The Girl Who Loved Tom Riddle 5
Slytherin Blood
Disclaimer: I'm guessing Neville's grandmother went to Hogwarts around the same time Tom did so I'll put her in the same year, along with Harry's grandfather. I'll have Molly and Arthur's parents graduating this year, but add in the Weasley name anyway. I bet they both came from large families and Ron says something about an uncle Billius seeing a Grim. I'm also putting Moaning Myrtle in Tom's year. WE don't know what year or house she is in, but there's a reason why I'm doing this.
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Tom looked up at an old and shabby wizard hat sitting atop a wooden stool. Before his very dark eyes, a crease in the middle of the hat opened up like a mouth and started to sing.
"You must wonder what kind of hat is this,
This hat you see, can show you much bliss.
I'm different than all other hats,
I'll separate mice from rats.
Just call me the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.
Where is it that you ought to be?
Just wait a while and you shall see.
Are you brave and daring?
Is there a lion inside you somewhere?
Gryffindor may be the place you'll be staying.
Tell me, are you loyal and just?
Someone easy to trust?
That would make you a badger in Hufflepuff.
Do you love studying and learning things anew?
Is there a bright light in your head shining through?
Let your brain fly with the eagles of Ravenclaw.
Or is there something else of devotion?
Do you have drive and motivation?
Come, ambitious one and join the snakes of Slytherin.
Don't know who you are just yet?
Give me a moment and I will bet,
You will find where you belong
And so now ends my song!"
Everyone broke into applause and Tom thought over the Hat's song. Where were would the Sorting Hat place him? Dumbledore took out a long scroll.
"I will call your name and place the hat on your head," he said. "Once it placed you in a house, you are to sit at that table. Now then," he cleared his throat.
"Anderson, Andy."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Sylvia."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Brown, Alexander."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Bulstrode, Rod."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Crabbe, Michael."
"SLYTHERIN!"
Tom stood watching, waiting for his name to be called. He wasn't sure where he wanted to go. Every time someone was placed into Slytherin, Malfoy nudged Tom in the ribs, grinned and nodded. Perhaps he was right that Slytherin was the best house.
"Goyle, Karl."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Hornby, Olive."
A skinny girl with golden blond wavy waist length hair walked up to the front, swaying her hips. She turned, smiling like she was miss perfect and sat her small little bottom on the stool, twirling her hair around a finger, her fingernails painted dark red. She had gorgeous sparkling blue eyes that seemed to entice every boy in the room, including Tom. Once he caught her eyes, he knew he wanted to be in whatever house she was.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Flipping her hair, Olive stood up and strutted to the Slytherin table. Tom checked his watch. Why was his name so far in the alphabet? The damn sorting hat took sometimes thirty minutes sorting some people. Slowly, gradually, the knot of people waiting to be sorted was shrinking. They reached the "M's"
"Malfoy, Alaric!"
Looking confident and surly, Alaric marched to the front and sat on the stool. It only sat on his head for about five seconds until it declared him a Slytherin. Smirking, Alaric sat at the Slytherin table between Crabbe and Goyle.
"Mason, Myrtle!"
A girl in dark brown pigtails gasped when her name was called and she was shaking so furiously with anxiety that she tripped over her own feet. Some people gasped and looked on in concern, hid giggles whereas the Slytherin Table howled with laughter. Tom looked around and covered his mouth. He tried not to laugh but the girl looked so pathetic he couldn't' help it. Olive Hornby pointed her finger at her.
"What an idiot!" she shrieked.
Pink in the face, Myrtle pushed herself up and still shaking, she sat down on the stool. Dumbledore talked everyone down to silence as he dropped the hat on Myrtle's head and it went over her eyes. The sorting hat took quite some time sorting her.
"I bet she's a mudblood!" Olive hissed to the other Slytherins around her.
Myrtle covered her face and waited for the Sorting Hat to sort her, that is, if she belonged anywhere.
'Difficult, quite difficult,' said a voice in her ear.
'I don't belong anywhere, do I?" she thought. 'I knew it. I knew when I got that letter I couldn't be a real witch. My parents don't know the slightest thing about magic! Someone put that letter in my mailbox as a joke! But I'm willing to try if you'll just give me a chance, just give me a chance.' Myrtle cried softly into her hands.
'Hard worker, eh?'
'Yes, yes I am. I'll try very hard.'
'Would you say you're brave?'
'No, not really,' Myrtle thought. 'I might not be the smartest or bravest girl but I'll try hard.'
Some people in the Great Hall complained about the time ahd their hunger.
'Please, just place me somewhere, anywhere,' Myrtle begged silently. 'I'm a nice girl. I promise I'll try very hard no matter what and I won't cheat. I'm an honest hard worker.'
'Honesty, yes. Plenty of honesty and loyalty. Well you may think that won't be much but that is more than enough for…'
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Myrtle made a shout of surprise and jumped off the stool once Dumbledore removed the Sorting Hat from her head. Now crying tears of joys, Myrtle broke for the Hufflepuff Table.
Tom checked his watch again. When would they get to the "R's?" His patience was wearing thin. Tom waited his whole life for this moment, always wondering where he belonged. Tom looked around, waiting anxiously, finally…
"Riddle, Tom."
Tom swallowed, walked to the front and sat on the stool. It fell slightly over his eyes and he heard the voice of the Hat hum thoughtfully in his ear.
'What? What?' Tom thought. 'What do you see?'
'Lots of things,' the Sorting Hat replied. 'Isn't this interesting…after all these years, I've finally found you. So much ambition and drive, thirst, hunger. A hunger so deep it takes you over.'
'How can you tell?"
'Why, it's right here in your head. It's in your blood. You've got everything he did.'
'Who?'
'I'm amazed, truly amazed to find the heir of one of the four founders here. You have all the amazing qualities of him—even the gift of Parseltongue. Why, there's no place better for you than to be in his house, no doubt about that. You've got his blood coursing through your veins, young man. I know where to put you--wouldn't he be proud to know you're here--that great wizard Salazar…'
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Wh-what?" Tom questioned, his eyes wide and didn't budge when the hat was taken from his head.
"Hey, Riddle!" Alaric Malfoy called. "Over here!"
Tom blinked and walked dumfounded and shocked to the Slytherin Table. He remembered the Hat's voice. Was he playing him with all that founder heir stuff? Could Tom Riddle really be the heir of Salazar Slytherin? How could it be? He had Slytherin blood running in his veins?"
"I told you Slytherin was the best house," Alaric said. "I knew you'd be in Slytherin. I just knew."
Tom's facial muscles seemed to move on their own into a big grin. The Sorting Ceremony ended and Tom enjoyed his meal. The food was scrumptious and he'd never seen so much of it in his life. He could eat like a king in this place. Tom was only here for a few hours and already; Tom was in love with this place called Hogwarts.
The Slytherin prefect led the house of Slytherins down the dungeons to their common room. Tom's eyes couldn't keep up with the surroundings. Tom knew as the prefect was explaining things, he knew that he'd want to be a prefect too. And why not? Tom Riddle had Slytherin blood. He could be whatever he wanted to be. Tom had the best wand from the wandshop sitting in his pocket, the blood from the best wizard of all time coursing in his veins and the drive to take him anywhere. Tom was going to do it. It was just like the advice Mr. Paten gave him when he dropped him off this morning.
"If you want something bad enough, you've got to be willing to do everything to get it."
That was exactly what Tom intended to do.
"Slytherin Common room," the prefect said, gesturing around the room. "All right any questions?"
Tom raised his hand. "Yeah, I have one. When can you become a prefect?"
"Fifth year," he answered, hands on his hips. "If you get a high enough score in your fourth year you can become one. In your seventh year they'll elect head boy and head girl."
"Thanks," Tom said, grinning. He could become Head Boy. He wanted it so bad he could almost taste it.
--
Days passed into weeks. It was lonely for Sarah in the orphanage but she did not let herself miss Tom too much. She wrote him when she could and tried to keep herself as busy as possible. She missed him more when she had nothing to do. Sarah hugged her doll all the time, wishing Tom would feel it. Somehow, Sarah felt that Tom was going to come back a whole new person. With heavy heart, hugging her doll, she looked out her window, wondering just where Hogwarts could be.
"Tom, please be careful out there," she said wishfully, "and don't change."
--
Little did Sarah know, Tom was changing. Tom made it his goal to become the best in anything, get a high grade on every assignment in every class. Tom wanted to learn everything and everything having to do with magic. Now that he knew he had sltherin blood in him, Tom wanted to know everything about Salazar Slytherin.
On Halloween after lessons, Tom sat in the common room with all the infmation about Salazar Slytherin he could find. He read that Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth, meaning he could communicate with snakes. But this wasn't the only thing Salazar Slytherin could do. Salazar Slytherin was quite talented in the Dark Arts, which he practiced in secret from the other founders. There was something about Salazar Slytherin that came as a surprise to Tom Riddle.
Salazar Slytherin was in love with one of the founders, Helga Hufflepuff. Centuries ago, when Salazar met Helga and founded Hogwarts with her and the others, everything else didn't seem so important to him. She was a very talented witch in almost every art and her beauty was immeasurable. Helga Hufflepuff had lustrous golden blond that had little braids coming from the sides of her head, connecting to a longer braid over her long hair. Her eyes were as blue as the sky and her complexion was perfect. But it wasn't her eyes or her hair or her talent Salazar Slytherin liked the most. It was her beautiful voice. Salazar loved to hear her sing. It took away all his bad thoughts and feelings in a flash every time, until a few years after founding Hogwarts, Salazar and Godric were having an agreement about the kinds of youngsters they brought to the school. They rehashed this almost every single day and before every school year.
"Why do you have to be the one to choose, Godric?" Salazar demanded. "Do I not have a say in who comes in our school?"
"We have talked about this before," Godric said coolly. "If they show talent then I am willing to teach them."
"So you will let those without any magic in their blood enter
our school?" Salazar questioned, his dark eyes flaring. "And risk everything we worked for? How do you know they will not tell everyone
where Hogwarts is?"
Rowena stepped beside Godric, her black wavy hair pulled up by the sides. "Godric, I do not believe that. We have voted on letting children from non-magical
families coming to Hogwarts years ago.
They are just as good as anyone else."
"Do not be a fool!" Salazar shouted. "I do not care how much talent they have, I believe they are unworthy to be in my school!"
"Your school?" Godric asked, scratching his auburn beard. "Have you forgotten that we've founded Hogwarts together?"
"They are untrustworthy, Godric. Someday these—Mudbloods—will tell everyone where to find Hogwarts! It might not happen this year, but I know it will happen someday!"
"Salazar, what a cruel thing to say!" Helga cried. "Even if what you say is true, do you think we cannot protect Hogwarts?"
"I am going to do everything in my power to keep the unworthy from walking in the halls of Hogwarts!" Salazar sneered.
"We have agreed to only let those from wizarding families come to your house, Salazar!" Godric snapped.
"That is not good enough!" Salazar roared. "I want rid the filth from Hogwarts and I will!"
"Filth?" Rowena asked, "Salazar, do not speak like that! They are just children trying to find out where they belong in the world! I've seen their hard work, their diligence, their intelligence! Some students without any magic in their lineage are better with a whole magical family tree!"
"You telling me that you think these—these children are gifted?" Salazar let out a derisive laugh.
"Yes," Rowena said defiantly. "I believe so."
"Salazar, no one from this school is a traitor," Godric said softly.
"No, just you," Salazar scowled. "I knew you would be foolish enough to let the unworthy inside this school, Godric, so I did something to prepare Hogwarts."
"What are you talking about?" Helga asked. "Have you set a trap?"
"A perfect trap," Salazar said, "when we first had this problem with who to let roam these halls, I built a chamber hidden deep underneath the school that only myself and my true heir will be able to open! Inside this Chamber of Secrets lies a monster to rid the filth of this school."
"You bastard!" Godric snarled, rushing forward Salazar with his wand outstretched. "You liar!"
Salazar stepped back with a very cruel smile plastered on his face.
"Stop, stop!" Helga cried, rushing between the two wizards as Rowena pulled Godric back. "Please, let's not fight. Please! We have lived in piece for twenty years. Let's not fight!" She turned quickly to Salazar. "Salazar, you do not mean that, do you? You have not really built a Chamber of Secrets with a monster, have you?"
"I have, Helga." Salazar said and looked at the others. "Go head—search the school—you shall never find it!"
"You are lying," Godric snapped. "Lying!"
"Godric, stop!" Rowena hissed, trying to keep Godric from attacking Salazar. "Just let him go."
"Very well," Godric said, "Salazar, you are to leave Hogwarts and never come back."
"No!" Helga gasped, whipping around to Godric. "You cannot mean that, Godric. Please, let us talk this over."
"We have talked this through, Helga," Salazar muttered, "but Godric here won't listen to reason. He wants to let the unworthy in our school!"
"That is enough, Salazar!" Godric yelled. "Leave Hogwarts now! This instant! We can watch over Hogwarts on our own. We will not be needing you anymore!"
"Very well," said Salazar, stepping out of the staff room. "I cannot stand to be in this school anymore as long as there will be Mudbloods in our school. I am leaving and I am never coming back. Be sure to warn the students when term starts. The Chamber will open someday. Might not be this term or the next, maybe not ten years from now, but someday, Godric, someday, it will open and all the unworthy will die!" Salazar let out a mighty, wicked laugh and marched out of the room.
Helga walked to the door and stopped at the doorway. "Salazar, wait!"
Salazar disappeared around the corridor and Helga turned back to the others. Godric still looked outraged but Rowena looked slightly relieved.
"Salazar just left," Helga said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Are neither of you going to stop him?"
"Why should we?" Godric questioned. "Let him go. We do not need a murderer here."
"Salazar is no murderer!" Helga cried. "If we talk…"
"We have talked about this, Helga," Rowena said tiredly, "For years. Salazar will not listen."
"We have to stop him," Helga pleaded. "You cannot just let him go…please? Rowena? Godric?" she looked at their faces, her lip trembling.
Neither of them said a word. Helga burst into tears and shook her head.
"The Hogwarts Four has broken!"
"Now, Helga, do not cry," Godric began but she turned away and ran out of the door. If Goric and Rowena weren't going to help her then she'd just do it herself. She found Godric walking out of the castle with a sack flung over his shoulder.
"Salazar! No! Do not go! Come back!" she cried. "Please! Do not leave! Salazar, wait!"
Hearing her cries, Salazar paused and looked over his shoulder. "Helga, you cannot stop me from leaving." He said sternly, but there was a hint of sadness his voice like he was proud and almost sorry he was leaving Hogwarts. "I am going."
"No, please!" she flung her arms around him and sobbed. "You cannot go! You cannot! I need you here. We need you!"
"I cannot stay at Hogwarts," said Salazar softly, pushing her back. "I am sorry."
"Come back inside and talk with us," she pleaded. "We can work something out. You have seen how the students from nonmagical familes work. Please try and reconsider, Salazar. It does not matter!"
"Helga, I have talked it over until I was blue in the face," Salazar muttered. "I cannot talk anymore."
"You have not really built a chamber underneath the castle, Salazar," she said. "I know you have not! We will search the school and see if it is real!"
"Search as long as you would like, Helga, but you will not find it," Salazar said, "only my true heir will. I built the chamber with dark magic and it will be dark magic that will open it."
"Dark magic? You never told us!"
"Hogwarts will be fine without me," Salazar insisted. "You can find another replacement."
"Replacment?" Helga demanded. "We don't want a replacement, Salazar!"
"There are plenty of other wizards out there," said Salzar, "ones that have no problem teaching muggleborns. But I cannot do it anymore. Get another person to teach my subject."
"Salazar, no," she shook her head. "No!"
"Goodbye, Helga," Salazar kissed her forehead and turned around, trying to push her away. "I am sorry."
She tugged on him and pleaded for him to stay. Sinking to her knees, she watched Salzar leave the Hogwarts grounds forever.
"Salazar! Salazar!"
--
"Riddle, wake up!"
Someone was rousing him awake.
"Wake up, Riddle! Riddle!"
"W-what?" Tom said sleepily.
"You're missing the Halloween Feast," Alaric said. "You can read later."
"I was reading about Salazar Slytherin," Tom squeezed the bridge of his nose. "I must've fallen asleep. Had the weirdest dream."
"We all know Slytherin was the best wizard in the world," Alaric laughed. "Come on. Wait until you see the Enchanted Ceiling. We have food at the Halloween Feast they don't' serve at other dinners!"
"All right, I'm coming," Tom yawned, rising to his feet and following Alaric out of the common room to the Great Hall, his dream still heavy on his mind. What was it all about? Did Salazar Slytherin really build a Chamber of Secrets and where was it?
To Be Continued