A Snake Named Voldemort

Chapter 5

Knowing from experience how it felt to have someone else look into your private thoughts, Harry concentrated on not digging too deeply. He didn't take the time to wonder about this courtesy he gave to the Dark Lord because then he would just have to hit himself for missing the opportunity to search the man's deepest thought and plans. As he wasn't so skilled in this type of magic, Harry wasn't sure how deep was too deep, nor what was required for him to analyse Voldemort's current state. What he was getting were imprecise emotions, but no actually thoughts. Harry could feel Voldemort's consciousness there, but ultimately he had no clue what he was doing or how to wake the man. Returning for the most part to his end, Harry resorted to a different method: he gently flicked the top of Voldemort's head.

:Hey, snake-face, wake up.:

There was a burst of what Harry could only describe as wakefulness coming over the link, and he knew Voldemort was coming around. Harry watched as the dull eyes brightened to the normal gleaming blood red. The snake's body twitched.

:You alright?: Harry asked softly. Voldemort shuddered.

:I hate Dumbledore,: was the slurred, sibilant reply. Harry laughed and unthinkingly stroked a finger between Voldemort's eyes, bizarrely happy at the Dark Lord's return to form.

:I have to agree that that was a pretty mean binding spell. It specifically targeted you if we ever became separated. I think Dumbledore is more suspicious of you than we thought.:

:How delightful,: Voldemort grumbled. Harry thought he sounded exhausted.

The two lay in silence for several moments, Harry still petting a lax Voldemort's scales. His green eyes were staring blankly upwards as he considered his next words.

:I know you hate being here with me,: Harry whispered softly, :and I just want to tell you I know how you feel. When I'm with my relatives,: Harry said, unsure if Voldemort even knew what he was talking about, :I would love at nothing if only I could tell them how I feel about them. But I can't, because I'm stuck with them and there's nothing I can do about it without making things a hundred times worse. I know you're angry that you have to rely on me, your worst enemy, but please try and understand how I feel about it as well. It's been hard looking my friends in the eye knowing the person who would like to torture and kill them for daring to even breathe is hanging around my neck, cursing the day they were born.:

Harry swallowed. :I've been asking myself if I'm a traitor, helping you, even though I've given them a few more days of peace. I mean, you're stuck as a bloody snake, what are you going to do to me, bite me? I could have stood way out of range and thrown an Avada Kedavra at you and there'd be nothing you could do about it.:

Harry sighed, Voldemort's body rising and falling with Harry's chest but otherwise still. This had been bothering him for a long time, but there had been nobody he could tell—save Voldemort—but for obvious reasons, Harry had been reluctant to do so. But now, Harry couldn't shake the urge to speak of his inner turmoil.

:Call me a stupid Gryffindor all you want,: he told the snake, :but it would feel wrong if I killed you that way—cowardly. Somehow I couldn't let the greatest wizard in the history of magic die a poor man's death, unable to defend himself, even if it meant saving the Wizarding World from war. Or maybe I'm not brave at all for wanting to face you as a man, but a coward for fearing killing you at all and becoming like you.:

:Harry...:

The use of his name broke Harry out of his state of mind. He froze his stroking fingers, realising what exactly he was doing and to whom. His green eyes met small yet brightly burning red ones.

:You really are something else...or maybe you are just very stupid.: Voldemort flickered his tongue in the air. :I will try and curb my...opinions to cater to your delicate sensibilities.: