Deliver us to evil, for ours is the kingdom

Title: Deliver us to evil, for ours is the kingdom Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don’t own any part of Harry Potter (mores the pity!)
Author: MelodyofChoas
Pairing: Harry/Tom Riddle,
Warnings: Dark! Harry fic, violence,

Big thanks to my wonderful beta, Amanda Saitou

I love reviews. coughhintcough.

SMASH! THUD! BANG! Draco fumed silently, throwing highly expensive knick-knacks across his lavishly furnished bedroom. As soon as his bedroom door was opened, Draco turned and threw the tasteless paperweight (It had been a present, a hated one at that) at the unfortunate person. “DRACO MALFOY! CEASE THIS CHILDISH BEHAVIOUR NOW!” Lucius roared from the doorway, having been narrowly missed by the paperweight. Draco jumped, and upon realising he had almost hit his father, instantly looked contrite. “I’m sorry” Draco mumbled.

His father sighed, and opened his arms, a sign that he was already on his way to being forgiven. He didn’t hesitate to cross the room and hug his father. He had always felt loved and safe with his dad. Narcissa had never been part of his family, his father had been forced to marry her, he actually hated her. Draco was well aware that the only person who hated Narcissa more than Lucius was Severus Snape. His father hated having to act the perfect husband in public. Draco couldn’t blame him, and was thankful every time that he wouldn’t be subjected to the same thing. “I have some good news, my Dragon” His father murmured, speaking directly into Draco’s ear,

Draco sighed though, knowing he would have to let go of his dad, standing on his tip-toes wasn’t comfortable for long. “What, father? I am sorry for my childish outburst, you know” Draco said, as he let go and took a small step backwards. Lucius smiled brightly at his son. “I know, Dragon, it’s fine. Our Lord has had me take over the Defence against the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts.” Lucius grinned, as comprehension set in on his son’s face.

“You’re coming to Hogwarts? With me?” Draco yelled happily, all anger from before completely forgotten. “Yes, I’ll be going to Hogwarts with you”. Draco yipped happily before hugging his dad again.

Harry’s eyes flew open, as he was released from his horrible nightmare. This was one of the worse ones; a small, dark haired boy, being hit continuously by several larger boys, with the leader holding the little boy’s teddy out of his reach. The small child was crying. It touched a nerve, having being picked on by his relatives, and bullied by Dudley and his gang. He tried to shake off the awful feelings that lingered after it was over.

“Nightmare, my dear boy?” Dumbledore asked politely as he walked into the infirmary. Harry knew what he really asking. Had it been a vision?

“I’m fine, Professor, just your bog-standard bad dream” Harry gave a tight smile. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this dream than he thought.

“And how are you feeling now? If you feel up to it, I’d like to discuss what happened at your relatives.” Dumbledore smiled at his young charge.

“I feel fine, Professor. There isn’t that much to talk about, really” Harry said, wearily looking the Headmaster. Surely the wisest wizard in the Wizarding world couldn’t be this dense?

“Oh, I am almost certain on what happened, but I have heard it is beneficial in these situations to discuss what has happened” He explained, blue eyes twinkling. Harry hated that twinkle, usually meant he was up to something.

“No, Professor, really I’m fine, just tired.”

“Of course, my dear boy, I’ll take my leave and you can get some rest.” Dumbledore stood up, and with a last smile to Harry, turned and left the infirmary.

Harry had no intention of getting any more rest. He remembered what happened, and his previous conversation with the Headmaster confirmed that he had not sent Snape to save him. And Harry very much doubted Snape had saved him without being told too. That left Harry with the burning question: if Dumbledore hadn’t sent him, who had?

Down his chambers in the dungeons, Snape awoke with a start. A burning pain was now shooting through his body, his Lord was calling him. He swung his legs out of bed and hastened to pull in his typical black robes, before hurrying out of the castle to where the anti-apparition ended. And then, with a crack, Snape apparated away.

“Severus.” His name was hissed as soon he reappeared in his Lord’s presence. He bowed low.

“My Lord” He replied.

“What has become of our young Mr Potter?” Voldemort hissed, anger colouring his tone.

“Safe, and to my knowledge, completely healed.” Severus answered carefully, not wanting his Lord’s wrath directed at him.

“Excellent. And what of the meddling old coot?” Severus held in a laugh at his Lord’s name for Dumbledore, it was the same as his own name for Dumbledore.

“I am almost certain he knew of the abuse Potter suffered, yet did nothing for the boy.”

“Interesting.” Voldemort mused. “Interesting that he would allow the Golden boy to suffer such horrible home conditions.”

“Perhaps it is another way for Dumbledore to keep his control over the boy” Severus voiced his idea out loud.

“Very possible, Severus, he will certainly need to increase his control over Potter as the boy grows older.”

“After all, My Lord, it wouldn’t do for Potter to discover he is little more than Dumbledore’s weapon in this war.” Severus said, his Lord smirking as he heard the unsaid plan in Severus’ words.

Severus continued. “Perhaps, My Lord, it is time for Potter to realise his role in this war”. Voldemort smirked, and with a nod, the plan was set into motion. Severus was dismissed with a wave of his master’s elegant hand.

Harry was sneaking along a corridor leading to the dungeons, having left the infirmary and stopped by Gryffindor tower to retrieve his father’s cloak. He didn’t bother with the map, there being no prefects or teachers patrolling the corridors looking for rule-breaking students. He had made his mind up in the infirmary, he was going to find Snape, and he wasn’t leaving until he had his answers. However, lost in these thoughts, he didn’t notice the person walking the opposite way, and smacked straight into a black-cloth covered chest.

“Mr Potter! What are you doing wandering the corridors? You should be in the infirmary.” the silky-smooth voice of his Potions Professor said, somewhere above Harry’s head.

“Yes Professor, but I was looking for you”, Harry said, having decided the direct approach would be best.

“Really, Potter? Particular reason?” Snape raised one delicate eyebrow.

“I wanted to say thank you, for you know, err saving me and all.” Harry hesitated slightly on the last part, knowing how many times Snape had saved him. Harry, however, did have the pleasure of seeing his Potions Professor momentarily speechless.

“Quite all right Potter” he managed to get out after getting over his slight shock.

“If you don’t mind me asking, Professor, how did you know I was in trouble? I can’t see you just happening to stroll through Surrey in the middle of the night.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t discuss this here, the walls have ears after all” Snape then changed the subject. “Would you like a cup of tea, Potter?”

“Sure Professor” Harry had quickly picked up on what his Professor was trying to say.

“Follow me then” Snape turned on his heels and walked away. Harry had to jog slightly to keep up with Snape’s long-legged steps.

They soon arrived at Snape’s personal quarters, and with a whispered password that Harry didn‘t catch, the portrait swung open silently, allowing them entrance. “Take a seat, Potter, and touch nothing!” Snape snarled slightly at the last bit, clearly Harry’s ill advised trip into his pensieve was a sore spot for the bad-tempered Professor. Harry nodded and sat on the surprisingly comfortable couch. He looked around the quarters, surprised at the homely feeling, and also the chaos he was surrounded by. However he would bet that Snape knew where everything was. “It is rude to stare you know, Potter” Snape said, a hint of amusement colouring his velvety tones.

“Sorry Professor, I just expected…” Harry began, but was cut off.

“What? Chains and manacles hanging from the walls perhaps? Sorry to disappoint, Potter”

“I was going to say neater, I just expected your living quarters to be like your classroom and potion ingredient stores.”
“You mean organized to the point of obsessive-compulsiveness? Yes, that has been pointed out before.” Severus wondered if Potter knew to the extent that he and the Dark Lord’s senses of humour were the same. He wondered what else they had in common.

“Anyway Professor, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you save me?”

“What I am about to say must never leave these walls, understood Potter?” Snape glared. At Harry’s nod, he continued. “The Dark Lord ordered me to save you from your relatives. Whether you are aware of this or not, I don’t know. But you share a bond with the Dark Lord, I know you receive visions of what he is doing, but he, too, sees things when he sleeps. He saw what your relatives were doing and ordered me to save you, and to let nothing stand in my way. I haven’t seen him that angry for a very long time. I think the abuse touched a sore spot with the Dark Lord.” Snape finished and carefully assessed Potter’s reaction.

“Voldemort ordered you to save me.” Harry repeated. He found it difficult to wrap his head around, the idea of Voldemort doing anything kind or selfless.

“Indeed Potter.”

“Why?” Harry asked, after a moment’s pause.

“I can only guess, you know, I am not exactly privileged to the inner workings of his mind. Do you know anything of the Dark Lord’s past?”

“A little, Dumbledore told me some stuff, and I did some research on him in the library.” Harry replied.

“And you did you research him in the library, Potter? School records are off limits.”

“I know, but you know, thine enemy and all. No one would tell me anything more than what Dumbledore already had.”

Severus snorted. “Indeed Mr Potter indeed. I’ll assume you know the Dark Lord’s real name then. Were you aware he grew up in an orphanage?” Snape asked, his onyx eyes trained on Harry.

“Yes, I am, Dumbledore told me. He told me and I couldn’t help but to compare his horrible childhood to my own” Harry mused, the last part of his sentence said quietly. Snape held his amused reaction, having been thinking something similar earlier himself. Good to know Potter wasn’t as stupid as he had thought. Severus continued to feed Harry the small tidbits of knowledge he held about the Dark Lord’s former existence, such as his outstanding brilliance at school (Harry had snorted and muttered something under his breath about a male version of Granger), although what surprised Potter the most, (and gave himself a good laugh at his expense), was when he told him what the Dark Lord used to look like. All Severus could say was that he hadn’t pegged Potter for being one to take it up the arse. Not that he would mention that to Potter, he had seen the aftermath of the boy’s accidental magic. After that, he and Potter ran out of civil conversation topics, and so Potter left. Severus sighed and began to prepare for bed, hoping he wouldn’t have to get up any time soon.

Harry mulled over everything Snape had just told him, whilst he had know quite a bit of it from snooping through the school records, some of the information was new. Harry blushed slightly remembering his look when Snape described the younger Tom Riddle. Harry had been remembering when he first saw Tom Riddle’s school photo, and if Snape were to be believed, Tom Riddle only got hotter before being consumed by the Dark Arts. Harry growled out loud, cutting of the directions his thoughts had taken, what had been thinking?! Tom Riddle wasn’t attractive, he killed his parents! Harry cringed, imagining his parent’s disappointment in him, as well as Sirius’ and Remus’. He sighed, and pushed the thoughts away. He was tired, he decided, all this was the product of an increasingly sleepy mind. He’d feel better in the morning.

Lucius could practically imagine his son bouncing off the walls with excitement, he almost sniggered at the thought, but pushed it aside to concentrate on his lesson plans. He could also see Draco being completely insufferable with his father there to tell off the Gryffindors. Little did Draco know, he had every intention of being fair to each house; that said, it didn’t mean he couldn’t favour his son, much as Severus did. He smirked, he was rather looking forward to getting that bitch, Parkinson, into several detentions with Filch. Lucius did briefly wonder how his Lord got Dumbledore to accept him as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but assumed that no one competent had applied for the position. Lucius wished he could be there to see the looks on his fellow Professor’s faces when Dumbledore told them the good news. His head jerked up at the knock on the door.
“Come in” he called. His son’s blond head poked around the door. Instantly Lucius scowled. “Draco! Either come in or get out, but don’t hover in the doorway!”

Draco blushed slightly, and walked into his father’s elegant study. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but are you awfully busy, dad?”

“Not really, why Dragon?”

“I’m bored now. I’ve done all my homework, I’m sick of reading, could you come and play Quidditch with me?”

“All right” Lucius said, laying down his expensive peacock quill. He had enough time to enjoy an afternoon with his only son before Severus arrived later that evening.