Chapter 4

16 years later….

While the wizarding world was bemoaning the loss of Albus Dumbledore a figure appeared in the Department of Mysteries unseen. They stood before the veil.

"He has not fulfilled his promise, now give him back."

The veil seemed to jerk as if it had been slapped and then a body was spit out and landed on the floor. The figure turned over the body of Sirius Black.

They placed their hands over Sirius heart. "You said you would die for me Sirius, and until that pledge is fulfilled you will live."

With a gasp Sirius took in air and his heart began to beat, but the figure was gone.

RIDDLE

It was an amazing scene when a black grim like dog bounded into Hogwarts, all who knew who it was nearly fainted with shock. It was a happy reunion though, in light of the recent funeral, but when asked what happened all Sirius could say was…

"It was cold, and I felt like I was being smothered, and then it stopped. It felt like heat had flooded me from my toes to my head and I was lying in front of the veil."

"But how did you survive when so many others have not?" Asked McGonagall.

Sirius shrugged. "I don't know, I heard a voice, I thought, but… well I…."

McGonagall's raised a brow. "What?"

Sirius lowered his head and said in a whisper. "I thought I heard something about making a promise to die for some one and that I hadn't fulfilled it yet."

Hermione instantly was interested. "Well, … did you promise some one you would die for them?"

Sirius seemed to have to think for a moment before a slight flicker of recognition washed over his face. "It couldn't be but…. It would explain…He must be alive! That's the only way this could happen!"

"What?" Asked McGonagall.

Sirius glanced at Harry. "Dumbledore knew, I told him once I joined the Order, but he thought he was dead. You see Voldemort had a brother, a much younger brother who was raised by my mother. He looked like a Black and fit right in, but when I left home he was crying cause he thought it was his fault or something and well… I said I'd die for him. It just kind of happened, I was fifteen. I just wanted him to know I wouldn't turn on him no matter what my mother told him."

"But where is he?" Asked Harry.

Every one turned to him. "If Voldemort had a brother wouldn't he have tried to take revenge or try to start something while his brother was supposedly dead."

Sirius shook his head. "Alex wasn't like his brother, he was almost seven when I left, but there wasn't a mean bone in that boys body. He wasn't anything like his brother.

Hermione was already calculating the numbers. "So if he was seven when you left and you were fifteen, he would be…. twenty-nine now." Sirius nodded.

"But where is he?" Asked Ron.

McGonagall was flipping through a worn and frayed book. "This was Albus journal, and I seem to remember something that might relate to this, yes here it is.

'Severus came back from his latest meeting, it would seem

That Tom is looking for something. He has had Severus

Make blood tracking potions and many other potions

Related to blood connections, but they have not

Worked. It would appear that he is searching for

Any family he may have left.'

That's all it says, nothing more."

"That's why he thought Alex was dead, because Voldemort couldn't find him." Said Sirius.

"But now we know he isn't, so what do we do?" Said Harry.

"We find him." Every one turned to Hermione. "Think about it, this brother must be extremely powerful if he can hide from Snapes potions and he obviously doesn't support his brother. He could be our greatest allie."

"Wait a minute, first off we have no idea were to even start looking, second, if Snape couldn't find him what makes you think we could, and third, even if he doesn't support his brother he's still his brother." Said Sirius.

Hermione nodded slowly.

"But can we really do anything, but try to find him? He seems to be our only hope right now at finding a way under Voldemorts shields." Said Harry.

"But we still don't know how to find him." Said McGonagall.

There was silence then..

"Why can't we write a letter?" Said Ron, everyone turned and stared at him. He blushed, but continued. "Well owls seem to find every one so why not him."

Every one glanced at Hermione who shrugged. "It could work."

"Except." Everyone turned to Harry. "Lets use Fawkes, not an owl."

The phoenix trilled.

RIDDLE

In a burst of fire Fawkes appeared, and then squawked indignantly as he was frozen in place and entrapped in a golden cage.

"Well…that wasn't completely unexpected." A young face appeared outside the cage.

"You must Fawkes, the fire phoenix."

Fawkes made an indignant cluck with his beak.

"Sorry about the accommodations, but it was necessary." He snapped his fingers and the cage disappeared.

Fawkes immediately flew at the young man but was stopped a few inches in front of him.

"Now before you try to kill me lets see what you have to deliver."

Neatly he plucked the letter from her talons, as it touched his fingers it began to glow.

"Clever."

He disappeared with a pop along with Fawkes.

They reappeared in the secret quarters of the Order of the Pheonix, surrounded by order members.

Sirius gasped and started. "Alex?!"

The person turned and smiled at him. "Sirius, it's good to see you up and about."

Instantly all the wands were trained on him, except Sirius's, who had stepped forward to try and defend Alex.

"Wait! We didn't discuss this!"

"Well we didn't think it would work!" Said Hermione still startled.

Alex stepped out from behind Sirius. "Its all right Sirius, I'm perfectly fine."

He glanced around the room, than his gaze stopped on Harry.

He glanced at the scar for a moment then his met Harry's gaze. "I'm sorry… I asked him not to… but, …" He gave a faint yet very sad smile. " I never could tell him what to do."

He sighed and bowed his head. "I'm sorry I know what you want, and I can't help you, no matter what he is still my brother."

Harry scowled. "He's killing thousands of innocent people! He's a monster! He doesn't deserve to be any ones brother!"

"I can't betray him!... not like…" Alex sighed. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do."

"What if we told him you were alive."

Alex head came up slowly and he turned. Ron looked him in the eye firmly.

"He wouldn't believe you, and even if he did he still wouldn't be able to find me."

"Fawkes found you." Said Ron.

"I let him."

There were murmurs and whispering.

"I doubt you could hide from him for long once he realized you were alive, before he thought you were dead so he didn't try so hard to find you, but now… he's even more powerful and determined to get what he wants."

Alex gave a half smile. "I see why you are the strategist. If you told him about me, yes it would be difficult for me, but I've been able to hide for sixteen years, I highly doubt he would be able to find me."

"For some one who won't help us fight him, you seem very determined not to go back to him or even let him know you exist." Said Harry.

Alex turned back to him. "He's my brother, I love him, but as you said before, he is a murderer. I have never agreed with the things he has done, but some how through all his sanity I know he still loves me, and I cannot betray that, no matter what."

"And when everyone in the world has been either killed or enslaved by him, what will you do then." Said Hermione.

"I have already taken precautions incase of that, I've created a haven for children. I'm sure you have noticed a slight increase in your students population, as long as there are children in the world I will be there to protect them."

"And the ones that he kills." Says Remus.

"My heart bleeds for every innocent life he has stolen, but it still doesn't change anything."

He turned away from them, and their wands which had been lowered now sprang back up.

"I will be leaving now."

He shimmered out of existence, the hastily fired stunners missing him entirely.

RIDDLE

Harry stared at his Godfather across from him on the couch. He still couldn't get over the fact that he was alive! But he was alive because of Alex, Voldemorts brother.

Sirius eyes were sad and he seemed lost in his own world, Harry felt a twinge of jealousy, Alex knew Sirius better than he did and he had actually been able to save him while all Harry had done was get him killed in the first place.

Harry bit his lip and ducked his head, what kind of leader was he?!

The room was quiet and empty besides for the two of them and a small fire crackling in the fire place.

"He's changed from how I remember him." Whispered Sirius

"Hm?"

"He use to always smile." Sirius gave a faint laugh. "I remember thinking when I was younger that maybe Voldemort had split him self in two, one part to be good and innocent while the other part would be as evil as it could be they were so different. I shouldn't have left him Harry, him and Reggie."

"Your brother?"

Sirius sadly nodded. "Reggie deserved better than a traitors death."

Harry suddenly saw a new side of his Godfather, the seriousness that was his name sake.

Sirius suddenly looked up and met Harry's eyes. "I wish I could protect you from this war Harry, your too young for this, …but… I suppose its to late now." He gave a broken smile. "It seems I'm too late for a lot of things."

Hesitantly Harry stood and then stood in front of Sirius, gently he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your not too late Padfoot, just a little delayed and once the war is over I want to move in with you and Remus like you said and we can be a family. Like mum and dad would have wanted."

Shakily Sirius gave him a water smile. "Look at me! I'm like some girl crying over all this, oh bloody hell." He grabbed Harry in to a bear hug.

"I never want to lose you again Harry, you're all I've got left besides Remus."

RIDDLE

The Order sat solemnly in the living room.

"Well that was a waste of time." Said Ron unhappily.

Everyone murmured or grunted their agreement.

Hermione glanced at Ron. "I don't think so." Everyone looked at her curiously.

"We learned that Voldemort has a weakness."

"What?!" Exclaimed Minivera.

Hermione glanced at her. " Alex said that Voldemort loved him, and even if he doesn't he obviously wanted him back. If we have Alex, perhaps we can make an exchange."

"No! We are not going to hand some one over to Voldemort just to benefit our own goals! That's just wrong!" Said Harry angrily, everyone shifted uncomfortable.

"You can't be serious!" Said Harry astonished.

Sirius sighed. "You can't just hand him back to his brother, that would be the stupidest thing this Order has ever done, or didn't you notice the high level of magic that Alex was using and that he left in a fashion that I have never seen. Can you imagine that in Voldemorts hands, it would be like handing all the equipment for a bomb in to the hands of an expert bomb maker!"

"So that would be a no on the handing over of Voldemorts brother." Said Ron to Hermione who just frowned sadly.

Harry sighed. "For now we should just leave him alone, maybe he will change his mind on helping us, but if he doesn't. We need to be prepared for any possible attacks. Our spy hasn't reported anything yet, but they tell me something is happening."

Everyone looked grim, it was never a good thing when Voldemort was planning something.

RIDDLE

Later that night….

A figure slipped out of the Order Headquarters and activated a portkey.

They landed outside a rather grandiose castle and carefully made their way in side.

The person stopped outside a door and knocked.

"Enter."

They entered. "I have news."

RIDDLE

With a grunt Draco landed on the ground gasping for air as if he had just run a long distance.

"Alex!"

A door opened. "Draco!? Don't be so loud!"

Alex pulled him into the building and through the corridors until they reached his room.

"Alex he knows about you! There was spy in the Order, I still don't know who, but he's looking every were for you and Alex, …" A fear full look entered Draco's eyes. "He's furious, I've only seen him get like this after a battle with Potter."

Alex sighed. "Well I knew it would happen eventually." He glanced around his room. "Alright, I'll get you a new portkey and pack up my stuff."

Draco glanced around at the bare furnishings, he had never actually been in Alex's room. There were no personal objects besides for a shelf of books and on photo on the night stand.

Draco's eyes widened as he saw it. "Is that?!"

A sad look came across Alex's face. "Yes, that's him before…well. It's in the past." He tossed Draco a small locket with a snake over its silver heart. "The activation word is Sushi, it's a muggle food that I doubt you will ever have cause to mention."

Draco put the locket on. "Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"Why don't you just go to the haven, the kids love when you visit."

Alex gave him a faint smile. "And I love to visit them, but, it would be dangerous if its location was discovered and… it's getting harder to hide myself."

Draco nodded solemnly. "Be careful."

Alex nodded. "Stay safe." Alex dropped the apparition wards around his house allowing Draco to apparate away.

Alex turned back to his room and glanced at the picture. "You should have listened to me Tom."

RIDDLE

Harry stormed into Minivers office. "We have a problem."

"They found out! How, we were the only ones who could have possible known!"

Harry glanced around at the gathered Order members. "Which means we have a spy."

Silence reigned throughout the room.

"The only way Voldemort would believe such a thing would be if he saw it with his own eyes, so it was some one who was there who saw it and was able to put it in a pensive for him."

"But who! Who would betray us!" Said Ron angrily.

Harry looked at Minivera. "Only the one who has the most to gain."

"Harry you can't possibly!.. I mean.." Sirius as well as the rest of the order looked shocked and Minivera along with them.

"Harry I would never serve Voldemort! You know that!" Said Minivera.

Harry nodded. "I know, but would you make a bargain with him I wonder? What information that you don't think will hurt us and in return he doesn't attack Hogwarts?"

"Harry I am not the spy!" Said Minivera.

Harry pulled out a small vial. "Would you take veritissuem to prove it."

Minivera faultered, every one stared at her with shocked and horrified eyes.

Carefully she folded her hands. " I never told him anything that would hurt us, and he will be distracted by his brother to allow us to make a move! … It's what Albus would have done Harry."

Harry scowled. "Well Albus is dead, so I would say his judgment was a bit off."

Sirius lunged forward and took her by the shoulders and began to shake her while the others tried to pull him off her. "What did he give you! What could he possible give you to betray Alex!"

Finally they were pulled apart. Minivera lay gasping on the floor, while Sirius was restrained in a chair.

"The students." Whispered Minivera. "He made a wizards oath that any students in Hogwarts would be unharmed."

Harry stood shaking with rage. "Then all he has to do is bring down Hogwarts so there will be no students in it!"

Minivera gasped. "No!"

Harry turned away. "Take her away."

RIDDLE

Well I hope you enjoyed it, please review. I appreciate any suggestions or advice you can give!