A/N 1: *Once again, Special thanks to gilana1 for being my amazing Beta and letting me bounce ideas off of her. The HP fandom has totally led me to some amazingly awesome people, and she's one of them ;)*
A/N 2: *Thanks for those of you that read. This chapter has Tom wanting to just get away from the insanity that only a large boarding school can whip up. What is kept in the further reaches of the dungeons? When's the last time anybody has been there? Maybe Tom will find out.*
After the revelation at the end of Tom's first full day of classes, the weeks just seemed to go on in a sort of cycle of wake up, have breakfast, go to class, have lunch, back to class, common room, dinner, common room, bed...with the exception of Wednesday evenings where they have astronomy at midnight. Every night before bed Tom would cloister himself on his bed, behind his curtains and talk about the day with Saroya. He felt that it helped ground him in reality because she was the only thing with him at Hogwarts that was also with him at the Orphanage. Having her there, and being able to talk about everything helped him sort through all that had changed in the past ten months or so.
Even for the Pureblood students, going away to Hogwarts, although expected, is still a big deal. It's the first time that they've ever truly been away from home or their parents for longer than a night or so. However, for Tom, it's a completely different type of freedom. It's a freedom from the depressing, drab, gray children's home he'd forced to reside in since birth. Being here, in the open in Scotland is a far cry from the hustling, bustling city of London.
It was Saturday, 1 October. Tom had officially been at Hogwarts for one glorious month. A month away from the hellish taunts and ridicule from Amy, Billy, and Dennis. Although, thanks to Dumbledore, Tom didn't always feel what he expected. Yes, the taunts from the other children didn't exist at Hogwarts. The meals were always timely and plentiful. Plus, the education was amazing. Learning about transfiguring an animal into a cup is more interesting than trying to avoid the elevated military presence while working on Algebra. However, he always felt as if somebody were watching him, and not just in the regular guardian-teacher way you'd expect at a boarding school. It felt more as if somebody there didn't trust him and was expecting something malevolent from him. The feeling was even worse in the great hall for meals or during Transfiguration classes. Oddly enough, Tom wasn't a stupid child. He knew that Dumbledore didn't trust something about him. What he couldn't figure out is what it was? It's not as if Dumbledore had met Tom for long before the school year had begun. Yes, he had been the one to bring his acceptance letter to Tom. But, that's it…...It always left Tom constantly making sure he kept up his cool and his mask.
That's why on this day, Tom found himself just aimlessly walking around the corridors in the dungeons. The rest of Tom's dorm mates were talking about Quidditch, considering how the season was to be starting in the next couple of weeks. In fact, not only his dorm mates but, the school, in general, has come down with a case of Quidditch Fever. Or so it appeared to Tom. Therefore, Tom used their diverted attention to slip out of the Slytherin common room without the rest of them. Yes, he was starting to consider Ave- Philip and Bla- Orion friends. But, the rest of the dorm mates were simply there for the ride at the time being. He hadn't decided if they were their own persons or if they were just other followers. Either way, Tom needed a break. It was difficult for him to go from usually being ignored or ostracized to suddenly being a part of a group of kids his own age. It's not impossible to grasp that it would occasionally make Tom feel suffocated.
Tom had walked out of the Slytherin common room and walked up the dimly lit, chilly dungeon corridor. Not really having a plan or place he wanted to get to, Tom just kept strolling up and down the corridors. After about ten minutes of strolling, he came upon a tapestry that had a tall and lithe man, with dark hair, deep; slightly sunken eyes, pale skin and green Robes. He was standing in front of the Slytherin crest that Tom had seen every day above the fireplace in the common room.
Walking a bit closer to the tapestry he also noticed that there were lots of different texts piled precariously upon the desk next to a steaming potion pot. On the floor next to the table, Tom noticed that there was a large snake. The bottom portion of its body was coiled around one of the legs to the table, whereas the top half of its body was raised to look towards the wizard in question. It suddenly dawned to Tom that this must be a tapestry of his house's founder, Salazar Slytherin. Feeling that it was a good sign for himself to be down this abandoned corridor, Tom gave one final look at the tapestry and continued on.
Not much further down, he came across a smaller portrait of the same wizard. This time, the snake was resting upon Slytherin's shoulder, and Slytherin himself was resting on a dark green, almost black, chair with a book on the small end table to the left. Now, if this was a month before, Tom would have simply taken in the painting for a moment and continued on with his walk. But, learning that actual portraits will talk to you because they are imbibed with magic had him second guessing if he should continue or say something to the portrait in the hopes that it would respond like the one in the upper levels of the castle.
He had read a couple of weeks ago that whatever language a person or creature spoke in their life, they could theoretically speak in via their portraits as well. Therefore, Tom felt that it was worth it to attempt to talk to the snake in parseltongue. That way, if somebody were to happen across him in this abandoned part of the castle, he would be speaking a language they don't know. Plus, hissing is a quiet thing. Unlike talking. Therefore, it'd be so quiet that others wouldn't hear him before he noticed their approaching Tom hadn't passed a soul since leaving the common room and going down this corridor, he felt it was safe enough to approach the painting and envelope his inquisitive nature.
*Are you Sssalazar Sssslytherin, co-founder of Hogwarts and Sssslytherin housssssse?* Hissed Tom. His heart was beating in his chest but, he smoothed his facial features so not to give away his excitement. Picture or not, he felt he needed to show some decorum. This is the great Salazar Slytherin! He was under the assumption that all the paintings of the founders were lost. Could it be that simple that they were just forgotten about in such a large spiraling castle?
*Well, my word, boy! You're a ssssspeaker?* replied Salazar in a sibilate drawl. *Yessss, i am him. What year iisss thisss? It'ssss been sssooo long since another has passsed by and, even longer ssssince one wasss a ssspeaker.*
*Yessss, sssir.* Tom hissed back. This was one of the most exciting things he'd ever done. Top it off with him realizing that since he's the only speaker he's heard of in these hallowed halls, he's probably also the first to even speak with the co-founder in centuries. *The year issss 1938. The first of October to be precissse.*
*1938, you sssay?* Salazar's said in a curious sibilate drawl. *It has been over a millennia ssssince any have passsed by this portrait, even longer ssssince one has had accesssss to my founders chambersss. Are you of my houssse, young sssspeaker?*
This question made Tom stand up even straighter if that were even possible, and radiate with pride. He could tell that this was definitely an amazing find. *Yessss, Mr. Slytherin.* Tom hissed back.
He wasn't sure how he should address the portrait. Was he a professor long before his demise? Should he address him as such? Or, as 'Sir'? There were so many different factors that he was unsure of. So, he settled on the most basic, hoping if he were wrong, that he would simply be told the appropriate form of address.
*I wassss hoping that one with the gift would be of my houssse." replied Salazar. *Tell me, young man, what is your name?*
*Riddle, Sir. Tom Marvolo Riddle.* Tom hissed back. From all that he'd heard in the common room and on the train he wasn't sure how the founder of his house would take to having a parselmouth with such an obvious Muggle name. Hopefully, he'll grab onto the fact that my middle name is Morvolo, thought Tom.
*The name of Riddle isn't a part of the ancient families. I have no knowledge of them.* Salazar finally responded. "However, the name Morvolo i do recognize. It is an old name, one that fell out of habit with the muggles not long after i passed. If your parents named you thus, you have got to be at the very least a half-blood." Salazar noticed that Tom hadn't responded much except for the widening of his eyes during his small speech.
*Well, Sir, i never knew my parents. I grew up in an orphanage.* Tom hissed back quietly. *I had always been curious as to where my magic came from. Was it from my father? Was it from my mother?...initially, i felt that it had to be my father, because how could my mother die in such a way? But, i was proven wrong not long after i started here.* Tom took another deep breath. He hadn't told a soul about anything he had found in his wizarding genealogy text. *I did come across the name Gaunt. The last descendants written in the book comprised of Marvolo, Merope and Morfin Gaunt. I know that my mother named me after my father and grandfather. It's only logical that I'm possibly of the Gaunt family.* By the end of his spiel, Tom finally looked the portrait of Salazar in the eyes.
*Hm. The Family of Gaunt once produced a long line of great Wizardsssss and Witchessssss, young man. You should be proud of your heritage. Be proud that you now know thingssssss you were ignorant of in the passsssst. Knowledge is the truest of all powersssss.* Salazar hissed back, his eyes shining with excitement of imbibing somebody with unknown knowledge. *Obvioussssly, i don't know what came of them between passing and that of your birth. But, you appear to be a strapping and smart young lad, are you not?*
Tom was finally starting to relax the posturing that he usually wore throughout the day. He knew that it could be a bit tiring and draining on somebody of his age. But, he was literally in a new world. He needed to get used to how things flowed from one instance to another before knowing what was expected of him, similarly to how it is at the orphanage when new employees or children come in or go out. *Thank you, Sir.* Replied Tom. His cheeks were turning slightly less pale than they were previously from the unexpected compliment given to him on top of all this amazing new information.*I'm indebted to you for what you have informed me of tonight. It has helped me a lot, rather you notice it or not.* Tom glanced down at his watch and realized that it was approaching lunch and that his lack of attending would be noticed. If not by his housemates, then by the headmaster and Dumbledore. *It is time that i get going, Sir. Would it be agreeable to you if i were to come back and visit from time to time? I like having some alone time, and finding another Parselmouth to converse with is a welcome plus.* Tom queried Salazar's portrait.
*Of course, young man!* stated Salazar's sibilant response. *Go,* at this Salazar waved his arm in a shooing motion *enjoy your meal. I will see you again in due time. Good day to you, Mr. Riddle.* At that Salazar returned to his chair and picked his book back up again.
Knowing a dismissal when he hears one, Tom turned on the spot and strutted down the corridor back towards the common room. Perhaps he could make it back to the dorms before most of his dorm mates noticed his prolonged absence, thought Tom. From that day forth, Tom had an improved outlook on Hogwarts and the wizarding world at large. He finally felt as if he truly belonged. And that was the most important thing to him at the time.
"Hey, where've you been, Riddle?" Asked a chuckling Orion Black as Tom strode into the common room.
"Nowhere in particular, Black. Just went for a walk after breakfast this morning." Replied Tom. "What's going on?"
"We realized that you weren't with us after breakfast. Was our quidditch talk boring you?" Orion queried with a smirk finally coming to rest across his face.
"Somewhat. It's not really anything I'm overtly interested in at the moment. I figured it'd be a great time to walk around and see other parts of the castle." Tom responded. He didn't want to let the guys know that he had found one of Slytherin's portraits. It'd be the talk of the house and would more than likely be moved from where Tom had come across it. He definitely didn't want that. This secret was something that was his. Growing up he didn't get many things that were solely his own and he wants to bask in the knowledge that he has something, rather; someone, that they don't.
"Do you want to join us for lunch?" Piped up Philip. " They should be opening the great hall any moment for the noon meal." At that announcement most of the guys stomachs gave quite rumblings, signifying that Avery's suggestion was sound.
"Sure, thing guys." Tom agreed. " Lead the way."
As the first year boys turned to leave the common room the other students realized the hour and started to put their things away, or abandon their games of exploding snap or chess in lieu of the noon meal.
Tom knew that his dorm mates would be curious as to what kept him so long this morning, they only let him slide with so little information because they were all starving. Therefore, Tom got to thinking. He didn't want the others to know quite yet about the Parseltongue, or about Slytherin's tapestry and portrait. However, he did remember that there was a corridor to the left he didn't take not long after he had initially left the common room. Perhaps they can find an abandoned classroom or office back there to make their own. Somewhere that's just for them. With an idea in place, Tom smirked as they approached the doors to the Great Hall, feeling much lighter than he did this time last year. Hell, much lighter than he ever much had changed in the past 10 months that he wouldn't change it for a second.
The group of first year Slytherins approached their spot at the Slytherin table and dug into lunch. Although it had been a month, coming to the Great Hall for meals was still something that was both new and exciting for Tom. He's used to the orphanage cooks just making a specific meal for all of the children and placing it on the table. They then had to wait until Mrs. Cole had served herself before they were allowed to move and begin themselves. Being able to serve himself whatever it is that he desired, not to mention that the meals here were a million and one times better than anything than he had ever been served before definitely helped him feel more at ease. Although Tom had always been a sveltely built child he was starting to fill out just slightly from all the rich foods that were constantly available. He figures that being here, at Hogwarts 10 months out of the year, and away from that godforsaken muggle war will help him in so many ways.
Realizing he'd been wool gathering for quite some time, Tom shook himself out of his thoughts and started to pay attention to the inane drivel that he could he coming from the other tables in the great hall. Talks about 'this quidditch team' or 'that chess match' just didn't matter much to Tom, so he usually just tuned them out. Noticing that Orion and Philip were about done talking about something or another, Tom turned to them.
"Would you guys like me to show you where i went for that walk this morning?" Tom casually asked as he spooned another helping of potatoes onto his plate.
"Was it really that enlightening of a walk, Riddle?" Orion asked as he himself grabbed another roll from the basket in between them.
"Truly. Did you know that the dungeons form a sort of catacomb?" Tom asked. "Once you go down the main corridor in the opposite direction of our common room there are a few different corridors that branch off from them. I only went down one or two of them. But, it seems like they go fairly far back and down. I had passed quite a few that i didn't investigate properly earlier. Perhaps we could go and check it out. I mean, it is in our territory." Prompted Tom.
Acknowledging the nod of assent from both Philip and Orion lead Tom to resume completing his meal. Tom glanced up from the Slytherin table and let his eyes wander the Great Hall. The Ravenclaws, as usual, were eating at the table talking over homework, reading a text while spooning food into their mouths or debating the finer techniques of advanced charms, for the NEWT level students. He chuckled quietly to himself at that. The Ravenclaws don't realize that Knowledge is a means to an end. Yes, it's good to be smart and knowledgeable. But, to not have a direct plan into why the knowledge is necessary just doesn't seem to speak to Tom. Moving his vision past the Ravenclaws he could see the Hufflepuffs joking and chatting with each other while eating. Nothing surprising they don't have a defining characteristics like that of the other houses. Last, and most certainly least, Tom took a gander at the Gryffindor table. How they were able to eat and be so rowdy and rambunctious at the same time both disgusted and baffled Tom. What were they, animals?! Tom thought. Tom took that moment to turn back to his meal in disgust. He pushed his plate away from himself then picked up a pitcher of water to pour into his goblet. Taking a sip he simply waited until Philip and Orion were finished and ready to go.
Not much longer the three of them had begged off from their housemates who weren't yet done with their meal and left the Great Hall. With Philip and Orion following him, Tom passed the corridor towards the kitchens and Hufflepuff and descended into the Dungeons. Instead of turning left when they stepped off the stairs, Tom turned right, heading towards the first corridor to the left that he had ignored in his earlier search.
"It's so quiet down here," Philip said. "You'd think that since we're directly below the Hufflepuff common room that we'd hear something. They must have some sort of silencing ward surrounding the different houses', so you can't hear what's going on from outside them."
"It wouldn't surprise me in the least," Orion responded. " However, how much noise do you think a bunch of Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs can actually make whilst in their common rooms?" At this Orion smirked a bit. "Now, Gryffindor…...well, that's an entirely different matter all-together. We, on the other hand, don't have any classrooms directly surrounding our common room. So, i wonder if it's a field on every house or just those that need it?"
"Well, i'd definitely assume that Hufflepuff and Gryffindor would need them" Tom finally said. "Hufflepuff because i read in Hogwarts: A History that the kitchens are near Hufflepuff. The castle nor the headmaster would want the elves cooking up a storm making enough noise to wake an entire house before breakfast. As for Gryffindor, it's probably a necessity. What with how loud and uncouth they were in the best of times."
Both Philip and Orion snorted quietly but, hid it behind a smirk and a nod of their heads.
They walked for another couple of minutes in silence. Tom didn't always talk unless it was a necessity. He'd learned that the hard way growing up in the orphanage. Recognizing where his thoughts were going Tom shook himself free of them and continued on down the corridor until he saw the first turn off, the one he simply walked right past twice earlier. Tom stopped and turned to the other two as they approached the corridor.
"Do you think that the torches will automatically light when we walk down there or do you think that we'd need to procure our own light before heading down here? It is quite a bit darker than this main one we're in right now." Philip asked.
"Do either of you know a spell for light?" Queried Tom. Noticing the shake of their heads, he started to think of something.
"Why don't we just take a step or two down the corridor and see if the torches light themselves?" Orion said. "My house does that sometimes. The gas lights are spelled to automatically turn on when it senses a person coming into a room or passageway." At that, he stepped past Tom and simply walked into the dark, unknown corridor. He had only taken a couple of steps before the torches began to light themselves and provide the much-needed assistance.
"Smart thinking, Black!" Cheered Tom, as he clapped Orion on the back. "Let's check it out!"
At that, the three of them headed down the unknown corridor. The first hundred yards or so didn't really leave much for the imagination. Just a few tapestries and Iron Suits lining the dusty abandoned walls. However, about half way down they came to a door that was inscribed with the Hogwarts insignia on it. Tom walked up and ran his fingers over it, trying to think if Salazar had said anything about secret rooms being placed throughout the dungeon catacombs. But, nothing came to mind. No worry. They're here now, he wonders if the door is locked or not.
Tom reached out and grasped the door handle. It didn't budge, signaling that it was indeed locked. This is when Tom becomes glad that he had read so far ahead in his books since he'd bought a lot of them a bit earlier. One of the first spells he remembers reading from the texts was 'Alohamora'. Therefore, Tom took his wand out and pointed it at the door-handle while incanting 'alohamora'. A soft click was heard and the door opened about an inch. Tom pushed the door open further so that the three of them could see into the room properly. Tom didn't expect it to be like a large meeting hall. In the center of the room held a circular table with four different chairs on one side, each a different color combination - green and silver, bronze and gold, yellow and black, and finally red and gold, and then six other chairs that were all of the same cherry wood and black color combination. There were bookshelves full of books, knick knacks and files that lined the back wall, behind the founders chairs. There was also a large chalkboard that was pushed to the far left wall as well. It looked like it had just been wiped clean after a meeting or something. The room, unlike the corridor, appeared as if it were just used earlier in the week. Not a millennia ago. Tom figured that the founders must've placed some very strong preservation charms in this room.
"What do you guys think this room is?" Asked Philip.
"It's got to be fairly old." Replied Orion. "Just based on how it appears nobody has been down these corridors in ages, then we find this old abandoned room. It looks as if it used to be a room that the founders would meet with others. Perhaps with the ministry, or if they had the board of governors operating back in those times? I'm not really sure. But, it's obvious that's what this room was used for. It's even got a circular table so that everybody could see each other throughout the meeting.
"I was thinking the exact same thing, Black." Said Tom from the other side of the round table. He was slowly making his way around the room, taking everything in. "If this was used as a meeting room then, do you think that the founders had another room that they met with just each other? Or do you think that they always used this room unless they were in their own private quarters?" Tom's eyes were starting to become a bit more alive than before. The shell he had concocted during all those years at the orphanage was slowly morphing into something new. Tom knew that around people like him he could start to at least somewhat be himself. Especially after the talk with Salazar that morning. "I think we should keep this quiet for now. I'd prefer not to have others coming down here and using the rooms or anything like that. What if this was something for just us. Something that, for now, only the three of us knew about?" Tom glanced up to look at both Black and Avery in the eyes. Both of them had the same mischievous look in their eyes that he had.
"I concur, Riddle." Agreed Black. "We have to keep this quiet. We don't want the wrong sort to find out about this and take it from us. It's in the dungeons, let it be a secret between us. And if it can't be that, then, at least, a secret between Slytherin house. Yeah?"
Tom looked over to Philip and received a nod in return. "Agreed." The three of them said at once. With that, they decided to just walk around the room and see what was there. They didn't want to touch anything before they could verify that it wasn't cursed to react towards unknown persons. Something a Gryffindor definitely wouldn't think of if they found a place like this, thought Tom.
"Alright, guys. I think we should probably head back." Piped up Avery. "We've been gone for awhile and everybody saw us leave the Great Hall. If we're gone much longer we all know that we'll be pelted with questions the second we're near other students or in the common room."
Seeing the logic in that train of thought, Orion and Tom agreed and they all turned and walked out of the room. Once they were in the corridor, Tom took his wand back out and pointed it at the door handle, 'colloportus', he incanted, locking the door closed behind them. With that, they decided to change the conversation. It wouldn't be good to be talking about abandoned corridors or founders' rooms when they got back up to the castle proper. That would only invite unwanted questions and inquiry, most likely from Dumbledore and nosey students. Silently they all agreed it wasn't worth it and decided to speak nothing of it until they're ensconced in their dorm room or back into the catacombs of the dungeons.