Summary: Harry and his twin sister Zia discover they are truly magically when their Hogwarts letters show up on the morning of their 11th birthday. However, questions begin to come to light when Harry's letters say a name that isn't his own. What happens when he finds out that maybe things aren't all that they seem? Good! Voldemort Dark! Manipulative! Dumbledore Possible Weasley Bashing.

Sorry for the silence on this story. I've been kinda debating whether or not I actually wanted to continue it as well as dealing with a lot of stuff going on in my personal life. For now I have decided I'm going to so I just ask you to please have patience with me.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and remember to leave me a review on what you think. However, flames are not needed. If you hate it enough to be hateful please move along.

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE Harry Potter characters. All rights belong to J. K. Rowling. Hope you enjoy. Remember to leave a review on what you thought.

(All Characters WILL be slightly OC)

The Truth Behind the Light

Chapter 11

Severus glanced at the young Potter, seeing the tears that shinned in her eyes as she stared at the portrait of her parents, seeing them for the first time. Harry inched closer to his mother as he glanced at his sister, feeling far too tired to want any further interactions.

"Why don't you both get to sleep and in the morning we can read the instructions to active it as soon as you both wake up?" Severus questioned softly, gently placing his hand on Zia's shoulder. The small Ravenclaw managed a small nod before she shifted around the bed, gathering her gifts before tucking them into the drawer of the nightstand. Neither Severus or Bellatrix could bring themselves to separate the two as they curled up in the middle of the bed, figuring they'd grown up used to sharing one.

"Good night you two. And I promise tomorrow isn't going to be nearly as eventful as today was." Bellatrix whispered softly. She tucked the blanket around the two of them, gently kissing her son's forehead. She didn't miss the wishful look that crossed Zia's face at the action. She leaned over Harry, pressing a kiss to hers before she slipped out of the room with Severus. Once she'd shut the door as turned her attention to her husband, the fury evident on her face.

"I want to crush Dumbledore for what he has done to those poor kids!" she snapped, thankful for the silencing charms she knew activated when the door was shut. Her magic cracked in the air, reacting to her anger. Severus sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes as they stood there in silence. They stood outside the bedroom door for several minutes before heading to their own rooms. Bellatrix laid on her side, staring out the bedroom window as Severus sat in the bed flipping through one of his new potions books.

"What are you thinking about?" he questioned, gently reaching out to brush his hand against her cheek.

"Just…about how horrible Zia and Harry have had it. Between losing the Potters when they were babies and from what I've learned from you and my sister, living with horrible and abusive muggles." She muttered after several long moments of awkward silence. Severus could only sigh, closing his book as he closed his eyes for a moment. He had to keep his own magic from lashing out at the thought of the Dursleys. He should have known during the summer when he'd seen Petunia after so many years that she hadn't changed her views on the wizarding world and on magic.

"Well now they have us. Because even though Zia isn't ours, she has been raised right alongside Harry as his twin. I'm not going to separate them and neither of them are going back to the muggles. I will fight Albus on that." He finally stated, attempting to reassure his wife. He reached out to set his book on the nightstand, flicking his wand to extinguish the lights around the room. They settled down to sleep next to each other for the first time in nearly 10 years.

The next morning Bellatrix woke up before Severus, lying in the bed for several minutes as she reminded herself she wasn't still stuck in Azkaban, that she'd been released into her sister's custody. That she had her family back. She took multiple deep breaths before carefully slipping out of bed, attempting not to wake her husband. She'd barely opened the bedroom door when she heard voices down the hallway towards her son's room. A small smile slipped onto her face as she opened the door just a crack. Zia was sitting on the edge of the bed, talking to Harry as he laid on his side, still obviously half asleep.

"Good morning you two." Bella stated, drawing attention to herself. Harry jerked up as she pushed the door open, a panicked expression on his face.

"I'm sorry. We didn't know if we were supposed to stay in here or not." He explained as she walked towards the bed.

"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure everyone else is still fast asleep other than a few of the house elves." She teased, sitting on the bed. Harry managed a small smile as he carefully crawled over to her, cuddling up against her side. Zia couldn't help the depressed look that crossed her face for a moment as she thought about how much the envied Harry for having both of his parents and having a family that clearly wanted him. She shifted slightly, picking at a loose string on her dress.

"Zia? Is something bothering you?" Bellatrix questioned softly. She carefully reached out, easily pulling the little girl against her other side.

"Why…why did I have to lose them? Why is it fair that I had to lose my parents?" she finally whispered. Harry looked at his sister, easily guessing just where her thoughts were at.

"Well…we could always share my parents?" he whispered, giving his mother a hopeful look as best he could.

"If she would accept us. You both might as well be siblings and neither of us want to separate you." She stated, hoping to reassure the worry that was going through both of them. Zia managed a small nod as she curled up, closing her eyes.

Severus found the three of them curled up on the bed together asleep a few hours later. He smiled as he stood, leaning in the doorway.

"Severus is everything alright? We were worried when none of you attended breakfast this morning." Marvolo stated, walking down the hallway. Grace glanced at the young potion master as she stood on her husband's arm. She could easily guess from his relaxed stance that there wasn't anything bad bothering him.

"Just…enjoying having my family back, plus one." Severus explained, gesturing into the room. Marvolo and Grace glanced in, easily guess just what he meant. The Slytherin Lord felt a have pang in his heart as he once again attempted to remember that night at the Potter's home. It was still all little more than a blur, leading him to assume that he had been placed under the Imperious Curse which would have to take someone powerful to pull off.

"Severus I'm assuming you will be returning to the Prince Manor today? Letting the twins get settled in were they will officially be staying during their yule holiday?" he questioned, glancing at his potions master.

"Can't we stay here? Just…just a little longer?" Harry's voice suddenly questioned. All three adults looked at the small Slytherin as he peaked at them from the bed. Severus offered a small smile as he stepped into the room, walking over to them. He easily picked his son up without waking his mother or sister, still angered at just how small the 11-year-old was.

"Don't you want to see our house too? Instead of having to stay at Malfoy Manor the entire time?" he questioned.

"Well yeah…but…I also want to get to know everyone you consider family too. We could always stay at Prince Manor during the summer holiday? We are going home with you for the summer right? Not back to our aunt and uncle?" Harry questioned, looking up at his father. Severus smiled at his son, simply giving him a nod, hugging him tight in a chance to ease the clear insecurity he felt.

"Neither of you ever have to see those muggles again as long as I have a say in it, I promise." he whispered. Marvolo and Grace shared a smile before leaving the small family to their day, figuring they needed to track down their own daughter. Zia sat on the bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning." She muttered softly, releasing a yawn. Harry climbed back onto the bed beside his sister, watching as Severus grabbed the painting from where they had placed it against the wall near the bed.

"From what I read this morning you both need to touch the Potter crest on the frame and push just a tiny bit of your magic into it to activate the runes on the portrait. And that should wake them up. Now please be prepared. We don't know how many of their memories were stored before their deaths." Severus explained. He carefully propped it up close enough to allow them both to touch it. Harry and Zia shared a look before both reaching out their hands, touching the golden coat of arms in the bottom center of the frame. Harry glanced at his sister for a moment, feeling the way his magic seemed to briefly pool into his fingers. He could see the look of ease on her face before he pushed the feeling into the frame. Both sat in silence, watching with baited breathes for any sigh of movements.

"Maybe…we didn't use enough magic?" Harry whispered in an attempt to reassure her when there was nothing for several minutes.

"It's…it's ok. I'm ok with just having a picture of them." She whispered, turning away as she tried to hide the tears that gathered in her eyes. Harry glanced at the picture again, a determined look on his face. He didn't miss the gold shimmer that crossed the painting for a brief moment, magic swirling around him for a moment that felt like a warm embrace. Zia released a surprised breath, feeling it a moment later. She jerked her attention back around, holding her breath as she waited for any sign that it had worked. Harry broke out into a smile when Lily and James suddenly blinked, the magic in the frame bursting to life.

"Hi mom. Hi dad." Zia whispered, tears dripping down her chin.

Well here's the end of the chapter. I hope you enjoyed. I am attempting to get myself on a schedule with updating all my fanfictions so keep an eye out for those updates each month.

Remember to leave me a review on what you thought and keep an eye out for the next update.

"A Lesson without pain is meaningless." – Edward Elric Fullmetal Alchemist

Until Next Chapter,

Snowbeam12