FIC: Broken -- Chapter Four -- LVHP -- PG-13

[batsutousai]

Title: Broken
Author: batsutousai
Betas: tsuki_no_suzu and magickmaker17
Rating: T
Pairings: HPLV, others
Warnings: Dumbledore bashing
Summary: Dumbledore knew before Harry Potter came to Hogwarts what he needed the boy to do, and he knew exactly how to make him do it. A twist on the normal manipulative!Dumbledore story.

Disclaim Her: Your author is currently learning how to catalogue Harry Potter in a library, but that's about it.


-~/\~-
Chapter Four - Betrayal
-~\/~-

After a week of Dumbledore trying to get Harry to come with him for the locket, the Headmaster left on his own in the night. While he was gone, Draco called the Death Eaters through and mayhem occurred.

Ron and Hermione had been on rounds when the Death Eaters came through. Ron sent Hermione back to get some people from their house to fight, while he followed them to find out what they were up to. Hermione only left after Ron swore he wouldn't attack the Death Eaters on his own.

When Hermione burst into the common room, only a few students were sitting there, including Harry and Neville, who had become much closer as the year continued and Hermione and Ron refused to support Harry's decision to be neutral.

Harry stood when he saw Hermione and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Death Eaters downstairs."

Everyone else in the common room let out surprised sound and a few went running up to the dorms to either hide or grab help.

Harry sat back down and returned to his work with Neville. When Hermione stalked over and hit him, he looked up at her angrily. "The hell?"

"Don't you care?" Hermione yelled. "Those Death Eaters are going to kill everyone! And you're just sitting here, calmly!"

Harry frowned at her. "I'm not fighting, Hermione. We've been over this."

"You only swore you wouldn't destroy Voldemort," Hermione spat, brown eyes glinting furiously. "Nothing about his people. Nothing about not protecting your friends!"

"He is protecting us, Hermione," Neville said tiredly. "As long as we don't get involved, we're safe."

"We're too young to be fighting, anyway," Harry added. "Let the professors handle it."

"They don't know!"

"Then go tell them," Harry replied.

"Dumbledore's out of the building again, Potter," one of the seventh years Harry barely knew snapped. "I don't think the rest of the teachers will be much use against those Death Eaters. We need you."

Harry turned to the boy, eyes narrowed warningly. "If a group of fully-trained adults can't defeat a bunch of Death Eaters, what makes you think I can?"

"You've done it before!"

"No, I didn't. The same adults you have no trust in came right before I was about to get killed. They defeated those Death Eaters, not me. If you want to go and get killed, fine. But I'm staying here."

"Aren't you even the slightest bit curious?" Hermione tried, almost pleaded.

Harry paused and eyed his once friend. He couldn't help but be curious, it was in his nature. And he had wanted to know what Malfoy was up to all year, but had decided to not snoop because there was nothing he could have done about it. If he had to guess, he'd say Malfoy had been trying to find a way to bring the Death Eaters into the school, but he wasn't sure why. Dumbledore would be back, and they couldn't really hold the school against him. So they must have been after something specific. But what?

Neville rubbed his face. "I am assuming, based on your discussion with us after your deal, that if we go out there, the Death Eaters won't attack unless we attack first."

Harry nodded.

"Might as well, then. No harm in going to see, yeah?"

Harry nodded again and stood with the other boy, pulling out his map. "Alright, Hermione, we'll come look. But I'm not raising my wand against them. Understand?"

Hermione frowned in disapproval, but nodded.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry told the map, considering that, as far as the makers of the map were concerned, not attacking Death Eaters was no good. "Mmmmm... They're heading towards the Astronomy Tower, I think. Oh, Dumbledore is back."

"Where?!" half the room begged, leaning in to see.

"In the Astronomy Tower," Hermione breathed. "He'll be over-run. We have to go help!"

Harry eyed Hermione with a small frown, but pocketed the map and followed her and her entourage of brave Gryffindors anyway. Harry glanced over them and, upon seeing a third year, shouted "WAIT!" Everyone froze and he frowned at the lot of them. "No one below fifth year. All of you, turn around."

"That's not fair!" the third year Harry had spotted complained.

"I'm not leading you to your deaths," Harry snapped, and caught sight of Hermione cringing next to him. "Go back into the dorm. I can't stop the upper years, but I'm not letting you lot get murdered because you were curious."

"He's right," Hermione agreed. "Fourth years and below, go back inside."

Grumbling, the students did as they were told under the two sixth years' glares.

"They'll just come out again after we've left," Neville commented.

Harry nodded and turned to the Fat Lady. "Please don't let anyone out until one of the Prefects or teachers comes and tells you otherwise?" he requested of her. "There are a bunch of Death Eaters in the school, and I don't want them hurt."

There was the sound of the portrait locking and the Fat Lady nodded grimly. "The other dorms are locked down too. You lot shouldn't be running around either, you know."

"That's what I tried to tell them," Harry replied drily, then turned and led the way quickly through the halls, using a few secret passages to get to where the Astronomy Tower was. As they got closer, they heard the sounds of fighting.

When they ran into the corridor leading to the Astronomy Tower, they saw the back of Snape as he ran up the stairs to the top of the Tower. The hallway was filled with professors and Order members fighting the Death Eaters. Ron was crumpled up in one corner, with Flitwick fighting determinedly over him. As soon as Hermione saw her downed boyfriend, she ran forward with a cry, wand drawn, and entered the fray.

As if that was their cue, the rest of the Gryffindors who had followed them ran forward as well, adding their own spells to the fight and attacking the surprised Death Eaters.

Harry sighed at the lot of them and looked over at Neville. "Want to see what Snape's up to?"

Neville shuddered. "Not particularly. You go on, I'll try and help protect people without actually fighting them."

Harry nodded and handed over his dad's cloak, then sprinted from his cover and dashed up the stairs. He didn't hear the shout from McGonagall about how no one but Death Eaters had gotten through, so he didn't bother slowing down. If Neville hadn't been paying attention, a spell would have killed their Head of House when she stared in shock after Harry, who had run right past the barrier without a pause.

When Harry got to the top of the tower, he found a group of Death Eaters with their backs to him. Draco Malfoy and Snape were between the nameless group and Dumbledore, whose eyes widened briefly at the sight of Harry.

At that moment, Draco turned his wand from the Headmaster. "I can't," he whispered.

"Come now, Draco," cooed Bellatrix Lestrange.

Harry almost grabbed his wand to curse the murderer before freezing and telling himself no.

Snape raised his wand and pointed it at the Headmaster, making Bellatrix cackle with glee.

"Severus. Please," Dumbledore whispered, eyes filled with acceptance.

"Avada Kedavra," Snape intoned.

Harry blinked in surprise as the old professor's body arched backwards and fell from the tower.

The Death Eaters all turned to go and there was a moment of surprise before Harry stepped to one side peacefully.

"Let's go," Snape said, shoving Malfoy ahead of him.

"But, Potter," Malfoy complained.

"Potter has immunity," Snape snapped, shoving Malfoy harder. "Go, Draco."

As they hurried past him, Bellatrix paused to smile nastily. "Is ickle Potty scawed?" she cooed, pointing her wand at him.

Snape grabbed her hand. "Let's go, Bella. You know our Lord has decreed the brat isn't to be touched."

Harry met Snape's eyes and felt a horrible regret that wasn't his own. When Snape turned away, the feeling faded, leaving Harry gasping as the two Death Eaters hurried down the stairs.

Harry swallowed and walked over to the edge, where Dumbledore had fallen. Down below, the Headmaster's body lay, broken.

Harry turned away and was about to go back downstairs when he kicked something which clattered. He looked down, then bent down to pick up Dumbledore's wand. He stared at it for a long moment, feeling numb. In his mind, he saw the acceptance again on Dumbledore's face as Snape's death spell flew towards him. Acceptance of his death. Of his fate.

Acceptance that, without Harry, the wizarding world was doomed.

And, in that moment, Harry understood Ron and Hermione's disgust with him, because he felt it himself.

-0-0-0-

The funeral had been painfully silent, considering the excitement that had preceded it. Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat apart from Harry, blaming him for Dumbledore's death. Near them were Ron's parents and brothers, none of whom had truly accepted Harry's decision to not fight Voldemort. Neville and Luna sat with Harry, offering silent support for a pain they couldn't understand, if only because Harry had refused to explain his sudden epiphany from that night.

Harry took a walk alone as the funeral got to be too much, and found himself by the lake, where a lone man stood in dark robes. Harry blinked once in surprise, then took up a position next to the red-eyed man. "Tom," he murmured.

Voldemort's mouth quirked. "Mourning the fool, Harry?"

Harry considered the question, then shook his head. "Mourning what he meant to the rest of the world. Mourning what I mean, now that he's gone."

"Now that you're all that's left in my way," Voldemort deduced. "What a horrible fate for a child to bear."

"For anyone to bear," Harry corrected. After a moment of silence, during which the two watched the funeral close with a last speech, Harry asked, "Now what?"

Voldemort glanced sideways at Harry. "Now? I can take the Ministry. Hogwarts. The world is at my fingertips, Harry."

"So you'll kill all the muggleborns and half-bloods," Harry said sadly. "And then what? Rule a world where you're the minority? And what about when the new generation comes? Will you kill those muggleborns too? Or would you leave them at the tender mercy of the muggles who fear them?" He turned to Voldemort, who was watching him with a touch of surprise. "Would you have them kill their muggle families because they can't control their own magic, Tom? Would you have them live in fear of themselves? Or die to save others?"

Voldemort narrowed his eyes and Harry flinched at a spike of pain from his scar. "Perhaps you're not that different from Dumbledore after all."

"Perhaps not," Harry agreed, as Fawkes flew over to them. The phoenix gave Voldemort the evil eye, but came to rest gently on Harry's forearm, which he'd held up in surprise.

Voldemort sneered at the bird. "It seems the Headmaster has left you his bird, Potter. How quaint."

Harry shook his head with a sigh. "Go fight your wars, Tom. You've already won here."

Voldemort eyed the imposing castle rising above them. "Not quite. Only a battle, not the war."

"Harry! There you are!" the current Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour shouted, hurrying towards them.

Voldemort smiled nastily. "I shall leave you to your adoring public, Harry." He turned to leave.

"Traitor," Harry muttered, earning him a faint chuckle before the Dark Lord walked off, leaving Harry to the tender mercies of the Minister. "Hello, Minister," he said, turning to the man.

"Good chap, good chap," Scrimgeour said, taking the hand of the arm Fawkes wasn't standing on and shaking it furiously. “I see Dumbledore's familiar has already picked you out. Any clue who that fellow was? No one seems to know."

"An old student of the Headmaster's," Harry answered quietly. "They were never on good terms, but he came anyway. What can I do for you, Minister?"

Scrimgeour's eyes practically danced behind his glasses. "Well, my boy, just making sure you're with the Ministry. Trying times, you know. We need to assure the public that the Chosen One and the Ministry are working together to fight You-Know-Who. We must show a unified front!"

Harry smiled bemusedly at the man. "Perhaps you haven't heard, Minister, but I'm not fighting in the war. I have a pact of neutrality with Voldemort."

Scrimgeour just sort of stared at Harry in horrified shock.

Harry shook his head and walked away from the Minister, turning to the phoenix on his arm. "I take it you're intending to stay with me, then?"

Fawkes trilled an affirmative.

"Even though I'm not fighting Voldemort?"

Fawkes shook his head sadly and chirped.

"Hm. Well, okay then. But just so we're clear, Hedwig was here first. If she tells you to butt out, go somewhere else. Right?"

Fawkes chirped in agreement, sounding horribly amused.

"Harry, you know you've got the Headmaster's phoenix on your arm, right?" Neville asked as he and Luna met up with him on the way into the school.

"Yeah. He flew over to me while I was talking to Voldemort by the lake," Harry commented calmly, ignoring the horrified look on Neville's face and the slightly surprised one of Luna's. "I think he intends to stay."

"V-V-Voldemort?" Neville asked nervously.

Harry eyed Neville oddly. "No, Fawkes." When Neville continued to look horrified, Harry sighed. "He's not attacking the school right this minute, I think he's waiting to take down the Ministry first, personally. Maybe next term. He was just here for the funeral."

"Why would he come to Dumbledore's funeral, though?" Neville demanded, still shaking a bit.

"I would assume he wanted to say good-bye to his only real enemy," Luna offered airily.

Harry's lips twitched. "Likely. He didn't seem much like he was gloating, at any rate."

"How out of character," Neville replied, sounding much calmer.

"Mmm, no. Not really."

"You said he likes to talk all the time," Neville pointed out. "Said it makes it easier for his opponent to come up with escape plans."

Harry smiled at that. "He likes to gloat about his own achievements. He didn't kill Dumbledore; Snape did."

"And he can't even pretend it was his idea," Luna added, staring at the ceiling. "The mufflewings tell me Dumbledore told Snape to do it."

Harry blinked at the girl, remembering the acceptance in Dumbledore's eyes and the regret of Snape as he pulled Bellatrix down the stairs. "I know," he whispered, closing his eyes.

"Wait, Dumbledore told Snape to kill him?" Neville practically squeaked.

"He was already dying, anyway," Luna said. When Harry and Neville stopped to stare at her, she blinked and commented, "His hand was cursed. He would have died in a few weeks anyway."

Harry blinked, then started laughing. He laughed so hard he upset Fawkes to clutch at his stomach and leaned against the nearest wall.

"I don't see what's so funny, Mr Potter," McGonagall snapped, coming to a stop next to Neville and Luna, both of whom were looking at Harry as if he'd finally lost it.

"Probably thinks it's great fun Dumbledore's finally out of the way for You-Know-Who," Ron said scathingly, arm held protectively against his ribs, which had been broken during the fight.

"Ronald!" Mrs Weasley admonished.

"What set him off?" Hermione asked of Neville tiredly. She had an angry red line across one cheek from a curse that had brushed her. Pomfrey had told her she'd likely have a scar.

"Luna just said Dumbledore was already dying from his hand," Neville told the crowd. "Harry just started laughing."

Harry wiped at his eyes and got his laughter under control so he was only snickering briefly. "Voldemort," he told them between snickers, "ordered Dumbledore's death, not knowing he was going to die anyway. So Dumbledore went out in a fight, like the wizarding world would have expected of him, rather than succumbing to a curse like your average, stupid wizard. In the end, he won! And Voldemort knows it!"

Understanding dawned in Neville's eyes, while the rest of the Gryffindor onlookers shook their heads in disgust. "So he couldn't gloat," Neville whispered.

Fawkes chirped angrily at Harry and landed on his shoulder. Harry gave the bird a half-smile and said, "Sorry."

McGonagall let out an explosive breath. "Fawkes chose you?"

"Yeah. Dunno why."

"Perhaps he's hoping you'll figure out what you did with your sense of what's right and decide to fight You-Know-Who after all," Ron snapped. He'd been angry with Harry since the battle, as if it was Harry's fault that he'd been cursed and almost died.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I think Fawkes is smarter than that, Ron."

Mrs Weasley let out a helpless sound and firmly directed Ron away from Harry. "Come on. Madam Pomfrey wants to see you one last time before we go."

"You're going home?" Harry asked the rest of the Weasley family, as Hermione followed Ron and his mother.

Ginny shrugged uncomfortably. "Yeah. Professor McGonagall's letting students go home if their parents come for them." She'd, wisely, stayed out of the fighting, instead choosing to stay in Gryffindor Tower in case the Death Eaters got up there. Ron, apparently, was quite cross with her.

"Oh," Harry said. "Okay. Well, have a good summer, then. And, Mr Weasley?"

"Yes, Harry?" Mr Weasley replied as the rest of his family and McGonagall continued on.

"Be careful," Harry said. "He'll probably take the Ministry this summer."

Mr Weasley's eyes widened. "Why are you telling me this, Harry?" he asked, knowing about Harry's declared neutrality.

Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't want you all hurt. You're all I've got." He swallowed with great difficulty.

Mr Weasley set a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder. "You mean a lot to us too, Harry. I'll be careful, but I can't just stand by while he kills people. None of us can."

Harry's return smile was forced. "You're better than me, in that way," he told the man, then turned and walked away, Neville and Luna following.

-0-0-0-

"When are you leaving, then?" Vernon demanded as Harry got into the car.

Harry sighed, feeling older than his time. "Don't know. Not long, I should hope. I can probably leave after a couple of weeks. I'd suggest maybe moving when I do, but..." Harry shrugged.

Petunia shot him a surprised look. "You think he'll come after us?"

Harry blinked, then smiled grimly. "Certain. I may not like you lot, but that doesn't mean I want you dead." No matter what I may dream of to get into Voldemort's head, Harry added silently.

Petunia turned back around. "We'll consider it."

Harry shrugged quietly and the rest of the trip finished in silence.

-0-0-0-

"Where'd that bird come from?" Petunia asked one afternoon a few days later.

Harry glanced up from his Defence book to where Fawkes sat on a perch the bird had taken from Dumbledore's office. Hedwig hadn't seemed to mind the intrusion, so Harry had let him be. "That's Fawkes. Came to me after Dumbledore died."

Petunia looked shocked. "He's dead?"

Harry looked at her oddly. "Yeah. Died a couple weeks ago."

Petunia looked rather like she might be sick. "Then what is there to stop him? Lily said Dumbledore was all that stood in his way."

Harry shrugged and turned back to his book. "Maybe the rest of my world will decide to fight for itself, for once, rather than depending on Dumbledore to protect them."

"What about you?"

Harry glanced up at his aunt with haunted eyes. "I'm not fighting in this war. Not anymore."

Petunia bit her lip and turned to hide tears as her nephew turned back to his book. She couldn't help but wonder if it was her fault he'd chosen not to fight.

-0-0-0-

'Mr Potter,
'This is to remind you that on July 31st of this year, you will be of age, and able to withdraw money from your full family account. Please make time after that day to come into Gringotts and sign some paperwork so your account can be handed over to you and you can claim your family ring.
'If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
'Griphook
'Potter Family Vaultkeeper'

-0-0-0-

Harry made his way to Gringotts on his birthday in high spirits. He had left his relatives' three weeks ago and they had left Britain shortly thereafter, much to Voldemort's disgust – Harry assumed the man had been intending to kill them, since Harry didn't care. Harry had been staying in The Leaky Cauldron under an assumed name since he'd left their house. He'd considered going to the Weasleys', but since Ron wasn't answering his letters, he hadn't bothered. Fleur and Bill's wedding was the next day, and he'd gotten an invitation, so he figured he'd go to that and see how Ron felt about him then. Maybe he'd stay with them after that, if Ron wasn't about to hex his head off.

When he got to the bank, Harry walked right up to the open teller and held out the letter he'd gotten. "I have an appointment with my family vaultkeeper," he said, having made previous arrangements with Griphook.

The goblin looked at the letter, then something in a book on his counter. He touched what looked to be a bell to one side which didn't make a sound and handed the letter back to Harry. "We've been expecting you. Griphook will be out directly."

Harry nodded and got out of the way for the next customer, who glared at him in distrust. Harry rolled his eyes and waited for Griphook to come get him.

Once Griphook had found him, he was led back to a cosy office of gold and silver and took the offered seat with a smile. Griphook smiled nastily back and held out a small pile of papers for Harry to sign. "The deeds to your vaults and properties stating that you are of age and willing to take the responsibility of managing them. You may also switch to a new vaultkeeper, if I am not satisfactory."

Harry blinked and took the papers, as well as a quill. "I wouldn't know, but I have no complaints about you right now."

Griphook smiled that goblin smile again. "Of course, Mr Potter."

Harry shook his head and quickly read through and signed all the papers, which he then handed back to the goblin.

"Very good," Griphook said. "Is that all, Mr Potter?"

Harry cocked his head to one side, remembering an earlier curiosity to see his parents' will. "Uhm, would it be possible to see my parents' will?"

Griphook nodded and waved one clawed hand. A moment later, a paper appeared in his claws and he handed it over to Harry.

"Thanks," Harry said, then looked down to read the will.

About halfway down, Harry was furious with the dead headmaster. By the time he got to the end, he wished the man weren't dead, so he could kill him himself. "Do you mind if I keep this?" he asked Griphook, who had been looking on with increasing worry as Harry had started gnashing his teeth more.

"It is your copy, Mr Potter," Griphook told him.

Harry nodded and got up to leave. "Thank you, Griphook," he said over his shoulder, just as he was about to leave the office.

"You're welcome," Griphook replied. After the door closed, the goblin added, "I think."

Harry stalked out of the bank, practically radiating fury. He paused to nod politely to the goblin who held the door for him, but otherwise allowed his anger to take him over. As it was, he paid so little attention to his surroundings, he ran right into a man with black hair and distinctive red eyes before even noticing his scar hurt.

Voldemort looked down at Harry, who had fallen on his bum in the middle of the street, with a slightly disgusted look. "Do you mind, Potter?"

Harry sneered up at him, pulling himself to his feet. "Don't you have people to kill?"

"Yes," Voldemort replied, just as irritated as Harry. "And I was doing so, until I got this massive migraine because you're throwing a temper tantrum about something!"

"Well, excuse me for ruining your wonderful day," Harry snapped. "Please, return to your happy pastime and I'll just kill myself so you don't have to worry about my temper tantrums giving you headaches."

Voldemort gave Harry a disgusted look and practically dragged the boy into The Leaky and ordered them some lunch. Harry was too angry to feel the pain in his scar and only complained a little at being manhandled.

Once their food was ready, Voldemort threw up silencing wards and demanded, "What is it, then?"

Harry huffed. "Like you care."

"You are giving me a migraine, Potter. Of course I care," Voldemort snapped.

"Yeah? Payback's a bitch," Harry informed him. "I get migraines from you on a weekly basis."

Voldemort ground his teeth together. "What do you expect? Do I need to apologise?"

Harry grumbled a bit and took a bite of his sandwich.

Voldemort sighed faintly. "What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry crossed his arms and scowled at his sandwich. "I got to read my parents' will today."

"Suddenly reminded why you hate me?" Voldemort asked, half teasing, half sneering.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You know, Tom, the world doesn't revolve around you."

Voldemort bared his perfect teeth at him.

"You've got a bit of lettuce," Harry said, motioning to his own teeth. When Voldemort just glared, Harry snickered. "No, just got a new reason to hate Dumbledore."

"Hmm, hating Dumbledore. My favourite pastime. Continue. What did the coot do now?" Voldemort asked amicably.

Harry rolled his eyes again, feeling much calmer now that he had someone to talk to about the will. "My parents specifically stated that, under no circumstances, was I to be placed with my aunt and uncle. Mum said they'd treat me horribly because I had magic, and she didn't want me growing up in that environment."

Voldemort 'hmm'ed a bit around his sandwich. Once he'd swallowed, the Dark Lord asked, "Where were you supposed to go, then?"

"Sirius first, then Peter. If neither were available, Neville's parents. If they weren't available, I should have gone to Professor Lupin, assuming he hadn't been the traitor, or another member of the Order. Dad wrote he'd prefer I was brought up by Snape, rather than Mum's sister."

Voldemort's lips curled with a nasty smile at the last. "Well, I can see why you weren't given to Severus, at any rate. And the Longbottoms were crucio'd into insanity a couple days later."

"Yeah, but I was with my aunt and uncle the evening after the attack," Harry said. "That's, what, three days I could have been with Neville's family before the attack? And if Dumbledore had thought it might not be safe there, he could have still given me to someone else. Hell, the Weasleys would have taken me."

"True. Any idea why he put you with the muggles?"

"Blood wards," Harry spat, referring to Dumbledore's previous excuse.

Voldemort blinked, then cackled madly.

Harry crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "Feel free to share," he said once Voldemort had calmed down a bit.

Voldemort smirked nastily. "What did I take from you for my rebirthing ritual?"

Harry blinked and tilted his head to one side. "Blood? What does– Oh. Oh. That, that, that... ARGH!"

Voldemort snorted at Harry's eloquence. "Alas, if only I'd known, I would have gotten Lucius or Severus to get me your address."

"Pity," Harry shot back with a sneer.

"Rather," Voldemort agreed with a smirk.

After that, the two finished their meal in silence. Voldemort paid for his half and, just before he got ready to apparate, Harry asked, "What about Ron and Hermione?"

Voldemort shot him a slightly confused look. "What about them?"

"They fought your people at Hogwarts..."

Voldemort sighed and sat back down at the booth Harry had yet to leave, as he was still nursing his butterbeer. "Harry, the deal was one chance."

Harry thought back and shook his head. "No. You just said they would be left alone unless they started the hostilities. And, well, I don't know what happened with Ron, but I know Hermione only got involved because Ron had gotten hurt."

Voldemort gave Harry a disgusted look. "I thought Weasley wasn't even talking to you right now. Why do you care?"

"Because he's my friend!" Harry snapped. "My best mate. And fighting doesn't change that."

Voldemort shook his head and stood. "One more chance. But this is it, Potter. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Thanks."

Voldemort sneered. "Don't thank me yet," he warned, then apparated away.

Harry swallowed the last of his butterbeer and paid Tom before making his way back up to his rented room, where he could consider his parents' will in peace.

-0-0-0-0-0-

A/N: Because I know it'll be asked, Voldie's running around with a Glamour of himself looking like an older Tom Riddle. (Pepper-grey hair, looks human, but had red eyes.) Most people wouldn't recognize him, except possibly for his eyes. McGonagall, Hagrid, Ginny, Harry and the few other professors who were either of Tom's generation or taught him might have recognized him, but he stayed back at the funeral, and no one was really out in Diagon.
As for his eyes, he doesn't want to hide them. He hides that they're slitted, but not the colour. Most people just take it in stride, though they'll act nervous around him. No one wants to chance demanding if he's Voldemort, so they leave it alone.

~Bats ^.^x

Chapters:
Pro - The Real Prophecy / 1 - The Summer of Change
2 - A New Term ||| 3 - Confrontation ||| 4 - Betrayal
5 - The Wedding ||| 6 - The Light ||| 7 - The Dark
8 - Magic's Story ||| 9 - Ghosts ||| 10 - A Lifetime Mended

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