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In Servitude of the Dark : My Obiesance	By : xXxLuckyxXx Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 39418 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: This story is based off of J.K. Rowling’s amazing Harry Potter series. All characters, locations, themes from the world of HP belong to her. This is not for money or profit. I am just having fun playing in her magical world.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
A/N: This is the longest chapter as of yet (16 pages!), and I am sort of scared to post this chapter just because there was so much anticipation and build up for it.

(¯`·._.·(¯`·._.·(¯`·._.· In Servitude to the Dark: My Obeisance ·._.·´¯)·._.·´¯)·._.·´¯)

Chapter 5 : Severus' Decision – August 09, 1994

There were so many injured with curses, charms, and mob panic, that St. Mungoes couldn't possibly house them all. So only the more dire ones were shipped off to St. Mungoes, and for everyone else, a huge tent was raised, acting like a temporary infirmary.

Hours ago, Severus sent Sirius to connect with the aurors and Ministry personnel. As a former auror, that would be the best place for him. Severus' skills were best used at the tent, where he joined a dozen other healers and medi-wizards borrowed from St. Mungoes. Volunteers also came flooding in, handling the little, but necessary things so the healers could concentrate on their jobs.

In the aftermath of the attack, the atmosphere was tense, solemn, and heavy with unanswered questions. Even the medi-wizards, who usually had a hardy constitution, just by virtue of dealing with pain and suffering and death, worked with a single-minded focus. Everything around him reminded Severus eerily of the last days of the war, when the Dark Lord attacked so fast and so furious that the hospitals were overfilled and they had to erect temporary tents just like this one. It was like they were in the midst of war again, as if they hadn't enjoyed 13 years of peace.

But these were not the thoughts that preoccupied Severus' mind. Even as he worked mechanically, his mind was back at lot #4, where Harry Potter slept. He had been replaying over and over those few critical minutes. It was clear to him now that Harry had acted out of desperation. His methods left a lot to be desired, but Severus knew if Harry hadn't done what he did, then there would be a whole lot more injuries and more deaths than just the few who were caught inside their tents as it burned. It was thanks to Harry Potter that the 422nd World Cup was not known as the World Cup Massacre.

Analyzing Harry's unusual one sided conversation, Severus now understood that it was the mysterious Source Harry had interacted with, and it was this same source that could take possession of the boy's body and magic. That in addition to the fact that Harry manipulated his Dark Mark, punishing the Death Eaters as the Dark Lord had once done, worried Severus to no end.

"What kind of mess did you get yourself, this time," Severus muttered for the fifth time that night. All he knew was that the Dark Lord had built himself a body, making use of a golem, if Harry could be believed. Could the Dark Lord send his soul miles and miles away to take possession of Harry? Severus didn't know. Soul magic was one branch of magic that he didn't feel comfortable in studying, but he knew the Dark Lord practiced it extensively.

The only thing that kept Severus from picking the boy up and hiding him away was the fact that Harry seemed in complete control of the situation. True, something had used Harry's body, but it was with consent. And Harry was able to convince the Source to spare his memories, something that Severus now felt very grateful for. It showed just how much Harry trusted him, and Severus was not going to betray that until he got the full story.

Severus was no closer to puzzling out an answer when the first light of dawn bathed the ruined field in its golden light. Some novice healer took over for Severus, relieving him of his duties. Now that the most critical of the trauma patients were stabilized and taken care of, the apprentices and novices could take over.

Checking on the monitoring charm he placed over Harry's bed, he was pleased that the boy was still fast asleep. He would stay that way for another few hours. Deciding to take advantage of the moment, he went out in search of Sirius, finding the man amongst a group of burgundy robed aurors. It looked like the investigations were already started. Severus gestured to get Sirius' attention.

"Know anything concrete yet?" Severus asked by way of a greeting.

"And good morning to you too, Sevvie," Sirius replied.

"Don't start. I've treated over 50 witches and wizards, each of them have cried, puked, and bled all over me. I am not in the mood," Severus snapped irritably.

Sirius looked suitably impressed. For a misanthropic man, who abhorred humanity, that was a lot of unwanted human contact. But still… "Well, it hasn't been a picnic for us either," he said and pulled out the morning's Daily Prophet early edition, shoving it hard beneath the other man's overly large nose. "Git."

Severus took the paper and scanned it quickly. "Ministry blunders… culprits not apprehended… lax security… Dark wizards running unchecked… national disgrace… Who wrote this garbage? Ah, of course… Rita Skeeter." He looked up to Black, who he had to admit looked a little frazzled. "What's the word from the Ministry?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "They are maintaining that this isn't You-Know-Who come back to life, and all this…" Sirius waved an arm to take in all the damages around them. "Is just some drunk wizards having too much fun."

"Unlikely," Severus drawled, knowing from Harry that these were real Death Eaters, not impersonators. "Has Albus shown up?"

"If he has, he's probably hanging around the Weasleys. That seems to be the place where all the Ministry folks have gathered."

Severus debated for a moment on whether he had enough patience to deal with that lot. He could already feel a headache pounding behind his eyes, just at the thought. Unfortunately, it wasn't a matter of patience. He needed all the information he could get before he had his talk with Harry. So he apparated to the south end of the campsite, estimating where lot 68 was.

He immediately came upon a large crowd of disarray. Unlike the aurors who were identifiable by their dark red uniforms, everyone here were dressed in their Family colors, or those who attended the World Cup were dressed in muggle clothing. On the outer edges, questions were being shouted by the reporters and cameras flashed, irritating Severus' already tired eyes.

Thankfully, the Weasleys were a loud bunch, easily seen by their large numbers and red hair. But before he could reach them, he was detained by the last voice he wanted to hear, calling his name. Severus paused in midstride. "Yes, Lucius?" Severus drawled, the irritation on his face immediately smoothed out to that of cool disdain. "What do you want?"

"Just a word," Lucius replied, equally calm and well aware that there were eyes and ears everywhere.

Severus allowed himself to be pulled aside and waited for the necessary privacy wards to be erected. "This had better not take too long," Severus warned. "Thanks to your little demonstration, I've been working round the clock." And then he aimed an icy glare at Lucius. "What in Merlin's name possessed you people? Were you just drunk and stupid?"

Lucius smirked, having already inspected the state of his former friend. Usually the dour Potion's Master could care less about his appearance, but the tenseness around his eyes spoke of the stress he was under. "Perhaps I should have invited you join in the festivities. It appears as though you could use the stress relief."

Severus sneered in disgust. "Very sporting of you, Lucius," he said. "Well?"

"We were not drunk nor was this a mere whim." At this, Lucius grew serious. "It's time those Light-minded baffoons remember what we Dark wizards are capable of," he answered, his eyes taking on the glint of near religious zeal.

"And I suppose you are the one to lead us in this glorious movement?" Severus remarked dryly.

"I don't appreciate your tone, Severus," Lucius growled, taking a step forward to crowd the slightly shorter man. "You will be wise to reconsider your cushy position with Dumbledore."

Severus, however, wasn't an easy man to intimidate and stood his ground. They both knew that between the two, Severus was the stronger wizard in mind and magic. "And I suppose the Dark Mark flaring like the sun means nothing to you?"

Lucius' cold grey eyes narrowed, and he took a step back. "So you did feel it?" he asked, looking around furtively even though they were safe behind the privacy wards. "I had wondered."

Severus noted how the other man rubbed his left arm. Considering both of their high tolerance to pain, to cause Lucius to keep rubbing it, meant it had to still be bothering him. He gave Harry a mental pat on the back. "What do you think it was?" he asked with an air of disinterest.

"What do you think?" Lucius snapped back, finally letting out a little of the panic he was feeling inside. "This is absolutely the worst time for Him to return…but He must still be weak," he added, and to Severus, it sounded like Lucius was trying to convince himself of the fact. "Or else, why did He not show up?"

Realizing Lucius was even more clueless than he was, Severus was no longer interested in spending a minute more than his former friend. "Well, you can speculate all you want. I, on the other hand, have better things to do." And with that, Severus broke the wards with a neat slash of his wand.

In his characteristic long strides, he left Lucius fuming behind, making a bee line to the cluster of red heads. Thankful for his snarky reputation, the crowd immediately parted for him as they recognized the stern and determined look on his face. Some were whispering and pointing at him as he passed. He ignored them all with practiced ease. No doubt they were wondering if he had anything to do with the attack.

Thankful for his sanity, Arthur met him halfway. "Is there something I can help you with?" Arthur asked.

Severus shook his head, and Arthur understood. They were drawing curious eyes. That's why he hated being around people in general, and specifically Light wizards. They were a shallow, judgmental species, prone to self righteousness. Speculations will run high just because he was seen talking with Lucius Malfoy, high ranked Ministry man, who wouldn't normally be seen by the likes of someone so misanthropic as Severus. And now he was talking to Arthur Weasley, a very well known Light wizard, and enemy of Malfoy. It's no wonder every reporter's camera was pointed at him.

Arthur guided him into his tent, where half of his children were busy packing up. Once they saw their Potion's Professor, though, they immediately stopped. "Harry! Is he okay?" Hermione immediately asked, wringing her fingers anxiously.

Severus shot the girl an irritated look. Glancing around, he also recognized the twins, the youngest Weasley son, and their daughter. Each of them were looking up at him, waiting for answers. It was unfortunate that Harry loved this family, so he couldn't just sneer at them and make them go away. Severus gave a beleaguered sigh. "I took Mr. Potter back home at the first sign of attack," Severus lied easily. "Unless he reads that rag for a newspaper, he will barely know what transpired last night."

Everyone smiled uneasily at this news. "Kids, if you could give us a moment?" Arthur asked, shooing out his crowd of curious teens. Knowing his children, he also erected privacy wards around them. "Was that Malfoy you were talking to?" Arthur asked, though he couldn't have missed Lucius' white robes or white hair.

Severus nodded anyway, but gave no further information. "Have you seen Albus anywhere?"

"He popped in for a few minutes to see for himself, but then he was called away again," Arthur answered, running his hands through his short ginger hair. "It's not just Britain. This has become an international incident. The ICW is meeting right now. To be sure, Ireland wasn't pleased to have their glory usurped by this mess." Then he turned curious eyes back at Severus. "Is there any news I can relay for you, if I see Albus again?"

Severus was glad to know Albus was called away. The ICW, just like any bureaucracy, was a slow moving machine, and would buy Severus a few days of peace before the Headmaster summoned him. "Nothing of great import," Severus answered distractedly, his tired mind trying to figure out Lucius' cryptic comment. If he didn't miss his mark, it almost sounded like Lucius wanted to be the next Dark Lord!

Just the thought of that made Severus' head pound.

Arthur was a little disappointed with the non-answer, but he was used to the Potion's Master keeping everything close to his chest. It wasn't his way to just give up information for free, unless it was for Dumbledore.

O o 0 O 0 o O o 0 O 0 o O o 0 O 0 o O

August 10, 1994

When Harry woke up, he was a little confused, finding himself back in Prince Hall, in his own bed. The last thing he remembered was… "Oh right," Harry muttered to himself and fell back on his pillow. He remembered the attack and he remembered how he demanded use of Severus' Dark Mark. That alone made Harry want to burrow back into his blanket and forget everything. And then he remembered how Severus had taken care of him, even after.

At the very least, he owed the man an explanation. So he slipped out of bed, pleased to see his limbs could support him again. A tempus charm told him it was almost noon the day after the attack. Harry quickly got ready and asked an elf where Severus was.

"Master is being in his lab," Knobby answered. "Master is telling Knobby to tell Little Master to have breakfast first."

Seeing the look of determination in the little elf's stance, Harry submitted. It was a light breakfast, just porridge and juice, but Harry used this time to consult with his friend.

"Are you okay, Marvolo?" Harry wrote in the diary.

In answer, Marvolo floated out from the pages and settled right next to Harry. "I have rested sufficiently," he replied and looked Harry up and down. "It was mostly your powers that I used this time. Have you recovered?"

Harry nodded, but chewed on his lip worriedly. "I had about a million potions, so I'm okay now. But Severus is going to want answers." He looked up at his friend inquisitively. "How do you want to do this?"

"I would prefer you explain the situation before I allow him to see me."

"In case he reacts badly?" Harry guessed, nodding in agreement. "That's probably for the best."

Marvolo followed Harry silently as they made their way through Prince Hall to the potion's lab. Harry wasn't surprised his teacher was working. Brewing potions seemed to calm the man just as flying or music did for Harry.

"Severus?" Harry knocked on the door to gain the man's attention. He was surprised by the dark rings under his teacher's eyes. "Have you slept at all, sir?"

Severus cast stasis charms on all three cauldrons he was working on. "I did not have the luxury, no," Severus answered and peered at the boy critically. He was pleased to see Harry's eyes shining clearly. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

In typical teenage fashion, Harry rolled his eyes. "What about you?"

"I will eat as we talk," Severus said, ushering the boy out of his lab. "There is a great deal you have to tell me."

Harry gulped a little. Neither said a word until they settled in the sitting room and food-snacks more like it-was delivered for Severus. Knowing his mentor was waiting for him, Harry wondered where he should start. He had been keeping this secret so close and for so long that he made him uncomfortable to speak of it out loud.

"Tell me who your Source is," Severus suggested, seeing how much trouble Harry was having.

That seemed to be as good a place to start as any. "Okay," Harry said, his voice sounding small and trembly in his own ears. "You know the Dark Lord experimented a lot with immortality, right?"

Severus nodded, not expecting Harry to start with that, but was outwardly calm. "There were a great many rumors, and as I understand it, he travelled the world in search for the answer to immortality."

"It wasn't just immortality he wanted though," Harry amended. "If that were it, he would've just struck a deal with the vampires." Harry shook his head. "No, he wanted more. What he wanted was to be invulnerable to Death itself. In other words, if you cut off his head, he can still come back to life."

Severus understood the distinction Harry was trying to make. "I assume he was successful, seeing as how he survived the Killing Curse rebounding on him?"

"He actually managed it in his 7th year." Harry shot his teacher an inquisitive look. "Have you ever heard of horcruxes?"

Severus choked a little on his biscuit. Had he heard of horcruxes? Yes, yes he had heard of the term, but only in the academic sense. It was such dark magic, that even among dark wizards, you don't hear it spoken aloud, much like the Dark Lord's name. After all, no one was crazy or brave enough to actually fracture their own soul and tear a splinter of it off from the rest.

"So he was able to create one then? In his 7th year?" As horrible as it was, attaining immortality and invulnerability to death before you even turned 20 was an impressive feat.

"Not only one," Harry said ominously.

Severus stiffened. Merlin! No one in the history of the wizarding world had ever made more than one. Severus shuddered. "How many?"

Harry shook his head. "Even I don't know that," he answered truthfully. "And I don't want to."

That was probably wise of the boy. Too much information could get you killed. Severus watched curiously when Harry reached into his robe and produced a very familiar looking diary. He recognized it as the one he temporarily confiscated last year when he had to take Harry in the infirmary. The dark magic coming off of it was also very familiar.

"This was the first horcrux," Harry said, sliding the book across the table.

Severus was hesitant to pick it up, but trusted that Harry wouldn't have handed it over if it was still dangerous. Still, he used his wand to flip open the pages just in case, and was slightly disappointed to find the pages were blank. "This is a horcrux?" It seemed so ordinary, so plain.

"Was a horcrux," Harry corrected. "I don't think it qualifies as one anymore. The Dark Lord also made another horcrux that I know of."

"What is it?" Severus was wondering how Harry came to possess not one, but two fragments of the Dark Lord's soul.

Harry took a deep breath and slowly raised his hand to push his bangs up, revealing his lightening bolt scar. "Me."

A stone seemed to drop into Severus' stomach. "No, it can't be," he denied fervently, queasy at the idea that this child was playing host to a piece of the Dark Lord's soul. "There's no such thing as a living horcrux." Not Lily's son…he was too pure and too innocent.

Harry shrugged. "Apparently, it's possible. Before the Dark Lord came to Godric's Hallow, he had already completed the ritual to making a horcrux. All he needed was the death of an innocent, and guess who he thought would have the honor?" Harry asked sardonically.

In light of this information, Severus tried to imagine how that night must have gone. The Dark Lord was arrogant and had a flare for the dramatics. It didn't surprise Severus that the Dark Lord would use the death of the Prophesized Child to make a horcrux and ensure his immortality. But when the killing curse rebounded on him, that sliver of soul must have completely broken off and went in search of a vessel. A warm, living, defenseless baby must have seemed like heaven to a desperate, parasitic soul fragment.

"Oh hell," Severus breathed, suddenly realizing all the implications and complications that could have happened. He looked at the child before him in wonder. "How have you not become crazy?" For that matter how did the boy even remain functional at all?

"I think it's because it happened when I was just a baby," Harry answered. "I was young enough that my body could adapt to the foreign soul, and my magic formed a wall around it to separate it from my own soul. I didn't even notice anything strange when growing up. Well, except I could talk to snakes."

Severus' mind was spinning. It was a one in a billion chance that Harry survived. If the circumstances weren't exactly what they were, or if Harry wasn't as powerful as he was, Severus was certain that he would have died long ago or the Dark Lord's soul fragment would have contaminated Harry's soul too. "So it is still inside you?" Severus asked, remembering how Harry held the one sided argument.

"Oh no," Harry said. "Remember in second year, how I found Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets?"

Severus nodded slowly, pulling everything he could remember from that year.

"Well, Ginny was the first owner of this diary," Harry said and briefly summarized how Ginny had fed the diary with her emotions and how she became possessed and let the basilisk upon the school. "By the time I found her body, she was nearly dead and the ghost of Tom Marvolo Riddle was hovering over her body." Harry noticed how Severus didn't react to the name at all. So he used his wand and wrote out name in the air, just as Tom had done for him two years ago. And then with a swish of his wand, he rearranged the letters.

If you asked him later, Severus would deny that he gaped like a fish at the words, "I AM LORD VOLDEMORT," spelled out before him. His right hand automatically came to cover his Mark.

Harry allowed his teacher to stew on this for a moment before continuing on. "Tom could sense the horcrux inside me and wanted to merge with it. I, of course, had no idea what he was talking about. All I knew was that Ginny was slipping away as I just stood there, defenseless, and I knew I couldn't defeat him," Harry said matter of factly. "I only had a second year's education and Tom was threatening to unleash the basilisk on me."

"So you made an exchange?" Severus concluded.

Harry nodded. "Her life for the horcrux inside me," he clarified. "But see, the thing is, the Horcrux in me was the last one that the Dark Lord ever made, and it had all of His knowledge up until the killing curse rebounded." Harry was speaking faster now, getting more excited. He was reluctant at first to speak about his special friend, but now it felt so liberating to share the best part of his life with someone he cared about. "But that wasn't all. It also lived inside me for the next 11 years, experiencing everything I experienced. Don't you see, Sir?" Harry leaned forward, willing his teacher to understand, green eyes dancing. "Marvolo doesn't want to hurt me because our souls are practically one and the same!"

Severus sagged into his chair, wishing he had some Firewhiskey on hand. He could see how all this could make some kind of twisted sense. If Harry wasn't corrupted by the soul fragment, then it could be assumed that after 11 years the soul fragment was contaminated-or more likely purified- by Harry's stronger soul instead. As outlandish as this was, it made sense-that is if you could suspend your disbelief.

"Suppose all you are saying is true," Severus said and quickly held up a hand when the boy opened his mouth to protest. "Assuming, you are perfectly safe with this…Marvolo, it still doesn't mean he is any saner than he was before he lost his body. Any moment, he could snap and destroy you."

"Marvolo is not Voldemort," Harry said firmly. "Voldemort is crazy because he cut up his soul too many times. These horcruxes though, are the bits of personality that Voldemort didn't want and cast them aside. Marvolo is made up of two of these personalities, the youngest and the oldest-the most innocent and wisest. It seems to balance out pretty well."

Severus rubbed his face harshly. "You are telling me all this because you want me to join you, don't you?" he asked, point blank.

"You can't deny you're a dark wizard," Harry said. "And when Marvolo merges back with Voldemort, much of the Dark Lord's insanity will be fixed."

"He killed your parents, Harry," Severus reminded him. "He killed Lily, and he means to kill all muggle-borns. What will you do when he goes after your friend, Ms. Granger?"

Harry shook his head. "No. It won't be like the last war. Marvolo sees now how all that killing and torture is just senseless and counter-productive to the cause." Harry leaned forward. "And remember, the Dark Lord did give my mother 3 chances to step aside. Even when he was crazy, even at his worst, He didn't want to kill her at all!"

"No, it was just to kill you!" Severus finally shouted in frustration, upsetting the little snack tray on the table.

"He was only defending himself," Harry shouted back. "What would you do if you were the Dark Lord and a baby was prophesized to kill you?"

For the second time in as many hours, Severus froze. The blood drained from his face. "You know of the Prophesy?"

Harry nodded. "I know most things that Marvolo does. We keep very little secrets from each other," he answered. "And I know it was you who delivered half of the Prophesy to the Dark Lord."

Severus snarled and leapt to his feet so quickly, his chair flew back with a crash. "If you know so much, Potter," Severus growled, bending over so he was practically nose to nose with the boy. "Then why the hell are you still here!"

Harry was taken aback by how angry his teacher was. He had even called him Potter! But then Harry realized Severus was lashing out because he was hurt or scared. Impulsively, Harry took a hold of Severus' tight fist with his two smaller hands and hugged it close to his chest. "I never blamed you, Severus," Harry said softly. "You couldn't have known the Prophesy was about me. You didn't even know my mother was pregnant at the time."

And then suddenly, all the fight seemed to drain out of the Potion's Master. "Don't, Harry," Severus pleaded, equally soft. All that rage and fear quickly vanished, leaving him exhausted. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, or Lily's for that matter."

"There is nothing to forgive," Harry said firmly. "It wasn't your fault."

"Then whose is it?" Severus returned bitterly.

Harry's face darkened. "There are many people I blame. My parents first of all. The moment they learned the Prophesy was about their unborn son, they should have fled Britain. It's not like my father couldn't afford it. But most of all I blame Dumbledore." Harry gently guided his teacher back into his seat and poured the man a cup of hot tea. "If I were Dumbledore, I'd legimize or force feed veritaserum to every single member of the Order to find out who the spy was. Not simply make random assumptions in such an important matter. And then I'd take more precautions than just relying solely on the Fidelius Charm. My parents stayed in one place for more than a year! Not a smart thing when being hunted down by Death Eaters. Don't you see? Dumbles could have done so much more, but he didn't."

Of course, these were all the same thoughts that ran through Severus' mind after he lost Lily. You'd think the Headmaster would do all he could to protect the only person who could kill the Dark Lord, but Albus was suspiciously lax about the whole thing. "I'll have to think about all this, Harry," Severus said, standing up, this time slowly as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I will have an answer for you by tomorrow. Until then, I assure you, I will speak of this to no one."

Harry nodded in understanding. "Yeah, you were practically dead on your feet before we even started talking."

O o 0 O 0 o O o 0 O 0 o O o 0 O 0 o O

August 11, 1994

Tired as he was, Severus knew if he went to bed now, he'd just lay in bed with this thoughts circling round and round with everything that happened. Had it only been a little more than a week since Harry first told him that the Dark Lord was back? It seemed much longer than that.

So Severus indulged in a hot soak, letting his overactive mind slow down, before taking half a dose of Dreamless Sleep. He slept deeply and uninterrupted for 6 hours, more than enough for a man who was used to waking up at all hours to tend to his potions. Now with a blessedly clear mind, he went into his closet, deactivated the security wards, and removed a box that he hadn't laid eyes on for more than 13 years.

Sitting in his favorite chair, Severus began pulling out letters and photos, most of them were of the muggle variety. The very first one was of himself and Lily idly swinging on the swings at a nearby park as the sun turned red and gold. Even at that young age of 6, Severus remembered thinking Lily was the most beautiful thing in the world, especially how her red hair seemed to turn into phoenix fire under the glow of the setting sun. The other pictures were also of happier times, times where he was invited over to the Evans to have dinner or to be a part of some family tradition. He had his first meaningful Christmas at the Evans.

"Oh Lily," Severus mourned, tracing a finger down the not-moving image of his one and only true friend. "What am I going to do with your son?"

It seemed like a travesty, a betrayal of Lily's memory to let her son join the Dark Order. But the boy, who never even knew his own mother, not in any meaningful sense, was determined. Severus didn't think he could convince the boy from his chosen path.

"But should I?" Severus whispered mostly to himself. What did the Light side have to offer Harry Potter? Certainly not safety. Albus simply dropped the child, like some unwanted parcel, at the doorstep of the worst sort of muggles, sentencing him to 10 years of cruelty and abuse. Not to mention all the dangers he had faced at school.

Certainly not happiness either. How many times has he seen the hurt in those green eyes when his classmates and his friends turned on him? The Light side may be quick to offer their hand in friendship, but they were just as quick to withdraw it. Not so among Dark wizards who were wary of making connections, but once made were strong.

And certainly not any kind of meaningful future. In fact, Severus had a horrible suspicion that Albus planned to sacrifice Harry to end this war, especially if the Old Man knew Harry was a horcrux too. It would be such a Gryffindor thing to do. Martyring a boy hero, having him die in a glory of flames. These were what legends were made of. But Severus had no use for legends, and he didn't think the idea would appeal to the boy either.

"So the other path…" Severus mumbled, idly rubbing the faded Dark Mark on his arm. He remembered the reasons why he first joined. True, a lot of it was because he was bullied and pushed into finding a group of wizards who were like minded and could understand him. But he also believed in the Dark Lord's promises and propaganda. He hated how the Light wizards treated magic so frivolously, like a mere tool in their everyday lives. They had no respect or true understanding of this awesome, living force around them. And the Dark Lord had promised a return of the days where witches and wizards practiced every aspect of magic proudly and reverently. That was the future he wanted for his world.

This was one thing that frustrated Severus so much as Lily grew up. Living in Gryffindor Tower, Albus' Light sided influence were constantly reinforced, and try as he might Severus could not get her to see that there was beauty in the darkness too.

"Well, looks like your son found what you couldn't see," Severus said dryly.

No, that wasn't quite it, either. It was like Harry was everything beautiful about the Dark. When Severus closed his eyes, he could still see the fey boy dancing and playing his violin with such heart-moving grace, as his sprites circled him. Magic loved that boy, and he loved magic with an equal fervor. Severus would be damned if he tried to take Harry from all that, only to condemn him to the superficial mockery of magic that the Light side preached.

As terrifying and as incredible as it is, Severus believed the boy would be happiest as a dark wizard. But did he have to serve the Dark Lord? After thinking about it, Severus came to the conclusion that, yes, Harry had no choice. There was no middle path in this war. In the end, everyone had to pick a side, and the Dark Lord would accept no less from the Boy-Who-Lived. To do otherwise would be to incur a death sentence.

As for Severus himself…well when he made that vow to watch over the boy, all those years ago, he had already resigned himself to follow whichever path Harry chose-whether it be Light or Dark-if only just to make sure Harry remained the last one standing even as the world crumbled around him. Severus just hoped Harry wouldn't be disappointed as he had been when the Dark Lord's thirst for pain and blood was unquenchable. Did the boy really think he could return the Dark Lord's sanity?

Did Severus dare to hope?

Surprisingly, Severus had more faith in a 14 year old boy to save their world than he did in a 150+ year old man. His loyalty would always be with Lily, but he'd allowed that guilty part of him rule his life for too long now. He wasn't a naïve man. He knew Albus relied on this guilt to keep him fighting for the Light side. Whenever his faith wavered, Albus would bring up his debt.

"You'll always be with me," Severus told the unmoving picture. "But you entrusted your son to me, and he needs me now." With that, he replaced all the photos and letters back in the box, and stowed the box back into its secret spot.

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August 12, 1994

Harry tried to be patient as he waited for his teacher's answer. Not only did the man have a life changing decision to make, he also needed some sleep badly. Marvolo kept him nicely distracted. Neither of them discussed what would happen if Severus refused to join them. But they both knew the best case scenario would be an Obliviate, and worst case would be at the ends of each other's wands on the battle field.

Severus had promised he would have an answer by the next day, but didn't give a time. Harry didn't expect to see him again until nightfall, so he was surprised to see the man sipping tea at the informal dining room when he returned from his morning run. "You're here!" Harry said, and then flushed at how stupid it sounded.

"Indeed," Severus replied, the edge of his lip quirking up.

Harry took a moment to study his teacher, hoping for some clue as to what the other man was thinking. But there was nothing, only a strange sense of peace-the kind one enjoyed when they finally made a decision. Harry took that as a good sign.

"Umm…I'm gonna go clean up and change real quick." Not waiting for a response, Harry practically flew up the stairs and into his room. His heart was doing double time, and not from his exercise either. He was just too nervous about his teacher's answer. He was pretty sure, at first, what Severus' answer might be, but doubt began to creep in.

He knew how devoted Severus was to his mother. He turned spy against the most feared wizard, just because of his feelings for Lily. Were Severus' feelings for Harry strong enough to counter that? It was an answer that Harry didn't know.

A short 20 minutes later, he had showered and changed. Grabbing the diary, he pounded back down the stairs to find that Severus had breakfast set up for them. Harry grimaced. "I don't think I can eat right now," he complained.

Half way finished with buttering his toast, Severus looked up and studied the boy. His whole body was tense, and he was chewing on his bottom lip, a sure sign of nervousness or anxiety. It suddenly occurred to Severus that Harry not only needed him, but also wanted him. It made Severus' feel warm inside to know that he had done something right to earn this from the very reserved boy.

"Where is Black?" Severus suddenly asked.

Harry blinked in surprise. "Umm, he woke up late yesterday and did some mediation stuff. And then Mr. Weasley fire-called him. Something about needing more hands at the Ministry, so he left pretty early this morning," Harry answered. "He didn't want to at first, but I told him you were here."

Severus nodded and rose from his seat. "Very well, then. Shall we take this to the lobby?" he asked, feeling a little queasy at the thought of food as well.

Harry nodded quickly. On the way, Harry couldn't resist darting glances at the silent man next to him. He was glad to see how much better his teacher looked after some sleep, but other than that, he couldn't read the expression on Severus' face one way or the other.

"Before I give you my answer, there are a couple things I need to know," Severus began. Neither of them chose to sit down, being too tense.

Harry nodded. He figured that. "Alright, I'll answer if I can."

"How involved do you plan to be in the Dark Order?" Severus asked. "Are you planning to become a Death Eater?"

Harry's eyes involuntarily flickered at his teacher's covered forearm. "Yes I am," he answered firmly. "I know there's a lot still for me to learn, but I know I can do it."

"You are willing to kill and torture people then?" Severus asked skeptically. No matter how many times Harry surprised him, he was certain the kind hearted boy could not kill in cold blood.

Harry grimaced at this. "Like I said, Marvolo doesn't approve of senseless killing," he said. "There are plenty of ways I can incapacitate my enemy without killing them, and I'm not talking about just stunning them."

Severus nodded. Well, he supposed that was the best he could get out of the boy. No one could know what they were going to do in the heat of battle until they've experienced it. At least Harry knew using stunners wasn't an option. "What are your plans for the Weasleys, or your godfather?" Severus asked. "Both of them are very active in Dumbledore's Order, and you will eventually face them on the battle field."

"I don't know," Harry mumbled. "I can't protect them, not if they want to actively fight against the Dark Lord. But war will come whether I am fighting for the Dark or for the Light. I can only hope that I won't be the one to face them."

That was the hard thing with coming from both worlds. Even Severus, who didn't make friends easily, was fond of some of the Weasleys. It wouldn't be pleasurable for him either to have to take one of them out. But as a Death Eater, you didn't get to pick and choose. "Alright. It looks like you have thought about this very carefully. It's not some Gryffindor whim or misplaced loyalty to the Dark Lord's soul."

"No Sir," Harry shook his head. "I am loyal to the Dark. If merging Marvolo with Voldemort does not cure him of his insanity, then I will not serve him."

That was exactly what Severus needed to hear to tip his decision. "Very well then. You have my support in this, but I reserve the right to pull us out of England or even Europe if the Dark Lord is not who you claim to be."

"Deal!" Harry's face split into a wide smile, and he launched himself at his teacher, surprising the man so badly that they almost fell over. "Thank you, thank you!" Harry squealed happily.

"Alright, you brat," Severus said, chuckling.

Harry pulled back, bright green eyes glittering. "Do you want to meet Marvolo now?" he asked excitedly, and frowned when his teacher stiffened. "It's okay, Severus. He's just a horcrux. He can't hurt anyone like this."

"If I recall correctly, he was able to bring the entire army of Death Eaters to their knees just a couple nights ago."

"But he needs my body to do any real magic," Harry argued, holding his breath. Finally, and reluctantly, Severus nodded. Harry gave a yip of excitement, before shoving the diary into his teacher's hands. "Just write your name in the book, and you'll be able to see him."

"Isn't this the same book that drained Ms. Ginevra Weasley's life nearly to the point of death?" Severus took the book with the tips of his fingers as if it were some volatile potion's ingredient.

Harry rolled his eyes. "That's only if Marvolo wants to kill you," he said and realized this wouldn't reassure his teacher at all. "Don't worry. I've already spoken to Marvolo about your allegiance, and he's all for it."

Severus didn't know how Harry managed to talk him into such a reckless thing, but he found himself with a quill in hand and scratching his name into the first blank page of the diary. With wand in hand, just in case, Severus watched in fascination as the ink was absorbed into the pages. And then the book started smoking…no it wasn't smoking. Something was rising out of the pages, pouring dark magic into the room.

Severus scrambled to his feet, wand still raised, as the smoky form first swirled around Harry's body almost lovingly. Harry giggled a little, reaching out with his small fingers, childlike, letting the smoke pass through his fingers. And then the formless smoke drifted in front of him, condensing to a ghostly image of who Severus recognized was the Dark Lord, only about 20 years younger. All Severus could do was stand there and blink.

"It has been a long time, my slippery friend," Marvolo spoke.

Hearing the Dark Lord's smooth baritone voice again, jolted him out of his shock. Realizing he was still standing before a manifestation of the Dark Lord, Severus instantly dropped to his knees and bowed deeply, quickly falling into habits he thought he'd forgotten. "My Lord."

That took Harry by surprise, and he instinctively took a step forward, but Marvolo held a hand up to stop Harry from interfering. Harry frowned a little, but decided this was between Marvolo and Severus. Besides, if he wanted to become a Death Eater too, he ought to learn what it was going to be like.

"Am I, Severus? Am I your Lord, when you have strayed?" Marvolo said sternly.

"Yes," Severus answered, sensing the apparition circling him, studying him. "I offer no excuse to redeem myself."

"You know the penalty of betrayal."

At this, Severus' head dipped lower in regret.

"Tell me, what has caused my Dark Son to flee to the likes of Albus Dumbledore?"

Severus Mark burned in warning under the Dark Lord's anger. "It was Lily Evans, My Lord," he answered, glad that his voice was steady. "I falsely believed you had killed her, without a thought to our deal. It was all I wanted from you-not riches, power, or even knowledge-but her safety. When news of her death reached me, I was so blinded with grief that I went to Dumbledore."

"And yet you have also saved young Harry's life many times, even at the risk of your own," Marvolo continued, this time his voice was gentler. "I was there, silent and watching, all the time. I wonder, will your loyalty to the son be as strong and steadfast as for the mother?"

"It is, My Lord," Severus answered fervently. "All I want is for him to be happy and have a chance to grow up into the fine wizard I know he'll be."

"And if that is to serve me, as a Death Eater?"

"If that is truly what he wants, then so be it," Severus replied, though more reluctant. He still had his doubts, but Severus would be there when Harry needed him. "I will do all I can to make sure he can still look at himself in the mirror at the end of it all."

"Then we are in agreement," Marvolo said. "Rise, Severus. There are important matters we need to discuss."

Harry let out a breath of relief when Severus rose to his feet and chose a seat. It bothered him a little to see his proud teacher bowing. But now that the formalities were over, it seemed both men were at ease again.

"Come, Little One," Marvolo beckoned, holding an arm out.

Harry instantly complied, sitting where Marvolo indicated with the apparition wrapped around him like a cloak. Harry hadn't given much thought to how this might appear to someone else, but when Severus raised a slender brow in surprise, Harry flushed. It was just such a natural thing between them. Marvolo must have sensed Harry's unease because ghostly fingers reached up to card through his hair, something that never failed to make Harry relax. And it worked this time too.

Of course, Harry couldn't know that Marvolo was staking his claim over him. It was a gesture of possession, a warning to the other man that Harry ultimately belonged to him.

Severus, who received the message loud and clear, had to instantly readjust everything he knew about their peculiar relationship. It seems like a lot more was going on than what he was led to believe, and it was all too clear that Harry was just fine with this intimacy. It was incredible to say the least.

Severus cleared his throat. "My Lord, what will you have me do?" he asked.

"As you know, my other self, the main soul piece, has made a golem for himself," Marvolo began. "It won't be long before he takes steps to resurrect his real body. If that happens before Harry is ready, then he will be in danger."

Severus was surprise to hear and see real concern coming from the apparition. But it couldn't be…Severus had never known the Dark Lord to care for anyone but himself. And then he recalled how Harry had said their souls were practically 'one and the same.' Perhaps Harry meant it in the literal sense. "So you do not wish to merge with Him?" Severus asked confused.

"No. The Dark Lord cannot remain so fragmented," Marvolo returned. "He will destroy the wizarding world, if he is allowed to remain as he is. But I cannot return to my other self until I am certain that Harry will be able to defend himself against a fully resurrected Dark Lord."

It was then Severus realized the only reason holding the Dark Lord back was the simple fact of Harry's safety. According to the time-line Harry gave him, the Dark Lord could have returned in Harry's second year. That kind of sacrifice was such a….Gryffindorish thing to do. Of course, Severus would rather teach a classroom full of Longbottoms than admit this to the Dark Lord.

"Yes, Severus, I have been training Harry, and waiting for him to be ready," Marvolo said, seemingly able to read Severus' thoughts just by the look on his face. "But it seems now my other self is forcing my hand. In addition to the pointless fiasco of the other night, Harry does not have the luxury of time anymore."

"So you wish for me to train him?" Severus asked, directing the question to both Harry and the apparition.

"Marvolo's been teaching a lot about the Dark Arts, and we began fighting lessons too," Harry answered. "But there's only so much he can do without a body. I can't really duel with him or physically fight him."

Severus nodded in understanding. From what he could see, the apparition could touch and even affect Harry's body minutely, but he was like a ghost in every other sense. "It will be a pleasure," Severus answered sincerely. Considering how naturally powerful and graceful the boy was, he didn't think it would be much trouble teaching him how to fight.

A/N: The first time I wrote this scene between Severus and Marvolo, I gave myself goosebumps. Has that ever happened to anyone else? Anyway, I can't possibly anticipate your guys' responses to this chapter-some will be disappointed at the lack of any real antagonistic confrontation-but I hope it lived up to expectations. Let me know your thoughts, even if it is disappointment.
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In Servitude of the Dark : My Obiesance