The ITALICS are thoughts and the BOLD are parseltounge

Chapter 2

16 years later

A young man was sitting on the rooftop of his family manor. His messy brown hair was swaying with the nighttime breeze and his red eyes (they used to be green, but they haven't been since he was thirteen) were staring up at the stars. This was the highest he could go without jumping on a broomstick or morphing into his eagle form.

That's right he can morph into seven different animals with ease. He can turn into a German Shepard, Golden Eagle, Lion, Hungarian Horntail dragon, Stag, King Cobra, and a Phoenix. He finds these forms very useful when he has to cause a distraction or do a sneak attack.

He can also control two of the natural elements, fire and water. He can create fire in the palm of his hands, but has to manipulate water. He learned that he can heal injuries with his water abilities, but he has to keep this feature a secret. IF he told his mother and father (Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange) they would tell the dark lord in a heartbeat. The dark lord, himself, told him specifically to use his powers for destruction. Sometimes I hate being the dark lord's apprentice.

He's been the dark lords apprentice for almost seven years now. He remembered the day like it was just yesterday. It was his eleventh birthday and he was at his cousin, Draco's house. They were outside on their broomsticks and were passing a quaffle to each other. Draco often tested his cousin's seeker skills and commented that he might make the house team at Hogwarts. Before he arrived at the home, his mother told him to return for supper and his parents had a surprise for him. When he returned home, his mother told him to take a shower and put on his best dress robes because they were going to have a special guest. After doing so, his mother told him to bow their guest. He thought she was acting a bit strange than usual, but it turned out that their guest was the dark lord himself. The dark lord told him that he wished to make him his apprentice. And growing up to be given an opportunity is an honor, he accepted without a second thought.

Now that I'm looking back, I wished I hadn't. Me being the dark lord's apprentice, I can't go to Hogwarts with my cousin. Whenever I'm at headquarters, a guard or two has to follow me. I have to train every other day with no break until I master a spell to perfection. Also I can never appear weak in front of anyone.He almost made that mistake when he was torturing an unlucky soul in front of his master and a few of the inner circle. While holding the crusiatus curse on him, he felt a sense of wrong, but he had to push it away to cast the killing curse.

The upside of being his apprentice was that he can cast all the magic he wants, without the ministry's detection. The dark lord used his spell work on him to throw off the ministry's detectors so he couldn't be located. He is capable of performing both light and dark magic, even though they're mainly basics. The dark lord said he has to master all the basics before he could learn any advanced magic. He didn't want to wait but he has to unfortunately.

He didn't know how long he was on the roof, but he knew it was close to the time of the meeting when his father called him.

"HARRY, get down here, the meeting starts in half an hour."

Letting out a sigh, Harry readjusted his legs and slide downs the rooftop until he landed on the balcony. He entered his bedroom and went over to his wardrobe, where he grabbed his traveling cloak. Then he went over to his desk where his mask laid. He has to wear his mask at every meeting, since he received it when he took the dark mark at eleven. Most of the inner circle didn't know whom he was, but they're all too afraid to ask. They saw him as someone to be feared and they had that right. The only ones who knew him were his master, mother, father, uncle Rabastian and Lucius, aunt Cissy, and Draco.

After making sure his, 11in holly wand with phoenix feather, was in his wand holister on his right arm. He started to look around his room for his reptilian friend.

"Slick," he hissed, "Slick, where are you? We have to leave right now."

A horned viper snake about two feet long, slithered out from beneath the bed with a mouse-tail in its mouth.

"Oh don't worry Harry," Slick hissed, "We'll get there on time. Besides I heard your father, we have a few minutes. What could go wrong?" Slick slithered up to Harry as he waited for his master to make his remark.

Harry rolled his eyes. "The last time you said that, I was getting punished and you were almost dinner for Nagini. Do you remember that little feat?" Slick remained silent to show he agreed with his master. Harry bent down so Slick could slither up his arm and wrap himself comfortably around his neck.

Standing up, Harry walked out of his room and went down the corridor to the staircase. He went down the staircase, two steps at a time and walked into the sitting room. Waiting there were his mother, father, and uncle Rabastian. Placing his mask on and pulling up his hood, he grabbed a handful of floo powder, threw it into the fireplace, and shouted 'Slytherin Manor' as he whisked away in green flames.