I can't believe I am back! Hello everyone, here is chapter one of The Darkness: Embraced!
Now just like before:
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Harry Potter, books or movies.
This is a m/m fanfiction, if you don't like that, don't read it. Simple. There will be m/f and some f/f as well.
There is a lot of light side bashing, particularly with Lily Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Molly Weasley, my OC Henry Potter and others.
There is no physical relationships yet as Harry and his friends are all thirteen.
lastly and importantly, THIS IS A PART THREE of a series, please read parts one and two first. I am currently slowly going through part one and editing it to match the style of writing I have evolved to. But I will not be changing anything important in them, so don't fret if you have already read it. And with that done: ENJOY.
The summer of 1993 had been a long and torrid one, drawn-out days with a blistering sun. Harry, Hermione and their friends had spent most of the summer in the sizeable lake in the forest on the Riddle Manor grounds. Although meagre compared to Hogwart's Black Lake it was big for a private property lake. Situated in a large clearing inside the woods with a two-level waterfall. Large smooth rocks and moss covered the magic-made walls of the waterfall, with places to jump off at halfway and the top. Tom had cast many charms on the surrounding trees to prevent them from overgrowing and blocking the sun. The charms meant the water was warm but also helped the beautiful wildflowers to grow in the grass around the lake. Harry and Hermione loved to spend their summer days down there swimming if they weren't on holiday overseas with the family.
Unfortunately, the summer was officially ending, and with the new year at Hogwarts approaching it was time for the annual trip to Diagon Alley.
"Master Harry!" a squeaky high voice pierced Harry's dreams, waking him with a jolt. The thirteen-year-old groaned at the bright sunlight coming through his now-opened curtains.
"No!" Harry whined, rolling over in his bed and pulling the blankets up over his head. "It's the summer holidays!"
"I is sorry Master Harry, but youse Father is being insistent." Pippin, Harry's nanny-elf squeaked. "Youse is going shoppin today." Harry yelped as with a snap of his fingers, Pippin lifted his blanket off him and had it folded at the foot of the bed.
"I hate you," Harry growled, eyes shut tight.
"Yes, I know Master Harry," Pippin smiled, "Now ups youse get," Harry grumbled as he rolled and fell out of the bed. His head popped up with his brown curly hair a total mess, sticking out from his head everywhere like he had been electrocuted. His killing curse green eyes were hazy with sleep as he climbed to his feet, stretching out his arms with a deep yawn. Not bothering to change out of his silvery-blue acromantula silk pyjama set, the shorts and buttoned shirt, were light, airy and comfortable. Closing his bedroom door he headed to breakfast hoping the kitchen elves had made pancakes this morning.
"Good Morning," Hermione greeted him with her own yawn as she came out of her room just as Harry was passing her door. Her hair was just as bad as Harry's, but she had managed to wrestle it into an awful neon yellow scrunchie. Dressed in an identical pyjama set to Harry's she joined him walking down the hallway.
"What's so good about it?" Harry complained as he rubbed his eyes. "Being woken up at the crack of bloody dawn," he continued with a scowl.
"It's 8:30 Harry," Hermione rolled her sparkling green eyes as she scratched her head. "We wake up earlier at Hogwarts,"
"Yes, but that's school," Harry retorted as they entered the dining room where their parents were already at the table. Their dad reading the daily prophet with a strong coffee, their mum sipping her favourite breakfast tea. "It is the holidays and I want to sleep in," he said with a sharp nod as he collapsed into a chair, Hermione sighing with a head shake as she took her seat.
"Good Morning my little snakes," Cassi cooed, standing up and leaning over to kiss their cheeks softly,
"Why are we up this early?" Harry asked as blinked tiredly.
"We are going to Diagon Alley today," Tom replied as he flicked the page, not much interesting to him in the news this week. Cassiopeia frowned when she saw Harry and Hermione yawn yet again.
"How much sleep did you two get?" Cassi asked suspiciously, sharing a look with Tom when both children stayed quiet.
"Hermione?" their Mother persisted.
"I finished my book?" She admitted questioningly, "It was amazing and I just couldn't put it down!" she defended herself.
"Harry?" Tom asked, placing the paper down in his lap, dreading the answer when the boy winced.
"I was in the library with Hermione, listening to Australia vs New Zealand Quidditch match on the WWN " He finally admitted. The Wizarding Wireless Network could be tuned to many different programmes. The most popular channels being; The World of Quidditch, Witching Hour and Toots, Shoots 'n' Roots.
"What time did you two finally go to bed if you didn't stay in bed after we said goodnight and lights out at 9:30?" Cassiopeia sighed.
"Umm," Harry hesitated, pursing his lips as if to keep his secrets in. "Well, we swear we didn't realise how late it was,"
"How late?" Tom asked sternly.
"Maybe close to 1:00 in the morning," Hermione finally breathed out. Harry sank in his chair and Hermione bit her lip when their Mother groaned and ran her hands over her face, their Father just sitting there with a frown.
"Hermione, Harry, I know you love to read and Quidditch, and I will never take those away from either of you. But there are reasons we have curfews and times for hopping into bed and lights out. It's so you get a good night's sleep, waking up energized and well-rested. It helps with keeping you healthy and happy as well. We already let you stay up later in the holidays to Hogwarts curfews for your age group." She sighed.
"How about this," Tom started, "Lights out will be extended to 10:00 only on nights when you are close to finishing a book, or you think a match will end soon. if it isn't finished in that extra half an hour you go to sleep and pick it back up or hear the highlights the next day?" He compromised.
"Deal," Hermione grinned as Harry nodded enthusiastically.
"But, if this happens again, we will be talking about using alarm wards to alert us when you leave your bedroom again," Cassiopeia added, it was usually used at the front door for intruders, but also by parents with young children or toddlers who liked to walk around if they woke up in the middle of the night. The twins blushed with nods as the elves popped breakfast up on the table, pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, fried bananas, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, strawberries, mango juice, and pumpkin juice.
"Now," Tom grinned as he filled his plate, watching Cassi and the twins do the same.
"Tell me about the book and match that were so wonderful you couldn't sleep." Hermione and Harry both lit up immediately, both launching into a tirade about their night, taking turns to describe their favourite twists and turns. Both Tom and Cassi turned their heads between their children back and forth as they swapped off talking and eating, somehow always aware of when they could have their turn.
"So remember to speak very clearly," Tom repeated for what felt like the tenth time in the last hour. Hermione snickered again, just like every other time.
"Maybe you can do it right this time," She teased Harry, laughing loudly as he scowled and pushed her.
"Enough!" Tom groaned, "Merlin you two will be the reason I die. Imagine the article titles! The great Lord Voldemort: Taken down by the stress of raising teenagers!"
"You drama queen," Cassi rolled her eyes as she straightened Tom's collar and tie, kissing his cheek.
"Alright, does everyone have everything you need?" She asked one last time, grinning when they nodded. "Alright let's go," One by one the family entered the floo, shouting 'Diagon Alley' as clearly as they could, shooting through the floo network. Before finally bracing themselves as their feet hit the hearth of the fireplace, taking a slow and deliberate step forward into the floo corner of The Leaky Cauldron. Being far enough back to not disturb the customers in the restaurant, next to the large brick wall that hid the entrance for Diagon Alley.
"HA!" Harry cried jumping around to face Hermione landing in a crouch with finger guns, "I told you I could do it!"
"Yes, well done Harry, you accomplished one of the easiest means of magical transport." Hermione retorted dryly patting his head, laughing when he pushed her hand off with an eye roll.
"Alright, we have a lot to do," Cassiopeia interrupted the twins from developing further with a clap of her hands. "First stop is Ollivanders I suppose," she mused as she tapped her wand, and stepped back as the bricks slowly moved until they stood under a large archway at the top of Diagon Alley. Harry and Hermione looked at each other in excitement before moving forward, not waiting for their parents.
"They are practically vibrating," Tom whispered to Cassi as they walked behind their kids down the alley. Watching them bounce lightly with each step. She laughed lightly, leaning in when Tom wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Can you believe they are thirteen already?" Cassi sighed, where had the time gone?
"Before we know it they will be graduating or getting married," Tom shuddered in horror as they reached Ollivanders.
"Alright, let's do this," Tom grinned at Harry and Hermione, pushing the door inwards and allowing his children and wife in before closing the door behind him. As it closed he felt the privacy wards clamping down around them. The store was charmed to allow only groups or families that were together, inside at the same time, it wasn't polite for strangers to know anything about another's wand. It was taboo to ask or eavesdrop.
"Ah, the LeClair's, back I see." Ollivanders soft voice came from above them, the old man smiling widely as he slid down his rolling ladder, his pale blue eyes almost glowing in the gloomy atmosphere.
"What brings you back to me today?" Ollivander asked with a smile, although the way he looked at you, it was like he knew all your secrets. Tom shuffled lightly, pushing his children in front of him, somehow Ollivander had a gift for making you feel like an eleven-year-old trying to find the perfect wand again. He suspected Ollivander knew who he was, the man never forgot a wand he had ever sold, and he was well-practised with feeling and knowing ambient magic, being able to feel others' magic helped with finding a wand.
"They need focus stones," Tom spoke pointing at Harry and Hermione, "They turned thirteen, four days ago and have blown something up or set something on fire every few hours while awake," Tom stressed the importance of needing focus stones to the wand maker who just smirked at him amused.
"So they are just like yourself aren't they Tom," Ollivander chuckled, eyes glittering when he saw their shocked faces and Tom tensing. "Of course, I know who you are, and no I will not reveal it, but I will sign an oath contract after this if you so desire. You are a great wizard Tom Riddle. You did terrible things when you lost yourself, but now you have a chance to be great again, and I want to be around for it." Cassi sighed in relief at the wizard's words, Tom just nodding stiffly, he would get an elf to send a contract for the man to sign. Ollivander turned to look at the two children before him.
"Hermione Riddle; Vine with a Phoenix feather, 10 ¾ inches in length. Hartford Riddle; Holly with a Phoenix feather, 11 inches in length." Ollivander grinned, "Good strong wands. I still remember the day I made them. It was shortly after your fall Tom, Dumbledore had sent me a letter, he believed that because Fawke's first feather was in your wand, the saviour would need a core from the same bird. Of course, I tried to explain to him, that isn't how wands and wand crafting works. But he sent Fawkes in just the same, so I took a feather, but there was no way I could be prepared for what would happen." Harry and Hermione listened intently, having not heard this first time. Only that their wands were related to their Fathers who did great things, terrible, but great.
"Do you know how Phoenixes breed?" Ollivander asked in a seemingly non-sequitur, barely pausing for an answer before he continued. "While Fawkes was here lending a feather, looking quite old I must say, another Phoenix flew in, a female." Tom gaped, Phoenixes were extremely rare, to have an eyewitness to two in the same area was almost unheard of.
"They seemed to know each other, nuzzling and hopping around. Then before my eyes, they had their burning day, right there, in front of me. I had heard about it of course, but never thought I would be blessed enough to see it."
"That's how they breed," Tom said, "When they are reborn in the ashes, a third hatching will be born."
"Wow," Hermione breathed looking at her Mother who was also in awe, Harry's eyes widened as Ollivander nodded at Tom.
"They age rather quickly after a burning day, within three days they were gone, Fawkes back to Hogwarts, and her, I suppose, back to wherever she came from. But a new hatchling will take six to eight months before they can fly. So it stayed with me during that time, but one morning I woke up and the hatchling was nowhere to be found. But when I went to my crafting room, I found two feathers on the table."
"Those, those were our cores weren't they?" Harry asked as he gripped Hermione's shoulder in his hand as he looked up grinning at his Father, "We literally have cores that come from the offspring of Father's core." Ollivander nodded.
"Whatever happened to the wand with Fawke's other feather?" Cassi asked with a tilt of her head.
"It's still here, Dumbledore and Mrs Potter tried to make sure young Henry Potter got it, but nothing happened when he held it, no connection. It was not his wand, it would have never worked well for him, fighting him with every spell cast. But they ignored this at first, I had to summon it when they stupidly tried to leave with it." He frowned unhappily, eyes dark in anger. It was an insult to himself and his family to disregard the bond between a wand and its wizard.
"Now," Ollivander said smiling once again as he clapped his hands twice and twisted his left hand slightly, Harry and Hermione grinned a look as a large pure glass case floated forward towards them. It was in the shape of a hexagonal prism, each line trimmed with gold. Once it was floating directly beside Ollivander, gold legs sprouted out of the bottom to rest on the ground. They were used to such displays of powerful wandless and wordless magic. Their parents, aunts, and uncles were all capable of it, but many didn't bother training and practising it believing it was only for powerful wizards and witches. Dumbledore certainly helped that myth spread, many Muggle-borns, as well as Light half-bloods and purebloods were awed when he used it.
"Who wants to go first?" He asked, Harry's hand shooting into the sky before he could blink. Hermione rolled her eyes fondly,
"Do him first, he might die if he has to wait any longer," She snickered, Harry ignored her, grinning at Ollivander too giddy to respond.
"So, a focus stone, Mr Riddle, just like a wand chooses the witch or wizard," Ollivander said softly as he opened the case. Inside was every type of gemstone imaginable, laid out on a silver velvet lining. Harry's green eyes were wide in wonder as he looked over every stone, no two the same in shape, colour or size. He could feel his magic already bubbling under his skin as he closed his eyes and stuck his right hand out. Although he was proficient in duelling with both hands due to his Father's insistence on training, his right hand was still the more dominant hand.
His hands hovered over the stones slowly, waiting to feel his magic to start a similar connection as he had felt with his wand. It wasn't long before the tugging at his core started, opening his eyes he slowly reached his hand towards an oval black stone with steel grey streaks running around it. As he picked up the stone that he knew was for him, a soft breeze of his magic wrapped around him. A soft gold glow engulfed his hand that was now clasping the stone, signifying the bond taking place, Harry could feel his core rejoicing.
"Ah, a hematite." Ollivander exclaimed gleefully, ignoring Tom's muttered "Of course it is." Cassi elbowed her husband while looking at her son with pride and love.
"This stone can come in Black, Steel Grey. Blood Red, or any combination of the three. You, as you can see, have a Black stone with Grey marble lines." Ollivander went into lecture mode as he held out a gloved hand for the stone and wand. He never touched a bonded wand or stone without protection on his hands to prevent interference when he worked. He carefully transferred it to a lined velvet box, ready for taking into the workshop room once they were done here. With a smile, he turned around to explain further.
"The hematite offers strong grounding energy on your wand and your core. It will help channel your focus, giving you clear thinking. It can also help soothe nerves when in use." Harry looked up at that, looking over to his father with a question in his eyes, but too unsure to ask.
"Yes Hartford, the hematite focus stone will help you to remain calm and keep your mind and magic focused when you are using your wand," Tom smiled as Harry brightened. He had always struggled with staying on task and even when using magic could get distracted easily, causing simple spells to go awry.
Ollivander smiled and nodded when the boy looked at him as well, students with power enough to have accidental magic after getting a wand were rare. Still, with the focus stones, they could go on to have the most incredible control over their magic and do things others only dreamed of.
"Your stone is large for focus stones as well," Ollivander commented, "at 13mm by 10mm, it is one of the bigger Hematite stones that I have. It is a testament to the power you have within you." Harry smirked at that only to get an elbow to his gut.
"Don't let it go to your head." Hermione snorted.
Ollivander chuckled and with a clap of his hands, he turned to face the other young Riddle.
"So Miss Riddle, step forward," Ollivander smiled as she moved over to the gold and glass display, she noticed the spot where Harry's hematite had laid, another had taken its spot. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, nodding tightly before sticking out her left hand. She was, like her brother, able to use both hands, but her dominant hand was the opposite of Harry's. She relaxed, closing her eyes, and letting her magic out as she moved her hand slowly, waiting. She could feel herself getting anxious as she moved her hand over the stones with no reaction, her shoulders had just tensed up when finally, she felt it. With a soft tugging at her core, she excitedly opened her eyes as she moved her hand some more and there, right before the edge of the case, was a beautiful stone. It was purple and green, in an almost tie-dye style, blending in splotches. She picked it up gently, a large grin forming on her lips as she felt the bond slide into place with the same gold glow and mild breeze as Harry.
"Fluorite" Hermione grinned happily,
"Yes," Ollivander nodded impressed with her knowledge to recognise the stone so easily, "exactly."
"I've read about it," Hermione continued as she ran her fingers over her stone. "The fluorite is most well known for creating stability in the core and mind of the witch or wizard it is bonded to, by boosting mental clarity, allowing mind peace. It is also known for helping with self-confidence and creating balance."
"You are very well read Miss Riddle," Ollivander praised as Hermione placed her wand and stone in a separate box from Harry's. Tom and Cassi beamed at their two children as they grinned at each other excitedly.
"It is called by some, the genius stone," Ollivander added, "those with a gift and thirst for knowledge are drawn to it. Your size is identical to your brothers, that is rare. I can only assume it is because of the strong bond your magic has to each other." Hermione blushed as Harry grinned at her and proclaimed of course she got that stone over any other one.
"How long shall this take?" Tom asked Ollivander after congratulating his children.
"I would say, half an hour for each wand," Ollivander nodded, looking at the boxes holding the focus stones and wands, feeling the powerful magic already at work, "I don't foresee any issues, they both bonded quite strongly with their stones and said stones seem to be bonding with their wands already as well."
"Thank you, Master Ollivander," Cassi smiled with a polite nod.
"I shall send my private elf, Driscoll, with the contract," Tom added, feeling relief when Ollivander just simply nodded.
"What's next, my love?" Tom asked Cassi, taking her hand as they exited the wand shop with Harry and Hermione right on their heels.
"Might as well get the rest of the shopping for Hogwarts while we wait for the focus stones to be fused." Cassi smiled, "Maybe we could get some lunch while we are out as well,"
"Flourish and Blotts first?" Tom asked, "They have to get the new books for their electives," Harry and Hermione grinned in excitement, not only for their new subjects but for entering their favourite bookshop. Tom laughed as Harry and Hermione walked off without waiting for confirmation, heading straight for the green door just down the cobbled path.
Flourish and Blotts was packed, filled with students and their families shopping for the new school year. Thankfully it wasn't as busy as last year when the moron Lockhart had been doing his signing, mostly because the useless witches and wizards who idolized him but had no reason to be at the bookshop weren't there. Harry and Hermione eyed the many shelves of books longingly as they were ushered up to the counters, but they knew they wouldn't be here long enough to just browse. Most parents weren't crazy enough to spend hours just browsing during the back-to-school rush, but thankfully for recreational reading, they could owl orders through the catalogues while at Hogwarts. The shop was chaotic with parents running after children determined to either get lost or destroy the book displays. Friends and families shouting over the noise and showing each other their hoards of books. Shop workers ran around after customers, finding books students couldn't find, ringing up the purchases and moving books and sets from the storage room to the correct displays.
Harry found himself drumming his fingers on the counter in boredom, hating just standing around when he could be diving headfirst into the chaos and looking at the books, or he could be two doors down in Quality Quidditch Supplies. The newest broom, The Firebolt, had the prototype in the display window. Harry had been begging for one since the maker, Randolph Spudmore, had announced they were coming to the market at the beginning of the summer holidays. But his parents had stood firm against Harry's pleas, his nimbus 2001 was still in mint condition and only a year old.
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting," A perky young brunette with large thin glasses and acne huffed as she ran up to the counter upon seeing them. "Hope you weren't up here long, how can I help you?"
"We need two sets of the third-year core collection," Tom said quickly, the shop assistant nodding and with a wave of her wand, which was keyed into the store to summon what she needed, two sets of books all tied together dropped on the counter. Each set contained all the books needed for the third-year core classes; they hadn't gotten the set last year as some books are used for multiple years and theirs had still been in good condition. She then pulled out two simple black school satchels and placed the two sets inside them, the bags coming with the set as a new offer this year. Cassiopeia ran her hands over the bags and nodded, impressed with the quality. She would get the twins' names embroidered somewhere on the bag, maybe the Black family crest as well. She knew it bothered Tom they couldn't wear the Slytherin crest yet. But hopefully, that will change soon.
"Which electives are being taken this year?" the girl asked with a smile. The third year was the first year with electives, five to begin with; Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Divination, and Muggle Studies. Then more electives were offered in the fifth, sixth and seventh years, such as Warding, Healing, Apparition, Alchemy, and Magical Law.
"Two for Care of Magical Creatures, two for Ancient Runes and one for Arithmancy." Cassiopeia rattled off as she plucked six bookmarks from the counters' last-minute buy displays and added them to the books. The bookmarks were charmed to sit directly over the last line read and not move until the reader moved it, making for easy studying.
The shop assistant nodded and with another wave of her wand, the needed books flew from the correct displays to land on the counter next to the sets of core books. Two copies of Spellman's Syllabary for Ancient Runes, which were bright red with gold writing and patterns on the front cover. Two copies of The Monster Book of Monsters by Edwardus Lima for Care of Magical Creatures, which had very acromantula appearances. Beady black eyes, sharp fangs and covered in the spider's type of fur, the name of which evaded Harry's memory. The books were nothing like Harry or Hermione had seen before, snarling and struggling against the ornate gold and leather belts holding them shut. And finally one copy of Numerology and Grammatica which was two books combined into one by Loretta Wakefield and Mauricio Carneiro.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" The assistant asked politely as she waved her wands and divided the books into the satchels with the core sets.
"That will be all," Cassiopeia nodded shortly, pulling out a beautiful sleek green and silver coin purse, it had been a gift from her husband for her last birthday. It connected straight to the main family vault created for all their shared interests, this way her purse didn't jingle with the sounds of coins and it was tied to her magic so no one else could use it to access their money.
"That comes to 25 Galleons and 15 sickles," She chirped happily as she rang the total up, taking the money from Cassiopeia and counting it out as she placed it in the register. "Thank you for shopping at Flourish and Blotts and I hope you have a great day." She smiled, as she handed the satchels over to Harry and Hermione.
"Thank you!" The twins chorused, Tom and Cassi nodding politely before ushering their children out of the chaos. The young book assistant groaned when she heard the current manager stick his hand into the large cage holding the Monster Book of Monsters again and shouting out curses. He was an idiot and she wasn't sure how he had become manager, honestly, why he never used the store's locked summoning charms she couldn't understand. They were keyed into the wards to be the only ones able to use the charm in the store to keep them from having to run around constantly. But she used it more than ever once the blasted Monster book arrived. Nonetheless, she rushed over to help him and to try and calm down the parents now looking furious at him cursing in front of the children nearby.