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Weapon	By : uqui Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 105432 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 26
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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31/03/2012

Thank you to SuryaPrakash for the betaing. If there are mistakes, they are my fault.

LeaniaSTL The blood will be used later, though since three vials were taken, there are three times it can be used. :D dominique1 Dead is too easy for Draco and his pets. Suffering has so much more appeal. unneeded Yep this is how I plan to deal with the vamps but it will take a while and may not be in this fic more by implication. Xeoaph did say they were careful but Arabella fit the bill, even though unwilling so he turned her. The LeStranges are Dementor kibblies but Voldemort took every single prisoner with him from Azkaban, including those who lost their souls, so those were the real bodies that were shown to the goblins. I'll email you a fuller explanation sometime. LadyCandi Thank you. I hope you continue to enjoy.

Weapon LXVI It's Easier If You Give In

"Harry," Hermione said as they sat down for lunch.

"Yes?"

"You know that book you got me for my birthday?"

"You mean the one I gave to you a couple of days ago on that joyous occasion?" Harry asked. For no apparent reason, he was feeling somewhat whimsical.

"Yes, that one," Hermione confirmed with a frown, "How do you open it?" She asked in a rush.

Green eyes twinkled in much the same way as Dumbledore's were known too. "Oh, I imagine it will open when it feels the time is right," he said to her, helping himself to some sandwiches before passing the plate down the table.

"Harry!" she objected, hitting him lightly on the arm.

"Please mate, could you just tell her?" Ron begged. "She's going to be intolerable unless she can read it," he took the sting out of his words with the smile he directed towards Hermione.

Harry grinned at his friends. "It really will open when it thinks the time is right," he repeated softly. "There's no trick to it or anything like that, but I promise it will be worth the wait."

"It better be," Hermione said in a huff. In the relative quiet routine of classes after the adventure on the Express she thought that they had perhaps forgotten her birthday and when she had woken that morning to find them treating the day as nothing unusual, that belief had been reinforced. She still didn't know how Ron had managed to keep his mouth shut the entire day until the evening, when she had come back from the library to find the Gryffindor common room festooned with streamers and a large cake in the middle of the room. The entire House had sung Happy Birthday to her as she'd stood in the doorway her cheeks flaming red.

Even if she was embarrassed she was grateful to her House Mates and while the point of a birthday was not for the presents, she had been touched by how thoughtful they had been. Even Harry's which she couldn't open was great. She could tell it was rare and that it would be something she treasured once she had read it... though it was frustrating waiting. She was sure Harry knew how to open it but he obviously was holding back on something. In his twinkling eyes there had also been the hint of knowledge.

She wasn't sure Harry was having a lot of fun this year. In class he usually sat near the back and only answered questions when asked. Hermione knew that the others in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes had wondered why he was there during their first classes. The wonderers had shut up very quickly when he'd answered some of the questions posed to him with dry, concise and in depth explanations that frankly, left most of them shaking their heads wondering about the truth of the answer... Right up until the Professors had agreed with him. Now though he still went to class but he was working on other things.

He may have been used to having the Dark Lord after him, but there was something unnerving about how calmly he was reacting. Hermione had read the interview that had come out in the paper the day after the news of Azkaban had been published. It was astounding how candid the Dark Lord had been and if she took what the reporter Elliot Bryant had written as not being overly edited then she had so many questions and she could almost begin to see why the Dark Lord had taken his path. But that was only if what she read was really there and not editorial artefact. After reading Skeeter's articles, the muggleborn witch was cautious. She was also fairly sure that Harry could answer her questions as well, maybe not immediately but he may be privy to information about the Dark Lord via his memories. She just didn't know how to ask because asking would touch on several very raw nerves.

She wasn't blind; she hadn't missed how Harry was up before them all every day. She hadn't missed the way he sometimes snapped at people for no apparent reason or how he looked both sad and so angry at the same time when he thought no one was looking. She knew what happened last year, she had a fair idea something had happened while he was with the Dursley's too though he'd never mentioned it and she felt sick on his behalf. It was probably a good thing that he was angry but she didn't want that anger to cause him to make a mistake with the Dark Lord. And even if she was right about the Serpent Lord, proving her suspicions did not lead to any solutions.

Hermione looked over at Harry and wished there was some way she could help him. She couldn't even help him with his homework! Not since his N.E.W.T.s had been revealed and he had told them he was going to start his Mastery in some subjects. About the only thing she could think of was to be there for him. And that just didn't seem enough.

Voldemort sat with his eyes half closed just listening to the screams. To him it seemed that everyone was holding their breath, just waiting for his forces to strike again and they would and had been. Almost every day brought a small skirmish between his Death Eater's and the Ministry and already he could see that the Ministry was gearing up for Halloween. It was a night of power for him but he could feel that this year it would be different.

It wasn't his forces. They would be recovered in time, though the werewolves would not yet be in his thrall. He hadn't been too happy at Fenrir's report until the werewolf Pack Leader had pointed out that when he won the battle for Pack Leader of the Isles then most of the werewolves would follow him. A few, like the Order Member, Remus Lupin wouldn't follow but that was a small price to pay. He had sensed reluctance from Gideon as well. The werewolf had reported back to him and the Shadows had confirmed that they had seen to his escape, though they hadn't said why but the werewolf had changed. From the small amount of observation the Dark Lord had been able to engage in, he rather thought that his young werewolf was enamoured of the Shadows. If that's all it was, then Voldemort could afford to be forgiving. If it was something else... well there was only one punishment for those who disobeyed him.

Those Death Eater's, both new and old, who had recovered enough were currently amusing themselves torturing Lucius's followers. Lucius himself was strung up nearby and occasionally the Serpent Lord would send a crucio his way. For the most part, it was the elder Malfoy's punishment to watch. Apart from the crucio spells Lucius was not completely unharmed, the iron torc was still around his neck, as were the bracelets and anklets and with his loyal Death Eater's indulging themselves the metal had heated up rather significantly. Additionally, while the Dark Lord considered it rather crude, he was indulging in some experimentation. Small metal hooks had been driven into the wizard's flesh and they were being pulled taunt by wire. Not so tight as to rip flesh but tight enough that they were causing Lucius pain. The small noises of discomfort he was making were proof of that.

Voldemort rose. While his loyal forces were entertaining themselves he had his own duties to attend to. There were those who had tried to come back to the fold that he had to deal with. It was a simple thing he needed to do and after he had driven his dagger into each heart, he flicked his hand, transporting the bodies back into storage. They would go to feed the various creatures who had come at his call.

He tried to bring his mind back around to why Halloween did not feel right but his dear Bellatrix and her team chose that moment to return, striding into the hall confidently. She looked around for a moment before an insalubrious smile fixed itself on her features. "My Lord," she said, her voice sensuous when she saw Lucius. "Allow me to wring your name from this traitor."

"Ah, my dear Bellatrix," Voldemort almost purred and he watched her quiver in happiness. "No words of mercy for your dear brother in law?"

She snorted. "He's not."

"My dear?"

"He's not my brother in law."

"Bella," the Dark Lord said in a tone that clearly indicated that she should not delude herself.

"He is not my brother in law because Narcissa is not my sister."

Voldemort sighed. He knew there would be some damage from Azkaban but if Bellatrix could not tell reality from what she might wish then this could be dangerous for him.

"Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, youngest daughter of Cygnus and Druella Black, wife of Lucius Malfoy, mother of Draco Malfoy, sister of Bellatrix LeStrange nee Black and Andromeda Tonks nee Black."

Bellatrix smiled at him. "All of that is true my Lord, except for her being my sister.'

"Your desire to disown her is admiral..." the Dark Lord started, trying to be reasonable.

Bellatrix looked to the ground, almost ashamed, which was odd, because she was never ashamed unless some prisoner she had been torturing died before she was complete and then her shame was more anger. "I'm not meant to know, my Lord. Narcissa is not my sister, though every blood test you or the goblins or anyone can do will show that. She was adopted into the house of Black."

"I did not think such a thing would have been tolerated," Voldemort said softly, gesturing for Bellatrix to come close, close enough that he did not need to ward the entire floor so that they could speak privately. He trusted his Death Eaters to a point but there was information they did not need to know. This seemed very much like that. He was mildly surprised when one of the Shadows crept close enough to be included in the warding. They also seemed interested in this. Lucius was also suspended within the warding and the Serpent Lord could see that the blond rebellion leader was also interested.

"My Lord, you know I'm not from the Main branch of the House of Black. While the sub families can expect some help from the Main Family, we don't have access to the vault and we are expected to make our own way in contributing the prestige of the House. Obviously we needed money and power and that's how it happened, my Lord. Narcissa's mother had both power and money and in exchange for us adopting Narcissa as the younger sister, my Father received a LOT of galleons."

"Interesting. Who was her mother?"

Bellatrix shook her head, black hair whipping around slightly as if to emphasise her denial. "I'm sorry, my Lord, I don't know. I only ever saw the woman once when she brought Narcissa and cast all the charms to make everything official."

"She used charms?" The charms used to hide blood status required a ridiculous amount of power but were also notoriously easy to detect and break.

"There were some potions as well," Bellatrix added with a small shudder as she remembered the taste.

That was more likely, Voldemort considered. In the past it had not been that unusual for purebloods to adopt another pureblood child though as per usual they did not like to admit it and the charms and potions had been developed to hide all evidence of the adoption from the rest of the wizarding world. If you had spread the story that your wife was pregnant and at the appropriate time she appeared with a babe in arms, no one asked too many awkward questions and the potions and charms ensured that any blood ancestry tests revealed your newly adopted child to be a part of your family.

"So your father ended up with money he could not use and you with a younger sister."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Was anything else said about her adoption?"

"Only that Narcissa would be powerful enough to be a member of the House of Black.'

The Serpent Lord suddenly remembered Draco as the blond had been when he was fighting him in the wreckage of the Express. His spells and charms, while predictable, had been cast with great power. He nodded at Bellatrix. "At least on that, the deal was upheld. Why did you never tell me this before?" The Shadows had indicated that Narcissa was blocking them. Could this be because of her unknown bloodline?

"I didn't remember before, my Lord."

Ah, another memory charm made obsolete by extreme and prolonged exposure to Dementors. Voldemort nodded and let the warding fade. He needed to think on this but before he could settle, he was interrupted by Lucius' dry laughter. The man had been interested in Bellatrix's announcement, probably to take his mind off the pain but now, despite his predicament he seemed genuinely happy.

"I always wondered why Cissy said I never need worry about the inbreeding of the Blacks," he rasped.

Bellatrix whirled, her face drawn in a snarl and her teeth bared towards the elder Malfoy as if she was some type of animal. "What did you say?" she demanded in a hiss.

"Such a fine display of inbreeding," Lucius murmured.

Black hair flew wildly as Bellatrix screamed and levelled her wand at Malfoy. "Avada Kedrava!"

With barely two metres between them, it was hard to believe anyone could miss and Bellatrix was left staring when Lucius twitched and the brilliant green curse flew passed him. An instant later he seemed to be covered by darkness and the new Head of the House of LeStrange turned to confront her master when he chided her.

For those Death Eaters who had been watching the entire time, it was confirmation of what they had already known. Bellatrix had drawn her wand and cast, seemingly without warning but they had seen their Lord's wand ready before the witch had even reached for hers. Their Lord was always alert, even with his most loyal followers.

Bellatrix was confronted by the very avatar of what she worshiped. Voldemort was still sitting but he was wreathed in darkness and around him was the largest serpent she had ever seen. Its neck came down over her Lord's shoulder so that her Lord seemed to be watching her from above it. The snakes tongue flickered as it tasted the air and she could see the barest hint of yellow under its closed eyelids. Nagini was present as well, still wrapped around the bottom of Voldemort's throne but she seemed lost in the coils of the other reptile.

"Bellatrix," it was Lucius who spoke with sudden force. "Look upon your Lord and see! See the serpents he has always been allied with but see also the darkness, the Shadows that wish to consume everything. Look upon him and know that this is not the Lord you once knew.

"I made a mistake. I assumed that his change was obsession but I was wrong. It is not obsession; it is complete and utter capitulation.

"The time has come to choose and he already has chosen to abandon you. Look at him Bellatrix, look at him and SEE!"

"Shut up!" Bellatrix screamed at Lucius and this time her spell was true and Malfoy began screaming. "I see my Lord, at the height of his power. I see that the serpents have been true, which is more than can be said for the likes of you! I see that the darkness obeys him! I see that he is everything, everything, the Lord I swore my life to should be. You made a mistake! Ha! I spit upon your words. You rose above yourself!"

"Bellatrix," Voldemort said in a gentle tone. He was aware of her affection for him and it cost him little to give her small courtesies that she viewed as reciprocation. "As much as I'd like to let you kill him, he hasn't been punished enough."

"He will never be punished enough!"

"Oh, he will be, in time," the Dark Lord disagreed mildly. "Soon enough he will be begging for forgiveness, in between screaming to die. And so until that time, he gets the dubious pleasure of living. I promised dear Lucius that he would be screaming my name before he died, and I am a man of my word."

"My Lord!" She objected.

"It is enough Bellatrix. He is here because he is not as wise as you. He never was asked the question but his answer is plain. Lucius believes blood alone is enough and that is why he failed. Power is the key and it is power he believes I have capitulated to, when in reality it is power that I have bought! And the irony is now Lucius," Voldemort turned to smile at his prisoner, "your life and those of your followers are also serving as my coin to pay the power that defeated you. I wish now to seduce their master, because with him at my beck and call, the price is already paid."

"You see Bellatrix," Lucius gasped as the effects of the crucio curse faded from his body. "When it comes to a choice between the Death Eater's and his new so called allies, you will be dropped."

Voldemort smirked. Lucius did so like to be dramatic. "Nothing has changed. If you go against my desires, you are my enemy and every ally is weighed against others. Know this Bellatrix, they are allies of the highest order and if you go against them, I will not help you. And that has always been my way."

"Yes my Lord," the dark haired witch murmured as though chastened, regardless that he had done nothing of the sort.

:Hello Severus,: the Shadows greeted the Potion Master as he made his way to his quarters.

He tried to ignore them. He tried so hard and sometimes it was hours before they could recapture his attention. It was an amusing part of the game for them, a game that was nearly at its end.

:You haven't really had a good day, have you Severus?: The Shadows continued conversationally. The Potion Master only ever spoke to them at the entry to his rooms so they were not perturbed by his lack of response. He spoke then because he believed his quarters were sufficiently warded from them. Very soon he would find out otherwise.

:All you have to do is accept our offer and you can be away from here, and just think what a relief that would be. How long did it take you to clean up that First Year mess?: It was perhaps cruel to mention the explosion that the First Year Hufflepuff's had caused when they had inadvertently mixed together coarse chopped bat fur with julienned moonflower. Normally you'd think those two ingredients went together. They didn't, and the results were rather spectacular.

:Three... four hours? And let's not mention the Fourth Year Ravenclaws. You would think they would have the good taste to shut up but no... It's always 'why this' and 'why that'... Surely they could read the answers out of the text... We sympathise, Severus, we truly do. It's probably a good thing most of them will drop Potions for Sixth Year. Then they would really be annoying!

:And let's not forget about the vampire; always wanting to know about our dear Harry! You could talk to him you know. Both of them actually but we really meant the vampire. He'd understand... He can't help you but he'd understand. Or he'd pretend he did. It's so hard to tell with a vampire that old, isn't it?

:Or you could talk to our dear Harry. We know you aren't afraid. You are Severus Snape, spy extraordinaire for the Order of the Phoenix. Nothing makes you afraid... so why haven't you spoken to our dear Harry? It's not like you haven't had weeks of opportunity... Ah... could it be you don't trust him? Now, now, now, Severus, that's bad. Harry is a fellow member of the Order of the Phoenix. The controls your Dark Lord left in him have been destroyed. And you know, just as we do, that there were controls left there. Why do you doubt? Do you doubt Fawkes?

:Maybe you should since he's no longer keeping us at bay? But maybe that's because he's keeping the Dark Lord at bay instead. It's all very complicated, isn't it? You should talk to Harry though, Severus. Unlike the vampire, who would just pretend to understand, dear Harry will understand completely. But you won't, will you? Because it's so much nobler to suffer in peace and because you don't trust our dear Harry, despite everything that has happened to prove to you that he is not the Dark Lord's pawn, you still don't trust him.

:That could either be very wise, or it could be your undoing. You might want to think about which it is, Severus.

:Though think about this also Severus, if you take up our offer, then it won't matter. The Dark Lord, the Order of the Phoenix, that vampire, dear Harry and of course all the lovely students you so look forward to teaching every day... All of that will become meaningless and you can concentrate on what is important...

:The soft simmer of a potion, the gentle waft of the fumes, the meticulous preparation and the perfection that comes from brewing. There will be no more explosions, no more idiotic questions, you will be free! The Dark Lord won't be able to find you, the Order will become a memory and the vampire will die... though we admit, not immediately. And of course our dear Harry won't be an issue either. Freedom, Severus, that's what we are offering,: the Shadows kept a happy voice during the monologue.

"Why?" Snape asked softly as he reached his door.

:Why, Severus? Why do we offer you everything you've ever wanted? It's simple, Severus, we have wanted you for a very long time. You know that, you've seen us, you've heard us, and you've known us all your life. We have wanted you and you know Severus, we are going to have you. You've made a mistake. You probably don't think it's a mistake but it was. And very soon the Dark Lord is going to call you to task for it.

:The Order won't be able to save you, because the Order is a part of this mistake. The Dark Lord will call you soon. He already knows you whisper to Dumbledore. He accepts that because you whisper to him as well... but you've whispered something you shouldn't have, you've whispered something he didn't want the Old Coot to know and he will want you to pay for that.

:Only we can save you, Severus. It will cost us, make no mistake about that, but we can save you and we will save you if you take up our offer.

:Think about it, Severus, what it really means! No students, no whinging and whining and snivelling from them. No back chat, no idiotic questions and no attempting to keep a balance in the House of Serpents. Think what it will mean to you to not answer to the Dark Lord, to not answer to Dumbledore and to know that it won't matter which side dear Harry is on because you are with us! And therefore he too will be on your side.

:And then Severus, think of the pain it will cause James Potter to know that his son supports and protects you.: The Shadows laughed, they'd been saving that little titbit for a while now.

:Freedom, Severus. Freedom from the mutually exclusive magical oaths you have sworn and all we want in return is for you to brew us a few little potions while you pursue your own research.

:No one will ever offer you a better choice.:

"I know," Snape said as he stepped through the door.

"I know," he repeated in a whisper as he leaned against the oak after locking it and he was not surprised to feel tears running down his face.

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