The Riddle Answered

by DZ2

Rather than kill Harry in the graveyard, Tom reveals a startling secret: Harry is his son: Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle: son of Tom and Bellatrix. Dumbledore; beware: HARRY KNOWS THE TRUTH! Haphne (KEPT ON-SITE TO REMIND ME WHY I LOVE WRITING AND HOW, WHEN I GIVE MYSELF THE CHANCE AND PUT MY MIND TO IT, I CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING TRULY GREAT!)

5. Prince Slytherin

The Riddle Answered: A Harry Potter Fanfic

Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER: I do own this story and the OC name: Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle.

Any OC Spells will be explained at the end of each chapter;

Plot: Rather than kill Harry in the graveyard, Tom reveals a startling secret: Harry is his son and his real name is Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle: True Heir of Salazar Slytherin and son of Tom Riddle and Bellatrix Lestrange. However, tying up loose ends will be tough, can Harry Riddle cope with the trials and actions of 5th year Hogwarts and, if so, can he cope with Tom's BIGGER Revelation?

Tags: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Pairings: Harry/Daphne; Draco/Ginny

DEDICATIONS: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Normal Speech

(Thought)

{Parseltongue}

Tom and Harry's link

Last Time…

Turning, Harry held up five fingers and, as the screams from Uncle Vernon became murderous, he lowered each finger very slowly, before, with a cold smile and red-eyes glowing with malice, Harry turned once again and exclaimed, "Goodbye monster: Avada Kedavra!"

Vernon fell to the floor, stone dead and unmoving, before Harry turned and added, "Nagini can eat him if she wants to Father; for now, I have family to see to."

Before he could move, however, Harry turned once again and saw the door open, before a new figure walked in and looked him square in the eyes, before a voice spoke from under the mass of hair, "Hello Harry!"

Harry stared in shock and all he could say was:

"YOU?"

Chapter 5: Prince Slytherin

Riddle Manor

Harry stared in shock at the newcomer, his blue eyes wide as he asked, "What in Salazar's name are YOU doing here?"

With a smile, the figure, a now-fourteen year old Ginny Weasley, answered, "I am here to keep a promise I made to a friend a long time ago: in a sense, Harry, a part of Tom, a part of your Father, was always there in my mind..."

"Miss Weasley," Tom suddenly interrupted, "Perhaps it would be better if we took this conversation somewhere more private."

With a nod, Ginny bowed to Harry as she told him, "You first, Prince Riddle!"

Leaving the meeting hall, Harry, Tom and Ginny made their way across the large Entrance Hall and made their way through to Tom's study where, as soon as Tom closed the door behind them, the Dark Lord threw up several privacy charms and wards, before he nodded to Ginny and said, "Now, you may speak freely Ginny!"

"Thank you Lord Riddle," Ginny bowed, before she looked to Harry and added, "As I was saying, before you rescued me from the Chamber of Secrets, Tom placed a small piece of his soul inside my mind and kept a failsafe claiming that, on the day his son returned, I would fully remember everything and then make good to help you in any way I could."

"But Harry Potter saved you," the Dark Prince informed her, "I am Harry Riddle now; and I hope that you, at least, can keep my secret: you don't have to do anything except that Ginny."

"No," she agreed, before she looked Harry deep in the eyes as she explained, "But I want to do this: I want to stand as a member of your Dark Forces; be your spy in Gryffindor because I know, with all my heart that you will be a member of Slytherin, just like your Father."

(Hmm,) thought Harry, keeping himself focused as he listened to Ginny, (A spy would be an advantage over that manipulative old fool: besides, there's something different about Ginny and I don't mean her attitude towards Dad.)

"If I agree to this," Harry then told her, "You have to keep silent about everything; only speak to those that you know we can trust and, if you can't speak to me, deliver a message to one of the other Slytherins."

"Why Slytherin?" asked Ginny.

"Because," Tom answered, "In less than two weeks, it will be Harry's 15th birthday and, on that day, we are having a party with all the Slytherins present: all my Death Eaters and their families will be joining us, which will also mean that Harry will be revealed as my son and heir and, as far as Slytherins are concerned, he will be known as their ruler and leader: Prince Slytherin. As of that day, all of Slytherin will do whatever my son asks and, anyone who denies my son his right to power shall know my fury, do I make myself clear Ginny?"

"Of course, my lord," Ginny replied, bowing her head, "I suppose I should be getting back to the Burrow then?"

"Good idea," Tom nodded.

"I'll ask Sirius and Remus to go with you," Harry told her, "Keep up appearances as far as that old swine's concerned; in September, we'll see each other again...I promise you that much!"

"Thank you Harry," Ginny smiled, before she then lowered her eyes and added, "I need to know something: you may remember my brain-dead brother telling you about feelings I had to you; did you ever...I mean...could it have ever...?"

"No," answered Harry, a sorry smile on his face, "Another place and time maybe, but Ginny, I am the Heir of Slytherin and son of the Dark Lord; my heart belongs somewhere else, but I'm afraid that I never had any feeling for you; sorry Gin."

"That's okay," Ginny sighed; at least now she knew.

HJSRR

Riddle Manor: Guest Wing

"Finite!"

Harry cancelled the Full-Body-Bind on Petunia and Dudley, causing both of them to sag, before sitting up: while he had been busy arranging cover stories for Sirius, Remus and Ginny, as well as ensuring she didn't say a word, there had been radical changes in his ex-relatives.

Aunt Petunia still had her long-bony face, but now she was more graceful and almost like a swan; her once spiteful eyes now looked upon the Dark Prince with eyes of regret and sorrow and, as Harry could sense through his darker magic, the charms performed by Remus and Sirius had given Petunia her magic back. Now it radiated off her and seemed to fill the room with a strong essence of power and a presence that Harry could recognise from Lily and James, a presence of a loyal mind and caring soul.

Dudley, on the other hand, was very different: for one, he had shed almost half his weight and looked more muscle than fat: his once porky appearance was now set in an intimidating expression that reminded Harry of Malfoy's own bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. He was also now dressed in a long black robe that bore no crest...yet, but Harry could also feel the magic emanating from his cousin and, as he closed his eyes, Harry opened them again and gasped: he had sensed the magical signature from Dudley and it was stronger than an ordinary half-blood: it was like Dudley was, in point of fact, a pureblood wizard.

(But Petunia's Lily's adopted sister, isn't she?) Thought Harry, before he then spoke to them for the first time that day.

"How do you feel?"

"Better," Petunia replied, before she stood up and, spreading her own dress, a deep crimson dress that she had been changed into, she lowered herself before Harry and added, "Harry, please understand that I never wanted to hurt you; I am so sorry for everything and will understand if you deem us both dead: when I left Hogwarts, it was not by my own will."

(I knew it,) thought Harry as Petunia continued.

"It was in fact that man, Albus Dumbledore; he planted false images in my mind that made me angry: he tried to turn me against Lily and James and then, when I found you there, on our doorstep, I wanted to begin treating you like a son, but there was some kind of magic in effect, a magic that made me hate you, made me resent Lily and treat you like nothing more than garbage. Harry, I come before you, as Lily's sister and your humble servant; the last letter I found from Lily was a letter telling me about you, the son of Lord Voldemort, and how she was involved and now, I ask you, no, I beg you, please don't punish Dudley for something I did."

"But isn't Lily your adopted sister?" asked Harry, allowing Petunia to rise and take her seat next to her son; the Dark Prince, meanwhile, leaned against the wall, twirling his wand like a baton.

"She believes so," Petunia answered, "But the truth is: Lily and I were separated at birth; presumably by Dumbledore to keep the darkness apart from us; I was raised to respect the light while Lily was raised by our parents; I never told her and ended up being her rival in Gryffindor while she was a Slytherin; Harry, please, you have to let me see her and explain, then, you can do anything to me that you want."

Harry, then to his own surprise, actually smiled as he explained, "Lily and James are downstairs with my Dad; once we're done here, I'll let you see her, but, as you said, there is the matter of your punishment and I know exactly what I'm going to do!"

Dudley seemed to cower before Harry stepped forwards and declared, "I, Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle, do hereby call on my magic to witness a life-debt bestowed from this day upon Dudley Jonathon...Evans, former cousin of my past life and son of Petunia Sarah Evans; from this day forward, Dudley will do whatever I ask: he will learn magic at my side and, when my Father announces his return publically, Dudley will stand at my left hand, with my right-hand Draco Malfoy, as my lieutenant of the Dark Forces: do you, Dudley Evans, accept these terms of mercy?"

"I do," Dudley replied, before he bowed to Harry and added, "I will follow you; through hell and back; I will do what you ask and your enemies shall be mine."

"That's all that I ask," Harry told him, before he then nodded to the door and added, "Consider Dudley's servitude payment for what you did to me Petunia: he may still consider you family, but I am his Master and I am the only one, apart from my Father, who can tell him what he can and cannot do: is that clear?"

"Yes, Prince Riddle," Petunia replied, bowing her head, "I thank you for your mercy!"

"Now go on," smiled Harry, "And don't worry Petunia; leave Dudley's Sorting and magical training to Lucius, my Father and I. Go on, go and say hello to your sister!"

When Petunia left, Harry then turned and added, "Now Dudley, listen very carefully: on my 15th birthday, I will be presented before all of Slytherin and, on that day, your servitude to me will begin. As part of your debt, I give you these rules: unless either in the Slytherin Common Room, Riddle Manor or Malfoy Manor, you are forbidden from addressing me as Master; instead, you will address me as Harry or, like most students, as Riddle; also, do not show any sign from your first day that you and I know one another: remember, everyone believes my past-self, one Harry James Potter, to be dead; so I cannot have you being so closely related to me and finally, I want you to be not only strong in magic, but strong in spirit: this is why my Father will assist in your training. You will have brains as well as brawn and you will be a great asset to my Dark Forces, is that clear?"

"Yes Master Riddle," Dudley answered, before he then asked, "May I ask something about Aunt Lily and Mum?"

"Of course," answered Harry.

"They're purebloods, right?"

Harry nodded.

"What does that make me?"

"Pure," answered Harry, "I sensed it in you; Vernon must have been a Squib, someone without a shred of magic in him, yet born to a magical family; my guess is, whoever his parents were didn't want a Squib, especially if they were pure themselves. So they abandoned him and that is the reason he hated everything to do with Hogwarts and magic."

Dudley nodded as if everything had suddenly made sense; then, as he looked into Harry's almost cold, blue eyes, he asked a question that was eating at him, "Dad's dead, isn't he?"

"He is," Harry answered, "Like I said; I wasn't showing any mercy to him, not after what he did to me."

"Then he's dead to me as well," replied Dudley, "You, the Dark Lord, Mum, Aunt Lily and Uncle James are my only true link to this world now: I am ready to serve you, Lord Riddle."

"Then get ready to learn like you never learned before Dudley," Harry told him, "Because failure to serve me, failure to be there when I need of you, to do what I ask of you, will result in your death and, believe me, I still have resentments against you and Petunia, so just remember this fact..."

He walked to the door and, just as he gripped it, he looked back at his new servant, before he added:

"Your life, your freedom and, if I can do to you what I did to Vernon, your sanity are in my hands!"

HJSRR

Riddle Manor: July 31st

When Harry opened his eyes on the morning of his 15th birthday, the first emotion he felt was a strong sense of pride and power: in the fortnight that had passed since gaining two new followers for his Dark Forces, Harry's powers had grown in leaps and bounds: the barriers that had once been around his mind now unleashed waves and waves of magic, both with a wand and without, which Harry made sure to keep protected at all costs behind his Occlumency shields.

On the plus side, Dudley was also growing in power and Petunia was regaining her status as a pureblood witch: known as Lady Evans to the wizarding world, Petunia was almost like a second Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's Mother. Harry had met her a week afterwards and she was nothing like Draco at all: she was loyal to Harry with a sense of pride that Harry found in only one other person: Sirius! It wasn't until he remembered what he'd been told about his Mother and Sirius' families: that made Narcissa his Aunt, which then made sense: Narcissa, Lucius and Sirius had an almost family-like respect for Harry that he only ever felt from his Father.

Petunia, like Dudley, grew in revising her magic and, whenever Harry caught the two of them together, he was amazed as to how much magic they had learned; either Tom was using a Time Turner or those from the House of Evans were fast learners.

However, as if to shed darkness upon this light, Harry had found out some important information from Ginny: writing under the name of Tradire – the Italian for Betrayal – Ginny had said that Dumbledore had moved into Sirius' place with his gathering of followers, known as the Order of the Phoenix and, though she had heard nothing set in stone, Dumbledore was planning something big: something involving Ron, Hermione and Harry; plus, he was still being adamant about the Dark Lord's return and that meant Harry would have to be careful about what he said at Hogwarts: Dumbledore knew his secret and, if Harry knew the senile old git, then he had told Ron and Hermione as well.

(However,) thought Harry as he lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, (I haven't heard from Ginny in some time: I hope she's all right.)

Over the course of the day, Harry found himself the centre of attention: not that he minded it: Tom kept close to his son and seemed to try and keep him out of the way over the course of the morning, before Harry made a suggestion to go into Diagon Alley if his Father was so adamant about him being away.

Tom, however, explained, "You've spent 14 birthdays alone, my son, and I just want you to be safe: besides, tonight is your party and presentation to my followers and I want to keep you in a good mood."

To distract the gnawing feelings in his gut, Harry then asked, "Did you manage to find out anything about my Mark? You said it was something more, but I haven't felt strength like that day since that day: just what happened to me Dad?"

"I haven't found anything concrete," Tom explained, opening the door to the front courtyard of the Manor, before he and Harry sat on the edge of one of the many fountains, Harry's cold eyes reflected in the water, "But there is something I read and, if I may ask, would you show me your Mark again?"

Harry nodded before he stripped off his robe and shirt, exposing his pale, now more athletically-changed body to the air; turning away from his Father, Harry revealed the dragon-headed sword and insignia.

"What did you discover Dad?" asked Harry.

"You know of Grindelwald, Slytherin and of course Mordred, right?" asked Tom, indicating for Harry to replace his top again; when the Dark Prince nodded, Tom continued, "Well, they were powerful in their own right, but they were also united by an even darker force than I; Harry, tell me, have you ever heard of Demonio Espíritu?"

"No Dad," Harry answered, before he added, "Though I do know it means Demon Spirit in Spanish, why?"

"Demonio," explained Tom, "Was a real wizard; way before Mordred and older than Slytherin, he was once known as Dante Martinez: one day, Martinez was betrayed and found himself tapping into a magic unknown at that time: the power of Black Magic!"

"Dark Magic?" asked Harry, dipping his fingers in the water.

"No," Tom answered, "Black Magic, Harry: in our world, there are only two forms of magic, Light and Dark, but, to a very select few, there is the power of Black Magic and White Magic, the magical powers of pure light and pure darkness. Now, when Martinez found this magic, he made a pact to spread it through the generations of witches and wizards through the ages, hence Dark Magic. He crafted the insignia on your back to recognise the next Lord of Darkness…look!"

He rolled back his sleeve and Harry gasped as he saw a snake coiled around his father's arm, the same insignia, The Power of Darkness is Eternal, branded into the snake scales.

Rolling his sleeve down again, Tom continued, "However, Martinez knew that he would, one day, encounter he who was destined to defeat him: the White Magician, or Paladin, if you prefer. So, he also crafted that mark, the dragon-headed sword, and combined it with the soul of the serpents to form what is known today as the Dark Mark, but yours, on the other hand, is known as the Cresta del Diablo or Devil's Crest, to indicate his true heir to the powers of darkness and bearer of Black Magic; in history, there have only been four: Mordred, Salazar Slytherin, Grindelwald and now you, my son, Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle."

(Wow,) thought Harry, (I'm the Heir of Black Magic itself? That's almost awesome: imagine what this power can do against a certain headmaster.)

"But," Harry then spoke up, "If I'm the Black Magician, or whatever I'm called, who is the Paladin destined to defeat me?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out," explained the Dark Lord, "I won't see you destroyed Harry; your power is eternal and destined for greatness; whoever it is will not live to see their adulthood."

Harry smiled coldly and his eyes flashed blood-red as he nodded back to the door and said, "Come on Dad, let's go inside."

However, when Harry opened the door to one of the main halls, he was thrown back by a cry of, "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!"

Looking in shock, Harry saw every Slytherin he had met standing before him, the hall decorated in shades of emerald and silver with bolts of lightning flashing across the enchanted ceiling, it's sparkly trail spelling out HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY LORD HARRY RIDDLE.

"Admit it," grinned Tom, "You didn't suspect this."

"I certainly didn't," Harry smiled as he began to mingle with his guests.

The party was a massive success; Harry saw every Slytherin he had ever had rivalries with; each one of them bowing to him and whispering their congratulations, before Harry found himself at the head of the room, his Father, Draco, Dudley and Lucius watching him with curious eyes.

"Thanks for this Dad," Harry remarked, "But when do we tell them?"

"They already know Harry," explained Draco, "It seems that, when you accepted the darkness, that power travelled through every Slytherin family and bound them to secrecy; don't worry, when you become Slytherin, you will be our leader, our Dark Prince and all our past selves will be forgotten."

"Then I look forward to that day," grinned Harry, before he took a seat on his throne, watching as his future dorm-mates and allies enjoyed his family's hospitality.

HJSRR

Platform 9 ¾: September 1st

"Whew," gasped Harry as he sat with Draco and Dudley, "I thought today would never come."

"Didn't think you'd be looking forwards to going back to school," Draco remarked, before he felt a wandless sting strike his arm and, looking up, the young Malfoy realised his mistake. "I'm sorry Harry, I didn't think."

"Well do so next time," growled Harry, "Or I'll feed you to Orochi!"

"Speaking of your snake," Dudley spoke up, "Where is he?"

Harry looked around before he opened his robe and revealed his familiar coiled around his waist, the snake fast asleep, yet seemingly alert as he tasted the air.

"Wow," Dudley gasped, "I mean…where do you think I'll get in?"

"Ravenclaw or Slytherin," Harry answered, "Get into Gryffindor Dudley and I will not forgive you: there's only one person in that House I trust and she needs to know she's safe."

"Mind you," Draco added, "You haven't heard from Tradire for a while have you?"

"No," Harry answered, "I hope she's…"

He was interrupted by a sudden cold rush that filled his body: looking around, Harry closed his eyes and reached into the magical sense he had felt ever since his birthday: indeed, since that day, life for the Dark Prince had changed: after being introduced to every guest at his party, Harry had started researching Black Magic and building his magical knowledge. With help from Lily, James, Lucius and his Father, Harry learned a great more than he ever did as his past self, yet he knew he still had a long way to go. What made it wrong though were the cold rushes, a sort of magical sensation that Harry had whenever he felt something wrong, either with his current situation or with magic itself.

Looking round, Harry then asked, "Is it just me or did it get cold in here?"

Draco shrugged before he looked to the door and, with a sigh, explained, "Not cold, but there's a foul smell hanging around; it's right outside the door."

Opening the door with wandless magic, Harry had to remain stone-faced as he looked upon Ron and Hermione, both of them stunned to see Malfoy with two new students.

"Look Malfoy," laughed Dudley, pretending not to know Draco's name…as he had been ordered, "A weasel and a Mudblood!"

"Shut it pig-face," snapped Ron, before a new voice spoke from behind them.

"Let me see these new friends of Malfoy's Ron."

Harry and Draco's blood ran colder than ice and Harry had to keep a straight-face as he saw a head of black hair step from between Ron and Hermione; black hair over a pair of emerald green eyes and a thin, almost weakened body; yet, as Harry looked, he saw this body seemed stronger in some way.

(You bastard Dumbledore,) thought Harry Riddle as he stared from Ron to Hermione and then to their companion;

The strange boy held out his hand and said, "Nice to meet you two, I'm Harry Potter…"

Harry Riddle snarled under his breath as he slammed the door in their faces and locked it with the darkest magic he could think of, before, with a roar, he yelled:

"DUMBLEDORE, YOU FUCKING BASTARD: YOU JUST MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE: YOU THINK THIS WILL STOP ME, IT JUST MAKES ME STRONGER!"

Chapter 5 AND this must be what Dumbledore had planned, but, hold on, didn't the wizarding world see Harry Potter die? What has the old man done and how will Harry Riddle handle having classes with…himself?

Also, just why hasn't Ginny responded to Harry Riddle and what other surprises await his 5th year?

Keep Reading to Find Out…

In the Next Chapter: WHAT IS TOM DOING AT HOGWARTS? And he's teaching! What is he up to? Harry has a meeting with Professor Snape and his Father and Daphne Greengrass has an accident, but, when Harry saves her, something VERY interesting happens…

The Following Chapter: Harry Riddle and Harry Potter clash on the Quidditch Field and Tom speaks some more to his son about what has happened; also, Daphne speaks to Harry about their 'event' and Draco seems strangely drawn to a certain ally of the Dark Prince; is he in love?

Please Read and Review…