Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN:

Thanks to all reviewers! Regretfully, I can't reply to specific reviews here since FF net warned me that they would pull down my fics if I did so. Apparently it goes against the rules - no idea why, but I will have to obey *sighs*. So I will just reply to reviews here in a general manner, without mentioning your nicknames.

So here it goes. I want to clarify some of your doubts:

First, it isn't that Orion would literally become insane by the memories of his past lives, but they can drive him to the point of affecting him deeply because he is forced to experience painful and tough recollections. It would slightly unhinge anyone, I think - not making him a raving lunatic, but yes perturbed.

Second, someone mentioned that Orion is being very unfair towards Voldemort, since the wizard hasn't done anything bad to him lately - and I agree with that opinion. On the other hand, there are many who wish that Orion was colder and more unemotional towards Voldemort – and I agree with that as well. So the only thing that I can say about the matter is that Orion's actions will be affected by circumstances -fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your view. Many of you will think that he isn't acting the way he should, others will feel disappointed or glad… so I dunno, it's impossible to satisfy everyone, but things will take their course towards the ultimate ending, and we are approaching it. I would dearly like to make Orion the cold and ruthless wizard of his visions, and I would also like him to finally fix things with Voldemort instead of always fighting, but those two things clash, and for now it will be something in the middle, until key circumstances happen and he'll be forced to make a bloody decision regarding his 'love' for Voldemort *grins*. But we're almost there…

Third, Orion is already resolved to kill Grindelwald – in that, he's being ruthless and a cool-headed and unemotional thinker, despite how much he likes the old wizard. Someone mentioned that Orion could seep the dark magic from Grindelwald without the necessity of killing the old wizard, but Orion hasn't even contemplated the possibility of searching for some obscure dark ritual to do it, since it's fairly obvious that someone like Grindelwald would prefer death over being left as a magicless person, a squib. So just taking Grindelwald's magic without killing the man isn't a possibility. Not killing the wizard at all isn't a possibility either, since Orion needs the dark magic in order to elevate his chances of surviving the Vindico test. And he has to kill Grindelwald anyway since the 'pull' that Grindelwald feels would eventually drive him insane – like it slightly and mildly happens to Voldemort. This is what the prophecy is all about: someone will be born –a VA candidate- who will have to kill Dark Lords, because he can't survive as long as a Dark Lord lives. Grindelwald explained this interpretation at length: Dark Lords exist in the absence of a Vindico candidate, and when one VA candidate appears, powerful and with great chances of succeeding in becoming the VA, then the candidate must kill any Dark Lord alive in order to have their dark magic, to thus follow the pull of their dark magic without going insane and thus 'surviving' the VA test they will be compelled to undergo by that very same pull of their magic. This is how the Spirits have always set up matters throughout history. It's their way to assure that someday a candidate will exist and triumph. That's why the Spirits have always manipulated crosses between bloodlines, affecting people and giving them a mind 'nudge' to marry this one or other, so that they could produce powerful witches or wizards who would become Dark Lords or VA candidates. That's why they always want a Dark Lord to rise, so that when a candidate rises as well, he'll have someone to kill as their source for more power.

And finally, the 'thrice-bonded' issue regarding Orion, and already fulfilled, doesn't necessarily mean that Orion will be with Lezander, Draco, and Voldemort at the same time, or that all of them will be his lovers. Orion knows next to nothing about the vampire legend which mentions the 'thrice-bonded' part. He only knows that he's the one the legend foretells about. But it doesn't mean that he can't just be friends with his bonded mates, or that he has to love them. We'll discover more once he goes to Zraven Citadel to demand answers from the Krajilca Mati, since he believes that she has something to do with the legend and his visions.

So there it goes, and if someone has more questions don't doubt in telling me! I love them *winks*

Ah, and this chapter and the following one will be a bit slow, but things will certainly pick up and go much quicker in the next ones, since we're approaching the end of his sixth year and we all know what's going to finally happen then *grins*.

And for those who were interested in knowing the meaning of 'Argonaut', in ancient Greek, 'argos' means bright, and 'naut' means sailor, explorer, traveler, adventurer, etc.

So I hope you enjoy this chapter, and let me know your opinions in your reviews!

Chapter 14

After they all had a succulent dinner, served by Daisy and other solicitous Potter Manor house-elves, they went back to the main parlor to have some much needed firewhiskey.

Orion already had a pounding headache, since throughout the day he had repeatedly spoken to his father, retelling him all what he had done and persuasively exposing his reasons for it, as well as the importance of becoming the Vindico. Thankfully, Remus had helped him with the task, but their progress had been very slow if not null – doors had been slammed, voices angrily risen, and tumblers flung and crashed.

Not to mention that Sirius was still bristling with indignation at having been the recipient of the cheering charm. The wizard had repeatedly tried to launch himself in an assault at Grindelwald, though Orion and Remus had restrained him, much to Grindelwald's disappointment since the old wizard had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to get a little dueling exercise.

Nevertheless, Orion was partly satisfied, since he had also calmly discussed matters further with Remus and Severus. He had seen that Remus truly supported him, no matter what, despite sharing different views on the matter of muggles and the necessity of killing those who got in the way. He also perceived that he had Severus' fierce loyalty, that they both knew that cunning and ruthlessness were necessary, and that he could count on his guardian for the most dangerous and tricky tasks were slyness was needed. And Severus had already proved once again his value by putting his sharp mind to use when he and Orion had schemed what their next steps should be in preparation for the war. Orion already regarded the wizard as his master spy, his most tactical thinker, and his best plotter – all in all, an invaluable supporter.

At present, while he rubbed his pounding forehead, Orion glanced at his guests. He knew Remus would be getting back to Lycaon soon, Severus had to return to Hogwarts, and so did he, since tomorrow was Monday. He had already glamoured the black burns left on his skin by the Dementor, and also written his letters to Vagnarov, Titania and Calypso. All the letters had been very brief. To Vagnarov, he simply told that he had succeeded and that all was well – he would further discuss matters with his Headmaster the following weekend. To Titania –who had become his trusted right-hand after Calypso stopped attending DA practice sessions- he reveled that he had used his Necromantic abilities to resurrect his father, and that he wanted her to tell the Elite, since such proof of power would solidify his position as their leader. Though, he also knew that their subsequently increased awed respect would cause a further leader-follower distancing between them. Regardless, he knew it was necessary. As Grindelwald often told him, being a leader was a position of solitude, for either a Dark Lord or the Vindico.

Finally, the letter to Calypso had been the hardest to write, since he didn't quite known what to tell her after so many months of not privately talking with her. Nevertheless, he ended up telling her in detail how he had resurrected his father, though he didn't mention the lingering consequences of experiencing his past lives' memories. But he was glad to have written to her since she, most particularly, knew for how long and exhaustively he had planned to bring his father back to life.

And not three hours had passed before he received an owl with a reply letter from her.

The letter had warmed his heart at the evident happiness she felt in his behalf. But he had also felt a pang of dejection because she hadn't written anything regarding herself and what had been troubling her all these months. Nevertheless, it was obvious to him that he still had her friendship, even if they weren't as close as before and even if she didn't share her troubles with him. It had been enough for him to know that she still cared.

But another matter had slightly troubled him. Throughout the day, he had felt his Black Heir ring burning. He wore the portkey on the necklace with the pendant of the stag, dog, and werewolf, which was the portkey into Lycaon that Remus had given him months ago. Thankfully, by being worn on the chain -in contact with his shirt and not his skin- rather than on his finger, the Black Heir ring couldn't successfully portkey him away. But it was certain that Voldemort was insistently summoning him. And he hoped that it wasn't because the wizard had felt anything of when he had confronted Cadmus, and thus, that Voldemort was now looking to demand some answers. Thankfully, he knew it wasn't probable.

He had always been the one who felt their 'link' the most, as was expected since he was the horcrux. And he had raised his Occlumency barriers to full power when confronting the Dementor. All in all, he knew that Voldemort had to be summoning him because he had left Riddle Manor without any explanations, after Draco and he had caught Nymphadora Tonks. So he finally decided to ignore the burning ring, and to deal with Voldemort the following weekend, to have some time to think about what he would tell the wizard.

At present, as they all indulged in after-dinner drinks, Orion took a small sip from his firewhiskey, before he set the tumbler on the low table and gazed at his father and Remus. The wizards had been quietly arguing between them, no doubt about what he had disclosed to them, but now his father was starting to raise his voice, looking angered in his disagreement.

He sighed and stood up, approaching them as he surreptitiously took hold of his wand.

"Dad," said Orion quietly, "there're some more issues to discuss."

"What is it, pup?" said Sirius, peeling his angered gaze from Remus and looking up at him.

"You'll be staying here with Gellert," said Orion without preambles. "You cannot go back to Black Manor. Everyone knows that it's my home, and-"

"I'm not staying with that mass-murderer," snapped Sirius, crossing his arms over his chest and throwing a glowering dark glance at Grindelwald, who merely deviously smirked back. "I can go to Grimmauld's Place." His grey eyes suddenly sparkled, and he added excitedly, "Or I can live in a nice manor we have in Nice! I never got the chance to take you there but the place and village are charming, and-"

"No," interrupted Orion curtly. "That's a Black property as well, and Dumbledore surely knows about it too. Potter Manor is the only place that no one knows that is still standing and that I have access to it." He sighed at his father's rebellious expression, and added more kindly, "Dad, no one can know yet that you're alive. The Aurors would want to capture you again and throw you in Azkaban. Voldemort would force you back into Death Eater ranks, since you still bear the Dark Mark. And Dumbledore…" He clenched his jaw, and pierced his father with his eyes. "And the old coot would use you against me, and that's something I can't allow. Not yet."

"Not yet?" interjected Sirius, frowning up at him. "What are you planning, pup?"

Orion calmly took a seat across from him, and replied calmly, "It depends. Do I count with your loyalty or not?"

"Of course you do," said Sirius adamantly, looking heated in his vehemence. "I would rather DIE than betray you! You are my son! But that doesn't mean that I agree with what you're planning on doing." He shook his head, and added fiercely, "Becoming a Necromancer, killing Dumbledore, leading vampires, werewolves and that DA of yours, remain being Voldemort's spouse, directly participating in the war and putting yourself in danger, and this madness about the test to become this Vindico thing!"

"What is it about all that which bothers you the most?" demanded Orion sharply, narrowing his eyes at him. "Is it that I want to kill Dumbledore? Or that I want to become the Vindico, which is as worse as becoming a Dark Lord in your opinion? Or-"

"Look, I don't care if you kill Dumbledore," snapped Sirius, piercing him with his grey eyes, and Orion inwardly sighed with relief since he had taken painstakingly care, throughout the day, to remind his father about everything that the old coot had done to them. "I care if you kill anyone at all. I never wanted you to become a killer, pup! And Dumbledore… Well, I grant you that you have valid reasons to want him gone - as do I, pup, remember that!" Orion's lips twitched, since he had been the one who had pointed out to his father those past grievances, but he said nothing and allowed the wizard to continue his tirade. "But still, pup, he's someone you can turn to if you're in a dangerous situation – if Voldemort turns against you! That's why I think you shouldn't kill the old man. Dumbledore is the Light's greatest hope and he can help you if-"

"If nothing, father," interrupted Orion sternly, having heard enough. "I would never turn to Dumbledore. Even if I turned against Voldemort, which I won't, I would never betray the Dark by going to the old coot. You know that! And as you said, we both have reasons to despise the old codger, so stop bringing up my plan to kill him. Furthermore, get used to the idea that I'll be killing plenty of other people. I've killed already, and in a war it's a necessary and common occurance."

"That's my point," said Sirius sharply, "I don't want you to be involved in the war, at all!" His expression softened and he gripped Orion's hands, as he said with deep emotion, "Don't you understand, pup, that I've lost countless years of my life? And that I want to make it up to you, for me not being there, and that it would destroy me if you were killed? I cannot bear to think of you going into battle, of the chances that you'll be hurt or that you won't come back alive."

"I do understand," interjected Orion quietly, closely scrutinizing him. "And there's a solution for that, once you accept that I won't change my mind about becoming the Vindico and about all that I'll have to do to accomplish it."

"Alright," grumbled Sirius, with a reluctant expression on his face. "I'm not saying that I agree with you becoming this Vindico thing, but tell me what your solution is."

Orion pierced him with his eyes, and said calmly, "It's simple, really. Your greatest objection to all my plans is that I would be in danger, with high chances of ending up dead. Then, help me so that it doesn't happen. In the past, you became a Death Eater so that you could spy on them and thus protect me from anyone discovering that I was Harry Potter. Therefore, do the same now. Help me with my plans. With your assistance, the chances of me getting hurt would greatly decrease."

"You want me to go back being a Death Eater?" said Sirius, frowning at him, looking fleetingly troubled.

"No. Merlin's knows how Voldemort would use you to have a greater hold over me," replied Orion, smirking at him while he inched his face closer to his father's. "I want you to go to Dumbledore."

"What harebrained scheme is this?" interjected Snape with a sneer, who had been intently observing them with narrowed eyes. He pointed a finger at Sirius, and said with a silkily scathing voice, "The mongrel is a dim-witted, Gryffindorish idiot and Dumbledore would instantly read his mind like an open book!"

"Who are you calling an idiot, Snivellus!" roared Sirius, instantly refrained by Remus from jumping at Snape. "And I'm no mongrel! I dare you to say it again-"

"Yes, he would," said Orion happily to Snape, smirking at him while utterly ignoring his father's outburst. "That's why I need someone to teach Occlumency to my father. I calculate that Draco will be done with his task in two months. Therefore my father has to learn Occlumency before that – before I kill Dumbledore. He has to be prepared to Occlude his mind, so that he can go to Dumbledore to be accepted in the Order. I need spies in the Light's side, and you aren't enough. There might be a situation in which you could be forced to show your true allegiance to the Dark. But my father…" He relaxedly leaned against his armchair, his smirk widening. "Well, after everything that has happened, Dumbledore would readily believe that my father truly wants to support the Light because he doesn't want me to be subjected to 'dark influences' anymore. Then, my father could be one more spy for us, and tell us what the Light is planning, even after I kill Dumbledore."

"I will not spend my valuable time teaching tricks to the mutt!" bit out Snape, his sour expression one of absolute disgust. He scoffed, and added with dripping snide, "And the mongrel doesn't have the abilities to possess an organized mind. He's a brash, weak-minded, moronic, useless lump of a wizard-"

"Sit down and calm down, father," said Orion sharply, glancing at Sirius who was spitting fire, still restrained by Remus. He turned his gaze back to Snape, and said nonchalantly, "It's not you who's going to teach him Occlumency. You cannot disappear from Hogwarts every evening to come here." He casually side-glanced at Grindelwald. "Gellert?"

The old wizard crookedly smirked at him, his hawk-like gaze flickering with a sadistic gleam to Sirius. "Ja. I accept. It would keep me entertained."

"I'm not going to be taught by a mass-murderer!" spat Sirius, looking ruffled and indignantly angry. "And I know Occlumency already. I had to learn before going to Voldemort to become a Death Eater. Remember, pup?"

"Yes, but you never mastered it," interjected Orion sharply. "You relied more on leaving crucial memories in the pensieve. This time, you cannot do it because I'm sure Dumbledore will scrutinize every inch of your mind. And he'll use Legilimency without you being aware. Unlike Voldemort, who digs in sharply and brutally, without caring if he inflicts pain, Dumbledore will do it carefully and surreptitiously. And if you have holes in your mind, he'll suspect you. Therefore, you cannot use the pensieve and you'll have to fully master Occlumency. If you do, you can block away memories, and modify them, without Dumbledore finding out. Grindelwald can teach you this." He intently gazed at his father, and added quietly, "I know you can master it in a few months if you really try. You are powerful, Dad, even though you've never bothered to develop and use your abilities. And if you care about helping me, so that I can succeed in my plans without dying, then you'll do this – for my sake."

After a stretch of silence, Sirius plopped down on his seat, and said with reluctant defeat, "Fine, I'll learn." He pierced Orion with his grey eyes, and demanded, "You want me to go to Dumbledore to become an Order member, to spy on them? And then what, pup? When will I do this? When can I go out in public? I cannot stay locked up forever, only revealing that I'm alive to Dumbledore and the Order! And how will I explain that I'm alive-"

"You'll have to remain hidden for a while," interrupted Orion calmly. "You'll be living here with Grindelwald all the time, even after you finish mastering Occlumency and after you convince Dumbledore that you're on their side. To convince the old coot, tell him your real objections – he suspects already that I'm truly supporting the Dark, even if he doesn't openly show it to me. But he doesn't know that I'm Voldemort's spouse, though he knows that I have a close relationship with him – Nymphadora told him that. Of course that you won't be telling Dumbledore anything of what I revealed to you today, including that Grindelwald lives. As for how you're alive…"

He placidly took a sip from his firewhiskey, as if he was pondering about the matter though he had already thought about it in detail.

Once he set the tumbler back on the low table, he pierced his father with his eyes, and continued nonchalantly, "Well, you'll have to tell him the truth - that I resurrected you. Don't tell him, however, anything about the Gaunt ring, who the Dementor was, about the Guild and the Gate, or the details of how I accomplished it. You wouldn't be expected to know anyway, since you really don't remember and I had to tell you about it. Moreover, the old coot knows I have Necromantic abilities; he was there when I pulled out Lezander from the Veil. Even if he believes that I had pulled out a soulless body, only someone with Necromantic abilities could have done that. And he saw my eyes turning all-black. Therefore, you won't be revealing to him anything he doesn't already know or suspect. As for what you'll do once you are accepted into the Order: you would be spying for me. Afterwards, we'll see what else."

"Okay," muttered Sirius, before he pierced Orion with his eyes, and added pointedly, "This doesn't mean that my objections -to you being involved in the war and becoming the Vindico thing- have vanished."

"Then we'll have to discuss it further," interjected Orion impassively, "until I make you understand how important it is." He waved a hand dismissively. "Regardless, there will be time for that. I'll be coming here every night during this week. I can apparate directly from the Chambers of Secrets without Hogwarts' wards detecting it. It's necessary, though out of caution I haven't exploited it much."

Sirius worriedly frowned at him. "You shouldn't come if there's a chance that Dumbledore will find out-"

"He won't, because he doesn't know that I discovered the Chamber of Secrets," interrupted Orion calmly. "Even if he comes to suspect, it wouldn't matter since he suspects me already. And it's necessary that I came here, Dad. You're the first wizard who has been successfully resurrected, and you were Kissed, so Merlin knows the consequences of it. It's probable that you'll have nightmares in your sleep, and also whilst being awake, like happened to you in the morning. And I want to be here at nights to see how you're doing, and to help you, if needed."

"Alright, thanks, pup," said Sirius, brightly smiling at him, and looking utterly unconcerned about what possible repercussion he could experience after having been resurrected. "I want to spend as much time as possible with you, son. I'll cherish the moments."

Orion warmly smiled back at him, feeling an unexpected small surge of love for the wizard. He hadn't expected it, because, quite frankly, he hadn't felt it much since Sirius had awoken. Nevertheless, he knew that the mild love he felt for his father was nothing in comparison to what he had felt when he had been younger and the wizard had been alive. It fleetingly worried him that his feelings for his father were so muted, wondering if it meant something consequential. But, he had to admit to himself, that after being without Sirius for so long, he had become used to not needing or wanting a parent. Thus, his detached, muted love for his father was perhaps understandable. Furthermore, he knew that Sirius would still, occasionally, bring him trouble.

"What a touching moment," sneered Snape acidly, eyeing them with disgust. "If we're done with paltry sentimentalities, I'll take my leave, since it seems to me that we've covered the important issues."

"We have," said Orion nonchalantly, while he stood up and surreptitiously took a firmer hold of his wand, "but stay for just one more minute, Severus. There's something I want you to see."

Then, he swiftly turned towards his father, towering over him since the wizard was seated, and he said quietly, "I trust you, Dad - really. But I don't trust your impulsive nature and your tendency of speaking without thinking about it twice. So you'll understand if I do this."

In the bat of an eyelash, he aimed his wand at his father's forehead, and hissed in parseltongue, "Clausus mentiss!"

Sirius had sprung to his feet, alarmed, but a golden beam instantly struck the wizard's forehead and formed a golden sphere. It sunk through his head, enveloping Sirius' mind, while Orion inwardly hissed the detailed instructions for the formation of the compulsion mind web.

"What did you do, pup?" gasped out Sirius, looking at him with startled eyes, while worriedly touching his head.

"I formed a mind web around your mind," replied Orion impassively. "It won't be detected by anyone, not even Dumbledore when he legilimizes you. Thanks to it, you won't be able to reveal anything important of what I told you today. But you'll be able to discuss such matters with those who are present here." He bore his eyes into his father's grey ones, and said quietly, "It's for your benefit, Dad - and for my sake." He purposely warmly smiled at him, and added, "Now you won't need to watch what you say around Order members. The mind web will do that for you."

"You cursed me – your own father?!"

"Yup," said Orion, utterly unfazed. "It's necessary." His gaze flickered to Snape, and he smirked at his guardian. "See, Severus, I am cautious and know what I'm doing."

"I'm glad to see that even though you have Potter blood and are the mutt's spawn, you have some senses in you, brat," drawled Snape silkily, briefly shooting Sirius a nasty smirk. "I'll see you at Hogwarts, Orion."

And with that, the wizard swiftly popped away in an apparition, since Orion had adjusted, during the day, Potter Manor's wards to only allow Remus and Severus to apparate in and out. He would key the wards to Sirius once he deemed that his father was ready to go to Dumbledore.

"You cursed me with that web thing," bit out Sirius angrily, rounding on him, "and you didn't do it to Snivellus?! You trust him more than me?"

"The mind web isn't a curse," interjected Orion calmly. "And I told you that I didn't cast it on you due to lack of trust. Moreover, I applied a mind web on Severus ages ago, and he never, not even once, asked me to remove it." He pierced his father with his eyes, and said sharply, "That's a true proof of loyalty and commitment. So never tell me that Severus can't be trusted, Dad. He has helped me much, and he even assisted me in placing your memories back into your mind. Actually, you owe him for that."

He swiftly turned to Remus, and said quietly, "You know I need to cast it on you as well."

"I was expecting it," said Remus, with a heavy sigh. He intently bore his amber eyes into Orion's, and added, "Do it if it gives you peace of mind, cub. But I reiterate that I wouldn't betray my friends."

"I know," said Orion, shooting him a true, warm smile. Then, he immediately aimed his wand at the werewolf, and hissed again, "Clausus mentisss!"

Once done, he left Remus to deal with a fuming Sirius, and he approached Grindelwald. The old German wizard had been strangely quiet during all the time, merely observing the proceedings with his intense, hazel gaze.

"Gellert, may I have a word?"

Grindelwald quirked an eyebrow, and followed Orion as he was pulled into a secluded corner of the parlor.

"My father is dark, whether he likes to admit it or not," said Orion quietly, piercing his mentor with his eyes. "While you teach him Occlumency, I want you to take the opportunity to train him in dark-curse casting. He knows plenty dark curses already, but hasn't used them in a long while. So I ask you to train him to spur his dark magic. I want you to make him realize that he's truly a dark wizard, and I want you to impress on him the importance of the Vindico cause."

"Ja, it would be wise to do so. Leave it to me, mein junge," said Grindelwald, crookedly smirking at him with an eager gleam in his hawk-like eyes.

Orion pointedly stared at him. "Don't hurt him in your zealousness, Gellert."

"I won't modify my training techniques," interjected Grindelwald loftily, his smirk widening.

"Fine," grumbled Orion, "but, at least, don't harm him permanently."

Grindelwald toothily grinned at him. "That, I can do."

Orion chuckled, and muttered fondly under his breath, "Sadistic old bastard."

"Indeed I am," said Grindelwald, flashing him with a devious smirk. He brushed off imaginary lint from his impeccable, rich robes, and said casually, "You've been tough with your father, mein junge."

"Did you expect anything else from me?" interjected Orion, arching an eyebrow. "My father needs to realize that I have changed much in these four years. I am not the naïve, little boy he once knew, Gellert. And he needs to accept it, as well as all that I intend to do."

"Ja, he does," said Grindelwald impassively. He pierced him with his eyes, and added conversationally, "I expect that you'll still come here during the weekends, after your Durmstrang classes. I have one thing or two left to teach you, yet. And I deem that the time has come for me to reveal some information which will be useful to you, mein junge."

Orion eyed him with curiosity, but didn't press the matter. "Very well. I wasn't planning on ending my training anyway. So count on it – I'll be here every weekend."

"Gut," said Grindelwald, shooting him a satisfied smirk, before he calmly strode back to the other two wizards left.

Orion followed him and instantly noticed that his father and Remus fell silent the moment he was with them.

Suddenly, Sirius took a step to be in front of him. The wizard pulled something from his finger and took Orion's hand, opening it and slapping something on Orion's palm.

"I don't know why you left it on my finger, pup."

Orion frowned at the Black heirloom in his hand - the ring of the Head of Black House. He glanced up at his father, and said quietly while he offered it back, "It's yours, not mine-"

"I don't want it – never did," interrupted Sirius adamantly, piercing him with gray eyes. "This summer you're turning seventeen, you'll be of age - an adult. Thus, you can legally become the Head of Black House." He lopsidedly grinned at him, though it was wan. "Besides, I tried to modify the wards back when we were in Black Manor, without you noticing. But I couldn't. The wards didn't accept me any longer as the Head of Black House."

"You should take it, cub," said Remus warmly, side-glancing at Sirius with proud satisfaction.

Orion could tell that it had been Remus' idea; a way for Sirius to accept the changes around him, making the wizard take a small step which recognized that his son had become mature, independent and powerful enough to bear the ring. Though it was a small gesture, it was significant.

He nodded and swiftly put it on, but something else had raised an alarm in his mind. "The wards in Black Manor didn't recognize you any more, father?"

"Nah, they didn't," said Sirius dismissively, utterly unconcerned.

Orion deeply frowned. "I wonder what it means."

Sirius let out a bark of rambunctious laughter, patting Orion on the back. "It means that I'm finally free from the responsibilities of managing the Black vaults, properties, and family matters like who gets repudiated from the line." He joyfully grinned. "I wanted to disown Bellatrix from her Black name and inheritance – never got the chance. But you can do that in a few months, when you turn seventeen, pup!"

"Huh? Yeah," muttered Orion, not paying much attention to what his father was saying.

Sirius gripped his shoulders, frowning at him. "You want to be the Head of House, don't you? You must have been managing everything while I was gone, so it wouldn't be much of a change for you. But if you don't want to-"

"No, I do," interrupted Orion, gazing up at him, his frown still present. "But the wards didn't acknowledge you, Dad."

"Pfft, so what?" said Sirius unfazed. "Granted, it will be a pain in the arse that I can't modify the wards." He cheekily grinned. "You'll have to trot around all Black properties to make their wards accept me. I don't want to be flung out by them. But there's time for that. Don't worry, pup."

"I think Orion is worried about the fact itself," interjected Remus, his amber gaze shifting from Sirius to Orion. "It shouldn't surprise you, cub. Sirius died and the magic of the wards detected it. But I don't think the wards were casted to be prepared for a supposedly impossible eventuality in which a Head of House would be brought back to life."

"Yes, I hope that's all it means," said Orion quietly, before he shook his head and shot them a smile. "Well, I have to get going. I have classes tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to getting some sleep."

Remus nodded, but abruptly, Sirius pulled Orion towards him, tightly hugging him as he said vehemently, "You can trust me, pup. You know that I would rather die than betray my friends, and that includes my son, obviously. And do take care of yourself." He pulled away and ruffled Orion's hair, before a pinched expression spread over his face. "And don't you dare leave me alone with the mass-murdering wacko for too long."

"I won't," said Orion with a chuckle. "I'll come here every night, for a while, as promised."

He turned to Remus, and said warmly, "We'll see each other soon. And I'll contact you if anything happens."

The werewolf nodded, before he grabbed Orion's arm and pulled him away from prying ears. Grindelwald must have understood they needed privacy, since the old wizard instantly started to egg on Sirius with some snide comment.

"I'm planning on inviting Sirius to stay at Lycaon for a while," whispered Remus. "I think it will do him good to be out of the Manor for a few days, instead of always being cooped up in here. But I'll leave it to you to decide when he should come."

"I see. Thanks for that," said Orion quietly.

It was evident to him that Remus realized that Sirius couldn't be left to make his own decisions - for now. After all, even if his father was suddenly behaving in a carefree manner, Sirius had to be badly shaken after all that had happened and after everything he had been told.

Orion nodded, and shot him a smile. "I'll see how he does, and if everything is well I'll take him to Lycaon in a month."

"Oi! What are you two whispering and scheming?" said Sirius with a friendly expression on his face, as he quickly approached them while leaving Grindelwald behind, and looking quite relieved and glad to have done so.

"Nothing important, Dad," said Orion dismissively, while he wandlessly accioed his schoolbag from wherever he had left it.

The instant it came shooting into his hand, he nodded in farewell to everyone, and prepared himself to apparate away. That was until his father piped in a question with sharp suspiciousness.

"You are going to Hogwarts, right?" said Sirius sternly, piercing him with his grey eyes. "You aren't going to see Voldemort, are you, pup?"

Orion arched an eyebrow, and replied nonchalantly, "I'm not going to see him now. But I will next weekend. I have much to discuss with him." He narrowed his eyes at the belligerent expression on his father's face, and added crisply, "Get used to it, father. He's my spouse and I'll be around him. Furthermore, we've planned for him to move into Black Manor during the summer-"

"WHAT?!" roared Sirius. "Absolutely not-"

Orion groaned, before he said sharply and impatiently, "We are a married couple, even if I sometimes forget it! And it's proper and expected of us to live together and I'm looking forward to it."

"Yes, you are married," interjected Sirius with a grimace, as if being forced to swallow a sour lemon. "Though don't think for a minute that you've heard the last of what I have to say on that subject." Then his expression turned thunderous, and he snapped, "But another matter entirely is for you to live with that deranged psychopath… alone, in a Manor? Unprotected if he decides to do Merlin knows what to you! What – sharing a bed with him as well?! I think not, young man-"

"Merlin's great balls of fire, I'm almost seventeen!" spat Orion, at the end of his rope. "And it should be plainly obvious to you, by now, that I have repeatedly shared his bed." He eyed him fuming, decided to get his point through without embellishing matters, and snapped pointedly, "He's fucked me senseless, countless of times, and I bloody well enjoy it! So get it through your head!"

And with that, he instantly apparated away, quite glad to leave Remus to deal with his father's stubbornness and delusions of his son's long lost innocence.

The following week passed quickly, but not breezily. No one at Hogwarts knew that anything significant had happened, and his Dementor-caused black burns passed unnoticed under the glamours. Moreover, Ron kept shooting at him angrily hateful and unforgiving glances, Hermione kept pestering him to resolve his differences with Ron, Lavender kept whispering poignantly about him to her girlfriends and haughtily flipping her blond hair at him, and –thankfully- Luna dosed his days with a sense of peaceful, quiet companionship.

Nevertheless, it was a hard week for Orion. For starters, he slowly but increasingly felt tired, without any apparent reason for it. And he realized, at once, that the potion he was daily imbuing had started to have its secondary effects on him. He had felt exhausted during his confrontation with Cadmus, so it was evident that the potion was taking its toll on him now that he felt tired without straining himself for any purpose.

Furthermore, his greatest problem was that the recollections of past reincarnations assaulted him constantly, without respecting where he was, what he was doing, or what time of the day it was. He had them in his sleep, when having breakfast, when going to the bathroom, when talking with classmates, and when answering his teachers during class. And he had already garnered peculiar glances when he had unwittingly gasped and lost hold of a vial during a Potion lesson, when he had been assaulted by a particularly painfully emotional experience of one of his past selves.

Even though he had little time to contemplate the whys and wherefores of what was happening to him, Orion finally ended up looking for answers, and a solution, in every book he could take a hold on. He had even researched the matter in Sylvester Slytherin's book of 'Parsel Rituals for the Soul', and in Cadmus' original journal – but there was nothing. Not even a clue that clarified what the Dementor had done to him and how it could be reversed.

In the end, he decided to follow his all-purpose concept of strategic problem-solving, which boiled down to 'Get your answers, by manipulation or coercion, from someone'. And he knew just who, but couldn't do it until the weekend. Therefore, he was left to endure flashes of memories which left him badly shaken most of times.

Moreover, the Black Heir ring hadn't stopped burning a single day, and Orion was starting to lose his practiced coolness.

Then it was finally Friday, and it couldn't have arrived any slower in his opinion. But what mattered was that he could at last leave the school by saying that he didn't want to wait till morning to floo to Durmstrang, thus not raising suspicions, since he was truly going to Potter Manor first.

So, quite happy to be out of her sight, Orion slammed closed the door of Professor Trelawney's office, after enduring one of his accustomed Friday-evening detentions with her. These had been going on ever since Dumbledore had inflicted the punishment on him, because he had casted a dark curse on Ron after the boy had eaten the Chocolate Cauldrons Romilda Vane had spiked with a love potion. Though, her intended target had been him and not Ron.

Thankfully, as nutty and bizarre as Trelawney was, nothing much happened during his detentions. Oh, she particularly liked to reveal to him -with a relish that Orion could only describe as viciously excited- that her Inner Eye saw his imminent death, or some such torturous and apocalyptic ending for him. But as long as she didn't go into trance-like Seer-mode, he could put up with it with impassive equanimity – and she hadn't. Nevertheless, knowing that the witch had truly told a valid and real prophecy, he always felt uneasy around her; since the last thing he wanted was for the woman to spout any other prophecy which would surely constitute a pain in the arse for him.

Therefore, making his escape, Orion swiftly reached his dorm in Gryffindor Tower, seeing it deserted since everyone had gone down for supper. And after getting his things, he quickly made his way to Dumbledore's office. As usual nowadays, it was empty, and he didn't waste any breath before flooing to Black Manor – his triangulation point.

Orion went into his bedroom and started packing some robes and other clothes into his bag, before he apparated to Potter Manor. He was feeling quite eager to see how his father was doing. As he had promised, he had gone to the Chamber of Secrets and apparated to Potter Manor, every night during the week, to see how his father was faring.

He had discovered that Grindelwald couldn't find any other enjoyment in his solitary days than to torment his father. The first night, he had apparated into Potter Manor just to find a tiny, fluffy, black kitten hissing and spitting furiously, trying to claw Grindelwald to pieces, while the old wizard crowed with sadistically amused chortles. Orion had realized that the kitten was no other than his father – whom Grindelwald had magically forced into an animal transformation. From henceforth, every evening in which he dropped by, Orion found his father in varying states and shapes, all for Grindelwald's private entertainment.

In the end, Orion had wisely decided not to get involved, since he had witnessed his father retaliating with hexes worthy of the nastiest prankster, an more often than not, with vicious curses as well. Though Grindelwald took it with supreme impassiveness, being highly amused by all of it, and not remotely concerned about Sirius doing any harm to him, since how could a mere wizard do anything to him – a Dark Lord.

Nevertheless, as much as Sirius angrily complained to him about what Grindelwald was inflicting on him, Orion was pleased to know that his mentor had already started teaching Sirius Occlumency, as well as forcing his father to practice dark curses. Therefore, he was satisfied about the way things were going with his father. Though, the rocky subject of his marriage to the Dark Lord hadn't been touched again, so far.

Orion flung his packed schoolbag on his back, and he was about to apparate to Potter Manor when a house-elf suddenly popped before him.

"Strange young wizard asking to see you, Master," said the house-elf, looking highly miffed while his large ears bobbed energetically. "Wizard waiting outside Manor, sir. Blipsy told wizard to go away! Bad wizard not obey! Weird wizard is NOT recognized by wards, Master, so Blipsy told wizard to leave-"

"Alright, alright," interrupted Orion soothingly. "You did well by not allowing him entrance. But tell me, did the wizard give you his name?"

"Yes, Master," said Blipsy, beaming at the praise and looking proud of himself. "Bad wizard said name was Njord."

Orion stared at the small creature, stunned. "Njord? And you said he was young – that's Loki. Bring him to me, please."

The house-elf instantly popped away and Orion didn't have to wait more than a second before Blipsy summarily returned, accompanied by a young wizard. And Orion merely gazed at him, his eyes slightly widening.

"So this is your bedroom," said Loki with a quiet, distant voice, gazing around. "Exactly how I imagined it – you're loaded, Black. But such things doesn't matter to you, do they it? Even if you could lead a comfortable and carefree life."

Orion stood rooted in place, staring at him with wide eyes, having instantly felt and detected the changes in the young wizard. Loki was exuding an eerie aura, his eyes all-black, his movements fluid, his long black cloak covering every inch of his skin… And it made the boy look like a spectre – just like Guild Necromancers looked like.

"How – how long has it been for you, Njord?" said Orion hoarsely, before he swallowed to ease his suddenly dry throat.

Loki's glowing all-black gaze flickered back to him, and he smirked. "Since I last saw you, Black? Two months, and for you just a week." His smirk widened, and he said calmly, "You know what's happened, don't you?"

"Yes," said Orion quietly. "But I want to see it – show me."

There was a hint of pride in the boy's eyes, but other than that, Loki's face was expressionless while he spread open his left palm.

Orion's gaze instantly zeroed in on the black symbol etched on the pale skin: a Necromancer's mark.

"You passed the trials. You're a full-fledged Necromancer," said Orion stone-faced, as he felt a slight pang of – something. "And you're not going back to Durmstrang."

"I'm not," said Loki, in a distant voice that sounded as if it came from the furthest recesses of some dark corner. "School no longer holds any interest for me – I don't need it. The Guild is my home now."

Orion jerkily nodded, as he experienced a strange feeling of lost and a frisson of worry. Loki wouldn't be in Durmstrang, it was likely that he would never see the boy again, and everything was changing too fast; making him feel as if he were speeding towards a rushed, ominous ending. He hadn't expected that Loki would become a Necromancer so soon, and it changed everything – his plans regarding the boy.

"I see," he said quietly. "Congratulations. It's what you've always wanted."

"It is," said Loki unemotionally, his voice flat. "But I wasn't sent here to chit-chat, Black." He pulled his pale face close to Orion's, and whispered, "You told me half-truths. I should have suspected it." He suddenly smirked, piercing him with his glowing, all-black gaze. "But I know all of it, now. Your suspicions were right: we know what you are, what you're trying to become – the Vindico Atrum. We've known for a very long while, since such a unique spirit as Morgana's wouldn't have remained undetected by Us. Her spirit is, after all, anchored to the mortal plane. And she was quite willing to tell us about you, during the past three years. Yes, that's how long we've known-"

"We?" interrupted Orion sharply, eyeing him closely. "You didn't know anything, Njord."

"Ah, you must forgive me," said Loki detachedly, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. "It's difficult to separate myself from the Guild-mind. But I'll get the hang of it soon."

"Guild-mind?" interjected Orion, frowning at him. "Is that what the Necromancers have, when you all talk into your minds without needing to be close to each other and without using Legilimency? You form a kind of collective mind?"

"We do, and the mind link finishes forming after passing the trials," replied Loki tonelessly. "You should have suspected it. Didn't we tell you that we share all our knowledge with a Necromancer who passes our trials?" He tapped his forehead. "It's all here: their thoughts, what they want to share with me, the knowledge they've obtained through decades and centuries of research, incursions into the planes, and summonings. All Guild-knowledge is accessible to me like an open book, since my mind is linked to theirs."

A stretch of silence spread between them, as Orion let all of it sink in while his mind sped with the implications and consequences for him, particularly regarding the part about Morgana.

"Right. Good for you - I guess," muttered Orion at last, before he frowned and pierced the Necromancer with his eyes. "So the Guild sent you here to tell me that they have known about Morgana, and about me being a Vindico candidate, all along. Fine, I got the message. But tell me, is the Guild going to do anything about it? Don't they want-"

"We won't interfere," interrupted Loki in a faraway voice, though not raspy due to disuse, yet. "As long as our existence remains a secret, we don't have any objections to what you want to do. Also, I'm meant to tell you that Morgana was the first one to have suggested that you should train under The Argonaut. She knew there was a chance that you would end up deciding to become a full-fledged Necromancer. And we told her about the magical contract you signed with us. But we wanted to tell you about her involvement since we owe no loyalty to her, but we do to you, since you've agreed to undergo our training."

"I see. Thanks," grumbled Orion, his expression darkening. "I don't like being manipulated, Njord, and it seems that Morgana never stops trying. Therefore, I'm not sure that I want to train under Virgil-"

"We advise you to do so," interjected Loki tonelessly. "Not because the Spirit suggested it, but because we also think it's best for you – given your ambitions. Remember our last conversation? With me personally, I mean. What I told you was the truth. There's no one better to train you than The Argonaut. You'll learn much with him, and all of it will be useful to you in the future, particularly since one of your greatest tasks will be to influence the Balance between the Sources. Not only blood-issues come into play. Souls and the spiritual plane, as well as the other realms, also depend on the Sources, and you'll have to learn about that."

Orion sighed and fiercely rubbed his forehead. "Fine. Then I won't change my plans regarding my Necromantic training."

"We're glad to know," said Loki detachedly.

Orion paused, before he said quietly, "This is the last time I'll see you, isn't it?"

"Possibly," said Loki, piercing him with his all-black gaze, in which Orion detected a brief flash of the old Loki. "You won't be in the Guild when you undergo your training with The Argonaut. But you can go to the Guild… if you ever want to see me again."

"I will, then," said Orion nonchalantly.

Suddenly, Loki smirked at him. "So no hard feelings between us, Black? Good. I'm not interested in leaving any enemies behind in the outer world."

"We were never enemies, Njord," interjected Orion conversationally. "Simply not friends." He smirked back at him, and added, "And I'm also not interested in having enemies in the Guild."

Loki nodded, his face expressionless and distant once more, and he said detachedly, "One more thing before I leave. I wasn't only sent to tell you about Morgana. You should know about something much more important. The Dementors know that you killed the High One. They instantly felt the lack of the High One's presence in the mortal plane as well as in the spiritual plane. And it didn't take them long to suspect you, since the High One was known to target Blacks in particular. And you're the only Black, at present, with Necromantic abilities. Furthermore, since they also felt that your father's soul was back in the mortal plane, they quickly deduced that you were the one who killed the High One in order to free your father's soul. But that's not all. You are the Dark Lord's spouse, which they knew already. Thus, in retribution to what you have done, they severed their allegiance with the Dark Lord - and attacked him."

"What?" choked out Orion, staring at him with wide eyes.

"What you heard, Black," said Loki tonelessly. "The Dementors are no longer the Dark Lord's allies, and they attacked him."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, tell me more!" snapped Orion, highly alarmed and troubled. "What happened? Voldemort is fine, isn't he? He used the Patronus Charm, right? And-"

"Yes, he did," interrupted Loki impassively. "Though, it's surprising, given that the Dark Lord often used our services to deal with Dementors, since he couldn't produce a Patronus Charm powerful enough and, obviously, since he couldn't communicate with the creatures in order to negotiate. But now it seems that the Dark Lord is able of casting a powerful Patronus. As far as we know, no harm came to him, but that is to be expected since Dementors have never hungered for the Dark Lord's fragmented soul."

Orion intently gazed at him, and finally muttered, "So the Guild knows about that too."

"We've always known," said Loki detachedly. "But we've never cared about what the Dark Lord decided to do with his soul." He shrugged indifferently. "Every being should be wise enough to care about their precious souls, and if someone doesn't, it's their problem. The Guild doesn't exist to watch over the souls in the mortal plane."

"Of course," said Orion dryly, before he uneasily carded his fingers through his hair. "Alright. Is there anything more you're supposed to tell me?"

"Nothing," replied Loki tonelessly. "Please contact us when you're ready to undergo the training. Now, I'll take my leave."

Orion hesitantly paused, before he nodded and snapped his fingers. "Blipsy!"

The house-elf instantly appeared, and he said quietly, "Please take my guest outside the Manor, so that he can apparate."

Loki shot him a brief, strange glance, which Orion couldn't quite decipher, before he grasped the house-elf's shoulder and disappeared with a 'pop'.

Finally, Orion peeled his gaze away from the spot the Necromancer had vacated, and he heavily sighed while tiredly rubbing his forehead. And knowing that it had to be done, he swiftly took out, from underneath his robes, the necklace with the pendant and the ring. He immediately whipped out his wand, folded his fingers around the Black Heir ring, and quickly tapped it with his wand's tip.

The portkey was instantly activated, and he disappeared from his bedroom pulled in a swirling tightening of space and mesh of colors.

With his Occlumency barriers fully raised, Orion landed where he had not expected: in Voldemort's bedroom, instead of the wizard's study or the summoning chamber. When his gaze found the wizard in the dimly lit and elegant bedroom, he understood why. Voldemort laid under the bed covers, his handsome face pale and slightly gaunt, while seeming to be asleep.

But, suddenly, crimson eyes opened and narrowed at him, and Orion could see the fury in them.

"So you finally deigned to answer my summon," said Voldemort in a silky, pleasant voice, which didn't fool Orion for a second - even his invisible scar had begun to twitch painfully.

Without pausing, Orion approached the bed, while the wizard propped himself into a seating position against the headboard with the use of some pillows, and he said quietly, "Are you okay, Tom?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" said Voldemort in calm voice, arching an eyebrow with mildness. "You see me here, resting in my bed-"

"I know what happened," interrupted Orion, feeling the tension and purposely disregarding it, as he nonchalantly sat down on the bed next to the wizard.

"Do you, my little serpent?" said Voldemort placidly. "And how is that, if I may ask, since I haven't told you?"

"Don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you, Tom," interjected Orion, eyeing him with caution. "You must have piece it all together – the reason why the Dementors attacked you."

But Voldemort didn't say a word, remaining silently piercing him with his crimson gaze, like a lazy snake which could, however, strike at any given time, while Orion felt the pain in his scar spiking.

He rubbed his forehead, deeply sighed, and said at last, "I didn't know that the Dementors would take it on you, Tom. If I had, I would have told you before doing it." He paused, yet his spouse said nothing, so he continued, "Fine, I'll say it if that's what you're waiting for." He raised his chin, and said calmly, "I killed their leader and resurrected my father."

"Yet," hissed Voldemort, his crimson eyes now narrowing again with blazing fury, "you promised that you wouldn't attempt it before telling me, and before we planned it together. Yet, you promised to have no plans to become a full-fledged Necromancer. Yet, you-"

"Yet, nothing," interrupted Orion in a sharp hiss. "Yes, I promised to tell you before doing it, but I knew you would only try to dissuade me. But see – you were wrong! Nothing happened to me and I succeeded! And I have said nothing about becoming a full-fledged Necromancer-"

Abruptly, Voldemort swiftly captured Orion's chin in a painfully tight grip, and demanded in a deadly tone of voice, "So you don't intend to become a Necromancer?"

"No," said Orion smoothly, evenly staring back at him.

"Don't lie to me," hissed Voldemort enraged, sinking his fingers into Orion's cheek as his grip tightened even further. "The Guild must have helped you - it's evident. And I've dealt with them before. They don't give without demanding anything in return!"

Orion gritted his teeth, feeling the pain in his scar increase with a stabbing force, and ripped Voldemort's clutching fingers from his chin. "I didn't come here to discuss the Guild or my dealings with them! I came to see how you are-"

"I don't care what your purpose was when you decided to finally answer my summon," hissed Voldemort irately, his crimson eyes darkly sparkling with fury. "You lied to me, repeatedly. You constantly talk about, and demand, trust but you stamped over the one I had in you."

Then, he swiftly flung the bed covers from him and left the bed, flicking his wrist and wandlessly accioing a rich, black robe which came shooting from the wizard's large, ornate armoire. Voldemort was dressed in an instant, covering the body on which Orion's gaze had automatically lingered with unconscious desire.

"I don't care what deal you've made with the Guild," hissed Voldemort in a dangerously quiet voice, as he stalked towards Orion. "You are not becoming a full-fledged Necromancer. And I expect you to tell them this, immediately."

Orion jumped to his feet, and said angrily, "I won't. And I can't, either. I signed a magical contract with them-"

"Then I'll break it!" hissed Voldemort, swiftly reaching him and towering over his form.

"I don't want you to," snapped Orion heatedly, his jaw clenching. "It's my choice to become a full-fledged Necromancer and it has nothing to do with you, Tom!"

Instantly, Voldemort painfully grasped Orion's face, and spat furiously, "You are my spouse – anything you do has to do with me! And I won't allow you to become one of those inhuman and detached beings-"

Orion let out a crisp, mirthless chuckle, and without letting show his bitterness, he bit out, "Detached? Isn't that exactly how you prefer I was? Colder, more ruthless, unemotional-"

"What are you talking about?" hissed Voldemort sharply, narrowing his crimson eyes at him. "I never said that-"

"But you think it," interrupted Orion stone-faced. Suddenly, he widely smirked, and added nonchalantly, "But don't believe that I want to become a Necromancer because of you or how you wish I could be. I'm doing it for myself!"

"For what purpose?" demanded Voldemort, before he tightened his grasp on Orion, and hissed irately, "It doesn't matter. You won't do it, and that's my final word-"

"For power!" spat Orion incensed, glaring at him. "You, of all people, should understand that."

"You don't need power," hissed Voldemort, looking more enraged each passing second. "You are my spouse and that should suffice you, my little serpent."

"Of course it doesn't suffice," said Orion through gritted teeth. "Don't consider me to be merely your spouse, Tom! I'm much more, and you know what my goals are-"

"And by being my spouse you can accomplish them," interrupted Voldemort sharply. "You want to lead the Dark with me, you want to help me plot victories, scheme battle plans and missions, and then help me reshape the wizarding world according to my - our views."

"Me helping you, that's all you say," snapped Orion crisply. "What if it was the other way around, Tom? What if I was in a position of power over yours, and it was you assisting me?"

Voldemort let out a sharp chuckle, which resounded throughout the bedroom. "What are you talking about, my little serpent? I am the DARK LORD – there's no position over mine!" Abruptly, he narrowed his crimson eyes at Orion, and hissed in a dangerous tone of voice, "Unless you're planning on becoming the Dark Lord, and you're stupidly assuming that you're powerful enough to kill me. Is that it, my little serpent?"

"Of course it's not," said Orion bristling. "I don't want to rid you of your position – I've told you that repeatedly. But other things could place me in a position over that of a Dark Lord's-"

"There's no such thing, and there's only room for one Dark Lord," interrupted Voldemort, his eyes narrowing to slits. "The Dark cannot have two separate leaders. And frankly, my little serpent, if that's what you're planning, forget the idea – you don't have what it takes. You think being powerful is the only decisive requirement in a Dark Lord, but it's not. And if this is why you want to become a full-fledged Necromancer, then you're a fool since turning into one will not help you become a Dark Lord."

"I don't have what it takes?" hissed Orion calmly, his expression pleasant. "Well, you're free to have your own opinions, Tom. I see that you're well, so I'll leave. I'll come back on other occasion. I must visit my father now."

Abruptly, in the bat of an eyelash, Voldemort flicked his wrist, and Orion suddenly felt something pressing all around him.

"You're not leaving," hissed Voldemort impassively, his crimson eyes darkly glowing. "And I wouldn't recommend that you try to apparate or use the portkey. I've tightened the wards and they'll hurt you greatly if you try." He smirked at him, and it was vicious and dangerous. "As for your father – I'll be glad to have him back in Death Eater ranks."

"Don't you even think about it! You won't touch my father and he won't be returning to you," snapped Orion angrily, surreptitiously taking hold of his wand. "And let me out – I have nothing more to discuss with you, at present."

"But we're not done with our discussion, my little serpent," hissed Voldemort conversationally. "And don't you need the memory I modified? You shouldn't make Dumbledore wait for it for too long. It would only make the old goat suspect you even more."

"Fine," grunted Orion. "Give it to me."

"I will in a minute," interjected Voldemort, caressing Orion's cheek with mock tenderness while he pierced him with his eyes. "Though, perhaps, you've given Dumbledore some reason to suddenly trust you. Maybe you've done something against me and in his benefit."

Orion frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you think," hissed Voldemort, his voice deadly cold as his caresses turned sharp while he raked his nails along Orion's cheek, slightly breaking the skin, "that I wouldn't notice when one of my Death Eaters suddenly disappears?"

"Nymphadora Tonks," said Orion loftily, refraining from wincing while the wizard kept 'caressing' him.

"Yessss. And only you could have the presumption to act without my permission," hissed Voldemort, his crimson eyes flashing with anger. "I had her just where I wanted her; posing as Barty, as you appear to already know, and being the means by which I filled the old coot with the lies I fed her. Where is she?"

"Safe, from you and Dumbledore," replied Orion nonchalantly, though he eyed him closely, ready to defend himself if needed.

"I want her back."

"You can have her," said Orion calmly, "if she doesn't turn to the Dark and I don't kill her first for it."

Voldemort arched an eyebrow. "Is that your plan for her, to kill her? No, you'll bring her to me, since I know she won't turn to our side and I can still use her for a while."

"Alright," said Orion indifferently. "I'll give her one or two more months. And then, if I see she won't support us, I'll give her to you. Satisfied?"

"Slightly. Lately, your actions have cost me much – the witch, my alliance with the Dementors-"

"You don't need them, Tom," said Orion vehemently. "They only served to Kiss people, and you made them stop when I asked it of you."

"Yesss, I did," hissed Voldemort, his tone of voice deadly cold and his crimson eyes containing such fury that it made Orion unwittingly take a step back in caution. "I've done many things for you, my little serpent. And I think that I've been too benevolent with you. It's my own fault, I admit, but it's clear to me now that I've granted you too much freedom - that I have yielded too much without demanding explanations or without making you concede as well. And I should have expected that you would manipulate me by taking more than I offered."

Orion shook his head, and said adamantly, "I don't know what you mean. I'm sorry that the Dementors attacked you, but you're alright. And I believe it's a good thing that the Dementors aren't supporting us any longer. Everyone despises them, and by using them we would have only garnered unnecessary hatred towards us and the Dark's methods. I'm not saying that we have to play fair in the war, but Dementors were ultimately useless, and dangerous if they decided to turn against us. And that could have happened; they are driven by instincts and their hunger, and in a battle field with so many wizards' souls, they could have attacked frenziedly, without making distinction between light and dark wizards-"

"Hush," hissed Voldemort quietly, as he wrapped his fingers around Orion's neck, yet it wasn't tight enough to feel uncomfortable, but the implicit threat was there. "I wasn't alluding to the alliance you have cost me, but to your constant lies and the secrets and plans you obviously keep from me. You've turned our union into a mockery of what it should be, and my patience with you has finally ended."

"That's not true," interjected Orion sharply. "You keep secrets from me as well, and I take our marital magical bond seriously-"

"You don't," hissed Voldemort, his crimson eyes flashing with deviousness and something else Orion couldn't decipher. "But I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself to me."

Orion narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you want?"

"Simple," replied Voldemort, smirking at him. "You wanted the freedom to have lovers, and we finally agreed that you could have others in bed if I participated. Therefore, let's indulge in the experience now."

Orion's eyebrows shot to his hairline, flabbergasted, perplexed, and then alarmed. "How is that going to prove anything to you? Us having sex with a third person has nothing to do with what we've been discussing!"

"It would show me," hissed Voldemort silkily, "that you're willing to yield on this matter – by following the solution I proposed to your sudden urge to have more sexual experiences."

Orion eyed him as if fearing that the wizard had lost his senses. But no, Voldemort appeared to be very serious about the matter. And he couldn't believe that the wizard wanted to have a bloody threesome, now of all times, when they had been having an important argument! Nevertheless, he rather deal with a lustful Voldemort than a furious one, and if it served to satisfy the wizard and temporarily make him forget about the reasons for his anger, he was up to it. Not to mention, that he was curious to give it a try.

"Alright," said Orion nonchalantly, quirking an eyebrow. "But I get to choose whom, as previously agreed."

"Then do."

Orion frowned at him, realizing that the wizard did actually want to go forth with it, but then he didn't question it anymore, and pondered about whom to choose. There was no way he could say 'Draco', though that was whom he wanted. Not that he would be willing to share him with Voldemort - Merlin knew what the wizard would do to Draco. So no, for this first time it had to be someone Voldemort wouldn't easily want to hurt and someone who could defend himself… and someone close by, for he wasn't going to apparate anywhere in search of their 'third party'. He inwardly grimaced. That meant a Death Eater, and none of them were of his taste… Though… Out of the youngest, he knew Rabastan the best, since that wizard and Rodolphus had taught him, a long time ago, dark curses during a whole summer month. And Rabastan was also quite handsome, even more than his older brother… And there was another reason that popped into his mind against his will: Rabastan hadn't been there when Regulus had been raped…

He cleared his mind from that thought, and rubbed his forehead, fleetingly wondering if he wasn't making a huge mistake. All of this was out of the blue, and Voldemort was being too darned impassive about the whole matter. But Orion gazed at the wizard, and Voldemort was impatiently staring at him, looking more angrily dissatisfied by the second. And that sealed the deal. After all, he had vouched on being cold to Voldemort, never remotely tender and never showing any frisson of emotional love. And this was a way to do it - if he enjoyed every second of it and Voldemort realized it.

Finally, Orion cleared his throat, and said nonchalantly, "Rabastan."

Voldemort eyed him strangely, before he smirked. "That was who I chose."

"Yes," hissed Orion impassively. "It seems you were right. So summon him."

After a brief stretch of silence, Voldemort side-glanced at him while approaching the closet. "You should start undressing. He'll be here any minute."

Right, Voldemort had devised a way to summon his Death Eater without the need of using the Dark Mark of one of them… Merlin, this was really going to happen… Orion inwardly shook his head, angrily. He was behaving like an immature child. Sex was sex and he was going to enjoy it – he had no doubt about that.

"This better serve to prove whatever it is you want me to prove," muttered Orion as he approached the bed, still not doing anything to divest himself of his clothes.

"I told you what you would be proving," hissed Voldemort sharply, without turning around to face him. Then, he snidely sneered, "If you don't feel ready, my little serpent, I won't force you-"

"I'm ready," snapped Orion crisply, instantly hating that sneering tone of voice – Voldemort didn't use it on him frequently.

Actually, almost never… He frowned while gazing at Voldemort's back, who had begun to disrobe. Something wasn't right…

Suddenly, there was a polite knock on the door, and his gaze instantly fixed on it. Voldemort lazily flicked his wrist, the door swiftly opened, and Rabastan immediately bowed his head without entering the bedroom.

"My Lord," said the wizard in his low, rumbling voice. "How may I serve you?"

"Come in, Rabastan," said Voldemort pleasantly.

Rabastan raised his head, and his chestnut eyes flickered from Voldemort to Orion and back, with cautiousness and a hint of confusion. Meanwhile, Orion hadn't peeled his gaze from the wizard, and was now seated on the bed purposely appearing relaxed and unfazed. Though, when he had sat on the bed, his first reaction was to pull his legs against his chest, wrapped by his arms. Of course, that wouldn't do, so he had thought on sprawling himself above the bed covers – bad choice as well, since he didn't want to appear intentionally seductive or lewd. So he had finally simply sat on the bloody bed, as nonchalantly as he could.

Before he knew it, Voldemort was standing besides the bed, right next to him, wearing only a pair of black trousers.

"My spouse is breathtakingly beautiful, isn't he?" said Voldemort silkily, while he carded his elegant fingers through Orion's hair, his crimson gaze fixed on Rabastan.

Rabastan's eyes slightly widened with alarm. "Er..."

And Orion fleetingly felt for the wizard, since the younger Lestrange surely thought that no answer was safe.

"Isn't he, Rabastan?" said Voldemort a bit more forcefully, narrowing his eyes at the wizard.

"Yes, My Lord," replied Rabastan hesitantly.

Voldemort chuckled, not halting his caresses on Orion's hair. "There's nothing to fear, my friend. I only want you to reply with honesty." He gently took hold of Orion's chin, to direct Orion's face towards the wizard. "Look at him, and answer me again, now with meaning."

Rabastan's chestnut eyes flickered to gaze at Orion's face, and he said more firmly, "Yes, he's beautiful, My Lord."

"You don't sound too sure," said Voldelmort calmly, still gently forcing Orion to directly expose his face to the other wizard.

Again, Rabastan's gaze focused on him, but Orion could perceive the unease and cautious trepidation of the wizard, and he snapped his face away from Voldemort's clutch, and hissed sharply, "Stop it. He cannot answer that without fearing that you'll get mad. You're only making him nervous. Like this, we won't get anywhere."

"Ah, so you've suddenly become an expert in these matters," hissed Voldemort pleasantly. "Very well. Tell him what we want – seduce him."

Orion froze, his gaze fixed with Voldemort's crimson one, before he clenched his jaw and swiftly stood up. He forced himself to relax further with every step he took towards Rabastan. He had to do this right, without showing hesitation or discomfort. And darn it – Rabastan was handsome so he didn't know what his problem was! Right, that was exactly what he had to do to enjoy this like he wanted: to focus on, and exploit, Rabastan's good-looks, so that he would feel lust and arousal.

Once he stood in front of the wizard, and inspected him closely, he realized that it wouldn't be hard at all. In his early thirties, the younger Lestrange was strongly built and very fit, with broad shoulders, handsome manly features, thick hair which fell pass the shoulders in glossy dark brown waves, tied with a leather thong at the back, and wearing a belt –visible due to the opened outer robes- holding a pair of daggers. That, and the stealthy aura of dangerousness, fierceness and magical power that oozed from the wizard, captured Orion's attention and sexual interest.

He glanced up, meeting Rabastan's wondering gaze, and said quietly, "We want to… Well, the thing is that I want to bed you, along with the Dark Lord…" He lifted his chin, and asked nonchalantly, "Are you up to it?"

Rabastan frowned at him, his gaze briefly flickering to Voldemort, before he whispered inaudibly, "I would have no problems with bedding you, Orion. You are indeed very beautiful and desirable. But are you sure that you want to do this?"

"Yes," replied Orion resolutely. "But you don't have to do it if you're uncomfortable with it."

"I'm not," interjected Rabastan, intently piercing him with his chestnut eyes. "Are you?"

Orion eyed him closely, but didn't hesitate at all. "No."

And after a brief pause, Rabastan smirked at him in a friendly manner, and said in his deep, low voice, "Then let's do it."