Beta: none
Ner words in this chapter: 3865
"Talking"
'Thinking'
–Parseltongue–
/Hand-Sign-Language\
Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others
Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Chapter XXV
–Lords Meeting–
Wednesday, 23 July 1975
STM's POV
Severus heard as Marvolo cried. It had been the first time he'd seen the Wizard lose control. On a normal day, Severus would have contacted his great-grandparents for help, but he couldn't anymore. They were dead, both of them.
"Is Professor Slytherin crying?" Severus turned to see James by his side, listening on the door as well.
Severus nodded.
"Dad closed himself inside and Papa can't reach him."
James lowered his head and Severus could see his father's face of regret on his school enemy. It was so strange to know that this teenage was his grandfather. He was younger than Severus!
A hiccup called the two and they found Kieran crying. Severus run towards the six-year-old boy, hugging him to himself.
"James." The other looked with a raised eyebrow. "Firecall the Malfoys. Kieran can't stay here." James nodded and run away to the nearest fireplace. They didn't support each other… but for Kieran they could behave and work together for now. –It's okay, baby brother.– Severus whispered, only for Marvolo's snake (that Severus had gifted him back in first-year) to appear from under the boy's shirt. –Hi, Nagini.–
–I've been telling your nest-mate for hours that it's okay… but does he listen? No… he got the stubbornness form his Aiden's side of family.– the snake hissed.
Severus smiled sadly, so this wasn't a just now moment. To make it worse, Kieran was really tight to Father because of his abuse. To see him like this… it wasn't the first time for Severus who had accepted that his father would die, but the cure was found and Father was back. It hurt to see him like this… but nothing compared to see him like a dead body in a bed. Severus looked up when he heard steps to see his godfather and Lucius following James. Immediately, Ron leaned down and picked Kieran to his arms.
"Let's go!" Lucius said.
Severus took a peek at his parents room's door, before following his godfather and honorary godfather.
–PW–
LV's POV
Voldemort looked up at hearing Slippery appear.
"Master, by came Heir Lucius and Mr Ronald did and children took… Mr Ronald they'll until train be staying say. That Master Nice all the attention alone needs."
Voldemort nodded and the house elf disappeared. So, unless he counted the Werewolves in the backyard, he was all alone with his unresponsive lover? The next couple of days would turn interesting…
–PW–
RXL-M's POV
"Will he be alright?" Ron looked at Lucius confused, as the two walked from Severus' room as Kieran had refused to be away from his brother. "Aiden."
Ron nodded.
"He will awake one day, scream at us for good reason and then will do what he always does. Attempt to take us from harm's way and do everything by himself."
"This had happened before?"
"Not exactly to this extent… but from what Aiden told me the only thing that woke him up was an attack of Dementors… in Privet Drive."
Lucius frowned, thoughtful.
"How are you dealing with it?"
"Honestly?" Lucius nodded. "Like running towards my twins and hold them for hours. Bloody hell, I understand completely why George doesn't stop looking at Fred as if he just might disappear suddenly… I feel the same. But I need to behave. By Merlin's beard, Charlus had just died and all I could think was…" Ron's face went deep red and a smirk appeared on Lucius' corner of lips. "Take that smug smirk of your face. It's unbecoming of a Malfoy."
"Didn't saw you complaining about this Malfoy last couple nights and early mornings." If possible, Ron went even redder. "Actually, you sounded more like you were begging for more."
"Shut up!" Ron groaned, because, hell, the smug bastard was right.
Lucius laughed, pulled Ron against a wall and kissed him. As much as Ron tried not to, Lucius always knew how to make him kiss back. That had been how they married, after all. Lucius leaned back to look at his job smugly. Ron groaned, the other loved way too much to leave him breathless and with a hard-on.
"Let's start a family."
"Wha…?"
"You said you wanted a big family. I see the way you look at Kieran and the flower twins."
"Bu… but Draco was an only child and it's still a while to…"
"Future is changing." Lucius argued.
If possible, Ron's eyes grew larger at the implications.
"But don't we need to do more than just shared masturbation to…" Ron was sure his head was a bloody tomato.
Lucius smirked and grabbed Ron, pulling him to their bedroom.
"Trust me, this is going to be quite pleasurable." The Wizard huskily said on Ron's ear.
–PW–
Monday, 28 July 1975
LV's POV
Voldemort looked up from the newspaper he was reading to see Silvine enter his living room, bow her head at Voldemort, before approaching the other male, raise her hand without thinking twice and slap him. The Dark Lord was glad the children weren't home, as Aiden even had turned his head with the strength of the slap.
"Hey, what in hell…?"
Voldemort controlled his gasp, the newspaper falling to his lap.
"So, you are alive." Silvine hissed, before pointing at Voldemort. "Young Potter said he and Young Severus caught Him crying because you entered into yourself… I told them that all that you needed was a good waking up call… I was right!"
Voldemort stood as Aiden massaged his cheek.
"Well… it hurts, Sissy…"
"Not as much as a Cruciatus Curse if you close yourself again!" he promised, before pulling his fiancé to his arms.
Although he was thankful of Miss Nott's smart reaction… he couldn't help but be jealous that it had been her who managed to wake his Aiden.
"I have a feeling I lost an important part of my life all over again…"
"You did." Voldemort agreed, looking up only to find that the Witch had already left, knowing better. "Don't ever do it again."
"I don't know what I did… but I'm sorry, Tom."
Voldemort nodded, holding Aiden to himself.
–PW–
Wednesday, 30 July 1975
APWBD's POV
Albus looked at the new possibilities of DADA Professor. He wondered if Tom would leave the school as well, principally now that Aiden had closed himself at the death of both his uncles… it couldn't had come in better time.
"Professor."
Albus looked up from the parchments he was going to show the Lords, to see Aiden himself with Tom and his children.
"Aiden, I heard you weren't feeling well." He commented, confused.
Albus saw Auror Malfoy put a protective hand on the children. Aiden tilted his head to the side.
"Physically? Never better. Mentally? Who doesn't cry when their family dies?" Aiden argued before turning towards the teenagers and rearranging the two boys' clothes. "Do remember to behave. This is to both of you, James and Severus!" Albus saw surprised as the two nodded. "Ron, you're allowed to punish the both of them if a single prank happens."
Auror Malfoy nodded as the two boys stood straighter, tensing.
"What if it were the Uncles?" Severus asked.
"The Twins prank the Malfoys, they don't prank you two. It's easy to know when it's you guys pranking." Auror Malfoy argued. "Headmaster." The ginger Malfoy said, bowing his head before picking Young Kieran and walking away with the two teenagers.
Aiden smiled at Albus.
"Shall we enter?"
Albus saved the parchments and smiled.
"But of course."
Albus sat on his seat and watched as the Wizengamot meeting started. Aiden stayed out of the debate for most the most part, but then again, he didn't expect anything else.
"And now about this Grey Lady that appeared. That joined the Dark Lord's rankings."
Albus immediately looked at Tom, as Tom stayed unreadable but his eyes brightened at an inside joke. He then looked at Aiden, Albus had tried to prove it was Aiden, but Aiden's inner animal was officially a stag not a cougar.
"Professor Mather." Albus looked at the Head Auror Scrimgeour. "You know more about the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters than any Auror since you warned us about them years ago. It was even you who gave them a name. What do you know about this Grey Lady?"
–PW–
AMM's POV
Harry raised an eyebrow. He was so going to kill Sissy.
"Why do you think it's a woman?"
"Her name, the name her men call her." Kingsley answered.
Harry kicked Tom under the table as the smug bastard eyes were shining in amusement at the misconception of Harry's Grey Lord name.
"D.A. and the Grey Lord may be helping Voldemort and his men… but they are still Grey. They fight for both Light and Dark ideals. They don't fight for any side. They fight for both."
"They are still helping You Know Who." Harry turned towards the Lord that spoke.
So, people already started with that shit?
"You do know that fear of a name only increases the fear of the thing itself?"
"You are one to talk, you fought him and survived."
Harry's eyes narrowed.
"Not without aftereffects." He hissed. "You think me and my colonists' family have no aftereffects of the war we came from? I still have nightmares every night for each and every death I saw, for every time I was under the Cruciatus Curse, for each time had to face the 'enemy'." Harry sneered as everyone tensed at his cold tone. "I'm no more special than any of you. I just have bad luck."
Tom grabbed Harry's hand, Harry stopped and looked at him. Harry huffed and crossed his arms.
"You say the Grey Lady is a male and he is one neutral zone… then why would he join You Know Who?"
Harry tilted his head to the side.
"You know the scene where was a mass massacre a few years ago?" Everyone shivered, but the Aurors nodded. "Why don't you ask Dumbledore what the Order of Phoenix was doing by attacking a Grey Wizard? If Voldemort hadn't showed up and saved the Grey Wizard he would be captures by the Order Members and most likely in one of those Ministry Facilities that 'don't exist' but where I found my own son when I worked as an Order Member."
"How do you know so much about both sides?"
Harry glanced at the Lord again.
"First, because I was a member Order of Phoenix until I got my second son, until I decided to be Grey, until I saw that this Ministry was even worse than what I though the Dark Side to be."
"Would you join You Know Who?" Kingsley asked. "Or the Grey La… Lord?"
Harry shook his head.
"You didn't let me finish. And never. I would never work for the Grey Lord." 'since I am him' Harry added mentally. "And I will never work for Voldemort."
"And why not?" Dumbledore asked.
"As I was trying to say earlier but was interrupted by Auror Shacklebolt: He killed my parents." Harry answered truthfully, making every Lord in the room gasp. "You asked how I know so much about Lord Voldemort… I didn't meet him in UK."
–PW–
LV's POV
Voldemort watched as the Family Lords and Ladies tensed at the news. He saw as comprehension appeared on Dumbledore's eyes. It was a good thing Aiden didn't remember the two being one and the same, it helped to pass on the message. It helped to make people join Aiden. A person who had every reason to hate the Dark, but still joined them against the Ministry. Voldemort glanced at Abraxas who was looking back with a raised eyebrow. Voldemort nodded his head, barely moving it. by next meeting there was proof of Voldemort on the colonies, just like tutor Tom Riddle and his student Aiden… it helped that Charlus had already started Aiden's back story. But Dumbledore might make questions…
"Professor Riddle?" Voldemort looked at the Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour. "Do you consider this Grey Lord and his army as non-dangerous as your fiancé does?"
Voldemort smiled.
"But of course not. I've heard the relates, I even saw some of the raids myself." He stated. It helped that Voldemort had sent Aiden on a raid with his Grey Army when he was as Tom Riddle with their children. "He doesn't attack randomly. He attacks define members that 'deserve' it because of the way they treat Muggleborns, Halfbloods and Halfbreed…" Voldemort saw as some Lords nodded, conceding his point. "But Maid is far from being considered weak." Aiden kicked him under the table. It still amused Voldemort how the twins had taken Silvine's nickname of Aiden and morphed the rest of Aiden's letters until an anagram was created and then turned it into the Grey Lord's name like Voldemort had anagrammed his own. "Everyone must remember how he handled himself alone against a team of Order Members and Aurors without the need of back up… Professor Dumbledore, you were there, weren't you?" Voldemort asked, turning towards Professor Dumbledore.
He didn't like to think of his Pet within of Dumbledore, but his Pet had duelled with an army all on his own… when his magical core wasn't ready for such an extra attack.
"The wolf Beta." Dumbledore agreed, remembering all of the lords of who Voldemort was talking about.
–PW–
APWBD's POV
Albus groaned as Tom left with Aiden.
"Do you still believe the Professor is the Grey Lord?" Kingsley asked by his side.
Albus looked at the Auror and then to the departing Professors. Tom he was certain, but Aiden? Not so much anymore. But the Wizard was right, Albus had forced his wand on the matter if the man really was the Grey Lord.
"Why would he work alongside the man who killed his parents after fighting him in his country?" Albus retorted. "But you heard Tom. Mars is a Wizard of set ideals. It will be easy to capture him.
"Do you want to create a trap for the Grey Lord?" Kingsley asked suddenly surprised. "How?"
"A Ministry facility powerful enough that requires him to go instead of his men… I want Him there."
"He won't escape if that happens." Kingsley argued, going quite pallid… or as pallid as a black skinned man could go.
"If he does, he'll be given a Kiss, so there won't be much change." Albus argued.
Kingsley nodded, a little unsure.
"How would we…?"
"There's one journalist who is always on top of the news that the Grey do." Albus answered, before leaving.
If Tom happened to accompany Maid Mars, it would just be a bonus.
–PW–
AMM's POV
"Those were Professors proposals to replace me, wasn't it?" Harry mumbled, barely a sound as they walked in the Ministry towards the exits.
"Yes, Dumbledore most likely hoped to have the Lords replace you since he can't and you were… ill."
Harry nodded.
"Should I have stayed quiet?"
"No. They can't see the Drey as Dark. They are different… I sure hope we won't find Malfoy Manor blown to pieces. Severus and James really need to learn to coexist." Tom said and all blood left Lord Abraxas' face who was walking by their side.
"The stubbornness is inherited, I heard." Harry argued amused.
Tom hummed.
"Yes… if the facial features weren't exactly like Potter I would say that the stubbornness really make you two cousins."
Harry laughed.
"Isn't that what you like in me?"
"That and your set of morals." Tom agreed. "Yet they stop being endearing on a couple of teenagers."
Harry snorted.
"One of those teens is your son, do remember… and I'm not the only one stubborn. Severus can't have inherited it all from me."
Tom smirked.
"I'm certain he inherited his twisted morals from me."
"Nope… that already came with the package." Harry argued playfully. "He inherited from you only the good looks and the Parseltongue."
"Good looks, hmmm?"
Harry nodded amused, only for then the two to hear a cough when Tom was about to pull Harry for a kiss. The two turned to see an amused Rita Skeeter.
"Don't stop at my account, Boys. My camera is at the ready." She argued, pointing at her cameraman.
Tom sneered and released Harry, nodding thankfully at Lord Abraxas.
–I'll never understand your friendship with this Witch. No one has a hand on her… except you.–
–One day you might…– Harry argued. "What can I do for you, Rita?"
"An interview of course. The readers deserve to know about the new Potter Lord, what happened to the later Lord and Lady and how you were involved in it." she said pointedly.
Harry narrowed his eyes. So, people thought he had killed his grandparents? Harry turned towards Tom.
"Can you fetch the children at the Malfoys?" Tom nodded. "See you at home then." Harry leaned on his tiptoes and kissed Tom, only for the camera to set off. He glared at Rita at once, who grinned back. Harry grabbed the journalist and walked towards the apparating fireplaces of Ministry of Magic. "Don't you already have like a million of pictures of us kissing?"
"There are never enough pictures of our favourite bachelors kissing." She argued.
"Tom hates when you picture us like that."
"Don't be such a spoiler, Aiden." Rita argued and the three apparated to Little Hangleton.
The three walked towards Riddle Manor where Slippery was already waiting.
"What happened?" Harry asked Rita with a raised eyebrow as soon as he sat on the couch.
Rita gave her photographer the 'go to the toilet' look and the man disappeared, Harry knew that Slippery would make sure he wouldn't listen in on them.
"Dumbledore is going to set a trap for Maid."
"What kind of trap?"
"A facility, like the ones we went before… but this one will be a fake… someone powerful will be there to kill you."
Harry looked at his hands in thought.
"Will they involve real people?"
"If Dumbledore wants you to go himself, I'm certain he would involve all the Creatures, Muggleborns, Halfbloods and Halfbreeds just to make sure you would go personally."
"Did they…?"
Harry looked up at hearing Rita scoff.
"As if Dumbledore ever brushes that beard of his! Of course they didn't notice me." Harry nodded and Rita's face mellowed. "They are going to pass the intel so it gets to my human ears… it is too much to ask for you not to do it, isn't it?"
Harry snorted at Rita's worried tone.
"You know me better than that. When you get the intel, you came to me on the meeting just like always. Until then I'll have the Dark Lord get ready in secret for it."
"But it's a…"
"He doesn't need to know that." Harry argued and Rita nodded, knowing better than to argue. "Avoid questions about how I entered into a comatose state with my aunt's death." Rita's eyes grew but she nodded. "But do ask how I reacted in the Diagon Alley… the slap I gave Tom will help people realize how I felt about it."
Rita smiled and picked her parchments, pointing it down.
"Don't worry, I know how to make it work. Can I make you cry?"
"Sad look at the reminder of them… but that's all… well, you can put an ashamed look at the mention of the Diagon Alley scene. You know what happened, I'm sure."
Rita nodded.
"I know… it wasn't a pretty scene. But your brother told me everything." Harry nodded. "Of course, Ron always makes things more about himself than they really are, but I got enough to do it, don't worry. No questions needed… I do want several pictures of you alone and with your family… and this includes Young James."
"Do tell me you didn't…"
"Young James will only be mentioned as the one who called you and as the Heir of the Family until you deem him old enough to take the family inheritance."
"Good."
–PW–
LV's POV
Voldemort entered Riddle Manor with the trio to find Aiden in the living room with Skeeter and the cameraman. Skeeter was putting Aiden in several positions to take pictures. His Pet seemed bored out of his life… a chuckle made Voldemort notice Fenrir by the side, watching the scene. Skeeter turned and her eyes brightened.
"Just who we were waiting for. I want one picture of Aiden and Young James, the Lord and Heir. And a picture of the parents and their children… the three of them."
Voldemort saw amused as Aiden chocked at that. Considering that James was most likely the Wizard's own grandfather, Voldemort could see why he would react like that at the title. At once a camera light was shot. Voldemort sneered at it. Skeeter turned to look at Aiden.
"Perfect! Now we have the embarrassed face for when you speak of the Diagon Alley scene… just perfect!"
Voldemort wondered yet again why Aiden gave the Witch so much lenience… and why he even speaks with her if he hated journalists as much as he does.
–I'm sorry, Ron had already told about it… besides a lot of people saw it.–
Voldemort nodded as James was pulled next to Aiden. Ronald would hear later.
–Keep her away from how bad you reacted to the death, besides that I'm certain anything is good publicity.–
–Already done.– Aiden agreed as he and James stood together in a Lord and Heir typical position for the picture.
"That doesn't feel like Beta at all." Fenrir argued.
Voldemort had to agree.
"Stop." He argued, approaching and Skeeter turned confused. Voldemort sat Harry on the couch and put James at his side and signalled Severus to sit on the other, Kieran running from his Alpha to sit on Harry's side. Severus stood and sat on the couch's arm. Voldemort stood behind the couch. "A family portrait is more Aiden-like. Aiden is more caring for the children than the acting the cold stereotypical Lord type." He explained.
Skeeter seemed to agree and several pictures were taken.
–PW–
Thursday, 31 July 1975
APWBD's POV
Albus looked at Daily Prophet as a picture of a couch with a Wizard in muggle clothes, a teenager at his side that seemed like his twin in robes, a child to the other dark-red haired in muggle clothes as well and a teenager by the child's side on the couches' arm in full black robes attire, all sitting down. Behind the four was an aristocrat Wizard in dress robes.
In this exact picture, the two teenagers argued between themselves, until the child stopped the teenagers, which made the three turn towards Albus and flash a smile. Both adults were looking at each other in such an in love look that even made Albus feel like leaving the newspaper alone to give them their own time.
–PW–
LV's POV
Voldemort smiled as he put the Daily Prophet on the table. Of all the pictures… Skeeter had choose one that showed their family perfectly.
He looked up to find the trio jumping in on Aiden as his Pet entered the dining room. Aiden's birthday…
(TBC)
Hi
So, Pet's War is getting to an end. There's two more chapters, including epilogue and then a new story will start.
The new story of this trilogy is named Pet's Family and I hope people will like it.
Random trivia I looked up for this fic: the British parliament meets Wednesday weekly
Next Chapter's name: Beetle's Intel
~Isys