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 parents)
In this chapter, this style indicates Bella singing through the bond with her son
Review Answers for Ch 13:
Master Brattan: No, the Basilisk wasn't a pet of the Riddles;
Dragon's Wraith: Well, there's still the small matter of the White Paladin and the DA, so I guess they're an antithesis;
Full Moon Mitsuki Koyama: I'm not going to tell you (ha, ha, ha)
Octopus86'Max: I'm not telling, so don't ask;
Also, my new XOver, Half-Light Half-Dark All Power will, I hope, be posted by the end of next week; if you've enjoyed my one-topic stories, then I hope you enjoy my first real HP Xover…for full details, see my profile!
Last Time…
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!
Chapter 14: Pieces of a Puzzle
Riddle Manor
For hours on end, the three Riddles all laughed, joked, cried, shared a many memories and, in Harry's case, blamed his own Father for keeping this a secret from him.
After the initial shock, as well as warm welcomes from the other Blacks, such as Narcissa and Sirius, Bella had never left her son's side and made sure that his every whim was given to him. In short, Bellatrix mothered Harry like nobody had ever done before; if he was bored, she played with him; if he was tired, she actually carried him to his room; if he was hungry, she screamed the house down to get her little snake some food.
The fact of the matter was, however that Harry just didn't care: he now had his family, once again reunited under the same roof; he was considered the brother of the little ones growing in Lily's belly and even went as far as to be thought of as a real brother to Draco, who shared his enthusiasm. The two of them, they had to remind themselves, were cousins and that gave Draco a privilege that Harry only shared with his Bonded: The right to celebrate the return of Bellatrix Riddle: the Dark Mistress was once again taking her place at Voldemort, Tom Riddle's left hand, while Harry had the honour of staying on his Father's right.
The morning of Christmas Eve, Harry was surprised to find himself waking up practically sandwiched between two beautiful women: on his right, or rather curved under his right arm was his Bonded Daphne, while behind him, her own arm draped across him, was Bellatrix, a soft smile on her face. Smiling himself, as he didn't actually know what else to do, Harry pushed himself up and looked to his Mother. One fact still remained true, no matter how he looked at it: he definitely got his good looks from Bellatrix, but his power was, without any doubt, from Tom.
Like a little boy, Harry nudged his mum and asked, "What are you doing in here?"
Bellatrix opened one eye, before she placed a finger against Harry's lips and whispered, "Let me enjoy this little one; I haven't seen you for fifteen years."
But Harry would be damned the day he allowed his own Mother to fool him; closing his eyes, he sought her out through the bond and found, to his horror, a great sensation of fear and terror. Ever so gently, Harry used his mind magic to delve deeper, but what he saw made his eyes water.
His Mother, Bella, had been dreaming over and over again about her time in Azkaban and, as Harry could see, her worst nightmare was seeing her little one dead, his corpse handed to her mockingly by none other than Albus Dumbledore.
Harry saw red; a powerful, buffeting wind suddenly blew all around, fully rousing Bella and Daphne from their slumber; before she could bow to the Dark Lady, Daphne saw her boyfriend...and didn't like what she was seeing. Harry's body was glowing like emerald fire, his eyes a darker shade of red than even that of the Dark Lord, his hands shining with magic, the ever-blowing wind summoning a hurricane of emotion around the young wizard.
Thinking of the first thing she could, Bella grabbed Harry's pendant and cried, "TOM: get down here: NOW!"
There was a sound like cannon-fire before the Dark Lord stood before his son, his robes and hair being blown around by the buffeting winds, his eyes watering as the impact of the winds stung at his eyes. Looking to Bella, he cried, "What happened?"
"Harry woke and found me in here," Bella explained, "I thought I could calm him by saying I wanted to be near him, but then, without warning, he used his Legilimency skills on me and found out about my nightmares; Tom, you've got to calm him: you're the only one who can."
The Dark Lord returned his attention to his son; how had Harry managed to defeat Bellatrix's mind defences and slip through to see that? He was sure that Bella, in all her time with her son, had kept him occupied and happy long enough for her to realise that she didn't have to worry about her nightmares.
Taking a step forwards, Tom's first instinct was to try and reach his son through the bond, "Harry, hear me; we're all here; he can't hurt us here; please, little snake...calm down!"
"She was scared for me Dad!" Harry retorted, each word like a shot to the heart, "And it's all his fault: I will take him down; his fault I am like this; his fault I was so weak and now he tries to haunt my family's nightmares."
Suddenly, to Tom and Bella's shock, a newcomer arrived and took Harry's hand, before a voice spoke to his mind, "If you do destroy Dumbledore, then we'll do it together, my darkling; if you feel pain, then let that pain become power. Remember, all of Slytherin are your servants and all of those who serve the dark now serve you. Don't allow Dumbledork to win just because he haunts one dream; Harry, my love, you have more power than he ever will; you are the Heir of Black Magic; you are not alone."
Then, as the voice of Daphne Greengrass left Harry's mind, a new voice, a sing-song voice filled with love and sorrow, filled Harry's mind, a song of lullaby echoing in his mind:
Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.
Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around.
Harry looked up as his Mother's voice seemed to fill him with a calm sensation; at the same time, it was like he was under a spell as he looked at her and, with the voice of one who was scared, answered back
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,
I'll send 'em howling, I don't care, I got ways.
Smiling at her son's bravery, Bellatrix continued, while Tom and Daphne watched the two sing back and forth to one another;
Bella: No one's gonna hurt you, No one's gonna dare.
Others can desert you, Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there.
Harry: Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while,
But in time...Nothing can harm you not while I'm around...
Not to worry, not to worry I may not be smart, but I'm not dumb.
I can do it. Put me to it. Show me somethin - I can overcome.
Not to worry, ma'am.
Being close and being clever Ain't like being true
I don't need to, I would never hide a thing from you,
Like some...
Bella: Nothin's gonna harm you. Not while I'm around.
Nothing's gonna harm you, darling Not while I'm around.
Harry: Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while, But in time...
Both: Nothing can harm you not while I'm around...
As they finished their soothing song, Bella looked at her son before she held him close, watching as Harry clasped her tight, his eyes watering with tears of sorrow as he whispered, "I promise, Mum, Dad; I swear that from now on, the gloves come off; Dumbledore wants the Dark Lord; I'll give him the Dark Lord; he wants a war? I'll give him a war, but, when the last spell falls; it'll be the three of us, my Society of Shadows and my girl Daphne who emerge as the victors."
Rising from his mother's embrace, Harry wiped his eyes as he asked, "Father, can I have a meeting with just family?"
"Of course you can Harry," Tom then stepped aside as Harry, followed by Daphne, made his way down to the meeting room, where, within the short space of three minutes, the rest of the family appeared.
Lily and James were welcomed as Harry's godparents and because he wanted them to hear what he had to say; as his Uncle, Sirius was welcomed back into the fold, as were Remus, Lucius, Narcissa and Draco. Petunia and Dudley turned up seconds afterwards and, bringing up the rear, Tom and Bella kept everyone inside as Harry looked to each of them, his eyes dark and full of purpose.
"Thank you everyone," he spoke to the room, standing before his throne, "I know that, with it being Christmas, there are other things you'd rather be doing, but this couldn't wait. Earlier this month, at our last meeting, James spoke of a prophecy kept in the Department of Mysteries. Now, while I have no idea what that prophecy says, I do know this much: Albus Dumbledore is trying to lure either Father or me towards that room to retrieve the Prophecy. It took me awhile to piece it all together, but I think, at long last, why I was always so naive and ignorant of my power."
"Do tell young Master," suggested Remus, watching as the rest of the gathering leaned forwards in agreement.
"Well," began Harry, "The best place to start is all the way back where this began: Halloween 14 years ago, or, as we really know, New Year's Eve 14 years ago. Albus Dumbledork learns of a child, born of the Dark Lord, and, at the same time, hears of a prophecy tied to this child; now, what does he do? He manipulates those closest to the ones the Dark Lord trusts; hence, Wormtail's betrayal and Lily and James being forced to use doppelgangers to save themselves and watch out for me."
"Now, Dumbledore, as we all know, isn't about to give up, so what does he do? Does he place this child, a boy blessed with a lightning bolt scar, gifted with the powers of Salazar Slytherin and Magical Redirection with wizards? No, he places him with Muggles, or rather, a pure-blood witch and her Squib husband, while, at the same time, completing his breaking of the Evans family with help from several powerful compulsion charms and, I'm guessing, a ward that is somehow laced with the Imperious Curse."
"For ten years, that little boy grows up used, yelled at, treated like a slave and beaten for even mentioning magic, while Albus Dumbledore soaks in the spotlight of being the rescuer of the self-proclaimed Boy-Who-Lived. Fast forward to my eleventh birthday and what do we see? A letter to Hogwarts delivered by someone who has no true call to the name wizard and, by an amazing coincidence, also happens to be a supporter of Dumbledore. At the same time, there's a strong possibility that, through his malnourishment and lack of familial love, this child will follow another boy's path: that boy's name? Tom Riddle, later known to be the Dark Lord Voldemort."
Taking a breath, Harry pulled out his wand and carved letters into the air, just like his Father's younger self had done years before:
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
"See it yet?" he asked, before, with a powerful swish, he rearranged the letters to read a new message:
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
"Merlin!" gasped James, "I never even saw that coming."
"Indeed not James," agreed Harry, resuming his frenzied narrative, "But Dumbledore did: he saw that this boy, Tom Riddle, was in fact the son of the boy he had sent Hagrid to collect. So, what does the brain-dead Dumbledore supporter do? He tries to shun Slytherin and scare me into not accepting my destiny, which is what Dumbledore wants. He wants his Saviour under his thumb and in the line of fire. Fast forward a bit more and we see this boy, a weak, magically ignorant Harry Potter, meeting none other than Quirinus Quirrell, who happens to try and steal the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts, a place that is said to be impregnable, apart from Hogwarts."
"So, we get to Hogwarts and we find Dumbledore watching the young boy carefully; he makes it so that a pureblood family just happen to be speaking out loud in a railway station of Muggles. Low and behold, it's the Weasleys and they, as everyone knows, are the ultimate Gryffindor purists; blood traitors to the end, but each of them loyal to one man and his army of the Fried Chicken!"
"So, through his journey, the boy gets sorted into Gryffindor and becomes good friends with the blood traitor; now, thanks to the oaf, we learn of the Stone and, thanks to Dumbledore's meddling, we gain the one item that can help us succeed: an Invisibility Cloak. At the same time, we have an enemy in our own family: one Draco Malfoy, and an enemy in a loyal guardian of said boy's true side: one Severus Snape. Throughout the year, Dumbledore does whatever he can to make sure that this boy hears about the Stone. Hagrid, just happening to have a dragon, puts the final piece into place: the creature, known as Quirinus Quirrell, drinking unicorn's blood."
Harry heaved a sigh as he looked to his family before, with a cough, he continued.
"The manipulations and plans didn't stop there; those trials protecting the Stone were meant to be solved by a bunch of first-years, let alone the vessel of the Dark Lord. Hermione's brains got us through the Devil's Snare; my flying ability enabled us to capture the key; Ron's chess-playing skills got through McGonagall and, once again, Hermione got us through Severus. This just left an item that I had seen and used before: the Mirror of Erised."
"Which means the Stone and all its defences were really one big trap," suggested Tom, aware of Harry sinking into his throne.
"Exactly Dad," Harry nodded, "And then, when I thought it was safe to go back to Hogwarts; we get the Chamber of Secrets: a snake moving through the school and, as he'd done before, Dumbledore left his Golden Boy to figure out the pieces to the puzzle, possibly going as far as capturing Dobby and making him stop me at the station. He even planned on Fawkes rescuing me and the Basilisk, not to mention Father's younger self, trying to kill me again. He had, once again, turned me into his weapon by keeping me under his watch."
"And then," Harry sighed, "There was Sirius; the one man who knew the secret of my parentage: Dumbledore, and that thick-headed git we all call the Minister, arrange for Dementors to guard Hogwarts, knowing full well that they would have a darker effect on my mind than most students. He hired Remus to watch over me and guide me to cast a Patronus, but then, when it all seemed lost, who comes through to save the day? Hermione Granger and her supposed gift of a Time Turner."
"Which brings us to last year," Harry took a long, drawn out breath, before he spoke to them, "The Triwizard Tournament: Sirius, knowing he had to save me, had told me that he was my godfather, when I would bet the Slytherin Fortune that he really wanted to tell me he was my Uncle. So, Dumbledore hires his cronies, the Weasleys, to take me to the Quidditch World Cup, where, low and behold, Barty meets with me. I'd probably be willing to bet that, had the Weasleys and the Mudblood not interfered, then I'd be seated on my throne a long time before."
Tom and Bella, astonished as to how their son was figuring all this out, nodded and waited for Harry to continue. They didn't have to wait long as Harry continued, "So, back at Hogwarts, we hear of a Tournament where I am entered as champion: now, as a minor, Dumbledore knew he could have debated against me staying, but no: he tries to do whatever he can to keep me there, unaware of my dreams and visions. He has Crouch, under the guise of Moody, tailing me and helping in any way possible, but, when the Third Task comes around, the rest, as they say, is history."
"And now," Harry finally addressed his most pressing matter, "Knowing my secret, Albus Dumbledore meddles with magic not even he can understand and revives Harry Potter to the wizarding world; a boy who never really existed in the first place. Having meetings with Father, as Professor Orion, and I, the old man tries to use the link that was fashioned between Father and I the day I received my wand, to control me. However, when that fails, he falls to desperation and has Potter becoming his weapon and revealing his true colours. Thanks to Dolores Umbridge, I hold a position of power and that scares the old man, because I am willing to bet that he wants me to find the prophecy; that's all my life has ever been: one great big mother-fucking puzzle to Dumbledore, who has been putting pieces into place. Unfortunately for him, I have his plans all figured out and soon, when the time is right, I will use all my powers to rid this world of that manipulative bastard once and for all!"
A flash of lightning seemed to emphasise Harry's point as he finally finished speaking and, looking to his parents, asked, "Well, what do you think? Now that we have him seen to; where do we go from here?"
"I wish I knew Harry," replied Tom, "If what you say is true, then Dumbledore will do anything he can to keep you in his sights. This means that, until he is removed from office, we can't really do anything."
Harry, his eyes crimson with emotion as he looked around the room, slumped down onto his throne and, with a sigh, commented, "I was afraid that you would say that, Father."
"Hey," Bella spoke up, hugging her son close as she smiled, her soft hands running through his black hair, "Don't worry little snake; we'll figure something out; in the meantime, it looks like snow, so why don't you, Draco, Dudley and Daphne go out and have some fun?"
"Thanks Mum," Harry's smile returned and his eyes went blue again as the Silver Quartet left the meeting room, leaving Lily, James, Lucius, Narcissa and Petunia to look at one another before they all looked to Tom and Bella, the Dark Lord linking his fingers and closing his eyes as what he had just heard ran through his mind.
Sirius and Remus both waited before the Black Lord asked, "Do you want me to speak with his allies Tom?"
"No Black," answered Voldemort, his eyes on the door where his son and friends had just vanished, "Let Harry speak with them; in the meantime, I want both of you to do something for me. The success of your mission will determine whether or not my son succeeds in his task…oh and Lucius?"
The elder Malfoy looked to his Lord, before he asked, "Yes, my Lord?"
"You can help with this," Tom replied, his eyes full of hope as he watched a series of figures playing out in the snow.
HJSRR
Christmas Day:
When Harry woke on Christmas Day, he was surprised to find the outside gardens and courtyards buried in mounds of snow that covered up any evidence of the two-on-two war that the Quartet had held the day before. Smiling to himself, Harry looked to his pillow and hissed, {Merry Christmas Orochi.}
{Merry Christmas, my Yami,} replied the snake, coiling around his Master's waist, {Have you recovered from your sad event yesterday?}
{I have,} replied Harry, making his way out onto the landing, {Did I worry either you or Fawkes?}
{The feathery one was scared for your magic, Master,} hissed Orochi, {But I sensed that your Father and Mother kept you safe.}
Harry just nodded in agreement, before he opened the door to the main lounge and gasped as he found the room decorated in shades of silver, emerald, electric blue and deep crimson, the centre of the room occupied by Tom, Bella, Draco, Lucius, Petunia and Dudley.
"Merry Christmas everyone," Harry declared, making his parents smile as he rushed to seat himself between them, Bella giving him an affectionate kiss on the forehead as they all smiled together.
"Merry Christmas little snake," replied Tom, before he flicked his wand and watched as a large rectangular present flew towards Harry; catching it with only the reflexes a Seeker could possess, Harry looked to his Father, childish happiness in his eyes.
"Go on," Tom insisted, watching as Harry ripped the paper off his gift, revealing a set of frames that were all filled with the three Riddle members, all of them showing Harry as a baby. However, when he came to the last photo, Harry felt tears in his eyes: the last picture was of the three of them, all seated on their thrones, a trinity of serpents coiling around their thrones.
"Father," he whispered, "Thank you."
"Only the best for my son, but your other present comes a little later." Tom explained, before he added, "Now, let's do a free-for-all then we can all go and enjoy the snow!"
"All right!" yelled the three students, before all-out carnage was unleashed: aside from his pictures, Harry also received a book of extremely dark magic and a second about Animagi from Sirius, the young heir making a note to speak to the other three about finding their forms. From Lucius and Narcissa, Harry received a set of noble dress robes bearing the Riddle and Slytherin crests before Lucius also handed Harry a copy of a book about Dark Elementals. When Harry looked to him, Lucius shrugged and explained that he would speak to his nephew later.
Petunia and Dudley had banded together and Harry gasped at what he saw: it was a solid gold ring bearing a Thestral made from black diamonds, the inside of the ring reading Harry's mark in runes: The Power of Darkness is Eternal.
Daphne, who had returned to her own home after their four-way white-washing, had given Harry a set of casual wizarding clothes that resembled tops, trousers and even a suit, all of them either in electric blue, white, black or emerald and each bearing his full initials on the lapel.
"Thank you Daphne," Harry told her through the bond, feeling a wave of contentment from his girlfriend as he turned to the last gift.
It was very big, whatever it was; so, with careful precision, also known as the Diffindo Hex, Harry opened the parcel and gasped in awe: a solid black-wood trunk with silver designs and runes appeared from inside the present; the lock of the trunk was made from snakes, a sign of Parselmagic, but, when Harry read the card that came with it, his eyes widened:
I told you that I was coming to start your training; use this complex as you wish, but be ready to begin in the New Year:
D.M.
(Martinez?) thought Harry, his eyes wide as he looked to his Father, who obviously shared his son's shock.
"Go on then," urged Draco, before he caught his Uncle's cold glare and bowed his head, "Whenever you're ready Harry."
{Open!} commanded Harry, using Parselenic to unlock the case, before he turned and added, "Before I do this, I want to thank you all for everything you have given me; this has been, quite literally, the best Christmas of my life."
"You're welcome Harry," Tom smiled, before he asked, "Do you want me to come down there with you?"
"No Father," Harry replied, before he turned and added, "While I'm down there, I think Draco would like to ask you something Uncle Lucius."
Draco's eyes widened in horror as he caught Harry's sly smile; how had he known about the somewhat private encounters with his girl?
"Good luck," smiled Harry, making his way towards the entrance of the Complex: the gateway to his destiny had just been opened and Harry, as he looked down into the darkness, knew at that moment that he was ready to face it, no matter what Albus Dumbledore had in store for him.
So, Harry has managed to piece every adventure he has had together and discover a shocking present from his namesake, but what awaits him in the Training Complex and what is Tom's Other Present?
Also, what will be the result of Draco explaining to his Father that he is in love with a Weasley?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
In the Next Chapter: 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 defender makes his debut in serving the young prince and Lucius explains his gift; plus, Harry has a private talk with Draco and makes plans for the SOS…
Chapter 16: 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 17: 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 18: 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 19: 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…
The song, sung by Bella, is taken from Sweeney Todd, which Helena Bonham Carter also starred in; I thought it sounded appropriate for the story, but, like HP, I don't own it…