Savior of Darkness

Chapter 4: Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat

Confidence exuded magnetism, at least in the case of Lucius Malfoy. In one fluid motion he swept his cloak aside and extended his hand. "Lucius Malfoy. And you are?"

I took his hand in mine. "Tom, sir," I said.

Energy seemed to run from his eyes and through his veins into our handshake. His voice rolled over the one syllable of my name. "Tom." We stood like that, transfixed, until a smile more genuine and satisfied spread across his pale face. "And sir? Well...aren't you a polite boy." Leaning across a bit, he studied me with an intensity that seemed completely natural for him. I refused to jerk back. After a moment he released my hand and stroked the silver snake that studded his walking cane. Thoughtfully, he drawled, "So polite to his elders. That shows good character. Do you know my son Draco?"

He motioned over the boy who had insulted Percy. Percy visibly recoiled from him as Draco posed himself in front of his father, with Lucius's hand resting on his shoulder.

I shook my head. "I haven't met many people yet." I nodded to Draco civilly, for neither of us offered a hand to shake. "Nice to meet you."

One raised eyebrow conveyed wonder on Lucius. "Don't know many people yet? Oh, are you new, son? I should have surmised, since you didn't look familiar. You picked a hellish time come here. Have you heard what's happened?"

Cautiously I shook my head no. Lucius tisked and squeezed Draco's shoulder. "Well, don't concern worry. Things have righted themselves out, to my understanding. And I'm sure Draco would be more than happy to fill you in, and show you about."

"I already have a guide for now, thank you." I motioned to Percy, who was still glaring at the Malfoys unabashedly.

I imagined a sneer was never more sophisticated than on Lucius as he turned his gaze upon Percy. "You?" He brazenly looked him over. "You have the markings of a Weasley all over you." I saw Percy's face burn red as he glanced down at himself. Lucius continued relentlessly, reaching out to trace Percy's prefect badge with his cane. "Am I right? Terrible tragedy, about your sister. The school needs better security. I tried to suggest some new guidelines long ago, but your Headmaster would have none of it. Not that details need to be spilled over now." His eyes never leaving Percy's, he added, "I would think you would want to be with your family on a day like today. Family is so important, don't you agree?" At that his gaze came to rest on me.

I was growing tired of his smugness. However, judging from his imposing stance and well-made aura, I felt I shouldn't dismiss or reject him just yet. Neutrally, I offered, "You make such a view sound convincing, sir."

At that Lucius's smile broadened. Had he not been so composed he might have laughed, it seemed. "Well said. Such respect. Where did you say you came from?"

I smiled back. "I didn't say." I knew I was stalling. But having so little memory made even the knowledge of my ignorance seem too powerful to divulge to anyone. Fortunately I didn't have to search for a way to avoid his questioning anymore.

"So nice of you to take an interest in the students, Lucius. But I don't recall you being requested to come today." The new voice made all of us pause and strain to see who it was. Behind Lucius, an elderly man also dressed in fine robes approached. Percy leaned over to me and whispered, "Cornelius Fudge. The Minister of Magic." His tone conveyed to me the weight of the title Fudge held.

Lucius didn't bat an eye. He only pressed his son's shoulder harder and replied, "After hearing the dreadful news about Arthur's family, I came over to check on the children, of course. My son's safety, as the safety of all the students, concerns me greatly." He turned back to me and smiled. "Even students with whom I am not yet acquainted."I smiled back in seeming appreciation.

"Ah, yes." Fudge turned to Percy, who steeled himself for the coming comfort. "I am ever so sorry about your loss."

"Thank you, sir," Percy responded properly. Catching my eye, he added, "And now if you'll excuse us, I have some business to attend to. I'm showing a new student around."

Fudge looked confused. "New student?"

I offered my hand and gave him a slight smile. "Tom, sir. And we should be going. We don't want to keep you waiting." I glanced over at Lucius and nodded formally to his expressionless face. "Pleasure to meet you." And with a final nod, we calmly left the hallway. I could see Percy straining his ears as well to make sure no one was following.

Once we were in the clear Percy's shoulders visibly sagged as he let out a ragged breath. "Sorry for dragging you off like that."

I shrugged. "That's perfectly all right. I wasn't quite enjoying being interrogated. At least, that's what it felt like."

Percy smiled bitterly at that. "Don't take it personally. Malfoy does it to everyone new. He meets them, stares right through them, badgers them until he feels he knows everything about them, which can take anywhere from two seconds to years, and once he feels he has something to lord over you, he resorts to just using you or abusing you."

I smiled at the speed and dryness of his assertions. "Is that a fact?"

"I'm afraid I've come to find it so. Our families have a history together." We paused right outside a doorway. Inside, some class was going on, with a little creature standing on a tower of books leading the lecture.

I was far more interested in learning about the intricate interactions I had just witnessed. I absorbed every sound I heard, processed it over and again until it made sense. The pallid Malfoy, smug with confidence and brimming with channeled energy. The morose Minister, the feud between Percy, Draco, and their families, I replayed it all. It filled a little of the insecurity I felt, to know something about others that they had no knowledge of that I knew.

Unfortunately, the small professor noticed us and waved us in immediately. As we entered, the entire room hushed and followed us with leering eyes as we made our way around the winding desks. Percy seemed to hesitate as if to go to the front of the classroom. I gently yet consistently headed to the back, and after a moment he followed. When he looked up at me I met him with eager eyes and grin. "Perhaps we can talk for a bit.......if this class is as boring as you say."

***

"Are you mad?" Snape's dark tone and twisted contour made his statement rhetorical. The sentiment, however, was clearly shared and needed explaining. Lucius breathed deeply and took note of the unbridled energy around him.

They all were crammed into Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster himself sat behind the large, cluttered desk. How the man could focus in such a state of messiness and confusion, Lucius would never know.

Severus stood beside the desk, upright and rigid as always. His arms were folded across his chest. They always were when he was on edge, which happened to be most of the time. Lucius felt a smile twist out of him. Oh, how well he knew Severus. He'd never trusted the traitor, not even in their old school days. At one point Snape had lusted after Narcissa, and what a lark that had been to watch. But by now, Lucius really didn't think on that pathetic residues of Snape's crush, for that coupled with his genuine love for the Slytherin house kept Draco as Severus' favorite. Still, the preferential treatment of his son and his hatred of Potter kept his old humorous memories of Severus alive. As much as Lucius hated the Gryffindors he attended Hogwarts with, he and his mates had always secretly delighted in the misery they'd made of Severus's life. Not that Severus hadn't deserved it. He'd be the one of the first to go. Right after the exalted Headmaster himself.

At that pleasing thought, Lucius' mind came back to examine the reality around him. Standing a little off from Severus was Minerva. Her face was as tight as that bun she always wore. Lucius imagined her frown lines had already come in when she was born. It was sad, really, when one thought about how strong and superior she seemed at times. Now her face was tense not from superiority, but from genuine fear. He could smell it in all of them, and trembled with the excitement it unleashed within him. Amazing, what one little book could do. One little book, played out by his hand.

Fudge stood next to him. It was an amusing picture of a standoff, with him and Fudge standing opposite Severus and Minerva. And Dumbledore in the middle, even symbolically acting as judge. Fudge kept glancing at him, and all comments made were at least in part directed at the Headmaster. Lucius knew that Dumbledore's position would weigh the heaviest. Fudge was too weak, too prone to tunnel-envisioning an ideal situation that upheld his status quo. No, the key was to keep focused on where the power lay, much as it burned.

An appropriate amount of time had passed since Snape questioned his sanity. Lucius smiled thinly. "What then is to be done, Severus? Do we send the boy to Azkaban?" Severus looked as though such an outcome would not leave him drowning in guilt. But Lucius knew he would not make a stand like that. He was too feeble before Dumbledore. Turning, Lucius then opened his address to all, meeting each gaze head-on. "Well, shall we?"

"Do remind me again why you are here?" Snape's voice spewed like venom.

Lucius kept his compose and wagged his cane in Snape's direction. "Ignoring the issue at hand is no way to deal with this."

"No, I'd quite like to know as well, Lucius." McGonagall's voice now carried the same thinly veiled dislike. Her effort to put him beneath her high heel was as admirable as it was futile.

Knowing where Dumbledore would stand on the issue, Lucius did not even waste the resources in looking at him. "I am not only a parent at this school, but I am one of its chief contributors in donations. I think I have a say, on behalf of all the parents and community, when children's lives are at risk. How many were petrified by that beast none of you caught?" He waited for the glimmer of guilt to sweep through their beings before he continued. "As both a concerned parent and Ministry member, I think it best to have someone here who can represent both."

"This isn't solving anything," Fudge cut in. Walking over he stood before Dumbledore's desk. "Albus, we have one dead already, four petrified students here--"

"And a cat," Lucius added.

"The Ministry can't take this kind of upheaval without something being done about it!" Fudge added, with some conviction to Lucius's surprise.

"Do not think I am unaware of the severity of the situation." Dumbledore's low unfolding of words wrapped everyone still. A deadly anchoring weight emanated from him. Even Lucius felt himself drawn up, his heartbeat rising. As much as he hated to admit it, as much as it raised bile to sear every ounce of him, there were moments like this when Dumbledore's mere presence radiated his power.

"Yes, Cornelius, four students were petrified, as well as one ghost and Mrs. Norris. And according to Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey, the Mandrake potion will soon be completed to combat the petrification. And as for Ginny Weasley," at that his voice dropped, letting a moment of pain wash over him unabashedly. "Nobody regrets that more than I. I shall always question if there was something that could have been done to prevent her passing, without negating the fact that the bravery of her act might very well have saved lives."

"Or brought about the apocalypse," Snape added darkly.

"Indeed, Albus. The presence of Tom Riddle here is far too great a risk to the children." Minerva planted her position firmly next to Severus's. "Who knows how he got here. It could be Voldemort himself that somehow managed this."

~Or someone who falls between the Dark Lord and a silly girl, for now~ Lucius mentally smirked to himself.

"Oh, I very highly doubt that Tom came to be here the way he is claiming he did," Dumbledore said quietly. "I am almost as convinced that Voldemort right now isn't strong enough to bring back this great a manifestation of himself. Nor are any of his followers." Dumbledore's eyes rested on Lucius for a second before he continued. "I believe it was a combination of factors, some that I would like to address with you all now." Without looking down, he placed onto his desk a small, wizened book. Glaring out from the soft, bland binding was the gold inscription of Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Severus's arms dropped, and both he, Minerva and Fudge leaned over as if spellbound. Playing along, Lucius craned his neck at the folds and crevices that he had committed to wondering memory so long ago.

"What is this, Albus?" Minerva asked, her voice hushed.

Albus leaned back, bringing his steepled fingers beneath his chin. "I believe it is a diary, Minerva. A diary that Tom himself made all those years ago, when he was at Hogwarts."

Lucius leaned over and flipped through the pages. Glancing up, he gave a shrug and raised eyebrow at Dumbledore. "It doesn't appear as though he did much with it. It's blank."

Giving one of his infuriating smiles, Dumbledore said, "It is enchanted."

Lucius felt the smile freeze on his face. "What do you mean?" He asked calmly, carefully.

His wizened voice calm and thoughtful, Dumbledore said, "This Tom claims that he was raised from the diary by Ginny's goodwill. While I do question part of his explanation, I believe that this diary was intended for exactly that purpose. Things similar to this have been tried in the past, though never quite so ingeniously...nor ones that have actually worked." He seemed both saddened and happy. Content with the potential he remembered, and sorrow over how it had manifested itself.

"And, why?" Lucius couldn't resist asking. The man's insight was frightening at times. As careful and ever-present as Voldemort's himself.

"Tom obviously desired to preserve something about himself at that point in his life. Such a strange coincidence that the Chamber opening was precisely at this time, when he was sixteen."Dumbledore didn't bother with subtlety there, and he seemed to have a reason for that that Lucius couldn't quite explain. Once again being unable to comprehend the Headmaster frustrated Lucius beyond belief, though he remained quiet as the others responded.

"You mean Tom opened the Chamber?" Snape's eyes grew wide.

Dumbledore nodded. "I believe so. Harry informed me that he opened it by means of which only Tom would also be capable of doing, to my knowledge. Or, he instructed Ginny." His eyes rested on Fudge. "Which would mean Tom Riddle is the heir of Slytherin. Much more reasonable than Hagrid, do you agree?"

Fudge, looking ashamed, nodded. "I already ordered his release papers, Albus. He should be here by this afternoon."

"If Tom is the heir of Slytherin, that means he already has killed one girl. Not as Voldemort, but as Tom, back when he was in school." Snape cut in. "That's grounds enough for punishment."

"Take your guilt out on someone else, Severus. The circumstances surrounding both girls' deaths aren't that clear-cut. The first one was in the bathroom when she saw the snake. For all we know, Tom was as surprised by her being there and couldn't stop the beast in time." Lucius offered diplomatically.

"You seem to know an awful lot about it, Malfoy," Snape batted back scathingly.

Lucius shrugged. "History is a passion of mine. But back to the issue at hand. I would say ask him, but he doesn't even remember it, does he? Isn't there a law against charging someone for a crime they don't even know they committed? They don't put them in Azkaban."

"Yes, they are put someplace else. It's called an asylum," Minerva stepped in. Glaring at Lucius she said in a tone mirroring his, "Is that what you are suggesting?"

Raising a hand, Dumbledore drew the focus back to him. "Whatever Tom's intentions were, the Obliviation does have to be considered. I trust the truth serum Severus used. I have seen people under its influence, and without an obvious counter-potion that Tom was not in possession of, it always works. It has even worked on me in the past." At that, every head spun up. It was hard to conceive of a moment when Albus was overtaken. The thought made the corner's of Lucius's mouth twitch.

Dumbledore ignored the startled looks and carried on. "Azkaban would not be a fair punishment." Raising his hand to stop protests before they even began, he continued, "Right now, without his own wand and memory, he is not a threat." Then he sighed and admitted the catch that was looming in everyone's mind. "Though for how long the spell will work, I am not sure. Lockhart, to his credit, is an excellent charmer. Even without his own memory, it is an innate gift of his. If it were anyone other than Tom, I would not be surprise if, without treatment, their memory never came back."

Looking around, Dumbledore stated the obvious. "But it is Tom. And even at sixteen, without his memory back, it is a serious threat that cannot be dealt with flippantly. I believe Tom captured himself at precisely that time in his life not only so he could reopen the Chamber later, but to keep a specific version of himself intact. He was at a crossroads here, before his serious transformations took place."

~Oh, please~ Lucius thought.

"Oh, please," Snape burst out. "I think you are being too optimistic Sir. He started that diary with the specific intention of reopening the chamber."

"Severus, do you comprehend what Tom must have done to himself to become Voldemort?" That question shut Snape up. Dumbledore rose, steadily walking toward him. "Do you have any conception of the amount of magic he used on himself, the torture those transformations must have caused? And the risks of them succeeding?Tom knew the risks. And he wasn't unintelligent." Albus gave a strange smile at that. "Oh, no, Tom was always very careful to cover all of his bases. What finer way to ensure your future that to preserve an outlet for what might have been? If Ginny had opened the diary and written that a wizard named Voldemort had long ago disabled himself from some transformation or other, he would know to try another way. And I doubt he much likes what has happened of late."

"His intentions, sir, would still be the same. If anything, he would just look for other ways to gain power, and get revenge on Potter." Snape wasn't argumentative anymore. His anger subsided, he looked at Dumbledore simply with the clarity of his position.

"Perhaps it would be best to send him to an asylum, Albus," Minerva cut in quietly.

There was silence for a moment. Ideally, if Tom was out of Dumbledore's reach, it would be easier for Lucius. A perverse pleasure was felt by Lucius of the thought of him training Voldemort, teaching him about his past. Of him in turn instructing the young Voldemort on his means and ways, as had been the reverse not so long ago. Of him placing his mark of permanence and influence on the man who had cultured his hate and still instilled him with fear.

But it was a lost cause. If Tom was moved to an asylum, all of his visits to him would be noted. Dumbledore, the newspapers, and the Ministry would have a field day with that. At least at Hogwarts, he could visit under the coverage of checking up on his son and the school. And Draco could keep him informed on the goings on while he was away. The child might start being useful, as Lucius had trained him to be.

Making up his mind grudgingly, Lucius said, "I think he should remain here." Meeting every shocked glance, Lucius added smoothly, "If he is to regain his memory, who better to control that than Albus? No one but he has ever been able to stand up to You Know Who. If you want to control and shape this Tom differently, and not have him as before, than it only sounds reasonable Albus should do it." Lucius wisely decided not to add that it was he who planned on reaching Tom first.

"I do not wish to control anyone, Lucius," Dumbledore's voice carried disapproval. "Yet I do agree that Tom should remain here. Although I never realized that you were such a fan of mine." Sighing, he turned to Fudge.

Fudge, looking disheveled, said, "If he is here he is away from the media. Having the press be informed of what exactly happened might cause even more unrest and prompt acts of violence from Voldemort's supporters." Glancing quickly at Lucius, he hurriedly finished, "I think Lucius makes good points."

The lack of argument hardly implied universal agreement, but it was enough. Dumbledore, almost staring into space, said, "If that is what is decided, we will make do. It is not an unexpected decision." Softer, even more to something other than this room, he whispered, "Maybe things happen for a reason, and it is left for us to sort it out. Maybe things can be different."

He looked up into the solemn expressions that marked each face. Clearing his throat, he said, "During the night he will stay with you, Severus. I trust that not to be a problem." Snape shook his head, with greasy locks slapping his sallow cheeks. Despite his protestations, he would follow Dumbledore's lead.

Dumbledore continued. "During the day, he will work with Minerva, myself, or Severus. At all other times, which should not account for much, he will be accompanied by Percy as he is now."

"Are you sure that's a wise choice, Albus?" Lucius questioned, with a hint of distaste making it evident in his mind it was anything but wise.

"Percy is our most accomplished student here. Besides that, and more importantly, I have seen him act. I trust him." Dumbledore spoke with a finality that possibly only Minerva shared.

~Percy's a Gryffindor~ Lucius remembered. He shook his head, smiling. The old man hadn't changed. He was still guilty of the same prejudices, idealistic notions and narrow thinking that steered students like Tom away from him in the past. Lucius felt in no danger of which way Tom would follow this time either.

Smiling, Lucius tipped his cane at them. "If the meeting is done then, please excuse me. I must have a word with my son." And another meeting with his master.

***

Percy heaved a huge sigh as he sank down at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. He had been fending off well-wishers and consolers all morning. At the other end, he had had to deal with the disapproving looks of some for having the audacity to not be in a comatose state of grief. He might as well have bee, though. None of his classes had covered anything, whether because of Tom or Ginny or whatever he didn't know. All he did know was that he had a terrible headache, felt nauseous, exhausted, completely underwater, and wanted to hex anyone around him. The only consolation was that Tom appeared the same. Desiring company in misery was a nasty but entirely true part of existing.

"Hello, Percy." The voices made him groan internally. He glanced over to see Harry and Oliver Wood standing hesitantly beside him. He couldn't take the pity from them right now.

This was one of the only times since first year potions class that Percy had seen Oliver look uncomfortable. They were friends of sorts, each understanding the other's unending focus and determination, Percy for school and Oliver for Quidditch. It was a sometimes exasperating but often beneficial friendship, each trying to get the other to focus on the other's priority. A happy medium was seldom met, but that was part of the fun. It had become a ritual for Oliver to throw the quaffle he kept in his room at Percy to distract him during finals, with Percy dropping schoolbooks on Oliver's game plans before matches.

But no matter how injured Oliver got, which at times was fairly severe, or when Gryffindor lost, Percy never consoled him. Just the same, when Percy had only tied Bill for the amount of OWLS he got, Oliver never offered him futile sympathy. Neither had much use for whining or pity in any form. They couldn't stand it, in fact. So now, to see it creep up on Oliver's face twisted Percy's gut as he desperately tried to push Ginny from his thoughts, and reprimanding himself for doing so at the same time.

"Percy, I just wanted to say--" Oliver began, not meeting his eyes.

"I really don't want to talk about it." Percy said brusquely. He turned back around to see Tom quietly watching them all. "Gryffindors," he informed him.

Oliver paid no attention to the snub. Stubbornly, he stood there until he finished. "Just listen, alright? I just wanted to say that Ginny would have made a great chaser. No, I mean it. She was little and quick, she would have made a nice contrast to the others. She had guts, that's for sure. And she moved nicely. You know, had good balance, that kind of movement. I remember playing with you all when we were kids. And, well, I just wanted you to know that." Percy turned, seeing Oliver had found the courage to meet his eyes. Steadily, he finished. "She would have been great. I'm sorry she couldn't have played on the team. I just wanted to tell you that."

He stood stiffly after that, not sure what to do. Percy gave him a slight smile, taking his remarks as they were meant. "I know that means a lot from you. Thanks." He finished softly. Turning to Harry, he took a deep breath and forced out, "Thanks to you too, I guess. For what you tried."

Harry gave him a small smile. He was one of the few people who hadn't looked at him with repulsion all day. But then he focused on Tom and said, "I really can't take the credit. It was Tom here that did everything."

"Tom?" Oliver suddenly seemed aware that another person existed.

Harry nodded, explaining, "He was the one in the chamber with Ginny. He stopped the Basilisk. Right?"

All focus turned on Tom, who sat there pale, a hand pressed against his forehead. His eyes seemed unfocused. Percy suddenly remembered Snape's orders not to talk about Ginny. Internally he cursed himself. He had been so good at dodging such questions all day, only to have his guard let down in a moment of weakness and pity. He hurriedly raised his voice to change the conversation.

"Tom, are you alright? Do you need to see the nurse?"

Tom's eyes suddenly refocused and snapped onto Harry's. For a moment they locked before sliding over to Oliver then to Percy. "It's nothing, I'm sure. I'm just tired. Very tired. Please excuse me." He pushed back from the table and strode off. Percy caught Oliver's and Harry's puzzled expressions before rising as well. Concerned and cursing himself again, he hastily retreated after his vanishing charge.