The Dark Angel

When the Astronomy test began he absolutely gave up the attempt to keep his composure and merely gaped as Dumbledore swished his wand and muttered before the room went almost completely dark and the ceiling started to change into a night sky.

“I thought it was so only in the Great Hall,” he muttered in awe. Dumbledore chuckled.

“It’s not the same thing as Great Hall. It’s merely a picture of last night sky and it’s temporary. I’m glad you think it looks real however.” Angel smiled and turned his attention to professor Sinistra who was starting to ask her questions.

It was about 4 O’clock when the exams finally finished. “We’re done for today,” Dumbledore clapped his hands, “and I dare say Mr. Riddle that you did quite well. If you do the same on tomorrow’s exam, I’m sure you will be attending Hogwarts this year.”

“ Thank you, sir.” Angel smiled. He was getting pretty used to the terms “sir” and “ma’am” and felt considerably more comfortable around Dumbledore than before.

“I think you need to get some rest now. One of the guestrooms is already prepared for you. Severus, would you please be so kind to help Mr. Riddle find his way?” Severus nodded and headed toward the door.

“Good afternoon, sir.” Angel said. Dumbledore smiled and nodded at him.

He followed Severus through the labyrinth of the corridors again, trying to remember as much of the way as he could. But it was really hard, as he had to walk fast to keep up with Severus’ long strides. He actually considered asking his father to teach the Potions Master a lesson or two when his foot stuck painfully in a trick step that Severus hadn’t warned him about. He helped Angel out, and at least he kept his expression blank this time. But it didn’t stop Angel from using these precious few Dumbledore-free minutes to glare at him, who was disappointingly undisturbed. When they got to his room at last Severus opened the door and stood aside for him to pass.

“Merlin! How great you remembered that much professor.” Severus stiffened himself a bit and frowned but didn’t comment. ‘That leaves us 1 to 1 now,’ Angel thought as he walked past him and into the room, smirking.

It was a beautiful room, Angel had to admit. There was a big window, which looked over a forest, much like his own bedroom. But there was a lake in the landscape too, and a hut at the edge of the forest. Everything in the room, from the carpet to the drapes and covers of the four poster bed, were in different shades of violate.

Angel nodded his satisfaction. “It’s nice. But all this time I was under the impression that Slytherin colors were silver and green, not violate.”

“It’s not one of Slytherin rooms,” Severus’ silky voice from the door way, “it’s a guestroom and doesn’t belong to any special house and nor do you in fact.”

Angel turned to look at him with risen eyebrows. “What do you mean? Of course I’m a Slytherin.”

“I’m fully aware of your origin but you aren’t officially a member of Slytherin House until you are sorted.”

“Sorted?”

“Yes, it will probably take place tomorrow if you manage to pass the other tests too.”

“How will they say what house I’ll be in?” Angel cursed himself for not asking that from his father beforehand. Being Slytherin’s heir, it had seemed so natural to him that he will be in Slytherin; but it seemed that there was more to it. ‘Maybe they decide it from my grades,’ he wondered, ‘then I must mess something up or they will put me in Ravenclaw.’

“It’s quite simple,” Severus’ voice interrupted his thoughts, “there is an old hat, which is called the Sorting Hat. They place it on your head and it decides due to you characteristics, which house suits you best. Once you are sorted, you can’t change the result.” Severus’ speech made him a bit nervous. And he wasn’t sure about what would his father say if he was sorted anywhere but Slytherin.

Just as Severus was turning to go, Angel called him from behind. “By the way Severus,” the Potions Master turned with an eyebrow raised, “ahem… I mean professor.” Severus smirked again but Angel decided to ignore it completely. “Just how many of the teachers know about my…origin?”

Severus seemed to think for a second before answering, “I guess a fair number of them know. Some of them have taught your father, like Professor Binns and the headmaster himself, and he has probably told some of those he trusts more. Some others have gone to school with you father like Professor McGonagall, Professor Figg and…Hagrid.”

“Hagrid?”

“The huge man you saw in the headmaster’s office. He is a half giant.” ‘Light side, honestly,’ Angel thought. “And you may know that he was expelled in his third year, because he was accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets that resulted into the death of a Muggle born girl. The actual culprit, how ever,” Snape gave him a meaningful look, “was identified a few years ago and his name was cleared. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures now.”

“I see,” Angel said thoughtfully. What his father had told him about the Chamber of Secrets had always been a rather abridged version and he had never found the appropriate time to ask him about the details. He had almost forgotten about the whole thing.

“And,” Severus said, “you can use the band beside the fireplace to call a House Elf. You can have your meals in here or in the Great Hall, if you can find your way to it, though.”

“Don’t worry Severus.” Angel snapped his fingers; the Potions Master clutched his left arm and turned with a pale face. “ I can always use your help,” Angel said, a wry smile playing on his lips. “ I think you can go now.” He refrained from using the term “ dismissed”; the tall man let go of his arm, nodded calmly and walked out of the room, shutting the door with a little more force than necessary. ‘ Wow! We are 2 to 1 now!’ Angel grinned as the door was shut.

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

Angel woke up at 6 O’clock the next morning. By 7:30 he had washed, dressed, eaten and was waiting for Severus who arrived five minutes later. Angel could say Severus was rather disappointed to find him up and ready but neither mentioned it. The exam was held at the same big room as yesterday. Dumbledore, Samuel Nott and Professor Figg were already present when he entered behind Severus.

“Good morning headmaster, Mr. Nott, Professor,” he greeted the three adults. Samuel only nodded, so did Professor Figg with an added smile.

Dumbledore, however, was the only one to actually answer him. “ Good morning Mr. Riddle. I trust you slept well.”

“ Excellent sir, thank you.” He replied politely.

Dumbledore beamed at him and nodded. “ Good. You will definitely need your strength today. Your first exam will be Defense against Dark Arts. Arabella, please.” “

Very well,” the woman nodded, turning to face Angel, “ your practical exam consists of two parts. The first part is to recognize and explain the ways to defeat each of the dark creatures I have here. The second part will be dueling. Any questions?”

“No ma’am.”

“We can get started then.”

The first part was fairly easy, as the darkest creature in the cages was a Grindylow. The second part however, proved rather tricky. He went up the stage after Professor Figg, who had taken off her cloak and was now in tight dueling robes. Angel wished Severus would look another way when he had to admit shamefully that he didn’t know the laws of dueling. He had had many playful fights with his father but never a duel.

“ Expeliarmus!” She yelled as soon as Dumbledore finished counting up to three. He dodged it easily.

“Lepidae.” Angel didn’t move an inch this time. It was dad’s favorite hex. It didn’t need aiming, so he could throw it at Angel without even having to look up from the book he was reading.

But things changed when Figg shouted after dodging a tickling curse, “Myodulerus!”

Angel froze for a short moment before making his mind, building up the most powerful shield he could think of, and diving away from the curse’s way. Predictably none was of any use and the curse hit him full blast. He fell to the ground and gritted his teeth, doing his best not to scream. Every single muscle in his body stiffened painfully, including those of his eyelids, which where pressed shut.

“Arreta Dolo!” he heard Dumbledore shout.

“ What was that Arabella? I’m sure you know that was almost a dark curse, and definitely not on the curriculum.”

“ It wasn’t exactly a dark curse, and I wanted to see just how much information young Mr. Riddle has about dark magic.”

“ How intelligent of you Arabella,” Snape’s angry voice this time, “ but would you mind letting us know what would it prove if he possibly knew the counter curse?”

“ It would prove interesting things I’m sure you are aware of, Severus,” Figg said calmly.

“ Nothing that isn’t already proven, Professor,” Dumbledore said sternly. He was kneeling beside Angel now, “ Angel. Do you hear me?”

“Yes,” hissed Angel. He had never been able to use Parsel Tongue, although he understood it; but for a moment he doubted whether the hiss was in the language. But apparently it wasn’t, as Dumbledore replied,

“Alright then, try to sit up. There. Thank you Severus.” The old man put a vial in his hand, which he emptied as fast as he could.

“ I think your Defense exam is over. You can use an adjoining room to rest a bit before your next. Would you help him please, Severus? Thank you. Arabella, I think we should have a talk.”

Angel opened his eyes at last as Severus helped him stand, to see a stern looking Dumbledore who looked less than pleased and somehow resembled the picture of a powerful wizard more than before, and a flushed Figg who was holding her head proudly up. As they descended the stage, Angel half leaning to the tall man, he caught sight of Nott sneering threateningly at Severus who stiffened a bit under Angel’s shoulder. He gave the Death Eater his strongest glare, which helped to make the sneer vanish and turn the Death Eater’s attention away from them. He didn’t use the Dark Mark card though. Samuel Nott whimpering and clutching his arm and thus informing the whole world about his true colors, including Dumbledore who wasn’t very far away and was currently giving Figg an earful wouldn’t help anything.

“ Do you feel any better Angel?” Dumbledore asked, coming in the room ten minutes later.

Angel got up from the sofa he had been lying on. “ Yes, sir.”

“ Then you may want to attend to your next exam now.”

“ Yes, sure.” He followed the old man out of the room. They walked out to the grounds and toward the hut at the edge of the forest. Severus, Samuel and the half giant were already there. Severus was looking thoughtfully in direction of the lake, which was glittering under the sunlight. Nott was looking at the nervous huge man with loathe written all over his face.

“ Professor Dumbledore sir!” Hagrid greeted them far louder than necessary.

“ Hello Hagrid. Do you have everything ready?”

“ Yes, sir. Jus’ behin’ me hut.”

“ Let’s get started then. We have wasted enough time.”

Hagrid stood away for them to pass, taking a step back as Angel walked past him. Angel stopped for a moment, hesitating whether he should say anything; but his halt only helped to make the half giant even more nervous.

“ H…hello there,” he stuttered.

“ Good morning Professor.” Angel smiled. Hagrid seemed to be taken aback a bit with his greeting. ‘Why, didn’t dad ever said good morning to any one in his school time?’ he wondered as he turned to face a clearing behind the wooden hut. He made a mental note to ask dad about what really happened with the Chamber of Secrets, as he fed the leaves to the Good-For-Nothing Flobber worms.