AN: Thank you to those who reviewed and add this story to alerts. and i want to thank my beta for doing this for me and for still sticking around.

Chapter 58: There is something about Neville?

"You know for every 60 seconds you spend angry is a full minute of happiness you will never get back." Jessie, an extremely cheery Jessie told Tom. Tom growled in agitation, there was nothing more annoying than Jessie in a good mood, and she had no reason to be in such a good mood other than to annoy him.

"Shut up." Tom ordered, she had been talking non-stop since they left the train platform. And Tom had lost his patience a long time ago and wished that he was not forced to sit in the compartment with her and the adults as part of his prolonged punishment. The other three got to sit where ever they wanted.

"Make me." Jessie said in a taunting voice, smirking when Tom's eyes flashed red, they only did that when he was extremely angry. Tom had, had it, ever since he was de-aged to his sixteen year old self the children did nothing but disrespect him and was done with it. He was up and out of his seat towering above her with her chin in his hand making her look him in the eye.

"Jessica Snape." If the adults didn't know already know who Jessie's father was they knew now, "I've held my patience with you and the others long enough. Do not be fooled by the appearance of my younger self, you keep this attitude and disrespectable behavior up and I will throw you over my knee and remind you just who you are dealing with. Do you understand?"

"Yes." She said, she was not expecting this, she should have been.

"Yes what?"

"Yes, sir."

He nodded in approval and let her go. Amused and satisfied that the warning had it desired effect.

"Tom!" James started, Tom turned towards James giving him a look that said what do you, think you are going to do about it.

"That was not…" James was cut of my Dumbledore.

"Now James, you must remember Tom is much older than them and has already established a parental relationship with them. I do believe it is well within his right to demand the respect he is used to having from them."

Tom was annoyed when he learned the old man was going to be traveling with them; it was not standard for the headmaster to be on the train. But he was now feeling grateful, but that feeling passed quickly when he realized the man he was feeling grateful for.

Jessie looked over at Tom; she had stepped over the line numerous times since their arrival. She enjoyed Tom's annoyance and usually could get away with it and with his new appearance and lack of control over his emotions it was even easier to bait him. But she really did forget that he was a parent figure while she was growing up and still demanded that kind of respect. And he could have been the cold, unfeeling Dark Lord towards her, but he opened up and let her in and for that she should feel grateful.

She leaned on him, Tom huffed thinking that she was back to her annoying antics he was about to tell her off and maybe even fulfill that promise to her but when he turned to face her he seen the overly cheery smile was gone and a more thoughtful, serious expression was there instead.

"Sorry for being a pain in the ass." She whispered, reminding him of the fifteen year old he first met.

James and Severus watched as Tom gave Jessie an endearing smile and put an arm around her to pull her closer. "Well it is expected. Give it a one minute rebound and you will be doing another pain in the ass thing." He joked.

If someone told James that he would witness any counterpart of the Dark Lord lovingly care for a child they way he had seen in the few short weeks he had, he would of committed them to Saint Mungo's. The Dark Lord's counterpart, whom they all called Tom, was intriguing. With his body and mind affected by his change in age his mood swings were dramatic. One day he would be a mature adult. Like he was right now with Jessie, then his teenage impulses would take hold and in walked an unreasonable, defiant teenager who was a force to be reckoned with.

James pinched the bridge of his nose in memory of the week he had. Tom had to be the most obnoxious person he had ever met. When helping around the house he complained constantly, then did a half ass job at the tasks assigned to him. He broke the vacuum, flooded the washer and vanished the roasting pan when it wouldn't come clean. And the apology letter to Lucius. Well he did say he was sorry numerous times…sort of.

It read as follows:

Dear Lucius Malfoy,

I apologize. I apologize that your pitiful ego was insulted and your boastful pride torn into shreds, when I put you in your proper place at my feet begging for mercy. I am also sorry that you so spitefully ran to Dumbledore because let's face it even the teenage version of me is far more talented, knowledgeable and more powerful than you. I know that pisses you off, deal with it and I may be remorseful over the incident that occurred but by Merlin if I am ever left in a room with you alone I will make the Dark Lord of this world seem like a bumbling first year Hufflepuff. And if in the future I would greatly appreciate it if you would hold you slimy tongue to appropriate comments thus saving us the trouble of these pleasantries. And be warned the only thing that is keeping me from relapsing, into all of my dark tendencies is Draco and Draco's piss poor replacement, the child you call a son. I will not be so generous if you do not cease these unbecoming words. If you don't, not even hiding behind Dumbledore's robes will save you. I hope you accept my sincerest apology.

Thomas Riddle

The Dark Lord that finds you completely useless.

Lily wanted to make him rewrite the letter but Dumbledore decided that bygones should be bygones. Angering him now would only push him further away and today was the last day and that meant freedom for them all. He purposely made himself a nuisance the whole time and if James was a weaker man he would of thrown his hands up and gave up. Letting Riddle do whatever he pleased.

Tom looked out the window to witness their arrival. The majestic castle loomed in the distance. Every muscle in Tom's body tensed up and an ache he had never noticed before seemed to ease instantly at the slight of her enchanting beauty. This was where everything started. Where his dreams began, his goals created and ambition realized his whole entire empire started here. The sight, the feeling overwhelmed him and it felt as if he was finally coming home.

For the second time in her life she stood at the front door of the legendary castle with Draco and Harry at her side. That first time seemed like a lifetime ago. And the castle and everyone's excitement was still as overrated as it had been the first time. Jessie just was not impressed. Stepping on to Dumbledore territory was stupid. He controlled this castle and everyone in it. She hated walking the thin line of a student when she surpassed most of the teachers.

For Draco this moment was not as sentimental as Harry's or Tom's or even as memorable as Jessie's. It was an annoyance. Yes he enjoyed reading and learning new information but this was plain ridiculous. Draco loved challenges and looking at the grand castle he knew he was going to get anything but. Tom and the others taught them what they taught here and beyond.

"Sorted? We are going to be sorted?" Draco was dragged out of his thoughts. They were now in the hallway at the doors to the great hall, waiting with Professor McGonagall.

"Yes Mr. Mal- Anderson." McGonagall was able to correct herself.

Harry snorted. "I would laugh; no I would die of laugher if Tom got Gryffindor."

Jessie hid a smile but Draco and Tom did not see the humor in that, both giving Harry a look of disgust.

"You know dear brother it would be more likely for you to get Slytherin than the Heir of Slytherin to get Gryffindor. Considering, there is the fact that you are constantly surrounded by Slytherins." Jesse was leaning against the wall looking smug as Harry's face dropped in realization. Harry cursed the Damn Hat that wanted to place him in to Slytherin in the first place, stating it would make him great. Ha, I proved that hat wrong.

"Not Happening! I am a Gryffindor through and through. Luna, tell the slimy Slytherins they are wrong." Harry was not so secretly having a panic attack.

"I would Harry but you have forgotten that the hat did want you in Slytherin the first time." Her musical voice was usually reassuring and soothing, well not today.

McGonagall opened the door. "I would like you to welcome our exchange students who have studied abroad and now are finishing their final year here." Dumbledore introduced. A small applause was heard through the Hall.

"Thomas Riddle." Tom kept his name, there was no need to cover up his identify. It was not like anyone would know, plus he flat out refused to answer to anything other than that.

Tom, regal as ever step up to the platform and before he even sat on the stool the hat rant our "Slytherin!" Tom smirked at Draco as he stepped down and lazily strolled toward the Slytherin table recognizing several of the students.

"Drake Anderson." They changed Draco's name a bit. The name Draco teamed with Malfoy looks would be a dead giveaway.

While Tom looked Regal, Draco had natural grace that screamed pureblood, with an aura of control and power. He sat upon the stood as if it were a throne. The hat hovered about his head and as in his first year the hat yelled out "Slytherin!" Draco stood proudly as he looked towards his father from the corner of his eye.

Tom was amused at the dark look on Draco's face as he smirked back a Tom. Draco fully masked with a Slytherin superiority made the Slytherins around Tom squirm in anticipation, they knew something big was going to happen.

"Luna Anderson." Drake Anderson's twin sister, it was Jessie's idea.

Skipping up to the platform she sat on the stool and stared aimlessly at the starry night ceiling. Tom hid back a smile at her carefree expression even though he knew she was furious still. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and after a bit of deliberation the hat rang out "Gryffindor." shocking Tom enough that he dropped his mask of indifference and stared gob smacked as his girlfriend smiled warmly at him and preceded to skip back to the Gryffindor table were Hermione sat. He was dating a Gryffindor!

"She doesn't seem like a bright one." Pansy jibbed, she was not prepared for the glare 'Drake' and Tom gave her. But what unnerved her more was the fact after a second Tom gave her a cruel smile. He loved when people underestimated his Luna.

"Jessica Snape." Jessie smiled to herself at the collective gasp heard through the hall. She smirked at her father loving the fear her name came with here. They decide it was not harm to let Jessie keep her name and her father. the crowd around her erupted in commotion of the fact the sour potion master had a daughter. Jessie squared her shoulders sat down and waited for the hat to decide her fate.

"Slytherin." Jessie joined her boyfriend.

"Harrison Evans." Harry stepped up to the stool glanced at the hat and once again prayed it wasn't Slytherin. But this time he was not afraid he would turn into a evil wizard. If he got Slytherin now he would literally never hear the end of it from his sister and friends. So he prayed for Gryffindor for reasons of pride.

McGonagall placed the hat on his head. The hat hummed with thought. "What a powerful bunch, intriguing you are not using your real names" The hat chuckled on his head as if he had figured out some amazing secret.

"Place me in Gryffindor." Harry commanded.

"Hmmm, very pushy, be patient."

"I will set you on fire and dance on your ashes if I am not place where I want, understood."

"Slytherin would….."

"Make me great yada yada, heard it all before and I really don't care."

"As you wish…. Gryffindor."

Harry let out a sigh of relief when the damnable hat put him where he belonged. Stepping off the platform he headed towards Luna who was sitting by Hermione and Ron, his normal spot. Only now they didn't even know him, they were not friends. He looked back at his best friend, sister and mentor; maybe it was a bad choice but looking at his parents he saw how proud they were. Squaring his shoulders he stood tall and walked the rest of the way to his table.

"You alright Harry, you looked as if you were having a panic attack up there." Ron asked

"He is fine. He was freaking because he thought he was about to be placed in Slytherin."

Luna said as she dumped a healthy amount of pudding on her plate.

Ron choked on his pork as he eyed Harry, "Slytherin."

Harry gave him a sheepish look. "You know Luna, Tom would have your head if he saw that you only took chocolate pudding."

"What Tom doesn't know won't hurt him." Luna warned

Harry rolled his eyes. She was supposed to one of the nice ones.

Landon came down and sat down by Harry. He lent over the table and whispered, "Neville is back at Hogworts."

Harry was confused. He did not see the need to be so hush, hush about that or how Hermione and Ron got nervous. And as if on cue the doors opened…

In walked Neville with a small entourage of what Harry knew was Order members. This was not the same Neville he was used to seeing, he remembered seeing Neville at his parent's house. Was he that consumed with rage over his sisters disappearance that he failed to see the change in the usually meek boy? Harry turned to the others to see if they seen what he was seeing.

Tom eyed Longbottom, this was not the usual bumbling idiot he had witnessed while the boy was in his care. This was a fully war trained fighter. Tom could tell by the way he held himself. Something was not right, especially with the stunned silence that reigned in the hall. They were not accustomed to seeing the boy. Eyes locking with Harry they both heard the whispers. Neville was the chosen one. And Harry knew that meant he was the one the prophecy applied to.

None of them expected this.

"Well I'll be damned. This changes things." The musical voice was clear as day, and it sent a chill up his spine to hear Luna talking like that.

"He is going to be killed, there is no way he can take on the Dark Lord. " Harry whispered furiously to Luna.

"This is not the same Nev…"

She was cut of the intense glare. "I don't care."

Harry watched as Neville slid into the spot by Dean Thomas and clasped hands with Seamus.

Draco was already aware of Harry's mind process. He knew Harry was in denial about Neville's abilities and plan already started forming in his head.

After the feast Harry and Luna came up to the others. Harry was raring to go and get a huge speech he already planed out but was stopped short by Draco.

"Not now Harry; too many ears." Everyone was being dismissed to their common rooms. The group looked at each other one last time before separating to their own houses.

Snape droned on and on about rules and expectation before he finally excused himself for the night. Once the room was cleared of the head of house Blaise Zabini pounced as the three were about to head to the boy dormitories.

"Now for the rules the Professor forgot to announce. No Befriending Gryffindors." Two problems happen at once. They forgot about the hierarchy of the Slytherin house and two; Tom and Draco were both on top during their own time at Hogwarts.

Tom and Draco started the other down, neither of them budging. Jessie sighed annoyed, too much male pride going on for her.

Tom caved it would no longer be fun. Powering over these Slytherins who he witnessed grow up. Draco had more claim than him. "Fine."

"It is good that you agreed because consequences to befriending …"Blaise did not get to finish.

"He was not talking to you. You low rate excuse of a wizard." Draco said, this was not his Blaise, he felt on connection to him. His Blaise would of never drew his wand on him.

"Do you realize who I am?" Blaise was livid. And Draco was still not impressed; he folded his arms, even with Zabini's wand trained on him. The smug look on the blonds face infuriated the Italian even more. Because of that he sent a semi-powerful cutting hex but it never reached Draco. He wandlessly and without uttering a word threw up a shield that absorbed the attack.

Blaise's dark eyes narrowed, a second before he was thrown against the wall. Draco casually walked up to him as he crumbled to the floor. "Things, Zabini, are about to change."

"Bastard, my mom…."

"Is a whore who is on her sixth, seventh husband. Blaise, you do not know who I am…and here's some insight in case you haven't noticed. I will not take orders from you."

Blaise got up and shoved past Draco. "This will not be the end of this."

Alexander looked at his brother with awe. "That was amazing you have to teach me to do that kind of magic."

Harry studied Neville. He noticed everything about him was different. From the way he walked, to the way he held himself. he was able to talk with a confidence he never had before. Harry was pet peeved.

"You are becoming obsessive." Luna whispered in his ear.

"I just don't get it!" Harry was a tad annoyed. He eyed Hermione and Ron talking quietly in the corner. They were the only ones who truly knew what happed with them. He trusted Hermione with everything he had, even this version of her.

He made his way to them "Hey guys me and the others are meeting in the room of requirements before dinner tomorrow. Io would really appreciate it if you could come."

Hermione looked at him, she was trying to figure him out, he could tell. She would be watching his every move. "This is about Neville isn't it?"

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance that she said it in a room full of ears, Hermione both squirmed a bit as they felt a pressure fall on them and quickly fade. "You can cast wandlessly and non-verbal" she felt the muffling charm that he placed around them.

"Yes, it is about Neville but we cannot talk here. Tomorrow please we need information."

Ron scowled while looking at the new Neville. "We'll be there." Ron looked at Harry than, it was obviously that Ron did not like Neville for whatever reason.

"I want to go too." Harry jumped, he was not used to being caught off guard but Landon freaked him out right there.

Once his heart stop feeling like it was going to pound out of his chest he answered his brother "No."

"Come on Harry please."

"No."

"I will tell mom and dad you're making secret meetings."

"They will understand." Harry was amazed at how quickly they fell in to the sibling blackmail.

"They will understand when I say that Mione and Ron are involved too." Landon looked smug, rightfully so too. One of the conditions was not to corrupt the kids here. But if his brother was anything like the rest of them he would have to say too late.

"Fine."

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