Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Carry on my Wayward Son	By : BlackDawnRose Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 18784 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: I do not own HP or make any money from this work of fiction

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Hello! OMG it's been so long, sorry for that. We're in our new house now and still don't have internet, I have however learnt how to hot spot my Ipad and even though I am spending a ton on extra data I'm living with it. For those who are Dr Who fans my husband is currently painting our bedroom and the feature wall and ceiling are going to be TARDIS blue!!!! We're also going to paint the french doors to our room to look like the TARDIS, there's going to be a light at the tip and everything, I'm soooo excited!!!! WHat a happy nerd I am. I'm sick at the moment and my lovely mother has taken my beautiful little angel for a while today to give me a chance to rest a little so I'm paying it forward by giving you all a new chapter. And as it's been so long this chapter is a looooooong one. I hope you like it, we're going to hear a bit about the order's plans this time and there will be a character coming into play that I think a lot of you will enjoy seeing. Anyway I'm done chatting now, enjoy and please review xxoo
Join Me
Harry spent the afternoon in the library with Severus, learning what he could about dark magic. That evening when they were about to head to dinner, Lissy appeared and told them they were to go to the private dining room instead. They shared a curious look before making their way down there together. They arrived to find the table laid out with a lovely meal. All three of the Malfoys were present as well as Voldemort who greeted them both with a smile.
“Good you are here. I decided I wanted to have a more intimate dinner this evening with my inner circle, hence the change of location. Come and sit,” he ordered, motioning to the chairs on either side of him that had been left free. Harry was a little nervous about the Lord’s sudden good mood and he could tell Severus was too. As it turned out however dinner was a rather comfortable and enjoyable affair. Voldemort asked Draco about his training and spoke to Lucius at great length about the ministry and their plans. Harry had been worried that his good mood was a cover for a very bad one, or because he was planning to do something mean to one or all of them; but it turned out that the man was just in a good mood.
When dinner was over the group retired to the parlour for coffee. Harry sat between Severus and Voldemort, enjoying how happy everyone appeared to be. A few minutes into their coffee the Dark Lord was called out to speak to a death eater in the hallway leaving Harry, Severus and the Malfoys to talk on their own for a while. Severus was conversing with the Malfoys while Harry was happy to sit and watch them all interact like long lost friends, which in a lot of ways he supposed they were.
Nagini slithered up to him after a minute and he smiled as she asked to join him on the couch. He agreed amicably and she slithered her way up into his lap, winding her upper body around his torso and resting her face on his left shoulder, nuzzling into his neck. He felt her tongue dart out and tickle his neck and he chuckled, reaching up to stroke her head.
“Comfortable?” he hissed quietly to her.
“Yes,” she replied simply and he couldn’t help but chuckle at her again.
He suddenly noticed that the room had grown very silent and he looked over at the other occupants to find them watching him with expressions that mixed bewilderment, shock and startled nervousness.
“What?” he asked.
Narcissa opened her mouth to say something, even reaching out her hand toward him for a moment before pulling it back into her lap and replying with, “Nothing.”
“She doesn’t do that,” Severus explained, motioning to Nagini.
“Oh,” Harry replied, understanding their shock now. “Yes, the Dark Lord did say it was surprising. She just likes me,” he explained.
The rest of the group just stared at him blinking for several moments before Draco asked, “Doesn’t she frighten you?”
Harry shook his head, “No, not at all. Why should she, she’s never harmed me?” he asked in return.
“You’ve obviously never seen her attack someone,” Lucius stated simply.
“On the contrary she and I had a run in with a very unpleasant man one afternoon while we were out meditating in the garden. He came off second best,” Harry explained simply.
“And you don’t find her at all frightening after that?” Narcissa asked.
“No, she wasn’t attacking me,” Harry replied honestly. “Why are you so afraid of her? Has she ever attacked you?” he asked.
“Well, no, but she doesn’t seem to have any pattern to who she attacks. She just kind of seems to snap every once in a while and eat people, or kill them,” Narcissa explained.
Harry looked down at Nagini and asked her if she killed people for no reason. She replied back no, that she only killed people who’d done something to her or Tom, it just took her a while to get to them sometimes. Harry relayed that back to the group who looked back at him surprised.
Nagini hissed something else to him and he leant down to hear her properly. When she was done he looked back up at the group and told them, “She said she wouldn’t bite any of you anyway. Apparently Severus tastes too much like his potions ingredients and …” he trailed off and asked Nagini to repeat the last part of her sentence, sure he’d heard her wrong. He looked at her puzzled after she’d repeated it and the group sitting across from him asked him what was wrong.
“She’s trying to describe something to me, but I’m not sure what it is. Brown and furry on the outside with milky white stuff on the inside … Oh wait, are you talking about a coconut?” he hissed the last part to the snake. She told him she didn’t know what a coconut was and he waved his wand, bringing up an image of a coconut in front of them. Nagini hissed and reared back from it, telling him yes, that was what she was describing.
Harry was doing his best to hold back laughter as he vanished the image and Nagini settled herself on his shoulder once more.
“What, what did she say?” Draco asked curiously.
It took Harry a couple of goes before he could answer without his giggling fit getting in the way, but finally he managed to explain. “She said she wouldn’t bite any of you three because apparently blonde people taste like coconut and she hates coconut.”
The group of them just stared back at him for several moments before they burst out laughing, even Severus who covered his face with his hands and laughed silently behind them. Harry joined in and Nagini looked around at them all before declaring in a hiss that humans were weird and settling back down on his shoulder.
They were still laughing when the Dark Lord returned to the room shortly after. Unbeknownst to them he stood in the doorway for several moments, watching them enjoy themselves with a fond expression on his face.
When at last he made his presence known the group tried to calm their giggles, but weren’t overly successful. “Oh don’t stop enjoying yourselves on my account,” the man said with a wave of his hand. “What’s got you all laughing anyway?” he asked, calling Lissy to bring a fresh pot of coffee and tea along with desert.
“Apparently blonde people taste like coconut,” Harry replied matter-of-factly, prompting quiet laughter to emerge from the rest of the group once more. “Did you know that?” he asked.
Voldamort studied him quizzically for several moments. “I did not. However I am not in the habit of eating people to find out.” He spotted Nagini then, snuggled up to Harry, and his face took on that fond look again. “I think I’m starting to feel a little unloved,” he said, moving over to the couch to sit down beside Harry. He reached out to stroke the snake’s head and hissed. “Do I get some attention too or have I been replaced?”
Nagini looked up at him through sleepy eyes and slithered over to wrap around his shoulders, much like she’d done with Harry, resting her head on the left and snuggling into his neck. She kept her body around Harry’s though and the rest of her in his lap. Voldemort chuckled at her chosen placement and relaxed back against the couch, stroking her head gently. His body was very close to Harry’s as Nagini hadn’t given him much room to move, which of course had been her plan.
Harry was very aware of the body beside his and did his best not to dwell on how nice it actually felt. He stroked Nagini instead and turned his focus to the desert and tea when it arrived. The group fell into a comfortable discussion over their food, even though the Malfoys and Severus looked shocked at the Dark Lord’s relaxed behaviour and even more shocked when he laughed along with them when someone made a joke about something.
When dessert was over Voldamort turned serious and Harry saw the rest of the room’s occupants tense slightly as he began to speak. “Now that I’m starting to feel like myself again, something I’d almost forgotten how to feel, I intend to reinstate my inner circle of death eaters as I did when the group were first conceived. The five of you will be the beginning of that inner circle and as such I need to know I can trust you beyond all others. As I determine the skills and usefulness of the rest of my death eaters I will decide if I wish to add anymore, until then it will just be you and I want you all to learn to trust and rely on each other. To that end I feel it only fair that you all know the identity of my right hand, although I know Severus is already aware and I have a feeling Draco too has worked it out, am I correct Draco?” he asked, turning to study they blonde.
“I believe so, My Lord,” Draco replied.
Voldemort nodded. “Would you like to share the news with your parents?” he asked.
“If you wish, My Lord,” Draco replied and turned to his parents. “It’s Harry Potter,” he said simply and Harry would be lying if he said the looks on the elder Malfoy’s faces didn’t amuse him.
Voldemort pulled the mask away from Harry’s face and he felt almost naked without it on. At the same time though it was quite freeing.
“My Lord, how do you know you can trust him?” Lucius asked, looking incredulously from the Dark Lord, to Harry and back again.
“Draco, would you like to tell your parents what you, Severus and Harry were doing last year?” Voldemort asked.
The Malfoy parents turned to look at Draco with wide, surprised eyes and he replied, “We were working on finding a way to kill Dumbledore, and we would have succeeded if Aunt Bella hadn’t showed up,’ he replied honestly.
“Why were we not told about this?” Lucius asked.
“I couldn’t exactly tell you much last year, father,” Draco replied quietly and Lucius looked away, obviously not comfortable with thinking about why. “And mother had enough to worry about, I didn’t want to burden her further. Besides, I had Severus helping me and Harry, we were doing fine right up until the end.”
Lucius remained silent, his expression showing that he was bothered by the whole thing, but most likely not wanting to discuss it while they were in company.
“Despite this, Harry and I have a magical contract where betrayal from either of our ends will mean death,” Voldemort explained. “He is loyal and in fact is the most trustworthy person around me at the moment as the contract keeps him from disobeying or betraying me. None of my other death eaters can say the same, including all of you,” he said pointedly. “Still, despite all of that I have never doubted the loyalty of yourself, Narcissa or Draco. I was concerned about Severus for a while there, but we have resolved that and I know I can trust him. So now I ask you, can I trust you Lucius, Narcissa?” he looked at them both in turn.
“Of course, My Lord,” Lucius agreed immediately, a sentiment Narcissa echoed.
“Good, because I want to be able to. You are my friends and I value that. Now, Draco, I have a further question for you, something I’ve been curious about since I first saw you but wanted to mull over a little longer before I broached the subject with you.”
Draco looked surprised, “What is it, My Lord?” he asked.
“You’re wearing a peculiar talisman around your neck. Something made for you if I’m not mistaken and by a young lady if I had to guess, am I correct?” he asked.
Draco blushed slightly but nodded, “Yes, My Lord,” he replied softly.
Voldemort nodded. “That young girl has put a lot of energy into that talisman, young man, were you aware of that?” he asked.
“Well, I know she made it-”
“That’s not the energy I’m talking about, Draco, I mean magical energy. It’s vibrating so subtly that I could barely sense it, which I guess was probably the point, but it is powerful, very powerful,” Voldemort explained, prompting Draco to pull the necklace, which was a long, silver chain with a collection of moonstones, rose quartz, seashells and thin white ribbon hanging from it, out from beneath his shirt. Everyone in the room leant closer to examine it, including Harry, even though he’d seen it before. He’d known there was something about it that was different, but he hadn’t been able to work out exactly what that was until now. It was a low vibration of magical energy.
“What would it do?” Draco asked.
“I couldn’t be sure without testing it, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s a defensive talisman,” Voldemort replied. “Has anyone tried to attack you since she gave it to you?” he asked.
Draco thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t believe so, My Lord, no.”
“Well, duelling will be part of your training while you are here, perhaps we will discover its true nature during practice,” The Dark Lord replied thoughtfully. “Either way it is a powerful talisman made by a powerful witch, who I’m guessing holds far more than a passing affection for you, Draco, and from the looks on your parents’ faces I am guessing this is something else they are unaware of, am I correct?” he asked.
“Yes, My Lord,” Draco replied, looking down at his necklace.
“Are her feelings one sided, young one?” Voldemort asked.
“No, My Lord,” Draco replied, still not looking up.
Voldemort nodded before turning his attention to Severus and Harry. “Are you two aware of who the young lady is?”
“Yes, My Lord,” they replied together.
“I thought you might be. Is she as strong as this talisman suggests she is?” he asked.
“She is, My Lord, although she’s not the kind of witch to make her power known to others,” Harry replied.
“And what is she like, since it seems Draco may need a little help describing the young lady to his parents right now?” he asked.
“Beautiful,” Harry replied immediately. “Kind, loyal, quiet, unassuming, pure-blooded,” he added, with a look over to the Malfoy parents. “She’s a very powerful ward breaker, a talent she inherited from her father, but no one knows he has it. She’s also gifted with divination, transfiguration and defensive magic. She was the first in the group of kids I was teaching DADA to in fifth year to produce a full body patronus and was by far the best dueller in the club aside from myself.”
“Is she a Slytherin?” Voldemort asked.
“A Ravenclaw,” Harry replied.
“A raven is she? Ravenclaws are very well respected witches and wizards,” Voldemort replied thoughtfully.
“Why did you not tell us about her, Draco?” Narcissa asked softly.
“Because you wouldn’t approve of my choice,” Draco replied simply.
“From the sounds of her we definitely would have,” Narcissa disagreed.
“Her gifts and talents are not known by many,” Severus spoke directly to Narcissa. “I, and many others, dismissed her very early on in her studies as she didn’t seem interested in doing anything but staring out the window. However, unbeknownst to us she took in everything we tried to teach her and receives straight O’s in all her studies. As Draco has said however, I doubt you would be approving of his choice.”
Lucius looked at Draco with a worried expression, “It’s not that Weasley girl is it?” he asked and Draco immediately shot his father a disgusted glare.
“No!” he denied vehemently, and Harry was unsurprised to see the man relax.
“Who is it then?” Narcissa asked.
“Xeno’s daughter,” Severus replied for the boy and Lucius and Narcissa looked shocked.
“Xenopholis is crazy and so is his daughter!” Lucius demanded.
“Actually you’re very wrong there. Xeno isn’t crazy, neither of them are, they are both however sensational actors,” Harry disagreed.
“I do not believe you. I have known Xenopolis since we were children and he stopped being sane when he was a boy,” Lucius argued.
Harry turned to the Dark Lord, “You don’t have a pensieve do you?” he asked.
With a raised eyebrow Voldemort lifted his hand and a pensieve bowl floated out of a nearby cupboard and over to Harry. Harry held his wand to his head and concentrated on the memory he wanted to show the Malfoy patriarch. He pulled it from his head and placed it into the bowl before offering the rest of the room’s occupants the change to view.
Lucius and Narcissa rose from their chairs and moved over to the bowl. They placed their heads in the bowl along with Voldemort only to return a few minutes later with shocked looks on their faces. Lucius immediately moved back over to the couch and sunk down onto cushions he’d previously been occupying, Narcissa following slowly after. Draco was watching them cautiously as they seemed to take in what they’d seen and Harry turned to find the Dark Lord deep in thought.
He floated the bowl back over to Harry so he could retrieve his memory before sending it back to the cupboard it had come from. After a few moments he asked, “Do you think she’d join us?”
Severus, Harry and Draco all looked up surprised before exchanging questioning looks. “I actually think she would if given the choice,” Harry replied eventually.
“Shall we pose the question to her then?” Voldemort asked.
“I’d be happy to, it I knew where she was now,” Draco replied. “Have any of you seen her since school finished for the year?”
“Only once,” Harry replied, “I don’t know where she is now.”
“Nor do I,” Severus replied thoughtfully. “I do know where their house is though, I could always go and see if she’s there at the moment,” he offered.
“Tomorrow would be satisfactory, Severus,” Voldemort replied before turning back to address the group. “Well, this has been a productive evening,” he stated, shifting his attention to the Malfoys. “Will you be returning to your manor this evening or remaining here?” he asked.
“We shall remain here if it is all right with you, My Lord,” Lucius replied. “I think we need to have a rather long discussion with Draco.”
“As you wish. I will have Lissy make up the room next to Draco’s for you. For now I am off to bed. I will see you all in the morning at breakfast, 7 sharp,” he ordered, hissing to Nagini that he was going to bed before turning to look at Harry. “What are your plans?” he asked.
“I’ll go to bed as well I think,” he replied and Voldemort waited for Nagini to slither her way off them and for Harry to stand before bidding the others good night and turning to head out of the room. Harry said good night as well and gave Draco a sympathetic smile and a wave before following after him, Nagini on their heels.
They were silent for most of the walk back through the manor. They had reached their wing before Voldemort broke the silence. “Thank you for your assistance meditating today, I do appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, my Lord, although I didn’t do a lot,” Harry replied, surprised greatly by the thanks. He certainly had never expected to receive any from the dark lord.
“You might be surprised,” Voldemort responded cryptically and Harry studied him curiously until they reached the bedroom. When nothing more was forthcoming Harry decided he was just going to have to mull over it himself and asked “Do you require anything further, My Lord?” Pausing just inside the door.
“No, thank you, Harry.”
“Very well, good night, My Lord,” Harry bid the other man, heading for the door of his room. He walked in and closed the door behind him, changing quickly into pyjamas and taking a seat on his bed. He pulled the small box, where he stored his personal effects, out of the bedside table draw and enlarged it. After the camaraderie of the evening he was really missing Hermione and Remus and he wanted to see them, even if just in photos.
He flicked through the pages for several minutes, trying and failing to push aside the tears that filled his eyes. He really missed his little self created family and the only consolation he had was that what he was doing would hopefully spare their lives and allow them to live on happily after he as gone. He stared at the pages for over an hour before closing the album and placing it into his bedside table draw, not bothering to put it back into the box first. Voldemort knew he had people he cared for, what did it matter if the other man saw the album.
His heart was heavy as he snuffed the candle and slipped down beneath the covers. That night he cried himself to sleep.
XX
It was two weeks later that they were sent out on another mission. This time they weren’t retrieving an abused child, but capturing a member of the ministry who was supposed to be in charge of seeking out magical children in the muggle world and seeing to their education about magic. He’d been remiss in his duties and Voldemort wanted him captured and replaced with someone who would take the task more seriously. They had him before the order arrived, unfortunately, in the confusion that followed, the death eaters were scattered. Harry was separated from the group he’d been assigned to and stuck within an anti-apparition ward.
Thankfully he had his cloak with him and he was able to hide from the order and the aurors when they arrived. At first he was angry about this particular turn of events. As he was working on a way to get around the wards however, he overheard a conversation between two of the aurors and suddenly realised what a great position he’d actually found himself in. He moved between the gathered fighters, listening for any pieces of information that may prove useful. Most of it was worthless, just a few little tidbits that Voldemort might like to know. It was when he found Kinsgley and Arthur that his spying proved the most useful.
“Really? The Longbottom boy?” Kingsley asked incredulously.
“Yes, he and Harry were born on the same day, the prophecy could really have been about either of them and you-know-who knew it, that was why he sent Bellatrix after Neville while he went after the Potters,” Arthur replied.
“But didn’t Harry prove to be the chosen one when he defeated you-know-who the first time?” Kinsgley asked.
“Actually it turns out Harry didn’t have a lot to do with that at all. It was his mother’s sacrifice that saved him, not anything special about Harry.”
“So why didn’t Dumbledore tell us all that?” Kingsley asked disbelievingly.
“He still thought it was Harry,” Arthur replied. “With Harry gone though he’s had to think a little more on the subject and he’s realised it could just as well have been Neville, and in fact he’s found evidence that it has been all along.”
“What evidence?”
“I don’t know yet. But it means we still have hope of defeating ‘you-know-who’.”
“Has he told the Longbottom boy?” Kingsley asked.
“Not yet. We’ve just moved him to Grimauld place. Dumbledore is going to tell him tomorrow.”
“He’s going to have his work cut out for him, preparing Longbottom for this mission.”
“You’re not wrong there. He spent years training Harry and he had a natural talent for duelling. Neville not so much.”
Harry didn’t wait to hear the rest of the conversation, he moved quickly between the rest of the gathered witches and wizards and sprinted toward the edge of the ward. Anger pulsed through him hot and strong. The damn old coot wanted to use Neville as his lamb for slaughter instead of fighting his own battles, just like he’d tried to use Harry. He had to get to Grimauld place and warn Neville not to trust what he was told. He was a sweet boy, a kind boy and he was stronger than he realised, but there was no way he’d survive a battle with Voldemort. Harry wouldn’t let anyone use him like they’d used Harry, he would stop this, even if it meant kidnapping Neville and hiding him in Slytherin manor until the war was over.
He arrived out in front of Grimauld place, his invisibility cloak still wrapped tightly around him. He was pleased to see that the wards still recognised him, but he detected something else in place, almost like an alarm that would alert anybody if he crossed the threshold. This was thankfully where being the heir to the Black family came in handy. He reached out to the magic that lived within the house and had it dismantle the alarm as well as anything else that might be laying in wait to snag him when he stepped inside the building.
When he was sure it was safe to enter he slipped inside, searching the house for Neville. He wanted so badly to slip into Hermione’s room and see her and Remus, but if they weren’t asleep he’d be caught and he couldn’t risk it. He did however duck into his old room where he found Hedwig sitting in her cage. He wrapped a silencing spell around the room and pulled off his cloak, smiling when the owl cooed happily to him. He pulled her out of the cage and stroked her feathers.
“Hello girl,” he greeted her, surprised to find tears stinging his eyes. “I’ve missed you a lot.”
She cooed at him and nuzzled into his hand as he continued to stroke her.
“I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long and I couldn’t take you with me, you know I couldn’t risk it. I think I’ve been gone long enough now for them not to connect me to your disappearance so here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to do some damage to your door, so the others think you broke it yourself and got out. I want you to fly out the window and wait for me in a tree out there. When I’m finished I’ll come down and get you and we’ll go back to Slytherin Manor together okay.”
She gave him a happy coo, nuzzled his hand one more time and flew out the window to do as she was told. He smiled after her for a moment before setting to work on making it look like she’d broken the cage and got out herself. When he was happy with the effect he canceled the silencing spell on the room and headed out, continuing his search for Neville. He tried all the rooms he knew had been empty and eventually found the other boy, asleep in one of the rooms near the very top of the house. After taking several minutes to mull over how he should best approach the other boy, he eventually pocketed his invisibility cloak and caste a spell on himself that made him appear pale and wispy. When he was happy that he looked sufficiently ghost like he moved over to the side of the bed, cast a silencing spell on the room and called out to Neville.
He knew from memory that Neville wasn’t a hugely heavy sleeper and he awoke on the second call of his name. His eyes opened blearily and stared unseeing for a second before bursting open with an expression of shock.
“Harry!” he exclaimed, sitting immediately up in the bed. “You’re here! Are you … are you dead?” he asked, changing from happy to sad very quickly.
“Yeah, unfortunately,” Harry replied, sad that he was upsetting the other boy.
“Oh,” Neville said sadly, tears glistening in his eyes.
“Don’t mull over it Neville, it is what it is and I’m in a better place.” Which was true, although not in the way Neville would be thinking. “I’m not here to talk about me, I’m here to warn you.”
“About what?” Neville asked.
“The prophecy, the one Dumbledore told everyone was about me, you know about it?”
Neville nodded.
“Well you and I were born on the same day as I know you’re aware and that’s why your parents were attacked the same night mine were killed, which I know you’re also aware of.”
Neville nodded again.
“Dumbledore used that prophecy as an excuse to make me fight for him. I don’t know if it’s true at all, but in all honesty I think Trelawney was just spewing out her garbage as she always does and it’s a big load of rubbish,” Harry explained.
“Trelawney made the prophecy?” Neville asked incredulously.
“Yeah, I had about the same reaction when I heard that too,” Harry replied. “Anyway, whether it’s true or not Dumbledore has everyone believing it and while I was alive I was among them. I know better now and I wanted to tell you because there’s a reason Dumbledore has brought you here.”
“What’s that?” Neville asked worriedly.
“He’s going to try and convince you that you’re the chosen one now that I’m gone. He’s going to try and convince you that you need to fight Voldemort and you know what? You don’t. He’s only going to tell you that because he wants a new lamb for slaughter. Don’t be that lamb Neville. When he talks to you about the prophecy ask him who made it and tell him you’re not convinced. You’re a great person, Neville and you don’t deserve to die for Dumbledore’s selfish little quest. If he wants the Dark Lord gone let him fight the man himself. It’s not your job and it certainly wasn’t mine. Throwing all that responsibility on a child was just cruel. There was no one to help me stay out of it and help me see the truth of what was happening and I don’t want that to happen to you.”
“But without us fighting, won’t Voldemort win?” Neville asked worriedly.
“Maybe. But being dead I can see a lot more than I use to, and I honestly don’t think Dumbledore ruling the world is any better, and he does rule a lot of it, trust me. The old coot has his hands in everything, he’s just subtle about it so no one notices. Things have to change. The magical children living with muggles for example, a lot of them are being abused and the ministry has no idea because they’re not caring enough. I know, I was one of them and even when it was obvious that I was being mistreated by my relatives nothing was done about it. Trust me, Neville, the ministry and Dumbledore are no better than Voldemort, they just lie more, and honestly, I’d prefer the truth to a sugar coated lie.”
“So would I,” Neville agreed.
Suddenly Harry felt a strong pull at his magical core and he realised it was the contract reminding him that he’d been away from Voldemort too long. He must have cringed because Neville looked at him worriedly.
“Are you all right, Harry?” he asked worriedly.
Harry smiled. “I’m fine, Nev, it just takes a lot of energy to be here talking to you,” he explained. “I have to go now. Take care of yourself, Neville, I’m glad I got to say goodbye to you.”
Neville looked at him sadly. “Is there anything you want me to tell the others?” he asked.
Harry shook his head. “Don’t even tell them you’ve seen me, you know they won’t believe you.”
Neville nodded, a tear slipping from his eyes. “Goodbye, Harry.”
Harry blinked back tears of his own. “Goodbye, Nev.” He spun around on the spot, pulling his invisibility cloak around himself as he did so it looked as if he’s just disappeared in a flurry of energy. He slipped out of the door, cancelling the silencing spell as he went and headed out of Grimauld place. He reached the door without encountering anyone and called to Hedwig to follow him as he moved down and street and out of the sight of the house, in case anyone happened to be looking out of the window at that particular moment. As soon as he was sure he wouldn’t be spotted he took off his invisibility cloak, hid it in his robes and disapparated back to Slytherin Manor.
When he appeared just outside the grounds he sent Hedwig up to the owlery, not wanting her to be present when he found Voldemort and presented himself. He was positive the Lord wouldn’t be happy with him being gone so long and he didn’t want Hedwig getting hurt in the man’s rage. He sprinted into the manor and straight to the throne room where he was sure Voldemort would be. He rushed through the door and was immediately pounced on by an agitated Dark Lord.
“Where have you been? You didn’t come back with the others and I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?” the man yelled, holding him tightly by the arms and shaking him slightly.
“I’m sorry, My Lord,” Harry immediately apologised, eyes downcast. “I received information that Dumbledore was intending to train Neville Longbottom up to be the new chosen one and grooming him to fight you. He was telling the order that Neville was the chosen one all along so they’d follow him. I knew that wouldn’t be good for the cause and I didn’t want Neville to fall into the same trap I’d been in, so I went to him and warned him about Dumbledore and his order.”
“You went to where the order are?” Voldemort all but shrieked.
“I’m sorry, My Lord, I know you are angry and you have every right to be. I didn’t want the old man to throw another wrench into our plans and I didn’t want Neville to be used like I was. I’m sorry, I will never do anything like this again I swear to you, I just had to go. I know I will be punished and I will accept any punishment you wish to bestow, even if that punishment involves harm to me; surely the contract will allow it if I agree willingly. Do as you will to me, My Lord,” he finished, still not looking up.
“My Lord, there’s something I need-”
“Get out!” Voldemort screamed, cutting off the young death eater who’d entered the room, most likely to report something. He quickly scurried away and before Harry knew it he found himself being pulled from the throne room. His heartbeat raced in his chest as they followed the corridor down to Voldemort’s private wing and he feared for what would happen to him when they arrived. Maybe the man would kill him, maybe it was all over now; Voldemort certainly seemed angry enough. He was dragged through Voldemort’s room and thrown into his before the door was slammed shut behind him and he heard the lock click into place.
Harry stared at the wood in shock wondering what was going to happen. He winced when he heard the man’s angry shout and something smashing in the other room. This continued for several minutes before finally everything became silent on the other side of the door. All Harry could do was wait and see what the Dark Lord was going to do to him.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours and still Harry didn’t move, afraid that if he did it would only serve to anger the man further. It was into the early hours of the morning by the time the door opened and Harry looked up to see the Dark Lord, looking far more composed but not completely back to his normal pristine self, standing in the doorway. Harry immediately moved to his knees so he was bowing before the man.
“Have you decided on my punishment, My Lord?” he asked.
Voldemort was silent for several moments, but Harry could feel the man’s eyes boring into him.
“Have you moved from this spot since I threw in you here earlier, Harry?” he asked after several long, tense moments.
“No, My Lord,” Harry replied.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, surprising Harry greatly.
“No, My Lord,” he replied.
“Go and have a shower then and get ready for bed, I’m sure you must be tired,” Voldemort ordered.
Harry was stunned speechless for several moments, but managed to pull himself together to reply, “Yes, My Lord.” and moved to comply.
He showered quickly and dressed in pyjamas before returning to find the Dark Lord sitting on his bed and staring at the wall, looking very lost in thought. Harry waited in the doorway for several moments, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to go over to the bed if that’s not what the man wanted him to do. Eventually Voldemort seemed to snap out of his trance and looked up at Harry.
“Come and lie down, Harry,” he directed gently and Harry’s heartbeat sped up, expecting the man to punish him once he was in bed so no one would have to carry him back to the room this time. He was surprised when the Dark Lord pulled the blanket back for him, but he slid in as ordered and allowed the man to tuck the blankets around him securely. Harry didn’t know what he thought would happen next, but it certainly wasn’t for Voldemort to run a hand gently through Harry’s hair. “Sleep now,” the the Dark Lord directed, his fingers still gliding through Harry’s short, spiky locks. “You are safe, no one will harm you.”
Harry had to fight not to look up at the man in shock, but somehow he managed it and closed his eyes instead. He’d expected Voldemort to leave but he didn’t and as much as Harry knew he should be afraid no one had ever done this to him before and he found it really soothing. Before he knew it he was drifting off to sleep, not even wanting to think that his punishment may still be forthcoming the following morning. He honestly felt far too good to care.
XX
Severus arrived in Harry’s room, after the house elf had come to see him and told him he’d been summoned, to find a sight he’d never expected to see. Voldemort was perched on the side of Harry’s bed, watching the boy as he slept soundly. He had to fight to keep the surprise out of his expression, as well as his own elation at seeing Harry safe, as he announced his arrival.
“You called for me, My Lord?”
“Severus, yes, there is something I need you to do for me,” Voldemort replied without looking away from Harry.
“Of course, My Lord,” Severus agreed immediately.
“I need you to answer a question for me. Is there anyone you know of, among Dumbledore’s precious order, who care more about Harry than saving muggles and doing the old man’s bidding?” he asked.
The answer to that was simple, “I believe there may be one, My Lord,” he replied.
“And that would be?” Voldemort asked.
“Remus Lupin,” Severus replied.
“The Werewolf?” Voldemort asked, sounding unimpressed.
“The wolf is well controlled with the perfecting of the wolfsbain potion,” Severus explained.
“Is the man strong? Powerful? Well versed in duelling and defensive magic?” Voldemort asked.
“I believe so, yes,” Severus replied.
“Then bring him here immediately, I need to discuss something of great importance with him,” Voldemort ordered.
“Of course, My Lord.” Severus bowed and Lissy disaparated him from the room and out into the yard, just outside the anti-apparition wards. He immediately apparated to Grimauld place, hoping for all the world that he wasn’t about to place Remus in immeasurable danger. he’d never forgive himself if something happened to the werewolf.
He was pleased to find the wards at Grimauld place still accepted him through after having not been there for a while and he slipped inside searching for Remus. He thankfully didn’t have to look far as he found the man’s bedroom light on and his door unlocked. He slipped inside and wasn’t at all surprised when the werewolf whirled around with his wand drawn and held it out menacingly. He paused and all but dropped the wand entirely as he sighted Severus, staring at him wide eyed.
“Severus,” he whispered disbelievingly and immediately moved toward him. His hands reached out for a moment as if to touch Severus, but stopped at the last moment as if they’d been slapped away. “We haven’t seen you in weeks, we thought you were dead,” he said and Severus detected a hint of sadness in the werewolf’s voice.
“I am not. But I need to ask you something, time is of the essence and I need you to answer me honestly, all right?” Severus asked.
“All right,” Remus agreed immediately.
“If you had to choose between the order, Dumbledore and all they stand for, or Harry, who would you choose?” he asked.
Remus’ eyes widened in shock, “Severus, why would you even ask me-”
“Remus,” Severus interrupted him gently, “your answer.”
“Harry of course, I thought you of all people would know that, Severus,” he replied, sounding rather disgruntled.
“I had assumed, but I wanted to be sure of your answer. Now I must ask you a second question, do you trust me?” Severus asked.
“Of course I do,” Remus replied without pause.
Severus held out his hand. “Then I need you to take my hand and come with me, no questions asked. Do you trust me enough to do that?” he asked.
Remus looked back at him for several moments, his eyes screaming questions while his mouth remained mute. Finally, without a word, he reached out and grasped Severus’ hand. “Whenever you’re ready, Severus.”
Relieved Severus pulled him toward the door, down the stairs and out of the house. As soon as they were outside the wards Severus pulled the werewolf close and apparated them to the dark lord's manor. They moved through the grounds unhindered and slipped inside, moving silently through the halls of the manor until they reached the throne room.
"Inform your master we have arrived," Severus told Lissy when she popped in to see what they wanted. He pulled Remus into the room and closed the door behind them to keep any late night roaming death eaters out. Remus, whose hand was still held tightly in his, tightened his grip slightly and asked, "Okay, I've been quiet up until this point but, Severus, where are we?"
Before Severus could answer the doors to the throne room opened and the dark lord glided in, moving immediately to his throne. Severus didn't dare look at Remus, but he could feel the man's accusing eyes on the side of his face and he'd immediately pulled his hand from Severus’ grasp.
"Do not look at Severus as if he has betrayed you, Mr Lupin, he did not bring you here to be harmed of killed," The dark lord said quietly as he sat down. "In fact his bringing you here is a ringing endorsement of both your integrity as a person and your magical ability.”
"I won't become a death eater," Remus snarled.
"And I do not want you to," Voldemort replied, which Severus could tell surprised Remus, even if he wasn't looking at him.
"What do you want with me then?" Remus asked, caution in his tone.
Voldemort gave him a considering look for several moments before asking. "Are you as good a dueller as Severus tells me?"
"I like to think I am," Remus replied.
Voldemort looked thoughtful. "Mr Potter-"
"Harry? Do you know where Harry is?" Remus immediately demanded and Severus reached out to touch Remus' arm gently, not wanting him to upset the dark lord.
"He is important to you then?" Voldemort asked, looking pleased.
"Of course he is, where is he?" Remus demanded, prompting Severus to tighten his grip on Remus' arm.
"How important is he to you, Mr Lupin?" The dark lord asked.
Remus looked surprised by the question but he answered immediately. "He's like a son to me, I'd die for him."
"Does he mean more to you than Dumbledore, his order and the muggles he's so keen on pretending to fight for?" The Dark Lord asked.
"Of course he does!" Remus hissed and Severus knew he was offended by the accusation.
Voldemort smiled. "I do believe you will be perfect for what I need," he stated and Remus looked even further confused.
"I don't understand," the werewolf stated.
"Mr Potter is, as you originally surmised, a guest of mine. What you were incorrect about is the manner of our affiliation," Voldemort explained.
"What do you mean?" Remus asked curiously.
Voldemort stood up. “Lissy, bring Severus and Mr Lupin to Mr Potter's room," he ordered before disappearing with a barely audible pop.
Lissy did as ordered and when Severus and Remus appeared in Harry's room, Severus had to cast a very quick silencing spell to keep Remus’ exclamation of surprise from waking the boy. "Harry!"
"Do not wake him," Voldemort ordered from where he was perched beside Harry on the bed. "He has had a difficult evening."
"Is he all right?" Remus asked, approaching the bed.
"He is quite all right, just tired," Voldemort replied.
"I don't understand, if Harry's not here as a prisoner, and he certainly doesn't look like he is, what is he doing here?" Remus asked.
"I shall allow Severus to explain that to you, Mr Lupin, what I need you to consider is a position I would like to offer you within my organisation. Young Mr Potter needs someone to protect him, even die for him if necessary. I could give the job to one of my death eaters, but I want someone who cares about him, loves him and I have chosen you for that job. Should you choose to accept you will remain here within the manor and you will be required only to look after Harry. Should you decline I will simply obliviate you and send you back to wherever you came from. I'll have Lissy take you and Severus back to Severus’ room to discuss what had transpired, if you choose to accept you can call for Lissy to set up a room for you in this wing. You have tonight to make your decision.”
Before anything else could be said Lissy had apparated them back to Severus’ room then disappeared again to go back to whatever work she had been doing prior to their arrival.
"Severus, what the hell is going on?" Remus demanded as soon as they arrived.
"Sit down, Remus, there is a lot to tell you," Severus explained, showing Remus over to the black, leather couch he had placed beneath a window, and thinking about where best to start. He'd be lying if he said the Dark Lord’s offer didn't surprise him, but if it meant keeping Harry safe and possibly having Remus nearby he wasn't going to argue.
“All right, there are a few things you need to know about Dumbledore and the order,” he began.
XX
To call Remus furious would have been far short of the truth. He was pacing the room angrily before the story was half over, and if Severus wasn’t mistaken, he was also growling quietly.
“Are you sure about this, Severus?” He snarled when the story was complete.
“I am certain, Remus.”
“But surely there must be a mistake. Dumbledore is a good man … isn’t he?” Remus asked, turning to Severus with a look that could only be described as beseeching.
“There is no mistake, Remus,” Severus assured him.
“But how can you be sure?”
“I have been in Dumbledore’s confidence for a long time, I know a great deal that others do not. I have known the headmaster’s plans for Harry for some time,” Severus explained.
“Then why didn’t you tell any of us?” Remus demanded angrily.
“Most of the order are well aware of what the headmaster had planned, a good many have even aided in his plans. Telling any of them would have been pointless and it would have kept Dumbledore from confiding in me any longer. Were that to occur I would no longer be privy to the intelligence I have gained from being in his confidence and there would have been no hope at all of finding a way to save Harry,” Severus explained.
“And Harry knows all of this?”
“He has for the last six months or so,” Severus replied.
“So why didn’t he tell me? Didn’t he trust me? Did he think I was in on the plan too?” Remus asked sadly.
“No, he was aware that you were not involved, something I assure you was a huge relief for him. He didn’t inform you for the same reason Miss Granger remains in the dark, he wants to keep you safe. The rest of us who are aware were already caught up in the war and all it entails, there is no way for us to be kept out of anything, you on the other hand could still be kept out of harms way and that is what Harry wanted,” Severus explained.
“But this is Harry we’re talking about. I’d rather be with him and in danger than kept in the dark for safety’s sake.”
“Of that I am aware, Remus, but Harry wanted you kept as safe as possible and therefore asked that I not involve you in anything that was going on. He also knew you would keep him from coming to the Dark Lord, which was another reason he kept you out of the loop.”
“And why didn’t you?” Remus demanded, the anger returning in force.
“I was incapacitated when Harry made the decision to come to the Dark Lord or I would have attempted to keep him away,” Severus explained calmly, not wanting to fight with Remus.
Remus sighed, his anger deflating and a look of sadness overtaking his features. “This is such a mess.”
“Yes it is,” Severus agreed.
“And poor, Harry, to go through all of this. He’s just a child.”
“Unfortunately there is more I have to tell you,” Severus said apologetically, feeling sorry for the werewolf that this was all getting dumped on him at once.
“I’m not sure I could handle any more,” Remus said tiredly.
Severus moved over to his bedside table and pulled Lilly’s letter out, handing it to Remus to read. He watched the werewolf’s emotions change as his eyes travelled down the page. When he reached the bottom and looked up from the letter there were tears glistening in his eyes.
“When did you get this?” he asked.
“Six months ago when Harry found it in his mother’s vault at Gringotts.”
“Dumbledore just didn’t give it to you then?”
“He did not,” Severus replied honestly.
Remus nodded and Severus’ watched the sadness in his eyes turn to anger as he folded the letter back up. He brushed away the tears away, squared his shoulders and said, “So, where did that elf go?”
“Are you sure about this, Remus? Voldemort will keep his word and you will only be required to look after Harry, it doesn’t mean everything you experience while in his service will be pleasant,” Severus explained, wanting Remus to be sure before he made his decision.
“I stopped caring about myself long ago, Severus,” Remus told him matter of factly. “I have nothing to live for except Harry and well … one other person,” he averted his gaze as he said that. “If this is where Harry is then this is where I’m going to be. I’ll follow him into hell if I have to.”
“Who’s the other person?” Severus asked, wondering if Harry’s words that first day in Voldemort’s throne room had been about Remus, but not daring to hope.
Remus averted his gaze once more. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me,” Severus argued, averting his own gaze as Remus’ returned to him.
“Why?” the werewolf asked.
“Does that matter?”
“It does to me,” Remus echoed Severus’ previous words.
“Why?” Severus returned Remus’ question and at last rose his gaze to meet the werewolf’s.
Remus’ piercing, golden eyes searched his own and Severus searched his in kind. For the longest time they just studied each other. Then out of nowhere Remus turned away from Severus and growled, “Oh for Merlin’s sake! We’re adults not bloody teenagers, skip the subtle pretext and just get to the point. Do you like me or not?”
Severus almost laughed at Remus’ outburst, he’d been an inch away from doing the same himself. “Yes, Remus, although I don’t think like is quite the word I’d use to describe it,” he replied, wanting to be honest with the werewolf now that they were finally talking about this.
Remus was silent for a long time and Severus was starting to get nervous. At last, without turning around, he said, with a shaky voice, “I love you too.”
It was the most wonderful thing Severus could ever have imagined hearing and he took several moments to allow the words to really sink in before moving forward and slipping his arms around the still trembling werewolf, nuzzling his hair lightly.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”
Remus reached up to gently grasp Severus’ arms. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m only afraid I’ll ruin this when I’ve wanted it for so long. It’s not exactly like I’ve had a lot of experience with relationships,” he admitted.
“There’s not a lot you could do that would ruin this. And besides, we’re both about as socially inept as each other, so we’re quite a good pair really.” Remus chuckled at that, which had been Severus’ intention. “I honestly think that of the two of us I’d be the more likely one to ruin this. I’m not the most amicable of people and I have no idea how to keep from driving you away.”
“You won’t. There’s nothing you could do that could drive me away,” Remus assured him.
“You might change your mind when you’ve been in the Dark Lord’s service for a while,” Severus cautioned him. “Like I said before, while the Lord is a lot more like his old self, what we do isn’t all rainbows and puppies.”
“Well considering it’s you, Severus I couldn’t imagine any of it being rainbows and puppies.” Severus chuckled at that. “I’ve always known that you’d been a death eater at least once in your life, that’s never bothered me about you. You care about Harry and keeping him safe and like I said before, aside from you, nothing else really maters to me. As long as you keep doing that, and treat me with respect and love, I don’t really care what else you do.”
“Always,” Severus promised quietly. “You and I were given the task of caring for Harry together, that makes us family to him as well as each other, at least as far as I’m concerned. We won’t always get along, no family ever does, but I will always look after Harry and I will always treat you with respect and … love.” The word sounded so alien rolling off his tongue.
All of a sudden Remus was turning in his arms and his lips were covered by the werewolf’s. He kissed back, holding Remus’ fine, muscular frame against his own. The kiss was deep and intense and neither of them pulled away until they were desperate for air.
“Wow,” Remus gasped breathlessly. “That was just as awesome as I imagined it would be.” Then he leapt on Severus again.
Severus pulled back from the kiss long enough to ask, “Do you think we need to call Lissy to make up a room for you.”
“Perfectly good room right here,” Remus gasped back.
“Glad we’re on the same page,” Severus replied, moving them back toward the bed. “Lissy,” He paused in his ravishing of Remus long enough to call Lissy and tell her Remus had agreed to the Lord’s offer, before all but throwing Remus down on the bed and leaping on him.
That night was the best Severus had ever had
XX

And heeerrrreeee's Remus!!! DId you expect that??? What about Dumble's plans for Neville? And did we like how Harry derailed them?
Now I had a few review comments I wanted to reply to. Sorry I didn't reply to reviews well I am very time poor with work and a toddler, but I wanted to say for the person who asked about Harry and the death eaters calling Voldemort "the lord" and not "our lord" I did that a little deliberately because in their minds he should be lord of everything and everyone and not just them, so he's everyone's lord and therefore "the lord" of everything. Maybe that's wrong but that's how I think of it. I can't remember the other thing but when I do I'll comment on it. Anyway please review and hopefully I'll see you soon xxoo
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Carry on my Wayward Son