AN: Sorry for the hiatus everyone. I had some time off and with COVID, I've been working from home so I've been spending lots of time with my children. That being said, I hadn't put this off or forgotten about it, rather I was struggling where I wanted to go with a few of the scenes. Even now, this chapter is a little meh to me, but I wanted to set up things that come later and when it came down to it, I struggled with getting them where I thought they were 'acceptable.' I'm looking forward to the next few chapters where things will pick up a little and I have a bit more of a clearer picture of what I want. All in all, as always, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and if you don't, whatever floats your boat y'all.

He felt every goblin eye on him as he walked down the long entrance hall of Gringotts, though he paid them no mind at all. Instead, his own eyes took in the look of the marble hall. There was a simple elegance to the design that Aries found he quite liked, and within it, the machine of the goblin nation worked. It was a machine that kept the wheels of the Wizarding World running. However, few would ever willingly admit the economic importance of the goblin race. There was, after all, a rich and bloody history between wizard and goblin.

"I have an appointment with Director Ragnok," Aries stated as he arrived at the entrance desk. The Head Goblin barely glanced at him for a moment before gesturing towards another goblin.

"Griphook," the Goblin called. "Take Lord Black to see the Director." He was led to a rather simple looking office. For one as important as Ragnok, it seemed a little too simple in Aries' own opinion.

"Greetings, Director Ragnok," Aries said with a slight inclination of his head. "May your gold always flow, and your blades be ever sharp."

"And may the rivers run with the blood of your enemies," Ragnok replied with a feral grin. "Sit, Lord Black, we have been expecting you."

"So, I have been told, of course, by Miss Delacour."

"Yes, indeed," Aries noted that the goblin did not seem pleased nor displeased entirely. He hoped that was a good sign. "We found it rather surprising that one of our newest employees had another employer."

"Call it a partnership. We have mutual goals in which we are attempting to achieve."

"Then what can I help you with Lord Black?" Ragnok asked as he looked through a somewhat extensive folder, one Aries recognized as the financial portfolio of the Black Family. "Your account manager has done excellent with your assets, even with the. . . prior Lord Black's reluctancy. Lady Cassiopeia has been like a fresh wet stone to your gold, so I have been told."

"Miss Delacour informed you of the item in which I wish to obtain," Aries offered. "Though doing so without the Dark Lord's knowledge is preferable."

"And having Lady Lestrange walk into her vault would bring a certain amount of suspicion, no? Perhaps we can come to some sort of arrangement? Truly, the movement of an item is a simple matter for a fee, of course."

"And perhaps you have something you wish to ask of me?" Ragnok was silent for some time, his eyes still looking over the portfolio as if collecting his thoughts.

"My kind is not as blind as other wizards, Lord Black." He began, at last, his goblin eyes rising to meet his own. "We see the game you three play. The triumvirate of power, we have begun to call it. We see an opportunity to, perhaps, better our position by placing our bets accordingly. The current administration will not allow us to go further, and should the Dark Lord rise to power, we risk subjugation. With you, however, we have a chance to attain that which has eluded us: freedom." It was Aries' turn to sit in silence, weighing the options before him.

"And you must think me a fool." There was an edge to his voice, one that seemed to catch the goblin off guard. "I know what you desire. To allow you the knowledge of wandlore would be like inviting a Lycan into my home without wolfsbane amid a full moon. An invitation to disaster. I am no fool, Director. We both know the importance and reality of the goblin nation to the magical societies of this world. Despite this, you throwing in your lot amid a civil war is folly. The Dark Lord is a wizard problem and one that will be handled accordingly. We need no assistance to deal with him."

"Bold words to be spoken, wizard child," Ragnok bared his teeth in anger. "You think him to be a nuisance? We remember his war from before."

"I believe there are issues far more concerning than one dark wizard," As the words left his lips, Aries slowly turned his hand, the silver ring of the Coven fading into existence long enough to be seen, before fading away.

"You dare come before us in their name?!" Blades appeared in Ragnok's clawed hands, as he shot to his feet. Aries did not rise to his challenge, instead lifting an eyebrow in annoyance at the goblin's actions.

"Peace, Director, I come here in no one's name but my own," Aries replied calmly. "Though, I believe there are few who remember how my family earned that name outside these halls." Slowly, the goblin returned to his seat, but the blades remained visible on the director's desk.

"What is the meaning of this, Lord Black?"

"I believe that our former masters mean to return to their 'rightful' place in this world." Ragnok had shown little emotion through their meeting, other than his blatant outburst, but Aries could feel the fear from the goblin.

"And have you come with an offer, Lord of Black?" The formality brought a sudden chill to the room as if ancient magics long forgotten had crept into the air.

"I am not their servant, Ragnok," Aries stated hotly. "Nor do I have any intention of my family being enslaved to them ever again. I come with no offer, save one of my own." He hesitated for a moment. "Consider the dealings of the cup a sign of friendship. Transfer the cup to my ancestral vault, and once the Dark Lord is defeated, you may retain all the gold and possessions within the Lestrange vault. A far more considerable fee than expected, no doubt.'

"Then, we prepare. We must work in secret, of course, to avoid arousing suspicion from the Coven. I do not know when He will make his move, but whether it be in our lifetime or in a century from now, it is my hope that our alliance will bring us victory."

"This is not a request to be taken lightly, Lord Black," Ragnok said after a moment, his relief evident on his face and in his voice. "I must take this before the Council. Preparation for such a war would take years, decades even."

"But our history tells us of its potential. We have found victory against them before. Our kind worked together once and defeated them. Perhaps with more preparation, we can, at last, destroy them."

"And we remember what the last Lord of Black did to those of us who rose up against the ancient ones." A weary look came over the goblin. "We have not forgotten your family magics within these halls, even if it was millenniums ago. It is all that is left of the ancient magics."

"Then they shall have to be relearned, or the world as we know it will perish beneath the power of the Coven." The silence stretched between them, as Aries waited for the goblin's decision.

"I will bring your offer before the council, but your offer of friendship is accepted." Ragnok offered, at last. "I cannot make promises of the nation, but here within England, you shall have friends. I will not see the ancient ones returned to power."

Chaos was a rather interesting word in Thomas's opinion. Still, if he could sum it up in one picture, it would be the Weasley family getting ready to return to Hogwarts. They seemed to be everywhere at once, fretting about trying to find all of their valuables. Thomas would not have been surprised if he had been the same way in the past years, but something had changed and had not gone unnoticed by his parents. His early morning routines, to the afternoon workouts, to the constant time in the library studying spells, and lastly, his time spent practicing. He had never asked anyone to join him, mostly because he had created a specific routine he enjoyed, but also because the last person he wanted to duel was his own father.

James had been busy throughout the break between meetings for the Order and the constant pressure of being an Auror for the Ministry that seemed to take up all of his time. Christmas had been the one day where the whole family had actually relaxed, despite the antics of Fred and George. Still, whenever they were around one another, there was a tension that did not go away. His mother had been rather adamant about discovering the reason for his changed behavior. Eventually, he had caved, describing the training he had been doing with Aries, along with explaining more about Dumbledore's Army. Thomas had expected his mother to be angry, but instead, she had been, well, happy. It had been a surprise, but he knew his mother had told his father, resulting in the tension between them. Thomas could not understand the dislike, almost hatred, that his father had for Aries. Sure, their opinions on magic were different. Still, after everything, after seemingly bringing Alice Longbottom back to life, Aries couldn't be evil, right?

The thoughts ran through his mind more than he would like to admit, even as his father sat across from his right now. Thomas wondered if his father missed Sirius at all. The two had seldom seen one another since the beginning of the term, and for the first time in years, Sirius had not spent Christmas at the Potters. He understood that his godfather had his own family again, something he was more than happy about, but there was a clear distance forming between the Potters and Sirius.

"Something on your mind, Thomas?" James' voice cut through his mind, somewhat startling him, and Thomas gave a shake of his head as if to clear his thoughts.

"Just thinking about Uncle Sirius," Thomas chose to answer honestly. However, he knew it might end up in a disagreement between them. "This was the first Christmas he didn't spend here."

"Clearly Sirius chose his priorities differently this year," There was bitterness in his father's voice that he was not accustomed to hearing, and it threw Thomas for a loop.

"Dad. . ." His voice trailed off, not sure what to say, as James' eyes had never left the newspaper in front of him. "I think Uncle Sirius is, well. . . torn in two." That got his father's attention, as he put down the newspaper and slowly raised his head to meet Thomas' eyes. "I mean, he never had any children. You said how that one girl died back in the first war, and then he lost his brother. All he had was us, you know? Then Aries came along, son of his brother, and he had a family again. I mean, he's brought together the whole family for the first time since before the first war. And I think that he hoped you would be happy for him."

"You think I'm not?"

"I think you care more about Aries' views that anyone." Again, Thomas could not help honesty. "And I think you can't stand that Uncle Sirius doesn't care. It's driving you, it's driving us all apart."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Thomas," James rose to his feet and started to walk away, but a surge of anger caused Thomas to follow him all the way to his study, where he slammed to door.

"No, you don't know what you're talking about!" The ferocity in his voice surprised even himself, but he would not stop. "You know how I found out I was the Heir of Gryffindor? Aries! Do you know who helped me realize I was worth my than what my friends think? Aries! Do you have any idea who has helped me become better and stronger? Aries! All you have done is sit around and mope that your friend has a family again! I know Sirius wasn't my original godfather. He was Harry's. Did you ever think he lost something too?! I don't even remember Harry! But ever since I found out about him, all I've wanted was an older brother. To have Harry back, and then comes along Aries, who does everything an older brother should! He looks out for me, lets me know when I'm an idiot, and he's there for me every time I need him. Unlike you! You're too busy being a coward to see that someone can be a good person without agreeing to your stupid views on magic! I-" His next words were stopped as his vision blurred as he was slapped across the face. Weeks ago, he would have fallen to the ground from the force of his father's blow, but after training with Aries, his feet remained planted. Thomas felt the sting of the strike, but only anger filled his eyes as he glared at his father. James did not even look ashamed but instead returned his son's glare.

"I forbid you from doing anything with that boy," James commanded. "You will not talk to him, train with him, or anything. Do I make myself clear?"

"Oh, yes," Thomas answered, but he gave a cruel smile. "You've made yourself perfectly clear, father." He turned on his heels and left the room, making no move to conceal the red mark beginning to cover his cheek.

James let out a deep breath as he took his place among the top members of the Order. Albus, Alastor, Arthur, and, to his displeasure, Severus had eagerly awaited his return from the Wizengamot within the study of Potter Manor. Adding the responsibility of attending the Wizengamot, as well as being the proxy for House Weasley, had James feeling far too stretch when the duties of being a Ministry Auror took up nearly all of his time. He could feel himself being distanced from Lily, and even more so Thomas.

"What news, James?" Albus' question brought him out of his rabbit hole of thoughts, and gratefully took the offered glass of firewhiskey from Arthur.

"I'm afraid it's worse than we thought," James began, slowly sipping his drink. "Lord Black as been named Lord Regent of House Longbottom. And it was the new Lord Longbottom that named him as such."

"Regent?" Arthur gasped out the word. "How is that possible?"

"Neville made his case before the Wizengamot that his place in life resided far from the walls of the Ministry. Said that once he left Hogwarts, he had plans to travel and such and did not want to deal with all the hassles of proxies. That he trusted Lord Black to act in the best interests of Magical Britain. The Council of the Most Ancient and Most Noble families voted, approving his request."

"The changing of allegiances was not unexpected," Albus said calmly after a moment. "Though to this degree. . . It has been done in the past, though not without an oath of fealty."

"That was my thought as well. Is there something that can be done?" James rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "This is clearly a quid pro quo situation."

"Unfortunately, not, as the dealings of the thirteen families are far beyond the contestation of the Wizengamot. If Lord Longbottom wished for Lord Black to be Regent, then we know the vote of the Council was merely a show of protocol." Albus seemed to pause a moment before meeting James' eyes. "There is a solution that could present itself."

"No," James replied, almost vehemently. "I cannot claim it. It would be a bigger risk than necessary, and without the aid of the other Heirs, the votes would mean nothing." The other three in the room glanced curiously between the two, the meaning of their words passing by without understanding.

"Then we must begin to focus on the Most Noble houses," Arthur stated after a moment. "We need to pull votes back towards our party."

"I'm afraid the Wizengamot may be well out of reach. Aries has it in a vice grip and has managed to grow his party to the majority. The switch of allegiance for the Longbottoms will only make his grip stronger. We need to focus on more achievable goals." Dumbledore turned his head towards James. "Thanks to Rufus, we know they intend to make you Head Auror. This provides us with an excellent opportunity to place individuals within the task force that are loyal to the Order."

"Sirius, nor Rufus, would just overlook this, Albus. We have Kingsley and Tonks, but if I attempt to bring more into the Order, I might see myself in a cell."

"Can we even trust Tonks?" Moody interrupted hotly. "I trained the girl and am damn proud of her, but she may as well be a Black now. Not to mention she's gettin' rather close to Lupin, who's closer to a follower of Black than anything."

"Alastor has a point, Albus," Severus drawled softly from his almost forgotten place. "The Dark Lord's continued pursuit of Black is troubling. Perhaps it is best to cut them off?"

"As I have said before, the Black family is not our enemy."

"How can you say that?" Alastor said, slamming his hand onto the arm of his chair. "You've spoken your suspicions, Albus, and I will not see them ignored any longer!"

"Suspicions?" James asked as the group looked towards the Headmaster, with even Severus seeming curious. "What does he mean?" It was Albus' turn to rub the bridge of his nose in frustration before he addressed the group.

"These are, of course, my suspicions, but that does not mean there is any truth to the matter," Albus began. "It begins with Aries' return to Hogwarts from the return of Voldemort. I know for a fact that Fawkes was not the one who returned him, and given that phoenixes are incredibly rare, it leads me to believe that Aries has a phoenix as a familiar as well."

"Shouldn't that be a good thing?" Arthur asked. "The phoenix has long been a symbol of strength and compassion."

"The nature of his phoenix, and how he managed to bond with one, is still a mystery," Albus admitted with a sigh. "But to continue, Aries returned to Hogwarts and arrived at the entrance to the fake Moody's office, where he was attempting to kill Thomas. This adds to my suspicion that Aries was also aware of the impostor. I'm aware of his proficiency in Occlumency. Still, it also leads to my suspicion that Aries is gifted in Legilimency as well, to the point of having passive Legilimency."

"His Occlumency is perhaps as good as mine," the compliment coming from Severus nearly shocked the group, but he gave them no time to respond. "It is a simple stretch to believe he is gifted in Legilimency as well, especially considering the Dark Lord believes the boy to be a master of the Mind Arts. Which means, of course, that he can hide the truth from nearly everyone, including the Headmaster and the Dark Lord."

"Indeed, and now we move to the real situation: Cedric Diggory." He paused for a moment, weighing his words. "It is possible that Cedric died by Aries' hand." The others nearly erupted in protest, save Severus, but Albus stopped them with a raise of his hand. "I do not know the entire reasoning, but we can discuss how I came to this possibility. First, Aries' return. If Aries had his own Phoenix, then why did he not have them returned immediately? Rather he willingly dueled Voldemort and allowed Thomas to escape, seemingly at his own expense. Now, it is after Thomas' escape that the speculation comes.'

"Why not escape then? A phoenix would allow both Aries and Cedric to escape alive. Instead, we know they did not return right away, during which Cedric died. Then there are the orders of Voldemort. Thanks to Severus, we know that no one is supposed to harm Aries, though spying on him is encouraged while at the same time. I believe it is possible that Voldemort and Aries came to some sort of agreement. Though its purpose and duration are unknown. No doubt, Aries meant for Cedric to escape with Thomas, leaving him alone to discuss matters with Voldemort, but when he did not, Aries was forced to eliminate him. Or perhaps the Dark Lord and his followers did kill Cedric. The reality is that no one but Aries and Voldemort knows what happened. That being said, when I questioned him regarding the events, he was evasive and even 'noted' my suspicion. Whether that was meant as a denial, in fact, or simply to stir the pot, I do not know. As I said, these are suspicions."

"Except your guesses are hardly wrong, Albus," James said as he scratched at his stubble. "If you suspect these things, then why not bring it to Bones?"

"Because Black would deny everything," Severus replied before Albus could. "And if Black is as gifted in the Mind Arts as we believe, then Veritaserum would have no effect on him. It's a potion of the mind, and one who has as much power over their own mind as Black does would never be under its control. Unless we can break into his mind or force him to confess, otherwise, there is nothing we can do."

"Then why are you still insistent on inviting him to the Order?" Alastor demanded. "Regardless, Black is dangerous."

"Which is exactly why we must make him our ally," countered Severus, to the surprise of all.

"Severus is right. Aries is far too valuable of an ally to allow him elsewhere. Whether you call them followers or not, he has them within the Ministry, the Dark Lord forces, and our own." Dumbledore paused for a moment. "He controls the Wizengamot. We know Sirius, if not Tonks as well, readily reports to him, and given his close friendship with Draco Malfoy, it is not a stretch to believe that Lucius and others may support him as well. Lastly, there is simply the fact that he is, perhaps, the most powerful wizard alive, besides Voldemort and me. We need him to ally with us."

"But why?" Arthur asked. "Humbleness aside, Albus, could you not defeat Him? Not to mention this prophecy. Is Thomas not the Chosen One?" Albus did not answer for a moment, his struggle to choose his words visible to the group.

"I have made many mistakes in my life, but the one I regret the most was my failure to face Grindewald," Sorrow covered Albus' face as he continued to speak. "Despite this, I did not question my abilities. Even with all that Grindewald possessed, I was assured of my victory. Rather, I questioned my own convictions. That is not the same as with Tom. The reality is that while I have come face to face with him on more than one occasion, even I am not entirely sure of my ability to defeat him. Aries, on the other hand, is stronger than any of us were at his age. No doubt in a few years, he will rival anything that I, Grindewald, and even Voldemort have come to achieve. I believe that Thomas will be the downfall of Voldemort, but I do not know if my aid alone will be enough. If we are to tilt the balance of power and victory to our side, we need Aries."

"Then what can we do?" Arthur asked curiously.

"For now, the Aurors are our focus," Albus informed them. "We need to have as many of our people already on the inside as we can. Even if it is just your team, James, something is better than nothing. And we continue to guard the prophecy. Voldemort cannot be allowed to have it. Severus and I will continue our attempts to bring Aries into the fold, but as it stands, I will invite him to join the Order at the end of the year. If there is nothing else, perhaps it would be best to call it a night, gentlemen." Alastor, Arthur, and Severus all quietly left, but James made a small motion for Albus to stay. "Is there something you wish to discuss, James?"

"Do you now doubt the prophecy?" James asked, honestly.

"I have never doubted that which fate as made known to us," Albus answered. "I have long believed that love, the very thing Voldemort does not understand, but Thomas does, would be his downfall. Still, there is the matter of victory in battle. I do not know how we will achieve it, but with Aries, we have a better chance of it being sooner rather than later."

"Do you really not believe you can defeat Voldemort? Even with the Elder Wand?" Albus gave him a look of surprise for a moment before the twinkle in his eyes returned.

"I suppose as the last of the Peverell's, you would know of its existence," the Headmaster surmised with a chuckle. "Truthfully, I do not know. Voldemort is perhaps one of the most powerful wizards in the history of magic."

"But how do you know that by allowing Aries to join our side, that by allowing him to continue his ways that, in doing so, we would simply be replacing one dark lord with another?" Albus let out another long sigh, before placing his spectacles on the table before him.

"How much of my past did Charles tell you?" James sat back a moment, somewhat caught off guard by the question.

"I believe I know enough."

"Then, you know I was not always as I am now. Once I was young and foolish, I made mistakes. If someone in your place saw a younger version of myself as you see Aries, then their thoughts would be similar. The reality is that when you look at Aries, you see another Voldemort. But I see myself. I see someone struggling with their power and their place in this world. I saw the same thing in Tom all those years ago, and while I may have failed with him, I hope not to fail with Aries." James stared at the fire for a long time before he turned back to Albus.

"And what if you already have?"

The letter was light in his heads, as Aries read over the words again. Its scrawl was neat, and the bottom was simply signed: The Dark Lord. It was a simple warning and a reminder of his offer, but he caught the main message: return Bellatrix or face the consequences. Aries doubted that the Dark Lord cared for his servant, in fact, he would probably kill her immediately, but instead, he wished to ascertain the safety of his Horcrux. It had been moved, of course, to one of the safest places Aries could think of, and the last place the Dark Lord would look. Still, Aries had made precautions. Bella remained solely at 12 Grimmauld Place, under the protection of the Fidelius Charm, and members of the Praetorian Guard had been stationed there to ensure her security.

He let out a sigh as he stood up to make his way to leave for Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The slight rustle of cloaks was all that gave away his disillusioned guards behind him. They usually did not follow him around so, but as they were heading into London, they refused to leave his side or to remain visible. Taim did well, Aries thought with a small laugh.

"Sirius," Aries greeted warmly, choosing to hug his uncle rather than shake his hand. The action surprised Sirius, but he quickly returned the gesture. "I'm proud of you, Uncle. I thought we almost lost you for a while there."

"There are still some things I want to talk about," He could see the uncertainty in his uncle's eyes but dismissed it.

"You'll understand in time, but we can discuss it this summer," Sirius returned the smile that Aries gave him after a moment. "Daphne sends her love and says not to get into too much trouble."

"She's a slow learner apparently," Sirius barked with a laugh, "We Blacks are always getting into trouble. Be safe, Aries."

"You as well, Uncle." A slight pop twisted him out of 12 Grimmauld Place and Aries found himself on the platform, standing before the gleaming red train. The platform had mostly cleared, as the train was meant to leave shortly. Once he was on the train, Aries moved slowly down the aisle, looking inside each compartment until he found his friends.

Draco was simply staring out the window, paying the group no mind as Tracey and Blaise enjoyed a game of Exploding Snap. Daphne was engrossed in her Transfiguration book but managed to give a quick smile before returning to her book. Aries sat down next to her before letting his head fall into her lap. Soft fingers immediately wove themselves into his hair, massaging the top of his scalp. He was more than content to spend the rest of the train like this, maybe even get a nap in, but he opened his eyes as the compartment door opened again. Theo entered and awkwardly sat near Aries' feet. Draco looked at him suspiciously, but a quick nod from Aries eased his friend's tension.

"I'm glad to see you finally joined us, Theo," Draco said, extending his hand. Theo shook it slowly, giving a curt nod much to the confusion of Tracey and Blaise. Aries noticed Tracey's quick glance, but ignored it, choosing instead to let sleep take him.

The trip from the Slytherin common room to the Potions classroom was short, considering both were located in the dungeons of Hogwarts. Professor Snape had requested the meeting through a simple slipped note at dinner. However, Aries was sure that the late hour was contributed by Thomas' new Occlumency lessons. He entered the classroom at Snape's invitation, and while it was empty, the door to the Potion master's office was wide open. The smell of tea wafted through the air, as Aries entered the room.

"Lord Black," Snape greeted as Aries took his seat across from the man. He noted the use of his title, meaning that this was no simple school discussion.

"Severus, a pleasure to be invited to tea," His words were smooth, portraying no emotion to the double agent of the Dark Lord and Albus Dumbledore.

"I trust Black passed on my message?"

"Indeed, he did," Aries answered with a slight nod of his head. "I have read over the letter, and your warning was rather interesting."

"The Dark Lord is growing tired of your game, my lord," The use of honorifics was rather interesting to Aries. Perhaps he had finally considered his offer? "He wants Bellatrix to return, and to twist her back into the weapon she was."

"He will not make a move so bold, not yet anyway." He sipped at the tea, having already wandlessly checked it for potions. "What did you think of his letter?"

"It would be unwise to ignore such an invitation." Snape's face gave nothing away and his Occlumency was too good for Aries to pick up any stray thoughts. "Such a refusal would, perhaps, convince the Dark Lord to rescind his agreement with you. His frustrations are mounting."

"Ah, yes, I have seen his frustrations, and that of his followers."

"Theodore. . ." For once, emotion played across Snape's face, just for a moment. "How is he?"

"Doing as well as one can, I suppose. His wounds have healed, but one does not recover well after being harmed so by his own father. He is in good hands now; I can assure you."

"Lord Nott was displeased that he could not find his son," Aries caught the warning in Snape's voice. "I would not be surprised if he comes to collect him in person at the end of the year."

"Lord Nott is of no concern." He let the statement hang in the year, and this time it was Snape who could not hide his surprise. "I have plans for Theodore and his father. You need not worry yourself over your student. I am curious about how Thomas' lesson went."

"The boy surprisingly knows the basics. Regardless, he was unable to repel my attempts."

"Perhaps that is due to the method you are using."

"It is not entirely up to me." Aries raised his eyebrows at that, setting down his finished tea. "The Headmaster has requested a more. . . aggressive approach. He believes that it will help prepare Potter for the Dark Lord."

"Bollocks," Snape flinched at the sudden ferocity in his voice. "It will only weaken his mind, not prepare him. Not without prepared defenses. And you allow this?"

"I do not approve, even with Potter. But I do not believe that proficient Occlumency is the Headmaster's intent."

"And what is the Headmaster's intent?" Aries stated, observing Snape.

"No doubt you've realized what the Dark Lord is after, yes?" Snape waited for Aries' confirmation before continuing. "It is the Headmaster's belief that the Dark Lord will eventually go after his goal personally. But he will also attempt to kill two birds with one stone, as the muggles say."

"So, the Headmaster is on the same thought path as I." He ran his hand through his hair, thinking through what to reveal to the Potions master. "That the Dark Lord will use this 'connection' to draw Potter in. I take it that he is now aware of it?"

"To a point, though, I do not think he fully understands its implications."

"And you do?"

"Truthfully?" Snape seemed to be pondering his own truth himself. "I find the entire situation. . . troubling. This 'connection,' as the Headmaster calls it, defies the boundaries of the Mind Arts as we know them. I find myself questioning its existence and the reason as to why it exists." Aries let silence fall between them again. It was clear that the double agent was beginning to honestly question the Headmaster. He was a man who liked to know the cards in other's hands before he made his own move, but for now, he was unsure. There was a chance that Aries could swing Snape entirely to his side, but it would take carefully wording, and just the right leverage.

"Tell me, Severus, what do you know of Horcruxes?" The Potion master paled at the mention of the soul magic, his eyes portraying his own shock.

"How do you know of them?"

"I have never shied away from the Dark Arts, like yourself, however, I did not discover them out of ambition for my own immortality. It was by happenstance that I came across one, and in turn, led me down a path to their discovery, and their importance." Aries rose to his feet, turning his back to the Potion master, giving him a chance to dissect the information without fear of repercussion for his emotions. "I have come to discover that the Dark Lord has created at least three Horcruxes. One has been destroyed, two are in my possession, and I believe that he has created more."

"Three? More?" The dread was evident in Snape's voice. "I had suspected he had created one, but to do so many. His soul must be. . ."

"He has pushed the boundaries of soul magic far beyond any, even Herpo the Foul, could have dreamed. It is my belief based on what I have seen that he has entrusted members of his Inner Circle with his Horcruxes. Bellatrix was given one, Lucius as well, and in a way, my father was tasked with the protection of one." Aries turned back to Snape, now paying close attention to his reaction, and reaching out with the slightest probe of Legilimency. "Did the Dark Lord ever entrust something to you?"

"No," He picked up little save that Snape was telling the truth. "He never trusted me entirely, only enough to ensure that I kept him informed of the Headmaster's actions. Bellatrix, Lucius, and Regulus were perhaps the most devout of his followers. Nott was too. . . temperamental. Perhaps Barty or one of the Lestrange brothers, but he would've chosen Bellatrix over them."

"Which confirms my suspicions. If he has created more, then they'll be somewhere else.'

"Why tell me this?" Snape asked suddenly.

"Have you not figured out?" Aries let incredulity enter his voice. "The Dark Lord's fragile soul, already split into at least three separate pieces, went to Godric's Hollow in search of the Potters. The Killing Curse, a spell that targets only the soul, rebounds. And suddenly, a young boy has a scar, the ability to speak Parseltongue, and a mysterious connection to a recently resurrected dark lord."

"Merlin. . . Potter is. . ."

"A Horcrux." Snape's pale face rose to meet his.

"Then, for the Dark Lord to be destroyed, Potter must die."

"It would seem likely," Aries answered somberly. "As far as I know, there are only two ways to destroy a Horcrux. To destroy its container beyond repair, using unnatural and unique means, like Basilisk venom, for instance. Or, to create another Horcrux with the item itself, to push a piece of your own soul into the container, ripping the other's soul piece connection to the physical realm away."

"Then perhaps a soul bond-"

"No," Aries interrupted. "That would only tether one soul to another. It would not remove the Horcrux nor destroy it. Not to mention, what if the soulbond were to attach itself to both Potter's soul and the soul fragment? Sure, there is the intent of the ritual, but who knows just how the Horcrux is attached to Potter."

"That means that Dumbledore has been leading him to slaughter."

"Yes, the beloved leader of the light, has been leading a boy, Lily's son, to slaughter." Snape's first clenched white at the mention of his love, the only one that Aries believed the man had ever loved. "It brings a new light to certain events, no? Quirrell, the Chamber of Secrets? Was Potter ever meant to survive? Or to prepare for his eventual sacrifice? Perhaps the Headmaster believes that the Dark Lord must be the one to do it, in order to destroy the Horcrux."

"It is something that Dumbledore would do." There was evident anger in Snape's voice, and Aries smirked victoriously.

"You asked the reason I was telling you this?" Aries reminded the man, the plans formulating in his own mind. "The truth is that there are only two individuals that match my ability in Legilimency. But of us three, there is only one who is capable of matching that skill with Occlumency: you. You can keep this information from the Dark Lord and the Headmaster, even to your death. But you are also one of the few people who have reason to want them both dead.' That caught Snape's attention, as the shock had left his face, replaced by pure curiosity.

"You wish to kill Dumbledore?"

"Do you not?" Aries asked with a smile. "The man who has forced you to play this dangerous game. To commit atrocities in the name of some 'greater good.' The man who forced the one woman you have ever loved in abandoning her child to his death. Do you not wish to avenge her? Whether you see it or not, you are in chains by both the Dark Lord and the Headmaster. I have the power to free you from those chains. Is that not what you desire? Freedom? I can help you achieve all that you would seek. Freedom. Power. Recognition. Vengeance."

There was a drawn-out silence for a time, and Aries wondered if he had miscalculated before Severus responded at last.

"You're playing a very dangerous game, my Lord." Severus stated with a bow of his head, adding in the honorific. "It will not be easy to outplay both Dumbledore and the Dark Lord."

"Leave that to me, my friend. You have done well, keeping me informed of the Dark Lord's and Albus' doings."

"Relaying information has been a normal task for me of late. It is nothing."

"And yet, knowing now what you know of Horcruxes, and the information you have given me of the Dark Lord and the Headmaster, such as the more secret Order meetings, places you in far more danger than you were before. We will need to be careful, so I do not lose my new follower. Still, there is a task I require of you. One that will test your loyalty and cement you to our cause."

"What would you have me do, my Lord?" Aries could not help the almost predatory grin from forming.

"I am aware that due to the Dark Mark, you cannot make an oath of featly, something I will address in time. But given your new precarious position, I trust that you will not tell anyone our little secret?" Aries finished his cup of tea and simply smiled. "You will help me kill Lord Nott and, in doing so, will set up Albus Dumbledore's downfall."

Sweat was rolling off Thomas as he swung the heavy sword through the forms. He could feel Aries' eyes follow him with every move and he knew if he made the slightest mistake, that the older boy would correct him. This was how their training sessions had gone ever since their return from Christmas break. Thomas would spend nearly an hour going through the forms of the sword. Aries would teach him a new spell or dueling technique, and then they would duel until Thomas wanted to faint from exhaustion. He had quickly learned than the work was more than worth it. His stamina, reaction time, and casting had improved dramatically over the year since they had started, and it was only getting better. Today, however, seemed to be the opposite.

"Again! Your sword dropped below the intended line." A low growl escaped Thomas as he pulled the sword back to its starting position and began anew. He kept going, but his concentration kept slipping, and it was apparent that Aries was getting frustrated. "Enough! Put away the sword. You'll do no good with it today. Perhaps a different means of learning is required. Freshen up and then return. No spell work today." Thomas sighed in relief as the water hit him, but there was no time to relax. When he exited the bathroom, he found Aries seated before a table with an empty chair for him.

"So, what's the plan now?"

"To talk," Aries said simply. "Your concentration clearly isn't here, so I won't waste my time with practice." The comment stung, but Thomas tried his best to push it out of his mind.

"Yeah, sorry," Thomas said, rather lamely. "These lessons with Snape have been. . . exhausting. But thanks to your help, it's getting better. I never realized how much of what you taught me was the basics of Occlumency."

"The ability to control one's mind and emotions is critical to succeeding at Occlumency. It is also how one tends to bring out the best in themselves, regardless of their preferred choice. You'll find that those who are considered the top of their craft tend to be proficient at Occlumency. But that cannot be the entire reason for your lack of focus."

"I guess, I'm still having issues with dad," Aries could see that it was difficult for Thomas to admit that. "And then there's everything with Neville. I mean, he seems so much happier now that his mom his back, but no one seems to care about that. My dad and everyone only care about whatever he did at the Wizengamot."

"I'm not entirely surprised. Even I had not expected for the new Lord Longbottom to make such a declaration of allegiance."

"I don't even get why it's back deal. But I guess I don't really know anything about the Wizengamot anyway."

"You. . ." Aries could not even finish the sentence as he sat in shock for a moment. "Are you telling that Lord Potter has told you nothing of how the Wizengamot works?"

"No," Thomas answered sheepishly. "I mean, he probably tried, but I was more interested in Quidditch or something, I guess."

"It seems that will be out lesson today." He sat back for a moment, wondering just where to begin. "When Hogwarts was founded, there was no Magical Britain. It was after Merlin walked through its Halls as a young Slytherin that he realized there was a need for the magical people to govern himself. After the fall of Mordred and Morgana, Merlin brought together the thirteen great magical families of Britain, those whom you know as the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses."

"Wait, the Potters were around when Merlin was?"

"Yes, and no. The Peverells were around when Merlin was, however when the last of the Peverells were married off to a Potter, it was his decision that their children take the name Potter. As such, the Peverell named died out, but the Potters assumed all their rights and titles, such as being one of the thirteen Most Ancient and Most Noble families. Now what Merlin did was created the Wizard's Council consisting of the thirteen families, the four founders of Hogwarts, and himself. They ruled Magical Britain for centuries until 1707, though with some changes.'

"The first would be the addition of what you now know as the Ancient and Most Noble families. These fifteen families were added to the Wizard's Council as a lesser position. It should be no surprise to you that the council now encompassed what is known as the Sacred Twenty-Eight. These families ranged from the wealthiest and powerful, like the Malfoys, to the lowest and poorest, like the Weasleys."

"So, what about the Prewitts?" Thomas interrupted again. "Mrs. Weasley was a Prewitt. So, shouldn't Bill be able to be a Prewitt?"

"Ah, that's a different issue. You see, should a single heir be born of more than one line, he would have to have more than one child to continue the line. Therefore, it is Charlie who could become a Prewitt. No one wizard may hold lineage over two bloodlines. Now, in 1707, when the Ministry of Magic was officially created, the Wizard's Council was disbanded and reformed into the Wizengamot. Sixteen noble families were added, now known as the Most Noble families. The remaining families of magical nobility were simply known as the Noble families, whose rights still exceeded those of the common wizard, but incredibly paled in comparison to those of the Most Ancient and Most Noble families. Lastly, the Minister of Magic and his cabinet, meaning the heads of each Ministry department, were added, equaling what we know as the Wizengamot today."

"Now that you know how the Wizengamot was formed, it's important to know how it works." Aries took a moment for Thomas to process it all before he continued. "In order to maintain their power, and the heirs of the founders and Merlin, the original thirteen families implemented a voting system. The Most Ancient and Most Noble families would receive five votes, the Ancient and Most Noble families three votes, and the Most Nobles and members of Ministerial cabinet were given one vote, save for the Minster of Magic himself who would receive three votes. The Chief Warlock would be the only one without a vote, save in the event of a tie.'

"The Minster of Magic would be chosen by the Wizengamot, and then he would select his cabinet. Often times, those individuals remained from the prior administration, whether due to their body of work or approval from the Wizengamot."

"If the Minster chooses the cabinet, then why would their approval matter?"

"That is actually rather simple," Aries said with a smile, glad to see that Thomas was asking the right questions. "There is only one body that can have the Minster removed, that being the same group that chose him: the Wizengamot. Take the current situation with Amelia Bones. She is consistently at odds with Fudge, and he has yet to remove her. This is because Amelia has the backing of the Wizengamot, and Fudge knows that if he were to replace her, the party in the majority would have him removed."

"And the party in the majority is yours."

"Indeed, it is," Aries said. "The current Wizengamot consists of one hundred and nine votes, due to certain families either being stripped of their original titles by the Council or being incarcerated in Azkaban. The Wizengamot is made up of three parties: the Darks, the Lights, and the Greys. As it stands, the Greys have fifty-six votes, giving us a majority over the Light and Dark parties, while the Light has fifteen and the Dark has thirty-eight.'

"These three parties were created during the addition of the Ancient and Most Nobles Houses to the Wizard's Council. The original thirteen debated heatedly regarding their addition, with it nearly being split in half. That divide came from the fact that some wished to ensure that they maintained true power in the government while the other half wished for them all to have equal footing. The two sides became known as the Darks and the Lights, most notably because of the two sides' use of the Dark Arts. It was what became known as the Greys who formed the compromise, giving the first thirteen more rights, power, and votes than all those who would join the Wizard's Council later on."

"What about the heirs? And Merlin himself?"

"As far as?"

"Well, they were originally on the Wizard's Council," Thomas said, slowly forming his own question. "We still think being an heir to the founder is a big deal now, so surely they thought so as well."

"Ah, I see." Aries paused a moment before continuing. "Here is where we come to the exception to the rule of being able to rule over two lineages. This is because the founders were not magical families of prominence. Rather, the four were immensely powerful wizards who rose to power. There is a reason why no one has their surname. You, as the Heir of Gryffindor, could claim that title. But your official title would be High Lord Gryffindor, Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. The heirs of the founders, and of Merlin should one ever be found, still have a place in the Wizengamot. They are known as the High Lords of Magical Britain, and each possesses ten votes for a total of fifty. Knowing now that the Dark Lord was the Heir of Slytherin, I'm surprised that he never assumed his position within the Wizengamot when he reached fifteen." Aries fell into his own pool of thought but was drawn out by the sudden troubled look on Thomas' face. "Something confuses you, Potter?"

"You said was."

"I'm sorry?" Aries asked in confusion.

"You said Voldemort was the Heir of Slytherin," Thomas said as he looked curiously at Aries. "Wouldn't he still be the Heir?"

"Yes, yes, he would," he said rather quickly. "I must have misspoken." He had hoped that would deter the sudden curiosity of Potter, but it seemed to only encourage it.

"You never misspeak." Aries was, for the first time, somewhat unsure of what to do. Thomas's sudden confidence that there was a meaning behind his words was surprising, but not something he could not slither his way out of. But perhaps now was the time to tell Thomas the truth. It had been his intention after all, and he had every meaning to assume his own place in the Wizengamot has Lord Slytherin.

"Indeed, I do not," Aries answered finally. "In fact, I am the Heir of Slytherin."

"Um. . . . What?!" It was clear that Thomas had not been expecting that as he struggled to form a full sentence. "How is that even possible?!"

"Truthfully, I do not know. Years ago, I felt called to the Chamber of Secrets, where I learned from the Basilisk herself that I was the Heir. The magic of herself and the Chamber recognized me as such. In fact, I am the reason there was no Basilisk when you went to the Chamber to save Ginny Weasley."

"You?"

"Yes, I had heard the stories of the Chamber of Secrets being reopened and the petrification of students," Aries explained, the weight of the dagger against his forearm suddenly becoming heavier. "So, I waited until nightfall and came to Britain where I took the Basilisk somewhere she could no longer be used."

"Well, thanks for that," Thomas said with a shocked laugh. "The Heir of Slytherin, friends with the Heir of Gryffindor."

"And Smith is the Heir of Hufflepuff," Aries provided. "Though very few know that. Long ago, the four heirs agreed to keep their bloodlines secret, in order to preserve them and so they would no longer be hunted. This is the reason the four seats of the High Lords remain vacant. No vow was taken, but until now, there has never been any heir powerful enough to reclaim their seat and fend off those who would attempt to destroy them."

"So, you mean to reclaim the seat then?" Thomas asked curiously. "Why? Don't you already have the majority?"

"It is my hope, Thomas, that one day, we both can claim our places as High Lords of Magical Britain," Aries stated passionately. "That way, after the fall of the Dark Lord, we can shape our country into a place where those like Him can never again rise to power."

"You want me to help you?" There was confusion there as if Thomas can never possibly understand why someone like Aries would want his help.

"Remember what I told you once? That 'I believe that those of us, with the power and ability to do so, have a certain responsibility to the magical world.' We have the power to change this world for the better. It's my hope that you will help me to do so." He could see the wheels turning in Potter's head. The need for approval during so much conflict with his father shown out among the boy. "I think that's enough for today. Think about what I've said, Thomas, and when you're ready to help me change the world, I'll be here."

Aries strode slowly through the hall, replaying his conversation with Potter over and over in his mind. He had never intended to reveal his lineage so soon, but he hoped his gamble would pay off, and bring his would-be apprentice fully to his side. Potter would never be able to stomach the true things that Aries would have to do, but he did not need the warrior Potter. He was the Boy-Who-Lived, a symbol, the Heir of Gryffindor, and the heir to a Most Ancient and Most Noble House. All he needed was the Potter's allegiance. But as long as James Potter survived, there would always be a wedge between them.

It had been a desire of his to drive a wedge between young Potter and his father. Still, the reality was that the current separation was entirely out of Aries' hands. His thoughts came back to the locket and the cup, then to the very fragment of the Dark Lord's soul that resided in Potter. Could the Horcrux, which had created a connection between Potter and the Dark Lord, be affecting those around in the same way the locket did to those who wore it? It would make sense logically, given the reactions that those closest to Potter tended to have, such as his own father and his best friend, Ron Weasley.

"Um, Aries?" He turned around, finding a familiar-looking girl walking towards him. He slipped into her mind slowly, feeling her anxiousness as he pulled her name into his own.

"Miss Edgecombe," Aries greeted with a charming, yet reassuring smile. "How can I help you?" The anxiousness he had felt in her mind was evident on her face as she wrung her hands.

"I'm not sure if you know my mum, but she really supports what you're doing in the Ministry, and um. . ." Marietta took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "She said if I ever needed anything or was in trouble with Madam Umbridge to come to you, and you'd help."

"How can I help you?"

"You see, my mum works with the Floo Network. She's told me that she's been helping Madam Umbridge monitor the Floo, and I joined the D.A. to help my grades, but I'm terrified, Aries. I'm worried if Madam Umbridge finds out about me that they'll fire my mum. I don't know what to do, just please help me. I think we should tell Umbridge." Aries was silent for a moment as he pondered what to do. It seemed that some of his plans would have to be moved forward, as there was no way the girl would go without confessing for much longer.

"You were right to come to me," Aries said slowly. "I can help you and ensure that your mother will face no backlash at the Ministry. I will need a few things from you, of course." She nodded slowly, accepting his terms. "First, you can tell no one of the D.A. Secondly, I will need Granger's list, the one with all of our names. At the next meeting, I need you to steal it. And lastly, I need you to trust me. Okay?" She nodded again, her relief evident. "Don't come to me again until you have the list. Trust me, this will all be over soon." He sighed in frustration as Marietta walked away before he pulled out his mirror. "Remus Lupin."

"Yes, my Lord?" Remus asked as his face appeared before him.

"Things have escalated, and we will have to move sooner than expected," Aries informed him. "Prepare Sirius for his role. It's time to let Fudge in on Dumbledore's Army."