Chapter 35 - Dumbledore's true face
Silence and anticipation could be felt in the Great Hall. What would happen next? Would they really kill Dumbledore? And would the Headmaster step so low and tried to rape a member of his staff and abduct a toddler?
"Stop, you can't kill me. You need me. I'm the only one, who Riddle feared. Without me, he would attack the school.", screamed Dumbledore. DEATH had removed the silencing spell, that had been placed on him a few minutes earlier.
"You're wrong, old man.", smirked Voldemort. "I can guarantee, that he wouldn't even think of attacking the school. After all, why should he attack his real home?"
"He would only have a reason to attack, when you would be so stupid and tried to keep the only person away from him, that could stop this war. The question is, are you such a big oaf, who would risk a war, so that you can deny your own past mistakes?", asked Voldemort rhetorically.
"Hey Buddy, I'm not sad to say it at all. I have never feared you. However I had other priorities than to deal with you personally, old coot. You know the really important ones, balancing magic, which you almost managed to wipe out. Securing my rather stubborn mate. Researching rituals. And bonding with his son."
"W-Wh-WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?", croaked Dumbledore aghast.
Tom smirked impishly and laughingly announced to the Great Hall: My Name is Tom Marvolo Riddle jr. I am 35 years old and have spend the last few years abroad, because of the misguided war of my beloved late father LORD VOLDEMORT. I am Lord Slytherin, Lord Peverell and Lord Gaunt, not to mention that I am Baronet Riddle."
"My eyes are this interesting colour, as the result of a ritual going astray. I have come back to Wizarding Britain to finally claim my mate after ensuring the safety of my father's devoted followers. Those who you have demonised. Did you ever had any real proof or was it just your usual modus operandi to getting rid of darker families? Newsflash – it is not forbidden to have a magical tattoo or to still follow the old ways, old man. I have my father's journals who have written everything down. How you have send him willingly back to an abusive orphanage during the Blitz as the Germans dropped bombs on London and other British cities."
"Justice will be served and we will mete it out, old man!", stated Lady Magic hauntingly. "But before we do this, I have one question. Neville did you really use your magic to throw desserts on DEATH?", asked the goddess, while a slight smile was visible on her face.
Neville still securely on his father's hip, smiled impishly and nodded twice to confirmed that he really have flung different desserts on DEATH.
"And why have you done it, child?", wanted Lady Magic to know. She had a certain assumption, but she wanted it confirmed, before she would let her emotions running wild.
Neville looked her openly in the eyes and said: "He was a big meanie to my Daddy. Nobody is mean to my Daddy! Tom suggested, that I should use some of the desserts to teach him a lesson."
"Really? I am not surprised at all. Tom you should know better than to encourage a child to do something like that. How old are you? This is childish, my dear child.", chided him Lady Magic.
"She is right, you shouldn't teach young ones to play pranks with magic. And I have the slight feeling it wasn't accidental at all.", admonished them Lady Fate who included all persons who are at the moment in the Great Hall in this warning.
"I like Tom. We can speak in our secret language and nobody can understand what we say, except Daddy.", interrupted them Neville happily.
"Why should this be a big deal, who want to communicate with snakes and dragons?", muttered Vlad annoyed. He was bored and he would like to ravish his mate rather sooner then later, but first they had to deal with the old coot, before he could ensnare Severus once more.
"And that's from someone, whose name can be either translated with Dragon or with Devil.", taunted him Voldemort. His pride and ego was very happy after the public declaration that Neville liked him. Maybe he can convince the little boy to say, he would like him best from all other besides of his daddy. Anything that would ensure that Severus forgive him his past transgressions.
Dumbledore still tried to get free from this binding and cursed inwardly. This shouldn't be happening. Severus should have been his, and no one should ever learned the truth. He remember the time, after he had killed Ariana, it was just his luck, that nobody of the light side ever know the truth. And Aberforth couldn't tell it, he had cursed him so badly, that he would be unable to convince anyone about the true personality of Albus Dumbledore.
He had agreed to be the vessel of one of the most dangerous demons of hell—Malphas – he would be able to change the tide to his favour once more. Why should he care that he will lose Hogwarts, when he only get his prize. Yes, it was time to became one with the demon and then nobody would be able to stop them.
Severus had softly spoken to his son and asked him to go back to Draco, so that he would be save from any magical backlash. Neville agreed after kissing his father once more softly on his cheek and apparated back on Draco's lap.
A mighty roar could be heard in the Great Hall and instead of the old man – stood a young man in his 30s, a cruel smile on his face, with cold blue eyes and in his hand a demonic fire whip.
"Have you already forgotten me, I have just bought my time, dearies. Now I will get my prize and you will learn the real meaning of fear."
"MALPHAS", growled DEATH he had recognised his old enemy as soon as he had changed in his usual form.
"Yes, I'm back! Do you really think, I would be defeated so easily? My dear boy, what have I told you, would happen, when you dared to defy me? Doesn't matter, you will learn the consequences of your folly, soon enough, my dear boy.", cackled the demon as his whip slung itself on Severus' neck and draw the young Stormdragon to the demon. Acidic claws destroyed his shirt and his trousers, while the demon relish in the fear of his hostage.
"I think I will take you right here, in front of them all. It's your own fault, and maybe I'll take your godson next. As part of your penance, my dear boy. Scream for me, and if you're lucky I could be merciful to your snakes. You will never be free again. I will kill your mates in front of your eyes, before you even know that you lost them forever. I should have taken you decades ago, as I have done it with Tom, as he attended this school. But Sirius Black had destroyed my chance. Azkaban was not to mild for this transgression, my dear boy."
This was a nightmare and it should end now, in that point was Severus & Emrys in agreement. Which sort of spell could be used on a demon, yes – that could even work. He kicked the demon into his groin and used a non-verbal Aguamenti on the whip, that was still slung on his neck.. She cooled off and Emrys apparated a few meters away from the still raging demon. He removed the whip and banished it. He held his empty hands in the direction of the fiend and screamed one word – which shouldn't be used lightly, as nothing else was so destructive—"DESTROYARE" - and it hit the demon direct into his heart. He exploded in minor shards, which had been collected by the Triad of Magic, Fate & DEATH in an indestructible jar. They would ensure that he will never come back ever again and would suffer for the rest of his life the full rage of the triad.
The young stormdragon – Emrys – was overtired, yes they have finished the old man, but he would have no problem to let his other half Severus deal with the aftermath, he want to go back to sleep. Severus felt, how his darker half drew back deep inside in his mind and his eyes changed their colour once more – a deep onyx, with a light ring of red around the iris, showed that the Stormdragon gone back to sleep once more.
He stumbled and would have fallen, but his mates react quickly and stabilised him from each side. Both had been worried, that the demon would harm their mate, but Severus had spectacularly dealt with this risk.
"Sleep, Sev. You have done more than enough.", whispered Tom in his ear. Tiredly nodded Severus and closed his eyes.
"I will bring him to his chambers, as I'm sure you do not know where they're located.", told Tom Dracula.
"As you wish, just ensure that he will sleep without nightmares. Dreamless sleep should be best.", agreed Dracula. They had almost lost their mate to this demon. How had he managed to fight against him and win? He had only come in his powers shortly ago and he wasn't completely grounded, yet. He knew that they would have to wait. Thanks to this old coot – who would have thought, that he would be the vessel of a demon? - Severus was back at square one – mistrusting anyone, who tried to get into his pants.
Tom waited patiently as Dracula placed their precious mate in his arms and then turned to left the room. As Minerva stopped him:
"One word of warning, Tom. Hurt him and I will end you.", growled Minerva angrily.
"I'm touched, Minnie. Why should I hurt him? He is my Precious. I would destroy this world, should he wish it, but I have no intention of hurting him. You have my word, old biddy.", smirked Tom.
"I know who you are, Tom.", said Minerva with clenched teeth.
"Really? And who am I?", asked Voldemort rhetorically.
"A wannabe Dark Lord, who needs a special appointment with a wooden spoon.", replied Minerva. "Who had declared that you're the right choice of him, had to have lost his mind."
"Hm, interesting – so you would say that Magic, Fate & DEATH are a bunch of lunatics?", commented Tom drily. He enjoyed to rile up his old classmate. He had enjoyed it during his school days and now it was even more hilarious.
"Apologise, Tom. Or we will punish you for certain trinkets.", admonished him Lady Magic.
Tom's face lost his colour and he answered: "Yes, my Lady. I apologise, Professor McGonnagall. It wasn't justified to make fun of you. Can I go now? I want him to rest proper, without having my stubborn mate bound to his bed."
"You can go, but heed our warnings, Tom.", dismissed him Lady Fate.
"Always, my fair ladies. Goodbye.", said Tom as he left the Great Hall with his precious cargo in his arms. He could apparate directly to Severus' chambers, hm better only nearby, to avoid unfriendly surprises.
Voldemort was surprised as he could enter Severus' chambers without any troubles, maybe the castle had sense his goodwill and chosen to help him a bit. Whatever he was just glad, that they would never see Dumbledore ever again. He laid him softly on his bed and accioed a healing cream and a dreamless sleep to help his mate over the aftershock of his latest ordeal.
He could have lost him, when Malphas/Dumbledore would have gotten their wish. However Severus had dealt so quickly and finally with him, he was still in awe, what for power slumbers into his precious mate.
"I will protect you, Severus. I will never let anyone else harm you ever again.", whispered he in Severus' ear and kissed him softly on his lips, before he switched off the lights. He went back to the living room and laid down on the couch. Sleep would be nice, and maybe after they have both rested, they could talk about their future.