Harry walked silently through the g

Harry walked silently through the grounds. He was heading back after a few hours of training. He knew that all the Death Eaters were inside the Manor but he still kept a hold of his mask in his hand, just in case he needed to use it.

Harry was beyond tired. He had trained for nearly five hours straight. He never usually spent that kind of time training but lately it was all he wanted to do. He knew it was the pent up frustration inside him that wanted out and this was the only way out. Well, this and going on assignments.

Harry continued walking through the woodland area that separated his training grounds from the main Manor. Just as he walked deeper into the woodland he heard it, a sound behind him. Harry didn't stop walking but he instinctively strained to hear where the sound was coming from.

His wand was safely tucked in the upholster on his arm. Harry continued walking, making it look like he didn't notice that someone was following him. He could hear the footsteps behind him clearly now.

It all happened in an instant.

With one hand Harry threw on his mask and with the same hand he reached for his wand. He turned around on the spot and blindly grabbed the person that was sneaking up on him. Harry's hand was wrapped around the person's neck before he realised who it was. Harry slammed the person into the nearest tree before aiming his wand at their throat.

He was more than surprised to see the blond boy in his grip, moaning at the pain of being slammed against a tree.

"Ow! Paranoid much, Harry?!" the boy said angrily.

Harry smirked behind his mask and released him. Harry reached over and took off his mask before pocketing his wand.

"Draco, why were you sneaking up on me?" Harry asked his childhood friend.

Draco Malfoy was rubbing the back of his head and shot Harry an angrily look.

"I wasn't sneaking anywhere! I was just being quiet, that's all." He said.

Harry smirked in response.

"Afraid father would catch you?" Harry asked.

It was no secret the Lord Voldemort hated Draco Malfoy. He blamed him for distracting Harry from his training and his lessons.

Draco didn't say anything but cast a wary glance around him.

"See, this is why you should come over to my house." Draco told him.

Harry laughed in response. They started walking towards the Manor. Draco was a lot more relaxed now. If he was with Harry, then he was fine, even facing Lord Voldemort was possible if Harry was by his side. If he was alone, then there was the chance that he wouldn't make it back home.

"So, when did you get back?" Harry asked as the trudged their way up the hill.

"I got back ages ago, but father thought it was best to stay away for a while. He said you were busy with things, so I had to sit around and get bored senseless for a few weeks." Draco replied.

"I had assignments." Harry answered simply.

"I wish I could go on an assignment with you." sighed Draco.

Harry snorted and gave Draco a funny look.

"You, in battle! I would like to see that!" Harry said while silently loving the look of incredulity that appeared on his friend's face.

"What! Why not? I am a good dueller!" he replied in a dignified voice.

"You would probably keep on asking the opponent if your hair had fallen out of place." laughed Harry as Draco threw him a dirty look.

"It's no crime to look good, but of course you wouldn't know anything about that! When was the last time you tried brushing that mop you call hair?" Draco asked while shooting Harry a half heartened glare.

Harry just shrugged and ran his hand through his hair while replying:

"Not everyone is as high maintenance as you, Draco."

Harry watched his best friend fumble around trying to find a good enough insult to throw back at him. He had gone quite red.

"Yeah, well you're a…"

"A what?" asked a high cold voice.

Draco spun around to see Lord Voldemort standing behind him. His red, merciless eyes were fixed on him. Draco fell to his knees at once as he was brought up to do.

"I hope you were not about to insult my son, were you?" Voldemort asked, dislike lacing his words.

"No, my Lord! I would never…" Draco started.

"Leave!" Voldemort ordered him.

Draco stood up and without as much as a backward glance at Harry, he made to leave. Lord Voldemort stopped the very pale and scared looking Draco and looked at him up and down with plain disgust on his face.

"Young Malfoy. I understand it that you have come home for the holidays. I want to remind you that this is not your home so I don't want to see you here!" He paused here to look over at Harry who was watching the entire scene with a curious look on his face. "You may come here only when Harry wishes you to be here, otherwise stay away. Understand!"

"Y-yes M-master." Draco managed to stutter out before hastily leaving, not even looking back to see Harry glaring at Lord Voldemort.

Once Draco had disappeared from view, Lord Voldemort turned towards the dark haired boy to see him glaring at him. Harry never disrespected his father in front of company; he always waited until they were alone to do that.

"What?" asked Lord Voldemort as Harry continued to give him an icy glare.

"I don't treat your friends that way." Harry said, eyes still locked with ruby red ones.

"That is because I have no friends, I have no need for them and neither do you, especially no-good cowards like that young Malfoy."

Harry folded his arms around his chest and looked at his father.

"I don't need Malfoy but it is nice to talk to someone who isn't decades older than me!"

Lord Voldemort smiled at Harry's comment and walked over to him. He placed his hands on both of Harry's shoulders and for a moment just stood over him. Harry looked up into his father's face and felt some of his anger fade away. 'He always does that with one look' thought Harry as he looked into his father's face.

"Why do you have a problem with Draco?" asked Harry in a more hushed tone.

"I don't have any problems with him. I just don't think he is worthy of being in close company with you. I don't like the disrespectful way he talks to you."

Lord Voldemort had overheard many conversations to know the way Draco Malfoy had talked to Harry. How he teased and sometimes even ridiculed him. It took everything Voldemort had, and Harry's intervention, to ensure that Draco Malfoy still had all limbs intact.

"Well, that's between me and Draco." Harry sighed, he was getting tired of arguing with his father. "Anyway, what are you doing out here? Is the meeting over?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it's over. I was expecting you to be back in the Manor by this time. I wanted to see where you were. Now I see why you were held back." Voldemort said, looking in the direction Draco had run off in.

"I only met him a few minutes before you came. I lost track of time in training." Harry answered.

Voldemort looked at Harry closely.

"You've been training a lot more these days." He commented.

Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"It doesn't hurt to be more prepared."

Voldemort didn't comment but walked Harry back to Riddle Manor.

xxx

It was late in the evening and most of the members of the Order wanted nothing more than to go home. Lily sat again with James on one side and Sirius on the other. James had been released a week ago now and had already resumed his post as Auror. She thanked all her Gods that James was okay. Thankfully there was no scarring, otherwise James would have had an ugly scar running from below his left ear all the way to the back of his neck, where the blade had cut him. She was brought out of her thoughts as Dumbledore stood up to start the meeting.

Albus Dumbledore took his position in front of the tired looking group of people.

"Thank you all for coming." He started. He looked at the faces sitting before him before looking at James, Sirius and Kingsley. "It's true." He stated simply. "Voldemort has an heir."

The atmosphere in the room changed almost instantly. Surprised gasps were echoed as were distressed sighs. James looked at Lily and tried to give her a small smile, to comfort her. It didn't work.

"How is this possible? How can no one know of his existence until now?" McGonagall asked.

"I don't know, Minerva but Severus has confirmed to me that the boy who killed Larry Hunt was in fact Voldemort's son. His true name is not known and so he is referred to as the Dark Prince." Dumbledore replied.

"I can't believe Voldemort managed to keep him a secret. This is just unbelievable." Tonks commented, shock written on her face.

"I believe that Voldemort kept him a secret from his own men. He was revealed to the Death Eaters only two years ago. Even now, no one has seen his face or knows his real name. Only the Death Eaters that are trusted and close to Voldemort have met with his son." Dumbledore said.

"How come Snape didn't tell us about him?!" James asked at once.

"Because, Potter, I wasn't part of the meeting when he was revealed!" Snape answered back icily.

"You must have learnt about him afterwards." Sirius added in.

"There are many rumours floating around in that place. I didn't want to say anything until I saw anything with my own eyes." Snape curtly responded.

"So he's the one who has been killing all those Death Eaters? You were right. The Dark Prince has been killing on Voldemort's orders." Arthur Weasley asked.

Dumbledore looked at Snape before answering.

"It seems that the Death Eaters found murdered in their homes had misgivings with Voldemort. It seems that Voldemort sends his son out to carry out what he likes to call 'assignments' and gets rid of those he feels are threatening him or are in his way."

Lily felt a shiver run up her spine. What a way for a child to be brought up.

"Do you know what age he is? Has he come of age yet?" Molly asked.

"We can't be certain but I think he is still under the age of seventeen. This is based on the information we have been able to gather." Here he gave Snape another appreciative nod before continuing.

"He works alone