The Consequences of Being Ignored

4 year old Draco’s eyes were wide as he took in the site. He had known from his fathers gloating that a weasley child had been reported missing a year ago. He’d even known about the rumors brought in by family friends that the chosen one’s twin had disappeared.However that didn’t mean he’d expected to see the Dark Lord himself sitting at his dining room table with kids very similar to the ones that were currently gone. A tiny dark haired boy with glasses, and a redhead with freckles that littered his face like shells litter a beach. The blonde couldn't help but stare as he hid behind the large oak door. His father and mother were at the table as well, talking with the dark man. 

The door creaked and Draco quickly acted as though he’d just arrived, walking with a confident stride to the chair next to his mother. He looked to her in question, but she merely shook her head so he sat down in silence. And just like the adults continued their conversation, making Malfoy wonder if he had to sneak at all. A pop alerted him to his newly arrived breakfast and to his probably undeserved surprise so did the two other childrens. 

Draco took the time to study the newcomers in detail starting with the dark lord. The man was chalk white, appearance similar to that of a snake, the only differences being his dark slightly curled hair and dark eyes with slits that glinted with less than pure intentions.His body seemed to be made of mist. The tiny boy had messy black hair that stuck up in random directions. His glasses were cracked in one lens and he had bruises decorating his thin stick-like arms. The Ginger had his hair in rough shape as well, though it could be mistaken as bed head, and he also happened to have a bandage on his left cheek. A rather odd group. That was until he saw the Jet-black haired boy’s mark on his forehead, mostly hidden by his unruly hair. Then it officially clicked.

His mother stood up with one of her falsely sweet smiles on her face as she took off, to where Draco had no idea. He turned to his father, but he was also standing up, one of his skimming smirks plastered on his face. The dark lord arose as with him and they left, headed most likely to the drawing room, leaving the three children behind. Malfoy raised an eyebrow at the two, who, once the adults had vacated the room, had immediately moved to sit next to each other, moving their plates along with them.

“Not to be rude, but who are you exactly and why are you in my house?” Draco asked, the four year olds tone coming off annoyed. The boys looked at each other. 

“Dunno, maybe we’re pixies. An’ why we’re here. Don't know that either. Honestly tho’ Wish we could leave. 5 minutes in and we’re already being harassed by a git.” the ginger snarked, a small smirk revealing itself. His eyes were glinting with mischief.

“Fred..please don't..not now..” the little one spoke this time. 

“Fine Fine…” Fred waved the little one off. Draco kept staring at them, after all, he still wanted an answer. 

“My name is Harry..Harry Potter, and this is Fred, my...” The little one, now officially identified as Harry, paused with a perplexed look on his face. “What are we now exactly..?” Fred shrugged and looked back down at his practically already empty plate.

“From the way Mr. Gaunt was talking, I suppose we’re brothers?”

“Wait a second- Who??” Draco interrupted. Trying to get answers appeared to have backfired as more and more questions arose. Harry Potter?! Was he actually the boy who went missing?!? And Gaunt?!? Was that the dark lords name?!? and once more, why was the dark lord in his house? and why did he have kids? This time the two ignored him and his questions, instead focusing on getting every last crumb off their plates. Draco, now that he thought about it, noticed the two were thin. Abnormally thin. The plates disappeared and with that Draco stood up and prepared to head upstairs when-

“What the heck do we do now?” 

Draco sighed. Better to not get on more of their bad sides then he probably already had. “You lot could come with me I guess. I don't suppose either of you know much about quidditch, do you?”

A large grin erupted over Freds face. Draco felt as if he just activated a bomb.

The malfoys had allowed the dark lord and his newly acquired “heirs” to stay at the manor the kids had learned. Now 8 year old Fred was busy plastering high quality quidditch posters all across his bare walls.His room had gone from the formal guest room it had started as to a multi color mess, with not a speck of clean floor visible. Draco and Harry had sworn to never step a foot inside with fears they’d lose the limb. Dramatic but whatever. 

The former weasley looked up in satisfaction before creeping out of the bedroom and heading downstairs, his footsteps echoing through the rather empty hallway. He skidded to a stop at the faint sounds of yelling. Fred smirked. Most likely Harry, once more trying his hand at wandless magic. And probably failing. The ginger casually walked into the special training room summoned solely for the purpose of making Fred and Harry worthy heirs.

“DUCK!!!” Fred crouched down on instinct and watched as his adopted brother flew over his head. Snickering he stood up watching as Harry stood up with a pout. 

“Were you practicing trying to fly or did you fail at blocking again?” Fred said, his eyes twinkling with mischief as his brother lightly shoved him.

“Sod off!” 

“He failed to dodge a knockback jinx.”

“Shut up Dragon!” Draco strolled over to them, the 6 year old grinning at his friend's obvious embarrassment. Fred high fived his brother's best friend as the three of them walked back over to the instructor for the day, being Lucius for the day. 

“Enjoy decorating your room with more junk?”

“My taste in decor is just more refined than yours, you smug git.” Fred snapped back at his brother. Draco watched the bickering in amusement.

“Mr Weasley. You're late. As usual.” Lucius interrupted them. Fred shrugged sheepishly. He did constantly lose track of time. “Now that you're here, before we begin your training, the dark lord has asked for you and Mr Potter to go to the drawing room afterwards.”

“Why wasn’t I told!”

“Because Mr Potter. Your brother was not here.” Harry gave a weak glare to his sibling, the latter whistling innocently as he bounced on his heels. “Now then. Let's see if you're any better at blocking a knockback jinx Mr Weasley.” Fred paled as Draco and Harry’s faces erupted in identical smirks. 

Fred winced as he and Harry walked down one of the many corridors towards the Drawing room. His back was killing him, not that he’d admit it to Harry, who kept smirking at him like the little imp he was. They reached the dark oak door and with a short nod from his brother, Fred reached for the bronze handle. The two strolled inside to find their adopted father sitting down with a candle at the dark oak desk , the surface covered in sketches of various magical artifacts and creatures. He gestured for them to sit down

Fred did know how to consider his relationship with the man, confusion he only shared with Harry. After all, the man was the dark lord. You couldn't just ignore that fact. He’s murdered people. He tried to murder Harry too. Fred figured Harry was nothing more than a strategic newly acquired Pawn. That he never voiced, his brother being all too pleased to finally have a father. He couldn't take that away. The boys quickly settled down on the couch against the back wall, waiting for the dark lord to speak. 

“Hello boys.” The man spoke, his shadowy form flickering in the candle light. “I’m quite surprised. You're normally later than this.” Harry looked at Fred accusingly, the ginger turning his head away just as quick. Voldemort stood up and locked eyes with each of them. He had a look in his eyes. Harry saw it as Affection. Fred saw it as calculating.

“I know you two have only been under my parental authority for two years, but I thought I would go ahead and put the choice out in the open.” The man said. He broke his eye contact as well.

“A choice?” Harry asked, his brows furrowing. The dark one nodded.

“To officially become my children, my wards, my heirs.” Both of the minors shot up in surprise. Harry looked ready to jump up and hug the man. From personal experience Fred would not recommend it. So awkward… 

“What would we have to do, and besides officially being family why?” Fred questioned, watching the man like a hawk. He was still a lord of evil after all. He must want something. Voldemort smiled. 

“I would have you agree to a blood adoption.” Neither boy had ever heard of such a thing. Fred knew the basics of adoption from the darn orphanage, but he figured it would be much different, considering the fact it was wizards doing it, not muggles. Frederick also noticed the simple fact of, the dark lord hadn’t answered the other question, why?

“What's a blood adoption?” Harry asked. Voldemort smiled, the kind that sent shivers down your spine if you weren’t used to it. Heck Fred still wasn’t used to it. Creepy. 

“The overriding of blood I suppose you could call it. Using powerful magic your genetics will change to match my blood line.”

“I don't wanna be a shadow though.” Fred spoke up, though a smirk was playing on his lips. After all, if he didn't have his signature red hair maybe he could finally stop going by weasley. After all his parents made it clear he wasn't one when they tossed him like trash.

“You both look how I did, at the height of my rein.” The dark one further explained. Fred nodded in understanding while Harry bounced on the balls of his feet. The two wanted to make their decisions immediately. Harry because of his excitement. Fred because he knew he’d soon enough start second guessing.

The transformation was painful. Fred considered it as having knives pressed into your flesh repeatedly, minus the bleeding. He and Harry hadn’t been allowed in the same room for the blood adoption. The dark lord- their father had stated they needed to concentrate on staying awake. They couldn’t fall unconscious during the process. They didn’t know why, and they didn't care to ask. 

When it had finished Fred was the first to leave. His messy Red hair had turned dark and fluffy. His eyes had darkened as well, appearing almost black in the shadows. His freckles had almost completely disappeared, only leaving a few next to his eyes. When he grinned he revealed pearly white teeth.

Harry looked similar. His regular hair had lightened and his eyes had changed from green to honey brown. His glasses were missing. When he asked about them he’d been told he could either have his sight fixed with magic, or he could wear contacts. He chose the annoying little sight ball things. 

They stood side by side admiring each other's appearance. They actually looked like siblings now. Their father, the word seemed foreign on Fred’s tongue, especially related the the literal dark lord, stood before them smiling his cold cold smile. 

“My children '' a shiver smaller than any previous one slid up Freds back. “As of now, Harry James Potter and Fred Gideon Weasley are dead to the world. Together you both will begin taking over the Gaunt family name. With the new last name comes new first names.”

Harry looked to the shadow for a suggestion. He had clearly thought this through. He clearly had ideas. Harry subconsciously reached up to fidget with glasses that were no longer there. Voldemort turned to look at him, temporarily ignoring Fred, who watched on the sidelines with interest.

“If you’ll have the name, I have chosen Cain.”

“Cain?” Harry tested the name out in his mouth. It felt weird, but also..right.. “I like it!” Harry- no. Cain exclaimed, a grin on his face. He missed the sinister look in his new fathers eye. The two turned to the viewer, waiting for his turn patiently. Well, as patient as he could. His foot was tapping.

“So what's my name? Able?” Fred muttered, half sarcastic and half afraid he was completely on the mark.

“Azrael. If you so desire.” His eyes went wide in surprise. Now there was a name. It sounded a bit..evil? Azrael smirked in approval. So what did it matter? Origins meant nothing now. Maybe when he was older he’d bother to find out what his name meant. Until then?

“I’ll take it. Father.” He used the more formal label. Not only to dissociate the man, -shadow, from his birth father, but also for the fact he’d only ever heard Draco refer to his dad as ‘Father’. A pure-blood thing maybe. Azrael figured he’d be best to use it. Show he was completely willing to embrace this new life. 

“You are dismissed, my children. Tomorrow may I suggest you begin private lessons with me, one on one, to help you begin preparing for the future.” Neither boy asked for clarification as they nodded. They head off after the dismissal, heading straight to Draco’s room, to alert him of the recent developments.

Side by side. The new Heirs of Slytherin. The new beginning of a new era of darkness. The time of Azrael and Cain Gaunt-Riddle. Hogwarts new face of nightmares.Soon enough. Until then they would be content to terrorizing those receding in the Malfoy Manor.