Harry woke up to a pounding headache. He groaned in pain, then what happened came flashing through his mind. He immediately sat up, ignoring how his headache grew worse, by the sudden movement. Harry looked around, in hopes of finding an escape route. His eyes, were taking in the room but barely paying attention to the detail.
Harry saw two, doors one on the right side of the room, and one on the further left side of the room. Harry, for out of the bed softly, before walking towards the door. He turned the handle, and was shocked to find out it was unlocked. He opened it, and stepped out into the hall, and stepped onto the soft green and silver rug, that adorned the floor of the hallway. Harry walked down the hallway, he passed by many other doors, but didn't dare become curious. Harry turned right when he saw an opening in the hallway, and saw a Grand Staircase leading to a big entrance hall. Harry touched the silver railing of the staircase and descended the stairs.
When he reached the bottom, he smelt food coming from a room off to the right, Harry knew he shouldn't but his hunger got the best of him. He walked towards the large red oak doors, and took the handle and turned it. He was tense ready to run if he needed to, he entered the room.
It was a large room, there was a large Bay window, on the left wall letting in the sun's light in. The floor was red oak hardwood, there were many paintings on the wall, of different landscapes, and different seasons. On the right wall their was a grand fireplace, with a silver grate in front of it. It was a beautiful white marble piece with silver and green and blue veined into it. Harry turned towards the center of the room, where a long table was situated with high backed chairs. Harry then noticed that their were other people, in the room calmly eating their breakfast.
Harry shifted from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable. One of the people looked up at him, and saw his discomfort, the man smiled kindly and gestured for him to a seat that was beside him. Harry walked towards it, which gained the others attention. Harry sat down beside the man. He looked up at the people around him, there were three males and a woman. Harry felt uncomfortable at their stares, the man sitting beside him seemed to sense that because he smiled and stuck his hand out.
"My names Rabastian." The man said in a kind voice. Harry took his hand and shook it. Harry examined the man, he had short brown hair and kind brown eyes. He had a goatee, that looked well on his tan skin. He had smile and laugh lines on his face. Harry immediately liked him.
The man sitting across from Harry, stuck his hand out as well. "Names Rodolphus." He said in a gruff voice. He had a little bit darker brown hair than Rebastian, but he had the same kind brown eyes. He didn't have a goatee, but he did have stubble on his face. Harry shook his hand as well.
The woman who was sitting beside Rodolphus extended her hand, and Harry shook it kindly. The woman had black hair, slightly curly and she also had brown eyes, but they were lighter than the other two. She had cream colored skin, and high cheekbones. The woman smirked slightly. "Names Bellatrix." The woman said in a beautiful voice. Harry nodded.
Harry turned to the man at the head of the table, he had black hair as well, but instead of brown eyes he had deep gray. He was tan and very handsome, Harry could feel the power radiating off of him. Harry knew this man was not one to be messed with. The man smirked, before nodding his head slightly, and introducing himself. "Tom." Was all he said but Harry nodded all the same.
Bellatrix looked up from her food, seemingly realising something. Her brow furrowed in confusion, before she turned to Rebastian. "Where's Arabella?" She asked. Everyone else shrugged, and shook their heads, signaling that no one knew.
"I'm right here mother." Came one of the most beautiful voices Harry had ever heard. Harry turned to see a girl his age, walk into the room. She had raven black hair, and beautiful azure blue eyes. She was neither tan nor pale, she was tall and had high cheekbones like her mother. Her eyes were filled with intelligence and mischief, she also has rosy red lips, beautiful as the flower.
The girl sat down, beside Bellatrix, who immediately started asking her questions on where she was. Harry turned back to the food, that just appeared on his plate. He nibbled on his piece of toast, since he wasn't that hungry, he was wondering why he was here. He wasn't stupid, he knew the Dark Lords real name and he knew he was sitting next to Rabastian Lestrange. Which meant Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange were in front of him, Harry didn't care what they did to him he wanted answers. He put down his toast, and put a fake smile on his face.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of being in the Presence of the Dark Lord and the Lestranges?" Harry asked in a false cherry tone. All conversation seized, and all the occupants of the table looked at him in shock especially the Dark Lord. Harry raised his eyebrow, "Oh come on I'm not stupid, I know all about the Lestranges. And, I know Voldemort's real name." Harry said with a shrug.
"If you know than what is it?" Tom asked, with a smirk, which Harry returned.
"Your name is, Tom Marvolo Riddle, named after your father, who was a muggle. You hated your parents, you grew up in an orphanage, until Dumbledore found you and told you about being a wizard. You always knew you were special, but could never figure out how. The only person you fear is Dumbledore. Am I getting warmer?" Harry asked. Tom looked completely shocked. Everyone else at the table, looked shocked as well.
"How do you know that." Tom asked, shock laced into his voice.
"Nagini, told me." Harry said with a smirk, gesturing towards the large serpent, around Tom's shoulders. Tom looked at the snake in confusion, before what Harry said seemed to register into his mind, and the shock returned.
"Your a Parseltongue?" He asked, but it also sounded like a statement. Harry nodded never losing his smirk.
Harry turned his gaze to the great serpent, that was on the Dark Lords shoulders, he stared into her deep yellow eyes. He cocked his head to side, and gestured with his hand for her to come to him. Nagini seeing the gesture slithered from her spot on Tom's shoulders, towards him. Harry extended his arm to her which she slithered up and wrapped around his shoulders. Harry gently stroked Nagini's poisonous green head. Harry looked up to see everyone staring at him in shock. Harry saw Arabella looking at him with a form of respect in her eyes. While Tom was looking at Nagini shocked, Harry supposed that she wasn't a big people person.
"Now, why am I here?" Harry asked, bringing their attention to him. Tom looked at him for a moment before replying.
"Your here, because I know how your supposed family treats you. And, I know where your true loyalties lie, I know you hate the Light for what they did to you. I also know you want a real family, one that will always be there for you. And we are willing to be that family, you will be living with the Malfoy's, you will be adopted by them. And you will be trained by them. The only three things we ask in return, is one, you either get into Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Two you must be loyal to the Dark. Three and this is the most important one, you must never tell anyone who you are." Tom said, his gray eyes hard. Harry couldn't believe it, he was being offered a family, and he could be brothers with his best friend. Harry knew if he declined he would go back to being just the brother of the Chosen One, but if he accepted he could have a family.
Harry looked at the Dark Lord. "I like that." Harry said in a tone, that showed nothing. Tom smirked, but Harry realized he wanted something to. "Oh but on one condition I get a snake." Harry said looking fearlessly into one of the most dangerous wizards of his time eyes. Tom actually laughed, as did everyone else, soon Harry was laughing as well. Nagini who had fallen asleep hissed in annoyance. Harry smiled slightly and stroked her head again. Harry looked up to see the Dark Lord watching him, with an odd look in his eyes.
"Well it seems Nagini likes you, you can have her for the time being until we can go to Diagon Alley." Tom said. Harry grinned he rarely ever got anything with the Potters. He nodded, before going back to his breakfast, now having an appetite. Nagini was fast asleep again, and he could hear her breathing in his ear. Harry looked up briefly, at the people around him. They were talking and eating, looking like any family should. Harry felt his heart fill with joy, he was finally part of a family that loved and cared for him. He knew from this day on he would do anything for them. Harry knew from this point on, he wouldn't be the Forgotten One, he would finally have his chance to shine, and be something, not shadowed by his brother.
Of course, Harry didn't realize that his choice had started a chain of events that no one could have perceived and that no one could stop, not even the great Albus Dumbledore.
