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Chapter 83*

The next morning, after a restless night, you find yourself in one of the estate's grand sitting rooms, the weight of your unresolved past pressing heavily on you. 

Determined to confront the gaps in your childhood memories, you seek out Voldemort. He sits in a high-backed chair, his presence commanding as always.

Taking a deep breath, you step forward. "My Lord, may I speak with you?"

Voldemort's serpentine eyes flicker with interest. "Of course, my dear. What is it that troubles you?"

You hesitate for a moment before speaking. "There are gaps in my childhood memories. I need to understand more about my past. For example, why was I so upset when the Malfoys had Draco?"

Voldemort leans back, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Ah, yes. The birth of young Draco. That was indeed a significant time."

He gestures for you to sit, and you do, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. "You were very young then, but even at that age, you were perceptive. You had always been the center of attention, the favored one in many circles. The arrival of another child, especially one from a family as prominent as the Malfoys, threatened your position."

You frown, trying to remember. "But I was just a child. Why would I feel so threatened?"

Voldemort's eyes narrow slightly. "Children, even young ones, can be acutely aware of their surroundings and the dynamics within them. You sensed a shift, a potential change in the attentions and affections you were used to receiving. It made you feel vulnerable, something you despised."

You nod slowly, the pieces starting to fit together. "So, I was afraid of losing my place, of being replaced."

"Precisely," Voldemort replies. "And it didn't help that Lucius and Narcissa doted on Draco. You felt overshadowed, and it manifested in your behavior."

You sit quietly, absorbing his words. The memories are still fragmented, but they are beginning to make sense. "Was there more to it? Did something specific happen?"

Voldemort's expression darkens slightly. "There were moments of conflict, of course. You were a strong-willed child, and you did not take well to perceived threats. You acted out, seeking to reclaim your place. It was a difficult time for you."

You take a deep breath, feeling the weight of your next question. "My Lord, can you tell me about my relationship with Severus? Was it troubling for you when you realized I had fallen in love with him?"

Voldemort's eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. He takes a moment before answering, as if choosing his words carefully. "Your relationship with Severus is... unique. You and Severus have a bond that stretches back to your childhood, though neither of you remembered it upon your return to Hogwarts."

You nod, remembering the blank spaces in your memory and the growing closeness with Severus after you turned seventeen. "We didn't fall in love until after I transferred to Hogwarts, after our memories had been taken from us."

Voldemort's expression hardens slightly. "Indeed. Severus was involved in your life, even if he did not remember the extent of his involvement. When you both lost your memories, it provided a fresh start of sorts, but also complicated matters when your feelings for him grew into something more than mere respect or admiration."

You swallow, the complexity of your emotions for Severus making sense in this new light. "Did it affect your plans?"

Voldemort's expression remains cold and calculating. "Your attachment to Severus introduced a variable that could not be easily controlled. Love, as you know, is a powerful force. It can strengthen, but it can also weaken. Your feelings for Severus have always been a double-edged sword."