Author's Note: Hi everyone! I have sworn a pack of writer's silence, starting on Sunday, December 26th, 2010 until Saturday, January 1st, 2011. So, since today is Christmas, everyone gets a treat…the next chapter of the story! Enjoy!

Emeralds :)

Chapter 9: Losing Control

He was scared.

No, he was horrified. His father had found him, in a place he thought would be his safe house in the world. He thought the Potter's house, someplace he considered his home, would keep his father away. He felt foolish for thinking such naïve thoughts, and felt mortified when he felt his cheeks warm up due to embarrassment. His jaded eyes locked onto the roaring garnet fire that was in his father's flaming crimson eyes, barely hiding a wince at the fury they showed. His father was less than happy with him. He was surrounded by proof that his father was less than pleased: the man's magic was twirling wickedly around him, entrancing him and entrapping him in its' fiery blaze; scarlet, gold, orange, and onyx swirling around him in an evil parody of a dance. He had never seen something so beautiful, yet so deadly. He knew that the magic flowing around him had killed many, injured and hurt, hundreds of times, and it had also healed and helped the ones his father cared for. Not that there were many of those people, he thought, and hoped his father was more inclined to the second option than the first. It would get him out without a scratch…wait.

He felt like slapping himself. This was his father they were talking about. But still…he hoped his father would go easy on him. Though, with the look his father was currently giving him, he wished he had enjoyed more of his time at Potter Manor, because it didn't look like he would be coming here any time soon. If his father had his way, he probably wouldn't see living daylight until the man deemed him ready to.

Even though he knew it was coming, he nearly shrank back when the man advanced on him.

The door slammed shut in the elder Potters' faces, a silencing charm and a locking charm designed in parseltongue was cast on it. The man was not taking a chance in them listening in. The man's ruby eyes never left his own emerald ones. The man crossed the spacious room in few strides, stopping in front of him. The man's hand shot out and grabbed his chin in a death grip, making him wince in pain. The older wizard's eyes studied his face, he noticed the man stopping over the glamoured bruise, making him wince internally. Father was going to be a menace when he finally gets to interrogating me, he thought, knowing it was going to happen eventually.

"Foolisssh child." He heard the whisper from his father, the man nearly slipping into parseltongue. Shit, he's pissed. "You ran from me." Although it was a statement, his father seemed to wait for an answer. Hesitantly he nodded his head, confirming the man's statement. Crimson eyes narrowed.

"You will tell me why." It was an order that he knew better than to refuse. He nodded immediately, and his father adopted a smirk. "But this is not the place to do such things." And before he could protest otherwise, the man had taken him by his arm and was pulling him towards the door. Dismantling the wards surrounding the door, he pulled it open to reveal the Potter parents. His father pushed passed them and dragged him down the stairs.

"What's going on?" he heard the feminine voice call from behind them. He stumbled into his father as they paused abruptly. He turned, and he felt his blood freeze.

Alyssa was standing there.

He didn't know how his father would take the marriage contract, or if he would accept Alyssa, and so he felt he had every right to be scared for her life. He turned to his father, and let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding when he saw the man's hardened eyes soften at the sight of the Potter heiress. Of course, they hardened when they turned back to him, and narrowed in calculation. He flinched inwardly, making sure his mask stayed on. His father nodded slightly, in approval, before turning and continuing down the stairwell, dragging him with him. He shared one last relieved look with Alyssa before he was pulled out of her sight.

His father remained silent as he was dragged out of the manor and to the apparation point. Looking at the elder wizard's eyes, he knew he was in for hell when they returned to the manor. He only had seconds to think that maybe he shouldn't have acted so rashly, when the man turned on the spot and they vanished with a barely audible 'crack!'

SHADOW

They reappeared at the edge of the manor's wards. He looked to his shack with a longing expression as his father dragged him through the grounds, up to the gates, but he knew he couldn't stop there for two reasons. 1. His father's grip was so tight it was cutting off circulation, and 2. His father would probably crucio him for showing such disrespect. He returned his attention to the gates ahead as they passed his shack. His father flicked his wand and the gates turned misty while they walked through, solidifying after they had gone. The man led him up to the fourth floor, where his rooms were. Only the Dark Lord was allowed on the fourth and top floor of the manor…and now he was.

He gulped as he was pulled through the man's bedroom, too fast for him to take notice of his surroundings, and into his father's study. He was gently pushed into the single chair in front of the man's desk, noting that a sticking charm was placed on him the moment he sat down. He glanced at his father nervously when the man sat down and stared at him from across the desk. Of course, none of this nervousness showed up on his face.

"I'm not happy with you, child." His father said, crimson eyes narrowing as they studied his every move. He had to work hard not to fidget under his father's x-ray-like gaze. Why did the man make him feel so unsure of himself? He asked himself. He didn't bother nodding, either.

"You've been hiding things from me." Obviously. "You've hidden them well, but considering whom I am, you couldn't have hidden them well enough from me." I know that now. "Tell me child, why did I have to learn about your adventures and dealings with the Hunters through a photo album?" Wait, WHAT?

After that statement, he stared at his father in pure shock. There was no way…how did he find out?

"How?" he managed to say, through his shock. He hadn't expected his father to know them by name, and even if the man knew, he hadn't expected the man to come right out and tell him! He could tell by the man's narrowed eyes, that he wasn't making things better for himself, but the man answered the question anyways.

"I found a photo album titled Shadow's Adventures, and interestingly enough, on the inside cover, there was a picture of you with the name Shadow scribbled under it. Tell me child, why did I have to find out that my son and heir has been risking his life continuously for almost ten years now?" Shit, Shit, SHIT! He was shaking in the seat, this wasn't happening, it wasn't supposed to happen so soon. He was going to lose control soon, he knew it, and only his father was there.

That thought didn't exactly comfort him.

"Father…" he began, but couldn't seem to get anything past his mouth, he was frozen, and he was scared, as much as he loathed admitting it.

"No excuse then." He heard his father speak through a haze, the man's voice cutting, and sharp, it pierced him deeply, and he flinched.

He felt his power levels shift dangerously, flowing violently, begging him to be released. The man's gaze snapped to him, and his father's scarlet eyes widened, before narrowing in concern.

He felt, more than saw, his father standing up and moving towards him. He suspected the man sensed his rioting magic, he had known he would lose control soon; he hadn't released his magic from its' binds in so long…. The man traced his cheek, before snapping something onto his wrist. The metal felt cool against his burning skin.

"Let it loose child, I'll be here in the morning."

That was the last thing he heard before the world turned black.

YAY! I'M DONE WITH THE CHAPTER!

Merry Christmas everyone who celebrates it! Happy Holidays for everyone, and a Happy New Year!

Hope you enjoy the chapter, please read and review!

Chapter completed on: Saturday, December 25th, 2010