Section: Harry Potter
Pairing: Voldemort/ Tom Riddle Jr. X Harry Potter
Genre: Romance/Supernatural
Summary: The summer after his fourth year Harry gets the memories and abilities of two different people who lived in different times. When he makes sense of them, he realizes that his life can never be easy.
Warning: Reincarnation, Slash, Incest, Necromancer! Seer! Harry, Mentions of Mpreg

Chapter Ten

The four official Founders were sitting around the large round table in the Great Hall for lunch with their families. One lone empty chair was almost too noticeable and they could not restrain themselves from throwing worried looks at the empty chair, as if their looks alone would summon the absent member of their unconventional family. One of them however, instead of worried looks, threw annoyed, angered ones at the object, silently seething.

Just how long was Hericles planning on sulking? was the though running through the man's mind. It had been weeks now since Salazar had confronted his brother and since he had avoided the younger man like the plague. He could not let anything like the abomination they had created to happen again. He was putting a stop to all this nonsense once and for all. Nonetheless, that did not mean he did not keep an eye on his little brother. A part of him was worried and slightly regretful when he saw Hericles affected so strongly by the event that had taken place between them, but a larger part of him was more annoyed and irritated than anything.

Just how long was the brat planning on sulking? Was he doing this to gain some kind of pity from Salazar? To get some of his brother's attention? Then he could only be dreaming as Salazar was not going to give him any. It had been weeks now and Hericles had not really had any time to really get attached to the abomination so there was no reason for him to act so… wretchedly. This only served to annoy Salazar even more than anything else.

Even Ethelinda had started to ask about Hericles' state and health and the woman was becoming more of an annoyance than she already was. Salazar had married her only because of her high birth and he had known that she would be a good mother to his children. He did not love her, nor did he feel particularly attached to her, and though her mannerisms were those of a perfect Lady she was more of a nuisance than anything else to Salazar. He did not need her to start worrying about his brother now and to bother him with senseless questions about Hericles' well-being.

"Sal, are you certain Hericles is quite alright?" Helga asked her fellow Founder, a troubled looked on her soft features.

"Of course," Salazar scoffed as he took a sip of his wine. "He is only seeking some attention," he added derisively.

"Salazar! How can you say something like this about your own brother!?" Rowena chided from her place a few seats away as she handed her daughter a plate of vegetables. "You of all people should know that Hericles is far from an attention-seeker."

"Rowena is right. What is wrong with you, my friend?" Godric frowned disapprovingly at the black-haired, green-eyed man. Said man sneered but before he could say anything the large doors of the Great Hall banged open and a man – by his brown, worn attire, a helper they had employed to assist with the grounds – burst through, wheezing.

"My Lords," gasped he. "Ladies! This is horrible!"

"What is it, my good man?" asked Godric as they all rose from their seats, concerned frowns on their faces.

"Master Hericles… He – " as if unable to continue, the man looked down.

"What is it? What is wrong with Hericles?" asked Salazar, his voice deceptively calm and even. Inside, however, his heart beat frantically in sudden anxiety and fear. What was wrong? Surely Hericles was safe and well, if not sulking somewhere in the castle.

"Master Hericles… He – " repeated the man but this time Salazar did not hear anything. A buzz seemed to appear in his ears and the world around him seemed to get swallowed. The next few moments were a blur, words echoing through his agonizing mind, words that would haunt him until his last breath and beyond, 'Hericles – mundanes – attack – blood – sorry – dead… dead. dead. dead. dead!'

And when he saw the pale, bloodied body of his brother – his precious, little, most beloved brother – Lord Salazar Slytherin broke down, cradling the lifeless corpse, repeating the mantra, "I am sorry. So sorry. Don't leave me. I love you. Don't leave me. I'm sorry. Come back. I love you. I love you. I love you –"

There was nothing the other Founders could do to console their friend. They too grieved for the loss of a little brother, though not related by blood.

The sight of the proud Slytherin Lord so broken and lost, though shocking, could only break their hearts and all those witnessing the scene.

In Riddle Manor a figure bolted in a large bed…

… and promptly released a scream of rage, concealing the anguish wrecking his heart. Or what was left of it anyway.

The Siren Lagoon was the place where the sirens, creatures that the mundanes had confounded with mermaids, lived. Much like in the mundane fairy tales, the sirens were half human and half fish, and were mostly females. The males that were born to them were only bearers. Sirens were considered as silly muggle myths by the magicals as they had long since disappeared from the world but the truth was that they had all simply moved to the Sanctuary when the prejudices began, like the other magical beings, and even before that they had always preferred to stay away from the wizards.

With only bearers and females being born in their people the sirens had to have relationships with other beings to have children, thus how the myths about them had been born by the mundanes. They did seduce men from ships but not to kill them like in the legends; they seduced them and had children with them. The humans were not killed but their memories were erased and they stayed with the sirens until they eventually died since their lifespans were far shorter than the sirens.

They were hardly cruel though. Sirens were naturally playful and cheerful. The lagoon was thus one of his favourite places in The Sanctuary. That was why the first place he showed the wizards of his past was The Siren Lagoon. Understandably they were astonished at the mere fact that beings like them actually existed but after an hour they were comfortable enough around the sirens that had come to greet him.

"This is so very astonishing!" Hermione gushed at Hericles who could simply smile in ill-concealed amusement. "I never would have thought sirens existed if I did not see this. This is –this is truly wonderful. Oh, Hericles, it would be perfect if only the Wizarding World could see The Sanctuary!"

"Hermione is right," Remus commented from beside them as he gazed at the sirens splashing playfully the younger wizards of their company and Sirius who could not help but join in the fun, laughs and beautiful over-worldly giggles filling the air. "If the Wizarding World can only see what such a place has to offer I am sure even the most stuck up pureblood would want to change their ways."

"It is not this easy," said Hericles sadly. "Some people are stuck in their ways and their views cannot change this easily. The Sanctuary is, as its name says, a sanctuary above all, a paradise of sorts. One day maybe the world shall be like this, but it would take years to accomplish and only if both the Dark Side and the Light Side work together for this ideal."

"I can't see Malfoy working with muggleborns," scoffed Hermione.

Hericles laughed. "The Malfoys, above all else, favour power and traditions. Muggleborns have come to their world and forced them to practice their traditions in secret like criminals. They would follow anyone who shows great respect for their traditions and has the same wish to continue their practices, and who has power to back their claims."

"Harry!" a voice called, drawing him from his conversation with Remus and Hermione. As he turned away he failed to notice the sudden surprised jolt from his companions. Sera was waving at him from her place on a large rock where she had been sunbathing, her blue, shiny tail stretched in front of her.

"Sera," Hericles greeted warmly. "What can I do for you?"

"Are you joining us today?" She asked hopefully. The other sirens that had previously been occupied with Hericles' guest immediately turned their attentions on them.

"Oh, yes, Harry!" another one practically begged.

"Please!"

"Join us!"

"Harry!"

Hericles laughed. "Oh, I am unsure…" He drawled teasingly. "Should I?"

"Harry! You promised next time you would!" Sera pouted.

"If I recall, my dear, I said 'another time', not 'next time'." Immediately a cacophony of voices called out, asking him to join them. Hericles laughed again before turning to his wizard-companions. "Would any of you like to join me?"

"You mean-"

"-getting wet with-"

"-such pretty creatures?" the twins asked with a mischievous twinkle in their eyes.

"Count us in!" they finished together, sharing a shark-like grin. Ginny rolled her eyes; meanwhile Molly scolded her sons.

"What about clothes?" asked Ginny. "We can't actually go in like this. And we'll be cold when we have to walk back."

"Worry not," smiled Hericles. With a tilt of the head, he called softly, "Xanthus?"

"Yes, young master?" Ginny and Hermione shrieked and the others even jumped as the darkly-clad man appeared from the shadows in a split second.

"Never going to get used to this," Ginny muttered to herself, a hand to her chest as if trying to slow down her furiously beating heart.

"Can you bring us a change of clothes and some towels?" asked the young Lord. "Oh, and maybe a picnic for lunch?"

"Of course, young master." The shadow shifter bowed before disappearing swiftly. A few minutes later he reappeared with what Hericles had asked of him, except for the picnic, though he laid down a blanket on the sand for those who did not wish to join the sirens in the water.

"Thank you, Xanthus." Xanthus bowed and left again, after handing everyone a bathing suit each. Hermione immediately recognized them as muggle bathing suits.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Those are…"

"Yes, we also use many types of muggle paraphernalia here," explained Hericles. "Mostly those that Empousai brings back from when she goes to the outside world. Muggles have come a long way from before."

Yes, a long way. Hericles thought back about chamber pots and inwardly shuddered. He certainly did not miss that.

The next few hours the youngsters and Sirius spent playing around in the water with the beautiful sirens while Remus and Molly lounged on the sand not far. Hericles joined them shortly after entering the water, changing swiftly into another set of robes far from curious eyes. Xanxus also returned with a picnic in a basket ready for consumption, which he served to everyone after Molly called everyone from the water.

"I am confused," said Ginny as she munched on a sandwich. "You said sirens seduced men to be able to have babies. But why didn't they just have babies with males in their own species?"

"I have been thinking about this too," Hermione added with a confused frown. "Wouldn't it have been easier?"

"This is because this the male sirens cannot sire children," Hericles explained patiently. "The males are much like the females except with added organs."

"Huh?"

"What I mean is that the males are only capable of bearing children like the females and not to sire them."

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Stop right there a minute, mate!" Ron spluttered. "Are you saying that the siren-men can get pregnant!?"

"Yes, this is what I am saying," Hericles sipped calmly at his drink.

Hermione frowned. "How does this work? Males are genetically unable of being pregnant. Or is it different for sirens?"

"How to explain this?" Hericles hummed as he lowered his glass, head tilted to the side in contemplation. "First of all, I suppose, is that, no, this is not restricted to only sirens. All the different magical species have bearers. Bearers are males who have been born with the ability to bear children. Long ago it was normal for bearers to exist but now they have become a myth amongst myths."

"You are saying wizards could have children with other wizards?" Remus asked as everyone else stared disbelievingly at Hericles.

Said young Lord nodded simply. "Yes, but again when muggleborns first came to our world they thought it unnatural for men to lay with other men. They forced the rest of the populace to think like them much like in other matters and before you know it wizards have lost the ability to bear children."

"That's… sad," murmured Hermione, subdued. "How – How is it that just because muggleborns made everyone else think like them, wizards can no longer become pregnant?"

"Magic," started Hericles, "is all about intent. People started to believe that it was immoral and unnatural to have children with people of their own gender except some few. Magic reacted to their feelings and before they knew it, no more bearers were born. As the years went by it became forgotten that it was even possible."

"How do you know all this?" Hermione asked.

Hericles smiled. "Because The Sanctuary was not touched with this view and bearers have been born here for centuries in any of the species, be it siren, veela or even dragon." Taking a sip of his drink, he added, "there are many history books in the library if you wish for more information. However, many are written in old English or some other form of language that was used when the writers had written about them."

Hermione smiled gratefully. After a moment of contemplating silence the quiet was broken, surprisingly, by Neville who pipped up hesitantly, "how do you know when someone is a… er… bearer?"

"Hm…" Hericles hummed. "Usually bearers are much more graceful than others; they have a lithe and slightly curvy body; they are physically weaker than other males and sometimes females and are really delicate. They also have natural mothering instincts and are quite good with children."

Everyone then turned back to their lunch as the conversation turned to another subject, though some of them shot contemplative looks towards their young host.

After their lunch they all relaxed a little more before deciding to go back to the manor. As they walked through the forest, following Hericles, the guests could not help marveling at the beauty the area around them exuded. It was like a place right out of a story with the tall sturdy trees and their dark green foliage, and the animals running around. They even saw a mountain lion cross the path they were following, sniff at Hericles' hand before walking away. They only had to see their new friend's tranquil visage to know that this was a normal occurrence.

It was like right out of a dream; all kinds of magical and non-magical creatures alike living peacefully together.

Suddenly a small dark figure jumped out from behind a tree and tackled Hericles who stumbled slightly at the unexpected added weight. Wands shot out from their hiding place and were pointed at the… small little girl dressed in a black dress and no shoes, hanging off Hericles' shoulders. Surprised the wizards lowered their wands.

"Harry!" the small figure squealed as she rubbed her cheek against Hericles who blinked in surprise before smiling warmly.

"Kaylee," he greeted warmly as he maneuvered the little girl into his arms where she snuggled happily, and as Hericles turned they could see that the little girl had straight waist-length hair and dark – dark – eyes staring from her almost luminescent face. She looked to be around five. What she could be doing roaming the forest alone was beyond them. "What can I do for you?"

"I missed you! Why didn't you come to see us?" she whined.

"I apologize," he chuckled. "But as you can see, I had a few guests over and was a little busy."

It was then that the little girl, Kaylee, turned to them and blinked. "Oh! Wizards!"

"Hericles chuckled. "Yes, wizards." Turning to them he added, "Everyone, meet Kaylee. She is a –"

"Vampire," Remus interrupted as he sniffed the air.

"I am a princess!" she chirped.

"Yes, Remus, she is a vampire. She is The Sanctuary's vampire coven Leader's daughter. And," here he turned and eyed a nearby bush pointedly, "the little one hiding over there is Ava." There was a small shuffle before a small blond head popped out from said bush. Another little girl appeared, her small face red as she ran to hide behind Hericles, sneaking a look at The Sanctuary's guests. "She is a werewolf and the daughter of the current pack alpha." The new girl seemed to be around the same age as Kaylee. She was dressed in a small pale pink dress and also bare-footed.

Surprised, they could only stare.

Vampire and werewolf living together and apparently friends, they concluded as they saw Kaylee squirm in Hericles' arms before she dropped to the ground and held the other girl's hand as they followed Hericles for a little while before separating and running into the forest, Kaylee shouting a 'goodbye' at them as Ava waved shyly.

Were they not supposed to be mortal enemies?

…Yes, The Sanctuary was truly something else.

Note: I was a little stuck with this chapter as nothing really interesting comes up except for the little flashback at the beginning. I am not particularly proud of this one... But, well, I hope you still like it. It became longer than I expected and what I had planned failed to appear (again). So, sorry, but Voldemort still fails to finally meet Hericles (SPOILER!).

Right. On another note, I would like to say that I do not mind when I am asked to update as it reminds me that people actually like what I am writing and encourages me to write but one guest reviewer was particularly rude and I would like to remind this person that I write for myself (and those who love what I do) but that I do not have an obligation towards anyone. I already said before that I update only when a chapter is ready which can happen anytime (with hours, days, weeks or months interval). This person also has to remember that I have a life, with responsibilities that I need to take care of. I cannot spend my time simply writing. I put my all in what I write and hate doing something (excuse the language) half-assed. So excuse me if I do not update quickly but I can't help it. If you don't agree with it then please, refrain from reading and do not leave behind offensive reviews. Thank you.

To all the others, please, do not mind my little rant and thank you for reviewing. I love seeing your little comments.

Leave behind a review and tell me your thoughts.

Leight