A Different Life
Summary: They all thought Lily was Light. She wasn't. She was in love with the Dark Lord, and gave birth to his son. Now Erus Riddle is growing up, showing just how evil the son of Lord Voldemort can be. Of course, the Light doesn't know that fact. Slash.
Spoilers: Not so many. You need to know about Chamber of Secrets and Horocruxes. It's good if you've read all seven books though, just in case.
Pairing/s: NoirErus, SiriusSeverus
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They belong rightfully to Mrs Rowling; I just borrow them for the time being. Although some of the characters are mine, those you don't recognize from the books of course.
Other notes: Hermione is not Hermione. She is Cynthia, a girl who loves reading and hates Dumbledore. Harry's real, and full name is Erus Sicarius Salazar Riddle.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Parseltongue"
Visions
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IF YOU THINK MY STORY SUCKS, STOP READING AND DON'T REVIEW.
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Sorry for the long wait! I appreciate all patience readers, and I'm also sorry for the short length of this chapter. But it's a chapter at least! -smile-
Warnings: Nothing that I can find out. Feels like NoirErus moments are getting rather rare. Maybe some more next chapter.
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Chapter Forty: Wake Up
Erus entered Hogwarts for the second time within the period of a week, this time Lamia with him. The older Necromancer knew the way to the Infirmary and could lead Erus there without problems, as Erus was now holding his head, trying to make it stop pounding. He had apparently spoken to someone at Hogwarts before but Lamia had no idea what was happening. All he knew was that whatever the teen desired was in the Infirmary.
As they walked inside Poppy and Severus had them both at wand-point at first, before they melted back into view. Severus lowered the wand and ran up to his godson. Erus' legs gave up and he sagged down in Severus' arms. Lamia looked up and saw what they were protecting.
Cynthia was pale as a sheet, her eyes closed as if in sleep and one string of dark blood coming from her mouth. Draco was lying on the bed with her, holding one of her hands to his chest and staring right ahead of him. Curiosus made a sort of low, whimpering sound, once in a while giving out something akin to a wail as he floated back and forth in front of Cynthia's bed. Amber was sitting by the bed, whining.
Vates was hissing from his spot around Erus' neck and slithered down. The Basilisk enlarged and Lamia stared as the snake gracefully stretched its head. He had rarely seen it bigger than one metre. Vates now wound himself around both Severus and Erus, giving off an eerie light. Lamia was sure no Basilisk should be able to do that. What was going on?
"Cynthia has been attacked by someone," Poppy explained to the older Necromancer, her face pale and eyes hard. "We got the message from Erus and ran to her location. Her attacker fled the scene; Severus didn't manage to trace whoever it was. She is in a severe condition but stable as long as Draco is with her. And with Erus, she might get better."
Erus stretched out a hand, his body becoming the same condition as Cynthia's and Draco's as he was drawn into their connected minds:
He woke up and saw the two look at him worriedly. He sat up and Cynthia said:
"Are you alright?"
"I should be asking you that question," Erus said. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" Cynthia said and sat down. She took a deep breath and started to tell, "I was asleep when suddenly I woke up with a start. I had dreamt… Anastasia was on the shore to the lake… the ground was red of her blood. She was dying, and kept calling out for us. I acted irrational, running there without waking at least Draco or someone else who could have just told me it was a dream, a nightmare. I came there… I saw no one… I felt stupid and was about to walk back… when someone started to choke me."
She held her hands on her throat.
"I couldn't breath," she said. "I fell to the ground but the hands didn't stop. I felt blood in my mouth, and started to panic. My head started to swim and I was convinced I was going to die. And then I woke up here. I waited for someone, and Draco came… and now you, Erus."
"Your mind was calling out for us," Draco said. "By now, we three should all be in the same condition."
In the real world, the three teens were unconscious, curled into each other, all touching and glowing. Vates hovered over them worriedly, Curiosus gripped the bedrail and Amber stood on two with her front paws on the bed, gently puffing on Draco's leg with a whine.
"The Infirmary is sealed against Dumbledore, but let's put them in a private room anyway," Poppy suggested. "Severus, call for their guardians."
He nodded and swept out the Healing Wing while Lamia helped the woman push the bed into a private room, the children's familiars following.
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Lamia looked up as Voldemort, Lucius and the two Bellums entered.
"My son is out to give me a heart attack!" Voldemort said and threw up his arms. His face was pale and he looked like he had gotten ready in a rush.
"Calm down, Tom, calm down," Lucius said. Lamia frowned; was not Erus' father's name Charles? Maybe a nickname? But Charles and Tom was quite far away from each other…
"Poppy, how are they?" Lamia blinked as he saw one of the strangest-looking women he had seen.
Anastasia's white hair was pure as ever, her upper body hugged by the red dress, a red cape draped over her shoulders and her pale skin making her shine. Her ruby eyes were blazing with worry, her hands clasped together tightly.
"They are fine so far. Unconscious. Come; I'll take you to them."
Voldemort turned to Severus and said:
"You will make sure no one gets inside, alright? Do your snarky tricks."
"Of course, Tom," Severus said and made a small formal bow before walking to the doors.
Lamia's day just got weirder for each passing minute.
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He jumped high in the air when the doors banged open and a vampire walked inside. His first reaction, after wondering why the hell the potions master had allowed him in, was to have the wand out and attack when Poppy showed up and hissed:
"Noir, there is something called 'gentle entrance'!"
"I never learned that," Noir said, nonchalant. "I am the leader of the vampires; my job is to scare the crap out of others. Did I succeed?"
"Erus is this way, but he's unconscious," Poppy said. "How did you know he was here anyway?"
"My gut feeling."
Noir walked into the room, Lamia blinking stupidly and wondering just what he had missed. Poppy looked after him and followed while muttering:
"Gut feeling he says."
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Erus felt a tugging and looked around.
"Maybe it's time to wake up," he suggested to Draco and Cynthia.
"Maybe," Draco said.
"Think you can do that, Cynthia?" Erus asked.
"I'll do my best," she said.
"We'll give as much help we can," Draco said.
Their hands joined and they closed their eyes.
When Erus opened them next he looked into his lover's face. He blinked owlishly and said:
"Who did you kill to get inside of here, Noir?"
"No one," the vampire said.
"Liar. Tell me."
"It's true this time."
"Yeah, right."
"Bloody brat."
"Shut up and help me up."
He heard Draco groan a bit but not a sound from Cynthia. He turned to look at her. She was breathing deeply, out of danger, but she was not waking up. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and Draco did the same on her other.
"Cynthia, come on, wake up," the raven-haired teen said.
"This is your best?" Draco said. "Stop fooling around and show us."
A deeper breath, her head moved.
"Yes, that's it," Erus said. "Wake up."
The adults looked on as they coaxed her to open her eyes. She did but did not move.
"Her body is exhausted," Poppy said. "But it's good she's awake. Hello Cynthia. Don't try to get up, everything is just fine."
Anastasia came to her side and took the girl's face between her hands.
"It's alright," the woman said. "You're okay."
Cynthia blinked, and then smiled.
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Lamia watched Erus say goodbye to his father and the vampire. He was wondering just what the young Necromancer was, all these peoples, all his connections.
He watched the teen give the vampire Noir a kiss and his eyes widened. The vampire was his lover??
Noir whined at the small kiss on the cheek and to satisfy the vampire leader Erus pecked him on the lips. Noir pouted.
"None of that," Voldemort said sternly. "You'll have more of it later."
He and Noir glared at each other and Noir sighed in defeat.
"Fine," he said. "I must hurry back… I think I was in the middle of a meeting."
"You think?" Voldemort said, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes," Noir said. "It became not a meeting the moment I left. It was my meeting so I can pause it whenever I want to."
Erus shook his head at his lover. Noir shot them a sunny smile and marched out the door.
"That bloody vampire," Voldemort muttered.
Erus turned to the Dark Lord and Voldemort looked at him before taking a deep breath.
"Will you try to refrain from scaring me half to death?" he huffed.
"That's my charm, so I don't know," Erus said with a shrug.
Voldemort groaned and put his head in his hands.
"Easy now, Tom, easy," Lucius said and patted the man's shoulder. "You know he does it just to tease you."
"Yes, but it doesn't make me feel any better!"
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Lamia looked at Erus as they came back to the school and the teen looked at him.
"What is it?" he asked the man.
"It seems like I'm doomed to be shocked for each time I meet your father and his friends," the Necromancer admitted.
"Don't be. Just take it in a stride; I've done that for as long as I can remember," Erus said. "See you around." He waved over his shoulders, Vates on his shoulders and long strides carrying him away from the older Necromancer.
Lamia looked after the teen and said, almost to himself:
"I see a leader before me."
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Erus demanded an update of Cynthia as quickly as possible, so it arrived through Voldemort a day later.
"So, she's okay?" was the teen's first question.
"Would you please worry a bit about yourself as well?"
"I'm fine. Cynthia?"
"Fine, you stubborn brat… she is going to stay a few days in the Infirmary, but she's out of danger."
Erus sagged back against his pillows and smiled happily.
"Now," Voldemort said. "I want a full update on you so I can pass it to Poppy."
"I'm fine."
"You are going to have to elaborate that a little bit."
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Cynthia opened her eyes and she was met by the sight of her aunt, the pure white hair falling down the slim shoulders gently and the red cape tucked around the girl. Anastasia showed her the beautiful ruby eyes, glinting in the light, before the red-dressed woman rose and smiled at her, one slim hand stroking the girl's cheek.
"You are alright. Can you move?"
The girl tried and managed to sit up against the pillows.
"Cygnirius is with Tom," the woman said. "They suspect your attacker… is one of Cygnirius' enemies."
"Always take out the ones your enemy love first, right?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes," Anastasia admitted.
"Have you lost someone to an enemy?"
"Most of us have," the woman said. "You lost your parents and brother. I lost my family. Cygnirius his beloved brother, nephew and sister-in-law. But he found you, the beloved niece he thought dead for so long."
She strokes the girl's cheek.
"Most of us have?" Cynthia managed.
"Tom has lost people as well, as has Erus. They never want to say it though. Both of them too proud to appear weak," Anastasia said. "Both of them not wanting to succumb to human emotions."
"Even Erus?" Cynthia asked.
"It doesn't notice so much on him," the woman said. "But sometimes, when once would burst in tears, he would stand stoic and not reacting."
"Not if his father or Noir died," Cynthia said defiantly.
Anastasia smiled, a bit sadly.
"One never knows."
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Erus looked at the book and sighed. With all thoughts swirling around about Cynthia's attacker he would never be able to do the potions assignment. He rubbed his eyes and leaned back against Vates. Cain and Abel were still in the library, struggling with an assignment along with Stella, Margaret and Rick. Sometimes he missed it, being able to do assignments with people his own age. True, one or two years older was not so bad, but these people were not his friends.
Erus never thought he would have any friends beyond Draco and later, Cynthia. But now he was overwhelmed over the amount of friends he had both in Santuario and as well as in Hogwarts and now grown wizards and witches. Belladonna, Joseph, Miles and Marcus were all out from school, considered adults. They also happened to be loyal to him.
The teen put away the book and absently stroke his familiar's head. Vates hissed in pleasure and laid his great head in Erus' lap. The teen thought. Was he cut out to become a leader?
Maybe, or most likely as many said, but did he want to be one? He had never really thought about becoming a great leader. He was fine the way it all was, his father pulling the strings and Erus staying next to him. Next to him, not behind and not beyond.
He did not want to be a leader. Erus curled up in the Basilisk's strange embrace and closed his eyes. He just wanted to be Erus, lover to Noir the immortal and son to the Dark Lord, a young Necromancer with a lot of connections.
Cain and Abel were silent as they entered the room when they saw Erus asleep in his bed, still dressed but with Vates around him.
"Shouldn't we cover him with a blanket at least?" Cain wondered. "I mean, a snake's isn't warm."
"We'll do that."
Abel was allowed by Vates to place a blanket over Erus, tucking the endings in around the teen and was relieved that Erus did not wake up. The teen could have a foul temper when being woken up against his will.
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"Um, guys?"
Abel and Cain looked at Dimitriv and Nikolaj who stood in the opening to their room.
"What is it?" Abel asked.
"Erus… he's…" Dimitriv began.
They both walked up and looked into the room. They stared.
Erus' hair was floating in the air, his eyes rolled up and he was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
"What the hell?" Abel mumbled. "Should we call a teacher or something?"
Stella looked inside and said:
"No, he's fine."
"How do you know?" they both said. "And where did you come from?!"
Stella looked between them both, blinked owlishly and said:
"Answering the first question; I know. The second one; I came from that corridor." And promptly she pointed to a corridor.
"Yes, we already know you know," they both said, "but how?"
"He's just speaking," Stella said. "Cain, you are learning to master your Necromancy skills."
"Yes."
"Then you should know. He's communicating with a ghost."
"I haven't quite covered that part yet; it's supposed to be the last year you learn that!" Cain hissed. For Nikolaj a light went up and he looked back at Erus, now understanding. He had read about it.
"But you knew."
"That was because professor Sangue said it not too long ago, but I didn't know how you looked like when you did it!"
"Wait…" Abel said. "He's speaking to a ghost, right?"
"Yes," Stella and Cain said simultaneously.
"But I heard when he spoke to his mother… he was just speaking like she was alive."
"A ghost doesn't mean a dead person specifically," Stella read from her mind. "A ghost can be defined as a soul temporary away from the real body."
"Okay, I get that… but who is he talking to?"
They all looked at Erus.
"Friend maybe," Stella said absently.
"Somehow I get the feeling they don't really know how to remove their own soul from their body," Cain said.
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Erus looked at Voldemort as the ancient Necromancer was planning his move. They were playing wizard's chess as the older of the two had been extremely bored lying in the grave and therefore had travelled to Italy in soul-form. Hence their position.
"Why did you go to me first and not Lamia?" Erus asked, head resting in his palm.
"I felt like it," Voldemort said absently and his eyes roamed over the chess board. "I will visit him later."
"I think he would appreciate it."
"He is one of the few Necromancers I frequently visit," Voldemort said. "And now I have you."
"How kind of you," Erus said. "Don't visit too often though, my dear lover is quite jealous at times."
"A vampire, right?"
"I'm quite sure I haven't shared that with you."
"Your smell."
"I smell?" Erus asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"There is heavy vampire smell on you," Voldemort said. "I learned that long ago, the smell of creatures and emotions. He is… your treasure."
Erus felt there was no idea to lie.
"And I am his," he said truthfully.
"Aah, the wonders of love," the ancient one said and absently made his move. Erus watched the piece move and frowned in thought. "He has marked you as his."
"His blood in my veins, yes."
"Gives you strength?"
"Yeah."
"And faster healing?"
"Something like that."
"Something else?"
"I don't really know yet," Erus said. "Blood thirst."
"But not too often?" Voldemort inquired.
"No, not too often. Once in a while, it's irregular," Erus said.
"Has he marked you in another way?"
"You know, I think you need to get laid when I hear where the questions are leading."
Voldemort broke down in laughter and Erus made his move, smiling at the man. Once he got somewhat control of himself Voldemort grinned and said:
"Maybe that is true. I cannot remember the last time."
"So which version do you wish to hear; the moderate one or the juicy uncensored one?"
When Erus woke up from his 'talk' Voldemort's amused laughter still rang in his ears.
Tbc…
A short one, and it took a long time to write it.
Sorry guys, but right now everything is so dull I can barely do anything.
I'll try better in the future.
Chapter 41: Halloween, information-gathering on Cynthia's attacker and Erus deepens his bound with Noir.
Don't really think it's going to come out in a week or so. Be patient though and it will come!
Until later,
Ja,
Tiro
