The man behind the mask

Harry woke to fire in his arms, and it was no wonder. He was chained to a bed. Wait what. He started in shock; he had expected a dark and dismal cell or a closet at the very least. Instead he was in the most luxurious room he had ever been in. There were rich tapestries depicting ancient battles, true they were dark and mostly had to do with death and gore but they were works of art none the less. The torch holders on the walls were gold plated.

There was a cedar dresser the size of a u-haul it seemed against the wall. He was no collector but he suspected this was an art collector’s wet dream. The bed itself was massive its silk sheets felt like heaven. Even in the midst of this nightmare that had become his life he could marvel at their softness. A line of chains hooked to the stone walls was shackled to both his wrists affectively keeping him in the bed.

Why wasn’t he rotting in some cell? He suddenly was washed cold with fear, he detested these sheets, the bed itself frightened him. He’d heard tales of the sexual depravity of Death eaters. He would not cry like a baby! He was going to endure whatever torture Voldemort could throw at him, then when he got cocky he would strike when the snake least expected. He would probably be killed as soon as it was done but at least then it would be over. He took a deep breath. He would prevail.

The door to the room opened with barely a sound as Severus, Snape stepped into the room. Behind him was Lucius Malfoy and they were both smiling like cats who had gotten into the cream. He shivered, if they were going to rape him then he swore on all that was holy that before he took down Voldemort he’d murder them both. A deep wash of anger welled up inside him. It frightened him in its intensity.

“Well well well, If it isn’t Dumbledore’s little golden boy? And without any one to protect him. I told you this day would come Potter. Did I not?” Lucius taunted.

Harry glared at him, he would never hate anyone more then Voldemort but Lucius came in a close third.

“You lay one hand on me Malfoy, and you’ll loose it!” He warned him with growing anger.

The two men laughed. Snape stepped forward till his face was level with Harry’s. “Do you think I would lay one hand on you Potter? When the blood of such filth like James Potter runs in your veins? When your filthy mudblood mother gave birth to you? No I will not sully myself.” Snape sneered.

It was like some one had lit a fire in Harry’s stomach. Severus had always talked down to Harry about his father but never before had he been so slanderous. It made him want to smash the man’s nose in every time he uttered his father’s name. Snape was a traitor! Dumbledore had trusted him and he had betrayed everyone resulting in countless order members deaths. He was a liar and scum not worth the air he breathed.

~~~CHANGE OF VIEW~~~

Severus Snape watched in amusement as the Potter boy’s rage grew. It was a game he had always enjoyed while he was in school. Potter could never hold in his rage long, he always broke sooner or later. Then Severus would have the pleasure of punishing him for his lack of control.

Except this time the game was different, the dark lord did not want Potter in control. He wanted him in a state of rage. A state both Lucius and he had happily volunteered to bring him too. It was really too easy, a few truthful digs about his father. Call his mother dirty or the Weasley chit a slut and Potter would blow his top. Then the dark lord would take his blood and get back his natural form.

“As if I would ever place one once of my noble person to the lips of one who has kissed a Weasley. It is almost laughable, tell me Potter did you have to wipe the grime from your lips when you were done or do you enjoy kissing sludge?” Beside him Lucius rejoined the taunt.

Potter looked ready to do murder, perhaps it was time. “We haven’t come to dirty ourselves by touching you Potter. We’ve come to bring you to see your friends would you like that. Now that we have you the world is ours, they will be the first slaves and the Dark one is going to gift all of you to one of his faithful.” Snape jeered, as Lucius unhooked the rope of chains from the wall. Potter shot forward to attack him but Lucius yanked hard on the chains till he toppled backwards onto the floor.

Severus cringed inwardly. They were supposed to put him in a rage but Potter was going to be the Dark ones consort and their master one day. The Dark Lord might decide to punish them later for disrespect if he thought they meant it.

“Down Potter, mustn’t be in such a hurry now don’t worry. You will be enslaved soon enough. Although I wouldn’t touch you there is plenty of our kind that would love to have you for a pet. Isn’t that right Severus?” Lucius continued to taunt him with a cool smile.

“All too true Potter. They won’t mind touching you, in fact I’ll beg whoever he gifts you too to let me watch. I’ll enjoy when he makes you scream and beg like a whore.”

Potter was straining on his chains, his eyes red with fury. He kept his mouth shut. That was something new; it was almost frightening how he watched the two men with cold anger. It was almost as if he watched them, and if they looked deep enough into his emerald green gaze they could see their own deaths playing out. Severus felt a shiver roll up his spine. He glanced at Lucius, the boy was ready.

“Come along now pet, time to meet your new master.” Lucius crooned yanking potter around by his chains and towards the door.

~~~***~~~~~****~~~~***~*~**~*~*~

Harry was seething with rage, it was boiling inside his body overriding his senses. He was seeing in shades of red, he was imagining a thousand ways that he could take the lives of the two men in front of him. Voldemort smiled to himself. He could feel it coming off the boy in waves as he entered the room. Its heat was searing and for a moment he basked within the boys mind.

The thing about the Animus Postulo curse was that once you had so cruelly taken the soul of another and taken it into your own body it always craved for more. You were always one step closer to making another kill. It enhanced your natural darkness.

Exactly what Voldemort wanted from him. It was time that Harry started to break the rigid ideals Dumbledore had implanted in him.

He smiled as Harry and his two companions were dragged into the room. Sirius and Remus both looked like they had suffered everything short of death. They were dirty and bruised, just as Voldemort had ordered. He wanted'd Harry to be furious.

"Morning Harry, so glad you could join us." Voldemort gave him a chilling smile.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM!" Harry thundered snapping against his chains. Lucius jerked him back harshly. Voldemort stared at Lucius, he would punish him later for his cruel treatment of his consort. However it did serve his purpose so he let it pass.

"Come come now Harry, we mustn't be rude. Let me introduce to you their new master." He smiled gesturing for Black, and Lupin to be brought forward.

He turned addressing his followers," My faithful I have decided who shall be gifted with the very first slaves. The world shall be ours in a matter of time. And those that are unworthy shall serve the worthy." At this announcement the Death eaters gathered laughed and talked amongst themselves.

"A good master keeps his slaves in line, teaches them to respect his every whim. A slave has no feelings no thoughts, he is a possession. A toy. A pet." More laughter and a ripple of excitement ran through the crowd of gathered Death eaters.

Sirius Black, long have you defied me. I once offered you a position of nobility worthy of your blood line. You instead sided with my enemies and betrayed your blood. You have been judged unworthy. So I will give you to someone who can better teach you." Voldemort's voice was as cold as ice and just as lethal.

Black was forced by his holder to his knees and not surprisingly he didn't cower. He blazed cold eyes of fury into the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord smiled. And turned to Severus.

"Severus my faithful friend, long have you served me at great cost to yourself. You I judge my most faithful. In the past this one thought himself above you. I leave it to you to teach him otherwise." There was light cheers and slanderous encouragement from the others. Voldemort noted the brief look of surprise and distaste on Severu's face.

He knew well his servants feeling for that particular man. How he handled him as a slave would be interesting to watch. He cared not whether Snape wanted him as a slave, he cared only about Harry's reaction. His beloved godfather was being given as a slave to his worst enemy.

~You will do as I expect you Severus or face my anger~ Voldemort hissed into Snapes mind. The man shivered and took the chains from the man currently holding Sirius.

"Don't touch me you sniveling little..." Sirius taunt was cut off by a muttered cruse. He bit back a cry of pain and crumpled to the floor. The other death eaters laughed.

"Leave him alone you bastard!" Harry shouted straining on his chains in an effort to reach Snape. Snape shot him a disdainful glance.

"Why should I potter, he is mine. Little more then a pet. I shall discipline him how I see fit." Snape shot back.

"Harry, please. No matter how angry you get none of it will help Sirius." Lupin spoke for the first time. Harry glanced from Snape to Lupin and visibly calmed a little. Now now now this would hardly do.

"I am glad that you think so Remus, although of pure blood you too saw fit to refuse my offer. Therefore you too shall no longer be seen as worthy to walk amongst us. You thought yourself our betters. Lucius, you have served me unfailingly. Even at expense to your own comfort. I reward you now. Teach him otherwise."

Unlike Severus Lucius was wholly content with receiving a new slave. He took the chains from the man holding Remus and jerked him to his side.

"I always wanted a furry little friend of my own. Heel boy" He smirked forcing Remus to his knees by cracking the row of chains across his back. This was met by laughter and taunts.

Voldemort felt Harry's wave of anger surge. He drank it in like ambrosia.

~you want to kill me don't you Harry?~ Voldemort spoke into Harry's mind. He didn't expect for him to answer back. Dumbledore had always warned Harry against touching minds with him. So he was taken aback when Harry readily answered back.

~With my bare hands!~

Voldemort almost rocked backwards on his heels. This was the first time they had ever spoken mind to mind, and the feel of Harry moving around inside his head was like being invaded. It was almost erotic. Like the slide of fingers on smooth bare skin.

Then it was like someone had taken a flaming fire poker and touched it to his brain.

~I WANT YOU TO BURN! I WANT YOU TO DIE SCREAMING FOR MERCY AND I WONT GIVE YOU ANY!~

Harry was attacking him, through their link! If he wasn't in so much pain he would have laughed in delight.

~Now who sounds like the evil one?~ he taunted, giving no indication that his brain felt like it was being slashed into pieces.

~You killed my parents! You slaughter my mum just because she tried to protect me! You showed no mercy so I shall give you none!~ Voldemort let him attack each spear like a lance to his brain. Each attack brought Harry closer and closer to the point he wanted him to reach.

~Never~ Another wave of unimaginable pain. Voldemort actually paled his mouth tightening with it.
~compare me to you!~ This thrust had him swaying slightly. His steely control threatening to break. Did Harry even realize what he was doing?

~I'm nothing like you! You're A MONSTER! Nothing but a killer!~

He had suffered enough! Suddenly his own rage was spiking. He flew across the room in a swift movement of shadow and magic. Lucius cried out in shock as he ripped Harry from his hold. Harry cried out in his own shock as he was yanked into the arms of his enemy.

"I am a killer Harry?" He spoke aloud so that all could hear.

"Think back on all the lives you have taken in this war of ours. Think back onto Peter Pettigrew. Think back onto the rush of power, the feeling of elation one gets from knowing they have taken a persons most vital possession. Their soul. I know you felt it Harry, you may lie to me but you cannot lie to yourself. The killer in me is very much the killer in you!" He hissed.
~~~CHANGE OF VIEW~~~

He had never been more terrified in his life, he didn't know what was worse the fear or the rage swimming in his body. Half of him wanted to duck and hide the other half, the half that was winning wanted to sock Voldemort in the face.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" He spat into Voldemort's face. He wanted to do more then spit on him, he wanted to rip him apart with his bare hands.

"I think not Harry." The cruel cold voice whispered. And then there was blinding splinting pain in his arm. Voldemort had pulled forth a dagger and slashed him with it. It burned like hell, there must have been some sort of potion on it because he could feel magic tingling up his arm into his body. It burned like fire, he screamed with pain and sunk to his knees.

"Let it be known that from this day forward no one lays one hand on Potter. He is mine, Harry Potter you are of pure blood and once I offered you the chance to join those of your blood. You defied me, even sought to slay me. You thought yourself above me, better then I. Now I claim you as my own, to teach you otherwise."

The laughter and taunts in the room swirled like a tornado inside Harry's mind. His head was spining and his vision blurring. What had he done...What had he done.

He heard gasps of shock and felt a wave of light and heat touch his body. But he couldn't focus. Something was happening to Voldemort something that shocked his followers. But his world was fading going dark.
~~~***~~~~~***~~~~***~~~~****~~~***~~~~***

Tom Riddle glanced at his reflection, he had not seen this face in many years. He had traded his natural beauty in the search for immortality. He had become something snake like other then human. He didn't quibble over the loss of his looks, if he had to redo it over he would change nothing.

It had been simple enough to regain it. Piercing sea green eyes peered back at him through the mirror. His raven hair neat as always fell across his forehead in waves. He was himself again, he was elegant and cruel in his beauty. Like a blade.

He looked to the bed where Harry lay still asleep. Asleep the anger, the distrust on his face was gone. Asleep he looked...Voldemort frowned stepping towards him. Angelic, that was the word.

He nearly snorted in disgust. That would change soon enough. Soon Harry would no longer fight against him but by his side. And all that beauty would be his.

He caressed Harry's face with one elegant palm. His skin was so very soft. Like touching satin. He wondered what it would be like to slide his hands into the mess of his hair. Would it feel like brushing against silk strands?

Soon very soon, he smiled to himself. All that was Harry would be his.

((Well...Reviews...Anyone. No review...sighh...then really why bother..Lol.)))