:parseltongue:
"Dementor tongue"
Last chapter's ending
Ajas thought, as he sat on the couch. Suddenly a barn owl flied in , droping a Gringott's letter on Ajas's lap. Surely the result of the inheritance test, Ajas thought as he began reading the parchment.
And he almost fainted.
Chapter 7
Inheritance Blood Test By Gringotts.
Executive : Goblin Thrallok
Subject : Ajas Terror Mephysto-Voldemort born Harry James Potter
Son of :
-Lily Amelia Evans (muggle born)
-Salazar Tom Voldemort born Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord of Voldemort of merged lines Slytherin, Peverell, Randiniel and Gaunt
Lord of : Mephysto of merged lines Black and Potter
Heir to : Voldemort of merged lines Slytherin,Peverell, Randiniel and Gaunt
To say that Ajas almost had a heart attack was the understatement of the year. He couldn't move…It was only after long moments that he realised he had stopped breathing, and started again with a cough.
"No…." Ajas said, but not loudly ; he couldn't breath out the word "This can't be…". Ajas closed his eyes..how could this be possible? It can't be! Please tell me it had been a mistake…please tell me this is not true…He froze for a while, unable to think any further and he let himself fall ungraciously on the couch. He didn't know what to do with this, he didn't know anything. It was like his world entirely went to dust within a second. There has to be a mistake…But then again, Blood do not lie. He bent his head and wrapped his arms around it, rocking back and forth. Tears streaming down his cheeks…Had Voldemort known this all along? Or was it just one night stand? …But it would mean that my mother cheated on my father, sleeping with the man who would become her murderer…Did she know it was him? Did he played a trick on her? Did HE know that I am his son? Or was his mother raped? Ajas hoped for his psyche that the latter was true. He closed his eyes, thousands of questions rageing in his mind, thousands of emotions running through his veins. Anger….fear…deceit…confusion….and maybe a tidbit of hope. He hoped that his mother didn't cheated on his father willingly…yes, no matter what, James died for me…But he also hoped that Voldemort did not knew that he was his son. Nothing is more terrible than to learn that your own blood father tried knowingly murder you when you were a baby… He grasped the letter, trying to tear it into shreds but even with all the strenght he poured in it, the paper resisted. Blasted Gringotts documents…And he sat there for hours, depression overwhelming his tormentor soul.
For the next few weeks he absolutely refused to think of it, and sulked into a semi depressive state. Studying like there was no tomorrow…studying day and night, almost ignoring his body's basic needs. He only went out of his appartment once, to get to Gringotts, demanding the Goblins to move the bookshelves from his vault to his flat. And so the empty study room was turned into a library, and bookshelves filled the living room too. He studied like mad, learning, absorbing all knowledge. It was his way of running from these thoughts, from this knowledge. He poured all his energy in the study of magic. He ate once a day, ordering food from the nextdoor pub ( they had a food floo delivery service). Within these week of nonstop work he learned the basics of runic magic combined with blood magic, as well as he studied duelling and brewed his own stock – blood resplenishing, minor healing potion, dreamless sleep, pain relieving potions… He improved a lot in many different domains, especially the ones requiring higher raw magic concentration. He could do all duelling spells he knew wandlessly ; it did not differ from using a wand and his spells were even more powerful. Sometimes he would receive letters from Ron, Hermione and order members, even one from Dumbledore. He refused opening Dumbledore's letter, feeling a tracking spell from it – old codger,he thought darkly. He ignored the letters, only once replying that he was safe, and that they shouldn't try to find him.
He studied dark material, and he knew it. But he did not care – he learned offensive dark spells, potions. Everything would be useful , anything would be needed in combat. In fact, he did not care for anything – he felt hollow. Like a machine whose task is to study, but it helped him to forget the troubelsome fact he discovered 3 weeks prior. The only company he ever had during those weeks was his snake pendant – Balthazar. The old snake was very knowledgeable, especially in dark magic and did not mind sharing his experiences with Ajas. The snake was indeed a very curious object – a scentient one. Ajas knew he was no simple bewitched object ; he had a conscience on his own, feelings and thoughts. The snake would sometimes tell him about different tales and legends from the wizarding world, such as the tale of the three brothers. It was Ajas's favorite and wondered if he was heir to the Peverell line, considering that Voldemort himself descended from them. Having Balthazar around was like having an old (dark) mentor and protector teaching him.
July came to a near end. Ajas felt that his body couldn't cope with this rhythm anymore and Balthazar threatened to bite his head off if he did not pay more attention to his health. So ,reluctantly, he tried scheduling ; 5hours of sleep from 1 to 6, 3 meals a day (6.30-7, 11.30-12.30 and 6.30-7 in the evening). Theorical studies in the morning, practical in the afternoon and research in the evening. He should also look for a duelling club in the area, duelling against a dummy is getting boring.
Ajas sat on the couch, sighing. His body felt almost energy less: he needed some rest, so he tried not to think or do anything. Suddenly the thoughts of his parentage assaulted him – So much for not trying to think about anything….- but for once, his thoughts were much more clear and logical after some time. He knew that he must somewhat find out the truth…
Dear Voldemort…was my mom willing to snog you? Do you know that I'm your kid and that probably dumble's your grandpa? Ajas inwardly snickered
And now that he remembers it, there's a problem with the prophecy. Born to those who had thrice defied him…"Those"…Plural. Means that both his parents should have thrice defied Voldemort. But his own father IS Voldemort – Does this makes any sense?
Therefore, according to him, there's only 3 possibilities: The prophecy wasn't meant for him, Trelawney's a real fraud or Dumbledore made it up. And he sincerely hoped that Dumbledore didn't do this, for the old headmaster's own sake. But Ajas knew that Trelawney was no fraud – hell, the prophecy she made when he was in third year… And he was rather sure that the prophecy was destined to him considering that Voldemort marked him as his equal. Bloody lightening bolt shaped scar.
The prophecy must had been modified…or Dumbledore faked it. Ajas didn't have any idea - the old
codger was manipulative but not evil. Well, he hoped so therefore he must find out the truth behind this.
Just fucking show up at Riddle Manor already, get to the throne room and say sup snakey in the Dark Lord's face ha…ha…ha…As crazy as it sounded, he knew he must confront Voldemort about it one day. Another detail had been ticking him – if he was truly Voldemort's kid, why did he look like a replica of James Potter? Such a mystery. So he went on with his meditation, trying to calm his thoughts down and not to think ill of Dumbledore. At least until he finds out the truth.
He thought for another while, shuffling through his past memories when his mind froze on the book he found in the Potter's vault:
Glamours, bloodline glamours and how to hide your escapade's result. He took it up and read it again, read again the part about a charm a mother set on her love child and that can only be undone by the latter. "Your son or daughter would be spitting image of your husband , but you can keep minor physical details from you. It can only be undone by your child himself"
The book had been purposely set apart and Ajas knew it. So he stood in front of the mirror, murmuring
"Verus Vultus". As he felt the magic embalming him, he refused to look into the mirror for a while, afraid to see the result. And then he felt it…like a cold shower cleaning him from the glamour spell his mother casted. After some time, he opened his eyes…and almost shrieked in horror.
He had the exact face and bone structure than Tom Riddle. The same eye shape, the same nose, the same cheekbones, the same hair, the same lip shapes. But that wasn't the cause of the horrified feeling he had.
He did not looked human. His skin was chalk pale, some black veins could be seen at his temples. His cheeks were hollow, overshadowed by his high cheekbones. His lips were ashy gray in the center, and the gray faded in the chalk white color. But the most terrifying things were his eyes…
Black sclera. No irises, no eye white. Completely black eyes as if he had no eyeballs at all. Now he understood what the dementor meant
I wasn't supposed to look human anymore…
:Well well, that is interesting indeed: Balthazar hissed gently :If you want my opinion, it's an improvement: he chuckled (if snakes could chuckle ), earning a glare from Ajas.
:This, this is just wrong: Ajas whispered. He still felt like a Potter, he wanted to look like one! It was the only thing left he had from his parents. He did not care if James was or not his biological father ; the man died protecting him.
:It is time to put the past behind you, child : Balthazar said, moving up Ajas's arm. :You had never been a real Potter, whether you wanted it or not. I remembered that you once told me "The old hat wanted to put me in Slytherin". You are a slytherin , child. Accept this truth ; to be powerful is not to be blind. If you want my opinion, looking like this might have some usefulness – no one would dare approaching you:
:Honestly , Balthazar, I don't really want to hang around looking like this: Ajas protested
:Well then, you can always cast a blood magick glamour charm, giving you a double appearance: the snake answered. When he saw Ajas's questionning glance, he continued : In fact, there's this way. You chose what to hide, and then draw specific runes on those areas. You can then revert to your original appearance or take up your false appearance at will:
Ajas stared at his reflection, pensively, before taking a silver knife and cutting himself, pouring his blood in a phial. He told Balthazar which parts he wanted to modify, and the snake guided Ajas's blood runes tracing. He drew on each eyelids, on his lips, each of his nails and on his forehead. He waited for the magic to absorb, before staring at his reflection again.
He looked human. A carbon copy of Tom Riddle, just that his eyes were green. His skin was now less pale, his lips slightly pink and his nails normal. Ajas was glad with the result ; at least now no one would point him as Harry Potter. He did not need to conceal his face anymore
Meanwhile, at the other side of the country, white spidery fingers ripped open an envellope from his goblin spy.
And crimson eyes widened…..
A.N : Thank you so much for all the reviews! And special thanks to CorvisNoirre for pointing out the mistakes. Would you like to become my beta reader?
Once again, please review. Feel free to point out any flows, plotholes and mistakes. Kisses