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Chapter Text

June 23, 1996

Harry had definitely made it through some rough times in his life before he learned he was a wizard, and a famous one at that. Officially, Harry could say that joining or rather, returning to Magical Britain at eleven made his life harder. Now, the almost sixteen-year-old found himself dealing with more difficult times, rougher days, and stressful school years. Harry Potter, since coming to Hogwarts, had also been forced to deal with some situations that a child should never have to deal with. Magical and famous or not.

But by far…losing his godfather, Sirius Black, was the hardest thing Harry had to cope with. The teenager had been cold and distant since Sirius was killed, and no one rightly blamed Harry for being angry or upset. Everyone left him alone, including his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, had tried to speak with Harry too. It only resulted in Harry's magic bursting and destroying multiple things in the man's office.

The nights were hard, days weren't much better. Now that school was over, Harry had returned to his aunt and uncle's house. It's where he always had to return, not that he wanted to, but had no choice because with his parents and godfather gone; the headmaster was acting as his guardian until Harry turned seventeen. This marked adulthood in the wizarding world. Harry had gotten back last night to Little Whinging in Surrey.

Usually, his relatives started on him right away…but they seemed to sense Harry wasn't in a good mood, so they left him alone for the night. It didn't stop them this morning, however. So Harry said nothing and did what he knew was expected of him to avoid any trouble, he knew he couldn't lose it like he had in Albus's office. Merlin only knew what could happen.

Right now, Harry was working in the garden. It was about eighty-five degrees out and he had no shade. He'd already done all the lawn care and took care of the gardening in the front yard. The back garden was last and Harry was nearly half done. The teen was covered in sweat and dirt, and definitely had sunburn on his face, part of his shoulders, and the back of the neck. When he finished, he could finally get some water and then he'd have to make lunch.

As Harry readjusted his position for the next part of the garden, he felt he was being watched and glanced over to see his Aunt Petunia drinking a glass of lemonade and watching him work. She scoffed a bit at him then turned away back inside and closed the door. Harry focused on his work, she was just checking on his progress then. Harry sighed as he proceeded to reach for another group of weeds.

The teen felt something bump at his hand and he glanced a bit, moving a big leaf out of the way before he saw a small snake. It wasn't very long, perhaps one or two feet. Three at the longest. There was a dark red plume on the back of its head, darker green scales on top and a lighter green underside. The snake's eyes were bright yellow with long black irises. They seemed to be a see-thru, but lightly shaded protection over the eyes making them look golden over bright yellow.

"Oh! Hello there." Harry greeted gently. The snake slithered out more, tongue flicking out at Harry's hand as if testing that it wouldn't be harmed. "I'm sorry for hitting you by accident, little one. I didn't see you right away", the teenager smiled. The snake tilted its head a bit, but kept eye contact. Harry found it odd, it was just like at the zoo. Should he try Parseltongue? Maybe it only worked on magical snakes?

~It's okay, little one. I'm not like others who scream and attack out of fear. I like snakes.~ Harry chuckled a little as the snake nudged at his hand. ~Just don't tell anyone at Hogwarts. It seems to creep people out that I can talk to snakes like this.~ Harry watched as the snake came a tad closer, almost questioningly.

Harry understood as he turned his hand upright and laid the backside down on the ground. ~Come on. You can climb up, I won't hurt you.~ Finally, the snake inched forward and began to slither onto his hand, then continued its path up his arm and then around his neck once before bringing its face in front of Harry's and their eyes meeting.

The teen didn't feel scared or anxious, but oddly relaxed. Another flick of the tongue to his nose, then a boop before the see-thru shade over its eyes lifted. Harry was a little confused, but didn't move or look away. It was only a moment later that he felt something connect with his magic. Like a link, a bond. It felt solid, powerful, and strong.

When the magic seemed to settle, the snake flicked its tongue at Harry's nose before booping him. Next, the snake's eyes closed and Harry seemed to do the same on instinct before the top of the snake's head rested against Harry's forehead. It was comforting, like a hug that made him feel better than he had in days since Sirius's death.

~My master…~ Harry heard the snake say to him. Master?

Before Harry could ask what the snake meant, a searing pain came through his scar. It felt like it was opening or that a hot, serrated blade was carving the mark there. Harry hissed in pain, bending forward with one hand over his scar and the other hand gripped at the ground to keep himself from toppling over into the garden. He felt the snake tightening around him, but not in a harmful way. It was rubbing its face to his cheek or bumping him gently.

There was a sharp ringing in his ears, the pain increased as Harry screamed. Something was tugging, he saw rapid flashes of some place in his mind and he felt his magic pulling him. Harry heard muffled voices and footsteps nearing him, but he couldn't make out who and opening his eyes only revealed blinding white.

An unknown voice echoed through his head, "Trust." Was that his magic? "Don't fight." He felt the pull again. Was that the snake? "Do not fight against. Trust me…Save you, be safe. Let go." Harry didn't understand, but the teenager managed to push himself upwards, then slowly to his feet. Harry looked to the sky, and closed his eyes with an exhale. He stopped fighting against the feeling and trusted in the voice and pull of his magic.

Not a moment later, Harry felt something grip hard and yank him forward. It was like a naval tug or being squeezed through a tube. The next thing Harry knew was that he collided with something solid, then he felt multiple cuts or gashes like being cut with knives or other big weapons all over his body while being dragged through the wall he'd hit. The pain was overwhelming before he stopped feeling resistance and landed hard.

Despite ears ringing, he was sure he heard several sickening cracks upon that land and then there were gasps. His glasses were gone, everything was out of focus. Blurred flickers of candlelight, and muffled voices with faces nearing him. Darkness was creeping in at the corners of his eyes, he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.

The last clear image he got was of a woman with slightly longer than the shoulder length of black and white hair, she had light blue eyes, somewhat pale skin with a semi-dark red lipstick. He vaguely saw her talking to him, then turned her head towards whoever else was in the room, looking determined. Whatever she was saying, Harry couldn't hear her and he also couldn't stay conscious any longer.

He felt his magic beginning to expand from his core and put him out, and he knew from the past that this was his magic's way of healing him. It worked best when he was sleeping, so the teenager stopped fighting just as the woman turned her head back to him, concern in her eyes and Harry went out completely.

. . .

The current occupants present at Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire were left entirely baffled by the turn of events, so much that not a one hid the shock from their normally stoic faces while in the presence of their leader, Lord Voldemort. In fact, even the Dark Lord himself was rendered surprised and speechless for a moment or two. All were gathered for an initiation and to witness their lord perform a ritual to summon things he needed that were scattered and fragments of his memory were missing since his rebirth.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly and as the ritual ended, Voldemort went to collect the random objects that came through and landed within the ritual circle drawn. Then Lucius Malfoy suddenly felt the wards shift, noting that there was resistance like the other objects when they came through. Voldemort was about to command he allow whatever it was through when out of nowhere an unknown figure appeared in the room.

It had been so fast that the figure actually collided with the wall opposite that it came in and then seemed to bounce off and hit the ground on a small hard angle, causing a slight roll on its side before stopping and then refusing to move.

"What is this?" the Dark Lord demanded. Whoever was closest crouched to turn the figure onto their back, then gasps filled the room. "Harry Potter…?" There was surprise and curiosity in the man's tone. "How did you end up in my ritual chamber?" When the boy didn't answer, Voldemort scoffed. "I have other ways of getting you to talk boy…"

"My lord…If I may?" Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward. "I don't think he can see or hear us." she offered. "May I be permitted to check over him?"

"Go."

Lady Malfoy briskly walked past him and knelt beside the still teenager. "Mr. Potter?" The woman noticed how his eyes were darting around, panic and pain set in the green hues. As she came beside him, they locked onto hers. "Mr. Potter, can you hear me?" No response, but his eyes were beginning to droop.

Narcissa could only assume that he was losing consciousness. "Mr. Potter?..." She gave him a little shake but still nothing. She glanced over his figure, taking in the blood stained clothing that was only spreading. The cuts on his face.

"Well, my dear?" Voldemort impatiently pushed.

Before she could answer, Harry began to fade out. "Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter," She tried to shake him again, but his eyes would not open wider. "Harry? Harry, you need to stay awake."

"Keep him conscious! I want answers!"

Ignoring the risk, Narcissa snapped her head in her lord's direction with narrowed eyes. "And you think I do not?!" the woman remarked. "I want answers too, my lord. I would like nothing more than to know how a ritual to get back your belongings resulted in a fifteen-year-old boy, Harry Potter no less, coming through the wards so violently!" Everyone held their tongues, unsure if their lord would strike her down for such disrespect.

She paused, taking a breath before continuing. "But I don't know. You don't even know and you did the ritual. No one knows. We all want answers, my lord. And I'm certain we will get them if he recovers. I know you only saw your arch nemesis show up unexpectedly…"

"What I saw was a teenager no older than my own son collide with the wards and get ripped through them, smack into a solid wall and crash to the equally solid ground", Narcissa stated. "If he were muggle, he'd be near or actually dead just crossing the wards. But he's a wizard, thank Merlin…regardless, the body does not react well to that kind of physical damage…"

The woman sighed. "And I can tell you right now he's splinched in multiple places. I don't know how badly without stripping him down to see. What I do know is that even with being magical, his magic won't be enough to heal this without draining himself. He will die…So if you want answers, as do we all, my lord…Let me heal him."

Yes, Voldemort wanted the boy dead…But he wanted to be the one to kill him. Regretfully, right now, he wanted answers on how the brat ended up here. "Heal him. Severus, you will assist without complaint." The potions master nodded. "And not a word to Dumbledore about this or I will kill you. I don't need him and his precious Order showing up to take the boy back before I find out what occurred here."

"Of course, my lord." Severus bowed his head.

"Find and take his wand from his person too. I don't want any attacks when I get my answers." Voldemort ordered.

"I will get the wand when I strip him down to see the full damage." Narcissa stood, nodding affirmatively before she waved her wand without a word to conjure a medi-stretcher and set the teenager upon it. It levitated off the ground and followed behind Narcissa as she exited the room. "Severus, I'm going to need Dittany, pain relievers, blood replenishers, magic boosters, and salve for scars. Either floo home to get them, or brew fresh in the lab."

"I should have some at home, but I will need to brew more. If the boy is out of the protections of wherever he stays in the summers…Albus will call a meeting for information and likely a search. You know I'll have to take part, my lord." Severus informed.

"Go if you must, but do not fail in aiding Narcissa to heal the boy…" the Dark Lord demanded.

"I will do what I can while I'm available. If I cannot, Draco knows how to brew everything she needs. He's brewed all of it with me, and in classes over the years." Severus replied.

"You will assist your mother and godfather, Draco, if it becomes required of you to do so." Lucius commanded before his lord could.

"Yes, Father." Draco agreed. Normally, he'd complain of having to help Potter. But like his mother stated quite clearly and boldly to their lord…nothing made sense of how Potter ended up here, and everyone wanted answers.

"You will keep me up to date on his progress, Narcissa." Voldemort said.

"I will bring you a report once I finish my initial check, run a scan, then perform or give whatever is necessary to begin the healing process. This kind of damage could keep him out the rest of today and through the night, possibly tomorrow. I will have a better idea once I see everything." Narcissa promised.

Voldemort nodded as Lady Malfoy finally disappeared from sight with an unconscious Harry Potter levitating behind her on the stretcher. Severus quickly departed home to get what he had for Narcissa. Voldemort dismissed everyone else until further notice. The next meeting he called would be when Potter was healed and recovered enough to hopefully answer some of Voldemort's questions to make sense of how the boy ended up there.

Chapter Text

June 26, 1996

It was still a surprising turn of events that just as the Dark Lord ended his ritual, a person, who turned out to be Harry Potter, was ripped through the Malfoy wards, slammed into a wall and then hit the floor. The first to take action upon noticing the boy's stillness was none other than Narcissa Malfoy, Lucius's wife and Draco's mother. Taking a bold risk to gently scold Voldemort that if she did not heal the teenager, he would likely die before any of them could get answers as to why he showed up in such a fashion.

After the Dark Lord acquiesced to the woman's request, Narcissa levitated Harry's unconscious figure away from the ritual room and to her work area on the main level of the manor. Seeing everything with her own eyes, and pushing aside her shock of the damage, she worked quickly on the immediate injuries that needed tending. Severus came through with the things she asked for in potions and salves.

When Narcissa did all she could until the next check, she then located the Dark Lord and provided an update on Harry's status and what she discovered in the damage taken from the ordeal. Harry had been splinched from however he got there, apparition was assumed, and then also cut and torn from the force of coming through the wards. On top of that, Narcissa had been right that the boy couldn't hear or see them.

The boy didn't have his glasses on, and his eardrums were damaged. His back and arms were bruised as they were the main parts affected when he made contact with the wall and then hit the floor. Then there were broken or sprained bones and the punctured and collapsed lung. Narcissa noted again that if the boy were squib or muggle, he wouldn't have survived and much longer without treatment would have also caused death.

It had been three days since then as Harry remained unconscious, but Narcissa continued to tend to him and reported that almost everything was healed now. The teenager might wake sore from things, and it could last a few more days, but pain relievers should help. Narcissa had also informed Voldemort that she did not find the boy's wand on him so wherever he'd been, it wasn't on his person during transport.

Everything now was waiting for the boy to wake, and Narcissa couldn't give an estimated time but said it might take a bit for his head to catch up with his body being recovered. Currently, Voldemort had summoned his followers to the manor for other updates on their plans, and also getting an update from Severus since the man was called for an Order meeting in the middle of brewing things for Harry on day two. Draco had to take over and Severus left quickly.

Voldemort took his place at the head of the table, only his inner circle were present and the teenagers who belonged to these select members of the group. His followers sat on either side of him according to rank and were silent until their lord addressed them.

"My lord, if I may inquire," Bellatrix spoke, "Has Potter healed? Will he be joining so that we might get answers to his sudden arrival?"

"Narcissa…" Voldemort motioned for her to explain.

Lady Malfoy explained the damage Harry took in his unexpected arrival and harsh landing, then she informed the boy was healed from the minor things right away. It had taken more time for the bigger injuries and now aside from what she expects to be soreness, the remaining wounds that might take a few days more were the ribs.

"I doubt he'll be joining us to provide answers, Bellatrix. Narcissa's last check revealed the boy remains unconscious." Voldemort stated after Narcissa finished speaking. "You're certain he's not comatose or brain dead?"

"I'm positive, my lord. He sustained no damage to his skull aside from some minor cuts, but there was no injury to his brain. I ran a scan to check and the boy has full function of his brain. As I told you earlier in my report, it may take more time for his brain to catch up with the fact his body is healed." Narcissa responded.

"You've tried the spell to awaken someone from unconsciousness, darling?" Lucius inquired.

"I have multiple times, dearest. At this point, there is nothing more I can do to heal him except provide pain relieving potions. The rest is on him to wake when his brain and body catch up with one another that they're healed. But I assure you that he has brain activity and will have full function of his body and magic upon waking." Narcissa stated.

"Excellent. I'm sure Dumbledore is losing what's left of his decaying mind over not knowing where his precious savior is…" Voldemort chuckled. "Speaking of…Severus, you were called to an Order meeting yesterday. What news do you bring me?"

"As you claimed, my lord. Albus is stricken with concern and urgency to locate Potter before you catch wind that he's not behind the protections anymore and seek him out yourself." Severus reported. "It's been all hands available to search for the boy. I also suspect Albus is quietly annoyed and angered that Potter left the protections because, and I quote, he knows better."

"And what are these protections?" Voldemort pushed.

"I do not know, my lord. I'm told they are powerful wards over the property where he's been kept since the death of his parents. And Dumbledore has urged numerous times that Potter is to stay there from the moment he arrives after the train ride until the two-week mark before school begins again." Severus informed.

"And where is he after that point? I know you will not be able to provide me any locations that are Fidelius protected because you aren't a secret keeper." the Dark Lord stated.

"He is picked up by a group of Order members and taken to headquarters or the Weasley house. From there is the annual Diagon Alley trip for school supplies and then back until September 1st for the train ride to Hogwarts." Severus revealed calmly.

"And you do not know the location of these wards or anything about them?"

"Only that they provide the ultimate protection against you, my lord. I believe something to do with the sacrifice. And that they must be recharged with Potter's presence in the location over the summer to last for the time he's away at school. They will fall when he turns seventeen." Severus revealed.

"How curious. The only protections of that strength would be involving blood magic…He must be placed with distant relatives of Potter blood."

"M-My lord!" Peter interjected quickly as Voldemort turned towards him.

"Yes, Wormtail…You have something to offer on the matter?"

"I can confirm that the boy is the last Potter alive. James had no living relatives aside from himself and Harry before his death fourteen years ago." Peter assured. "Potter lives with his mother's family."

"You're sure of this?"

Peter nodded his head. "I lived with the Weasleys for twelve years…Their youngest, Ron, is one of Harry's best friends. I've been to the house before…It's not under Fidelius. It's Four Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. Blood wards."

Voldemort sat back in his chair now, pondering silently. "What troubles you, my lord?" Bellatrix asked.

"Nothing troubles me, Bella…I'm simply going over information to put together the puzzle of these wards. I believe that between Severus's and Wormtail's combined explanations of the protections, I can assume these blood wards are that of the Bond of Blood ritual…" Voldemort said.

"What's that?" Rabastan questioned.

"It is the reason I couldn't touch him before I returned to my body. His mother's loving sacrifice, old magic." Voldemort remarked. "It's ancient, and requires certain conditions met to invoke…As well as activate." he paused. "It's a two-part ritual. The first part, invoking, requires that the sacrificer has nothing to defend themselves with, has a choice to live but willingly chooses to die, and of course, unconditional love for the person being protected."

Voldemort glanced at Severus. "I kept my word, Severus. When you asked me to spare her if she didn't get in my way of killing the boy. I asked her to stand aside three times, and she refused. Even then…I didn't kill her. I shoved her out of the way and turned my wand on Potter." the Dark Lord paused. "I could not cancel the spell once cast, and she had gotten up and threw herself in front of the boy as a human shield."

"Then she planned for this ritual?" Narcissa asked.

The Dark Lord shook his head. "No. It cannot be planned by the person doing the sacrificing. This came about on instinct to protect her only child. I doubt young Lily would have even known about something so ancient…"

"But Dumbledore is the one who insists Potter stay in the wards…So he probably knew." Corban Yaxley mentioned.

"Correct. That is what brings us to the second part of the ritual. Activation. The person who was protected must be taken in by a family member who has the same blood as the sacrificer. The one who takes in the protectee must do so willingly, as well as see the one they took in as family. The protectee must also see the family member as family, and call home to the place where the protector's blood dwells." Voldemort explains.

"Then the boy resides with Lily's older sister." Severus spoke now.

"Older sister? I wasn't aware Lily had family aside from her parents." Lucius mentioned. "Then this aunt of Potter's is another muggleborn?"

Severus shook his head. "No. Lily was the only muggleborn in her family, assumingly. We never did a deep-dive into her family history to look for squibs, witches, and wizards", he paused. "Lily's sister is muggle, her name is Petunia. They never got along when Lily came out as a witch and Petunia did not. A lot of hatred and jealousy. It did not improve after their parents died."

"Petunia eventually married a muggle named Vernon Dursley. They have a son born slightly over a month before Potter was. She would be the only one Dumbledore could use for the ritual, my lord. I haven't the faintest idea why she'd agree to take in her magical nephew when she believes all magic folk are freaks…I can only assume Albus explained the situation to her, informing that the protections would keep them safe from you as well." Severus said.

"Is Dumbledore aware that these wards would not keep me away from the house, nor the boy, because I used his blood to create this body?" Voldemort asked.

"Considering he still forces Potter back every summer, I would assume not. Or perhaps he does and just doesn't care as long as Potter still believes the wards are active and it's for his own safety. I know Albus has multiple trinkets in his office that monitor the boy and wards over the property." Severus commented. "He gave that information away at the meeting, he got multiple alerts that Potter was out of the protections."

"What orders were given to locate the boy?" the Dark Lord wondered.

"All those who can search without other duties interfering are to look for the boy. He's got people actively searching, as well as people on a schedule in certain locations for if the brat turns up. The house, Diagon and Knockturn, public transit." Severus informed. "He knows I can't be part of the guards due to my brewing for the infirmary. Poppy brews as well, but she gets a bigger stock if we're both brewing over the summer."

"You mentioned before that Dumbledore seemed angry beneath the surface that Potter wasn't in the protections? Is this a frequent problem, Potter leaving?" Narcissa inquired.

"I believe it has been an issue since the summer of 1992. The Weasley twins and Ron took Arthur's enchanted Ford Anglia to Surrey to break Potter out of the house when they were concerned about not receiving any letters from him all summer." Peter informed.

Severus's eye actually twitched at the mention of the car. "Not fond memories, Severus?" the Dark Lord smirked.

"That is the second instance I've learned about them using that blasted car." Severus scoffed. "Weasley and Potter flew it from King's Cross to Hogwarts that year. They were photographed and seen by seven muggles, and flew the car into the Whomping Willow as well."

"They missed the train because the platform entrance sealed off once the rest of the Weasleys went through." Peter enlightened. "It was the old Malfoys' elf that did it to keep Potter from returning to the school."

"Dobby?" Lucius arched his brow.

Peter nodded. "He's also the one who kept Potter from getting his letters from friends. He knew bad things were going to happen that year and didn't want Potter to go. He also used elf magic on the bludger that kept going after Potter during the quidditch match where he broke his arm."

"Gets into quite dangerous situations, doesn't he?" Voldemort chuckled.

"Always. Always with Weasley and Granger." Severus actually rolled his eyes. "Minerva has mentioned once or twice that whenever something happens, it's always those three."

"The Golden Trio." Draco huffed. "Because no matter what they've done, they never get in trouble. They've broken thousands of rules and Dumbledore usually awards points!"

"I won't disagree that the headmaster plays favorites…" Severus shot a glare at Peter, who trembled in his seat. "He let Potter Sr., Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew get away with everything too. I'm sensing it's Gryffindor favoritism. Or that in this generation…Potter is the beacon of light, chosen by fate to vanquish the Dark Lord, savior of the Wizarding World of Britain" he sat back, eyes closed. "Wouldn't do well for the boy to end up arrested and in Azkaban."

"I heard him tell the Weasleys about a situation where he left the wards in third year too. I believe it was some disagreement between family members and Potter's magic caused some trouble before he left, then caught the Knight Bus to Leaky Cauldron. Former Minister Fudge was there to meet him and inform that he was not going to be shipped to Azkaban for what occurred." Peter stated next. "And he got himself expelled from Hogwarts last year, but Dumbledore got it turned over." Peter added.

"What did he do that bad to get expelled?" Voldemort grinned.

"I don't know the whole story, but I think it was a Dementor attack in Little Whinging and he used magic outside of school which got flagged by the Ministry" Peter responded.

"Ah, yes. I remember that. It came out that Dolores Umbridge sent them behind Fudge's back to shut Potter up about claiming the Dark Lord returned." Lucius nodded. "She caused quite a few problems during her time as Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"She essentially took over as Headmistress after some club that had been formed was revealed to be Dumbledore's idea." Severus stated.

"Dumbledore's Army." Draco confirmed. "That's what they called themselves. It was a group of students, all ages between Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw practicing defensive magic in some hidden room of the castle. Umbridge said it was a revolt against her, which meant it was against the Ministry. I can't remember everyone part of it, but definitely Weasley, Granger, and Potter leading it."

"She blamed Potter and Dumbledore." Vincent Crabbe said.

"Yeah, but she had it out for both of them. And when Dumbledore fled arrest…she targeted Potter." Draco mentioned. "She had it out for him ever since her first class as our defense teacher. Obviously, I never spoke out of turn or disrespectfully…but I can't say I disagree with Potter's argument."

"What did they argue about?" Voldemort asked.

"You being back mostly, my lord. She said we'd be learning a theory only curriculum approved by the Ministry. No spell work, only reading. She didn't even want us to have our wands in class, but we all brought them and kept them hidden. She said what happened to Diggory was a tragic accident and an accounted risk of participating in the tournament." Blaise replied now.

"Got pretty heated, and she gave him detention. She found any reason to give him one." Gregory Goyle nodded. "But I can't say Potter wasn't right or that Umbridge went too far during OWL exams." he shrugged.

"He was caught trying to use the floo in her office, she assumed he was trying to find Dumbledore to bring him back to the school and overthrow her. Potter claimed that wasn't what he was doing. She slapped him across the face, and had threatened to crucio him for answers." Draco explained.

"Granger spoke up about some hidden weapon to stop her from doing it…they went into the Forbidden Forest, and we didn't see Umbridge again. Potter and Granger returned though and we think they headed to the ministry." Theodore Nott Jr. mentioned.

"Ah, yes. I made Potter believe I was torturing his godfather to get him there to retrieve the prophecy." Voldemort recalled.

"I've heard word at the Ministry of Magic that everyone is back to praising him after last year's debacle." Lucius remarked.

"It was the same at school." Blaise Zabini nodded. "Everyone called him a liar for saying Lord Voldemort had returned the year prior."

"A lot of students were trying to apologize during the end of term feast last week. Potter said nothing back and I heard he blew up Dumbledore's office with his magic." Draco added.

"Severus?" Voldemort asked for confirmation.

"He did not blow up the office, my lord…but his magic did burst in a fit of rage and destroyed several objects within the office", the potions master clarified. "I do not know what the boy was angry about."

"Where is Umbridge now?" Narcissa questioned.

"She was found by aurors with the centaurs." Lucius informed now. "I heard pieces of her account of what happened. Evidently, she insulted them and Mr. Potter allowed them to take her away when she begged him to help her and say she meant no harm. All he said was, I'm sorry, Professor, but I must not tell lies."

Narcissa's eyes widened a bit. "You're certain of that being said? I must not tell lies?" Lucius nodded.

"Why? Does that mean something to you, Cissy?" Bellatrix wondered.

"It was on his hand. Potter's." Lady Malfoy revealed. "It's one injury I couldn't heal or get rid of with scar salve. I didn't know what it meant or if it was some kind of self-harm thing."

"You can't get rid of it." Everyone looked over to the doorway where they saw Harry Potter standing there, arms folded over one another. "It was carved in place through a Blood Quill during detention. It's a dark artifact, and permanent. The quill, something of her own invention she said."

"She used to ask me at the end of every detention if the message had sunk in and I'd tell her that I knew a long time ago not to tell lies, but maybe she should take the quill and write a few since she hadn't learned the same lesson."

"She said she didn't need to be taught anything. When the opportunity arose to teach her something, I didn't hesitate. She claimed she meant no harm, and that was a lie. So I told her that I must not tell lies and let the centaurs take her to teach her a lesson in respecting creatures labeled dark. I don't regret it one bit, she deserved whatever she got from them." Harry said.

"Now since I gave you something you didn't know…It's your turn." the teenager was looking directly at Voldemort. "What the hell did you do?"

Chapter Text

June 26, 1996

Everyone knew that Harry Potter would eventually awaken from the ordeal his body went through three days ago, but they assumed Narcissa would have seen Harry wake and explain why he was laying in a make-shift infirmary and also say who she was because while Harry had met Draco and Lucius, he'd never met her before. However, it seemed the teenager awoke not long ago and found them. How he did so would be added to the questions asked in getting answers for how he arrived at the manor at all.

It was also odd to the others that Harry didn't seem in pain or afraid despite Narcissa confirming earlier that he still had injured ribs. In fact, Harry stood rather calm and relaxed against the door frame. No one noticed him until he spoke up on the topic of Dolores Umbridge and the line Lady Malfoy saw scarred over on his left hand. No one expected the teen to be so forthcoming, perhaps that was a good sign that he wouldn't fight giving replies to questions.

Or so they thought it might be easy until his calm tone shifted to obvious sarcasm targeted at Voldemort, and very bluntly demanded, though it was worded as a question, what the man did. No one said anything, but expected their lord to respond to such disrespect from a child violently.

"You're either very brave or ridiculously stupid to barge in here and demand anything of me so disrespectfully, Potter." Voldemort commented.

"I'm a Gryffindor. We're bold, brave, courageous, honest, stubborn, adventurous, and reckless wrapped up into a large fluffy but deadly fast predator with sharp teeth and murder talons deemed to be the king of the animal kingdom." the teenager responded.

"Clearly." Voldemort agreed. "I can see that you are confused, but not afraid."

"I don't do afraid, or any other term you want to use to describe fear. You and I have different definitions of what fear means. You expect me to be scared, I'm going to have to disappoint you, Tom, and inform you that I am not."

"Fear only has one definition." Severus scoffed. "It amazes me how you've lasted this long in your life if that is your mindset, Potter."

"You're amazed by something I've done?" Harry asked. "And here I thought I'd never impress you, Snape. I'm touched, truly. I suppose there is a first time for everything."

Severus bristled himself, glaring daggers at the teenager. "Watch yourself, Potter. I am still your teacher and I will-,"

"You'll do what?" Harry challenged. "Take points from Gryffindor? Put me in detention? How is that any different from what you already do?" he paused. "Unfortunately, Professor…you can't do anything because it's summer vacation. You're not my teacher again, regrettably, until September 1st. Now, would you butt out? The adults are talking."

"I am twice your age, Potter…you're not even seventeen yet."

"Age is just a number. What defines you as an adult is your maturity. How you respond to things, such as people or situations reveals your mentality. How you behave determines your age." Harry informed. "And the way you act only shows me how immature you are."

"How dare you…" Severus seethed.

"I call it as I see it, Snape. You might be physically, thirty-six…but mentally, you're a teenager." Harry told him. "See resorting to bullying your former bully's son in the grudge-bearing, petty teenage revenge guide chapter one, how to get back at your bully twenty years later, who has been dead for fourteen years!" A pause, "If you want me to see you as a teacher, and an adult…then grow up and act like one. Teachers don't take personal grudges out on their former bully's child. You hated being bullied, so you become the bully instead? Yeah, Snape…real mature."

"My father has been dead since October 31, 1981. It's been nearly fifteen years, let it go already. I hate bullies too, but you don't see me turning into one for revenge. No, I keep my head down and I wait. I wait for moments just like these where I can snap back without repercussions. Because the reality of this situation is that you can't do anything to me. I haven't yelled or gotten physical with you..."

"I haven't done anything you can punish me for…but the best part about what I just did is that I did strike and hit you where it always hurts more…" Harry smirked. "Physical means are not the only way to cause damage and hurt someone…words can hurt just as bad or worse if you use them the right way and target someone's pride. Their ego. This doesn't make me a bully because it wasn't revenge. It wasn't petty, and it wasn't low…"

"I didn't do it because of a grudge. All I did was make you see that what you're doing doesn't hurt me. It doesn't affect me. Bullies keep bullying because it gets a rise out of the victim. Their entertainment at the expense of your pain. The more you react, the more they do it." Harry paused. "But I don't react and you hate that I don't because you want it to affect me. You want it to hurt me. You want me to feel the way you did when my father and his friends did it to you…"

"You're not getting a reaction, so you keep trying so it'll be satisfying for you to see the face of your bully react. It won't work on me, Snape. The only reaction you're getting is the one you're giving. All you're doing is making an arse out of yourself. So sure…you can keep doing what you have been, but it doesn't bother me. It's not gonna change how I feel…how about you, Professor?" Harry inquired calmly.

"Does it make you feel better that you're bullying a fifteen year old because he looks like his father who bullied you twenty years ago? Are you gonna let go of the past if I snap finally?" Harry paused. "Will that fulfill your desire for revenge since you can't get it on my dad cause he's dead? Or now that I've actually laid all this out for you…do you understand?"

"You won't get what you're looking for through me. I will never react the way you want me to. I don't do emotional outbursts for this kind of thing. I have an unnatural amount of patience, it takes quite a bit to make me run out of it." Harry smiled. "You can't hurt me, Snape. You can't cause me pain. There is very little that can these days."

"I reckon I could change your mind about what can hurt you, Potter…" Voldemort interjected.

"You can certainly try, Tom." Harry invited. "But even you misunderstand my words. Yes, I can be hurt physically. I can bleed. I'm only human. But what people do to me for personal gain…like Snape trying to bully me with reminders I'm just like my father, or even you when we duel…it does hurt, I take damage. It just doesn't hurt me in the way you want it to."

"The reality of it circles us back to what Snape said…how have I lived this long with the mindset I have? That's the point. I have made it this far in life because I've faced everything thrown at me. Every fight, every injury, every situation, every fear…I have faced it all and I have survived." Harry stated.

"I have two sayings that make up my mindset for how I've lived this long…" the teen informed. "Would you like to know them, Professor? Since it was you who brought up wondering how I survived this far in life believing fear has two definitions?"

"I'm rather curious," Narcissa inquired.

"I made it this far by facing everything, even if it brought me down on my knees or to the brink of death. I didn't give up, I didn't give in…even if it seemed hopeless. I fought back and rose above. Nothing scares me because I fear nothing. Nothing can break me because I use what used to hurt me as armor." Harry explained.

"I'm not saying I wasn't scared at the time, and I'm not saying there won't be new things later down the line…but being afraid doesn't mean you can't fight. And once you win that battle, well…to the victor goes the spoils. You can't live in fear because it doesn't protect you." he continued.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Every battle I've fought, whether against someone else or myself…I fought alone. I survived alone. I didn't have allies. I didn't have any friends. I didn't have help, even when I asked for it. So what do you do when you have no one? You remember how far you've come without anyone, you put on your armor, and you go fight again."

"You fight like it's your last one, win or lose. But you don't just sit there like a duck, and you don't hide. You give it everything you've got, and at the end of it…you can say you did your best, and that you tried. I can live or die knowing that and be happy." Harry shrugged.

"However, for me, it just works out that I haven't lost and on top of living another day, I get to move forward with no regrets and another thing that had been in my way behind me." he paused. "Fear has two meanings. Face Everything and Rise, or Forget Everything and Run. The choice is yours. But I chose the former; I face it and rise."

"You don't see fear as a way to stop you…it's a challenge to overcome it. You turned the word itself into a choice." Narcissa stated. "That's quite ingenious and inspirational, Harry. I'm rather impressed with your outlook on your life and how you handle it. You speak with maturity and wisdom beyond your years."

"My thanks, Lady Malfoy. I'm honored by your words," Harry bowed his head slightly.

"You know who I am?" she said with surprise.

"You're sitting on Malfoy Sr.'s left while Malfoy Jr. is on the right, as is the proper arrangement for high status families. The successor to the lord, or the heir, always sits on the lord's right while the wife and lady of the home takes the left." the teenager informed. "This is consistent with multiple families in the room at present."

"I also saw plenty of pictures while I made my way here, it wasn't hard to figure out. I'm good at reading a room." Harry said calmly. "Now then, can we get back to my original question…? What did you do, Tom?"

"Why do you assume it was me?" Voldemort inquired.

"It's always you when it comes to me getting dragged into places I don't want to be in because you want to kill me." Harry countered. "What did you do this time?"

"I have never dragged you anywhere, Potter. You come to me looking for fights, I've believed thus far you have a death wish." the Dark Lord argued.

"You really don't expect me to believe that, do you?" the teenager arched his brow, giving the man a look that asked clearly, are you serious right now? "I'm adding delusional to my list of things you appear to be." he added. "So it wasn't you who had Barty Crouch Jr., as Alastor Moody, enter my name into the Goblet of Fire so I'd have to take part in the Tri-Wizard Tournament as a fourth competitor?"

"It wasn't you who had Barty get me through the tournament just so I'd win and touch the cup that was a portkey to Little Hangleton so the rat could use his flesh, a bone, and my blood to create that body you're currently using?" Harry asked. "It wasn't you who did all that so you could kill me since you clearly screwed up the first attempt fourteen years ago?"

"That one I'll admit to, Potter."

"And it wasn't you who lured me to the Ministry of Magic last week with false visions that you were torturing Sirius in the Hall of Prophecy so I'd retrieve the stupid orb for you?" Harry glared.

"Fine, I did that too. But the rest and this instance of you being here were not me." Voldemort said firmly.

"Somehow, I don't believe you because your track record shows otherwise! You're obsessed with wanting me dead."

"Yes, I want you dead. You're foretold to destroy me, I'm not letting a teenager stop my take over."

"Merlin…! That is not what is foretold, you damn fool! You don't even know the whole thing, do you?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "No, you don't. Why else would you need me to get the orb from the hall? You want to know how I can destroy you…"

"You touched it so I know you heard it. I will get the information from you, boy…eventually. For now-," the Dark Lord stopped. "Wait. You just said that the prophecy doesn't say that you will destroy me?"

"And that's all I'm gonna tell you, asshole." Harry remarked. "Maybe you can sit down and contemplate that for a while before you go deciding to kill me for something you don't even know the full thing for!" Voldemort stayed quiet for a moment, actually giving the brat's words some thought.

He was right, Voldemort didn't know the whole prophecy and Harry did. That meant the boy knew everything and was telling him that the prophecy isn't what he assumed it was. "Now tell me what the fuck you did to get me here…" Harry demanded.

"Potter, regardless of this year and last…I had nothing to do with you coming here." Voldemort stated in a calm tone. "I realize my word means very little to you, but I swear this…I did not do anything to bring you to the manor. My hands are clean this time. I had other plans being made for our next meeting and battle, but they did not involve you being here."

"Harry, I understand why you immediately accuse the Dark Lord…but we were all with him in that room. I promise you that he did not do anything to summon you to him." Narcissa offered gently.

"You just appeared through the wall." Severus added.

"If you didn't do anything, then how did I get here?" Harry said.

This piqued Voldemort's curiosity as he sat up more. "You did not apparate here?"

"Tom, I am fifteen. I don't even know how to apparate. And even if I knew how and could, it would be illegal. No license." Harry replied. "Not even all that…why would I come here of my own volition, to the snake den? Contrary to your belief, I do not have a death wish. So you tell me why I'd come here on purpose and instigate a fight with you, my enemy? Regardless, I've never even been here before…don't you need to know the destination and be able to see it clearly to apparate to it?"

"Yes. How curious…" Voldemort mentioned. "I did not summon you and you didn't apparate or portkey here. So then how did you wind up here?..."

"I don't know."

"Maybe we're asking the wrong question…" Bellatrix jumped in. "What were you doing before you ended up here, Potter?"

"I was…" Harry trailed off, everything seemed fuzzy. Why couldn't he remember what he was doing before he showed up here. He was at his aunt and uncle's house, outside. "I think I was outside working on the garden…"

"You think?" Snape said with an incredulous tone. "You don't know what you were doing three days ago?"

"Look, it's unclear. Alright? I don't remember what I was doing…I was there one second and here the next. My mind went blank or…maybe it was white?" It annoyed him that he couldn't put everything together, that pieces were missing.

"Did you see anything?" Blaise decided to ask.

"No. I had my glasses on, but I couldn't see anything. It was just…white. Blinding white and ringing in my ears. Anything I might have heard was…distant and muffled."

"What about touch? Did you touch anything suspicious before this happened, or did you feel anything?" Pansy tried now.

"I don't think so…" Harry shook his head.

"Alright…that's enough." Narcissa stood up and moved around the table to get near Harry, then she pulled her wand. Harry flinched back. "Easy, child…I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to run another scan now that you're awake and check you." Harry gave his consent with a nod as Narcissa cast the spell silently and observed the information she received.

"Well, is there irreversible damage to explain this?" Voldemort questioned.

"Everything is normal, no damage. It may just have been the ordeal itself, it was traumatic and that can cause memory loss. Some can lose the whole event, and some can lose important pieces. I have no way of knowing if it will be permanent or temporary." Narcissa concluded as she ended the spell.

"What about Legilimency?" Draco suggested. "Maybe he can't bring it forward, but a mind healer could."

"Anyone skilled in Legilimency could." Severus went to stand. "I could do it, my lord."

"As could I…" Voldemort stood as well. Soon, both of them were on either side of Narcissa, staring intently at Harry. It was extremely unsettling and uncomfortable.

"Well…This has been…" Harry paused for the word. "Interesting. I should probably go as neither me or anyone else has a clue how this happened." he backed up a step or two. "See you around, I suppose? Some of you at school, others…on the battlefield? Unless you're planning to keep me prisoner since I'm here?"

"Now that you mention it," Voldemort started.

"Absolutely not." Narcissa interrupted. "If this was a prisoner of war situation where you kidnapped him intentionally from the school, where he stays, or during a fight…fine. But we don't know how this happened. It would not be fair and I know you, my lord, hate when things are so simple. You look forward to the situations and how they play out…"

"I do love the thrill of the hunt and this was not intentional. I do want to know how it happened, but I assume that won't be possible until Potter remembers." Voldemort muttered. "Go on, leave. It's the only time I'll allow you to go free given the circumstances. But next time…if my followers or I catch you out and capture is possible…"

"You have free reign, it'll be fair. Just know I'll still put up a fight." Harry smirked.

"I look forward to our next encounter, Harry Potter." Voldemort nodded.

"Come along, Harry…I'll lead you out." Narcissa smiled. "If you happen to remember anything and feel like spreading the information to end our own confusion of how this occurred…you can floo or write to me. Narcissa Malfoy. Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire."

"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy." Harry responded.

Narcissa led Harry to the exit of the home and looked back to see the group had followed them. "Severus, since Harry has no portkey nor can he apparate…will you be good enough to take him home?" Narcissa inquired.

"I'll take him, but we'll have to go to headquarters. I was informed there are guards everywhere to watch for him. If I show up at his residence with him when I said I couldn't search…something will ring amiss. I can take him to headquarters and claim I found him in Diagon Alley while I was there at the Apothecary." Severus remarked.

"Do so." Voldemort ordered.

The two of them walked out to the edge of the wards, marked by the golden gate. Severus opened the gate and walked out. Harry, however, couldn't seem to cross the threshold.

"Come on, Potter." Snape told him.

"I'm trying, Snape. I can't cross the gate."

"What do you-Potter, just walk through." Severus remarked, turning around to face the teenager.

Harry gave him a hard stare with narrowed eyes as he tried again to step past the gate and couldn't. It was like there was an invisible barrier he couldn't pass. Severus moved next to Potter and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him through and Severus only found that he passed as far as his hand. The part still connected to Harry would not cross.

Severus tried again with more force. "Ow! Stop trying to force it, Snape. That hurts. Every time my hand touches whatever shield is there, it sends a jolt through me."

The potions master kept trying as Harry let out a yelp of pain before Snape stopped and saw the teen's body go rigid before seemingly limp and weak. Severus saw Harry's eyes rolling in the back of his head and started to go down, so he quickly adjusted to catch the boy in his arms.

Severus was in a crouch, arms holding Potter as the rest of the teen's body was on the ground. Harry was unconscious now as the potions master looked at the gate, then back at Harry. His mind went over the situation that Harry felt a sharp jolt hit him when forced against the proverbial shield to exit the grounds. Something was wrong and had tied the teen to the manor. Until they figured out what, Potter couldn't leave.

"Severus!" Narcissa was racing out to him as lady-like and graceful as she could manage while being concerned. The others had followed. "What happened?"

"You said he probably still felt pain from his ribs, mother…maybe he strained himself too much?" Draco said.

"No, that's not it…" Severus shifted to pick the boy up in his arms fully, and stood while he faced the group. "We may have a very serious problem on our hands."

Chapter Text

June 27, 1996

The explanation had to wait as Narcissa insisted on getting Harry back inside the manor after he collapsed unconscious at the gates. Lady Malfoy immediately had him set down in the main room on a long couch against the wall before making Severus step back to check the teen over. When she reported back that nothing appeared to be wrong aside from the original injuries still needing a bit more time to heal, Voldemort ordered Severus to explain.

The potions master kept it short and to the point of what occurred. That Harry couldn't seem to cross the manor gates and exit the wards. When Severus tried to pull him through, the teen said something that Severus couldn't make out. The man didn't stop until Harry let out a pained sound, went rigid, then weak before knocking out after Severus caught him.

Suggestions and theories went around the room for a bit, then they had dinner while Harry remained unconscious. Afterwards, Lucius checked over the wards and confirmed nothing was sealed off and that there wasn't anything signaling Harry's magic being tied to the wards. It was confusing, just like the situation with no one knowing how Harry ended up there in the first place.

There just seemed to be no answers. As it got later, and Harry appeared to be out for the night, everyone who didn't live at the manor left. They all promised to return tomorrow and try to figure out what was going on. Narcissa left Harry on the couch, and covered him up with a light blanket after removing his shoes and glasses. Voldemort ordered Nagini, his snake familiar, to stay with the boy overnight.

Now, it was the next day as the residents of the manor were up around 7 am, then had breakfast together before forming back up in the main living room. By 11 am, the others returned and everyone spoke more on what exactly was going on. They were aiming to create a timeline of events they knew and then theories of what might have happened.

Nothing could be solidified without the boy's memories of what happened on his side before he arrived at the manor.

"I dislike the idea immensely of probing his mind for only a chance at possible answers to the situation…" Narcissa began firmly. "But I understand that it might be the only way to find even one clue of what happened and what is going on." she gave a resigned sigh.

"I'll do it," Voldemort stated.

"I don't think you should, my lord." Severus advised.

"Why ever not?"

"The boy has reported a burning or searing pain targeted at his scar when you're in his mind." Severus reported. "I worked with him last year on Occlumency after the incident with Arthur being attacked while on guard at the Ministry by Nagini…he couldn't block me, but I'd be a more familiar presence that doesn't cause him pain."

"Neither one of you will be doing it," Lady Malfoy said in a stern voice. "I saw how uncomfortable Harry became when you two brought up the idea of being in his mind. And while I understand his aversion to the Dark Lord's presence…I wonder why he also didn't like the notion of you, Severus, being in his mind."

"I might not have been gentle about invading his thoughts during lessons. I didn't teach him, for example, the way I taught Draco or the other teenagers before they were marked at initiation." Severus revealed.

"You didn't guide him through the meditation tactics to relax and clear his mind?" Severus shook his head. "You didn't explain that he had to control his emotions? Build barriers? Use a safe-space to hide everything and protect it?" Narcissa questioned.

"No."

"Then what did you teach him?" Bellatrix wondered curiously.

"Nothing. I didn't teach anything. I yelled at him to control his emotions and block me, I taunted him about being like his father." Severus admitted. "I dove deeper each time, no warning. He was exhausted and hurting, he asked for a break and I told him that the Dark Lord wouldn't give him a break while invading his mind."

"You realize you could have damaged his mind, Severus." Voldemort remarked. "I enjoy a good round of torturing someone with Legilimency too, but I wouldn't have gone far or hard enough to destroy his mind. Especially not now that I know he holds the full prophecy."

"Why did the lessons stop?" Lucius wondered.

"When I wouldn't let up and Potter had enough, he pulled his wand and cast Protego the same time I cast Legilimens. It rebounded my spell back on me and he was in my mind…he saw the day Lily and I stopped being friends because of his father's bullying with his friends…" Severus paused. "I forced him out of my mind and then I threw him out of my office. Dumbledore asked me to try again, and I refused." the man added.

Narcissa sighed with her eyes closed. "I love you dearly, Severus. You know I do, it's why Lucius and I chose you as Draco's godfather…but Mr. Potter was correct yesterday when he called you out as a bully. I understand how closely he resembles James and perhaps has some of his adventurous behavior and knack for getting into trouble that Dumbledore clearly overlooks…"

"But he is not his father, Severus. Trust me. If you look hard enough, you'd see he's not James other than looks. You have to remember he's not just James's son, he's Lily's too and let me tell you firsthand…Harry is so much like his mother. I saw it over those three years living as a rat. I saw it yesterday when he essentially warned you not to push him. That was Lily." Peter informed. "He gave you the eyes."

"What eyes?" Voldemort inquired now.

"The one thing that all five, meaning James, Sirius, Remus, Severus, and myself, knew about Lily…was that she had a look she gave when she was angry. It didn't matter how angry, but she had a look in her eyes." Peter began.

"We knew it meant she would snap and dish out a scolding we wouldn't soon forget. She had a way of making you feel small with her gaze and words." Severus recalled fondly.

"She had a sharp tongue that made you take a seat and question your decisions. You felt her magic crack like lightning. And the sarcasm was next level. And she didn't just do it with us…she did it to anyone who got on her bad side. But only the five of us knew the look and what it meant." Peter added.

"Others didn't. They'd watch us back away and wonder what we were afraid of and then they found out the hard way. No, you did not get on Lily's bad side. Girl had a bloody good punch." Severus said.

"Forget the punch, she could hurt you with anything she grabbed. The woman might have been skinny and short, but she was smart and fierce. She'd never admit to the occasional slip of a dark threat or warning though." Peter chuckled.

"Indeed." Severus agreed with a nod.

"I don't think we've seen it yet, Severus…but I promise you that Harry is his mother's son. He keeps it a little more underwraps than Lily did, and he does have the patience of a saint…but if you push him…" Peter paused. "I saw the eyes and I sank farther down in my seat. I'm shocked you didn't see them."

"Remember that we grew up with Lily, we knew what she was capable of because we saw everything develop…we don't know Harry. I don't think anyone truly knows him because he was hidden away for ten years. We didn't see him develop, what shaped him into who he is today. And we have no idea how powerful he is either." the rat animagus mentioned.

"But I remind you that he produced a fully formed corporeal patronus at the age of thirteen. You might not have seen it, but I did…I saw that kid fend off a hoard of Dementors by himself, and the charm formed in a way I've never seen or heard of it being cast before." Peter informed.

"I don't know how, but I can tell you that the amount of magic it took to produce and hold should not have been possible for a thirteen year old. It actually should have drained his core…" he paused. "But it didn't. So Merlin only knows the true strength he possesses, and it may not even show until he's seventeen. So think about that…the power he's already shown versus what we haven't seen yet."

"I believe Peter's point is to drop the grudge before you find yourself down the wrong end of Harry Potter's anger because it's clear he inherited more than his mother's eye color and you aren't prepared to handle the boy if he shows you how like Lily he is." Lucius commented.

"I actually believe that the point is for none of us to be underestimating him." Narcissa remarked. "Not even you, my lord. Peter is right…Harry has performed some great feats of magic quite young and doesn't reach magical maturity for another year or so. We don't know anything about him other than his name, was hidden away and raised by muggles for ten years, famous for surviving the killing curse as a baby, and being viewed as the chosen savior who will rid the world of you."

"You make a fair argument…but I already anticipated backing off to study my opponent. I have not forgotten what he said yesterday about the prophecy not foretelling my destruction by him." Voldemort stroked the top of Nagini's head as she laid somewhat over his legs. "He's right, I don't know the whole thing. It's why I wanted it…but the prophecy orb was destroyed and I very much doubt Dumbledore will reveal such to me."

"When he awakens, as he will not consent to either you, my lord, or Severus being in his mind…I will see if he'll let me. I won't force him, and neither will you two. If he's truly tied to the manor somehow, then he may be stuck here a while. It wouldn't be wise to continue as enemies if we're inhabiting the same space." Narcissa revealed.

"You expect me to call off the war?" the Dark Lord narrowed his red eyes at her.

"Even if you did, Dumbledore won't." Severus offered. "He knew you weren't gone after that night and he's been saying right along that we must do everything to protect the boy because he's the Light's only hope of vanquishing you for good."

"Sounds like he only sees the boy as the final piece to win at Wizard's chess." Rabastan commented.

"A weapon." Lorena Crabbe, Vincent's mother, said softly.

"Is this your way of suggesting I actually take the boy prisoner and mold him to our side?" Voldemort glared.

"No. No one is saying anything of the sort…though I do agree with Lorena, it sounds like Dumbledore only cares about the war that he's sending a child to fight in and win," Narcissa paused. "My lord, I am simply suggesting, and only if Harry ends up being stuck here, that for the time he's trapped here…there's a truce in place on both sides."

"You know as well as I that if he gets stuck here, we'll have to reveal his location before the Ministry sends out legal raids and destroys homes. If Harry is tied to the manor and they try to force him out, they could kill him. There will be more of this…" Narcissa motions to unconscious Harry.

"It looks better on us to reveal him and explain the situation than to try and hide the boy." Lucius agreed with his wife.

"And we could always make them swear to uphold the temporary truce. No one getting dragged back to Azkaban, no one fighting. We put the war on hold as a show of good faith that this wasn't intentional and we don't know what happened for him to end up here…" Lydia Zabini suggested.

"Dumbledore won't risk the boy's life if I force them to agree…" Voldemort gave the idea some thought. "Lucius, draw up a drafted contract with general but fair terms that are open for negotiation. We'll only use it to be signed by myself for the dark, and whoever has taken the post of Minister of Magic after Fudge's removal, if the boy cannot leave the grounds, it will be in effect until we figure out how to set him free."

"I will get started on it immediately following the pending outcome of if the boy is indeed stuck here or not. And I believe it is former Head Auror, Rufus Scrimgeour, who was elected Minister." Lucius informed.

"Very well." Voldemort nodded. He detested the idea of a truce, but the argument was fair and it may give him time to figure out the boy. It should be cut and dry, but after listening to Peter and Severus speak about Lily and Harry being her son, plus learning that Potter apparently performed a difficult charm at only thirteen and having enough power behind it to alter its set casted ways, and that it should have drained the kid…

The Dark Lord could not refute Narcissa's words that Potter was powerful and had been throughout his younger years. The boy's magic would grow stronger until he turned seventeen, then he'd start branching out to learn more and test his limits or break through them just as Voldemort did. It was intriguing how similar they were and perhaps the boy would see it too.

It was slim. So very slim of a chance that Potter saw where he'd thrive. But there was a chance of this entire ordeal working out in the Dark Lord's favor with the Light losing their weapon. However, more than that, Voldemort took notice of the boy's behavior. There was something about him that made Voldemort curious. Not just in magical strength, but everything.

Potter seemed different from past encounters. Something changed and Voldemort wanted to know what it was. The best way was being close and observing. If the boy was stuck at the manor and with a truce in place, Voldemort would have that opportunity, he just had to be careful because Peter made a good point; Potter was an unknown variable in the war. Between light and dark, neither side knew the boy's full potential or whatever had changed with him.

. . .

It was just after lunch when Harry began to finally regain consciousness. Surprisingly, the teenager was a quiet person when he woke up. No groaning or real movement besides the few tries it took to open his eyes and stare up at the ceiling for a moment or two. The boy began to work his way to sitting up but stopped when Nagini seemed to slither closer and raise her head to be level with Harry's. The teen instinctively reached for his glasses and slipped them on, then blinked to reset his eyes.

"Uh…hi there…" He greeted the snake. "Can I help you?"

Nagini flicked her tongue at Harry, then surged forward without warning to boop his nose. "Nagini, leave the boy be." Voldemort ordered.

~Why can't I greet the new hatchling of the nest the way I do you?~

"Because Potter isn't used to you, nor probably appreciate waking up with a twelve-foot venomous snake in his face, I'm certain." the Dark Lord stated. "Did you just call him a new hatchling of the nest?" he questioned after a moment. Nagini nodded her head once. "Nagini, he's not new, nor even a snake. You can't call him a hatchling."

~He didn't deny it so he accepted being my hatchling.~ Nagini hissed back.

Harry had heard everything, but it appeared that everyone forgot he was a Parselmouth. He actually wanted to grin or smirk at the small banter, but then it would out him and he certainly wasn't about to make it known unless necessary. For now, he needed to get out of here. "Right. I actually don't mind snakes, favorite reptile actually. She's fine, Tom." a pause as he pulled the blanket off and swung his legs over the couch. "So…what exactly happened? All I remember is feeling jolts and going out." Harry asked.

"You have way too much energy to just wake up and get moving, Potter…" Pansy mentioned.

"What do you mean? I'm awake. Why wouldn't I get up?" Harry glanced over at her.

"Most people wake up and lay there willing their bodies to get moving and start the day." Blaise explained. "She's trying to figure out how you just get up and go."

"Oh." The teen shrugged. "It's what I'm used to doing I guess. Habit. Now, what happened?"

"You were unable to cross the gate wards." Severus reminded. "When I tried to pull you through with me, it seemed to shock you and send you into an unconscious state."

"Yes, the jolts I told you kept going through me that hurt." Harry narrowed his eyes slightly. It was unclear if he was angry or annoyed. "But I'm used to you not listening or caring, so I wasn't all that surprised."

Something about that comment made Severus's eyes widen slightly and the man looked over at Peter, who mouthed, Lily's Boy, with a grin. "We aren't sure why you couldn't leave the wards. Lucius checked them over and they're operating correctly. We think something has you tied here, but nothing can be seen that proves that." Narcissa interjected before Severus got a reminder that Lily lived on through her son.

"What would tie me here but not show that I am?" Harry asked.

"We don't know, dear. We can't see anything to confirm that's what is happening, but it is the only thing that can explain you being unable to cross the wards." Narcissa informed. "Everyone else can."

"Is that gate the only way out?" Harry wondered.

"No. You can exit the grounds anywhere as long as you know where the wards end. But the gate is the easiest option for entry and exit. I can control the wards at one point rather than multiple and risk creating weak spots. From the gate, I can set the protection strength to what I need it for." Lucius told the teenager, assuming that he didn't know a vast amount regarding wards.

"Meaning he controls, as lord of the manor, who comes in and out. Some people are already warded in and he doesn't have to do anything. Others, like you, would be a guest and he would have to adjust them to allow someone new in or out." Blaise offered Harry an easier explanation.

"I wonder if it's anything to do with Potter being dragged through the wards when they were set to normal." Gregory Goyle Sr. suggested.

"It's possible that him being forced through the wards without being let in or added to them might have created a link, but if there is one…I cannot see it in the wards. Even if I dropped them entirely, I don't believe Potter will be able to leave. And I don't find it wise to test things again lest he be shocked and thrown unconscious." Lucius said.

"I agree. It's not good to keep putting your body under such distress…it's clear that magic is at work and fighting against it will have negative results on a developing core." Voldemort enlightened. "The question is what kind of magic would bring the boy here and then refuse to let him leave."

"We already said that it wasn't your ritual nor anything he did, my lord." Bellatrix reminded.

"Technically, we did not clear the boy of something happening to bring him here." Rodolphus scoffed. "He can't remember anything about what happened."

"I couldn't have done anything to trigger this. I didn't even have my wand on me…" Harry retorted. "Even if I did, the Ministry would have flagged me for using magic while underage."

"You can use magic while underage, there's ways to avoid being caught on the trace." Draco folded his arms over one another.

"Pure-bloods and some half-bloods raised in full wizarding homes or magical only neighborhoods can perform underage magic because the trace can't detect who performed the spell nor a set location." Lucius corrected his son. "The trace only gives them a range in which the magic was performed, and it can't reveal the minor in question."

"But Potter lives in a muggle neighborhood and with muggles. It's too easy for the Ministry to trace the one underage wizard within the range provided." Severus informed. "The Ministry also gives the pure-bloods some leeway given the traditions of parents teaching their kids a pre-magic school education before they turn eleven."

Harry rolled his eyes, clearly saying that the world was ridiculously unfair, biased, and extremely divided. "Moving on…as I said yesterday," he paused, taking a breath, "I did not have my wand, I don't know how to apparate and even if I had either…I've never been here."

"I pride myself on always having an answer or finding a way," Voldemort began. "But I confess this is not something I'm familiar with. Nothing about the situations presented make any sense."

"Well, if even the all powerful Dark Lord Voldemort can't figure this out then it's a true mystery and I'm stuck here…" Harry sighed heavily, flopping back on the couch with his arms folded over one another. "Why does this stuff always happen, but only to me…"

Nagini slithered over and up the arm of the couch and hung herself around Harry's shoulders with part of her body across his lap. Nagini flicked her tongue at his nose then pressed her forehead to his before making a loop around his neck lightly to rest her head on his shoulder. Potter didn't seem put off by it, Voldemort noted silently. Nagini had called the boy her hatchling earlier and obviously picked up on his emotions. The teen wasn't mad…he was upset, and Nagini was trying to comfort him.

Chapter Text

June 27, 1996

A few things happened after Harry's comment that if Voldemort himself couldn't make sense of what was happening, then the teen was screwed and stuck at the manor until something gave them a clue or direction to be looking in. Harry remained on the couch with Nagini, who was attempting to comfort the boy and the teen managed to drift off back to sleep. Narcissa had said to leave him as this was a lot to sit with and sometimes sleeping put the mind to rest long enough to process it all.

Voldemort gave Lucius the order to draw up that contract for a temporary truce, date to end pending when Harry would be able to exit the manor wards. It would outline basic rules and requirements with room to negotiate, which Voldemort would only do with the Minister of Magic. It was agreed that Dumbledore would make outrageous demands to ensure Harry's safety, and the Dark Lord simply refused to deal with that.

There were small discussions of more theories that may have caused Harry to appear at the manor, and now be tethered to it for an undetermined amount of time. Still, no one came up with anything that would make any sense of it. Other talks were in regards to setting Harry up to be there for however long it would take before he could leave.

"I won't have him on the couch or in the infirmary for his duration," Narcissa said firmly. "There are multiple wings and rooms available he can use temporarily."

"No one was suggesting such, my dear." Lucius assured. "We're merely debating on what wing and room to put him in. He'll have to be up in the West Wing."

"Isn't that for guests?" Bellatrix questioned. She received several confused looks about her statement suggesting that Potter wasn't a guest. "I worded that wrong. I meant to say that the guest wing is filled, isn't it?"

"It shouldn't be. The only residents are Narcissa, Draco, the Lestrange brothers, the Dark Lord, you, and myself, Bella." Lucius said.

"You're forgetting the news brought this morning when everyone came over, Lucy." Bellatrix paused. Lord Malfoy witheld from making a face at his sister-in-law's nickname for him.

"Bella is right." Lorena jumped in now. "Now that the Ministry is acknowledging our lord's return, they're cracking down on finding his Death Eaters to weaken his forces to fight the war with."

"We came this morning seeking safety for our families," Sorrel Parkison reminded.

"All assumed followers who claimed Imperious, or known Death Eaters who fled during the prison break from the first war are being hunted or investigated. They're taking their sweet time, of course, but it's not something those of us who have families want to subject our children to." Lydia mentioned.

"We offered them sanctuary here, dearest, until it's safe for them to go home. And also to those who escaped Azkaban last year that can't go home due to having their properties monitored." Narcissa stated.

"And Uncle Sev stays here over the summer too because we have a bigger lab for him to work in to brew all his potions for personal store or the Hogwarts Infirmary." Draco added.

"There should still be plenty of space." Lucius assured. "We might just have to do some rearranging."

"Some of us could share too." Theo suggested. "We do it at Hogwarts for nine months, right? Draco keeps his own room, obviously. But Blaise, Greg, Vin, and I can share a room."

"Theo's right," Daphne Greengrass spoke. "Pansy, my little sister, and I can share too."

"And married couples share too. That would be Greengrass, Parkinson, Goyle, Crabbe, and Lestrange." Narcissa paused.

"Some of us can double or triple up like the teens will be." Theodore Sr. offered. "I know the family lines with a senior and a junior in them can split off and share. It's not like we didn't all attend school together around the same times."

"So then it is settled?" Lydia inquired. "There will be dorm arrangements to save space?"

"With the exception of the Dark Lord, Draco, Lydia, Severus, and now Harry…Everyone else will keep it to no more than four per room. Lucius can always alter rooms to accommodate multiple people. And there will be no fighting among roommates." Narcissa said firmly. "You arrange yourselves to room with those you can live with without problems."

"Now, why doesn't everyone work all that out amongst yourselves and get settled. There will be less confusion if this is done in sections and hopefully, finished by dinner?" Voldemort suggested. "Narcissa," she looked at her lord. "How long do you intend to let him sleep?" he pointed to Harry.

"I will wake him for dinner if he does not beforehand on his own. I gave him a high-dose nutrient potion once a day while he was out, but we all know that isn't an appropriate substitute for actual food. And he hasn't eaten anything yesterday or today…honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned being hungry yet." Narcissa admitted.

"Appetite can be affected by stress, Narcissa." Severus told her. "There's been a lot of that brought on by confusions of the situation involving how he got here and why he's now stuck here."

"Things will readjust as he acclimates to his temporary new normal." Lucius assured his wife. "There's no reason to go mother hen on the boy." he chuckled. "He said it himself yesterday…he's made it this far and survived on his own. I'm certain he knows what he needs and when he needs it better than any of us."

Narcissa nodded, agreeing with her husband's words. Yet still, there was something she couldn't quite put her finger on regarding the teenager. Voldemort briefly skated over the woman's thoughts of worry but couldn't quite pin down what was causing it. Voldemort understood because he felt the same. There was something that he noticed but couldn't name. He just knew something was up.

. . .

The next few hours, Harry slept peacefully. The teen didn't move much except a head turn or two, and Nagini remained with him the entire time. She informed her master that the boy was still recovering from the sudden transport and harsh arrival from where he was to the manor, and Voldemort understood that it meant Harry's body still took a beating despite being healed, and whatever this was also affected his magic. Staying relaxed or sleeping were the best ways to replenish magic and energy stores.

Everyone else sorted out their roommates, picked from the available rooms, and made necessary trips to and from the manor to bring the things they'd need and settle into their temporary residence. When dinner was upon them, Narcissa gently woke Harry and told him it was almost time to eat. She called an elf to show Harry to the bathroom so he could freshen up a bit and change clothes that Blaise provided as they were older and hardly worn anymore. The clothes were magically adjusted to better fit Harry.

The teenager went off with the elf to the nearest full bathroom in the manor and quickly got himself cleaned up and changed into the new clothes. After exiting from there, the elf guided Harry to the outside terrace dining area. It wasn't dark yet, or cold, so why not be outside. Harry did love the outdoors, it gave a small sense of freedom. It's why he always left his aunt and uncle's house at least once a week.

"There you are, Harry. Come, come. Don't be shy, sweetheart." Narcissa linked her arm to his and brought him closer to the table. The one empty space, assumingly for him, was on Voldemort's right. Not awkward at all. "We placed you next to our lord. Forgive me, but there are-,"

"Proper seating arrangements during large-gathering meals." Harry cut in and finished her sentence gently, but in a resigned voice.

"Yes…precisely that." Narcissa was surprised that Harry knew such customs. Hadn't he been muggle-raised? Draco mentioned on more than one occasion in his complaining of Harry Potter that the boy knew nothing of wizarding anything besides being a wizard and what happened to his parents.

"I'm surprised you knew that, Potter." Draco remarked. "You seem so oblivious."

Harry took his seat and Narcissa returned to her between Lucius and Draco, "And you're just like everyone else."

"What's that supposed to mean?" the blonde teenager snapped.

Harry gave no reaction to Draco's anger towards him, and leveled him with a calm stare, clearly not taking the bait for a fight. "You assumed."

Malfoy Jr.'s eyes widened slightly. "That's even more confusing! Explain!"

Harry chuckled. "That would defeat the purpose of you and everyone else needing to learn a very important lesson."

"Oh, I like working these things out!" Astoria Greengrass beamed.

"Best of luck to you, Miss. Greengrass." Harry responded with a smile. "In the last six years, only three people have managed to do that. I do admire your enthusiasm, however." Astoria giggled and Harry glanced around the table.

There were new faces among the group of people he'd seen since yesterday, or even earlier before he fell asleep. "So is it just me or are there more people here than earlier? Or do you do, like, daily Death Eater meetings. I think that goes against some kind of overworking your employees law…are they employees? Do you pay them?"

The question was aimed at Voldemort, and while more than a few were internally snickering at Harry's sarcasm…none of them would dare laugh aloud. The Dark Lord was still how he'd always been with his followers. He expected full loyalty and respect or there would be punishment and possibly death involved.

"No, Harry. There aren't daily Death Eater gatherings." Narcissa informed. "Lucius and I are opening our home to those who cannot return to their own for matters of safety."

"Mrs. Malfoy, you don't have to explain it as if you were talking to a young child who might not understand." Harry replied. "I am nearly sixteen, I can handle being told point blank that the Ministry of Magic is finally aware that Voldemort is back and they're going after anyone previously assumed to be associated with him or those who escaped during the breakout at the start of the year,"

"And that everyone who escaped cannot go home because they'll be recaptured on sight, and those assumed to be associated have families who don't want to put their wives or children through the stress or mess of a full on raid or questioning." the teen added after a short pause. "The manor is being used as both a safehouse and base of operations until Tom can seize control of the Ministry of Magic and overpower the other side into submission."

Multiple people blinked. "How do you know my plans?" Voldemort asked.

"It's war, Tom. It's classic good versus evil, or light versus dark. Both sides want to win and only one will depending on a multitude of factors that get added in as you go to make informed decisions about your next move. It's the basic strategic and tactical approach." Harry sat back and folded his arms over one another.

"They make a move, you make a move. The current is them accepting you are back and wanting to diminish your following at a chance to have the upperhand. Divide and Conquer. Your move is everyone in one place, eyes on everything to be well prepared for an attack and everyone has someone watching their backs. Stick Together, Fight Together, Win Together. It's a real life version of Wizard's Chess, not rocket-science."

"What are you? Or were you, Potter? A war chief in a past life?" Daphne inquired.

"Who knows, maybe. I'm not concerned about what or who I was in a past life. I'm in this life and trying to do what I have been doing for as long as I can remember…stay alive." Harry stated. "Either way, back to the initial topic…there are, in fact, new faces in the room that I haven't seen since I came here?"

"Yes, Potter." Voldemort sighed. "I'm certain Narcissa can introduce you later, or they can introduce themselves."

"There will be ample time after dinner and getting you settled into your room to do all that." Lucius stated as he tapped his cane on the floor twice and the elves began to appear with trays holding full plates of food to set down in front of the diners.

"My room?" the teenager questioned.

"Of course, Harry. There's plenty of room, and I won't have you sleeping in my healer chambers or on the couch for the duration of your stay." Narcissa smiled. "I'll take you there after dinner ends, and assign an elf to help you get acclimated to the manor until you can navigate it yourself."

"Th-That's not necessary…I could just call Dobby. He's still a free elf, but he comes when summoned and is eager to help." Harry offered.

"If he comes when you call despite being free, as you claim, then he's your bonded elf, Potter." Blaise mentioned. "All elves who serve wizards, witches, and their families are held to such with a serving and loyalty bond."

"We know how it sounds put like that, as if they're slaves…and there are some people who use their elves in that way. As slaves where they are mistreated; it's not right, of course." Astoria began to explain. "But elves need the bond to survive."

"They'll still die of old age as will any living being," Pansy took over. "But free elves start to lose their magic and weaken, age faster. This is actually one of the reasons that a lot of people at school, including the Hogwarts elves, keep rejecting Granger's S.P.E.W motion. If people supported it, started finding ways to free elves from what she thinks is them being forced to work…"

"It'd be genocide, Potter." Draco huffed. "One of the reasons I disliked you so much was because you freed Dobby from our family. I know father mistreated him, but mother and I didn't. I've known Dobby since I was a baby…I didn't want him to die."

"Alright, fair. I didn't know all that. I didn't agree with Hermione's idea either because I told her that the elves at Hogwarts weren't mistreated like Dobby had been by Mr. Malfoy…but I didn't know they needed to be bound to a family." Harry admitted.

"It's not your fault you're uneducated to a lot of these things, Potter." Bellatrix remarked. "It's, regrettably, a large problem with muggle-borns and muggle-raised half-bloods. They don't get the same upbringing as magically-raised half-bloods and pure-bloods."

"We grew up in this world, taught at the earliest age to understand the basics of it. As we get older and until we go to Hogwarts, we learn from private tutors or our parents on heritage, status, rules, customs, traditions…" Daphne informed.

"But back on the matter at hand…if the elf comes whenever you call, he likely bonded himself to you after you freed him from Lucius." Voldemort said.

"Can I call him then? He could bring me some stuff from my aunt's house…not that I don't appreciate the set you've lent me, Zabini, but it's not really my style."

"No offense taken, Potter. We all like what we like." Blaise retorted, but not hatefully.

"Give him a call, Potter. I'll alter the wards for him to pass though. I probably don't have to as he used to be bonded here, the wards will likely recognize him on their own. Elf magic differs from our own…" Lucius commented.

Harry nodded. "Dobby!" Nothing. "Well…that's a first."

"No, he's here." Lucius informed. "I felt when he made contact with the wards."

"But that's not right, Lucius. If you altered the wards for entry, and Dobby is a former Malfoy elf…he should be able to pass to get to his bonded master. All the other elves belonging to families that came here could do it." Narcissa seemed concerned.

"It is extremely odd and curious." Voldemort replied. "The elf in question, I believe, is right there." he pointed to the elf at the ward line for the backyard. Harry shifted to look past Voldemort and sure enough, it was Dobby. When the elf saw Harry, he smiled wide and bounced excitedly to see him.

"Dobby!" Harry got out of his seat and hurried to the edge of the wards.

"Dobby is so pleased to see Harry Potter again! Dobby be called to save his friend? Phoenix lighters told Dobby you vanished from yous wards. Asked for Dobby's help to find his friend…" the elf looked down. "Dobby could not. Magic not allow Dobby to find til summoned like now!"

Harry went to put his hand out for Dobby when Draco called out, "Potter! No, don't touch the w-,"

Too late. Harry's hand connected with the wards and it sent a sharp jolt through him starting at the hand that touched. The shock and force knocked him backwards and he landed on his side. His not completely healed ribs on that side made their dislike of his stupidity known. Harry hissed in pain, groaning as he tried to get up and failed.

There was protest from his back and wrist next. "You fool," Severus got beside him first to ease him back down. "You knew not to touch the wards because it caused you pain. I suspect the response becomes harsher with each attempt. Stay down before you injure yourself further, Potter."

"Severus, if you'd like to do something helpful…stop insulting him and get your potions bag." Immediately, Narcissa was beside to check over him. "Lie still and let me scan you." Not arguing with the witch, Harry did as he was told while she waved her wand over his figure. "Nothing new except some bruising on your back and that burn on your hand, nothing a little salve won't fix overnight…"

She paused. "But this did put the recovery of your ribs and ribs back longer," Severus said nothing as he pulled out what he knew she'd need while she was performing the spells to clean the burn out and reset his wrist to wrap it. The salve for his burn was next, and more wrapping. Then a pain reliever potion and quick application of the bruise paste on his back.

"Dobby doesn't understand…" the creature frowned, looking at Harry. "Wards don't harm inside unless a prisoner leaves. But Dobby sees his friend not held unwillingly…"

Narcissa looked over at Dobby now, giving him a small but weak smile. "We know Dobby. Harry isn't here as a prisoner. We don't know how he ended up here and only just learned yesterday that the wards aren't letting him leave…we had hoped you'd be able to come through and be able to serve Harry for the time he's here."

Dobby looked at the wards from where he was, turning his head up, down, left and right as if surveying them closely. "Dobby has…seen this before."

"You have?" Voldemort spoke first, now standing with the small group. Dobby flinched, but nodded. "Speak!" he ordered.

"Dobby can't remember, Mr. Dark Snake…long years passed, but Dobby knows he's seen this." Dobby paused, trying to recall it. "Wizard magic blocks elf magic from getting to them, so they can't interfere…"

"Wait. Wait…Dobby's right. I have seen something like this before." Draco sat straight now, trying to think. Finally, he looked up. "Potter can't leave, gets zapped if he tries to fight against the wards, and his bonded elf can't cross to get to him. I should have realized it right away as I've been under it too! This is a time-out spell!"

While everyone else seemed to be understanding and nodding in agreement to the answer they'd been wondering how Harry couldn't leave the manor…Harry himself just sat there on the ground, eyes wide and blinking in confusion and disbelief. A time-out spell…?