The Last Riddle

"Harry!" cried Kristy.

Harry smiled and ran to hug his friend. "Hullo, Kristy! It's so great to see you!"

"You see me everyday, silly," laughed Kristy returning the hug.

"Did you know we're going to Diagon Alley?" asked Harry.

"Yeah," replied Kristy. "Is Ron coming too?"

"Yup," said Harry. "We're waiting for him."

"What about Ginny?"

"Oh, yeah... she's coming along for the ride."

"Finally! A girl to hang out with!"

"Are boys that bad?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Not actually."

"Harry! Kristy!" called Lily. "The Weasleys are here!"

"I race you to the kitchen!" said Harry.

"Ok..." said Kristy. "On your mark... get set... GO!"

Harry and Kristy cantered down the stairs, laughing like maniacs and trying to push each other out of the way. Harry managed to get down first, but Kristy passed him and got to the spacious kitchen first.

"Ha!" said Kristy victoriously. "I beat you!"

"Harry, dear!" cried Molly Weasley. "Kristen, darling!"

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley!" greeted both at the same time, once they saw the Weasley matriarch.

"Harry!" said Ron.

"Kristy!" said Ginny.

"Hey, guys!" greeted Kristy.

"Hey, Kristy, is it true you went to Hogwarts?" asked Ron, walking towards his friends. Ginny was close behind him.

"Yes! It's so beautiful! There's grass everywhere, and a forest, and a lake... And the castle! It's huge!"

"Wow," said Ginny.

"I can't believe you saw it before I did..." said Harry grudgingly.

Kristy stuck out her tongue at him.

"Come on children!" called James. "We have to Floo to Diagon Alley before a lot of people get there. We don't want to find the shops packed."

"We're coming, dad!" called Harry.

Harry, Ron, Kristy and Ginny walked in a line towards the fireplace in the Potters' living room, Harry in the lead. James, Lily, and Molly were standing before the fireplace and Lily held the pot with the Floo powder.

"Where's my dad?" asked Kristy.

"He's already waiting for us at the Leaky Cauldron," answered James. "No doubt he wants to see who falls the worst out of the fireplace," he added frowning.

Kristy giggled. "That's my dad, alright."

"You go first, Ginny," said Lily, offering the pot to her.

"Okay," said Ginny taking a pinch of Floo Powder. She threw it into the fire and called "Diagon Alley!" then, she disappeared in the emerald flames.

"Kristy," said Lily. "You go."

"I hate travelling by Floo," Kristy grumbled, making Harry and Ron chuckle.

"I second you there," said Harry.

Kristy shook her head and took a pinch of Floo Powder. "Diagon Alley!"

After went Ron, and then came Harry's turn. "Diagon Alley!" The already familiar feeling of being sucked through a tunnel invaded him. He was turning very, very fast. Harry squeezed his eyes shut and wished for it to stop. Suddenly, he toppled out of the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron, crashed against a wall, wobbled on his feet for two seconds and then fell on his face.

Ginny was trying to hold back her laughter. The others, however, were not even bothering.

"Not funny, guys," Harry grumbled.

"What a landing, Harry!" said Sirius between chuckles. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a professional."

Harry had hardly stood up when James also came out tumbling and knocked Harry off his feet again. James' first reaction was to laugh. Not even Ginny could hold it any longer and burst out laughing too.

"Let me give you a hand up, kiddo," said James, chuckling and offering his hand to his son. Harry took it and James hauled him up. "There you go," said James with a smile.

"Thanks," said Harry, then he frowned. "Stop laughing already, Snuffles."

"Harry," said Sirius in mock seriousness. "Stop calling me that. I already told you I prefer to be called Sniffles, not Snuffles."

The group of children laughed and James grinned.

Within the next minute, Lily and Molly arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, each covered in ashes. Mrs. Weasley pulled out a brush from her robes and started to brush off whatever ashes the others had before brushing off the ashes on her robes.

"There," she said. "We can go now."

Ron and Ginny exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"Come, come," said Mrs. Weasley. "Arthur, the twins and Percy are waiting for us at Flourish and Blotts."

The troupe turned around, greeted Tom the barman, and walked out of the Leaky Cauldron through the back door. James pulled out his wand and tapped the bricks on the wall, over the rubbish bin. He stepped back and the wall started opening.

"Well," said Lily. "Let's go get those books." That said she made her way towards the shop where four redheads were waiting for them. They passed the Cauldron shop, the Apothecary, the Owl Emporium, the Quidditch shop... and they finally made it to Flourish and Blotts. Arthur Weasley walked up to them.

"¡Thank Merlin you're here!" he cried. "A lot of people have arrived already and it seems the shop is running out of books. Come in, quick."

"¿Which books do we have to buy, Harry?" asked Lily, while they entered the bookshop behind Mr. Weasley.

"Err..." said Harry, pulling out a piece of parchment from his pocket. He unfolded it and read, "The Standard Book of Spells, A History of Magic, Magical Theory, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection..."

"Yes," commented Sirius. "A good book for the Defence Against the Dark Arts class."

"Ah," said Mr. Weasley. "So Dumbledore managed to find a professor in time."

Sirius smiled mysteriously.

"¿Who do you think will sacrifice themselves this year?" asked Ron.

Sirius stopped smiling.

"It's not a sacrifice, Ron," said Mrs. Weasley. "It must be a coincidence that there's always a different professor every year."

"Aunt Lily?" called Kristy from the counter. "It seems the book packages are already done."

James stopped examining a leather-bound book and looked for Kristen with his eyes. And effectively, on top of the counter there were seven packages of books. "How efficient," commented James.

Sirius walked to the counter and asked for a first-year package for his godson. There was an uncomfortable moment when the Weasleys asked for second-hand packages. James and Sirius had offered to pay for the books before, but the Weasleys had always declined the offer.

"Where are Percy and the twins?" Mrs. Weasley asked her husband.

"Here we are, mother," answered Percy's voice.

Ron and Ginny rolled their eyes. "Since he was made Prefect he's been more pompous than ever," Ron told Harry.

"Yes, mother," said George, imitating his older brother's voice. "Here we are. We have successfully emerged from the depths of the shop of knowledge."

Percy glared at his brother.

"Right," said Mr. Weasley. "Let's get out of here. The shop is up to the brim."

The group of witches and wizards walked out of Flourish and Blotts, which ended up being an odyssey, since people were piling up on the door, trying to get their last minute shopping done. When they thought they were safe, they discovered that little Ginny had been trapped inside and Mr. Weasley had to go rescue her.

"Are we complete now?" asked Fred.

Mrs. Weasley counted them again and nodded. "Yes. What's next?"

"I'm out of parchment," answered Ron.

"And my quill has exhaled its last breath," said George dramatically, wiping away imaginary tears. Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes.

"I have an idea," intervened Lily. "Let's break up in two groups and meet again somewhere."

Mr. Weasley seemed to think about it. "Very well. Weasleys, follow me!"

Fred and George whooped and jumped on Percy. Percy let out a sigh of resignation and let the twins lead him away.

"See you later," said Ron to Harry and Kristy.

"Bye," said Ginny.

"We'll meet at Florean Fortescue in an hour!" called James through a speaker made with his hands.

"Alright!" answered Mr. Weasley. "Good bye!"

After that, the redheaded troupe vanished into the crowd.

"Now what?" asked Lily.

"Cauldrons," answered Sirius. "The shop's closer."

James and Sirius wanted to buy a gold cauldron for Harry, but Lily wouldn't hear anything about it (Why would Harry want a gold cauldron when one made of pewter works just fine?), they got a scale for weighing potion ingredients, Kristy's choice, and a bronze telescope.

"Next comes the Apothecary," said Harry, reading the list of school supplies.

"You go to the Apothecary," said Lily. James sent her a perplexed look. "I'll be at the Owl Emporium," she explained. "Look for me once you're done."

So they entered the Apothecary, which smelled like bad eggs and rotten cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. James went up to the counter to ask for a basic set of Potions ingredients while Sirius examined a long yellow fang, and Harry and Kristy looked at unicorn horns.

James paid for the set and was in the process of storing it away when Harry walked up to him and asked, "Can we go see the rest of the shop?"

"Hmm..." said James. "I don't know... Padfoot, what do you think?"

"Can we, dad?" asked Kristy.

"Sure," said Sirius. "Just don't get eaten. That slimy stuff on the barrels looks vicious."

"Ok!" said both children and ran to the back of the shop.

James chuckled. "It's a shame they're not going to Hogwarts together," he said.

"Shame indeed, Prongs me friend," replied Sirius.

"More like, a blessing," sneered a voice.

James and Sirius turned and found themselves face to face with their childhood nemesis: Severus Snape aka Snivellus.

"What are you doing here, Snivellus?" asked Sirius viciously.

"I thought that must be obvious," replied Snape with a sneer. "But since it is you who asked, I suppose my thinking does not apply in this particular case."

"What do you want, Snivellus?" asked James tensely.

"Nothing from you, certainly, Potter," replied Snape. "I heard Black had seen the Dark Heir this morning."

"Yeah, so?" asked Sirius.

"Where is he?" Snape deadpanned.

"How should I know?" answered Sirius. "He left with a man who seemed to be Dumbledore's double to God knows where. Why? Did your Master ask you to keep an eye on his spawn?" Sirius taunted.

Snape snarled. "You know perfectly well who my loyalties lie with, Black."

James snorted. "Sure, Snivelly... c'mon Paddy, let's get the kids and get out of here."

Less than a minute later, James, Sirius, Harry and Kristy were out in the street.

"What now, dad?" asked Harry.

"Let's go get your mum and then to Ollivander's to get your wand," replied James.

"YAY! Wands!" cried Kristy while performing a little jig.

Sirius frowned. "Are you on a sugar high, Kristy?"

Kristy looked innocently at her father. "No... what makes you think so?" Then she turned around before her father could answer and followed James and Harry who were already going to the Owl Emporium.

"What a comfy place," said Sirius once they were inside, looking pointedly at an owl that was glaring at them.

"You feel right at home, don't you, Padfoot?" said James conversationally.

Sirius sent him a hurt look.

"There's mum!" said Harry, pointing at the back of the shop, where a redhead was cooing at a snowy white owl.

Sirius was about to yell at her that they were there, but Kristy hushed him. "You'll scare the owls," she said. So instead, they walked to the back of the shop and James tapped Lily on the shoulder.

"Oh! You're here!" she said. "What took you so long?"

"We had an encounter with an old school mate," answered James.

Lily raised her eyebrows at her husband but made no comments before turning on her son. "How do you like this owl, Harry?"

Harry squinted behind his glasses at the cage his mother was showing him. The snowy owl seemed to squint back at him. "Is it a he or a she?" the boy asked. The owl looked hurt.

"It's a female," replied Lily. "Isn't she gorgeous?"

Kristy moved to stand beside Harry. "Wow. I love her!"

"Yeah," replied Harry. "She's beautiful."

The owl puffed up with pride.

"Do you want her?" asked Lily.

"Yeah!" said Harry. "Let's take her!"

"It seems you got your school owl, then," said James smiling.

"How will you call her?" asked Kristy peeking into the cage.

"I don't know..." answered Harry while James took the cage and carried it to the counter.

"Well..." said Kristy. "I'll help you pick a name tonight if you promise to help me pick a name for my pet next year. Deal?"

Harry smiled and took her outstretched hand. "Deal."

"C'mon, you two!" called Sirius from the doorway. "There's still shopping to be done!"

Harry and Kristy hurried to join their parents who were already waiting for them outside. James was carrying the cage.

"What's missing?" asked Lily.

"The wand!" cried Harry and Kristy at the same time.

"And robes," reminded James. "There's parchment, quills and ink at home."

"Let's get the robes, then," said Lily. "Madam Malkin's is just across the street."

"No!" moaned both children.

"Let's get the wand," begged Kristy.

"My, my," said Sirius. "Aren't you a little eager?"

"Look who's talking," said James.

Harry gave his mother his famous puppy eyes.

Lily snorted. "That doesn't work on me, young man. Let's get your robes." She paused and slapped her forehead. "I just realized we forgot to buy owl treats. Would you go get them, Sirius?"

Sirius saluted her and marched back into the Owl Emporium.

"I'll stay out here with the owl," said James. "You take the kids."

Lily sighed and led the two children into the shop, where they were greeted by Madam Malkin, who was a squat witch dressed in mauve.

"How can I help you?" she asked smiling.

"We'd like the Hogwarts uniform," said Lily.

"Of course, dear," said Madam Malkin. "For both children?"

Lily hesitated. "No, just for him," replied Lily. She sighed again. Under other circumstances she would be asking for two sets.

Madam Malkin smiled. "Got the lot here - another young man being fitted up just now, in fact. Follow me, dear."

Lily and Kristy sat down to wait.

In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second with pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length. It wasn't until then that Harry noticed who the boy was.

"Potter," the blond boy sneered.

"Malfoy," answered Harry coldly.

"I haven't seen you lately," continued Malfoy. "Are you here on your own?"

"What's it to you?" asked Harry.

"Curiosity," drawled Malfoy. "Have you got a broom? Father is going to buy one for me once we're done shopping. Probably the new Nimbus."

"Malfoy," said Harry, as Madam Malkin finished with his robes. "I really couldn't care less." He hoped off the stool and walked to the front of the shop, where Lily was already paying for her son's robes.

"The Malfoys are here," Harry said once the five were reunited. "I just met Draco in Madam Malkin's."

James and Sirius exchanged mischievous smiles.

"Let's put a dung bomb in Lucy's shopping bag," suggested Sirius. "Now that he's not looking."

"No," deadpanned Lily. "We are not going to go looking for trouble with the Malfoys. We are going to get Harry's wand, meet the Weasleys at Fortescue's and then we are going to Floo home from the Leaky Cauldron."

James and Sirius pouted.

"I said 'no'," insisted Lily. "It still surprises me that Lucius managed to convince the Ministry that he was under the Imperious curse. Looking for a fight with him is dangerous."

"Killjoy," muttered James so only Harry could hear him.

"Let's go get the wand, then," said Kristy with less enthusiasm than before. Apparently she'd been looking forward to pranking the Malfoys.

A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a small place; empty except for a spindly chair Lily sat on to wait. Harry and Kristy, who had been so eager to enter the shop, were now completely quiet and were staring at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. The five jumped.

An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," said Harry awkwardly.

"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes." He then turned to Lily. "Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

"Yes," said Lily with a smile. "It's a very nice wand."

Mr. Ollivander then turned on James. "James Potter! Mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. You did favour it."

James smiled sheepishly.

"And Sirius Black," Mr. Ollivander continued. "Ash, eleven and three quarter inches, flexible and good for defence."

"That's right," said Sirius.

Mr. Ollivander set his eyes on Harry again. "I am terribly sorry about your brother. When I heard of your birth, I was so looking forward to the day when the two of you would come to buy your wands. Shame, really... Well, now - Mr. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Er - well, I'm right-handed," said Harry.

"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from every angle imaginable, speaking all the while. "Every wand has a core of a powerful substance. Unicorn hairs, phoenix feathers or dragon heartstrings. That's enough," he told the tape that had started measuring Harry's nose on its own. Kristy sniggered.

"Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beech-wood and dragon heartstring."

Harry took the wand and gave it a wave but Mr. Ollivander took it from him. "No, no, no. Try this one." And they repeated the process for what seemed to be forever, until, "I wonder, now - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. He waved it and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the tip like fireworks. The whole room whooped and clapped, probably because they were tired of waiting for a wand to choose Harry, and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious..."

He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it up, still muttering, "Curious... curious..."

"Sorry," said Harry, "but what's curious?"

Mr. Ollivander swept the room with his eyes before fixing them on Harry.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother - why, its brother belonged to the Dark Lord."

Harry gulped and the adults exchanged glances.

"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Very powerful. I suppose it now belongs to the son of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember.... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great."

---

Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration professor and deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, was worried. Something had been nagging at her since the Dark Lord's downfall and she had finally managed to pinpoint what it was. She was currently heading for Dumbledore's office when a voice stopped her.

"Minerva? What are you doing here?"

Minerva looked up and found herself face to face with Remus Lupin. "Hello, Remus," she greeted. "How come you are not in Diagon Alley? Didn't James and Sirius take their children there today to buy school supplies for Harry?"

Remus smiled. "Yes," he said. "But I'm not feeling very well and I didn't fancy squeezing through large crowds today."

Minerva nodded, noticing that Remus was indeed a bit pale. "Have you taken anything yet?"

Remus gave a nod. "Just a little while ago. So, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to Albus about something that has been bothering me for a while now," she explained. Remus looked interested. "It's about Selven."

'Oh,' mouthed Remus. "I've heard about him. The one who defeated Voldemort?"

Minerva flinched. "Yes, him."

"Well," continued Remus. "Albus' office is just at the end of the corridor. I'm curious myself and I would like some answers as well."

Both adults resumed their walking and reached the stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. "Sweetarts," said Minerva and the gargoyle let them through. Remus knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Dumbledore cheerfully from the other side of the door. No one would ever guess the Dark Heir had escaped his grasp that very morning.

Remus opened the door for Minerva, who thanked him, and stepped into the office. "Good afternoon, Albus."

"Minerva! Remus!" said Dumbledore. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"We have to discuss something with you," replied Remus. "It's about Selven."

Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "Of course. Please, take a seat."

Both Remus and Minerva sat and went through the ritual of declining a lemon drop. Minerva went straight to the point.

"Albus," she whispered. "Who is Selven? I saw the Riddle boy's expression when I mentioned him. He was scared, Albus; he knew right away that his father had not survived. Someone who causes that effect on the Dark Heir is bound to be powerful."

"Not to mention, he killed Voldemort single-handedly," added Remus. "Is he a threat?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I do not know," he admitted. "I had never heard of him before, although, if he killed Voldemort and Jack Riddle fears him, then he might be on our side... but then again, he might also be seeking to become the next Dark Lord, hence, he killed the current one."

Minerva chewed her lip. "Do you think he might go after Jack?"

Dumbledore frowned. "Why do you care so much for Lord Voldemort's son, Minerva?"

Minerva flinched and then flushed slightly. "I... I knew his mother," she explained. "Sam was one of my best friends from Ravenclaw... I suppose I feel somewhat... responsible for her only child's well being."

Dumbledore closed his eyes. "I see," he said. "If Selven truly wants to be the Dark Lord... then Riddle is a potential threat to him, and both are threats to us... I have to think about this."

Minerva and Remus exchanged a glance and, taking Dumbledore's last comment as a dismissal, exited the office in silence. Dumbledore leaned back on his chair.

The one with the power to vanquish the new evil...

The headmaster frowned. That sentence had made so little sense before he knew that the Dark Heir existed. Jack Riddle seemed to have been born around the same time as Harry Potter, and both boys had been born after the prophecy was made. However, now that Selven had shown up a new question had arisen. Who was the new evil? Jack... or Selven?