The Traveler's Secret

CHAPTER 25: WHAT RIDDLE SAW

Frederick paced impatiently in front of the door of Sergei Krum's room. The Squib and the Muggle were late and his irritation was rising in him. He had always been very particular when it came to keeping to a schedule. People who were late ranked high on his list of the most irritating of people. Still, he waited. He didn't want either of the men out of his sight for too long. For one, he would never be able to trust the Muggle no matter what his cousin said. After what had happened to Ariana and all the horrible things he had heard happening in the Muggle war, he didn't have a very high opinion of the Muggle world at the moment. He had barely been able to control his anger over the audacity that Jean always seemed to flaunt in front of him. That Muggle didn't have the proper respect for magic as he should.

Grindelwald would never have allowed this man to breathe, let alone walk unhindered in a place that was supposed to be for magical people only.

That last thought was engrossing to Frederick. Ever since he had met Grindelwald all those long years ago when Albus had been close to the man, his grand ideas had left an imprint on Frederick. Grindelwald and Albus had struck up a particularly close and special relationship. They had had epic ideas and theories. Though most times they preferred to ruminate over their ideas together, sometimes Frederick had been involved.

All of that changed with Ariana's death. For Albus, it had been the end of his relationship with Gellert, the pain of the betrayal too great to speak of it much afterwards.

Frederick had not renounced Grindelwald and had been secretly keeping tabs on the man's rise to power. Not once had Frederick ever blamed Gellert for his cousin's death. In his mind, Ariana had died at the hands of those Muggle boys years before. It was yet another person the Muggle world had taken with its cruelty and prejudice.

Though Frederick did not fully believe in every principle Grindelwald espoused, he did think that power should rest in the more judicious and capable hands of the wizarding community. People like Ariana and her father Percival would still be alive if the wizarding community had had more control over the Muggle world. And who better to lead the magical community out into the open and into power than the man with the master plan, Gellert Grindelwald.

Muggles are more of a danger to themselves if left to their own devices. Look at this horrible war they're killing themselves over. If the wizarding community had been in control, the war would have never gotten to this point and now it has found its way into the very heart of the magical community: its place of education.

Frederick felt his anger flare up inside him like a sharp, bitter wind. He hated all the danger that Sergei and Jean had brought to Hogwarts. Soon they would be taken care of and Hogwarts would be back to normal again. He had made sure of that.

Frederick Dumbledore tensed as the faint patter of footsteps could be heard, steadily growing closer and closer. He felt his hand grip his wand tighter, and he steadied his breathing. As the footsteps neared, he had a disconcerting notion that he was only hearing one set of them. He had never thought that the Muggle would have left Sergei Krum's side.

But Frederick was shocked when he saw Professor Vikious round the corner at the end of the corridor. The Dark Arts teacher saw anger and glee in Vikious' eyes as well as a glimmer of panic as the Potions Master approached. He must have heard the screaming down below as Frederick had, but why he was here and not going towards the source of the scream was beyond Frederick.

Professor Vikious stopped a few feet away from Frederick and quickly raised his wand. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was equally as quick. He felt hatred emanating from the man and could say that a similar feeling broiled inside him. Ever since they had been rivals in their house, Slytherin, and later on as teachers, they had never been able to be friendly, finding civility too hard to bear. Now, that rivalry would come to an end, one way or another.

Both men squared their shoulders, their wands pointed at the other's chest. Silence stilled the very air and Frederick could feel an electricity crackling in the space between them.

"I know what you've done, who you've been in contact with!" Vikious spat out.

He looked triumphant, certain of a victory over the Dark Arts teacher. Frederick's face remained impassive.

"And I know all about the spells you put on the Astronomy Tower," Frederick calmly responded.

The statement slowly sunk into the Potions Master's mind and Frederick watched as the once proud look on Vikious' face fell into shock and then terror.

"What could you possibly know? I wasn't doing anything up there that you could possibly know about!" Vikious responded, his words wavering in doubt.

That was all that Frederick needed to hear, that doubt and fear. He knew that he had the upper hand on the Potions Master. He wouldn't hesitate to act, while his opponent would most certainly falter. And the same thought seemed to have crossed Vikious' mind as his wand shook.

"I know that you have been putting defensive spells on the tower. You were attempting to make a safe zone, I presume," Frederick stated nonchalantly, which unnerved Vikious even more. Frederick knew he had the Potions Master in his claws. Now it was time to lay down the killing blow. "What you didn't know was that I undid many of the spells that you put on the Tower. I made a hole in your protection, just like I did for the castle."

And at that moment, the sounds of war rose up to them from the lower parts of Hogwarts. Screams and the sound of spells hitting armor and walls shot up to them. The din of a horrible battle could not be ignored or avoided. Vikious' mouth dropped in horror.

"But...but...why? Albus...his own cousin..." Vikious stammered.

"Sometimes my cousin doesn't know what is best for him. Sometimes he is blind to the vices and dangers of the Muggle world. He thinks Muggles can be trusted, but he's wrong. I was only doing what was best for the greater good. Could you say the same?"

Vikious' pale face shook and his answer seemed to be stuck at the back of his throat. Suddenly, a glimmer of defiance lit up his face.

"I don't believe the Muggle world can be trusted either, but this is not the way to deal with it. Helping Grindelwald will destroy us all! I won't let you do this! Incarcerous!" He screamed.

Chains shot out towards Frederick like gray lightening, but were easily deflected aside by a shield charm around Frederick. Vikious was stunned by this. He had forgotten how proficient Frederick was with casting spells with his mind.

"You didn't really think that would work did you?" Frederick asked calmly.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Vikious answered.

A flicker of deep concentration and pain stretched across Frederick's face as he slowly deflected the charm into a nearby wall with his mind. At the moment it hit the wall, a frightened yelp sounded.

"Professors!"

Both men turned their stunned eyes to the shadows nearby. Standing there, unseen and unknown until now was Tom Riddle, his black eyes large and round in his youthful face.

"Riddle!" Vikious answered, as he turned his eyes for a second to the boy, who stood near Frederick.

That tiny second was all that Frederick needed. It stretched into an eternity as he focused all his attention and power on the spell he had in his mind. He felt it surge through his body down to his wand as Vikious slowly turned his eyes back to Frederick. It was too late for the Potions Master. Before he could react, a bolt of green light shot out of Frederick's wand and hit Vikious in the chest.

The Potions Master stumbled back, a look of surprise on his face and then he crumbled to the floor like a limp doll.

A hush fell, with only the sounds of breath coming from the Dark Arts teacher and Tom. Frederick turned towards the boy, unsure what to do next. He knew he shouldn't leave any witnesses, but he also didn't have the stomach to kill an unarmed fourteen-year-old boy. What surprised Frederick the most was the look Tom had on his face. It wasn't fear or terror as Frederick had expected from a child who had just seen one of his teacher's murdered. It was fascination, the same dark glimmer he had seen earlier in the boy.

Frederick raised his wand at the imp who was disguised as a boy. Riddle's eyes remained fixed on the prone body of Professor Vikious, a strange smile shadowing his lips. He suddenly knew what danger he could be in and lifted his eyes to Frederick and his wand.

"Are you going to kill me as well?" Riddle asked innocently, the look of fascination now gone.

Unsure of the boy, unsure what to say, Frederick remained silent. He searched the inner depths of Riddle's face, looking for any sign of what he had seen earlier.

"I have a proposal to offer you, Professor," Riddle continued. "I won't say a word about what happened here. In fact, I'll even tell anyone who asked that Professor Vikious attacked you first and that you killed him in defending yourself and me from a traitor." Riddle's words hung in the air and Frederick could hardly believe what it was he was hearing. "I'll do all of this, say all of this if you teach me everything you know about the Dark Arts. Everything! There is so much knowledge out there that we are never taught at Hogwarts and I want to know it, but it's up to you. Do you want me to tell the truth of what it is I saw or a lie?"

Frederick's mouth fell open in surprise. He knew that if he didn't agree, Riddle would tell the world what it was he saw and he couldn't very well kill the boy right here and now. How would he explain his death to the other teachers? Frederick heard the sound of running feet coming towards him and he knew he had to make his decision quickly.

"Alright, Riddle. I'll teach you everything I know, but only if this information never leaves your lips!"

Riddle smiled and for once Frederick knew he was looking at the real Tom Riddle. The boy was dark, ambitious and without fear. Frederick knew he was dangerous, but maybe, just maybe he could cultivate that mind into one who feared and respected the Dark Arts as it should be.

"May I suggest, Professor, that you perform the Killing Curse on that cockroach there," and Tom pointed to the small, scurrying creature at their feet. "with Professor Vikious' wand before anybody else comes upon the scene. It helps to have evidence to back up our story," Tom suggested innocently.

Frederick had been thinking the very same idea and was unnerved that Tom had suggested it. His eyes narrowed at the boy, who looked back at him as if he had suggested as menial a task as cleaning cauldrons. Frederick then lowered his wand, strode over to Vikious' wand, which had fallen out of the dead man's hands and picked it up. He then turned it onto the cockroach, blithely unaware of its impending doom.

"Tom," Frederick asked, the wand still trained on the cockroach. "How did you know I had performed the Killing Curse? It was a non-verbal command."

"I read, Professor," Tom answered calmly.

The sound of the heavy footfalls were getting closer and closer. Frederick scowled when he heard that answer, but he also knew he had no more time to question the boy further. He would know soon enough the full extent of Tom Riddle's knowledge.

Too weary to do the Curse in his mind, Frederick responded, "Avada Kedavra!"

A bolt of green light shot out and the cockroach was dead where it was hit. Frederick then walked over to Vikious and placed the wand back into his hand. The sound of running feet came towards Frederick and Riddle and the Dark Arts teacher was unsure who would round the far corner: the dark wizards and werewolves he had let in or one of his fellow teachers.

Frederick was slightly relieved when he saw the large, and disheveled figure of Laird Jones, a dark wizard who was part werewolf. The man's black eyes instantly fixed on Frederick and then trailed down to Riddle. A horrific grin covered his face. The filthy, blood soaked man came loping towards Frederick.

"We've all gotten in, but there is still some resistance in the Great Hall. What are your orders, Frederick?" he asked, his eyes barely ever leaving Riddle. Tom seemed unafraid of the werewolf and had that strange look of fascination on his face as he had earlier.

"Guard the doors. My cousin and the Headmaster should be back soon. I'm sure the riff raff at the Leaky Bucket will be an easy challenge for Albus and his American friend. We need to guard the castle until the package has been secured."

"And the package?"

"Sergei Krum is going to be delivered as promise. Don't worry. I have it all taken care of. You should be out of here with him very soon!"

The werewolf nodded and then slowly turned, going back the way he came. For Frederick, everything was indeed under control.