Chapter Four: Bloodlines
My dear child,
I know Divination is seldom precise, but my every cup of tea concludes with death omens and even the Muggle physicians are grim. They say the birth will be difficult. I know I will not survive it. Do not blame yourself for my death, it was beyond your control.
How much or little you know of our family, I cannot say and I ask your pardon if what I next write is already known to you. My family, our family, is an ancient one that traces our lineage back to Salazar Slytherin himself, though only we are aware of that fact. There are rumors about Slytherin's descendant's you see and it is best to keep the knowledge of our ancestry within the family. Your grandfather Marvolo Reihlive, was a noted alchemist. He was one of only two men to create the Sorcerer's Stone, but another discovered what he had done and tried to steal it. Your grandfather, the thief and the stone were all destroyed.
As for your father, he was a Muggle. When he discovered I was a witch, he was horrified and turned his back on me. I was pregnant at the time and he knew of my condition.
I hope you will remember me kindly.
Your Mother,
Alicia Reihlive.
Tom gently placed the letter his mother bad written between the pages of his Charms textbook along with one of the few pictures he had of her. He set the book on the table and surveyed the library for a moment before his eyes chanced upon the Restricted section.
"What's over there?" He asked the reedy librarian Mr. Pietas.
"That is the restricted section. You must have a signed note from a Professor to even browse the books in there."
Tom's brow wrinkled. "Why is it restricted."
"A lot of it is stuff that if not done exactly right results in loads of trouble. It is easier simply to restrict access to that material."
Tom nodded, not certain if he believed the man. "I need to find books on Salazar Slytherin."
"Have you tried Hogwarts, A History?"
"Yes...but it is vague."
Pietas laughed. "The founders lived a thousand years ago and were more concerned with the school than themselves but I'll show you what we have. You also might want to ask Professor Binns."
Tom winced at the concept of voluntarily approaching that droning, dull old man, but he soon had to consider it an option. Information on Slytherin beyond what he already knew was scanty. He sat down at a table as he leafed through the index of a likely seeming book.
Slytherin, Salazar: 12, 78-83, 99, 111, 123, 125-131, 156-9
Tom flipped to page 12, a brief mention of Slytherin as the founder of Hogwarts. Pages 78-83 described what was known of the founder's initial meetings and the origin of Hogwarts. Tom drummed his fingers on the table. Page 99 told of the Sorting Hat's origins.
"The Sorting Hat belonged to Gryffindor?" Tom asked Pietas in astonishment. While that hat looked old he would never have guessed it was that ancient.
"Indeed it did. He wore it up until he decided it could be put to a better use."
"Incredible." Tom muttered as he returned to the book. 111 mentioned a fight between Gryffindor and Slytherin over the inclusion of Muggle-born students that nearly resulted in a duel. Apparently one of Slytherin's earliest students, before Hogwarts, had been Muggle-born and had betrayed him. In those days magic was feared and while Slytherin was a powerful wizard, even he had difficulty when he wand was broken in the melee. As for the traitorous student, he suffered the fate the mob had intended for Slytherin. When Gryffindor told him that he would not only permit, but encourage Muggle-born students, Slytherin had ranted on their evil for hours to his astonished colleague before his own temper flared at the insults paid to his students. Ravenclaw finally convinced them to except an alternate solution to their problem, permitting Slytherin to keep his house free of Muggle-borns, but not neither he nor Gryffindor was very pleased and their friendship was irreversibly ruined.
He moved ahead to 123 which briefly mentioned something called the Chamber of Secrets.
"Embittered by the death of his wife, Slytherin proceeded to alienate the other founders, including Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff who had tolerated his attitude toward Muggle-borns. In one of the news documents written by the founder's themselves is a letter from Helga Hufflepuff to a former student that expresses her belief that Slytherin would eventually change his mind. Finally, Slytherin went too far when he cursed two Muggle-born Gryffindors and incurred the wrath of the others. Slytherin left the school that same day leaving behind his bewildered family and a letter purportedly stating that he had constructed a secret chamber in the school which could be opened by his true heir alone. When the Heir of Slytherin, opened the chamber, the terror within would be released and would cleanse Hogwarts of those not of wizarding blood. This is of course speculation as the neither the actual letter nor any known copy survives and it is only mentioned by Slytherin's grandson who sited the Chamber of Secrets as the reason for the prejudice against his family and their decision to alter their surname. Perire Slytherin is his last known descendant of Slytherin, scholars and historians have regrettably lost track of all of his heirs."
Tom smiled remembering his mother's letter. So this was why she had urged secrecy. He trusted her judgment with regard to his heritage, and relished his secret. Not even Julian or Clarissa could lay claim to descent from the founder of their house.
"According to tradition, Slytherin's heir would share his gift: parseltongue. No recorded parselmouth aside from Slytherin has ever been discovered and many consign that belief to the real of speculation and superstition."
When Tom headed back to the Slytherin Common room he was too busy thinking about what he had read to watch where he was going. Thus he did not notice Alexandria McKinnon until he knocked her over, causing her to drop the books she had been carrying.
"Watch where you are going!" McKinnon huffed as she bent to pick up her books.
"Sorry." Mumbled Tom in a sarcastic tone. He picked up not only his own things but a blue book belonging to McKinnon.
"You have my book." McKinnon said as he stared to walk away. She had her wand ready. A pair of fifth year Ravenclaws nearby watched them with interest.
"I do? Elementary Level Charms? I believe you are straining yourself, but there is not a lower level book is there?" Tom sneered.
"Accio book!" McKinnon said calmly. The book returned to her.
The two Ravenclaw's clapped and laughed at Tom's stunned expression.
"Good job! The summoning charm isn't taught to first years." One of the Ravenclaws complimented McKinnon.
"An excellent tactic."
"The Slytherins are overconfident." One Ravenclaw noted staring coldly at Tom.
"You should have heard them crowing about their Quidditch team, but it was Ravenclaw who won the Quidditch cup last year!" The second said.
Tom shot each of them his best withering glance, but as he was outnumbered, he opted to retreat and return to the Slytherin common room. Anger made his eyes flash and face redden. He had been humiliated by a juvenile spell, a charm, not even a curse! Tom loathed being humiliated and promised himself that he would have the last laugh. The other children at the orphanage had learned of his knack of exactly revenge, so would those here.