Warning: Violence, language, character death. Credit to JKR. Sorry it took so long but I had writer's block

Because I Said

By WittchWay

Voldemort smirk, So the great Dumbledore was here? Had come for his little wizarding savior...how nice. Voldemort rushed through the front doors of his family home quickly followed by his Death Eaters, his young son at his side. He stopped on the main stairs leading down to the yard, and the territory outside the gate where the real battle was taking place. He turned to look at them, eyeing each one...all had their masks in place.

The air tingled with magical energy, over head as a battle of curses sailed through the air as a queue of owls took flight neatly dodging the hexes. Voldemort watched as more cries of battle took place off in the distance, he smirked again. This battle was one he was sure he would win…now that Harry Potter was on his side, now that his son had returned to him. They were fighting on his territory, all the death eaters had been assembled when the battle had commenced. The only concern being his precious son's loyalty. If it faltered now…well the death of Potter would follow.

Voldemort hadn't been surprised at the attack, really had been expecting it ever since Potter had arrived. But the added bonus of Dumbledore was more than he had expected. Potter's possible betrayal and leaving must have pushed him to the limit...Voldemort smirked again precious Dumbledore coming to save his only line of defense. The only one strong enough to defeat Voldemort...would of course be his heir.

Lord Voldemort crossed the yard closely followed by Harry who was watching the wild animals jumping in the trees.

They followed the drive toward a high grass field that lay before the woods. The Death Eaters were the loudest there. They seemed to be taunting something in the field. Voldemort stood a distance watching them amuse them selves. They were always easily entertained. He scanned the horizon. More death eaters were across in the cemetery and more beyond the gates fighting Aurors.

"My Lord," one of the nameless addressed Voldemort kneeling, "We have Dumbledore…there" he pointed back toward the field.

Voldemort smiled, saying nothing strode across toward the gathering. The crowd parted for him. Welcoming their Dark Lord.

Dumbledore was thrown forward, falling to his knees. The long blades of grass cut across his cheeks and hands as he landed. Small thistles burned beneath his skin, he gasped for air causing short pains in his chest. His eyeglasses knocked a skew, the white strains of hair and beard slung over his shoulder, knotted strangely together.

The sky darkened, twisting between day and night. Owls and other bird of prey swooped in and out of sight. Dumbledore's blurred vision cleared momentarily, as the two wizards seemed to emerge from a mist. He would have chuckled at the surrealness of the situation if he weren't so close to the end.

He ran his hands through the grass and weeds searching for his wand. "Accio wand" he mumbled over and over again praying his trusted wand would come to him.

Black boots stepped on his hand just as he found his wand. A small push forward and the boot cut into his hand, he looked up to see Harry Potters green eyes gleaming down at him. Harry smiled sweetly bending down taking the wand from the old wizard, "Professor Dumbledore," he whispered. "It's so nice of you to visit."

Voldemort smirked, "Albus," he chuckled "Somehow I always though that your demise would be more graceful and elegantly executed."

Voldemort knelt next to the old man his demeanor mocking, "Somehow I thought there would be more of a challenge. I got my son back so easily.... I won so easily"

Dumbledore eased up till he was propped up on one elbow, "Overly confident as ever Tom." Dumbledore looked directly at Harry holding out his hand, "Once again Harry Potter I offer you my friendship."

Startled Harry stepped back, this man had to be mad. He was as good as defeated, he was on his back at Riddle Manor, surrounded by death eaters. What made Dumbledore think he could possible win with him by his side? Harry shook his head, "I'll stay with my family" he emphasized the last words.

Dumbledore pulled himself up to his knees still in obvious pain, "Again, Harry I offer you my friendship."

Harry's eyes widened, "I told you before Albus, I decline, I'm with my family. Family you denied me", the anger apparent in his voice, in the gleam of hate in his eyes.

"Foolish boy you are just a pawn he needs to kill me. Certainly you heard the only wizard Lord Voldemort ever feared was I. He will use you, torture you and kill you. As soon as he gets a chance... foolish child you

are as good at dead," Dumbledore attempted to stand.

Harry looked at Voldemort. This was the moment that Lord Voldemort had been waiting for. The test of true loyalty. But Harry smirked and he knew the boy's loyalty was instantly his. The boy's anger at Dumbledore was permanent and he had his son's forever loyalties.

Voldemort straightened his back pulling himself to his full height, he pulled his cape from his shoulders letting it pool around his feet. He raised his wand as Dumbledore stretched out a weary hand, "Last time

Harry...take my hand"

Harry shook his head a cold look crossed his face, as if Dumbledore was little more than filth on the ground.

Dumbledore hissed, "foolish child...I will give you a final piece of advice since you seem so intent on this path. Don't let him remove your mothers sacrifice...your only protection, remove that and you are as good as dead."

Dumbledore lay on the ground looking up to the boy who stood above him. Harry didn't answer this time, he simply snapped the headmasters wand and tossed it besides him. Dumbledore looked in raged. He cradled his right wand hand to his chest. Feeling the broken bones in the hand he twisted as he made an attempt to get to his knees. Harry's boot caught him in the chest as he was pushed back to the ground.

He watched Harry's cold expression, the frozen features on his face. Dumbledore shook his head, How had the boy learned not to care in such a short time? "Going to kill me Harry? Going to take my life?" Dumbledore's breathing was rapid, "Think that will repay your dept to Voldemort?" he gasped out

Harry felt the cool hand on his shoulder, Voldemort's slide his hand down to clasp his left hand, "Together Harry Potter" he whispered. Harry raised his wand, catching Voldemort's wand rise out of the corner of his eye. A surge of magic tingled through him. The air seemed to come alive, his mind felt a haze settle, Death eaters laughs and jeers curses sounded around him.

Dumbledore lunged forward and seized the hem of Harry's robes, "he won't forgive you Harry, he'll never forgive you...." the old wizard screamed as Death Eaters gripped the man under his arms dragging him back. They dropped him face down, the smudges of soil in his beard and face, a desperate plead crossed his face, "Don't do this Harry...I beg you" he whispered.

Harry knelt pulling his hand from Voldemort's, "Am I to believe you Albus Dumbledore. Am I to listen to your half-truths, Am I to listen to you skirt around the questions I've asked for years. This is my life you toy with."

Harry rose, looking at his father, red eyes glared down at him, Voldemort looked at his young son, and held out his badly scared right hand. Harry looked down at the hand, long knobby fingers, the same as his. Harry clasped it tightly with his left, "together son, on three."

"Yes father". Harry stood shoulder to shoulder with Lord Voldemort, turning to face Dumbledore withering on the ground.

"Avada Kedavra" father and son shouted.

Fear froze on the old mans face, his eyes locked on Harry Potter, and he fell back to lie between the tangles of the overgrown yard. Harry stumbled into the body of his father, the force of magic seemed to drain him instantly, Voldemort gripped him softly by the shoulder. "That happens the first time you cast the killing curse son. Come back to the house". Harry stared at Dumbledore's dead body on the grown, He stumbled again his knees felt weak and drained of all energy. He barely heard Voldemort mutter to come back to the house. Harry dizzily glanced at all the Death Eaters, spinning he collapsed, Macnair caught him on the way down, he let him self be carried back to the house, his home, his families home.

***

Hours later: Harry woke in a silent living room of the Riddle house. He lay there for a long time staring up at the ceiling and the shadows that danced across it. The house was overwhelmingly silent to silent. Harry looked toward the window as orange flecks of light sped across the horizon, a ghostly shadow of the moon hung in the sky.

Harry sat up untangling the blanket that had hastily been thrown over him, a gripping tightening of his chest shot through him and down his left arm. He franticly tore at the sleeve of his shirt, lifting it up half expecting to see the dark mark burned into his pale skin. He sighed a slight relief as he stood from the couch crossing to where his robe lay over a green chair.

Harry sank to the floor, rubbing his face in the fabric of the robe, tears prickled at the corner of his eyes. And now he was in a house, in a home with wizards he did not know, a man who would have seen him dead as of last week. Harry held his knees to his chest, rocking slowly as the guilt of Dumbledore's death weighted heavily on his chest.

Quite sometime passed as Harry attempted to force the death of his once mentor from his mind. He had no idea what would happen when he left this room, had Voldemort forgiven him. Was that implied? Harry wiped his face on the back of his hand and stood. There was only one way to find out.

There still was no noise in the house except the occasion creek of footsteps. Harry eased into the library off to the right of the staircase, a wild fire burned in the hearth, Nagini, the serpent, Harry had only seen in his nightmares coiled before the fire lifted her head. A shiver settled down Harry's spine, he crept forward to stand next to Voldemort's chair, his emerald eyes watched the enchanted fire until his eyes burned and he half forgot where he was.

It was little more than a whisper when Voldemort broke the silence, "You have your mother's eyes"

Harry turned to meet the glazing stare of his would be father, red slit eyes stared up at him, a green tinge raced through the dark lord's skin. Harry dropped to his knees, staring up at the man, "How...how'd you know my mother?"

Voldemort looked down at his young son staring at him intently. He cupped Harry's chin, feeling the boy freeze under his hold. "It doesn't hurt..." Harry stuttered.

Voldemort caressed the boy's cheek, brushing a strand of hair away from the boy's forehead to reveal the cursed scar of his mother's love. Harry shrugged as his father traced the outline of the scar, he could feel a tolerable burn underneath the scar. Harry lay his cheek on Voldemort's knee, he could feel the man weave his fingers threw his raven hair stroking it softly.

Even with the fire burning Harry felt cold settle over him. They were both silent for to long, Harry was lost in the innocence of his hair being petted a fatherly touch.

"Your mother was a beautiful woman... "

He was silent a moment longer, "...She loved you..."

Voldemort waived him away. "So like your mother you are...believe it or not I had not intended to kill her that fateful night, I simple came to get what was mine." He tapped Harry on the forehead.

"...Then why did you, why couldn't I have stayed with her...did you rape her" he whispered his voice fading at the end.

Voldemort turned surveying his only heir, "Contrary to popular belief I am not a monster Harry Potter. I do not rape and plunder villages...your mother sweet little Mudblood that she is ran into me...quite literally."

He sat in the winged back chair in front of the hearth, "Sit" he pointed at the ottoman in front of him, "I was far different looking them what I am today. I still had a lush head of hair them, such as the vanities of beauty. I still was human...well more so then now. I believe I have told you before I took precautions against death, mortality."

"Did you come there that night to kill me," Harry sat up looking back to his father. Voldemort stared down at him, "I came to get you, I came to get my only heir, my son...The others were of little concern to me."

Harry pulled back, startled at the honesty.

Voldemort, "Didn't you ever wonder about the scar Harry. Didn't you ever wonder why you had that connection with me?"

"My mother gave me the scar to protect me..." he stammered.

Voldemort stood suddenly pulling Harry with him, "I gave you that scar," he bellowed. "I bind you to me. I always knew where you were, what you were doing."

Harry looked up to his father, "I didn't know, Dumbledore said my mother gave it to me to protect me... from you."

"I trust you will not be so gullible in the future. That scar is a weave of my protection. What I didn't know is that your mother had many old protections charms on you. Old magic I would not thought she new. When I weave mine they did not mix well and backed fired causing me to be thrown from my body…little more than a sprit. Dumbledore was wrong, that scar has nothing to do with your mother."

"Yes...father." Harry picked at invisible fuzz on the rug. He wanted to ask if he was forgiven, he wanted to ask if he would be the receiver of the crucio curse again. Harry looked back up, Lord Voldemort was leaning forward with his wand pulled pointing it directly at Harry's head.

"How did you know I was born? Did she tell you?"

"I knew I had a child…one night I was standing in the circle of my death eaters and a light appeared. A parental charm had been cast and sought me out. But you weren't a priority at the time...Peter ratted you out later." he huffed. At that Nagini uncoil from her position in front of the fire, raising her head. She hissed in rapid series that Harry barely understood, but which caused Voldemort to smile. "She's been wanting to eat the little rat. I've been tempted over the years to let her."

Harry smirked shyly, "I'd like to be there for that."

Voldemort laughed, clapping him on the shoulder pulling him toward him for a hug. Harry melted into it.

TBC

Epilogue Hopefully next week.

Review please