If Paths Diverge

Chapter 3

Before he went home, however, he had to make sure that Voldemort was alright.

Harry exited the lift and saw a different one of the three guards outside the cell doors.

"Mr Potter, the Minister spoke with me just a moment ago. He said you were to go home."

Harry continued walking past him, pushing the door wide and starting down the hall. The man's voice was urgent and Harry could hear him stand up and follow.

"He said you were not allowed down here anymore today! Mr Potter, the Minister said—"

Harry turned, just as he'd reached Voldemort's cell.

"I really don't care what the Minster said, I'm not going anywhere until I make sure this man is alright."

Harry waited for a reply, eyebrows raised, but the guard simply stared at him so Harry turned and opened the door to the cell.

Voldemort was sitting on his cot, naked and awkward without his intimidating black robes. His red eyes seized Harry's immediately. Harry felt a swoop in his stomach at the attention. Voldemort always had a singular ability to remove him from reality when their eyes met. That deep scrape on his left cheekbone still looked angry and red.

Harry conjured a chair, sat down, and pulled out one of the veggie pasties he had nicked from the lunchroom on the way down. He was so tired he didn't even know what it tasted like, he just followed his instincts and forced it down to quell some of the pain in his stomach and hopefully clear his head a bit.

Voldemort watched him eat in silence. Harry pulled out the other pastie and held it out to Voldemort.

"Don't glare at me like that. I brought you one too."

Voldemort's scowl deepened, but Harry guessed it was more for being caught out than any actual anger.

"Here."

Harry moved forward and placed the wrapped food into the man's naked lap.

He tried very hard to avert his eyes from the man's exposed genitals as he handed the food over. He actually managed to succeed, which was both a relief and an uncomfortable disappointment.

Voldemort placed a hand over the pastie without a thank you, but that was not surprising in the least. The man glanced at Harry again, a cautious look in his red eyes.

"Have you contaminated this?"

"What?" Harry asked, caught off guard by the stupid question. Before Voldemort could call him on it, Harry continued. "Of course not, it's just a snack. I thought you'd be hungry. I sure am."

Harry took another bite.

Voldemort continued to stare at him so Harry sighed and reached forward, taking the pastie out from under the other man's hands. Voldemort looked murderous, but Harry simply peeled back the wrapper and took a bite while staring at Voldemort. He caught the man's eyes following the movement of his lips.

Harry handed it back, trying not to read anything into that.

"See? Not contaminated."

Voldemort continued to frown, but evidently his hunger outweighed his caution. He studied Harry for only a few more moments until he raised the pastie and took a bite.

Seeing Lord Voldemort eat a greasy, flaky pastie did something to Harry's insides, making them squirm. He watched as those pallid lips closed around the spot where Harry had placed his own mouth. It was an intimate act and Harry watched avidly as that tongue snuck out to capture the yellow flakes that had escaped.