Harry Potter and the Unexpected Inheritance

Chapter 3

Another Test

Voldemort released Harry somewhere near the campfire. Harry simply laid there, unable to move, his body trembling. Voldemort was still close to him. Harry could feel it as he listened to the activity around him. Several Death Eaters welcomed their master back but Harry noted no one sounded surprised to see him, or Harry for that matter.

Finally, Voldemort hailed someone and Harry felt several hands pulled him to his feet. He was taken, a bit roughly Harry thought considering his injuries, and his burns were treated and not by someone with skill. Harry asked the witch where Snape was, but she wouldn't talk to him.

She merely did what she could for Harry's burns and left.

When Harry was alone, he took stock of the situation. His arms, legs and hands seemed to be the worse off and they were now covered with a clear kind of goo. He pushed himself to his feet beside the bed. Although the pain from Voldemort's touch was fading, his skin still tingled and it was extremely painful to the touch.

Leave it to him to get burned at the stake. Why did this crap always happen to him? He looked down at his blistered hands.

Around his wrist his saw his tattered watch. The metal was black and the leather band fraying. Harry gingerly took it off and wiped the face with his shirttail. The time looked about right.

Harry tapped it. "Commentary."

Mr. Moony warned Mr. Padfoot that something like this would happen.

Mr. Padfoot would like to remind Mr. Moony that he was taking precautionary measures.

Mr. Wormtail knows the master will take care of everything.

Harry stared at the watch. "How about something that might actually be helpful," muttered Harry.

Mr. Prongs thinks that phoenix tears would help his son.

Call Rowan. Harry had to smile as he put the watch in his pocket so he wouldn't loose it. He looked to the door to call her and was hit with a spell that knocked him down. When he caught his breath, he found himself magically tied up.

Harry's cries of agony were muffled in the gag in his mouth as he was moved from his tent to the cage. Harry assumed by this gesture that he wasn't Voldemort's favorite pet anymore. He could deal with that. He lay weakly on his side, his skin quivering again. Harry hoped that goo would start to work soon.

When Voldemort approached the cell, Harry pretended to be unconscious. He willed Voldemort not to touch him, which he didn't to Harry's great relief but he did linger, staring at Harry.

Harry felt all the binds except the one around his wrists disappear, but still maintained his feigned unconsciousness.

"I know you're awake," said Voldemort.

Harry said nothing.

"Aren't you curious to know why I have caged you?"

Harry said nothing.

"Harry, my pet," said Voldemort. "Talk to me."

Voldemort was trying to make him angry enough to talk now. Harry let it go by.

"Stubborn," said Voldemort with a sigh. "Very well."

Harry felt him leave and relaxed.

He woke up with start. He was bound and gagged again, this time he was blindfolded too. He felt Voldemort approach him from behind.

"Ah, there is the flinch," said Voldemort. "Are you going to talk to me, now?"

Harry turned his head.

"Oh my," said Voldemort and raised his hand. Again, all the binds fell off him except for the one around his wrists. Harry looked around then gingerly pushed himself to a sitting position and leaned wearily on the bars. "So would you like to know why you are in the cage?"

"I assumed it was because I'm not your favorite pet anymore," said Harry.

Voldemort chuckled. "No, Harry," said Voldemort. "Would you like to come out?"

Harry watched as Voldemort idly toyed with the wand in his hand. As it was Harry's wand, it drew his attention. "On what terms?" said Harry.

"On my terms."

Harry could guess what those terms were. "Forget it, Voldemort."

"Oh but I can't forget it, Harry," said Voldemort. He reached in and turned Harry's chin, holding it so he could look in his face. "I can still recall the look on your face as you called me father."

Harry felt like a knife had sunk into his chest. "I didn't," said Harry.

"You did, Harry."

"No," said Harry firmly. "I was repeating what Sirius said to me. That my father could do it."
"Harry, you looked into my eyes and called me father," said Voldemort.

"No," said Harry. Voldemort let go of Harry's face.

"Stubborn," said Voldemort.

"Then let me go," said Harry.

"Oh, no, Harry. I need you with me."

"Why?"

"Because fear is a powerful motivation," said Voldemort. "And having your power here with me strikes great fear into the wizarding world."

"But you can't use my powers," said Harry. "I can't control them."

"Ah, smart boy. That I can teach you and that is what they fear."

Why couldn't he speak in plain English? "What-"

"We'll talk again later, Harry."

"Wait," said Harry.

Voldemort turned back to him. "Something else?"

"Did I keep you there?" said Harry curiously.

"Yes, Harry."

"Is that why I'm in here?"

"You're confused," said Voldemort. "You couldn't physically hold me there, although you might be able to now. You held me there because you needed to accept my powers to get you over the threshold. I stayed for you, Harry, because you needed me. I had to wait until you accepted my help - me. When you called me father-"

"I didn't," insisted Harry.

"See. You won't admit - accept - it," said Voldemort. "And that is why you are in that cage."

Voldemort approached the cage again sometime after dinner. He hadn't even untied Harry's hands to eat.

"When you stop being so stubborn, Harry," said Voldemort. "You will be treated as you deserve."

Harry sighed. "You wouldn't like the response off the top of my head so give me a minute."

Voldemort chuckled. "Stubborn," said Voldemort. "Very well. Good night, Harry."

Harry watched Voldemort walk towards his tent. When he left the perimeter of the glow from the fire, Harry looked around. It seemed like the entire compound had gone to sleep. He was actually going to leave Harry in the cage. Well, Harry guessed he could deal with that but he hadn't thought Voldemort would.

Harry looked down at his bound wrists. The goo had worked and the only indication that Harry had been burned was some swelling on his knuckles. The cage was flickering with a dim glow from the fire and shadows. Was the cage magically sealed too? Misery settled over him. He wanted to go home.

Then he remembered how easily Voldemort had broken out of Sirius magic ropes. Voldemort had said he might be strong enough to physically subdue Voldemort now. Maybe Harry was strong enough to break Voldemort's ropes.

He twisted his hands, muttering an 'undo' spell. Nothing happened other than the ropes dug into his wrists. There had to be a command - like apparating.

What a nightmare.

Nothing. Come on, Harry. He twisted his hands again. I want to go home.

The ropes burst open. Harry stared at his hands.

He quickly looked around. The compound what still quiet, no one around. He tried to apparate but couldn't. Moving to the door of the cage, he pulled out the knife Sirius had given him 2 years ago and started working on the lock.

What worked once, Harry tried again. I want to go home.

The lock clicked and the door swung open. Harry stared at it for a quick moment then pocketing the knife, jumped out.

"Very good, Harry."

Harry spun around and his hand hit his scar as Voldemort quickly approached and grabbed Harry's face.

"You are learning to control it," said Voldemort. "I am pleased."

"That was a test?" Harry managed to say. "Wasn't it?"

"Of course," said Voldemort. "All my tests teach you something, Harry. Hadn't you realized that?"

Harry slowly sank to his knees. "You can't keep me here now, Voldemort."

Voldemort's red eyes moved over Harry expression then stared into his eyes. "Soon, Harry," said Voldemort.

"Let go of me," whispered Harry.

"Oh, no, my boy," said Voldemort. "I will not let go of you. You are mine. You have accepted our connection. You have accepted my power and my protection, which you now have again. You will accept my patrimony."

"I won't," insisted Harry.

"I know, Harry. You've said that before but you are just being stubborn," said Voldemort. "It's only a matter of time."

Voldemort let go and took two steps back. Harry looked up at him.

"I can't keep you now, but, Harry, we still have a contract."

How could Harry have forgotten about that? He dropped his head and nodded. He had gotten out of Voldemort's binds and out of his cage only to be reminded of Voldemort's contract.

Harry was getting sick of Voldemort's tests.

"Can I go home, now, Voldemort?"

"Stubborn," said Voldemort, not without impatience. "But yes, Harry. You may leave my exalted presence."

Harry didn't look up to see if Voldemort was smiling over that one. With a nightmarish thought, Harry apparated back to La Casa Black.