I am sooooo sorry it's been so long. I've had bad writer's block. But good news, I now have a new beta who will be helping me plan and check my work. If you have any problem with the grammer now, don't bring it up with me.
I'd like to thank everyone who gave me so many fantastic ideas for my story. They really helped and most will be used in the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
I'd also like to thank my new beta Namitha! Thank you so much girl!
Chapter 5
"Did you have an interesting morning?" Voldemort asked, taking a sip of tea.
Harry nodded, smiling shyly, "Yes, I was reading Merlin's Teachings in the library. Salazar recommended it."
Voldemort smiled. "Excellent. Those lessons will help prepare you for learning and understand about the old ways."
Harry blinked. For some reason, his father seemed to be pleasantly happier than he had been this morning. He held a smirk on his lips, like he had a secret. Cocking his head, Harry briefly wondered to if he should ask. But considering that it was Lord Voldemort, that probably wasn't a smart idea.
"Master Harry you should eat more." One of maids insisted, noticing that he had only eaten half the food on his plate.
"Uh, sorry. Not that hungry." Harry said.
Voldemort glanced at him. "You are very thin Harry. You need to eat more."
Harry nodded.
Just then another maid entered. "My Lord, Dr. Charles has arrived." She said with a bow.
"Right on time. The man is unable to be late, ever." Voldemort chuckled, standing up. "Well, best not keep him waiting. Come along Harry."
Harry nodded, following him.
Dr. Charles was sitting in the sunroom. He rose to greet them. "My Lord, young Slytherin. It's a pleasure to see you again. And I see that the ritual was a success. Congratulations," he smiled, with a respectable bow.
"Afternoon Charles," Voldemort nodded, "And yes everything with just fine last night. Now, lets move this along. I have a meeting with a few of my inner circle within an hour."
"Of course my Lord. Now master Harry, if you would just sit still, I'm just going to cast a basic and an in-depth diagnosis spells to check to make sure that there are no lingering or permanent affects from the Quill." Dr. Charles explained.
"Alright." Harry agreed.
The doctor nodded then took out his wand and cast the spells. A paper appeared along with a quill that started to write. After it filled more than half the page, Harry noticed that the man and Voldemort seemed concerned. That made Harry nervous. Did that mean that something was wrong with his magic? Could he loose his magic? He started to wring his hands with worry.
Once the page was almost completely filled, the quill stopped, vanishing.
Dr. Charles picked it up and read over it. His face looked troubled. "Master Harry, I have a few questions about some of your older injuries."
At that Lord Voldemort sat up ramrod straight, then fixed his gaze on Harry, clearly wanting an explanation. Harry bit his lip. He didn't know that those spells would show injuries that had already healed. What … how was he supposed to explain about the Dursleys? He'd never told anyone, or if he did, he just tried to play it off.
"What older injuries?" Voldemort demanded.
"According to this, you're badly malnourished, which has caused your growth to be stunted, you are severely underweight, and you've had several broken bones that haven't healed correctly. Actually the bone in your right arm has been re-grown. You also seem to have a mixture of Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears in your blood. And it shows that you were keep in a cramped space for a good majority of your life." Dr. Charles listed.
Harry just stared at his hands. But he could feel his Father's eyes on him.
"Charles, give us a moment."
"Of course my Lord." He left the room.
It was silent for a few moments.
"Harry," his father started, obviously trying to get Harry to meet his gaze. When Harry didn't move, the Dark Lord merely gripped Harry's chin and turned him to meet his gaze.
Harry found that his father's gaze seemed almost poisonous, really to kill. Yet it wasn't directed at him. "Am I right to assume that those injuries should be credited to those relatives of yours?"
"Technically the venom and tears was you. And the replaced bone was Lockhart." It slipped out before Harry could stop it.
Voldemort rolled his eyes. "Yes that's true, however … Lockhart?" a confused look appeared.
"Uh, I broke my arm in my second year and when he tried to fix it, he actually vanished the bone."
This time Voldemort let out a chuckle. "Well, the man is an idiot. Now, answer the question."
Harry gave up. "My relatives didn't want me. Dumbledore, uh Octavian, left me on my Aunt and Uncle's doorstep the night that you killed my parents with just a letter saying what had happened and they were to take care of me." He gave a small snort. "I guess they forgot the second part."
Voldemort was silent, then…
"He left you on a doorstep in the middle of the NIGHT in OCTOBER? With just a note? He didn't even check on you?" there was strain in his voice, and his magic was growing stronger and angrier.
Harry nodded. "I didn't even know I was a wizard until I was eleven. I just thought that my parents were drunks that couldn't hold down a job and died in a car crash."
This time Voldemort didn't say anything. But Harry could feel his magic going wild. Suddenly the windows shattered, startling both of them. Voldemort quickly led Harry away from the glass and into the living room where Dr. Charles was waiting. The man seemed worried, but almost nervous to ask what had happened.
"Harry, just answer all of Dr. Charles questions. And Charles, don't worry about the re-grown bone or the venom and tears." His father instructed, calming down.
Harry reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, now can you explain the malnourishment, the improperly healed bones, and kept in a cramped space?" Dr. Charles asked, looking cautiously at the Dark Lord.
"Uh, my Aunt and Uncle had me sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, and if I didn't do my chores, burned dinner, or did anything freakish they wouldn't give me food and lock me in there. And as for the bones, if I got hurt they wouldn't take me to a doctor. They didn't want to waste any money on me." Harry said.
Voldemort was now shaking. He got to his feet and walked out of the room. A giant roar shook the castle, accompanied by the sound of breaking glass.
Harry was trembling.
Voldemort was powerful. Very powerful.
Minutes later Selene can running in. "Dr. Charles, the Dark Lord has left the castle for a while. I've been instructed to gain instructions on helping Master Harry back to proper health."
Dr. Charles nodded. "Well this is going to be difficult. First I'd like to get him back to proper weight again. I'm going to prescribe several nutrition potions to start with. I also want him on a daily exercise routine to help with muscle mass and strengthen his bones. He also needed to eat five small meals through out the day to help him get used to large portions again. But as for the improperly healed bones. I'm afraid that the only option is have the bones removed and re-grown with a Skele-gro potion. They're just too damaged."
Harry shuddered. He remembered the Skele-gro potion. Not a fun experience. But it was the only way.
Selene nodded. "Which bones?"
"Two ribs, his left femur and fibula, his right shoulder bone, all the bones in his right ankle and right wrist. Also he has a few cracks in his cranial bones. I can use a modified Skele-gro to knit those together without any trouble."
"And when should we schedule this?" Selene didn't even bat an eye.
"Within the next week or so. He will be on bed rest for a few two days, then he will have to have Physical Therapist help him build up bone strength and muscles. Then after that he can start the nutrition potions." Dr. Charles explained, fishing for something in his bag. "Here is a card of a doctor who has performed this before and who I consider the best to perform this. And a list of good Physical Therapists."
Selene took the lists. "Good. Thank you for your assistants. A maid will show you out."
Harry watched the man leave, then sighed. He was in for a rough week. But at least he's actually been through a bone removal and re-growth, so he knew what to expect.
"I will contact this man and make an appointment." She then looked at Harry. "Now, your father wishes you to stay hidden from his followers until he feels you're ready to be presented. There will be a meeting in half an hour. I suggest staying in your room."
Harry adjusted the telescope's focus allowing him to see the beach crystal clear. He blinked as he saw a white wolf running through the waves. He'd never seen a real normal wolf before, let along a white one.
He pressed the small button on the focus, snapping a quick picture.
It amazed him how much he had now. Not only did he had a real bedroom and a huge private bath, he even had a study that led to a fully equipped potions lab, closet that was soon going to be filled with more clothes than he would know what to do with, a whole wall lined with books, and even an Astronomy Tower connected off the side of the study.
It had three levels. The first had an excellent view of the gardens. The second had a view over the wall to the ocean and mountains. The third was the same as the top astronomy tower back at Hogwarts. On all three levels, there was telescopes that could take pictures, both muggle and wizard.
And it was an amazing view.
Harry knew he would never get tired of this view.
"There you are little ssnakling. I wass wondering where you were?"
Harry looked up from the scope to see Nagini slithering up the stairs. "Hello Nagini. What are you doing up here?" he hissed in greeting, with a friendly smile.
"I was just wondering why you watching the meeting? I can be a lot of fun." She hissed back, wrapping herself around his legs.
Harry blinked. "Sselene told me that father wanted to keep me hidden for now. I'm not ssupposed to be at that meeting."
Nagini let out a little snake laugh. "Well it'ss true you can't be sseen at the meetings, but that doessn't mean you can't be there."
Harry cocked his head in question.
"Come with me my ssneaky little raven. Time for you're first lesson in ssneaking."
Harry followed the large snake downstairs and out of his suite. They continued quietly down the hall until they came to a tapestry hanging on the wall. Pulling it back Harry found a door.
"What is thiss?"
"This, little one, is the old sservant'ss tunnelss. In the old dayss, sservants and maidss used thesse to get around the castle quicker. But the new maidss that masster hired do not know about these. Sso I usse them mysself for ssneaking. And now sso will you. Come. And be very quiet." Nagini, knocking the door open and slithered inside.
Harry slipping in after her, closing the door behind him.
It was dark, but some light was leaking in further down the tunnel. He made his way carefully down the narrow hall, keeping his eyes on Nagini.
After climbing down some stairs, he began to hear voices. Nagini slithered over to a small hole in the wall. Harry crouched down and peered through. It was a large meeting room, with a large table in the center. There were people seated around the table with Voldemort at the head. 'His inner circle.'
He recognized a few people that he had seen in the graveyard. Crabbe and Goyle fathers were sitting there, along with Nott senior and Macnair, the man who was supposed to execute Buckbeak. At his father's right hand was Lucius Malfoy, and next to him was Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius' cousin. The others Harry didn't recognize. Whatever they were talking about seemed important.
"… no sightings of him, my Lord. It's as if Dumbledore has vanished into thin air," one man was saying.
"Give him time. He can't stay hidden forever. His greed for power and fame will draw him back out." Voldemort chuckled. "Now, what about the search?"
"My pack has tracked him through the United States and into Canada, we should find him within another week or so." A gruff looking man said.
"Excellent. Now, there is another matter for which I have summoned you all this evening. A matter that is not to be taken lightly. Especially for those of use with children enrolled in Hogwarts."
All the death eaters exchanged glances. Harry leaned closer to the hole. Was his Father going to reveal him?
"I have received news that that woman Umbridge is using a Blood Quill in her detentions at Hogwarts."
The room exploded into chaos.
"What! How dare she!"
"A Blood Quill? How many has she used it on?"
"She better not have used that on my child! If she has even thought about it, I'll mount her head on my wall."
"Is the Minister aware? Did he authorize this?"
"Why have we not heard about this until now? She should be in Azkaban for using it even once!"
"Forget Azkaban! I say we storm Hogwarts, kill her, and hang her bloody body off the ramparts!" Bellatrix declared with a maniacal laugh.
Harry couldn't understand how that woman could be related to Sirius in any way, but she did resemble his mother so… maybe insanity only ran in the women of the black family. It would make more sense.
Suddenly Voldemort shot off a bang from his wand.
Everyone was back in their seats and quiet once again. Though Bella looked a little disappointed, even a little pouty.
"I assure you that Umbridge will get her dues. For now I would suggest contacting you children and or removing them from Hogwarts immediately. I am unsure of how many have been victimized."
Several Death Eaters nodded. Harry had a feeling that those students would be off Hogwarts grounds before Umbridge could blink an eye. Too bad those people were the ones she left alone.
"My Lord, is Severus the one who discovered this?" Lucius Malfoy asked.
"No, but as far as I know none of the Slytherins had the quill used on them. So unless another student told him or Umbridge declared what she was doing, it is unlikely that he would have known. I've sent him a letter informing him, so he will have more answers within a few days."
Everyone was now on edge. Harry could feel the tension in the air. Still, he couldn't help but be amazed at how well controlled and organized this whole meeting was. The Order would've still been shouting at one another and some probably would've stormed out. It would take Dumbledore shouting for a few minutes to get things quiet again.
"While these recent news are serious and troubling, I do have another announcement to make." Voldemort continued.
Anger turned to apprehension. Every single Death Eater clearly had some kind of worse case scenario running through their head.
"For those who do not already know, as of last night, I now officially have an heir."
This time, they erupted with cheers.
Harry couldn't shake the feeling that they wouldn't be cheering if they knew it was him.
"Quiet! There will be time for celebration soon. I expect all of you to keep this quiet for now. I do not want anyone to discover him until I am sure everything is in place. Anyone who fails this will suffer. Understood?"
All heads nodded. But this time Harry could see excitement, delight, or pride on every face.
"Good, dismissed."
They all left the room without breathing a word.
Harry got up and hurried back down the tunnel towards his room. Wow and I thought Order meetings were exciting.
Nagini watched him go. "Silly little raven. Don't you know that it's what you hear after the meetings that's the more important? Get back over here."
Harry blinked, but walked back over and crouched back down.
Lucius was still in the room.
"My Lord, I trust young Harry is settling in well?"
Harry froze. Lucius knew about him?
Well, duh. He is going to be my tutor. He would have to know about me to agree. He thought, feeling stupid.
"Yes he is. His lessons will start on Monday. Also I am in need of your wife's assistance once again." The Dark Lord said, standing up.
"Of course my Lord. May I acquire as to why?"
"I need her to plan Harry's adoption party. I will be formally introducing him as my heir to my followers so it is crucial that someone with excellent tastes plan this. Also Harry turns sixteen this year so we need to begin the preparations for his Debut. We only have a few months to complete the preparation."
Harry blinked. Adoption party? Debut?
"Of course my Lord. She would be honored. I will bring her over tomorrow. Right after we withdraw Draco from that woman's clutches." Lucius bowed.
"Good, also has our 'guest' settled into the dungeons?" Voldemort had a sadistic grin on his face.
Lucius smirked. "Yes, he is. May I ask what we will do with him?"
"We'll leave him down there for now with no food, just water. I'll deal with him later, once he's had a taste of hunger." Voldemort said, walking towards the door. "I would've also like you to bring Draco over tomorrow. I would like Harry to be exposed to other purebloods to help him adjust to his new status and society. Though you must keep him on a tight leash, their history between has nothing but rivalry. I want them to start to get along. That means you better make sure that your son keeps his ego and temper in check, or it might get ugly."
Lucius nodded. "Yes my Lord. Draco will behave himself."
Harry quickly good to his feet, leaving Nagini behind and headed back to his room. Feeling very confused.
There is no way that I'm going to be friends with Malfoy. Not unless he gets a personality transfusion!
I promise the next update will be up soon. Two weeks max. This time I swear!
Reviews also make me write faster.