"I see you my pretty black snake."
The black snake hissed playfully, slithering out from underneath the bush he was hiding from. He flicked his tongue out at the girl who was laying in the grass a few inches away from him.
"Well I certainly can't see how you could. I mean it's dark as he-"
"Do not finish that sentence. Man that's the last time I cuss around you guys."
Miley and Sahale both looked up from their spot in the grass to see a young dark skinned woman with shockingly bright blue hair standing in the doorway. Miley grinned happily and Sahale barely had enough time to slide up her arm and get settled before she hopped up and did a running tackle towards the older woman, smothering her with hugs and kisses.
"Auntie Madison! You came to visit me!"
"And me too!"
Madison giggled as she hugged them close to her. Then she sighed and help them both get off the ground. The voice that drifted out of the front room through the open backdoor made her jump a bit but as soon as Miley heard it she squealed.
"And you brought everyone!!" was what Madison had made out before the girl ran into the house, still souting something and leaving a gust of wind in her wake.
Madison just smiled and trailed into the house behind her, dusting herself off.
When she walked into the living room she saw everyone gathered around Miley and her pet snake. While they were talking she idly wondered where Harry was at.
"So I see you contaminated my house with girls." A deep voice stated next to her. She was startled but didn't let it show.
"We're women I'll have you know. And I see you've finally gotten taller. About time you listened to reason and take those vitamines. And nutrients. And potions. And-"
"Ok. I get it. You missed me. I missed you. Just give me the hug already."
Madison grinned and without warning, she spun around and hugged Harry tightly. He hugged back just as hard and rubbed her back. "You know I've missed you. Where the hell have you been? I thought you were gonna help me raise this little terror?" Harry questioned jokingly. He pulled back slightly to see her face and grew alarmed when he saw unshed tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Harry. I meant to be here. I swear..."
"Shh," Harry whispered as he led her to the kitchen. He grabbed some paper towels and dutifully start to wipe her face. "It's okay, it wasn't your fault you know. You were only a child yourself. You couldn't be expected to live with an exiled wizard and his daughter. And besides, you helped. Who was it that got me to America? And helped me find a great place with only a few dollars and a four year old daughter? Huh?" he questioned her, poking her after every question.
She smiled softly. "Yeah I was a little geinus, wasn't I?"
"The smartest and most grown up 12 year old I ever met. But don't start pushing your luck."
They both shared a laugh until Miley came running into the kitchen. They both turned to look at her.
"Come on! Everyone's waiting for us!! What's taking you guys so long anyway?" Miley leaned onto the counter and peered at her Aunt/Sister. "Were you crying Maddy?"
Madison immediately grinned, giving Harry a noogie and erasing all thoughts and traces of sadness from her face.
"Nah squirt. I was just making a fool out of your daddy."
Miley grinned at the thought. "Your so silly Maddy." She tugged on her father's hand and looked at him, eyes flashing red for a moment before going back to Harry's trademark emerald green. "Come on let's go daddy."
Madison dared to look at her surogate father. He was standing in a dazed stupor. She nudged him in the arm. Hard. "Yeah papa. Let's go."
Harry shook himself out of it and smiled softly, in a way that would make girls faint and straight guys gay. "Alright. Let's go see what my harem wants." He grabbed Miley's hand and began walking into the living room. He heard Madison snickering behind them.
"Daddy, what's a harem?" Miley asked.
"Yeah papa. What's a harem?" Madison giggled louder.
He ignored the giggling girl behind him.
"Well Miley it depends on what you might think about a harem."
""Alisha! Don't tell her a thing. She's ten years old for Christ sakes."
Alisha shrugged and scratched the back of her head. "She asked. I was just answering."
Harry shook his head laughing and sat down next to Rihanna, who was giggling behind her hand.
"You guys are a bad influence on this little girl."
"Oh get over it Kelsey. We were just fooling around a bit." Madison said.
Rihanna reachedover Harry and picked up Miley, hugging her close. "Hey sweetie. Howya been doing? And Sahale too of course." she said, looking down at the snake who hadn't let go of her arm yet.
Harry looked at the four women crowding his New York apartment living room and wondered what he had done to deserve this. Displease the gods? Mess with fate? Light that chair on fire when he was eight?
'Hey that rhymed.' Harry chuckled to himself. He noticed that the others were talking around him and sat down on the couch, settling himself in. "So what brings you 4 into my house on a such an nice day?"
Alisha raised her hand and jumped up and down. Miley started laughing when she saw this.
"Call on her daddy!"
Harry scratched the back of his head and rolled his eyes playfully. "Sure why not. Alisha?"
"Well we wanted to come visit you of course. And this time we actually have a motive!!"
Miley tugged on her daddy's arm. She was draped over the arm of the couch and blinked up at him. "Daddy what's a motive?"
"I'll tell you later sweetie."
Alisha looked over at Kelsey who was the more serious out of the four and she turned towards Harry with somewhat of a determined look in her eye. Harry knew that look right away.
"No I will not go back."
"Damnit Harry you have to let me ask first!"
Harry shrugged his shoulders and went back to hugging Miley around hers. She giggled and wiggled a bit as she got comfortable. She loved hearing her father argue. Sahale slid up around her neck and settled in for a nice long nap.
"Doesn't matter because I'm not gonig back. I said I was never going back and I do not intend to break my word."
"But Harry you have to!" Kelsey shouted.
Harry just looked bored. He decided to humor her. "And just why do I have to?"
"Because Dumbledore is dying!"
Harry and Miley both shrugged. "So?"
"In honor of my daughter's words...so? Why the hell should I care? He's the reason I'm living the way I am now. Hiding. Like a fugitive."
"Because Ron and Hermione miss you!" Alisha shouted next.
"How in the hell do you even know about them?" Harry asked confusedly. He thought he kept that part of him locked away. "That also doesn't matter. They sure weren't missing me when they were helping Dumbledore look for my whereabouts in the Forest now were they?"
"Because I really want you to come back with me?" Madison said hopefully.
Harry just grinned at her and shook his head. "My lovely daughter whose name is Madison. No. You know very well that the only person who could make me even think about going back is-"
"Asking about you right now." A soft voice spoke up.
Everyone in the room turned and looked at Rihanna who was sitting calmly on the couch. "He has been asking about you for awhile now. Lord Voldemort. Or Tom in your case. He came to me directly and asked me to relay a message to you. He wants to see you. He wants to talk to you. And he misses you. I mean he's starting to get desperate. In trying to find out where you are now. He has his favored Death Eaters working round the clock, looking for your location. All he wants to do is explain things to you."
"I knew making Tom's cousin one of my friends would be a mistake in the long run. But it seemed like such a good idea at the time..." Harry muttered while shaking his head.
"Oh get over it Harry. You miss him. I know you do. And now you have the incentive you need to go back and face the Wizarding world. And perhaps get revenge while you're at it. I mean the friends you thought were friends turned their backs against you in the end didn't they? And you're the one who runs away? Yeah right. It's time to get back at them. For what they did."
Everyone just stared at her some more while she stopped slightly hissing and settled back in her seat again. The first person to speak up was none other than Miley.
"You're a very good Slytherin Auntie Ri."
Rihanna looked up and saw the young girl smiling up at her, looking so much like her cousin. In her eyes. And they she smiled. Though the laugh was Harry's.
"Why of course I am. It runs in the family after all."
"So I guess that means we can go now right!?" Madison hopped up and squealed as she started dancing around the room.
"No. It doesn't"
all the girls looked back at Harry who had moved Miley our of his lap and onto the floor. She just giggled and starts inching her way towards the stairs. Harry looked up at all 5 girls and smiled.
"I mean. WE do have to pack after all."
With that the girls all screamed and dashed towards Miley's room. Except for Madison. She stayed behind and gave Harry a big hug.
"Do you think you can handle this Papa? I mean it's been 10 years after all..."
"Exactly Maddy. 10 years. He has a right to know. And he should hear it from me." Harry gave her a little hug back before he pushed her in the direction of Miley's room. "Go with her and make sure she packs more than just shorts. And make sure to remind her about Sahale. He's gonna need food to ya know."
Madison nodded happily and started off towards the bedroom. "Yeah Papa. I know."
Harry smiled and walked into the kitchen, where he let his act drop and held his head in his hands.
"Dear God. Help me because I certainly don't have the strength to do this alone. I just hope he forgives me..."
------------
Tom was sitting in his study. He was swirling a drink around in it's glass before he took another swig. A door opened and a beautiful white snake came slithering into the room.
"Ah. Nagini. My beautiful girl. What news do you have to bring me today?"
Nagini curled up around her master's chair and tasted the air around his neck with her tongue. She then laid her head down under his.
"Thomas dear, I have heard from the others that surround the greenhouses that Dumbledore is dying. Finally."
"About damn time." He hissed softly. He set his drink down and stroked her head. "Anything else?"
"Only that Rihanna said she would drop by sometime next week. So you should get a room ready for her."
"Alright Nagini. I shall get the house elves to prepare one. Now let me get my rest. I have been up all day."
Nagini nodded and with another flick of her tongue, slid down the chair and landed with a thumpon the floor. Slowly, she left the room.
Tom or Voldemort to most of the Wizarding World, got up to head for his bed. He was tired and serious had to build up strength for the visit with his cousin next week. Or knowing her it would be sooner than that.
So he dropped onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. Not aware that someone he had been looking for a long time was heading his way.