Nadin – I agree completely. People always see Slytherins in the wrong light. Sytherins have emotions and loyality to each other. They can even be nice...to their equals. Tom and Tania meet again in this chapter, but things won't be as easy as they thought it would be after decades apart. And how come people think Draco can't or doesn't cry? I think that was a great scene too.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Remember HARRY DOES NOT WIN. IN FACT HE DIES A HORRIBLE DEATH AT THE END.

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The year had finally ended, and everyone was rejoicing. Everyone, except the teachers. They were all worried. The Great Hall had four long tables, one for each House. But one table was completely empty. The Slytherin table was deserted.

Over Second term, the teachers had had several meetings about the Slytherins' odd behavior and activities. They weren't sure what it all meant, but they were very concerned all the same. And now that Harry claimed that the Dark Lord was back, it was even more worrisome.

Snape shifted uncomfortably in his seat. In addition to his concerns about his own House, this morning he had woken to a burning in his right arm. His Dark Mark had been almost humming with power and Dark energy.

The Dark Lord was up to something, just as they were sending the students home for the summer. It hadn't throbbed to summon the Death Eaters, but it felt as if it would do that at any moment. Snape hadn't had time to tell Dumbledore about this and it was weighting on his mind.

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Tania absently reached up to rub at her Mark, Tom's Mark. It had been throbbing all morning and she knew that Tom was planning something, something big, something here. She could feel his anticipation and excitement. She surveyed the Great Hall, noticing that Severus was uncomfortable and kept touching his own Dark Mark. He felt it too, then.

Though she couldn't see them, she knew that her Slytherins were all here in the Great Hall. Touching her Mark allowed her to feel the bonds that held them to her. They couldn't see her, either, as she sat between two Ravenclaws.

That was the beauty of this spell. To anyone glancing her way, she looked to be just another Ravenclaw, and their mind would just accept that and move on, not even bothering to consider whether she looked familiar or that they might want to talk to her. It was a I'm here, I'm one of you, but I'm not worth talking to spell.

Every Slytherin was here in the Hall, each using that spell. Tom was coming and they would be ready.

The doors to the Great Hall banged open and Tania half expected to see Tom storm through. But, no it was two men, both of whom she recognized and had to bite back a sneering comment.

Sirius Black and Remus Lupin glanced around the Hall and quickly walked up to Dumbledore. They started whispering. Harry stood.

"Sirius?" he asked.

Black turned and gave Harry a smile. "We'll talk soon, Harry, just give me a moment with Dumbledore." He turned back. Whispered conversation picked up in the Hall.

For a second, Tania felt a twinge of sympathy for Harry. He had been abandoned by family, just as she had. Then she recalled everything Harry had done to stop Tom and everything James' had done to the Slytherins and the feeling faded.

The Hall doors opened again. This time more familiar faces stepped though. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, followed by her parents, regally strode in. They looked over to the empty Slytherin table and marched up to Dumbledore.

"Ah, good evening Lucius, Kent. I will be with you in just a moment." Dumbledore said.

Lucius sneered. "No, Headmaster, now! Where is Draco and Tania? An urgent matter has arisen at home and they need to leave now." Tania felt a stronger link with Draco as he touched his Mark, asking what they should do. She touched hers and sent back feelings of patience and waiting. She felt a confirmation from him and turned back to the conversation.

"Unfortunately, Lucius, I do not know where they are. They are not in Common Room and they are not here, as you can see." Dumbledore spoke quietly, soothingly.

Suddenly the rest of the students noticed the empty Slytherin table. Loud, concerned talking filled the Hall. Slytherins made everyone nervous, but the absence of them left all the students wondering what prank was being planned and if they would be affected.

"Well, well, losing a whole House. That has to be a new one, even for you, Albus." A low, gravelly voice filled the Hall. Everyone turned to see a tall, cloaked figure. He walked into the center of the Hall and paused near the Gryffindor table.

"Hello, Harry. We have unfinished business, you and I." he said.

Harry paled. "V-Voldermort." he whispered. The figure laughed.

Tania felt her heart sink. She knew that Tom would be older, but that voice was nothing like the smooth, rich voice that she remembered. How much else about the Tom of now would she not recognize? She knew it was Tom, she only had to touch her Mark to feel the connection.

Voldermort faced Lucius, who bowed. "Lucius, my friend, I have a question for you. Why have you disobeyed my orders?" His voice was soft, but the threat was obvious.

Lucius paled. "I had been given assurances that it would be done, Milord," he started.

"Do not blame Lucius, I did promise to take care of it." Tania stood and let the concealing spell fall away. A small motion of her left hand kept the others in their seats. All eyes turned on her. She stood tall, not flinching under their gaze.

"You promised?" Voldermort repeated softly. "You child? If that is so, then why is Harry Potter still alive?" Harry paled and Black and Lupin moved to his side, wands out. Tania laughed.

"He is living on borrowed time, though he doesn't know it. He's been living on my whim for most of Second Term. I did not kill him, or his friends, because I remember how much you enjoyed watching James Potter writhe on the ground and I wouldn't want to deny you the pleasure of watching Harry meet a worse fate." The sudden silence in the Hall was amusing. No one spoke, no one knew what to say to that.

Finally, Sirius broke the defining quiet. "You're lying. You can't have known James, you aren't old enough. Your parents might have, but not you." Tania arched an eyebrow.

"Oh, really? Are you sure, Sirius? Are you telling me that you forgot my lesson? Did you forget that night in the Forbidden Forest, where you were tied up with Remus and forced to watch as I tormented Potter? Maybe you weren't as close to James as I thought, if you've forgotten." she mocked.

"That is enough, Ms. Dethart!" Snape stood.

She looked at him. "Come on, Severus. Don't you remember me? I remember the pleasure and vengeance on your face watching James scream in agony and the sweet victory as Sirius and Remus screamed because they could do nothing but watch. I was the one who taught you to stand up to James. I taught you a love for potions. Remember, Lucius was trying to make a Thateal potion and it blew up in his face. Tom brought the rest of you to meet me. Lucius, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Charles, you, Kent, and Crabbe and Goyle I met at dinner." Snape paled and he nodded.

"Tania." he whispered, "Tania, the brilliant girl with no past and an enormous knowledge of the Dark Arts. Tom's girlfriend. My protector and teacher. I remember now."

She nodded and turned to the hooded figure and waited. He held out a hand, which she instantly took. He pulled her close, sliding one hand around her waist.

"So, you have prepared Potter for his end. Tell me, what else have you been up to in my absence, my dear." The voice was still gravelly, but she could hear hints of the Tom she knew. He spoke almost gently. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder, noting the shocked looks on the students and the teachers.

"Building you an army, of course." she responded, casually.

"An Army?" he repeated, amused, "A whole army?"

She chuckled. "Well, not a whole army, but a good start, and everyone a loyal Death Eater." The hood moved around as if searching the room.

"Really? And where is this Army?" he asked.

She motioned to include the whole Hall. "Right here."

She called to the air, "Draco, Assemble the House."

To her left, Draco suddenly appeared. He saluted with his wand, then raised it above his head. Groups of Slytherins materialized all around the Hall, each group covering a table of students or teachers with their wands. Draco scanned the Hall as Justin and Hunter moved to stand next to him.

"You Death Eaters, Milady." They said. As one the Slytherins raised their non-wand hands.

"Hail Slytherin's Daughter. Hail Slytherin's Heir." they chanted.

Voldermort turned to her. "Slytherin's Daughter?" he asked, amused.

Tania sighed. "Yes, it's the title they insist on calling me."

He chuckled. "Well, Slytherin's Heir extends greetings to Slytherin's Daughter." Tania took a long step back and gave him a sweeping curtsy.

"Slytherin's Daughter offers undying devotion and loyalty to Slytherin's Heir." He laughed and pulled her back to his side.

"I accept." he said, softly. "Such titles will be more significant after we're married." She pulled back, shocked. Married? Now if this was the Tom she remembered that wouldn't be a problem, but this was decades later. It was one thing to be loyal and serve, it was another to married to him. She laughed to cover her surprise.

"Marry you? Why would I want to want to marry you?" she teased. He released her hand.

"You can't fool me, Tani. I know you better than anyone. I shocked you." He slid his hood back. Tom, her Tom, stood before her. He grinned, that cocky, ambitious grin that she knew.

"Tom?" she whispered. He nodded and spread his hands. She stepped forward into his arms and touched his face. "How?"

He laughed and held out a vial of blue liquid. "Age Reversal." He slide his arms around her waist and gently kissed her. Tania closed her eyes and savored what she had been dreaming about all year. They broke apart and Tom grinned.

"Did you really think I wouldn't have realized how much older I'd be when we met again? I wouldn't do that to you." he said, one hand playing with her hair.

She gave him an apologetic smile. "Forgive me for not trusting you, Tom. It won't happen again." He chuckled.

"Forgiven. Of course it won't. We will never be separated again." He kissed her a second time, pouring all his passion and desire into the kiss. She pressed herself against him, returning the emotions. She spread her hands against his chest, feeling the muscles moving under her fingers.

Tania had an overwhelming desire to feel his bare skin and her fingers moved to remove his cloak, intending to get rid of that annoying shirt. He caught her hands as they broke apart and chuckled.

"No, Sweet One. As much as I'd love to let you continue, I don't think Dumbledore and the others could stand it. Later, I promise." Tania became aware of her surroundings again and blushed. Tom laughed.

"That's interesting, Tani. Let us leave this place. There is nothing more of interest here." He took her hand and they started walking toward the doors.

"No, Tom Riddle. I think not!" Dumbledore's voice rang out. Tom turned to face him. Dumbledore had his wand out and aimed at Tom. "I will not let you confuse and bewitch my students."

Tom sneered. "And what are you going to do about it, Old Man?"

"Whatever I must, Tom." Dumbledore replied. Tom's wand was suddenly in his hand and he was shouting a spell. Dumbledore was engulfed in green light and was thrown against the back wall. The students started screaming and rushing for the doors. Mass Panic ensued.

Over the noise, Tania called out orders. "Take out the Teachers!" she yelled," but leave Snape and Dumbledore." Many colored lights flashed around the Hall as Slytherins took down any student in their way.

Soon bodies littered the floor, mostly students and a few teachers. Dumbledore had escaped, but a group of Slytherins had caught Snape. Tom was surrounded by Lucius, Narcissa, and her Father. Hunter and Justin were with her. Tania made her way over to Snape. Draco met her part way. He had a cut over one eye.

"We took down the Mythology, Muggle Studies, Ancient Runes, and Magic Culture teachers. Others were wounded. We have Professor Snape as you requested." he handed her Snape's wand.

She nodded. "Send Squads One, Two, and Three to gather all our things from the Forest and meet us at the entrance to the grounds. Find all the wounded and make sure they can travel." He nodded and hurried off. She closed the distance between her and Severus.

"Hello, old friend. Don't worry, I'll help you, like I did may years ago. Dumbledore confused you, made you forget your true loyalties. He made you believe that you still were loyal by making you Slytherin's Head of House. I swore to protect you. I protected you from James and I'll protect you from yourself." Snape said nothing. She motioned to those guarding him.

"Bring him with. Make sure he does not escape." They saluted and moved Snape away. She moved back to Tom's side, carelessly stepping on or over bodies. He held out a hand.

"You certainly have trained your troops well. Shall we?" he asked. She nodded and they left the Great Hall together, all her Slytherins falling in behind. The made it to the entrance to the grounds without incident. There they were met by the rest of the House with their things.

Draco looked back at the school. "I guess we need a new home, now."

Tom looked over at him. "We are heading for Riddle Manor. That will serve as a new Headquarters." Draco looked at Tania, who nodded. Draco shrugged and ordered the House to move out.

Tania looked up at Tom. "It's good to be back." He smiled and they all disappeared into the darkness.

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