Between Snakes and Lions
Summary: Tom Marvolo Gaunt might be a poor and orphaned half-blood but he knew that he was the heir of Slytherin. He hates all Mudbloods especially hating his father for treating his Mother that way. Cunning, sly and charismatic ;Tom would do everything to achieve his ambitions… including a certain Gryfindor. AU
Pairings: If you don't like slash pairing (predominantly in this fic would be TomHarry one), don't read. There might be some disturbing/crack pairings depending on my mood so you might want to brace yourself.
Warning(and some spoilers): I'm basically re-arranging things here. Lily Evans-Potter would not simply be a muggleborn but she would be something. Snape's not much of a bastard but he still dislikes James. Dumbledore isn't school head. Tom and Harry are in the same year. McGonagall's a student instead of a teacher. Merope Gaunt would not be that helpless and she would be a true Slytherin to the core. There's a reason for it to be labeled AU no?
Oh yeah, the story would be fast paced and divided into snippets of past and present. Forgot about that one.
And this is a muse story… as always.
Chapter 1:Interlude
"Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,
For it must seem their guilt. "
- Macbeth; Act 2, Scene II
'Mother?' a small cry echoed from a five-year old Tom as he looked at his mother. Merope Gaunt was not one would consider as pretty or comely but for Tom who loved his mother with all his heart;she was.
"What is it, my little Tom?" she asked with a faint smile. Her eyes were lovely, her only redeeming physical feature. It was dark, haunting and beautiful like the midnight color of the sky; little Tom was glad he inherited them.
"I'm not little. I'm already big!" Tom gave a huff, earning chuckles from Merope. She treasured her little boy. She was saddened by the action of her husband but she expected it. He doesn't love her and his love for her was done under a love potion. She hoped that he could even love her no matter how small but he casted her away. He was horrified he married her and not to his beautiful and lovely Cecilia. It was insulting so she returned back to who she truly was.
Merope was a witch; she was a Gaunt and she was and still is an heiress of Slytherin, no matter how her dear father and brother taunted her that she was a squib. She knew the truth and siletly cursed her own mother of transferring her magic to her oaf of a brother to make the 'true heir' stronger.
"Mother," Tom broke her out of her musing. "Tell me a story again. The one with Slytherin and his basilisk."
Merope gave a another smile. Her son was bright, clever and handsome. He would be great someday and bring glory to Slytherin. And so Merope started telling tales. She decided to train her beloved child to get what he deserves as the heir of Slytherin. She would give what remaining magic she has to her son… even if it kills her.
"Your legacy should be that you made it better than it was when you got it."
-Lee Iacocca
Eleven year old Tom Marvolo Gaunt was very nervous even if he was not obvious. He was alone in the compartment. He was only wearing modest robes (it was actually a bit expensive but it was very easy to charm that woman) but he was holding himself in a manner of old families (of course, her mother was an excellent example). Still Tom was a little lonely. He has not yet talked with… anybody since boarding the train.
"Ah, the lone one," a drawl came after the compartment slid open. Tom looked to see a blonde boy smirking at him. He was arrogant and haughty (definitely pureblood, Tom metally added) and he was surrounded by two goons.
"Is there something you want?" Tom asked calmly. His mother told him that most purebloods demanded respect and Tom should act like one because he was a Gaunt, not some dirty rotten Riddle. He was the heir of Slytherin for Merlin's sake!
"You wouldn't mind if we help ourselves." The blonde was not asking, Tom noted.
"Of course."
"I'm Draco Malfloy," the blonde introduced "They're Crabbe and Goyle."
"I am Tom Marvolo Gaunt."
Draco widened his eyes then composed himself. There was a calculating glint in his eyes.
"I thought the Gaunt line died out since Marvolo Gaunt died."
"He had a daughter who was of frail health," Tom answered with ease "My grandfather does not want her to be harassed by the wizarding world because of her condition."
"And what is it? She fell in love with a mudblood? She was a squib?"
Tom's eyes flashed in annoyance. This was his mother they were talking about.
'Massster thisss one has dare upset you!' faithful Nagini hissed as she poked out Tom's robes earning gasps from the comparment.
"Fear not my dear. The fool does not know what he is saying," Tom answered back in Paraseltongue. Nagini obeyed and Tom turned to see awe in those eyes.
"I and my companions, welcome you heir of Slytherin," Draco began in a more respectful tone. "I apologize if my brazingness gave you insult."
"I do understand and appreciate your behaviour, Malfloy," Tom amended "You do not want the noble house of the great Slytherin to be tainted. My mother told me much before her… untimely death."
Tom tried not to put sadness in that. Her mother told him not to show weaknesses that others would exploit.
"My mother's magic was too powerful that her parents tried to suck some but… it did not end well." Technically, Mother's magic was sucked to give to her no-good brother "As for my father… do refrain from telling anyone."
The other three perked up at that.
"My father was well… her brother who also died before her." It was an outright lie but I need their trust.
There was another round of gasps and awe staring. Incest was frowned upon but the purebloods won't care to protect blood purity… even though it is illegal.
The compartment slid again, only for a mousy haired girl and a dark haired boy with glasses asking if they saw a toad. When they left, Draco rolled his eyes annoyed.
"Honestly the Potters are an old pureblood line and they are mingling with mudbloods!"
"Potters?"
"The guy with glasses."
The only ones having conversation are Draco and Tom. The latter really affirmed that the other two were only goons or bodyguards.
"Hmm… I am afraid I am at lost there. I have not the opportunity to familiarize myself with pureblooded families." Tom would not talk too much. It would make him look pathetic and an attention seeker. Predictably, Draco gave him a questioning look.
"I was raised up in a… muggle orphanage when my mother died," Tom hissed venemously at the word muggle that it was obvious to the three how much the heir of Slytherin hated them.
"Oh," Draco had the grace to be apologetic before explaining the Potters and with a promise to share to him his knowledge regarding the other families.