A/N:hey everyone, sorry for the delay. things have been crazy lately and for some reason Doc manager isn't working right. i found away around it though so enjoy the story, and i'm also sorry it's so short. but i wanted to get this up. i might alter it a bit over the next couple days (add more) so be patient.

Chapter 12

Harry let out another sigh as yet another small group of kids came into the library and started 'attempting' to talk about him discreetly...like the constant glances and gestures in his direction wasn't a dead give away.

"You alright Harry?" came Edmund's voice from his side.

Harry turned with a slightly annoyed expression. "How long until somebody else becomes the center of all the Gossip?" he asked.

Edmund looked somewhat regretful when he answered. "It will probably be a while, it's not every day you find out that you're going to school with the Dark Lord."

"Future Dark Lord, I'm not of age yet."

"Yes, but you're bound by the old laws not the knew ones that say you're of age at 17. you'll inherit at 15 instead."

Harry Glared at his older friend before groaning and throwing his face onto the table.

"Your not helping!"

"Well, I could lie if you prefer..."

"Just. Forget it..."

"Look, I know your stressed about all of this crap but look at it like this. You're not gonna end up like those other dark lords of the last millennium."

"I know that, it's the rest of the world that needs to get a clue."

"Harry," Edmund said giving him a sad look. "it's true some people are going to be judging you pretty harshly, but not every one is. If I thought you were going to start casting Crucio's and Impirio's at people, do you think I would be here tutoring you?"

harry peaked up from the nest he had made from his arms on the table.

"You don't think I'm going to go dark?"

Edmund gave a little chuckle. "'Course your gonna go dark. But, and I say this at the risk of sounding like a character from some cheesy fantasy novel, it's not about going dark, it's about not letting the darkness control you. I remember reading about Morgana Le'fey and how she was the greatest healer of her time. Yet she is most well known for the Armies she had at her command and the many crimes she supposedly committed. Then you have Merlin, who is thought to be the strongest most benevolent Archmage in history, if not all time. Yet, they skim over the parts where he slaughtered hundreds, or destroyed towns during his war with Morgana. People remember what they want to remember, and try to gloss over the iffy details." he said putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That's why leaders have to learn to ignore the nay-Sayers to do what they feel is right."

Harry gave a smile and sat up. "Thanks Ed, I needed that."

Any time, I'm more than just your tutor Harry, I'm your friend.

0~0~0

Well, here he was, Carl was now standing in front of the ICW in his full capacity as the Archmage. His ring was on full display for all to see as it rested on right hand. In his left was an heirloom that had not been brought out since his Great Grandmother had passed. It was the staff of Merlin. A true symbol of power and his station, it could only be held by one with Emrys blood in their veins.

This was the second time he had appeared in this capacity, the first was when he outed himself as the Archmage. But meeting was not about him. It was about Harry. Since there were no other known heirs, he would have to take his position as Dark Lord at the age of fifteen. There were many who were not happy about there being a true Dark Lord, and even less so at the thought of them gaining power as a teenager.

"Surely he can wait another two years you're Grace," came the voice of the German Representative. "he is but only a boy."

"As I have said several times now, it is out of my hands. Both my position and his are bound by ancient magical laws made by both the Archmage and the True Dark Lord. Even if I wanted to change it. Harry would have to take up the position anyway, because only the magic of the two can change those laws, so by that point it would serve absolutely no purpose."

"Perhaps you could take some of his responsibilities, at least until he's older" came the suggestion from the Tai representative.

"I'm going to pretend someone didn't just suggest that I infringe in the territory of the Dark Dominion. As that would be a clear violation of several treaties and result in more that a hundred Wars on a Global scale."

more than a few people gave the Tai Representative dirty looks after that little suggestion.

"I don't see why he has to take the position in the first place." that came from the Italian Rep.

"Again, we are bound by the Laws-"

"Forgive me You're Grace, but those laws only apply to those with Magic."

"Which Harry has."

"But, it can removed..."

the hall suddenly became deathly still and quiet. Carl was struggling not to fry the pathetic excuse where he stood. As it was Dumbledore, who as the Supreme Mugwump as leader of the hall, spoke up.

"Are you suggesting, Rep. Abonte, that we permanently bind the magic of a child?" he asked with a hard glint in his eye. Even he wasn't going to sink that low.

"No." Abonte said resulting in several people relaxing in the hall. "The Archmage can remove a core all together, no?" and just like that the tension intensified a hundrefold. The staff of Merlin sprung to life sending a strip of pure magic out at the Italian quick as lightning, but instead of killing him. It grabbed him around the middle and flung him on the floor in front of Carl. Carl immediately reached down with his right hand, his ring looking like it was on fire. As soon as it touched Abonte he screamed as though he was being torn apart. though it only lasted a second,the screams continued to echo in everyones ears as Abonte continued to whimper as if he had been crucio'd for an hour. The hall was stunned silent as they saw Carl standing there with what looked like a tiny golden ball of light in his hand.

"Anyone else want to make that suggestion?" the hall as whole gave a collective gulp. There was no way anyone was siding with the man now, not that anyone would before anyway.

"Good, now let me make this abundantly clear for all of you, Harry is my Son, I may not have Sired him, but I did raise him. If anyone here even thinks of going after him, in one way or another, I will remove you're magic," he said as Abonte began to recover, but he was transfixed by the orb of light in Carl's hand.

"then I'll hand you aver to the Seven Aristocrats for them to deal with." he said before crushing the magical core in his hand returning the energy it had been made of back to nature. This caused Abonte to fall over unconscious, though weather it was as a result of the loss of his magic or the knowledge he might be handed over to the Aristocrats, no one knew. At the announcement several people jumped up, having suddenly found their Voices.

"The Aristocrats are returning?"

"Have any of them showed themselves to you?"

"Should we ready our Countries defenses in case they decide to seek retribution!?"

"SILENCE!" Carl yelled quelling the Chaos that had ensued.

The Seven Aristocrats were basically like the old dark version of the ICW. Morgana had had the Aristocrats, while Merlin had the Nobel Families.(which later evolved into the ICW as the Magical World grew). Back when the Dark Maiden Belladonna disappeared, so too did some of the Aristocrats. One, who was a Veela went on to become the first Veela Queen. Her descendant now resided in France as the veela monarch. Another was a Goblin who had returned to his people and was honored Greatly. Two others were a were-wolf and a Vampire, both of whom had disappeared without a trace. The Last one known was a Hag, who, according to Legend had gone in search of her Mistress, only to never return. The final two were a complete mystery. But history showed them as the most dangerous of the Seven. All of them were to act as a Dark Lords closest Advisers, body Guards, and most trusted Confidants. They were also the highest ranking Generals of the Dark Armies. Sufficed to say, there was a reason to be afraid of the Seven Aristocrats.

0~0~0

Dumbledore didn't show it on the outside but inside he was seething. He was well aware that now that the Line of Le'fey had returned, so too would the Seven Aristocrats. He had actually found one of them, while they were still sleeping. Apparently they had initially been found by the Spanish During their Inquisition. But they were unable to get to him. His family was another matter though. The Vampiric Aristocrat. He had thought he could turn him against this new Dark lord and get rid of them both that way. Course' he hadn't realized at the time that the new Dark Lord was Harry. He had sent Petigrew to South America to deal with it. Unfortunately, this plan backfired somehow. He didn't know how, but the rat had somehow removed his binding he placed on him. It would have allowed him to kill him instantly should it prove necessary. He knew he hadn't died, the binding connected on a physical level. Even if he was dead, the Binding should have stayed. This meant someone had removed it, but who.

Albus listened as the Archmage continued to to speak. He only knew one thing for certain. Whoever was responsible would pay. So long as it wasn't the Aristocrat, if that was the case then he was going to have some problems.

0~0~0

Meanwhile in South America, Peter was well and truly confused. He had expected the vampire to kill him when had asked that question about Dumbledore. Instead he had examined his forarm, the one without the Dark mark. Then he had drawn a small line with his nail straight down his arm. After that he had ordered Peter to follow him and made his way into the forest. Since then, he hadn't said two words to him still Peter wasn't sure that this Vampire 'wasn't' going to kill him, but once again, his cowardice was the ruling force of his existence. By his thought process, it was better to try and apease the thing that could kill him rather than something that could possibly piss him off enough to kill him.

"Uh, S-Sir...W-W-Where are we going?"

"To my Mothers eye." he said simply confusing Peter unbelievably.

"Ummmm..."

"It's a portal we Aristocrats use to get around."

"Oh, I se- ARISTOCRATS!?" Peter exclaimed flabbergasted. Causing the Vampire to flinch.

"I'm fairly Certain you're voice just hit a high C, I didn't even think that was possible for men who had reached there majority."

"Y-y-y-your your a-a-a-"

"One of the Seven Aristocrats yes, now stop blubbering, if I was going to kill you, I would have done it already." Said the Vampire crossing his arms and leaning against a tree. "I have a weak spot for the abused and outcast."

Peter's eyes widened slightly. "I-I-I-"

"You can deny it if wish, but there are different forms of abuse in this world. And no person would have had an imprisonment seal on them and not have been abused."

"Im- What?"

the Aristocrat sighed as he stepped forward placing a hand on the stubby mans shoulder and directing him towards a fallen tree. "Sit, before you faint, I have no desire to carry you through this forest." he said once he was sure Peter wasn't going to pass out he sat in front of him.

"My name is Alexian Drakus, Lord of the Third Star and one of The Dark ones most trusted Advisers," he began looking Peter in the eye and Willing him to remain calm. "You have been used, I can see it, you're whole life you have been led to believe that you are less of man then others. That you are weak, eventually you began to believe this. Which in tern allowed others to manipulate you by utilizing this belief. When I look in you're eye's, I do not see weakness. I see fear, yes, but also Sorrow, Regret, and a longing I know all too well. The last person I saw like you was a very good friend of mine. If you will allow me. I want to help you." Alexian said without a hint of deception in his voice.

When peter did answer it was in a quiet but steady voice. "I am beyond help my Lord, I have killed my friends, forsaken their child. Sentenced another to a cursed existence, and hid myself away. I didn't even have the strength to end my own miserable life-" his voice cracked at the end but the Alexian's gaze gave him strength to continue. "then, the moment the person I knew was responsible calls on me, I come to him like an obedient dog. No, my Lord I am beyond even Divine help." he said closing his eyes as a single tear ran down his cheek.

"You should not presume that you are beyond help." Alexian said reaching up and wiping the tear. Peter disgusted himself as this beautifully dangerous creature touched such a retch as himself. "I will help you, but you must first learn to help yourself. Dieing isn't the answer here. Take it from someone who knows. Dieing is easy, Living is hard."

"I-I just don't know what to do anymore..."

"You can start by letting go. Stop being afraid for the sake of it. You see me, a Vampire, a being capable of killing you in over a hundred ways in under a minute, yet this is not why you fear me. You do not fear your death, though that is what you tell yourself. You are afraid of having to continue living as you are, in constant fear. let go of your fear, let go of your self loathing, you don't deserve it. You've already said someone else was responsible, did you not? So why do you continue to blame yourself?"

Peter choked on a Sob as he answered. "I should have known! I should Never have let James and Lily to use me as their secret Keeper! I-I-"

"You did what you thought was right., even I can see that."

"Why do y-y-y-you want to help me?"

"I told you, I have a weak spot for the abused and outcast. Perhaps it is because I can relate..." Alexian cleared his throat and stood. "when we get to my Citadel, I'll have you undergo a cleansing, a year if isolation from all but myself. During that time. I will train you how to let go of you're fear, and embrace your potential. At the end you will leave behind the name you now bear and take up a new one."

Peter could only nod numbly as he was helped up from his seat and led deeper into the rainforest.