HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 71 ]

"Sorry for all that mess. Had to keep up appearances with the Boy-Who-Lived after all." The Dark Lord's cold laugh filled the air.

"Will you bow to me now Aries?" The Dark Lord stared at him curiously. "Like your father before you?"

"I told you before. I'm not the kneeling type." Aries cocked his head to the side. "Surely you must understand? From one dark lord to another?"

"You call yourself a dark lord?" His amusement was clear and Aries' bristled at his condescension. "It takes more the knowing the Dark Arts to be a dark lord, my friend."

"What else could I be?" Aries hissed in Parseltongue. Suddenly all humor vanished from the Dark Lord and his red eyes narrowed to slits.

"You speak it?" The Dark Lord was holding his wand tightly. "How is this possible?"

"I am the Heir of Slytherin. I was born to be a dark lord. To finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work."

"You lie!"

"Salmissra is rather needy, isn't she?" Aries enjoyed the Dark Lord's shock. "Always wants to be itched behind her left eye? And Salazar? Much more sarcastic than I ever thought. I mean, surely you were surprised as well, Tom."

"You are Salazar's heir." The Dark Lord looked at Aries with a newfound interest. "Which makes you my heir as well. You continue to surprise me, Aries."

"I make no claim as your heir. I am the Heir of Slytherin and Black. I need no others."

"Then why are you here?" Aries felt the presence of his Phoenix arrive, at last, sitting on the tombstone of Tom Riddle. "Why the appearances? Why stay if you will not join me?"

"We have a common goal." Aries had recited these words in his mind for months. "We both wish to finish our ancestor's work, yet we disagree on many fundamental issues. But we also have a common enemy: Albus Dumbledore." The Dark Lord continued to show his surprise.

"While he lives, neither of us can succeed. So, I suggest something rather simple: a truce. Neither of us will move against the other directly until Dumbledore is dead, by your hand or mine. After that, may the best dark lord win."

The Dark Lord's laughter erupted again. "Oh, Aries you continue to surprise me. What exactly makes you think I will just agree to this?"

"Right now, Potter is telling Dumbledore exactly what has happened here. And no doubt they will discover that Barty Crouch Junior has been masquerading as Moody. You will lose your intended secrecy and one of your more faithful servants." The Dark Lord's red eyes narrowed again.

"Upon my return to Hogwarts, I will deny your return. As far as I am concerned you, and your followers, are some dark lord impersonators. It will not stop Dumbledore from moving against you, but perhaps I can help delay it. I will also attempt to help return your servant. In return, you agree to my arrangement."

"Aries Black, you are indeed a most interesting individual." The Dark Lord smiled.

Moments passed with an odd tension until at last the Dark Lord nodded, an interesting gleam in his eye.

"I accept."

"I will hold you to your word Tom."

"That name no longer holds any meaning to me," Aries smirked as the irritation remained etched on the Dark Lord's features.

"But how do I know you will keep your side of the bargain? What can you give me that holds as much weight as the secret of my return?" The eyes of the Durmstrang champion fell on Diggory.

"With death." The Dark Lord gave him another look of surprise. "Our arrangement ends with the death of Albus Dumbledore. Let is also begin with death. A loose end that needs to be taken care of. If it should become know that he died by my hand, I will lose the credibility that I have worked so hard to earn."

"Truthfully?" Wide red eyes met in his. "You will kill the spare?"

"If I must."

"Then let it be done."

Aries raised his wand towards Diggory. It was now or never, he reminded himself. Truth be told, Aries had many plans for the Diggorys, centered around Cedric.

But destiny had been unkind to the Hufflepuff. Had he made it to the cup, he would have lived on. But now, his life was forfeit.

"Avada Kedavra." The green light struck Diggory and he fell to the ground dead. The Dark Lord's laughter again filled the night.

"Again, and again you surprise me. Are you sure you wish this path? You could rise to greatness with me Aries."

"I will never serve you." He felt Hades land on his shoulder. "When your downfall arrives, it will not be Potter that brings about your destruction. It will be me."

"You will serve me, Aries Black. Before the end of all this, you will kneel before me. I will see to it personally."

The Dark Lord's red eyes bored into him as the flames of Hades consumed him and they, along with Diggory's corpse, vanished from the graveyard.

He landed outside Moody's office, as he had commanded Hades to take him to Crouch, and blasted the door open.

Barty, still disguised as Moody, grabbed Potter holding him up with a knife to his throat. They locked eyes for a moment before Aries acted quickly.

"Stupefy!" The spell collided with Potter, who Barty dropped in surprise. "Revelio!" Moody's flesh melted away and Barty Crouch Junior was revealed to him again.

They stood apart, wands facing each other before Aries lowered his. "Go, your master is waiting for you." Barty raised his eyebrows and moved cautiously towards the fireplace.

"That's two you owe me, Barty. I expect to be repaid in full." The green fire of the Floo took the Death Eater away leaving the two young wizards to themselves.

A swish of his wand put the office in ruins, making it appear to any that entered that a duel had occurred.

Aries made his way over to Potter and revived him. The boy sat up quickly, eyes wide, looking frantically around for the crazed professor.