Hello lovely Readers,
Here is the next installment of A Shadowed Life.
Also warning a bit Gory! Violence/ Insanity ensues! Could also be considered Dark… might be a trigger, but I don't know. Figured I should place a warning here just in case~
Well after having my OS crash on me I got to see just how many people left after the last post of my chapter. Needless to say I'm a bit sad that some readers left mostly because of a fem Harry. Well, if they can't handle it for a few chapters well… I'm going to zip my lip cause I'll say something stupid. Anyways, let's get the show on the road, onto the next chapter of this slow and crazy story.
On another note….I noticed I have less and less people to answer messages too D: What happened guys? x.x, Also I have started college classes so posting will be slower than usual. Well it was already slow wasn't it? XD lol. Though, I admit this last week I have been home with a Virus called EV68, it's basically a Virus that has cold like symptoms, but really isn't a cold. It's gotten some media as of late, but I think I'm doing better other than the loss of my voice and ability to breathe properly.
I have also deleted most of my stories on here, mostly because the style I have now has changed a lot from back then. Those stories that have been deleted will be rewritten as well to try and update my latest style in writing. Which, means those following those stories will have to wait for the repost of said stories. I'm sorry it even took so long for me to even try and create chapters for those stories and I'm sorry you'll have to wait longer.
Chapter has huge gaps on purpose, didn't want Harry staying fem for to long, but this covers major parts to the story as well. Anyways not sure why but I had a bit of fun doing this chapter... meh. =^.^=
Enjoy!
Things in the story you might want to know.
"Talking/ spells"
'Thinking/ sound affects/ Memories'
-Parseltongue-
.:Spells:.
~Dragon Telepathy~
*Dragon Language*
Chapter Nineteen- A Taste for Blood
Harry stalked through the foliage, glimmering slitted eyes watching his prey from the shadows. Tom had, had him busy for the last several years or so. It was during those years that he learned of Headmaster Dippet's passing and Dumbledore's rise to the Headmaster's post. No one knew how the man died and passed it off as old age. Harry had liked the man a lot and to say he was saddened by the man's passing was an understatement. As those years drew on after his passing however, Harry found himself noticing things that he should have realized sooner. Mostly because of what he'd learned during his time in Hogwarts when he was younger.
Harry was starting to understand the reason why people went missing in the last war, which wasn't just Tom's fault. Tom had people going out and getting them, mainly him-self. Though, there were also people vanishing that were not the Dark's fault, which was a mystery in itself. During the last few months however Harry had, had his fair share of being under the Cruciatus curse. This Tom was prone to do it often his Tom, however… did not. He'd slowly grown used to it however and surprising enough he was starting to become immune to the spell. Tom had started to realize this and it was used less frequently on him as time drew on.
Harry crouched down on the ground as he watched his latest victim, a muggle born by the name of Davis. His thoughts wandered as he watched the brown hair women silently. Tom had changed his appearance. He was no longer the Riddle from his year at Hogwarts during the chamber of secrets. He wasn't the older Tom from the day he was resurrected, and he wasn't the Tom he'd known as Briar Rose in seventh year. No the Tom now was forever more, Voldemort. A man with a pallor skin that almost was as rough as scales. His face more serpentine than human and he was taller. His eyes had changed from a dark color to the crimson blood color he'd come to know most of his life before becoming Briar Rose. He was sure it was a parseltongue spell that had changed his appearance, mostly because he could see and feel the effects rolling off of him.
There was no remorse and the intelligence had given way to madness. Power was all the man thought about at this point in time. Through this all however, Harry had come to the knowledge that his Father was born. In silence Harry watched him grow from a distance, in shadows he continued to do so as he got older. When he got to meet him in town it was usually always when his grandfather was with him. As Briar Rose during the day time he was polite and caring. During the night Harry was a ruthless assassin. He knew Potter knew he, Briar Rose, was working for the Dark Lord. Yet, he could never seem to bring himself to point his wand at him.
Harry was no threat to the Potter family and never would be, but he knew at some point he had to let his parents die. He could not change that fact and he also knew that his grandfather would eventually die as well. Harry had sealed himself to let everything fall in place. He couldn't stop the events that would happen and if he tried he did not know how it would affect the world he once lived in.
Harry took his chance and lunged from the hiding spot he'd been in. Shifting as he did so and lashing out at the women. He thumped her hard in the back of her head knocking her unconscious. Tom had told him to bring her back alive. The reasons for this, was Tom's own and Harry wasn't going to let it bother him. He'd given up caring about the man's reasons and still stayed stubborn and cocky, but he'd also become the silent observer. He knew Dumbledore was pushing Voldemort's agenda, forcing him to make decisions that weren't all that bright at times. Sighing, Harry used a spell to levitate the women off the ground before apparating to Riddle Manor to drop off the women in the dungeons.
He climbed the stairs noting a few death eaters who were new were eyeing him wearily as they passed him in the hall. Harry had started getting those looks more often as he started making a deadly name for himself. Amongst the death eaters they only knew him as Phoenix and not Briar Rose. Even Voldemort called him Phoenix and he never once heard the name Briar Rose from the man's lips. On the other hand Harry had faded into what Tom called his favored ones. He wasn't the only one in this group and the group had grown extensively large over the years.
Harry never made it to the inner circle no, that was for his most trusted and to Voldemort Harry was not trust worthy because of his secrets. Voldemort hadn't asked him about any of the secrets he held since his days at Hogwarts with Tom Riddle. In fact Voldemort all together had stopped giving his attention to Harry even when he came to report to him. Harry didn't understand why and as days went by Harry started to feel rather lonely.
He knocked on the door and he heard the spoken words easily even though they weren't that loud. In some notion in the back of his mind he had wondered if the man did it on purpose to test his abilities. He stepped into the room and noticed that Abraxas was there as well as the younger Lucius Malfoy. In his mind he couldn't believe so much time had passed him by, yet the proof was in front of him. Harry made his way over to the Dark Lord's desk and bowed slightly in respect. His green eyes burning lightly with the hidden fire behind them and the Dark Lord watched him silently.
"My Lord, your prisoner awaits your attention when you have need of her," Harry announced softly.
"Well done Phoenix, you always were one to be meticulous in your work. It pleases me to know at least one of my followers… or allies still does their work and does it well," The man's words came out as hisses even though he wasn't speaking Parseltongue. Another thing that had changed with Tom after leaving Hogwarts and Harry knew it was used as an intimidation act.
He would have to ask his Tom his reasons for changing most of who he was, if he ever got back to his own time. He shook that thought off quickly, no he was resigned to remain and die in this time if it was necessary. He looked to Abraxas who gave him a nod, before looking to Lucius who reacted as Draco did under the Dark Lord's stare, but this time the young heir wasn't Draco and he was doing so under his stare.
"It is a pleasure to see you again Abraxas… and this must be your young heir if I am not mistaken," Harry's eyes met Abraxas who was smirking.
"Of course Phoenix… Lucius meet Phoenix a loyal ally to the Dark Lord's army and best assassin one will find," Harry felt flattered.
"Come now I'm not all that good."
"On the contrary you are better than any I have ever known. What is more surprising you are self-taught and act as though, you have done it your whole life."
Harry shrugged, "If you say so… It is a pleasure to meet you young Lucius."
Lucius swallowed thickly and bowed lightly to Harry in respect, "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Phoenix."
"Now that you are acquainted with the newest Malfoy, Phoenix, I would like for you to accompany me this afternoon, for the meeting that will be taking place," Voldemort hissed at them.
"Since your bracelet works less like the mark it is best, I tell you now so you know about the meeting. It will be taking place at eight o'clock this evening… I will not tolerate persons who are late. Though, I doubt you'll be of the few that will be," He sat back in his chair.
Hadn't he said the bracelet would call him when he'd given it to him? Thinking back he was sure that, that was the case because it had worked as such before so maybe he was doing this for the heck of it? Harry didn't know and thus did not voice his opinion. Harry glanced at Lucius who seemed to be at least in his last year at Hogwarts. He knew his father right about now would either be joining Hogwarts or well into his first year. This meant Severus Snape was also in Hogwarts or about to be as well as Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Lily Evans. He grimaced at the thought of Peter Pettigrew as he slipped into his thoughts as well. How the Malfoy family got so close to Severus Snape Harry might never know. Maybe it was upon the potions master joining Voldemort's cause, either way Harry could only wait and see, it unfold.
Harry felt eyes on him and Harry looked into those blood red eyes silently, "I will not be late my Lord. Even if I have to kill someone to make sure that I end up on time." Harry's smirk was dark and out of the corner of his eye he saw Lucius shiver at the dark meaning in his tone.
"Good, you are dismissed," He said at a wave of his hand.
Turning on his heels he left the room and went down the hall to the apparition point. Once back at the Black's home he was welcomed by the young ones who were at the Black family house. Narcissa, Bellatrix, Andromeda, and a younger Sirius with his brother Regulus, to say Harry was surprised to see them all there was an understatement, he smiled widely as they came up to greet him. Walburga and Orion stood just down the hall with gentle smiles on their faces. Druella peeked out a door before vanishing probably going to tell Cygnus of his arrival.
"Welcome home Phoenix," It was Sirius that spoke up first and Harry picked the young male up.
"Aren't you and Regulus supposed to be at school?" Sirius ducked his head as Harry chuckled, "Not to mention the rest of you?"
Narcissa was the first to speak, "The headmaster gave everyone the weekend to visit family." That explained why Abraxas had Lucius with him at Riddle Manor.
Sirius nodded, "Yeah"
"So what houses were you two placed in, hm?"
Regulus beat Sirius to the punch looking smug, "I'm in Slytherin… Siri here got put in the lion's house."
Harry already knew this but gave a surprised look anyways, though judging by the looks Walburga gave out of the corner of his eye he knew she did not approve of this. "Really, now… Well then I guess that makes you the first snake in the lion's den wouldn't it?" He joked, but he knew it was Sirius's way to try and get away from his dark roots and in the end it would have him removed from the house tree and the family entirely.
Sirius grimaced, "I'm not a snake."
Harry only chuckled but, didn't push it. He really didn't want Sirius to hate him and right now the child clung to him like he was a life preserve. In a way he found this funny considering that in the future it was Harry who clung to him after the whole incident with his godfather escaping the Dementors kiss. However he worried about Regulus, considering his god father never spoke of him something awful must have happened to him. He knew what happened with Bellatrix and Narcissa as well, but Andromeda was another he knew nothing of.
Harry put Sirius down as Orion walked over, "I'm guessing the mission went well?"
Harry nodded, "It went splendidly."
"Good," Orion said before scooping up Regulus in his arms.
Judging by the reaction Sirius had to the attention on his brother Harry knew far too well that even Orion didn't approve of his son Sirius's placing in the house of lions. Harry could do nothing, but lavish his godfather with his attention. They moved from the hall and into a sitting room where Sirius swiftly took his seat in Harry's lap causing him to laugh softly and hold him close. Harry never thought that he could care about children considering everything he went through as a child, but he found he quite liked it.
A deep discussion was started when Harry noticed the time. At seven thirty he watched Orion giving Walburga a look before passing Regulus off to her. His glance to him told Harry he knew they were being summoned. Harry nodded and lifted Sirius up and apologizing to him, saying they had more time to spend together once he got back. Though, today had confirmed his thoughts about James, Lily, Remus, Severus, and Sirius had just started school. Lucius himself was six years older than his father was so it had helped him to understand just at what point he was at in this time. To Harry on some days it felt like he'd been there for eternity and on other days he felt as though it was all rushing by him.
"We'll be back, please make sure the house elves save us some dinner," He got a nodded from Walburga, and it was obvious that Cygnus was coming as well while their wives watched over their children.
Two loud pops next to a tiny pop, barely noticeable, as all three left the house. The same sounding pops bringing them to the entrance of the manor. Harry pulled his mask out of his pocket and slipped it on like Cygnus and Orion did upon their arrival since, they seemed to be the first ones there and swiftly made their way to the hall they knew so well. Slipping into the rather large room that looked like a ball room than anything else, they found they were indeed the first to show up. Others would soon be there though, but he knew some would show up late. They always did even when they knew it would cost them their lord's ire.
Abraxas was the next to arrive as well as Lestrange Sr. and Nott Sr. which to Harry was a surprise considering the last two of the three usually came later then they were now. Harry ignored their presence as Orion and Cygnus started to talk with them in hushed tones. It was around this time another death eater came in with a few others and the room slowly began to fill. Harry leaned against a wall his arms crossed over his chest in silence. His mask was different from the others. Many of those there had masks made up of an Ivory color mixed with metallic paint our actual metal. His own however was purely made up of bone.
He'd never asked their lord where the bone came from or why his was that way, but it made all the others know right away who he was. The mask only covered the top part of his face, so it gave him a darker look than most. Many if not most of everyone there kept their distance from him. The only ones daring to be so close to him were Abraxas, Orion, Cygnus, Lestrange Sr., Avery Sr., and Nott Sr., which in all honesty was all he could handle of the rather large group of followers. Even if Lestrange ended up at the other end of his wand in which his wand was glamoured to look like a Cypress wand with Dragon Heartstring. This glamour, however, didn't change the length of the wand Harry had gotten in place so he wouldn't be forced to use the Holly wand.
Shaking his thoughts off, he looked to the door when the Dark Lord walked through it. Everyone, including himself, swept down low in a bow of submission. As he passed where Harry stood he motioned him to follow and Harry did so without a word. The Dark Lord turned to the group before speaking. Something was different about this meeting and as words fell from the man's lips they soon found out the reason why.
"We are to progress to new plans our first raid will be tomorrow night," He said in a hissing voice, "Quite a few of you will be gaining missions and some more frequent then others. At this point I want silence from our end, no killings unless I say otherwise. Phoenix… I hear you have gained a new position."
"My Lord, the rumors are true. I have been hired as a Hit-Witch, and the jobs I will be taking on will give me alibies I need when I go on missions for your cause," Harry said bowing his head to the Dark Lord, "They will not interfere with my work and I will execute them without giving my victims mercy." A dark grin flitted across his features that made a few cringe at the sight of it.
"That is good, I would not want one of my best hindered," He said before launching into his speech of what would be happening from then on out.
It was during their speech that he learned of quite a few changes that would be made and new ranks as well. He was surprised that he and only a few others were within his rank, though they were all still placed within a tier and Harry was in the second. Having been noteworthy to move up from the outer tier, though within his ranking he found were people who were spies. So basically it was made up of those who had to be kept secret. Harry smirked internally because even though he himself had thought the Dark Lord hadn't trusted him, this small action was now telling him otherwise. He trusted Harry enough to not only keep him secret from the rest of their enemies, but also enough to keep secrets himself about their cause and about Voldemort himself.
{A Shadowed Life}
Voldemort sighed from where he stood next to the window of his study. It had been a couple of weeks since Harry's disappearance. He was becoming increasingly agitated and keeping up with Harry's life was becoming tiresome. How the boy managed so many persona's he would never know. At the moment he had Harry's Orion persona out on vacation to an undisclosed location and Evan had been pulled out of school along with several other Slytherins', including Draco, which were being homeschooled for the time being. Lucius had proposed that it should happen considering quite a number of people were outraged at Dumbledore's actions with Briar Rose. Nagini had taken to hunting more often then she'd been in the past possibly, to pass the time on some poor unsuspecting critter, only to keep her mind off of her missing hatchling.
The egg he'd gotten for the other wizard had still had yet to hatch, but the egg seemed to be growing as the days went by. Rubbing his hand across his face he sighed softly. He had delved into his memories of the one named Briar Rose, or Phoenix depending on how you looked at her. The women had been an enigma, but as years had gone by he trusted her and yet at the same time he did not trust her. She held so many secrets and yet followed his command without question or reason. On top of this her beliefs weren't the same as his had been, back during his lust for power.
In time he had let her fade into his group of favored witches and wizards. He knew if he needed her she would come to him regardless of what she'd been doing at the time. Voldemort gritted his teeth a little at his thoughts of those many years long ago. He'd been downright cruel to Briar Rose neglecting to give her attention of any kind unless he deemed her worthy too gain his attention. He could tell his neglect was pushing her into a more reclusive persona. Far darker than the one she had already delved deeply into. Her taste for blood also seemed to grow and she delighted in torture almost as much as he did by the time Lucius's father had passed away from dragon pox. Though, this didn't show until three nights before the Potter home was raided. Three nights before everything infant Harry would know… would be taken from him. What puzzled the dark lord more was why the boy had not tried to attempt to change the past. He could have done so, so easily and yet he hadn't. Had he feared what would happen if he had? Either way Tom was pleased he hadn't.
-Tom- Nagini spoke his name softly as she slid into the room.
-Yes, my dear?- He said as he turned from the window to sit at his desk, where she slid up into his lap.
-I miss him-
-As do I my dear, and we shall get him back-
-When?-
-Soon- or at least he hoped so anyways.
Tom sat and scratched the top of her head as his thoughts moved back to Briar Rose. Nagini hissed happily as she relaxed fully into his lap. He had to admit he did find he had a bit of a crush on the red head back then, even though he hadn't at all be attracted to women. He also had to admit that he'd been startled when he'd confronted the Potter's that one night. He'd almost thought that he'd been betrayed when he saw Lily Potter standing in the room in front of Harry. Though, the difference between the two could be seen greatly considering at the time Lily looked pretty but plane at the same time, her eyes a duller color then the emerald green of Phoenix's eyes and her hair just as dull. While Briar Rose had seemed stunningly beautiful yet deadly her hair, like that of flames when light reflected off of it. If she could be classified as a beast then she would have been cast into the class of Siren.
Voldemort let out another sigh and leaned into his hand not currently scratching Nagini's head lightly. Now that he thought about it he had started to think that she had been at one point, but could neither prove nor disprove his analysis. On top of this the Black's adored her, so much so that they truly had started to think of her as family. He did however note that her, and Sirius Black slowly grew apart as the years went by. Mostly because of his doing, but Rose had told the young Black that she could not abandon what she stood for. At that time the Black heir had been going through his rebellious phase and had been spending quite a lot of time at the Potter house. That eventually led to his mother removing him from the Black tree and cast out of the family of Black. In time Harry would find out that Regulus would die by his own hands for a betrayal of hindering their cause. Oh, he remembered that night all too well, it was the night Briar Rose set fire to the woods nearby the house. She'd been furious and at the time she had become hard to control with her random spirts of anger. He had no one to blame but himself for her out bursts.
She calmed down eventually however, and seemed to return to her silent observant self, but it was much worse now. She all but stopped talking to him and only spoke when she needed too and the night of the day she'd heard about the prophecy he found her absent quite frequently and yet she held an air of anger and amusement about her when she was around. What he couldn't get out of his mind since digging up those memories, was the night Briar Rose's sanity left them all behind.
{A Shadowed Life}
It was a cold night, the sound of robes rustled gently in the shadows waiting for the signal from their lord to spring forth in a raid of blood that no one would soon forget. Harry could feel the air thrum with magic as he practically danced on his toes with a young Bellatrix at his side. The woman was still sane at this point in time, but that sanity would wane in the years to come. She whispered her excitement to him and he chuckled without saying a word. He could almost feel her trembling with excitement for the hunt, next to him as were all the others. Harry smirked as he glanced to her before tensing and looking to the sky where his smile widened even more.
Within moments the group was racing into the quite town and setting ablaze to the buildings around them. Harry and Bellatrix were in toe to one another, making the perfect battling partners in the turmoil and chaos around them. Things grew more interesting as the Order showed up and Harry laughed at the pitiful attempt an Auror made as they rushed into battle to meet them. It was unlucky for Harry however, when his father stepped into the middle of his battle with a younger wizard. Harry frowned and his laughing silenced as he readied himself. His wand raised in a slackened pose to make it seem like he knew not how to properly hold a wand. He made his James assume that he was a lower lackey to the group. Their battle started out with spells of lower caliber as James slowly started to realize as the battle drug on that he was being toyed with, or not being fought with, with sincere intentions to battle. Just like a Potter however he had to open his mouth to say something about it.
"Why do you toy with me? You honestly can't have me believe you wish not to hurt me considering you have probably done so to many other before me."
Harry tilted his head as he stared, their battle momentarily on pause, "What if I were to say that I don't wish to hurt you? It is true I have killed many before you, tortured as well… but I would rather not battle you at all James Potter."
James paused knowing that voice all too well and Harry knew now that his grandfather had never once told anyone who Rose worked for, "No you can't… you can't be Briar Rose…."
"Been so long since I've hear that name, but I go by Phoenix now," Harry hummed with a smirk on his face once again.
"No it can't be… I trusted you! Sirius trusted you!"
"Sirius knew who I worked for as well as your father, do not be as clouded to think that neither understood my standing," Harry growled causing James to step back in surprise.
"Y-you're lying they would have told me!"
"Do you honestly believe that? Will you so blindly follow something even when the proof is before you? Do you know why I left and why I never sought you all out again in your last years of Hogwarts?"
James stood there his jaw clenching and unclenching as he tried to think up an answer, but found none, "No…"
Harry clucked his tongue and chuckled before shaking his head slightly, "It was to protect something… something I find must be left alone until the final day."
"Is this today that final day?" James asked.
Harry shook his head, "No it is not here yet, but is upon us soon."
"Why do you always speak of something and yet not tell anything… it's almost like a damn riddle with you," James hissed and flung a spell at him which Harry parried easily.
Harry laughed, "Perhaps I do, I know more and less I'm neither here nor there and I cast light were shadows are, but the world around me withers like roses to the frost. The one you call the light is nothing more than a sham of a man."
"Take that back Rose, Dumbledore is a good man… more than I can say for a witch like you gone dark," He cast a vicious spell at Harry in which caught him off guard and if he hadn't thrown a deflection spell he'd made there probably would have been more damage.
Over the area were Harry's right eye had been was now a long jagged cut. He forced his dragon healing down and he looked at James with one eye closed. He growled in a low and menacing way that had James taking several steps back. The sound not at all sounding human in the least and even with a werewolf friend he found himself greatly intimidated. He practically felt the air thicken with some form of heat as Harry advanced upon his father.
"You think you know him? Know me? You know nothing about me James Potter… no one does," He growled as he used a spell to knock his father flat on his backside knocking the wind out of him enough to cause him to go into a coughing fit.
"What…'cough'… what do you mean?"
"What I mean is, for all this time you have all thought you have known me what have you truly gleaned from it? That my personality is kind, gentle, and caring? That I mysteriously showed up outside of Hogwarts and that I was attacked by dark wizards at a young age?"
"But those happened…" James said gaining his breath back.
"More or less yes, but not quite… You know nothing of my past, not who my parents are, what I'm really like… who betrayed me in the worst way possible… and not at all what I feel," Harry stopped before James and the other male just stared up into the mask on Harry's face were fierce burning emeralds showed. "None of you ever really cared enough to ask or know… not that I would tell, but either way is shows, how foolish you are," James was clenching his teeth now and before he could bring up his wand Harry disarmed him swiftly with, .:Expelliarmus:.
"I'm no fool to see the truth," James shot back.
"Says the man who follows a man blindly without knowing why," Harry taunted his wand pointed at the male's face.
"You're doing the same damn thing!"
"Actually… I'm not. I have my reasons for following the deranged, powerful, and intelligent man you call the Dark Lord. He saved me from the hole I was buried in and plucked me from a blinding light that threatened to destroy everything I was and nearly succeeded. He saved me James Potter and though he does not know it, he will in due time," Harry could see from the corner of his eye that their discussion was up. Bellatrix was making her way towards him when she spotted him from where she had been dancing amongst bodies as she battled the Order and Aurors. Harry allowed himself to look like he was distracted as James quickly swiped up his wand.
"You're as mad as he is," at that Harry had to laugh and laugh he did.
"Maybe I am!"
Before anyone could act another wizard amongst the light fighters jumped into Harry's and James's fight. Bellatrix soon joined Harry in the fight against the two wizards. As Harry danced lithely on his toes he found his mind snapping. Like that Harry was smiling like a mad man his attacks became more vicious and the man who had stepped between him and his father was now becoming a bloody mess. Strips upon strips of flesh were being peeled off in a sickening spell that Harry had once read in a book. Even as the man fell screaming on the ground for the pain to stop Harry did not let up. He cast melting spells that acted as acid to the man's flesh and bones. Spells of fire and spells of evisceration were cast on random parts.
Harry laughed all the while a smile stretched across his visage with no ounce of remorse. Oh how he loved the sounds that came forth from the body before him. The squelching sound of blood as some body parts were crush and smashed to bits. He tilted his head to the side slightly and gave his wand a flick almost in a tugging formation. The man's still beating heart being wrench from the confines of his ribcage. With a wet thump the organ fell to the ground before it exploded with a spell Harry had done wordlessly.
Those closest to the scene stood in horror at the sight of the gory mess before them. Their eyes wide in horror as Harry looked up and over at them. The lust for blood, clear, in every twitching muscle upon him. He oddly wondered a bit what he looked like to them covered in blood from his victim as his female persona stood in a deranged manner before them. Those that had tried to get close to him and his prey were dealt with by Bellatrix who played with them expertly.
In the back of his mind Harry knew he shouldn't be doing this and that he should be swiftly killing the fool but he couldn't help it. As he watched a spell pull in entrails out onto the field he couldn't help but smile. It felt amazing to do what he was doing and from the corner of his eye he could see his father watching him in horror as the person before Harry, had his face peeled, and melted away. It was after this that Dumbledore came forth and cast a spell which was deflected by someone else. Harry looked down at the corpse at his feet before glancing up at Dumbledore.
"Do you like it old man? Do you like the way I have dealt with another you have so easily manipulated into following you?" He laughed his eyes narrowed with insanity.
"What have you done Rose?" the old man said in a sad tone that Harry knew was anything but.
Everything had stopped around them, wands drawn and people silently waiting to see what would happen. Harry could feel a dark magic approaching him from behind, but he did not turn around to face the person that was there, "I have done everything you have made me to do and more. You wanted me broken didn't you? Well you won, ha-ha-ha, you won!"
Harry didn't note the hot trail that was burning down his cheeks as he spoke. He didn't notice the dark presence pressed up against him from behind. He didn't notice the way James looked to and fro between him and Dumbledore looking for the answers he knew the man was burning with, but would never get answers too. He didn't notice how Sirius looked on with shock and horror from behind Dumbledore to where he was on the battle field before them. His whole body shook uncontrollably and when arms wrapped around him he found himself growling before he could stop himself.
Glancing down at the arm around his waist he couldn't help but laugh. Of all the times for the Dark Lord to grab him, like this and it has to be now. He couldn't hear the words being said as they were exchanged between Tom and Dumbledore, but he could feel the anger rolling off the man behind him. Some of the words exchanged however Harry had obviously found funny because he started to laugh again, causing Tom to tighten his grip on him in which case caused his laugh to die down to a light chuckle. Suddenly spells were cast and Harry found himself being pulled along as Tom kept stepping back. His bracelet burned against his wrist in a sign of retreat, but Harry wasn't sane enough to heed it and before he knew it he was being side long apperated to Riddle Manor.
People stood about in shock at the insane laughter still coming from the one witch they thought was the strongest of them all. Voldemort barked out Lucius's name… possibly telling him to retrieve Narcissa who was working to become a meda-witch. The dark Lord still had not let him go and Bellatrix was slowly making her way over, worry etching her face for the woman she had known for so long. Harry heard hissing from near his ear, but could not focus enough to understand the words being said. Harry looked over when he saw movement to his right, taking note of Nagini coming close. Nagini had been a present Tom had gotten, to see her change over the years was a sight to behold. He was about to say something when Narcissa came into the room and death eaters parted at the Dark Lord's barked command.
Harry could so easily break out of the man's grasp, but he felt quite content where he was at. He could hear words exchanged and Harry was let go only to be plopped in a chair with Narcissa before him. He smirked at her and though his mind felt heavy he found his words also seemed thick as lead. His narrowed glee filled eyes looked at her and she stared back at him startled by what she saw there. Her hands gently grasped the side of Harry's face and words slipped past her lips, but he heard none of it.
"You should have been there Cissa… The blood that ran and the screams of pain as they ripped forth to the shivering cold air of night… it, was beautiful. Blood… so much blood. He wanted it… wanted me broken… he got it ha-ha-ha-ha oh he got it. Should have been there you would have had fun too," Narcissa shook her head and looked to someone behind him, her words not making it to his ears. Then suddenly his whole body felt numb and his body became light as a feather, his mind going fuzzy he succumbed to the darkness that over took him.
{A Shadowed Life}
Voldemort had been struck with on odd feeling at the sight of his fiery Phoenix on the battle field. She'd completely lost it, her eyes wide with a light of insanity even the Black family had no claim on. Her eyes danced with a fire deep within that it caused a desire within him to make it stop, and to bring back the woman he'd known. He lashed out with a spell protecting her from the coming attack from Dumbledore. On top of this Phoenix started to shed tears, hot trails of liquid ran down he face as she spoke her voice shrill and loud for all to hear as she stood before them all. Her words baffled and confused him and he wanted to know now more than ever just what she meant about the old fool having created her to be broken. He walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her, as his other hand held his wand pointed at the old fool.
"What does she mean old man?"
"How should I know of the mind of an insane child driven by your dark magic?" Phoenix laughed only for Voldemort to tighten his grip on her which quieted down to a soft chuckle.
Voldemort hissed, "You cannot fool me, she spoke as though you had everything to do with her."
"I'm sorry Tom, but I know nothing of what she speaks," Dumbledore said to him, causing another chuckle fit from Phoenix.
"Fine if you won't tell me I'll get my answers elsewhere," He hissed.
"What makes you think she will tell you? She hasn't before now and in her state probably never will," Dumbledore said calmly.
Voldemort fired a spell and all hell broke loose again, but it did not last for long, for the order to retreat was given and several pops filled the air as people escaped. Without another word Voldemort along with Phoenix soon followed before popping back into the large room in Riddle Manor. Voldemort called Lucius to find Narcissa as he held Phoenix close to him. He could hear her saying something, but could not make it out as he held her close. Everyone was standing and watching the scene and Bellatrix crept closer, but did not dare get any closer after a while. He hissed at Nagini who slithered into the room and closer to them, curious as to what had made the fiery one lose her mind to madness. Narcissa entered the room and he spoke to her swiftly of what had happened at the Raid. She took Phoenix's head gently into her hands after he had transfigured something into a chair for her to sit on while the meda-witch tried to grasp her attention, which wasn't hard to do. However, getting her mind to comprehend what was said was something else entirely as she started to ramble to Narcissa of the bloody mess that had been made.
He could see the shock and fear in Narcissa's eyes as she looked into Phoenix's emerald orbs. "You should have been there Cissa… The blood that ran and the screams of pain as they ripped forth to the shivering cold air of night… it, was beautiful. Blood… so much blood. He wanted it… wanted me broken… he got it ha-ha-ha-ha oh he got it. Should have been there you would have had fun too," Narcissa shook her head and looked up at him.
"I can't get her to hear me, this needs a different approach I need her calmer possibly she will do better after she wakes from being asleep," She said to him.
Voldemort nodded and used a powerful parseltongue spell hissing it into Phoenix's ear softly. He felt her whole body go lax under his hands that he'd place on her shoulder before her mind went, still softly mumbling things about blood and fun. Voldemort watched her silently before picking her up and ordering Narcissa to follow. He walked to the room Phoenix had occupied before coming into the care of the Black's. He set her down on the bed and stepped back to watch the meda-witch work. Diagnostics flitted from her lips and she seemed worried over the results returned to her.
She turned to him, "My lord, it seems she had, had prolonged periods of stress or mental abuse. What ever happened at the raid today was the breaking point. That and her profession may also have a hand in her current state as well."
"Will she be in working order any time soon?"
"I am unsure my lord. She bounces back readily every other time she had had an outburst, but this… It's like her mind just snapped. All we can do is, wait and see now, hopefully she will be more compliant when she wakes," Narcissa said as she stroked a strand of hair from Phoenix's face.
Voldemort nodded and swept from the room, his robs snapping behind him as Nagini followed after him. He didn't care if the women, was alright or not, he needed her for the coming strike to the light. He hoped that her mind was not so shattered that she could not lead the group he needed as a distraction. He would return later to see how she was doing. In the meantime Narcissa would deal with her.
Voldemort went about his business, procuring paperwork and setting up missions before the final day. The day he planned to make another Horcrux with the life of the one for told in the prophecy. He smirked to himself confident in his musings that he would succeed in the mission ahead of them. Upon his return to the room holding Phoenix and Narcissa, Voldemort found him-self staring at an, awake Phoenix. However, what caught his attention wasn't what he thought he would see. There was no craze in those deep emerald eyes, or at least he couldn't see it. Instead there was a deep emptiness in those eyes and a dark promise within them hidden beneath the vacant look sent his way.
"My Lord," Narcissa bowed when she stood and turned to him.
"How is she?"
"She is responding my lord or at least she answers anyways."
"Is tell me if she is ready for any missions?"
Narcissa hesitated and Phoenix spoke up first, "I am as ready for a mission as any other. I can handle whatever is needed to be done without falling apart again."
"Phoenix, are you sure you are mentally ready? You just came back several hours ago from being critically insane," Narcissa argued.
Phoenix looked over at her and a smirk spread across her lips, "Of course I'm sure, just because I lost it for a moment doesn't mean I can bounce back and be ready for our lord's big day."
Voldemort felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched Phoenix look to him, those eyes seemingly seeing straight through him. He always hated the feeling he got when she would look at him with those eyes, yet at the same time he felt curious to know more from her or about her. He shook his thoughts off and ignored them completely he turned slightly before looking over his shoulder at them.
"Good, I expect you to lead a party to a designated location close to the target I have in mind," He said before looking away, "I expect you ready in two days."
"Yes, My Lord," She said in a soft voice.
Without another word or thought on the matter Voldemort left the room with a weary Narcissa and a seemingly hollow Phoenix. Within moments his mind was filled with what was ahead and the goals he was bringing himself closer to days the hours ticked by. Once again Phoenix was pushed to the back of his mind and easily forgotten.
{A Shadowed Life}
Harry looked out over the large group the Dark Lord had left with him. Most of them were young and eager to please. Others were those who'd been in the fold long enough to be still and silent as they awaited the signal to move. Harry's eyes slid up and over the small town to the house he had called home when he was but an infant. He remembered everything he'd said to James that one fateful night. His words a foreshadowing of things to come, and the end day was finally upon them. Oh yes he knew his mind had snapped, but he had needed some help reigning it in. Voldemort's spell of unconsciousness had done the trick to right his mind.
No however his mind felt numb, maybe even a bit fuzzy since that day. His dragon had gone silent long ago and he missed the warming presence it had there. He often wondered if it would return, but it had yet to show an inkling of emotion in his mind. So in a sense Harry truly did feel more alone then he's ever been. His eyes slid to Lucius who was at his side waiting patiently for the signal. When it was given the group moved into the town to cause mayhem.
All the while Harry stayed in the shadows, just simply watching from where he was. He would not partake in this fight. Yes, he lusted for the blood of his victims, but his victims that he sorely wanted were not here for him to take pleasure in their pain. Emerald eyes glanced up and over to the house were flashes of light could be seen. Showing the Dark Lord had begun to move and James was possibly already dead. He could feel the pang in his chest as he knew the boy he'd watched grow older was now dead. His father was dead. Soon his mother would soon follow and even though he hadn't known her well even as James dated her he knew he felt great sorrow at the loss of her life as well. Harry almost wanted to laugh, mostly because a crazy person should not be able to care if they lost a person important to them.
He could feel the hot trails running down his face and he reached up with pale fingers to brush them away. It was done, Snape would soon be within the house in search of the woman who perished and all he would find is a crying child and the cold lifeless body of his mother and father. Turning he noted the startled looks on the followers there. He knew they had felt it and Harry acted to keep them together.
Dumbledore wasted no time in finally making his presence known, giving the false look of getting there late. Harry fought against him, but not with the full intention to cause harm. He was mourning the loss of not only his parents but of the man he had care enough for during his life. Even though this Voldemort wasn't his Tom, he still felt like he had lost him none the less. Many death eaters fled with him to a place that was safe for now and as the days went by those who continued to cause chaos, even after their Lord's demise, were soon ensnared in traps set by the ministry to capture culprits.
"We should find a new place Phoenix," Dolohov hissed through clenched teeth.
"Where do you think we should go? The manor is no longer safe for us."
"Anything is better than this falling apart shack," He grouched.
"What would you have me do? There is no place safe for us at least this small place serves as a roof over our heads," Harry looked to a coupled of death eaters that had not abandoned the cause out right after the Dark Lord had perished.
Dolohov growled, "So we just sit here then?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"I saw we go out there and fight…."
"So you wish to die then?"
"No…" he said wearily.
"You do know if you ever do you can just ask me… I can end it for you quite quickly. You won't even notice that you have died."
He swallowed thickly as he looked into empty eyes, "S-somehow I don't doubt that, but be that as it may I would rather fight and be captured for what I believe in rather than being stuck here… just waiting for the end to be here."
Harry lifted his hand in silence and all was still, but he could feel it. They were surrounded with no way out. Harry's hand clamped down on the chain that had been around his neck the day he'd came to this time. Something stirred inside him and he knew not of what it was. Through the years he'd been in that world he had repaired the time turner around his neck on his own, having delved into its secrets when he'd gotten the chance to do so. His head snapped to the door and wands were raised at the ready.
"Well here's your chance Dolohov, it seems our time has arrived without a need to seek it."
The door was blasted away and off its hinges revealing the outdoors. A voice hollered for them to step forth from their hiding place and Harry did so, ahead of the others who followed shortly after. Harry's face remained blank, no smile or smirk to be seen. A trade mark he'd picked up over the years that had vanished the past several days. Before them stood Dumbledore alongside several Auror's Sirius was not amongst them.
"It's over Phoenix… it's time you lay down your wand and proceed with judgment," Dumbledore said.
Harry tilted his head and just simply stared at him before speaking, "What if I say no?"
"It would be an unwise decision."
"Didn't know you cared old man… oh wait you don't. As far as I'm concerned I will die here and now… I will not wait for the Dementors kiss I know is waiting for me."
Dolohov glanced at Harry before looking back at the old man as Dumbledore spoke, "Come now I'm sure there was a reason you fought. I do not think it was entirely your decision to be fighting if our last encounter was anything to go by."
Harry sighed heavily his shoulders sagging a bit and he saw light flick into the old man's eyes, probably thinking he had seen to reason, "You know this conversation bores me… I did fight for my own reasons and I join the dark for my own reasons. I willingly killed many people in support of the Dark Lord and sacrificed everything I had to live as I am now after escaping a much worse fate."
Dumbledore frowned, "Is this true?"
Harry sighed again, "As I said before I'm bored of this conversation…"
With that Harry threw a spell at the man and all hell broke loose. Spells went flying in every direction as the small group of Death Eaters tried to defend themselves against the onslaught of attacks. Harry was toe to toe with Dumbledore and if it hadn't been for a miss fire on his own side he would have had the old man too. A burning hex had been fired at his shoulder causing him to drop his wand. Dumbledore sighed at the sight and lowered his wand no expecting an attack from him now.
"You know, we could have helped you," He said to Harry.
"Helped me? No you would have destroyed me… oh wait I said you already did, didn't I?"
Without warning Harry lunged for his wand and rolled in one move getting ready to fire off a deadly spell when a green light caught his eye. He was really starting to hate that spell. Why did powerful wizards have to use it? It had no sense of artistry in it and was so dull and too quick to matter. Unable to stop the spell in his current position Harry found the spell striking his chest once more. Colliding with his time turner once again, causing that all too familiar pain he had felt so long ago that had even brought him here. He cried out in pain and a bright light enveloped him before he found himself harshly thrust onto the cold stone floor of the ministry.
How these time jumps landed him in a completely different location from the one he'd been in he had no clue. Harry just lay there motionlessly as his emerald eyes, glanced up and over at the sound of someone approaching in quick hurried steps. His eyes were unfocused and though his instincts told him to lash out his rational mind told him he was safe now. There was no Auror's waiting to take him in to be judged and given the kiss.
Harry shivered when that all too familiar dark presence filled his senses. Harry felt the cool hand as it pressed against his forehead, brushing fiery red locks away from his face. His unfocused eyes blinked several times to try and clear them as he listened to the worried please of the voice he barely recognized as Tom's other persona Zane Thallorian. Worry was etched over every feature on the man's face. Shaky fingers trembling with pain from the burn on his shoulder reached up and stroked the side of his face. Tom grabbed his fingers and gently held them where they were resting on his cheek. His eyes searching the face before him, for some kind of sign that his Harry was still there somewhere.
Harry had to smirk at this, because this was truly his Tom. His Tom that he had missed so much and longed every waking moment to be with once more, "I'm home."
Next Chapter- A Broken Return
Well everyone that is it for this chapter. Looking forward to your R&R's. See you all soon!