Harry paced the floor of his very large room, trying to come up with someway of getting out of this. Unfortunately, the door was locked and he didn't have his wand to unlock it, nor to fight the hundreds of death eaters that stood between him and the front door. The only other option was finding a way of telling Dumbledore where he was, but once again, he had no way of doing that. Hell, he didn't know where he was himself.

Harry peered over to the table by the bed, where a plate of food and two potions sat untouched. He didn't dare touch any of it, even if he did long for something to eat. He hadn't eaten in days, and what he'd eaten then had been mediocre. But he was sure that whatever was brought to him tonight was poisoned.

" Petrificus Totalus," A voice suddenly called out.

Harry suddenly felt his body stiffen and he hit the floor a second later.

Voldemort walked over to the boy. "Oh, Harry. You must make things more difficult for yourself, mustn't you? I was hoping to find that you'd retrieved your brain from wherever Dumbledore hid it and done as you were told. Oh, well," Voldemort said before levitating the boy up and onto the bed. He walked over and took the pain relieving potion from the table.

Knowing what was going to happen, Harry tried as hard as he could to move his head away, but as expected, he was completely paralyzed by the body bind. He could do nothing as Voldemort pried his mouth open and poured the liquid down his throat.

Voldemort repeated the process with the nutrition potion. "Now, as you can clearly see, if I wanted to poison you, I wouldn't need to disguise it as something else. I would simply force it down your throat, as I have just done with these. As it turns out, I don't desire your death."

That was certainly a surprise to Harry. All the bastard had been doing for years was trying to kill him. Why would that change now? He would ask such a question, but he didn't yet have control of his body.

"Yes, I know that's shocking to you. You're wondering why all of a sudden I'd stop wanting you dead. I'm sure by now, you've heard of the prophecy. You've probably heard more of it than I have. You know why I wished you dead so badly. However, I realized there are other ways besides death that I could use stop it. In fact your death would do nothing but ensure it," Voldemort said.

Harry was confused. How would his death seal Voldemort's fate. If Harry died, the prophecy would end in Voldemort's favor. He would be alive with no one else being able to stop him. At least that was what Harry understood from it and what Dumbledore had said to him.

"Have you ever heard of a horcrux? I'd assume not. It doesn't seem like something the old man would want you learning about. That might just ruin his lovely plan, to kill both of us at once," Voldemort said.

The more Voldemort spoke, the more confused Harry became. What did he mean that Dumbledore wanted to kill them both? That wasn't true. Dumbledore certainly wanted Voldemort to be stopped, but he didn't want to kill Harry. He wanted him to stop Voldemort once and for all. And what the bloody hell was a horcrux? Harry wanted to scream out all his questions, but Voldemort still hadn't removed the bloody body bind.

As if he could hear, the boy's thoughts, Voldemort began answering Harry's last question. "A horcrux is an object that can be used to house a piece of a person's soul. It's considered dark magic that will prevent the person from dying. I personally think it's the best piece of magic that one has ever come up with. I've created such an object. In fact, I created several," Voldemort said before gently touching the area right above Harry's scar. "One of which lies right here."

Harry's mind was racing. The very thought of that made him sick. There was a piece of Voldemort's soul inside of him? No. That couldn't really be possible. Although, even as he formed that thought, he considered the connection he had to Voldemort. He'd had several visions of him and could even feel his emotions. That wasn't something that normally happened to people. Was this why? Was it because a piece of Voldemort was inside his head.

"So you can probably see why I don't want you dead anymore. I'd have to be quite self-destructive to kill a part of myself. No, child, you will never die. You will live as long as I do. Be pleased. You are one of the people in this world that won't experience mortality. Of course, it comes at a cost. For instance, you will never leave this property. Well, not as long as I remain here anyway. You belong to me now. Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. It seems I've left you with the inability to speak. I'm sure you have much to say on the matter," Voldemort said before removing the body bind.

"You're bloody insane! Dumbledore will get me out of here," Harry said.

Voldemort laughed manically. "Pray you are wrong, Harry, as that will lead you directly to your death. Do you honestly believe Dumbledore would allow a piece of me to live? He wants you as dead as I did not to long ago."

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Yes. And his plan was brilliant. I'm sure he would've laughed about it had he succeeded. His plan was to take out all of my horcuxes and then send you after me. He wanted me to destroy the last piece of my soul myself. Then I would be mortal and he could finish me off himself. Even I can admit that it was almost ingenious. Unfortunately for him, I was smarter. I discovered our connection myself," Voldemort told him.

"No, he wouldn't do that! You're a liar!" Harry yelled. Dumbledore would never betray him like this. He wasn't like Voldemort. He wouldn't purposely send someone to their death.

Voldemort laughed once more. "And what would lying get me. I have what I want. I don't need you to believe me to gain control of you. You're mine, boy. It serves no purpose for me to lie to you. Besides, think about it. If Dumbledore truly wanted you to win, why did he never train you? Why did he lie to you for so long, keep the prophecy from you? Why not even try to tell you about the horcruxes? Think for once in your life! Dumbledore doesn't care about anything besides his greater good. Everyone is expendable, even his golden boy.

Harry only shook his head in response.

"Well, I'll let you think things over. I suggest you eat your dinner, unless you would like to be force fed that as well," Voldemort said before heading out of the room.

Harry sat up and drew his knees to his chest, hugging them tightly and telling himself over and over again that this wasn't true. Dumbledore wouldn't do this to him.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Severus returned to Malfoy Manor after meeting with Dumbledore and went up to the Dark Lord's quarters. He immediately knocked on the door.

"Enter," Voldemort's voice called out.

Severus entered the room and quickly bowed.

"Severus, you're returned. Were you successful in maintaining your cover?" Voldemort asked.

"Yes, My Lord. I was able to convince the old fool that you'd chosen not to inform me you were attacking the boy tonight. I told him you doubted my loyalty and didn't trust me with the knowledge. I said that I could no longer do anything about it by the time I was made aware," Severus explained.

"Very Slytherin, Severus, and not a complete lie. I have doubted your loyalty in the past. In a way, the attack on Potter's muggle home was a test, which you passed. I have no more doubts on whose side you're one," Voldemort said.

"Thank you, My Lord. Your trust means the world to me. I promise to never break it," Severus swore.

"I will hold you to that. You know what I will do to you if you do break it," Voldemort said in warning.

"Yes, My Lord. Is there anything else you require from me?" Severus asked.

"No, that's all for now. You may return to Hogwarts."

"Might I ask how the boy is fairing? Has he been told what is going on?" Severus wondered.

"I wouldn't expect you to care, but, yes, he is aware. He seems to have trouble accepting it," Voldemort said.

"If you wish it, My Lord, I could speak to the boy. Perhaps I can convince him," Severus said. The boy needed to come out of his denial. He could not survive under the delusion that Dumbledore gave a damn about him. He needed to be prepared should Dumbledore get his hands on him.

"You can if you want. I don't care either way what the boy believes, but I suppose he might be more comfortable if he realizes the alternative. Do what you wish," Voldemort said.

"Yes, My Lord. I will return in the morning," he said before giving another bow and leaving the room.