Previlion: "Let it be known that some of this chapter was done with one hand, my right hand has been locking up on me for some time unfortunately. I blame all the essays I have to write. Still, I hope you do enjoy this chapter, please leave me your thoughts afterwards."

Chapter 11: Gringotts

The second John entered the famed Goblin bank he was amazed. His green and red eyes practically soaked up the entire layout before zoning in on the creatures that worked the tellers.

"Oh dear," Alice murmured, which made both Tom and Albus raise a brow and look back to where John was, only to see him gone.

"You are amazing!" There was John, on top of a teller's box, crouched down with such a beaming smile at the rather confused Goblin.

"John really does love fairy tales," Alice explained to the gob smacked faces of the other two as she calmly walked over to where John was.

To John, seeing a real Goblin was truly amazing, forgetting his fear and apprehension for the moment.

"What is your name?" John asked the startled Goblin as Paddy was hissing to him.

*John! Really John?!* Paddy said, trying to get John's mind back on track.

"Griphook, young wizard," the Goblin said finally, looking very surprised at John. No other wizard as young as he has shown this emotion to the Goblin race, usually dealing with bigoted fools.

"John Riddle," John said, extending his hand to the Goblin.

At this moment, all the other tellers were paying attention to what was going on, quite shocked at this.

Tom was looking on in interest.

'Such innocence, yet very cunning. He has assured himself to be on friendly terms with the Goblin race,' he mused to himself.

Griphook hesitantly shook his hand before John was lifted up by the back of his shirt.

"John, behave," Alice said as John looked sheepish to her.

"Sorry?" he tried as Alice gave him an amused look.

"Remember why we are here?" she asked as John grew pensive and frowned.

"Right…" Once more he wanted to just wilt under his hat and hide away.

"You said your name was John Riddle? How can Gringotts help you?" Griphook asked.

"Yes, hello master Goblin, we are here to find out if young John here has a vault already here from his deceased parents," Albus said. He wanted to get things moving as well as finally confirm who John was.

"Is that why you are here, Riddle?" Griphook asked as John nodded. "Very well, I'll get the necessary parchment ready, go have a seat and wait our call."

"Yes sir," John said before walking away with Alice.

"A curious boy he is," Griphook said, making Albus chuckle. "And you sir?" he addressed Tom.

"Rory Vapor, I wish to check in on my accountings," Tom said, making him smile in a pleasant manner.

Rory Vapor was just one of his aliases during the war. So hearing this Griphook stilled and now really looked at Tom.

"Very well," Griphook said.

"Shall we join our young friend, Mr. Dumbledore?"

"Please sir, Albus would do just fine," Albus mused joviantly.

"I insist you address me as Rory then," Tom said.

'Stupid fool, still so trusting after all this time.'

John was feeling sick now, his excitement over meeting a Goblin dwindling down as soon his secret would be let out. That he was just Harry Potter and not John Riddle.

*John, everything will be okay. If things go wrong, I say we bug out of here as fast as we can and take Alice with us*

*We can't do that Paddy. Besides, I'm sure they will track us down some how. I just don't want to go back to…*

He trailed off, catching Riddle's attention, especially when he was talking in that language.

Alice knew John was having cold feet, wanting to distract him. "So Albus, what does Hoggywarts teach?"

Tom almost scoffed at that.

Albus chuckled. "Several things my dear. From potions, transfiguration, charting the stars and defense against the dark arts, just to name a few. But unfortunately, we are missing a teacher for defense."

"Why is that?" Tom asked him, having a curious look on his face.

"That place has been jinxed so every year the teacher changes," Albus informed him with a sigh.

Rory inwardly grinned.

"Well, if its not too much trouble, do you think I could teach it? I'll provide what ever papers I must. You see, I am job hunting at the moment."

Cue that infuriating sparkle of Albus's eyes.

"Why yes my dear boy. Please send them as soon as possible and I shall look them over."

Albus was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He needed a teacher for that position, fearing that the Ministry would do something about it, especially with how pathetic Fudge is.

Rory just smiled pleasant like.

'This is far too easy. With this I can monitor the boy…'

Tom looked at the smiling boy wearing the large top hat. He felt something stir in his chest, something that has not happen in a long time.

"I think I'm having a heart attack," he said, alarming the others as they stared at him. "Wait, false alarm."

"How can you get that wrong?!" Alice said.

Tom almost glared at her but changed his mind with a shrug.

He now had a new goal, a goal that may just push him to acquire more power. To instead of destroy, to protect.

But this was not a thing to soften the Dark Lord. It was something that moved him to be even more destructive in the future. To kill and destroy all those that will hurt or corrupt his own.

'It is decided. I will take him under my wing and mold him.'

Yes, such dark thoughts were present in Tom Riddle's mind.

"Mr. Riddle," Griphook called out as John nervously stood up. Albus did as well as Rory, eager to see what would happen.

"Come on John," Alice said softly, holding his hand.

Once at the counter, Griphook provided a parchment and a quill.

"Please write your name," he explained.

"Just that?" John asked, so surprised it was this easy before doing so. He never noticed the small itch on his hand or question why the ink was so red.

"Yes, the magic from yourself and the blood will-."

Griphook was cut off as the paper burst into flames, a heavy pressure pressing down on those around John.

"What is happening?!" Alice yelled out as she hugged John close to her.

But John's eyes were staring at the counter where the fire were etching words into it.

John Riddle

Mother: Magical Identity Disfigured. Status: Unknown

Father: Tom Marvelo Riddle. Status: ~~~~~

Status: Half Blood

Vault: Riddle Vault

John was floored, eyes so wide.

Albus felt worry and relief all at once. Worry that he found the Dark Lord's son and relief that he could help young John closer to the light. But he wondered what the status meant for Tom.

Tom's eyes narrowed at the 'Mother' part before widening at the father. This just confirmed it with him that he has a son.

Alice was shimmering with tears, holding John closer.

"You had a family John," she whispered softly.

"I did…," he murmured, shocked.

*Well John, today is full of surprises* Paddy hissed softly.

Previlion: "And that is a wrap. Sorry its short and a bit jostled with most likely errors. I may go and edit it one day, but for now I hope you enjoy this. Next time we will deal with the stone and who Rory Vapor is to the Goblins."