In the middle of the darkened room she could see Professor Quirrell standing before the mirror that her brother showed her back in December.
He turned around and said, with not to her surprise no trace of the stutter " Well Ms. Black I was not expecting you" then with a smirk he continued " But it seems by the look on your face that your not surprised to see me."
She slowly stepped forward into the room with a smirk of her own and replied " I'm a girl full of surprises."
" Indeed you are Ms. Black." Then he asked in a puzzled tone " If anybody in this castle was going to try and save the stone I expected it to be your twin, but I only see you."
She shrugged her shoulders and replied " Oh he did come, he thought it was Snape that was after the stone."
Quirrell chuckled and said " Yes he does seem the type, who would suspect p-poor P-Professor Quirrell when Snape stalks the corridors like some overgrown bat."
He then asked " I'm curious why is it you are here and not your brother to save the day."
Smirking she replied " Oh, he's gone back, help should arrive any moment now."
The Professor laughed a cold laughter and said " Oh is it now, tell me is your hero Dumbledore going to save you? The twin he so carelessly tossed aside."
Scowling she said " I don't give a damn about that old goat, but at least you won't get the stone. "
She cocked her head to the side and asked " Tell me, do you seek it for yourself or for another?"
Deciding to humor the girl he replied " Oh I seek it for my master, for you see last year when I went on a sabbatical he came across me somewhere in the forest of Albania " he then shuddered and continued " Even in such a weakened state my masters magic was still so dark and powerful. He promised me some of that power, so I brought him with me, he is always with me."
Her eyes went wide and she said " Are you talking about the Dark Lord? He still lives?"
Then a raspy voice sounded in the room " Let me speak to the girl." Her eye rapidly looked around the room and in the darken corners to see where the new voice came from, she was not expecting two thieves to be here.
Then her eye locked on Quirrell as he said " But master your not strong enough."
The voice replied " I'm strong enough for this."
The man reached up toward his head and began to unwrap his turban and Harri's jaw dropped at the horrifying scene of what should be the back of Quirrell's head was instead a face.
It was chalky white with slits for nostrils much like a snake and it's eyes was the ever familiar hell fire red that frequented her dreams.
The face looked upon her and her scar flared up, she reached up to grab it and hissed in pain.
Then it opened its mouth and said " Harriet Potter or should I say Black now. Look at what I've become, mere shadow and vapor."
She looked upon him in awe and said " So your the Dark Lord my grandfather has told me about."
Chuckling the face or should she say Voldemort replied " Do you mean Arcturus?" she nodded her head yes then he continued " Ah, I'm glad to hear that my old friend is still alive, tell me child how does he fare these days."
Now nervous knowing who this being is and what he is capable of she replied " In his last letter he was doing very well." Then she smirked " Mad as ever though."
The Dark Lord laughed and said " That's good to hear nothing has changed, tell me has he been teaching you the old ways and the Magics of your family?"
Nodding her head she replied " Yes he has made it his mission to make up for lost time."
Then to her shock the Dark Lord smiled and said " That's very good little one" he then snarled " I was surprised to learn what those fool Potters have done."
Then he looked at her intently a calculating gaze glittering in those red orbs and said " Would you, like your grandfather and family before you join me? I can offer you vengeance, I can give you the power I know you crave. Together we could right the wrongs and bring back the old ways."
She frowned her thoughts conflicted as she replied " Its tempting and in a different scenario I would agree but Charlie is my brother and I will not stand aside while you threaten his life."
The Dark Lord laughed again and said " Oh my dear one your brother is of no consequence to me!"
She scowled and said " Then why did you try and kill him back in November?"
Sneering Voldemort replied " A simple mistake from my loyal servant here, he seemed to think he would gain favor for killing the boy."
She frowned and asked " But he is the boy who lived, the one supposedly destined to defeat you. Why would you not want to kill him?"
Voldemort smirked at her and said " Oh that's where it gets good though child! How amusing it was for me to learn that Dumbledore chose the wrong child!"
She took a step back and gasped and the Dark Lord continued " Yes it was not your brother I aimed my wand at, it was you! It was always you."
Her mind was reeling at the truth of that night laid bare before her. Anger swelled within her chest at the thought that such a simple mistake ruined her life. Well she thought she would ruin theirs in return.
Voldemort gave her some time to process the information before he continued on to ask " Now knowing the truth, would you join me?"
She looked at him with shock and said " But if I'm the child of the prophecy why are you not killing me where I stand?"
He frowned and replied " If death is what you seek then I will have no problem to deal it, but I would see that we could easily cancel out the prophecy if we would to agree to never harm or kill another. I did not want to kill you in the first place all those years ago, too much magical blood had already been spilled. Yet, I was so close to victory and I could not afford a puppet of Dumbledore's that could easily challenge me."
She could understand that, probably something she would have done herself, thinking it through she then came to a conclusion " If I would to join you I could easily see what you gain, the true child of the prophecy would ensure your victory but what would I get in return?"
Smirking at her boldness he replied " I see there is a lion under that snake skin my dear, what would you say that I make you my apprentice? I've never given another such an honor before."
She lifted her chin and said " And would you spare my brother since he is not the one Dumbledore claims him to be?"
" As long as he does not harm me or mine then I see no reason to harm him." he replied.
She crossed her arms a brow lifted and then asked " You would teach me everything you know, even parslemagic?"
Voldermort quietly laughed and replied " I would but only those of the noble tongue could do such magic."
Then his eyes went wide when she replied to him in parseltonge " Oh you mean like this my Lord?"
He stepped closer to her and said " How could this be? You do not have any parselmouths in any of your family lines."
He then reached out and touched her scar and instead of pain, there was a pleasant tingle like a soft caress of feathers on her face. The Dark Lord hummed and said " Oh well this is a interesting turn of events."
He then stepped back a gleam in his eyes and said " I shall teach you everything I know. If you were to swear to be loyal to me and my cause. You will not be a death eater, no, as my apprentice you shall be much higher in my ranks, maybe even one day become my second in command."
She looked up at him wondering if she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life or the greatest choice she would ever make.
She bowed her head and said " It would be my honor my lord."
The Dark Lord looked pleased and then asked her " Now would you please see if you could retrieve the stone for me my dear."
She then looked toward the mirror but did not see the image she saw the last time she looked into it.
She saw herself as she was and her image self held a ruby stone in her hand and with a wink placed it inside her pocket.
With wide eyes she felt a heavy weight hit the same pocket and she reached inside and dug out the philosophers stone.
She then turned to the Dark Lord and handed it to his outstretched hand.
He looked at it his red eyes glittering with glee and he said " Well done my apprentice."
She smiled and said " Your welcome my lord."
He looked at her thoughtfully and said " While it is just us and my inner circle you may call me Marvolo, you are now my apprentice and destined equal so it only sounds right for you to address me thusly."
She bowed her head in a sign of respect and said " Thank you...Marvolo."
He then placed the stone within Quirrell's pocket and said " I do not wish for Dumbledore to know of my return so soon." Frowning he used Quirrell's wand to make a replica of the stone then destroyed it making fine red dust that landed on the stone floor.
" Hmm, that should fool Dumbledore well enough " he then looked at her and said " Let's test out your skills apprentice, you and Quirrell shall duel here so the headmaster would not be suspicious of you, I imagine he would be here in a few minutes time."
He then turned around and let his host back in control of his body, who then quickly cast a blood boiling curse her way.
Harri quickly deflected it, her wand shooting into her grasp quickly thanks to her new holster and sent a cutting curse his way.
The man laughed and their dance began, dodging and casting spells back and forth, she was never more grateful for her grandfather's dueling lessons until this moment.
Quirrell was still far more advanced than her but she was a natural talent, as she deflected spell after spell finding enough space in between to strike Quirrell with a cutting curse, but her victory was short lived when he sent a ' Bombarda' at her feet which sent her flying into the wall behind her.
Her head hit the wall with a dull thud and a searing pain went through her brain. She crumbled to the floor and looked blearily up at the red eyes of her new mentor.
Just before she could pass out he smirked and said " Well done Harriet, you will make for a powerful apprentice." And with that she knew no more.
Groggily she woke up, a headache pounding through her skull.
She opened her eye and was blinded by whiteness and the smell of antiseptics burned her nose.
Blinking the bleariness out she saw that she was in the hospital wing and to her right she heard a chuckle.
Turning her head she saw the golden frames of Albus Dumbledore's half moon spectacles and his twinkling blue eyes that peered at her over them.
Smiling jovially at the girl the headmaster said " You gave us quite the fright back there Harri my girl."
She frowned and looked away from him and said " What happened Professor?" She then gasped in shock " The stone! Charlie! Is he alright did he find you in time?"
He reached out to pat her arm and said " Yes my girl he found me just as I was heading to check on the stone, I was afraid I lost you there for a moment."
She looked toward him careful not to look him in the eye and said with a frown " I'm sorry I destroyed the stone sir. I didn't know how long til help arrived and Quirrell " at this she took a shuddering breath " He had Voldemort on the back of his head."
Dumbledore just nodded as if he already knew of this information and she continued on " If it wasn't for grandfathers teachings I would have died down there, but still it was not enough after I destroyed it he became so enraged and he threw me into the wall."
Dumbledore just nodded again and gave her a grandfatherly smile " You preformed a very brave act my dear girl. Sacrificing yourself in place of your brother, your mother and father are very proud."
She tried not to outwardly scowl at that and the old man continued " The stone is best to have been destroyed at any rate, I fear it was far to dangerous to keep intact."
She frowned and said " But what about the Flamels sir?"
He chuckled again and said " Ah! I see you done it right then. Nicolas and his wife has just enough elixir to set their affairs in order, but then yes they will die."
He smiled at her and said " But to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
Nervously she asked " So does that mean that Voldemort will never return?"
He sighed and said " I fear that there are many other ways that he could return to his full power, but thanks to you he has been thwarted of this chance to do so. Now your brother has more time to train for I fear one day soon, it could be a month or several years on down the road but he will return and your brother must be ready."
Curious if he would tell her, she looked at him quizzically and asked " But why sir? Why does he want to kill Charlie so much?"
Dumbledore stood up from his chair and a sad smile formed on his lips as he said " I'm afraid both of you are far too young to yet know that truth. But when Charlie is old enough when he is ready I trust that you would be there to stand at his side."
A determined glint shined in her eye and she said " Of course Professor, I shall always have Charlie's back."
The old man smiled at her and patted her blanket covered foot and said " I shall then bid you farewell, your friends and brother has been most anxious to see you." And with that the headmaster made his way out the infirmary whistling as he went.
Not too long after Dumbledore left the infirmary doors opened wide and in stepped Draco, Theo, Pansy, Daphne and Blaise, their faces were creased with worry and when they noticed that she was awake their frowns morphed into beaming smiles in their relief that their friend was ok.
Draco ran toward her and said " Harriet Dorea Black! What were you thinking you could have died!"
Then he flung himself at her she winced for her head still throbbed but she patted his back gently and said " It's ok, I'm sorry for worrying you cousin dearest."
He chuckled wetly and said " If you ever do that again I'll kill you myself."
She laughed and replied " I make no promises so make it quick and easy will you." She then winked at him as he let her go and he shook his head fondly at her.
She looked to her friends and asked " So how long have I been out?"
Daphne grimaced and replied " About four days" Harri groaned.
Blaise nodded his head and mournfully said " You missed the game yesterday, Gryffindor won the quidditch cup but we still have the most house points so we should win the house cup."
Draco and Harri shared a smirk and said " Don't worry we'll win it back next year."
Her friends managed to stay for a hour laughing and catching up with each other before Madam Pomfrey kicked them out.
Later that evening Lily Potter crept into the infirmary a determined look set upon her face.
Harri sat up in her bed looking at the woman warily and asked " Can I help you Mrs. Potter?"
Lily flinched and said " I just wanted to come and see you. Also, to thank you for what you did for Charlie, I'm so proud of you."
Harri frowned and said " I did it for Charlus, I don't need your thanks."
The elder woman sighed and said " I know your with Sirius now, but you are more than welcome to come home to Potter manor this summer." She then tenderly smiled at her and reached out for Harri's hand.
The girl jerked it back and said " While I appreciate the offer Mrs. Potter, Grimmuald Place is my home. Charlus is more than welcome to visit me but I'm afraid I do not feel comfortable residing in Potter manor."
A mournful look crossed the woman's face and she replied " I understand, but the offer will always stand." She then left the infirmary feeling worse than ever before.
The next day she was given a clean bill of health and sent on her way.
She was sad that her brother had not took the time to visit her and didn't get the chance to see him until the day of the leaving feast.
As he was headed into the great hall she pulled him to the side and asked him " Hey, I haven't talked to you all week, are you ok?"
He frowned at her and said " Why did you do that Harri? You could've gotten killed."
She just shrugged her shoulders and replied " I didn't want you to get hurt Charlie."
He crossed his arms and said " I'm the boy who lived, I'm the one that supposed to prevent you from getting hurt."
Sighing Harri said " Your just a kid Charlie, you don't need to save the world. I wish you would understand that."
Shaking his head he said " No it's my responsibility, I led you down there, I should've been the one to face him. "
He pinched the bridge of his nose and said " I'm not sure if I can trust you to let me do what I need to do. I'm not sure why Voldemort is after me, Dumbledore said I have to wait until I'm older, but as long as he is still out there then I have to be ready."
Then he frowned and shook his head again " You just don't understand Harri, I've got to go, have a good summer." And then he left and made his way back toward the great hall.
Harri sighed again wondering why he has to be so stubborn. She then made her way to a empty seat between Draco and Blaise at the Slytherin table ready for what the summer would bring her.
It turns out that Slytherin lost the house cup to Gryffindor as well by just a few points.
Dumbledore gave some last minute points to Weasley, Granger, Charlus and for some inexplainable reason Longbottom.
She too received some last minute house points but not enough to win the house cup.
In the safety of their compartment on the train ride back to London, her friends tried to get her to tell them what happened down in the chamber, rumor has it that Quirrell was trying to steal something valuable from the school, but fortunately no rumors that it was for the Dark Lord.
To their awe and excitement she told them of her little duel with the man and all the traps her and her brother had to go through. She carefully avoided any slip of her meeting the Dark Lord.
When they arrived at the station and after many farewells and promises to write Harri approached the tall figure of her grandfather Arcturus. Looking around frowning she asked " Where is father?"
The older man looked down at her with a glint in his eye she could not decipher and said " I've told him I wanted to pick you up my dear, I'm taking you to the villa we have some matters to discuss."
Curious she took her grandfathers arm and they made their way to the floo systems of the platform.
Did he know what she had done back at school, was he angry or proud that she helped the Dark Lord to return. These questions filled her mind as she stepped into the fireplace and called out " Black Family Villa."
When she stepped into the parlor on the other side grandfather called for a elf to take her things to her spare bedroom here at the villa and he said " You'll be staying with me for the night, come with me into my office we have much to discuss granddaughter."
Nervousness started to creep in her veins so she lifted her chin up and dutiful followed him up to the second floor and into his study.
She waited for him to sit down at his desk then made for her favorite comfy chair that he had to the side.
He cleared his throat and said " What you did back at Hogwarts was very dangerous young lady, you would think as a Slytherin you would have a bit more self preservation."
She looked down and said " I'm sorry grandfather."
Then he started to laugh " Sorry!" He said " You have nothing to be sorry for girl!"
She swung her head so quickly to look back up at him she thought her neck would snap. With wide eyes she observed the proud smile upon her grandfathers lips and he said " Oh my dear I knew you would bring glory to the name of Black! Yes indeed."
He then leaned back into his chair and said " Our Lord found me, to my surprise and delight alive and fully restored and what did he tell me, that my granddaughter and heir was the cause and that he has made her his new apprentice no less!"
He then gave a mad cackle and said " Oh my dear, I am so proud! " then a serious look crossed his face " But you must be careful my dear, many would kill for such an honor of being our lords protégée. Be ever vigilant and listen to what Marvolo says, he does not take disobedience or laziness well."
All she could do was nod her head for she was too shocked but pleased that her grandfather was not angry with her, and then she was curious and asked him " Does father know?"
He frowned and said " Not yet my dear, he has come a long way, but I'm afraid he will yet fully accept the Dark Lord just now. Hmm, maybe in a few years when the Dark Lord is ready to announce his return can we get your father to understand, to agree. As of now only the elder Malfoy's, Severus and Lord Nott knows of his return."
She nodded her head in understanding and then asked " So what would we tell him when the Dark Lord calls?"
" Ah" he began " That is simple, you will be coming here four days out of the week, three for your training under our lord and one day to continue your heir training with me. You will have the weekend for your leisure and homework."
She smiled and said " That sounds like a excellent plan grandfather, when do I begin."
A deep baritone voice sounded behind her " Now is good time as ever my apprentice."
She spun around in her chair to see standing in the doorway a very tall and handsome man. He looked to be in his late twenty's early thirties, sharp cheekbones and a sharp chin outlined his features, dark wavy hair combed just so and he had the most beautiful dark red eyes that she immediately recognized.
She quickly stood up and bowed saying " Good afternoon, my lord."
He waved her off " None of that now while we are among friends Harriet." She straightened back up and then sat down upon her chair as the Dark Lord took his own seat.
He looked at her and said " Now since Arcturus has told you of your new summer activities, I believe we should set to making that unbreakable vow before we can begin your training."
He then looked to Arcturus and asked " Would you be so kind as to be our binder my friend?"
Grandfather stood up from his chair and said " It would be my pleasure Marvolo."
" Very good, now Harriet before we do this you do understand that one cannot simply break a unbreakable vow, it would mean loss of ones magic and even death."
A fierce fire entered her eye and she said " I understand and I am willing to proceed with the vow."
A sharp smile crossed his face and he said " Very good, now we hold each others forearm as you're grandfather uses his wand to bind us."
Nervously she nodded her head and reached out to grab him by the forearm as his hand grabbed hers.
Arcturus took out his wand and touched the tip at their conjoined limbs, a silver chain that slithered like a snake came from his wand and began to coil itself around their arms.
Grandfather then cleared his throat and said " Tom Marvolo Riddle, also know as Lord Voldemort, do you swear to never intentionally harm or kill Harriet Dorea Black with any means including a third party?"
Marvolo looked at her and said " I do so swear" another chain came from the wand and coiled around them.
Then turning to her the elder Black asked " Do you Harriet Dorea Black swear to never intentionally harm or kill Tom Marvolo Riddle, also know as Lord Voldemort, with any means including a third party?"
She took a deep breath and said " I do so swear" and another chain emitted from the wand to bind them further.
Arcturus then turned to Voldemort " And do you promise to take heir Black under your wing and mentor her and teach her all that you know fully and to your best ability?"
" I do so swear" the Dark Lord said firmly and another chain coiled around them.
Grandfather turned to her and then asked " And do you swear to be loyal to the Dark Lord and his cause and to do whatever you can to help him achieve victory?"
A little bit more confident she said " I do so swear" and a final brighter chain wrapped around on top of the others.
" So mote it be" whispered Arcturus and then the chains burned into their skin sealing their destinies together, somewhere deep in the halls of the department of mysteries a glass orb shattered.
They let go of each other's arm and the Dark Lord had a self satisfied smirk cross his lips as he said " Very good, thank you Arcturus, you may go now. I still have some things to discuss with my new apprentice."
Her grandfather bowed and gently ruffled her hair as he made his leave.
Marvolo made himself comfortable in his chair and summoned a house elf to serve them some tea.
He stared intently at her white milky left eye and frowned " I don't apologize much but I do regret the loss of half of your sight, tell me child does it hurt often?"
Trying not to show how nervous she was she replied " Not often anymore, it is completely dead, it has often been a problem in the past when I couldn't see what was coming from my left side."
Humming the Dark Lord replied " Yes I can see that it will only hinder you further and in the coming war it could put you in grave danger."
She sat a little straighter worried this may effect her chance of proving herself capable and stubbornly replied " Don't worry Marvolo I will not let it hinder me, I've survived half my life with it I can still be useful."
He chuckled at her and said " Don't worry my dear I'm not blaiming you, it is my fault after all."
At this her eyes went wide and she asked " Is it from where the killing curse struck me when I was a babe?"
Nodding his head he replied " Yes it is, but do not fret I have every ounce of faith in you to conquer through and perhaps there is something that I could do to help."
She bounced in her seat and said " Really! Could you fix it?"
Sighing he said " Unfortunately, no but there may be something better that I can do for you, but all in good time my dear."
She nodded her head and said " Thank you Marvolo."
The rest of the evening was spent with Marvolo explaining to her his expectations and his dislike for tardiness and complaining.
She would be on time at seven in the morning on Mondays, Wednesday's and Friday's in Black Villa where he will be staying to start her lessons.
When he let her go for the afternoon she left with a spring in her step ever excited to start her new journey.