The Raven's Call

Dumbledore's Office

The next morning, I awake to Madam Pomphrey's words. "Mr. Grey. Dumbledore would like to speak with you, Potter and Weasley." She speaks softly. I nod and rub the sleep from my eyes before quickly dressing in my uniform. I quickly follow the others down the corridor, passing Lucius Malfoy. He must've heard about our antics in the Chamber, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole wizarding world knows by now. Tails between our legs, we step into Dumbledore's office.  

"You three realise, of course.. that in the past few hours, you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules?" Dumbledore asks.
"Yes sir.." The three of us answer in unison.
"And that there is sufficient evidence to expel you all?" Dumbledore asks again. 
"Yes sir.." The three of us say softly, heads hanging low.
"Therefore, it seems only fitting..." He starts, a stern look on his face. Here it comes, the Diggory's are gonna be so disappointed in me.. Suddenly, he smiles. "That you all receive special awards for services to the school. And, let me see.. yes, I think two hundred points apices, which, I believe, should be more than enough to secure Gryffindor the house cup." Harry and Ron grin at his words. "Thank you sir."
 "Sorry, Atticus." Dumbledore adds. "That's fine by me, sir." I say, a big smile on my face.

"Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. We need our gamekeeper back." Dumbledore explains, handing the papers to Ron. Hagrid was in Azkaban? I didn't even know.. Ron nods, takes the envelope and exits. Then Dumbledore turns his attention to myself and Harry, standing from his desk as he begins to pace. "First, Harry, I want to thank you. You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. Secondly, I sense you're troubled by something. Am I right?" Harry nods slightly, glancing between me and Dumbledore. "It's just, you see, sir., I couldn't help noticing certain things.. Certain similarities. Between Tom Riddle and me." He mentioned. I nod along, because I feel the EXACT same way. 

"You can speak Parseltongue, Harry. Why? Because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar." Dumbledore explained. "Voldemort transferred some of his powers.. to me?" Harry asks, in shock. I look at him just as much in shock. Dumbledore nods. "Not intentionally.. but, yes." Dumbledore says, sitting back down. "So the sorting hat was right.. I should be in Slytherin.." Harry whispered. "It's true, Harry. You do possess many of the qualities Voldemort himself prizes. Determination, resourcefulness, and if I may say so, a certain disregard for the rules. Why, then, did the Sorting Hat place you in Gryffindor?"

Harry looks over towards the hat, which is resting on a pile of books. "Because I asked it to." He speaks in realization. "Exactly, Harry. Exactly. Which makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices." Dumbledore smiles warmly. "If you want proof you belong in Gryffindor, then I suggest you look more closely at this." He says, handing the sword Harry had used to defeat the Basilisk. Harry takes the sword by the blade, of all places, causing me to sigh. Idiot. There, in bold letters, displayed along the blade, was the name; "Godric Gryffindor." "It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat." Dumbledore assures him. 

Harry and I turn as we hear the door behind us open, in walks Lucius Malfoy, Asteria and a house elf. "Dobby." Harry speaks. "So this is your master. The family you serve is the Malfoys." Lucius looks down at the elf with a scowl. "I'll deal with you later." He mumbles under his breath. He walks in between Harry and I, pushing Harry aside with his cane. 

"So it's true. You have returned." Lucius mutters to Dumbledore. "When the governors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the chamber, they saw fit to summon me back." Dumbledore speaks, looking over his spectacles at the tall blond male. "Ridiculous." Mr. Malfoy groans, glaring down at Asteria. "Curiosity, Lucius, several of them were under the impression that you would curse their families if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place." Dumbledore speaks, exposing his intentions. "How dare you!" Lucius exclaims. "Beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asks calmly. "My sole concern has always been and will always be the welfare of this school and, of course, its students." Lucius lies. We all know he doesn't give a crap.

 "The culprit has been identified, I presume?" Malfoy questions, looking down at myself, Harry, Asteria and Dobby. "Oh, yes." Dumbledore answers. "And? Who was it?" Lucius answers to hurry Dumbledore along. Dumbledore looks at us as well. "Voldemort." He says confidently. "Ah." Lucius vocalizes. "Only this time he chose to act through somebody else by means of this." Dumbledore picks up Tom Riddles diary and shows it to him. "I see." He replies, pretending not to know anything about it. "Fortunately, our young Mr. Potter discovered it. One hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school-things should find their way into innocent hands. The consequences for the one responsible would be severe." Dumbledore continues on. "Well, let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." Lucius says, glaring at Harry. "Don't worry. I will be." Harry responds, not letting his eyes leave his. Dumbledore also shares a look at Mr. Malfoy. "Come, Dobby. Asteria. We're leaving." He says as he turns and spins his robe with him, Asteria following close behind him as he kicks Dobby out the door. 

Harry lowers the sword back onto Dumbledore's desk, looking like he was hatching a plan. "Sir? I wonder if I could have that?" He asks, looking towards the diary. "Be my guest." Dumbledore replies, gesturing towards the book. Harry slides off his shoe and sock, before throwing the shoe back over his bare foot. I watch, confused, until I see him place the sock inside the diary. He's going to free that poor elf. Good on him. I watch as he runs out of the room, about to follow, I'm stopped by Dumbledore's voice. "Atticus." He says softly, and I turn back to face him. "Yes, sir?" He clears his throat as he leans back in his chair for a moment. "When Harry brought up Tom earlier, I saw you shared some of his feelings, am I correct?" Dumbledore asks. I nod. "Tom- or.. Voldemort looked a lot like me.." I say softly, looking down at my feet. "Yes, you are related after all. If my calculations are correct, he's your.." He trails off for a moment. "Second cousin once removed." For a moment, I am speechless. "So if Tom - er- Voldemort dies then I would be..-" "The Heir of Slytherin. Yes, Atticus." Dumbledore confirms what I had already known. "But that doesn't mean you can go petrifying your classmates, now." He says with a soft chuckle. I laugh along. "I won't, I promise."