The true identity of You-Know-Who confirmed!
By Elliot Mickelson.
Ever since the notorious trial of Lord Sirius Orion Black and Peter Pettigrew, this reporter has been tasked with answering one question and one question alone Who is Tom Riddle?
During the trial, it became known that Tom Riddle's wand was on the possession of Petter Pettigrew and the last three spells to be used were all killing curses. It is believed each curse was for a different Potter. The foremost expert on wand lore in the country, Garrick Olivander, had this to say on the matter: "Yew wood and Pheonix feater, thirteen and a half inches. Yes, that is The Dark Lords wand."
So there we have it. You-Know-Who's real name is Tom Riddle, but is that it? I didn't think so. So I kept digging. Where did the name come from? Why did he become a dark lord? Was he always so vile? Upon looking through the ministry records I found that his full name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, he was born on 31st December 1926. Tom Marvolo Riddle's mother is Merope Gaunt so there is truth to his claim of being the heir of Salazar Slytherin. But not to his claim of being a pureblood is false! His father was a muggle, also called Tom Riddle!
Now, this is the part that took so long. due to losing their manner and most of their money and members in a blood feud against the Potters over 500 years ago after their heir was killed during the attempted rape of a Potter daughter through the imperious curse, they eventually found themselves forced to live in a small run-down cottage in Little Hangleton. Upon arriving I found the place heavily warded and had to wait for a curse-breaker to be hired.
In the meantime, I researched the final fates of the Riddle's and the Gaunt's. Tom Riddle Snr was reported to have had a runaway marriage with Merope Gaunt, only return months later with his wife nowhere in sight. From what I been able to glean from his journal, I suspect love potions were at play and strong ones at that. It would also explain the dark lord's lack of compassion as a child conceived under a love potion suffers mental disabilities and the severity depends on the strength of the potion. Tom Riddle Snr and his parents were murdered sometime in August 1943 by the killing curse and Morfin Gaunt (Merlop's brother) was charged for the crime.
Was the future dark lord responsible? Possibly. And it wouldn't be the first time either if I am correct. Earlier on in the year, Hogwarts was terrorized with the reopening of the chamber of secrets. Ultimately resulting in the untimely death of a muggle-born witch called Myrtle Warren, almost causing the school to close. But this was stopped as Tom Marvolo Riddle suppose caught the one responsible. A Rubius Hagrid and his pet baby acromantula. But if it was the acromantula wouldn't there be a bite on the body and venom in her veins?
No, my dear readers, I suspect the feature dark lord was responsible. I would not trust the word of a so-called man that claims he supports the pure-blood agenda, turns out to be a half-blood and is responsible for the extinction of multiple houses.
Soon after I finished compiling all my research, I received word from the curse breaker that had been dispatched that he had removed all the security precautions on the building as well as what it was protecting. When I asked about this mysterious object, they responded that it was too dark and too dangerous to talk about and left, after asking me to keep them anonymous.
The cottage was a rundown decaying mess. I discovered some journals that were bearly legible and a brewing station with a book opened on the instructions to create Amortentia. The most powerful known love potion and has been outlawed for the past 300 years.
And last but not least let's discuss the name dear readers. If you rearrange the letters in the name TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE you get I AM LORD VOLDEMORT. But what does that name mean? Well, it turns out that is a combination of three french words. Vol, de, and mort, which translates to "flight of death". No wonder why the French didn't fear him.
*For more information on You-Know-Who's turn to page 2
*For more information on the death eaters turn to page 5
Harry lowered the copy of The Daily Prophet as he processed all this information. "Well shit." Was all he could think on the matter. He was sat at the Hufflepuff table this morning, deciding it would be a good idea to spend some time with his betrothed. He began to feel a stinging sensation coming for the scar on his forehead. The pain was rapidly increasing. Harry hissed in pain and held his scar.
"Are you okay Harry?" A concerned Susan asked from next to him. Hannah from Susan's other side also looked at Harry with concern
"I'm fine. Just need a pain potion." Harry answered giving them a quick smile before he stood up and headed off to the infirmary. He made it out of sight of the great hall before the pain became so severe that he had to stagger over to a wall to support himself. He took a few deep breaths before he began to push himself along.
(How dear they!)
"What?"
(I kept that buried for a reason!)
"What!?"
(This, Mickelson will pay! I will make them beg for me to end their pathetic life!)
Harry felt so much pain and so much anger. It felt like someone was invading his mind but not at the same time. In his experience, mind-probes were precise like a scalpel. But this felt like the frantic bashing of a hammer! Harry felt himself being pulled in, despite his attempts to stop it with occlumency. Harry began to collapse but managed to fire off red sparks before it all turned black.
Later.
Harry's eyes fluttered open as reawakened. He lied there in silence as he put everything together. Looking at the row of identical beds next to him, he guessed someone brought him to the hospital wing. He pushed himself up into a sitting position to get a better look at his surroundings. He was definitely in the hospital wing.
"Harry!" A familiar feminine voice calls out before he is pulled into a tight embrace.
Harry wraps his arms around the redhead before speaking. "What are you doing here Susie?" There was no accusation in his tone, just genuine curiosity.
"I felt my betrothal ring heat so I rushed to find you. I just came round the corner when you shot off red sparks and passed out. I was so worried." Susan's tone grew somber as she spoke.
Harry gave Susan a quick squeeze to help reassure her. "I'm fine Susie. I'm still here." He reassured her in low voice.
"Are you!? Can you promise me that it won't happen again!?" Sudan retorted hotly.
"I'm still here Susie. We'll figure it out." Harry tried to placate. "Has Amelia been told yet?"
"Now why we would need to do that Harry?" Dumbledore asked from behind them, causing the pair to jump apart.
"Dick." Harry thought before raising his occlumency shields. "She is my guardian now, headmaster master. I think passing out for an unknown reason would be worth notifying her." He replied coldly.
"Ah, but you suspect something don't you Harry?" Dumbledore responded with a knowing smile.
"Son of a bitch." "I'm... I'm not really sure. I think someone's going to attack that Mickelson." Harry answered with a false uncertainty.
"Perhaps. But I am sure it is nothing. Rest now my boy. You have had a eventful morning.." With that Dumbledore left the infirmary.
"What was that about?" Susan questioned.
"He knows something." Was Harry's answer as he glared at the entrance to the hospital wing.
"Harry!" Sirius called as came rushing out of Poppy's office with ash falling off of him. Sirius crouched next to Susan so he was eye level with the pair. "You ok Pup?"
"My scar started hurting really bad and heard a voice. They were really made at that Mickelson guy." Harry answered.
"Any idea who Pup?" Sirius questioned.
"It sounded like it was Voldemort." Susan gasped and Sirius began to go pale at Harry's answer.
"That can't be possible! But I'm looking at someone who's walked away from a killing curse. No one really knows what happened that night." All these thoughts were whirling around in Sirius' head but something else needed asking first. "What makes you think that Pup?"
"The voice I heard said he was responsible for burring Voldemort's real name," Harry answered.
Sirius hummed as he contemplated what Harry had told him. "Either way, it might be good if old Mad-eye stops by for tea with Michelson. If anyone will agree with your hunch, it'll be him." Sirius stood up to leave. "I best be going. Looks like Poppy's gonna give you another look. Take you two."
"Bye Sirius." Both Harry and Susan responded. Sirius just waved behind him as he walked to Poppy's floo. None of them knew about the listening charm Dumbledore had placed o the bed when no one was looking.
That evening.
Elliot Michelson returned home with a smile. He had been told that today's sales would see that he be receiving a bonus thanks to the increase in sales of today's copy. Elliot Michelson was a man in his late twenties but looked like he was just entering them. His short hair was a light brown, although his goatee was a bit darker. He was smaller than most men and had green eyes. He was a half-blood as had all the previous generations of Michelsons. They always wound up marrying Muggleborns or other half-bloods.
He had a older brother by 2 years and a younger sister by 3 years. Then there was his 7-year-old daughter. Her mother had died shortly after her birth. Elliot had thrown himself in his job and raising his daughter ever since. He was a Ravenclaw during his time at Hogwarts, but not for his spell work, which was below average, but for his ability to research and process information, which helped him endlessly with his job at The Daily Prophit. He was handed the more time-consuming stories that couldn't be done overnight. Opposed to Rita who would just write whatever caught her fancy.
A loud knock came from the front door of the attached two-bedroom house. He could afford better, but he didn't need it and was saving the money for his daughter's Hogwarts tuition ad the occasional treat for her.
He opened the door and he came face to face with his expected gust. "Master Auror Moody." He gasped.
"You need better wards lad." Was all Moody said before letting himself in.
"Iiii, actually don't have any," Elliot responded awkwardly.
Moody whirled around and looked at Elliot as if he was brain dead. "Are Serious!? Someone could just apparate in kill you both in your sleep!" He barked.
"We've needed them before and the would mess with the nearby electrics!" Elliot tried to argue.
"You just made a fool of every Death Eater there is and your location is on public records," Moody growled. "Do you think you need them now?"
"Daddy." A small female voice called from behind the grizzled old Auror. Alastor turned around and saw a small girl with shoulder-length brown hair and blue looked up at them. "Daddy who is that?" She asked while pointing at him.
"I be Alaster Mooy Lass." He answered as his false whirled around. "Who might you be?" He already knew but it's polite to ask.
"I'm Jessica. Jessica Mickelson." The girl answered. Jessica then chuckled. "You talk like a pirate."
"Aye," Alaster responded, causing the girl to giggle. Alastor felt someone hit the anti-apparition ward he placed outside and without a word raised a shield against the door.
BOOM!
The door was blown to pieces and Jessica screamed in fear. The splinters bounced off Alastor's shield and he immediately pushed past Elliot and went on the attack. Alastor rapidly fired curse after curse at the cloaked aggressor. "Get your daughter and go!" He growled without taking his eyes off his target.
Elliot rushed over to his daughter from where he had fallen to the floor and grabbed her to apparate out. Nothing. "They've got wards up!"
"Head out the back. I'll cover!"
Elliot picked up his daughter and heads for the backdoor while taking his wand out of his trouser pocket. He points his wand at the door. "Alohomora." He called as he flicked his wand to the side causing the door to open.
Alastor slowly followed them slowly, as he kept the aggressor at bay. "Avada Kedavra!" The opponent yelled as an apparition crack came from behind the Auror. After finding a break in Alastor's spellfire. Alastor sidestepped the killing curse and banged his staff on the ground, sending vibrations across the ground causing the enemy to stagger. See that the battle was lost the hooded figure apparated away.
Moody instantly started scanning his surroundings as he walked into the house. He had to wipe a few muggles memories before he left to find Elliot.
Later.
It was now 1 am at the Auror office, and Amelia had just finished viewing the memory of the attack that Moody had given her. "I get the feeling that a Death Eater would wear the mask and robes. What do you think?" Amelia asked, not looking away from her pensieve.
"I agreed, the basterds love to play dress up. It's not some random fanatic either. They were to quiet."
"Do you think Harry could be right?" Amelia asked. Even the thought of Voldemort being alive filled her with dread. He had taken almost everything from her. She couldn't afford to lose more.
"It was definitely his style but not his skill. Position maybe? It's definitely a male from the voice, but I doubt it's naturally that scratchy." Alastor answered.
Amelia sighed. "Write your report and then go home Alastor." The old Auror nodded and left the office. Amelia collapsed into her chair and sighed. Her desk only held 5 pictures. The first was a photo of her family before the blood war truly kicked off. The next showed her holding a baby Susan who had been born moment earlier. After that was a photo of her James and other posing in their Auror robes with wands in hand. Then there was one of her and Sirius holding each other, facing the camera. The final photo was also the only one to of been take in recent years. It was taken on Christmas day and show Harry and Susan stod in front herself and Sirius with a Christmas tree in the background. All of them were wearing dressing gowns covering their sleepwear and smiling. Amelia smiled back at the photo. She had to fight. She couldn't lose her family again.
Valentine's day.
Harry walked into the great hall using his occlumency to contain his nerves. During their last talk, Andromeda noticed that there was something he wanted to say to her. When she asked him about it, he confessed he didn't know what to do, so Andromeda gave him a bit of advice. In his hands was a heart-shaped box, an envelope and a red rose on top. He saw his target. He walked down the Hufflepuff puff table until he was behind his betrothed. "Susan." He called. Susan turned around and gasped one she saw what Harry was holding. "Happy Valentine's Sussan." Harry smiled shyly as he offered her the gift.
"Thank you Harry!" Susan smiled as she placed her gifts on the table and taking his out of her bag. "And happy Valentine's to you as well." Susan had gotten Harry a card and four chocolate frogs. They both hugged one another and Susan gave Harry a kiss on the cheek. "Would you like to sit down?" Susan asked with a smile as she patted the spot next to her.
Harry could only nod as he remotely sat down. A few Hufflepuffs chuckled at Harry's red face and stupid smile. Soon valentine's cards were being delivered throughout the hall. At least one card and a rose was sent to; Daphne, Tracy, Lillian, Hannah, Padma, Su, and Hermione. Thet all read To **** Happy Valentine's day! From Harry." Each of the girls hugged Harry in thanks. Tracey tried to squeeze the life out of him.
"Look out firsties! ..."
" ... Potter's after all you witches!" The Weasly twins shouted, causing laughter to erupt throughout the hall.
Meanwhile with Dumbledore.
Albus watched as the students filtered out of the great hall to go to their first lesson of the day. Something was wrong. He had received no word from inside Harry's group that he was plotting against him, or from his letters. And using the contract to allow Amelia to gain guardianship might just be happenstance, but he felt like there was more going on than he knew of. Sirius' suggestion to go straight to Alastor about the suspected attack being a key piece in this unknown puzzle. Fate was truly testing him.
Then there was Harry himself. At the start of the year, he was highly confrontational and aggressive. Now he simply responded to insult with a snarky reply and he seemed to smile more. Someone doesn't simply change as Harry had. Not by themselves and not with the help of a child. If he had asked the group for help with his mental state he would have found out. It had to be a mask. Just like Tom Riddle did.
Perhaps Petunia could shed some light on the boy's actions. With his mind made up, Albus left the great hall and headed to his office. Upon arriving at the office, he grabbed a fistful of floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. "Figg's house."
The face of an elderly woman appeared in the flames. "Albus? What can I help you with?" The woman asks.
"I wish to come through and have a word with Petunia, Arabella." Dumbledore calmly answered. "May I come through?"
"Of course Albus. She has today off." Arabella answered. Her vanished from the green flames and Albus stepped through.
"Thank you, Arabella." The headmaster smiled before he apparated from her house to the Dursleys. He arrived in the living room and was greeted by screaming. He didn't have time for this. He pointed his wand at Petuna. "Imperio." Within an instant the woman was silent. "Tell me about Harry Potter's life here."
Later.
Dumbledore was disturbed at what he had heard. He knew of Vernon's disappearance, but he never suspected Harry of killing him. It appeared to have been in self-defense, but this was apparently the start of Harry's aggression. He needed to find out if he had gone truly dark. The best way would be to set him on the trail of the supposed philosophers stone, but he had shown no interest in returning after his run-in with the Cerberus. It looks like he'll need a more direct nudge to find out where his heart truly lies.