Disclaimer: I own very little of this except the plot Disclaimer: I own very little of this except the plot.
A/N: A belated and special thanks to Red_Jacobson for one of the ideas that were used in chapter 12. Now, on to the story.
Harry finds the pair in his room, with Bella explaining the basics of Occulmency to Hermione. Harry joins the pair and they continue their studies into the late afternoon and have Winky bring lunch up to them and Tonks rejoins them shortly thereafter with a rather smug look on her face.
As dark is starting to approach, Cissa pops into the room with a huge grin on her face. "Master I have wonderful news; we've got all the information to destroy that bastard." Her grin fades instantly when she sees the scowl on Harry's face, "Master, is something the matter?"
"Cissa darling," Harry says in a sweet and menacing voice, "have you been keeping up on your responsibilities to my aunt."
Narcissa pales at the implications to her masters question, "I'm not sure I follow you master."
"Oh I think you do. You see, my aunt took it upon herself to seduce me today, even though I'd expressly forbid it in the past. Now, would you care to explain to me exactly why you've been shirking your duties?"
Narcissa swallows hard, "You see master, you've kept me very busy!"
"Now Narcissa, don't lie to me. We both know perfectly well that I'd have given you the time to take care of any problem my aunt might have had."
Narcissa reaches up and undoes her robe; allowing it to fall to the ground. She falls to her knees and crawls over to Harry and kisses each of his feet. "You are correct master; that duty had simply slipped my mind, which is unforgivable, what is my punishment to be?"
Harry's shocked at Narcissa's behavior, he'd expected her to be apologetic, but nothing this over the top.
Bellatrix looks at her prone sister and springs at the chance for revenge. "Master I have a suggestion." Bella lays out her plan with a serene face, trying desperately to hide her ulterior motives.
Narcissa's normally pale face goes ghost white as she listens to her sister lay out her idea.
Despite Harry's internal unrest concerning Bella's plan, the more he sees and feels from Cissa, the better it sounds. Finally, he says, "Ok, Bella, make it happen. Hermione, you've heard what we've got planned for tonight, do you want to come along or stay behind?"
Hermione blushes scarlet as she says, "I'll come along with you."
Harry's completely perplexed when he hears the other three ladies chuckle slightly.
Bella produces five cloaks with Shadow Charms on the hoods, to keep them from being identified.
Once the group is properly adorned, Tonks produces a Portkey for the two not trained in Apparition and moments later, the entire group arrives in Knockturn Alley.
Bella quickly leads her master and his entourage into a very seedy pub.
The interior of the place is surprisingly well light for its location. The number of patrons is also fairly high, though none of them seem overly inclined to give the cloaked group anything in the way of trouble.
Bella makes her way directly to an empty table in the center of the room and the patrons at the surrounding tables stand-up and move to other places around the room.
Everyone one except Narcissa sits down at the table while the blonde stays on her feet, waiting for her punishment to begin.
Harry's hand is gloved as he draws his wand and with a casual wave, Vanishes Narcissa's cloak, leaving her completely nude.
Cissa blushes in humiliation as the attention of the entire pub is drawn to her. She turns away from her master before she bends over and grabs her ankles.
Harry can hardly believe that he's doing this as he taps Cissa's butt-plug with his wand, causing it to start vibrating.
Narcissa straitens up as her humiliation deepens to worse than anything Lucius had ever done to her. She walks slowly to the bar, taking very large steps to make sure her butt-plug is visible to all and sundry.
The barkeep can barely drag his eyes from Cissa's chest as she places her order. Finally, the man shakes his head violently and grabs five bottles of butterbeer from under the bar. He hands all but two of them to Narcissa and steps our from behind the bar.
Almost all of Narcissa's body is blushing as she can feel the man's lustful stare locked on her bum.
Harry keeps his wand in hand as the bartender follows Cissa to the table.
The man says, "Ok bud, now I don't mind a free show but I gotta ask what you're doing this for."
Tonks says, "Our Master is doing this for his own purposes, nothing more nothing less."
The bartender quickly grasps enough of the score to understand what's going on. "Well then, would you be interested in a trade?"
Under his cloak Harry arches an eyebrow and motions for the man to continue.
Strongly suspecting that he's dealing with a very powerful Dark Wizard, the bartender speaks very carefully, "I'd be willing to trade you the drinks for a little time with this lovely." He goes to swat Narcissa on the bum, but stops instantly when the entire group levels their wands at him. His trepidation multiplies when he sees that all of the non-gloved hands are female. As he pulls his hand back, the entire group lowers their wands.
Harry's innards war as he contemplates his choices. Finally, he makes his decision, with no small amount of concern. He focus' heavily on the message he wants to convey and hopes that Tonks can understand him.
Tonks thanks her skill in as she receives her masters' instruction. Her voice is extremely gruff as she says, "Our master is willing to exchange one blow job from her in exchange for drinks and a good meal."
The man studies the group intently for a moment, before he comes to the conclusion that this is the best he's gonna get. "I accept," he says as he reaches for Narcissa's wrist. Once more he is brought up short when wands are leveled against him.
Tonks speaks up again, "I think you misunderstood my master's intent. If you wish to claim your prize, you will have to do it right here. This way, there can be no nasty charges that you went further than allowed."
Narcissa is just standing next to the table, her arms behind her back, pushing her chest forward slightly.
The man curses his luck as he quickly imagines having the blonde's legs wrapped around his waist as he shagged her and the sound of slapping flesh as his hips collide with her bum as he takes her up the arse. Finally, the man nods his head in agreement.
Harry turns towards Narcissa and nods his head.
Narcissa is cursing her memory as she drops to her knees in front of the strange man. Her hands make short work of the fastenings of his trousers and she quickly frees his cock from its confinement. Narcissa takes the head into her mouth and sucks on it gently before she takes more of the man into her mouth. She runs her tongue along the underside, trying to get this over with as quickly as possible.
The man can barely gasp at the skill the blonde slut is demonstrating. When she starts to massage his nuts, he looses it and shoots a very small load down her throat.
Narcissa swallows the disgusting substance and redoes the mans trouser.
Harry can sense his thrall's distaste as she humbles herself even further by swallowing the stranger's semen.
The bartender stumbles back the bar and shouts out an order for five meals.
Narcissa resumes her previous stance, her feet just past shoulder width apart, giving the room a clear view of her shaven cunt and still vibrating plug, while her hands are clasped behind her back, putting her chest on display for the room. As she waits for the meal to arrive, Cissa's embarrassment is multiplied as the vibrating plug is starting to push her down the path of climax.
The bartender brings the meals to the table himself, anything for another good look at the blonde. To his amazement, despite her blush, she shakes slightly and he can see the insides of her thighs glisten slightly as he approaches.
Narcissa wonders briefly if it is in fact possible to die from embarrassment as she climaxes in front of the entire room of spectators.
The bartender places the meals on the table and briefly considers asking for a tip from the blonde, but decides against it, preferring to keep his nuts right were they are.
Narcissa sits down while Tonks surreptitiously cast a Poison Detection charm on the meals. After making sure the meals are clean, the group digs in. The meal passes in complete silence, no one wanting to risk revealing their identities to the patrons of the bar, whom are all looking at Narcissa with undisguised lust.
One of the patron's stands up, intent on having his way with the naked blonde, however, before he can get two steps, one of the cloaked figures casts a Cutting Curse that just cuts the fabric of hit crotch convinces him to return to his seat.
Finally, the meal is done and the group stands up. Narcissa isn't given any clothes as they make their way from the pub. Once in Knockturn alley once more, Tonks hands Harry and Hermione a Portkey and the entire group returns to Harry's room at #12.
Narcissa looks at her master, hoping her punishment is finished as the others remove their cloaks.
Harry says, "Cissa, Bella, sit in those chairs please." He indicates a pair of hard backed wooden chairs.
When the pair is seated, Harry binds them to the chairs. "Now Bellatrix, it's not nice to try to use your master for your own ends. Your motives weren't quite as unknown as you believed. Now, the both of you are forbidden from coming for the remainder of the night." After the pair has acknowledged his orders, he says, "Now Dora, do you remember that re-creation I asked for?"
Tonks blushes, "Yes I do master. I take it you would prefer me to play the part of your aunt?"
"Yes I would my dear." Harry divests himself of his clothing while Tonks does the same.
Hermione strips down to the buff and sits down next to the sisters, anticipating a very good show.
After both Tonks and her master are naked, Tonks quickly changes her shape to Petunia Evans. Her voice is still that of Tonks as she says, "Shall we begin master?"
Harry pulls his eyes away from the woman's breasts and nods his head.
Tonks takes a deep breath, and in Petunia's voice says, "Sit down on the bed please."
Harry arches an eyebrow as he moves to comply.
Once he is seated, the woman moves so she is lying across his lap. "Now, this is the first thing I want you to do. I want you to paddle me so hard I can't sit down for over a week. This is the closest I can ever get to making amends to the boy so get to it."
Harry's stupefied as Tonks raises her wand, which is amazingly still in her hand, and Summons a quill from the desk that she transfigures into a very vicious looking paddle. She hands Harry the paddle and says, "Well, what are you waiting for, get to it."
Harry hesitantly pulls his arm back and brings the paddle down on the woman's upturned arse with a resounding crack.
Petunia/Tonks yelps in pain from the first blow but doesn't say anything as she waits for the next.
Harry lays into the woman's bum with a vengeance, complying with her instructions.
By the time Harry is starting to wind down, the woman's voice is hoarse from screeching so much.
Harry finally decides that she's had enough when her entire arse is a very bright red and most of it is a very, very deep crimson.
The woman moves off of Harry's lap, not missing the erection poking her in the stomach, and lies down next to Harry, face down. "Now for the next part of this; I want you to shag my arse as hard as you can."
Harry looks at the prone woman for a moment before he positions himself behind her.
Hermione's pussy is sopping wet as she plunges two fingers in quickly. She can't believe how aroused she'd gotten watching Harry paddle another woman and in another, darker part of her brain, she wonders what it would be like to be both the person giving the paddling as well as the one receiving it.
Harry aims his cock at the woman's rosebud as she spreads her arsecheeks for him.
She says, "Now I want it as hard as you can manage boy. This is for all the times I've screwed you!"
Harry closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he takes the plunge. He shoves his entire length up the woman's arse in one hard push, earning another screech of pain.
Tonks arse is on fire, first the paddling then the sudden, unlubricated anal invasion.
Harry's driving his hips into the woman's bum with all the strength he can muster. Part of him feels sorry for the pain he's subjecting Tonks to, but the darker side of his psyche pushes the thought that this is his loving thrall from his mind; all he can see is the blonde haired bitch who beat and abused him for more than half of his life.
Hermione keeps the fingers in her twat moving as she brings her left hand up to her face. She takes her index finger into her mouth and wets it thoroughly before removing it. Hermione then moves her left hand quickly to below her waist. Swallowing, she gently probes her anus with the wet finger. As she works her finger in her thumb accidentally brushes her clit which shatters her control. Hermione shudders in orgasm without making a sound.
Harry can feel the pressure building up in his cock, but before he can come, the woman speaks up, "PULL OUT NOW!"
Shocked, Harry backs away from the blonde woman.
Tonks can sense that Harry's control is almost at its end as she yells for him to back off. She slightly hates Petunia for doing this in the first place. She climbs off the bed and quickly drops down in front of Harry. Her face is right in line with Harry's crotch and she dives forward, taking his entire length down her throat.
Harry watches as the woman deep throats him and he grabs her hair as he comes with a mighty roar.
Hermione is just recovering from her self-induced bliss as she hears her best friend roar. When he releases Tonks, the Auror climbs on to the bed exhausted and shifts back to her base form.
Hermione licks her lips nervously as she looks at the exhausted young man. "Harry, remember that favor you asked for earlier?"
The tired wizard sits up and takes note of the only half-dressed state of his best friend, causing him to blush madly. "Yes Hermione?"
Hermione reaches down and pulls her shirt off, showing her perky breasts to the hormonal teenager in front of her, "As I'm sure Tonks has told you, I'm rather adamant about retaining my hymen for the foreseeable future, but we talked about several alternatives to conventional intercourse. Well, I'd like to try one out now."
Her words are enough to help shake Harry out of his hormone induced daze. "What do you want to try?"
Hermione's blush deepens as she looks down at her feet, "Oral."
Harry looks at each of his ladies who nod in turn, "Ok, come lay on the bed please."
Tonks stands up as Hermione approaches the bed. She lays a gentle hand on the bushy haired witches shoulder as Hermione starts to lie down on the bed. Tonks quickly grabs Harry's glasses and sets them on the nightstand.
Harry looks at Tonks with pleading eyes as he says, "Hermione, I've never done this before, so I hope you'll forgive any problems I might have."
Hermione beams at the blushing young man, knowing what that admission must have cost his pride. Her voice is husky as she says, "I know you'll do just fine Harry."
Harry tentatively leans his head down and is face-to-face with a shaven snatch. He slowly reaches out his tongue and licks her outer lips, earning a moan for his effort. Encouraged, he runs his tongue directly along her slit, and hears her gasp in pleasure when he hits a small bump. Intrigued, Harry reaches up and spreads her lips so he can get to the area easier.
When Hermione feels Harry's tongue run across her clit for the second time she screeches, "/HARRY!/"
Harry barely has time to register what Hermione said before he finds his head almost crushed by her thighs and a liquid rolls onto his tongue; it's slightly salty and bittersweet, but not at all unpleasant.
When Hermione is done, she relaxes her legs and Harry slinks up her body. He goes to kiss her forehead but she goes to do the same and their lips meet.
Hermione surprises herself by running her tongue along Harry's lips, prompting him to part his lips.
The two start to explore each other's mouth.
The kiss started by accident and was one of confirmation, but it quickly turns into one of passion and promise.
Harry and Hermione wrap their arms around each other and the sandman carries the pair off to the land of dreams.
Nymphadora smiles at the sleeping teens and gently lays a sheet over them before turning to her aunts. She closes her eyes as she quickly imagines what it would be like to have Cissa on her knees, eating her out; while Bella was bent over a desk while Tonks caned her.
The Auror shakes her head as her core starts to tingle. "I think I'll just leave you to as is; with one little change."
She grins as she goes over to the dresser and retrieves Cissa's white box. Tonks opens it and examines the contents for a second before she reaches in and retrieves a pair of ball gags. Tonks replaces the box and goes over to her aunts and forces the gags into their mouths, buckling the straps behind their heads.
Tonks strips down to the buff and lies down at the end of her masters' bed; and she curls up before venturing into the land of Wet Dreams.
In the morning Harry slowly comes too and opens his eyes. He sees brown hair through his blurry vision.
Brown? Harry's instantly on his feet and backing away from the bed. He looks around wildly as he tries to find an exit.
Tonks is awakened by her master's distress. She gets to her feet and looks at the panicky teen. "Master calm down," she says softly as she approaches him.
Harry's eyes shift from the blur with what's probably pink hair to the bed and back again as his hands search the wall behind him.
Tonks keeps her demeanor completely non-aggressive as she gets closer to her master. "Harry, focus on me. Please tell me what the problem is."
Harry's eyes focus on the bed, where Hermione is just starting to wake up and Tonks gets a flash of inspiration.
"Master, I need you to calm down. You didn't step over any lines last night."
Harry starts to calm down at Tonks words and Hermione sits up.
The bushy haired witch grabs a shirt and throws it on before grabbing Harry's glasses. She walks towards him, "Harry, you can relax, you didn't do anything last night I didn't want you to do." She approaches confidently, but also tries to keep from possibly provoking him. Finally, she's within touching distance of him and slips his glasses on his face before pecking him lightly on the cheek.
Harry blushes slightly as he rubs the spot for a second.
Hermione quickly scurries away from Harry and starts to throw on cloths. Harry watches her for a moment and blushes as he catches a flash of her arse as she slips on her knickers.
Harry shakes his head as he starts to follow suit, but he stops dead when he sees the state the sisters are in, "Tonks, why are the ladies gagged?"
Tonks, who was likewise in the process of dressing stops short, "Well master, you didn't have any other instructions for them, so I believed that it would be best to simply leave them as they were until you could decide what to do with them; however I didn't want them waking you up by making noise, so I decided to gag them."
Harry looks hard at her for a moment, "And why didn't you use a Silencing Charm?"
Tonks blushes crimson and her hair goes Weasley red as she decides to simply tell the truth, "So it would be more visually arousing for you master."
Harry shakes his head as he briefly considers spanking Tonks; but her reasoning is too solid, "Alright Dora, release them, and don't worry about any punishment coming your way."
Tonks sighs internally as she releases her aunts, who immediately go over and kneel at their masters' feet. Each places a kiss on one of Harry's feet and Cissa says, "Master, may we orgasm now?"
Harry looks at the pair for a moment, "Yes you may, however, for this once, I'm unavailable."
The pair looks positively thunderstruck at Harry's pronouncement.
Harry signal's for Tonks and Hermione to follow him as Bella and Cissa make for the bed, expectant looks upon their faces.
The three meet Petunia, Dudley, and Dobby in the kitchen although no one really exchanges the normal pleasantries.
As breakfast is winding down, an owl swoops in and drops a letter in front of Hermione.
Harry says, "Aunt Petunia, I'd like to get you and Dudley settled back into #4 as soon as is possible, I'd imagine it's rather boring here for you here, being muggles."
Both of the non-magic users nod their heads.
Harry continues, "Good, than as soon as Cissa gets down here, we'll get you moved."
Petunia smiles, "Thank you so much Harry."
Harry smiles in return as Hermione speaks up, "The letter is from Skeeter. She's willing to meet you in private at the Leaky Cauldron at noon."
Harry's expression goes appropriately grim at the prospect of a meeting with the least scrupulous reporter in the Wizarding world. "Good, Tonks, I have a plan, but I need some major help with it."
Harry quickly lays out his plan to the group, most of who simply stare at him in wonderment.
When Harry's done, Tonks says, "I can get most of it for you in short order master; a couple of days would be useful but far from needed."
Harry nods, "Then see to it immediately would you. I also wish to get to Hogwarts today, it's bout time for your exam Hermione and I doubt very much of Madam Pomfry would appreciate it if you showed up without me, given what you're coming in for."
Hermione blushes, having completely forgotten.
Tonks stands up, "I can have what you wanted within the hour master." She then disappears with a quiet pop.
Harry's considering his other options when the sisters walk into the kitchen with an unmistakable glow about them.
"Cissa dear, I want you to help get my relatives packed up and moved back into #4. Also put up the extra charms to make sure they're safe, I haven't forgotten about Vernon yet."
The blonde nods her head, "As you wish master. Come along you two, we have much work to get done." The blonde dictator leads her charges from the room, detailing all the stuff they have to do.
Bella looks at Harry expectantly.
"Bella, please go work with Hermione on her Occulmency."
Both of the ladies nod their heads and quietly quite the room, sensing Harry's desire for privacy.
Harry rubs his temples gently as he tries to work through the myriad of problems he has to address before the summer is out, none of which even includes Riddle.
Tonks returns to #12 with the items her master requested and can feel her masters' steadily worsening mood. "Master, what's the problem?"
Harry literally bites his tongue to keep from lashing out at his concerned thrall, "Just life bearing down on me Dora."
She smiles at him and lays a hand upon his shoulder, "Master, there's no longer a need for you to bear the weight of the world yourself anymore; my aunts, myself, and Hermione are all here and will gladly take up the extra weight master."
Harry suited the short, pink haired woman before him for several seconds before he grins. "Thanks Dora, I needed that."
Tonks grin widens just a bit, "I know master. Now, I've got the materials you asked for, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"No, but it's the best I can come up with, so it's what we'll work with."
Tonks nods her head gravely, considering the myriad of things that could easily go wrong.
Harry can feel Tonks worry but he doesn't comment on it. "Dora, change appearances please and then pop over to the Leaky Cauldron and talk to Tom bout a private room. I want the hell warded out of the room. Nothing in or out without our knowing."
Tonks nods her head and screws up her face before changing to look like a blond-bimbo . She then disappears with a quite pop.
A few minutes before noon, Tonks pops back into the kitchen where Harry is waiting. "Everything is set up as you requested master."
Harry nods his head and holds out his hand.
Tonks drops a pin into Harry's outstretched palm. She Disapparates just before the Portkey activates.
Harry arrives in a private room above the Leaky Cauldron. He can actually feel the tingle of the wards surrounding the room. He sits down in one of the comfy chairs and crosses his legs as he waits for one of the banes of his existence.
A few minutes later, there's a knock on the door. Tonks opens the door carefully and casts a Finiteon the person outside before she opens the door and allows Rita Skeeter to enter the room.
Harry nods at the disreputable reporter as she calmly strolls to where Harry's sitting. "Good afternoon Mr. Potter, I believe you wished to speak with me?"
"Indeed I did Rita, indeed I did. I'd like to strike a bargain with you."
The woman blond sits down opposite the young man and says, "What sort of deal?"
Harry's grin is more than slightly predatory, "Well Rita, since your deal with Hermione is now null and void, and I thought it best to discuss our relationship. Primarily in that I wish my private life to remain exactly, that private." Rita opens her mouth to respond, but Harry merely waves his hand, "Now I'm not here to threaten you or even bribe you, but to offer a fair trade; you get the scoop of the century and I get veto rights on any story that deals with me."
Rita leans forward, knowing that Harry's to honest, and stupid, to try to make a fool of her, "What kind of scoop?"
"Now, that I'm not going to tell you until you've accepted the deal."
Rita briefly considers her limited options. "I'll accept," she says, figuring that she could simply go back on her word at any time it became convenient.
Harry's grin widens as he holds his hand out to Tonks, "I'm glad to hear that Rita, I really am. Now, since you've agreed of your own free will to my stipulations, you won't mind signing this I hope."
Tonks hands Harry a scroll that he passes to Rita.
The reporter opens the scroll and curses internally. The scroll is a magical contract basically agreeing to give Harry the right to deny her the power to print any story involving him. Knowing that she's been caught with her knickers down, she quickly signs the accursed document and hands it to the bimbo.
Tonks takes the contract with an airy smile and manages to avoid hexing the condescending report, barely. She deposits the contract in her robes and pulls out a manila envelope that she hands to Skitter.
Harry says, "That Rita is your scoop. The full history of Tom Marvolo Riddle, otherwise known as Lord Voldemort."
Rita opens the envelope and starts to go through the contents. Her heart races as she realizes that she's holding incontrovertible proof of the humble origins of the most feared Dark Wizard in almost a century.
Harry can see the excitement building in Rita, "I see you appreciate the implication Rita. I will want to arrange an interview with you before the first of September but that's for another time. I believe that's everything. If you wish to reach me, send an owl to Ms. Granger. Good day."
Tonks goes to behind Harry and surreptitiously slips a pin into his robe; at his final word, the Portkey activates, returning the pair to #12.
The pair arrives in the kitchen of #12 and Harry has to do some quick footwork, along with some help from Tonks, to not fall on his bum.
Once Harry's safely on his feet, he says, "Dora, go and find Hermione please. I want to get her physical taken care of quickly."
Tonks nods her head and Apparates directly to Harry's room, where Hermione and Bella are engaged in a rather deep discussion on the various uses for Occulmency.
Tonks says, "Harry wants you downstairs Hermione. He wants to get your exam done and over with."
Hermione nods her head as she and Bella both stand up. The three women walk down to the kitchen where Harry's waiting for them.
"Master, I'll arrange a Portkey that will take us directly to the boundaries of Hogwarts."
Tonks produces the Portkey and the three soon find themselves on the path to Hogwarts.
The group walks up to the gates at a leisurely pace, enjoying the summer day. Once they reach the castle, the foursome move quickly to the Hospital Wing where they find Snape waiting for them.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, I need to speak with you in private immediately."
"Of course sir, as soon as I deliver Hermione to Madam Pomfrey's tender mercies, I'll meet you in the Headmasters office, if that's acceptable."
"Very acceptable and reasonable Mr. Potter."
Harry nods his head and quickly delivers Hermione to the nurse; he also has Tonks stay with her.
In the Headmasters office, both the resident and new DADA instructor are waiting for the teen with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Albus stands up as Harry walks in, "Ah Harry, come in. We have some rather fascinating news, as well as most relieving."
Harry sits down and braces himself for the worst.
Snape says, "Mr. Potter, I have a rather personal question that I need answered. Did you and your thralls visit a tavern in Knockturn Alley last evening and put on a rather, intriguing show?"
Both Harry and Bella are blushing red as Harry says, "Yes sir, what of it?"
"Ah, we're in luck then."
Harry looks at the greasy haired man like he's finally lost his mind.
"You see Harry; one of the Dark Lord's sympathizers was there and recognized Narcissa. Now, in compliance with our plan, I passed along the events that led to the formation of your harem.
"Almost as soon as I was done making my report, the man arrived and made his report. Lord Voldemort did something most terrifying once he'd received both reports, he smiled."
Harry swallows nervously, knowing anything that makes Tom happy is not good.
"Oh, it gets even worse Mr. Potter; he actually broke out in laughter at the news. Once he was finished, he ordered all operation except information gathering to be put on hold indefinitely.
"Since Lucius' capture I've been elevated slightly in the Inner Circle. That, combined with the information I presented, was sufficient to convince him to share some rather interesting facts with me. It would seem the Dark Lord is not overly convinced that you are beyond all hopes of corruption Mr. Potter. He plans on using the spell to corrupt your soul so you will join him willingly. Since any attacks will drive you more firmly from him; a hold has been issued until otherwise notified."
Harry nods his head, sensing that he's not going to like what's coming next; he has no clue.
"Since we now know the Dark Lord's immediate aim, Mr. Potter, I have a rather unpleasant request for you."
"What is that sir?"
"I would like you to put on several, rather public, demonstrations in the coming weeks. So long as we can keep the Dark Lord convinced that he's corrupting you, he will not launch any fresh offensives."
Harry's cursing his soft spot as he says, "What sort of demonstrations?"
"I'll leave the details up to you, but anything that would help to convince an observer that you were going Dark. Publicly punishing your thralls is a good method. No one would question you if you say you are punishing them for some slight infraction."
Harry nods his head hesitantly before looking at Bella, "Ok my dear, I'll leave this one up to you."
Bella considers the choices and weighs her own instinctive repulsion to public humiliation against the pain her master would suffer if his actions caused innocent deaths. "The idea sounds acceptable master."
Harry hates himself as he says, "Alright sir, when shall we schedule the next 'corruption'?"
Snape looks at Bella speculatively, once more impressed by the strength the spell possessed, "Approximately two weeks should be right."
"Very well sir, I'll see what I can arrange."
Albus says, "Thank you for the concession Harry."
"Will there be anything else sir?"
"Not at this time Harry; and I believe Ms. Granger is waiting for you in the Hospital Wing."
Harry heads to the Hospital Wing wondering how in the hell he keeps getting talked into these things.