The man behind the mask

He became aware of a cool sensation on his skin, like the brushing of a light breeze through an open window. He could feel it playing across the bare skin of his chest like playful feathers in a soft sensation that was oddly pleasing. He could feel himself smile a little even as he slowly dragged himself from an oddly clinging sleep. He moved his body squirming deeper into the soft satin sheets, there was something very nice to be said about those. The feel of their soft slide on bare skin was something erotically pleasant that he had never before felt in his nineteen years. One could almost purr with satisfaction at the feel of such perfection against their naked skin.

Harry Potters eyes flew open faster then they ever had before as he scrambled with the satin and heavy bedcovers that had previously covered his completely clothed torso! That was no longer, he stared down at himself in shock and growing horror. He was completely naked in an, if not in the best of housings, still very comfortable bed. It was where the bed was housed that bothered him. He had never felt so small or helpless before. Naked in Voldemort’s stronghold was the last place anyone wanted to find himself.

He stared at himself with growing terror, what had happened? He didn’t remember being ravished by a madman, wasn’t that something someone would remember? Did that mean rape and torture was yet to come? Why couldn’t he remember someone taking off his cloths? Had he been drugged, was that why he couldn’t remember being violated? He was going to be sick, he thought as his head began to ache and his vision swim. The thought of that snake like murdering bastard touching him made him want to wretch.

“Peace Harry, I simply got rid of those rags you called cloths and had your measurements taken. I did indeed have you drugged but not with the intent of rape, when we come together it will be with both our consent.” Voldemort’s voice came from a dark corner of the room surprising Harry enough that he gave a yelp of surprise. He couldn’t help drawing the covers up even more around himself like a shy virgin. Which he was not but even still the less the man could see then just maybe he might avoid getting raped.

He knew Voldemort slipped in and out of people’s minds like an eel and he had worked hard at putting up barriers to this. Something he had proved inept at, at least when it came to Voldemort. He could hear his laughter floating from the corner and Harry glared at the shadow of his form. “Ahh Harry I have been watching you sleep for quite sometime, I undressed you myself. If I had any uncontrollable urges you would know by now.” He laughed at him from the corner.

Harry felt his ire grow at the thought of Voldemort laying hands on him and watching him sleep. Also a certain amount of disgust those slimily snakelike features and skeletal hands touching him, the thought made him shudder.

“You don’t like the way I look Harry? Well I must agree with you there I did give up outer beauty for power.” He heard Voldemort sigh. “The good news however my dear boy is that power once gained, is strong enough to restore outer beauty.” There was the soft sound of robes swishing with movement and the shadowed form of Lord Voldemort moved into the light streaming from the open window.

Harry choked on the retort he was about to make as he gapped at a familiar yet strange face. He would recognize that striking raven hair and those deep sea green eyes anywhere and almost as readily as his own coal black hair and emerald green eyes. The strong aristocratic features had grown stronger and more elegant with age, the body more defined in manhood. He was staring at an all grown up Tom Riddle and frankly it frightened him.

In the back of his mind he could hear his own voice whisper, you know, if he weren’t such an evil bastard you probably wouldn’t mind his touching you so much now. Harry took a firm hold on whatever traitors impulse that had suddenly taken a hold of him and stomped on it. He was tempted to shout, Oh no I wouldn’t! He didn’t but he might as well have because Voldemort was obviously moving around in his mind again.

“It is not a crime to acknowledge beauty when you find it Harry. Or to want it’s touch for that matter you have only but to ask and I will gladly give you all that you desire.” Voldemort was laughing at him, a rather rich if cold laugh.

“You can do whatever you want to me, it appears as if I’m at your mercy.” Harry said with a bite of disdain in his voice. Emerald connected with the green of the sea as their eyes caught and held. Hurt me however you wish, give me your worst and I will watch and wait for the day you slip up. When you do I’m going to kill you and I am not ashamed to admit I’ll enjoy doing it. Let Voldemort read that in his mind!

To his surprise instead of growing angry Voldemort’s lips, lips that had once been cold and rather lifeless were now plush and full of seeking warmth; spread into a smile of frankly masculine amusement. “I would expect no less of you Harry. I expect strength and a strong will in my second, I also expect passion in my mate something I have discovered you have a lot of.” He said advancing toward the bed.

Harry fought the urge to shrink back, he was wandless and naked what could he do to stop Voldemort from taking what he wanted? He didn’t care whatever he had planned Harry was going to face it, he was going to remember every detail and then… his own thoughts shocked him. your not like him, don’t think like that! he reprimanded himself. Then Voldemort’s words sank in.

He gapped at the older man in true surprise, “Your second, your mate? Do you mean that you not only think that I might actually join with you but also that I might actually become your lover?” Harry gaped at him in shock? Was the man mental? He had always thought him just evil, a sadistic bastard no better then scum but at least he could be called sane. “Did you drink some of whatever you gave me?” Harry demanded.

Voldemort actually chuckled, it was a deep rich sound something that sounded oddly rusty as if it hadn’t been used in a long time. He looked just as surprised as Harry to hear it coming from his body. He had been warm, Harry realized it only when he watched anger flash into those green eyes and he could almost feel whatever warmth had been in the man leave the room. He could almost swear he felt the temperature drop as his eyes turned glacial.

“You will be all that and more Harry, this I promise you.” He hissed in a voice of pure ice. Harry shivered his eyes widening slightly as one strong hand reached out to brush the hair falling in his eyes away from his face. Harry flinched and before he could think about the action slapped the mans hand away.

“Don’t touch me!” He seethed his eyes burning with fury. A matching spark of fury seemed to light in Voldemort’s eyes Harry had only a moment to regret his actions before he felt Voldemort’s fingers clench around his wrist and he was being jerked into a violent embrace. He stiffened preparing for the worst. It didn’t come. Instead he could feel feather light lips tickling his ear as Voldemort whispered into them.

“Do not fear, I told you I would not and I will not. You will come to me Harry you will beg for what you push away now.” He whispered Harry let out a shout of shock as he felt Voldemort’s tongue stroke his ear. He barely had enough time to register what exactly that made him feel when he was being released and he fell back onto the bed.

“You know I can not stand weakness, I wont tolerate it form my subjects, and I will not tolerate it in you Harry. I expect you to learn and I fully expect you to shed the cloak Albus has wrapped so tightly around your eyes. I however if not fair am practical. You need assurance as to my intentions do you not” Voldemort spoke suddenly from the other side of the room where he had stridden.

Harry was still shaking in shock from being held in the arms of his worst enemy and feeling his tongue on his body. He didn’t know whether to be sick or to take a shower. He wanted to be clean but most of all he wanted to get rid of the burning sensation in his ear. That touch had been like fire. He glared at Voldemort and spoke, “ Whatever you could say would not convince me so you cant possibly give me any assurance that I would believe!”

Voldemort nodded, “I thought as much. You are familiar with the Unbreakable Vow are you not Harry? Once broken it will end the life of its castor?”

What was the man playing at Harry wondered as he nodded, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“Some might think I take a risk by offering you this, but I see no risk. I know exactly who you are and what you are made of. It is a risk if there I am willing to take. I offer you this Harry Potter, You give me three months time to teach you. I will give you knowledge beyond your greatest dreams. Even the weapons to destroying me, everything that I know I will teach you. I will show you the world as it is meant to be seen and you will learn from me. During this time I will not lie or seek to deceive you, I will tell no untruth to you or offer any false evidence. At the end of the three months before my subjects and the world I will offer you a chance to join with me. If you choose not to I will cast myself upon your judgment and you can kill me.” Voldemort spoke quietly as if to a feral animal.

Harry stared at him in shock, did the man realize he had just put a date on how long he had left to live? Three months, three months where all he had to do was listen to the mans attempts to change his mind about whether or not he wanted to kill the bastard. Then he would willingly submit to death? Under the unbreakable vow he would either have to do exactly as he promised or die which meant that either way he would die.

The offer seamed sent from the heavens.

(( He is confidant he can change our mind, our we confidant it can not be changed. Dare we risk loosing our soul to darkness? He is not a fool, there is a reason he is confidant.)) Harry could hear the voice of Eros whisper like a ripple in the pond of his soul.

Eros had been present everyday since the day of his, or was it their awakening. They seemed to be the same person, yet two different people all at once. It was a confusing feeling yet a comforting one all the same.

(( He killed my parents and many of my friends, nothing he could say or do would ever change that! I hate him and that is enough.)) Harry replied, it felt odd to be reassuring himself so starkly yet completely normal.

(( Are you sure, we are love and empathy. Beware you do not let our nature blind you to his faults. It is a mistake we have made before, a mistake that cost us everything.)) It was Eros last warning as his voice faded and Harry found himself once again alone and oddly with a feeling of brokenness. There was a dull pain in his body as if someone had cut out a piece of his soul.

“Because someone has, you and Eros are part of each other. You are forced to remain two different beings because of your foolishness in the realm of the gods. I will explain all this if you accept my offer. “ Voldemort explained. Harry jumped a little having been so lost in his own being; that he’d almost forgotten the mans presence.

“Alright but It’s almost not fair, this is the most foolish move I’ve ever seen anyone make it’s not even a fair fight.” Harry agreed. He was confident in his own resolve.

Oddly enough a shadow of something startlingly close to sympathy passed over Voldemort’s eyes. “No it is not for you enter our bargain without knowing the truth of your world so how could you possibly make a sound judgment. That however is to my own advantage and I shall take it.” Voldemort whipped out his wand and cast the spell. He offered his hand to Harry “All that has been said before this I know vow most unbreakable.”

Harry eyed the hand extended to him and truly felt as if he were about to clasp hands with the devil.

It seemed as if Hells flames had jumped up to singe his skin as their skin collided.

~~~~***~~~~~****~~~~****Change of view~~~~***~~~~~**~~~~**

“Well my pet, have you the list I asked for”

Remus looked up from the meal a house elf had brought him as Lucius strode into the room. Remus’s brown hair was slightly tussled from sleeping on the floor against a wall all night. His amber colored eyes lit with slight annoyance at his appearance. Lucius eyed the younger man chained to his wall with speculation. Remus was a very handsome man and had been in his schooldays a very beautiful young boy. However his face even back then was often marred with scars and was too pale and ill looking for its own good.

His condition was not an easy one to bare it took a toil on his being in many ways. That rich chestnut hair of his was even at his young age flecked with gray and lines of weariness were etched deeply around his eyes. Dumbledores fault, like so many things. He kept Remus on a bare string letting him believe his condition had to be so uncomfortable and terrible; it kept Remus friendless and alone. A state which the old man knew would keep Remus in line. Perhaps the mans biggest weakness was his desperate need for companionship.

A weakness Lucius found intriguing, one that made him want to smile actually. He remembered what it was like to be a young boy wanting something he couldn’t have. Well he had found a way to get it, he had of course had to sacrifice things he had married Narcissa after all but he had not let that stop him from seeking his own happiness. Nothing ever did, he got what he wanted his own way.

Perhaps a flaw but one that kept him content so what else really mattered. He found he wanted his new pet, and that included his own happiness. He wanted him strong and healthy for one thing, sex was hardly enjoyable if the receiving party looked as if he was about to roll over in die. He smiled to himself, unless it was from exaughstion.

“Yes Lucius and I have to warn you, your little game wont work. I already realized long ago that James had his faults and that so to does Albus. That doesn’t change the fact that there is a distinct line between good and Evil and that neither of them ever crossed it where as you and the master you serve have!” Remus replied, his voice that was usually tired and rough, with each word grew slightly stronger. Lucius smiled waiting for Remus to notice the change.

“Really Remus? Are you sure about this, what is Evil really. Is it not evil to derive pleasure from others pain? James found much joy in doing that. Would it not be evil to take an innocent child and mold him into a puppet for your own uses? Albus has done much of that and you know it.” Lucius answered back raising one pale eyebrow.
He watched as the scars on Remus’s face slowly began to fade, his hair to darken and color come back into his face. He stared in fascination thankful that his son was so adept at potions. As a whole Remus was oddly stunning, not in the way of some men all brawn and roughish good looks. He was not exactly slender either he was something wonderfully in the middle. That hair of his looked soft as silk and grown a little longer then usual it brushed the bottoms of his ears. He was all polite charm and bookish elegance, a mixture that was doing funny things to Lucius blood.

The schoolboy had grown into a man, and Lucius who had always had to ignore his growing lust for the boy was prepared to indulge his delight in the man. It must have shown on his face because Remus had stopped in the middle of his reply to stare at him oddly.

“What exactly are you staring at Lucius?” Remus asked somewhere between exasperated and offended.

“You, have you any idea how much you could have done with yourself. Your curse as you call it need not be a curse. You could mold it into a weapon, you are power and grace you let Albus turn it into an affliction. Look at yourself” His voice was husky slightly breathy as he waved his wand to transfigure a table into a mirror. He offered it to Remus who stiffened and stared at himself in shock.

“What illusion is this?” he asked as if he didn’t dare trust his own eyes.

“No illusion, with an advanced potion placed in your food your scars and unnecessary ageing can be removed. Taken daily whenever you become werewolf you need not suffer anymore ill effects besides the usual feral behavior. There is even a brew to remove most of the pain from your transformation. It was developed by werewolves a hundred years ago. It is not well known.” He watched as Remus’s eyes darkened and knew instantly of what he was figuring out.

“And you are correct; Albus did in deed know of this, he would make a point to know it. So ask yourself Remus would a truly loving and as you label him “good” person keep you in pain. Allow you to suffer if he truly was all you insist he is. And if I truly wanted you in pain why would I allow you to heal?” Lucius whispered leaning in close.

Both their reflections were shown in the mirrors, white blonde contrasted beautifully with rich brown. Deep blue met with amber in a haze of color, Lucius could feel the heat from Remus’s skin reaching out to touch him. He forced back a shiver.

“I don’t know…I don’t know anymore…Could you just leave me alone…I need to be alone.” It was a pleading whisper one that tugged at something deep inside Lucius he had thought long buried. Remus was loosing everything he thought he was and it was going to be a painful process.

“If you wish it pet.” He strode away from the man chained to his wall then halted and strode back. He looked so shattered and broken staring into his reflection like that. Lucius took his face in his own hands his skin lighting afire at the touch.

He leaned down so that they were eye to eye, “Remus…” his voice had deepened and was breather then he would have liked. “…for what it is worth, I know it is not easy to find you have been betrayed. And you may not believe me but I would not wish that pain on you.”

And then their lips met and Lucius found himself going up in flames.

A/N: sorry about the hold on Lord of the Fae, this was almost done so I finished it, I Promise I'll have LOTF done soon. Tell me how you liked this though.