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Care For A Dance?

*Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter. No money is made with this, I write out of love and not for money. Comments and kudos are more then welcome though. Enjoy!*

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29th October, 1981

“What in Morgana’s name are you saying, Lilly?”
“You heard me, James! I don’t care. We’re barely adults! Why the hell do we have to agree to be lead to the slaughterhouse like lambs?”
“I know it’s not fair! But Dumbledore said-”
“Dumbledore is not the one who’s life is on the line, is he?”
“I… no, but, Lilly! Harry is our son!”
“So?”

Silence. Then:

“I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Well, and I can’t believe a stupid prophecy locks us up in this house, because this motherfucker out there believes a baby will be his downfall. I’ll prove this is nothing but insanity.”
“What? No, you can’t possibly-”
“Silencio. Immobulus.”

X

Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort, stared bewildered at the bundle in his arm and then back at the redhead kneeling in front of him. He had seen many wear the mask of desperation and madness, but he hadn’t expected to see it in the face of one of his enemies. Especially not in the face of Lilly Potter, the woman who had fought him alongside the Order so often in the past. She was a witch he had come to both loathe and admire for her brain and her abilities. But now, months after they had last faced each other, she had shown up on his doorstep and handed him her son. One of the two possible children of the prophecy.

“See? Harry is just a baby. There is no way he will cause you any harm,” Lilly repeated, her voice trembling. Her green eyes where wet with tears and she had wrapped her arms around herself, hugging her torso. She made no move to reach out for her son. Which was just as disturbing as the whole ordeal, really.
“You realize that you both might die here?,” Tom drawled, twirling his wand in his free hand. He looked back down at the baby boy in his arm, then back at the child’s mother.
“Better dead then locked up in a prison that is supposed to feel like home. I didn’t sign up for any of this. I just wanted a place in this world, a place where I can be myself and live! Not this!”
“Well, Lilly Potter… I accept your offering.”
“… you do?”
“Do I have to repeat myself?” There was a dangerous edge to Tom’s voice and Lilly flinched.
“N-no. But I’m sure my husband will come for him. I…”
Her voice trailed off as if she didn’t know what to say. Her eyes left Tom’s for the first time that evening, looking at the Death Eaters who had their wands pointed at her.
“I don’t think James Potter will be much of a challenge,” Tom chuckled. And he meant it. Because he had experienced what kind of man James Potter was. The man was loyal, he worshiped the ground Dumbledore walked on, and was all for the Greater Good. But being betrayed like this? By one of his most trusted, his own wife? It would break the man. It would certainly cause enough damage to the wizard for James to start making mistakes.
“So… you will deal with them?”
“Mrs. Potter, you really are a terrible person,” one of the Death Eaters hissed, voice obscured by their mask. “Betraying your husband and your own flesh and blood like this and now you just want to get rid of them both?”
Usually Tom hated being interrupted like this, but in this case, his follower had taken his words right out of his mouth. Much to his amusement, the witch on the floor in front of him didn’t flinch this time.
“I didn’t sign up for this,” Lilly Potter repeated instead. She started rocking her body back and forth, as if in shock. A shame, really. Tom would have loved to pick her brains, or, even better, corrupt her and have her join his ranks on top of it. It would certainly damage the morals of the Light. Ah, but you can’t have it all, can you?

“Lead her outside and erase her memories of this place,” Tom ordered and watched as Lilly Potter was dragged outside of the room. She didn’t even struggle. Pity.
A noise made him look back down at the bundle in his arms. Harry James Potter had woken up and was staring up at him, tiny hands reaching for Tom’s robe. The child had green eyes just like his mother, but Harry’s reminded Tom of the killing curse, they were so vibrant. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Lucius. Take this child and take care of him. Monitor him closely. I’m not going to kill him, for now. The future will show if it is the Potter’s or the Longbottom’s child that was mentioned in the prophecy.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Lucius Malfoy said and stepped forward, taking the baby out of Tom’s arm. Tom watched the man leave. What an eventful night. Well, at least this would save him the trip to Godric’s Hollow. And maybe he would find different use for the traitorous rat that was Peter Pettigrew.

~17 years later~

“C’mon Harry! If you don’t hurry up, we will be late to the ball and you know how much mother hates being late!,” Draco called out, knocking at the door of his best friend’s bedroom. Well, if he was being honest, Harry was more like a little brother to him. Not that they were related, really. But ever since he remembered, Harry had been living with their family. He was basically a Malfoy. And today, the Malfoys had been once again invited to the ball celebrating the victory of the Dark Lord and the beginning of the new Age of Witches and Wizards in Great Britain. It was the first time that both Harry and Draco were old enough to participate in the festivities. Both boys were excited, even though Harry was a little more nervous about possibly being antagonized because of his blood family’s actions in the war. But Draco would watch out for him and protect him. This was going to be fun! If Harry would finally finish getting ready and join them, that is.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!,” Harry called and opened the door. Draco looked him up and down and whistled lowly.
“Merlin, Harry, you really dressed up nicely. Expecting a certain someone to be at the ball?,” Draco teased, but rolled his eyes as Harry just stared at him blankly, confused.
“What are you talking about, Dray?”
“You’re no fun. I can’t even tease you. All the people you like are fictional,” Draco bemoaned, posing theatrically.
Harry giggled, green eyes sparkling. He had tamed his unruly black hair with a bow in the back and was wearing black and emerald green dress robes with snake details, as snakes and owls where Harry’s favorite animals.
“Boys! Are you coming?,” Narcissa Malfoy called and both young men startled.
“Yes, Cissy!,” Harry replied and then they both rushed down to the foyer where they were going to floo to the ball.

~*~

The ball was in full swing and every attending witch and wizard seemed to have a great time dancing, talking or raiding the very rich and diverse buffet. Harry took a deep breath and leaned against the ridiculously large flower pot on the balcony. He had gone outside here for some fresh air, because he needed a little break from all the people, their voices and especially, their eyes on him. So far, everyone had been either nice or at least polite, and Harry was thankful for it. He just wasn’t much of a people person. His best friend Draco kept calling him an introvert and Harry very much agreed. He had his people, mainly his family, and that was good enough for him.

“You taste like stress,” an unknown voice hissed from somewhere next to him. Startled, Harry straightened and stared into the direction. A very large snake was lying curled up on the balcony railing, forked tongue coming out to taste the air. How had Harry not seen her when he had gone outside? The snake didn’t look like any kind of snake Harry had seen before, at least not those out of a dictionary. But that didn’t mean anything in a world full of magic.

“Hello there,” Harry hissed back softly. He wisely didn’t approach the snake. He didn’t know if they were the kind to attack or if they were a nice snake after all.
“A speaker? What’s your name?,” came the surprised reply and Harry couldn’t help but smile. It was always nice to see someone being happy about that ability of his. It had been quite a surprise, but Harry had just been happy to be able to speak to his new friend, a garden snake named Esme, back in the day his Parselmouth ability first showed itself. That the Dark Lord’s supporter read his ability as a sign to trust him a bit more despite his birth parents’ alignment with the Light and the Order was a nice bonus.

“I’m Harry,” Harry introduced himself. “You are very beautiful. I’ve never seen a snake like you before. What’s your name?”
“Thank you. My master calls me Nagini.”
The smile froze on Harry’s face. There was only one snake going by the name Nagini that he knew of. And that snake was…
Harry’s train of thought got disturbed by a new voice coming from the balcony door.
“Did you make a friend, Nagini?”

Harry quickly turned and then froze in shock at the sight of the Dark Lord himself standing in the open glass door leading outside. Harry hadn’t seen the man in years, the last time being when the ruler of Britain’s wizarding world had visited Hogwarts during his second year. Harry had heard that this ‘chance meeting’ too had been a checkup to see if he or Neville Longbottom showed signs of being the child of a certain prophecy.

“Master!,” Nagini greeted happily and slithered closer to them. “This is Harry. He is a speaker.”
Dark red eyes, the color of rich wine, bore into Harry’s green ones and made Harry remember his manners.
“My Lord!,” he exclaimed and bowed. He didn’t notice that he was still speaking Parseltongue.
“Stand,” the Dark Lord ordered and Harry did as told, slowly. His eyes dragged over the tasteful dress robes with silver embroidery, up to the pale face with high cheekbones, framed by dark curls of silky looking hair.
“I heard that you are a Parselmouth. It’s nice to meet another one gifted with the tongue of snakes,” the Dark Lord said, voice smooth.
“Y-yeah, it is,” Harry agreed, internally cringing at his stutter and then hastily added: “Sir!” He hadn’t done anything wrong, he had no reason to be nervous. Well, aside from the deeds of his birth family, but honestly, Harry has long since grown tired of his life being overshadowed by them.

“How did you discover your gift?,” his conversation partner asked while Nagini slid up his arm, the older wizard seemingly uncaring about the extra weight on him.
“I met a garden snake named Esme when I was about thirteen years old and at home during summer break. We became friends quickly,” Harry explained, slowly relaxing at the familiarity of the story. “When I had to return to Hogwarts, she decided to tag along.”
“Ah, I see. Esme is not with you today.” The sentence was voiced like a question, prompting Harry to elaborate himself.
“No, she isn’t. Esme isn’t exactly a fan of people or big crowds.”
“And neither are you?”
The Dark Lord looked amused and Harry found himself blushing a bit.
“No, not really. My friend, Draco Malfoy, he claims I’m an introvert and I agree. I came out here to get some fresh air and a break, before I met Nagini. She’s a very beautiful and impressive snake,” Harry said, smiling at the snake in question. She dipped her head, sending an approving hiss into Harry’s direction.
“That she is,” her master agreed, and reached up to pet Nagini’s head affectionately.

Silence fell over them and slowly, the tension from before crept back up. Harry shifted a bit, wondering if he could just move past the Dark Lord and go back inside without coming off as rude or worse, without it being seen as an attempt in attacking the wizard.
“Harry.”
“My Lord?” Harry straightened. Would he be dismissed now, and therefore released from his misery?
“I enjoy talking to you. It’s always a pleasure being able to speak Parseltongue with someone else. Would you do me a favor and keep me company for the rest of the evening?”
The bold request rendered Harry speechless. The Dark Lord, the wizard who was maybe his sworn enemy, according to a prophecy anyway, asked him, Harry Potter, a barely adult youngling, to… what exactly? Be his date for the ball?
“Uh….,” Harry made intelligently, staring up with wide eyes. “Me? Are you sure?”
The man frowned. “Why do you think you wouldn’t be a sufficient company for me?”
Belatedly, Harry remembered that the Dark Lord was known to be an excellent legilimens.
“I mean no offense!,” Harry immediately explained. “I just don’t understand! While I understand wanting to talk to another Parselmouth… I’m… me… sir. Won’t people talk?
“Talk about what, Harry?”

Harry felt his face heat up the longer he thought about it. Oh no! He really spent too much time reading those books if this was where his mind chose to go. Of course the Dark Lord didn’t mean for this to be an invitation to the ball, much less a dance! He just wanted to take their chat inside, maybe have a drink? Right? That had to be it! Maybe he also wanted to see what kind of person Harry was, which, fine. He got it. And now Harry had made it awkward.

A rich, dark chuckle interrupted his inner torment. “Ah, you sure are entertaining. While I have to admit, I didn’t plan to dance tonight, now I kind of want to. As for people talking, they talk anyway. Why not give them a reason to? So, let me ask officially.”
And with that, a strong yet elegant hand reached out towards Harry.
“Care for a dance, Harry Potter?”
And what else was Harry supposed to say other then: “Yes, my Lord.”

And with that, Harry took the Dark Lord’s hand and let himself be let back inside, along with Nagini. They made their way to the dancefloor and Harry let himself be led through a familiar set of steps, his eyes on the wizard in front of him. He was unable to hear the whispering or feel the stares. His whole attention was on the man who held his hand and had a firm hold on his waist. What an experience. His first time at a ball outside of school and he got to dance with the man of the hour himself? Harry was sure no future event was going to top this. He smiled and when the song ended, neither of them made a move to leave the dance floor. The night was still young, after all.

🐍 The End! 🐍