Vitae Redux, Chapter 19: The Goblet

Vitae Redux, Chapter 19: The Goblet

Bartemius lifted his head, meeting the Dark Lord’s eyes. Lord Voldemort ripped into his mind without hesitation, gleeful at his servant’s eager acceptance of his presence, passing through snippets of memory, images of the two boys he sought swirling around him. Holding hands in the hallways, smiling at each other over meals in the Great Hall, hidden in an alcove, kissing. Vile, disgusting – Lord Voldemort had never deigned to kiss someone, not when it gave him none of the pleasure he could seduce or force out of others. He flew away from these memories, seeking the one Bartemius had offered.

“… a bit mad, isn’t he?”

Harry Potter and ‘Tom Riddle’ were leaving their Defence Against the Dark Arts class, unaware of the man who shadowed them and hand in hand once more. Voldemort snarled at the sight.

“Yes,” the taller boy sighed, “it certainly seems so. All those years of fighting Dark witches and wizards must have addled his brains. Still, I find it gratifying to know that you can throw off the Imperius Curse – even an accomplished Occlumens can find it difficult to resist the suggestions placed in their mind by the caster. I have to wonder about Dumbledore’s decision to hire him, however.”

“Do you think it’s because –" Harry broke off and glanced around furtively before sliding seamlessly into Parseltongue. “Because Dumbledore suspects Voldemort is coming back?”

‘Tom’ frowned. “You may very well be right, darling,” he replied, stroking his free hand against Harry’s face. “I know for a fact that the headmaster has spies who once were loyal to Voldemort – surely they’ve alerted him to the fact that their Marks are darkening once more. A smart move, all things considered, to employ one of the most feared Aurors of his day.”

“So we’re safe then,” Harry concluded. “As long as we’re at Hogwarts, Voldemort can’t get to us.”

“Darling, I trust your safety with Dumbledore as much as I trust him not to kill me on the spot if he ever worked out who and what I am,” ‘Tom’ replied. “Which is to say, not at all. Now come, we’re late for lunch.”

Lord Voldemort withdrew from Bartemius’ mind, the effort having exhausted him but giving him the information he needed. Harry Potter was indeed a Parselmouth, and furthermore, it seemed he understood the nature of ‘Tom’s’ existence and somehow didn’t mind. How very interesting. Lord Voldemort’s plan had been to kill the boy, of course, but plans were always subject to change.

“You have a new objective, Bartemius,” he said, easing his fragile body back into the armchair. “You will continue as you have thus, ensuring the boy’s success in the Triwizard Tournament. However, I wish for you to also assess Harry Potter’s aptitude and attitude towards the Dark Arts. I wish to know if he can be turned.”