Hello to everyone who showed interest in this resurrection- and those new to the story. Lots of love!
It may be likely my writing style's changed in four/five years but let's see if I can keep it in the same tone! I can wrap this story up in the next month I believe, I have something that cornered me until end of October... but otherwise I should be done with this story and onto part two of Hadrian Riddle- the time travelling, depressed, and mental mess. :)
Thank you, everyone who still held out hope on this relic. I feel like times have changed and yet not at all...
Chapter 16
The Boy Who Shouldn't Be Alive, and Other Unwelcome Surprises
"It's considerably, um, darker in here," Sirius said. "That's not- can't be natural."
"My dad says the whole Forest is cursed," James said. "To never be free of dark magicks." Sirius rubbed his arm and laughed, but it came out more tinny than he had probably intended. Harry looked back towards the schoolgrounds, which could still be seen through the trees.
"We could, you know," he suggested. "turn-"
"Nah," James said. "Nah, we haven't even seen anything. We haven't come in here for nothing, might as well have a lookesie." He kicked idly at a tree root that was thicker than his body, and tried to hide the wince of pain. The tree was solid, hard wood, as James had just fully understood. His toe was smarting now.
Harry let him have his bravado, and watched the cloudy sky above the trees. It looked like rain was incoming. He thought about his own first trip into the Forbidden Forest in first year. His first memorable meeting with the man that called himself Lord Voldemort. Reduced to possession, a half-life sustained from unicorn blood. Though perhaps Lord Voldemort had doomed himself to such a life much earlier than that.
"I don't see why the whole forest is off limits. It's not like you get cursed just walking in is it? And most of the Potions herbs, aren't they harvested here? It's like Quidditch!" James and Harry looked at Sirius with twin expressions of confusion. The boy scratched his head. "Y'know, cause they ban that too. All the fun stuff, like Hogsmeade, it's for the upper years isn't it."
"Right but most people don't go missing during Quidditch," Harry said.
"Right," he argued. "but sure enough has happened at Hogsmeade."
"Just for drinking and whatnot," James added. "They get plastered and wander off is all. This- this is a real adventure." He looked into the depths of the trees, chest puffed up. "This is where your bravery can be tested!"
"Not sure I want to be tested the first weekend back," Harry muttered.
"We are Gryffindors, Harry, and the Prewetts set such an example."
"You trying to outdo them?"
"Who are the Prewetts?" Harry interrupted. James clapped him on the back forcefully.
"What'da mean who are the Prewetts? Oh- right- I keep forgetting- you're a Muggleborn, aren't you?" Harry nodded as they continued to walk on the barely trodden path. It required focus not to trip on some unfortunately placed rock or root every other step. "The Prewetts are twin brothers, lost legendary points from Gryffindor and could win them back in a week. Gave the Aurors a few headcases too, my dad thought it was proper funny though. But, I don't think he likes how much they've, erm, inspired me. But everyone knows them, they're proper Aurors now, only two years after graduation... they rounded up a load of Grindelwald's lot."
Harry had forgotten about Grindelwald after seeing Tom Riddle in the newspaper. It was so curious that Riddle was considered, even here, as suspicious or untrustworthy although having saved lives. Maybe that was waranted- maybe there was a reason- Merlin there was so much Harry didn't know.
But Grindelwald... the Dark Lord from before Harry's time was still around. So Dumbledore hadn't defeated him in this life- whatever that meant for the Wizarding World.
"My dad said they're really going places," James said proudly.
"Hm." Harry was stuck in his head, thinking about all the things he didn't know. Not even about his original timeline, but here. He had practically vacationed at Wool's Orphanage (granted a miserable vacation), but all the same he had wasted time instead of learning about his new environment.
He felt a shiver go down his spine and his heart rate picked up. It felt like a bird flapping its wings in his chest, he clutched it and tried to breathe in. There was no use in feeling this way. That weird heart problem had started ever since the end of the Hogwarts Battle- his nightmares grew more frequent until they plagued him during the waking hours. Every hour with the Dursleys, every altercation with the Death Eaters- it was on constant loop in his head.
It was hardly shocking that Harry needed... escape.
A new life.
But why did it feel like the Boy-Who-Lived was inescapable? This Hadrian Riddle was a killer from birth, his mother died for him to live. Harry knew a similiar tale- he had lived it.
"Oi, do y'reckon that kid's got any friends?"
"What?"
"The greasy one," James exclaimed. Sirius laughed.
"He could fill up a pan with grease!" Harry, this time, stayed silent. It couldn't constantly be his battle to teach them right and wrong. As long as they never came to blows with a young Snape, he was going to have to be satisfied.
"Wait," James breathed. He threw out his hand in front of Harry who umph'd when he walked straight into him. "Here that? I heard something moving." Harry rubbed his chest reproachfully, but James was distracted- scouting out the treeline.
"Brilliant. Let's not stick around then!" Sirius hovered a step behind. Harry thought his desire to leave came from an understanding of the true danger rather than cowardice.
"You're being a bi-" Harry was suddenly glad they had remained in that spot. James really had heard something.
"Woah." Harry's eyes widened and he blinked hard. He'd only seen one once before, and that one was already dead. But living, breathing, walking- it was such majestic beast that it gleamed without any sunlight.
A unicorn.
"I'd never..." Sirius came forward to stand next to Harry, elbowing James. He barely noticed. To the side of them was a thick brush of undergrowth but there was distinct, if small, opening that showed a clearing from the trees. Some sparse grass grew there, or some magical equivalent Harry was sure, and that was where the unicorn was grazing.
It's horn was longer than Harry's wand and looked beautiful- but deadly.
Mesmerized the boys stood until the unicorn lifted its head and looked right at them. It didn't flee, or charge forth with its horn- it looked on for a second and then returned to the grass.
"Talk about good luck," Sirius murmured.
"Think we should, er, keep going?"
"Dunno James, it's a sign either way." Harry was often quick to call wizards a superstitious lot, but he too felt suddenly that seeing the unicorn was a matter of faith.
"Keep going or get closer," Sirius breathily said near Harry's ear.
"Well don't you move Sirius," James said. "Blacks are a dark sort. Wouldn't want to scare it off, would you?"
"What's that mean? Dark sort? We're one of the most-" Sirius was quick to defend himself but his voice rose with each word. "our house is one of the most respected in the wizarding world! Better than..." He sought for an example with his face scrunched up angrily. "Better than loads!" The unicorn bolted, like a flash of white lightning.
"Oh- look what you've done-"
"We've got history," Sirius snarled. "That's what, that's all- and-"
"What you on about?" He said quizzically. James shook his head. "Ah what, the Black family, right. You lot are dark wizards, aren't you? Merlin. Unicorn is off you bleeding prat."
"You're rotten, Potter!" Sirius whipped around and walked in the direction they came from- very much looking like he was trying not to run away.
"Did you hear that?" He turned to Harry. "Blimey, I dunno what I've done wrong, way he's acting. Nothing, you saw- I did nothing! He scared off the unicorn like I said!"
"Er, yeah," Harry wasn't trying to play mediator again, not like for Ron and Hermione. "You should probably talk to him."
"Right," James sighed. "But he's nuts."
"Bit harsh."
"Rah," James nodded sagely.
"Er. Well." Harry helpfully shrugged.
James squinted past Harry's shoulder.
"Who's that?" James moaned. "Oh Merlin, are we in trouble. Sirius'll love this."
Harry turned around, and the figure turned around. It seemed equally unhappy to see them.
"He will not be by the castle, then of course," murmured Dumbledore. Athena looked to him, sharply, and Riddle followed suit. "The castle is paramount, protect the integrity of the school, and the children within. I will see to the seeking man."
"Grindelwald is no weak foe," Riddle said. "You have not underestimated or misunderstood him. You were right to call upon me, and, such other applicants. But the attack on the castle is his diversion- for an unknown goal- that much is clear to anyone of moderate intelligence. But now I assuje it was not only his diversion, but a convienent one for you."
"Then maybe I am not as alone as I feel," Dumbledore smiled. "That you would understand me so well." Riddle widened his eyes, unimpressed.
"I will not chase your coattails to duel Grindelwald. You have accomplished setting me up in your place as the school's defender. Have at your revenges, or whatever it is that motivates you to seek out the, as you said, seeker. You would," Riddle bit out, "know also what he seeks, wouldn't you?"
The two men stood still as the stone walls of Hogwarts, eye to eye. Finally, the Professor sighed.
"We should not hesitate any longer," Dumbledore said. "You may have discovered it to be a diversion, Mr. Riddle, but a powerful diversion none the less. It must be handled by experts, not unlike yourself..."
"Difficult men," Athena said.
"We will fortify the bridge. We mustn't fail," McGonagall looked grim. "Little matters more." She gave Riddle a piercing look. "Not even power plays with you lot. This is our school. We will protect it."
"Are you a Professor, sir?" James called. He had quickly lost interest in Sirius' mood swing it seemed.
"I don't think I have spoken with a child in many, long years." The man had drawn closer, and sneered. "I have been missing nothing."
"I don't think I should speak to weird strangers in the woods," Harry retorted. "You're weird." The man was very still, and Harry could see the anger written in his bulky frame. This wasn't right at all. The Forbidden Forest was still under Hogwarts wards. If this man wasn't an affliate of the school... who was he and how was he inside the wards? He was rude, but then again so was Professor Snape. Harry didn't need to make another Professor despise him, if he could help it. But again, Harry had the feeling this man wasn't supposed to be here at all. That he wasn't a Professor at all.
"You shouldn't wander alone," the man said. "in the woods, where no one's around."
"You're here." Harry said slowly.
"Yes." He smiled. "Yes. I am." He was suddenly much closer than before and shot out an arm to grab Harry's. In shock Harry swung round his right fist just to be grabbed by his tiny eleven year old hand.
"James, go after Sirius," Harry commanded, as confidently as he could muster. People used to listen to him, he thought.
He squirmed fruitlessly and the man still made no move to use a wand to incapacitate him.
"Bitte, let me have a look at you." It seemed that really was all he was doing, but Harry wasn't one for testing fate anymore- or placing it in this man's hands. The man's blue eyes were almost milky in color.
"Riddle? That meddlesome child? You cannot be-" He scowled, and rubbed the bridge of his large nose. "Of course, you would fail me here too."
"What?" Harry was confused now.
"Nothing you will ever worry about," The blond man soothed. Harry was distinctly not calm, not at all.
Harry twisted out of the loosened grip and kicked out wildly- and hit his mark this time. The man hissed with pain.
"Stop that," he snarled. "Infernal child." The man cracked his wand down with a violent turn of wrist and Harry felt his throat convulse. He couldn't breathe- it was burning- god- when had he got out his wand-
"We're not afraid of you," Harry could hear James stutter and felt his heart drop, greedily sucking in breaths as the large blond was momentarily distracted. Of course the boy didn't run for help! No, he had to stay here and doom them to the man's whims.
"I don't know who you think you are, but my father is Head Auror! He'll have you in Azkaban for coming on the grounds!" The man did give James some attention then.
"Blustery, boy. Charlus Potter has little jurisdiction these days, with his shell of a force. Potter boy, then?" Harry felt his head spinning and he was blinking back darkness- every breath was still effort even though it seemed the man's spell had let up. It looked like it had lasting damage.
"Well, children. This is an odd happenstance," he looked at a shallowly breathing Harry, "but maybe Fate speaks to me. As the great Dark Lord Grindelwald" -the blood drains from James' face although Harry is too far gone to see him clearly- "it would be righteous, and only fair of me to listen to Lady Fate's intention.
Your fate, lies with me now." He raised his wand again, but Harry still could barely register that.
"Step away, Gellert. You have nothing here for you." He was smiling, it looked like now.
"Ah. Hello, old friend."
"You will leave these grounds, and take the remainders of your men with, Gellert! After such a failure at the Wizengamot summit- one would not think you so bold. My staff have capably held them off on the inner grounds. What on earth had you meant to achieve?"
It was Dumbledore. The wizard turned to face Dumbledore, face contorted in rage.
"Your staff and Riddle. My, you must have been worried to invite him here, my old friend. Doubly so, because look!" He gestured to Harry on the ground. "I ran into such a boy that shouldn't be alive, imagine the surprise."
"Hadrian are you alright?" Harry groaned. He was alive! He wanted to say.
"I am here for my belongings, Albus. This Forest was your original plan.. I was also so spot on with my judging of your next step. You remain so predictable. I had intended my devoted as a petty distraction. Surely a few hundred of my mediocre ranks can withstand your few. And yes, even Riddle."
"You forget," Dumbledore intoned gravely. "Hogwarts is not just a school. It is a place of magic. Wards older and stronger than the grounds. She can defend herself, and the students within. But then again, you were never a student here were you. How could you know her power."
"Today perhaps," Grindelwald conceded. "But not forever. I have enveloped Eastern Europe, and Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Governements fall and are rebuilt as I have desired. It is inevitable that the British will fall, as well. I gave you time, but you insist on becoming my enemy."
"I am doing this, for the Greater Good." Dumbledore said. "You are the one looking for enemies."
"I am in this woods to retrieve the stone, Albus. I came for what you stole from me! And," he thrust a finger at Harry, "I was so lucky to find this boy. He will die, I will have the stone from you, and I will return even if you think my force can be defeated by a castle." He laughed.
"Prove yourself, your last chance. End what you started, Albus."
"I will do no such thing," he said calmly.
"But no! Wouldn't you strike the child down, as you said? It's no longer a completely defenseless babe, is he now. No, he lived eleven more years, if you could believe that.".
"I protect," Dumbledore spoke calmly, "the students in the castle to my greatest ability. Hadrian, will not come to harm." Harry heavily nodded. He felt like everything was floating. Something, they were talking about something...
"Funny that, old friend. You cower from everything now." He shot a look to Harry, who was halfway to unconsciousness. "Though perhaps you were always the man that stands before me today, and it was simply my folly not to see it. This boy lived. Proof of my momentary loss of foresight."
"Betrayal is your forte. Surely, Gellert, you did not think that sustainable," Dumbledore said. "And a child, a child is not responsible for the sins of the parents."
"Ha!" The sharp mimcry of a laugh was bitter. "You blamed me before I raised my wand on that one day. And for Riddle, you would have done the same. If anything, I had taken your advice in regards to that particular, betrayal. You do like to play at benevolence. Bitte, colour the sky however you please. It does not make mine any less blue."
"We may never have been friends, old friend." Dumbledore said.
"Maybe if you did not cower ever since we were boys, Albus. I daresay we could've been everything of our dreams." Harry's vision went as he lost awareness, tunneling in on Dumbledore raising his wand, slowly.
Almost reluctantly.