Hey everyone,
I have good news. This chapter was written while it was STILL APRIL! Yes, the time to work on these chapters last shorter and shorter, plus this – May, I mean – is the last month to one of my other stories, so after this I will have even more time to work on my other stories, which might mean more chance for multiple chapters.
Also, I have decided on a little more certain timeline of what will happen in the coming chapters for this story. This chapter will be about how, slowly but surely, Tom proves that he is both intelligent as well as NOT VOLDEMORT and after that will we be focusing on how, through several balls, Harry grows closer to his mates.
Now this might sound a little sappy and not everyone of you might like a story that focuses so much on romantic bonds and their development, but I would be betraying the whole plotline that begun this story if I didn't work on the bonds that were brought in during the first three chapters. And I am a lot, but not a traitor.
I'm not, am I? (hihi),

Venquine1990


Chapter 23
The Heir Behind The Monster

Thomas Riddle's POV

I really don't get what is going on as the last thing I remember is wanting to set the Basilisk out, if only to have him help me find the Mystical House Chambers of the other three Founders as the Chamber allowed me to discover that there was a rule between the Founders; whichever Heir finds the House Chambers can claim its Heritage.
I know that, each and every time the Basilisk broke out of my control just enough to leave a victim in its wake, just while he had done so in its latest journey, had I found another journal written by my Ancestor and I had just been working on using the spell written within it to make sure the Basilisk would listen to me and me alone.

Yet just when I had started the Parsletongue spell to see this done, had I heard something that shocked me into looking behind me, making me break the spell, yet that wasn't the worst as, in front of me, I heard the Basilisk arriving and just when I heard this, did I see a young girl who was 2 years younger than me coming out of a stall.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?" Went through my mind, but before I could try and warn her, did her eyes lock with those of the Basilisk and the next minute did I see her lying on the floor dead, her lifeless eyes staring up at the decrepit looking ceiling with a strange, but understanding mix of shock, anger and fear.
I rushed at the poor girl, hissing at the Basilisk to not come back until I call him and to retreat to where he belonged and while I heard the Basilisk hissing something that didn't sound like Parsletongue and which made a shiver run down my spine, did I just focus on sliding down next to the girl and picking up her slack form.

I looked at the girl with tears streaming down my eyes and had whispered: "Whatever it takes, I will make sure you can get your peace. No matter how long it takes me to do this, I will live on until you are able to passively move on. I promise this on all that my magic can help me accomplish. I promise this on your heart no longer beating."
Yet while I had wondered why I had spoken the oath like that, had I suddenly noticed that something – something that reminded me of the power of the Basilisk – was in the air and was weaving around us before finally I found myself able to understand what the Basilisk had hissed as its words swept around me and within me.
"You never let me live what my heart beats for, now with help of my greatest strength, I will take what makes you most powerful; your soul's content." And with that had I felt as if part of my magic took a form of its own, the way it ripped from me and formed into something somewhere out of my sight had made me lose conscious.

And now, somehow, decades have passed, Hagrid got blamed for what I had unintentionally caused and I was surrounded by two groups. One of them had worried and scared me as they were all dressed in black with skull-based masks made of either silver or bone, the other had been a mix-matched group of obvious warriors.
Some of these warriors had each been holding something, a few items I had recognized as Heirlooms belonging to three of the Hogwarts founders, along with a giant snake and all of them looked to have been touched by a strong sense of both Light and Dark Magic, with the Light Magic seeming to have overcome the Dark Magic.
The first group had been in the majority in numbers, yet while the second group had been between them and me with their faces towards me upon me waking up after what feels like years, did they all turn their backs on me with their faces showing protective frowns as they turned to the group that had, honestly enough scared me.

To my relief had something that – I can only imagine – had happened to me that allowed me to wake up after hearing those strange words and feeling that soul wrenching pain shocked the second, larger group absolutely silent and before any of them could possibly react to whatever this was, had one of the smaller group said:
"You keep the stuff, we keep your former lord. See yah, Dark Scum." And before I could properly comprehend what was happening, had the woman with the Elven looks grabbed my long robe and had she held the hand of one of the others before the redhead in the group had suddenly caused for a large portal to surround us all.
The portal had started out feeling and looking to be made of pure Dark Magic, yet the inside had shocked me as it was a gorgeous mix of blue, yellow, pink and white, yet I had only been allowed to be amazed over it for a short amount of minutes before another burst of black smoke had made me arrive in an old, familiar spot.

The office of what I assumed was Headmaster Dippet was our actual destination, yet the first thing I had noticed that had shocked me and made me wonder what could have happened – was the portrait of said Headmaster hung above the desk of the actual Headmaster, who was none other than my Transfigurations teacher.
Professor Dumbledore had sat behind the desk, his eyes wide, yet the rest of his posture proving his eternal calm friendliness and the minute he saw me in the middle of the group, had a large smile bloomed on his face before he had softly muttered: "Welcome back to us, Mr. Riddle." And instantly I had known something was up.

I had asked the man how he could have aged so much, what had happened to make me – as he called it – leave and what exactly was going on and the man had shocked me as he had told me the whole story. How I'm actually in 1996 instead of 1942, how I had become a Dark Wizard and how I had created Horcruxes also known as Heartless.
The tale he spun for me about my reign as the man named Lord Voldemort had shocked and scared me and I had needed several Lemon Drops, which Dumbledore had covered with Calming Draught for me to help me stay focused on what was going on around me and finally, after two hours, have I started to feel like I had been caught up.
Dumbledore had then offered me an amazing chance to get caught up with everything else that he had missed telling me about and after hearing about how England has a new King to be and how one of his friends' family was hosting one of the very popular summer balls, had I been more than willing to seize my chance at this feast.

And that is how I have ended up here, again in the middle of the same group that helped me wake and that saved me from what looked like a large group of dangerously dark wizards, in the middle of the ballroom of said party and looking at two people who are apparently one year younger than me and who are looking at me shocked.
The group had explained to the room's occupants who they were and who I was, yet it had been the fact that the boy who is now looking at me had kissed the man with the red hair that had made me know who is looking at me and while hating what, all those years ago, my Nobody had caused this young prince, do I take action.
And so, in front of many shocked gasps and startled witches and wizards, do I bow down on my knees and I mutter: "Your Highness, no words – whether by oath or not – can express how terrible I feel for what the Darkness of my Heart and Soul have caused you and your kingdom. Any punishment you desire I will accept."
And while I have my head bowed and my eyes closed, do I still feel how practically everyone in the room is looking at either me or the young King to be in front of me, their gazes on me shocked with hints of startled fear and the looks they send the young heir to the throne filled with strong hopeful expectations and belief.

Yet other than this am I not aware of anything else going on around me, until I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder and then the boy speaks and says: "I may not have been expecting you, young Heir Riddle, but I have been planning ahead for when you would be returned to us and what it would mean for you and our world."
This makes a strong sense of expectation to ring around the room and the king says: "You are to personally approach your former men and convince them to come – wandless – and meet me and my court, which will exist out of several Houses aligned to my own as well as those who saved you from the Darkness within you.
You will have my two strongest to keep an eye on you and you will certainly be kept under strict supervision as I will convince Dumbledore to have the Order of the Phoenix to watch over you from the shadows like they did me last summer, but other than – other than a banishment from Hogwarts school, will you be free to go."

This causes shock to rock my entire body as well as to ring through the hall and the king says: "You are – or part of you, at least – well-versed in the Dark Arts and that makes you a great threat, yet I have learned enough of the situation revolving around you to know one thing; your Nobody – is more dangerous than you could ever be.
Because of that and because I have no desire to follow your Nobody's ways and take out Ancient Lines that can only help our world and country forward just because their causes don't align with mine, will I spare you for now. However, I do have one final punishment I will settle upon you and you will submit to it."
To this, while his voice had suddenly turned harsh and demanding – like that of a true ruler – do I feel no fear for whatever my fate is about to be and do I only feel my respect for the young man, who is actually a year younger than me, grow tremendously and I whisper: "As I said before, any punishment you decide on, I will accept."

To this the young king takes a deep breath before he nods and he says: "There are two wizards who, like you, have returned to our time and country and they have a very obvious goal; to rewrite history and to make sure that the truth overwrites the rumors that have sprouted from the tales being changed as they were retold.
These two will be your mentors. They will watch over you as you stay at Hogsmeade, the only popular wizarding place where you will be allowed to remain until further notice and you will only follow them to other popular places if they so desire it. If not, you are to learn from them and spread their word in the town you will remain in.
Is. That. Clear?" The king then asks me, his voice proving that he does have a sense of anger against me for what my Nobody has caused him and while I feel amazed that the young man has found a way to keep me prisoner, but not isolated in such a way it will make me envious of others, do I bow even lower and say:
"Your words have reached me with Crystal clarity, my King." To which the boy sighs and says: "Remain with Aerith, Even and Ienzo for the rest of the night. They will bring you back to Hogsmeade and convince Madam Rosmerta to give you a room there during your stay. However, your stay here is dependent on Lady Longbottom."

To which a very strict looking woman steps forward and says: "I'd rather keep him here, my King. It is his first day back and I believe this a good chance to see how much Darkness of this Nobody is left within him. Plus, were his followers to realize where he is – namely Hogsmeade or here – I feel this is the safer location for all parties involved."
To this the young king wants to nod, yet my mind is already thinking ahead while also remembering part of my punishment and I stand up, but keep my head low to prove my sense of guilt and I say: "If milady would not mind my objection, I would rather ensure that these former followers of mine get what I did; their rightful justice."

This makes the strict woman share a look with the young king, who then asks: "Do you have a room prepared in the same sense as the Arrival Lounge?" And while relieved to have my king's blessing, does the woman answer: "No, I do not, but we do have guests here who can help us arrange such a room in half an hour."
To this the king turns back to those that saved my hide and ask: "Terra, Lea and Ventus, take Heir Riddle back to where you found him and keep an eye out. The minute he is either in trouble or has his former minions convinced, use the Portal to take them to that room. Even, Ienzo and Aqua can then decide their faith in my name."
The six aforesaid people nod and then the girl who had been with the king asks him: "And what is Aerith supposed to do?" To which the king answers: "Stay here, get healed up and get ready to either keep any fleeing creeps out of this hall or to heal the others up once they return." To which the Elven woman had nodded with a smile.

"Whenever you're ready." The redhead, who I am by now sure is named Lea, then tells me and after taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, as I had been able to sense more dark magic in that whole lot than in the Basilisk over the course of me controlling it – as it had been that Dark magic that made me lose control – do I nod at the man.
The man nods back and puts a hand on my shoulder before turning and sharing another loving kiss with the king and after this is done, do he, the brown haired man who seems to have lost his suspenders and the blonde whose hair is covered in grime and dirt all take me to a place that feels as dangerous as where I woke up.

The location seems to be an old, forgotten graveyard and the way that the whole scene looks deplorable and overturned by mother nature makes me again remember the one part of me that actually fed on the darkness within my heart; my hatred for Muggles and all they – in my eyes – constantly did wrong.
But then the lingering sense of darkness brings me out of my thoughts and while it almost feels as if the magic itself whispers to me – probably recognizing me for the former being of ultimate darkness – do I shake my head and fight in both mental and emotional ways against the temptations it tries to convert me with yet again.
"I'll be right back." I say, but then the leader of the group grips my shoulder and say: "You won't be able to convince nobody there if you don't at least accept a bit of the Darkness that surrounds us right now." This makes me cringe, hating that he's right and I whisper: "Then keep close and help me keep it to a low minimum."

The man nods and while they surprise me with how well they keep to the shadows, using their own portal magic to travel from one slightly dark area to the next, do I walk over to the large manor that stands on top of the hill over viewing the cemetery we arrived at; one I know that belongs to my father's family and is rightfully mine.
This fact then seems to come in handy for me as I feel something that surprises me and I can't help but think: "How interesting, so my father's own grandfather – was an actual wizard. That could be quite useful." And while continuing my pace do I allow my magical senses out, trying to reach for that one form of magic I can recognize.
And to my sheer delight do I actually find it as it seems that, despite years of decay and the loss of those keeping the place clean, the whole manor is actually kept up and standing by the magic of my great-grandfather and while moving through the backdoor, which opens at my slightest touch, do I connect my core with this magic.

The problem, it seems my great-grandfather was as Dark a wizard as my Nobody was with Dark Arts and while hating the cold, decrepit sense of magic that now fills me up, do I use the strength of my body to keep the magic from reaching there where I know history will only repeat itself if it reaches target; my heart and core.
The power of the magic, while dark, seems to realize this and – to my shock – does it not fight me, but instead of that, does it change course and does it now flow through my veins, each step of my feet making the magic within me stronger and helping my body looking dark, strong and seriously dangerous – and just in time.

I walk through the hallway that is connected to the one leading to the back door, following the sense of dark magic that must have been mine earlier and that seems to be connected to all those that had, earlier on, surrounded me and just when I near this location, does a door near me open and does a cloaked individual walk out.
I want to stop and freeze, yet my mind and the magic within me have a different plan and I just carelessly pass the man, whose eyes widen when he sees me before he snaps: "You." Yet with the magic within me fueling my outer emotions, do I silence the man with a withering glare before I hiss: "The King Awaits."
The man whitening before I turn away from him and walk on, my senses allowing me feel how my three supervisors capture the man in their portal and transport him away, his shout of shock cut off quite quickly and reaching me much weaker than the man probably would have wanted to sound before he got taken.

I then move on, the magic that is my grandfather's now filling my every pore, muscle and vein and while I realize this, do I try a little something out as I pass down a small staircase, the location itself feeling much thicker with Dark Magic than the hallway where I met my former follower and to my glee does the test work.
Then I pass the staircase and enter a large, stone build basement, which to my shock is filled with people in black cloaks and silver masks, who are all arguing with each other and of who some are even shouting both profanities as well as hexes and curses at each other as they seem to try and convince the other through spellwork.
"And this is the community my Nobody tried using to take over a world he never deserved to rule over? Weren't Nobodies supposed to be smarter than this? Didn't they still have a strong brain, unlike Heartless? Cause this lot certainly isn't proving the superior intelligence of my former Nobody; not with their useless bantering."

Goes through my head as I suddenly hear a voice shouting: "FOR SALAZAR'S SAKE, THE DARK LORD MUST BE FOUND!" To which my intelligence instantly springs into action and I unleash the results of my earlier test, allowing for a wave of my great-grandfather's magic to spread itself through the entire room.
This wave silences both the shouters as well as the duelists and I quickly take on a persona, something that isn't too hard for me as I had often had to pretend when still living in the orphanage and I say: "As much as it pleases me to see evidence of your concern for me, do I find myself disappointed that – you are repeating history."

Then, from the corner of my eye, do I see the shadows move and flicker, indicating that this is where the portal with my three guardians is currently residing and I say: "Here I am, having just returned from a meeting with those who we once called our adversaries and having been taken to meet our new ruler – and you are only bickering?
Lucius, you yourself told me that you swore fealty to the crown and I do believe we were all in the middle of doing the same thing. However, I fear I must ask this question to all of you." The whole group of wizards looks at me and I ask: "How can we swear fealty – to those who we have wronged, harmed and worse?
Yes, their blood is not as invested with magic as ours. Yes, their views differ from ours. But if there is one thing that all the events of the last few weeks have proven – it's that our views were completely off. We believed in Blood Purity – and the child of a Muggleborn witch becomes our new king. I find that – ironic, to say the least."
At this, while shocked and flabbergasted faces had met my words earlier, do many now look uncomfortable and I say: "Oh don't look like that. The King's own court made certain I am all that I am meant to be and I have realized my errors. I have become the Heir behind the Monster – and now it's your turn. The King Awaits."

And while this makes the uncomfortable feeling of some apparently grow even more, do I easily sense that there are no others in this residence bar those in front of me, do the three traveling with me accept my code words and does Lea cause for the shadows from which he grew his portal to enlarge in size before they grasp the whole room.
The witches and wizards around me gasp and yelp in shock, yet I happily allow for the magic to surround me before taking a quick glimpse at the brightness of the inside of the portal and then allow for the shadows to again envelop me before they disappear into a large room filled to the brim with two rows of stone seats.
The witches and wizards around me look shocked, yet I focus on what I want to accomplish; to accept and prove my willingness in regards to my punishment and so I take my seat at one end of the horseshoe-shaped row of stone seats before I turn to all of them and, with indifference lacing my tone, say: "You know your place."

And one by one do the witches and wizards standing in the room lower their heads and take their seats in the same row as me before three others, the blue haired woman, the man who's hair had looked burned off and the man who had been hanging onto one of his friends, but now looks healthy, move into the room one at a time.
They each take their own seats, which are at the two ends and middle part of the horseshoe-shaped row of seats, while a huge wall of what feels cold as ice, yet is covered by a dark cloth separates us – and then I see it. On top of the woman's head, who takes the middle seat, is a gorgeous crown with encrusted jewels.
The travelers that helped and escorted me also see it and the blonde is the one to speak while he and the other two bow as he says: "Your Highness, as ordered by your partner and our king, do we hereby present to you all those who have caused the war that left our future ruler an orphan. They humbly await your verdict."
And while I hate how some of those now seated alongside me look shocked and even affronted, do I release the last of my great-grandfather's dark magic in a wave that reaches them and them alone and not the judges in front of me, before bowing my head to those who's partner has already judged me, proving my honor to my earlier words.


Wow OKAY!
That happened! Now the reason why I end it off here. I HAVE PLANS! I'm thinking of creating a few OC Death Eaters who will have committed several amounts of crimes that aren't known to cannon and of who some will feel repentant of their actions and accept punishment whereas others will not.
However, I'm not planning to leave it with just a few unruly Death Eaters who can't accept that what they did was wrong. I am planning to have a bit of an action scene beforehand, but that is both because I love growing in writing stuff like that and to please those who will later have trouble appreciating my love scenes.
So yeah, it's a little of both. A way for me to grow as a writer – as I still doubt that I can write a proper battle/fighting scene as well as a way to make those that will later think: oh no, romance chapters. At least have something adventurous to enjoy before it gets all sappy and lovable. Heh, what can I say, I'm a people pleaser.
Have fun,

Venquine1990
PS. my writing style this chapter is completely Silver-Quill and the Fiery Joker's fault - and I LOVE them for it.