The Return Of The Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 6- Limited Time?

I see a very stupid dream this night. Voldemort (the green one and without the nose) is wearing Hogwarts robes and Dumbledore is teaching him Transfiguration. Then Dream Snape barges into the class room and shoots an Avada Kedavra towards him. Suddenly Evans appears between Voldemort and Dream Snape and gets shot instead. She falls to the ground and the scene changes. Dumbledore, the one in the portrait 59 years hence, appears in front of Snape.

"So, how's it going Severus?" he asks.

"You know that I am stuck." Dream Snape growls.

"You really want to teach Lord Voldemort? That's ridiculous" He says teasingly.

"Yeah, so very true, isn't it?" Dream Snape says sarcastically.

"Don't worry. You are on the right path. It was unfortunate that Headmaster Dippet noticed you. But I'm sure Dippet won't let it out. It will be wise not to tell anyone else. As far as Dippet's suggestion of not killing Tom is concerned, I think he is right. You cannot kill an innocent child for no valid reason." Dumbledore advises.

"First thing: who told me to do this? You. Second thing: you're telling me not to kill Voldemort? You know what he has done, don't you? Even in his second year, Riddle must have been just as bad. Don't tell me you've gotten a soft part for him." Dream Snape exclaims.

"No, I haven't. But I've come to tell you that you've got limited time to finish the task and come back. The time turner is losing its power, there has been a mistake while making it. Also...."

"How much time?" I interrupt curiously.

"seven days, maximum."

"Have you lost your head? If I get only seven days to finish that filth off, I can't." I exclaim.

"Who said you've got to kill him? If you manage to change his mind, then it's well and good. But I can't tell you how."

"You...." Dream Snape curses and the dream ends and I wake up with a start.

-----

Today is the First of September, the start of the term at Hogwarts. Today's the day, I'll not only be meeting young Lord Voldemort but also my mother, as a second year. It's about seven in the evening. The next thing I know is that I am walking along the corridor towards the Great Hall for breakfast.

I'm sure it'll be the same as every start of the term. And sure it is. In less than five minutes, the Hall is filled with students from second years to seventh years. I frantically search for Riddle at the Slytherin Table. I catch the Headmaster's eye and he gives me a look which I don't understand.

Just then, I notice Riddle- a young boy, a dark green eyed, black-haired, pale-skinned kid sitting beside a girl who I bet, is Belatrix Legstrange, no, Belatrix Black. I'm surprised how much she looks like Sirius, her cousin. Never before in my life have I pitied a dog as much as I do today. Her jet black curly hair all messed up into a rough bun on the top. A white tendril hangs down the front of her face, giving her a real I love to be a horribly wicked jerk look. She sticks to Riddle as though he has been covered with glue and he looks just as annoyed.

Surrounding them are whom I realize Voldemort's future Death Eaters. A boy looking very much like Lucius Malfoy keeps whispering something in someone looking like Mcnair's ear and then staring at me. I arc my eyebrow and they look away. Then, I notice my mother. She looks much more beautiful than I do but has the same eyes. I realize that I am starring. At the moment, Eileen Prince is not my mother, but my student, I should remember that. But again, I've come here for murdering, not teaching. I don't get a chance to see the others as McGonagall enters with crowd of first years for the sorting ceremony.

After the ceremony, Dippet gives a welcome speech, introduces me and the feast begins. It seems to be a lifetime since I stuffed myself with food at Hogwarts.