I know many of you have been waiting patiently for an update of “negotiations” and I have been trying to write it, unfortunately I had written the initial chapter as a oneshot and had no idea of what to write. It ended up being pretty crap and as such, after a strange dream which gave me the plot, I decided to rewrite it. If you have a fave part you’d like me to keep in let me know and it will stay. I must warn you that this will eventually be kind of slash – none of mine is ever very descriptive, mostly because it takes two months to write a basic kiss – so don’t let this put you off if you’d like a is Harry dark or isn’t he story.

“We bow to each other, Harry,” said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snake-like face upturned to Harry. “Come, the niceties must be observed… Dumbledore would like you to show manners… bow to death, Harry…”

The Death Eaters were laughing again. Voldemort's lips were smiling.

Harry smirked slightly before dropping in a graceful courtesy.

Voldemort's eyes widened further as he saw his arch nemeses change positions to drop gracefully to one knee at his feet, his head bowed in the classic show of respect.

“What is this Potter?” he hissed in parseltongue, determined his underlings would not be privy to this conversation.

The boy rose to his feet, an unconscious elegance written into every move. “I offer you an alliance, Lord.” The raven-headed youth told him calmly “A truce.”

“A truce? What of Dumbledore?” the snake lord asked suspiciously, this self-assured Potter was not one he was used to confronting.

“In the four years I have been in the wizarding world my views have neither been asked for nor taken into account. I have discovered that many of the problems I have had growing up, while frequently a result of your actions have always been a result of Albus Dumbledore. Since I learned of my parents demise it has been my intention to remain aloof from any conflicts in the wizarding world, that has not been allowed and so I find myself forced to make a decision. I have awaited your inevitable rebirth to discuss my place at your side.”

“If you have been waiting for me as you claim then explain your actions towards me. Why not aid my rebirth?”

“At first I believed it was Snape who was after the philosopher’s stone, and I had no intention of allowing an immortal Snape to exist. When I realised it was you I was frankly too plain terrified to make any move; I was, after all, only eleven.”

Voldemort’s lips twisted unpleasantly into what could be perceived as a smirk “that is a fairly understandable concern, one day perhaps you may discover that Snape is a fairly novel companion if you are not his student.”

“I believe I will have to take your word for that Lord.” Harry retorted, he could easily imagine Snape as a novel person, but he struggle with the concept of him being a companion. “My terms for our alliance are very straightforward. I will not be part of a terrorist organisation. It is my intention to turn your group into a legal and viable political party. We will seize control legally and peacefully, if we are successful few will even know you are behind it unless they are one of your allies. To be honest, even then I would be hesitant to tell them.”

“Impossible!” Voldemort yelled. “I am Lord Voldemort and all shall tremble at my feet!”

“Do not be foolish.” Harry snapped. “You are the heir of Slytherin. You are cunning, sly and intelligent. I will be your ally, your equal. Together the world can do nothing but fail. The only question is how many will die. Harry continued, ignoring the egotistical ranting.

“Who do you think you are?” Voldemort’s fury began to build

“I am Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived.” Came the infuriatingly calm reply “You already know our lives are entwined by prophecy. I believe that we can decide how. You tried brute force in the seventies and it didn’t work; now we try my way. I promise you will have the wizarding world in your hands in less then five years without having to curse a single person. Best of all, if any policies are unpopular you won’t have to take the blame; we just choose another puppet to be our figurehead.”

The Dark Lords eyes narrowed as he considered Potters offer, it was incredibly tempting as having the child’s power behind him would almost assure him victory.

“What is your plan?” he asked curiously.

“I suggest that evidence of your rebirth is hidden. If you cast the “alieno verum puto mihi “charm on them and make them believe they set this up themselves for sport and then send them away. This will give us the time we need to discuss this further at a later date when there is not so much suspicion. ”

“And after?”

“We call your followers one by one, question them under veritaserum, if they do not know they are to be questioned they cannot take the antidote. Those that are loyal will have their mark removed and will swear an oath to follow the line of Slytherin. Those that aren’t, well, we can dispose of them.”

Voldemort’s eyes glinted as he realised what the oath would entail. They would be loyal to him, not Potter. If the boy became a liability he would be eradicated. “What will it take to have your alliance?” Voldemort asked instead.

“Just what we have agreed, the revels and torture will stop. It is difficult to encourage the masses to support your cause if you’re torturing people.”

“Agreed. If you use the trophy to return to Hogwarts I will curse this lot to account for the body.”

“I take it you are aware of my residence during the summer?” At Voldemort’s nod Harry continued “To my understanding the wards only prevent someone with the intention of hurting me from approaching, if you have no violent desires, at least against myself then you should be fine – send one of the lesser minions to test the wards. Ensure they are dressed convincingly as muggles, I have seen the wizarding world’s attempts at this and they are dismal at best.”

“Then prepare to return, I will contact you later.”

Harry nodded once at Voldemort before grabbing Diggory’s body and the trophy. “Until later.”

--

Harry’s return to Hogwarts was a blur as he was hustled from Diggory's body; he quickly adopted his ‘distraught Gryffindor’ mask and prepared himself for the questioning he knew would begin shortly. He was taken to Moody’s office where the deformed Auror gave him a cup of sweet tea and told him, somewhat obscurely that “everything will be fine, lad.”

Harry drank the tea slowly and organised his mind, thinking of answers to the questions he was sure to be asked.

“Harry, my boy.” Dumbledore announced as he strode in the room, his face set in a perfect balance of sorrow and curiosity “What happened tonight?”

“I don’t know, Headmaster.” Harry began, letting his voice crack with sadness and allowing his eyes to fill slightly “we were joking about who would take the cup as we had both reached it at the same time. We agreed to both take it and the maze disappeared, I think it was a portkey, we arrived in a graveyard and there was a circle of people in black cloaks. They looked like the people who were at the world cup. There was a flash of green light and Cedric fell. I tried to help but there were too many of them. I grabbed the cup hoping it would bring us back.” He swallowed heavily as several tears slowly fell down his cheeks. “Is he going to be okay, sir?”

Dumbledore felt his heart fill with sorrow as the large green eyes looked at him, their owner distraught. “I’m afraid he is dead Harry.” He told him gently,

“What happens now?” Harry asked his gaze drifting back to the floor as he cradled the lukewarm tea in his hands.

“It will be okay Harry.” The headmaster promised. His agile mind already considering several possibilities on how the tragedy could be twisted to further his own agenda. “I am sure there will be an investigation to discover what happened. I am afraid I will have to take your wand though, they will want to test it.”

“That’s fine sir, I just want to know what happened to Cedric. We had only just got to know one another.” Harry let loose with a few sniffs “Can I go and see my friends sir?” he asked hesitantly.

“Of course my boy.” The headmaster told him jovially, perhaps a little too much so.

“Thanks sir” the boy whispered as he slipped out the door, resisting the smirk that his lips were desperate to fall into.

--

Heading towards the Gryffindor common room Harry thought back to his actions that evening. Had he made the right decision as he lay there tied to the gravestone? He had spent many a day over the last four years thinking of how he would react if, or rather when, the Dark Lord returned. He had regretfully decided that the wizarding world would ignore his age and innocence and expect him to once again defeat the monster of their own making. Furrowing his brow lightly Harry thought carefully over his actions - had the curtsy been too much? It didn't matter now, it was far too late. All he could hope is that Voldemort accepted his reasons and didn't renege on his end of the deal.

Approaching the portrait Harry plastered a distraught look across his face and entered the subdued room quietly. looking at the faces of his fellow Gryffindors Harry was hard put to not to laugh, he shook his head lightly dispelling the emotion and took in the looks of grief the students, who had barely known Cedric Diggory before this year and who had probably never spoken to him, had gained.

"Harry." a soft feminine voice called out to him.

"Hi, Hermione." he replied to his bushy haired friend.

"How are you?"

"fine." he answered, injecting a tone of bewilderment into his voice. "I'm heading up to bed, yeah?"

"Okay Harry." She gave him a quick hug which he returned briefly before pulling out. "Get some rest."

Murmuring greetings to those too stupid to realise he was supposed to be in mourning, Harry slowly made his way to the fourth year boys dormitory and threw himself onto his bed with a sigh of relief. He waved his hand negligently at the curtains and then at a candle, noting with satisfaction that the curtains smoothly closed and the candle lit with a warm yellow flame. Staring at the curtained roof of his bed and he began to mentally check his list before being sent back to the Dursleys. He was not even going to bother going through his ritual act of begging the Headmaster into allowing him to leave early, he knew that he wouldn't be allowed to leave a moment sooner then the headmaster thought necessary. Instead he had decided to take action and had prepared for the machinations of the adults around him. His first task was to find out exactly how much money he had stored in his Gringotts account and this was easily accomplished by writing a letter charmed to only be readable by a trustworthy person requesting a full accounting of his assets. The return letter had surprised him a great deal. With an admonishment for not replying to any of his letters sooner Harry suddenly found a new world opened to him.

It appeared his parents had left him a small fortune in his trust fund as well as a significant amount of money and shares that were to be placed in his control on his sixteenth birthday. To his surprise and delight he found the deeds to No. 4 Privet Drive, left to his mother by his grandmother after a falling out with Petunia, and majority shares to various companies including a large drilling firm known by the name of Grunnings. The initial discovery had resulted in Harry smiling happily for the first time in several years and had been confirmation that facts had been deliberately withheld from him.

With his newfound wealth Harry had used the resources at Hogwarts (namely the library and owls) to order a bespoke, self-shrinking trunk containing a library that would make Hermione drool in envy and a kitchen complete with a magic grocery list, which would purchase the items listed tapped with his wand and imprinted of his Gringotts key. He had also written to all the shops on Diagon Alley as well as many on Knockturn and received the magical equivalent of mail order catalogues. Ever since he had purchased any items he felt could help his summer progress more easily. For once in his life Harry was looking forward to spending time with the Dursleys.

--

The time eventually came to board the Hogwarts Express and the journey had been boring in the extreme. Malfoy had burst into his compartment with his usual ineptitude, attempting to curse Harry with an elementary spell and then being confused when it was easily refuted. Hermione and Ron had argued over the same ancient points and it had been only the thought of the summer that had kept Harry from cursing them all into oblivion. Eventually they had arrived back at Kings Cross and he had gone through the ritual of being sneered at by his uncle ad enduring the tense journey back to the house in Little Whinging. The Dursleys had been their usual mediocre selves and had threatened him with dire consequences if there were any ‘freaky’ occurrences. Forcing himself to act deferential to them he had placed his official school trunk, which only contained odds and ends, in the cupboard and watched as Vernon locked it. Hiding his smirk he went to his room where he placed his hand in his pocket and caressed the shrunken trunk he had placed his valuables in before leaving Hogwarts.

Lying back on his bed Harry contemplated everything that had happened since he had returned from meeting Voldemort. Dumbledore had eyed him suspiciously for a few days, almost as if he knew something else had happened, he had given up after Harry had maintained his quite, confused and slightly mournful demeanour. Harry had taken care to ensure that he wasn’t too happy, he had after all seen a schoolmate die, and eventually it had become tedious. For once he was almost happy to leave Hogwarts.

Thinking of the other students behaviour made Harry frown. One would almost think there hadn’t been a violent death; the only students who appeared to mourn Diggory apart from Harry were a few Hufflepuffs in the boy’s year. He sighed deeply and put it out his mind, it really wasn’t any of his concern and he had enough to be worrying about for now.

Unable to wait any longer and desperate to see the trunk as he had been unable to get more then a few moments to himself since it had arrived Harry eagerly set the trunk on the floor and whispered the password to enable the trunk to grow to its full size and climbed into the box.

Looking around the first room Harry was pleased to see that his money had not been wasted. He was stood in a small study decorated in dark colours, a thick carpet lined the floor and a large desk was placed proudly in the centre. Sitting in the comfortable leather chair behind the desk Harry was pleased to see that there was ample storage in the room with shelves lining two of the walls and a large cabinet stocked with drinks and snacks stood against another. Getting up he walked towards the fourth wall where he saw the portal he had originally come through as well as a panel similar to that in an elevator that simply read:

Kitchen

Bedroom

Bathroom

Library

Experimentally pressing the button labelled kitchen he was startled to see the room fade away and be replaced by a brightly lit kitchen complete with a small dining area. Looking through the cupboards Harry was happy to see that one was charmed to act as a fridge and was full with basic foods like milk and cheese as well as containing a few bottles of butterbeer and pumpkin juice. Closing the door he randomly opened several more and found each stocked to the brim. Nodding in satisfaction at the results so far he headed back to the portal, pressed the button labelled bedroom and was immediately placed in a lavish room dominated by a large four poster bed. Throwing himself onto the bed in glee he enjoyed the luxurious feel before reluctantly getting up and taking a look at the library and bathroom. Both rooms were functional with few luxuries however Harry was thrilled beyond words with the facilities he had gained and returned to the Dursleys second bedroom to decide on his next move.

All Harry knew was that it appeared that Dumbledore had intended to make him malleable by sending him to the Dursleys, however it all it did was make him more independent, determined to survive no matter what, and screw the consequences.

He could see from the way the magical world treated him that he was expected to save them, what from was never really made clear. Voldemort certainly, but their own stupidity as well, after all the death eaters never approached the numbers that were ranged against them and yet they were winning until the leader of the dark was defeated one October night by a baby.

Then there was their determination to ignore all the advances the muggles had made – parchment and quills maybe dramatic and traditional, but so was not bathing yet you see few wizards and witches that refused to bathe. Harry by no means expected them to cast aside their own traditions and culture but sensible adoption and development would help society a great deal.

Harry sighed again as he closed his eyes, his mind already assessing how he could further adapt situations to his own agenda. He had never intended to have a truce with Voldemort when he first realised what was happening, but he quickly came to the conclusion that a truce would most benefit him. It would give him time to decide where he truly stood in this war and if he desired to be involved at all.

Eventually the tentative peace that had struck up between the Dursleys and Harry ended. As it had mostly consisted of Harry staying in his room and the Dursleys avoiding him it hadn’t been much of a peace, however Harry was taking what he could get. It was actually an entire five hours after he arrived home from Hogwarts that Harry was requested to be in the living room “immediately”.

Deciding to get the threats over with for the summer Harry prepared himself and sauntered down into the living room.

Slightly shocked to see his darling relatives were actually there en masse to frighten him into submission Harry felt a small frisson of pleasure that it took the three of them before they felt ready to face him, and judging by the whimpers from Petunia and the shaking from Dudley, it was barely enough.

“Boy!” Vernon barked “we are having none of your funny business going on here this summer. You will do your chores and we will feed you. Other then that we do not want to see you outside your room. Is that clear?” his tone of voice clearly stating that clarification was not required. Harry would do as he was told or face the consequences.

“Actually no its not.” Harry admitted while peering intently at his fingernails. He sighed slightly and buffed them against his shirt. “Things are going to change around here. First, you are going to refer to me as potter. Mentions of freaks, boys or other such slanderous names will no longer be tolerated. Secondly, I will be assuming the master bedroom of this property, I expect your belongings to be moved by nightfall or I will move them myself. Thirdly, not only will I not cook, clean or garden for you I will also make free use of the amenities this household offers.” Harry explained despite the fact he had no intention of using any room except the bedroom. “Fourth, you will correct your assertions that I attend St Brutus’ School for the Criminally Insane with the wizarding world approved cover story of attending a school for gifted children in Scotland. Finally your son will cease and desist in all criminal activities including, but not limited to vandalism, theft and violence.”

“What!” Vernon screamed, his face had been growing redder and redder throughout Harry’s speech and Harry felt some justification in mentally referring to the man as ‘the lobster’. “Who the hell do you think you are? We have fed you, clothed you! What gives you the right to command decent, normal people like us around?”

Harry stared at him for a moment before clicking his fingers and, ignoring the gasp, handed over the stack of paper that had landed in it over to the eldest Dursley. “I rather believe that this gives me the right.”

Vernon snatched the document from Harry’s hands and began to tear through it, his already deep red face growing redder by the second until Harry idly wondered the odds of it bursting.

“What is it Vernon?” Petunia asked quietly.

“It’s the deeds for the house” he muttered quietly. He looked up into Harry’s smirking face “where did you get these from boy?” he asked venomously.

“I found them in my father’s vault,” seeing Vernon about to rip then in half he paused a moment too long. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He said as the last document fell to the ground in two.

“Why?” Vernon snarled.

“Because magical documents rather like being in their proper shape and are upset when someone tries to prevent it.” as he was saying this the paper began to glow and knitted itself back together.

“I’m not scared of some wimpy paper,” Vernon sneered, one eye on the paperwork.

“I would be if I were you.” Harry told him simply.

“I-“ was the last word heard from Vernon Dursley for several hours as the rolled pages began to beat him around the head and body.

Ignoring the curious sight Harry turned to his aunt. “So Petunia.” He began politely, “do you agree to my terms. It will only be for the next several summers. Once I am seventeen I will never darken your door again and I will leave the deeds with you so you know I have no other hold on your family.” Harry mentally crossed his fingers hoping his hold over Grunnings would be considered separate.

“How many summers?” she asked warily.

“At least two, possibly a third although that will unlikely be for the full summer and I will leave as soon as I am able. I have no desire to be here, and you have no desire for me to be here. We may as well make this as painless as possible for all of us.”

“I agree.” Petunia accepted reluctantly. “Must you have our room or can we just empty the one you already have?” she pleaded, her room having only just been redecorated.

“I suppose the guest room would be acceptable,” Harry conceded.

“But Marge-“ Petunia protested.

“Spends less then four weeks a year in this house. She is capable of either using the second bedroom or waiting until I have left. Personally I suggest for her safety she waits until I am no longer in residence.” Harry turned and headed back upstairs to prepare for his move.

--

The move was completed smoothly and Harry was soon settled into his trunk, barely leaving except to remind his family he was around and that they were fulfilling his demands. Surprisingly Dudley was the quickest to catch onto the possible side effects if he didn’t change his ways and was trying to convince his gang that it would mess with people’s heads if they were nice to them for the summer. Harry assumed that Dudley was waiting for his father to find some new way of threatening Harry into his normal behaviour.

Petunia and Vernon were more difficult. The furthest they had gone had been to stop shouting the ‘boy’ to complete every little task although Harry did here them begin the word a few times.

The first two weeks of Harry’s holiday began to pass in an almost pleasant manner and he was feeling quite optimistic about the rest of his break when a black owl flew through the window towards him.

Potter,

Further to our initial negotiations during the last scholastic term I write to request a meeting between us concerning our mutual goal.

Use Faust to arrange a time when we can meet and begin the first stages of our eventual triumph.

Regards.

Crumpling the paper up slowly in his hands Harry sighed. His first carefree summer had come to an end.

The war had begun.