"Severus!"
Severus groans, throwing a stasis charm onto his potion. Today is the last day he has before classes start up again, and he was really looking forward to a long and uninterrupted brewing session. If he wanted one of those, Severus supposes as he heads over to the fireplace, he should have thought twice about selling his soul to a madman.
"What," Severus says flatly. Just because he's now beholden to a second madman doesn't mean he has to be happy about it. Albus's face is peeking out from the fireplace, and he looks particularly serious.
"Would you come through to my office? Bring Veritaserum and its antidote."
Severus feels both a strong sense of deja vu as well as a horrible feeling of foreboding, but he nods and goes to do as the Headmaster has asked.
Severus steps through, holding tightly onto the two vials. Veritaserum and its antidote are both incredibly difficult and time-consuming to brew, and he doesn't want to lose years of work to an unlucky fumble.
Minerva is there already, standing near where Albus is sitting at his desk. Their faces are pale and drawn, but that's not what Severus is interested in. No, what he's focused on is the slightly smirking face of young Voldemort.
It's a damn good thing he made sure he had a good grip on those potions.
"Hello," says the monster. "My name is Tom Riddle. It's nice to meet you."
"Albus," Severus says, trying to keep his breathing level. "What…"
"Young Mister Riddle here has taken it upon himself to enroll as a student here at Hogwarts- his sixth-year, I believe. The hat put you in Slytherin, yes?" Riddle nods, and Albus continues, "his situation, as he tells it, is uniquely remarkable. For the sake of transparency, he requested we administer Veritaserum to validate the story."
Voldemort- or, Tom Riddle, apparently- smiles and nods again from his seat in front of Albus's desk.
Severus is trying very hard not to have a panic-attack. Riddle is young, much younger than Severus has ever seen Voldemort, but the resemblance to the Dark Lord in his heyday is unmistakable. Same jawline, same nose, same brown hair, and most strikingly; same red eyes.
Worse, though, is his also incredibly obvious similarities to Potter. Severus abruptly and desperately wishes he hadn't brushed Lucius's concerns off so easily. What does this mean- what could this possibly mean?
With some effort, Severus takes his thoughts and feelings on the whole matter and shoves it deep down under his occlumency shields. He'll deal with those later. For now, he has other things to worry about.
"I see," Severus says at last. "And what, Mister Riddle, would you have us ask you?"
Tom Riddle cocks his head. "I'm not the one with doubts. I have nothing to hide: I'll answer the questions you pose to me."
"Any question?" Severus asks, eyebrow raised.
"Within reason," Riddle allows. "I am sponsored by Remus Lupin, who likely wouldn't take kindly to learning- well," Riddle laughs, "I was going to say 'learning that I was asked questions unrelated to the subject at hand', but in all honesty he strikes me as the type that would object to this whole… rigmarole. Maybe we should keep this to ourselves after all?"
Severus is suddenly in desperate need of a drink. He turns to Albus, who is doing his damndest to keep the 'genial old man' act up. It's not working very well: the usual twinkle in his eyes is dimmed to the point it may as well not exist. Minerva isn't bothering to act at all, she looks as though she's been carved from stone.
"I suggest," Albus says, "we ask Mister Riddle to repeat his story under the effects of Veritaserum."
Riddle shrugs. "Fine by me."
Minerva purses her lips, but says nothing.
Severus walks over to where the boy is sitting. Riddle, in contrast to when Potter had sat where Riddle's now sitting, is completely at ease as he allows Severus to administer the potion.
Severus steps back and watches as the boy's blood red eyes glaze over and his expression goes flat. He nods to Albus, who turns to look at Riddle.
"What is your name?"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle," the boy intones. Severus watches closely, but there's no sign the boy is even attempting to fight the potion.
"Who were you named after?"
"I was told that I was named after my father," Riddle says in a monotone.
"Where were you raised?"
"For the first few years of my life, I was raised in an orphanage. I've spent the majority of my life after that imprisoned within a cursed diary."
Severus blinks in surprise. That had not been what he'd expected. He looks over at Minerva, but the woman keeps her eyes on Riddle.
"And where is this cursed diary now?" Minerva asks.
"Harry Potter destroyed it. He is a very powerful young wizard."
"Who imprisoned you within the diary?" Albus cuts in.
"I have good reason to believe it was Lord Voldemort."
Severus startles at the name, and hates himself for it. His left forearm twinges. Minerva does look at him now, a hint of pity behind the steel of her gaze. Severus ignores it for now- it would usually rankle, but right now they have bigger priorities.
Albus leans back in his seat, looking at the boy with narrowed eyes.
"What do you think of Harry Potter?"
"Albus," Minerva starts, then stops. Severus gets it.
On the one hand, that question is getting dangerously close to going off-topic and turning this whole thing into an even more unethical mess than it already is. On the other hand, this is Voldemort.
"He is family," Riddle answers easily.
Severus does not like the picture this is beginning to paint. Albus and Minerva sit in silence for a moment, thinking. Severus can almost hear the gears in their heads turning. As for Severus himself, he's trying his best to not think at all.
"Do you know who opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Albus finally asks.
"Yes," Tom Riddle says.
"Who?"
"Ginny Weasley."
Albus furrows his brow. Severus opens his mouth, then shuts it again. What?
"Ginny Weasley was responsible for opening the Chamber?" Minerva asks, obviously as taken aback as Severus
"The diary was responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets."
Minerva's shoulders relax minutely, and Severus can't bring himself to blame her for it- Ginny Weasley is a menace, but she's not exactly the type to attempt to eradicate all muggleborns from the school. That, and she's eleven. It makes much more sense for there to be a cursed artifact involved.
Plus, loath as he is to be a teacher, Severus would feel at least somewhat responsible if it had come out that one of his snakes had been the culprit.
Then Albus turns to Severus. "Severus, do you have any questions for the boy?"
Severus looks at Albus in disbelief. Does he have questions? Of course he has questions. Severus turns to Riddle. For one:
"Are you Lord Voldemort?" Severus's arm itches, but he ignores it.
Minerva nods, but Albus looks at Severus with disappointment- as though he'd been hoping for a less blatant question. Severus doesn't care. There is a time for subtlety, and this is not it.
"No," Riddle answers.
"Is your father Lord Voldemort?"
"I never knew my father," Riddle says. Severus raises an eyebrow, but apparently the potion takes this as an acceptable answer because the boy says no more. Severus racks his brain for more questions, but can't think of what to ask. He needs context.
"What is it you told Albus and Minerva before I came in here?"
The boy launches into his story, all in the same flat monotone voice that is indicative of veritaserum. Severus listens silently, taking care to keep his expression blank and emotions in check.
Riddle says he'd been trapped in a cursed diary, been freed by Potter and Potter's snake, hid out in Hogwarts for months, went home with Potter for easter, and then broke into the Headmaster's office and had the hat sort him into Slytherin, thereby tricking the magic of Hogwarts to register Riddle as a student. Then, he'd waited for Albus to return and here they all are.
It's unbelievable. So unbelievable, in fact, that it might just be true (particularly in regards to the fact that Potter is apparently involved). Severus and Albus sit in silence for a long minute, looking at the dazed boy.
"Were you conscious during your imprisonment?" Severus asks, curious.
"Yes."
"How are you still sane?"
"Sanity is relative."
Severus keeps himself from rolling his eyes, but just barely. Then another question occurs to him.
"If you've spent a majority of your life within the pages of a cursed diary, how can you hope to begin Hogwarts at the same level as other sixth-years?"
"The diary contained the means for me to educate myself. Remus Lupin has also helped to make sure I am on the same level as other students."
"I believe that's all the questions I have," Severus finally says.
"I am done as well," Minerva agrees.
"I have one last question before we give him the antidote." Albus decides.
Severus nods in acknowledgment, and Albus turns once more to the boy and asks, "do you have any intention to harm or kill any student or faculty member of Hogwarts?"
The room itself seems to hold its breath in the millisecond it takes for Riddle to respond:
"No."
Severus exhales and goes to administer the antidote.
Riddle blinks, eyes refocusing. "Well?" He asks hoarsely, then clears his throat. "Are you satisfied?"
Albus nods. "I apologize for doubting you, Mister Riddle."
Minerva's lips are back to being pursed.
Riddle smiles warmly. "Apology accepted," he says smoothly. "It's an unbelievable story, I would have a difficult time believing it myself. Now, if you'll excuse me? I believe I have a dorm to get settled into."
"You are excused," Albus says. "Do you need someone to escort you?"
"The diary had a comprehensive map of Hogwarts within its pages. I'll manage," Riddle says, going to stand up.
"Mister Riddle," Severus says.
Riddle pauses, then looks back towards Severus. "Yes?"
"The password to get into the common rooms is 'ashwinder'."
Riddle inclines his head. "Thank you, I'd almost forgotten to ask."
With that, the boy exits the office without looking back.
Once he's sure Riddle has well and truly gone, Severus rounds on Albus. "How long have you known about Potter?"
Albus sighs tiredly. "From the very moment I laid eyes on him. I suspect Minerva would give you a similar answer."
Severus looks over to her, and she nods- although she looks discomfited. Good.
"And you, neither of you thought it prudent to mention the fact that Potter is apparently not a Potter at all?" Severus is once again having difficulty breathing as the implications continue to sink in. "Does the boy know?"
"Calm yourself, Severus. As far as I know, both Mister Potter and his friends and family are unaware."
"We had agreed it would be for the best if it were to remain that way," Minerva says. "Mister Potter has enough on his plate as it is."
Severus isn't sure he agrees, but he's certainly not going to be the one to break the news to the boy- or, god forbid, the wolf. Albus continues:
"I admit I had trouble with the whole thing originally" Albus says.
"But Mister Potter is a child and should be treated as such," Minerva says, looking at Albus as though daring for him to disagree.
"Yes," Albus says. "Minerva was quick to point that out to me, and it is as she says: the child should not be beholden to the sins of the father."
Severus levels a venomous glare at the old man. "You weren't so quick to preach that when you subjected Potter to Veritaserum."
Minerva rounds on Albus, and Severus feels a bitter smile spread across his face. He had thought Minerva might not know about that- and whatever is coming now serves Albus right.
"You did what?" She hisses.
Albus rubs his temples wearily. "Forgive an old man his mistakes?"
"Albus," Minerva says, tone icy. "I'm afraid this is one of those things I don't believe I'm ever going to be able to forgive."
Albus gets a tired look on his face, but Severus decides that there are more pressing matters to resolve right now. Minerva can chew Albus out later- and judging by the expression on her face, she will be doing just that.
"How could this have happened?" Severus asks.
Minerva settles back, expression furious. But she allows Albus to continue as he says, "there are dozens of possibilities. We may never know. But I ask you this, my boy: does it really matter?"
Minerva lets out a scoff.
Severus stares at the Headmaster. Does it matter? Does it matter that his best friend- his only friend- apparently carried the child of a ruthless, genocidal madman to term? Somehow conceived a child with the Dark Lord?
Severus personally thinks it matters very much. He needs to know how it happened because if it's… if the Dark Lord… Severus can't even think it.
Severus needs there to be another explanation, because otherwise he doesn't think he'll be capable of going back, ever. Even to spy. In fact, he may need to cut off his left arm. (He's considered that before, but he really would do it this time.)
Severus forces himself to think rationally about the whole thing. No, he decides- there has to be another explanation. The Dark Lord is an evil man, but there's never been precedent for that. It would be completely out of character.
Severus's eyes narrow. Assuming he can cross that particular unthinkable possibility off the list, then the whole thing reeks of a James Potter plan. Oh, he can picture it now: Lily and Potter want a child, discover Potter is infertile or something along those lines, and somehow decide the next reasonable step is to find a magical way to conceive with the Dark Lord.
Lily was a genius- she probably used blood magic. All Potter would have had to do is convince her that the child would be safer if it had ties to the Dark Lord, and she'd've been on board.
"One of my more outlandish theories was that Voldemort wanted an heir," Albus muses, oblivious to Severus's inner turmoil. "But in light of new information, I think it's safe to say that Voldemort had one already lined up."
Severus blinks. "The Riddle boy-?"
"I can think of no other explanation: Voldemort has a child, magically or otherwise, places the boy into an orphanage for a few years, and then traps the boy in a cursed object that provides him with an extremely tailored education- effectively raising the perfect heir, no actual raising required."
The three sit in silence for a moment.
"What do you suggest we do?" Severus asks finally.
"It is as Minerva says- a child should not be beholden to the sins of the father," Albus repeats firmly.
Minerva nods firmly, jaw clenched. Albus continues, saying:
"We try to guide him towards the light as best as we can. He may already be a lost cause, but we cannot justify taking any preventative measures against the boy."
Severus forces himself to nod as well. He doesn't believe for one second that Albus is going to let this slide as easily as all that, but he'll leave Albus to his plans and secrets.
"I'll be sure to keep an eye on him," he says instead.
"That's all I ask of you," Albus says.
Severus thinks that may be the most untrue thing Albus has ever said.
"Quite. Now, if you'll excuse me," Severus says, standing up. "I apparently have a new Slytherin I need to make sure is settled in."
Albus nods, faraway look in his eyes, and Severus takes his leave- trying and failing not to smirk as he catches a glimpse of Minerva rounding on Albus once more.
At least there's that.