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The Embrace of Darkness
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Voldemort
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
8
Views:
23,944
Reviews:
116
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Voldemort
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
8
Views:
23,944
Reviews:
116
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: see Chapter 1
Chapter 4
\"...\" speech
\'...\' thoughts
0o...o0 parsletongue
*...* communicating with Cookie
-----
“Dolores, what happened? I had the public in the palm of my hand. Everyone though Potter was some deranged, attention-seeking teen. Now they are all but booting me out of office over this... this fiasco. It’s not even my fault! It’s all Dumbledore’s fault. My predecessor wanted the babe placed with a good, wizarding family. But no, the old fool had to spirit him away to his blasted muggle relatives. What am I going to do?” Fudge sat at his desk, hands threaded through his hair, looking particularly harried. Beside him stood the toad-like, simpering, monstrosity of a witch named Dolores Umbridge. She was fittingly one of Fudge’s toadies. For years she had coveted the position of Minister of Magic. Oh, she didn’t want it for herself, she wanted to be the power behind the figurehead. And she was, with a few others besides.
“You’re going to get through this, Cornelius. You have weathered worse scandals than this. All you have to do is play up to public opinion. You can even maintain that Potter is disturbed if you like, so long as you act appalled by his mistreatment. When the muggles are found guilty – and don’t worry, they will be – aim for the most severe punishment possible; the Kiss even.” She patted him on the shoulder, as if that were meant to comfort him. “Don’t worry, all this will blow over soon. The masses are fickle. Their attention will soon be diverted by some new scandal.”
-----
*Cookie, do you think I played my hand too soon?* Harry dozed in his lumpy hospital bed, still tired from his shouting match with Dumbledore.
*Mayhap a touch too soon, but I understand. He just got under your skin and you had to scratch the itch* Warm comfort flowed from her, with a dash of understanding woven through.
*The media doesn’t know what has happened beyond the basics, do they? What do you think of a press conference? Give them a pity story, make Albus and the Dursleys a little larger than life? I can get back into the good graces of the public this way.*
*It has potential, but a warning or two: don’t over-do the ‘pity me factor’. You want to seem misunderstood and abused, not helpless and weak. Don’t alienate Dumbledore too much yet. He still has uses and he could make life difficult for you.* Motherly concern coloured her words, but Cookie’s advice was sound.
*Alright, I’ll set up a conference for a week after I am released. We can fine tune my story til then. In the mean time, I need some true sleep, Cookie. ‘Night.*
*Sweet dreams, hun.*
-----
Lucius Malfoy exited St. Mungo’s with a slightly faster than normal saunter. The news he carried was important to his Master, and he would undoubtably be rewarded for his delivery of it. As soon as he stepped from the hospital and placed a quick disillusionment charm on himself, and he was Apparating away to the Dark Lord’s current position.
He hastily made his way to the private study of his Master. He knocked on the heavy mahogany door, and received permission to enter. Severus and the Dark Lord sat at ease, sipping aged Scotch with potions books open between them. All the Inner Circle were allowed to be at ease when in private with their Master, so long as proper respect was shown. Despite what many believed, Voldemort was not an unnecessarily cruel master. His followers knew the truth of it, and recruits found out quickly enough. He was an easy enough master, so long as you followed orders. Large amounts of failure, disloyalty, etc were severely punished, hence his use of the Cruciatus on his followers.
“My Lord, I have good news. Potter is not only awake, but showing little to know signs of lasting effects from his injuries, mentally of physically. The Healers have given him a completely clean bill of health. Except for the fact that he is underweight, he is fine.” Lucius stood at ease beside his school time friend, Severus. Both of the other men smiled, though the Potion Master’s was slightly forced.
“Excellent, Lucius. I shall reward you later. Continue monitoring him. As soon as you know his discharge date, alert me. As for now, have a drink and take a seat. Severus was about to explain some recent findings of his.”
The dark man took his cue. “During some leisure reading, I came across an interesting potion that I think will be beneficial to you, my Lord. It is called Corpus Adulescentia, which basically translates to ‘youthful body’. I believe I have found an obscure, 14th century potion capable of restoring you to the body of your youth, My Lord.” Severus smiled at the serpentine man, which was the equivalent of a non-Slytherin bouncing with excitement.
“Well done, Severus. Well done indeed.”
-----
Four days after his chat with Dumbledore, Harry was released from St. Mungo’s. A contingent of Order members was there to greet Harry and act as body guards against the howling paparazzi. They wanted information, and were desperate to know why the Boy-Who-Lived had been hospitalized. Harry met the reporters crowding the hospital entrance head-on. With the Order member surrounding him, Harry raised his hands into the air, calling for silence. Everyone immediately shut up.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please be patient for a few more days. In one week, on July 30th, I will be holding a press conference to address the many questions concerning my recent stay in St. Mungo’s. It shall be held in a private conference room at Gringott’s Wizarding Bank. If you are interested in attending, contact the bank for invitations. Each press institution will be allowed to send two representatives, a reporter and a photographer. Any concerns or questions pertaining to the conference itself may be directed to the bank. That is all.” With that, Harry quickly pulled the hood of his cloak up and swiftly made his exit, Order members trailing behind. He felt a tingle in his scar, which caused him to look up. He immediately met a crimson gaze within a shadowed hood. He vanished into the crowd seconds later, but still it made Harry smile softly. After a quick Side-Along Apparation, Harry stood outside 12 Grimmauld Place.
Harry had prearranged the conference with the bank via letters. The enterprising goblin he remembered from his first time there did everything for him. Griphook, was his name. A number of surprises awaited the reporters, some of which included Harry himself.
Harry quickly brought his mind back to the present as a tall, black man approached him with a parchment in hand. Harry knew that the place was under a Fidelius Charm and the paper had the address in Dumbledore’s hand, yet Harry could already see the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
*Cookie, why doesn’t the Fidelius Charm affect me?*
*Because of our connection. I am magic personified, therefore enchantments do not affect me, and by extension you as well.*
*As I thought, thank you.*
Without bothering to look at the parchment offered him, Harry strode through the door, mindful of the confusion and panic such a move created. As soon as the door opened, Harry was bowled over by a large, dark canine which was energetically licking his face. “Cut it out, Snuffles! You’re getting slobber all over me!” he said with a smile and a laugh. “It’s good to see you too, but could you get off of me please?”
Please review. Thanks.
\"...\" speech
\'...\' thoughts
0o...o0 parsletongue
*...* communicating with Cookie
-----
“Dolores, what happened? I had the public in the palm of my hand. Everyone though Potter was some deranged, attention-seeking teen. Now they are all but booting me out of office over this... this fiasco. It’s not even my fault! It’s all Dumbledore’s fault. My predecessor wanted the babe placed with a good, wizarding family. But no, the old fool had to spirit him away to his blasted muggle relatives. What am I going to do?” Fudge sat at his desk, hands threaded through his hair, looking particularly harried. Beside him stood the toad-like, simpering, monstrosity of a witch named Dolores Umbridge. She was fittingly one of Fudge’s toadies. For years she had coveted the position of Minister of Magic. Oh, she didn’t want it for herself, she wanted to be the power behind the figurehead. And she was, with a few others besides.
“You’re going to get through this, Cornelius. You have weathered worse scandals than this. All you have to do is play up to public opinion. You can even maintain that Potter is disturbed if you like, so long as you act appalled by his mistreatment. When the muggles are found guilty – and don’t worry, they will be – aim for the most severe punishment possible; the Kiss even.” She patted him on the shoulder, as if that were meant to comfort him. “Don’t worry, all this will blow over soon. The masses are fickle. Their attention will soon be diverted by some new scandal.”
-----
*Cookie, do you think I played my hand too soon?* Harry dozed in his lumpy hospital bed, still tired from his shouting match with Dumbledore.
*Mayhap a touch too soon, but I understand. He just got under your skin and you had to scratch the itch* Warm comfort flowed from her, with a dash of understanding woven through.
*The media doesn’t know what has happened beyond the basics, do they? What do you think of a press conference? Give them a pity story, make Albus and the Dursleys a little larger than life? I can get back into the good graces of the public this way.*
*It has potential, but a warning or two: don’t over-do the ‘pity me factor’. You want to seem misunderstood and abused, not helpless and weak. Don’t alienate Dumbledore too much yet. He still has uses and he could make life difficult for you.* Motherly concern coloured her words, but Cookie’s advice was sound.
*Alright, I’ll set up a conference for a week after I am released. We can fine tune my story til then. In the mean time, I need some true sleep, Cookie. ‘Night.*
*Sweet dreams, hun.*
-----
Lucius Malfoy exited St. Mungo’s with a slightly faster than normal saunter. The news he carried was important to his Master, and he would undoubtably be rewarded for his delivery of it. As soon as he stepped from the hospital and placed a quick disillusionment charm on himself, and he was Apparating away to the Dark Lord’s current position.
He hastily made his way to the private study of his Master. He knocked on the heavy mahogany door, and received permission to enter. Severus and the Dark Lord sat at ease, sipping aged Scotch with potions books open between them. All the Inner Circle were allowed to be at ease when in private with their Master, so long as proper respect was shown. Despite what many believed, Voldemort was not an unnecessarily cruel master. His followers knew the truth of it, and recruits found out quickly enough. He was an easy enough master, so long as you followed orders. Large amounts of failure, disloyalty, etc were severely punished, hence his use of the Cruciatus on his followers.
“My Lord, I have good news. Potter is not only awake, but showing little to know signs of lasting effects from his injuries, mentally of physically. The Healers have given him a completely clean bill of health. Except for the fact that he is underweight, he is fine.” Lucius stood at ease beside his school time friend, Severus. Both of the other men smiled, though the Potion Master’s was slightly forced.
“Excellent, Lucius. I shall reward you later. Continue monitoring him. As soon as you know his discharge date, alert me. As for now, have a drink and take a seat. Severus was about to explain some recent findings of his.”
The dark man took his cue. “During some leisure reading, I came across an interesting potion that I think will be beneficial to you, my Lord. It is called Corpus Adulescentia, which basically translates to ‘youthful body’. I believe I have found an obscure, 14th century potion capable of restoring you to the body of your youth, My Lord.” Severus smiled at the serpentine man, which was the equivalent of a non-Slytherin bouncing with excitement.
“Well done, Severus. Well done indeed.”
-----
Four days after his chat with Dumbledore, Harry was released from St. Mungo’s. A contingent of Order members was there to greet Harry and act as body guards against the howling paparazzi. They wanted information, and were desperate to know why the Boy-Who-Lived had been hospitalized. Harry met the reporters crowding the hospital entrance head-on. With the Order member surrounding him, Harry raised his hands into the air, calling for silence. Everyone immediately shut up.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please be patient for a few more days. In one week, on July 30th, I will be holding a press conference to address the many questions concerning my recent stay in St. Mungo’s. It shall be held in a private conference room at Gringott’s Wizarding Bank. If you are interested in attending, contact the bank for invitations. Each press institution will be allowed to send two representatives, a reporter and a photographer. Any concerns or questions pertaining to the conference itself may be directed to the bank. That is all.” With that, Harry quickly pulled the hood of his cloak up and swiftly made his exit, Order members trailing behind. He felt a tingle in his scar, which caused him to look up. He immediately met a crimson gaze within a shadowed hood. He vanished into the crowd seconds later, but still it made Harry smile softly. After a quick Side-Along Apparation, Harry stood outside 12 Grimmauld Place.
Harry had prearranged the conference with the bank via letters. The enterprising goblin he remembered from his first time there did everything for him. Griphook, was his name. A number of surprises awaited the reporters, some of which included Harry himself.
Harry quickly brought his mind back to the present as a tall, black man approached him with a parchment in hand. Harry knew that the place was under a Fidelius Charm and the paper had the address in Dumbledore’s hand, yet Harry could already see the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
*Cookie, why doesn’t the Fidelius Charm affect me?*
*Because of our connection. I am magic personified, therefore enchantments do not affect me, and by extension you as well.*
*As I thought, thank you.*
Without bothering to look at the parchment offered him, Harry strode through the door, mindful of the confusion and panic such a move created. As soon as the door opened, Harry was bowled over by a large, dark canine which was energetically licking his face. “Cut it out, Snuffles! You’re getting slobber all over me!” he said with a smile and a laugh. “It’s good to see you too, but could you get off of me please?”