Harry Potter belongsto JK Rowling, and I'm not making any money from this.

Beta: Julie. fjad

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Chapter Eight

And the door opens

The gold coin had a small hole in the middle, and he guessed Salazar Slytherin used to wear it around the neck.

He twirled and twirled the coin in his hand, frowning hard.

He didn't like the coin.

Something was pushing him away from the golden coin with a three-headed snake on both sides.

However, father himself had chosen it, so whatever it was, he was imagining it. But, his gut feeling was usually right, and Harrison sighed.

He himself had found the coin in the right wing when he was exploring the huge manor, and he remembered the smile on Salazar's face when he told his portrait about his finding. The smile made him feel uneasy then.

His musings were interrupted when Bella apparated into the room, holding a stupefied person with her left hand.

"Found a Mudblood. Still disgusting but better than a Muggle." Bella threw the body of a man around thirty onto the floor and moved to him, brown eyes gazing at his in evident concern.

"Let me stay, Harrison, let me help." She begged, but it didn't matter. No one would be present when he broke his soul. His father was a Dark Lord and Bella was no Dark Lady, so better no risks. He really didn't want to lose Bella too, and who knew what would happen in the room as he broke a piece of his own damned soul apart.

"No, mother. You will wait outside, no matter what." While Bella was happy he would have a security measure in a shape of a Horcrux, she was extremely worried.

As was he.

He pushed Bella out of the door, and looking in her eyes, he slowly shut the door.

"Close."

I am on my own here.

Breathing slowly in and out, Harrison levitated the Mudblood towards the circle of runes.

He himself stepped into it as well, and held his father's wand tightly in his right hand while placing the coin on its intended place.

Oh shit, he was truly scared now. And no father to save his arse if anything went wrong.

He was going to tear his soul apart. He needed the Horcrux immediately with father's protection gone.

"Fuck." Harrison spit out when he felt his wand hand shake.

There was no reprimand and Harrison's heart began to beat even faster.

Papa...

His thoughts were torn between the Horcrux and his father, and Harrison felt bile rise in his throat.

Papa was going to be dead until he managed to bring him back. He didn't know how Horcruxes worked, but he remembered his father's words.

No emotions and tight control.

Too bad he had none now. And father wasn't there to help.

Harrison closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stood still for several minutes before he finally woke up the Mudblood.

When brown eyes opened, Harrison raised his wand.

"Fuck it all." He told the Mudblood and everyone else, and raised the yew wand.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The green light sped towards the Mudblood and the memory of the same light engulfing his father rose in his mind. He wanted to weep.

A second later the Mudblood lay dead, and Harrison raised his eyebrow when nothing happened.

"Great." Harrison sneered before shouting. "Why am I such a fuck-up?!"

It didn't work.

He raised his left foot and took a step out of the circle, followed by the right foot, when something exploded inside of him.

His scream was horrible but there was nothing he could do at the immense pain he was feeling, something pulling his insides in all directions, tearing him apart from the inside.

The feeling only intensified, and Harrison's scream grew louder.

He could feel all his pent up emotions explode in his heart and he had to let go of what was left of his control.

He trashed on the floor, screaming, the weird feeling inside not letting go.

It intensified again, and this time Harrison felt something tear away from him. He felt like he was on fire now.

His eyes were closed and he didn't see two beams leave his body—one going into the coin as was intended, and the other hitting something on a bookshelf.

The pain was as suddenly gone as it had appeared, and Harrison managed to murmur "Open" before falling into darkness.

xxx

The blue eyes weren't twinkling when they looked at him. And he refused to look into those eyes because he felt like he would murder Albus.

"I know that your heart belongs to the Dark side, Severus. I may be old and senile, but a fool I am not."

At least he got the senile and the old parts right.

"Not a fool, you say, Albus?" Severus sneered and added, voice velvety with its poison. "You destroyed the boy!"

"I did no such thing! I didn't want to kill Tom. I didn't know Sirius would throw a Killing Curse at Harrison's back." The Headmaster's voice was full of pain and anger, but he refused to feel sorry for the old fool.

Harrison was now alone with Bellatrix, having thrown everyone out, and Severus was afraid for the boy—for his sanity and for his life.

"Black will get what he deserves. Harrison will get to him even it means destroying everything and everyone on his path. You removed the only control there was over the boy, Albus, and you say you're not a fool? Who are you then?" He watched the old man with a sneer on his face, while he sat opposite of him.

"Harrison is both your and my interest, Severus." Blue eyes turned icy. "You betrayed Lily when you made your choice a second time."

How dare he…

"We'll stop with the charade and pretence. However, I hope that you understand that I wish the boy no harm." The old wizard was looking him in the eyes now.

"No harm?" His voice was as cold as it could be. "You killed his father. Your flea-bitten lapdog shot the Killing Curse at the boy's back—" Severus rose to his feet. "—and the Dark Lord had to sacrifice himself to save his son. You call it no harm?"

"That's not what I was hoping for."

"I bet."

"Severus, I have wronged you many times. I know you decided to help our side when Lily was killed out of your pain and a good heart. It is rather unfortunate for me that Harrison's mother is Lily." Albus smiled a tiny, sad smile but Severus got the message.

"Please look after the boy." The headmaster stood up now as well. "Because you're my only link with Harrison, everything will stay the same, except you keep out from the Order meetings."

Perfect.

Severus was about to leave when he fell onto the floor, screaming briefly.

It felt like thousand burning knives were penetrating his arm with the Dark Mark on it, and Severus could barely breathe from the pain. Suddenly, it was gone, and Severus raised to his hands and knees, now looking at a very concerned Headmaster.

"I need to leave. Remove the wards, Albus and let me apparate away. Now." He had never been so serious in his life, and he saw the moment Albus saw it as well.

"How bad is it?" He heard the old man ask quietly.

"Bad enough." He felt the wards lower over the room, and he looked at Albus again.

"Go to him, Severus."

A second later, he was gone.

He wasn't ready for the sight that greeted him.

He had run so fast he could barely breathe, and his heart was beating loudly as he entered the room that called to him. The wards of the manor were up which meant no apparition inside unless allowed by the master.

He flew in, seeing Bellatrix cry near Harrison, waving her wand in the air.

"What the hell happened?" He whispered, leaning towards Harrison who wasn't breathing. "Tell me what happened here or I cannot help him!" Severus barked at the shocked Bellatrix. She was shaking, but her eyes told him she knew.

"Tell me!" He shouted only to hear her whisper. "He created a Horcrux."

His heart froze.

"What?" He whispered, already moving his wand towards Harrison. The boy had torn his soul apart.

And apparently died, his clear mind added while his heart felt like it would explode.

He opened his mouth to tell Bellatrix that there were no spells to bring back the dead when Harrison suddenly sat up, making him and Bellatrix shout out in shock.

The scorched ring of runes shimmered for a second before the floor was completely clean.

"Now that hurt. I am not doing it again." Harrison sat there, alive, holding a golden coin in his hand.

If he hadn't been a wizard, he would have passed out.

xxx

It felt weird.

Something was missing but he couldn't tell what exactly.

Probably his now torn piece of soul.

Had father felt like that as well?

Otherwise, there wasn't much difference, except that he didn't want to have a breakdown now, and instead needed to act fast. The idea of a breakdown was shoved into the far corner of his mind.

He couldn't afford to waste time.

He needed books on Horcruxes, Necromancy and the Dark Arts. It was time for research.

But first, he needed to visit Grindelwald.

About that… Severus told him about his conversation with Dumbledore, and confirmed with it what Harrison had always known. Severus had always been on the Dark side, and he really appreciated the Potions Master.

"Bella, Severus, I think it is safe to say that should you two take Magical oaths, I may share what I'm planning to do, and even may allow you to accompany me." Harrison didn't have to wait too long, as he quickly accepted both Oaths.

"Father has a Horcrux." Somehow Severus wasn't surprised. Maybe the brilliant wizard had already deducted that if Harrison had done it, then the Dark Lord most definitely as well.

Just how many people knew about Horcruxes and why no one dared to create one? Now that was a thought too late. What was done was done, like father would say.

Father.

"And I'm planning on bringing him back as soon as possible." Bella and Severus were sitting quietly in their chairs. "The problem is that I don't know how." Harrison ended lamely, feeling like such a failure.

While Bella looked downcast, Severus was pensive.

"There are books on this topic, Harrison. I know some of them." Thank Merlin for Severus!

And Lily Potter being his blood-mom.

"I will give some information during the meeting that will happen in five minutes." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly at two identical glares. "What now?"

"You haven't slept since the Dark Lord disappeared," Severus was choosing his words carefully, avoiding trigger words, and Harrison almost smiled a bitter smile. "And, you have temporarily died while tearing your soul apart." Severus was funny. "You need sleep and food."

Actually, when he thought about it, he had no time to sleep. Nor was he hungry. Before yesterday his father would send him to bed. But yesterday, he caused his father to sacrifice himself.

He would do what he thought was right and there would be no one telling him otherwise.

Until father returned, he was the one who would control the Dark side.

"My father vanished before my eyes. And you're standing before me. Which means you're not my father." Harrison smiled briefly, looking into dark eyes. "NEVER AGAIN TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" He suddenly screamed, throwing a ball of flames towards one of the walls. Forgetting his anger, Harrison stared at his palms.

"You magic is only as strong as your will is. Will for it and yield it." His father's voice sounded in his head, and ignoring the two silent Death Eaters, he stared at his left palm.

Come to me.

He felt the tingling in his palm and a shiver went down his spine when a red flame appeared in his palm, but not burning him.

He felt better somehow when he moved the flame from palm to palm. It calmed him. It felt natural.

"You… You can control fire?" Bella's quiet words brought him back to reality. Apparently, he could.

He couldn't before the ritual, that he knew for sure. What changed? He'd think about it later.

However, it was a very, very useful ability.

He'd burn them all down.

A flash from a dream where everything was on fire suddenly appeared, and Harrison shuddered.

He had burned his father in the dream.

But that was just a dumb dream. He would never do anything to hurt his father.

"Harrison, are you alright?" He noticed their worried glances but paid them no mind. He had a lot on his mind today.

"I feel the Death Eaters appearing soon, stay behind after the meeting." It was the first time it didn't sound like a polite request. It was an order.

And they all understood it.

xxx

It had been a horrible day yesterday and the night had been even worse.

"What is going to happen now, Lucius?" Narcissa kept fidgeting with an edge of her silken gown. Worried, like he was.

"I have no idea. You have seen what Harrison did with the idiot who dared to go against him. I believe Harrison is strong enough but he's too young." He took a sip of the hot tea, almost burning his tongue, but it made him feel alive.

He'd never forget the Dark Lord throwing himself between Harrison and Black's Killing Curse.

He would never ever forget the horrible howl that came from the boy.

And he would never ever forget the pain he and Narcissa had felt tonight. It had been brief, but it had been enough.

A brief burn in the Mark got both his and Narcissa's attention. "I guess we're about to find out now." Lucius took his cane and put his woolen robe on, while Narcissa instructed the house-elf to inform Draco about their whereabouts.

He didn't know what awaited them, but somehow, he had a feeling in his gut that something had changed when their Marks almost murdered them with the pain.

They apparated to the Slytherin Manor, into the main meeting room which was the biggest room in the manor, resembling the great hall of Hogwarts. However, instead of tables, there stood only one throne on the pedestal and there were no chairs. Everyone else stood before the throne.

His grey eyes immediately sought the green ones and Lucius nodded his head. Should he bow?

He noticed that no one was bowing in the huge gathering, the hall full beyond normal capacity but expanded with magic.

There were talks here and there and it was pretty loud. Lucius noticed all Inner circle Death Eaters were standing in a bow before the throne where Harrison sat, Nagini currently lying in his lap, green eyes observing everyone.

Harrison looked the same—black and green, high-collared robe, the Slytherin medallion, black trousers and black dragon-skin shoes.

It wasn't the appearance that changed, it were the green eyes. They held no warmth, no curiosity, no mischief was present in them. Instead of the usual twinkling green eyes he saw an abyss.

The green was pulsing from time to time, if you looked closely—going dim before sparkling again. There was fire now, immense rage and cruelty at which he had to shudder.

The Dark Lord had been everything for Harrison.

Narcissa touched his hand and he briefly glanced into her worried blue eyes. She noticed the change as well.

"Harrison, what are we waiting for?" Rabastan had never been the smart one as Lucius noticed the boy's eyes flash with anger for a second.

"I was about to inform you about your new duties, but I see I have missed something that requires my immediate attention." Harrison got up and suddenly, Lucius didn't see the fourteen year old boy anymore, he saw someone so menacing it made him swallow hard.

There were still some whispering conversations going on in the hall, and Harrison smiled a smile he had seen on the Dark Lord's face often.

Not good.

The air in the hall changed and the conversations stopped.

Harrison had his hands clasped together, palms aligned, and then he opened them, turning them towards the crowd.

The next second Lucius cried out just like everyone else in the hall, no one but Harrison standing anymore. The pressure was so powerful that Lucius was ready to beg for Crucio instead, if only he could utter a word.

His jaw clenched as the pressure intensified and his lungs burned. He couldn't open his eyes, he couldn't breathe. He was going to die.

Just when he couldn't hold on anymore, the pressure suddenly left and the difference in feelings made him want to vomit and faint.

Narcissa groaned next to him.

"Now, when everyone is ready to listen," Harrison sat back onto the throne.

"You lot don't seem to understand what is going on. I'm willing to explain."

Someone from the outer Death Eaters screamed in pain and Lucius saw Harrison breathe out and clench his teeth.

"You can thank your fellow Death Eater who dared to interrupt me."

The pressure was suddenly back, and Lucius had a feeling he would pass out from the pain.

For him it felt like a millenium, but in the real world it couldn't have been more than a minute.

"Everytime I get interrupted, you all will pay the price." Harrison smiled again. "Before you finally understand that I am not Harrison anymore. Not to you. From the second my father disappeared and until he returns, there is no Harrison."

The green eyes shone with power and anger, observing their pathetic forms. He had never known the boy was that powerful and that prepared to control such a huge crowd.

The Dark Lord had raised a very capable heir it seemed.

"From now on and until my father calls for you, I am your Lord." The boy looked at them with a triumphant smile. "You are to address me as "my Lord" and when gossiping behind my back, you may call me the Dark Heir. Any objections?"

The huge hall was eerily quiet, no one daring to whisper anything.

"The Dark Lord, my father, was hit by a Killing Curse from Sirius Black which was meant for my back."

The hall stayed quiet, and Lucius saw Har—... the Dark Heir's mouth's corner rise briefly.

"The Light side has no chance to win because my father is immortal. The Dark Lord is alive." Now there were murmurs in the crowd that grew eerily quiet again when the Dark Heir rose from the throne, slowly walking around it, his father's wand hanging loosely in the right hand.

Somehow, Lucius already knew that.

"What have I said about interrupting me?" Oh, Merlin, no…

The next second the pain was back, this immense pressure that he hated more than anything.

Lucius took a breath when the pressure was removed. He saw Bella get up, her eyes full of adoration as she looked at Harrison.

He could call him Harrison in his head because he was still Harrison to him.

"Now, where was I…" The Slytherin Heir walked towards the throne and sat again.

"Ah yes, my father. The Dark Lord is the greatest sorcerer since Salazar Slytherin, who is our ancestor. My father is capable of magic you can only dream of. He made sure that in case something like that happens, he would be able to return." Harrison paused and observed the hall before his green eyes landed on him.

"Those faithful to him will be rewarded beyond your imagination, and those who betray him will be dead even before the Dark Lord returns. I will not forgive even one attempt of betrayal. Before the Dark Lord is back, sitting on this throne, I am your Lord." The boy got up again, and walked towards them. "All clear?"

Pretty much. Not that he was thinking about betraying the Dark side, but before now, he had been in doubt of Harrison's ability to replace the Dark Lord.

But not anymore. Even if the Dark Lord Voldemort didn't come back, they would still have a Dark Lord anyway.

"Great then. Outer Death Eaters are dismissed while the Inner circle stays. After that it is the responsibility of Inner Circle to inform of your duties. I don't have time for everyone."

The Dark Heir waved his wand and now only the Inner Circle stayed.

This man was truly no Harrison anymore.

All Lucius could see was a younger looking Dark Lord.

xxx

He sat back onto his—well, temporarily his—throne and looked at the remaining Death Eaters.

Bellatrix Lestrange, Severus Snape, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Rabastan Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr., Adamus Nott, Corban Yaxley, Evan Rosier, Maximus Flint, Nathan Avery, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Caius Greengrass, Fenrir Greyback, Antonin Dolohov and his Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff.

His father's Inner circle.

"First, let us quickly go over the current issues, because I have much to do . I don't demand you to grovel before me because I respect you. When it comes to Outer Death Eaters, I want them on their knees."

No one seemed to want to interrupt him and it highly amused him.

"Now, let's talk about the important stuff. Greyback," he turned towards the werewolf and saw him bow his head. "My Lord."

It did feel good to hear it. No wonder dad loved it so much.

"What have you heard from the werewolves, are they ready to join us?" He already knew the answer. Those dogs forgot their place. Not that he would tell that to Greyback's face.

Muzzle would be a more fitting word though.

"After the news about the Dark Lord, they are unsure." The werewolf was highly alerted as he awaited punishment.

"Then convince them." He got up, and conjured sofas for all present. "How, my Lord?"

He patted Bella's shoulder as he walked behind the sofas now, observing them, looking at Greyback who asked the question.

"How, Fenrir? Oh, that's easy."He smiled what he hoped was a nice smile but obviously he failed as Death Eaters stilled.

"You kill every single werewolf who won't pledge to the Dark Lord and me. You kill them all if you have to." The wolf's jaw was almost hanging and Harrison snickered, drawing incredulous glance from several Death Eaters. "What?" He threw his hands up. "Are we playing a game or are we winning a war? Everyone who is not with us is against us."

"I will let you turn the same amount of mudbloods into werewolves until we have a united front. Good plan, isn't it?" He laughed when no one said a word, but Fenrir looked very, very pleased.

He would have to do something with the mudbloods, and why not give them over to Greyback, and turn them into the animals they were.

"You will take twenty Death Eaters with you, and at least one more Inner member, take Dolohov, for example. Full pledge or death." He had told his father on many occasions that he was too soft. He had, of course, received a Crucio for that, but he had to get it out.

There were so many things he would have done differently, had he been his father, and now, when he was instead of his father, he could try his methods and see who was right.

Father was too cautious. Too careful. Too merciful.

The Death Eaters were still silent when he continued. "The same goes for giants and vampires. Barty, Rabastan, Flint—" he noticed Maximus Flint tense when Harrison used his last name instead of given name like he had with Barty and Rabastan. He didn't know him that much. "—after Fenrir's attack immediately go to the vampires, not wasting any time. The same rule applies. Pledge or death. Take fifty Death Eaters with you just in case. And then Rosier and Greengrass will join you for a trip to the giants. Take as many Death Eaters with you as you wish."

Barty and Rabastan were already shaking hands, ready for the task.

"Lucius," the blonde looked a bit disheveled from a few short punishments. "You will make sure Yaxley gets the position of the Head of Law enforcement, and prepare a meeting between myself and the British Minister, Fudge."

Lucius nodded his head, not daring to speak yet, quickly exchanging glances with Yaxley.

"Igor—" he would be calling his Headmaster by name just to piss him off, "—I will be coming and going to Durmstrang as I wish. Day or night. Do you have a problem with it, Igor?" He almost smirked at Karkaroff's strained face. "Of course not, My Lord. Durmstrang is always available to you."

Very nice.

"Carrows, Nott, Avery," the four Death Eaters nodded their heads in respect. "Use Imperio on the muggles whose names I will provide later. They are high up in the muggle government and I want them under my control." He looked at the Death Eaters.

"I need all the books you have on Necromancy, and I want them tonight. Bring me everything you have, or I will come and take it myself. Father is gone for a time being, so no one can stop me. I'd hate to trash your beautiful homes." He looked at Severus, willing him to finally say what he so wanted to say.

"My Lord, forgive me, but the Dark Lord had a very good reason prohibiting Necromancy. It would be wise to wait for the Dark Lord to return." He had to admit, Severus had the second biggest balls of steel in the room. The dark-haired man was looking at him with concerned gaze, and Harrison hated it because it reminded him yet again that father was gone.

"The first time I will forgive you, Severus. But the second will be very painful." His green eyes locked with almost black ones. "The Dark Lord is temporarily gone and all because I wasn't strong enough. I will never make the same mistake again. I will come prepared the next time I meet the Order on the battlefield."

His always faithful Bella nodded her head in agreement.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a good evening. Bella, Severus, Barty— stay behind."

He noticed the exchanged quick looks, and then they all bowed to him before apparating away.

Harrison smiled while inside he was fighting the tears that threatened to spill.

He still felt the shock from father's death and it didn't hit home yet that father was truly gone, even if temporarily, but gone.

The sight of the bowing Inner Circle made shit hit the fan.

There would be no more conversations in parseltongue, no fatherly presence at night, looking over him while he slept. There would be no more laughing or joking, playing family games.

No more red eyes—always smart and brilliant. Often concerned, often enraged, sometimes tender and soft, and very rarely loving. Oh, Merlin, how much he missed his dad...

There would be no lessons from his brilliant father, the most charming and powerful wizard to ever walk on Earth.

There would be no flying at night, with no brooms, breathing in fresh air and feeling of freedom and immense superiority.

There would be no more "Language", or "Crucio".

There would be nothing.

He let his father down.

But never again.

After they were alone, he looked at Severus, knowing the older man wasn't done talking, even under threat of pain.

"What is your goal, my Lord?"

He looked at the three Death Eaters. "You three may call me Harrison."

His mother, childhood friend and mischief partner, and his second most favorite teacher, whose opinion even his father valued.

"As for my goal…" Harrison trailed off as he felt another wave of nausea reach his stomach. Father was gone. He had to hold on.

"I'll have Dumbledore run around, trying to bring my father back, I promise you that."

Barty and Bella laughed out loud, and suddenly, Harrison joined in, laughing and laughing, ignoring observing, quiet Severus.

It fully hit home now. He killed his father.

xxx

a\n There will be lots of chapters not only because of the plot, but also because I prefer not to skip details. Thank you for your wonderful reviews. Your opinion matters so please find a minute when you're done and tell me what you think.