"Another excellent chapter. I most admit I'm surprised that the Potters are alive. I had assumed that the Dursleys had put him in the orphanage. So is Harry the Boy-who-lived or is a sibling assumed to be it? do enjoy your Harry. He's mature but not too mature, if that makes since. He's grown up for his age but not to the point where it's either unbelievable or making him look like Tom Riddle's second coming. So reading Harry's interaction with the Slytherins, is that a bit of jealousy I detect from Draco? Its always amusing to me how in most stories Draco tries to act like hes the shit but in actuality hes nothing but a small fry, very low on the totem pole. So Circe is very powerful and well known. And apparently either very long lived or immortal if Lucius' great-grandfather knew her. So is Circe her real name or is she someone else, like IDK say, Morgana la fey? I can't wait for the next chapter and to see Harry's encounter with the Dark Lord…" – King of Hearts 129

Summary: Raised in an orphanage, Harry is adopted and taught to become a powerful Lord of Magic. Through rituals, lessons, balls and battles he grows stronger each day. However, he did not expect that being sent to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament would change his life completely. LV/HP

AN: Thanks for all the amazing reviews! Also special thanks to Kilyen I will make sure to edit that to the proper translation. If anyone notices a mistake please feel free to let me know. I usually edit the crap out of each chapter, but I was a little behind with this one and did not.

Chapter 3: The Dark Lord

Bowing so low that his nose brushed the floor, the elf snapped his fingers and the door creaked opened slowly. Walking into the room Harry realized that it was empty and turned to ask the elf where his mother was when the oak door shut with click. Moving forward the doorknob gave a spark of pain that raced up his arm when Harry tried to open it.

Suddenly the air got thick and heavy. The magic was so abundant that it made Harry's eye lids droop and his body shake.

"Hello Mister Potter."

Stepping from the shadows that seemed to cling to him, Lord Voldemort looked very much like the Dark wizard that he was. His red eyes seemed to shine with his power. He wore a shadowy black robe that accented his pale skin and the golden locket around his neck with an engraved 's' that must have been a family heirloom, though Harry was most enamored with the man's magic. It sent shivers up and down his spine and caused his mouth to fill with saliva. Harry was drunk without drinking.

Stopping before the dazed boy, Voldemort took a moment to apprise the child that Circe had guaranteed was worth his time and energy.

He looked young and, though it was a rather unconventional handsome, he was beautiful with his bright green eyes, ivory skin and midnight hair. Voldemort ran a finger down the side of the boy's face and watched as his eyes almost shut and felt his body sway. Thick ebony lashes fluttered and his breathing was ragged. It was a delicious sight.

Moving away from the boy and pulling his magic back behind the barriers he'd built so long ago he watched as Potter's eyes cleared as well as his mind.

Jumping back Harry had not realized how close the Dark Lord was. He flushed as he recalled his behavior a moment ago, but gained his composure fairly quick. After several silent moments Harry looked into the eyes of Tom Riddle and saw his blazing eyes following his. Taking a deep breath and then gave a low bow. "Lord Voldemort," he said without a hint of emotion in his voice.

Tom grinned, showing gleaming perfect teeth. "It is very flattering to be called by my full title. Most people are too frightened to dare say my name, much less to my face. Are you not scared Mister Potter?"

Yes I am utterly terrified. "I apologize, Lord. You must have me confused with someone else. My name is Hadrian Labeau."

Laughing Voldemort responded, "You forget, child. Your… guardian has already spoken with me about sheltering you whilst the tournament occurs and even if I was not told, you look very much like your mudblood-loving father."

Harry stiffened, but chose to ignore the comment. "And will you enter into an alliance with me? At least for my time here in England?"

Voldemort's grin vanished instantly and his hand shot out, clenching around Harry's throat so strongly that it left the boy gasping. Thin, long fingers tightened as he started struggling and lifted him from the ground. "An alliance? Who do you think you are, child? Surely not a Lord. And surely not someone worthy of an alliance with me," the Dark Lord snarled.

"My mother…" Harry gasped only to fall to his knees as Voldemort released him. Coughing and gasping for breath, he finally looked up.

Voldemort smirked, no doubt enjoying the picture Harry made on his knees before him. "You are still a child, Mister Potter. When you arrive at Hogwarts it will be without your guardian, so I must suggest you spend the next couple weeks growing up. For now you will be treated like you are just the son of a follower. Though I do find it rather interesting that your guardian is even allowing you to step foot into Hogwarts. You are far from ready to play in these political games."

"We had no choice they would have known if we left Beaubaxtons," said Harry.

Voldemort smirked. "Yes they would have though I am sure your guardian could have hidden you in a corner of this world until you were prepared. She is testing you."

"Why?" Harry tried to stand only to feel an invisible hand push on his shoulders and keep him kneeling. He glared up at the Dark Lord who stared down at him in amusement.

Lightly tapping a thin finger against the boy's nose, Voldemort grinned as Harry snarled and tried to stand once more. It was invigorating to have someone try to fight him; he had been in the political scenes far too long. Maybe it was time to go back to war. "Circe likely wants to see if you can handle the world without her; to which I say that you most certainly cannot. Or perhaps she wants to test your loyalties to her because I am sure that you will learn far more secrets and lies your mother has hidden from you once you are outside her influence."

Biting his lip, Harry spoke, "She has been preparing me to take my throne as a Lord. She cares for me and betters me. How dare accuse her of manipulating me!"

Baring his teeth at the child before him, Voldemort responded, "This is just further proof you are still nothing but a child. You cling to her and yet no nothing of her ideals and goals. You will be a follower forever if that does not change."

"I am going to be a Lord!"

"But you are not a Lord now. You are just a weak child hiding behind his mother," Voldemort sneered.

Feeling like his magic might burst from his skin, the hand holding him down vanished and for a moment there was nothing, but silence. Then Harry stood slowly, his magic flaring up around him and causing the flames in the fireplace to rise. Glancing at the Dark Lord, he noticed that Voldemort's eyes gleamed and his nose flared as if he could smell the magic surrounding Harry. It seemed like he enjoyed the display more than he was intimidated. It made the hair on the back of Harry's neck stand up on end to see him finding such pleasure in his display of magic. Pulling himself together, his magic calmed as quickly as it had appeared.

Leaning down to be at the same level as the child in front of him, Voldemort spoke, "Your magic is intoxicating. Tainted, from all those rituals Circe has likely put you through, but still so intoxicating."

"Tainted?"

Voldemort smirked. "Oh yes, child. Tainted. Circe must have just let it slip her mind that rituals are not used anymore because it can corrupt your magic, making it more difficult to perform certain spells, and lowers the spells ability to sustain."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "No that cannot be true."

"I am sure there are several books on magical theory at Hogwarts or Beaubaxtons. Look it up, child."

Looking into the ruby eyes of the Dark Lord, Harry had never felt more weak and stupid. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.

Voldemort did not respond, just merely blinked.

Harry bent his neck. "All anyone ever says about you is that you are powerful and dark and cruel. That you care for nothing, but your goals and plans. Plans that have you have in the works for decades that are only now being revealed. So why are you going to… protect me and why are you trying to help me?"

Thin, spider-like fingers brushed along his jaw before the Dark Lord gripped a handful of Harry's curly locks. Pulling the boy closer, Voldemort watched as Harry's eyes went wide and his jaw slacken in shock and pain. "There are many reasons for why I am doing what I am. One of them is because your guardian and I have been… friends for a long time and I love having her in my debt. Another is that I will enjoy watching Dumbledore realize that you are mine. Lastly you are mine. Even if you are undeclared right now your magic calls to me. You will declare for the Dark and while you may never be a Dark Lord I am sure there are other positions that you can fill." And with a sultry look that left Harry trembling, the Dark Lord pushed him back causing him to fall onto a bad that seemed to appear behind him.

A bed.

Panicking Harry shot up and tried to get off the bed only to feel a press of a wand under his jaw. Gasping, Harry slowly tried to back away from the Dark Lord, but Voldemort just pressed the wand harder against the pastel skin.

"Harry Potter, or as you prefer, Hadrian Labeau, you are mine and I will enjoy watching you grow because there is nothing more pathetic than a child that should be an adult. Now sleep, Mr. Labeau. I assure you that we shall see each other at least once more before you leave for Beaubaxtons. Now sleep."

And with a wave of the Dark Lord's wand, Harry's vision went black.

It took two minutes for a knock to sound on the door after Lord Voldemort had lowered the wards. It was two sharp pangs against the oak doors. Standing from the chair that he had set up to watch the child that was sleeping in his bed, the Dark Lord took his time to get to the door.

After spelling the child into an enchanted slumber Voldemort had paced the room and thought about how the boy that had seduced him with his brief flare of magic. It was intoxicating and arousing. Too bad Hadrian Labeau was still such a child though, with some careful manipulating he would be an ideal consort for a Dark Lord.

It was odd that Circe pushed him to become a Lord. It was unlikely that he would ever become a Light Lord and there was no way that he could take the mantle from Lord Voldemort and become a Dark Lord. He was a Lord-level wizard, there was no doubt, after he came more into his powers it would only grow.

From the study came Nagini, an unusually large green cobra. "I smell a man-child. Is he for me?"

Voldemort gave a tiny chuckle and bent low to scoop her up. She slithered up his torso and rested her head on shoulder, gazing at the boy in her master's bed. Her forked tongue caressing his chin. "No, pet. He is not for you. He is for me. Does he not smell divine?"

Slithering down his body, Nagini approached the bed. Winding around the bed post, she glided to the dark haired boy whom her master had taken an interest in. "Yes, master. He smells delicious." Coiling around the child she let a content hiss as his body warmed hers.

She still lay curled around the boy when Voldemort lowered the wards and let Circe in.

She had not aged since the last time he had seen her. It had been nearly forty years and when he had been travelling the world, testing new and old magic for a way to gain mortality. They had met in a dark alley in Egypt and she had been just as alluring as she was now.

Circe had been in sheer white gown that trailed behind her like a veil trailed behind a bride. She was pale despite the heat that should have darkened her skin. Diamonds glittered around her neck and jeweled rubies shined in her fingers. She looked like a white queen among the poor and the depraved and they all gazed at her in lust.

Lord Voldemort had just gone through a transformation. It had left his skin waxy and thick, but it would give him the ability to withstand most common spells like the skin of a giant. After a few weeks he would be able to cast a charm to smooth it out and give him back his youthful appearance.

She had walked in a straight line to him; people diving out of her way as if fearing her touch. Stopping before him she had bowed low, her silver hair blazing in the sunlight. "Your magic has called to me, my Lord."

Pulling back his black hood the Dark Lord inclined his head. If she found him ugly she did not show it on her face. "Greetings. I am Thomas Riddle, though known as Lord Voldemort."

She smirked. "Circe Abaza."

Kissing her knuckles with his rough lips, Voldemort caught her eye. "It is a pleasure to meet a woman of your beauty."

Circe had stared unblinking, her mother of pearl eyes burning into his brown ones. "Why do you display your magic for all to feel? Do you not care that your enemies can search you out by chasing the trail of magic that follows you?"

Voldemort sneered. "And are you one of my enemies, Lady Abaza?"

Turning her back to him, she looked over shoulder. "Not unless you give me a reason to be. Now shall we dine in the estate that I am currently staying in?"

And for the remainder of his time in Egypt, Lord Voldemort stayed in her estate, ate her food, warmed her bed and learned some of her secrets.

He was pulled from his musings when she turned to face him after staring at her ward; whom was still curled up in his silver and green sheets and his pet Nagini.

"What have you done to him?" she asked calmly though her eyes promised vengeance.

Voldemort leaned forward, his own eyes sparkling cruelly. "Merely put him to sleep, my beauty."

"And set your pet snake upon him?"

"Has she bitten him?" he asked with a smirk.

Taking a step closer to the Dark Lord, Circe was nearly nose to nose with him. "No, Thomas she has not. Now why is he here? You were to meet him tomorrow with me."

"Obviously I did not want to meet him tomorrow with you."

Her wand suddenly appeared in her hand. "What have you been telling him, Thomas? He is not yours to play with."

Voldemort stepped around her and looked down at her ward. His curls lay around the pillow like a dark halo and his eye's fluttered from dreaming. "He is mine, Circe. Why else would you have brought him to me?"

"He needs your political protection-"

"No he does not," he cut her off. "He would have been fine far from England, but you have brought here and to me and I wonder why. The boy's magic is quite seductive so perhaps you wanted to seduce me. Or maybe you enjoy playing games with Dumbledore. Either way he is here now and he is mine."

Circe snapped her fingers and a house-elf with a glass of red wine appeared before her. Taking the glass, she sat upon a throne-like chair that appeared behind her. "Why I have brought him here is beside the point, Thomas."

"I think it has to do with everything."

Taking a sip of her wine, she licked her lips clean of the red stain the wine left. "Oh Thomas stop making yourself seem all important. You know very little of my motives and my son."

Sitting down in another throne-like chair, though his was much larger and to which she raised an eyebrow in mockery, Voldemort summoned a glass of wine without the aid of a house-elf. "I find it funny that you call him son."

"Why? That is what he is."

"No he is a toy, a pawn for you to manipulate."

Laughing, she set her glass down and leaned forward. "Why, Thomas, are you in love? I have never seen you care so much for anyone."

Voldemort's eyes darkened. "No, I do not care for the child. His magic though is entirely different. Do you not see how tainted it has become?"

Shrugging, she replied, "A sacrifice. What does it matter? He is still young enough that his magic will heal."

"If that is what you believe."

"I think I know a little more about magic than you, Thomas."

He did not reply to her with anything other than a smirk.

Not letting him see her annoyance, Circe leaned back and took a sip of her wine. "Shall we continue with our discussion from earlier, Thomas? Before you had to step out to see to your other guest." Obviously meaning her son.

"Very well," he inclined.

Taking the last sip of her wine in one big gulp, Circe dropped her wine glass to the floor though it vanished before ever reaching it. "And lastly, Thomas."

He raised a thin dark eyebrow. "Yes?"

"He is not yours. He is mine."

A/N: Sorry that this is an hour past Thursday! I was getting ready for a camping trip this weekend to the coast and let the time fly by. Also sorry for the shorter chapter! This one was surpsingly difficult to write. I did not want to betray the true essences of Harry and Voldemort from canon, nor my own character Circe. Hopefully you all don't hate my Harry! He will grow up I promise.

Also I am still getting input for Harry's declaration. Light Lord? Dark Lord? Grey Lord? No Lord? I enjoy all your comments and ideas though I think I have an idea of where this is going, but feel free to keep giving them! I think I may start up a poll.

Hope you enjoyed it! Till next Thursday :) REVIEW