Mirrorverse

~~Mirrorverse~~

~~Chapter Five: When In Rome...Do As The Romans Do?~~

'Aw Dray, can't we just ditch Figg, sneak back on board and come back to bed?' Harry said with a sleepy yawn, then gazed coyly down at his lover who was still warmly nestled next to him.

Draco laughed and shook his head, poking his lover on the chest with his finger. 'Sorry luv, no can do. She'd be after us before we could say Hippogriff. Besides, we'll have fun! I've never been here before, looks interesting.'

Harry scowled though he didn't get out of bed yet, instead he traced his fingertips up and down Draco's still naked back and shoulders loving how soft Draco's skin felt. 'What's so interesting about crowded marketplaces full of smelly camels?'

Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head. 'It's not just the marketplace, Harry, it's everything. We're going to the Giza Plateau too today remember? The Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, the worker's Necropolis...? I don't know about you but I've always had a soft spot for Egypt,' he said with a wistful sigh.

'Not to mention flies, scorpions, sand snakes, and scarabs?' Harry said chuckling. 'Oh all right, maybe it won't be so bad. From the way Bill talks about Egypt I have to admit some of it sounds pretty cool actually. Like the mummies and stuff, so I guess I can give it a go. Ron liked it when he was here anyway.'

'Oh and we must all agree with Weasley's opinion, don't we. Can't trust anyone else's opinions now hmm?' Draco said mockingly.

Harry smacked Draco on the shoulder and laughed, knowing Draco meant his words more in jest than anything else. 'Well he is my best friend!'

'Mmm...perhaps so...but I'm your lover. Doesn't that count for much more?' Draco replied rising to the bait in a low, husky voice, then placed a soft kiss on Harry's stomach.

Harry's breath caught in his throat and he shivered slightly, still amazed at how even just one kiss like that could illicit such emotions in him. 'Keep that up and Giza, Figg or mummies we definitely won't be leaving this ship...let alone this bed,' he said back in an equally husky voice.

Draco laughed softly, then placed a longer, sweeter kiss chest, teasing the tanned skin provocatively with his tongue a moment. 'Oh? Is that a threat, Potter?' he said mischievously.

Harry growled and pulled Draco up to look into his eyes, seeing the fire already burning in the swirls of smoky grey. 'Nope...that's a promise...Malfoy...' he said hoarsely.

'How long till we have to meet Figg again?' Draco managed to say dizzily, nearly drowning in the intensity of Harry's emerald eyes.

Harry didn't even need to glance at the digital Muggle clock on the stand next to their cabin bed, nor did the time even matter at this point. 'Till whenever we damn well decide to show up...' he replied firmly, then groaning slightly he leaned in and captured Draco's lips to his own, lost once again in the heat and driven needs of desire that only Draco could satisfy...

'Harry?' a soft voice called out now. Not getting response the voice called out a little louder, 'Harry?'

Harry groaned and rolled over, pulling the duvet over his head. 'Leave me alone, Draco. Not getting up,' he grumbled.

'Draco?' the voice asked puzzled. 'Harry come on, get up luv, breakfast is here and it's getting cold!' the person said more insistently and tugged off the duvet now.

Harry gasped and shivered slightly as a burst of cool air hit him, and he rolled over angrily. 'What'd you do that for you git?' he muttered and sat up rubbing his eyes. A pair of cool wire frames was then slipped on his face, and he flinched a moment, unaccustomed to someone doing that for him. Blinking to clear the last remnants of sleep from his eyes he looked up angrily, until he realised who it was he was looking at.

'Harry, you all right mate? You're acting weird this morning,' Peter asked in a quiet voice, giving Harry a strange look.

'P-Peter?' Harry said in a hitched voice, the memories of yesterday flooding back to him now and he flinched again. 'Sor- err...you startled me that's all,' he said now, knowing that Peter didn't like him to say the word 'sorry' for anything.

''Bout time, Harry, you really do have to wake up though. It's a Hogsmeade weekend remember? Also you have to see your Father before you go, he mentioned that at supper last night,' Peter said and climbed off the bed now that Harry was more awake.

'Err...right, I remember,' Harry said knowing it was expected then got out of bed himself. The moment he did that however he realised to his horror that he was completely starkers, not to mention completely hard for some reason he couldn't for the moment remember. Something about a dream he had been having that much he knew, but he couldn't exactly place what the dream was about. Obviously though it had something to do with the fact he was totally aroused, and Peter's presence and now obvious notice of this wasn't helping.

'Harry...' Peter said in a husky voice and made a step towards Harry with intentions clear in his eyes.

Harry shivered, though this time not from the air, and stepped back a pace, only to hit the side of the bed with the back of his knees and flop back down into it. Before he could move away though Peter was on top of him, kissing him with a passion, and he felt Peter's hand take his arousal and begin stroking it. Harry had to choke back a gasp as Peter's hands seemed to know exactly where he liked to be touched, but the better part of him told him this couldn't happen, not with Peter anyway.

Taking back what little sanity he had, no thanks to Peter's expert care of him, he managed to push Peter away from him and sit up quickly, his breath coming out in short gasps. He unconsciously shuddered from the loss of contact to his dismay, and he had to fight down another part of him that wanted to pull Peter back down on top of him and finish what had been started. Thankfully the first half of himself won out and he nearly sprinted off the bed to the other side, keeping the bed in between him and Peter as a comforting distance.

'Harry? Did I do something wrong?' Peter asked now like a wounded animal, the hurt clear in his voice.

Harry breathed in slowly, trying to fight down his pounding heartbeat and the dizzying urges that he was going daft and needed Peter's touch against him again. The fact that he was actually more aroused now than before wasn't helping and he groaned slightly, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. 'N-no, Pete...you...er...did nothing wrong. I...I just ah...Peter...last night...did we...ahh...have...err...sleep together?' he asked hesitantly.

Peter looked at Harry oddly again. 'Harry, we always sleep together. Same bed and everything...remember?' he said puzzled.

'I mean did we have sex!' Harry said irritably now.

Peter sighed and his gaze became crestfallen suddenly, then dropped to the floor as his shoulders slumped. 'No, Harry, we didn't. You came out of the shower and got into bed just like you always do. Then I began to give you a massage because you seemed tense and then...' he trailed off.

'And then?' Harry demanded.

'And then nothing, that's what. You fell asleep,' Peter said in a choked up voice and looked back up at Harry, a trace of tears in his eyes. 'You never fall asleep during my massages, Harry, just like you've never pushed me away like you just did. Have I done something to offend you? Is it...are you getting your needs met somewheres else now? Is that why you've been hanging round Draco Malfoy? Why you called out his name when I woke you up today?' he asked in a small voice.

Harry groaned slightly, now remembering he had said Draco's name earlier, and he mentally slapped himself knowing he'd have to be more careful from now on. 'No, Peter, I can assure you, I am not getting anything from Draco Malfoy,' Harry said in a firm tone of voice now, relieved beyond all relief however that he did not have sex with Peter last night after all.

'Then what's going on? Why are you pushing me away when it's clear you need me?' Peter replied back pathetically. 'I'm your claim, Harry. It's supposed to be my job to make sure you're needs are met. If anyone finds out that I'm not fulfilling your needs...'

Harry closed his eyes for a moment wishing that Peter didn't sound so pathetic at the moment. Even so, he just couldn't bring himself to allow Peter to 'fulfil' some of his 'needs'. Not when it was Draco's hands he needed, Draco's lips he wanted on him. However those thoughts were just making things worse, and he felt him becoming ever more aroused at even the thought of Draco, so he threw those thoughts into the back of his mind for the moment. 'Peter, you do take care of my needs. I just ah...it's early that's all, I'm not a morning person for...ah...that sort of thing, you know that,' he said, knowing he was pretty much lying through his teeth and hoped Peter would buy that. As a last parting betraying thought he remembered that on the ship he certainly may not have been a 'morning person', but Draco had successfully managed to find a loophole in that issue nearly every morning.

Thankfully however Peter did buy Harry's lie, and with a slight grin nodded at him now. 'You're right, I know you really don't like it in the mornings all that much. You just looked like you need it and...well...it's been a while, and...I...I guess I just miss you making love to me,' he sighed.

Harry found himself sighing too, knowing exactly how long it had been since he too had last made love to Draco, and to his dismay his body began responding again. 'Look I know things have err...been...difficult lately...I'm s-err...I'll make it up to you tonight...all right?' he said quietly, trying yet again to tone down his betraying thoughts. A strange feeling began flowing through him though again like it had last night, and suddenly his thoughts now had Peter laid out on the bed before him whilst he - no, he had to stop thinking that and quickly. 'Get me some clothes, Peter' he said gruffly now, not even daring to move. He knew if he did he wouldn't be able to resist touching the other boy, and right now that was the last thing he needed.

Peter nodded, again more at ease Harry noticed at being commanded. Seconds later a dressing gown was thrown over Harry's shoulders and he stepped back as if somehow he knew this was yet again another of Peter's 'jobs' to dress him. Peter buttoned up the dressing gown and smoothed it free of any misplaced wrinkles, then looked back at Harry expectantly. 'Harry?' he asked.

'Yes?' Harry replied wearily.

'Are you sure you'll be all right though without being taken care of? You know how you can be when you're not sated for a few days,' Peter said worriedly.

Secretly Harry agreed with Peter. He'd been going batty the last month unable to touch Draco let alone get a good shag in, and he'd been a right bear because of it back in his own world, but right now was definitely not the time to get that need taken care of. 'I'll be fine, Peter. Now you said something about breakfast?' Harry said quickly, glad that he managed this whole time not to blush to high heaven, and moved towards the centre of the room as if waiting expectantly for Peter to bring him to his breakfast.

Peter nodded, though he did give Harry another quick, questioningly look, though he complied with what was expected of him. He then led Harry over to a door Harry hadn't noticed last night off to the right, between what he saw was his own desk and his wardrobe. Peter opened the door and Harry quickly walked through it, stopping in surprise at what he saw in the room beyond.

It was a cozy looking dining area, decked out in green, silver and black. Another portrait of his 'father' was above a huge black and white marbled blazing fireplace, along with several other portraits, including one of a man Harry knew all too well. He groaned silently at seeing that portrait, knowing it only confirmed his fear from what he'd heard the night before in what had happened to the man and what he was in this world. He turned his attention briefly back to the rest of the room though and had to admit other than the portraits, it was actually a pleasant looking place.

What surprised him was that he knew his own room had been deep in the bottom of the dungeons, but this room appeared not to be. There was a large stained glass window letting in a rainbow of sun-light, along with several other smaller windows, and glancing out one of them Harry nearly gasped. The room they were in boasted a bird's eyes view of the Forbidden Forest and he could see a corner of the lake that he had to admit with the morning rays bouncing off it looking quite smashing. It didn't take him more than a few moments to realize that this must be a specially enchanted room that was somehow connected to his own, and looking at the person that was seated at the large glass table in the middle of the room, not just to his room either.

'Well, good morning little brother. About time you woke your lazy arse up, I've been sitting here for close to fifteen minutes waiting on you. If you're food's cold don't blame me,' James said in a haughty tone.

Harry was surprised when he felt a pang of coldness well up in him as he looked at James, because that was the last feeling he expected at seeing his 'real father'. 'I had things that needed to be taken care of, brother. I trust you understand what I mean?' he replied coolly and walked over to the table and sat down in an elaborately carved silver meshed chair with green cushions.

James didn't even bat an eyelid at that except to glance over at Peter with a slight sneer. 'Well at least he's good for something,' James smirked and then turned his attention back to Harry.

Peter tensed up at that statement Harry noticed out of the corner of his eye, though apparently the poor lad was used to this treatment from James. For a moment Harry felt a pang of something akin to guilt that he had not let Peter do his 'job' and make it easier on the boy, but Harry quickly recovered and just sat there expectantly. He now turned to watch Peter fetch some plates and a tea cup from a side table, then load it up with some food that was sitting out on what looked like a buffet style breakfast.

Peter took his wand and pointed at the food, muttering a few words, put his wand away then picked up the plates on a tray and walked back over the table. 'Here, Harry, I warmed it for you. Let's see, today you've got kippers, bacon, black pudding, liver sausage, some scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and the usual semolina. And of course your tea white with five, just as you like it,' Peter said with a small smile at Harry. He then placed the plates down before Harry and arraigned things as he knew Harry liked it, whilst making sure to handed him his tea cup last, just like he did every day.

'Ugg, how can you drink tea so sweet?' a new voice said now condescendingly, and seconds later the voice followed up with the presence of Sirius walking into the room.

'Got a problem with the way I drink my tea, Sirius?' Harry said back in an equally condescending tone of voice, blowing on his tea to cool it down a bit. 'Because I certainly don't recall asking you're opinion of how I like my tea.' Privately Harry was surprised at such a breakfast, it was richer than he was used to at Hogwarts, but at least his tea was indeed the way he liked it.

Sirius scowled at Harry then turned to James shaking his head. 'Chalk and cheese you two are. If it wasn't that you look the same except for the eyes, I'd swear you weren't brothers at all,' he muttered.

James sneered and nodded. 'Agreed. I wonder that myself half the time. Is the paper in then?' he asked now giving Sirius a hard gaze.

Sirius nodded and to Harry's surprise walked over and smoothed out today's edition of the Daily Prophet before putting it down before James. Sirius then took James's glasses off, cleaned them with a handkerchief he'd pulled from the pocket of his robe, and put them back on, then brushed a few lint fluffs off James's collar. With a stab of painful realization Harry realised that despite Sirius's off-handed and harsh attitude, and his pure-blood status, his godfather in this world was really no more than what Peter was - a slave, only to James instead of himself. Somehow Harry also had a pretty good idea that James was by no means easy on Sirius as Harry was with Peter. Gentleness and kindness didn't seem to be something that this James was capable of, and he felt a bit of pity for his godfather at the moment, not that he was foolish enough to say anything.

Peter however at seeing the paper groaned. 'Oh no, I forgot your paper, Harry! Be right back,' he said and dashed back towards the door they had come out of earlier. Seconds later he dashed back in nearly skidding into Harry's chair and attempted to smooth down the rather wrinkled up paper, placing it before Harry. 'Here, sorry it's a bit umm...crushed,' he said in an apologetic voice.

Before Harry could respond however James said in a voice that sounded like the crack of a whip, 'Pettigrew, that's the second time this week my brother's paper has been so-called 'crushed' by your fumbling hands, or just plain forgotten completely. Either you get with the programme or I'll be speaking to Father about you're 'performances' as of late.'

'James, please...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to - ' Peter began but a flash of anger in James's cold brown eyes, and a nod from James to Sirius who had already crossed the room let him know what was coming and he stumbled back in fear.

Seconds later he was on the floor cowering and bleeding after being smacked across the face hard by Sirius, who was now leaning over him with a dark deep scowl on his face. 'You're nothing more than a pitiful excuse of a pure-blood, and don't you forget that, Pettigrew. You have been acting too cocky for your own good lately, don't think we haven't noticed that. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're the one that's been corrupting Harry into thinking he's 'good', if not responsible in getting him to hang round that Gryffindor rubbish. Hmm? Are you, Pettigrew?' he spat out harshly.

'N-no! No...no, Sirius, I swear to you...I'm not! Harry is my master, I wouldn't dare try to harm him or anything like that!' Peter sobbed.

Sirius slapped him across the face again rather hard, drawing another blood mark as he deliberately let his servant's ring cut Peter's cheek again. 'You better not, Pettigrew. Harry chose you out of pity and maybe even the fact you might be a good shag, but just remember this - Master Maximus has the final words. If he so much as gets wind of you shirking any more of your responsibilities, you and that pretty body of yours will find yourselves on the other end of his wand, make no mistake,' Sirius said icily.

'Enough, Sirius, leave Peter alone, now!' Harry yelled out now and stood up angrily, his eyes blazing with fury. He may not have really liked Peter, but even he didn't deserve this from Sirius, and any thoughts of pitying Sirius were engulfed by pure rage. Going over to Peter he gently reached down and picked up the shaking boy from the floor, holding him tightly against him whilst giving him a small smile. Turning back to Sirius however he settled a cold gaze on the other lad, though Sirius didn't turn away nor back down from him.

'He needs to know who's the master and who's the servant here, Harry. You're too lenient with this sod,' Sirius said harshly and glared at Peter who was still sobbing softly.

Harry didn't know why but suddenly his rage changed, and he felt a raw power flow through him. Gazing intently at Sirius he whispered 'Desectio!' towards him. Within a few seconds later Sirius was now the one on the floor, blood streaming through several deep cuts on his own face. Harry took a few steps forwards and stood towering over Sirius, his emerald eyes glowing. 'That is my decision to make, not yours Sirius Black. He is my servant, and I will do with him as I see fit. The next time you touch him you'll wish I was as lenient with you as I am with him,' he said in a dangerously low tone of voice. Straightening up he gave a cold, icy glare to his brother. 'Keep your servant out of my affairs, brother, or I will personally make sure he stays out of them.'

James looked at Harry oddly for a moment then nodded slightly. 'Well well, maybe there is hope for you yet, brother. Father will be pleased to know that you have the Potter genes in you after all, considering how much like Mater you've become lately. Pity though they have to be wasted over someone like Pettigrew, though it seems you do harbour some feelings for the prat after all. I'll have to keep that in mind for future reference,' he said giving his brother a twisted grin.

Harry's eyes flashed once again, and that strange heated power flowed through him causing him to almost lose consciousness. Before he knew what he was doing something took over and guided him, and in that same dangerously low voice he half whispered whilst intensely gazing at his brother, 'Lupatus Seco!' and watched with a satisfied smirk as four large, deep gashes now ran across James's face.

James tensed and put a hand up to the marks, wiping away some of the blood and then looked back at Harry. To Harry's surprise James laughed, though not a pleasant laughter, then shook his head almost cheerily. 'Touché, baby brother, I get your...points. Nice work though, seems you're finally coming into your own, and over such trivial things no less. Who knew all it would take to show you're true colours was to put a few scratches on your...servant,' James said with a smirk.

'What are you talking about?' Harry asked slightly puzzled now, keeping a wary eye on Sirius still who still hadn't gotten off the floor and was giving him an wary look.

James eyed Harry cooly. 'You've been fighting the Potter side of you since last year, Harry, I know it, and Father knows it. You want everyone to think you're above such things, such darkness and evils, but you're not, little brother. You were born as a Prince of Darkness, and you shall die with that proud birthright. To deny what you are is a fool's errand, and make no mistake, Harry, you can't fight it forever. I know what you hoped to do by claiming a Gryffindor, you hoped for some idiotic absolution for what you are. You can't wash the blood of your victims from your hands by being 'good' and 'righteous' though, it doesn't work that way. You are have the blood of Slytherin in you, power, fame and glory is your birthright, don't you ever forget that.'

Harry tensed, he wasn't sure he heard correctly what James was saying, and if he was he wasn't sure he wanted to even deal with it. His head was swimming, he felt drained suddenly and he leaned against Peter for support for a moment. Strange information starting coming to him, he assumed it was things from this world's Harry's past he was beginning to learn, and he shook his head slowly. 'You're more the fool, brother. You know what I am, and you still expect me not to fight for what I believe in? Got to hell, James,' he spat out heavily, finding enough energy to glare coldly at James.

James smirked and rose from the table and walked slowly over to where Harry and Peter were standing, not even bothering with the blood still streaming down his face. Before Harry could react or even move James's wand was in his hand and pointed directly at him. 'I don't know what's happened to you in the past year or so, but it's going to end now. I've had enough of it, enough of your pretenses and so-called 'changes of heart'. It's time to teach you a lesson in humility, baby brother,' he said coldly. 'Crucio!' he shouted out now and a red beam shot out from his wand aimed directly at Harry's forehead.

Harry tensed, expecting to feel the horrific pain he knew that spell caused, but something odd happened. He watched the beam of light as if it was in slow motion, he could see it moving like a liquid fire towards him, but it was slow enough where he found himself able to respond before it could hit him. He suddenly felt calm, his body untensed and without even drawing his wand he found words yet again coming to his lips. 'Aegis Repulsio!' he called out quickly, and then watched in curious detachment as a purplish-white barrier erected itself round him, and then suddenly the world sped back up. The red beam of light hit the shield, shattering and splintering into a thousand sparkling glowing pin-pricks of light, and the room was plunged into a strange silence.

A slow clapping sound made all four people in the room jump, and Harry looked up at the newcomer startled, then gasped as he saw who it was. It was a man, a very familiar man, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere and was leaning against the fireplace non-chalantly, though he was looking at Harry as if he was highly impressed. The man was dressed in an outfit befitting of his status, and anyone could tell from looking at him he held a position of esteem, not to mention that he radiated dark powers.

He was wearing a set of embroidered silver silk robes that shimmered in the light of the sun, a black silk high-collared dress shirt with silver buttons and silver cuff-links in the shape of snakes that had red jewelled eyes. He wore as well black linen trousers that were clearly tailored to perfection, and black dragon hide boots just like James had been wearing yesterday. His hair was as black as night, short and sleek looking and styled back so that not a single strand of hair was out of place. What got Harry was the man's eyes - they were a rich emerald green, and Harry could tell from those dangerously glinted orbs that this was a man you did not mess with unless you wanted to die.

'Father,' James said formally as he finally recovered, then nodded at the man and walked over to him. 'What brings you here this fine morning?'

The man completely ignored James however, keeping his gaze focused on Harry, for which Harry saw a scowl come on James's lips at the brush off. 'Quite an interesting display of fireworks, Harry. Since when did you come to learn that...particular...line of defence?' he asked in a cold but curious voice.

Harry didn't respond right away, instead he just kept his gaze cool towards the man, and his expression neutral. He did however feel Peter tense up again, and he put his arm round Peter's waist drawing him into his shoulder as if in protection, never breaking his gaze with the man. He felt a slight kick to his foot then and looked down to see Sirius frowning at him.

'You going to answer him or stand there like a dazed prat?' Sirius whispered his way harshly, finally picked himself up off the floor and throwing Harry a dark glare.

'You want a bloody nose to go with those bloodied cheeks of yours you two-faced bastard?' Harry responded sweetly.

'My my, what colourful language this morning. What was the matter, Harry, hmm? Breakfast not to your liking?' the man said amusedly. Brushing past James and walking over to where Harry was standing he ignored Sirius completely as he had James, his gaze still not leaving Harry's face.

'More like the company was not to my liking this morning...Father,' Harry replied coldly.

'I see. Mind telling me what happened that caused you to set off half the magic ward alarms this morning, nearly panicking every teacher and student at this school, son?' Maximus asked lightly.

'He attacked us, that's what, Father!' James said heatedly, and pointed to his own face and then at Sirius's.

Maximus looked at James and Sirius's wounds now, a steely glint in his emerald eyes. 'Hmm, not bad,' he nodded in approval towards Harry, a slight smirking grin on his lips. 'However what I saw was clearly you pointing your wand at your brother, James. I see no wand in Harry's hand however.'

James muttered something under his breath, his brown eyes nearly black in rage.

'What was that, James? I didn't quite hear you,' Maximus said coldly.

'Father, Sirius attacked Peter first, I was only justified in retaliating,' Harry said stepping into the conversation now.

'And what praytell was the reason for Sirius to do that?' Maximus asked settling a sharp gaze on Peter now.

'I forgot to bring in his paper, Master Maximus, and when I did it was umm...creased slightly,' Peter said in a very subservient, wavery voice.

'Is that all?' Maximus queried, raising an eyebrow questioningly at Peter.

Harry felt Peter shaking in fear and for some reason he just couldn't let Peter suffer for something like this. 'That is all it was, Father, nothing more. Sirius's attack was uncalled for, and I responded in kind,' he replied in a firm voice, and looked at his father with a defiant gaze.

Maximus sniffed as if such a thing wasn't even worth discussing anymore. 'Why did your brother feel the need to draw a wand on you then, son?' he asked now.

Harry scowled, his temper flaring up again at the remembrance of what had been said then glared at James, before turning back to his father. 'Because they are nothing more than a pair of hot-headed gits who think I'll just sit back and let them abuse my servant over such trivial rubbish, that's why.'

Maximus looked at Harry intensely for a moment. 'So you felt the need to protect your claim, and of course you should. After all, you did choose him, so you are completely justified in how you wish to protect him.'

'Pettigrew isn't worth having claim to, Father, everyone knows that!' James said thickly and stepped threateningly towards Peter. 'He's nothing more than a snivelling, lying, piece of sh- '

'Shut up, James!' Harry yelled now and stepped in front of Peter like a shield, 'I don't know why you and Sirius have it in for Peter lately, but I've about had it. You keep your filthy hands off him, or I will make sure you do!'

'That's enough the both of you!' Maximus said now and glared at both James and Harry in a way that made them both wince. 'You will stop this squabbling here and now, it's unbecoming of a Potter to do, especially in front of your servants. James, you will collect yourself and get ready to go into Hogsmeade. Harry I will speak with you privately.'

James scowled once more at Harry and Peter, then without another word turned on his heel and headed to the doorway that led to what was assumably his and Sirius's room, Sirius following closely behind him. The door then shut with a bang causing a dark look to flitter across Maximus's face, and he then refocused his gaze back to the two now in the room. He walked over to Peter and grasped his face, examining the bloodstained cheeks. 'When you have finished dressing Harry for the day, you will see Madam Pomfrey and get those healed. It would not do to have my son's servant looking as if he had been in a common barroom brawl. As for your little incident this morning with the paper, see that it does not happen again,' he said in a cold voice.

'Yes, sir, I will not forget. Thank you for showing me leniency, Master Maximus' Peter said quietly.

'Make no mistake, I do not do this out of leniency for you. I do this out of respect for my son, no more. I tolerate you as his claim because you are good to him surprisingly, as well as the fact you do not disrespect him nor myself. The fact that you happen to make the perfect servant by providing his needs before he even knows what they are shows me you are well suited to keep his claim. Just do not fail me, Peter Pettigrew, I do not tolerate failures,' Maximus said, then released Peter's face.

Peter nodded quickly. 'No, sir, I will not,' he said, then with a quick grateful glance at Harry he dashed off towards their bedroom, closing the door quietly behind him.

Maximus turned to look at Harry, a strange look on his face. 'So, that leaves just us then, doesn't it, son,' he said thoughtfully.

Harry was leery of this man, he couldn't put his finger on it but something inside him seemed to be calling to him that he had to be very careful what he said or did. That same feeling of instinct from before with the spells guided him, and now it was like he was merely a puppet on a string, he was in his 'body', but now he could almost see mental images filter through of the 'other Harry's' past. Other confrontations with James that he had walked away from worse for the wear, confrontations with his 'Father' about when he had chosen Peter.

Images then flooded him of one of the reasons why he had chosen Peter to claim, and he hoped he wasn't blushing at some of the things he was seeing himself doing with, or rather to, Peter Pettigrew. More images then flowed through his mind, ones that now replaced the passion with nothing short of agonizing pain. He understood now why James had said what he had earlier as images of himself torturing Muggles and Muggle-borns of all ages at wand point came to him. He couldn't have been more than thirteen or fourteen years of age at the time he did this, and he nearly cringed as he saw the sneers and smirks on his face as he watched how this world's Harry Potter had killed in cold blood, despite the screams and pleas of forgiveness that fell on deaf ears.

Fear and horror now welled up inside him at what his counterpart in this world had done, the looks of pure satisfaction and joy that he saw on that Harry's face, that he could almost feel even as that Harry had spilt blood for the sheer whim of it. All because he was a 'Potter' and could do these things without anyone saying anything to stop him, without regrets or recriminations. It made him sick now as he saw the sheer pleasure that the Harry in his mind had felt when he watched his victims die before him.

Clenching his hands tightly into fists he trembled, weakened by the images, and he had to choke back a sob. Looking back up at his 'father' he whispered, 'What have I done? Why me?'

Maximus sighed surprisingly, and went over to put a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. 'The more you fight it, Harry, the worse it will be for you. You're powers will consume you if you try to keep going against what you are capable of. You have more power in your little finger than your brother has in his entire body, and he will always resent you for that. He hates the fact that you do not embrace the darkness anymore, that you wish to turn from it.'

'Let him hate me then...I don't want it,' Harry said through clenched teeth, pain wracking his body the more he did try to fight away the images in his mind.

'Then you will suffer until you realize that you cannot avoid what and who you are. You are the last of the true families, my son, not me, not James, only you. You hold in your veins the blood of the greatest dark wizards ever born: Merlin, Agrippa, Salazar Slytherin, and of course, the greatest of them all, our Master and Lord, Albus Dumbledore. You were born to rule as they did, to deny that right will only destroy you.'

'Then let it destroy me, Father! I can't live that way!' Harry said angrily, another wave of pain shooting through him.

'You have too much of your mother in you I fear. She too tried to fight what she was, and it destroyed her in the end. Do you want to end up like she did?' Maximus said crossly.

Harry suddenly got an image of a beautiful woman with long brown hair and deep brown eyes just like James's. He knew this had to be his 'mother' in this world, but she was so different then he expected, instead of frowning or darkness she was filled with laughter and happiness. Then that scene faded and another image came to him, it was the same woman crying out in agony, writhing on the ground before a man Harry knew all too well, and Harry watched in horror as his 'mother's' very lifeforce was being drained from her body by the man. Harry knew why this was, he knew plain as day now that it was because she had refused to follow her husband into the darkness, and bow down before his 'master'. She had refused the powers of darkness, and paid for that with her life.

Even though Harry didn't really know the woman, in his 'memories' he felt nothing short of sadness and pity for what she had gone through and how she had died. A strange anger then coursed through him as the image of the woman faded, and he looked back up at his 'father' with a harsh, icy glare. 'He killed her...and you did nothing to stop him! How could do that to her? To your own wife? Did you feel nothing for her? Did you even love her?' he said harshly, his breath ragged and torn from the pain making it's way back through him.

'Of course I did, she was everything to me!' Maximus said harshly. 'I didn't want her to die, I did everything I could to get her to see reason. She refused to accept the unavoidable though, even knowing the price she would pay. I took her as my wife despite her tainted blood-line because I loved her.'

'Tainted blood-line? She was a fucking Gryffindor heir, why would she want to sell her soul? You married her because you wanted to control her, create the perfect family. You used her...used her body and magic to have James and me, knowing that two blood-lines would have more power, didn't you! Only it backfired didn't it...instead of us both getting her blood-line powers, only I did. After he killed her, you tried to corrupt me instead...made me kill for the sport, made me hate and bow to your every whim...but I won't...do you hear me...I won't!' Harry spat out now, not even sure how he knew what he was saying, but somehow he did. However as he said those words another burst of pain assaulted him, and he felt himself being burned and torn up from the inside out, causing him to collapse to the floor writhing in pain, just like his mother had in his memory.

'Harry...Harry...my son...please, stop this foolishness. Stop fighting yourself...you can't win! Yes, you have her blood-line not James, as well as the blood-line of the greats, but you cannot use them both. You are killing yourself by trying to be embrace the light, don't you see that? Anyone else, perhaps, but not you, not with the bloods of Gryffindor and Slytherin mixed together within you, not when the darkness was what you were meant for. I would rather see you dead at my own hands then for you to be destroyed because you choose not to embrace what you are,' Maximus said in a hard voice.

'Then...kill...me...' Harry said, shuddering as fresh waves of pain coursed through him.

Maximus gazed down at his son and surprisingly it wasn't in anger or rage, but tenderness and understanding, a look that no one but his wife Marushka had ever seen from this cold-hearted man. Shaking his head slowly he kneeled down and pulled Harry into his arms, holding him tightly. 'No, no my son, I will not, but if you insist on continuing on this path of destruction I will step in and force you into accepting who you are. Now that your Gryffindor powers of using wandless magic are showing you will have be very careful. If you fall into the wrong hands...'

'You...mean...like...the...side...of...'good'?' Harry spat out coldly.

Maximus scowled. 'There are those still on our side that would use you just as equally to their own advantages, Harry, keep that in mind. Some on our side do not wish to see our Master returned, they will pay for their cheating loyalties when the time comes,' he said harshly, then his eyes softened as he saw how much suffering his son was in. 'You can stop the pain, Harry. Stop fighting yourself, at least for now. Just let the powers guide you, accept them, embrace who you are and what you can do. Please, my son, I don't want to lose you,' he said softly now.

Harry saw and heard the despondent tone of his father's voice, and he closed his eyes wishing this was all a nightmare. He tried to focus on anything but the pain, anything that wouldn't hurt him further, he knew he couldn't fight much more even if he wanted to. He let his mind go then, allowing more images to flow through him, calming him. He could now see his whole life here in this world, how once his brother and he had been close, how they would laughing and joke together, happy to be brothers and friends.

He focused on the past year he'd spent with Peter as his servant, and how good Peter had made him feel. How he had met him in secret for two months before he had slipped on the Servants Ring to claim him, and how happy Peter had been to be marked as his property. He now saw the other Gryffindors he had become 'friends' with as well, the vampire, werewolf and the mixed-blood boy. Something nagged at him about that boy with the silvery-white hair and the expressive smoky grey eyes though, it was as if he knew the boy from somewhere else, another time and place, but he couldn't remember where or how anymore.

A calmness finally overtook him as the images of the three Gryffindor's faded, and he somehow detached himself to finally be freed of the pain. A wraith-like image of Harry watched as the man with the black hair held him close, and how sad this man looked at the now silent boy in his arms. A part of him reached out to them, wanting to end both of their suffering, and he wished he knew what he could do to help them. As he watched a few more moments he finally began to understand, and knew what he had to do. Floating over to the boy he put a ghostly hand on his shoulder, and nodded his head even though he knew the boy couldn't see him. As he did that he felt the tensions and pain leave the boy, and then he felt himself being drawn down into the boy's body, a sense of blissful peace finally taking over.

Harry shivered a moment as the other part of him returned and he opened his eyes, looking up at the man who's arms held him. Then with a deep sigh he wrapped his arms round the man, holding him back just as tightly. 'I'm sorry, Father. Do you forgive me for how I've been behaving lately?' he whispered.

Maximus looked down into a pair of eyes so very like his own, and he smiled. 'I always do, Harry,' he said quietly, then releasing Harry he got to his feet, helping his son up as well. 'Now, I do recall today being part of a Hogsmeade weekend, so why don't you let Peter get you ready, and then the both of you can go have some fun, hmm?'

Harry looked back at his father speculatively for a moment as if debating something before replying. 'I wouldn't mind going to Zonko's, and especially Honeydukes that's for sure,' he grinned, then with a glint of mischief now in his eyes he said, 'However, without some...Mudblood baiting...I dare say it won't really be too much fun after all.'

Maximus chuckled and ruffled his son's hair. 'There will be plenty of time for that later, my son. Now run along, Peter must be positively frantic by now why you've taken so long to return.'

Harry snorted and glanced back at the door. 'It's not his place to be so, though I do appreciate it from time to time,' he said off-handedly, then started walking towards the door however halfway there he turned back a moment. 'Father?'

'Yes, Harry?'

'I will warn you now, should James or that idiot he has for a servant ever hurt Peter again, or attempt to hurt me, I will not hesitant to respond again. Will that be an issue?' Harry asked, though his tone of voice clearly showed he wasn't only asking out of amusement more than anything else.

'I dare say your brother and his servant will let you be for the moment. Though if they do disagree with your...methods...again, a response certainly would be allowable,' Maximus said with a slight grin.

'Good, just making sure you understand my views then, Father. I don't like other people playing round with my property, and anyone who does so will be taught a valuable lesson in the future,' Harry smirked, then turned back round and opened the door to his room, stepped through, closing it softly behind him.

Maximus watched his son leave, a thoughtful expression on his face. Turning to a corner of the room he nodded at something, and seconds later a black snake at least fifteen feet long slithered in front of him, uncoiling itself to look Maximus in the eyes. 'It's almost time, Master. Soon he will be ready,' Maximus said in Parseltongue.

The snake nodded, it's forked tongue darting out and touching Maximus's cheek a moment. 'Do not underessstimate the childdd, Maximusss. His willl power isss ssstronger then you think it isss...' the snake hiss back.

'He will help us return you to your glory, Master, that is all that matters now. He will learn what it means to be a Potter, and a Prince of the Dark. He shall rule at your side as was intended long ago before that fool Voldemort tried to destroy you, thankfully though we took precautions. We will wipe clean the Gryffindor thoughts that still try to consume him so that the blood-line of Slytherin can flourish again, even if it means destroying all he holds dear to do so. We've come too far to turn back now,' Maximus said coldly.

'Be waryyy of the childdd, he will ssstill ssseek to trick usss. I ssstill sssense hesssitationsss within him...'

'Of course you do, he is still his mother's child, tainted by the blood of that Muggle and Mudblood loving Godric Gryffindor,' Maximus said icily. 'I think though, that after today...he is returning to his former self. I do not think he will not fail us again.'

'You are a fool, Maximusss. The childsss powersss sssurpass even me now becaussse of that blooddd and itsss qualitiesss of goodnesss. Take heed and make sssure he doesss not fail usss, or you will sssuffer along with himmm...'

Maximus tensed and glared at the snake for a moment, then slowly nodded. 'I have already taken steps as of last night to ensure that will not happen, My Lord. The more he fights what he is, the more the potion I secretly have been giving him will keep in pain, as you saw yourself. Soon enough, not even he with that oh-so-noble blood-line of his will be able to resist the temptations to ease the torture,' he said firmly.

'And ifff he doesss?'

A dark glitter of cold, raw power came into Maximus Potter's eyes as he looked at the snake. 'If he does, Master Dumbledore...then he dies, simple as that.'

The snake nodded in satisfaction and coiled itself round Maximus's body, then slowly began to fade as if it was being drawn into the man's very skin. When the last hiss of the snake left the air Maximus shivered a moment, then closed his eyes, tuning out the burning feeling of the snake returning to his skin. Guarding his thoughts carefully from the snake that always was with him he made a silent wish for his favourite son that all would work out.

He would never admit it but he truly loved Harry, he was a reminder of his wife, the woman he had watched die in front of his eyes, whom he had not been allowed to mourn nor even show pity for after she died. He hadn't lied to Harry when he had told him he loved her, he had. He knew long that Harry was very much like her, and Maximus regretted that he had use his son in such a manner, but Maximus was a servant himself of the darkness. He could not fight who he was, anymore than his son really could, and prayed fervently Harry would see that soon, and accept that back into his life.

A buzzing sound in his ear made him scowl and he looked down at a small fly that was being quite annoying, and he smack at it with his hand. The fly fell to the floor and seconds later a man sat there rubbing his head and glaring at Maximus. 'That wasn't very nice, Maximus' he muttered.

'I'm not a 'nice' person, you should know that by now,' he scowled back. 'What do you want, Armando? I'm in no mood at the moment for your pestering.'

'You're presence has been requested in your chambers, Maximus,' Armando Dippet said standing up and brushing himself off.

'You handle it then, I'm busy,' Maximus said heavily.

'Afraid not. The person is asking for you, not the Deputy Headmaster I'm afraid,' Dippet said with an offending sniff.

'Who is it that wishes to disturb me?' Maximus said coldly.

Armando hesitated a moment then gave Maximus a strange glance. 'The Minister of Magic does.'

Maximus tensed a moment then uttered a few choice oaths under his breath. Pulling himself together he nodded at Armando curtly. 'Well then, shall we go see what that Muggle-loving young upstart wants of me, Armando?' he said with a smirk.

'Knowing him, he wants to hear what his darling little brother is up to no doubt,' Armando sneered.

Maximus scowled. 'No doubt. Very well, let's get this over with. I would prefer not to have to speak to that half-breed if at all possible. How he became Minister of Magic I still do not know,' he muttered.

'Popularity, Maximus. He's incredibly charming, good-looking, a Gryffindor graduate, and insanely rich, lest you have forgotten,' Armando said thickly.

'Hmm, yes, but even those with power like that can be corrupted, Armando. Difficult, yes, but not impossible. Perhaps we can get our young Minister to see some...reason...before this day is through, hmm?' Maximus mused.

Armando snorted. 'And get thrown into Azkaban for bribing the Minister of Magic? No thank you, Maximus, not today. We'll just have to get rid of him quickly and hope he doesn't ask too many questions beyond the welfare of his dear brother.'

Maximus chuckled harshly. 'Pity he is a half-breed, he'd have made a fine servant for the Master, we could have put those assets of his to good use. Ah well, when the time comes and our Lord is returned to us he will pay as they all will for going against the true paths. Now come, let us see what he wants,' Maximus said. Saying a few words under his breath he and Armando then melted away from the room, returning back to the Headmasters Chambers so they could deal with one Lucius Malfoy, the very annoying and always interfering Minister of Magic.

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Some rough translations here:

Desectio - Latin for 'cutting'. I used it as a 'slicing spell'.
Lupatus Seco - Latin for 'wolf scratch'. Self explanitory I hope here on that spell.
Aegis Repulsio - Latin. In basic translation I was going for the idea of a 'repelling shield', only it sounded better in Latin to say it in reverse :P (one thing I always thought was funny is that in some RPGs they always seem to have an Aegis Shield, which really means a 'Shield Shield'...batty eh? :chuckles:)