Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: ~Blabla~ is Parseltongue. Ha, who would've guessed?
oOoOoOo
„Well then, Harry, welcome to your new home."
„Uh... it looks nice?"
Harrison scowled at him, making the kid flinch.
"It looks like a ramshackle, haunted old house, hatchling. That's what you're thinking, 'cause that's what it is. Well, except for the haunted part. I don't think I saw any ghosts in here..." He patted the younger one's shoulder, smiling. "But don't worry, hatchling, we're fixing it up with magic pretty fast. You can even pick the color of your room."
"I get an own room?", little Harry asked with big eyes.
"Of course you do."
Suddenly Harry bit his lip and looked down. "B-but what do you mean, fixing it by... by m-magic?"
"Exactly what it sounds like, stupid", he sneered and drew his wand.
"See? That's what wizards like we use to channel our magic. A wand is the most important thing to a wizard – so no, you can't borrow it. Best you forget everything your filthy aunt and and uncle told you about magic. They're muggles, non-magical people who don't understand a thing about our world. You, however, are a wizard, just like your parents were."
"You knew my parents!", Harry called and somehow that seemed to be more important to him then the magic-thing.
Harrison signed. "Actually, I never got to know them, no. I made some researches a long time ago... But I'm afraid I can't tell you much. Now do you want to see me do magic or not?"
Harry nodded hesitantly.
Harrison lifted his wand and pointed it at the old manor that looked indeed pretty run-down. A flick of his wand and a muttered word however turned the rotten wood into white stone, ranged with pitch black lines like a spiders web. The windows repaired and cleaned themselves, the roof got new shingles and the front law was rid of all weeds.
Harry watched in awe as Harrison did his magic and the old house turned into something that to a little child that knew nothing but a cupboard, seemed to be a palace.
"That's so cool!", he called excitingly. "It's like – like – like magic!"
Harrison snickered. "I told you so. Now come in, we need to fix the rooms."
The house looked just as bad from the inside as it did on the outside. Cobwebs were everywhere, dust and dirt covered the floor and the broken furniture. Harrison led his ward into the kitchen first. A quick Scourgify got rid of the dirt, followed by multiple Reparos and then some transfiguration to make the furniture less muggle. The same he did for the living room, the dining hall, the three offices, four bathrooms, the master bedroom and the five smaller ones, the library, the cellar and even the store room. All the time Harry followed him, calling out in awe when he did something particularly cool. Sometimes Harrison let him pick the color of the walls or the style of the furniture – and the kid was very creative in doing so. When Harrison added a little tower in the third and last floor, explaining it to be an owlery for the pets he wished to buy soon, he used the chance to explain everything about wizarding communication to his ward. Harry was delighted to hear that there was a whole world of magical people and that he now belonged to it. It was, after all, a childs dream come true. After overcoming his first shyness and fear he asked lots of question. Did dragons really exist? What about unicorns and fairies? What did wizards do as a living? What had his parents done? Did wizards use flying motorcycles for traveling? (Where the hell did that come from?)
At the end of the day little Harry had an own room painted in white and dark blue with a gigantic four-poster bed, noble furniture made out of ebony that Harrison planned on filling with lots of new clothing, as well as some transfigured wizarding toys. They wouldn't hold that long but it was enough until he could go shopping with him. He told the child to rest and come down for dinner at seven.
For the rest of the time he began warding the house. Up until now it only had some basic muggle-repelling charms so the people in the village wouldn't wonder why the old manor changed so much. But Harrison also needed wards against vermin in, well, the whole house really, as well as some to make it weather- and fireproof. And that was not even mentioning the vast amount on safety wards he planned on layering it with. Harrison planned on buying a house elf or two, because really, he knew next to nothing about taking care of a child and he had never been particularly fond of householding spells either. But that would have to wait until tomorrow. For now he had to prepare the meal himself which resulted in some salty scrambled eggs. Yet to little Harry it seemed to be the best food he ever had. Sadly, it probably was.
It was in the middle of their meal Harrison suddenly felt Marvolo, his other half draw nearer. During to the abruptness of his arrival, he had probably used the floo. Which meant he had gone to the ministry to connect their new manor to the system. Was that what he had been doing today?
Hearing the footsteps in the floor he suddenly began sweating. Marvolo would not be happy seeing their guest. Less then ever if he heard that it was a permanent guest.
Crap.
Harrison stood.
"Harry, why don't you go to your room now."
"B-But I'm not finished yet", the boy said.
"You can take your meal upstairs, just-"
But it was to late.
The door opened and Marvolo stepped in. Harrison had wisely positioned himself between him and his ward, not enough to hide him from view but certainly enough to stop any attack he might attempt.
"My, what a surprise", Harrison called smiling. "You came home just in time for dinner."
Marvolos gaze passed little Harry and his eyes narrowed.
"I already ate", he said, "but I doubt I drank so much, yet I'm seeing double. Care to explain?"
On the outside he seemed calm enough but Harrison, who was connected to him in a way two people had never been before, knew the truth. He felt his carefully suppressed anger, his stress and annoyance. This would be difficult. It wasn't like he never ever had any difficult situations with Marvolo. His life practically consisted of nothing but difficult situations ever since Marvolo had acknowledged him as his partner. He would get through this too.
"Well, you see, this is little Harry Potter. Little Harry, this is Marvolo Slytherin. He lives here together with me."
"Hello Mr Slytherin", Harry said smiling.
Wow. That sounded weird.
"I'm asking again, Harrison, what does he do here?" The last part was hissed in parseltongue. Always a bad sign.
"Well – you see – I went to look for him, you know, out of curiosity. And he lived with his muggle relatives. Muggles! They were horrible. I mean, what would you have done?"
"I certainly wouldn't have picked him up like some kind of stray dog!", Marvolo hissed furiously. "Gods, what are we, a happy family? Will you be Mummy and I'll be Daddy and we'll pretend as if everything is alright? As if all of this isn't some kind of twisted disaster we're in?"
Silence.
Harrison glared at him, angrily sending him mind-messages to take this out into the hall, anywhere but not in front of the kid.
Suddenly little Harry spoke up.
"You can both be my Daddy if you want to", he said with that kind of innocence only a child is able to express.
Harrison couldn't hold it any longer. He laughed.
"See", he meant, snickering quietly. "We can both be his Daddy. Problem solved."
Marvolo seemed to be on the brink of murdering someone.
"Hatchling, why don't you go upstairs? It's late already."
Harry didn't seem to happy but complied anyway.
"And don't forget to brush your teeth!", he called after him. Only when he heard the noise of his footsteps becoming quieter he turned back to Marvolo.
"Look, Vol, I really had no other choice", he tried. "Those people treated him like vermin. He was sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs, for gods sake! I checked it, they had a perfectly good second bedroom that was used for storage! He had to do all kind of chores and you saw how skinny he is. He didn't even know his own name because he was so used to insults! I couldn't leave him there. We don't even expose mudbloods to such surroundings, taking them into orphanages. But in this world there are none, so..."
"So you just took him in? Harrison, I know you have this hero-complex sometimes-"
"I do not!"
"-but would you just think about what you're doing for once? That boy is famous, his absence will be noticed."
"A got him legally adopted, alright?"
"You did what?!"
"Sure did! There was no other possibility! It was Dumbledore who put him there and remember what kind of power he had over people? Nobody would have taken him in, even if I were to tell people what happened there. It's because of those crazy blood wards. I suppose they would be a pretty useful protection against you or anything dark. People would hear that and think nothing his own family could do to the boy would be as bad as what you would. But I know how that is to grow up without a proper childhood and I don't want that to happen to him! Can't you understand that?"
"I – I do, alright? You could have just... threatened them or something, so they would treat him better. It was not necessary to take him here. Soon it will be made public that we have claimed two of the most ancient and most dark titles there are. Everyone will look upon us. The Light will think you kidnapped the boy, to kill or maim him or teach him to be the next Dark Lord. But the dark families themselves, they aren't that stupid. They'll see that you care for the boy and they will take that as a weakness."
"Oh come on, as if they could seriously threaten me in some way!"
"That's not the point. We were as successful as we were because we were invincible. Besides they could threaten you, because you are him!"
"So now we're suddenly the same as our alternate selves, are we?"
"By taking him in you're endangering him!"
"This isn't about danger! He can take a little risk, I'll just protect him. Threatening his relatives wouldn't do anything 'cause it's not just that he needs three meals a day and clean clothing. He's a child and he needs love! That's what he could never get in that place, that's why I had to take him in."
Marvolo laughed hollowly. "Love? Honestly?" He stepped forward. Harrison refused to flinch under his threatening gaze. "You're the Dark Prince, Harrison. Do you remember? Do you remember what that means? It means you're a murderer. It means you killed, you tortured and you made people do even more horrible things in your name. You really think after all that... That someone like you is even capable of love?"
"Counterquestion", Harrison said, coming closer towards him until there was barely an inch between them. "Have you, Marvolo, ever loved someone? Have you, in your entire life, ever loved anyone other then yourself?"
The dark wizard looked into his eyes challengingly.
"No", he said clearly and without a doubt.
"See", Harrison whispered. "That's the point, right there. 'Cause even if I'm just like you, that does in no case except that I am perfectly capable of loving myself."
Marvolo stared at him. "You really want to pull that through, don't you?"
"I do."
The Dark Lord pinched his nose and let out a sigh.
"Fine", he snapped finally. "He can stay."
"Well, now, isn't that awesome."
"But you're the one responsible for him!"
"Of course."
"I don't want to have anything to do with that child."
Harrison rolled his eyes. "Understood."
"I mean it! If you can't control him I'm dropping him on the street. On a highway, in fact."
"Vol?"
"Ye-"
"Shut up."
And just like that Marvolo found his lover's lips on his. He was pushed against the wall and Harrisons mouth wandered lower, to his throat, his neck, unbuttoning his robe...
"Don't you dare thinking you can blackmail me with that...", Marvolo hissed as he clawed his fingers in the back of his neck, leaving angry red marks.
"Don't know what you're talking about", Harrison said grinning. "You simply made you boyfriend a very happy man today. Lets receive your reward!"
He whispered a spell, vanishing Marvolos shirt but taking the liberty of freeing him from his belt on himself. The older one not-so-grudgingly accepted his impromptu session and started kissing him in return. A few moments later his hands were in his trousers and gods, those were far to tight by now!
~I see you don't plan on holding back on the... 'adult stuff' with the kid around~, Marvolo hissed, kissing his neck and nibbling his earlobe.
~Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart~, he teased, cutting of Marvolos angry repeat at the nickname by pulling off his trousers. ~What else are privacy wards good for?~
oOoOoOo
Two hours later the Dark Duo had somehow managed to get to the masters bedroom. Lying next to each other covered in sweat, looking up at the ceiling and enjoying the aftermath of their escapades each of them followed his own thoughts.
"Now", Harrison finally said, "while I was getting us a noisy little brat to live with, what have you done the whole day?"
Marvolo needed a few moments longer then usual to answer.
"I got myself a job", he said finally.
"Oh, you did?", Harrison exclaimed surprised. "I though you'd work as a curse breaker on occasion for Gringotts like me."
"It's kind of suspicious if both of us do it that way, isn't it? I only made the tests to proof my abilities since I don't have NEWTs."
"Fine then... What kind of job do you have?"
Another short silence.
"I'll be teaching Defense against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, starting in September."
Harrison was shocked. "The fuck – you will what!?"
"I don't think I have to repeat myself."
"But – Marvolo! Have you forgotten that Albus Dumbledore is our greatest enemy? You won't be able to do anything under his nose! He'll watch you like a hawk, that will severely restrict our actions. Why the hell did you do that?"
"I have my reasons."
"Oh, and you didn't think that maybe you could discuss that with me beforehand?"
Marvolo glared at him. "Really, Harrison? Really?"
He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, yeah, I take that one back."
"I know that you always... wanted to have a family, Harrison", Marvolo whispered, suddenly very serious. "Do not deny that. It was probably the only regret you ever had. You didn't just take the kid in because he's your alternate self. You didn't do it because of the muggles either or because he's the boy-who-lived. You did it because you wanted a child, an heir. Don't you dare judging me for doing the same thing."
Of course Harrison knew that Marvolo loved teaching. Not only because he could show his superior knowledge and have the chance to bash other people, but also because he just liked it. And he was good at it too. Frightening so. In the beginning Harrison and Marvolo had trained their knights themselves. That group later became the best of their soldiers. But as the war drew forward they had to think in bigger dimensions and their job had dwarfed to planning, managing and discussing only interrupted by occasionally leading a raid. It had almost become boring.
But now they were in this new world were no one knew them, where they could start over. Back to zero again. That was their chance to fulfill all those wishes they had never allowed themselves to think about.
Before that whole plan with conquering the world had come up Marvolo had seriously considered just staying at Hogwarts. It had been his home after all. If Dippet hadn't refused that demand on Dumbledores suggestion, who knows...who knows what would have happened.
Now was his chance to make it better. Dumbledore couldn't do anything against him. If Marvolo wanted to he could waltz in there with his title, fire the current house of Slytherin and take the job by himself. Actually, that might just be what he'd done.
"So, teaching, yeah? Does that mean that we're staying for at least a year?", Harrison asked.
"If you're worrying about that curse... You know I was the one to put it there, right? And as I am a professional curse breaker it shouldn't be too suspicious that I'd be able to break it."
Harrison blinked. So Marvolo already planned for a much longer stay, did he? Well... He certainly wouldn't complain.
Suddenly he began to snicker.
"What's it?", Marvolo asked scowling.
"Oh, nothing. Just imagining Big D's face when he saw a spitting image of the Dark Lord walking in on him, demanding to teach little children."
A smile played on Marvolos lips at that. "Yes... that was quite an experience."
oOoOo Flashback oOoOo
Albus Dumbledore took another lemon drop and scowled. Before him on the desk in his office laid a list of people. People that he had considered for the once again free spot of the Defense against the Dark Arts position. He had already called most of them, receiving negative answers. Some he had considered but cast away again. That damnable curse... At the beginning it had amused him that the people seemed to be so wary of it. A curse on the teachers position? Laughable! But then year after year the professors dropped like flies. Even those that said right at the beginning they only wanted to stay for one year suffered from a terrible end. There came a time Dumbledore just couldn't ignore it anymore. He had checked the Hogwarts wards, the defensive professors office and any other place he could think of, searching for the anchor of the curse. Nothing had been found and so he couldn't remove it. Now he had the same problem of finding someone to do the job every year. The professors he found got less and less qualified but what was he supposed to do? He couldn't just drop the subject either.
It was almost three o'clock. He had an interview shortly. Someone had answered on his public announce in the Daily Prophet. He didn't raise his hopes high, though. It was likely that the guy was nothing but a fraud. No, Dumbledore would rather call all the old members of the Order of Phoenix before he took one of those. The headmaster glanced at his calender. What was the name again? He didn't seem to have noted it. Scowling harder he searched for the letter he had received this morning. It was signed with M.S. Curious...
In that moment the flames in his chimney flamed green and a dark figure could be seen forming in them. And into his office stepped – Lord Voldemort.
For a moment Dumbledore actually had trouble closing his mouth. A second later though he was on his feet, wand ready and eyes blazing with fire. He didn't rush into an attack though, rather he carefully accessed the situation. This Voldemort did not look like the snake-like creature the wizard had become shortly before he had begun his war. This man looked more like the still human Tom Riddle. Dark hair, handsome face, stormy gray eyes... He couldn't be older then twenty five. That man hadn't triggered any of his alarms specifically designed to recognize that aura. There were a few trinkets blinking, screaming 'dark magic' at him but it was not the sickly, twisted kind of sacrilege Voldemort had committed.
The posture of the man was absolutely calm. He didn't show any sign of aggressiveness. His occlumency shields were practically unbreakable, like Voldemorts had been and they both carried themselves with the same self-consciousness and elegance but even so the headmaster had concluded within seconds that they couldn't be the same person.
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore", the man greeted with a charming, oh so familiar smile. He even stuck out his hand for him to shake, seemingly not noticing the stiff posture of the headmaster.
"My Name is Marvolo Slytherin." And as Dumbledore still made no sign of shaking his hand, he added: "You did receive my letter of application, didn't you? We had a meeting scheduled."
Dumbldedore shook himself out of his stupor and took the offered hand, although he was very carefully looking out for curses.
"Of course, my excuses. I seemed to have been lost in though."
Was this some kind of Double? A clone? Had Voldemort somehow copied himself? What a terrible disaster that would be! The world had barely been able to handle one of them. But that surname ...It couldn't be a coincidence.
"So, Mr Slytherin..."
"Lord."
"Excuse me?"
"It's Lord Slytherin. I was at Gringotts yesterday, claiming the title. Of course I would be happy to exchange it for an 'professor' soon, if we can come to an agreement."
Dumbledore pretended to study the letter he got, just to avoid those damnable eyes. "Of course. I'm sorry, I did not know that there was anyone left of that line. It's been at least three hundred years since it has been claimed last. As it happens I only know of one line who still carries enough blood of that kind to do so and I've never heard of a Marvolo your age in it." He gave the man a sharp look over the bridge of his glasses.
Slytherin just leaned back, completely relaxed. "Does this have anything to do with my application, Sir?"
"Since claiming such a title without having the right to do so would be a criminal act I do think it does, yes."
Even their smirks were identical! It was infuriating.
"I suppose with 'Blood of that kind' you mean the ability to speak parseltongue", Slytherin said, "and the last line to carry it would be the Gaunts."
"Whose last living heir is none other then Lord Voldemort himself, if I'm correct", Dumbledore answered sharply.
Slytherin didn't flinch at the mention of the name. Not even the slightest.
"Well, you are not. I am the last living heir and I have claimed what is my birthright." He shook his head. "I wanted to be nice to you, Dumbldedore, but if you can't look past my family and swallow that petty prejudice of yours we can do it the hard way just as well. I do own part of Hogwarts now after all and as Lord Slytherin you have absolutely no right to deny me my post at this school should I chose to take it. Which I do, if you haven't noticed. Just because my father was a mad, murdering megalomaniac doesn't mean-"
Suddenly Dumbldedore felt very cold.
"Wait, you father!? Are – Are you saying that you are Voldemorts son!?"
Slytherin gave him an odd look. "What, don't you see the resemblance? I though you knew what he was like before he turned into a monster. I was told I look a lot like him."
"I..." But for the first time in what felt like ages he had no words. It was just so... ridiculous. The sheer conception of Voldemort having a son – No. It was hilarious.
"Actually I though you might be Voldemort himself coming back from the dead." He wanted to let it sound lighthearted but his voice was tense and he had to choke on the words.
Slytherin actually looked indignant. "Now, by all means, if that's what you though you should have avada'ed me on the spot, shouldn't you? What if I actually were Voldemort and you would've just stood there gaping like a fish?" He winked at him. Winked. Bloody hell.
Then again... Maybe this was a good sign. Voldemort wouldn't make such jokes. He wouldn't act so careless, even if it was just a mask. He was a sadistic madman but that was exactly the cause why he didn't posses this kind of black humor - to make "avada", part of the incantation of the killing curse into a bloody verb! Dumbledore pretty much doubted that the real Voldemort was even capable of joking or even laughing at anything other then bloody corpses.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I can expect then that you are out of sorts with your... father?" Gods, that sounded weird.
"It's not as if I ever really got to know him. But I do expect to have a certain protection within Hogwarts should he ever come back. He'd hunt me down for sure, even if it's just because I claimed the title he never was good enough for. Actually I would love to see his face when he hears I even exist. I hope he gets a heart attack. It would serve him right..."
Albus Dumbledore had absolutely no idea what to make out of this guy. Was he really Voldemorts son? If he wasn't he sure as hell was a plan of the Dark Lord for him to get back to power... Or gods forbid, he could already be back and this was his first move. But even if Slytherin was telling the truth Dumbledore could not trust him. He pretended to dislike Voldemort but that smile, those eyes, his whole behavior screamed Slytherin. It was a mask. A bloody infuriating, irritating mask but a mask nonetheless and it was so perfect he couldn't look behind it. He could be lying the blue from the sky or he could be completely honest, only hiding feelings of bitterness and hatred for his father that one would not show to a complete stranger.
But Dumbledore could not prove him wrong and if he had really claimed that title he was right, he could chose any post as a teacher in Hogwarts. But even if he could refuse, making an enemy out of him, it wasn't really the smartest thing to do. He couldn't let someone like that out of his sight after all.
"Well, Howarts is always happy to help those in need", he said, eyes twinkling. "I fear I do not remember you ever learning here?"
"No, I never attended Hogwarts", Slytherin replied. "I lived in Greece for most of my live. Now rumors tell that a certain someone is hiding in Albania. That was to close for my comfort so here I am now. Of course I know that my certifications would not be accepted in England so I went through some of Gringotts exams. I am now officially a professional curse breaker. Adding to that my experience with dark creatures I came by on my travels I think I am more then ready for the job."
"Even a little bit overqualified, maybe", Dumbldedore answered, hiding his concern. If Tom Riddle hadn't chosen to gather followers to conquer the world... That story, having lived in another land with a rich magical culture and fauna; traveling around learning about creatures and curses... It was exactly the kind of curriculum vitae he would have expected from the model student Tom Riddle when he came back to take office as a teacher. If what this man said was true... And it had to be if he was able to pass the Gringotts exams... then he had the potential to become just as powerful, if not even more so then Voldemort. It was an alarming thought. Now he almost wished this figure was really Voldemort in disguise, giving him a false background story that was on the one hand so plausible his camouflage was perfect and on the other so ridiculously fitting to the old Riddle that Dumbledore just had to recognize it. As if he was walking in here, practically introducing himself as the Dark Lord smiling because he knew the headmaster couldn't do anything against him. Pure provocation. Of course with that the worst case imaginable - and now that he thought about it, it could very well be the most likely one - would be that the still weak Voldemort had sent this son/double of him to mock Dumbledore and do his evil, preparing for his masters return right under his nose.
But as always the light of hope had to shine above all. He was still young. Still somewhat impressionable. Maybe... Just maybe he could still be changed..
"If you are still determined to take on the job... I will check your references and owl you within the week."
"I would appreciate that", Slytherin said and stood again. "It was nice getting to know you, Professor Dumbldedore. I look forward to a good cooperation with you."
"So do I", Dumbledore murmured. "Yes, I deary hope so..."