Warning: If you don't know already, this story is going to be messed up. Incest, mature themes, and violence.
Main Pairing is Tom Riddle / Harry Potter
Criticism welcome.
Trail of Ashes
Chapter 7
"Stop fidgeting."
"Sit up straighter, you're beginning to slouch."
"Clear your mind! I can almost hear your thoughts, you are thinking so loudly!"
Aethonan, gave a frustrated growl and opened his eyes to an equally frustrated Cygnus. Learning meditation was becoming the bane of his very existence. It was impossible for him to clear his thoughts as Cygnus wanted and sitting here for hours without anything else to do but listen to Cygnus correct him was driving him barmy! Worse of all is he had no idea as to why he had to learn meditation before Cygnus would teach him anything else! Cygnus refused to share any more information than he already had until Aethonan mastered meditation and whatever else Cygnus demanded, and had simply said that he would have to learn to trust his Lord's judgement.
Letting out a sigh, Aethonan dropped his head into his hands, running his fingers through his now black hair.
"Follow me."
Aethonan looked up to see his grandfather turning and leaving through the small door that connected their practice room to his study. Shooting up off the floor he scrambled to catch up knowing that Cygnus was usually a little short tempered after a failed attempt and would not appreciate him taking his time. He followed him into the study and sat down in his usual spot only after Cygnus had signalled him to.
Lord Black sighed and remained standing glancing around the room in a lazy manner as if he could find the answers to all his problems there. Considering the rather large collection of books in his study for all that the young Malfoy knew, he very well could. His grandfather's study was nothing like his own fathers, who made sure that anything resembling dark magic was put away and the room was well lit and professional to a fault; all while exuding old power and influence. His grandfather's study (at least the one they used and he assumed was his regular study) was dark from the paintings on the walls to the titles of the books lining the shelves. The room was a deep blue that seemed to suck in any light from the lamps that floated in the corners but he still could perfectly read the title of the book on the shelf 5 meters in front of him.
"The summer solstice is in two days, and I had hoped, very foolishly that you would have progressed enough for me to announce you as my new heir apparent." Cygnus turned to look at Aethonan, and he could feel his stomach curdling with anxiety at having disappointed his family. He should have known that he couldn't fit in here anymore than he could in the 'normal" world. Harry's thoughts turned immediately to the cupboard and Vernon's hands on his throat, his breath catching slightly at the memory.
"Aethonan!"
Jumping, the young boy looked up at his grandfather, surprised to see he had moved closer, now crouching down in front of Harry's chair. He flinched slightly at the closeness, and Cygnus' gaze darkened.
"Aethonan, what is wrong? Has someone hit you?" Cygnus' voice was filled with worry and anger.
Immediately Harry denied it, just as he'd been taught. "No, sir. No one hits me."
Cygnus frowned at the odd switch in behavior, but could tell from the wary look in his grandson's eyes and the black of his iris swallowing his pupil that whatever emotional turmoil was going on he would have to seek answers elsewhere.
He stood up and quietly dismissed his grandson to return to Malfoy Manor, making note to talk to Carina as soon as possible.
-0-0-0-
Aethonan lay on his bed staring unseeing at the drapery. He had messed up, badly. He didn't know exactly what had happened, only that one second he was himself and the next he was Harry all over again, afraid of his cupboard and Vernon, of not being normal. He had disappointed Grandfather, and when Father and Mother heard, they'd be disappointed too. His father would be the worse, because he hated Harry or any reminder that he wasn't the same boy he'd been before. Any reminder that Aurelius had been weakened in any way made him angry and unresponsive and after Aethonan had finally gained his approval he didn't want to return to those cold first months in the Malfoy Manor.
The door connected to his twin's room opened and unsurprising a few seconds later a body had joined him on his bed. For a second neither boy said anything, Aethonan merely enjoyed the one presence that seemed to be unwavering in this new world, and Abraxas gave his obviously upset twin a moment of peace before he stirred the cauldron even more.
"What happened Ceph?" Abraxas turned to face his twin, lying on his side and intertwined their hands together in a show of support, no matter what the boy said.
In small voice reminiscent of their meeting at the hospital, Aethonan murmured about his panic attack and how disappointed grandfather was with him.
Abraxas frowned, he knew that grandfather wouldn't have chosen to train Aethonan unless he was sure of the choice but he also hadn't known about the secret they had learned at the hospital. That this Aethonan wasn't the same as the old one. He wouldn't know about the muggles or 'Harry' and he would bet all his galleons that if he did he'd understand that Ceph needed time to heal.
"Are you going to tell him about Harry? He's going to want to know, and if you don't tell him he will likely just go to mother and get answers there."
Aethonan turned to Abraxas and the Malfoy heir was mildly surprised to see emerald eyes shining back at him.
"But what if he changes his mind? Grandfather doesn't like muggles and muggleborns anymore than father. He might think I'm useless if he realizes that I can't even remember being Aethonan before waking up in the hospital. I just don't want to disappoint him." Aethonan's anxiety and fear caused his voice to waver and his hair to turn brown. His face lost some of his roundness, becoming gaunt and his eyes darkened to a muddy brown.
Abraxas frowned at the change in appearance, "Stop that Ceph! Grandfather chose you for a reason! You're intelligent and cunning and everything a Malfoy and Black should be!" Sitting up and dragging his twin with him, Abraxas pulled Aethonan over to the full length mirror that stood by the entrance to the bathroom. Positioning them both in front of it Abraxas commanded him to turn back. Aethonan frowned but looked in the mirror and slowly morphed until there was once again two identical boys standing next to each other.
"You are a Malfoy and the Black heir, you are a metamorphmagus and my brother. No one is going to abandon you. You aren't Harry." Turning to look at his brother he watched as tears slowly gathered in the corners of Aethonan's eyes. "Do you understand? You're my brother, my twin and I love you and nothing is going to change that. We are halves of a whole."
Aethonan nodded slowly and then reached out and hugged Abraxas. "I'm sorry, brother!" They held each other for awhile before they once again wandered back to the bed, their hands still entwined.
"Sometimes I still forget that I'm not really Harry. I keep thinking that I'm going to wake up and this is all just going to be a dream. That you'll all have a laugh and ask me how I thought I could actually be a part of a family." Aethonan looked like he might cry again, and his voice wavered on the word family.
"Its okay Ceph, no stupid muggle is ever going to hurt you again. I'll make sure of it," Abraxas whispered fiercely as they both laid back down on the bed. Hugging each other tightly the boys slowly drifted off to sleep.
Hours later when Carina came to collect Aethonan so that they could discuss what had happened with Cygnus she found them tightly entwined in bed, sleeping peacefully. She smiled and left quietly, the conversation could wait for another time.
-0-0-0-
"You are going to see a mind healer."
Aethonan's head shot up. Staring across at his Grandfather in surprise and confusion. He had thought he'd been called back to Cygnus' study to be scolded. "But Father-"
"Aurelius agreed when I explained that the events that happened while you were in your coma is preventing you from the becoming a powerful wizard."
Frowning the boy looked at his grandfather with more consideration this time. Clearly his mother had explained what had happened because his father would never discuss his temporary weakness. Then to talk Aurelius into letting a mind healer see him would take considerable persuasion from Lord Black.
"It has been explained to me that you do not remember anything before the coma so let me clarify something to you, grandson. You have always been my family and you will always remain so, memories or not. However, it is the young man that was re-introduced to his family at his 7th birthday that I found worthy of being the Black heir. Not the spoiled child that spent more time hiding behind his twin demanding his every wish be met."
Blinking up at Cygnus, Aethonan was speechless. No one had ever really explained much about his life previous to the accident beyond simple things. It was assumed better that he merely be as much of himself as possible and not constantly compare himself to his former self. He'd been spoiled? That didn't sound like him at all.
Cygnus smirked at his dazed heir, "You are the one I chose because of the boy you have become and the potential you hold. You, Aethonan, are going to be great and I'm going to make sure of it."
Aethonan could only nod.
-0-0-0-
The solstice came and went. The Malfoys held a small personal gathering in their ritual chambers involving fire and thanking the sun god. Aethonan spent the rest of the summer either playing Quidditch, Chess, Exploding Snap and various other games with his twin. His lessons continued and slowly with the help of the mind healer that Warden Davis had personally recommended the young Malfoy finally was able to put his mind to rest and meditate.
Aethonan opened his eyes his breath slowly exhaling and his thoughts began swirling again though this time it felt muted and far off. Looking at his Grandfather in surprise he whispered, "I did it."
Smiling Cygnus nodded. "Come on, it's time for the next step."
Blinking Aethonan got up from his position on the floor and followed his grandfather back into his study. "The next step?"
"Of course, there was a very good reason I had you spend months healing your mind and learning to meditate Aethonan. I told you, you must trust your Lord." Turning away from his heir, Cygnus walked over to the bookcase that lined the very back of the study. Pulling a book from the upper left shelf and he turned back to his desk and sat down before signaling that Aethonan do the same.
"This book is a very important part of the Black family library and I expect you to take good care of it."
Curious Aethonan leaned forward eagerly as Cygnus handed over the dark plain book that had no title written on its cover. Running his hands over the surface the young boy could almost swear he felt it purr. Ignoring the strange feeling he opened the book and read the first page.
Mind Arts Mastered
by
Perseus Black
Looking up at Lord Black curiously he asked, "What are the the mind arts Grandfather?"
Smiling Cygnus explained briefly about the basics of Legilimency and Occlumency. "It is how one can know his enemies from his friends and how you will keep others from see your true power. Once you have learned how to protect your mind and control your emotions we will announce your new position as my heir."
Frowning, Aethonan thought about the weeks he'd spent learning meditation previous to the incident that had led Cygnus to the truth about his memories. "I thought you'd said that once I learned meditation we could announce that I was the Black heir."
Nodding Cygnus opened one of drawers in his desk and took out a blue cigar, "I had thought meditation would be enough but with your memories of the muggles interfering with your emotions and perception of reality it is best that we wait. This will be better for you in the long run and offer us more time to ready you for what will happen when you are announced heir." Standing Cynus' cigar seeming lit itself and after taking a small puff he let out a stream of dragon shaped smoke that instantly fascinated Aethonan. "For now let us celebrate your success and then next week will begin your tutoring in the art of the mind." Cygnus smiled at the boys expression as the dragon let out its own puff of fire shaped smoke before flapping its wings and dissipating. He led Aethonan out into the dark grey hallway of the Black Mansion. "Follow me."
They walked deeper into the Mansion and down a wing that Aethonan had not seen before. At the end of the dark hallway was the most ostentatious door the Malfoy heir had seen outside of the Malfoy manor. It had gilded leaves and emerald and diamond flowers all on the door frame, the handle was shaped like a serpent with eyes made of rubies. When Cygnus put his hand on the door Aethonan could swear he heard it sigh and then a small clicking noise sounded before the door seemingly opened itself. Inside was a hall of portraits that lined every available surface, and each frame held what Aethonan could only assume was a member of the Black family.
Cygnus lead him farther into the room, and though he could see the portraits moving and talking he could not hear them as he could the Malfoy portraits. "This is the Hall of Portraits and it holds the portrait of every member of our family back to 12th century. Only the current Lord Black can enter this Hall or those the current Lord allows. You won't be able to talk or hear them until you are Lord Black."
Glancing at the grand room and the all the portraits he became confused. It was grand yes and as his lack of memories of having a proper family always made him interested in his family history he was still unsure as to why he was being shown this. "If I can't enter the room without you and I can't talk to them, then why are you showing me now?"
Cygnus smiled a tight smile before he became completely serious. "If something were to happen to me you will need to know how to get here and what it means. My portrait will appear here if I die and I will expect you to come here so I can continue training you."
Horrified Aethonan turned back to Cygnus and spluttered, "Died?! Surely you won't be dying anytime soon!" The thought of losing a piece of his family was simply unacceptable to the boy who had only just found one.
Kneeling down so that he was level with the seven year old, he put both arms on Aethonan shoulders, "I know that you are young still but even you must understand that people can die anytime Aethonan. You are my heir and nothing must surprise you even when it is surprising. You must be the model of perfection for if my time comes too soon then I will need to trust that you will take that mantle and wear it proudly and show no weakness. Because if I do die before you are of age than there will be many who will not support you. My will may name you my heir but many will follow Pollux unless you can prove your worth. I have taken a risk naming someone so young as my heir, when you have so much room to grow and I already have a son that is powerful and in his prime. However, I know you will succeed where Pollux has failed and take this family and make it greater. There is much to learn even once you are of age, so I will need you take all possibilities into account, do you understand?"
Frowning the boy simply nodded as was expected. He wasn't happy and he hadn't understood all of it but he knew that no matter what he'd have to make Grandfather Cygnus proud. And if that meant not showing his emotions and learning from portraits then so be it.
-0-0-0-
The spring air was refreshing after a long winter and Carina was happy. The winter had been harsh but the over the last year had been fruitful. Her child had been returned to her and though it'd been tough her family was whole again. Her children were growing into such wonderful young boys. The mind healer had done wonders for Aethonan, and watching his confidence and health improve put many of her worries to rest. Watching them through her window as they flew around on their brooms she was amazed at how things had changed over the course of such a short time.
"What are you thinking about, love?" Turning briefly to her husband she smiled.
"Nothing much darling."
Walking up to the window Aurelius peered out at the twins, "They are getting older, already nine in just a few days, in just a few years they'll be off at Hogwarts." He smiled fondly at his own memories of Hogwarts.
"Yes, but not yet. Not yet." Carina murmured and her smile slowly faded. Aurelius obliviously kissed his wife on the cheek and told her he'd be in his study before leaving their room.
Carina continued to stare out the window, her smile gone.
AN - Took forever to get that chapter written... sorry about that. Next chapter is the final chapter before Hogwarts. The last bit there with Carina was a slight time skip, and next chapter will be a bigger one. I have a bit of trouble trying to dumb down Aethonan and Abraxas, because they are only 7 (sort of) but soon they will be old enough that the plot will start getting more complex! So yay!
Thanks again! Please review and I hope you enjoyed!