Chapter 19
VISION AND REVELATION
I was sitting in the main hall of the Chamber of Secrets and scrutinized the result of my weeks of toil. It was a parchment that showed Hogwarts castle and grounds, as well as all people marked as small named dots. I compared the map to the other, much older parchment. Apart from the greeting of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, the two maps were identical.
Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger were sitting together in the library, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle were relaxing in front of the fireplace in the Slytherin common room, Remus Lupin and Rubeus Hagrid were in the Forbidden Forest hunting Dark creatures for Lupin's lessons, Lee Jordan was preparing a prank outside the prefects' bathroom, Cuthbert Binns was lecturing to an empty classroom, Peter Pettigrew was visiting the kitchen, Percival Weasley and Penelope Clearwater were clearly taking their Head Boy and Girl duties very seriously by being on a voluntary patrol in an unused hallway, making sure no student was doing anything naughty…
I had made it! The Marauder's Map was no longer the only item in existence that could track people at Hogwarts.
Creating a new map had not actually been very difficult. Since I knew making one was possible using only student level skills, I had just needed to keep looking for the right trick until I succeeded. I had searched the Chamber of Secrets many times, even asking help from the Basilisk, and eventually I had found a small, unremarkable stone with hidden runes carved in it. It was an anchor stone of the Hogwarts wards placed in a narrow crevice, hidden from the sight of those Heirs of Slytherin who did not specifically look for it.
The most difficult part after that had been to learn how to use the runes. Fortunately, they were designed to be used, and after trial and error I had found the part that tracked every being. I was quite sure there had once been an official map which had displayed the information the ward gathered, because my new map had started to function immediately after having been connected to the ward.
I proceeded to connect more parchments to the ward; five new maps to be given to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the Weasley twins. I would keep the original Marauder's Map myself, because the new ones had a special property which I had added: I could deactivate them whenever I pleased, or make them hide the whereabouts of people I did not want them to show. (When I gave tools to others, I made sure they could not be used against me.) Also, I had connected each of them to a small piece of parchment that told me which ones of the new maps were active. Of course, my little friends did not need to know about such necessary precautions.
I left the Chamber of Secrets, and after arriving in the girls' bathroom (the wards could not detect anything in the Chamber), I looked at the maps. There was a new dot on each of them: Tom Valedro – not Riddle anymore. Changing my name had been very straightforward. Unfortunately, I had not been able to make myself the Headmaster, because there was some requirement coded in the ward, probably the willing consent of the previous holder of the office.
Exactly as the maps showed me, I found Fred and George in a room in the dungeons, next to the Potions classroom. They had probably smuggled ingredients from Potions classes, and with the set I had given them at Christmas they had begun to create their prank sweets.
"What's this, an unauthorized laboratory?" I barked from the doorway, making them jump.
"Valedro," one of them said. "Some manners!"
"I wouldn't call this an unauthorized laboratory," said the other one. "You gave many of these ingredients to us. I would call that an implicit authorization by a prefect."
"Good point there. However, it was not your Potions that brought me here. I've a reason to suspect a much more severe violation of school rules. Have you ever seen this?" I showed them the Marauder's Map.
The twins' expressions went from shocked to hurt.
"Harry told you about it?"
"You – a prefect."
"A person of authority!"
"Are you forgetting how I became a prefect? Not by being Percy. I pranked Snape and the Slytherin Quidditch team in front of the entire school, and you called me an Honorary Marauder. True to that recognition, I studied this Map Harry showed me in order to create these!"
I showed them the new maps.
"That's right, I was able to create more Marauder's Maps," I pointed out to their greedy faces. "One of them shall be yours in exchange for a small service on your part."
"You certainly are a true Marauder," one of the twins said.
"But a Slytherin at the same time," said the other one. "And such a deadly combination freaks us out. What do you want us to do?"
"I have need for your creative and unscrupulous minds. I have a meeting next Thursday after dinner with Harry and friends in the secret room in the hallway of Barnabas the Barmy. Join us in training to fight against the Dark Arts. When we combine our wits, we will create the means of pranking Sirius Black and his ilk into oblivion. I will teach you my own Gravity Amplifying Charm. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with many uses for it."
"We'll be there," the twins said, smirking.
"There's you map," I said, offering them one. "And thanks for giving the original one to Harry."
After leaving the twins with their concoctions, I headed towards the library where I found Harry, Ron, and Hermione busy with homework.
"I still don't get it," Ron was complaining. "You simply don't have enough time for all subjects. And if it's supposed to be a mistake that some of your lessons are marked to be at the same time in your timetable, why haven't you corrected them?"
"If you minded your own problems, maybe you wouldn't need my help with your essays," Hermione snapped.
Hermione's strange lesson plans had been a constant topic of discussion with my three Gryffindor minions, something I found quite annoying. Ron really should have focused on more important matters.
"Hello, my young friends," I said. "As I've said before, I think Hermione is doing the right thing by studying Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. They're quite useful subjects, and today I can show you just how."
I gave each of them a new Marauder's Map.
"Created with my knowledge of Arithmancy and Runes. It is possible to use magical creatures in mischief, but more profound magical skills help you have your mischief managed."
The parchments cleared of all ink markings.
"Oh, thank you, Tom," Hermione said. "But I'm not that much into mischief…"
"That's too bad, because you have to solemnly swear that you are up to no good to use your Map. We must respect the original creators of this most impressive piece of magic."
"No more bumping into Mr Filch or Snape in the hallways," Harry grinned. "By the way, Tom, there's something I can do for you in return. Professor Lupin has agreed to teach me the Patronus Charm, and we've already had one lesson. Would you like to join us tomorrow? You're surely going to learn the spell faster than I am."
Harry had asked for my help after the Quidditch match, and I had tried to teach him the theory of the Patronus. We had not made any progress in our lessons in the Room of Requirement, because I just could not master the spell myself. It needed a mindset incompatible with my nature, even with everything I had learned from Ginny.
Then again, Dementor exposure was something people could become resistant against. Even if I would never learn to repel Dementors, at least I should grasp the opportunity to learn to withstand their influence long enough to Disapparate to safety. But there was also another thing that made me consider Harry's offer. It seemed strange, but in a way the idea of facing my inner darkness felt tempting. (According to books, this was not unusual. Some people had morbid fascination towards Dementor exposure.) On the train I had learned much about myself, but there might be more.
"All right, I'll be there," I decided. "No need to tell me the time or the place. I'll find you." With a wave of the Marauder's Map, I left the library.
The next evening was a usual one in the Slytherin common room. I showed the next spell to the Slytherin Duelling Club, added a text written by the immensely powerful witch Zoë Porphyrogenita to the list of recommendations for the Slytherin Reading Club, and took part in one of the discussions in the Slytherin Debate Society. When I noticed from the Marauder's Map that Harry and Professor Lupin were together in the History classroom, I excused myself and left the common room, suddenly feeling some reluctance towards facing a Boggart pretending to be a Dementor.
When I pushed open the door to the classroom, I found Harry and Professor Lupin sitting and drinking hot chocolate.
"Hello, Tom," Lupin greeted. "Harry already had one go against the Boggart. We're getting ready for the next try. Do you know how to cast the Patronus?"
"In theory," I said. "I haven't given much thought to a happy memory."
I sat down and took my cup of hot chocolate. So, a happy memory? Usually I did not dwell in the past, because I always had many plans for the future that demanded my full attention.
I had been in high spirits after I had broken free from the diary. I had been absolutely gleeful watching Vernon Dursley when he had realized that Harry had become the owner of Grunnings. Watching the Slytherin Quidditch team taunting Snape had been so comical that I had only barely managed not to laugh like so many others. But each one of these moments lacked something that was needed to conjure the Patronus. Perhaps I should concentrate on the brief moment during the Christmas feast when I had played The First Noel. It had been a rare moments of no plans to advance, no future benefit to look forward to, just living in the moment. Not fleeing the apathy, but free from it.
Harry and Lupin were talking about Harry's parents, and I quickly inferred that Lupin had known them in his school years. That made me recall Snape's words on Hallowe'en:
Do you think it is a mere coincidence that Black managed to enter Hogwarts just two months after you appointed his good –
James Potter and Sirius Black had been such good friends that Black had even been named Harry's godfather. Lupin had known Harry's parents. Then, most likely, he knew Black, too. And since I trusted Snape's judgment more than Dumbledore's when it came to traitors, I decided I should be more distrustful towards Lupin.
"They're buried in the graveyard of Godric's Hollow," Lupin mumbled, unaware of my suddenly less favourable thoughts about him. "I've visited it many times. They've got a simple tombstone… engraved are their names, dates of birth and death… and a message. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
"Wait – what?" I blurted.
"It's a biblical quote," Lupin explained. "Hm… perhaps I shouldn't have begun to talk about these things when we're about to practice the Patronus."
I felt as if some significant realization was about to manifest in my mind, but then Harry and Lupin stood up and faced a packing case. Hoping I would be able to grasp the realization later, I stood up as well.
At a flick of Lupin's wand, the packing case opened, and light and warmth drained away from the classroom. The Boggart's imitation of a Dementor was not as powerful as a real one, but easily strong enough to overwhelm me if I did not put up a fight. I was already wondering why I had come in the first place.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry said with a voice full of determination, but apart from a tiny spark of silver at the tip of his wand, nothing happened.
"Expecto Patronum," I said too, but in a very discouraged voice. My wand felt dead. Suddenly I realized what the point in casting the Patronus Charm was, it was right there in the incantation. You could only cast it if you expected that you could make it.
I repeated the incantation, concentrating on the Christmas feast. I had played the violin. I had looked at Ginny… but had she really looked that worried? No, it had been a happy occasion, everyone full of positive emotions. I had even felt safe in Dumbledore's presence, even though he sat on his throne with an evil grin on his old face, his wand in his hand.
I stopped playing the violin. He was not Dumbledore! The old man who stood up looked different, but still I could easily recognize the features.
Grindelwald, the Dark Lord who had doomed me to a childhood of misery by causing the world economy to collapse, had come to Hogwarts!
I dropped the violin and reached for my wand, but I was too late: the Dark Lord whipped his wand, and a terrible curse blasted against me in an instant.
It was a clear night when I followed the path with Harry and Lupin. The world was asleep, even the trees stood in total silence. We three companions were also silent, each of us deep in our own thoughts.
Then I heard the distant roar of a rapid. The path ended to a bank of a mighty river where water was running at dangerous speed. There was no bridge. Only those who dared to swim could reach the other side.
"This is not a problem magic cannot solve," I said.
We all took out our wands and waved them, binding fallen tree trunks into a sturdy bridge. Thanking fate for being a wizard, I began to cross the river.
But we stopped in our tracks when we saw a tall figure in a black cloak blocking the way.
"Congratulations," said a voice that made me shiver. "Cleverness beats bravery. I am used to travellers dying in the river. It is such an easy way of collecting souls that I have grown bored. You offer me rare challenge. For that, I am willing to reward you."
"Who are you?" Harry demanded, pointing the cloaked figure with his wand.
"I am Death", was the answer, and the figure opened his crimson eyes. Razor-sharp intelligence gleamed in them, and I realized he was someone who knew how to play the long game, never letting any hardship discourage him.
"What do you mean with rewarding us?" I asked.
"I will grant you your wishes," Death proclaimed. "Anything you want, my friends."
I did not have to think for long.
"I want power!" I said. "Give me something I can use to defeat my enemies!"
Death grinned and went to take a branch of an elder tree that stood on the river bank. Very quickly he crafted a wand of it and handed it to me.
"An invincible wand," he presented. "Your enemies will not stand a chance."
I accepted the gift, feeling amazing power ready to erupt at my command. The wand looked vaguely familiar as I studied its every detail, but I was not certain when and where I had encountered its likeness.
Death had turned to Harry.
"I want my mother and father back," he said simply.
Death fetched a small stone from under the elder tree and gave it to Harry.
"Turn it thrice in your hand and you will be reunited with your loved ones again. Nothing will separate you; your next great adventure will be a mutual one."
It was Lupin's turn.
"I have a secret I want to keep from others. Give me something to hide it forever."
Death took off his cloak and offered it to Lupin, briefly looking very unwilling to part with it.
"You have outsmarted Death," the red-eyed god rumbled like a distant thunder. "Go, and use your gifts… entertain me."
I would certainly entertain myself; there was no doubt about it. The wand seemed as impatient as I was to use its power, and with new briskness in my steps I continued my journey, giving no thought whatsoever to Harry and Lupin and their gifts from Death.
The power to defeat my enemies! Voldemort, that disgraceful shadow of myself, was about to meet his end. But he was hiding somewhere as a pitiful ghost.
"Invincible wand," I whispered in rapture, "guide me to my enemy!"
A restless ball of light burst from the wand, showing me the right direction. I followed, almost ran through the forest, anticipation of my total victory inspiring me.
Eventually the ball of light led me out of the forest. It grew brighter as it signalled me that I was close. I rushed from between the last two trees, eager to see Voldemort's hideout, but the sight was not what I had expected. In front of me stood the majestic silhouette of Hogwarts castle.
Then I realized. Voldemort was not my great enemy. He was just a nuisance, because his idiocy and lack of imagination offered me no real challenge. The one I had come for was Dumbledore, that hypocritical saint who prevented us wizards from ruling the world for the Greater Good of all.
As the wand hummed with power, I navigated through the hallways and into the Headmaster's office. It was time for Dumbledore to meet the creator of my wand.
I opened the door.
"Would you like to have a sherbet lemon?" the unsuspecting fool said genially.
"You don't need to offer me Veritaserum," I said. "I've come to tell you the truth willingly. Tom Valedro is just a guise for which I have no need anymore. With this wand in my possession, I will never again cower in fear of the likes of you! I am Tom Riddle!"
I dispelled my disguising charms and revealed the face Dumbledore was most familiar with.
But the Headmaster was not stunned or shocked. Instead, he giggled in a way that was in total discord with his appearance.
"And I ruined your childhood!" the old wizard jeered and flicked his wand in exactly the same way as I had done before.
Grindelwald was (again) revealed from under the appearance of Dumbledore.
"You! So, you have been my great enemy all along! You caused the Great Depression just to torment me!"
"That is the way I act, but…"
An explosion of magical might shook the walls as I turned the power of the invincible wand against Grindelwald. He tried to counter me, but there was no defence against the power Death himself had unleashed into the world.
"… but," he groaned as my spells brought him to his knees, "but I am not your great enemy."
"Then who is?"
"The last enemy," the dying Dark Lord whispered. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is…"
"… Death," I finished for him, feeling dread wash over me.
Grindelwald was looking in my direction, but not at me. Slightly over my shoulder… I turned in haste, and felt the power of a thousand Dementors enfold me.
Black hair, pearly white skin, glowing crimson eyes, mischievous smirk… Death was looming at the doorway in his full otherworldly glory, a silver scythe in his hand. It dawned to me in an instant that he had been veiling his formidable charisma when I had met him on the bridge. Even though he looked like a human, he was more like a black hole that could devour entire stars and snuff out their light forever.
The horror I had felt when Dumbledore had pretended setting my cupboard on fire was nothing compared to the one I felt when Death towered over me in the Headmaster's office.
"You were not alone this time," Death said, arching his eyebrows in interest.
Before I had the time to wonder what he was talking about, darkness overcame me, and my thoughts faded to nothingness.
Lupin brought me back to reality with the Reviving Charm and shoved a chocolate bar into my hand. I looked around feebly before sighing. The Boggart was back in its packing case, Grindelwald safely in his cell in Nurmengard, and Death and his invincible wand in a children's story. Everything should have been fine, but I was feeling exceedingly pessimistic.
Harry seemed to gain some self-confidence from the fact that we had suffered the Dementor's power together, but his encouraging words just irritated me.
After eating the chocolate I mumbled something appropriate to Lupin and left the classroom. The words he and Grindelwald in my vision had said repeated in my mind as I tried to grasp the realization that had almost struck me.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Voldemort had named his followers Death Eaters.
There it was. For the first time in my new life I considered whether I had totally misjudged Voldemort. Could it be that he had not been just a sorry shadow of me, but that his actions had actually had some deeper purpose, and his perverted crusade against Muggle-borns had been just deception to hide it?
Voldemort had wandered the world for a quarter of a century before reappearing as a twisted snake-man. He had already been immortal when he had given the name to his organization, but clearly he had not considered his mission complete. There were many things that Death Eating could mean. Had he found some ancient knowledge about Death and the Otherworld, and formed a new plan of utterly defeating Death? Or, perhaps, replacing him? I had lived the first eleven years of my life in the Muggle world before discovering a world of literal wonders, and so I was not going to discard mythologies like Death as an actual entity just because they were something out of stories.
In a way I hoped that the one who was my kindred soul would not be such a disappointment as I had judged him, but there was something more. Dumbledore, the man who spoke highly of the next great adventure and who had done nothing while Muggles had laid waste to the world's resources, decimated natural environments, and created nuclear weapons… that man had been Voldemort's enemy. If Voldemort had been fighting against Death, then obviously his enemy had been fighting in favour of it.
Perhaps I was just being paranoid, but it was feeling more and more likely that Dumbledore was secretly steering the world towards the death of everything… for the Greater Evil.
Published on the 24th on January, 2020.