Disclaimer, Summary, Warnings and Important Notes are in chapter one.
KEY
"speech"
'thoughts'
'letters'
books/information/files/newspaper
The first of September came round quickly as the Malfoy's and Riddle's made their way to Platform 9 3/4. They stuck to the side to avoid the crowds as the children bid goodbye to their family. Damien quickly wrapped his arms around his dad, who, after getting over the initial shock, hugged back tightly.
"I'll miss you too." Tom murmured to his son, whose arms tightened in the hug, "Be careful and-"
"Write to you once a week, don't leave anything out, and if I feel like I'm in danger talk to Professor Snape or portkey home." Damien interrupted with an eye roll as he pulled away and touched the pendant on the long silver chain. Damien thought it was an odd piece of jewellery, there was a triangle with a stick inside a circle. His dad had told him that it was a very important symbol and that he should never take it off. But no one seemed inclined to tell him what it was and meant… "I know dad, you've told me a thousand times since I decided to go back and at least 50 since waking up a little over two hours ago."
"I worry," Tom muttered with a slight tinge of red on his pale cheeks,
"I know." Damien hugged the man once more, Tom kissed his forehead before Damien and Draco walked away and got on the train together.
After settling down in an empty compartment, the two youths began to talk, somewhat hesitantly mind you, because despite living in the same building for little under a month, neither of them had talked to each other all that much. Draco only knew the basics.
"So…are you ever going to tell me who you used to be?"
"Nope! Sorry, Draco." At this Draco's face turned into a pout, amusing Damien immensely 'was this the same Slytherin that I had a rivalry with as Harry Potter?' He couldn't help but think.
"Aww, why not?"
"Careful Draco, you're pouting. All I'll tell you is that I was brought up by my adoptive mother's muggle sister and her husband, who themselves had a son. Let's just say they weren't very…nice." Before Draco could ask anything else, two redheads welcomed themselves in and took a seat next to Damien. "Be nice Draco. Fred and George are my friends."
"Fine. As long as I don't have to be nice to the Weasel and Weaselette along with that bloody Know-It-All."
"Don't you worry-"
"Draco Malfoy-"
"We could care less-"
"About our little brother-"
"And sister along with that-"
"Other nuisance." They answered, taking turns as usual.
"So, Damien. How did you actually meet these two? I mean the story you told in Diagon Alley wasn't real was it?"
"No. I was friends with these two before…all this happened." The twins nodded,
"This little guy-"
"Came straight to us-"
"After he learned his-
"Real identity."
"Got to say-"
"It was a big-"
"And we mean big-"
"Surprise to us both-"
"But we love-"
"Little Damikins-"
"So we support him."
"I take it you both know who his father is?" Draco asked, he was curious about their loyalty to Damien,
"That is true-
"Young Draco-
"But we were told-"
"The apparent Dark Lord's-"
"Real plans and not-"
"The ones the-"
"Manipulative old codger-"
"Wants everyone to believe."
"And what? You just accepted it because they said so and Damien was a friend of yours? Your family is well known for their loyalty to Dumbledore. Sorry but I doubt that you'd accept this that easily." Draco drawled with narrowed eyes.
"Listen here Malfoy." George's tone was serious. "My mother, my youngest brother and my sister. Those three blindly follow Dumbledore's every word. To them, he can do no wrong. To them, he may as well be Merlin!"
"George is right. Our dad, he has no say in anything. Sure he's the Head of the family by title, but it's really mum who controls everyone and everything. Bill and Charlie, they left the moment they could -they went to different countries just to avoid them! Percy, he's got a job in the ministry, I'm sure you've heard just how against Dumbledore he is. Then you've got me and George…"
"Mum…she hates us. She's proud of Bill, Charlie and Percy because they have these great careers and jobs. She's proud of Ron and Ginny because they follow her every move, listen to her every word and they too look up to Dumbledore as though he raised the Sun. But, us? We just want to open up a joke shop, we've openly stated that we are neutral and want nothing to do with the light. To her, to Ron, to Ginny and to Dumbledore we are disappointments and unfortunate failures."
"Our older brothers and dad, they are neutral but if they learn the dark sides real plans, they may be convinced to join or will just be neutral but supportive of Damien. Me and George, we…we don't want to fight, but if we need to, we will be by Damien's side…to the very end." The twins looked at each other in confirmation before they remained quiet. All the way to the station in Hogsmeade, the compartment remained silent, George had his head on Fred's shoulder, Fred's head leaned slightly on his slightly younger brothers head as the two slept peacefully, Damien had gotten a book out as he curled into the corner of the bench, Draco had gone off to patrol the train before going to the prefect's compartment where he had to put up with Hermione and Ron but luckily Pansy was there to keep him sane.
—LINE BREAK—
"Welcome students of Hogwarts! Some of you may be wondering why the stool and sorting hat is still out. The answer is simple, we have a new student. Why is this so important? Well, for the first time in decades a new student is joining us in his fifth year instead of first! Please welcome Mr Damien Riddle." The black-haired boy, who McGonagall had told to wait outside until summoned, entered the Great Hall and whilst confidently walking up to the stool much like first year, Damien couldn't help but start to panic on the inside.
"Mr Riddle, please take a seat." Minerva said before placing the sorting hat on his head.
[AN: The sorting hats words will be in italics ('sorting hat') Also for my version of the sorting it all takes place in Damien's head, no one can hear what's being said other than the hat and Damien]
"Ah, hello Mr Damien Riddle or do you prefer Harry Potter?"
"Umm…hello. No, it's Damien now."
"I'm pleased you have finally learned of your parentage."
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew. I know more than anyone believes. I hear things throughout the years within this castle. My purpose may be to sort students, to do so I sift through the students' mind, read among the students' magic."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you have believed me?"
"…No, I guess I wouldn't have."
"Now, I should probably sort you before everyone gets worried."
"I think I know where you'll put me, to be honest."
"Of course. I stand by what I said four years ago. You will do great in Slytherin. However, you now have a thirst for knowledge. So Slytherin or Ravenclaw? I shall allow you to make this choice."
"Slytherin!"
"I thought you would say so."The hat's voice changed and everyone could now hear it, "Better be Slytherin!" Clapping came from the tables as Damien quickly walked to where Draco sat.
"Now that that has been sorted out" Dumbledore chuckled at the pun he made, "I would like to introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Please welcome Professor Umbridge-"
"Hem hem." They watched as a short, covered in pink, toad of a woman made her way next to Dumbledore before she gave them a speech about utter rubbish. Minutes later, the students were finally able to eat.
—LINE BREAK—
Damien followed the Slytherins back to the common room, Draco stood next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as though he could tell the smaller boy was nervous.
"Don't worry. They don't know who your father is but they know that you have the Malfoy's by your side so they will respect you." The blond murmured into his ear, Damien smiled slightly.
Severus Snape said some words to the house, his eyes meeting Damien's and lingering for only a moment, "Quidditch trials will be held a week from today. Yes, Mr Crabbe, that means next Monday. Prefects, please take the first years to their dormitories. Fifth-year boys, as you know we have a new student, therefore, another bed has been added to one of the dorm rooms. I expect you all to help Mr Riddle out and treat him like you would the rest of Slytherin." Draco led Harry down a corridor.
"There's usually three or four to a room, so you'll be sharing with me, Theo and Blaise." The Malfoy said as they walked into an oddly comfortable looking room.
"Ok-" Damien stopped himself just in time from saying he used to share a dorm with three others. They all unpacked their belongings before going back down to the common room so Draco could introduce Damien to his friends.
Walking back to the common area, Damien could see a group of students loitering across the group of sofas by the fireplace.
"Hello, I'm Pansy Parkinson." Greeted a brunette with a pug-face,
"I'm Daphne Greengrass." Replied a blonde girl sitting next to Pansy,
"I'm Millicent Bulstrode."
"Hello, I'm Tracey Davis."
"Gregory Goyle."
"Vincent Crabbe."
"My name's Blaise Zabini and the one over there with his nose in a book is Theodore Nott-"
"Correction my name is Theo. Theodore is my father." Interrupted the dirty blond boy without looking up from his book,
"Don't mind him. He's nice and all but loves to read." Draco informed Damien,
"I don't blame him, I like to read a lot as well." He responded before looking at the others, "I'm Damien Riddle, nice to meet you all."
They conversed for several hours before heading off to their dorms. Bidding each other goodnight, they settled down to sleep…or at least Blaise and Draco did, for Theo and Damien smiled at one another before opening up their books and getting lost in them.
Authors Notes: Firstly, I hope Fred and George's way of speaking wasn't too complicated, I tried to separate their parts from the others.
Please note that the Hogwarts train left on a Monday and by the time the student would arrive at Hogwarts, it would be the opening feast, so lessons don't start till Tuesday. According to Wikia, fifth years DADA lessons are Mondays and Fridays, which is why in the next chapter Damien's first lesson with Umbridge is on Friday. This is sort of useful info but not all that important, also I've just spoiled the next chapter slightly -oops!
Thank you so much for your reviews on chapter 3:
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and lilyflower101 -I hope your review was about Molly and not me!
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