Chapter 9

House of Pain, 1944

Tom or Valedro, as he was now named, wanted to reminisce a little. Especially the first year after Mameha had found him and whisked him away from the orphanage and to the world of Magic.

He couldn't really remember what he had felt or seen in the first couple of days. It had been shock after shock after shock after learning occlumency hadn't help him recall those lost memories. But he months after the first few days, now those he could remember in perfect clarity.

Flashback, House of Pain, 1934

He couldn't believe what had been told to him time and time again. He even had proof that it was all true. A Soul-mate. A person that would… Love him unconditionally, would always stay with him and be by his side no matter what.

And what a person it was. Cunning, ruthless, beautiful, dark, secretive, soft, dark and seductive. Best of all, his. His to love, cherish and keep. Mameha was made for him, just like he was made for him too. And hadn't that been a shock. That the person made for him was a boy. A boy that had changed his name from Harry to Mameha, a boy that enjoyed more dressing in kimonos than slacks and shirts. A unique person.

End of flashback

It had taken him more than six months to finally trust Mameha. To know for sure that he wouldn't just up and leave him in way, shape or form. It had been hard for the both of them. Both them had tested and over again if the other one would stay. They had fight, they had lied, hurt and cheated. Valedro and Mameha had pulled it off. There was just one problem; emotions of finer quality. Thankfully Mameha had had his Aunt to help him at least somewhat to deal with "finer emotions" of life, such as love. Together they learned, trusting them to do no harm.

Mameha had told him about his life. He had told Mameha about his. They just click together. He had asked, question and demanded to know every single thing about Mameha, no matter if they were big or small. When the other boy hadn't immediately complied, he had tried to use force and rip it out of his head. He had gotten nowhere with it. He now knew that if you wanted to something from Mameha, you needed to give him something of equal for exchange. So, answer of an answer, question for question, life story for life story. This had the benefits too. Both of them knew the other inside and out. Knew what made them tick, what made them laugh in tears, what made the want to kill everyone, what made them just to give up…

After spending what felt eternity with Mameha, he had one day gone to Gringotts and finally gone through with the inheritance ritual that Mameha had tried to make him do when they had met. He had been shocked what he found.

Flashback, Gringotts, 1935

"Just tree drops of blood on the parchment and it will show you what you are entitled to." Master Grimblood told him.

He pricked his finger and waited. It didn't take long that the parchment started to glow, and black writing filled it.

Heritance of Tom Marvolo Riddle

Father: Tom Riddle (alive)

Mother: Merope Riddle, nee Gaunt (dead)

Siblings: None

Blood Status: Half-blood

Sex: Male, Virgin/Pure/Untouched

Godparents: None

Magical Guardian: None

Muggle Guardian: None

Seats in Wizengamot: 11+ 3 + 2

Soul-Mate: Victoria Mameha Evans

Inheritance trough father

Riddle: Vault 765 and 981

Inheritance trough mother

Gaunt: Gaunt Manor in Little Hangleton, England

Slytherin: 45,987,650,236 Galleons

+ ¼ of Hogwarts School, Slytherin Castle in England, Hidden Potion and Alchemy Laboratory of Salazar Slytherin

Inheritance trough Soul-Mate bond

Potter: 6,398,572,859 Galleons

+ Potter Manor and Godric's Hollow 4

Black: 7,983,987,298 Galleons

+ Flat in Pleasure Alley and Black Manor

Peverell: 8,759,459,845 Galleons

+ Peverell Manor in Toscana, Italy

Gryffindor: 15,867,876,237 Galleons

+ ¼ of Hogwarts School, Gryffindor Manor in Ireland and Hidden War Barrack of Godric Gryffindor

Ermys: Vault 002

+ Hidden Tower of Merlin

Le Fay: Vault 003

+ Hidden Ritual and Transfusion Champers of Morven and Hidden Potion Laboratory of Morgana

Evans: 3,907,87 Galleons

Selwyn: Vault 891 (empty)

+ Castle in Transylvania, Romania

Ravenclaw: 24,987,098,329 Galleons

+ ¼ of Hogwarts School, Ravenclaw Manor in Germany, Hidden Library of Rowena Ravenclaw

Abilities

Parcel Mage

Master of Mind Magic

Affinity to Dark Art

Eidetic Memory

Wandless and Wordless casting abilities

Blood Mage

Master of Soul Magic

Active blocks

None

Tom just stared the parchment. He couldn't believe it. His Father was still alive. He had known that this Mother was dead but that his Father was alive… That was news for him. Why hadn't the come take him away? Why let him rot in orphanage? Why? Why?! WHY?! So many questions and not enough answers. Someday, some way, he would get them and if he didn't like what he would learn well… He would just take care of it, wouldn't he?

"Mameha told me about the Naming Ceremony. I would like to undergo it as well." Tom said to distract himself from the parchment.

"It is possible. It will be painful for you. You have a name and you are bound to it in ways that Mameha never was to his. I will allow you to use my ceremony chambers for this. This is not usually done. But as you are my Lady's future husband, I will bend the rules little. But make no mistakes, I don't trust you and I will do anything if you ever hurt my little Angel. He is special." Master Grimblood said with barely hidden rage in his voice.

Tom cave stiff nod. He would never harm Mameha, but the goblin would never take his word for it. He would have to work to earn his trust. And earn it he would. He knew how much Master Grimblood had helped his Soul-Mate. Protected him and cared for him.

"Thank you, Master Grimblood. I am grateful for your assistance. May we proceed with the ceremony?" Tom said with respectfully.

"Yes." Master Grimblood said. "A word of warning, this will be painful for as you have been called by your current name your whole life. The name you choose for yourself must erase all your memories of that name and replace them with the new one. Magic will be judging you all the time so, be careful of what you choose as your new name. Names have power in our world, young man." Goblin said with sarcastic glee.

Tom just nod and went to the chamber. The chamber light up in light blue light. He turned to look at Master Grimblood, who explained that the light indicated the need of the chamber, in this case the Naming Ceremony. On the altar was silver ceremony dagger, a crystal bowl of water and two white candles.

Tom was grateful for Mameha for explaining him this ritual, otherwise he would have been lost. Tom walked to the altar and took the dagger and slash his left palm open over the bowl and let water turn deep red before speaking the words while letting his magic lit the candles, stating that the ceremony was over.

"I, Tom Marvolo Riddle, have come before the eyes of Magic to be Named again. I don't want to be called Tom Marvolo Riddle any more. So mote it be. My new Name shall be Valedro Salazar Gaunt. So mote it be. So I beg from Magic. So I will it be." The newly named Valedro chanted and light the two candles.

For a moment there was nothing but then the pain came. Twisting, excruciating pain. It felt like everything he was being pulled apart and then combined anew. It was like every memory he had was dulled to the point he could barely remember them and then colored back up with too bright colors. It was terrible and beautiful at the same time. It was worth it.

End of Flashback

Of course his Father was no longer alive and Master Grimblood had become his magical guardian after few years. They weren't as close as Mameha and Gerald were, but they were more friendlier terms than most humans and goblins. He had had to prove Gerald that his affection was true, and he did indeed Love Mameha.

He sighed. He missed Mameha. The boy had disappeared right before they would have started in Hogwarts. He had tried to get Gerald tell him where Mameha had gone but the goblin kept mum about it. Just stating that he would find Mameha when the time was right. He had sneered to Gerald at that, but the goblin had just brushed it off.

Mameha had told him everything he needed to know about magical world. The pit falls and traps. What say, when to say and how to say it. He had thought him walk the walk and talk the talk. He knew, that had Mameha not done that, he would have made himself look like an idiot and that would have hurt his plans. Plans that they had done together. He sighed again. No matter. As Gerald had told him time and again, he would meet Mameha again. After all, they were Soul-Mates.