Merope Riddle, House of Riddle

by LittleMiddleA

Or Mary Riddle in grief of losing her son and husband to an automobile accident goes to find in hope her maybe grandchild to raise and stumbles across Myrtle a few months before she is due. Thankfully she had a detective to help her out. In which Mary Riddle raises her grandson, and brings her daughter-in-law up to speed on what nobility is really like among other things.

Chapter 1

On the last night of August in the year 1926, 43-year-old Mary Riddle was rudely woken up by a insistent banging on her front door of her manor house. She let her butler, Bert Black, get the door since he was there for that very reason and went back to sleep.

She was rudely awaken ten minutes later by Rose, her lady's maid who had a telegram in her shaking hands. Ignoring the tear stained face of Rose, Mary Riddle glared at her for interrupting her sleep, ripping the envelope open. The telegram that explained that her precious son was dead and her husband in critical condition fell from her slacked hands. Now she understood Rose's tear stained face. Her stern glace softened a bit as she directed Rose to pack for London post haste.

"But it's the middle of the night, Madam! Who knows what kind of people are running about at that time of night."

Rose's mouth fasten shut on the arched look Mrs. Riddle gave her. Instead Rose gave a quick nod and hurried to do her mistress's bidding. Her long braided white blonde hair swung behind her as she gathered the trunk and items that Mrs. Riddle usually brought when she went into town, adding mourning clothes.

Mrs. Riddle, no Mary smiled at her butler, Bert Black, he came with her when she was newlywed, it was one of the conditions that Mary insisted on when Thomas proposed to her. Rose Malfox, still a young girl, but an excellent lady's maid already was another.

Bert held open the door to the garage, his hand shaking as he did so. His black hair was streaked with gray, but he stood tall as Rose with the help of the kitchen maid, Sonia put the traveling trunk in the boot of the car.

When Bert moved to take the car keys from his employer, Mary held them back towards herself. "No you will stay here and take care of the house while I'm away. It's a pity that I let the driver go, but I will pick up a new one in the city. I feel the urge to drive there myself."

Bert nodded, wisely keeping his thoughts to himself, Mary Riddle was a bit scary behind the wheel of a car or even a carriage. She liked to go quite fast when she was younger. It was one of the reasons Mr. Riddle fell in love with her.

"Keep an eye on the new gardener, he seems alright, but my husband was the one to hire him. Not me. Also"

Here Mary's eyes narrowed, "Keep a close eye on that disgusting little shack near our property. If any of those people come near here, shoot them dead. I don't care for their sort and after"

Mary's voice trailed off from the bitter tone of her voice. Her voice came out pinched as she had eaten a sour lemon.

"When I get to London I need the best detective available as soon as possible. Also I need to see all the estate records, business and otherwise after I make the funeral arrangements."

Mary tilted her head in thought, her sharp blue eyes, the mirror of her sons' staring out into the distance.

"If, and only if what Tom told us was true, there might be an heir to our line. Even if it pains me to admit. If he was not truly married, that's one thing, but if he was," Mary shook her head. "We'll see."

With that she was off to London with Rose with Bert wonder if he hear Mrs. Riddle's muttered of "I let him get away with it, I should have known better." after she smiled at him. Her thoughts were grim at the death of her only child. She loved Tom dearly but her husband spoiled him terribly in manners and money. Mary loved her husband so she was silent on the treatment. She vowed to do better with her grandchild. 'The child will grow up my way. Not how I let Tom ruined our son his way.'

Merope Gaunt Riddle was completely broke, save for her family heirloom locket. Merope wished she could have taken the family ring as well. She shivered despite the warm almost barmy air a few weeks into October. She had spent the last of money yesterday morning on some bread with jam. In hindsight, it was a horrible idea since it turned out she was hoodwinked from the laughter behind her as she went out of the restaurant door.

Now she stood mere feet from the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron willing her bruised, dirty feet to move. If she sold her family heirloom then it would mean cutting all ties to her horrible family. But the face of her mother, the only bright light in her darkness of home made her pause. How she sang so softly but so beautifully cut past the pain of her bruises as her mom cleaned her up. If she gave up the locket, she'll give up her mother who died when she was barely six, taking her little brother or sister with her. A voice behind Merope making herself jump, her unborn baby jumping with her. She turned in alarm, her hand protecting her unborn child.

"Oh my goodness, she wasn't kidding on how ugly you are. But your looks are not my problem. Now I want to know where exactly you got married to Thomas aka Tom Riddle at. There are more then one courthouse in town you know." The bluntness of the man was startling.

The large set but strong looking man in a trench coat kept talking but Merope didn't hear anything else because she felt dizzy and wondered why the pavement rose to greet her.

Mr. Splat, the detective that Mrs. Riddle hired back in August barely caught the pregnant woman before she hit the ground. He yelled to some construction workers to help him carry the woman to his car, fishing out his badge to ward off any trouble. He smiled grimly taking in the dirty feet and worn out clothing. It was a good thing he worked fast. He went to the nearest hospital to drop off his case and call Mrs. Riddle with the news.

Mrs. Riddle face was set as she studied her ugly daughter-in-law who still laid unconscious on the hospital bed in a private room. The chit thankfully had her worn marriage licence on her along with a gem set locket. She was legally an adult, but evidently was a child in maturely if Tom's rants held any water. Mary aimed to find out.

While last time Mary was in the London, she saw to her son's burial and her husband's care. Sadly, her husband Thomas didn't last long after the accident. A few weeks at most. She found herself weeping at the closed casket funeral of both of her loves. She keenly noticed nobody from Little Hangleton village came to pay their respects, if they did, they were silent. There was no one from her side of the family since they all past on just after she got married.

Her face was calm, but inside she raged at what she had become by being Mrs. Riddle. Her family originally came from the mercantile class and she knew how hard or at least she did, the lower classes worked for what they needed and at times wanted.

She let Thomas Riddle's good looks, manners and money, not to mention his skills in his wooing of her in and out of the bedroom, ignore where she had come from. She gripped the bed frame tight in remembrance of how exactly the Riddles got their money. Oh they did have old money, but the men kept gambling most of it away. There was a reason why her son and his father loved horses as much as they did. The horse track was quite appealing.

Thankfully the women of the last generation were smarter then the men. They squirreled away money like it was going out of season, a little bit here and there while they went shopping. Mary did the same as her mother-in-law instructed. In fact, thanks to the Riddle women the family was better off. Stocks were wonderful things if the wind blew in the right direction. She noted to keep an eye on the stock market, it wouldn't do if it went belly up before her grandchild came of age or even afterwards.

A cough made her look up at the doctor who startled her out of her wandering thoughts. She'll deal with the village later.

"So?" Mrs. Riddle commanded as the doctor waited with results.

"The baby is healthy. More healthy then the mother at this stage. The mother needs to survive to give birth and nurse the baby she'll need more muscle mass and tone. She clearly has been abused in many ways. Physically she'll recover, but mentally I'm not sure. She's been taken advantage since at least three years old. Oddly enough she's not be raped at all. It's usual to do so in this kind of abuse that is if what you told about the Gaunts is true." The private doctor eyed the girl on the bed in thinly veil disgust at the treatment of the girl and her looks. Privately he wondered if she was the product of inbreeding it would explain some of it.

"On a hopeful note there is a treatment that's coming available to correct the girl's eyesight so she'll at least look a little more normal. As for the rest no idea."

Mrs. Riddle nodded at the doctor's frankness of the case and waved him away thinking. He respectfully stepped back a few paces. She raised her voice slightly at a passing nurse outside of the room.

"Nurse. Get me my lady's maid." Mrs. Riddle's commanded at the silent nurse who came to the door. "Doctor I want any treatment available for my" Mentally Mary gulped still horrified at what she will say out loud. "daughter-in-law's care. She must have the best. Let me know when she's strong enough for the eye treatments."

Rose came into the hospital room where Mrs. Riddle's daughter-in-law was still unresponsive. She came as soon as she heard her mistress needed her. Honestly it was a bit boring stuck in the town house all day long. The city staff was uppity towards her. She was glad to come.

"Yes madam?"

She bobbed her head in respect. Mrs. Riddle's original family was kind but firm in their handling of the staff as they slowly but wisely made their fortune. She was happy to go with Mary when she was ordered to when Mary got married to Thomas Riddle. Then not so much. Bert was a kindred spirit as they suffered in silence from the other staff. But they stayed out of loyalty to Mary and her original family. Besides it was good money and they didn't have any other place to go.

Her mouth fell open when Mrs. Riddle tossed a unseemly looking locket at her. "Appraise this please. It looks like it has real gems in the gold. At least I think it might be real gold. Don't you dare run off with this if it's real."

Rose blurted out as she stared at the S made out of the gems. "Oh it's real alright. I never thought I would ever see," Rose flushed and her voice trailed off into a whisper that Mary could barely make out. "this locket."

"Whose locket my dear? And how do you know exactly whose locket it is? Not the Gaunts I hope. Did they steal it? Wouldn't "

"Er. Um, Slytherin?" Rose said, kicking herself for her slip. Despite being from a squib line, ugh she still felt the need to keep her heritage secret.

"And who is." Mary Riddle got up suddenly and shut the still cracked open door of the room. Then she locked it.

"Sit." Mary nodded her chin towards the chair she just evacuated. "Explain what you know of her and this locket. Now."

Rose trembled in fright. Mary Riddle once she set her mind to something was nothing sort of terrifying. In fact if she had magical talent at all she would have been sorted into Slytherin or maybe Hufflepuff.

"I, I can't. It's a secret. I'll be banned." Rose stammering as her mistress stared at her. Then she realized what she just said. Banned. She was already banned from her family for lack of talent. Or at least her great-great grandmother was. If the child was magical, Mary Riddle would need as much help as she possible could get. The Riddle family on both sides were pure muggles.

She lifted her chin proudly saying, "My name is Rose Malfoy or would have been, as my great-great grandmother was until she got kicked out of the family for the lack of magic. I go by Malfox now.

My family is considered squibs, that is people without magical talent. From what my grandmother has told me, if you don't show any magical talent in the first 11 years of your life you're cast out because you're worthless if you don't get your Hogwarts letter. The magical school for all of England and Scotland. There are two other schools in the surrounding areas as well. At least my family doesn't kill the squibs on their 11th birthday like the Blacks do. That is from what I heard from Bert. He somehow knew he was going to die so he left before his 11th birthday, faking his death. Or at least that's what he told me."

Mary Riddle frowned as her lady's maid told her all of this. "Malfoy you said?" Rose nodded. "I would consider you a liar but my family had dealings with some Malfoys back in the past. They almost cheated us out of our family lands or at least they think they got our lands. That is from my mother's side of the family. Prats. There's a reason why my family is as business sharp as we are. My ancestors learned their lesson the hard way and passed the advice on to their descendants. I'll send word to Bert to dig into any and every little scrap of my family history dealing with his family and yours to see if you aren't truly a liar. Now what about this locket? What's so great about it?"

Mary Riddle sat stone faced as Rose continued her explanation of the magical world or at least as much as Rose knew which from what she and Bert talked about. Mostly about how there was 28 great houses and how the muggleborns or mud-bloods were lesser to the ones that had pure magic running in their veins.

Mary learned more of the great school of Hogwarts, and the four houses and the every ending rivalry between the Gryffindor and the Slytherin houses. Mentally she groaned at Rose's lack of singing voice as Rose sang in a slightly off key tone of voice a sorting song which Bert's ancestor brought with him out of spite towards his family. His older brother liked it so much that he made his younger brother memorize it before he ran away.

A weak voice interrupted Rose's horrible singing. "That's the Hogwarts sorting song isn't it? It's too bad that your voice is horrible. My mum could have sang it better if she could of gone."

Mary Riddle turned at the sound of the heartbroken teary voice. Merope was awake. "Rose, go and do what I have asked. Along with the other things we discussed."

Rose nodded and took off at a jog. She was thankful that Mrs. Riddle wouldn't put her out on her ear. Bert on the other hand would be very displeased at what she did. But he'll calm down once she'll explain why.

Merope woke up slowly, feeling like she was laying down on a soft cloud. Her hair felt soft and impossibly clean. Her body still ached, but it was a different ache then what she had been going through.

Suddenly a strange woman started talking, asking her all sorts of things, like how do you feel, is the baby moving? Etc. Try and look this way and that way. It was very bewildering.

Merope turned her head once the woman Lila, no, the nurse left and felt her face drain of any color that came back from her sitting up in the hospital bed. Tom's mother was staring at her like she was an insect.

Merope bit her lip to stop from crying at the pure rage and disgust on her mother-in-laws face. Merope heard the rumors after she and Tom left the village. So instead she blurted out the first thing on her mind something she kept close to herself even after marrying Tom. "I didn't want to marry my brother."

"So you are the product of inbreeding and so to escape that fate, you hoodwinked my son instead?" Mary Riddle hissed, noticing that Merope flinched back at the hiss and tried to make herself smaller in the bed. The shaking was notable even to someone like Mary who grew up loved.

If this was the height of the English magical world then her grandson was doomed. But since the girl was somewhat smart enough to try and get out of her upbringing, there might be some hope left. Dimly Mary remembered that the Gaunts didn't associate with anyone, which probably caused their downfall into this.

So to get her answers, Mary Riddle pulled out her mothering side, her posture and voice softening to a gentle purr, putting a smile that reached her eyes on her face. "You can call me Mary since you are legally my new daughter-in-law. Now Merope, did you run away with my son out of love of him or to get away from your family?"

Merope found herself answering honestly. "B, both, that is if I can guess what inbreeding is. I couldn't stand anymore of my house and I do love Tom. So much. So much I stop." Merope clammed her mouth shut. Mrs. Riddle was still a muggle.

"Stopped your magic?" Mary Riddle said slowly with gentleness even if she wanted to slap the girl silly for her lack of tactics and horror at what she did to her only child.

Merope's eyes widened. Mary smirked to herself, yep, so far what Rose told her seemed to check out. The Gaunts were magic. Merope would be horrible at poker.

"Now when can I meet your mother? After all we are now kin." Mary nodded towards Merope's belly.

Merope's face shuttered into a blank look that to Mary seemed to be her every day mask. "Mum died when I was eight. That is I think I was eight. We didn't do any birthdays."

"I am sorry for your loss. I know the pain of losing a beloved parent. Tell me can you describe how you feel when Tom is around you? How he makes you feel? I know when I am around my Thomas, his love for me is so strong." Mary gave a little sly wink, with a twinkle in her eyes making Merope blush a horrible red.

Somehow Merope found herself telling her mother-in-law Mary how she fell in love with her son as well as how her father treated her vs her brother. As Merope describe a feeling that was purely lust and fixation for Tom, Mary found her feelings of hatred and rage turn somewhat to sadness and pity for the pitiful creature in the bed. It seemed that her family wasted their children in not cultivating their talents.

The words, "love potion" made Mary listen more closely. "Once my father and brother was taken to Azakaban for hurting my Tom, I made a love potion and gave it to him in a glass of water and that was that. I thought he really loved me so I stopped giving it to him, but he took off even if I carried his child." Merope said sadly, tears in her eyes.

Mary Riddle was silent as a nurse brought Merope her evening meal and told the young woman her options for her eyes in terms of treatment. Mary noticed that Merope was bewildered as if she stepped into a dream and couldn't respond to the options.

She had some manners, but they were unrefined, and she ate like her food would be taken away from her at any moment. She was amazed at the clean clothes and the bright light from the windows. The purple violets that Rose brought to cheer up the room were carefully looked at, but wasn't touched. The yearning to touch them was plain to see.

Clearly the so-called Great House of Gaunt completely failed at their duties. Even if Mary came from almost nothing, her parents at least brought her up with honor, cleanliness, pride and other good qualities. Things that Merope didn't have. But if Merope's child was born healthy and well then Merope needed to be brought up to speed on everything. Including the magical world.

A firm, but soft knock on the door brought Mary out of her thoughts. She smiled at Rose as she came forward. The nurse and doctor just left, explaining that Merope needed rest but could get around in a few weeks on her own. Merope could leave in the morning. Mrs. Riddle was pleased, it would be easier to deal with Merope at her townhouse before she was moved back to Little Hangleton.

She was drawn out of her thoughts at a wavering voice. "No you don't understand, I am a squib, just like my mother. I'm worthless. I can't really use any magic at all. I'm ugly as I am inside and out."

Merope cried, not caring that her new mother-in-law and the maid Rose who introduced herself as Rose Malfoy, from a line of squibs that is after being caught staring at the maids hair. Merope brightened and said she was squib too. She didn't realize she had fallen asleep a few minutes later.

"Well Rose I see we clearly have our work cut out for us. In more ways then one. Squib indeed. If she had no magic then my son wouldn't have been feed that love potion." Mary Riddle was shaking, her eyes set. She still despised what Merope did to her son, but also she couldn't stand to see someone brought so low. "I don't know when magic first appears in children, but have you given thought as well as Bert on how to proceed in this?" Referring to what they discussed earlier while Merope was out.

Mary Riddle was wise, she knew she was out of her depth so she asked for help. It showed how she trusted her lady's maid and butler to do the right thing.

Rose nodded. "I have madam and scouted out people I believe would work for our household as you well know that the Riddles employed their own people in town and at Riddle Manor. According to Bert some of the strain between the Riddles and the town was how the staff behaved when they had time off. They are quite uppity, but for myself and Bert.

He had, as you well know, has gone through the books with you and reviewed the staff, firing ones that didn't go well with what we have planned for the new Mrs. Riddle and the child. Magic is tricky for muggles.

Bert and I might have found a few good people to replace the ones at the townhouse and the manor. I have brought the files for your review. Bert hunted down people who might be cast off squibs who would want to work in your household.

As for the changes you slowly set in place for the town the money allowance and the repairs are going slow. They still don't believe you have changed Madam. It'll take time."

Mary nodded at her lady's maid. "Good job. I'll review later this evening for the staff changes and send the ones I let go with a good reference and a months pay. Now since Merope is asleep, please measure her for new clothes. All new clothes. Ones that bring out her good traits, eye color and all.

Perhaps something with the Slytherin green as well. House colors and all that after all, the magical world is so in love with their only school. As for potions if you go to this Diagon Ally for supplies, see if there is anything useful about them that we can use.

Maybe for profit under a different name. Also clothes for myself, you, Merope once she's up to speed and Bert reflecting our station in life. Not that I look down at the working class, but if the Riddles are going to be taken seriously we need to dress the part. After all, Merope is the last, hopefully of her family. My grandchild aside. If you can look into the records of their family's everything that will be good as well."

Rose looked a bit shocked and uneasy at the thought of going to Diagon Ally by herself. She clearly didn't stress on how much squibs were looked down upon in the magical world. Not to mention the money part.

Mary Riddle wondered at the look on her lady's maid's face, but decided to instruct her to wait until Merope and herself could go with her. A person of magical sort would work better at least. "At least get the items you can here in London for regular people first, we can deal with the magical side later."

Rose sighed in relief, nodded and left to do her madam's bidding after she finished taking Merope's measurement as best as she could.

Two weeks later.

Mary Riddle wanted to scream out her frustration at the still clueless look on Merope's face as her eyes took in the dining room at the townhouse for the tenth time. Or Mary corrected herself, the table setting. The girl still kept looking down at her dress in amazement and everything.

Mary instead sighed deeply and picked up her fork, noticing with approval when Merope did the same. She at first, ate slowly to watching her daughter-in-law like a hawk but turned her attention to eating her breakfast. Despite herself, Mary was grudging pleased with the progress that her daughter-in-law had come in the past few weeks.

The girl wanted approval and love so badly. It was like taming an abused puppy. It was a slow going work. Merope was happy with a warm bath, and some clean clothes. To have help dressed, and to go to school? The girl was putty in her hands.

At leas the girl's new haircut helped frame her face. The bob cut with the bangs, and the beaded feather headband, her clothes all in black for grieving, made her paleness not as ugly. If Merope got out into the sun more, she'll not be so bland.

She would never ever win any beauty contests, but if Mary had any say in it, Merope would be presentable to their class and beyond. The manner or the lack of was one of the hardest things to overcome, not to mention the girl's jumpiness of loud voices, and other things that Mary suspected that came from her upbringing.

Luckily her grandchild was growing well. Mary was thankful for that.

Once Merope was done with breakfast she was to go to her schooling. Ironically or not, Merope seemed to be fond of the sciences, but her handwriting was the worst of the lot so it took up more of her time then anything else. The girl was amazed at what humans have done with technology.

Mary did note for the future to avoid any and all lead projects as she thought back in pride at Merope's shaky stand. Merope had softly explained why she didn't like the idea of any sort of lead based paint or products for when they were getting the nursery for the young boy. For once the girl had a somewhat of a backbone once Mary had gloated it out of her. Apparently long term lead expose was bad for your health.

The girl's eye treatments would start the next day, not that Merope knew anything of it. She was still taking in all her duties.

But then they'll go to the wizarding world. Merope would just have to step up or she'll be crushed. If she did well, perhaps ice cream would be in order. Her daughter-in-law liked sweets.

Chapter 2

Merope was shaking in terror, enough so that her feathered headband wiggled in time to her movements. Mary Riddle her mother-in-law just raised an eyebrow, piercing her with the blue eyes that Merope fell in love with. Merope gulped and opened her mouth and then shut it.

Mary sighed in frustration. It has been over two months since she found the chit who hoodwinked her son. At first Merope was doing well. She surprisingly enough had a decent singing voice and a quick mind.

The idea of having a lady's maid, which Rose was filling in for her replacement since Merope's idea of being a squib still persisted, help ease her into the upper-class society or at least as far as Squire could go. Merope broke down into tears once Rose explained why she was there the first time at the townhouse.

Merope vowed right then and there to do whatever it would take for her son to succeed in life. So when she was presented with muggle schooling she held back her bewilderment on many of the subjects, but chemistry seemed to come easier to her then the rest. Her hand still was cramped from all the handwriting exercises she had to do. The dressmaker thankfully was quick at her job and Merope didn't feel so awkward standing on the stool as she thought she did when her clothes got tighter as little Tom got larger.

Merope held in a smile of triumph as she told off her mother-in-law about lead and even had muggle scientists to back up what her mother always expected that help the downfall of the House of Gaunts.

But this, this she couldn't do. She wanted to stay in the townhouse were she had been the past two months. She didn't want to go to the Riddle house in Little Hangleton. The thought of her brother and father finding her filled her with terror. She didn't want to risk her little one, her little Tom.

"No, nnoo, no! I won't!. I have done what you asked, I have better manners and schooling and clothes because of it. I won't go back to there." Merope was proud of that statement, until her mother-in-law Mary spoke dryly.

"So falls the house of Gaunt. Do you think I would of suggested it if it wasn't safe to go back to? Honestly do you think I haven't kept an eye out on that disgusting little shack that you called home? Bert Black has done wonders for Little Hangleton while we have been away. There are many in town who, I admit was wary of spying for us or at least keeping an eye out, but money does wonders in that department. Also getting the village up to speed on technology. We might even bypass Greater Hangleton sooner then later. It's lovely what people can do if you are willing to work for and with them."

Mary didn't tell Merope, who had wide eyes at this speech, that most of the improvement of the town honestly was a long time coming and should have been done years ago. But her husband and son were lazy snobs who just cared about how much money came in so they could do their horse things. Mary tried once or twice to get her son to realize that a happy town meant more money and contentment for them. It failed. Perhaps she should have started off smaller then a leaky roof. Tom was so disgusted by the work he never came back and hired a terrible person to do the job for him. Cheapskate.

The town folk were amazed at what Lady Mary of the Riddle House was doing for them. At first it seemed like a scam for money from them, but after the honest, hardworking workmen that Lady Mary hired to repair many of the houses that desperately needed repair without charging the town, they had slowly warmed up to the new way of doing business in Little Hangleton. There was even talk of putting in a proper football field and movie theater!

The new additions to the townsfolk who clearly seemed to be family of the Riddle's housemaid and butler were strange, but were the helpful sort. The baker laughed remember how the little Flora Malfox was amazed how good the 'muggle' biscuits were. He was offended at first because muggle was not a word he would use in his baking but little Flora came back with some home recipes that now a hit even beyond Little Hangleton.

The town had a new sense of pride in their little village.

"We are going back to the Riddle House. There are many squibs living and working in Little Hangleton now. In fact I'm sad to report that your father is dead. From what I can gather your father died while your brother was in prison, just a few weeks after you left. Bert personally supervised the burial. He gathered anything of value from your old house. As for your brother we'll deal with him later."

Mary held Merope when she suddenly started to cry. Merope didn't know why she was crying. She felt relieved as if a heavy weight came off of her chest, but at the same time she was sad, and angry and so many emotions.

Mary kept her anger at Merope's brother inside while she awkwardly patted the exhausted girl's back. At least one of the horrible family was dead. She had a sudden thought of wanting to meet Merope's dead mother. She seemed to be a somewhat decent sort, pity that she had to marry that thing. Ugh.

"Now from what I gathered from Bert and the other squibs, the wizarding world holds bloodlines in high esteem. If you are willing to testify against your brother I believe it's possible to have the family seat and such switched to you and little Tom Jr." Mary at first was not happy at having a junior. Tom was her baby, horrible personality and all. But in time she warmed up to the idea of having another little Tom around. She still was horrified at the middle name that Merope requested. Mary held in her shudder of disgust as Merope backed up a few paces.

"What?! We are broke, I'm useless and." Merope stopped at the unladylike snort Mary gave.

"One, I've been surprised at your quick mind so no you are not useless. Two, your mother seemed to be the sharp one in the family. She did teach you how to brew potions, didn't she?" Mary's smirk of intent made Merope back up more.

"Well I was surprised to find out my old favorite pick me up tonic was a potion that your mother used to make. She squirreled away quite a nest egg under your father's nose according to Bert. The pharmacy owner was over the moon when I informed him that you can make that potion or tonic as he knows it by. We need to go to Diagon Alley to get potions supplies," Mary Riddle was not happy at Merope doing potions or tonics again, but it would be a waste of the girl's talent not to. Besides Mary wanted to see if there was any legal law to ban love potions or anything of the sort. If there wasn't by the time Tom Jr. went to Hogwarts it will be on the books.

Merope was still unconvinced or just dumbstruck by her mother's wits. But what Mary said next got her hook, line and sinker to go to Diagon Alley, shot nerves be danged.

"We are going to get you a wand and tutor who would be willing to come to the house. Maybe we can even get you sorted at Hogwarts, just because. We can't have little Tom growing up without knowing what a wand is."

Mary kept her hearty crackle of amusement to herself until Merope was at her eye correcting appointment a few hours later.

The wizarding world will see the Riddles and the other muggles as equals magic or no magic.

Chapter 3

Lady Mary Riddle eyed her daughter-in-law wary as the girl tightened her grip on Mary's hand, her slim healthy body shaking slightly. Her friend, more then her lady maid now, Rose waited patiently with uncanny calm four-month baby Tom in her arms. Meanwhile the newest Lady of the Riddle House, Merope screwed up her courage to walk into the Leaky Cauldron which to Mary's annoyance was insisting to her that it wasn't there.

But Tom Riddle didn't get his forceful personality from his father but from his mother and she willed her feet to not move resisting the muggle repealing charms as much as she could. Her teeth were almost grinding in her effort when Merope lifted her head high as she been taught and took a step forward enough to make the muggle repealing charms end. Mentally Mary sighed in relief, but kept her blue eyes forward and adopted the look she learned from childhood. A snooty look but one that could morph into kindness at any moment if necessary.

Merope was dressed to the nines in the high of fashion or at least enough to pass in London without strange looks. Dressed in a 1922 Robe de Style with the Slytherin house colors that funnily enough did wonders for her complexion, still a bit pale. In the muggle world, it was a few years out of date, and cleverly tailored to mirror both muggle fashions and the sensitive wizarding world traditionalist cut.

With Merope's bob cut with her bangs, and the black and green silver beaded feather headband with her slight tan she got from helping in the greenhouse for her budding potion business to escape her demanding son with his feedings, and her continued eye correcting appointments she looked quite different from the dirty, thin defeated girl that the detective found seven months earlier. She was still dull but not horrifying to look at.

In fact when Bert was instructed to deal with the hovel Merope had called home, he was appalled at the 'house' that the 'great house of Gaunt'. He wasn't the nauseous type since he grew up a Black, but even he was disgusted at what he found.

Bert found it dirty with dead snakes all over the place and a rotting body inside. Merope's dear dad Marvolo, thankfully departed. Bert remembered how quickly the so called head of the house got killed by a bullet to the side by his own hand. Clearly his magic couldn't keep up with muggle guns. Bert winkled his nose at the gorge in the side of the dead man as he tried to get the bullet out.

In fact in the examination that Bert did after he dragged the man out and burned down the shack after getting anything of value out of it, suggested Marvolo tried to use magic to get the bullet out but he didn't have the eyesight or keen mind to use a clear path, in fact he worsened his wound by using magic, Bert found several paths in which the bullet traveled in Marvolo's attempts to get it out but the kind of bullet Bert used was a shattering type and the bullet was in several sections. There was no way Marvolo could have gotten the bullet out without help and as Merope explained the man's pride was more important then any help he could have gotten.

Bert had an old friend who sent out magic detecting kits to anyone who needed one. For the laughable hovel that the Gaunt called home, it had not as many magic protections in place as Bert would have thought. It did have quite a few muggle repealing charms and a few nasty curses but as Bert privately told Lady Mary Riddle his own old house of Black in London has more protections and charms that put the Gaunt's 'house' to shame. It was laughingly easy to dismantle for a Black that is, even for a Black squib.

He did find wizarding money tucked away in a very clever hiding spot and he transplanted as many of the gardening plants he found in the back into main greenhouse of the Riddles. Merope was happy to have something of her mother's back.

Mary's thoughts blinked back to the present when she walked into the Leaky Cauldron for the first time. To Mary who had grown up not poor and had some rustic roots, her grandfather's cottage came to mind, the place was quaint enough to be laughable but as she noticed the cleaning charms cast causally at a deserted table by a waitress witch filled with dirty dishes at least it was trying to be clean. That made it at least decent in her mind. She discretely eyed the different customers and the cut of their robes.

Mary took her darling grandson who's black going on blue eyes were looking everywhere at once, as Rose went up to settle arrangements for a few nights stay and a few good tailoring shops, not just the one that catered towards the Hogwarts crowd every August. Her left hand was getting to the point of being in pain so she gave Merope a jab to her side thanks to the endless training the girl didn't jump but it was near thing. Mary was dressed in the Riddle's colors while little Tom was dressed in Slytherin colors as well.

They got their bags settled, Tom fed, changed and now they were stuck eyeing a dirty backyard wall, baby Tom back in Rose's arms and settling into a post feed nap. If this was the height of the wizarding entrance to their main shopping district Mary was very disappointed.

Then without her noticing it the bricks started to move since Rose did a great impression of losing her wand and needing the innkeeper to get them into Diagon Alley, Mary kept up her bored face but inwardly now this was impressive as she step through after Merope and Rose.

The place wasn't as packed as it could be which Mary Riddle was grateful for. She didn't want an audience for her first view of the wider wizarding world. She wanted to study and plan her attack. So in keeping up with her bored look as if she went to magical shopping districts all the time she kept pace with her daughter-in-law and Rose. Merope was doing wonderfully. If Mary didn't know any better she would have thought the girl was born in upper ranks or at least the middle upper ranks of society. Merope was wearing Slytherin's locket but underneath her clothes until they got to the wizarding bank.

Mary only raised an eyebrow at the warning at the Gringotts Wizarding Bank and inwardly smiled at the bank's motto. Now that was a motto she could rely on. 'Strength through Loyalty' indeed.

She did however twitch slightly at the sight of the Goblins but her grandson's soft noise drew her attention and she took little Tom in her arms as Merope stepped forward to converse with the bank teller.

Mary kept a ear on the conversation and eyed the only other person in the bank, it was quite early in the day a little after eight, a tall man with Rose's hair color, unlike Rose's friendly face, he had it seemed a set sneer on his face as he treated his servant, who to Mary's horror was dressed in a torn, very dirty bed sheet. So that's what a house elf looked like. Her blue eyes burned with anger as the little elf smacked it's head against the hard marble floor.

Merope's voice unfortunately carried to the opposite end of the bank where Mr. Malfoy was. "Yes, I am from the House of Gaunt. Prick my finger if you need proof."

The goblin frowned and whispered something to the other goblin behind him. A few minutes later a important looking goblin came up to them from a side passage and gestured to follow him.

His name was Ricbert, a gruff fellow who was quite impatient. "Sit, sit. I'll get your servant another chair." He muttered as Mary and Merope sat down gratefully in the high backed but beautifully carved wooden chairs. Tom was handed over to Merope to be feed since he started to fuss. Rose sat down stiffly since she noted her brother at the bank. It's been years since she saw anyone of her family.

"I am the head of this bank. I have no dealing with fools and frauds. Hand please." With professional swiftness Merope's hand was not pricked as she requested by slashed by a dagger that healed her after and a rather large amount of blood dropped with a plop on the blank parchment paper on the Head Goblin's desk.

Ricbert's hiss of surprise made Mary look up from rocking little Tom to sleep as she followed the dark green lines that make up the Slytherin family tree. Mary noted that the Slytherin family tree was a vast intertwined thing that started with Merope's famous ancestor and spread across multiple other family trees.

Mary detected that only two lines which were crossed with silver were directly linked Salazar Slytherin, the Gaunts that only had Merope and her brother left if you didn't count little Tom and a family which she saw with surprise was in the colonies, Gaunt - Sayre. The Stewart line in which Isolt Sayre married which she noticed had no magical family. Mary hummed to herself in thought. She didn't expect any other claims to fame as it were from anyone other then Merope's horrid brother.

Little Tom's claim to the House of Slytherin could be contested by his American relatives, but as she studied the family tree as Merope with some help from Rose who had an excellent mind for accounts, particularly with the barmy currency the wizarding world had, help hammer out bank vault details starting with the nest egg her mother started along with a dowry Mary gave Merope for little Tom's sake with the head goblin.

She interrupted a question about if Slytherin had any vaults in the bank, "Is there a way to contact the Stewarts in America as soon as possible? I would dearly love to meet them so little Tom will know that he has cousins of some sort." Mary's request was odd to say at the time but if the goblins were the wizarding world banks they must have branches all over the world and it would be easiest to get information by the goblins then any other means.

Ricbert, Head Goblin who was very happy to get a good vault going frown at the question. He answered slowly as he finished up the details of the Gaunt-Riddle vault thinking on bank privacy notices and practices. "Perhaps, it might take a few days." He did had a sudden thought that could get these people, important as they were out of his bank because he was quite busy. He didn't care to deal with humans even as pleasant as these seem to be.

"I'll need a few days to get all what I need to arrange, but for now, here's your vault key and cheque and bank notes to start you out with. Expect an owl in a couple of days." Ricbert waved the new vault owners out the side door which would be better for new clients, but honestly he didn't want to deal with the Malfoys who were horrid wizards to deal with and he knew Mr. Malfoy would ponce on his new clients before he could blink. He didn't want to waste time by them.

A few days later after a massive shopping spree which made them very valuable customers in the higher up shops, and a long term supporter of the potion supplier since even if they were a mixed blood group that was uppity they treated all the owners and their employees with great respect (not to mention they tipped extremely well), Mary Riddle was dosing in the sunlight by the wide window as Merope was ankle deep in a potion making book and a few first years textbooks. She still didn't have a tutor lined up. But Merope had hope.

Sadly, she still didn't have a wand since after six hours at Ollivanders which the old man was very happy and annoyed at the same time, said he'll have to craft a new wand but paused when Mary asked if he had a wand shop in America since they were be taking a trip there soon. Oddly enough, Ollivanders wasn't mad but they got a note of a wand maker there which he recommended. They had to pay ten gallons for the information. Mary was more amused then offended. Crafty wand maker.

Little Tom was rudely awaken from his afternoon nap by a postal owl tapping on their hotel window. Instead of a yowl he hissed his annoyance. Much to his mother's amusement and her grandmother's exasperation, his first few sounds were from the snake language that Mary insisted in trying to learn. Merope and Tom had great laughing fits on Mary's hissing. She could understand the language well enough, but to speak it, not so much.

Mary took the letter, paid and feed the owl who took off, and announced. "We're going to America at six sharp. Rose start packing and send a letter to Bert it'll be a few more days."

Chapter 4

Armand the 2nd of the Malfoy line was twirling his wine glass eyeing the golden rose wine he request from his house elf Bilsey taking in his wife's garden in a warm afternoon. He took a sip and grimaced at the overly sharp sweet taste. Clearly Bilsey's gardening crew wasn't doing their jobs correctly. Or maybe it might be Bilsey's leadership or lack of. He was unusually distracted right now.

Speaking of jobs, "Mimsey." A very pregnant house elf dressed in a dirty, tattered oversized, so grey you-wouldn't-have-known-it-was-a-different-color tea towel wobbled unsteady as she popped by the outdoor armchair Mr. Malfoy was sitting in enjoying his afternoon drink.

"Any progress?" His sharp eyes took in Mimsey's sudden twitch of her ears, a sharp move that to a pregnant elf would be painful. Unlike the Black family when a house elf is expecting, the mothers are forbidden to punish themselves until after the newest one is weened off of the mother. The mothers have found ways of punishing themselves.

Armand spoke dryly after he tried another sip and failed to enjoy the taste. He dropped the wine glass on the grass and pinned Mimsey's aborted move to go clean it up with his sharp grey eyes. "I see that by the twitch of your ears, Rose still isn't responding to my messages and gifts returning them unopened?" Another twitch of her ear. "Ah so everything has been opened, but returned."

Armand tuned out Mimsey's rushed excuses to remember how he got into this mess in the first place. His face darkened as he felt a rush of anger at his squib little sister Rose, once beloved then thrown out. He didn't notice Mimsey rushing to get out of wand range as Armand flickered magic from his wand which suddenly was in his hand.

A Malfoy, even a squib catering to a half blood, with a weak witch of a mother and a muggle for a father, if the grandmother was any indication was beneath the Malfoys. But a direct descendant of Slytherin himself? Well that might be different, he knew first hand how powerful the only four and half-month-old Tom Riddle was. Armand's black dragonskin boot ground the wine glass pieces into dust as he remembered the humiliation, accidentally setting his wife's prized white peacocks on fire. He didn't notice as Mimsey calmed the peacocks and healed them. It all started from the boy's grandmother itself. Clearly to get his family on a powerful wizard's side was not to insult his family.

Armand didn't know how the muggles and the so-called witch from the House of Gaunt got out of the bank without him knowing it but he sent off Bilsey for his wine supplies and decided to greet them himself. After all if she was from the House of Gaunt, it might be useful pawn to have in his pocket.

After a discreet searching spell Armand was lead to a upper-class or so it claimed bookstore, not one that catered to the Hogwarts crowd, as he was declined to go into the potion or the robe stores they first entered. He did notice that the Riddle crowd treated each of the store owners and their employees with the utmost respect, even if some of them were bottom scrapers. Which was the case of the bookstore owners. Lady Riddle of Little Hangleton must be well off indeed as she was crafty as a Slytherin, but as sweet as a Hufflepuff as somehow she got the shopkeepers and the employees to sell at a lower price but tipped enough to insure a happy return!

Armand found himself grinding his teeth behind a bookstore shelve as Lady Riddle complimented the pimpled, red headed, probably a Weasley, on his interest in muggle music and suggested a good music store. A muggle one, a cheap one at that! Ugh. How they got onto that subject he'll never know.

He did have to duck behind a tall, slightly ugly but expensive statue of Ravenclaw when Rose suddenly snapped her head in his direction as if she knew he was there. Rose was always good at detecting people even without magic.

Armand's meeting came a few days later when the family with Lady Riddle walking along the so-called witch of the House of Gaunt decided to get some pets. His left hand still hurt, a Malfoy! The top almost head boy of his Slytherin year! Darn you Weasley. That Riddle child did this! He put the blame squarely on that cat the Riddles bought. Or was it the owls or the snake? Either way, he still damaged in someway.

Mary Riddle was rudely assaulted by the smell of the Magical Menagerie shop after the nice shopping spree that they had the last few days. Mary was still amused by the writing with quills and declined to get any.

Rose suggested they get a few pets or at least an owl so when Tom went off to school they could communicate. May was inclined to get an owl for the newspaper and in Rose's case, she did want a Witchy Weekly subscription. The old magazines that Rose showed her and Merope were amusing and all but wasn't updated. Mary wasn't inclined to say she got slightly addicted to the gossipy magazine as well as Merope. Her reading and writing had come up nicely in leaps and bounds.

She left Rose to get the owl since she did grew up in the wizarding world and knew the best breed or breeds to get. Rose decided to start a little owl breeding business, a small owl for the town's owl delivery service. It would help the muggles get use to delivery owls, but the post man might be put out. But he was a bird watcher, so perhaps not. Mary made a note for Rose and him, a Darrell Gram to work together.

Mary Riddle past little Tom to her mother as Merope's eyes caught hold of the very small section of snakes in the pet department and little Tom was hissing up a storm in his excitement. Merope was hissing in laughter and the snakes were in a frenzy of excitement. The store owner looked like he was about to faint, his brown eyes were so wide.

So Mary distracted him demanding, but in a polite tone of voice to see the cats. It was interesting to see how wizarding cats differ from normal people cats. In all honestly Mary could possibly say that they all seemed the same, then a small form in the back of the cat section caught her eyes. It was small cat, only a few months old, but instead of the usual colored eyes for a grey almost black cat, the eyes were a steel grey. As Mary looked at the melancholic animal from a different view, the eyes changed to a darker grey.

"Ah I see that one had caught your eyes. We got him from the Black family almost six months ago. They claimed he was worthless, this was a fate worst then death for him and demanded they take him off of their hands. The Black mother had on gloves as if she didn't even want to try and touch the cat." The sudden appearance of the shopkeeper's assistant as the shopkeeper himself was assisting Rose in her selection almost gave Mary a start as she glanced towards the annoying little man and the rest of the shop.

It seemed that Merope and little Tom was having a delightful conversation from what Mary could pick out with the snakes. Rose had walked to her friend and was giving the shop owner the stink eye for whatever he was muttering about under his breath.

Rose had paid for her three types of owls and sent them on their way to Riddle Manor. She had the cages and supplies shrunken until later. She was giving Merope advice on which snakes would work for her garden and if necessary a guard snake.

The cat suddenly sat in a prim and proper position and if Mary wasn't mistaken gave a disinterested sniff as if Mary herself was beneath the cat. Well now that wouldn't do. That and she used to have almost an exact replica of a cat like him but she was a little more loving before Mary realized she couldn't bring Flora along since Tom Riddle Sr. was slightly allergic. Thankfully the magical world had potions to take care of that sort of thing for her grandson. Permanently.

"I'll take him. Now. What's the best supplies that you have for cats?" Mary said suddenly as she swept the cat who have came close enough to see the eye color change, into her arms and if he was anything like Flora was and he was, a quick scratch behind both ears in a soothing pattern. Ah there. The cat was purring up a storm.

Mary was a bit amused as the other at least the intelligent cats almost slumped in disappointment as she left to go to the counter. On the way there she accidentally bumped in a tall man with a black silver headed snake head cane.

"I do apologize, I clearly didn't see you there. Please forgive me." Mary usually didn't apologize quickly but she did run into him so she made amends. She made the proper form of apologize movement of her body.

What happened next made Mary realize that her grandson and daughter-in-law did indeed care for her, or at least in little Tom's affections. The incident still made her chuckle now and then.

As Lady Mary of the Riddle House of Little Hangleton as she introduced herself to the still stiff looking man with Rose's coloring, he said something in a low tone of voice that she couldn't understand it.

But it made Rose turn to glare, Merope gasp and well little Tom, his head went up and he gave a sharp hiss. The garden snake who Merope had chosen for her garden suddenly was there, sinking his fangs which as a garden snake would be harmless but now they were dripping a black liquid that made the man jerk back with a gasp and a curse.

The shopkeeper was suddenly there as Tom's snake went back to his master, fangs normal. The shopkeeper kept apologizing to Lord Malfoy as he called the man. Lord Malfoy just glared down at the shopkeeper when he tried to 'heal' the dripping black wound. He left the shop without a word to anyone.

Armand's eyes narrowed in thought as the black wound he still had ached and itched terribly. Nothing worked to get rid of it and he tried everything. His face paled at the thought he just had. But he summoned his personal study elf to get his writing quill and parchment.

His teeth grounded almost as hard as his favorite special quill wrote an apology to the Ladies and young heir to House of Riddle/Gaunt. He finished his letter and just stamped his ring on the wax when he caught Mimsey tenderly tugging on Bilsey's right ear. The male house elf's eyes had turned a dark black that was echoed with his bondmate's normally quiet eyes.

Armand's felt a slow wicked smile lit his face. Now he had a great idea. He never like Mimsey or his gardener elf to begin with. His low chuckle sent the peacocks running.

Chapter 5

Lady Mary Riddle and her dear friend/servant Rose Malfox appeared in the Riddle Manor with a pop of displaced air, the now enlarged packages thumping to the floor of the back parlor with much noise. Mary had closed her eyes during the journey and opened them when she had felt her legs were not going to make her tumble to the ground.

As her servants including Bert rushed in to take care of the packages, he eyed the black cat curiously as the male cat eyed him back with a sniff. Mary Riddle swallowed some bile that was insisting on coming up and noted Rose needed a huge raise or something. The clever girl hook-winked a-not-so-bright highly rich wizard, just out of Hogwarts to 'portkey' them to the Riddle Manor for a one time use. She had used her wits and his folly over a pretty 'empty headed' witch who needed help with her packages since she never learned to Apparate!

"I'm going straight to my room to rest. Let me know of any word from Merope and little Tom when they are going to be back from America."

Rose nodded silently as her lady went to bed, the last few days was tiring for all of them honestly. Rose remembered how silent her lady became as Mary Riddle studied anything and everything about the wizarding world, from the history of Hogwarts to what was happening in the greater wizarding world, especially in America once they got word that the bank would be willing to help them.

Lady Riddle was unusually quiet during the few months that followed at the sobering news as the wizarding world in America had to verify this outlandish claim. She could step into the bank but Rappaport's Law which kept muggles and wizards separate kept her from seeing Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as she intended. So instead of going to America as she wanted to, she asked Rose to bring Merope and little Tom to their appointment with Rionach Stewart who was very surprised to find out that she had English relatives.

Merope Riddle was terrified, but she wanted some relatives that might even like her and her son Tom. So with her head high, dressed to the nines, she went from England to America without even a blink, bringing little Tom along with her. Her ears still rang with Mary's parting words as Rose came to collect her, while Mary entertained herself with her new pet and packed for the journey home.

"Remember, you are a Riddle, we aren't the highest of ranks, but we respect everyone regardless of rank, because without everyone who works hard, our lives would be very different indeed. Learn all you can of your family, there might be a reason that the founder of Ilvermorny left for the colonies and married a normal person. If you connect with them and find yourself a wand while there, all the better. Let the magicals see that not all muggles are backwards and stupid. Hopefully maybe I too can see the school. But above all, be polite, let their customs lead, try not to step on any toes and" Here Merope remembered with fondness, "Be happy and have fun. Maybe you'll find what you are looking for."

Mary Riddle's smile was lovely to behold.

Unfortunately at the moment, Mary Riddle was not smiling at all. In fact after sending Merope and little Tom off, she was feeling quite left out. Oh she could understand why the colonies had to separate from the normal world, and they did an excellent job of doing just that, unlike English witches and wizards who clearly had no idea how to pass. In fact Mary spotted a 'wizard' wearing something not to be repeated in polite company in public! Such idiotic this uppity magicals had. But she admitted even the ton had their low breeding at points.

She fell asleep on her made bed with her never far away black kitten purring up a storm in her ears. Mary Riddle sadly woke up to crashing china and screaming servants. She put on her robe over her nightgown that she had changed into and stopped on the stairs, blinking at the sight of two house elves in horrid clothes of some sort. One was clearly pregnant and the other looked terrified at it's surroundings.

Chapter 6

Merope Riddle found herself dozing in the sun as her son hissed and played beneath the snake-wood tree that offered them shelter while they waited for Headmistress Stewart of Ilvermorny to be done with her meeting. Her deputy head of the school, Master Jarvis, the head of House Pukwudgie greeted her a few hours after sunrise, after letting her and little Tom have a week to adjust to the time change, letting them enjoy the sights of America and them a tour of the school afterward.

Merope was in awe of the school and the beautiful grounds surrounding it. She wondered if Hogwarts would make her feel the same way. This was the second time that they have come to visit as the first was a quick meeting between the distant relatives. But Rionach Stewart was distant but seemed warm and kind.

A slight chuckle made Merope open her eyes as she took in the sight of Rionach hissing playfully at Tom who was delighted to have another snake speaker to converse with as he was comfortable enough to snuggle in Rionach's arms.

"I was concerned at first about hearing that another branch of the Gaunt family lived, but I see that you are not like Isolt Sayre's horrid aunt but more along the lines of Isolt herself. I and my relatives have no claim or even want claim to the house of Gaunt. I'll gladly give you the blood oath."

Merope eyes filled with tears, but tears of joy for she found a relative that was like her mother. They became fast friends and there she found her calling. She help heal the world that her family broke.

Her new wand that was given to her by Rionach and one for Tom, make almost the same didn't chime a warning. The rightness and peace that she had when she first held her wand still seemed to sweep through her whole body, relaxing Merope in a way she never knew she needed.

Tom's wand was made of snake wood, a few shavings of the Horned Serpent horn and a sliver of White River Monster spine, but Merope's didn't have the spine. Tom was using his wand as a chew toy, at the rate he was teething, he'll have so many marks on his wand it would look worn by the time he got to school. Merope Riddle and her son Tom left America and arrived into organized chaos with a pop into the Riddle grounds.

Rose almost ran into Merope with fresh towels in her hurry to go into the house. "Oh you're back. Come. Mary needs your help." She kicked the door shut once everyone was in the house.

Merope passed Tom off to Rose and she took the towels and made her way to a small back room adjustment to the cellar with a small bed and dresser, where her eyes widen at the sight of a cussing female house elf very pregnant with the town doctor who was looking dazed, with a male elf whose left hand seemed to be broken as indicated by the tight grip the female had on it.

Lady Mary Riddle looked up and sighed in relief. "Oh Merope. Please help. He's useless." She waved towards the doctor.

"Oh I am not, but if you have any idea, help!" Dr. Frazier sniffed. He birthed Tom so he knew a little of the magical world. Ironically he was a Squib from a very poor family but that was only known when Tom turned his hair dark green a few months back. For an almost six month old, Tom Riddle Jr. was a powerful little child.

"Talk how we came here! Mimsey demands!" Mimsey said between scream filled pants. Bilsey just whimpered in pain.

"A loud bang interrupted my nap the day you left for America. There were two house elves in my house."

Flashback

Lady Mary Riddle took in the sight of two scared house elves, one she recognized from the wizarding bank.

"Rose take care of these beings and report back to me in a hour. I'll be the drawing room." Mary then left to get dress and ordered her maid to make some tea.

An hour later after having a bracing cup of tea and going over the town reports which looked promising while the stock market's numbers seemed promising. She made a note to talk to her lawyer about it all.

She just finished up her reports and had scheduled an appointment with her lawyer when Rose knocked politely on the door frame. "Come in."

Rose came in with the two house elves who by Rose's persuasion had washed and dressed in clothes clothes that fit instead of the germ infested clothes that they had on.

Mary took in the two house elves now looking better and noticed a strand of cloth that did not belong on each of them.

"Rose introduce us."

"Madam this the the house elf Bilsey, head gardener for the Malfoy family and his wife Mimsey. This is Lady Mary Riddle of the house of Riddle." Rose paused in discomfort.

"Well out with it Rose." Mary commanded noticing the pause.

"They are gifts from Mr. Malfoy to you to make up for the slight he made at the pet store. There is a letter addressed to you."

Bilsey stepped forward and handed his new owner the letter. He watched nervously as Lady Mary Riddle with a composed face. Inside Mary was raging. This 'gift' couldn't be sent back unlike the others as they were living beings and evidence suggested that they will be well in her household unlike what Rose had reported to her about the treatment of house elves.

Mary's voice was cold and impersonal as she chanted the words that would bind these house elves to her family. It only worked because little Tom and his mother had enough magical presence to make it work. She did notice the strain that had gripped the two house elves eased once they were in her service.

"Rose send tea and biscuits in and then leave us." Once Rose left the room closing the door, Mary motioned to the armchair on the opposite side of the table. It could fit two house elves comfortably.

"Sit." Bilsey knew it was a command and he set his wife down gently on the soft cousin first and then hopped up himself.

"Why do you still have some of the that pillowcase that you arrived in on your clothes."

Bilsey wasn't the one to speak but his wife in a rare bust of temper her mind overriding her usual quietness. "You insult our pride. Why do we need new clothes while our shame is complete with this! I am having to serve you!" Mimsey gestures towards her new dark blue dress, which was an old plaything of Mary's worn but serviceable for staff.

"Explain in exact detail why you are shamed and what I expect from you as I have never had house elves before."

Mary frowned inwardly as the house elves gave her the information she needed. What she did next shocked the two house elves.

She bowed to them in apologize saying, "Unfortunately your former garments have been burned in fear of diseases that can come from such begrimed items. I apologize for my ignorance of not knowing your ways. If it pleases you when your uniforms become unworthy of being seen in my service as all my employees are dressed neat and clean, as of myself and my household, I shall take the least dirty part of your uniform and personally sew the threads into your new one so that you aren't getting new clothes at all or at least the sense of it. I was going to offer payment for it is due of my employees but since you don't want such items all I can offer is a warm place to stay and good food and a private place to sleep with beds of your size and other furniture."

Mary gestured towards the door and leading the still quiet house elves made way to a unused part of the cellar which had a small room attached. Inside was a child size furniture that was once Mary's as she got new items for her grandson. It looked like a one room cabin, with a small dining room, bedroom, bathroom behind a curtain and a sitting area around a small fireplace.

"Your kindness knows no bounds Mistress." Mimsey said and burst into loud tears. Bilsey found himself with a handkerchief and a crying wife.

It seemed to him that working for the Riddles would be like heaven.

Flashback ends

There was a sudden silence then childlike giggles filled the air.

"Please meet the newest member of the family. Dobby."

The smile that Lady Mary gave her baby warmed Mimsey's heart and she smiled back. It was a good household that they were in.

Chapter 7

Mary watched her black cat study his prey from the top of the fire mantle, her still slithering Tom now one years old, who either went around on his belly or just flat out ran. His first birthday party was a small one, with only Rionach from America and the house staff in attendance. Tom's birthday was declared a holiday or more of a holiday for the townsfolk since Mary gave a generous time off for her house staff and presents for the town.

Armed Malfoy gave a generous gift of a small broomstick, but Mary thought it was because Tom had cleared up the wound he gave once Mary read out loud the apology that he gave, minus the house elf gift. Mary made a note to find a way to temper her grandson's swift temper and if he inherited his father's snotty ways.

Tom erupted into giggles as the cat gently pounced upon him. He was no ordinary cat, he seemed to understand English and at times French. Among other curiosities.

Rose came and refilled her tea cup. "Rose, what do you make of my cat? Does his eyes remind you of anyone? Or is it just me."

Rose sighed as her mistress's cat caught sight of her and ran off. "He's deliberately avoiding anyone that has Black connections, that is from my household. The other wizarding squibs say he is quite friendly with them."

"The pet store owner did say something about worse then death when he was handed over."

Marius Black woke up with a sneeze, eyes watering from all the dust being spelled away. There was a good reason why he decided to brave the attic. No one around.

"You ruined my well earned nap Tommy Boy." The very old but still flexible cat leaped down from the rafters to land on a very handsome broad-shoulder man still the prime of his youth as the muggles still thought he was in his mid-thirties where he was really in his fifties.

Prime Minster Tom Riddle paused in opening a old cardboard box. "If you were anyone else you would have to address me as Minster Riddle, but since you are the former head of my spy ring, you get a pass."

Marius Black snorted. "Oh please, if Miss Mary didn't somehow crack the code of how I was once human, then discovered that all the Kneazle were once human you would have gone off to Hogwarts with just a snake instead of me."

"At least Nellie doesn't talk my ear off. But she would have made a terrible spy. You on the other hand, who wouldn't want to cuddle a cat?"

Marius was silent then grudgingly admitted. "I miss her. So much. I think she was the only person who besides you and your wife who really got me. Celia came close but she still has fuzzy memories of being human. Celia wants another litter."

Tom stopped from leafing through some horrible outdated muggle clothing to laugh. He ended up having to spell away his hiccups. He had an image to uphold after all. Even in the attic.

"At least I didn't fall for my mate by correcting her Calculus at age 12." Marius snapped. He was getting too old to chase after any more kittens.

"No you just fell off the Slytherin table when you spotted her. I was arguing with that upstart time traveling Hufflepuff."

"Oh please you panted after her even before you hormones kicked in. Your brain couldn't help itself. To think the heir of the snakes married a former lion. Your paternal grandfather would be rolling around his grave." Marius snickered.

"She's the brightest witch of her century, of course I would marry her. It probably helped that I wasn't that snake person she had died fighting."

"She survived, married a Weasley of all people, had three children and died fighting before being blown to this timeline before you even knew she existed. Stop editing her backstory. Besides you are happy with how your bed-life goes. Future knowledge and all that."

Tom smirked. "She is expecting again. In fact I came up here since she got another one of her brilliant ideas. She kicked me out of bed."

Marius made a whining sound and made a show of putting his paws over his ears. When he was younger he didn't mind swapping stories but now he was old.

A tear drop dripped off of Tom's face and didn't land on the old thirty-five year old headline of the Prophet that proclaimed, "All sort of Love Potions/Spells are added to the unforgivables list!" That day was a proud one for his grandmother since she started her 'logic' column just when Tom turned two.

Marius was in his lap purring up a storm, something that always helped when Tom was sad. After a good cry in which Marius was completely soaked, he commented, "You didn't cry this much at your mother's funeral." Tom was 16 when it happened. A spell gone wrong or something.

"I loved my mum but grandmother was everything. She taught me more about being human and striving to truly live then mum. Even if I did grow up with the Riddles, I shudder on how I could have been raised if she wasn't in the picture."

"Merlin yes. Ugh."

"Now lets display this where it would be appreciated."

The two old friends vacated the now clean attic and rejoined in the dance of life.