Disclaimer: While I thank you for the compliment, no, alas I am not JK Rowling -try though I might:..( - and I do not own any of her characters, and no you silver tongue devil I am also not Kurinoone, the author of the brilliant fic "The Darkness Within" of which this fic is heavily influenced by. Way to rub salt in the wound geez.

AN: Sorry for the super long wait, I've been hella busy lately and have had an extreme writer's block but hopefully -please dear god let it be done with- it's passed. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 2: Of Breakfasts and Training

The boy erected his shield and deflected the stunner coming at him, sidestepping a disarming charm and sent two cutting hexes and "Stupefy!" in quick succession. One of his opponents went down hard but the other two were quick with their shields. He sent a leg-locker curse then flipped backwards over a full-body bind. His curse missed its target but the last two standing were tiring from his quick reactions, so he took advantage of their slight sluggishness and sent a Reducto to the side of his taller adversary forcing him to move closer to his partner. The boy yelled "Expeliarmus!" and sent a wordless tripping jinx. His opposers cast a shield to stop the charm but weren't anticipating the jinx and fell prey to its effects when a white-hot pain erupted in the boy's forehead and a stray cutting hex grazed his arm. He hissed in pain and threw his hands to his forehead.

"Heir, what's wrong? Is it your scar?" Barty Crouch Jr, one of the tripped, asked worry lining his face and looking towards the doors as if something was going to jump out of them and yell 'Boo!'.

"No! I just felt like making sure it was still there." Harry responded, sarcasm dripping in his voice. He hissed as another throb of pain went through his scar.

Bellatrix Lestrange (nee' Black), the second of Harry's sparring partners, threw Barty a glare and a "leave us" before reviving Narcissa.

"Very good Harry, I didn't even see that stunner coming," Narcissa said standing up with her sisters' help. Once she got her bearings and saw the testy look on the almost 16-year-olds face, she quietly excused herself knowing he'd only listen to Bella.

Narcissa Malfoy (nee' Black) had known Harry since he was barely four years old and knew there were only two people in the world Harry would listen to or pretend to anyway, though he would humour her sometimes, and that was the Dark Lord himself and her sister Bellatrix. Narcissa, while not marked, was considered an honorary Death Eater because of her immediate family's status within Voldemorts ranks -her sister his right-hand woman, her son the heir's best friend, and her husband, Voldemorts most loyal Death Eater and former right hand.

Lucius was leading the team to procure the prophecy of the Dark Lord and Harry Potter from the Department of Mysteries when it all went pear-shaped. He had successfully retrieved the prophecy but not long after the Aurors arrived and a battle ensued where he was captured and sent to Azkaban by Alastor Mad-Eye Moody. After he was imprisoned Voldemort asked Narcissa to take up his post beside Bella in training and raising Harry.

Bellatrix walked up to Harry and started checking him over for any injuries, other than the obvious ones.

"I'm fine Bella." He hissed swatting her hands away. His scar gave another pulse of agony and Harry grit his teeth.

"Yes, totally fine. That's why you're dripping blood all over the floor." Harry looked at the floor then his arm as if he'd just realized he was hurt.

Bella rolled her eyes and went to the emergency potions chest they kept in the training grounds. He's either too proud to admit he's injured or doesn't even realize it. Merlin help me. She came back over to where he was leaning against a pillar and transfigured a small couch. He eyed the sofa and potions and was about to object when Bella gave him her 'try me' look, and not particularly feeling like being put in a full-body-bind, he complied. He really could use a pain-relief potion for his literal splitting headache.

Harry really did like Bella and he knew she cared about him; it was just when she got to motherly with him that he got uncomfortable. His father had always taught him that feeling love and care only makes you weaker. But he couldn't exactly complain, he cared about Bella too. She brought him up after all.

His scar gave another jolt.

"That's it! I'm going to see what's got him in such a mood!" Harry barked and swept from the room, vaguely hearing Bella telling him off for being disrespectful.

Harry marched through the limestone elegant hallways, draped in green and black tapestries and adorned with moving landscapes, and up to the door to his fathers' chambers. He slipped his black mask on and knocked once on the doors before opening them. Everyone in the room looked up as he entered and gave a curt bow.

Voldemort lifted Goyle Sr from his Cruciatus Curse ignoring his stuttered thank-yous and apologizes all melting together. He looked up at Harry in question when he realized why he came storming in and began mentally chanting his calming mantra.

When Voldemort gave Harry his scar, he had no idea a link like this would be formed and felt sorry for his young heir. Any extreme emotion the Dark Lord felt, whether it be happiness or anger, Harry would feel immense pain in his scar when nearby. Though when he was on missions Voldemort was able to be as elated or enraged as he wished without causing pain to Harry.

"Leave us!" Voldemort instructed.

Fenrir Greyback stopped in front of Harry and hit his chest with his fist once; Harry repeated the action and inclined his head. In werewolf culture, for those in packs like Greyback, it was a greeting/sign of respect to do so.

Harry had always had an affinity for magical creatures of all kinds; hippogriffs, thestrals, werewolves, centaurs, acromantulas, dragons especially, merpeople, grindylows, sphinx, phoenix, goblins, house-elves, giants, veela you name it, Harry has an interest in it. Where he picked it up the Dark Lord had no idea, but his views on magical creatures had helped Voldemort recruit or come to an understanding with various species by sending Harry to confer with them.

Voldemort watched this transaction with little interest, he'd seen it million times before. Once everyone had left the room Harry took off his mask and raised an eyebrow at his father.

"What'd he do now? Hex himself?"

Coming from anyone else Voldemort would have killed them instantly for speaking to him like that, but Harry was different. He wasn't forced to bow to him or kiss his robes, in fact, others were to bow to Harry, no Harry was different from everyone else. The heir to the Dark Lord was more of an equal than anything else; he was allowed to joke and talk and kibitz.

"Our newer recruit Marcus Flint has lost his stomach for being a Death Eater and thinks he can leave and attempt to betray me to that muggle-loving fool and Goyle" he fumed "lost him!"

Harry immediately dropped his playful smirk and went into what Bella calls his 'warrior mode'.

"What are your orders father." He said without emotion.

Voldemort turned away from his place at the ornate window and walked over to his heir, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders and giving him the information he needed to find the turncoat.

"Kill the traitor!"

Lily glanced over her shoulder at the stove to make sure her pancakes weren't burning, then went back to her chopping. She looked out of the window above her counter and watched as Alex chased gnomes around the garden with her little butterfly net, and sighed in contentment. Lily wondered just where her daughter got that bottomless pit of energy and curiosity she's always full of.

After that fateful Halloween night, Lily and James moved from Godrics Hollow and the horror that surrounded it into what Sirius had dubbed 'Marauder Manor'.It was much larger than the small cottage but not quite a mansion; it was just the right size for the four of them plus room for the chaos that followed James, Remus and Sirius. Which happened to be a lot. Lily walked back over to the stove top to flip the pancakes when she heard the floo go off from the other room and the telltale bickering that followed the marauders.

"Well, Mr Moony kindly asks Mr Padfoot to shove it."

"Mr Padfoot is appalled by such language and asks Mr Moony to stop getting his panties in such a twist."

Sirius and Remus stepped into the large kitchen and looked for Lily. The kitchen had a sizeable dark oak dining table with a vase of sunflowers in the middle and dark oak cabinets to match. The countertops were marble as was the island and above the stove, there was a subway tile backsplash and a huge window over the sink looking out over the backyard.

Lily had her hair thrown up in a messy bun and was wearing a pair of denim jeans and a simple black shirt with an apron Elijah gave her for Mother's Day thrown over it, whisking eggs while she watched Alex playing in the yard, a soft smile on her face.

Sirius waltzed up to Lily and kissed her on the cheek before checking to see what she was cooking.

"Ah Miss Fawn you look as radiant as ever," She rolled her eyes at his daily routine and playfully hit him with her dishrag.

"Yes, now would you be so kind as to watch the food that you come to my house every morning to steal so I can start on the eggs," Lily asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh I don't know about that Lils, it's a big job you sure he can handle it?" Remus asked with a smirk as he sat down at the table and picked up the newspaper.

Sirius started sputtering at the comment and threw a banana at Remus' head which he ducked before picking it up and eating it, inclining his head.

"Well Alexandra can do it, and she's only three, so I'll take my chances," she teased, humour alight in her eyes.

"Oi! I'll have you know I've been watching things successfully for years!" Sirius exclaimed, affronted whilst he flipped an, only slightly burned, pancake.

"What about that time you lost Elijah in Diagon Alley?" James said as he walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to his wife "Morning love," he said with a kiss while she smiled radiantly.

"A minor blunder," Sirius dismissed waving his spatula.

"I was eight," Elijah said as he sat down next to Remus at the table and nicked some of his coffee.

"Exactly you should have known better by then," Sirius said with a mock disappointed shake of the head.

"What? To never go somewhere with Uncle Padfoot without a responsible adult present?" He remarked smirking, pretending he didn't see Remus trying desperately to hide his laughter behind his newspaper.

Lily attempted to disguise her laughter in James' shoulder but the effect was ruined when he couldn't stop the chuckles that snuck through.

"Et Tu Lily?" Sirius said with a hand over his heart.

"Padfoot could you get Alex from outside, breakfast is ready." At his mutinous look, she added, "I'll put some whipped cream on your pancakes."

Sirius perked up at that and bounded out the back door leaving Lily to wonder whether he was in his mid-thirties or five. She leaned back against the counter as everyone milled around the kitchen and just lost herself in how perfect her mornings begin. If only Harry could be here, then it would be truly perfect.

Harry erected the anti-disapparition jinx and a notice-me-not before walking into the abandoned muggle shop Marcus Flint was squatting in. From the looks of it, it was once a department store. The shop was moderately sized with a large empty display window at the front covered up with newspapers; the walls were lined with barren white shelves and clothing racks leaned against them, void of any clothing. There were plush ottomans and chairs moved into the middle of a wide-open space, obviously recently put there.

He spotted the traitorous snake sitting on an ottoman with a bottle of firewhiskey, his leg shaking up and down, doing what appeared to be trying to calm his nerves. Unfortunately for him, the cause of his anxiety had come and meant to see his mission through. The front door suddenly made a noise and the sound of wind opening and closing the door sounded making Marcus spring up, his wand poised, and drop the bottle. He waited for something to break the silence with bated breath, looking in every corner and shadow when he realized. He never heard the bottle break.

"You know I much prefer this to mead. Something about just gets me," Harry drawled from against the wall holding the intact bottle.

Marcus spun around towards the voice and froze. He knew this was the infamous Reaper, and he knew he had very little chance of surviving this encounter.

"Are you going to kill me?" He asked, his voice shaking.

Harry looked at him through his black mask, his emerald eyes holding no remorse and said: "Yes, I am."

Marcus took a deep breath and bowed his head.

"Okay," he breathed.

"You're not going to fight back? Ask why? Plead and beg for mercy?" Harry taunted.

"You could kill me without even lifting a finger and I figured you wouldn't answer me even if I asked" he responded "and you don't strike me as the type to give mercy"

"True, I'm not. But that's just part of the fun" he said as he circled Flint "you are a very odd boy. Most either fight thinking they can win or will beg hoping there is some sympathy they traitors can pull from me as though I do not despise betrayers with every ounce of my being. But not you, you just bow your head and are willing to die. No muss no fuss." Harry paused "Raise your wand."

Marcus' head whipped up at breakneck speed and looked at the Grim incredulously "What?"

"Raise. Your. Wand." Harry spelled out.

"You want me to fight you?"

"I thought that was pretty clear from the phrase 'raise your wand'," he answered

Marcus didn't miss a beat and threw a cutting hex at Harry which he blocked and sent a cutting hex and a silent Bombarda right back that was dodged blowing up the register counter. They sent hexes, jinxes, curses and spells back and forth and back and forth until Flint was on his last legs and Harry hadn't even broken a sweat. The shop around them was in ruins from stray curses with stuffing and plaster and insulation decorating the concrete floor while newspapers curled and floated downwards. The duel finally ended when a cutting hex nicked Marcus' neck, making him stop and drop his wand the sound of it clattering to the ground reverberating throughout the shop, and his hands flying to the fatal wound as he dropped to his knees on the hard ground. Harry gazed at him for a moment before stepping forward and raising his wand.

"Avada Kedavra" he breathed, ending the boys suffering.

Harry looked around the remains of the shop with its ceiling tiles and light fixtures hanging haphazardly and its already barren furniture broken and strewn around the store. He let out a long breath and walked over to the only thing still intact and picked it up, a stoic expression on his face behind the mask and left the store, firewhiskey in hand, and disapparated back to the manor.

Narcissa let out the breath she had been holding when she heard Harry apparate to the front of the wards and heard the Death Eater guards greet him as he walked to his father's chambers to give him his report. She knew very well that he was an extremely talented and smart dueler, but that didn't stop the mother in her from being terrified that one day one of his assignments might be just that little bit more competent than him. Harry to her was an anomaly. He was this kind and witty boy, full of life and laughter. But then when he was training or on assignment that lively bit of him hid and his mask of indifference, unfeeling, and deadly came forth and the warrior of him took over. How a person could be both kind and lethal bewildered her and didn't surprise her in the least that Harry could be both of those things.

Narcissa heard the door to the Dark Lords chambers close and Harry's soft but determined strides to his wing of the extensive manor. She put her book down on her wool blanket and marked the page before leaving her place by the rain covered window and walking out the door towards Harry's chambers. His rooms were in the west wing of the mansion, a place none other than Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Voldemort was allowed to enter or even knew existed. She walked up to the portrait of the silver cobra slithering around the statues of mythological gods and goddesses' and softly spoke the password and headed to Harry's rooms.

His chambers were large with high vaulted ceilings and marble floors, limestone walls surrounding it all and large heavy oak double doors as entrance to the quarters. Against the north wall, there was a sizable cast iron bed adorned with dark blue bedspreads and wrought iron bedside tables on each side with a bench set at the end of the bed. The entire west wall was one massive bookcase with tombs centuries-old and new, stopped only by the door to the en suite bathroom. On the east wall there was a large ornate window with a broad mahogany desk situated under it with books, scrolls and quills scattered about and a large wooden wardrobe. In the southwest corner of the room there were plush couches with deep green blankets strewn on top and a hearty fireplace on the south wall. There were lush rugs adorning the marble floor and tapestries lining the walls making the place feel warm and cozy with its greens and blues and greys colouring the quarters.

Narcissa leaned against the door and watched as Harry removed his mask and got to work storing the various blades and weapons he kept hidden in his black robes.

"How'd it go?" She asked softly.

"He didn't even put up a fight at first," Harry responded gazing up at her with hollow eyes.

"At first?" Narcissa questioned.

"Yeah. At first." He said, taking off his outer robes and placing them and his various weapons in the wardrobe.

"Then why did you duel." She asked, thinking she had an idea why.

Harry stopped what he was doing and looked up at her, "No one deserves to die without putting up a fight."

He got up off the bench and walked towards the en suite, closing the door behind him and leaving Narcissa to think about what he had just said.

AN: Hi yes I'm alive. Sorry! Hopefully I'll be able to get new chapters up sooner but until then, please review! thanks loves