"Thank you for arriving so promptly, I trust there was no issues with finding all the students?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes void of his usual twinkle, his eyes instead dull, it was like the Wizard had aged years since breakfast that morning. He was standing in front of his chair at the large circular table where all staff meetings took place. Sitting around looking sombre and waiting for news were most of the Professors, on one side of Dumbledore was James and Lily Potter, on the other Minerva Mcgonagall. Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout were next from Minerva, the three Heads of Houses looking serious and worried. Next to Lily Potter was the newly instated Remus Lupin, who didn't look comfortable next to his previous friend. Beside Pomona Sprout was Gilderoy Lockhart, much to her displeasure, if her leaning away from him and into Filius was any notion. Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy Professor, was on the other side of the DADA Professor looking just as disgruntled as the man sat there looking happily oblivious to the seriousness of the situation. Next to Remus Lupin were two other elective Professor's; Silvanus Kettleburn, Care of Magical Creatures, and Septima Victor, Arithmancy, both looking tired and worn, they were some of the oldest Professor's still employed at Hogwarts besides the Headmaster himself. Bathsheda Babbling was beside her old time friend and colleague Aurora Sinistra, whispering in her ear softly, most likely reasons why Aurora shouldn't hex Gilderoy. Looking extremely awkward and distressed to be out of her tower, Sybill Trelawney, the Divination Professor was beside Septima Victor. Rolanda Hooch, the Flying Professor and Referee/Coach of Quidditch was a kind soul and was speaking soothingly to the worried Sybill Trelawney. Severus Snape was the final Professor, seated between Rolanda Hooch and Bathsheda Babbling, and directly opposite Dumbledore, his black eyes roamed with a slight shine, knowing that Tom was currently contacting the rest of the Governors before making his next move regarding Dumbledore.
"Is it true Albus?" Lily tittered worriedly, her hand clenching James' tightly, ignoring the man's wince of pain.
"Has a student really been attacked?"
"Yes my dear." Albus spoke gravely. Severus had to fight to not roll his eyes as she went sheet white and her green eyes went wide in panic. They had all received the Patronus, and Dumbledore wouldn't of joked about it, he could hardly believe that he had considered himself in love with that harpy shrew of a woman. Although he had to admit that at randomly, out of absolutely nowhere, he would get floods of emotion, like back in school, and then it would fade again. But while concerning, not in need of immediate worry and attention.
"Who was it?" Pomona asked sadly, thankfully she had every Badger in their Common Rooms, but nonetheless, it was still a student. Someone, that they as Professor's, were charged to keep safe. Severus raised his eyebrow as Minerva stood up with tears in her eyes, a Gryffindor.
"Muggle-born second-year Dean Thomas." Minerva said, her voice wavering.
"He was found just down from the Library, in a small Alcove. It appears he was making his way back to the Gryffindor Common Rooms from the Library where he had been tutoring the first years, and was attacked just before the first flight of stairs." Severus had to hold in a snort of laughter at the idea of any of Potter's three lackeys helping anyone, let alone tutoring first-years. Although that begged the question, what had the boy been doing? The thought brought back memories of only a few weeks past when he had found Thomas, Finnigan, Weasley and Potter harassing the Slytherin and Ravenclaw first-years as they came out of Astronomy night class; it made him wonder if their own house wasn't safe from the horrible foursome. He was brought of his musing when Remus Lupin spoke up.
"When will his parents arrive?"
"My boy?" Dumbledore asked, his voice was soft and confused, but his eyes were daring the man to continue.
"Well, all parents are informed and then given the chance to see any injured child." Remus said, his Gryffindor attributes pushing him through the dangerous water he was treading.
"Oh, of course, but as his parents are Muggles, they wouldn't truly understand petrification and I don't want to worry them needlessly."
"Needlessly?" Remus breathed in horror.
"They deserve to know what happened to their son no matter their blood status!"
"I am his Head of House." Minerva snapped finally.
"The Headmaster is right. The amount of times I've had Muggle Parents freak out over something that is an easy fix. If they don't need to be worried and scared witless then I won't do it." Severus sneered at the woman. She was always in Dumbledore's pocket, siding with him and neglecting her duties as a Head of House.
"And if he was to tell his parents after being restored to normal by the Mandrakes?" Severus drawled demeaningly, one black eyebrow raised. Stifling a snort when Dumbledore and Mcgonagall shared wide-eyed glances, clearly they had not planned for any possibilities beyond it must work because we planned it. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Remus Lupin giving him an appraising look, holding back a sneer he kept his black eyes firmly on Dumbledore. Hopefully the self-righteous, arrogant and hypocritical man's world would come crashing down around him, Severus silently thanked Lady Magic for blessing the Prince line, his Mother's maiden family, with the magical talent for Legilimency and Occlumency. Because of her gift, he was able to hide his malicious glee behind his Occlumency shield, which unsurprisingly was a potions lab; with all his thoughts and memories hidden in ingredient jars.
"Well, that could be an issue, but I am sure young Mr Thomas can be reasoned with." Dumbledore said his Grandfather mask firmly back in place.
"You plan on convincing a twelve year old, to not tell his family he was petrified?" A horrified voice demanded. As Dumbledore and the other Professor's snapped their heads to the side where the entrance door was, Severus allowed a smirk to grace his face briefly, a smirk, which was caught by Remus.
"Amelia, my dear." Dumbledore greeted warmly, but his blue eyes were iced in anger, and his teeth clenched, only those who truly knew him, could see beyond the façade.
"It's Madam Bones, I am here in a professional manner." Amelia snarked, she eyed Dumbledore and Mcgonagall distrustfully, she had been there long enough waiting for the right moment to reveal herself.
"What kind of situation would bring you to us today?" The Headmaster asked coldly enough that the others, who were usually blind to the man's faults, noticed.
"You know exactly why we are here." A wheezing voice spoke, Remus' golden eyes widened in shock as Minister Fudge stepped out from behind Amelia with a smug Lucius and re-disguised Tom at his side. Severus would be forever grateful that Tom had been with him when the Patronus appeared, just for Dumbledore's expression of shock alone. Unfortunately the Headmaster managed to get ahold of himself rather quickly.
"Cornelius, what in Merlin's name are you doing here? Amelia dear you felt the need to bother the Minister with silly little school issues?" Dumbledore asked in a soft and grave tone paired with his trademark disappointed expression.
"SILLY LITTLE SCHOOL ISSUE?!" Cornelius' shrill voice caused everyone in the room to wince, the portly man had managed to imitate the sound of a wand on a chalkboard, something no-one would've thought possible.
"A CHILD HAS BEEN PETRIFIED!"
"We are handling it." Dumbledore said dispassionately, he was deeply annoyed that both the School Board and Ministry were interfering in Hogwarts. He was the Leader of the Light, the Defeater of Grindelwald, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. How dare they doubt him, or treat him like one of the untrustworthy Slytherin's he keeps an eye on.
"Really Headmaster? And what measures have you taken?" Amelia asked, an eyebrow raised as she stared him down.
"Measures my dear?" He asked in strained politeness.
"To prevent another student being attacked." She clarified sharply.
"Well, we have yet to discuss that, due to your unceremonious arrival." Dumbledore smiled.
"I had planned to inform all the Professor's of an earlier curfew being put in place." His benign Grandfather persona back in place.
"A curfew?" Lucius asked incredulously.
"That is all?!" Tom joined in playing the perfect horrified parent.
"Albus, surely you know that an earlier curfew won't keep the children in their dorms, the normal curfew barely does." Remus agreed.
"You would know, your bloody Marauders were the worst culprits." Severus snorted derisively, smirking when the wolf sent him an exasperated look and James sent a snarl in his direction. It was the first real reaction James had shown since arriving for the meeting, he had been unusually docile.
"Oh like you weren't out there breaking curfew planning evil attacks on our classmates." James snapped. Severus' eyes narrowed as he opened his mouth to retort.
"James, Severus." Dumbledore spoke in a warning tone, peering over his half-moon glasses, his jaw clenching when both men rolled their eyes and ignored him.
"We will be implementing our own measures to protect the students of Hogwarts." Amelia stated strongly.
"You don't think I have the ability protect my own students?" Dumbledore demanded forgetting for a moment of his audience.
"Considering a cat and a student have been attacked, and you only want to induct an earlier curfew. Yes I am doubting your ability." Amelia snapped.
"Careful with what you say next Albus." Cornelius warned gleefully, he had hated relying on the old man, but with Lucius and Dion helping him now, they would be able to prove the man was manipulative and didn't deserve power.
"Yaxley!" Amelia called as she turned around to face the group of men who had accompanied her. Lucius and Tom stepped aside as their friend and follower Corban Yaxley moved forwards, nodding respectfully to Amelia. Corban was only slightly shorter than his younger cousin Lucius, his own blonde hair also pulled back into a ponytail, but the streaks of white giving him an aged yet dignified look. His blue eyes like ice, they were colder and harder than Lucius' own, he was a dangerous man on a good day. His pregnant wife, Emma Fenwick was murdered by her two older brothers; Robbie and Benji, for the crime marrying a Death Eater and then carrying his child. He had become a frozen, bitter shell, his only purpose getting revenge. With his best friends; Antonin Dolohov, Walden Macnair, and Rodolphus Lestrange, he had tracked the brothers down. Only bits of them had ever been found.
"Headmaster." The man greeted, Dumbledore's face slowly was going red. Corban Yaxley had been a Death Eater Lieutenant in the first Wizarding War, only narrowing avoiding Azkaban.
"Yaxley, you will be contacting Mr Thomas' family and explaining the situation and giving them the option to come to the school to talk to Madame Pomfrey and visit their son."
"Surely, Dean's Head of House should be in charge of such of things." Dumbledore cried with Mcgonagall standing up with her own protests.
"Lord Yaxley has recently replaced Rufus Scrimgeour as Head Auror, I believe he has more experience with handling distraught family members." Cornelius spoke glaring at them.
"He was a Death Eater!" James shouted jumping up angrily.
"Mr Thomas is a Muggle-born, surely you can't send him to inform Muggles!" Lily cried in horror.
"Lord Yaxley was cleared of ALL charges!" Amelia snapped, her magic subconsciously amplifying her voice. She was outraged that they would try and use that against her, she was well aware of Yaxley's past. But the man had been found innocent and deemed worthy enough to work for the Ministry, moving up the ranks and was more than qualified for the job.
"Now, are you going to continue questioning the decisions of the Minister and myself or are you going to co-operate?"
…
Hermione Cassiopeia Riddle prided herself on being intelligent, rational and composed in any given scenario. With the exception of the situations her own twin brother would somehow manage to trip, flail and plummet into. He was the only one who could make her lose grip on the sanity she held close, she had long accepted that he had thrown his own sanity out the window. Hermione loved her brother dearly, but when he did things without a second thought and left her to clean-up like a house-elf, she would find herself dreaming of the day their Father would teach them the Unforgivables. The rest of the Slytherin house watched warily as she paced angrily in the middle of the common room, no-one wanting to risk her wrath turning on them. Her long dark brown curls were in disarray, made even worse when her hand went up and clenched in frustration again. Her Magic was snaking around her body in agitation. Even the older years were recoiling at her power, all thanking Merlin that they weren't the reason for her ire, the only ones still unaffected by her behavior were her friends on the couches that she was pacing between. Everyone watched with wide eyes as Theodore Halton Nott Jr, placed a Hippogriff feather in the book he had been reading, marking the page he was up to, before approaching his fearsome Soulmate. Rolling his eyes at the sharp intakes of breaths from the other students Theo placed his hand on Hermione's arm, his magic already naturally reaching out, soothing and calming Hermione's. She turned, already the tension leaving her shoulders, eyes softening, and magic relaxing.
"Mione, I know you are worried, but I am sure Hartford is perfectly okay. He can be rash and unthinking, but he knows how to look after himself." Theo whispered as he embraced her from behind, his arms wrapping around her chest, pulling the frazzled girl to rest against him.
"I will kill him myself." She swore softly, turning her head to nuzzle into Theo's shoulder.
"I know you will." Theo cooed condescendingly, causing her to relax further as she giggled.
The quiet hum of voices blending together returned when Hermione's magic calmed down from dangerous levels, conversation's picking back up from where they had left off about the newest attack. Theories flew back and forth between groups, each more wild than the last, for those in the know of who Hermione and Hartford were, also knew that the twins weren't involved, at least not directly. Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard Marcus Flint loudly declaring that bets were now being taken by Adrian, Graham, Miles and himself. The seventh year wasn't much for intelligence, at least on the surface for those who didn't know him well; he was getting Outstanding in Defense, Potions and Ancient Runes but everything else he was struggling to get Acceptable. By Magics luck he didn't really need the other subjects, he wanted to be an Unspeakable like his Father for which he only needed the three he was good in and Charms, although, who was tutoring him in Charms was a mystery to even his friends. Hermione gazed around the room in fondness. All Slytherin students were judged harshly by the other three Houses, Professors and even the outside world for being Evil and Dark, but here, inside Hogwarts, they stood together and never left one behind. She lay back on the couch, her head resting in Theo's lap, his hands carding through her hair soothingly. Daphne and Pansy were light-heartedly bickering, Luna humming a soft lullaby, Draco and Blaise accusing the other of cheating in their Chess match, the only thing missing was Harry's loud, obnoxious dramatics.
~BANG~
Everyone jumped to attention with their wands out in habitual response as they were startled out of their seats and conversations. Turning to the sound, only to see their Head of House standing in the open entrance way smirking, his own wand being lowered after gaining their attention.
"Acceptable on reflexes." He snarked causing Hermione to roll her eyes, the man truly turned everything into a lesson and never gave easy grades.
"Although the fact none of you noticed that I wasn't standing here waiting earlier is… disappointing." He drawled, his black eyes flickering over his older years as the squirmed uncomfortably under his piercing gaze.
"I am sure that you have all been informed about the reason for this sudden lock in by Mr and Miss Riddle." Severus continued, his eyes widening slightly when noticing Harry wasn't with his friends, Hermione giving him a shrug in answer.
"A student was indeed attacked. Second year, Mr Dean Thomas of Gryffindor was found Petrified." He paused to let the students quickly whisper to each other while digesting the news.
"The Ministry has had enough of Dumbledore's attitude towards these attacks and have decided to interfere. They are implementing their own rules and guidelines to keep you students safe."
"We don't need protection. Whatever is happening, has only attacked the cat of a Squib and Mudblood." A voice scoffed loudly from near the fireplace. All heads spun around, everyone wearing a look of incredulity as Severus' face darkened in anger. Seventh year student Barend Jugson was tall and built like a brick, but had no brains and was almost completely useless, his best and only friend Trevyn Gibbon was standing with him in agreement. Son's of low Death Eaters and so inbred that it was only by Magic's grace they hadn't died out with Squibs, although the newest generation wasn't far from it and that's saying something Hermione sniggered, considering her Mother was a Daughter of the infamous Black family.
"Mr Jugson and Mr Gibbon, step forward." Severus demanded silkily.
"Now, you two seem confident in your beliefs." He said, eyes roaming over them in disgust after they had stepped forward and the rest of the house settled down for the show.
"Is it possible, that you know what are causing these attacks?" Of course he knew they didn't, even knowing Tom's diary was responsible he knew that two before him didn't have the brainpower for this.
"N..No" Jugson stuttered, Severus just raised an eyebrow.
"No Sir." Jugson quickly corrected.
"So if you aren't the culprits, then how are you so sure in your safety?" He asked disdainfully.
"No Pure-blood has been attacked." Gibbon answered haughtily.
"Yet." Severus responded sharply.
"So far there has only been two attacks. The first on a cat, no matter her owners status is only an animal, which is usually the first victim for either a Sociopath. The second victim was, yes a Muggle-Born, but he was also a student who was, ALONE, close to curfew, meaning the risks of being caught were low." Severus spoke in a deadly calm voice, driving the seriousness into the students minds and hearts.
"I cannot express how cautious you must be."
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir beware." Gibbon recited.
"The Chamber of Secrets is the Legend of Salazar Slytherin. His enemies were Mudbloods and Muggles." Jugson spat trying to defend himself, unfortunately for him most of his classmates just laughed uproariously.
"It is people like you that have given Slytherin it's reputation and destroyed all Salazar's work." Hermione scathed.
"What would you know firstie." Gibbon taunted.
"Riddle ain' a Wizarding name. At best you're a dirty Half-blood." Jugson continued his friends train of thought unaware of the danger despite the looks of incredulity from some students who were also stepping back. A dark smile appeared on Hermione's young and innocent face.
"You want to say that to my Father?" She asked ruthlessly, her green eyes lighting up sadistically.
"Your Mudblood Father couldn't do anything to me." Jugson sneered.
"Is that so?" A deep voice rumbled from behind Severus.
"Hello Father." Hermione greeted with a mad exuberance. Jugson and Gibbon spun around eyes wide at the imposing man before them. He raised an eyebrow as his 'blue' eyes appraised the boys before him. Then he noticed the angry figure of Marcus Flint who had made his way over to Hermione ready to defend the Daughter of Darkness, he held in his amusement as he used his talent for Legilimens to plant a message in the irate teen's mind. With a smirk Marcus nodded respectfully before moving to stand before the man and kneeling down on one knee, head bent down.
"My Lord." He declared loudly, Adrian, Graham, Miles, and the other students who had been privy to that information knelt declaring their own loyalty. The rest of the students seemed to be in awe and shock, decorum forgotten as they stared with open mouths, Jugson and Gibbon were the worst off, looking like they were ready to pass out or just die on the spot. Tom sent the boys a burning gaze as he dropped the glamour around his eyes.
"You think you have the right to attack my Daughter?" He asked dangerously.
"N.. my Lord." Jugson stuttered in fear as he fell to a kneel.
#lies# Hermione hissed in delight.
#I am aware my dear# Tom hissed back, both enjoying as Gibbon fainted, unable to hold out at the confirmation of Parseltongue.
#CRUCIO# He snarled out, the vibrant red light unlike any other spell raced out of his outstretched hand wandlessly and hit Jugson in the centre of his chest. The Unforgivables were meant to be impossible to do wandless, yet the Dark Lord had mastered the art before he left Hogwarts. They were more powerful in Parseltongue, except for the Killing Curse, as it couldn't be more 'powerful', instead it not only hit the target faster but changed color to appear as a simple stunning spell. Jugson's screams were like nothing any of the students had heard before, sharp and high like a wand on a chalkboard, but also wrenching, pulling on every sympathetic string in those watching. He writhed around the floor, scrambling for purchase, his body bending in unnatural angles, many students would go to use the expression like Flobberworm in heat to describe it.
Thirty seconds under the curse consistently was painful.
A minute under the curse consistently was damaging short-term.
Five minutes under the curse consistently would cause some permanent physical damage.
Ten minutes under the curse consistently could destroy the mind.
Two long and harrowing minutes later Tom let up on the Curse causing Jugson to fall to the floor, only barely conscious, his eyelids fluttering and breathing sporadic. Gibbon, who had been woken from his friends screams of pain and fear, scuttled over and ran his hands helplessly over Jugson's arms. Tom just chuckled darkly causing everyone bar Hermione to shudder.
"You can't.." Gibbon started to cry in anger as he leant over Jugson, like he was shielding his body from the Monster before them.
"Oh can't I?" Tom challenged.
"You're parents swore fealty to me, their loyalty is to me, not some spawn that disrespects their Lord. they can always have a second child, they are not yet old enough to be barren. Oh but if it is the wards you are hoping will save you then you are sadly mistaken. I am the Heir of Slytherin. Anything that happens inside the castle by me will be hidden if I wished it to be."
"Our parents will not follow you once we will tell them." Gibbon shook his head in denial.
"The vow all my followers took was very specific and I am in my magical rights to punish unruly offspring as if my own." Tom smirked as both boys looked horrified. Without hesitation he turned his wand upwards causing even the hardest Slytherin's to flinch, most of them, although not stupid enough to confront the man, still only knew of the horror stories and didn't know about his, slightly, regained sanity.
"Indefinita arcana crinem" He chanted, his tongue rolling over the Latin easily, languages had always been easy for him to grasp, he suspected it had to do with the Parseltongue gift.
"Wh..What di..d yo.. You doo to uus?" Jugson stuttered out, his voice hoarse from screaming.
"Merlin you really are a moron." Gemma snickered stepping forward from where she had been soothing the first years that they weren't in danger.
"We all study Latin and French to understand spells, we are drilled this information so that when someone uses an unknown spell we can make at least an estimated guess to what it is. It is supposed to be a reflex in us to translate spells quickly as to save our lives in battle." Gemma looked disgusted at the filth on the floor.
"I bet these first years have a better grasp on Magical Theory and Spell Creation/Interpretation." The declaration was meet with laughter, surprisingly not only from the students, but Tom and Severus as well.
"Indeed. Ten points to Slytherin." Severus smirked.
"Any of the first years wish to take a guess at what My Lord's latest spell invention does?" He asked, nodding his head when Knight Regan Harper raised his hand.
"Crinem means lock in Latin, and because it is at the end of the spell then it can be assumed that it is in the context of locking in the meaning of the previous words and not in fact physical like a door."
"Impressive." Tom stated, his expression stoic as always but his eyes gleamed as he appraised the tiny first year.
"Indefinita, it is Latin for Unlimited and Indefinite so it can have a few different meanings in spell work, but paired with locking something and context of actions I would take it as unlimited and multiple." The boy continued softly, smiling and gaining confidence as The Dark Lord's eyes widened in surprise and glee.
"Arcana means mysterious usually, but in certain phrases in Latin can be used for Secret. With that information I would believe it is spell designed to keep secrets within groups unlike an Unbreakable Vow or Blood contract which can't be between more than three people."
"What's your name?" Tom demanded.
"Regan Harper My Lord." The boy answered diligently.
"Related to Cassius Harper and Elizabeth Collins?" Tom asked knowingly.
"Yes My Lord, my Grandparents."
"Hmm, A Pureblood Slytherin and Muggle-born Ravenclaw, few years below me in school." Tom revealed.
"Not surprised you have your Grandfather's spell talent and Grandmother's intelligence. You hear that Gibbon, Jugson, you are stupider than a first year whose Grandmother was one of those you insult." He taunted.
"Yes, the spell I created is used for making it impossible for groups of indefinite numbers revealing a secret to those who are not under the same spell. You will never be able to tell the Wizarding World I am back or that Hermione and Hartford Riddle are my children being raised by me. You will not be able to confide in your parents and lie about what went down here. But be assured, when I make my returned known, I will be informing them of how you disgraced their names." The shaking boys nodded their heads in fear of their situation getting worse if they spoke.
"Now, Hermione my dear, where is Hartford, he would've loved this but hasn't made his presence known."
"He took off after we were assembled here, he was worried about the red flame." Hermione spoke in a riddle as to not reveal her Brother's secret Soulmate, even with the spell protecting him, it wasn't her secret to tell.
"But I locked the entrance way!" Severus said astonished, even though he knew by now to not be surprised by the twins.
"The Slytherin common room has a Parseltongue bypass." Tom groaned. When he found his son, he may actually kill the boy.
Hey everyone! I am truly sorry this chapter took so long but it was finally finished like I promised. Things have been chaos! I went from no work to working six day weeks and Christmas is rushing up on us. I wouldn't change it for the world mind you =D I thrive in chaos. I am extremely proud of this chapter, it definitely took turns I hadn't actually planned on happening at all haha. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed finishing it. Let me know what you thought. I hope everyone who wanted more Hermione are happy too hehe it was harder than I thought it would be, but worth it. Will be having more chapters following her in future.
See you all next update my lovelies.