It was hours before his execution, yet Leo sat in the cell with a smile on his face.

The cell didn't have a bed. The floors were filthy, with a musty, cold air surrounding him. It had been days since he last ate. He had lost weight, to the degree that his face was now gaunt and bones poked through his rib cage.

''It will be tonight,'' Orion said, peering through the bars. ''You have six hours, until your execution.''

''Can we get this over with now?'' Leo asked. ''I've been waiting for a long, long time. We can just start it now.''

''This is not the first time you have asked Orion noted, squinting down on him. ''Why?''

''Why?'' He asked, now sitting up. ''I don't know, maybe because I'm sick of waiting. If I'm going to die, let's just get it over with. I'm getting bored now.''

''I see,'' Orion whispered coldly. ''It is admirable that you can keep a brave front, in this situation.''

Leo's smile just widened. ''A front?''

''Yes,'' Orion said. ''No one will save you. You are here, alone, and you will die alone.''

''Will I now?'' He drawled. ''Well, then. Let me ask you this. Do you remember the first time I saw an execution?''

''And why is this relevant?''

''Humour me.'' He said. ''It was Marius. That was quite a way to spend your ninth birthday…but right now I'm just thinking about what he felt because we're going through the same thing.''

''That you are.'' Orion boomed .''You both have betrayed our family and shall suffer the consequences.''

''I guess you're right.'' He said easily. ''But to tell you the truth, I'm looking forward to my execution.''

Orion's coal-black eyes shimmered in the darkness. ''I am not humoring you, Leo. We will see each other one last time, before your execution.''

''Okay, I'll see you then.'' He said. ''But I want to ask one thing. Do you regret taking me in now?''

Orion began walking away, his back to the cell.

''I do. I should have killed you, for your muggle blood. But nostalgia blinded me.''

Leo fell onto his back, bursting with laughter. ''I knew it. But you're right, things would've been easier. For you, anyway.''

Yes. Leo could remember that day like it was yesterday. The day when he realized who he was.

The day when Harry Evans vanished, and Leo Black appeared.

Harry Evans looked everywhere for his lost necklace.

Through the corridors, empty classrooms, and the boy's toilets. But it was nowhere to be found.

It was around his neck earlier. In English and Maths, but he had to take it off for PE.

But it wasn't in the Hall. Harry looked for half an hour there, but it had disappeared into thin air.

So maybe it was here. It had to be. He ignored the voice in his ear. No it's not. Why would it be?

Harry's search eventually led him near the woods, just in front of the dusty, padlocked gate.

The entrance was dark and the wind blew through the branches, twisting and contorting them.

''Go in the Faceless Man will get you. Where'd you think Tommy went?''

That was what the older kids said. Harry could imagine it. A faceless, eyeless man, ripping at him, and all he could do was scream.

The bell rang, and students spilled out onto the playground. He sat on the swing, his feet on the ground.

Harry was minding his own business, as it struck him. A pebble hit his head, recoiling. He didn't even move his head, as the words. ''What do you want, Dudley?'' Came out.

''Get off the swing,'' Dudley demanded, two other boys on both his sides. ''I wanna sit there.''

He frowned, his fingers curling around the cold, metallic chain. ''I was here first.''

''You think I care bout' that? Get off. I'm sitting there now.''

His mouth opened, but he could not say a word before Dudley cut him off.

''Get off or we'll just make you.''

That wouldn't be good. Harry was taller than Dudley, Piers, and Gordon, but he was also slighter, with thin wrists and long limbs. But if he were to use his powers...

''Dudley said get off,'' Piers said, with a slight lisp. ''So get off. You gotta remember what happened last time?''

Harry did. His whole body was battered for a month afterward. ''Fine.'' He sighed and got up. ''I was just going to move anyway…''

Dudley whispered one word. ''Chicken.''

Harry turned, making two fists. He watched them silently.

''You gonna' do something?'' Dudley asked, jeering.

Harry stopped on the spot, the words from his uncle ringing in his ear.

''Do anything to your cousin, and there'll be hell to pay. You got that?''

''I said I was just leaving.'' He mumbled.

''Knew you wouldn't do anything,'' Dudley said, lips twisting nastily. ''So where'd that silly necklace go.''

''It's not silly,'' Harry mumbled, stopped. He thought. Why do you want to know?

''It's silly. Only girls wear necklaces and stuff.'' Dudley said. ''I know where it is though.''

His emerald green eyes glinted darkly. ''How do you - you took it!''

''Didn't take it,'' Dudley said. ''You took it off in PE, so I just picked it up.''

''Then where is it?''

Dudley pointed a fat finger at the forest, grin broadening. ''There.''

He gasped. ''What, you put my necklace in the forest?''

''Yeah,'' Dudley said.

''Why?'' He muttered.

''Cause I wanted to,'' Dudley said, taking a step closer. ''You gonna do something Bout' it?''

Harry opened his mouth, ready to unload, but in the end, he didn't say anything. He stayed quiet and stomped off, over to the foot of the woods.

His hand pressed against the gate. Shivers ran through him as if touching ice.

''Don't under any circumstances enter the forest.'' The Headmaster had said at the beginning of Primary School, just last year. ''And if you do, you will be in deep, deep trouble. Understood?''

That thought swam through his mind. That and the faceless man chasing him. Nonetheless, Harry entered, and the only sound that greeted his ears was the leaves crunching from under him.

Harry searched under leaves and behind stumps. The further into the forest he got, the darker it became. Rain fell and the clouds turned grey, rumbling.

It drenched through his clothes and shoes, leaving him a shivering mess.

But going back was not an option. It was too late for that. He ventured deeper and deeper, having to squint through the rain. But he would not return, without his necklace.

Eventually, Harry bent down, to look under a particularly large leaf, and then, he heard two voices. He sprung up but made sure he was hidden behind the tree.

''Are you sure it's here? We've laid out a trap and it's still not showing its face.''

''Don't be stupid. It's here, somewhere. So keep your wits about you.''

Harry poked his head out from the tree, looking upon a strange sight. Two men stood in the rain, dressed in what looked to be robes. Their faces were hidden, with their hoods up and backs turned to him.

But the two men didn't continue their conversation. No, they slowly turned, as lightning rumbled overhead, lighting their faces up. But his attention stayed on one man.

It was the older of the two; his face was horribly scarred, with jagged cuts and some of his lip missing.

''And what do you think you're doing here?''

Harry whipped around and bolted. He ran and didn't look back. He didn't dare, for what he might see.

The scarred face lingered in his mind, and would not leave.

But after a while, Harry came to a realization. He could not hear anything. Nothing, but the sound of rain thudding away.

Eventually, Harry stopped to take a breath. He sat by a soggy stump, staring down at his reflection in the puddle, a necklace beside it.

Even with how wet it had gotten, the green gemstone still shone brighter than any star.

His fingers fell into the puddle, and he pulled it out, to connect it around his neck.

And then, the rain stopped. It was sudden, too sudden. Rain didn't just stop like that. But it wasn't just that. The puddles started to vanish, one by one, almost magically.

Harry rose from the stump, two fingers wrapped around his necklace. A low, croaky voice fell by his ear.

''I didn't think I would be getting any visitors.''

For the longest time, Harry could do nothing but stare. But, ever so slowly, he turned and stared into the man's face.

It was an old man. Very tall, and very skinny. Two black, pupilless eyes stared down at him.

''Er, visitors?''

Harry had said, backing away. The man followed, taking long, exaggerated steps.

''You don't have to run away. I just want to talk. What's a little boy doing out here all by himself?''

''I'm not running away…..but only teachers are allowed here.'' He said, back hitting against the tree.

''But I am a teacher.'' The old man said, now so close that Harry could feel his breath on him. He smiled. His teeth were perfectly white, but his pitch-black eyes were empty and had no pupils.

''No, you're not.'' Harry was finally able to say. He sidestepped, away from the tree. The old man just grabbed his arm, his fingers dry and cold as ice. He said, ''Let me go.'' In his mind, it sounded demanding and confident, but what came out was a frightened, muffled murmur.

''You're not going anywhere.'' The man croaked, and it began. He grew and grew, skin shedding. Nails turned into talons. His eyes darkened, multiplying, until dozens of them peered down at him, like a spider's. ''You're not going anywhere ever again.''

The creature caught Harry's face with its talons. He struggled, but it was no use, as he was forced down into the dirt.

''Let me go!'' He wailed. ''Just let me go! I didn't do anything!''

''Struggle more little boy.'' Its talons lightly caress his throat, until landing on the necklace. ''Oh my. You might be my greatest hunt in a long time, human. I didn't know you were a part of that family.'

''Stop-'' He croaked, still struggling. ''Just let me go. I won't tell anyone. Just let me go. Please.''

''You're just making me want to savor my meal even more.'' The monster said, a long, serpentine tongue swirling in the air. ''More.''

''Meal?'' He mumbled, his whole body frozen. ''No, no, no, no.''

The creature's talons covered Harry's face so that only his dark green eyes poked out. He begged ''No. please. Don't kill me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.''

All that came from the creature was a slither of inhuman laughter, sounding like nails scratching against a chalkboard.

''Is anybody there? Anybody!'' He cried hysterically

''Nobody is going to save you.'' The creature said, squeezing lightly. ''It's just me and you, human.''

''No.'' He whispered, and then his voice erupted into a shout ''Let me go! I said let me go! Let me go! I didn't do anything to you, Let go!''

''I said-''

The creature was not able to finish its sentence. Its eyes lost their gleams, before flying into the sky. As if being slashed by an invisible sword, its body was severed into two and it began to rain blood.

The clouds splintered, followed by its corpse falling with a crash. Its top half fell by Harry's side, and he had to stare into its blank, black eyes.

Harry rolled onto his back but did not get up. He stared up into the clouds, the stench of blood filling his nostrils.

Slowly, Harry reached out for his necklace, still hanging around his neck. At least it was still here.

It was too expensive for someone like him to have, in his dirty clothes, two sizes too small. But it was his, and his only. The one thing in the world that was truly his.

It had been with him longer than he could remember, perhaps a memento from his parents.

As long as he had it, everything would be fine.

That, Harry, was sure of.

It took a while, but Harry finally returned to the school grounds.

He trudged through the forest, walking under the trees for cover.

But no matter what Harry did, his hands would not stop trembling. He made fists and dropped them into his pockets, but he could still feel the talons on his face. He could feel it, and the blood that dirtied his hands, that did not wash away, no matter how hard it rained.

When Harry returned to school, he made a beeline for the toilets and turned the tap on, to wash his hands and face. He looked up, focusing on the reflection in the cracked mirror.

His hair which usually fell around his collar in waves, was now messy and tangled, with a face that was a shade paler than it had been earlier.

Harry twisted the tap again, and splashed his face, letting it leak down his shirt.

The door flung open and three faces reflected themselves in the mirror, enveloping his.

''Look, Dudley,'' Piers said, pointing a crooked finger at Harry. ''He's actually hiding in the toilets.''

He kept his hand under the tap for a moment, before turning it off and going for the exit. Dudley moved, blocking the doorway.

''Excuse me.''

''What?'' Dudley spat.

''Can you please just move?''

''You trying to tell me what to do?''

''Dudley.'' He muttered. ''Just please, I want to go back to class.''

Dudley took a step forward, forcing Harry on the back foot.

''Don't care.''

'' Leave me alone.'' He said. ''Today has been horrible.''

The two boys behind his cousin laughed, mocking and taunting. Dudley didn't join in. He just said.

''Don't wanna. You went into the forest, yeah? Give me that.''

He frowned. ''Give you what?''

Dudley's fingers went for his necklace. ''That.''

''I'm not giving you my necklace.'' He said steely.

''Yeah, you are,'' Dudley said. ''Or I'll tell Mom and Dad.''

He stood his ground. ''I said I'm not giving you it.''

''Look who's getting brave,'' Piers said, grinning. ''It probably ain't even yours anyway.''

''Yes, it is.'' He growled.

''You probably just nicked it.'' Dudley's fingers wrapped around the necklace ''Now give it here. Moms always talking about how they can give you a lot of money for em.''

He grabbed Dudley's arm, but the other boy's wrists were too large for his fingers to wrap around fully.

''Stop it, Dudley. I want to go back to class, just give me my necklace back.''

Dudley gave one final tug and ripped the necklace free.

''Give that back!'' He yelled, reaching out into the air. ''Just give it back Dudley!''

''No!'' Dudley said loudly. He pushed Harry hard, into the wall. His head slammed back against steel. ''It's mine now.''

''Give it back!'' Harry yelled, the bathroom spinning around him. ''I said give it back.''

Gordon and Piers laughed again, with Dudley's gloating face in the center of the bathroom.

''Nu-uh. It's mine now. Mine. Want me to flush it down the toilet?''

Harry's green eyes widened with rage. His voice came out, as a low, long hiss. ''I said give it back Dudley.''

Just as quickly as the laughter began, it ended. All three boys staggered, falling onto the wet floor with a splash. They screamed, squirming and rolling across the floor.

''I told you to give it back! I told you to leave me alone, but you wouldn't!'' Harry shouted, his voice cracking. ''Nobody does! Nobody does! Nobody does! Nobody does!''

''Stop it!'' Dudley cried. ''Stop it!''

Harry just watched, completely silent. He bent down, took the necklace from Dudley's stubby fingers, and reattached it around his neck.

''You didn't stop when I asked, so why should I? You don't know anything that happened today, nothing!''

''No-'' Dudley sniffed, writhing still. ''Just stop it — it's too much.''

''Shut Up!''

Harry's foot fell down, twisting it against Dudley's hand.

''You never stop when I ask! You never stop when I ask. So why should I!''

''No, stop! I'm sorry!'' Dudley shrieked, tears spilling down. ''I'm sorry.''

His necklace glowed, the green gemstone gleaming darkly. He stepped around the three boys, doing nothing to help them as he exited the bathroom.

Harry stood in the halls, older students brushing by him as if he were invisible.

The screams of the boys echoed in his mind. Over and over, but he kept his face expressionless. A strange sensation settled in his chest.

What was this feeling?

The evening was already dark, but Harry did not dare return home.

After what occurred in the bathroom, he left the school grounds immediately. The teachers already knew what happened, that he was sure of. That meant his aunt and uncle knew as well.

Harry could not go home. Not now, not ever. When he pushed Duddley the punishment was bad enough, but what would Vernon do if he found out what happened in the bathroom?

It was not as if he did anything wrong, but Vernon might kill him. And if his uncle didn't, he would call the police and Harry would be locked away forever.

But eventually, Harry knew he had very little choice.

The air was cold and musty. Rain fell so hard it caused shivers to run through his whole body and the wind sent him stumbling. The night had just begun too.

If he was quiet, maybe they wouldn't notice.

Harry stood in front of the house for a long time. He took one, long breath. He stepped forward and pushed the door open, before entering slowly.

''Where have you been?'' Petunia demanded, standing just by the doormat. ''You should have been in hours ago!''

That was a lie, Harry knew. Dudley had to be home before dark, not him.

''Sorry.'' He mumbled.

''That's enough from you,'' Petunia said. ''Now, go into the living room, there is someone who wants to talk with you.''

Harry felt his chest grow tight. ''Someone does…. who?''

''Someone very important.'' Petunia wagged a finger at him. ''Don't make him wait any longer.''

Harry shuffled up to the living room, his mind swarming. He entered and spotted only two people.

The first was his uncle, who was not sitting in his usual recliner and seemed rather quiet.

The other was a man whom Harry had never seen before. Nobody was allowed to sit in his uncle's seat, but from one look, it became clear why Vernon allowed it.

The man was absolutely massive. Over six feet tall, with thick wrists and arms like tree trunks. Even with the greys in his hair and beard, he was far more imposing than Vernon, even at his angriest.

''Hello.'' The man finally said, his voice like ice. ''Are you Harry?''

''Yes...''

''Come forward.'' The man murmured. ''I want to get a good look at you.''

He shuffled forward, his heart thumping.

The man reached out, clasping his cheek with a cold, wrinkled hand.

''How old are you, boy?''

He was able to answer. ''Eight…''

The man studied him further, coal-black eyes flickering under the light. ''And tell me, what is your full name.''

He couldn't help but frown, at all the questions.

''Harry Evans…''

The man's face stayed the same, but his hands gave a slight twitch. ''As I thought, Harry. I understand that you have been living with your aunt and uncle, but have you met your mother?''

''No….''

''And do you know her name?''

He turned his head, at Vernon, who had still not said a word.

''I am speaking with you, not your uncle.''

He turned back to the man immediately. ''No….I know she's my aunt's sister….but…''

''They have not told you anything else?'' The man asked cooly. ''I knew of your mother.''

''You…..did?''

''Yes. We have also met on occasion.'' The man admitted. ''May I have a look at your locket?''

Instinctively, Harry held onto his necklace.

''I do not intend to keep it, but I need to verify one last thing.''

He disconnected the necklace and held onto it, but did not give it to the man, who just took it forcefully.

''I see.'' The man murmured. ''It seems that I was corrected.''

''What do you mean?'' He asked.

''Only those of the Black Main Line can wear this locket, without consequence.'' The man said ominously. He finally turned away from Harry, to look at Vernon. ''How long has he been here?''

Vernon could not answer in time.

''I will not repeat myself, Muggle, if you do not want a repeat from earlier.''

''Five or six years ago,'' Vernon said, his voice quieter than Harry was used to.

''Five years.'' The man said. ''Very well. Come. We will finish this conversation someplace else.''

''What?'' He asked. ''But who are you….how do you know my mom?''

The man stood up from the chair, towering over Harry.

''That is because your father was my son.'' The man revealed. ''My name is Orion Black, and I am your grandfather.''