The Serpent & The Lion

Chapter Twenty-Six

The Bill Is Signed

November had finally arrived at Hogwarts. The snow had already fallen covering the ground. The students enjoyed the snow unknowing about the danger that was growing. They enjoyed the muggle pens, drinks and food causing the headmaster to come up with more ideas. The students had a choice between wearing school robes or muggle clothes to class.

Salazar stormed down the corridors with his green robes blowing behind him. He wasn't pleased with Professor Dumbledore's changes in his school. He waved his hand and the door of his private potions lab flew open.

Severus jumped when the door slammed against the wall. He looked around and saw no one. He narrowed his eyes. "Who's ever here show your self!" He yelled, sucking his finger he had cut.

Salazar slowly showed his self in front of the head of Slytherin house. The founder was beyond angry and allowed the Potions Master to see him. Severus's mouth dropped at the sight of Salazar.

"Close your mouth you look like a gapping goldfish." Salazar hissed, grabbing some potions ingredients and sat them down on the lab table. "Close your mouth boy." Severus quickly closed his mouth. "Dumbledore has finally don't!" Salazar hissed cutting wormwood thinly than Severus ever could.

"What Salazar?" Severus asked, jumped when he slammed his fist down on the table.

"He's taken away the Dark Arts class I've made for many reasons." Salazar said, pouring moonstone liquid form into the hot caldron. "Hogwarts wasn't a seven year school, but a ten year school. Professor Dupit took those classes away! Hogwarts has been taken over by too many muggle-born students. The expecting testing has been forgotten!" He yelled, letting the violet cool.

The classroom door opened and Hermione walked into the room. She gently closed the door behind her. She looked around for her godfather. She knew he was in Salazar's private lab. Hermione walked down the small hall way. She knocked on the doorframe.

"Hermione." Severus and Salazar said at once. "What's wrong?" Hermione smiled at the men and walked further into the room. She sat down on one of the stools.

She tugged on one of her sleeves. "Nothings wrong." The men raised a brow at the young woman. "I'm just worried about Daddy is all. I got a letter from Mom this morning. His mark has been flaring up more lately."

Salazar turned on his heels and walked across the lab to a shelf. He pulled down a dusty century old jar. He walked over to witch. "You should have told me young lady." He said opening the lid. He lifted her sleeve. "Hermione you stupid girl!" Salazar ran his fingers across the very faint but visible mark of the skull and snake. "Tom's worse than we thought." He said, rubbing the cream of the red hot place on her arm. "I want you to carry this on you at all times. Understand?" said handing her the jar.

Hermione took the jar and placed it in her pocket. She let the tears fall down her cheeks. The skull had been slowly appearing since that flare up in the hallway and that had been nearly a month. She thought it would go away like it had been doing for along time, but it stayed and was becoming worse.

"Does Harry know?" asked Severus. Hermione shook her head. "Sweetheart you can't lose the baby. It's your father's only chance."

"I know that! I'm terrified of losing him!" Hermione yelled as the tears streamed down her face. Severus walked over to his goddaughter and took her in his arms. "Let go of me!" she yelled struggling in his arms.

Salazar swept from the lab. He needed to find Harry. He knew that he was the only one that could calm Hermione down. The founder stormed down the hall and he narrowed his eyes. Harry was in the headmaster's office. Salazar walked through the office door and shuttered it had too much Gryffindor color.

Albus sat behind his desk with his fingers pressed together. "Harry, I've noticed the weight gain on Hermione. Is there something you've like to tell me?"

Salazar squeezed Harry's arm and stood next to him. He turned his attention to the headmaster.

"No sir." Harry answered and sat back in his chair clearing his mind of memories and emotions.

"I've noticed one more thing that Miss Granger has not slept in her since her arrival at Hogwarts."

Harry narrowed his eyes at the professor. "First it's Hermione Riddle and secondly she has been sleeping in her bed. Your little 'spies' are a tad bit off Headmaster." Harry rose from his chair rested his hands on the desk and leaned forward. "The muggle clothes, the food and drinks. What are you planning? The founders didn't want their beloved Hogwarts based around muggle attire. You've forgotten our way of life Headmaster and I shall be the one to remind you."

Salazar smirked at the young man. He rested his hand on his shoulder. "Harry." He turned head way from the headmaster. "It's Hermione. She needs you. Now."

He nodded and turned back to the professor. "We are done here." Harry swept from the headmaster's office.

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Harry walked into the room were he found Hermione struggling in her godfather's arms. He turned Hermione around and took her in his arms. "Hush. Love, it's alright." He said gently, rocking her side to side. Hermione gripped the front of his robes and cried into his chest. " That's it. Let out all your worries."

Severus sighed and sat down on the stool behind him. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He shook his head. Amanda shouldn't have sent her daughter that letter informing her of her father's relapse. It wasn't a smart move on her part. Amanda wasn't thing about the emotional rollercoaster Hermione was on.

Hermione's body relaxed in Harry's arms. He felt her heart beat and breathing return normal and that her magic had stabilized. He looked up at Salazar and mouthed 'Thank you.' and the ghost nodded and smiled gently at the couple. Harry took Hermione to the heads' dorm to rest.

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Little note: The shadow students wore black robes with their house crest. Salazar had told them that's what the students wore when classes were not in sessions. They refused to wear muggle clothing eat or drink muggle food. Back to the story!

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Tom changed into black robes and ran his fingers trough his sliver hair. He grabbed his black travel cloak with the Riddle crest over the heart. He clasped the cloak into place with sliver serpent. He slipped his wand up his sleeve. Lestrange was still hiding waiting for the right time to strike and he couldn't afford to be killed. He grabbed the folder off the table that held the bill he was to present to the Muggle Prime Minister. He'd waited long as possible. He was weak but it needed to be done.

Tom walked down the stairs into the entrance hall. Skippy bounced into the entrance hall followed by Sirius, Remus, Amanda in Christian. He smiled at the group and they wished him luck. He nodded and walked out of the manor.

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Tom stood across the road from a large building. He stuck the portkey into his robe's pocket and walked across the street. He could have flooed to the Prime Minister's office, but he found it a better idea do things the muggle way not to startle the young man.

Tom pushed the door open and followed the signs around the building grateful for his knowledge in muggle machinery. He took the elevator to the seventh floor and walked down the long hallway. Tom stopped to get his breathing under control before he walked through the door. He pulled out his handkerchief and coughed. He pulled back the cloth and sighed at the sight of blood. He stuck it back into his robe's pocket and walked into the room.

Tom walked up to the woman with long black hair and blue eyes. She was talking on the phone when he walked up to the desk. She raised her finger and continued to talk to the person on the other end. Tom took the moment and read the plate on her desk. Hanna Lupin He smiled and the woman hung up the phone.

"Hello sir. Can I help you?" Hanna asked.

"Yes I believe you can Hanna. Now if I can remember correctly the last time I saw you. You were five years old and Remus Lupin is your great uncle." Tom said and smiled.

Hanna stood up. "Mr. Riddle." He nodded. "It's been a long time." Hanna said and walked around the counter. He gave her a hug. She pulled back. "I'm here to see the Prime Minister." He said, looked around saw no one. "About," lifted up his left sleeve, "Shadow business, dear child."

Hanna's eyes widen. "Oh dear lord. Things have gotten that bad for you to call the order back together." Tom nodded. "Come with me. Sarah take my calls for me." The girl nodded and Hanna led Tom down the hall.

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Hanna knocked on the door. They heard a man call enter. She opened the door and allowed Tom to walk in and she walked in closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Dean looked up and smiled at Hanna. "Hi dear." he said to his fiancée. Tom looked at the couple and smiled. Dean turned and looked at the man next to Hanna. "What can I do for you sir?"

"Dean this is very important. This is Tom Riddle."

"Tom Riddle? My grandfather spoke very highly of you." He gave the man a puzzled look. "Dean Tuner. He was killed a few years back. By wizard know as Voldemort." Tom's face went white.

He remembered that well. Dean Turner was an auror and was killed in a death eater attack. Dean was also a member of the Shadows. Tom eased his shaking body into a chair behind. He looked at the minister with sad eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You might want to silence the room." Dean told him. Tom waved his hand and the room was charmed. He shook his right hand in order to stop the shaking. "Now please continued. It most be very important for the leader of the Shadows to be in my office." Tom handed the minister the folder with a shaky hand. Dean took the folder.

"A man named Albus Dumbledore will be coming by in two months. He wants to bill signed. He wants to link our two worlds." Dean's eyes widen. "You know how dangerous it would be." He nodded. "Hogwarts is still standing but her wards are weak. The more muggle-borns that enter our world are causing problems. We are forced to enlarge of homes and villages. It is making it harder to ward and conceal to from the sidelights. My shadow spy has informed me that Hogwarts has been spotted more than once over a short time of period. Dean we are almost exposed. The Shadows need your help."

Dean studied the man and opened the folder. He read over the bill. He chewed on the top of pin. Hanna looked at Tom than looked at Dean praying he would sign the bill. Dean looked up. "Mr. Riddle it would be wise for me to have a list of all the children with magical abilities so they may be looked after. Than I want a list of who shadow will be teaching whom and the last thing I want it magically update along with those that are abused and those that have had their memories and magic stripped."

"I'll have Kingsley right on top of it." Tom told him. "He'll bring you the list." Dean smiled and quickly signed the bill. "I believe this will help both worlds Mr. Riddle." said Dean. Tom raised his hand and the wards dropped.

"I believe they will." Tom said, rose from his seat. He shook his right hand. "Congratulations. When's the wedding?"

"In February." Dean answered.

"Good luck. May I use the fireplace?" Dean nodded. Tom walked over to the fireplace. "Riddle Manor!" He was gone in a swirl of green flames.

Dean placed the bill the filing cabinet and sat back down at his desk. Hanna kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the office. He sighed. He knew he had done the right thing for both worlds.

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