Chapter 1
1943 was witnessing the start of a new year at Hogwarts. The tables were full of food and the sorting was still halfway through. At the slytherin table, Tom was elegantly sipping from his cup. He just got his prefect badge this year but it's not as if he ever doubted he would. He looked at Abraxas who was visibly seething from his failure yet again, he, the famous pureblood unable to stand against an unproven halfblood. It's not like Tom ever doubted he was of magical descent even if he only recently found a lead about his ancestry, a lead he would further pursue this year as all he knew previously was that he must have a relationship with Slytherin. Tom always believed that he was just too great not to have a magical background and be the same as a mudblood. His parseltongue also proved him his descendence from Slytherin. He planned to dedicate this year to find the chamber. At first, his parseltongue and good grades didn't deter some of his fellow Slytherins from trying to give him grief in his first years but he sorted them soon enough. He hid his smirk behind his cup at the memories, he scarred those unlucky fools and made so much of an example out of them he doubted whether they could even talk to a healer about it. That served as a great detterrent in Slytherin. Even if his image in the outside houses is pristine, the slytherin members heard enough rumors to stray off his path and curb wathever delusions of grandeur they may think they possess over him. He snorted internally, even in his small finger, he held more magic, more power, more greatness than any of these precious things combined. His parseltongue served him very well, his fellow house members in awe over him and though he couldn't prove his ancestry, that was enough to indicate that he is no mudblood. Even in his first year where he didn't yet reveal his parseltongue, not yet understood the trump card it was in Slytherin and was still treated as a mudblood, he managed to stomp over whomever was foolish enough to pick on him without even knowing the slightest incantation. Though, it was not easy on him in the slightest, far from the most comfortable experience. But what was clear from that, was the difference between him and them. He was special. And they...they could never dream to amount to anything he was no matter how many spells they got initiated to. The difference was just that great.
However, even if he managed to build himself enough authority in Slytherin, those from ancient families like the Malfoys were still not afraid enough in his opinion. Still dared to speak to him in that annoying tone, but no matter. He isn't yet able to manhandle them like he wants but it's a mere matter of time before he makes them pay and bend on their knees. In the meantime, it would never cease to amaze him to see Abraxas try and fail miserably at being even a tenth as accomplished as he is.
He looked down on the potions book he managed to get from Nott's family while sipping elegantly from his silver cup, it took him a lot of work to copy purebloods mannerisms and get rid of his cockney accent but he eventually managed perfectly, as always. The book was quite interesting. Maybe he could use this as an entry point to get Slughorn to talk about horcruxes. He knew what it was from the restricted session whose access to was never a problem to him since all his professors except Dumbledore seemed charmed by him. Sometimes, he quenched his thirst for more hidden, forbidden or guarded against knowledge from dark books he got from Slythein fellows who wanted to do him a favor or were simply confused or threatened by him and lastly from books he stealthily copied from knockturn alley. He did not know how to make a Horcrux however, no matter how much he read or how dark the books he read got, a testament of how much of a powerful magic it must be in his opinion , since it was so feared. He suspected only the blacks or the Malfoys, possibly the lestranges may have some book about it.
The sorting finished when Dippet suddenly got up from his seat, Tom thought it probably had something to do with Defense against the dark arts position as Merrythought's chair was empty, maybe a new professor? He got his answer soon enough.
Dippet got up from his seat jovially , his loose wizarding robes unable to hide his roundness. He tried to balance himself against the table as he stood gingerly
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Today we welcome all the new students that joined us this year." He took a moment that he most certainly wanted to mark the seriousness of what he would say next before making a solemn expression which just looked comical on his face, at least Tom thought so. He wondered what that was about.
" I have an announcement to make however. On a much sadder note, I regret to tell you that unfortunately, Professor Merrythought got attacked this summer holiday and is currently residing at Saint.Mungo. We ignore what happened and how such a thing occured but we shall know more once the healers managed to wake her up. The aurors are already on the case. I ask from you all to wish Professor Merrythought a good recovery" This caused a lot of hushes and whispers among the students. Tom was indifferent to that really but he plastered a sad expression on his face. Though he found this whole ordeal quite intriguing, Merrythought was quite powerful as she has previously been an auror, so who exactly managed to send her to the hospital? Was she involved with Grindelwad somehow or was it a private feud? She was actually quite kind to Tom, well all teachers except that old fool were kind to Tom as he managed to charm his way to their good graces. Well, maybe not as much as Tom would have wanted from Merrythought as she was quite fair and neutral. Not the type that he would go to ask questions of suspicious nature and come out unscathed. He just hoped that this new replacement was the same or better, all he cared about really was how much he would be favored, though he figured he would have to work a bit more to get in this new one's good books. He got curious and paid attention to what Dippet would say next.
"Fortunately, however. Professor Merrythought recommended a replacement in her last letter.A warm welcome to new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor Bellatrix Eccleshall."