Title: Praeter erratum praeter
Disclaimer: I don't owe any of the characters you may recognise from Rowling's books. (to bad really)
Beta: Kalathetrumpeter
Warning: Some of the characters will be OOC, especially Tom.If you don't like it, don't read the story...
Summary: A youth potion gives Riddle more trouble than he'd expected. First the Death Eaters refuses to take orders from a 16 year-old-boy and Lucius decids to take over. Throwing Riddle out onto the steets. Then he ends up at Hogwarts. "Dosen't everyone deserve a second chance, Tom?" Dumbledore asked.
A/N: Hehe, this has to be the fastest update I've done this far. Well, hopefully you'll like it. The responds to the reviews are in my Live Journal, if anyone finds that annoying, please let me know.
And it might be a while before the next update. I'm having some problems with the next chapter, but I think it will come around eventually.
Chapter 11
The morning came far to fast for Riddle's liking. He was starting to get nervous about meeting the students.
It was funny really. He had been the Dark Lord for as long as he could remember, feared by every wizard in the world, and now he was nervous about being re-introduced to his old school. Riddle shook his head and got up from the bed. He needed to get ready for breakfast.
Slowly, he got up from the comforting bed and retrieved a pair of robes from the dresser. He sent a silent thank-you to Dumbledore for buying the clothes for him, along with the rest of the things he needed for his stay. With a yawn, he made his way to the bathroom and into the shower.
When Riddle came down, he found the common room thankfully empty.The fire was burning lively, and the room was warm and welcoming, although Riddle didn't feel at all like he was welcome. He walked quickly through the room and out the opening, which was guarded by a portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
"And where are you off to this early in the morning Marvolo?" The founder asked as Riddle emerged from the opening.
Riddle sighed. Salazar was the only one who always called him by his middle name. Mostly because Riddle's mother's last name was Marvolo, and because Salazar hated Riddle's father, Tom Riddle, for what he'd done to Riddle's mum. So he refused to call Riddle by any other name than Marvolo. Thankfully it seemed like the Founder had got over the whole 'useless Heir' thing. At least he hadn't mentioned anything about it.
"Breakfast," Riddle replied and walked of in direction of the Great Hall.
People stared as he entered the Hall, probably wondering about who he was, and what he was doing at Hogwarts.
Covering a yawn, Riddle slid down on a seat at the empty Slytherin table and grabbed a sandwich, and a glass of pumpkin juice.
I wish they would stop staring, Riddle sighed and took a sip form his glass, I'm not an animal in a zoo for crying out loud.
"Who are you?" The sneering, arrogant voice beside him was oddly familiar and Riddle looked up.
Draco Malfoy was standing cross-armed beside him with a superior look on his face.
Riddle considered for few seconds if Draco was someone it was worth answering, but decided to see if the blond would recognise him.
"Tom Riddle," he said, eyeing the other boy coldly.
"I'm Draco Malfoy," the other said and stared at Riddle, like he knew he'd heard the name somewhere, but couldn't remember where. In the end, he shook his head and took a seat beside Riddle.
"So, where did you transfer from?" Malfoy asked curiously.
"I can't see that that's any of your business," Riddle answered, taking another sandwich from one of the plates.
"Do you know who you're talking to?!" Malfoy spat, his face turning red from anger.
Riddle turned towards him, smiling slightly.
"Have you ever heard the term, 'curiosity killed the cat'?" he asked, amused. When Malfoy shook his head, Riddle smiled.
"It's a Muggle term, and I think you should take the advice." With that Riddle took his books, stood, and left the Hall, leaving behind a confused and angry Malfoy. The rest of the Slytherin students, who never had heard anyone, except Harry Potter maybe, talk to Malfoy in that way, stared after him in astonishment.
Riddle frowned as he made his way towards the Potion Classroom. So that was Lucius's son. He looked like a copy of his father. He had the same hair, eyes, and not to mention attitude. Riddle rubbed his eyes and yawned as he stopped outside the potion classroom.
Dumbledore had given him the schedule yesterday, and he hadn't been happy to see that his first class was going to be with Snape, together with the Gryffindors.
Getting tired of waiting in the hallway he opened the door and entered the room.
"My Lord," Snape said, eyeing the teen in the in the doorframe.
"Severus," Riddle nodded and sat down by one of the desks.
"You're in my class?" the Potion Master asked in disbelief.
"Seems like it," Riddle answered placing his head in his hand for support, "So, what are you going to teach us this year?"
"Wolfsbane potion, among other things," Snape answered.
"Oh," Riddle answered.
"May I ask you a question, My Lord?" Snape asked.
"Depends on the question," Riddle replied.
Snape sighed, "Why did you accept Albus's offer?"
For a moment the elder man was afraid that the Slytherin Heir was going to curse him into oblivion for asking, but the youth only frowned before giving Snape a small smile.
"I think I'm going to hear that question a lot," Riddle said, but before he could say anything else the door burst open and the other students entered.
Harry was the first one to walk inside, and he stopped dead in his tracks when he caught the sight of Riddle. The sudden stop made Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley walk straight into him.
"Hey Harry," Ron exclaimed, trying to get back his balance.
"You got to be kidding," Harry hissed.
:/:Surprised to see me?:/: Riddle said teasingly in parseltongue.
The rest of the class stared at him in shock. The only person they had ever heard speak in snake language was Harry. And now there was another boy, who looked scarily like Harry, who also could speak the language.
:/:Not really. I guess Dumbledore had something like this in mind!:/: Harry hissed back.
In English he said, "Well, the Dark Lord has returned to Hogwarts. Who would have thought that?"
Riddle scowled at the Potter Heir as he watched the other students go pale, and one of them, a shy nervous boy, Riddle thought his name was Neville, fainted.
"Take your seats!" Snape ordered, and watched as the students take their places. Neville was left lying on the floor.
"Open your books on page 12!"
The class sighed and opened their books. Some picked up their quills and inks from their bags.
The class passed quickly. The only interruption happened when Neville finally started waking up. He opened his eyes and looked around.
"What happened?" he muttered. Then his eyes fell on Riddle and he passed out again.
Riddle sighed and rubbed his eyes absently, while he tried to ignore the nasty glares he got from both the Gryffindors and the Slytherins.
He somehow managed to get through the whole day with out getting hexed, or losing his temper. The students mostly feared him, and backed away from him in the corridors. In the Transfiguration Class, which the Slytherins had together with the Hufflepuffs, Professor McGonagall had spent half the time waking up the Hufflepuff students. Most of them had fainted when she had presented Riddle. Not that he cared, but both Potter and Malfoy was after him now. And none of them were exactly happy to say the least.
As soon as the Transfiguration class was over, which was the last class of the day, he skipped dinner and headed for is own room.
This has got to be the worst day ever, he thought and collapsed onto his bed, if this is going to continue then I'll probably end up dead before Christmas.
Riddle wished with all his might that he hadn't taken Dumbledore's offer. Death was starting to seem really tempting.
"Tom," the voice penetrated Riddle's sleeping mind and his eyes floated open.
"Uhm?"
"You have fallen asleep on you books and rolls of parchment." Dumbledore said gently.
Riddle rubbed his eyes and looked around himself. True, he had fallen asleep before he had the chance to place the bag of books on the floor. And now the books where scattered all over the bed.
"Damn," he muttered and started to gather the books together.
"Are you alright?" The headmaster asked concerned.
"Yeah, I'm just-" a huge yawn broke of the sentence, "tired," he finished once the yawn had subsided.
"Well, get some sleep. I need to talk to you afterwards."
"What now?" Riddle groaned. He was sick and tired of Dumbledore's talking.
"Cornelius Fudge."
"The Ministry of Magic?"
"Yes, and he wants to meet you."
"Meet me?" Riddle looked dumbstruck.
"Well, I guess it's more like an interrogation."
Riddle groaned, "I could have guessed that."
Dumbledore smiled slightly and left the room. Riddle stared after him before a thought struck him.
He got up from the bed and raced after Dumbledore down the stairs.
"Wait," he called, and the older man turned around.
"Yes?" Dumbledore asked.
"When are we supposed to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning. So you'll miss your classes."
"Okay. Just wondered." Riddle turned and made his way back to his room, wondering about what exactly the Minister wanted to know.
He threw himself back down onto the bed, after removing the books, and fell back into sleep.
Riddle woke up several hours later and after a quick glance at the clock, which showed that it was supper, he got up.
The Great Hall was full of students, who were eating and chatting, but once he entered the room they all fell silent.
"Oh, for heavens sake!" Riddle exclaimed, "I'm not going to hex you or kill you!" The students only stared at him, and Riddle growled silently.
Even the Slytherins, his own house, were giving him nasty looks.
"You're not welcome here, Riddle!" Malfoy sneered.
"Don't worry," Riddle answered, his voice was fairly dripping with venom, "I have no intentions of staying."
With that, he grabbed a couple of sandwiches and left, feeling the gaze from every student burning into his back.
Not knowing where to go, he headed up the stairs. He walked through the corridors with no clue on where he was going. In the end, he ended up on the fourth floor, outside the library.
Why not, he thought and reached for the doorknob, when suddenly the door burst open and a girl came tumbling out, her arms full with books. She crashed into him, making them both fall to the floor, covered by books.
"What the hell?" Riddle hissed angrily and freed himself of the books. He looked up and straight into a couple of dark brown eyes, surrounded by dark tangled hair.
"Oh, I'm sorry Riddle," the girl said and extended a hand to help him up.
Riddle glared and got to his feet by himself. He brushed off his robes and watch the girl pick up her books. One of the books caught his interest and he grabbed it before she was able to take it.
'How to become an Animagus.'
Riddle raised an eyebrow and looked up.
"The last time I checked, this book belonged in the restricted session."
Hermione tilted her head to the side and smiled slightly.
"That might be," she said with a mysteriously smile, "but I'm still borrowing the book. Can I please have it back?"
"You don't really believe that you, a mudblood, will be able to change into an Animagus?" Riddle snarled with contempt.
She grinned, obviously not offended by his words, "We'll see. I had brain enough to save your life, remember?"
Before Riddle got the chance to reply, she'd grabbed the book and left.
Riddle stared after her. She sure got a nerve. There was no way she would be able to turn into an Animagus. She was a mudblood! Slowly, he shook his head and entered the library. He groaned as he heard the students gasp in fear, and the sound of someone hitting the floor.
"Mr. Riddle!" Madam Pince exclaimed and rushed over to the poor Hufflepuffs that had blacked out.
"It's not my fault they're such cowards," Riddle defended and headed for the shelves. Behind him he could hear the students leaving as fast as they could.
He searched through the shelves for something to read, or rather, for something that the blasted Professor would let him borrow. Dumbledore had told him clearly that every book he wanted to borrow had to be authorized by a teacher. Obviously the old man didn't trust him. Riddle could understand that, really, but it was irritating.
"Can you please find a book and get out, Mr. Riddle," the librarian asked, getting impatient.
Riddled sighed and grabbed the first book he saw, 'Charms and spell from the ancient Egypt' by Roseanne Tynleen.
With out a word, he handed Madam Price the book and she examined it before handing it back.
"Oh, I'm really going to be allowed to read it?" Riddle asked in fake surprise.
"Get out!" she snarled, and Riddle left.
Great, now I'm banished from the library as well, Riddle thought as he walked towards the Slytherin dorm. Before he entered, he shrank the book and put it in his pocket.
He gave Salazar the password (serpentia) and walked inside. There he found Malfoy sitting on the couch, in front of the fire, along with the rest of the 7th years.
"Riddle!" Malfoy said, curling his lip in dislike.
Riddle only raised an eyebrow arrogantly and walked past the gang.
"Well, at least no one can say that you're not the Heir of Slytherin!" Draco snarled and looked at Riddle with disgust, "You obviously prefer survival over anything else!"
"Like you said," Riddle retorted, "A true Slytherin!"
"Get out of my sight!" the Malfoy Heir spat angry, and Riddle made a mocking bow and said,
"Trust me Draco, you not a person I prefer to stay in a conversation with." With that, he turned and left the common room.
He entered his room and sighed in irritation. Malfoy was really starting to turn out to be a problem. The boy was as arrogant as his father, if not worse.
His eyes caught sight of the pile of schoolbooks on his desk, reminding him that he actually had homework. Deciding it was best to get on with it, he reversed the size the book he'd borrowed and placed it on the bed, before sitting down by the desk.
His eyes caught the sight of his new wand and he smiled. The wand was 13 inches long, made of cedar, and with a unicorn tail hair. He still missed his old wand, but the new one was great too. Riddle was just happy he finally had a wand.
Still smiling, he picked up the first book and opened it
A/N: The meeting with the Minister is a bit necessary since the students now know who he is. You can imagine that most of them will be pretty quick to write home and tell their parents that The Dark Lord is at Hogwarts. So the Minister would have found out one way or the other.