The Blood of His Enemy

"Harry..."

"Don't say his full name."

Voldemort said cautiously, "We have to be careful. Perhaps his name has been cursed too."

"Okay."

Dany readily agreed, then asked as she watched the surveillance footage, "How did he defeat you back then?"

"Defeat me? No. He killed me."

Voldemort shook his head. "But it wasn't by his own hand. It was his mother, Lily Potter."

"She used her life and love to cast an ancient spell, and even now, that spell still protects her child."

Dany looked at Harry Potter on the screen in surprise, then asked speculatively, "A protection spell based on blood ties?"

"Yes."

Voldemort glanced at Dany in surprise. He hadn't expected this vampire wizard to be so clever—she'd deduced the answer from just a few words.

"A long life is bound to teach me a thing or two," Dany replied with a smile.

Voldemort nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more. He simply turned his expectant gaze back to the television.

On the screen, Pochis was chatting with Harry. They seemed to be getting along well, though Harry kept glancing at the grill. He looked ravenous.

"Have some of this fatty meat. It'll satisfy both your taste buds and your body's needs."

Pochis picked up a glistening piece of roast meat and placed it on Harry's plate.

"I'm not letting him eat that!" Dudley shouted, getting to his feet.

"I... I'm not letting him eat it either," Piers said, following close behind after choking on a red meat sausage.

Potter's emerald eyes darted around. He wanted to grab the meat and run, but the odds weren't in his favor, so he looked pleadingly at Pochis instead.

The Dursleys and Pochis's wife were all watching him too, waiting for his decision.

"My boss once taught me that I should learn to share."

He first gave Harry a reassuring smile, then looked at the two boys. "If you get something, share it. If you learn something, teach it."

"Only then will everyone feel they can rely on you. And when you need help, you'll be able to rely on everyone else."

The two boys looked confused, but Mr. Dursley understood what Pochis meant—he intended to let Harry Potter have some meat.

"Those were your words?" Danylis asked from in front of the television.

"Yes." Voldemort nodded, admitting it.

"Is that what you learned after failing to rule the Wizarding World last time?"

"One of the things I learned."

Voldemort nodded and looked at Danylis sincerely. "I don't blame you. When I was in power, I didn't direct any resources your way, so..."

Danylis nodded and said nothing. But after Voldemort turned away, admiration shone in her eyes. If the most powerful dark wizard learned to reflect on his mistakes, could anyone defeat him a second time?

Dumbledore?

He was too old.

Danylis thought it over, then slowly reached out to take Voldemort's arm. But he immediately turned his head and stopped her.

"This isn't my body. Wait a little longer..."

After a brief silence, Voldemort added, "Sorry. I care a lot about fidelity."

"So do I. Otherwise, I wouldn't have waited hundreds of years for you."

Danylis's beautiful eyes were full of love. Voldemort felt his heart begin to race, so he had to turn his gaze back to the television.

"I've made thorough preparations. I'll come back to life... So let's talk about this after I do."

He murmured it softly for Danylis to hear, and she smiled with delight.

The two fell silent again. Only the television continued to make a sound.

Pochis was a good conversationalist. It was clear that he was imitating Voldemort's manner: confident, composed, and unhurried.

"You should have another piece, Harry. You're still growing."

He called Harry over and whistled to summon Jeffney too. "Eat plenty of meat, and you can grow as big as Dudley. Piers too... Ahem..."

Halfway through, it seemed the smoke from the grill had made him cough. Jeffney, who had been chewing on a sausage by Harry's feet, suddenly seemed to receive some kind of command...

He abruptly abandoned the sausage and bit down on Harry's ankle without hesitation.

It all happened so fast. Harry was holding his plate and swallowing eagerly as he gazed at the roast meat.

And then...

"Ah!"

He cried out and dropped the plate, but didn't fall. Jeffney hadn't bitten very hard.

"Harry, are you all right?"

Pochis asked with concern. The Dursleys came over too, while the two boys cheered and clapped.

"It bit me... but it doesn't hurt. It just startled me."

As he spoke, he pulled up his trouser leg. Two scratches were visible on his ankle, with a smear of blood but no bleeding.

"It's nothing, but you really are a troublemaker," his aunt said irritably.

"Don't say that about the boy."

Pochis shook his head. "We should get him checked out at the hospital. We just got this dog, and we can't be sure it's had its rabies shots."

"No, there's absolutely no need for that."

Mr. Dursley refused. "It's just a little smear of blood. He must have startled Jeffney."

"Vernon, don't make me feel guilty. It's just a few precautionary shots. It's no trouble."

As he spoke, Pochis had already taken his car keys from his pocket. "Vernon, just the two of us will go. We'll be back in no time. There's a hospital nearby, and I know my way around."

Mr. Dursley had no time to refuse. Pochis was already leading Harry out of the garden.

Seeing this, Mr. Dursley couldn't very well refuse. He grumbled to his wife and Mrs. Pochis that "Harry is a troublemaker," then followed them out.

The three of them soon got into the car. Pochis started the Rolls-Royce and drove out of Magnolia Crescent.

"So this is your method?" Danylis asked. "You bring Harry here, take his blood, and then kill him?"

"No, Dany."

Voldemort gave a wry smile. "Don't think only about killing. That's the last resort."

"Then what are you going to do?" Danylis asked, puzzled.

"I only need his blood. As for him... he's still useful, so I'll let him live for now," Voldemort said quietly.

Danylis pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced. Vampires never let their enemies live past the night they discovered where they were.

Voldemort shrugged, making no attempt to change her mind.

After they waited in silence for a while, the Cadillac finally appeared on one of the many televisions in front of them.

Pochis got out first, followed by Harry, and finally the fat Mr. Dursley. His bulky frame made it difficult for him to move.

"I'll take him through the process. You can wait here."

Pochis said considerately, and Mr. Dursley clearly didn't want him to see him in such an awkward state. He waved Pochis and Harry ahead.

So the two of them went into the hospital, and into another television screen.

"You're getting his blood drawn at a Muggle hospital?" Danylis asked Voldemort.

"Yes. He was bitten by a dog, so he needs to be examined."

As they spoke, Harry had already reached the blood-draw station. He rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm through the window.

"The blood is drawn in this screen. After that, the blood bags will be sent along this route."

Voldemort pointed at the television and explained the route they would take. "Keep your eyes on it. I have to make sure nobody switches the blood bags."

"Would anyone do that?" Danylis asked, though her gaze remained fixed on the screen as Voldemort had instructed.

"Not that I know of, but I have to be cautious. My resurrection depends on it."

Voldemort watched the screen with a stern expression.

After hearing him, Danylis watched even more intently.