Chapter 3 : The brown bear

Lord Voldemort had just taken the form of a brown bear, he had successfully changed into his animagus form for the first time. Voldemort could feel himself being strong, big and furry. He was quite satisfied with his animal form, at least bears were big, scary and powerful. He hadn't turned into something small and cute which he was thankful for. He rose to stand on two feet, a very neat trick that bears are able to do. This animagus form is sure a match to my brother's lion, he thought happily. Was a bear more powerful than a lion? He wondered. At least the next time his brother would turn into a lion he could turn into a bear and show his spoiled brother that he was in no way superior to him.

His insufferable, annoying brother would have to be killed. The fact that his brother was protecting Harry Potter from him made him even more of a target. He was in his way in the worst way possible. The bear started to run around in the yard, he needed to know how fast he could be and how to control his animal form better. To his delight the bear was very fast and he even climbed into a tree which was also positively effortless. Much better than Marvolo and his stupid lion, Voldemort thought happily.

Fortunately there were no students walking about seeing the big bear running around aimlessly and staring at itself from every puddle it came across.

Marvolo was quite happy being able to design a special broomstick for Harry. It was the least he could do to make up for his brother ruining his life. Marvolo would have wanted to make an effort to reach out to all of the families that were victims of Voldemort and give them some compensation but he wasn't able to do this as his identity would need to be kept secret. People wouldn't believe that Voldemort would have a brother that was good. They would just think there were two of him now and get even more scared. Marvolo sighed. He was really going to have his hands full trying to protect the students from Tom.

Dumbledore would better know what he was doing with this teaching at Hogwarts plan, so far it wasn't going well at all. Marvolo was sure that Tom was still sending messages to Death Eaters spending so much time at the owlery, it's not like he was sending messages to friends or was a friend of birds but he couldn't very well forbid him to go even to the owlery, he couldn't watch every single step Tom took at Hogwarts after all. As long as the killings had stopped it was a good sign, Tom's mind was at his teaching job mostly now and not at organizing new killings. Well, he probably was still thinking about killing but only of Marvolo and Harry at the moment given that they were so easy to reach for him.

Marvolo had heard stories about Harry Potter, read about him in the papers and heard how Dumbledore had spoken about him but he couldn't have ever known that Harry indeed was a nice, polite, very humble young man, much more humble than Marvolo had ever been in fact. But when Marvolo had an easy life with loving parents, many servants, no danger and everything handed to him Harry had grown up in an abusive household without friends before Hogwarts constantly fighting and living in fear and losing everyone he would have wanted to call family, even his godfather Sirius Black whose family Marvolo had of course heard of.

Marvolo was alerted to an alarm he had set himself that Tom was about to teach a class so he disguised himself and became invisible and went to sit in the classroom. Tom was already there glancing around knowing that Marvolo would be in there somewhere watching him but Marvolo didn't care to speak to him and decided it was best he didn't know where he was seated in the class. Tom had a smug look on his face like he had just done something evil he was proud of and Marvolo was a bit worried what it was but couldn't bring it up now.

The first years arrived in class and some of the girls were giggling about how handsome their new DADA teacher was. Tom made a cold look at them and proceeded to teach them something about pixies which Marvolo wasn't sure if they needed to know so soon in their studies but decided that the fact Tom wasn't trying to teach them an unforgivable curse was an improvement. He also didn't seem to be talking about Death Eaters or trying to make them join him but Marvolo was sure this was also due to the fact that they were too young to be of any use to him.

Tom dismissed the class five minutes too early and had his brown eyes narrowed looking around the classroom obviously trying to see if Marvolo was there but Marvolo still decided to stay silent. Tom left the room in a hurry and seemed to be heading towards the Gryffindor tower. He has got to be kidding me. Is he really going to try and go there in the middle of the day to kill Harry? Can't he control himself at all? Is killing the only thing he thinks about? But Marvolo knew that it was because even if Tom killed Marvolo or Harry he couldn't get fired, and he probably would have wanted to get fired anyway. Tom was basically forced to keep teaching as long as he retired and there was nothing either Tom or Dumbledore could do about it. It really didn't seem like a great plan in Marvolo's mind but there was little he could do about it, and now it was too late anyway.

Tom reached the Gryffindor Tower and muttered the password. Before he could enter Marvolo tried to throw a curse at him but Tom managed to avoid it muttering "Protego maxima".

Marvolo followed Tom inside the common room and saw Harry, Hermione and Ron sitting there with their heads in their books. Harry had obviously not told his friends the identity of their new teacher yet as Ron and Hermione didn't seem alarmed seeing a teacher enter their common room. Hermione lifted her head up from one of her books and politely asked "How can we help you mister Vanderbilt?"

"Stupefy!" Tom shouted knocking both Ron and Hermione unconscious on the floor. Marvolo showed himself in order to calm Harry down to let him know that he wasn't there alone.

"Tom, stop. You need to leave these students alone. I won't let you kill Harry ever"

Harry looked at the two identical brothers and took a step back. Tom's eyes were full of rage as he looked at his brother and pointed his wand at him. "Avada Kedavra!"

Marvolo quickly dodged the curse by transforming a book into a big statue and the curse just hit the statue.

"Coward!" Tom shouted and to Marvolo's and Harry's surprise he suddenly transformed into a huge brown bear in front of them. The bear started to move towards Harry and hit Harry in the stomach with one of it's big paws knocking Harry down to the floor. Harry was now holding his stomach in pain. Marvolo quickly changed into his lion form and jumped towards the bear to get it away from Harry. The bear was growling and trying to hit Harry in the head with its paw when Marvolo in lion form bit the bear on its paw and made the bear cry out in pain. The bear then turned towards Marvolo furious and attacked Marvolo biting him hard in the chest. Marvolo could feel blood escaping from his chest and instantly knew that the bear had made a very deep fatal wound. Marvolo felt himself getting weak and soon lost consciousness completely.

Tom was feeling excited, seeing the lion laying on the floor bleeding and unconscious, most likely only minutes away from dying. The bear then switched it's attention back to Harry who was looking at the lion with a sad and worried look on his face. Tom moved towards Harry who tried to back down, still holding his stomach in pain on the floor. Doesn't matter if I kill him with a spell or by my teeth Tom thought cheerfully in his mind. In fact killing him with my tooth could be more satisfying. The bear managed to bite Harry in the feet and Harry cried out in pain and tried to struggle and get away from it, kicking and hitting the bear but that didn't even hurt the big bear at all.

Soon the portrait hole opened revealing Albus Dumbledore who shot a spell at the bear making Tom faint instantly.

"Please professor, you have to save Marvolo" Harry cried, wounded on the floor. "He tried to save me!

Dumbledore looked at the lion who didn't seem to be breathing anymore.

"We must take him and you to the hospital wing immediately""Levicorpus!"

Dumbledore ran to the hospital wing while levitating Harry and the lion faster than Harry would have ever guessed him being capable of running.

Harry was placed on a bed next to the lion's. Madam Pomfrey ran into the room panic in her eyes.

"What is this Dumbledore? I can't heal an animal, you know that!"

"He is an animagus and he needs treatment immediately"

Madam Pomfrey nodded and started to tend to the lion's wound but the lion just laid there lifeless. Dumbledore muttered some spells to heal Harry who fastly started to feel better, the bear hadn't made that deep of a cut on his leg fortunately.

"I'm afraid it doesn't look good for the lion, Albus. Is he a student? I think his family should be notified" Madam Pomfrey said.

Dumbledore just stated calmly. "He has no family. Cover the lion up, we can't let anyone see him" Madam Pomfrey did as he was told and left the room with Dumbledore leaving Harry there to rest.

Harry's eyes filled with tears thinking about what had happened. Marvolo had fought the bear for him and Harry was the reason he was dead. Harry couldn't have ever thought about him being sad over a family member of Voldemort but there he was. Marvolo had actually been so sorry about everything that had happened to Harry had tried to make amends and even protected Harry with his own life. Even though many people had been protecting Harry in the past this felt different. Marvolo had literally jumped in front of a fatal bear bite for him and didn't have an ulterior motive like needing Harry to save the wizarding world as Marvolo was probably more capable of saving everyone than Harry was.

Harry lifted the covers that were covering the lion and took the lion's big furry paw into his hand. It was so soft, Harry stroked it gently. The lion's eyes were closed and it couldn't feel Harry's tears falling down on it's fur anymore.

Harry felt furious at Dumbledore, how wrong he had been in hiring Tom as DADA teacher, did he really think this wouldn't happen? Did he think Tom wouldn't kill anyone? That Harry and everyone would be able to escape his killing curses forever? Harry had had no idea that Voldemort was an animagus but it was not like he knew all of Voldemort's powers anyway. He had known that Voldemort could have various abilities that he was still not aware of and this had obviously been one of them. He was surprised that Voldemort hadn't transformed before actually but maybe there hadn't been a proper moment for it. Had it not been Marvolo defending him from the bear and then Dumbledore running to his rescue Harry surely would have died. How would he survive even a day now that Marvolo was dead? Dumbledore would just keep Tom as a teacher even if he butchered the whole school, Harry thought angrily. Should he just tell everyone the truth and make everyone leave Hogwarts? This would go against Dumbledore's plan of course and what a great plan it was, Harry thought furiously.

Tom woke up in his chambers on his bed after being stupefied with Dumbledore sitting next to him looking at him with that annoying disappointed look that he had.

"Tom, I told you of the rules. You were not meant to kill anyone while working here"

"He is dead?" Tom said excitedly thinking about how weak the lion had looked when he saw it the last time.

"You will be punished, Tom. '' Dumbledore said not answering his question to his dismay but Tom took it as a yes.

"You can't do anything to me, old man. You should have known that I would kill him and Harry will be next, then you!" Tom hissed, looking amused.

"Ah but I can. I had an interesting trip to the room of requirement while you were unconscious and found the horcrux you had hidden there. It has now been destroyed, along with the Gaunt's ring. I will find the rest of the horcruxes and destroy them too if you make any more mistakes. This job is your last chance for a life but if you continue on killing, those horcruxes and you will be destroyed eventually. Did you really think a genius like me wouldn't find your horcruxes? My dear boy, you have chosen items so predictable and hidden them so badly, one must wonder if you actually wanted me to find them"

Tom felt furious and shocked. He had chosen items that meant something to him, not thinking how easy they would be to figure out and some of the hiding places had perhaps been too rushed. He had chosen places familiar to him after all. But at least his despicable brother was dead now. Perhaps he should wait a bit before trying to kill Harry again but not because of Dumbledore's threats. No, he would never stop trying to kill Harry and Dumbledore no matter what he threatened him with. It was to be expected anyway that Dumbledore would find out about the horcruxes eventually but before Dumbledore could destroy them all Tom would kill Dumbledore and Harry.

Tom started to look for his wand but noticed that Dumbledore was holding it.

"You would attack me right now, If you had your wand wouldn't you? This proves that nothing I said still made any difference with you. I am disappointed, Tom. This needs to stop and that includes going after Harry as well. I will be protecting Harry myself from now on. Well now I am off to find the rest of your horcruxes" Dumbledore said and left the room.

Going back to defence against the darks arts class felt much more dangerous for Harry without Marvolo there to protect him. Even though Harry hadn't known Marvolo that well Harry knew that he was powerful, as powerful as his brother if not even more. Harry looked sadly at the place where Marvolo had sat in their class and then concentrated on Tom who had just entered the classroom.

Tom made a hateful look at Harry, who immediately returned the look . Harry had told Hermione and Ron the truth about the new teacher who had been shocked but had agreed that it was probably best to just do what Dumbledore wanted and go about their lives like nothing had happened.

Dumbledore also having the ability to be invisible was hidden in the classroom to protect Harry from Tom. Harry didn't know why but Marvolo's presence had felt safer than his. Maybe it was because Marvolo had lightened the mood with many jokes and annoyed Tom on purpose so many times.

Tom was teaching now and now actually trying to act like an honorable teacher, knowing Dumbledore was looking even though Tom made hateful looks towards Harry every once in a while.

"Harry, perhaps you could tell what your parents taught you about boggarts while you were a child? " Tom said and was smiling and blinking innocently.

Harry fists clenched in rage and he was about to stand up when Hermione stopped him. "Harry, don't make a scene. Everyone here thinks he is a teacher who grew up in France"

"My parents were murdered by a heartless bastard when I was a child. A weak pathetic wizard who thinks killing solves problems"

Tom smiled one of his fake smiles "How unfortunate. Longbottom, what did your parents teach you?" Tom's eyes moving on Neville who seemed to be bursting out in tears any moment. "Nothing. What about you, muggle borns? Did they tell you to watch out for the boogie man?" Tom laughed a cold hollow laugh that filled the classroom.

There was an awkward silence as students were wondering about the odd behavior of their new teacher.

"You're a real foul git, do you know that?" Ron said his eyes narrowed at Tom.

"You will not talk to your teacher like that. 100 points from Gryffindor!"

"Where is your brother?" Luna Lovegood asked Tom.

"He's gone. The end of the story. No more questions" Tom smirked with a smug look on his face.

Harry felt himself getting furious again but a warning look from Hermione stopped him from doing anything stupid.

The door to the classroom swung open and Madam Pomfrey looked around the classroom in search for Dumbledore.

"Minerva told me the headmaster would be here. Albus? " Dumbledore made himself visible, earning a few gasps from surprised students who had no idea that Dumbledore had been hiding there or why.

"Albus, the lion. It's gone!"

Tom's brown eyes widened in shock.

"Master always tells Saggy to be ready to fetch the stone. Master then asks Saggy to go to master's potion lab for blood and then get unicorn blood when a bad day comes. Bad day is here" A small house elf that looked a lot like Dobby was muttering to itself and walking down a hallway at Hogwarts. "Now Saggy has lion fur all over Saggy's cloth. " Saggy was levitating a boy along a long dark hallway.

"I have given you plenty of nicer things to wear, Saggy. Yet you insist on wearing that"

Saggy shook its head. "Saggy keeps this thing on as a mark of Saggy's loyalty to Saggy's master. Saggy is a good elf. Master already gives Saggy holiday time, own room, good salary and he doesn't need to give Saggy fancy clothes too"

"You deserve all of it. You are part of my family" A beautiful dark haired teenage boy said.

"Master is Saggy's family too and his dear friend" Saggy said proudly.

"I could walk on my own, you know"

"No. Master is still too weak and needs his rest" Saggy insisted, looking at it's master with a worried look.

Marvolo discontinued being levitated by the elf and stood up having the elf still looking at him with a worried look on its face. Marvolo hugged the elf and comforted him.

"I am okay, Saggy. Now go take the pebble back. " Marvolo said and smiled warmly at the little elf. Saggy nodded and apparated away.

Marvolo was still feeling very weak, but felt lucky that he had access to the best healing ingredients in the world in his own private potion lab in France and having the horcrux had saved him from dying. He hadn't foreseen his brother being able to turn into a bear or being an animagus, he wouldn't make the mistake again. He just hoped that Harry was alive.

Had he been successful in his attempt to save Harry? Marvolo couldn't stand the thought of Harry being killed by his brother.

Marvolo wasn't sure where he should go but he decided to go to Dumbledore's office as he felt it was the place he was going to end up anyway. He didn't really feel like running into Tom yet anyway. Marvolo was still too weak to use any of his powers or spells so he walked towards the office hoping he wouldn't run into anyone.

When inside the office he was relieved to find Dumbledore there who looked really happy to see him and Marvolo explained to him how he was still alive because he had a horcrux and healing potions but that he couldn't use his magic yet coming so close to death.

"Harry will be happy to see you, I think" Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, he is just fine don't worry" Dumbledore calmed him guessing what he was thinking about.

"It's best that you stay in the Gryffindor tower from some time now until you get better. I will give you a head boy's private room there. Harry can take care of you while you are unwell. I will keep an eye on Tom myself, he can't know that you are alive for some time now. Not until you are better"

Marvolo nodded his hazel eyes looking tired and Dumbledore apparated them inside the empty head boy's room.

"Lay down, I will go and get Harry to inform him about our situation"

Marvolo layed on the bed and closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.

Harry had just reached the common room when he saw Dumbledore coming down the stairs inside the Gryffindor tower.

"Harry. I have a surprise for you. You will wind it on the highest floor, in the head boy's room. This will be our secret for now. Take good care of it" Dumbledore said mysteriously and left.

Harry was confused. Why did Dumbledore always have to be so mysterious? Couldn't he just tell Harry what was going on? What was waiting for Harry in the room anyway? Did it have something to do with the dead lion that madam Pompfrey said had disappeared. Did Dumbledore want Harry to look over the lion's corpse? Nothing would surprise him at this point. Harry climbed up the stairs and opened the door but didn't see a dead lion but Marvolo who was laid on the bed with his eyes closed. So Marvolo had changed back to human when he was dead? It made sense in a way. Suppose they would change back to human form at some point even if they died in animal form. Why was Harry made to look after his body anyway? Couldn't they bury it? Didn't Dumbledore know how painful it was for Harry to see Marvolo dead anyway?

Harry sat on the bed next to Marvolo, whose hair was perfectly in place and Marvolo was wearing a Gryffindor robe, which was what he had been wearing when he died, Harry remembered.

Harry put his hand on Marvolo's cheek and caressed him gently.

"I miss you" Harry whispered quietly and tears filled his eyes.

Harry got up and left the room and locked the door behind him still crying.