Chapter Twenty Nine

Two pieces of news welcomed Harry back to Hogwarts. Firstly the fact that all sixth years had the option of starting apparition lessons soon at the cost of twelve galleons.

Harry signed up eagerly, he'd made sure to take a little extra money with him knowing that it would be coming up. He wouldn't be able to take the exam until he turned seventeen, during the summer, but he would be able to learn at least.

The second bit of news was waiting for him on his pillow, the next time and date for his lessons with Dumbledore.

There was a lot of excited talk on the Gryffindor table the next morning as people wondered what it would be like to apparate.

"It's weird that they don't seem to have apparated with their parents before." Harry mused adding far to much sugar to his porridge.

Pansy shrugged, "Apparently it's not actually all that common. Mummy and Daddy were saying it can be difficult to get the pass for the first time so most families don't bother. I can't wait to learn for myself!"

"It's just going to be so freeing!" Daphne agreed, "Not having to worry about travel any more."

"You can't actually use it at school though, can you?" Harry pointed out, "Hogwarts is all shielded."

"True but still, it'll be great." Draco grinned.

Harry couldn't argue there and tucked into his breakfast.

"Oh it must have been awful." Millicent Bulstrode whined to Rodolphus as he and Gemini strode over to the table and sat down with their group of followers pushing to try and sit closest to the Lestrange twins.

"The place is just… uck." Rodolphus continued, "I mean, the taste? What taste! You know? We offered to just stay here but were refused!"

"And they had this huge party and locked us in our rooms." Gemini hissed, "We might as well be in prison."

"And they've still not let you talk to your family? Your real family I mean, not filthy blood traitors." one of the younger students asked.

Gemini shook her black curls, "Not a word. We don't even know if they're OK. It's all so awful. And just because stupid perfect Potter lied!"

Harry rolled his eyes, she'd said it loud enough for him to hear on purpose, he was sure of that and forced himself not to react.

"Did you know he lied to Professor Snape after the last Hogsmead trip?" Rodolphus smirked, "Went barging up in to the girls dorm with his father and demanded to see Gem after she'd just gotten out the shower?"

A shocked murmur went round the simpering group.

"It's true." Gemini nodded, "And then he made up some stupid story about seeing me out, when everyone knows I'm stuck in here."

"Give it a rest Gemini." Draco hissed down the table, "Not our fault you can't be trusted any more than you'd trust a niffler to guard a vault!"

Harry, Daphne and Pansy let out a loud snigger; Harry spotted Tracy Davis smirk from behind her book as well.

"How dare you compare me to one of those disgusting creatures!" Gemini snapped.

"I think they're kinda cute." Millicent said quietly, which was clearly the wrong thing to say when Gemini glared down at her, Millicent shrinking back in her seat, "Sorry… I-"

"You should remember who you are talking to Malfoy!" Gemini hissed.

Draco stood up and glared at her, "Who? Some forgotten traitor criminal's daughter?" he snapped back at her, "Don't worry, I'll try not to forget but come on, you have to admit there's not much to remember!"

Gemini's rage flared as she took three menacing steps towards Draco, reaching for her wand.

"Miss Lestrange what are you doing?" Severus said, walking by.

"I… I…" Gemini couldn't tear her eyes from Draco as she scrambled for an excuse, "Draco was being a dick." she said simply.

"Sit down and behave." Severus snapped at her, "Eat your breakfast and if I hear you using such language again you will be in detention."

Gemini moved back to her seat and took an exaggerated mouthful of toast.

"You shouldn't push her." Pansy whispered.

Draco shrugged, "What's she going to do?"

Harry shook his head, "Pansy is right. Whatever hold Gemini has on reality seems to be slipping. I dread to think what she would do if she had the chance."

Draco sighed, "I know. I'll try but she drives me nuts, you didn't have to have Christmas with her."

Harry nodded, there was something about Gemini that set his teeth on edge as well but he was also very sure that she was not someone he wanted to cross.

That evening Harry walked through the long corridors, alone, to Dumbledore's office. He was well practised now at waiting for the gargoyle to move aside and stepping onto the moving stairs. He wondered vaguely if the stairs had been made to move because many of the headmasters and mistresses were so old they might struggle with the steep curving stairs.

"Come on in Harry." Dumbledore called out before Harry had even knocked on the door.

Harry entered the office and sat on the other side of the desk from Dumbledore.

"I hope you had a pleasant enough Christmas, Harry." Dumbledore smiled.

Harry nodded, "Yeah it was… was good."

"You missed Sirius I'm sure." Dumbledore said kindly.

Harry felt another wave of sadness wash over him, "Yes." he said shortly.

Dumbledore, wisely, chose to drop the subject, "I heard you had another visit from the Minister of Magic at the Malfoy's New Years Ball?"

Harry let out a breath he wasn't sure he'd been holding and nodded, "Yes. He wanted me to come and work for the Ministry."

Dumbledore nodded, "Interesting, and what did you say?"

"No." Harry said simply.

Dumbledore smiled at him with twinkling blue eyes, "I'm very glad to hear it. I am told that you were offered a position in the Auror training program."

Harry nodded, "Yes."

"And yet you still said no?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." Harry said again.

"Well, I am very proud of you." Dumbledore nodded.

Harry shifted awkwardly, unsure of how to react. He hadn't really thought about what Dumbledore would think when he had turned down Scrimgeour's offer but here Dumbledore seemed to think it was purely to help him.

"I think we should be getting on, before it gets too late." Dumbledore smiled, breaking the ever increasing awkward silence, "I have three new memories to show you this evening, the first two are connected, and all of which were most difficult to acquire. I do think, however, that the last one is the more important, it is possibly the most important I have ever acquired."

Harry nodded quietly, not wanting to interrupt.

"We left of, last lesson," Dumbledore continued, "with Tom Riddle preparing for his time at Hogwarts. He refused my offer of help to get his things as I'm sure you remember."

Harry nodded again.

"Tom arrived at Hogwarts in the exact same way as all students do. Looking very smart in his second hand robes I must say." Dumbledore mused, "He was sorted into Slytherin almost the moment that the sorting hat touched his head." Dumbledore gestured to the now still hat with his blackened hand.

"That happened with Draco though." Harry pointed out, "And Neville, but for Gryffindor."

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, it is not unknown you are correct, but I do think it had an effect on young Tom. I think it increased his… self confidence. I do not know when exactly Tom found that the founder of his house also could talk Parseltongue but I am sure that when he did find out, the knowledge only excited him, increasing his sense of self-importance."

Harry couldn't argue there; he could imagine young Tom finding out how that he truly belonged somewhere, more than anyone else did.

"However," Dumbledore continued, giving Harry only a few moments to think, "if he was frightening, or impressing, fellow students with his strange gift it never reached the ears of me or the ears of any of the other teachers. He showed no sign of arrogance or any aggression. He was, in fact, much less trouble than many other students, than you yourself have been." Dumbledore smiled.

Harry grinned; he couldn't pretend that he had always followed the school rules, let alone to the letter. When he thought about it though, it made sense that Voldemort would of wanted to keep his nose clean, make sure that he was thought well of, not as a trouble maker.

"He seemed polite, quiet and eager to learn." Dumbledore said, "Nearly all of the teachers were very taken by him."

"Did you not tell them?" Harry asked, "What you saw in the orphanage? That he was cruel to the other residents?"

Dumbledore shook his head, "No. Though I could see no hint of remorse for what he had done I thought it possible that he did in fact feel sorry for his actions and was wanting to turn over a fresh leaf. I chose to give him that chance."

Harry couldn't help but wonder if it was more to do with having some knowledge over the other teachers rather than a chance for Tom. He said nothing though, it would have been inexcusably rude to have suggested that Dumbledore had attempted such manipulation.

Dumbledore looked at Harry, almost waiting for him to say something but Harry just kept quiet, waiting for Dumbledore to continue.

Dumbledore gave him a small smile, "As he moved up the school, he gathered a large group of followers. I hesitate to call them friends; as I said last time, I do not think he ever had any true friends but they were loyal and followed him no matter what. Many of which went on to become Death Eaters."

"Sounds familiar." Harry muttered.

"You have seen the same happening again?" Dumbledore asked, "With Gemini and Rodolphus Lestrange?"

Harry nodded, "Yes. They seem to have more 'friends' by the day."

"I have noticed it too, it is most unfortunate to have to watch history repeat itself." Dumbledore said agreeing with Harry, "But I fear there is little to do to help the situation. Any attempt made to separate the leaders from their followers never ends well."

Harry sighed.

"Riddle was very strict with his followers, never allowing them to be caught doing anything that would reflect badly upon him. There were, however, several very nasty incidents that were never solved properly, the worst of which was of course the opening of the Chamber of Secrets."

"And Myrtle getting killed." Harry said softly.

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. As I'm sure you remember that it was Hagrid who was blamed for that incident."

Harry nodded. It had destroyed Hagrid's life in many ways even now, after being proven innocent he wasn't permitted to practice magic.

Dumbledore continued, "I have been unable to find many memories of Tom while he was at Hogwarts. Few who knew him are prepared to talk about him; they are too terrified of what he became. I have however managed to track down, after much painstaking effect I must say, a little information. I know that for Tom, his parentage was everything. This is understandable of course, having grown up known little to nothing of his family, it makes perfect sense that he wished to know more of where he was from."

"That can't have been easy for him." Harry said, shuffling in his chair, "I mean, his Dad was a muggle, they'd have no record of him, would they? And even you said his mum never made it to school."

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, you are right Harry. I do think that for the most part it would of proved a fruitless search for him, if he had stuck to his parents but I think he was far more interested in his more distant ancestors."

"Salazar Slytherin?"

"Correct Harry." Dumbledore smiled, "He was desperate. I have several accounts of him searching the trophy room and lists of prefects for any mention of Tom Riddle, or anyone who could be related to Tom Riddle Senior but with no luck. He hated his mother, he had always thought of her as someone who'd had left him, abandoned him."

"But she didn't." Harry interrupted.

Dumbledore looked calmly at him, "She wasn't there as he grew up which I think it the more important thing."

Harry shook his head, "She died, that wasn't her choice."

Dumbledore gave a small shrug, "I do not think it mattered to Tom greatly why she left him, just that she did."

"It matters to me." Harry mumbled under his breath.

Dumbledore ignored him, "But once the name Tom Riddle proved fruitless, Tom had no choice but to turn to the single lead he had for his mother's family. 'Marvolo'. Finally, after a thorough and painstakingly slow search through all of the old books on Wizarding Families that Hogwarts had, he discovered the Slytherin family line in the summer of his sixth year, confirming what I think he already strongly suspected; that he was from Slytherin's line. For the first time during the summer he left the orphanage and went to find his Gaunt family. This was not entirely, however, due to his need to find his family, as you will see. And now Harry, if you will stand…"

Harry stood and waited for Dumbledore to pour the two small vials into the pensive.

"I was very lucky to collect these." Dumbledore said, "As you will undoubtedly understand when we have seen it together. Shall we?"

Harry took the small step to the stone basin and lowered his face into the swirling gas.