GAMES OF FATES (H.P/T.M.R)

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Lord Voldemort, or Tom Riddle as he was once known, had always prided himself on his control—over his emotions, his desires, and certainly over others. But Cassopiea Victoria Potter had managed to unravel that control, leaving him grappling with a sense of longing he had not felt in years. After her last outburst, filled with a raw mixture of anger, fear, and confusion, Voldemort had found himself teetering on the edge of recklessness. The urge to find her, to hold her close, and to shield her from the world's dangers was overwhelming. Yet, he knew that giving in to that urge would only push her further away.

For once, he chose patience. Cassopiea would soon return to Hogwarts, and when she did, they would have the time and space to talk. He would find a way to reach her, to show her that they were not enemies, that there was a path they could walk together. But that time was not now. Now, he needed to refocus.

Turning his attention back to the matters of power and legacy, Voldemort began to strategize his next moves. Reclaiming the seats of Slytherin and Ravenclaw in the Wizengamot had been a meticulous process, but one that was well underway. The Slytherin seat, a birthright passed down through generations, had been relatively straightforward. The Ravenclaw seat, though trickier, was falling into place as he leveraged his influence and cunning to remove obstacles and place his loyalists in positions of power.

However, the Peverell seat proved to be more elusive. According to the Peverell family charter, only descendants of the third brother, Ignotus Peverell, could inherit the family’s seat and legacy. It was an old, binding clause, and no matter how he tried to bend the rules, it remained steadfast. Frustration gnawed at him, but marvolo understood that there were other ways to secure his dominance within the wizarding world. The Peverell seat might be beyond his reach for now, but that did not mean he would let it slip through his fingers entirely. He would find another way.

Shifting his focus, Voldemort—or rather, Lord Marvolo Slytherin—began drafting a proposal for the upcoming Wizengamot session. His proposal was bold and progressive, something that would appeal to the wider wizarding community and solidify his reputation as a leader who had the best interests of all magical people at heart. He was proposing the establishment of a pre-school system for all magical children before they attended Hogwarts.

The idea was revolutionary. Currently, magical education did not formally begin until a child was eleven years old, leaving those formative early years untapped in terms of magical potential. By instituting pre-schools, young witches and wizards could begin their education earlier, ensuring that they were well-prepared for Hogwarts. This would not only enhance their magical abilities but also integrate them more fully into wizarding society from a young age.

Marvolo's proposal was carefully crafted to appeal to both the traditionalists and the progressives within the Wizengamot. To the traditionalists, he would argue that early education would preserve and strengthen the magical bloodlines, ensuring that the future generations were powerful and capable and if they still didn't agree, well, there is nothing in the world that can't be cured with a few well placed Crucios. To the progressives, he would present it as a step towards greater equality, allowing children from less privileged backgrounds to receive the same foundational education as those from the old wizarding families.

The proposal was also a strategic move. By championing education, Voldemort would position himself as a forward-thinking leader, one who cared about the future of wizarding society. It was a far cry from the dark lord persona that had once instilled fear in the hearts of many. Lord Marvolo Slytherin, however, was a respected member of society, a man of vision and influence, who had returned from his mysterious absence with ideas that would shape the future.

As he put the finishing touches on his proposal, Voldemort allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The dark lord may have taken a step back, but in his place stood a man who could achieve so much more. Lord Marvolo Slytherin was no less dangerous, no less ambitious, but his methods were subtler now, his plans more intricate. And in this guise, he could wield power in ways that Tom Riddle never could. The world was changing, and he would ensure that it changed in his favor.

But as he set down his quill, the image of Cassopiea flickered in his mind once more. Soon, he promised himself. Soon, they would be together, and then everything would fall into place.

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As Marvolo meticulously crafted his vision for the wizarding world, Cassopiea Potter made a decision that would change her life forever: she was leaving Great Britain. The choice had not been difficult; wizarding Britain had brought her nothing but pain and loss, and she wanted to sever ties with the place that had only ever hurt her and her family. The thought of staying, of continuing to live under the shadow of her so-called friends, filled her with dread. No, she needed a fresh start, and Shambhala Vidyashrama, a school nestled deep within the treacherous Himalayas, offered exactly that.

It was a decision that made perfect sense to her, but not to everyone around her—especially not to Sirius. He was beside himself with worry, not just because the journey to Shambhala was one that each student had to undertake alone, but because she was three months pregnant. The thought of her making such a perilous journey in her condition kept him up at night.

"Pia, my Bambi, are you absolutely sure about this?" Sirius asked, his voice laced with concern as he looked at his goddaughter, hoping she might reconsider.

"Yes, Paddy, I am absolutely sure," Cassopiea replied firmly, but with a gentle smile. "This gives me and my little one a reprieve from the wizarding world. There, he will be born safe and away from the limelight. I can’t think of a better place for us."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but was cut off by the sharp voice of Walburga Black’s portrait hanging on the wall. "Shut up, boy, she will be just fine," Walburga snapped, her tone brooking no argument. Then, her voice softened as she addressed Cassopiea. "And my darling, I am so proud of you. Did you know I once dreamed of going to study at Shambhala Vidyashrama before my foolish family married me off to that stupid man, your grandfather? I had one idiotic child and another who was always depressed."

Cassopiea couldn't help but smile brightly at the unexpected support. "Thanks, Grammy."

"You two never listen to me!" Sirius protested, sounding more like a dramatic, worried father than a godfather.

"Shut up!" Cassopiea and Walburga said in unison, rolling their eyes in a way that made Sirius pout, his worry momentarily forgotten.

Before the banter could continue, Kreacher popped into the room, his small form bowing low as he addressed his mistress. "Little Mistress, I have pulled out everything you asked for. If you would come and check, we can finally finish packing!"

"Of course!" Cassopiea said, her tone bright with anticipation as she left the room with Kreacher. The thought of her new life in Shambhala, far from the reaches of those who had hurt her, filled her with a sense of hope she hadn't felt in years.

Sirius watched her leave, a mix of pride and concern etched on his face. He knew Cassopiea was strong, stronger than most, but that didn't stop him from worrying. With a heavy sigh, he collapsed onto the couch, running a hand through his hair. "She's doing the right thing, I know she is," he muttered to himself. But knowing that didn't make it any easier to let her go.

As he lay back, staring up at the ceiling, Sirius couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. He wished he could protect her from everything, but he also knew that Cassopiea had to find her own way. And if that way led her to the remote mountains of the Himalayas, then he would just have to trust that she would be safe. She was James and Lily's daughter, after all—a fighter, a survivor. He could only hope that the world beyond the one they knew would be kinder to her and her unborn child.