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 refuse to take orders from a 16 year-old-boy and Lucius decides to take over, throwing Riddle out onto the streets. Then he ends up at Hogwarts. "Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance, Tom" Dumbledore asked.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Since there were only two of the, I just put the responds in the chapter this time.
BennaM: Thanks I'm glad you like the story.
Amy Lee: Uhm, where to start. Okay, first thank you for your honest review I really appreciated it. As for tasteful, I did look up that word in my dictionary, and I have a Beta who looks through every chapter before I post them, but thanks for letting me know. As for the story, well, it's kind of a mess at the moment. I'm fully aware that there are several things that should be fixed in the earlier chapters, and I'm working at it. The first chapters haven't even been Beta-ed yet, which is something they should have been. At the moment I'm considering removing the story and start from the beginning, but I guess that would be a stupid thing to do. Well, like I said. I'm glad you told me this, and I will try and fix the things you mentioned. I do tend to rush things a bit, I know that, but I don't know why I do it. Well, I'll be more careful about it in the future. I can't promise that this chapter is any better then the rest, but I just had to get it out of the way. Thanks again for your help.
Chapter 13
Riddle was almost sorry when he woke up the next morning. It was a long time since he'd had a decent night's sleep, and the thought of facing the other students didn't actually help him to get up. But in the end, he got out of bed and slipped into the shower. Perhaps a cold shower would make him feel better.
Half an hour later, he slipped out from his room and headed down the stairs to get breakfast. As he entered the common room, he ran into Malfoy.
"Watch it Malfoy!" Riddle sneered angrily. He didn't like the Malfoy Heir more than he liked his father, which wasn't much. He had actually always loathed Lucius with passion. The blond was an arrogant, manipulating, and stuck up man, who truly believed that he was above everyone else in this world.He had always gotten on Riddle's nerves, and an hour in Lucius presence normally made Riddle want to kill him. But he couldn't do that either. And the man had his use, Riddle had to admit that. Too bad Lucius had turned against him.
"I was sure you were on your way to Azkaban," Malfoy said angrily.
Riddle raised an eyebrow, "You hoped, but no. I'm staying here for the next two years."
"Oh, I'm so glad!"
"I bet. Give my regards to Lucius. I think he'll be happy to know that I'm still alive," Riddle smirked, and left the room.
He made his way down to the Great Hall and took a seat at the Slytherin table. He ignored the glares he got from Harry and his friends and grabbed a couple of pieces of toast, and a glass of pumpkin juice.
Riddle hated to eat in the Great Hall. The other students normally made him feel like a picture, or something that was meant to be stared at.
"Very good, Mr. Riddle," Professor McGonagall said and watched Riddle turn the cat in front of him back into his desk. He was currently the only one who had managed to do so. The rest had managed to get something that looked like a desk with fur and an assortment of eyes, ears, tails, and whiskers.
"It's not difficult when you've done it before," Malfoy hissed angrily. His desk was currently standing on three legs, and it was trying to lick a tail that didn't exist.
"Like I remember what I did in my sixth year, Malfoy," Riddle replied and turned the desk back into a black cat. He lifted the cat onto his lap and started petting it carefully as he watched the other students struggle with their assignments.
"Okay. Class is over for today. Everyone leave their eh…desks and cats behind. Homework for next week will be to master this transfiguration."
The class groaned in unison and collected their things before leaving.
The next two weeks went pretty well. He got good grades, he hadn't really expected anything else, and the teachers seemed to be less frightened around him, as did the students. As far as Riddle knew, Dumbledore hadn't gotten any complains from the parents, and Fudge hadn't been given any reason to send Riddle to Azkaban. Everything was slowly getting back to normal, and Tom Riddle was just another student at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Today, we've going to be duelling," Remus announced as he came into the classroom. The students immediately started cheering and chatting exactly.
The last time they had been duelling had been in their second year, when Gilderoy Lockhart had started a duelling club to teach the students how to fight. The idea had, of course, been a success, and the students had loved it, but when the teacher disappeared, the duelling club had done the same.
"Hopefully, this will go a bit better then the time Lockhart tried to teach us something," one of the Gryffindors said, and Remus smiled. He had heard the story about the incompetent teacher they'd had in their second year, and he was determined to make things better.
"Okay. I know you're exited, but please, calm down."
The quickly students re-found their places and shut their mouths.
"I'm going to pair you up two and two. Then we'll go through the basics. Rules, normal courtesy, allowed curses, and then we'll move onto the duelling. I want one Gryffindor and one Slytherin paired up. And no complaints!" he added as everyone started groaning.
Soon they were placed around the room, and Riddle was, much to his dislike, paired up with Hermione.
"This is going to be easy," he muttered to himself, and scowled at the mudblood in front of him.
First, they spent half an hour learning the rules of duelling, and everything else Remus thought was important. Riddle, on the other hand, was nearly bored to death.
He already knew everything there was to know about duelling, and he just wanted to get started. It had been a while since he had a proper duel. Too bad that he hadn't been paired up with Potter. Then they would finally have been able to see who was the best.
"…then, let's start duelling."
Riddle looked up and smiled. Finally, he thought.
"I want you to try and disarm your opponents, using the Disarming Spell. The ones who are being attacked are going to us the Shield Charm to stop the attack.Any questions? No? Then we'll begin. Slytherins, you'll attack first. Begin!"
Riddle and Hermione bowed to each other and moved into duelling position, wands raised above their heads. Riddle smirked, "Expelliarmus!" The curse hit Hermione's shield hard, and she struggled for a moment to keep still on her feet.
Riddle saw the anger rise in her eyes, and he was ready as she called out, "Expelliarmus!"
"Protego!" the shield came up in front of him, and the curse hit it hard with out making any damage.
Riddle nodded in approval. The girl was powerful indeed. Not that she would be any match for him, but she had the potential to make a really powerful witch.
He raised his arm to launch another attack at her, but before he was able to utter the words a loud bang behind him made him spin around.
The sight that met him was nearly enough to make him laugh out loud.Neville Longbottom and Gregory Goyle were lying on the floor, covered by a large shelf. Around them, books were lying scattered, and it was clearly something had gone utterly wrong.
Remus was the first one to reach the two boys. He levitated the shelf away from the bodies and knelt down to examine them. The students quickly formed a circle around him, and Hermione knelt down beside him.
"We need to get them to the Hospital Wing," Remus said to Hermione, who nodded in agreement. Together they conjured up two stretchers, and placed Neville and Gregory on them.
"Okay, I'm going to get Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Goyle to the Hospital Wing, and I don't want any duelling while I'm gone! Understood?" Remus looked at Harry and Malfoy as he said those words. The two of them was known to end up duelling in the hallways between classes.
The students all nodded, and Remus gave them one last look before he followed Hermione out the door.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the students immediately started chattering about Neville's accident.
"How the hell did that coward end up in Gryffindor? He's a wandering accident! " Riddle asked with a sneer, and Harry turned around angrily.
"He's ten times better than you!" he snapped angrily, and approached Riddle, wand in hand.
The rest of the students stopped talking and watched the two rivals. They could all feel the tension between the two boys, and it had only been a question of time before one of them would try and attack the other one.
"Yeah?" Riddle asked, and raised an eyebrow sceptically.
"Get up!" Harry suddenly snapped, and turned towards the duelling stage. He stepped onto it and turned towards Riddle, "Are you coming, or not?" he asked impatiently.
Riddle looked at him, confused, but stepped up onto the duelling stage. What was the stupid brat up to now?
The answer came quickly as Harry turned towards the students.
"I'm going to show you, once and for all, that you have nothing to fear from Voldemort. He's nothing more than a common student, like the rest of you. Ready, Riddle?"
The students looked at each other, wondering what the outcome of the duel would be. Some seemed like they wanted to protest, or go for help, but no one said a word, or made a move to leave. They were all to worried about getting hexed. The Slytherins, on the other hand, were quite eager to see the outcome of the fight.
Riddle didn't like Harry's words, but he grinned and nodded. The duel was just what he needed to prove that he was still the best.
Malfoy stepped up between the two rivals and raised his wand
"Wands ready?"
Both wizards raised their wands and waited for the start signal.
"Okay, legal curses only! No attempts to use the Cruciatus Curse, and no killing attempts! Understood?"
"Yes," Riddle answered, and Harry nodded.
"Good. Begin!" Malfoy lowered his wand and jumped out of reach as the hexes started flying.
Harry was the first one to call out, "Impedimenta!"
Riddle waved his wand fast muttering, "Protego!" Then he shouted, "Suboles telumo!(1)"
Arrows emerged from Riddle's wand and flew towards Harry, who quickly said, "Protego!" bringing a shield up in front of him.
"Inflatus!(2)" Riddle sneered, and watched with satisfaction as Harry flew several meters backward.
Harry was quickly back up on his feet and pointed his wand a Riddle.
"Stupefy!"
"Protego! Petrificus Totalus!"
"Locomotor Mortis!" the curse hit Riddle before he had the chance to dodge it, and he fell to the floor in a heap.
Before Harry got the chance to finish the duel, Riddle hissed out the same curse Malfoy had used in his second year, "Serpensortia! Engorgio!"
A black snake landed in front of Harry, taking the Gryffindor's attention away from Riddle for the moment. As Riddle's second charm hit it, the snake swelled up in size, getting three times bigger. It now was the same size as Harry, and the Gryffindor had gotten several shades paler.
"Finite Incantatem!" Riddle said and got to his feet just as Harry blasted the snake.
Then Harry pointed his wand at Riddle again, "Morsuso!(3)"
Riddle felt a stinging pain that started spreading through his body, and he pointed his wand at Harry, "Incarcerous!" Thick ropes flew out of his wand, and Harry barley managed to dodge them.
Before Harry was able to get to his senses Riddle opened his mouth to finish the duel, "Petrificus To -" he was cut of by the sound of the door being slammed open.
Professor Lupin came running into the room. He took a quick look at the two students on the duelling stage and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Both Riddle's and Harry's wand flew out of their hands and landed in Remus'.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU TWO THINK YOUR DOING!" he roared, making everyone in the room jump.
"Well, we…" Harry began, but he trailed off staring down.
"Twenty points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin for disobeying my instructions."
Remus looked around the room, and the students looked down in shame, "You're all dismissed. Except Harry and Tom, you two are going to explain this for the Headmaster!"
"What?" Riddle exclaimed. The last thing he wanted was to have another talk with the Headmaster. Plus, he was pretty sure that this was one of the things that the old man wouldn't take too kindly on.It was more likely that he would be angry, if the old fool was capable of that feeling.
"Get going!" Remus said, and beckoned for the two boys to follow him upstairs.
"This is your fault!" Riddle hissed angrily as they walked behind Remus.
Harry turned and looked at him, surprised.
"Mine? You're the one who showed up here in the first place!" Harry shoot back.
"Don't start fighting again, you two!" Remus said.
They walked in silence for a couple of minutes. Harry and Riddle exchange hateful glares every now and then, but neither of them said anything.
"Chocolate Frog," Remus said as they reached the gargoyle. The gargoyle gave a small nod, turned around, and revealed the staircase.
The Professor turned to the two teenagers and pointed at the staircase, "Up!"
The two boys scowled at each other before they stepped onto the stairs and walked up.
Remus knocked on the door and went in as he heard Dumbledore say, "Come in."
"Professor Lupin, Mr. Potter and Mr. Riddle, what do I owe this pleasure?" The Headmaster asked and motioned for them to take a seat.
Remus stepped up to Dumbledore's desk, and explained, "Mr. Longbottom had an accident when we were duelling, and I had to take both him and Mr. Goyle to the Hospital Wing. While I was gone those two," here he sighed, and pointed to Riddle and Harry, "decided to see who's the strongest wizard, even if I'd told them not to duel while I was gone. So can you talk to them, because they don't seem to be listening to me."
"Tom? Harry?"
"What?" Riddle asked, "You didn't think we would go through two years of school with out trying to kill each other?"
"I was hoping," Dumbledore sighed.
Riddle crossed his arm over his chest and sneered, "Happy dreams!"
"He killed my parents!" Harry snapped. He had been pretty quiet since they had walked into the room, but now the anger was clearly visible in his eyes.
"They deserved it," Riddle retorted with a smirk.
"How come?" Harry demanded. He ignored the Headmaster and the professor and concentrated on the killer in front of him.
"They went against me!" Riddle exclaimed, as thought it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Harry's face darkened with anger, "They went against you! Listen to yourself!"
"If it hadn't been for that, then you would have been just another regular boy, and I would have won this war. So, I guess you could say I'm regretting trying to kill you!" Riddle hissed.
"Amazing, I didn't think you had any feelings!"
Riddle shrugged. Of course, he had feelings, he just ignored them most of the time, but that didn't mean that they weren't a part of him.
"One of the downsides effects of the youth potion," he said smoothly.
"I do apologise for not feeling sorry for you," Harry smirked.
"At least I don't walk around thinking that everyone's death is my fault!"
Harry frowned angrily. That comment had obviously hit a nerve.
"At least I had someone who cared for me!" he sneered at Riddle, knowing the comment would hurt Riddle.
But he was wrong. Riddle only laughed. A warm laughter, unlike the high cold laughter Lord Voldemort had. The laughter seemed so real. So unlike something you would have expected from Lord Voldemort.
Riddle stopped laughing and eyed Harry with a hint of amusement in his green eyes.
"And how do you know your parents cared for you? You can't even remember them? And your aunt and uncle surely weren't too kind."
Harry was quite ready to strangle Riddle for that comment, and he clenched his fist, trying very hard not to attack Riddle.
"Well, they didn't leave me at an orphanage for one, second, I've got my friends, which is more than you ever had, a godfather. Not to mention that Ron's family care's for me as if I was a part of their family."
"Love makes you weak," was Riddle's only reply.
Harry opened his mouth to answer, but Dumbledore cut him off. His blue eyes were twinkling like mad, which irritated Riddle, and made Harry's face turn a darker shade of red.
"That's enough, you two. Remus follow Harry to Gryffindor tower, I'll talk to him later. Tom, I want to talk to you now."
"Of course Headmaster," Remus said, "But you both have a weeks' detention. Starting tomorrow. Tom, Harry, show up at my office at seven p.m."
The door closed behind Remus and Harry, leaving Dumbledore and Riddle to themselves.
IMPORTANT! READ THIS!
A/N: My real life has caught up with me at last, and I've got far too much to do at the moment, so I'll most likely disappear for a while. But, I will come back in a month or so. And I will be doing some corrections in the earlier chapters. To make the whole thing a bit more realistic, if that's possible. Well, I hope you all understand this, and that you're not mad at me. I promise I will return.
Okay, here's an explanation for the spells. I got them all from the HP lexicon, but some of them was without an incantation, so I used a dictionary to make them up.
(1) The spell that shoots arrows out of a wand, suboles telumo, comes from the two Latin words for shoot (suboles) and arrow (telumo).
(2) Blasting curse, Inflatus, comes from the Latin word for blast (inflatus).
(3) The stinging hex, Morsuso. A fairly low-powered hex, which causes a stinging pain in the victim. Morsuso, comes from the Latin word for sting (morsus).
P.S You can always find information, hints, and things in my LiveJournal. Just go to my bio and hit the homepage link.