Harry was beginning to understand why Sirius thought his house-elf was mad.
The elf, Kreacher, would shuffle around the large house, muttering to itself. It would often just stop what it was doing and stare at Harry, before continuing with its muttered insults.
"I don't understand why you just can't get rid of it," Harry said to Sirius, aware that he was whining. Not caring that much, because Merlin, that muttering was annoying.
Sirius frowned a bit, a crease appearing between his eyes.
"No-one wants an old elf. If I free him, he'll have nowhere to go"
"Why not just add its head to the plaque?" Harry said, laughing when he saw how Sirius looked at him.
"Just kidding"
Grimmauld Place itself was a pretty cool house. For one, it had a truly epic library, with a collection of books on the Dark Arts that would rival even the Malfoy's. Of course, Harry couldn't let Sirius or Lupin(who insisted Harry call him Remus, or Moony) catch him reading them, but he did manage to steal a few of them.
The House was also full of cursed objects. Sirius had warned Harry that they thought they had cleaned out his room totally(Harry was staying in what had been Regulus' room), but he still had to be careful of touching anything. It definitely kept him on his toes.
Sirius' mother had a large portrait, which was usually kept covered by a curtain.
Harry discovered just why it was usually covered when he accidentally pulled the curtain open on his second day there.
Immediately, the old witch started shouting about his parentage and terrible blood. Harry had stood there, goggling as she berated him until Sirius appeared from upstairs, and with an immense effort, managed to pull the curtain closed again.
"We don't know how she's done it, but silencing charms don't work on her. Not for more than a few minutes at least"
"You can't take the painting down?"
"Permanent Sticking Charm. And I think Kreacher added some elf magic, the usual countercharm doesn't work"
"Oh"
"Yeah. Just ignore the bitch"
Even with the intermittent insane rants from the entrance hall, Grimmauld Place was a cool place to be.
Harry couldn't quite put his finger on it, on what made him feel so at home there. He finally decided that it must have been the centuries worth of Dark Magic that had been practiced there.
' And Sirius just blindly follows ministry regulations. He'd like it here much more if he didn't'
Whatever was causing his enjoyment, it surely wasn't the neighbors.
12 Grimmauld Place was smack dab in the center of a muggle neighborhood.
Sirius has explained that when the Blacks first built their home, it had been a wizarding area. Only over time did the muggles start moving in, and the wizards had to move out.
The Black family, however, had been too proud to leave their ancestral heritage.
' Damn right. Next thing the muggles will be trying to take over Diagon. What, we're just meant to roll over for them?'
"Of course" Sirius had gone on, "it gave us issues from time to time. It's Unplottable, so it wouldn't show up on muggle maps. Every so often we'd have a muggle manage to get through the muggle-repelling charms, and expect there to be a park or something here"
There was one major downside to being there. And it was one Harry could never have suspected would happen, not with Sirius' disregard for rules in general.
"Your wand"
"What?" Harry asked, baffled.
"No magic over the break. It's illegal, you know"
Harry had burst out laughing, honestly believing that Sirius was joking.
But Sirius just stood there with his hand stretched out, waiting expectantly.
"You're not serious, are you?" He asked, humor fading from his face.
Sirius' lips twitched. "Of course I am. I can't help it. But jokes aside, it's illegal, and I can't risk getting in trouble over the first break that you're actually here"
"But-but the trace-"
"I know, I know. But the healers come once a week, and it's very likely the ministry will send someone to check how I'm doing with you. So-"
"I'm not giving you my wand"
' I'm not a fucking muggle'
"Harry, ple-"
"What if, what if," he said, thinking quickly, "what if Bellatrix comes? I wouldn't be able to defend myself?"
Sirius actually looked quite concerned then.
"Harry, you don't need to worry, she-"
"But she might! Dumbledore said she was looking for me!"
"Fine. Keep the wand. But don't let me catch you doing any magic. When you're here on another break, sure. Not on the first one"
' I'll have to thank Bellatrix for that'
"And if that bitch does come," Sirius said, fury contorting his features, "I'll have a chance to speak to her again"
"You know her?" Harry asked before he could stop himself.
"You could say that," Sirius said, spitting. "She's my cousin. Until she got married, she lived in this house"
"But I thought your parents lived here? Why did their siblings-"
"Only my father's siblings. Only those whose name was still Black, so only his brothers. And their wives, and their kids. C'mon, this place is big enough"
"Wasn't that a bit weird?"
"Welcome to the house of Black, kid. Weird is our middle name. Besides, she wasn't here for that long. By the time I was at Hogwarts she was graduating, and then she found someone crazy enough to marry her"
' You should see him nowadays' Harry thought, remembering the way Rodolphus had stared into space.
"Last time I saw her, she was doing her best to kill me. Raving about what an embarrassment to the family I was"
"Ouch"
"That wasn't so bad, I got that type of thing from mum a lot"
"Could've guessed from her portrait"
"Oh, you have no idea. The way she used to go on and on. And you might think she's loud now, but that's only cause you never heard her while she was alive"
"Heard who?" Remus asked, walking into the kitchen and opening a drawer.
"My dearly beloved mother"
"God, don't remind me. I remember when you first put those posters up"
Sirius chuckled. "Merlin. My eardrums have never been the same. Mind you, it wasn't as bad as when I first bought the bike"
Lupin coughed, and pointed his wand at his throat, causing a piece of apple to fly out.
"I forgot about that" he wheezed, coughing again and then speaking in a more normal tone, "didn't she tell you that you were a waste of seed?"
' Well, at least I managed to get him off that subject. Even if this one is way too awkward'
Sirius just laughed.
"Na, that was when I went out with Melissa Chapman. You remember, the muggle-born girl?"
"Oh yeah"
Harry fled the kitchen, as Sirius started telling the story of how his mother found out he was involved with a muggle-born.
"You've got all your stuff?"
"Yeah"
"Did the Greengrasses write back?"
"Yeah, sorry, I meant to tell you. I'm gonna stay at them the last night"
"Brave of them," Sirius remarked, "letting their daughter's boyfriend stay over"
' Smart of them. They know where I stand. They saw me swear my oaths'
Harry shrugged. "Na. Draco's coming also, he's going out with her younger sister, and we're gonna share a room"
"What, you and the sister? That sounds like a terrible plan"
"No, you prat. Me and Draco"
"I know. Just messing around"
Abruptly, Sirius hugged Harry, pulling the boy tight against his chest.
"It's been great having you here. Like a dream. Thank you"
"Thank you, Sirius. It's been good for me too"
' Can I just go already?'
"Just-be careful at the Malfoys, alright? I know they're your friends, but I fought him in the war, and-"
"He was under the Imperius," Harry said quickly.
"Maybe" Sirius looked at him intently. "Maybe not"
"They've been nothing but good to me"
"I know. Just be careful, please. Keep that portkey Dumbledore gave you in reach at all times"
' Trying to get me to distrust the Malfoys?'
"I will"
"And please, write to me before you go back"
"I will"
"Have fun! See you in the summer"
"Bye!" Harry called, as he threw the Floo Powder into the fireplace and stepped into the flames, saying "Malfoy Manor" as he did so.
Sirius watched the fire die down for a few minutes, before sighing and heading back to his room.
The Eastern Ballroom was set up much as it had been for Draco and Harry's initiation.
The main difference was the number of people on the stage.
Nine witches and wizards, each with a bound and gagged muggle on the floor before them.
Harry knew who they were of course, even though he couldn't see their faces. The Durmstrang group was there, one of them fidgeting nervously.
' I wonder how he'll do'
Next to them, was another three Hogwarts students. Warrington, Montague, and a Ravenclaw-Alaine Westman. And the figure standing on the very left, that was the one Harry's eyes were drawn to.
The Dark Lord stood before them, and began to speak, cutting through the murmured conversation of the hundreds of assembled witches and wizards.
"The time of my return draws near. For too long have we been forced to live in the shadows, dwelling on the edges of society. For too long have we been forced to obey the Ministry's prattle, to hide our superiority from the lower race. We deserve to rule! We have been gifted with powers beyond what the muggles think possible, and yet the ministry demands we hide ourselves as if they are our superiors. Enough, I say. I will not abase myself to the powerless as they try to destroy us. Every single one of us knows how the muggles will treat us when we are inevitably discovered. They will either kill or enslave us"
"You may think this to be impossible. After all, the muggles are talentless, are stupid, are weak. How could they possibly overcome us? But mark this. There are seven billion muggles alive. Seven billion. There are slightly less than fifty million wizards and witches. They outnumber us one hundred and forty to one! And while their technology and weapons of war grow and improve, the magical governments try to keep us weak. They ban the study of the most powerful magic, they ban the practice of the Dark Arts. They seek to destroy our traditions of a thousand years, in a vain attempt at emulating the muggle fools' morality. Traitors!" His voice cracked like a whip, causing a few members of the crowd to flinch.
"Traitors! When war comes, and come it shall, we will be destroyed if we obey their regulations! Well do I remember, from my youth, how the muggles destroyed two cities with only two of their bombs! In the time since then, their technology has only improved, while our own governments seek to make us regress! Traitors! Betraying our blood!"
The crowd was deathly silent. The Dark Lord's voice rose, reaching a crescendo.
"And Albus Dumbledore, the so-called most powerful wizard alive. What does he do? He sees the oncoming war, and hides away in his office, pondering the power of love. He sends a wizarding child to be abused by muggles"
A few heads turned towards Harry. He just stared straight ahead.
"He hides in his office, using his position as chief warlock to destroy our culture, ignoring the coming catastrophe. Enough, I say. He can keep his power of love. I choose the power of magic. As did my ancestor, the great Salazar Slytherin. As did the ancient wizards and witches who enabled our survival, through the witch hunts and inquisitions. The muggles will fall. But first, we must take control of the wizarding world"
"Soon, my brothers and sisters. Soon, my return will be revealed. And a great fire will be ignited. The fire of our revolution! The ministry revels in weakness. We revel in strength. We will wrestle control of our lives from them, wrestle control of our children's futures. No longer will we hide like mice! The muggles will know their place, and magic will be free once more!"
The Dark Lord raised his hands, black fire swirling up around him from the ground. A loud cheer erupted.
"We are blessed" the Dark Lord continued in a soft, dangerous voice, "to have young witches and wizards who recognize these threats for what they are. Who are prepared to fight for what is right. Tonight, we welcome some of them into our fellowship"
He stepped aside, and a light was cast onto the muggle kneeling before the first person.
The gag fell out. The muggle began begging.
"Crucio!"
The muggle screamed.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The muggle died.
Carolus removed his mask, got on his knees, and swore to the Dark Lord.
And so it went on. Harry was slightly surprised to see how well Poliakoff did.
And then it came to Daphne.
' Come on, babe! You can do it!'
"Crucio!"
And his heart sang.
"Avada Kedavra!"
He looked over at her father while she swore the oaths. The man looked at least as proud as Theo's dad had been, if not even more.
"Rejoice! We have new blood! And our rise draws nearer!"
And the party started.
"You were amazing"
"Thanks," She said, closing her bedroom door.
Harry cast muffliato at it.
"Honestly. It was great"
"Yeah"
He kissed her, his lips crashing onto hers.
"And now you're in. I feel like we should celebrate"
His hands started roving her body, squeezing and feeling. He couldn't take it anymore. He ripped her robes off.
Their tongues met again, as she scrabbled at his clothes, pulling roughly.
His mouth found her neck, suckling on it, causing her to arch her back and let out a soft moan.
She fell back onto the bed.
"The charms," she said, huskily.
"Right" Harry pointed the wand at himself and he cast it. She did so too but added something else afterward.
"What-"
"It hurts the first time. This should make it easier. At least, a bit less painful"
He bent forward, putting his head between her legs. He licked, tasting the juices that were already coating her entrance.
"Do it" she urged. "Just-be gentle"
He nodded, heart pounding as he positioned himself.
He lay above her, hovering for a second as he looked at her face.
' It's actually happening'
Slowly, he pushed himself in.
It was just as good as he had ever imagined. Better.
He lost himself to her sounds. He started pounding, moving his entire body back and forth.
She moved with him, the rhythm taking her.
"You like this?" He grunted out, not realizing that his hand was making a fist.
"Love it. Love you. Fuck, I'm-"
She moaned, her whole body tensing up as she shook.
Her hands scratched their way down his back, and time stopped as ecstasy took him.
Afterward, they lay together, hands intertwined, his face pushing into her hair. Breathing deeply, taking in her scent.
"That was incredible" he finally said.
"You can say that again," she said, running her fingers down his side.
"It didn't hurt?"
"I think the spell worked. Either that or everyone was talking shit"
"We need to find somewhere at school. Where we won't get caught"
"Definitely" she gripped him, and he responded, growing hard to her touch, "but we don't need to worry about that just yet, do we? We still have time tonight, and tomorrow night"
He rolled over, looking at her from above again.
"No, we don't need to worry. Not yet"
The second time was even better.
"Harry, stay"
Everyone else filed out of the room at the Dark Lord's dismissal. Harry stayed in his seat, to the Dark Lord's right.
"I am pleased to hear that you recovered the losses caused by your error in judgment. I trust such a thing will not happen again?"
Harry swallowed. "No, my lord. Healer Deschain was very helpful, the tools he gave me have been working wonders"
"Excellent. I do not blame you for the current increase in suspicion. One day, I will mount Moody's head on a pike"
The Dark Lord's eyes burned into Harry. "You have improved magnificently. Your fighting skills are impressive. Your Occlumency is serviceable. And though Dumbledore feels a twitch of suspicion, on a whole he trusts you. You have done well"
Harry bowed his head. "Thank you, my lord"
"I promised you, when first we met, that I would teach you of the most powerful magic. Alas, it seems over the summer we may not have the chance to meet. Nevertheless, Lord Voldemort keeps his promises. Here"
He passed Harry a hand-held mirror, the golden frame weighing the whole thing down.
"It is a two-way mirror. I have the other in the set. I expect you to use it to keep me informed of all that occurs in Hogwarts, and all the news that you receive from the Order of The Phoenix. In return, when we are apart, I will teach you from a distance. You are not to practice any of what I tell you, not unless I am physically present. But you will learn the theory"
Harry held the mirror reverently.
' He's giving me-so much more than just a mirror. Holy shit'
"My lord, I'm-I'm not worthy"
The Dark Lord laughed. "Did the muggles convince you of that?"
He flushed.
"Harry. We are connected, you and I. If you are worthy of that, you are worthy of my teaching"
"We're connected?"
"When the curse rebounded off of you into me. It forged a connection between our minds and souls. You gained your abilities as a Parselmouth from it, and, I suspect, your talent with the Dark Arts. It may very well be why you react so strongly to the use of Dark Magic. And were I not making use of Occlumency, you would see into my mind"
' What. The. Fuck'
"I told you once, Harry. You could be my protege. Nothing I have since has made me rethink that decision. The choice is yours. To be a regular Death Eater. Or to be something more. My right hand. What say you?"
"I-I accept, my lord"
"Then keep the mirror with you at all times. To communicate with me, tap the mirror three times, and say that you wish to speak. In Parseltongue. When you feel the mirror heating up, I am calling you"
Harry nodded. It sounded easy enough. Of course, he would have to be very careful about it, making sure that he wouldn't be overheard or seen. But he could pull it off. He had to.
"I believe Dumbledore will take more of a hand in your education once I reveal myself. He will seek to turn you into a weapon to be used against me. The prophecy demands it, if I am to be defeated"
"I won't. I swear it"
A smile graced those inhuman lips for a second before vanishing.
"I know. But you will tell me everything Dumbledore tells you. Everything"
"I will"
"And you will only be meeting Severus once a week. I wish for you to have a hand in the training of my other followers in Hogwarts. You will teach them"
"Me? But-"
"It will be too suspicious, for Severus to be training large groups of students. You, however, can easily form a study group. And if what you are studying is beyond the pale of what the ministry allows, no-one has to know. You could even use it to draw others into my service, by exposing them to the power and wonder of the Dark Arts"
"If that is what my lord wishes"
"It is. You will begin that next year. And when the time comes, and your loyalties can be revealed. The world will tremble. They will understand the errors of their ways. They will regret their idiocy of opposing us. And the streets will run red with their blood"