Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Black Heir	By : gpsassi Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 42492 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK
Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books,
Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being
made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN: Thank you for the reviews! I was happy to see so many.

Neville�s participation in the Triwizard Tournament will be explained in
this chapter, at least you�ll see Orion�s thoughts about the matter, but
Neville and Orion won�t become friends. Orion is already in his �dark� path so
he�ll have no interest in getting to know Neville.

Chapter 22 � Tom�s childhood, Skeeter & Granger

Orion frowned but didn�t have much time to muse over this unexpected
development when a large group of people came through the door: Dumbledore,
followed closely by Crouch, Master Vagnarov, Madame Maxime, McGonagall, and
Snape. Orion heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of
the wall, before McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her
headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!"

Neville flushed in embarassment and Madame Maxime drew herself up to her
full, and considerable, height.

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she said
imperiously.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said
Vagnarov with a steely smile, "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember
anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions, or have I not read
the rules carefully enough?"

"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand
with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. "Ogwarts
cannot 'ave two champions. It is most unjust."

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger
contestants, Dumbledore," said Vagnarov icily, �After all your touching
proclamations of your concern for your younger students during the negotiations
and your refusal to use Durmstrang�s age restriction as a standard, I would
have thought that this sort of thing wouldn�t have happened. It makes me wonder
if it was all a plot to have two Hogwarts champions instead of one.�

"You haven�t much to complain about, Vagnarov. After all, you
managed to create an exception for your own school. If Longbottom isn�t allowed
to compete then Black shouldn�t either, considering they�re of the same
age," said Snape sharply while his black eyes narrowed towards Orion.

Orion looked back at him indifferently, he was sure that Vagnarov
wouldn�t allow such a thing to happen.

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly. Snape�s eyes
still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair.

Dumbledore looked down at Neville, who cast down his head. The old man
placed a hand on his shoulder and asked gently, �Did you put your name into the
Goblet of Fire, Neville?"

"No," said Neville softly.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for
you?" said Dumbledore.

"No," said the pale boy who looked as if he wanted the earth
to swallow him right there.

"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime.

Snape sneered, �Longbottom isn�t able to cast a simple Levitation charm
without mucking the spell. He couldn�t have possibly entered his own name in
the Goblet.�

Dumbledore shot him a sharp look and Snape went quiet though his lips
curled in distaste for the boy and Neville seemed to be on the verge of
fainting under his dark gaze.

"He could not have crossed the Age Line," said McGonagall
sharply. "I am sure we all agree on that -"

"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," said
Madame Maxime, shrugging.

McGonagall said angrily. "That�s nonsense! Professor Dumbledore
didn�t make a mistake and he believes that Neville did not persuade an older
student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody
else!"

"Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman," said Vagnarov coolly, "you are
our, ehem, �objective� judges. Surely you will agree that this is most
irregular?"

Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face
half hidden in shadows, said in his curt voice, �We must follow the rules, and
the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of
Fire are bound by a magical contract to compete in the tournament."

"Then I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my
students as well as Beauxbatons� until each school has two champions,"
said Vagnarov, �I�m sure Viktor will appreciate the opportunity and surely
Madame Maxime has more students as excellent as Ms. Delacour who also deserve
the chance.�

Madame Maxime nodded her approval but Bagman said, �But Vagnarov, it
doesn't work like that. The Goblet of Fire's just gone out, it won't reignite
until the start of the next tournament -"

"In w'ich Beauxbatons will most certain'y not be competing!"
said Madame Maxime angrily.

Vagnarov smiled thinly at Dumbledore, �I share Madame Maxime�s
sentiment. I have half a mind to leave now with my champion and I shall be
lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International
Confederation of Wizards -"

"Empty threat, Vagnarov," growled a voice from near the door.
"You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got
to compete. Binding magical contract, like Crouch said. Convenient, eh?"

Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with
every right step he took, there was a loud clunk.

"Conv'nient?" said Madame Maxime "I'm afraid I don't
unde'stand."

Moody said quietly. "It's very simple, someone put Longbottom's
name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out."

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze
apple!" retorted Madame Maxime.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Vagnarov.

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Longbottom," growled
Moody, "but... funny thing�I don't hear him saying a word��

Orion mentally rolled his eyes, of course he�s not saying anything,
Neville had shrunk away from the angry adults and looked about to pass out.

"Why should 'e complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping
her foot. "E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping
to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons
in prize money - zis is a chance many would die for!"

"Maybe someone's hoping Longbottom is going to die for it,"
said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl.

An extremely tense silence followed these words and Orion honestly
thought that it wouldn�t take much to achieve it by the way the boy looked.
According to Draco, Longbottom was a dismal student and had little power. He
wondered why anyone would want to kill him. Well, there was one wizard that
could perhaps be interested in Longbottom�s death but did Voldemort really
think this pathetic boy could be a threat to him? Putting his whole prophecy
wild theory to a side, the hard facts were that the Longbottoms had gone into
hiding just like the Potters, under Dumbledore�s orders. And Dumbledore must
have had a very good reason for it. Did the old coot seriously believe that
Neville could grow up to be a powerful wizard? Orion inspected the boy shrewdly
and couldn�t fathom how anyone could consider him anything more than a mistake
in the Longbottom pureblood line. The boy was completely spineless and seemed
to crack under the smallest amount of pressure. Had Dumbledore started training
him? Perhaps Dumbledore had finally given up in his search for the
Boy-Who-Lived and now wanted to make Neville the Icon of the Light. Politically
it was a smart move. The light wizards had counted on having the Boy-Who-Lived
and if they believed him dead then Dumbledore�s side would benefit from having
another boy-hero. And Neville�s parents had been powerful, the general masses
didn�t really know about Neville�s nonexistent magical ability. Dumbledore
could use Neville�s family name in order to give hope to the light wizarding
community. Manipulating the masses correctly, Dumbledore didn�t even need to
give proof of Neville�s magical abilities; he could simply use him to motivate
his side, without requiring Neville to fight in any battles. Well, then, in
that case Neville did have some value and perhaps Voldemort also recognized
this. And what better way to crush the light side�s hopes than to kill Neville
as well? Dumbledore would be out of Saviors then.

Orion did somewhat pity the boy, he was standing in the way of a clash
between titans. Orion smirked, much like himself, but at least he had gained a
good position in the dark side and he wasn�t allowing anyone to manipulate him.
He was working arduously to become a titan himself and screw the other two when
he accomplished it. And while Neville�s predicament was Dumbledore�s and
Voldemort�s fault it was also his own. Orion had had a much tougher childhood
and he had managed to get through everything having the upper hand, while
Neville had been raised in the magical community having many more opportunities
than he had had. If Neville hadn�t grasped them it was his own fault and it was
even worse if he was allowing Dumbledore to use him as a pawn. Neville�s fate
is his own doing, Orion concluded. He couldn�t feel any real sympathy for those
who didn�t help themselves and besides he was the enemy. He couldn�t feel pity
for the enemy, Orion said to himself. And Frank Longbottom had been ruthless
and vicious towards dark wizards. Poor Bellatrix, such potential spoiled
because of her insanity. Insanity caused by Frank Longbottom. And Bellatrix was
family, no matter how nasty she was now, she was first and foremost a Black. He
wouldn�t lift a finger to help Neville, let Dumbledore take care of his own.
The old bastard, thought Orion angrily, always using others, and worse, using
children. It seemed that the old coot was not satisfied in ruining Harry
Potter�s childhood and was now also manipulating another boy�Someday he would
get his due.

The others had continued arguing during his musings but he had hardly
missed anything important. There was really nothing that could be done and
Orion was sure that Vagnarov already knew this and was just using the situation
to bring Dumbledore down a few notches and to win Madame Maxime�s support. He
vaguely wondered if Vagnarov was a Death Eater�

"How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore,
speaking to everyone gathered in the room. "It seems to me, however, that
we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Neville have been chosen to
compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do.�

"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr -" said Madame Maxime.

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be
delighted to hear it." Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak,
she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Fleur looked furious; Snape
livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited.

"Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands
together and smiling around the room. "Got to give our champions their
instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"

Crouch seemed to come out of a deep reverie, "Yes," he said,
"instructions. Yes�the first task�"

He moved forward into the firelight. Close up, Orion thought he looked
ill. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes and a thin, papery look about his
wrinkled skin that had not been there at the Quidditch World Cup. He must be
really worried about his son having escaped�if anyone found out his career
would be over.

"The first task is designed to test your daring," he told
Orion, Cedric, Fleur, and Neville, "so we are not going to be telling you
what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a
wizard, very important. The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth,
in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not
permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete
the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed
only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when
the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the
tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests, except for the
Durmstrang champion."

Orion grinned at Vagnarov to let him know he didn�t mind at all, he
rather understood it. Cedric and Fleur looked at him pityingly but he just
simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore, "I think that's all, is it,
Albus?"

"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Crouch with
mild concern, "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight,
Barty?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said
Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment... I've left
young Weatherby in charge�Very enthusiastic... a little overenthusiastic, if
truth be told��

Orion held back his snigger at hearing about �Weatherby�.

"Professor Vagnarov, Madame Maxime, a nightcap?" said
Dumbledore.

But Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and
was leading her swiftly out of the room. Orion could hear them both talking
very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall.

Vagnarov beckoned him while saying coldly to Dumbledore, �I think not,
Dumbledore. I hope you manage to not turn the whole Tournament into a mess.
Though if the first day is anything to go by, I�ll be sure to lower my
expectations to your standards.�

Oh, how he loved his Headmaster, Orion thought in amusement.
Dumbledore�s twinkle momentarily left his eyes but then he turned to address
Orion in a gentle voice, �My dear boy, I�m happy to see you again. I see that
you�re doing well. Perhaps we could have some tea in my office to discuss some
matters-�

Vagnarov icily interrupted him while placing a hand on Orion�s shoulder,
�Excuse me, Dumbledore. But Orion is Durmstrang�s champion. I hardly think it�s
appropriate for him to be discussing anything with you. You don�t see me
kidnapping your numerous champions, do you?�

He didn�t wait for a reply and took Orion away with him. Orion looked up
at Vagnarov while he was being escorted to the guest rooms and saw that his
Headmaster had a serious expression on his face.

�Nicely played, Headmaster Vagnarov,� said Orion with a grin.

Vagnarov looked down at him and said with a smirk, �Of course, how could
a Gryffindor outsmart a Hydra?�

Orion quirked an eyebrow, �You were a Hydra?��And Dumbledore had been a
Gryffindor? He had thought that the old man had been a Ravenclaw, though he
also had Slytherin qualities, if all his manipulations were anything to go
by�but Dumbledore being a Gryffindor would explain his extreme dislike for the
Dark Arts and for the Slytherins.

�Yes,� they had reached the portrait of the guest rooms and Vagnarov
placed his hands on Orion�s shoulders and said seriously, �Orion, I want you to
come to me if you see anything unusual.�

�More unusual than Longbottom being a champion?� asked Orion amused.

Vagnarov shot him an annoyed look and Orion turned serious and said,
�I�m sorry Headmaster. I�m aware that there�s something going on. Do you think
that there�s some real danger?�

Vagnarov pierced him with his dark eyes and quickly cast a powerful
silencing spell around them and said, �I truly don�t know. But I don�t like
Dumbledore�s interest in you. Is there any particular reason for it?�

Orion hesitated but then realized that if Vagnarov was a Death Eater
then he probably knew about what had happened with Sirius at Hogwarts and if he
wasn�t he was still a dark wizard and was his main supporter, �We have met
before. On the night my father was captured by the Aurors. He saw me using dark
spells and�er�some wandless magic��

Vagnarov didn�t seem surprised, �I�m well aware of your abilities,
Orion. The teachers report to me periodically about the students. It doesn�t
surprise me that you can cast some spells wandlessly. But you shouldn�t use
wandless magic during the Tournament or powerful dark spells. You don�t want to
attract more attention than necessary.�

Orion nodded, �Yes, I was already planning on doing so-�

�And you can�t let anybody know that you�re a parselmouth,� added
Vagnarov sternly.

�Of course I wouldn�t! If Dumbledore discovered it�it would be
terrible.� Orion said dismayed. It was possibly the most dangerous secret for
Dumbledore to discover. That he was powerful could be explained in many ways
due to his Black heritage but his parseltongue ability was entirely a different
matter. Oh, the dark wizards believed it had to come from the Black or Valcroix
line and Voldemort had been so pleased to have a parselmouth at his side that
he didn�t seem to dig too much into it, at least as far as Orion knew. But
Dumbledore on the other hand could only get more suspicious. And while everyone
knew that the Boy-Who-Lived had a lightning-shaped scar, the only one who had
ever seen it personally had been Dumbledore when he was a baby. Voldemort had
died just when he got the scar so Voldemort only knew about the scar because of
the newspapers. Voldemort had never been able to see it or even suspect it was
anything else but a curse scar. Dumbledore had and Orion didn�t really know how
much the old coot suspected or knew about the nature of his scar. When he had
been a baby Dumbledore had probably taken the opportunity of inspecting his
scar before dumping him with the Dursleys, so he could suspect about the mental
link or a transfer of powers. His parseltongue ability would only make the old
man more suspicious of him and if he clued everything together he could be able
to deduce that he was Harry Potter just with the new clue that he was a
parselmouth. Lucius had told him over the summer that the Death Eaters were
keeping to themselves the secret that he was a parselmouth, under the Dark
Lord�s orders. Not even Snape knew about it since he had never been present
when Orion was summoned. That had been quite revealing, it was clear that
Voldemort was still suspicious of Snape.

�Good. I�m glad that you can see that you would be discriminated if the
light wizards knew you were a parselmouth,� said Vagnarov.

Orion merely nodded his head and bid his Headmaster a good-night.

After the short celebration with his Durmstrang fellows, Orion drew the
curtains around his bed and cast anti-spying and silencing spells. He rested on
the bed and opened the locket.

�Hello Tom,� he said pleasantly.

Tom arched an eyebrow and asked impatiently, �Well?�

Orion gave him an arrogant smirk, �I�m Durmstrang�s champion.�

Tom smiled proudly at him and said warmly, �Congratulations, Orion. I
have no doubt in my mind that you�ll win.�

�Thanks for the vote of confidence,� said Orion pleased. Then he added,
�But the strangest thing happened, Tom. Hogwarts has two champions. Cedric
Diggory is one and he seems to be an able chap, but the other was Neville
Longbottom and he�s my age. And Dumbledore drew an Age Line for Hogwarts and
Beauxbatons students, so there�s no way that Longbottom was able to submit his
name.�

Tom turned thoughtful and said, �And you think this has something to do
with the Dark Lord?�

Orion sighed, �I don�t really know but it�s very suspicious. The
teachers are in a fit and Longbottom didn�t faint by a miracle. No one seems to
know what�s going on. I don�t know what the Dark Lord�s plans are, I haven�t
been summoned after that first time and Lucius didn�t say anything during the
summer.�

Tom said unconcerned, �Well, then you shouldn�t interfere with whatever
is happening. If the Dark Lord didn�t tell you then it�s none of your
business.�

�How can it not be my business when I�m a champion as well?� said Orion
angrily, �I want to know if the Dark Lord is planning anything for the
Tournament! My friends are here, Tom, I don�t want them to be in dangerous
situations!�

Tom snapped at him, �If you go sticking your nose where it doesn�t
belong you could muck the Dark Lord�s plans. Don�t tell me that you feel you
must protect the Longbottom boy.�

Orion said dismissively, �I don�t care what happens to him, he�s
Dumbledore�s problem, not mine.� Then he added sternly, �But I don�t appreciate
being kept in the dark. I know that the Dark Lord has taken an interest in the
Tournament after he saw into Bertha Jorkins� mind.�

�Perhaps when the Dark Lord learns that you�re one of the champions
he�ll summon you,� said Tom unconcerned, �But regardless of that, he doesn�t
have to share his plans with you. If he�s keeping them a secret it�s for a good
reason.�

�I suppose,� said Orion unconvinced. Then he locked eyes with Tom and
said with determination, �I want to know about the Chamber of Secrets, Tom.�

Tom blanched momentarily and then narrowed his eyes at him and grunted,
�Why?�

Orion snapped, �You know why, Tom! You refused to tell me anything about
it years ago but I need to know where it is! One of the reasons I wanted to
come here was to discover the Chamber of Secrets, I won�t let this opportunity
pass!�

�There�s nothing for you in the Chamber of Secrets,� hissed Tom angrily.

Orion looked at him with narrowed eyes and said, �Why are you so opposed
to the idea of me going into the Chamber?�

Tom answered nonchalantly, �I could be dangerous for you.�

Orion scoffed, �Yeah, right. You know I can take care of myself. That�s
not it.� He regarded Tom silently and added, �What are you afraid I�ll
discover?�

Tom bristled and replied, �You�ll discover nothing! There�s nothing
there! It�s just an empty chamber!�

Orion laughed mirthlessly, �Empty chamber, my ass! The Dark Lord
obtained his body there and I want to know how!�

�It�s none of your business!� snarled Tom furiously, �If you keep
sticking your nose in his affairs you�ll end up badly!�

Orion waved his hand dismissively, �He won�t know.� Then he said
excitedly, �Besides, I want to see the Chamber that Slytherin built, it must be
very impressive and maybe there�s a library or a secret place with his hidden
journals-�

�There�s nothing of the sort in there,� said Tom sternly, �It�s not
interesting at all.�

Orion shot him a look and said coolly, �That�s right, you went into the
Chamber when you were a student here. So you know where the entrance is. You
must tell me!�

Tom glared at him darkly and said in clipped tones, �I won�t tell you
anything and you�ll stop asking me about it!�

Orion scowled at him, �Fine!� He�s mad if he thinks I won�t go looking
for it, thought Orion mutinously, and he�s afraid of something�There�s
something in there that he doesn�t want me to see�I wonder what it is�

�You won�t go looking for it then?� asked Tom sternly.

Orion looked at him and gave him his sweetest smile, �If it bothers you
so much, I won�t. I don�t want you to be mad at me.�

Tom narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously but didn�t say anything.

Orion stretched on his bed and started plotting how he could discover
the Chamber. He would ask Calypso to help him, she would know all about it
after the whole Chamber of Secrets affair all those years ago. And he could ask
Draco again about what had happened that year at Hogwarts. There must be clues
somewhere indicating the entrance to the Chamber. And there was also Salazar
Slytherin�s portrait. He would have to speak to it again.

�What are you thinking about?� asked Tom quietly.

Orion came out of his musings and replied vaguely, �About Dumbledore��
Then he remembered something that he had always wanted to know and added, �You
never told me why you hate him so much.�

�It�s a thing of the past,� said Tom indifferently.

�Yes and you have never shared your past with me, Tom� said Orion
gently, �Tell me about your childhood.�

�First tell me about yours,� said Tom blandly.

Orion sighed and closed his eyes, �You already know everything: the
chores, the beatings, the starvation, the verbal abuse�the attempted rape�the
insults. That was it.�

�What did the muggle call you?� asked Tom through gritted teeth.

Orion replied softly without opening his eyes, �Freak.� Then he
swallowed thickly and added, �And that day, when he tried to�well,
you-know-what�he continually whispered in my ear something that I didn�t
understand what it meant at the time. Then when I grew up I remembered the
words in my nightmares.�

�What was it?� asked Tom softly.

�He said to me that I would become his pretty little whore,� said Orion
unfeelingly.

Tom remained silent for a while and finally said quietly, �I was an
abomination. That was what the muggle caretakers at the orphanage called me.�

Orion slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tom with understanding, �What
happened in the orphanage?�

Tom�s face darkened and he said, �I was powerful, even as a child, my
accidental magic occurred frequently and it scared the adults. They thought I
was possessed or that I was evil, or some such muggle religious superstitious
crap.�

�Go on,� said Orion gently.

�According to them they tried to cure me,� continued Tom quietly, �They
left me locked up for days in a tiny dark room, isolated from the rest of the
children, without food and water so that I could repent from my sins. Every
time I did sporadic magic they beat me to an inch of my life to teach me that
unnatural deeds didn�t go unpunished,� said Tom crisply, �At first, I remember
that I tried to control my magic. I was terrified every time something unusual
occurred because I knew what the consequences would be, but I was unable to do
anything to prevent it. In time, I began to see that I could control it and use
it to defend myself from others, so I did. The older children always bullied me
because they saw that the adults hated me. So I used my magic to frighten them.
When they hurt me I hurt them back, by destroying a favorite toy, killing a
loved pet, anything that would do the trick. But it was never enough, they
always hurt me much more than whatever I could do to them. Not a single adult
or child ever took my side.�

Orion asked gently, �Did the scars of the beatings go away?�

Tom pierced him with his dark blue eyes and said, �Not all of them.
Before my portrait was made I still had the word �abomination� carved on my
left arm. It was barely visible because I took several potions when I was older
to make it fade, but I still could discern the letters if I really looked
carefully.�

�I still see mine as well,� said Orion softly, �He never used a knife
but the belt welts did leave the skin on my back somewhat marred. And my ribs
will always be prone to fracture since they had been broken several times
without receiving medical attention.� He sighed and added, �But the most
evident result is my stunted growth. I�ll never be tall or physically strong.�

Tom remained quiet and Orion asked perceptively, �Dumbledore knew,
didn�t he? You hate him with a passion. Was it because you told him and he
refused to help?�

Tom�s eyes flashed in rage momentarily before settling down. He growled,
�Dumbledore was the one who came to the orphanage to tell me that I was a
wizard. I was very excited when I discovered that what I could do wasn�t evil
but that it was real magic that was taught at a special school. I saw it as my
opportunity to learn everything I could so that no one could ever harm me
again. I was so happy at the time that I stupidly told him about what I could
already do. And then I saw the fear in his eyes. Even then he feared me because
I could control my magic already and because I was aware of what I could do
with it to protect myself from others. He saw the conditions in which I lived
in at the orphanage. He saw the bruises on my arms but he didn�t ask me
anything about them.� He gave a small pause and then continued, �He was the
Transfiguration Professor at the time but also the Deputy Headmaster. On second
year, when the beatings escalated, I didn�t want to go back to the orphanage
during the holidays. Headmaster Dippet had taken a leave of absence to cure his
dragon pox and Dumbledore was left in charge. I asked him if I could remain in
the castle and I told him that the orphanage�s environment wasn�t good for me.
He refused my request and it was during those holidays that one of the muggles
used a knife to carve �abomination� on my arm. When I came back and Dumbledore
asked me if it had been alright, I lied and told him I was perfectly fine. It
was already too late and I knew then that he had never cared for me. He always
showed such gentleness and caring for some students, but never towards me. He
always watched me, always waiting for me to do something that would incriminate
me. From that day onwards I became the perfect role model student while I
learned the darkest and most powerful magic by myself, so that I would never need
protection from anyone, never depend on anyone, and so that I could become the
one people feared instead of being the one they brutalized. And I have never
regretted it. Later on, I took my revenge on everyone that had ever hurt me.�

Orion sighed and closed his eyes. It was worse than he had imagined. He
slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tom. His expression was closed but Orion
could now see, through Tom�s dark blue eyes, the vulnerable abused child of the
past. He asked softly, �You killed the muggles of the orphanage?�

Tom narrowed his eyes at him and said as if expecting a confrontation,
�Yes, and others that had hurt me as well.�

Orion nodded his head and said quietly, �I understand, Tom. I don�t
condemn you for it.� He sighed warily and added, �I think that you�re stronger
than me in that way. You were able to take revenge without remorse, that�s
difficult to do. Even though I hate the muggle that did that stuff to me I
still don�t know if I could kill him. And in a sense that makes me weak.�

Tom�s expression softened and he said, �Yes, that is what I was always
trying to make you understand.�

�And you were right. I understand it now that I�m older,� said Orion
while he ran his fingers through his dark hair, �Perhaps one day I will go back
and take revenge, just to prove to myself that I�m capable of doing it. That
I�m strong enough and that he doesn�t frighten me anymore, that he doesn�t hold
that power over me.�

Tom smiled indulgently at him, �I think you should. There�s nothing more
liberating than finally taking revenge upon those who have harmed you. It lifts
a huge weight off your shoulders. It makes you freer in a sense.�

Orion laughed, �Or perhaps it just means that you have already lost all
sense of morality and that you can go into a murdering rampage without your
conscience even tweaking a bit.�

Tom quirked an eyebrow, �Well, that sounds ideal to me.�

Orion rolled his eyes and murmured, �Of course it would.� Then he asked
with curiosity, �Were you able to take revenge upon Dumbledore?�

�No,� Tom grunted.

�Well, I�m sorry for it. You�re probably dead or too old to take revenge
upon him now-� said Orion.

�I�m not too old!� said Tom indignantly.

Orion rolled his eyes, �Fine. If you�re alive you�re around your
seventies and though that�s still younger than Dumbledore I don�t think the
real you has many chances. Besides, don�t worry, I�ll make the old coot pay for
both of us,� said Orion with a winning smile.

Tom quirked his lips into a small smile, �Very well, you shall be our
avenger.�

Orion chuckled, �Alright.� Then his expression turned thoughtful, �It�s
weird, isn�t it? How much are childhoods are alike? I ended up in the care of
the abusive muggles because my father went to Azkaban and Dumbledore did
nothing to prevent it, nor did he care for my wellbeing enough to check on me,
and you had to remain with abusive muggles because Dumbledore didn�t do
anything to help you either. And we both turned dark! I mean, we have dark
blood in our veins but other dark wizards have been brought up like light
wizards and changed sides. But we had no idea that we were wizards and when we
discovered it we both went dark without even considering turning towards the
light, at least in my case. And to think that Dumbledore could have prevented
all of that. If he hadn�t feared your powers and if he hadn�t neglected me, it
could all have turned out so differently.�

Tom frowned at him, �Would you have liked that? Would you have preferred
that Dumbledore had taken care of you and brought you up as a light wizard?�

�Well, I would have had a more pleasant childhood, that�s for sure,�
said Orion in earnest while hiding a yawn, �But I would have never learned to
love the Dark Arts. I would have never met my friends, or my boyfriend, or
consider the Malfoys like my family. I would have been brainwashed and I would
have turned out to be a bigot and Dumbledore�s puppet. So, no, I prefer it this
way.�

Tom smirked victoriously and said under his breath, �That�s all I wanted
to hear.�

Orion looked at him sleepily and said softly, �Thank you, Tom, for
confiding in me. It means a lot to me that you were finally able to share your
childhood with me. I know it must have been very difficult for you and I
appreciate it.�

Tom said with a small smile, �You�re welcome.�

Orion furrowed in his bed and held the locket closer. He looked at Tom
smiling at him and it made his heart fill with warmth. Tom was so similar to
him and yet so different. He couldn�t help feeling a deep admiration for him.
He must have been someone extraordinary in real life, it was such a pity that
he would never meet him, that they were separated by decades of age. Even if he
was still alive he would be an old man, already in the last decades of his
life. Tom was so strong and sure of himself. He never regretted anything and
had strong beliefs. He was extremely handsome, intelligent, witty and cunning.
And while Tom had an aggressive and cold personality, he had started to show
that he cared for him. Orion sometimes wished that Tom could be real. He
sometimes wished that he could hug Tom or lean into him while they talked
through the hours of the night.

And now that Tom had opened to him, Orion felt that he needed to convey
some of his feelings to Tom. Orion gently touched the edge of the small
portrait and said softly, �You mean a lot to me, you know? I can confide in you
and I feel I trust you. You understand the darkest parts of me, you know the
worst of my past�and you make me want to be stronger and better.� He looked
into Tom�s dark blue eyes and continued, �I have never told you directly how
much I care for you, but I do, deeply.�

Tom�s eyes sparkled and he said in a warm low voice, �I care for you
too, Orion. I think that you�re the only one I have ever truly cared for.�

Orion beamed at him and said in a whisper before falling asleep, �I
sometimes wished you were real.�

Tom looked at the beautiful sleeping young man and whispered, �I am and
someday you�ll be mine.�

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. The Red Buffoon taunted
him every chance he got, Draco continued to ignore him, the Hufflepuffs looked
at him as if he would jump at them to cast the killing curse, the Gryffindors
murmured at his back about him being a Death Eater or possibly the next Dark
Lord, the Ravenclaws looked at him as if he was some interesting specimen to be
examined, some girls blushed when he glanced at them and whispered about his
dark mysterious ways, Snape glowered at him from the teachers� table, and
Dumbledore kept shooting him twinkling glances. Orion had to practice great restrain
to not hex them all into oblivion.

Classes seemed ridiculously easy to him and he had already assigned the
task to learn everything she could about the Chamber of Secrets to Calypso. She
had been extremely excited at the prospect of finding it and scampered to the
library every time she could. He thanked Morgana daily for Lezander�s presence
by his side.

Today, in the morning, Vagnarov had pulled him apart to let him know
that the weighing of the wands was to occur after the day�s last class. Orion still
had no clue what to do about it. Finally he had concocted a desperate plan. He
had taken notice of his friends� wands and had discovered that Lezander�s wand
had a similar length and color to his Death and Life wand.

After breakfast he pulled Lezander into an empty classroom after making
certain there weren�t any portraits and then cast silencing spells around them.

�Lez, I need you to do me a favor,� said Orion urgently.

Lezander arched an eyebrow and said, �Well, what is it?�

�I need to borrow your wand today and also for the tasks,� replied
Orion.

Lezander frowned, �Why? Just use your wand, Orion.�

Orion shook his head, �No, I can�t. Today�s the weighing of the wands
and I don�t want anyone inspecting mine. It�s powerful, you see, and Vagnarov
told me to keep a low profile.�

�But Orion, my wand won�t work too well for you,� said Lezander, �You
need a good wand for the tasks.�

�That doesn�t matter, I won�t be using powerful spells anyway. Your wand
will be sufficient,� replied Orion, �And during the tasks I will be keeping my
real wand hidden somewhere in case I need it.�

Lezander looked at his wand and then at Orion�s, �They do look somewhat
similar, but if someone inspected them closely they would see they�re
different.�

�I�ll use my wand during classes because the teachers never pay
attention to the students� wands and during the tasks everyone will be watching
from a safe distance, so no one will know that I�m switching wands. Please,
Lez, do me this favor,� said Orion pleadingly, �The weighing of the wands will
be after classes but it�s best if we switch wands now so that no one notices.�

�Alright,� said Lezander while giving his wand to Orion, �Take it.�

Orion smiled at him, �Thanks.� But then he was reluctant to give his
wand to Lezander. He didn�t know why but he didn�t want anyone else touching
it. He opened his school bag and searched for the Phoenix wand. He gave it to
Lezander, �Here, use this one.�

Lezander cocked an eyebrow, �You have another one?�

�Yes,� replied Orion impatiently, �But I stole it, so keep it out of
sight from Dumbledore and Ollivander, though you won�t be seeing him so there�s
no concern for that.�

Lezander gaped at him and whispered urgently, �You stole a wand? Are you
insane? And who is Ollivander?�

Orion quickly described the man and told him what had happened that day
at the wandmaker�s store.

�He saw your scar?� asked Lezander in wonder. Then he added urgently,
�And you�ll be seeing him at the weighing of the wands? How will you keep your
scar hidden?�

Orion grimaced thinking about his plan and said, �I have it covered
already, don�t worry.� Then he looked at Lezander and asked, �Your wand is a
Gregorovitch creation, right?�

Lezander nodded and replied, �Yes, its core is made of Thestral blood.�

�Uhm, unusual but not shockingly so. Gregorovitch uses unconventional
cores, it�ll pass examination,� said Orion pensively.

During the day�s classes Lezander could barely make Orion�s Phoenix wand
work and Orion discreetly cast the spells for Lezander and no one noticed.
Orion could use Lezander�s wand but it really wasn�t powerful in his hands, but
well, it would only be for that day. During the tasks the classes were
cancelled so they wouldn�t have to go through this again.

Finally, they had the last class of the day. A class that was
instrumental for Orion�s plans to hide his scar.

Calypso, Lezander and Orion walked calmly towards their first Potions
class at Hogwarts. Regrettably it was a double Potions class with the
Gryffindors.

�Ah, look, boys, it's the Death Eater spawn," said Weasley to
Finnegan and Thomas the moment he got within earshot of Orion. "How they
allowed him to become a champion I don�t know. Probably used a dark spell to
confound the Goblet of Fire. But well, it�s probably for the best�Half the
Triwizard champions have died�how long d'you reckon you're going to last,
Black? I just hope you go down slowly and painfully, nothing less than your
kind deserves."

Finnegan and Thomas guffawed and Calypso took out her wand quickly and
aimed it at Weasley.

�Shut your trap, Weasel,� she spat angrily, �He�s a champion and a
magnificent dueler, he could easily complete any task and could whip your ass
in a blink of an eye. And I don�t know who you think you are. You come from a
pathetic family of bloodtraitors, if anyone deserves pain it�s you.�

Ron turned red in anger and threateningly advanced towards her while
saying, �Need your little girlfriend to protect you, Black? Can�t stand up for
yourself?�

Orion was calmly standing by Calypso�s side and he said with a cold
smirk, �I would personally love to see her hexing you into oblivion. So I�ll
defer to her and let her have all the fun.�

The Slytherins that arrived stood besides them and the Gryffindors were
behind Weasley. Just at that moment Draco decided to make his appearance and he
took in the scene with an arched eyebrow and then he looked at Longbottom, who
was unobtrusively standing behind the bunch of Gryffindors. The boy had had a
couple of rough days as well. Almost the whole of Hogwarts had turned against
him proclaiming him to be a cheater while they proudly supported Cedric. Only
Granger and a few other Gryffindors took his side.

Draco smugly pointed at a large badge on his chest that flashed the
words: SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY � THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!

He flashed the Gryffindors a nasty smile and said, �Like them,
Longbottom? And this isn�t all they do, look!�

He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished,
to be replaced by another one, which glowed green: FATBOTTOM STINKS!

The Slytherins howled with laughter. While Draco passed them more badges
and each of them pressed their badges too after pinning them on their robes,
until the message FATBOTTOM STINKS was shining brightly all around them.

Orion had to admit that Draco was creative and he saw that Calypso and
Lezander looked amused. The Gryffindors weren�t laughing but they weren�t
sticking up for Longbottom either.

Granger broke through the crowd and said sarcastically to Pansy and her
gang of Slytherin girls who were laughing harder than anyone, �Oh very funny,
really witty."

"Want one, Granger?" said Draco, holding out a badge to
Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed
it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

"Funnunculus!" Longbottom unexpectedly yelled.

"Densaugeo!" screamed Draco.

Jets of light shot from both wands, hit each other in midair, and
ricocheted off at angles; Longbottom�s hit Goyle in the face, and Draco's hit
Granger. Goyle bellowed and put his hands to his nose, where great ugly boils
were springing up, Granger, whimpering in panic, was clutching her mouth.

"Hermione!" said Longbottom while he hurried forward to see
what was wrong with her. He dragged Granger's hand away from her face. It
wasn't a pretty sight. Her front teeth, already larger than average, were now
growing at an alarming rate; she was looking more and more like a beaver as her
teeth elongated, past her bottom lip, toward her chin. Panic-stricken, she felt
them and let out a terrified cry.

"And what is all this noise about?" said a soft, deadly voice.
Snape had arrived.

The Slytherins clamored to give their explanations; Snape pointed a long
yellow finger at Draco and said, "Explain."

"Longbottom attacked me, sir -"

"They attacked each other at the same time!" shouted some
Gryffindor.

"- and he hit Goyle - look -"

Snape examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that would have
been at home in a book on poisonous fungi.

"Hospital wing, Goyle," Snape said calmly.

"Malfoy got Hermione!� said someone.

Longbottom looked shaky under Snape�s hard gaze but he made Granger
remove her hand to show Snape her teeth.

Pansy and the other Slytherin girls were doubled up with silent giggles,
pointing at Granger from behind Snape's back. Even Weasley and his mates were
quietly sniggering.

Snape looked coldly at Granger and then said, "I see no
difference.�

Granger let out a whimper; her eyes filled with tears, she turned on her
heel and ran all the way up the corridor and out of sight.

Snape turned to look at them and said sternly, �Now, all of you, get
into the classroom before I start taking points!�

Orion saw Snape catching Draco�s badge with his eyes and the wizard�s
lips curled into a nasty amused smirk.

Calypso, Orion and Lezander sat at the Slytherin side of the classroom and
started getting their things out. Orion froze when he searched his school bag
and didn�t find his potions textbook. He remembered Narcissa buying the new
textbooks that were used at Hogwarts and sending them by owl to Durmstrang.
Orion frowned, had he left it at Durmstrang?

"Antidotes!" said Snape, looking around at them all, his cold
black eyes glittering unpleasantly. "You will prepare your recipes now. I
want you to brew them carefully, and then, we will be selecting someone on whom
to test one.."

Snape's eyes met Orion's, and Orion knew that Snape had the intention of
poisoning him in front of the whole classroom and make him drink the worst
brewed antidote of some student. Probably Longbottom�s, he thought wryly.

Orion raised his hand and said politely, �Excuse me, Professor Snape. It
seems that I left my textbook at Durmstrang. Is it alright if I share one with
someone for this lesson?�

Snape sneered at him, �Too high and mighty to remember to come prepared
for classes, Mr. Black? I�m sure they spoil you at Durmstrang but I will not
have you disrupting any of my students for your benefit.� He pointed towards a
shelf filled with tattered old books and bit out, �You�ll use one of those.�

Orion nodded and calmly strode towards the shelf. He absentmindedly took
one and went back to work on his potion. He opened the book and saw that the
margins were filled with words written in small scrunched letters. Comments
were inserted in the author�s brewing instructions. Orion frowned and looked at
the cover. It was a NEWT level Potion�s textbook! Well, he wasn�t about to ask
again for another book. He remembered this potion from his Durmstrang�s
lessons, so he started brewing the antidote. He had also taken out the key
ingredients for his plan. He just had to wait for the perfect occasion.

Snape went on with his class and Calypso intently listened to him. When
Orion looked at her, he saw that she seemed to be mesmerized. Orion�s eyes
widened and he looked from Snape, to her, and back. He held back a bark of
laughter and elbowed Lezander while jerking his head towards her. Lezander
looked at her and his eyes glinted in amusement.

While Snape was busy inspecting cauldrons, Orion leaned towards her and
whispered, �Has someone caught your interest, little Calypso?�

She blushed but said stoically, �I haven�t the foggiest idea of what
you�re referring to.�

Orion chuckled and said tauntingly, �I think someone is developing a
crush.�

Calypso turned up her nose at him and replied smoothly, �You�re
delusional. Now leave me alone so that I can finish this.�

Orion shook his head, �I can help you, you know? I can shorten your
skirt with a spell and pop some buttons from your blouse and you just have to
lean over his desk and while you flutter your lovely eyelashes, and say to him with
a shivering voice, �Potions Master, please, I see that you have been through a
couple of dry-ink years, would you like to dip your quill in my inkpot?�

Lezander exploded into laughter and Calypso blushed fiercely while she
repeatedly slapped Orion on his head and shrieked, �Orion! You�re disgusting!
Lewd! Obscene! ...�

Snape spun angrily towards them and snarled, �Ms. Rosier, Mr. Black, why
are you disrupting my class?�

Calypso sniffed and turned up her nose indignantly. Her face was
completely flushed and she seemed unable to look at Snape. Orion took pity and
said, �Excuse me, sir, it was my fault.�

Snape malevolently sneered at him, �Of course it was, not that I
expected any better considering who your father was. You�re an undisciplined,
arrogant, insolent mutt, just like him.�

Weasley and his chums broke into sniggers but the Slytherins remained
silent. Orion furiously clenched his hands into fists but maintained a composed
and blank face. He would not give Snape the satisfaction of seeing how much it
angered him, how much it hurt him when anyone criticized his father, he would
be revealing a weakness if he did.

Seeing that the boy wouldn�t bite the bait, Snape angrily snapped,
�Detention with me Black! Tomorrow after class!� And he swirled around to
continue his inspection of the cauldrons.

After a while of more silent brewing, the moment came for Orion to take
action. He inspected his potion. The dragon blood would react just like he
wanted when he added the aconite. He surreptitiously and wandlessly cast
shielding spells for his face and body, leaving only his forehead unprotected.
He took a deep breath and threw the aconite in.

The reaction was instant. The potion bubbled dangerously and immediately
a small explosion burst through the cauldron, while potion splashed on Orion�s
forehead. He hissed when he felt the burning pain.

Snape was bellowing at him for his incompetence while adding more
detentions when someone knocked on the dungeon door and burst in. It was a
small Gryffindor.

"Yes?" said Snape curtly.

"Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Neville Longbottom and Orion
Black upstairs,� said the small boy.

Snape stared down his hooked nose at the boy and said coldly, �They have
another hour of Potions to complete, Mr. Creevey. They will come upstairs when
this class is finished."

The boy went pink, "Sir - sir, Mr. Bagman wants him," he said
nervously. "All the champions have got to go, I think they want to take
photographs.."

"Very well, very well," Snape snapped. "Black, leave your
things here, I want you back down here later to test your antidote."

"Please, sir - he's got to take his things with him," squeaked
the boy, "All the champions..."

"Very well!" snarled Snape, "Longbottom, Black - take
your bags and get out of my sight!"

Orion put his used potions book in his bag and cursed his luck. He had
thought he would have been able to get out of the class and go to the infirmary
before he was called. He thought they would have waited for the champions to
finish their classes. He had conjured a napkin to remove the potion but the
skin on his forehead was burnt and it stung painfully. He needed to get a
bandage over it. Ollivander could see through glamours but he couldn�t see
through clothes and therefore, wouldn�t see through the bandage. He had discovered
in a book about magical creatures that the old man had harpy blood in him. The
man�s weird eyes had been the give away. And Moody could see through the
bandage but not through his blood glamour. He had thought that the solution was
perfect, pain aside. A potions accident was quite usual so nobody would suspect
anything.

He left the classroom giving reassuring smiles to Calypso and Lezander
and when he was in the hallway he said to the small boy and Longbottom, �Look,
I have to take care of this injury first. Tell them I�ll be there as soon as
possible. Where are they?�

The small Gryffindor replied, �In the old transfiguration classroom. Do
you know where it is?�

�Yes, thanks,� said Orion before sprinting towards the infirmary.

The school medi-nurse, Madame Pomfrey, while clicking her tongue and
complaining about careless students, easily remedied his injury by applying a
thick ointment and wrapping a bandage around his forehead. She told him that by
tomorrow night his skin would be as good as new.

When he entered the classroom he saw Bagman sitting on one of the chairs
in the middle of the room, talking to a blonde witch that Orion had never seen
before, who was wearing magenta robes.

Longbottom was standing quietly alone and Cedric and Fleur were in conversation.
She looked a good deal happier than Orion had seen her so far; she kept
throwing back her head so that her long silvery hair caught the light. A
paunchy man, holding a large black camera that was smoking slightly, was
watching Fleur out of the corner of his eye.

Bagman suddenly spotted Orion, "Ah, here he is at last! This is
Rita Skeeter," he said, gesturing toward the blonde witch in magenta,
"She's doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet�"

"Maybe not that small, Ludo," said Rita Skeeter, her eyes on
Orion and Neville.

Her hair was set in elaborate and curiously rigid curls that contrasted
oddly with her heavy-jawed face. She wore jeweled spectacles. The thick fingers
clutching her crocodile-skin handbag ended in two-inch nails, painted crimson.

"I wonder if I could have a little word with Orion and Neville
before we start?" she said to Bagman, but still gazing fixedly at Orion.
"The youngest champions, you know��

"Certainly!" cried Bagman. "That is, if they have no
objections?"

"Er -" said Longbottom.

Orion looked at Rita contemplatively. He had read her articles before
and he had despised the things she had written about his father after the Kiss
and he could see a nasty glint in her eyes that didn�t forebode anything good for
him, but she could have her uses. After all, a journalist held a lot of power
to sway public opinion. She could become an asset. Orion simply nodded his
head.

"Lovely," said Skeeter, and in a second, her scarlet-taloned
fingers had Orion's upper arm in a surprisingly strong grip, and she was
steering Longbottom with her other hand out of the room and opening a nearby
door.

"We don't want to be in there with all that noise," she said.
"Let's see�ah, yes, this is nice and cozy."

It was a broom cupboard. Orion shook his arm from her tight grip and
said coldly, �I think not, Madame. If we�re going to give you juicy information
you could at least find somewhere decent where to conduct your interrogation.�

She looked at him startled, as if she hadn�t expected to be contradicted
by a little boy, before giving him a false sugary smile, �Of course, of
course.� She opened another door that led to an empty classroom and Orion
confidently strode in while Longbottom trailed behind Skeeter.

"Lovely," said Skeeter while dragging two chairs in front of
her and seating in one facing them, "Let's see now.." She unsnapped
her crocodile-skin handbag and pulled out a small roll of purple parchment and
an acid-green quill, which with the wave of her wand sprung into midair and rested
its tip on the floating parchment.

"You won't mind, if I use a Quick-Quotes Quill? It leaves me free
to talk to you normally�"

"As you please," said Orion indifferently.

Skeeter's smile widened, "Testing�my name is Rita Skeeter, Daily
Prophet reporter." The moment Rita Skeeter had spoken, the green quill had
started to scribble, skidding across the parchment: Attractive blonde Rita
Skeeter, forty-three, whose savage quill has punctured many inflated
reputations...

"Perfect," said Skeeter and then she turned to Longbottom,
"So, Neville, what made you decide to enter the Triwizard
Tournament?"

"Er�I didn�t enter.." said Neville hesitantly while looking at
the quill in apprehension, which was dashing across the parchment, and in its
wake Orion could make out a fresh sentence: A frail, unsure boy, tormented by
his tragic past, trying and failing to live up to his father�s reputation...

Orion held back a laugh. The woman was priceless!

"Ignore the quill, Neville," said Skeeter firmly, "Now,
why did you decide to enter the tournament?"

"I didn't," said Neville quietly, "I don't know how my
name got into the Goblet...�

Skeeter raised a heavily penciled eyebrow, �Come now, Neville, there's
no need to be scared of getting into trouble. We all know you shouldn't really
have entered at all. But don't worry about that. My readers will love it.�

"But I didn't," repeated Neville nervously, "I don't know
who -"

"How do you feel about the tasks ahead?" said Rita Skeeter,
"Champions have died in the past, haven't they? Do you feel excited?
Nervous?"

"Nervous�I suppose," said Neville squirming uncomfortably.

Skeeter, watching him closely, said, "How would you say that your
parents� situation affected you?"

"Er," said Neville while his eyes filled with sadness.

"Do you think that the trauma in your past might have made you keen
to prove yourself? To live up to the Longbottom name? Do you think that perhaps
you were tempted to enter the Triwizard Tournament because you�ve always been
in your father�s shadow. Even if he�s out of commission now, completely unaware
of his surroundings, he used to be an important Auror, perhaps you felt the
need to prove yourself-� said Skeeter.

Neville interrupted her a little bit forcefully, �I didn�t enter and my
father isn�t out of commis-�

"Are your parents aware of you when you visit them at St. Mungo�s?
Do they know who you are?" said Skeeter, talking over him.

"No," said Neville curtly while his body shook a bit.

"How do you think they'd feel if they were able to know that you
broke the Age Line and entered the Triwizard Tournament? Proud? Worried?
Angry?"

Frowning, Neville avoided her gaze and Orion looked down at words the
quill had just written: Tears fill those doe-like eyes as our conversation
turns to the parents that were driven into insanity under the Cruciatus
Curse...

"Stop writing about my parents!" cried Neville shakily.

Skeeter lifted an eyebrow and turned to Orion, �And you, what a
surprise! The unknown son of the only convicted Death Eater that managed to
escape from Azkaban only to receive the Dementor�s Kiss afterwards. How did he
escape from Azkaban? How did you feel when you heard that your father had been
Kissed?�

Orion tensed but replied with a blank face and even voice, �I felt
appalled at the English Ministry of Magic�s lawlessness. My father never
received a trial and therefore his conviction and the Dementor�s Kiss he
received were a clear breach of the law and his wizarding rights.�

She looked at him in interest, �Your father was a close friend of the
Potters. How did you feel when you learned that it was his betrayal to his
friends that caused the Potters to be murdered by You-Know-Who and ended in the
disappearance of the Boy Who Lived? That your father was responsible for the
boy�s presumed death?�

�My father was their friend,� said Orion nonchalantly, �But it was never
proven that he betrayed them. He never had the chance to defend himself against
the charges, did he? Isn�t it a little bit fishy that the Ministry didn�t give
him a trial when all the other suspected Death Eaters were?�

�Are you implying that the Ministry was behind the Potter�s
assassination and proceeded to use your father as an escape-goat?� said Skeeter
with a delighted glint in her eyes.

Orion waved his hand dismissively, �None at all, I was merely pointing
out the Ministry�s incompetence at following their own laws.� Then he added to
stir the questions to the subject he wanted to broach, �And if the English
Ministry is able to break their laws with impunity it isn�t so surprising that
the same is happening at Hogwarts during the Tournament.�

�Certainly,� said Skeeter excitedly, �How do you feel about Neville
breaking the Tournament�s rules and entering the competition?�

Orion smiled at her, �I don�t really think it�s his fault, after all, it
was Dumbledore�s responsibility to protect his younger students and prevent
such a thing from happening.�

�Indeed,� said Skeeter joyfully, �Do you share the opinion that
Dumbledore is getting too senile and is slacking in his duties?�

Orion smirked at her mischievously, �I don�t know much about him but
what happened with Neville seems to indicate neglect from his part.� He made
his face take a thoughtful expression and added, �Perhaps his inaction should
be inspected more closely, after all, this is not the first time that his
students have been put in danger and that he wasn�t able to protect them. I
remember reading something about a girl that disappeared during her first
year��

�Yes!� said Skeeter excitedly, �The poor Ginevra Weasley who apparently
opened the Chamber of Secrets and was devoured by the monster inside��

Before Skeeter could continue her interrogation, the door was pulled
open and Dumbledore stood looking down at them.

"Dumbledore!" cried Skeeter, with every appearance of delight,
but Orion noticed that her quill and the parchment had suddenly vanished,
"How are you?" she said, standing up and holding out one of her large
hands to Dumbledore, "I hope you saw my piece over the summer about the
International Confederation of Wizards' Conference?"

"Enchantingly nasty," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.
"I particularly enjoyed your description of me as an obsolete
dingbat."

Skeeter didn't look remotely abashed, "I was just making the point
that some of your ideas are a little old-fashioned, Dumbledore, and that many
wizards in the street -"

"I will be delighted to hear the reasoning behind the rudeness,
Rita," said Dumbledore, with a courteous bow and a smile, "but I'm
afraid we will have to discuss the matter later. The Weighing of the Wands is
about to start, and it cannot take place if two of our champions are hidden in
a classroom."

Regretful that the subtle Dumbledore-bashing session with Skeeter had to
end, Orion stood up. While Neville trailed after Dumbledore, he turned towards
Skeeter before leaving the classroom and told her in a whisper, �You know, I�m
sure some of the Slytherins could give you interesting information about the
Tournament and Dumbledore if you manage to get into Hogwarts� grounds
undetected.�

Skeeter�s eyes sparkled in delight and she gave him a small devious
smile, �I think it could be arranged, and perhaps you could continue to give me
your refreshing views upon matters?�

Orion smiled at her charmingly, �Of course, it would be my pleasure to
work with such a renowned and respected journalist.�

�Excellent,� said Skeeter with a sugary smile, �I�ll be owling you soon
to make the arrangements.�

�I�m already looking forwards to it,� replied Orion with a
conspiratorial smirk.

When Orion entered the room the other champions were now sitting in
chairs near the door, and he sat down next to Cedric and made sure that his
bandage was in place. He looked up at the velvet-covered table, where four of
the five judges were now sitting: Master Vagnarov, Madame Maxime, Crouch, and
Bagman. Rita Skeeter settled herself down in a corner and Orion saw her slip
the parchment out of her bag again, spread it on her knee, suck the end of the
Quick-Quotes Quill, and place it once more on the parchment.

"May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" said Dumbledore, taking his
place at the judges' table and talking to the champions. "He will be
checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the
tournament."

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?" said
Mr. Ollivander, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.

Fleur Delacour swept over to Mr. Ollivander and handed him her wand.

"Hmm..." he said.

He twirled the wand between his long fingers like a baton and it emitted
a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it chose to his eyes and
examined it carefully.

"Yes," he said quietly, "nine and a half
inches�inflexible�rosewood�and containing�dear me..."

"An 'air from ze 'ead of a veela," said Fleur. "One of my
grandmuzzer's."

Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, apparently checking for
scratches or bumps; then he muttered, "Orchideous!" and a bunch of
flowers burst from the wand tip.

He continued checking the wands and finally it was Orion�s turn.

"Hmm," said Ollivander while holding Lezander�s wand,
"this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine
wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I... however�" He
lifted the wand and examined it minutely, turning it over and over before his
eyes. "Yes... Thestral blood?" he shot at Orion, who nodded.
"Rather unusual�quite rigid�.Avis!" A number of small, twittering
birds flew out of the end and through the open window into the watery sunlight.

Orion saw Vagnarov shooting him an inquiring look and Dumbledore had a
somewhat thoughtful and puzzled expression on his face.

Then they went into a photo session that seemed to take ages and Orion
was finally free. Orion smiled in triumph. His plan had worked and Ollivander
was none the wiser.

The next day he was sitting with Calypso at the library while they
worked on some essays. Skeeter�s article had been in the Prophet�s morning
issue and Orion was very pleased with himself. Skeeter had cast him in a
favorable light saying that he was a sensible and clever boy with good chances
of winning the Tournament and that had had to suffer great injustices at the
hand of the Ministry of Magic. It touched the subject of the lack of trial for
his father and then denounced the Ministry�s incompetence. But it was mostly
centered in portraying Dumbledore as a senile old fool that couldn�t protect
his students anymore. She basically worked on the ideas that Orion had fed her,
bringing up again the Chamber of Secrets affair and the death of Ginevra
Weasley and then Neville�s participation in the Tournament. She depicted Neville
as a poor perturbed child, traumatized by his parents� tragic situation that
had resorted to enter into the dangerous Tournament because he was in want of
attention. All in all, it was an excellent article, just what Orion had wished
for. He had told Calypso about the whole thing with Skeeter and she had been
delighted with his idea. She thought that Skeeter could be a great tool and was
already planning on things to tell her. Calypso also thought that it would be a
good idea to bring Draco with them when they met Skeeter, since as a Malfoy she
would value his opinion. Now they only had to wait for Skeeter�s letter.

Orion turned to Calypso and asked with curiosity, �Yesterday you called
the Red Buffoon a bloodtraitor. Is it just because his family is light and they
defend muggles?�

Calypso frowned at him, �Don�t you know about the Prewetts?�

�Who?� asked Orion in confusion. Then he remembered something, �Ah, yes,
there were some Prewett brothers that died during the last war, right?�

Calypso nodded and said, �Yes, they fought for the Light side. Weasley�s
mother was their sister. So Weasley is from their line. The Prewetts were a
very old dark pureblood line. Some time ago they started marrying into
pureblooded light families, so in time their bloodline lost its dark magic and
their descendants started being born with light magical blood. That�s why
they�re considered to be bloodtraitors, because they allowed their dark magic
to die and they turned their bloodline into a light one.�

�Why would they do that? They basically weakened their own bloodline!
They lost their dark magic!� exclaimed Orion.

�It was for political reasons. When the dark wizards starting losing
ground against the light wizards, some families chose to turn sides and
ingratiate themselves with the light magical community instead of staying firm
in their beliefs,� explained Calypso, �So they basically betrayed their
ancestors and their own magic just to be accepted by the side that was winning
and have a more comfortable life. And considering that we are a minority and
our bloodlines need strengthening, the actions of those families that betrayed
our kind are considered to be unforgivable. We are few as it is in comparison
to the light wizards and the loss of an old pureblood dark bloodline is
catastrophic for us, because it limits our dark blood pool and force us to
intermarry more to prevent the extinction of our magic.�

�I see,� said Orion, �That�s horrible, it really is a betrayal of the
worst kind.�

Calypso nodded her head and said sadly, �It is. We have been losing
ground for many centuries now. In the past, I used to fear that if we didn�t do
something soon more families would start turning to the other side, just to be
on the winning side.� Then she added brightly, �But now we really got a chance.
With Him back we have the opportunity of finally winning and being the dominant
wizarding kind and in time that would mean that more families would turn dark
and our dark magic will be as strong as it was before.�

�But how can light families turn dark?� asked Orion, �No dark pureblood
family would ever marry into one because their heirs would be weaker.�

�The light families can marry into weaker impure dark lines and in time
their descendants would have enough dark magic to marry into the more pure dark
lines, and thus our community would grow,� said Calypso patiently.

Orion retorted pensively, �That makes sense and it�s a good plan.� Then
he looked at her, �This war really is a war for the survival of our magic,
isn�t it?�

�It is for us,� replied Calypso, �For the light wizards it�s for
dominance and to maintain the status quo.�

Orion mused over the information and then said excitedly, �It could also
work with the muggleborns, couldn�t it?�

Calypso said with distaste, �Our kind mixing with muggleborns? I think
not.�

�But Calypso, think about it,� said Orion persistently, �If light
families can turn dark, why couldn�t it be the same with muggleborns?�

�Because they have no type of magical blood to speak of, Orion,� said
Calypso sternly, �Their magic is neutral, and thus doesn�t have the power that
light or dark blood has.�

�But they have magic,� insisted Orion, �We simply don�t understand where
it comes from. It must be a mutation from the magicless blood of the muggles, a
sort of evolutionary step. And they can just as well mix with impure dark
bloodlines and start having darkblooded descendants.�

�But they are still far too different from us. And their culture!� said
Calypso with a disgusted expression, �Just imagine them tainting our traditions
with their prejudices and ignorance.�

Orion huffed, �They can be taught.�

�Perhaps, but they�re raised as muggles, that isn�t something easily
changed,� replied Calypso curtly.

Orion turned thoughtful and said, �If they were raised in the magical
community from infancy it wouldn�t be a problem.�

Calypso raised an eyebrow and Orion continued, �We can detect when
magical children are born into a muggle family, can we not?�

�They are detected when they have their first outburst of accidental
magic,� answered Calypso.

�Then they could be taken away from the muggles and adopted by a dark
magical family. Maybe not by the purer families, but by the lesser ones. They
would be raised as one of us and our numbers would increase,� said Orion
excitedly.

�And don�t you think that�s a little bit cruel? To just take a child
away from his muggle parents?� replied Calypso unconvinced.

�Not really,� said Orion calmly, �I think we would be doing them a
favor. While some muggleborns are accepted by their parents, there are many that
aren�t.� Then he added bitterly, �They�re considered weird and frowned upon by
their relatives. And they wouldn�t go through the whole culture shock and
identity problems. They would know from a start that they�re wizards, it
wouldn�t be thrown upon them at eleven, and they would be able to naturally fit
in our community.�

�And what about their parents? Don�t you think they would have something
to say about the kidnapping of their children?� asked Calypso with a frown.

�They could be obliviated,� said Orion nonchalantly, �Magical children
don�t belong with muggles, Calypso. They need to be in a magical environment so
that their magic stabilizes from infancy, so that they�re magically stronger.�

�I know that,� said Calypso with a sigh, �But I really don�t see any of
the dark purebloods willingly adopting muggleborns, Orion.�

Orion shrugged his shoulders, �Not the most important families, perhaps,
but the lesser ones could. It�s a matter of policy. If we had control of the
Ministry of Magic, laws could be passed and agencies could be established.
Incentives could be created and if it was seen with favorable eyes, the impurer
dark families would start adopting just to have a better social and political
standing.�

�Perhaps it could work,� said Calypso contemplatively.

Orion grinned at her, �Think about it, Calypso. I believe it could be a
solution to the muggleborn problem. We wouldn�t have the safety issues we have
now, about the families of the muggleborns yapping about our existence. And all
the discrimination against muggleborns would end. It would be beneficial for
them and for us.�

�Uhm, maybe,� said Calypso, eyes shinning with interest, �I would have
to research more about their blood and type of magic, just to make sure that
it�s safe for us to mix our blood with theirs and to see the long-run
repercussion to our bloodlines��

Orion smiled at her, �Then research all you like and let me know of your
discoveries.�

�I will,� said Calypso with a grin, �It�s not a bad idea but it needs to
be supported by evidence. We cannot jump into it without knowing how it will
affect our magic.�

Orion nodded, �I agree. It�s something that needs to be studied
carefully. It�s just an idea for the future.� Then he added with a sigh,
�Anyway, we first need to win the war.�

�Yes we do,� said Calypso tersely.

She left to write some essay in her dormitory and Orion remained at the
library silently musing about it. He broke from his reverie when he was
confronted by Granger.

The bushy haired girl regarded him with narrowed brown eyes and said, �I
overheard your conversation.�

Orion cocked an eyebrow and motioned for her to take a seat. She sat
primly in front of him and said, �I don�t think you have any idea of what
you�re talking about. Muggles don�t discriminate magical children and your idea
about kidnapping children and obliviating their parents is insidious.�

Orion snorted and replied coldly, �I think I have a very good idea about
how muggles treat magical children. I was raised by them.�

Granger�s eyes widened and then she said suspiciously, �You�re a
pureblood, how�s that possible?�

�My father spent all my childhood in Azkaban. I�m sure you�ve heard of
him,� said Orion with a smirk. Granger shifted uncomfortably in her seat but
nodded and Orion continued, �I was left in a muggle orphanage and believe me
when I tell you that they didn�t think that my magic tricks were cute.� He
regarded her coldly and added, �They tried to beat the magic out of me.�

She gasped but then said softly, �Orphanages can be horrible places, but
magical children aren�t treated that way by their relatives-�

Orion�s eyes flashed and he interrupted her angrily, �Some are!�

Granger�s eyes widened at his outburst and Orion calmed downed and
continued, �I assume that your parents are nice to you and have accepted you
but not all muggles react that way. You can�t be na�ve enough to think that. I
have heard of cases where the children�s own relatives rejected them and
physically abused them because they were considered abnormalities, even though
they knew that the magical world existed.�

She looked at him with intelligent eyes, �You speak from personal
experience. I thought you said you were raised in an orphanage.�

Orion looked at her in concealed wonder. She was sharp indeed. He waved
his hand dismissively and replied, �I wasn�t speaking from personal experience.
I�m a pureblood and I don�t have muggle relatives. I was just sharing with you
something I�ve heard.�

She didn�t seem convinced but said, �Those cases are regrettable indeed,
but it�s not fair to remove magical children from parents that love them. I
would agree with your ideas if they were only applied to the mistreated
children.�

�And how would you detect them from the others?� asked Orion, �There�s
no way to know. Abused children are too scared to call for help and abusive
relatives always cover their tracks. And besides, don�t tell me that you don�t
feel torn between the two worlds. Don�t tell me that you wouldn�t have liked to
know that you were a witch from the beginning and that you didn�t suffer through
your first year when confronted with such a different world. You would have
been more magically powerful if you had been raised in a magical household. You
wouldn�t have been discriminated against if you were part of a wizarding
family.�

Granger frowned and replied, �It was difficult and of course that I
would have liked to know from the start but I wouldn�t give up my parents just
to have the advantages that you speak of.�

�Of course not, not now, anyway, because you grew up with them. But if
you had been adopted when you were a child you would have loved your wizarding
parents just as much. And in the case of the abused children, they would have
been saved from a world of pain,� said Orion calmly, �Magical children are
never abused in dark families. You mustn�t think only of your case, think about
all the other that aren�t as lucky as you are and that don�t have understanding
parents.�

�I still don�t think it�s morally correct,� insisted the girl.

Orion sighed, �It may not be but it�s the best solution. It�s either
that or what is happening now, purebloods looking down their noses at
muggleborns and muggleborns trying to cope with everything. And with the
constant threat that muggles might discover us and hunt us down.�

Granger frowned and said, �Muggles wouldn�t kill us-�

Orion snorted and replied, �You can�t be for real. Muggles wouldn�t
hesitate of using us or killing us if they perceive we�re a threat. They
outnumber us by millions. They could easily use us as lab rats to study how we
became magical in order for them to gain our abilities or they could be scared
shitless of us and kill us with the punch of a button. Muggle history shows
that they always destroy what they don�t understand or what they think is
dangerous for them. How easy it would be for them to kill us with machine guns
and drop bombs at our communities. Not even the strongest of wards could shield
us from muggle nukes.�

�You seem to know a lot about muggles,� said Granger shooting him a
suspicious glance.

Orion replied evenly, �As I said before, I was raised in a muggle
orphanage. Of course I know what their technology is capable of doing and how
their minds work.�

She hummed and Orion added, �Look, ponder about what I said to my friend
and I�ll be glad to hear about any other satisfactory solution that you may
come up with.�

He rose from his seat but she asked, �Was it true?� Orion looked at her
expectantly and she continued, �About the extinction of your magic.�

Orion pierced her with his green eyes and replied truthfully, �It is.�

�And about the different types of magic and that for dark magic to
continue dark families must marry into other dark families?�

�Yes, it�s all true,� replied Orion patiently.

She turned pensive and said, �But isn�t dark magic, er, used for evil
purposes?�

Orion snorted, �That�s crap. It�s simply a different kind of magic, an
earthbound type of magic. More raw and wild but also more powerful. It can only
be controlled by wizards with dark blood so that�s why light wizards fear it.
But magic in itself isn�t evil, it�s the wizard that decides how it�s used.�

�And wouldn�t the dark wizards subject us to an age of terror if they
ever took over?� she asked briskly, �They killed thousands of innocents in the
last war. They tortured muggles and muggleborns for their own sadistic
pleasure. The light wizards were the only ones who did something to protect-�

Orion interrupted her and said tartly, �The light wizards killed just as
many of our kind. They outnumbered us greatly and didn�t spare our innocents
either. They aren�t the immaculate saviors that they like to portray. Just
think about all the magical and dark creatures that are currently under their
yoke � �House-elves� she said under her breath - while being denied equal
rights.� He sighed and continued, �You�ve been brainwashed, Granger. You�re in
a light school so I didn�t expect anything else but I would have thought that a
witch as intelligent as you�re reputed to be was capable of independent
thought. I would advice you to form your own opinions and learn more about dark
magic and dark wizards before spouting whatever biased and bigoted ideas you�re
being fed.�

Granger frowned but didn�t reply. Orion stood up once again and said,
�Bye, Granger.�

�Hermione,� she said extending her hand.

Orion looked at her with an arched eyebrow and shook her hand, �Orion.�

She gave him a small tentative smile and said, �I�ll think about what
you�ve said. I honestly didn�t know much about what I�ve heard here but I think
it�s interesting and I always strive to know as much as I can about magic and
wizarding kind.�

Orion raised his eyebrows while returning her smile and said, �You�re
unusual, Hermione. And I say that in the best sense.�

�You�re not what I expected either, for a dark pureblood,� she said.

Orion smirked at her, �What an interesting pair we make.�

Then he left her to her own musings.
- 21
- 22
- 23
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Black Heir