Chapter Text
When can a person be considered an adult? And what about a mage? Many people overestimate and underestimate age at the same time, because it's all about the details. Unfortunately, or fortunately, only they decide on complex issue of becoming a conscious being. Details: environment, availability of knowledge and various goods, time… Many things can play their role. And then there is the talent, the predispositions, being the "chosen one".
Tom Riddle thought about all this as he calmly surveys the assembled wizards at the tables in the great hall. His peers fidgeted in their seats, trying to catch up after the short vacation, exchanging news, gossip, and opinions about useless nonsense. Sometimes it seemed to Tom that they had too much. So much, that it prevented them from learning to really use what they had. And that was very much in favor of the head boy, who could act as an adviser and mentor in many matters. He’s lucky that not everyone is used to thinking with their own brains, so ready to rely on others. This forced him to suppress his irritation at their short-sightedness.
Tom Riddle is now sixteen and the prefect of the faculty, a fine and well-respected student. The teachers are awed with his desire for knowledge, focus, discipline and ability to reason with even the most violent students of Slytherin. The underclassmen have heard a lot about him, and the upperclassmen are ready to do a lot for his attention. The school is full of amazing rumors about his incredible ability to solve any problem with the help of his knowledge and charisma. No one dares to so much as mention his past.
Tom Riddle is sixteen years old, and he has assembled a curious group of children with famous surnames who are passionate about politics, magic, and the pureblood ideology of their fathers and mothers. The subjects of their meetings don't end there, but who cares? No one can challenge the appearance of decency of this group, as long as he keeps all the participants in a tight grip. And he does so perfectly.
Tom Riddle is only sixteen, but last year he found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, the legacy of his great ancestor Salazar. And in the summer, just before the end of the fifth year, a monster living there killed a girl, which served to create the darkest of known artifacts. Elated with triumph, Riddle set out that summer to search for his relatives, making an effort to avoid being discovered by ministerial surveillance…
And all for the sake of discovering an empty, ramshackle cabin and an equally empty Riddle estate. Both buildings are habitable, as if their owners were here but ten minutes ago. He waits, but to no avail. He comes back again – and is left with nothing once again. Tom wants to take out his rage on somebody, but stops, feeling something strange, like somebody's attentive gaze. Every time, every time he's about to lose control, the gaze comes back and doesn't let go.
For the first time in the three years following the bombing of London, Riddle feels trapped, confined. This is maddening and, of course, does not add anything good to his mood. He shares his fears with the diary, which is also at a loss – after all, the knowledge of the parts of the soul is equal between the two of them. The annoying feeling of being followed disappears only when Tom gets on the Hogwarts Express, leaving the youth with many questions and a clear desire to find an answer to them.
Hogwarts is as beautiful as ever and, thank magic, still open, despite the war and the events of last summer. However, this year there are fewer students – many parents decided not to risk their children at such a time. There are only those who do not doubt the power of the ancient castle and the teachers, refugees and those who have nowhere to go. Some of the Muggleborns are pale and visibly nervous, remembering Salazar's monster. They don’t know that this year the Heir has decided not to release the basilisk. No one wants Hogwarts to close.
The orderly flow of thoughts is interrupted by the abrupt movement of his neighbor at the table: as always, the noisy Alphard, not so aristocratically poking at Malfoy's shoulder, is unable of anything but attracting attention.
'Look, only five of the first-years seem to be from the ancient families of Britain.'
Abraxas frowns, but supports the conversation immediately, long used to his friend's irrepressible energy:
'What a pity. I can't say I'm surprised, though. After the incidents of last year and considering the war…'
'But just look at how many students there are from other countries. And all of them in our school!'
'They think Dumbledore is the last hope against Grindelwald,' said Tom, with a show of indifference.
'And you?' one of the younger Slytherins asked quickly.
'He is undoubtedly a great wizard. But he isn’t hurrying to that duel. I wonder why...'
To his right, someone caught the hint with a cheerful snort . Many people have recently asked themselves this same question, and even asked it from the great sorcerer personally. The answer is still vague, which brings certain thoughts to those who wanted to think.
Perhaps there really were few representatives of pureblood families among the firstyears this year. But it seems that even more refugees have arrived. On the one hand, the possibility of making international connections intrigues Tom, but on the other - the refugees and their views present some difficulties and absolutely unnecessary troubles. But Riddle would not have achieved his position in school if he hadn’t had the ability to cope with a variety of obstacles.
'Professor Kettleburn is back in his seat. When is Dippet finally going to kick him out?' Nott snorted, nodding at the faculty table.
'When the next beast bites his head off, nothing else will do it!' Alphard happily picked up the new topic.
This irrepressible chatter periodically strained, but was almost an inseparable feature of this representative of the Black family. It seemed that he would even talk to the dead, or at least turn it into an entertaining monologue.
'I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you: even if it happens, he won't notice and will continue the lesson in the form of a ghost,' Abraxas did not share his enthusiasm at all.
'Yes, he will. And he’ll leave us alone with some other bloodthirsty creature.'
The knights’ mocking chatter was suddenly interrupted by the voice of their leader:
'And who is this?'
The knights exchanged puzzled glances and also stared at the new addition to the teacher’s table.
To the left of the headmaster, an unfamiliar mage sat in an extra chair. He had neatly combed black hair, a couple of strands of which still fell over his forehead, and behind the thin rectangular glasses, it was completely impossible to distinguish the color of his eyes from this distance. The dark robe and the suit beneath it didn't stand out in any particular way, but an experienced observer can tell that everything was made of good materials.
'Looks young for a teacher,' Nott said disapprovingly.
'I wouldn't jump to conclusions, my friend Richard. We're still wizards,' Alphard nudged his neighbor with his shoulder, 'And you can look young at sixty if you wanted to.'
'I think I've heard of him,' said Malfoy, biting his lip thoughtfully. The whole company immediately turned their interested eyes on him. 'My father said something about rumors in the ministry of a new educational reform. And that it was the responsibility of a certain wizard who had returned from abroad and quickly gained the votes not only of the House of Commons, but also of the International Community of Magicians,' Tom Riddle raised an eyebrow in question, and Abrahas understood him without words, immediately explaining: 'But I have not heard any official statements, so I did not raise the topic today.'
Riddle nodded, accepting the answer.
'Why does the international community care about Hogwarts?' one of the Slytherins asked.
'Refugees. It's obvious.'
The real question was this: who had the time and energy to think about such things in the middle of a war? Even the murder of the girl on the school grounds was quickly hushed up as soon as the "criminal" was discovered. And the reforms required a lot of effort, money and influence, which everyone now invested in the war.
'Interesting. Well, we'll see,' Riddle nodded.
During the conversation, the sorting ceremony had already begun. Tom automatically noted the new snakes entering the great Salazar’s house, applauding them politely with everyone else, but all his curiosity was now directed at the new face at the teacher’s table. The man didn't look as startled as many newcomers at Hogwarts. But it was unlikely that he went to school here either or at least someone from Slytherin table would know something about him. However, perhaps the wizard was just holding his face well.
Finally, the sorting came to an end and Headmaster Dippet came up to the dais with a welcoming speech:
'Dear students, I am glad to welcome everyone back to these walls. In these difficult years, we must all stick together. I assure you, within the walls of Hogwarts, you are absolutely safe from the horrors of war and the one who started this war. We are happy to provide shelter and education to anyone who asks for help. This is what we did in previous years, and it will be the same in this one. The doors of Hogwarts are open to both British wizards and mages from abroad. Please make yourself at home. In addition, I want to say that this summer the Department of Education adopted an important amendment on the re-evaluation of educational standards in Britain. Harold Dylan Powell, an employee appointed by the department, will tell you more about it. Please welcome him.'
To the applause of the students, the young wizard got up from the table and went to replace the headmaster at the lectern, giving him a polite nod. It was also noticeable now that he was a little pale, but confident enough not to be shy in front of a crowd of students.
'Good to see you all, and thank you for the warm welcome,' the man smiled slightly nodding to the audience. 'My name, as you have just learned, is Harold Powell. I am the High Inquisitor appointed by the Ministry. My tasks will include assessing the level of education within these walls and helping fill the gaps in knowledge that might arise due to the differences in culture and approache. We do not want our foreign guests to miss any of their usual programs, and I will try my best to avoid this. That is all. Thank you for your attention.'
The Inquisitor nodded and went back to his seat. Tom could not help noticing how the "we" in the man's speech turned into "I". A small sign of a leader. But was he a good one?
'Assessment of the level of education? I swear Kettleburn will fly out of the teacher's chair with the speed of a bludger!' to no one’s surprise, Black spoke first.
'Perhaps Dumbledore won't be able to underestimate you this year, Tom,' Pewsey said with a soft smile, tucking a curl behind her ear.
The prefect nodded, but only smiled inwardly. Dumbledore never underestimated him. He ignored his achievements in class - of course, but he definitely appreciated them. In a negative way. This was very annoying and caused a lot of problems for the Knights of Walpurgis. Perhaps this year, the the Gryffins’ Head of House will finally be too busy to pry into other people's affairs. But relying on something as ephemeral as luck wasn't exactly Riddle's style. Unless it was Felix Felicis.
***
If someone had told Harry Potter in his school years that he would one day hold the position of the disgusting toad Dolores Umbridge - he would have spat in their face. Except Harry Potter was now sitting at the Hogwarts staff table with a tight smile, being none other than the High Inquisitor.
After spending six months in 1943 the idea didn't seem as crazy to him as it had at first: and, believe me, he was now quite well versed in the various shades of insanity. Is it a joke: to live the life of the chosen one, to fulfill the prophecy, to be chosen again and spoil the work of your life? And save the magical world again, of course. And now he was once again going to save the magical world, but this time from himself, being in the past… Anyone would have gone mad if they haven’t already. And he had no choice, as usual.
Harry Potter was going to save everyone and try not to go out of his mind in the process. What else is new?