Chapter 19
Dumbledore sighed as he did some paperwork for the school. Normally he would get Minerva to do such a tedious job, but he had her supervising Ronald doing his homework.
After Molly had sent Ronald the howler the boy starting fight with Hermione, he blamed her for telling Molly about his lack of work ethic. Inconclusion the boy had come to him, alone, and informed him of his idea. He no longer wished to marry Hermione and instead decided they should just get rid of her when her usefulness was up. That alone told Albus how much the boy was his mother’s child, since Molly thinks the same way.
Albus had simply told the boy that he would consider it but had no intention of actually doing that. Not only were the Grangers considered a slightly rich muggle family, but Hermione was there adopted daughter. Hermione herself was born from a union between, Antonin Dolohov and Marlene McKinnon.
Albus was horrified and disgusted when he had discovered that McKinnon was betraying them for a Death Eater. He had plans for her to marry Lord Greengrass to sway him to the light side, instead she had chosen to honour a betrothal contract with Dolohov. She learned in the end that you don’t betray Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. She and her family put up a good fight but Albus and his most loyal got them in the end, with only a few casualties on his side.
When he discovered a baby, he knew it was a gift to help him as she was the last of the McKinnon’s and would inherit their estate and when Dolohov died, she would get his estate and title. While Dolohov wasn’t a British name, it had ties to the Russian Royal Guards and with that brought prestige over there, which Albus could use to get his foot in the door.
Unfortunately, when he brought the baby to Gringotts he discovered that the McKinnon Family Charter wouldn’t allow Hermione to gain access until her 21st birthday and since Dolohov was still alive and never claimed her, she was not considered of House Dolohov. Now if Dolohov died, Hermione could put a petition forth stating she was not claimed for her protection and with the political climate most would believe it giving her access to House Dolohov.
Albus then placed Hermione with a muggle family, rearranged their memories to include Hermione and stopping them from wanting more children. He was much to busy to raise her and knew she needed to be raised in the muggle world with a loving muggle family. It was for the greater good.
Thunder rumbled across Hogwarts grounds interrupting his thoughts.
Looking out the window Albus saw the vicious storm rolling through. It was the worse one he had seen in a long time. It cause Fawkes to trill, and a sense of foreboding filled him.
“Albus!” the shout came from the floo.
Turning away from the window, he made his way to the floo.
“Sirius, my boy. I take it you got the floo connected to your new place of residence?” He asked with a kind smile.
“Yes, we even have a long table for the order meetings set up.” Sirius spoke enthusiastically. “I’m so glad to be out of the Burrow.”
Albus was sure the Weasleys felt the same way. He knew pretty soon Molly would have potioned him asleep or straight out kill the man if he was here much longer.
Albus heard thunder throw the floo and frowned. “Is it storming there as well?”
“What? Oh! Yeah. It’s crazy. Apparently, this storm is the biggest in centuries and is even growing in size. If I didn’t know better, I would think a flock of Thunderbirds were loose.” The deranged man snorts.
Albus’ frown deepened. Storms made him nerves with the new prophecy floating around and that fact this one was so big made him more uncomfortable. This could very well be the storm.
“Anyways I think I’ve discovered who Lord Black is.” Sirius gave him a manic grin. “Regulus.”
“You’re dead brother?” Albus quested.
“Yes, only he’s not dead. He faked his death. There was no body ever found and the Dark blamed it on us when we said it was them.” Sirius eyes darkened. “I’ll kill him for disowning me and taking my lordship.”
“Sirius, Regulus is dead.” Albus held up a hand. “No, listen to me. In Grimmauld place the Black family tapestry even said so and they are impossible to trick.”
“Regulus knows enough dark magic that could trick it.” Sirius argued.
Albus sighed. “I do not have time to argue with you, my boy, there are other things that need our attention.
*-*
Harry gazes down at a sleeping Tom Riddle, deciding on what to do next.
After the ritual he levitated the unconscious man out of the room, passed an unconscious Lucius, and up the grand staircase. He had then entered one of the bedrooms at random, and laid Tom down on the empty bed.
Harry had moved a padded chair to the side of the bed where he sat down. The ritual took a decent amount of magic to preform especially since it was done against Tom’s will. He could rest for a moment but knew he would have to get back to Hogwarts soon before anyone of note realizes he was missing.
With a sigh he played with his Peverell ring that was still a horcrux. He could have used it during the ritual but decided against it; with the ring he had visible blackmail over Tom. He wasn’t naïve enough to think the man was suddenly sunshine and rainbows with portions of his soul back. He did hope the man would cooperate of his own but felt better to have some leverage against him.
As he starred at a sleepy Tom Riddle, he couldn’t help but admire how handsome he was. While thinking back to his second year he could even see it then. Dark eyes, chiselled cheeks, lips a little on the thin side. He did briefly wonder what it would feel like to be kissed by them.
‘What am I doing?’ Harry thought to himself as he shook his head. Relationship always soured on him one way or another.
Thinking of relationship, Harry was surprised by the way Neville and Zabini were dancing around each other. Neville had even come to him freaking out; apparently when Neville had gone home to see his parents, his parents had assumed him and Zabini were dating. Neville had stammered and blushed that yes, they were each others’ Valentines, but they weren’t together. Neville did admit to Harry that he did like the other boy but didn’t expect much to come of it.
Zabini then, to Neville’s disbelief, gave him a courting gift and Neville, red faced, accepted. Though they kept it on the down low so that neither would have to deal with the harassment of the other students.
Thinking of Hogwarts students, it was time of Harry to head back. Before leaving, he left a note for Tom stating a time and place for them to meet up. Harry also warded the bed and room so that no one, wizard or creature could enter.
*-*
Theo was excited; he had heard back from a library in Paris, France about the Aquatic Lion. It was called a Shadowmane. The library didn’t have much but did send him a copy of the single scroll they had.
Theo ignored the information that he had gathered (height, look and invisibility) and paid attention to what he didn’t. Shadowmanes were a prehistorical creature and were the ultimate predator. Their short-range teleportation and speed, on land and in water, making them fast and deadly to all. They were apparently merciless and killed without discrimination. They only cared for their ‘Pride/Pod’.
Theo frowned at that. If that were true it should have killed both the troll and Theo that first night. He went back to the information.
The reason they had the information that they did was because of Harris Brown a British muggleborn from the third century. Mr. Brown had a shadowmane animagus form the only one ever recorded. He had briefly moved to France with his wife and had done his own research with the library on his form. Unfortunately, before their research was concluded, Mr. Browns wife disappeared, and he took his family back to England and never returned.
It was a lot less then what Theo hoped for, but it did give him information to help with his own research.