13. Heir of Slytherin

(March 21st, 1996)

Nagini was crawling noiselessly through the empty corridors, the tremendous rings of her scaly body shimmering with a silvery lustre whenever a pale moonlight fell on them. Yellow, rapacious eyes were staring watchfully at the darkness, ready to catch the slightest movement. She loved the night hunting, it was her passion. She preyed for a pure pleasure of killing since Nagini wouldn't touch a rat or a bat any more. The times had passed when she had to raven on carcass and garbage to survive. Since the day of Voldemort's rebirth her taste became much subtler. Human flesh, that were how they feed her now.

Something rustled in a dark niche under the window. Nagini stiffened and slowly rose her longish head. Predator's instinct told her she had just found a prey. The nostrils quivered, a thin, two-cleft tongue jutted out from the mouth and an icy hiss cut the silence.

The rustle ceased at once. Somebody or something was lurking under the wall, frightened to death, face to face with the giant snake. Nagini hissed again, this time with a tone of a cruel satisfaction. She knew that smell. It wasn't a mouse... A slight shiver run through the huge body, yellow eyes glinted rapaciously. Slowly, hypnotising the victim with a steady sway of the head, Nagini moved towards the niche. A heavy, hasty breath could be heard in the darkness.

'Keep away!' somebody whispered with panic 'Don't touch me! It's me...Wormtail!'

A silent hiss sounded like a sneering laugher. Snake's mouth nearly touched the face of the man.

'No!!!' screamed Wormtail desperately, dodging under the bent body and bolting 'Leave me alone!'

Quick footsteps sounded in the corridor. Nagini immediately fell on the floor and set off in pursuit with an incredible speed. One could tell that a winding stream of silver was flowing through the dark hall.

Wormtail, however, was far from such observations. He was rushing forwards, driven by a deadly fear, not looking back. He didn't have to. He could hear a swishing rustle of the scales, rubbing the floor. He was getting out of breath, sweat was pouring his face but he knew he couldn't stop. The death was behind him.

A door loomed in the end of the corridor. Wormtail forced himself to the last effort. A murderous hiss sounded in the darkness and the wizard could imagine the long, sharp fans of the snake sticking into his neck, oozing the poisonous venom. He quickened his pace as much as he could. The safety door was closer and closer, three meters, two, one... Breathless, nearly fainting of fear and strain, Wormtail dashed into the dark room.

'Master...!' he managed to gasped out before he fell to his knees.

A man standing near the fireplace moved and a cold, pale blue light filled the room. Wormtail rose his head hesitantly and shuddered. He was looking right into the cruel, pitiless eyes of the snake, red as a fresh blood.

'I can't remember if I called you...' drawled an icy voice.

Wormtail almost flattened on the floor in a submissive bow.

'Forgive me, master!' he gasped 'But she...'

The words froze in his mouth. Behind his back he heard a movement and the giant, shimmering body passed him silently. The snake crept up to Voldemort and put its head on his feet. The Dark Lord smiled devilishly.

'Nagini is hungry,' he said with an ominous twinkle in his eyes 'And this is your fault, Wormtail. It's your duty to feed her with a fresh meet. You know how much she loves it...'

Wormtail stiffened. He knew that the murderous notes in Voldemort's voice didn't portend anything good, especially for him. He began to suspect that the cunning snake had planned it all. Nagini didn't dare, yet, to devour one of her master's servants. But she could expect that he would give him to her as a gift.

'Go and bring her something good!' barked Voldemort impatiently.

Wormtail leapt to his feet and run out from the room. Nagini hissed discontented. The Dark Lord was watching the wizard with a real disgust.

'Wretched creature,' he drawled 'I will not need him soon. And then...' his voice turned into hiss and his red eyes looked right into the yellow lamps of the snake 'You will play with him...'

Nagini brushed gratefully against her master's legs. In the same moment the blue flames flared up and a tall, hooded figure came out of the fireplace. Nagini rose her head and hissed silently. She crept to the man and wound herself round his feet.

'Nagini likes you,' said Voldemort with a dark smile 'And I trust her verdicts. She was never wrong.'

Impostor bowed without a word. The Dark Lord was watching him lost in thoughts.

'Today, when the fate hangs in the balance, it's especially important.' he said softly 'Trust is a luxury I can rarely indulge. My most faithful servants are either dead or closed in Azkaban. And who surrounds me?' he hissed with anger 'False servants! The Death Eaters who renounced me to save their own necks! They think I forgave them. No...' hatred burned in his red eyes 'I do not forgive so easily...'

Nagini, feeling her master's rage, hissed sinisterly. Voldemort rose his hand and touched on of his fingers.

'Macnair,' he began to count off 'Lies low in the Ministry and shakes with fear at the very though of the Aurors. I have no profit of him. Crabb, Goyle - fools, but they at least will execute every order without thinking. Nott,' he smiled viciously 'he would escape from me on the end of the world if he could be sure I would not find him there. Malfoy...' his voice turned into a sinister whisper 'Oh yes, Lucius assured me many times about his loyalty and faith. But when I demanded a proof,' red eyes glinted vindictively 'even he hesitated. I saw he turned pale when I had ordered him to bring his son to me. He tried to evade though it would be a great honour for the boy!' he laughed savagely 'He could die in Lord Voldemort's service!'

In the pale blue light of the fire the face of the wizard, twisted in a sneering grimace, looked like a mask of the death. Red eyes were burning.

'Well...' he drawled 'Vega Starlight is more difficult opponent than I expected. I was sure that this time she would finally revealed herself.' he shook his head dissatisfied 'My plan was perfect but still I don't know anything more than before. Shrewd viper!' he hissed 'She hoodwinked me. But sooner or later I will know whether she can really reflect Avada Kedavra. And then,' he smiled dreamily 'when I know her secret... With the army resistant to the Killing Curse, I will master the world!'

Bright flames shot from the fireplace and surrounded Voldemort in a shining aureole. Nagini hissed triumphantly.

'The day is coming,' said the Dark Lord solemnly 'when the ranks of the Death Eaters will fill with those who really deserve that name. Almost all cards have been dealt. I'm waiting only for a joker.'

A horrible scream could be heard on the yard, a greenish light flashed. Nagini stiffened, her yellow eyes glinted and the tail tip started to hit the ground steadily. Voldemort approached the snake and pat it on its head.

'The supper, I suppose' he hissed softly 'Go, Nagini...'

The snake shot from the room as a silver arrow and disappeared in the darkness. Voldemort went to the window and looked out at the yard. A ghastly smile crept on his lips.

'Old Albus suspects what I'm planning,' he continued his thought, still observing Nagini's feast 'He undertook some precautionary steps. But even he will not anticipate everything. He will be nastily surprised...'

He turned from the window and looked piercingly at Impostor.

'Dumbledore will not stop me,' he said 'Soon dozens of the Death Eaters join me and nobody will resist my power. Hardly anybody... There is only one person who can threaten me. Heir of Slytherin...' he whispered, looking at the flames as if he saw somebody's face there 'You still don't know how important role you will play. You don't know who you really are...' red eyes twinkled strangely 'But before long you will know the truth. Will you join me then?' he asked the flames softly 'The same sacred blood of Salazar Slytherin runs in our veins. You can't renounce your destiny...'

He was staring at the fire as if we wanted to find there an answer for all the unknowns.

'Dumbledore realises the danger and he will do everything not to allow our union.' proceeded Voldemort 'Can I take so much risks? If he succeeded...' he whispered' If the heir of Slytherin turned against me... This is what our dear Albus expects,' he smiled glumly 'He imagined he would defeat me that way. And that was why he wanted to be sure that his guesses about the person are correct. Recently he has been studying thoroughly the Slytherins' genealogy. He has suspected the truth for years but now he is finally sure. He found a letter...'

The door hit the wall and panting Wormtail run into the room. He crouched with fear, meeting a dark look of Voldemort.

'Master...' he moaned 'Forgive me I disturb you again, but the wizard from the Ministry has just Apparated and...'

'I've been expecting him,' cut Voldemort harshly 'Let he wait. And you get off! And if see you here again that night, I will be happy to make Nagini a present of you.'

Wormtail's pale face expressed a pure dread. Mumbling something that must have been apologies he slept out of the room. Voldemort beckoned at Impostor.

'I called you since I have a new task for you,' he said sinisterly 'Anyone who stands on my way has to pay the price. Harry Potter must die.'

Impostor stirred. From under the hood the eyes glinted, dark and cold as the death.

'Will be as you wish, Master' he said softly.

* * *
(April 1st, 1996)

Harry was sitting in the Dumbledore's office, racking his brains for why the Headmaster had called him so unexpectedly. As far as he could remember, he didn't do anything wrong lately. He didn't anger Snape, he was very good in Transfiguration and it was his action that made Gryffindor win the last Quidditch match. Seeing all those facts, Harry came to the conclusion that Dumbledore had no fault to find with him. He grew uneasy that maybe Sirius had some troubles but Dumbledore didn't look worried when an hour ago he had asked Harry for a talk. So there was nothing but to wait.

Fawkes rose its head before the door opened behind Harry's back. The boy turned round. Dumbledore entered the office, smiling warmly to his guest and sitting in a great armchair at the opposite side of the desk.

'Sorry I kept you wait, Harry' he said 'But Hagrid has just returned and I wanted to hear the latest news. Fortunately, everything is ok.'

'Yeah...that's good' Harry remarked politely though he hadn't the faintest idea what the wizard was talking about.

Dumbledore smiled and for a moment was looking at the boy silently, with a strange musing. Harry felt a bit anxious. He began to suspect that the approaching conversation would not be easy. As to confirm those suppositions Dumbledore rested his hands on the table and looked straight into the boy's eyes.

'Harry,' he said solemnly 'The time has come you know the truth.'

Harry stare at him astounded. These words were something he absolutely didn't expect.

'The truth?' he asked 'About what?'

'About yourself,' said Dumbledore calmly, not taking eyes off the boy's face 'About who you are. About the house you descend from. It will help you understand...many things.'

He reached to the desk drawer and pulled out a long, tightly packed roll of the parchment. He put it on the table and stretched carefully. Harry lent over it with curiosity but he felt a sever disappointment. The parchment was empty.

Dumbledore smiled.

'This is a family-tree of the Slytherin's house' he explained 'Of course, it has been protected against the wrong eyes. Like the Marauders Map...' he winked to Harry.

He pulled out his wand and said silently some words in a strange language. A dark green, glistening inscription materialised at the top of the parchment: SALAZAR SLYTHERIN.

'One simple spell and ready,' said Dumbledore with a boyish satisfaction 'Here is the head of the house. You know his story pretty well. He was one of the four founders of Hogwart. The most powerful but also the most greedy of the power and force. No one has ever studied so thoroughly the secrets of the Dark Arts before. Unfortunately...'

Harry shuddered at the memory of the great basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets.

'Salazar had a son, named Sixtus,' continued Dumbledore touching lightly the parchment on which the new inscription appeared 'He inherited his father's talent and fascination for the most dark side of the magic. He was the one who founded the Order of the Dark Knights. Such a medieval equivalent of the Death Eaters' he explained 'Their leader was called a Prince and he was always from the Slytherin's line, the dignity used to come down from father to son. Soon the Order covered itself with a sinister fame and it existed through the centuries till 1764, when it has been officially dissolved by the Council of Warlocks. The last Prince of the Order, Grimus, couldn't put up with the downfall of the Dark Knights. He rose in revolt. A long, blood war began, which took a heave toll of lives' a grief glinted in Dumbledore's blue eyes 'Finally the Order has been defeated and Griums was killed. His only son also died but the Slytherin's line survived since the youngest daughter of the Prince escaped from the massacre. And though the heirs of Griums lost their old splendour and power, the family traditions came down through the generations and the memory of the famous Salazar was still alive in the hearts of his descendants. There were waiting until the man would be born who will avenge their humiliation and recall the power of the most magnificent house.'

He paused, looking thoughtfully at the names appearing inch by inch all along the parchment. The family-tree was growing bigger.

'Two hundred years had passed,' said Dumbledore 'and one day a very talented boy appeared in Hogwart. Tom Marvolo Riddle. His childhood wasn't easy. His mother, a witch, died giving birth to him and father, the Muggle, didn't want to have anything to do with such a son. Tom was brought up in the orphanage and didn't know anything about his ancestry. But one day he received a letter from Hogwart...'

Harry shuddered. He knew that story too much well, Voldemort himself told him about it. And again, as three years before, he felt his heart frozen at the thought how much Riddle's story reminded his own fate.

Dumbledore looked at Harry with a strange sorrow.

'I was the one who told Tom that he was the heir of Slytherin' he said softly 'I thought he had right to know. I believed I acted right...' he sighed heavily 'Did I make a mistake? If I had covered up the truth from him, would Lord Voldemort never arise? I don't know...' he shook his head 'Tom always hid in his heart grudge and hatred to the whole world. That was why he became what he is now. And the world shuddered when the last heir of Salazar Slytherin threw off the mask.'

He ceased talking and fell to thinking, stroking his long beard. Fawkes fluttered its wings and whistled shrilly. Dumbledore stirred.

'I suppose you wonder why I'm telling you about this?' he turned to Harry with a weary smile 'Just a bit more patience... Some part of this story you knew before, the rest are just the well known historical facts. The history of the Slytherin's house fills dozens of the thick volumes. We thought we knew everything on that subject...'

He smiled ironically. Harry straightened up on the chair and pricked up his ears. He had a feeling that he would hear something very interesting in a moment.

'We were wrong,' said Dumbledore, looking at the parchment on his desk 'But finally I know the whole truth...'

He waved his wand and a new inscription appeared next to the name of Sixtus, written not in green but in black ink. Dumbledore looked gravely at Harry.

'Salazar Slytherin had not one but two sons' he said solemnly 'The first-born Sixtus and the second one, called Septimus. The chronicles don't mention about him, for the centuries nobody even knew about his existence. You will ask: why?' he smiled darkly 'Indeed, the truth is shocking. The younger son of Salazar Slytherin was a Squib. Just imagine. The heir of the most powerful wizards of those times, totally devoid of the magical ability. Shame and disgrace, especially for someone as proud as Slytherin. No wonder he did everything to wipe this humiliating fact out of the people's memory. I don't know why he hadn't killed the boy...but maybe even Salazar had some scruples left. Anyway, he banished his son and forbade him to use the Slytherin's name. Cruel and unfair you could say...' he sighed 'But in fact it was the best thing that could happen to Septimus. He has never felt well in his father's castle, he was strange and unwanted in the magical world that he didn't understand. On the other hand he could do perfectly well among the Muggles. He settled in France and adopted a name D'Elixe. Quickly he came into a great prominence, he became on of the king's counsellors. Honours and privileges fell on his house. And when Septimus died there were nobody who would know that the wizards' blood runs in the veins of his heirs.'

Harry was listening to the story with an opened mouth, dozens of thoughts whirling in his head.

'How...how did you know this?' he uttered at last 'I mean...if nobody knew who Septimus was...' Dumbledore smiled.

'Good question,' he said lengthily 'Salazar'a plan was almost perfect. He used his power to make sure that the slightest mention about Septimus would not appear in the chronicles. People who had known something about the younger Slytherin disappeared mysteriously. And marquis D'Elixe didn't desire anything but to forget about his origins. However...' he shook his head thoughtfully 'A few days before his death he wrote a letter and revealed there his real name: Slytherin. It was only a meaningless word for his sons and the letter fell into oblivion. Harry,' Dumbledore said emphatically 'I suppose that I am the only wizard who read that letter.'

Several seconds had passed before Harry fully realised what it meant. He looked at the Headmaster totally bewildered.

'That means only you and me know about Septimus?' he stuttered.

Dumbledore nodded. Harry didn't take his eyes off his face.

'But why me?' he asked silently 'Why are you telling ME about it?'

The old wizard sighed heavily.

'You will know everything in a moment, Harry' he said softly 'Story is drawing to an end' he clasped his hands an stared at something over the boy's head 'The fortune is very variable...History didn't spare D'Elixe family. Many descendants died during the Muggle wars. The ones who survived came back to England at the end of XVIIIth century. Hundred years later the last heir of Septimus was born. His name was Marvolo Riddle.'

Harry choked. He couldn't believe his ears.

'Marvolo Riddle was from the Slytherin's line?' he whispered 'But it means...'

'Yes, Harry' said slowly Dumbledore 'This is our ill fortune that due to the unimaginable decree of fate two lines of the Salazar Slytherin's heirs joined in Marvolo's grandson. That gave him a power no one could ever dream about.'

Harry was silent. He was too surprised to say a word. Dumbledore was looking at the parchment where the name of the last heir of Slytherin has just materialised: Tom Marvolo Riddle.

'But this is not the last surprise hidden in this paper;' he said slowly 'Marvolo Riddle had an older brother. His daughter, Vivian, married young, promising engineer,' he looked piercingly at Harry 'His name was Scott Evans.'

It was like a thunderbolt. Harry was staring at the wizard with the widened eyes, trying to control his stiffened tongue.

'Evans?' he repeated in a shaking voice 'But...my mother's surname was Evans...'

Dumbledore nodded.

'Vivian and Scott had two granddaughters. To the great surprise of the whole family it turned out that the younger girl was a very talented witch. It was your mother, Harry, Lily Evans.'

Harry kept silent. He pressed his hands on his feverish forehead. Dumbledore was watching him attentively.

'Well, it's a very interesting phenomenon' he muttered 'In the Squib's family genes responsible for the magical ability come down through the generations but can remain not active for the centuries. That was the case.'

'But it means...' Harry's eyes expressed a pure dread 'that I'm also the descendant of the Salazar Slytherin! So it was true! He was right! Then, in the Chamber of Secrets he told me we were very similar... I don't want to be like Voldemort!' he cried springing up from the chair, his eyes burning feverishly.

Dumbledore didn't move.

'First of all, calm down, Harry,' he said gently but firmly 'Sit down and remember what I told you. It was Voldemort who gave you, unawares, a part of his power. That's why you can speak Parseltongue. And that's why you can resist HIM. Yes, it's true,' Dumbledore's voice was now grave and dignified 'You descend from the house of Salazar Slytherin. But it doesn't mean you must be like Lord Voldemort. Harry,' he looked at the boy piercingly 'WE decide about our live, not the blood that runs in our veins. Do you know who killed Grimus, the last Prince of the Dark Knights?' Harry shook slowly his head 'He was killed by his own brother who despised everything what the Order impersonated. Remember about this.'

The silence fell. Everything was so rare and unexpected that Harry felt completely lost. He knew only that his worst fears came true. He was the heir of Slytherin. The Sorting Hat wasn't wrong. Harry closed his eyes and reclined his head on hands. He needed some time to think it over.

Dumbledore looked at the boy from over his glasses, grief twinkling in his blue eyes.

'You asked me once why Voldemort wanted to spare your mother's life' he said softly; Harry came to his senses 'She died only because she wanted to protect you. You was the Voldemort's aim that night, Harry. He knew you would be dangerous for him in the future. And he decided to eliminate you...' he sighed heavily.

Harry felt cold fury growing in his heart. We wished to face Voldemort right now and punish him for everything: for his parents' death, for the Death Eaters's crimes, for his own ruined childhood. He felt that he would find the power to defeat him once for ever. He was the heir of Slytherin!

'Harry!'

Dumbledore's voice was like a cold shower. The boy shuddered and rubbed his eyes. Fantastic visions he had been devising a while before now seemed to him completely absurd. If anybody could defeat the Dark Lord it was only Dumbledore.

The old wizard seemed to read in his mind.

'Harry, I'm afraid that Voldemort would attack soon,' he said gravely 'More powerful than ever. Full of hatred and desire of revenge. I don't know if anybody will be able to stop him. I don't know how it will end...for all of us,' weariness and grief glinted in his blue eyes 'Anyway, I wanted you to know the truth.'

Harry was silent. What could he say in that moment. That he is scared? That he feels helpless? That he would give everything for his parents were with him? Dumbledore surly understood it.

'I must ask you not to tell anybody about what we were talking tonight,' said the wizard.

Harry nodded. He stood up slowly, bade good-bye to the Headmaster and left the office silently. Dumbledore sighed and looked at the parchment. The Slytherin's family-tree has already sent out all its leaves. The old wizard was watching them with a gloomy musing.

'Which side will you take, the Heir of Salazar Slytherin?' he asked softly.