Disclaimer: Same as prologue
Chapter 11
Transfiguration with Dumbledore was the last lesson. It was pure luck that Aidan had remembered the message from the second year Ravenclaw. He stayed behind after the lesson to find out what Dumbledore had wanted to speak to him about. Tom had somehow managed to get Aidan to allow him to stay unless Dumbledore said otherwise. Aidan was wondering how Tom had managed that while the rest of the Slytherin-Hufflepuff Transfiguration class left in groups.
'Professor? You wanted to see me?'
'Ah yes, Aidan my boy. I see you have invited young Mister Riddle to join us as well?' Dumbledore's eyes twinkled while Aidan rolled his eyes in exasperation and Tom looked smug. Obviously at not being told to leave yet. 'Well perhaps it is a good thing he was to insistent to accompany you.'
'Professor?' Aidan was confused. Dumbledore had not been particularly happy at the friendship between Tom and himself but had grown to accept his decision, although he had often warned Aidan against it.
Tom narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Dumbledore had never liked him from the very first day Dumbledore had met him in the orphanage to introduce him to the Wizarding World. His suspicion had not faded in six years why was he glad to offer information now?
'Aidan, I am afraid I may have put you in grave danger by making you the Dumbledore Heir,' Dumbledore looked saddened.
'What do you mean? Why would making Aidan you heir be dangerous for Aidan?' Tom asked, cutting through Dumbledore's next words.
'There have been … rumours that Grindelward holds a grudge against me for a past grievance. He believes that it will hurt me deeply to destroy all I hold dear. He is correct in that assumption, and the assumption that you and I are close. We may not be as close as he seems to believe but he will come after you nonetheless. I am sorry Aidan, I never expected this.'
'Don't worry, No one could have foreseen something like this,' Aidan said, suddenly looking older than he was to the other occupants of the classroom. He looked like he understood more than he was letting on. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, Aidan should not have lived through a war but it seemed he had. Tom assumed it was because of Aidan's parents' deaths and going into hiding. It was close to the truth.
'Mister Riddle, I request just this one thing of you. Look out for Aidan, please,' Dumbledore's light blue eyes locked on Tom's own darker orbs pleadingly. Tom nodded without second thought, he would have looked out for Aidan anyway as would the rest of the Court if they knew.
'Could we pass on this information to the rest of our friends?' Tom asked thoughtfully.
Dumbledore nodded in relief, 'You may but keep the information among yourselves. We do not want Gellert to know how much we know.'
Tom nodded and swept out the classroom with Aidan in tow, slightly surprised at his ability to pull Aidan out of the classroom. Aidan's mind was obviously mulling over the problem, thinking up and casting away ideas at the blink of the eye. The boy was truly brilliant but this situation worried Tom slightly. How could they predict Grindelward's moves? There were students in Slytherin House whose parents were part of Grindelward's men, that were planning on joining him after they left school. How could they counteract that? The only way to gain Slytherin House loyalty was to show traits of Slytherin himself, the only well known one was Parseltongue. It was close to impossible for Aidan to be able to speak parseltongue, the Gaunts were the last of the Slytherin line. Tom was jolted from his train of thought when he found himself unable to pull Aidan along anymore. He turned around to face him.
Aidan looked amused. 'Are you quite done dragging me around Hogwarts?'
'What are you talking about?'
'We passed the Transfiguration classroom twice. What were you thinking about?'
'I don't know how you can be so calm about the Dark Lord hunting after you,' Tom said shaking his head. 'I was thinking about your unique situation. There are future Grindelward followers within Slytherin; the only way to keep their silence would be to show that you have an ability of Slytherin's. Cunning is what everyone in the house has. The only possibility is parseltongue, and that's impossible.'
'No it's not,' Aidan said softly but firmly, green eyes on Tom's still form. Tom's eyes widened slightly when the meaning of the words caught up to him a few seconds later.
'That would mean-'
'Yes, Tom. I'm a paresltongue, catch up would you. You're usually quicker than this,' Aidan remarked drily.
'Why didn't you tell anyone?' Tom breathed in excitement.
'What exactly was I supposed to say? Oh hi, I'm Aidan Morin and I'm a parseltongue,' Aidan said sarcastically. 'Gosh, would you use those brains of yours? Wake up!' Aidan hissed, suddenly annoyed. He turned on heel and stalked off, leaving Tom staring after him in the middle of the corridor in shock.
What luck, Aidan thought, straight from one Dark Lord after my blood and right to another. The only difference was the fact that he knew Grindelward would be defeated by Dumbledore either this year or next year. Only two years, unlike the Dark Lord of Aidan's time. Merlin knew how long he would be staying for. Aidan sighed, he regretted snapping at Tom. It wasn't really Tom's fault. He was annoyed at himself, he was unable to fade into obscurity even in a time he technically did not exist in. All hopes of ever being normal were futile.
Aidan walked three times up and down outside the place he knew as the entrance to the Room of Requirement. He wanted to look for Tom but in his current mood it would not be a good idea. He has only ever felt like this once before, after hearing the prophecy in Dumbledore's office. He would probably make it worse whenever he was in this kind of mood, he always made things worse. He needed to do something. Hogwarts seemed to read his mind, it was the same room he had used while training the DA. The charmed opponent was also there, although the thing looked more like it could fight back with two legs rather than the wheels. The doors closed gently behind him as he took a few more steps into the room.
Aidan dropped his bag near the door and shrugged out of his cloak. Might as well do something constructive with the anger, he thought as he bowed to the figure. As long as he didn't get too hurt and the room had a couple of healing potions, the training dummy bowed back. A clinking of glass bottles alerted Aidan of the fact that the room had conceded to his wishes. Aidan cast the first spell.
It was like fighting the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries again, except this time there was no one to protect and no back up. Many cuts and bruises later and the training doll was smashed into bits, Aidan was breathing hard. It had been a while since he had dueled like that. A clapping sound alerted Aidan to the fact that he had an audience.
He whirled around before smiling slightly, 'Professor Abbot.'
Leaning against the door casually was the lean form of the Dueling Professor. His hazel eyes looked impressed; his brown hair was tied up at the base of his neck. His arms were folded casually in front of him. 'It is rare to find one as adept in dueling as you are.'
'Thank you, professor.' Aidan cast a refreshing charm on himself and grabbed his bag and cloak.
'With that skill, why did you not choose Duelling as one of your electives,' Professor Abbot asked, following Aidan out of the room which quickly disappeared once more.
'I did not want to overload myself. I needed some time to get used to the new scenery and settle myself into the new environment, but thank you,' Aidan said firmly with a quick smile at the professor.
'Mister Morin, I doubt you would be pushing yourself that much if you took Duelling as another elective. You would fly by,' Professor Abbot said convincingly.
Aidan laughed. 'Fine, I'll think about it. I'm not going to promise anything.'
'Good enough. I can't say I didn't try. Hope to see you in my class, Mister Morin,' the professor said as they split; Aidan once more heading towards the library while the professor turned around to walk back the way they had come from.
No one from the Court took Duelling. They had either been taught it at home by their parents of deemed it unnecessary. Aidan would need to know what he was getting himself into if he did take Dueling as an extra elective this late.
Thank you to everyone who followed and favourited this story so far. You guys rock.
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