Title: The Gray Phoenix
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 Thirteen

Severus wanted to knock some sense in a certain young teenager who apparently had a penchant for dramatics not unlike his father. Honestly, the man should have expected this; this was the son of Sirius Black so of course he would be as much of a magnet for trouble as his father (and the youngest Potter a latent thought tried to add and which he promptly ignored). Unfortunately, for Severus this little antic of his was most likely going to send the man on the receiving end of the Dark Lord's wand for a most pleasant session under the Cruciatus Curse.

Not telling the Dark Lord of a new student coming for the new school year was something, but not telling him of a student who was apparently not only a Feim (from the same Feim family the Dark Lord had done everything to completely annihilate during the last war) but also a boy with enough talent and power to apparently make a shield able to repel the Unforgivable Curses… Severus knew he no longer had a choice.

As McNair attempted to obtain the Dark Lord's forgiveness for the failed raid, the other Death Eaters around him feeling just as tense and apprehensive as he did, Severus knew he could not stay quiet for long. If he left this meeting without announcing everything – or at least something – he knew, the Dark Lord was sure to kill him the next time he would be called. There was only so much Severus could do to keep the young Feim from the Dark Lord's attention but his chances had flown out of the proverbial window the moment the foolish boy had decided to go and play hero for a couple of children.

"What did you say?" the hiss coming from the dangerous figure sitting on the throne in front of them all made everyone around shiver. The Dark Lord's presence had always felt dangerous but on this day it was even worse than even when Harry Potter had escaped from the Graveyard on the fateful day of the Dark Lord's resurrection.

Dolohov who had been the one giving his own report bowed lower in front of their master. "The boy's eyes turned white, my Lord. White and lightening up like fire. I did not see much as he disappeared not long after but it was right before the raid started."

"And you are certain it was the boy?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"I see." As the Dark Lord fingered his wand, Severus could not help but feel even more apprehension and concern for the Feim boy at the man's contemplative look on his reptilian face. "Does anyone have anything to add about the boy?"

And there was his cue. Carefully, Severus approached and bowed at the Dark Lord's feet while Dolohov went back to his place.

"Severus. What do have for me?"

"The boy's name is Hericles Feim, my Lord. He is a new student joining the seven years of this coming academic year."

"Is that so?" Severus could feel the dangerous note in the Dark Lord's voice. "And why have you not come forward with this information before?"

This was going to hurt, Severus knew it. "I apologise, my Lord. I never thought the information would be to your interest. Dumbledore came to some of the Professors to test him during the holidays before he could join the seven years. Apart from his intellect the boy did not seem particularly exceptional."

The Dark Lord was silent for a moment that seemed far too long for Severus' nerves.

…Yes, the Cruciatus Curse did hurt quite a lot.

He looked ethereal in the mid-morning light. Heri had always been beautiful but right then, as he looked at him curled up around his book under a tree on the Hogwarts grounds, knowing that the other was his – body, mind and soul – he had never been even more beautiful. When the other looked up at his approaching form and gave him this adoring little smile, green eyes lighting as they locked with his, he was proven that Heri could be even more beautiful.

"Tom," his voice was so inviting and he could not help but return his smile with one of his own. Heri closed his book and put it aside, eyes never leaving his. "Are you done with Slughorn?" His hand was taken and he was gently pulled down to sit beside the other. He tightened his hold on the delicate hand in his hold, thumb absently rubbing the soft skin gently.

"Yes. I have nothing else pressing for today," he replied.

Heri's smile widened and his eyes crinkled. Unconsciously, they both leaned towards each other until they were pressed closer, heads tilted with barely any space between them.

"Then you will not mind if I steal you away for the day?" The mischief in his green eyes belied his innocent tone.

"Oh, I certainly will not mind."

With that, they both leaned in each other and sealed their smiling lips.

He woke up for once not in anger. The peace from his dream followed him in the waking world and he basked in it for as long as he could. He tried not to think about how the other was no longer with him, had not been for decades. He had tried for so long to forget the other, to forget that once he had been happy, to forget a time when the future had seemed so promising and full of light.

He closed his eyes at the pain in his chest, tightening his heart – a pain that had never left him but one that he had been successfully ignoring for decades.

And now there he was, remembering a time long past, longing for something he would not – could not – have again.

A much more recent pair of green eyes flashed through his mind.

His eyes snapped open.

Once…

Once during a time he had tried so hard to forget he had told him that they were both reincarnations and that they would always find each other again. He had said that he would always find him, that he would be back, the same day he… left.

Back then he had been too preoccupied, his pain far too fresh to really remember, to realise.

Dolohov had said the boy's eyes had turned white. Like fire.

He remembered another boy whose eyes also used to turn white, flashing and burning like fire. He remembered a knowing look in those beautiful, beautiful eyes every time afterwards. He remembered a boy to whom the future was no mystery but who kept its knowledge close to his chest.

"The future is not one to be trifled with, Tom. Knowing does not mean you can always change it… Knowing is sometimes more of a curse than not knowing…"

He remembered a beautiful boy who had given him such a sad, sad wistful smile the morning of that day. A morning unusually spent in bed. A long kiss full of meaning exchanged.

A goodbye that had felt more than a simple goodbye from the knowledge that they would see each other in a few hours.

A goodbye that had meant they would meet not for a long, long time but with only one of them holding that knowledge.

"Just like you cannot change time with a Time-Turner, there are some things that need to happen and knowing they will happen does not mean you can change it when it happens. Being a Seer is one of the most painful things to be, Tom."

Tears shed after losing parents. A small body encased in his arms shaking in agony.

"I'll always find you, Tom. Whatever happens, I'll always find my way back to you."

Green, green glowing eyes full of meaning unknown.

A mind full of mysteries.

A smile full of unknown pain.

Well.

Severus had said Hericles Feim, had he not?

"Young master?" Hericles turned his eyes from the rain pouring outside his window and to his faithful friend who entered his bedroom with a lit candelabrum in his hand, the flickering flames lighting up the darkness of his room. "Is everything alright?"

Hericles gave him a smile before he turned back to his window, his shoulder resting against the wall and arms tightening around himself. "Everything is fine, Xanthus. You need not worry."

"I see. You could not sleep?"

Hericles chuckled. "I guess." The man took hold of his hand and gently guided him back to his bed. He did not resist and let himself be put back to bed like a small child.

"You should rest, master. Tomorrow will be a long day for you."

For a long moment Hericles stared up at his bed's canopy, not saying anything even as Xanthus knelt beside his bed and blew the flickering flames out. With a sigh, he covered his eyes with his hands and just… breathed.

"You must think me so silly, worrying like this when I know everything will turn out alright."

"Not at all, young master." A warm hand caressed his hair, the soft touches unwittingly relaxing his previously tense form. "You have every right to worry. Knowing does not exempt everything else you have to go through first. You are only human and no human, as powerful as he might be, can be perfect. Being who you are does not mean you have to be perfect, my Lord. It just means you have more responsibility on your shoulders. And all of us here would gladly help you shoulder your responsibilities. It is a great honour if we can ease your worries, if a little."

Hericles turned until he could face Xanthus. He stared at his friend in the darkness, only his silhouette really visible; the one who had cared for him when he had come to live in the Sanctuary what felt like ages ago; the one who had held him as he screamed from the pain of infinite visions assaulting his mind; the one who had watched over him as he destroyed the training hall over and over again in fits of anger each time the knowledge of his first life became too much.

"Thank you," he whispered. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

Xanthus smiled and brushed a little tuft of hair behind his ear. "Sleep, Master. I shall remain by your side."

Hericles, Heri, Harry… closed his eyes and allowed himself to completely relax for the first time in what felt like forever.

Whether he was Harry Potter or Hericles Feim, it would seem that he could not get away from the public's attention, he thought wryly as he walked through the portal to the platform 9 ¾ and to the eyes immediately turning to stare at him. Well, he had only himself to blame. After all, this time around, it was his own actions that placed him in this predicament. He had known back then that this would happen but well, there was no way he could have left those children to the Death Eaters' mercy.

He tried his best to ignore the whispers that broke out across the platform. At least he had been able to erase what had happened in Gringotts – from those that had been present – from living memory. He really did not want to think just how worst it could have been.

"Somebody's become a celebrity," a voice muttered in his ear before the red-haired girl to whom it belonged laughed and ran in front of him.

He sighed. "It is not like that was my intention." If not for the fact that he would never allow it in such a public place, Hericles would have pouted.

A hand clapped him on the shoulder. "Not that you can blame them, mate. That was pretty wicked." The tall red-haired boy threw him a grin and went to join his sister in front.

"Come on, you two," another voice huffed. "Stop teasing him for this."

"Don't take all the fun away, 'Mione!" the previous boy mock-whined.

"Ron! Ginny! Be nice," a plump red-haired woman walked up to her two children, a disapproving frown on her face. "Don't stress the poor boy on his first day."

Hericles held in another sigh as the woman continued her scolding and a warm hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it too much," Remus said as he came to walk beside him. "People will forget about it quickly. Just enjoy your stay at school. And don't worry about those two. Despite what Molly might say, they're just trying to put you at ease."

The young teenager gave him a smile. "You are right. Thank you, Remus." A bark at his feet and the furred body cuddling his legs made him laugh. He knelt and held the large black dog in his arms, letting out another laugh as a wet tongue licked him once in the face. "I shall miss you too." He buried his face in the warm fur.

"Young Master?" another male voice called nearer to the train. He removed himself slightly from Snuffles and turned to where the shadow shifter was. "Your trunk has been moved to the train. The young Mr Longbottom mentioned he will show you to the compartment."

"Thank you, Xanthus." Hericles smiled before dropping a quick kiss between Snuffles' perking ears. "Stay safe," he whispered to the dog that replied with a bark and an affectionate head-butt.

It was time to leave.

"Hericles!" a little voice squealed his name before a small body collided with him. Hericles laughed as he held the small eleven years old in his arms for a moment.

"Nathaniel," he greeted warmly as he stared down at the child attached to him.

The ride to the school had been completely uneventful. He had stayed in a compartment with Neville and later a young blond girl going by Luna Lovegood. Hermione and Ron were Prefects, Hermione being Headgirl, and Ginny was surprisingly – to her family – also the Prefect of her year. As such they had to spend their time meeting with the other Prefects in the Prefect compartment and then patrol the train for the rest of the ride. They only managed to wave at them quickly during the journey before going back to their Prefect duties. For Hericles, the ride had been relaxing. The other two were quiet and no one had come to bother them.

As soon as the train had reached the station and he had stepped out to join the First years, he was greeted by a certain child he had met only once.

"You're here!" Nathaniel grinned.

"And so are you," he returned just as cheerfully, though more controlled. "I am glad your parents have allowed you to come."

"Me too! Thank you! It's because of you; they said that if you're here then they don't have to worry about me too much."

They followed the first years, not minding the looks they were getting from the other students. Hericles listened attentively as boy told him about the rest of his holiday, his ride in the train and all the sweets he had eaten. He was so very glad the boy could come to Hogwarts. When he had talked to his parents they had seemed reluctant, particularly after what had happened during their first trip in the Wizarding World. The fact Hericles had helped and protected their sons had helped, and he could not be more thankful. Every child deserved to experience Hogwarts in all its magnificence after all.

When they arrived where the little boats were waiting for all of them the child quietened and stared at the castle on the other side of the lake in awe. Hericles allowed his smile to turn wistful but no less happy.

Home.

AN: It has been a long time since I have last updated this story. I know a lot of you have been waiting for the last - almost - four years. A lot has changed since then, along with my writing. I'm sorry I made you wait so long and I hope you still like this chapter. A lot of you keep asking me if I have abandoned this story, and I can tell you that I have not. This story is not my best but I'll stick to it and do my best to complete it. I honestly only have a vague idea of where I want it to go and I'm literally writing whatever comes to mind during the actual writing. The plan for the future events of the story are not exactly completely clear in my mind - I know where I want to go but not exactly how to get there yet. Well, we'll see I suppose.

Thank you all who have been waiting patiently for this story to continue.

Leave behind a review and tell me what you think.

Leight