Chapter 11
December 12th 1991
Harry was pretty annoyed with his father right now. He had been tiptoeing around Harry for nearly two Months now, and still had no idea why. At present, he was thinking he might actually get some answers. Carl had written him to say he needed to be ready to go today. He refused to say where or why, only that he needed to be dressed in his formal school robes, and be prepared to be gone all day. So here he was, standing outside the school, dressed in his best set of formal robes, waiting for Carl to show.
It hadn't all been bad of course. Carl had finally managed to propose to Katelyn, after almost four years. Still, Harry was happy about that arrangement. Katelyn was the Closest thing he had to a Mother, and he had always wanted to call her as such, but that would have been very awkward. Now though, he wouldn't feel so reserved about calling her Mom,or Mother, just to tick her off.
Then there was Sirius. What could he say about Sirius. Well, he was fun, that was for sure, but he also seemed a little immature. Coming from an eleven year old, you know it's bad. At the same time, Harry thought he might have been trying too hard. Like he had to try to be more fun loving and free spirited to impress him. Harry didn't care about that. Truth was, as strange as it was, he kind of felt safe with Sirius. Like he had known him for years and knew he could trust him. He hadn't told Carl that. He didn't want it to end in a fight between the two of them. Kinda like they did over his difficulty in Transfiguration. Sighing, Harry walked over and sat on a nearby bench. His grades were another subject he was dealing with. Granted he was second in his year, right behind some dork from Atlanta who was barley leading by two points.
Hearing a POP, Harry looked up to see Carl, dressed in a set of fancy dress robes.
'Great, that probably means it's an official function. I wonder if he has pepper-up...I'll fall asleep of Boredom otherwise.' Harry thought to him self.
"Dad, over here!" he said waving.
Carl looked over and smiled. "Hey squirt, you ready?"
"Could you not call me that...and are you actually going to tell me where we're going?"
Carl's smile faltered slightly, but only for a second before he answered. "You'll just have to wait and see." so saying he took Harry's arm, and apparated them home. From there they floo'd to Malfoy Manner, where Lucius and Narcissa were waiting with a , very large, Katelyn.
"Hey, Midget!"
"Hi Katelyn!"
"How come she gets to call you nick names and I don't?" Carl pouted
Harry Rolled his eyes at his dads antics. "Because, you drive her just as nuts as you do me...if not more so. Right Katelyn?"
"Right."
"No fair ganging up on me." Carl pouted earning laughter all around.
Everyone laughed before being led into the dinning room for an elaborate brunch.
0~0~0~0
Ron let out a frustrated sigh as he buried his head in his arms.
There was an odd number of people in most of their classes and as a result of that he ended up in a forced group of three for a Potions research project. Normally this wouldn't be a problem. Until you take into account that he was in a group with Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.
"Perhaps if you did a bit less groaning and a bit more reading, we would finish faster." said Hermione not looking up from her own text.
Draco hmm'd in agreement but didn't look up from the notes he was writing down.
"But it's so BORING! why can't we just work separately? Why do I have to work with a slimy Slytherin and an annoying know it all!?"
Draco finally lost his patience and threw his quill onto the table to stare the red head down.
"You still don't get it do you Weasely?"
"Get what?" Ron asked confused looking between the two.
"Two things. One, it is a well known fact that our families have been feuding for centuries correct?"
"Yeah, but-"
" Ah ah ah! I'm not finished," Draco said silencing Ron immediately "from my understanding of what Professor Snape has told me. Every single one of you're brothers has primarily targeted Slytherin students for pranks, don't deny it! We've all seen how the twins act and who they like to target the most." Ron put his finger down when Hermione shot him a glare. He was outnumbered here, and he knew it.
"Now take into consideration that we now have a count of FOUR Weasely's in the school at the same time and one of them is in the same year as me, a Malfoy. Who happens to be the most protected name in Slytherin House. What do you suppose would happen if you and You're Brothers started trying to prank me hmmm?"
Ron only shrugged, it was Hermione who answered. Though he already knew the answer. He just didn't want to give Malfoy the satisfaction of making a point.
"It would be all out war. Then Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff would be caught in the middle and everyone would be miserable."
"Right, so the professors thought it would be a good idea to cut that possible outcome off before it can really get any momentum. That's why I'm here. And Hermione is here to act as mediator. "
"Are you saying their expecting us to be friends?"
"Not really, I think Severus would have kittens if that happened. I think they just want us to learn to be courteous to one another, that's all."
"Whats the other reason?"Ron asked, understanding at least a little why they put Draco there.
"Ronald, do you even know what you're class ranking is?" Hermione asked.
"I never bother to check."
"Why dose that not surprise me..." Draco said under his breath.
"OI!"
"Ronald, you're in the bottom three of our whole year." Hermione said gently. Watching as Ron turned to her in disbelief.
"I can't be that bad..."
"Look at it this way Weasely, you're still smarter then Crab and Goyle." Draco added as he went back to taking notes.
"So...this whole situation is because of me? Not because we have an odd number?"
"Pretty much, either Hermione or I could do this alone. But you're in serious danger of failing, so here we are."
"Why don't Crab and Goyel have to do this?"
"They do. They each have a tutor for every subject that they meet with on different days of the week. But the two of them are naturally dumb, so it's harder for them to learn. You, you're just lazy." Draco answered again, not looking up from the notes.
"I am not!"
Draco leaned back twirling his quill between his fingers.
"Oh? Then why haven't you done any of the work for any class you have with the Slytherins? I may not know about the others, but I assume you just don't do them."
The red head of the trio at least had the decency to blush. So Draco took pity on his ego.
"When it's work in the Class room Wealsely, you do just as well, if not better in some cases, as everyone else, but when it comes to the written and theoretical work. You are so far behind, it's sad. Whats worse is that it isn't that you don't understand because you do fantastic in practical application, you just don't do the work. So, Hermione and I will be making sure you do ALL of it from now on."
Ron folded his Arms and grumbled. He still didn't like Malfoy calling Hermione by her first name. Though he supposed it made sense sense, he did save her life on Halloween. Another thing he didn't like to think about. Was that he was the one that had made her cry that night, had it not been for Malfoy, that Troll would have killed her.
With a sigh of resignation, Ron picked his discarded book back up and began reading again.
0~0~0
Harry was quickly losing his patience with his father. He was all for fun and games, on occasion, but this was getting annoying.
"Alright that's it!"he said stopping on the steps of Gringgots with his arms crossed stubbornly forcing the two adults to stop as well. "Tell me what's going on, or I'm not taking another step."
Carl took a quick look around before answering. "I can't explain it out here, someone could overhear."
"Just promise me this isn't some elaborate prank or something..."
"Would I have pulled out of school for something like that?" Carl asked only receiving a deadpan glare in response. "You know what, don't answer that..."
"Wasn't planning to." Harry said before allowing Carl and Lucius to lead the way inside.
Right away, several Goblins came running up to offer assistance to Carl who whispered something to one of the older looking ones. A few minuets later they were lead into one of the private rooms.
"Master JadeScyth will be along shortly Sire." said the Goblin that had lead them in.
"Thank you Lavanook."
Once the Goblin had left Harry turned to the two adults. "Alright, can you tell me what's going on now?"
Carl let out a heavy sigh before moving the other chair to sit opposite Harry. "Harry, you remember the lesson I gave you in history right?"
Harry snorted, "Which one?"
"I should hope all of them," Carl said with a slight smirk "but, in this case, I meant the lessons about the founding of the Arch Mage and the original Dark Ones."
"You mean the descendants of Merlin and Morgana? What does that have to do with me?"
Carl let out a sigh. "tell me what you remember."
Harry pursed his in thought. "After the Great War of Change, Morgana and Merlin came to a mutual understanding that the Magical communities needed to be protected from the Non-Magical, what we now call muggles." Harry said looking to Carl who gestured for him to continue. "to that end both of them had built certain reputations in different circles. In order to form a semi-united front both created certain positions of supreme authority within the magical realm. Merlin's Family, you're Family, took on the role of Arch Mage. But, you never told me any details about Morgana's Family. Just that she was the first true Dark Maiden and every one since the year 985 has been an impostor."
Carl nodded leaning back with his arms crossed. "What I'm about to tell you dose not leave this room understand. Lucius has already sworn an Unbreakable Vow, so he can be trusted." When Harry nodded Carl pinched the bridge of his nose. " after the disaster that was Mordred, Morgana swore never to have another child. So she named her younger sister's line as the one to inherit. Muriel's family, Morgana's younger sister, held the position until the Dark maiden Belladonna Nightshade vanished with her Husband and children in the year 985. that was right around the time the muggles started hunting us again. Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts school, took up a stewardship as the Dark lord in order to protect as many people as possible. Sadly he is not remembered fondly."
Harry raised an eyebrow at his father. "What dose this have to do with me?"
there was a long pause before Carl answered. "Harry...there is evidence that you may be Morgana's Heir..."
Harry blinked while he processed that information. "What?"
"I know it's allot to take in-"
"No, Dad, when we had 'the talk' after Katelyn told us she was pregnant, that was a lot to take in. When you told me I was adopted, that was a lot to take in. this is just on a whole other level of A LOT TO TAKE IN!" Harry yelled standing up.
"Harry, calm down."
"Calm down!? DAD! You just told me that I'm the 'actual' dark Lord!"
"I said you might be, and there is a very big difference between Muriel's descendants and the more recent fools who have held the position."
"Oh, so because I'm actually 'related' to Morgana Le'fey that makes everything better dose it!?"
Carl had apparently had enough of Harry's attitude as he stood an said in a deadly serious tone. "Hadrian James Potter Shill! You sit you're ass in that chair and shut up, or , so help me, I will show you that you can still go over my knee!" sufficed to say. Harry sat down very quickly and didn't say another word.
Carl fell back into his own chair with a resigned sigh. "I'm sorry Harry, but you have to understand. The position of the Dark One was never meant to be viewed as it is today. Back when the position was still help by Muriel's descendants they were seen as Healers and envoys for magical non-human races. They were scholars and peace makers. The Arch Mage has always been a human politician first. When Salazar Slytherin Died any hope of a decent stand in went with him. 'If', and that is an 'if', you Are Muriels Decendant, it won't change who you are, and certainly won't change how Katelyn and I see you."
Harry looked like he wanted to run but said in a very quiet voice. "But...how will everyone else see me?"
"It'll take some time Harry, but people will come to understand."
it was at this moment that the door's to the office opened to reveal JadeScythe.
~0~0~0~
one Hour later in Hogwarts
Albus Dumbledore downed his tea mixed with a pain potion to help soothe his growing headache. What else could possibly go wrong this year? His own professors were beginning to turn on him. HIM, Albus Bloody Dumbledore! It was moments like this he really wished Gellert was there with him.
It was as this thought was going through his mind that a small house elf appeared in his office. Albus recognized him immediately as the one he had gotten Gellert so long ago.
"Loke, What is it? Is Gellert alright?"
"Master is well, but sent Loke with this urgent message for Alby!" it said holding out a letter to the old Headmaster who took it readily enough.
The further he read the more he paled. A true Dark Lord had surfaced, this could throuw all of their plans out the window! Luckly it seemed Ariana had concocted a plan that should fix things. And he had just the rat for the job too.
~0~0~0~
December 13th 1991
Wormtail jumped as he, once again, heard something move off to the side. Oh, how he hated having to do this! But, what was he to do? Dumbledore had fooled him into believing that a trap had been set for Voldemort all those years ago, and that Lily and James had been moved. he hated that he was being used. more importantly, he hated himself. he was always a second rate wizard. James, Sirius, and Remus were the great ones. he was just along for the ride. But they had always made him feel welcome and like he belonged. yet, weather it was knowingly or not, he had betrayed them all. he didn't even have the courage to end his own miserable existence. running away from Sirius when all he really wanted was to die anyway. then out of no where, Dumbledore brings him in and tells him he has a job that needs doing. and to take the small team he had arranged to "Wake Up" a potential ally. Peter wasn't stupid enough to have not figured out by now the truth of that. they were in an old cave system in South America, Under an ancient Inken Temple. his 'team' consisted of three others, all Squibs. not that it mattered much in the end if his theory was right. finally they came to the chamber resting against the far wall were three sarcophagi two where already open with desiccated corpses left on display. the third remained closed but dead bodies around it proved that it was not for lack of trying. taking out the wand Albus had given him he cast the spell His old Headmaster had taught him. immediately the final One opened to reveal the final Body. Although it certaily looked old. it had clearly been untouched by the hands of humans for centuries.
"Now what?" asked one of the squibs.
Peter removed a small vial of blood and handed it over to him. "Take that and pour it on the body. I have to stay here in case something goes wrong."
Nodding, the other man stepped forward and did as he was bid. completely unaware that Peter was sealing the room behind them.
once the vial was emptied they waited for something to happen...but nothing did
Turning around the man seemed a bit annoyed. "Well, that was a-!" he was cut off as the corpse he had turned his back on had reached out, grabbed him then bitten clean into his jugular. the others didn't even have a chance to run before they too were taken. with every gulp of blood it took, the creature slowly became more and more recognizable as a young man in his mid twenties. with Fiery Golden eye's and hair to match, he was a thing of pure beauty. when at last the last of the squibs was drained dry, he stood and seemed to compose himself as he approached Peter.
"I appreciate you're awakening me," said the creature with an aristocratic air. "But I wish you had used animals instead of people. the process is slower, but I do prefer it. and now there isn't enough left for my wife and son."
Peter Blinked, "Forgive me sir, but do you mean them?" he said pointing to the other two corpses behind him.
The Now definite Vampire turned to see what he was talking about and then let out an inhuman wail as he ran to one then the other.
"MARIANA! LUKUS! NO, NO, NOOOOOOOO!" he began beating his fists into the dusty floor as tears of blood fell down his cheeks.
Despite the fact that he was a vampire, Peters heart broke a little more with every heart wrenching sob that the Vampire let lose. he watched as he pulled the dried out corpse of what he thought was his wife and cradled it in his arms as though she were still there and weak. he watched the ancient predator as he stroked the dried cheek, then pulled it close, chanting apologies that would never be heard by their intended.
"Who..." He asked in a broken voice after some time. he was now holding his sons body close to his chest as though he were protecting it.
Peter reached into his coat and removed a letter that Dumbledore had given him.
"I was told that all you're questions could be answered in here." he said sending it over to the vampire with a little spell.
The vampire picked up the note and read it. his expression becoming stormy. when he was done he looked at Peter.
"You're name is Petigrew?" he questioned.
"Y-yes..."
"I need a moment... would you..."
"o-o-ofcourse, I'll be right outside."
A few moments, that felt more like hours, and the Vampire stepped out he looked Peter up and down.
"Tell me," he said "Dose this Dumbledore usually take people for complete imbeciles, or is it just me?" he asked looking at a now truly terrified Peter who thought he might piss himself.c