Chapter Text
Chapters 1-5
The world was wrecked, the dark lord formally known by all as Lord Voldemort, now changed to emperor, had won.
He had made a false horcrux.. He'd known the plan all along.
His real horcrux had been right by his side the whole time. A stupid blond pureblood had willingly become a living horcrux like him.
Power hungry, no good purebloods.
The fall was horrible, he watched as so many young children were separated from their families, memory charms filled the parents mind.
He watched and read as one by one the Order was taken down, killed by Death Eaters or locked away in Azkaban.
He made it out though and he planned to run as long as he could - hiding wasn't an option, werewolves worked like muggle police dogs, sniffing out any who didn't follow the new emperor's rule.
Harry now sat waiting for the rest of what was left of the Order, the first to arrive, a new one. By the name of Calli, a small Muggleborn who'd only just barely started here third year when the final battle happened, shed lost everything, her mother and father forced into another country and forgetting all about there only daughter, it was a sad sight to see such a strong beautiful girl at rock bottom, dark bags were permanently etched below her eyes like some sort of sad painting. The girl had gone from strong-willed to barely wanting to continue.
The next was Ron, followed closely by Hermione. Her hand cradled her stomach tightly, her last hope at having a child in this world, all her others had been taken away one night when the emperor found their small hideout.
Another few showed up, all wearing dark, dreary clothing to fit into the shadows. No longer did the order walk in the light unafraid of the dark, no, now they tiptoed in the shadows awaiting a false hope of survival.
“Is this..all?” he asked, looking around at all the sullen faces. Hermione and Ron flinched back and nodded.
“Another raid.. They took Ginny and..they took the rest of my family Harry..they're all gone now..” Ron's voice was shaking, he was trembling and tears streamed down his face.
“We’ll get them back-”
“We can't. They’re gone, Harry. Killed! Just like the rest of the lot! Like all of us when we are found!” Ron yelled.
Hermione had backed away, her reddened face covered in tears. “There's nothing left for us here, Harry.. We've lost,” she murmured. ”No one here can fight anymore. We want to rest, to sleep a full night without having to wake up and check our doors for locks and windows for strangers lurking. I want a home for my child, Harry. I can't fight when I'm about to give birth to my only child now. Maybe we had enough fight in us before but not anymore, Harry. We’re not teens anymore..we’re adults and were three years ago by wizard law! We should have had a home and family to feed! Not some scrabbly old shack and no one to come home to!”
Harry nodded, he knew it was true - they were twenty now. By Merlin's name they shouldn't be fighting like this anymore, they never should have...
“I know, that's why I have us here. I know it's a small hope but, the train still runs right?”
“Harry, what do you mean? It’s run by dark wizards now, it doesn't even run to Hogwarts anymore!” Hermione yelled.
“I know, I know, but we've only ever taken the Hogwarts train, you never left the station bounds and took the muggle ones.”
Ron looked at him, his head shaking. “You don't mean…Harry no! We can't possibly leave on a muggle train! We won't fit in and there are guards, aren't there?”
“Yes there are and yes I know, but we can use glamours - hide in plain sight - they’re looking for a group of unhealthy looking Order members, not totally perfect muggles going on a family trip.”
“And what of the barrier? There are guards all day, we can't possibly get past them!”
“We can if we time it right, they swap positions every hour to keep alert, but between that time I’ve learned that Wormtail never seems to stay awake enough to get there on time, he’s always just three minutes late, and if timed right we can all get through and into the crowd enough to board a train - it's a small group, three or four of us can play as a family two others can go as friends or a couple, I have the tickets and the time; are you willing to try? To get away?” he asked, looking at the small group.
“I'll go, I…I don't like the thought of leaving London behind but…..maybe it's what we need. Vol- the emperor does not rule everything, and he never will. Let’s do it.” Ron said, surprising a lot of the group. He'd never been one for change..but the war had changed them all, no matter what.
“I'm with Ron then, I’ll go as a couple with him, you can go with the rest as a family, they'll need more guidance.” the soft lighter voice belonging to Hermione said.
The rest of the group nodded, and the plan was set. Get through the door in less than three minutes; try and get through in less than two if lucky. Get on a train and bypass all of the emperor's guards - it was the best plan they had and so far. A few stragglers didn't quite know how muggle society worked and were quickly solved into the middle of the ‘family’ group to hide them better.
Ron and Hermione easily boarded the train while the rest followed. That was until they realized Trivet, a younger male just barely seventeen, had fallen out of line and gotten lost. A muggle family had noticed and went to help but when he panicked it had all gone to shit - no normal muggle teen would scream and run from a kind mother, not even with stranger danger applied would they react like that. They would simply walk off after the simple ‘are you lost’ with a shake of the head; but now there were three guards running after the kid and Harry not far behind, the rest of the group had been terrified and Ron tried to pry Harry back onto the train.
Now he was on an even worse time crunch.
Three minutes to get the kid and get back onto the train,
Two minutes to run after Death Eaters, get the kid and get on a train.
One minute to run after the Death Eaters, malnourished and practically half dead on his feet, get to the kid, make sure he was unharmed, and get on the train.
He’d done it though, his Potter luck had actually been lucky for once. He pushed the Death Eaters over, grabbed the kid, did a quick scan of his face, and threw him through the closing doors of the nearest train. He watched from the ground where he'd been tackled not long after as Trivet pounded on the train doors and Ron and Hermione were pulled back from the doors as their own train took off.
He'd done it. But in the end, he'd been found.
Harry Potter - the one and only last true enemy that Tom had - was found.
He only hoped he'd get a quick death now, maybe even a Dementor’s kiss if he was unlucky.
The guards dragged him back through the wall to Kings Cross, the rest of the team taking over to alter the muggle's minds.
— — —
His feet hurt.
That was all he could really complain about, and Harry was surprised at that, the Death Eaters had brought him straight to Malfoy Manor - the now well known home of the emperor - and locked him away in one of the cells below the manor. It been around three days if his time was right; three meals a day: bread eggs and water for breakfast, a slice of what was possibly ham, and crackers for lunch, (he never ate the crackers though, they were too dry and left him craving water for the rest of the day) and for dinner he would get a small bowl of soup bland as it was it kept him alive. The cot in the corner of the cell was cushioned enough to not make his back ache too terribly, and in the morning he had a bucket to use when he needed the restroom. Luckily it was spelled to whisk away anything put in it, though he found that included anything after dropping a piece of toast in there one morning.
He could probably complain about the cold temperature, but he felt that would be unnecessary as it was warmer than what he'd slept in beforehand.
Maybe he should have accepted his death sooner…
— — —
Tom was irked, his Death Eaters had found Harry Potter and not told him until three days later; no one thought telling him was of great importance, and it had cost many lives to get the point across for them not to hide it again.
Now he was accompanied by his living horcrux as he walked down the slick stairs of the manor to the dungeons. He could practically hear Malfoy’s thoughts on the stairs alone - and his plan to have them cleaned. He wouldn't stop him though, he himself had tripped lightly on the first few, but Tom would never admit that, not even Merlin himself could make him tell anyone.
The lights flickered as he swooped passed, his boots clacking on the hard surface they walked on. He could hear a humming coming from Potter's cell, a small lullaby he'd heard in the muggle world when he was in the orphanage. He wanted it to stop.
Tom couldn’t quite see the man through the dark lighting but could make out the dark scar under his matted hair and the green eyes that had haunted him as he lived day by day just as creatures do.
“Potter…how lovely to see you.”
“Ya ya...don't get too happy you might ruin those pants.” He heard Malfoy’s huff of surprise at the comment.
“You seem to be as lively as ever down here. Tell me, have you simply come to terms with death?”
“Really Tom? If you must know, yes. Not all of us are so scared of death they create what..eight? Different horcruxes? Or is this nine? I can't remember because you made so many.” Tom would give him that one - the boy knew how to talk back.
“Oh please don't let me rain on your parade though, go ahead make some more, maybe you'll turn into a snake for real then.”
Tom had to stop Malfoy from cursing the boy. “Now, now, we don't want to hurt the guest just yet.”
“Emperor-” a hex stopped his sentence.
“Tell me Potter, how's the Order?”
“Gone. Safe from the likes of you.”
“Oh? How sad. I guess that means that no one will be there to come and get you. No need for a tight leash then.” he teased.
“What do you mean? You're gonna kill me with an audience now?” The boy wasn't so smart then…
“No, Potter, I have other plans. You see,”
“Oh here we go...” This time it was Tom who had to stop himself from cursing the boy.
“Silence!…as I was saying, I have other plans for you. I found after two years of you running away, maybe death just wasn't enough,”
“Oh good I get to get tortured beforehand now too! I can't wait for you to tell me about the cake!”
He sent a silencing charm at the boy.
“So I thought about what to do with you after we’d caught you. We knew you would, of course, be found and brought in at some point. And one of my Death Eaters reminded me of a few times when prisoners were kept after their capture, either as workers, or pets in a way. And, well, it stuck. So no Potter, you won't be tortured before your death - you'll be held captive under me. Don't worry, though, only I or my horcrux can touch you. I don't wish for my pet to get hurt under anyone but my hand.”
The look on the boy's face was enough to make him laugh. “Malfoy, why don't you bring our new pet to his room? Teach him some manners - if needed - and the rules. I have a meeting planned.” With that, he walked back up the dark, slippery stairs and down the long hallways; his eyes gleaming as he stalked off for the meeting.
— — —
Harry was willing to do a lot to get out of situations, this time though he felt really no way of getting out. He couldn’t talk his way out - he'd been silenced - and he couldn't just make a run for it. He could see around fifteen Death Eaters all along the hall, all armed with wands in hand.
Nope, no chance in hell he was getting out of here without losing a few limbs and maybe his mind. Now he stood next to the Malfoy lord after being practically dragged up and down hallways and stairs.
“This is your room,” Malfoy said, as he pushed a door open. It looked like a dark oak and had small trees and vines carved into it - another way of using the money he had to much of no doubt. Inside the room was another thing entirely, maybe Malfoy used all his spending on the door as there was no furniture in the room at all - the only nice thing was the well cleaned carpet. Not even a painting on the walls. “You'll have to earn furniture, it's up to the emperor how much you'll have to do to get it, that includes blankets and pillows. Possibly clothes too, once again it's up to the emperor." Harry wanted to scoff, the blond acted like he was muggle Jesus, as if the small bare room was some gift he'd given him out of the pureness of his heart.
Malfoy shoved him down on the carpet and he struggled to sit properly or comfortably before Malfoy started speaking. “The emperor wants you to follow these rules. I suggest you pay attention and memorise them, it should lead to less future punishment.”
Did he want some sort of applause? What sort of Dark Lord takes over England's magic government by force, and now he's the best person alive if you follow a few rules? He wanted to laugh.
“Firstly, you'll call the emperor by his name when in private with him, anywhere else will be simply emperor. Understood?” Malfoy waited for a reply he knew he would get.
“Good.”
Harry was going to smack him.
“Second, you'll be attending all of his meetings under restraint. Restraints will depend on how well you've been acting. You don't have an option and will be attending them, third is the schedule, you're due to be awake for breakfast by seven, and eat in the dining hall with whoever shows up. You won't speak at your meals unless spoken to." Malfoy really knew how to make people want to punch him, he really did. And Harry had no doubt that he would whenever he got the chance.
“You are also due for dinner every day, lunch is up to the emperor - if he wishes you to eat in the hall or his office. Your wand has been taken and you will only be able to use it under our supervision, if you're ever allowed to. You will also be taking lessons here, you need to be updated on the new government and expectations. Lessons are on Wednesday and Thursday in the emperor's office or mine." The blond had started to walk around before stopping in front of Harry, which made the smaller male look up at him. “The emperor will be here to see you by the end of his meeting.”
Harry watched Lucius walk out of the room without anything else to say and sat in silence, and wasn’t that odd?
This wasn't at all what he had expected after his capture, sure he'd expected torture and maiming, and in the end death - probably in front of every Death Eater alive. But no, now he sat alone in a bare room with rules simply thrust upon him and the option to live if he followed them.
Was it a trap? Probably. Had he given up on caring about all this? Yes. And he didn't regret it, it saved his ass when he was saving the rest of the Order, and it got his friends to safety in the end so yeah, he didn’t care anymore - he'd follow the rules as long as Tom kept his end of the bargain.
— — —
“How was he?” Tom asked as malfoy stepped into his office doors,the other had been shifting through paperwork and twisting a piece of hair between his fingers, malfoy only slightly wished it could be him doing so instead. He seemed to find enjoyment after the emperor had gotten his human body back, lots and lots of potions in a year and sleepless nights with the man. But in the end it had been worth it. “he was..behaved, didn't put much of a fight into it. I doubt he has much left.”
He watched Tom nod and sigh “he's been running quite literally for years, we'll have to watch him closely..maybe plan to have your ex-wife come in and check his health. Who knows how bad it could be.”
Malfoy nodded and his shoulders slowly laxed in the quiet room “something on your mind, I can tell.” the taller said walking over to him “whats wrong my horcrux(love, what who said that?!?!)”
Malfoy shook at the small and soft question, “the boy, he, i-”
“You could sense the peace still in him? Couldn't you..” he nodded, his mind wondering, he and Tom had felt the peace get destroyed it broke them both a little feeling the life within the boy die and wither away, and yet they could still feel it.
“How did you know?” he asked,
“I did as well, in the cellars, I felt a small..tug? Shall I call it that? I thought it was the horcrux in you pulling me closer after sensing the dead one, but now that I know you felt it I think I may need to read a few books. Or go over notes.” he nodded and gave sigh
“If you need help. You can always ask.”
“I know my horcrux, but I think for right now we have a new pet to deal with, yes? And plus, I have heard griffins are good pets when tamed.”
Malfoy had things to think over, but he'd never miss the fall of the once boy-who-lived for anything, he still had that sense he needed to figure out, and a new bond to navigate and control. Tom controlled his and he knew he'd control harrys as well but he wanted to have the reigns as well on the griffon and pulse he'd heard their feathers make for a rather nice decoration.
— — —
Harry felt off after the blond left, like something was missing now after the blond had left, like a part he knew wasn't his wanted to stay near the man.
But that couldn't be right..he hated the man and would even if he’d act like he didn't. He'd still never feel that way.
Possibly a compulsion? He'd heard of a few being used when Hermione did her reading for defense one year. He'd never really paid attention though, probably too busy making sure he wouldn't die. But he knew he shouldn't feel this way about the blond, at all, and yet he did. It was odd due to the fact it had also happened with Tom in the cellar hed simply put it in the back of his mind as his magic not enjoying the presence of darker magic.
He snapped out of his thoughts as the door to the room opened once again, he made a rush for the corner of the room, trying to stay hidden for as long as he could before they noticed the human chapped chair in the corner of the otherwise empty room.
“Potter, how about you come over here instead of trying to hide?” Tom stated he hadn't even put a foot into the room yet. “Come now, I know Malfoy told you your rules.”
Harry sighed and walked from his spot to where Tom and Lucius had made themselves comfortable in the room.
“What do you need”
Tom smiled “still filled with fight i see, well i hope you remember what Malfoy told you. It's dinner time in ten minutes and I need you to stay hidden until we're ready so, "Harry wanted to scream or say something about not hiding who he was. I mean, why wouldn't the most feared ruler of England not want to flaunt him around. “Mipps!” a small elf popped into the room standing right informed of the taller male and bowed, he wasn't wearing rags per say but they weren't the best cloth and his ears looked cut and torn.
“Yes master emperor tom sir?” he could see the way toms mood flattened
“It's just master,” the elf had a quick response. “Oh right I'm sorry master i is really sorry! Mipps will make sure to punish himself!
Harry wanted to grab the elf and cradle the poor thing in his arms and tell him he was okay and did nothing wrong, Tom or Malfoy probably noticed as the next second he had a very strong stinging hex shot at him, and he looked back up at them both. Standing side by side like some sort of god and his underling. Then again they probably could be counted as so one was immortal and the other holding the others power and wills closely.
“Mipps if you would please take Harry's measurements and get a set of robes for him to wear, grab the mask in the glass case as well. I think we might have a use for it after all.” the small elf nodded and snapped his fingers, harry felt a small tightening sensation around his chest and arms, really anywhere a seamstress would take body measurements before it popped away and quickly came back with a pair of fine black robes, not even a wrinkle in sight, but what caught his eye was the white and gold mask on top of it, he couldn't make out all the shapes and shades on it but he knew a death eater mask when he saw one.
“No way! No way am I wearing that!” he screamed and backed away, Tom didn't flinch and the blond next to him was quick to send a binding spell his way, he was lucky enough to dodge it in time and watch it fade into the wall behind him.
“But you will be harry, and don't worry. I plan to have its design changed just a bit. I only need to see how it'll fit on you, you'll have a delusionment charm on you today to hide your face.”
Was he trying to be kind? If so it wasn't working as he thought it would and angered me more, no way in hell was the dark lord putting a delusion charm on me harry rather Draco put it on him for merlin's sake.
“That's not any better!”
“Yes it is, Malfoy suggested we cover you in cloth and jewels but I doubt you would have liked that.” Tom responded simply, but he was right. He'd have hated that.
“Fine.” he growled, he'd hate this but well. If he was honest it was way better than the death he'd readied himself for and he'd take this rather than that.
“Good, come here then I need to put this on you.” harry hesitantly stepped forward just in reach of the emperors and let the man place the mask over him, it fit a bit to largely but it had been made for an older wizard mostly, what bothered him though was the sudden struggle it was to breath in the thing, and he was quick to push himself away from it and glare at both men
“How the- what the hell! I couldn't breathe in that thing!”
Malfoy nodded and shrugged “you get used to it, and this one isn't quite your size when it's resized. We will reshape the mouth, it should make it easier to breathe in.” Harry wanted to strangle them. So much. It was actually insane how much he wanted to, they had no respect for him at all! They wanted him to act happy to be here and sure he kind of was but it wasn't enough.
“That makes no sense. It's bigger now. I should be able to breathe fine!” he responded
Tom gave Malfoy a quick glance “well you'll just have to blame magic for that one, moving on, i need to place these charms on you it's already cutting too close to dinner and you have yet to even try the robes on. So.” the man waved to the clothes and he grumbled while picking them up. He realized as soon as he grabbed the clothes from the man and had backed away again the feeling from before came back, the wanting urge to get closer to him again but, he threw it off before anything else could happen.
He waited for a bit before Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned tom following not long after, harry made quick work of changing into the newer cloths he would deny everyone, but if you were to read his mind it’d tell you how much he appreciated the new softer and warmer cloths, he wanted to appreciate the feeling more but they two other turned and dragged him from the room and down dark guarded corridors. As soon as he was pushed through two large doors he was overwhelmed by the decor and food, it was filled to the brim and there was no room at all for plates it seemed.
“How are we supposed to eat when you can't even fit a plate on the table?” he asked, side glancing at the black haired male.
“Some of the food is for looks, it will be taken away as soon as the last person sits and I call for the meal to start.” Harry rolled his eyes at that, he had a show off snake and a fancy peacock ruling him around and he hated it.
Potter luck.
It had to be at this point. There was no other explanation to it, and by the time he was sat surrounded by masked inner circle death eaters he was sure of the fact, one of the many sitting next to him was Bellatrix and he was surprised until he remembered tom had thrown a delusionment charm at him as soon as the first few started to arrive that she hadn't had a knife held to his throat.
The next big surprise was the fact he knew the Grayback knew who he was and simply asked for him to pass the pepper, to put on raw meat…
“so , emperor, who is the guest we have here today?”
Tom looked up from the death eater next to him giving him a rundown on recent events, Harry had listened in for a few moments until it got too boring and Tom had started to look like he was about to throw the killing curse at the poor man.
“No one you need to know the knowledge of, you will all find out in due time, greyback how has the scouting been?”
Hadn't Tom just had a meeting? Why hadn't the man asked then..
“So far we have found two hideouts near the west end, we plan to have a raid done on it in a weeks time, there defense is high standard for such a small group, they have quite a few high level creatures in there possession we need to make sure they don't get hurt and we believe there may be an order member leading them and need them alive.”
Harry was..shocked. He'd expected to hear the wolf say they were just going to run in, destroy a few things, kill everyone and move on, not…that. Well now he felt bad, not bad enough to say anything, they were still death eaters and didn't have his respect. But enough.
“Good, make sure to mark the creatures, they could be part of the stolen group. Anything else that needs reporting from anyone?” Tom asked, there was silence after and he nodded before finishing what little was on his plate and standing, signaling Malfoy to walk with him and said blind grabbed him and pulled him with them.
“What do you mean stolen?” harry asked pulling his arm from the man's grip, waiting for their response
Tom seemed to pause before speaking sternly, “a few months after the war, and my taking over. Your little order seemed fit to take a few highly dangerous creatures from the ministry, we think your little group has been using them to protect bases if they have a large enough population, we also think they're killing them off out of spite, we planned to set them free and repopulate them. And now we don't know if there's any left at all to breed and release.”
Harry had heard about that, but he'd never been stable enough in his running to find a base and figure out if it was true or not, he felt bad again, they might have been dangerous but they were still living creatures with their own language and life. “Have you..found any?”
Malfoy spoke this time, “a few, a small pack of dragons where being held at one of the larger bases a few months back, we only saved four or five, the others flew or where blown up and to injured to be kept alive humanely, had been a trap and none of us realized until we had already set off the bombs, your kind have been more ruthless than us, and using muggle equipment was risky without knowing how magic would affect them.”
He let out a surprised huff and nodded, dragons were hard to keep and handle creatures if he'd learned anything from the Triwizard tournament, even hed barely lived past that and had a large fear of dragons, often getting PTSD when hearing loud noises or being around uncontrolled fires.
He hoped, even if they were the bad guys in his mind, that they saved them all..no creature deserves that and no person should be using them for their own gain.
Harry was escorted to his room, and Tom had ‘graciously’ given him a bed after being ‘well behaved’ for the dinner. Once again. He wanted to hit the man. Maybe bite too. But he changed his mind when he male turned back into his snake form as if he heard his thoughts.. Eugh..
He'd have to sleep that thought off and hope that it never came back.
— — —
Tom made his way from his room the next morning, having had a chat with Lucius the night before about their new...Acquaintance.
And went straight for Potter's room, they'd decided to wait on the mask before taking him anywhere from now on, sure the charms worked fine but it’s less of a risk with the mask and would keep the more rowdy lower class death eaters away from him.
It's also to make sure that they could find him in the crowd if he ever got away.
Tom stood now, by Potter's door, he'd made sure the nearby guards had left them be but they were still close enough if the boy got away.
Lucius was with his son, having an outing with his ex wife. After the hardships of war she decided being his wife was not much of a risk and divorced him in the middle of a death eater meeting. Making sure she had full rights to see Draco anytime she wanted. But as she would now not be earning nearly as much as the Malfoy lord laws would make it so Draco was only able to be homed under Malfoys roof, though even that was a lie as the boy had been living practically at his betrothed wifes home for the past two years.
Tom did wait long at the door and didn't knock either before walking into the dark night chilled room, his snake from fell, he felt goosebumps from the breeze form How had the boy not complained once about the cold? They hoped he would so they had a reason to punish him.
Then again maybe it was the fact they hadn't put thought into the boy having lived in colder woods or streets without good clothes or blankets.
The boy..well man. Was curled up in the corner of the room, small goosebumps formed onto his skin. Still sleeping soundly, and less tense he thought the boy would be for being held captive in his enemies home. Then again. Gryffindors weren't made to be smart.
“Get up.” The boy grumbled and looked at the man standing in the doorway like some sort of stalker “Get up, it's time for breakfast. And we need to have a conversation involving what's to happen with you..” a pause “call an elf to lead you.”
He turned swiftly, his robes bellowing behind him in a dramatic show of hierarchy.
— — —
he growled as Tom left, not even a blanket! He'd been freezing all night. Sure it wasn't as bad as the woods or old creaky homes he'd boarded up in at night, but it was still cold! He had human rights! Dignity for merlin's sake!
There wasn't even a change of clothes..well there were the robes he was given last night. But he was not wearing that if he had the choice.
With a sigh he stood, rubbing the bump ridden skin until he warmed just enough for them to fade a bit.
How was he to call an elf without knowing their name? It would have been amazing to have dobby..the small elf would even blink before getting Harry out of the mess he'd gotten into.
Maybe if he called out random names? Or…what was the name of that elf from last night? Myp? Mist…micky? Something with an m…
“Mipps!” a small elf popped into place in front of him, ears flapping and eyes wide.
“What can Mipps bes doing for the master's pet?” Harry groaned. Head rolling back in disbelief.
“Pet?..really?” Before the elf responded he shook his head “never mind…i was..told i needed to be at breakfast. I don't quite remember my way though.”
The elf happily nodded “Mipps will gladly get master's pet there!” Then he felt a small hand grab his and a twist in his gut, his eyes closed and when he opened them he saw the dark lord…tom.. And Lucius sitting at the dining table like it was a daily thing...Lucius even asked for the blueberries like there wasn't a maniac murderer sitting there!
What have I gotten myself into now..
“Sit,” Tom said before handing the small bowl to Lucius.
“Where?”
“Anywhere just sit. Eat and we will speak.”
— — —
Lucius was normally a calm collected man, and even when he was scared or under stress he hardly showed it. Ever.
And seeing the boy's face when he walked into him and the other man sitting calmly while eating was something he had never thought he needed to see in his life. Then again who would have thought seeing your long lasted enemy with a face of shock confusion and his favorite disbelief would make it so hard to keep that mask intact.
Then again he never put much thought into how it must look for a Malfoy to be married to the once dark lord now emperor.
Sure it was a shock to him at first..but the political upvote it gave him was worth every cent had spent to get the man. Sure wooing the person you'd once worshiped at the feet of was…weird.
But the man was surprisingly delightful to be around once you got him to let his guard down.
Even if his guard being down meant also seeing the more muggle side to the man.
Hed deal. And he'd surprisingly enjoyed the cigarettes the man had.
He reminded Lucius of a cat…not as much a snake. Calm and cool. But rules everything he wanted. And took what he got. A cat who wasn't scared of dogs of the fighting. No he went claws out anytime he saw one.
But the boy in front of him…no he was weird..he reminded him of the last burning piece on a pit of fire…that small piece of wood that looked like another piece of ash, but was still burning so hot underneath its dark skin.
There was also the griffin part of the man. The part that held power and strength in his bare hands. The one who protected what he deemed his. And the one who'd stop at nothing to win.
He could tell the boy would give in..he had to.
Tom didn't seem to have any plans for the boy beyond being a glorified trophy. A pet for display.
For Merlin's sake the man planned to treasure the boy and give him what he wanted as long as he stayed loyal.
Lucius could only hope the man did. For both his and Potter's sake.
— — —
This was one of the most confusing things Harry thought he’d ever seen in his life.
“Eat.” Harry looked to his right, Tom wasn’t looking at him but the tone he used alone made him pick up a fork and slowly start to dig around the plate. Bread, eggs, sausage… a normal breakfast. If it wasn’t being eaten while you sat next to the dark lord. Sorry emperor.
“I said, eat” this time, Tom was looking at him. “Nothing there will kill you. If anything the elves have put nutrition potions in it. Eat”
Harry dug in, he knew the man could have been lying but he hadn’t eaten a full meal for months. plowing down eggs and toast before tearing into the sausage. No butter. No jelly. Nothing. Just the pure feeling of his stomach filling.
By the time his plate was licked clean Lucius had only just started to butter his toast and Tom had barely finished his eggs. “Now then,”
“You have been told the rules. But I assume being you're a Gryffindor to the bone, won't listen without reason. Ask the questions you wish before I have to leave for a meeting.”
Harry was dumbfounded. Ask? Questions? Was The man crazy?! His face must have looked of pure shock with the glare Lucius sent his way. He hurried to remember the important questions should come first rather than the line of ‘WHY AM I HERE?! ALIVE?! STILL?!’
“Why do you…want me?” he didn't really know how else to start. His other questions would build off that. Tom seemed to humm and his eyes flicked to Lucius before moving back to him
“You remember the whole reason for you running off during the battle correct?” he could hear the sass in his tone, but knew better than to say anything.
“You're one of mine- just as Lucius is. And while he does not agree with me keeping you he’ll listen to my orders without complaint.”
It made some sense to Harry, he’d seen enough of the man's horcruxes’ to know that he wasn’t about risking his near death.
“Self preservation.” he muttered.
Tom's eyes hardened on him as he took a bite of food. “Do you have any other questions?”
“Where are the rest of your army?”
He didn't get a response for a bit, Voldemort was too busy eating “they do not stay around me. I do grant them life outside of service. I call meetings like the one planned for today. That is the only time all of my followers are in the manor”
It made sense. Having so many in one place could only bring on so much comfort before turning into a war zone..
“..when did you make Lucius?” the blond looked at him before he answered the question himself “right before the battle, we had quite a few prisoners in out hold none had any use anymore. And To-My Lord had long since figured out your plan.”
“and …your plans for me?” Both men now eyed him. Both eyes staring deep into his soul like they'd be able to rip it from his body with one look. “You're my horcrux. Therefore like Lucius you will stay near me. Unlike Lucius though. You will only be here until I can find a way to place my soul in another object that is not. You.” He shivered. He'd had the man in his head for years- posed him. Tear his life apart. But nothing felt as threatening to his life as that single statement did.
“That's not possi-”
“You will not talk back to me!” Voldemort roared back
It silenced the room.
Harry nodded before looking back down at his plate, the empty dish reminded him of the order, they’d scrapped food off anything they could. Starved themselves until it was necessary to find a way to hunt.
Days in the woods could only offer so much. And there was only so many times you could try and fail at snagging a bird before you gave up.
Harry being one of the few still strong enough to use his magic constantly, set a path.
It had taken months to get down, and lots of sneaking around even after it was done but Harry had gained an Animagus form. He’d hunted for the group when they met up and himself when he could.
But having a large- skinny, griffon as his form wasn’t easy to hide when the wolves drew near. And taking off wasn’t an option. He couldn't fly, wings were too weak and he didn’t know how.
He hadn’t used the form in a while now that he thought about it, his last location was near a smaller village and he'd gotten lucky with dumpsters. Sometimes he’d had enough energy to put a glamor on and dine in one of the small restaurants.
His and the orders face plastered all over the walls outside though reminded him he would be welcomed very well if it fell.
“Potter.” Lucius’ voice was like a knife to his thought, he looked back up at the male before he felt the tears that were streaming down his face.
“Yes?” voice shaky he whipped away the salty wetness.
“You're due in your room now. Tom will expect you for lunch. And i'm to meet you before to make you presentable Draco will be joining us- i wish to hear nothing ill being spoken about him”
His eyes felt like silver being stabbed through him.
He swallowed and stood his chair scraping the ground “understood”
With that he was making his way through unfamiliar halls alone- Lucius hadn’t stopped him. Must have thought Harry knew his way back and forth.
Harry didn’t call for an elf. He looked around before following down one hallway, a few portraits huffed and glared but none said anything.
The odd trinkets caught his eye every now and then, but he was more drawn in when he saw the large doors.
He ran to them, throwing them open as silently as he could. Nothing stopped him, not yet at least.
The area was green, trees filled the corners and bushes trimmed to a neat shape. White peacocks wandered all around, and the air was crisp, and moist. Peaceful for such a place.
A tad cold but not bad.
It looked like an open yard but the large fences didn’t seem to be just for decoration. He could feel the wards etched into them.
He checked every inch of the area trying to find even the small falter in the magic. He grew tired after an hour of searching and sat leaning on a large tree before a few peacocks wandered up to him. Singing happily.
He could see the beauty in them. See why a man like Malfoy would want them here.
He took time to think
So far, neither tom nor Malfoy had harmed him- sure a few jabs at him here and there but nothing to completely disable him.
The room he was given was better than what he'd had most his life, even in Hogwarts having to share a room with other males always made the room messy and untidy. He hated it, he’d grown up cleaning and had gotten used to the clean room he’d slept in.
The one thing he'd thank the Dursleys for was giving, making him appreciate cleaning.
The wind picked up a small bit and he took a breath, the flowers around swayed.
Another peacock came squawking over. And with a smirk and an idea he stood.
Focusing on that once odd feeling his body formed into a larger being. Feathered and dark as night he chirped back at the birds.
Shaking off the stiffness he spread his wings into the wind let them loosen before pawing the ground.
A few peacocks took off and he took chase.
Mid reeling and limbs pounding into the ground he played with the birds. Nudging them off their feet before helping them back up over and over, picking a new bird each time.
If he could laugh he would have been.
The full stomach from earlier fueled his fun letting him play for longer than he’d been able to before.
Harry only stopped when he heard the pounding of footsteps and someone yell out a spell.
His body stiffened before falling limp to the floor.
— — —
He'd been gone for not even an hour before going to check for Potter, who was supposed to be in his room, locked away.
But instead he found the already blank and empty room with no potter.
And he panicked.
He'd already been in enough trouble for not following the boy to his room but the fact he was gone entirely was worse!
Practically running up to every guard had the same answer- ‘no sir’
He hadn't even made it to the halls of his room- or had ignored them entirely- wouldn't be surprised the boy had a knack for getting away.
His breath caught when I felt his mark sting. The ever growing call in his forearm, he calmed himself fleeing from any sign of panic he had carried before and smoothed down anything out of shape before following the fleeting pain to its cause.
He'd grown used to Tom's calls, his language he used without talking. The man was neat and clean. Tidy.
He didn't keep a single thing out of place, always a spot, always a way.
The papers may have looked like a mess on the table to others- thrown around.
But he knew those papers were more organized than any in the ministry records.
The downfall of knowing this however, was the fact he saw- watched as tom looked him over.
Checking for anything out of place. Anything at all.
And he found something.
“Prey tell Lucius. Why have you been running around? " The pen Tom held was placed down softly, well angled for its next time in use. “Well?”
“potter has…gone missing”
It was like the world around him stopped with one glare. He watched silently- stiffly as Tom stood. The chair creaked on the floor as it was pushed back.
Closer…closer. Until he was standing just before Lucius. “And tell me…how did potter go missing?”
“The guards. They didn't see him go back to his room. They didn't even see him exit the dining hall!” Lucius was panicking. ”I questioned the elves, none were called to take him back.”
“I thought I informed you to place guards through all the halls? Or are you as useless as the rest!” he felt his own voice rip from his throat. Pain shot through him as he fell to the floor before his emperor.
“Find him”
And Lucius would. As soon as the spell was lifted he stood not even brushing himself off before scouring the halls. He had filled the ones that would house the boy with guards. But not the private ones- the ones filled with portraits or the ones leading outdoors and to his and tom's rooms.
The halls were silent. They always were now.
He demanded the portraits tell him where the boy went. They all raised their noses to him before he threatened to burn them all down. ‘To the courtyard’ one had said. And that was all he'd gotten
As if he didn’t have five courtyards down that hall alone!
He’d gotten lucky really but he’d never admit that. Only one courtyard held the peacocks. And when he heard their shrill sounds from down the hall he raced forward. Expecting to find Potter torturing them out of spite, not a giant black Griffin pawing and pecking at their feathers. Chasing them around.
He called out a fast ‘stupefy!’ and watched the large beast fall to the floor. The peacocks all raised away into the bushes. And he sighed.
How had such a creature even gotten onto his land? The wards should have detoured it.
Watching the griffin, Lucius started forward.