Okay. So, I really shouldn't be starting a new work, except my friend got this idea, which gave me another idea, and then this came out. The good news is...I already have a lot written, I know exactly where it is going, and this will probably will not update once a year. Probably. So...yay?

The basic idea of this story is that Tom Riddle Jr. was a squib, and decided to use muggle technology to take over the world. Obviously siding with the muggleborns, yada yada yada, lets get on with the show, shall we?

-{~§~}-

This is the story of Tom Riddle Jr.

It is also the story of his generation, Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and, most importantly, Bellatrix Black. (At least, the one he lived in.)

It is the story of much, but at its core, it is a story of magic.

There once was a boy named Tom Riddle, who was born into a family of renowned witches and wizards. They were well known for their work in the Dark AND Light Arts, their work at the Ministry of Magic, and for being absurdly rich. They also had a fabulous house with dishes washing themselves and a well manicured, gnome-free lawn. The Riddle family parents, Tom and Merope, had two beautiful sons and three gorgeous daughters. But many do not realize that there was another…

Tom Riddle.

The second youngest of the family, named after his father, the one erased from everyone's memories with a simple Obliviate. Why, you ask? Well. It's quite simple, really. He was a squib.

There really was no kind way to put it. Generations and generations, centuries and centuries of pure-blood, magical children, and then this? This is how it came to be.

-{~§~}-

"TOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Tom Riddle shook himself awake. He stared at the floating clock, ringing to the tune of The Psychic Potato's latest album. 10 a.m. March twenty-fourth. His eleventh birthday.

"TOOOOOOO-"

"I'M COMING!"

The pajama-clad boy sprinted down the stairs to an eagerly awaiting family, and stacks of wizard cakes and breakfast pumpkin juice. Faces bright, yet a touch of anxiousness behind their brilliant white smiles. And Tom knew exactly why.

Last night, he had heard his parents discussing another lengthy and tedious topic that Tom had no interest in. But then, he heard his name. That is when he stopped to listen.

"What if he doesn't show signs of magic tomorrow? What if he's a...a..."

"Squib?" Tom's father sighed. "Merope, dear, it won't happen. It can't. He has my name, for a wizard's sake. That of all things should be enough. But if worse comes to worse, well, we didn't work on all those memory spells for nothing, then, did we?"

Merope Gaunt Riddle gasped in horror. "Tom, you aren't...you're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you? He's our son for Merlin's sake!"

"It shouldn't matter. He's a wizard, I know it. The Riddle blood within him would refuse nothing less."

But Tom's mother wasn't listening. "He's turning eleven! All of our children expressed their talents when they were six! If...if...He's our son! I don't want to have to abandon him like that..."

"And we won't have to."

"But, what if, Tom? What if? We need to plan, this is not something we can just ignore! We need contingencies, plans, anything! We need a place to hide him, a place to keep him safe...oh, poor Tom! Imagine what he would feel if he was⸺"

Tom's father slammed his fist against the table, causing the family shih tzu, Iris, to bark and sprint out of the kitchen, heading towards Tom. Tom hurriedly tried to shush the canine, but it was too late.

"Tom?" Tom's mother cried, but it was too late. Tom had heard it all. "TOM!"

Tom hadn't seen his parents since last night. He felt betrayed and hurt, not only because of his parents' harsh words, but also because of the truth. Yes, his siblings had all shown their magic when they were much, much younger. Sure, they were all the best in their classes at Hogwarts, except for the tiniest Riddle child, Caspian, who was only five years old. He knew that if he didn't show magic today, it would all be over. Hogwarts letters would all be sent today; the last day. After today, he would no longer be a Riddle.

Tom rushed down the stairs. His oldest sister, Heloise, laughed, like tinkling wind chimes. "Oh, Tom! By now, you should be flying down the stairs!"

Tim, his eldest brother, shoved him lightly in the shoulder. "Happy birthday, soon-to-be-wizard. It's your day!" Tom managed a smile, but in truth, he was as nervous as them all.

Ophelia grinned, pushing a plate of wizard cakes towards Tom. "Enjoy, brother. Soon, we'll all be in Hogwarts, of course on the Ravenclaw table, enjoying real pumpkin juice and wizard food."

Tom's mother pouted. "My cakes and food aren't enough for you?"

Everyone laughed. As a family.

Conversation went on as such at the table, with everyone joking, including Fidelia, who was pouring her entire goblet of pumpkin juice on five year old Caspian's head, causing a sobbing uproar and numerous fatalities from the sparks flying everywhere. All the while, Tom's father eyeing Tom carefully, as if he might start to float or spout purple toads any second. He could tell that his father was sorely tempted to pour a goblet of juice on his head as well, to get a reaction; specifically magical, out of him. Tom was almost tempted to do it himself. Anything to get a reaction.

When breakfast finally ended (it was as if it would never stop), Tom quickly rushed to his best friend's house, Severen Snape. He had to escape the merriness of his own household and the harsh stare of his father before it possessed his soul. Because everyone else? They were a family. And he? He was that one weird outsider. It gripped at Tom's soul with a painful intensity, and he just couldn't bear it any longer. He had to get out of there. Anything to make the pain stop.

He made his way to the looming dark mansion of the Snape household, known to be one of the most powerful Slytherin families out there. Many believed Slytherins to be deceitful and terrible, but he knew Severen was the kindest, most virtuous man he had ever met.

And yes. He was a wizard.

Severen had turned his sister, Martha, into a griffin, which was actually extremely impressive for an amateur wizard. Everyone in the Riddle household was in a frenzy when it happened, rushing over to congratulate him. Except for Tom.

Severen noticed this, and never beat down on him, never asked him about magic. He knew it was a touchy subject.

Severen opened the door, and his face lit up when he saw Tom.

"Tom!" Severen exclaimed, ushering his friend into the dark but sophisticated dwelling. They ran up the stairs, to Severen's room. Tom had long known of Severen's love for the Dark Arts, and his room was full of merchandise of stuffed vampires and werewolf dummies. In the corner, there was a neat bed and countless cut-outs of newspapers holding the most interesting beast sightings. Severus immediately shut the door and started, "Guess what? I just read this new book about..." Tom crashed onto the bed, and grinned. He could forget anything, even the possibility of being a squib, with Severen Snape around.

Hours later, Severen's mother cried, "Severen! Time for potion lessons!" Severen groaned.

"Why so grumpy?" Tom asked, knowing that he would do anything to be able to have real wizard lessons.

Severen sighed. "Potions can be so boring. 'I can teach you to bewitch the mind,' he says, 'I can teach you to ensnare the senses, I can teach you to bottle fame or put a stopper on death...'Well, I don't care! Being a wizard can be so..."

Severen stopped when he saw Tom's anguished face. "Merlin," he breathed, "I'm sorry, Tom. I forgot that you weren't..."

Tom stood up stiffly. "It's okay, Severen. I understand. I'm not a wizard, after all." With this, he left.

Tom knew that his friend hadn't meant to hurt him intentionally, and that he might've ruined his only understanding friendship, but he just didn't care. Not now.

"Hey, Tom."

Timothy was setting the table, with Heloise and Ophelia in the kitchen (She still wasn't talking to Caspian after burning her hair) and Fidelia on the floor, drawing (she hadn't forgiven Caspian either for getting her in trouble after soaking him), and Caspian was sobbing, as Iris refused to play wizard chess with him.

Tom stalked in and braced himself for another exasperating night. His last.

"So, son, have you done anything, say, unusual yet?" Tom's father asked casually, as he cut into his steak. Tom froze. What would he do? Lie?

"Anything, anything at all, Tom. You might not have even noticed. Remember that when Fidelia showed her magic, she accidently turned Iris into a cat, and we didn't notice until days later." assured his mother. "Do you remember anything..."

"NO!" screamed Tom. Oh no, he thought. "And I noticed. Because I cared." He just had to do it.

Silence.

More silence.

A pea slid off Heloise's fork.

"Something. Something should have happened. Remember when Tim got angry and the house set on fire? Something must have happened. You're a Riddle! SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED!" bellowed Tom's father, his plate cracking, magic flickering around him, his eyes flaring. Tom's mother whispered in his father's ear. Tom's father closed his eyes. Heloise mouthed, Run.

Tom ran.

He ran up to his room, slamming the door and collapsing on his bed. His hands met his face, and he felt tears running down his face. His treasured stuffed toy, the little snake that his father had brought him back from the Wizard World, was wet with tears. His father.

His father.

His father.

His father.

Tom screamed in rage, throwing the ragged snake through his open window into the harsh, harsh cold of the night. Then, feeling desperate regret, cried himself to sleep again.

The next day, Tom woke with red eyes and a heavy heart. I can't stay, he decided. He loved his siblings, so, so much. And he knew they loved him, too. But he had to leave; if he didn't, he would become the outcast, the remnants of a once beautiful family. He couldn't do that to them. So he must leave. Vanish, and nobody would be the wiser. His parents could just use that stupid memory vector curse, and everything would be the way it was supposed to be. Without him.

Heloise. Tim. Ophelia. Fidelia. Caspian.

Himself.

Gone.

The only place to go was Hogwarts, to the great Dumbledore himself. It was all he could do.

Tom grabbed a backpack. He put in snacks and money; anything else was tainted. He quietly opened the door. There, stood Caspian. Darling, innocent Caspian.

"Caspian!" Tom hissed. "What are you doing? Go back to sleep."

Caspian looked up with his bright, young blue eyes. The only blue-eyed Riddle in a hundred years, destined to be a great wizard someday. Without Tom.

Tom would only hold him back.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Caspian demanded. "That's why you have a bag. You're leaving because of Dad. Please, please don't go, Tom. I need you. And so does Heloise. And Ophelia. And Timmy. And Fidelia. And I really need you, Tom! We're a family! We need each other!"

Tom felt his eyes begin to water again. "I have to go, Casp. Don't you see? I can't stay. I don't belong. Tell your brother and sisters that I love them. I loved them," Tom repeated. "Bye, Casp." He turned to leave.

"Wait!" Caspian whispered. "Take this." Caspian handed him a wet but still intact stuffed snake, the exact same one Tom had threw out the window last night. Tom's heart broke in half. He took the stuffed animal, hugged Caspian one last time, and left, never coming back.

And so the journey began.

-{~§~}-

Tom traveled by train and by car, but mostly by foot. He ate when he had too, and thought of his family, always. Especially Caspian. He slept with the stuffed snake, which he had called Nagini. The stuffed snake was the only thing that symbolized that he still had a past, with brothers, sisters, parents, and luxuries. But it was time to leave it all behind.

One day, as Tom was walking along an abandoned trail, following his instincts, as he had no idea where he was going, he heard rustling, and out sprang a ruffled dog⸺Iris. She had followed him. "Iris!" Tom groaned, and he was about to tell her to go home when he realized that Fidelia brought Iris to Hogwarts every year; she knew the way. Tom hugged the excited animal as she licked his face, and followed her lead to Hogwarts.

She would show him the way.

Finally, as Tom felt that he could go no longer, his knees gave way, and he collapsed. As the trees swayed, and a cool breeze tickled his face, he thought, This wouldn't be such a bad way to die.

Here, where no one would be the wiser.

Here, where no one could laugh at his failings.

Here, where everything was peaceful, and he could die alone.

Nagini, worn from travel, escaped from the clutch of his hand and rolled down the hill. But, Iris nudged and whimpered and panted. There, he remembered why he had made the journey. He had a life to save.

Tom ran down the hill, chasing the stuffed snake until it rolled to a stop at the edge of a lake. A large lake. Just like the one at Hogwarts, just like Heloise had described. Tom lifted his head, and there it was.

The great castle of Hogwarts. He had arrived.

Tom ran to the boats near the banks of the lake, and quickly jumped aboard. He rowed in excitement, and stood in the full glory of the magnificent building, the castle that held his hopes and dreams and...future. Tom shook himself into reality and forged on.

The great doors of Hogwarts opened. Tom stepped in, clutching his snake nervously. I shouldn't be here, thought Tom with despair. I don't belong. I'm just a squib! He turned to leave, but then heard footsteps.

"Young man? Is this your dog?"

Tom cursed, and turned quickly.

There stood Dumbledore.

Tall, magnificent, with a long, white beard. Smile crinkles, and flowing robes. Tom gulped. He was done.

"Is this your dog?" Dumbledore repeated.

Tom stuttered, "Ye-ye-yes, Dumbl-I mean sir, um, or o' great and mighty wizard, well, um, the dog is actually my, my family's, but y-you see, she followed me, and, um, I d-d-didn't mean to bother you, I'll leave-"

Dumbledore raised his palm, motioning for him to stop. "Please, young man, you may call me Headmaster. Goodness, I haven't been so feared since the first-years met me. Why are you here, then? Hogwarts opens in a few days."

Tom exhaled. "I'm not a wizard, Headmaster. I...I'm a squib." He waited for the harsh and judging stare of pity, but it did not come. Dumbledore's face barely changed an inch.

"Well, then I am quite confused. Please, explain."

Tom started, and began to explain, talking and talking until all the words came out; how his father hated him, how he had shamed the family, how he had ran away. Dumbledore was the best listener. He said nothing, but only nodded at the particularly hard parts to get out. By the end, Tom felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his exhausted shoulders. Dumbledore understood. Finally, someone understood.

"So, you wish to learn magic." Dumbledore not asked, but stated. Tom nodded, crossing his fingers. "Well, if that is all, it is possible. But I warn you, Tom, it comes not without a price. It will be hard, for I cannot simply give you magic. A price that you must be willing to give, and even after that you must deal with the consequences. Magic is both a gift and a burden. Countless innocent witches and wizards have been led astray from the power magic gives you. Beware, Riddle son, as you must not follow the same path as your father."

Tom wasn't listening. Once he heard that it was possible, he knew his prayers had been answered. He could return home triumphant, part of his family once again. "What is the price? I will pay anything."

Dumbledore gave him the saddest smile. "Everyone you love will forget you even existed. You will be gone from their world. You will not live in their world, no. I will keep your body in sleep until a new generation comes, and then, and then you may learn. Your family will have never remembered you, and you may never seek them again. And magic is special. It is force that we may not control, no. We simply use it. Therefore, I will give you some of myself, so that you may learn. But you will be bound to me, Tom Riddle. And when I die, so shall you, too."

Tom hadn't heard him correctly. He couldn't have. "No," Tom gasped, desperately. "Anything, sir, anything, anything else. I can't. They'll forget? What is the point? And my life? Bound to you? A slave to your own whims? There is no point to this, is there?"

"My boy, there is always a point. You, of course, are welcome to forget this ever happened and go on with your life, but you shall never learn the ways of magic."

Little Caspian forgetting about his favorite brother. Tim never remembering the road trips they had together, just them. The time Tom had tried to do Heloise and Ophelia's hair, and accidently melted it all off. The time Tom took the blame when Fidelia stole Heloise's favorite slippers, and she had gone bat-crazy. His first steps. The first time he saw Iris, who was strolling down the streets as if she owned the place, and almost getting hit by a speeding car.

His blasted father forgetting he ever lived.

Which meant that he wouldn't have existed in the Riddle family.

Which meant he would never have shamed his family. "My family, they will never know I existed?"

"Correct."

"I will take this deal."

"Are you positive?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore nodded. "Now you will be put into stasis. I will wake you up when it is time for you to accept your magic and go to school. Are you ready?"

Tom nodded.

A flash of white light, and then nothing.

-{~§~}-

When Tom awakens, he is greeted by the smiling face of Dumbledore himself. "Tom, my boy. Iit is good to see you. Are you ready to receive your magic?"

"Of course, sir."

"Do you have something you hold dear?"

Tom reached into his bag. The first thing he touched was his worn stuffed snake. "Here," Tom said reluctantly. Tom squeezed the snake one last time. Dumbledore took the toy carefully, and waved his wand. A bright green blast shook the castle. Blindness. Nothingness.

Tom reached out, groping for anything. "Headmaster? Nagini?" He felt something solid. Scales. Tom jumped back, letting loose a small scream. Iris barked wildly, directing it at Tom. The smoke cleared, and there was Nagini, his beloved stuffed snake; turned into a real one. A real one that seemed attached to his very being.

Tom gasped. "What did you do?" Nagini slithered towards Tom, resting her head on top of his lap. He patted her head awkwardly, and raised his head towards Dumbledore. Dumbledore who was on his knees, gasping for breath. Dumbledore, who looked like a part of his very soul had left him. Dumbledore who had just given him the best gift he could ever know.

Dumbledore smiled at the pair. "Ah, yes, the snake and you fit together quite nicely. I can see you loved her very much. She is immortal, now, and possesses the my ability and attunation to magic. Wizard magic. Wherever you go, she will go as well. When you are with her, you also shall possess the ability to wield magic."

Tom gaped at Nagini. "How, how….?"

Dumbledore nodded. "It is a complicated thing, magic. You were lonely, and your love for the object was so strong, so filled with emotion and sorrow that it created a sort of connection, a bind of a sort. This allowed me to bind my use of magic to her. Nagini is your partner, she will never leave your side. With her, your magic will be even more powerful than a regular witch or wizard's. The price? Well, you have already started to witness its effects." Dumbledore sadly gestured towards Iris, who was snarling in the corner of the room.

"Iris?"

The dog emitted a deep, life-threatening growl. Tom felt his heart snap in half. "She doesn't remember me," whispered Tom softly, closing his eyes to stop the tears from overflowing. It had started. With a final bark, Iris darted out the grand doors, leaving behind the broken pieces of Tom's decision for him to pick up one by one. They would all forget.

Tom steeled his heart and looked away. This was for the best. The Riddle family would never have to live with the fact that their beloved Tom Riddle Jr. was a squib. A being without magic.

Tom looked back down at Nagini, with a newfound mixture of despair and wonder. She was the only thing left from his past. He would keep her forever, he knew. She would always be there, by his side. She would never, ever leave him. "What now?" He asked, cuddling the loving snake.

"Now, we learn magic."