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Chapter 48
It happened exactly like his father predicted. He received a visit from the muggle relations office. They apparated to the accident scene. His father made an excellent job. They looked horrible and dead. Tom did not have to fake his paleness or the sudden need to throw up. Someone guided him away from the scene.
"Prince manor. I will bury them there." He replied to whoever asked questions. Tom made sure to have the ministry members apparate the bodies nearby. He opened the manor.
"You will have to file the paperwork. Later of course, better yet, I will have someone from your office do it for you." A witch said. She offered him a smile. She looked a little older than him.
"Their wands are missing." Tom said as an afterthought.
"The Magical Enforcement office will return them as soon as they are done inspecting them." His father was correct.
"Do you suspect foul play?" Tom arched an eyebrow and frowned.
"Not at all Mr. Snape. It is standard procedure." The muggle authorities have concluded that it was accident and there are various eye witnesses that can attest to it. A lorry ran over your parents. The conductor lost control, a stroke apparently."
The witch was muggleborn then. Tom nodded, "I'd like some privacy now." He said and looked away from her.
The wizards left. Tom ran downstairs to get the antidote. His father had two vials, a blue and a green one. He was supposed to administer the blue one to his father first. Tom did. his father came to himself after five minutes in which Tom doubted everything.
"Good. Now give me the other vial." His father dropped the drops on his mother's lips. She came about easier.
They were all on the floor. His mother hugged him. "I love you more than my life. You are my soul. Never forget that your mother loves you."
She said and hugged him tight. His father stood up and raised his wand. He looked sported a beard and his eyes were blue. His hair grew longer. He then put on glasses and his nose became smaller. His mother looked impressively young after she waved her wand. Her hair became straight and honey blond. She waved her wand once more and it was short. She had green eyes now. His father fashioned two caskets. They were closed and beautiful.
His father finished arranging the flowers. "This is your show now." He said and clapped his back.
He touched his face with both his hands and Tom felt as if he were seven once again, "Remember what I told you yesterday. Do not let it consume you. Come to us if you need to step away. You are not responsible for anyone but yourself."
Tom shook his head, "I'm responsible for you two."
His father smiled, "you are not. Take care of yourself and remember to look at that blasted mirror." He bumped his forehead with his and then hugged him. Tom hugged him back tightly. He felt like that kid that ripped his father's books and was afraid to be left alone. He was going to be alone again. It would not be like when he traveled. That was him leaving them. Tom knew that he had home to come back to. Now they were going away and it would not be the same. There would be no more parents to come home to. He would have to look for them and visit them, be part of their adventure. They were no longer a function of him.
His mother hugged him one last time. "Remember your letters will be addressed to Emma and Joseph Driver. We will send you a postcard once we arrive."
Tom nodded and watched as they apparated away. Tom was left with the two caskets and the house elves. There was no officiant. Tom opened the door to Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Potter, Dumbledore and Minerva.
"My boy, I'm so sorry." Mr. Longbottom said after he clapped him on the back. Mr. Potter echoed the sentiment. Dumbledore shook his hand and gave his condolences.
Minerva looked at him with sad eyes. Tom hugged her and buried his face on her neck. She rubbed his back. He cried silently, mourning the loss of his parents. He needed to explain everything.
There were a few more wizards attending the impromptu burial. There were Blacks and the Crouches who would be disappointed once more since his father had Tom as the sole heir of the Prince Estate.
It was quick. He found himself alone with Minerva as in the blink of an eye.
"Tom, I'm so sorry. They were good people." She said as he rubbed his hand.
He stood up and glanced around the room. "Muffliato." Tom looked at her, "They are alive."
Minerva frowned, "you've had a nasty shock."
He shook his head, "They faked their deaths. I have to tell you everything but you have to swear to never tell anyone Minnie."
Minerva nodded. Tom explained everything from the moment he learned about the time travel. Minerva frowned but listened attentively. He went into detail about what happened with the wizards and explained that she should be younger.
Minerva was speechless, "Tom, this cannot be true."
Tom looked at her, "I swear it. You have to believe me Minnie. I wouldn't lie. Now, I'm alone. I should have gone with them."
Minerva hugged him as he cried. She shushed him, "you will visit them. Your life is here. It will be fine Tom."
Tom looked into her brown eyes and could not hold it anymore. He wanted to have her close, to kiss her, to make love to her.
He touched her lips. "You are my best friend."
She smiled, "you are mine too."
"I want us to be more than that." He said as he inched closer to kiss her.
Minerva looked away, "I cannot give you what you want Tom. I am not in love with you. I care for you deeply but it is not enough for what you want."
Tom touched her chin and looked at her, "what do I want Minerva?"
"You Tom Snape, want the house, the kids. They all speak of you. You are a rising star at the Ministry and I have no intention of being your accessory. It would never work." Minerva said clearly.
Tom touched her cheek, "I will take whatever you want to give me Minnie. I do not care for children. I never did. You are quite mistaken. I do not plan to have the wife or the children. You suit me just fine. I am very patient Minerva. I can wait until you love me like I love you. I am in love with you. I have been since we were children."
Minerva looked surprised, "you can't have."
Tom kissed her hands, "I have, ever since Bilbo."
She looked at him and then stood up. "I have to go."
Tom did not want her to leave. "Fine, let me escort you out." He placed his hand on her lower back and guided her out of the manor.
She was about to step away when Tom grabbed her hand and turned her. "Goodbye Minnie." He said and pecked her lips. He would not lie anymore, not to her, not to himself.
Minerva was startled but then caressed his face and hugged him. "I will see you next month. Hogsmeade."
He nodded and watched as she apparated. Tom was alone. He decided to remain in the manor. He went to his father's study and found a letter.
"Dear Tom,
I know you are going to stay in the manor. I only ask you to not sell the one in Hammersmith. Your mother and I consider it to be our home. I have attached a detailed account of all of our finances. I have set a trust for you mother and me. All else is yours. We will be fine. There will be no need to wire money like I did with my grandparents. Son, make sure to use all of your resources wisely. There is an official will in the left drawer. Present it to the ministry officials. It will give legality to our deaths. If I assume correctly, the Crouches will have already attended the services and are waiting to dispute any will. They will ask for a blood potion or something equally ridiculous. That will clearly states that you were legally adopted through muggle methods. I apologize but your status as Tom Riddle may come up. Always remember that you are ours. Your mother and I are very proud of you. We will see you next year for your Birthday.
Severus Snape."
Tom burned that letter and searched for the will. It was there. He would take it to the ministry the following day.
He glanced at the numbers and found that he was quite wealthy. There was a lot of old money but his mother. It had to be her. His father had no idea how to take care of money. Tom remembered that whenever he wanted something expensive or ridiculously useless he needed to ask his father for it. His mother would make him think about what he wanted while dad would just give him the money. Mum caught pretty quickly and scolded his father for giving into him. His father would shrug remain quiet but then would wink and find a way to get him the thing he wanted. Tom looked over the numbers and shook his head. They were filthy rich. He decided to drink some of his father's firewhisky and then went to his quarters.
The young man went to work the following day and retrieved the decoy wands. They directed him to another office to present his father's will. He saw Caspar Crouch but he merely sneered and went away.
The wizard in front of him guided him to fill out three forms, "you have many friends Mr. Snape. Crouch will not bother you."
Tom nodded and went back to his little office. He busied himself with his work. Mr. Longbottom approached him later that afternoon. "Your father and I were in talks about a coalition. Fleamont and him were close to reaching an agreement. We would like to have support to protect muggles. They after all need to looked after."
Tom remained quiet, "Mr. Longbottom. I do not believe I am experienced enough to embark in such venues at this time. I would love to explore the opportunity down the road." He smiled and went to his flat in London.
He would relocate to the manor for the time being. His plan was to continue with his work and find a way to allocate his money to make sure the laws he wanted to pass happened. His father was correct. He was a rising star and he would make sure that things were done properly.
