Remember: this is considered an alternate universe. So some things may not be as you remember.

171)

"Hello, Tom. I am Mr. Nott. My nephew has spoken very highly of you."

Tom instantly didn't trust this man. He knew this was Roger's uncle, from how much the younger boy had spent just talking about him. But Roger had no magic, and this man before him had magical ability and either didn't know how to hide it or couldn't. Tom nodded at the man.

"It's nice to meet you, sir," he replied respectfully.

"Tom, do you know why I'm here?" he asked. Tom shook his head and became curious when Mr. Nott hesitated.

"Tom, how do you like Hogwarts?" he asked. Tom's eyes widened imperceptibly.

"Sir?"

"What's your favorite class?"

172)

". . .I don't really have a favorite. . .I'm interested in learning all that I can. . .but I can say that I enjoy Professor Merryweather's lessons very much," Tom replied hesitantly, wary of this man. Mr. Nott, however, only seemed to smile.

"And what's your favorite branch of magic?" the older man then asked. Alarm bells rang loudly in his head, and Tom stood up from his chain, moving to put it between him and the man.

"With all due respect, who are you, really?" Tom asked. Mr. Nott's face lit up.

173)

"My name is Theodore Nott the seventh, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. Because you are a magical and not a mundane, and have known about it for over an entire school semester already, you are actually supposed to have been placed with magical guardians should you have no parents. I've looked into you, Tom Riddle, and your mother was a witch while your father was a mundane-"

"I know that, already," Tom interrupted. At Mr. Nott's questioning gaze, he continued. "I took the Bloodline Test at Gringotts and they had told me." Mr. Nott nodded, and then continued.

174)

"As a half-blood, you should have been placed with a magical family to allow you to do your homework and practice your magic over the holidays. Unfortunately, I've noticed that is not the case with you." Tom didn't mention to him that he knew his true lineage.

"I had asked Professor Dumbledore about if I could stay at Hogwarts for the summer, because I didn't want to come back here for the holidays, and he told me that I had to come back to the Orphanage. I had asked him about staying with a friend and his answer was the same. Was he wrong, sir?" Tom asked. Mr. Nott frowned.

175)

"He was right about you not being able to stay for the summer at Hogwarts, Tom," the older man replied truthfully. "The castle wards, every summer, purges the castle of all negative magic and any dangerous creatures that have taken residence within the castle walls, as long as the Headmaster initiates it. All living beings, besides the house elves since they are tied directly to the castle, are eradicated. However, to staying with a friend, I see no reason why you could not have gone with them instead of coming back here." Mr. Nott stood up and made his way to Tom's window, to look outside and grimace at the cleanliness of the streets outside.

176)

"That is why I am here." He turned back to pierce Tom with a stare. "I am here, with your permission, to relocate you to a magical family that will take care of you during the holidays, and hopefully give you a home to come to when school is out."

Tom hesitated. "How soon?" he asked. "How soon until a family is found for me to live with?" Mr. Nott looked apologetic.

"Unfortunately, the process will take a month, so when things finalize, you will already be back at school if we start now." Tom released the breath he didn't know he was holding. "Would that be alright?"

177)

Tom nodded. "That would be perfect, actually," Tom confessed, his summer plans swirling in the back of his mind with an inward smile.

"Great. Then I'll start processing the paperwork now," Mr. Nott replied. "If you have any questions, just owl me-"

"Sir, I don't have an owl."

"If you have a few knuts, you can rent an owl at the Owl Post Office," Mr. Nott said. "Now, I must be off. I will contact you in a month via owl post to tell you of how everything is going," he then said, before turning in place and Disapparating with a subdued crack.

178)

Tom was ecstatic. If all went well, he would get out of this place and live somewhere where he could call home. He and Hermione could even talk through the floo like a telephone, if the many conversations between Abraxus and Amira these past few weeks were of any consideration.

Tom wondered what his new family would be like. Would he have a mother and a father? Would he have siblings just like him, or would the children be the actual children of the parents? Would the family be pure-blood or half-blood? Would it really matter?

179)

What made him still in rage, however, was the idle thought of what Professor Dumbledore would think. His transfiguration professor had stressed the importance of going back to the orphanage, EVERY YEAR, with no certain explanation of why he should go back. This definitely wasn't his home. But, quickly brushing that thought aside as he was tempted by the vision of Hermione's adoptive parents fostering him.

With a smile, Tom took one of his books from his trunk to do his homework, failing to notice his door opening just a crack, and a pair of angry eyes peering in.

What he did see, however, was that, ten minutes later, Roger talking to a hooded man on the street.

180)

There was no cause for alarm at the moment, since Roger had spoken to this man numerous times over the holiday. Tom merely wrote it off as the boy talking to a beggar. Mrs. Cole had no reason to be alarmed, and it's not like the boy had any connections to Tom whatsoever besides annoying little gnat.

What was cause of alarm, however, was when the hooded man pull out what Tom knew was a wand. From the wand came a brilliant green light and Tom jumped to his feet just as Roger fell limply to the ground. The hooded figure suddenly looked frustrated, as he was trying to do another piece of magic, but couldn't.

Thanks to crimsonelf, odetted99, murozod, sax97, arashikaze, jane black granger, Tonight timiibii, Jen103, Squishysib and adrianiforever for reviewing, alerting, and favoring. Thanks to everyone who read! :)

So, I'm practically an abomination for dropping off the face of the planet for the past two months. My only excuses were out of state for 3 weeks with no internet, three weeks of exams, and then bogging down with work. . .but that's still no excuse for leaving you all stranded! I'm going to be posting three chapters today, and then attempt to keep up constant updates from now on. They won't be as constant as my previous three times a week, mark, but I will be updating at least once a week. Thursday will be my goal days, so things should stay constant. I am going to be very busy, since I now have seven other projects to do as well, but things will get done! Thank you to those who have kept with me, and thank you to all who have been very patient. I love you all!