Chapter 14
A Slight Change In Plans
Salazar started yelling that he needed a wand, and Tom tossed his to him. Godric didn't have a wand either, but seeing as he had his sword, he didn't need one. Godric charged at a very shocked Dumbledore, and Harry could tell that Godric had every intention of using his sword to remove Dumbledore's head from his shoulders. Merlin immediately started shooting spells, but Dumbledore was able to block some and dodge the rest. Salazar too was throwing curses left and right, but started to yell at Godric to get out of the way. Godric however, was paying him no mind.
With an almighty yell Godric hit his knees and let go of his sword. It sailed end over end right at Albus's chest. Albus's eyes became wider than galleons, but then he did something that no one could have expected, he leapt up in the air, changed into a very large black vulture, and flew out of the blown out window behind him.
Godric's sword, which missed him by millimeters, embedded itself deep into the stone wall with a loud resounding clang. Salazar let loose with a slew of swear words that made Death himself blush, Merlin was enraged, but neither of them came close to Godric's rant. Since Dumbledore had escaped, Godric decided to take his anger out on Dumbledore's chair at the head table. He reached over the front of the table, grabbed the chair, and with another yell, began slamming it into the ground until it started to fly apart. Then Godric wandlessly set the bloody thing on fire.
"I think we know where you get your temper from Harry." Sirius whispered into Harry's ear.
Harry could only nod numbly. Every student and Professor in the great hall had flattened themselves against the walls, and everyone was staring at the Founders and Merlin in both shock and awe. Godric sat down on the steps in front of the head table with a huff, and Harry could see him clenching and unclenching his fists as he tried to calm himself down. 'Voldemort'/Death looked slightly amused and started to say something, but Salazar beat him too it.
"Feel better now?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at his brother.
"Not in the slightest." Godric growled.
"Well I think you have successfully scared the children out of their wits. Now that you are their Headmaster, I think they all will be afraid to put a toe out of line, least they suffer your temper and wrath." Salazar said, with a grin.
This caused Godric to snort, but he looked up from where he was sitting and addressed the students. "Classes for the rest of the day have been cancelled but they will resume tomorrow after breakfast as normal. You don't have to go to your common rooms, but I ask that if you go outside to keep a look out for your former Headmaster. I don't trust the man, and he may try something less than honest. Just remain alert. I will ask Hogwarts to announce a school assembly later this afternoon. Professors, I ask that you accompany me to the Headmaster's office. Harry, I will meet with you and your friends later. Mr. Riddle, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. You are welcome here, so long as you don't harm anyone."
"Thank you." 'Voldemort' said with a nod.
"Professors, if you will follow me please." He said standing up.
He started to walk toward the doors, but Salazar cleared his throat loudly. "Oh Godric."
"Yes?" he asked, turning around.
"Your sword." He said, glancing at the embedded weapon in the wall.
"Oh right." He said blushing a light shade of red.
He walked over to the sword, yanked it out of the wall, and with one smooth motion placed it back in the sheath that was fastened around his waist. Then he looked around rather sheepishly.
"Could someone please repair the wall? I…uh…don't have my wand back yet."
Salazar snorted and flicked Tom's wand at the large hole, and it immediately repaired itself. "I'm fixing to go and retrieve our wands. Harry, Tom, Neville, and Mr. Riddle, if you would please follow me to the Chamber of Secrets." He said, handing Tom's wand back to him.
"And I need to speak with the rest of the Order in my room." Merlin said. "So please follow me."
Since they were going to the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Tom had no choice but to transfigure their skates into regular shoes. Tom looked disappointed, but Sirius laughed.
"I'll buy you another pair." He said, and Tom grinned at him.
As soon as the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets closed above their heads, Harry finally spoke.
"Ok someone has got to explain…"
"This happened a lot sooner than we expected." Salazar said. "We weren't expecting to take control until sometime after Christmas, but that man had no right to call Merlin an idiot and try to destroy the paintings."
"Well that's all fine and good, but it doesn't explain how you are standing…" Tom began, but he was interrupted by Death.
"That bit is my doing." He said, returning to his normal self. "Do you boys remember the night Albus was caught in Gryffindor Tower, and I spoke to you about him confunding Umbridge and the others?"
"Yeah." Harry, Neville, and Tom said together.
"Remember when I told you that Salazar and Godric's physical forms had been hounding me to allow them to return?"
"Yeah." The boys chorused again.
"Well here they are."
"Obviously." Neville snorted.
"Godric and I conversed with Merlin, and we realized that having Tom or Harry wrenching magical control of Hogwarts away from Albus was impossible. When Rowena set forth the guidelines and the spell, she practically sealed them shut and left no loop holes. More important than that, is the fact that if either of you were to take on that much magical power and responsibility you would likely die. That's why no one under the age of 30 is allowed to be Headmaster."
"Yeah but Tom is seventy." Neville said, as they made their way deeper under the school.
"He might have a seventy year old mind, but he has the body of a seventeen year old." Salazar said. "Tom, you were the most logical choice seeing as you're the oldest and most powerful, but there was no way you could make that power grab because of the spell and guidelines. However, there was a loop hole, and we found it. The only one capable of wrenching magical control away from a Headmaster is a Founder because our will and wishes supersedes all others, but in order to do that, we needed to be alive."
"So why Godric and not you?" Tom asked.
"Simple." Salazar said. "With 'Voldemort' here and me as Headmaster, parents would snatch their kids out quicker than you could blink. Slytherin doesn't have the best reputation you know. Godric didn't really want the Headmaster spot, but he agreed to do it."
"Ok, but that still doesn't explain how this all happened at once." Harry said, but Death chuckled.
"We all had a long talk last night." Death said. "I brought Salazar, Godric, and Merlin down so they could talk to their paintings, and we all agreed that something needed to be done about Dumbledore. He wasn't going to give magical control of Hogwarts to anyone, much less you or Tom, and since there was no way for either of you to take it by force, we decided to go this route, but like Salazar said, we didn't expect to have to do it this early and under these circumstances. Nor did we expect Dumbledore to escape…again." Death sighed. "But like I always say, there are things that Fate and Destiny will not allow me to do, or see, ahead of time. They have their reasons, we just have to deal with it."
"Ok so what about people asking questions, and thinking it was Dark Magic that brought them back to life?" Neville asked.
Death grinned. "I'll just fall back on my most tried and true method. I simply will not allow that thought to cross anyone's mind. Godric will explain his 'theory' on why 'Hogwarts' defended her Founders and Merlin, and somehow managed to bring them back. I will simply make them believe it."
Tom laughed. "Luna will love that!"
"Indeed she will. Merlin is having this same conversation with the Order, and Godric is also having this conversation with the Professors, though slightly edited." Death grinned as they finally reached the Chamber door.
"Open." Salazar said, and they all climbed into the Chamber.
Neville stared around in awe. "I never thought I'd be able to see this place. Salazar, this is brilliant!"
"Thank you Neville." He chuckled. "The basilisk was kept inside my statue and was charmed to only come out when the mouth was open. This room is just a distraction, that's why there are so many places that look like hiding spots, and why there are so many snake statues. The real Chamber of Secrets lies within the statue, hence the reason for the basilisk. Only the Heir of Gryffindor could kill it, so the brothers could access the inner room."
"So why are yours and Godric's wands in there?" Tom asked.
"When Godric and I died, Fawkes took our wands and placed them in a small box that is hidden inside the wall. In that same location, the rings you both now possess, were also hidden. If Albus had not stolen the paintings, you would have learned that, and you could have taken our wands and either used them yourself, or kept them safe, but that doesn't matter now, seeing as we are going to need them anyway."
"Do you want your rings back?" Tom asked.
Salazar stopped and looked at Harry and Tom. "No." He said with a smile. "Tom, you are my Heir, and Harry is Godric's. We wanted them to go to our Heirs after we died. It might have taken nearly a thousand years, but they finally found their rightful owners. They belong to you now."
Harry and Tom grinned at him. "Thank you!" They said together.
"We have sort of grown attached to them." Harry said sheepishly.
Salazar chuckled, but then he turned and looked at the opening of the statues mouth. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with unsupported flight, so I think someone is going to have to carry me up there."
"I'll take you Salazar." Death said. Then we waved his scythe and they both disappeared.
Harry, Neville, and Tom looked at each other and grinned, before tapping the bottom of their feet and flying down into the inner room were Death and Salazar were waiting. Salazar opened the inner chamber door, and they stepped inside.
"This was supposed to be where you learned all the knowledge that Merlin would impart to you, hence the desks." He said hurrying over to a portion of the wall. "Tom, may I ask for the use of your wand once more?"
"Of course sir." Tom said handing it to him.
Salazar tapped one of the stones and muttered, "Aparecium." A small gold lion and small silver snake appeared as the revealing charm lifted the concealing charm that had been hiding them. "Rabbits have floppy ears." He said, and Tom and Harry burst out laughing.
"What?" They sputtered, as the stone dissolved to reveal a long thin black box.
"Well it had to be a password that no one would expect me to set." Salazar said with a grin.
"What did he say?" Neville asked.
"Rabbits have floppy ears." Death said with a chuckle, and Neville also burst out laughing.
"Yes, no one would be able to guess that the 'evil muggle born hating Salazar Slytherin' had a soft spot for rabbits." Neville chuckled.
Salazar snickered but opened the box and pulled out his wand. A soft breeze floated around him, and he smiled and sighed with content. "That's better." He said, stowing the wand up his robe sleeve. "Now we should go."
"Why did Merlin have his, but you and Godric didn't." Harry asked curiously, when they landed in the main chamber.
"Because Merlin had my wand." Death answered, as they hurried to get back up to the castle. "As soon as he came alive today, I gave it to him. Don't worry though Harry, yours is still in your vault at home."
"So there are two of them now?" He asked.
"Yes. Yours is made from thestral hair and wood from my own scythe, but Merlin's is one of my scythes. It just looks like a wand, and no I'm not very creative, so yes, they look the same."
"You have different scythes?" Tom asked in surprise.
"Well yes, it's always good to have a backup."
"Death needs a backup scythe. That's kind of funny." Neville laughed.
"You'd be surprised." He laughed, as they all decided to fly out.
They landed several feet below the entrance, and Death turned into 'Voldemort' again. It's a good thing they didn't wait to do that in the bathroom itself because once the sink opened up, they heard shouting. It stopped instantly as they stepped into the room.
"You've gone dark haven't you?" Hermione asked, glaring at Harry.
"He has not Hermione!" Ginny yelled, then she turned to Harry. "Harry, I'm sorry that I didn't believe you before. I understand now. With Mr. Riddle explaining everything this morning, I know that you are right."
Harry was in no way buying this little speech, but he decided to go with it. "Well thank you Ginny."
She smiled at him, but Ron glared at her. "You're not my sister anymore!"
"Shut up Ron!" She shouted, and they began to argue again, but Hermione continued to glare at Harry.
"There is something wrong with you Harry. These people, your new 'friends', will end up killing you. We need to find Dumbledore and fast."
"As opposed to my old 'friends' who spied, lied, and stole from me?" He asked.
"You know Miss Granger," 'Voldemort' said. "For being the brightest witch of your age, you're not very bright. You just can't understand what is happening here, can you?"
"That's because there's not a book to tell her how too." Harry said, glaring at her.
She scowled at him. "Do you know what they call you?" She asked, glancing at 'Voldemort', and pointing at Harry, Neville, and Tom. "They call you Voldyshorts. They don't respect…"
She was cut off by 'Voldemort's' high pitched laughter. "Really!" He cried gleefully, as he continued to laugh. "That is so funny! I thought it would be No Nose Voldy or something! Who started that?" He asked with a grin.
"I did." Harry laughed. "But I like No Nose Voldy too."
"Use both." He snorted. "They are funny."
Tom just shook his head and laughed. "Well it does help people to not fear you as much. I suspect No Nose Voldy will catch on quickly though." He snorted.
Neville was laughing too hard to say anything, but Salazar grinned. "Well, we better find Godric so I can give him his wand. I know he feels lost without it."
"Your right Salazar. We need to find Merlin too." Harry said brushing by Ron and Hermione, but Ginny called after him.
"Harry wait! Can I go with you?"
"Uh, no not right now Ginny. We need to figure out what's going on around here. Maybe later."
She looked disappointed, but she nodded. "Ok Harry, I'll see you around then."
"Yep." He said and walked off without a second glance.
As they walked away, Harry noticed that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were following them anyway, and he rolled his eyes.
"Neville I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
Neville looked at him curiously. "What's that Harry?"
"Speaking in Parseltongue. I know it's rude, but we have followers, so I'll fill you in later."
Neville nodded. "It's ok, I understand."
"What is Ginny playing at?" Harry asked, glancing at Death. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Ginny thinks if she can get on your good side then she can 'woo' you, so to speak."
Tom snorted. "Can she be any more obvious?
"Well that's not going to happen." Harry said.
"She is trying to make it seem like you started to like her, and then she's going to use the potion to make you fall in love with her. She knows it can't happen overnight, because if you are suddenly 'dating' her it will look suspicious. You need to be careful around her Harry. The girl is not stupid."
"Does she really believe that we are telling the truth?" Salazar asked curiously, as they hurried along the corridors toward the Headmaster's tower.
"As long as she is around Harry, and he is acknowledging her, she could care less about who is telling the truth. 'Voldemort' could kill Neville where he stands right in front of her, but if Harry denies it, she won't care. As long as he's talking to her."
"Pathetic." Tom said, shaking his head. "I've got your back Harry."
Harry laughed. "Thanks." He said. Then he turned to Neville. "Sorry about that Neville."
"I'm not worried Harry. I know you'll tell me later. Hey, there's Godric!" He cried, as they rounded the corner.
They watched him stomp down the corridor, and he did not look happy.
"I was just coming to find you. Did you get it?" Godric asked gruffly.
Salazar put on a solemn expression. "I got mine, but yours had turned to dust for some reason." He said sadly, shaking his head.
"What!" Godric cried. "How can that be?" Then he caught sight of Harry, Neville, and Tom's faces as they tried not to laugh. Godric glared at Salazar, who suddenly grinned. "Give me my wand you slimy snake! I'm in no mood for this!" He cried.
"What's the matter Godric?" Harry asked.
"That…that…pink…cladded…woman!" He yelled, and Salazar laughed causing Godric to glare at him again.
Salazar handed Godric's wand to him, and just like with Salazar, a soft wind sprang up and circled him. He too sighed and smiled with content.
"Much better. Now I don't feel like I'm missing anything." He said a little more calmly, stowing his wand up his sleeve.
"What did Umbridge do to…?" Tom started to ask, but Hermione cut him off.
"Are you really our Headmaster now?" She demanded, folding her arms across her chest, and glaring up at him.
Godric leveled his gaze at her, and she stepped back a step or two. "Yes Miss Granger, and you'd do well to keep a respectful tongue in your head. I'm in no mood."
She looked shocked at his words. "Yes sir." She mumbled, staring at the floor.
"We need to find Merlin." Salazar said, and the others nodded in agreement.
They set off to head to the seventh floor, but Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were still following behind them. 'Voldemort' chuckled, and as soon as Hermione, Ron, and Ginny rounded the next corner on the fourth floor, they realized Harry and the others had disappeared.
When they appeared in the Room of Requirement, Harry looked around in amazement. Everyone except the Professors were there, but he had hardly noticed that they had done…well what ever it was they had done.
"What was that?" He asked to no one in particular.
"That was my method of getting around." Death said changing to his normal form. "We were being followed again. They are extreamly confused on how we disappeared so fast, and they are currently having the standard 'you can't apparate inside Hogwarts' discussion."
Harry and Neville started laughing, but Tom wasn't paying any attention to them. He was frantically looking around the room as if trying to spot someone. He spotted his target and quickly made his way to her. Harry and Neville looked at each other and grinned as they saw Tom visibly relax when Luna smiled brightly at him. They watched them for a few moments, and Harry's grin became a little larger when Luna gave Tom a hug. He would be having words with his brother about this.
"So what happened to you, to get your temper all in a flare again?" Salazar asked, and everyone stopped their conversations to listen.
Godric sighed. "Salazar, I don't have the temperament for this. You should be Headmaster, not me."
"We already discussed it. No one would want me as Headmaster with 'Voldemort' living inside the castle. You're the most logical choice."
"To hell with logic!" Godric cried. "That woman is going to put me into another early grave!"
"Why don't you start by calming down and tell us what happened." Salazar said.
Everyone took seats, but Godric paced back and forth in front of the group. Well more liked stomped, but as long as he wasn't setting things on fire, no one really cared.
"First let me say, I fired her as Slytherin Head, and reinstated Severus. When I did that, Filius stated that he had no experience with being Deputy Head and didn't really want to be it, so I reinstated Minerva. Feisty little thing she is." He said grinning at Salazar, but then he scowled. "Then that odious pink woman started screaming that she was this silly 'High Inquisitor' thing, and insisted that she be named Deputy Head. She's lucky I didn't have my wand and that I thought better of skewering her on the end of my sword because I seriously thought about using both. She started in with the Ministry this, and Ministry that. I had to tell her that in our day the Ministry didn't even exist, and that the Wizard's Council of the day would think twice before trying to enact influence over Hogwarts, because it would have meant war between the Founders and the Council. She didn't want to hear it. She started spouting off about these silly little Educational Decrees of hers, and demanded that I recognize them as rules for Hogwarts."
"Why didn't you just fire her?" Arthur asked.
"Oh I wanted to. Believe me. I had plans to make both Merlin and Salazar Defense Professors, with Merlin teaching 5th-7th and Salazar teaching 1st-4th but I can't. Her blasted teaching contract is magically sealed and can't be broken. Unless…" He said, letting his voice trail off as he looked at Death. "Can you help with that?"
"Let me find out." Death said, and disappeared.
"Why would there be two Defense Professors?" Tom asked.
"Well lad, Merlin would be best at teaching the older years, because they have a better handle on their magic. Truthfully, it would be a waste of Merlin's talent and knowledge for him to teach the younger years, when they wouldn't be able to use half the spells he knows. Salazar would be the best choice to get them ready for that." Godric answered.
"Something that I agree wholeheartedly with." Salazar said with a nod.
"You all flatter me." Merlin laughed.
Death reappeared and shook his head sadly. "They won't allow me too, but Fate and Destiny told me why they allowed what happened today, to happen."
"Why?" Everyone chorused.
"Rita Skeeter." He said with a grin.
Harry groaned. "I hate that woman."
"I know, but Fate and Destiny put it in her mind to pay a visit to Hogwarts today, in her animagus form. She saw and heard everything as she watched from a window seal in the great hall. She has been in the great hall since early, early this morning. Apparently Fate and Destiny has wiped everyone's memory about her animagus form. Well, except those in this room. Even Rita doesn't realize she has been discovered. They told me to tell you all to keep an eye on The Daily Prophet." He grinned. "They told me that they allowed this to happen because of the whole 'Voldemort' lives at and owns Hogwarts thing. With this happening today, the public declarations of 'Voldemort', Albus getting slapped by Susan, and Godric, Salazar, and Merlin coming to life, Miss Skeeter has quite the story. In fact, she's still here. She's in the great hall biding her time until the school assembly this afternoon. When word of this gets out, it's going to cause quite the scandal." He said with glee. "Dumbledore flees Hogwarts after Attacking Founders and Merlin, While You-Know-Who Walks among Students!" He said, waving his arms as if writing the headline in the air. "She wants to see what Godric has planned before she leaves to write the story."
"This is going to completely ruin him!" Harry said gleefully.
"Indeed it will." Death said with a happy grin. "But we have to remember that Dumbledore's Takedown does not end until he is either dead or chucked in Azkaban, so we aren't finished with him yet. Godric will have to be in talks with 'Hogwarts' during the assembly today to reiterate what is already known by the students as far as the crimes Albus has committed. This will have to be done for Rita's benefit. I will guide you both in what to say." He said glancing at Luna and the Headmaster. "Godric, you also need to encourage the students to ask any and all questions they have. Including any for 'Voldemort.' This will be important. The every mention of 'You-Know-Who' walking among their children will send parents into a tizzy and have them jerking their children out so fast it will make your head spin. You need to appear strong."
"Another reason why you, and not Salazar, needs to be Headmaster." Merlin said.
Godric sighed. "So what do I do about that woman?" He asked.
"Fate and Destiny want her to suffer for the crimes she committed in the last timeline, what she has already done in this timeline, and the crimes she will commit in this new timeline. They fully agree with Harry, they too want to see that woman running out of Hogwarts with Peeves whacking her with a walking stick…again." He grinned. "Their official orders are to run…her…ragged. They want you to embrace the stupidity that is these stupid rules, but have everyone in Hogwarts break them every chance they get. Fate and Destiny have plans that will turn this into a giant spectacle, and it will ruin Umbridge, and she will spend the rest of her life in Azkaban if we play our cards right."
"I won't let her torture students with that blasted blood quill." Godric growled.
"Oh you won't have to worry about that. Tom has already dealt with that problem." Death said.
"So in other words, you want Godric to unleash my boys." Arthur said with a grin.
"Oh yes. Between the twins and the Marauders, Umbridge doesn't stand a chance."
"We will not disappoint!" The twins said in unison.
"Neither will we." Sirius and Remus said. "Though we might have to enlist James occasionally." Sirius added.
Harry grinned at his godfather. "Here." He said tossing Sirius the resurrection stone. "Use this to call upon Prongs. May it bring us all lots of laughs." He said in an official sounding voice, which caused them all to crack up laughing.
Godric grinned. "That sounds good to me lads. However, I ask, no beg, that you all hold off for at least a month or so. Dealing with pranks and parents right now will see me setting the whole bloody castle on fire. Let us have a calm before the storm."
"Not to mention it will give the other students time to get used to 'Voldemort' living with them. They don't need the extra fear that they are going to be pranked." Merlin said.
"We understand." The twins and Marauders said. "You have two months." Fred added, and everyone laughed.
"What time is it?" Salazar asked.
"Nearly noon." Moody said.
"Luna, will you announce that the assembly will be held after lunch and all students need to attend. Suggest they just wait in the great hall after they finish eating." Godric asked.
Luna smiled and cleared her throat. "Attention Hogwarts residents. The new Headmaster, Godric Gryffindor, has asked me to announce that the assembly will be held after lunch and that it is mandatory, so please remain in the great hall after you finish eating. Heads of House are asked to make sure all of your students are in attendance. Godric also wants to encourage you to come prepared with any and all questions that you may have for himself, and/or, Tom Riddle. Our Headmaster has been in talks with him, and understands that you need to be assured that he is, in fact, not a threat to your safety. We will have an open floor discussion, so long as it remains orderly. Thank you."
"Luna, you are simply brilliant!" Tom exclaimed, as she canceled the voice amplifying charm.
She grinned at him. "Thank you Tom. As I've said, I love my role, and it helps to keep the Wackspurts away because it gives me something to concentrate on. The Wackspurts will make you brain go fuzzy, if you let them."
This caused everyone to grin at her, but Tom's was the brightest. Oh yes, Harry would definitely be having words with his brother.
The assembly was just a rehash of what has already been said many times before. 'Hogwarts' and Godric had an open dialogue going between them, and Hogwarts told them why she had brought the Founders and Merlin back to life. The students needed to be protected from Albus Dumbledore, and they needed to feel safe due to 'Voldemort' living there. This of course, was readily believed and everyone, minus a few, agreed it was the best thing to do.
Godric announced the reinstatement of Snape and McGonagall, and cheers sprang up around the great hall. He also, though very reluctantly, said Umbridge's 'stupid bloody intrusive rules that shouldn't be here in the first place' were to be obeyed, but no one missed the Headmaster's displeasure at that declaration, nor his silent permission for them to break them without punishment. Everyone knew he hated Umbridge, but that didn't stop her from smiling at her victory. If only she knew what was going to happen to her…
The questions that were asked that day were not only directed at 'Voldemort' and Godric, but to Harry as well. They wanted to know what 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' thought about all this, and he threw his support behind Godric as Headmaster and said he was ok with Voldyshorts being there. Harry said that he and Voldyshorts had talked about everything that happened in 1st and 4th year, and that they had come to an understanding, that desperation makes one do crazy things. Tom was desperate to get his body back. He avoided trying to hurt Harry at all costs, but Harry didn't know the truth then, and wanted to kill him. The graveyard was also mentioned, and since Harry didn't know the truth at that time either, Voldyshorts had called for backup in the form of his Death Eaters so that Voldyshorts would be somewhat protected. The duel they had wasn't really about killing Harry. Voldyshorts was just afraid of losing his body again.
Harry also informed them that the happenings of 2nd year weren't really Voldyshorts's fault, seeing that it was the evil possessed horcrux diary that did it, and not Tom himself.
Everyone was uneasy with 'Voldemort' being there, but seeing the two of them sitting side by side on top of the Gryffindor house table, ribbing each other, laughing, and talking like two normal people, the students and staff began to loosen up. They were finally starting to realize just how much they had all been duped by Albus Dumbledore. When Harry referenced the already well known nickname Voldyshorts and the new nickname, No Nose Voldy, this sent the great hall into fits of laughter and giggles. Even 'Voldemort' encouraged the names, and told them it would help them get over their fear of him. The students didn't disagree.
Umbridge though, had to add in her opinions and reminded everyone how much they hate her. She said that all of her Educational Decrees stand, and will be fully enforced, by her, and that anyone caught breaking these rules would be expelled. Godric scoffed loudly, and this was all the students needed to hear. They were going to ignore her completely, and it would slowly drive her bonkers.
It wasn't until later that night in the dorm that Harry finally got to talk to just Tom and Neville. Tom himself had been unusually quite since lunch, and even Neville had picked up on it. When Dean, Seamus, and Ron were finally asleep, Neville and Harry threw back Tom's closed bed curtains, and decided to have a talk with him. Both boys didn't bother to close the curtains back, but Harry did cast the Muffliato charm so they wouldn't wake the others.
"Alright what's up with you? You've been pouting sense lunch." Harry said.
Tom glared at him. "I'm fine."
"No you're not." Neville said. "We know you better than that, so tell us what's wrong or we will turn your hair red and start calling you Ron."
"You wouldn't!" Tom exclaimed. "I'll hex you both until you cry."
"Tell us what's wrong Tom." Harry said.
Tom sighed. "I just wish it had been me today sitting next to you and telling everyone that, instead of Death."
"But this is for the best, and you can see that it went a long way to helping clear your name." Harry said. "We swayed a lot more people to your side today, and when Skeeter's article hits, it will put you in a good light. I know Skeeter isn't the best reporter, but Fate and Destiny wouldn't have put her here if she was going to write about bad things. I wish it could have been you too, but in a way it was. We already have had that same exact conversation, and it was almost word for word. It might had been Death in the great hall today, but to me it was you."
"Besides," Neville said. "When it is revealed that you are the real Voldyshorts, the time you have spent here and the people who you've helped will not be forgotten. No one is going to forget that it was you who was the first to make it to Susan today. Can you imagine what Amelia is going to say when she finds out that it was Tom Ringo who comforted and cried with Susan? What about Susan herself? Show them that you are a fun loving guy, and that you have no prejudices. They will remember."
"Not to mention, when it is reveled that Death is Voldyshorts, it will only help your case. People know who he is. They know stories about him. No one is going to question him. It will only help." Harry repeated.
Tom sighed. "I suppose your right. I need to get out there and help those kids that have been hurt. Maybe Death can help point me in the right direction of those who have suffered like Susan, and even you Harry. If I can make amends with those people, maybe it will help me to heal too."
"Exactly." Harry and Neville said together.
"Now, let's talk about Luna." Harry said with a grin.
"Luna?" Tom asked. "What about her."
"You like her." Neville said.
"Well yeah. She's a sweet girl, and her personality is infectious. She is very kind and forgiving, and has helped me tremendously…" He stopped when he caught the looks on Harry and Neville's faces. "I don't like her like that!" He cried.
"Yes you do." They both said.
"I do not."
"Oh come on Tom. You are my brother. I think I'd know."
Tom scowled at him. "Ok maybe, but I'm in no position to have it go any farther than friends at this point. Besides, she'd probably laugh in my face if I were to ask her out."
"No she wouldn't." Neville laughed.
"What about the two of you." Tom said, trying to flip this around on them.
"I don't need, nor do I want, a girlfriend." Harry said firmly. "I'll think about that after I graduate. In fact, maybe I'll just be like Sirius and stay a bachelor for the rest of my days. Besides, I've got enough problems with dealing with Ginny. Not to mention, in my 6th year, another girl tried to get me with Love potions too. That was Romilda Vain, and that's not counting all the girls who want the bloody 'Boy-Who-Lived', and don't get me started on what happened with Cho. No, I don't need, nor want, a girlfriend. Woman are nuts." He stated even more firmly, and Tom laughed at him.
Neville laughed too. "I won't go that far, but Susan's friend Hannah Abbot has kind of caught my eye. She loves Herbology just as much as I do. Maybe I can get Susan to introduce us." He said thoughtfully, then he blushed. "Or not. There's just too much going on at the moment. Maybe we should just focus on what we need to do in order to have a happy life, verses trying to force the happy life right now."
"Exactly." Harry said with a nod.
"And that's how I feel about Luna and myself. Come what may." Tom said, trying to stifle a yawn.
"You're tired and we woke you up, so I'm going to head to bed too." Neville said, not even bothering to hide his yawn. "I'll see you two in the morning."
They said goodnight on that note. Harry fell asleep dreaming about a chaotic life living with Sirius as bachelors, and all the trouble they could get into. Neville dreamed about a garden filled with magical plants, and a certain blond Hufflepuff. Tom though, dreamed about a life spent looking for creatures that he was sure didn't exist, but he didn't care. He was happy with the Ravenclaw who could make him forget who he was, just by smiling at him.
*A/N* I decided to end this chapter with a little bit of fluff, seeing as I haven't written any fluff so far. It wont happen often though. I know people like a little bit of Romance in their stories, but this story isnt intended to be that. Ive read bashing fics where Harry has many girlfriends and is constantly hounded by jealous girls and in some, he has a girlfriend that he's madly in love with (that he's not spoken two words too ever) by the second chapter. Thats ok for those fics, and i like them myself, it just that this story is about two brothers, not a bunch of girls vying for Harry's attention. I say this because i have gotten PMs and guest reviews saying Harry needs a girlfriend, Tom needs one, Neville needs one, and they threaten to un follow and un fav if i dont provide that. i ignore and delete them. I look at what Harry has gone through with all these girls in canon, and for my bashing fic, my Harry doesn't want all that. I hope you all don't kill me for it! However, Tom and Luna just keep popping up, but Im trying to fight them. Seriously i am. We shall see who wins. *Bangs head on desk*
Now about the rest. I know we are 14 chapters in and they are only in the second week of school. It's about to pick up though. It's not over yet, not by a long shot! Godric gets his month or so of peace and quiet, but Halloween is just around the corner. Please stay tuned!