Chapter 7
As the lights flickered back to life in Harry's world, a brand new day dawned upon him. The warm glow of the morning sun flooded into the living room of Gaunt Manor, gently rousing the young teenager from his slumber on his improvised bed. A dull ache coursed through his body, and a vivid recollection of the fire that had once raged through his veins caused him to involuntarily grasp his arm, experiencing a phantom pain.
Harry briefly contemplated whether the ritual had gone awry, but he promptly dismissed the thought. He had meticulously studied the ritual, and Tom had meticulously verified his work. There was no room for error.
With a vigilant gaze, Harry scanned his surroundings, searching for any indication that the ritual had gone awry. However, nothing in the room appeared out of place. The furniture had been restored to its usual arrangement, the mysterious crystal basin had vanished, and the only addition was his conjured bed, standing in the center of the room.
Sitting up made him groan in exertion and a coppery taste filled his mouth. Putting a hand to his mouth he wondered if he was bleeding, but there was no sign of blood. Frowning at the sensation he attempted to rise to his feet, and swayed for a moment, but found the strength to keep his balance.
With a deep sense of hunger gnawing at him like insistent nausea, Harry stumbled towards the front door, his thoughts occupied by the whereabouts of his mentor, Tom. However, a thorough search of the vicinity yielded no sign of him. The decision to venture down to the village weighed heavily on Harry's mind. The fear of collapsing in the town square outweighed his desire for sustenance. Reluctantly, he opted to rummage through the cabinets, hoping to find something to tide him over.
When he re-entered the house a cold feeling passed through his body. Where is my wand?
Running back to the living room Harry began turning things over in search of his magical partner, but no success was found. A soft pop in the front of the house told Harry that Tom had returned, and he let out a sigh. The wand was a good match for Tom, perhaps he had taken it with him for an errand.
When Tom came into his view he looked disturbed, "I am glad to see you are up and moving. The world is a different place than when you went under the effects of the ritual."
Forcing a weak chuckle, "How much could have changed in the few hours I have been out? Do you have my wand by the way?"
Reaching into his robes Tom pulled Harry's wand out much to his relief, saying grimly, "I am afraid it has been more than a few hours Harry. You did the ritual three nights ago. You have slept for a long time, and in that time some things have happened. I am not one to apologize, but you will have to forgive me for borrowing your wand. I needed it in case something serious happened."
Tom offered the wand to his apprentice and the young man took it gratefully, before allowing the shock of how long he had been out set in.
"Three days?" He whispered in disbelief.
"Yes." Tom confirmed, "I feared someone might investigate your departure, but if it has happened it has gone unnoticed."
"No one ever checks on me that I know of." Harry snorted.
Normally Tom would scoff at how neglected Harry was by the magical world, but this time he looked uneasy. With the wand of Ginny Weasley now in his hand he flicked it towards the counter where the paper zoomed to his hands, "One of the things I did with my winnings from the other night was get a subscription to the Daily Prophet. I figured it might pay to have an eye on what is going on in the Wizarding World, and well…this was the first issue I received."
Harry was puzzled by Tom's reaction, and took the paper, and read the headline:
Escape from Azkaban
A deranged-looking wizard with long black locks of hair was seemingly screaming at the wizarding camera, and Harry frowned at the name, Sirius Black.
"Okay, I'll give. Who is he?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Supposedly one of my Death Eaters." Tom said thoughtfully.
"Supposedly?" Harry asked curiously.
"Well therein lies our situation." Tom said with a sigh.
Harry's frown deepened, "Okay…well I have read a few books mentioning Azkaban, but I didn't know it was a place people escaped?"
"According to the article, he is the first to ever do so." Tom said evenly.
"So he's powerful?" Harry questioned, "Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
"I will save you the time reading the article since apparently you don't wish to do so." Tom said with a roll of his eyes, making Harry color a little, "Supposedly this was my right-hand man leading up to my downfall. Apparently, he murdered 13 muggles, and was sent to Azkaban for killing a wizard named Peter Pettigrew. He has been imprisoned for 12 years."
"If he has been in Azkaban all this time, why wait till now to escape?" Harry asked.
"My working theory is that he senses my return. My followers were all supposed to be marked by deeply entrenched parselmagic and the protean charm. At least that's how I was designing it. It is possible their marks are informing them of my return, and this drove Mr. Black to the point of attempting to escape and find me." Tom said thoughtfully.
"Forgive me, master, but I am still not seeing how this is a problem?" Harry said with a bow of his head.
The young Dark Lord stared at his apprentice carefully. When Harry met his eyes the teen looked away, "I do not wish to keep things from you, Harry, so I would like to be honest. Sirius Black is not only a notorious mass murderer, but he also holds a different title. One that I learned about after delving into the mind of one of Dumbledore's stooges at the Ministry."
Harry simply stared at the young man who for the first time since Harry had met him, looked uncomfortable, "Harry, the man is your godfather."
Blinking as confusion set in, Harry tried to rationalize the words he heard, but nothing came to mind, "My godfather, is a Death Eater?"
"Now you understand our predicament, and why I keep taking all this information with a grain of salt." Tom said, folding his arms and leaning against the wall, "The information is not adding up."
Running a hand through his hair Harry attempted to puzzle some logic together, but the truth was he did not know a lot about his parents or his family. The Dursleys were tight-lipped, and he hardly knew anyone who knew his parents outside of passing, "I want to see the whole picture. What else are you thinking?"
The question seemed to surprise Tom, but he nodded, "When I delved into Dumbledore's little stooges mind I learned that the Ministry believes this man is coming after you…they believe he sold your family out to me…that he was the reason I was able to find and kill your parents."
Harry's heart sank at the information. He swallowed thickly saying, "He must've been their friend to have that kind of information. He must have been if they made him my godfather."
Tom seemed to agree with his thoughts, but looked more and more uncomfortable, "That is my thoughts as well."
"What else?" Harry asked a little sharper than he should have. He felt infuriated that a man so close to his family had betrayed them, but he tried to stay focused to learn more.
Instead of looking offended or angry at his outbursts Tom merely continued pragmatically, "Anyone who escapes Azkaban must be either immensely powerful or resourceful. It's not that I don't trust my own skills, but I do wonder if my followers would even believe it's me. Many of them would not have known me as a young man, so I would be unrecognizable. Even my parseltongue ability may not convince all of them. If this Sirius Black was my right-hand man, and decided to recruit some of my own followers against me, it could be a problem. I would find this man sooner rather than later, and determine his intentions. I will also make it very clear to him that you are off-limits. I do not tolerate my orders being disobeyed, if he will not listen, I will kill him…or allow you to take vengeance for your family."
Harry's eyes widened at the proclamation and his rage quelled if only a little, "You would allow me to kill your Death Eater? A man who may have been your second in Command?"
"I have little use for those who cannot follow orders." Tom said dismissively, "If he will not listen to me, and I can give my apprentice vengeance it sounds like he deserves, then I will kill two birds with one stone. If he proves his loyalty then I will demand he keep away from you. I will not allow him to be the reason that will drive you back into the arms of the old fool."
Harry had to gulp down the feeling of gratitude he felt towards Tom. Sirius Black may have betrayed his family, and may have been Voldemort's most faithful, but to Tom right now, he was no one. Less than no one he may have been an obstacle in his future path. The thought of Tom torturing the man who led his parents to their deaths brought a feeling of warm triumph into Harry's stomach. A fire lit in his gut now, and he only hoped he would find a way to make Sirius Black an enemy of Tom Riddle.
"What do we do?" Harry asked carefully.
"We will spend the rest of the Summer preparing you for Hogwarts. When you return to school I will hunt the man down and find out his intentions. I will also learn the truth of my downfall, and how the man came into my service. I will get the answers you deserve, Harry. If he does choose to go after you before I find him then you are to defend yourself with everything I have taught you so far, and everything I will teach you going forward." Tom said with certainty.
Harry was thankful Tom did not ask him to not go looking for Black. The teen knew with certainty if the man came even close to the ground of Hogwarts Harry would go extract revenge himself. Tom may not have been the one to kill his parents, but if this Sirius Black character led them to their downfall, then someone could still pay for the loss of his family.
"Yes, master." Harry responded dutifully.
"Good." Tom said resolutely ending that line of conversation, "It is my intention while you are in school to also track down my old wand if it is still in one piece. If it is not I will need to go to the continent and have a new wand crafted to my liking. Yours is a much better fit for me than this pathetic creation, but I cannot rob my apprentice of his magical partner."
The way Tom disgustedly looked at the wand of Ginny Weasley spoke milestones to how stunted the man must be with the wand. The fact that the young Dark Lord was hindered at all spoke monuments to his true power. Already the man had wreaked devastation in magical combat with a wand that did not suit him, Harry could only imagine the specimen he would become when he was reunited with a partner that suited him.
"How are you feeling? The aftermath of sleeping the ritual off for three days must be discombobulating?" Tom asked after observing Harry for a long moment.
"It was at first." Harry agreed, "I am feeling better with every minute that goes by though. I am anxious to see if the pain was worth it."
"I certainly did not pass out, so perhaps the effects are magnified if done at the right stage in life." Tom said with apparent interest, "Perhaps a duel is needed to test our thoughts?"
"That'll boost my confidence." Harry snorted, "But you're right. We should test the fruits of our labors."
Tom grinned at his apprentice, "That's the spirit."
At the front of the grounds, Tom and Harry spaced out, facing each other. Tom motioned for Harry to begin casting spells with a lazy gesture. With a deep breath, Harry tightened his grip on his wand and started with a casual stunning charm. However, when the spell left his wand, there was no visible effect, causing Harry to frown. Undeterred, Harry cast several more spells, testing Tom's defenses. Before he could voice his disappointment, a spell came hurling towards him at an incredible speed, leaving him with barely enough time to react. Surprisingly, with a flick of his wrist, a shield sprang up just in time, blocking the spell and stopping it in its tracks.
Harry's eyes widened as Tom smirked, propelling his wand towards him in a barrage of spells. Every spell Harry managed to shield or dodge, but required immense effort. Despite the difficulty, he remained standing. When Tom ceased his casting, he nodded in approval, "Your defense, once formidable, has blossomed into something exceptional. While your offense was never remarkable, your defensive skills have reached unmatched heights. It's doubtful that many of your peers will be able to curse you effectively, relying solely on reflexes and shields."
Grinning at the proclamation Harry nodded in acceptance. Tom approached him and lazily held little Ginny's wand in his hand, "This ritual was not designed to make you stronger. It was supposed to help focus your mind, and sharpen your senses. Hence why your defense and reflexes seem better. In time when you are pairing good curses with your defenses you may notice a difference, but your offensive abilities are so abysmal it may escape your notice when you make leaps of improvements."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at the man's statement, while Tom offered him a smirk, "Come now, let us test your Occlumency…I would say skills, but you frankly don't have any yet."
Flushing with embarrassment from the insult, Harry sheepishly trailed his mentor back inside the house and into the library. A sweeping glance around the room revealed that Tom had been spending considerable time there. A book entitled The Secrets of the Darkest Arts rested on the table, and upon closer inspection, Harry discovered that Tom was engrossed in reading about Horcruxes.
Knowing it wasn't his place to question what the Dark Lord was looking into he glanced at the young man who was looking at him with an expression that usually meant he knew something Harry didn't, "What is it?"
"It seems the ritual bore an unexpected fruit. You did not have any difficulty reading my book did you?" Tom asked, attempting to conceal his glee.
"No, why would…" Harry trailed off as his hands touched his face and he realized for the first time he was not wearing glasses. The world had been so clear he had not even thought about the fact that he had not put his spectacles back on.
"No more glasses." The young teen whispered.
"That in itself may have made the ritual worth it." Tom said with satisfaction laced into his tone, "Other than the fact they looked dreadful they were bound to become an issue when our dueling becomes more involved. It is also one less advantage your enemies will have over you."
Feeling a sense of accomplishment Harry knew that Tom was right. This was quite the boon. When his mentor gestured for him to take a seat Harry did so, and felt anxious about what was to come. The whole reason they had started down this road was to improve his occlumency. He only hoped that they were successful in their endeavors.
"Are you ready?" Tom asked, sounding excited for the first time about working with Harry on the Mind Arts.
Nodding his head Harry tried to get a head start while envisioning the vast hills of England's countryside and he hardly even heard Tom's whispered curse, "Legillmens."
The intrusion into his mind felt more subtle than it ever had. It felt like less of a battering ram and more of a gentle push. The countryside was all his vision could see for a long moment, before it began to shift to their first encounter together in the chamber. Instead of the panic that usually filled him Harry just suffocated the memory with the long sprawling, grassy, hills that he usually observed from the Hogwarts Express. The image changed again this time their time at the dueling circuit, and Harry watched himself joyously cheer for Tom as he fought the half-giant, but the memory was short-lived, as a Christmas view of the Hogwarts vast grounds filled his mind.
Each time a memory began to play Harry became faster and faster at changing the scenery. When Tom pulled out of Harry's mind he didn't feel pain or exhaustion. He was certainly fatigued, but not nearly to the extent that he usually was after even one attempt of legilimency.
"Now that is an improvement." Tom said with a touch of pride in his voice, "A very massive one if I do say so. You are not even nearly as worn down as you usually are."
"I can go again. I am-"
This time Tom struck with a hiss, "Legillmens!"
This time when Tom struck Harry and found himself back at his first Quidditch tryouts witnessing the resurgence of the battering ram symptom. Marcus Flint and his goons ruthlessly targeted him, pelting him with bludger after bludger while the other players remained unscathed. Harry felt tears welling up in his eyes at the blatant unfairness. However, he recalled his surroundings and was transported to the Forbidden Forest in his mind, leaving the Quidditch Pitch far behind.
As Terrence Higgs caught the snitch right before his eyes, an image flashed through his mind. He had just been hit with another Bludger, but before the pain clouded his thoughts, the scene had shifted to the serene Black Lake. The tranquil, expansive water stretched as far as the eye could see, offering a peaceful contrast to the embarrassment and pain he had endured at the hands of the older Slytherins.
When Tom pulled out of his mind he appeared deeply satisfied, "Now that's what I am talking about."
Clapping his hand together he then slapped a hand on Harry's shoulder, "It's not perfect, but this was a larger improvement than I even hoped for. By the end of Summer, it would take Dumbledore a direct assault of legilimency to read your mind. I must warn you, your skill has increased so I will be pushing you harder."
Harry was sweating now from the last exertion, but it was still nowhere near as painful as what he had become used to, "I will be ready."
With newfound determination in his voice, the teen's spirits soared at the unexpected progress he had made. Tom instructed him to spend the rest of the day studying before returning to Privet Drive that evening. However, he made the teen promise to be prepared for the following day, as that marked the start of their new rigorous training.
.o.
As the Summer days dwindled, Harry's progress accelerated like never before. Spells flowed more naturally to the young wizard, his Occlumency skills soared, and even his studies became effortless. The daunting task of completing his Summer homework was conquered in a single day, a feat that would have taken him a week or more previously. A sense of calm and readiness washed over Harry, leaving him feeling prepared for whatever the future held.
Amidst the grounds of Gaunt Manor, Tom and Harry stood engaged in a magical duel. The Dark Lord had bestowed upon Harry the Aegis spell, crafted to thwart solid projectiles and physical conjurations. Harry utilized this spell with remarkable prowess. Yet, each defensive maneuver only seemed to intensify Tom's attacks. Despite this, a gong resounded, and Harry was protected from the Dark Lord's conjuration. The spell would have inflicted significant pain, but shielded by his new spell, Harry felt shielded.
Spinning around and dropping to a knee, Harry attempted a fancy maneuver in an attempt to catch his opponent off guard, but Tom lazily dodged again offering his apprentice a taunting smile, "Oh Harry, you must do better than that."
Growling Harry whipped his wand in three circles sending a trio of spells at the Dark Lord, but Tom batted one away, lazily dodged another, and slapped the other to the sky with a flick of his wrist.
As the older teen allowed the duel to continue for a while, it became evident that he was losing interest. He resorted to flicking blasting curses at an accelerated pace toward his younger opponents. Harry, shielding himself desperately, quickly raised another shield when he noticed an arrow flying towards him. With a wave of his wand, the Aegis shield protected him, prompting him to roar out, "Are you intentionally trying to kill me?"
An immobulus charm, followed by a strong knockback jinx hit him in the chest, taking him to the ground hard and knocking the air out of him. Staring up at the sky Harry wheezed softly, and glared at his mentor when he came to stand over him. Tom grinned at his fallen protege, "It was a blunt tip arrow you insufferable child."
Sheepishly Harry choked out an apology, "Right, sorry."
Chuckling Tom reached out and helped the boy to his feet, "Your impertinence grows by the day I think."
"It's a part of my charming personality." Harry promised, rubbing his sore back from the pain he had suffered on impact on the ground.
"Something I will beat out of you next Summer." Tom said with a roll of his eyes, before glancing towards the rising sun, "You should go get changed and ready for your departure to the Platform."
"Yes, master." Harry said with a bow of his head, and a cold feeling in his stomach.
Amidst Tom's flaws and his relentless drive to subdue Harry, the young wizard found himself yearning for his mentor's presence. This summer had been more benevolent than any other, filling him with an inexpressible gratitude for not missing a single meal. The abundance of food, a result of Tom's incessant hexing of the village muggles, left Harry eternally grateful for the wisdom imparted upon him.
In his mind, Harry harbored a morbid curiosity that compelled him to ponder how he would measure up against his housemates. Despite consistently ranking near the top of his own class, many of his more outspoken adversaries were older students. After receiving training from Tom, Harry wondered if he had become a more formidable opponent. While he might not be ready to challenge seventh-year students, perhaps he could hold his own against the fifth and sixth years.
Tom's words from earlier that summer still echoed in Harry's mind. Tom had confidently proclaimed that the young Slytherin's defensive skills were at par with most Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWL) students. This revelation had left Harry with a sense of pride, considering Tom would not compliment him if it had not been earned.
With unwavering dedication, the man devoted a substantial part of his summer break to refining Harry's offensive magic as well. This commitment served as a testament to his unwavering determination to transform his Apprentice into a formidable wizard.
Beyond the deliberate practice of offensive spells, Harry's instincts had also undergone a profound transformation. His natural ability to anticipate and respond to magical threats had sharpened to an astonishing degree. This improvement in his instinctual defensive abilities was arguably even more remarkable than his progress in offensive magic. It suggested that Harry was beginning to possess a deep-rooted understanding of defensive principles, allowing him to react almost instinctively in the face of danger.
Tom's relentless pursuit of magical excellence left Harry both inspired and slightly intimidated. He knew that his student could be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming school year, and he couldn't help but wonder where he would be in a year's time. Harry was determined to push himself even further, to unlock his full potential and prove that he, too, was capable of greatness.
With hopeful eyes, Harry stared at his reflection in the mirror, anticipating a new year filled with change. Though the exact nature of these changes remained uncertain, for the first time, hope blossomed within him. Harry resolved not to initiate conflict, yet he would not shrink back in fear if challenged. As the apprentice of the century's most formidable wizard, he possessed the strength to command respect from even the most seasoned students, should they dare to test him.
I would prefer to make them regret it though. Harry thought with a certain savagery.
Adjusting to life after the ritual had been something Harry enjoyed. Not needing his glasses everyday, and having an easier time studying for long periods of time, seemed to just be the tip of the iceberg of his self-improvements. He only hoped he could continue on the path Tom started him on while he was at school.
The cold feeling of being alone began to spread through Harry as he thought about what was to come this year. He knew he would dive into his studies and push the bounds of his abilities further and further, but he would miss having Tom around to guide him.
Releasing a sigh Harry returned to the common area and Tom was looking over the Daily Prophet with a frown, at his arrival Tom spoke, "Still no signs of Black. He is hiding well within the Wizarding or Muggle world."
"You will find him." Harry said confidently.
"That I will." Tom promised as he dropped the newspaper onto the counter and gave his apprentice his attention, "Now I trust you informed your relatives that they will need to take you to the station?"
"I did." Harry said with a huff, "Vernon wasn't pleased, but when I told him you would be by to express your displeasure he changed his mind. Even signed my Hogsmeade slip without any issue."
Chuckling the young man said, "I can always give him some more pain compliance if you think it's necessary."
"Don't let me stop you, master." Harry said grinning at the thought of his uncle's suffering.
As Tom straightened up and closed his eyes, shaking his head, Harry observed the man curiously. Harry could sense the power of his mentor's magic flowing through the house as Tom's palm rose slowly, and his demeanor relaxed. A book floated into the room, making its way to Harry before settling gently in his lap. With a questioning glance directed at Tom, who now wore a satisfied expression, Harry opened the book only to find blank pages.
In his hands, Harry held a silver book adorned with a dark green leather-bound cover, reminiscent of the colors associated with Slytherin House. As he flipped through its pages, his brow furrowed with concentration. He could sense the presence of enchantments within the book, yet their purpose eluded him. Instead of seeking immediate clarification, Harry opted for patience, choosing to wait for his master to shed light on the empty pages' true nature.
"Much like my diary," Tom began to explain, "When you write in this book I will be able to see the words, and write back in my own copy. Now in order for this to work we need to protect the privacy of our conversations. Anytime you write to me, you will simply write, master. It is through this code word that I know you are the one writing to me. In turn, if I have a message for you I will leave the word apprentice. I feel this is discrete enough. The word has many means, and only together would they make sense. When you are done writing a message all you will have to do is press your wand to the book and the word will appear. If any word other than apprentice were to appear in the book a trauma curse will strike the thief and then it will catch fire, destroying itself. For obvious reasons, the book cannot fall into the wrong hands."
In awe, Harry held the book now, and stared at it with a hundred questions coming to mind in how he accomplished the feat of magic, "This is more than I hoped for in terms of communication. I feared I would constantly have to worry about our owls being intercepted."
"Well, this will eliminate that problem." Tom assured, "Oftentimes I don't suspect we will have long conversations, unless there is information to pass which I suggest you either do in the Chamber of Secrets or somewhere else you trust your privacy implicitly. Mostly I will just write titles of books that I would like you to read. Hogwarts has a world-class library and there is no shortage of text that will assist you in your magical education. I expect you to continue being diligent in your studies, and perhaps at some point over the year in Hogsmeade, I will visit you and make an assessment on your progress."
"Do you think I have progressed far enough with my Occlumency?" Harry asked with a tinge of trepidation in his voice.
"I would not allow you to leave my side if I did not believe you had. Too much would be at risk. You are capable of a formidable defense in the mind arts." Tom said confidently.
In acceptance, Harry just nodded his head, "In that case, I suppose I am ready now."
In a seamless motion, Tom nodded in agreement as Harry deftly flicked his wand into his hand. With a flourish, Harry gathered the remaining belongings, shrinking them with a spell before tucking them securely within the folds of his robes. Without hesitation, Tom placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and, in an instant, they apparated, disappearing into thin air.
As Harry took in Privet Drive he with a lingering feeling of sadness realized that he had just left Gaunt Manor behind him for some time. The place never did quite have the comfort that Hogwarts left him with, but still, it had been the second-best home he ever had, and was almost reluctant to leave the peace behind.
His stomach turned as he pondered the possibilities of the school year. He wished there was a way Tom could come with him. He had found solace in the older teen like he had never found with any other. It was that thought that prompted a question that left his mouth, "Could I return to Gaunt Manor over the holidays?"
Harry was surprised the words escaped him, but it pales in comparison to Tom's surprise. The young teen doubted that he had ever surprised his mentor, but clearly Tom had not expected the request. His mentor seemed to think over the words before shrugging, "If I am countryside then I suppose it is a possibility. It would be good to have at least a few weeks of training together, but I make no promises. We will discuss it closer to the date."
Surprised that the man had not rejected him, Harry merely nodded his head in acceptance, "Thank you, master."
Accepting his companions' thanks Tom merely said, "Have a productive year, my young apprentice. I leave you with some final advice…you have been trained by the best, do not let anyone push you around. Those days were left behind you forever in the Chamber of Secrets."
With a proper bow of his head, Harry said, "Yes, master."
Tom gave a final nod of approval, before disappearing on the spot. Leaving a thoughtful Harry in his wake.
(A/N) Next chapter, Hogwarts! If you want to read through Chapter 9 today you can do it for free on my Discord channel, The Hunters Lounge, while also getting an extra free update next week.
If you follow me on Pat(reon) for 1$ at OrionB15 you can read through chapter 13! That's all for today, Merry Christmas everyone, see you next week!