Yo. Cross posted on AO3. Well, here's my first ever Dark Trio fic. I've been wanting to do this for ages, and finally got a decent idea. The AN at the end will be important(ish), so please read it. I'll be listing the warnings once only, so make note of them now.

Warnings: abuse-all kinds, which I don't condone, self harm, MW, AW, PW, GW Bashing. I don't have much else yet, but I'll add the warnings on when I do.

Oh, and current planned pairings are: TRxHP, SSxLM, RLxSB, RWxHG. More will probably be added later.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters...

July 5
Order People,
Well, it's been three days, so here's my next letter. Nothing much going on over here. Uncle Vernon whipped me raw again, and I haven't eaten in maybe four days, but I've had worse, so whatever, right?
I appreciate those brownies, Mrs Weasley, but I have no desire to eat food spiked with potions, so maybe just, I dunno, don't put them in next time?
That's all for now, I guess. Uncle Vernon wants me back in my cupboard.
Harry Potter

July 5
Maroon King,
It's unfortunate that we have to go against members of your family, but you've said it yourself, if they aren't open to reason, what can we do?
Have you been able to get anything done? I can't do much from my end, considering I'm back in my childhood bedroom. Horse, Hippo, and Whale have resumed their previous treatment, making it near impossible for me to do anything.
Azure Iris and Fuchsia Storm have both informed me that the Chicken guard has been removed. I guess Lemon Sucker doesn't feel I'm in any danger from Crimson Phantom this summer.
I haven't heard from Violet Mist or Amber Canis lately. Any idea why?
Raven Serpent

July 2
Raven Serpent,
I've been looking into the prophecy, and as I thought, it's a fake.
Daddy has a friend who works in the DOM. He's looking into where the real prophecy is and how the fake one got there.
Blue Moon

July 5
Blue Moon,
I trusted you the first time you said the prophecy was fake, but it's good to have conformation.
Keep me updated.
Raven Serpent

July 6
Raven Serpent,
I've decided not to bother with the rest of my family. If they're not going to be loyal to you, then I want no part in it.
I haven't really been able to get much done with all the Chicken members around all the time. Lemon Sucker's been here a few times too, and he seems to be asking lots of questions lately, all about you.
Back in the childhood bedroom, huh?-and the old treatment? Damn them! Do you need any potions or anything? I can always knick them. I just heard about the guard removal too. No one's saying why.
Amber Canis has been sent out to try and recruit the others like him by Lemon Sucker, which is probably why you haven't heard from him. Violet Mist is with Slate Lupus at his hideout. She's been doing research, and you know how she gets. I told her you're worried, so you should be hearing from her soon enough.
Maroon King

July 8
Maroon King,
What has Lemon Sucker been asking? Does he seem at all suspicious?
Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. They know they can't kill me anyway. Healing myself would only make things worse.
So he sent Amber Canis out again, huh? It's futile. The werewolves have already agreed to join the Dark.
Raven Serpent

July 7
Raven Serpent,
I'm sorry I didn't write to you earlier. I got caught up in my research. Maroon King told me you were worried, and that's the last thing you need right now.
I'm really close to making a breakthrough here though. Lemon Sucker may have been keeping information about the scar, info that's very very important. It could be having more of an impact than we thought. Much more.
Anyway, I'll get back to you later. Oh, and Slate Lupus says hello.
Take care,
Violet Mist

July 8
Violet Mist,
I'm glad you're alright, and I appreciate all the extra research you've been doing.
Keep me updated though, okay?
Raven Serpent

July 8
Order People,
Another three days already, so here's the letter to prove I'm still alive. If there's any blood on the parchment, disregard it. Dudley broke my nose again.
Harry Potter

July 9
Raven Serpent,
He's mainly been asking whether you've been writing to anyone, and whether we noticed anything odd about you last year. We told him no, of course.
He stayed around the last time your letter arrived, to make sure, but only the letter addressed to the Chickens came. It's a good thing you were able to come up with that alternative method. It's effective anyway though, so I don't think anyone'll be complaining about it any time soon.
Maroon King

July 11
Order People,
I'm alive, and I'm not going to bother saying much more, since you won't even send a bloody response.
Harry Potter

July 11
Maroon King,
The old man's beginning to get too curious for his own good, isn't he? Well, I'm definitely going to have to thank our messenger when this is all over. He's been doing a great job with all this.
Raven Serpent

July 13
Raven Serpent,
You aren't going to believe what I've just figured out! I think I know how Crimson Phantom gained immortality!
It's a bit strange and very dark, but I think he split his soul. It sounds absolutely insane, doesn't it? But it is possible.
From what I've read, you have to commit a murder after taking part in some sort of ritual. Once the person is dead, half of your soul breaks off and enters a container of your choice. This is called a Horcrux. And yes, while practically unheard of, it is possible to create more than one.
I also believe Crimson Phantom made more than one. Remember the diary? I think that was one, and I know this will be hard to hear, but there's a good chance that you're one too. It's the only thing that could explain this connection the two of you seem to share, along with your being a Parselmouth.
I'm still doing more research though, so don't freak out on me, okay? Slate Lupus has a lot more books here for me to go through.
Please just ask if you have any questions.
Violet Mist

July 14
Violet Mist,
I honestly don't know what to say. He split his soul? More than once? I know he's into immortality, but this just seems insane. But I guess at the same time, it makes sense. "I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality." That was what he said. He also said his goal was to conquer death.
But if you're right, and the diary was a Horcrux, wouldn't he have been really young when he first killed? The diary had his sixteen year old self embedded within, right? Which means he had to have been sixteen when he created it.
You also said you split half your soul, right? Then his first Horcrux should have the biggest piece, and the rest would be much smaller. I suppose there would also be the question of how many he's made.
I'm one of them, huh? That's-that's crazy, but you're right, it would definitely explain a lot. Why is he trying to kill me then? If I really am carrying a bit of his soul inside me, wouldn't killing me the last thing he would want? If you destroy the container, then the soul piece is destroyed too, right?
I promise to remain calm, okay? Let me know what else you come up with.
Raven Serpent

July 13
Raven Serpent,
I just heard about the whole Horcrux thing from Violet Mist. It's probably the most insane thing I've ever heard, but when has anything about Crimson Phantom actually been sane?
...I just thought of something. Maybe he's insane because of the Horcruxes. The more he makes, the smaller the piece of soul in his body gets, right?
Er, how're you holding up? Vi said there's a good chance that you're one of these soul pieces. That's gotta be hard to take in. Don't do anything crazy, yeah?
Maroon King

July 14
Maroon King,
You guys worry too much. I'm fine. I agree with it being one of the most insane things ever, but what can I do about it, really?
So the more he splits his soul, the more insane he gets, huh? Which means that he wasn't always insane. I was wondering about that recently. Some of his Corpse Munchers didn't seem like they would willingly follow an insane leader. It would make sense if he was sane when all this started, and then became insane by messing around with all this Horcrux stuff.
What do you think?
Raven Serpent

July 14
Order People,
I'm alive.
Harry Potter

July 17
Order,
Alive.
HP

July 15
Raven Serpent,
Others have created Horcruxes before, so Crimson Phantom claiming that he's gone further than anyone else basically confirms that he's made more than one or two. I wonder how many there are?
And yes, the fact that the diary had his sixteen year old self within it means he was sixteen when he created that Horcrux. I also think it's safe to assume, judging by what the diary self was doing, that it was the very first Horcrux, meaning it contained the largest piece of his soul: half.
I don't really know why Crimson Phantom is trying to kill you, despite you very likely harbouring a piece of his soul. My guess would be that he doesn't know. The prophecy is why he's targeting you in the first place, but he probably has no idea just how much he would need you alive.
I'm surprised you didn't ask me about how to remove the Horcrux yet. I haven't figured it out, but I'm getting there.
Write to Slate Lupus, will you? He's getting a bit...moody again, probably because you can't be around and Amber Canis is away on that mission for Lemon Sucker.
Violet Mist

July 17
Violet Mist,
Knowing Crimson Phantom, he's probably made a crazy amount of them, plus one unknown one.
So, what happens when a Horcrux is destroyed? What happens to the soul in the container? Is it destroyed as well? Or does it go back to the original? I mean, if the diary really did hold half of his soul, what if it went back to him after I destroyed the diary? If the reason for Crimson Phantom being insane is the tiny soul piece left inside him (Maroon King should have filled you in) if the diary soul piece returned to him, wouldn't there be a chance to regain sanity?
I wonder if Lemon Sucker really knows that I'm a Horcrux. If he does, and he's practically forcing me to fight Crimson Phantom, isn't he just setting us both up?
Don't worry about Slate. I'll write to him.
Raven Serpent

July 17
Slate Lupus,
Stop moping. You'll see both Amber Canis and I again soon enough. I'm alright, and I'm sure he is too. He's done this before, hasn't he? He knows what he's doing.
Violet Mist has a lot of research on her plate, so why don't you help her out? Knowing her, she's probably freaking out because she hasn't had the time to do her summer homework yet.
Amber and I will be back soon, alright? So make sure to eat properly. And stop drinking so much!
Raven Serpent

July 16
Raven Serpent,
I've been speaking to some of my contacts at Gringotts, and all of them have said that if you haven't heard your parents' wills yet, a "great injustice" has been done. They've confirmed what we thought about your magical guardian though. Because of Slate Lupus' current status, he can't be your guardian, and hasn't legally been, since before the death of your parents. Lemon Sucker definitely is your magical guardian.
If your parents suggested other guardians in their wills, then Lemon Sucker neglecting their choices is illegal. He's also had their wills sealed, so no one else can hear them. Your best bet right now would be to get to Gringotts when you can, and have the wills unsealed yourself. As their son, Lemon Sucker or not, you can do so.
Jade Knight

July 17
Jade Knight,
So Lemon Sucker's my magical guardian, huh? I know we were guessing that, but it's still surprising to know it's true. I can't believe he didn't even bother to tell me.
I don't know when exactly I'll be able to get to Gringotts, considering where I am right now, but I appreciate you looking into this for me.
Raven Serpent

July 18
Raven Serpent,
I've been reading up on lots of Pureblood related stuff lately (Gran's orders), because I'll be of age in a year, and I came across something I thought would both interest and help you.
All the old, influential Pureblood families have what are called Lordships (Ladyships). If you're the child of one, then you're an Heir. Silver Dragon is an Heir, his father, Platinum Pride, a Lord. I'm an Heir, and since dad's incapable, Gran is Lady. Maroon King's family isn't all that old, nor is it very influential, so they don't have Lords. Your family does. You are currently Heir.
If there is no current Lord or Lady, an Heir can legally claim the title at fourteen years old. This means that you, at nearly sixteen, can claim the title of Lord at any time.
Accepting your Lordship means you're at the head of the Family, meaning even if you aren't actually of age, you are considered as such by law, of age, I mean.
If you accept your Lordship, you won't need a magical guardian any more, which means you will legally be able to leave your relatives' house, and no one could force you to go back. Ever.
Try to accept your Lordship as soon as you can. I think that would be best.
Almond Badger

July 20
Almond Badger,
That is some fantastic information. I'm trapped here for right now, because of the trackers Lemon Sucker's got on me, but I'll be sure to get to Gringotts the moment I can. Jade Knight wishes for me to do the same for my parents' wills.
Thanks for the info.
Raven Serpent

July 19
Raven Serpent,
I'm supposed to be taking care of you, kiddo, not the other way around. And I'm not moping! But I promise to eat and cut back on the drinking anyway, okay?
You doing alright over there?
Slate Lupus

July 20
Slate Lupus,
I can't help it that you're more childish than me sometimes.
But anyway, we need to find a way to get your status cleared. We all want you free, but everyone knows Lemon Sucker isn't going to do anything about it. It's actually a good thing they think you're dead right now. Maybe we can give him a heart attack when he finds out you aren't. Wouldn't that be nice?
And I'm fine. Don't worry about me.
Raven Serpent

July 20
Order,
Alive.
HP

July 22
Raven Serpent,
I haven't been able to find how exactly they can be destroyed yet, but I've read that when the Horcrux is destroyed, that is to say, the container is destroyed, the soul piece within does indeed return to join with the original soul.
Knowing this, it's safe to say that there's a good chance that since half of his soul must have rejoined him by now, Crimson Phantom might actually be sane right now.
He won't be 100% sane, considering we don't really know how many times he split his soul in the first place, but he shouldn't be 100% insane any more either, now that he has at least more than half of his soul back in his body.
Violet Mist

July 23
Order,
Alive.
HP

July 23
Violet Mist,
I'm thinking of starting up some sort of correspondence with Crimson Phantom. As Raven, obviously. If what you read is true, even if he's not completely sane yet, he shouldn't be fully insane either, which means he might at least listen to what I've got to say, right?
Raven Ser-

July 25
Raven? Is everything okay? I never got a reply to my last letter.
VM

July 26
Order,
Alive.
HP

July 28
Come on, Raven, answer! This isn't normal and you're starting to scare me.
VM

July 28
I know it isn't like you to joke like this, Raven, but Violet's terrified, so if you can get a response to one of us, do it, yeah?
MK

July 28
What's going on over there, kiddo? It isn't like you to not reply to letters. Violet's freaking out here. Those bastards didn't hurt you, did they?
SL

July 29
O,
Alive.
H

July 30
This isn't funny, Raven!
VM

July 30
Okay, now I'm starting to get worried. Our messenger is giving you our letters, but he isn't getting anything back from you.
MK

July 31
Come on, Pup, just let me know you're okay...
SL

July 31
Alive.
H

Okay, so no, you haven't missed a prequel or anything. This is how it starts. If you've figured out who Raven Serpent is, which you should have, then you should also have figured out why the dates of the letters are as they are. If you're still confused about it, let me know. I didn't want the names to be too complicated to guess, which is why most are simple enough, and the couple that I thought might be a bit harder, I added a hint in their letter. Um, chapter lengths will vary, and I don't know when the next one will be up, but I do promise that it will have actual people in it, rather than just letters. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!