Previously...Lily is curious about James' relationship with Cassiopeia Black and confronts him on it. James reveals his history with Cassiopeia Black, the outcome, and promises a future with Lily and his family by his side, giving not another thought of the secrets in his closet that is destined to come out.
Three years later...
"You're not focusing!" Voldemort, formerly Tom Marvolo Riddle, snapped one afternoon while training his heir the basics of intermediate wandless magic. "Do it again!"
"Again?" Harry pouted with slumping shoulders. "If I do this any longer I swear my brains will compound to mush! You don't want a broken heir do you?"
"If you even speak to me in that tone again, I'll break you myself and force you to put yourself back together!" Voldemort threatened in a low tone. "Again!"
Harry aka, Marvolo Mortimer, shrugged and rolled his eyes; if the slight glimmer of amusement that shone in his adoptive father's eyes was anything to go by, it was all talk.
Marvolo, who stood at 5'5 and whose handsome looks heavily resembled Tom Riddle in miniature, had that effect on people, most notably the Dark Lord and the most notorious Death Eaters, including the Lestranges, his Aunt and Uncles, and Barty Crouch Jr., who he considered a best bud.
To say Marvolo's life was structured was an understatement. He was to wake up every morning at 6 AM sharp for core subject training with Barty, former Ravenclaw scholar (who achieved to score 12 perfect O's on his OWLS exam – there is no doubting this guy is fucking persistent) and also arguably the most certifiably insane among the Death Eaters (after Aunt Bella of course). But it was Barty's classes that proved most entertaining.
Flashback
May 13, 1988
Study Hall, The Dark Manor
Harry curled his lip up slightly at the sight of the gray rat in front g him. Trust Barty to express his experimental side. Literally.
"Barty…" he began, "Are you absolutely positive this is sane?"
"Why of course Young Master," Barty replied sardonically. "After all, your father, my Lord, wouldn't have given me the privilege of putting his heir in my tutelage if I wasn't in healthy mental state."
Harry grabbed the left over rat's tail that lay across from his table and threw it at Barty, who crumpled into fits of laughter.
"I already told you Barty, it's Marvolo, not Young Master," Harry rolled his eyes in annoying for having to repeat this same line for what seemed to be the one millionth time. "And I highly doubt it's my well-being that Father is worried about. I'm stuck in a room with Aunt Bella for 3 hours a day and she's even twice as nutty as you are."
"Fair enough," Barty shrugged.
"So," Harry picked up the giant rat by its' tail, "What have you got for me today Crouch?"
"You are going to transfigure that rat into a block of cheese," Barty answered mischievously with a customary grin.
"Yeah, and how the hell am I supposed to do that?" Harry asked dully.
"Patience," Barty chided before aiming his elm wand at the gray rat. He flicked his wand swiftly in a motion similar to that of a hook and the fat gray rat was replaced by a block of cheddar. Harry's eyes gleamed hungrily at the sight of the slab of cheese. His hand was itching to grab a slice, but before he could make another move, the gray rat took form once more at the flick of Barty's wand.
"Wha – No fair!" Harry protested.
"Follow my wand movements," Barty instructed.
Harry followed intently because he was hungry for a challenge. When he was confident that he had mastered all the correct movements, he aimed his wand at the rat and flicked.
But the end result left all but to be desired. A rat contorted into the shape of a cheddar cube wasn't his ideal of appeal. But Barty seemed to find it all too amusing.
"I should make you eat that crap!" he rasped out of break from his own laughter.
Harry scowled.
"In all seriousness, you can't just flick away with your wand and expect something," Barty explained incredulously. "Try again, but this time, focus on the cheese; picture it in your mind. It's much easier."
And that's what he did. Once he projected his mind to cheddar, his results greatly improved until he finally produced a perfectly transfigured cube of cheese.
"About time!" Barty exclaimed while cutting the block of cheddar in two, giving one to Harry and saving the other for himself. "That's more like it!"
Harry gratefully accepted the slice of cheese and brought up something he'd been meaning to say.
"You know what Crouch? I've come to a revelation."
"And what is that?" Barty said with a stuffed mouth.
"You're not that much of a nutter as I thought you were."
xxx End Flashback xxx
After lessons with Barty, Harry was taught the fine art of weaponry and the Dark Arts by none other than Bellatrix Lestrange herself (who else were you expecting?).
While underneath the crazy that was Barty, there was a true comrade. Underneath the insanity that was Aunt Bella was exactly that…more insanity.
Flashback
December 23, 1986
The Dungeons, The Dark Manor
Can you honestly say with a straight face that you've felt afraid for your life in one of your lessons? If you don't have Bellatrix Lestrange as an instructor, you're probably bluffing.
Aunt Bella was a bloody slave driver! Imagine having to dodge magical searing knives aiming at your face.
"Pick up the pace!" Aunt Bella demanded from across the room while throwing out more deadly knives like Halloween candy.
Harry scampered all around the room to avoid the lethal knives that seemed to have bonded to him like a magnet. Why was his Aunt pelting knives at him you may ask? (The obvious reason of the fact that Aunt Bella is insane) To improve his reflexes so he'd be ready in duel and battle. You may think heirs get special treatment (which is sometimes true), however, when you're the Heir of the Dark Lord, you're expected to be the best, and to be the best, you have to train twice as hard as everybody else and then same. Not only did you have to grow balls, but grow balls made of steel.
And Aunt Bella seemed to be most passionate and eager in whipping his ass into shape.
"Your pace is slow and your reflexes are choppy," she frowned. "Let's see if you can handle this!" A diabolical grin plastered over her face as she drew out her wand and began shooting out suffocation curses.
Harry dodged the volley of curses and created an impressive protective shield to avoid further contact with the hoard of knives and dark curses sent his way. He'd never moved so fast in his adolescent life. The scene looked straight out of an action film.
However, right when he felt a twinge of confidence, he skidded in the wrong place at the wrong time and he wasn't quick enough to deflect the knife that seared through his left arm.
He fell to the ground immediately afterwards and cradled his wounded arm. He cautiously pulled out the 6½ dagger that was buried deep into his left arm socket and let the blood trail down his fair skin. He hung his head down in shame; to Harry, failure was much more painful than anything.
To his genuine surprise, Aunt Bella strode over to where he was slumped, bent down, and lifted his chin so his grey eyes met her big dark hooded eyes.
"Don't fret," she told him sincerely before giving her customary smirk. "You're not as pathetic as you were before."
She healed his wound, stood, and glared down at him expectantly.
"Well hurry up, I haven't got all day!" she nagged, her usual grouchy attitude coming back full force.
"What?" Harry stared at her dubiously. "You're making me work after all of that?"
"Why of course!" she exclaimed gleefully. "After all, what do you expect from 'mad Aunt Bella'?" she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a pointed glare.
If it was possible, Harry's mouth would've fallen to the ground. All that went through his head at that was moment was, 'I am so going to kill Barty after this'.
xxx End Flashback xxx
If you couldn't already pick up on it, lessons with Aunt Bella were pretty brutal, but useful. Harry could proudly say he was proficient in the Dark Arts, had neat aim, and pretty kick ass reflexes. He could take on any lower ranking Death Eater at the tender of 8 and stand his ground with higher ranking Death Eaters as well. The class came with its benefits.
So after being mercilessly tortured by Aunt Bella for 3 hours, Harry enjoyed spending his free time block playing Quidditch with his cousin Drack Malfoy, heir of the Malfoy Clan, and the scions of the House of Black, Aries and Arcturus Black.
Flashback
June 17, 1987
Foyer, The Malfoy Manor
"What is taking them so bloody long!" Draco bellowed impatiently with an immature pout on his childish face.
Harry, who stood next to his ill-mannered cousin in the foyer of the Malfoy Manor, Comet 360 in hand, took a step back as he noticed his polished and pristine, but very agitated Aunt Cissa ready to tell off her imprudent son.
"Language, Draco!" she scolded.
"I've seen snails move faster!" he continued defiantly.
"Draco Abraxas Malfoy," the tall handsome blond Lord of the Malfoy Clan enunciated while raising a platinum blond disapproving eyebrow. "Are you causing a scene?"
Draco, shamed by the disapproved tone in his father's voice, stared down at his shoes and meekly muttered his apologies.
"Do Malfoys' ever cause scenes and behave in such reckless manner, Draco?"
"No father," Draco answered, still staring blankly at his shoes.
Lucius nodded. "Keep in mind that if you want to carry on the legacy that is the Malfoy Clan, you must always carry yourself like a Malfoy," he lectured before waving him off dismissively. "Very well."
Draco's face blushed a scarlet color and he turned his back to Harry to avoid eye contact. They remained silent until the Blacks' finally graced them with their presence.
Orion Black, present day Lord of the Ancient House of Black, member of Wizengamot, Hogwarts board of Governors, and one of the Death Eaters cunning enough to dupe the Ministry and escape Azkaban, along with Lucius Malfoy. To add to his name, he was also the eldest brother of the famed Auror, Sirius Black, who had been disowned from the House of Black ages back.
Like his brother, he was impressively handsome with flawless dark hair and a movie star smile. However, it was the proud pure blood's arrogant stature, air of smugness and superiority, and the regal luxurious robes Orion had adorned that truly set the two brothers apart.
Accompanied by his wife, the radiant blond, Valda King, heiress of the noble pure blood King family, and their two sons, Aries and Acturus, legitimate heirs of the future House of Black, the pair also had identical Comet 360 broomsticks attached to their hip.
"Cissa!" Valda greeted Narcissa with quick friendly kisses and smothered Harry and Draco with hugs and kisses.
"They're growing up to be such handsome and respectable young men," she gushed.
"Quite right," Orion agreed, turning to the Malfoys'. "You two must be proud. Aunt I'm sure Cassi is proud of her young man as well." He added with a wink at Harry.
Harry and Draco exchanged a look of satisfaction and puffed their small chests out with pride at the praise.
"As are your two lovely sons," Narcissa responded in return. "Draco, go show your guests around the Quidditch pitch."
"Will do," Draco chirped and eyed the two boys who were still attached to their parents' side. "Well come on then!"
The quad of boys left the adults to discuss the mechanics of their newest project, the publication of The Legacy, a wizarding newspaper covering current events, promoting pure blood ideology and propaganda by Lucius and Orion, and monarch lifestyle and gossip by Narcissa and Valda.
As the four boys finally reached the Malfoys' state of the arc Quidditch stadium, three mouths dropped open in awe of the magnificently huge Quidditch pitch furnished with complete circular full set of rows that wrapped around the Quidditch field that could go on for days.
Draco smirked triumphantly.
"Amazing isn't it?" he bragged arrogantly. "It was built by Abraham Malfoy in 1952. The Quidditch World Cup was hosted here in 1825."
"Wow…" Harry's voice echoed throughout the stadium.
Draco was the first to speed off on his Comet and test the air.
"Well don't just stand there." Draco shouted from his broom, "Join the fun will you!"
Harry jumped on his Comet and flew through the breezy air with ease; from the sky, he noticed Aries had seemed skillful as well, though Arcturus was a bit rusty.
"Come on Archie, we haven't got all day," Draco teased.
"We haven't even started a game," Harry joined in.
"Stuff it you two," Arcturus grouched irritably. "Now how are we playing this game?"
"Harry and I against you are Aries," Draco told him. "Winner gets 50 galleons."
Aries and Arcturus exchanged a look of glee.
"We're in!" they said in unison.
"Excellent," Draco flashed a winning smirk before turning to Harry, "I'll be Chaser, you be the Seeker."
"You got to be Chaser last time," Harry scowled.
"And we won last time with that format!" Draco persuaded him. "Look, you're the best Seeker I know, and I'm the best Chaser. Besides, I don't have 50 galleons but I could use some," he replied with a wink, "How about you?"
Harry chuckled at his cousin's Slytherin charm. "Excellent."
"Picked your positions have you?" Draco asked turning to the Black brothers.
"Sure," Arcturus confirmed. "I'll be Chaser, and Aries is a pretty good Seeker."
"Okay then, get in your positions!"
Harry flew to the top of the Quidditch arena to view and observe every inch of the pitch and the game. Aries was quick to catch on and tailed behind him. Using a trick Father had taught him, he blended his right hand with the harsh wings and with proper technique and control, he gravitated the wind towards Aries, who became tangled by the sudden wind storm that came his way and fell several feet behind.
Harry laughed and watched on as Draco dunked the Quaffle into the hoop, scoring another point for their team, bringing their total score to 50 points. He welcomed the fresh breeze of air like a warm blanket spread over his body and relished in the sweet gifts of the winds. He decided he'd hunt for the Snitch until scored at least 50 more points to cause major defeat. However, the currents changed, the winds grew harsher, and Harry witnessed Arcturus making an incredible block and racing to his hoop to enthusiastically through the Quaffle in. The remarkable recovery brought their score up to 30 points. Only 20 points ahead.
Draco gave Harry a pained expression of fury and failure that screamed for extra assistance. To retaliate, Harry got serious and kept one eye out for the prize and the other out for the lurking Seeker. Though the rays from the beaming sun occasionally gave false hope, Harry was sure of the golden glimmer that fluttered above his intense grey eyes. From the look on Aries face, Harry was positive he hadn't missed it either. But that didn't make him any less determined. Besides, he had his own bag of tricks.
He pushed his Comet upward, the intensity of the beaming sun and horrid winds, making it hard to see and blocking necessary air pathways, but still, he carried on. Reaching two hands forward, using only his legs to support his balance and direction, he created a small force of wand that was strong enough to force the Snitch in a downward spiral.
Harry inspected Aries' puzzled reaction before pressing downward on his Comet in what would be an impressive dive for the win.
Aries quickly caught on and railed behind Harry until he was riding his bumper. The Black Seeker was slim, quick, sharp, and fit all of the necessities that came with being an in tune Seeker. Harry realized that it would take a little more effort to shake this one off. He made an abrupt stop on his Comet and Aries took the opportunity to speed in front and face him.
"Cold feet Mortimer?" he taunted giddily before racing after the Golden Snitch once more.
Harry shrugged off the dig. 'No' he said to himself. 'But you will.'
Picking up speed, he stroked the neck of his broom as if he were stroking a wild horse, and dashed after Aries. At the brim of his broom, Harry sped closer so they were side by side. Aries clenched his jaw tightly, his arrogant expression turning hostile.
Harry responded with a wink while pressing all of his pressure on his right of the broom to making a repetitive swirling movement around the fellow Seeker. Generating varying amounts of wind around Aries; the pressure became too overwhelming for Aries. He struggled to keep composure and stay on his broom, but the longer he held on, the harder the challenge became and he eventually had no choice but to forfeit. He released his grip from the Comet and fell into the shallow air until his fall.
Harry swiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and smirked triumphantly. Now that that was out of the way, there was only one task left. And it had to do with the glimmering Golden Snitch that fluttered above his head. With his right hand, he enclosed the Golden Snitch safely into his balled fist and the game was over. 380 to 50.
Draco was the first to congratulate Harry when he strode back to the open field (by pummeling him to the ground). Arcturus looked scorned as Aries struggled to make it to their direction with a limp leg and mouthful of grass and dirt.
"I guess we underestimated you two," Arcturus confessed evenly.
"Yeah," Aries agreed while spitting out a chunk of dirt. "Not bad…for rookies."
"Well, I'll have you know –" Draco began shortly, but fell silent after Harry nudged him sharply in the ribs and gave him his customary piecing glare. Draco had a lot to learn, Harry concluded, one of the most important being to not allow others to affect you, and even further, to not show it.
"It looks like we're the winners here and the losers have to pay up," Harry stretched out his hand expectantly and Draco followed suit. At that moment, both cousins knew that they were not only a team, but a force to be reckoned with.
xxx End Flashback xxx
Aries and Arcturus eventually came around and spent their summers from Hogwarts' facing Harry and Draco in extreme Quidditch tournaments at the Malfoy Quidditch stadium.
The Legacy, garnered fans and critics alike; well received by those in wealthy pureblood family circles, the controversial publication also received backlash from those on the light for the heavily pureblood propaganda content and engaged in a feud with the Daily Prophet since the first release. Nevertheless, The Legacy gained widespread popularity throughout and even began printing internationally throughout Europe. They Malfoys' and House of Black rejoiced at their success and profits made from the newspaper which propelled them to an even new scale of wealth, fame, and prestige.
Harry enjoyed his time with the Malfoys' and Blacks; he looked at those families and had once secretly envied them. Not for their fortune and success, but for they were the epitome of a family that he had always wanted. They may not always get along, and perhaps Uncle Lucius and Orion were a bit too strict and uptight but Harry remembered when he once wished he could be a part of families as such.
But Harry no longer had such desire to be a 'Malfoy' or a 'Black'. He proudly represented the House of Mortimer and admired his ruby eyed scholar adoptive father who introduced him to this life and trained him in everything from Occlumency, Legilimency, Dark, Wandless and non-verbal Magic, Dueling, Arithmancy, and even improved his Shadow Mage skills. His father may not be the most patient, caring, or compassionate man, however, Harry still had a great deal of appreciation for the man who adopted him and gifted him with a new outlook of life.
He was no longer the introverted child at the orphanage with a shallow future. That was Harry Potter. That was yesterday. Today, he was Marvolo Mortimer; the confident young Heir of the most feared Dark Lord in centuries.
And this was his life...
(A/N): Cheers to my FIRST full length chapter! Let me just say that just chapter was a MONSTER to complete. I wrote my first couple of chapters months back (September 2011) but once I got to this chapter, I had such extreme writing block that I shelved it for a few months until I had renewed inspiration and motivation to come back and complete what I started. This chapter, I wanted to give the readers a view of what Harry's life is like being the Dark Heir, his social circle, and introduce some new characters that will be important later in the story! Again, like always, tell me what you think of my latest installment, give me thoughtful feedback, tell me what you want to see in later chapters, and of course, don't forget to participate in my Poll Question:
SNAPE: DARK OR LIGHT?
CH.8 - The Zombie in the Cupboard: Harry and Draco sneak into a private Death Eater meeting but what happens when they run into a Zombie? Stay tuned next week to find out. ;)
