The AllSpark's Chosen

Chapter 22: A New Face, A New Bond

The grand halls of **Malfoy Manor** were quieter than usual, but the sense of anticipation was palpable. The towering walls of the **dining room** were adorned with tapestries and dark wood paneling, while a long table stretched through the center of the room, surrounded by velvet-backed chairs.

At the head of the table sat **Voldemort**, his pale fingers tapping idly against the surface as his red eyes gleamed with satisfaction. The **Azkaban breakout** had been a resounding success. His most loyal followers were once again by his side, and his power was growing—soon, the world would know the truth about **Dumbledore's lies**.

Around the table, the **Malfoy family** sat with calm composure. **Lucius**, ever the picture of poise, sat to Voldemort's right, while **Narcissa** sat beside her husband, her expression one of quiet determination. **Draco**, sitting next to his mother, was unusually quiet, a letter clutched tightly in his hand.

On Voldemort's left sat **Bellatrix Lestrange**, fresh from her rescue at Azkaban. She radiated energy, her wild eyes shining with excitement, thrilled to be free and back at the side of her master. **Severus Snape** sat further down the table, his dark eyes scanning the room with his usual reserved intensity.

As the group waited for the conversation to begin, **Draco** glanced down at the letter in his hand—the latest letter from **Saber**. It had arrived just that morning, along with a **Polaroid picture**. Draco hadn't yet shown the letter to his parents or to Voldemort, but something about it unsettled him.

Saber looked... different. Very different.

Draco cleared his throat, gaining the attention of his father and the others. "I received another letter from **Saber** today," he said slowly, his voice slightly hesitant.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "What does he have to say?"

Draco glanced down at the letter, unfolding it carefully. "He's doing well. He's still renovating **Howler Manor**, and he's spending time with his... new companions." He paused for a moment, looking up at his father. "He included a **photo** this time."

Bellatrix leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "A photo?" she echoed, her tone sharp with interest. "Let me see."

Draco hesitated for a moment, then carefully pulled the **Polaroid** from the envelope and slid it across the table to Bellatrix.

In the photo, **Saber** sat on a cliff overlooking a golden sunset. Beside him sat **Patch**, his mechanical **Saint Bernard-like companion**, and coiled around his shoulders was the majestic two-headed snake, **Obsidian**. Saber's expression was calm, peaceful even, but it wasn't his surroundings that caught everyone's attention—it was his face.

Bellatrix stared at the photo for a long moment before handing it to Voldemort, her lips curled into a faint smile. "He looks... different," she murmured. "Very different."

Voldemort glanced at the photo, his expression unreadable, though his red eyes flickered with interest. The boy in the picture no longer looked like **Harry Potter**—the thin, fragile boy who had been molded by Dumbledore's lies. This was someone else entirely. His face was sharper, his features stronger, more regal—like the **Pendragon** bloodline he had discovered.

"He's no longer bound by the Potter name," Voldemort said softly, passing the photo to Lucius. "This is the real Saber."

Lucius studied the photo, nodding thoughtfully. "The cover charm that made him resemble the Potters has been lifted. This is what he was meant to look like—**a true Pendragon**."

Draco sat back slightly, his eyes still on the letter. "He's also said he's been keeping up with his studies and... making friends in the United States. He seems... settled. But he hasn't forgotten us. He's watching from a distance."

As the Polaroid made its way down the table, the reactions were varied. Narcissa's face softened slightly as she gazed at the image, while Snape's expression remained impassive, though his sharp eyes lingered on the photo for a moment longer than usual.

When the photo reached **Bellatrix** again, she held it in her hands, her eyes narrowing as she studied it with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

"You've known this all along, haven't you, my Lord?" Bellatrix asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "That Saber was never truly a Potter. That his real bloodline would one day reveal itself."

Voldemort's lips curled into a faint smile. "I suspected, yes. The Potters were never truly his parents. They were merely the tools Dumbledore used to bind him. Now that the **cover charm** has been removed, he is free to embrace who he truly is."

As Bellatrix continued to gaze at the photo, something in her expression shifted. Her eyes flickered with a realization that hadn't fully dawned on her until now. She looked up at Voldemort, her voice trembling slightly with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

"And... you said he has godparents," Bellatrix said slowly, her eyes locking onto Voldemort's. "I... I'm one of them, aren't I?"

The room fell silent.

Lucius and Narcissa exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. Snape's gaze shifted toward Voldemort, waiting for his response.

Voldemort nodded once, his smile widening. "Yes, Bellatrix. You are indeed **one of Saber's godparents**. Along with **Severus** and **Lucius**."

The words hit Bellatrix like a shockwave. She stared at Voldemort for a moment, her wild eyes growing wider as the realization sank in. She had a godson—a boy who was not just any ordinary wizard, but the heir to the **Pendragon** line.

For the first time since her escape from Azkaban, Bellatrix was at a loss for words.

"He is... mine?" Bellatrix whispered, her voice almost reverent.

Voldemort's gaze remained fixed on her, his smile never wavering. "Yes, Bellatrix. He is your godson. And when the time comes, you will play a role in guiding him toward his true destiny."

Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and something deeper—something more possessive. She had always been loyal to Voldemort above all else, but now, she had another bond to tie her to this new future. **Saber Howler** was not just a powerful wizard—he was family.

As the conversation resumed around the table, Draco shifted in his seat, still processing everything. The Polaroid sat in the center of the table, a small but undeniable reminder that Saber's transformation was more than just physical. The boy they had once known as **Harry Potter** was gone. In his place was someone stronger, more independent—someone who would one day stand by their side.

Draco glanced down at the rest of the letter, his mind still whirling with questions. His thoughts kept returning to the final lines of Saber's message:

*"I'm not sure when I'll be ready to return to Britain, but know that I haven't forgotten about you or what's happening. We'll see each other again."*

There was no doubt in Draco's mind. They would see Saber again. And when they did, the world would change forever.