A/N: To clear up a bit of confusion on the tree. It is further explained in this chapter but I will put it here. The potion/heritage tree, the reason I had them use the blood is so the potion follows the actual blood of a person. So the potion does not focus on names/nicknames or the like, just the blood that it connects to. Simply because a name is nothing but what someone is being called and a given name can be changed at any time but the blood never changes. Example is Harry, he was given a name at birth but a few days later he was being called something else, hence his given name was changed but that did not change his blood. So the potion is designed to show the bloodlines, regardless of what the person's name is at the time the potion is used. So it will show the given name of the person, not what the person may have been called at one time. Bella is another example, it is showing her name as it is when the potion was taken, because that name is what she is called. With the branches, for siblings, I tried to explain it a bit with Ginny. If all the branches are connected/same side and the branch is thick but splits to their names, they share both parents. If the branch is thin, then they share only one similar parent.
So, for Hermione's, Luna's branch is thick because they share two parents, with Harry it is more slender because they share only one parent. The branch being slimmer because the blood connection is smaller, if that makes sense. As far how it all came about, on with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Warnings: Nothing much.
Chapter Five
"Any news from the Ministry?" Voldemort leaned in the chair, letting his fingers caress the smooth head. Nagini was coiled in his lap, watching the proceedings with interest. His most loyal sat around the large table. He was getting impatient with how slow things were proceeding. He needed complete control to get rid of Albus Dumbledore.
"None," Lucius was glad that he wouldn't be the one to feel their Lord's displeasure. He had done his part by infiltrating. He was also the one organizing the raids and meetings. His stomach twisted as Draco shifted beside him. His son had been given a difficult task to complete this year.
"I see." Did he have to show them why it wasn't wise to disappoint him? How much longer before they could start the takeover? The sooner he got that irritating wizard out of the way, he could take control. He would kill Dumbledore if it was the last thing he did. Then he would seek out the Potter boy. "What is that noise?"
Lucius turned his head at the screeching and the snow white owl flew into the room. What was it doing here? It wasn't one of his. All of his were trained to go to the main hall, not intrude upon a meeting with the Dark Lord.
"That's Potter's." Draco recognized the owl immediately. The little bitch had once pecked his finger when he had been sending a letter. It turned and hooted at the sound of his voice. The bird walked closer and dropped the package in front of his father.
"Are you sure?" Lucius eyed the small package. Was it a trick? Was it cursed? Why would Potter send him something? The owl was clearly waiting for some kind of answer or a treat.
"Don't just stare at it, Lucius. Let us see what Potter wants of you." Was Lucius betraying him? His eyes narrowed seeing his Deatheater shifting nervously in the seat. "Do you have a reason to be nervous?"
"No, Milord." Lucius cast a quick charm to inspect the package. It looked to be safe. He untied the package to find a box inside. Once opened, a letter and five vials came out.
"Well, what does it say Lucius?" Bella leaned forward to grab one of the vials. What kind of potion was this? It didn't look like a truth serum. The color was black and very soupy. What was the Potter brat up to? Why was he contacting Lucius?
He read the letter a second time to ensure that he was reading correctly. The cracking of knuckles let him know that it wasn't Bella's impatience he had to worry over. "You may see for yourself, Milord. The Potter boy says that inside are five vials of Heritage Potion. He has asked that two in particular take it. He wishes for you and Bellatrix to take it. He has added that there are three extra vials in case you wish to test the potion with others. He says after it has been taken, he would like to request a meeting with you."
"Really? The Potter brat really wants to request a meeting. A Heritage potion?" What did the boy want him to see? He already knew who had sired him. The most it would show him were any siblings, his parents and so far. How far the lineage went depended on how long it had been allowed to simmer. He didn't have any family that was alive. "Clear the room. Lucius, you and Bella shall remain."
Bella quickly cleared the room and Lucius had a house elf grab parchment for them to use. What was going to be the point of this exercise? What was Potter trying to tell them? Was it really Potter? Draco had said that was his bird. The owl was still waiting patiently, eyeing Nagini. The large snake was actually staring back and nodding. The thing was lucky the snake didn't strike and enjoy a snack.
"Nagini says that is indeed Potter's bird and the boy himself handed her the package." He asked Nagini if she wanted a small snack, they could always send another owl with a response. The snake turned to look at the owl and settled back down. "Lucius, do us the honor of being the first one to try Potter's potion."
"If that is your wish," he didn't the Potter boy would send something vile. Dumbledore's Golden Boy wouldn't be cruel, it was beneath him. He had also taken a great risk by contacting him and therefore the Dark Lord. Many would be upset just knowing that the boy had contacted the dark side. "Three drops the instructions says."
"Careful, it could turn you into a toad." Bella saw the apprehension as the blood fell into the vial. If Lucius started acting funny she would try to dissuade him from making her take it. The liquid turned a dark blue and he dumped it onto the parchment. The trunk formed, near the bottom Draco's name appeared and a tiny sprig formed but no name showed. That had to represent the baby that was unknown. It indicated that he had no siblings, then to his parents. "The potion appears to be brewed correctly, Milord."
"We shall see, I'll do it next." Bellatrix took one and sliced her finger open with a fingernail to drop the blood inside. The ink turned into a crimson red then dumped. Her trunk twisted and the branches grew. Most of her family she knew about, even the spawn of the Mudblood. What drew her attention was the name near the base, indicating the name of a child, her child. "Harry Potter?"
"Impossible!" Lucius eyed the name that it showed and saw now why the boy insisted that his sister-in-law take the test. Was it possible? Well, he knew it was possible but how? The names would show as they were, not who they should be. Nicknames would not apply. The potion connects blood, not given names. The child's name clearly said it was Potter, not the Alexander in which he had been named at birth. The boy carried the name of Harry Potter, so that is what the blood showed. "Harry Potter?"
"Hand me a vial, Lucius." Voldemort watched the dark eyes tear up when the tree was finished. It had ended after Bella's grandparents. Whoever had brewed the potion had only been interested in immediate family, not ancestry. Was it going to tell him the same? Would Potter's name show up for him as well? If he was Bella's son, then he would be his. Bella had come to him pure and had remained faithful despite her marriage. He had known that the son she bore was his. He sliced his finger and let the blood drop into the vial Lucius held.
Lucius watched the liquid turn into a blackish blue color then settle. It dropped onto the parchment and scattered. The trunk was twisted and gnarled, it sent out two branches on each side near the base, indicating children. The thinner one scribbled out Potter's name in bold script. The fatter branch split into two. The top branch would be the older child, "Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood."
"How? They share the same branch that would make them full siblings." Bellatrix eyed the tree, not caring about the parentage of her lord. What drew her eyes was the name that had also appeared on her own. "Why would Potter send us a potion that would claim that he is your offspring?"
"He wouldn't, not unless he has uncovered some horrible truth. The boy would have no desire to have any relation with me." Voldemort eyed the name of the two girls. Both had been his? He had known that Bella's child had been his but the others, he had never been sure. Not when she had also been intimate with her husband. Her loyalty had been his but she had kept up the appearance of being with Lovegood to keep that meddling fool from ever suspecting the truth. So both offspring had been his. She had told him that the first one had died. She had believed it, he had searched her mind and saw the despair. She had been thrilled when she had gotten pregnant the second time around. He had never known the truth of that one.
"Milord, the three are all alive." Lucius was aghast at what he saw. "The Mudblood Granger? How is that possible?"
"After getting your wife with child a second time, I don't think I need to explain how it is done. You are more than aware of the fact that I had relations with Lovegood as well as Bella. I assumed her first was mine but she believed that it had been died during birth. Lucius, arrange a meeting with Potter. I want him to floo here immediately and he is not to be harmed unless I say so. Is that understood?"
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"What is this about, Harry?" Remus didn't like the secrecy. Why had they summoned him and why the urgency? He had been making great progress with the wolves. To floo away immediately and without warning. He needed to know what Harry was so upset about.
"I need you to attend a meeting with me, Remus. Please, I need you to go with me and Hermione." Harry had received the reply from Lucius. It said that he is to floo to Malfoy Manor at his earliest convenience. He wanted Remus to go as well. If he was to uncover answers, he wanted the werewolf with him. He was the only one besides Hermione that he trusted.
"All your questions will be answered," Hermione grabbed her purse. It had more vials of the potion. She figured they might have to perform it in front of Remus. They had some speculation but only Remus could fill in a few pieces. "Just do us one favor. When we floo over, do not pull out your wand."
"My wand?" Where the hell were they going? Why might he feel inclined to draw his wand? Remus didn't like being dragged towards the floo. Couldn't he have taken a shower first? What was the rush? "What is going on?"
"We will explain in a few minutes. We have arranged a meeting with someone and you need to be there. Just follow and keep your hands calm. Don't attack unless we are threatened." Hermione brought them to the floo. The man had said they would open the floo for Harry. She held onto the both men and Harry shouted the destination.
Malfoy Manor? Had he heard correctly? Remus didn't have time to ask why they would go see the Malfoys. The reports said that the Dark Lord was often at the man's home. Were they walking right into the enemy's territory? They came to in the grand fireplace. Sitting in a leather chair was none other than Lucius Malfoy.
"Remus, no." Harry grabbed the wand that had been yanked out. They weren't there to fight. He hadn't asked for an audience to fight the man. They could save that for the war.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Remus couldn't believe what the boy was doing. This was madness. Did Dumbledore know about this? Was this the reason Harry had been acting strange for the last few months? Had they somehow gotten to him?
"I am searching for the truth. We came so we could find out what other lies we've been told." Harry didn't want to argue with Remus. He had a feeling that the werewolf had been lied to as well. Remus believed that he was the son of James Potter.
"What truth?" What were they talking about? What kind of answer could Malfoy give them? The man was known to be as honest as a snake.
"The Potters! I need to discover the truth about them." Why had he been sent to them? Who had done it and why? What had been gained by taking him and placing him elsewhere?
"You mean your parents?" What else did Harry wish to know? He could rehash his past with them but what would be the point? What did his parents have to do with the Malfoys? Couldn't they have talked about this at home?
"No, I mean the Potters! They aren't my biological parents." Harry knew this wasn't the time but he couldn't help it. Hearing them called his parents, he was angry. He had waited all of his life to learn about his parents and the people he had been told about weren't even his real parents. He was so tired of being lied to about his life and where he came from. He wanted the truth.
"Remus, we need you to go on a little faith here. Come with us and you'll understand why we are here." Hermione placed a hand on the man's arm to placate him. Lucius had yet to make a move, except stand. He was waiting for them to get the wolf under control.
"I don't understand what is going on here but I will do as you ask." Remus didn't trust Lucius and he had no idea why they were here. Why would Harry believe that Lily and James weren't his parents?
"Welcome to my home, Potter. You too, Miss Granger." Lucius greeted the two offspring of his lord. He forwent speaking to the mangy werewolf that was acting like a heathen. There was to be no violence during this meeting. "If you would follow me."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione figured one of them needed to show some respect. The man nodded and led the way. They were led to a set of double doors. Inside stood three people, Bella, Draco and Narcissa.
"Please take a seat. The Dark Lord will be with us shortly." Lucius nodded for his family to take a seat as well. Bella didn't sit down, the woman was walking while studying the Potter boy. Was it really possible? If he had to assume, he'd say the boy could resemble the Black line. The hair wasn't like Bella's, except for the color. It would be more like the Dark Lord's before his resurrection. Andromeda was a Black that had green eyes.
Was that really her son? Bella couldn't be sure, too much time had passed. He didn't have her hair. She'd say he could resemble the two of them, more of the Black line. She walked over to the trio, but didn't bother speaking.
Harry almost snapped when the fingers found his hair. He was used to Hermione trying to tame it down. The insane woman was lightly touching it. The attention was kind of creepy. A side door opened and the figure he feared came through. The man hadn't changed since that day in the cemetery.
"Harry?!" Remus tried to stand seeing the snake-like bastard strolling into the room. This was insane, they would be slaughtered and no one knew they were here. A wand at his throat kept him from moving. Why wasn't Harry or Hermione running? They looked completely alright with waiting for the man to sit. The man took a seat at the table and got comfortable.
"Potter, I'm glad you decided to come. Ms. Granger, you as well." Voldemort looked both over and saw some similarities. He saw more of himself in the girl than the boy. What did the youngest look like? "I have allowed this meeting in order to discover the truth. Until I have heard a conclusion that I can accept, we are still enemies."
"I agree." Just because the man had sired him, it didn't wipe out all that had been done. Harry wasn't sure if the man still wouldn't try to slay him because of the prophecy. His eyes narrowed seeing the double doors open and none other than Severus Snape came inside. What was the man doing here? He was a spy for Dumbledore. The minute they left the old man would know why they were here.
"Ease yourself, he is not under the old man's thumb as you would suspect." Voldemort assured them that this meeting would go no further. Severus knew where his loyalties lay and it was not with the man that would use his own guilt as a weapon. "Lucius, the parchment if you would. I would also like for Severus to examine the potion to assure that it was brewed correctly. I assume you brought more."
"Of course, they are in my bag." Hermione withdrew the potions and placed them on the table. Their former potions professor came up and snatched up the first vial. He swirled it around and smelt it. She wanted him to say she had messed up.
"As expected of Ms. Granger, it has been brewed accurately." Severus couldn't find anything wrong with the potion. He handed it to Potter and placed the parchment in front of the boy. He wanted to see it for himself, if it were true. The boy poked his finger and dropped the blood into the vial. He did the honors of pouring it.
"What is going on, Harry?" Remus was close enough to watch the ink spread and announce Harry's lineage. It wasn't possible, he knew better. "That isn't correct. Don't believe it."
"I brewed that potion, Remus." Hermione didn't like hearing that she had done something wrong. She knew what she was doing and it worked correctly for others. It didn't pick and choose who to tell the truth with. It followed the blood, nothing more. "We had others use it and it works fine. That is why we brought you along, we want answers."
What kind of answers could he give them? This was a shock to him as well. How could these two belong to the Dark Lord? What did it mean? What could he tell them? "I don't know what to tell you. You are James' son."
"He is not, he is mine." Voldemort corrected the wolf. The Potter boy had been born from him. That was his offspring, not Potters. "Are you implying that you did not know about Dumbledore's plan?"
"How can you be sure that Dumbledore was behind this?" Remus questioned. Someone else could have made the swap.
"Who else?" Lucius couldn't believe the man would be so naïve. "Dumbledore commanded your previous Order even back then. Who else ordered the raid on the Lestrange manor? It was your Order that attacked Bella's home and slew many Deatheaters and her son. Or so we had been led to believe all this time. Only one wizard has that much pull. Harry must have been that child. It means the Longbottoms took him instead of killing him. Those two would have taken him straight to Dumbledore."
"But why was I given to the Potters?" That is what Harry wanted to know. Why give him to a couple knowing who his real parents were?
"I may know the answer to that." Remus couldn't believe the man would go so far. If this was all just more than speculation. He didn't think the Dark Lord would claim Harry if it weren't true. Had the wizard really gone so far? If he had, how deep did his lies run? "The few times we saw Lily during her pregnancy, she kept saying they were having a girl. We even bought her a few things that were meant for a girl. Sirius and I were busy with the Order so we didn't actually get to see the baby until after it was a month old. We stopped by and they had a boy."
"He's mine, she didn't have him." Bella spoke up to make sure the mangy half-breed understood. The potion proved it, he belonged to her. This was the child she had given her lord.
"My apologies, I didn't mean anything by it." Remus didn't want the crazed woman to attack him. "What I'm saying is that the Potters believed that Harry was theirs. They even spoke about how hard the labor was. I know that the birth was difficult and Lily almost passed from hemorrhaging. A healer had been called in, along with Dumbledore. They believed that the baby was theirs."
"Why else take in a child that wasn't theirs? Not just any child but the Dark Lord's. She even died trying to protect him." Severus clenched his fist recalling the facts. Lily had died to save the boy. She had died believing that he was hers. "A simple charm could have made them believe that she gave birth to a boy instead of a girl."
"As long as he took care of the healer and James. No one else would realize the truth." Remus clenched his fists as he digested the information. What had happened to the real Potter child? "May I ask what was said to have happened to the child slain in the raid?"
"It was reported that the child was accidently hit with a stray curse during the battle and
then cremated." Lucius had been the one to receive the report since Bella had been a wanted criminal at the time. They had been appointed the boy's godparents at the time. The Ministry had told them where it had been buried. None had ever gone to the grave to investigate. "They placed it in a marked grave."
"Then it is likely that the remains of the real Potter child is buried there. That or she is running around somewhere clueless." Hermione leaned back in the chair to get comfortable. The furniture was probably expensive but not made for sitting. "However, I'd say it is most likely dead. He could have always placed Harry with them and just claimed that they had twins. His only concern was for everyone to believe that Harry was theirs."
"But what about you and the other girl? Why bother placing you with muggles?" Remus could see why the old man had wanted to take Harry away from Bellatrix. The baby would have been brought up in an unhealthy environment. He may have made the right decision when it came to Harry.
"Well, I have a theory, if you want to hear it." Hermione didn't care that Snape was glaring. This didn't concern him, it had to do with her and Harry. She waited for the Dark Lord to nod, "I came first."
"Correct, your mother was a double agent for me. She married Lovegood as a cover, it was an arranged marriage." Voldemort added so the girl would know how she had been conceived. "She informed me that she was positive that the child would turn out to be mine."
"Exactly, I'm willing to bet that Dumbledore suspected the chances of her unborn child being yours. Luna once showed me a picture of her mother, I look nothing like her. Lovegood also has pale hair and blue eyes." Hermione figured that meant she took after the Riddle side. "Dumbledore most likely made sure he was there for the birth. Especially, if the man suspected that the child may be your offspring."
"And the moment you came out with dark hair, he made a decision." Lucius sneered thinking of what had been done. "He made her believe that her first had died at birth. He then took you to a muggle family, knowing we would not find you. Putting you with muggles, knowing that you'd one day be a powerful witch. He ensured that you would be on his side if he ever had need of you."
"Then what about Luna, why wasn't she taken?" Harry asked. It was a shame the girl still didn't know the truth. Why had Luna been allowed to be raised by her real mother? She had been left with Lovegood.
"Seriously, Harry." Hermione couldn't believe he hadn't figure it out yet. "You've spent so much time with her, you've seen her. She could easily pass for that man's. Luna was born looking like her mother. Dumbledore probably assumed she was indeed Lovegood's because she didn't resemble the Dark Lord. He left her because he probably assumed she was the child of the husband."
"Makes sense, I guess." Luna did look like she could belong to that man. Honestly, he thought she was too pretty to be Lovegood's. Harry almost winced when the finger touched his cheek. Having Bellatrix Lestange caressing him fondly wasn't making him feel loved. He was waiting for a curse to put him on his arse. "After taking Hermione, he swapped me. What about the prophecy?"
"Dumbledore knew exactly which baby it referred to." Severus shivered at the motherly petting of the insane witch. He wouldn't want to be in Potter's shoes. He'd rather be tortured by the Dark Lord than have Bella fawn all over him. "Even if he is Bellatrix's son, he was still born towards the end of month."
"A power the Dark Lord knows not." Harry recalled the words of the prophecy. At the time he had wondered what that power was. What had made him so special at birth? Now, he knew. "It was the fact that I was your own son."
"Then everything came to an end." Hermione felt sorry for the Potter's. They had been protecting Harry from being slain from his own father. "Dumbledore had to know that it was Harry and that is why he tried to put the Potters in hiding. He meant to use your own son to destroy you. Unfortunately, the curse rebounded that night. From that point on, Harry was put into a position to be used if you ever resurfaced."
"Position? I wouldn't call being placed with hateful muggles being put in a position. I used to consider it a prison." Harry had never wanted to dwell on the fact that Dumbledore had known he was being abused and had let him remain where he was. That family would have readily given up the responsibility of caring for him in a heartbeat. It was only fear of Dumbledore that had kept them from tossing him out on his arse. If Dumbledore had really cared about him, he could have been placed in so many other families. Instead, he had been made to suffer alone, never understanding why he was hated.
"That is why he let Sirius go to prison." Remus couldn't believe the man had been that vicious, so cold. He had wanted Harry! When he had heard they were dead and Sirius was being sentenced, he had pleaded with Dumbledore to give him the boy. The old man's excuse was that he wasn't fit to raise a child with his condition. "Harry should have gone to Sirius, him being appointed his godfather by the Potters. When he went to prison, I begged for him to give you to me."
"Of course not," Voldemort would rather a half-breed to have raised his son over muggles. Not just muggles, but probably magic-hating muggles. The filthy creatures had probably lied and mistreated the boy because he was superior. "He would place him in a place where he could be raised to grow up docile and weak. That way is more easily controlled."
Harry knew it was true. When he had gotten to Hogwarts, he had begun to worship Dumbledore because the man had shown him kindness and understanding, something he had never received before. He had latched onto the man for this reason. He had also grown attached to the Weasley family because they had made him feel wanted and like he was part of a real family. Something he had been denied. Had the man orchastered the entire thing? Put him with the Dursley's to make him more docile and easily controlled? It had worked, it had worked very well. Up until last year he would have done anything the man had asked of him. If Sirius would have taken him in, or Remus, Dumbledore would have lost control of him. He had complete control as long as he was with the hateful family. "He left me to live with a family that tried to beat the magic out of me."
"A way to make you docile and easier to manipulate." Voldemort had to give the man credit for being able to mastermind such a plot. His own heir was being used against him as a weapon. If not for these two discovering the truth, they would have fought to the death. "Now, that the truth is uncovered, how shall we proceed?"
"It would be dangerous to let Dumbledore know that the truth has been uncovered." Remus didn't want anything else happening to Harry. The boy had been through enough. "If he would go that far to use him, he will not let him switch sides."
"The better question is where do your loyalties lie, half-breed?" Bella wouldn't let that man take her son again. If the mangy dog was going to report back to the old fool, she would kill him before he stood.
"My loyalties have always been with Harry. The only reason I continue to serve Dumbledore was to help protect him. I honestly don't care which side wins, neither outcome will benefit my kind. As long as he is safe, it matters little. Assure me that Harry is no longer a target and my loyalty would no longer reside with the Order." Remus didn't follow because he believed in the old man. He believed in Harry and he loved the boy like he was his own son.
"He will not be harmed, I assure you. Within the hour, all those loyal to me will know not to touch him or the two girls." Voldemort was very pleased with the information. He had always wondered what made the Potter boy so special. His son would be a great asset to his cause. Both of them would, now that they knew the truth of it. He need only convince them to become completely loyal to him.
"May I suggest that you also hold off any actual attacks?" Harry saw the shock his statement caused. He wasn't trying to tell the man what to do. "I'm asking for a good reason. If your followers are somehow caught or tortured. The last thing we need is for someone from the Order that is loyal to Dumbledore to discover that you know the truth."
"Is there a reason you wish to return to that man's side? I would think after learning what he has done, you would see him for what he is." Lucius knew that the Dark Lord had some views these two wouldn't agree with but to return to the man that lied to you about your very existence?
"Yes, there is. May I speak freely?" Harry asked the pale man, he wasn't sure how much he could say in front of the others. The man nodded, if he was looking a bit irritated. "Before I left school for the summer, he confided in me. He informed me that he had a very sound plan in order to destroy you. He wouldn't tell me before leaving but promised to involve me once this school year started up. I'd like to discover what he is planning to do."
"A way to defeat me?" That had him curious as well. What did the old man think he could do? What did Dumbledore know? "Very well, I will have most of my followers on standby until you have discovered this secret."
"Thank you, I want to know what he expects me to do for him." Harry wanted to see exactly how the man meant to use him. What would be asked of him? He could gather information before letting it be known that he knew of his parentage.
"We also need to speak to Luna." Hermione wanted to let the blonde girl know what was going on.
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Please review and I hope that cleared up the heritage potion and the hows.