A/N: Well, it's another short one, but at least it's fast!

Chapter 5

I guess now would be a good time to tell you what I know about myself. My first conscious memory is, in fact, the scene at the manor. However, I keep getting flashes – whether from a past life, or from another's mind, I cannot tell. Everything about them seems to relate to Voldemort's past life, but how they relate I also can't tell.

I know that I am a demonic being. I have demon blood in me, and I know that as surely as anyone would know they are human. I know about hell, and though I've never consciously been there, it's as if the knowledge was there all along. I have the power to phase, which is curiously unlike wizard's apparition. They will their magic to take them to a different place, while I… I just tell myself to be there, I guess. There are many things I still don't know about this world, but I also have the ability to imitate what the Wizards do.

I know I'm not human, so I was surprised when I found myself laying on my back. I do not normally sleep, and the last thing I remember was transforming from my Phoenix form, and then everything went black.

I groaned, opening my eyes. Seeing Harry's flat around me, I relaxed. Sitting up, I noticed that Harry was on the floor, tending to a form on the ground. I could tell that it was Ginny, and for some reason, I could tell that she was panicked. Although being near Harry relaxed her immensely, I could still sense that something was off.

Attempting to look into her mind, I was shocked at how easy it was. Most people had even the most rudimentary defenses, but she… she had absolutely nothing stopping my intrusion. Taking advantage of that, I sent a quick calming thought to her, and she seemed to calm down. Harry noticed, and turned around.

Seeing me awake, he sent me an accusing glance.

"Remember the mind thrust I taught you? Use it on Ginny. Trust me on this, I need to make sure of something."

Harry looked confused for a second, but then he quickly responded.

"What's wrong? It's just like a normal person, all her blocks are there."

I should explain something about my magic, which Harry seemed to have easily picked up. Every human has a latent energy, which protects him against different things. Even muggles have this energy to some extent – the energy protects against basic influence, such as my thrust, and can also heal minor injuries, such as bruises or cuts. When Harry was learning the thrust, I told him that it could be used on anyone, unlike Legillimency. However, anyone's mental energy would repel it, so a person must be ready for the thrust if they wanted to allow a person access. Harry learned how to use it, and that's how we talked. However, when I tried to send Ginny a feeling of calm, she had no defenses.

If Harry felt her blocks, that means there is something wrong with us. If we can reach each other, then that means there must be some sort of link. Realization dawned on me – I checked for the presence of any links, and sure it was – a blood red stream of power, dangling between us. I was about to cancel it, when I was interrupted by a yell from Ginny, who just woke up.

"Harry, stay away from him! He's Riddle, I know it, the bond is there!"

Obviously taken aback, Harry looked at me accusingly. I looked at Ginny.

"I'm not Voldemort, I am not Riddle, and I am telling the truth."

Ginny looked confused for a moment.

"He's telling the truth, I can feel it, but why else would there be the bond?"

Poor Harry was totally confused at this point, and I can't blame him.

"I feel the bond, and I can cancel it, if it would make you feel better. But I don't know what this bond means. When you first saw me, I felt your fear, and I fainted just as you did."

"But would that not mean that you are Riddle?"

"Voldemort completely changed his blood and identity when he cast that rebirth ritual. He is no longer related to any Riddle."

Ginny still seemed to doubt me at that point, and I was still doubting myself. How did I know I was not Riddle? I said myself that the ritual failed – and Voldemort was not made more powerful. Maybe the ritual did not fail, but Voldemort understood it wrongly? If the ritual was supposed to create a clone, or an opposite of a person? This type of thinking really won't take me far. I need to find the ritual myself, to answer my questions.

"And although I was created by Voldemort" – Here I got a gasp from Ginny – "I am not under his control, and I swear I will do all it takes to have Harry defeat him."

Ginny took my last statement as fact, and although she kept doubting me, she dropped the topic.

Harry took the moment to ask about another thing that was interesting to him.

"What about Ron, what happened to him? I know he knew that I was watching the order meeting – he doesn't seem as dense anymore, as if he knew what was happening, and he doesn't seem to be jealous of me anymore."

"That one's easy – after my brother got attacked by the brains, he seemed to be this way. The doctor said that although his conscious was not affected by the attack, he seemed to have developed some latent abilities. His main one, that still freaks me out, is his empathic ability. He always knows how everyone feels these days."

Aha, that would do it. I knew he had some sort of gift, but Empathic ability? That is rare to this day.

"He can also see magic somehow – not a very strong gift, but he can tell if a spell is being cast in an area, and can sometimes tell who the caster is. He's still a pretty weak wizard, but he is much better at reading people."

"That's interesting; I'll have to thank him for this. Now that he's no longer the jealous prat he was, he should be able to help me."

Now, noticing the glint in Ginny's eyes, I quickly decided to leave the room. I knew Harry was probably going to mess it up somehow, but Ginny seemed very determined – I doubt she would even give him a chance to speak…

As I was leaving, I heard Ginny's comment – "Less about my brother, and more about me." Chuckling, I closed the door behind me.

Going through Flourish and Blotts, I was dismayed as to see that none of the tomes about rituals had any knowledge of what Voldemort used. Even trying my hand at Knockturn alley didn't seem to give any results – although most of the shopkeepers were deathly afraid of me, they did not know of any books about rituals. Voldemort must have combed it all. I did find one interesting book – "Black Rituals; Selling your soul to the devil," but looking at the author – one J. Faust – I knew that it was all a fake. Faust was a crazy writer that wrote between the worlds – one of his books spawned a legend in the muggle culture.

Continuing on my search, I saw nothing that could have helped me. However, on the last shop, the apothecary, I saw them advertising a genealogy potion. It was commonly used to determine identity. Buying it, I quickly took out a sheet of parchment and applied the potion as stated.

As the potion dried, the ink formed into letters. To say I was shocked was the least – the letters formed "Tom Marvolo Riddle." So I really was what was left of the blood of the Riddles. The ritual must have done what Voldemort wanted – to make him inhuman – purge the last of the human blood from him.

As I kept staring at the parchment, I slowly grinned. If this meant what I thought it meant, that means I could give a heart attack to Dumbledore – what would he think if he saw the ministry appointed Voldemort to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class?

Knowing I had to play this joke, I went home – noticing the door to where Harry and Ginny were located was still locked – and started drafting a letter.

To Minister Fudge:

I know that you are having trouble locating a wizard to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. I also know that Dumbledore is having the same problem. To your benefit, I have attached a resume, and if you appoint me to the position, you will not have the negative publicity of your Undersecretary from last year. If you refuse, let's just say a certain blood artifact's existence will come to light.

Sincerely,

Tom Marvolo Riddle, Heir of Slytherin

As I placed a wax imprint of the Slytherin crest onto the letter, put the letter aside to show Harry before sending. Dumbledore's face when he sees the appointment should be priceless, and I will have good reason to stay at Hogwarts with Harry now.

Speaking of which, the happy couple has just left their room. Harry seemed giddy, and Ginny just had a satisfied smirk on her face.

"So should I extend my congratulations?" I asked innocently.

Ah, young couples – it's always fun making them blush.

As the two were trying to come up with a response, I quickly filled them in on what happened.

"So that ritual means you have the right of blood to all that Riddle owned?" Ginny asked.

"Forget what he owned, he has the right to the things that belong to him through his mother! Voldemort had no idea that his 'Weak Mother' was really the last Heir of Slytherin!" Harry exclaimed, excited about the idea.

"Yes, and I'm forcing Fudge to appoint me DADA professor, too. Can you imagine Dumbledore's face?"

Both Harry and Ginny got identical smirks.

"So, do you have an entrance planned?" Ginny asked.

"If not, you can always ask her brothers, the twins." Harry suggested.

"Ah, don't worry, I have it planned out. And Harry, both of you can see Dumbledore's reaction – the tracking crystal is still on him.

July 30th

Dumbledore frowned as he saw an owl coming from the Ministry. He was thinking that Fudge was asking him for help, again? As he read the letter, he started paling. As he finished the last line, he dropped the letter, and called an Order meeting.

"Order, I have bad news." Dumbledore began. "I know some of you may not agree with everything I say, but this is definitely something worth listening to. Fudge, being the stubborn fool he is, has made another appointment to the DADA position."

"I hope it's not Umbridge again!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed!

"No, this is much worse. Some of you may not know, but Voldemort, before he rose to power, was named Tom Marvolo Riddle. And this year, teaching DADA, will be a Tom Marvolo Riddle. It is too much of a coincidence to risk, because the name was confirmed through a genealogy potion."

Everyone in the room had different degrees of shock on their face. Voldemort, teaching at Hogwarts? The idea was preposterous.

"I have taken the liberty of installing a few dark detectors in the great hall, which will detect Voldemort in any disguise. If it is really him, we must be prepared.

With that, they started making plans for guards in the great hall, and how to protect against the threat.

After that performance, we were all laughing our heads off. The whole performance was great, and the Order's self- confidence was hilarious. To have a few members stop Voldemort himself in the Great Hall?

I then asked Harry – "Tommorow is your birthday, did you want to do something?"

Harry and Ginny both got mischievous looks at this – "I want you to teach us how to change forms!" Harry declared.

I knew it would be something like that.

"Well then, I guess we will start the lesson tomorrow – you two lovebirds need your rest."

They both blushed crimson at this.

The next morning, I decided to give Harry his present. "The lesson starts now."

Both of them were ready to learn – and I don't blame them.

"Changing into a different form usually takes years of practice, and even so, it can take a form that you do not want. The demonic equivalent to that is just as easy as phasing. You two mastered that, correct?"

At their nods, I continued.

"The easy way to change forms is to first focus on the form – remember its size, its abilities, and its colors. After you have a clear mental image of the form you are changing into, just phase into the form. It should be as easy as that."

By the time I finished, I was looking at two black and red phoenixes, similar to mine. One of them had deep emerald eyes, and the other had brown eyes.

"Good job, you two. Now change back."

At their successful transformation, I took them to the nearest Owl office, to pick up Harry's mail. It was one of Harry's smarter ideas, to have all of his mail rerouted.

Getting a few packages from his friends, Harry went back home to open them, while I went to research on the old pureblood laws. I wanted to know exactly what being the Heir of Slytherin entailed, and to find out the other heirs of the Founders.

I found a few interesting bits, but the majority of the laws were obsolete. I knew I was guaranteed a place on the Wizengamot, however, and both I and anyone I chose had the ability to declare an immediate family. That family would be exempt from any ministry law.

I whistled to myself – such power, given to one person? It's enough to corrupt almost anyone...

A/N: Well, this is a short chapter before I leave for vacation. If anyone wants to talk to me, prod me to write, or stuff like that, please AIM me at andreik719 - it's been a boring summer.

Review Responses:

Dumbledore: What exactly do you mean by the background? Most of the background is from the canon books.

Jarno: In my story, Hermione sees Dumbledore as a figure of authority, mainly because nothing has happened to her. In first year, she went to him for help. In second year, she was petrified, but she did not actually get harmed. In third year, because of an allowance by Dumbledore, she managed to save an innocent man. In fourth year, she did not get in harm's way at all. After the fiasco at the Ministry, she actually had to be treated for the injury by the spell fire. Would that not make you start wondering whether your friend is really right? She is acting in his best interest, or so she thinks. And Ron, I hope I explained in this. I don't think any author actually had Ron be the more rational one, and give him extra powers.

Magic 8: Heh.

And everyone else, thanks for the reviews, and keep reading :)