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“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies..”
Severus Snape sat across from a Dark Lord.
“Those were her words?” The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, that is what she said.” Severus said to his mentor.
“Please. As if a baby could ‘vanquish’ the Dark Lord Voldemort.” Voldemort rolls his eyes. “I will not kill a magical child. Regardless, you will be rewarded for your loyalty.”
Severus rises from his seat and kneels at the Dark Lord’s feet. “Thank you, my Lord.”
Thus, when exactly a year later, Lily Evans Potter is announced to have given birth to a son at the night of the 31st of July, Severus Snape kneels once again for forgiveness from his only love.
-
Severus convinces Lily Potter and her family to step out of the war for the safety of their child. The war was hopeless, centuries of oppression of Dark Creatures had led to a revolt like no other. Slowly, more and more families withdraw from the war. Every light family from the Longbottom’s to the Weasley’s withdrew from the war. Sirius Black was tired of fighting with people he had grown up playing with, he had wanted to mourn his younger brother, so he withdraws leaving the Light short on one of its’ strongest soldiers. Albus Dumbledore and the Ministry were forced to admit defeat. Thus, began a regime which wasn’t as oppressive as the Light had expected. In fact it was a lot more fair then their regime. Other than muggleborns being stolen from their houses, but most pure-blooded families tended to turn a blind eye to that one.
Harry grows up a happy child with parents who dote on him endlessly.
His parents and godparents spoil him with gifts, toys and food. Harry grows up a lot chubbier than he would have in different circumstances. He grows up with a fluffy dog who carries him around the house and only answers to ‘Paddy!’, a tired man who always carries chocolate in his pockets (one of the contributing factors for Harry’s chubby cheeks), a short man who is chubbier than Harry and a skinny man who ties his hair back and always smiles at Harry’s ‘Uncle Sev!’
Harry receives his Hogwarts letter at eleven, just like every other child in the wizarding world. He’s sorted into Slytherin, making his Uncle Sev cry for the first time, while his dad and other uncles are forced to hand 5 galleons over to Uncle Sev.
-
The Triwizard Tournament is held at Hogwarts in Harry’s fourth year, filling the school with students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons and many ministry officials, including the Minister of Magic Lucius Malfoy, who only visits occasionally, and Lord Voldemort who’s given rooms of his own.
Harry claps politely when Cedric Diggory is announced a Triwizard Contestant and elbows Draco when he begins complaining.
“Why did it have to be pretty boy Diggory? It could have been anyone else.” Draco whines, his trademark ‘my father will hear about this’ isn’t present. In fact it hasn't been present since December of first year when Harry sat him and down and none-too-gently told him he sounds like a brat.
“Draco, if you think he’s pretty, you should just ask him out. No point complaining.” Harry pats his friends shoulder in support.
“I think you’re pretty too, should I be asking you out?” Draco huffs out.
“You think I’m pretty?”
Draco scowls at Harry batting his eyes and leaves. “Draco! You haven’t even had dinner!”
“They sure are sensitive these days, aren’t they?” Harry mutters to himself.
Out of boredom he scans the head table, he finds Uncles Moony and Sev in a quiet conversation with Lord Voldemort. Weird.
Harry thinks Lord Voldemort is quite hot, in a DILF way.
-
The first Task passes in the grimmest case of animal cruelty Harry had witnessed. He didn’t know how everyone else was able to still cheer when the dragon was crying for her eggs. Was Harry the only one who cheered when Fleur Delacour’s skirt is lit up on fire? Was he the only one who teared up slightly when Viktor Krum accidentally crushes one of the eggs and the mother screeches in agony? Why is everyone okay with this?!
Hermione was crying next to him, perhaps she also felt the same. Harry is comforted slightly by that, unaware that he was crushing his friends fingers in his tight grip.
Cedric Diggory does not harm the dragon but distracts it using a transfigured dog. Harry is shocked such a simple scheme worked on the intelligent creature, but then again, Paddy had distracted him every birthday while his family snuck behind him with cake.
Harry sneaks out that night to comfort the dragons.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He strokes a claw that was closest to him.
“My child! They killed my child!” The dragon only howled in response.
“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure they’re punished.” Harry vows to the dragon.
“What punishment! It will not bring my child back!”
Harry’s soft mutterings of comfort are interrupted by a redhead whistling softly. “Harry Potter, the dragon whisperer.”
“Charlie! You’re lucky that dragon’s asleep! We could have both been roast meat!” Harry’s reprimand is ruined by him jumping on Charlie.
“I know, Harry! Dragon handler remember?” Charlie laughs softly and only hugs the younger teenager closer. “Why didn’t you come last night with Ron? I asked him to come show you the dragons.”
Harry only smiles back at Charlie. Him and Ron hadn’t been friends since their first year at Hogwarts. In between Ron spending most of his time with Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, and Harry spending his with Draco and Hermione, they just naturally drifted.
Harry’s summers were mostly spent with the twins or studying with Percy when he visited the burrow. He sometimes visited Malfoy manor with Sirius, who reverts to a child every time he sees his cousin Cissy.
Him and Ron still exchanged polite smiles, but that was the limit of their interactions. Harry feels that perhaps his Slytherin sorting broke more than just his dad’s expectations.
-
Viktor Krum starts hanging around the library whenever Hermione, Harry and Draco were. Harry starts debating which one of them Viktor was crushing on. Viktor confirms his crush on Hermione by asking her out to the Yule Ball, leaving Hermione a blushing mess.
Harry? Harry follows Viktor out and gives him a thorough talking to.
“I know you’re some star in your own little world, but did you really have to crush that egg?”
Viktor only blinks in response.
“The first Task, Krum! The poor mother was in agony, how would you feel if someone crushes your eggs?”
Viktor winces and Harry is presented by a brilliant idea.
Dusting his knees, Harry walks away satisfied leaving a howling Krum lying on the ground.
A small beetle witnesses this scene and the next morning the Daily Prophet publishes an article on the love triangle between Harry, Viktor and Hermione.
The rumours follow him for weeks.
-
The morning after the Yule Ball, an article is published on Hermione choosing Viktor and Harry’s rebound being Draco.
Harry decides to escape to the astronomy tower, followed by a flock of owls.
He replies to the letters from his parents, his dad offering mocking words of comfort to Harry’s amusement.
He stays at the astronomy tower all day. Draco stops by at some point to drop some food and books for him to read.
His stargazing is interrupted by a warm body settling next to him, Harry looks at a great white python. “Hello there. Aren’t you Lord Voldemort’s familiar?” Harry strokes through the snakes scaley skin.
“Yes. My name is Nagini. What is yours hatchling?”
Harry likes snakes, they always find him and speak to him.
“Harry.” He pauses. Should he be giving his name to Voldemort’s pet? He shrugs, it’s too late anyway, perhaps the connection will serve him well when he applies for a job. “It’s too high here, be careful you don’t slip off the edge, Nagini.”
Nagini hisses, “thank you for your concern, Harry.”
Was that considered a laugh?
His name sounded weird coming from her mouth.
Harry spends the rest of his night in the company of the python, enjoying her many tales. He learns of her past and her Lord’s rescue of her. Harry decides he likes Lord Voldemort, much like he likes the giant gamekeeper. They both treasured animals. Although now that he thinks about it, Lord Voldemort approved the Tasks, maybe he doesn’t like him so much.
-
The first day of term, Harry finally graces the Great Hall with his presence. He had grown used to sneaking food out of the kitchens and spending his day at the astronomy tower. Nagini occasionally joins him, wrapping up her body around his for body heat. Draco once screams at the top of his voice at the sight, but he was always a little dramatic.
“I was thinking of asking Astoria out next Hogsmeade?” Draco had hated his fiancé at first, Harry is glad to hear that’s no longer the case.
“That sounds nice. Where will you be taking her?”
Harry’s ideal date had always been a dinner followed by a long walk in the starry night, but then again Harry always considered himself a romantic, so he tries not to be too disappointed with Draco for taking his fiancé to Madame Puddifoots.
“Get her some flowers too! I think her favourites were white roses. They suit her, really.” Harry comments. He feels a bit unsettled, as if he was watched.
“How do you know her favourite flowers?” Draco demands. He’s always been demanding, a trait not even Harry could train out.
Harry spots Lord Voldemort looking at him. Did Nagini snitch on him? Of course she did, she was his familiar.
He scans the rest of the table and finds Uncle Sev also looking at him, only he looked worried. He tilts his head, only to receive a soft shake of head from his Uncle.
Harry really really hopes he’s not in trouble.
-
Lily, James, Sirius and Severus sat huddled on a table discussing the incident.
“He asked about him.”
“Do you think its about the prophecy?”
“He asked about him.”
“No, no, why would that come out after fifteen years-”
“He asked about him.”
“-besides, wouldn’t he ask about Neville as well if that was the case?”
“He asked about him!”
“Oh for the love of all that is Holy, can you stop repeating yourself, Black?” Severus finally snapped.
“You try relaxing when the Dark Lord is asking about your godson!”
“Did it escape your tiny brain that Harry is my godson?”
Harry joins the table and thinks that Paddy and Uncle Sev are fighting over him again. “Mom, Dad, I missed you. Uncle Sev, Paddy, I told you that I love you both equally, you don’t need to fight over me.”
“Oh, thank Merlin. Harry!” Sirius hugs him tightly, only letting go when his parents cough.
“Nothing would have happened to him in the hour that I left him alone in the castle!” Uncle Sev snaps.
Someone’s moody today. Harry slips a small chocolate into his Uncle’s palm, nodding in understanding at his confused glance.
Harry with a hot chocolate in between his palms, cuddled in between his parents sighs in delight.
“Harry, have you spoken to Lord Voldemort recently?” his mom begins cautiously.
“No, why?” Maybe Nagini did snitch on him. He’s no longer going to speak to her, the snake.
“Did you do anything to catch his attention.” Harry diverts his gaze, this feels like a lot like an interrogation. “Harry, what did you do?”
“Promise you won’t be mad?”
“Of course, we won’t. We’re just trying to protect you, Harry. Lord Voldemort is a powerful man.” His mom begins.
“All of you promise.” Harry was mostly scared of his Uncle Sev, who was too overprotective for his own good.
They all promise and Harry proceeds to watch all of them break it.
“I play with his snake sometimes.”
Paddy jumps up in shock, Uncle Sev knocks all the drinks off the table in anger and his parents clutch him tighter. A bit of an overreaction, Nagini wasn’t too bad.
“That perverted fucker.” Paddy proceeds with a choice of diction Harry doesn’t think he’s heard before.
Uncle Sev silences Paddy to the thanks of his mother.
“Harry, when you say snake, what exactly do you mean?” she asks shakily.
“Nagini. His familiar? Does he have another snake?” Nagini was poisonous but surely even she doesn’t warrant such an overreaction.
All four of the adults sigh in relief before tensing up.
“And how exactly do you play with this snake?” Uncle Sev asks.
“Well, she tells me stories a lot. Sometimes, we cuddle and I tell her about the constellations.”
His family gapes at him slowly, “Harry, when you say speak to snakes, what exactly do you mean?” Uncle Sev asks.
“Well, we talk? Do you not speak to magical snakes sometimes?” Harry sounded uncertain, maybe normal people didn’t speak to snakes.
“Oh come on, there’s an easy solution to this. Serpensortia.” Sirius, ever the reckless being that he is, summons a great snake to the middle of their table. A very pissed snake that was in brumation.
“Black!”
Harry ignores the adults observing him and focuses on calming down the serpent. Once she calms, Harry glares at Sirius. “Paddy! How would you feel if you woke up from your nap to four giants staring at you? Return her this instant.”
His parents looked disturbed, Uncle Sev awed while Paddy just whistles. “Prongsie, you have literally birthed the ultimate Slytherin, how’d you manage that one?”
“Sev, Lord Voldemort must know. What will we do?” she clutches Harry’s arm, causing him to wince slightly.
“He’s not that bad,” Harry interferes, “Nagini told me he saved her, and all those poor children, like Hermione.”
“Harry, Hermione was taken away from her home.” James said. “She can’t speak to her parents anymore.”
“Mom wasn’t taken away and she doesn’t speak to her sister anymore.” He pointed out.
Lily Potter was stumped.
“That’s because Tuney is a piece of-” Uncle Sev’s sentence was cut short by a glare from his mom.
“Who’s Tuney?” Harry was ignored. The adults continued on their conversation without him and he decides to slip away.
-
The months pass by and nothing in Harry’s life changes, his family are comforted now that Lord Voldemort’s attention is no longer on him. Harry refuses to converse with Nagini in anger but does not refuse her cuddles.
The second Task is held in the middle of February, Draco and Harry are beyond themselves with worry at Hermione’s disappearance.
At Krum reemerging with Hermione from the Black Lake, Harry scowls, a wandless heating charm encompassing them both.
“Are you okay?” he asks after Hermione, flicking a few bugs of her shoulder before setting a towel. He thought a drying charm might be a bit much.
“Yes, yes. Professor Dumbledore put us to sleep beforehand.”
Professor Dumbledore was another man Harry didn’t know how to feel about. The man seemed so out of it most of the time, Harry suspected it was all the candy the man ate. He once had Sherbet Lemon offered by the man and he felt like he was cloud nine for a good few hours. He mentioned it to his Uncle Sev once, only to receive a few pats on his head and advice not to eat any more. Not that he listened. Every time he was sad, he snuck into Dumbledore’s office to steal a Sherbet Lemon.
-
The third Task consisted of a maze so intricate that Harry wished he could compete. When Cedric Diggory wins, Harry cheers wholeheartedly.
The Triwizard contingent leaves Hogwarts the next day, Harry only knows the implication when he isn’t joined by Nagini for their daily cuddle that night.
He sneaks into Dumbledore’s office only to be caught yellow-handed.
“Hello, Harry.” Harry does not jump two feet in the air.
“Hello, Professor.”
“What brings you here, my boy?” Dumbledore asks conversationally, his eyes twinkling.
“Your lovely company, professor.”
“Really?” At Harry’s enthusiastic nod, Dumbledore smiles. “You wont mind joining me for a game of chess now then?”
Harry is served in five consequent games and has to beg the professor to let him go.
-
The years pass by slowly. Harry sometimes misses Nagini especially when he stargazes every weekend.
His friends are all happy, Draco’s relationship with Astoria has developed greatly with Astoria joining their friend group. Hermione had begun dating Ron Weasley at the beginning of 6th year, following a peaceful break up with Viktor Krum. Harry and Ron slowly fell back into the dynamics of their old friendship, and Harry is told about Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour’s engagement before the formal invitations are sent out.
-
Dear Mr. Harry Potter,
Lord Voldemort greets Mr. Potter.
Your talents have been discovered and acknowledged by Lord Voldemort, please join me for dinner on the 21st of August at Delicour.
Kind Regards,
Lord Voldemort.
Harry blinks at the letter delivered on the eve of his 17th birthday. He reads over it again. He takes out a quill and a formal letter parchment.
Dear Lord Voldemort,
Thank you for acknowledging my talents. Would it be possible for Severus Snape to join this dinner?
Kind Regards,
Harry James Potter
Their correspondence continues and Harry admits that Lord Voldemort is a great conversationalist if not for his insistent use of third person.
The days slip and the 21st of August shocks him. He still hadn’t told Uncle Sev about the dinner.
“Pray tell, Harry, why does Lord Voldemort want to meet you for dinner?”
“He sent me a letter on my birthday saying he acknowledged my talents. Perhaps, he wants to offer me a job in the ministry?”
“And why are you telling me about this dinner now?” Severus drawled in a way that Harry really wishes he could mimic.
“I forgot?” a rolled up newspaper swats his cheek.
Nevertheless, that evening Harry Potter and Severus Snape walk into Delicour in matching wizarding robes.
“I must admit, Harry, I was surprised you’ve invited someone to our date.” Severus does not spit out his drink. Harry hands him a napkin. “Nonetheless, Lord Voldemort is understanding.”
Why does he keep on speaking in third person, what a weirdo. Then again, Harry is not too normal himself.
“Forgive me, Lord Voldemort. A what now?” Harry tries to keep a monotone face. Surely, laughing at Lord Voldemort’s face will only result in a death sentence.
“A date, Harry. Perhaps, courting might be more suitable considering your choice of chaperone.” Lord Voldemort muses. “Voldemort would be fine from you Harry.”
A date continues with both Harry and Voldemort conversing and jointly ignoring Severus’ pale face and existence.
-
“Lily!” Severus’ sleeve is rolled up as he holds Harry’s arm in a tight grip. “LILY EVANS!” Severus screams, for Lily had always been Lily Evans to him and never Lily Evans Potter as was her legal name.
“Sev! Is everything okay.” She runs into the living room of their two room cottage, observing her best friend manhandling her wincing son. “Let go of Harry, Sev.”
“No. Do you know how I just spent my evening, Lils?” Severus’ voice took a dangerous turn. “I spent it chaperoning your son on his date with the Dark Lord.”
A few vases snap at Severus’ words, Lily’s accidental magic shows up for first time since she was a child.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry sat on the armchair in their living room while he was surrounded by his parents, uncle Sev and Paddy.
“In my defence, I didn’t know it was a date. I thought he wanted to give me a job.”
“He’s really not that bad!”
Just as Paddy is shaking his shoulders rather violently, “NOT THAT BAD?” a pop sounds behind them, and all five occupants turn to where a bouquet of white roses, a card and a ring box sat innocuously.
“To Harry,
Voldemort thanks you for your lovely presence this evening.
Patiently awaiting your response.
Best Wishes,
Voldemort”
Harry must admit, the letter doesn’t sound so pleasant in Uncle Sev’s monotone. He sneakily grabs the ring box, which opens to expose a very gaudy ring with a clear stone set on a gold band. “Voldemort has really weird taste.” he slips it on his ring finger and admires it, despite his words.
“Harry! Why are you putting the ring on?” His dad exclaimed.
“Because it was a gift?” Harry was confused.
“The Dark Lord used to kill people.” Paddy said.
“But that was in the past. He doesn’t kill people anymore, right, Uncle Sev?”
“Why are you asking me?” Uncle Sev really thought he was so secretive. Harry found out in second year that his uncle was a loyal follower of the Dark Lord, he had the membership tattoo and all. “He doesn’t.”
“Still, Harry, he did very bad things.” Lily tries to reinforce her point. She felt a bit left out of the conversation, it seemed whenever Sirius and Sev were over, they completely took over her son’s life. She wasn’t jealous or anything, but he’s her son.
“So? Grindelwald did very bad things, that didn’t stop professor Dumbledore from visiting him.” Harry does not point out that he had planted the idea in Dumbledore’s head in the first place to escape their chess games.
“How do you know that?” his dad asked. Harry looks away. Perhaps, now isn’t a good time for his parents to find out he’s received a thank you letter from Mr. Grindelwald.
“Harry!” what does Harry do? He apparates away and hides at the Malfoys for a few days (weeks).
-
Harry’s correspondence with Voldemort continues, their dates chaperoned by Uncle Sev on some occasions and Narcissa Malfoy in others. Although given the fact that those dates had been held in Malfoy Manor, it really doesn’t count for much. Sometimes, Narcissa gives him very worried looks when Voldemort caresses his cheek, an action which never happens in the presence of Uncle Sev. Harry just ignores them.
When Harry tells Voldemort, “you know, V, third person isn’t an attractive look on you.” Severus looks mortified, his wand slips from his sleeve into his palm. Voldemort just laughs.
His parents slowly come to terms with their courtship and eventually even meet Voldemort to set a wedding date.
Voldemort also allows Harry and Nagini to reconnect, with Nagini often spending her nights at the Potter Cottage in Harry’s presence. The stories they exchange are endless.
Harry and Voldemort hold a very lovely wedding in the summer. Of all their guests, Nagini is happiest.
-
Throughout their five year marriage, Harry never asked for much. Voldemort, who was used to thinking about himself, was guilted by Harry’s selflessness, for Voldemort only took and Harry happily gave.
So when Harry expresses a desire to become a father, Voldemort, who had never wanted to sire a child reads parenting books and invests in Muggle Surrogacy.
Harry is father to five children, three of which are his and two are Voldemort’s. They grow up in a much happier home than Voldemort himself had, and Voldemort is finally satisfied with his lot in life.
When two centuries later, Harry succumbs to his death, Voldemort spends his eternity waiting on his lover’s reincarnation before destroying all his horcruxes and welcoming death with open arms.