Chapter 4

Even the devil has a soul…

Does this mean I am not completely doomed to suffer in this eternal life that was given to me by that so called things named fate?

Can I be redeemed of the crimes I have committed as a cruel dark ruler, or is this god's punishment for being an ever so curious person. Why is this blood that flows through my veins cursed?

What did Salazar Slytherin think when he chose this path for those who would follow his name?

I cannot understand why I have to play the dark master? I don't want to, I never did! Yet my will is not strong enough to resist this spell upon me that forces me to continue on this path.

Is fate and destiny something that is already foretold?

I cannot believe it!

I will bring an end to this!! No one deserves this kind of life as I have had it!

No one…

My name wouldn't be Tom Riddle if I wouldn't be able to find the flaw in this scheme of nightmares!

I will break it, somehow…

~~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~~

The walls of Hogwarts trembled; the stones were breaking out of their foundations, the magic was called out of them and a vortex was forced to open through them. The castle's heir was calling for them to rend their power and his will had to be followed. The mere magical essence of Hogwarts knew that this call could not be evaded; it was its duty to answer to the one whose blood was strong as the one that had first gathered them here in the first place.

And so the castle supported the spell that was cast to retrieve one of the young ones that resided in them, the one who had so often in the past wandered through its magnificent structure and admired the work of the ancient wizards and witches that had once stood here and joined their forces to create this building. The young one of two lines of blood… The youngest heir.

The violent move of the earth's surface awoke the residents from their sleep. Shelves, pictures, furniture, everything shook along causing things to crash and break on the grounds. And as sudden as this quake had started, it stopped again. Yet the castle felt drained, his defenses were greatly damaged and it would take some time and help to recover from this.

*~*~*~*~*

The teachers tried hard to control the situation; the students were panicked. The infirmary was overflowing with injured students from all houses; even the House Elves had been wounded during the earthquake.

Hermione looked through the room filled with students for Harry. She and Ron had separated a while back after they had realized that their friend was gone. She had even gone to ask Malfoy, but the Slytherin had shaken his head and then had run off. His expression had cracked into concern for a moment, before it had been masked by his selfish smirk.

Finally she saw some teachers gathered at the far end of the corridor. She made her way through the crowd of students towards her Head of House and the Headmaster.

"Professor!" she called out and the two turned to her.

"Miss Granger, we don't have time to-"

"Professor, Harry is missing!" she interrupted her.

The two teachers' eyes widened.

"What do you mean he's missing?" McGonagall asked.

"Ron and I have been looking for him all over. He wasn't in his room when the earthquake started and we can't find him anywhere else, I even asked some of the house elves to help us search but to no success." She said concerned for her friend.

"Albus!" the Potion Master came quickly towards them. "Albus, the wards have fallen out completely, the castle will be visible to anyone now."

The headmaster took a deep breath. "That's not our only problem." He turned to Hermione. "You and Mr. Weasley continue your search, I'll let you know if we find anything." He laid a hand on her shoulder before nodding the other two teachers to follow him.

*~*~*~*~*

Dumbledore sat down at his desk while Minerva and Severus each took a seat nearby.

"That was no earthquake." Said the Transfiguration professor. "I could feel the magic involved in this."

The headmaster sighed. "Not only that, my dear, but I believe that it is a far more serious matter now." He took a pack of parchments out of the drawer of his desk and handed them to the Potion Master. "This is something that only one person could have caused."

"Voldemort."

Minerva glanced shocked at Severus as the man looked quickly over the papers handed to him. "What do you mean?"

"It is said that the heir of one of the founders can call upon the castles magical power to do his will, but that usually requires the will and acceptance of one of the other founders or heirs." Albus explained.

"But that is impossible, none of the other heirs are known…" Minerva spoke slowly not sure if what she was saying was indeed the truth.

"You never told them how Young Potter defeated the Basilisk down in the Chamber of Secrets, did you?" the Sorting Hat spoke from one of the shelves and the teachers turned to it. "Young Potter called upon his ancestors sword… Hard to do indeed, if one considers his strong heritage…"

Albus stood up and walked over to the Hat and lifted it up and taking something long shed in clothing from underneath it handing it to Minerva. She tugged at the thin leather bands holding it together and then unfolded the clothing bringing to view a silver sword with red jewels carved into it. And written in great letter over the blade one could read the name Godric Gryffindor.

"Impossible!" Severus and Minerva said in unison.

"Are you telling us Potter is the heir of Gryffindor and that he willingly helped Voldemort?" Severus asked doubtfully. "Not even that brat is that stupid."

Minerva was about to comment on that but Albus spoke first. "The boy has gone missing, Severus. For all we know Voldemort might have tricked him and then he took the boy with him. Of course I can only speculate…"

The Potion Master sighed. "I understand." He said resigning to the fact that he would have to go see the Dark Lord and see for Potter's safe return. "But I can't assure you that I will succeed… Not under these circumstance."

The old man nodded. "Just be careful…"

And they watched the Potion Master make their way out.

*~*~*~*~*

Severus made his way through the castle down to the dungeon to get his Death Eater robes and mask. There was an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach telling him that something really bad was going to happen and that his life was going to have a major turn about. He felt just the same way he had all those years ago, when he had realized that following Lucius was going to change him and his future forever. And back then it had ended him falling into Voldemort's hand and who knew what would await him now.

"Professor!"

Severus turned around to see Draco Malfoy coming from behind a fallen statue. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm in a hurry."

Draco came closer and took a quick glance around. "Professor, it's important!" he spoke quietly. "I need to speak to you privately."

Severus thought for a moment of sending the boy away, but then he remember the moments he had seen him with Potter when they thought no one was around. Maybe the boy had some answers. "Follow me then." He said and made his way into his office closing the door behind them. "Now tell me what was so important that it can't wait for later."

Draco took a deep breath. "My father wants you to come and see him. It seemed to be very important." he finally said although Severus could see in the boy's eyes that that was not the true reason for his being here.

"Is that all?"

Draco nodded.

Severus opened the door. "Then leave, I have things to do."

Draco opened his mouth to say something else, but then shook his head and left but not before hearing as the door closed after him the voice of the Potion Master. "I'll go to your father once Potter is found."

The blond turned, but he was alone in the dark corridor.

~~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~~

The sun was rising at the beach again, this was the first time he had actually seen it and had not awoken in the middle of the night in a long time. There was no sound but that of he ocean moving gently.

And then a hand lay on his shoulder and he looked up to see fiery eyes looking down at him.

"Wake up, Harry Potter… Wake up…"