Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Carefully Tangled Webs of Darkness	By : Ladygreychaton Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 37460 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter, characters, rights to, any books, movies, songs, poems or references made. Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling, this is just for fun, with no intentions of profit.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
[[Do not own Harry Potter, characters, rights to, any books, movies, songs, poems or references made. Several hints to Harry Potter books, but again belong to J.K. Rowling. Any further things belong to their original owners, aside from original characters. Used with no intention of profit!
Quotes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Pottermore, Wikia, hints at other books, or other things I may have forgotten, none of them belong to me! ]]
(( My apologies for the delay on this chapter. I haven't forgotten this, nor lost the flow. Actually, I had a death in the family, a parent with a stroke, and a visit to the hospital for myself. I'm very very sick. So no, even though I now have two stories up, I am not intentionally behind. I'll get to posting when I can, sorry guys!))

Weeks flew by quickly, and before Harry knew it, August had passed in the blinking of an eye. Sharp and bright grays, overshadowed by duller monotones soon overcame it all, and the hot weather seemed to be passing. The only color for the wizard lay in his magical items, or the things he and his Kin weaved. Eagerly, he awaited his new adventures, while studying with Albert and Diaboli. He was even a quick study with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, absorbing as much as he could about his wealth and history. His world had been kept from him, and he wanted to be a part of it.
Dudley, for his part, did his best to help him. Sometimes he'd test Harry, mumbling things randomly about connections to families during dinner, or while they were rolling a ball in the back yard during break. It helped keep the memories fresh, and Harry was grateful to his pudgy cousin, who seemed to be interested in wizards and witches. For the green-eyed boy, he felt like a child who was being offered a chance to hold the world in his palm, standing on the edge. His stomach plunging with excitement.
Packing was easy enough with his new trunk's compartments, the varying sizes providing adequate space and then some. His school robes, lacking in house colours, his robes from the Malfoy family, and his personal cloaks were all in one area of his trunk. Next to that, he'd stacked his better clothes, the silken cowls and underclothes, trousers, and jumpers, things that he'd desired from various catalogs. Being color-blind had left him at a disadvantage, for though magical items appeared in color for him now, he often found that he preferred black, white, or grey. Simply because it was easier than having to try and figure out what went with his complexion or eyes, something he had never bothered with before, or understood.
The next section of the trunk had been ingredients for potions that had been purchased, along with his cauldron, crystal phials, and the like. His ingredients from Augury Shoppe both herbal for soaps and incense. Crystals, stones, and various bowls. Boxes of special jewelry were also tucked away here, for the occasion of house or status, ways to advertise. School items, his books, letters, the folder from the goblins and all the ledgers, his coin purse was in the final level. It felt organized for the boy, and he was settled enough.
Trying to figure out how to transport Hecate had been difficult, as she had refused a cage. Albert had contacted a local leather crafting shop, who had been surprised at the lack of raptor bird, but had measured and worked on Hecate anyways. In the end, a perch had also been purchased, and the large raven had grudgingly agreed to wear the purchased and sized leather, a 'leash', similar to a hawk or falcon. Her knurl, the braided end of her jesses had silver bells attached, and the green eyed wizard found the sound pleasing as did the raven. They'd even gotten her a hood, and Harry a glove (not that he needed one on his right hand, especially with his strange plated-skin), but hopefully it would help transport the temperamental avian. Gauntlets were traditionally worn on the left hand, so Harry would have to think of a reason aside from spellwork as for why his lovely familiar's talons didn't bother his right.
The next snag came in trying to convince the spiders that all of them travelling in his clothes simply wasn't practical. Surely he could bring them, and they could come in his trunk. But on his clothing? No more than ten, Harry had been quite firm about this. There were simply too many unknowns that having someone crawl about and getting caught or squished... no, it would not do. He would rather be safe than sorry, yes. A lot of his friends had complained, but since they would be going to a castle with their companion and keeper, they could hardly argue.
When he was packed and ready, with his steady Skin-walkers and clothes-dwelling arachnids, his trunk packed and ready to go, Harry set off to King's Cross Station. His Uncle was taking the company car, and although he seemed a bit leery of having a raven sitting on his nephew's shoulder throughout the journey, the young wizard reminded Vernon of her hood. With the braces carefully drawn, Hecate was in the dark and sitting proudly on the eleven year old's cowled shoulder. As the young Potter-Black had explained, a cowl offered anonymity in a world where he was famous... and infamous.
It also allowed him to cover the tremors of excitement in his hair, the dextrous strands having a strange mind of their own and trying to wave about, swaying. He rather didn't like the idea of broadcasting his oddities to Hogwarts, and a cowl could easily cover a bit of it until he'd calmed a little. Although Harry had carefully braided and plaited the strands, even going as far as to ask some of his new friends if they would go as far as to 'sit' on his hair, it made little difference. He now had strange living hair-clips, trying to hold down the disastrous squirming that was spiked black hair. Kali had laughed, reminding him that sometimes he was quite sensitive. As soon as he calmed down, his hair likely would.
King's Cross Station in London was a lively afair, and as Dudley was already off at Smeltings (with promises from Harry to write, even if he had to write Petunia via owl and have them sent to Dudley via post), the young boy was secretly glad it was going to be a quick stop. Hurried along via his guardians, who scowled and sniffed at various passerby, Harry hardly had time to stop. Eventually, they came to platforms 9 and 10, only to stare at his train ticket in confusion.
"Platform 9 and 3/4? What is this, some sort of game to them?" Vernon huffed a bit, scowling as his mustache twitched. He may not be fond of wizarding folk, but he had made a significant effort on behalf of his family--- that is, for Petunia and Dudley. Harry, he still tolerated, considerably better than the lot overall, but it was something.
"Oh, I think there was a trick to it," Harry's Aunt sniffed, flattening her hands down her dress and glancing about in desperation. "Didn't that woman say something? Professor... that woman from the school?" A thin, white gloved hand gestured aimlessly at her nephew, searching for an answer. It had been some time since she had gone with Lily, and she did not recall that 'Hogwarts Womans' words very well.
Harry glanced at his ticket again, then down the way at the Platforms. Curiously, it did seem that he was waiting for something and his stomach clenched in anticipation. This surely couldn't be all there was. He searched his memories, trying to recall the stern witch with her tightly pinned hair, the way her prim mouth had moved. What had she said about King's Cross Station, what directions had she given them?
Slowly, Harry smiled. "It's an illusion, Aunt." He glanced around then leaned closer to Petunia, lowering his voice. "You remember the Leaky Cauldron? How you couldn't see it, then it was there? There's a hidden entrance to the Platform. You just have to walk through it."
Petunia glanced around in confusion, as though trying to look through this fake entrance and see the Platform for herself. After a moment she leaned down to her nephew and quietly said, "Are you certain normal folk can get through? I'm not sure... I'm not certain Vernon and I will be comfortable or even able to get past. But if you need us, naturally..." She trailed off, but left her sentence hanging, though it was obvious what she meant. Vernon would become increasingly worse in public with his Kind. However, if Harry needed them to stay, Petunia would endeavor to put up with all this for his sake. Even though she seemed uncertain she would be able to pass through the entrance at all.
The green-eyed boy smiled, touched in a small way by her attempt at caring for him. It was difficult, but she meant well. "See me through?" He offered peacefully, moving his trunk onto a cart, Hecate rousing slightly with a ruffle of her feathers before settling.
His Aunt nodded, offering a small half-smile and guiding his cart towards the Platforms. Vernon lingered slowly in their wake, giving them ample space. The hood on the cowl was tucked carefully over Harry's hair, and hid little of his simple belted black velvet tunic, the cowl ending mid-shoulder. He likely stod out slightly in the London crowd, especially with a large black raven with her hood securely fastened over head, curiously twitching at the sounds. However, the bird was still and calm, fastened to the boy as he wandered through the Station. Eventually Harry came to a stop in front of a wall between Platforms 9 and 10.
Bidding the Dursleys goodbye was rather easy, and not at all teary. The young wizard promised to write, mostly for Dudley's sake than anything, which he was sure Petunia understood. Then, Harry took a deep breath and pushed through the gateway between Platforms 9 and 10, holding the lungful of air in and sliding through the illusion and wall. Harry and his cart disappeared from one side, and reappeared safely on the other, regarding a gleaming scarlet engine with a sign that read, 'Hogwarts Express, Platform 9 and 3/4 : Departure Due at 11:00'.
Harry did not stand out in his attire here, no. In fact, he felt excited but at peace. The colors were calming, and though his heart was pounding, he was eager to board and find a place for himself. With this in mind, Harry began to weave between families, surprised to note that a few were still... monochromatic. Did that mean that magicals occasionally sprang from muggles as Albert had said? With this in mind, the boy did his best not to stare, determinedly moving forward.
Sometimes one parent would be in color, while another would not be. Other times, color would be more muted, less vibrant than the others. He spotted children that were colorful but the parents lacking, siblings both awash in brilliant rainbows but the parents gray and plain. It seemed odd. Terribly odd.
Wandering through, Harry found himself curiously headed towards the engine, boarding with little trouble. His cart was left behind, and he found himself hefting his trunk with one hand. This was hardly odd with the lightening charms that had been added and craftened into the expanded trunk, nor his additional dense and lithe muscle structure. Harry was hardly much stronger than the average person, but his muscles were compact and fast, like the spiders he called Kin. He often found carrying heavy objects easy, though he'd yet to test it, and he still appeared rather thin and gangly.
The cloaked green-eyed boy wandered through the train's compartments, searching for a quiet place to claim as his own. Now and again a spider would comment amusingly and his lips would twitch, but mostly he nodded at the children and closed the doors, passing on. One such compartment was met with twin redheads and a dark boy with dreadlocks, all huddled over a box and mumbling excitedly to each other. Harry was about to pass it by when he heard another such quiet whisper that he couldn't ignore. One that came from within the box.
"So you really think---"

"--- it'll be allowed?" One redhead whispered, only to be finished by the other. Harry curiously cocked his head, considering that this might be common for the two when the other boy didn't so much as glance between them.
"Should be. As long as I keep her in the dorms, I 'spect. Many people bring unusual pets, as long as they're behaved and don't go wandering, y'know?" The boy answered, clutching the whispering box with excitement. Harry opened the compartment further, wanting to hear more, which caught the attention of the three.
The trio eyed him warily for all but a second before the redheads smiled broadly, and Harry was amazed at the quick play of emotions. Sobek was quick to warn him that these were obviously masks, and that he ought to be careful here, the spider's hissed words making the boxed creature paused then shift again.
The two redheads eyed the hooded boy and rose, almost predatory if not for their jester-like grins. "Well! What have we here, Forge?" Began one.
"I don't know, Gred. An ickle firstie, perhaps?" Offered the other, curiously, noting the lack of house attire no doubt.
"Do you think he ought to introduce himself than just stand in doorways, say I?" Said the left.
"I do, brother mine. Splendid idea! Why, if you didn't come up with it, I would have. Who knows, maybe I did," said the right.
They seemed to be heckling him, Harry noted curiously. Territorial, Pheobe trembled a response and danced across his chest. The boy smiled slowly and nodded. "I would introduce myself, but I'm not sure who I should introduce myself to. Really, I was just curious about the lovely girl you've got hidden away there, she's lovely, though a bit nervous about the train," Harry helpfully pointed out.
The compartment went silent. Whatever they had expected him to say, it had clearly not been this. The twins glanced at each curiously, seeming to communicate with shifts in expression and head tilts. But it was the third boy who spoke up.
"She doesn't like the train, no. Loud noises bother her. But how did you know that?" The darker member, all still unnamed spoke up. He was clutching the box to his chest, eyeing the boy with the hooded avian and his trunk with an odd look.
"I like spiders," he said slowly, unable to shrug without lifting his shoulders and unsettling Hecate. "I've lived with a lot and trained plenty. I know a lot about them, you could say. I even have books on them." Niamh scoffed at the idea of being 'trained', making a weird clacking sound with her mandibles that caused Harry to bite the inside of his cheek. He couldn't laugh at something they likely didn't hear or understand.
The tarantula in the dark boy's box began to hiss in laughter, however, poking her legs out and unsettling the lid to peer out at the young wizard. Her eyes settled on the cowled Harry and her mandibles moved together, swaying and rubbing as she spoke a simple, 'Hello, my lord-kin. You are amusing and quite large. I do not recognize your parentage, forgive me.'
Harry found himself at a loss, unable to answer the lovely creature. Her voice was so sweet, one of the loveliest he'd heard, beside from Kali. She had a peculiar accent, but sounded highly intelligent. He longed to open his mouth and respond but knew it was dangerous. In the end, he was saved from it as a spider beneath his cuff began to whisper excitedly, 'My companion-kin cannot speak around the others. They are not to know that he is not one of them... it is a dangerous place to live in, and many of us stay with him to protect our Lord-kin. If you visit when he is not around so many blood creatures, he will speak with you, great one.'
The Weasley twins were introducing themselves, and going on about how Gryffindor was best. Harry made small talk about archnid genus and various details he could recall. The boy with the tarantula was introducing himself as Lee Jordan, to which Harry barely paid attention to, but filed away for later. He couldn't respond to the beauty in the box, and he felt a pang of longing in his chest. It ached as he hadn't felt before. Hogwarts was going to be harder than he thought.
The tarantula nodded, dipping her head then responded, 'I will try to visit when he has settled in his bed. I will do what I can, my Lord.'
The two Weasleys offered to show him around, but Harry warned him he doubted he'd be in Gryffindor. Lee Jordan remarked that he would be interested to know more about spiders, and they made small talk before Harry left the compartment, the youngest having never mentioned his name. He only hoped they didn't have a problem with where he ended up, since Albert had mentioned certain houses were despised.
He continued his search through the train, only pausing when he found a compartment with one solitary student inside. Rather than move on, Harry moved inside and spotted a single male wizard, likely his age in the compartment. He was about to ask if the other would mind company, when he spoke up.
"I don't mind, come in. I'm sure your familiar and trunk are rather heavy, or uncomfortable at least," The other boy offered, smiling gently. He had mocha colored skin, and if Harry had to guess, he was likely of a mixed descent. His eyes were slanted, exotic and rather chilling in a slightly golden color. Highly unusual you might say. The high cheek bones in his face seemed to offset his bonestructure, hinting at two different parentages. Overall, he was rather striking in appearance, leaving Harry blinking for a moment before he gathered himself.
"Thank you," Harry offered, stepping inside. He moved to gently unlatch Hecate, soothing her with a quiet murmur, stroking along her feathers and moved the raven to his other hand, while lifting his trunk to stow it in the racks overhead. Turning around, Harry caught the twinkle of pure amber in his compartment companion's ear, the droplet similar to his own. The young wizard turned and sat, unlacing the hood on Hecate, then pushed his own back, greeting the other. "Very kind of you, it's not easy to open up to strangers," he offered as a way of conversation.
The other boy's eyes were roaming first from his ear, the lemon-amber dangling there, then to his knuckles. The rings had been carefully moved and adjusted to sit over his half gloves, and they showed his status as future head of Houses appropriately. A coy smile broke across the other boy's face, and he shook his head. "I never thought, really... ah, just goes to show," he offered, then shrugged, smiling. "I'm Blaise Zabini. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'd love to know more about you and who you're associated with."
The young wizard child was fairly confused, but nodded at the introduction. "Harry Potter-Black, pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Zabini. Though I am curious as to what you mean?" He searched frantically through his memories on how to not offend, recalling that offering a hand first was often a sign of forwardness or ill-manners, unless you'd been introduced. His brain scanned the conversation, trying to figure out exactly what the other boy could be referring to, wondering exactly what he could have missed. Had he already made a social faux pas? Harry hoped not.
Zabini smiled, glanced at the closed compartment door then crossed one leg over the other. He was impeccably dressed, wearing obviously expensive clothing, and all with hints and flashes of color in the threads that told Harry it was magically made or spelled. After a moment, the boy shook his head, "You don't have to hide it. My mother is known for having several husbands, including my father, you know. We're purebloods, but she's a different sort of pureblood." His eyes were trained on Harry, focused in a way that said he should understand. "Her husbands are always tempted by her beauty, the lure of it. Eventually, they fall prey to her, every one. That's why she's the Black Widow Zabini."
Harry's hair rustled for a moment, as though it were responding to the intrigue of that sentence. Black Widow Zabini hung heavily in the air, tempting the young shadow dwelling spider and his eyes lit up as he leaned forward. "Then... then it's not abnormal for people like," Harry licked his lips and paused. "People like your mother and myself to go to Hogwarts or be in the wizarding world?" He carefully hedged, wondering if it was safe to go this far. Kali tensed in his mindscape, and several of his skin-dwellers suddenly went still.
Zabini laughed. "Well, I don't know about normal, but it's certainly not unheard of. A lot of wizards have creature blood, you know. Why should my mother be any different? It keeps from mixing with nonmagical folk, you know. As long as the Italian Ministry is on good terms with her, or her coven, then all is well." The young wizard suddenly frowned, cocking his head to one side and eyeing the other critically. "Do you belong to a coven?"
At this point, Harry had to admit he was a little confused. Some of this sounded familiar, and actually made him feel more comfortable with entering magical society. He filed a bit of it away for later, making sure to ask Diaboli later, knowing it'd be important to ask him some of the details. But others left him pausing, stumbling in confusion. Creature blood? Did that mean that they had somehow mated with other species? Well, he supposed that was useful knowledge when arguing one's case. But what about someone like himself? He suddenly wondered what the other had meant by 'Black Widow' after all, especially when he brought up a 'coven'. Schooling his features to hide his uncertianties, Harry responded carefully. "Why do you ask if I have a coven, Zabini? What lead you to this question?" It was a careful prod, testing the waters.
The other seemed amused by his testing and laughed. "You reek of blood, Potter-Black!" Zabini chuckled, leaning forward to regard him, his golden eyes glittering. They were half-lidded with good-humor, seeming more deadly aware and focused than Harry would like. "You smell like you would very much like to bathe in it. I'm not sure how you came to be so young, but I'm hardly one to argue. Just know that I'm on your side, something you'll likely need at Hogwarts." He smiled charmingly, a flash of pure white teeth in his caramel smooth face.
Harry was caught off guard before it dawned on him. Slowly, as though heat were flooding his veins, realization set in and he wanted to laugh. Zabini thought he was a vampire. Oh good grief, here he was worried someone knew he was different, and the other simply thought he was a vampire! Of all the silly... Harry smiled, his posture losing a little of the tense and stiff stance he had adopted. Hecate nibbled smugly on his hair, causing him to grin fondly at her before turning back to the other. "A friend of mine is something I can always use, thank you," Harry offered with a short nod. He left it brief, remembering Diaboli's rant about not going in too deeply with it. Being over-gracious left purebloods wondering if you could be taken advantage of, or if you were ungrateful after all. Perhaps you were mocking them, and it often ended in insults.
Zabini's eyes were calculating, but he smiled. No doubt, Harry's manners left the other wondering how he knew so much about the culture. Where he had been raised, how he came to be. Where he got the earring, for example. He looked like he wanted to speak only to be interrupted by the compartment door sliding open.
"There you are!" Came a harried sounding voice, one that actually sounded familiar to Harry. The green-eyed boy glanced up to meet the gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. Strangely, he was wearing a black robe with the Malfoy crest on one corner, but it was dwarfed by the Black crest. Harry momentarily gaped only to shake his head, as the youngest Malfoy entered the compartment, accompanied by two other boys.
"I've been looking everywhere for you," Draco went on. "I was worried you hadn't made it onto the train, or worse that you'd ended up in a compartment with one of the unsightly types. Thankfully that isn't the case," He added, glancing at Blaise with something akin to thinly veiled interest. They'd passed in enough social circles to accept one another, at least, it seemed.
Harry frowned, then looked at Zabini only to see him looking at Malfoy in slight shock. Malfoy sat next to Harry and sat down. "So you're absolutely certain I can go into Slytherin? You're not going to forbid it? Have you decided where you'll go, my Lord Black?" The boy went on, the thin-featured blond seeming not to notice nor care as two large boys seemed to huffily pile in and sit with groans.
Harry glanced at the other two, who although seemed intent on moving the luggage and getting out snacks, didn't seem to be talking. They grunted a bit, but were rather quiet overall. Feeling strangely old, he sighed. "I told you before, you can go in whatever house you like, Malfoy---"
"Please call me Draco," The blond quickly interrupted, then glanced up as low laughter began to fill the compartment.
"Oh, oh Merlin! It's too much! Oh, I can't st-stand it!" Zabini cackled, holding his sides.
Everyone stared at him, but he showed no signs of stopping, nor did he seem willing to let them in on the joke.
Finally, the gales finished and Zabini gave a small sigh, as though that had been a good meal. He straightened and panted, wiping at his eyes. "Potter-Black, you're okay. If you've claimed Malfoy as yours, that's even better... you can count me as your friend, no strings attached. Call me Blaise," He offered, extending his hand to the green-eyed boy.
Harry inwardly groaned, realizing what a mess this was, but the train was moving now, and children were screaming out farewells to family members. There was no going back now.

Tami : Almost there, almost! But yes, definitely a surprise ~
DinaTheCat : Ron should be interesting, here are a few Weasleys, though I think Hermione should be testy at first. We'll see.
CDGaymer : Dumblerdore we'll have to wait and see. The spiders will be fun, but unfortunately us authors have to take things slowly, even when we're excited ourselves. Molly was not mentioned, thankfully. I don't dislike her, I just think she was a bit too pushy and Dumbledore allowed that. I'm glad you liked some of the things, hope you like this chapter!
Sorry for the delays guys!
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Carefully Tangled Webs of Darkness