The Dark Angel

Author Notes:

I’d like to thank my great BETA and favorite author, Tantz, who owns exactly as much of the plot, the story and everything else as I do (if not more). Her help changed the story and even the plot to a much more decent one. Her work was so immense that this story can easily be called a co-written. If you haven’t read her stories, go read them NOW! If you have, read them again!

Many thanks, roses and cookies to all those who reviewed. Let’s just pray the rest of the story will satisfy you. Also, three cheers for Bianca for her kind and…err loving e-mail. *hands you cookies*

Those people who have problems with Angel’s name…hehe I understand you. But who knows? Perhaps it will come handy later in the fic* evil smile*

Only three days left till the Phoenix’s release. Can I hope that you won’t all leave me afterwards?

All right *cracks knuckles* let’s see what happens next, shall we?

Chapter Three:

“ Sorry bishop, I need to murder you.” Angel grinned as his knight caught the black bishop’s head off.

“ You murderer!” His father snarled with feigned anger. Angel laughed out aloud. “ But I don’t mind,” his father continued, “ it was a worthless piece to my plan. Life is also a game of chess. If you are strong and intelligent enough, you will be the player. Otherwise you are the pieces, without real decisions and you will be killed if proved useless.”

“ Really? And who are you playing against, oh great dark player?”

His father frowned and looked up from the board, “ who do you think I’m playing against?” he said with narrowed eyes.

“Well,” Angel gulped and concentrated. “Dumbledore?” His father leaned back in the chair, sipping his wine thoughtfully.

“Somehow yes. The man could have gained quite a bit of power had he wanted. But being enslaved by his own emotions and ideals, he was too foolish for it.”

“ Or maybe he saw something else in life,” Angel said thoughtfully.

“ I’ve told you before that there is nothing else. There is only power and those too weak – or foolish- to use it. The rest are only illusions. I have bad news for you now. Checkmate!”

“ What? How? Damn. I think I’m rather blind.”

“ So do I. I think you may not be sorted in Slytherin if I don’t keep vigils praying for you!” his father said sarcastically, but Angel felt there was more to it.

“ Is it anything special you want to imply dad?” he asked as he leaned back in his chair, trying to forget about the bad loss; his father always used the same tactic, tricking him into believing that something was his plan and defeating him with another cleverer one. His father gave him a satisfied crooked smile.

“ Maybe there is still some hope for you after all. Yes, I have special educational programs for you.”

‘ Not again,’ thought Angel, mentally rolling his eyes. “ I think I have told you more than once dad that I have…” his father stopped him by raising a hand.

“ I know. But it’s not what you think. I have had much time to think about our discussions, and although I still don’t agree with your arguments, I have came to the conclusion that perhaps you can do something that is more interesting and also… cleaner, from your point of view. Perhaps we should both wait for a longer while until you are older and thus able to understand things better.” Angel wasn’t in the mood to discuss his father’s ideas about the meaning of the world, so he decided to stick to this new option.

“ What’s this educational plan of yours then?” he asked.

“ You’ll be attending Hogwarts.”

“ I don’t think I heard you right,” Angel said when he had recovered from the shock.

“ Oh yes you did!” his father said, an amused smile playing on his lips.

“ But they won’t let me. Honestly Dumbledore can’t be that stupid.”

“ According to Hogwarts rules if a student wishes to continue their studies in the school from a year other than first, on condition that they have been sent the inviting letter for their first year before, they should give an entrance exam. If you pass it, not even Dumbledore himself will be able to stop you from attending Hogwarts.”

“ But I got no letters.”

“ You did but I destroyed it, and refused their offer…rather harshly.” Angel, looking warily at the wry crooked smile on his father’s face, decided that he didn’t want to know just how harsh the response had been.

“ I still think it is impossible, what if… what if they kill me and don’t let me give the exam at all?”

“ They won’t. They are the light side.” His father smirked.

“ I know how are aurors like.”

“ They are different. Dumbledore is even stupider than the Ministry, and as long as I know the two aren’t in very good terms with each other. The Old Fool will never kill a child, whether it is my heir or not. You can be quite sure of that, I wouldn’t have told you to go there if there was any possible danger.”

“ What good can I do there? Even if they don’t kill me they will keep a close eye on me, won’t let me breathe without permission!”

“ You aren’t going to do anything special. This is more like an educational tour for you, to know our enemies better, and also choose and know my potential future servants. I promise you will be convinced about how I see certain things by Christmas. Besides, you can keep an eye on Severus. I don’t really believe all that Lucius tells about him, but a little bit of investigation can’t do any harm. Your presence may at least steel his loyalties where they might be wavering. Also, you can always act as a distraction.”

“ And what if I still don’t want to do that?”

“ Then you will have to put your more childish ideas aside and take parts in real activities.” His father’s voice wasn’t angry, but it was firm and on the edge and told that he had no other choice.

He looked up at his father and said, “I still don’t like this idea very much, but between bad and worse, I choose the former.”

“ I had guessed you would,” his father smirked, “ you will enjoy it I’m sure.” Angel wasn’t sure whether he could promise that.

********

“ Albus,” the door to the headmaster’s office slammed open to reveal a very distracted and disheveled Minerva McGonagall in her nightgown with only a cloak draped hastily around her shoulders.

“ Good midnight Minerva! You’d better see to it that Severus is not informed; he will pursue you for stealing his trade mark entrance.” The woman paid no attention to his joke; instead she hurried up to his desk, throwing a piece of rich, silky parchment into his face.

“ My! It must have cost you a small fortune.” He said amiably, but his face lost its usual smile when he unfolded the letter to read the neat handwriting. He looked up at Minerva who seemed about to collapse.

“ What should we do now Albus?”

“ Well I think we can hold the entrance exam on July 20^th and 21^st,”

“ Albus! Please be serious!”

“ I am quite serious Minerva. We have to follow the rules, just as we did about 20 years ago when we sent Mr. Angel Riddle his invitation letter for his first year.”

“ But we can’t… wait a minute. Vol… You-Know-Who has two sons?”

“ Not as far as I know.”

“ Then… the boy must be at least thirty by now, or older. Why should he want to attend Hogwarts?”

Dumbledore smiled up at his deputy and said in a teacher-like tone, “ the boy was put into an enchanted sleep after Voldemort’s downfall, and his mental and physical status was preserved. He is officially, and I guess magically too, thirty, but physically and mentally he is no more than fifteen.”

“ But… aha! We can reject his request because the boy is officially older than the usual range for students of this school.”

“ We can’t.”

“ Why?”

“ Hogwarts has no legal age range. We have had students who failed several times, thus finishing their studies in an older age. It resulted into passing of a law, which stated that students failing for more than seven years should be expelled. But even then there was much protest around the passing of it. As you know Hogwarts laws haven’t changed very much since the Founders’ time.” He explained tolerantly, feeling very much like Professor Binns.

“ But how can we? It will be a danger to the school, to the students, to everyone. What will the parents say?”

“ Most of them don’t know about Voldemort’s real name, and those who do most probably won’t object.”

“ He will be in the same year with Harry Potter! They will have classes together. It will be only too easy for him to…oh I don’t want to even think about it. Do you know what happens if…?”

“ We’ll keep a close eye on him, and he will know that.”

“ Please be realistic Albus, only a moment’s distraction and anything may happen. I knew his father when he was in school, so did you, he was…stealthy, to say the least.”

“ I know Minerva, he was my own student,” Albus said, the dark shadow that passed his face for a moment being completely unnoticed by Minerva, “ but as you said he was always stealthy. He will never plan to use such an obvious way. I think the boy is more of a distraction than a threat.”

“ But what if he wants us to think this way and thus let the boy be in less suspicion? What if…”

“ There is really nothing we can do about it, Minerva. You’d better go and write his reply now.” Minerva looked at Albus for a long time, his eyes held their ever-lasting twinkle but his face was more serious than usual.

“ Good night Albus. See you at break fast.” She said as she tried to compose herself, pulling the cloak tighter around her body. If Albus thought it was right, it had to be. She ran into a hasty Severus Snape in the spiral staircase, who merely brushed past her without a word. She shook her head, quite used to his rude behavior when coming back from a meeting so late in the night, or at any other time for that matter.

Severus burst through the door. “ How are you Severus? It is becoming a very adventurous night indeed. I will be lucky if I don’t have a heart attack by morning.” Albus said merrily. Snape collapsed into an armchair nearest to the old man’s desk, still clutching the ivory mask.

“You won’t believe what I have to tell you!” Dumbledore rose his eyebrows and tapped his chin in feigned thought.

“ Let me guess… maybe Voldemort’s son wants to attend Hogwarts?”

Snape was shocked only for a moment then narrowed his eyes, “ how do you know?”

“ Voldemort told me himself,” he smiled at the rare sight of the puzzled Potions Master, “ or maybe ‘wrote’ would describe it better.” He handed the letter to Severus.

“ What are you going to do now?”

“ Follow the rules and hold the entrance exam.”

“ Are you sure there is no other way?” the younger man said after a moment of silence.

“ I wish there was.” Severus nodded and rose from the chair, invisibly flinching because of the pain that filled his body. He needed to take some potions soon; the effect of those he always kept in his pocket was starting to wear off.

“ I hope you won’t mind to hear my report tomorrow morning.”

“ Not at all, my boy. Go get some rest, I trust it was a hard night.” Severus walked out of the room and down to the dungeons, leaving the headmaster with his thoughts. Albus rose from his chair to shut the door that Severus had left open. He then walked to the window and stared out of it to the moon lit grounds of Hogwarts. Fawkes trilled a worried note. He petted the red bird on the head.

“What do you think old friend?” he asked the bird, “ what is Tom Riddle playing at this time?” Fawkes remained silent.

“ I don’t know either,” he said thoughtfully. He knew one thing though; he wouldn’t make the same mistake again. The boy was probably darker than what his father was as a boy, and would be more respected among his peers, at least by the Death Eaters’ children. However he wouldn’t leave him alone to be lured into darkness like his father, he would do anything he could to prevent that from happening. He would do him the favor he had deprived his father from. ‘ If he isn’t already lost,’ said a small voice at the back of his head.

“ No,” he said aloud to banish the thought, “ there is still some hope.” He said firmly. ‘ There better be,’ he thought ruefully, ‘ or I will never die in peace.’ He sighed and walked to the other side of the room to fetch his pensive, it seemed to be one of the nights he would certainly need it.

***************

The next days passed in a blur. He would be attending Hogwarts in his fifth year. He had no problem in fourth year stuff, but his father insisted that he should learn some upper class subjects too, in case they would deliberately ask him harder questions. Hogwarts reply letter came to an owl office in a rather far town, just as his father had planned it. He sent some of the Death Eaters to steal it at night, giving them direct orders not to destroy the place or conjure the Dark Mark or any other interesting activity. His father himself undid any tracking charms or possible curses that could have been put on the envelope or letter. The letter read:

Dear Mr. Angel Riddle,

I would like to inform you that your request has been accepted. The entrance exam takes place on 20^th and 21^st of July, in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at exactly 8:00 A.M. if you fail to be there at the said time, you will automatically be considered Fail.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

PS: Your list of exams for each of the dates is as follows:

July 20^th: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, History of Magic and Ancient Runes

July 21^st: Herbology, Defense against Dark Arts, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures

He looked up from the parchment to see his father smiling at his own thoughts. “ How can I get there? I’m sure they would be more than happy to fail me because of being late.”

“ Severus will take you there. I have talked with him about it. You will spend the night in the castle. On midnight of the 21^st, I summon Severus and he will apparate you back here.” Angel only nodded.

“ You will pass it, it’s far beneath your abilities.” Angel could argue that the exam wouldn’t probably consist of advanced curses, but decided against it. He had accepted it, and he would be the best if he were going to go to that school. Those fools would find no reason not to accept him.

It was now the 20^th and Angel was nervously looking at the clock, which showed half past seven. “ Come here Angel, I’m going to summon him now,” his father called from the adjoining hall. He went out to find his father on his throne and in the billowing black robes he always wore during Death Eater gatherings. He too was dressed in rich black robes, with silver patterns resembling coiling snakes on its cuffs. He walked to the throne.

“ You are ready?” his father asked.

He merely nodded, then added after a moment’s hesitation, “I’m nervous.”

“ Lord Voldemort’s son can never nervous for a stupid test.”

“ I can’t help it.”

“ Then try and prove that you share my blood.” His father said firmly. He snapped his fingers and in a second Severus Snape was standing in front of them. After the usual homage and all, his father said in a cold, cruel voice, “ is everything under control Severusss?”

“ Yes my lord.”

“ What about those of your colleagues that aren’t informed of your true loyalties? Won’t they be suspeciousss?”

“ No, my lord. They think that his highness is travelling by train and that I’m picking him up from the station.” Voldemort nodded and looked at Angel, who walked over to Severus.

“ I will assssume you responsible for anything unexpected that may happen during these two days and the school year. Have I made myself quite clear Severusss? ”

“ Yes, my lord.”

“ It’d better be so,” Voldemort said coldly, “ go now.”

“ Yes, my lord.” Severus bowed before disapparating the two of them away.

They apparated into a dark, gloomy forest. “ This way,” Severus said shortly. After a short walk, they reached a road; Angel silently followed Severus down it. After a few minutes he could see the gates and towers of Hogwarts. Angel nearly lost his composure and gasped as the glorious castle came into full view.

“ You have definitely chosen yourself a nice place to work, Severus.”

Severus only barely nodded, but he added after a few seconds, “ maybe I should remind you that during your stay here, I will be calling you Mr. Riddle. You on the other hand, should call me ‘Professor Snape’ or ‘sir’ and treat me with the same respect every other student does.”

“ Hmm. Professor Snape, sounds a little odd. But don’t worry, I’ll manage.” He smiled up at the tall man, who only nodded again.

“Where are we going now?” Angel asked as they got another turning in the corridor, giving up the attempt to memorize the way they had come.

“We’ll go to the Headmaster’s office first. You’ll meet the teachers and then the exam begins.” He stopped in front of a gargoyle.

“ Bloody Pops,” he said. Angel looked at him in surprise for a moment, before the gargoyle started to move to show a moving, spiral staircase. ‘ A rather odd password for such a powerful wizard, isn’t it?’ he asked from himself. They walked up to a wooden door. Severus knocked.

“ Come in, please.” Said a voice from behind the door. It didn’t sound like the voice of a great wizard either. Angel braced his shoulders and held his chin up as he entered behind Severus, wearing a calm and serene expression. The last thing he would show the Old Fool and his servants was the picture of a nervous, frightened lost child.

To Be Continued…