The Slytherin King

7

Cepheus sat in his room, which was next to Draco's, and both of them were across from Lucius and Narcissa. It was only a few days into break, and he could feel himself falling into depression. He wanted his Mum and Dad. He loved his Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius, but they weren't his parents. He knew he was likely to be seen as rude for locking himself in his room most hours of the day, but he was hurting.

"Oh, Python, what has made you so sad?" asked a soft, deep, yet feminine voice.

Turning his head to his doorway stood a woman. She was tall for a woman, standing 5'9. She had pale skin and dark brown eyes, making him think of dark woods. He also noticed she had red hair, which was tied into a tight bun that was towards the top of her head. She wore black closed robes that looked like dresses.

"Hi, Auntie Alecto, " the child replied softly. I just miss Mummy and Daddy. I know Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius love me, but..."

"It isn't quite the same as a parent's love." finished his Godmother, sitting beside him on the bed. "I can't promise things will get better. We have a long, long, long way to go before things do get better. However, I can tell you one day, in the far future, you will look back and laugh. Laugh at how everything was shite at first but slowly made its way to how it needed to be. You know, your parents are mates."

"They are?.."

The woman smiled and nodded softly. Narcissa had asked her to tell him about this, mainly because she had been there for most of it.

"They are. They found out our fourth year. Your Dad is a Water Elf, and your mum is a Shadow Angel. Two amazing creatures, mind you." She looked over to see him smiling sadly at his locket. We'll get them free one day."

"But will they truly be free? Or will they be fugitives?" he asked absently.

"Free, more than likely. With the Goblins helping especially."

"The Goblins are helping?!" He asked, eyes widened. "They normally don't get involved!"

"You gained their respect, especially the Goblin King mate, Griphook. You treated them with kindness; you didn't do anything without caution and gave them respect. Such things are not common for our kind, unfortunately."

"The muggle-borns, right?"

"Yes. Many believe it is us of the dark, but we respect the other creatures created by Mother Magic." began his Aunt, wishing to inform him. "The old ways are nothing to be scared of. They replenish our magic and strengthen it. The rituals we do for each Hols is to help us connect with said magic."

"Then how do Muggleborns have magic?"

He was curious, which his Auntie blamed on Bella. Bellatrix was also known for being similar to Ravenclaw in terms of knowledge. Now, she often used it in the Slytherin way, but she never turned down the opportunity to learn something new.

"We believe it might be that they are decent from Squibs. Your adoptive mother is a good example."

"Because she was the Heir to Le Fay, Emrys, and Ravenclaw?"

"Indeed." smiled Alecto. "I wouldn't be surprised if many previously deceased Houses could return through Muggle-borns."

"Would they still be considered Muggle-borns?"

"What do you think?" she asked, wishing for his thoughts.

"I feel like it would be a different branch. Because the name Muggleborn suggests, they are born of muggles. But that isn't true if they are from a line of Squibs. So perhaps they should be called Squibborns or New-Bloods."

He looked up to see brown eyes filled with pride. Alecto couldn't help it. His answer was similar to Bella's when this topic arose during an inner circle meeting.

"Auntie? Are you ok?"

She smiled softly and nodded. Giving a soft kiss to his forehead.
"I'm alright, Python. Your answer was just so similar to your Mums."

"Why do you call me Python?" asked Cepheus, ignoring what she said for now. His curiosity focused on being called Python.

"When you were about to be one year old, the Dark Lord visited. You were beyond your years, but we all began noticing you hissing."

~ FLASHBACK ~

It was the first of July, and the Lestranges, Bella, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Corvus, Alecto, and Barty were all sitting in the family room waiting for the Dark Lord to arrive.

On the ground with his toys was baby Cepheus Lestrange giggling at who knew what. In his little tubby hands was a small snake plushy, given to him from his Daddy, and an Eagle plushy, given to him from his Uncle Barty. Yet it soon turned to hissing. Much like their Lord...

"Is he?.." began Alecto, looking to her sister in all but blood.

"I think he is.." was the woman's response nervously.

That was when a tall figure, standing at 6'3, walked in. He had pale skin, dark brown hair, and Crucio red eyes. He looked at the floor with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

~Hello~ he hissed, sitting on the floor before the child.

~Oooo~ hissed the baby with giggles.

Looking up, Tom Riddle smiled at his followers, although his eyes were trained on the baby's parents.

"He has the gift of Parseltongue. An odd occurrence, I must admit." said the man. "I, however, will take it as a sign from Mother Magic. Your son shall be my Heir."

"M-My L-Lord?" asked a stuttering Bella softly.

"I have no wish to have a family. I have no attraction to anyone. So I cannot produce an Heir myself. Your son having the gift of Parseltongue without the Slytherin blood in his veins is indeed a sign from Mother Magic," assured the man. "Your family has indeed earned it, Bella. You, Rodo, Rabastan, Corvus, Barty, Alecto, and the others. You all have faithfully served me and our cause. It would be an honor for your son to be my Heir."

~ OVER ~

"As far as I am aware, he was unable to officially go to Gringotts to name you his Heir," finished Alecto, looking at her Godson. I have no doubt, however, that it will come one day, as all things should. Mother Magic does work in mysterious ways. It does no good to question her."

"So you nicknamed me Python for my ability to speak to snakes?"

"And your strong grip when a baby. You could take my finger and grip it harder than any other." chuckled the woman. "We all had different nicknames for you. Your Uncle Barty called you his Little Birdie; your Uncle Basty called you his Kitten, and your Mum and Dad called you Baby Snake. Theirs all had more to do with their Animagus forms, though. Your Uncle Barty is a Raven. Your Uncle Basty is a Black Panther. Your Mum and Dad are Black Mamba's."

"Do you have an Animagus form?" his eyes glittered in excitement.

"A Black Wolf," smiled the woman softly. She knew it was partially due to who her mate was, although that was information not shared often.

"Can I be called cub? I like the n-names being w-with your animagus form, too," asked the child softly.

She simply nodded, kissing the top of his head once more. Of course, she also got him lying down as it was time for bed. That night, he dreamed of a Raven, a Black Panther, two Black Mambas, and a Black Wolf all playing around an Arctic Fox.