Disclaimer: They don't belong to me, cuz I'm not JKR. Dang.

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed. It really means a lot to me.

Miss Lesley: good eye! XD don't worry, all your questions will be answered. I left some things up in the air, because I wanted more time to think on them, but not to worry they will be explained; some of them in this very chappie.

To everyone else, I'm sorry if I don't respond personally to your reviews. I just hate it when an author wastes half a page on review responses. I really, really do appreciate that you took the time to review. Thanks ever so much.

On with the story!

Chapter 5

Birthday Surprises Part II

Albus Dumbledore stood in a small cell, staring at the ragged man on the cold stone floor. The dark haired man glared back at him, rage clearly shining in his ice blue eyes. After over a year in the room, the man was also starting to show another emotion, one which pleased the headmaster. Hopelessness was beginning to push its way through the man's visage, although he was fighting, valiantly though in vain, to hide it. Dumbledore smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. It wouldn't be long now. Soon the man would be completely lost, and the little glitch in his plans would be smoothed over. Soon, everything would fall into place. The Potter boy would get rid of Tom for him, and while he was still weak from the fight, Dumbledore would strike.

The man on the floor saw the smile on the old coot's face. He kept his mask in place, knowing that the headmaster was seeing exactly what he was meant to see. For over a year he'd waited, and soon, he would be free. At times, he had almost fallen into despair truly, but one thought kept him from sinking. One thought, two faces.

I have to free them.

Harry.

Remus.

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The walk down to the party was a quiet one. Harry was still trying to process all of the information his uncle had told him, and he was also a little nervous. He wasn't sure how everyone would react to him, and how he would react to them. After all, until just a few weeks before, the people awaiting him were viewed as enemies in his eyes. If any of the Death Eaters ('I wonder why they're called that; I never did ask anyone.') were there, he wasn't sure if he would be able to see them without thinking of the times when they had cursed him or attacked the people he'd thought of as friends. Especially…

"Draco, did you happen to invite your aunt to this party?" asked Harry.

"Which one?"

"Bellatrix."

"Oh, yeah, she should be here. Why?"

"She sent Sirius through the veil. She's the reason he's gone. Even if she's not evil, I don't know if I can forgive her for that."

"Oh, well maybe you could just let her try to explain. I mean, Sirius was her cousin, so I don't think she would have done anything to harm him intentionally."

"But she did Draco. Intentional or not, she's the reason that my godfather is gone."

"I know that, but please, could you just hear her out? For me if nothing else?"

Harry sighed. "Fine Draco. But you better have some damn good presents for me."

Draco smirked. "Oh I've got a few good ones. Don't you worry your pretty little head about that."

"Draco, stop making sexual innuendos about my nephew. It is disturbing."

Harry and Draco turned to Snape with evil smirks on their faces. Instead of trying to match words with the acerbic man, they instead chose action. Draco shoved Harry against the wall, and proceeded to attack his mouth. The boy beneath him let out a moan and his hips arched up to grind against Draco's. Snape looked on in horror before he finally came to his senses.

"Boys! Stop that this instant. Merlin! Can't you keep your hands, mouths, everything to yourselves for a few minutes? In case you've forgotten, there are people waiting for you."

Both boys had halted their movements and were staring at Snape. Harry gave his best, most winning smile. "Of course we haven't forgotten uncle Sev, we just thought we'd show you that innuendos are often preferable to the real thing when you're an outsider."

Snape glared at him. "I told you not to call me that!" With that, the flustered man stalked down the hallway, too preoccupied to remember to make his robes do that swirling thing that they usually did.

Harry looked at Draco with a smile. "Let's get going. Wouldn't want to keep everyone waiting. After all, we can easily pick up where we left off when everyone's gone and we aren't in a hallway." Draco just smirked.

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When Harry and Draco reached the large double doors that lead into the parlor where the guests were waiting, Harry paused.

"Draco, what if none of them like me? I mean, we've all been fairly antagonistic toward each other for the past six years. What if no one can let that go?"

A gentle smile worked its way onto Draco's face. "You don't need to worry about that. Through these doors is a room full of people that are waiting for you. Not Harry Potter, the Gryffindor wonder boy, but Harry; the boy that some of us played with when we were too young to remember. The boy that should have been allowed to make his own choices long ago. No one is holding your past against you. Everyone understands the lengths that Dumbledore was willing to go to in order to keep you under his thumb. Besides, if you and I can put aside our rather turbulent past, then I think that everyone else should be a piece of cake. Come on, they're waiting to meet you."

Harry smiled nervously. "Thanks Draco. You seem to know just what to say."

With that, Draco opened the doors, announcing to the room beyond that they had arrived. All talk stopped, and all eyes moved toward the two teens. Harry looked around, and saw the same uncertainty he felt mirrored in many of the faces of those here to celebrate his birthday. "Um, hi everyone," he said with a small wave. "Um, thank you for coming. I'd uh-" Harry froze, emerald eyes catching ruby across the room.

Voldemort stood, hesitation marking his posture. "Hello Harry. If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you alone for a minute. I feel as though I owe you an explanation, and many apologies. That is, if no one minds." The rest of the guests looked at him as though he had just uttered the stupidest words they'd ever heard. Harry glanced at Draco, a question in his eyes.

"Go Harry. The two of you have quite a lot to talk about, and there's no way either of you could enjoy the party without clearing the air. Use the library across the hall, and when you're all set, we'll be waiting."

The two former enemies stared at each other for another minute, before Harry turned and walked across the hall. When he broke off the eye contact, Voldemort was finally free to move as well, and he quickly followed the young man. "I'll try to keep it short everyone, but we all know that the two of us have much to talk about."

Everyone nodded, and without any further prodding, the most famous dark lord in a century followed the savior of the wizarding world out of the room.

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Voldemort entered the library to find Harry sitting uncomfortably on the edge of one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace. The same heat-less fire that had burned in his own room was crackling and popping before him. The older man seated himself, unsure of where to begin. Fortunately for him, or perhaps unfortunately, Harry had a few questions to get the conversation started.

"Voldemort…Tom…lord Moldy shorts? Why did you try to kill me in my first year? Why didn't you try to explain? If you're not evil, and I believe Draco that you're not, then what was I seeing in all of the visions that I had? Why did my scar hurt whenever you were around, and why doesn't it hurt now? Why did you send visions to me of Sirius, leading me to the Department of Mysteries where he died? Why didn't anyone try to tell me the truth until now? Why?"

Voldemort sighed, "Please, call me Tom if you'd like. In your first year, I didn't try to kill you right away, if you recall. Quirrell tried once when you were playing a Quidditch game, but that was before I was with him. At the time I was unaware that you had been lied to so thoroughly, and I had merely told him to watch you. It was when I found out what had happened that I joined him in his body. That was also when I learned of the lies that had been spread in my absence. Honestly, I was shocked. I'd known that many witches and wizards hadn't liked me overmuch, but I wasn't aware of the lies which Dumbledore was spreading. I was angry for a while, but not at you, not yet. I though that perhaps you could be exposed to the truth, but a ghosting of the minds of my followers' children made me believe what they did, that you had turned your back on your true history, believing instead in a made up story.

"When I offered to give you back your parents, in that room with the mirror, I didn't truly mean to bring them back to life. I meant to offer you a chance to know them as they had truly lived. When you rejected me, I felt as though you were doing so out of spite, and I grew angry. Unfortunately, at the time I had very little depth of emotion, and angry for me meant that you should die. When you are a shadow clinging to life, you can only experience one emotion at a time, so my anger was unchecked. The rage that I felt toward you is what activated the magic in your being; the magic of all the founders, and those that came before them. Dumbledore knew this, but he couldn't allow you to know, and so he told you that it was your mother's love that saved you.

"I'm not completely sure about your visions. I do know that there is a connection between us, mostly because it was your blood that helped give me this spiffy new body (sorry about that by the way), but I never meant for you to see what I saw or feel what I felt. At the time I was quite angry, not just with you, but with the entire wizarding community. However, I would like to assure you that I have never used the cruciatus curse for pleasure, and indeed when I have been forced into a position where it was absolutely necessary, I loathed myself for using it at all. At the time, I was actually trying to kill you yes, but I wasn't exactly in my right mind. Something about the potion that gave me a new body was off just a bit-that's what I get for allowing Wormtail to brew it-and it caused me to have very unnatural thoughts."

Harry looked thoughtful. "Well, maybe that was it then. Maybe the 'unnatural thoughts' you were having got transferred to me through the link, and I thought that they were what you were actually doing."

Voldemort started. "I can honestly say that I never thought about that. Well, about that Department of Mysteries incident, I never sent anything about your godfather. Severus told me what was happening when Dumbledore and the Order found out, and I took some of my Death Eaters to intercept you. Please accept my deepest apologies for what happened. At the time, I was rather happy, but it wasn't truly me."

Harry stared into the fire. "It wasn't you that caused Sirius to fall through the veil. That was Bellatrix, his own cousin…"

"Oh, about that, I believe she wanted to tell you something about that. She knows something about that veil that even I don't know. She herself was a bit unbalanced as well, having spent quite some time in Azkaban."

"Yes well, that doesn't really excuse the fact that I lost my godfather only two years after I found him." Harry wasn't in a forgiving mindset concerning Sirius' fall.

"Indeed. Well I think that we should leave that for her to try to explain. The pain in your scar is a bit easier to elucidate. What you were experiencing were the effects of the killing curse. Usually, there is one moment of pain so incredible that it causes the heart to stop. However, when I saw that the curse would hit you and not Dumbledore, I pulled it at the last moment and only a small part of it actually connected with you, leaving you with that rather famous scar. The rest rebounded to hit me, which wasn't enough to kill me completely, but did scatter my body so that my spirit was unbound. Every time that I was near you, the connection between us seemed to try to finish the curse. I was pained as well, but it was spread throughout my being as the curse is meant to be, thus it was easier to ignore. You felt the same amount of pain, but because it was concentrated in one area, it was much more painful for you. I stopped being affected when I utilized your blood to be reborn, which is why the pain was more intense for you afterward.

"Now, after coming into your full powers, the killing curse has absolutely no effect on you. You are, to put it simply, too powerful to die by any curse. Thus, the curse is thwarted forever, and you no longer feel any pain associated with it.

"Harry, as to why no one tried to tell you the truth before, we all thought that you had been told and that you had rejected the truth. We believed that there was no real point in trying to talk to you again, especially seeing as how you were so intent on cursing us whenever we came near you."

Harry was looking pissed. His eyes flashed, fire seeming to light them from within. "That fucking old man! I can't wait to see his old wrinkled face when he finds out that I know everything. I hope he has a heart attack."

Voldemort smirked. "Yes, well, all in good time. Right now, I believe we have a party to return to."

Harry nodded absently, seemingly lost in thought after his outburst. Suddenly, a revelation struck him. "Tom! What about Moony? He was one of my parents' best friends! Why didn't he ever try to tell me? And why is he in the Order with Bumblefuck?"

"I believe you can thank the illustrious headmaster for that young Harry. After all, the old man was powerful enough to overtake Severus' mind for almost six years. It is quite possible that he did the same to the rest of your parents' friends, those that he could reach that is. Those closest to your parents would have been the most difficult to overcome, but with Mister Lupin's…er…condition, his natural mental defenses are weaker than those of a normal wizard. Besides, no matter the mans' faults, Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard. Before today when you received your full inheritance, he was Gryffindor's heir, and as such had Godric's power. That is not something to laugh about."

"Wait," said Harry, "are you saying that much of Bumblefuck's power came from Gryffindor? Does that mean that he has less power now? Because that would be awesome."

"Unfortunately no Harry. Once a person has a certain amount of power, there is nothing that can take it away from them."

"But what about the power balance thing uncle Sev told me about? I mean, if I got all this new power, wouldn't that mean that the people that had it before don't have it anymore?"

"That would be true if you were a normal wizard Harry. However, the power that you received came from somewhere not of this world. You got all of the power that the original four gave up when the decided to walk amongst mortals once more. If your magic came from the pool of reserve that the rest of us take from, there wouldn't be any magic left over for anyone else. You have more power than the rest of the wizarding world combined. But enough of that for now. There are a lot of people waiting for you. Let's go back to the party, and we can continue this conversation later."

"Well alright. But I better get some damn good presents." Voldemort just laughed, a sound that startled the young man. He smiled at the older wizard, and gestured for him to lead the way across the hall.

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When the double doors opened once again on the party guests revealing a laughing Voldemort and a smiling Harry, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Draco smiled brightly, glad that Harry wasn't so nervous anymore. He, of course, completely ignored Voldemort in favor of staring at the younger man. The smile on Harry's face was one of the most open expressions that Draco had ever seen, and the fact that Harry had finally let his guard down around them meant that his questions had been answered and his doubts laid to rest.

Severus was happy that neither had come back injured or worse. Both men, young and old, had a temper that was legendary. He had been hoping for the best, but in reality he had been expecting the worst.

Harry was ignoring everyone in the room. As soon as the door had opened his eyes had found a veritable mountain of presents, and he couldn't help but stare at them. His smile only grew when he was finally distracted by Draco walking up to him.

"What's cookin' good lookin'?" Harry joked.

Draco grimaced. "Please refrain from using that kind of speech. It literally makes me want to vomit it's so terrible."

"Psht, you're just uptight." Noticing the conversation, Voldemort had begun to wander off. "See ya later alligator."

Voldemort smirked. "Indeed. In a while crocodile."

Draco looked shell shocked. He stood staring at Voldy, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Seeing the expression, Harry fell on the floor, laughing hysterically. When Draco finally snapped out of it, he glared at the teen rolling on the floor.

"I hate you sometimes."

Harry stopped laughing and looked up. "Oh no you don't. Just hush. Ooh, hey, let's do presents!" Harry jumped up and tore over to a couch in front of the presents. "Come on, come on, come on! This is my first birthday party! Let's get this show on the road!"

Although everyone was understandably shocked to hear that Harry had gone fifteen years without a birthday party (A/N: obviously I'm not counting the year his parents were alive you silly counters you), they soon realized that he really didn't care as long as he had fun now. Everyone laughed and sat down, amused by the fact that the most powerful wizard to ever be born was acting like a child.

Overall, the gifts were very well received. There were a few snags in the fun however. When he got to the usual book and candy from Hermione and Ron respectively, his eyes flashed and they were incinerated in green flames. When he picked up his present from the Lestranges, he looked uncertain, but when he opened it, his face immediately lit up. It was a very old book that was named, Beyond the Veil: What Awaits the Fallen. The name was slightly ominous, but the fact that it was an entire book written about an artifact that no one understood anymore was enough to give him hope. Even if it were only to tell him that, yes the veil did kill people, at least he would know.

Many of the gifts were some kind of memento that had been collected concerning his parents. He got photo albums, jewelry, his parents' wedding rings (from Voldemort), and his mother's diaries from her school years. These presents touched him, giving him much more personal connections to his parents. Before, all he'd had was his father's invisibility cloak and a few pictures. Now he felt as though he would be able to know his parents, to feel closer to them.

Some gifts were set aside, as Harry wasn't really sure what to think about the people who sent them. Ones from his Gryffindor classmates as well as those he'd dubbed, 'Golden Boy Worshippers' or GBWs, were included in this pile as well as anything from an Order member, or from people he just didn't know very well.

From Severus he received books on potions and elemental masters, as well as a family tree that began with the four founders and tracked down their descendants until the four lines finally converged on Harry's name.

From Draco, he received a necklace that had a silver dragon charm with emeralds for eyes. Harry could feel the magic thrumming along the charm, and when he commented, Draco smiled and said that he would explain later. Draco also told him that he had more gifts waiting upstairs for him, that he would get in private. Harry beamed, knowing that it would be worth the wait.

From Ragnok, Harry got a box containing the familial rings of all four of the founders. By wearing these, he signified to all that he was the heir of said families, and as such, held all of the power that had been passed onto him. The rings would grant him access to every nook and cranny of Hogwarts, and would also ensure that he was granted access to the vaults and estates that hadn't been touched in the many generations since the lines of the founders had hidden themselves away.

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In all, the party was a great success. Harry wandered among the guests, meeting some people and reacquainting himself with former enemies. He spent a moment with Bellatrix, but both agreed to put off their conversation until Harry had read the book. After many hours, plenty of food and drink, and some enlightening conversation, the guests-save a few-left for their homes. Voldemort stayed, as did Severus, both intending on speaking with Harry more in time.

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Harry looked around. Everyone was gone, and the parlor room was sparkling clean. He just sat, thinking over some of the things that people had told him, looking at some of the photo albums he'd received. Finally, Draco walked into the room, startling him out of his contemplations.

"So," Draco asked, "are you going to stay in here all night? Or do I get to give you your other presents?"

Harry smirked and looked up. "What, did you think I'd forgotten?"

"Well, yes, but it's okay. I knew that you'd only need a small reminder before you came running. It's a part of the Malfoy charm."

"Ah, right you are." Harry stood up off the couch and, dropping the album he tackled the silver haired beauty in front of him. "Now, this is a much better way to pass the time than getting all sentimental, wouldn't you say." As he spoke, Harry began rubbing up against Draco, delighting in the friction it caused.

"Oh, most definitely," Draco breathed. "Now if-"

"If you could take this to your rooms, I would most appreciate it."

Harry looked up. "Awww. Come on Moldy, don't spoil my fun, it's my birthday!"

Voldemort glared at him. "I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear that. However, if that word ever passes your lips again in reference to me, there will be severe consequences."

Draco giggled. "Moldy? Where did that come from?"

"Well I did ask him if I could call him lord Moldy Shorts, but he never responded so I figured it'd be okay." Harry beamed. He had made Draco giggle. He would have to call Tom moldy more often. "Anyway, before we get into a long drawn out discussion, Draco and I have some business to attend to. Let's go Drake."

"Okay, Ri. See you tomorrow Moldy!" With a laugh, Harry dragged Draco out of the room, running for the safety of his suite.

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A/N: heh, I could end it there, but you've waited so long I might as well give you a treat.

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As soon as the door closed to Harry's bedroom, both teens set up strong silencing and locking spells. Neither one was sure how far things would go tonight, but they wanted to be sure no one disturbed them.

"Now," purred Draco, "where were we?"

Harry smirked, pushed Draco down on the bed, and fell on top of him. His lips pressed against Draco's, softly at first, but becoming more passionate. His tongue darted out, tasting the other boy's lips asking for entry which was soon granted.

As their tongues battled, both boys arched into each other, gasping at the sensation the movement caused. Harry began moving more determinately, while also raising himself on his arms to gaze down at Draco. His silver Adonis was flushed, with his mouth parted and his eyes half closed. The sight of the boy beneath him struck something deep within Harry, a deep seeded want that went far beyond the lust of a seventeen year old. Harry needed Draco, craved to feel him in the most intimate of ways. Harry suddenly felt as though, without Draco, he could never feel any sense of completion.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Harry sped his movements. He recaptured Draco's mouth and let go only when the need for air became paramount. :Yes,: he hissed, not realizing his switch to parseltongue :so beautiful.:

Draco let out a moan. "Merlin Harry," he gasped, "that has got to be the sexiest thing I've ever heard."

:Mine, you're mine. Just as I am yours. Now and forever.:

Both teens had picked up the pace even more, needing more. Before long, Draco stilled momentarily before shuddering as he released. Harry, seeing Draco in that moment of ecstasy, followed a moment later.

Harry collapsed and rolled to the side. Both boys gazed at each other, panting heavily. Without saying a word, Harry waved his hand, ridding each of their clothes. He barely paused before grabbing onto Draco once more.

:Now Draco. I need you now. I need you inside me. Come and claim me.:

Draco couldn't understand the words that Harry was speaking, but he understood the meaning behind them easily enough. "Are you sure Harry? I don't want to push you. I'd love to, but I don't want you to regret this in the morning."

The look on Harry's face was answer enough, even though he still wouldn't speak English. :Shut up and fuck me Draco.:

Draco looked at Harry for a moment, gazing into his eyes, looking for something. Finally, after what seemed like forever to Harry, he nodded, and bent over to claim Harry's mouth, before moving on.

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Later as the boys fell asleep, both fully sated, neither one noticed a bright light begin to circle them, encasing them in a mist that flowed from the deepest emerald green to the finest silver. Nor did the two notice the tattoo snakes that burned themselves into the boys' necks. Green with silver eyes for Harry, and silver with green eyes for Draco.

Instead both boys slumbered on, unaware of the mayhem they would cause upon awakening. After all, it's not everyday that the most powerful wizard in the world finds his one true mate.

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A/N: Yay! Another chapter! wipes brow phew! That one took a while, but not as long as the one before! I'm so proud of myself! XD

Oh, BTW, Ouveanna this chappie's dedicated to you, cuz you're so impatient. It's a good thing you're my friend. :-P