Blackmail

Chapter Five

Harry didn’t know how much time had passed, but the next time he looked up at what was outside his cage Voldemort was undoing the lock once again and the light through the windows was bright and sunny. Harry shivered and refused to think of what was about to come, but instead of breaking down in tears or fighting back, Harry shuttered his emotions away and allowed himself to be led out of his cage.

Though instead of being taken over to the intimidating bed, Voldemort threw his black boxes back at him, and Harry took that as a cue to cover himself up. He winced at his still bound wrists as he looked at the damage for the first time. All his twisting and struggling from the night before had left them torn and bloodied and now looked like a sticky red mess.

Voldemort led Harry out of his chambers and through the castle, down stairs and around corridors before reaching their destination – a sitting room with a few scattered chairs and couches and a large blazing fire. But Voldemort and Harry weren’t alone in the sitting room for long and the raven-haired boy froze at the sight of Severus enter through those doors escorted by another Death Eater.

Not wanting Severus to see him splattered with blood and come and held at the mercy of the despised Dark Lord, Harry huddled himself in against the overstuffed armchair Voldemort was sitting on.

Severus gasped at seeing Harry sitting at the feet of Voldemort, and apparently, trying to hide himself from view. He clutched at the vial in his hand as he sat down across from the snake-like man. It was Saturday morning and Harry was to be coming with him for the next two days. And as soon as the two of them were away from Voldemort, Severus would hold Harry and heal all his hurts and let him know just how much he loved him.

But first, Voldemort wanted to check the progress of his potion making.

Severus had made a number of minor potions over the last five days and this was the first time Voldemort had followed through with the threat of testing them on Harry. Yesterday morning when the Dark Lord had interrupted his work there were few words exchanged, but Voldemort made it perfectly clear that he was going to have Harry test the one he was brewing, and here they were. Severus didn’t know whether to be thankful or not that it was a Hallucinogen Potion.

The Hallucinogen Potion didn’t necessarily mean that Harry would be caused any pain, but that was totally up to the person who administered the concoction. Severus just hoped the Dark Lord would be merciful to the raven-haired boy who looked so much smaller now then Severus had ever remembered him.

“Well then,” Voldemort broke the silence, “Lets get right down to business so I can send you two love birds off, shall we?”

Voldemort leaned over and extended a hand and Severus gave him the vial.

“Come out here, Harry,” Voldemort cooed, “I do believe our Potions Master would like to see the effects of one of his creations.”

Harry, filled with shame and embarrassment, did what he was asked and crawled away from the side of the armchair, keeping his eyes constantly lowered, being unable to look at the man whom he loved so dearly. He didn’t want to see the disgust, or pity, or even love in those deep, dark eyes.

In quick, precise movements, Voldemort tilted Harry’s head up with a grip full of raven locks, and tipped the contents of the vial down the compliant throat. Within seconds the potion began to take effect, and Voldemort lent his head down to whisper Harry’s new reality in his ear.

“Harry, you are an insignificant abused Puppy who fears all people, but the person you fear the most is that man over there, with black robes, black hair and black eyes.”

An evil smile grew on Voldemort’s face at the emotional pain and torment this would cause the couple.

As soon as the words left Voldemort’s mouth, Harry felt himself unable to not believe that it was all true. The restriction around his wrist was removed and he looked down at his paws (hands to everyone else). Then he looked up and the room they were in was huge, fear filled Harry’s veins from the mere size of his immediate environment. And then there was the terrifying man all in black sitting across from him and looking down at him. Harry just knew that he would lash out at him at any second, so his followed his instinct and fled over to the furthest corners of the room and curled himself up so he felt safe.

Laughter filled the room as Voldemort watched the Boy Who Lived believe his words and twisted reality. It was too bad Harry was to spend the next couple of days with Severus, rather than himself. It would have been so entertaining to observe the brat like this. Cowering at every movement.

Voldemort chuckled again and dismissed himself from the sitting room. The Death Eaters would escort the two to the ‘weekend room’ and there, Severus could deal with his little boyfriend who thought he was a dog and feared his love more than anyone. Well at least for the next 12 hours.

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Severus did his best to placate Harry so they could be moved to their bedroom, but whenever Severus approached the trembling boy (puppy) he would whimper and scurry away again.

The Death Eater, who Severus knew was having the best of times watching this, finally ceased his laughter, walked over to Harry and conjured a collar and leash to fit around the boy’s neck. Then he handed the opposite end to Severus.

“What do you think you are doing?” Severus spat. “I will not treat Harry like he is some mangy mutt.”

He bent down to remove the thick collar, but just when he reached out Harry yelped and ran, on all fours, over to the other side of the room.

“Look, Snape,” the Death Eater said, “You may not want to treat the whelp like some sort of dog, but right now that is exactly what he thinks he is. I doubt he would move anywhere without the use of the leash right now. So either you can do it, or I will.”

Severus looked sadly over to the cowering form of Harry and knew it was true. It didn’t take much to figure out that with the Hallucinogen Potion invading Harry’s system he would believe whatever the snake told him, and would continue to until the potion led its course.

The Potions Master nodded, “You do it. Harry obviously is terrified of me, so… you do it.”

The Death Eater walked over and picked up the end of the leash. Harry clearly didn’t like being forced to move but did to avoid the pain in his neck. Severus forced himself to watch and followed on, keeping a safe distance so Harry wouldn’t become too distressed.

Inside their room was not much better. Harry had scampered off, as soon as the leash was let go, over to the far end of the bedroom and refused to take his eyes off Severus in fear of the dark man sneaking up at him.

As for Severus, well he was having trouble baring this new form of torment. This was the first weekend that they were to spend together, hidden from the world and from what was right outside, and Severus couldn’t even hold the one he loved.

He had to deal with the potion and the sick reality that Voldemort had implanted in Harry’s mind where he truly feared the only man he could trust in this godforsaken place.

Severus sighed and dropped down onto the bed. Harry flinched at the movement.

Slowly Severus slipped into a light slumber due to the lack of sleep he had had over the past few nights, and found it was the best way to forget the happenings around him.

Hours later he was awoken by a pop close to his ear that turned out to be a House Elf bringing them their dinner. Severus knew that it wouldn’t be long until the potion wore off, but with a quick glance he knew that Harry was still curled up in the corner refusing to move.

Severus slumped his shoulders in resignation and began to eat his own dinner. His attention was attracted over to Harry who had lifted his head and was now sniffing at the air, obviously being able to smell the delicious food. Severus pushed his plate aside for a moment and picked up a piece of marinated chicken (one of Harry’s favourite foods) and held it down near the floor in an attempt to coax Harry over to eat.

Harry half sat up, keeping his front hands on the floor the way a dog would sit and sniffed out for danger. Severus remained patient and was rewarded with some timid steps in his direction. Obviously his hunger had overridden the danger issue.

Cautiously, green eyes continuously fixed on the man dressed in black, Harry made his way towards the hand containing the much wanted food and quickly snatched it away before that same hand could lash out with some form of punishment.

Only scurrying back a few paces, Harry watched as some more chicken was picked up from the plate and held back down before it was immediately devoured.

Somehow comprehending the kindness, Harry stayed where he was at the feet of Severus as he was given the delicious and nourishing food. Severus was glad to see that even though his Harry was trembling severely and occasionally flinching he was not fleeing from the man he believed he feared.

Severus’ hearing focused on the ticking of a clock for a few moments after the two of them had finished the meal. He found he just couldn’t sit there with his sight drawn to the cowering form of his boyfriend and he quickly stood up and moved away from the chair, not seeing the involuntary flinch he caused the boy at his feet.

The clock continued to tick then, gradually, another noise overlapped that singular sound.

Sobbing.

Severus flung himself around and focused his gaze on the hunched form near the table. Harry had raised his hands to his face and his shoulders were shaking with unsuppressed sobs.

The potion had finally worn off!

“Harry!” Severus flung himself at his love to nurse and comforted him as he broke down.

Upon the contact, Harry swivelled around to cry on the shoulder of his boyfriend.

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