Chapter Text
As Lord Voldemort and Severus Snape walked towards the cottage they heard a giggle from a small child and the laugh of a woman. They both stopped and looked at each other before continuing up the path. As they reached the door, Lord Voldemort didn’t hesitate to blow the door off its hinges.
“Lily! Take Harry and go!” The man in front of them, James Potter, yelled as he started reaching for his wand. As he was running Voldemort only had two things to say to the man in front of him.
“You will never see MY wife or son again. Avada Kedavra.” A jet of green light flew from Voldemort’s wand and before James Potter could react, he was dead. As he fell to the ground, they heard a scream from upstairs. Snape was the first to react and run after his best friend and godson. As he reached the nursery he saw Mephisto in his crib crying while his mother was on the ground screaming. It was this scene that Voldemort walked in on. “Lily…my love. Are you ok?”
“Save me! Save me!” She repeated this like a mantra until she collapsed. Severus ran to her side and started casting a diagnostic charm over her. He breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw the parchment.
“She is alive, my lord. It seems that Dumbledore had created a destiny bond type of spell that changed everything about her and her views of the world. When we killed Potter, the bond snapped. She will live. But…she is currently in a coma. There is no saying how long she will be comatose. How will we rescue them?” He asked as he looked up. He met Voldemort’s gaze who was looking paler than normal. “My Lord?” He asked again.
“We need to make it look like Dumbledore would expect. Take Lily and Mephisto. I will stay here and stage the scene. I have to create spell damage and place the golem. Take them to Prince manor and then call Healer Goyle. She will know how to keep a secret and knows not to betray me.” When Snape looked at him like he was about to argue Voldemort sent him a glare. “That is an order, Severus. You are my friend, but I know who your true best friend is. If you do not go now you will be putting them both at risk again. Go!” With that final order snape grabbed Mephisto from his crib and levitated Lily. He walked outside and activated the emergency portkey they had created for this night. As Voldemort watched his friend disappear with his wife and one year old son, he began working. He went downstairs and looked at all of the pictures and made it look like an insane man had been here. As he was creating spell damage he saw a picture that stopped him in his tracks. It was a group of people, but who was in it is what caught his attention.
“Samael…where are you?” He looked at the little blond boy that was holding hands with his raven-haired son and smiled sadly. That was when he noticed the people holding his other son. In his rage his magic lashed out and destroyed the rest of the living room. He went up to the nursery and placed the golem they had brought with them, and his magic once again lashed out and took the roof off the building. He conjured a pile of ash and a set of robes to make it look like he was dead as Dumbledore expected. “You lose old fool…” He whispered as he neared unconsciousness and activated his emergency portkey before he landed in the entrance to prince manor, his vison darkening as a house elf popped him to his own room.
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Dumbledore snapped his head up as he felt the wards he had set up around the cottage in Godric’s hollow go off. The only reason that would happen is if James and lily had died and Harry was in danger. He called his most trusted friend and follower to his office immediately.
“Hagrid! Welcome! Thank you getting here so quickly my friend. I have a task for you. I need you to go to Godric’s Hollow and pick young Harry up. It seems that Tom has gone after them just like we feared.” His eyes twinkled as he saw the half-giant’s face drop as he realized what it was that the headmaster was saying.
“Of course, Professor. I’ll get there real quick. Sirius gave me his motorbike, so it’ll be real easy for me.” He said as he stood up and started walking away. I’ll meet you at his aunt and uncles?” He asked the professor who just nodded and waved him off. As the man walked out, Dumbledore looked around and saw that the artefact keeping track of the brat was still glowing a bright blue, indicating that the child was still alive. He shook his head as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. Now all he had to do was sit and wait for Hagrid to call him so him and Minerva could go drop the child off at his relatives house.
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As Hagrid pulled up to the destroyed cottage he started to jog inside, which is when he noticed that the door was blown off the hinges. Upon entering the first thing he noticed was that James was dead on the floor. His blood ran cold as he looked around and saw the destruction. He walked up the stairs and dropped to his knees, making the house shudder under his immense size.
“No…not Lily...”He wailed as he looked around and that’s when he realized that he hadn’t heard Harry crying at all since he arrived. He looked around the room, thinking the worst. When he realized that Harry was nowhere to be found he immediately called Dumbledore who, along with Doge and Augusta, showed up in minutes. “H-Har-Harry is m-m-missing. I cant find him nowhere in the house Professor Dumbledore sir.” He stuttered through his tears. Augusta looked disgusted and sniffed haughtily.
“As long as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone that’s all that’s important. We will find young Harry and make sure he’s safe. We have to start spreading the news Albus. The world must know that He is gone, and that young Harry defeated him.” She said as she turned towards Albus. He nodded solemnly.
“Agreed. Lets go. We need to start the search for young Harry.” With that they all left and returned to their respective homes and started the search for Harry; little did they know the child was now safer than he had been since he and his mother had originally been taken.
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Severus watched as his Lord and friend twitched and tossed in his sleep. He turned and walked towards the room he had set up for his godson. As he walked in he noticed that Mephisto had fallen asleep and was curled around the stuffed snake he had one of his house elves buy. It was surreal to finally have his best friend and one of his godsons back. He walked out and went to Lily’s room. Healer Goyle was still working on her to determine what they needed to do in order to keep her alive and comatose in order to heal from the damage the spell’s backlash caused. The potion’s master sighed as he sank down in the chair he hadn’t left for the last few hours and watched the healer work.
“Mr. Snape, if you’d follow me?” Healer Goyle asked the dour man in the room. He followed her out and into the floo room. “She will live. We will have to spell the necessary potions into her stomach as well as perform some minor mind healing while she is comatose. This will not affect her once she wakes, of that I can assure you. As for the Dark Lord, he is weak but that is only due to magical depletion. He will be weak for a while even after he wakes, but he should be fine with rest for the next few weeks. As for our Prince, there is nothing wrong. He has been raised with care.” With that she walked through the floo and disappeared. He walked back to the kitchen and made himself a drink. Merlin knows he needs one after the day he’s had.
As he was drinking he heard a noise come from Mephisto’s room. He walked up to find the child awake and looking around. When his eyes landed on Severus he grinned and reached his little arms out as if he wanted to be picked up. Severus sighed but knew that a child who was so well loved needed the continuance of that love. He picked up his godson and started walking around the house, pointing out all the rooms and different areas. The one spot the little boy wouldn’t see until he was at least 6 was the potions lab, it was much too dangerous for a babe. As he walked back up to the main rooms he noticed that his lord was awake and so took his son to meet him again.
“And this, is your father. Marvolo Cadmus Slytherin.” He handed Mephisto over to his father who held him with nothing but pure joy on his face.
“Hello my little demon. Its so good to have you back. Your uncle Severus and I will raise you to be smart and strong. And your mother will too once she’s all better. I promise you, we will get your brother back as well. Daddy needs to rest but I’ll see you tomorrow ok?” He looks at Mephisto once last time before handing him back to Severus. “Make sure he sleeps. I will be getting rest myself Severus. Thank you, my friend, for helping me start getting my family back.” With that Severus left the room and put Mephisto back in his crib. He did not know what his Lord had planned but if it meant having his best friend back he’d follow him until the ends of the earth.
Marvolo sat up in his bed the next morning wondering who to call in order to rescue his other son. He was too weak to do it himself and he needed Severus at the house in order to help with Mephisto. As he started thinking about it he called for Severus.
“Severus. Who would you recommend to rescue Samael? I must admit I am at a loss of who to call,” He said when Severus entered the room.
“My Lord. What about the Lestrange’s and Crouch? Surely they would be able to pull off a rescue while also eliminating those who stole him from you?” He offered up. Marvolo looked at him for a few seconds in silent contemplation.
“They’re perfect Severus, thank you. May I see your arm?” Severus held out his arm and Marvolo summoned the four loyal death eaters that his friend had suggested. As they apparated into his room they all immediately started fussing over him. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I summoned you because you all will be going on a rescue mission for me. My son, Mephisto, has returned home. Severus and I rescued him and his mother last night. I need you four to go to the Longbottom estate and rescue Samael for me. Kill everyone. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my Lord. We understand. We will get your son back for you!” Bellatrix all but screamed in pride. She may not have known the two boys for a very long time, but she had grown attached. As Auntie Bella it was her duty to help Lily and Marvolo take care of them. And for them to have been kidnapped, Lily included, had been a blow to their ranks. Their lord had become withdrawn and sullen. Now a year later they were finally going to get back to the way things had been.
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It had been two weeks since that night. Bellatrix, Rodolphous, Rabastan and Barty had nearly succeeded in their mission to rescue Samael. But, before they could kill the Dowager Lady Longbottom, they had been caught and sentenced to Azkaban. Yet another group to fall victim to that wretched prison. Marvolo was starting to feel better after the magic depletion and Mephisto was starting to explore the new manor more and more. Severus was having a hard time keeping track of him most times. He was also beginning to say words and little hisses and Marvolo wanted to test something.
:Hello little demon. How are you today?: He asked his son in Parseltongue. He wasn’t entirely sure if either one of his sons had inherited the most common trait of their family line. When Mephisto looked at Marvolo with a gleam in his eyes he knew that his little demon could at least understand him, even if he couldn’t respond yet. Another thing to add to the list of feats he knew his children would be capable of. As he set Mephisto down so he could crawl around some more he saw the Floo roaring to life with green flames. He was lucky, Severus assured him that the only person who would even be able to see through his wards was Healer Goyle.
“Severus? Are you here?” Marvolo heard the voice of the one man that could not afford to know of his family’s survival. He jumped up and grabbed Mephisto and ran from the room as Severus was rushing in to make sure the old coot didn’t realize that his plans were failing already.
“Headmaster. This is a surprise. How can I help you?”
“Could you let me in? I fear this call may be intercepted.” He responded jovially, making sure his spy knew it wasn’t a suggestion. Severus sighed as he lowered the wards while also erecting new ones around Marvolo’s and Lily’s rooms in order to hide the presence of his three houseguests. “Thank you, my boy. How’re you?”
“I’m just fine, sir. What has you calling at my home today?”
“I’m afraid that young Harry has gone missing. Voldemort went after the Potter’s like we assumed he would. Both Lily and James were killed, and Harry is missing. But all that was left of Voldemort was a pile of robes and ash. If you have any idea of who could’ve taken him or where he could be will you please let me know so we may rescue him?”
“Of course, sir. Anything to get the brat back.” He said this with a sneer to cement the thought that he was well and truly on the Headmaster’s side. As Dumbledore left, Snape re-erected the wards around his floo while checking to make sure no detection spells had been cast without his knowing. As the results came back negative he sighed in relief; his friends were safe, and his godson wouldn’t be forced to go to the mudblood with her disdain for magic ever again, he would make sure of it. As he walked back to the room his lord was hiding he felt a compulsion try to take hold, one that would have made him give up any information on the movements of the Dark Lord and his fellow Death Eaters. One he was thankful couldn’t take hold.
“Severus. What did he want? I’m assuming to have you give any information if you were to come across where my son was being hidden?” His lord asked with a small smirk on his face. If anything, the old coot was very predictable. Severus only nodded as he watched the man in front of him cooing over his son, something he would have never though possible when he had first started following the man. It was even more of a shock when his best friend had told her about her first date with someone who sounded eerily like Tom. And then, when he was called for a one-on-one meeting with his friend and lord who then told him about his first date with a woman who had eerily sounded like his best friend. A few months later he was standing next to his friend as she married the one man who had sworn to never marry and thought love was a weakness. And then, nine months later his godsons had been born.
“He also tried to place a compulsion charm on me. Thankfully my occlumency shields and the fact that I bear your mark made it impossible for it to take hold. I analyzed it as well; it was trying to make me betray you and let him know of the movements of your followers, if they had taken “Harry,” and where he was being held.” As Severus finished, he saw the usually blue eyes flash crimson in anger, a common occurrence as of late while they searched for the two boys.
“I will kill him for what he’s done to my family! How dare that meddling fool KIDNAP my sons and try to pass them off as the children of any of the light families?! He will suffer, and his reputation will be in shambles before I grant him the mercy of death. I will tear-“ as he talked he noticed Mephisto looking up at him with a small smile on his face as his magic was reacting to his fathers anger. The child summoned one of the many potion vials in the house and it floated in front of Voldemort, waiting for him to reach out and grab it. Voldemort, however, was too stunned to react at the very obvious show of power from his one-year-old son. Even he hadn’t been aware enough to purposefully summon something at that age, especially in the orphanage he had grown up in. At this point Severus had regained his composure and grabbed the vial. And the potion it contained was even more shocking.
“My Lord, it seems he understood you. This potion is one of my own creation. It allows the drinker a deeper connection when performing Legilimency and also allows the use to invade anyone’s mind, regardless of their occlumency walls. It would allow all of his secrets to become known to you whenever you wish to use it. I am not sure of the shelf life; however, I would be able to brew more when the time is right.” Severus looked at his godson in awe and wondered just how Samael was doing.
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Augusta Longbottom looked at the sorry excuse for a child before her. He was the reason that her son and his wife had died. But, due to the rituals performed on him when he was handed off he was sadly the heir to her family name. Even if it hadn’t been a blood adoption, her son had made sure that he would be able to carry on the name. If only they had survived in order to raise him right. She could sense his magic, as dark as his parents and just as dangerous. She knew she had to have Augie show up and help her “raise” him so that he would be a weak willed and shy brat, so that his true power wasn’t known. She was also going to give him his “fathers” wand to make him believe it was his duty and honor to use it. By the goddess she hated this brat already.
“You will not grow up to be dark like your father. I’ll make sure of that. He is dead and because of that my son is dead and it is all because of you. Hopefully, I can twist your mind enough to hate the dark as much as I do. Only then will you be a good man.” She looked at him with disdain before levitating him to the room he had been in for the last few months and put him in the cot. She was not going to touch someone as dark as he was, even if it was only a baby.
Once the child was settled, something quite easy for he was not a fussy baby, she flooed her brother. He walked through the fireplace and started at the sight of the once beautiful manner.
“I had assumed all the damage done had been repaired. Why is this room still destroyed?” He asked his sister.
“To remind the brat that it was his fault my son and his wife died. To remind him of his “duty” to avenge his so-called parents. I need your help in weakening his will. Do what we can to suppress his magic and make him think he is all but a squib.” She smirked at the mischievous look in her brothers eyes as he sat down. “We need to make sure he never comes in contact with his true family. If he does, everything Albus has set in motion could come crumbling down. We need the boy to grow under Albus so he can defeat and kill his father once and for all.” With that she set out teas as they started planning. Little did they know that a small child was already aware and listening; for he had levitated himself out of his crib and down the stairs, just as powerful as the rest of his family.
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The weeks started flying by and Voldemort and Snape started seeing more and more of Mephisto’s control over his powers. At first was simple summoning, but soon he started to highlight his levitation abilities with smaller objects.
“He is much more powerful than we thought…I wonder why. Severus, do you have the core testing potion handy?” Voldemort asked his potions master.
“Of course, my lord. I will go grab it now so we can test just how developed his core already is and how deep his reserves truly go. I will also continue to brew them so when they expire we have some on hand for when we get Samael back.” With that Severus walked away and to the potion cabinet to grab the potion he needed. When he arrived back in the room, Mephisto was looking at him expectantly, as if he were truly understanding what was being said about the potion. “Alright little demon. I just need you to take this potion ok? It won’t taste good, but it will show us just how strong you are.” With that Severus uncorked the potion and handed it to Mephisto who looked at it uncertainly before his father helped him drink it. Once the potion was downed they only had to wait a few minutes.
Mephisto’s chest and stomach started to glow a bright white, and according to what was known about magical cores and this potion, white meant his core was not a core so much as it was he could tap into his magic freely, with no core exercise. He didn’t need to use magic to expand his cores stamina and it would take an exceptional amount of magic to actually drain his core. Both Voldemort and Snape looked as if they’d been struck, after all it was rare for a core to be so large, especially in one so young. If only they had been able to retrieve Samael, they would have to figure that out on top of getting the group out of Azkaban.
“My lord, if I may?” Severus asked of the man still looking at his son in shock. He merely nodded and waited to hear what Severus was about to say. “I believe his core is so powerful because he is a twin born from two of the founding lines. You yourself are a powerful wizard, a half-blood born from a family that was losing its magic. Lily is a Muggleborn and was the most powerful witch in my year at Hogwarts. I believe that both Mephisto and Samael will be the most powerful in their year, as long as they are challenged properly.” Voldemort once again looked at his friend if he had grown a second head.
“What makes you so sure? We have no proof when it comes to Samael…” At this, Marvolo looked out through his window from the desk he was sitting at with Mephisto. “We will find him little demon. We will get your brother back, as well as your Auntie Bella and Uncle Rod.” He continued to stare out the window and nearly missed the yell coming from Lily’s room. Severus was off like a rocket and spelling a calming draught into her belly by the time that Marvolo arrived with Mephisto. “What is it?”
“It seems that she was having a nightmare. I am no healer but based on what I saw when I walked in…I think we should have Healer Goyle show up tomorrow. Just to see. It’s common for people in comas to dream, but nightmares are not normal as far as I am aware. It could be a side effect of the spell that the old fool used.”
“Well, damn. I will call her tomorrow morning. Mephisto, this is your mother. She isn’t doing good right now, but she will be better in time. Just know she loves you very much.” Marvolo said to his son, who had started to tear up looking at his mother, bedridden and twitching. “I promise, she will get better. We have one of our best healers helping her.” Marvolo began rocking his young son in order to calm him down and within a few short minutes his sniffles turned to snores as he fell into sleep.
“I want to know how Augusta Longbottom was able to hold off four fully trained Death Eaters. Even after dueling Frank and Alice, four should have been more than enough, surely?” Severus asked as they were walking towards Mephisto’s room to lay him down.
“I went to school with her. She ruled Ravenclaw, to the point I thought of recruiting her for the Knights of Walpurgis. She, even then, was an amazing duelist and nearly beat professionals in dueling club. She was more than a match for those four. The only student to beat her was me. I should have waited and gone with them.”
“Marvolo, I am not sure you should have, after all, they were captured and without you our cause would fail. You acted as a parent with a missing child, anything more or less and most would be concerned. We will get him back, even if we have to wait until they start Hogwarts. All we can do until then is plan and get Barty, Bella, Rod and Rab out of Azkaban.” Severus said and laid a hand on his friends shoulder.
“Damn it! What of Calliope? Is she safe?” Marvolo turned to look at Severus with an almost mad look in his eye. If it weren’t for the fact his magic was so calm, Severus would have thought he had gone insane.
“She is safe. Rod and Bella dropped her off at the manor with Corvus before arriving here. She will not be taken by the old goat and his cronies; of that we can be sure.”
“Thank you; I could have never forgiven myself if she had been taken. Come, I think a drink is in order for both of us. Then we can plan how to get our friends out of that hell hole before its too late.” With that decided, they retired into one of the many parlors in the manor for a fire whiskey and relaxation before the shit show that was going to become their lives with planning an escape from Azkaban this soon after planning to hide.
=======D
The next morning showed Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa, and their son Draco showing up to help plan this escape and to make sure Mephisto was not sheltered from his role as the Prince of the Dark; well, one of them in any case. Narcissa was tasked with keeping an eye on the boys, so they didn’t do anything too crazy or disastrous.
“Draco, be careful. You could have hit Mephisto and that would not be a good first impression, understand?” The blond child looked at his mother and huffed, nodding all the same. Mephisto just cocked his head before he summoned one of the many toys around them and tried to hand it to Draco, who instead started screaming. When Narcissa heard this she looked up only to see multiple toys floating, one of which was in Mephisto’s hand like he had tried to share.
“What happened? Who’s hurt?” She heard from the doorway. She turned to see Marvolo standing there looking like he had just run from the study upstairs. She shook her head and pointed towards Mephisto.
“I did not see or hear anything that would have caused Draco to cry and scream like that. However it appears that Mephisto has exceptional control over his magic and when he summoned a few toys to share it set Draco off. I apologize, my lord.” She said as he started to smile.
“There is no need to apologize Narcissa. Mephisto may have control over his magic, but he can’t keep it contained. You should remember that young children are more susceptible to feeling the magic around them. Add to that not being able to coil his magic around him yet…Draco is probably being hit with the feeling of Mephisto’s magic more now that it’s being used.” With that, he picked his son up and the toys fell to the floor and Draco slowly calmed down.
:Little demon, I know you love magic and being able to control it, but other kids aren’t as strong ok? I’m going to start teaching you how to control it better. Be good for me with Auntie Cissa: Mephisto looked at his father and slowly nodded. When he was put back down he slowly walked back over to Draco and hugged him. He once again held out the toy and this time Draco took it with a smile, and they went back to playing.
“He seems to be doing well with everything. If I may, my lord, how close are we to having a plan? My niece misses her parents and Corvus hasn’t had to truly take care of a child in many years.” Narcissa asked as they continued watching their two boys.
“We are very close, its easier to do it with one of our men in the Auror department, both due to who they killed and the fact we can get him on duty in Azkaban quicker than us getting there and breaking them out. When it comes to family, I will not stop until we get them all back. Thank you for watching them Cissa. If you ever need anything, let me know. You have been a huge help the last few years.” With that Marvolo walked back out of the room and towards the study.
When he arrived Severus and Lucius were in a heated yet whispered debate over what needed to be done once their inside man was on the island.
“We should have him “drop” the cell keys. It would allow them freedom to move especially if he does it earlier enough in the shift he can then HELP them get off the island!” Lucius said, not realizing that Marvolo was back.
“Yes, you are correct however, brewing enough Polyjuice and using for scum of the earth muggles would allow us to then KILL those muggles and give the four of them even more freedom, even if we had to give them new looks and new identities.” Severus said, always the one to use brewing as a solution.
“Lucius, you are a member of the Wizengamot are you not? Were they given a trial? Either together or separately?” Marvolo asked. Lucius shook his head at the question.
“Because they were marked and found at the scene they were not given a trial. And because everyone assumed you are gone, the wizengamot assumed that they had been working on final orders from you. I can see if there is anything that can be done so they can get free legally first while Severus brews?” Lucius asked. Severus looked at him and then to Marvolo.
“It is possible that we wouldn’t even need the potion if he could pull this off. And if anyone can pull it off it would be Lucius. Also, I believe that with the right words and compulsions in place we can have them ask the questions we want and reveal why they were there to kill the Longbottom family.” Severus smirked as he thought about it.
“We may just have to do that. If we can portray the light side as the kidnappers they are we may even be able to get Samael back sooner. However I do not see that happening. We will come back to this on another day, right now we all need to eat, and I believe the boys will be ready for a nap by then.” Marvolo stood up and walked out of the room, walking towards the dining room where Narcissa and the boys were already sat and waiting.
“DA! DA!” Mephisto shouted as soon as he saw Marvolo. Both Marvolo and Severus were so shocked that all they could do was smile and coo as Mephisto spoke his first word. The fact that it was “dad” only made things better for the usually dour men; after all nobody would have thought that The Dark Lord Voldemort would ever have three people, let alone one person, who he could genuinely say he loved.