Chapter one

Harry Potter was being moved, but all he felt was numb. He couldn't feel anything, he couldn't hear anything and he knew he would not be able to speak. He felt nothing, hollow, that's how he felt, hollow inside.

Albus Dumbledore continued to talk to Harry about the hard life he had at the Dursley's before he finally got around to revealing the prophecy. He had been pacing his office as he spoke. The only time he stopped and looked around was when he did not get a response from Harry.

'Harry, did you hear me?' Albus's brows furrowed when Harry remained still silent, 'I will speak with you tomorrow. I will take you to the hospital wing now so you can see to your injuries.'

Again Harry never spoke or moved, he just stared straight ahead. Albus took his arm, pulled him to his feet and out of the office.

Ginny, Neville and Luna were talking softly in the hospital, Hermione and Ron were still unconscious.

'He looked lost,' Luna said sadly.

'I don't know how he will handle this. Sirius was the closest person to family he had. Harry loved him,' Ginny said.

'Look,' Neville nodded towards the door where the headmaster was pulling Harry inside, 'He looks strange.'

'He's in shock,' Luna said staring at the headmaster led Harry inside.

Poppy took Harry from the headmaster, she moved him over to a bed where he sat but otherwise never moved or spoke. She cast her diagnostic charms before holding out a potion, again Harry never moved. She sighed then poured the potion into his mouth but because Harry refused to cooperate it just dribbled out of his mouth. She quickly cleaned him up then petrified him, gave him another potion, spelled his throat so he would swallow, then removed the charm.

'You will be remaining here for a few days Mr Potter. I suggest you make yourself comfortable.'

Harry never moved or spoke, just sat staring into space. Poppy moved over to the headmaster, the two whispered as they stared at Harry.

'Harry,' said Ginny cautiously. Still no response, 'Harry, please.'

'Leave him Ginny, he needs time,' Neville said but all he could think about was would Harry be okay, especially with Voldemort about the wage another war.

Hour after hour Harry never moved, he was still sitting on the side of the bed, staring at nothing. By the morning he still hadn't moved, as far as anyone knew. Hermione and Ron were awake but still lying down. His friends would talk to Harry but he never made a sound. The breakfast that had been delivered hadn't been touched and the longer it went on the more worried everyone got.

Albus stepped into the hospital, his eyes landed on Harry. He knew straight away the boy hadn't moved.

'Professor, term finishes in another week. What's going to happen to Harry?' Hermione asked.

'He'll be staying at headquarters, he'll be safe there. The wards will keep him from leaving.'

'You mean he'll be like a prisoner, like with the muggles?' Neville asked.

'For his safety Mr Longbottom. Right now he is not responding to anyone so he will need to be watched.'

Albus went on to explain his plans for Harry while he remained at the headquarters of the order of the phoenix. Little did everyone know but Harry could hear what was going on and the more he heard the more furious he became. But it was the whispered conversation Dumbledore had with Moody that had Harry make his decision.

"Tom, it's Harry. I know you can hear me," Harry kept his face expressionless as he spoke from his mind, to Voldemort in his mind.

"How are you doing this Potter?"

"I have my ways. I normally keep this connection closed. But I needed to speak with you so I opened it. Tonight I will give you the opportunity to kill me. I'll be alone at the cemetery at Godric's Hollow. Naturally you would not trust me, so find, send your death wieners. When you see I'm alone then do what you've been trying to do since I was a baby. All I ask is one thing, kill Albus Dumbledore and Alastor Moody for me, but make sure they suffers first."

"You have me curious and very little makes me curious now a days. Very well, I will be there once my death eaters determined it's not a trap."

"Midnight, I have to wait until everyone is asleep then sneak out of the castle."

"You have a way out?"

"I know many ways out of this place, it's easy actually. It seems you do not know all the secrets Hogwarts holds. I will see you tonight Tom."

Once Harry closed off the connection, he again listened to Dumbledore explain to his friends why Harry must stay confined. By the time their conversation finished, Hermione, Ginny and Ron agreed with him. To Harry it confirmed his suspicions about the old man and his two friends and Ron's sister. He was pleased to hear that Neville and Luna didn't agree but their arguments went unheard.

When the castle was dark and quiet, Harry slipped his cloak over himself. He was able to get up to Gryffindor tower without anyone hearing him. He shrunk his trunk, told Hedwig to find somewhere safe to stay, just for a week then he could find Harry. He knew that Hedwig would not find him, but he couldn't bring himself to tell Hedwig that he would be dead soon. He snuck into the tunnel behind the one eyed witch and made his way through the tunnel to the cellar of Honeydukes.

Harry sat cross legged at his parent's grave. He had his photo album open leaning against the headstone. Harry's wand was lying across the front of the photo album, his cloak draped across the headstone.

'It seems you were telling the truth.'

'I usually do. I don't like being lied to so I try not to lie if I can help it,' Harry's eyes remained on his parent's names.

'Why Potter?'

'You have to give me more to go on Tom.'

'Why do you want to die, why now?'

'I never wanted to fight in the first place. I was never given a choice. I'm just thrust into things where you and I end up against each other. I was just trying to stay alive.'

'But I killed your parents, I tried to kill you. Surely you want revenge for that.'

'I thought I did, but I realised I didn't know them. I know they gave their lives for me. I know I have my father's looks and my mother's eyes. But to me, they're strangers, just names that means nothing to me. But with what's been going on in my life, and how I was treated, I doubt they would mind if I turn my backs on those who are supposed to be good. As for revenge, if I could get the rat I would kill him but only because he betrayed his friends. I don't like betrayal, I like loyalty. You have that, don't you Tom? You're death eaters are loyal to you.'

'They are, if they weren't they would be dead.'

'Yeah, people who betray should die,' Harry looked up, 'I figured this was as good a place to die as any. Hopefully when it's done the idiots that follow that old fool will realise they have lost. Oh before you do kill me, I thought you should know that the old man knows about your…items.'

'Items, which items would they be?'

Harry grinned, 'You play innocent really well,' Harry tapped his scar, 'I hear your thoughts sometimes. A ring, a cup, a locket, a few others, sound familiar?'

'You told the old man,' Voldemort growled.

'No, he's been studying you for years. He collects memories from anyone that interacted with you, if they are willing to give them up. I believe he planned to tell me soon so I would know how to kill you. I don't want to kill you, I just want to leave this world. The prophecy says either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. So you see, since I'm not going to try, you get to kill me, by your hand, prophecy fulfilled. Oh, you made another item by the way, the night you gave me this scar,' Harry tapped his scar again.

'That is why you know what I am thinking?'

'Yes, I was suspicious a couple of years ago, but it wasn't confirmed until you possessed me at the ministry. It's a wonder you didn't feel a piece of yourself at the time.'

'Tell me exactly why you wish to die…Harry.'

'My life, it's basically been fucked up since day one. I don't have a life. The muggles I'm forced to live with abuse me. I'm a human house elf. At Hogwarts I'm either loved or feared depending on the day of the week. I find myself being placed in life and death situations time and again yet I try to stay away from danger. I've never had a good life Tom, so I figured I should just give it up and give you the world at the same time.'

'I was told you wanted to rule.'

Harry scoffed, 'I would never want to rule, I didn't even like being the leader of the DA. I was the only one that had enough experience against the dark wizards so they talked me into teaching them. I hate the spotlight, I like my solitude, peace and quiet. That's what I wanted, I never got it. No Tom, the world is yours, whether I agree with your policies or not, it's yours, I don't want it.'

Voldemort stared down at Harry Potter. Everything he thought he knew about the boy was wrong. He had been fed lies, by Severus, by Lucius and by Draco and he wouldn't be surprised if the boy had been told lies about him. Voldemort wanted more time, he wanted to speak with Harry Potter. He didn't want to kill him. If keeping Harry alive meant he could rule without Dumbledore interfering then he would. But also, there is the fact that a piece of his soul lives inside Harry. If Harry lives then he lives, forever, they both live forever. He wanted to protect Harry and protect his piece of soul. Would the boy go along with some plans, if he could work some plans that would make Harry think about life and not death? Maybe the boy would listen to him. All he could do was try.