Chapter 5

The day of reckoning had arrived. Harry stood in front of the mirror with a look that screamed sophistication and young power. His hair was up in a stylish spike that made him look more like a normal teenager while he wore a black and green button-down shirt with a dragonhide belt that had a snake carved into the thread. His jeans were among the more normal aspects of his outfit, and his dragon hide jacket and boots finished his look. It was one of Harry's favorite outfits, and he had been saving it for the past few weeks for the big day. Today would be the day that Harry jumped on the Hogwarts express and headed off to the life of power and influence.

Sitting on the couch in his mother's flat he smiled as the woman recounted her own journey into the Wizarding World where she met his father, Sirius Black, and even young Severus Snape. Her eyes had lit up at her remembrance of first time visiting the castle, and even her first week of school, "You are going to love it Harry. Mccgonagall and Flitwick will be astounded with what you can do, and of course your father and I weren't slouches by any means."

Harry listened happily to the woman going on about her experiences and friends she had at Hogwarts , "Of course things will be different when you go. When I went we started at eleven. I am really curious to hear what they might have you all attempting at thirteen. I wonder what the OWL's will look like now that the age to take it will be seventeen. So many possibilities."

Chuckling at his mothers line of thought the young man chimed in, "I thought they told me you were sorted into Gryffindor not Ravenclaw."

The woman looked sheepish for a moment but responded with, "I was the best in my year regardless of what anyone thought of my blood status."

The woman looked nervous to bring up the topic even though Harry had assured the woman he thought no less of her because she was muggleborn, "Well I hope you don't think me immodest in saying that I plan to be at the top of my year with little struggle."

Shaking her head she offered the young man a smile, "Yes I sincerely doubt anyone will be able to keep up with your practical abilities, but don't dismiss the importance of theory."

"I just finished going through the Standard Book of Spells Book 5. I can perform every spell by heart. I take every aspect that could affect my abilities with a wand very seriously." Harry said a little defensively.

The woman didn't rise to his tone though, and merely sighed, "Too seriously if you ask me. It's unheard of for someone your age to do the things you can do."

"I have to be powerful enough to stand up to my father's enemies." Harry said with pride, while acknowledging the fact that his words hurt the woman slightly.

Deciding not to answer his words with any response, the red head put her hands on each of his shoulders while standing behind him, "I do have a little gift for you. I had Severus pick it up for me a few days ago. I hope you like it."

Harry turned slightly to face the woman and saw her holding a small gift box that was wrapped neatly, "Your dad would've given this to you had he been here today. He would be immensely proud of you."

Taking the box carefully Harry began methodically undoing the wrapping, and then opened the gift box slowly to see a long cloak folded up. He lifted it out thinking it wasn't very stylish, but when his hands touched the fabric an immense amount of power surged through his arm. His understanding of the charms attached to the device was elementary, and that was likely an exaggeration. The woman gave him a sad smile as he inspected the cloak, "A reminder for you to keep forever, and one day pass on to your children. There is a legend in the Potter family about that cloak, and I hope you will have better use for it then James did. He only used it for pranks, and other frivolous things, but he valued this cloak above nearly all else."

Throwing the cloak over his shoulders he knew his behind was now invisible, and as he looked himself up and down he realized most of his body was gone, "I have seen a lot of invisibility cloaks, but none like this. I thought you had to redo the charms on them every few years?"

Lily Potter shook her head and said, "Like I said it's a family heirloom. I will tell you the story one day. When the time is right. Severus knows about the existence of the cloak, but not why it is so special. I would really like it if it remained our secret. In your hands it could do no harm to the Dark Lord"

Warily Harry nodded his head. His mother was right. The cloak was no threat to his father now that it was in his hands, "Very well. It will be our secret."

The woman beamed, and brought him in for a big hug, "I know you need to get going now, so I will see you at Christmas. Take care of yourself, and work hard son. I know you can be the best, but now it is time to show the world what you are capable of."

Inwardly Harry thought it was nowhere near that time, but he returned her hug gratefully before promising to write, and began departing towards the front door where his portkey would return him home. For the remainder of the morning Harry attempted to shake his nerves off by casting many chain spells in the dueling room attempting to stay loose, but the time to leave for Kings Cross came at a slower pace than he expected.

Standing in front of his father's office he took a deep breath and pushed the doors open. He gave his father a short bow stating, "I am ready at a moment's notice father."

Voldemort looked up from his paperwork with an even face, "Close the door, let us speak for a few moments before you go."

Harry nodded his head and took the seat directly across from his father. The Dark Lord sighed, "You have a huge responsibility on your shoulders my son. You must turn all of Hogwarts against the headmaster, you must do so without him realizing it as well. You have to be cunning and have the ambition to make our goals and dreams come true...Can you do that?"

Harry's stomach churned slightly at the question, but nodded nonetheless, "You have prepared me well father."

Tom Riddle gave him a faint smile, "That I have, but I have prepared two safety precautions as well. Come over to my side of the desk."

Harry did as he was told and faced his father where they were within just a few feet of each other. Voldemort reached into his cloak and pulled out a green locket with a snake engraved in the middle, Harry gasped, "The locket of Salazar Slytherin!"

This smile that reflected Tom's face was merely one of acceptance and pride, "Indeed it is our ancestors' heirloom. Salazar Slytherin once carried this necklace proudly through the halls of Hogwarts, now I am passing it down to you, so you may do as I once did. This necklace is not only a family heirloom though. It carries a piece of my magical power in it. It can serve as an emergency port key, and an amulet. This small necklace is likely one of the most charmed magical objects in the world. To activate the portkey you must simply summon your magic, say the incantation Portus, then home in Parseltongue. That will bring you straight into my office and it will lock down the manor. The amulet part will only activate when your heart rate hits a certain point, Severus and I have discovered that you can charm certain magical objects to activate at a certain time of crisis. The particular heart rate this amulet is set at is one you will reach in battle, it will draw straight from my magical core, unless we are side by side. This could one day save your life. If not, then I pray it will just be a getaway plan and another item that brings the two of us closer together."

Voldemort put the necklace over Harry's head and a small glow of light exuded from the locket. Harry felt a feeling of safety wrap around his magic, and he smiled as he opened his core to the warm feeling. The Dark Lord put both hands on his son's shoulders with an even face, "Go make me proud out there, I know no matter what you do, it will be enough to bring us all victory."

When the two separated Harry was blinking back tears of Pride, "I won't fail you father."

The handsome young man shook his head, "I know you won't, that is why I entrusted this task to you. Now let us get going to platform 9 ¾, we have a legacy to begin!"

With that Harry grabbed his father's arm and the two apparated across the country.

The platform was as packed as it was every year. Hundreds of school children and parents were on the loading docks saying their last goodbyes till either the winter or summer holidays. Immediately upon arrival Draco and Theodore were at his side, along with a rather beefy Crabbe and Goyle. Harry shook hands with the two muscle heads and clasped Theodore and Draco's hands. The five boys exchanged small talk while the adults gathered everything up. Severus had all of their trunks delivered to Hogwarts the night before, the only thing Draco, Harry, or Theo, had was their wands and a small shrunken package which contained their robes.

Shortly the five boys said their short goodbyes to their parents, which was very impersonal and professional, Harry knew that the time to live like a true Slytherin had started the moment they walked out the door.

The boys were amongst the first to board the train so finding an empty compartment was a relatively easy task. They sat down in the first completely empty compartment, and Harry drew his hand wand rapidly firing cushioning charms and expansion charms to make their compartment as comfortable as possible. The once square shaped room soon took on an expansion of hexagonal shape. Malfoy and Nott immediately took their seats comfortably, allowing the two giant boys to take their own row in the compartment. Harry plunged himself down on his own side making himself instantly at home.

The boys talked around the circle of their summer exploits until the train sounded its five-minute warning. Suddenly a short black boy entered the dorm-like cabin and following him were two clearly first year girls. Harry could tell by their rigid posture they were nervous, both girls could've passed for fourteen or fifteen, but the trunks gave them away. Most Hogwarts students had their house crest on their trunks and these three had nothing.

The darker boy immediately offered his hand to Harry who was the closest, "Blaise Zabini, you mind if we join you in your spacious compartment, we couldn't find anywhere that would seat three together."

Harry immediately stood, "Zabini? Severus Snape speaks highly of your mother. I was hoping to meet you at school. A pleasure, my friends call me Harry, Harry James Riddle."

Blaise's eyes flickered with recognition, "Riddle, sounds familiar, pure blood?"

Harry smiled, shaking his head, "Of sorts. My family has a very long and complicated history. Who are your two companions, but wait I am being rude, this is Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle. Companions of mine since we were all small children."

Blaise nudged his friend with dark black hair. This girl had olive type skin and dark brown eyes, "Tracy Davis, I believe we have met Mr. Riddle."

Harry studied the girl for only a moment before recognition dawned on him as he took her offered hand, and planted a gentle kiss on the back, "Indeed we have, it is a pleasure to be in your company again. It has been some years. Time has served you well Ms. Davis."

Tracy blushed a dark rosey color at Harry's words and stuttered through a returned greeting. Harry and Tracy met when they were eight years old. Her father owned a book shop in Knockturn Alley that Harry visited several times over the years and a few times he had met Tracy. He had never known anything more than her first name and that she was obviously a witch.

Harry then put his eyes on the last girl, and it was near a crime in his mind that he hadn't done so sooner. This girl was incredibly beautiful for a thirteen-year-old with stunning blue eyes. Her blonde hair fell just below her shoulders. Her outfit was a simple black and white long skirt with black leggings underneath. She didn't smile, and held a cold icy look on her countenance. Harry offered his hand, "And who might you be my lady?"

The girl's blush was hardly even a tint of pink in comparison to Tracey as she took Harry's hand, "Daphne Greengrass, I don't believe I have heard of a Riddle family in England, are you foreign?"

Harry brought her hand to his lips as he kissed her knuckles lightly, "Enchanted. Might I just say it is a pleasure to meet you. No, I am not foreign my great grand-father was casted off from the Malfoy line for marrying one of the forbidden Lestranges. So, he was forced to start over, with a lot of money and a new name. He does a lot of business overseas though."

Daphne nodded in acceptance and introductions went more personally around the cabin and Harry who in the eyes of the original four boys was the leader allowed them to take a seat with their group. Harry immediately began questioning his new friends starting with Blaise, "So what house do you believe you will be sorted into Mr. Zabini?"

The young man shrugged his shoulders, "Please call me Blaise, and by your manners and such I believe both of us will be in the same house if that tells you anything. This whole room is a snake pit. The Davis' are always in Slytherin or Ravenclaw, same with the Greengrass's, but I do believe I know these two ladies well enough that they will be snakes."

Harry clapped his hands together, "Most excellent, I look forward to getting to know all of you throughout the year then."

Harry then turned his attention to Tracy Davis and Daphne, "So I know what your parents do Tracy, but what about you Ms. Greengrass?"

Unlike Blaise, Daphne made no attempt to remove the formality between the two, "My mother is a potions mistress and my father is a lawyer for the ICW. Both are usually incredibly busy and incredibly powerful. The Greengrass family hasn't had such a prominent family in many years."

Harry nodded, respecting her resolve in family, "That is quite the standard, would it be safe to assume that you are fairly well practiced in magic, as growing up in a pure blood family?"

Daphne kept a stone-like expression, "Well I am sure you know what assuming does...But yet, I am fairly well practiced you could say."

Harry bit his tongue back and shot Draco and Theodore a dirty look as they both began snickering, "Yes I see."

Blaise, who was quick to change the subject, blasted out, "So did you get one of your siblings or older friends to do the expansion charms?"

Draco shook his head, "No Harry took care of that the moment we walked in."

Harry who kept his eyes locked on Daphne saw her stone-like expression falter in surprise, he could tell that Blaise and Tracy were gawking a little, but his eyes never wavered, "I have been practicing magic since I was five and was given my wand at age eight. It has been a faithful companion of mine ever since."

Harry flicked his wrist in an upward motion causing the holster to snap his wand straight into his hand in an attacking position. Blaise blew a low whistle, "What kind of magic did you practice? Charms? Transfiguration?"

Theodore snorted, "As if..."

Blaise and the girls looked at Theodore strangely and Harry shot him another look, "Yes my father has very many enemies internationally and domestically, so he did his best to teach me every possible branch of magic I could grasp. Which of course resulted in hundreds of hours studying and practicing, but I managed it."

Blaise asked in surprise, "Any specialty that you prefer over all else?"

Harry tried not to sound arrogant, and kept an even face when confessing his abilities to the new people in his cabin, "They say I am a prodigy in battle magic and dueling."

Tracy followed that up asking skeptically, "How do you do it all with the trace on your wand?"

Harry shrugged, "Simple, I don't have one, none of my friends do. My father placed powerful enchantments on them in order to keep them from being traced. More of a safety precaution, and it was something to allow us to defend ourselves if the need ever arose."

Daphne asked challengingly, "Did the need ever arise?"

Harry grinned wickedly, "It might've. But that would be telling wouldn't it?"

Tracey then asked, "Shouldn't that be privileged information? Removing the trace has to be illegal?"

Draco however chuckled, "Our fathers are high up in the Ministry, and in with the Minister himself. We have no fear of legal repercussion for what is mostly an old formality law for mud...muggleborns sake."

Harry's eyes flashed dangerously towards the boy, and before Daphne could retort, a young boy with red hair popped his head in the compartment, "Has anyone seen Harry Potter in here? I have heard he was on the train, and of course he would be old enough to join us now at Hogwarts, right?"

Blaise was about to send the boy off, as was Malfoy, but Harry stood up, "That would be me, but I don't go by my birth name any longer, please Harry James Riddle, call me Harry."

The boy turned bright red, "Blimey, your Harry Potter? What about...What about your scar?"

Harry laughed with faux haughtiness, "Oh it faded away years ago! Don't believe all those stories they tell about me."

Ron looked gob smacked by that, "But it was a cursed scar? Those never go away right?"

"Well I guess I am the exception to many rules my friend, so what can I help you with..."

"Ron, sorry Ron Weasley."

Harry bit his tongue knowing such a statement should have been obvious, but continued to give his best fake smile, "Ah I have heard many things about the Weasley family, it's good to finally meet one!"

What Harry didn't say was that the scar didn't simply fade away. His father felt remorse for attempting to kill his son as a baby, and claimed to have lost a part of himself when he had cast the killing curse. That part of Voldemort had latched onto Harry and had caused him immense pain every time the Dark Lord was angry, which happened more often than was healthy for the son of the Dark Lord. In time the scar faded away, and his father was thankful that the pain in Harry's life had ceased to exist. He also didn't tell the youngest Weasley male that all the things he had heard about his family were bad.

Ron gave him a weak smile, "So what are you doing with Malfoy and these other snakes, you're a Potter in blood, and the Malfoys are about as dark as they come!"

Harry immediately became irritated with the boy, "I practically grew up with Draco, we are very long-time friends, have you two met?"

Harry already knew the answer to that question, he heard Draco's rants each time he had a run in with the red headed step child. Ron however turned red as a cherry, "A Potter and a Malfoy? Friends? Your ancestors would flip. So will my mum."

Draco finally stood up to stand by Harry, "Then perhaps you should get to writing her your complaints weasel."

Harry lightly smacked the youngest Malfoy on the chest forcing him to sit back down, "Play nice Draco, Ronald is just like the rest of us, in search of new friends in a new school. I am sure Ron and I can be friends during the school year, right Ron?"

Ron immediately lit up at the idea of becoming friends with the Boy-Who-Lived, "Oh yeah, Harry you and I will have a blast in Gryffindor together!"

Harry, Draco, and Theo immediately burst out laughing. Harry patted Ron on the shoulder, "Sorry mate, I hope we can still be friends when I am sorted into a different house. I do believe I will be in Slytherin with the majority of my friends."

Ron stuttered out, "Yo-Yo-You? A Snake? No way, I don't think a Potter has ever been a snake! They are like the most foul and evil people on the planet."

Faster than a jet on the runway Harry drew his wand and had it at Ron's throat, "First of all my grandmother Dorea Black was a Slytherin, and I will not have you insulting my dead grandmother in my presence. I tried playing nice with you Weasley, so I will say this once, if I have to say it again it will come with rapid spell fire and blood that will very much match your red hair. I am a Riddle first, always have been always will be, but I still respect and remember where my family hails from. Now these so-called Snakes are my friends and family, if you call them evil or foul in my presence again, I will make you regret it. Otherwise I will be forced to show you just how much I look forward to changing my title from the Boy-Who-Lived, to the Boy-Who-Conquered. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

Ron quickly shook his head in fear and Harry withdrew his wand putting a smile back on his face, "Good, now I am sure I will see you around, good day Ronald!"

Harry then waved his hand and the boy went back pedaling out the door by a powerful force. The compartment then slammed shut.

Tracy gasped, "That was wandless magic wasn't it?"

Harry turned to face the girl with a real smile on his face, "Pretty cool right? One of my favorite party tricks!"

Daphne stared at the boy in wonder now. She had no idea that she was sharing a cabin with one of the future most influential wizards. A boy who would one day become Lord Potter. The boy who survived the killing curse, or the boy-who-lived as most knew him by. She was beginning to wonder just how powerful he was. She was very much aware that only the most powerful wizards could use wandless magic, and the fact that he could do it before he entered Hogwarts at age 13 spoke mountains about the boy's magical prowess.

Harry however was grinning like a fool, he loved showing people their place and looking like the good guy for defending his friends.

The boys that came in with Harry weren't so amazed by his wandless banishment, they had after all watched him stand toe to toe with the Dark Lord.

Harry then sighed, "Sorry you guys had to see that, I tried being civil, but you know how that turns out sometimes."

Blaise asked, "So are you really Harry Potter? The only living survivor of the killing curse? The one who supposedly made the Dark Lord still in his tracks of war?"

Harry laughed, shaking his head, "Of course not. Yes, I am Harry Potter, and yes I did survive the killing curse, but the only reason the Dark Lord stopped in his tracks of war was because he felt that he would not win just yet. With the international community preparing to step in before a blitz of the Ministry would've only resulted in invasion on behalf of the ICW, and a butchering of the Dark Lords followers. I think we all know the death eater force is still alive and active, so it's only a matter of time before the Dark Lord takes it all."

Daphne then asked, "Aren't you afraid the Dark Lord will come back for you to finish what he started?"

Harry tried to refrain from laughing, as were Draco and Theo, "Let's just say when the Dark Lord comes calling I won't be standing against him. I do believe the Dark Lord will have a much better use for my talents."

Blaise then asked suspiciously, "But he killed your parents, why would you want to side with him?"

Harry shrugged, "Let's get to know each other much more before I answer that question, besides we all just met. I am much more interested in what our coming year at Hogwarts will be like than what the Dark Lord currently has planned for me."

Blaise shrugged his shoulders, "You're right I am sorry, that was a very personal inquiry, forgive me?"

Harry grinned, "There was never anything to forgive! Now tell me Blaise, what experience do you have in dueling?"

The rest of the train ride went just like that. Harry was practically sizing up his future recruits for future combat, finding out their strengths and weaknesses. Harry was sure as Slytherins they were withholding much information, or maybe just being modest, but he was happy with the potential among the group. Especially the ice princess that Harry was beginning to know as Daphne Greengrass.

The boys and girls took their respective turns at switching into their Hogwarts uniform and before they knew it they were pulling into the express lane of Hogwarts. The castle was hidden behind all the trees as they pulled in, which was slightly disappointing to Harry, but he knew it was only a matter of minutes before it was time for their arrival at Hogwarts.

(A/N) Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Super thankful to all you guys who read my works, and leave comments good or bad. I love hearing from you guys, and I am blessed with a good fan base of supporters.

Some big changes in this chapter from the original, so I hope you caught the subtle nuances, and got a new and improved look at the Daphne Greengrass that was a little stale in my OG story. The next update for this story will come December 9th, and I can't wait to hear what you guys thought of this newest chapter.

Cheers everyone, and if you would like to join my discord server where we talk Harry Potter, Marvel, PJO, and other varieties of topics feel free to follow the link below and just delete the spaces out of it.

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