwards as her chair tumbled over, her father's wand in his hand and pointed at her where she bled on the floor.
"You dare, Daphne? A few short months away is enough for you to forget your place? You DARE raise your voice against me? Your head of House, your father?"
He slashed his wand and another gash opened in her other cheek.
Daphne almost broke under his tirade and his magic. She always had before. She stared up through tears at the towering form of her father's rage.
But she wasn't alone. Not anymore.
She desperately wanted to do this for herself, but she… just… couldn't. Not after so many years, after so much pain.
But she knew someone who could. Someone who would. For her.
She hoped he would come. Needed him to come.
Please, My Lord. Fight, for me. Make beautiful Music, for ME!
The eyes opened in the walls, and she smiled.
…
Harry had never done this before, but it couldn't be all that hard.
He followed the emerald chain through the dark, with only his eyes for guides.
He was in a lavish study.
There was a man, a Thing, with his wand raised.
Daphne drip drip dripped her beautiful blood onto the plush carpet.
He was the only one who was allowed to hurt Daphne Greengrass.
He silenced the theater in preparation of the performance. No need for interruptions.
He reached out of the dark and plucked the wand from the man's hand with a casual motion, while his teeth opened-closed around the man's feet, shearing through his shin bones with the lovely percussion of snaps and cracks.
The Thing that dared to hurt his favorite toy screamed in a wonderfully high aria to accompany the percussion. He toppled to the floor, a puppet without his stilts.
Harry stepped out of the dark and offered a hand to his pet.
"You seem quite distraught, Daphne. Is everything alright?"
She smiled up at him as she took his hand. She was beautiful, accompanied by the wonderful melody behind them.
"It is now, my Lord."
She turned to the Thing as it gasped for breath, trying to crawl on its stumps.
"Daphne… what…"
She stalked towards the growing pool of blood. Drip drip drip.
They were never never going to get the carpet clean again. Harry giggled.
"You… will never… hurt me… or Astoria… ever again!"
Her own eyes opened as she drove emerald chains of power through her father's hands and dragged him upright, his screams an excellent harmony to her admonishments.
Harry stepped forward. "Would you like to do the honors, my dear?"
Harry held out the knife that she had gotten him for Christmas.
She looked unsure for a second, her pretty face conflicted.
Then he saw the fire alight behind her eyes and he smiled.
"I think that he has too many eyes, don't you? Maybe his eyes should be… empty."
Daphne's smile widened to match his. She took the knife.
The Thing was begging now. Always such a nice change of pace. The shrill, incomprehensible music was exquisite, but lower interludes were important. For contrast.
"Please… please, you can't…Daphne…"
Daphne's smile didn't waver as she slowly and gently slipped the knife into her father's right eye.
The melody became high and graceful once again.
"Perfection. Now, the other one." Harry giggled.
The sound of the blade sliding and slicing was a wonderful harmony to the wailing.
Now her father could see. See from his empty eyes.
See what he had done to her. That he deserved this.
Wasn't it beautiful?
He grabbed the Thing's head and pulled it back, exposing its throat and the lovely pulse pulse underneath.
"Daddy here should really smile more, shouldn't he, Daph? Let's give him a nice big smile, from ear to ear to ear ear ear."
Daphne's face was cold. The fire had died after she carved out her father's eyes.
Her expression was blank as she calmly slid the knife across her father's neck in a perfect curve, his lifeblood splattering her fancy dress as he died.
Slip slip slip, into the Dark.
She stared down at the blood on her hands.
Her father's body slumped to the floor as the emerald chains vanished.
"Very well done, pet."
She let out a choked sob and threw her arms around him.
He held her while her tears and the Thing's blood dripped.
Drip.
Drip.
…