The Riddle House
The next few days were unlike anything Harry had ever witnessed before. The youngest in the chamber were taking advantage of the break from reading and their freedom from classes to fly in one of the larger chambers. While everyone else seemed to be one hundred percent focused on the treaty that would need to be enacted and the new council.
Lucius was working with the unspeakables to create the magical oaths and contracts necessary for the council. Although he'd also sought help from the goblins. He'd been quite apprehensive, knocking on the door to the magical creatures section of Mother Magic's home. The last thing he wanted to do was cause offense. The aurors were busy interrogating Pettigrew so they could begin to build a case against him, and the Hogwarts teachers were discussing the necessary reforms for the school with the help of Augusta and Amos as representatives of the board of governors, and Charlie Weasley was holed up in the library researching how to set up a magical creature reserve.
Everyone seemed to have found something to do. Something to help.
Percy Weasley had started researching the Old Ways so that they could start reintroducing sacred days into every day wixen life and Hermione was plotting her idea for a museum of Dark Artifacts. Arthur Weasley was working with his younger self and some of the muggleborns in the chamber to address the need for a new ministry department to deal with muggles. And Tom was in discussions with his death eaters about Azkaban reform. Meda Malfoy had practically locked herself away in her lab, continuing her research on squibs. She really hoped that she might find a breakthrough soon that would make Heir Potter's hopes of re-integrating squibs into wixen society an easier task.
Harry with the help of Arcturus, Sirius and Remus was working on his idea for a magical primary school and contemplating new ideas for how to integrate muggleborns sooner as well as how to protect magical children from abuse. Harry was frequently pulled away from this however, by the other teams whenever they wanted to discuss an idea with him. It was strange having so many people value his opinion. It would definitely take some getting used to.
After three whole days, Mrs Weasley said at breakfast, "I think we might need to start the next book."
"Why?" Arthur said, looking up from the notes he had made the night before.
"Because the youngsters are getting restless," she said. She could practically smell trouble brewing. And it wasn't just because of her twins.
The adults all looked down the table to where the younger ones were sitting and even though they were all doing their very best to maintain innocent expressions, it didn't take much to see that they were definitely up to something.
"Perhaps we should restart their lessons," Moody suggested.
Harry sighed. That would pull him away from the meetings though.
"We could rearrange the schedule slightly," Andromeda suggested. "Perhaps a little less time reading and a bit more time for lessons and also council business. I mean, we still haven't taken our oaths."
"Are we expecting the children to take these oaths?" Augusta asked.
"I've been working on an altered version for the children," Lucius said. "It's mostly just a secrecy oath. They can officially join the council when they come of age."
"Well, if we're going to start reading," Sirius said with a sigh as he got to his feet. "Might as well get straight to it. Work out a new schedule as we go."
The youngest in the chamber did not look impressed at the idea of more lessons but they were excited to start the next book so they didn't complain too loudly. Although they didn't put their plans for a prank war aside. Not just yet.
Everyone quickly made their way back to the chamber for the first time in several days and took their seats as Professor Flitwick set the spell on the book.
The villagers of Little Hangleton
"Where is that?" Fred asked.
still called it "the Riddle House,"... damp, derelict, and unoccupied.
Tom groaned. This chapter was going to be about him.
The Little Hangletons... all three Riddles dead.
Tom didn't look at anyone. He wasn't sure how he felt about this. Yes, he'd already made his first horcrux and was clearly insane but he probably shouldn't have killed his father and grandparents. Even if they were bigoted muggles.
The maid had run screaming... Still in their dinner things!"
Everyone was eyeing Tom with suspicion. The aurors were making notes. He wondered how this would effect the treaty he was hoping to forge with the Potter heir.
The police were summoned... drop dead of natural causes on the same night.
Tom sighed. He was tempted to just admit he did it right then and there in the chamber.
The Hanged Man, the village pub... Frank Bryce had just been arrested.
"A muggle?" someone asked. No one knew of a Frank Bryce.
"Frank!"... That's no reason to -"
Tom almost felt sorry for Frank. He certainly felt more sorry for Frank Bryce than he did his father.
"Who else had a key to the back door... "War turned him funny, if you ask me," said the landlord.
"They turned on him quick enough," Ron muttered.
"Their muggles, what do you expect," Draco said snidely.
"Wix aren't any better," Harry murmured. "Just look how many times Magical Britain has turned on me."
"Told you I wouldn't like... Frank Bryce had killed the Riddles.
"Innocent until proven guilty," Moody grunted.
But over in the neighboring town... Frank had invented him.
Now several people were glaring at Tom.
Then, just when things were looking very serious... harmed at all.
"The killing curse then," Moody said.
"What has this got to do with Potter?" young Draco asked.
"It isn't about Heir Potter," young Lucius said. "It's about the Dark Lord."
That quickly silenced Draco as he eyed Tom fearfully.
In fact ... whoever heard of three people being frightened to death?
Tom sighed. "I killed them. I had already... I was already losing my sanity and I went looking for my family. Our first meeting did not go well."
No one said anything. They weren't really sure what they could say.
"They didn't want a wizard in the family," Tom said, "and to be honest, I didn't want to be related to muggles."
As there was no proof... knowing as how we knows he did it. "
"Idiots," Barty Crouch Junior muttered. He wished he'd been able to kill his father. He envied his lord.
But Frank did not leave... started to fall into disrepair.
The adults were intreged to hear about Tom's adolescence.
The wealthy man who owned... the windows of the Riddle House.
Mrs Weasley tutted.
They rode their bicycles over the lawns... their attempts to punish him.
"Their parents should give them a good tongue lashing," Augusta said.
It was Frank's bad leg that woke him... they had started a fire.
"Breaking and entering," Moody growled. "Little miscreants."
Frank had no telephone... nor did any of the windows.
"Not likely to be kids then," Amelia said, sitting forward.
Frank limped around... This surprised him.
"Definitely not kids," Moody agreed.
Then he stopped moving ... if you are still hungry. "
"Wormtail?" Sirius muttered.
"Later," ... "Where is Nagini?" said the cold voice.
"Who is Nagini?" Amelia asked, making notes.
No one answered.
"I - I don't know, My Lord," ... The journey has tired me greatly. "
"Milk her?" Fred asked.
"Feed him?" young George asked.
"Some sort of creature then," young Charlie said.
Brow furrowed... So we wait. "
Harry frowned. He'd forgotten about this dream.
Frank stopped trying to clear out his ear... without Harry Potter, My Lord. "
"That's his life debt talking," Remus said.
Another pause... two days with a suitable person -"
"Coward," Sirius growled.
"I could use another wizard,"... an attempt to desert me?"
Everyone leaned forward. Some of the younger ones looked genuinely terrified and Mrs Weasley wondered if they should really be allowed to listen to these books. Ginny's younger self was only nine!
"My Lord! ... "I can always tell, Wormtail!
"That's true enough. I'm quite accomplished at Legimency," Tom said quietly.
You are regretting... Who is to milk Nagini?"
"I really want to know who Nagini is," young Draco said.
"No. You don't," Draco said between gritted teeth. That snake still terrified him.
"But you seem so much stronger... full extent of Lord Voldermort's wrath -"
"What is he planning to use Harry for?" Sirius demanded angrily, wrapping a protective arm around both his boys.
"My Lord, I must speak!" ... Bertha Jorkin's disappearance will not go unnoticed for long,
"Bertha Jorkins?" Tonks said, making a note on a scroll of parchment.
and if we proceed, if I murder -"
"Who are they planning to kill?" several people asked.
"If?" whispered the second voice... but in my present condition.
"Who?" Everyone seemed to be trying to work out who they were planning to kill, besides Harry Potter of course.
Come, Wormtail... my faithful servant will have rejoined us -"
"Faithful servant?" Everyone looked worried now. Who could that mean? Lucius had made the point that many of the Dark Lord's followers had escaped imprisonment but could they be counted as truly loyal? They hadn't gone looking for him so surely not.
"I am a faithful servant," ... fulfill neither requirement. "
Sirius actually chuckled.
"I found you," ... give their right hands to perform. . . "
Harry almost smirked at that. Wormtail had lost his right hand.
"R-really, My Lord? What -?" Wormtail sounded terrified again.
"Merlin! He's ridiculous," Severus said, rolling his eyes.
"Ah, Wormtail, ... just as useful as Bertha Jorkins. "
"And just as dead?" Moody asked, almost eagerly.
"You... to kill me too?"
A couple people had to cough to hide their laughter.
"Wormtail, Wormtail," ... at wayside inns. . . "
Sirius rolled his eyes, although he couldn't help but feel bad for Bertha.
Wormtail muttered something ... information I extracted from her, Wormtail. "
The aurors glowered at Tom.
Out in the corridor... was in danger -
"Nothing new there," Harry muttered.
Frank knew what he must do... he was hissing and spitting without drawing breath.
"Parseltongue," Hermione muttered.
Frank thought... found himself paralyzed with fright.
"What is it?" several people asked.
Something was slithering toward him... a gigantic snake,
"Of course it is," Blaise muttered.
at least twelve feet long... vanished through the gap.
"He needs to leave," Tonks said.
There was sweat on Frank's forehead now... This man could talk to snakes.
"That probably came as a shock," Fred said.
Frank didn't understand ... listening to every word we say. "
"And now he has no time to escape," Tonks sighed.
Frank didn't have a chance... "What's that you're calling me?" said Frank defiantly,
"He's brave, I'll give him that," Theo said. He wouldn't have been brave enough to talk like that to the Dark Lord.
for now that he was inside the room... it had always been so in the war.
Harry nodded. He could understand that.
"I am calling you a Muggle," ... he always knows. . . "
"That's terrifying," Ginny said with a shudder.
"Is that right?" .... "I am much, much more than a man.
"Got a bit of a big head, doesn't he?" Fred said to his twin.
However... he saw what was sitting in it.
"What does he look like?" someone asked.
His walking stick fell to the floor with a clatter... He was dead before he hit the floor.
"So much for only one more murder," Augusta muttered.
Two hundred miles away, the boy called Harry Potter woke with a start.
"Did you dream that, Harry?" Sirius asked, his tone conveying his concern.
"Yeah. Didn't remember all the details though." Harry frowned.