The Diadem! Voldemort's Reveal! The final buildup before the climax of this story!

There's a lot of other stuff in here as well, namely a scene about Draco. I hope you will enjoy what I am going to be doing with his character.

So without further ado, let's continue!

—0—

"We've been at this for almost an hour!"

Hermione huffed as Neville groaned. For being a loyal friend, he certainly was a bit annoying when it came to searching for a lost treasure. Then again, looking back, she could call her obsession with the artifact to be somewhat annoying in turn.

"Come on Neville, there's way more than the diadem here. You could probably pick out a few things to take with you!"

The boy huffed and began looking through another pile of items. So far, they had worked their way through six piles, sorting items as they went. The piles were now more organized stacks of books, school supplies, and furniture.

Hermione dusted off a glass bottle that was nestled within a black cauldron. The fluid within shimmered in hues of blue and purple, with white flickers passing through it every so often.

"Look at this."

Neville walked over and looked at the potion. "I've seen that in one of the library books. It's called Thunderbrew."

"Thunderbrew?"

Neville nodded. "A while back, it was a commonplace potion. You could learn it in third year. Now it's on a restricted potions list. You have to get a mastery in potions to brew it."

Hermione blinked. "This little mouthful is that dangerous?"

Neville nodded. "A hundred years ago, there was a wizard, or maybe it was a witch… I can't recall much. I know they used a lot of potions to deal with poachers around the valley of Hogwarts. Saved a lot of magical creatures."

Hermione looked at the potion again. "So… what does it do exactly?"

Neville shrugged. "Supposedly, it bolsters your magic with that of a lightning storm. For weaker wizards it can turn their weakest spells into lightning. For powerful wizards, it may conjure a whirling tempest around them."

Hermione nodded and pocketed the potion. "I'll hold onto this for now… Hm? What's this?"

A broken pot lay at the bottom of the latest pile. The dirt within it had long degraded into dust, and the dry, shriveled remains of whatever had grown in it now lay strewn about the pottery.

"Looks like it was shrivelfig…" Neville nodded. "Pretty common plant. Not easy to grow though…"

Hermione moved the pot to the side, and turned her attention to a new pile as Neville went back to the pile he had been working on.

They continued their search, on and on, through three more piles, until Neville huffed.

"We aren't getting anywhere."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's only been fifteen more minutes!"

Neville threw his hands in the air. "So? Who's to say this thing is even in here anyways?"

"Helena told me that it was here. Somebody found it and hid it here."

"So, why would it be at the front of the room?"

Hermione blinked. "You know… that's a good point."

Neville rolled his eyes and stood up from the latest pile. "So, into the forest of lost objects we go?"

Hermione nodded. "I can scope out a general area with my location spell."

"You could try." Neville shrugged. "It hasn't moved in years, right? Would you really be able to detect it?"

Hermione sighed. "Maybe not… But it's worth a shot, right?"

Neville nodded and gestured for the girl to continue. Hermione drew her wand and closed her eyes.

"Point the way to where it lies, away from all the prying eyes, what has been hidden with magics law… show me the diadem of ravenclaw!"

Hermione opened her eyes, which flashed blue for a moment. "I can see it… sitting atop a bust of some sort. A statue…"

"That chant was different from the one you showed me earlier this year."

"I've worked on it since then… you were right about it being further in by the way." Hermione nodded. "But yes, the chant now locates specific items. It gives me a one hundred foot area of approximate location."

"Impressive." Neville blinked. "From anywhere in the world?"

"Yes. From anywhere in the world." Hermione nodded. "Although, there can still be some difficulty with locating wizards and witches. Sometimes I get two places at the same time… I'll figure it out sooner or later."

"The fact that your spell can discern the location of any object, anywhere in the world, is already impressive enough." Neville nodded. "Here, it has to take a lot of magic. I'll clear the way forward."

Hermione nodded, allowing Neville to use the levitation charm to clear a path. The two continued on their search. Deeper, deeper into the massive room of hidden things.

—0—

Draco sat, bouncing his knee up and down as he looked at the blackboard.

"Are you quite alright Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco's head snapped up, causing him to come eye to eye with Minerva McGonagall.

"Er- yes, sorry. I must have just-"

"Are you certain that you are still okay after the incident in the forest?" The professor asked, waving her wand and summoning a chair to sit in.

Draco scoffed. "That was months ago."

"The time that has passed is irrelevant." The professor spoke. "You were unconscious for two weeks after the incident. You haven't attended counseling with Poppy, nor have you spoken to your head of house."

"How would you know that I haven't spoken with Professor Snape?" Draco asked slowly.

"Because the heads of house hold weekly meetings. He has spoken of his concerns." McGonagall nodded. "We aren't just here to drill your young minds with magical knowledge. We are here to help your growth and development."

Draco nodded, looking back down at the top of his desk. "I haven't spoken to professor Snape, strictly because I am afraid that he will speak with my father…"

"Your father?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"He's feared by many of the pureblood students." Draco nodded. "For instance, Crabbe, and Goyle. They always fall over themselves for my approval."

"And you feel as though it is unneeded."

Draco shook his head. "It is unpleasant, as well as undeserved. The Crabbe's and the Goyle's may be in my fathers pocket, but that doesn't mean that they are in mine."

"Forging early alliances can be the key to having a bright future." McGonagall spoke. "Are you certain you wish to downplay the benefits of your fathers connections?"

"You will find that I am not my father, Professor." Draco licked his lips. "I wish to make my own name, not carry the name of what he has done."

"An admirable goal." McGonagall nodded. "But it will take its toll if done improperly."

"Improperly?"

Minerva nodded. "We see you struggling, Mr. Malfoy. You put on a good face. You smile, tell your friends that you are fine… it will consume you one day."

Draco breathed, shaking his head with a small smirk. "And your point is? I'm the son of a corrupt man, who pulls others around on strings of debt. A master manipulator who thinks himself cunning enough to pull the wool over everyone's eyes."

"One should not speak of their parents in such a way."

"I will speak of him as I see fit." Draco frowned.

'You will join me soon enough… you are much like your father.'

"I am not my father."

Minerva did her best to hide her shock at the venom in the boy's voice. "Certainly, Lucius Malfoy is many things, a suspected death eater among them however-"

"I do not care what my father is suspected of." Draco turned his gaze back to the woman. "I decided years ago that I would never be like him, when he laid hands upon my mother."

Minerva's eyes sparked. She had always been a petitioner for witches' rights. There used to be no ladies seated in the government unless they were acting in place of a young family member. In recent years, there had been some smaller changes, and the very first lady had been seated on the wizengamot… she did not tolerate domestic abuse.

"Does this happen often?" Minerva asked tursely.

Draco shook his head. "No. She was protecting me, because I had made him angry. But it was that moment, again. I will not be my father."

"Very well…" Minerva nodded. "I understand your… motivations, and how you may be slowed down at times because of them…"

"I am not slowed by my motivations." Draco shot back. "They only push me further. Now, are we done?"

Minerva sighed. "Yes… thank you for coming to make up the work that you missed. I will see you for our last lesson tomorrow."

Draco nodded and gathered his things as McGonagall returned to her desk. As he moved to walk out, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his mind.

"Please… Mr. Malfoy… don't do this."

He was standing there, within the transfiguration classroom. Minerva McGonagall was on her knees upon the floor of the room, her arms twitching from the aftershocks of sustained cruciatus exposure.

"You know… NOTHING!"

"Please… Mister Potter isn't an enemy."

"Isn't he? I have to kill him… I have to kill Harry Potter. It is my task from the dark lord."

"This war isn't yours to fight… it was never yours to fight."

"This war is mine to resolve! It is your fault that it went on for this long." Draco was walking towards the teacher, he could see his wand in his hand, raised to harm the woman again.

"Do it Draco…" A familiar voice spoke in his ear.

"Strike her down for the dark lord."

'Don't do it… don't…'

"You are boys, Malfoy. You are children, caught in the mistakes of your fathers."

"You know nothing of my father…"

"I know that he threatens defenseless men. He and his comrades threaten innocent children. What do you hope to gain by becoming one of them?"

"I will finally be enough… AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Draco's eyes snapped open. He could feel tears rolling down his face.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Malfoy?" Minerva looked up from a bit of paperwork. "Did you forget anything?"

Draco wiped the tears from his face and shook his head. "No… no. Have a good night professor."

"A good night to you as well, Mr. Malfoy."

—0—

"It's right here… bigger than I remember."

Quirrell watched as Merlot pulled the covering off of the large mirror that sat in the final room. He was finally here. Finally, his master would be free again.

He would be free again.

"It's incredible…"

Merlot turned and blinked. "You haven't seen the mirror before?"

Quirrell didn't listen. He was too enthralled with the mirror. In its silvery surface, he could see himself. He was holding the stone, it was giving him power. Power to live forever.

"Professor Quirrell?"

"Oh SILENCE you insolent girl."

Merlot squeaked as he flicked his wand, her body going rigid as she was frozen in place.

"All this time I have been trying so hard to find this artifact. I've subjected myself to the worst experiences of a lifetime, just to find myself here… now where is it?"

Merlot watched, her eyes wide as Quirrell ran his hands down the mirror. "I can see the stone… I'm holding it, but where IS IT?"

"Use the girl."

Merlot froze as she heard the high pitched voice. It was so familiar, too familiar.

Quirrell pointed his wand at Merlot, causing her to unfreeze. "Come here Scortwit."

Merlot shakily walked to the mans side. "W-why…"

"Why? Why?"

"Why are you doing this?"

Quirrell smirked. "All will become clear soon enough… TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE?"

Merlot looked into the mirror. She could see herself there, standing with Petunia, Dudley, and Vernon. They were there, and she was normal. Harry Potter was normal.

"WHAT DO YOU SEE?"

Quirrell's hands were sweaty. She could see it out f the corner of her eyes. "What am I l-looking for, sir?"

"The stone…" the high pitched voice hissed. Merlot's eyes widened.

Of course. The stone. She had been studying Flamels Alchemy, but that was her main reason for being here, wasn't it? The philosopher's stone. When had she forgotten about it?"

In the mirror, she could see her reflection change. Harry Potter became Merlot Scortwit. Petunia became Charlie Weasley, and Vernon became Scortwit. They stood side by side, grins upon their faces. Dudley shrunk down into a small rat.

"Despereaux…"

"Despereaux? Your rat?" Quirrell snarled. His hands were getting paler. Sweatier. "No… no. Tell me the truth."

The reflection of Merlot smiled. Charlie held up something, a nutcracker. With a wink he put in a gold snitch, and cracked it open, revealing a glimmering red gemstone covered in tiny golden lines. The redheaded apparition held up a finger to his mouth, before slipping the stone into Merlot's pocket.

Outside of the mirror, the real Merlot felt her pocket get heavier.

"What do you see, Scortwit? I will not ask again." Quirrell leveled his wand at the side of Merlot's head.

"I see myself…" Merlot said quietly, watching as the images of Scortwit and Charlie hugged her. Despereaux raised his sword bravely. "My… my muggle relatives, standing with me. I'm normal…"

"Normal?"

"A false image from a shattered mind. She LIES!"

"I DO NOT LIE!" Merlot whirled about on Quirrell. "And if anyone would understand that it would be you. You tricked me! I trusted you and here we are! For what?"

Quirrell's eyes seemed to soften, getting a shade lighter as he watched her. "Miss Scortwit…"

"Silence Quirrell, let me speak to her."

The look in Quirrell's eyes was gone, replaced once again by a dark gleam. "But master, you are not strong enough."

"I have strength enough for thissss…"

Merlot watched in horror as Quirrell turned and raised his hands to undo his turban.

"You sssee miss Scortwit… I have been working towards this day for a very… very… long time."

In the room of requirement, Hermione looked through a new pile of old discarded items. Finding nothing within them, she turned and saw it, a large black cabinet.

"For almost ten years, in fact… I have hidden away, keeping myself tied to this plane through the use of unfashionable sacrifice…"

Hermione opened the cabinet, but it was empty. We Ty a sigh, she closed it and turned.

A glint of silver caught her eye.

"And now I know that the one who sent me away is truly no more… once I regain my body, I will truly be free to rule this world."

Hermione's eyes widened as she saw the coiled rope that was wrapped around the stone bust. With shaky hands, she slowly undid the wrappings, revealing a silver tiara, inset with sapphires.

"I know that you understand me, Scortwit… you understand my vision. I have seen it within you…"

Hermione's lips broke into a smile as her hands wrapped around the diadem. In the mirror chamber, Merlot stared in horror at the pale face that was upon the back of Quirrells head.

"You know who I am…"

It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A true statement. There was no way that Merlot wouldn't know this abomination that was before her.

"Voldemort."

Hermione took a breath and set the diadem upon her head. All at once, information poured through her mind. It was painful, oh so painful, but oh so wonderful.

But then it was gone.

"What? Where did it-"

"So nice to be sat upon the head of a proper witch… my apologies, but I had to lock the diadems magic to keep you alive."

"To keep me alive? Who are you?"

The voice from the diadem chuckled. "I am a memory of an old teacher. You may call me Professor Riddle."

—0—

Oooooooooooo

Professor Riddle?

I can't say much more without spoilers, so leave a review, and until next time, adios!