Chapter Text
Despite Hermione's reluctance, Harry convinced her to take the children out to explore the rest of the manor and its massive garden. He wanted to have a private conversation with Voldemort, and he could tell that the dark wizard knew what was going on as well. With a dismissive wave of his hand, Voldemort sent Severus away after scanning both Hermione and Harry.
Hermione's scan had revealed lingering traces of magical exhaustion, while physically she seemed to be in good health. However, when Snape saw Harry's scan, he looked shocked and Hermione appeared on the verge of tears. Even Voldemort seemed angry at what he saw. But Harry felt fine, despite knowing that his scan would not be pleasant to look at.
Left alone in the room together, they studied each other carefully – two powerful wizards who had been enemies for so long. Each trying to read the other's thoughts and emotions through their guarded expressions and body language. The tension between them was palpable, crackling with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts.
The tense silence between Harry and Voldemort was finally broken by the latter's smooth voice. "You know we will need to discuss your health scan results soon?"
Harry couldn't help but look away from the snake-like man in front of him, feeling a surge of discomfort. "I'm fine," he replied with a sigh, already feeling exhausted despite having just woken up.
Voldemort made a dismissive noise, clearly not believing Harry's words. "Potter, you were abused wherever Dumbledore decided to stash you," he stated matter-of-factly, not phrasing it as a question.
Harry bristled at the mention of his past traumas being casually brought up. "Voldemort...not today. If we must talk about it, give me some time to adjust to the fact that we are speaking to each other civilly before we delve into my painful memories, okay?" He tried to keep the snark out of his tone, though it was difficult when talking to someone like Voldemort.
One of Voldemort's eyes twitched in irritation, but he chose not to argue about it. "Very well. If we are going to avoid discussing the obvious, then there are other important matters that we should address."
“Besides figuring out a way for the kids to get back to the future, my biggest concern is what we do about the Order. Your actions in publicly attacking the Order to retrieve us have put us all in danger,” Harry said, his mind racing with worry. “And Hermione seems to think that Snape may have been exposed as no longer being on the side of Light.” Desperately trying to change the subject, Harry continued, “We won’t be able to show our faces in public for some time, will we?”
Voldemort let out a low hum of contemplation, using this moment to summon Ranpi and request some tea and sandwiches. This conversation required sustenance and a distraction, as he could see Harry's hands twisting nervously in his lap. “Honestly, it depends on what that Old Fool does. So far there is nothing in the papers and no rumors circulating in the ministry about your disappearance either, voluntary or otherwise.”
“Seriously?” Harry couldn’t believe it. He had always known that the wizarding world didn’t care about him, but a sharp pang of hurt still coursed through him.
“Yes,” Voldemort confirmed with a coolness that sent shivers down Harry’s spine. “The Minister and the Ministry now know of my return, yet they have not made any public announcements. Instead, the Minister and Dumbledore are locked in a strategic game of chess, each vying for more power and control over public opinion. Our next moves will depend on who makes the first move and how the public responds.”
Harry couldn’t help but be in awe of Voldemort’s calculated tone and unflinching demeanor. It was a terrifying thing to witness, this mastermind with his sanity fully intact. This was the brilliant boy Harry had seen glimpses of in his second year - cunning, manipulative, and frighteningly intelligent. If only Voldemort wasn’t consumed by murderous intentions and dark magic, Harry mused, he and Ron could have been great friends.
"So we just have to wait?" Harry asked, trying to keep his tone steady.
"For them, yes," Voldemort replied coolly, his piercing red eyes fixed on Harry. "In the meantime, I will delve into where the children went wrong with their ritual. If it is possible to return them to their time, I will do so.
In the meantime, I will also take this opportunity to persuade you and the brilliant Miss Granger to see things from the Dark side's point of view." Voldemort added a sly glint in his crimson eyes. Voldemort's words were like a sharp blade slicing through the air, leaving Harry stunned and speechless. He could feel his heart racing and his palms growing sweaty.
Harry's mouth hung open in shock. "You're going to do what now?" Harry finally managed to sputter out.
Voldemort's lips twisted into a sinister smile as he leaned in closer to Harry. "We currently have a tentative truce, yes? But what happens when the children either find their way back to their own time or become stuck here? I am well-versed in the Light side's agenda and motives. Can you say the same for the Dark?" His crimson eyes glinted with dark amusement, sending shivers down Harry's spine.
Harry just stared at the Dark Lord incredulously.
“I didn’t think so.” Voldemort's voice dripped with disdain as he leaned forward, his eyes piercing into Harry's. “So I, or one of my loyal followers, shall take it upon ourselves to properly educate you on the Dark Side’s history, motivations, and our current plan now that I have regained my sanity.” A bloodthirsty smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but there was a glint of genuine intensity in his eyes that left Harry feeling flustered.
Dumbledore had never once sat down with Harry to explain the intricate details and complexities of the war against Voldemort and their ultimate goals beyond simply defeating him. Instead, Harry had been thrown into battle time and time again like a sacrificial lamb for the Light side, expected to fight and potentially sacrifice his life without fully understanding the bigger picture.
Harry doubted that he would agree with any of the Dark Side’s motives or goals, but maybe his stay here with Voldemort wouldn’t be as bad as he had originally feared when he woke up.
Armand glanced at his younger sister as they wandered the expansive grounds of Malfoy Manor. Though she was only eleven, Elain had a solemn look in her intelligent green eyes that reminded Armand she had already endured far more than most children her age.
"Why do you think Father and Dad are enemies here?" Elain asked quietly.
Armand sighed, running a hand through his long blonde hair. "I don't know, Elly,” Armand said, accidentally calling Elain the nickname he gave her when he was younger. “This might not even be the past. We could have accidentally created an alternate reality when we cast that ritual."
Elain nibbled her bottom lip worriedly. "What if their hate is too much to overcome? I have never seen them act like that back in our time.”
Pulling his sister into a one-armed hug, Armand said, "Then we will figure it out. Dad always told us family is more important than anything else. If we have to, we'll find a way to bring them together."
Nodding, Elain leaned her head on her brother's shoulder. "I hope we get to meet your biological Father soon. Do you think he'll recognize you Armie?"
"I doubt it," Armand admitted quietly. As much as he wanted to meet Lucius Malfoy, he was afraid of the man’s reaction to discovering he had another child in the future with what looked to be an enemy of his. He didn’t know if he could handle being a disappointment to his Father. He held a similar fear of meeting his half-brother. Meeting Narcissa had been a disaster, Armand’s fears felt cemented that the meeting between his half-brother and his biological Father would go just as bad.
The pair lapsed into thoughtful silence as they continued their leisurely stroll, leaves crunching under their feet. Both were anxious about being stranded in this unfamiliar time but took comfort in each other's presence. Whatever challenges arose, the Potter-Slytherin siblings would face them together.
As Jai playfully chased the albino peacocks, Hermione eventually caught up to Armand and Elain on their walk. She asked with concern, "How are you two holding up? I can imagine it must be quite a shock to see how different things are in this time."
Aunt Hermione's perceptive nature always put the siblings on edge; it was hard to hide their Slytherin traits around such an astute person. Armand watched Jai with a twinge of relief, grateful to see him still smiling and enjoying himself amidst this unexpected detour from their plans. It was probably better that he was here, exploring this new world, rather than stuck at home with their grieving father.
"It could certainly be worse," Armand replied, choosing his words carefully.
Hermione rolled her eyes with a small laugh. "You are definitely Harry's son. Unbreakable and stubborn to a fault, both of you. Ron and I have a bet that even if the apocalypse happened, Harry would still insist he was fine."
This caused Elain to burst into a fit of giggles, her usually serious demeanor completely forgotten in the moment. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the sound of the young girl's childish laughter.
Armand's voice held a tinge of sadness as he reminisced, "Yeah, that sounds like something Dad would do."
Hermione's expression shifted to one of empathy and seriousness as she stopped walking, her gaze lingering on both Elain and Armand's faces. "I don't know if anyone has expressed it to either of you yet, and I know no words can truly ease your pain, but I want to express my deepest condolences for the loss of your Dad. I can only imagine the weight of responsibility you must have felt in trying to save both him and your Father." The words hung heavy in the air, filled with understanding, sorrow, and regret for their burdened hearts.
Elain's voice was soft as she spoke, her throat clearing before she began. "I don't regret it," she said, looking around at the surroundings with a wistful expression. "Seeing Dad and Father's history here, I know you probably won't understand yet, but once Dad was gone it was like the glue that had held us together as a family disappeared too." The air seemed to grow heavy as Elain spoke, a sense of sadness hanging over them all. "Jai was depressed, Armand was angry, and I think our Father had fallen into old habits. Dad dying just sucked the life out of the rest of us. We need him."
Armand's face took on a thoughtful expression as he listened to his sister's words, nodding in agreement after a moment. "I agree," he said slowly. "If we successfully traveled backward in time instead of jumping timelines altogether, then this trip was worth it." He paused, letting out a sigh. "Father and Dad didn't like to talk about how they got together or their younger years. Meeting this version of our parents explains a lot, actually." His voice trailed off and Elain could see the wheels turning in her brother's mind. "If this is an alternate reality..." he mused, leaving the sentence unfinished but Elain knew exactly what he meant.
Elain let out a sigh, her voice heavy with resignation. "It is probably for the better if that is what happened," she said, her tone tinged with sadness. "We couldn't have stayed in that house as our father lost his anchor to sanity." She looked over at Jai, who was finally smiling again after weeks of mourning their Dad's murder. "If we are stuck here, then we just have to find a way to glue our family back together again."
While Elain was known as a brilliant Ravenclaw, she had also been raised in a household full of Slytherins and one Gryffindor. Her natural cunning and determination would come in handy in this situation. She squared her shoulders and spoke with an air of confidence, trying to lighten the mood. "I am stubborn enough to make it happen," she announced, her snobbish voice making both Armand and Hermione chuckle.
Hermione smiled warmly at the young girl. "If anyone can pull those two stubborn idiots from opposite sides of the war together, I believe you three will be the ones to do it." Her words were filled with hope and faith in their abilities as a family.
They stood together quietly, enjoying the happy laughter from Jai. What Armand had said before was true. Their situation could be a lot worse, but Hermione was determined to make sure that they would be happy, no matter if they were only here temporarily or if they were here for the rest of their lives.
They deserved to be able to lay their burdens down and be children in ways that Harry had never been able to do and Hermione had never been able to help with.
She had the power to do something about this though.