Harry's loyalty

~~~~~~~

"It's beautiful," Harry murmured, his cheeks flushed as Voldemort finished clasping the Slytherin locket around his pale neck. 

Voldemort knew Harry Potter (when did he start thinking of Potter as Harry?) would read something into the gesture.  

Voldemort was extremely possessive and secretive with his belongings, especially his locket, which was one of his Horcruxes. Although, of course, Harry wasn't aware of that. He just assumed it was an important family heirloom that Voldemort treasured and kept.

After Harry and his friends had destroyed some of his Horcruxes, Voldemort collected the remainder and kept them heavily warded with so much dark magic in a room in his house that it would be impossible for anyone to dismantle them without experiencing a very painful death.

He didn't know what he was thinking before, leaving his Horcruxes scattered around. He hadn't been thinking obviously. The safest place was at his heavily warded, unplottable house.

Other than Marvolo and Harry, no one knew where it was, and he had them swear an unbreakable vow to ensure they couldn't tell anyone. 

Harry had tried to protest against Marvolo taking the vow, muttering some nonsense about how he was only ten and far too young. Of course, Voldemort ignored him and did it anyway. 

Just like Harry, Marvolo belonged to him, and he did what he wanted with his property. 

It was Harry's first public appearance in months and Harry's birthday, so Voldemort had decided to gift him the locket. As Harry himself was a Horcrux, the locket wouldn't possess him, but it would make him more docile and submissive towards Voldemort's whims. The locket would ensure that his thoughts would be more prone towards Voldemort's thinking.

Which was what Voldemort needed as he was going to announce his new plans.

He had finally conquered most of Europe and was now working on Russia, which was the hardest. The people were stubborn and willing to suffer for their freedom, much harder to defeat and conquer than countries like France and Poland. 

Voldemort needed to spend more time there. He needed his presence to be seen and felt. But he was unwilling to be away from a heavily pregnant Harry and his son, it made him uncomfortable. 

Voldemort was going to announce some very important trading and importing deals between Russia, Britain, and a few more countries that Voldemort had taken over. These would of course boost wizarding Russia's economy, and Voldemort would be announcing that mudbloods were not allowed to be taught magic there.

Russians were even bigger blood purists than the British. 

Mudbloods would be treated like Squibs, brought to a tiny, secluded village in the north of Russia, where they would be forced to be menial labourers. Unpaid but given food and a place to live. 

Voldemort didn't really care about the logistics; he had sent the Carrows there to oversee what was going on.

However, Voldemort decided for at least a year or two he would move and take his family (he still shuddered at the word) with him to Russia. He was losing good men in the war there that he himself could end very quickly.

But after slaughtering so many important wizards, he would need to show he was committed to the country, so he would announce to the Russian public that his unborn child would be raised in Russia and go to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts.  

Then, when his unborn child was older, Voldemort decided they could rule Russia in his name. The Russians were patriotic; they wouldn't rebel against the child. The child would be one of them.

This was why Voldemort had given Harry the locket because he knew his plans were bound to make him become bothersome. He would beg, plead, cry, and shout about this. 

He wouldn't want his child to be raised in Russia and go to a foreign school. He would be hurt and upset at the prospect of being away from his child, especially as there would be times their child would stay in Russia while Voldemort travelled and would bring Harry with him.

Over the last thirteen years, Harry had become more comfortable with Voldemort, and Voldemort had allowed him many leniencies, which meant the boy wasn't as frightened for his life. He would argue about this, and as Voldemort couldn't just kill him, he would be forced to listen to the whining.

Marvolo walked into the room, looking even more like Tom Riddle than Voldemort was comfortable with, his robes expensive and perfect. 

He held himself with arrogance and importance, his large green eyes narrowed in contempt as he glared at Harry's stomach.

Marvolo was a jealous child.

He had been furious when Harry had announced his pregnancy.

"Where are we going, father?" Marvolo asked, purposely ignoring Harry as he looked up at Voldemort, who was looming over Harry.

"Are you still giving me the silent treatment?" Harry asked, amused.

"Yes! Not that you care since you don't love me anymore," Marvolo hissed.

"Don't be silly. Of course I love you!"

"Then get rid of that abomination; why do you need another child if not to replace me?" Marvolo demanded, his voice almost identical to Voldemort’s.

They even had the same handwriting.

It was at times unpleasant to remember the boy he used to be. To remember how flawed with human emotion he has been before he had transcended into a God. 

To remember that just like Marvolo, there had been a time when he wanted his father's love and acceptance. 

"Do not be dramatic, child. No one is replacing you," Voldemort sighed, refraining from rolling his eyes at Marvolo’s theatrics.

"It happens all the time in history; the youngest brother is always jealous of the oldest and plans to kill him! I've read about it," Marvolo insisted. 

"Your brother is not going to kill you! Why would you think that? He will look up to you and love you," Harry frowned.

"Why wouldn't he? I'd kill it if I thought you loved him more than me," Marvolo asked, genuinely confused. 

Smart boy, Voldemort would've done the same. 

But Voldemort needed this child for his Russian plans.

"You are not to kill your brother, do you understand? If you touch him, then I will make you wish you were never born. Do you understand?" Voldemort said, his tone cold as he loomed over Marvolo.

"I knew you loved him more! That's why you're protecting him!"

"Marvolo..." Voldemort trailed off, the warning in his tone very evident.

Marvolo's eyes burned with hurt and anger, but he nodded, knowing his father was serious.

"Good. Now go while I speak to your dad."

Marvolo stormed out the room.

"Why did you say that? Of course he won't kill his brother; he's just being dramatic! All children are jealous at first. He's only a little boy!" Harry exclaimed, upset.

Voldemort had entered Marvolo’s thoughts enough times after Harry's pregnancy announcement to know that he most definitely would kill the child.

"Just don't leave the child unattended around him." Voldemort took Harry's hand. "Come, let's go. Today is very important for me."

Harry frowned, his face etched in worry, but he allowed himself to be pulled out of the room.

He assured himself that Voldemort was being paranoid, and his sweet boy would never do something as heinous as hurt a defenceless baby.

Marvolo wasn't like that. 

He was good. 

He had to be, Harry thought, desperately wanting it to be true. 

Marvolo was different from other children, but he was good, and the more Harry thought it, the more he believed it.