Who Is the Rightful Heir?

Chapter 12

Salazar's POV

Merope Gaunt left only days after she told us the truth. Father moved her into a regular room for the rest of her stay. He never apologized for putting her into the other room for so long. I expected it was because of her lying to him for so long. Otherwise it was just a Gaunt thing, something I clearly didn't have since I liked to apologize quite a bit.

I had asked my grandmother if she would like to stay for a week longer. Father would have done nothing of the sort so I felt like being polite. But she declined the offer and said she should leave because it would be better. I think it was because of everything that had happened since she was there. I wouldn't doubt it.

Two days after she left though Father came to my room unannounced. It was very unlike him and I wondered if I had done something wrong again. I was still trying to perfect making stronger muggle weapons. I had only perfected the simple knife and small handgun, but I was now trying to work on swords and snipers.

"Salazar, may I speak with you?" My father asked me.

His voice startled me so much that I spun around and shot a Cruciatus at him before I realized who it was. At least my aim was good.

"I'm sorry, Father." I told him before he sat down in one of my armchairs. I sat down opposite him like I always did when he spoke to me.

"As you know, we have the wizarding world under control." He said. I nodded. "We accomplished this together and now I would like to ask you a question. Will you take my place?"

His question took me by surprise. I would have never thought he would want me to take his place.

"I…I don't really know what to say." I replied. And I didn't. What was I supposed to say? If I immediately said yes I would seem like an eager child, but if I said no I would seem like a coward.

"I've decided that I've done this for far too long. And when a person has a son they should pass their duties on to them when they are old enough."

"You think I'm old enough?" I asked, a little surprised. I had always thought he thought I was a child, too young for anything.

"You are considered a legal wizard and have proven yourself multiple times. I just have never wanted to see it. Plus, I think you'd be better at trying to get control of the muggle world. You've never had a complete hate for them."

I shrugged. His words were true.

"So, do you accept my preposition?"

"You're calling this a preposition?" I asked him. "I would rather call it an offer."

"Aren't they the same?" Father asked me a little confused.

"Don't let me explain." I sighed and rolled my eyes. I just had to give him a bit of crap before I said yes. It was just how I acted. "But I guess I'll accept."

Father smirked then stood up to leave. "You're required to be at tonight's meeting. If you're not there, the next best person there will become the new Dark Lord."

When he left, I paced the room. The new Dark Lord, that was what I was about to become. I figured the meeting tonight would be my acceptance. It would be some ceremony. I could live through it, as long as I could have my own right hand. If father would finally accept Draco as being my right hand, I'd be okay.

A knock came at my door and I told them to enter. It was Draco, what a coincidence.

"What is it, Draco?" I asked him, still standing.

"Master wanted me to accompany you to the fitting room. You're to get new robes to wear for tonight's meeting."

I nodded and the two of us walked towards the fitting room. Since Pendy had an unfortunate death at our underground hiding spot, there was a new house elf, Durse. It was an unusual name for a house elf, but its old name was Yippy and I didn't like it so I renamed it Durse. I might have been a little drunk at the time.

"Does Salazar want Durse to make new robes for him?" Durse immediately asked once we walked in the room.

"Yes. Make me a dark green robe, almost black. Also, make Draco here a black robe of our finest material." I ordered.

Durse gave a curt nod before measuring us both.

"Why are you making me a robe, Salazar?" Draco asked while we were waiting.

"Because I had a small moment of wanting to be nice." I retorted and said no more until Durse came back with our new robes.

Then we went our separate ways to change. The meeting was going to be in an hour and I wanted to have time to relax before I would go. Going all tensed up probably wouldn't make it turn out well.

Voldemort's POV

The night was going to be interesting. Inside, I was nervous. My one and only son was actually going to take my place. He was going to rule from now on. I would just be sitting on the sidelines, watching, as muggles say.

"Father." Salazar walked into the throne room. His new robe fit him perfectly and billowed behind him as he seemingly glided towards me. His face showed no emotion except determination and a seriousness that no one could explain.

"Salazar, are you ready for this?" I asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He looked me in the eye. We both had hazel eyes but now Salazar's were almost a complete red. The difference between when mine were red though was that mine were a blood red that people feared with their lives. Salazar's didn't make you feel that way. His were softer, more welcoming. You would want to think it impossible, red eyes are just too abnormal, but my son was able to make it work.

"Yes, Father, I'm ready." His voice was sure and calm. "But I have just one request from you."

I told him to ask it. I already had an idea of what it would be.

"You've had your own right hands in the past and your own heirs. Now, since I'm to take on your role, I ask for your acceptance of Draco being my own right hand. He's been there with me since the beginning. Sure, at first I didn't know what to think of him, but then we started getting along. And, his finding me when I ran away has put me in his debt. I wish to repay him with something he, I believe, has wanted for some time."

I nodded. "Your request is possible. Tonight, Draco will become your right hand, no question asked. You've deserved it. He's deserved it too. Both of you have proven yourselves worthy to me."

A small smile formed across Salazar's face before he took his place on his throne. Only minutes later, the Death Eaters arrived. They all stood in front of us, waiting for the explanation of being called at such an unusual time.

When I stood, they all bowed to me before I spoke. "Tonight, I know, is not the usual time for you all to be here. But, tonight, something important is about to happen. This thing I've created, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, all started near the end of my stay at Hogwarts. It was only me, a few of my graduating classmates, and a few underclassmen. Now, it's people from all over Europe and even a few from the West. But my time as the reigning power has come to an end and I must hand my position to someone younger."

I turned to my son and motioned for him to stand next to me.

"Salazar has been my choice since the day he was born. Of course, we were separated for a time, but I never changed my mind. He is my own flesh and blood, the one who will know you the best because they have a part of you in them and their other part is the person you loved and trusted the most in your life. Now, at the age of seventeen, he will take my place as ruler and lead us into taking over the muggle world and keeping the wizarding world under our control."

I turned to face him and he faced me. Both of us had our wands out. We touched the other person's tip of their wand with our own and kept them there.

"Do you accept the responsibilities of being a Dark Lord that I am about to pass onto you?" I asked my son in Parseltounge.

"Yes." A strand of light wrapped around our two wands holding them tightly together.

"Do you accept the consequences of being a Dark Lord, including the pain and torture you will inflict and the pain and torture you will receive?"

"Yes." Another strand of light wrapped around the wands.

"Do you accept the abandonment of those who do not agree with your choice of being a Dark Lord and the followers who do agree with you?"

"Yes."

I kept asking Salazar questions and he kept answering the same. Soon, the strands of light were almost too bright to look at.

"Do you accept your choice of being a Dark Lord?"

"Yes."

A final strand of light wound itself around our wands. The light didn't stay white though. Instead it turned a complete black. Then, the black strands unwound themselves from the wands and instead wrapped around Salazar's arm. Everyone watched with fascination as the black strands braided themselves together around his wand arm. Then, suddenly they seeped into his robe sleeve and a small hiss escaped from Salazar's mouth.

Slowly he rolled up his sleeve. Black lines covered his arm in an intricate design. Many crisscrossed each other and others rooted out from another one and formed spirals or other types of shapes.

"Now, here is your new Dark Lord." I announced holding up his newly decorated arm. "Salazar Slytherin Voldemort Riddle!"

A/N: That's it...I'm finished...okay not really, but this story is. Now, you'll have to read A Life Unspoken. It's the third part of the whole thing, and I'm beginning to think that it will be the last. But, I haven't decided yet. For I fact I know it's the last of Salazar being the main character. I'm sorry if you're disappointed with that. So, please review and tell me what you think of this chapter and the story as a whole. I always appreciate what my readers have to say, good or bad. Thanks for staying with me, even with the huge break of me posting up nothing new for awhile.