Chapter 3
Carl was sitting at his Desk inspecting the book that had been handed to him. There were very heavy wards on it but he wasn't sure what they were specified too. Opening the book he took a quill and let a few drops hit the blank pages. The Ink was quickly absorbed and disappeared. So he tried writing a message.
Hello?
The response came a moment later in long confident scrawl. But as it wrote, Carl picked up a sense of another magic at play.
Hello.
Who are you?
Who are you?
Carl Shill
Tom Riddle.
Carl raised an eyebrow at this and turned to face Lucius for an explanation.
Lucius sighed before answering. "Do to my...acquaintance to you-know-who, I was given this diary and told that it was more important then my life. I had guarded it as such until an old friend discovered a compulsion charm on me and removed it." he explained
"And so you immediately thought of the book."
Lucius nodded. Though his attachment to the Deatheater ranks had been somewhat involuntary, he had done what he had to, to survive. As a result Voldermort had given him that Diary. He knew Bella, his sister-in-law also had an item, but he wasn't sure what it was. Had Severus not removed that charm, he shuddered to think what atrocities he might have used the book for. He watched as Carl placed the book back on the desk and leaned back pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I never thought I would live to see this..." he said in a voice that was heavy with exasperation.
"What is it?" Lucius asked curious.
" The Item it's self is called a Horcrux. A very pore attempt at achieving immortality. What has me put off though is the second spell on the soul in the Horcrux." he said looking at the diary like it could just tell him what was going on.
"I don't understand..."
"The second spell is a spell one of my ancestors wrote about in their journal, it's called Magical Madness. Over a period of years of being exposed to compulsion charms of a certain variety, they eventually merge and latch onto the soul. Driving it and the person mad. The result of which is making the individual do things that they don't want to actually do." Carl explained walking over to a chest on the far wall. He rummaged through it for a few moments before resurfacing with a casket styled pewter box covered in Celtic designs and ancient Ruins.
"This box was designed to hold such spells, if you will give me a moment..." so saying he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the diary. "Ostendo!" he called out. Instantly a dual colored smoke appeared . Yet the two colors, or rather shades, did not mix at all. One was a sickly disgusting red, it seemed to be trying to choke the second color which was more a gray color. Pointing his wand at the diary again he chanted. "Ego Voco in Virtutesque Insaniam!" again and again he called and each time the disgusting red v gave a little jerk towards his wand tip. Finally with a sudden jerk that Lucius thought would send it flying it came off and began trying to attack Carl, who quickly put it in the box and closed and locked it in.
It was while this was happening that Harry was in the back room playing by himself. When suddenly he thought he heard a whimper.
"Hello?" He called out quietly. There came the muffled sound of a response but he couldn't hear it. He stood up and followed the noise to the other side of the room where one of his bins of toys were. This one was filled with what Carl had deemed as 'one foot out the door' and Harry rarely played with them anymore. Yet, the sound was most definitely coming from inside. Very quietly he oped the top of the box and saw the curled up form of a little boy crying in the bin.
"Hello." Harry tried again, this time he was able to hear the response.
"I'm sorry...Don't hate me...the bad stuff made me do it...don't hate me..."
"I don't hate you. My names Harry, what's yours?"
The boy sniffled before answering. "T-Tom..." He said in a quiet, unsure voice."
"Hi Tom, do you want to be friends?" Harry asked holding out his hand.
Tom looked like he wanted to say something. But instead gave a sad smile and nodded.
Katelyn watching from the doorway just shook her head at his antics.
'So now he has an imaginary friend huh?' She thought to herself with a grin
Now that the Madness was locked away, Carl landed like a heap in his chair. That spell had taken allot more out of him then he thought it would. Lucius acting on reflex went down next to the other wizard to make sure he was alright.
"I'm fine Lucius. Just a bit exhausted. I'm more concerned for who made this Horcrux." Carl said when he saw Lucius move.
"Why? I was told that this was exceedingly dark magic. Why be concerned for someone like that?"
"It's because it's dark magic that I'm worried. To make a Horcrux one has to kill. And this poor bastard, Tom, was under the influence of a Forbidden spell that hasn't been used in almost 300 years. I doubt he knew what he was doing." Carl explained looking more and more worried.
"By the intensity of that spell, mind this is only my best estimate. It would have taken nearly 10 years of regular castings to make that. Unless were talking daily castings..."
"Mr. Shill," Lucius said with a nervous gulp that drew Carl's attention. "This diary was given to me by the Dark lord himself. If what your saying is true then..."
"Then Voldermort is not the Dark lord everyone claims him to be, but rather someones puppet." so saying he leaned forward and picked up the quill again.
Tom? He wrote. The answer took longer and the confident handwriting from before was replaced by nervous scratches.
Yes...
Are you alright?
Is it gone...
Yes Tom, it's gone. Tom I have to ask you something.
What? This response was even more shaky then the others
Are you Lord Voldermort?
This answer took what seemed like ages and when it came through there were tiny blur marks around the word as though someone was crying as they wrote it.
Yes
Schooling his anger he wrote back to Tom trying to push as much reassurance into his handwriting as possible.
It's okay Tom, I'll fix this, I don't know how, but I will. The only response were more of the faded ink spots as though a person was still crying over the book.
Very gently, Carl closed the book then stood and he just stood there staring at the book his face completely blank. Lucius wasn't sure what to do. The Dark lord was not evil, it didn't even sound like he was dark. More like a scarred child who wasn't in control of their actions. To make matters worse. The wizard who had found it all was leaking a killers intent that could drop an elephant.
"Mr. Shill?" He tried placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Carl Spun away from Lucius, wand in hand and blasted one of the cabinets in the potions corner with a silent spell. The Cabinet exploded into tiny bits of dust that began floating about the room.
"I swear," Carl said through clenched teeth. "When I find the person that did this, I'll make Morgana seem like a saint in comparison to what I'll do." so saying he turned to Lucius with anger in his eye's.
"I need a wizards oath from you Lucius. The information I'm giving you is far to sensitive otherwise."
Lucius didn't hesitate removing his wand from his cane he raised it in the air and spoke.
"I Lucius Malfoy, swear upon my magic and life's blood that I will not reveal any information spoken here with out the express permission from you. So it is said so mote it be." a tiny golden chain snaked down from Lucius's wand and coiled around his wrist before disappearing.
Carl nodded in satisfaction before raising his hand and letting the glamor drop on his ring.
"I am Orius Marcus Shill, Arch Mage of the Ancient Rite, and Head of House Emrys. Harry Potter the supposed 'boy-who-lived' is my adopted son."
Lucius fell to one knee, as a knight before a king would. "You're Grace-"
"Oh get up, I hate having people bow to me." Carl said hefting Lucius up by his arm."Now listen Lucius. What we have discovered here can not go beyond us, understand. I can not go searching for information on who did this with out drawing some unwanted attention. You on the other hand can." he explained sitting Lucius in the chair as he leaned against the desk with his hand resting gently on Tom's diary.
"I can't do that..."
"That's not the only thing..." he said glancing at the Pewter box that held the Madness that was the real Voldermort. "You have to find the other pieces of Tom's soul so I can fix it-" He was cut off as he heard a knocking at his door. Curious he walked over and opened it to reveal a rather frazzled looking Katelyn.
"Just thought you'd like to know that you're son is holding a conversation with himself...in parseltongue." she said glancing behind her to where a small harry was talking to air in hissing sounds not unlike a snake. Carl walked over to his son and knelt down next to him.
"Harry?"
"Hi Daddy!" Harry said in English.
"Who are you Talking to?"
"My new friend Tom Daddy." He answered innocently.
Carl's eye's widened just a fraction. "Tom..."
Albus was sitting in his office drinking a cup of lemon tea. Dumbledore had gotten lucky and managed to convince The Arch Mage to let the boy attend Hogwarts During his fifth year. Granted it would be harder to turn the boy at that point, but Albus was confident that with a few Compulsion charms laid out Daily during Meals he could manage it. After all, Tom had attended while distrusting him. But soon grew to fear him thanks to those very same charms. Tom had been to easy to manipulate into place. First by getting him to befriend those power mad mongers in Slytherin, Then killing that Mudblood while still at school. Finally to turn that blasted Diary, which was filled with all his suspicions of Dumbledore, and his plans, into a Horcrux. Then the fool had gone of off and made five more! Things couldn't have been going better for Albus. Until Snape, that is. Snape had to go and tell the first part of the prophecy to Tom, who immediately tried contacting the potters. Albus had to use his own Lackey to fix that problem.
Pettigrew had been the perfect spy for Dumbledore. As an unregistered Rat Animagus, he was easily overlooked. Once he turned over the Potters location To Voldermort, he managed to frame Black. After that, all Albus had to do was insure Black went to Azkaban. Oh yes, Albus was very crafty indeed. But then came the matter of the Arch Mage. In the course of a few moments he had driven the Minister from his office and almost forced Albus to the point of Groveling. That was power, that was the power.
Albus longed for that power more then anything. He pulled out his wand and gingerly ran his hand down the shaft.
"Perhaps, not anything..." he said sullenly.
Things were so much simpler when he was younger. Him, Gellert, Ariana. The three of them had such great plans, many were formed by Ariana, who plaid the part of a mentally ill little girl to perfection. Then Aberforth had to Ruin it all! He had killed Ariana, driven Gellert away, and he was forced to coup on his own. Seemingly forever lost with out purpose. He would not see Gellert again for many years, until he was forced to duel him. But it was during that duel that he learned not all hope was lost. The three would be together again, and no one, not even the Arch Mage would stop them.
At the same time that Albus was sitting enjoying his tea, a woman stood on the Rocks of Azkaban. She looked out over the gray stormy waters. And let the sounds of tortured screams wash over her like the warmth from a freshly lit fire in the Hearth. Oh, how she relished the that sound! It gave her meaning, something to fight for, other then the two young consorts she had once held. Oh how beautiful they had truly been. And so clever, and quick to please. She missed them a great deal. One was trapped in a prison much like this. One of his own making. Though it was a willing imprisonment, he would have to be liberated one way or another. Her other Consort, her real favorite. So beautifully brilliant, and yet blissfully ignorant. The fool had thought her to be his sister. Gellert had figured it out and had tried explaining to Albus. Only for her plans to be cut Short by that Oaf, Aberforth. He would have to be killed, sooner rather then later.
As these thoughts ran through her head a Dementor Floated up behind her and seemed to bow, if that was possible. She shook head sadly. The Minister was doing another inspection. She would relish the day she could hold the Minister's still beating heart in the Palm of her hand. For now though, she would bide her time, and play her role to perfection as she always had. Then, she would reveal herself at the least expected moment.
"Soon, my loves, soon..." and with that she strode back towards the compound, with her black and white striped prison robes billowing around her in the wind.
Harry was now sitting in his Fathers work shop waiting patiently for his father to finish speaking to Lucius and Katelyn. Tom was sitting on the Desk next to him looking rather sheepish. Harry was just pouting. He had figured out pretty quickly that no one else could see Tom. And Tom didn't seem surprised either. But Harry was still upset that no one was telling him what was going on.
"I wish I knew what they were saying..." He said puffing out his cheeks.
Tom had to try not to giggle at the boy. He remembered everything right up to when he cast the curse at Harry, but more then anything. He remembered the tears that left his eye's as he tried to get Lily to run away with her son. To just move, so he couldn't hurt her. Then the madness had taken him and it was like watching a movie. He could see what was happening, he knew it was him doing it, but he wasn't apart of it. It was always like that when he killed. First there was Myrtle, he had liked the whining Ravenclaw even though she was muggle born. She was smart, and always listened to Tom. Then it was his Father and his family. He had framed his Uncle for that. So many deaths, and he remembered them all. When the curse had back fired and he became trapped in Harry, the madness had gone into survival mode and hid him from detection. Then something happened and Madness was gone. But in it's place was fear. Harry would be able to see him now, how was he going to face a child whose parents he killed. He wasn't sure he could do it. But for some reason he was in the form of a five year old and Harry had shown no hostility. He couldn't bring himself to tell him the truth. Not yet anyway.
As these thought's ran through his mind he noticed a little black book laying on the another desk nearby.
"That's my diary!" he said fearful. The diary was the First Horcrux he had made. And would most likely have the largest portion of soul, there for would be the strongest. But something felt different about it. It was less chaotic feeling, and more solemn... he walked over ignoring Harry's curious look and touched the diary with the tips of his fingers. Suddenly there was a white blinding light and the sound of rustling Pages could be heard. This drew the attention of the Adults who ran over to cover (perhaps restrain is a better term here) Harry so he didn't get hurt. When it cleared a ghostly form of a boy who could have been ten to thirteen stood next to the book.
"Tom?" Harry asked looking surprised.
Tome looked back and gave a sheepish nervous smile. "Yeah..."
"What just happened here?" Lucius asked
"I second that question." said Katelyn raising her hand.
"I believe, the two pieces of soul just fused back together. Which means that harry was a Horcrux."
Tom nodded when Carl looked to him for confirmation. This was a good sign. It meant that both pieces felt regret for their actions.
"I don't know why, I thought it would hurt more..." said Tom looking at his hands
"you don't actually have a body to feel pain with. I'm sure that will change."said Carl in a studious manner.
"WILL SOME ONE TELL ME WHATS GOING ON!" yelled a very upset Harry.
Every one else just looked to the others. This was going to pain...
A/N: weee another chapter up! I want to thank everyone for reviewing, i have to admit i didn't expect this kid of a response to this story so i am totally stoked about this right now. either next chapter or the one after that will be another time skip so be ready. also please answer the poll i made. i want to see what pairings are more popular so i can plan them out. thank you.