The Meaning Of Family

An: Thank you for all the reviews, I'm glad you are liking it so far! I hope this Chapter lives up to expectations, and I don't disappoint. Thanks again everyone.

'Thoughts'

"Parseltongue"

Chapter 9

The Unexpected News

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June 29th 1991

Albus Dumbledore was a wise man, at least he thought so, not to mention almost all of the wizarding world, 'ignoring the fact that he held no standing with all the dark families, to him they weren't worth the time at least not whilst their Lord was out of action'. He didn't like not knowing everything that was going on, especially with a certain boy named Harry Potter, and the fact was it irritated him to no end not knowing where he was. He had tried the blood ritual that he found in his extensive personal library, it was only able to be done on his birthday, and he had tried it on Harry's second birthday; but to no avail, he had been too late when he had found out where the boy was, and he knew that damned Sirius Black took Harry away from the Dursley's.

At first in his anger he was sure it was a death eater, but the more he thought about it rationally he knew that couldn't be as his wards wouldn't have permitted anyone with the dark mark to enter. He had his suspicions and got confirmation when the Auror's couldn't find Sirius Black, at that moment he knew for sure he had taken Harry.

Sirius may have been a light wizard but that didn't stop the fact that it had ruined his plans for young Harry. He could only guess as to what he was letting the boy get away with, or teaching him for that matter after all he does come from a dark family and Albus had always wondered how much darkness still remained in his blood.

The ritual had been fruitless in his search as far as obtaining the boy went, and he had run out of Harry's blood in that first ritual not thinking he wouldv'e needed all that much, confident as he was in his wards and plans.

Here he was sitting at his desk, wondering if Harry would end up coming to Hogwarts. He would be eleven next month and so able to attend Hogwarts. Now all he had to do was have McGonagall send his acceptance letter and wait for a reply, but he had to wait until after his birthday for that, as was the rules of the school, it could only be received before ones birthday if the student was turning eleven after the start of the school term.

If Harry decided he wasn't going to come then Albus would have to do something drastic about that, after all he needed to set his plans in motion and he couldn't do that without Harry.

The wizarding world needed him, the human population needed him even if they didn't know it, as Harry was the only one to be able to stop the darkness that was destined to creep over the world.

This had to work, he had to get Harry on his side.

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July 6th 1991

Harry was pacing in front of the fireplace in the study, whilst waiting for Sirius to hurry up. He was nervous for reason's unknown to him, it's not like he thought Tom would hurt him, in fact for some reason he knew he could trust him. He suspected he was just nervous about the news that Tom had to tell him, for the life of him he couldn't fathom what it could be. Sirius still didn't believe him when he said he could trust Tom, he tried to hide it from Harry but he knew Sirius enough to know what the man was thinking.

It pained Harry to know that Sirius look to him like a son, he didn't want Sirius to look at him that way. He had always felt some kind of connection to Sirius, and as he was growing up he figured it was just because Sirius was the only one there for him but he knew now it was more then that. He may only be ten but he wasn't stupid, and he also knew himself enough to know when to take notice of certain things.

He also knew that there was something very different with him, he knew it before he drank the mixture of his own and Tom's blood, but he didn't quite know what it could mean. Well he knew enough from books that he read in their library what it possibly could mean but what he didn't understand was how. He trusted in Tom for reason he couldn't quite understand but he knew not to question it too much as he would have his questions answered soon enough. So with that comforting thought he stopped pacing, he was still nervous and determined not to show it as he knew without a doubt that whatever this life changing news was he could handle it, he had Sirius' support and whatever may come he would face it and deal with it.

Turning to face the doorway he watched as Sirius walked into the room, he noticed how gorgeous Sirius looked in his black jeans and black silk shirt, shoulder length black hair, and long black cloak, shaking himself out of whatever had come over him, "are you ready to go now."

"Yeah, are you nervous?"

"I was, but not so much now, I'm more nervous about the news then anything else though." Harry replied.

Sirius just nodded his head in response and took a good look at Harry, who was wearing his usual green silk shirt with black dress pants and looking mighty intimidating with his long black hair framing his face, with his glowing emerald eyes, even at such a young age Harry often kept his face blank of his emotions, sometimes it was even hard for Sirius to see what he was thinking or feeling, he would definitely make an intimidating figure when he was older. Realizing that he was staring he looked down and pulled the hood up on his head and Harry did the same thing, once he was finished with it he walked towards the fireplace and took some floo powder in his hand and offered his other to Harry.

Harry just raised an eyebrow at Sirius before taking his hand knowing that Sirius didn't want to go separately on a night like tonight. After they arrived at the 'Drunken Nomad' they made their way towards 'The Enchanted Forest' that bordered the town square.

Harry was the first to see the figure standing there alone in the darkness, he had always had good eye sight and the dark didn't seem too much of a problem for him then Sirius, but he didn't think much of it just put it down to the link between himself and Tom, as he did with most things strange or uncommon about him. Sirius soon seen the figure standing there also, he didn't notice he grabbed Harry's hand until he gently removed his hand from Sirius' hold not wanting to appear so much like a child to the most feared Dark Lord in all history, Harry looked back at Tom and seen the slight smile he was wearing on his previous passive face.

"I'm glad you didn't change your mind about meeting me here, Harry." Voldemort said easily.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Tom." Harry replied just as easily, noticing Sirius stiffen slightly at the sound of Voldemort's voice, something he couldn't quite understand as he found the hissing quite interesting to say the least. He also didn't understand why Sirius was looking at him with wide eyes or Tom's smile growing.

"Harry since when have you been a Parselmouth?" Sirius asked shocked.

Harry for his part looked at Sirius with slight confusion, he knew what a parselmouth was, but couldn't understand what Sirius was talking about as he was sure he had spoken in English. "I don't know what you mean, Sirius."

"You just spoke Parseltongue to Voldemort after he spoke it to you."

Harry looked over to Tom to see him nod his head in affirmation, "Oh."

"Oh, that's it, that's all you have to say?" Sirius asked even more shocked that Harry didn't seem bothered by this.

"What do you want me to say Sirius, it's obvious it has something to do with the undeniable link I share with Tom." Harry replied not taking his eyes off Tom, wanting to see any hint that what he said was indeed correct.

"Your not at all worried about this?" Sirius asked with wide eyes.

"No, and neither should you be Sirius." Harry said firmly.

"Will you stop staring at me like that Sirius." Harry said, after a short silence of having Sirius staring at him with those shocked wide eyes as if Harry was now someone else, he was starting to get really annoyed at Sirius' reaction. Sure it was a surprise but that was no need for the staring.

"Sorry." Sirius mumbled shaking himself out of his daze and looking to where Harry was looking.

"Do you want me to tell you my news in Parseltongue so you can tell Sirius yourself or would you like me to speak in English for the benefit of both of you?" Voldemort asked with one raised eyebrow.

Harry thought this over for a minute and decided it might be best for Tom to speak in English knowing that Sirius would not only be offended but also interrupting non stop demanding to know what was being said, and he didn't really think he would be up to explaining life changing news until after he digested all the information given to him, he was sure that Sirius although will be shocked also won't feel the need to attack the Dark Lord, "I think it would be best in English, Tom."

Voldemort nodded in agreement, ready to give Harry the support he would sure need with Sirius, if his previous reaction was anything to go by.

"That sounds the best way to approach this, I must agree." Voldemort replied, conjuring three comfortable chairs facing each other in the clearing in the forest they were currently standing in, and gestured for them to sit, not feeling in the mood to stand, and guessing that they would need the support of the chairs once they were told.

"Please take a seat, I think it would be more comfortable."

Harry sat opposite Tom, and waited for Sirius to take the seat next to him.

"I think I'll stand, thanks." Sirius replied with bitterness.

"Sirius would you please sit down?" Harry asked, looking at Sirius.

Sirius looked briefly at Harry and decided to sit, not being able to say no to him.

"Thank you." harry said, pleased, as Sirius took his seat.

Voldemort looked at Sirius briefly, then looked back at Harry, and decided the best place to start would be to just come straight out and tell him the truth, as blunt as it may be. He looked at Harry intensely before saying, "I'm your father Harry."

Sirius almost fell of his chair in shocked outrage, wondering what game Voldemort was playing at, whilst Harry just sat there still as a statue staring at Tom, trying to see any lies in his eyes, but unable to see any, he let the news sink in, before asking, "How is that possible?"

Voldemort knew he was shocked and knew he was trying hard to keep it from his face, he gave a slight smile at that, it reminded Tom of Harry's mother.

"You were kidnapped from the nursery where you were born, your mother tried to save you but she didn't make it in time. I don't know all that happened that night only bits and pieces from the letters your mother has been sending me over the years since the night you were taken, she's still out there somewhere and I know she has been watching us both from a distance." Voldemort said with regret in his voice, "I wasn't there on that night, I was planning to come visit you both, but you were taken before I got there and you mother escaped, she then sent me a letter to explain what happened." Voldemort stopped speaking to see what Harry's reaction to his was.

Harry was beyond shocked at this point he didn't know what to think his mind was going so fast he just couldn't keep up with it, he could no longer hide the shock from his expressions, and just sat there with tears in his eyes at the news, he knew Tom, or was it Dad, wasn't lying to him he could feel it, but he just couldn't understand any of it, why was he kidnapped for what purpose could it be, and by who, who would do such a thing, taking a baby from his parents. He now knew he was living a lie this whole time, his whole life had been a lie, well not Sirius he mused, that's the only thing that wasn't a lie is that Sirius cared for him and supported him but that didn't seem to matter much at the moment, he looked at Tom and asked, "You mean not only are you my father but my mother is out there somewhere as well?" He couldn't understand why she hadn't contacted him, or his father for that matter.

"Yes, but you must understand, she isn't able to make contact with either of us, only through letters has she been able to contact me, I haven't been able to contact her but I know she knows whats going on at least concerning you and me, I know she wanted to get in contact with you, but didn't want to hurt you, she wanted me to be able to find you and tell you myself." Tom didn't know what to say to the look in Harry's eyes so remained quiet for a moment to let him have his thoughts.

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing his mother was alive, he had parents who where alive, he couldn't believe it, he never once thought of Sirius as a father, and he couldn't believe he was sitting in front of his father, he wanted to ask more about them but knew he would have plenty of time so he decided not to say anything he couldn't keep the tears from falling down his cheeks.

Sirius looked at Harry and saw the tears, and couldn't help but be angry at what Voldemort was doing, he didn't believe a word of it he knew Lily had been pregnant, he couldn't believe this boy who looked so much like Lily and James was not in fact their child, no he wouldn't stand for this creature hurting Harry and seeing the tears he knew he had to put a stop to it.

"How dare you say such things to a child, I knew you wanted to kill him but I didn't know you would use these means to do so, what you thought that you could make Harry believe your lies just to torture him before you took pleasure in killing him."

"Sirius please be quiet." Harry asked quietly, wiping away his tears.

"No Harry, I will not let this excuse for a man do this to you." Sirius said standing up ready to leave with Harry.

"I assure you I have no desire to kill 'Harry', I would much rather die myself then to have 'Harry' harmed or hurt in any way." Voldemort replied calmly.

"That can be arranged, cant you see the pain in his eyes or do you just not care, what am I saying of course you couldn't care less." Sirius said, as he started towards Harry ready to take him away.

"Sirius I'm not going anywhere so just sit down, I believe him, not because I'm desperate to have parents or any other madness, I'm not that stupid so please give me more credit than that, I believe him because I can see he is telling the truth, I know it doesn't make sense but I believe him and I'm sure if you just sit down and let us talk about this we will find out what is going on." Harry said, with so much force that Sirius couldn't help but obey. He quietly took his seat and sat there facing ahead of him, he didn't know what Harry was thinking, how could he believe a man he has just met, and speak to him like that.

Harry knew Sirius was upset with him but it was all he could do to shut him up and get to the bottom of this, there was a lot he needed to know and wouldn't get anywhere until Sirius sat down. "Thank you, Sirius." Harry said gently hoping that it was enough to calm him down for the time being.

"I have some letters here from your mother that I have received over the years if you would like to read them?" Voldemort asked as he retrieved them from his front pocket of his black cloak, and held them out for Harry to take.

Harry took them with shaking hands and sat there staring at them for a moment before opening the first one on top of the short pile to read.

He read, the most recent one that was to tell his father that she was going to bring him back, he moved slowly through the letters with quiet tears slowly running down his face until he reached the last one it was the one that his mother had first sent to his father after he was kidnapped. It was done with a shaky hand he could tell.

'To My Dear Tom,

I don't have much time to explain, so I will make this as quick as possible, as you can now tell I'v taken my ring off due to the fact I am running for my life away from my clan, I do not want them to be able to find you, that is why I am not running back to you. The Wizards have taken our Rayden, I don't know who it was but i can guess it was Dumbledore. I will be watching from afar at a safe dstance and trust you know what to do.

Your Loving Wife

Adaire

"Rayden?" Harry whispered, whilst tracing a gentle finger over his mothers name, 'it was such a beautiful name' he thought.

"Yes that's what we named you before you were stolen from us." Voldemort replied with a nod, barely keeping the anger and hurt out of his voice.

Harry handed the last letter to Sirius to read and he handed the rest back to his father, "What did she mean by 'her clan'?" Harry asked after Sirius gave him back the letter.

"Your mother was a vampire, Rayden." Voldemort said, deciding that he was not going to call him by his false name now that Rayden knew the truth.

Harry couldn't keep his composure any longer and his mouth dropped open slightly. Sirius had the same reaction but more pronounced then his own, he looked like he was about to faint.

"Your mother wasn't just any vampire though she was a princess in her clan and they didn't want her to marry a mortal even if they were a wizard. We met after a went to the vampire clan for an alliance, they granted it and I saw them often your mother was in the meetings with myself and her parents, we got to know each other and fell in love when we told her parents about our marriage they didn't approve and disowned her, but when they found out she was pregnant they tried to get her forgiveness but she wouldn't allow them anywhere near her at the time they couldn't find her, because they disowned her, she feared they would try to take her away from me and couldn't handle the thought of what they might do to you, she didn't want them to have control over you or herself, she didn't want you to grow up with them wanting you to marry someone of any other clans and have the pressures that being a prince came with, she wanted you to know your father, to have a happy home with your family." Voldemort said with slightly watered eyes.

Harry was at a loss for words not only was he half vampire but he was also a prince one at that, now he knew what was so different about him and why he had that reaction to drinking the blood. It all made sense to him now, and he knew with absolute certainty that he would see his mother again no matter when it would be.

Sirius was shocked but not only that he felt betrayed that his 'friends' had done this and kept it from him, he couldn't believe they would do something like this they knew Harry wasn't theirs but they made out he was, he wondered if any of his other 'friends' knew.

"What is my full name?" Harry asked, he decided he was going to use his real name he wanted nothing to do with the fake name he had been branded with, he would be proud to use the name his mother and father named him.

"Rayden Redwolf Riddle, Redwolf is your mothers last name and clan name." Voldemort said with a small smile.

"Rayden Redwolf Riddle" Harry repeated quietly, with a hint of wonder in his voice. Voldemort chuckled. He was taking this better then he thought he would and couldn't help being proud of his son. Sirius was a worry though.

"Would you tell me what happened that night?" Harry asked after several minutes.

"Dumbledore found out that we were expecting a child, we knew we had a spy within the Death Eaters because they were the only ones that knew of it, we didn't know it was though. Your mother gave birth to you in a secret place for magical creatures, but Dumbledore found it and attacked, then took you. Your mother fled after almost being killed, that's all I know of the night you were taken. I tried to look for you by going to almost every home, in my guilt and grief I forgot to use our bond to find you, I was at a loss, so I searched and tortured for information about where you were. Finally I found that you were with the Potter's I got that information from the Longbottom's after I threatened their son then I tortured them into madness." Sirius gasped "you did that I had always thought it was my cousin Bellatrix."

"She was with me, among other people but it was I who did it," Voldemort said without shame, "Dumbledore added to the rumours by saying I was evil, I suppose I was, I had lost my son and my wife I went on a rampage, people feared me everyone was scared even my Death Eaters, no one trusted anyone. I found you were with the Potter's, I went that same night to retrieve you but as I said earlier we had a spy, I sent Peter Pettigrew ahead of the rest of us to see for any signs of anyone watching the place, when he returned he said it was clear, so we left." Sirius was sitting there staring with wide eyes once more and his mouth open.

"When we arrived at Godric's Hollow I told my followers to stay outside and alert me for anything, I blew the door down but the house appeared to be empty, I went up stairs to the nursery and found the door closed." Voldemort paused reliving the night as if it happened yesterday.

FLASHBACK

Voldemort paused listening for any noises coming from the nursery, when he heard nothing he moved quietly towards the door and open it slowly. Rayden was sitting in his crib watching him with his deep emerald eyes that reminded Tom so much of his mothers and his own eyes before they went ruby, just as he was about to pick Rayden up he heard a noise at the door and looked up just in time to see James Potter shoot a curse at him he swiftly moved out of the way, making sure it didn't hit his son he erected a shield around him. He was about to shoot one back but then noticed Lily rush past him and quickly picked Rayden up and was standing behind him, just then Dumbledore came in through the door behind James.

"Nice of you to join us Tom, I knew you were coming so I sent the Potter's out, they wondered why I was leaving young Harry here, but I knew you were coming and they trust my judgement, they returned when the wards went off. It's a shame you had to come and disrupt my plans Tom, but I should have known you would eventually find him. It's a good thing I have Peter as a spy I'm sure you never seen it coming." Dumbledore said calmly, shaking his head in disappointment.

"You thought you would get away with this, Dumbledore, you should know by now that I know you very well, enough to know what your up to." Voldemort said just as calmly.

Dumbledore smiled at this, and pulled out his wand and shot a body binding curse at Voldemort. Voldemort moved out the way and erected another strong sheild for Rayden, unfortunately he had to include Lily in that as she was still holding him. He knew Dumbledore was trying to distract him enough to hit him with a curse by having his son in the path of the curse if he moved out the way. Dumbledore wanting to get this over with as soon as possible pointed his wand at Rayden and yelled "Avada Kedavra" Voldemort's eyes widened and he quickly jumped in front of the killing curse, it impacted with his chest and the last thing he heard was Rayden's scream.

END FLASHBACK

Voldemort finished talking as he felt a tear drift down his cheek with a cold caress. He wiped it away and looked up at Rayden to see he was in the same situation.

Rayden couldn't contain himself he wiped the tears away, stood up and walked over to his father and pulled him from his seat, pulling him into his arms and squeezing him as tight as he could.

Sirius was shocked for so many reason he couldn't tell which was more prominent but when Harry walked over to the Dark Lord and hugged him he couldn't control it and passed out.

Voldemort was surprised by the actions of his son but held on tight all the same both taking comfort in each others arms. He was so happy to have his son in his arms he only seen him twice in his life before now. Once when he was born and then at the Potter's. He wouldn't let anything or anyone take his son away again.

Rayden was enjoying the warmth of his fathers embrace but when he heard a soft thud and Tom chuckle he pulled back and turned to see Sirius had passed out and was now sprawled on the ground. Chuckling himself, he walked over to Sirius and pulled out his wand and whispered "enervate" once Sirius was awake he helped him into his chair. Taking a seat also and watching as his father took his seat as well.

"Are you sure you should be doing magic Rayden?" Voldemort asked, once they were seated.

"It's alright my wand isn't made from Ollivander's wand shop." Rayden replied with a grin.

"Ah, I see." Voldemort nodded in understanding, he knew what Rayden meant.

"Are you alright Sirius?" Rayden asked, a small smile tugging at the side of his lips.

"Yeah I am Harry." Sirius said. Looking up at Rayden and giving him a smile.

"Please don't call me that Sirius." Rayden replied "my name isn't Harry, please call me Rayden, after all that is my name."

Voldemort smiled at this, he really is going to except me as his father.

"Oh" Sirius said, looking a bit startled "alright..Rayden."

Rayden nodded his head pleased. He turned back to his father.

Voldemort looked back at Rayden and continue his story "After that I don't know what happened, I didn't know of anything until your mother brought me back, all I knew of was what she had written in her letters, and that you where in America, she also told me who you were with." He said looking at Sirius for a moment before looking back to Rayden.

Sirius looked at Voldemort "I went to Godric's Hollow and found the place almost destroyed, naturally I thought you had killed James and Lily," He spat the names, "I was about to go into the house when I heard someone coming out of the house I hid behind the bushes on the outside if the yard I knew that it would be Dumbledore but I couldn't see him, I thought he was alone until I heard him mumbling to someone and because I'm a dog animagus I could make out what he was saying when I realised this I heard him I knew he had Ha.. Rayden in his arms, because he talking to you Rayden," Sirius looked at Rayden when he said this, turning back to Voldemort he continued, "he was talking about how you were going to be useful when you went to Hogwarts and how he had to get you away from there before anyone came," he paused and took a deep breath, then continued, "I knew Lily had a sister and knew of where she lived as we went their once to invite her to James and Lily's wedding, anyway I knew that's where Dumbledore would take Rayden and decided to meet him there, without him knowing of course I knew what the Dursley's where like that they hated magic and anything to do with it, I knew I had to get to Har.. Rayden," 'that was going to take some getting used to' Sirius thought shaking his head slightly, "as I arrived I seen Dumbledore leave Rayden on their doorstep with a note, just as he was about to leave he turned around and said 'until we meet again Harry you will be safe but I doubt you will be happy, but then again it will be better if you arent' I couldn't believe what I was hearing, from that moment on I didn't trust Dumbledore and decided I would watch the house waiting for the right time to take Rayden away."

"After that I took Rayden to Australia but I knew it was a matter of time before Dumbledore found us, I put a ward on Rayden not long after I took him to alert me of any rituals that Dumbledore might try with Rayden's blood and I was right because he tried on Rayden's second birthday, we left to go to America and have been there ever since in one of the Black manor's." Sirius finished.

He looked at Rayden to see him looking at him with a mix of hurt and anger, he couldn't tell why he was hurt though.

"Why didn't you ever tell me that?" Rayden asked quietly.

"I didn't want to bring it up to Rayden, it was in the past where it should be." Sirius said just as quietly, now knowing why the hurt look was in his eyes.

"You still should have told me Sirius." Rayden replied with a shake of his head.

Sirius turned away from the accusing eyes and looked back at Voldemort "I always thought Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potter's; he was the secret keeper after all, but I guess he betrayed you instead, but why did he tell you the whereabouts of the Potter's if he was siding with Dumbledore?" Sirius asked puzzled.

"Dumbledore would've told Wormtail to tell me where they were once I knew it was the Potter's who had my son, he knew it was only a matter of time before I found out, it was all part of his plan, he used Wormtail as a means to get you out of the way also," Voldemort said looking at Sirius, "he wanted Wormtail to frame you so you were sent to Azkaban and away from Rayden, by killing the muggles and making it look like you murdered him, just in case you got away with 'betraying the Potter's'. I assume Wormtail's in hiding like the Potter's waiting to come out like the rat he is." Voldemort said, with contempt and eyes flashing deep crimson with hate.

Rayden was quietly watching his father, listening to his words and letting them sink in and saw the hate in his eyes, he had to admit his father was very intimidating when those eyes bore into you or flashed like that. He felt very proud that the greatest Dark Lord in history was his father and could only hope he could be as intimidating as his father, and make his father proud of him. "So what happens now?"

"I would like it if you stayed with me at my manor." Voldemort said.

"Really?"

Chuckling Voldemort nodded his head. "If you would want to."

"Of course I would." Rayden said, with a bright smile. His smile dimmed, "what about Sirius?"

"Sirius is more than welcome to stay with us." Voldemort said, looking at Sirius with a raised eyebrow.

Sirius looked from Voldemort to Rayden and nodded his head, he wouldn't leave Rayden now after all these years of being with him.

Happy Rayden went over to Sirius and bent down slightly and gave Sirius a warm hug and feeling him stiffen slightly he quickly let go with a hint of hurt in his eyes that Sirius didn't notice but Voldemort did. He couldn't understand Sirius' reaction he never had a problem before giving and receiving hugs with Rayden, but lately he had grown more distant with him in that regard. Not wanting to get to close to him for some reason. Rayden suspected Sirius had noticed him looking at him more, and taking more time to admire him and felt uncomfortable about it. He sat back down in his chair and looked again at his father.

Voldemort decided it best for him to start talking again, "If you wanted to go back home and get all your things you can come home with me when you are ready, I can accompany you if you like?" Voldemort asked.

Rayden nodded his head and looked at Sirius waiting for his reply when Sirius nodded also, he stood up ready to floo back home.

"Why don't we all apparate from here Sirius?, it would be easier and that way I wouldn't need to use a glamour!" Voldemort said, also removing himself from his chair, and raising his eyebrow in question.

Sirius nodded and stood up, he took Rayden's hand and held his arm out for Voldemort to take.

After vanishing the chairs, Voldemort took Sirius' offered arm and they disappeared.

They arrived in the foyer of the manor, Rayden left to go pack his things, whilst Sirius left to do the same, Voldemort made himself comfortable in the living room and sat in an elegant single chair.

Rayden made his way to his room and packed all his things in his trunk that Sirius had got for him years ago, it had many compartments and he filled them all with his belongings all his clothes, books, shoes and many other things he came across, he didn't bother with his ink or parchment knowing his father would have plenty. Once finished he made his way back down stairs to find his father sitting in the living room, with a smile he walked over and sat on the sofa whilst they waited for Sirius.

"I wanted to ask you what you are going to do when you get your Hogwarts letter?" Voldemort asked with interest.

"I will accept of course." Rayden replied with a hint of venom in his voice, Voldemort raised an eyebrow in question, "I'm going to be paying special attention to a certain Headmaster whilst I'm there, and I'm going to pay him back for hurting my family, and ruining our lives." Rayden answered the unspoken question.

"You wont be alone in your revenge Rayden." Voldemort replied with a nod.

"I wouldn't have expected to." Rayden said with a grin.

"I wanted to ask you about my vampire abilities, so to speak."

"I thought you might, what do you want to know?" Voldemort asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Is that why I can see so clear in the dark?" with a nod from his father he continued, "when I smelt your blood I reacted to it, but when I drank it," he paused thinking of how to put it, "lets just say I didn't expect the reaction I got from that." Rayden said, with a slight blush.

Voldemort chuckled, "Yes it can do amazing things I'd imagine, I know I'm not a vampire but I know how it effected your mother when she drank from me, and it had the same effect on me when she did, and because of our bond I was able to drink from her also with the same effects." Voldemort said easily happy to be having this conversation with his son.

"You mean if I was to feed from anyone I could have that effect on them as well as myself, wouldn't that be a bit distracting for me though?" Rayden asked perplexed.

"Not if you didn't want it to, you could also cause pain with the bite if you so desired. It's only distracting if you let it be that way you will learn to control not only the effect you have on others but the effect it has on you, but you won't need to worry about that for now."

"Oh?"

"You won't need to feed like a normal vampire until you start to mature in human years, because you are part human, once you start to go through puberty, you will need to feed as you will start to become a full vampire at that stage." Voldemort said, watching Rayden intensely.

"I see, so what if I was to feed now would that be a problem for me?"

"No you can feed anytime you want the only difference is you don't need to just yet, but if you desire to then you can without any consequences to you, the only thing you will have to be careful of is drinking too much blood and killing someone whilst your at Hogwarts, you don't want the Headmaster getting suspicious, it would better if he didn't know that you knew everything about what happened and about knowing who you are." Voldemort said seriously.

Rayden nodded in agreement, "How will I know when to stop feeding?" Rayden asked feeling comfortable talking to his father about these things and knowing he wouldn't be looked down upon for wanting to feed off someone.

"If your mother were here she would be able to teach you herself as she wanted to, but because she isn't you will have to teach yourself, you will learn with experience, so if you would like I can take you out to feed before you start school." Voldemort said with a smile.

"I'd like that." Rayden said with a matching smile, thinking of his mother not being able to teach him made him feel sad though, and his smile dimmed as Sirius walked into the room.

"Rayden would you like me to shrink your trunk for you?" Sirius asked.

"Thank you." Rayden said, handing his trunk to Sirius.

Voldemort stood up and held his hand out to Rayden copying Sirius' earlier action, and held his arm out to Sirius. Once Sirius held onto his arm and Rayden had taken his hand he apparated to Slytherin Castle.

They landed in a large library and looking around he noticed was at least three stories high with a winding staircase to their left and an ornate emerald marble fireplace that was much taller then Rayden, there where comfortable and soft looking sofa's of black that sat around the fireplace with a white marble table in between that had a moving emerald snake with silver eyes on the surface of it. He also noticed several long tables with chairs around either sides of them.

Voldemort noticed him looking around and smiled at his son. "I will take you to your rooms as I'm sure your both tired at this late hour." Voldemort said as he turned and walked towards a large double door of a dark wood, he open one the left door and walked through waiting in the dark hallway that was only lit with a few candles on the walls on either side.

Rayden followed his father with Sirius following behind it was decorated he noticed with green tapestries with all sort of pictures of creatures and the like that moved just like the portraits did at Black manor. After walking along the corridor for a minute they turned left and came to a beautiful dark rose wood staircase in what looked like a foyer of sorts, after going up five floors they came to another hallway and turned right, he noticed this hallway was much the same as the other one they walked along only this had portraits of the Slytherin family who all looked to be asleep at the moment. They turned right and came to a stop at a door that had a portrait of what Rayden knew was Salazar Slytherin, and couldn't help but admire the intimidating figure before him he had green eyes although not as bright as Rayden's, he was wearing an emerald green silk robe over a silk silver pants, and shirt, his black hair to his shoulders looking just as silky as his clothes, he looked very attractive Rayden noticed. His lips turned into a smile when he noticed Rayden "Let me guess, you must be my Rayden?"

Rayden looked surprised for a moment before realizing that his father would've spoken to Salazar about him, "Yes sir." Rayden replied inclining his head.

Salazar's smile widened "I'm glad to meet you finally, as you can probably guess I'm Salazar Slytherin, welcome to Slytherin Castle, will you be attending Hogwarts?"

"Yes sir, I believe there is certain people there that I just have to meet." Rayden replied, smirking. He stole a glance at Sirius to his left and noticed he looked uncomfortable, probably due to all the hissing not to mention he was the only one here who didn't know what was being said. He saw that his father was smirking also.

"Yes I believe there is, when you get there make sure you visit my portrait in Slytherin's dorm room, I have no doubt you will be going into my house, and because you are related to me you will be pleased to know you will get your own personal room, as is proper for one such as yourself." Salazar said with a proud smirk.

"Thank you sir, I will be honoured, and it was certainly a pleasure meeting you."

"Your welcome young man, and please stop calling me sir, as you are family you can call me Salazar or grandfather if you like it's been a very long time since anyone has called me that young Tom here hasn't called me that since he was in his second year at Hogwarts, I think he believes himself too old for that now." Salazar said with a glare at Tom.

"I would be happy to call you grandfather, I've never had the pleasure of calling anyone that before, so yes of course I will." Rayden said with a warm smile at his grandfather.

Voldemort gave his son a sad look and drew him into a warm hug whilst Salazar gave a warm smile, to the pair.

Sirius was just standing there watching the conversation but not being able to understand a word of it and watching the interaction between Rayden and Voldemort and couldn't help feeling jealous, but he shook that feeling off quickly. He missed Rayden's hugs and knew Rayden didn't know why he wouldn't hug him much anymore but he thought it best to keep his distance for the time being.

Drawing back from the embrace Voldemort looked at Rayden "This is the entrance to my chambers I thought it best I show you where they are first before taking you to your own rooms, follow me and I will take you there now." Voldemort turned around and started walking the same way they came until they got to the corner of the hall they previously turned down to go to his father's room. He notice a door to the right of him and one in front of him so that Sirius' room would be right next to his own, Sirius' door had a portrait of a white Unicorn that bowed and let them enter it was a large room with the big bed against the far left wall with a large bay window on the far wall with a fireplace on the right of it in front of them. It had navy blue with silver swirls on the walls, the window curtains where also navy blue with silver hems as were the curtains around his four post bed, he noticed a door to the left of the bed, that lead to the bathroom, and on the wall to the right of them there was another door that he figured lead to the wardrobe.

"This will be your room from now on Sirius, Rayden will be next door you can have a password if you so choose, just tell the Unicorn and he will understand, I also want to thank you for everything you have done for my son." Voldemort said honestly, he wasn't use to being this way to anyone other then his family but he was grateful for what Sirius did for his son and in that had earned his respect.

Sirius was taken aback at the gratitude from the Dark Lord and just nodded dumbly, "Thank you, for the room," he turned to Rayden, "Goodnight i will see you in the morning I'm very tired it's been a long night and I imagine you would be feeling the same."

Rayden nodded to Sirius and understood the man wanted to be alone for the time being, so left him to it, "Goodnight Sirius."

They left the room, Voldemort walked him to his door and he saw there was a large deep blue snake coiled around itself in long grass, he noticed it was night time in the portrait, the snake lifted it's head "Welcome young Master." then let the door swing open.

"Thank you." Rayden replied walking into the room he saw it was similar to Sirius' but the large four post bed was on the right wall and the bathroom door next to the bed on the far side with the large bay window opposite the entry door the wardrobe door was to the far left wall and he also noticed a tall fireplace next to the window closer to the far left wall. His walls were a forest green with silver swirls, his window and bed curtains an emerald green with silver hems, it was as gorgeous as Sirius' room. He saw there were a couple of plush chairs near the fireplace with a small table in the middle. "Than you for everything." Rayden said once he turned away from his room and looked at his father.

Voldemort watched his son's face light up when he walked into the room and taking it all in, "I'm just glad to finally have you back in my life, now I will let you get some rest, goodnight son." Voldemort said with a smile, and drew his son into another hug.

Rayden sunk into his father's embrace once more before pulling away "Goodnight father." Smiling at how wonderful that sounded to his ears and the feeling he got when the word left his lips.

Voldemort smiled once more then left his son's room heading for his own chambers to go to bed and get the much needed rest. It certainly had been a long night and he couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful his son was, he could see both himself and Adaire in his son but he could see Rayden was very much his own person and was very proud of that fact. 'Dumbledore is in for a rough time with Rayden' he thought with a smirk.

Rayden dressed into his silk pajamas, and slipped into his warm silky bed before fallign asleep, amazed at how different the day turned out to be from what he thought would happen. Dumbledore won't know what hit him.

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Please read and review, I won't hold any chapters hostage but it would be nice to see more reviews to let me know what you think, especially when this story has had so many hits. Thank you to all my readers and reviewers none the less, I appreciate it!