Harry led his friends to the room on requirement, they often came here to escape from the two youngest Weasleys or just to hang out.
"I think its time you told them my lord," Luna said, speaking so softly only Harry heard and even then, he had trouble hearing the words.
Thinking about it though he knew she was right, he had to tell his friends now before Tom returned if he had any hope of them accepting him. He wanted them to accept him, to remain with him.
"I think it's time that I told you guys a story but first, as I know not all of you are capable of occlumency, I'm going to cast a secrecy spell. It will keep what I'm going to tell you hidden, you will not be able to discuss what you learn with anybody who doesn't already know, and it will be impossible for anybody to force the information from you."
The group looked shocked at the serious tone and implied nature of conversation, but all agreed to Harry casing the spell. Susan being the most reluctant, which didn't shock Harry as he knew that she was always practical, and didn't want to be put in a situation where she would have to betray her aunt or her own values. The twins however were most imoressed with the spell.
"The story begins years ago, in a muggle orphanage where a young witch died after giving birth to her only son whom she named, Tom Marvolo Riddle. Tom after her Muggle love and his father, Marvolo after her father…"
Harry told them about how Tom grew up, bullied and abused before he discovered his magic. He didn't sugar coat Tom's violent reactions, but he did explain how Tom had never had a single person show him love or happiness, right from wrong.
"Eventually, the boy turned 11 and he received his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts. But like most muggleborns he thought it was a joke until he was visited by the deputy headteacher, Albus Dumbledore."
He spoke about the little he knew from Toms years at school, how he entered Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin, how he was a gifted student and eventually head boy. He also spoke about the muggle war that was going on alongside the war with Grindelwald and how Tom begged to stay at school out of fear. But mainly he focused on the distrust and fear Albus showed towards the boy, the blatant prejudice. Harry didn't mention his fears or thoughts about how Albus had something to do with Toms first horcrux, or his descent into madness.
"But Tom wasn't just a gifted half-blood, no he was a descendant from one of the greatest wizards there ever was, Salazar Slytherin."
The group let out gasps now, as they realised that Harry had been talking about The Dark Lord. they had been wondering why Harry was talking about a student from over 50 years ago, about why he felt the need to cast such a strong secrecy spell and now they knew.
"Wait, The Dark Lords a half-blood?" Draco said, shocked. "Tom Riddle, was a half blood."
"But you just said that Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin." Susan said.
"Yes, Tom did eventually become the Dark Lord Voldemort, but it was a slow process."
"What do you mean?" Neville said, his face pale, making Harry almost regret having him here bur he deserved to know.
"When Tom was sixteen something happened… He did something, that changed him…" Harry said hesitantly. He wasn't sure if he should mention his fears or thoughts about how Albus had something to do with Toms first horcrux, or his descent into madness, however, he had a feeling he was right.
"He created a horcrux," seeing the blank looks Harry was reminded that his audience were innocent children.
"A horcrux is a container for a piece of your soul,"
Shocked gasps met his words.
"Creating one makes you, in theory, immortal, but it also breaks you. Your mind, magic and emotions all become twisted they diminish and even fade completely."
"And he created one of these when he was sixteen?" Blaise asked
"Yes. Though I have my doubts that he did it willingly or at least that he did it knowing the consequences."
"That's why he became Voldemort?-
"- Because he made one?" the twins spoke, looking vuagleydisgusted at the thought of splitting their souls.
"He made several." Harry said
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. solid plan handsome,
Suspect foul play, he had a for his ideals. He was charismatic, magical powerful and from a strong family line."
"You sound like you admire him," Susan bit out, outraged.
Harry winced. "I hate what Voldemort did, but I admire who Tom Riddle was and cold have been."
"They're the same person though," Susan said again.
"Yes and no. the horcruxes twisted and destroyed who tom riddle was or could have become."
"You said foul play?" Blaise said, looking thoughtful. "Tom Riddle was a genius. He could have easily changed the wizarding world. he had already collected close friends who later became his followers. He didn't need to become a radical terrorist. He lost everything creating his horcruxes, he become a monster from nightmares."
"You think he was tricked into making his first one?"
"I do."
"Why does this even matter? He was a monster you said so yourself Harry!" Neville finally said, his whole body shaking. Reminding his that he and Susan had lost the most to Voldemort.
"It matters because Tom Riddle is my soul bonded,"
…
The room was silent before panicked giggles erupted from Draco.
Harry rose an eyebrow at the blonde.
"I'm s-sorry, its just this is insane." Draco bit out, a bit hysterically.
"Your soul bonded?" speaking for the first time.
Hannah
said,
"I discovered this while I was at Gringotts. I took an inheritance test and found out many things." "Your sold mate is Voldemort." Neville repeated looking so confused Harry wanted to hug the boy.
"Tom Riddle, not Voldemort" Harry insisted. He would kill Tom again if he one again become Voldemort.
"Does this mean you're going to die?" Pansy said. She had read many stories about soul bonds, they were so romantic.
"What?" Neville said getting over his shock for a moment, Harry was his first and best friend he couldn't die.
"It's just, in all the stories soul mates can't live without each other. When one dies the other follows," Pansy said, looking heartbroken for Harry. "I'm not going to die," Harry reassured them, making everybody even Susan who hadn't spoken since his announcement sigh in relief. "Like I said, Tom make several horcrux's,"
"but what does that mean?" Draco asked.
"It means Harrys going to bring his soul mate back silly," Luna said.
•
🚀New updates on my Ko-fi!🚀
Support me and read the novel, now available in PDF, with the advanced chapters.
•
https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling