Truth Hidden In Lies
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta: Miyu Suzuki
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter One
The sun shone brightly as the heat spread through the yard of number four Private Drive. One lone figure could be made out kneeling by one of the flower beds as they pulled out the weeds. Locked out of the house earlier that day with orders to weed and water the flower beds, mow the lawn, rake up grass shedding and paint the shed; Harry Potter said nothing as he followed his aunts' instructions.
The dark haired fifteen year old could be seen in sweat soaked clothes that were much too large for him. Old, worn, and baggy black sweatpants hung from his thin waist. Held up only by a thin twine that was concealed by an equally as old, worn, and baggy green shirt that hung down to his mid-thigh. Green eyes glimmered out from behind large round glasses on the young teens dirt smudged face. Tanned arms covered in bruises, cuts, and soil as he worked on his set task of weeding and watering the flowerbeds.
It had not even been a week since he returned to the Dursley's from Hogwarts, and already he found himself missing his freedom from the muggles. As soon as he had entered the house Harry's life had returned to the nightmare he had grown up in, and was soon punished for the threat the Dursley's had gotten from the Order. How he hated his muggle relatives. They had always treated him like he didn't deserve to live. Like he was lower than them and should be grateful for their so called hospitality.
The truth was there had never been anything of the sort. He had been scrubbing floors by the time he was three, dishes by age four and cooking by age five. If he had ever missed a spot, broke a dish or burnt the food, as any child was prone to do, then he was beaten for his 'ungratefulness.'
He would manage to hide the abuse from those at school by will magic. All he really had to do was think about how much he didn't want anyone to know that he had been treated that way by mere muggles. That he was unable to defend himself from a powerless being. What would they say about that? It was expected of him to defeat the most powerful dark wizard since Grindelwald. So many people he didn't even know had put the weight of Voldemort's destruction on his shoulders.
Yet, what would they think if they found out his secrets. Would they reconsider putting all of their faith in a mere fifteen year old boy?
Most. Probably.
No one knew of the thoughts Harry had of this war. No one knew how he felt about his alliances. All of that had been decided for him before he had even known he was a wizard. It had already been decided that he would follow Dumbledore on the side of the light. That he would blindly trust the old man. Harry quickly learned what was expected of him at Hogwarts. After that first time he had met Hagrid, Harry knew he would have to play along, and play along he did.
Until now.
Now he knew what it was the old man is playing at.
Harry was only regretful it took the death of his godfather for him to find out that his life had been dictated to him because of some damn prophecy. He never had cared for divination.
It had taken Sirius falling through the veil at the Department of Mysteries for Harry to finally understand that he was being used. Dumbledore had avoided him for most of the year while he must have known the Occlumency lessons with Snape were not going very well. Then there was the whole Umbridge ordeal. Dumbledore was the Headmaster. He must have known, and if he had then events just did not add up in the old codgers favor.
No, the Boy Who Lived trusted the man no longer. He would sooner trust Voldemort himself then the Leader of the Order. He was the one who had placed him with these horrid muggles, was he not?
Now was his time to make his move. He was tired of being manipulated by the old fool. Already he knew he would receive no letters from any of his so called friends. It had been deemed 'not safe' by the Order's Leader, and who were they to go against orders.
Having known that shortly after arriving at Private Drive that his things and his owl would be locked up, Harry had sent Hedwig out with a very important letter to Lucius Malfoy at Malfoy Manor with instructions to stay there. He knew that it would be within the next week or so that many things would change.
He just didn't expect it to be so much, or so soon...
/Two days prior, Malfoy Manor\\\
The Dark Lord was not a happy man. Red eyes glowed with rage at the parchment that Lucius Malfoy had handed him. This couldn't be real. A trick of some sort, maybe. There was no other explanation for the letter he held.
Yet, there was no hint of a spell or curse as was revealed with a quick scan. Just the short neat script addressed formally to him and a scrawled signature at the bottom.
My Lord,
I have written to Mr. Malfoy in the hopes that he would relay this message to you. I write this today for I feel it is time that I join your cause. I have found answers to a few of my questions and a few of yours.
Dumbledore has told me the prophecy in full just under a week ago. I know now what the barmy old fool wants of me. A toy. A puppet. A weapon for him to use and to throw away.
It is not time for me to take my place in this war. That place is neither beside nor behind Albus Dumbledore. I'm no one's play thing. Just as I will never be the weapon he wishes me to be. I refuse to play head games and solve riddles while people are fighting and dying because of a war that has carried on for far too long.
I do not believe the 'light' is as pure and good as they lead us all to believe. I have witnessed there to be more truth passed among your men then I have seen fall from anyone's lips in the last years of playing by the 'light' sides rules. I have witnessed and played along with Dumbledore manipulations for far too long already. Through years of waiting and by ding my time I have learned much that may be of interest to you.
I am prepared to swear my loyalty to you and serve your cause in any way I am able. I wait your reply, my Lord.
Harry Potter
'What game is he playing at?' Red eyes reread the letter before looking at Lucius who stood to his right. "When did you receive this?"
"Just moments ago, my Lord. I brought you the letter as soon as I read through the letter he sent to me." Lucius replied before the thirteen or so other cloaked figures in the room.
"What is the content of your letter? You believe him sincere in his wish to join my men?"
"Yes, my Lord. I do believe his word is genuine. The letter he sent to me spoke of his desire to join our cause, his dislike for Albus Dumbledore and his muggle caretakers. It would seem that he does not care too much for them. He has even told me of how to pass through the wards and of the muggle homes location. With the extent of information he has provided I would indeed say he is sincere. As it stands he wishes to speak with you personally, my Lord."
"Hmm. What about you, Severus. Is the boy loyal to Dumbledore?"
"No, my Lord, he is not. Never has been. I believe he has been spending his time allowing the old coot to think he had his puppet all this time as he gathered information. To follow the darker path is in his blood, but to follow blindly is not in his nature." Severus Snape replied as he stepped forward so to stand beside Lucius.
"What do you mean that it is in his blood? The boy is of the Potter line. He is a light wizard." Voldemort's voice was strong and booming in the room where they stood.
"Forgive me, my Lord, but he is not of the Potter blood. He does not know it, but his name is not Harry Potter at all. We did not know it until he attended Hogwarts, but he is in fact our son. Our only son. The very infant that was stolen from us. There is no way any of us could mistake that child's scent. He is half vampire, and half werewolf." Severus shifted slightly as two others in black robes approached to stand next to him.
"Not a Potter? Your only son, you heir, and a hybrid of two very powerful dark creatures. What is his name then? I would like to properly meet this boy. Lucius, since you were the one he entrusted with his message I want you and your family to retrieve him from the muggles home. He is to be brought to meet me."
"His name is Cyrus Hades Obsidian. The only true heir to the Snape, Lupin, and Black lines."
/Present Day; Dursley's Home\\\
"Boy! Get in here!" Vernon Dursley's booming voice flowed into the back yard from the house.
Harry didn't say a word in response to his Uncles' command, but rather stayed silent as he shut of the hose he had been using to water the flowerbeds. This was the way it had been all week. The young wizard would say nothing to them as the muggles ranted. Staying silent through all the yelling un-nerved the Dursleys more than anything, and for his silence the family mostly left him alone. The only downfall of not speaking was the nightly visits from his Uncle when he would attempt to rid him of his freakishness.
Quickly, Harry brushed off his arms and baggy clothing of the soil from the garden before entering the house through the back door. He made his way through the kitchen and into the hallway before entering the living room only to stop at the sight of two blonde haired wizards and a blond haired witch.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, and young Malfoy here in my muggle relatives home. Well I can't say that your company isn't much preferred to that of the muggles. I do hope you had no trouble with the wards. They are quite troublesome." Harry walked within sight of the Malfoy family before turning his attention to the trembling muggles. "It would be in your very best interest to remain silent. You are currently in the presence of some of the most influential and respected purebloods in England."
"Mr. Potter, what had happened to you?" Narcissa Malfoy asked before quickly approaching the teen and looking at the bruises and cuts on his arms.
"Oh, this? It's nothing." Harry replied before turning his gaze toward the other two Malfoy's who smirked as they shook their heads slightly at him.
"Don't give me that. I have taken Medi-Witch courses Mr. Potter and I can tell these weren't done by accident. Now you sit down. Draco, go find me warm clothes from wherever it is they keep them. We can't use magic due to the wards. Lucius can you take care of the muggles? The sight of them annoys me. Then both of you go up to his room and get his things." Narcissa's gave Harry a stern and motherly look as she directed him to the sofa seat while giving out orders before looking at Harry in alarm when he jumped up at the mention of his room.
"No! I can get my things myself. I'm fine. Really, I can handle it." Harry moved to walk to the stairs after he stood.
"Hold it! You sit down right there. Now I can tell you are in a lot more pain then you playing it off as. From the way I seen you walk in here your arms are the least of your problems. So until I say you can get up you will stay right there. Do you hear me?" Narcissa looked at the teen in front of her who gaped slightly with widened eyes.
"I'd listen to her if I were you Potter." Draco chuckled and handed his mother a bowl of warm water and a worn dish cloth from the kitchen.
"Narcissa is in mother mode. It is best to just go along with it." Lucius stated from where he had managed to knock out Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley with a shimmering blue powder that Harry could only guess was some sort of sleeping powder.
"Alright. My things are all packed in my trunk. It's under the bed. Second door on the right, but don't say I didn't warn you." Harry fell silent as he let Draco's mother look at his arms as the two blonde wizards made their way up the stairs.
They made their way to the second door on the right to see it riddled with locks and a cat flap in the lower half of the door. The smell coming from the room and Lucius' lips curl to reveal pointed fangs.
"What is that smell? It smells like blood, both old and new, and lots of it." Draco's voice was muffled from holding his hand up to his face.
"That's exactly what it is." Lucius' voice was more of a growl then his usual drawl as he pushed open the door.
The room was bare but for the exception of a cabinet and the bed with the trunk under it. It wasn't the barren area that caught and kept the attention of the two vampires, but the amount of blood they could see throughout the room. The odor was very strong as blood could be seen on the bed, walls, floor, and even window ledge that had been barred off.
"What kind of animal could have...?"
"Not animal, Draco. Muggle. I have no doubt this is what Mr. Potter did not want us to see. He must have more wounds under that shirt. Your mother is not going to—"
Lucius was interrupted by a women's yelling from downstairs.
"Seems mother has found out. I would hate to be those muggles right now."
"Yes is does seem her maternal vampire instincts have taken control." Lucius pulled the trunk out from under the bed before walking down the stairs to see his mate as she looked at the markings that coated Harry's back, chest, and stomach.
There were many scars lines from what had to be a knife, burns, and bruises. Scars that were faded with time and a few that looked fresh and still open. Harry's body shook as Narcissa cleaned the wounds with a warm cloth. He hid it well, but all three of the vampires could tell the pain was excruciating. Yet for as much as his body trembled Harry did not cry out.
'Defiantly Severus' son.' That ran across Lucius' mind before turning his attention to his mate.
"Filthy, wretched creatures." Narcissa mumbled to herself as she tended to the teens back.
"How is he, Mother?" Draco asked after bringing another large bowl with warm water and a clean cloth since the last one was stained with blood.
"He'll be fine given proper treatment. Besides the bruises and lacerations' there are two bruised ribs and his ankle is broken. We can only be thankful there seems to be no internal bleeding." Narcissa responded to the question before biting her lip at Lucius' next statement.
"The Dark Lord will not be pleased."
Harry chuckled darkly as he looked to the wall where Lucius had set the three muggles who made his life hell.
"Oh, he'll be very pleased. The Dursley's are a gift to our Lord. He's been rather bored lately. I can feel it. They should provide him with some entertainment. Even if only for an evening show." Harry motioned for Narcissa to stop before pulling the blood stained shirt over his head. "Is he waiting to see me, or do I get the pleasure of surprising him?"
Lucius pulled Harry's trunk behind him to set it by the door before answering as Draco looked at the Dursley's in disgust.
"He is awaiting our arrival along with the majority of the inner circle. He also has a surprise for you that we are not to reveal."
"A surprise, huh? Our Lord is most gracious. We best not keep him waiting then." Harry stood shakily until Narcissa steadied him.
"You can't put pressure on that ankle. I don't have the potions for it right now, and I can't use my wand due to the wards. Draco, do you think you can carry him? Lucius, you get the muggles out past the wards. I'll get his trunk." Narcissa said before letting Draco take her place beside Harry to lift him into his arms.
"No! I can walk. I don't need to be carried like some invalid." Harry protested as Draco put his arm around his waist, only to stop and Narcissa's glare.
"Draco will be carrying you until you get that ankle fixed, and I won't hear another word out of you about it. Now you just behave yourself and let us get things sorted."
Having learned from earlier, Harry said nothing else after this, and allowed the Malfoy heir to lift him. They were to go see the Dark Lord soon. He just didn't know how much his life would change when he got there.
/Malfoy Manor; Not long after...\\\
The scent of blood wafted in the air as Draco Malfoy carried another young man into the council room quickly followed by the Lord and Lady Malfoy who levitated three muggles through the doorway. Crimson eyes met green as the Dursley family's unconscious forms were placed before the Dark Lord. Three concerned sets of eyes looked on from behind white masks. A low growl comes from the cloaked figure with amber brown eyes.
"Young master Malfoy if you would set down your charge so his father's may tend to him. It seems Moony feels his cub is being threatened."
"I would, my Lord, but he can barely stand. I will do better as it would only cause him more pain. Godfather, come take your nestling." The black cloaked figure of Severus Snape stepped forward, but his pace came to a slow halt as he reached Draco.
"Wait. My father's? As in plural? My parents are dead." Harry's voice could be heard around the room by the other occupants.
"No. We are very much alive, my son." A familiar voice replied as the deep blue eyed man removed his mask and stepped forward shortly followed by his amber brown eyed companion.
"Padfoot? Moony? How? Padfoot's dead, and Moony is a part of the Order! Is this some kind of sick joke?" Harry asked, trying to push away from Draco, who only released him long enough to hand, him into Severus' arms.
"It is no joke. We are your parents, and have always served our lord. We were merely spies. Sirius needed a way out so we had to fake his death." Severus replied as he took a strong hold on his boy to stop his weak struggles.
Remus growled as the teen let out an almost inaudible hiss of pain. Severus loosened his grip automatically and carried him over to Sirius and Remus who started to look the teen over as he had been doing since Draco had entered the room. Already Severus could feel his blood boil. He could smell the blood, and feel the amount of it from his nestlings' shirt. He didn't know how long he or his mates would last before their rage take them. He really needed to get the four of them alone so they would all start to calm.
"My Lord, would you excuse us until a later time. My mates and I would wish to speak to our son alone." Sirius asked knowing what Severus had though and knowing it to be true.
"Of course. We have just a few matters to resolve beforehand. First, Narcissa, would both you and Draco gather the supplies needed to heal our young allie. Lucius, I want you to go back to the muggle house. Make it appear as if the family has moved some place far off." Voldemort instructed for the Malfoy family to leave before looking back to sparkling emerald eyes. "Now. What is it you wish done with this vermin piled on the floor before me?"
Harry smirked as he looked back at his Lord before answering.
"They are intended as a gift for your entertainment. I could feel your boredom for a few weeks now."
Voldemort chuckled darkly before looking to the teen's parents who held expressions of pride.
"How thoughtful. I thank you for that. Now, you may leave with your family. I am sure there is much you would like to know. As I am also sure there is much they would also like to know. Narcissa will be by later." Voldemort quietly dismissed the four as he looked distastefully at the large round form of Vernon Dursley.
'You will regret what you have done to my lost heir.'
