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 Fifteen

Hericles of all people knew the political manoeuvring that started as early as even before the first years at Hogwarts. Usually, being that purebloods of a certain standing more or less already knew of each other since they were all related one way or another, the hierarchy and dynamics were already established through their family standings. These were of course subject to change through each heirs' attitudes and behaviours towards each other during the gatherings that were presented as playdates or tea parties but were usually more political manoeuvring. Of course, things became more pronounced during the Hogwarts years when Houses and magical prowess were added to the equation.

Thus, by the time they reached their Seventh Years, the heirs of a certain standing were already established and everyone already knew their place. This would continue in their adult lives when they would finally be able to make names for themselves or take control of their families.

Hericles on the other hand was a new subject added to the equation, unforeseen by the heirs and so a curiosity while they observed where he would fit in the hierarchy. Therefore, when, as he reached the Slytherin table, the Seventh Years visibly caught his attention and scooted over to give him a place among them, he accepted graciously and gracefully seated himself amongst his year mates.

Draco Malfoy was the one sitting opposite him and, with the way everybody was sitting around him, he was the one at the top of this hierarchy, not surprising considering his family status and the fact that the only family that could rival his was reduced to a couple of convicts and no one in their age group. Well, according to them anyway. It was not like Hericles could just say that he was the new Black heir. However, the Feims were nothing to scoff at either. While not on par with the Malfoys or the Blacks, the Feims had always had a reputation of their own.

That being said, a part of Hericles felt strange while facing his once-rival and his once-cousin's grandson. Reincarnation really did give a new perspective. He felt both familial fondness and the desire to rile the other up just for the hell of it.

"Welcome to Slytherin," Malfoy said as he settled in his seat. "I am Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." Hericles nodded at him politely greeted him back. The surrounding Slytherins chimed in with their own introductions while the Sorting continued in the background.

"You must be a mudblood or a bloodtraitor since I've never heard of a Feim family before," one of the girls sitting closest to Malfoy sniffed haughtily at him, sneering at him from where she was sitting.

"Quiet yourself, Pansy, if you do not wish to embarrass yourself even more," Malfoy cut in immediately with a bored drawl.

"Your lack of knowledge only highlights just how far the Parkinsons have fallen," Greengrass added condescendingly, a slight smirk playing at her lips. Parkinson appeared as if she was gearing up to make another snide remark but she stilled herself when Malfoy shot her a warning look.

Malfoy nodded at Hericles as if Parkinson had not spoken as he commented, "It is good to have a Feim in Slytherin. Should we expect your family to re-join the Wizarding World in the coming years?"

Hericles took a sip from the cup that had appeared in front of him – along with the rest of dinner – before he replied, "You will have to contend with me, I am afraid. But I suppose the Feim name won't be as absent in the Wizarding World as it has been the previous years."

"That is good to hear," Malfoy raised his own cup to him in acknowledgement. "In any case, let us enjoy this coming year we have left at Hogwarts."

As dinner progressed, the Slytherin Seventh Years settled in quiet conversation. Hericles felt a pang of nostalgia. He had many memories at this very table but the closest were definitely from when he had been Heri Black. Life had been so uncomplicated back then. Even with the knowledge of the future looming over him, those years had been the best, most unconcerned years in his lives. Back then they had all been happy; even Tom had been content. Heri had been surrounded by his cousins and the love of his lives. Their main worries had been about classes or what they were planning to do during the holidays. Those had been their halcyon days…

Entering the Slytherin Common Room felt like coming home. His shoulders that he had not even realised had been tensed relaxed and he exhaled softly in contentment. Around him green fire lit the darkened room, giving the foreboding room a homier atmosphere. Snape greeted them all back to Hogwarts and explained the rules to the First Years.

Unlike the other Houses, the Slytherin had always been more tight-knit. While it was true Hufflepuffs embodied loyalty more than the other Houses, being one of their marked characteristics that demarcated them as Huffepuffs, Slytherins had always looked after their own. That was one thing that had remained since the time of the Founders. Back then, due to Salazar and Hericles being both brothers and co-Heads of Slytherin, they had emphasised loyalty towards each other primarily. They might have had their disagreements but above all, they had always valued each other more than anyone and anything else. Thus, their students had also adopted this staunched loyalty towards each other.

Any disagreement was resolved inside the House and outside the Common Room, they always presented a united front. This became even more important when their House had started gaining a bad reputation which led to them closing ranks and protecting each other from the other Houses' aggressiveness and, most of the time, senseless bullying.

This was not something that had changed since Hericles had been there as Heri Black. Instead, it had become even more important as, unfortunately, Tom's crusade had only worsened the situation as people found themselves justified for their wariness and cruelty towards the Slytherins. It was an unfortunate and yet inevitable consequence but all Hericles could do was help to raise their reputation among the people through actions. The Wizarding World could be blind and stubborn in their beliefs but only to a point.

After the brief introduction to the Slytherin House, the First Years were shown their dorm room while Hericles followed the other Seventh Years to theirs. After having spent the last couple of years on what could be considered his own private island, it felt somewhat strange having to share a dorm room with others. Yet, it also felt quite nostalgic.

It felt like coming home.

Heri found his cousins in the common room, Abraxas and Alphard bickering about something or other, Walburga gossiping with Lucretia opposite them while Orion scratched away at a piece of parchment. His smile widened when he saw Tom sitting with them, closer to the fireplace, a book in hand.

He inwardly gave a besotted sigh as he took in his partner, the green light flickering across his face and highlighting his handsome features.

With a bounce to his steps, Heri made his way to the small group, side-stepping Orion's legs and perching himself beside Tom. Blue eyes lifted from the book and softened as they locked with his own green eyes.

"Oh, really? You're just going to ignore us for Tom again? Really?"

Heri let out a slight huff and turned away to stick his tongue out at Abraxas who was giving him a disgruntled look. Beside him, Alphard let out a laugh and nudged Abraxas, a crooked grin on his face.

"Don't be jealous, Aby, you'll find love too," Alphard teased the young Malfoy who turned glaring eyes to him.

"Who's saying I'm jealous?" he huffed back. "And stop calling me by this insufferable name, Alphy."

Attention was drawn away from the bickering duo when Lucretia asked, "And what do you have there, Heri, dear?"

They all turned their eyes back to the smallest Black in their midst, finally noticing the box he held on his lap.

"Oh! Mother sent a few confectionaries from Paris," he explained, opening the box to show them what was inside. "Here, have some." While the others quickly reached over to grab at the sweets, Heri took a little piece of chocolate and nudged it gently at Tom's lips. The other opened his mouth to allow the chocolate in but before Heri could take back his hand, Tom grabbed it and dropped a few fluttering kisses on his fingers.

With a content hum, Heri huddled closer to him and rubbed his cheek against Tom's shoulder like a spoiled cat. Tom smiled back at him and flipped his hand to drop another kiss on his palm.

"Really? Rubbing your love in our faces like this?" Abraxas huffed again.

"Oh, quiet, you," Walburga scolded. "They are adorable."

"Quite," Lucretia added, before the two girls looked at each other and giggled.

"I will never understand women," Orion cracked a grin, parchment discarded on the sofa as he joined the others in nibbling on the confectionaries. Heri's mother always had the best tastes after all.

"Your jealousy can be felt from here, Abraxas," Tom added to the teasing as he sent a smirk at the now sulking blond.

"Eat a chocolate before your face gains wrinkles," Alphard helpfully told the Malfoy who let out an inelegant squawk when a chocolate was stuffed in his mouth. As they fell into more bickering, Heri hid a smile behind his hand, eyes happy and content as he watched his cousins falling into their habitual chaos.

As he felt fingers intertwin with his, he leaned his head against Tom's shoulder and engaged Orion in a conversation about his Runes project. The gentle kiss on his head warmed his heart even more as he basked in being surrounded by his most important people.

The following days were quite… peaceful. Waking up early in the morning, having breakfast with all the other students before heading off to class. Lunch, class and then free time until dinner. It was almost strange getting back in the rhythm of going to school, being a student. Even stranger was being in Hogwarts as Hericles Feim.

Hericles Feim was much different from Hericles Slytherin who was more teacher than student; much different from Heri Black and his carefree school days; even much more different from orphan Harry Potter who floundered his way through the years.

Hericles Feim was a pureblood in Slytherin but had no family relations or familiarity with the other Slytherins, a friend to certain Gryffindors (and that had earned him a few looks from a great number of the student body), and quite clearly neutral in the political setting of the school. He had made his position clear the first day of classes when he smiled at Hermione, Ron and the rest and had been welcomed into their conversation. It had been worth the derision from Parkinson and the at first wary stance of the other Slytherins before he reminded them that the Feims were and had always been neutral.

It had been touch-and-go at first, but everyone in the know did remember that the Feims died to keep to their neutrality during the first war. Hericles' stance was thus not so surprising.

His days were calm and peaceful, the calm before the storm. It would not be easy to change Wizarding Britain but he knew that actions speak louder than words. This was only the beginning and soon things were going to pick up.

He was going to enjoy these peaceful days for as long as he could before then.

After the attack on Diagon Alley, the Death Eaters had been walking on egg shells when around their Lord. The attack had met an unexpected obstacle and the Dark Lord's anger was understandable. However, the Death Eaters understood only later that the sudden frenzy the Dark Lord went through had more to do than simply the attack; it had after all met the objectives they had at the beginning. The Wizarding World knew now of their Lord's return and that he was just as powerful as he used to be.

After learning about the unknown teenager from Severus, the Dark Lord had sent them out to find more about the young man who had stood against them. At first, they thought that it was to find a way to punish him for daring to go against their Lord; then they thought it was to recruit him when the Dark Lord specified that the young man was not to be harmed. Unfortunately, whatever the reason, they still could not find anything about him. The young man was elusive and had even avoided getting his picture in the newspapers despite the unexpected power he had shown back then. As much as they tried, they found neither his name nor a mention of him beyond what Severus had already informed their Lord.

The Dark Lord became even more angered as days went by and nothing was found about their target. No one dared angering their Lord and they attempted to avoid being on the receiving end of his wrath as much as they could.

They could only resort to using their own children as informants. They quickly became used to reports being given to the Dark Lord about this elusive teenager during their meetings. And through these, they even started to learn about the young Feim themselves. They could not help but ask themselves what about the boy, beside his unexpected magical power, could attract the Dark Lord's attention so much.

Though the boy showed indifference towards the Hogwarts House system, as they discovered through their children's complaints about him making friends with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and even Hufflepuffs, they attributed it to the boy not living in Britain nor being involved in the mess that was Britain's political situation. However, these were just childish concerns and beyond these, the Feim was just another teenager.

Yet, they all noticed how the Dark Lord was interested about the boy. They all saw the strange light in their Lord's eyes when it was finally time for their now habitual reports about the Feim boy.

They had all been present when their Lord had first learned of the young Feim's full name. They had all witnessed the smile he had given at the information.

Somehow, they all knew that, though they could not find a reason behind it, they needed to warn their children to be very, very careful around the last Feim.

Then the day came when, after their usual reports, the Dark Lord turned to Lucius and gave him one specific order.

The annual Malfoy Winter Solstice Ball was going to be… quite interesting this year.

AN: Updated again on 24/08/21

I changed the last section because of a mistake. In the first version, Voldemort is informed about Harry's name but this contradicts what happened in a previous chapter where Snape already informed him. So, I corrected this mistake. Sorry about that, guys.

A lot of thanks to AnimeLover229, PreciousRaymond and cadisraizel for informing me of this mistake.

As usual, leave behind your thoughts.

Leight