A/N: Hey! Another chapter, yay for you. I actually wanted to include the first part of the meeting between Harry and the Dark Lord in this chapter but then stuff happened, more stuff happened and well….
Chapter 6: Lily's Cleaning Solution
Avery snorted. "As if this pathetically weak witch would be able to beat me."
"Challenge accepted," Lily said with a determinate grin, if this could earn her the respect needed then she would do it, and Avery will rue the day he met her.
"What is going on here?" suddenly Slughorn's voice echoed over the Slytherin table.
"Dear Avery here thinks that I'm a pathetically weak witch who wouldn't be able to beat him in a duel. So to prove that he's wrong I hereby officially challenge him to a duel," she said confidently and with a smirk.
"A duel? Are you sure Ms Evans?" Slughorn asked her sceptically, he knew how resourceful Avery was, and he didn't want to see a witch as bright as Lily Evans hurt.
"I am sure, but I don't know whether Mr Avery here dares to accept," Lily retorted with a smirk.
"You can bet that I'll accept. I'll show you who is superior and you can go back crying to your mummy about how unfair the world is," Avery taunted.
Lily snorted. "So sure of yourself? I'd say we'll see after dinner if you can follow through or whether you're just hot air."
Harry chuckled lowly, at least those stories seem to be true, his mother indeed was a fiery woman that you shouldn't cross.
Slughorn on the other hand sighed. "It seems that I'll have to inform Filius that you're in need of the duelling arena. Mr Eldrid, I fear that we'll have to reschedule your visit to the infirmary to tomorrow morning," he addressed Harry.
"Are you hurt?" Lily asked, instantly worriedly.
"No, luckily not," Harry waved her worries away. "Professor Slughorn just wants to make sure that I'm alright and see whether there is something I have to be aware of as there are no official medical records from me."
"Oh," Lily perked up, her worry bleeding away. "Of course. Will you watch the duel then? You too Sev?"
Severus nodded curtly with a small smile. Actually, he couldn't wait to see her in action. Up to now he only saw her in class. He knew that Lily was brilliant when it came to charms but he never saw her in a duel, and he wanted to know what she was capable of.
"As if I'd miss the opportunity of watching you putting Avery into place," Harry laughed.
They chattered for a bit more, ignoring the other Slytherins' annoyance while Slughorn went to inform Flitwick of the impending duel. Normally students only duelled during the Duelling Club, but students from fifth-year upwards were also allowed to challenge each other to duels. This was mostly done to see who is stronger or like in this case to settle a dispute.
For that purpose, the school even had a duelling arena that had enough space for the entire school to watch. They needed it because twice a year the school had a duelling championship for students of the fourth year and up. In this, they could determine the best dueller of the years or for those who seek a challenge, the best dueller of the school that students of any year could enter
They were forbidden from using spells that would result in lasting damage or see them in Azkaban but other than that they could use whatever spell they wanted.
It was ten minutes after dinner that Lily, Severus, Harry and surprisingly also Barty walked together towards the duelling arena. With every step closer to the arena, Lily grew more and more worried.
"What if this was a bad idea? What if he defeats me?" she muttered lowly. "He surely must know so many spells for duelling."
She slowly worked herself up over it. The thing was that up to now she never took an interest in duelling at all and only knew the spells they learned in the DADA class plus a few she came across while doing homework. However, she was in no way as good as someone like Avery who probably learned magic since he could walk.
Harry, who heard that, stopped her and turned her towards him.
"Lily, listen to me. In a duel it doesn't matter what spells you know, it is how you use them that matters. Severus mentioned that Charms is your strongest subject?" he asked her upon which she nodded. "Then use that. Use what you can do best."
"But how are spells like cleaning charms supposed to help me?" Lily asked him incredulously.
"Think outside the box," Harry retorted. "An animation charm on his clothes and he is distracted. Tarantallegra, and he'll have problems aiming his spells properly. Conjure a bunch of paper cranes to swarm him...you get the idea. Be creative in your spellcasting, and you'll wipe the floor with him."
Lily seemed to think about what Harry just told her when she suddenly sported a grin that even put the Marauders to shame, and it made Harry wonder whether she was the one in Gryffindor people should fear instead of those four.
"I think I know what you mean and I already have an idea of what I can do," she replied while she continued towards their destination with determination.
"Why do I have a feeling that I should pity Avery?" Harry muttered towards Severus and Barty low enough that only they could hear him.
"Avery brought this on himself," Barty replied equally low. "He'll soon learn not to underestimate her."
Harry though looked at Barty when he heard the fondness with which Barty had spoken about Lily. Did he have a crush on her? That indeed was interesting and something he would have to observe.
It didn't take them long to reach the duelling arena, where Flitwick and Slughorn were already waiting. To the side stood Avery surrounded by the Carrows as well as Mulciber and Rabastan Lestrange. They all looked with disdain at Lily while speaking lowly.
"Very well, now that both parties are in attendance we can proceed with the duel," Flitwick exclaimed once he spotted them. "You both know the rules, no permanent harming and nothing illegal. Other than that you can use whatever you want. I'll be your referee. On your positions."
Lily and Avery walked to the duelling platform and stood to face each other. Lily looked towards Harry and Severus and nodded towards them with a smile.
"I bet you ten Galleons that Lily will win," Harry muttered loud enough that everyone in their vicinity could hear him.
That, by now, were quite a lot of people considering that nearly all the Slytherins and all the Gryffindors were there too as well as quite a few of the other houses. The Slytherins wanted to watch Avery putting that dirty Mudblood in her place while the Gryffindors wished to see her defeating the Slytherin.
Harry's muttered words instantly had a massive impact on the entire room. Suddenly everyone wanted to bet on the outcome of the duel and, in the end, Flitwick was roped in as the one who took the bets. To Harry, it was evident that this was a common occurrence during duels and he had a feeling that it wasn't any different with Quidditch matches.
That had him again wondering just how much would change during the coming years because in his time there was no betting anymore, at least not officially. Sure, the twins were the go-to party when you wanted to bet in Gryffindor house, but that was in no way the scale it was here.
Watching how nearly every student placed a bet on the outcome of the duel, he together with Severus – who didn't bet – and Barty – who put a bet on Lily – towards the stands and sat down with a good view on the platform.
It took another fifteen minutes until all bets were placed and everyone found a place to sit.
"Before the duel begins, what are your claims?" Flitwick called out to the duelling parties.
"When I win, she'll have to stay away from any and all Slytherins," Avery claimed wit a smirk knowing that she was friends with Severus.
Lily though huffed. "When I win, he'll have to leave me alone and never again call someone a Mudblood," she retorted.
With that they both briefly glowed golden, magic accepting their claims and backing them up. Both held their wands up in front of them and bowed before they turned around and walked into position.
"On my command! Three, two, one...GO!" Flitwick called out.
In an instant, Avery shot off several spells that Lily sidestepped with ease and blocked those she couldn't with a Protego. Afterwards, Lily shot an Aguamenti at Avery in return.
Avery laughed while he conjured a shield to block the oncoming jet of water.
"Is that all you can do?" he taunted her. "What do you want to achieve? That I drown?"
Lily, on the other hand, grind mischievously and shot another spell at Avery's feet.
"You can't even aim properly," Avery called out with another laugh while taking a more offensive stance.
That was when he suddenly began to flail with his arms, slipped and landed heavily on his ass with a surprised shout.
What he hadn't anticipated was that Lily's second spell had been a freezing charm she cast on the water that pooled around Avery thanks to the Aguamentig spell, freezing it over in mere seconds.
With a well-placed low-powered blasting spell, she sent Avery careening over the duelling platform and over the edge at the end where he fell to the floor with an indignant yelp.
"Lily Evans wins this duel by sending her opponent off the platform," Flitwick shouted amusedly.
Within moments the entire room was a pandemonium. Gryffindors were celebrating Lily's victory, while the Slytherins claimed that she must have cheated.
During all this, Lily could only stare at Avery, who was currently dusting off his robe and glaring at her. She couldn't believe that she genuinely defeated him and that her straightforward strategy had worked. It wasn't long after that a grin spread over her face, and she looked to where Severus, Harry and Barty were sitting, sporting matching grins.
Slowly she walked over to them, thanking the congratulating Gryffindors on her way.
"I cannot believe that this worked!" she exclaimed once she was in hearing range.
Harry could only laugh. "You were brilliant! Even if I didn't think that you'd take my line about wiping the floor with him that literal. The thing is that most wizards only think in established structures. In a duel and battle, you use offensive spells while you shield yourself. None of them would use transfiguration as a distraction or as I did once, banish their clothes to distract them."
"Because it is dishonourable to do so. Only cowards use trickery to win a duel," Avery, who turned up behind them, sneered.
"Says who? Nowhere in the duelling rules is it stated that you cannot use things like transfiguration or simple spells to defeat your opponent," Harry retorted.
"No one does so!"
"Actually, Mr Avery, you're wrong. I once encountered a dueller at a championship who only used prank spells to defeat his rivals, and he was very effective with it, nearly got the better of me. So, you see, as long as the rules don't state otherwise, you can use everything to your advantage," Flitwick explained.
"Mr Eldrid, Mr Crouch, your winnings," he added, holding out a pouch to each of the mentioned.
They both took their respective pouch, and Harry opened his, counted off ten Galleons before he held the poach out to Lily.
"Here this is for you," he told her with a smile.
"What? Why? This is your winnings," she asked him confused but took the pouch nonetheless.
She looked into it and saw that it was quite a substantial amount of money since only very few had bet that she would win, even from the Gryffindors.
"I cannot accept this!" she said in shock.
"Why? You won, and this is your trophy money," Harry replied with a shrug. "I took out the amount that I bet so it isn't as if I lost any money."
"I suggest you take is, if I learned something today it is that he is very stubborn," Severus brought in when he saw that Lily wanted to argue.
"I didn't know that you could be so wise," Harry said with a beaming smile.
"Others would call it Slytherin self-preservation," Severus deadpanned.
Harry shrugged. "Whatever."
Lily looked torn between refusing to take the money and hugging Harry. In the end, she decided on the second option, heeding Severus' advice, and fell around Harry's neck, hugging him close.
"Thank you!" she muttered in his ear before she let go again.
"No problem," he replied.
"So, now that you showed that idiot that you're not to be underestimated do you still want to learn more about our society?" Barty spoke up.
"Of course!" Lily told him. "Library?"
"Library!" Barty happily said, and with a goodbye to the others, he turned around and led Lily to the library.
"This is one way to sidestep her questioning about who you are," Severus muttered with a low chuckle.
"Do I have to know what you're talking about?" Harry answered with a smile. "However, is it just me or has Barty a crush on Lily?"
"Since the fourth year, when he witnessed how Lily hexed Potter three ways to Sunday because he pissed her off. Gave him a healthy dose of respect for her and from this day onwards he took a liking to her but never dared to approach her considering that she's a Muggle-born and Gryffindor to boot. Today changed that though."
"You!" Aver suddenly snarled. "This is your fault. You M...Muggle-born stride in here as if you're someone special, leaving chaos behind, questioning our views and think that we'll adapt to you!"
It seemed that he wanted to say Mudblood but thanks to the duel and Lily's claim he was unable to say it to anyone. Harry found that hilarious as it seemed that it was Avery's default expression for the Muggle-born.
"I already told you that my parents were both magical," Harry replied with a sigh. "Besides that, you have no idea who I am, so do you really think it a good idea to anger me?"
Many of the surrounding Slytherins looked at each other in confusion but also a bit worry. It was true that they had no idea just who that new boy was and they had consequently no idea how powerful he was, magic wise as well as politically.
"Then who the bloody hell are you?" Avery snapped.
"Mr Avery, ten points from Slytherin for language," Slughorn, who walked up to them said. "I'm appalled. You lost, take that as the means to get better not to lash out at others. Tom, I hope you're alright?"
"Don't worry, it takes more than a sore loser to faze me," Harry said with a chuckle. "Anyway, I think I'll retreat to the common room. Good evening Professors."
With that Severus and Harry together left the Duelling Arena and went down to the Slytherin Common Room. They were followed by nearly the entire house as it was apparent that they finally wanted the promised information.
So it came to no surprise to Harry that he was cornered the second the entrance closed behind the last student.
"So who are you?" Avery questioned again. "And trust me, should I don't like your answer, I'll make your life hell."
Harry looked at him flatly before he wandlessly called an armchair over and sat down. Everyone was staring at him for this offhanded display of powerful magic.
"You want to know who I truly am?" he asked them all upon he received glares that ranged from disbelieving over the question, to disdain and open curiosity. "Very well but first a warning. Should you talk with anyone outside of the Slytherin house about what I'm about to tell you...believe me you won't like the consequences."
Most of the Slytherins hid the fear that was induced by these words very well, but some looked around, wondering whether it was worth it knowing the truth. Though according to Eldrid no harm would befall them as long as they keep their quiet.
"As of today, I am Lord Tom Hadrian Peverell, Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Peverell. However, for reasons of my security I go by the name of Eldrid until I'm off age," he explained to the shock of most of the attendant Slytherin.
"That is impossible," someone he didn't recognise exclaimed. "The House of Peverell died out decades ago."
"You're wrong, there are actually quite a few alive who are related to the Peverells though you have to meet certain conditions to be able to claim the name not to mention the lordship."
"And who would that be?" one asked.
"What conditions are this?" another threw in.
"Well for who, that is easily answered. I'm related to Ignotus Peverell as are the Potters though they are from a different branch. Then there is also someone alive who is related to Cadmus Peverell," Harry said with a smirk.
"Who?"
"The Dark Lord Voldemort."
A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone processed what they just learned. However, the silence didn't last long before it gave way to disbelieve and even anger that Harry dared to claim that he was related to the Dark Lord.
"Liar!"
"In no way are you related to the Dark Lord."
"Preposterous!"
"Outrageous!"
This were some of the nicer things that reached Harry's ear. The only one who wasn't in an uproar but leaning against the wall and watching everything meticulously was Severus. He had to admit that Harry looked like he was sitting in a throne in front of his subordinates though he would never say that aloud.
Other than Severus also a few others were silently sitting in the back and closely watching him. Harry assumed that they either weren't followers of Voldemort or decided to stay back and see where this would lead.
"Are you quite done?" Harry asked loud enough to be heard. "And here I thought you were Slytherins and not those boisterous Gryffindors."
That let most of them bristle in indignation that they were compared to Gryffindors.
"You claim to be related to the Dark Lord but do you have any proof of that?" Regulus Black, who was one of those who stayed in the background, asked.
"I have proof, but unfortunately I cannot show it to you," Harry answered while thinking about it.
"Why?"
"Because it contains information, that is not mine to reveal," he retorted in an exasperated tone. "But if you want to know anyway, you can always go to the Dark Lord and ask him."
"So, you say we should just believe you or what?"
"I don't care whether you believe me or not. You wanted to know who I truly am that I'm hiding from Dumbledore. I'm a Peverell and Dumbledore always had an unhealthy fascination for that family, and when he pestered us too much, we left the wizarding world and went into hiding. Anyway, I'm exhausted so excuse me, but I'll retire," he told them while standing up and walking towards the dorms.
However, he didn't get far. He just turned his back at the masses and only reached the corridor that led to the dorms, when a spell flew at his back.
Merely seconds later gasps were heard throughout the common room. The one attacking Harry was dangling in the air, apparently held in place by an invisible force around his neck that also cut off his windpipe, struggling to get out of the hold. Harry in the meantime held his left hand up in a position as he wanted to strangle someone his eyes glazed over shortly before they refocused.
"How stupid and cowardly can you be? You know absolutely nothing about me except my name, not how strong I am and certainly not what I'm capable of. Despite that, you thought it a good idea to attack me while my back is turned and I'm unarmed? Well, tough luck!"
Harry stalked towards him while tightening the hold around his neck. The other boy's face was beet red by now, and he was bordering on unconsciousness due to the lack of air. With a last glare, Harry let go, and the boy slumped to the floor where he landed in a heap while coughing heavily and trying to get some air in his lungs.
"You should be glad that I'm not into torturing people but trust me that if you should attack me again while my back is turned, you'll rue the day you met me for the first time, am I clear?" Harry asked in an ice-cold tone upon which the boy just nodded weakly. "Good. I hope that I don't have to tell you what happens if anyone talks about this outside this common room."
The glare that he threw everyone told of extreme pain should anyone dared to go against him in this. Though then an idea occurred to him.
"No wait, as long as you can make sure that the information stays within certain circles, you can tell your parents. But should I learn that someone is the reason that the information got out...well, just be careful."
With a last glare, Harry turned around and quickly walked towards the dorm.
Severus, who was still leaning at the wall, chuckled lowly. It seemed that Harry was a sleeping dragon and that if you poked him once too much, he would lash out and he did it in such a marvellous way. Harry truly made threatening an art.
With a last chuckle, he pushed off the wall and followed Harry with determined strides. When he entered their bedroom, however, he saw Harry standing at his bed, his left hand resting on the bedpost and his head hanging.
Severus walked over to him and sat on the bed next to him so that he was able to see Harry's face. He saw how Harry tensed briefly when he entered his field of view but quickly relaxed again when he saw who it was.
"Something's wrong. Tell me," he ordered.
"The attack...it's just...," Harry sighed deeply before he turned around and sat down next to Severus.
"This wasn't the first time that you were attacked while your back was turned, wasn't it?" he asked carefully.
"No, no, it wasn't," Harry replied in a low voice, looking at his fingers. "It was the reason for why I was on the run."
Severus stayed silent and waited for Harry to continue when he was ready to. However, that didn't stop him from watching him closely. It was apparent that this was a painful memory for him, one he probably never talked about before, not even with his friends.
"After my sixth year at Hogwarts the second war was in full swing, I didn't return for my seventh. Instead those I thought to be my best friends, and I searched for a way to defeat the Dark Lord," Harry finally told. "He had managed to not only take over the Ministry but also Hogwarts in the meantime. Let's say it was dark times.
"Luckily you were able to keep the students who remained at Hogwarts out of harm's way most of the time.
"Anyway, my friends and I searched for a way to defeat him. We found it and defeating him we did, or better I did. Afterwards, I was hailed as a hero, invited to fancy parties and whatnot but I didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. You were dead, Fred was dead...so many dead."
Harry took a deep breath before he continued.
"I never finished Hogwarts but was instantly thrust into Auror training. Within a year I was a full Auror who absolved the Academy with the best marks in a century. At the age of 26, I was promoted to the Head of the Auror Force.
"In the meantime, I had a wife...children...and I hated it, I hated every second of it. Not my children of course, never them, but my life itself and I wanted away. Away from the expectations thrust at me, away from the never-changing system, away from the monotony of my life.
"With 33 I finally took the step and quit my job. At first, it was great. I could finally do what I wanted to do, but I quickly realised that it was only an illusion of freedom created by my friends and my wife.
"About a year later I confronted them, told them that I would leave entirely and that they should leave me alone. I just wanted to walk away when my own wife sent an Avada Kedavra at my back. It was only at hairbreadth that I got out of its way and away from there.
Afterwards, I was quickly declared the new Dark Lord and hunted with vigour. Luckily, I still had real friends who helped me. However, they all died because of me."
A lone tear fell from his eye and left a trail down his cheek.
"A year and a half I managed to evade them before they cornered me in an abandoned Muggle factory building. What happened then you already know."
Silence fell between them, and they sat there for Merlin knows how long, just basking in the company of the other.
"When did you meet Death for the first time?" Severus finally asked.
Harry sighed, he didn't want to talk about all this, but he would never lie to Severus or keep something from him, never from him.
"The first time I met him was when Voldemort's killing curse hit me, and I ended up in limbo. He had the gall to appear as Dumbledore! Earned him a hit on his nose. Though I didn't see him long that time as he soon sent me back.
"However, when I really met him was half a year before my death and shortly after Neville and George died. Shortly before them, Luna had been killed after...after they..."
Harry covered his face with his hands, and loud sobs escaped him.
Severus shuffled closer and pulled him against him. Harry didn't even resist and let himself be drawn into the sideways hug, his tears now flowing freely.
"George and Neville went to avenge her. I never saw them so furious before. They took seven Aurors with them and harmed even more before they were killed," he continued after a few minutes. "It was a week or two later that Death showed up. I was at the end, didn't want to live anymore and became more and more reckless.
"At first I thought that Death finally came to take me too, but no it still wasn't my time according to him. Death told me that I had to pull through and that it wouldn't be long anymore before everything would turn for the better. You have no idea just how much I hexed him for that, but he simply endured it."
Harry chuckled lowly.
"But he stayed. The night, the next day and the days afterwards, edging me on to stay focused and telling me that life would be better soon. He even warned me when those traitors were close so that I could get away.
"At first, I thought about letting them get me, but somehow I still didn't want to die, so I followed Death's advice. He managed to pull me out of my depression, and that was when he became my friend," he said with a soft smile.
"He had to go back to his work soon, but whenever he could manage, he came to me and kept me company. He never lied to me, never led me astray, never judged me. Now he brought me here…I'll be forever in his debt."
"I have a feeling that there is more behind bringing you here other than making your happy. I mean from what I saw today, he went to great length with bringing all your friends here, and I somehow doubt that he did all that from the good of his heart," Severus mused when it became apparent that Harry was finished.
"Oh, he has ulterior motives, that is for sure, but what those are I have no idea. Maybe it is to stop Dumbledore and everything that happened because of him, perhaps it is to vanquish Tom again, or prevent the end of the world. I have no idea, so, for now, I go with what my instincts say, and that is that letting Dumbledore win is a bad idea, so I'll see what happens when Tom wins. Perhaps that is the better solution, perhaps not. I trust Death to tell me when I shouldn't do something and until then…."
By now Harry leaned heavily against Severus, and he could see how utterly exhausted the other boy was. So Severus stood up, pulling Harry with him and walked around to the side of the bed. With a flick of his hand, which made Harry chuckle lowly, the cover slid down, and Harry's robes were changes into a pyjama. He guided Harry to lay down before he changed his own robes and slipped into bed behind him. There was no way that he would leave Harry's side after all he just heard.
"I knew you were powerful, but it is nice being proven right," Harry muttered drowsily, already half asleep he curled into Severus' embrace. "Just never leave me, okay?"
Severus pulled him even closer. "Never," he promised.
"Never again," he added in a mutter, but the words wore lost to both of them as they both entered Morpheus' realm.
"Good morning, my Lord," Enyalius Carrow greeted the Dark Lord while kneeling before him. "I have news from Hogwarts."
Marvolo sighed inaudibly. "Take a seat," he commanded, his irritation barely audible but it was there. "Something to drink?"
Enyalius chuckled inwardly, not missing his Lord's irritation. He knew that him kneeling irritated the hell out of Marvolo but he, as well as the rest of the inner circle, wouldn't stop. They all had chosen Marvolo as their liege lord in the hope of a brighter future, and it would speak of horrible etiquette when they didn't kneel or bow before him.
However, now that he was ordered to take a seat, he got up and sat down in a chair across from Mavolo.
"Tea please," he answered the question. "A letter from my son Amycus reached me this morning, it contained interesting information pertaining Mr Eldrid."
They had agreed to continue calling the boy by that name until they knew his real one.
Marvolo motioned him to go on, and after taking a sip from his tea, Enyalius did.
"Yesterday evening young Mr Eldrid finally answered a few questions to his person. According to his claim, he is a Peverell, not just any Peverell but the Lord of the house too, though he wants to keep that secret for the time being. Moreover, he claimed to be related to you though as per his claim, he couldn't give any proof because that would reveal information that wasn't his to reveal," Enyalius reported.
The Dark Lord tapped his mouth in thought. "This is indeed interesting, and he is correct that he is related to me given that he truly is a Peverell. Though calling it being related to me is questionable as he would have to be my cousin Salazar knows to what degree and how many times removed."
"But why couldn't he prove his claim?" Enyalius wondered.
"Because he would have to reveal my actual name to do so. It is quite interesting, he showed up two days ago, no one ever heard of him and he blatantly flaunts my name for everyone to see who knows who I really am, apparently trying to gain my attention. But then he has an entire history, parents, a life to show to that name. I wonder how he did it because I doubt that his parents had all this in mind when going into hiding or that they are really his parents in the first place," Marvolo mused.
"Could he have set it up?"
"Highly doubtable. No one can forge the lives of three people so thoroughly. I had some of the lower ranks have a look into him, and there is everything, papers, Muggle school records, his mother was even a member of a knitting club. Now it turns out that he is a Peverell and it makes sense that they went into hiding," he explained.
"My Lord?" Enyalius asked confused.
"Dumbledore always had an unhealthy obsession with anything Peverell. Ever since he learned that I'm a Peverell, he kept an even closer watch on me than he already did. The Potters are also related to the Peverells, and you know how close he keeps them, he even looks the other way with everything their latest spouse does as not to anger them. If he were too insistent with Hadrian's parents it would be no wonder that they went into hiding," Marvolo brought out vexed.
"I knew that he was interested in the family but that he was that obsessed I didn't know," he conceded. "So you say that the boy's life is set up, but at the same time it cannot be forged?"
"That is the thing, isn't it? The boy's entire history contradicts itself if you know where to look. However, I'm quite certain that he must have set it up hence why I wonder how he did it."
"How can you be so sure?" Enyalius questioned.
"Because he isn't from this time," Marvolo simply stated.
"Time travel? So, he's from the past?"
"More likely the future," Marvolo said with a shake of the head. "Remember what he told you yesterday. He said that he had been an Auror before he was declared a Dark Lord. Let's assume that he didn't lie about it and considering that he would have no reason to do so we can take it as given.
"Think about it, the only other Dark Lord that lived since I was born was Grindelwald and do you genuinely believe that he would be currently at Hogwarts were it indeed Grindelwald? No, Dumbledore would attack him the second he saw him, not that he even looks like Grindelwald. Sure, it could be a disguise, but for this to work, he would have to have known about the attack beforehand, and that he would end up in Hogwarts should he already have been in this time. Or it was planned time travel but then how did set up the lives of his parents? No, this would rely too much on coincidence to be a feasible plan.
"However, besides that man, there was no other openly declared Dark Lord during my time, so that is ruled out because he wouldn't know anything about me. Then there is also the fact that he seems to know everyone around him while no one knows him. How did he get all the information unnoticed?"
"But what if he lived here for quite some time now and learned it during that time?" Enyalius threw in.
"Possible but improbable. He would have lived in the Muggle world for most of the time and considering that he's apparently only sixteen he would have a tough time to dig up information without anyone noticing. Especially not all the information he has. Besides, there is something else," Marvolo said while sorting through one of the drawers.
"This is my family tree, going from Salazar Slytherin downwards, though the only branches that go into detail are those of the Peverells. I had the goblins craft this after Dumbledore grew overly interested in me because of it and it is self-updating. The last time I looked at it, there was only the branch going down from Cadmus whom I'm related to and the Potter family who are related to Ignatius. But there was no Tom Hadrian Eldrid in any of the branches."
Marvolo held the scroll out expectantly.
"What do you want to bet that there is now an entirely new branch, possibly coming from the Potter family and ending with Tom Hadrian Eldrid?"
Enyalius carefully took the scroll and unrolled it. Looking over the family tree, he sucked in a sharp breath when his eyes fell on the Potter family. He knew the entire family, having to as the Lord of an Ancient and Noble house, so it came as quite a shock that indeed there was a whole branch no one knew of until now.
"You're right, but...how?" he asked, his shock and disbelieve evidently.
"I have no idea but imagine the possibilities should he really be from the future, the knowledge."
"Only if he'll share. Then there is the fact that should he share, that things evidently will change resulting in his information being incorrect," Enyalius cautioned him. "Then there is another thing. He is sixteen, how can he have been a Dark Lord not to mention an Auror?"
"About that, I can only speculate, but I assume that his little travel in time also de-aged him. I have to admit that the boy is an absolute conundrum and it will be interesting to finally meet him in person."
"So you'll..." Enyalius began but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Marvolo commanded, and the door opened to reveal Lucius Malfoy.
The man entered and fell on one knee in front of him, his head bowed in respect. Though Marvolo didn't command him to stand up or take a seat as Lucius wasn't far enough in the ranks as to receive such hospitality. His father Abraxas, however, was an entirely different matter.
"My Lord, I have news on the unknown boy," the blond man reported. "According to an informant in the Auror force, they conducted a questioning of Tom Eldrid yesterday. It was the Aurors Moody and Shacklebolt who questioned him. From what my contact told me, they were singing high praises of the boy and his view of right and wrong. Another thing is that Dumbledore apparently is highly suspicious of the boy and seems to think him connected to you in any way, going so far as to think him your son."
"That bumbling old fool always put his crooked nose it places it didn't belong," Marvolo growled.
"My Lord, I would suggest that you at least inform the upper ranks of the boy, least someone with the necessary influence takes this the wrong way," Enyalius spoke up.
"You're right, it wouldn't do if someone hurt him," Marvolo replied. "Mr Malfoy you can go."
Lucius stood up from his kneeling position and with a bow and a "My Lord", he left the study.
Marvolo in the meantime tapped a crystal skull that stood on his desk, calling his upper ranks with it. Afterwards, he stood up and followed by his friend, walked out of the study and down the corridor towards the dining room where he would hold the meeting. He naturally sat at the head of the table with Enyalius to his left. Soon the first of his inner circle and upper ranks arrived, shortly knelt before him with a respectful "My Lord" and took their seat. On Marvolo's right sat Abraxas Malfoy and down the table first came his Inner Circle and then the upper rank. All in all the room housed about forty people once everyone arrived and took their seat. Some of the seats stayed empty, though Marvolo wasn't perturbed since he called the meeting on very short notice after all.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, but information reached me that warranted this meeting," he spoke up after a few moments, and the murmured conversation stopped immediately, everyone's attention snapping to him. "As most of you already know, ever since two days ago, Hogwarts is housing a new student, Tom Hadrian Eldrid. He apparated to Hogwarts while he was under attack of a few low ranks on a Muggle mall. New revelations brought to light that he not only is a Peverell but the Lord of the house."
Here Marvolo needed to pause because disbelieving muttering broke out throughout the room, no one wanted to believe it to be true as there hadn't been a Lord of that house for centuries now. He let it go on for a few minutes before he continued.
"I am aware how surprising all this is but that is not all. Some of you may have already heard the rumours that Dumbledore thinks that Mr Eldrid is, in fact, my son. I can assure you that while he indeed is very distantly related to me, he is not my son.
"However, I have to warn you all, and I ask those of you who have children at Hogwarts to instruct them accordingly and let word spread. Tom Hadrian Eldrid is for the time being under my protection and should anyone harm him, said person will have to answer to me. Did I make myself clear?"
Another round of muttering went through the room while everyone nodded their consent. None of them wanted to anger the Dark Lord, and so they would make it very clear to their children that they would have to treat the boy accordingly.
"Good, has anyone questions?"
"My Lord, do you wish to recruit him?" Arcturus Black, current head of the House of Black and member of the Inner Circle, asked after a few moments.
"The boy expressed a deep-seated hatred for Dumbledore but whether that means that he'll join our cause or not remains to be seen. However, I don't want any possible future cooperation ruined by one of your children. So warn them that he is to be treated with uttermost respect and tell them to spread the word to anyone from our side."
"I fear that I have no control over what my grandson Sirius Orion Black will do, my Lord," Arcturus hesitantly brought up. "It is more likely that he'll antagonise the boy because I tell him not to."
That made Arik Lestrange, Lord of the House of Lestrange, chuckle lowly. "I have it on good authority that Tom Eldrid can defend himself pretty well."
"Ah yes?" Marvolo asked. "How so?"
With that, Arik told the attendant what had happened when Harry had faced off the Marauders after they returned from their shopping trip. Marvolo had to admit that it was a brilliant way to get back at them without any possibility of getting into trouble for it. It was quite the Slytherin way to go, and it intrigued him even more.
Marvolo chuckled lowly. "Don't worry Arcturus, as long as he doesn't harm the boy, I have no problem with it as I'm sure that Eldrid knows about Sirius Black's allegiance."
He fell silent for a few moments thinking everything through.
"Is there anything you want to discuss?" he finally asked.
"What about the lower ranks? They might want to hurt Eldrid if they don't know that he's under your protection for now," Abraxas asked carefully.
"Indeed," Marvolo muttered, stroking his chin in thought. "Spread the word but make sure that it doesn't leave our ranks. It wouldn't do for us to accidentally release his allegiance this early. Anything else that needs my attention?"
Silence and shaking of heads was the answer.
"Good, then you're dismissed. Have a nice day," he told them. "Abraxas, please stay behind."
Instantly murmuring arose, the attendants discussing what they learned and what they thought about the development. Each of them bowed before the Dark Lord before they left the room, leaving Marvolo and Abraxas behind.
"What can I do for you, my Lord?" Abraxas asked once the door closed behind the last one.
"I need your business expertise. A few months ago a new joke shop opened on Diagon Alley, the WWW," Marvolo explained, and Abraxas nodded in confirmation. "What I want you to do is to find out everything that concerns the shop, where they get their products from, how successful they are, simply everything. I want to know how good an idea it would be to invest in them."
"My Lord, if I may ask, why this particular joke shop?"
"It is in some way connected to Eldrid and should my assumption be correct then it would be in our interest to get involved with them given that Eldrid isn't averse to our ways," he made clear. "But don't make any attempts before I had the chance to talk to Eldrid, just research."
"Very well my Lord, I'll get to it as soon as I return home," Abraxas replied with a bow of his head.
"Good, you're dismissed," Marvolo said and watched how Abraxas stood up, bowed before him before he left the room.
He stayed in the room for quite some time, thinking through what he learned about Eldrid so far. Admittedly it wasn't all that much but what he discovered was astonishing, and he dearly hopes that he'd be able to convince him to turn to his side.
With a sigh, he got up and walked back to his office. Unfortunately, leading a side in this country also meant lots of paperwork. Whoever thought that he was evil had never to do paperwork before.
The next morning, Harry woke up tightly wrapped in the arms of another person. At first, he tensed minutely, his brain having to catch up and realise that he was still in Hogwarts and that the person behind him was Severus. However, as soon as he woke up enough to realise that he was not in danger, he relaxed again. That was when the memories of the previous evening came rushing to him.
Harry snuggles closer to Severus, trying to forget what happened on the evening and the memories it brought up.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?" Severus muttered in his ear, naturally already awake.
"Good, better than ever actually," Harry replied with a smile, using the distraction that was Severus to push the memories away.
Yesterday he could watch Severus coming from the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his midsection, and today he woke up in his arms? He could really get used to it, but then he also didn't want to get his hopes up that this was more than an initial interest. That Severus would eventually realise that he wasn't really interested in him and stop any attempts to be close to him.
However, he would enjoy it for as long as it would last. Harry knew that it was bordering on suicidal what he was doing, but he couldn't help it. He was here in the arms of the man that he loved beyond anything.
"I wonder," Severus said, ripping Harry effectively from his musing. "What was that spell you used yesterday on that idiot who attacked you?"
Harry chuckled lowly. "That wasn't an actual spell but simply my magic doing my biding. I have to admit that I stole that move from a movie that...is actually not out yet. I'll have to show you once it is out."
He hummed lowly because that gave him an idea. Harry decided that he would have to talk to Griphook about whether he would be able to invest into the Star Wars movies if not actually buy up the entire thing. If nothing changed too drastically, it would give him quite the income.
However, for now, he had more important things to think about, namely the young man in his back.
"Hmmm, what will the view from my bed include this morning?" he teased Severus.
Severus chuckled lowly.
"You'll have to wait and see," he replied in a soft voice, giving him a quick kiss before he slipped from the bed and walked to the bathroom while pulling his shirt over his head and tossed it on his bed.
Harry watched each of his moves and looked the creamy white back up and down, enjoying every inch he could see. He knew that at some point in the future he would lose this, but for the life of him, he couldn't stop. Yes, it would hurt when the time came, and he wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't lose himself over it, wouldn't break beyond repair, but in his opinion, it was worth it, it was worth every second that he could stay with Severus.
So he just leaned back and enjoyed the show that Severus gave him, humming happily and if he grinned like an idiot, well...there was no one to see him.
The next days flew by with the professors praising Harry more often than not for his work. Especially in classes, they shared with the Gryffindors – which was nearly all – this soon ended in a contest between Barty, Lily and Harry, who wanted to see who could get a spell faster, better or more fancily. For that Lily now sat between Harry and Barty with Severus on Harry's other side nearly every lesson.
This, however, quickly drew the envy and anger of James, who glared at them all the time. It seemed that his disdain for Slytherin rose exponentially the more time Lily spent with them. Luckily for everyone involved, he didn't act on his hatred...yet.
Lily and Barty were also often found in the library, where, in a hidden corner, Barty taught her more about pureblood customs and the magical holidays. She soaked up anything Barty taught her like a sponge while they discussed the finer points.
Barty seemed to really open up and enjoyed teaching her very much.
From time to time they were also joined by Harry and Severus, who would do their assignments while listening to the discussions. Though from time to time Harry also asked for clarification on something Barty was telling. Luckily for them – or better yet better for the Slytherins and other certain idiots – they weren't bothered by anyone about it after the display during the duel. It seemed that either Lily had given them a healthy dose of respect towards her or they were still plotting something. Either way, the four friends were left alone, and that was all they cared about.
Another thing was that Harry sometimes found himself dragged to the closest hidden niche by Severus and snogged senseless during breaks or free periods. He always left those sessions with wobbly legs, and Harry had the growing suspicion that Lily and Barty knew precisely what was going on between him and Severus.
However, the closer Saturday and Harry's meeting with the Dark Lord came, the more worried Severus grew.
A/N: 'til next chapter (this time WITH the meeting)!