Snake Boy

10 - Revealed

The month of Celeste and Frost's visit was eventful to say the least. Tom still considered it a visit – or an inquisition depending on the day – because for all that the male Syren was his Familiar, he could still leave. The bond between them would always exist but Frost was in no way compelled to stay.

Celeste seemed to take an inordinate interest in Severus, much to his friend's distress. She kept hissing something about his nose. The Potions Master was actually a bit phobic of snakes and it was a testament to their friendship that the man could compel himself to stay in a house with two such large specimens.

Frost on the other hand was absolutely fascinated by children. Most of the Death Eaters had children – Tom tried to promote large families instead of the single heir mentality that most Wizarding families had – and he encouraged the children's presence in the manor.

The Syren seemed especially fond of Avery's three little girls. The Wizard had secretly married a muggle man and Avery was currently pregnant with their fourth. At first the family had been leery of the large serpent but after Tom had translated a few questions back and forth they had all gotten along famously. The girls convinced the Syren to play catch with them, his wings adding a new dimension to the game. It had taken some time but Frost had managed to work himself onto Avery's very pregnant lap a time or two and then gushed for hours afterwards about feeling the baby move.

Apparently the Syren's greatest wish was to have a very large nest with lots of hatchlings. Tom joked that Frost intended to bring the Syren species back from extinction single handedly at which point the serpent would do a rather impressive pout.

When he wasn't playing with the children or trying to get into Avery's lap, the Syren would tell Tom of Harry's childhood. Most of the stories were happy but toward the end of the month Frost confided the events of the near kidnapping.

Tom was torn between anger and sadness for his mate. Even the Syren seemed distraught over the long ago event. Eventually though the serpent calmed and resumed his storytelling.

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On the last day of their visit, Snape came into his chambers. Tom set down the book he had been reading to Frost.

"Yes Severus?"

"Lucius is in the throne room. The patrol from Blackstone found something...interesting."

Tom raised an eyebrow but stood and headed for the throne room, Syren on his shoulders.

Upon entering the room he found a ragged looking man, head bowed, kneeling between two of the younger Death Eaters. Lucius stood behind the three, wand drawn.

The Dark Lord took his throne.

"What have you brought me Lucius?"

The blonde moved forward and grabbed the man's dirty black hair with his gloved hand, using it to jerk the bowed head back and expose his face.

"Sirius Black," Severus hissed.

"Snivellus!" Black sing-songed. His eyes were heavy lidded like he was about to pass out and he swayed side to side between his captors. "Don't worry Snivellus, Moony can't get you. He's dead. Did you know? They're all dead."

Tom glanced at his friend and found him paler than usual. Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban Prison three years ago after being jailed there for twelve. Such a feat had never occurred before, nor had it been repeated since but from the way he spoke, tom supposed the man had been unable to escape the insanity that the prison was known to instill.

"What were you doing in Blackstone Forest Mr. Black?" Tom asked.

"Wanted to be close to my Godson, close to 'arry."

"And what do you know of Harry?"

"Well he's dead innit 'e? Dumbledore's sayin 'es dead and if Bumblydore says someone's dead then their dead and he prolly killed 'em. All dead...all dead."

Lucius released his hold and the ex-convict's head fell forward. Weak sobs could be heard.

"My little Prongs. That old bastard killed my little Prongs."

Sirius fell forward, collapsing weakly. His skeletal body curled into a ball.

"Who is he Tom?" Frost asked.

"His name is Sirius Black. He says he is Harry's Godfather."

Frost looked puzzled by the term.

"When Harry's parents were killed he should have been sent to this man's nest. It is apparently what the Potters wanted and he believes the boy is dead."

The Syren's eyes got big.

"He is Harry's nestmate?"

At Tom's nod, the Syren moved to the floor. When it was only a few feet from the fugitive there was a flash of light and the Dark Lord was looking at the back of a figure with black hair that trailed the floor. There was no sign of the Syren.

Tom jumped to his feet, wand drawn, as all the Death Eaters present also trained their wands on the figure. He moved around the perimeter of the room to get a look at the figure as it knelt by the oblivious Black.

It was a teenage boy with skin a pure unblemished white and he was completely naked. He watched the boy reach down and caress Black's forehead, crooning wordlessly. Black's eyes opened and slowly focused on the figure.

"Prongs?"

Black reached up and touched the pale cheek above him.

"Your eyes..." Black whispered harshly, "Lilly's eyes."

Suddenly the convict sat up and pulled the boy into his arms.

"Harry! My little Prongs!"

Tom sank to his knees as he caught sight of the lightening bolt scar on the boy's forehead. He felt Severus' hand on his shoulder as he watched Sirius Black rocking back and forth sobbing as he held the Dark Lord's mate in his withered arms.