Hello everyone lovely Readers
Here is the next installment of A Shadowed life. I really love you all I do, the reviews keep coming and those who do I feel over joyed to read. I would love to hear more from my readers, though. I do realize that I can't expect everyone to review, but it's a little disheartening when very few review and usually about one out of every hundred viewers actually gives a review. None the less those of you who have thank you from the bottom of my heart. You few really inspire me, truly you all do.
tdjs: Thank you. Well Harry had been out of the Wizarding world for several days. So I think those days would be enough before Nagini would find him. She is a very smart serpent after all right? Instead of wasting her time searching the muggle world for him. Why not just hang out where most wizards of Britain would go? –chuckles- As for Lucious I had been unsure at first, but I decided it best to go ahead and do so considering that Harry really did need a cover story since he planned to stay in Britain.
As for the way it all started with the egg and all. I got the idea one night upon reading Descent into Darkness, and Death of Today by some other Harry potter fanfiction writers on here that I fell in love with. I had actually been tinkering with several Ideas and came to this one after reflecting back on other stories by other fanfiction writers and what they had already done. Since there has been quite a few other were-wolf, vampire, Shape shifting, and neko fanfictions, I wanted to throw something new into the mix. Come up with something people hadn't thought of, while I researched about Merlin and Morgan le Fay. Though most people referenced a lot of the works from folk lore and fairytales I referenced a movie called Excalibur. It helped to get this story the exact back grounds I wanted and to move it into a little more believable setting. So to anyways, to hear you liked it makes me happy I stuck with this whole new idea.
noelnoel2: It is okay, those are old anyways and really believably out dated in a sense. I haven't written much of anything on the others in months and had been thinking about dropping them. Though, I don't think the readers for those would like that so I promised them I would try and post new chapters for them that would lead to a conclusion for a possible sequel. I myself am not fond of authors who drop a good story and don't seem to try to get back into the swing of things. Thinking of myself doing so made me feel horrible so I made them a promise to try and finish them. Often amazing stories have been ruined by the authors of them dropping the story and in some cases passing them onto another writer, whose style pales in comparison to the original owner of the story. But anyways my style now is possibly greatly different from those stories, now.
The story though… I had deliberated for a while on how I was going to do that or even if it was even going to happen in the third chapter. Though I think it all settled in nicely. If maybe even a bit rushed on my part. Sometimes I just get overly excited about a story and things get kind of tangled before the smooth out again.
As for getting a beta, I wasn't planning on it but a viewer suggested I do so and have been thinking on. I'm usually self-conscious about my works. I am an all-around artist so criticism is sometimes hard for me to accept. Both in written works and drawn works. I mean it's kind of bad enough that I harshly criticize my own works on my own. Though, it does help me to understand what people like and dislike none the less.
And the dragon facet… I haven't really thought much into the aspect of a dragonized personality, but I like the idea of it and thank you for saying something about it. It would definitely make for some interesting situations for the characters to go through.
Scknookums: Yeah it was a bit forced and rushed, but that's how I wanted it. You see Harry just wanted it all done and out of the way. So why not just explain it without the tedious questions that may have come out of it? –Chuckles-
GarionRiva: Thanks, I always thought Harry could have been smart and have more potential then what he was portrayed in the real storyline. So I decided to do just that in this one. As for his inheritance, I'm debating on that revolution still. If anyone has ideas I'm willing to listen to them. His mate however…-smirks- You'll see who it is when we get there –chuckles-
The many others complimenting the story so far: Thank you all for your reviews, stating that you like the story or are so full of excitement that you wish me to post soon. I have been keeping a steady pace at creating the story since, December 28th and I think this story was exactly what I had needed to pass the time in my life right now, since school term is out and won't pick up the new term in a couple more weeks. Thank you all for the expressed love of this story. You fill my heart with joy when I see those few words.
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 Four- Darkness Whispers
Harry felt the nauseating feeling as though he'd been placed in a spinning vortex before being solidly placed on the ground at a dizzying rate. He'd never apparated before and to tell the truth he wasn't so sure he was all too fond of it, though it was greatly useful when traveling long distances. Then again he thought his new form allowed him to travel faster than normal wizards and people anyways. With his new for he'd taken notice of his more enhanced strength and the enhancements to his senses, such as touch, sound, taste, hearing, sight, and awareness. He was also to think more clearly and rationally then he used to, and when he did certain things it was almost instinctual and natural as though a hundred generations worth of information layed within him, just waiting to be tapped into at a given moment. With those adjustments, he also took note of his faster healing rate as well, let alone that his magical core was growing, albeit slowly, but still growing even past what he'd been at. In all honest truth he felt as though he 'could' go head to head with the dark lord if he had too. He hadn't tested his bodies' latest limitations, but something told him he wouldn't be tired out as easily as he'd been in the past.
He was snapped out of his inner thoughts when the hand on his shoulder steadying him gave a small nudge for him to move forward, before the hand fell away from him as Lucius started to walk. Nagini seemed to be blissfully unaffected by what had just happened. Obviously completely used to being apparated about like a metaphorical rag doll. Osiris on the other hand was hiss groggily, sounding something like 'Was that necessary' and 'Master I like your flying better'. Harry just reached up and stroked the top of his head silently as they moved from the entry hall to the inner rooms of the manor. Lucius was silent as the moved past each door they came across until they reached double doors that lead into a lounge area, probably used for small family get-togethers. Lucius let him walk into the room before closing the door. When he turned around he looked at Harry, who was looking about the room in silence. Taking in the house for all its glory. He was amused earlier with how expertly the boy danced his way around the topic that had been about him and had turned into in to lecture of sorts. The boy looked eighteen, yet at times didn't not act the age he portrayed himself to be. At times Harry would act like an older person, with knowledge that far surpassed many, while other times he would act like he was much younger than eighteen entirely. It puzzled Lucius to say the least. By the boys story he should be eighteen or close to it at least. He could also possibly be even sixteen and emancipated by both muggle and wizarding communities. This boy was a conundrum, and Lucius was going to figure out the enigma that 'Orion Black' was.
"Now that we are in private away from the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, shall we proceed?" Lucius said to him which gained a light nod from Harry, yet he was also hesitant.
Sighing Harry watched Lucius as he stood waiting for Harry to show him what he was hiding. Turning his back on Lucius, which in some part of his mind it was screaming for him not to do, he Slipped Nagini, and Osiris, from his neck one at a time. Nagini curled up next to Osiris both silently watching everything as it unfolded. He slipped the cloak from his shoulders, revealing the wings that were there. The back of his shirt had been altered by Harry himself just so his wings could sit comfortable while wearing a shirt. The whole in the back of the shirt also showed the black scales that glistened lightly in the lighting of the room. His shirt was made in a way that the lower part of his shirt hugged his body loosely, and the hole in the back was crafted in a wide circle that allowed his wings room to move when he needed them to without discomfort. At the area where his neck was, a buttoned clasp was there to keep the top of his shirt in place. It was also sleeveless showing of thin arms as he did so, yet lightly muscled. At first the black material of his shirt blended in nicely with his scales, because of the silky look to it. But on closer inspection you could tell material away from scales. Harry unclasped his shirt neck button to show the scales and where they were in mass. His tail unwrapped around from his black slacked pant leg and allowed it to sway comfortably behind him as his wings stretched a bit. He waved his hand over his features to allow the tattoo to appear and his steel grey eyes to vanish. He was taking a risk doing that, and would pass off the change in eye color being because of the appearance change. Reaching up to his left clasped ear piece he mumbled a Parseltongue word under his breath so Lucius couldn't hear it. The clasp fell away and his ears pointed elven ears appeared once more. During all of this Lucius had moved forward to inspect the appendages after having gotten over his initial shock of it all.
At first Harry though he would have gotten the same reaction he'd gotten from Ron and Hermione. That all flew out the window when the light touch of Lucius finger tips ran across his scaled shoulder blades. What he hadn't been prepared for was his own reaction. His breath hitched and he froze in place, causing Lucius to freeze as well. He hadn't known his scales could be sensitive, let alone that he could feel anyone touch them as though it was his skin they had touched, yet it also felt more intense as well. Harry shivered before forcing himself to relax.
"I apologize… I was not expecting that to feel so… intense," He said for lack of a better word for it.
"What do you mean?" Lucius said about to draw his hand away yet thought against it before absently running his fingers along one of the scales in wonder, marveling at the iridescent color.
"To put it bluntly it feels like skin to skin contact, just a couple times more sensitive. I hadn't known that I could feel anything with them. It might just be because they are attached to my skin now, but I can't be too sure," Harry said to him.
Lucius's fingers trailed away from the scales to the base of his wings. Harry had expected what he felt next. His whole wing system was a mass of nerves, and it was possibly the most sensitive thing on him. Even more so then other parts of his being, and that included the feeling his scales had given him moments before. Harry's face flushed a beat red color when those fingers stroked his feathers, which, to Lucius, felt softer than any feather he'd ever touched before in the past. Harry's wings trembled under the light pressure of the wings, causing Harry's breath to shudder, before those fingers decided to explore beneath the feathers to the scales holding those feathers in place. Lucius's tough was professional, as he explored Harry's wing, testing the flex of it and asking if he could stretch the wing out to see the length of it. To say Lucius was fascinated in this rare inheritance was an understatement. The man was for lack of a better term thorough in his exploration of his wings, scales, feathers, and tail. The tail thing on the other hand was another experience on its own, possibly the second most sensitive place on his being as well. When Lucius was done prodding at everything on the length of his back Harry turned around to face him, allowing his wings to be minorly tucked behind him. Lucius breath caught and those fingers that had been on his back moved up to his face to take the intricate patter on Harry's left side of his face. Lucius's hand flinched back slightly at the notable difference in heat from Harry's skin and the mark itself. His fingers gently came back to trace the pattern to the half crescent flame that encompassed the left half of Harry's eye area. It was at this point that Lucius looked him straight in the eyes, noting the vast color change and the pupil that was vastly different from any he'd ever seen before.
"What happened to your eye color?"
"This is the color this form holds," Harry said simply, making Lucius assume whatever he pleased.
"Hmm so that means the inheritance changed your eye color, and you use glamours, to go over the vivid color and odd shaped pupil, and interesting not to mention odd tattoo," He mumbled before pulling away seemingly in deep thought.
As Lucius moved away thinking deeply to himself Harry buttoned the collar of his shirt back into place. Covering his scared pale skin from view once more, not liking the thought of being half naked before the older Malfoy. Obviously Lucius had been so engrossed in his inspection of Harry's new adornments that he hadn't notice the oddly scarred body that he had. To be honest Harry was happy that Lucius was done with his inspection now. He'd felt way to weird having the man touch him like that, almost like he was a pet, that or he we in a very intimate moment. Not to mention the feelings it elicited in him when the man touched his wings and tail. To say those parts of him made his easily aroused was an understatement. If it wasn't for Harry's ability to keep himself calm during the inspection, he was sure he would have an embarrassing problem and would have probably made a sound that Harry really hadn't wanted to let out.
Harry watched the older Malfoy silently before he heard the door open and looked over to see Narcissa Malfoy peeking into the room. Harry figured that the wards alerted her to the fact that her husband was home as well as a visitor. She looked about ready to speak before her eyes landed on him. He watched as her dark eyes widened in surprise, completely caught off guard. Lucius looked over to her then back at Harry. He obviously hadn't expected Narcissa to walk in on them, with Harry's secret exposed out in the open on Lucius's house. Though, it was bound to happen sooner or later, Harry guessed sooner was better than later.
"Narcissa love, this is Orion Black," Lucius introduced him to the woman and her eyes seemed to get impossibly bigger before they narrowed in on Harry.
"That's not possible," She said looking at Harry, "There are only three Blacks alive right now, and I know them all."
Lucius chuckled, "Obviously you do not, because young Mister Black here is from your family bloodline. More specifically Marius Black to be frank," He said watching his wife's expressions.
"Marius? The third eldest, to one Cygnus and Violetta Black? I thought he was a squib, so how is it, even possible his decedent is a… magical being?"
"My dear it looks like you and I will be reading some new interesting research. For mister Black has introduced me to this book," Said man picked up the book Harry had given him earlier that day. He'd obviously put it down before inspecting Harry's wings, scales, and tail. "It seems our thoughts on squibs being magically stunted is less then true then when we first thought it to be. Young Black here is a product of something we all thought couldn't ever possibly happen, and yet it did."
Narcissa looked to Harry, and Harry didn't at all flinch at her scrutinizing stare. He was actually used to it, from having to prove himself to people who had always looked to The-Boy-Who-Lived. "He does not portray the Black's eyes, but he does have some of the features," She said softly.
Harry was infinitely happy that Sirius had done the blood inheritance with him when he was young, or would have never inherited some of the features he was today that were close to the black blood traits. The only thing is, is that before the change he had looked a bit more like his father James Potter. It seemed whatever he'd gone through had favored the Black genes more than the potter genes. Yet he still contained his mother's green eyes. Harry's wings flexed and she looked to his back where they were still propped up against his back. His tail lay heavily against the floor a bit, the spade shape flush against the rug the layed across most of the wood floor. He could see curiosity in her eyes about this form he donned for she'd never seen one quite like it before.
"Mrs. Malfoy," Harry bowed politely in greeting, "This form is one I have acquired at the age of fourteen." He gestured to his appendages as he spoke once again letting her assume his age was more than fourteen upon his looks, now.
"Oh, really? May I ask what you are then? I don't think I've seen anyone undergo and inheritance like yours before," She asked curiously.
"That my lady, is something I myself have yet to find the answers too. I haven't come across any book, scroll, or tale that can explain what I am," He said softly looking down and away. Suddenly reminded of the words his relatives had called him. In truth he really felt like a freak now. He was neither wizard, nor creature, and this form had no written works on it so far, and for all he knew there were none. Obviously whatever emotion that had appeared on his face Narcissa and Lucius had caught, for one moment he was standing alone and the next Narcissa had her arms wrapped around him and Lucius had stepped closer, yet didn't touch him.
"Do not look that way," She tried to sooth, "What could possibly be going through that head of yours? What brought such emotion to your face?"
"I-," Harry hesitated, "I was only thinking what I thought was true," He bit his lip in thought.
"What might that be?" Lucius asked.
Narcissa had backed up so Harry could talk, but Harry didn't look up at them, "Remember when I told you, Mr. Malfoy, about me being an Orphan after my parents had passed away?" Harry had looked up at him, and Lucius nodded though looked puzzled, "The family I had before the last one that adopted me was… a muggle family." Harry looked away when he saw the look of donning horror on his face. "I was often called a freak, a demon, and a monster. Among many other names that I really, don't wish to voice, right now. Though, those words… weren't the only things that occurred with these muggles." His wings shifted and tightened against his form, "I was just thinking that now… now I am a freak. That what they said was true."
This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening, but it was and there wasn't much Harry could do to stop it. Sometimes he hated his emotions and right now was one of them. He didn't want to feel what he was feeling, and just wished he could have felt detached rather the sorrowful like he did now. He could feel the prickle of tears as they burned the back of his eyes, and how they traitorously slid down his face as he kept it turned down and away from the two Malfoys'. His hands hand come up to grip his upper arms, where scales layed, harshly when he felt as though his thoughts were about to rip him apart. Suddenly he wished he wasn't there, that he was some place far away so no one would see him like this and at some point during these thoughts Narcissa had enveloped him in a warm embrace, and had gently navigated him over to the couch so he could sit down as she held him. Harry closed his eyes and tried to calm himself as he heard comforting words coming from Narcissa. Soft gentle words full of warmth.
"Hush now, you're not any of what they called you," She said softly as she rested her cheek on top of his head. "You are you nothing, more or less. You are just a little different that is all, it does not make you a freak, and it does not make you any less human than what you are, do you hear me Orion," She said softly and Harry only nodded still trying hard to calm himself. Narcissa pulled away and lifted his chin before gently stroking the teas away from his face, "Now look what you've gone and done, you ruined your beautiful face." She said teasingly, getting a slight smile from him and she smiled back, "There's that smile, now how long are you staying my dear?"
Lucius spoke up this time, "Orion just recently moved here from Japan and is currently in need of a place to stay. So I offered him to stay with us until he finds himself a suitable home to say in."
"Oh! Such a long way away from your home land, but I'm surprised you have no Japanese accent," She said to him.
"I am rather good at language barriers, so hanging on to an accent when speaking another language is less of a problem to me," He said to her, once he'd finally calmed down enough to speak.
"Well then, I hope you enjoy your stay here. If there is anything you need anything our house elves would be glad to assist you," she said softly and Harry gave a slight nod to let her know he'd understood what she'd said.
Osiris curled up in Harry's lap, which started Narcissa and Lucius on the topic of the young Tiger Snake. It was during this discussion that Lucius said that the Tiger snake was a protected species in Australia, and if anyone exported them that it was illegal. Harry laughed at that, saying he'd had no idea that the snake was illegal and somehow it didn't bother him in the least. It was more of a joke for him and Osiris now that they were already together. During all of this Nagini was quiet, she watched them all silently as she listened to the three chat. Though she stayed quite close to Harry almost a bit motherly to the boy and to Nagini's mind he was already family if her master took such great interest in him. Harry ended up discussing quite a lot with the two Malfoy's, mostly about himself which he'd mixed in really life details about his muggle family, and the fake facts of his life outside of Britain. In all it wasn't that hard since, having lived in the muggle world he had learned a lot about Japan, from having been to muggle schools, and from a few other sources. Things continued that way for a while before Lucius had to go back to work, and Narcissa went to go plan a few things for upcoming parties the family had planned on doing earlier in the year. Leaving Nagini alone with Harry for the rest of that time of the day, and Harry was about to learn that the dark lord was out to get him. Not for his death, but for his allegiance with him on the dark side of the war.
{A Shadowed Life}
Voldemort stared down at the parchments before him and the books he had strewn out along the edges of his desk as he drew out his new plans for revival. Nagini came back every so often to give venom to keep her master in the form his was in. Pettigrew had been the one to harvest her venom and the snake delighted in making the man squirm when she got the chance. She'd told her master that she had come in contact with the boy and that he called himself Orion Black. He felt oddly about that, but didn't voice it as he had listened to her the rest of what she'd had to say. It seemed the boy was not adverse to the proposition to be a part of his dark army. But he did have questions he wanted to ask the dark lord, yet at current the dark lord would not meet with him until he had a body for which to do so in. Though, no matter what he did he couldn't find a suitable spell to do so with. If only the Potter brat had been found then he wouldn't be having this problem. Already a month had gone by without a word on the boy's whereabouts. Barty had informed him that the brat's friends knew nothing and the blood traitor was getting a bit pushy and head strong about things to the point he was picking fights with Slytherins. He was however glad that this Orion Black character was staying with the Malfoys'. If Narcissa hadn't thought him to be a black she would have forced him out of their home calling him a liar the first chance she got. Regardless on if he was offered a place to stay with them or not.
It was during his research that he came upon a ritual that could help to gain his life back. Though, as he looked over the ritual he knew that he would have to make a great number of adjustments to it to get his desired affects for it. The plan would need the blood of a creature he desired, the blood of a powerful wizard freely given, and the blood an immortal being unwillingly sacrificed. He didn't know which immortal being he wanted and that in itself was going to be hard to come by, and he didn't know of any powerful wizards other than Dumbledore, Lucius, and Bellatrix. Dumbledore was a no, since the man would never help him and Voldemort would refuse him even if he'd offered. Lucius was a possible source but didn't want the man to feel that he was special, and Bellatrix was currently in Azkaban. It was at this point his thoughts turned to the dragon boy, Orion. The boy was indeed powerful, from the memory he'd gotten from Barty that day, and Judging by what Nagini said about his training days he was sure that the boy could do so much more with proper training.
His fingers tapped the desk silently as he thought to himself. He'd seen Nagini's memories as well, and having someone who'd been close to the boy had given Voldemort al he needed to know about the boy from another's perspective. He felt off about the boy on the other hand, having thought he'd seen those eyes before. Even with, whatever change he'd under gone, he felt as though he personally knew the boy from somewhere and it was eating away at his mind all the same. For several weeks he had sat in thought about the boy since the first day Nagini reported to him. He knew by now that Lucius suspected that he'd returned with Nagini's constant presence and disappearance, yet hadn't sought him out yet. Which, he was amused with because he knew the man was already scared for not having sought him out before he'd returned. He needed to see the boy, and he decided now that he would do so and Lucius would join him there at the manor. It was the only way he would get the boy there since he did not know how to apparate and he wouldn't send Wormtail because he was unworthy to do so. Barty was at the school being his hidden spy for the time being and he would not pull him out in case he was to be caught. He couldn't have that, not this late in his plans.
"Wormtail!" He called out for the man, who he knew was there in the manor somewhere.
The man peeked into the room as he came into it, "Yes my Lord?"
"I want you to write to Lucius Malfoy. Tell him I wish to see him, and the one who calls himself Orion Black. They will have to the end of this month to be ready to come and see me is that clear?"
"Y-yes my Lord," Wormtail stuttered out.
"Now get out of my sight," He said as said man skittered out of the room like the frightened rat he was.
A month was enough for him to get everything he needed ready, and given them enough time to mentally prepare themselves for their meeting. Voldemort oddly wondered how this would all turn out, and something within him just didn't sit right with the thought of the boy named Orion Black. In the memories he'd seen the boy seemed hesitant to accept his proposal to join him, but not adverse to it. Nagini had asked questions that he himself had told her to ask him, and as of late Voldemort would slip into her mind to see him and feel his presence. This magic was startlingly addictive, and being in the presence of it made him want, more later when he was away from it. In a way though it felt awfully familiar, more power full yes, but he'd felt it before, when it was weaker than it was at the moment. It was frustrating not to pin point it and he was bound and determined to figure out where he'd felt it before, but for now he would wait in silence.
Sitting back in his chair he closed his eyes, knowing Wormtail would be to cowardly to come back anytime in the near future without his saying to do so. He slipped into his mind to the link he'd magically created with Nagini, to watch through her eyes to see Orion again. Nagini was curled up on the couch speaking with Orion's familiar Osiris. He'd been surprised at first to see a deadly snake other than Nagini around the boy. It seemed that his thoughts of the boy being a Parseltongue were true, but Orion kept it hidden from everyone except Nagini, and Osiris. Voldemort knew only because one time, like now, he'd entered Nagini's mind and heard him talking to her and Osiris. It also seemed the young Tiger snake was a suitable match for Nagini, if it wasn't her constant trying to flirt with him that gave it away. Nagini looked for strong mates and she didn't care who they were as long as they were of the snake lineage. It wasn't a bad fit either for Osiris was a beautiful specimen and very much just as deadly as Nagini was. He was a snake you never wanted to tangle with, and even though Voldemort had enhanced her he k new in a battle of pure power that they were evenly match regardless of how young the tiger snake was. In the course of a month the snake had grown in length and had yet you reach his max length.
Nagini finished up her talk with Osiris when she sensed her master was present within her mind. Her head turned towards the boy who was currently working out. He was doing what muggles call physical training, and at the moment he was in the middle of doing push-ups, in the middle of his borrowed bedroom. What caught his attention however, probably more so no then it would have, was that his appearance was much different now than he was a few days ago. Where his wings and scales would have been was now a black intricate tattoo. The tattoo was in the shape of wings with small crescents indicating where his scales would have been It seemed was though a thick line of black going from his lower back, near the tail bone region, swung over to his right hip to trail downwards beneath the sweat pants he wore. Possibly indicating the likeliness of his tail, and he oddly wondered if the tattoo wound around his right leg like the boy tended to do to keep it out of the way. After he was done inspecting Orion's latest work on hiding his appendages, he took note of some raised skin on the boys back. He stared intently as he tried to make out what was on the boys back with all the ink there, and what he found angered him. In big thick almost bold letters on the boys upper back was the word 'Freak' a word he'd heard often in his days at the orphanage. Nagini's head wavered at the strength of her master's anger and he felt her inquiry of what had upset him, and he soothed her worries away as he calmed himself. Someone had marked the beautiful and strong boy and a grotesque way.
Now that he wasn't focused on the boy's tattoo, he took note that most of the boy's appearance was covered in scars, ranging from thick to barely noticeable. It spoke of years of abuse, and from the conversations he had with the Malfoys' he knew the boy had also been an orphan, raised by muggles. Orion shifted after he'd finished with push-ups and turned over to use the base of the bed to hold his feet down, to do some sit-ups. The boy's thickly braided hair fell with a thump to the floor before he finished positioning himself and started the exercise. Absently Voldemort watched the boys muscles ripple under his skin. He had to admit the boy was taking good care of himself since coming into Lucius's, and Narcissa's, care. He was still on the scrawny side, which was a possibly side effect from living with muggles for a long period of time. He did have the black qualities, albeit it a few. He had the dark black hair, and the sharp Black family features, but that was where it ended for the boy seemed to prefer the green eyes over the glamour steel grey ones, and for some reason the steel grey just didn't look right on him. It was at that point that those previously green eyes flashed through his head but on the face of another person rather than the boy before him. What he saw in his flash of memory was Lilly Potter, her bright green eyes as she had begged for the life of her son.
Snape had asked him to spare her life before he'd gone there, and he'd warned Snape that if she got in his way he would not hesitate to kill her regardless of his promise to spare her life. Now why did she appear in his mind when he thought of Orion's eyes? He never once thought that the reason for the boy's eyes being green was because of the change he'd gone through. He'd simply stated that it was the color his form held, and he did not specify if it was the recent form or what he'd always had regardless of the change or not. It was at this point those green eyes in his mind change from Lilly's green to Harry's Avada Kedavra colored green eyes, and it startled him a bit before he shook such a though away. No, it couldn't be Potter since this boy Orion looked nothing like him. He looked more a black then he even did a potter, so it wasn't possible wasn't it? Somehow he felt a bit uneasy about the thought. If it was Potter then why would he hide from everyone he used to know? Why would he literally make himself disappear and rewrite himself a whole new life, just to cover up the one he's lived four fourteen years? Fourteen… That rang a bell, and an alarmingly big one at that. He receded from Nagini's mind and flicked his wrist upon being in his own body once more, calling forth the book he'd read about a month ago about the boy's appearance. He flipped to the page and read over it, this time he read the entire thing without pause. His reason was because of the age that the boy had changed. The day he'd vanished had vanished on his fourteenth birthday, and the memory of those vivid green eyes, coupled with the report of what had happened at the muggle house the boy had been living in.
Within moments Voldemort was grimacing, frowning down at the pages before him as he took note of the passages that he'd neglected to read over earlier. Only at first having been interested in the back ground of where his creature side had come from and the traits of the creature. He remembered the house Barty had seen that had once housed Potter's relatives and how unnaturally long it had taken to put of the fire that was still burning what remained of the area the house had been in. Voldemort leaned back in his chair as he thought to himself. His boney fingers placed in his lap as his thoughts wandered. It was too close to ignore that the one named Orion Black should appear the day after the Potter house incident. A lot of the boy's explanations he'd heard through Nagini were well planned out and he wondered if the boy had thought long about what he'd use as his cover story, or if it had been spur of the moment and laced with facts that the boy knew. In any case the boy had deviously and successfully created a plan an executed it with very little problems to get in the way. In fact if Voldemort hadn't figured it out, he would have probably gone through life with no one noticing. Now the bigger question was his motives for doing so. His mind flickered to the boys wounds, and his mind flamed hot with anger again though he knew not why. Why should he be angry that the Potter brat had scars? That was an easy question even he was reluctant to answer, because if it was true then all he had thought about the brat was wrong. Not only that, but he couldn't trust Dumbledore's way of thinking anymore, fore he was sure the man kept sending him back to that house even after he knew what was going on. Voldemort's jaw clenched as he looked at the pages before him in thought about the boy.
He'd definitely been beaten, and from the look of it, it had been an ongoing ordeal possibly even since the day he was brought to that families home. Voldemort wanted to know what had happened, he wanted to know more, and he was going to find out one way or another. His wind wandered to another issue. It didn't seem that the boy hated the dark arts, for he'd out right asked Narcissa and Lucius to teach him what they knew of the subject about a few weeks back. Something had planted a seed of doubt in the boy, and that something made him see magic in a different way than most would think of. The boy obviously didn't trust Dumbledore, and Voldemort could fault him for not doing so. Even in his newly acquired form Dumbledore had turned the whole wizarding world against him. The day the Prophet came out with that was also the day that they announced Harry Potter to be missing. To Dumbledore this new Harry was an obstacle and one he had to remove from the equation and fast so he used what little information the boy's friends had given the old fool. The article had given very little and the woman Rita Skeeter, pronounced that there was little evidence to go by other than word of mother from a mudblood and a blood traitor. Even though it was very little evidence the people of the light obviously trusted the information and firmly turned on him. If they had known it was Harry would they perhaps have reacted the same way? He didn't know. He closed the book before him and sent it away back to its shelf, before thinking some more.
No, he knew how they would react. Their savior would be considered dark and they would turn on him and say that he was only deceiving them all. The lights Savior would be labeled a traitor and probably would have been tossed in Azkaban, even if the boy had said it was an accident. The boy had a huge darkness within him that was for sure. His training in the dark arts under Lucius and Narcissa proved it with his ease in learning the spells. Then again the boy seemed to excel at many spells, not just dark arts spells. Voldemort slipped back into his mind again and into Nagini's once more. This time the boy was sitting on his bed legs crossed and a book was placed in his lap, as he flipped on page to read the next. Nagini was up on the bed with him and Osiris seemed to be absent. She was asking him questions that she often asked him and he would whisper them to her to keep from being too loud, so Lucius or Narcissa wouldn't hear. At one point she got a personal question in which, caused him to pause in his reading. He closed the book revealing the cover and that he was reading about wards.
-Nagini… I'm going to tell you this because I trust you just as much as I trust Osiris with this. To me… you're more of a family then the one I had was for me. But I'm not who I say I am-
-What do you mean?-
-What I mean Nagini is I'm not Orion Black… no matter how much I wish to be and that what I spoke of in the past were true. To tell the truth I didn't have a family, mine were killed a long time ago by the man who you call your master. Though, I do not blame him for their deaths anymore- This surprised Voldemort more than his recent discovery. –You see… my actual name is Harry Potter. The very boy Voldemort seeks to destroy. Honestly if I had a choice to meet him again I think I would let him…- Voldemort was stunned silent, even his magic seemed to still at that declaration and he could feel Nagini prodding at him as if to ask If he was okay. She wouldn't strike Potter unless he told her too, and right now he was very much interested in what the boy had to say.
–You see I can't trust Dumbledore anymore. He kept sending me back to a home which held people who hated my very existence. On top of that, when I thought back to old scenarios involving me and Voldemort… some of what took place just didn't seem right. Nothing made sense as though that shouldn't of taken place. Like someone had been invisibly guiding us to that path, and usually when I run into a confrontation I know I can't handle I always run, yet when faced with him it was as though my personality did a one eighty and I found myself standing against him. To tell the truth I felt more… I felt as though I shouldn't be fighting against him. Like I'm supposed to be with him, but there are many things he does that I can't agree with. He hates muggles… all of them. I can't say I'm fond of them either, having seen the terrible side of them most of my life. Not all of them are horrible though, I mean Hermione's parents aren't like that. Even if he did try to kill them all it would reveal them to use sooner than we would want them too, let alone the fact there are a million more of them then there are of us. Their atomic bomb could wipe us all out regardless of the magic we wield.-
Harry fell silent as Nagini positioned herself into his lap. It helped to sooth Harry as he started to run his fingers over her head and he could feel the bliss she head floating around her head as Harry petted her, causing Voldemort to chuckle at his familiars antics. –It also brings me to another situation, he believes all muggleborns are just as bad as muggles themselves and are dirty with their magic. In truth those muggleborns come from a squib from a pure-blood family. The wizarding world is so stuck on their prejudices that they don't realize that those squibs still have magic, they just can't access it or use it because of a defect in the blood and that locks the magic away. Since those squibs are forced out of their families they are forced to go into the muggle world, and when they marry a muggle, after a few generations, a magical child is born. It occurs this way because the blood thins out without the in bread defects in the bloodline. Causing the off spring to sprout from the muggle world and I believe that if we killed them all off… we would inevitably be killing ourselves off as well. You can't always have a pure-blood family, because in the end the lines would become so entangled that eventually the line would come down to one and the line would die out. Without the squibs mingling with the muggles, those new witches and wizards would never be born, and those of the wizarding world would dwindle and vanish. Because, a true muggle cannot, birth a magical child on their own and they are incapable of doing so because they have no magic-
Voldemort thought over these words for a long moment while Harry was silent. Obviously, thinking over his words before he spoke again. He was surprised with the boy's thought process on the matter and it was obvious he'd taken a long, time thinking about it and researching the subject. It seemed the boy had a brilliant mind and he wondered if it was his time alone that got him to thinking, or if it was the fact he was no longer under the influence for people who might have been trying to stunt his mental development. Somehow Voldemort wouldn't put it past the old fool to do just that. In a way Voldemort was considered Dumbledore's greatest mistake, and now he believed the boy would be another mistake he hadn't meant to create. He forced himself to focus again when Harry started to speak once more.
-I don't hate the dark arts Nagini, and I don't hate him, or the Dursley's for what they did to me. I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think Dumbledore is the one to blame for this all. Something tells me it's his fault mom and dad died, that Voldemort came after me, that I had to constantly live with the Dursleys', and that I keep feeling as though I'm being forced to face Voldemort when my whole being says I shouldn't be. I don't think I can be a death eater. I don't like being what they are to him, and if I can avoid it then I will- Voldemort quirk a brow at that did the boy expect him to be an alley without his mark to show for it? Did he think himself to be his equal? Surely not… no, Voldemort didn't have any equals. Harry was just another piece in the chess game called war. Yet the odd feeling in him told him otherwise, and he squashed it down before it could make him think it was right. The boy was strong and he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to have the boy for himself. Dumbledore had made a grave mistake for treating the boy as a weapon, and Voldemort wasn't going to allow himself to make the same mistakes he did. The boy seemed aware that the man was manipulative and he himself made it known he was using people. Voldemort on more than one occasion had sensed Nagini's fondness of the boy, and judging by her memories the boy acted different than from the memories he had of the boy. He seemed freer and happier now, maybe more of the person he was born to be rather than forced to be.
-Nagini… do you think he would kill me if I told him who I am?- Nagini was silent and didn't say anything since Harry wasn't finished speaking yet. –Do you think that he would kill me as soon as I told him who I was? That he would laugh as he watched the light drain from my eyes, just like I watched Aunt Petunia's light drain from hers they day I became what I am now?... I didn't mean to kill them, but I can't say I hadn't thought of killing them myself. Sure I don't hate them, but I hate what they did to me. They broke me in many ways… even some that I think even Voldemort would cringe at the thought of.- He didn't like where this was going not one bit. It seemed the boy had lost himself in his thoughts and was just pouring all his dark little secrets to Nagini. At some point Osiris had come back and layed curled up at the end of Harry's bed silently, watching his master and listening just as Nagini was. –Yes, they physically, mentally, and verbally abused me. But it wasn't all that happened behind the walls of that house- Harry's hands were trembling, he could feel it in the way Nagini reacted to it and looked at the boys hands before looking up at him. The steal grey glamour was gone and sorrowful green Avada Kedavra eyes looked fit to spill crystal liquid from them. –Nagi' he raped me…- White hot furry raced through his veins at those words. A child… a CHILD had been hurt in a way that shouldn't have happened. Rape was an offense that even Voldemort abhors, and to a child no less was something he just couldn't condone. His anger shattered though when those white hot tears fell from his face onto Nagini's scaled skin. The abnormal warmth to the liquid a testament to his altered form, and Voldemort felt his chest twist in an odd way. In that month of spying on the boy through Nagini, he couldn't seem to help but be fond of the boy. It was an odd feeling, and that odd feeling was quickly pushed aside before he could think about it. –It started when I was ten… Uncle Vernon had been drunk and aunt Petunia was out with some friends having brought Dudley with her, leaving me alone with him the entire day. Before that day it had been light touches here and there when my Aunt wasn't looking. I had been confused and frightened and that night when he took me… it hurt… it hurt so much and I cried for him to stop, but he never did. Afterwards when he was finished with me, he beat me and then through me into my room sullied and broken. Though, I doubt you could call a cupboard under the stairs a bedroom. Nagi' I felt so horribly filthy, and I couldn't wash away the filth as it dried into my skin.- Harry's eyes had closed by this point, the memories of that night seemingly still fresh in the boys mind. It had only been four years since the first time it had happened, and he was about to find out that it happened often even later as he grew. –When I was let out again… I washed my body as hard as I could, but I could still feel him. On me… in me… nothing I did could get rid of the feeling of him being everywhere on me. It didn't stop there… It happened more frequently when I received my letter from Hogwarts… Summer had become my worst nightmares. I had even told the headmaster, but he didn't believe me. Said I was over reacting and just trying to gain attention. After several failed attempt in telling him though… I stopped. There was no point in doing so. I used to think he didn't know, but I know better that he did. I found out through the prophet that my baby sitter was a squib and a part of some group Dumbledore created. That she had said she noticed nothing unusual from the house, and yet never once mentioned that I lived there. As though I didn't really matter, and maybe I don't… I don't know. Though, they never stated the group's name in the paper. Can you believe it? I was so shocked to discover the woman I disliked was none other than a spy for Dumbledore. Who knew all along what had been going on in that house, and yet did nothing to stop it. When the sessions got worse, he stopped caring that my Aunt could hear him. Stopped caring if Dudley was just down the hall… he always yelled at me during those times anyways. So I guess they thought he was beating me like he always did. He is also the reason I had the word 'Freak' carved into my back at the age of eleven.-
Voldemort's anger was burning by this point. He knew the old man was a bastard and a deceitful, manipulative old man. Out of everything he knew though, this took the cake out of all of them. Harry's eyes were open again looking at Nagini as he petted her head with shaky fingers once more, forcing himself, to calm down and bottle those emotions up once more. At this rate the boy would break and break hard. –I never told anyone about it other than Dumbledore and even then he didn't know as much as I'm telling you Nagi'. Not my friends… no one. I guess I've always been alone, and there wasn't anyone I could ever trust. Dumbledore spouts words like love, can defeat Voldemort… but how love defeat him if I don't know what love is? You can't count the people I call my friends, because that…isn't the love I crave. That is just friendship, a bond between people who find similarities in one another. A fragile bond that could shatter easily… Friendship is all about trust and I never trusted them enough to know me or anything about me. So what is love? Is it the love Narcissa showed me several weeks ago? What a mother would give to a son? She has often confessed to me that I feel like one to her, even though she thinks me to probably be eighteen and not fourteen- Harry swiped his arm across his face to rid himself of the tears that still slowly trailed down his cheeks, as he started to calm a bit. –I wonder what he would say if he heard me now… I doubt he would care. After all I'm just a pawn in a chess game for him- Those words felt eerily like those he'd thought of just moments think the boy thought as he did was something he hadn't expected at all. –He'd probably think I was pathetic wouldn't he? I wouldn't put it past him. I mean in the few times I'd met him, even if it was brief. It seemed like the man as unfeeling about the emotions I bared to him. Even his younger self as Tom riddle, had shown no reaction to my emotional turmoil- Voldemort felt his mind reel, how did the boy know his name? Better yet how had he met his younger self? Was it the diary? Lucius had a lot of explaining to do. As well as endure a well needed punishment. Voldemort watched the boy as he shifted and adjusted himself to where he had his knees curled up against his chest, having moved Nagini from the place she'd been in his lap to do so. His arms wrapped around his knees as he stared off somewhere in the room in thought. –Maybe I am weak and pathetic, but I can't help that I am not emotionally stunted as he is. Though… I guess his reason for that is Dumbledore's fault as well. He doesn't hide his anger and frustration, and he never shows sorrow or pain or love. Not to anyone who is looking anyways. So who am I to judge when I myself am probably just as stunted emotionally as well?- By this time Harry's tears had dried, though his eyes were a bit puffy. He was about to nudge Nagini's mind into speaking when there was a knock at the bedroom door.
Lucius walked into the room and looked at Harry a bit nervous before speaking, "Orion I have new from an associate of mine, who would like to speak with you and I at the end of this month."
Recognition flickered through the boys eyes, knowing full well he spoke of Voldemort just by Lucius's reactions, "Who is it?"
Since Lucius assumed he knew nothing of Voldemort he told him of who he was, "His name is Lord Voldemort. He is a powerful wizard here in Britain that holds quite a lot of influence on some of the people."
"A lord wants to see me? I would be honored to meet him," He gave Lucius a convincing smile that seemed to ease the man a bit into relaxing.
"Very well I will send him a reply and let him know that he can expect to meet us."
"Okay, oh and Lucius I'm planning on making a job out of ward making. What can you tell me about the job and its pay?"
Lucius looked surprised, about as much as Voldemort felt. Mostly, because warding, was a hard thing to get into doing and doing it correctly. Harry nodded, "Well you remember me telling you about my magic sensitivity?" This was the first time Voldemort heard this. Obviously this had been discussed when Nagini had been out hunting or visiting him to talk about things she'd noticed about the boy and what they discussed often.
"Yes, I remember the topic."
"Well I have been practicing the wards I have been reading in books and tweaking them a bit. I think I would like to give it a go and start a career in ward making. It would help me build up what little I have and support me in any way I need it too."
Lucius seemed thoughtful, and Voldemort could see the gears turning in the man's head as Nagini looked at the pair, "I think it would be a wonderful Idea. It makes quite a lot of money when done right and it helps the populace with the lack of ward makers in the community. Having one as young as you yourself is, creating wards for people houses and shops, would do wonders for the people."
Harry nodded, "Alright, then I shall start taking measures in doing so. Can you help me to get to the ministry to get my license for ward making? Or do I have to take a test first to do so?"
"Well do you have your Owls scores?"
"No I'm afraid not, you see when in Japan I was home schooled, and never got the time to take my owls."
"Ah, then yes we will have to test you. I will speak with minster fudge the next time I see him and try to arrange a meeting so you can take the test."
Harry nodded, "Okay, thank you Lucius, I really appreciate the help."
"Speak nothing of it Orion, Narcissa and I consider you part of our family now."
Harry blushed at those words, "Thanks." The words had been spoken softly, but Lucius had still heard them none the less.
"You're welcome," Lucius said to him, "Oh and one more thing, our son will be returning to the manor this winter. He has been writing to me that they have postponed the tournament they had planned for this year to take place next year. He is quite upset and I think him hanging around you would take his mind of the topic, since he is feeling down about the whole situation. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, I wouldn't mind hanging around with Draco at all," Harry said smiling at him, "besides if I'm to be staying here until I find a place for myself I may as well try to get to know him."
"Excellent, he's been quite curious about you, you know. Narcissa writes about you quite a lot to our boy."
Harry's blush returned full force, "She writes about me?"
Lucius laughed, "Of course, why shouldn't she? You've been a very polite and helpful person around here Orion."
"I'm haven't been that helpful," Harry mumbled.
"None sense, now stop this. I do not care what that muggle trash has put in your head, but you are helpful and very talented. So don't doubt yourself, and keep your head held high okay?"
"Okay Lucius's," Harry said softly, like a child that had been scolded. In reality he had been a scolded child. Even though Lucius had no idea that he was still a child.
Voldemort watched the exchange between the two. It was a small bond, but a bond none the less and it was growing. Lucius was very fond of the boy and knowing Narcissa she loved him like her own son now. It was amazing the feelings this boy seemed to elicit in people no matter who they were. Voldemort watched them a moment longer before retreating to his own mind once more. Though, not before he'd ordered Nagini to ask him a few things and to coax information out of him. His thoughts wandered as he looked at his study. He decided then that he would make the boy his, to allow him to join him and spare his life. He wouldn't make him a death eater, no, he wasn't ready for that and probably never would be. Instead he thought of another way to mark the boy as a follower of his group. His little dragon wouldn't be leaving his side once he had him and there would no longer be a reason for the boy to fear death by his hand. Voldemort pulled out a fresh parchment and started drawing up plans for a way to mark the boy as a follower without the normal marking he gave the others.
{A Shadowed Life}
Draco sat at the Slytherin table between Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. The Slytherins were starting to get tired of the weasel's accusations about the disappearance of the Potter boy. Draco had to admit though he was a bit worried about what could have happened to him. His god father Severus Snape had loved the boy mother, and despised his father. Yet, when it came to the boy the man both loved and hated the boy. One because he looked a lot like, James did and two, because Harry had the same color eyes as his mother, Lilly had. He knew the lengths his godfather had gone to try and save Lilly and in a way was trying to protect Harry as well. Though, he didn't know why the man tried when he was going to die by their Lord's hand anyways. Then again it might just be the guilt that was causing him to do so. As a way to pay a debt that he lost the chance to do a long time ago. Draco sighed and Pansy glanced over at him, which caused him to just shake his head and ignore her. He remembered the day he'd offered potter his hand in friendship. He knew he'd gone the wrong way about doing it, but after that he couldn't help but react negatively to the boy as the years progressed. Now that he was gone, for some reason he felt bored and a bit distant. He'd always expected the boy to be there, almost as though he needed to be there. When Harry was gone things just weren't the same. No trouble anywhere sprouting where ever he went, no stories or tragic tales cropping out of the wood work in the rumor mills, no nothing and to Draco he found it quite dull.
The Weasel boy and the Weaselette blamed them and the dark lord for his disappearance. The dark lord wasn't even back and they were blatantly throwing out nonsense that just didn't fit. Not to mention something about a demon who had murdered for the dark lord. It was all just utter nonsense. He was glad the Christmas Holls where coming up fast. He had been sorely upset that Dumbledore had agreed with Fudge to put off the wizarding tournament till next year. He hated the old fool for not just allowing it to progress, but then again he was happy about one thing however. His mother had been writing him a lot since the beginning of the school year and she had been adamant about the upcoming parties and balls that they had planned. Not to mention the Christmas Holiday, where there would be a big party for anyone who was invited, but also for the death eaters as well. Well those that were left anyways. Those topics however, paled in comparison about the older boy that was now living under their roof for a certain length of time. His mother spoke fondly of the person, telling him how sweet and kind the boy was, not to mention how polite and well-mannered he was. She had also gushed over how magically talented he was as well. Along with, some other tid-bits, about the older male's strange, inheritance that he'd acquired at the age of fourteen.
Draco could say the least he was intrigued enough to want to get to know this person. Judging by his father's letters the male is very powerful, and held a magic sense about him that felt like no other he'd felt before. His father in his latest letter had stated that the other was to become a ward maker, and to Draco that was quite an accomplishment to become. Since, you had to be highly skilled in ward making to be one. However, his father also mention they'd run into the old fool while at the ministry, obviously he'd been called to witness the owls test taking place for the male at the ministry. He hoped that Dumbledore didn't start something with the older male. The old fool seemed to like to get in the way and cause trouble for anyone associated with his father. At this thought he glanced over at the head table, where the teachers and head master sit. Dumbledore was talking with Mrs. McGonagall, who was rapidly speaking about something to him, to which had his godfather's attention as they spoke amongst themselves. Yes, he wouldn't put it past the man to try something as foolish as causing Orion trouble.
Draco got up when dinner was over, heading to the common rooms since care for magical creatures was canceled for some strange reason. Once there Pansy and Blaise join him near the fire in their own seats, as Draco thought to himself.
"You know Draco you've been awfully silent most of the day," Pansy asked, as she painted her finger nails conversationally.
"I have been thinking about the person mother and father, often speak about."
"That Orion person you told us about?" Blaise asked looking to his best friend.
"Yes, it seems he hadn't taken his owls before today, and went to the ministry to get that done. Though, Dumbledore was called there to witness the test taking to make sure he didn't cheat on the test or something. Possibly even to just witness that the test was being taken by a wizard who'd been home schooled in another country. He also placed his status job as a ward maker and they accepted him for the job. They termed him as being a brilliant prodigy, and such. It seems that he's been pretty smart for a long time, though it really picked up when he had his inheritance. Father says he excels in most magic, especially dark arts spells. Father believes he may even join our cause, but what I don't understand is if the dark lord hadn't returned yet then how could he help?" He said to them.
"Do you think he could be back?" Pansy asked pausing in her finger painting.
"I think it's possible, but wouldn't father say so?"
"What if your father isn't telling you because the dark lord asked him too?" Blaise said.
"That… is possible," Draco said furrowing his brows.
"Do you think that Orion could be the dark lord?" Blaise asked his face paling.
"No, I don't think so," Draco said softly.
"How can you be sure?" Pansy interjected.
"Because mom doesn't gush over the dark lord, and dad wouldn't sound like he's talking about a son that he's never had making him proud," Draco said pointedly.
"… oh, I hadn't thought of that," Blaise said as he looked away and across the room as he thought to himself.
"Hey you said he was powerful right? Is it possible that he is the person the Weasel's are talking about?" Pansy asked.
That got Draco thinking, since it seemed the boy seemed to appear right around the time that the Weasley's started spewing the tripe about a demon. Judging by the descriptions he'd gotten about the male's inheritance he had to admit that it sounded like traits of a demon, other than the feathered wings and scales. It's possible he could have been, though as to him being responsible for the deaths of Potter's relatives was possible as well judging by the description in the paper about the fire taken to the families house, and the way Lucius described the power behind the male's power attack and defensive spells. If it were to be true then their dark lord would not be happy in the least that the Potter boy had been taken by another. Though, he had no doubt in his mind that it could be possible, and judging by what little he found out from his mother about the male's past he wouldn't put it past the man to do so. It was ironic even how much the other acted like their lord sometimes, while others he acted like he himself would react. This was all derived from the letters he received regularly from his parents. Even though, he had yet to meet him, he felt like he already had known him most of his life, just by the way the letters spoke of him.
"It is possible he could be, and it is even more possible that he might be the reason Potters home got torched," He said looking from the fire to them. "Father says he has a strong affinity with both fire and lightning. You do remember what the paper said about the fire at Potters relatives house right?" He got a nod from both of them. "Well they said it took the muggles forever to put the fire out and the only fire that could do that is one made up of magic. Orion's magic reacts the same way through his fire magic, and better yet Orion can wield both elements without using a band," He watched as his friends gaped at him, "Yeah that was my reaction too. Anyways it seems that he also has a lot more stamina than the average person, and father is really starting to think the other can't physically over exert himself or get tired from using too much magic."
"Do you think he's some new type of immortal?" Pansy asked.
"I'm not sure, but father says his healing rate is on par with the vampires."
"Whoa that got to be neat to see," Blaise said and Draco shot him a smirk.
"Father said it was wicked, the only problem is. His healing can't deal with old scaring, since it was part of his inheritance. It seems anything that took place before he changed was left as it was old wounds and all. Though Orion said his appearance now is vastly different from the one he had before, but the Black family traits seemed to be more enhanced then they had been," Draco paused before he spoke softly, "You wouldn't believe what muggles did to him. They tore up his back, as though it was something they could carve into. Father says that even minor glamours couldn't cover it, and that Orion doesn't even bother to hide them since he found a spell to make his new appendages appear as though they're tattoos. He says it's interesting to watch them revert from tattoos and back again, since Orion always wears backless shirts to allow him to call upon them whenever he needs them. The coolest part about it is that he can use the spell to just call upon his wings if he needs them or to call upon his whole new form if he wants too. Originally the spell had been designed for angels and demons, along with some Veelas. He tweaked the spell and made a quite a few changes to them as well, which is why his tattoos appear black and not silver. I suspect he did it that way in order to hide to scar that upsets him the most."
"What scar is that?" Pansy asked.
"Those damn muggles carved the word 'Freak' into his back," Pansy and Blaise gasped in horror when Draco told them that. "Mother said he'd had a break down the first day they'd met. She said he must have suffered quite a lot for a long time, and had dealt with it on his own. For even longer, and the inheritance just seemed to make it worse, because he was starting to believe those damn muggles were right. He started to think of himself as a freak they said he was," Draco said curling his hands into fists. "She said she'd forced him to show her the moment he'd mentioned it. Though he'd been uncomfortable in doing so, though she had insisted he'd tell her everything about his life with the muggles… She wants to heal him. To mend the mess they created and bring him back down to a healthier thinking level as well as emotional. Father is also encouraging him to think of us as family. I really can't wait to meet him personally, since through mothers and fathers letters it feels as though I've known him for years. I agree with my mom on her motives and I want to help him. He's been helping them out quite a lot and even made themselves his first customer to create new wards for the house. He'll be putting them up the first of December, and father is excited to be able to be home to watch him work. I wish I could say the same, but we won't be able to leave until a week before the month ends. He basically gave a two month period to where he could prepare for the job and sort out which wards he would use as well as wards he created himself. He has to plan them out so they don't explode on top of one another. So he's been practicing on some trees in the forest outside our house." He chuckled at something his father said about one of his practice tries having tossed Orion across the forest a few yards. He hadn't been severely hurt, but he had the wind knocked out of him and he'd been dazed for a long while before gaining his bearings back.
"He sounds like an amazing guy, do you mind if me and Blaise come over sometime to have a talk with him and meet him?"
Draco laughed, "Pansy you'll be seeing him at the holiday party."
"Oh, yeah I forgot."
Blaise laughed, "That's a first, you forgetting a party?"
"Oh hush Blaise I just got overly excited about meeting this Orion person. You can't blame a girl for forgetting something when it involves boys," She pouted to him, only causing Blaise to laugh even more.
The rest of the day went on with them teasing each other before curfew kicked in for the lot of them. The other Slytherins learning about the boy called Orion and his prodigy mind working hard at ward making. That no doubt, would lead those same Slytherins into telling their parents of him and his ward making. It seems that Orion would be getting more people who would be requesting his wards to be placed around their houses in the near future. The whispers would spread and more would find out, as the days role by.
{A Shadowed Life}
To say Barty was annoyed, was an understatement. The old fool Dumbledore had him and the Aurors running around looking for the same boy he'd told his lord about. He kept tight lipped on where he was, and contacted his lord when he got the chance too. He thought it was funny that Voldemort had them running around chasing false sightings of the boy, what surprised him however is when his lord told him just who the boy was and what he was calling himself. Not once had he suspect the boy was the Potter boy. The explanation his lord gave him was enough not feel aggression towards the boy and gave him a bit of understanding as to why the boy fled. It had been funny when the dark lord had told him to tell the headmaster to not partake in the Triwizard Tournament that Cornelius Fudge had proposed, and so they had postponed him. That it was a dark plot to the dark lord was planning on using to attack the school during, though he could the minister was not pleased and so he had offered a postponement until next year. The whispers here and there among the Aurors and the Order were quite amusing, and Barty couldn't say that he wasn't at all happy about the progresses taking place.
He was however excited that his lord had found a way to make himself whole again. Since Potter had been found and was more than willing to possibly join them I their quest, Voldemort would have to alter the spell he'd previously had wanted to use before the boy had gone missing. If he was willing to partake in the ritual the spell would be greatly more powerful that the one he'd been thinking of using. This bode well for his lord and Barty felt a well of joy and excitement curl in the pit of his gut, and for once he found that if the boy accepted the ordeal that he would have a great deal of respect for the boy. Dumbledore wouldn't even know what hit him by the time it all came down to it. This month was almost up and the boy was already making a name for himself as a prodigy called Orion Black. He'd been there during the testing the boy had undergone in the ministry for being a ward maker. To say he was impressed was an understatement, and he knew the male would become a powerful ward master. One that no one would forget any time soon.
Next Chapter- Nightmares
Well everyone that is it for this chapter. Looking forward to your R&R's. See you all soon!