The Riddle Answered

Disclaimer: SEE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS FOR PLOT AND TAGS AND DISCLAIMER

Pairings: Harry/Daphne; Draco/Ginny

Normal Speech

(Thought)

{Parseltongue}

Mental Bonds

As he shook Harry, the silver eyes faded and were replaced by a pair of blue eyes that looked to Tom in confusion, "Dad?"

"What did you see?" asked Tom, looking at his son.

Harry's answer turned Tom's blood to ice, "Mum and Lily…dead!"

Falling back, Tom put his head in his hands, while Harry, checking his body, gasped, "It was him, wasn't it?"

"Yes," answered Severus, "The White Paladin."

"Then," Harry sighed, putting a hand on his Father's shoulder as he explained, "It's time!"

HJSRR

Unknown Location:

The White Paladin smiled with a decisive victory as he felt his mind being withdrawn from his other, his White Magic failing as he once more masked his presence.

"It's time," he smiled, "Time for all to be revealed, but Harry Riddle is in for a surprise!"

Chapter 19: Black And White

Hogwarts:

Even though he was his Father, Tom Riddle would never truly get used to seeing his son acting like the Black King as, whenever he gave orders or set tasks, the Dark Lord was seeing himself in Harry.

Yet, standing in Severus' office, his Society of Shadows before him, Daphne at his side, Harry was more than willing to begin making plans: the time had come; he'd had enough with the voices, the taunts and the mistakes. Today, he would end it with the White Paladin once and for all.

"So," he spoke with the same icy tone adopted from his Father. "When we reach the Department of Mysteries, you will do what you can to ensure that the Paladin is alone. However, under no circumstances do you take him on: that is my duty. Any followers or guards of his are yours to deal with as you choose, but the Paladin himself is mine: understand?"

"Yes Sire," replied the Society, their heads bowed to Harry as he then turned to his Father.

"I don't think you or any of the Death Eaters should be there Dad: if I'm right and Dumbledore is there, then he will be expecting you. I'll keep the bond between us open, but I can't risk losing you again."

"You won't lose me Harry." Tom explained, placing a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "However, I must suggest that you take James, Lucius and Sirius with you: I'll personally make sure that no-one else goes with them, but you will need some adult help."

"Very well," Harry sighed, before he turned and asked, "So, does anyone have any ideas how we get to the Department of Mysteries?"

"We can use the Floo Network," suggested Draco.

"They'll all be watched," Harry pointed out.

"Not Umbridge's," Draco reminded him. "Fudge trusts her and you're her star pupil: we can use hers to get there."

"Then let's do it," Harry nodded, leading his small army out of the office.

Had any of them looked back, however, they would have then seen the Dark Lord look from his son to the Potions Master before, with a slow nod, he whispered, "Be ready Severus."

HJSRR

Ministry of Magic: Department of Mysteries:

Using the shadows around them, Harry cloaked the appearances of the Society, ensuring that, should the need arise, he would be able to use Black Magic and they would be able to openly use their wands to defend themselves.

Pushing open the large stone door that held the entrance of the Department, Harry cast a ball of flames into the air, its light illuminating row upon row of strange glowing blue orbs. All around them, the Black King could sense the magic in the air and, as he looked to Daphne, he saw that she too could feel the power within the room. Clasping her hand, Harry whispered, "Relax my queen: tonight, this ends."

"How right you are Harry Riddle," laughed a cold voice, making the Society stop in their tracks; in front of them stood a being dressed in white, a mask of tribal origins covering his face, a pair of strong silver eyes staring at Harry as the owner of the voice continued. "Punctual as ever aren't you? Tell me, do you think I can be stopped?"

"No," Harry answered, summoning the ball of flames to his hand.

"Correct answer; five points to Slytherin," mocked the Paladin.

"But I do think you can be killed." Harry added, the shadows now coiling around their master, fuelling his Black Magic.

"Harry," sighed the Paladin, "You are darkness and I am light: together, we are two sides of the same coin. I have all the powers that you do…and more: but, before we begin, I think it only fair I show you my newest ally."

Raising his hand, the White Paladin snapped his fingers and everyone gasped as Ginny stepped forwards, accompanied by several other white robed figures, each of them pointing their wands at Harry and the Society of Shadows. The White Paladin, meanwhile, held his hand out to Ginny and asked, "Would you like to say hello Gin?"

"I would…my love," Ginny replied, making all of them gasp, a shuddering cry coming from Harry's right as Draco heard the two fated words.

"You…you bastard!" he shrieked, "What have you done to her?"

"He has done nothing Draco Malfoy," replied Ginny, her cold voice almost monotone, like she'd taken Veritaserum. "The White Paladin has my heart because he gave it to me. If I must," she stepped before the Paladin, her own wand raised as she added, "I will kill my own family to save him."

"Ginny," Harry whispered, "You don't want to oppose us: especially not when the Paladin is Albus Dumbledore!"

A hollow, amused laughter spread amongst the gathered witches and wizards, Ginny almost cackling with amusement as she asked, "D…Dumbledore? Do you think the so-called Lord of Light could compare to the majesty of White Magic? No, Harry: he is someone even greater than Dumbledore and I, as his White Mistress, am proud to stand at his side."

"But then," whispered Harry. "If you're not Dumbledore, then who are you?"

"Ah," laughed the White Paladin, "Now that would be telling wouldn't it Riddle? Now, back to business: I called you here, to the Department of Mysteries, because I wanted you to see that your life is nothing more than a lie. The room we're currently standing in is known as the Hall of Prophecy and, as you can see, this one," he turned and pointed to a top shelf where an orb was glowing with magic. "This one has your name on it: no doubt, like you were told, you know that only those who the prophecies speak of can retrieve them."

"Shame the prophecy's a lie," snarled Harry, his wand aimed at the White Paladin. "I don't know who you are, but you will fall."

The almost silent sound of professional Apparition reached Harry's ears as he smiled and, looking to the White Paladin, he added, "And it looks like that part is about to come to pass."

Three tall dark-robed wizards strode into view, their faces hidden by masks, their wands raised as they took their places with the Black King. Turning back, as if noticing this, the White Paladin sighed and shook his head. "Typical mistake Riddle: you think that because you have Death Eaters here, you can stand a chance against us."

"I guess we'll find out," Harry remarked, before he whipped his wand up and cried, "Sectumsempra!"

With the first spell cast, all hell broke loose: the White Paladin grabbed a hold of Ginny and took her away, leaving the white robed figures to do battle with the Society of Shadows, Harry and Daphne choosing to follow Ginny and the Paladin.

As they chased their targets through the Department, Harry called out, "Give it up Paladin: you can't win against me. You may think you have more power, but not even the light can combat the inevitable darkness."

He stopped suddenly as a ball of white energy flashed past his eyes, narrowly missing the Black Royals as they turned and resumed their chase. Harry, summoning flames to his aid, sent them flying down the aisles, the force of magic knocking several orbs from their stands. "If you think using some White Magic can help you against me, you're sorely mistaken."

Reaching what appeared to be a cross-road in the Hall, Harry then looked to the shadows, his senses on high alert as he whispered, "Kiyo?"

Emerging from the shadows, the Kariyami commander asked, "My Lord?"

"Where are they?"

"Near the door my lord," Kiyo replied, before he handed Harry one of his Shatari weapons. "Take this sire; you will need it to travel through the shadows."

With a nod, Harry swept the Shatari around, his eyes watching as darkness coiled around both he and Daphne, pulling them both into the darkness. Using the shadows to guide them, Harry unleashed even more fireballs and wind-swept attacks from the darkness, cutting through most of the aisles as he then emerged, the White Paladin standing there, Ginny at his side holding onto one of the Paladin's arms.

"Impressive Riddle," sneered the White Paladin, "But did you honestly think you would win?"

Flaring his hand, the Paladin pushed the door behind them open, his eyes full of pure confidence as he then asked, "What will you do now? You're all alone and I have the upper hand."

"Not quite," Harry replied, pushing his own hand outwards, a powerful blast of wind knocking both the Paladin and Ginny through the doorway, a flash of white making Harry look down, his eyes narrowed at what he saw.

There, on the edge of the doorway, lay the Paladin's mask.

Stepping forwards, Harry summoned the darkness and combined it with the winds, before he held out his hand and watched as Daphne joined him, the two of them using Harry's magic to glide gently to the ground. Down below them, a large stone archway was perched on top of a mound, a strange, eerie presence almost pulling Harry towards it.

"Feel that?" he asked Daphne.

"I do," she answered, "What is it?"

"Death," answered a cold voice, Harry and Daphne looking up to see Voldemort standing there, his eyes on the Veil. "This is the Hall of Death."

"What are you doing here Father?" asked Harry, "I asked that you remain safe."

"And you thought I'd leave you here," Tom laughed, "Just like you don't wish to lose me, I do not want to lose you."

"All right," sighed Harry, before he looked around, his eyes trying to pierce the darkness as he asked, "Where's the White Paladin?"

"There," pointed Tom, indicating a rocky crevice near the Veil, "He is hurt."

As Harry walked over, his hands clenched as he savoured the moment, he then felt a strange magic drawing him back; peering over the mound, Harry saw Ginny lying there, her arm broken and her left shoulder cut, he guessed from the curse he had cast.

"Ginny," he whispered, leaping down into the crevice. "Are you okay?"

Looking up to him, Ginny smiled before she answered, "I am now…Riddle!"

With a gasp, Harry turned and had to duck quickly as a curse missed his head; looking up, he saw the owner of the curse to be Tom Riddle; however, as Harry watched, he saw a veil of white lights cover the man's body, a powerful burst of magic flowing through the Hall of Death.

When the light faded, Harry's voice was full of shock, "I don't believe it!"

The White Paladin stood there, his face and true body now revealed: a dark-haired teen dressed in white robes, a pair of emerald green eyes staring into Harry's ice-blue eyes. His body was lean and strong, not unlike Harry himself, and, when he spoke, it was with determination.

"Believe it Riddle," laughed Harry Potter, "We are one: both Black and White in one body."

"No," Harry cried, "Stupefy!"

With a laugh, Potter raised a hand and swept the Stunnin Jinx aside, shaking his head as he asked, "Why do you think I fled with Professor Dumbledore?"

"Magical Redirection!" gasped Harry, watching as he devious doppelganger stepped forwards, his eyes glowing with energy.

"Yes," replied the White Paladin, "A very powerful ability: Professor Dumbledore has taught me the full power of the ability and now, just so you know, not even the Avada Kedavra Curse could take me down."

"Carcecrucim!" yelled Harry, firing the Constrictor curse towards the White Paladin; however, once again the light hero simply laughed and brushed the curse aside as if it were dust on his robe.

"Don't fight what you know to be true Riddle," laughed Potter, approaching the Black King as he added, "This is how it was always meant to be: you are the darkness and I am the light."

"And yet," Harry smiled, deciding to use his hidden weapon. "You're not real!"

"You're not real…You're not real…You're not real…" the voice seemed to echo in Harry Potter's eyes, stopping him dead as he looked to Riddle with fear.

"What?" asked the Black King. "Did you think I didn't know what she said to you in Dumbledore's office? Let me show you," raising his wand once, Harry ran his magic all over his body, dropping his ice-blue eyes for emerald eyes, changing his long styled hair into a messy nest of black hair and finally, changing his healed body into one of a weak, hurt boy.

Daphne, who had been busy protecting Harry from Ginny, stared in shock as she and the White Mistress saw two Harry Potters standing before them, the Black King only recognised by the dark aura that ran around his body.

"This…can't b-be," stammered the White Paladin. "I'm Harry Potter: Dumbledore told me!"

"And therein lies your answer," sneered the real Harry. "You see, Paladin: you were Harry Potter, but that, sad to say, was nothing more than one big lie constructed by Dumbledore to turn you against your family."

"My…family?" asked Potter, watching as Harry became Harry Riddle once more.

"Yes," smiled Harry, "Harry James Salazar Rasputin Riddle, son and heir of Lord Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle and Lady Bellatrix Morgana Lestrange-Riddle. So yes, Potter, all this time we have been the same, because I am real, the one and only Harry Potter/Harry Riddle and you are nothing more than an echo."

"No: Reducto!" yelled Harry Potter, but, with a dark smile, Harry Riddle held up his hand and caught the spell's magic, before crushing it in his hands.

"Yes," smiled Riddle. "Now, I don't know how we are the same: how Black and White are one and the same, but believe me, I intend to find out: in the meantime, I'll say this: goodbye Harry Potter, and this time…stay dead! Avada Kedavra!"

As the curse flew from Harry's wand, time seemed to slow down: the green curse neared Harry Potter before, once again, he waved it aside, but, in his dementia, Harry Potter redirected the curse to the right, down to where the crevices were kept.

A cry and a gasp filled the air and, at the same time, Harry Riddle felt a strong pain drive into his heart; looking down, he gasped in shock as he saw Daphne and Ginny looking to him, both of them slowly falling to the ground, their faces almost peaceful as they collapsed, Harry still feeling the pains from his bond to the queen.

"No!" he cried, rounding on Harry Potter; however, the coward had run: struggling through the pain, Harry chased after the rapidly retreating White Paladin, unaware of his Society all arriving too little too late into the Hall of Death.

Landing, Draco cried out with fear when he saw Ginny lying still; racing over to her, he grabbed her arms and shook her, his voice filled with desperation as he cried, "Ginny: Ginny, please wake up! It's me…Draco: Ginny, you can't die; you can't leave me! GINNY!"

"DRACO!" Yelled Lucius, holding his son in his arms as Draco wept for his fallen girlfriend, "We have much more important matters at the moment: look."

Draco did, and his eyes widened when he saw that Daphne wasn't moving either, her face and eyes as peaceful as Ginny; looking to where the sound of a demonic cry was coming from, he asked, "Harry?"

"He is fine," Lucius told his son. "However, he needs to find a way to deal with the pain he feels; as a Soul Bond, our Lord's son must heal his heart or he will die!"

Draco could only watch, his own heart heavy as he felt his Father and James Potter wrap their arms around the young Slytherin, the magic of the Death Eaters transporting the Society and the victims of Black vs. White away from the Department of Mysteries, all the while, Draco held tight to the hand of his own Gryffindor – and he would openly declare it – lover.

HJSRR

Ministry of Magic:

"COME BACK HERE YOU MURDERER!" Yelled the Black King, his magic flowing freely, his eyes dark as night as he continuously fired wandless spells and curses at the retreating White Paladin. "YOU WILL PAY FOR TAKING HER FROM ME!"

"Help!" Pleaded Harry Potter, racing for the Atrium, "Someone please: it can't be true: it can't: I'm me: I'm Harry; I'm the White Paladin: I'm the Chosen One!"

"No you're not," Harry replied, now firing another Constrictor Curse, this time trapping the White Paladin. "You're a shadow of your former self and Dumbledore knows this."

Stopping his struggles, Harry Potter looked to where Harry Riddle was now standing over him, the cutting force of the Constrictor Curse holding him in place. The eyes of the Black King were neither red nor blue, but a deep, demonic, emotionless shade of black that cut into the heart of the emerald eyed Paladin.

"You are just a copy," Harry explained, "And once Albus Dumbledore is done with you, he will kill you."

"So why don't you do him a favour?" laughed the White Paladin. "Even if what you say is true: why don't you kill me instead? You know the spell: you've got to mean it: I killed her."

Looking closer, the Black King laughed once, his dark eyes boring into the Paladin's skull.; reaching down, he snagged a handful of Harry Potter's hair before he hissed, "Show yourself coward: you think you can trick me back to your side…show yourself Dumbledore!"

A flash of white magic answered Harry's demand and, as he turned, the Slytherin watched as Albus Dumbledore stepped forwards, his eyes now on the Black King as he approached the two Harrys.

"Well, well," he exclaimed, "Hello there Master Riddle: congratulations, you finally figured it out!"

"Stuff your lies old man," snarled Harry, pointing his wand now to Dumbledore. "Daphne's blood is on your hands and I have come to wipe it clean: now what does he mean? How am I both Black King and White Paladin?"

"To answer that," Dumbledore replied, "Why don't you just ask your Father? I'm sure he'd be more than happy to explain."

(He's free of the Decree,) thought Harry, (How is that possible? I am the Heir of Slytherin, he should not be free!)

"I will admit," Dumbledore explained, "You did surprise me with your little mind game: tell me, how are Lily and James?"

(And he knows they're real!) Harry gasped, his eyes on the headmaster. (How does he do this?)

"I don't think you desire to face me Harry," Dumbledore remarked, "So why don't you just…"

He was cut off by the sound of several Floo gates flaring up; thinking quickly, Harry cast a wandless Cruciatus and cried out, his eyes on the gates; as he had hoped, Minister Fudge had appeared and, when he saw the two young boys, cowering before Dumbledore, he was more than convinced on what he needed to do.

"Activate the ward," he demanded, before walking over and kneeling by Harry. "Master Riddle; this is a surprise!"

"M-Minister," gasped Harry. "Dumbledore and P-Potter; they're in this together; C-Cruciatus: p-please…help me!" He had to applaud his acting skills, but, then again, he learned from the best.

"I will sir," Fudge answered, standing tall as he announced, "As Minister of Magic, I charge Dumbledore with use of the Cruciatus on a pair of minors and high treason against the Ministry: the penalty: the Kiss!"

As Dumbledore was dragged away, Harry Riddle used what magic he could gather – his little glamour act had cost him – before he transported himself away, using the shadows to take him home, the biggest revelation of the day still ringing in his ears.

Harry Potter was the White Paladin:

That meant that he, Harry James Salazar Raputin Riddle was both Black King and White Paladin.

(The only question is,) thought Harry, aware of someone calling his name, (How?)

Dumbledore's getting the Kiss and Harry Potter/Riddle is both Black King and White Paladin?

How and what does this mean for the Prince of Darkness?

Also, can ANYTHING be done to right these wrongs and what will Harry risk to do so?

Keep Reading to Find Out…

Chapter 20: Grief-stricken, Harry taps into the Hidden Power of Black Magic to right his wrongs; plus, there's some light in this dark time when Harry receives an unexpected reward from the force that guides his powers and, even though it seems like the end, the White Paladin – Potter – is determined to ensure that it is only the beginning…

Please Read and Review…

Also, as the Dark Prince, what should Harry be known as to the Death Eaters? Take into consideration his allegiance to the Black Magic and this mysterious visitor in his dreams…

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