Volans now knew the time and place of the Hogwarts Express. Mother would never expect him to just slip away and ride the train to Hogwarts. He sincerely hoped Headmaster Dumbledore would help him. He had taken in Severus Snape, he was the spy they had in the Order. Mother thought the man was truly working for the Order instead of the Dark Lord but couldn't prove it. Volans couldn't offer to spy but he could tell them that the boy was alive somewhere, he only hoped it was enough to get help. He had come to realize the boy was probably the Potter's missing son he had read about in the paper many times.
The last weeks before the train left were sheer torture for Volans. He couldn't concentrate on his lessons which meant they always ended with punishment. He had spent his free time making note of what he wanted to take with him. He knew he'd only be able to pack a small suitcase and he'd have to be quick or the elves would catch him and it would be over before he could even get started.
He had already snuck out some powder from the floo pot. He planned to floo to the station and then find the platform. It shouldn't be too hard to find, Draco had explained it well enough. As long as Draco wasn't making it up then he'd be fine. His plan was to pack and get to the station at five minutes before eleven. Hopefully by the time they realized he was gone he'd be too far for them to find him. September first dawned bright and clear. And to his everlasting surprise he heard his mother first thing in the morning.
"Volans, you'll be home alone today. Behave."
"Yes Mother." He couldn't believe his luck.
He made sure to stay in the elves way. He knew if he left of his own accord they'd follow like they normally did. But if they chased him out they'd stay away because he had aggravated them too much. This was something he had been fine tuning since he realized how to manipulate things to be better for him.
At ten fifteen the elves had enough and sent him off. By ten thirty he was packed. At the last minute he changed destinations in case the elves were listening to him, "The Leaky Cauldron." Once there he turned right around and grabbed more floo powder and stepped back into the fire calling, "Platform nine and three quarters."
He was already whisked away before he could add Kings Cross. He hoped he would get to the right place. When he stopped he stepped out quickly and then off to the side and behind a pillar. The bright red steam engine, as well as the owls in cages and magic being used, told him he was in the right place. Deciding he needed a disguise he picked out brown hair since that seemed to be the prevailing color of the people around him. Brown eyes always went well no one ever noticed brown eyes. He then grew the three inches he could and hoped he looked like a second year.
It was easy to slip onto the train. He found an empty compartment and put up some privacy and notice me not spells. He knew his wand would never be traced so he was unafraid to do magic. His mother had removed the trace as soon as they had gotten the wand home all those years ago. She had said it was a Black family secret. That thought rang another bell. If the Potters or his own family wouldn't take him in he hoped either his mother's sister or cousin would. Both had been blasted off the family tapestry years ago. Aunt Walburga had done it herself her anger at them was so terrible. That was another insane family member. He hoped it didn't run in the family. He hoped he could find at least one sane Black to live with.
As he sat on the train he notice that the children who walked by all had black robes on. He pulled out his suitcase and drug out the correct clothes to blend in. He would have to shrink back because all the older kids had house symbols on theirs. Not for the first time he began to wonder if he was doing the right thing. If they took him in everything would work out. If they sent him on his way he'd manage. But if they sent him back to Mother he'd be dead. Dead was the only part of the scenario he couldn't live with. He chuckled dryly at his own joke.
Before he knew it the train was coming to a stop and people started leaving. Volans shifted his looks again but this time he relaxed them so he gained his natural state. None of his friends knew him in this form. He'd always held the looks his mother told him to. He followed the younger kids to the large man who was calling for first years. He located Draco, Vincent and Gregory right off. Pansy was with them sucking up as she always did. The older kids he knew had already walked past and headed to the carriages without giving him a second glance. He sat in a boat with three people he didn't know. The other boy was holding a toad. The two girls that sat across from him looked nervous but unremarkable. He was sure the brown haired girl was a muggleborn. He never said mudblood in his brain and now he wouldn't have to say it out loud any longer. That thought brought a small smile to his face.
Once the boat bumped to a stop and he climbed out with the others he rethought his appearance. If they noticed him in his natural state he'd have to hide in another. But if he used another form now he could use his normal appearance to hide from them. That thought appealed to him greatly. He fell to the back of the crowd and resumed his brown haired, brown eyed appearance and shrunk his maximum three inches. He was awed when he saw the ceiling of the Great Hall. He'd read about it in Hogwarts a History but the explanation in the book didn't do it justice. Soon the names were being called and he watched them all get sorted. He didn't think his name would be called and when they slipped right past the L's he knew he was safe. He also noticed they slipped past Potter. So either the boy was a different age or they didn't expect him either. Draco had insisted that the Potter boy was their age but one never knew when he was lying.
Finally Zabini, Blaise was sorted into Slytherin and Volans found himself standing alone. Several people were whispering when one of the older students commented, "Professor you missed one."
The woman who had been calling out names was looking at him with a slightly shocked look, "Who are you?"
"I do not know." He replied with as much dignity as he could muster.
"Did you have an accident and forget it?" she asked.
"No I wanted to come to Hogwarts but Mother said I was to be homeschooled. But she really isn't my mother. They tell me my parents gave me to them but I think I was taken." He explained.
"Who is your Mother?" she asked.
"I would rather not say." He looked around at everyone staring at him.
"I think we can take this up to my office after dinner." Dumbledore stated.
He turned to look at the headmaster, "Thank you Headmaster Dumbledore. I would appreciate you hearing me out without an audience."
"Why don't you sit with the Hufflepuffs for now and we will see what to do with you later." Volans swore the man's eyes were twinkling. But he followed the instructions and went to the table all the Hufflepuffs had gone to.
No one spoke to him no one even looked at him during dinner. Volans had glanced several times at Draco hoping the boy wouldn't recognize him. The idiot was too busy setting himself up to be the leader of his house to pay him any mind. The morons at the table with him were falling all over themselves to try and get on his good side. Little did they know he didn't have one of those.
When the students were dismissed Volans stayed in his seat. The Headmaster and the woman who did the sorting approached him and he stood, ready to follow them. He noticed Snape looking at him closely again as he had done all during dinner. He had worked to keep his own mannerism hidden so that he wouldn't be recognized. Snape and two others fell in step behind him as Dumbledore and the woman led him off. He couldn't tell them anything if Snape was in the room. He'd just have to convince them to let him speak to the Headmaster alone.
The group took seats in the office and the Headmaster started out, "Now what is your name?"
"I don't know." He answered again.
"He seemed to know his mother." Snape sneered at him and the others looked on with questions on their faces.
"The people claiming to be my parents follow the Dark Lord." He stated, "I'm in disguise and I would rather no one but you know the answers to your questions Headmaster."
At that Snape took a closer look at the boy. Volans made sure not to alter even a hair. Snape knew he could change appearances. He had come and made a potion to see if they could force his ability to go farther. It had been an excruciation day of tests but he could change no further. He couldn't let the man now know the same child sat before him. He deliberately began to fidget under the stares, which was something he never did. It had been commented on by several people that he could sit as still as a statue for hours. Fidgeting would be sure to throw him off.
"I think that would be a good idea." Dumbledore finally agreed, "Thank you for your time everyone."
"Sir I don't think…" Snape started.
"It will be fine." The man stated with finality, "Off you go."
"Polyjuice could…." He started again.
"It's been well over an hour. Unless you know of another way for a grown man to become a child I doubt he is a death eater." Dumbledore pinned him with a stern look. The group stood and left. Once the two were alone he continued, "I trust all four of them with my life."
"I'm sure you do." Volans agreed, "But I don't trust them with mine, particularly Mr. Snape. The problem with a double agent is that you never truly know where their loyalty lies. Most probably it is only with themselves."
"Wise words for one so young." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"I've hardly been a child." He replied, "Mother never really allowed that. She is the one who is trying to prove he has left the service of the Dark Lord."
"You should use his name." Dumbledore instructed, "Fear of the name only increases the fear of the person."
"I don't know his name." Volans replied, "I've only ever heard of him referred to as the Dark Lord."
"Voldemort is the name he chose for himself." Dumbledore noticed the boy didn't even flinch. He must truly never have heard the name before or he was a very good actor.
"He chose Voldemort for a name?" Volans looked incredulous, "That's horrible. I hate my name and if I ever chose to rename myself it wouldn't be with something worse. I'd choose Mark or John, something not so weird."
"Let's begin again." Dumbledore smiled, "My name is Albus Dumbledore, which I think you already knew. Who is your mother and what name did she give you?"
"Aren't you going to ask me to take off my disguise?" he asked.
"I already sent a finite at you." He smiled, "Nothing changed."
"It wouldn't." he smirked, "My name is Volans Orion Lestrange, I'm sure you know my mother Bellatrix." He then let his appearance relax back to his original stated, "I'm also a metamorph with limited ability."
The man stared at him in open mouthed shock. Volans was sure if he knew the man better he would have enjoyed the result of his display. But for now it was just making him nervous. Several minutes passed before he reached for a bowl on his desk top and popped a yellow piece from the bowl into his mouth. He watched as the man calmed slightly. Volans decided the yellow drops must be a solid form of a calming draught.
"Bellatrix Lestrange is your mother." He man stated.
"She claims that but I have reason to believe it is a lie." Volans replied, "I've basically heard them say otherwise several times, of course they had no idea I was around. These are my facts I do not know who I am. I am reasonably sure I was taken away from my parents. If you'll help me get safely away from my mother I'll tell you what knowledge I have been able to gain."
"You want to pay for your safety with information?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"I know that Mr. Snape gave you some information and agreed to be a spy to get back into your good graces." Volans pointed out, "I assume I have to do something similar. I can't spy because if she sees me again she'll kill me for running away. So I hope my information is enough to guarantee your help."
"You need not pay anything for my help." Dumbledore replied, "However if you wish to tell me anything I will listen. Then we'll find you a place to stay. I don't think the school will be a good choice."
"No, I know too many of the Slytherins to be safe here." Volans agreed, "I don't have a lot but this is what I know. The Potter boy is alive somewhere and I think mother and father know where. Narcissa Malfoy also knows. I can reverse the spell Mother put on the muggleborn Potter woman, but it needs to be before the end of the year or it will be too late. And the Dark Lord had me kidnapped so that I could be raised to kill you, though they don't expect me to succeed. If I remember correctly they said after you killed me for trying they'd tell you who I was. I was supposed to be homeschooled and taught the dark arts necessary to stop you, starting this year. I didn't want to be as insane as Mother so I escaped. Oh, there will probably be an attack tonight if they haven't done it already. Sorry I didn't think of that earlier. They never tell me they are going on a raid but when they do she always tells me I'm home alone and to behave. She did that this morning before I left. I'm hoping she hasn't found out I've left yet."
"How much control do you have over you metamorph abilities?" He asked.
"Complete control. I can hold any form indefinitely. However I don't have a wide range of the ability. I can't change to any color. I have four hair colors and eye colors. I can grow or shrink three inches and my hair can be from bald to the middle of my back." He explained, "None of the children know my normal look. They've only ever seen me as this." Volans shifted to his most used appearance and then back.
"What about facial structure?" Albus asked.
"Can't do anything with that." He replied.
"School still won't be a good choice then." Volans agreed with the Headmaster's assessment.
"No, even in a different form some of my mannerisms are hard to break. I've had too much training on how to act to be able to hide it successfully." He replied.
"Well Mr. Lestrange we have several options." Albus started.
"Please just call me Volans." He interrupted, "I don't want to be a Lestrange even a moment longer."
"Alright Volans, I am going to call in a few adults to speak with us. They are members of the Order of the Phoenix. Have you heard of them?" he asked.
"I've heard a lot of complaints from Mother and Father about the Order." Volans nodded, "Particularly the Potters, Sirius Black and the werewolf Lupin."
"They used to have another friend that fought with them too but he disappeared when the Potter boy was taken." Albus explained.
"No." Volans shook his head, "He's very much alive and still a rat. He visits once in a while but I hate to be around him. Mother always laughs at his hurt looks when I won't speak to him. She thinks it's funny. I find Peter revolting. He stole his best friend's child and faked his own death. Now he sneaks around the members of the Order in his rat form trying to get information. Otherwise he's rather useless."
"Peter is alive." Albus frowned.
"He is." Volans answered.
"He is a death eater." The man continued to frown.
"Yes he has the mark." Volans nodded then sneered, "He told me he got it for kidnapping the Potter boy. He's very proud of himself for outsmarting his friends."
"I will have those Order members here soon." He flicked his wand and Volans flinched ever so slightly but he man caught it, "Would you mind telling them about Peter under Veritaserum? They still consider him a friend and morn him to this day. I don't think they would be able to just take your word for it."
"I understand. I hope you won't mind me asking for magical vows to protect me from my Mother." Volans replied, "I don't think I can just take anyone's word for it either. If there is one thing I learned from her it is not to trust anyone. I am the only one who will look out for me."
"I'm sorry you had to learn that. Where I'll be sending you that won't be a lesson you'll need to keep." Albus said, "I will be glad to give you a magical vow and so will the people who will take care of you."