Chapter II: The Arrival of The Master
August 17, 11:00
Lord's Study
Peverell Manor
Lord Hadrian James Peverell sat deep in thought, poring over the International Magical Times. He had along since discovered that he was in 1942. Which meant that Grindelwald's French campaign had just ended. And Voldemort was in his fifth year, and would open The Chamber of Secrets resulting in the expulsion of Hagrid and the death of Moaning Myrtle. Most importantly, Riddle would lay the foundation for his first horcrux. The resultant fractured soul from his first horcrux would cause him to lose his sanity. Ambition would become megalomania and the inherited talent would instead turn to a delusional sense of titanic power. No, he couldn't allow that. Grindelwald would be dealt within the next three years by Dumbledore. Besides, from what he remembered the Acolytes were already having problems by 1942 and were under intense pressure from all sides. The Romanov dynasty, the financial backing of the Dark Lord would be dead by next spring as Magical Russia revolted. Any and all Imperialist houses would lose their political power in the blink of an eye just like what had happened to their muggle counterparts three decades earlier, creating a massive power vacuum in Eastern Europe, Grindelwald's main power base. But all of this was conjecture on his part. Despite the similarities between this world and his own, this was still an alternate reality. Things could be different; things would be different. But from what he had inferred from the Daily Prophet collection which was neatly arranged in the Lord's Study, spanning the past twenty-five years was that this world and his own were extremely similar. The portrait of Iolanthus Peverell, the last had recognized his status had told him to summon Hoppy and Lipsey, the latest generation of family elves who could assist him, since they were the ones who took care of the manor.
Upon questioning the two elves, he was informed that the Peverell family house elves had instructed by the last Lord to breed and teach their children everything they knew and every instruction they had received. This ensured that if the Master of Death popped in at any time, the manor would have house elves ready. The Veil ensured that the place was never lacking in ambient magic since it served as a tether for all ambient magic similar to a leyline crossing, thus keeping the house elves happy and healthy albeit lonely. Another benefit was that wards powered by the Gateway of Thanatos could never be overpowered. Hokey also informed Hadrian that the last Lord Peverell, "Great Master Augustinius" had left specific instructions in his will that the leading magical daily of Britain was to be delivered to the manor everyday regardless of the status of inhabitants. The paper was placed in a Gringotts Banishing Box from where the family elves would pick it up. Augustinius, it turned out was Iolanthus Peverell 's great-grandson . The man who had been Iolanthe Peverell on his home world. Despite this, the Potters were still related to the Peverells by marriage since Iolanthus had married Harmonia Potter and their great-granddaughter Amalthea had married Edmus Potter. The most important step right now would be to get to Hogwarts. He had stop Riddle from becoming a Dark Lord, even if it meant killing him. Although it sickened him, trying to kill someone who was still innocent, seeing what a monster Voldemort would turn out to be especially in a post-war Europe which wouldn't thinking of involving itself in stopping a Dark Lord for at least the next half-century.
And by then, Voldemort would have done more damage than could ever be salvageable. The price was too much. Tom Riddle could never be allowed become Voldemort. For the Greater Good. Besides, Death had made his disgust for Horcruxes clear many times,very thoroughly. And so, he had trained relentlessly for the past month. His grasp on wandless magic was finally returning and he had managed some semblance of control over the chaotic family magic again. Now he was gearing up for Hogwarts. He had already researched most of the important families and their kids. Hermione would have been proud. Knowing all this Harry decided to compose a letter to Deputy Headmaster Albus 'Pain-in-the-Ass' Dumbledore knowing that his family name would pique Dumbledore's manipulative mind.
Albus Dumbledore
Deputy Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
He then decided to apply the family coat-of-arms at the top similar to a Hogwarts letter, knowing that Dumbledore would whip himself into a frenzy trying to dig information up on him.
Mr Dumbledore
I am the Lord Peverell and this letter has been sent for the purpose of inquiring the procedure for admission into Hogwarts. Certain unforeseen circumstances have led to need of admitting a home-schooled member of the family to Hogwarts in the fifth year. I expect a swift response that may be forwarded through my house elf, 'Hoppy'.
Yours Sincerely
Lord Peverell
Head of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell
Harry read the letter over once again before finally sliding it into a charmed envelope, and sealing it with the Lord's Seal. Sending Hoppy with the letter to Hogwarts and instructing her to bring the reply immediately upon receiving, Harry stood up and walked to the master bedroom. It was time to make an appearance and an impression. Months of etiquette lessons with Andi had allowed him to gain the perfect pureblood mask. She had insisted that he would not embarrass both the Potter and Black names by acting like a headless chicken. He was the Lord of two families both of which were at least five hundred years old. He was not Sirius and would behave properly. So, for three years until his twenty-first birthday he had learnt how to be the perfect pureblood politician. He hadn't gotten to using her teachings back home but here they could prove to be a boon. Merlin! How we missed them both. Andi and Teddy had become the only people with whom he was truly happy. His godson was a bundle of joy and Andi was the mother he had never had. Ron being an Auror trainee rarely ever had time for meeting up, and Hermione had already started her quest to paper-push her way to Minister of Magic, never understanding that until the Conservatives held some semblance of power, she could never become Minister. Not just because of her blood status but because of her approach and goals. She represented everything the Pureblood supremacists hated in muggleborns :- driven, headfast and unnaturally talented. Andi had made him understand this perfectly. Despite all of the Wizarding World's problems and discrimination, their centuries old traditions and festivals were important. Marriage was arranged and contractual because unlike simply sharing family, magical families also shared family magic, political power and business interests.
Marriage wasn't just between two people, it was between them and all of their family traditions, wealth and power.
Just like muggles of the highest echelon of society, children of pureblooded families were more than themselves. They represented the propagation of centuries of magical grooming. There was a reason every pureblood family was gifted towards one field or for years, they had married individuals with leanings towards their chosen magics. For some families like the Blacks and Gaunts, this selective marriage had become manic and they had become incestuos unjust haters. But the problems presented by muggleborns still persisted. They were wildcards with wild magics who had no real family wealth and influence. It hadn't made him a believer of the pureblood doctrine but it had helped make it clear as to why purebloods acted so haughty and uptight. Simply because they had been taught to do so since childhood. Keep up appearances and deceptions, which was why so many were in Slytherin. They had been brought up to never show weakness, take advantage of others and do what was necessary for the betterment of the family. Perfect for Slytherin.
Harry seeing the absence of suitable formal robes in the bedrooms had been disappointed. After all, having everything pre-prepared for his arrival had made everything seem breezy. There had been many casual robes present in the walk-in closet so he had never bothered to check for formal robes. Maybe Augustinius had never thought that the Master of Death could be the Head of The House. It hadn't been in the grimoire so he wasn't to blame after all. Harry decided that his best choice was to wear muggle clothes and blend in. Sure, people would show prejudice but he couldn't go out to Diagon or Horizont Alley wearing robes that had went out of fashion for four hundred years. He'd be laughed out of every store for acting like some sort of crazed miscreant. Then, he face-palmed forgetting the fact that he could easily transfigure the older ones or put a glamour or two onto himself. The effects of having a non-magical upbringing hadn't worn off even after so long. His thought process still followed the muggle mannerisms. A problem to deal with in the future. He picked up a set of plain black robes and set them down on the bed. Slipping the Elder wand into his fingers and performing a few masterful twirls and the five-hundred-year-old frilly robes transformed.
The faded black burst into a colour of the harshest darkness, the wear from being preserved so long was replaced with taut fabric that looked brand-new and the labour-some cuffs and collar which he had nipped with a Diffindo on his first day for comfort fell, as straight cut cuffs and an open collar appeared. He thought of putting in the family coat-of-arms but with what it was associated here decided not to and settled for a blank crest. He also conjured an elaborately ornate face mask. Hiding appearances were important after all. Satisfied, Harry put the robes over his armour, took a look at himself in the mirror and put on his mask. He then walked down to the front entrance, the single apparition-point on the estate.
Apparating into Diagon Alley, Lord Peverell headed straight to Gringotts. Time to shock some goblins. As he walked to the bank, a pale black-haired girl wearing a grey tunic had just exited the hidden entrance in the Leaky Cauldron and wanted to buy some school robes. After years of buying second-hand robes, Emily Riddle had decided that she needed brand new ones this year. She was the Slytherin prefect this year probably along with Malfoy, who had already joined her circle. And from what she had discovered last year, she was also the heir of Salazar Slytherin. She hated her muggle father whoever he was. He had abandoned her mother to give birth to her alone. He, a fucking muggle had killed a witch worth a thousand of him. If he was alive, she would find him and kill him. Not just kill him, she'd make him suffer for every single blow she had to endure, every night she slept in fear of them. Fuckin' Billy Stubbins and his gang of Arseholes. She had taken her revenge, but what they had done to her was unforgivable. They would suffer for eternity, all of them.
After buying her school supplies and picking up a interesting Greek tome called 'Living Forever' by someone called Hermadius Herpus in a Knockturn corner, she started walking to Madam Malkin's. As she neared the store, she saw a black-haired masked wizard wearing robes as dark as night enter the shop. From her childhood, she had been very receptive towards magic and she could sense it excellently. And the guy who had just entered had Magic rolling off him in waves. This could mean two things. Either he was one of the most powerful wizards she had ever met since he had completely overwhelmed her senses or his robes had been charmed to such effect that they had the same amount of magic as a Class C Untradeable Object. And right now, she was leaning towards the latter, absurd as it was. If he really was as powerful as he had seemed, she would have known of him. She had been acquainted with most of the important people through Professor Slughorn. And at least someone would be aware of a wizard of such only people thought truly powerful were Grindelwald and then she hadn't heard of such enchanted robes either. Maybe she was just buying too much into it. Nevertheless, she could gleam some information while shopping. These thoughts in mind, Emily Riddle stepped into the same shop as Hadrian James Peverell.
"Oh yes, those are available as well, although the price would be higher." She could hear Madam Malkin say.
"Money is not an issue." The boy presumably, replied in a calm, yet powerful voice.
"Okay then, please wait here a moment." The matronly woman replied as she instructed one of her assistants then she turned and spotted her, beckoning her towards the herself and said in an oddly cheerful voice.
"Hogwarts, dearie?"
"Yes, I'm going to need three sets of plain black robes as well as one winter cloak with green lettering. One pair of the robes should be tweed and the other two blended cotton. " Emily replied, in a curt business-like tone hoping to curb the woman's irritating enthusiasm.
"Oh, of course! Just step towards here so I can take some measurements." Diana Malkin replied, indicating towards a small stool and mirror past the counter. The woman's enthusiasm hadn't dulled in the slightest by her tone.
As the woman's magical tape took measurements, Emily observed the wizard in front of her. He looked the same age as her but something about him felt older. Like he was hiding a deep dark secret within his very soul, and her curiosity to know more about him grew. He was fairly tall but his face was covered by a silver and black mask that only showed off his brilliant green eyes. Emily could see the glow behind them, they held power and control but also some distrust and weariness. She felt as if this boy had seen more than she could ever imagine. She tried looking for some sign of being a fighter of the war or something similar but there was none. The boy held himself proudly, in a manner that was uncannily similar to the Blacks. Maybe he was a cousin of the family. She could be able ask Orion or Walburga back at school if they had such a relative.
As she continued to observe him, she was momentarily startled when a small humanoid creature appeared in front of the boy. An elf dressed in a black uniform holding a letter which the boy took hold of before dismissing the elf who was presumably named Hoppy, with a word of thanks. This was surprising. No self-respecting pureblood would ever thank a house elf. So, could he be a half-blood? But his appearance definitely didn't say so neither did his mannerisms. No half-blood could put up such a perfect pureblood pretence.
Thinking over the intriguing boy in front of her, Emily noticed the letter in his hands.
'A Hogwarts letter. The envelope is unmistakable. But why does the boy have one right now?" she continued to think, when Madam Malkin and her assistant returned.
The assistant was levitating two sets of bags which were clearly meant for her while Madam Malkin who was holding a set of Acromantula-silk robes continued to force a conversation with the boy which he was perfectly avoiding.
"I assume, you'll be paying with a student fund slip, girl?" the assistant asked, looking at her pointedly.
"No, I'll be paying in galleons." Emily replied politely taking out a pouch of galleons.
"Well then, that's eleven galleons. Your name?" the assistant asked, as she pointed her wand at the robes while pulling out a ledger and a dictaquil.
"Riddle. Emily Riddle" she said. Had Emily turned around at that moment she would have seen the mysterious boy's Avada Kedavra green eyes, boring a hole through her skull. The woman twirled her wand and her name appeared on the robes in a shimmering silver.
As she turned around to leave, she sneaked a last glance at the boy, who was still holding the hem of the ultra-expensive robes with his left hand. As his hand came to rest, her eyes fell on a symbol inscribed into a ring on his left hand and she smiled. A symbol she had read about in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. A infamous symbol. The crest of Grindelwald. The mark of the fabled Deathly Hallows. The Peverell coat-of-arms.
Whoever the boy was, he was going to be very interesting...
A/N: - And that's it for this chapter folks! Our hero has had his first interaction with Emily, even if it is minor. Also, a small glimpse at Emily's deductive capabilities with regards to people. A skill which she will elaborately used going forward. Just to be clear, Harry despite being the MOD, isn't some sort of god who can put down any man in ten seconds flat. He has excellent physique and the Peverell Family Magics but his core is still that of a sixteen-year old. Titans like Grindelwald and Dumbledore can easily match and even overpower him. Emily will also be to do the same in a few years and some Dark-ritual powered augmentations
Emily Riddle, is inspired by ACI100's 'A Conjoining of Paragons' and mootjeman7's 'Odyssey of a Mage'. Both are my personal favourite fem! Riddle stories and I urge you to check them out. Riddle in my story isn't some vigilante gang leader though she may appear as such at times. She's an incredibly charming and beautiful girl who enjoys manipulating people and gets away with. She wants power and immortality, but isn't necessarily hell-bent on becoming a Dark Lady. She also doesn't really resent her name so doesn't need a moniker. As for her capabilities, she's the best duellist in the Hogwarts student body and also the most accomplished student since Dumbledore himself. She's good at almost every magic. Along with all this she has surrounded herself with most of the prominent pureblood heirs and heiresses in a circle of friends and allies. She also has some proficiency in Legilimency and Occlumency but nothing like her counterpart on Harry's home world. Harry supersedes her in the Mind Arts since she hasn't been practicing for too long and is still amateur-ish. Next up, the aftermath of Harry finding out Riddle's a girl and him starting at Hogwarts. Review and Enjoy!
Also updates are on weekends, every two weeks.
