Of reconsidering old truths
The next thing Sirius knew was landing with a jarring roll on sold stone. Tumbling onto his right side painfully.
"Fuck!" He growled. Clenching the fist still holding his wand on the ground he forced himself to his feet, shoulder shrieking in pain, he was pretty sure it was sprained. He looked around warily and switched wand hands. He wouldn't be able to raise his right arm very high, However as an Auror it was complete idiocy to not be able to cast with both hands, like saying, 'hey, come slaughter me.' Cruikshanks was next to him, perched on a water fountain by the wall and peered down the alley, fur bristling. He then jumped down and walked the opposite direction, tail high.
Sirius looked after the disappearing cat and rolled his eyes, peering around him in suspicion, in his experience when you suddenly appeared somewhere you shouldn't, something was waiting for you.
"You're quite right, Mister Black. I was waiting for you"
"Stupefy! Repello Inimicum" Sirius cried, whipping around and firing off two spells in quick succession, instead of the sphere expanding around Sirius it expanded around where the voice had come from just like it had around the locket before. The yellow stunner had become trapped inside, ricocheting around the blue shield.
This particular shield was different from others however. It created large fiery explosions when hit with any spell, therefore the constant contact of the stunner made the inside of the sphere look like a small minefield.
Sirius waited, strengthening his Occlumency skills. Then he heard someone begin to clap.
"Sirius Orion Black. You are very similar to your brother you know that?"
"Tch'" Sirius crouched and growled, eyes turning black.
"Now, now, there isn't such a need for this hostility." Suddenly a hand appeared and connected with the stunner, the yellow light turned black and wisped away. The violent explosions ceased and revealed a man standing there in muggle clothing.
He tilted his head behind the shield and smiled, casting his arms and hands to his shoulders in an 'I surrender gesture.'
"Really, can't we at least get through introductions first? Truly civility is a rarity." Tom said airily.
He then swept his arms to his waist and gave a bow, "My name is Tom Riddle." He announced.
"Call yourself whatever you want, I know who you really are." Sirius snarled, "I'll admit I wasn't sure…until now." Those damned eyes were unmistakable.
Tom straightened, said eyes narrowing at Sirius behind the barrier, "And just who do you think I am?"
"DON'T PAY DUMB WITH ME FUCKER!" Sirius roared, then spat with venom
"You're Lord Voldemort."
Tom's hands clenched, eyes becoming hard "Don't. Call. Me. That." He snarled, waving his hand and remarking calmly
"You know the funny thing about this shield; it only reflects spells weaker than it." Tom's hands began to glow, illuminating the smile he still wore.
"Lumen Dissulto" He spoke softly, electricity crackling around him and bursting the shield into splinters of glass-like magic, Sirius covered his eyes at the blinding flash of light and heat that encompassed the street. Suddenly leaping to the side to barely dodge a burst of lightening that connected with where he'd just stood.
He cursed, and readied himself for a counterattack when he felt the warm tip of a wand connect with his throat. He turned his head slightly to find his opponent behind him.
Tom's bright red eyes peered at him from the shadows of the darkened street; they glowed like hot stones, a darker ring of crimson around his snake like pupil.
He spoke calmly, "I don't want to have to hurt you Black, I need you."
Sirius rumbled, his teeth sharp and eyes a dark black. "Well that's convenient, cuz I really, really want to hurt you, Vol-de-mort." He enunciated the name, throat moving under the tip of the wand. It pressed harder and Tom leaned in to growl,
"Don't test me mutt, I didn't say I wouldn't enjoy having you dead. Harry talks about you Far. Too. Much for my liking."
Sirius roared and with a single twitch morphed into Padfoot, shrinking rapidly and snapping his jaws around thin air. Tom had apparated some feet away, landing with a light step.
Sirius barked and snapped his jaws, morphing into a man once again in order to say furiously.
"You stay away from Harry you twisted fuck! What more do you want with him!"
"Nothing, only to teach him."
"Teach him how to kill?" Sirius snapped back.
Tom arched an eyebrow, "Sometimes death is a more dignified existence for some." Then he chuckled "But you know this quite well don't you, Mister Black?" Tom tapped his temple with his wand. "I saw."
Sirius's eyes narrowed, "Shut up." He growled, but Tom continued,
"Your memory of that poor woman, Rosalee? Tragic story that one, was it really Geraint Ollivander I saw? My god he was supposed to have died in the middle ages. I guess you could say he did not age well." Tom snarked.
"I said shut up!" Sirius sent a wordless curse, which Tom blocked with his hand once more, the magic merely vanishing in black tendrils.
"There's no point in fighting Black, you can't hurt me. This world is my creation, its magic is mine."
"Then I'll tear you to shreds!" Sirius roared, tossing his wand to the side, it clattered a few feet away on the cobblestone.
"And disappoint Harry? Take away the only true friend he's ever had, haven't you neglected him enough? Where were you when he was hidden away in your house? Did you just leave him there when his parents died?"
"You sick bastard, you're talking to me about his parents! You're the reason they're dead!"
Tom stilled, eyes narrowing "What are you talking about mutt?"
Sirius growled in anger again, "I fucking said quit playing dumb! You went to their house that night; you murdered my friend and you killed his wife. Then you turned your wand on Harry! "
Tom couldn't keep his shock from his face, "You're lying." He snapped, eyes glowing..
Sirius blinked, surprise overtaking him; of all the answers he expected, that wasn't one of them.
He finally took a proper look at the wizard in front of him. A young man, maybe mid twenties or so, with muggle clothes, and they both seemed to be standing in the middle of a darkened Diagon alley.
Something wasn't adding up. This was Voldemort, Sirius knew it, but…it wasn't.
Then it clicked, the one forbidden dark ritual. "My god…..' He whispered, 'a soul shard…"
Tom said nothing; and Sirius could only gape, then his mouth twisted in disgust.
"You really stop at nothing; you had to cross that one line, and make Lord Voldemort eternal!"
Tom's face changed, fury evident.
"I said, don't call me that! It doesn't belong to you!" He snarled suddenly. "Weren't you ever known as someone else?!" he snapped, he had never expected his school persona to cause him such frustration now, continuing with a tinge of exasperation,
"It meant absolutely nothing to the rest of the world! But to my death eaters I was their leader, their lord. They looked to me for guidance and protection! To them I was Voldemort. NO ONE ELSE!" He roared.
"And then what? You thought the whole world would bow to your idea of supremacy, just stand by while you and they destroyed the muggles!" Sirius retorted angrily.
Tom laughed, loudly with mocking tinge. It slowly devolved into a dark chuckle; he crossed one arm under his elbow and brought a hand to his face, placing his middle finger and index on the bridge of his nose and pressing lightly.
"Idiot, mass murderers have never inspired loyalty." He sighed tiredly, drawing one hand back over his hair and looking up at the sky. Tucking his wand into his pocket and placing his hand on his hip.
"Nagini told me what measures were taken after the fifth horcrux but he stopped bringing her on the missions after that. What a mess this has turned out to be."
He stared at Sirius, lowering his hand from his head. "My intention was never to wipe out the muggles." He stated calmly but continued with a subdued fury.
"I will say I hate them, and it would give me immense pleasure to see all of them wiped off the face of the earth. But as I said, a tyrant will never inspire any amount of loyalty or admiration. It is the heroes who receive that"
Sirius stood there, angry and torn; here was the dark lord right in front of him but….he wasn't the same person as the one who murdered James and Lily. It was like Sirius had gone back in time and met Voldemort before he became what he'd become.
Tom took a step closer, only one. "I don't know exactly what happened after my consciousness was sealed in here. But I know what I meant to happen, and it never involved genocide."
Sirius snorted, "So what? You brought me here just to…proclaim your innocence? Bullshit!"
'It's the truth. However, I admit I do need something from you."
Sirius chuckled sardonically, "Thought so. If you think I'm gonna betray my friends you might as well kill me now."
"Haven't you been listening?" Tom exclaimed with a touch of anger.
"I have no interest in your so called 'friends' mutt, what I want to know is why Dumbledore is interested in Harry. And why my….self, went after him."
Sirius looked at Tom warily, weighing the pros and cons, and then answered slowly. "Something, about a prophecy I think.' Sirius cocked head, trying to remember, he knew James had told him the whole thing. 'Harry was the child it spoke of, with a power to kill the dark lord."
Tom reeled, "All of this, because of a prophecy?….figures. So Dumbledore needs him so the dark lord will perish, and my other self needs him dead. Quite the mess indeed." Tom shook his head, then grew contemplative.
"Wait…you said my other self turned his wand on Harry. Why isn't he dead?" Tom murmured.
"The spell rebounded." Sirius stated shortly, not wanting to think about that night and the fact that the culprit was almost standing in front of him.
Tom furrowed his brow, rebounded? That was strange, if mother and father were both dead, then why did the spell rebound? Why wouldn't he have used the killing curse?
"I need more information." Tom said lowly.
He then looked to Sirius, "Listen Black, I was telling the truth when I said I don't wish to hurt you or Harry. The only thing I want is freedom"
"Help me to obtain that, and I can give you what you want."
Sirius could only glare, 'You have nothing I want."
Tom smirked, "Not even Pettigrew?"
Sirius stilled, mouth forming into a thin line.
"He'll come to me you know, I've seen him through Nagini's eyes. A cowardly pathetic specimen of wizard; I have no need for him"
"I could give him to you." Tom dangled. "You'd have everything back, your name, freedom…a life with Harry. It's what we both want, isn't it?"
Sirius hesitated a moment; deliberating, here was the most feared wizard in the world, offering up every one of his desires, namely Wormtail's head on a silver platter. And it reeked of a devils deal.
"Two conditions." Sirius barked, coming to a decision. "No matter what, you will protect Harry, from anyone who wishes to hurt him. And you won't harm another muggle, NOT ONE. "
Tom pursed his lips, annoyed but impressed.
"Very well," he sighed and pulled out his wand to place it over his heart.
"I, Tom Marvolo Riddle hereby swear to never harm a muggle, and to guard Harry until my dying breath," A rope of golden magic sunk into Tom's chest. If one could see his heart, they would see a golden tendril wrap around the red organ, glowing slightly then becoming one with it.
Tom let out a breath as the constricting feeling abated and looked Sirius in the eye. "Fair enough?" He asked.
"For now." Sirius retorted.
Suddenly a huge blur ran in between the two wizards, starling both of them. Orange and fluffy it skittered across the smooth stones, chasing after a mouse that walked calmly unawares of the cat that tried to catch it. Cruikshanks attempted to paw at the mouse but only managed to pass his claws straight through the rodent; quickly discovering it was futile and simply began cleaning his back.
Tom looked at the cat in slight amusement; he could tell it had an innate sense about situations beyond that of most animals. If Nagini managed not to eat him they might make good friends, maybe even companions?
"We'll talk again Black, until then do try to keep an eye on Harry." Tom said, flicking his eyes to Sirius.
Sirius snorted but said nothing, merely walking over pick up his wand.
"What is Harry to you?" He asked suddenly, straightening and staring at Tom solidly. "Why are you so focused on him?"
Tom was silent for a moment, pondering his answer, then whispered "He's like no one I've ever encountered; respectful yet protective, powerful but humble, and with such a voice that was never heard before, he is….beautiful." Tom's eyes glowed slightly, a deep, red color.
Sirius grunted, thinking back on that day. "Yeah, he is."
Tom didn't much care for the affectionate look Sirius had on and spoke abruptly,"Until next time, Black. By the way, don't make Harry late again, it isn't good for his sleep schedule." Sirius glared and fumed silently at the other man.
Tom waved his hand and without a sound Sirius and Cruikshanks vanished. Tom was once more standing alone in the middle of the alley.
Tom turned round and walked slowly back down the street. One lone figure in a world of memories that never ceased. He would escape from this hell, and now…he had permission from Black to always keep Harry by his side, Tom smirked. After all, the best way to protect his boy was to never let him go, right?
Heyo ducklings! How's your day…good? YAY! ^_^
Not so good? Don't worry, it'll get better! Here's a virtual hug from me to you to make sure it does! *squeeeeeeeeeeeze*
Ps. Not a dumbles bashing story just in case some of you were worried, I like the old lemony coot =3, and sorry it's a little shorter today. Longer one next week!