Tom Marvolo Riddle.
I Am Lord Voldemort.
Wow, he had been such an overdramatic kid.
It had taken Lucius and Severus almost four years after he had become a wraith to come up with a way to give him his body back. Thankfully Lucius had one of his Horcruxes and Severus was smart enough to enact the right ritual to pull his wraith back from where he had taken refuge in Albania and infuse it with his soul in the diary. The only unfortunate side effect was that it pulled all the rest of his Horcruxes as well. Coming back to life was a shaky start all on its own, but coming back mortal was terrifying.
There was a sudden clarity to his thoughts that he hadn't had in many, many years. It was startling just how far his sanity had slipped in those final years before he fell. It took a week before his new fluctuating emotions to settle and several weeks before he felt strong enough physically and emotionally to discuss what had happened. There was a large gap in his memory from the night he fell. He remembered arriving at the Potter's cottage and approaching the front door to test the wards, but everything after that is blank until he 'woke' in the Albanian forest.
Between Severus, Lucius, and himself they had vague speculation of what might have happened that night. The lack of concrete knowledge set them all on edge though. Before diving into more research about that night, it was suggested by Narcissa that he reconnect with some of his followers and maybe take a vacation to just relax and recoup from his resurrection. It wasn't a bad idea, but the inherent weakness of needing so much time to recover weighed heavily on Tom and his very mortal body.
Eventually, he did concede and brought in what was left of his inner circle and some trusted allies to let them know he was alive, what would be changing, their future plans, and what he wanted them to do while he was still recovering.
He knew it was stupid of him to try to reconnect with Fenrir. Their relationship had been casual before he fell, mostly due to his own mental instability and Fenrir's fear of settling down with one person permanently. But Tom still cared for Fenrir and Fenrir appreciated Tom's new younger body quite a lot, at least he did at first. So Fenrir and Tom packed for a small recovery vacation to Egypt and left quite quickly to one of Tom's houses hidden in the middle of the Egyptian countryside.
It wasn't long into their trip that Fenrir has started to drift away from him before finally using the excuse that his younger body supposedly made him feel like he was praying on a child. Never mind that he had worshipped this younger form just a few days prior. It didn't matter though. Tom didn't need anyone and Fenrir left that night.
After Fenrir left, Tom learned his new mental state didn't adapt well to being all alone and took the first excuse he could to come back to England after hearing from Lucius that Severus suddenly had an heir. An heir that Tom had not expected to feel so protective of from the moment he met the small abused child. That feeling had not changed in the years knowing him either, if anything it had gotten stronger. Tom was ignoring how much he didn't understand the connection and how it scared him deep down. Plausible deniability and all that rot.
Next month would be his birthday. Technically he would be 63 years old, but on his new records, he would be turning 21 and would be making his official entrance onto the British political scene. Lucius would be sponsoring his entrance at the Yule ball being held inside the Ministry. They had been planning this since he had returned to his 16-year-old body, and planning had often turned into heated arguments.
Tom had wanted to return using the Slytherin name as his blood right to do, but it was finally agreed that it would bring too much-unwanted opposition. His reign as Voldemort had sullied the Slytherin title thoroughly and he may never get to use that title in official circles again. It brought great hurt and regret to admit that to himself.
Tom still needed a solid name to break onto the scene with so they used an older ancestor than even Slytherin. They went back to the Peverell and while the main branch of the family still was under the Potter name, the brother line was still available to him and he could still use the name. In a bid to be less dramatic with his new permanent naming choices this time, he would be sticking with Thomas. There was the matter of his middle name, they were too important in the wizarding world to leave it off entirely.
In less than three weeks Thomas Rene Peverell would be showing his worth to the fickle British public. His OWLS and NEWTS were taken and published already. Of course, he received all O's, he wouldn't allow himself anything less. He only hoped that they had filled any obvious holes in his backstory to not cause any trouble for his debut, he was trying to do this the right way this time without the bloodshed, but people tested his patience and he was unsure how long he would hold out.
Silent Compassion
Severus hated parties.
Severus hated people too.
If it wasn't for Tom and Lucius, he definitely would not be here right now. He would rather be at home with his little boy who was growing bigger by the day instead of here with a bunch of dirty and crooked politicians. In theory, he knew that today was important. It was when Tom would make his grand entrance but Severus was already not having fun, the ministry yule ball had only begun half an hour prior.
"You know Severus, it wouldn't hurt you to smile," Tom said casually as he walked up to his side, having found his hiding spot at the back of the ball room a little too easily.
"If I smiled I might burst into flames, Tom. Then Hadrian would have to be raised by the likes of Lucius and Narcissa and I couldn't live with myself if Hadrian turned into a peacock." Severus drawled with ease, making Tom chuckle in amusement.
"Ah and here I thought you didn't have a sense of humor."
"Indeed I don't."
"Come and socialize Severus. Help me dissuade the rumors of you being a vampire. You may use your sharp wit against an idiot you want." Tom coaxed.
"As entertaining as that sounds, I think I will remain here. Where is Lucius? He was supposed to be showing you around and introducing you to the prominent names."
"Unfortunately Fudge required another consultation for his platform to become the next minister. Not that the people are that blind to elect such a useless man but at least he has dreams."
"Fools," Severus muttered.
"Come on the sooner we finish here, the sooner you can go home to Hadrian." Tom tried again, causing Severus to sigh but give up his corner.
"You owe me two days of babysitting for this," Severus grumbled unhappily, causing Tom to smile brightly and drag Severus forth into the fray.
Silent Compassion
"Albus I want to introduce you to this bright young man who has just taken up his Wizengamot seats, he seems to be just the change we need to see coming into our ministry!" Cornelius spoke eagerly as he directed Dumbledore over to where the young Thomas Peverell was speaking with Lord Malfoy and Lord Prince. Albus was getting annoyed with Fudge's flitting about but knew if he wanted more control in the ministry he needed to help and sponsor Fudge so he could later use and manipulate him for his own plans.
"New blood in politics is always welcomed. Which one of my students have taken up their seats?" Albus asked casually, not recognizing the back of the young man that Severus Snape was scowling viciously at.
"Actually he was homeschooled so you won't know him, Albus." Fudge spoke in an excited flutter. When they reached the group of men, both Lucius and Severus looked carefully at the intruders to their conversation, causing Tom to turn around to see who interrupted.
"Ah if it isn't our future minister for magic!" Tom said with a charismatic grin.
Albus Dumbledore froze in his tracks seeing a vague familiarity to a student he definitely once taught about five decades ago. Fudge and the young Voldemort look alike kept speaking as Albus got stuck in his memories.
"This here is actually the headmaster of Hogwarts, I am sure you have heard of since it is one of the best schools in the world for witchcraft and wizardry!" Fudge said cheerfully, pulling Albus from his thoughts.
"Ah you are too kind Cornelius, we do try to keep our strict standards up to par." Albus nodded with a forced smile.
"Hmm, is Hogwarts really at the top anymore?" Tom spoke softly, "I had heard that title firmly belongs to Castelobruxo of Brazil now. Hogwarts didn't even qualify for the top five schools anymore due to a lack of subjects and outdated material."
"Is this true Albus?" Fudge looked to Dumbledore with a frown, seeming to have never heard of this.
"Ah well, the international board of education is quite fickle nowadays and has begun to embrace darker magics than we condone here in the U.K." Dumbledore tried to divert Fudge to the issue of dark magic but all three men laughed as if Albus was a joke.
"Real dark magic or the grey magics that Britain has begun to ostracize out of fear?" Severus sneered.
"I never knew that elemental magic was dark Albus, you will have to correct me if I am wrong but I could've sworn that it was as light as it comes," Lucius interjected.
"I will have to get acquainted with Britain's version of what consists of dark magic I suppose," Tom said with a frown.
"Now see here-" Albus tried to start before Fudge stepped between the two men.
"I will have to look into what you said, Lord Peverell. I would hate to be boosting about our school and find out that we are not being held to the same standards as the rest of the world. It would explain the behavior foreign nations have in response to Hogwarts name." Fudge said diplomatically.
"Lord Peverell? You can't be, the Potter's hold the Peverell seats." Albus said in a harsh tone, getting looks from those around them.
"I am sorry we were not properly introduced, headmaster. I am Thomas Rene Peverell. I come from one of the brother's branches of the Peverell line, so while the Potters are a distant cousin of mine, my seats are my own." Tom said firmly. Daring Dumbledore to challenge him in front of all of these people with his eyes.
Albus gritted his teeth. He knew he couldn't shout that this was Voldemort standing in the middle of their ministry, somehow alive and sane. No one would believe him. This was not the same man that had fell eight years ago.
"I do believe we have other people to see, lets go Albus." Fudge said trying to diffuse the mounting tension between the men. Almost physically dragging Dumbledore away from Tom and muttering under his breath to ask Albus what the hell did he think he was doing.
"I do believe that he knows who you are Tom," Severus murmured.
"It would seem so. It also seems that everyone kept properly quiet so my being here sane and fully human has thrown him off for now. We will have to keep an eye out for retaliation in the future. Lucius why don't you go try to soothe Cornelius and Dumbledore's ruffled feathers, you must have experience doing so after being a professional bird keeper and kiss ass." Tom said sweetly with a glint in his eyes.
"I raise peacocks! Just peacocks. Gods above you are just as bad as Severus!" Lucius said exacerbated, making both Severus and Tom laugh.
From afar Albus kept watching them. He had never seen Tom Riddle laugh or joke with people before. He had always played the charismatic but aloof character, but he was different now. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly made this version of Tom so vastly different but it filled him with dread. He would have to find a way to discredit and expose Tom for who he really was quick. He did not need the trio of consumet silver-tongued Slytherins ruining all his plans.
Bloody Slytherins. He should have killed them all when he had the chance.
You know what they say about hindsight.