[It starts off really mawkish but please don't think I've degraded into pure fluff]
Chapter 28 - Operation: Raising Tom Riddle, Part 1
"Um...Doctor…I think you overdid it."
"You said pick a nice place, Harry."
The place was more than nice; it was sprawling, regal, and four storeys tall, surrounded by fenced-in gardens. Harry's throat felt dry. "How much did we end up making?"
"Using the forty Galleons you gave me..." The Doctor tilted his head. He wasn't very good with monetary calculations. "...let's just say Jack and I can never go back to Vegas. Or Reno. I reckon you're set for several lifetimes."
"Well, I hope Mrs Figg isn't too attached to her place in Little Whinging."
They traveled to Privet Drive on November 2, 1981, one day after baby Harry had been brought to the Dursleys, and found Arabella Figg at home. Once she recovered from the shock of meeting teenage Harry ("see, you did a good job watching over me, Mrs Figg, I'm alive and well") it wasn't difficult to persuade her into relocating to the posh mansion in London to watch over a different baby, with the assurance that nothing bad would happen to young Harry in the meantime. She was bright and steely; she understood the importance of helping Tom Riddle and was up to the task. As a bonus, she would have plenty of room to continue breeding her cats and Kneazles if she so desired.
They helped her move in, then went looking for Dumbledore at Hogwarts in June of 1938, just after the students had left for the summer and just before he would recruit Tom Riddle as a student. He'd been Professor of Transfiguration for thirty-four years, had accomplished amazing work with dragon's blood and alchemy, and was much more energetic than Harry was used to, but then again, he was only fifty-two. His beard was short and trim, and his hair was ashy grey, not the silver it would become. After a long and complicated discussion, he accepted the task of helping to make sure Tom Riddle didn't turn into a Dark Lord, vowing to pay closer attention than he apparently had the first time around and to guide the young wizard to use his immense talent in a productive manner. They returned to 1927, and Albus was given an entire wing of the London mansion to use as he pleased.
Operation: Raising Tom Riddle was off to a solid start. They had the best of everything baby-related that money could buy (some of it quite anachronistic), so now it all came down to whether they were capable of working in concert to nurture a child, and whether that child was naturally capable of becoming a well-adjusted and empathetic adult. Only time would tell.
That first evening, they passed the baby around until he fell asleep, then put him in his cot and stared at his tiny form, dappled with light from a huge crystal chandelier. "I hope we bought enough parenting books," said Hermione.
The days crawled by, at first slowly and tentatively, but the days crawled by and soon learned to stand, and then began to march confidently in an organized regiment with Albus and Arabella firmly in the lead. They surprised everyone, including themselves, with the ease at which they slipped into parental roles. Albus had certainly never imagined being a family man in the traditional sense; besides the fact that he was gay (or had been; by now he was more asexual than anything), he had serious doubts about his ability to care for a child. He still wasn't sure, but he was eager to give it his all, and perhaps find some redemption for his own troubled youth. Also, he couldn't deny the allure of having a powerful wizard as his protégé if everything worked out; it was his private and slightly dangerous dream to have company in the lofty tower of greatness. Possessing too much talent for one's own good made for a rather lonely life. Albus often wondered if that was the reason why the wizards with the most potential often turned to the Dark Arts; perhaps they were only seeking to meet their match.
Arabella Figg had been widowed in her late thirties, when she lost her Muggle husband in a car accident. He was significantly older than she, and they had no children, which Arabella thought was for the best. Though she'd tried her whole life not to feel ashamed and resentful for being a Squib, she still felt the sting of being shut out of the Wizarding World, and though she'd known that there was a chance her offspring would inherit her recessive magical genes, she hadn't wanted to risk further disappointment. So, she accepted that she would never be a mother...well, she accepted it right up until this happened, and was now frankly very pleased. The infant was calm, happy, and easy to care for, and since Arabella had been the second child of five, she had a good idea of what to expect. On top of this, she found Albus Dumbledore to be a warm and entertaining, if eccentric, companion.
They had a plan if Ms Cole came to call, but she never did. Occasionally, however, whilst out for a walk the extended family would see her on the front steps of Wool's Orphanage and everyone would smile and wave enthusiastically.
Harry, Hermione, 'David', 'Michael', and Ashley stayed for a month, until Dumbledore told them that they should really start skipping ahead in time to spare themselves from aging too much. They began to visit for an average of fifteen hours per week instead, which didn't seem like a lot until Hermione pointed out that they'd be away from 1996 for more than a year if they continued at that rate, including additional time for sleep, until Tom was eleven. It should've been enough to make them visit less often, yet it didn't feel like a hardship. The fact that Tom smiled every time they stepped into the room, grabbed affectionately at their faces and clothes with his small hands, and could say their names (Ahwee, Mione, Dahvee, 'Cull, and Slee) by the time he was seven months old may have had something to do with it.
The Diary of Tom Marvolo Riddle-Figg-Dumbledore
January 1, 1933
Hello Diary
Yesterday wos my 6th birthday. 7 is a mor magic number than 6 but 6 is cool to.
We went on holiday to Singapoor for my birthday. We went in the magic car thats bigger on the inside. Everyone went to the zoo. Harry and David and Michael and me tocked to the snakes. Tocking to snakes is called parceltung. Some witzies can do it but muggles cant. Mum is a squib so she cant tock to snakes, but dad also cant even tho he is a witzie. Tocking to snakes is speshal. I love Mum. I love Dad. Peple stare at his beerd. They dont no he is a witzie.
I like secrets.
Hermione says soon I can go to the witzie world to get my wand and coldrin and stuff to start learning propa magic. I will go to HOGWARTS when I turn 11. I wish I were 11 rite now. Hermione gave me this Diary for my birthday and books and quils.
Ashley asks me lots of things. Today she askt about the muggle kids in the park. They dont no about magic but they are nice mostly. Not Cecil when he throo snow with a rock in it in Violets face and I got rilly angry and pushed him with magic. I didnt push hard even tho Violet had a cut. Dad says stand up to bullys but dont hurt them. Dad says its not fair but its rite.
I like Violet. She has a scar from the rock.
Harry also has a scar.
I have an owl called Snudge.
I wish everyone came to visit mor. They are here alot but all the time wood be nice but they have secret things they need to do wiv the magic car. They are heros. I want to be a hero to.
Goodbye Diary!
xxxxxx
T. M. R. F. D.
January 16, 1933
Hello Diary
I didnt gro in Mums tummy. I groo in my birth mothers tummy. An other womans tummy. I was born then came to liv wiv Mum and Dad. I have an other father to. That is why there is a Riddle in my name. Mum says my birth mother and father werent able to care for me. Mum says adoptd is forever. Mum says family is mor than blood relashins its peple who care for you and love you.
Mum helpt rite this:
Our Family:
Tom Marvolo Riddle-Figg-Dumbledore
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Figg-Dumbledore
Arabella Doreen Figg-Dumbledore
Harry James Potter
Hermione Jean Granger
Michael Tardis
David Turnipseed
Ashley Hardwick Turnipseed
Snudge
Fawkes
Cats and Kneazles: Snoots, Treacle, Pepper, Buckminster, Mr Sprink, Saffron, Boggy, Pinchy, 5 new kittens
January 18, 1933
The runt kitten died. Everyone is sad.
Dad says magic cant fix everything. Sometimes it helps sometimes not. Witzies liv a long time but stil die. Its all rite to be sad when someone dies. Its all rite to cry. Death happens to everyone but Mum and Dad wont die for a very very very long time.
Dont worry.
February 14, 1933
Violet is my Valentine and I am hers. I wontd to give her Choclit Frogs but Dad sed it might scare a muggle so I gave her sugard violets insted.
"We missed his first kiss!?" shrilled Hermione, shaking the snow from her coat in the marble mudroom of the Figg-Dumbledore Estate.
"Oh, it was just the sweetest, the two little darlings, but then he accidentally cast a glittering charm on the girl," said Arabella.
"There's such a thing as a glittering charm?" asked Harry.
"It's silly, but yes. She loved it, of course, a six-year-old girl loves to sparkle, but Albus fixed it before her nanny noticed."
"That reminds me," said Hermione. "What if there were a place for magical children to go before they turn eleven...a day school where their budding magic wouldn't have to be hidden? Subtle adverts could be placed in Muggle newspapers, to catch the attention of parents who are confused about their kids' supernatural behavior. They could bring their magical children there and receive counseling. There could even be a transit system, like the Knight Bus."
"That's brilliant, Hermione!" said Harry.
"I'd happily volunteer, and I'm sure I could recruit others," said Ashley.
Only a week later (from the time-travellers' perspective) the Granger School for Gifted Children opened its doors for the first time. "Why...why's it got my name on it?" asked Hermione, looking Stupefied.
"You're the brightest witch of your age, haven't you heard?" replied Harry, beaming.
Hermione was now thoroughly speechless. After a minute, Harry started to get worried. "Um. You do like it...don't you? Hermione?"
"Say one more thing and I'll have no choice but to marry you instead of Ron, fixed point or no fixed point," she said.
Harry shuffled his feet, stayed quiet, and thought of Ginny.
The Diary of Tom Marvolo Riddle-Figg-Dumbledore
September 5, 1935
Today I broke a boy's arm. We were playing football and he thought the ball went out of bounds but I knew it didn't, so I kept after it and he said, "it's out, stupid mudblood" (I guess he thinks Mum is a muggle?) and it made me really angry, and we fought and...well...oops. Some of the kids who attend Grangers' are learning really screwed up stuff from their parents. Rich 'pure-bloods' send their kids here like it's going to give them the edge when they get to Hogwarts. Like we're already networking even though we're only 8 for Merlin's sake. I really hope that's not true. But these dumb familys are only rich, they have no courage or decency. At least we're rich and brave and decent.
Dad was really really mad at me for breaking that kid's arm, even though he said THAT and punched me in the face AND kicked me in the leg before I even fought him. It was so easy to break his arm. I just grabbed it and gave it a magic twist. Then he was just laying there on the ground crying and trying to curse me (haha, pathetic) and I was just standing there, even though he broke my nose and gave me a ginormous bruise on my shin. And while he was crying he said I started it and called me a M******d AGAIN. But Dad was STILL angry. Arghh!
So now I can't play football until I learn to Control My Temper. Like become a robot or something. It's fine...I'm so much better than the other kids at football anyway it's kind of boring.
October 15, 1935
I have learned to Control My Temper. That kid didn't come back to school...I think Dad 'disinvited' him! I have been playing football again for the last two weeks without injuring anyone. : )
Kids don't understand the strategy of football. They don't work as a team. They just all run after the ball at once. The team really needs a Captain and I would be such a good Captain but SIGH it's just for fun. Football is one of the non-magical things we do because we need to keep our connection to the muggle world, says Mum and Dad. I think they are right. Witzies and muggles should be able to relate to each other. But there's so many more of them then us, so we have to stay hidden. It's weird, though.
June 25, 1936
We're in America! First we went to see the National Parks. We stopped to meet with Witzies pretty much everywhere. It's not like magic Britain...the Witzies of America are spread out all over the country instead of living in mostly Witzie villages like in England. The cities in America are GINORMOUS. And the wilderness is huge too and all sorts of climates. We met with some Native American 'shamans' who had a lot to say about Divination and Dad talked to them FOREVER even though I know he thinks Divination is silly. But Ashley was very interested in what they had to say about healing.
Oh right I should've said that (besides Mum and Dad) Ashley, Hermione, David, Michael, and of course Harry came along. : )
I have to remember to buy souvenirs for Violet, Ernest, Gussie, Marjorie and Sebastienne. Most importantly Violet. She said she might be moving to Paris because of her Dad's work. : ( But I told her someday I will learn to Apparate and then it won't matter. I have told Violet some things I maybe am not supposed to.
Now we're at the Salem Witches' Institute (boys can go here also despite the name) and Dad is talking to some people AGAIN so everyone else is hanging out in the Library. Hermione showed me a book about what happened here in the 1690s. Of course that was just one example of a larger event (Hermione calls it a 'phenomena') that was going on in the 15th thru 18th centuries all across Europe, too. Witzies call it "The Burning Times" but not a lot of us talk about it. My family does, though, because part of being brave and decent is not turning away from ugly things and learning from the past.
Muggles can act so weird, though. Why why why would they want to destroy magic? Jelousy? Muggles could marry Witzies and give their children magic...Muggleborn children are just as powerful as pure-bloods. Just look at Hermione. She is amazing at magic and SO smart, maybe even smarter than Dad.
It makes no sense to burn each other.
The whole world could be magic.
June 26, 1936
OH MERLIN THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!
I was too excited yesterday to write about it but at the Salem Witches' Institute Dad got me a WAND to use for practice before I get my official one from Ollivander in two years. In Britain kids are really not supposed to get a wand until they're 11 but we 'ain't' in England now! I guess America is different about wands. Dad says what he did was a tiny bit wrong, but he says I have a lot of talent and should "get a handle on it" whatever that means. Everyone except Dad looks really nervous for some reason like I might explode something. It doesn't matter. I HAVE A WAND.
June 27, 1936
I exploded my wand on the first try. Good thing Dad secretly got like a dozen of them. Hermione showed me how to Levitate things and do Aguamenti. We also worked on the Shield charm. I thought today couldn't get any cooler but then Dad said tomorrow we are going to Hogwarts to do something incredibly secret and heroic and they need my help! There's a giant really dangerous snaky thing called a basilisk in a hidden room that I can get into because I'm the Heir of Slytherin.
Oh, I haven't told you about that, have I? I am descended from Salazar Slytherin through my birth mother. It gives me special powers or something.
Now I can't sleep.
"Sir, are you sure you want him to open the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Why not, Harry? We can remove a grave danger from the school, reclaim an important bit of history, and it will be good for Tom. I've hired a team of basilisk handlers, security wizards, and archaeologists. The other me will be out of the country tomorrow, the Doctor and M have agreed to make sure the current Headmaster will be otherwise occupied, and at this point in the summer there won't be any students around. The timing is perfect."
"Okay, but how exactly does one handle a basilisk?"
Dumbledore shrugged. "Can't wait to find out!"
Harry gulped. He had a hard time sleeping that night. Around three AM, he got up and wandered through the mansion. The place was so huge it reminded him of walking the halls of Hogwarts, only less dungeon-y and more palatial, and the staircases were blessedly unchanging. He finally stopped outside of Tom's room, drawn by the beam of light under the door. He knocked softly, in case the boy was sleeping. "Come in," said Tom.
He was sitting up in bed, leaning against two pillows, a huge book entitled 'Dragons, Wyverns and Wyrms of the Olde Worlde' propped open across his lap. He looked up at Harry and smiled, but Harry saw his nervousness and went and sat on the bed next to him. The book was open to the entry on basilisks. Harry frowned in confusion at the illustrations and asked, "Why does it look like a chicken?"
"It says a basilisk is a snake or a toad's egg that's been incubated by a cockerel. But over here it says it's like a cow. It makes me wonder if anyone's actually seen this thing."
"I don't think many people have seen it. I mean, it turns you to stone if you look it in the eyes or see it reflected."
Harry felt the young boy stiffen. He quickly added, "Don't worry. That's not going to happen to anyone tomorrow, or hopefully ever again. But you get why we need to move it out of Hogwarts, right?"
Tom nodded. "What's it doing there in the first place, with all those kids around?"
"Salazar Slytherin put it there when Hogwarts was first built."
"Why?"
Harry decided that it was best to tell the truth. "Salazar had a disagreement with the other founders of Hogwarts. He believed that blood purity was really important, so he allegedly put the basilisk there to get rid of Muggleborns."
"Get rid of...like, kill?"
"Sadly, yes."
Tom pictured Hermione dead, and felt like he might cry. "How could he think like that?"
"Some people make very bad decisions based on their beliefs."
"Does being his heir make me bad, too?"
Harry started as if he'd been stung, and reached out to stroke Tom's dark mop of hair. "No, it doesn't. Not even a little."
"I must be a little bad. Sometimes I get so angry."
"Angry about what?"
"People hurting people."
"It's all right to be angry about that. But you have to accept that the only behavior you can control is your own. Staying angry all the time will make you tired and bitter."
"Salazar Slytherin made a big mistake."
"Yes, he did."
Tom's face was grim as he said, "I'm going to fix it."
Seven hours later, he stood blindfolded in front of the door to the Chamber of Secrets, and spoke the words in Parseltongue that unbolted the elaborate lock. The portal swung open, and the basilisk handlers launched several cylindrical objects deep into the chamber and then backed away. Tom cleared his throat and announced, "I am Tom Marvolo Riddle, the Heir of Slytherin. I summon the basilisk."
After a few long moments there was a loud hissing noise, followed very soon after by a series of loud pops.
It turned out that basilisk handlers use smoke bombs infused with magical serpent-specific narcotics to get the job done.
The smoke completely obscuring their vision, the handlers found the unconscious creature by feel and with the assistance of a bat trained to echolocate and report back. After twenty minutes or so of spellcasting, the lead handler shouted, "All clear! You can remove your blindfolds!"
It took four wizards to Levitate the basilisk out of the chamber. "Are its eyes silver?" asked Tom.
"No, that's something we invented," said one of the handlers. "It's like a pair of mirrored sunglasses, only dome-shaped, that we affix over the basilisk's eyes using an Extra Permanent Sticking Charm."
"What's going to happen to it?"
"She'll roam in our sanctuary, living as naturally as possible within the fenced-in space. It's about three-thousand square kilometers...a very decent range for a basilisk."
Tom was relieved to hear this. The handlers shook hands with Dumbledore and departed. By then the smoke had cleared, and the small team of private-security witches and wizards went in to sweep for other nasty surprises. Once satisfied that the space was safe, the archaeologists and historians were allowed to enter, followed finally by Tom, Albus, Arabella, Hermione and Harry.
Without the aura of impending doom, they found the space eerily beautiful. Some of the archaeologists were giggling uncontrollably and high-fiving each other. Somebody uncorked a bottle of champagne.
The Diary of Tom Marvolo Riddle-Figg-Dumbledore
August 25, 1938
My wand: 13.5 inches, Yew, phoenix feather core
Hogwarts just days away.
September 1, 1938
I am on the Hogwarts Express now. Everyone came to the station to see me off, and Hermione gave me (guess what!) extra books. There are so many kids on the train and I know a bunch of them from Grangers', but I'm kinda freaking out about the Sorting and I found an empty compartment to be alone for a while. Everyone told me that the Sorting Hat considers your House preferance, but I'm the Heir of Slytherin for Merlin's sake! How can I not be sorted into Slytherin? But I know all the pure-blood familys send their kids there, and I don't like those people. And though he doesn't say it, I think Dad might think Slytherin = Evil. BUT I could prove that's not true...I could be one of the good people in Slytherin to try to counteract the wrong thinking that's going on. I don't know if it will make me happy but it might be the right choice. I don't know! All right, let's make a list:
PROS AND CONS OF HOUSES:
SLYTHERIN
Pro:
-Being Heir of Slytherin means people in Slytherin will respect me
-This means I can change people's minds (I can be a force for the truth)
-Let's face it...I am ambitious and clever
-Green and silver are cool
-I like snakes
Con:
-Cruel/ignorant people will make me angry
-Kids from other Houses will think I share pureblood views
-My family are all Gryffindors
-Association with Dark Arts
GRYFFINDOR
Pro:
-The most 'heroic' House
-Family will be proud (no use denying it)
-Gryffindors tend to bend the rules : )
-Red and gold remind me of Fawkes
Con:
-Heroes can be dumb if they rush in without thinking things through.
-May increase the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin (and possibly be disliked by both Houses) if they know I'm the Heir.
HUFFLEPUFF:
Pro:
-Least amount of rivalry (impartial)
-Friendly, kind people
-A mixed assortment of personality types
-Hard work and patience are very good virtues
-produces fewest Dark wizards
-'Happiest' House
Con:
-Too 'easy' of a choice? (Doesn't utilize my full potential?)
-Happiness could make me lose my ambition
-Other Houses think Hufflepuff isn't 'cool'
-I will lose influence over Slytherin
RAVENCLAW:
Pro:
-The most intelligent peer group
-The most scientific minds
-Knowledge dispels ignorance
-Neutral
Con:
-Aloof personalities
-Too focused on academic success
-Too much thinking, not enough doing
-Will lose influence over Slytherin
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station. Tom was still staring at the list. If it were a matter of sheer numbers of pros vs. cons, it seemed that he would have to choose Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, yet the downside of Gryffindor was possibly disastrous; he could find himself in a situation where nobody trusted him, where he had no friends. At least in Slytherin he would be admired, but did he truly want to be admired by people whose views he despised and were so antithetical to his own? Yet, being in Slytherin was the best way to slowly and cunningly change their views. Tom had the ambition to eradicate cruelty and ignorance wherever and however possible, and Slytherin House seemed like the right place to start because it was blatantly in need of help. Yet, he had one lingering concern, one terrible doubt.
When the Sorting Hat was placed upon on his head, he voiced his fear, whispering, "If you can really see into my mind, you know that I'd like to be in Slytherin only if I can do good there. If you can tell that it would turn me bad despite my best intentions please put me in Hufflepuff, thanks."
The Sorting Hat replied,
"The fact that you are so afraid
shall save you from so cruel a fate
for no-one with a broken soul
would feel the need to worry so.
Yet, listen now! There is a risk
you'll forfeit all your happiness
if too rigid a stance you take
if too eager a mark you make.
Your mind is sharp, your heart is brave
Your kindnesses will be repaid
Of any House, you're worthy kin
But best you'll serve in Slytherin."
Tom got down from the stool and walked to the Slytherin table. He managed to make it through the entire feast without once looking at his father.