Harry Potter and the Slytherin Connection

Chapter 3

The Heirs

"So what would you like to know first?" said Voldemort.

How do I even know he won't just strike me down? How do I even know I can get out of here? What worked before, Harry guessed he could try again. Keep him talking, and you stay alive.

"How do I know you won't lie?"

"Harry, why should I lie when the truth is so much more satisfying," said Voldemort.

Harry opted for the most pressing thing on his mind. "You said you could apparate into Hogwarts and steal one of my friends. Is that true?"

"I can indeed apparate into Hogwarts at anytime but I could not steal anyone out unless they too knew how to apparate."

"So you did lie."

"Well only partly," said Voldemort with an impatient wave of his hand. "I needed something additional to tell you."

"So you can't apparate into Hogwarts."

"I can."

"How is that possible?" demanded Harry. "I was told it couldn't be done."

"It can't be done by just anyone, Harry. But you know who I am."

"Yes, but-"

"Who is Tom Riddle, Harry?"

Harry remembered. Tom Marvolo Riddle was Lord Voldemort - "The heir of Slytherin."

"That's right, Harry," said Voldemort. "The founders had a catch in their creation of Hogwarts that the heirs would always be able to come and go as they please. Thusly, all the heirs of the houses can apparate to and from the school."

Harry absorbed this then looked up. "You said you'd tell me why you wanted to kill me."

"It is all related to the same facts," Voldemort told him. "Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin had always had something to disagree about. They're rivalry was palpable. You see, their powers were very much equal and they were both hesitant about challenging the other. That is when the others stepped in and forced Slytherin out."

"So what does this have to do with me?"

"Harry, haven't you been listening?" Voldemort sighed. "Don't you wonder why the heir of Slytherin wants to kill you? Why you have inherited a vast amount of wealth? Why I have told you that you also could apparate into Hogwarts?"

It only took Harry a few seconds to absorb all that before he jumped to his feet. "Are you trying to tell me I'm the heir of Gryffindor?"

"Good heavens, he honestly didn't tell you, did he?" said Voldemort with surprise. After a sigh, he went on, "No Harry, I'm not trying to tell you that, I am telling you that you are the heir of Gryffindor.

"The heirs are very powerful, which was why I had to kill your father."

Harry flinched at that but Voldemort went on. "

"He was against me you see. I tried to get him on my side at first but he was stubborn. I tried to get Sirius too because if I knew, if I could get Sirius, I could have gotten your father. Sirius was too strong too. So I decided I had to wipe out the house of Gryffindor by killing the heirs. Your father and you."

Those red eyes moved over Harry again in an expectant sort of way.

"But I couldn't kill you," said Voldemort. "And I can't kill you now. We are too connected. So the only thing left is to have you join me."

"Join you?" said Harry incredulously. "Never!"

"Yes, you've said that before. But curiosity brought you to me. I believe it will keep you here to see what I can teach you. And I can teach you much, Harry."

Harry could only stare at him over the fire between them. Voldemort said he couldn't kill Harry. Why not? Damn his curiosity. Harry did want to know. Dumbledore and Sirius never told him any of this. What else could Voldemort tell him?

"I have a room for you, Harry. Sleep on it. You can always leave in the morning."

Harry was considering his options, if he really had any, when pain exploded in his head. Voldemort had gotten up and moved around the fire. Harry raised his eyes, meeting Voldemort's gaze and felt the icy fingers grasping his chin, holding his face up.

Harry felt his knees starting to shake. The pain increased the longer Voldemort held his face but Harry couldn't take his eyes from Voldemort's.

"Yes," said Voldemort. "I believe you'll stay."

He let go and Harry fell to his hands and knees, breathing heavily. "You can't make me," said Harry sounding braver than he felt.

"No, I know the Imperius Curse doesn't work on you, but I believe I just made you too weak to fly."

It was all too true, Harry acknowledged. He didn't have the strength to leave now. He doubted he could even stand up without help. Well, he was still alive and if Voldemort was to be believed, Harry wasn't in any immediate danger.

"All right, Voldemort. I'll stay."

Harry woke up feeling very strange. He could recall a woman helping him to a tent last night then through a number of rooms before putting him into the bed he now reclined on. Was he really in Voldemort's hidden camp? Did Voldemort really think he could get Harry to join him? It was too incredible. Voldemort killed Harry's parents, killed Cedric. He was responsible for countless deaths. He had been trying to kill Harry for years and he had been tormenting Harry in his dreams. Just what was he up too?

And just what did Voldemort intend to teach him, anyway?

That question got Harry moving. He found the bathroom easy enough and moved through the tent with growing ease as it seemed he was the only occupant. It was a rather grand accommodation. The room in the front was a marvel. It was a vast office lined with bookshelves containing books that ranged from wizarding fiction to ancient texts.

Harry moved to the archway and could see the flap of the tent. One more step and he'd be out in the open in the middle of Voldemort's compound. Harry took a deep breath and stepped out of the tent.

There was some activity, Harry noticed as he scanned the area. Several men were standing over a table discussing some papers strewn over the table's surface. Voldemort was standing next to what was obviously his chair talking with two people. One was hooded the other Harry recognized. Professor Snape.

Voldemort noticed him and raised a beckoning hand. Harry wasn't sure he was up to another verbal confrontation but sighed and moved towards them.

The other two people turned as he approached and the hooded figure quickly left.

"So it's true," said Snape. "You're either incredibly brave, Potter, or indescribably stupid."

"Severus!" said Voldemort with surprise.

"And he doesn't look like he's been starving himself."

"I am completely capable of taking care of myself," said Harry. Dealing with Voldemort was bad enough. Did he now have to endure Snape's contempt dumped on him, too?

Harry flinched as Voldemort took a step toward him. "Did you sleep well, Harry?"

"Well enough," said Harry.

"Good. Are you ready to begin then?"

"Begin what?"

"Your training, of course," said Voldemort.

"So what's it to be first?" said Harry, unable to suppress the morbid cynicism he suddenly felt. "Murder and mayhem or maybe just chaos and anarchy."

Voldemort laughed very softly. It was an eerie sort of chuckle. "Severus, why didn't you mention how amusing the boy is."

"Amusing-"

Voldemort silenced Snape by raising a hand. "Harry, the first thing you need to learn is how to apparate."

"Oh?"

"Yes, indeed," said Voldemort. "You must be able to find me whenever I call you."

Harry didn't like the sound of that. Voldemort called his Death Eaters by touching the Dark Mark on anyone of them. "If you think your going to burn your mark on me, you're-"

"Oh no, Harry," Voldemort interrupted. "There is no need for that, nor do I intend for you to become one of my faithful Death Eaters."

Harry just stared at him, waiting.

"Ah, yes, I know you are curious," Voldemort said and turned to Snape. "Harry has a vast curious nature, Severus. Did you know that?"

Voldemort didn't wait for a reply nor did he appear to expect one. He turned back to Harry. "We will be using Severus here for your first lesson as you know him well. He will be your initial focus." Turning back to Snape, Voldemort waved towards the forest. "If you would."

"Of course, My Lord." Severus Snape instantly vanished.

Voldemort circled Harry slowly. "Apparating, once you've mastered it, is quite easy but the initial learning of transfiguring your molecules from one place to another can be difficult and in some cases dangerous. I have no doubt however that it shouldn't be too taxing on you."

"So what do I do?" said Harry, feeling a little unnerved now that he was alone again with Voldemort.

"The key is to relax. Your concentration must be on you focal point. In this case it will be Severus. If your focused concentration is on him, then you can command your being to transfigure to where he is."

"And what is the command?" said Harry.

"That is up to you, Harry," Voldemort told him. "Everyone has their own command. Go ahead and try."

Harry nodded and stared at the ground. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on Snape. The dull burning in his head was encumbering the process as he felt Voldemort circling him.

"Concentrate, Harry," said Voldemort.

"I'm trying."

"I told you to relax," said Voldemort. Harry felt him stop in front of him. Far too close as the pain in his head could attest. "Focus."

Harry opened his eyes and stared into Voldemort's burning red eyes. His temper snapped. "How can I concentrate with you hovering over me. I can't even think-"

Voldemort's hand silenced him as he grabbed Harry's chin. "Severus was right, you do have a temper. I will give you one warning, Harry. Control it with me, or you will be punished."

Voldemort let go and Harry staggered back a few steps, his palm pressed to his scar. The pain was so bad he was surprised he was still standing. He guessed he wouldn't do that again in a hurry.

Voldemort took a couple steps back and the pain began to recede. "Now try again, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes again and he clenched his fists. Get me out of this nightmare.

"So you did it?"

Harry looked up and saw Snape in front of him.

"Impressive."

"I lost my temper," Harry told him.

"I assume he gave you a warning." Snape looked down at him with disapproval. "You shouldn't even be here," Snape hissed at him. "You walked right into his trap. I thought you were smarter than that, Potter. When are you going to learn to do as you're told and not what you think is best? Now I have to come up with a way to get you out of here."

Harry blinked at him. "You?" said Harry. "Then you are a spy."

Snape eyed him briefly as if wondering how much to tell him. "Not really," he admitted. "More like a double agent. I report everything to Dumbledore and I report everything to Voldemort. They both know this, however, which is why I'm still alive."

Harry saw Snape grab his arm.

"He's calling me back," said Snape. "Stay here, I'll be right back." Snape vanished again. He wasn't gone long.

"What did he say?"

"Listen very carefully, Potter. As soon as I've figured out a way to get you back to Hogwarts, I will tell you. Until then, DO AS YOU'RE TOLD."

"But Voldemort said I can leave anytime I want."

"Don't be a fool. Voldemort is so pleased with you, there is no way he would simply let you leave," said Snape. "Now listen. He is the focus for the return trip. You are to use his signal to return to him."

"What signal?" said Harry, not liking anything Snape had told him.

"I have no idea."

Harry found out as pain exploded in his head. His hand hit his forehead and he closed his eyes again thinking what a nightmare his life was turning out to be.

"Ah," said Voldemort, sounding very pleased. "So my signal works."

Snape materialized beside them.

"So you can call him?" said Snape, looking down at Harry who still had his hand pressed to his scar.

"Indeed," said Voldemort.

"I don't much care for his signal," said Harry.

Voldemort gave that eerie chuckle. "Well I believe that will do for now," said Voldemort. "You need to eat and get some rest. Severus see to the boy."

"Voldemort?" called Harry as Voldemort started to leave them.

Voldemort stopped and turned back. "Yes, Harry?"

"What did you do?" said Harry curiously.

Voldemort raised his wand and touched the tip of it to right side of his forehead. The pain immediately returned to Harry's head. Voldemort lowered his wand and the pain went away.

"Great," muttered Harry.

Voldemort chuckled again and left.

Harry took a sip of his drink then returned his attention to the book he was reading. He was sitting in front of the fire in what he considered his own chair (it was the one opposite Voldemort's). Harry had been there for three days but Voldemort hadn't really taught him all that much. It seemed to Harry more like Voldemort was testing him rather than teaching him.

Harry had discovered, however, that he was strong enough to do a lot of magic without a wand. Useful and convenient as Voldemort still hadn't given Harry back his wand. Voldemort was extremely pleased with this fact and in fact had tested him extensively on it.

Despite the verbal skirmishes with Voldemort (which amused Voldemort), Harry was treated well. That is, no one bothered him. The only Death Eaters who dared to approach him were Snape and on occasion Wormtail who Harry did his best to ignore.

Harry was starting to wonder if Snape was right. Whether Voldemort would let him leave. Harry did want to go back to school and he did want to see Sirius.

What really surprised Harry was how quickly he had gotten accustomed to his situation. He didn't feel threatened or afraid. In fact, Harry didn't feel much of anything. It was like some surrealistic dream that Harry was stuck in the middle of. He tried not to think of his parents because that only reminded him that he had allowed himself to be suckered into Voldemort's hands, even if Voldemort still hadn't showed any signs of hostility toward Harry.

All Harry knew was that for now, he was still alive, Voldemort had not threatened any of his family or friends and Snape was working on a way to get Harry out of there.

The scar burned dully on Harry's head, interrupting his thoughts. It grew increasing worse and Harry felt the moment Voldemort was close enough behind him to hear him.

"You can't sneak up on me, Voldemort," said Harry, his eyes still on the book. He heard the chuckle that Harry was starting to despise. Voldemort walked around the fire and sat down in his chair.

Voldemort's silence was unnerving. Harry looked up. "Did you want something?"

"No, Harry. I am merely waiting," said Voldemort. "Am I disturbing you?"

Harry wanted to say yes but thought better of it. He shrugged and returned his attention to the book. Just then two Death Eaters apparated next to Voldemort.

"Ah, there you are," said Voldemort. "How did it go?"

Harry watched as the two removed their masks. One Harry recognized as Lucius Malfoy the other he didn't know.

"We found him," Malfoy said. "We had to kill him."

"Pity," said Voldemort. "I would have enjoyed playing with him first."

Since Voldemort's gaze was on Harry, he became suspicious. "Who have they killed?" said Harry.

"Don't be alarmed, Harry. It's no one you care about," said Voldemort. "It was merely that treasonous Karkaroff."

Malfoy seemed to take great interest in the exchange and stared with loathing at Harry.

"So it's true," said Malfoy with a sneer that was obviously a Malfoy trademark. "The master has a new pet."

Pet? Harry's temper instantly snapped and he leapt to his feet. Burning anger and hatred coursed through him as he raised his hand toward Malfoy.

"Crucio!"