Who Is the Rightful Heir?

Chapter 4

Draco's POV

I was about to walk into Master's office and tell him about what Meredith had said, but then I stopped. Why would he believe anything bad pertaining to his special pupil? She was his pride and joy. I was a lowly Inner Death Eater. I had no power, hardly any against the Outer Death Eaters. Master would never believe me.

Running to my room, I thought about what I was going to do. Salazar was still out there somewhere. He needed to be found. He wanted to be found. Sure, he wanted to be found by his father to see if he actually still cared for him, but it wasn't what he was going to get. I was going to have to go out on my own. I didn't care if Master would kill me when I came back, as long as Salazar was coming back with me. Salazar needed his father. Master needed his son. Meredith needed to die.

Salazar's POV

The pain…

Why me…

Stop…

Who…

Where…

Pain…

Voldemort's POV

"Clockwise, Meredith, clockwise!" I yelled at the girl.

We were in the training room. Meredith was trying one of the potions in the black book. The instructions clearly said stir the potion three times clockwise. Meredith was stirring it counter-clockwise.

"But, sir, it says counter-clockwise." Meredith protested. She pointed to the line in the book.

"Stir three times clockwise, Meredith. It says in bold letters. Are you feeling alright?" I lightly grasped her hand that was grasping her stirring stick.

She looked confused. Slowly, she set down the stick and sat on a nearby stool. I walked over to her, ignoring the bubbling potion. Meredith did seem a little pale, and her hair was greasy and knotted. Something was up.

"Sir, can I ask you something?" Meredith asked quietly.

I nodded. "You can always ask me anything. You should know that by now."

Slowly, she looked up into my hazel eyes with her dark ones. "Do you care for your son more than you care for me?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but then paused. Why was she asking this? How could I answer it? I tried to respond. "Meredith, I don't know how to answer. You're like my daughter, but Salazar's my son, my own flesh and blood."

"You care for him more…"

"No!" I held up my hands in protest.

"You don't care for him?" She asked.

"At this moment… I don't know." I finally realized the answer. "The two of us have had problems, even before you came here. We've always worked them out for the time, but I think the boy had kept his real anger bottled up. He'll come back, I know he will, but it'll take time. It may be months, but I'm actually thinking maybe it'll take years."

Draco's POV

I had my things packed and a letter in my hand. Of course I wasn't just going to set the letter anywhere. It was going straight to my master and would be in his hands seconds before I would leave. Meredith wasn't going to touch the thing with her fingers. Who knows where the thing would end up.

At Master's office door, I stopped and took a deep breath before turning the knob. Multiple rules were being broken with me not warning Master or knocking on the door. Here I was facing the consequences.

"Draco, I never would have expected you." The voice of Voldemort entered my ears.

"M-master, I-I wanted to give you something, it's urgent you could say." I stuttered. I hated when I got nervous.

"You could say? Is it, or is it not?" He raised an eyebrow as I handed him the envelope.

"I don't know." I said. Before he could open it, I Apparated to a secluded spot far away from the castle.

Voldemort's POV

"Dra-" I couldn't ask the teen another question. He had disappeared, Apparated most likely. Why, I did not know. But I started to read the letter he had given to me.

Master,

Why I would write to you in letter, I will never know. I know I have never been much to your Inner Circle. Most likely you think of me as lower than Wormtail. I do not despise you for it if you do. Actually I could thank you for it. Degrading me gives me more encouragement to try and work harder for you. But, talking about my placement is a small trivial matter.

Salazar is the reason I have written this letter. The black haired teen has been my friend ever since he's turned back to your side. Slowly, he has helped my real memories return to me, showing both of our pasts at Hogwarts. I would tell you what had really happened back then, but I think that it would be better if your son would do it himself. Yes, I speak of Salazar, Salazar Slytherin Voldemort Riddle, your flesh and blood, your most prized possession. But, maybe I have to take that one back.

Is he really your most prized possession? Sure, he used to be, but the girl, Meredith Grakshaw, has clearly gotten the position now. The throne? Taken by her. The lessons? Taken by her. The book? Taken by her. Everything has been taken away from Salazar and given to her. Is it fair to the boy who hasn't had anything till now? No.

I left the castle once this letter was in your hand. Why? I left to find your son that has been missing. Of course you think your Outer Circle is still looking for him all over. But where are they looking? Nowhere. Meredith, your prized possession, has stopped the search for your son. Instead, they have searched for and taken care of the rebels in the areas they have searched. Long ago she had stopped them from trying to find Salazar. He has no importance to the girl. If at all, he's a problem for her. He prevents her from becoming your heir.

You don't believe me, I know, but all you need to do is figure out a way to watch what the girl has been doing without her knowing. It would be hard, I know, and maybe it would make you feel like you're doing something wrong, but then think of what you've done to Salazar. So many things you've done to your son have been worse. Please, take time and watch out for Meredith.

I need you to do this, Master. You've always asked things of me and your son. Certainly you could do something for us in return. If not for me, at least for your son. He should be your prized possession, the best thing that ever happened to you. You need to learn the truth.

I will accept any punishment from you because of this when I return. Death isn't an exception.

Draco Malfoy

The letter was long, but at least the poor boy had a point to writing it. Most of his thoughts had reason, and he was right about me not believing him about Meredith. But, I wasn't completely sure about the girl either. Draco was also right about it going to be hard about watching her. Meredith was a quiet girl who kept to herself, but bragged at any moment about something she accomplished. And, even worse, I was the one who taught her to be careful about whom to trust. She only trusted herself and, in some things, me.

Draco's POV

I had to start somewhere and the one place that I thought of first was Grimmauld Place Number Twelve. In my fake memories I never knew of the place, but if I shoved aside a few fake ones I realized Salazar had told me on the train home after third year. Sirius had gone there after closely getting Kissed by a dementor. He told his 'godson' that he could use the place whenever he felt like leaving Hogwarts. Salazar slipped me the address after an interesting talk about girls.

Slowly, I opened the door of building. The musty smell of the inside instantly hit my nose, making it scrunch up. The place was completely dark except for the light escaping from a partially opened door at the end of the hallway.

"Salazar?" I called out. The feeling wasn't right in the building.

Small clouds of dust billowed up with each step I took down the carpeted hallway. Every painting had been covered up with a dark green sheet. Wallpaper was peeling off in places on the wall while other places were rotted through. One of the doors was off one of its hinges. If I wasn't mistaken, a shadow passed by the lit doorway.

"Salazar, are you there?" I called out again.

I reached the door and was contemplating if I should look or not. If it was Salazar I would be at fault from not bringing him back, but if it wasn't him I could be saving my life. For Master and Salazar, I took the chance. The brass knob was cold when it touched my palm like no one had entered the room lately. My other hand tightly grasped my wand.

"Hello?" I spoke as I cracked open the door. No one answered. Swiftly, I pushed the door all the way open and flung my wand out. Standing against the opposite wall was a redhead, more specifically, Bill Weasley. His wand was out and pointed at me, but I was quicker and had a stun spell at him before he could react.

Suddenly, he jumped back up and shot a spell back at him. I dodged it easily.

"Slowing down a bit are you, Bill?" I mocked him as I walked closer.

Bill was glaring me down, trying to get me scared. Sure the man was quite a few years old than me, but it was obvious that he wasn't smarter. He had no idea of how the Dark Side worked. The Light Side was oblivious to our techniques and skills. They downgraded them and underestimated the people who had them. Why do you think they lost?

"Shut-up, Malfoy. You don't know me." He growled. "What are you doing here anyway? You have no reason to be at this place. How were you able to get in?"

I smirked. The man knew nothing. "Past memories."

Bill looked confused so he shot another spell in my direction. I sidestepped it again then pointed my wand secretly in his direction. It wouldn't be long before the Weasleys would be down another redhead.

"You have no idea of what I'm talking about, Weasley." I laughed. "I wouldn't doubt it. Your lot isn't the brightest. ADVADA KEDAVRA." I spoke it quickly and softly. There didn't need to be any great effects on the spell. It only had to work.

Bill collapsed to the ground. Dead.

A/N: I know this is short… again… but I'm trying to make it longer, I just always come up with a blank though when I reach so many words. It's not fair.

TuxedoKamenLuver: I don't think I've ever seen someone actually write bleep… I don't know why but it makes me laugh.  I also agree that he's alone and replaced…. I almost think this is a sob story… but I'm not actually trying to write one….

Marry Hiwatarie: This chapter should have answered most of your questions… probably not about Salazar though… and I don't plan on explaining yet either… I'll do that in another chapter… don't know which one though yet….

power214063: I guess Draco sort of told Voldemort… not exactly in the words you used of course… but he told him….

Kamorie: Thanks for reviewing the first chapter. I also agree that it's a little short. I'll try making it longer… maybe it will bring more reviews, thanks for the tip. As for your last chapter review… you'll have to wait to find out like everyone else… sorry….

&& ...I'm beginning to realize my liking for the dots… what are they actually called anyways, when there are a bunch of them together? Hmmmm….. I question to answer… &&