The Snake's Secret * under revision*

Birthday

"Here's my gift." Ron said as he pulled out a massive box, inside was a mound of sweets and a key. "there is another key for our lord, having them on your person will let you past the wards around Weasley manor, we're in the process of removing my mum's control over the family finances." He explained as Harry pulled out the key and examined it.

"Thank you!" The key was made from a dull gold and it had a constellation engraved into its side. "What's with the star motifs?" Harry asked as he turned it over in his hand.

"My family developed our own set of spells hundreds of years ago, they have to do with stars and necromancy, the wards around the Weasley mansion use power gained from them." Ron explained, "How about this Christmas I take you to have a look? It's run down after it was shut up but there are still lots of the books and potions."

"That sounds awesome!" Harry said smiling widely. Just then he felt a heavy present dropped into his lap, he turned his head to see Hermione sitting next to him, she pointed mutely at the wrapped gift.

He opened it careful not to rip the wrapping paper and found a book on animagi there were a few pages book marked and Harry couldn't wait to look through it. Turning to her he gave her a massive hug "Thanks Mione!"

"I thought that you might like it, if not for the words than the pretty pictures." She grinned at him, Draco and Ron laughing.

Voldemort had cracked a half smile that eased everyone's nerves.

Harry laughed as he picked up the next package, it was wrapped in black paper with a green bow. Opening it up he found a note on top of some tissue paper "Bet you forgot about these." written in Draco's hand writing. Lifting up the layer of tissue paper Harry found four silver closeable mirrors, underneath them he found a note saying "Charmed so up to four way conversations can occur".

"Draco, thank you!" Harry said picking up one with the engraving HP and handing the others theirs. They were beautiful. Completely silver on the outside and two mirrors on the inside one on the bottom one in the lid. "They're amazing."

Draco grinned at the praise and took his from Harry's outstretched hand. They all pocketed theirs and Harry picked up a present wrapped in emerald green paper.

Inside he found a card for that said happy birthday from the Malfoys and below that chocolates. A nice safe present. He thanked them and that was all the presents he could see.

"Harry I have a few gifts for you, the first is down stairs," Voldemort said getting up gracefully and walking to the door "follow me."

They all made their way down. "Father, what is it?" Harry asked excitedly, keeping pace with the dark lord.

"What I had promised you I would sort out for you this summer." They descended a set of steps and came to the dungeons under the Malfoy manor, the cells were all full with people. " These are your playthings, break them and toy with them all you want, I can promise you I have a surplus of people fit to be down here."

One of the prisoners started shouting obscenities. The wizards and witches just ignored it initially but after a few moments Draco shouted back "Shut up, it is an honour to be here to entertain the Dark Prince!"

There was a tense silence that followed, the elder Malfoys looked nervous all of a sudden. Lucius started angrily whispering at Draco about his conduct.

"We apologise my lord. Please forgive our son, he doesn't know what he's saying." Dracos mum was trembling as she spoke.

Voldemort looked at Draco questioningly, bowing his head Draco explained "It is his nickname at school my lord, I apologise."

"No I think that is quite fitting for Harry, I think that should be another of his titles along with young lord." Voldemort mused looking into the cells thoughtfully.

"Thank you father, this is amazing!" Harry said giving the Dark lord a hug.

"I am not done yet but the other presents I have for you I want to give to you in private, you can show your friends at the official banquet tomorrow that we are holding in honour of you." Voldemort continued, from one of the cells a man reached through the bars and tried to grab onto his robes. He merely stepped aside and shot a crucio at the figure in the cell.

"Can I see now?" Harry asked looking hopefully at Voldemort who nodded and lead them all back up the stairs and into the family room.

"This way Harry." Voldemort said and lead him to the oh so familiar study, there were two armchairs and on the table next to one was a collection of three presents. They both sat down across from one another and with a nod from Voldemort Harry eagerly picks up the first box, it was rather heavy.

He slowly pulled off the wrapping and there was a black box inside, he lifted the lid and inside sat on a black cushion was the white crown that the king had dropped at Harry's feet when he was on his way to the philosophers stone. Voldemort had obviously changed it a bit it was now in-laid with emeralds and sliver was twisted around the base.

Harry looked up at Voldemort mouth hanging open, Voldemort chuckled and took the crown out of Harry's hands placing it on his raven hair sitting back down in his chair, he conjured up a mirror and passed it to Harry. Looking into the mirror Harry's jaw dropped again and a wide grin threatened to split his face in two, the crown suited him and although it was heavy it wasn't too bad and he could wear it a while. "This is amazing! Thank you Dad!" Harry shouted, gently placing the crown back in the box and getting up to give Voldemort a big hug.

Siting back down Harry opened the second box, inside was a set of velvet back robes with silver clasps and silver embroidery of the Slytherin crest above the heart. they felt so soft, Harry gave Voldemort a grin and put the robes aside to open the last box.

Inside it was a mask, it was a skull mask like the death-eaters except it was jet black and had silver detailing around they eyes, it fit comfortably on his face without needing to be held on by anything. Looking in the mirror that Voldemort had passed him he was amazed, The mask had all of his features and he could see his avada-kedavra green eyes but at the same time you wouldn't be able to tell it was him without knowing it before hand. He loved it.

"So that you can appear in battles on our side without blowing your cover, I have put memory locks on all death-eaters so that they will only remember you are on our side when they can see you and they are unable to harm you, I found the spell in he book you gave me." Voldemort said throwing Harry a grin.

Harry couldn't find the words to thank Voldemort but luckily the Dark Lord seemed to understand, as Harry leant forwards to set the mask down the amulet that the Malfoys had given him last year at Christmas fell out of the top of his robes, distracted by this Harry failed to notice the two snakes that had slithered into the room and right up the chair behind him before he was getting an awkward and scaly hug from the both of them, over this last summer Harry had been getting closer to Nagini and she now doted on the young boy.

"Happy Birthday Snakeling." She hissed as she coiled around his neck and nuzzled into his temple, tongue flicking out every now and then tickling his skin.

"Master, why didn't you bring me with you this morning!" Ouro asked curling around Harry's forearm and working his way up.

"Sorry, I got distracted." Harry answered.

"Well now that you two are here we can begin talking about this year at school for Harry. I have a job for you to do." Voldemort declared.

~

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