Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and everything recognizable belongs to J K Rowling.
Chapter 3: Preparations for a journey through time.
Alex sat there, looking at Death, waiting for him to explain. She was still waiting for all of this to turn out to just be a really bad nightmare. She couldn't believe that she was actually going to be sent back through time. She had always wanted to do something important. To be someone, but this was definitely not what she had in mind. She thought over her task. She had to make friends with the bloody dark lord. She didn't know if it was even possible to make friends with such a person. And even though she didn't want to admit it, a small part of her was scared that she would fail.
Alex wondered if the fates were playing some kind of cruel prank on her. What was so special about her that they had chosen her for this task? She was just a normal teenage girl and nothing more, or so she thought. She missed her parents and her brother. Would she even see them again?
She also felt guilty for her brother's death. If she hadn't gone to fight the death eaters, he would still be alive. How could she have been so stupid? Yet she couldn't help but feel a small amount of satisfaction when she thought of the five death eaters that she had struck down.
"We have a lot to discuss. This is a very important task and if you fail, it could end up making things worse. But the fates have chosen you and they have faith in you." Death said, startling Alex out of her thoughts.
"So what do I need to know to succeed in this important task?" she said, making air quotes with her fingers.
"It's quite simple actually. All you need to do is stop him from going dark." Death said. He regarded the girl in front of him curiously. The fates had told him that she would be the one to bring peace to the land. She sat there in front of him with an expression of incredulity on her face.
Meanwhile, Alex's thoughts were racing; surely it couldn't be that simple? She knew there was more to this, much more. Would she be able to return to her own time? What would people think when she suddenly appeared out of thin air? There were so many questions in her mind that were unanswered. It was frustrating.
"I am sure it's not going to be all that simple. We are talking about the dark lord here." She said.
"Yes. The concept is simple enough but actually doing it might be slightly difficult. So let us start with any questions that you might have." Death said.
"Will I be able to return to my own time after I complete the task?" Alex asked. This was it. This would be the deciding factor. She really hoped he said yes. She really did not want to be stuck in the 40's.
"Yes you will be able to return to your own time if you wish. If you do, you will not remember anything that occurred during this life. Even if you can, I have a feeling that you would not want to return to your own time." He said with a knowing twinkle.
"Why wouldn't I want to return to my own time? I have no family there. Nowhere to live after I finish school and…"Alex said but was cut off when Death raised his hand and started to speak.
"You will understand in time. Now I have some very important things to tell you. Tom Riddle's mother died while giving birth to him at the orphanage that he grew up at. His mother was a witch and his father was a muggle." Death said and watched Alex closely to see her reaction.
"He was a half-blood?! That bloody hypocrite. Those death eaters who preach blood purity so much are actually bowing down to a half- blood? If this situation wasn't so serious, it would have been hilarious." Alex said or more like screamed.
"Yes. He was smart. He used their own beliefs to bring them to his side. He used their beliefs to come to power and gain strong allies." Death said, slowly nodding his head.
"His mother's name was Merope Gaunt. She was a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin through his mother. Now, he only found out his heritage in his fifth year when the chamber of secrets was opened. I want you to tell him about as soon as you go back in time. It is important for him to know about and understand it fully. Once he comes of age he will be the head of the Noble and Most Ancient house of Slytherin." Death explained.
Alex's head was reeling with everything she had just been told. He was the heir of Slytherin? She had also read about the chamber of secrets in her copy of Hogwarts: A history. It was believed to be a legend, but here she was being told that it actually existed. She was shocked but she quickly got over it and asked Death the question that was at the forefront of her mind.
"But won't telling him about it cause more harm than good?" she asked him. How was giving him more power going to help? The ancient houses all had seats in the Wizengamot. She knew this because her father was the head of the Noble house of Bluewell. It was not an ancient house as it had been around for only one century.
"It might, but I am hoping that his duties as head of an ancient and noble house will keep him busy enough to stop him from thinking about becoming a dark lord." Death said. "You must understand that whatever step we take, it will still have its risks and it is a risk that we will just have to take." Death continued. He looked at Alex to see if she had understood everything that she had been told till now.
Alex looked at Death and nodded for him to continue. She knew that anything that they did could have unexpected consequences. She had to plan everything properly and carefully, she could not overlook anything.
"After he finds out about his heritage, I suggest that you take a trip to the village of Little Hangleton. That was where Tom's parents lived. His maternal uncle Morphin is still alive. He is a drunkard and almost a squib. He has the Gaunt ring. I want you to take Tom with you and acquire the ring." Death said.
"Why do we need the ring? What does that have to do with anything?" Alex asked him with a perplexed look on her face.
"That ring currently plays host to the resurrection stone." Death said with a small grin.
Alex was even more perplexed now. She remembered vaguely hearing about it once. She racked her brains and then it suddenly hit her; the story of the three brothers. Her eyes widened slightly in astonishment and Death smirked at her.
"Yes, the legend of the three brothers is true. The deathly hallows exist and one of them belongs to Tom. With the resurrection stone, one can recall loved ones from the grave." Death said.
"But what will he do with it?" Alex asked him. Where was Death going with this? Her brain was muddled with the number of things she had just learnt. She swore to herself that she was going to take a long nap after this was over.
"You will know with time, but I must tell you that it is very important that you acquire the stone. It is something that will help Tom." Death said with a knowing look in his eyes.
"What name will I take once I go there? Bluewell is a known family in the wizarding world." Alex stated. It was a question that had been plaguing her mind for some time.
"Don't tell anyone your last name until you go to Gringotts. Once you go there you will know what to do. And don't worry; I will stop people from enquiring about your last name." Death explained.
Alex nodded. She only had two more questions that needed to be answered. She couldn't help but feel excited about her mission. And she was also going to be able to go to Hogwarts! She just hoped that everything went according to plan.
"When you send me back in time, when will I reach and where will I be deposited?" Alex asked him.
"You will reach on the 20th of July 1940. You will be dropped at Hogsmeade, just outside the Hogwarts gate. You will know what to do after that." Death said. He stood up and motioned her to follow him. Alex got up and fell into step with Death.
"Where are we going?" she asked him, wondering whether there was anything apart from the white room. "We are going to the room that holds the portal of time". Alex nodded her head and continued walking. They walked for fifteen minutes before they reached a large mahogany door. Death opened the door and entered with Alex close behind him.
Alex walked into the room hesitantly. This room like the previous one was also completely white. There was a floating vortex in the center of the room and Alex couldn't help but feel scared at what she was about to do. This was going to change the rest of her life, for better or for worse.
"Don't be afraid, I have faith in you." Death said with optimism that Alex just couldn't have when one was entering a situation as dangerous as this.
She took a few steps towards the time portal until she was right in front of it and staring into its dark depths. She looked back at Death and gave him a small smile before she put one leg into the portal and got completely sucked into its dark depths…
"Have faith for I know all will be right in the end." Death murmured to himself before going out the door they had walked through just minutes ago.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Please read and review.
Edited on 21st December 2016
There aren't any major changes in the plot line, I have only removed the part about the fates because I felt it just didn't fit into the story and some minor spelling errors here and there have been corrected. Hope everyone is still enjoying this story. I will try to update soon.