AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter will contain that confrontation you're all waiting for. Please blame my sleep-addled brain if the confrontation is not as wonderful as you are all hoping for. Oh, and check out my profile page for two new things:

1. A picture of the elusive Alyssa Riddle

2. A poll on how I should update.

Thanks guys,

Your lovely author, Em

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, now stop making me feel bad!

SHADOW

Chapter 5: A Learning Experience

He was hiding.

He was hidden in a crevice near the front doors, scared witless. Of course, none of those emotions had shown on his face, he was a master of the Slytherin mask. His mind was coming up with multiple different locations to hide, all better than this one. He could easily be found out if someone chose to look close enough. But his instinct overruled his intelligence at the moment. One look outside the crevice told him it wasn't safe enough yet, and he popped by into the small little nook. He heard footsteps down the hall, coming closer to him. Quickly, he added notice-me-not charms, dissillusionment charms, and silencing charms all around him and the crevice, mentally berating himself for not adding them earlier. He heard a chuckle, and a shiver went down his spine.

It was him.

His father, the whole reason he was hiding in this small little crack in the wall, was because of the confrontation that had occurred earlier. His mind immediately brought back the scene in the kitchen. Oh, how scared he had been when he had seen his father lounging by the sealed kitchen doors.

Flashback

His father was standing directly in front of him, and he had nowhere to go, and not a single idea what to do. As he looked into smirking red eyes, he knew exactly what was happening.

A confrontation.

Shit.

The man in front of him chuckled, and he immediately sealed his shock behind his mask although he knew it was useless. The man in front of him could read him like a book, but he preffered not to loose control either way.

"It's been a while, child." the man's voice was like silk. Smooth, soft, and comforting, but he could feel the amusement the man felt from the tone of his voice. He remained silent while his father watched him. He wasn't going to say anything.

"I don't believe it is polite to ignore a direct question, Harrison."

Damn. There went that idea…wait, he used his name. He called him Harrison.

"You…you know who I am?" he asked hesitantly, looking up into the warm crimson eyes above him. His voice was smooth, emotionless, but dry. The man smirked at him, and came closer. He didn't dare back away. His father reached a hand out and touched his cheek. He hid a wince when it came into contact with a glamoured bruise. No one knew about the mission he had just gotten back from, and he did not want anyone to know about it. Least of all his father.

But then again, he forgot what benefits his father gained as head of house.

Crimson eyes narrowed at the hidden wince, and jade eyes widened slightly as the Dark Lord traced the outline of his glamoured bruise with a long finger, rage growing in his scarlet gaze. He barely stopped himself from paling when that furious gaze was turned on him, all to grateful when it softened slightly. His father was going to avoid the topic at the moment, but not for long.

A table with two chairs appeared next to them, and his father studied them with a calculating glint in his eyes, nodding to himself as if deeming them worthy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sky disappear with a worried light in her own blue eyes. Her two masters were about to talk for the first time, and with clashing opinions of one another, she had every reason to be worried.

"Sit." was the command that came from his father, and he found himself obeying without a thought. More than a little shocked at the rapid obedience, he turned to his father, who was lounging gracefully in his chair, with questioning eyes. His father caught the gaze, and smirked.

"You are of Slytherin blood, and magic's hand-picked heir, and as Head of House, your blood and magic recognize me as one to trust and obey. It will not be so all the time, only those times that I need to. You are my son and deserve to be treated as such." He felt overwhelmed at his father's revelation, perhaps that was why his father's smirk broadened.

"We have much to talk about child." a low grumble from his stomach unwillingly brought a soft flush to his pale face, one that intensified when he heard his father chuckling across from him.

"I haven't had much to eat today." he mumbled under his breath, a tad nervous when his father's laughter was immediately cut short.

"When was the last time you ate?" the man demanded, his crimson eyes narrowing on his son. "When was the last time Bellatrix fed you, or called you for a meal that you didn't just come for?" the last question was hissed, not in parseltongue, but pretty close. His father was mad.

He mumbled something incoherent, and was set on edge when his father's eyes glowed with rage.

"3 MONTHS!" his father roared. He didn't see what the big deal was. He ate on his own, and Bellatrix never called him unless it was important. The dinner the night his father returned had been something that Bellatrix had told him before that he needed to be there. He couldn't understand his father's outrage, though.

His father's rage cooled suddenly, as if it were simmering, but it was still there. The man's eyes searched his face, landing once again on the hidden bruise. He summoned Sky and told her to bring some food for them. The house-elf disappeared and reappeared a few seconds later, arms laden with trays of food. She set them down gently on the table and handed him a potion. His father's eyes studied the potion in his hand, narrowing slightly when he realized what the lavender potion in his hand was. Before the man could ask him, however, he stowed the bottle away in his jacket pocket. (Oh, did I forget to mention he was wearing muggle clothes? Silly me.)

"Many things indeed." he heard his father mutter as they began eating. When they both were full and satisfied, he felt his father's eyes land on him.

"Now," the man began, watching as he turned to him, jade eyes guarded, but grudgingly curious. "Where did you get that bruise?"

At the question, he froze. He couldn't tell his father, it would out everything about his secret life, which is meant to be just that. SECRET! His eyes drifted to the sealed doors, praying one of his brothers would come in and unwittingly save him from his father's attention. And surprisingly, it worked.

His oldest brother, Damien, barged in arguing with his other brother, Gabriel. Both stopped short at the sight of their father, the Dark Lord, talking to their 'wimpy' younger brother. His father turned to them, a curse on his lips, and he took the opportunity to melt into the shadows like Alyssa taught him too, and reappeared near the front doors, fatigued. And just in time to hear his father roar in anger.

"HARRISON!"

Well, shit.

End Flashback

He quickly surrounded himself in the shadows, concentrating on Alyssa's teachings. He had already done it once today, and he was sure he was about to pass out, but he had to get away for a few hours, until his father's anger cooled.

Concentrating on the shadow's comfort around him, thinking of the days they'd comforted him when his family didn't, thinking of Alyssa and her help, her support, her friendship, he concentrated...and disappeared.

In the entrance hall of Riddle Manor, a crimson-eyed man roared in anger.

In the bedroom of Alyssa Potter, a jade-eyed teen appeared and collapsed in fatigue, and a violet-eyed teen gasped in shock and recognition.

"Harry!"

SHADOW

Hi everyone! Thanks soooo much for all the reviews :) I know the chapter isn't as long as it is supposed to be, but I was in a rush to get it done before we (my family and I) leave for Thanksgiving diner at a friend's house. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Your lovely author,

Emerald Sage :)