Chapter Two
Tom's Story and Disaster
"My name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. It is my name that Albus Dumbledore has chosen to drag through the mud. I attended Hogwarts in the same year as his daughter, Arielle Dumbledore. We fell in love in our fifth year, much to his dismay. He'd wanted her to marry Thorin Zabini, a wealthy and respected seventh year. She refused and he seemed to respect her decision for a while. We thought all was well and were planning our wedding for the day after graduation. She never made it to graduation. He denies it, of course, but I know full well he killed her. He'd rather have her dead than married to a half-blood. After graduation, things started happening. People, mainly muggles and muggle-borns, were being tortured to death and insanity. No one knew at first who was behind it. After a few months, the name Lord Voldemort was found with a group of muggleborn bodies. Albus went into action quickly after that, telling people who he thought was behind it all. I later found out that, when he killed herm Arielle had been pregnant with our child. That's what set him off, I believe. Not only had I corrupted his daughter but I'd given her my child as well. He wanted to destroy me, I think. Not physically but my name, my reputation. Which is what he's done. Most people these days don't know my name. Those that do, however, align me with the Dark Lord."
Tom's voice took on a steel-like quality as he reached the end of his story. I'd heard him talk about Arielle quite a few times but he'd never sounded that angry. Looking around the room, I took in the reactions of everyone else. Molly was leaning against Arthur, shivering. Ron had his arm around Hermione and they both wore expressions of shock. Ginny was staring at Tom, her mouth agape. Fred and George sat closer together than they normally did, looking somber. Bill and Charlie wore expressions of horror.
"I've never heard of Dumbledore having a daughter..." Molly whispered at last.
"He doesn't talk about her anymore. In his mind, she betrayed him by falling in love with me, If she would have agreed to marry Thorin she would have been alive. But Arielle was stubborn. She would not marry someone she didn't love." Tom answered.
For a while, the room was silent. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Ron was opening his mouth to say something when a crash from upstairs sent everyone jumping to their feet. With our wands at the ready we raced upstairs. The sound had come from Dad's private potion lab, a room that's locked to everyone but house elves. The door flew open, a small house elf popping onto the stairway. It held out a piece of parchment before collapsing on the spot. While Dad unfolded the paper, mum bent to check on the house elf. She stood after a second and stared down at the elf sadly.
"It's dead." She said and Dad nodded.
Dad didn't reply. He was staring at the paper in his hand as though it were a signed death warrant. After a few minutes, mum took it from his hands and read it aloud. The words made my heart stop.
"The game is up Severus. I know you what you know."
(A.N. I was going to end it here but I decided to combine this chapter with the next.)
For all of five point two seconds, it was silent. I felt like my heart had just stopped. There was no signature but we all knew who had sent it. Dumbledore. He knew. He knew that his secret was out and he was coming after us. After a few seconds Lucius spoke, his voice deathly quiet and filled with steel. I knew that tone and it wasn't fear. No, Lucius Malfoy wasn't afraid of Albus Dumbledore. He was angry and that was enough to have Drake pulling me against his side, his silver-blue blue eyes reflecting the anger in his father's tone.
"If the old bastard thinks he's getting within an inch of this family without having his balls ripped off and fed to him he's mistaken." Lucius growled, causing even the Weasley twins to gulp.
Aunt Cissa smiled grimly, her face set in a determined line. "We take care of our own. That includes you all. We'll not let that old coot touch you."
Somehow, Aunt Cissa's voice was even scarier than Uncle Lucius'. If that was even possible.
"What are we going to do?! Albus knows where we live. And Hermione's parents are muggles. If Albus wants to know anything it will only be too easy for him to..." Molly trailed off before finishing her sentence.
Mum replied without hesitation. "You'll all stay here. Merlin knows we have enough room. If we need more space we can open up the tunnels between our Manor and Malfoy Manor. Dumbledore can't get into either place. Too many wards. Scorpion, show the Weasley's to rooms and have a couple of house elves clean them up. Severus, Lucius, you two need to check the wards and open the tunnels. Make absolutely sure that no one can get in our out without us knowing about it. Tom can come with Narcissa, Hermione, and I to get Hermione's parents? Added protection would be a good idea."
Dad smiled at her. "Good idea Lils. Lucius and I will get on that now. Scorp, you and Draco start doing what mum told you to do."
"Yes Dad."
"Come on ladies. We need to be quick about this." Tom said, stepping forward.
"Tom's right. Dumbledore could be anywhere by now."
"Be careful Cissa. Hurry back to me." Uncle Lucius told his wife before giving her a hug and kiss.
"Always Luc." She said.
Mum and dad kissed too, quickly but not without passion. Ron and Hermione were holding each other tightly, looking nervous. As they broke apart, Ron kissed her deeply and whispered something in her ear. She smiled at him before departing. Dad and Lucius watched them go before setting off at a run. Clasping hands, Draco and I turned towards the Weasley's.
"All right. We'll put you in third floor rooms. That's where most of us sleep and I think we should all be on the same floor just in case something happens." I said.
"He's right. If we're on the same floor, it'll be easier to get to each other in case of an emergency." Drake replied as we set off for the third floor.
On the third floor, we stopped in front of a large mahogany door. It had been the Master Bedroom before mum and dad renovated the one at the end of the hall for themselves. I figured it was a nice place for Molly and Arthur since Aunt Cissa and Uncle Lucius usually preferred a smaller one on the second floor, directly beneath mine and Draco's room. (Drake and I hadn't slept in separate rooms since the summer after third year. The very idea was revolting to us, really.)
"This was the master bedroom but mum and dad prefer the one at the end. I figured you two would enjoy it." I said to Molly and Arthur as I unlocked the door and handed them a small key.
"It's...it's beautiful. Thank you." She said, hugging me.
"Not a problem. Like Aunt Cissa said, you're family now. We take care of our own."
"You're very kind Scorpion."
"Thanks. I'll let you guys get settled in and send Tilly or Sprite up when I've shown the others to their own rooms."
After giving them one last smile I turned towards the others.
"Two of you might have to share. I can move a bed into one of the bigger rooms if you'd like."
"Fred and I can share. Don't worry about the beds either. Doesn't matter to us." George said and the smile he gave Fred was much like the one Draco often gave me.
I smiled at them, knowing their secret. "All right. I'll give this one to you, then. It's pretty big and has quite a few secrets. It was my favorite when I was little."
I opened the door to the largest room on this floor and let Fred and George inside. They gave each other identical grins before stepping in. Rolling my eyes, I handed Fred a key and squeezed Drake's hand.
"Wow mate" Fred begun.
"This is"
"Brilliant!" they ended in unison.
I grinned. "Thanks. I figured you'd like it.
"We do!"
"I'll send a few house elves up in a few minutes. Have fun you two."
A few minutes later, after showing Bill and Percy to one room and Ginny and Charlie to another, I turned to show Ron to his and 'Mione's room. It was right next to mine and Draco's and was the one I knew 'Mione would adore. It was the 'Library Bedroom.' Dad called it that because it was inside the library. Ron and I went inside while Drake set off to find a few house elves. He came back rather quickly and we shut the door. After a few minutes of silence, I glanced at Ron's worried form.
"She'll be all right mate. Mum and Auntie Cissa are pretty tough and, anyone stupid enough to mess with Tom deserves whatever they get."
"Thanks. For all of this. I...I don't know how on earth I'm going to repay you."
I rolled my eyes. "You won't. You are family. Family protects each other."
"He's right." Drake said. "And while I may act like a git sometimes, I do care about you all. There's no way Dumbledore's going to reach any of you. You heard my father."
Before either of us could reply, there was a blood-curdling scream from downstairs. My blood ran cold as we raced downstairs to see what had happened. What I saw brought tears to my eyes.
