A/N: You guys are the best! When I first started this story it was only a rough idea, I never thought it would turn out to be this popular and for everyone who has stuck with it, I thank you.
A/N2: Ok so this has been expanded greatly, shooting up to 10k for a word count O.o I've chopped and changed it up a bit, cleaned up Harry's meeting with the Dark Lord – to the new readers, yes, it's finally happening in this chapter.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling who is the creator of the books that changed my life.
Warning: Mild swearing.
#Parseltongue#
Chapter 10:
It was a week after his discovery when Harry finally found the perfect opportunity to go and speak with the Dark Lord, he was going to do it Friday when lessons finished early and most students would be scattered around the school. He wouldn't be missed too much and that was exactly what he needed. He was ridiculously nervous and physically couldn't sit still on Thursday night, many different things spinning in his mind about what he was going to do the following day.
"I need you to cover for me tomorrow at lunch and if I don't make it to dinner." Harry reminded Draco as he paced the dorms.
"Of course," Draco was almost as nervous as Harry, his best friend was going to see the most feared Dark Lord on his own.
"Just say I'm doing research and I've gone somewhere in the castle."
"Ok,"
"And if I'm not back before midnight, tell Snape and Sirius everything and point out they probably won't find my body."
"Don't say that." Draco hissed.
"It's the worst case scenario." Harry pointed out.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Definitely, I refuse to pass this opportunity." It was the truth even if his insides felt like crap.
"I need to do something, I'll be back in an hour." Harry muttered and vanished in flames, Draco ran his hands through his hair with a sigh; Harrison Black drove him insane. Harry landed near Salazar's training room, his magic was restless as he had been keeping in reigned in tighter ever since Snape had told him it could be felt as soon as he entered a room. He hissed the password and stood on the platform, he unhooked the hold he had and his magic flared around him strumming in the air, falling in to his duelling stance he began. Harry had missed the twists and flexes of daily duelling practice, the flow of magic circled him humming in contentment. Harry threw everything he had in the firing spells and they were coming in streams, he laughed at the release and finally brought his fyre up and watched as it soared around the room before he let it melt away.
He was glad that he could still perform well, though he wouldn't know how well he came up against an opponent for a while. He brought his magic in and made his way back to the dorms, his nerves had calmed slightly but they were still very much there. Draco was asleep when he got back, the blond was scared for him even if he wouldn't admit it. Harry sat and went in to a meditative trance, going over his mind more to sooth himself rather than order it. When he came too he was perfectly calm and his mind was sharp and clear, and he was ready.
He was up dressed and reading at 6:30 Friday morning, he had Aressa with him as well as the Stone, he was surprised when Draco appeared not long after, they sat in silence until the rest of their year mates came down. At breakfast Harry acted normally but he refused to look at the staff table because he knew Snape or Sirius would spot his swirling emotions he had masked, Draco was quiet and Harry threw him a meaningful look and he pulled it together. They went to Potions and Harry put his full concentration in to his work, he refused to meet Snape's eye head on which he knew the man would notice but he would deal with that later.
Draco was barely keeping it together when they walked to Defence and Harry really couldn't blame him, he swore the time they waited for the door to open was the longest minute of his life. Harry sat in his usual seat next to Draco who was staring at his desk, taking a deep breath and they shared a look. The lesson was just as pointless as always but it seemed to go on forever, Harry felt his anticipation build and his magic thrummed under his skin to be released. He was discretely watching Quirrell as he stuttered through an explanation of the disarming spell, watching as the man had complete control over his entire act and he had to admit he was impressed.
"Is there any chance you are wrong about this?" Draco asked, his voice barely audible. Harry looked up at Quirrell and as the man turned he saw his eyes flicker red for the tiniest of moments and his scar started to burn; Harry blinked.
"If I thought I was wrong before, I know I'm not now." Harry replied in the same low tones and Draco froze.
"What do you mean?"
"His eyes just went red." Harry breathed and Draco's knuckled went white.
"Merlin,"
Harry nodded and they went back to listening to the stuttering, Harry was running through his ideas and jumped when the bell rang. Draco looked at Harry with wide eyes and slowly got to his feet, Harry followed him to the door and they were the last ones in the class.
"Are you sure about this?" Draco questioned paler than usual.
"Yes, I have to do this, Draco, there are other things involved that no one knows about except me and him." Harry explained softly, Draco seemed to look more worried. "I swear I'll explain everything later, if he lets me that is."
"What if you don't come back?"
"I refuse to go out fighting, I may be able to hold him off in this weakened state."
"Sev and Sirius are going to murder me."
"I-i-is there a p-p-p-problem boys?"
Draco squeaked and Harry kicked him.
"Nothing, Professor," Harry said politely, throwing Draco a look; the blond swallowed and nodded.
"Midnight," He hissed before turning on his heal, Harry slowly shut the door and sealed it.
"Can I h-help you M-M-Mr B-Black?"
Harry took a deep breath, he was still facing the door but he was wound tighter than a spring.
"Let me speak to him, Quirrell." Harry said clearly, his voice strong and unwavering and there was a small intake of breath from behind him.
"W-what are y-y-you talking about B-Black?"
"I wish to speak with the Dark Lord, or is he back to Mr Riddle now?"
Harry felt the wave of power that came as Voldemort took control of his host.
"How do you know that name?" Quirrell spoke again but his voice was different, it was smoother, colder, and darker.
"I knew that name before I connected it to you. I found out someone called Tom Marvolo Riddle was around Quirrell permanently, it took me a while to figure out how especially when there was no heat marking another person in the room. You are rather famous for your ability to possess people."
"Very clever, Mr Black," He murmured, "Very clever indeed. Such knowledge of one's enemy can be beneficial."
"Enemy?" Harry repeated, turning around to face him, "Hm. That would depend on your viewpoint."
"Oh?" There was the barest trace of interest in his voice as he spoke, looking the boy over slightly, "Some of your associates would question that."
"Past associates," Harry corrected, "You've noticed the recent change of name, I am sure."
"Ah yes, Harrison Regulus Black, Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Quite the sudden change, after eleven years as the son of Potter. I hear they are doing rather well for themselves now."
"Yes, they are apparently." Harry agreed candidly, "As sudden as they may appear, it was always heading in this direction. It's a side effect of leaving one of your children on the doorstep of a muggle house."
Harry felt a surge of anger that wasn't his own, and the Dark Lord hissed, his magic suddenly snapping around him before it settled again.
"They did what?"
"Yes, you see they had absolutely no other options as it was just so important they focus on their special Rosie. After all she is so famous, they didn't want me to 'suffer'." Harry told him blandly.
"They dare cast away a magical child!" He seethed, "They sent one blessed with Lady Magic's gifts to filthy muggles?"
"On the word of Dumbledore, of course."
"That loathsome man would see others suffer for his so called greater good." The Dark Lord spat, "Potter is nothing more than a weak minded sycophant, functioning merely to do Dumbledore's will. To send a child away… if any of my Death Eaters would have done such a thing they would have burned."
Narcissa truly wasn't exaggerating when she said the dark had a very strict believe in the next generation Harry surmised, quite moved by the passion in the man's voice; Salazar would have been proud to hear someone championing such actions.
"You understand my wish not to associate when them." Harry said quietly.
"I would have killed them."
"Trust me, if I could get away with it Potter wouldn't be on this earth." Harry snapped, "As it is, I am sure you haven't missed the obnoxiously bearded individual currently holding reign on this castle."
The Dark Lord snorted at the boy's description of Dumbledore; obnoxiously bearded, he would have to remember that one.
"You have worked out who I am and then still approached me; why? You must have a purpose, by your actions today no one other than your friend knows you are here."
"I have a proposition for you." Harry told him bluntly and Voldemort blinked slowly.
"You have a proposition for me?" He could not have sounded more incredulous if he tried. Harry didn't know whether to be affronted or amused by his reaction.
"Yes,"
"You are eleven."
"Its funny that I should be aware of that already given that I have lived those eleven years." Was Harry's deadpanned yes highly sarcastic response and Voldemort smirked, the brat's audacity amused him.
"I could kill you quite easily," He pointed out and Harry tilted his head.
"Actually, I do not believe it would be as easy as you think." Harry mused, "While I don't doubt you are incredibly powerful, beyond that, you are currently not in your own form and your core is not fully your own. And as it were, I do have my own power and tricks that would help me to evade you if needed."
"You speak of power yet I do not feel any magic coming from you."
"And you speak of feeling magic when I cannot feel yours," Harry countered immediately, "There are ways to hide your magic if you do not want anyone to feel it."
"Release it, show this power you speak so highly of." Voldemort goaded and Harry smirked. He saw what the man was doing, but he was willing to play along. The Dark Lord had already answered quite a few of his questions with his words on magical children, there would be few things to derail his preferred outcome now. Harry released the hold he kept on his magic, letting it fill the room and swim around them, though he made sure not to let it pass the room's borders. Harry didn't realised his eyes had fallen closed until they snapped open and he slowly breathed out.
"Most impressive," The Dark Lord's voice was smooth and layered in something Harry couldn't quite decipher.
"I like to think so, yes," Harry agreed without blinking.
"You have hidden your magic and obviously hidden my real identity for this proposition; what of it?"
"I believe we could be mutually helpful." He began.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, Rose Potter is supposed to be the one to destroy you-,"
"She will not destroy me!"
Harry smirked.
"Oh I know, after all it was me you hit with the killing curse that night." He responded lightly. Harry noticed that the Dark Lord had stiffened quite a bit so he continued. "I believe your words were 'You are a powerful child, the one to defeat me. I would keep you alive if I knew you would join me but of course with your family there would be no chance.' If I remember correctly that is." Harry knew he was right, he had watched the memory many times and the slight widening of Quirrell's eyes, Riddle knew too.
"How?" It came out barely loud enough for Harry to hear.
"I have an eidetic memory and I became a master Occlumens at 10." Harry waved it off like it was unimportant, Voldemort decided he would come back to that.
"The light are pinning their hopes on the wrong person who has no remote talent. I will never join the light but I refuse to bow to anyone, it is not in my nature." Harry said and Voldemort smirked.
"Indeed, I had that same problem which is why I never followed Grindlewald."
Harry made a note to put that in his research.
"Currently, being only 11, I have no plans for the wizarding world; no doubt that will change. There are already many things I do not like. I do have the political ability as well as the gold to accomplish whatever I wanted but that is boring and it will not hold without allies and backing." Harry said to him, deciding to draw on all the times he had seen Salazar negotiate with someone. The man had been teaching him to do it himself, and Harry had negotiated on his behalf once or twice. It was much more thrilling this time, however.
"I want to be stood there when you tell the light that Rosina isn't the Girl-Who-Lived; that is going to be more beautiful than the purest of magic – no offence, dear Lady."
"Why come to me if you could politically do whatever you require?" Voldemort asked him.
"Why did you create your army when you could have done the same? I couldn't find any information on your mother's family as I didn't know her name but with your father's name you could have pulled a lot of sway."
"My father was a muggle."
Harry blinked.
"Tom Riddle Sr, died just under 50 years ago by the killing curse, Morfin Gaunt confessed, that Tom Riddle?"
"Yes, how did you know that?"
"I did a little research and I can safely say your father was an Unblessed - Squib, from a long line actually, the name 'Riddle' is a direct decedent from Le Fey." Harry explained eyes narrowed in thought, Voldemort blinked a few times.
"I looked in to my father, he was not on any records anywhere. How were you able to find something like this?" he asked curiously, if this was true then there would be a lot of things changing.
"The Riddle line wasn't based in this country, the line of Le Fey was thought to have died out when really the last one Cassiopeia Le Fey fled and married an Australian wizard by the name of Septimus Riddle, then I don't know how but the line ended up in the States and the last Wizard of the Riddle line attended the Salem Institute of Magic in 1865, Argon Riddle. He had a Squib, who came to this country as a babe because of his status and grew up as a muggle unknowing of his grand ancestors, called Thomas Riddle in 1880, who then had your father in 1905 who then had you obviously." Harry explained running over his notes in his head to make sure he didn't miss anything.
"This was a little research?"
"Yes, I wanted to know what you were doing around Quirrell and for that I needed to know who you were, you have a trophy here and I started with that."
Voldemort shook his head, he would be worried to see what a lot of research was.
"Although glad of the information it doesn't explain how you were able to look in to my line so vigorously." He pointed out to the boy, who grinned.
"There is a handy loophole that the goblins will go around if you have enough sway with them. You can't find out information about a person directly but if you wanted to know about a name they can fill you in, the reason I couldn't find out about your mothers line is because I didn't know her name, I did however know the last Le Fey's name and that's how I found it married in to the Riddle line."
"That is a very handy loophole."
"Yes, I thought so."
"If I would have knew this when I was fifteen it would have saved me a lot of effort. I could only find my mother's line which is from Slytherin."
Harry froze completely, even his mind came to a crashing halt. Slytherin, he was of the Slytherin line, Salazar's line. He was to be the Lord Slytherin, this was the one last living Heir, the last of the born bloodline. Salazar refused to even give him a hint of who it would be, citing that it was for him to discover. Oh Harry would bet his Potions ability that the man sat imagining this meeting millions of times, finding the entire situation absolutely hilarious each and every time. His chosen Heir, born to one of the lightest current Houses also being the direct Heir of the Dark Lord, and not just any Dark Lord, the Dark Lord behind the reason the entire situation happened. Harry burst out laughing trying to even rationalise the situation, mentally planning to curse Salazar's portrait for his no doubt hundreds of laughs at his expense.
"Would you care to share your sudden amusement?"
"I'm sorry, but it's almost tragic how unprepared they are going to be." Harry said, and that was an understatement. This was almost unsettlingly perfect.
"Oh?"
In answer to the unasked question, Harry held up his hand and allowed his Black Heir ring to switch to his Slytherin Heir ring and watched as Voldemort's eyes widened. He moved faster than Harry could have predicted, snatching his hand in a surprisingly gentle movement for its ferocity, his finger gently traced over the ring's design and the snakes suddenly came to life.
#Greetings, Lord to the Ancient Serpent House.#
#Greetings, Serpent House Guardians,#
#How may we serve our Lord on this day?# One snake asked.
#We remain vigilant in protecting the Heir.# The other said.
#He is definitely the Heir?#
#He has the approval from the Lord of All,# The first snake hissed.
#Continue your duties, Guardians,# Voldemort instructed, stepping back and giving Harry a look full of questions.
"This should not be possible." He stated and Harry's lips quirked.
"You will find that there is a lot which most deem impossible that I can do. I do not believe in impossible." Harry told him.
"You also know you will be explaining how this is possible. You do have Slytherin blood and magic in you somehow as you wouldn't be able to wear the ring, you have been accepted. How I do not know."
"An explanation can be given after we have settled my proposition." Harry offered, "The reason I came here was because the future war is inevitable, and I won't be with the light."
"You are correct, there will be a war. Even if I were attempt it all politically, Dumbledore would not rest until I am dead." Voldemort agreed, "But that is not all."
"No, as I have already said; I will not bow to anyone. But I have done my research in to you and your cause, and you have answered basically all of my remaining questions today. I am interested in joining your cause." Harry admitted and Voldemort considered the boy.
"Your new family might not be as happy with your choice."
"Have you not heard?" Harry asked, a smirk coming to his face, "The Black/Malfoy allegiance has just been renewed, and Lucius is as loyal as ever."
Voldemort's eyes seemed to shine at that, and a smirk that didn't belong to Quirrell came to his face.
"That is pleasing."
"There are many that would definitely not agree with that thought." Harry said with a grin.
"I can imagine."
"Should I actually join your cause, I won't be a Death Eater. I would expect you to actually take in my input, I may be young now, but I won't be forever."
"I see,"
The fact that the Dark Lord didn't immediately dismiss the notion made Harry very happy, his mind was still whirling with the fact that he was talking to the very last of Salazar's born bloodline.
"What would you have to offer me in return for such an agreement?"
Here Harry gave him a smirk, he slowly reached in to his pocket, making sure all his movements were clear so it didn't come across as an attack, and withdrew the stone. He placed it on the desk between then and took a huge amount of gratification when the man's eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath.
"The Philosopher's Stone," He breathed, looking at the rock hungrily before snapping his gaze to the boy who had current possession of it.
"How?"
"I get bored very easily." Harry told him, "I have certain abilities and knowledge that made it particularly easy for me to access. It was only the final task, from Dumbledore, that gave us a slight hiccup."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"It was quite ingenious, as shameful as I feel to admit it. He used the Mirror of Erised, you had to want the stone but not use it; a category you don't fit in to."
"He knew I was after it, it was obvious as soon as I got here." Voldemort admitted, his attention going back to the Stone in question.
"Alongside my proposition, on the agreement of giving you the Stone, I wish to be allowed to experiment on it."
"And what would an 11 year old want to do with a legendary magical artefact?" Riddle asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Potions of course, it may help me with my research. I've only created 2 potions and I need three for my Mastery with honours, I'm trying to beat Snape who got his Mastery at 18 although he didn't have honours." Harry answered.
"Potions Mastery?"
"Yeah, you can't get a Mastery in Spell Craft so that's that out the window."
"I get a feeling you have a lot hidden."
Harry grinned.
"I do, I have explained some things to Sirius and Sev, but I left out Samhain; I wasn't speaking of that until I had spoken to you and gotten my answers." He shrugged.
"If you could keep it that way until I have my own body it would simplify things."
Harry nodded.
"So we are in agreement?" Harry confirmed.
"I will agree to your conditions as long as you adhere to mine." Voldemort decided after a minute of silence, "In the future, you will report to me before you go ahead with anything war related, you will not question my actions or my decisions in meetings or in front of any outside my Elite, and you will explain everything." The final word of that sentence was stressed and Harry almost grinned at the unsustainable curiosity, it was a Slytherin trait. Harry picked up the stone and casually tossed it in the air catching the Dark Lord's attention instantly, he followed the stone's movements with a gaze almost dangerously sharp. It was Harry's intention, because while the man may agree the boy wanted a safety net for himself and his family and for what he was about to try he needed the man distracted.
#You have laid your terms and so have I. Do we have a formal agreement, Lord Slytherin?#
#Our terms are agreed, Heir Black, Heir Slytherin# The Dark Lord agreed, a touch absently and Harry grinned. He felt the magic seal in the vow and almost breathed in relief. He had switched languages purposely, for you could not lie in Parseltongue and you could not break your word. Parseltongue was a language much more connected to Lady Magic herself than the human tongue, it was why it's spells more powerful and why you couldn't lie. You cannot lie to Lady Magic. He had just secured himself a very safe place for the future war and he was going to make the most of it. He held out the stone for the man to take, seeing no reason not to give it to him right away, to honour his word immediately.
"I ask that you, nor the young Heir Malfoy speak of this. Until I am in my own form, I wish to remain as dead as the public believes me to be. The only problem I foresee is Dumbledore, he will notice the stone is gone."
"Not likely, we stole it over a month ago." Harry told him.
"How does he not know?"
"He's traps were flimsy, it's a setup made for someone to get through. I simply replicated the stone and replaced it, he will be none the wiser until the end of the year in the least."
"I intend to be up and moving much before then." Voldemort brushed off, "Very well, I have much to do. It has been ten years." He threw Harry a scathing look, but the boy merely smiled up at him with a disgustingly innocent smile.
"When you listen to the words of a prophet, you deserve all the repercussions coming to you." Harry informed him chirpily, "Besides, I didn't do anything. That was all on Fate."
"I am going to regret this decision at a later date, I am sure of it." He decided, and Harry laughed.
"Probably,"
"Be gone, brat, and keep your silence." Voldemort dismissed, his words holding no real bite.
"Yes, oh mighty Lord of my House." Harry returned, sweeping in to a graceful yet obviously mocking bow. He ran away laughing when he found a sharp stinging hex coming towards him, slipping through the corridors to find a spot where he could gather his thoughts. Everything had just changed, even if nothing had yet to happen, it was all different and Harry already felt lighter.
The man would probably be slightly pissed when he remembered that Parseltongue made agreements binding, but he let a weakness be exploited so he would have to reap the repercussions. What Harry could not get over was the fact that he was Salazar's Heir, Harry wanted to laugh again at the irony of it all. What pride Salazar must have felt when Merlin told him that his last descendent was fighting for Lady Magic's full freedom, Harry shook his head.
He settled himself, knowing he needed to get back to the Great Hall for dinner, and when he cast a tempus he realised he was already late. He rushed down to the Hall, falling in with some older Slytherins, who cast him a disapproving look for being alone and ushered him in to the middle of their group; they were a very paranoid lot. Harry was directed down to the rest of the first years and he dropped down next to an oblivious Draco, who was busy staring at his plate like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
"Not hungry?" He asked with a grin, causing Draco to jump violently and turn to face Harry as if he was a ghost.
"You're alive!" He whisper exclaimed.
"Yes, I said I would be fine."
"Yes but saying that and doing that with what idiotic move you just pulled off are two very different things, you prat!"
"Thank you for worrying about me, Draco." Harry said.
"I wasn't worried," He denied instantly, and Harry looked at him in obvious disbelief so he hurried to continue, "I just didn't want to be the one to tell everyone why you suddenly vanished."
"Ahh, I see," Harry said, nodding seriously. Harry started eating, not realising that he was actually starving as he didn't eat a proper breakfast due to his nerves. He and Draco were just finishing up when Quirrell hurried in, he hid his smirk when the man jumped a mile when he was offered food; that was true dedication right there. Harry left with Draco, Daphne and Tracey, discussing their History essay that Remus had given them recently. The conversation gradually drifted off of school related things, and the girls had Harry and Draco in tears of laughter as they gave a very amusing rendition of the expectations of Pureblood daughters and Heiresses at Yule season.
"His face when Daph told him exactly what he could do with correct spoons was the greatest thing I have ever seen," Tracey was telling them, grinning at her best friend's sheepish look.
"I know my formal etiquette perfectly, and I have never once caused a slight against House Greengrass. The fact that my father even dared put me in with Tori for lessons was insulting."
"I am sure you let him know how much." Harry joked; she merely smirked.
"I do love Italy in the Yule time."
"I thought the Heirs had it bad." Draco said with a shake of his head.
"There mere thought of having to go through three dress changes blows my mind." Harry agreed, "Each of them having to be different and yet still be within in theme or matching your partner. That's just too much."
"Not to mention shoes, accessories and hair." Tracey reminded them.
"Yuck," they boys said together.
"Tracey, Daphne?" Pansy called, coming over with the rest of their year mates, "I've just gotten the pre-release for the Solstice, do you want to come and start selecting now. I am because I cannot go through another Yule like this one."
"Oo yes, that'll be a relief when I can just hand my mother the selections and wait for her approval of which ones." Tracey said in delight, "Daph?"
"I am right there." She agreed, "Bye boys," they boys waved as the girls vanished up to the dorms.
"I don't think I will ever say they have it easy again," Blaise muttered with a shudder.
"You get the horror story from Pansy?" Harry asked. Blaise and Theo nodded.
"I didn't even think of it when I saw Daphne's switch of dress this year at the Jugsons, but now Pansy explained what they go through…"
"Thank Merlin we were born male." Theo decided.
"Harry, have you got that book so me and Theo can finish off our essays?" Blaise remembered and Harry nodded, snapping his fingers and handing it to the boy.
"Just throw it on my trunk when you're done." The Black Heir told him, rising to his feet. He and Draco vanished up to the dorms, allowing the others to do their work in peace.
"So what happened?" Draco asked, when they were sat on his bed. Harry was sat opposite his friend and they both had their legs stretched out comfortably.
"He answered a lot of my questions, and I was happy with what he had to say. So we have come to an agreement and I gave him the stone."
"You have an agreement with the Dark Lord?" Draco repeated incredulously.
"Yeah, it's going to be great."
"I give up," He decided, throwing his hands up in the air. His best friend made his head spin, and it was just easier if he rolled with it. Though he did kick him when Harrison laughed.
Harry had a permanent skip in his step for an entire week after his meeting with the Dark Lord, Draco thought he was clinically insane but Harry didn't mind, it wasn't everyday you made a binding agreement with the greatest wizard of their time. Who also happened to be the last of his greatest mentor's born bloodline. The only thing putting any sort of downer was James Potter and his spawn. They were suspiciously quiet which raised questions, James didn't take unfair points off and Rose wasn't throwing comments left right and centre. It was highly unusual and Harry soon understood why when his father came striding over to him with a grim expression on his face.
"Harrison, Dumbledore wishes to see you." He informed him stiffly. Harry's entire body stiffened and he looked at his dad through narrowed eyes.
"Really now, and why is that?"
"I have no idea," Sirius sighed. The Blacks walked silently up to the Headmaster's office; when Sirius started naming random wizarding sweets Harry stepped away in alarm.
"What in Circe's name are you doing?"
"Dumbledore likes to make his password a different piece of candy every week." The man explained, his tone saying exactly what he thought of that, and Harry's lip curled.
"Of course he does," He pressed his hand to the gargoyle who recognised him and allowed them access with a cheerful wave, Harry grinned at his dad's astonished face.
"Heir remember,"
"Right,"
Harry was tempted not to knock but Sirius beat him to it and rapped sharply on the door, pushing it open when they were called in. Harry withheld his hiss when he saw all the Potters along with Dumbledore in the office.
"Headmaster, you wished to see me?" Harry asked in a forced polite tone. This was the manipulative bastard that convinced his parents in the first place, always believing he had the answers to everything. Dumbledore smiled a grandfatherly smile at him and motioned for him to sit.
"Ah yes, Harry, I haven't spoken to you this year, it is about time I have." He said kindly, "That is all Sirius,"
"Like hell it is, I won't let you attack my son without me present."
"He's not your son, Black," James spat and Harry noted that Lily winced and stepped back lightly, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Official documentation says otherwise, Potter,"
"Now lets all calm down, this situation can be resolved simply." Dumbledore told them all softly and Harry was tempted to snort; he was the creator of the mess in the first place.
"Sirius, why did you adopt Harry-,"
"Harrison," Harry corrected.
"Harrison," Dumbledore sent him a look which Harry ignored, "When he has a perfectly able family, did you do it out of spite? Using a child in your arguments is not the way Sirius and I'm disappointed in you."
Harry counted down the seconds until his dad exploded, Dumbledore had a great way with words.
"USE HIM!" Sirius yelled at him in utter disbelief, "How dare you accuse me of using a child that I love like my own, the reason he is now my son instead of that pathetic excuse of a wizard is because I wanted him and I actually give a fuck about him, I gave him the option and he chose me."
"The only reason he chose you is because he doesn't know you, he doesn't know what your family is like and he doesn't know how adoption works in the world, I expect you just gave him a potion and told him to drink it." James snapped and Sirius looked ready to kill him.
"If that was true then shouldn't you be asking why he was so willing to drink an unknown potion to get away from you?"
"Harrison, you haven't spoke yet."
"There is nothing to say, I am happy with Sirius being my dad."
"What of your aunt, did you not like living with her, she cared for you all these years."
Harry sneered.
"The woman hated me and my very being, whoever thought it would be a good idea to place me there was clearly as thick as shit."
Sirius smirked.
"I placed you there because it was unfair to leave you where you would be second best, young Rosina needs training." Dumbledore told him in a voice which asked for an apology, Harry internally snorted.
"I stand by my original statement, thick as shit. She supposedly vanquished the Dark Lord on Samhain, why would she need training? Not that shows she's had any." Harry replied nastily and Sirius' lip twitched.
"Do not speak to the Headmaster like that, it is disrespectful and I forbid you." James snarled and Harry laughed coldly.
"Shut up, Potter, you're embarrassing yourself more than usual."
"Why you disgusting little brat, you can see you've been associating with the wrong sort of people."
Sirius hissed and Harry's fist clenched.
"I think I will have to place you back with your aunts instead of spending the summer with your parents and sister, it is clear that you are unable to adjust to your sister's fame. It is unfortunate but it is to be expected, it is why you were placed away in the first place." Dumbledore sighed in a resigned way. Harry felt his angry rise and an unhealthy rate, how dare this man even try to interfere with his life? He had no power over him. "It is for the best, I believe after the summer away from everything you will appreciate what the Potters have done for you."
"He is my son, he will be staying at Black Manor for the summer." Sirius growled with his teeth bared, his anger teetering on the edge. James scoffed.
"Yes because it's best for him there,"
"What's that supposed to mean, Potter?" Sirius demanded, his tone holding warning.
"Look at your family! Black by name, black by nature; the darkest House in our world. You've just renewed your alliance with Malfoy, the boy had no hope with you." James had an ugly look on his face and Harry just knew he would not like these next words. "Of course, you are mated to a werewolf, who knows what the boy will be exposed too with that around."
The shock of white got rage that shot through Harry was stronger than he had ever felt and for once he didn't even think, he just launched himself at James aiming for the throat; how dare he use Moony's condition against him. Moony was a million times the better person and wizard that Potter would ever be. He was stopped in his tracks when Sirius grabbed him around the waist just in time and pulled him back, the Black Lord looked positively murderous as he held the struggling boy in his arms. Harry's magic was starting to leak out of his control and he glared at James and Sirius wasn't faring any better.
"I will laugh as you die Potter," Sirius didn't raise his voice but it made the Potter Lord pale, he seemed to realise he had gone to far.
"I promise you now, Potter," Harry snarled still struggling to get to him, "I will personally be there when you die and I will try my hardest to kill you myself." Harry's hair started to ruffle as his magic picked up, with one last scathing look to the occupants Sirius wrenched his son from the room.
"You need to calm down," Sirius hissed and Harry laughed.
"Calm down, after that, you have got to be fucking kidding me." Harry told him, "You should have let me kill the bastard,"
"In front of the Headmaster, you are going to be watched now after what just happened."
"I don't care, he will not get away with what he just said about uncle Moony,"
Sirius growled.
"No he won't, I'll strangle the prick myself."
Harry stopped struggling and let Sirius readjust his grip on him.
"I cannot believe the nerve of the Headmaster, who does he think he is?"
"A meddling old fool,"
"I swear if James comes near me I won't be responsible for my actions," Harry warned and Sirius chuckled coldly.
"If he even looks at me I won't be responsible for my actions, by all means go ahead as long as nothing leads back to you."
Harry's smirk was positively sinister.
"Oh don't worry, nothing will be proven."
They were back at the marauder pad where Sirius muttered the password and stepped in.
"Are you calmer now?"
"Not really but I won't immediately go and kill him." Harry replied.
"Kill him?" Remus repeated alarmed. Sirius took three big steps and kissed him, Harry grinned before clearing his throat.
"I have innocent eyes."
Remus blushed and Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Says the one planning murder,"
"Yes with probably reason."
"I'm guessing the meeting didn't go well," Remus hedged and both faces darkened.
"That would be a slight understatement, Moony." Sirius ground out.
"How bad did it go?"
"I had to physically retrain Harry from killing James with his bare hands."
Remus' eyes widened and his attention snapped to the furiously pacing boy, he knelt down in front of Harry to stop him, Harry threw himself at him wrapping him tightly in a hug.
"If you ever listen to anything that comes out of James Potter's mouth I'll permanently take away all your books and ward the library against you." Harry told him in a muffled voice, Sirius smiled slightly.
"Ok, Cub,"
"I'll come with you to see Sev, you've missed his lesson."
"What I've missed potions!" Harry yelped.
"Sorry, Pup,"
"I'll shave his damn beard." Harry vowed under his breath, Remus chucked catching it.
"Go on, Cub, and be good." Remus warned and Harry gave him an angelic smile.
"You know me,"
Sirius rolled his eyes and they left for the dungeons, Harry's class was just coming out when they got there and Harry grumbled to himself. Snape was at his desk when they went in and he looked up with a raised eyebrow.
"Potter Sr and Dumbledore," Sirius stated.
"I see, shall I expect extra joyous behaviour from it?"
"Yes, unless he mysteriously disappears then Harrison got to him."
Harry shrugged.
"It went well then," Snape said dryly and Sirius scoffed.
"Very, I have never wanted to AK someone as badly as I did James Potter in the office." The Black Lord ran a hand through his hair.
"Surprisingly, I am surprised."
"What did we cover today?" Harry asked getting his mind off of the unpleasantness.
"Nothing you don't know, and the homework is a foot on the properties of Moonstone." Harry nodded.
"I'm going flying," He told them and left with a nod, he trudged to the common room and went to change. Draco took one look at him immediately knew something bad had happened.
"I'll get your broom,"
Harry nodded and threw his things down, he went down to the pitch where Draco was there with his broom. Harry kicked off and did some loops to relieve his tension, he went in to a nose dive relishing in the adrenalin pumping in his veins and pulled up in the very last second his toes grazing the grass.
"Harrison, are you insane" Draco yelled at him and Harry grinned feeling better.
"That felt good,"
"I refuse to watch from now on, I'm going to die young." He complained dramatically and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Wanna go?" Harry held out the broom and Draco grinned.
"Do you need to ask?" The blond kicked off and Harry was impressed, he handled the change of broom well.
"Are you trying out for chaser next year?" Harry asked him when he was back on the ground.
"I don't know,"
"You are now, you'll be great, uncle Lucius will get you a broom."
"I tell him I'm trying out and he probably will." Draco agreed.
"Hopefully he will get you a Nimbus."
"If he doesn't, I'll tell mother." They grinned; Narcissa spoiled them.
Quirrell disappeared suddenly at the end of March leaving the teachers in a mess, Harry couldn't help the smirk that came to his face when Dumbledore made the announcement. Draco raised an eyebrow and Harry's smirk stretched, he wasn't surprised the Dark Lord moved quickly. They didn't have a cover teacher at the time so all DADA classes were cancelled apart from NEWT's and OWL's, Harry had another skip in his step and it made ignoring Potter and his spawn all that easier.
He was keeping an eye on Lily though, she was pale and withdrawn lately and Harry couldn't help but think that there was something serious going on behind the scenes, he couldn't remember the last time he saw her speak or eat properly. He shouldn't but he was getting concerned, Harry could see that she had lost a lot of weight through the glamours she applied, he would continue to watch her and he would ask Sirius later. Draco dragged him to the library with Theo and Blaise to finish their homework after breakfast and Harry rolled his eyes.
"You know I've finished mine right?"
"Yes, which is why you're coming with us." Draco stated like it was obvious and Harry shook his head.
"Of course oh great one,"
"Glad to see you understand," Draco sniffed and Harry laughed giving him a shove. They grabbed a table and Harry helped them with their Charms and History essays, he added extra to his own Potions one and it was now triple the length but he doubted Snape would mind.
"How do you know so much about Potions?" Theo complained and Harry grinned.
"If I tell you something you have to keep it a secret," Harry told them lowering his voice, they nodded eagerly.
"I'm applying for my Mastery with honours in the summer hopefully, I'm hoping to set a record."
Theo and Blaise gaped and Draco shook his head.
"I didn't think you would be doing it this summer, I thought maybe Yule."
"If everything works out I can experiment in the summer and they apply, if not then it will be Yule. Speaking of Potions, I am due to be with Snape in around 1 minute and I don't particularly want to be late." Harry said and they nodded.
"He will murder you,"
They all cleared up their things and hurried out, sticking to the Slytherin rules. Unfortunately luck was not on their side and they ran in to Rosina, though she was alone so they had the upper hand; it didn't stop her though.
"Thank Merlin you are not in our family any more, we wouldn't want something like you to tarnish our perfect name." She sneered. Harry snorted at the irony of her words and shook his head.
"Your name doesn't need me to tarnish it, they have you for that. I couldn't think of a bigger tarnish if I tried." He replied brightly and she glared at him, her cheeks flushing.
"You'll always be second best." She snapped, "Black only adopted you because he felt sorry for you."
"Of course he did." Harry agreed.
"You're nothing compared to me."
"Wrong, Rosie dearest." Harry informed her, "I'm better than you'll ever be. Now, if you don't mind, we have somewhere to be and it doesn't involve your presence." He stepped around her, the other Slytherin's followed his lead. He heard a muttered spell from behind and threw up a shield around them all, walking towards Rosina with flashing eyes.
"Did you just try to hex us me as we walked away?" He demanded.
"You are just lucky it didn't hit."
"Not only is that so wrong its not even funny, but there are four of us here. Where did you think this situation was going to go?" Harry said to her in disbelief, "Even if it did hit you would have been hexed in the next second."
"You don't know that. I can take you all."
The Slytherins burst out laughing at that, truly wondering about her blind arrogance.
"You are not worth our time, Potter." Draco told her, shaking his head in disgust. Rosina was fuming, her face was bright red and her fist was clenched around her wand, Draco's words seemed to push her because she tried to hex him only to find herself frozen by Harry. His eyes were narrowed in anger and it was only his hold on his magic keeping her upright, he suddenly released it, letting her drop back and shared a look with the other Slytherins.
As a silent agreement, they didn't turn the opportunity down and stuck her frozen form to the wall, changed her to Slytherin green and silver and wrote: I should not attempt to hex those who are better at me. They shared a grin and hurried down to the dungeons, sharing a grimace of pity for Harry as he was now very late to Snape's extra lesson.
"Good luck," they murmured, walking off as Harry knocked and was granted entrance.
"I am so sorry, I had a run in with Potter spawn." Harry explained and Snape nodded.
"As long as you didn't do anything to get caught,"
Harry shifted a little.
"Well we might have gone a bit OTT, but it's her word against ours."
Snape's eyebrow rose.
"We?"
"The designated group we are to travel in," Harry answered evenly.
"What did you do?"
"Now why would I want to ruin the surprise?"
"Get on with your potions brat,"
Harry grinned and did just that.
"I'm set to break your record." Harry said to him and he chopped up some roots.
"Which one?"
"You have more than one?"
"Youngest Potions Mastery and highest Mastery score,"
"Well then both,"
"Oh?"
"Yup, applying for my Mastery with honours in the summer, if this potion works that is."
"Impressive, I have no doubt you could accomplish it. You are one potion behind though," Snape pointed out.
"Yeah, but if everything goes to plan, this summer I should be able to experiment with new material and I will have access to all of my vaults and properties. I know Salazar has left research for me and a hoard of ingredients and cuttings, he promised he would. They will open up a whole world of opportunities, and in it will contain the partially developed research for my Mastery submittal paper." Harry explained to him, and Severus looked very interested.
"You have already completed your paper."
"Well, I don't want to sound too arrogant but it was approved by Salazar Slytherin so…" He trailed off with a shrug and Severus conceded he did have a point. Salazar Slytherin was the Master of all Masters when it came to Potions, so if he approved Snape would consider it absolutely fine. Harry stirred the cauldron and it went a soft pink colour, he left it on the boil until it was a clear pink colour, Harry added crushed unicorn horn and the potion changed to a clear blue. He let it simmer stirring it 3 times every 5 minutes and he continued to make notes, he sniffed it and frowned.
"It looks about right but it smells off." Snape looked it over and ladled some in to a phial, he spun it around and smelled it. He frowned and carefully let a drop drip on to his finger. Nothing happened for a second or two and then the finger slowly started to disappear like someone had cast a disillusion to it.
"That's pretty cool," Harry said.
"Yes, you may want to note down this as a back up for your third potion, liquid disillusion has never been done before especially as something that didn't have to be consumed."
Harry nodded and wrote down the exact instructions with the effects; he would have to create an antidote before it would be complete. Harry continued adding ingredients to the potion for his vanishing idea when Snape caught his attention.
"Is it me, or is the disillusion not stopping?"
Harry looked at his had and where just a finger had disappeared now was nearly his whole hand, Harry's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh that can't be good,"
Snape tried a Finite but it only fed to speed up the process.
"There isn't an antidote for this is there?" Harry wondered aloud as he set the cauldron to simmer for an hour and began setting up another one where he immediately followed his own instructions to make the pour on disillusion.
"No and I would appreciate being able to see my arm." Snape stated, pulling up his sleeve revealing his slowly disappearing arm, Harry cursed.
"I need to make it again before I can neutralise it then reverse it." Harry muttered, working as fast as possible all the while watching the other simmering cauldron. Snape looked over the recipe and started putting counter ingredients on the station and preparing. They worked silently chopping, crushing, slicing and stirring, Snape was slowly disappearing and it was really weird to watch as the man was still working but he wasn't visible, it looked like a set of robes had been animated.
"This is so strange," Harry commented, quickly taking his first cauldron off the heat and adding one Ashwider egg before stirring 7 times counter clockwise and setting it back on the heat. The disillusion potion finally settled on the needed clear blue and Harry sighed.
"Counter the unicorn horn and the Monkswood first then let it simmer." Snape said and Harry nodded.
"Then add powdered moonstone and 3 'corn hairs before bringing it to the boil." Harry got the impression that Snape nodded even though he couldn't see the man. Their silent vigil was broken when Sirius came in and froze at the sight.
"What in Merlin's name happened?"
"Potions accident, now be quiet, I do not relish the thought of being stuck like this." Came Snape's voice, Sirius span around looking for the man and Harry laughed.
"The robes, dad,"
Sirius balked.
"What did you do?"
"New potion by Harrison, quite ingenious really but there is no counter."
"You tested a potion without an antidote?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"We didn't realise it would have this effect without being drank." Harry explained, stirring the potion and it went a matte blue, he continued to stir as he added in the Monkswood and it changed to a vivid green.
"This is weird," Harry snickered before hastily covering, he could feel Snape's glare and he stepped back to let the cauldron simmer, checking on his first potion and grinned; it was slowly changing.
"Add the moonstone now bit by bit," Snape told him and Harry sprinkled it in slowly and the potion changed to a pale orange. "Now the hairs,"
Harry tossed them in and it lit up to a bright yellow, he stirred three times clockwise and it mellowed to a soft yellow, Harry took it off the heat and ladled some in to a phial for Snape. The Potions Master swirled it around and sniffed it, Harry couldn't help but notice it was incredibly weird to watch someone examine a potion when they couldn't see him and Sirius seemed to agree by the look on his face. One drop fell on to air and sunk in.
They all waited with baited breath to see if anything would happen when a pale finger started to appear, Harry breathed in relief as it spread and the rest of Snape became visible, he checked on the other potion and stirred it before looking up at the Potions Master, what he saw made him freeze. Harry's jaw dropped in shock and Sirius began choking, Snape was visible again but he was different.
"Why do I feel different and why are you looking at me like that?" Snape demanded and Harry just shook his head wordlessly, he conjured up a mirror and handed it to him; Snape's jaw dropped. He no longer had sallow unhealthy skin, his hair wasn't lank and greasy looking and his nose had lost its obvious hook. There was silence except the simmering cauldron in the lab as they took in the shock, everyone, including the man himself, was gazing at Snape in some sort of awe.
"What…" Harry couldn't manage anything else.
"I…" Severus Snape was for once in his life completely speechless.
"Miracle juice," Sirius burst out and it seemed to snap Snape from his shock because he glared at the animagus and with the new look the glare was worse, Harry laughed.
"I don't even know what we just created but it obviously has good effects." He quickly scribbled down the instructions underneath the disillusion ones.
"I don't think there have been any bad effects." Severus murmured and waved his wand over himself, the diagnostic came up clear and Harry grinned.
"Well we know who clearly the genius here is." He stated.
"I only came down here to ask you if you stuck Rosina to the wall." Sirius pointed out and Harry adopted an all too innocent look.
"I do not know who stuck her to the wall in Slytherin colours with the warning not to hex someone who could beat her any day in a duel without his I mean their wand."
"Did you use your wand?" Snape sighed and Harry scoffed.
"I don't even know where it is."
"Harrison, please learn to use your wand." Sirius told him and Harry snapped his fingers making his wand pop up in front of him, he strapped it to his wrist and looked pointedly at his dad, who grinned.
"I shall be leaving you two dungeon dwellers and I look forward to dinner." Sirius left and Snape rolled his eyes.
"Come, you have two more steps before your vanishing potion is done and has to cool. Then you have to begin the counter," Harry nodded and added the next ingredient after taking it off the heat, he continued to stir the cauldron every 15 seconds and on the 5th stir he added a counter clockwise one. Harry continued this for 5 minutes when the potion stills on a shimmering silver/grey colour, he grinned setting it back to cool and began the counter potion.
It wasn't that hard because they had a base already made so he just went from there, the counter was a flat coal colour and not at all appealing, Snape and bottled up the disillusion potion and its counter so they had 8 phials of each. When everything was clear and put away Harry scooped out a phial and sniffed it, he nodded to himself and swirled it around.
"Bezoar at the ready?" He asked and Snape just looked at him with a look that said everything, Harry grinned.
"Right, Potions Master, stupid question. Well here goes,"
Before Snape could speak against his next actions, Harry downed the concoction wrinkling his nose at the taste. It felt as if someone was pouring cold gloop through his veins, he could feel it spreading.
"Feels strange," He commented and when he could feel the potion over his entire body he vanished from sight, he was completely gone from all trace, Snape could no longer feel the boy's magic or sense his presence at all.
"It works, you're completely gone."
"Yes!" Harry cheered, he picked up the counter and drank it, it was the opposite feeling of having warm gloop pushed through his veins and when it was everywhere he popped in to sight again.
"Two potions and two counters all in," He cast a tempus and blinked, "6 hours,"
"Impressive, these should grant you the Mastery."
"Hopefully but I still want to experiment in the summer, all depends on what happens." Harry said, charming his phials as unbreakable.
"Oh, and you're expecting things to happen this summer?" Snape drawled and Harry smirked.
"Most definitely, I believe we will be in for a very interesting summer." Harry replied evasively.
"I will not get a straight answer,"
"I have been told not speak of late happenings, someone has a lot to get in order after 10 years of absence." Harry looked at Snape and his eyes flicked to his left arm where he knew the Dark Mark to be situated. The Potions Masters eyes widened slightly before it was covered.
"Summer will be interesting,"
"Very,"
That's where it ends folks, it's a bit longer than I thought it would be but there we go, I thought the changes were necessary and I do hope you like it!
Jess*