Embracing His True Self
Chapter 55
Voldemort watched Luna Lovegood and Rodolphus closely, as he did whenever someone – or several someone's – were in his presence. He felt annoyance thrumming through him to begin with, that they had interrupted both himself and Harry. He didn't like his time with the wizard being interrupted, they barely had any time together as it was. Not like they used to, Harry no longer needed training and with the war heating up he was constantly assigning missions, doing paperwork and keeping order in his own home. He would deny this on pain of death, but he missed it, missed his humour, his bloodthirst, his powers, just everything that made Harry who he was.
So, yes, he'd been annoyed, that was until he heard the reason behind their appearance in his office. He should have guessed that Rodolphus wouldn't have called upon him if he didn't feel like it was important. He was tempted to ask them to repeat themselves after they'd explained it all.
"Let me get this straight, the visions have changed but the outcome hasn't, right?" Harry asked, wanting confirmation.
"That's right," Luna's head bobbed up and down in agreement.
"Okay, so Dumbledore has some sort of backup plan, it's not really a surprise," Harry said, glancing at Voldemort, arching a brow silently asking for his thoughts on their current situation. "Actually, scratch that, it is a surprise, his hubris is his belief that his plans will always work out."
"Hmm, it's my belief that Dumbledore plans for every eventuality he can foresee," Voldemort disagreed with Harry there, but for most part Harry did know Dumbledore well. "It is perhaps, rare, that he needs to enact those plans, since his first ideas usually bear fruitful results." Another thing that truly annoyed the Dark Lord immensely.
"That's not really the question though, is it?" Harry said grimly. "Who." Harry and Voldemort uttered simultaneously, knowing what the other was thinking immediately.
"Back up plans, you think that the potion is still in play?" Rodolphus questioned, his stomach twisting unpleasantly despite the potion he'd taken earlier that day. Quite honestly, he didn't want to hear more, the little he had heard was just down right barbarically cruel. To take someone's free will away, permanently, and then leave them stuck with a personality not their own? Damn, it was a wicked, wicked thing to do.
"I hope not," Harry admitted darkly, green eyes gleaming with viciousness that spoke of a desire to cause the ultimate pain. Rodolphus was familiar with that feeling, the savagery that overcame when things became too much. Like when the Dark Lord was defeated, that hadn't been a good time for them. Not that the next decade and a half was a walk in the park. He didn't need three guesses to accurately predict who he was envisioning on the other end of his curses.
"And if he does?" Rodolphus enquired, his tone cautious, he wasn't about to piss off Harry Potter. He knew it was only a matter of time before Harry was held in a status that was higher than all of them. officially anyway, since he was positive that the Dark Lord already considered Harry far greater than the rest of them. He wasn't jealous, that spot had never been open for anyone. Contrary to what Bellatrix would believe.
"Then we have to make sure we get every single vial of it off the streets," Harry retorted, green eyes flashing in fury, it was just like Dumbledore to pull bloody cards out of his sleeve even from Azkaban. "Do you have anyone in the Ministry who could give us sneaky permission to get into Azkaban to visit the old fool?" although, why bother with permission? He knew Voldemort had control over the dementors, and the prison basically.
"Veritaserum?" Voldemort questioned, as always able to keep up with Harry's train of thoughts.
"That and ripping his mind to shreds, it might be the only option we have," Harry said disdainfully, and it wasn't the idea of basically torturing the old fool…it was the prospect of entering his bloody depraved mind. However, due to the dementors, his mind shields shouldn't be what they could have been.
"Why wait for permission?" Rodolphus scoffed, "Our Lord can go wherever he pleases,"
"Yeah, he can, but why risk someone seeing him and the whole thing blowing up in our faces? They aren't aware of our claim on Azkaban and quite frankly I don't want it happening. The last thing we need is someone poking into the death of the Death Eaters, and finding the fucking Muggles we have masquerading as you lot." Harry retorted in annoyance, going so far as to be vulgar. "If any of them are still alive that is,"
"Very doubtful that any of the Muggles have lived this long," Voldemort snorted derisively, he loathed muggles and made no secret of it.
"Probably not," Harry conceded, scratching his head, relieving the itch, as he frowned, "I doubt he'd use anyone like Moody or Doge as his back-up plan guy, it's too obvious…but that kind of obvious is why he'd use them." he knew everything about the Order and Dumbledore. Through memories or meetings, he'd had over time.
"May I see the memories?" Voldemort asked, he couldn't believe that the girl had come to him in the first place. Seers were usually neutral; they never took on sides. Not willingly at any rate. He should probably be grateful for the odd assortment of 'friends' Harry seemed to pick up. Between House-elves to seers. He couldn't deny he was curious about what she saw when she had visions. The books that held information on seers was…incomplete, contradictory and half the time, he felt complete absurdity.
Luna pursed his lips, and Voldemort was sure she'd deny him his request, and he wouldn't hold it against her truthfully. She'd given him more than he honestly ever expected, but the visions would help in the long run. He wanted to see if he could spot what she was missing.
"Alright," Luna agreed, very grudgingly. She'd had it drummed into her to keep it secret for her own safety. So of course she was very reluctant to do this.
Voldemort didn't waste any time, before he had the pensive in front of the girl.
"Think on the memories," Rodolphus whispered to her, his wand at her temple, helping her without even thinking about it. "I'll take them," she was so unfailing brave and beautiful, to sit there so unafraid and determined to do the right thing. He was honestly in awe of her.
One by one, Rodolphus began to extract the memories that Luna was freely giving up. Each one was dropped into the empty pensive. Not that it was empty for long, Harry and Voldemort watched them with impassive gazes, neither looking forward to or dreading immersing themselves in the memories Luna was offering up.
"That's it," Luna murmured, sounding lighter and freer than she had in days if not over a week.
"Rodolphus," Voldemort commanded, his Death Eater glanced his way before nodding in realization at the unspoken order. Breathing out, Voldemort gave Harry a glance, and the three of them prodded at the translucent memories in the pensive, the three wands drawing them into the bowl leaving Luna alone to watch over them.
Luna watched the swirling pensive, wondering why Voldemort really wanted to see the memories. She suspected he was curious, he was a very smart wizard, judging on the books surrounding him. They weren't for display, they had been well used, loved one might say. He cherished knowledge, he was smart despite his chosen way to deal with a war. Consider what she was seeing, it was the only way. He was also drop dead gorgeous; it was little wonder Harry was attracted to him.
"Whoa," was the first thing spoken when the pensive finally, after half an hour, ejected them from within its confines. "Well, that was…something," Harry murmured, he wasn't sure how Luna put up with that, it would be an utter nightmare, truly, to see all that night after night.
Luna nodded, "That's how I felt," what they'd just seen was what she'd seen just before she went after Harry to stop it. A few were from afterwards, but there weren't many, since they were basically all the same. Same things happening and same outcome.
"I think you've been interpretation them wrong," Voldemort stated, a thoughtful look on his usually blank features. "These visions you think that haven't changed…they have. You're quite correct however, in your belief that something is in play."
"I don't think it's the potion, I think it's the Order," Harry mused, "I think despite my best efforts, Dumbledore's fan base is much larger than anticipated. So much for not making him a martyr,"
"That and something else," Voldemort scowled, distaste written across his features.
"The Muggles find out about us, by the look of it, and in quite the near future." Harry nodded, getting what Voldemort was talking about without any verbal indication. "The war is drawing attention to us; it has to stop." He warned Voldemort, thankfully he hadn't been going out on raids in order to bloody draw out the Order and Dumbledore. "We have to get rid of the Order in an unobtrusive manner as possible…and as many of them together…if not all of them and in our own world ASAP." He and Voldemort knew better than Luna and Rodolphus about the true dangers Muggles actually posed to them.
"Wait you think Dumbledore and the Order are responsible for the Muggles finding out about us?" Luna asked, befuddled, where on earth did, he get that in the visions?
"Nobody here makes a move without Voldemort's permission," Harry shrugged, they knew better than to disobey. "None of them go into the Muggle world, except me and Barty sometimes. We don't use much in the way of magic, and I doubt Voldemort's orders are going to change any time soon."
Luna got what he was saying and nodded, no raids, no general unpleasantness. The Dark Side had no intention of bothering the Muggles, and actually hadn't done so since Voldemort returned actually. It was one of the reasons people refused to believe that he had returned.
"It's not easy to get everyone in the Order, we've tried, multiple times," Rodolphus informed them, a frown marring his features as he thought on the best way to go about it. They'd gotten maybe seven or eight during the last war, not that it mattered, Dumbledore just replaced them with newer and younger wizards and witches.
"Because you reacted impulsively, honestly, I'm astonished you got any of them," Harry revealed shrewdly, "It's a surprise, since I know you're brilliant at strategy," with Voldemort at the helm, moving all his pieces, it truly did confound him that he hadn't won last time.
"That I am," Voldemort stated smugly, he was just too impatient really, and didn't take a step back to see things from a different perspective. Perhaps because he'd grown so used to the magical world that he didn't see things from a Muggle-raised perspective like Harry did.
"Bellatrix is not to be involved in any stage of the process," Harry declared seriously.
"You are forgetting who is in charge," Voldemort stated with deceptive mildness. Giving Harry a warning look that he was pushing it, he would not allow such blatant disrespect to go around, not while his Death Eaters were there. In private he'd tolerate it, part of him found it extremely titillating if he was honest.
"Have you spoken to or seen her lately?" Harry asked, instead of bowing down or giving any indication of deference. He wouldn't be Harry Potter if he'd done such a thing.
Luna rubbed at Rodolphus' back and neck, he was tightly wound, stiffer than a board. Honestly, you'd think Rodolphus would have more confidence in Harry by now. Plus, since Voldemort had returned, he hadn't been like he was.
"Meaning?" Voldemort commanded, voice cold and demanding. He did not like the implication that he was somehow missing the obvious. He spent most of his time keeping an eye on his followers, so that they didn't go and mess up everything they were finally accomplishing. It had taken him decades to get to where he was, with a genuine chance of winning this. Not like the last time, he'd realized he couldn't win through fear, that someone would always rise up against tyranny. Nobody would know that Lord Voldemort was alive and well, and sneakily taking over the magical world.
"She's insane!" Harry cried out in exasperation, "She's made no effort to get herself better after all this time in Azkaban. Nobody can stand being around her, and her temper tantrums are getting worse. Everyone does what she wants because they know the consequences! And her having been a fucking favourite of yours while you were insane nobody wants to mess with her!" and he wasn't jealous about that, not at all. "If she gets her hands on the Metamorphmagus Potion it will be even more difficult to keep an eye on her!"
"Nonetheless an eye will be kept on her," Voldemort retorted immediately, eyes flaring in genuine annoyance and anger at Harry's words.
"The Lestrange's found it difficult to control her, for years, they ended up caught and in Azkaban because of it," Harry argued, "You can't expect them to keep watching out for her like that they've done enough!" and that was true, Rodolphus had divorced her, cut all ties, he shouldn't fucking have to clean up his ex-wives messes.
Rodolphus clenched his jaw to stop it dropping open in shock, he hadn't expected that at all. No matter how true it was, he wasn't used to anyone defending him or his family full stop. It was exhausting constantly keeping an eye out on Bellatrix. Especially these days, due to the fact she couldn't be seen in public, they had to ensure she was happy and didn't end up going off on one in anger. The divorce though…he'd jumped at it, without really thinking of the possible repercussions. The most disconcerting thing about it all was how quiet Bellatrix was over the entire ordeal. With him spending so much time with Luna, his brother and father had picked up the slack. He should feel guilty, but he couldn't feel anything remotely resembling guilt when he spent time with Luna. She made it impossible for him to feel bad.
"I will not kill her," Voldemort argued vehemently, she was one of his most loyal followers. She'd endured Azkaban for him, sure that he'd return and save them. Which he had. She did not deserve to be killed for absolutely no reason at all. He refused to repay that loyalty by killing her.
"I'm not suggesting that," Harry threw his hands up in the air a visible sign of his exasperation.
"Then what are you suggesting?" Voldemort questioned in annoyance, completely forgetting that Luna and Rodolphus was here to witness this. He wasn't used to anyone arguing with him let alone giving him a straight honest answer or reprimand. All he could think of was how attached Harry was getting to a few of his Death Eaters, it made him feel jealous as well as smug and self-righteous. It meant that there was less chance of Harry deciding to – Merlin forbid – go back to Dumbledore. Which he knew wouldn't happen, he knew that, but he also thought he knew Regulus Black and look what happened there. He'd rather take all the preventative measures he could to ensure no confliction took place. Out of them all, he was granting Harry more trust than he'd ever given before. so, it was hardly surprising he was cautious.
Rodolphus arched a brow staring at Harry as well, genuinely interested in hearing that answer. Just what was he up to? Why now? His gaze wandered to Luna, and realisation struck, of course, it was very like Harry he supposed. He was protecting Luna; he knew what a ticking time bomb Bellatrix actually was. He wasn't going to spend his entire life hiding his relationship with Luna. He couldn't do that to her or himself, he wanted to marry her, start a family, Merlin, help him he sounded like a love-struck fool, a seventeen-year-old idiot, but he honestly couldn't bring himself to care.
"Give her the same treatment you gave to me," Harry stated firmly, "So she can't leave the manor."
Rodolphus' eyebrows rose in shock, it can't still be attached, he'd seen him leaving…unless he could only go when given permission?
"What the hell?" Luna stood up, "What does that mean?" suddenly finding herself enraged by what she was hearing.
Harry gave her a dry look, "Don't worry, it's been off for ages, I decided to go back to Hogwarts,"
Luna sighed, sitting back down at Rodolphus' urging, understanding the unspoken words, he'd chosen to return. He had freely chosen his own side, and she didn't have to worry she'd picked the wrong side.
"And would that stop your complaining?" Voldemort asked wryly, finding himself amused, by Luna's reaction, Rodolphus' paling and worried countenance and Harry's vehemence. Bellatrix would listen to him, she always did, she knew better than to disobey his orders.
Harry gave Voldemort a disbelieving look, "When she does something you can't overlook, I'll get to say I told you so." he stated, walking towards the door, "And if Luna pays for that…nothing will stop me taking my vengeance." He warned Voldemort "I've given her the reassurance she's safe here." With that Harry left the room, his own annoyance getting the better of him.
"My Lord…he has a point," Rodolphus said suddenly feeling weak, his grip tightening on Luna. "Even we were struggling to keep her in line." By we, he meant his father and brother as well as himself. She was worse after all these years in Azkaban. The fact she hadn't followed the healers advice made it infinitely worse. It didn't help that they were recovering too. Or that she had hindered his recovery as well, without him realizing it. He would have taken the entire course of potions if he'd realized how important they were.
"I will deal with her," Voldemort stated firmly, he couldn't just dismiss their concerns, not when more than one person was coming to him with them. Confining Bellatrix to the manor wouldn't solve anything, she could still wreak havoc here just like anywhere else. Just as she apparently was. They were obviously having to deal with that havoc, and he had missed each incident. Plus, Harry would keep his word, if Bellatrix did anything to Luna, she'd find herself in a world of pain. Harry, when slighted, was worse than Bellatrix – or even him if he was honest – could hope to be on a bad day. He was vindictive, brutal and downright terrifying, to others perhaps, he on the other hand found it extremely arousing to see what Harry Potter had become upon being freed of his gilded cage.
"If that is all, My Lord?" Rodolphus asked, uneasily, he was used to Voldemort being challenged like that. Let alone his reaction, years ago if anyone had dared to say a single thing like that, they would have been suffering under the torture curse within seconds. Just in case he was furious and hiding it better, he wanted Luna away from here just to be on the safe side.
"You may go," Voldemort stated dismissively, waving his hand in the direction of the door.
They may as well have apparated, the haste in which Rodolphus quickly got Luna out of the room.
Voldemort's lips twitched, it was good to see that his Death Eaters still feared him, despite his different approach as of late. Nobody else would get to speak to him the way Harry did, and if anyone tried, well they would find themselves in a world of hurt. Harry was different though, he respected him, respected his passion, his honesty and most importantly his fearlessness. He was just waiting for someone to gather the courage to speak to him out of turn.
A knock on the door interrupted his musings. "Enter," he called out, annoyed at the constant interruptions, added to the fact he had more on his plate courtesy of Bellatrix apparently. He needed to speak to Harry about what exactly Bellatrix was doing.
It was Lestrange Senior.
"My Lord," Lestrange said, giving a nod, "I have done as instructed, there will be a new opening in the Ministry of magic soon."
"Sit," Voldemort asked of his old friend, "I've just had Harry Potter in my office warning me against Bellatrix, and your son was quick to back him up. What is going on?" knowing without a doubt that if it was concerning Bellatrix, he would be aware. He along with his sons, constantly kept an eye on the witch. Had been doing since she was married into the Lestrange family. Anything she did would reflect badly upon them. It had already occurred after all; she'd gotten them all arrested for the Longbottom debacle. Voldemort was aware that Corvus regretted the match, which was a shame, she was powerful, just regretfully not…quite right in the head. Neither of the other Black ladies suffered from whatever ailed Bellatrix. As Harry said, she had a screw loose. He had found her amusing for most part, until he begun to see how everyone around her was reacting.
"The usual," Lestrange explained, and it was, there was no need for further clarification on his part. "I think that Mr. Potter has just begun to see more of her and her reactions to everything."
"Meaning?" Voldemort questioned perplexed, not that he showed it.
"Ever since Mr. Potter dissolved the marriage between my son and ex-daughter-in-law she's been loitering around the vicinity of either Rodolphus or Harry." Lestrange informed him, "Not always hiding, much of it is in his presence. He is very…observant, he makes no effort to conceal his observations either. Just a while ago he was watching her careful with…something in his eyes as, I noticed when we took the Metamorphmagus potion, he also observed us too. And our reactions to her. Which just deepened the expression on his face, but whatever that emotion was…I'm afraid he wasn't giving much away. He has a way of sensing her moods, much like we do, and can sense her impending loss of control." There were times when they didn't receive any warning, she just literally explodes and rants and raves.
Voldemort's brow rose, admittedly Bellatrix had been around the manor more often since the lockdown. Before then, there had only been sparse interactions between Bellatrix and Harry. "Do you believe that Bellatrix feels slighted over Harry's actions in enforcing the divorce?" was Bellatrix planning something? The thought of her touching Harry – if she could successfully accomplish that feat – left him feeling cold, fury was quick to replace that. Truthfully in comparison to power, Harry was more powerful, but experience wise, Bellatrix won hands down, even after over a decade in Azkaban. He quite honestly, had no idea what the outcome between a duel between both of them would be.
"Normally I would say no," Lestrange admitted, well aware of Bellatrix's attraction to their Lord, "Unfortunately, I can't help but feel I'm missing something." It wasn't as if he could read Bellatrix's mind after all, that was Voldemort's job.
Voldemort accepted his words with a nod, "Any suggestions on the matter?" Harry certainly had them in droves.
Lestrange's eyes widened subtly at the implications behind the question. The first is that the Dark Lord actually intended to do something about it. Not something he'd ever expected to occur, second, he was actually being asked his opinion it was a rare happenstance, especially during the end of the last war. He was speechless, he literally had no idea what to say. The Dark Lord had always had a fond spot for Bellatrix, just like he had for Barty, his sons and Severus Snape. Out of them all, he believed Bellatrix was definitely Voldemort's favourite.
Or had been, up until Harry Potter, who outshone them all.
"Corvus?" Voldemort repeated himself yet again, asking for suggestions.
"I don't know, it depends entirely on what you want to do with her," Lestrange replied seriously, still a little speechless. There was no way the Dark Lord would take Bellatrix out of the picture completely, which was too bad really. "House arrest, perhaps?" somewhere far away from them all where she couldn't ruin his sons life anymore. So that he wouldn't need to keep an eye on her when he was here, which was to spend time with his sons by the way, not cater to his ex-daughter in law.
And Bellatrix was a loose cannon and he just didn't want to deal with her anymore, he was too old for this.
Sudden and rapid knocking had both of them glancing at the door in surprise, urgent and panicked.
Whoever it was, was in the danger of being cursed judging by the look that came on Voldemort's face.
"Enter!" Voldemort barked his eyes gleaming with viciousness.
"M-my lord…" rasped out Avery, panting outrageously, "B-Bellatrix…Lovegood…duel…Potter…"
"Where?" Voldemort demanded standing up suddenly very much at attention.
Avery merely wheezed, bent over unable to breath properly.
"Dining…room," he managed to get out, only to be shoved aside as both Voldemort and Lestrange burst out of the room as though the hounds of hell were upon their asses.
Terrance Higgs, Marcus Flint, Adrian Pucey, Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini had been playing a game of Poker. Or attempting to, with Draco complaining endlessly about them 'fixing the game' because his cards were pathetic. In a show of exasperation, Marcus Flint had magically collected the cards and they mixed themselves in the middle of the table in front of the teen. Afterwards, they began to evenly distribute themselves.
Draco smugly accepts the next cards, his heard jerking up when he heard Potter's voice, his focus completely off the cards as he thought of his nemesis. How everyone could be so blinded to have accepted the idiot he didn't know. He was going to be their downfall, Draco knew this, everything his father and the Dark Lord had worked so hard to accomplish would be destroyed. All because of Potter and their blindness to who the scar head really was. It was laughable really, Potter going dark, it was a joke, surely the Dark Lord wasn't drawn in? Maybe he had his own plans and was just going along? Everyone else thought Potter would be bigger than even his father…more important, it wasn't possible.
"Malfoy, it's your turn," Pucey called from the other side of the table, wondering why they'd agreed to let the boy join them. He was intolerable at the best of times, but he had money so why not let him spend it? More for them, in the long run, he never did care about spending his 'daddy's' money to get what he wanted. He never won, and his annoyance was a sight to see, to think him and Potter were the same age. Now Potter is someone he'd like to play again. It was a challenge, he was good, better than any of them expected when he sat with them – which had been a surprise itself – they hadn't expected him to be friendly or funny.
"Hey, Potter, up for a game?" Higgs called out to the teen, who paused at the doorway, Higgs laughed at Marcus' groan, he'd lost his entire pot for the night a while ago to Harry. Despite his statement of never playing him again, he knew Marcus would love to.
"Miss getting beat, do you?" Harry called out with a wicked grin, causing everyone – except Draco – to chuckle in amusement. "Tell you what, get a decent game going for tonight and I'll play," his blatant glance at Draco didn't go unnoticed. Luna and Rodolphus paused as well, Luna peering in curious to see who Harry was talking to.
"Make a night of it?" Marcus suggested, he'd enjoyed the night of Harry's coming out and party, so why the hell not.
"Yeah, bring the Fire whisky, I'll bring the butterbeer." Harry agreed, he was still too young to buy Fire whisky unfortunately. "I'll tell Barty, he'd love it."
"Done," Terrance agreed, already throwing the cards on the table, no point to playing right now, he might as well save his money for tonight. Not that he had much, he'd need to go to Gringotts and retrieve enough to last the entire night. "I'll get the Fire whisky; I need to go to Gringotts anyway."
"See you then," Harry informed them before he left the room, heading towards the dining room.
"What are you doing? We're in the middle of a game!" Draco protested, as they all began to put their cards down, clearly deciding not to play.
"We hardly got started," Marcus scoffed, 'because of you' went unsaid, turning to Terrance he added, "I'll come with you, we'll need to get some food for tonight anyway," they couldn't just ask the House-elves here to provide for them, nobody had the guts to ask the Dark Lord's House-elves to do something for them at least not those that weren't inner circle at any rate. Which they most assuredly weren't.
Blaise and Theodore sighed, well, it looked like they wouldn't be playing at all, as always, they had Draco and his attitude to thank for it. They were regrettably used to that, they put up with it in school as well, although it was worse here. After all, nobody wanted to suck up to Draco here in order to get higher up the food chain. He was finding it difficult to come to terms with, he was used to everyone doing as he said otherwise face his father's displeasure. They only endured it because their parents told them to make friends with Draco, that their lives would be difficult with the Malfoy's against them. That having the Malfoy as a contact would be good for them in future.
The first second Harry realized something was wrong, he hastily erected his strongest shield barrier, but it was too late, a spell had already come their way. Crouching down beside a twitching Rodolphus, concerned, he'd immediately shielded Luna with his body, only seconds before the spell struck. "What hit him?" Harry asked, he'd been talking to Terrance, Marcus and Adrian, not paying the slightest bit of attention. He hoped Luna had, otherwise they might not be able to save him. Dark curses always needed the counter-curses, you couldn't just use a 'Finite Incantatem' and boom its gone.
Harry stared coolly at Bellatrix, casting counter spells to the spells she was blasting him with, not trusting the shield fully. He had cast it while he was emotional, so he'd use it only as a back-up plan.
"Um…Fervefacio…" Luna scrambled to remember the shrieked words from moments before.
"Shit," Harry murmured, "It had to be that,"
"What? Is there no counter?" Luna asked, petrified, ducking the oncoming spell from Bellatrix's wand, she didn't even know what half of them were for Merlin's sake. It smashed against the barrier, splintering it a little as it did so.
"Yes, but its long, you'll need to do it," Harry said standing, "This shield won't last long and I'm not risking her hitting us again," go figure there was nobody else around, well, nobody else that could help, but that was probably why she had chosen this moment to strike.
"Okay, just tell me what to do," Luna said remaining crouched over Rodolphus who begun to scream increasing in volume by the second as the spell did its job. It was literally boiling Rodolphus from the inside out. You could see the skin bubbling from under the surface, if it was on any longer than a minute…then there would be no rescuing Rodolphus from the spell.
"Crucio!" Harry retorted angrily; the spell clipped her causing her to laugh in his face.
"Poor little Potter, don't you know not to fight when you're mad?" Bellatrix cooed at him in a sickly manner.
"The wand movement is circular over the body, while you repeat the spell," Harry informed her, "I fight best when I'm mad! Bombarda!" not aiming it at Bellatrix to the witches surprise, instead the statue at the side, which blasted into smithereens, hitting Bellatrix with the debris stalling her for only a few moments before she banished them.
"Dismoveo Sevoco imum, seven times, without pause," Harry stated, "Clypeus!" casting the counter to the spell she'd cast on him.
"NO!" Bellatrix shrieked, not expecting them to know the counter, "I'll kill both of you! All of you! AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"ENOUGH Bellatrix!" Harry roared, summoning a silver platter from the table, it absorbed the killing curse, which had been too close to Luna for comfort.
"You're not the boss of me!" Bellatrix snarled, drool spitting out of her mouth as she spoke.
"I am your head of house, and I say enough is enough!" Harry retorted angrily, "Don't make me kill you." They began to circle each other, as if looking for a weakness to exploit.
Bellatrix cackled again, "You wouldn't dare Potter," she said smugly, "My Lord would kill you first," after all she'd proven her loyalty to the Dark Lord for years, there was no way he'd pick him over her. Its why he'd never actually disowned her, the Dark Lord wouldn't allow it, of that she was certain.
A sudden squeak of utter surprise had them temporarily distracted but neither Harry or Bellatrix gave the person a single glance. They knew better than to take the eye of the other, even for a moment.
"You underestimate the lengths I'd go to for those I care about…" Harry said blankly, and it was true, "Just because you're incapable of feeling…don't mean the rest of us are that way." And Bellatrix was incapable of feeling, and Rodolphus had been forced to endure a loveless marriage for so long he was surprised that the wizard would take the risk again. Luna though…Luna wore her feelings on her sleeve, as Severus would put it, couldn't hide anything, she was as different from Bellatrix as could be…perhaps that's what drew the dark wizard to her.
"You can't do anything if you're dead!" Bellatrix uttered, eyes gleaming with madness, slashing her wand in a downward motion, fire broke out of her wand, fiercely becoming a dragon as it spread around the room, before swooping towards Harry.
Harry returned fire, creating a large waterfall of water, consuming the flames preventing her from turning his home into a fiery inferno. It was his home; it was the only home he ever had that he could say was his. As much as he said Hogwarts was his home, he really wasn't and honestly? Harry didn't want it to be with Dumbledore around. Not that he was in Hogwarts anymore, instead he was in Azkaban awaiting trial.
Best thing to ever happen to the magical world.
"Crucio!"
"Angor!" Harry returned, using his own creations.
There was no shield or counter, the spell hit Bellatrix and she fell immediately, screaming in pain, writhing her eyes open, bulging in shock.
"That's for Neville," Harry stated watching as the effects begun to dissipate. "For Alice and Frank," who had done nothing to deserve what she had done to them. Sure, they were the enemy, they were Order members, but to do what Bellatrix did…honestly didn't surprise him, she was completely insane. The look in her eyes…it was utter madness and emptiness.
"Vulnus!" Bellatrix snapped out, still able to aim her wand, "You have nothing on the Dark Lord's curses boy!" which wasn't strictly true, since she was still shaking under its affects.
The spell hit Harry on the leg, causing him to crumble as he bled, the blood quickly and severely pooling around him.
Luna scrambled to get up, to aid Harry, to do something…she couldn't sit back and let harry get taken down by Bellatrix. Rodolphus, however, grasped a hold of her and refused to let it get up. "Don't," he ordered, unable to help how commanding he said it. The urge to swipe the sweat that coated his brow away, refusing to let his gaze drop from Bellatrix for a moment as she gathered herself. He didn't even know where his wand was right now, they were vulnerable and he loathed that fact. He smelt absolutely foul, and the sweat was starting to harden but the fact he was alive and coherent did take precedence. Plus, he'd seen the Dark Lord and Harry Potter fight, this…this was nothing, a warm up really.
He hoped.
"Adtono!" Harry cast, sweeping Bellatrix off her feet with a strong gust of wind, "Sano, Furela," the wound Bellatrix just inflicted healing and swiftly bandaged as Harry shot to his feet. "Do not move, Luna, he's right." Not needing to have seen what was happening to know, Luna wasn't one to sit around when anyone was in danger and the fact it was him would have motivated her further still.
"Executio!" Bellatrix cast while on the floor, breathless from the spell that hit her.
"Crucio!" Harry return fired.
The two spells hit each other explosively, the vibrations could probably be felt all over the manor.
"Enough!" one single demand and without a raised voice was enough to have everyone standing at attention. The Dark Lord not even attempting to hide his displeasure or magic. As he demanded attention from everyone in the room, Avery, Lestrange Senior, Terrance, Marcus, Lucius and Draco all looking in from the doorway but not daring to say a word or come in further lest they fall victim to the Dark Lord's temper.
Draco watched the scene with savage glee, the only show was his eyes which gleamed with triumph. His face however, was smooth and blank, as he had been taught, to hide his emotions. He was sure Potter was in for it now, starting fights with his high up Death Eaters, it looked like the card game he'd just set up was a no go. It's what they got really.
"Rodolphus!" Corvus called out in concern, swiftly making his way to his sons side, worry written across his features. He knew his son had relapsed so to speak after not taking the potions properly. he had reprimanded him for being stupid enough to do so, after being warned by Harry and Severus – both of who knew their stuff, one a Master! – but was pleased to see thus far that Luna had made sure that Rodolphus didn't forget. She was taking good care of him and he liked that, it reminded him of the relationship he and his wife used to have.
"I'm fine, father," Rodolphus stated firmly, despite how pale and clammy he looked. He didn't want to be comforted by his father at his age, not with the object of his affection next to him anyway. Which was also a new experience, normally when he was injured it was his brother or father helping him. Bellatrix simply didn't care enough to even pretend for a few moments.
"What happened?" Voldemort demanded, once again drawing the attention to himself.
"Potter happened, My Lord, he interrupted a duel between Rodolphus and I," Bellatrix stated immediately, the madness gone from her eyes as she deferred immediately to the Dark Lord. The anger was still evident though, but Bellatrix was always that way.
Rodolphus sighed resignedly, unheard by everyone other than his father and Luna who were close enough to hear it.
Luna glanced at him in confusion, wondering why the hell he sounded so down, Rodolphus' father was no better in fact he was minutely shaking his head.
"Potter…what happened?" Voldemort ordered in thinly veiled fury. Contrary to everyone's belief he did not favour Bellatrix so blindly that he didn't know that she got away with more than most. Also didn't favour her enough that he didn't see the resignation on the faces of his other faithful's and that pissed him off completely. Added with the conversation he'd just had with Harry warning him, well, he wasn't going to take anything in the face of value, not even with what Harry said.
Rodolphus and Corvus' gaze came up so quick their necks creaked; shock evident in their eyes. The Dark Lord never questioned Bellatrix's view of things. He took her word for what it was, assuming she was telling the truth. Not that they could blame the Dark Lord, she was good at twisting the truth and blatantly getting away with it due to no word of a lie leaving her lips. Nobody wanted to earn her wrath by contradicting her, it made for an easier life by going along with whatever she said. They had to remember it hadn't been like this since his return.
Harry who had not removed from his position in the middle of the room, observing everyone and their reactions. Not missing Draco Malfoy's gleeful eyes, which made him want to curse the idiot. Honestly, he wasn't in school, if he kept that up, he'd piss off the wrong person and end up on the wrong end of their wand and given a lesson he wouldn't forget. Harry was tempted to be that person, but he decided to let Severus deal with it. although he was only going to allow so many passes before, he lost it. His main focus was on Bellatrix at the moment anyway seeing as she was an actual threat.
"She decided to attack us while our back was turned, not sure who she was aiming for, but it was either Rodolphus or Luna…" Harry stated firmly, his mind barriers lowered as he looked Voldemort straight in the eye. There wasn't a hint of apprehension or fear in Harry's gaze, there never really had been. How could there be a fear when death had been preferable when they met? As he'd thought earlier…even if he was living on borrowed time, he'd live it well. "Bellatrix Black, I challenge you…to a duel, winner picks the outcome,"
"My Lord…who are you going to believe…" Bellatrix stated indignantly, furious that the Dark Lord seemed to believe the brat. She who had gone to Azkaban rather than denounce her lord? Who had remained loyal to him after all these years? Sure, he would return for them and get them out of Azkaban? What had Potter done? He'd destroyed him that's what! He was nothing special, he should have been killed rather than allowed to live. It didn't matter how powerful he was, nobody was more powerful than her or her lord. They belonged together, he and her, they would be…glorious.
"Quiet!" Voldemort commanded, barely giving Bellatrix a second glance as he stared at Harry with the same intensity that the teen was bestowing upon him.
"But My Lord…" Bellatrix whined, she actually whined.
Draco watched the scene feeling jealousy surging through him, he could barely get the Dark Lords' attention for more than two seconds. He'd been lucky if he was actually looked at twice since he started coming here. He wasn't used to being ignored, and that's exactly what the Dark Lord was basically doing. What was so special about Potter? Why did he get so much of the Dark Lord's attention? He was the one who did better at school, he was the pureblood, not a filthy half-blood, this was where he was supposed to excel. Where he was supposed to shine, Potter wasn't supposed to be here shining on his parade. It wasn't fair, it was bad enough he took every moment at Hogwarts and turned it into 'Harry Potter world' without being here too. He couldn't seem to compete with him, never had been able to.
One glance from the Dark Lord caused Bellatrix's mouth to snap shut, with finality.
"Very well, a duel," Voldemort retorted seriously. He didn't want to lose either Harry or Bellatrix, but it was becoming increasingly clear he was going to. He knew whom he would choose, and that was without feelings coming into it. Added to the fact he could not interfere with the duel lest he want an uproar on his hands. Duels were the most ancient and noble practices of their world, to prevent one would be seen as weakness and an insult. Potter knew this.
"As your Lord, Bellatrix, get into position," Harry deliberately goading her.
"You are not my Lord, Potter!" she'd rather die than ever let those words pass her lips.
Voldemort's eye twitched as his nostrils flared, glaring at him in silent warning that he had best not continue on in this vein.
Harry pursed his lips, greatly amused, he loved winding people up, it was so easy to do so that it was almost…annoyingly disappointing sometimes. These were people who had been raised to hide their emotions, to learn Occlumency so that family secrets weren't exposed. Meanwhile he had successfully hidden who he truly was – necessity was a mother of invention – for years without anyone so much as getting an inkling…even those who claimed to be his 'best friends' were blind to his true character. It was hardly surprising that he found it amusing that they'd close control of their own emotions so quickly and easily.
"I accept," Bellatrix's eyes just gleamed with feral intensity, the boy was good, she acknowledged she would need to be careful; the boy was powerful and knew his spells. He wasn't as good as her though. She had not only learned from the Dark Lord, but she had been the best he'd ever trained – he had said as such – and she kept up her spell work. He would regret challenging her, and the Dark Lord knew this, he wanted her to put the brat in his place.
"And refrain from burning down my manor," Voldemort added through gritted teeth, it wasn't too bad, but it was enough to make him feel aggravated. This was his home, and he knew Harry felt the same so it was easily deduced that the culprit was Bellatrix. Another strike against her, feeling how the others felt for the first time. When she did whatever, she wanted without facing the consequences.
"They're really going to duel?" Terrance whispered wide eyed, "Damn, he'd going to get his ass handed to him," he was just beginning to like Potter too. He was going to get himself killed. Bellatrix was lethal, his parents warned him to stay well away from her and not to bring himself to her attention. Hell, his father repeated himself when discussing her, more so than he'd been warned about the Dark Lord and that was saying something.
"I don't think so," Marcus stated shrewdly, "I bet you twenty galleons that Potter wins," Potter had never been overconfident, he was self-aware enough of his own abilities to know his own weaknesses and strengths. He was good and he knew it, in other words, he wouldn't challenge Bellatrix unless he felt like he could win. Plus, the boy had surely been dipped in liquid luck, with the amount of good luck he'd had his entire life.
"Twenty?" Terrance choked out, narrowing his eyes, wondering what Marcus could see that he wasn't. "Ten and you've got a bet." Not willing to risk twenty galleons if Marcus was right.
"It's a bet," Marcus replied, watching as everything was banished and the dining room was converted into a temporary duelling platform. The Dark Lord worked fast, it was evident that the duel was going to happen right here and right now. He hissed when he felt the Dark Mark heat up, surprise filled him, he was calling the Death Eaters?
"Are you okay?" Luna asked, seeing Rodolphus in sudden pain once again, "Did I not do the counter-curse correctly…" she was just in the midst of a severe panic thinking she'd gotten it wrong when Rodolphus pressed his forehead against hers, her big blue eyes staring into his.
"I'm fine, calm down," Rodolphus stated firmly, making it clear to Luna that he truly was, and he wasn't just stating as such to calm Luna down. Compared to the pain he'd just been in, feeling the Dark Mark heating up – with the Death Eaters being summoned – was nothing at all. "The counter-curse worked, it was just the Dark Mark heating up," and he definitely didn't want Luna getting the Dark Mark. He hadn't wanted Bellatrix to get it, he had wanted her to have an heir, be safe, continue the Lestrange line. He'd been an utter fool of course, but that had been his thoughts before he realized what his life was going to be like long term with Bellatrix as a wife.
Luna sighed, her rigid form softening.
Rodolphus knew that the Dark Lord cared a great deal more for Harry than most people realized. Bellatrix would play dirty…and if she killed Harry…merlin help her, because nobody else would dare to. Not even Bellatrix would deserve what the Dark Lord would do to her. What he did to his enemies would pale in comparison, and Bellatrix was probably deluded enough to think that Dark Lord wanted her to win this.
"Can you stand son?" Rodolphus' father asked.
Rodolphus sat up straighter, leaning back a little so he could properly see Luna's face, ignoring the shuffling of the Death Eaters arriving. Those in lower ranking bowing to the Dark Lord in greeting and taking their places, or being guided to them. some of them had never seen the duelling platform before, so won't know where to go. It had been a long time, decades since the Dark Lord had a duelling champion competition. Not that this was what it was, but the set up was identical and they would assume it was so. Many of them were already salivating, questioning the others who had been here to begin with. "Are you okay?" her best friend was about to duel Bellatrix for Merlin's sake. He would be worried about Barty if he found himself facing down the raging dragon that was Bellatrix.
"Yes," was all Luna said, blue eyes shadowed with worry. She had known this was coming, she also suspected the outcome, but she knew better than most just how quickly visions could change. Her saving Harry had changed everything, then the visions changed again, so she took nothing at the face of value, not even the visions she loved so much about her future. She prayed for them, of course, she did, but until they were happening in front of her, she'd take nothing for granted.
"If you say so," Rodolphus replied doubtfully, with the help of his father who had been silently listening to everything, he was eased up onto his feet. He ached all over, his blood had just ten minutes prior boiling within him. Bellatrix had meant to kill either him or Luna, and it worried him. Shuffling to move out of the way of the door as the traffic begun to thicken up as more Death Eaters made their appearance.
"Why has he summoned everyone?" Luna asked, watching everyone with wide baffled eyes, she wasn't a Slytherin, she didn't understand their thinking. She was a Ravenclaw, and as smart as she was, she wasn't street wise or well versed in cunning. Not the way the Dark side practiced it at any rate.
"To maximise impact," Rabastan was the one to answer, causing Luna to squeak and spin around, the urge to punch him on the arm was strong but she didn't know him well enough for that. She wasn't sure she ever would know him well enough to be that familiar with him.
"Don't do that!" Luna said, clutching her hand to her chest, heart pounding. "What do you mean maximise impact?"
Rabastan blinked, barely glancing in his brother's direction, whose eyes were boring into his with ferocity not to scare Luna away with his bloodthirst talk. If it had been anyone else, he would have, but his brother was happy, he couldn't find it in him to be his usual self. "The Dark Lord is using this as a warning, to the others not to start anything with either Bellatrix and Harry, mostly Harry since everyone knows Bellatrix isn't to be messed with." He explained, honestly, she was much too innocent for his brother, but if that's what got him off then fair enough. He deserved happiness, they all did, their life had been one uphill battle since they left Hogwarts.
Luna smiled, "Thank you,"
Rabastan blinked again, giving a nod, surprised by the Genuity of her gratitude and thanks just because he explained something simple. He was more in awe really, that's he wasn't panicking, Potter was good, but was he as good as Bellatrix? In fact, to beat her he'd need to be better as a matter of fact. "Why do you think he suggested the victor picks the outcome?" this he was asking Luna since she surely knew Harry better than him.
"I think…he knows that Voldemort is fond of her, that he doesn't want her dead," Luna suggested seriously, "Knowing Harry…what he has in mind…well, she's going to wish she was dead."
Luna had no idea how correct she actually was.
"If he wins," Rabastan corrected her.
"If he wins," Luna reiterated.
"What the hell happened?" Barty whispered urgently, making his appearance looking incredibly flustered.
"Where have you been?" Rodolphus asked, arching a brow, he would have been here first if he was in the manor. It wasn't often Barty actually left, so he must admit he was astonished.
"Never mind that, what the hell happened?" Barty asked, taking in the sight in front of him. The Dark Lord and Harry were quietly conversing in the middle on the platform while everyone took their position. Bellatrix was at the other side, staring at the Dark Lord and Harry cross between angry and smug. He'd only been gone a few hours for Merlin's sake! What had he missed?
Rodolphus quietly and quickly explained everything, just as Barty was about to ask another question blasts left the Dark Lord's wand. Indicating that the duel was about to begin, so Barty didn't get a chance to ask whatever it was that he wanted to know. He grinned at the distracted looks he got at his neon green hair, they likely assumed it was a spell or a joke product of some kind. They'd likely have no idea about the potion.
The Dark Lord in question stood apart from everyone else, watching the two bow before each other and step back on the platform. Nobody dared approach him, as he observed the pair begin the necessities for the duel. He was unimpressed with this turn of events, but he shouldn't have been. It had been brewing on the horizon for some time, Luna being here was the catalyst that saw it come to fruition. No, the cancellation of the marriage contract and the fact Harry had taken over the Black estate was probably nearer the truth as to why this was necessary. Still, the fact that Harry didn't want it to be till death revealed he had something else in store for Bellatrix.
Which begged the question…what? What on earth did he have up his sleeve for her? He would show her no mercy, whatever he did, it was going to change how everyone saw him, of that he had no doubt.
"Crucio!"
Harry rolled his eyes and summoned birds 'Avis' from his wand to take the impact, flicking his wand in a 'A' mark, dozens of arrows shot out of his wand.
Bellatrix swiftly erected a shield, but one of the arrows managed to avoid it and slice into her side, before skittering to the side of the platform. Purple flames blasted from a non-verbal spell, Dolohov's curse, it made everyone draw breath as one, it required a counter and nobody thought for a moment Harry would know it.
To the surprise of everyone, he did, not only did he stop it, he sent one in retaliation.
Bellatrix stepped aside, uncaring for those who were behind her, "Confringo!"
"Accio shoes!" Harry cast, watching Bellatrix fall back as her shoes were summoned off her feet.
Bellatrix roared in annoyance, rolling to her side, she shouted, "Incendio!" casting the spell aiming at Harry's feet in retaliation for the fact he'd embarrassed her so thoroughly by summoning her shoes.
A simply water charm stopped the spell, slightly surprised by Bellatrix using such a simple spell, "Pollicem clavus crescere!" causing Bellatrix's toe nails to begin growing at an alarming rate.
"What the hell is he doing?" Dolohov snorted derisively, "Is he trying to piss her off? He's only going to get himself killed!"
"He's doing what he always does," Barty said, watching the scene with rapid attention, "Catching them off guard." And it was a good way to go, simple spells would do that.
"Genu Novis!" Bellatrix spat, causing Harry's knees to reverse causing his legs to buckle.
"Flipendo! Flipendo! Flipendo!" Harry cast in rapid succession, to ensure she actually bloody got hit as he corrected the damage done to his knees so he could get up. Barely wincing at the pain of his knee-hex reversal being reversed, damn that hurt though, but nowhere near as bad as fighting with the Dark Lord.
"Conjunctivitis!" Bellatrix roared from her fallen position.
The spell hit Harry head on, managing out the counter spell only to feel immense pain radiating down his side, as she severed his arm.
"Langlock!" Harry spat out despite the pain and the lack of sight, as he begun to feel woozy, catching the witch in mid cackle. Her tongue was now attached to the top of her mouth, in the crowd a wizard nodded in satisfaction. "Inritus," Harry spat the words of his own spell out, Bellatrix raised a non-verbal shield, having no other alternative.
It failed.
The spell blasted on through her powerful shield and she dropped like a tonne of bricks, bucking and writhing in agony. Everyone watched in horrified fascination at the sounds coming from Bellatrix, the sound that spoke of immense pain despite the fact her tongue was in fact stuck to the roof of her mouth making her incapable of properly screaming.
Draco watched what was going on, his stomach heaving dangerously at the scene in front of him. Between the severed arm, the screaming coming from Bellatrix to Harry calmly reattaching his severed arm as if it had happened that often it was merely an afterthought. Gagging at the horrific sight in front of him, the urge to flee was strong.
"Calm down, son, do not embarrass the Malfoy name," Lucius warned him, tightening his hold on his sons shoulders. The urge to reach out to his wife was strong, despite all Bellatrix had done…she was and is Narcissa's sister. The only one she was in contact with to be fair, the only family she had left of the Black's.
"You have won, remove the spell," Voldemort stated, his eyes flaring with molten desire as he approached Harry. Who was staring down at Bellatrix's writhing form without so much of a hint of guilt.
He was perfection at its finest.
"It will pass," Harry said dryly, "Along with her magic,"
The Death Eaters gasped and began muttering to each other, telling one another what he had just said wondering if it was true. Had Harry Potter removed Bellatrix's magic? Was he truly that powerful to do so with such ease?
He had done the impossible and the most despicable thing one wizard could do to another without blinking.
Voldemort was in awe.
He did the only thing left to do, he claimed Harry Potter in front of every single one of his Death Eaters.
"Mine," Voldemort growled out his mouth still partially attached to Harry's as he kissed him senseless, tightening his hold upon his head to ensure he couldn't get away.
Harry just blinked in completely incoherency.
And the entire hall went utterly silent seeing then hearing the declaration.
What broke the silence was Bellatrix's muffled wail of anguish and horror at what she was seeing, unable to comprehend the fact she'd just lost her magic let alone the Dark Lord himself. Tears of pain and snot covered her face as she stared at the scene in front of her incomprehensively. Raising her wand, fury encompassing her, 'AVADA KEDAVRA!' but it was as if she was holding onto a piece of wood, nothing magical about it. Her non-verbal spells had always been impeccable giving credence to her now unmagical state.
Draco dramatically passed out, the only thing preventing utter humiliation was his father's grip.
R&R