Parseltounge
"Speech"
Thoughts/Telepathy
/flashback/
Map writing
Chapter 8
SECRETS
Morning arrived too fast. It was the first morning Harry could remember exercising alone. Harry had touched Kira's mind upon waking only to be gently pushed out with a mental moan. After he showered he tried to touch her mind again and received a weary I'm up. We'll be out in a moment. Draco and he walked out to the common room and waited for the two girls. Draco spoke with a few of the Slytherins as they waited and reported that the house would fully support the dark heiress. First and foremost, Slytherins were loyal to their own.
Blaise and Kira entered the common room. Harry could sense even more changes in the flow of magic around Kira. He realized she was also wearing her protection pendent under her robe. He nodded reassuringly to her and the quartet headed up to breakfast. The few non-Slytherin students in the great hall glared with malice at the four first year serpents as they walked to their table. The glares were ignored as the quartet sat down to eat. For them it was a very quiet meal. Blaise, Draco, and Harry knew how drained Kira still was and didn't push conversation. Harry noticed that Kira ate protein rich foods and almost no carbohydrates. He wondered at that, the dark blood craved protein only when completely new powers could be accessed.
The other three tables were much more alive with whispers. The Great Hall filled up quickly and rather more completely than a typical Saturday morning. The entire student body, minus a few here and there, arrived before breakfast was even a fourth over. Albus Dumbledore stood up as Minerva McGonagall tapped her spoon against a glass. The hall quieted and all eyes turned to the head table.
"Knowing Hogwarts as I do, I know that rumors of what happened at yesterday morning's flying lesson have spread over the entire school. I wish to negate some of those rumors for as we all know gossip is a very dangerous past-time. The truth is Ms. Riddle saved Mr. Longbottom from a very painful fall. Ms. Riddle magically exhausted herself by doing so. Her power was replenished by the magical blood of the Dementor. This does not make Ms. Riddle a monster because as we all know the blood of different magical creatures is very potent and rife with energy. Ms. Riddle showed herself to be a fine example of a witch by protecting another student. She suffered so that he would not and I don't believe she should be shunned or punished for her actions. I encourage you to forget the foolish rumors and go back to your normal routines. I wish you all a pleasant weekend." He smiled with that annoying twinkle in his eyes.
Kira looked at Harry What the bloody hell is he up to?
"I wish I knew," said Harry in a low whisper, "his speech has no purpose I can see."
"Perhaps it is meant to show Uncle Tom that the old goat isn't holding Kira's blood against her. You know as an attempt to get us to lower our guard." Draco said this in a conspiratory whisper.
"If that's the case, it won't work," said Blaise, "Uncle Tom is way too smart for that. And I'd like to think that we are too smart to fall for something so stupid ourselves."
The other three nodded thoughtfully. Harry said, "But no one ever said the manipulative old fool is intelligent enough to convince father or us of anything."
"Let's go," pleaded Kira weakly, "I need to meditate and solitude would help immensely right now." She sent to Harry I'd prefer the clubhouse.
The four stood and slowly made their way from the great hall. Five students from the Gryffindor table stood up and quickly followed. Outside the Great Hall, Ron Weasley, flanked by Seamus and Dean, said, "Hey snakes don't you have some rock to crawl under?"
"Leave them alone!" yelled Hermione before any of the quartet could react.
Ron spun around and snarled, "Stay out of it you slimy know-it-all snake loving traitor."
The quartet had turned by this. Due to the strengthening of Kira's empathy, both she and Harry could feel Hermione's emotional distress. Even without the empathy the pain was clearly written on her face. Harry used his deadliest voice and said, "Weasel you can either apologize to Hermione or suffer the consequences."
Ron spun back toward the serpents, "Screw You!"
Harry calmly nodded and raised his wand. "Stupefy," his voice rang out with clear anger. His spell was joined by two other stupefy spells as Blaise and Draco cast their stunners at Dean and Seamus. The three Gryffindors hit the floor hard. Hermione's eyes widened in surprise and Neville jumped back with a frightened squeak.
"Why did you do that?" asked Hermione.
"Because no one hurts our friends," replied Harry.
"We need to remove them and ourselves from this location," Kira said softly.
"Let's really teach them a lesson," said Blaise before she levitated Dean. Draco did the same to Seamus as he smirked at the prospect of teaching the annoying Gryffindorks a lesson. Harry used his wand to levitate Ron.
"Come with us if you want to help," offered Harry to the two friendly lions. He then led the way to an empty classroom two hall ways over. Neville shrugged and followed. Hermione shook her head but followed anyway.
The quartet and five Gryffindors entered the dusty classroom. The three unconscious lions were dropped to the floor without concern. Kira cast a quick dusting charm on the chairs and sat down. "Well what should we do with them?" Kira asked.
Hermione, who had been impressed with their magical knowledge, asked, "How do you guys know so much more magic than any other first year?"
Harry smirked, "Our families were very insistent on us knowing enough magic to protect ourselves."
"Especially Uncle Tom," added Blaise.
"Really, why?"
"Because out families have many enemies. Enemies who would not be opposed to using children for leverage," replied Draco ominously.
"Oh."
"I think we should transfigure their robes into pink tutus and charm the music from Swan Lake to follow them around," suggested Blaise, steering the conversation back to a Gryffindork lesson.
"If we do that we have to have some way to get them to dance before the school before they get un-charmed," added Draco.
"Let's do it. I'll take care of the dancing compulsion," said Kira.
"Are you sure you're up to it sis?"
"You shouldn't do any strong magic until you recover," whispered Neville with a slight blush.
Kira smiled a sweet, gentle smile at Neville and said," I won't recover fully until I start to use some of my power again. Trust me, I'll be fine."
Neville nodded. Hermione said, "Isn't compulsive magic considered dark and illegal?"
"The only compulsive spell that's illegal is Imperious," replied Harry, "Kira will not be using that spell."
"What spell are you going to use?" asked Hermione to Kira.
Parsel-compulsion replied Kira in a soft hiss.
Neville's eyes popped wide open in shock while Hermione jumped back in fear. Everyone knew Parselmouths were evil dark wizards and witches. "You're a Parselmouth?!" stuttered the frightened muggle-born witch.
Kira nodded as the three serpents looked at her passively while questions danced in their eyes. She sighed slightly, "Yes I am a Parselmouth. It is a gift I inherited from my father."
"But the last living Parselmouth was You-Know-Who," breathed Neville fearfully.
"You mean Lord Voldemort," asked Harry as Hermione and Neville flinched at the sound of his name.
"There is no reason to fear the name. It is only a name," said Kira in response to their fear.
"But he's an evil monster and invoking his name brings bad luck," stammered Neville.
The quartet shook their heads. They had dealt with Voldemort for as long as they could remember and the title did not invoke any hint of fear because they knew the man behind the title. Harry gently said, "Voldemort's name does not bring bad luck. The fear a person generates in response to the name is what causes negative outcomes."
"Why aren't you afraid to say His name?" asked Hermione quietly.
"Because I've called him Father all of my life," replied Harry.
"And he IS my Father," added Kira.
The two conscious Gryffindors looked at the two Slytherins in shock. Finally Hermione said, "Didn't he kill your parents, Harry? And isn't your last name Riddle?"
"Yes," replied Harry with a smirk and a shake of his head.
"Yes," responded Kira with a smile.
"Before judging, would you listen to our story?" asked Harry.
Both lions nodded. Draco, see semi-resolution, interrupted petulantly, "Let's do our prank first."
"Don't whine Draco," whispered Blaise.
"Malfoys don't whine. I was not whining."
The heirs hid their smirks at his tone. Blaise was not so successful in hiding her smirk; then again she wasn't trying to hide it.
"Okay," said Neville while Hermione just nodded her head and sat down.
"Thanks," said Harry to the two Gryffindors. He turned back to the unconscious lions and smirked. He Blaise, and Draco began to transfigure their robes. Soon all three boys were wearing bright red leggings, neon pink tutu skirts, and gold leotard tops. A few moments later the melody from Swan Lake flowed from them. Harry waved his wand and the music silenced.
Kira then walked over to them. She knelt beside Ron first. She brought her lips near Ron's ear and set a hand on his chest. Heed my will, Heed my voice. Do my command with skill, Do my command with grace. Wake refreshed in four hours, Walk to the Great Hall, Perform for all your' honors, Take a bow in front of all, Your bow makes your will your own, So you can do then as you are prone.
A soft silver pink light framed him like an aura before sinking into his skin. She then moved to Dean and Seamus; casting the same parsel-spell as she did so. Harry thought that the 'rhyming' she was using would help set her will into effect quite nicely. Parsel-magic was the most powerful dark magic in existence because as you became stronger you could literally speak your will in Parseltounge and it would happen. At earlier stages of Parsel-magic you had to 'rhyme' what you were saying in order for your will to occur.
Harry watched the play of energy around Kira and saw it stabilizing more. The dark energy needed to be used, as she had told Neville not in so many words. Color began to return to her pale visage as she performed her magic. When she finished casting on Seamus she looked normal once again. Harry was very happy to see her magic was stable again, though quite a bit stronger. He would have to ask what new power had manifested.
Kira stood up and smiled. Neville and Hermione looked at her. They had been shocked to discover that the parsel-language had a strangely alluring quality to it. They had found her hisses oddly beautiful. Kira could feel their surprise and slight awe of her parsel-abilities. She said, "Set the silence spell to end when they wake," to Harry.
He nodded, adjusted the spell and then turned back, "So do we talk here or somewhere else?"
"Somewhere else," said Draco.
"Somewhere no one can listen in," added Blaise. Draco glared at her a mouthed 'that's what I meant.'
"How about the clubhouse? I trust them," Kira said.
"Clubhouse it is," said Harry. "Follow us," he told Hermione and Neville.
The two curious lions followed the four serpents. They went to Myrtle's bathroom on the second floor. As they walked, using hidden passages, Kira and Harry conversed telepathically.
Harry began How much do we tell them?
Almost everything. I say we leave out certain names, but stick to the events accurately.
So that means we use tenses that apply best in the situation 'everyone' knows?
Yes, if we tell the story that way, they will understand and none of the devastating secrets will be revealed.
So do we tell them why you had to drink Dementor blood as part of the story?
That would be for the best.
Ace, okay here we are. Now we are only letting them know you are a Parselmouth and not me, right?
Correct.
The quartet and two lions slipped into Myrtle's bathroom and Hermione said, "Why are we here? Don't you know there's a ghost here who can hear us?"
"This is just a stop over," said Blaise as Kira walked to the sink with the snake carving.
She hissed Stairway open. Hermione and Neville jumped back as the wall moved aside to reveal a narrow stairway. Harry began to walk down followed by Draco.
Blaise looked at Hermione and Neville and said, "After you."
Hermione went first and Neville followed. Blaise stepped in behind Neville and Kira entered last. She hissed Close. Harry stopped before the Black marble entrance and whispered his hiss open to the golden eyed serpent. He entered the chamber.
Hermione watched Harry and Draco pass through solid marble and enter the chamber. The marble had rippled as they passed through it and she took a deep breath before stepping through it herself. Neville gulped slightly after Hermione vanished trough the black surface. He walked forward and was pushed gently through as he hesitated at the threshold by Blaise.
Hermione looked around the Chamber in awe. "What is this place?"
"That's part of the story," replied Harry. "Come sit down." He walked to the couches.
Hermione and Neville, no less awed, followed to the couches. Blaise and Kira joined them. The six youths sprawled on the couches in comfortable positions. Silence reigned for a few moments before Hermione asked, "So are you going to tell us?"
"Before we do, can you give us your word that you will keep what we tell you secret unless you are given Veritaserum?" asked Kira.
"Is this knowledge dangerous?" asked Neville.
"All knowledge can be dangerous, this is a bit more so than most," Kira replied. "The story we want to share with you could cause havoc within the wizarding world if certain people knew it."
"Dumbledore knows bits and pieces because he is a part of the history, but if he knew everything, he would probably try to kill Kira," said Harry.
"He'd never..." Hermione began.
"You don't know that," interrupted Draco.
"Desperate men take whatever means they can to achieve their aims. Dumbledore desperately wants to defeat Voldemort and Kira is a key to doing so," added Blaise.
"He wouldn't hesitate to use or kill Kira if he thought it would prevent Voldemort from achieving his goals," concluded Harry.
"I promise," said Neville. The chamber accepted his promise as a word bond and forged the spell to hold him to it. He never felt the energy bond to him, but the heirs felt the shift and were glad.
Hermione looked at Neville questioningly, but she wanted to know, and so she said, "I promise as well." The chamber responded to her promise the same way as Neville's. Hermione noticed warmth but thought nothing of it.
"Thank you," said Kira softly.
"Alright, to understand we have to take you back to the beginning. We begin with a young witch in the roaring twenties who fell madly in love with a muggle named Thomas Riddle. They had a fast paced passionate love affair that ended when she became pregnant. At first he was going to marry her and do right by her and the baby, but then he discovered she was a witch. He broke off the relationship and cast her out of his life. She was unfortunate enough to be a single pregnant teenage witch in the wizarding world. At the time both muggle and wizarding worlds frowned upon a woman who was pregnant out of wedlock. She was forced to make her own way." Harry had begun the tale in a voice controlled and involving. "Her family disowned her because she was a disgrace to their pureblooded line. She ended up giving birth in a muggle hospital. Complications during the birth caused her to hemorrhage and she only survived long enough to name her son. She named him Thomas, after his father, Marvolo, after his grandfather, Riddle."
Kira took over, her voice engaging, "Tom Riddle was placed in an orphanage. The orphanage was not a very good or caring one. It was run by an ex-soldier who had survived the first muggle world war. The man had seen too much and was mentally scarred. Because of his mental imbalances he drank too much and beat the children. Tom was too odd to get adopted as a small boy and as he grew his oddity increased. The orphanage director beat him more than any other child because of his strangeness."
Hermione gasped. Neville's eyes seemed to glow with swirling emotion.
"No matter how badly he beat Tom, Tom never stayed hurt for long. Because he was a powerful wizard he healed at an incredible rate. Shortly after his eleventh birthday his Hogwarts letter arrived. The headmaster at the time was Professor Dippet. Headmaster Dippet escorted young Tom to Diagon Alley where the Gringotts goblins were able to supply Tom with a key to his family vault. His Grandfather had died not long after his birth and written a will to pass the family estates and fortunes to Tom Riddle after he turned eighteen. Until his eighteenth birthday, Tom was allowed a hefty stipend to use for schooling. Tom came to Hogwarts in the late thirties and was the only half-blood sorted into Slytherin in the last century."
Harry took up the story again, "Tom was a very intelligent, cunning and ruthless child. He had grown up in an environment of hatred and distrust. He flourished in Slytherin and quickly made a name for himself in spite of his heritage. He excelled in classes and learned the axioms of the serpent house. Hogwarts became his real home, his sanctuary. He had hoped and prayed that he would be able to make Hogwarts truly his home, but the transfigurations professor, one Albus Dumbledore, convinced Headmaster Dippet to send Tom back to the orphanage in the summer. Slowly Tom began to resent many of his peers and anger toward Dumbledore forged its way into hatred. Then something unexpected happened in his third year, a girl named Myrtle Riddle was sorted into Hufflepuff."
"What?" exclaimed Hermione in surprise.
Harry and Kira gave identical mirthless laughs. Blaise and Draco were listening intently because they now realized there were some things the heirs were telling which they didn't even know. Kira answered, "It turned out that Thomas Riddle SR. had some dormant magic in his blood. One of his five children had been born a witch."
"Indeed, Myrtle was Thomas' half sister," continued Harry. "Tom figured that out very quickly and tried to befriend her. He thought she was an opportunity to finally have family in his life. He was very wrong in that thought because she shunned him. She refused his friendship and snubbed his overtures of kindness. She told him she refused to associate with bastards."
"That's a horrible thing to say," interjected Hermione.
"Yes it is," replied Kira, "and because of that Tom's borderline hatred became a poison in his soul. He came to hate Myrtle with a passion only matched by his hatred of the sadistic orphanage caretaker. He vowed vengeance against Myrtle, Riddle SR. and Riddle's family. He vowed that the Riddles would pay for the death of his mother and the pain he had endured at the orphanage. He discovered the existence of the Chamber of Secrets later that year while he was looking for dark magic to use against the Riddle family. He didn't find the entrance until the middle of his fifth year."
"When he first found the Chamber he entered the hard way, a tunnel rather than stairs," continued Harry. "Tom found the portrait of Salazar Slytherin which resides in the Chamber and spoke at length with the least loved founder. He was told that the Parseltounge gift was almost exclusive to Slytherin's blood-line and because of that Salazar's portrait was willing to tell Tom how to find out if he was in fact descended from Slytherin. Tom was in fact of Slytherin's blood and Salazar told him how to bond with the Chamber. After bonding with the Chamber and awakening certain powers within his blood he then met the basilisk in the catacombs under Hogwarts."
"Tom got to know the basilisk rather well," Kira spoke into the half second silence when Harry paused. They were telling the tale back and forth while keeping up a constant mental conversation of what to speak on next. "He devised a plan to use the basilisk as the first part of his vengeance. He would send the basilisk out to kill muggle-born students and specifically Myrtle. The first few attacks resulted in petrification. The school board seriously considered shutting down the school but because no one had died Headmaster Dippet was able to prevent this for a while. Then Tom managed to kill Myrtle."
"How?" whispered Neville.
"She ran into the bathroom with the entrance to the Chamber to cry and he followed her," Harry answered. "He then summoned the basilisk and opened the hole beside the stairway. When she exited the stall the King of Serpents met her eye to eye. She died instantly."
Kira nodded, "At that point Headmaster Dippet couldn't keep the school from being closed unless the perpetrator was caught. Tom realized he was about to permanently loose his only real home if he didn't do something quickly. He decided to use Hagrid's love of dangerous beasts to frame him. Professor Dumbledore knew Hagrid wasn't guilty but couldn't prove it. He was however able to keep Hagrid from being sent to Azkaban. Father has said that's one of the few wise things Dumbledore ever did."
Harry smirked, "I remember that, anyway since Tom was the one who 'caught' Myrtle's killer, he was allowed to be present when her parents arrived at Hogwarts. They had been called to identify and make arrangements for the body. Thomas Riddle SR and his wife were told what happened and shown Myrtle's body. The response they had to the situation enraged Tom. They told Headmaster Dippet to "dispose of it" because they had no freak children. They refused to stay in Hogwarts more than a few moments after that and it was all Tom could do not to hex them into oblivion."
Kira shook her head, "Tom regretted his actions against Myrtle at that moment and vowed to avenge himself, his mother, and Myrtle's childhood. He knew he had done wrong, but all that mattered was seeing proper revenge being met out to the Riddle family. He kept Vorla, the basilisk locked up the rest of the time he was at Hogwarts and studied the books in here. He kept his studies secret and made plans to travel to all the great places of power after graduation. He journeyed to the greatest nodes and performed ancient rituals. These rituals forged changes in him physical, magical, emotional, and mental. He used his name, rearranged the letters and created the persona Lord Voldemort."
Harry wrote {Tom Marvolo Riddle} with his wand; he then rearranged the letters to read {I am Lord Voldemort}. Hermione and Neville just starred at the words before Harry waved them away. He continued, "Voldemort's first action as a 'dark' wizard was to extract his revenge. He returned to the British Isles and located the Riddle mansion. He chose a lovely summer eve when the entire Riddle clan was home. Thomas and Loretta Riddle were celebrating their twenty fifth wedding anniversary. Their four children, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law were all there."
"Voldemort used parsel-magic to ensnare everyone and hold them to their seats." Kira took up the story again. "He then forced each of them to take Veritaserum. He asked them what they had felt and truly thought about Myrtle. Myrtle's youngest brother Calvin was the only one who had anything good to say. Even the two in-laws had negative views on the deceased witch. Calvin told Voldemort that he had loved his sister very much and missed her deeply. He told Voldemort that he never believed his parents tales about Myrtle being evil Satan-spawn. Voldemort chose to spare him.
"The fledgling dark lord used Imperious to control Thomas senior. He forced the man to beat and kill his own family. The family died in slow agony as Voldemort told each one of them why each pain was inflicted upon them. He inflicted pain for pain every beating he had ever received at the hands of the orphanage caretaker. Finally he released his control over his father and watched the man scream and cry over the murders he had been forced to commit. Voldemort then held the man who should have been his father in more than blood under the Crucio curse long enough for his mind to snap. The Killing curse actually ended Thomas Riddle senior's life.
"Voldemort then released Calvin from his magical bonds and told him to leave. Calvin refused to go. In spite of everything the dark lord had done, Calvin saw something in Voldemort worthwhile. Voldemort threatened to kill his muggle half-brother if the foolish boy didn't leave. Calvin passionately told him to do it because he had nothing to live for. He explained to the dark lord that Myrtle had been the only family member to matter to him. He told Voldemort that he saw some of that same dark-light inside him which he remembered Myrtle having and he refused to abandon the last family he had. His emotions so moved Voldemort that he took Calvin with him."
Harry snapped his fingers, "It was amazing for the dark lord during the next few years. His muggle half-brother showed him that there were definitely muggles worth trusting. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that muggles were just as resourceful, cunning, loyal, and brave as any wizard. He helped Voldemort form his early plans and goals. Voldemort wanted dark "creatures" to receive the same rights as witches and wizards. Calvin wanted muggles to know the wizarding world. Because of this Calvin began to network within the muggle world. He found many people who were more that able to understand the wizarding world and wanted to help. While he did that, Voldemort gathered followers within the wizarding world. Their plans to merge magic and muggle worlds were well underway."
"What?!" Hermione and Neville interrupted at the same time.
"Voldemort's vision is one where muggle and magic worlds coexist," Kira answered simply.
Harry nodded, "The reason Voldemort had his Death Eaters helping him take over the wizarding world is because he needed absolute control to enact the changes he desired. The wizarding world is far more adverse to change than the muggle world. Muggles understand that change is a constant and that it can be very beneficial. For some reason most wizards loose their heads in traditions and refuse to change. They refuse to loose their prejudices and the laws reflect the worst of wizarding views. Voldemort wants equality for all sentient dark creatures as well as the non-human light creatures. We all know that Centaurs, Giants, Goblins, Werewolves, vampires and many others have virtually no rights within the wizarding world. In fact if a witch claims that such a creature harmed her, the Department for Control and Removal of Dangerous creatures steps in to kill the 'creature' without even a trial to prove he may be innocent. More than one innocent non-human has been executed for no other reason than some witch or wizard didn't like them and lied to the ministry."
"You mean Vo... Vol... um... you-know-who wants to revolutionize the world not destroy it the way the ministry believes?" asked Hermione.
"Yes," replied Kira. "Father had a vision to reform the world, but the means he chose to use were flawed. He learned just how flawed after he met Mother."
Harry smirked in memory and continued the story, "Mother was attending Hogwarts around the same time as Professor Snape. She was a muggle born witch with vision, passion, and a brilliant mind. She met Father during the summer before her fifth year. They met because he had targeted a muggle in her area to be killed. This muggle was a militant who had discovered the wizarding world and responded badly to the discovery. He had decided to make war on the wizarding world and had already managed to kill one muggle-born child without getting caught. The day Voldemort went after him was the same day the muggle had caught Mother unaware. The muggle was beating her into a right bloody mess when Voldemort arrived. Incensed at the actions of the muggle he used Crucio to stop the muggle and then the killing curse to end his miserable life. He then healed Mother.
"Mom was shocked to learn her rescuer was Lord Voldemort, but she stayed and listened to him. They started a correspondence and slowly became friends. He began to ask her for ideas on how to deal with certain problems within his ranks and also ideas for dealing effectively with the ministry. She brilliantly came up with uses for his muggle-hating fanatics. She told him to use them in endeavors that were likely to be caught by the ministry and also as distractions when he had bigger goals in mind. She also suggested a more subtle approach to conquering the wizarding world. He began to spend his least desirable followers without remorse. Those are the ranks who wound up in Azkaban or dead in fruitless raids."
"Before long Mother and her closest friends became closer than family to Voldemort," Kira said. "He didn't mark them and he never asked them to Death Eater meetings. He kept them his secret because Mother suggested a perfect way to help him in the war. She and the other friends all joined the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore never suspected anything because none of them were marked and also because mother was muggle-born. Mother and Father were married in secret and only Calvin and her closest friends knew about it.
"Mother and Father are both brilliant and they began working on a way to extend magic into the muggle world. They created a series of potions which opened the channels for magic within children, so long as it was taken before conception. The potion was designed such that muggle parents could have wizarding children and wizards and witches could ensure that no squibs would be born. During their research they discovered a potion which would allow Voldemort to impregnate her when they were ready. Because Voldemort had undergone some truly powerful changes, he was sterile. The potion Mother and he found had to be imbibed by both parents. Mother left the Order of the Phoenix as soon as she knew she was pregnant.
"They took the potion and mother became pregnant. She had also taken the potion to ensure magical children a year or more before this. The combination of the two potions caused abnormal dark magics to invade her womb and change the fetus. A combination of Voldemort's changes, extra boosting from the potions, and Mother's own uniqueness caused me to be born with dark blood. The dark blood causes changes in my magics every time I undergo extreme magical stress. The only thing that stabilizes those powers is blood, tears or venom from various magical creatures. The dark creatures respond to my changes and seem to know when to come to my aid. That was why a Dementor showed up yesterday. Its blood combined with threshold potions stabilized my magic. Actually performing minor magic caused the stabilizing to be complete."
"Enough about you," Harry interrupted, "on with what they really want to know. As Kira said, Mother and Father created potions which ensure magical children. Calvin found a number of muggle couples who thought the idea of magical children to be fantastic. They took the potions and because of that their will be a large number of muggle-born witches and wizards in the next generation. The wizarding children of Voldemort's most trusted Death Eaters are also more powerful. Couples such as the Malfoys, Zabinis, and Lestranges all took the potions to ensure magical children. Because of this Draco, Blaise and their siblings are more powerful than normal.
"The children who were conceived with the potions are going to be the next leaders of the wizarding world. Voldemort wants his revolution to commence as soon as possible, but with a minimum amount of blood shed. The ranks that escaped Azkaban after he "fell" are the ones who can help actualize his vision rather than taint the future into something vile. The potion enhanced children will actually make future generations stronger because the magic in their blood is more pure, not light, just undiluted. If the revolution happens on schedule, our generation, and those who come after, will not have to live hidden from the world."
"And that is our story," concluded Kira as Harry finished speaking.
Hermione looked from one to the other, "So let me get this straight... You-know-who is a half-blood married to a muggle-born and he doesn't hate muggles? Not only that, but he has a muggle half-brother? In addition to this strangeness, he also wants to revolutionize the world such that muggle and magic are the same and that dark creatures have the same rights as witches and wizards? Am I missing anything?"
"Nope, that about covers it," commented Draco in his naturally sarcastic voice. The other three serpents smirked along with Draco.
"So what are we to believe about you-know-who?" asked Neville. "We have been told all of our lives that he and his Death Eaters want nothing more than world domination while 'cleansing' the impurity of muggles and muggle-born. We have been told he loves to torture, rape and kill. We have 'known' our lives were meaningless to him and that he would kill us simply for not agreeing with his world view. We were told he consorts with vampires and werewolves and gives victims to them. We were painted a monster with no remorse, no heart, and no soul. You are telling us that portrait is false. You are telling us that he is not a monster. So what should we believe? Should we trust our society or you? Should we believe your word or everything we have 'known' as truth all out lives?"
"Believe what you feel in your heart and soul to be truth, Mr. Longbottom," said a deep resounding voice from behind the two Gryffindors.
All six children turned their attention toward the voice. They saw a man who looked to be in his early fifties with salted ebony hair and eyes the color of the morning sky. His still handsome face held the years well and the slight tan made him appear younger. He stood at a regal six feet seven inches. His baring was that of a man used to command, but his clothing seemed to contradict the image. He was wearing black jeans, dark gray belt, leather boots and a dark green Black Sabbath t-shirt.
The heirs hadn't realized he had arrived because they were caught up in telling the tale. Seeing him they jumped from the couches and exclaimed, "Father," as they ran to his outstretched arms. He hugged them tightly and when they pulled away Kira said, "I can't believe you're wearing it."
Lord Voldemort smiled as said, "And why would I not wear it?"
Harry replied, "Because you are the feared Dark Lord Voldemort," in a mocking voice. Blaise and Draco chuckled at the family antics they were quite used to. Neville and Hermione just starred with slack jaws and buggy eyes; confusion was their middle name.
Voldemort said, "But they're my all time favorite muggle band, and this was a gift from you two, my little monsters." He pouted slightly, mocking himself as he only did with family.
Kira and Harry burst into laughter while Blaise and Draco's chuckles also became full fledged hearty laughter. Tom Riddle shook his head slightly and muttered, "No respect." He walked over to the couches. He looked at Hermione and Neville. He gave them a gentle smile, one reserved for friends and family.
"Are you really you-know-who?" asked Hermione.
"Yes Ms. Ganger, I am Lord Voldemort." His smile faltered when she flinched at the sound of his name. "There is no reason to fear my name," he said softly, "all it is, is a name."
"Designed to instill fear," interjected Blaise.
"And force the world to sit up and take note of you," added Draco. The heirs snickered.
Voldemort raised an eyebrow at them, "But not a name for family or friends to fear." He turned to look at the two lions again, "And from what Kira and Harry have written about you both, I believe you fall into the category of friend."
Neville blushed and looked down. Hermione said, "So you consider a muggle-born Gryffindor worthy of being your daughter's friend?"
Voldemort nodded, "You are not only worthy, you are a friend to my children."
Hermione blushed slightly. Neville looked up and said in a quiet almost whisper, "What about a Gryffindor whose family is fiercely opposed to you? My parents were in the Order of the Phoenix."
"You are a friend to my children and therefore my family. I respected your parents during the first war and consider your friendship with my children a good thing."
"You respected my parents?"
"Yes, they fought with honor for what they believed. They were formidable people and the tragedy which sent them to St. Mungo's Hospital was horrible. If there is ever any way you think my family can help, just ask."
"Thank you."
"Do you know what Kira and Harry just told us?" asked Hermione.
"Yes I was listening to the entire story."
"So is that how it happened?" she persisted.
"Yes, I originally became Lord Voldemort because of my bitterness and resentment for my father. But there is more to being a dark lord than just a thirst for vengeance. I am a true dark lord in the sense that I have the best interests of the dark at heart. That includes vampires and other dark creatures. That is the reason they support me, where as they have never supported another dark lord in the past. A dark lord is not evil with plans of world destruction. A true dark lord is one who understands the need for light, yet fully embraces the ideals of dark magic.
"What my children left out is the full impact knowing dark creatures had on me. I saw the wrongness inherent in the way the wizarding world treated sentient dark creatures. One of the most intriguing individuals I have ever had the honor of knowing was Jonas Mortigern." Neville gasped in surprised recognition. "I see you know the name. The Mortigern family is an ancient vampiric family and Jonas is the heir of the family. He had always desired to be a teacher and when he attempted to procure a position within the wizarding world he was shunned. His intelligence was scoffed at and he was not given any respect. Because of mine and Calvin's help he now has a job teaching philosophy at a muggle university. He has assimilated very well in muggle society and wishes wizarding society was as open to those different from themselves. Knowing him as I do, as well as knowing many others, I seek to undo the injustices our society lays at the feet of non-humans. Most non-humans are classified as dark creatures when in reality most of them are kinder than your average light wizard."
"Isn't there a danger he'll harm the students?" asked Hermione.
"No, born vampires, which is what Jonas is, only need blood when they have used their vampiric powers. Their magic works just like ours and until a certain age the sun isn't more than a slight annoyance. Only made vampires, who are not bound to born vampires, require regular infusions of blood. Because of the Vampiric Covenant there are only a handful of un-bound made vampires and they obey the rules of the Covenant and don't harm humans. The Covenant rules allow for execution of vampires who harm humans."
"Wow..."
"Do you have any other questions for me?"
Hermione shook her head slightly, "Not right now." Neville just shook his head no.
"In that case I'll leave you students to talk while I go see an old friend."
"See you later Dad," said Kira as Voldemort headed into the catacombs.
"What's he doing?" asked Hermione.
"Going to see the basilisk," commented Draco in his most superior voice.
Neville squeaked, "Its still here?"
"Of course," replied Blaise as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah, basilisks are basically immortal serpents," added Harry.
"It won't hurt us will it?" asked Hermione.
"No," responded Kira.
"It never comes into the chamber; it stays in the catacombs," added Draco.
"She is a very kind basilisk. Salazar Slytherin asked her to be part of Hogwarts' defenses back in the beginning. She was to be a last line against anyone who got inside the castle. Every year Salazar would introduce Vorla to the new students and she would remember their scents. If an intruder managed to get past the wards, Salazar would release her to hunt them down. She knew the scents of teachers and students; therefore she would only petrify those she didn't know," Harry informed the two lions.
"Amazing, so does she know your scents?" Hermione asked Blaise, Draco, and Harry.
All three nodded. Kira then said, "After Father goes back home, we can introduce you both to Vorla. That way she will know your scents and never harm you."
"Okay," replied Hermione. Neville nodded his head slightly.
The six youths began to talk about classes and who was a git. Before long they realized they had conversed through lunch time. They laughed and decided to go raid the kitchens. Kira went out to the catacombs and let Voldemort know they were going. They then used the Slytherin passage to head to the dungeons. The six youths enjoyed their time in the kitchens.
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Review responses:
Shadowface I don't know how, but you reviewed twice for chapter seven... so thank you doubly so.
Slacker1 I'm glad you like the plot thus far.
I feel Neville is an under-portrayed character and figured he'd be a nice convert from the light. As for Hermione, I like her and think she's a great character.
Ron in cannon is a prat... almost all of book four pretty much if you need an example... he goes out of his way in this AU because without Harry and Hermione to temper his own version of bigotry he is not a very tolerant or forgiving person.
These AU's intend to parallel the books... that's part of the reason Harry is a seeker... as for a reason in this AU, it is there, but in case you haven't noticed my style drops hints, but doesn't really give the full picture... take last chapter, did I tell you who Mrs. Riddle was... and while this chapter reveals a lot it also doesn't tell you everything.
The reason why Harry made seeker is simple, Marcus saw him catch Neville's Remembrall when Ron threw it and then saw him fly. Slytherins are too intelligent to pass up talent that could lead them to victory.
Kira does overshadow Harry somewhat, but that is because she IS the Dark Lord's daughter. Slytherins loyal to Voldemort are more likely to look at his blood than his proclaimed heir whom everyone knows defeated him briefly as an infant. She doesn't tell Harry what to do, she suggests things and sometimes, like with the law, she knows more. She is a constant source of comfort and support in his life, something cannon Harry never had. I apologize if she is coming off as a Mary-Sue at this point, but this story is about both of them, it is the "Dark Heirs" after all.
Thank you for your review, I try to take criticism to heart and improve based on what others say, I don't always succeed.
Kage Mirai Glad you agree that thorns keep you on your feet.
Thank you for being such a constant encouragement.