Realities Truths

A/N: Wow I actually finished this chapter. I’m actually impressed with myself. And this done with an insane toothache. Gods I wish I could afford a dentist. Anyone know of a way to extract rotten adult teeth at home? *Rubs cheek* I can barely sleep cause of it and pain meds and gels barely do anything…

Voldemort looked around his throne room shifting a bit. He still was a bit shocked. Harry Potter the child he had attempted to kill at 15 months was his son. His son by his love James and he had almost destroyed the boy. Voldemort rubbed at his face as his large snake slowly coiled around the throne hissing softly.

‘Massster what isss wrong?’ Nagini hissed to Voldemort as she shifted up so her head would rest against his lap.

‘I am troubled by information that I have recently learned.’ Voldemort told his familiar. He once again rubbed at his face.

‘Tell me of thisss information.’ Nagini said calmly. Voldemort blinked in surprise at his familiar then smirked a bit.

‘You’ve become quite the uppity snake haven’t you Nagini. I have learned that the child I attempted to kill ssso long ago wasss my own son.’ Voldemort hissed softly. Nagini stared at Voldemort then shook her head and pulled away.

‘An heir you have an heir and have attempted to kill him. That isss very bad massster, but your mate where isss he?’ Nagini asked. Voldemort chuckled and then rubbed once more at his face.

‘Yesss, I have an heir, my Mate isss at the Malfoy’sss with our ssson. I will not let him sssee me asss I am now.’ Voldemort said. The snake moved away a bit as though to leave then turned back. It was time for her to catch her breakfast.

‘Sssend them giftsss until you are willingly to facssse them.’ Nagini suggested before leaving the throne room. Voldemort stared at the tail of his familiar as she left. The idea was brilliant but why hadn’t he thought of it he wondered. He began to pace trying to choose what would be good to send as gifts to both James and Harry. Voldemort stood and began to pace as he tried to decide what he could send them.

Lucius walked into the throne room and watched Voldemort pacing for a bit. He couldn’t believe that the dark lord was pacing. The more he was seeing of the man now the more human he seemed. Lucius was not sure if this would be a good thing in the long run though.

“My lord I come bearing news from Severus.” Lucius said and bowed. He waited till her heard Voldemort’s foot steps stop and the rustle of cloth that meant he had once again sat down.

“What news isss that Luciusss?” Voldemort asked from his spot on his throne. He narrowed his eyes at the other man as though daring him to comment on his behavior.

“It seems Severus may have a way to return you to your previous appearance. He is just making sure it is not flawed or false.” Lucius stated. Voldemort leaned forward again barely hiding his excitement at this news.

“What issss it that will return me to my old form Luciusss, unlessss Sssseverusss did not tell you.” Voldemort hissed keeping his voice even.

“A ritual, my lord, one that if your son agrees to be part of it should return you to normal.” Lucius said with a slight frown. Voldemort blinked and seemed to stiffen a bit.

“Ssso I will have to appeal to my ssson in the hopesss he will help me. I have much work to do. Hopefully he will give me a chance.” Voldemort stated. He shut his eyes for a moment before looking once more at Lucius.

“I am sorry I did not have better news my lord.” Lucius said and bowed once more. Voldemort looked up then nodded and summoned two sheets of parchment and a quill. He then wrote out a note before looking up at Lucius again.

“Give these to Harry and Jamesss. You can tell which isss for who easily enough.” Voldemort stated as he helled out the two rolls of parchment. Lucius took them and bowed once more.

“As you wish my lord, I will be on my way now.” Lucius said simply and turned to leave once Voldemort made a dismissal gesture. Voldemort watched as Lucius left then took a deep breath. He hoped that James wouldn’t be mad that he was not yet ready to see the other man, and that Harry would accept his explaination for the times he had attempted to kill him.

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James watched as Harry paced within the room that they had been given. He felt like laughing at his son’s obvious impatience. He wanted to laugh as he knew this impatience did not come from him. He smiled softly seeing his love within his son even as he suspected most people saw him in the child instead.

“Harry sit down and relax. When Lucius comes back we’ll see if you can at least go outside.” James said chuckling softly. Harry spun and glared at his own father then sighed. He almost wanted to pout but decided against it.

“Dad if you were able to come to yourself enough to name me as you wanted why is my last name Potter?” Harry asked. James laughed and smiled at Harry’s question then looked at his son happily.

“Because your father’s legal last name is a name he hates. I couldn’t force him to have to say it when he was angry at his own son.” James pointed out. Harry actually laughed at his fathers explination before nodding slowly.

“I guess that is understandable. I mean calling out a name you detest could get anyone angrier.” Harry said with a sigh as he plopped down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling and rubbed his head slowly. James just smiled a bit then reached out and placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?” James asked softly. Harry tried to smile then shook his head a moment. He wasn’t sure how to explain to his dad that Voldemort looked like some crazy snake monster.

“Just this situation, I am still in shock over it. It’s hard to think that Voldemort is my father and you are technically my mother when all my life I have been told that Lily Evans was my mother and you are my father.” Harry stated. He then sighed softly shaking his head a bit. James smiled and moved over to his son before hugging him lightly. Harry sighed as he placed his head on his dad’s shoulder.

“Everything will be fine you’ll see Harry.” James said softly still holding the young man that he had last seen as a baby. He slowly pulled back as Harry smiled a bit weakly before moving and sitting down.

“Dad did Sirius know about you and Voldemort?” Harry asked curiously. James sighed then leaned back a bit as he thought on what to say to Harry. He slowly nodded looking sad.

“Yes he did. He knew and at first tried to talk me out of it when I first met your father. He realized he wouldn’t be able to so decided to keep an eye on me like an over-protective brother. After a few months he realized that Voldemort wasn’t about to hurt me and maybe he wasn’t as bad as he seemed. When I left though Sirius left with me. I came first in my best friends mind. I suspect though that before he was sent to Azkaban that Dumbledore altered his memories.” James said sadly shaking his head. Harry frowned and growled hearing about another wrong the old Headmaster had caused.

“That man is beyond manipulative, I can’t believe that I once trusted him so blindly.” Harry growled as the door was opened and Lucius walked in. He raised an eyebrow hearing Harry’s words then smirked a bit. He walked over to the two Potters and held out the messages one to each of them.

“These are for you from Voldemort.” Lucius stated. James grabbed his and ran to a corner of the room acting almost like a love sick teen as Harry shook his head slightly at his dad’s reaction. He slowly took the parchment from Lucius with a slight nod.

“Thank you Mr. Malfoy.” Harry said softly. Mr. Malfoy nodded slowly then turned to go.

“You are welcome Harry. I do hope you and your father will consider joining my family for dinner.” Lucius offered formerly knowing that Harry would not yet trust him enough to be anything but formal.

“Thank you Mr. Malfoy, my dad and me will consider it.” Harry said then took a slow deep breath as he slowly unrolled the parchment to read the message from Voldemort. Lucius turned and left to let the two Potters read their messages. He was still curious about what they said but knew it was private matters between the family.

Dear Harry.

Yes I choose to call you Harry and not son. I have a reason as we both know. Our entire lives we have believed eachother to be nothing but enemies and now both of us discover that I am your father and you are my son. I do not know if I can ever gain your trust let alone respect after all that I have done to you, but please understand I thought you were the child of a betrayal. I know that is not normally a reason to kill someone but you must understand, I grew up in terrible conditions as such those things I care for I care for with much greater feeling and betrayal’s cut me far deeper than anyone else.

I hope that now that we each know the truth though you will let me attempt to be your father. I also ask if you agree to help me regain my old body back. I can not face my love looking like a monster. I need to be human once more. Severus and yes he does serve me not that old coot has possibly found a ritual to return me to human form. He is checking it over now for flaws or if it is even what it seems.

Apparently if it is what it is meant to be I will need your help and your blood once more. I’m not sure how this will be done but I will not do it if it costs you your life or you are unwilling.

Your Father;
Lord Voldemort

Harry blinked and placed the note aside. He carefully moved one hand to cover his left arm where Wormtail had taken his blood back at the end of fourth year. He slowly rubbed it with a slight frown. He glanced up at his dad and stared at how the man was clenching the note tightly. Harry stood and walked over to his dad then hugged him.

“Dad, father still loves you he just doesn’t want you to see him as he presently is.” Harry said. James looked up slowly then sighed a bit. He wanted to see his love and hold him. He really didn’t care what the other man presently looked like.

“I don’t care Harry I want him. I want his arms around me once more.” James said shivering a bit. Harry sighed and thought on what he could say to his father. After awhile he nodded and looked up at the ceiling.

“Dad I’ll help him find a way to return to a fully human form then he’ll let you see him.” Harry said making up his mind. He wanted to see his dad happy and it looked like only having Voldemort be near him will make that possible.

“Thank you Harry.” James said softly hugging his son once more with a slight smile. He knew Harry was a wonderful person already and would only become a better one in time.

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Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk sucking on a single lemon drop. He was hoping that Severus would find that flawed ritual in the book and miss the very subtle flaw in it. If he did it would mean both Tom and Harry would die while the ritual was being envoked. Albus paused and glanced at the phoenix that was glaring balefully at him.

“You know I’ll have to get rid of Severus after that ritual fails, can’t have him revealing that I gave Voldemort that ritual through him.” Albus said outloud. The phoenix stayed quiet causing Albus’ eyes to narrow.

“What no reaction bird?” He asked as he stood. He watched as the phoenix seemed to pull back a bit in fear. Albus began to laugh as though the birds fear amused him. He turned and moved back towards his desk. As he plopped down into the chair he opened one of the desk drawers and pulled out a piece of what looked like Obsidian, though it was in the shape of a mirror shard.

“Your original master died you know, about 20 years ago now. I can see what is left of his remains. Barely even one whole bone like on the ground where I left him. I’m still impressed that he lived as long as he did in that realm.” Albus said and lifted the obsidian shard so Fawkes could see it. The bird trilled angrily at this his wings fanning outwards in rage. Again Albus laughed at the bird then placed the shard away.

“Once that blasted child Tom and his son are out of the way I’ll be able to start the destruction of every living thing. No one will be able to stop me.” Albus said laughing again as a ding sounded from one of the instruments in the room. Almost instantly the grandfatherly persona came back into excistance.

“Come in.” Albus called and smiled as Minerva stepped into his office. She smiled at him and soon sat down with a slight sigh.

“Albus the ministry is demanding we send all the children home.” Minerva said. Sure it was only a week till it was time for them to truly go home but with everything that happened it seemed the ministry wanted to be sure the school would be safe.

“I figured that would be happening Minerva. I have already prepared the missives and will send them out now. We will send the children home tomorrow.” Albus said softly. Minerva nodded slowly then stood to leave.

“Harry will be all right Albus, won’t he?” Minerva asked as she prepared to leave the office.

“Of course he will Minerva we will all see him again at the start of next year.” Albus reassured the old witch. She nodded and left. As soon as she was out the door Albus shook in rage. He became so angry all the wrinkles from his body vanished at his Blue eyes became orange fire.

“I will not lose. I will not let Tom win this. I will destroy him then this world.” The man hissed his beard and long white hair vanishing becoming crimson. He tightened a single hand into a fist and a black mist surrounded it. Fawkes stared at the man that was behind all the recent problems tilting his head just slightly.

“Hmm I think I will have one of those stupid Hufflepuffs go missing on the way home. I need some stress relief.” Albus murmured and fawkes trilled angrily.

“Shut up bird before I decide I don’t actually need you to keep up my image.” Albus snarled causing Fawkes to freeze. Albus nodded then quickly stood walking up towards the owlery to use the school birds to send the messages out to the parents.

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Severus frowned as he once more read through the ritual. It seemed to good to be true. Anything like this required a closer look. Also why would Albus give him a way to return Voldemort to a human appearance. Albus wanted Voldemort dead. That was something Severus had always known.

Everything about this situation yelled at Severus. From the moment he had seen Albus enter that secret room things had seemed off. He took a couple deep breaths then shook his head. Now was not the time to think about it. First he had to figure out what was telling him this ritual he was reading was dangerous.

Finally he saw it. Two of the runes that needed to be written on the ground were wrong. These two in the conjunction they were placed in would cause the death of the two relatives in the ritual. Severus growled angrily and shook his head. If he had truly not checked he would never have noticed the flaw.

Severus frowned and wondered at this ritual it was almost perfect except for those two runes. He figured going into the Malfoy library during the holiday’s would let him find the true version of this ancient ritual. He then sighed and sipped at his drink once more. He was really starting to wonder about Albus’ mind.

It was at this point an owl showed up. He took the letter from the bird then offered it some water before he began to read. He trusted the owl to show itself out. He frowned seeing it was from Minerva. Apparently all the children would be going home tomorrow. He nodded slowly before standing. He would head to bed and in the morning to his duties as head of house for the last time this year. Then he would go to the Malfoy’s and begin his research.

Nodding at his decision Severus stood after finishing his drink and hurried off to bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day then the next he would have to face Lucius and two Potters. He could feel a headache already.