Chapter 32
-Skip to the beginning summer-
The hot sun blazed on his skin as he dug his toes and fingers deeper into the grass, he should be wearing shoes, but the texture of the warm grass felt nice. He was currently at the Malfoy manor, and Draco finally managed to convince him to go to the small river a mile away from the house. Harry was finally home. They had won the custody battle and had Dumbledore’s parental rights taken away from him. His smile grew as he reminisced that Dumbledore’s reputation had been severely damaged; the Daily Prophet is still writing about it. Still, unfortunately, not everything had gone his way. A lot of his childhood has been revealed to the general public. And he hated it. The looks of pity he receives when he walks, or the disappointed looks he gets when he walks in public. He inwardly shudders at people’s reaction when school starts up again. Suddenly he felt a splash of water on his face, and he immediately shot up.
“Draco! You’re gonna get me all wet.” Harry exclaimed as Draco laughed and grabbed Harry by the foot and dragged him in the water.
“I can’t get you wet if your already wet! Now take off your shirt and join me, it's boring swimming all my myself.”
Harry rolled his eyes, but he took his shirt off and tackled Draco. Draco shrieked and said, “They that’s cheating!”
“Not when you pushed me in!” It was obviously in good fun, and both boys were laughing and playing.
For the next hour everything seemed to be going well until they suddenly heard a pop. Both boys stopped and turned around to face the intruder, which of course turned out not to be an intruder but Mr. Malfoy. Harry blushed slightly and hurried to put his shirt back on, feeling exposed without it. Draco did the same and they hurried to see what Draco’s father wanted.
“First, I would like you both to get dried and cleaned up, Draco, you will go eat lunch with your mother. And Harry the Dark Lord wants to see you, you will be traveling to Riddle manor with me.” Lucius stated coolly.
“If I may ask sir what does the Dark Lord want from me?
Mr. Malfoy stared at him for a second before stating, “I do not know, the Dark Lord did not find it necessary to tell me. Now let’s hurry boys, we do not want to keep the Dark Lord waiting.”
Worry strung in him, what could Voldemort want from him in person? Surely, he could just tell him through his dreams, so whatever it is it must be important. Quickly casting a drying charm on himself and Draco the two boys quickly grabbed the older man’s elbow, waiting to apparate to the manor. He made a mental note to ask Voldemort to teach him proper apparition.
----
To the dining room to Riddle manor was tense would be an understatement. The walls where dark and dreary, and Harry couldn’t help but notice it was eerily similar the Malfoy manor, but darker. He could practically smell the dark magic radiating from the manor. Not that he could or would complain. But both men sat at the table in silence, daring each other to speak. It was clear Voldemort would win this small battle of endurance as he cleared his throat and asked confidently, “What did you need, sir? Surely you could have told me tonight, through my dreams.”
Voldemort looked up at him and stated coldly, “I felt like it would be beneficial if I told you in person, and I need your body for this.”
“Then what is it, sir?” He asked hastily, wondering what Voldemort meant. Why would he need his body? He couldn’t imagine it would be anything terrible, but he also couldn’t imagine it being anything good.”
“Watch your tone Potter, do remember who you’re talking to.” Voldemort reprimanded on his haste attitude, before continuing in a softer tone, “Before I can tell you, how is your occlumency?”
“I’m sorry sir, I’m just curious. And it is not one of my best skills, but I do have a decent shield and I can tell if someone is in my head or not. It is more affective for me to just stop eye contact. But Professor Snape is helping me improve my shield, I have yet to push him out of my mind though.” He responded coolly, obviously not wanting to piss off the Dark Lord. After all, it would be bad if he got him angry before he learned of what he wanted with him.
The Dark Lord squinted his eyes in disapproval, but nodded and said, “I wanted to wait till you are more advanced, but it is clear that it isn’t an option anymore. I want to mark you.” Harry was about to protest but Voldemort wandlessly closed his mouth, so he was unable to speak. The older man continued, “And let me explain before you start complaining. It isn’t the dark mark, even if I wanted to you are too young for that. It is a simple mark, and it simply informs me where you are at all times, and it will tell me if you are in danger or not. And no, I cannot use our mind connection, it makes me vulnerable to attacks. I need to put all my attention on you, and in battle that could be crucial.”
The magic forcing his jaws shut released and he immediately said, “I haven’t agreed to join you. I don’t want to become a follower; I admire your work, but I refuse to follow you!”
Voldemort glared and Harry could feel his magic whipping around him in displeasure, it was clear that the Dark Lord was not used to being told no. Harry glared back but kept his magic aura from being released. It would not be smart to challenge the Dark Lord in a physical brawl, Voldemort would win for sure. Voldemort snapped, “Your need to show how powerful you are is pitiful, I have waited for a year for an answer, and I will not accept a no. There is another reason you impudent child! Tell me Potter, what do you know about horcrux’s?”
“I know very little of that subject sir. But I know it is the darkest of magic, and it can make people immortal.” Harry stated slightly confused on why the Dark Lord was saying this.
“Yes, and for awhile I had always thought I had six horcrux’s, not now I learned there was seven.” The anger in his voice died down as he continued, “Potter, when I killed our parents and left you alive, I created a seventh horcrux.” He stopped and pointed at the scar on his head, “And right there in your scar is a piece of my soul. Harry, I need to keep you protected to make sure I stay alive, I do not plan to dictate your life, but I do need your compliance. You see now, you will never become a follower of mine just for that fact. Therefore, I need you on my side. And Potter, you need me as well, do not forget who has been teaching you all this time.”
Harry’s eyes widened at those words, as an uncomfortable knot formed in his stomach. He couldn’t imagine himself being a horcrux, how is that even possible? But it was evident Voldemort isn’t lying, the man clearly was telling the truth. He needed to think logically about this. It didn’t matter if he didn’t want it, but he was aware that if he said no, he would most likely be dropped as a student, or worse killed. Suddenly an idea popped in his head, smirking he stated, “Fine, I will accept under one condition.”
The Dark Lord eyebrows quirked and asked, “And what would that be?”
“You have to get it too.”
And suddenly Voldemort realized turning Potter into an personal assistant might not be as easy as he thought.