Curse of Fate

Title: Curse of Fate
Author: Mistress Nika
Rating: PG-15 (Yes, 15. That's somewhere between PG-13 and R)
Summary: Thousands of years into the future, vampire Harry only wants to join his loved ones in death. However, his curse of immortality is absolute. Therefore he sends himself back into the body of his infant self, vowing to this time refuse eternity. When do things ever go according to plan? Unexpected changes to the timeline, people who aren't as they once were and more send his life spiraling out of his control.
Pairings: Harry/Lucius(main), possible Harry/Severus, possible Lucius/Severus, possible Harry/Lucius/Severus, Sirius/Remus, Theo/Hermione, possible Theo/Blaise, possible Hermione/Ginny, Draco/Luna, possible one-sided Harry/Luna on Luna's part, possible Hermione/Pansy, Cedric/Eleanor(OC), past Harry/Ginny
Warnings: AU, het, slash, angst, language, violence, time travel, VampireHarry, DarkLordHarry
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter Four:
Narcissa Malfoy was entertaining when her husband arrived home unexpectedly. For almost a month, he had been coming and going at odd hours without explanation, almost like when he served the Dark Lord. She never asked questions. A jealous wife might have thought he was having an affair. Narcissa knew better. She knew there were things her husband did that she was better off knowing nothing about.

Narcissa was a good wife. That was her job. She cared for her son and obeyed her husband. She also tried to keep her hands as clean as possible. Should, Merlin forbid, Lucius be arrested for his dealings in the Dark, Draco would need someone to raise him. It was her job to remain untouchable in all ways. It was her job to keep up appearances.

That was why she was currently having dinner with Adeline Zabini. The Zabinis were notable purebloods and it helped that Draco and their son Blaise were the same age. Alliances should be formed early, after all.

When a house elf informed her that Lucius had returned, she smiled and politely excused herself to welcome him back.

She was surprised when, just after she stood and made to leave, he entered the dining room with a tightlipped smile in place. She looked at him confusedly, wondering what had happened and if she should be worried that he was injured. A gasp from Ms. Zabini drew her attention and she spun to look at her. The woman's wide brown eyes were staring in horror, not at Lucius, but at something just to his right. Narcissa followed her gaze and felt her heart leap into her throat.

There stood the most frightening child she had ever seen. Though his clothes were tattered, he seemed to radiate power and authority. He stood with both hands clasped behind his back and watched her with a casual smile. His eyes, oh his eyes. She would be haunted by those eyes til her dying day. For the few times she had seen them, she could never forget. They were the Dark Lord's eyes, glittering crimson jewels set in pale flesh.

The child stepped forward then and took one of her hands in his. He raised it to his lips and she saw Lucius stiffen almost imperceptibly.

"Narcissa." the boy said, placing a chaste kiss on the back of her hand before releasing it. "A pleasure to see you again. Forgive the interruption, but it has been many years since I last set eyes upon your beauty and I wished to pay my respects."

The red eyes slid away from her, over to the now standing Ms. Zabini, before he spoke again.

"Madam, I don't believe we've met."

"Adeline Zabini." the woman spoke a bit breathlessly.

He smiled at her disarmingly kind. "A pleasure." He then turned to Lucius and said, "Now, Lucius. Shall we leave the ladies to their meal? We have much to discus."

Narcissa's suspicions about the child were confirmed when Lucius bowed to the boy and replied, "Yes, my lord. This way."

Lucius led him back out the doors and Narcissa fell into her chair with an awe sticken look.

"Narcissa?" Adeline asked in a whisper. "Was that-- It couldn't be--"

Narcissa nodded absently to her guest, a hand held to her chest. "Yes, I believe it was...him."

-SCENE BREAK-

Harry and Lucius were seated in the blonde's study with Lucius nursing a glass of brandy with a slightly shaky hand.

Harry chuckled. "Lucius, you really must calm down. I'm not going to eat you, nor your wife."

Lucius passed a hand over his face before pulling himself together and replied, "I apologize, my lord. What is it you wish of me?"

"Many things." Harry replied with a smile. He would use the Death Eaters to achieve what he could not. "Many of our compatriots have been imprisoned and I find myself with the power to free them, but unable to utilize it openly. As I'm sure you have noticed, I am a vampire. It seems the Potter family tree contained a few and the vampiric curse has seen fit to reassert itself. I have plans and I cannot allow my true nature to become known. Harry Potter is a hero of the light and will be trusted as such. Dumbledore will take me under his wing and attempt to mold me to his ends. I need you to act on my behalf, Lucius. I assume you have told others of my return?"

Lucius paled. "Yes, my lord. Forgive me. I didn't realize you wished it to remain a secret. I was a fool to act without your permission."

Harry waved his hand dismissively. "It can't be taken back. Tell me who."

Harry had hoped to keep the list of people who thought he was Voldemort short and he prayed Lucius had not told Severus. If he had, he was well and truly screwed. Severus would tell Dumbledore.

"Avery, McNair, Crabbe, Goyle, Parker, Jugson, Bell and Nott."

Eight people, three of whom he knew had children who would be attending Hogwarts with him, not counting Draco. Ms. Zabini had seen him also and would likely tell her husband and Blaise. A grand total of seventeen, if he got to them quickly.

"Very well." he said, standing up. Lucius hastily got to his feet as well. "Bring me the diary I left with you and my wand. I know you have it. Where is your son?"

"Most likely in his room, my lord." Lucius replied hesitantly. Harry smiled at the look in Lucius' eyes. He did not want his nine year old son to have dealings with the Dark Lord just yet. "Shall I fetch him as well?"

'At least he has some family loyalty and seems to genuinely care for his son.' Harry thought before replying, "No. No one is to tell him anything of my return. I can't trust a mere child to keep my secrets. Tell him to remain in his room for the rest of the night. Lock him in if you must. Now go."

"Yes, my lord." Lucius bowed with visible relief and left the room.

Harry counted to ten and then followed him out. Returning to the dining room, he smiled at the two women as they leaped out of their chairs and hastily bowed.

"Narcissa, I'm afraid your guest must leave early."

"O-of course, my lord." she stuttered in reply.

Harry locked eyes with Ms. Zabini and delved into her mind, searching out certain memories. She couldn't be allowed to know. She would tell others. Reaching out his mental hand, he grasped the memories of him and squeezed until they shattered under the pressure.

Ms. Zabini let out a small gasp and her eyes went blank.

"I must go." she intoned. "Lovely visit, Narcissa. Must do it again sometime."

With unseeing eyes, she walked out of the room, down the hall, out the front door, and disapparated.

Harry smiled at Narcissa's horror filled expression. "You won't tell anyone about me, will you? Not even your son?"

"N-no, my lord."

"Good. Perhaps you should retire early tonight."

"Yes, my lord."

With that, Harry returned to the study to await Lucius.

He didn't want the Death Eater's children to think of Harry Potter as the Dark Lord they must obey or die. He wanted to earn their trust on his own without instilling fear. Their parents were too set in their ways, but the children could change. This was his reasoning when he instructed that Draco not be told.

As for the diary, Harry would destroy it. One Horcrux down. If he could acquire and destroy all of them before school began, perhaps Quirrel would be the only thing standing between Voldemort and final death. It would be a simple matter to defeat him once and for all, if that were the case.

Voldemort's wand he would need. He had never made a thorough study of the Dark Mark and didn't know how to manipulate it without either his wand or Voldemort's. Since it would be several years yet before he bought his own, Voldemort's would have to do. If he couldn't summon the Death Eaters, they would become suspicious.

Lucius returned shortly with both the wand and diary and handed them to him reverently.

Harry had not needed a wand in ages, but when the smooth wood touched his hand a surge of raw magic passed through him. It sang to him in greeting. He had long ago learned why each wand was individual and unique to it's owner. The wand's magic was a living force, an almost intelligent entity created from the interplay of the various components; wood, core, length, even the care taken by the wandmaker in it's creation. Just like a person, it was not compatible with everyone. His and Voldemort's wands were almost identical twins and responded nearly the same to both wizards. The only difference he could detect was the taint caused by the Dark Lord himself, giving the wand a slightly darker edge than his own. It was like meeting an old friend again after years apart.

Harry smiled and waved the wand over himself, channeling a fraction of his power through it and transfiguring his tattered hand-me-downs into black wizard's robes. He tucked the diary away and pulled up the hood, turning his attention to Lucius.

"May I make use of your ballroom, Lucius? I believe it's time for a reunion."

-SCENE BREAK-

Nine year old Draco Malfoy was curious. His father had told him to stay in his room tonight and that meant something interesting was going on downstairs, something he was considered too young for.

He had readily agreed and claimed that he would just go to bed. Of course, he had no intention of doing so. He knew locking charms were in place on his door, but the secret passage connecting his room to the guest room next door made using it unnecessary.

After escaping his confinement, he crept through the halls searching for the forbidden. It was in the ballroom that he found it. His father was just entering, dressed entirely in black and placing a white mask upon his face.

Draco had been raised on stories of the Dark Lord and his father's noble participation in his service. He recognized the mask for what it was, a Death Eater's mask. Why his father was donning it now was a mystery; one he intended to solve.

Using a passage made for house elves, he climbed through the walls until he reached the charmed panel that would allow him to look in on the ballroom without being seen. Not even detection spells would find him there.

Inside, his father was speaking to another black cloaked figure much smaller than him. Draco cursed as he remembered the silencing spells on the passage. They would prevent him from being heard, but also prevent him from listening in.

All light in the room was suddenly snuffed out and two torches appeared at each side of the door with two more on either side of the small figure casting the room in frightening shadows.

Draco's confusion grew as his father knelt before the smaller person and offered up his left arm. The sleeve was pulled back to reveal a hideous tattoo of a skull with a serpent slithering from it's mouth. He recognized it immediately as the infamous Dark Mark. His father had spoke of how the Dark Lord's most faithful were rewarded with their master's mark. However, like the rest, it had seemed little more than a fairytale for Draco's young mind and Lucius had never shown him his own.

Now, seeing the Mark emblazoned upon his father's pale flesh, he knew the stories were true. His father was one of the honoured chosen knights of the Dark Lord. His father was a Death Eater.

Draco's heart swelled with pride.

A child's hand emerged from under black cloth, drawing forth an ebony wand and pressed the tip to the mark.

The pride that swelled his heart turned to concern as his father grimaced in pain but did not cry out. It was brief and after a moment the wand was withdrawn and Lucius' arm fell limply to his side.

Lucius remained kneeling and neither figure moved for the longest time. Draco was just beginning to consider going to bed when another black cloaked figure appeared, then another, then another. They kept arriving, by port key Draco thought, until eight more figures filled the room in addition to his father and the mysterious child sized one.

The eight newcomers all wore white masks, the same as Lucius', and glanced almost nervously back and forth between his father and the small one before dropping to their knees in supplication.

-SCENE BREAK-

Harry had summoned only those Lucius had mentioned, but he had also made sure certain others' Marks burned as well; not in summons, but as an indicator. Six Death Eaters in Azkaban would be feeling very confused right now.

Lucius continued to kneel as the others began to arrive. First came Nott and right behind him McNair. Then Parker, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, Bell and Jugson.

They all looked confused and wary, looking at him and wondering if what Lucius said was true.

Harry raised his eyes, still red from lingering bloodlust, and pinned them with his gaze. Quiet whispers broke out and they fell to their knees before him.

"It's true." Nott spoke in awe. "Our Lord has returned."

Harry smirked and began, not wasting time with trivialities. "If I find anyone has spoken of my return to others, I will personally kill you, slowly and painfully. Outside of this circle, I remain dead. You will tell no one. Not your wives. Not your children. Not your siblings or lovers. No one. Is that understood?"

Murmurings of "Yes, Master" echoed throughout the assembled.

"Good." he continued. "Our first order of business is the release of certain persons from Azkaban Prison. Dolohov, Mulciber, Rookwood, Black and the Lestranges." All those who could possibly cause trouble for him if left to their own devices. He would indebt them to him now.

"Black, Master?" Avery bravely queried.

Harry narrowed his eyes at the man. "Surely you don't think I mark all my servants? How easy would it be to out a spy if all one had to do was check their arm?" Having sufficiently cowed him, he continued, "I hope all of you are prepared. We will be leaving immediately for an assault on Azkaban."

"That's insane!" shouted Parker, rising to his feet in anger. "No one has ever breached the walls of Azkaban! If you were truly our Lord, you would not lead us on such a foolhardy mission! You're not, are you? You're just a child playing at being a Dark Lord!"

'Ah,' Harry thought, 'I knew this couldn't go entirely smoothly. Voldemort would never allow such a challenge to go unpunished.' Harry was not above torture, but Voldemort's method seemed so uncreative. Alas, it would have to do.

"Crucio!"

When he released the curse, Parker lay twitching on the floor, gasping for breath.

'Perhaps I overdid it a bit.' Harry thought with a smirk and chuckle which made the others quiver in fear.

"Do any others doubt me?" he asked, casting his gaze around the room. No one spoke and no one met his eyes. "Good."

Harry conjured nine small loops of rope, one for each person present and murmured "portus" over each of them. He handed them to Lucius who passed them out quickly and everyone slipped them onto their wrists where they tightened.

"They will activate at my command and take eight of you directly to the gates of Azkaban. That is," he said, glancing at Parker who had still not made it back to his knees, "if you feel yourself capable, Parker. I don't care if you die, but I don't want you screwing up my plans."

"My lord." Parker gasped, staggering upright, "I await your command."

"Good. All but one will be distractions. You will engage the guards at the front gate while Lucius and I slip in unnoticed to free our comrades. Any questions?" Silence. "Good. Should you find yourselves overwhelmed, which I'm certain you will, activate the port key with the words Cocoa Kibble and you will be brought back here. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to hold out as long as possible. If, by some miracle, you manage to hold them off until we are finished, I will signal you for retreat."

At a sharp motion of his hand, all of the Death Eaters rose to their feet, then disappeared as Harry activated the port key. All, but Lucius.

"We'll give them a few moments to panic the guards." he said with a dark smile. "Give me your wandhand."

Lucius obeyed and Harry pressed the point of his wand to the man's palm and murmured, "Repello Inscriptus." Faint brown lines curled out from his wand to form a mark that had become very familiar to Harry during the war. Two runes appeared, entwined within one another.

"That," Harry began as Lucius studied his palm, "will act as a kind of Dementor notice-me-not charm for one hour. Big spells will deactivate it, so be careful what you cast."

The Repello Inscriptus Charm. Harry had not cast it in many years, since all of the vile creatures had been wiped out. Hermione created it during her stint as a Spellcrafter for the Ministry, after Ron was captured and spent several days in the company of Dementors. That was also the year Ginny was attacked in Diagon Alley and ended up in a coma for five months. That was not a good year in his life.

Soon now he would see his godfather again. But how to explain what he was and what he was pretending to be?