Harry took a deep breath. 'Well, I slipped into Riddle's mind and found the wards. I disabled them, but Riddle found out at once. He trapped me in a repeating memory.' He looked down at the bed, tracing an interesting pattern on the bedcovers with his finger. 'I was in Godric's Hollow.'
'Merlin, Harry,' Sirius breathed, and held Harry close. 'I'm so sorry. I take it Riddle knows the truth now?'
Harry nodded. 'I watched them die ten times,' he said dully. 'I couldn't do anything to fix it. Then it stopped suddenly, and I was thrown out of the memory. That must have been when you killed Riddle's host.'
'But why didn't you wake up then?' Sirius asked. 'Have you just been exhausted?'
'I don't think that's it,' Harry said hesitantly. 'I've spent all this time floating around in Riddle's memories.'
Sirius was stunned.
'What? But I thought you said the link broke.'
'It did,' Harry replied. 'Somehow I was out of his mind but still had access to his memories. I've learnt so much. I know where he hid the Horcruxes.' His face darkened. 'I also found out why Voldemort came after me that night.'
Sirius nodded. 'The prophecy.'
Harry's eyes went very wide. 'You knew? All this time?'
'Sorry.' Sirius winced. 'I don't know any of the details. I only know that there was a prophecy that someone would be born with the power to defeat Voldemort, and that Dumbledore thought you might have been the one.'
'I am the one,' Harry said resolutely. 'Riddle was sure of it. That's why he came after me that night. That's why he killed James and Lily.' He frowned. 'And guess who told Riddle about the prophecy?'
'Who?' Sirius asked curiously. 'Was it Wormtail?'
'No,' Harry growled. 'It was Snivellus.'
'SNAPE?' Sirius was livid. He looked ready to Floo to Hogwarts and kill the lousy Death Eater that very moment.
Harry nodded. 'He was spying on Dumbledore, and came to tell Riddle everything he learned.' His eyes glinted dangerously. 'Then he asked Riddle to kill me and James but turn Lily over to him.'
'But why would he do that?' Sirius asked.
'He wanted her,' Harry replied coldly.
'That disgusting, no-good, vile excuse for a wizard,' Sirius snarled. 'I'll destroy him if it's the last thing I do.' He gently squeezed Harry's hand. 'I'm sorry you had to go through all that.'
Harry shrugged. 'At least now I know the truth. I'm the one destined to defeat Voldemort. That's why I have Parseltongue and all these special powers – so I can use them to avenge my parents.'
He tried to get out of bed, but Sirius stopped him.
'Just where do you think you're going, young man?' he asked wryly.
'I'm hungry,' Harry said. 'I thought I'd get some breakfast.'
'We'll have Kreacher bring you something. You should stay in bed.'
Harry groaned. 'Come on, Dad,' he said. 'I'm feeling fine.' He glanced in the mirror. 'Though I suppose we ought to find a way to cover this scar up before anyone sees it.'
'Actually, Harry,' Sirius said hesitantly, 'the family already know.'
'All of them?'
Sirius nodded. 'Andromeda saw the scar and figured it out. I had to tell them. Don't worry, though. They all took the Unbreakable Vow not to reveal the truth.'
'How did they take it?' Harry asked.
'About as well as could be expected,' Sirius said.
Harry's face fell. 'That bad?'
'Don't worry, Harry,' his dad said comfortingly. 'I'm certain they'll all come around eventually. Just be your same old charming self, and they'll get over it.'
He clapped Harry's back and they headed downstairs for breakfast.
.....
That same afternoon, Abraxas called Sirius over to Malfoy Manor for a talk. Sirius wasn't sure what the old man wanted to say, but Clytemnestra encouraged him to go, though Sirius would rather have spent the time with Harry. He arrived promptly at three and Dobby led him into Abraxas's study. He sat down in his favourite chair, and Abraxas offered him tea.
'Good afternoon, Sirius,' Abraxas said. 'We have much to discuss.'
'Indeed we have, Mr Malfoy,' Sirius said coldly.
Abraxas winced.
'In the first place,' he said gruffly, 'I want to express my regret over the way I acted yesterday. I was quite surprised, and in my shock may have said some...inappropriate things.'
Sirius raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
'I have thought it over,' Abraxas went on, 'and I have decided that I shall forgive you and Aries for your deception. I believe you meant well, and though you ought to have told us sooner, I suppose we ought to be grateful that you told us when you did.'
'Thank you, Mr Malfoy,' Sirius replied. 'I am very sorry that we've found ourselves in this situation. I never wanted to lie to you.'
'I understand that, Sirius.'
'My primary concern is that Aries not lose his grandfather,' Sirius continued. 'He cares about you very much, and he has lost far too many people that he cares about.'
'As have I, my boy,' Abraxas said quietly, but Sirius didn't hear him.
'I understand that our own friendship may have been irreparably damaged,' he went on, 'but I do hope that you and Aries will continue to be close.'
'So do I, Sirius,' Abraxas said. 'I likewise hope that our own friendship may not be so utterly broken as you seem to think. I should like very much for things to continue as they were.'
Sirius smiled. 'So should I, Mr Malfoy.'
'Please, Sirius,' the old wizard replied. 'Call me...Abraxas.'
'As you wish,' Sirius said, ignoring the moisture in his eyes.
Abraxas set down his tea. 'Well, now that's settled, we have important matters to discuss, do we not? Riddle may have been temporarily defeated, but his Horcruxes remain.'
Sirius told Abraxas about Harry's visions, and about the prophecy.
'I see,' Abraxas replied ruminatively when he had finished. 'It would seem young Aries is indeed destined for great things. We shall have to do everything we can to help him along the way. After the term is finished, I think we should begin our search for the Horcruxes.'
Sirius nodded. 'I agree. Aries and Draco should also continue their training. If Aries is going to face Riddle, you know Draco will be there at his side, and I don't want either of them to be caught unprepared.'
Abraxas coughed. 'Speaking of that, don't you think it would be right, since Draco is so devoted to Aries, to do something to make their relationship official?'
'I understand they've already done that on their own,' Sirius said with a chuckle. 'They became blood brothers after Draco learned the truth.'
Abraxas nodded approvingly. 'That's good news. Blood brotherhood is very powerful magic indeed.' He paused. 'However, Sirius, I was thinking of something more...legal.'
Sirius furrowed his brow. 'What do you mean?"
.....
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