A Hufflepuff Heir?
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
“What?” Tom gaped. Did he hear the correctly? His heir, his son, is a Hufflepuff? Impossible. The hat is old and cruddy, it must be a malfunction, Tom tried to internally convince himself. Tom looked over at Hadrian, who was smiling softly.
“Congratulations! You are now a Hufflepuff! I presume that Mr. Riddle can take you to the dorms and give you a quick tour?” Dippet asked, indicating at Tom. Tom nodded quickly, shaking off the feeling of surprise and shock about the house. Hufflepuff though? Hadrian is literally the heir of Slytherin! But why Hufflepuff? At the very least Ravenclaw? Tom shook his head. He should really just be grateful its not Gryffindor.
Tom walked out of the room, guiding Hadrian.
“Hufflepuff?” Tom asked, frowning still.
“Yep! You said that you were so proud of me!” Hadrian happily declared.
What. Proud of a Hufflepuff son? A weak heir? Surely not. He must have said that in some bizarre way to soothe his son. Actually, on second thought, Hadrian is probably his second child! Raised the first one properly, to be an heir, then him for entertainment?
“What house was your brother in?” Tom asked, forgetting his doubts about this son.
“My brother? I don’t have one,” Hadrian said, looking at Tom, confused.
Tom was struck silent again. Wow. He has no other son. His heir is a Hufflepuff. The ruler of the magical world has a Hufflepuff son. Unless…
“Sister?” Tom asked, trying not to get his hopes up too much. A son would be preferable, but a strong daughter, one raised as a pureblood Slytherin, he could make that work.
“Nope, only child. Unless you count Nagi.”
Nagi? An adopted son maybe? A close apprentice who would rise up and he would claim as his true heir? I mean, Tom obviously loves Hadrian and would look after him, but he is so, what’s the word? Almost submissive. His son should be strong, taller definitely, and more controlling, and manipulative. Nagi sounds like that might fit.
“Nagi- Nagini is your snake!” Hadrian happily declares.
Wow. Just wow. A damned snake. The snake would have to have a purpose, for he doesn't keep anything around if it doesn't have a purpose, so possibly entertainment? He doesn't have much use for a pet, and he already has Hadrian, who is practically a pet. He knows himself well, and though he admits he would need something for entertainment, they both do the same job. And to say that it is basically a pseudo-son? Though, maybe he has the snake for Hadrian. That sounds possible. He got it for Hadrian's ‘happiness’. Tom shook his head. Gosh, he really turned into a softie when he grew up.
“You will be staying with me tonight, I have my own room in the Slytherin dorms because I am a prefect. I can organize uniforms and introduce you to my, uh, ‘friends’ tomorrow.” Tom said.
Hadrian nodded.
“Hadrian, let-” Tom started but was cut off.
“Sorry sir, but can you please call me Harry? Everyone calls me Hadrain but you back home,” Harry stated.
Tom frowned. Harry is such a muggle name. It's common and doesn't suit the name of an heir. But if it makes Hadrian happy, he supposes he can cope with it. Tom opens the door to his personal room and invites Harry in.
“We will share the bed, stand up so I can transfigure your clothes into something suitable for bed,” Tom growled at this grinning boy.
“Yes sir.” Harry responded as Tom waved his wand silently.
“Harry, you will need to call me Riddle or Tom, people will question ‘sir’. And I have some questions for you,” Tom said, half dragging the boy to his bed.
“Okay sir- Tom sorry,” Harry said as Tom gave a quick and approving nod.
“Do you use dark magic? Have I personally trained you?” Tom asked quickly, anxious for the answer.
“Well, um, I am not the best with magic- Well, I am alright, but not that advanced, and you said I won’t need to learn dark magic,” Harry replied, curling up slightly on top of the bed covers. Tom nodded.
“And well, you taught me when I was younger, but then you said it doesn't really matter because I am not going to need to step up to rule the world anyway.” Harry finished, now under the covers and shivering slightly.
Tom was shocked.
“Why? Explain further” He demanded as Harry softly exhaled.
“You will never die, that's what Father said because you have Horcruxes. I don’t attend Hogwarts anymore since you pulled me out, but dark magic is on the curriculum there. You said I will always be with you so I will never need to know how to use dark magic.” Harry muttered as he yawned.
Tom was silent. He has Horcruxes. A son, but not an heir to take over his place. And that basically clarified that Harry is entertainment. Tom opened his mouth to ask more but stopped as heard soft snores from his son. He couldn’t stop a slight smile from sliding onto his face.
“Good night Harry,” Tom whispered, softly kissing his son’s forehead.