Secrets Learned
Dumbledore's Office
"You called for me, headmaster Dumbledore?" Harry coldly asked, not bothering to knock. How he had opened the door without the use of a password left Dumbledore slightly befuddled
"Yes I did. Please, take a seat." Dumbledore motioned to the seat in front of his table. Harry coldly nodded and stiffly took a seat. After a few seconds of silence, Dumbledore spoke up
"I know who you really are." Dumbledore calmly said. In an instant Harry's mind was spinning, but years of training left his face cold and unfazed
"I don't know what you mean, headmaster." Harry coldly said. "If you called me here to give false accusations I suggest you let me go before I do some very, very undesirable things"
"I know very well what your capable of, and I don't plan on crossing you. I just want the whole story, the whole truth. Not the lies Count Lodes told you to tell. Tell me, what happened five years ago? Tell me everything!" Dumbledore cried, standing up and shaking the table in front of him. Harry, however, remained stoic.
"Headmaster, I fear that the recent turn of events has done something unpleasant to your mind, causing you to make such horrible assumptions. I am who I've always told you I was. I am Argon, protégée of Count Lodes." Harry said. Inside, his heart was pounding madly but he did not show it.
"You weren't always. I know who you really are, and I know you haven't forgotten who you are either." Dumbledore said
"Headmaster, with all due respect, a man like you must know the…umm…criteria to be one of Lodes' protégées. History tells of a great count rescuing six horribly abused children who have extraordinary capabilities. I do not deny that I came from such a family, but now I am a changed man. I have found a real family, one that my biological one could not give me." Harry said, his patience slowly wearing out. It was taking all of his willpower not to jinx the old man sitting in front of him.
"That's how I found out who you really are, Harry James Potter."
The Realms
"…That's impossible. Nagini is a physical, animal representation of Voldemort…some might say that he is Voldemort himself. Do you mean to tell me you are the brother of the Wizarding world's most hated?" Ashley furiously asked. How dare this…this snake come into the land of realms, the land where she had found peace, where she had found…love.
"Calm down Miss Potter. I solemnly swear I will tell you the whole story of why I am here. Do not fret, I wish to do some good to the world." Nagini's brother said. Ashley's face scrunched up
"Wait…I can understand you…Am I…am I…parselmouth?" Ashley asked. This was absurd. Being parselmouth represented darkness, and she was supposed to be the savior of light
"In a way, you are. You see, there are two kinds of parselmouths. The ones who can speak and understand snake language, and you're kind, the ones who can speak and understand snake language only when the snake wants you to. Your brother Harry is one of the first kind." The snake said
"Oh." Was all Ashley could say. "What should I call you?"
"From the centaurs of the clear west to the mermaids on the distant east, I am known as… Abuur." The snake said
"You…you're…" Ashley stuttered
"Yes. I have gained quite a reputation amongst magical creatures. All that will be revealed in due time. For now, would you like to know my purpose here?" Abuur asked
"Yes please." Ashley said. She was through hearing lies, never being told the complete truth. Perhaps Abuur could be the one to tell her why…why all of this was happening.
"Sit down. This might take a while." Abuur said, positioning himself atop the chair.
Dumbledore's office
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, his voice full of venom
"Yes. I know who you are." Dumbledore calmly said. "I said that a while ago, didn't I?
"I have told you before headmaster, just because I look like what the lost Potter boy would at this age, it is not evidence enough to convince everyone." Harry coldly said
"Oh, I didn't base it on that alone. I did some research. I knew Lodes only accepted horribly abused kids. Even though you have not known me when you were still living at Potter manor, I have been observing you ever since Voldemort's attack. I know how Lily and James have treated you." Dumbledore said
"Then why didn't you do anything? Why would you let a poor child suffer from the hands of his parents?" Harry coldly said. It was too late anyway, Harry thought. Dumbledore knew, there was no denying that.
"Lodes has been my subject of interest ever since he took my brother, Aberforth. Aberforth was stupid enough to tell me he was going away to a Count Lodes. Mind you I was a tad bit jealous of my brother, and since then I have vowed to know the Count's secrets, and it seems I have found out one of his more important ones." Dumbledore smugly said
"And what does that have to do with leaving a ten year old to suffer?" Harry asked
"You see Harry right after Voldemort attacked, I knew instantly he attacked you first, before Ashley. I believe it was because he wanted you out of the way first before he would kill the savior of light. But then that scar he gave you, I sensed some power in it. As the years went by I observed you become more powerful, without the knowledge of your parents. At that moment I knew Lodes was going to try and get you. When news came that you had disappeared, I knew I was correct." Dumbledore said. Harry's eyes narrowed, he was thinking of the things Dumbledore could accomplish with this information.
"What do you want headmaster?" Harry coldly asked. Dumbledore smiled. The boy was very smart, he thought.
"Why ever would you think I want something from you?" Dumbledore asked. This enraged Harry even more
"Tell me what you want and I will do it. I am not going to beg on my knees for you not to tell my parents. As far as I'm concerned, I don't care if you leak it out to everyone. I have five of the most powerful teenagers in the world and three of the Wizarding world's most legendary teachers behind my back. However if the task you require of me goes beyond my morality, then be certain I will not do it." Harry coldly said. It amazed him how he was keeping himself really calm
"If you don't care that it leaks out, why would you do whatever task I ask of you? Dumbledore asked, feeling confused
"Because headmaster, I like to stay out of the spotlight. I don't want people gossiping about me and talking about me. I don't want to draw any attention to myself in any matter, unlike my favored sister" Harry spat. Dumbledore merely nodded his head
"All right Harry, I will go by your terms. If you do this task I will keep quiet." Dumbledore said
"And if not?" Harry asked, folding his arms in front of his chest
"You'll see. For now, I will tell you what I want you to do. Have you ever heard of a cunning creature, a snake, named Abuur?" Dumbledore asked. Harry's eyes widened, images began spilling into his head.
"I see you have heard of him." Dumbledore smugly said
"I've had…encounters with him on my travels" Harry softly said. Dumbledore nodded, and asked if Harry knew who Abuur really was.
"Do you know who the snake Abuur's brother is? And how that happened?" Dumbledore asked
"Of course I do. Do not think of me as stupid, the snake told me himself. He is Nagini's brother…but Nagini's a female snake…'brother' is just a term in parselmouth which means 'created in the same nature in time'" Harry said, remembering clearly the day he had encountered Abuur.
Land of Realms
"I believe it all started with the death of one Bertha Jorkins. That was when Voldemort was assuring his immortality by making Horcruxes. You might know now that Nagini is his most prized Horcrux, let me tell you, Ashley, it was supposed to be me" Abuur started
"Wait. Bertha Jorkins…Uhmm…" Ashley was confused. She hadn't really read much on the Dark Lord's history.
"Yes, Bertha Jorkins. You see, when Voldemort's killing curse, which was supposed to be directed to you or your brother, rebounded, he was in a non-corporeal state…he was in a state in which he was half monster and half man. So he needed to regain his power, and the only method that he saw fit was to make me a horcrux. Now, Nagini and I were mates, we followed Voldemort around for years believing he could bring us more power. The night he killed Bertha Jorkins I already knew his plans, and frankly I didn't see myself serving and following him to the end of days…so I hatched a plan." Abuur explained as Ashley eagerly listened to his every word.
"Remember Ashley that Voldemort wasn't thinking clearly in his state, and when he milked my venom so he could regain power I found a way to switch my venom and Nagini's. You see if he had taken in my venom, I would have formed a special bond with him, the kind of bond he and Nagini currently have." Abuur continued
"Why would Voldemort choose you amongst all of the world's snakes?" Ashley asked
"Salazar Slytherin had a hobby of breeding snakes to create different breeds. One night he decided to experiment and it resulted into my breed of snakes. We have different venom than other snakes, our venom, like Unicorn blood and Phoenix tears, if freely given, have magnificent powers. Nagini and I are the last of this kind and with her being a horcrux, I'm afraid our kind is doomed to extinction." Abuur explained
Dumbledore's Office
"Do I make the mission clear, Argon?" Dumbledore asked, tapping his hand on his desk
"Crystal, sir." Harry smirked. The mission would prove to be challenging, but he lived for challenges
"Good. You are dismissed." Dumbledore said, flashing those twinkling eyes of his.
Harry nodded and started to walk towards the door. Looking at a piece of parchment at a nearby table, he stopped and looked closely. It was a list of incoming first years for the next year
"Sir, why didn't I ever get a Hogwarts letter?" Harry asked, picking up the paper.
"I told you Harry, I wanted to find out if Lodes was interested in you, even if it meant risking a potential student. So I did a little backdoor work and had your name erased" Dumbledore calmly said. Harry furiously turned to him
Flashback
"It's been two weeks after your birthday boy and no Hogwarts letter! I can't believe I gave birth to a squib! Disgusting!" Lily cried, slapping Harry across the cheek.
"It will come, mum! Maybe they had a delay or something! Please!" Harry begged. James Potter entered the room, a letter in hand
"I just came from Hogwarts, Lily and they have no record whatsoever of this…this filth ever having magical abilities!" James angrily said, crumpling the paper. Lily burst into tears
"That's impossible!" Harry cried, he knew he had magic, he knew he wasn't a squib
"Don't talk back to me you squib. You've upset your mother and disgraced our family name enough!" James said. He conjured up a paddle and started beating the boy.
"I have magic! I have magic!" Harry kept repeating in his mind as he began to lose consciousness. The last thing he was able to see before blacking out was Ashley, proudly holding up an envelope with the Hogwarts seal.
End Flashback
"Go. To. Hell!" Harry angrily shouted. He crumpled the list and burned it with his bare hands
"I hope that wasn't your only copy." Harry smirked and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
That was a quick update…considering my updating history. College is pretty good because I have at least one hour in between subjects so I had loads of time to come up with this chapter. This chapter pretty much explains many things so I hope you're still following this story
Next chapter, we will find out who Gerard Forestbolt, the man who wrote the book about Count Lodes (Which Harry and Neil found on Harry's old bedroom during the party), really is. Hint – He is a real HP character.
How do you like everything so far? Any suggestions on what should happen?
To those who have been complaining on me getting a beta – I am NOT going to get a beta. I want this story to be completely mine, done and submitted by me alone. No matter how bad it may be, I assure you the text that will appear here will be completely made by me with no help from others. I am going to do this independently and I believe this will be a learning experience on the evolution of my skills as a writer.
REVIEW PLEASE!