A/N: This story will be dark and deal with uncomfortable themes as well as gruesome subject matter. This will be a Harry/Bellatrix story eventually.

Unraveling the Tapestry

Chapter One: Dumbledore's Folly and Harry's Revelation

Harry stood motionless underneath his father's invisibility cloak. He watched Albus Dumbledore with the same gaze as a snake watches a mouse. The anticipation rose in his chest as he thought about how much work went into this moment. How many years, both in this life and in previous lives, he had spent planning for the consumption of the Light and the crippling of, what he considered, to be the main opposition to his ultimate purpose.

He was tempted to laugh, but there would be plenty of time for that once the old fool was gone. He couldn't break character just yet. Everything hinged on timing after all. He thought back to his past lives, flashes of blood, rending of flesh, magic so black and foul that even the Death Eaters would find themselves trembling in terror at the raw lack of humanity the Boy-Who-Lived was capable of.

The Boy-Who-Lived, indeed! Merely one of many personas that he had taken over the centuries, but it was certainly his most useful. Being born as a prophesied "chosen one" was a stroke of genius on the part of his dark "masters." He felt their hunger from the Outer Darkness and could almost swear that the sky would tear apart, and that this reality would finally come to an end with the death of the most powerful Light wizard in centuries.

No…not yet he thought. While Dumbledore's death would create a great wound in magic, it would take more than that.

Harry was pulled from his train of thought as Severus Snape appeared at the tower's doorway.

"Se…Severus…please," Dumbledore pleaded with the Potion's Master. Snape pointed his wand at the Headmaster of Hogwarts, seemingly prepared to end his life.

And that's my cue, Harry smiled as he broke the spell holding him still and threw off the invisibility cloak.

Snape barely had time to register the new presence when he was blasted into the wall behind him by a silent reducto to his chest. The spell had shattered the man's chest, ribs, and internal organs. Blood spewed from Snape's mouth as he attempted to breathe. He weakly tried to raise his arm but was unable to before a cutting curse slit his throat.

Harry frowned. He wished he had the time to torture the man who had attempted to make his life a living hell for six years. He shook his head and scoffed. Did the man somehow sense the viper underneath the lion? Had he some inkling about what Harry planned to do? No…the greasy git had merely wanted to shag his mother! He rolled his eyes and turned to a shocked Dumbledore who was seemingly incapable of processing what he was witnessing.

"I've wanted to do that since day one," Harry said as he made his approach. "He liked to call me arrogant, but I swear one could choke on his overinflated sense of self-importance every time one entered his classroom."

His words didn't seem to register. A slap rang out through the air.

"Hey, now isn't the time to check out Headmaster," Harry snarled. "I want you to appreciate what comes next, so I need you lucid!"

"Wh..What are you doing Harry!" Dumbledore finally looked the boy in the eyes. The aged wizard's own eyes widened.

Harry genuinely smiled.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" He gestured toward his eyes. Eyes that he knew were glowing with small wisps of green flames dancing at the edges of his irises. "I haven't always had these. Took a few lifetimes to corrupt my avatar enough to resemble that kind of fire."

"I don't understand."

"No, you really don't." Harry chuckled. "Unfortunately, you'll never be able to fully grasp just how much you don't understand." With that, the boy-wizard did a series of wand movements.

Dumbledore screamed as eldritch runes burned themselves into his flesh. They radiated the same light as Harry's eyes.

"If only you were aware of what glorious purpose this is for. Perhaps you would willingly sacrifice yourself for this just as you had planned to do tonight." Harry mused. "To your misfortune, I don't need your consent. I prefer it this way honestly. The blind willingness of cultists grows ever so dull."

The headmaster had no time to speak as pain ripped through his very being, down to his essence. His magic.

Tendrils of pure magic shot from the old man's body and hooked themselves into Harry's flesh, down into his magical core.

"Oh yeah!" Harry gasped in ecstasy. "I can feel the power! This…this is orgasmic!" The tendrils surged, pumping more and more magic into Harry's core.

Dumbledore, having been so weakened by the liquid he ingested at the cave and the runes that still burned his skin, couldn't even make a sound as his magic was siphoned. He slumped forward, his forehead touching the stone of the Astronomy Tower. The magic left his body completely and enveloped Harry Potter, swirling around him before being sucked into its new vessel.

"To be completely upfront with you Sir," Harry stated, venom dripping from his every word. "I hated having to play the Golden Boy of Gryffindor. Having to pretend to care about you and to look up to you! It was abhorrent to me! Possibly even more vile than what you think I'm doing to you now. Just know that your current position is far more dignified than me swimming in this sea of filth for so long."

The sound of battle provided an interesting soundtrack to this revelation. He could hear footsteps approaching on the stairs. Probably Draco coming to engage in yet another pathetic attempted murder. For an aspiring Death Eater, the Malfoy heir really, really sucked at killing people.

"I think I'll help Draco finally fulfill his mission," Harry said. "Despite what Snape believed, my ability to wield both defensive and offensive mind magic is quite strong and so subtle that even you could appreciate it."

Learning about Malfoy's mission by reading his thoughts had been child's play. The most difficult part had been making sure not to push too hard that his classmate noticed the intrusion into his mind.

As Harry predicted, Draco Malfoy did appear in the doorway, wand drawn and ready to fail to kill anyone. The blond wizard stopped dead in his tracks as he took in the scene before him. Harry knew it must've been terribly shocking to the boy's system to see his godfather's broken, bleeding corpse slumped against a tower wall and Dumbledore's barely breathing form.

"It almost looks like worship doesn't it Draco?" Harry asked gesturing towards the slumped body of the headmaster. "Of course, that is truer than you or the old fool know." Harry watched lazily as Malfoy jerked his wand at him, hand trembling violently.

"Potter! What is the meaning of this?"

"Why Draco, I've made your job easier!" Harry replied with mock indignation. "You were tasked by your master to kill Dumbledore and I have handed him to you on a silver platter! If I didn't know better, I would say you almost sound…well…ungrateful."

"Why would you do that?" Draco asked, clearly trying not to look at Snape's body.

"I have plans for you my dear snake," Harry answered. "You need to toughen up and killing a feeble, half-dead old man is a small steppingstone to that end."

"You're insane!" Draco cried as he fired a series of curses at the focus of his one-sided rivalry.

"How cliché…" Harry muttered as he easily blocked every spell the young Slytherin leveled at him. He could beat Draco on his absolute worst day…even two centuries ago. Now, with the combined might of his own unholy power and the magic of Albus Dumbledore, this impromptu duel with the pureblood was just…sad.

"Voldemort could give me a challenge," Harry stated conversationally. "I think I will still come out on top though. You...you are an ant trying to bite a mountain to death."

"Shut it Potter!" Draco hissed as he continued to try to break Harry's defenses. Nothing was getting through! Malfoy quickly understood that Harry was toying with him and after another useless volley of spells, he gave up. "What are you after?"

"We don't have the time to get into the specifics but understand that everything I am doing is directed toward creating a better world."

"A better world? What…you plan on having wizards and muggles live in perfect harmony?" Draco asked, assuming the ideals of the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry's responding laugh unnerved him.

"I don't care about any of that," Harry smirked. "Wizard-Muggle relations is not even a blip on my agenda. My plans are far grander."

Draco stared at the boy he had known for the past six years…well thought he had known. Harry let him take his time. The sounds of dueling were far enough away to allow for him to process everything.

"Draco, we will have plenty of time to talk about this once Dumbledore is dead and we take our leave."

"Our leave?" Draco questioned. "What makes you think I would go anywhere with you?"

"You don't have a choice. Think Draco!" Harry was suddenly behind his "rival" and clasped Draco's wand hand in his own, pointing the boy's wand toward Dumbledore.

"Do you honestly believe Voldemort will allow you to live even after killing Dumbledore?"

"He said…"

"You should know to never trust a Slytherin's word Draco," Harry whispered into his ear. "Tsk…tsk, I thought you smarter than that. Lucius failed him at the Department of Mysteries, but Voldemort is not stupid enough to kill one of his top lieutenants so what better message to send to either have you die attempting to kill Dumbledore or to kill you as a threat if you did manage the task? What better punishment?"

"You don't know…"

"I do!" Harry insisted. "Believe it or not, I've been around for much longer than this current body would indicate. I've seen so-called Dark Lords rise and fall. I know how they think, and I know their methods! If you comply with my wishes though, I can promise you power like you cannot believe. All you must do is exactly what you are here to do. Kill the old chap and leave with me. You'll understand everything in time."

"I don't know if I can…"

"You have it in you Draco," Harry said. "I've seen your mind. I know the darkness within you. It is unrefined certainly, but that is what this exercise is all about. Now, I will help you keep your aim steady, but you have to say the words. You must mean it! I can't do that for you."

Dumbledore grunted and attempted to raise himself before collapsing again.

"He's so weak Draco," Harry murmured. "We don't have all night. The Death Eaters are getting closer. I can feel their magic approaching. If you don't do this, I will abandon you to them and you will die. Now do it! Draco, kill him!"

"Avada Kedavra!" Draco shouted. Green light erupted from his wand, pushed by Harry's own magical aura, and slammed into the headmaster. The old man's body was flung off the edge of the tower and fell to the grounds below.

"There we are." Harry laughed. "You're a proper murderer now!" He felt the magical signatures of several Death Eaters as a group of them made their way onto the top level of the Astronomy Tower. He turned, carrying Draco with him as he had yet to release the wizard.

"Draco?" Bellatrix Lestrange exclaimed in disbelief. Harry thought it was cute how Draco's cheeks flushed red at being caught in this compromising position with his worst enemy. He gazed at Bellatrix's face. Azkaban had been hard on the witch, but she was still beautiful to Harry. Ever since he had first seen her in that Pensive, sitting before the Wizengamot like a queen on a throne, he wanted her. She had radiated power. She was so sure of herself. So right. The Department of Mysteries had just confirmed everything Harry had thought and more. Seeing her in person had almost made Harry reveal himself to her. He had to restrain himself through his many years of developed willpower.

All she needed, as far as Harry was concerned, was a truly meaningful cause and a truly visionary wizard to give herself over to. She would break for him in time. Until then, Harry glanced at Draco, her nephew would have to do.

"As much as I would love to talk to you Bellatrix, this is not quite as intimate as I would like. Perhaps another time." Harry winked at the perplexed witch as he and Draco vanished in a swirl of green flames.

Harry dropped Draco onto the carpet of a spacious living area. The Boy-Who-Lived had a mansion constructed in secret as soon as he was able to access his vaults at Gringotts. Flames leapt from the tip of his wand and instantly a roaring fire in the fireplace cast a warm glow on the two wizards.

"Allies should be arriving here within the next several days," Harry said. "I expect you to be on your best behavior."

"Stop! Stop everything right now!" Draco shouted. Harry raised his eyebrows but remained silent. "What in the name of Merlin is going on Potter? Where are we?"

"My home,"

"Which is?"

"A mansion."

"A mansion where?"

"It depends."

"Depends?"

"Yes, it depends. Is there an echo in here?" Harry asked sarcastically. "Look, as I've already mentioned, I have been around for a long time and a trick I've learned is the ability to have my base of operations change locations periodically to keep people from learning of it or just popping in whenever they wish. Therefore, there are also anti-apparation wards, so I don't recommend trying to pop back to Malfoy Manor."

"Am I a prisoner?" Draco asked with a frown. Harry rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Only if you want to be," Harry replied. "I meant what I said. Power beyond your understanding can be yours and I am offering it to you…for a price."

"A price? I killed Albus bloody Dumbledore! Isn't that payment enough?"

"My dear Draco, Dumbledore was just an entrance exam. I softened him up for you. I held your trembling arm for Merlin's sake!" Harry chuckled. "No, I have more work for you to do and once it is completed then I will show you how I corrupted my essence and how I am able to be consistently reborn."

"Aren't you worried I'll undo it if you show me? Weaken or kill you?"

"It can't be undone. Once you do it, that's it. No going back."

"That doesn't…"

Harry held up his hand, all traces of humor had left his face.

"This is pointless. Once you've completed your task, I'll take you where it all began for me and perhaps, you'll drink from the font of power that I have."

"Fine, I guess…" Draco crossed his arms. "What is this job you have for me?"

Harry smiled evilly and licked his lips.

"You have to assassinate Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy."

"What?! You can't be serious? I can't kill my parents Potter!"

"You can and you will," Harry said. "Put your relationship with them out of your mind. In the grand scheme of things, their lives are pointless. The only good thing to come from their existence was you…and their wealth, which you will inherit upon their deaths."

"Is this about money?"

"Please," Harry's eyes narrowed. "I have plenty of money, but I have a feeling that a war with Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic will drag out for a long time and the more resources we have, the better."

"But you said you could defeat the Dark Lord," Draco pointed out.

"I think I can, but I don't know for certain," Harry admitted. "I've been building my knowledge and power for centuries, but Albus Dumbledore and Voldemort are the most powerful wizards in almost as many years as I've been around. Albus' self-sacrificial plan allowed me to increase my power in a few minutes when it would have at least taken me another lifetime or so to increase my magical core to that level on my own. Voldemort won't be so easy."

"I still can't…I won't kill my parents…. I," Suddenly, Draco clutched his arm and fell to his knees in pain. The Dark Lord is calling me!"

"Well, we can't have that," Harry knelt in front of Draco and pulled the wizard's arm toward him. The Dark Mark was clear and black, the skin around it blistering the longer Draco was unable to heed the call. The Boy-Who-Lived stretched out his other hand and a dagger appeared in his palm. The blade curved slightly at the tip and was covered in what appeared to be writing in a language Draco could not discern.

"Oh, no no NO!" Draco shouted desperately trying to yank his arm out of Harry's grip. It didn't budge.

"Keep struggling Draco," Harry hissed. "This will hurt you far more than it will me." He brought the blade to the thrashing wizard's skin.

"No…don't!"

A shriek echoed through Potter's Manor as his blade sliced underneath Draco's Dark Mark. Blood began flowing freely down his arm and dripped onto the floor below. The mark burned even more intensely as the writing on the blade began to glow red. The metallic smell of Draco's pure blood mixed with burning flesh.

Harry pushed forward seemingly relaxed as he flayed the skin from his rival's arm. Thankfully, the heat from the blade's magic would cauterize Draco's wound and prevent too much blood loss.

"Almost over Draco," Harry whispered to the sobbing wizard. A wet *plop* sound signaled the end of his work as flesh hit the floor. A wave of his wand caused the blood and flesh to vanish. He pressed the tip of the wand to Draco's wound and gave a satisfied grunt as the boy's flesh began to knit itself together. "Be thankful Malfoy, in my previous life I wouldn't have been able to do that so quickly."

"You're going to kill me…" Draco muttered. Tears still fell from his eyes even as the pain faded into memory.

"Naw," Harry laughed. "Despite your transgressions against me, which I understand you made in ignorance, I actually like you. I find you very amusing."

"Amusing?"

"There's that echo again."

"Potter…"

"Listen, I'm not going to make you go out and kill your parents tonight, but you will kill them. Make no mistake Draco, I saved your life and that makes it mine."

"If I refuse?"

"I'll break you until you are begging to slide the knife in ole' Lucius' back just to remove mine from yours."

"…"

"Sleep on it Draco," Harry said. "Carna!" A female house elf appeared.

"Yes, Master Potter?"

"Take Draco to one of the guest rooms and see to his every need. He has a lot to think about."

"Of course, come please," Carna said to Draco and gestured toward the hall. Malfoy moved to follow her but stopped and turned back to Harry.

"Why me? Why didn't you kill me when I showed up on the tower?"

"You remind me of myself when I first began my journey. Unlike my 'friends', you have the potential to join me in the true work. We'll discuss that later. Now, go and rest. I have things to attend to."

With that, Draco reluctantly followed Carna out of the room. Once they were out of sight, Harry made his way to the study and sealed the door. The room was lined with shelves of books upon books. Books that Harry had collected over the course of his many lifetimes. In the center of the room was a pedestal with an orb floating above it. He approached the orb and knelt before it.

"Albus Dumbledore is dead,"

The orb swirled with black liquid against a white surface. A strange, guttural sound echoed around the room.

"Yes," Harry looked up to see that the liquid had formed dozens of eyes across the orb. "I have found one with potential to serve our cause. I will bring him to you upon the completion of his test."

A series of hisses, growls, and grunts responded as the eyes moved in random patterns.

"There won't be," Harry said in an assuring tone. "Your servants will begin to gather here in the coming days. I will organize an offensive against Tom Riddle's forces and remove that obstacle in your honor. We are closer than we have ever been to the grand plan's fulfillment."

The orb growled in pleasure and the eyes began to swirl faster and faster before vanishing completely.

Harry stood and swayed a moment before regaining his bearings. He made his way to a nearby chair and sank down into it. He may have been a centuries-old wizard, but he was still in a teenage body. The events of the evening had finally caught up with him.

He knew he had a limited amount of time before he had to reappear and put on his mask once again. It had felt amazing to drop the façade and reveal his true self. He sighed. Now that the Death Eaters knew something was off with him, they may not underestimate him like they had before. Still, he wasn't concerned. It wasn't like they could tell any of his friends or the public.

Harry Potter involved in the deaths of Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore? Kidnapping Draco Malfoy? Ha!

Who would believe them?