Chapter 18

Tom Marvolo Riddle, formerly known as Voldemort, sat in Riddle manor, staring at the blackness beyond the manor's windows. His red eyes narrowed as he turned to survey the dusty room around him.

When the Potter boy had killed him; he'd thought that was it. Little did he know that was only the beginning. The horror of being totally helpless, unable to move, barely able to whimper. He'd lain their on the cold marble floor for he didn't know how long and then he'd found himself falling.

For centuries, he'd been under the care of Hades, god of the underworld. When he'd been given to Zeus, he'd hoped his torment would finally be over, but now. Now he was locked in this bloody diary to be used as a pawn. Was this what his horcruxes had felt like all those years ago? How much of his soul was left? What would happen once the diary was destroyed? Would he be sentenced to an eternity of helplessness once again?

He shuddered. He'd called himself Voldemort. Ironically, that meant flight from death in French. He had feared death, but the old fool Dumbledore had been right. There were worse things than death.

He'd committed all his murders, torture, and atrocity with the expectation that he would never die and have to pay for all he had done. He knew better now. No matter what he did, he would suffer for all he had done. Whether it was by design or simply the balance of the universe he knew not nor did he care. His soul was too mangled and shredded for him to feel remorse, but he could feel fear and a growing need to preserve his own life. He had to do something.

He'd seen his other self. This version of him had a whole soul. If he could get him to agree, his other self could absorb him. True, he would no longer exist, but that was better than an eternity in limbo.

Until he could get back to his other self, he was trapped in this diary. Perhaps he could find a way to escape. Maybe it wasn't too late for him. If he could regain his body, he may be able to find a way to repair the damage he'd done to himself. He wasn't Lord Voldemort in this world. He would just be a horribly disfigured wizard. Ugly yes, but not infamous.

For now, he would wait. If there was nothing, he wasn't short of time.

**ACC**

Voldemort looked up from his portrait as his mother entered the room.

"News?"

"I've slipped the diary into one of the students' trunks. Once they write in it, that piece of soul will be able to draw on their lifeforce to grow stronger."

"This was done in the earlier timeline. What if the wards have been updated to detect dark magic like this?"

His mother smirked. "And who do you think they will send to examine such dark magic?"

"Severus," Voldemort murmured.

"Exactly," his mother said. "It's time we learn where his loyalties truly lie. Either way, the diary will serve a purpose. Either it will help us weed out the disloyal or it will cause chaos."

Voldemort nodded. "I just hope things work out like we planned."

**ACC**

As the train slowed to a stop, Harry and the girls made their way to the carriages.

"You know," Harry said as he helped Lily and Luna into the carriage. "This was a lot better this time around."

"What happened last time?" Lily asked as she shut the door behind Harry.

"He and Ronald Weasley flew a flying car to Hogwarts."

Lily winced. "Yeah, I imagine you got into a lot of trouble for that."

Harry nodded gravely. "It didn't help when we crashed it into the Whomping willow."

"What is that?"

"Giant tree that can fight," Luna said.

"Why would someone plant one of those?"

"It's a long story," Harry said.

Before Lily could answer, they stopped at the gates to Hogwarts. As they exited the carriages, and walked towards the gates, a deafening claxon went off. All the students froze and looked around in confusion.

Dumbledore appeared in front of the students, his wand drawn and looking around wildly. Seeing no danger, he flicked his wand. The claxon stopped, and a heavy silence fell over the crowd of students.

"Stay where you are please," Dumbledore said. With a flick of his wand, a battered wooden trunk floated to him.

"Whose is this?" he asked.

Ginny Weasley raised her hand. "It's my trunk sir. Is something wrong?"

Dumbledore didn't answer. "May I open the trunk?" he asked.

Ginny nodded. "Certainly. I have nothing to hide."

Dumbledore nodded and flicked his wand. The trunk sprang open and a plane leather diary floated out and landed in his open palm.

Ginny stared at the diary. "Sir, I don't know where that came from. I don't right in a diary."

Dumbledore nodded absently. "No, nor do I think you would be able to create something with this level of dark magic."

Frowning, he looked around. "Professor Stephenson," he called. "May I have a word?"

A short stocky redhead strode out of the crowd of students and stopped in front of Dumbledore. He glanced at the diary and shrugged.

"I'd have to take a closer look at it, but there's definitely some kind of sentience there."

"Would you mind working with Severus on this? He is our resident expert on dark magic as well as potions."

"If that is what you'd like."

Snape sneered as he stepped up beside Dumbledore. "Headmaster, I don't need his help. I am fully capable of examining this object myself."

Dumbledore shook his head firmly. "If it is sentient like Professor Stephenson believes, it would be better to have two people examining it."

"Very well," Snape said.

Professor Stephenson pulled a dragon hide bag from his cloak. A short staff appeared in his hand, with a flick, the diary levitated into the bag. "We will let you know what we find out."

"Tomorrow," Dumbledore said. "We may have gotten off to a rough start, but it is still the welcoming feast. Come," he said gesturing to the students. "The first years are waiting to be sorted."

**ACC**

"What do you reckon that was all about," Harry asked as he sat down at the Ravenclaw table.

"It was a diary," Luna said thoughtfully.

"In Ginny's trunk," Harry finished. "The brownies must have been right behind us with the luggage in order for the wards to catch it so fast."

"Could it have been you-know-what?" Lily whispered.

Harry shook his head. "I don't see how. I mean there's no evidence he created them this time."

They fell silent as the sorting took place. As the plates of food appeared in front of them, Harry glanced at the Gryffindor table.

"Harry?" Luna murmured. "What is it?"

"Well, Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor last year. I thought Ron might be the youngest, but now I'm wondering if he even exists."

Lily shrugged. "This isn't even the same timeline. You said things were way different."

Harry looked at her carefully. "Yeah," he said slowly.

"What?" Lily asked.

"Well, in the previous timeline you were born in 1960."

Lily blinked at him. "Seriously? So, I never got to know you?"

Harry shook his head. "No, you died in 1981."

"Bummer," Lily said taking a bite of chicken.

"Do you want to know more?" Luna asked.

"I don't see that it matters," Lily said. "This world is different. I'd rather not know what took place in the past. I don't want it to influence the decisions I make for the future."

Harry nodded. "I agree. I barely remember that life as it is. I try not to focus on it for obvious reasons."

Before they could talk anymore, Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"Students," he said his arms spread wide. "Welcome back. I want to welcome you to another year at Hogwarts. There are two members of staff that need an introduction.

First, we have Professor Siofra Stephenson, our new History of magic professor."

Siofra rose from the staff table and beamed at the students.

"Next," Dumbledore continued. "We have our new Defense professor, Philip Stephenson."

Philip stood and waved to the students. As the two new professors sat down, Dumbledore continued.

"The forbidden forest is of course forbidden. If some of you would remember that I wouldn't have to keep repeating myself." He gave the Weasley twins a pointed look.

"I think that is everything of note. Off to bed with you chop chop."

As Harry rose to leave the Great hall, he saw Philip and Siofra watching him. He waved to them before he left.

As he climbed into bed a few moments later, he wondered why they'd been watching him.

"Hopefully they don't try and kill me," he muttered as he drifted off to sleep.

**ACC**

The next morning Harry entered the Great Hall and sat down at the Ravenclaw table.

"Morning," Lily said sitting down beside him.

"Morning," Harry mumbled.

Accepting a schedule from Professor Flitwick, Lily grinned. "We have Professor Stephenson today."

"Which one?"

"Defense."

"Ah."

Harry glanced down at his own schedule. "We don't have History until tomorrow."

"At least things will be interesting."

Luna dropped into the seat on the other side of Harry. "We need to hurry. We have transfiguration first."

Lily folded her schedule and tucked it in her robes. "Transfiguration and Herbology before lunch and then defense after lunch."

"Not a bad first day," Harry said finishing his last bite of egg. He stood.

"Come on," Luna said standing. "We're gonna be late."

**ACC**

Professor McGonagall was just as stern as ever. The assignment for the day was to turn a beetle into a button.

The trio managed the task easily. After they'd turned the button back into a beetle, Lily turned to Harry.

"Fae magic is weird."

"Why?"

"Well, if you start with a beetle, you can turn it into a button, but if you start with a button, you can't turn it into a beetle unless it was originally a beetle."

"Only if the button was metal or plastic. So long as the button was wood or some other organic material, we can transfigure it into a living animal."

"So, if the button was made of shell or bone, you could transfigure it?"

"Right," Harry said. "All organic material has a spark of life to it. Fae magic works by adding to that spark."

"But wouldn't the magic fade eventually?" Luna asked.

"It would, but the animal would just die. The transfiguration wouldn't be reversed."

"What about a rock?"

"A rock?"

Luna nodded. "Could you turn a rock into a dog?"

Harry shook his head. "Rocks aren't alive and never have been. There's no life to add to."

Professor McGonagall walked over to them. Looking down at the buttons, she smiled.

"Well done," she said.

"Professor?" Harry asked. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. What is it Mr. Emry's?"

"How does Wizardry create life?"

Professor McGonagall leaned forward. "Wizardry can't create life. For example, if I transfigure a rock into a dog, the magic acts as the life for the animal. The dog will not be able to breed because it is not technically a dog. The magic will keep it alive for the lifespan of the animal."

"But how does that work?" Harry asked.

"Magic is life or at least they're on speaking terms. Magic is part of the natural world but is not easily explained."

"Like the soul?"

McGonagall offered him another smile. "Correct. Fae and wizards are different. Our magic is different."

"Thanks Professor," Harry said.

"Any time Mr. Emry's. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have in future."

As the professor walked away, Luna turned to Harry. "What do you think?"

"I think I've still got a lot to learn. I understand why fae spend their lives studying magic."

"Still," Lily began slowly. "I wonder how many of these restrictions are mental instead of magical."

"It would be worth looking into, wouldn't it?" Harry said quietly.

As they packed their bags to leave, Professor McGonagall called out to the class.

"Those that did not manage the transfiguration need to practice it for homework."

**ACC**

As they walked down the hallway, Luna turned to Harry. "What do you think the defense class will be like?"

Harry shrugged. "No idea. You remember what it was like last time."

"What was it like last time?" Lily asked.

Harry laughed. "That is an interesting story." The rest of the walk to the defense class was spent with Harry and Luna telling Lily of Gilderoy Lockhart."

As they entered the defense class, they saw Philip Stephenson leaning against the blackboard with his arms crossed. As the class filed in, he smiled briefly. Once they were all inside, he swept his staff through the air.

The door closed by itself in a gust of wind.

"Welcome to defense against the dark arts," Philip began. "Lugh has trained his students well over the past ten years and I hope to be able to live up to his legacy. Last year, you began learning curses and physical combat. This year, I will be continuing that training, but I will also be teaching you about dark artefacts."

The class murmured excitedly.

Philip gestured for silence and continued. "Dark artefacts can take many forms and can carry a variety of curses."

"Like the Diary?" Draco Malfoy drawled.

"Yes," Philip said slowly. "Like the diary. Although we aren't really sure what curse the diary carries."

"Have you had a chance to look at it?" Luna asked.

Philip turned to stare at Luna. "No Ms. Lovegood. I'm sure if you need to be told about the diary you will be."

The rest of the class was spent with Philip explaining the difference between dark artefacts and enchanted objects.

"So," Luna asked as they began packing. "Dark artefacts are those objects cursed to cause harm?"

"That is correct," Philip said. "An enchanted object is simply an object that has been given magical properties. Next class I will be showing you exactly what a dark artefact is."

As the class started to leave, Philip walked over to Harry.

"Mr. Emry's, I'd like a word please."

Once everyone was gone, Harry turned to face the professor. "Yes sir?"

"I've been told of your travel from an alternate timeline." Seeing Harry's alarm, Philip raised a hand. "Don't worry, I have no intention of telling anyone. I'll give you a magical oath on that. I just want to ask if you saw anything like the diary in the earlier timeline."

Harry stared at Philip; his eyes narrowed.

"Who told you about my travel through time?"

"Auberon. When he found out I was coming here, he told me everything?"

"Why?"

"He was my father-in-law."

"That would make you my great uncle."

Philip nodded. "Correct." He raised his staff. "I swear on my magic that I will not tell anyone anything that we discuss in this room unless they already know of the curse."

There was a flash of light. When the light faded, Harry sighed.

"The diary was a horcrux."

Philip winced. "That would explain the dark magic I sense on the diary." He leaned back in his chair. "Can you tell me anything else?"

"Don't write in it. It can drain your lifeforce if you do. At least, that's what the horcrux could do in the alternate timeline."

Philip rubbed his eyes. "Alright, well, thank you for telling me."

**ACC**

"Was it wise to mention the Horcruxes?" Luna asked.

Harry shrugged. "He gave an oath and Dumbledore kept so many secrets last time we were at a real disadvantage after he died. Between his secrets and the magical community's overreliance on their government officials, Tommy boy was guaranteed a win last time."

"I think he set this conversation up," Lily said. "I mean he mentioned magical artefacts. Is that what one of those things is?"

"It would be a dark artefact, but not one that anyone would want to come on contact with."

"I have a question," Luna said.

"Yes."

"How can we talk about this stuff, and nobody seems to hear us."

Harry grinned. "Localized privacy charm. As soon as the earlier timeline is mentioned in anyway, the charm activates."

"What do we do now?"

"There's nothing we can do until we know more about that diary. We know it's not a horcrux, but we know nothing else about it."

Before they could say anything else, there was a 'pop.'

"Mr. Emry's," a low gruff voice said.

Harry looked down at the Brownie standing beside him.

"Yes."

"Dumbledore would like a word with you."

"May I ask why?"

"He didn't say sir. He just said he needed a word."

"Right," Harry said.

"Want us to come?" Luna asked.

"No, I can manage this. I'll meet you at lunch."

**ACC**

Dumbledore looked up as Harry entered his office. "Ah, Harry, thank you for coming."

"Sir," Harry said neutrally as he sat down across from the old man.

"I went to see a prisoner this summer."

"Did you?"

"Gelert Grindelwald. He's actually being taken care of very well."

Harry nodded. "The fae aren't into torture for the sake of torture. Grindelwald didn't have any information that they wanted."

"Beyond knowledge of other worlds. Did you know he was a seer?"

Harry shook his head slowly. "No, I did not."

"He told me that this world had been broken and you fixed it."

Harry raised a single eyebrow. "Really? Seems like he'd make a good fiction writer as well as a seer."

"And yet," Dumbledore began as he took a lemon drop from the bowl on his desk. "It all makes sense. It explains why you are so much more mature than your peers."

"If this were true, what do you want to do about it?"

"I want to help. Judging by what Grindelwald said, I could cause more problems than I solved by trying to prevent the past from repeating itself. Whatever I can do to help, I will do."

Harry stared at Dumbledore for a moment. "For now, I need you to answer two questions."

"Ask," Dumbledore said.

"First, has the chamber of secrets ever been opened?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Not that I am aware of. I always assumed it was a myth."

"Second, did Voldemort come after the Potters because of a prophecy?"

Dumbledore shook his head again. "There is no prophecy about Voldemort that I am aware of. I don't know why he attacked the Potters. The fact that you defeated him was a stroke of good luck."

"I see," Harry said. "Thank you. That is all I need for now."

Dumbledore nodded. "I will be here if you need me."

**ACC**

"You have failed me again," Zeus said softly. "I said you could have a year, but they have already found the diary. How long until they find out what is inside of it?"

"Milord," the woman said. "I…"

"Silence," Zeus said stepping closer to her. "Again and again, you have placed your son ahead of the mission."

"The mission," Voldemort said coldly. "What mission is that? The glory of the almighty Zeus, murderer of his own son, rapist extraordinaire."

"This coming from a killer of infants. You are in no position to cast stones."

"I never intended to kill an infant thank you very much. Besides, I've always known what I am. I'm a monster. I don't deny that. I do what needs to be done to save my people. You do what you want for power."

"Whatever lie you need to justify your actions," Zeus said.

"The point is that you aren't worth my mother's time. You are a bully. You murdered Ares because he disagreed with you. In the timeline without my mother, I mangled my own soul. This time around I sacrificed my body working for you and it got me nothing. My mother may still believe in you, but I see you for what you really are. You are an immortal with delusions of your own importance. Your time has passed. You don't matter anymore."

Zeus stared at him. "The same could be said for you. After all, you are all but dead."

"There is no redemption for me. I came to terms with that long ago."

"If you will not serve me, you are useless to me."

"Milord," the woman began, but it was too late.

Voldemort had no time to react. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning. When the woman could see again, she let out a cry of anguish.

She put her face in her hands and wailed with loss.

Zeus looked down at the pile of ash that was all that remained of the portrait that had housed Voldemort's soul. He looked over at the sobbing woman.

"I'll leave you to grieve. Maybe now you can concentrate on what's important."

In a flash of lightning, Zeus was gone.