DISCLAIMER- I don't own the creations of JK Rowling

delia cerrano- thanks for reviewing. I found that the writing was indeed a bit clumsy- I edited it a bit.

The major difference from canon is a better Snape and his influence on Harry, trying to save the boy from the clutches of Albus without raising alarms. For the other characters, I think Albus Dumbledore is exactly the same.

mizzrazz- isn't he supposed to?

Did I make Voldemort stupid in this chapter? Readers will judge.

Chapter 15- Glimpses

Harry was awakened by a knock on his door. He got up in a flash and tried to remember where he was. He was in a small stone room with a single comfortable bed, a chair and a table. A small magical lamp and his opened trunk completed what was present in the room. He heard the sharp knock again and rushed to the door to open it and face the person on the other side.

A tall wiry blond boy was standing there. Harry remembered the boy; the latter was sorted to Slytherin last night too but could not exactly recall the full name- something like Theo. The boy smiled at Harry "Got out of your sweet dreams, Potter? Get going. The head of house will address all of us in fifteen minutes; get down to the common room. No need to dress up in school uniform, a prefect told us. Come on, be quick. Late attendance may be punished severely."

As Harry went to a wash basin, he tried to remember what happened last night. After the school anthem, one of the Slytherin prefects had led them down a stone passage that was directly connected to the hall. They had walked a little, torches lighting the way and after that come to a large room with stone-carved heads of snakes adorning the walls. The prefect had simply laid his hands on the forehead of one of the statues, it had swung open to reveal a small passage beyond.

After that, they had come to a large common room from which passages led to the girls and boys dormitories. Harry along with the boys from his years were showed the first year room and he was amazed to see that each boy had his own room, be it small and sparingly furnished. After that, he had barely managed to change to his pajamas before he had fallen asleep.

He came to the common room, some of the Slytherins were already there, talking to themselves. He was sure that they were deep within the castle, but what seemed like sunlight was coming through a circular hole in the wall, lighting and warming up the room in a way very similar to daylight. Of course, he was in a world where the word "magic" may answer a lot of questions. The baron was also standing there in a corner, though his outline could be barely made out in the bright light.

After sometime, Professor Snape emerged through the passage that led outside, wearing a black cloak. He glanced around the room and spoke "Everybody assembled on time? Prefects, have you checked nobody is on bed? Good, a point to each one of the house for punctuality. Now, to business. For those who do not know me, I am Severus Snape, head of this house and potions master. First years do note that that my first identity will matter to you through your entire school years at Hogwarts, though I expect all of you to excel in my subject and pursue it in your higher years."

The voice startled Harry. It was almost similar to the voice of Mr. Prince, except the fact that he had never heard the man talking in such a businesslike tone. For a second, Snape seemed to glance at Harry but quickly looked away and constantly surveyed the assembled students as he spoke on.

"This is what I say every year because it is important. We are the outsiders to this school and always need to stick together. By that, I mean that you may not be friends, but you will never be enemies. If you do anything improper towards a student of another house, the head of that house can punish you in any way he or she seems suitable. If any student of another house behaves inappropriately towards you, you report it to a Slytherin prefect or me. Within this school, you are never permitted to use magic affecting another person except in self defense. I very much mean what I say."

He paused a little and said in a hard voice "If you behave badly with a staff member or another Slytherin, I will make sure that you are punished. Remember that if anything serious is done by you, then the matter may go beyond my reach- up to the headmaster and even the wizard law enforcement. Remember always that I will not tolerate any conflict within the house. I will also be notified in case you do anything serious to any student of another house."

He then crossed his arms and spoke in a sarcastic voice "You may think that these rules are applicable only inside the school grounds. I may remind the students that the definition of grounds will extend to the train, the road and the village of Hogsmeade during the applicable days. Remember that no member of another house is allowed inside the Slytherin common room. Only the headmaster can come himself or permit others in case of any emergency. I hope that such a situation does not arise."

After that, his tone became a bit soft. He looked around and said "First years welcome to Slytherin house. The first day is an off day, but for you lot a prefect will show you around the castle and grounds. The place will seem a bit tricky to navigate at first, I am mentioning that beforehand. Maybe you now prepare to get to the hall for breakfast where I will hand you the class routines, after which you will be given a tour of the castle. Prefects, you will start by teaching them how to access the common room. Goodbye for now." He then strode out of the room, robes billowing behind him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

At his own room, Albus Dumbledore was pacing up and down furiously. He did not dare go to his office, where the portraits of the former heads of Hogwarts would see him and ask questions. They may be just portraits, but words spread very fast through them. After all, it was related to his secret plan- the boy he had intentions to set up as a sacrificial lamb, for the greater good of course.

The boy was nothing what Albus had expected him to be. For a while, he had thoughts about apparating to Little Whinging to wring the neck of Arabella Figg. He himself had not observed the boy once since he left the boy on the doorstep Harry was five years old but he had received annual updates from Figg. He could not afford the time, he was a busy person after all, with all those positions of power comes duty.

He was surprised when the boy had refused to accompany Hagrid to buy his school things. Glancing into the half-giant's mind, he had just seen Petunia in her fury, speaking out uncomfortable truths.

Harry may not see the wizarding world as a savior, but feel it is his rightful place. He had then persuaded Remus, but things did not end there. He had expected a small, skeletal boy- telltale signs of neglect and abuse. The Dursleys were perfect as a choice- they would not love the boy and make him feel wanted but neither beat him to a useless bloody pulp. He expected the boy to stare at the great hall in wonder. Now what did he see instead when he was waiting for Harry step into the hall?

The Harry Potter that came into the castle was tall for his age and can pass for a healthy boy, though not fat. The properly combed hair showed that the scar had faded a lot- he guessed that the split soul of Tom must have gone deeper inside the head. Harry's eyes were also not wide with wonder, but had an alert, calculating look in them. How could that idiot Arabella miss these signs? She had reported a thin boy whom she saw tending the garden and lawn. Was she going senile?

He could even dare to confront the Dursleys and ask them why they had stop treating the boy with neglect and occasional cruelty, exactly what he had expected them to do. It may be somewhat high-handed to burst into their house with negative emotions, the blood wards may not react well.

Not only Arabella's faulty reports, he himself was disturbed too. He was confident with his ability in Legilimency, he had expected to read the boy's mind like a open book. It was very frustrating to discover that he could not do that. It was unlikely for the boy to receive lessons in occlumency, he must have bought an enchanted amulet. Did Remus buy it for the boy? If yes, why? Worse, he cannot confront the boy or the werewolf over the issue that he cannot sneak into an 11-year olds mind.

He did not know that one of his former students have tried and failed too. That person had relied less on subtle skill and more on force, so had alerted the boy and feeling puzzled.

More of his plans had failed. He had arranged for Figg to follow Vernon's car to King's Cross on that day, meet Molly Weasley and point out the boy to him. He had visited the mother-son duo earlier and laid out clear instructions for them. He had already put a compulsion charm on Remus to not tell Harry about how to get to the hidden platform. Molly would "accidentally" stumble into the boy, tell him the way and also introduce her youngest son- who had his own role.

He had asked Ron to sit near Harry and pretend to be friends. It was not easy, the redhead was full of jealousy but there was no other choice in his mind. Ron had to create the illusion of friendship, isolate Harry from the other students at Hogwarts, it was a dreadful idea for the boy to befriend Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy or Susan Bones in particular plus others may prove risky too. No, Harry would have to interact with only whom Albus approved.

Plus, Ronald was a lazy, useful idiot- no interest in anything except sports, no desire to learn anything. Exactly the sort of peer he wanted Harry to have. Later, Harry would stay at the Burrow for short periods where Molly would show him some kindness. After all, Albus was not absolutely heartless; he did plan for the boy to experience at least some caring and happiness in his short life.

He had also told Ron that the latter expected to be sorted into Gryffindor; he could not put a compulsion charm on the sorting hat. He had asked Ron to malign Slytherin during the journey- cite the worst aspects of the house. He expected Harry to ask the hat to place him in the same house as his parents and new "friend". Even Gryffindor has its own variations like all the other houses- the best is a person of honour who always sticks to his/her principles while the worst is an overconfident reckless muscle-head, information that Harry need not know.

In the hall, he had observed the face of the Weasley boy twice, when Harry's name was called and when the hat did the sorting. In the end, he knew that the first steps of his big plan have ended in a big failure. He had found it difficult to concentrate on the excellent feast which was rather uncommon for him. He himself did not like being in the dark or his predictions going wrong.

He could not accept his plans not working out. He has to create new plans. Harry Potter has to become a willing sacrifice for the light. He may be allowed to live past his seventeenth birthday, but must not make a will- he had made plans for the boy's inherited wealth long ago, right? He has to be kept in the dark, knowing only what Albus wanted him to. Past cannot be changed but future planned out.

Dumbledore had plans to instigate Harry to walk to his own slaughter after using the boy, he would not taint his own hands- that's crude. At the same time, Snape has to remain a useful spy and not doubt that Dumbledore is using him by tinkering with the man's emotions.

The greater good counts above all.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The goblin king looked at Foxnose, who was in fact looking happy. He had put the clever goblin in charge of finding more soul anchors. One more had been found inside the Lestrange vault. The goblins had then decided to look at the two pieces of real estate that Tom Riddle possessed according to magical law.

Ragnuk spoke first "Well, I hope that you have brought me good news. You took two days only."

Foxnose now smiled "Not only news, but also the object itself. The thing is in the box that I now hold in my hands, O king. It's a stone set in a ring but carrying a powerful curse and compulsion charm. I may also inform you that I alone could rescue the object, no further help was needed."

Ragnuk's now spoke in a curious voice "Really? Do sit down and tell me how it was that easy."

"I approached the houses where the Riddle and Gaunt families used to reside. The Gaunt residence had some wards; I sensed them to be laid out in a hemispherical pattern around the house which is now reduced to rubble. I could not believe that the task was so easy and even thought it was a trap."

"I could not understand. Provide me more information."

"My good king, I began digging a tunnel from outside the wards and reached the bottom of the house. The box was hidden under wooden floor-boards, the floor was just mud and strengthened with a durability charm. Good to resist mundane burrowing creatures, but not a prepared goblin. Apparently, the dark one did not expect anyone to do what I did. I don't think that the wards were tripped."

"Then?" asked a calm voice.

"I restored the floor to its former condition, closed the mouth of the tunnel and came straight to you. I have not left behind any trace to the best of my knowledge, O King. "

"Good job, but not excellent. Leave the box with me and send for the head of the curse and crafting sections. An exact replica of the ring will be created, the same curse put into it and the forged ring put in the same box. The tunnel will be totally filled up when the job is done. You would volunteer to put it back? All right, you may leave now."

Three down, maximum of four more to go- thought the king. These three would never be recovered intact from Gringotts by the dark one. Tom Riddle would now pay the price for the Nottingham massacre, Ragnuk just wanted to extract the maximum possible price.

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