Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter Warning: Fighting (with wands)

This is gospel for the fallen ones

Locked away in permanent slumber

Assembling their philosophies

From pieces of broken memories

Oh, this is the beat of my heart, this is the beat of my heart

The gnashing teeth and criminal tongues conspire against the odds

But they haven't seen the best of us yet

Tom sat down at his desk staring at a piece of parchment. Someone knocked at the door. "Enter," he called. His ever faithful house elf Klepper walked in with the feeble Leopold Nott. "My friend, I need your assistance. I hope your son does not mind your absence."

Klepper helped Leopold sit down. "Theodore isn't home. He's off at our house on the Welsh coast, close to Holyhead."

"That quick to escape this labyrinth issue?"

"He is celebrating with his wife I believe. At least that is what Finley has eluded to the two doing."

Tom's eyebrows rose. "I wasn't aware you had married him off. I didn't expect that."

Leopold chuckled. "I didn't. The boy had a secret wedding. I only found out a couple of months ago when I ventured into my study to discover a person sticking off of Theodore's on the family tapestry. So I did what I do best and investigated. It was a legal marriage—a full bonding in fact. He's never getting out of it."

"And you are all right with this?"

Leopold nodded. "The girl isn't after his title or money. Theodore has been in love with her for years now. She is his Calla. Enough about my son. What is it you called me here for?"

"Besides me, you are the only living person who knows about my prophetic dealings with Cassandra Vablatsky," Tom said. "Since I know the whereabouts of all the included, I have came to the idea of inviting them over to learn about their perspectives. I would like you present, but only if you think this is a good idea."

"It amazes me you still even want my opinion," Leopold quipped. "How did you come to this idea?"

"I want these children on my side, and I know force won't get them here. My plan is to write a brief note that is actually a port key."

"Is the port key necessary?"

"I want them here."

Leopold coughed loudly. Tom yelled for Klepper to bring in tea. Leopold reluctantly accepted the tea. "My son is involved in this."

Tom nodded. "According to the letters, he, Miss Granger, and Mr. Malfoy are the top 3. I won't harm your son."

"I never said you would."

"You had that look. Should I wait until your son is back to send the letters?"

Leopold shrugged. "Doesn't matter. The girl is on your list. Personally I would send it now."

This fact intrigued Tom. "Greengrass girl then because Parkinsons just do not fit the secret wedding type. Lyle always was a nuisance however. Why her?"

"He's always been intrigued by her since they were six. They met at her first Christmas party at the Malfoys. He was completely appalled by her servile attitude and the way she was treated by her father," Leopold explained while taking a sip of tea. "He could see the fire in her eyes though, and it gave him hope that she could be magnificent. Something happened at Hogwarts that must've triggered it."

"Are you privy to such information?"

"An engagement contract between the Goyle and Greengrass families filed June 29. They got married the 30th by Blaise Zabini. He holds the Selwyn seat after his grandfather's passing some time ago."

Tom snickered. "So she must've gotten news of the engagement, told your son, he popped the question, and got someone to marry them. To be young again." Tom notice the smirk fall from his friend's face. "What is it?"

"I'm going to die."

"It's just a cough."

Leopold shook his head. "I can feel it, Tom." He never called him Tom anymore. Leopold must've been serious. "I'm going to die soon and that's why I'm here. I had to know you wouldn't hurt my family."

"You think I would?" Tom asked at annoyed at his follower's distrust.

"I know you won't stop until you achieve what you want, no matter who is in your way," Leopold answered honestly. "My son and his wife are two of eight who could lead to your destruction. You just killed the Potter boy for the same reason."

"He's in a coma," Tom corrected. "The extra spells were to knock him out. No idea when he'll wake up. The horcrux is out of him and that's what matters."

Leopold was dumbfounded. "I think you've gone crazy."

"I haven't I can assure you. I couldn't kill the boy. He needed to be spared; otherwise, fate would have killed me. Sparing children gets you rewards."

"You're insane."

"I'm not. I promise your son and daughter-in-law will have no harm come to them by my hand, and you won't die."

Leopold shook his head. "I'll be dead by Monday. I can feel it. I want to stay to see my son grow into a good man and raise a family but I'm weak and miss my love. He's going to do great things though."

"He is your son after all," Tom complimented. "I've heard how well his charm work is, just like yours."

"Exactly," Leopold agreed. "It's best that's not forgotten. He will do anything to make sure his family and friends are okay. He will know how to destroy before you realize how you could fall."

Tom's eyes narrowed. "Why tell me this? That's dangerous information that leads to death most times."

Leopold coughed and took a sip of tea. He stood and grabbed his cane. "Because he may be my son, but he is every bit Calla. You and I both know how dangerous she could be. She put her family first, friends second, and ties under that. No one crossed her path because you'd be done before you realized it. Theodore is the same way. He is her son more than anything else. He will destroy you if you harm what he loves."

Leopold came back two days later. He found Tom reading in his office. Tom glanced up at this comrade. "Didn't we just have a discussion the other day?"

Leopold fell into a chair. "You are summoning them for tomorrow?"

"That is what I told you the other day," Tom didn't look up from his book. "Come to tell me that your son already has a plot to defeat me?"

Leopold shook his head, but Tom paid it no notice. "No. Though some things have changed with them. Lives are at risk," Tom looked up. His eyes begged for more information, but Leopold gave him none. "I came to inform you of the others. It's taken me time to consider doing this because it is an advantage for you but a betrayal to my son and his friends."

"Why tell me then? I know how much your son means to you."

"I'm making the unwise decision of putting the fate of my family in your hands, my Lord. I'm trusting you to remember everything I have done for you and protect them."

Leopold watched Tom sink into his chair in thought. The room was dead silent for a moment. Leopold thought about recanting his offer, but he knew of no other way to protect his family after he was gone.

Tom nodded. "Go ahead. I've done some research already."

"What do you know about Marcus Flint?"

"He was the first. Born in '74 or '75 to Cassius Flint and his wife Portia Rowle. He has two older brothers who have joined us. He plays Quidditch for Puddlemere United."

"Cassius Flint has been dead for ten years now. He left the Flint name, one property, two houses elves, and half the family fortune to Marcus."

"What?" Tom gasped. It was clear to Leopold that Tom was not aware of this. "That'll teach me not to let Thorfinn research his own goddamn nephew."

Leopold snorted. "That's your whole problem. Marcus hasn't been in contact with his mother, uncle, or brothers since his father died. The day of Cassius's funeral, Portia kicked him out directly after the will reading. Marcus was made an independent legal," Leopold shifted. "Marcus is the only living Flint by blood."

"But…"

"Julius and Brutus are," Leopold cringed. "Rowles through and through. Cassius must've found out before his death. Marcus also has a drinking problem. You can find him Tuesday nights from 8:13 pm to 11:37 pm on the third stool from the right at Fadhbanna. His problem is trying to be himself and keep the Flint name in good graces. He is a loner."

"I don't know much about Adrian Pucey," Tom admitted. "He's one not too much could be dug up on him without raising an eyebrow."

Leopold slouched over in his chair. "He just isn't one with much information out there. Adrian Pucey is an open book. He played Quidditch in Hogwarts and never had a single foul against him. He's a trauma healer at St. Mungo's now. He has a problem with emotions though. Some say he has no feelings at all. He does have a fondness for strawberry eclairs. Not much else can be found about him. Whatever his past was, it can't be dug up except the merest basics.

"I'll skip Miss Granger and my son. Blaise Zabini is shallow and narcissistic like his mother. He is always trying to be better than her. He is only concerned with himself no matter how much he says he cares for others. The only other person who brings fire out of him is his mother. He wants to be better than her, even if he is like her. Daphne lived in an abusive household."

"That's not a surprise with Lyle Greengrass as her father," Tom scoffed.

"She has a little sister too. Daphne doesn't speak much. She reminds me of a combination between Calla and Narcissa."

Tom chuckled. "Don't underestimate her then no matter how dainty and weak she looks."

"Pansy Parkinson believes she isn't pretty enough and will put others down to lift herself up. She does care for her friends though. She had the reputation of getting around the past two or so years. Something happened mid sixth year that the reputation ceased. Finally, Draco Malfoy believes he doesn't have a choice. He only ever sees option A. He rarely sleeps at night too."

"They all sound screwed up," Tom admitted. "And I'm not about to make their life any easier. It's time to see what they are truly made of."

Tom sat at the table waiting. It had been one week since the battle at Hogwarts. He had sent his notes out just hours before, and now he waited. He had sent a particular note out before the rest because a special conversation was needed. "Klepper, could you please bring in tea. Our first guest should be here very soon."

The house elf nodded and vanished. Seconds later, Tom heard a pop. "That was awfully quick, Klepper," He looked up when he heard another pop. "Thank you for tea, Klepper. The others will be appearing in the atrium. Once all seven arrive, please escort them here. As for you Miss Granger, please sit down."

Klepper closed the door behind him. Tom watched Hermione Granger gently sit down. "How are you?" He asked her.

"You just treated that house elf rather nicely," she ignored his perfunctory question. "People like you don't treat house elves nicely. Also you don't look right. Your look confirms all I need, except the eyes."

Tom smiled. Snake face was gone, and the face Hermione was used to was a gracing presence. This time, however, his eyes were red instead of brown.

"I'll answer your statements backwards. My eyes were always red, even when you made me watch those weird muggle space war movies. I had to wear colored contacts. Some things are just beyond repair. The snake face is gone. It was a glamour to keep certain theories a float. Yes I am your friend and neighbor. When did you get the idea?"

"Your little speech with your quotes tipped me off. All the past clues made sense," She poured herself a cup of tea. "When I got your note, I knew I needed to come. I got my cover before I even read it."

"I can only imagine how angry all of the Order will be if they find out you were here, let alone our rooted history. So who did you convince to cover for you?"

"Neville Longbottom."

Tom nodded. "You always spoke the fondest of him. He is family then. The battle proved he does not flinch."

She ignored his statement. "You didn't answer about the house elf."

"Klepper came into my ownership when he was about five years old. His former master was very cruel to him and I killed him. Well I got him to free Klepper first and then I killed him. He was a mole to begin with. I gave Klepper the choice of being free because what was I to do with an elf. Then I discovered Klepper cannot speak. It is actually easier for him to be in servitude for communication purposes," Tom explained. "I treat him nicely, don't worry. I've heard of your S.P.E.W."

Hermione moves on to the next topic. "Harry's not dead."

"But the horcrux in him is," Tom answered.

"But we destroyed all of them. You shouldn't be alive anymore," Hermione sighed. "None of this makes sense. It doesn't match up with the information Dumbledore passed onto us."

Tom took a sip of tea and smiled. "You're still him," Hermione murmured. "You drink tea like him; you smile like him. You talk like him. You to talk to me like him. It scares me. He was my family. He was all I really had."

"Because I am him. Even with my name, I technically never lied to you. Make the connections. I want to see how well you've paid attention."

"Tom is a short version of Thomas, and marvel is a synonym for riddle. You said your father was murdered by a crazy man. That can be answered with the blame of your uncle. You went to boarding school in Scotland. You had family roots in Ireland." Tom nodded. "It's still hard to believe. How did you pull it all off?"

Tom grinned. "Magic. I suppose you want a full story," Hermione nodded eagerly. "And you will get one once the others arrive. Anymore questions?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not at the moment. I know I'll probably have more. I'm still in shock."

Tom chuckled, which seemed to freak Hermione out even more. "Just wait until I'm done with my tale. Then you'll be unable to speak at all."

Tom stared at the people sitting down with him. Hermione, Theodore, Daphne, and Adrian sat to his left with Draco, Marcus, Pansy and Blaise adjacent from them. All were staring at Hermione, who was staring at her tea. "I think we shall begin. I bet your top three questions are what are you doing here, why do I look like this, and why is Hermione Granger here. Am I wrong?"

Nobody answered.

"Let me tell you a story," His eyes grazed everyone sitting at the table. "About 30 to 35 years ago, a seer came to visit me, and although I neither like nor trust divination, I let her in. She told me that eight souls not yet born could make or break my future because of the amount of ambivalence. There was one in particular that would lead the way. Ten years later I received a letter from her announcing the birth of the first."

His eyes landed on Marcus. He shifted his gaze to Adrian. "Three years later the second arrived. Two years after that I couldn't get out of bed. The birth of the third child was so big in my timeline I was in pain. I discovered the child was born to muggles and my search for her began. Within the next nine months, the final five letters came and cited importance of other ambivalent children. By December of that year with the help of my most trusted colleagues, the muggleborn girl was located. We went on the eve of 1981 to visit the family only to discover some of my followers planned their own raid on the village. We apparated quickly to the house where we heard screaming inside. Entering, we found the child's father dead. Then we heard it: the cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"I sent one colleague up to knock her out. Unfortunately the mother was also dead but the baby was alive, sound asleep in fact. I had a choice in that moment and I let her live. Her aunt and uncle came to get her and that was that. Ten months later to the day, I was defeated by Harry Potter. I was sure that I was gone for a while, but then I woke up four days later in house. The seer who had been following my journey was taking care of me in a house next to this girl I had saved. Turns out part of my soul has been put back together, but it was very fragile. I watched this girl grow up, became her family, and I realized why she was still special and why I couldn't bring myself to kill her that night even though I had my wand pointed at her. The love of her mother saved her that night for the most part."

Hermione looked pale. "Klepper, Hermione is in need of a bucket." The House elf dropped one right next to her. She threw up a second later. Klepper brought her a towel and another cup of tea once she was done. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

"I figured it out a couple years ago. I just didn't know all of that," she answered. Her voice was hoarse.

"The eight of you are here because you are the eight. You all have your battles and I'm offering you each something that will aide you."

"He talked to you," Theodore interrupted. "That damn man was in no condition to leave the house or tell you."

Tom shrugged. At puns of a small pop, he glanced to the spot his house elf previously occupied. That was not a good sign. "I need to offer my congratulations, Theodore."

"About what?" He asked wearily.

Daphne gripped his hand. "Your new family."

"How did you know?" Daphne demanded. Her husband tried to quiet her down. "Only Theo, Pansy, Blaise, and Draco knew of our marriage. How did you find out?"

"Leopold told me."

"Father knows!" Theodore exclaimed. "How did he find out?"

"He does. He is quite proud of your choice. Couldn't be happier I'd say. He found out from your family tapestry, which is why my gift to you is protection."

The couple's eyes widened. "Theo…"

Daphne didn't finish her sentence. With a blast of blue light, she was pinned against a wall gasping. In an instant, Theo, Hermione, and Adrian has their wands out. Marcus followed seconds after. Pansy and Draco rushed to Daphne's side. Blaise just sat there. Tom stood as Lyle Greengrass entered the room.

"You bitch," he snarled. "You whore. Do you know what you've cost our family? I find you a good family and you choose this piece of lowly shit. You've costed me 1000 galleon dowry. Do you know how worse it was to invite the Goyle family into our home to finalize the deal only discover his name coming off of yours. And don't get me started about the other one."

Daphne gasped. "I'm going to kill you," Lyle shouted.

"Lyle, get out of my house," Tom ordered.

"You stay out of this," he barked. Daphne screamed at the flick of his wand. "Dark Lord be damned. This is between me and her."

"Don't you dare hurt her, Lyle," Theo said in a low voice. "Let her go and this will end."

"This will end when you and your problem are gone. You have no room to threaten me."

Theo's face darkened. Tom watched Hermione slowly lower her wand as she watched Theo tense. Adrian did too. Marcus kept his wand up as he moved closer towards Tom and Hermione until he knew he was safe. This is what Leopold was talking about. Theodore was dangerous Tom realized.

"And you have no room to threaten her," Theo growled. "I'm giving you one more chance. No one hurts my family. Blood be damned."

Lyle clearly didn't believe his son-in-law and flicked his wand at his daughter, who screamed again and twitched. The sight sickened Tom. Quickly he grabbed his wand and cast expelliarmus. Daphne fell into Pansy and Draco's arms, gasping for air. Theo took this moment to strike his father-in-law.

Adrian rushed to Daphne's side. "Let me look at you, Daphne. I'm a healer."

Daphne nodded and let Adrian do his thing. Her eyes drifted over to see her husband firing hexes at her father. "Nobody hurts my family without paying," Theo said surely. "You're going to pay, Lyle."

"I've paid enough with my line being tainted by your pathetic blood." In an instant Tom watched as Lyle Greengrass screamed and squirmed on the floor. Glancing at the Nott boy's face, he saw no sign of empathy, only malice and rage. He wasn't smiling or frowning—just staring. A flick of his wand and Tom heard something crack and a louder scream from Lyle.

"Theo," Daphne moaned from the floor. Adrian held her up. "Stop, Theo. He's still my father."

Tom watched the boy stop at once. It was very clear how much he loved this girl. Lyle was still screaming after Theo had let him go. His power impressed Tom.

Theo stepped closer to his father-in-law. "I warned you," he said quietly, but Tom still heard. "Next time, I will kill you without any hesitation."

Theo met Tom's stare after he dropped Lyle. Tom saw the fire dancing in his amber eyes. He'd witnessed it before. Just like Harry Potter, Theodore Nott had his mother's eyes. Leopold was right; his son was not one to mess with. "I can assist you however is needed."

"She needs rest," Adrian piped up. "She's in no condition to travel."

"Klepper will guide you to a room," Tom said. Adrian picked her up and followed Klepper out of the drawing room. Pansy followed them quickly.

"Somebody needs to get Astoria," Theo requested.

"I'll go," Draco volunteered. "What do I tell her?"

"Tell her the willow tree fell. She'll understand. She might also get the idea when you are dragging her unconscious father in too. Marcus, can you go with him and do that part?"

Marcus nodded. "Take the floo," Tom suggested. He glanced over to see Blaise stepping over Lyle, trying to get out quietly. "Blaise, why don't you help them get Lyle to the floo."

Blaise slightly nodded. His reluctance was obvious. Then it was only Theo, Hermione, and Tom left. "I...I need to go. Neville probably can't cover for me for much longer."

"You'll always have a home here, Hermione," Tom smiled when he saw she didn't flinch.

"Do you need anything, Theodore?" She asked. "I have a feeling I may be back."

Theo shook his head. "Just take care of yourself, Hermione. Thank you for the quick reaction earlier."

Hermione nodded and walked out. "Does father know about the baby?" Theo asked as soon as she was out of the room. Tom nodded. "We didn't mean for it to happen, especially at this time."

"How far along is she?"

"Baby's due end of December. We found out the day before the fight," He was quiet for a moment. "He asked for our protection, didn't he? That's why he told you about them."

"Leopold believes he's going to be dead by Monday. He wanted insurance," Tom explained.

"I don't trust you," Theo states bluntly. "But right now the life of my wife and child are in your hands. I'm at your feet."

"I know. They won't be hurt. There is something about love that cannot be defeated. I also know that if they get hurt on my watch you won't trust me."

"We're all pawns to you," Theo said. "Just pillars to your momentous tower of power. You won't care if we drop dead eventually."

Tom shrugged. "Let's go check on your love and save this for another time."