Strange Addiction, Billie Eilish
Don't ask questions you don't wanna know
Learned my lesson way too long ago
To be talkin' to you, belladonna
Shoulda taken a break, not an oxford comma
Take what I want when I wanna
And I want ya
Bad, bad news
One of us is gonna lose
I'm the powder, you're the fuse
Just add some friction
You are my strange addiction
You are my strange addiction
My doctors can't explain
My symptoms or my pain
But you are my strange addiction
Deadly fever, please don't ever break
Be my reliever 'cause I don't self medicate
And it burns like a gin and I like it
Put your lips on my skin and you might ignite it
Hurts, but I know how to hide it, kinda like it
"What's going on?" Reed asked.
Harry let Tom handle it. "I need you to swear an Unbreakable Vow."
He watched her process what he'd said. She was frowning, and after a moment, she said, "You're scared of me."
Tom was silent.
"It's fine. I get it. I was expecting something like this. Not from you, though." Her face said it wasn't fine.
"From who?" Harry asked. He was still breathless from running up the stairs, and he could feel Voldemort on the other side of the doors.
"The Dark Lord?" She said it like it was obvious.
They hadn't sat down, and Cassiopeia watched them, grinning.
"What do you want me to swear?"
"That is for the vow. It will not be difficult to keep."
She didn't look like she trusted him, and the feeling was mutual, but she took his outstretched arm anyway.
"Middle names?" Tom asked.
"No. Just Reed Harlow."
He nodded at Cassiopeia, and she drew her wand.
"Do you, Reed Harlow, swear to keep anything you discover about Harry James Potter to yourself?"
"I swear?"
"Do you, Reed Harlow, swear that you will bring anything you find to us immediately?"
"…I swear."
The gold thread tightened around their arms until it vanished. She shook her gloved hand and seemed to be waiting for something more.
"If you do discover what is happening here, you will find you have bitten more than you can chew," Tom said. "Do not go looking."
'Why didn't you just make her swear not to use her powers on anyone who knows?' Harry wondered.
'That is more complex. I did not want to cripple her powers. That would not protect us if anyone else learns anything.' He all but shooed Reed out, and she scowled at him as she went. Tom lingered in the doorway to smirk at the apparently empty air before he closed the room again.
"Go on, then, you have to tell me now," Cassiopeia said. "Why is he still out there? Why is he behaving like you're the only thing he eats?"
"Um, Tom did something. Thinks that he might be… More interested than we thought."
"Uh huh. More interested, you think? Slightly more, maybe?" She started laughing halfway through her sentence. "Whatever you did, you're screwed."
The Dark Mark burned, and Cassiopeia looked both horrified and fascinated when he clapped his hand to it. Voldemort was still in the corridor, so Harry opened the door with wide eyes, felt him enter the room, and was suddenly side-along Disapparated.
He tripped over his feet when they landed outside Malfoy Manor, scrambling upright as the Dark Lord removed the invisibility cloak, pointedly tucking it under his arm. He was masked and hooded already.
"That's mine, you know." Harry was pushed over.
"Dickhead," he muttered at Voldemort's retreating back as he stalked up the white gravel path.
Harry got back to his feet and followed, glaring all the while.
Narcissa and Lucius greeted them at the door, and she walked with them to the dining room, opening the doors. She didn't join them though, closing them in.
Nagini was already on the table, and the sight of her relaxed Harry instantly, letting out a breath he'd held all the way down the dark hallway.
"Harry!" She was drawing, snapping her notebook closed when she saw them. He watched the Dark Lord's fists clench when she spoke, and Tom smirked.
"Sit down," Voldemort demanded. Tom allowed him to do it casually, moving slowly enough to irritate him but not technically disobeying.
"Sitting down because I want to," Harry said.
The Dark Lord exhaled audibly and took the head seat, the cloak on his lap.
He couldn't help but stare at his hands, not gloved, wondering if he should put his own on the table. He did, just in case. He tried to resist thoughts of that afternoon; the knowledge that Voldemort had watched Tom expertly undo him in what must have been under a minute was making his eyes periodically bulge, the air in the room heavy with it.
'He is thinking about it too,' Tom thought, making direct eye contact with him and smirking when he started glaring.
He took his wand from his inner robe pocket and pulled his sleeve up, pressing it to the Dark Mark. Then he grabbed Harry's jaw, quick as a viper, and yanked him close. "Say it."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Harry said. He could only see his eyes, narrowed and searching his face, just short of another Legilimency invasion.
"Tom," Nagini said, and he let go, shoving him back.
"You will," Voldemort said as the doors opened.
Corban Yaxley was the first to sit down, bowing low when he entered. He was followed by Snape, which made Harry recoil in his seat. He tried to hide it, but he saw the Dark Lord notice.
"What, say it, or know what you're talking about?" Harry asked in Parseltongue.
"Don't fucking start." His eyes were briefly wild, bulging when he swore.
'Touchy,' Tom thought. 'Careful.'
Harry plastered a blank smile on his face and said nothing.
Snape and Yaxley were followed by Talpin Harlow, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, and Percy Weasley.
"What the fuck? I mean, uh." He switched back to the serpent language, "Is that a good idea? He's not in the Order, but meetings? Okay, I'm not talking." If looks could kill he'd be long dead, but particularly deceased right then.
"Yaxley."
He jumped when the Dark Lord snapped his name, then cleared his throat. "All going fine on the execution bill front."
"Good. Beauxbatons, Ilvermorny, and Almadrasat Alsihria accepted our invitations, and I expect no resistance from the rest. Snape, preparations for the castle and the grounds will begin in November. You will oversee it. Fine spellcraft. Do not employ anyone who assisted Rookwood with the last Vivariums."
The doors blasted inward, and Cassiopeia strolled in. "I've invited myself. Hello. Aw, stupid hat boy. Pervy?"
Percy didn't answer her, wide eyes on the table as the vampire sat down beside Harry.
"Just making sure it wasn't kidnapping and murder," she said. "Also, curious about that new execution law? Did we talk about that?"
"…Yes." The Dark Lord's knuckles were white on the tabletop, but Cassiopeia smirked and nudged Harry in the ribs.
"…And?" She mimicked his tone.
"Ne croyez pas que ma patience à votre égard soit illimitée," Voldemort spoke so quickly Tom had to replay it twice.
'He said his patience with her is not unlimited,' he thought when he deciphered it.
She put both hands up and smiled, "I just want to drain prisoners to death legally, friend."
"…It is going ahead as planned. Narcissa."
Harry tuned out from her report as soon as she started talking dollar amounts and administration. Cassiopeia watched the Dark Lord without blinking.
"Harlow."
"Right. Ironwood has suspended operations. He needs Reed. I can't be certain, which is to say, there is no solid proof, but I believe he might be helping the Order, putting his manpower there in hopes of getting her back. Along with the other hostages. I know it's a lot to ask, but can she stay at the school? Over the holiday? I don't feel like she'd be safe, and at this point, in his hands…"
"It would be acceptable, but the school will be less guarded during the December holidays. She would be better protected here, in the manor."
When he bowed, Talpin put his nose on the table, "Thank you."
Voldemort winced, fractional, but you'd notice it if you were watching him like a hawk.
"…Weasley." The Dark Lord's eyes flicked to Harry instead of Percy.
Lucius chuckled, grinning to himself before he muttered something to Narcissa.
"What was it you said, Potter? Not loyal to his family, self-interested, possibly useful, given time?" Voldemort asked, smirk audible.
"That about sums it up, yeah." Harry nodded, glancing at Percy, who was white as a bed sheet. "Unmarked, though, if you want him to infiltrate the Order. You forgot that part."
"In exchange, a position under the Minister of Magic. Given time, of course." He gestured for Percy to speak, and his mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Cassiopeia giggled, leaning forward at the same time as the Dark Lord.
"That sounds ac-acceptable." Percy nodded rapidly.
"Gonna need to work on his acting skills," Harry said in Parseltongue. Nagini laughed, and Voldemort sat back, looking at him with expressionless eyes.
"You will tell your Weasley."
"What if she warns her family?"
"…How?"
"Oh. I don't know. Also, surely, you've noticed, but mission successful. I'd have to hunt her down and shout it at her at this point."
"Good."
"You would think so," Harry said, suddenly aware of all the eyes on them.
"I do think so."
"I'll tell Cassiopeia," Harry said, flicking his head at the vampire.
"Cassiopeia, Potter wants you to know the little Weasley is not his friend anymore."
Harry scrunched up his face while Cassiopeia squirmed, clearly undecided on whether the bait was worth taking.
"I didn't say she wasn't my friend," he said, feeling ridiculous. "He wants me to tell her about Percy," he said the last part in the smallest whisper he could muster.
Instead of helping, Nagini smirked, eyes on her notebook, fingers black with charcoal.
"You are all dismissed," the Dark Lord said, sweeping his arm toward the door.
Harry didn't move, assuming he didn't mean him. Neither did Cassiopeia, crossing her arms and sitting back.
"You may go," he repeated when the room was empty of Death Eaters.
"I remember saying not the necromancer?" She ignored him.
"Mm, I distinctly remember not caring what you said." The Dark Lord vanished his mask and glared at her.
"You know," Cassiopeia said, looking between Voldemort and Harry, "Cannibalism is still illegal."
"I am in a position to change that," he grinned, eyes wild.
"Incredibly uncouth to fuck your dinner."
He leaned forward sharply, "Before or after you kill it?" He sucked his teeth and tapped the table, "What has he told you?"
"Oh, you're gonna spit, though." She grinned, "He didn't tell me anything, Har-im-hotep told me. His letter was… Explicit."
"And what did the Djinn tell you."
"The thing is, Riddle, that it wasn't exactly not fucking obvious?" She said.
"Er-" Harry began.
"Shut up," they both said.
"You will stay out of this," the Dark Lord said.
"Mm, what if I don't care what you say?" Cassiopeia asked.
"I don't really think he's going to eat you," Nagini told Harry.
"I-"
"Stop talking." Voldemort snapped before his eyes returned to the vampire, "You will keep to your business, or I will be involved in yours."
"Oh, scary guy. Threatening me now? Just know someone's paying attention, that's all. Hard not to, you're being ridiculous."
"Leave?" He almost laughed as he repeated it, though he didn't seem to find anything funny.
"Sure, no problem. Don't eat your Horcrux." She was grinning but there was an edge in her eyes, one that Voldemort mirrored, locked on her.
"Can I leave?" He asked as he watched the vampire saunter out of the room.
The Dark Lord looked exhausted for a split second before he inexplicably asked, "When is your first Runes lesson?"
"Uh… When is my first Runes lesson?" He repeated, "I think it's on Friday?"
He nodded, lips pursed, and put two fingers on the back of Harry's hand. Fighting the giddy adrenaline that came before the bliss was impossible, a Pavlovian reaction. He sighed when it hit him, muscles going lax, his eyes unfocusing. He'd been far more tense than usual, and the warm relief was quickly becoming his favourite solution.
"Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"Like that."
He tried to understand what he was doing with his face; he frowned while he considered his own expression and concluded that he was frowning. "I'm frowning?"
"You were not frowning."
"Oh. Okay."
"…You are doing it again. Immediately doing it again."
"Yeah, I have a question?"
"What."
"Why are you stalking me?" The silence was heavy, but Harry didn't particularly care, slow blinking.
"…Leave us, Nagini."
"Are you going to eat him?" She asked.
"He will leave alive." His face was carefully, perfectly blank.
She slid off the table, watching the Dark Lord with wary eyes. Harry waved. As soon as the door closed behind her, Voldemort shoved him backward, standing up as Harry's chair fell almost comically slowly, then all at once, landing so heavily he lost his breath.
The Dark Lord dragged him from the upended seat by his hair and straddled him before he inhaled, holding him by the throat. "I know you want me to rip you to shreds. I can smell it on you. Beg."
Harry tried to buck his hips, but he'd been locked with his arms at his sides above the navel. "Ask me nicely, and I'll let you."
His eyes widened, then he tightened his grip with each enunciated syllable, "Submit."
"You—first."
His hands were so tight around his windpipe that the image of him tearing it free popped into his mind's eye while he gasped for air. He did what he always did and exploded. He was aware enough to squeeze the Dark Lord with his magic, encompassing them both in an angry black storm cloud.
And though he'd been told 'never again', he found Voldemort's lips parted against the darkness and took it as an invitation. He allowed it, his grip on Harry's neck relaxing.
It was as though he broke a trance when he moaned; all at once, his fingers tightened around Harry's throat, and his mouth slammed shut. A blast of light followed, rupturing the blackness and singeing Harry all over, blazingly hot for an instant, then gone as the Dark Lord scrambled off him. He looked furious, his hair and robes a mess.
"Get up."
"You were about to tear my throat out," Harry wheezed.
"I'll do it again."
"I'm just saying you can't nearly kill me and expect-"
"SHUT UP? DO you shut UP? In any iteration, form or fashion, shut the FUCK UP? When you are held underwater DO YOU SPEAK? Should we try it?" Voldemort alternated between whispering and screaming, Parseltongue and English. He'd stepped forward as rapidly as he spoke, scooping Harry off the floor by the scruff of his shirt.
"Not underwater, no."
His nostrils flared continuously, eyes bulging out of their sockets, the desire to hurt him obviously barely controlled.
"Just ask nicely," Harry repeated, squirming in his grip, heart hammering painfully in his chest, aware that his tone was as close to begging as it had ever been, unable to control it.
He was dropped, unprepared for gravity and standing on legs made of jelly, he hit the floor again.
"Your Horcrux can wait." He spat the word Horcrux like it was filthy, yanking Harry's cloak off the floor and storming out of the dining room, slamming the doors behind him.
'…Uh?' Harry thought.
'You did well. But he is furious. I doubt he anticipated this much resistance… Or for it to be so difficult to resist.'
His robes, eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair were singed, the air acrid with the smell. His skin felt like he'd been briefly catapulted into the sun.
'You think he's having difficulty resisting?' He sat up experimentally, the sting intensifying with the ebbing of adrenaline.
'…Yes.'
In the end, he'd had to see Lydia for the burns, Apparating himself back to Hogwarts and claiming a duel gone wrong. Then he'd slept for a solid ten hours, late for his first class.
Rabastan Lestrange seemed thrilled to see that he was late, noting something on parchment and grinning at him as he discussed self-transfiguration, something Harry wasn't keen to attempt with his bizarre magic.
Wednesday was his freest day, with a spare after lunch and nothing after hours. Tom used that time to exhaust them, sprinting around the grounds as though they were running for their lives. Then he'd take a potion and change focus, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, until his muscles were screaming.
That night, he sequestered himself in his room, at his desk, watching Ginny on the map while Tom wrote his Herbology essay with his left hand.
"Maybe it's better if we just… Let her keep her distance," Harry said.
Tom hummed.
"Right?"
"I do not think it will be long before she returns."
"Dunno why you think that."
"…Intuition."
She was with Eris, tucked in the library before curfew. He wasn't sure where Avalon was, hadn't searched the parchment.
"Keep your eyes over here, would you?"
"Sorry."
He hummed again, scribbling rapidly while Harry watched. Entirely bizarre to see the neat, flowing script appear from his hand.
"You have nice handwriting," he wasn't sure why he said it in the serpent tongue. "They'll know it's a forgery."
Tom paused, blinking at the paper before he was writing again, "Thank you."
Harry wasn't summoned to soothe his Horcrux, which made them both nervous.