Thank you everyone for following the story and for the kind reviews. Dorkchic, as I said before the fisrt chapter I'm italian and I don't pretend to write perfectly in a language that it's not mine but they're mostly typing errors; I tried to check for any but it seems that I missed some ^^ I am not offended and being told where I do wrong is the best way to get better, so don't worry. Hope you like the new chapter =)

Chapter 6

-Love of Legend-

The revelation was met by silence on Sirius part. He didn't know his little brother had a girlfriend, much less a wife. Nor did he knew of them having a son. He regretted so much drifting apart from his brother because of stupid things over the years, now more than ever.

They were always together when little, plotting and playing pranks together. But when he was sorted in Gryffindor and Reg in Slytherin, they were divided by the houses rivalry.

"Where have you been all those years? I mean. Who took care of you?" asked Sirius

"Aunt Cassiopea in America. Father brought me there when I was one, shortly before being killed"

He died so young his little brother. He was crushed when he found out but didn't dare to show it, only Remus knew how he felt, the order would have jumped at him calling him a death eater no doubt.

"I still don't understand" broke the silence Moony "How did you come to be James and Lily's son? Did they knew? And if so, how could they?"

"Something must have happened" reasoned Padfoot "Lily was pregnant after all"

A tapping at the windows interrupted them. Fred got up, being the nearest to the window, and let the owl enter. It had a letter. For Aries.

Turning it in his hands, he saw that it was very old. Opening it he began to read aloud.

Dear Harry,

While I'm writing this letter you're sleeping in your crib, looking so angelic. I feel so ashamed of myself. I've done something terrible, and I must confess to you what happened.

I'm not your mother. We blood adopted you.

You see, I was pregnant. I was going to have a baby boy. Then on the night of the 31 of July something happened.

I went into labor, but I was alone at home. James was on a mission for the Order of the Phoenix. I could not apparate to the hospital myself and our floo network was disconnected for protection.

Something went wrong, very wrong. When Sirius came to check on me, as promised to James, he found me on the ground nearly unconscious. He took me to St. Mungo's as fast as possible but it was too late.

My baby had his cordon wrapped around his neck, killing him. My baby was dead before seeing the world.

James was the first to know. He told me everything would be alright. He would make it better. When he came back after a few minutes he had a baby in his arms, who looked like him.

In my fragile state I thought you were his bastard child, before he explained that Dumbledore wanted us to take care of you, that he already blood adopted you. They didn't need me to do it as well.

I accepted. Not thinking, I took you as my son and presented you to our friends as mine.

Only later, after properly grieving for my baby I realized what I did. I didn't know who you were, what happened to you, if you still had parents out there looking for you.

James won't answer my questions about you origins. But it can't be good. I noticed how he behaves. The perfect caring father around people, but when they're gone he doesn't even look at you. It doesn't make sense. Even if from a dark family you're still an innocent baby.

Anyway. I told you the truth so you could find who you are and your real family, if they're still alive. I feel that I won't be on this earth for long. Something will happen soon and it won't be good. The Dark Lord seems to get more and more violent as the days pass.

As advice I can tell you to not trust Dumbledore, I can't tell why, it's just a sensation.

I know I don't deserve forgiveness for my selfish act, but I hope that you can understand even a little my reasons.

I will always love you and protect you.

Lily Evans

"I can't believe James. I thought better of him" commented Remus shaking his head.

"James doesn't matter now. What are you going to do now Aries?" asked one of the twins.

He sighed tiredly. "I suppose I should contact my father but.. I'm scared" he admitted leaning against Kieran shoulder.

"He's your father pup. I'm sure everything will be fine" reassured him Sirius.

"And of course-"started a twin "we'll be with you" continued the other "all the way!" they finished together.

"Fine, you convinced me. I'll write him a letter and see what happens" agreed Aries before conjuring parchment and ink.

After the ink dried he carefully folded the letter. "Charon!" he called ignoring the puzzled expressions of the four pranksters.

In a flash of blue and violet fire the Phoenix appeared in front of him, landing on the small table. He chirped happily and pecked lightly his hand.

"What the Fuck!" exclaimed Sirius.

"Um. This is Charon, he's a Royal phoenix and he's my familiar" told them Aries before explaining the smart bird what to do.

In another flash he was gone, and all Aries had to do was waiting for Voldemort, his father, to reply.

Lord Voldemort was in his study trying to find some ritual to help him locate Aries when a rare phoenix flashed in front of him. The beautiful bird placed a scroll on the desk before perching on top of the armchair opposite to him and singing a happy tune.

Opening the scroll, calmed by the song, he wondered what it could be. His eyes widened in shock and horror before reading it for a second time, wanting to be sure he was no hallucinating.

Dear Voldemort,

It is alright to start the letter like that? I really don't know how to go about this so I just will tell you as it comes.

A few days ago I found out that the Potters were not my parents and that I was blood adopted. I also has several bindings on my core, but you don't care about that surely. Last night the blood glamours of the adoption fell so I was able to find my real identity at Gringotts.

As strange as it is… you are my father.

I don't know if you care about me or still want to kill me for some reason. I can tell you that I'm not on Dumbledore side. The old man fucked up my life one time too much. So I will not fight you, if you won't come after me.

All my life I dreamed of having a family, a real one, someone who cared for me and protected me. What is going to happen is up to you.

Charon will wait for a reply.

Aries Lorien Riddle

Tom could not believe it. He tried to kill his own son! He was disgusted with himself. And the boy was willing to give him a chance? How?

He scribbled a reply without wasting time and gave it to the phoenix petting it before it flashed back to his son.

He tugged at his hair, suddenly worried of losing his son because of his idiocy that Halloween night.

Really? A prophecy? From that drunkard who could not predict the weather? How stupid could he have been? He was blinded by pain and revenge but he should have been more careful. And plan his attacks carefully. As much as he wanted to, he could not chance the past.

Getting up he went to see Selena to give both the good and the bad news. If she was alive, she would have skinned him alive for nearly hurting their baby.

Dear Aries.

I swear I did not know who you really were when I attacked the Potters. I would never intentionally hurt you. You have to believe that.

Until a couple of days ago I was not even aware of your existence. It is a long story, and painful for me, but the night you were born the order attacked my manor. Dumbledore killed your mother before I could come to her rescue and took her body away with him. You were not born yet.

From her portrait, Selena told me that you were alive and probably with a light family.

I wish I could undo the errors of the past, but it is beyond my powers.

I would love more than anything to have you by my side as my son and heir, Aries. But I understand your lack of trust towards me. So, I am willing to answer any and all questions you may have even under a truth oath.

I will leave the wards open for the next twenty minutes for you, and whomever you wish to accompany you, to flash here with your phoenix.

I swear no harm will come to you, or the people with you.

Thomas Marvolo Riddle.

After reading the letter Aries looked at the others, his eyes pleading them to go with him.

"Oy, I invented and perfected the puppy look, it doesn't work on me. Kinda." stated Sirius.

"Shut up, Pad. We'll come with you of course. You don't even have to ask." smiled Remus

"We're in too!" shouted the twins.

Kieran just smiled. There was no way in hell he was going to let Aries go somewhere without him.

Grabbing Charon's tail feathers the six wizards vanished from the room.

Dumbledore was pacing in his office at Hogwarts. His order members could not find the Potter boy anywhere. He had them search the Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, Gringotts, even Knockturn Alley! Nothing. Not a trace of him in Hogsmade or the Three Broomsticks. And the muggle world was just too difficult to search.

If only the tracing charms hadn't fallen. He would have found the brat in a second. He could use a blood ritual, but he lacked the blood of the boy. What to do?

He sat on his chair stroking his beard in search of a solution. His eyes fell on a Gringotts letter. It was early for the usual monthly statement. He opened it cursing in annoyance.

Albus Dulbledore,

The goblin nation found you guilty of theft against the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, having abused your powers as self appointed guardian of one Lord Potter.

The amount of money wrongfully taken, will be withdraw from your personal account. The Phoenix vault will be emptied and closed.

Gringotts will cease all and every business with your person.

Regards,

Ragnok the 50th, King of the Goblin Nation

Fueled with rage, he let his magic take control causing destruction to the newly repaired office. Fawkes flashed away, not wanting to witness his bonded losing his mind. What was he going to do now? He was broke, his pay has headmaster was ridiculous compared to his needs, he had an image to uphold, and only the Potter money granted him that. And the war. The order was mostly founded in the same way. He would have to make the boy change his mind and give him back the money. He had people to bribe too, to make the wizarding world a place like he wanted.

At Grimmauld Place other people received the same letter. Mrs Weasley was indignant at the Potter boy, she took him in her home and was willing to give him her daughter, how dare he take her money away? She deserved that gold!

Ron was of a same mind; the headmaster made him befriend the brat promising him money and fame. And now he had nothing. Hermione was wailing, all the money for her university and the book she bought were gone. They needed to do something and get Harry back under their control.

Charon was still too young to flash all of them so Kieran and Aries opted for shadowing since that method could pass any kind of ward.

Tom was impressed when he saw his son appear that way, along with another boy. The presence of the two other men and the twins did not surprise him so much, his son trusted them after all.

Aries looked around, awed at the place. They were in a wide living room decorated in light shades of green and silver. His eyes landed on the form of Voldemort. He was different from last time he saw him, gone were the snake like features, leaving an handsome man in their place. He could definitely see the resemblance between them now.

Aries was unsure of what to do or say. So he stood there, like a deer caught in headlight.

"Welcome to Slytherin Manor, my son" his deep baritone felt warm and comforting to him.

"Father.." he wasn't sure if it sounded like a question but it was a great achievement it didn't come out as a squeak.

Tom smiled seeing the boy so nervous "Please, make yourselves comfortable" he invited them gesturing to the several armchairs and couches, sitting himself. Aires and Kieran went to a couch on the right of his father armchair, the marauders took two chairs and the twins claimed the couch opposite.

"Is there anything you wish to ask me Aries?" inquired the dark lord after ordering some refreshments from the elf.

"Um.. you look different from.." he was going to say the graveyard but the memory was still too fresh in his mind. And he didn't want to say anything to offend him.

"The ritual was supposed to use blood of the enemy, and you obviously are not one. I understand if you are scared of me after the way I behaved on that occasion."

"How did you" "get back" "your noticeably" "good looks?" asked the twins.

Tom raised an eyebrow at the display. "You would get along with the Lestrange brothers. Always trying to drive people crazy with their twin talk. Anyways, Severus created a potion to restore my appearance."

"So he's loyal to you?" Sirius was happy they decided to not approach the potion master, it could have gone terribly bad if Aries didn't turn out to be Voldemort son.

"Yes. Severus is a dear friend. He was very close to my wife." admitted Tom.

"But he hates me!" Aries protested without thinking

"No, he doesn't. Sev hates the image of James Potter, and you looked too much like him" corrected him his father.

"He's right pup," continued Sirius "we tormented the man all seven years. James was the worst, even if I tried to keep it light, and that's shocking I know, he was set on making Snape life hell. And all because he was obsessed with Lily and she was friends with a snake instead of noticing him"

"Yeah. In fifth year I almost killed Severus during a full moon, James saved him. I was told that Sirius led him there and we had a huge fall out. Only two month later we found out that it was James impersonating Padfoot with a polyjuice potion." admitted Moony.

Harry was shocked to hear that the man he thought his father for the last years, the man everybody talked so highly about, could do something so horrid. Now he could understand why professor Snape was so mean with him.

Seeing Aries lost in thought the twins decided to ask a question of their own "So" "are you" "really evil?"

"Um. Define 'evil'. Am I a dark wizard? Yes, I am. Am I going to kill mindlessly like the last war? No. That was the result of Dumbledore actions. I actually wanted and still want to change our world to be a better place." explained Tom

"How?" spoke Kieran for the first time.

"Equal right for all the creatures, introduction of muggleborns to our world earlier than a few months before school, preparatory schools for them and purebloods, expanding Hogwarts curriculum, improving our economy so that the half of the population won't go back to the muggle world, a not corrupted ministry.. things like that." all the ideas he had would take a day to list, pity Dumbledore was set against any kind of change in their world. Changes that would better it at least.

Aries looked at his father, gathering his courage to ask the question that was tormenting him. "Why did you want to kill me?" he whispered, so low that they barely heard him.

"There was a prophecy about someone who would kill me. Made by that drunk divination teacher of yours. Severus reported it to me as soon as he heard it. Initially I did not care about it, I never believed in this things. But then they killed my wife, and you as I thought. I became lost in pain and desire for vengeance. The children of the prophecy were thought to be the Potter or the Longbottom ones. I started to believe that the death of my family was the beginning of that prediction coming true and I attacked the Potters. It was a stupid thing to do, and I regret it even more knowing I risked to harm my own son." Voldemort tried to keep his voice steady, but he was not sure he did it very well.

"There is a prophecy? I have to kill you?" Aries felt himself panicking. He just found his father, he could not lose him now.

"No, my son. It was just a fake." he reassured him, while sitting beside him and wrapping, for the first time, his son in his arms.

After a few other questions, they decided that they would live there at the manor from now on. Kieran would evict the order from Grimmauld place, as Lord Black he could break the fidelius charm and deny entrance to everyone, the twins too had no intention of going back home with that bunch of backstabbing bigots. Tom had no problem in that, it would help Aries to feel less uncomfortable in the new living arrangements and to adjust to the new life.

Calling for an elf he ordered him to show the guests their bedrooms while he took care of Aries and the other boy.

"I still don't know who you are" he said eyeing the young man wrapped around his son.

"I apologize, my name is Kieran Black, sir" he introduced himself holding out his hand to Voldemort.

"Ah, yes. You look a lot like your father. It was a sad day when Dumbledore killed him" he really liked the boy, Regulus, he was bright and enthusiastic, with a great future in front of him.

They took the stairs to the third floor where the family wing was.

After leaving Kieran to his room, Voldemorto addressed his son "Would you mind if we talked a bit alone before going to your room? There's also someone who you should meet" smiling slightly he waited to see his son reaction.

Aries was conflicted, he really wanted to get to know his father and have a good relationship with him but on the other hand the man attempts to kill him were still fresh in his mind. He bit his bottom lip looking at the other trying to decide. At the end he nodded following him to what looked to be the master bedroom.

Once inside he saw a giant snake coming towards him and wrapping around his legs. He widened his eyes in fear.

"Nagini!" Tom hissed angrily "you're going to ssscare Ariess that way. Releassse him immediately" he ordered glaring at his familiar. The last thing he needed now was her trying to eat his son.

"I'm sssorry massster. I wanted to greet the hatchling.." the snake apologized lowering her head.

"It'ok" Aries hissed lowly and Tom could not help the grin that broke free at hearing his son speaking the language of his ancestors. "What kind of snake is she?"

"She's a magical kind of python. Was that the first time you talked with a snake?" he inquired softly.

"Um? Oh no, I was able to talk to snakes since little, than all the school found out in second year during the dueling club because of that idiot Lockhart. But everyone said it was an evil thing so I didn't do it anymore. Not even in the chamber with the basilisk.."

"You met the basilisk?" she could be quite grumpy when woken, he knew that too well.

"Yeah. Ginny was possessed by.. your diary" he was talking so softly Tom could barely hear him "there was a memory of you.. he tried to kill me using the basilisk"

For the love of Merlin! Even his horcrux tried to kill his son, was that some kind of curse? He rubbed his eyes ready for his wife yelling her lungs out at him.

"Thomas Marvolo Riddle!" there she was, the most lovely woman but when she started to scream at you, you run away "What is the meaning of this?! I don't care if it's your horcrux you're going to destroy that thing! I will not have anything hurt my baby! Am I clear?"She screamed, adding more calmy "And don't look at me that way, I know it's not your fault"

Aries was looking at his mother in amazement. She was so beautiful, he could see that he inherited her emerald eyes; and she was giving the most feared dark lord know in history one hell of a dressing down.

"Oh my baby!" she turned to him "you're so gorgeous my little prince! I'm so happy to see you're safe and with your father. I feared this day would never come between this stubborn man and that manipulative old imbecile. He didn't hurt you did he? I swear if he hurt a single hair of your head I'm going to come back from the dead and curse him with the worst spells in my arsenal!"

Aries found himself smiling. That was what was like to have a mom, who loved you, cared for you and protected you with fangs and claws. If his mom was alive, it would have been perfect. But he wasn't someone to ask for too much, having the possibility to get to know her through a painting and talk with her was enough.

"I'm fine now." he tried to placate her, but that brought on a whole lot of other questions from Tom too. Under the double questioning he gave in and told them everything that happened in his life.

"I'm going to kill them!" roared the dark lord "how dare they lay their filthy hands on my child?"

That was nice too. A protective father ready to kill for him. Well, maybe he could do without the killing but he appreciated the thought.

"You have to torture them before, dear" chirped his mother with an evil glint in her eyes.

"Of course, love. You're right as always" agreed Tom, nodding and planning ways to make them hurt.

After he managed to convince them not to kill anyone, not without some trouble, he proposed to just make tier life hell, that he did not mind.

"Aries, I was thinking that maybe we could invite the Malfoys and Severus tomorrow…" his son looked at him insecure "I promise it will go well, child."

"Fine. Can Kieran and the others be there too?" he asked with hope.

"Of course." he quickly agreed "What exactly is your relationship with the young Black?" he would have some threatening to do if they were together, but he had not seen anything to confirm his suspicions. But the boy was clearly interested in his son, so maybe..

"Um. He's my boyfriend" he stopped seeing an evil glint appear in his father eyes and little hearts in her mother's. Now he was scared. He wanted to still have a boyfriend the following day! "and.. and the test at Gringotts said we have a bond as soul mates. Whatever that means"

'Soul mates? Well that is rare' thought Tom.

"It means that you are destined for each other, and a perfect combination both in soul, mind, body and magic my dear. I'm sure you make a wonderful couple. You need to introduce this young man who stole your heart to mummy as soon as possible." in reality Selena was already planning the wedding and names for the children.

"Down woman. He's too young for that" told her Tom reading her mind. She just pouted not minding Aries confused expression. "It's late, come I'll show you your room"