At first, I like to say thanks to all of you for making this story to have over 150 reviews.
Now, I like to say couple of things.
Yes, English is not my native language; I am an ethnic Bengali from Bangladesh.
I edited the chapter regarding sorting and made Hermione Gryffindor again.
Now enjoy the chapter.
Chapter9:
"It seems like you know about my heritage, it is a surprise for me." Tom's portrait responded with a smirk.
"You should not be surprised by that, you had made a colorful reputation in wizengamot as Lord Gaunt." Harry replied with cautious tone. It seemed like Tom's Gaunt heritage was not a public knowledge till his fourth year in Hogwarts.
"From my third year, I was planning to make an impact in the wizengamot, however from your response; it looks like I am no longer alive in this world." Curiosity was clearly visible in Tom's voice.
Harry was wondering about giving an answer, which would not reveal anything about Tom's current living state. Harry also realized that, Tom was taking the scenario of his death in the future normally. Therefore, Tom was not interested so much in immortality at the age of 14. It also seemed like Tom did not talk with his portrait about his pursuit of immortality.
"I am glad that, you are taking the possibility of your death in the future very normally. All I can say, you no longer exist among us as Lord Gaunt." Harry told Tom in a diplomatic tone. He knew his answer was technically correct, as the Lord Gaunt was dead for the magical UK for long time.
Harry also knew that, apart from him nobody was aware about Lord Voldemort and Lord Gaunt connection.
"Off course, I will take the possibility of my death in future normally, despite being wizards; I know we are still mortal. Everybody have to die at some point of his or her life, however it is important to leave your impact on the society, before you perish." Tom's portrait told Harry in a philosophical tone.
Harry was obviously little shocked to hear that kind of philosophy from his bitter enemy's portrait. It looked like Voldemort personality changed a lot during his later years. Tom at the age of 14 was little arrogant and ambitious that was perfectly normal for a Slytherin student. However, Tom's view about life and death shifted later and he became the infamous you know who.
"I am getting the feeling that, you thought extensively about magical society and your role in it when, you were student of this school." Harry was feeling very curious to know about the opinion of the 14 years old Tom in regards of British magical society. It might help him to understand the mindset of Tom more efficiently.
"You are right Harry, I thought extensively about our British wizarding society, when I was student of this school. After growing up in a muggle orphanage, the wizarding Britain was a refuge for me, especially Hogwarts that was a home for me. However, very soon I realized that, our magical society is facing slow cultural death. The mocking and neglect for our native culture was very painful for me to watch." Tom's portrait told Harry.
"You are sounding like a passionate conservative about wizarding culture to me." Harry commented.
"It is true that, I wanted to preserve wizarding culture of our country, I spent huge amount of my time in Hogwarts library to learn about the struggle of early wizards and witches against magic phobic muggle people. Their struggle and sacrifice made me proud about our rich wizarding culture.
However, I was never part of the conservative wing of Hogwarts student body. I think you may now know that, I am unfortunately a half-blood, therefore, I had to hide my muggle heritage from my Slytherin classmate, but majority of the conservative students were always suspicious about my blood status. Slytherin house was not very much tolerant to non-pure blood students during my time as students of Hogwarts. I was also an introvert person, because of my upbringing with some filthy muggle children in the orphanage. I was somewhat talented academically that also did not go well with so-called conservative student. Therefore, I did not have any friends there and I did not belong to any faction of the Hogwarts." Tom told Harry.
"So, you were a lone wolf in the school?" Harry asked.
"Your description is not wrong, I was unable to assimilate in Slytherin and I obviously did not have any friends outside of my house, I was after all a dangerous snake to rest of three houses of Hogwarts. Now, enough about me, tell me about you Mr. Sayre." Tom's portrait asked Harry.
"What do you want to know about me?" Harry asked him.
"First tell me about the reappearance of Ancient House of Sayre in magical Britain. As far as I knew that, the main line of House Sayre left this country for USA before Grindelwald attacked this land." Tom remarked.
"Yes, it is true that, my grandfather left this country for USA, however, I decided to come back to my country of origin." Harry told him.
"I am glad that, you decided to come back to this country. Nevertheless, I did not know that House Sayre has gained parseltongue ability." Tom's portrait smiled little after saying that.
"Why, you are so sure about the fact that, I am a parselmouth?" Harry asked him.
"You came here alone and the path of Chamber of secrets can only be opened by a parselmouth. Therefore, I have no doubt that, you are a parselmouth." Tom's portrait replied.
"You are a worthy Slytherin Heir Gaunt, your suspicion is right, I am indeed a parselmouth, and I think I get my parseltongue ability due to some kinds of recessive genes which was hidden in House Sayre's genetics before me." Harry replied by giving muggle reference for that. He wanted to see how much 14 years old Tom Riddle felt about muggle.
"Genetics, gene this type of terms I heard from some 8th year muggle born students, when I was I my third year. Therefore, I am little surprised by your interest in muggle science." Tom's portrait told Harry in a curious voice.
"You should never ignore any chance of gaining knowledge, even when the source of knowledge is muggle." Harry confidently retorted.
"I agree with your assessment about the necessity of gaining knowledge from any source and I know muggles are not completely useless even though they are inferior to us wizards." Tom told Harry.
Harry was clearly surprised when Tom's portrait told him about the resourcefulness of muggles; Harry learned that, Tom Riddle in his fourth year was more 'moderate' about muggles compared to his universe's Draco Malfoy. Harry wanted to know more about young Tom's opinion about muggles, therefore, he asked him about his opinion regarding muggle borns in wizarding society and Harry was little surprised when Tom's portrait gave him the following statement-
"As for now I think, most muggle borns are busy in injecting some weird muggle values in our magical society, which is bad for our magical society. They are trying to make our society a photocopy of their societies and they are encouraged by some liberals, who do not have any respect for their own native culture. They claimed to be tolerant but ironically, they are intolerant about their own native culture. Those fools do not realize that, muggle world also have many negative aspects in their culture.
On the other hand, if we can integrate muggle borns into our culture, then they can become pioneer of future great magical houses. They can increase our workforce; they can become semi decent members of our society. The assimilation of muggle borns is one of the key of preventing the cultural death of our society. However, the conservatives is not interested into muggle borns assimilation in our society, they are not even interested in talking with anyone who is not a pureblood, let alone muggle borns. They think by observing some customs exclusively, they are protecting our culture.
The wizarding birth rate is very low among purebloods as many of them are only interested in getting a male heir. Therefore, muggle borns are needed for a sustainable wizarding population in our society. Nevertheless, a population without its native magical culture is like a body without soul. Such societies eventually collapsed due to its inner dysfunction."
After hearing the statement Harry learned that, Tom Riddle of this universe was very much level headed when he was 14 years old. Harry also found himself agreeing with many portion of Tom's statement. The assimilation of first generation wizard into magical culture was very much essential for the survival of British wizarding society. A society should never forget its roots when it was welcoming elements of foreign culture.
In Harry's mind, one thing was very much clear that, something big must be happened in the latter years of this universe's Tom Riddle that made him extremist about muggle borns and muggles.
"I am impressed by your depth of thinking on this critical issue, Heir Gaunt. I also agree with you partly on this subject. However, I want to know, why Tom decided to create you and left you eventually in the chamber." Harry asked to the portrait.
"I found this chamber, when I was a second year student; I was feeling very happy after finding this ancient chamber. I thought, I found something important about my heritage. I wanted to leave a sign of me in this chamber so that future finder of this chamber able to know about me.
The idea of creating a portrait of me came from after visiting Headmaster chamber; it was a hard work for me, nevertheless I was feeling very happy when I was able to complete my portrait.
"I must say making a portrait of yourself at the age of 14 without any outside help is a great reflection of your magical talent. Nevertheless, I am assuming that, Tom did not return in this chamber for a long time." Harry told Tom's portrait.
"Thanks, for the compliment Mr. Sayre and your assumption is absolutely right. The real Tom never came back to this chamber after one fine day of his fifth year. The real Tom was looking different that night and before leaving the chamber for the final time, he looked at me for few seconds with an emotionless face." Tom's portrait told Harry.
In another Slytherin boy's dormitory:
Draco Malfoy was feeling totally pissed after attending classes. Draco was preparing for Slytherin leadership from very young age. He was studying hard, training regularly with his father by practicing various kinds of spells. He was able to establish an alliance with Nott, Moon, and Parkinson.
After the showdown with Greengrass and her newly found cousin Sayre, Draco was expecting some kinds of rivalry from them; however, he was ready for their challenge. He knew that the Greengrass girl was little ahead of him academically; nevertheless, he thought that, he was not significantly behind of her in that matter and his political connection would compensate his little deficit in academic matter.
He was also feeling little curious about Greengrass's newly arrived cousin before coming to Hogwarts. He studied about all the influential families of magical UK at very young age. House Sayre's main line had left UK for USA in 50s. House Sayre were never rich when they lived in UK, however House Sayre was one of the oldest magical family in this country. They were one of the oldest purebloods in the whole UK. They were always reluctant to choose a side in the battle between light and dark.
Nevertheless, House Sayre was not a factor in the British politics for last 40 years. Therefore, when Hadrian Sayre appeared in the British magical society, it created interest among pureblood circle. However, everybody knew that young Sayre would obviously become ally of the Greengrass; after all, they were Heir Sayre's only living relative.
Draco could clearly say that, from his interaction with Greengrass and Sayre in the Diagon Alley, support from heir Sayre had obviously given mental and political support to Greengrass. Heir Sayre was behaving more politely with him compared to his cousin, but, Draco knew that, it was fake & Hadrian Sayre would never become his friend.
Draco was that time still confident about the dominance of dark faction in Slytherin first year. If the cousins had Davies and Zabini as their ally then, he had Nott, Parkinson, and Moon as his allies.
Draco's father was also involved in strengthening his son's position in Slytherin house by contacting with families of influential older Slytherins. Everything was going smoothly for Draco and his allies. They were well received by the leadership of older Slytherins. Their rivals were sitting at the end of Slytherin table.
Draco was happy; however, it changed when the classes were started. He was surprised like all other peoples in the class to see how very quickly Sayre completed his Transfiguration task. Hadrian Sayre was like a super prodigy in Transfiguration and then to add insult to his injury Greengrass was able to complete her tasks quickly.
Draco completely lost it when even Davies and Zabini were also able to complete their Transfiguration tasks before him and his allies. Draco felt deeply humiliated by that.
In the History of magic class, Sayre used the class to promote the ideology of his faction. Sayre and his allies wanted to integrate 'mud bloods' into British magical culture, which in Draco's mind was completely unacceptable. In Draco's mind 'mud bloods' was not worthy of having place in the society.
Draco was also disturbed by the criticism of Dark Lord from Sayre. In Draco's mind, Dark Lord was savior to purebloods.
In their common room, Draco was quietly observing his rivals. Draco could clearly see the smugness in the faces of his rivals. Their smugness was making Draco mad inside.
Then, in Potion class, Sayre and Greengrass were also able to steal the show by their talents. Draco finally realized that, his rivals were more academically advanced than he was. Draco did not know how to react with this new fact. He was already hearing whispers that, his rivals were the most talented group of first year students in decades.
His rivals were already attracting the attention of upper year Slytherin leadership. In Slytherin, the members always respected power. All of his rivals were superior to him and his friends in terms of magical power; however, magical power was only a part of the whole power structure of the House of Slytherin. To prevail in Slytherin house you also needed political power. Draco and his allies sill had significantly more political powers than their rivals. Therefore, their group would maintain their dominance over others for now and upcoming future.
Nevertheless, Draco had learned how to identify a threat in its initial stage. He would never let the so-called neutrals to take control of their house. He was determined to preserve the dominance of dark faction in Slytherin for his entire student life.
In Greengrass Manor:
Athena was clearly surprised by the sudden arrival of Lady Moon in her manor. She was never socially closer to Lady Moon. They only had formal relationship. She was already suspecting the intentions behind the sudden arrival of Lady Moon in her manor.
"It is good to see you again, Helena, I hope you and your families are doing well." Athena told Lady Moon.
"I am also feeling very glad to visit your manor and thanks for asking the well being of my family, we are doing just fine. However, I come here with a proposal." Helena told Athena.
"What kinds of proposal, Helena?" Athena asked her.
"Edward and I want to make a wedding contract between your nephew Hadrian and my daughter Lilith. We have no doubt that, our girl Lilith will make a good wife to your nephew Hadrian." Helena told Athena.
"On behalf of House Greengrass and House Sayre, I am feeling deeply honored by the fact that, House Moon consider my nephew Hadrian as a good match for young Lilith. However, you should know that, both Shawn and I believe in giving freedom to our kids for choosing their life partners. Hadrian despite being son of my first cousin is like a son to us. We are his guardian and we think that, Hadrian like Daphne and Astoria should also have the same freedom in choosing his life partner. We don't want to force him in a loveless marriage." Athena politely told Helena.
"Off course you are considering young Hadrian like your own son, after all you are already imagining him as your future son in law. I think you already told your elder daughter to trap him. Young Hadrian will be a perfect husband for your ambitious daughter. He is an orphan and heir of an Ancient House. He is a good looking, rich and talented young wizard. Therefore, you want to keep the boy so that, you may able to marry him with your daughter.
I know how much your paternal family means to you and with the union of Hadrian and Daphne; you will get a golden chance to unite your families. You will also able to strengthen your house both politically and economically by doing that." Helena was obviously not pleased with the answer of Athena so she reacted strongly.
"Helena, you should not think my politeness as my weakness. House Greengrass will never use an orphan boy for their political benefit. Unlike some other families, our families have some sense of morality." Athena strongly responded.
"Athena, please do not try to pretend like a fool by giving me a lecture on morality. Ancient House of Moon always knows how to achieve its goal. We will not hesitate in adopting any methods for achieving that goal." After saying that, Lady Moon left the Greengrass manor immediately.
Athena was feeling very much pissed after getting threat from Helena. House Moon is infamous for adopting immoral methods to achieve their goals. She was feeling little worried about Hadrian. She was suspecting that, Moons would even use their 11 years old daughter to get Hadrian.
Athena decided that, she would tell Daphne to look after of her cousin especially from the Moon girl.
In Hogwarts:
Harry was running around the quidditch pitch and thinking about his conversion with Tom's portrait, which occurred in last night. It was a shocking experience for him. At the age of 14, Tom Riddle of this universe was somewhat reasonable person. Harry almost felt sorry for Tom's portrait and 14 years old Tom Riddle. May be if Tom was not sent into a muggle orphanage and neglected by his classmates, then he would able to become a somewhat better person.
However, one thing was clear to Harry, something big must happened in Tom's fifth years that altered his personality and behavior. Harry was determined to know about that incident to understand the mystery of Tom Riddle more effectively.
Tom's portrait was also very helpful in telling Harry about different aspects of chamber of secrets. It told Harry about the hidden library of Salazer Slytherin where all the books were written in parseltongue. Harry decided that, he would visit that library soon. Tom's portrait also told Harry about the hidden dueling room in the chamber, which would be very useful in Harry's opinion for practicing some advanced spells.
At the end, both Harry and Tom's portrait were talking about their mutual experiences as the member of Slytherin house. Harry was also involved in discussion about various traditions and political ideology of wizarding Britain.
It seemed like Tom's portrait was delighted to talk with someone after so many years. Therefore, it talked with Harry with great enthusiasm. By talking with it, Harry once again realized that, there is a world beyond black and white. The world was mostly consisting of various shades of grey. Harry also reminded that, people could change for worse or better in some extra ordinary circumstance.
Harry also felt the need of serious reforms in wizarding society. The wizarding UK should be de polarized to protect itself from slow death. Harry also realized the necessity of building a wizarding orphanage for magical orphans. He decided to talk with Shawn about this matter.
Besides that, Harry was feeling anxious to see Quirrell in the class. Harry was still feeling there was something wrong with Quirrell; he wanted to discover what was wrong with Quirrell.
Harry was also looking forward to face challenges in Herbology class from Neville Longbottom and in Charms class from his cousins. Though Harry was sure that, at the end he would win in both of challenges. However, He also liked some competition.
Harry was literally excited to attend Astronomy classes. The stars in the night sky were always a matter of fascination for him. He wanted to learn Astronomy more seriously in this universe.
Overall, Harry was enjoying his new life in Hogwarts. The castle was giving him the familiar feelings even though it was situated in new universe. Those classrooms were reminding him about his own universe. Harry was thinking about his other self that were living in his home universe with his friends and trying to rebuild the magical UK.
However, Harry wanted to rebuild this universe's magical UK without making it suffer from another war. Tom Riddle of this universe was much more complex character than his home universe one. Nevertheless, Harry was more prepared to face him in this universe. He had more experience, maturity, and better ally in this universe compared to his experience in his original universe.
In Slytherin House's common room:
Daphne was feeling excited at the prospect of attending Charms and DADA classes. Those classes were her favorite classes. She was a more than decent in dueling compared to most of her classmates. Filius was a champion duelist and Charms master. She was pleased after getting mentorship from Minerva and Horace for Transfiguration and Potions; however, she would be more than pleased if he got mentorship from Filius. Daphne did not know what to think about Prof. Quirrell. She heard that, Prof. Quirrell was a talented student when he was studying in Hogwarts. Therefore, she decided to give benefit of the doubt to the DADA professor before making an opinion about his teaching skill.
After coming at common room, she once again found Tracy, Blaise there like previous day. Daphne also noticed that, Harry was not present there like previous day. "May be he is busy in some morning exercise." Daphne thought. Her second cousin was full of surprise; he was a perfect boy in all respect. Daphne also wanted to see her cousin's skill in DADA, Charms. She also wanted to practice with him in the room of requirements to increase her skills.
Harry finally arrived in the room after completing his morning exercise. Then, the four of them left for Hogwarts hall room to take their breakfast. They were busy in taking of their breakfast when they saw owls were coming to them. Shawn and Athena replied them by writing long letters to them. Both Shawn and Athena praise Harry and Daphne for their performance in the classes. However, both of them advised Harry and Daphne to become more cautious about their surroundings.
Athena also sent a separate letter to Daphne in which she told Daphne to look after of her cousin from the moon girl. After reading the letter, Daphne was fuming with anger inside. The Ancient House of Moon was known for adopting less than honorable ways to get their demands. She already noticed that, Lilith Moon was looking at her cousin in funny ways. Now, her family was also after of Hadrian. She decided that, she would keep a close eye on Lilith Moon.
The Charms class was very interesting, as Filius was an outstanding teacher. Both Harry and Daphne enjoyed the class. Filius discussed about various theories of Charms in simple way. He also demonstrated, various spell works related to Charms. At the end of the class, Filius promised them in the next class, they would be able to practice floating charms.
After that, the four of them along with other students left for Herbology class. Pomona was very friendly to her students. She asked them about the utility of various kinds of magical plants. Harry and Daphne, Neville was able to answer many of them. Harry was able to get special attention from Pomona by giving her a unique answer about the utilization of magical plants by integrating it with Transfiguration. Pomona introduced them about devil snare. Harry was able to demonstrate the plantation and destruction of devil snare.
Finally, four friends arrived in DADA class; they were sharing that class with Ravanclaw. All the students were excited to learn defense. After five minutes, a smiling and confident Prof. Quirrell arrived in the class.
"Hello! Students are you ready to learn some spells." Quirrell asked.
I like to say thanks to
WhiteEagle1985,
Hdzulfiker.
Tmn67,
Guest,
Outofthisworldgirl.
Kairan1979,
SkittlezBabex146,
Guest,
Neo,
Pokemark17,
42,
Guest,
Jslee102,
magitech,
jack riddle,
InfinityMask,
Imagination3101,
Tanzer81,
Varun,
Lyn1991,
BrotherCaptainSheperd,
God of all,
eldroin2,
sara1678,
Guest.
For their thoughtful reviews.