Darkness.

That's what Harry had woken up to, when he finally managed to regain consciousness. He was in a room somewhere, likely at the bottom of a house or building; the walls were cement, and there were no windows. It smelled of mildew, if he was being perfectly honest, and there seemed to be a water leak somewhere, due to the constant dripping he heard.

Harry had woken up on his back, and he could easily feel as if he was tied down to something. It was by moving his hands this way and that—as much as the restraints provided—that he was on an old mattress, likely the same quality he had had while living at the Dursleys. There was a torn mattress pad upon it, and a thin bottom sheet, but no upper sheet, or blankets to speak of. Only his hands were tied, and they seemed to be so via a hook on the wall behind him; his legs, however, were loose, which Harry briefly wondered had been an oversight to his kidnappers, or, if that they wanted him to have a fighting chance.

Harry swallowed, somehow managing to push himself into a sitting position, knocking his head back on the concrete wall behind him as he struggled to do so, crying out slightly. He shuddered at the smarting pain which surged through his head, hoping that it didn't bleed everywhere. He gritted his teeth, hearing a door squeaking open, a light shining on the staircase just opposite him, and found his heart beating loudly in his chest at the oncoming approach of an unknown person, but his heart soon entered his throat.

"Ah, Harry Potter," said Riddle moving so that he was standing just in front of the mattress, that serpentine grin of his never wavering.

"What are you...? You're supposed to be in prison!" Harry shouted.

Riddle tsked then, shaking his head. "I have many friends on the inside and outside, young Harry, whose hearts still beat for my cause. It wasn't too difficult to put them to use," he went on with a shrug.

"What do you want with me?" Harry demanded, his tone bitter. "I've got nothing on you. They couldn't try you for trying to kill me when I was a baby, and I was hardly able to give a witness testimony about it."

Riddle charged forward then, grabbing ahold of Harry's shirt and yanking him closer, which was difficult, due to him being tied, and Harry cried out at the push-and-pull sensation that ripped through his muscles. "Regardless, I like to leave no stone unturned," he declared, looking Harry up and down. "And besides, it will be very difficult for Vernon and Petunia to be sentenced without you being around to continue your complaints."

"I already testified," Harry growled at him, despite the pain in his smarting muscles. "Too little, too late, Riddle."

"Their solicitor is the same as mine, you know," Riddle informed Harry, and his blood ran cold at the declaration. "While the plan was constantly put off, we finally managed to come together for a successful snatching."

Harry shook his head at him. "No. No, that's... They'd never..."

"You betrayed them, Harry," Riddle declared. "After feeding and clothing you for over a decade, they were entitled to reap the rewards. And now, you've defiled the notion of a happy household, forever breaking apart a family with a taste for discipline."

"Discipline?!" Harry spat, angry that Riddle would bring up his home life with the Dursleys. "I think you know very well that that wasn't discipline, Riddle! That was abuse, pure and simple, and of all kinds. I'm sure you got copies of the transcripts on the day I testified, when I spoke about what they would all do to me."

"Child's play," Riddle said, glaring down at him. "It is mere child's play, Harry, compared to what I've wanted to do to you since I saw you in the paper, in the wake of Bella killing your precious Sirius."

Harry attempted to get out of Riddle's grip. "You can't do anything to me," he told him, his voice quiet but deadly. "You can't, because I belong to someone else."

Riddle rolled his eyes. "Love does not exist, Potter," he sneered. "Whatever feelings you may think you have for the cowardly Severus Snape are myth."

"I love him!" Harry shouted at Riddle, his voice strong, hardly caring what happened to him anymore. "Don't you dare talk about Severus!"

Riddle, quickly losing patience, turned Harry lose and smacked him, so that he fell backwards onto the mattress. "You will soon learn your place," he ground out, stepping away from him. "I will check on you soon. You will beg for it," he muttered, before he turned around and swept out of the basement.

As soon as the door had closed behind his captor, Harry found himself staring at the ceiling again as he trembled all over. He took ahold of his bottom lip in between his teeth, so as to prevent himself from crying out. No, he could not allow Riddle or his followers, under any certain terms, to figured out just how weak he was. Despite everything, as tears flowed down his cheeks, he would have to remain strong. He'd survived over a decade and a half of hell, after all. What was another day, if that?

. . .

Severus nearly dropped the book upon ending his urgent phone call with Albus, telling him that he was needed in the headmaster's office immediately. Severus knew that he was being summoned, along with Minerva, Filius, and Pomona, as he left the basement of Wartsmoth Academy and made his way upstairs. Upon arrival in the dean's office—which hadn't seen a restoration since the Great Depression—he sat in the provided chair, with Minerva and Filius on either side of him, and Pomona on Minerva's other side.

"This has yet to hit the papers," Albus began, his tone grave, "but Scotland Yard has just informed me that, in the wake of the mass prison breakout in London, that four of Riddle's followers—Bellatrix, Rodolphus as Rabastan, and Lucius have all banded together in order to kidnap Harry."

"Good lord, no!" Minerva shouted; out of the four of them, in a public setting, she was seen as the closest to Harry.

"They have sent a ransom note to Scotland Yard, letting them know that they are holding him in an undisclosed location, after they abducted him yesterday afternoon," Albus went on, his normally twinkling eyes just flat blue.

"Where was he taken from, Albus?" Filius spoke up, his happy-go-lucky attitude replaced with utter and total seriousness.

"The front gates," Albus replied.

Pomona blinked, scooting forward from beside Minerva. "You mean, the front gates of Wartsmoth, Albus?" she asked him.

Albus nodded. "Yes, Pomona."

"What could he have been doing here?" Minerva asked. "It was his seventeenth birthday... He said he was staying in Devon with the Weasleys, as Remus and Dora were on their honeymoon in Montenegro," she said, her mind going over and over the situation.

"He was here to see me," Severus said softly, speaking up for the first time.

Albus immediately leaned forward on his steepled fingers, as Minerva, Filius, and Pomona all turned to look at him, jaws dropping. "Severus, if you have information that could prove useful to Scotland Yard, don't hesitate to share it."

Severus sighed. "Very well, then."

Albus lifted his phone then, and keyed in a number, before he waited the bypass the rings. "Yes, hello, this is Albus Dumbledore," he said carefully into the receiver. "Yes, I'm speaking with the heads of the students now, and one of them knew something. Yes, of course," he said, and held out the phone to Severus.

"Yes, hello, this is Severus Snape," he said, once he took the phone.

"Ah, yes, Professor Snape. This is Deputy Commissioner Kingsley Shacklebolt," said the deep voice on the other end of the phone. "Headmaster Dumbledore mentioned that you had some information regarding the timeline of events of Harry James Potter's day yesterday. We know it was his seventeenth birthday, and that he was staying in Devon in the wake of his guardian, Remus Lupin, and one of our own, Dora Tonks, heading off to Montenegro for their honeymoon. His best friend, Ronald Weasley, has informed us that Mr. Potter left the Weasley residence in Devon around six in the morning, and left a note behind, saying he would be gone for the day, but not where he was going, or when he would be coming back."

"And, you have the note?" Severus guessed.

"We have the note," Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt said. "From there, Mr. Potter's whereabouts were unknown until he arrived at the Devon train station. He caught him via CCTV, and again when he stepped off the train in Edinburgh. From there, we see that he caught a cab, and we're waiting for confirmation as to who the driver was. He was then dropped off somewhere, and we now presume it to be at Wartsmoth Academy, given that that is where he was kidnapped from, around half an hour after he got into the cab."

"Yes, I see," Severus said softly.

"I take it, based on Headmaster Dumbledore's phone call, that you have some information for us which could prove to be crucial?"

"Yes. Potter came to the school to see me," Severus told him.

"I see. Are the two of you exceptionally close?"

"I wouldn't say so, no," Severus said, knowing the consequences for lying to a copper, but not caring about it right now.

"All right, then. Could you tell me what he was doing there, then?"

"He wanted to know if an executive decision had been made in regards to his going on from chemistry to physics this autumn," Severus said steadily.

"Excuse me?" the deputy commissioner asked.

"He is an insufferable, bratty teenager," Severus said scathingly into the phone, and noticed Albus's lips thinning at that. "He got the grades to go onto physics from chemistry, and when I explained that to him, he proceeded to demand information about what we would be learning in class next autumn."

"I see," Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt said quietly.

"He left shortly thereafter, when I explained that his questions were entirely inappropriate, and that he would have to wait and see, just like the rest of the students next term. He then left my classroom, at around three o'clock in the afternoon."

"The kidnappers confirm having him no later than three-fifteen," the deputy commissioner reported back to Severus softly. "Well, we can account for his whereabouts a bit more now. Of course, now we have to figure out where he's being held. I don't suppose you have that information, do you, professor?"

Severus swallowed; he really didn't have a clue. "No, Deputy Commissioner. I apologize. This is truly all that I know."

"Understood, professor," he said softly. "Feel free to put the headmaster back on now."

"Of course." Severus handed the phone over, and he, Minerva, Filius, and Pomona were quickly excused with a wave of Albus's hand. Severus felt like he'd been forced to swallow iodine of some kind, and, as he left the headmaster's office, felt unsteady on his feet as he returned to the basement of the school.

. . .

When Remus and Dora touched down at the Edinburgh Airport on the fifth of August, they were met by Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt as soon as they disembarked the plane. Dora let go of Remus's hand and rushed forward, heart pounding in her chest as she saw her boss. She spent most of her time with Commissioner Alastor Moody, so for Kingsley Shacklebolt to be waiting for them upon their return from their honeymoon, whatever the reason was, she knew it had to be serious.

"Kings," she said, the nickname not lost on her superior as her voice trembled. "What's going on? What's happened?" she asked him.

Kingsley sighed, squeezing Dora's shoulder briefly as Remus approached. "You're Remus Lupin, guardian of Harry Potter?"

Remus gave a stiff nod to Kingsley, finding Dora's hand again. "Has... Has something happened to Harry?" came his tentative reply.

"I'm afraid so," he said, motioning for them to follow. "Our associates have been instructed to collect your baggage. You'll need to come with me."

"Of course," Dora said, agreeing without hesitation.

"What's going on?" Remus wanted to know as they circled the airport and walked directly towards the attached parking lot, where official Scotland Yard vehicles were awaiting the three of them. "Please. For all intents and purposes, Harry is my son, and should have been from the moment his parents were killed. I need to know what's going on with him."

"Is he in hospital?" Dora asked as Kingsley opened the door of the van.

"We don't know where he is at the moment," Kingsley confessed as Dora and then Remus got into the vehicle. Kingsley got in himself into the vehicle himself and nodded at the driver, who promptly sped into the line of traffic. "Scotland Yard is coupling with the Scottish police at their headquarters of Tulliallan Castle for the time being."

Remus shook his head. "Why would the police be involved?"

Kingsley sighed before reaching out towards the front seat, and grabbing ahold of a copy of The Times and handed it over to Remus. The bold headline declared, Day Five of Riddle's Camp of Holding Harry J. Potter, No New Leads.

"No... No," Remus whispered then, dropping the paper into his lap and placing his face into his hands, proceeding to sob.

Dora took in her new husband's body language and snatched the paper from his lap, letting out a shrill scream as she turned to her superior. "We need to find our boy immediately!" she declared, slipping her hand in Remus's.

"Perhaps some time relaxing would be the best thing for you," Kingsley said gently to her. "We got you a room at Broomhall—"

"Another castle isn't going to ease the wound that someone has taken my son!" Dora shouted then, and Remus raised his eyes to her profile, shocked.

"You... You called him your son," he whispered.

Dora turned and regarded her husband then, a small smile on her face. "I felt compassion for him from the moment I took him away from those heathens," she told him patiently. "And, from the moment you asked me to be your wife, Harry became my son, too. We're going to do everything to get our boy back, Remus, I swear it."

"I'm afraid, Dora, that it is not that simple," Kingsley said softly.

Dora's eyes snapped to the deputy commissioner's. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" she demanded of him.

Kingsley's mouth set into a thin line then. "From the moment you married Professor Lupin, you also attained guardianship of the minor Harry Potter," he replied tolerantly. "As such, your participation in the investigation into young Mr. Potter's kidnapping would not only be unethical, but an extreme conflict of interest—"

"You think I give a rat's arse about ethics or conflicts of interest?!" Dora demanded. "I was a detective before I became a mother, and I'll be a detective for as long as the force will have me as one. I will not be bullied or pushed around when it comes to my family, or my children, by anyone. I will be participating in this investigation, Kings, one way or another. Nor will I rest until my boy is brought home to us."

There was a chuckle from the front seat then, and Commissioner Alastor Moody poked his head out from where he'd been hiding, his eye patch no longer a shock to Dora, but easily one to her new husband. "Well said, Detective Lupin," he said gruffly to her, before affixing his one good eye onto his deputy commissioner. "I want her on this case, Kings," he told him then, his tone a severe one. "I may be accused of playing favorites to the point where I have to give over my position to you, but Detective Lupin's one of the best we've got. We need her on this one, Kings, for a mother's love knows no bounds."

Kings sighed. "Very well, sir," he said, knowing when it was time to stop an argument. "But she follows my lead on this."

Commissioner Moody nodded. "Of course. At the end of the day, you're still her superior. But, remember, Kings, you always answer to me," he said, and turned back around to watch the terrain around them as they made their way to Tulliallan Castle.

. . .

Harry stiffened automatically at the series of squeaks that emitted from the door as it opened at the top of the stairs, and as the stairs responded to two pairs of feet walking down them. If he was doing his math correctly—which was difficult, due to there being no clocks or windows down where he was—he had been there twenty days. A lump rose in his throat at that; the term would begin soon, and he desperately wanted to finish his schooling, not to mention see his family and friends again.

Harry sat up as best he could when two of his captors came into the room, and was surprised to see that Riddle was not among them, considering that he had been down there almost daily to check up on him; one of the men was Lucius, and the other was one of the Lestrange brothers, he didn't know which. The former moved behind him and unshackled his arms, and Harry let out a hiss through his teeth, and rubbed at his wrists, rubbed raw and stiff from being confined for so long. He looked up at the Lestrange brother then, who was carrying something that smelled incredible.

"Riddle has decreed that you can have something to eat," he said.

Harry blinked; although used to starvation, he was now getting three square meals a day, plus snacks, both in and out of school, so to go for so long without eating regularly was beginning to take its toll on him. "Thank you," he managed to get out.

"Good boy," said Lucius from behind him, which made Harry's skin crawl. Lucius then got to his feet and left the basement.

Harry reached out and took the offering, which seemed to be two wrapped cheeseburgers, a medium-sized fries, and a bottle of water. He set the second cheeseburger and the fries on the bed, and slowly unwrapped the first burger, and opened his bottle of water. "I'm sorry," he said quietly once he'd taken a sip, which soothed his throat, "but I... You and your brother look a lot alike," he said lamely.

"Oh," said the man, genuinely surprised at the statement. "I'm Rabastan," he said softly. "I'm Bella's brother-in-law."

Harry nodded. "I see. Thank you, Rabastan," he said softly, and took another bite of his burger, which could've been haggis for all he cared; it was delicious.

Rabastan leaned against the opposite wall, watching Harry as he crossed his arms, looking every inch a jailer. "Is it all right? The food."

Harry nodded again. "Yes, thank you for asking," he said, getting a fry from the cardboard container. "It's great."

"Riddle will appreciate hearing that," Rabastan said. "He also says that if you keep on behaving for us, then you let us know what you want to eat, and we'll bring it to you."

Harry gave a tentative smile. "Good to know," he replied.

"What other foods do you like?" Rabastan asked him. "I'm supposed to tell Riddle when he comes here again."

Harry swallowed, wanting desperately to ask where 'here' was, but also knowing it would be unwise to push his luck. "I like pizza," he said quietly.

"What kind?"

"Lots of cheese," he told his captor. "I also like pepperoni."

"We can do that," Rabastan told him. "Anything else?"

"Salads, doesn't matter what kind," Harry answered. "I also like pasta."

"And to drink?"

"Water is fine," Harry told him softly.

"What about dessert?" Rabastan wanted to know. "Riddle says that, on certain days, you can have something sweet, if you behave."

"Treacle tart," he whispered.

Rabastan gave another nod. "That's not too difficult," he told him. "I'll let Riddle and the others know when it's time to go for food again."

Harry finished his first cheeseburger and carefully sipped at his water; he knew full well if he ate quickly, then he would be sick, and he didn't want to risk his jailers being angry with him. "I... I guess there are things I'm not allowed to ask, right?"

His guard nodded at him. "Yes, of course," he replied, shifting slightly against the wall. "You're not allowed to ask where we are, how long you'll be here, or to go home. Other than that," he went on, spreading his hands, "you can ask whatever you like."

Harry swallowed; of course, wanted to know the answers to all of those questions, but he knew better than to talk back. "So, why am I here?"

Rabastan blinked. "I'm sorry?"

Harry tentatively took another French fry from its box. "Well, I've got to admit, it doesn't wholly make sense to me," he answered. "Riddle has already been sentenced for killing my parents, and it's not like I was available to testify, given that I was in hospital, and little more than a baby at the time. If he gets caught again..." Harry shook his head. "They'll likely put him away again."

Rabastan considered that for a moment. "Yes, I suppose you're right," he answered. "Well, I do know why you're here, and we haven't been told that you can't know why."

Harry looked up, hoping his expression was a positive one as he carefully unwrapped his second cheeseburger. "Okay," he said.

"Riddle has needs," Rabastan stated, "and he would like to have a companion, now that he's out of the prison."

Harry swallowed his bite too quickly, and hastily took ahold of his bottle of water to prevent choking or coughing. "Y...yeah?" he asked.

"He's chosen you," Rabastan said, his dark eyes filled with wonderment. "You should consider it an honor to be a gang leader's chosen companion. You'll be constantly looked after, your every wish fulfilled. All you have to do is be nice and lie back every now and again—which means whenever he wants it—and you can have whatever you want."

Harry shuddered, but masked it by taking another bite of his cheeseburger. "And... And he actually wants me?" he asked.

Rabastan nodded. "Yes. He's risked breaking out of prison and bringing you here, Harry. What does that tell you?"

That he's certifiable, Harry thought to himself. "I... I guess it means that he really wants me," he said quietly with a shrug. "Not to sound ungrateful. I'm just not used to people wanting me, is all," he whispered.

Rabastan nodded. "Well, as soon as Riddle thinks you're ready, you won't have to be shackled anymore, and you can walk around down here as much as you like. Once that happens, he'll want to get you things. What do you like?"

"Books," Harry said softly.

"What kind of books?"

"Chemistry or physics," he said.

Rabastan nodded. "Okay. We can get you those things." He hesitated for a moment. "Once Riddle thinks you've been behaving down here, you'll be allowed upstairs and put into a proper bedroom. Then, we'll wait a few days until you're ready, and then the two of you will test out being together."

Harry nodded, trying to keep his food down. "All right," he whispered.

Rabastan, seeing that Harry had finished everything, gathered the trash and moved behind Harry to shackle him. "You've done well today," he told him. "I'll loosen the braces; Riddle told me I could if you behaved."

"Thank you, Rabastan," Harry said softly.

Rabastan nodded. "Try and get some rest. It's after ten," he said, and picked up the trash with a flourish before he left the basement.

. . .

Rolf Scamander, fresh from his graduation at Wartsmoth Academy for Gifted Students and a few weeks that summer traveling across Scandinavia with his girlfriend, walked into Tulliallan Castle with a slip of paper gripped in his hand. Written on the paper was instructions as to which room he had been instructed to go to, and managed to find it quickly. After his trip to Scandinavia with Luna, he had joined an official boot camp for Scotland Yard hopefuls, just finishing up the training the previous evening, with his commanding officer informing him that he could be used as an assistant on a kidnapping case.

Rolf found the room he had been instructed to go to, and saw that there was a woman with brown hair, sitting at a desk, while Professor Lupin himself was sitting on a shelf behind her, just in front of a massive window. "Detective and Professor Lupin?" he asked, pushing the door open and standing in the doorway.

"Just 'Remus', Rolf," said his former physical education professor as he hopped off from his seat and strode forward. "You're all graduated now, so no need for formalities."

Rolf smiled and shook his hand. "Very well, Remus." Rolf turned to his wife, and smiled at the woman. "Does that mean I call you 'Dora'?" he asked.

Dora smiled and got to her feet. "Of course it does," she replied, shaking his hand. "Welcome to Scotland Yard. I take it Oliver Wood sent you?"

"He's my commanding officer, so, yes," Rolf replied, handing over the note the Wood had written for him to present to Dora.

Dora nodded, inspecting the note before folding it up and pocketing it. "Very well, then. Have you been following the news?"

Rolf sighed a that, dragging a hand through his dark brown hair. "How can you not? Luna was absolutely devastated when we got the news when we were backpacking three weeks ago. She's been inconsolable ever since; we had to cut the trip short."

Remus put an arm around Dora. "We're all devastated, Rolf," he said plainly.

"But, you were able to get into the boot camp, due to coming home early," Dora put in. "That's a small miracle." She sighed. "Wood said that you're one of the best recruits he's seen in years. I trained with Wood, so I don't take what he says lightly. You're going to be assisting me in our efforts to solve Harry's kidnapping and bring him home."

Rolf's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

Dora nodded. "Yes. If this goes well, and you're truly an asset to us by the end of things, this will count towards the preliminary field work required to get into the official training program for Scotland Yard. You'll be able to put it on your application."

Rolf nodded. "Whatever I can do, Dora, I'm here."

Dora smiled. "Commissioner Moody has heard your praises from Wood these past couple of days, and he's anxious to make you a part of the team sooner rather than later. He's fully prepared to sign off on you joining the training program, once we bring Harry home, if you do as good a job as we think you'll do."

Rolf grinned. "Thank you very much for this opportunity."

"Oh, don't thank me yet," Dora replied. "This isn't going to be a walk in Hyde Park, Rolf. This is going to be steady work, without much sleep or time to eat, for the foreseeable future. We don't know where Riddle and his gang are keeping Harry, but we're going to do whatever we can to find him."

Rolf swallowed. "Well, then I suppose we have our work cut out for us, don't we?"

"Indeed, we do," Remus said darkly. "And Dora has your first assignment."

"What would you like me to do, Dora?" Rolf asked.

"A car has been assigned to take you to Wartsmoth Academy," Dora explained. "You're going to be interviewing Professor Severus Snape face-to-face. Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt has already had a phone interview with him, but he believes he would respond better with a face-to-face interview."

Rolf blinked. "Is Professor Snape a suspect?"

"Not that we're aware of," Remus said quietly. "What we do know is, Harry was last confirmed to be with him before the abduction took place."

Rolf nodded. "All right. I'll do my best. I was never his favorite student, but I always did well in the science courses."

"Maybe that'll work in your favor," Dora said, fetching him a notepad and pen. She also took out a badge and put it around Rolf's neck, before nodding in approval. "This will grant you some authority within the unit. This way, people will know who you are. The driver is instructed to take you directly to Wartsmoth. It is a good forty-five minute drive, so read over the notes that I, Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt, and Commissioner Moody have given to you. Try not to go off script; we wouldn't want to scare him."

Rolf nodded. "Understood."

"Better hurry," Remus said. "The professors usually spend the days leading up to the start-of-term making up their final lesson plans. Severus is usually angry if we interrupt him during his chemistry experiments. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of interrupting something as important as a lesson plan."

Rolf scoffed. "Let the games begin, then," he said, saluting both Remus and Dora before he headed out of the office.

. . .

Severus had answered the questions of his former student, Rolf Scamander, as best he could, before the young man ultimately went on his way. He'd given no new information, and had given the same account as he had done when Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt had spoken to him on the phone in Albus's office. Severus spent the next two days, wandering around his classroom and inner quarters, knowing just what could happen if he came clean about his relationship with Harry.

"If I come clean, it could mean his death," Severus whispered into the silence of his living room, and shook his head. "If Riddle got wind that I ever reciprocated feelings for him, he could see it as an act of defiance. He's that mad."

Severus dragged a hand through his black hair, wondering what could be done in this situation, and found it to be lose-lose. He needed Harry; he came to this directly on the second day after Rolf had left, and he had no idea what to do with this information. Slowly, Severus got to his feet and wandered over to his bookshelf, where he had unceremoniously shoved his old chemistry textbook, the one he had taken from Harry.

"Time to let go," he said softly, turning towards the fireplace, one that he always had lit, due to the perpetually cool temperature of the school's basement. He crossed over towards it, and systematically ripped out the pages from the book—just the back ones—of the tormented teenage he once was. He shook his head then, falling back into the wingback chair before the fireplace, and watched as the papers curled and burned. The book fell to the floor as his eyes grew heavy, and whispered, brokenly, "Harry... Harry... I'm so sorry... I love you," he whispered as he fell into a troubled sleep.

. . .

Harry hadn't been shackled to the mattress in the basement for a good week, and so he'd been spending time wandering up and down the small space. He had also gotten more food over the past several days, so suffice it to say, he was getting his strength back. The best part had been a copy of A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, which Rabastan had brought to him, and told him that it was from Riddle. Harry had thanked him, and spent hours pouring over the text he'd been given, as there was not much else to do, really.

Harry was reading his book on the mattress—which now had two pillows and a thin blanket due to his good behavior—when the door squeaked open. It didn't frighten Harry as much as it did, for Rabastan and he seemed to have a rapport, even though Harry would never forgive him for what he'd put Dora through as a teenager. He kept reading his book, without looking up, the scent of pizza wafting into his nostrils, wondering what he and Rabastan would be talking about that day.

"Harry."

The voice was not Rabastan's, and Harry immediately looked up, his blood going cold as he saw Riddle standing before him. "Hello," he said softly.

Riddle stepped forward, and presented Harry with a pizza box. "Rabastan told me that you liked extra cheese and pepperoni."

Harry tentatively set his book aside before taking the box. "Thank you," he said, noticing many water bottles in Riddle's other hand.

Riddle gave a stiff nod and perched at the edge of the bed; this frightened Harry, as Rabastan had kept his distance since he'd been permitted to not be shackled up. "I thought I would have my dinner with you, Harry."

Harry swallowed, knowing he had to play this safe. "If you like."

Riddle arched an eyebrow, but nevertheless opened the pizza box and helped himself to a slice, chewing it slowly. "How are you holding up?"

"Fine," Harry replied. "The book and the blanket and not being shackled helps."

"You've only got yourself to thank for that, Harry," Riddle told him. "Rabastan tells me of how well you've been behaving. Pretty soon, we can move you upstairs."

Harry managed to select a slice of pizza, chewing it slowly. "Why...?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Why did you pick me?" he whispered. "I mean, you could've had anyone, or gone anywhere once you escaped prison. Why would you choose to stay here?"

Riddle smirked. "You've figured out we're still in the U.K., then?"

Harry shrugged; his shoulders were thinner since his captivity. "Just a guess."

Riddle nodded. "Very good," he told him. "And I chose you, Harry, because, when you came to see me, I came to the direct conclusion that you had the most bewitching green eyes that I'd ever laid eyes on. From the moment I saw them, and witnessed your passion, I knew that I had to escape prison, and make you mine."

"I..." Harry hesitated. "I'll need some time to..."

"Of course," Riddle replied, his tone indulgent. "I don't expect a switch to be flipped and for you to fall head over heels in love with me. That's only in fairy tales."

"Was it true, what the papers said?" Harry asked him. "Are you incapable of love?"

Riddle shrugged. "I don't know. All I do know is, I've felt different ever since you came to see me that day, Harry. Could you feel it, too? A pull?"

Harry sighed. "I... I don't know," he admitted.

Riddle nodded. "That's all right. We cannot have all the answers." He pulled a package of moist towelettes from his pocket, making quick work of cleaning his hands before he permitted his eyes to scan over Harry. "You are a very handsome young man, you know."

Harry lowered his eyes and placed his barely-eaten slice of pizza back into the box. "Oh, I don't know," he said, and accepted a moist towelette for himself at Riddle's offering. "I don't really think of myself in that way."

"Well," Riddle said, thinking it over, "I suppose I shall have to teach you, then."

Harry blinked, raising his eyes to Riddle's. "Sir?"

"Oh, I quite like that," Riddle said, his voice almost a purr as he moved the pizza box out of the way and crawled towards Harry. "Say it again."

Harry let out an uncomfortable noise as he moved backwards, to the point where he was very nearly plastered against the wall behind him. "Sir..."

"Oh, that's right," Riddle said, crawling closer still, snake-like in his movements, as he grabbed ahold of Harry's jaw with one hand, and his wrist with the other. "Just relax. I promise, you'll like it," he told him, smashing his lips to his.

Harry struggled in Riddle's grip, not liking it at all, and realized then that all he would ever want is Severus Snape. He wretched further still, and let out a disgusted sound when Riddle's tongue escaped through his lips. Thinking quickly, Harry bit down on it as hard as he could, before the shocked caused Riddle to double back, and Harry kicked him in the chest. "Don't you ever touch me like that again!" Harry shouted at him.

Riddle's eyes flashed at Harry's defiance. "You will love me, Harry," he declared then, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and lifting him, before he slammed him into the wall, facing away from him. "Perhaps we can do this in a manner that you're more accustomed to."

Harry saw red as he flailed about, trying to get away from him. "You can starve me, you can beat me, but you cannot have me, because I belong to someone else!" he yelled then, forcing himself around then and hitting Riddle as hard as he could in the jaw.

Riddle immediately knocked Harry back onto the mattress; yes, the teenager would have some bruising and a black eye tomorrow. "You will learn," he ground out then, before taking the pizza box, and leaving the bottles of water and everything else, before he swept out of the basement and slammed the door behind him.

. . .

Severus's eyes snapped open as the sun crept in through his threadbare curtains, and jumped to his feet. His heart was hammering in his chest, remembering a long-forgotten dream, and ran into the bathroom. He freshened up quickly, and threw on a fresh pair of clothes before dashing out of his inner rooms and classroom, and ran upstairs to where Albus's office was. Trembling, he let himself in, and the headmaster straightened up in his seat.

"Severus?"

"Albus, you've got to call Scotland Yard," Severus replied, shaking.

Albus blinked. "Severus, is something the matter?"

"It will be, if you don't call them," Severus whispered. "Please..."

Albus nodded, dialing the number of Deputy Commissioner Shacklebolt, and speaking to him briefly. "Yes, Severus wishes to speak to you. Yes. Thank you."

Severus took the phone as Albus handed it over to him. "Deputy Commissioner?"

"Speaking," he replied. "Severus?"

Severus ignored the informality. "Yes."

"How can I help you today?"

"It is I who must help you, sir," Severus replied.

"I'm all ears."

Severus swallowed. "I... I have an idea of where Harry might be," he said softly, and Albus almost immediately leaned forward, hoping to catch the full conversation.

. . .

Harry blinked his eyes open as he heard a series of shouts, running, and slamming from somewhere above his head. He managed to push himself upwards into a sitting position, wincing slightly. He had been shackled again, and he absolutely hated it. However, as the door above him slammed open, and he retreated as close to the wall behind him, he felt as if he was seeing things when he saw Rolf Scamander running down the stairs.

"R... Rolf?" Harry whispered.

"I've found him! He's down here!" Rolf shouted, running forward. "Oh, my god, Harry!" he yelled out then, quickly unshackling Harry and accepting the hug he gave him. "Come on. I'll help you out, okay?"

Harry nodded. "Okay," he managed to get out.

"Let's go, it's all okay," Rolf assured him, guiding him up into a sitting position before he helped him walk up the stairs and out of the basement.

"You've done well, Scamander," said a gruff voice of a man who had scraggly hair and wore an eyepatch. "Ah, Potter. Good to see you're all right. Commissioner Moody. How do you do?" he said, putting a blanket around Harry's trembling shoulders.

"Fine, I think," Harry said as he was led from a kitchen and through the living room, and towards the front door.

"People are waiting for you outside," Moody told him with what Harry thought was supposed to be a smile. "Come on, then."

Harry stepped through the front door as instructed, and let out a cry as he saw Remus and Dora waiting for him. He charged forward, out of Rolf's grasp, leaving the blanket Moody had draped around him behind, and threw his arms around them both. He was sobbing, so happy to be back with them again, and sensed that they were crying, too.

Harry was immediately taken to the Berwick Infirmary, and learned that he was being held at Abbotsford House, near the River Tweed. Harry didn't ask any questions, and, instead, answered the ones the hospital staff gave him upon arrival. Yes, he knew he was malnourished. Yes, he was aware that he lacked Vitamin D. No, he wouldn't like some tea, but some water would be lovely. Yes, he was beaten. No, he was not raped. He believed to have been drugged with chloroform in order to transport him.

"They likely hid you somewhere and brought you to the Edinburgh Station," Dora informed him gently once Harry was in recovery. "From there, we believe you were taken to the Tweedbank Railway Station, which is very close to Abbotsford."

Harry carefully sipped at his water. "What's... What's going to happen to all of them?" he asked, looking from Remus to Dora and back again.

"They'll be imprisoned, of course," Remus said. "Good riddance."

Harry nodded. "And Ron and Hermione? How are they?"

"Worried sick about you," Dora confirmed with an indulgent smile. "We called them, let them know that we've found you and that you're going to be all right. They've asked to come see you at the villa tomorrow, since you'll be released by tonight. We said we'd check with you, but they insisted, I'm afraid."

"I would like that," Harry said softly.

Remus smiled. "Good. We... We've also discussed it with Albus and, pending your approval, we would like to get you an emotional support animal."

Harry blinked. "Are you serious? A pet?"

Dora laughed. "Sort of like a pet, yes. It can be a dog or a cat. Whatever you want."

"A puppy," Harry said softly. "I... I've always wanted to rescue a puppy."

"Well, we'll go and fetch one for you tomorrow before Ron and Hermione come to the villa, then," Remus said with a nod.

"When will we be going shopping for my books?" Harry asked, and Remus and Dora looked at one another. "I assume my class list for next term has come?"

Dora sighed. "Yes, of course it has, Harry, but you're under no obligation to..."

"Yes, I am," Harry said, his tone firm. "I want to finish my education. I'm not going to hide away from getting on with my life. I'll still see Amelia—I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about, now that I'm free again. But, I want to go back. I have to. I didn't stop my life when shit hit the fan with the Dursleys, and I certainly don't intend to in the wake of me being released from Riddle's captivity. I'm going to school on the first."

Remus smiled. "You're quite like Lily, you know. Fiercely determined, not to mention stubborn," he put in, and Harry laughed.

"I suppose those attributes will be acceptable," Dora said with a smirk.

"At the end of all this, I just want..."

"What?" Remus asked. "Anything. What do you want?"

"I just want to be Harry," he admitted with a shrug. "Just Harry. That's all I've ever wanted to be, at the end of the day."

Dora nodded. "And we'll do everything in our power for it to be so," she declared.