A Darker Future

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter...That's it. Don't give me that look! I don't! Really!

Author Note: Well then, A little background info is needed I think. This happens after the fifth book. Sirius is dead but Dumbledore is still kicking. Um Slash and don't read if you don't like. The pairing Is Harry and Voldermort.

Chapter one

It was dark when harry woke.

'Where?' The first thing harry did was to try and move his arms only to find resistance. Harry's eyes opened wide in horror. With another pull harry confirmed his worst fears; he was tied up. 'bloody hell!' harry tried not to panic as he tried to ascertain where he was. 'My arms are tied above my head.' harry tried to move his legs only to find the same resistance. 'and I think my legs are in the same position. I'm pretty sure that this isn't a cell and-' Harry's mind made the connection to bed and tied up pretty quickly.

Which did not help his already panicked mind.

'Oh god oh god no! Who has me? What are they going to do to me?' Harry's mind worked in overdrive. The last thing he remembered was going to sleep at the Dursley's. Harry frowned, there had been something else but he couldn't remember- waaaaait.

"Shit!" Harry cursed. It was much worse then he imagined. He'd been obliviated. That meant the magical world was involved. Harry couldn't see someone on the light side tying him up and leaving him helpless without a wand...well maybe Fred and George but not when Voldemort had been resurrected. This could only mean he was in deatheater hands.

"I told you I didn't want to hear it!" Harry froze at the angry voice. It seemed muffled so they weren't in the same room, but they were close enough for them to hear the curse. Then, there was footsteps and the sound of a door opening.

'Oh please don't come near me. Go away please!' Harry pleaded in his mind.

"You can curse me all you want but that's not going to change my mind?" The unfamiliar, unidentified voice seemed puzzled. Harry nearly held his breath as more footsteps echoed around the room. Another door opened. "What the hell? If this is some sort of sick joke-" The movement in the obvious room around the bed stopped. "Could it be?" There was hurried footsteps that came directly to the bed. Harry didn't have time to pretend to be asleep before the dark curtains where pulled back. Harry whimpered as sharp streams of light seemed to pierce his eyes. "Harry?" Harry couldn't see the man as the light behind him shrouded his form in darkness. Harry closed his eyes and turned his head away from the light with a pain filled groan. The man swiftly left the side of the bed and went to the door and shouted for someone as harry quickly fell back into dreams.

Dream

"Hold him." Hissed a voice. Harry was struggling against the hands that held him down.

"No don't touch me!" Harry yelled. A sharp hit to the head that dazed harry allowed his attackers to be triumphant. "NO!" There was a sharp clang of metal as he was strapped down to the cold floor.

"Now start the ritual." Harry looked up to see black hoods and white masks. Harry could feel the sticky runes of red that they where painting on his chest.

"No!" The chanting began to start all around him. The people drawing were done with him and began on the floor. It wasn't until the floor was done that the chanting increased and the smell of something burning invaded Harry's senses. It was when a purple light began to shine from the black robed ones that a hissing voice began to speak. It wasn't English, but harry could understand perfectly.

"Bond of blood. Bond of soul. I invoke ancient magic. Make us whole!" The chanting stopped as Harry's world turned blue and then white. Then there was endless black.

End Dream

"Enervate." Harry woke with a gasp and wished he was still asleep. Reality might not be any better at the moment then a deatheater torture session in his dreams. "I know you're awake Harry." Harry flinched as an unexpected hand ran through his hair.

"Where am I?" Harry was shocked by the own roughness of his voice. "who are you?" The hand never stopped moving in his hair. There was a small chuckle at his next question. " and why am I tied up?"

“You aren't actually tied up little one. “ Harry suddenly found that he could move on his own and he rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. “See these?” The man tapped his wand on a bracelet like manacle on his wrists. A quick look confirmed that he had them on his ankles as well. “They're called sleepers. They were developed about a few years ago to keep a persons muscles from atrophy. They send signals that make your muscles move in a certain way that imitates exercise.”

“Why would I need them?” Harry asked confused. To that the man laughed and ruffled his hair.

“You have been asleep in a magical coma for a full three years Harry.” Harry stared at the man in horror and nearly missed the other explanations. “As for me, you can call me Ventus. I've been looking after you for quite a while now Harry. As for where you are is in my home. Welcome to Blackthorn Mansion.”

“Three years? What happened! Why am I here?” Harry began to panic. Ventus jumped up and held a vial to Harry's lips.

'Sh.sh. It's ok. Harry. Drink this.” Harry had seen a calming potion one too many times in his lifetime to not recognize the shade of color and what it meant. Harry chugged it back. The potion soothed his frazzled nerves and allowed him to calm down. “Now those question are best answered over something to eat. Put these on and meet me through there.” With a warm smile, Ventus handed Harry some clothes and exited the room through a door to the beds right. Harry had time to take in his surroundings and let out a low whistle.

'Nice digs.' Harry thought that whoever decorated had expensive tastes...that and that they were a slytherin. The room was draped in greens and black. The bed he sat on was made of soft materials and covered in expensive silk. At least Harry thought it was silk. You could never could be too sure in the wizarding world. Harry looked down and was awed by the obviously expensive but comfortable looking clothing he was given. A pair of black cotton boxers, warm socks, a pair of green pants and a green robe. Harry took a moment to admire the silver embroidered forest leaf designs that seemed to encompass the entire robe.

“Harry? What would you like to eat?” Ventus called through the door. Harry paused to consider what his stomach could handle. If he had been asleep for three years then something greasy was out of the question.

“Maybe just some toast.” Harry called out as he put on the robe. After trying to straiten his messy hair, Harry sighed and made his way over to the door. Timidly opening the door, Harry moved into a comfortable sitting room that seemed to fit the luxurious taste of his host. But Harry's focus was not on the décor but the food on the small table. There where pancake and maple syrup, fresh fruit salad and an assortment of light food. Harry blinked at the amount of food in surprise. “You call this toast?” Harry asked with a laugh.

“No but you really should have something more substantial. You have been on nutrient potions and fiber clogs.” Harry titled his head as Ventus winced. “Don't ask.” Ventus said quickly. Harry nodded and sat to eat. While breakfast was being eaten, Harry couldn't resist and asked why he could see without his glasses. To which Ventus replied that he had healed Harry's eyes with a special potion. After all, to hide such beautiful eyes with glasses was a crime! Harry thought the answer odd but accepted it nonetheless. Harry never noticed that Ventus watched him eat with an odd gleam in his eye. “Now then” Ventus said as Harry finished. ”You wanted to know the reason that you are here and more importantly what has been happening in the world since you have been asleep.” Harry nodded. “First what do you remember?”

“The last thing I remember is going to bed at the Dursley's.” Harry stated bluntly. Ventus raised an eyebrow.

“Is that it?” Ventus asked.

“Yes.” Harry confirmed. Ventus nodded and Harry was suddenly struck by how good looking his host was. Ventus's age seemed to be in his mid twenties. With devilishly dark hair and blazing blue eyes, Ventus could have any type of female swooning at his feet. So the question was why was this model type bloke babysitting a coma victim? Harry cleared the cobwebs as Ventus began to explain the political situation since he had been gone. “Fudge was sacked!” Harry asked in awe.

“In a manner of speaking yes.” Ventus watch with a little bit of confusion as Harry whooped and punched the air in excitement. “Uh Harry?” Harry blushed beet red and stammered and apology.

“I'm s-sorry! It's just that Fudge was an incompetent oaf. A real batch of fudge would have done a better job then him!” It was Ventus's turn to laugh at the comment.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. Fudge would have been a better substitute!” Ventus went onto explain that the dark lord had taken over and had made a few changes to the wizarding world.

“What do you mean Hogwarts is now a private school!” Harry shouted in outrage.

“Harry sit!” Ventus barked. Huffing, Harry did as he was told only so that he could listen to the rest of the news. “Hogwarts was always the the creme of the crop for magical talent. It still is. However, the ratio of magical people being educated is considerably less then the average in the muggle world. The general public is entitled to schooling but not in the magical world. The public had to fend for themselves.”

“I had no idea!” Harry was truly horrified. “Why?” Harry asked. Ventus looked at Harry with sad eyes and pat his hand.

“The wizarding world was full of bigots that considered themselves superior and refused to look to muggles for inspiration. That is why the Granger school system was set up.” Harry froze.

“Hermione?” Harry squeaked. Ventus nodded and smirked.

“Yes. Quite the mind on that girl. The Dark Lord goes to her for any problem that he has trouble with. They are the brains behind the new reign. Why the Dark Lord would have never thought of preschool for muggleborns if it hadn't been for her!” Ventus seemed to puff up in pride. Harry sat down on his chair, hard. “Hermione is the proud minster of education, the youngest ever and full time job for anyone to boot.” Harry couldn't believe it. Hermione seemed to have thrived under a Dark Lords rule. Harry swallowed hard.

“Ron?” Harry asked timidly. Ventus chuckled in good humor.

“Ah I wondered when you would mention the Weasley's. To start, Arthur is now in the position of Minister of foreign affairs. Bill is the top payed curse breaker in all of Britain and expecting.” Harry blushed. It seemed Bill was doing more than fine. “Charlie is in Romania last I heard. The twins now have a multinational corporation and have something for you.” Ventus handed him a gringotts key. “Ginny is happily married to one herbologist master Neville Longbottom. And Ron is the best Auror that the corps has seen in years. I hear the Dark Lord is considering him for a captaincy of a private guard.” Harry let out a breath he didn't know he held in. Ventus shifted as if he was uncomfortable and had Harry instantly suspicious. That's when it clicked.

“What about Percy?” Harry demanded more that he asked. Ventus sighed and sat back.

“A casualty when the Dark Lord first seized power.” Harry winced and felt bad for Molly, she would have been devastated. “It was the turning point of the war for a lot of people. It was not the Dark Lord that killed him, rather it was the stupidity of the current minister that did him in.” Harry shook his head.

“I think I deserve to hear it from the Weasley's.” Harry cut in. Ventus nodded and continued on with the other news he could think of. All positive. From Dark creatures to harsher bans on certain items or spells, Voldemort had his hand in everything. What was worse to Harry is that the wizarding world didn't seem to care.

“Oh did I mention about the new laws on the media? Only the truth can be printed nowadays.” Ventus snorted in laughter. “As soon as the no lie lawsuit came into play, Rita Skeeter found herself out of a job faster than you could say magic!” Harry's laughter echoed in the room.

“Serves her right! I couldn't believe the dribble they wrote about me at the prophet. Are they still in business?” Harry asked as soon as he caught his breath. Ventus nodded.

“Yes, but they had to do some major house cleaning in a hurry!” Harry smiled at that, then meeped when more food suddenly appeared on the table. Harry could hear a clock chiming in the bedroom.

'It's two already?' Harry looked to see Ventus shocked too. 'Well at least I'm not the only one.' Ventus and Harry took in a modest meal of sandwiches. After they where done, the dishes cleared away like they did at breakfast. Ventus sat back and gave Harry a hard look.

“What?” Harry huffed uncomfortable with the open scrutiny. Ventus pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand and took a deep breath.

“I'm trying to gather the courage to tell you where you fit in this world.” Ventus leaned forward to show how serious he was.”Harry, the Dark Lord is immortal and at the prime of his life.” Harry winced, he didn't want to hear that. “And you are the reason why.” Harry was too shocked to react. Ventus saw this as an opportunity to plow on. “You were not captured in battle or by a slytherin trick. The Dursley's drugged and handed you over to waiting deatheaters. Due to your high magical ability and your preexisting bond with the Dark Lord, it made you a perfect candidate for a dark ritual that would merge magic and freeze aging. Then, after much preparation, the spell was cast. Only there was some complications.” Harry took the plunge and asked it anyways.

“What complications?” Ventus sighed and crossed his fingers on his lap in a nervous gesture.

“For one, the effects were supposed to only work only on the Dark Lord. The deatheaters suddenly found that their ages reversed to your age Harry.” Harry's jaw officially dropped. “The result was that you expended too much magical power and went into a coma because of it.” Harry ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Which also means that you can never leave this place.” That got Harry's attention. “You are now tied to the Dark Lord directly and through him, his followers. You die, they die.” Harry was flabbergasted.

“What!?!” Harry squeaked. Ventus didn't meet Harry's eyes as he began to process the information. Harry thought he summed up the situation nicely in one word. “Fuck!” Ventus looked taken aback at Harry's language and tried not to choke on his own spit.

“Yes. I think that word is appropriate!” Ventus said as he tried not to laugh. After a few comfortable minutes, Ventus seemed to have an idea. “Let's take a tour of the grounds.” It was Harry's turn to choke.

“You-you think we can? But what about Voldemort? Won't he be angry that I'm out in the open?” Harry watched in amazement as Ventus laughed outright.

“I think you'll find that we are quite safe here Harry. Trust me.” Harry did.