Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series, if I did- Voldemort would not have died, and he would be ruling the world! Er- the Harry Potter series is also copyright to J.K. Rowling, thank you!

A/N: I apologize for the extremely long wait. But exams are coming up, and my personal life has taken a dive down under. However, that does not mean I am letting this story go, I love to much and you don't know how happy and will how overjoyed I was to see that I had gotten so many reviews. I can't list all of your names as I am a bit frazzled at the moment, but I thank, and I seriously thank, each and everyone of those wonderful readers who had taken the time to review, THANK YOU so much, I truly appreciate it. From the bottom of my heart (or as my friend likes to say 'Black Hole'). ;D

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Bitter Sweet Candy

Chapter 4: Avoiding the Reality

Summary: The Dark Lord does not kill Harry, but choses to have him raised by a Death Eater. The Light is in for a rude awakening. But yet maybe the child can still be saved from Darkness, he is after all a Light wizard by origin, and can one really stop Fate? Or is this what Fate intended? LV/HP Dark Harry. Powerful Harry.

Severus Snape had always been a gifted child. He excelled broadly throughout all his academics. However, he had been most congenially brilliant when it came to potions. One could say that Snape was a born intellect, one of those people who were naturally smart. Those people who were suppose to be the ones that would have a great future.

If only it weren't a myth, though. More often than not, it was the ones who were brilliant minded that were left in the dumps. The ignorant, the stupid, and the sheltered seemed to have more of a grasp at a brighter future than others. People like Cornelius Fudge, Arthur Weasley, and many others. But that was how the world worked, and behind the scenes of the idiots were the brains, deep within the shadows they played their games.

Games of destruction, of control and manipulation, of deceit and tactical formalities; because in reality they wait, for they have nothing better to do, born intellects that had carved their selves out of their promised graves, and made a future for themselves.

But the real question remained. Would Severus Snape be a man to carve himself a better fate? Or was he to follow along the path of his destined life? Time could only tell. However, reader I have digressed too far from the main subject at hand.

At the prior moment Severus Snape was contemplating the things that have passed these eight years. Unfortunately though, he did not get far as his most...delightful apprentice had set fire to the curtains, again.

"That is the fifth time, Mr. Longbottom, that you have set fire to my curtains. I have told you once, I have told you twice, I might as well tell you a thousand more times and you will never listen. Do not put ginger root and knotgrass together."

Severus sighed as he pulled the eight year old boy away from the flaming curtains, and pulled out his wand. With a small wave the fire was out.

"I-I'm s-sorry sir. I j-just forgot sir." said Neville Longbottom while scratching his messy brown hair. He looked shyly up at Severus with his large brown eyes. Snape scowled at the youngster before moving about the small living room of his house.

Bookshelves were cluster against the walls of the house, not letting a peep of the wall's ugly brown paint to be seen. Windows were closed shut and the room was dimly lit—rather dusty as well, I might add.

"Now let's try this again, shall we." said Severus as he magically cleaned the black cauldron that stood in the middle of the room, blocking the way to the kitchenette.

"Yes, sir" was all Neville said before there was a light tap at Severus's door. Snape sighed mentally before walking towards the door. He looked through the eye hole before motioning Neville to gather his things.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Longbottom." Severus said as he opened the door to greet Neville's grandmother, Augusta Longbottom. "Good afternoon to you as well Mr. Snape. I hope Neville wasn't much trouble now." She said rather stiff and slowly, as any old women her age would.

"Yes, but perhaps he shall do more studying at home before he comes here again." Snape said before letting Neville pass—that I might add—clutched onto his grandmother rather happily.

"Oh, well I'll make sure he does just that. Thank you, Mr. Snape. Say goodbye and thanks dearest." Mrs. Longbottom said as she began to turn and leave. Neville shyly muttered a goodbye, thank you, and an apology for the fires before running after his grandmother.

Snape sighed for the umpteenth time that day before he made his way into his house. He shut and bolted his door tightly before collapsing on his single couch. He gazed lazily at the fire burning in his blunt hearth.

He waved his hand lightly in the air and a glass appeared, invisibly being filled with red wine. Severus then sipped on it lightly while going back to reminiscing on the past events. Two years after the Potters funeral, Dumbledore had been discussing with the Order that the theory of Harry being the chosen one may have been false. Neville Longbottom, like Harry, was born on the end of the seventh month and indeed seemed more perceptible to one day become powerful enough to destroy Voldemort.

At first it was a strange speculation Dumbledore had proposed, but after sometime the Order began to agree with the idea. In this, an immediate protection program went into effect. Neville would be placed in better protection; he would also be tutored at a young age. Namely, Severus was to teach potions to Longbottom, his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes would be given by Remus or Arthur—they traded every now and then. Other classes for the new Charge were appointed to other Order members Severus did not know of.

All in all, the boy was treated like a prodigy child, the only problem was that said prodigy child was just—to plainly put it—an idiot.

No matter how simple, how small, in shape or form Neville was doomed to be a failure at potions. Young Longbottom was forgetful, timid, and too childish. Snape had done everything he could for the boy, give Neville books to read—not mention Neville did not know how to read either. He gave Longbottom note cards, pictures, everything he could possibly think of in order to help the child make potions. But no, no use, no point, the child was lost. Longbottom was just not meant to brew potions—so much for a prodigy child.

Well, now Snape couldn't say that, Longbottom was exceedingly brilliant when it came to certain plants and their attributes, and he was a fast learner when it came to the Defense against the Dark Arts…but Snape could not help but feel that this was not what a prodigy child would do. But then again, unlike Dumbledore, Snape knew were the true prodigy child was. Severus had watched him slowly grow up. Not that Severus ever liked children, but he had to admit—Lelouch Lestrange was the optimum of prodigy—if there ever was one.

Snape teaches potions to Lelouch once a week and the boy would literally absorb everything he said. Lelouch would mimic, recite, and write anything and everything Snape taught him. The boy was like a vacuum of knowledge. However, Snape had to consider that both boys environments were different, which also affects how children grow up. Lelouch was in a pureblood standard environment. Work then play; torture is fun; kill then smile; hate muggles and laugh at their misery; and for Bellatrix's standard—kiss the floor the Dark Lord walks on at any moment you get, and ogle at him any chance you get.

This, Snape admitted, unfortunately young Lelouch had a tendency to do—minus kissing the floor. And by which, Snape meant Lelouch ogled the Dark Lord any chance he got.

Now though, let's get back to the more important things. Such as at the prior moment the once red flames in Snape's hearth were now a sickening green. And before Snape could even register anything, two cloaked figures appeared out of the fireplace rubbing soot of their robes.

"You would do well to clean out your fireplace once in awhile." A voice said scathingly while moving about the cramped room. The other of the two figures sighed dramatically. Snape snorted, recognizing the voice, and stood up while his glass of wine vanished.

"It is so troublesome to see you as well, Rabastan. What do you want Rodolphus?" The first of the two who spoke pulled down his hood to reveal his young face and black hair. Dark eyes scanned the room incredulously.

"You live in a dump."

Another sigh passed, "Rabastan, brother, I brought you along because I thought you would be helpful… Now shut up." Rodolphus said while pushing his hood back.

"Well?" Snape said questionably while removing the cauldron out of the way. It was getting far too crowded in his small muggle home.

"I will make this quick, I fear Bella might be over stuffing Lelouch with food at the prior moment. I wish to know the truth." Rodolphus said while Rabastan moved to open a window, it was far too dusty for his liking.

Snape froze before quickly shutting the curtain that covered the arch to his kitchenette. "What truth?" he said rather stoically.

"You know what I mean Severus. I want to know why the Dark Lord spared Lelouch, why he gave him to us, to me and Bellatrix. I need answers. What is so special about my son?"

Rabastan was the one to snort that time, but Rodolphus ignored him. Snape frowned as he gazed at Rodolphus's dark ebony eyes. "You know as well as I do."

Rodolphus sneered at him, "Lies, all lies. I know something is not right. I know there is something big going on… Ever since the Dark Lord gave me my son, he treats him so special. Gives him gifts, hell, the Dark Lord teaches my son himself on Dark Magic. You know as well as I do that the Dark Lord gives his time for no one; and the fact that my son is getting all of—of this special attention from him is beyond perturbing!"

Rodolphus exhaled exasperatedly before dropping himself on Snape's coach. "The Dark Lord views you as a valuable asset, Severus. He tells you things that not even Bellatrix knows. Next to her and Lucius you are one of his most loyal servants."

"Tell me what he wants with my son?"

Snape pursed his lips while gazing at a book on his shelf; he then shifted his gaze towards Rabastan who still insisted on looking out the window.

"I know not-"

"Again with the lies, Severus you are my friend. I came to you for answers… I need to know. If you think I will betray my Lord that will never happen, but I must know why he desires to… I just need to know. Please, my friend."

Silence was the only thing that ensued there on before Severus said once more he knew nothing. Rodolphus gritted his teeth before looking at the fireplace. "And it was you I came to seek answers from." With that said Rodolphus motioned for Rabastan and they both left.

Snape chewed on his lip as he watched the clear blue sky, if only he wasn't bearing an Unbreakable Vow.

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"Come now Lulu, one more bite… For mommy please." Lelouch sighed before reluctantly opening his mouth. He was for sure that his mother was hell bent on fattening him up.

"Please mother-"

"Mommy" Bellatrix corrected.

"Mommy, I can't eat another bite, I'm going to explode." He said through a mouthful of food, which then Bella smacked him upside the head before chastising him on talking with his mouthful.

"Lelouch, I am doing you a favor, look at you. Your all skin and bones, you need some meat on those skinny arms of yours. How you going to grow up big and tall like our Lord." Bellatrix said while spooning up another load of food. Reader, if you presently in the dining hall with the young Lestrange Family would see the crazed glint that glittered in Bella's eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to say, grow up big and tall like your father? Not like our lord…" Lelouch stated while quirking an eyebrow.

Bella huffed while dropping the loaded spoon of food onto a plate. "Your father is nothing compared to the Dark Lord. You should aspire not to be like him, but to desire to serve him like I do." As Bellatrix rambled on about the greatness of Lord Voldemort, her eyes glazed over in a daze.

Lelouch frowned somewhat while looking solemnly at his food. He didn't want to be the Dark Lord's servant, in fact, not that anyone knew, he wanted to be something more to the Dark Lord. He wanted to mean something more. Of course that did not exclude that he did not want to aspire to be just like Voldemort. Hell, he wanted to Voldemort's equal, someone who the Dark Lord could share things with. That is why Lelouch did his best in all of his studies, he wanted to be as close to the Dark Lord as he could possibly get.

"Bella, please to don't kill our child by force feeding him—"

"More like she could kill him with just her hug…" Rebastan mumbled as he came behind Rodolphus who looked pointedly at him.

Bellatrix snapped out of her dazed and looked dully at her brother-in-law and husband. "Humph, at least I am trying to beef him up. If it weren't for me, he'd be all scrawny and skinny like your brother, and no woman would want him when he grows up like, your brother."

Rabastan bared his teeth at Bella, while Lelouch giggled. Rodolphus sighed irritably while coming over and sweeping his son into his arms.

"I believe this is our cue to get out of here." Rodolphus whispered in Lelouch's ear, who simply nodded in return.

"Excuse me, sister dearest, I am not scrawny as you so claim I am, it's not my fault you're a bulging walrus and that your eyesight is so screwed you perception of what men should look like has downed the tube!

"…not everyone prefers fat men like you!"

"How dare you insult me like that? You ungrateful, irresponsible, spoiled, insolent little brat! And you just insulted your brother!"

"No I just insulted your ego, bitch! You can't even keep a straight face when were around…"

Rodolphus sighed as he shut the door to the dining hall and walked out with Lelouch. Rodolphus then took them down the hall towards his study so they could have some peace and quiet.

"Well, that could have gone worse." He stated simply before setting Lelouch on one of the plush couches. Lelouch smiled softly before lightly kissing his father's nose. Rodolphus smiled back at Lelouch lovingly.

Reader, one could never express the love Rodolphus felt for his petite child, and how much he wanted Lelouch to have a great future. It did not bother him much that the Dark Lord was keeping him out of the loo about Lelouch's true destiny, he just hoped that nothing bad would happen to his little boy.

Lelouch meant so much to Rodolphus, even though he was not his true biological son—no he would always be his son. And the more the years passed, the more Rodolphus could not help but feel guilty for lying to Lelouch about his true origins. He feared that when Lelouch finally learned the truth, he would probably hate him—and Rodolphus could never handle that.

"Father?"

"Lelouch?"

A pregnant of silence took hold over both of them. Abruptly, though, as Lelouch was about to open his mouth once more, a loud crack resonated throughout the study. Rodolphus looked up to see Lucius, and normally Rodolphus would not be bothered by the sudden appearance of his brother-in-law, but the look adorn on Lucius' ghastly pale face was enough to make his throat dry.

"Lucius…" Rodolphus said hesitantly.

Lucius wary grey eyes bounced around the room as if expecting someone, or something to pop out and say 'boo'.

"We need to talk immediately… Where are Bellatrix and Rabastan?" Rodolphus frowned but nodded towards the door of the study.

"Dining hall" was all Rodolphus said before Lucius followed him out the door of the study, leaving young Lelouch to himself.

"I wonder what that was all about?" said Lelouch, voicing his thoughts out loud. It wasn't every day that Lelouch saw his Uncle look so…so—what was the word—afraid. "Mori!" Lelouch shouted before another crack sounded.

"Yes masters, you calls us sirs?" said the bug-eyed house elf.

Lelouch pursed his lips before looking indifferently at his fingernails. "I suppose you can take me to my lesson with Mr. Nott, hence I have nothing better to do." Mori titled his head questioningly at his master. It wasn't like his master to go early to his classes. Most of the time—normally—Lelouch would put off going to his class until the very last minute. The only class that Lelouch would, ever, be on time for was the ones with the Dark Lord; but Lord Voldemort was on a three month trip.

"Sirs, its quite earlys… You sures you wants to goes now?"

Lelouch simply nodded while lazily getting off the comfortable couch. With a wide grin, Mori grabbed Lelouch's hand and apparated them to Nott Manor.

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"And so Theodore it is not the fact that you must simply say it and it's done. In order to perform the Cruciatus Curse correctly, you must feel it—the curse will only be as powerful as your emotion. You must—"

Crack

For the third time that day, Lelouch had to strain his ear against the annoying sound of apparating. He was utterly convinced that he would hate apparating. Not only was the sound annoying but so was that damn feeling of being sucked into a tube-like vortex. Screw theoretical physics and string theory—worm holes were just a pain in the ass. Flying is so much more exhilarating.

"Ah, Lulu, you're early." Theodore Nott Sr. said as he turned to see his young apprentice. His son, Theodore Nott Jr. looked apprehensively at Lelouch while raising a faint eyebrow.

"Is there a problem with that, Mr. Nott?" Lelouch said. Nott Sr.'s lips twitched in utter irritation, he may view the boy as an intelligent prodigy, but that smart mouthing would surely get Lelouch in a lot of trouble one day.

"No, not at all; actually, I am pleased at you are early for once. I was just explaining to Theodore, how to effectively perform the Cru—"

"I already know, Mr. Nott, how to perform the Cruciatus Curse. My mother is a diplomatic expert at it, other than the fact the Dark Lord has taught me already. Is there something else that I can learn, in which I know nothing of?" Lelouch said irritably while looking indifferently at Nott Sr.

Now Theo knew his father's exact limitations when it came to his anger. But Theo also knew that Lelouch was not like other children, and that Lelouch always found a thrill in getting a rise out of people. So reader, you could only expect what expressions played across Nott Sr. face as he looked incredulously at Lelouch.

The boy was the optimum of prodigy, for sure, but a sore loser when it came to respecting his elders. Nott Sr. lips pressed together tightly while he clenched the wand in his hand. Theo could only watch the spectacle in utter amusement; reader, you could tell—if you were there—that this wasn't the first time Lelouch smart mouthed his supposed teacher.

"Er hm, well then we can carry on to learning how to perform non-verbal spells."

Nott Sr. knew better then to start a fight with an eight-year old, and it would look rather ridiculous if someone saw that he could become so quickly agitated by said eight-year old. Not to mention the Dark Lord would have his head if any harm were to come on a single strand of hair on Lelouch's head.

Lelouch shrugged his shoulders carelessly before looking about the room. He was an unfamiliar room, as the walls were paints in a dark maroon. The floor was a dark maple wood, barren as well. The room did have weapons that aligned the walls of the room, and the only light—or window—was from the ceiling. It was actually a nice.

"Where are we?" Lelouch asked, completely changing the subject. Nott Sr. blinked once, before scratching his blonde head of hair. It was hard to forget sometimes that these were children he was dealing with, children with very short attention spans.

"This is the training room, a new addition in the Nott Manor." said Nott Sr. while observing the pale faced boy. There was doubt that young Lelouch would grow to be a handsome young man, but he was still wary. No matter if the boy went through a blood adoption ritual, he was still light by origin and that meant he could be a possible threat. He did not want Theo to get to close and comfortable, incase Lelouch ever betrayed them.

"Mhm… its better than the other rooms. Has more light, and it doesn't smell as dull. I suppose it could do. But must we really have a lesson today? I wish to speak with Theo privately." Lelouch simply stated, and without even waiting for an answer he grabbed Theo's hand and walked them out of the room.

Nott Sr. lips twitched once more. Yes, Lelouch would get himself into so much trouble with his attitude; he wondered how Rodolphus could put up with such a rude child.

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"What is the meaning of this Lucius?" Bellatrix asked as she sat comfortably in the seat in which Lelouch had previously sat in. At the prior moment, Rodolphus, Lucius, Rabastan, and Bellatrix were all sitting in the Dining hall of Lestrange Manor.

"It's worse than I thought. Fudge has requested a hearing with me at the Ministry of Magic, Wednesday at 2:00. I had no choice to accept, but I would have never really cared if I had not known that Karkaroff was arrested a couple weeks ago on charges of torturing muggles."

Rodolphus frowned while Rabastan snorted, "How the hell did they even obtain that sort of information? Are they even sure it was Karkaroff who torture the muggles?"

Lucius shook his head while running a shaky hand through his platinum mane. "If I knew the answer to that, I might have solved a million other problems. But that is not my point. Draco had notice that his assistant, Ms. Dolores Umbridge, had a list of certain people written down when they visited yesterday.

"Namely, all were Death Eaters, but of course your names were not on the list. Nor do I think that any of this should really matter, I came here for one reason only. After you left, Rodolphus, Ms. Umbridge kept hinting around at questions about Lulu. At first I took it as a matter of only plain curiosity, but I have a feeling that something was up…"

Rodolphus licked his lips looking pensively at the now cleared dining table. He did not like where this was going. If the Ministry wanted something with his son, it was not a good thing.

"Why do you think she cared?" Bellatrix asked after a moment of silence. Lucius shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Do you remember the mission the Dark Lord assigned to me a couple of years ago?"

"Yes…"

"Well, the Dark Lord had asked me to…to give him information of a certain room on the ninth level in the Ministry. He said there was something of value in that room and he wanted me to gain information on it.

"I had found out that there were several rooms in this area that I never even noticed existed. This area was, is called the Department of Mysteries. I had gathered as much as I could from there, from what I could tell there were many…Mysterious things in this department, hence it is called the Department of—"

"But what does this have to do with Lelouch?" Rodolphus said irritably, he was anxious already and wanted to know what this Umbridge lady wanted with his son.

Lucius gave Rodolphus an annoyed look before continuing where he was rudely interrupted. "To make things short, I found out that there is a room in the Department of Mysteries known as the Hall of Prophecy. When I mention this to my Lord, he seemed rather pleased…and it appeared as if he knew this place already existed, he just needed someone to confirm it.

"Well, a couple of weeks after I had relayed my information to the Dark Lord some had infiltrated the Hall. It turns out that the Dark Lord wasn't the only one who set his eyes on the Department of Mysteries, but that foolish Mundungus Fletcher did as well. Though he was quickly detained and placed into Azakaban for three years. He should be freed actually right about now…." Lucius trailed off.

It did not take long to grasp Lucius' meaning to the ordeal. If the Dark Lord was interested in the Hall of Prophecy and Mundungus Fletcher, a criminal mastermind, infiltrated the Department of Mysteries, then obviously the Ministry would suspect that the Dark had a hand.

So to simply put it, the Ministry must to have taken a closer inspection of the Ministry and found something important. Something Voldemort wanted and something that had odd ties connected to his son… Merlin, Rodolphus' head began to throb with a strong headache.

"So you think…" Rodolphus could barely voice the rest of his opinion.

"Have you told the Dark Lord?" Bellatrix quickly asked, but even her hard composure was deterring. She loved her son dearly.

"No…I thought he was on a trip?" Bellatrix sneered at him, was she the only one who knew the Dark Lord was still in Britain?

"Yes and no, I'll explain later. I must speak with him about this. I know he will not be pleased to know this." With that she took her leave.

Silence ensued for a good length of time as the three men contemplated on the information revealed before them. First of things to consider was Lelouch was in danger the moment that Fudge had saw him, second the Hall of Prophecy contained key information as to why Lelouch was so valuable to the Dark Lord, and third Rodolphus just wanted his son safe.

"So what are we to do?" asked Rabastan, speaking for the first time since Lucius had made his presence. Lucius looked warily between the two Lestrange brothers. He was not entirely sure himself on what to do. Maybe it was better if they waited on the Dark Lord to give them orders. Lucius wondered what the Dark Lord would even do…

"I-I'm not sure." Said Lucius, for once in his life, the Malfoy was completely unsure of the future. He wanted his nephew to be safe, and he was worried that the Ministry, the Light, would be planning an impending attack on them; an ambush.

"Lulu…" Rodolphus murmured his son's name as if he were whispering to a sacred God. And 'Lulu' was all he could think about.

A/N: Please review, it will be really, really, really- I mean REALLY appreciated. It helps to know if someone likes it, you know- encouragement!