Dabbling With The Dark

Chapter 13

Three Days Later

Waving a hand to light the candles in the secret chamber at the base of Gryffindor Tower, he closed the door behind him and headed for the table. It took a few minutes to unpack the parchment, quill, inkbottles, books, shrunken trunks, and paper bag of snacks from his bag and get them spread out on the table, but a few minutes was better than the ten days since he'd gone to see Voldemort that it took him to be able to sneak back down to the chamber. By the time he was done lying out his supplies he felt the familiar itching in his scar that would turn into a burn at any moment. For all Voldemort's other fault, the bastard was at least punctual.

You brought food into the chamber?

As if you never did. The chuckle was loud enough for him to squeeze his eyes shut and press his hand to his scar.

It burns more with each day.

Yeah, and after deflecting a wayward curse in DADA today my head was already pounding before you got here.

We must do something regarding that obstacle. I have work for you to do and the burn of your scar is becoming a nuisance to me as it distracts you.

Aside from you killing me to make it stop I'm open to suggestions, he replied quietly.

What of the spell you used before?

It's not working anymore. I think it's like some potions and I've just developed a resistance to it. Two of the three Unforgivables don't work on me, why would a muffling charm keep working?

Harry, Harry, can you not you be normal in anything? He snorted at that, but Voldemort just chuckled softly. We must meet soon so as I can reenact the stasis charm I placed on your scar.

Can I do it myself?

Possibly, though it is far more likely that you would be unable to stop the charm at just your scar and your entire body would be affected.

Think I'll pass on become a male version of Sleeping Beauty. I couldn't pull it off anyway.

Ah, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and as you are visually impaired we shall not take your word for that. He cracked a smile and Voldemort chuckled at his silence. Point your wand at your scar and attempt a minor icing charm. That may provide you with some temporary relief. He pulled his wand and did one, a very minor one that wouldn't do more than chill a glass of water, and the pain faded to a dull throbbing. He still had a headache, but it was easier to deal with.

How long will it last?

An hour, perhaps ninety minutes at most.

Then I'd better get to work. He rubbed his scar heading towards the statue of Salazar Slytherin pulling the vial of Nagini's venom from his pocket. Three drops, right?

Yes.

Carefully opening the vial so he didn't spill any of the venom, he tucked the cork in his pocket and pulled an eyedropper from his other pocket. With barely a fingernails length worth of the venom in the dropper, he lifted put the cork back in the vial and the vial in his pocket. Holding his hand steady over the chalice in Salazar's hand, he took a deep breath and let it out before carefully letting only three drops fall from the dropper. As soon as he did, the base made a loud cracking noise. He backed away pulling the vial from his pocket and emptying the little bit of venom left in the dropped back into the vial and then shoved both the vial and dropper back in his pocket.