Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Here is the next installment of A Shadowed life. I took an exceptionally longer time putting this one together for you all with fun little twists to get your gears moving. I am extremely thankful to those of you who have given me reviews and have encouraged me to keep on writing. It is exciting to understand what you all think about it. Even though at this moment I have only gotten ten reviews each one is very cherish.
Stardust of Orion: D: I know, and its not over yet. As for the first thought about what he is you'll see in this chapter -winks- As for the other we'll see when we get there won't we? :D -chuckles-
nemesisswan: I understand the outlandishness about the chapter before, but I plotted it out that way on purpose. With an upset Harry in a new body that does Merlin knows what anything could be possible at this point in time. Thank you for the your review though, I look forward to hearing what more you have to say on the following chapters from here if you plan to read in a bit more.
history: -laughs- yes I understand, but remember Ron is always suspicious of people especially when it involves Harry. Not to mention his little green jealous monster that often shows up as well. -chuckles- I hope you enjoy the next chapters coming up. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Well that is all for now I hope you enjoy this next chapter and I look forward to things you have to say about it. Enjoy!
Things in the story you might want to know.
"Talking/ spells"
'Thinking/ sound affects/ Memories'
-Parseltongue-
.:Spells:.
Chapter Three- The Seeker
The halls were quiet when Barty apparated into the main foyer. Worm tail was there and looked to have been returning from where ever he'd been during the day, with newspapers tucked up under his arms as well as a book that their lord had no doubt sent him out to get. He sneered at the fat little man as he tried to look down on Barty, but he wasn't, so easily cowed as Pettigrew was. Barty brushed past him when his glare made the man finally cower beneath it. He swiftly made his way to the usual room where their lord stayed since gain the homunculus type form that floated around in a chair, in the manor. To Barty the man was a father figure to him, and he was one of the man's most loyal followers, other than Bellatrix, who was still being held prisoner in Azkaban. No matter what form the man took Barty would always come back and always be loyal to him. He smiled widely and Peter made a whimpering noise that only seemed to make the man smile impossibly wider. Upon reaching the door he'd been looking for, he paused and knocked on it. Waiting, for the voice of his lord, as it filtered past the thick door, even with how soft and raspy sounding it had been it still broke through the silence of the room.
"Barty, why have you come here? The school will be starting up soon," The raspy high sound of his voice filtered to him as he walked into the room with Pettigrew.
Barty went to one knee and bowed to him, followed by Pettigrew behind him, "My lord, Harry Potter has gone missing."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed and a hiss escaped his lips, "Tell me what you know."
"About a day ago Potter's safe house went up in flames. I don't know what happened to cause it, but the old fool was there along with a few Aurors. They did a big investigation on the matter and possibly know more about it then I do my lord. Among the bodies found though, only his relatives where identified. Potter was nowhere to be found," He informed him, still bowed.
Voldemort hummed silently in thought, his fingers tapping on his armrest silently as he sat there. Blood red eyes staring past the two before him as his mind wandered, forcing the two to stay kneeled in his presence. "It seems we will not be fulfilling our plans," He hissed out, "The resurrection will be postponed until further notice. However Barty I still want you going so as to not raise suspicions. They will likely believe the incident was linked to us, and returning Alastor Moody to them would be an unwise move on our part. We must not allow them to know that we in fact weren't a part of it. It will give us an advantage," He said contemplatively.
"My Lord I have other news as well," Barty said remembering what happened that afternoon.
"Proceed."
"I was in Knockturn Alley and saw a peculiar sight My Lord. A strange being, of one I've never seen before, and he fled the Alley leaving behind the flustered pair that usually is in Potter's presence. It wasn't all I witnessed My Lord. The being had great power and it was untamed and felt very lethal. If it wasn't for his reign on his emotions I am sure more damage would have been done. It was almost as though you could taste his power, it was… exhilarating," He breathed.
"Come here Barty, let me see what you have seen," He hissed out.
Barty rose and walked over to the hovering chair, before kneeling once more before it. He didn't hesitate to look into the lord's eyes as Voldemort delved into his mind to see just what Barty had seen. The other man made it easy for him to find, as the man pushed all, the lord wanted to know to the fore front of his mind. The memories started from the Potter's house, which made more questions rise to the man's mind upon seeing the destruction which took long to put out the flames to then, was necessary. It was definitely caused by magic, and very powerful magic at that. The memories shifted that following afternoon when Barty had been in Knockturn Alley. He felt the magic that had jolted Barty into taking notice of the confrontation in an alley way that was away from prying eyes. The feel of the magic that Barty felt was intoxicating. Like a wildfire that burned yet crackled like lighting and flowed vengefully like the tide and when it was gone it was like it left an impression so strong behind in its wake that you, couldn't not, get addicted to it. He watched at the being took flight without a second thought, taking its chance to flee before any harm could come to it. Slipping from the man's mind he watched as Barty wavered a bit from his intrusion, his face pale yet firm as he kept himself in check.
"It seems Barty, that you have discovered something I wish to gain for our side," Voldemort said softly. "But it may have to wait we will need to find a new way to bring me back to my body. Because you will be indisposed starting tomorrow and Severus will be dealing with the old fool," He said in a low hiss.
"My Lord I could get this person for you," Pettigrew offered, which only cause the man to glare at him.
"Pettigrew you couldn't possibly take on this rare being, you would be singed alive and left to rot. Your intelligence and capabilities are insignificant and would only cause more problems than I already need," He hissed out at him. "Now leave the papers and book Pettigrew and leave my sight. I do not wish to see you until I have need of you."
Pettigrew quickly stammered out a 'yes my lord' before leaving the items on a table and fleeing the room before the Dark Lord could do anything to him. Obviously not wanting to cause the man's ire to be turned on him if it became more apparent than it already was. He turned to Barty and ordered him to rise the young man did so and waited for what else his lord had to say to him.
"I want you to keep your ears open around the blood traitor and the mudblood. Listen for anything that could lead you to believing they may know where Potter is," He paused a moment in thought, "Also keep your eyes open for that boy you saw. If you get the chance to ever speak to him then do so." Barty nodded with his verbal reply, and left when he was dismissed.
Voldemort's mind wandered as he sat there, thinking of all he'd seen from Barty's memories of the day. What he saw made him think the creature was more along the lines of a demonic nature. The only problem was he remembered no such recordings saying that a demon done scales upon its person, let alone feathered wings. The Spade tail was a common trait of both Demons and Dragons. He was leaning more to dragon species, but couldn't not ever recall there being any books on sub species of creatures that used Dragon traits. Humming he made his way towards his library. His chair hovering as it left his study, and proceeded down the hall to where he was going. He was vaguely aware Nagini was now slowly following him to said room. Wandlessly he called books to his person when he got to the middle of the room. The books floating in a stack next to his chair as he started to flip through pages. Nagini raised herself up against the chair and made her way up the back side of the chair before sliding over the top to hang down next to her master.
-Master, what are you reading now?-
Voldemort smirked and stroked a few boney fingers over the top of her head, -I am reading up on a new player in my plans my dear. A powerful player that could help us greatly, but I do not know what he is.-
Nagini made a pleasured hiss as his fingers rain across her skull, -He is not like master then?-
-No love he is not… or he may have been at one point.-
-I do not understand-
-It is simple my dear, there are many creature genes out there some as old as the elves even. Usually most reading material on them would disappear and not much will be known of them should they reappear. Say… an exceptionally strong wizard could accidentally activate a dormant gene within them and undergoes what Veela's call an inheritance. They gain the physical attributes of the appointed blood line. Unlike like the Veelas however they do not gain that when coming of age, it is simply a gene that has been diluted in the family blood line to the point that most wizarding families might not even realize it's there. Having forgotten their creature heritage like most pure-blood families of today, have done. From what I saw in young Barty's mind is that this bloodline may be an old one, one not having been seen for many centuries- Voldemort put aside the book he'd scanned through for what he was looking for, and grabbed the next one.
-If the creature blood is that old, then how will master find what it is?-
Voldemort chuckled at that, -Well my dear that is quiet simple. I had quite a large book collection, some even dating back to the elven age. Unlike most I would like to preserve the long forgotten knowledge that other wizards neglect to do. Thus, the reason why I am currently going through these stacks of books…- He paused as he came across just what he was looking for. –Ah here he is he is of the Dragonian Race. In elvish times they were known as Hakarmaskannar Nost or Hakarmaskannar Hin. Which roughly translated means Dragon Born, or Dragon Child. Depending to the magical bond created between dragon and human, was what determined how the child would look upon birthing. Wizards and elves alike did not mate in the traditional sense with dragons. It was the magical bond created between the two when a dragon gave their power to a race not, of their own. This bonding was considered dangerous and often resulted in the wizard or elf dying during the process. Not many took the chance in bonding with a dragon's magic, to ensure their blood line survived. Those who did had a strong bloodline and their offspring were often held in high standards. Most of this Dragonian race looked more like their dragon brethren. Later distant cousins looked to be more human in appearance, donning few dragon traits or even a stance between both dragon and human. As if the blood line had come to a balance of both traits. If the magic weakened as generations drew on, then later children would look human for generations to come, until one within the blood line, with enough magical energy, could jolt the dragon gene into coming forth…-
Voldemort took this information in. He remembered that even some dragons where able to even speak in Parseltongue. More specifically The Chinese Fireball, The Peruvian Vipertooth, and the Norwegian Ridgeback. But even these dragons were distant cousins to their dragon brethren. The old more ancient of the dragon species as a whole have been extinct since around the time of the elvish era. It also seemed no known recordings of the families that had successful ties with the dragon bloodline were recorded. But there were recordings of wizards who showed powers to be that of dragon quality. Such as Merlin and Morgan le Fay, even though Merlin had helped pass this spell, the charm of making, to the witch only those with deep rooted dragon blood ties could actually learn it. For it was a spell of dragon mist, which was a powerful illusion spell and if used in poor taste the spell would drain you of your youth, which in the end had caused Morgan's down fall at her own son's hands. Wizards themselves considered Merlin and Morgan to be the first powerful wizards and witches of their time, but they were not the only witches and wizards out there. Around Merlin's and Morgan's time the ancient dragons had already died out years before they rose to power.
Voldemort petted Nagini's head silently, his finger nails scrapping just at the base of her skull as she hissed in pleasure. No one would have guessed that the exalted Merlin was none other than a dark wizard, just as Le Fay was a light witch. A smirk lifted to his features as he thought of the dragon boy he'd seen in Barty's brief memory of him. Yes, he would make a good asset. His eyes slipped back to the page before him of the species. The Dragonian race was known in later generations to mate normally like most wizards and elves did, and could still bare offspring no matter what the gender. It was probably a genetic trait the ensured the species survived even if they had no females. The only problem was dragons always had mates they mated for life, to keep their species alive. The Dragonians were no different, in that aspect. On top of this, dragons no longer did magic bonding with wizards and stories on that dying out were never found. Voldemort ignored the rest of the writing on the page, pretty sure he knew what else it entailed to before closing it and setting it back into its original resting place along with the other books he'd gotten down off the shelves.
Voldemort had missed one important detail that would have given more information away to the identity of the creature. A small section of recorded diluted blood lines, coming to dragon power, as young ages when the wizards or elves blood was growing in strength. The strength had to show at a young age or the possibility that they gain the ability is rather slim, let alone could be deadly to the host. Upon gaining this blood heritage they would be encased in a crystal egg that explodes when the inheritance is completed. Often burning everything within its approximate area. Leaving the room with Nagini still hanging from his chair he goes to his study to figure out how to gain the being to his side. He was also excited to know if the blood line it came from was one that was Parseltongue as well. As far as he'd known only he and the Potter brat knew how to speak it. It would be nice to know if another did as well, and he would love to speak with this being and tame it. One way or another he was going to make this creature his and force him into submission under his rule. His smirk he'd had on grew wider.
-Nagini dear… I would like for you to search for him, seek him out for me. You will know him when you see him- He said running his fingers over her head.
-Yes master, would you like me to bring him back here?-
-If possible yes, don't force him… try and coax him to our side. I want him alive and well, he will be an important person to me-
Nagini knew what that meant, someone important meant family in a way. Like herself felt to Voldemort though he was her master, and how Barty saw Voldemort as a father figure. –It will be done my master- She hissed softly as she slid from the chair to the air vent at the base of the wall. Nudging it open she slipped into it, her massive bulk vanishing slowly into the dark passage.
Voldemort tapped his fingers on his arm rest as he looked into the flames of his fire place. The warmth of it warming his cold bones. He could sustain this form, thanks to Nagini's venom, but he wanted a body. He needed to get things moving and with the Potter brat missing it wasn't going to happen any time soon. What had caused the boy to bolt like he did? If his death eaters were acting out without orders he was going to have to exact punishment on them when he regained his body. He made it clear the Potter boy was his to destroy, and no one else's. Blood red eyes stared unseeingly into flickering flames, something told him that something exciting was going to happen and he couldn't help but feel… excited, even though he didn't know the reasons why. His smirk, which had vanished at some point, returned with a full blown devious smile. Oh yes, things would get interesting and it would all start with the new addition he planned on acquiring to his army.
{A Shadowed Life}
Harry woke to the feel of rain as it pelted his skin, and found Osiris had taken refuge within his cloak to protect himself against the cold rain. It was strange how the rain felt warm to him, probably because he ran at a higher temperature now. Leaping down from his branch he went in search for some shelter. He didn't know where he was, having flown away from Diagon Alley he hadn't really thought on where he'd been going. Only that he had to get away and not look back. Shoving his hands into his cloaks pockets, after having adjusted his wings and messenger bag back to their proper places. He trudged through the wet grass slowly keeping his cloak closed tightly to keep heat in for Osiris. It was at this point that he had a thought, and soon followed through with said thought. Why wander about from place to place, if he could just buy a place of his own? Sure there had been a plethora of potter estates, but Harry wanted something that just belonged to him. Something that no one other than himself knew about. With this newest mission set in his mind he went on his search for the perfect place to him.
Several days had gone by, and he still hadn't found a place he liked enough for him to live in. During his time alone Harry had come to a little understanding about himself. He loved acting the way he wanted to, with no restrictions or expectations put on him. When he was around others who didn't know him he found that he was more relaxed and able to just simply be himself. Back when he'd been The-Boy-Who-Lived, he had people always looking to him and expecting him to do something and act a certain way. Osiris was a big help in getting him to have more confidence about himself, and quite frankly he loved just being himself. He found that he also didn't view magic like most did, to him magic wasn't good or evil, only that the magic was used by people who thought what they did was in the best of intentions or had thoughts that most people didn't often think of and accept, while others might us magic with ambiguous desires. Though, he also found that there were many things he wouldn't and couldn't back down from. His beliefs in those aspects wouldn't ever be swayed. Such as the way muggles were viewed, sure there were some who feared the unknown and often reacted violently, but there were also those who wanted to know more about the unknown and held those who harbored special abilities with a higher reverence. It was the same thing with light and dark magic, those who were light users weren't always good, and those who were dark weren't always evil. Just like all muggles weren't just evil and had some that were good, so killing them, all off was pointless. Yes he agreed that having muggles knowing about the wizarding world was a bad idea, but they outnumbered them and even magic couldn't put a stop to everything muggle, like most wish to believe they could… not yet anyways.
During those days alone Harry had back tracked the best he could to Diagon Alley, for a wand other than the one he already had. He couldn't go to Ollivanders the man would know who he was as soon as he set foot in the shop. He wandered around wondering if there were possibly any other shops that sold wands around the place. He eventually came upon one in Knockturn Alley, with an older gentleman at the counter. He was possibly even much older than Ollivander was and to Harry Ollivander was pretty old. The man who ran the shop was named Robert Reece his shop was named after him declaring it Reece Creaks. Definitely a place you wouldn't expect wands to be made at. The place was dark, and looked dangerous from the outside, but inside it was warm and smelled heavily of wild flowers. It was without a doubt very deceiving to the eye, possibly giving you a false sense of security in an Alley that was so dark, and possibly dangerous. Reece was at his desk, writing something in a journal before him when Harry had popped in, for a look. The man's straw haid a bit shaggy in length and wild, showing he probably didn't often take care of it, even though he looked pretty cleaned up compared to some. The man's eyes were as blue as the sky and his sharp angular features showed he may be a pure-blood, or a descendant of one.
Now Reece was standing and walking over to him with an expressionless face, "How may I help you?"
"I am here to perches a new wand," Harry said to him.
The man hummed a few moments and looked him over before launching into questions, about how sensitive he was to magic, and what was the nature of it. At first Harry didn't know how to answer, and before his new change in appearance he would say his magic sensitivity was like any others. As of late he's been seeing a few things that he never used to, such as peoples auras and other magical things he hadn't seen before a few days ago. At first he'd thought he was just seeing things when everything seemed to settle down during the day. Though, as the days had gone by he'd noticed that there were quite a lot of things that were different than before. Obviously this new appearance also had something to do with his magic, but he still had yet to figure out what. The books he'd purchased several days ago didn't help, but did help with taking care of Osiris and his needs. The young Tiger Snake was a had full when he had energy to burn, and being stuck around Harry's neck most days was helping Osiris to stay calm for longer periods of time, let alone help the other understand what patience meant. He shook his thoughts away before he answered.
"Well my magic sensitivity is a bit unknown to me, but I seem to see auras more clearly and that their emotions are attached to it in some way. As for my magic's nature I am unsure, though in the past I had noted it was a bit wild and strong," He said truthfully.
"Hmm your sensitivity is rather powerful in one so young… Magic is wild and powerful… possibly even destructive and very much untamed," He turned from Harry and walked down the many isles of shelves stocked with wands.
Harry watched him vanish amongst the shelves, allowing his mind to wander as he thought about the past few days. He'd been searching for the right place to live. He could easily pass as being eighteen though, he wasn't. The change to his form had taken place when he was passed out for three days in a crystal like egg, while the magical ones started to gradually get stronger as the days drew on. He wasn't sure exactly when that would all end, but he hoped it wouldn't be very long from now. Out of the other books he'd bought in the past several days he had started working on some potions to help him with his physical appearance. The potions where he had to create perfectly and often some of them even exploded on him. Without a proper potions lab he'd had to make do with what he had without using his wand. He didn't want to use the Phoenix feather wand without being in a place he knew it wouldn't be detected, which brought him back to the housing matter, and trying to create wards for it. He had read up on some of the books he'd had on warding and they sounded pretty complicated, but he was determined to create his safe haven. The only problem is now he needed a wand to help him create them, since he didn't know how to cast very many wandless spells yet. He didn't dare use his own wand, in fears that the ministry would be able to trace it. He didn't want to be found just yet and judging by Reece Creaks, the wands here didn't have wand tracers in them. That meant that not many people ever shopped here and these were wands the ministry knew not about, considering it was in a shady area and the fact other wizards wouldn't, especially dark ones, wouldn't say a word about it either.
Harry's eyes wandered around the room, to the dark grey walls that at one point had been white, to the wood panels that lined the lower half of the wall. The room had a few display cases featuring some trinkets that were under lock and key as well as some blank parchment scrolls stacked like a pyramid on top of a table alongside some unbreakable ink wells. It seemed the man also sold a few other things beside wands. Possibly because not very many people came there for wands. It was around this moment while in the middle of his musings he sensed something. His eyes glanced around the room yet he couldn't pin point where the sense that something was very close by was coming from. He was about to walk about the room to search for the presence, but paused when the man came back with three different wands for him to try out. He set down the three wands on the desk and beckoned Harry over.
"Hover your hand over them and tell me what you feel, when one calls to you," He said to him, his blue eyes watching Harry silently as he did so.
The first one made Harry's hand jump back and away from the wand he'd hovered over. His eyes warily looking at it as he stood there. It had felt as though a snake was there instead of a wand. As though the piece of wood would slither away or strike at him in a moment's notice. The man chuckled at his reaction and Harry looked up at him wondering just what he had felt, his questioning gaze fell on Reece. The man quirked a brow at him, noticing the look he was getting.
"I suppose this… magic sensitivity is something new to you then?" Harry only nodded, not wanting to go into detail. "New to it and still so young… you are indeed a gifted child," He cleared his throat, "The wand you retracted from was an Ebony Coral Wand, the flexibility is unyielding and the length is twelve inches. It is more inclined to be better suited with those of rounded abilities with elements. Those who resemble one strong element won't be suitable for this wand." Harry took this all in before looked back at the others in thought.
Harry allowed his hand to hover over the second wand. What he felt made his spine shiver with the cold deathly feeling he got and his fingers trembled, slightly before moving to the third, which warmed his hand like a roaring fire, yet felt natural and comfortable. It felt natural to him and he reached down to pick it up. It felt nice to hold and comfortable just as he thought it would and his magic flowed freely through it without much of a problem if any at all. His eyes looked questioningly up at the man and he saw the smirk that was lying upon the man's lips. Harry wasn't sure why but he didn't understand what was so amusing, was it his reactions or was it what the man knew about the wands? Either way he was soon about to find out since the man seemed to be ready to tell him about the wand he held.
"That wand you hold is an English Oak wand with Dragon Heart string, it has a supple flexibility and is thirteen inches," He said as he picked up the other two, "The wood of that wand was said to have been the same type of wood Merlin used for his wand. It is a very picky wand that only chooses who deserves its power. Often those with courage, strength, and fidelity are able to wield it. It is also the opposite of the Holly wand. Holly is only harvested when the year wanes, will English Oak is harvested only until summer. There was an old saying long ago that people associated with these two wands. The saying is this, 'When his wand's oak and hers is Holly, then to marry would be folly.' Though often many wand makers find that saying baseless," He smirked. "As for the other you trembled at it is a Cypress wand with Thestral tail hair and is reasonably springy. The length is nine inches," He thought for a moment before speaking again. "The Cypress is a wood that is said to be associated with Hades it is a symbol of death as well as an emblem of grace and joy. Coupled with the Thestral tail Hair for those who've seen death."
Harry wasn't sure why the man was telling him this so he asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
The man looked at him and deliberated for a moment before speaking, "It may be because you have been my first customer in days, or the fact that I want to tell you, because you will understand the meanings and relations of the wands and their cores. But I digress, for it is just my wanting to let a curious mind know," He smirked again.
Harry blinked at him and wasn't sure why but he wanted to roll his eyes at him like he would do to Malfoy. Shaking his thoughts away he took what the man said at face value and questioned him no more before paying for the wand and thanking him. As he turned to leave he heard the man bid him a nice day and Harry did the same before stepping out of the store. It was at that moment he remembered the odd feeling he'd gotten while in there. Glancing back at the store he wanted to go back in and investigate, but held himself back from doing so. Whatever it had been obviously hadn't stayed inside the building though. Considering now he had his eyes scanning the buildings around him, and he blinked slightly a few times annoyed that he couldn't pin point what it was. His thoughts wandered at that point, making a good distraction to move on to Flourish and Blotts again to buy more books, but first he decided to stop at Borgin and Burkes. He remembered the stop from the time he'd gone there by sheer accident when a miss pronounced word sent him diagonally into Knockturn Alley instead of Diagon Alley. Shaking his head of the event with a fond smile, he looked straight at the hand he'd got himself tangled with when he'd been there last. His eyes slid away from the object to the many shelves there. It seemed the place had a decent book collection as well. He ran his fingers over the spines of the book before plucking a few from where they were. He turned to the other objects in the store that he couldn't find at others and picked up a few of the items he found as well before walking to the front of the store and placing the items on the counter where Mr. Borgin was standing there waiting for him to finish up. It was then at that moment he noted a rather thick book, with odd symbols on it. It wasn't the fact that it had silver metal snakes lining the corners, but the fact that he could read what the cover declared it to be, –Parseltongue Mages spells- and to say Harry was shocked was an understatement. It was obvious who'd ever sold it to the man had not known what it was for it wouldn't have been there if that was the case.
"Sir, I would like to get that one as well," He said pointing to the book behind the glass display case.
"I'm sorry but you couldn't possibly afford it so…"
"How much?"
"Three hundred Galleons," He said and Harry gave him a look that told the man he didn't believe him.
"I doubt that because that book isn't in a language most people can read. It is considered a dead language for a reason and those who do read it are very few and rare. Now Mr. Borgin how much is the book worth since it is basically un-purchasable and no collector would want it because they honestly can't understand it," Harry said his slitted eyes narrowing on the man.
Borgin looked at Harry his eyes narrowed dangerously causing the man to swallow thickly at the dark look he was getting. Harry was a very intimidating person when he wanted to be. Borgin spoke shakily as he answered him, "Its fifteen galleons sir." Harry nodded and added fifteen galleons to the amount needed for the other items he was purchasing from there.
Harry picked up the items after opening his messenger bag, placing each one in the right compartment. Harry had sorted through the things he'd had in his satchel on his journey to find a place for himself. Now all that stayed in his satchel was his original wand, his invisibility cloak, the marauders map, and his money. The day he'd had his confrontation with Ron and Hermione he'd gone to Gringotts and had made a withdrawal of five hundred thousand Galleons, three hundred thousand Sickle, and four hundred thousand Bronze Knuts. Which was roughly two million five hundred and ninety-one thousand dollars, which for Harry wasn't much of a dent in the Potter vaults, but was more than enough to get him through what he needed. Once Harry was done with placing the items in his bag he gave Borgin a smirk before leaving the shop without another word. It felt funny to be the intimidating one for once and Harry liked it. At one point he probably would have thought he hadn't had it in him, but it was there none the less and he liked it. Smirking he started to move on to Flourish and Blotts without another stop in between. His smirk faded when he noticed a few faces he recognized where out and about that day. Arthur and Bill Weasley, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Lucius Malfoy, and out of those few three of those people, were people he hoped not to run into today. He'd been away from Diagon Alley since the incident with Ron and Hermione. There was no doubt in his mind that Mr. Weasley and his eldest son, had found out about what had happened. If Dumbledore knew then so would the Aurors. The only safe one to be around was Lucius, but then again the man didn't like him for the loss of his house elf, Dobby. Which, now that he thought about it was bad, for they had to serve wizards. Yes many of them were treated poorly, but those who gain freedom slowly died off. Without someone to serve their magic killed them and it worried Harry that Dobby may one day die.
He had felt horrible when he'd found that out, and hoped he could find a way to help the poor elf and for all he knew, it would be a lost cause. Mentally sighing he walked into the store, and let his fingers glide along the spines of the books before him, picking out many he knew he would need, may need, and might not need, but would take them anyways because they seemed interesting to him. He had a nice big stack of books going when he decided he had enough and started on his way to the counter. It was unlucky for him however to bump into Lucius Malfoy, who was there for a few books his son had inquired about to him. Harry dropped everything and he noticed the books scatter everywhere causing Harry to sigh. He bent down to picked the books up one at a time, honestly forgetting he had a new wand he could use to do that with. Though, this had become a habit for him since being raised in the Dursley's house.
"I apologize, sir, I didn't see you past the stack of books I was holding," Harry said to the man. Though, he was oddly surprised when Lucius bent down to help him, which seemed so out of character to him. Then again he'd only seen the man being snobbish and every bit the pure-blood he declared himself to be. Snapping out of his shock he went back to stacking the books again.
"It is quite alright mister…" The man paused as a silent inquiry to his name.
Harry had to quickly think up a whole new identity for himself, and hadn't really been prepared for it, but none the less did so with little pause on his behalf. "Black, sir, Orion Black," he said offering his hand to the man as a gesture of greeting, which Lucius shook out of politeness.
"A Pure-blood then? I thought the only living Blacks around were Sirius, Bellatrix, and my wife Narcissa," Lucius said, who obviously knew much about the Black family line.
"Yes, my father was the great, great, grandson of Marius Black. Since one of Cygnus's, and Violetta's son came out a squib he was stricken from the family tree, my mother was of a Japanese pure-blood family, called the Fukuoka family. She had been visiting Britain at the time he met her, and they'd fallen in love… she passed away the day I was born. My father, raised me after that with no mother figure in my life, his name was Volans Black. He died before I was eleven, while I was in Japan with him," It was a good story for his back ground and no one would question it. "I was adopted into several Japanese muggle families while still in Japan, the last one being a wizarding family and I just recently moved here from there. My mother had been the last of her line and hadn't planned on dying young so never drew up a will. So I never inherited the family fortune, and my father never did the same either. However, the family I had been adopted into was also a pure-blood Japanese family, and allowed me to keep my Black name in honor of my father. They helped me open my own vault and put a generous amount into to support myself with. Since I didn't take on their name however, I wasn't allowed to inherit the family fortune. So what they gave me is all I will probably ever get," He said giving himself a pat on the back for thinking that quick explanation up. Since Lucius didn't live in Japan he did not know many people from there let alone pure-blood families that were there as, well.
"Really now? But you don't even have the traditional Japanese accent for having lived there for several years," He said as Harry picked up the stack fluidly before walking to the counter.
"Well I just have the impeccable ability to go from language to language without root language interference," He said smirking, mentally wondering if the sorting hat would not insist that he be, placed in Slytherin for his sly maneuvering of the topic about himself. Even if he tested to see if he was a Black or not, the Potter line in his blood had Black family blood in it as well, but from what he had learned from letters between him and Sirius is that at the time of his birth his father had given Sirius permission to have Harry as his heir as well, having not expected to have a family of his own someday. So they had performed a blood inheritance that caused Harry to be a Potter and a Black, giving him the ability to be of both houses.
"Hmm interesting," Lucius said softly as he watched Harry place his books on the counter and start paying for them.
It was during this time that Lucius went silent as he thought over the new information about 'Orion Black.' Now that Harry thought about it he decided to go to Gringotts later and do what he told Lucius that he had a vault under the name Orion Black and transfer some of the Potter funds to it. Then he would leave the Potter funds untouched in case the ministry tried to keep track of his vault though, he was pretty sure the goblins wouldn't say anything even if they did. They were notoriously known for being tight lipped and keeping things confidential. He would have to get in with Ragnok to get this done. Since he didn't look anything like what his fourteen your old self looked like any more than it should be easy to do. He would have to create a document allowing the Potter vault to transfer the funds to the Orion Black vault he was to gain. It was a full proof plan, since he'd gained the key to the Potter vault when he was eleven. The story would stick because Lucius would have no way of tracking the information down, the records having been lost around the time Marius disappeared from the wizarding world.
"You said Marius Black was a squib correct?" Lucius asked interrupting his thoughts. Somehow Harry didn't like where that was going.
"Yes," Harry said sidetracked as he pulled out money to give to the bookstore owner.
"Then how… pray tell, are you a wizard then. It is my belief that squibs can only have more squibs or muggles," He said looking at Harry suspiciously.
That had not been something he counted on being asked, but Harry quickly remembered a study he read on squibs recently and had been looking into it when he got the change. Seemed now he would have to do even more research on the subject if this was to help him out at all. Harry only politely smiled as if Lucius had missed out on something, which in all honesty was true.
"A squib who marries someone of a weaker blood line could have muggles or squibs yes… but Marius didn't marry another blood line lower than that of a pure-bloods. Since he was a Black he was determined to keep the blood line pure. Though, Britain seems to think them being the lowest in the wizarding world, other countries do not think as such. He married another pure blood family outside of Britain. Their children ended up being magical like his family before him. You see the belief that Squibs hold no magic is false, and squibs do hold magic but are incapable of ever using it because a trait in the blood line has blocked it. Because of inbreeding this block often happens in pure-blood lines, whether it is blood and magic rejecting each other remains to be seen. You see even muggleborns or 'mudbloods' as pure-bloods here call them, descend from families that had squibs that married into the none-magical world and eventually produced a magic baring child." He was feeling smug now with keeping this up the way he was. It wasn't a lie per say just facts and his, own thoughts on the matter, "So in other words the blood to my family is still pure regardless of what people would want to believe."
Lucius looked flabbergasted and if Harry wasn't pretending to be the pure-blood he was claiming to be then he would have laughed hard at the man's facial expression. "Interesting Mr. Black…"
"Please call me Orion," He said to him.
"Okay, Orion, I did not know such thing was possible. I apologize if I insulted you, can I ask where you heard of this," Lucius asked.
"There is a well know written research book on it here at Flourish and Blotts. It was originally started by a wizard doing research on it in Russia, with his companions. They had been curious about how muggles could bare magical children. I read up on it, and decided to research it myself, and have been making some gradual progress with it myself, that is proving the words in the research book to be true," Once again truth, but with a little white lie mixed with it. "If you would like I have a copy of the book on me I could give you. I had bought two in case I miss placed the first at the time. Since, I research out of my house and home often."
"That would be most appreciated Orion, I thank you for your hospitality," Lucius said as harry fished the book out of his messenger bag from the compartment he had his books in.
Harry handed it to him after his books had been paid off, as well as the ones Lucius had come for, so as not to get it mixed up with the purchasable materials. He walked out of the book store with Lucius close behind him. He felt odd for having the pure-blood so close, but oddly enough he didn't dislike it and felt actually a bit happy the man wasn't glaring at him and shunning him like he had when he was the Boy-Who-Lived. He wondered how the man would react if he knew who he was. Probably not even the least bit in a good way, and he prayed the man wouldn't find out any time soon. He preferred the man get to know him now as Orion Black rather than Harry Potter. Maybe then he would see him differently and not be so prone to jumping to killing him when the time came. Harry was about to walk away towards Gringotts when both he and Lucius were stopped by none other than Scrimgeour and the Weasley's. Lucius curled his lip up at them and Harry felt himself tilting his head down to hide his face from view, which Lucius caught but drew no attention to the fact.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy," Said the gruff and burly voice of Head Auror Scrimgeour.
"Hello Scrimgeour, to what does this occasion bring you here?" He asked the man.
"Just on the lookout. There was a reporting that a known murderer was around and we need to apprehend him as soon as possible. We are checking any suspicious persons to be sure," He said pointedly glancing at Harry.
"Obviously you cannot think my associate here to be this person, since he just arrived from a long trip this morning from France. He is very tired and was just about to stop by Gringotts to get some matters sorted for me," Harry couldn't believe the man was lying for him, but none the less he felt grateful for it.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to accuse him, it's just he bought quite a large stock of books from the store you were both in just now," Scrimgeour said as the Weasley pair kept looking at Harry, who had lifted his face up to look at the man.
He currently had a glamour covering his tattoo, and his eyes were glamoured to a steal grey color as well. Having put the glamours on before even coming to Diagon Alley, though his other abnormalities had yet to be dealt with. He needed to find stronger magic to deal with those and hopefully the Veela books would help with that. For now though what he did for his minor markings was enough. His hair was also braided and tucked into his cloak out of sight so judging length would be impossible. Clasped to his left ear was a earring clasp the fit snugly against the length of his ear. It had a powerful glamour on it that even Finite wouldn't be able to get rid of, and only he could remove it. This, however, only hid his elven ears. Even so, he wouldn't risk them seeing his hair in case they suspected him of using glamours. Sure it had only been a couple of days, but he had literally taught himself to do glamours wandlessly when at the Dursley's to cover up his worst marking so as not to draw attention from neighbors of the savvier abuse he'd been under. It had saved the Dursley's hides and his own from anymore abuse, during those harsh times. He'd gotten even better now that he had to hide his new appearance issues, but still not strong enough to take on the task of his main issues now. It had been a spur of the moment idea that morning to glamour his eyes a steal grey color which worked for the whole I'm a Black story with Lucius earlier.
"Well it sounded as if you were, and as for his spending habits it is none of your concern. He is a researcher in his spare time, and likes to experiment and create things," Lucius lied smoothly, "Is it a crime to buy so many books when it's for research and experimentation?"
"No it isn't, I am sorry for this matter sir," Scrimgeour said to Lucius. Then he turned to Harry, "I also must apologize to you as well Mister…"
"Orion, sir, Orion Black."
"Black?" Scrimgeour said with confusion across his face, "There aren't any other blacks other than Narcissa Malfoy, Sirius Black, and Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Yes, I had explained that to Mr. Malfoy when I first met him," Again true, but not the whole truth. "It is true that the main Black family branch lives here in Britain. My family ties come from Marius Black, a squib. Since squibs are ranked low in the wizarding world of Britain and are therefore considered close to muggles he was stricken from the Black tree and sent away. Marius was a Black first and foremost and fought hard to keep the pure-blood line even if his family thought him not to be. Under research of a Russian Wizard by the name of Vsevolod Golovin, it has been significantly proven through his research that the fact that squibs producing offspring with magical abilities could happen, regardless of the wizarding world's beliefs. Often if the bloodline is a strong one squibs can have magic born children, it is the only reason why muggles can even produce muggleborns, because at some point in their heritage a family member had once been a pure-blood squib. Basically filtering out the inbreeding until the blockage of the bloodline is no longer as restricting to keep producing squibs or muggles. It was luck that my great, great, grandfather Marius Black married into another pure-blood family outside of Britain that did not judge that he was a squib." He smirked, "His first child, a son, was magical as was his daughter. So far each generation has had magic. The subject of squibs has become one of my many research projects, and the mystery of how muggles produce magical children. I find it fascinating as much so as the fundamentals and basics of pure magic. Such as magic sensitives' for example," He smiled, "Their abilities to see things most other witches and wizards can't. I have a firm belief magic works in a way that connects to why some witches and wizards' birth squibs."
Bill seemed to be as interested as Arthur was and Harry felt a voice inside his mind jumping for joy that his fundamental thoughts on the subject was helping to gain a way out of his current dilemma. "You believe magic is causing it?" Bill asked
"Yes and no. For reasons I have yet to pin point I believe that it may be a combination of both magic and the constant in bread relations, though I have yet to delve into the topic as of late. I have been quiet busy and Mr. Golovin's research doesn't say too much on the matter which I believe is because he isn't running on much funding," He said to the Weasley's, he barely was able to notice that Lucious seemed to be amused.
"Yes, you have been Mr. Black, now if you would excuse us Mr. Scrimgeour, Weasley's," Lucius said as he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and steered him away from the three, and towards Gringotts.
When they were far enough away Harry spoke up, "Thank you Mr. Malfoy."
"Call me Lucius… now tell me, why you are hiding from them," Lucius asked him.
"Okay, well Lucius I ran into a snag a couple days ago and accidentally listened in on something I obviously now think I shouldn't," He sighed, "A young redhead cornered me with another young witch. They had been speaking about some young man called Harry Potter," He said looking up at Lucius once they'd stopped moving after entering the front of Gringotts. "At the time I was… emotionally compromised, and was unprepared for what took place. I ended up divulging too much information I shouldn't have and now I guess they are searching for me," Harry said looking away and to the goblins. "I really don't need this right now, and though I have just gotten here, I have yet to find a suitable home for myself. I have been living in motels in the muggle world, and quiet honestly I don't want to be there."
Lucius quirked a brow, "Why not? I am sure they are cheaper than wizarding ones."
Harry bit his lip in thought, 'Should I tell him? I am starting a new life and I am determined to make things different now than I had with certain things in the past. Who knows Lucius might be different than what I first thought him to be.'
"Well….I have… a certain condition that I recently came into. An inheritance of a sort. When I hit the age of fourteen I was… changed… in ways that is hard for me to hide. I have been researching ways to deal with it so I can live normally amongst both muggles and wizards, without it being known."
"You're not a werewolf are you," Lucius's hushed tones came out so no one nearby could hear. Having dropped to the same tone he Harry was using the whole time when speaking with him.
"What? No! Of course not… if that was the case I would find a pack to join, but there is no category for what I am… I have yet to even find a book out there that can even tell me. From what I can tell it's been a long time since something like me existed."
"I don't suppose you can show me can you?"
"No not hear anyways… not with people out there looking for the me, that has already been seen," He said as he looked around to make sure no one from the Auror group had followed them. His new steadily growing sensitivity powers came in handy to even make sure no one under the notice me not charm, or invisibility charm could sneak up on them.
Lucius nodded, "I offer my home as a safe house if you wish to hide."
Harry's thoughts stopped at that. Lucius was offering his home to be his as well. He knew this could be a trap, that he could be offering to one day gain his trust so he would join their cause. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to just yet, for he didn't know their cause, and if rumors were true than Lucious was a death eater. He came to the decision that he would stay at the Malfoy's house while he searched for a home of his own. He sighed, for he knew it was the best he was going to get and he knew he would owe Lucius for this so he decided to get to the point.
"What is the catch?"
"Catch? What makes you think there is a catch," Lucius said with a smirk.
"Because one thing I know about pure-bloods is that they always do something for a reason and often expect something in return if it benefits them to do so," Harry said caution etched into his features.
"Well then I will have to break it to you, that the catch is only me getting to see this real you. Since I am opening my home to you, I think it would be great compensation for me to see this form of yours. I am quiet curious to see what it is, and since you are giving up your peace of mind to show me, then it is only suitable to allow you safety with my family at our home when you need it," He said reasonably.
Harry couldn't believe his ears that Lucius had actually made a valid excuse. Not to mention the man had caught on that he'd been ready to show Lucius his…what he now called his….true form. It was an equal exchange and Harry knew it. Biting his lip he nodded and looked to the man, the fake steal grey eyes seemingly searching to make sure it wasn't a trick. Experienced with reading people because of his life living with the Dursleys', it had helped him to gain a perspective to read people. His resolve strengthened and he nodded his head again, but this time in determined resolution.
"I accept Lucius, but I will not be staying long. I still plan to find my own place before long," He said to him.
"Of course I expect nothing less. I assume you have business with Gringotts to pass your vault from Japan to here?" He asked going back to their causal conversation.
"Yes, it won't take long. Where should I meet you?" He asked the man.
"Meet me at the entrance to Knockturn Alley in about a couple hours, that should suffice for the time you will need here," He said as he looked at Harry.
Harry nodded, "Of course, I will be there before the time is out."
Lucius smirked, "See that you do."
Harry just smirked before walking away from Lucius who he could feel watching him even as he moved away, until he no longer felt the scrutinizing gaze. He sighed with relief was he got up to the front desk. He spoke with the goblin there and told him of his business before he told him to sit down. He waited for a long time and Harry began to wonder if maybe they had forgotten about him. It was a little past the first hour when the called him back there to see Ragnok, who immediately started to throw questions, which Harry expertly started throwing them back with answers of his own and written documents of a new vault plus fund transfers from the Potter vault. The signature on the paper was a blood signature that Goblins knew if it was faked or real. Since blood signatures could not be copied or duplicated without the exact magic core signature along the blood on the page, the document would not be disputed. Setting up the vault and transfer funds was a long process, but it went smoothly and he believed he'd gained a new friend in Ragnok, because of his polite behavior and use of the Goblin etiquette when introducing himself to him. Upon finishing up he departed from Gringotts with a clear mind and a clear track before him. He went to find Lucius and was on his way to Knockturn alley when he was practically tricked by something in the middle of the ground. Blinking in confusion he looked down, wondering why no one else had tripped on whatever it was. Curled up in front of him was none other than Nagini, and Harry's eyes widened as he looked at her.
-My master asked me to seek you out and speak with you. Will you listen, hatchling?- Nagini hissed at him.
Harry was about to speak when he noted Lucius heading his way having seen the boy almost fall from where he'd been and was now looking puzzled down at Nagini. Confusion and surprise flitted across his features as he approached, taking note of the dark lord's familiar. Harry did a small nod before whispering his answer that he knew she would hear.
-I will listen, but I will be unable to answer until we are properly alone-
-That is fine… I shall go with you to the blond haired ones place-
Harry nodded and fell silent as he bent down to scoop Nagini up. At first Nagini was about to snake herself around his shoulders before she scented the other on Harry hidden beneath his cloak, and instead wrapped herself around the other fellow serpent instead as Osiris stayed silent and out of view. Since they were closer to Knockturn Alley not many wizards would recognize the serpent and if they did they said nothing about it. Lucius came upon them complete shock on his features. He had never seen Nagini allow another to hold her, unless she'd been ordered to for missions in the past.
"Do you know whose snake that is?" Lucius asked softly.
"No, but I figured we could at least give her some warm place to stay and some food. Besides Osiris would like a companion."
"Osiris?"
"Oh I forgot I never told you about him," He pulled the edge of his cloak down to reveal black banded tiger serpent, lazily wrapped around his shoulders silently. His head laying upon his left shoulder, with his eyes unblinking as he watched Lucius from where he was. Lucius was surprised that there had been a snake there the whole time, and if he remembered right that particular snake was poisonous, so how could this boy even forget that it was there?
"You are a rare person indeed Mr. Black," He said dropping his first name as a way of being serious about his comment. "You had one of the world's poisonous snakes around your shoulders and you forgot it was even there? Not to mention that you weren't at all defenseless were you?'"
Harry only shrugged a bit, "When I first got him he was a bit antsy, but now he's more patient. Being stuck around someone's neck almost every day does that to a being." He joked a bit, "Anyways, it seems like this beautiful lady will be joining us. Shall we go than?"
Lucius nodded and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder before apparating away from the immediate area to the Malfoy Manor. Nagini was now feeling pleased with herself, the little seeker having found her target and doing now as her master ordered. She would coax him, and goad him into meeting her master at last. She looked forward to the days ahead, and something in her told her none of this would be easy. Harry on the other hand had no idea where his current path was about to take him. In the end, all Harry cared about now, was that he could finally be himself with no inhibitions or expectations of any kind for the time being.
Next Chapter- Darkness Whispers
Well everyone that is it for this chapter. I hope you all all Having a Happy New year and are enjoying the time for count down tonight. Looking forward you the R&R's, and wishing you all an awesome new start to the year. See you all soon!