A Different Life
Summary: What if Voldemort was Harry's real father, and that on Harry's birthday Voldemort came to claim what is his? How will the child of a Dark Lord ever blend in normally? Well, maybe he doesn't even try to…
Spoilers: Um, close to none. You need to know what Horocruxes is, and the Chamber of Secrets. If I come up with something else, you will know.
Pairings: Right now, they are way too small to be in love. But this will not be a Harry/Hermione fic or any Harry with a girl fic. Probably a slash, which means Harry will be with a guy. But we'll see.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They belong rightfully to Mrs Rowling; I just borrow them for the time being.
Other notes: I have changed Hermione totally. She will be a pureblood witch with a love for Dark Arts and the urge to hurt Muggles since she was treated badly at the Muggle orphanage she was raised in. Harry will also not be known as Harry, but as Erus Sicarius Salazar Riddle.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Parseltongue"
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I want to thank everyone who reviewed on the last chapter; when I read your reviews, I became all giddy and happy. I love when people enjoys my reading. Enjoy this chapter as well, everyone.
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UPDATED: 2010-09-10
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Chapter Three: Hogwarts meets the Dark Heir
Erus never thought that time could move so fast. Soon it was in the end of August and he would leave Riddle Manor for Hogwarts. He and Hermione had sent letters to each other, and truth to be told, he could not wait until they got to do that potion to see who Hermione really was.
The day before Erus was going to Hogwarts Fabella made a special dinner just for the boy. When he came into the dining hall and saw the food, he stopped. Voldemort seemed to be sulking as he glared at the food.
"Dad?" Erus said. "There is enough food to satisfy a horde of Hippogriffs."
"Blame Fabella, not me," the man muttered. "She couldn't just follow my orders on a light dinner the day before you're going. That house-elf loves you too much."
"She just wants to make sure I eat enough."
"Enough? What does she think you are, a horde of Hippogriffs?" Voldemort asked sarcastically, taking his son's words.
Erus stuck out his tongue and sat down by the table. They ate in silence for a while and then Voldemort spoke up:
"Have you packed everything?"
"Close to," the boy answered. "I still have to pack down my clothes, but that won't take long."
Voldemort only nodded and continued to absently pick on his food. He had lost his appetite more and more the closer it came to leave his son near the old fool. At least the boy seemed to share his father's dislike towards the current headmaster of Hogwarts.
-o-
Erus was not happy as they walked through the train station. How come the Muggles always said it was impolite to stare at people, and yet they did that all the time? Voldemort was not looking happy either, but ignored it and continued to walk.
They were both dressed in black robes, so they stood out quite a bit next to all the Muggle clothes. Erus was tempted to hex some Muggle to make them stop staring, but Voldemort's hand on his shoulder stopped him. They came to platform number nine and ten, and there was a bunch of redheads there.
"Weasleys?" Erus asked quietly and Voldemort nodded.
Molly turned in time to see them approach. She remembered them from the day in front of Gringotts, and sorely hoped Ron would not see. The boy had talked a lot about spoiled kids and no doubt he referred to that child, Erus.
"Want to go through before us?" Molly asked with a smile.
"If it's alright," Voldemort replied smoothly.
As the woman nodded, Voldemort turned to his son and raised an eyebrow. Erus sighed and walked ahead. He passed the gate and got into platform 9 ¾. His father followed shortly.
As the Weasley children began to drop in, Erus looked around for any signs of a bushy-haired head. He did not find Hermione before the Weasleys did. He suddenly heard Ron say:
"Hey, wonder what happened to her hair!"
He then heard the twins snicker and turned around. Hermione had just come through, and was glaring at the redheads, who only continued to taunt her. Erus decided to be the cruel boy he actually was and walked up to her.
"Hi Hermione," he said.
"Erus," she said. "Haven't heard from you in a week!"
"Same goes to you," he answered. "Did you go through with your plan and killed off the brats?"
The redheads paled and Hermione smirked.
"No," she said, "but I gave them a lesson. Who could have known there was a window instead of a wall there?"
"Awesome," he said. "So you threw a brat out of the window?"
"An accident," she replied with a grin. "He 'slipped'."
"I believe that whenever I want to," Erus said. "Let's go; dad's waiting."
"Sure!"
They left behind three gaping redheads. Voldemort eyed the two toes to head and said:
"Was that really necessary?"
"Yes," they answered simultaneously.
He sighed and rubbed his temples. He did not miss the glare Molly Weasley had set on him. He looked at the woman and bared his teeth in a snarl at her before ushering the two kids further away.
"I hate Weasleys," he muttered to himself while pushing the kids forward. "Bloody traitors."
"Ah, there is Draco!" Erus said.
"I'm not finished with you just yet, Erus," Voldemort said and took a good grip on his son's shoulder. "Let Hermione join him."
"He promised not to call you a Mudblood," Erus said to the girl. "If he does, you have permission to hit him."
"Okay," she said and pushed her trolley forward. The blonde caught sight of the girl and waved her over.
"So what is it?" Erus said to his father.
Voldemort kneeled down, not caring his robe got dirty. He seized his son on the shoulders and said:
"Now remember what I told you."
"Not associate with Gryffindors?" Erus said with a raised eyebrow.
"Besides that," Voldemort said with a roll of his eyes.
"Well excuse me, you told me a lot. Alright, don't be tricked by Albus Dumbledore, avoid any questions about my family, if questioned, say my family comes from Ireland and if any trouble comes up, contact you through the mirror or go to Sev. I got it already."
"Just making sure," Voldemort replied and made some last adjustment to Erus' robes before hugging the boy briefly. "Just be careful, and tell me the results of the potion you and Hermione planned to do."
"I'll do it," Erus said. "I… I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too," Voldemort said. "I might send Nagini to check on you."
"Okay," he whispered.
The Dark Lord finally let go of his son and smiled a bit at him.
"Now go before Draco and Hermione bite each other's heads off."
Erus smiled and jumped on the train. Voldemort had shrunken the boy's luggage so no one would tamper with it.
"Send me a message later," the man called out.
"Yeah, yeah," Erus said. "Bye!"
Voldemort waved and saw how his son met up with the blonde and the bushy-haired girl. They quickly moved on to find a compartment. Voldemort took one last glance at his child before moving away.
-o-
Erus found an empty compartment and they got in. Hermione got out her wand and locked the door. Draco looked at her and she said:
"Last thing I want is some irritating brats coming in here."
"Why not? You even got a window to throw them out from," Erus said cheerfully. "Could help you work some off that energy off."
"Thanks, but I'll pass," Hermione said. "I'm sure the idiot to headmaster would be able to get details about it and throw me out."
"Good point," Erus muttered. "But it would be fun, right?"
"Of course," the girl replied. "But let's behave for a while now."
"For how long?" Draco asked. "Until you reach the platform in Hogsmeade?"
"If it's that half-giant who takes us to Hogwarts, I want to strangle someone," Erus said coldly. "Dad says he's an idiot."
"Probably a fan of Dumbledore," Draco said with a sneer. "Oh, I wish I could find something really bad about that giant and tell dad about it."
"Who says we won't?" Hermione said to them. "I can help you out."
"You don't know who it is," the blonde said, baffled.
"If he's with Dumbledore, I won't accept him," the girl said with pursed lips and arms crossed.
"You found something out about your parents?" Erus said.
"All I know that Dumbledore was the one who left me at that orphanage," Hermione said fiercely. "I'm never going back there. I'll live on the streets if I have to."
"The old fool left you there?" Draco said as he cast a silencing spell on the compartment. "That's gotta mean you're a Pureblood or at least a half-blood. There is no way you're Muggle-born."
"That's what I hope," Hermione said and glanced at Erus.
"Severus Snape, the potions professor at Hogwarts, is going to help us with the potion," Erus said.
"Do you know him?" the girl said.
"He's my godfather," Erus said. "He and dad are friends."
"Wicked."
-o-
Until the trolley with sweets came to their compartment, the three children discussed about the school. When the witch knocked on their door, they unlocked and fished up some money. Erus was not that fond of sweets, or at least Voldemort doesn't let him eat much, so he was happy enough with the sandwiches Fabella had made him. Draco sat down afterwards and said:
"It's that Fabella's food?"
"Yeah," Erus said. "So?"
"Please, can I get a taste?" the blonde begged. "Your house-elf is an awesome cook."
"House-elf? I've read about them but I heard only rich people have them," Hermione said.
"Dad's a little rich so we got a few house-elves," Erus replied. "And yes Draco, she made enough for at least five people so you can have one. Want one, Hermione?"
-o-
They changed into their uniforms around ten minutes before they reached Hogsmeade.
"You won't change the neck shirt?" Draco asked Erus.
"No chance in hell," Erus replied. "This is my favourite shirt, and dad gave it to me."
"Why did he say he got it from his dad?" Hermione whispered as they moved to get out.
"Erus is a little protective over the stuff his father gives him," Draco answered. "That man is a bit to himself sometimes, and Erus appreciates even the smallest gifts his father gives."
Erus jumped down from the train and winced as he heard Hagrid yell:
"Firsties 'ere! All the firsties, com'ere!"
"Bloody hell," Draco said, "it was him."
"You're the closest," Erus said suddenly.
"What?" they both asked, not understanding the raven-haired boy.
"I said I was going to strangle someone."
"Erus, don't you dare!" Draco said, backing away as Erus eyed his throat. "I'm a friend, remember! Friend!"
The boy huffed and followed the first years.
"Was he joking?" the bushy-haired girl asked.
"No bloody idea," Draco replied and shuddered. "Probably not. Don't get in trouble with him; he's scary when he's pissed off."
-o-
Erus sat quiet as the boats crossed the lake to get to the castle. He was sitting with Hermione, Draco and a clumsy boy Erus recognized as a Longbottom. Voldemort had killed the Longbottom pair not long before he came to get Erus, but the boy paid not so much attention to their son. Why should he?
Finally they got to the castle and they wandered up towards the entrance.
"Had I known we would be hiking," Draco drawled, "I wouldn't have taken my new shoes."
Hagrid glared at the Malfoy, who only glared back. Erus said:
"Don't bother, Draco."
"But I like it," Draco muttered and glared at the man's back.
"He's the bloody new teacher in Care of Magical Creatures, a subject the Ministry decided the first-years should have!" Hermione hissed. "I know he's an idiot, you can see it on him, but don't get in wrong turn with a teacher that's with Dumbledore."
Draco pouted but knew she was right. It did not stop him from glaring one last time though.
-o-
As they came to the castle, a stern-looking woman took over. She led them into a room and said:
"Now you will wait here until I come to fetch you. Understood?"
Some mumbled an answer and she continued:
"You can use this time to freshen up."
The trio snickered as her eyes landed on Ron, who had a dirty spot on his face. The Weasley turned bright red. She turned around and left them alone for a while. Mumbles broke out and the children looked around. Erus turned to Hermione and said:
"First thing I'm gonna do is to ask Severus about that potion. Without Dumbledore knowing."
"So the potions professor isn't in league with the headmaster?" Hermione asked.
"No chance," Erus said. "Sev is loyal to my dad, and my dad hates Dumbledore."
"Good," the girl said.
"Haven't you tested the shampoo yet?" the boy continued.
"No," she said. "If I did and it worked, don't you think the guys on the orphanage would have taken it from me?"
"Good point," the boy muttered. "Seems like I've said that a lot to you."
"You have said it three times I think," Hermione said.
"Good riddance," Erus said to the roof and she laughed while Draco rolled his eyes.
"Now everyone!" The witch, whom Erus recognized as the Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration professor Minerva McGonagall, was back. "I will lead you into the Great hall, in which you will be sorted into different Houses. The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. When you are sorted into your House, you will live there during your entire school time. If you are successful, you will gain points to your House. Breaking the rules and be caught by a teacher, you will loose points. In the end of the year the House with most points will win the House Cup. Now come along."
She led them into a great hall with four tables. The Head Table was full with teachers. The Transfiguration professor wandered forward to a stool with an old hat. She gestured to the first years to stop. Everyone looked at the hat, and Erus was impatient. Finally, it burst out in song but Erus did not pay attention to it. Instead he roamed his eyes over the Head Table. He saw three persons who made him sneer and almost jump up and hex them. Potter, Black and Lupin. Good riddance, the school year was spoiled.
He shifted his eyes to Severus, who raised one elegant eyebrow at him. Erus shrugged and jerked his head towards the three Marauders. Severus looked there and smirked. He rolled his eyes at the boy, who had to stifle a laugh. Seems like Severus thought the same thing.
The song had ended and McGonagall rolled out a long parchment.
"Now, when I call up your name you will come here and the hat will sort you in a House."
Erus vaguely heard the Weasley say something about 'I thought I was going to fight a troll' and the raven-haired boy had to roll his eyes. Wherever had he heard that from? The witch began to call out names, and one by one students came up and was sorted.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione walked forward and she heard two 'Good luck' from Draco and Erus. She went to the hat and sat down on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on Hermione's head and immediately it called out:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Erus looked at Dumbledore, who had a confused look on his face. The boy growled at the headmaster; apparently the old man had not expected that. Hermione however, smirked and walked to the Slytherin table.
"I thought she would be in Ravenclaw," Draco whispered.
"Thought so too," Erus answered. "But she's a bit too evil for poor Ravenclaw."
The sorting continued. Erus noted absently that the Longbottom ended up in Gryffindor. Where in that poor boy did it exist Gryffindor bravery? How he ended up where the brash and heroic were placed was beyond Erus.
'Maybe it was because of that loyalty to Dumbledore? No, that would put him in Hufflepuff…'
Erus' thoughts were interrupted by the hat's call:
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Draco walked up and sat down. The hat had not even touched his head as it roared out:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Draco walked over to the table and joined Hermione. Erus listened as Theodore Nott was sorted into Slytherin as well. Pansy Parkinson was a perfect copy of her Death Eater mother and ended up in Slytherin as well. Then finally:
"Riddle, Erus!"
Erus walked up to the hat while ignoring the looks the professors gave him. Many of them must have assumed he was relative to Voldemort. He could hear the redhead's snicker behind him while the Weasley said 'Riddle… what a ridiculous name' and was tempted to hex him. That Weasley really was the most stupid person he had ever met.
He sat down on the stool and the hat fell down over his eyes.
"Oh," the hat said after a little while, "you're quite an interesting fellow. Great bravery, but not quite the same as Gryffindor bravery. Loyalty to your father, and your friends, but something tells me you will hex me to death if I place you in Hufflepuff."
'Oh really?' Erus thought sarcastically.
"Yes really. You got a lot of knowledge and a thirst for knowledge, but Ravenclaw is not really your true place. So that leaves Slytherin with their cunningness and their own kind of loyalty. Your loyalty is much like the Slytherin loyalty and you have much of their traits. You have all the things that are required for all four houses, so you are of all the four. Belonging to all of them, and yet no one of them."
'Oh, stop your blabbering please,' Erus thought. 'I'm hungry and irritated. Just place me. But if it's Hufflepuff, this school won't have a Sorting Hat anymore I can assure you of that.'
"Alright then, no Hufflepuff. You will be a proud member of…"
"… SLYTHERIN!"
Erus took the hat off and got up. He was about to give it to McGonagall when he hesitated. The witch seemed confused but he ignored her, the teachers looks and the rest of the students. He looked at the hat and said:
"For just being an old hat, you sure talks a lot."
He then thrust the hat into the witch's hands. McGonagall thought she heard the hat chuckle as the boy went to the Slytherin table to join Draco and Hermione.
"Well, that took some time," the blonde said.
"Yeah, he was annoying me," Erus said.
"What did he say?" Pansy asked, who was sitting next to the bushy-haired girl. "Pansy Parkinson by the way."
"Erus Riddle," he said and shook her hand. "The bloody hat said I fitted in all Houses."
"In all?" Hermione said.
"Don't ask me," Erus said and shuddered. "Just the thought he could place me in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff makes my skin crawl."
Draco patted his shoulder in sympathy. Erus paid little attention to the rest of the sorting, trying to ignore a headache that was coming up. Oh, he was already missing the quiet peace at Riddle Manor. He did not hear what Dumbledore said and was therefore a bit shocked when the food appeared. He shook his head and took his goblet. He downed a glass even before he started to eat.
"Headache?" Draco asked.
"Yeah," Erus answered and rubbed his temples. "It's gonna take a while to get used to the noises."
-o-
While Erus was talking to his new classmates, Dumbledore has his eyes stuck on the boy. He was looking quite a bit like Tom and even acted like the boy who became the Dark Lord, but the headmaster had looked in his records. The boy's family came from Ireland, so he could not be related to Tom Riddle.
Severus was watching the headmaster, and saw the man come to an answer. He snickered and could only think of how easily tricked the old man was.
After dinner, Dumbledore rose up yet again.
"I would like to welcome you all for a new year at Hogwarts!" he said with a smile. "Now I have some things to remind you off. The Forbidden Forest is not allowed for students without any professor, and I would like to remind a few older students about that as well."
With that, he was eyeing the Weasley twins. Erus looked over at them, and they only grinned helplessly at the headmaster, as if they couldn't help but ending up in the forest when they were not supposed to. Erus rolled his eyes.
"And this year the third floor is a forbidden area unless for those who wish to die a very painful death," the headmaster continued. "With that, I will end today's dinner. Now off to bed!"
"Die a painful death? That sounds like something you would do to someone," the blonde said to Erus while the other first-years turned their eyes to the raven-haired boy.
"Shut it," Erus replied irritably, "before you met a painful death."
-o-
They walked down the dungeons led by prefect Marcus Flint. Unlike the other houses, the new Slytherins were quiet and walked obediently behind the older student. They finally came to a portrait with the picture of Salazar Slytherin. Flint turned around and said:
"There will only be a change in passwords twice every term, but please do remember the correct ones. The one that you will use from now on is 'Belladonna'."
He turned to the portrait, who nodded and it swung open. They entered through a narrow hall and came into the Slytherin common room. It was a long room only lit by the fire-places. The room's roof was not seen as it was too poorly lit and the roof seemed so high despite lying in the dungeons. The walls were draped in the green and silver colours of the Slytherin house. The couches and armchair was in a deep-green colour and looked extremely comfortable.
Suddenly the portrait swung open once more and Severus stepped inside. Flint turned to the first-years and said:
"This is your Head of House, Professor Severus Snape. Treat him with respect."
They all nodded fervently. Severus spoke up:
"I've only come to see you are comfortable in your new home and I hope you will live up to my expectations. Show them their rooms, Marcus."
"Yes professor," the fifth-year answered. "You will share your rooms three and three, girls with each other and boys with each other. Please choose your roommates wisely as you will spend seven years with them, and then come to me."
Erus and Draco turned their eyes to their new friend, Blaise Zabini, who only said:
"Go for it."
Draco walked up to Flint and said:
"Erus Riddle, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini."
"That was fast," Flint remarked but wrote down the names nonetheless. "You have the first room to the right. Prepare for the night."
"Yes sir," the blonde answered and the three left for their new room as Hermione, Pansy and Millicent Bulstrode seemed to agree sharing a room.
Erus and Draco waved to the bushy-haired girl before the two boys disappeared into their room.
-o-
Erus lay in his bed and listened at the two peaceful breathing in the room, indicating Draco and Blaise was asleep. He however, could not. He sat up and pulled out the locket. He opened it and enlarged the mirror inside. He whispered his father's name and soon it showed Voldemort's face.
"Erus," his father said, "it's half past eleven. What are you still doing up?"
"Can't sleep," Erus answered. "Thought I would say goodnight to you."
"How was the sorting?"
"Boring," the boy said with a small whine. "The hat said I fitted in all houses, and yet no one of them."
"And where were you placed?" the Dark Lord asked.
"Slytherin," Erus said with a grin. "I fitted in Slytherin the most."
"That's my son," Voldemort said. "Who are you sharing room with?"
"Draco and Blaise Zabini."
"Zabini?"
"They don't associate with Death Eaters or the Light side," Erus explained. "And his mother is a widow right now. Her husbands have the strange habit of 'dying' and leaving her filthy rich."
"Sounds like a nice woman… now go to bed."
"Fine. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. Harass Severus for me."
"Don't I always?"
-o-
Erus woke up at six and lay still for a long time. He realized he was clutching onto his locket and released the necklace. He sat up and pushed the covers away. Quickly, he freshened up in the small shower room and dressed. He put down his school books in his bag just as Draco woke up.
"You wake up far too early," the blonde said with a yawn.
Erus did not answer.
"Erus? Something wrong?"
"Nothing," the raven-haired boy said as he brushed his damp hair.
"You're lying," Draco said as he got up from the bed.
"I know," Erus said and picked up his bag. "I'll wait for you guys in the common room."
With that, he left. Blaise looked up from his bed and said to the blonde:
"What's wrong with him?"
"He's just being his normal morning-self," Draco said with a wave. "He doesn't like kids in general, and just the thought of sleeping with two in the same room must have left him snappy."
"And you've stood out with him all these years?" the boy asked as he got up.
"He's not that bad," Draco said and fished up his robes. "He's just not used to children. He's grown up around adults; I'm the only kid in his own age he's been with the last ten years."
Blaise looked at the blonde.
"Are you serious?" he asked and the Malfoy nodded. "What kind of parents did he have?"
"Parent," Draco cut off. "His mother is dead."
"Oh…"
"Don't mention her in front of him."
"Why not?"
"Do you wanna get killed?" Draco asked with a straight face as he looked at Blaise. "If you still gonna mention her, at least let me have time to run away. I've seen him angry a few times, and I don't want to see it again."
The blonde left a gaping Blaise as he stepped into the shower room to take a quick shower. Then Blaise closed his mouth with a snap and whispered out in the room:
"Scary…"
-o-
Erus was sitting in an arm-chair, drumming his fingers. Flint came down the stairs and was surprised to see a first-year awake so early.
"What are you waiting for?" he asked the boy.
"My two friends sir," he answered. "And the hall doesn't open until fifteen minutes."
"Why don't you use this time reading for your classes?"
"I'm ahead in some subjects," Erus said slowly. "My first class is Potions if professor Snape said right, which he usually does, and I'm already up in third year in that. I'm in second year with Charms and Transfiguration, far up with DADA, and I know quite a bit about the history and who needs Care of Magical Creatures? I've read the book twice already though."
Flint's jaw dropped. Erus played with a string in the armchair and continued:
"I've already been set up with special classes. I can be with my classmates but the professors have the right material for me."
"You seem quite smart," Flint said after a while as he sat down on an armchair opposite to Erus.
"Not that much," Erus replied and looked at the older teen. "I just like reading, and I've learned through that. My father didn't really complain except for the fact I seemed to know more about history than him."
"Who is your father?"
"Even the walls of Slytherin has ears, so that has to remain a secret for now," Erus whispered and Flint's eyes widened a bit before he nodded.
"Good luck on your first day then," he said and rose up. "Time to wake up some students."
When Erus saw the smile on the teen's face he said:
"Right now I'm glad I wake up early in the mornings. By the way, Draco and Blaise is probably already up. Draco doesn't wake up too late, and the way he trashes around it would be a miracle if Blaise is still sleeping."
Flint nodded and went to the other boys' dorms. Just a few minutes later the blonde and Blaise came.
"Better now?" the blonde asked.
"I'm fine," Erus said. "Sorry if I was snappy; normally only dad sees it."
"It's okay; you'll get used to it," Draco continued. "How about some breakfast? Dad said Hogwarts house-elves are superb cooks."
"As long as I don't tell Fabella that," the raven-haired boy muttered as he rose up. "The poor elf would hang herself."
-o-
Hermione, Pansy and Millicent soon joined the three boys at the table. Erus was looking over his third-year book in Potions to make sure he got everything right. He had read the chapters three times already, so why he read it again was beyond the others.
"Erus, you already know it," Draco whined. "Come on, be a bit social!"
"Fine," Erus muttered and put the book away.
He took a bit of bacon and eggs and began to eat while the others chatted. He added a comment now and then. Soon Severus came and gave out timetables. Draco took a look and said:
"Potions with Gryffindor, first thing on a Monday morning? What is this bloody school thinking?"
"Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor is even worse," Erus said with a groan. "That giant will favour the Gryffindors for sure."
The six children sighed at the same time. Hermione eyed the schedule once more and said:
"We got both DADA and Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors and both the teachers are from Gryffindor. Say one bad word about Gryffindors then, and we're screwed." She glared at the parchment. "Great. Any more bad news while you're at it?" she snarled at it. Erus chuckled.
-o-
Erus seated himself on the second row to the right of the Potions classroom with Draco and Hermione. Blaise, Pansy and Millicent sat down in front of them. The other Slytherins soon joined, followed by the Gryffindors. They took the left side of the room. Erus looked over at them and saw Weasley, Longbottom and two half-breeds named Finnigan and Thomas sitting together and trying to look superior. Good riddance, a gang already. Severus would have lots of fun with the Gryffindors. The girls looked more interested in some magazine than their books.
The doors swung open and Severus stalked inside with his black robes billowing. Now Erus understood why some students called him an overgrown bat.
"Silence," he hissed and the room grew quiet. "You're here to learn about Potions, not chatting away your time. Open your books on page twenty-six and begin. Ingredients are on the front row as you see. Now."
They all scrambled to get their ingredients while the man strode over to Erus.
"You're going to do a slightly harder potion than I had planned," Severus said.
"What kind of potion?"
"The one you and Miss Granger planned," the professor replied with a smile. "Here is the list and instructions. I've already put out your ingredients."
Several of the Gryffindors saw this and one girl spoke up:
"Um, professor?"
"Yes Miss Patil?" Severus said with his silky voice which indicated he was annoyed already.
"Why is that boy given a special potion?" she asked and the Gryffindors nodded.
"This boy happened to have a private tutor when he was younger and therefore more developed in Potions," the potions master said and stood up straight. "He is currently given special assignment for a third-year potion, because his skill lies there. I will not waste a person's gift by making him do potions he has already done years before. Now continue. Erus, in the front."
Erus rose up with the list and went to the front row. The Gryffindors eyed him warily but the raven-haired boy paid little attention. He picked out his ingredients and got back to his seat. Draco snuck a glance at the paper Severus had given him and mouthed 'Already?' Erus nodded and Draco poked on Hermione. She looked at him and he whispered something. She shone up and looked at Erus. The boy only nodded and began to prepare his ingredients.
By the end of the class Gryffindor had lost a total of thirty points, most of them because of Longbottom and Weasley. Erus shook his head as they walked out. He had done half of the potion and Severus promised to finish it. Soon they could see if Hermione was a Muggle-born.
The six of them got to Charms early and sat down by a desk. Pansy, Millicent and Blaise continued to discuss something that they had began on Potions while Hermione cast a silencing spell around the three of them and said to the raven-haired boy:
"How was the potion?"
"It was a bit tricky to do," Erus said thoughtfully, "and it had to be precise. Severus had even written one tiny mistake and it would blow up. That's why I only got around doing half of it. The rest was a bit too hard for me. Severus promised to do the rest and he'll tell me when we can do down and test it."
"Wicked," she said and cancelled it as she heard the Ravenclaws come.
Erus was happy to have some classes away from Gryffindor. Ravenclaw was much quieter, and more behaved. And even though Flitwick was their Head of House, he was very strict and did not favour his own House. Most of the teachers tended to do that.
As the class was seated, Flitwick came in. He began the class by calling up everyone's names. He did not even pause at Erus' name, just looked up when he answered. He immediately began to explain the reasons for Charms.
-o-
"It was quite interesting," Hermione commented as they made their way down to the Great Hall for lunch. "What did he let you do Erus?"
"He wanted me to try stop things in midair," Erus said and rubbed his forehead.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked.
"For your information, I was hit by a book," the boy snapped. "And it went straight on my head."
"Cheer up, it's lunch!"
"And we got a class with the Gryffindors at the end of the day," Erus reminded. "And it's the giant who has the class."
"Don't ruin my happy moment," the blonde whined while Hermione laughed at Draco's expression.
-o-
Erus was slightly surprised when he saw Lupin was teacher in History of Magic. He was sitting and waiting in the classroom, alone with the man. The lunch break was for another 30 minutes, and Hermione had gone to the bathroom. Draco had gone off somewhere and Erus had been bored and decided to sit in the classroom. So here he was, waiting for class to begin. With Lupin. The man himself did not seem bothered by him, so Erus continued to read the book for History of Magic. Luckily they had this class Slytherins only.
Unfortunately for him, he had already read the first year of this subject but forgot to mention it. So he had do drag through the same shit once more. Well, at least he would do well on the essays.
Erus was unaware Lupin was watching him. The man had not spoken much to his friends Sirius and James since Lily had been killed. The two of them had moved forward while Lupin found himself stuck. Lily had been a good friend; she had even supported him during his depressions and whining. She had even told him a secret, a secret she had made him swear to never tell aloud to anyone else. She had told him who she really was. Lupin had not been all that shocked when she said she was the heir to the Mortimer family. She had their traits he guessed. And he had kept silent about it.
But now he had no one to share secrets with, no one to lean on when he felt miserable. Sirius and James had grown too far away from him. He had begun watching Erus out of boredom and then caught a glimpse of the child's eyes. Lily's eyes. Her beautiful emerald eyes were identical to Erus' eyes. Erus finally seemed to have enough and looked up.
"Something wrong sir?" he asked the werewolf.
"Nothing," Lupin replied. "Just curious what you're muttering about, but it's not my place to pry."
Erus went a little pale; he had heard the mumbles of complaint? How good hearing did the man have?
"Actually, I was complaining about the book," the raven-haired boy said.
"And why is that?" Lupin said as he stood up and strode over to the child.
Normally, Erus would not have liked a friend of Potter came near. But for some reason, this man felt comforting. And then Erus looked into Lupin's eyes. They were sad and tired; so sick of life. This man had no friends. Erus looked down and said:
"I know the first year. I just forgot saying that to my father so he could rapport it."
"You know the first year already?" Lupin asked with raised eyebrows.
"It's understandable if you don't believe me but…"
"Hand me the book?"
Erus looked up, confused. He did hand the book to Lupin who said:
"If you pass my quiz, do you want me to put you in the second year of History of Magic? I think I can work out how to teach you while teaching the others."
Erus smiled; he liked this man.
"Go for it sir."
-o-
Lupin was speechless. Erus had not had one wrong answer out of all the questions he had given the child.
"You are indeed finished with the first year," Lupin said with a chuckle. "And you made it in ten minutes, that's quite impressive. I have little time to prepare you for this lesson, but I think I have a second-year book somewhere…"
The man walked to his desk and looked around on the bookshelf he had behind the desk. He gave out a small 'Aha' and pulled a book out. He flipped through it and then gave it to Erus.
"It's my old one," he explained. "You can use it how long you want to."
"Was it really that easy?" Erus said.
"Normally no," Lupin said. "You have to go to the headmaster and get permission and stuff like that, but I think I can see when a person already knows the subject. And you know it. I'll make sure to tell Dumbledore that."
Erus noticed the small sneer the werewolf gave off as he said Dumbledore's name and widened his eyes. Lupin looked tiredly at him and continued:
"Sorry. I'm not a fan of Albus Dumbledore, but he's the only one who offers me a job. How about you read through the first chapter while I'll make up some questions for you to answer afterwards for this lesson? I'll come up with something better to your next class."
Erus nodded and Lupin walked to the desk again. Inwardly he smiled.
'Not a fan of Dumbledore? I like you Lupin, so maybe I can get you over to my side.'
-o-
"Care of Magical Creatures sucks."
Erus agreed to the blonde's statement as they walked up to the castle again. The lesson had been horrible at the beginning but ended pretty well. Hagrid had unicorns with him for the first class, but he would not let the Slytherins close. The Slytherins had questioned his actions, but the man had ignored them all until one of the unicorns began to move. It moved pass all the Gryffindors, and paid no attention to Hagrid's calls. Instead the beautiful creature had walked straight up to Hermione and puffed her face with its nose. She patted the mane carefully and the unicorn had puffed her face again in delight. Even Erus had been allowed to touch it and the unicorn had carefully placed its nose on his forehead. It then had blown a careful puff, making his hair fly a bit and Erus had laughed at the sensation. The creature had been even happier as it heard the harmonic sound and puffed on Blaise for some reason.
The man had ended the class abruptly and dragged the unicorn away. Even better ending had occurred; the unicorn had gone angry on Hagrid and ran off into the forest. Hagrid had roared at the Slytherins to get out of his sight and they had retreated.
Hermione was walking on clouds. From time to time she touched her cheek where the unicorn had puffed her. Unicorns were not that friendly to humans, so she was a lucky one among with Erus and Blaise. Blaise was still in a bit of shock and said:
"I never thought the unicorn would puff at me."
"Well, it seemed to like Erus' laughter," Draco said.
Hermione touched her cheek once more with a dreamy look.
-o-
When Erus was eating dinner, he felt more than one glare on him. He sighed and looked up. Most of the first-year Gryffindors were glaring at him, Hermione and Blaise.
"Gryffindors are stupid," he said.
"That's not news," Draco muttered.
"Why are they glaring?" Blaise asked. "We didn't hex the unicorn."
"When it comes to Gryffindors, they'll probably think we did," Erus said. "Don't bother."
The raven-haired boy looked over at the Head Table. Lupin was watching him as well but with a kind look.
"Why is Lupin so nice to you?" the blonde asked quietly. "He's a Gryffindor and he was nice to you, and the rest of us."
"He's different," Erus said. "He isn't like I thought he would be."
"He's a werewolf isn't he?" Draco continued in the same low tone.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Duh, make him join us," the blonde said with a roll of his eyes.
"I was thinking of it," Erus said. "But he needs to get used to the idea, and get more used to me before I propose the suggestion."
The blonde took a long look at his friend and said:
"You're enjoying making people go evil, don't you?"
"Oh, how can you see that on me?"
"You're grinning like mad. It's scary, and... Erus... I think you just made Longbottom piss his pants."
-o-
Erus was sitting in the common room later on the evening when Severus stepped inside. The students murmured a 'Good evening, professor' at him before continuing with whatever they were doing.
"Erus, Miss Granger and Draco," he said. "Would you mind coming with me?"
They packed away their things, dumped their bags in their rooms and followed the potions master. He walked into his office and then continued through a corridor behind his desk. He came to a portrait with Salazar Slytherin who said:
"Inviting children to you chambers Severus?"
"They do have a reason for being here," Severus answered. "Slytherin Honour."
Salazar rolled his eyes and opened the portrait. They came into a living room and on the table was a potion in two bottles.
"Here is the potion that will tell you where you come from, the one Erus began with today and the one I finished a few hours later," Severus began. "I will make a check with Draco's blood before you test it, Miss Granger."
"Call me Hermione sir," the bushy-haired girl said.
"Hermione," Severus corrected. "Draco, your hand."
The blonde held his hand out, and Severus made a small cut. He let two drops of blood down in one of the bottles and then healed Draco's cut. In a moment the potion, that had a clear blue colour, turned poison-green and two names formed from the steam.
"Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black", Severus read out. "Good, it's working. Hermione, your hand now."
The girl held out a hand and the same procedure followed. He healed her cut and the potion turned poison-green once more. Two names began to form. Erus nearly choked when he saw one of them.
"Ceasas Bellum and Kasandra Mortimer," Severus said aloud, though a bit shakily and wrote them down.
"Are they pure-bloods?" she asked nervously as she looked at her parents' names.
"Bellum and Mortimer are two of the most known dark families," the potions master said slowly. "They are pure-blooded, both of them. The Bellum family was believed to have died out 1980 with Ceasas but he has a brother alive if I'm remembering right. The Mortimer family has all gone into hiding, because they are wrongly accused of dark activities."
"Dumbledore seemed surprised over my sorting according to Erus," the girl continued. "Why?"
"Both the Bellum and Mortimer family used to end up in Ravenclaw," Severus said. "Your father was a Slytherin, but he was the first one in the Bellum family to end up in Slytherin for the first time in around 200 years."
"I'm a pure-blood," Hermione said and slumped down on the floor. "I'm a pure-blood and I had to grow up with Muggles."
Erus was breathing quickly as he ran a mental check on his mother's family tree. This was not happening. That bloody, senile, old fool… Erus' hand itched for his wand and someone to kill.
"Erus, what's wrong?"
Severus' voice brought him out from his mind and the boy looked up. Hermione was looking at him worriedly, so did Draco and Severus had nearly run to him.
"Kasandra Mortimer," Erus began slowly and Severus looked worriedly at him since his voice was shaking of anger, "and my mother, Lily Morphis Mortimer... they were cousins."
Silence. They all stared at the boy. Erus went pale with fury and he said:
"Dumbledore placed my third-cousin in a Muggle-place? Even though knowing she had a family?"
"Erus, calm down!" Draco yelled but too late.
The wind began to blow in the room and Hermione yelped. She looked at Severus, who had apparently woken up from Erus' statement. He rushed forward and picked up the boy. He tore forward a locket that was around Erus' neck and enlarged the mirror from it.
"Tom!" he yelled. "You need to come here this instant!"
The wind did not calm down since Erus did not register Severus was calling for his father. A moment later black smoke billowed out from the mirror and Hermione got her first good look at Erus' father when he was worried. Red eyes that were normally cold and calculating were filled with fear. His whole body was tensed up, like he expected an enemy. He stood still for a moment, disoriented until he spotted his child.
He took one step and took Erus from Severus' arms. He held the boy cradled to his chest and almost immediately the wind died down. Severus backed away a bit and Voldemort shifted his eyes to Draco and Hermione.
"What happened?" he asked Severus.
"We found out who Hermione's parents were," the potions master answered.
"And?"
"Her mother was cousin to Lily, Tom," Severus answered softly.
Voldemort went rigid and he snapped his head from the two children to stare at the potions master. The man only nodded to confirm the older man's silent question. The Dark Lord slowly shifted his eyes to the bushy-haired girl while he let Erus' head drop down on his shoulder. He looked at the girl for a while. Then he turned to Severus again and said weakly:
"Is she Kasandra's and Ceasas'?
"Yes," Hermione said instead of the potions master. "I am. Did you know them?"
"They were good people," Tom said as he sat down. Erus' head was still pressed to his shoulder. "Yes, I knew them pretty well. I didn't think you, their daughter, would be alive. When they died, Dumbledore called their death an unfortunate accident. I can't call it an accident, really."
"What do you call it then?" she asked.
"Murder." The girl looked at him. "The 'accident' happened on this very ground," he continued and closed his eyes to calm himself down while his magic spiked up in anger. "Hogwarts floor doesn't suddenly collapse for no reason and crush people to death. Dumbledore had a finger in it, I know that. That bloody man killed them."
Erus had begun breathing a bit slower now as they spoke but his eyes remained filled with anger.
"While they were cousins, Kasandra and Lily never met each other," the dark wizard continued. "Lily wanted to see her cousin so much, but…"
Here Voldemort stopped speaking. He rested his head in his hand while he took a deep breath.
"But?" Hermione pressed on.
The Dark Lord looked up at the girl and shook his head, almost like to himself. He bit his lip, looked down at Erus and said quietly:
"I killed her before she even got the chance."
Hermione was the one who went rigid this time. Erus' father had killed Erus' own mother?
"Why?" she asked.
"Lily betrayed me," Voldemort said and stroke Erus' hair. "She tried to hide Erus from me as well. And when I did found them, she told me to kill her."
"She told you? Why would she say that?"
"She was too ashamed to live," he said and looked at Hermione. "Lily was a proud witch, and this time she had even gone so far to hate herself. She did not want Erus to know her, to see her betrayal. So I've never told Erus the reason why I killed her, so that he could at least try liking her."
Hermione's lips trembled but she moved to sit down next to Voldemort.
"What's gonna happen to me now?" she asked.
"Ceasas' brother, Cygnirius and his wife Anastasia has no children," Voldemort said. "They've always wanted a child, but they can't get one. He would be delighted to hear his niece is still alive and well."
Hermione looked up at him and said:
"It means I will have a real family?"
"Yes," Voldemort said. "I can contact them later tonight and tell them. But there is one thing."
"What?"
"Your name isn't really Hermione."
"I kinda figured that out," the girl said.
"Kasandra and Ceasas named you Cynthia Bellamoon," he said. "I always said Bellamoon was a stupid name but they kindly ignored me." Here, Hermione giggled and Voldemort tried to look hurt. "Then they added a third name."
"What name was that?"
"Lily," Voldemort said and looked away. "Kasandra named you after a cousin she never met, and yet always knew she loved."
Hermione blinked away tears and suddenly there was a rush of aura that indicated Erus had come back. Voldemort quickly stood up walked away a bit.
"You gave us quite a scare," he murmured to his son.
"It just made me so angry," Erus said. "I'm related to her and she's been having a bad life."
"But she'll have a good life soon," Voldemort said and tightened his hold. "I need to go soon or else the old man will notice me."
Erus wound his arms around his father's neck and spoke:
"What if I don't want you to go?"
Both Hermione and Draco snapped their heads to them as Erus spoke in the language of the snakes. Hermione's brains worked quickly through all the facts. Parseltongue is only passed on when you're an heir to Salazar Slytherin, and the last one known to be was…
She paled slightly as she looked at Erus' father. Was the man Voldemort, the feared Dark Lord?
"Stop," Voldemort said to Erus. "You know I can't stay, but you know as well that I'll always be with you and you'll be home before you know it. And you're not the only one who misses home. Fabella says that the manor is not home without you. She misses home as well."
Erus was let down and Voldemort smiled gently at him. The man looked at them all and said:
"Severus, keep me informed. And maybe it's a good idea to teach Hermione Occlumency. She needs to hide a lot from Dumbledore now."
"As you wish," Severus replied.
He saw the girl looking at him intently and Voldemort raised one eyebrow at her.
"Are you the Dark Lord?" Hermione asked.
The older man looked at her and then said while scratching his head:
"Well, you've certainly inherited your father's brains; I could never hide anything very well from him or Cygnirius for that matter. Yes, I am. Does it bother you?"
"No. I think it's cool."
Voldemort almost laughed. She was grinning like crazy, and he said:
"You haven't tested the shampoo yet?"
"Thought I would try it tonight," she said. "It says on the bottle if I use it one time it will hold for a week."
"Well, that's one of the shampoo Kasandra used to control her hair," the dark wizard said. "And it was rare that I saw her with a rat-nest to hair."
Hermione seemed to shine up the more she heard about her parents.
"Maybe you can spend Christmas holidays with us, and I can tell you more?" Voldemort said.
"Please let her!" Erus said.
"I would love to!" Hermione almost shouted.
Voldemort smiled, gently pried off his son's hands and said quietly:
"I have to go."
Erus nodded and his father was gone in a weak puff. He clutched at the air for a moment or two and then let his hands fall down.
"Now you better go," the potions master said. "It's after curfew, but say if you meet any teachers, not that I think so, you are allowed to. That is if you go straight to your dorm."
"Yes sir," they replied and got out.
-o-
They had gotten almost to the dorm when Hermione suddenly inched closer to Erus and said:
"Um… I've read a bit about Hogwarts and the wards around it."
"Yeah, and?" the boy said, confused.
"You can't Apparate, use a Portkey or any kind of stuff like that."
"I know that. And?"
"How in Merlin's name did your father get in?"
Erus blinked at her. Draco took a long breath and said:
"Well, the answer is obvious."
"And what is the answer?" the girl asked and turned her head to him.
"He's a bloody Dark Lord," Draco said. "Dark Lords has that in their merits. It's only natural for them. You know, to be a Dark Lord you have to go dressed in black, have mean eyes and scare people shitless by popping up like a devil from hell in impossible places."
Erus and Hermione stopped and stared at him. The blonde waited. And a moment later, the raven-haired boy's eyes glazed over a bit as he imagined his father doing that. And promptly burst into a full-blown laughter. Hermione followed only seconds after.
'Mission accomplished,' Draco thought.
Tbc…
Chapter three ready. Phew, it took a while. My hands are all cramped up now.
Alright, this is what I've planned for chapter four: the rest of the first week. A more detailed description of their flying lesson, which are on Tuesday. I've made a timetable I think is working pretty good so I know what classes they're supposed to have. This chapter I will go through every class, even if it's only brief so you readers knows what they have each day. This chapter may not be so long; I'll probably add the weekend as well.
The chapters after this will most likely be a bit more exiting.
Look forward to it.
Ja,
Tiro
