Chapter 17
The Dark Lord stood tall and proud, staring straight at Lucius. Lucius had cleared his mind, preparing to collect the memory to send to the Light side.
‘I am the Dark Lord. I am bound by Lady Magic to protect and guide my people – those who are Dark. One of my people has come to me recently, a child in need of protection.’
Tom paused, leaning down to lift Harry into his arms. Harry had been standing quietly by his side, no idea what was happening or why Tom was talking to Lucius so… oddly. When Harry was picked up, he lurched, clinging to Tom’s robes in panic. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but Tom adjusted his grip and tucked Harry close against his side, one arm under his thighs, the other around his back to keep him secure.
Harry’s mind stuttered in confusion, before it clicked.
Tom was holding him like Uncle Vernon held Dudley.
Was Tom his daddy now? Harry had never had one before, he wasn’t sure.
Hesitantly, Harry relaxed in Tom’s grasp, leaning his head against Tom’s shoulder – just to try it out. Dudley did that sometimes when Uncle Vernon held him.
It was as comfortable and secure as he’d thought it would feel, judging by how Dudley used to look.
Harry closed his eyes, basking in the moment, before suddenly realising that Tom had stopped talking and Lucius was walking away. Harry stiffened and made to pull away, but Tom’s hand on his back pressed him close again.
‘It’s alright, Harry. I have you. Just relax.’ Tom murmured quietly.
Cautiously, Harry leaned close again. He wriggled a bit, trying to free his hands. ‘Rules?’ he signed.
Tom tensed a little, and Harry stiffened in fear.
‘No rules, Harry. All children should be given affection. I am sorry that we have not given you any since you have been here.’
Harry’s brow furrowed. ‘No rules no bad Tom good.’
‘I suppose you’re right – if there are no rules for affection, I haven’t broken them. I can still be sorry that you needed something, and I didn’t give it – even if it wasn’t a rule.’
Harry wasn’t sure how to take that, so he just let his hands drop, tucking them between his and Tom’s bodies and slumping in Tom’s secure hold.
‘We shouldn’t have pulled you out of bed, Harry, even if you were still awake. We should have waited till morning. Are you tired?’
Harry nodded, eyes sagging.
‘It’s alright if you go to sleep. I’ll take you back to your bed. Sleep if you are tired.’
Harry wanted to sleep, but he also wanted to stay awake and enjoy Tom holding him. He’d never been held like this – he didn’t want to miss it by being asleep.
Even still, by the time Tom reached his room, Harry was fighting a losing battle. Tom laid him down carefully, pulling the covers up and arranging them around the boy.
Harry squirmed briefly, lifting his hands and signing a word Tom didn’t know.
‘Sleep now, Harry. Questions tomorrow.’ He whispered, and Harry’s hands dropped, eyes closed and breathing slow and even.
Tom watched the sleeping child, chest tight. He squashed down the strange feeling the boy stirred in him, brushing it aside as concern over the child’s neglect. There was no time to stand here and dwell, anyway. Plans were being put in motion, and there was much to be done.
***
Severus stood around the corner from 12 Grimmauld place, breathing steadily as he worked to strengthen his Occlumency barriers and seal away his emotions. Normally he wouldn’t work this hard on blocking everything – it simply wasn’t healthy for mind, body or magic. But he couldn’t risk letting something slip, not today. Mid-way through their scheduled meeting, an owl would arrive. An owl carrying a pensieve memory.
Severus could feel the vindictive glee burning in his chest, but felt his Occlumency barriers working to keep it hidden, keep it tamped down. He was ready.
He stepped around the corner and strode up the footpath, entering the rusted front gate of number 12, and rapped on the door.
‘Shut up!’ hissed Lily as she opened the door quickly. ‘You’ll wake that horrid old banshee!’
Severus raised a brow. ‘Hello to you too, Lily.’ He drawled.
Lily at least had the grace to blush. ‘Yes, hello Severus. Come inside.’
He followed behind Lily down the dingy hallway towards the kitchen, where a few Order members were already gathered. Steeling himself for their hostility, he sat in a chair to one side of Dumbledore’s usual spot.
‘Ah, Snivvy! Who’s boots have you been licking today?’ Potter called jovially, positively gleeful at the opportunity to pick on Severus without Dumbledore present to stop him.
Severus ignored him, which only spurred Potter on. Halfway through a crude ‘joke’, Mad-Eye Moody stepped into the kitchen, glaring at everyone present.
‘Shut it, Potter. Snape may be a Dark bastard, but he’s still on our side. Stop trying to piss him off. This isn’t Hogwarts and you are supposed to be an adult.’ The crazy old man growled.
Potter scowled, while Severus mentally patted himself on the back for spending extra time strengthening his mind, face staying blank and uninterested, even though he wanted to smirk at Potter being scolded like a schoolboy.
The gathered group sat in awkward silence for a long few minutes, before Dumbledore arrived, eyes twinkling and robes swishing. He took his seat at the head of the table and called the meeting to order.
There was the usual waffle for about 20 minutes, before a tapping at the window drew everyone’s attention.
The owl had arrived.
Moody stood to open the window, intercepting the owl and casting a series of detection spells over it, before taking its parcel and casting more spells.
‘Came from somewhere Dark, but no curses or the like on it.’ Moody confirmed. He opened the parcel before Dumbledore could try to control the situation, pulling out a small vial with a silvery wisp floating inside. ‘A memory – probably a message. Is there a Pensieve here?’
Dumbledore jumped in quickly. ‘No, I don’t believe so. Perhaps I shall take it back to my office and review it, we can arrange to view it another time?’ he asked, carefully keeping his façade up to avoid accusations of hiding things.
‘Oh!’ cried Arthur Weasley excitedly. ‘I know a spell!’ He pulled out his wand, waving it in a series of circles as smoke flowed out, gathering in a cloud. Severus was glad again for strengthening his mind – Arthur’s spell looked to be the Light version of the spell he’d cast over Harry’s muggle house. Hopefully Dumbledore was too distracted trying to regain control that he wouldn’t realise. Arthur directed Moody to open the vial below the smoke, and the memory floated up into the cloud and began to play.
Severus kept a close eye on Dumbledore, Lily and Potter as the memory played. He’d seen it before, of course. Once Lucius extracted it, several people watched it to check for any hints that might reveal the Dark Lord’s location. Only once it was approved did they arrange a time to send it off.
Dumbledore’s face was twitching with the effort of controlling his expression, but Severus could see the frustration in his eyes.
Lily looked shocked, and Potter shocked and angry. Various other members looked shocked too, particularly when the boy laid his head on the Dark Lord’s shoulder and let his eyes drift shut, a hint of a smile on his face.
The memory stopped, and after a second’s pause, Potter surged to his feet, wand pointed at Severus. ‘WHERE IS HE, YOU DIRTY BASTARD!’ he roared. ‘YOU KNOW! YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS!’
Severus held still, eyes intent but posture forcibly relaxed. Moody already had his wand trained on Potter, no need to pull out his own just yet. ‘Are you talking about the Dark Lord, or your son?’ he asked mildly.
Potter readied himself to throw some sort of hex, but suddenly he was sitting back in his chair, bound and writhing furiously.
‘Cut it out, Potter! I warned you!’ growled Moody. Severus tilted his head in thanks.
‘Now, now, everyone, let us calm down. Alastor, I’m sure you can release James, no need for such heavy handedness. James, I must ask you to refrain from hexing Severus.’ Dumbledore spoke with his typical calm, condescending manner.
Moody paused, glaring at Potter. ‘Try it again, boy, and I’ll gag you next time too.’ He growled, before flicking his wand to release Potter’s bonds.
‘Now, let us address this like adults. Severus, what do you know?’
Severus felt a flare of irritation, held back by his barriers. ‘As I have told you before, Albus, I do not know. There was no sign of attack at the house the boy was hidden in. There was no sign of wards, either lingering or damaged. No traces of Dark magic. Nothing to indicate the boy had been forcibly taken, or even that he’d ever been there.’
‘Then how did that bastard get a hold of him?!’ snarled Potter. ‘You’re lying! You’re hiding something!’
Severus turned a flat stare on Potter. ‘I am here at great risk to my personal safety, in order to bring you information. My situation in the Dark Lord’s camp is not as secure as you seem to think. I am not privy to all of his plans and strategies. The boy has obviously been a closely guarded secret. Did you not notice how empty and quiet it was, wherever they were? Nothing in the background to indicate their location. No windows, no natural light. For all I know, the boy is in some heavily warded, secret room that only the Dark Lord can enter.’
‘You truly have not heard anything, Severus? No whispers?’ Dumbledore prodded.
Severus shook his head.
‘What about food? Someone must be feeding him – they must know something! I doubt the Dark Lord would stoop to being a waiter.’ Lily said triumphantly, like she’d solved some great mystery.
‘House elves, Lils. Bound to the Dark Bastard, wouldn’t be able to spill his secrets.’ muttered Potter, making Lily wilt.
‘Do your best to find out where the boy is, Severus. His life depends on it.’ Dumbledore said gravely, sparking a new round of shouting and threats directed at Severus.
He rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t know why you are threatening me, Potter. Have I not done more to protect your son than you have? Did I not warn you three years ago, and you ignored me, and your house was attacked? And then I warned you again and now the boy is gone. Truly, must I raise your son myself as well?’ Severus taunted, cold eyes fixed on Potter’s face.
‘Enough.’ said Dumbledore sharply. ‘Severus, your work is appreciated, but please do not belittle the efforts of anyone else here.’
‘What efforts might those be? Last I heard, Potter was still waiting to hear back from the Auror training program. I believe their new intake has just started – will you be joining them this time, Potter?’ he asked politely.
Potter’s face burned, eyes promising pain. ‘Oh, fu-‘
‘James! Don’t react, he’s just trying to bait you!’ hissed Lily.
‘I’d say less trying, more succeeding.’ drawled Severus, examining his fingernails.
‘Enough of this petty schoolyard rivalry! That boy is in the Dark Lord’s hands. Stop wasting time and do something about it. Potter, I already told you this childish nonsense is the reason the Aurors keep putting you off. Grow up! Snape, go and find some useful information. Merlin and Morgana, the bullshit that goes on around here…’ grumbled Moody, stomping heavily from the room. The front door banged loudly a few moments later, and Walburga started to screech.
The group dispersed quickly after that, but not without Potter trying unsuccessfully to trip Severus on the way out of the kitchen, or trying again at the front doorstep. Severus dodged both times, not deigning to react in any way and no doubt infuriating Potter even more.
He strode down the footpath, listening for the telltale pops of everyone apparating away, before ducking back into the little side alley he had used before the meeting, and relaxing his mental barriers. He slumped wearily, rubbing a hand over his eyes, then braced himself for a series of jumps all over the countryside before arriving at his Lord’s manor. No doubt his Lord was eager to hear of the reactions to his little delivery.