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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
- 23
- 24
- 25
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: I finally decided to post this chapter right away. But I won�t be
updating for around two weeks since I have to study for my finals. But to make
it up to you, this chapter is quiet long. It�s also special, a lot of things are
going on and the story starts taking a different turn. So I hope that you can
review and tell me if you like it because the rest of the story depends on what
happened in this chapter. So if there�s something you don�t particularly like
and you tell me, I could fix it in later chapters.

I need your opinion. How many of you would like to see Orion with Draco
when he stops seeing Lezander and before he hooks up with Voldemort? And if you
can, also tell the reason for your choice. Thanks!

Some people are bored with Orion/Lez and some want Orion to be with him,
and I understand both points of view, but I need Lez to be with Orion for a
while longer.

Thanks Estheriana for your review, it was very perceptive. It�s true
that I involved the Hallows and other things very early on the fic, but there
are so many other things that will happen and slowly be discovered that I have
material enough to cover until Orion�s seventh year. I don�t know if the story
will go beyond his last year, still thinking about it. But each time I find
more ideas to give the story more depth and I have to eventually choose between
them because I simply don�t have the time to develop them all. But I promise
that the story won�t get boring even if so many things are revealed sooner than
in JKR�s book.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MILD SLASH. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T
READ IT.

Chapter 24 � Discovered Truths & Yule Ball

The next day, before breakfast, Vagnarov called all the delegation to
the ship. They sat in one the ship�s largest rooms and Vagnarov stood up from
the round table to address them, �As I informed you last week, the Yule Ball
will take place in two days. It will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day
and finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. It�s a traditional part of the Triwizard
Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with foreign wizards and
witches. I encourage you to use this occasion to create contacts that would be
useful to you in the future. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years
and above, and you may go with a student from Hogwarts or Beauxbatons if you
wish. You�ll wear Durmstrang�s uniformed cape over your dress robes and I
expect you to uphold the standards of behavior expected from Durmstrang
students,� He looked at Orion and added, �Traditionally, the champions and
their partners open the ball. I expect you to be ready."

Orion nodded but was inwardly cursing. He had forgotten all about the
Ball! Now when would he go into the Chamber? Perhaps tomorrow, everyone would
be too worried about the Ball, he could easily sneak out to the girls�
bathroom. But now he had to find a partner! He had expected to go with Lezander
but they weren�t speaking to each other at the moment. During the two weeks
after their argument, Lezander had tried to talk to him but Orion had
completely ignored him. Since the night of their fight he had made up his mind
that it was probably for the best, he needed to concentrate on other things and
Lezander would be better off without him. Orion cast a sidelong glance to Lezander
and saw that he was sitting with a straight back and looking with determination
to the empty space in front of him. Orion�s heart clenched. He had been very
curt with Lezander and Lezander had finally given up trying to speak to him a
few days back. But Orion had missed him greatly. It had been very hard to
pretend not to care about the other boy when he was around, to prevent himself
from grabbing his hand, kiss him, hug him�He missed his company, his gentle
touches, and their long evening conversations. But he still felt hurt from what
Lezander had said.

Orion sighed bleakly and looked at Calypso, �Who are you going with?�

Calypso turned around to face him and smirked playfully, �It�s a
surprise.�

Orion cocked an eyebrow and then she said in a worried voice while
casting a glance towards Lezander, �Who are you going to invite?�

�I don�t know,� said Orion shrugging his shoulders, �I completely forgot
about the Ball.�

�You should speak to him,� said Calypso in a stern voice, �I don�t know
why you two fought but I think you should resolve your issues. You�re acting as
a pair of immature brats-�

Orion harshly interrupted her while standing up, �It wasn�t me who
started the fight and besides he told me that he was tired of me! I think he
made it perfectly clear that he isn�t interested in me anymore! There�s nothing
to resolve!�

He spun around to return to Hogwarts for breakfast when Lezander came
behind him and grabbed his arm forcefully while he said angrily, �I didn�t mean
that I was tired of our relationship, Orion! You misinterpreted my words! I�ve
been trying to explain myself but you keep ignoring me!�

Orion turned to face him and said acidly, �And what did you mean,
Lez? I clearly recall you saying that it was getting very bloody tiresome! And
you know what, I�ve thought about it and I think this is for the best! You
don�t understand all the things I have to do and it�s unfair of me to ask you
to be there for me.� He wrenched his arm from Lezander�s grasp and looked at
him in the eyes. It wasn�t a wise thing to do. His anger started fading away as
he gazed into Lezander�s pale blue eyes and his resolve started crumbling. He
shook his head and said softly before sprinting towards Hogwarts, �You�re
better off without me, Lez.�

When he reached the Great Hall, almost all the students were already
eating their breakfast. As soon as Orion came in, he heard whispers and
giggles, and glances were cast his way. He frowned and sat by Draco�s side.
Pansy shot him a murderous look from the other side but Draco seemed to be
quite content; he was happily eating his breakfast, ignoring the glances that
some were giving him as well. Orion looked around in confusion. Why were people
looking at Draco and him with speculative glances? Then he saw a group of girls
huddled together reading the Daily Prophet while shooting looks at him and
giggling. He soon found out what was happening.

The Daily Prophet was violently thrown at his plate and Lezander was
towering above him. He said furiously, �Is this the real reason why you have been
ignoring me these past few weeks, Orion?�

And there, on the front page of the Daily Prophet, Orion saw a large
picture of himself and two smaller pictures on each side. There was a huge
heart that grouped the three pictures together and the title of the article
read: Durmstrang�s Champion torn between his love for the Malfoy Heir and
the Quidditch international star Viktor Krum.

When the initial shock passed, he started fuming and silently cursing
Rita. Orion turned around to face Lezander. He had his arms crossed over his
chest and his eyes were narrowed dangerously, but Orion could see the hurt in
them.

�Lez, I don�t know what-� started saying Orion.

�All this time I�ve been trying to get back together,� interrupted
Lezander angrily, �And all the while you�ve been seeing him!� He spat pointing
a finger towards Draco.

Orion stood up and shook his head, �No, Lez! I don�t know what the
article says, but Draco has nothing to do with why I was ignoring you-�

�Don�t lie to me!� hissed Lezander furiously, �I�m not blind! I�ve seen
the way he looks at you!�

Orion blinked at him without understanding and Draco swiftly stood up to
face Lezander and sneered, �Look, Lez, Orion obviously wants nothing to
do with you. He�s finally realized that you�re not worth it. So why don�t you
just leave him alone and scamper back to your-�

�Stay out of it, Draco!� snapped Orion impatiently.

Lezander took a threathening step towards Draco and Orion hurriedly
grabbed his arm and said beseechingly, �Lez, please, listen to me. I�ve not
been seeing anyone.� He looked around and saw that most of the students were
avidly watching them and added, �Please, let�s talk. Let�s get out of here and
discuss this.�

Lezander looked down at him and nodded curtly before spinning around and
stamping out of the Great Hall. Orion sighed and followed him. As soon as he
crossed the doors of the Great Hall, Lezander pulled him into an empty
classroom and cast silencing spells around them.

He grabbed Orion�s upper arms and bit out angrily, �Are you seeing Draco?�

�No!� said Orion in exasperation.

Lezander narrowed his eyes, �You�re not interested in him?�

�By Mordred�s wand I�m not, Lez!� exclaimed Orion, �This is ridiculous.
Why would you believe what some stupid article said about me!?�

�Well, what did you expect?� spat Lezander, �You�ve been avoiding me!�

�Because we fought!� exclaimed Orion, �Because you said that you were
tired of our relationship!�

Lezander shook his head and said in frustration, �I�m sorry, alright! I
didn�t mean it that way!� He cupped Orion�s face and added softly, �I�m not
tired of you, Orion. I want us to be together. What I meant that night was that
I was tired of the whole link situation, not of you.�

Orion looked into his eyes to gauge his sincerity and asked uncertainly,
�You still want to be with me?�

Lezander smiled warmly at him and said softly, �Yes, I do. Never doubt
it.�

Then Orion shook his head and said sadly, �But you say that you�re tired
with the link situation, as you call it, and that�s part of the problem, Lez. I
have the link. It will never go away. And I will use it to my advantage-�

�But I can make it go away,� said Lezander regarding him quietly.

Orion looked up at him in confusion, �What?�

Lezander slowly caressed his jaw while locking gazes with him and said softly,
�If we bond I believe the link would disappear. My blood would give you natural
mind barriers, nothing can go through them.�

Orion widened his eyes, �Bond? You want to bond with me now?�

Lezander smiled at him, �Yes, why wait? I love you, Orion. I want you to
be my mate. There�s no doubt in my mind that we belong together.�

�But we�re too young,� Orion said nervously, �I-I don�t know if I�m
ready and your parents, Lez! What would they say-�

�Once they meet you they�ll accept you,� replied Lezander calmly.

Orion gulped and shook his head, �I appreciate the offer, Lez, but I
think it�s too soon.� He saw the hurt in Lezander�s eyes and quickly reassured
him, �I love you too, Lez, but we should think about it carefully and I would
like to have your parents� consent before doing it.� Then he added with a sigh,
�And there are still many things between us, Lez. Like it or not, I want to
have this link with Voldemort for the time being. It�s useful at present.�

He looked up at Lezander and added quietly, �I avoided you because I
thought you didn�t want to be with me, but that wasn�t all. You know who I am,
you know that I have many things that I need to do, but you don�t understand,
Lez. You got angry simply because I used the link once. That�s nothing in comparison
with what I�ll be doing in the future. I�ll be meeting with Voldemort regularly
and I�ll be in dangerous situations frequently. That night, after our fight, I
realized that I really shouldn�t have a boyfriend, not with everything that�s
going on. It isn�t fair to you, Lezander. You have nothing to do with Voldemort
and by being with me you�re getting involved. You shouldn�t have to worry
because of me. What I told you before was the truth, you truly are better off
without me.�

Lezander frowned and remained silent. Then he said, �Voldemort is always
an issue between us, isn�t he? I know that you want to fight for your kind and
I know that I won�t be able to persuade you not to, but I still hate to see you
in pain because of the link you share with him.� Orion made an attempt to
interrupt him but Lezander held out a hand and continued, �I know that you�re
about to say that the link is useful and worth the pain it causes you, and
perhaps it is.� He sighed and added, �Despite everything I still want us to be
together. I�ll try not to oppose your decisions regarding Voldemort. I�ll be
more supportive. And I don�t care about being indirectly involved in the war
through you. I�m not better off alone without you. I missed you greatly. I
couldn�t bear to just be your friend. I want you to be with me always, even if
you have to participate in the war.�

�Are you sure, Lez? It�s too much to ask of you-� said Orion uncertainly
but he couldn�t prevent the smile showing on his face.

Lezander smiled back at him and replied, �I�m sure.� Then he proceeded
to kiss Orion deeply and Orion willingly lost himself in the kiss thinking that
perhaps they could work it out. If Lezander really supported him without
getting angry at the things he had to do, then everything would go well. And by Morgana, how he had missed
Lezander�s kisses!

The following night, Orion and Calypso snuck out of their dorms with
their brooms for their Chambers of Secrets adventure. Orion had been battling
with himself about telling Lezander that they had found it. But he decided that
they had just made up, there was no need to strain the relationship further,
since Lezander would certainly be concerned about going into the place in which
Voldemort had resurrected and obtained a body.

After frightening Moaning Myrtle once more with the conjured image of
the Bloody Baron, they cancelled their disillusionment charms and Orion
pocketed the Marauder�s Map and made sure that the locket was safely hidden in
his robes� inner pocket. He hissed and the entrance opened once more. Orion and
Calypso stood at the edge of the pitch-black abyss created by the huge pipe and
looked down in trepidation. It was wide enough for them to use brooms but it
would be difficult, especially for Calypso, to fly down.

�I think you should slide down first,� said Orion, �I need to hover
behind with the broom to close the entrance once we�ve gone in, just in case
someone should come into the bathroom. I�ll take your broom so that it�s easier
for you.�

Calypso nodded and gave him her broom. Then she said nervously,
�Alright, here I go.�

Orion squeezed her hand and said softly, �You�ll be fine. I�ll be right
behind you.�

She squared her shoulders to gain confidence and slowly lowered herself
into the pipe, and then she let go.

There was a rushing sound and he soon lost sight of Calypso. He mounted
his Firebolt, held Calypso�s broom with his other hand and entered the pipe.
Hovering in midair inside it, he hissed �Closssse� and at once the circle of
light above him disappeared as the sink got back into place. The pipe was
completely dark now. Orion tried to fly down the pipe but it was extremely
difficult without being able to see. He needed to dive down but he wouldn�t be
able to see if the pipe took turns since his hands were already occupied with
the brooms and therefore he couldn�t take out his wand to cast a Lumos. So he
swiftly dismounted his broom and painfully hit the pipe and started sliding
down. It was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide. As the held the
brooms tightly against his body with one arm, he took out his wand and cast
Lumos. Now he could see more pipes branching off in all directions, but none as
large as theirs, which had started twisting and turning, sloping steeply
downward, and he knew that he was falling deeper below the school than even the
dungeons. And then, just as he had begun to worry about what would happen when
he hit the ground, the pipe leveled out, and he shot out of the end with a wet
thud, landing on the damp floor of a dark stone tunnel large enough to stand
in.

Calypso was standing in a small circle of light that formed around her
wand, robes dirty and disheveled, but she was unharmed and wore an excited
expression on her face.

As she took her broom from Orion she said, �We must be at the very foundations
of Hogwarts, Orion. It�s amazing. I bet you anything that there must be another
entrance to the Chamber.�

Orion didn�t reply. He knew that there was another entrance. He had seen
how Voldemort had opened it in his vision years ago. But that entrance was on
the outskirts of Hogsmeade and he couldn�t have gone looking around for it
because his absence during their day at Hogsmeade would have raised suspicions.
And he couldn�t have asked for Calypso�s help because he had no way of
explaining how he knew about it, since she didn�t know about his link with
Voldemort.

He picked up his broom after standing up and held up his wand, which
still shone with light, to look around. The tunnel was so dark that he could
only see a little distance ahead and the floor was littered with small animal
bones. Orion led the way forward and around a dark bend in the tunnel there was
an outline of something huge and curved, lying right across the tunnel. It
wasn't moving. The light slid over a gigantic snake skin, of a vivid, poisonous
green, lying curled and empty across the tunnel floor.

�Merlin�s beard, it�s the basilisk�s skin!� said Calypso excitedly as
she stepped closer to examine it, �It�s priceless as a potions ingredient!�

Orion rolled his eyes and said in dismay, �Calypso, we�re not stopping
in order to harvest the skin!�

Calypso puffed her chest in indignation and Orion added to make a
compromise, �You�ll be able to collect some of it once we get back, ok? Now
let�s get going.�

They walked through the dark tunnel, while Calypso muttered about people
who didn�t value unique ingredients, and then, at last, as they crept around
yet another bend, Orion saw a solid wall ahead, on which two entwined serpents
were carved, their eyes set with great, glinting emeralds.

He stood in front of them and hissed, �Open�

The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly
out of sight, and they walked inside.

�It�s magnificent,� gasped Calypso.

Orion concurred. They were standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit
chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to
support a high ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through
the greenish gloom that filled the place.

They aimed their wands ahead of them and moved forward between the
serpentine columns. Every careful footstep echoed loudly off the shadowy walls.
Then, as they drew level with the last pair of pillars, a statue high as the
Chamber itself loomed into view, standing against the back wall. Orion had seen
it before, in his vision, Slytherin�s statue. And between the feet, face up,
lay a small, black-robed figure with flaming-red hair.

�It�s the Weasley girl,� said Calypso impassively regarding the body,
�Her body seems to have been perfectly conserved. Must be due to the Chamber�s
insularity and cold temperature. What should we do with it?�

But Orion was barely listening to her. There, near the body, laid an
open black book. The diary that had helped Voldemort�s other piece of soul
attain a body. Finally he would have a clue as to how Voldemort had managed
that.

�I�m going to look around, Orion,� said Calypso, �To see if there are
any hidden rooms.�

Orion absentmindedly nodded and he knelt in front of the diary. He used
his wand to cast several revealing spells but all came up with nothing. The
diary didn�t have any magic in it. He started flipping the pages and frowned
when he saw that they were all blank. Wasn�t it supposed to be diary? Then why
hadn�t anyone written in it? And why didn�t it have any magic? If it had helped
Voldemort return why was it just a simple blank book?

He picked it up and closed it. It had a black leather back. He turned it
around and on its cover, at one of the corners, he saw small elegant silver
letters: T.M.R.

His throat dried, his stomach fell, and he felt his blood drain from his
face. Immediately, hundreds of thoughts rushed into his mind, as if something
had broken inside. He was barely able to cope as his mind assimilated hundreds
of thoughts he had had in the past, suspicions long held, conclusions reached,
all of which he hadn�t remembered until now. He staggered and fell to the
ground, as they swirled unbridled in his mind: the locket�s power spikes when
Tom got angry�Tom�s knowledge about Voldemort and the inner workings of the
Death Eaters�Tom�s defense of Voldemort�s ideas and actions�.Tom�s and
Voldemort�s Gaunt heritage�their shared Slytherin ancestry�their resembling
facial features�their similar mannerisms and inflections of voice�. and
finally� the staggering realization that Tom had been and was Lord Voldemort.

Orion dropped the diary, clutched his pounding head and gave a piercing
scream of rage, hurt, and betrayal.

Calypso had rushed to his side and was shaking his shoulders, �Orion,
what happened?! Are you alright?�

Orion looked up at her, unaware of the tears streaming from his green
eyes, and he said in a hoarse voice, �I�m fine. I- I just-� He shook his head
and said dryly, �Did you find anything?�

Calypso looked at him in concern but replied, �No, nothing. No hidden
rooms or closets, not even broom cupboards.�

Orion swallowed thickly, to get his dry throat working, and said
quietly, �You should go collect the basilisk�s skin now, Calypso, while I look
around. So that we don�t waste any more time. I�ll meet you there.�

�Are you sure, Orion?� she said uncertainly, �You don�t look too well-�

�I�m fine, Calypso!� snapped Orion, �Just go!�

She shot him one last glance before hurrying out to get her ingredients.
As soon as she left, Orion ordered the Chamber�s door to close, and with
trembling fingers he took out the locket and snapped it open.

Tom rested his eyes on him and asked concerned, �What happened to you?�

Orion pierced him with his narrowed eyes and hissed furiously, �How
could you, Tom?! How could you do this to me?!� Then he bellowed as tears
started streaming again, �I TRUSTED YOU! I SHARED MY WHOLE LIFE WITH YOU! AND
ALL THIS TIME, YOU�VE BEEN LYING TO ME. ALL THIS TIME YOU WERE HIM!�

�What are you talking about?� said Tom wide-eyed, startled at the
outburst.

�YOU�RE LORD FUCKING VOLDEMORT!� yelled Orion. Tom�s jaw dropped as
Orion continued furiously, �HAVE YOU BEEN SPYING ON ME FOR HIM? WHAT WAS YOUR
PLAN? WHAT ARE YOU AND WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY MIND?!�

Tom was extremely pale and seemed unable to answer. Orion gripped the
locket tighter, whipped out his wand and aimed it at Tom�s face. He said
savagely, �Morgana help me, Tom, if you don�t answer my questions right now
I�ll destroy you this instant without a second thought!�

�How did- how did you find out?� said Tom softly while warily looking at
the wand.

�YOU DON�T FUCKING ASK THE QUESTIONS HERE! I DO!,� bellowed Orion, �NOW
ANSWER THEM!�

Tom reassumed his coolness and said calmly, �I was Lord Voldemort but I
have not been spying on you. He doesn�t know you have me and I have no
connection with him. I�m just his portrait-�

Orion laughed hysterically and then said, �Do you truly believe me to be
such an idiot?� Then he yelled, �I KNOW PERFECTLY WELL THAT YOU�RE NOT A
PORTRAIT! YOU�RE SOMETHING ELSE! SO STOP BULLSHITTING ME AND TELL ME THE
TRUTH!�

Tom shook his head and said truthfully, �I am not spying on you. He
really doesn�t know that you have me and I have no means to communicate with
him.�

Orion assessed him and perceived that he was saying the truth. He narrowed
his eyes and spat furiously, �WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MIND?!�

Tom contemplated him and replied, �You must understand that it was
dangerous for you to know that I was Lord Voldemort. I cast a compulsion web on
your mind, to lock into a corner of your mind all your suspicions about me
being Lord Voldemort. Your thoughts were there, you were simply unaware of
them. Though I guess that you discovered something conclusive enough to make
your mind fight the compulsion of forgetting about it and that, broke the mind
web.�

�What else were you able to do?!� asked Orion enraged, �WHAT ELSE HAVE
YOU DONE TO ME?!�

�Nothing else!� exclaimed Tom in earnest, �I�m not capable of doing
anything else! I was only able to do the compulsion web because I could look
frequently into your eyes and thus manage to build the web, but besides that I
can�t cast any other spell!�

�Have you ever used Legilimency on me?!� hissed Orion angrily.

Tom shook his head, �No, I can�t cast it wandlessly-�

Orion snapped, �You don�t need a wand! Voldemort doesn�t need one to
cast Legilimens!�

�I don�t have his powers!� cried Tom, �Not when I�m still-� He closed
his mouth shut and didn�t continue.

�Not when you�re still what?� snapped Orion. Then he roared, �WHAT ARE
YOU?�

But Tom didn�t reply. Orion inhaled slowly to calm down and think
clearly. He closed his eyes and revised his rediscovered thoughts while mixing
them with what he already knew. Tom was telling the truth as far as he could
tell. He had magic, he was able to do one type of mind magic but nothing else.
Voldemort had been Tom Riddle. � Orion felt a painful stab in his heart at
that, but he pushed it away for now � Tom hadn�t want him to find out�he didn�t
want him to enter the Chamber of Secrets�the diary! Of course! That�s what Tom
feared he would find, because then he would have seen his initials�the diary
that had helped Voldemort�s soul. �Orion gasped � No! The diary that had held
Voldemort�s soul! That was why the diary was magicless now! The soul had been
harbored in the diary and when the soul got out and regained a body, the diary
remained empty, a normal diary once again. The Weasley girl hadn�t been
possessed like Quirrell, she had used the diary and the soul had used her life
to gain a body! Morgana help us all! What kind of magic is that? He had never
read or heard about anything that staggeringly powerful, that unfathomable
dark. And Tom�a portrait in a locket�a locket with unexplainable magic�a diary
with powerful magic � Orion froze � A locket and a diary�Voldemort�s experiments
in search of immortality�a diary that held a soul� a locket that held a soul�.

Orion snapped open his eyes and saw Tom looking at him right back and he
gasped out, �You�re his soul!�

Tom blanched and his eyes widened and Orion said sharply, �Don�t bother
denying it! I know it. I�m certain of it! It wasn�t a question but an
affirmation.�

Then Orion remembered and said steely, �There�s something else that
you�re capable of doing. You could have used my life force to come back to
life. Why didn�t you?�

After a long silence during which Tom regained his composure, he
replied, �I needed to evaluate the situation first. I was safe in your hands,
you kept me secret, you kept me hidden. No one would find me with you and you
wouldn�t let anyone take me away or destroy me. Then you told me that Lord
Voldemort had gained a body, and I could feel it as well, so I didn�t need to
come to life anymore.�

�And if he hadn�t?� asked Orion acidly, �If he hadn�t been successful,
would you have used me and killed me in the process to come back?�

Tom didn�t reply and Orion shut his eyes as a tear streamed down his
cheek. Tom�s silence said it all.

Orion heard Tom say softly, �Orion, I wouldn�t do it now. Not now that I
know you and care for you-�

Orion opened his eyes and snapped furiously, �You don�t care for me,
Tom! Don�t try to delude me! What you have done- it�s unforgivable! You�re Lord
Voldemort! You�re his soul!�I can scarcely believe it! By Mordred! I came to
care for you, to love you even! And you�re him! That vicious, ruthless wizard!
That killed my-� He shook his head and said sorrowfully with a sharp pain in
his chest, �What happened to you, Tom? How did you become him? What did you do
to yourself? You fractured your soul in three pieces�I don�t even know how but
you massacred yourself! Your soul, Tom! The most important and pure part of a
wizard, and you shredded it to pieces!�

�I did it to attain immortality,� said Tom quietly, �It was the only way
and a small price to pay for it.� He paused and continued, �Regardless of what
you might think about me, believe me this: I do care for you.�

Orion locked gazes with him and saw the naked truth in Tom�s dark blue
eyes and his heart clenched. Orion closed his eyes and whispered shakily,
�Morgana help me, but I care for you too�. despite everything.� He let out a
choked sob.

Tom smiled warmly at him but inside Orion was torn with conflicting
emotions. Tom, his mentor, his confidant, his oldest companion, was Lord
Voldemort. The wizard that had killed his mother, that had tried to kill him,
and that perhaps would try to kill him again when he found out he was Harry
Potter. The Dark Lord that had ruthlessly killed so many others and who
tortured his own followers without batting an eyelash. The Tom he loved had
become the terror of the wizarding world. And he knew now, that he loved Tom in
some way. The piercing pain he felt in his chest confirmed it.

Orion looked at Tom, eyes brimming with unshed tears, and said quietly,
�But it doesn�t change the fact that you deceived me, Tom. And that, I can�t
forgive-�

Tom narrowed his eyes and interrupted him, �And you haven�t?�

�No �� started saying Orion.

�What a little hypocrite you are, Orion,� sneered Tom angrily, �Now that
we are revealing ourselves to each other, you could at least try some honesty.�

Orion was startled, �I don�t know what you�re referring to-�

�You are smart and perceptive, Orion,� interjected Tom coldly, �But you
forget that I�m sharp as well. You didn�t expect that I would never find out,
surely?�

Orion tensed and bit out, �Find out what?� There were several things
that he kept secret from Tom, to which of them was he referring?

Tom eyed him coolly and replied, �Why, that you�re Harry Potter, of
course. Don�t tell me there�s even more to you.�

Orion gasped and dropped the locket in shock. Out of all the possible
things�That, he hadn�t expected.

When he came to himself, he quickly picked up the locket.

Tom was glaring at him and said sarcastically, �Oh, thank you for
dropping me, because I haven�t had enough rocky moments for an evening.�

Orion snapped at him angrily, �You used Legilimency on me!�

�No, I haven�t!� hissed Tom furiously, �I already told you I can�t!�

�Then how-� started saying Orion shakily.

Tom smirked at him, �Really, Orion, I�ve known you since you were eleven.
The clues were there, believe me. I doubt anyone would have pieced them
together, but then again, I�m not anyone; and I know things about you that no
one else does. You were able to open me, which only myself could do; you�re a
parselmouth when no one of the Black line has ever been one; you are able to
know what goes on at Death Eater gatherings and you never explained how; Harry
Potter survived the Avada Kedavra with only a scar, a unique curse scar�that
explains your parseltongue abilities and perhaps a way for you to see through
Lord Voldemort�s eyes and that�s how you know about the gatherings, and it also
explains your urgency to learn Occlumency; Harry Potter fled from his muggle
caretakers when he was ten years old and then disappeared, around the time when
your father escaped from Azkaban and took you with him; you told me you lived
in a muggle orphanage where they abused you, when in reality you lived with
your muggle relatives and I imagine it was your uncle that beat you and tried
to rape you and that�s why you fled; and you hate Dumbledore because he was the
one to put you in their care; there�s also your opinions on muggleborns, which
no pureblood would share, but which are understandable given that your mother
was Lily Potter; your father was Sirius Black, I don�t doubt that, you have
Black features, but your mother had to be Lily Potter since you lived with her
when you were a baby and she died to protect you, only a true mother would have
done that; that also explains why you were opposed to Lord Voldemort�s methods,
since he killed her.� He paused and asked, �I guess that you�re using a blood
glamour to cover your scar?�

Orion nodded, dazedly, and then came to himself and asked quietly, �Why
didn�t you tell me you knew?�

�I was hoping that one day you would confide in me,� said Tom quietly,
�Besides I gained nothing if you knew that I had already figured it out.�

�Do you think Voldemort knows?� asked Orion in apprehension.

�He doesn�t,� said Tom assuredly, �He would have confronted you by now
if he knew. But if you spend long periods of time close to him he might find
out.�

Orion frowned, �By spending time with him? Why?�

Tom ignored the question and said sternly, �You should tell him.�

Orion snapped, �Are you mad? He would kill me!�

�Not when he knows that you�re on his side of the war,� said Tom calmly.

Orion said in realization, �You�ve been making sure that I was firmly on
the dark side. That�s why you asked me if I would have liked to be rescued from
the muggles by Dumbledore and raised in a light family.�

Tom nodded, �I�m certain now, with everything that I know about you,
that you would never turn to the light side.�

�But Voldemort isn�t,� bit out Orion, �I mean, he knows that I want to
be on the dark side but if he ever discovered that I�m Harry Potter I don�t
know how much weight it would have. And I�m not ready yet.�

Tom sighed tiredly, �You have to tell him at some point.�

�When I�m ready, now�s too soon,� replied Orion with determination and
then snapped, �I�m not giving you to him, if that�s on your mind.�

Tom arched an eyebrow, �I wasn�t going to ask for that. You can�t give
me to him until you tell him that you�re Harry Potter.�

�Exactly,� replied Orion curtly, �and even then I might keep you.�

Tom smirked at him, �Miss me, would you?�

�Not when you get cocky like now,� snapped Orion shooting him a glare.

Orion carded his hair with his other hand and sighed sorrowfully, �I
still can�t believe you�re him. You�re so different-�

�We�re the same,� said Tom sternly, �You are prejudiced against him. I
have always tried to make you see that he�s not a monster, yet you refuse to
acknowledge-�

Orion narrowed his eyes at him and said angrily, �Why, you conniving,
little fiend. I forgot about that! All those conversations about Voldemort and
you were basically throwing flowers at yourself!

Tom didn�t look remotely abashed, �You needed to see things
objectively.�

Orion scoffed, �You wanted me to see things from your point of
view.�

Tom arched an eyebrow, �So? What�s wrong with that?�

Orion rolled his eyes and then said sternly, �I need to go now. I�ve
taken too long. But this isn�t over. You�re not off the hook yet.�

Tom smirked at him, �You aren�t either. After all, you can�t blame me
for keeping my identity a secret when you did the same.�

Orion shot him a nasty glare and snapped the locket shut. He turned to
look at the diary on the floor. It was useless now and it was dangerous if
anyone else found it because of the initials on it. Even if he was the only one
capable of opening the Chamber of Secrets, he wasn�t taking any chances. He
conjured his black flames in his palm and shot them towards the diary. He
watched as it burned and turned to dust. He glanced at the body and decided to
leave it where it was for now.

When he met with Calypso by the basilisk�s hide, she was waiting
impatiently for him and had a heavy conjured rucksack filled with the skin. He
told her that he had been very thorough in his exploration of the Chamber and
that�s why he took so long. They used the brooms to fly up the pipe and finally
reached their dorms undetected.

The last thought Orion had before falling asleep was that Tom was still
hiding something from him. After all, why would Voldemort be able to discover
that he was Harry Potter just by spending long periods of time near him? And
why was he able to open the locket when only Voldemort could? Could the link
account for it? But it didn�t make sense; it was only a mental connection, not
a blood connection or anything of the sort.

The following evening, Orion was standing in his shared dorm in front of
the mirror while the others were buzzing around getting ready for the Yule
Ball. He tied Durmstrang�s cape over the dress robes that Narcissa had sent
him. His dress robes were rich dark green � Narcissa always insisted that green
was his color � with delicate silver lining on the cuffs and collar. The robes
had a velvety quality to them that made them extremely pleasant on the skin. He
was fixing his dark hair into an elegant hairstyle, as he had seen his father do
countless of times, when someone grabbed his waist from behind and purred, �You
look amazing. Don�t even think that I�m letting you out of my sight tonight.�

Orin locked gazes with Lezander�s reflection on the mirror and softly
smiled at him. He turned around and assessed his boyfriend. He was wearing dark
blue dress robes that brought out his pale blue eyes and made him look like
charming prince, though the charming aspect was overpowered by the roguishness
brought about by Lezander�s mischievous smirk. And Orion loved it.

Orion heaved a disappointed breath and said, �Well, I suppose you�ll do.
Too late now to find someone more fitting to escort the Champion.�

Lezander playfully growled, �I�ll show you how fit I am for you after
the Yule Ball.� And he pressed him tightly against his body, surrounding him
with strong arms, and kissed him deeply.

When they came out for air Orion said loftily, �Promises, promises��

They were interrupted by Krum that was looking at them amusedly, �Ve
have to leave now. Headmaster Vagnarov is vaiting in the ship so that ve can
enter all together.�

Lezander took his cape and they went down to the common room where they
met the girls. Calypso was looking stunning with her hair held high and a black
satin dress that showed under her cape. She grinned at them when she approached
Krum and took his offered arm.

Orion arched an eyebrow and mouthed at her �Krum?�

She simply smirked at him and left the common room escorted by Krum.
Lezander and Orion followed behind along with the rest of the delegation.

When they reached the ship Vagnarov assessed them and seemed to be
satisfied. They walked towards Hogwarts, Vagnarov leading the party, followed
in precedence by Orion and Lezander and then the rest of the delegation. When
they reached the oak front doors, they opened swiftly and Orion saw that the
entrance hall was already packed with students, milling around waiting for
eight o�clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those
people who were meeting partners from different houses were edging through the
crowd trying to find one another. Vagnarov left them to meet with the other
teachers and Orion inspected the crowd.

He caught a glance of Hermione who was being escorted by Neville. She
looked very different from her usual looks. She had done something to her hair,
it was now longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant
knot at the back of her head and when she grinned Orion could see that her
teeth were smaller than when he had first met her, she had probably shrunk them
after she got hit by the Densuago spell. Fleur was looking very beautiful in
robes of silver-gray satin and she was accompanied by a Ravenclaw boy, and he
saw Cedric with a pretty Asian girl.

He smiled when he saw the group of Slytherins coming towards them. Draco
was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet that looked extremely
good on him, and was walking with an air of confidence and arrogance that
reminded him of Lucius. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was
clutching Draco�s arm with a satisfied smug look on her face, though Draco
didn�t seem too pleased by this. Crabbe and Goyle were flanking them and Blaise
had brought his on-and-off Ravenclaw boyfriend. Theo was escorting Millicent
who looked quite nice with a black dress that flattered her strong
constitution.

Before Orion could greet them McGonagall�s voice called, �Champions over
here, please!�

He grabbed Lezander�s hand and went towards her. McGonagall, who was
wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather ugly wreath of
thistles around the brim other hat, told them to wait on one side of the doors
while everyone else went inside; they were to enter the Great Hall in
procession when the rest of the students had sat down.

Fleur and her date stationed themselves nearest the doors; the older boy
looked so stunned by his good fortune in having Fleur for a partner that he
could hardly take his eyes off her. Cedric and the Asian girl were talking
animatedly between themselves and Neville was nervously checking his dark
crimson dress robes. Orion surreptitiously winked at Hermione when she cast a
sidelong glance at him. She gave him a small smile in return and turned back to
reassure her date.

When the doors to the Great Hall opened, once everyone else was settled
in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told them to get in line in pairs and to
follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they
entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the
Hall, where the judges were sitting.

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost,
with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black
ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred
smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.

Dumbledore smiled happily as they approached the top table and Orion
realized that out of all the judges, one was missing. Crouch wasn�t there, in
his stead, sitting pompously and looking down at the students, was Percy
Weasley.

When Orion reached the table with Lezander, Vagnarov pointedly indicated
them to take a seat by his side. As the feast started he heard Percy Weasley
smugly saying that he had been promoted and that his boss, Crouch, wasn�t too
well and was currently resting, since he had had a great personal shock with
the misbehavior of his house-elf during the Quidditch Cup. While Fleur was
criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to her date, who only nodded stupidly at
anything he said.

When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the
students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed
back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised
platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars,
a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.

The Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic
applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had
been artfully ripped and torn. As they picked up their instruments, Orion and
the rest of the Champions stood up with their partners and walked onto the
brightly lit dance floor.

The Weird Sisters struck up a slow, mournful tune; and Lezander seized
one of his hands while placing an arm around his waist. They started dancing
slowly around the dance floor while the rest of the students stood to aside
watching them and commenting. Soon, the rest of the students came onto the
dance floor and Orion saw Calypso dancing with Krum nearby. Not far from them
Hermione was wincing frequently as Neville trod on her feet and Vagnarov was
waltzing with Madame Maxime. He was so dwarfed by her that the top of his head
barely tickled her chin; however, she moved very gracefully for a woman so large.
Moody, well, Barty was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with the astronomy
teacher, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg.

Orion heard the final, quavering note from the bagpipe and applause
filled the hall as the Weird Sisters stopped playing. As Lezander went to bring
them some drinks he approached Calypso and Krum and asked her for a dance.

He took her by the waist and started dancing with her as the Weirding
Sisters started playing again.

He looked down at her and asked playfully, �So�Krum? That was your big
secret? What happened to poor Snape?�

Calypso rolled her eyes, �I can hardly ask a professor to be my date,
can I?�

�Ahh, so you are interested in him?� asked Orion with an amused smirk.

�Perhaps,� said Calypso with a small smile, �Anyway, I came with Viktor
because he wanted to ask that Granger girl but she had already been invited by
Longbottom. So he asked me and I accepted. He�s alright, not that our
conversations are profound or anything, but he has become our friend, hasn�t
he?�

�Yes,� replied Orion, �He�s a good lad. We didn�t interact much with him
at Durmstrang, but we are always around students our own age there so we didn�t
have much opportunity. But he has been very supportive of me. He didn�t hold a
grudge against me when I became the Champion.�

Calypso nodded and Orion said teasingly, �So tell me, what are your
seduction plans to ensnare the elusive Potions Master?�

Calypso smacked him on the head and said with a chuckle, �He is elusive,
isn�t he? I have not seen him here. I wonder where he is.�

Orion snorted, �Probably assigning detentions to unsuspecting students.�
Then he turned serious and asked, �You are really interested in him? Tell me
the truth.�

Calypso sighed, �Orion, he�s an older man. Even if I am there�s nothing
much that I can do about it.�

�But this is the first time that I have seen you taking a real interest
in anyone. If you truly like him, his age doesn�t matter,� replied Orion.

�I don�t care for his age but he would never be interested in me,� said
Calypso, �I�m just a little girl in his eyes and besides I go to Durmstrang and
he�s a professor here. After this year I won�t see him again.�

�Well, you will see him when you�re older, at the gatherings, you know,�
replied Orion, �And since you want to participate before you graduate I dare
say that only a year or two would pass before you saw him again. And by that
time you would be seventeen and legally an adult. So you could start a
relationship with him.�

Calypso laughed, �You�re such a romantic optimist. Surely in two years
he�ll be with someone. And he won�t even remember me.�

Orion said pensively, �He doesn�t look as if he had anyone right now and
besides we know the activities he does for Him are dangerous. I don�t think he
has much time for romance or the disposition for it. And if you want him to
remember you then simply talk to him about Potions after class. You�re one of
Durmstrang�s top students in Potions. I�m sure there�re a lot of topics for you
two to talk about.�

Calypso eyed him speculatively and asked, �And why are you so interested
in getting me together with him? I thought that you hated him.�

Orion sighed and said quietly, �I don�t hate him. I don�t like him
either. I just understand him. I think he�s had a rough life and as you said so
many times before, he�s brilliant and powerful. I think he deserves something
better. Besides I could easily imagine you with him. I think you would fit
perfectly together. You�re too bright and mature to be with someone our age. A
boy would bore you easily.�

�You�re right about that,� replied Calypso, �But I could say the same
thing about you. I don�t imagine you with someone our age either.�

Orion looked down at her with a frown, �Well, I�m currently with someone
my own age and I can tell you that I�m not bored.�

Calypso hummed and said, �Not now, perhaps, but in time��

�You don�t think that Lezander and I make a good couple?� asked Orion
surprised.

Calypso regarded him and said carefully, �I like Lezander, don�t get me
wrong, but I�ve seen you with him, and while you�re happy, you�re not in love
with him. I think he�s an infatuation-�

�I am in love with him,� interrupted Orion with conviction.

Calypso eyed him with intelligent eyes and said perceptively, �Maybe you
believe yourself to be but truly aren�t. I think you�ll realize this when you
meet the one that you�re supposed to be with. In your relationship with
Lezander, he�s usually the one that seeks you out. The one who always wants to
be with you and you accept it and welcome his attentions but you don�t actively
seek him. And besides, you two have very different futures. I don�t know if
you�ve thought about it, but what will you do when he has to go back to his
Clan and you have to fight in the war? You see, you�re from two different
kinds. You don�t fit together.�

�Why does everyone keep saying that?� said Orion with exasperation,
�Those things can be resolved by mutual agreement. Lezander and I have talked
about our future and he supports my involvement in the war. Well, at least he
does now. And maybe he doesn�t completely understand but he is willing to allow
me to fulfill my own ambitions.�

�But that�s just it,� replied Calypso, �He doesn�t understand your
ambitions or the importance that this war has for us. He views it from the
outside and their kind doesn�t want to get involved. And as you said, he allows
you to fulfill your ambitions. Don�t you see how that sounds? You would need to
constantly explain the reasons for your involvement in the war and I think that
he would keep trying to get you away from it.� She sighed and added, �Orion, I
think he�s a wonderful person but the reality of the situation is that you�re a
dark wizard and only dark wizards understand each other. Only another dark
wizard will understand what drives you.�

During Orion�s musings about what she had just said, Draco came up to
them. The music had just stopped and another song was about to begin.

Draco looked at Orion and said quietly, �Can I have this dance?�

�Er- sure,� said Orion startled out of his thoughts.

Calypso broke away from Orion and looked from one to the other and then
said quietly to Orion, �I�ll go find Lez and ask him to dance with me.� And
then she scurried away.

Draco took Orion�s hand and circled his waist with an arm and started
leading him around the dance floor.

Orion could see that the top table was now empty; Dumbledore was dancing
with McGonagall, Madame Maxime with Hagrid, Ludo Bagman with the Herbology
teacher, and Vagnarov was nowhere to be seen.

Orion looked up at Draco and saw that he was intently watching him. He
smirked at the taller boy and said, �So�Pansy, eh? And you told me that she
wasn�t your girlfriend.�

Draco grimaced and replied, �She blackmailed me. I had no choice.
Thankfully, I finally managed to escape her clutches.�

Orion laughed heartedly, �She blackmailed you? The Slytherin
Prince? My, my, she must have some juicy information to have accomplished
that.�

Draco glared at him and said sarcastically, �Glad to see that my
predicament amuses you.�

Orion chuckled and said merrily, �It does, it does.� Then he cocked his
head to one side and asked, �What does she have on you?�

�Nothing too important,� said Draco dismissively.

Orion arched an eyebrow in disbelief but let it go.

�So, you got back with Lezander?� asked Draco tensely.

�I did,� replied Orion happily, �We resolved our issues and we�re fine
now. It really was a little bit stupid. I should have listened to him sooner.�

Draco didn�t comment on that but he said quietly, �You realize that this
is the first time that we have danced together?�

Orion�s eyebrows shot upwards in surprise, �You�re right. I hadn�t
thought about that.� Then he smiled at Draco, �But I�m glad that we�re dancing
now. You really are an excellent dancer. Just as good as Lezander and that�s a
compliment indeed.�

Draco drawled arrogantly, �I�m a much better dancer than he is.� And to
prove his point he swirled Orion around and expertly caught him back in his
arms.

Orion laughed, �Ok, I believe you now.�

Draco smirked at him, �You�re a good dancer as well. Few can follow my
steps as fluidly as you do. I think we make a good dancing pair.�

�We do,� admitted Orion with a grin. Then he asked, �Have your parents
owled to you recently?�

�Yes,� replied Draco, �I guess they�ve told you that we�re going to
Malfoy Manor in Moscow to catch part of the winter season?�

Orion nodded, �Yes, your mum told me.� Then he sighed, �I suppose that
there�ll be balls and all��

Draco chuckled, �Why don�t you like balls when you�re able to dance like
you do?�

�I don�t dislike them,� replied Orion in earnest, �It�s just that
sometimes they can get a little bit boring and tiresome. And I like to spend
holidays quietly, in family activities, rather than with complete strangers.�

�I understand,� said Draco with a nod, �But I don�t think you�ll be able
to escape it this time.� He glanced around and surreptitiously took out his
wand and cast silencing spells on him and Orion. Then he added in a whisper,
�There�s a lot of activity going on to get more supporters for our side and the
balls are a front for that purpose.�

Orion�s eyebrows shot upwards and he whispered back against Draco�s
neck, �Like what happened at my birthday ball?�

�Similar but on a larger scale,� replied Draco in a low murmur, �They�re
interested in the foreigners so a lot of people will be invited besides the
usual crowd. And I guess that they�ll be having secret meetings in side rooms
while the ball goes on.�

�And will He make an appearance?� asked Orion in a barely audible
whisper.

�Yes,� replied Draco quietly, �He�s the one who ordered my aunt and
uncle to step it up.�

�Well, that�s definitely interesting,� murmured Orion, �I�m glad to see
that things are progressing. Do you think that we�ll be included?�

�I don�t know,� said Draco silently, �It�s really up to Him to decide.
But I know that Father wants us to learn how they deal with the negotiations.�

�He told you that?� asked Orion in a surprised hush, �Lucius wants you
and me to learn about their diplomacy?�

Draco nodded and said quietly, �Yes. As you said to me, he�s preparing
me and now he also wants you to learn about it.�

�And he doesn�t believe we�re too young?� asked Orion in a disbelieving
whisper.

�Not for this, not for politics,� replied Draco quietly, �The sooner we
learn the better. And I�m rather happy about it. I like politics and diplomacy.
I�ve always found it fascinating. Father has instructed me since I was ten
years old but I have never been included in any real negotiations before. It
will be a great learning experience if we�re allowed to watch.�

Orion nodded dazedly, �You�re right, it would be incredible.� Then he
asked concerned in low whisper, �But isn�t it dangerous to gave such large
gatherings of dark wizards all in one spot? If any of the invitees yapped about
it to the wrong person it would be catastrophic.�

Draco shook his head and said in a barely audible whisper, �There�re
security measures. For starters, the manors where the balls will take place
have ancient wards that repel any attack, the guests will be safe inside. Even
those who escaped from Azkaban will be attending. Another measure is that all
those who accept the invitation have to sign a magical binding contract that
doesn�t allow them to discuss the gathering with anyone else. They can�t talk
about what�s discussed or who attended or where it took place.�

Orion frowned and asked in a hush, �And what�s the penalty if they break
the contract?�

�Death,� replied Draco in a calm whisper.

Orion gasped and then whispered back with incredulity, �And people sign
this? When they know that their own magic will kill them if they break the
contract?�

�Yes,� replied Draco quietly, �It also serves to screen those who aren�t
truly sincere in their support. Once you open the invitation you have to either
sign the magical contract, thus accepting the invitation, or you sign that you
refuse. Those who sign their refusal are bound by a spell that doesn�t allow
them to say that they had received an invitation, so they can�t even leak to
anyone about the dark wizards� gatherings. So no one will find out that we�re
recruiting.�

�Wow,� said Orion amazed, �They have really planned it thoroughly.�

�Indeed,� retorted Draco smugly, �They aren�t taking any chances.�

Just then, someone tapped Orion on his shoulder and he turned his face
around to be confronted by a glaring Lezander. Orion widened his eyes and
realized that during their whole whispered conversation, Draco and he had been
speaking very close to each other; both of them whispering at the other�s ear.
Because even though Draco had cast silencing spells one could never be too careful
when discussing such matters. He broke away from Draco and used his wand to
cancel the spells.

Draco stood with his arms crossed over his chest looking tauntingly at
Lezander and Lezander shot him a nasty look before grabbing Orion by his arm
and pulling him away towards the entrance hall. Lezander remained stonily
silent while they crossed the open front doors of the school and entered the
rose garden at its edge.

The fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as
they walked through the garden. They found themselves surrounded by bushes;
winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. Orion could hear splashing
water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on
carved benches. Lezander dragged him along one of the winding paths through the
rosebushes and then stopped and turned to look at him.

�What was that all about?� asked Lezander icily.

Orion sighed and replied wearily, �Nothing, Lez, we were just talking
about the winter holidays.�

Lezander glared at him, �And that merited the need to be pressed tightly
against him? Or talk into each other�s ears?�

Orion ran his fingers through his hair, unaware of the mess he was
making, and said tiredly, �We discussed some delicate matters that no one could
hear about.� He looked at Lezander to convey his meaning, �You know what type
of things I�m alluding to.�

Lezander narrowed his eyes at him and said, �You expect me to believe
that you were whispering in his ear things regarding the war?�

�Yes!� said Orion in exasperation, �That�s exactly what I did and that�s
exactly what I expect you to believe.� Then he added tiredly, �We�ve been
through this before. I�m with you. I don�t want anyone else. So you should stop
suspecting that I�m going behind your back because I would never do that to
you.�

Lezander was about to retort when Orion heard a familiar voice and he
instantly covered Lezander�s mouth with his hand as he strained to hear better.

"...don't see what there is to fuss about, Vulcan," said
Snape�s voice indifferently.

"Severus, you cannot pretend they aren�t looking for him and that
he�s not in danger!" Vagnarov�s voice sounded anxious and hushed.

"Your friend dug his own grave," said Snape�s voice coldly,
"There�s nothing you or anyone can do to help him, Vulcan. He�ll be
punished, possibly killed, and that�s all there is to it.�

�But Igor never meant to give out their names,� said Vagnarov�s voice
sternly, �He doesn�t deserve to be punished by something he had no control
over. They fed him food with Veritaresum, Severus. I just ask you to let Him
know that.�

�He knows but it won�t change his mind. Treason is treason and as such
He considers it unforgivable,� replied Snape�s voice calmly, �My only advice is
to tell him to remain well hidden, just as he has been doing so far.�

Snape and Vagnarov came around the corner. Snape had his wand out and
was blasting rosebushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeals issued
from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!" Snape snarled as a girl
ran past him. "And ten points from Hufflepuff too, Stebbins!" as a
boy went rushing after her.

Just as Orion started grabbing Lezander to hide away, Snape caught sight
of them.

"And what are you two doing?" said Snape with narrowed eyes.

Vagnarov, Orion saw, looked slightly discomposed to see them standing
there.

�We�re walking,� replied Orion evenly, �Not against the law, is it?�

"Keep walking, then!" Snape snarled, and he brushed past them,
his long black cloak billowing out behind him.

Vagnarov took a step towards them and ordered curtly, �Not a word to
anyone about what you�ve heard.�

He made a move to return to the castle but Orion placed a hand on his
arm and said quietly, �Will he be safe?�

Vagnarov looked down at him with narrowed eyes and Orion continued
softly, �It�s just that he helped me once. I don�t want them to find him. I
hope he remains alive.�

Vagnarov�s expression softened and he replied, �I hope so too.� And with
that he continued down the path.

Orion sighed wearily and Lezander, all arguments forgotten, placed a
hand on his shoulder and asked quietly, �They were talking about Karkaroff,
weren�t they?�

Orion turned around to face him and said quietly, �Yes. When the Aurors
held him in the Ministry�s cells they gave him low doses of Veritaserum in his
food, so that on the day of his trial he would blabber all the names of the
Death Eaters he knew about. The Lestranges, amongst other, were thrown into
Azkaban with the information he provided. And now, well, now they seem to be
hunting him down. But Master Vagnarov is right, it truly wasn�t Karkaroff�s
fault.� Then he added in apprehension, �I really hope they never catch him. He
doesn�t deserve what they would do to him.�

Lezander nodded and threw an arm over Orion�s shoulders to offer him
comfort, �If he has been able to hide for this long then his chances for
survival are high. Don�t worry.�

Orion gave him a wan smile and nodded. But he knew that Karkaroff would
be discovered someday, Voldemort wouldn�t give up the search. And he felt he
owed the wizard something, after all, he had given him the Deathly Hallow
portkey and told him to search the Hallows and to practice his dark magic and
never fear it. In a way, Karkaroff had been the one to help him the most. At least
Vagnarov seemed to be helping Karkaroff somehow. He hadn�t known that those two
had been friends. And Vagnarov had asked Snape to plead Karkaroff�s case with
Voldemort. That meant then that Vagnarov wasn�t a Death Eater. But on the other
hand, he called Snape by his first name so they knew each other. It was
probable then that Vagnarov was a supporter who had never taken the Mark. And
well, Vagnarov was a powerful wizard that could manage to give his allegiance
to Voldemort while refusing the Mark.

Orion and Lezander returned to the ball when the Weird Sisters had just
finished playing at midnight. Everyone gave them a last, loud round of applause
and started to wend their way into the entrance hall. Many people were
expressing the wish that the ball could have gone on longer, but Orion was
perfectly happy to be going to bed; a lot of things had happened these last few
days and he felt exhausted.

When he went into his bed, Lezander followed him and they comfortably
snuggled under the duvet. Orion closed his eyes and hummed in enjoyment as
Lezander started threading his fingers through his hair. Lezander chuckled at
his sounds and gave him small kisses on his neck and then trailed towards his
chest as he unbuttoned his pajama�s top. Orion groaned, he had missed
Lezander�s touches so much, it felt wonderful. He opened his eyes and gave his
boyfriend a warm smile. Lezander smiled back at him and swiftly removed the
pajama�s top and started caressing him. Orion groaned his approval again and
tightly embraced him as he started to kiss Lezander�s neck.

In a swift move, Lezander moved on top of him and kissed him
passionately. Orion slowly removed his boyfriend�s shirt and then trailed his
fingers on his back, enjoying the feeling of Lezander�s warm skin under his
fingertips. It seemed it had been so long since he had touched Lezander. How he
had missed him. He sighed happily and playfully bit Lezander�s earlobe as
Lezander started kissing his neck again. Orion placed his arms around his
boyfriend�s neck and pulled him in for another deep and passionate kiss. As
Lezander�s tongue skillfully moved against his in his mouth, he felt him
caressing his sides, reaching towards his waistband. Orion was getting
increasingly aroused as Lezander played with his pajama�s waistband, while
continuing to kiss him. He felt Lezander�s erection against his and groaned as
his boyfriend started grinding his hip. He pressed Lezander�s body tightly
against his and bucked his hips when he felt Lezander�s hand slipping under his
pants. They had never gone this far but it felt incredible, he didn�t want it
to stop, ever. Lezander�s fingers wrapped around his erection and Orion arched
his back and a loud moan escaped from his throat.

Lezander stopped and looked into Orion�s his half-lidded eyes. He said
softly, �Are you comfortable with this? Do you want me to continue?�

Orion dazedly nodded and said throatily, �Yes. It feels amazing.�

Lezander smiled at him and continued his ministrations while Orion
kissed him deeply and wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Orion could barely
have a coherent thought. Lezander�s warm fingers around his erection were
driving him crazy. He bucked against Lezander�s slowly moving hand and
whispered, �Lez, bite me, please.�

Lezander smirked at him roguishly and while he continued moving his
hand, he nuzzled Orion�s neck and without waiting for long, he sunk his
incisors in Orion�s smooth and warm skin. He felt Orion�s blood rushing into
his mouth as he gently sucked and he moaned against Orion�s neck when he tasted
his exquisite blood.

Orion felt a strange warmth around one of his fingers but was barely
aware of it as he felt Lezander sucking his neck and the heightened state of
arousal that it brought. Lezander started moving his hand faster and Orion
bucked and moaned loudly in pleasure. Orion was lost in all the sensations that
coursed through his body at once and was barely aware of the insistent burning
around one of his fingers. He caressed Lezander�s head as his hips bucked once
again against Lezander�s hand that was firmly gripping him. Lezander stopped
sucking his neck and as the height caused by Lezander�s vampire kiss started
fading, Orion finally realized that his finger was painfully burning. He
dazedly brought his hand in front of his face and saw his ring glowing darkly.

Lezander looked at him with wide eyes and gasped, �Orion-�

But Orion didn�t hear the rest of his words because in that instant he
his body shifted through space and he dropped on his hands and knees on an
unfamiliar cold floor. He was utterly startled. He wasn�t in his bed anymore.
Where was he? How did he get here? He shakily stood up and shook his head to
dispel it from its lust-induced haze. He was still painfully hard and he pulled
his waistband higher as the coldness of the room hit his bare chest.

When he was about to finally look around to decipher where he was, he
heard a cold voice say behind his back, �I don�t appreciate that I have to wait
for you when I summon you. I expect you to be here instantly the next time.�

Orion spun around and gasped in horror when he saw Voldemort standing
before his throne a few feet away from him. No, Orion thought in desperation,
not him! Not now!

When Voldemort saw him he narrowed his eyes at him, �And I expect you to
be properly attired as well.�

Orion still looked at him open-mouthed and with wide eyes. Voldemort�s
intent crimson gaze slowly trailed up and down Orion�s body, taking in every
inch.

Orion immediately wrapped his arms around his body. He felt so exposed,
so vulnerable� and he prayed to Morgana for the persistent erection straining
his pants to go away before he died of mortification.

Voldermort approached him and Orion saw his scarlet eyes locking on his
neck before he felt a bursting pain in his scar. He bit his tongue to prevent his
scream and backed away from Voldemort, whose face now had a murderous
expression as he advanced towards him. Orion hit the wall behind him and looked
up in fear at Voldemort.

Voldemort grabbed his throat tightly and made his head move to a side.
Voldemort�s scarlet eyes blazed with rage and he hissed furiously, �What is
this?! You allowed that vampire to bite you!?�

Orion had raised his mind barriers to block the intense pain caused by
Voldemort�s fury but it wasn�t enough. He could taste his own blood in his
mouth as he bit on his tongue more forcefully to prevent his pained scream. His
head felt as if it was splitting in two.

Voldemort forcefully grasped his bare shoulder with his other hand and
shook him against the wall, �Answer me! You allowed him to bite you?!�

Orion cried in desperation, �Yes! Now stop it! You�re hurting me!� He
tried to pry Voldemort�s hand from his throat but his grip was too firm. Then
he used his hands to shove Voldemort�s chest, but Voldemort gripped his wrists
and pulled them down.

Voldemort released his throat and forcefully made him look up, while
still clutching his wrists painfully. Orion�s pain-filled green eyes locked
with Voldemort�s and Voldemort hissed furiously, �No one marks you, you hear!
You�re my follower! No one but me has the right to mark you!�

Orion shook his head and said, �It�s not a mark! It�s just a bite-�

Voldemort angrily pushed him against the wall and snarled, �A bite is a
mark! This is the last time he bites you and you�ll stop seeing that vampire!�

Orion furiously wrenched his wrists from Voldemort�s grasp and tried to
push him away while saying, �I won�t stop seeing him! Whom I�m with is my own
affair!�

Voldemort clutched Orion�s upper arms and he said enraged, �It is not
your own affair! You�re the last remaining Black from the prime line and
therefore you will be with whom I choose for you! And it certainly isn�t going
to be a vampire!�

Orion narrowed his eyes at him and spat angrily, �I will marry for
convenience because I am the Head of the Black House but in the meantime I can
be with whomever I fancy! And you have nothing to do with it!�

�I am your Lord and you will obey me!� snarled Voldemort.

Orion hissed at him furiously, �You�re the leader of the Dark side and I
am on the Dark side but you�re not my Lord! You�re not my Master! I�m not one
of your groveling Death Eaters that you can command at will! If you force me to
do something I don�t want then I won�t support you anymore! That was our deal!�

Voldemort pierced him with narrowed scarlet eyes and hissed angrily, �I
don�t tolerate threats! If you leave my side I�ll kill you!�

�Your side is the Dark side and I won�t ever leave it,� replied Orion
sternly, �So you have no cause to kill me. But that I�m on the Dark side
doesn�t mean that I�ll mindlessly obey your orders. I�ve told you before and I
repeat again, I want to be your follower but I won�t be treated as a
possession!�

Voldemort�s eyes flashed and he said quietly, �Oh, but you are a
possession. MY possession.�

Orion bristled and tried to push Voldemort away, �I�m not yours! I�m not
anybody�s!�

Voldemort smirked at him and gently caressed Orion�s jaw while he
hissed, �Are you ssssure of that?� Then he cupped Orion�s face and said
in low hiss as he locked his eyes with Orion�s, �If I wanted to make you
mine I eassssily could and you wouldn�t oppossse," He looked at Orion
intently and added silkily, "You would want me to take you and you
would be powerlesss to sssstop me.�

Orion�s eyes widened, still locked with Voldemort�s, and he couldn�t
prevent the shiver that ran through his body at Voldemort�s hissed words. And
as he regarded Voldemort�s face in shock he saw Voldemort�s resemblance to Tom.
The same face, the same voice, but different eyes, different words uttered to
him. And as he became aware that Voldemort was Tom, his heart clenched in pain,
because this wasn�t his Tom. But yet, as he looked into those crimson eyes, he
could somehow see Tom in them. And it confused him because he despised
Voldemort, he despised the way Voldemort had treated him, but when Voldemort
had caressed him gently, Tom resurfaced again. And how many times had he longed
for Tom to be real? How many times had he wished that he could somehow touch
Tom? And without being aware, he reached for Voldemort�s face and softly
touched his cheek.

Voldemort�s eyes widened and he stepped back from Orion. He had felt a
pleasant jolt when Orion unexpectedly touched his cheek tenderly. Why had the
boy done that? Why had he touched him like that? He looked into the boy�s
beautiful emerald eyes and saw confusion, hurt and longing swirling in them.
And he didn�t understand it nor his own reaction to the boy�s touch.

Orion�s eyes widened when he realized what he had done and his hand
dropped to his side. He stepped away from Voldemort, horrified by his action.
Voldemort was looking at him with an indescribable expression on his face.

Orion swallowed thickly and said shakily without looking at Voldemort,
�I-I�m sorry. I don�t know why- why I did that- � He inhaled slowly several
times to calm down. After a few moments, he forced himself to regain his
composure and he looked up at Voldemort with a blank face. Then he asked
calmly, �You summoned me here. What did you want to see me for?�

Voldemort turned around and sat at his throne. Then he looked at Orion
impassively and said, �I have a task for you. I want you to observe Neville
Longbottom and then report to me what you find out about him. Focus on
discovering the boy�s abilities and powers. I also want you to see if
Dumbledore takes him to his office frequently.�

Orion nodded, �I can do that. It�ll be easy. I was also planning on
speaking with Phineas� portrait during Christmas Holidays. He�ll be able to
tell me about Dumbledore�s meetings with Longbottom and what they discuss. I�ll
give you a full report after I speak with the portrait.�

�Very well, you can leave now,� said Voldemort imperiously.

Orion frowned and said, �I don�t have my wand. I can�t activate the
portkey.�

Voldemort stood up swiftly and approached him, �Show me your ring.�

Orion held up his hand and said, �Er- before you send me back. Can you
tell me how I was portkeyed in here if I didn�t activate it?�

�When you didn�t answer my summon I activated your portkey from here,�
snapped Voldemort, �Let it be the last time.�

Orion nodded but then said with a frown, �Is there any way that I can
activate the portkey without you summoning me? Like what some Death Eaters can
do with their Marks?�

�Why would you need to do that?� asked Voldemort suspiciously.

�To come to you to give you my reports,� replied Orion impassively, �And
well, if something important happened it would be beneficial for me to have a
way of contacting you first.�

Voldemort pointed his wand at Orion�s ring and muttered a spell under
his breath and the ring glowed black for a moment before going back to its
normal state.

He curtly said, �It�s done.� And without waiting any longer he pointed
his wand again and activated the portkey and saw Orion disappear from his
sight.
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The Black Heir