So, the story is going to be split into two parts. There are going to be two 'books' for lack of a better work, Light and Dark. The story starts of pretty light and idealistic but it will gradually descended into darker and darker places. The world is not sunshine and rainbows and our characters will learn about it soon enough. Starting with Year 2 (this chapter) there will be decently significant departures from the books. Lucius is not a Death Eater in the universe of the Krypteia Order so the sequence of events that results in the books is impossible in this story. This might also be my last chapter for a bit as I am falling behind on the dissertation so I'll have to get caught up with that before working on Year 3. Without further ado: Year 2.
"Harry… Potter…"
"Who are you?" asked Harry as he glanced around. It was dark and he couldn't remember where he was or how he got there.
"I'm a friend," came the smooth voice from further on in the darkness.
"If you were a friend you would show yourself." Said Harry uneasily. This felt wrong. Whatever was happening, he was certainly out of his depth.
"Don't be like that Harry," said the man as he strode forwards just enough so Harry could make out his features. He was a strikingly handsome man around 17 or 18 years old. His parted wavy hair framed high cheekbones and dark eyes that smoldered with equal parts brilliance and ambition. His lips curled up in an easy smirk as he raised an eyebrow. "I just wanted to talk."
"Who are you?" Repeated Harry nervously as he hesitantly backed away. His instincts screamed for him to run. This man radiated the aura of a powerful and lithe predator circling its prey.
"My name's Tom. Don't worry I'm a friend… I just wanted us to have a chat."
"If you were really a friend you wouldn't have kidnapped me. Where are we, how did we get here?" accused Harry as the grin on Tom's face widened.
"I've done nothing of the sort Harry. This is happening in your mind. I would never 'kidnap' you, as you put it." Said Tom with a laugh.
"How did you get inside my head then?" asked Harry still suspicious.
"I've been here all along Harry. I've been here since that night with your parents. Which I am sorry about by the way." Said Tom with a hint of genuine remorse in his voice.
"V – Voldemort?" asked Harry with a mixture of horror, fear, and revulsion.
"That's me. Before I became Voldemort, my name was Tom Marvolo Riddle. When the killing curse rebounded on me that night, a part of me was bound to you. The two of us are bound together now, inseparable." Explained Tom.
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Harry.
"Because no one will believe you if you tell them. Ron, Draco, Hermione? None of them will understand. Dumbledore might but he might take it the wrong way and think you are a horcrux, which would be bad for both of us. I'm also telling you because you have a penchant for reckless self‑sacrifice and if you die, I die. So, I'd rather not die Harry." Answered Tom in a sarcastic manner.
"What's a horcrux?"
"Powerful dark magic. You bind a piece of your soul in an object or person and if the horcux survives, you never truly die. It's a way to escape death, partial immortality." Said Tom casually, giving Harry the short version as he blanched.
"But I'm not a horcrux?" asked Harry. Tom sighed.
"No Harry. If you were a horcrux, killing you the first time would strip away the part of me bound to you and you would likely be alive." Said Tom and before Harry could interrupt, he quickly continued. "HOWEVER, if I am correct; and me being one of the most knowledgeable Dark wizards of all time, there's a high likelihood that I am, we would both die."
"Why don't you think I'm a horcrux?"
"Simple. If you were a horcrux, I would be able to possess you at will. However – " said Tom before he moved close to Harry and placed his hand close to Harry's face. The closer it got, the brighter a transparent shield became around Harry until finally Tom's hand was burning like molten metal. He winced as he pulled back shaking his hand to cool it. "Due to the magical protections your mother's sacrifice has granted you, I did not merge with you like a horcrux but rather your soul absorbed me."
"What."
"What I'm saying Harry," said Tom with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Is that I am a part of you. We are the same now." Harry promptly fainted.
"Harry wake up." Said Tom. Harry groaned as he sat up and pushed the covers off of him. He pressed a hand to his chest and grimaced when it came away drenched in cold sweat.
"Ugh. What kind of cruel god did I piss off to deserve this." Grunted Harry as he searched around his bedside table for his glasses.
"Don't talk. Think." Reminded Tom, as angry footsteps soon made their way towards Harry's door.
"It is bloody one in the morning! Who the are you talking to boy?" Roared Vernon Dursely as he burst into the room. Harry winced from the tirade and decided it was best to not to mention that his uncle probably just woke up half the neighborhood.
"Sorry uncle. Bad dream," offered Harry apologetically as Vernon's face reddened in anger before turning around and slamming the door shut grumbling about magic.
"Told you." Said Tom smugly.
"Shut up. I hate you." Responded Harry in an acid tone. "You killed my parents. Why should I even listen to you."
"Because I need you to live Harry. As much as I dislike it myself, you and I are bound together. I'm a separate 'Voldemort' from the one that is out there trying to gather strength. He has no control over me, and I have no control over him. We are two distinct entities now, and he will be trying his hardest to kill you, which means I'd also die. So, it's in both of our interests to put aside our differences. Like it or not, we need each other Harry." Said Tom seriously. Harry groaned as he realized that if what 'Tom' was saying was true, then he was right. What a mess he found himself in.
"Fine. But we are going to have some ground rules."
"This should be good."
"Shut up Tom. If we do this, we do it my way. I'm going to tell Draco, Ron, and Hermione." Said Harry darkly. As he felt Tom about to speak, he cut over him. "You are the greatest Dark Wizard that ever lived, aren't you? I'm sure you have some oath or spell that can guarantee their trust."
"… You could make them swear an Unbreakable Vow." Said Tom in a sullen tone.
"Explain."
"Well Harry, you see an Unbreakable Vow, is unbreak –" started Tom sarcastically.
"Prick."
"Look its what you need if you want to tell them about me."
"Fine. Now I need to know. You said you couldn't possess me *at will*? Does this imply that you can do so under special conditions?" Harry could tell that Tom was genuinely surprised that he had picked up on that, but one doesn't spend a year around Draco and Hermione and not pick up one some amount of their attentiveness.
"Harry – "
"Tom."
"Merlin's Beard you are annoying. Yes. I can. If I genuinely feel that my life is being threatened I can 'take the driver's seat' so to speak. I can also take over if you willingly give control to me for a period of time. Otherwise I'm just an observer." Said Tom exasperatedly.
"I can accept those conditions. One last thing. If you are the piece of Voldemort that was bound to me when y – he tried to kill me, you must have a memory of it."
"I'm not sure this is a good idea."
"Show it to me, and you get the deal." Demanded Harry in a stony tone.
"Don't say I didn't warn you…"
"Mother, I was wondering if it might be possible to invite my friends over before we all return to school?" asked Draco casually as he ducked underneath the swing of Narcissa Malfoy's practice blade. He spun out his right foot in a practiced leg sweep which his mother casually leapt over before transitioning into a falling overhead strike. Parrying the strike from the side with his dagger, Draco moved in towards his mother's center of mass preparing to elbow her in the solar plexus. Letting go of her sword instantly, Narcissa snaked her hand around Draco's free wrist before wrapping it into a behind‑the‑back arm lock. Draco grimaced before signaling surrender.
"You telegraph to much when you go for the kill Draco. You need to mix in more fakes in your attacks and diversify your patterns. Otherwise, well done. You've improved." Said Narcissa as she stopped to wipe some sweat from her brow. "As for your friends… Who did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking of inviting Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley." Said Draco as he replayed the sparring session in his mind, taking notes of different variations that might have worked and small mistakes in timing ad choices that he had made.
"Your closest friends from first year?" asked Narcissa as Draco nodded. "Hmm… I'll talked to Father about it but I think we can arrange for them to visit over a weekend. I can send for the Greengrass sisters, Blaise and Theo as well if you'd like?" Draco nodded, a grateful smile emerging on his face.
"Good now let's go. We managed to track down another Death Eater," said Narcissa as she handed Draco the face mask and cloak that Krypteia wore on assassination missions. Draco nodded and immediately resumed a business-like demeanor.
"Who is it mother?" asked Draco as he put up the face mask and hooded cloak, obscuring everything except his steely grey eyes. He sheathed his twin daggers side ways across the small of his back before strapping multiple throwing knives to his forearms and thighs, sliding a few more into his boots. He double checked to make sure he still had several of the smoke bombs at his waist before returning his attention to his mother.
"Wilkes. We thought he died at the end of the War. We were wrong, but we can rectify that mistake now." Spat Narcissa as if the name was poison. Wilkes had been personally responsible for the death of a Black and Malfoy.
"I did always have more of an edge when it was… personal." Said Draco as his eyes hardened even more. He might not have be a stickler for blood purity but family… family was different. He was a Malfoy, a Black, the fury that stirred in the depths of his magical blood called out for vengeance and its thirst would only be slaked with blood. Regardless of their other traits the Black and Malfoy family were legendary for holding a grudge. They always, always paid back a debt or favor no matter how long it took. Narcissa took one glance at Draco and knew that the magical compulsion in their shared blood was demanding payment.
"Let's go Draco."
"Yes. Mother."
Wilkes had been difficult to corner. It had taken them the better part of a fortnight to managed to pin him down to an abandoned farmhouse in the west country. He was skilled that much was certain. Ahriman specialized in magical trigger bombs and complex untraceable explosions. Wilkes was experienced, ruthless, and a much more well-rounded wizard than Ahriman had ever been.
"Fancy seeing you here Wilkes." Said Narcissa coldly as she eyed the man with barely restrained rage.
"Narcissa. You must excuse me. I didn't have time to prepare tea," mocked Wilkes as he did an overexaggerated bow eyeing both her and Draco wearily.
"You killed a Black and a Malfoy in the last war Wilkes. As you know. We never forget a debt." Said Narcissa.
"You'll have to forgive me. I don't recall - Crucio!" said Wilkes suddenly as he aimed the Unforgiveable at Narcissa who jumped out of the way and responded with a barrage of her own spells. The game was afoot.
Draco silently watched the duel as he crept closer and closer to Wilkes. While he disliked the idea of endangering his mother, he had to admit that fighting Wilkes by himself was too much for him with his current abilities. He was only 12 after all, and far too green. He'd watch and study his attack patterns. See if he got complacent. It only took several seconds for Draco to realize the truth. While Wilkes had been fearsome in the previous war the current version of him was a pale imitation of himself. He had been lax, let himself go. Reflexes not nearly as sharp, stamina seemed significantly lower, he seemed to struggle with spells that Draco knew for a fact he easily cast a decade earlier. This was never about Wilkes, it was another test for him from his mother and father. Frowning, he mentally made a note to have a talk with them when the got back to the manor. For now, he had a job to do.
Tossing a smoke grenade towards Wilkes. He zig zagged towards the Death Eater, chucking throwing knives at different points to mask the exact vector of his approach. He barely rolled out of the way as he heard a howl of pain before –
"Bombarda Maxima!" shouted Wilkes as he blasted away the smoke and gouged a deep gash into the earth where Draco had just been. If he hadn't gotten out of the way in time he doubted there would've been anything left of him to bury. Wilkes' eyes widened in fear as he saw Draco stand up and unsheathe his twin daggers from behind his back. He was tall for a twelve year old, but his smoldering grey eyes reflected the full moon making them positively radiant, full of fury and death.
"No. Not more bloody Krypteias…" said Wilkes as he frantically looked between Draco and Narcissa suddenly far less certain about his chances. "W – wait! I have information. I can… I can be useful!"
"Did begging ever save any of your victims?" asked Narcissa in a deadly quiet voice. "There can be no mercy, no salvation, only death."
Deciding against speaking, Draco merely flung himself forwards toward the man. Now that the element of surprise was gone, he had to rely on what physical advantages he had. He was faster than the man, and certain he had more stamina but just due to sheer build size he was certain that Wilkes could overpower him if it came to a physical confrontation.
"Confringo!" yelled Wilkes as he hastily backed away from Draco. Draco almost snorted as he easily dodged the telegraphed spell. What had happened to the Wilkes that murdered and slaughtered impulsively with nonverbal magic? What happened to the man who had killed his family? Pitiful.
As he finally closed the distance between him and Wilkes to weaponry range, he raised one dagger in a telegraphed downward overhead strike to bait out the spell he wanted.
"Protego." Croaked Wilkes frantically as the hastily cast shield charm materialized in front of him. Cold grey eyes met terrified blue ones as Draco almost felt pity for the man. Almost. He swung downward with all the authority of a guillotine, an ancient god of vengeance calling for the death of one who had always taken and never given. Blood would be paid in blood. The dagger rent through the shield charm as if it were nothing more than flimsy paper. Wilkes eyes bulged out as the dagger sank into him near the collarbone before being pulled down through his chest all the way down to the opposite hip. A spray of crimson burst forth, a stunning backdrop against the moonlit clouds. Without slowing down Draco jammed both daggers into Wilkes' sides in an upward motion, collapsing both of his lungs. Spinning behind Wilkes as he yanked out both daggers, Draco wrapped his arms around the man one dagger at his neck the other at his stomach. As he pulled in opposite directions, allowing intestines to burst forth from the man's stomach, blood to erupt from his jugular, Draco leaned up to whisper him some last words.
"Blood for blood. Death for death. The ledger is paid."
As what was left of Wilkes collapsed Draco turned and nodded at his mother as he wiped his blades clean on Wilkes' robes. Wordlessly he handed Wilkes' wand to her as she strode forwards. Without hesitation Narcissa raised Wilkes' want to sky before intoning, "Morsmordre." Once the Dark Mark was visible, she wiped the wand on her robes before placing it in Wilkes' wand hand.
"You did well. Let's go home." Said Narcissa with a proud smile at Draco. Grey eyes twinkled in agreement.
A peal of breathless laughter echoed around the library as Hermione spun around wide-eyed at the sheer collection of books. It rivaled even the Hogwarts library in its vastness and depth. She turned to look at Draco a look of equal parts disbelief and delight shined through her chocolate eyes.
"Draco this is amazing!" said Hermione excitedly as Draco watched leaning against the doorway with an amused smile on his face.
"I'm glad you like it Hermione. Father and Mother always encouraged me to read. Not that I can keep up with you of course." Hermione flushed a little at the compliment.
"What happened to Harry and Ron?" asked Hermione wondering where the pair had run off to.
"The grounds, couldn't wait to give the quidditch pitch a try." Drawled Draco with a smirk. Hermione chuckled. That sounded like them. She had learned that Draco was definitely the most studious of the three. Small wonder she got along best with him.
"Any subject in particular that you are interested in?" asked Draco as he moved forward to show Hermione around the library. Unbeknownst to either of the Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy watched the pair flit around the library from the upper floor with great delight.
"I don't think even he notices it yet, but he is smitten with her." Said Lucius with a halfhearted smirk that dissolved into a genuine smile. Narcissa laughed quietly at the look on her husband's face.
"I think it's a bit early to talk about that Lucius. They are 12 after all." Said Narcissa.
"I carried a torch for you for five years, didn't I?" snorted Lucius as he pulled Narcissa close and smashed his lips against hers. After they broke apart both slightly out of breath Lucius smirked and continued, "We Malfoy's know what we want and good things come to those who wait." Narcissa blushed as she practically dragged her husband to their private chambers. She did not want Draco or his friends walking in on what would happen next.
"I thought you hated muggles and muggleborns?" asked Harry with a frown.
"Not really. I don't hate them because of what they are but rather what the threat they pose." Sighed Tom as he ran a hand through his hair. The two were sitting at a table in Harry's mind trying to have a civil conversation. If they were in this together, the least they figured they could do was understand each other's positions.
"What do you mean?" asked Harry as Tom just stared at him.
"I don't hate muggleborn and muggles because they exist. I am worried about the risks they pose to our society. You can't really straddle the fence here. Muggles outnumber us 4150 to 1 Harry. If we were ever to be discovered, it would be genocide. Muggleborns are a danger only if they flit between our worlds because it exponentially increases the risk of discovery." Said Tom in a torn tone.
"But everything I was told said that you massacred muggles and muggleborns all the time while you were in power."
"Harry, I did my best to limit collateral damage. Too many muggles and muggleborns dying would draw suspicion. The barrier between the muggle and wizarding world is already far too thin as it is. What good would it do for me to take power and then immediately have the British army kill us all."
"So what happened?"
"I made a mistake. I rose to power because I railed the support of many of the pure-blood families. I thought I could channel their blood purity nonsense in a more… productive direction. I was mistaken." Admitted Tom bitterly.
"Centuries of bigotry and prejudice and you thought you could sweep it away with some sweet words?" asked Harry his eyebrow nearly disappearing into his hairline.
"Self-reflection is not one of my better traits Harry. I have many faults. I regret what happened." Said Tom in a low voice not meeting Harry's eyes.
"Let's say I believe you. What now?" sighed Harry after he stared at Tom for a long while.
"You need to be ready to kill Voldemort. The part of me that merged with you was, is the best part of Voldemort and me. He will now be more unhinged more willing to be brutal. When he returns there will be no thoughts of collateral damage. Should he be allowed to rise to power again I do not believe magical Britain will be able to remain a secret." Said Tom seriously as his dark eyes drilled into Harry's green ones.
"I'll start teaching you some of the Dark Arts." Said Tom he held up a hand before Harry could interrupt. "Voldemort made 6 or 7 horcuxes, I'm not sure because my memories only extend to the moment I was bonded to you. To destroy a horcrux you need either extremely powerful ancient spells, powerful artifacts, or the Dark Arts. Seeing as we cannot arouse suspicion to procure the first two you we will have to make do with the last one."
"I don't like this but it doesn't sound like I have a choice."
"We can discuss philosophies and world views after Voldemort is taken care of because until he is truly dead, you and I will never be safe. I would ask you hold off on judgment until then Harry." Said Tom in a sincere voice. Harry knew that this was dangerous, regardless of how logical and *nice* Tom was, he was still part of Voldemort. Still he had been nothing but truthful with him so far, and if they were truly bonded wouldn't it be better for them to try and get along?
"Tom, I've thought about it and… I'll hold off on telling my friends. I don't think they would understand yet." Said Harry offering the olive branch that Tom recognized it as.
"Thanks Harry, I'm glad you changed your mind." Baby steps thought Tom. Harry had potential, so much more than he had at his age. He wouldn't allow Harry to make the same mistakes he did. Chosen One indeed. If he had his way Harry would save the Wizarding World, just not in the way that Dumbledore had expected.
"You might have outplayed me at the opening gambit Dumbledore, but I always did have better midgame than you." Murmured Tom to himself as his eyes glittered like obsidian.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco had waited expectantly at the front door. After spending a day at Malfoy Manor, Draco's mother had informed them that some of Draco's other friends were going to come over. Knowing that there was a chance that that they would be hesitant Narcissa had asked Ron, Hermione, and Harry to keep an open mind about the Slytherins.
"I still am not certain about this." Said Ron with a small frown to Harry. Before Harry could open his mouth to respond the front door opened. His voice died as two girls around their age wearing identical sundresses walked in holding hands and laughing about something. One of them had long silky brown hair, the other blonde hair of a similar length but curled at the end. Draco snorted as he saw the Greengrass sisters' entrance turn Harry and Ron into slack jawed idiots. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Draco!" came the sister's singsong greeting.
"How have you been?"
"We've missed you." After exchanging greeting with Draco the pair turned to Hermione.
"You must be Hermione Granger. We've heard so much about you."
"Draco says you're the smartest witch in our year."
"You'll have to tell us what you think about the usage of ground instead of powdered bicorn in Polyjuice!"
"Hush Astoria we're scaring her." Chided Daphne as she offered Hermione a wan smile. Hermione hesitated for a moment before agreeing to sit down and chat with them later. Clearly, they were far nicer than other Slytherins that she had met prior.
"Ah you must be Harry Potter. Charmed I'm sure," said the Blonde Greengrass as she did a little curtsie and held out her hand. Still dazed Harry took her hand and bent over to kiss it. She giggled a bit as he did so and Harry swore it was the best sound he had ever heard.
"Someone fell quite fast." Commented Tom dryly.
"I hate you."
"My name is Daphne it is a pleasure to meet you." She said as she winked over at Draco and Hermione who were lean on each other to not fall over laughing.
"You must be Ron. I've never met a Weasley before. Your hair is red, it's so red." Said Astoria with a mischievous glint in her eye as she practically purred the last word. Ron opened his mouth and closed it several times as words failed to come out.
At this point neither Hermione and Draco could hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Hermione cried tears of mirth as Draco howled clutching his sides. Before long Astoria and Daphne had shared smirk before joining in the laughter although much more toned down. This seemed to shake Ron and Harry out of whatever daze they had been in and they glowered darkly at Draco and Hermione once they had regained their composure.
"Some friends you are." Muttered Ron as Harry agreed.
"We're sorry boys. We just wanted to have a spot of fun." Said Astoria batting her eyelashes at Ron who gulped.
"We hope we didn't upset you. We're sorry aren't we Astoria?" apologized Daphne, laying on the charm as she bit her lip and shyly looked up at Harry. And just like that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were wrapped around their fingers again. Just as Draco was about to speak the doors to the manor opened up again as Blaise and Theo walked in.
"How've you been mate?" asked Theo with a grin as wrapped up Draco in a hug, nodding at Hermione.
"You bloody git, had to be Gryffindor didn't you. Couldn't slither away with the rest of us Slytherins," said Blaise with a chuckled as he lightly punched Draco on arm.
"Well, I am better than you," sniffed Draco haughtily in an exasperated and sarcastic fashion.
"Prick" laughed Blaise as he shook his head.
"Blaise, Theo, these are Harry, Ron, and Hermione my friends in Gryffindor." Said Draco as he moved to introduce them.
"Nice to meet you all." Said Theo as he shook hands with Harry and Ron.
"Heard a lot about you all from Draco. Good to finally put faces to the names." Said Blaise with an easy smile.
Theo leaned over to Hermione and whispered with a smirk, "Have Astoria and Daphne already gotten their claws into those two?" Hermione looked at the two lovestruck boys and simply rolled her eyes.
"Boys." She muttered exasperatedly as Theo simply chuckled good naturedly.
"Alright now that everyone's here I'm starving. Shall we grab a something to eat?" asked Draco as everyone else nodded or affirmed. As he turned to head deeper in the manor, he watched Astoria, Hermione, and Daphne deep in conversation about some spell or another while Harry, Ron, Theo, and Blaise were hotly debating the latest Quidditch match results. He chuckled. Looks like his second year at Hogwarts was going to be interesting.
The second year at Hogwarts was most certainly not interesting. Gilderoy Lockhart was about as useful as a dull knife. For a second year Defense Against the Dark Arts was another joke. Draco groaned as he thunked his head against his Defense book in annoyance as Hermione gave him a disapproving glare.
"What? It's not like we actually learn anything in the class. Lockhart is a complete idiot." Said Draco. Hermione held her glare for a bit before sighing and agreeing with him.
"I had high hopes at the beginning of the year but…" said Hermione morosely.
"Don't remind me stupid bloody hearts…" muttered Draco.
"What did you say?" accused Hermione as she narrowed her eyes.
"Nothing!" said Draco quickly as he held up his hands.
"Don't mind him Hermione. He's just annoyed you drew hearts around Lockhart's class cuz he fancies you." Said Harry with a telling smirk. Both Draco and Hermione flushed pink at this while Draco glared at Harry.
"I hate you."
"Payback is payback Malfoy," said Ron smugly. At this Draco merely covered his head with his arms and let out a muffled yell. Hermione slammed her book together a bit louder than she intended before she turned to Harry and Ron.
"If you two are done being complete gits, I'd suggest you finish your Charms essay, its due tomorrow." Hissed Hermione before she gathered up her things and left. Draco wordless did the same, running to catch up with her but not before shooting a scowl at the pair.
Harry and Ron grinned and high-fived each other. They soon paled as they heard two sing-song voices coming towards them.
"That wasn't very nice. Harry. You need to treat your friends better." Said Daphne accusingly as she sat down and put her hand around Harry tapping him on his shoulder.
"My sister is right Ron, that's no way to treat a woman. I thought you were raised better," said Astoria in a terrifyingly casual tone as she sat down next to Ron.
"Sister dear, I do believe these two gentlemen need to be taught a lesson." Said Daphne brightly.
"Why Daphne, I concur. We simply must correct their horrible manners." Said Astoria happily. Ron and Harry could only stare at each other in horror.
"Lovely pickle you've found yourself in here Harry."
"Shut up."
"Alright Harry. I do need you to do me a favor." Said Tom.
"What is it?" asked Harry absentmindedly as he continued to polish the handle of his Nimbus 2000.
"I need you to go wipe the memory of Lockhart."
"Sure, seems doable." Agreed Harry as he continued to wax the broom.
"While you're at it could you also kill Dumbledore? That would make things a lot easier for me thanks." Said Tom rolling his eyes at how oblivious Harry was being.
"Yeah, yeah – wait what!"
"Finally got your attention, do I?"
"Why do you need me to Obliviate Lockhart?"
"Well I may have pretended to curse the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts when Dumbledore didn't give it to me." Said Tom innocently.
"What."
"Look its beneficial for you too. He's an absolutely useless teacher and you want your friends to be adequately prepared once Voldemort comes back right? So getting rid of him is in your best interest."
"I still think its weird that you refer to him as Voldemort and yourself as Tom." Grumbled Harry.
"Will you do it?"
"Fine, fine…"
Harry made his way over to Lockhart's office.
"Professor could I speak with you? In private?" asked Harry innocently.
"But of course, my boy! What did you need? I always have time for The Boy Who Lived." Said Lockhart genially waving Harry into his office enthusiastically. Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. What was someone like Lockhart even doing in this position. He was clearly incompetent so how could he have done any of the things he said he had?
"Harry if you'll let me take over I can find out."
The change was seamless. One minute Harry was in control and the next it felt like he was view the entire exchange in a movie theater. It felt weird watching and hearing himself speak without him actually doing it.
"Professor, I really am sorry about this." Said Tom-Harry in a silky-smooth voice. "Stupefy."
With a flash of red light Lockhart crumpled to the ground. Ignoring Harry's protests Tom propped Lockhart up against the wall. Concentrating on Lockhart Tom dragged Harry with him deep into Lockhart's memories sifting through them dismissively and with dizzying speed. After finding what he needed to Tom yanked himself and Harry out of Lockhart's mind with disgust.
"He stole everything. He interviewed people that *actually* went out and did the work discovering new methods and spells. Then he wrote them down before he obliviated them." Seethed Tom. "Decades of magical discoveries and progress that could have saved some many witches and wizards all lost because he wanted to play celebrity."
If he hadn't seen the same memories that Tom had, Harry would not have believed. However, he knew that Tom was telling the truth. Gilderoy Lockhart had made his name by erasing the achievements and memories of countless braver, cleverer, and more talented witches and wizards. He was scum.
"I changed my mind. I don't care even the faintest if you want to Obliviate him." Snarled Harry, furious with the unconscious man on the ground. How many people could have been saved if he hadn't done what he did? How much magical knowledge had been lost?
"It's too good for him."
"What should we do?"
"I can wipe his mind of this meeting, then have him go to Dumbledore, confess all of his crimes and we can watch him get locked away." Suggested Tom.
"Good. Let me do it. Tell me how, I want to." Said Harry fiercely as Tom acquiesced and gave control back to Harry.
"Obliviate."
"Imperio."
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Harry what the fuck." Thought Draco. He had been walking past Lockhart's classroom when he thought he heard a spell go off. Peering through the keyhole he saw Harry stanned over Lockhart's prone form. The next words that Harry spoke made Draco's eyes widen and his blood run cold.
"Obliviate."
"Imperio."
Draco slammed his eyes shut as he forced himself to leave. Forced himself to move away from one of his best friends. Force himself into the bathroom and slammed the stall closed. Forced back the tears as he vomited into the toilet. Forced himself not to think what it meant now that he knew that the friend, he was bound to protect might be a dark wizard. What was he to do?
End of Year 2