Disclaimer: Believe it or not, no money is being made through this as all characters etc that you recognise belong to Madame Rowling. Anything else is, most obviously, property of Egyptian Flame unless stated otherwise. Egyptian Flame does not have an army of lawyers like the aforementioned literary genius but that doesn't mean to say he hasn't got an army…
Chapter 11: Revelations and Retaliation
Written by: Egyptian Flame
Edited by: Master Slytherin
The Most Powerful Dark Lord … A Half Blood!
By Special Reporter Rita Skeeter.
Yesterday at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Simon Dumbledore, the Defense against the Dart Arts teacher and the Headmaster's grandson, provided a history lesson about the current Dark Lord. It appears that He Who Must Not Be Named was a Hogwarts graduate of 1945. It was the same year the former Dark Lord Grindelwald was defeated by Albus Dumbledore. The Dark Lord's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle who attended Hogwarts as a Slytherin. Your Daily Prophet reporter can exclusively reveal that He Who Must Not Be Named is a half blood and was responsible for the opening of the Chamber of Secrets.
While his insight was welcome, your reporter wonders how Simon Dumbledore, mysterious grandson appearing out of nowhere, would know all this information about the Dark Lord. Is it possible to trust one who knows so much about He Who Must Not Be Named? It would not be the first time a Dark Wizard was appointed a Professor. Simon and Albus Dumbledore were both unavailable for comment.
History of Albus Dumbledore… page 4, 5
History of Simon Dumbledore…page 6
History of the Dark Lord… page 7, 8
In the dark and gloomy environment of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, where many of the Order of the Phoenix's meeting occurred, sat Arthur Weasley in the morning for breakfast. He greeted Molly, who rose early to clean and prepare food, and sat down. Arthur reached for the newspaper that was brought by an owl as he sipped the coffee that his wife had prepared for him and turned to the Daily prophet.
Coffee sprayed from his mouth as he read the headline, with a little boy's image and a drawing of Voldemort draped across the front page. He continued to read silently but a shriek told him that Molly had seen the headline.
Harry laid the Daily Prophet with a smile on his face. A sense of satisfaction filled him as he imagined the rage Voldemort would have at his closely guarded history being broadcast in thousands of homes. He rubbed his sore neck, drinking some coffee and eating a piece of toast. He was not ready for the force that had thrown him across the chamber of secrets, something he vowed not to do again. He had let his guard down, thinking that the spell would only destroy the soul with no repercussions. He ate his toast and finished his coffee, then headed towards his first lesson with 5th year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
"Are you ready?" asked Helga, tears rolling down her cheek freely.
"Why can't we go as well?" demanded Godric, trying with all his might to keep his emotions in check.
"Because you must stay and look after the school, Godric," said Salazar, no sneer in his voice for once. "We are closest to him; surely you understand?"
Godric tried to nod but his head wouldn't budge. 'Why should they leave', he thought furiously. Helga stroked his arm soothingly and he felt disgusted with himself for thinking so selfishly.
Godric and Helga hugged Rowena and Salazar, tears spilling down the best friends as they prepared to leave the time of their birth. The four were to be separated for the first time in years. Rowena and Salazar nodded and took their place inside the drawn circle with their pets beside them and their luggage shrunk in their pockets.
"Peragro Aetas." Raw power erupted from Godric's and Helga's wands, forming a blinding circle of light around Salazar and Rowena. The rune on the floor glowed and began to vibrate. Moments later, Godric and Helga fell to the floor from exhaustion, staring at the place where their best friends had stood a moment ago.
"Good Luck," whispered Godric softly as four became two. It was the last thing said before they passed out, only to be found later by their colleagues and transported to the hospital wing.
Silence was the only word to describe the atmosphere in the Slytherin common room as the Slytherin students sat processing every word they had heard from their teacher. You could see every student's expression, something rarely seen as their families trained them to hide their emotions and keep their faces blank.
Most of them were expressing either disbelief or outrage. The disbelief caused by discovering the past of the self-proclaimed heir of Slytherin that they were eager to follow; being a half blood, as impure as the dead golden boy, Harry Potter. And outrage, as they grew up believing the stories of the Heir of Slytherin, growing to worship him and eager to serve him to the best of their abilities and then discovering that he was nothing more than a half blood who deceived most of their families into believing otherwise.
Many suspecting students stormed the library, searching the records for any person called Tom Riddle and were disappointed to find only little information about him. Their teacher was indeed telling the truth about a boy named Tom Riddle attending Hogwarts and all that he said made sense, including the anagram. To find the hard truth that they were following someone with dirty muggle blood in him or that with all his immense power, Voldemort was not a pureblood shocked them into silence.
A certain blond haired pure blood was the most shocked with the revelation. He grew up learning that the Dark Lord was right and Dumbledore was wrong and that Malfoys bow to no one.
'Why didn't father tell me about this? Did he know? Why the bloody hell is he bowing to a half blood when he was the one to tell me that Malfoys bow to no one?' Draco thought blankly, his stunned disbelief apparent in his pale face. His shock turned to fear and anger for being ignorant and for his own parents lying to him about it. He decided on one action that seemed most rational to him as he ran towards his dormitory. He had no other option; he knew it was neither here nor there but it was better than the alternatives
The older Slytherin students wasted no time in writing to their families, demanding answers and seeking the truth. Anybody who looked at the sky viewed a remarkable sight. It was as if it was filled with black clouds, with the absence of rain and the presence of feathers.
However, the school owls were not the only ones cutting through the air. The Daily Prophet owls soared through the air, carrying the latest edition of the acclaimed newspaper.
At another corner, a raven haired, green-eyed wizard walked with his wand raised high, a 'point-me' spell in progress and a Lumos wandless spell with his other hand. One may have thought the wizard to be Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, if it were not for the absence of the scar or his more defined aristocratic look and stance. He wore a dark green robe with silver lining and his raven hair lay on his shoulders.
"Damn you, Potter. I hope you're happy now," grumbled the wizard as he walked through the Dark Forest he had landed in, separated from one of his best friends. He had been walking for the past three hours without stopping and was starting to get extremely irritated.
'I don't know why the hell I cannot Apparate to Hogwarts. Where in hell are you Rowena?' thought Salazar Slytherin worriedly. If something had happened to Rowena, Harry will never forgive him. It was perhaps the only thing that would make Harry angry enough to hurt his blood brother.
He woke up in front of an abandoned house in the middle of the forest after being transported by the time traveling spell. Salazar wasted no time in moving to find Hogwarts after he failed to Apparate there. With the help of some of the snakes in the forest, Salazar was making his way through, hoping to reach any place that accommodated people. He did not know why he was separated from Rowena, but since the spell was never tested on more than one person, it may have had abnormal effects.
After a couple of miles, he found a street with two people sitting on the sidewalk, laughing and drinking some whiskey. From their robes and pointed hats, Salazar surmised they were wizards though he felt insulted that he would have to associate with such ruffians. He had a better idea though and sneered while he drew his wand and made eye contact with one of the wizards.
Images flashed in front of him but they were too hazy for him to identify, so he searched for the most populated part of the wizarding world. Pulling out from the wizard's mind, Salazar focused and apparated to the place he found in the drunken wizard's mind, Diagon Alley.
Meanwhile, a witch of ethereal beauty walked down the road of a village by the name of Godric's Hollow where she had just appeared. She was worried about what happened to Salazar since they were supposed to land together in the same place. She went over the spell in her head a hundred times and could not find a flaw in it. Her mind went back to what Harry had ever said about his world to her and Salazar, which was little, but was important to remember.
She could not wait to reunite with Harry, her Harry. It had been a long time since Harry left the past and she hoped with all her heart that he had not moved on since it was the only thought keeping her in tedious search for the time spell for the past year. Along with Rowena was an animal that looked like a cross between a wolf and a fox, trotting silently and cautiously beside Rowena. They headed towards the nearest bar by the name of 'Griffin's Tail' and entered it, making a beeline towards the bartender.
"Can I help you good lady?" asked the bartender in a strong Yorkshire accent while cleaning an already sparkling cup.
Rowena smiled and asked the bartender in perfect modern English, learned from Harry in their five years together, "Can you tell me how to get to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" He shot her a cautious look which made Rowena raise her eyebrows.
"You can take the Knight Bus to Hogsmeade station and walk from there," said the bartender. "But there be strange 'appenings at 'ogwarts fair lady. There be mutterings of a…I've said too much. Just…be careful around those that aren't familiar to you." Rowena frowned a little, having never heard of Hogwarts being a place to be cautious in or heard of a Knight Bus, but smiled politely again.
"Can you tell me how to board the knight bus? I grew up used to Floo and apparation," added Rowena smartly, seeing the suspicious frown on the bartender's face. The man raised an eyebrow but pointed outside.
"You have to go out to the pavement there, wave your wand in front of you and the Knight Bus will appear," replied the bartender gruffly, stacking the cups neatly. Rowena thanked the man and went outside. 'What is a bus thing,' she thought.
She walked to the end of the path and waved her wand in front of her majestically. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, there was a deafening BANG and a second later, a gigantic pair of wheels and headlights screeched to a halt to exactly in front of where Rowena stood. They belonged to a violently purple, enormous machine on wheels. Gold letters on the windshield spelled, The Knight Bus. 'What have I got myself into,' thought Rowena. 'The things I do for you Harry.'
"Welcome on the Knight Bus, emergency transport for witches and wizards…" said Stan, reading of a gnarled piece of parchment before being interrupted by Rowena.
"I need to go to Hogsmeade Station," interrupted Rowena, sighing in annoyance. Stan stepped aside and Rowena boarded the bus, sitting down tiredly.
"It will be an hour before we arrive at Hogsmeade, would you like something to drink?" Rowena declined, paid him and took a seat at the back.
Harry was teaching his 4th year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs, when a silver rock on his desk began to vibrate and emit a screeching sound. It was an alarm that Dumbledore had given Harry which would alert him of an attack. Harry waved his wand, silencing the object and turned quickly to his students.
"Class dismissed," said Harry, as he hurried to the headmaster's office. "No Homework tonight." He was gone before he could hear the cheers.
Seeing that he would be late for the battle, even with the shortcuts, Harry decided to do something he was saving as an element of surprise; he apparated silently to the Headmaster's office. Fortunately, Dumbledore was the only one there and no teachers or students had taken notice of Harry Apparating from the relatively deserted Defence Against the Dark Arts corridor. However, unfortunately, Dumbledore saw Harry Apparating inside his office with wide eyes and a look of disbelief.
"How did you do that, Harry? I thought only the Headmaster could perform such a feat!" The question was more one of suspicion than astonishment but Harry shrugged.
"I will tell you when we get back, Albus. Where is the attack?" asked Harry quickly, readying his wand.
Dumbledore's eyes turned grave as he replied. "Two."
"One of them in Diagon alley and the other in Azkaban," answered Dumbledore as some of the Order members burst into the room. Dumbledore readied Portkeys and gave them to the order members.
"You go to Azkaban and I will take care of Diagon Alley," Harry said firmly, taking a Portkey to Diagon Alley.
He appeared beside Flourish and Blotts, absorbing the scene in front of him. Death Eaters were killing and torturing left, right and centre giving no mercy to anyone. There was one particular figure who was killing people with a savage expertise which left Harry transfixed for a fraction of a second. He was torturing people with rage in his eyes and Harry knew instantly that it was the backlash of his history lesson. He hated himself when he realized that he caused all of this but resolved to finish the problem first then think of guilt later.
"RIDDLE!" he yelled in pure fury.
Lord Voldemort turned at the mention of his name. He found a wizard standing with his wand held high, radiating an aura of power around him. His rage grew at being called by his real name as he walked to where the wizard stood, waiting patiently to begin a duel.
"How dare you call me that name? I am Lord Voldemort!" screeched Voldemort. Harry grinned as he threw his cloak aside, preparing for the duel.
"Didn't you know that it is childish to come up with names like these for yourself?" asked Harry coolly, grinning broadly but his eyes portrayed guilt and anticipation. Voldemort looked at Harry for a minute before his red eyes widened for a bit and he grinned maniacally.
"POTTER, you are the only one stupid enough to dare defy me in my face. Now, it will be your end at the hands of the Heir of Slytherin," said Voldemort gleefully. People gasped at hearing the name of their hero, who was supposed to be dead in an explosion.
"Well then, Tommy boy. We have an unfinished duel from the graveyard, lets finish it, shall we?" said Harry with a grin, his features returning back to the raven hair and green eyes. Voldemort tried to use the same trick he used at the graveyard to make him bow, but Harry waved his wand, canceling the spell.
"It won't work this time, Tom. We bow, and then we duel," said Harry bowing slightly, never taking his eyes of Voldemort. Most people surrounding them were confused as to why the most Powerful Dark Lord was following the rules of a duel when he never did with anyone else. It was only one person who realized why Voldemort was following rules for a duel with a person who was supposed to be a kid.
'He marks him as a worthy opponent. Well at least he is not stupid,' thought the person.
Salazar Slytherin was walking around Diagon Alley in awe, looking everywhere and trying to take everything in at once. The existence of such a place, when the only thing in this place at his time was a workshop of a wand maker called Ollivander, fascinated him. He looked on with astonishment at the bookshop, the Quidditch shop and different other shops that had not been available to him in the past. He was looking at one of the broomsticks in display at Quality Quidditch supplies, when an explosion rocked the whole street. Wizards wearing black cloaks and white masks were shooting curses at every innocent bystander they could find, killing and torturing everyone in their way. However, there was one wizard, whose repertoire of spells was very familiar to Salazar.
'So, this is my dear heir. He is not very creative or stylish at that,' thought Salazar with amusement. He was about to fight his heir when a familiar voice yelled with power in his voice.
"RIDDLE!"
Salazar was proved right in his guess when his so called heir replied what he needed to hear.
"POTTER!"
Salazar watched as Voldemort and Harry bowed to each other but knew from what Harry told him that Voldemort respects no rules of dueling.
'He marks him as a worthy opponent. Well at least he is not stupid,' thought Salazar. The other Death Eaters were prepared to join the fight with their master when Salazar decided to help his brother. He smirked and waved his wand at a nearby Death Eater who collapsed and clutched his heart, screaming with agony.
Meanwhile, Harry was unaware of anything happening around himself and Voldemort. If he did, he'd have seen a lone figure tossing Death Eaters around like rag dolls. "Let's begin, Tom."
Voldemort's expression turned to rage as he raised his wand and hissed angrily, "Avada Kedavra," signaling the beginning of the duel. Harry waved his wand and a nearby bin flew to the air, intercepting the curse and blew up into a thousand pieces.
"Navitas Exertus,"bellowed Harry and slashed his wand upwards. A ball of energy arced towards Voldemort who waved his wand around him, creating a silver shield. The ball fought bravely against the shield but with a resonating 'pop', it disappeared.
"Diripio," whispered Voldemort, waving his wand in a semi circle. A sick yellow beam exploded from the tip of his wand, heading towards Harry with great velocity.
"Serpensortia," muttered Harry. A green and silver snake met the curse head on, tearing it to shreds in a shower of blood. 'It's not a real snake,' thought Harry frantically before brandishing his wand like a whip. A long thin tongue of flame escaped the tip, wrapping itself around Voldemort and his shield. It was the same spell Dumbledore had used in the Department of mysteries when fighting Voldemort.
The Dark Lord concentrated and muttered the counter curse as the rope of flame struggled to break his shield and then vanished without a trace. He Disapparated and reappeared a few feet away, sending the killing curse at Harry who dodged skillfully.
"Itero Orbis," muttered Harry, waving his wand in a circular fashion then slashing his wand upwards. Three iron balls arced towards Voldemort who sent a wall of flame towards the balls but every time they were hit, they multiplied. Voldemort's frustration grew with every multiplication.
"Comburo Flamma," Voldemort muttered in rage. The orbs stopped at a wall of pure lava and fell to the ground, harmless and mangled.
"Crucio."
Harry waited until the Cruciatus was about to strike him and waved his wand at one of the garbled iron globes at Voldemort's feet. It rose and hit Voldemort in the leg, breaking a bone, making him flinch and loose concentration. The red beam of light just dissipated inches from Harry's heart and Voldemort waved his wand lazily at his leg, causing it to mend temporarily.
"I'm done with playing, Potter. Contremisco," yelled Voldemort in rage. The earth between the two opponents began to tremble violently and explode underneath Harry who jumped as the blow came directly beneath him.
Harry pointed his wand to the ground and shouted, "Absorbeo Iaculum," while bringing his wand down diagonally. The tremor stopped as two spears appeared from the ground beside Harry, the power behind the spells made the people around him shiver. In a flash, the two spears flew towards Voldemort as they were released from Harry's grasp.
Voldemort's red slits of eyes widened a fraction at the feat of magic that Harry had just displayed. However, Voldemort was not a Dark Lord for nothing as he muttered an incantation with a sadistic twisted grin, which filled Harry with dread.
"Voco Inferi."
People who died at the hands of the Death Eaters began to shake horribly as a dark energy surrounded them. They stirred and sat up, a terrifying roar emitting from their mouths as they began to stand and attack those around them, but most of them headed for Harry. It wasn't that Harry was not capable of taking care of the Inferi, but doing so while battling a powerful Dark Lord was not in his league. He waved his wand and some began to catch fire, but he tried with all his might to keep his eyes on Voldemort.
"Avada Kedavra," roared Voldemort, taking the chance of Harry's distraction. Harry turned around, but not in time to dodge or summon anything to stop the killing curse from hitting its target. Two Inferi flew from their places and intercepted the killing curse, bursting to flames as they hit. Harry turned to see a hooded figure in green robes waving his wand at the Inferi and keeping them at bay.
"Alright there, brother?" asked a voice which Harry had missed every single day since his return. He couldn't believe it, he did not want to believe it lest it was some sick joke conjured by Voldemort. He stood up shakily and was face to face with his blood brother and could not help but grin.
"Never knew that you were the Gryffindor type, brother," said Harry, his wand in his hand. Salazar scowled and dodged as a beam flew from behind Harry towards him.
Harry and Salazar turned simultaneously towards the Dark Lord and produced the same non-verbal spell.
'Viscus Letalis,' cast both wizards silently, waving their wands in an identical jabbing motion. Twin black beams flew parallel to each other towards the Dark Lord who Apparated away from the organ decaying curses.
Voldemort was not a foolish wizard and knew when to run. "I don't know who you are," he hissed at Salazar, "but you will rue the day you ever stood between me and victory of Potter." Voldemort cast the Dark Mark high into the sky and Apparated away.
The remaining Death Eaters, seeing that their Master had apparated away, portkeyed out of the area just before the Aurors Apparated in. The Aurors began getting rid of the Inferi and with Salazar and Harry's help; it was accomplished in a few moments. Without specific guidance, they were mindless bodies. Harry grabbed Salazar's arm and Apparated both of them to his bedroom at Hogwarts.
"Where is Rowena, Sal? I thought she was coming with you," said Harry, hugging his blood brother tightly. Harry released him from the bear hug and took a seat in a chintz armchair while Salazar occupied the other. He was tired from the battle but had to speak to Salazar.
"Rowena and I were separated when we got here which I presume is a side effect of the spell. I appeared in a forest and made my way outside with the help of the resident snakes until I found two drunken wizards. I thought that I could ask about you or even find you in a populated area, so I raided their minds and apparated to Diagon Alley," explained Salazar softly. Harry paled and stood quickly, taking out his wand from its holster again. He paced the office with a slight limp but nevertheless was determined to find Rowena.
"You mean to tell me that Rowena is out there alone?" said Harry angrily.
"Artemis is with her," mumbled Salazar. He could feel Harry's glare penetrating the back of his head. He looked up and met the brilliant green gaze of Harry.
"And I'm supposed to rest assured now that I know she has her strange dog thing with her?" shouted Harry sarcastically. He knew he shouldn't be shouting at his dearly missed blood brother but Rowena was out there somewhere.
"She'll be alright, Harry. She's an extremely gifted witch. It's not my fault the damn spell went wrong," replied Salazar. Harry was about to open his mouth when a pop was heard in the room, making both wizards turn with their wands pointed at a small, green elf dressed in a strange array of shirts and socks.
"I is happy that Mister Harry Potter sir is alive," yelled Dobby gleefully, hugging Harry's knees. Harry patted the house-elf on the head awkwardly, much to Salazar's disgust.
"Did Dumbledore return, Dobby?" asked Harry the excited house-elf. Dobby instantly quieted down and his eyes grew wide.
"Why are you conversing with and touching a house elf," hissed Salazar from the corner of his mouth. "Are you insane?" Harry frowned slightly but otherwise ignored him.
"Master, there is a battle on the grounds and Mistress Natasha is out there. There is also another mistress with a wolf fighting the Dark Wizards, sir," Dobby said quickly.
"Rowena," both Harry and Salazar yelled at the same time and Apparated onto the grounds. It seemed that the battle had ended as a figure in fancy purple robes emerged and pulled down her hood, revealing the beautiful visage of Rowena Ravenclaw whose eyes were shining with unshed tears, her loyal companion trotting in her wake.
"Harry?" she whispered unsteadily while shivering slightly.
"Row," said Harry, his voice hoarse. He was waiting for someone to wake him up from the both beautiful and terrible dream. Neither was sure who began the kissing, but they found themselves in another world of the passionate companionship of each other, two hearts reunited.
It was a gasp which brought the two back to the land of the living as they turned to see the stunned figure of Albus Dumbledore on one side of the couple, a betrayed looking Bella and Blaise on the other and Salazar, with a sly smirk plastered across his face, in the middle. It was Dumbledore who broke the silence.
"You have some explaining to do, Harry."
