...
It was almost excilerating. His first true confrontation in what seemed like an eternity. Tom Riddle allowed a small smile to grace his face as he picked up the glass in front of him and took a few sips of the glimmering drink. He idly wondered how the headmaster had found out about his resurrection so soon.
"U- My Lord," Lucius's voice reverberated through the room, eliciting a look-over from the Dark Lord in question.
Tom Riddle merely turned his gaze over to his invisible Death Eater, "Yes?"
"It's not Dumbledore..." Lucius remarked, a pale look to his face. His House elf had just informed him on who exactly was waiting outside the manor.
Tom Riddle blinked, he'd almost been convinced it was. "Who is it?" He questioned as he waved a hand to remove the invisibility charms in place. Though his gaze never left Malfoy's face, he could see Nott, Avery, Crouch, Lestrange, the two Carrows and of course, Peter Pettigrew or whatever was left of him at any rate, as they slowly reappeared. His mind however lay elsewhere, in memories he'd long tried to forget... Memories that helped solidify his hate towards his true enemy. The one that had managed to leave a scar unlike any other.
He supposed it was funny, his initial instinct on meeting the man in the orphanage had been fear, for he had been the only wizard capable of truely blocking his mind, and that had terrified him as a child. For there was no greater weakness, then not knowing your enemies secrets, especially when they knew all of his.
...
Tom Riddle, first year in Slytherin, trudged back towards the library, a satisfied look to his face. He idly hid away from sight as he walked on past the bewildered library keeper. He eyed the huge stacked up shelves with a grimace before shaking his head and looking head on.
It took him a few hours to go through what amounted to a small shelf in the huge library but even then, he could tell with how often the other pureblood families tended to be mentioned, some even had their own books named after them, he instincts knew that he would not find anything belonging to Riddle. But that didn't mean he was going to stop trying, far from it.
"Up late again, Tom?"
A somehow kind and cold voice echoed out the silenced room.
Tom blinked as he slowly turned around towards the source of the noise before holding back a flinch as Dumbledore came into view, a massive lamp in his hands. His hair, for once, seemingly held itself in place. He blinked at the sight, finding something odd about it...
Dumbledore smiled, perhaps that was it, at him before asking him a question that would send him for a loop.
"Searching for your own family name no doubt?"
Tom froze, his eyes somewhat widening as anger clouded his mind. He could read him like an open book and yet he had no such advantage!
"Have you found anything?"
Tom blinked at the question, his anger surprisingly somewhat abated, before morosely shaking his head.
Something seemed to gleam in the man's eyes as he asked him, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Does it matter?"
Tom blinked once again completely bewildered as he stared at the man before slowly shaking his head.
"Tom, would you like to hear a story?" The man questioned, the gleam ever present as he slowly reached into his robes and produced a wand. A wand that seemed to entrance him on sight.
"What about?" He questioned immediately, his eyes locked onto the man's wand.
"The Elder Wand,"
...
The, currently old, man had always been strange. For the very next day he could remember asking him about the very same wand and all he'd receive would be a glare... It had gone on for years, the cat and mouse game they seemingly played. Dumbledore would on one hand practically hand to him the chamber of secrets, before threatening to expel him if he ever opened it again. And as he stared at Pettigrews unnaturally white face, he felt glad he never told the man everything.
It daunted him, particular now as he hopefully wasn't, insane anymore. How could the man.. Why even?
He remembered his final year at Hogwarts rather well. The pain staking plans. The Revolutions promised. The Greater Good the ministry could've had... And yet his first opposition had been him! Seven years they planned in secret and in the end he could finally see why! To paint him as the monster!
He could not fathom what the man was thinking.
"It's a student... The future Lord-" Lucius seemed to stammer as he turned a look towards Bellatrix Lestrange, "Lestrange-"
"A Student?" Tom riddle questioned bemused, "Shouldn't they be in school at the moment?"
"Uh- well, this particular one-" Barty started only to get interrupted as his lord spoke over him.
"Inform the castle,"
"My lord there's really no-"
"Inform the castle! Salazar can you be more of an idiot?" Tom Riddle questioned in a clipped tone as he stared at the blond man. who seemed to be on the brink of a panic attack.
"IF anything happens to said student on your grounds Malfoy what exactly do you think would happen next? Whilst I am currently recovering?"
The man atleast had the grace to flush at the words.
"Oh... You really shouldn't have said that..." A dark chuckle seemed to reverberate through the open doors.
Tom Riddle blinked as he slowly turned towards the student lazily leaning against the front door... When did he get there... Malfoy should've noticed him entering the Manor... I should've... And when his gaze finally landed on the boys yellow eyes, something seemed to click in his mind. What? He wasn't sure.
"You must be Lord Lestrange,"
Rodrick raised a single eyebrow at the word.
"Yes, I can definitely feel that don't worry," Tom added on with a small smile. "It's amusing, truly," The man remarked, earning a snort from one of his follows, before he ceremoniously covered the entire manor in bloodlust.
The student seemed to take the hint well enough as he pulled himself off the door, his hands in his pocket, posture straight, as he decided to forego courtesy and simply glare at him.
"Why don't you take a seat, I confess I know almost nothing-
"See you got you're Horcrux back, how'd you like my changes to it?" Rodrick questioned the moment he eyed Peter Pettigrews crumpled form. The man was white as a ghost, a permanenty etched scowl on his face, little droplets of blood coming out of his mouth. His eyes never moving.
Tom riddle graciously shattered the glass in his hand.
"Riveting," He answered dispattionetly as he offered the student the seat opposite him. Apparently it wasn't just any student...
...
...
Tom kept his face passive as he watched the student take, slow mechanical, steps towards the intended seat, his followers still, though their faces showed off a myriad of different reactions. Bellatrix, the one to his left seemed to have mild shock, a tad hint of fear? And something else he couldn't discern colouring her face at the... Student's proclamation. He needed to keep reminding himself of the fact, attacking children, particular pureblood ones in this day and age was an easy ticket to escalating, frankly, everything. Both good and bad, and he wasn't ready for that.
"Respira," The word almost escaped their notice as the boy, rather loudly, took his seat. An indifferent look to his face. As if he hadn't just used a, admittedly unknown, spell in a room full of nobles.
He found it rather odd that his followers seemed to accept it without a word.
"What was that?" One of the Carrows snarled, her hand brandishing a wand in a flick.
Almost all of them... And then it hit him.
Their children...
Tom's face showed no minute change, though inside, his mind switched itself on fully as he eyed the other in front of him. The boy evidently didn't seem to care about anyone else as he ignored the rather irritated noble.
"Lord Lestrange," Lucius started from his right, "It seems you have caught everyone here off..."
Lucius words drifted off, Tom's focus ahead of him as he watched the boy use a non-verbal invisibility charm... Though for what? He couldn't see. He wondered if it had something to do with the spell he'd used earlier. He'd never heard of such a spell before. He blinked, his gaze minutely tilting as he wondered why the boy seemed to reek of magic...
Magic of all kind, seemed to emanate from the boy.
He had no doubt then and there... This cursed boy likely held the strongest piece in the board.
It would certainly explain the casual way he entered a Lord's manor. Without invitation. Why almost none of his followers seemed to have a backbone in his presence. Lucius was practically unable to communicate in the child's presence!
After all, what else can one do but look away when their children live and learn with a wand under their necks... Honestly, if the headmaster had ever considered using the noble children as bargaining chips, he probably would've never had a chance.
This might not be as easy as he thought it'd be... Considering this one didn't seem to share that same weakness.
"I am talking to you, you uncultured swin-"
"It's a spell my Grandfather spent months working on, call it my good luck charm," He stated lazily. His face not showing any emotion as he eyed each of them. With most of them trying to sit as close as they dared to their Lord, it meant the boy had them all within sight.
The words, odd as they were, still sent a chill around the room.
Tom wanted... No, he needed to know why... He was missing something... Something important. While Nott, Avery and Malfoy were excused, Barty and Bellatrix on the other hand, he couldn't process. They were acting far out of the ordinary, the Bellatrix he knew would've cruicio'd the boy for even speaking, and yet she simply fretted! Fretted!
Barty's silence on the other hand? That was a red flag all on it's own.
"That doesn't-" Carrow made to reply, a spell to teach the brat some respect on her tongue before she felt dread race up her spine.
"Enough," Tom's voice silenced the woman as the boy minutely straightened his posture.
His face as blank as ever.
"Lord Lestrange I believe? It seems you have me at a disadvantage. Though I was hoping you could expand on..." He mildly twirled a finger around over, his glass quickly put itself back together, as he finished pointing said finger over towards Pettigrews. "Our mutual friend here,"
"Sure," Rodrick shrugged, "Hell, while we're at it, why don't you tell me how many Horcrux's you made, and I'll tell you how many I've evicted," He statedpassively.
He was taunting him... But for what? Judging by the calm facade in front of him, the boy definitely knew some measure of occulemency... Did he truly believe he could stop him? And then he noticed it, the discomfort emanating out of his own followers... Right... Noble's weren't big fans of soul blenders. It was going to take a while to get back to full.
"Are you saying you've destroyed more then one already?"
"Are you saying you have more then one?"
"You're not been entirely welcoming, and here I was under the impression all Pureblood children were taught some semblance of respect," Tom remarked.
"Yes well, I unfortunately didn't have that option considering you killed both of them,"
Tom blinked.
Well.
This was going to be a problem.
And as he took in the far too familiar necklace, he'd seen Dumbledore wear it a few times when he deigned to treat him like every other student instead of a delusional dark wizard on the brink of insanity, surrounding the boys neck. Tom mentally nodded.
This was going to be a very big problem.
Dumbledore finally had a dark wizard on his side.
Salazar make him as a competent as Avery... He thought morosely. It seems the old man actually accepted this one if he gave him his own necklace.
"Nothing to say?" Rodrick questioned, hints of emotion peaking through his face.
And then it occurred to him, a satisfied smile quickly growing on his face in the process. "I am afraid the old man lied to you,"
Rodrick blinked, "Did he now? What about?" He questioned passively.
"Your status, I'd remember killing a Lestrange,"
Rodrick stared at him and the words, "I see," He remarked easily. "Say, you ever wonder what happened to Slytherin's locket?"
Tom narrowed his eyes as he sought the child's, hitting whatever meagre forces the boy thought would protect his mind with as much as he could throw at him.
And then something strange happened. For just behind the brat's head, nanoseconds before the attack could even go through, he saw it.
A dozen, small, metallic? Runes filled the air for a second, each a different letter as they spelled out the incantation for... A spell he couldn't seem to completely make out.
And then his mental attack landed.
...
Respira, the third spell his grandfather had deigned to teach him once he'd started taking runes. He watched as a tangent of it's full power showcased itself in the forms of the metallic runes, quickly spelling out the incantation for the legilimens spell, watching as the shield surrounding his mind bounced back the Dark Lord's mental attack and, thanks to his grandfather's wonderful spell, connected each of the dark lord's followers sans Malfoy to the man himself. He felt he owed the poor man that much. He looked he'd aged a decade within a day...
Overall, it didn't really do much beside show them they're worst nightmares for a moment, a moment evidently not even long enough to throw a quick Killing curse or two as he watched the Dark Lord's face showcase emotions for a moment before quickly hiding behind his mask.
All the same, it had given him barely enough time to truly set up Respira. Without anyone noticing, Malfoy seemed taken back at the sudden gasps and mild shrieks though everyone came back fast enough... Besides Avery who seemed to be on the verge of tears...
He settled back into his seat, his calm blank expression back as he watched the Dark Lord barely hold his own in control. Though the sickeningly sweet smile seemed oddly ominous, if he was honest. Truly though, he wasn't entirely too worried, given he'd taken a drink of his Apparating potion just before entering the manor. He could escape at any moment he deemed it too dangerous.
...
...
Though of course, the calm wouldn't last. If anything... It only served to irritate him all the more as he regarded the dark lord's expression, a scowl filling his own as he barely held his Transfiguration together, the metallic runes conjured by his Respira in the background already hidden to the eye. The various nobles around him stirring back with, dazed, some horrified, expressions on their faces, all with the exception of Malfoy who seemed to shift uncomfortably on his seat, which was odd given he hadn't been hit by his shield.
And It wasn't like he was going to kill his own friend's dad...
Malfoy had to know that...
"As I said," Rodrick snapped his attention towards the dark lord, "I'd remember killing a Lestrange."
Anger quickly stirred as he resisted the urge to apparate behind the man. He'd much rather leave the Killing curse as a last resort. That spell has yet, even after all these years, proved to work a single time. He'd much rather settle for a more reliable way. He steady his breath, his gaze set on the man across him.
"Either Dumbledore misinformed you, or-"
"Lenora Grace," He suddenly stated, catching the man off-guard. His eyes minutely widened at the name. "Ring any bells?"
...
Tom's posture minutely stiffened at the name as he stared at the wizard before him. Lenora Grace did in fact ring a few bells. He definitely remembered killing her.
Damn it. He couldn't help the thought, his past evidently was already trying to catch up to him. Though even he couldn't hide his own surprise at the similarities between him and the child before him.
Tom readily fixed his expression as he summoned another goblet, the cup filling quickly as it flew across. The boy didn't so much as blink as he gave him a rather unnerving stare-
Tom's own eyes quickly widened as another question came to the forefront of his mind.
"Does that not make you a half-blood?" He questioned, his words however, to his own frustration didn't so much as make the other wizard twitch- Which meant he truly was a pureblood. Only... Tom knew the names of all the Pureblood families like the back of his hand... Grace wasn't one of them...
Was he simply delusional of the fact? He could certainly understand that- His mother obviously changed her name... He was surprised at how long it had taken him to come to the obvious answer. When he fixed the boy with his gaze, he was surprised to find narrowed eyes staring at him.
"Ah... She was truly a Lestrange then-" Tom eyed the sudden stunner from the boy with a passive expression, watching as it hit the male Carrow on the chin, the man's body snapping back onto his chair with a grunt.
"Remarkable speed!" Tom remarked with a hint of approval as he eyed the Slytherin before him. A good part of him always appreciated nice spell work. Was it any wonder most of his chosen lieutenants were allowed their eccentricities? If not for their ability he would've long gotten rid of such cackling idiots.
...
Rodrick quickly hid his wand arm back inside his sleeve, his gaze locked with the dark lord as he released a sigh, a seemingly never ending chuckle coming out, his shoulders shuddering the slightest as it grew in volume. It was honestly... Hilarious. This had been what he was most worried about? This singular meeting had kept him up all those nights? Those months filled with nightmares?
This had been the thing that would've taken his grandfather from him?
Absolutely. Hilarious!
He'd spent sleepless nights improving himself... All with the single minded determination to destroy the man before him... And why? Because he thought he would come after him... To finish the job he started... And yet here he was and the bastard didn't even seem to care.
And he likely didn't... Because he was not Harry Potter-
His laughter quickly stilled itself as a lost expression slowly found it's way onto his face. Even if the dark lord was willing to ignore him... He wouldn't ignore Harry Potter.
"You know," Rodrick started, his gaze slowly lowering itself towards the bemused dark wizard before him. "I've always wondered..." A small smile slowly found it's way onto his face.
Tom narrowed his eyes the slig-
"How'd you lose to a baby?"
A tense cloud of killing intent filled the room at the words as those with the dark mark quickly winced from the sudden pain coursing through them. Though Malfoy looked far worse off for whatever reason.
"...That is none of your concern," Tom remarked through grit teeth. "I'd be careful not to overstep yourself Lestrange,"
"... That doesn't answer my question, but if you want another one... What do you plan to do with Harry Potter?"
...
Tom's eyes narrowed quickly at the name as his mind briefly remembered the fact this boy was likely working with Dumbledore... Which meant he was likely to be working with Ha-
He cursed at his luck. The Slytherin before him was practically born to go against him... As if Fate itself saw to it!
...
Barty eyed Malfoy with a raised eyebrow, the man had sweat pouring down his face. "What's with you?" He questioned gruffly, the silencing charm doing it's job to their benefit for once.
"Something... Something bad is coming... I don't know what it is but the Manor... It's... the wards are being strained for some reason..." Malfoy remarked with another wince as his eyes blinked rapidly.
Barty narrowed his eyes, his gaze rapidly setting on Grindelwald, his mind immediately wondering if he had something to do with it... The earlier attack on their minds still had him reeling from it's effects, especially considering he could only hear one voice, rather than the usual four, at the moment.
Bellatrix's for that matter.
Not to say it was any better then usual. Given the fact the grown woman was, quite literally, counting sheep. Because she knew he could hear her.
Still, Bellatrix's sanity issues aside... His mind focused back on the brat, his eyes rapidly looking for any signs of anything remotely off.
Oh grow a pair! Honestly what is it with grown wizards and their inane fear of children!?
Barty did not internally sigh.
"Suck it up, we all have our demons," He deadpanned, having completely forgetten the topic of conversation, earning an affronted look from the blonde.
...
...
...
Author Notes: Hope you enjoyed! Don't forget feedback!
This extra is part of canon and set at some point before the first task. I just never really had the oppertunity to put it in.
...
Rodrick eyed the strange concoction on the table with a certain amount of glee, though his attention was focused on the professor mechanically failing Gryffindor papers, giving some barely a glance before his face creased the slightest.
It was getting exceedingly difficult for the teenager to notice the sudden changes.
"Do you have any idea why you are here," The man promptly inked the quill in hand. "Mr Grindelwald?" Snape asked, barely sparing him a glance as he burnt one, frankly, nightmarishly wrong piece of parchment.
Still, it was odd of the man to question him when he'd summoned him in the first place. He still wasn't quite sure what his professor expected him to say... Which only really left him with the rather obvious choice...
"Not really sure, none of my years been called up today," He shrugged honestly, his eyes back on the strange potion. His magical sight coming in handy as it showed him more then what generally met the eye? Was that the phrase?
"Oh? Are you telling me you know who has and who hasn't been called to my office today?" The man drawled, his voice passive as his eye twitched as it read through Harry Potter's homework.
He's really making this too easy... The boy frowned, his attention back on the professor, at the question.
"All of the fifth years-" Rodrick started, somewhat pleased to see the man twitch... Though given what he was reading... "Seven sixth years-" Ah, another twitch. "And one seventh year,"
Snape slapped the parchment on the table, took in a deep breath and turned towards him.
"I-"
And Rodrick frankly couldn't help himself.
"Doesn't that ruin your prestine no lost Seventh years rule?" Rodrick asked, the picture of innocence on his face.
...
Snape simply stared at him before narrowing his eyes the slightest as he simply raised his wand, earning a wide-eyed look from Rodrick, though the boy seemed frozen for what ever reason. "I am afraid it will be rather difficult to have a serious talk, as it were." He drawled, raising his wand in a quick motion, a quiet revelio, though the boy heard all the same, leaving his lips.
Rodrick blinked once, before he schooled his expression, though for whatever reason... Snape felt an urge to utterly throttle the brat because he looked bored, almost sad that...
"... Don't get my hopes up like that, could've just asked..." The boy had the nerve to whisper, knowingly letting him hear the words.
Snape at the end of it all simply sighed knowing, full well, that he was going to be dealing with this kind of, if not worse, behaviour from the Slytherin in front of him for the next four years... He supposed this was why the headmaster had insisted on the conversation happening now...
"Have you given your future any thought?" Snape finally questioned, earning a look of surprise from the boy, his real face, thankfully doing a much better job at showing off his emotions...
When the small grin started growing, Snape found himself regretting the revelio. The regret piling the moment he saw the gleam that entered the boy's eyes.
"A little early for this, no? Professor?" Rodrick Grindelwald questioned him, a glint in his eye, a small smile on his face as he tilted his head the slightest.
Yes... Snape regarded the boy in front of him. Definitely headed there.
"Perhaps I shall have to simply put down Azkaban," Snape remarked entirely indifferent.
The boy blinked once, briefly caught off-guard, though unfortunately Snape's delayed realisation quickly drew another sigh out of him.
"Phoenix~" The boy sing-songed without a care, the amused expression only irritating him all the more.
"You may leave," Snape remarked.
Rodrick blinked at the response, somewhat taken back. "Uh, I was kidding?" He remarked sheepishly
"Rodrick, vacate my office," Snape ground out.
"Professor?" Rodrick insisted, somewhat wary.
Snape sighed again before simply picking up Harry Potter's work, a twitch on his own face. "You've been helping him with his homework," He stated.
Rodrick blinked again.
"I help everyone professor," The boy deadpanned.
Snape simply closed his eyes, the headache forming already, before simply pointing towards the door. His mind processing the words as it referenced some of the atrocities he'd witnessed written by the younger years...
"I still wanna know what the potion is."
"Rodrick."
"Don't make me try and figure it out by myself, I'll do it, but it ain't gonna be pretty," Rodrick shrugged, a smile on his face.
"Who exactly are you trying to threaten there?" Snape eventually questioned, somewhat curious at what ran through the boys head, the headache surprisingly enough dwindling down-
"Everyone?"
Snape kicked him out for that one.
McGonogall can have her go.
He needed a break.
...