The Riddle Answered
Disclaimer: SEE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS FOR PLOT AND TAGS AND DISCLAIMER
Pairings: Harry/Daphne; Draco/Ginny
Normal Speech
(Thought)
{Parseltongue}
Mental Bonds (Harry with Daphne, Fawkes and his Father)
Review Answers for Ch 10:
Fire Friday: oh well, I can't have that ;-)
T-TrainOrTurkeyT: Yeah it was pretty cryptic wasn't it?
Hivedragon: indeed they are;
Slytherin66: he's going to be fine…
Minerdude: not really; Bella is just described like that…
Mrs Vega: then you won't be disappointed ;-)
AND, AS PROMISED, NOW ALL THREE STORIES HAVE A NEW CHAPTER UPLOADED SINCE THE LAST TIME THIS WAS UPDATED: 314 REVIEWS AND, AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE ONE STORY INSTEAD OF HAVING A SEQUEL!
I know it's early, but MERRY CHRISTMAS to all readers of my HP fanfics and here's a gift: A HP XOver with the Movie Dragonheart: for full details, see my profile!
Last Time…
"Yes Lord Voldemort," bowed Remus, before he too left, Tom rising from his throne as he made his way to a portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
{Slytherin Honours,} whispered Tom, speaking Parselenic, before the portrait parted and revealed a hidden cache; reaching into its dark interior, Tom pulled out a photo album with a specific family picture resting on its top: in the picture, a one-year old baby was smiling in the arms of his Father, a bushy-haired woman next to him as she playfully tickled the small boy.
With a smile, and what could have been mistaken for a tear, Tom replaced the picture and, turning back to his throne, sighed with purpose. "Soon Harry," he whispered, "I'll see you smile again."
Chapter 13: Riddle Reunions and Revenge
Riddle Manor; Saturday Morning:
Tom, Lucius and Petunia all smiled with warmth and comfort as Harry, Draco and Dudley appeared through the Floo Gate, Draco and Dudley bowing to the Dark Lord as Harry brushed residue from his robes. Looking to his Father, the Black Prince shared a look of relief, before he looked to Lucius and exclaimed, "Malfoy, we have a problem with Lord Black."
"What seems to be the trouble, my Lord?" asked Lucius, watching as Harry took his place at his Father's side.
"The Order of the Phoenix seem to present a clear and present danger to Sirius," explained Harry, "According to Tradire, my spy inside Dumbledore's Army, and my other recently turned warriors, the pretender and his leftover gang of fools are planning to set him up to fall: Father," he then looked to the Dark Lord, the young Harry Riddle now showing himself in the boy's clear blue eyes. "I know that he has been helpful to our cause, but I want Wormtail handed over to the Ministry and Sirius cleared of all charges; once that is done, he can make Dumbledore leave him alone. But, as long as the old bastard holds Sirius in insurance, there's nothing we can do."
Voldemort sighed with exasperation; he had known that something was troubling his son from the moment he stepped out of the Floo Gate: for one, Harry hadn't bothered to summon his familiars to his side and for a second thing, he was speaking as Harry Riddle, but using the authority that he held as the Black Prince.
"Do not worry little snake," explained the Dark Lord, "I will take care of Sirius for you; he will be here to celebrate Christmas with his friends and family; I promise you that no harm will come to him as long as I draw breath."
Harry hugged the Dark Lord, tears of endless gratitude in his eyes as he replied, "Thank you Father," then, wiping his eyes, Harry looked to Lucius before he asked, "What time are the Circle meeting tonight?"
"8:45pm on the dot," Malfoy answered, "Black is unable to join us, my prince, but Lily, James, Remus and Bartemius are able to be there for you; as will I and Petunia."
"What about Severus?" asked Tom, "Or has the old man summoned him to the Order?"
"He has been summoned by Dumbledore," explained Harry, "That's why I was unable to speak to him; recently, I know that Cerberus, or Sirius, has been watching the Order and a few of its members to see who I can trust with my secret; to be on the safe side, I've used a powerful wizarding oath to keep them silent. Not even Dumbledore's magic can overpower mine and soon, when the time is right, my Society of Shadows will reveal themselves."
"Then," Tom smiled, looking to his son, "I think it's time we let you three go and entertain yourselves, but remember, you are here for the weekend, so, until Monday, Hogwarts doesn't exist."
"Yes Father," nodded Harry.
"Yes my Lord," Draco agreed.
"Yes Master," Dudley bowed, using Tom's elder title as he still knew that Harry was yet to release him from the willpower he had called upon back in the summer.
As the Silver Triad disappeared into the many rooms of the Manor, Tom smiled and walked over to Petunia; ensuring his son could not overhear, he asked, "Has Lily secured Harry's present?"
"She has my Lord," Petunia answered, "And the Prophet were having a field day, but Severus has not allowed Harry, I mean the Dark Prince, to see the result of what happened."
"Remind me to thank him," grinned Tom, before he took a deep breath and, with a soft smile, added, "Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to see a man about a dog."
Lucius looked at Petunia with a confused expression, before they both watched as the Dark Lord Voldemort seemed to lose himself in a new manner, before he made his way up towards his son's room.
Once there, Tom opened the door and found Harry sat, cross-legged, on the end of his bed, Orochi and Fawkes either side of their master, the seemingly collective magic of the bond between them radiating off the Black Prince in a solid emerald green light.
Standing near to the door, so not to disturb him, Voldemort asked, "Harry, can I ask you something?"
The glow faded, Harry opened his eyes, his legs uncrossing themselves as he asked, "What is it Father?"
"Severus spoke with me the other day," Voldemort informed his son, "And he said that you were distressed by a strange phenomenon that disturbed your sleep; do you want to talk about it?"
Harry shifted his body so that the Dark Lord could sit with him, before he looked into his Father's deep red eyes and, with a cold hiss, asked, "Have you ever had a dream so real that you feared going back to it?"
"What do you mean Harry?" asked Tom, watching as the Black Prince rested his head against the corner of his four-poster, "What dreams?"
"Well," Harry answered, "Let me try another way: my destiny, as the Black Lord of Magic: did he have a true form?"
"Yes," Voldemort answered, trying not to get Harry so worked up as he listened, "He was a wraith of sorts that appeared to each Black Lord; you have to remember that, when he crafted his magic, your ancestor, Dante Martinez, made sure that his power lasted through the ages, hence the Devil's Crest on your spine."
"Then," Harry sighed, "I think that I am being visited by Dante's ghost: a few nights ago, I had this dream: there was a room and a figure that looked anything, but human; he said that he was the spirit of the Black King and that he was here to help me discover the power that would turn me into the Dark ruler that I am."
"I see," Tom muttered, his eyes now away from his son, "And is that why you went to see Severus?"
"Yes, but also to ask about your sudden departure."
Tom placed a hand on his son's shoulder; he hadn't really guessed that the sudden leave of Professor Orion would have such an impact on Harry that his powers would react: that explained the power surge felt by Severus on the night that Harry visited him.
"I'm sorry Harry," sighed Tom, watching as his son curled up next to his Father, Harry gently laying his head on the black robe of the Dark Lord, "I should have left something more than a message; but remember, you have the pendant, so, as long as you wear it, I will never be away from you."
"I know Dad," Harry replied earnestly, "But with everything that is happening at Hogwarts, I felt like I had no real sanctuary; I mean, Severus and Remus are good, and I know that you will never truly leave me, but remember that I still don't know what it's like to have a Father. I guess I felt like a little kid again: a little, scared child who needed his Dad."
"I'm here now, aren't I?" asked the Dark Lord, before he suddenly wrapped his arms around Harry and began feverishly tickling his ribs, making the child laugh with delight as the two spent some quality Father-Son time together.
HJSRR
Lily Evans was passing her young Master's room when she heard the musical sound of Harry's laughter echoing from inside; with a soft smile, Lily looked from the door to the floor, or rather, to her abdomen.
The reason that she and James, as Harry's godparents, had volunteered to take in the future Dark Lord was because, according to James, they couldn't have children of their own.
Lily, keeping the sound of childish laughter in her ears, smiled as she continued walking;
James was sure in for a real Christmas present when she told him what she had been told by St Mungo's.
HJSRR
That Night;
Father and Son sat side-by-side on their dark thrones as the meeting of the Inner Circle went underway; Harry noticed that Lily and James looked happier than ever and, when he looked into the Lord of Potter's eyes, Harry then seemed to catch on. Sharing a glance with his Father, Harry shrugged and nodded to the pair, before, as was the way for a meeting, the Dark Lord rose from his throne and began to speak.
"My friends and disciples of the dark; our time continues to draw near and, with all of you here, I know who I can trust; the last time this Circle gathered, my son, Prince Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle, gave you all specific orders and commands for your own paths; now, one half of that plan has been seen to, but, tonight, I come before you with grave news."
Voldemort looked at Harry, before he turned and continued, "One of our own, Sirius Orion Black, is threatened in life and trust by the Light; now, while Sirius is Harry's Uncle and fellow member of the Marauders, I do not need to stress how much the news of his imminent demise has upset my son…Harry?"
Harry rose from his own throne and stepped forwards, before, turning, he commanded, "Wormtail: step forwards!"
The cowardly Marauder approached and bowed before his young Master; looking to the coward, Harry felt a strong wave of hatred and vengeance well up inside him, before he asked, "What do you think should be done about Sirius?"
"I-I don't know M-Master," stammered the rat, "Perhaps we sh-should take care of him and d-d-deal a blow to D-Dumbledore!"
"Crucio!" yelled Harry, seeing Voldemort draw his own wand; as Wormtail writhed in agony, Harry not bothering to release the creature, the Dark Prince asked, "Are you suggesting, Peter Pettigrew that I murder my own family? Or that I leave this to another Death Eater? Is that what I am hearing from you, you treacherous leeching coward?"
"No Young Master!" screamed Wormtail, before Harry released the hold and looked to the rest of the Circle.
"Can anyone tell me why Sirius was in Azkaban for close to fourteen years?" he asked, his blue eyes becoming crimson as his rage spiked.
Lucius stepped forwards nervously, bowed his head, and answered, "My Lord; Sirius Black was incarcerated for believably betraying Lily and James to the Dark Lord."
"Correct Lucius," Harry grinned, his red eyes making him look like some kind of demon, "And can you tell me who the real traitor was?"
Wormtail's head shot up as Lucius decreed, "Peter Pettigrew, my Prince."
"So," Harry snarled, "I ask again: what do you think should, not could, should be done about Uncle Sirius?"
"No Master!" cried Wormtail, as if the penny had finally dropped, "I have served you for all of my life; Master," he looked pleadingly at the Dark Lord, "I returned to you when this child did not: I took care of you and brought the boy to you; I gave you your son back, my Lord."
"NO YOU DID NOT!" Roared Harry, his body now glowing with magic as he hissed, "It was Barty here that returned me to my Father and helped me see the Light, so to speak: you, Pettigrew, ran from Dementors, left me with a werewolf in the Forest; betrayed my parents when Dumbledore was the one to kill me and now, Wormtail, you dare to think of me, your Master, as some mere child? If I didn't have something to lose, I would kill you where you stand, but I will save that for the Dementors."
"NO!" Cried Pettigrew, before his body began to change.
Harry, however, smiled and, pointing his wand, commanded, "Animalum Restrictus!"
A jet of red light flew from his wand, before it wrapped around the still-changing Wormtail and bound him in a chain of light that left the man frozen in fear, cowering on the floor before the Dark Family.
"The Animagus Reversal Curse," Harry explained, "A useful little tool; I must remember to thank my dear Uncle for sending me those materials on Black Magic; now, Lucius!" the elder Malfoy rose at the sound of his name as Harry continued, "Take that to the Ministry and make sure Sirius walks out of there a free man: if they hurt him, Malfoy, I will make sure that you know the pain of losing one you love."
"My lord," bowed Lucius, taking the bound Wormtail out of the room.
Harry, meanwhile, returned to his throne, before he asked, "Now, also at the last meeting, I asked you James to report to me on Lucius progress with the Minister; my plan to use Dolores Umbridge is working to perfection; can you help keep this winning streak?"
"I can my Prince," explained James, stepping forwards and kneeling before his godson, "Lucius has discovered a number of Aurors, who were former Order members, have been guarding the lowest level of the Ministry, known simply as the Department of Mysteries. It is a room used by Unspeakables to conduct confidential research and is divided between the levels of magic that are considered to be forbidden: death, time, space, thought and love, but the one room that the Order seem intent on guarding is known as the Hall of Prophecy."
"Prophecy?" asked Harry, unaware of Tom's eyes narrowing with hatred and cold stares that would have made even the bravest back away.
"It is where a number of prophecies are kept," James explained, "These prophecies are usually protected by a ward that ensures only those who they're for can remove them."
"So there must be something in there that the old fool thinks I will stumble into," Harry growled, his eyes narrowed with hatred, "He thinks that the side of me that was once your son, James, still exists. However, I will be more than happy to prove the snivelling, manipulative old bastard wrong: well done James, you and Lucius have done well and, as a reward for this information, you may ask anything you wish of my Father and me."
"Thank you my Prince," James bowed, keeping his eyes down; looking to the Dark Lord, he asked, "With your permission, my Lord; may Lily and I have a private council with you and the Dark Prince? Our request is off the record."
"Of course," Voldemort replied, before he asked, "Does anyone else have business for this meeting?"
When there were no replies, Harry smiled and returned to his throne, before he looked out across the Circle as he spoke, "In that case, there is some information that I wish you to know: as of the beginning of October, I have been working on my own band of followers, which will be known as the Society of Shadows and will only answer to me. Now, unlike my Father, I have allowed those who are neither pure nor truly dark to side with us; I tell you this so that, when the Society reveal themselves, there will be no hostilities: anyone dares to touch the Society members without my permission will meet with a very gruesome death."
"Yes my Lord," the gathering responded, before Voldemort dismissed them, leaving Lily, James, Harry and the Dark Lord in the room.
Rising from his throne, Voldemort shared a look with his son, before he looked back at Lily and, with a kind smile, nodded, "Congratulations Lily; when is the little one due?"
"Next Spring, my Lord," smiled Lily, tears of happiness in her eyes, "But I think you mean little ones: I'm expecting twins!"
"And this is our wish, my Lord," explained James, "We would be honoured if you and…the Dark Lady would be their godparents and if we could consider the Dark Prince…Harry, their brother?"
Tom and Harry shared a look, before they both shrugged and, with a smile of his own, Harry replied, "Your wish is granted: it would be nice to have a little brother or sister: what are you going to call them?"
"If boys," Lily explained and Harry had the feeling she didn't want to know, "It'll be Christopher and Jaden; if girls, we decided on Alexa and Rose; but do not worry, my Prince, we will still be able to do as you command."
"No Lily," Harry informed her, "As your Young Master, I am ordering you and James to take a break until the children are born; you are welcome to attend the meetings and are more than welcome to come here at Christmas, but in the mean time, you will keep your children healthy."
Lily, tears now running down her cheeks, bowed with respect, "Thank you Harry; I will make sure that they know of their big brother and, when we return, we will be ready to do anything you ask."
Harry nodded as he and the Dark Lord left the two Potters to celebrate their good news; outside the meeting hall, Harry looked to his Father, his own smile still there, before he asked, "And, while we're on the subject of family, let's take care of Sirius."
Tom nodded in agreement, before he ruffled his son's hair and added, "You'll make a good brother to them Harry."
As Harry walked away from the meeting room, he then recalled Voldemort's words and, with a slow smile, laughed to himself, a devious, Slytherin-worthy plan forming in his mind.
It was time to strike that pretender where he hurt the most…
HJSRR
Hogwarts: After the weekend
"Mr Riddle?"
Harry turned to see Professor Snape walking towards him, the Potions Master obviously distressed by some unfortunate news; when he stopped, Snape continued, "The Headmaster wishes to see you."
"Certainly Professor," grinned Harry, walking in stride with his Head of House; making their way to Dumbledore's office, Harry's mind reflected his relaxing weekend with his Father. All weekend, he'd had a sneaking feeling that his Father was up to something, but, every time Harry tried to figure out what it was, he was diverted by Draco and Dudley engaging in training and reports from the other members of the Society.
When Harry and Severus entered Dumbledore's office, he was stunned, and slightly angered, to see that Harry Potter was sat in the chair in front of the Headmaster, Ron and Hermione either side of him; when Hermione saw Harry Riddle walking in, she averted her eyes and threw up the shields she had crafted, remembering the message about the Society's true loyalties: Hermione had told Ginny, or Tradire, to send a message saying that their loyalties were with Harry.
"Headmaster, Potter, Weasley, Miss Granger," Harry nodded to each of them, before he looked behind Dumbledore and asked, "Where's that beautiful phoenix of yours Professor? Surely he hasn't chosen a new owner?"
"Fawkes is feeling unwell at the moment Mr Riddle," explained Dumbledore, watching as Severus stood with his student. Keeping his tone calm, Dumbledore continued, "Tell me, my boy; how was your weekend?"
"Pretty good Professor," Harry explained, "Professor Orion apologises for his hasty departure and my Father sends his regards; now, how can I help you?"
"I was just wondering if, as a Slytherin, you would be interested in a little experiment of mine for the Christmas Holidays?" asked Dumbledore, before he indicated Potter, "Harry here requested it and, thanks to a quiet word with Professor Umbridge, it's within Ministry limits."
"What is?" asked Harry, trying not to show any concern as to the 'quiet word' that Dumbledore had with Umbridge.
"An inter-house gathering," explained Dumbledore, "Simply, Mr Riddle; you and Harry here spend the Christmas in each other's company: who knows what you could learn from him?"
(I can guess,) thought Harry, before, with a curt nod, he answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry Headmaster, but you see, I already made plans to spend Christmas with my Father and my friends; I'm afraid that a Gryffindor in the manor would simply be out of place."
"But Mr Riddle," argued Dumbledore, "Surely you can see that you would both benefit from a meeting with one another; there are serious concerns surrounding House Unity with the return of Lord…"
Harry held up a hand and Dumbledore fell silent; at the same time, the dragon that represented Harry's power was beginning to stir inside him: he had heard the way Dumbledore had said the word serious; how it sounded like a threat towards Sirius. Keeping his voice calm, or as calm as he could muster, Harry explained, "Headmaster; I don't know if you remember, but I am the Regent to the Minister and you were about to try, once again, to convince me, a Slytherin, of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return: I will tell you now what others have told you: he's not back! Never has been; never will be: I refuse to spend one second with someone like Potter, so I will say it once: NO! Now, I am going to pretend not to have been here today and, if you value your career, Dumbledore, I would suggest that you do the same."
With that, Harry stepped back into line with his Head of House; however, as he stood there, Harry then felt a new magical presence nearby: with a cold smile, Harry asked, "Expecting company headmaster?"
That was when a knock at the door made all of them turn; covering his mouth, Harry whispered a Parselenic charm that began to lower the temperature drastically, before he added, "I'll get it."
Walking to the door, Harry opened it and, with feigned surprise, gasped, "That's something you don't see every day."
He then opened the door and everyone in the room gasped as Lily and James Potter walked in, their eyes wide with terror and their bodies pale and almost lifeless. Stepping over the threshold, James pointed at the frightened Harry Potter and spoke in the voice of one who was damned, "You have a lot to answer for Harry; you have let us down."
"No Dad!" cried Potter, falling to the floor in shock, "You're dead: this has to be a Boggart: Riddikulus!"
The spell flew straight through the ghostly body of James Potter, before Lily then looked at Potter, "You fail us and kill us Harry; you are a failure as a wizard and are unworthy of our heritage."
"This is a lie!" cried Potter, now crying before the apparitions, "What have you done Riddle? Are you really that desperate?"
"I'm as surprised as you are Potter," explained Harry, as he watched Lily turn to him; feigning fear and shock, he asked, "W-what do y-you want?"
"You," replied Lily, "You, Mr…" she looked at his crest and continued, "…Riddle, are the son I should have had; but Harry killed us and he killed his own brother."
"What?" asked Potter, shaking with fear, "I have no brother."
"Not any more," said Lily, her voice adding to the freezing effect of the room; everyone then watched as Lily rest her hands on her stomach, "You let us all die Harry; your baby brother was so disappointed in you; not even born and he was already dead: you are not my son; you are a monster!"
"No!" pleaded Potter, before he turned and asked, "Headmaster, can't you do anything?"
"I'm afraid not Harry," Dumbledore answered, "You see; whatever this is: it is great magic and I am unable to reverse it."
"We stand before you," explained James, "To tell you this: your crime, Harry James Potter, cost us our lives; if you had not been so different; if you had accepted who you were, then we would not have had to die."
"He was just a child!" gasped Harry, following the events that were unfolding before his eyes.
"And yet we die, but he survives?" asked Lily, "He killed us: admit it Harry and we will never bother you again! Because here's the thing son that they never tell you; someone like you; someone like him – he nodded at Dumbledore – to kill someone and get away with it: you're bulletproof; you're a God!"
"No!" pleaded Harry, "Voldemort killed you; your love protected me; now he's back, I can avenge you."
"It was still you that killed us," James informed him, "And how could love save you when we didn't love you? Admit it Harry, you are the monster that killed us and everyone tied to you; admit it."
""You think this is over; you've seen things out there that Muggles fear, but if you think Voldemort is the bad wolf? You should see Remus on a full moon; if you think Voldemort is a monster; you were killing people when you were only one year old. And now," Lily added, "I am going to tell you a secret: something only the dead know."
She then leaned close and whispered cold words into Potter's ear, before she stepped back and watched as Potter went white with fear and looked to them, "That's not true; it's not true!"
"We saw it," James explained, watching as Potter's face looked close to fainting, "Our advice Harry, is that, until you admit it: find a nice safe place with locks, bad dogs, the most powerful magic out there, and never, ever, turn out the light!"
With that, there was a flash of light and the two vanished, leaving Potter scared, Weasley terrified – as the stain on his robes demonstrated – and Granger close to screaming; Dumbledore was trying to make sense out of what he just saw when Harry spoke again.
"That was interesting, but sadly, I have lessons: Potter, Weasley, Granger, Headmaster, good day: oh and Potter?"
The devious doppelganger looked to Harry before the Riddle boy asked, "What did she say? Your Mother?"
"T-The-The v-v-very worst th-thing ever," replied Potter.
"Oh well," sighed Harry, "Glad I'm not you: anyway…nighty-night."
HJSRR
Slytherin Common Room:
"HA!" Laughed Harry, "The look on his face: priceless!"
"I agree," Draco nodded, watching as Harry pulled out his two-way mirror and, contacting his Father, looked back to Draco, who asked, "What did she say to him?"
"She told him a secret," Harry explained, "And now, to tell Father the good news."
As he spoke, Harry applauded his clever thinking and applauded Lily and James for their acting:
After all, only Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle, once known as Harry Potter, knew that they were alive.
HJSRR
December 21st: Riddle Manor:
When Christmas came around, Harry found that he was finally able to let out all the laughter he had been holding in for a very long time: Professor Umbirdge's rules and edicts continued; the Inquisitorial Squad continued to act as the real voice of authority and, in Slytherin, Harry and Daphne grew closer while Draco and Ginny finally began to accept their feelings for one another.
Leaving on the first day of Christmas, Harry was excited to hear that Sirius, after much trials, errors and meetings, was finally a free man and his first command to Dumbledore was to…GET OUT!
Only Ginny, Fred, George and their friends were allowed in Grimmauld Place, while Hermione had revealed her true allegiance to Harry and been allowed, on Christmas Morning, to attend a special party to formally anoint the Society of Shadows.
When they reached King's Cross, however, Harry was stunned to find his Father there, waiting with Lucius and Petunia; seeing their children, the three waved over and Harry, with Daphne on his arm, Draco, after receiving a little kiss from Ginny, and Dudley all walked over and greeted their parents.
"Dad," whispered Harry, "What if you're recognised?"
Indeed, Tom Riddle did look like his younger self, albeit maybe in his mid-30's; long brown hair ran to his shoulders and a pair of light red eyes looked with cheer at his son; dressed in the Riddle Robes, Tom laughed and hugged his son, before kissing Daphne's palm, like a real Lord would.
"Don't worry little snake," he explained, "The surprises don't stop there."
Before Harry could ask what he meant, they all felt a strong tug behind their navels and, when Harry found his footing, he saw Riddle Manor before him, Lily and James stood with Sirius, who looked a lot healthier, and Remus. Walking towards them, Tom gave a gesture and Harry watched as, like a parade, they parted and revealed a fifth figure.
She was a tall, beautiful woman with long, thick, shining black hair and thin lips, dark, heavy-lidded eyes, and a strong jaw. Harry actually noticed a resemblance between this woman and Draco's mother Narcissa, who he had met on a few occasions at the Manor; however, when the woman looked at him, she smiled a warm, friendly smile and walked towards him. At a closer inspection, Harry then saw a familiar glint in the woman's eyes and then realised that her black hair was almost like his own: what was it his Father had said? He got his good looks from…
With trembling lips, Harry asked, "M…Mum?"
The woman, Bellatrix Lestrange-Riddle, nodded and replied, "Merry Christmas, my little snake."
Harry couldn't help himself; he ran forwards and allowed Bellatrix to wrap her arms around him, the taller woman holding him with a strength that Harry had only ever felt from Fred and George's mother.
(My Mother,) he thought, (I'm a little boy with him Mum again.)
In the midst of his joy, Harry then felt a link touch his mind before the voices of his parents laughed, "Surprise; we're here little one."
Harry then felt his Father press his hand into his shoulder, before the three of them, the Riddle Dark Family, escorted one another up towards the Manor, Harry smiling like he had just won the Quidditch World Cup:
It was only the 21st, but Harry knew that it would be a very Merry Christmas!
Smiles all around; Harry has his family again and it is going to be a VERY Merry Christmas, but is it going to be a Happy New Year?
Also, now that the demons of his past have been vanquished, can Harry focus on his powers or will Dumbledore grow more desperate after his 'visit' from Lily and James' 'ghosts?'
Keep Reading to Find Out…
In the Next Chapter: Harry puts the pieces of his life together as he figures out Dumbledore's manipulations: Draco and Ginny get closer, as do Harry and Daphne; also, the Silver Triad find their Animagi forms and Harry begins his training as the Heir of Black Magic; what secrets await Harry in this rare and forgotten power; also, a certain couple seek permission from their families…
Chapter 15: DUMBLEDORE'S GETTING FIRED! Harry makes an approach to the Minister and Hogwarts is in for its darkest days; plus, a certain visitor pays a visit to the Golden Brat of Gryffindor and Harry Riddle finally learns of a certain prophecy, but what is the truth behind it and why is Ron so adamant about staying true to the Light...
Chapter 16: With Dumbledore gone and a new Headmistress in charge, Harry begins to sort those who are loyal to the SKOS from those still loyal to the Light; plus, the Black Lord finds out some information about the White Paladin and there's a surprise return from an old mentor…
Chapter 17: Harry has dreams about a strange room; Severus tries to help his Lord while keeping his secret from the Light; the White Paladin is revealed and the sorted students pledge their allegiance to Harry, but what's with the voice in his head repeating the Prophecy?
Chapter 18: Sick of the voices, Harry ventures to the DOM to get some answers; while there, he gets more than he bargained for; plus, the DA take on the SOS and Harry suffers a terrible loss, but it's NOT who you think…
Please Read and Review…
Also, as the Dark Prince, what should Harry be known as to the Death Eaters? Take into consideration his allegiance to the Black Magic and this mysterious visitor in his dreams…
OC SPELLS:
Animalum Restrictus: The Animagus Reversal Curse: BLACK MAGIC: Forces the target of the spell to revert any changes to their base appearance; also known to sever a wizard from their Animagus form…
The conversation and warning used on Harry Potter is taken from Being Human: a BBC drama; all copyright to the BBC…