~ Chapter Sixteen ~

Ciaran made his way down for breakfast. Usually he slept in when he was permitted. However he knew what had occurred last night. Last night after the meeting with the Dark Lord, Severus had taken his 'body' to the Order and hadn't returned for several hours. They believed Harry Potter to be officially dead. By this morning everyone would soon come to realize that Harry bloody Potter was dead and he couldn't have been more overjoyed by this news.

Practically skipping into the room, he greeted his grandfather and father before sitting down by the head of the table as was proper. They both cast him shrewd looks but realized immediately that he knew. Neither complained. It was rather appropriate after all that Ciaran know his counterpart was dead. The thought alone would lift a great weight upon them all.

Their breakfast that morning was rather pleasant. The elves had apparently felt their moods lifting and prepared a banquet for the occasion. How they managed this most didn't bother to question. Ciaran knew that if Dobby could be rather powerful without a master then those with a master could do even greater should their masters allow it. So with the feast laid out before them, Ciaran politely filled his plate and waited for the day to begin.

The first owl that swooped in that morning was the post owl. By this time, many of the other Death Eaters had taken up their seats at the table. Why they enjoyed dining with their fellow insane members, Ciaran didn't know. Perhaps it was all the amusement they created whilst being insane? He wouldn't believe it even if that was what they all said.

The owl landed before the Dark Lord as was usual and all waited for him to read the news on the front page.

-x-

The Daily Prophet

Death of the Golden

By Emmett Lumber

Yesterday evening, Dumbledore walked into the Ministry the absolute picture of forlorn. Not many stopped him as he walked with purpose towards the Minister's office for he had made this trip plenty of times over the years with many differing topics in his thoughts. No one suspected that he would enter the room and utter,

"Harry Potter is dead."

For those who were standing outside, they were in disbelief. Albus Dumbledore had walked into the Minister's office during one of the most celebrated times of the year and announced the death of our saviour. The evidence however was overwhelming or so Minister Fudge believed for within the next hour he announced publicly the death of Harry Potter.

Many knew that Harry Potter hadn't been seen around Hogwarts. Through his death it has recently come to light that he was in fact under the tender mercies of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Though Albus Dumbledore has commented that no harm was done to our saviour's body, he refused to allow the Ministry permission to complete an autopsy. As such, the body of the Boy-Who-Lived will be buried alongside that of his parents in Godric's Hollow. However for those that have decided to make a trip to pay tribute to our saviour you will have to wait.

The graveyard shall only allow admittance to those that have a connection to Harry Potter through bonds. Most likely on that list will be Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, his two best friends and Remus Lupin who was friends with Mr Potter's parents. Citizens shall have to wait a year before they too can go and grieve for him.

The end of such a life will surely be missed throughout all of Britain. Harry Potter you will be sorely missed.

For more on Harry Potter's life- Page 3

-x-

It was rather short, Ciaran thought, for someone who supposedly meant so much to the people. However his grandfather looked pleased with the piece. It didn't really portray them in a terrible, dastardly light. Rather it kept both sides as neutral as possible. This Emmett Lumber was a genius and would probably be looking at a promotion in the future.

"Not quite what I would have expected." Severus drawled. "However it is well written."

Looking around, Ciaran noticed that the sane Death Eaters also shared this opinion. This guy was bound for a very good promotion in the coming weeks. He was sure Lucius would make sure of that.

"Is there any news on the Will Reading?"

The question was asked for everyone to answer. No one ignored the Dark Lord. Yet none had an answer.

"There was a Will written but the only person who would have any idea what was in the document is…" Severus trailed off.

Everyone turned to Ciaran. Draco nudged him into answering but all he did was smirk. Ciaran knew that everyone wanted to be told what he had given away to whom but he wasn't about to ruin the surprise as of yet. No, that would not be fun at all and he wanted this to be a surprise for those involved. Eventually they all relented that Ciaran wasn't going to speak about it and went back to breakfast.

The second owl that swooped in that morning at breakfast wasn't an owl someone was likely to recognize on first glance. Ciaran however was one of those people for he knew exactly what the envelope conveyed. As he watched it, the owl glided down towards Severus and calmly held out its leg.

Frowning, his father took the letter and with a swish of his wand had it opened. Seconds later, disbelief coloured his face. Marvolo's eyes narrowed as he saw this curious as to what could shock the Potions Master.

"Severus, what is it?"

"It's a letter asking for my attendance at the Will Reading of Harry Potter before lunch."

Many heads turned in Ciaran's direction but he refused to look at any of them, a smirk fixed onto his face. If they had been mildly curious before, they must have been dying to know by now what Harry Potter's Will entailed. Soon everything would begin to fall apart and Ciaran couldn't have been more pleased.

"You have leave, Severus, to attend the Will Reading." Marvolo confirmed.

Severus nodded but kept his gaze on his son wondering what the child had planned. He knew that Dumbledore had forced him to make the Will. However he couldn't force what Ciaran had written within the document and by his reaction this would be something to remember for quite some time.

"Thank you, my Lord. I shall prepare to leave as I have some other business in the Alley today."

Marvolo nodded and waved him off. Ciaran gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Draco. He knew in that moment that nothing had ever been as it seemed until that moment. Everything was in its rightful place and all that was left was this single piece of parchment from his son's past life. He could only hope that what he heard was worthwhile today for Harry Potter had never been someone that had ever been on his favourite list.

As Severus walked out the door Marvolo spoke to his grandson.

"What is it that you had planned my little snake?"

It came out hissed and Ciaran knew that it was parseltongue so he returned his answer in the same manner.

"You will have to wait and see grandfather for the past is truly going to be buried after this day. No one from the Light will ever expect what I have in store for them, my father being one of them."

Marvolo easily accepted this and went back to his breakfast. Whatever news Severus would bring he could wait for. He did after all have an eternity to do so.

x-x-x-x-x

Severus felt decidedly uncomfortable. Here he was surrounded by people that had betrayed and harmed his son by allowing him to return to people that didn't love him, had never cared. All they wanted was money. None of them truly respected his son or loved him, well apart from Lupin. Out of everyone here he didn't believe even for a second that half of them shared any sadness over his son's 'death' other than what they had lost because of it.

Harry's friends were present. Granger, Weasley and the Weasley girl were front and centre beside Lupin though he didn't pay them any attention. Albus was a row behind them with Molly and Arthur Weasley. In fact many of the Weasley brood was present for some reason though he was positive that he hadn't seen eye to eye with some of them. Charlie was sitting on the other side of his parents and nodded respectfully towards Severus. Bill didn't look around much and Percy wasn't even present.

Others from the Order had turned up though Severus didn't know why they had bothered. Harry had only known them for a matter of months, possibly even weeks, before he was shipped off to Hogwarts. There was certainly nothing that Harry would give to them that could possibly make a difference. Yet they were all summoned here for a reason because Harry had mentioned them within his Will.

"I believe we shall start now." Griphook murmured.

Severus noticed that the goblin had a decidedly smug expression on his face and knew that his son was behind it. Whatever he had written within his Will had obvious been rather noteworthy to gain an expression from a goblin.

Griphook began to read the written words.

"I'm only the tender age of fourteen and I'm writing me Will. It seems surreal to me but considering who I am and who is after me I guess it makes sense why Dumbledore would want me to do this."

Many people cast Dumbledore suspicious glances. The old man however merely kept a carefully blank face.

"Here is how it goes I suppose… I, Harry James Potter, hereby bequeath my possessions to the following people. It would only be common sense for the last remaining Marauder to have a Marauder's belongings. Remus Lupin, Moony, to you I give the Marauder's Map and the Book of Tricks that you gave my last Christmas. Along with this I want you to have a quarter of what is left within my vault. I know you'll spend it on something useful unlike that of others we know."

To Severus, Lupin didn't look at all surprised. In fact he appeared to have known what was coming already which only made him curious. Did he know what everyone else was bound to gain from this? If so, then why hadn't he informed anyone else?

"Charlie Weasley, you would be next. I have to thank you for everything you ever did for me. There is no possible way I could express how much you mean to me. You gain a quarter of the money within my vaults."

The Weasley grumbled but looked pleased at what Charlie had been given. Obviously they believed that their son and brother would be forking out some of them money to them as well. Wouldn't they be in for a huge shock when he kept his distance and refused to give them a knut.

"To the Order, I send my sincerest of apologies in the likelihood that I didn't take Voldemort down with me. I have left an enormous job for you now and I can only hope that many of you survive this war."

The looks on the Orders' face was priceless. They were completely flummoxed with what to do with that. All they had received was an apology and nothing more. They couldn't run a secret Organization with an apology.

"Lastly, to Severus Snape, the man that has plagued me throughout my Hogwarts years. To you I give the remainder of my belongings including the rest of the money within my vaults and all properties. It certainly isn't enough to repay a life debt several times over. I hope you didn't believe I had forgotten. You have kept me alive even at the risk of your own life and that is more than anyone has ever done for me. You've taught me many things and I hope that it showed in the end."

Severus' shock was completely visible for all to see. If the Order members had been expecting anything it certainly hadn't been this. A glance at Lupin revealed to Severus that he had known all along that 'Harry' would make his Will this way. The question was, why? Why had Ciaran felt at the time this was necessary? He hadn't known then they were related. All he had known was what Severus had sacrificed for him. Perhaps that was it. He just wanted to repay his professor for everything that he had done to aid him.

A sense of acceptance settled over him. Harry Potter had respect for him even when he pushed the boundaries of right and wrong. Everything he had done to keep the child alive hadn't been for naught. He had learnt and respected him for his teachings in class and in life. Potter had never been a spoilt brat and it had only taken his 'death' to figure it out. However it wasn't the end. He still had Ciaran and they were one in the same.

"What!"

The sudden exclamation shook Severus out of his thoughts. It was the youngest male Weasley. He was standing and flushed with outrage. Many of the younger people gathered were of the same expression. And though the adults in the room were more composed they weren't about to stop this outburst from happening.

"This isn't fair! Why does he get all the riches and we get nothing!" Ron demanded. "We've known him for years. We've been by his side during everything. He's nothing more than the Potions Master what did he ever do to Harry that was so excellent he deserved everything that should be rightfully ours."

"I should have gotten a share in his books. That was all I ever wanted." Hermione wailed.

It was rather sickening to hear all of this. Even the youngest Weasley was wailing about not receiving any money for being a good 'friend'. She put it out that they were rather closer than that however everyone knew otherwise. It was all too much.

"Should I need to remind you that I have known him for longer than any of you for I was at his naming day. I knew his mother and his father and if Potter wanted to repay me for every time I saved his life he is more than entitled to." Severus snarled.

They continued to complain but Severus wasn't having any of it. With a nod to Lupin and Charlie he headed for the door. Dumbledore however blocked his way with a swift step.

"Severus, I demanded using the life debt that you hand over the royalties to the Order of the Phoenix."

Everyone believed that Dumbledore had finally foiled Severus. They all relaxed. They shouldn't have counted their chickens before they hatched.

"You've already used that on me Albus. You used it to ensure that I would protect Harry Potter to the best of my abilities. That I have done and now you have nothing over me."

The Headmaster paled realizing his mistake. Even with merely that the beginning of Harry's Will made it clear that the Headmaster was the one to force him into making the Will in the first place though it was mentioned in a roundabout way. It was masterful and begun to cast doubts on his role as leader. He'd need to be careful if he wanted to keep his position.

"I see," was all the old man could say.

"If that is all, Headmaster, I would like to return to my son."

"Probably going to tell the brat what exactly he's going to inherit now." Ron grumbled in the background.

Severus glared at the brat before sweeping out. He would definitely be speaking to Ciaran about this but that wasn't the reason behind it. No he would be speaking to Ciaran and accepting him as both Harry and his son. After all, the child continued to surprise him in the most unexpected ways.

x-x-x-x-x

The Will Reading should be happening now, Ciaran thought as he glanced up at the clock above the mantle. He was in the library attempting to remain calm. Yet he could feel his grandfather's eyes upon him, his curious gaze unrelenting. He had left breakfast soon after his father not desiring to face the inquisition that was likely going to occur. That hadn't stopped his grandfather from following and keeping close by him.

"Ciaran I believe it is time we spoke."

Marvolo's voice drifted over to him. Ciaran sighed. He'd known that he would never be able to escape his grandfather should he desire some peace. The man was too overprotective to allow him to ever escape his gaze for any length of time.

"You should relax," he suggested as Ciaran moved closer to him. "I'm not about to question you about your decision considering your false Will."

That gave Ciaran a shock. He'd believed that his grandfather would pester him for details yet that wasn't the case. If so, they why did he want to speak to Ciaran? It caused great alarm within him.

"No, I believe it is finally time we speak on what happened October 31st."

That certainly hadn't been a topic he'd wanted to speak of. Their family had come to avoid speaking of that particular day and anything that had to do with Harry Potter for the obvious reasons. Marvolo and Severus despised the concept of Harry Potter. They didn't like the boy-saviour attempting to overthrow them even if Ciaran wouldn't do that any longer. Potter was something of a foreign word in their little world. So this was unexpected.

"Why now?" Ciaran asked.

"I believe that the reason Severus was asked to the meeting was because you left him most of your wealth in a form of apology for everything you did to him. That would effectively correct the issue you and him had between each other. I desire to do the same. However for that we don't need apologize but explanations."

Ciaran had to give it to him. His grandfather was smarter than most people gave him credit for.

"You're right. I gave father everything in a sort of apology for everything that I had caused him over the years. I even made him face one of his greatest fears back in third year when Remus transformed before our eyes. It was the least I could do; I just didn't expect to be alive to witness it."

Marvolo nodded. "Now however we must clear up out past regardless of how difficult it will likely be."

It all made sense really. Once this was all out in the open they could act more familiar around each other. There would still be awkward moments when no one really knew what to do with each other but that was to be expected. Out of the three, they really didn't have the best moments for emotions in their life. It was all abandonment and despise as far as they were concerned. Marvolo and Severus wanted Ciaran to have what they couldn't even if it was a few years late.

"How are we going to do this?" Ciaran enquired.

"I figured that since you know quite a bit about what has occurred we shan't go into that. However anything that you question or anything you have yet to learn I will be more than willing to answer for you." Marvolo said after a moment's pause.

Ciaran knew that he had questioned many things over the years. Some of which had been answered some of which hadn't even been touched. Dumbledore had been very selective of those items not allowing him to know something that might have changed his mind about the war or the Dark Lord. The question was, where did he start? There were so many directions he could take… He chose to start with the prophecy.

"I know you could have chosen between Neville and me. Why was it that you chose me?"

Marvolo leant back thinking to that time in his life.

"When I originally heard the prophecy, I only heard the first few lines which obscured my view on what to do. I had everything narrowed down to you and the Longbottom's child and yet I still hesitated. After all who was to say I wouldn't kill the wrong child? Eventually I decided that I would attack the one that was most like me. You were a half-blood like me and that was the sole reason I chose to attack you. At the time I didn't know the remainder of the prophecy I just assumed you would fit it better than the other brat. You after all had been doing magic for quite the time or so I heard unlike the other child."

His decision had been rationalized though I what way, Ciaran couldn't quite tell. It was as if he had chosen to go on the logic of a toddler and chosen his favourite toy. But of course for a man who had lost everything and was insane the decision would have been entirely justified. Ciaran chose not to comment on that. Even if he was suspicious of the reasoning, they were speaking of a specific topic and everything he said was repeated within his mind where the man couldn't lie.

Nodding, Ciaran allowed that bit of information time to calm before he went into the next question. This one had been plaguing him the longest out of everything.

"Why did you attempt to spare my mother?" he questioned quietly.

That was one thing that had always overwhelmed him. Every time a Dementor neared him he heard his mother pleading with Marvolo. His grandfather would then tell her to move aside. She never did and eventually he merely killed her before turning to him in his crib.

"Your father had spoken his desire of her after I told him who I was to attack. He asked that I spared her life so that he may have her. It didn't work. She wouldn't move regardless of how much I told her to. She merely wanted you to live."

This explanation was short. But Ciaran hadn't really expected it to be long. Marvolo was after all remembering the moment in which he had killed his daughter. Ciaran didn't want to push that any further after hearing that anyway. He would leave his mother's memory to rest in peace.

"What was your goal after I was dead?" he asked quietly.

That was something he had also wondered. If the desire to kill him had always stemmed from that moment in time, then what would he have done after he had accomplished this feat? It wasn't well known what the Dark Lord planned. Not even many of his Inner Circle knew that.

"I'm not sure. That one thing had consumed me for so long that I can't think what I would do afterwards. I know that I had plans, plans that would make the world shake and crumble. But ever since I was parted from my body all those years ago the thoughts have just evaded me. Perhaps it is for the best." Marvolo trailed off.

He had tried desperately to remember what his plans had been after the baby had been dead but nothing came to mind. Everything just ceased when he thought of it. Was it that he didn't want to remember? He did after all dwell so much on killing Potter after that. Nothing else in his mind existed. Even all of his plans revolved around Potter at the time. Everything he did was to get a chance at facing Harry Potter even at the risk of his on minions.

Nothing had changed however. Now instead of finding ways to kill him, he was finding ways to protect him. Ciaran had become the single most important thing in his life and he always wanted that to be protected regardless of cost. There was one change however and that was his ability to plan for other things. This time he was planning to keep his grandson safe and to crumble the pedestal the Light had seated themselves on for years.

"Why didn't the spell work?"

Marvolo chuckled.

"That took a fair bit of research after I was resurrected and of which I only recently understood. Slytherin was very clever. He never wanted a member of his own family to kill another unless there was a very good reason. I didn't have a good reason for killing you so the curse rebounded, keeping the younger alive while the elder suffered."

Ciaran had never believed his family to be so complicated but he was a descendant of Slytherin. What could he have expected? There were probably a million things he would never truly know about himself even after discovering so much.

"Then how did you manage to kill your uncle?"

"Where did you hear that?" Marvolo's voice became firm.

"I think Dumbledore may have mentioned it in passing once." Ciaran said though he wasn't too positive on that one.

Glaring into space, Marvolo couldn't help but curse the old man. He said the most atrocious things where others could hear him. It wasn't right and he certainly wouldn't put up with it for long.

"I did not kill my uncle. I framed him for the murder of my father and his parents. He died later in Azkaban." He corrected.

Ciaran shook his head. Dumbledore seemed to be at the end of all incorrect mentions of the Dark Lord. On occasion it was so badly done that even Ciaran as Harry Potter hadn't believed him. After all a wizard could only do so much.

"How did all of this start?" Ciaran murmured.

"Ah well you already know the beginning to this story or so I'm told and that of the end." Marvolo smirked. "However I would ask that you keep this to yourself."

He nodded eager to hear this story especially since he supposedly already knew of what was about to happen.

"When I was still at Hogwarts I became obsessed with the idea of immortality. If vampires could live forever why couldn't wizards who already had extended life? My search led me to the soul. Had I known then what I do know I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. However my research led me to believe that if you broke parts of your soul of and placed them into containers you would be able to live as long as your soul continues on within the container. The item is called a Horcrux."

Ciaran didn't believe that it sounded very appealing.

"Now I created six Horcruxes before I went to kill you. The first I used the death of Myrtle and tore a piece of my soul and placed it within the diary you destroyed. The others were all placed in different objects yet all had value to me. Nagini, Hufflepuff's Cup, Slytherin's Necklace, Ravenclaw's Diadem and the Gaunt Family Ring. However I had always been obsessed with the number seven. The night I went to kill you I had planned to make another using your death. I never finished the spell."

It was hard to believe that his grandfather was capable of deforming his soul in such a way. Ciaran had always believed that the soul was sacred even as a child. To do something so costly was just not anything he could ever imagine. Marvolo sense his thoughts and kept quiet waiting for his grandson to speak.

Everything was moving far too swiftly for him to handle. How exactly was he meant to handle this? No one knew of this, he was assuming. Marvolo would keep this as quiet as possible to keep his life extended. Yet, if every soul piece was accounted for where was the seventh piece he had prepared the night of October 31st?

"Could I be a Horcrux as well?" Ciaran asked breaking the silence.

"What?"

"Could I be a Horcrux? You said that you had everything planned. Where did the soul piece you planned disappear to?"

Marvolo stared at Ciaran's scar. It was usually hidden but on this occasion was there for all to see. If Ciaran was correct then he would be a container for his soul. A human, family member was a container for his soul. Was that even possible? It had certainly never been tried before. No one had ever willingly attempted it but it would explain so much.

"We shall have to start searching then."

"Searching for what?" Ciaran exclaimed standing and following after his grandfather.

"For information on living Horcruxes of course."

Ciaran sighed. Marvolo made everything sound so simple.

x-x-x-x-x

Half an hour later Severus arrived and enquired what they were attempting. They informed Severus of everything they had spoken of and allowed him to aid them in their search. More minds would create better focus or something of the such… as Marvolo had said.

In the end however they didn't succeed in locating any specific results. All they managed to locate was piles of information on creating a Horcrux or choosing an accurate vessel to carry them. Nowhere did it mention a human vessel. Eventually they had to concede they had nothing to go on within the Slytherin library.

"There is no way to know or so it seems. It would have been a different matter had we not been related. Traits would have been easier to spot that way. It is nearly impossible to tell however what traits you have gained from me and what, if any, traits you gained from the Horcrux." Marvolo said.

Ciaran sighed. It would have been much easier for him to know then.

"I assume that the only way we will discover this is to wait for you to age. The piece of my soul shouldn't allow you to age pass a certain point to keep it perfectly preserved."

No one enjoyed the sound of that. It was to specimen like. Regardless they accepted that they would have to play the waiting game for some time now.

"I do so believe it is now time for me to retire for the night and go through some more plan files." Marvolo said.

He swept out of the room without a goodnight. Ciaran sighed. His grandfather would never become good with manners. Turning, he found his father staring at him with something a kin to approval within his eyes.

"I'm so proud of you." Severus whispered.

"What for?"

Severus pulled him into a hug.

"You, simply you, never change, Ciaran."

They both knew what he spoke of so refused to comment further. After all it wasn't every day that they had a moment such as this to enjoy. Together they basked in the knowledge that everything was settling. Their relationship had strengthened and nothing could tear them apart now. Nothing would stand in their way ever again.

Ahahahaha I have finally fixed the relationship betweent them all. Brilliant though by no means a quick fix. They still have plenty to live through and talk about. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the Will Reading. Thank you for all the reviews.

~MidnightEmber