Eclipsing the Dunes

[Tom Marvolo Riddle]

I let out a whistle when we finally crested the last major dune. A monument to the best in sandstone architecture erupted silently and motionlessly from the horizon. Nipur that was laid out before me in the distance that was impressive even when partially obscured by the heat waves coming off the terrain. It made me wonder how I’d be doing without magic or if I had an actual human body. Instead I was something indestructible or close to it provided I was careful, and luckily mostly blind mundane heat.

“Ahem, Mr. Riddle.” My hat said with a rather sudden movement that I had completely forgotten about. Its leathery folds rolled once as if to express itself to the most in terms of emotion that I had imparted into it. Much of the Hat’s weight shifted by using the tail-head like appendage, which must have been to some goal as it gave me the distinct impression that it would like to whack me more than figuratively.

It was an odd sensation that really took me back. Back enough that I nearly tripped over my feet in a very mortal manner as me and Nealaphh descended the dune. “Yes? What happened to internal contact?”

The Sorting Hat shuddered in perhaps annoyance, the sense I was getting confirmed it. With its voice, it was overkill, “You didn’t notice it in your musings about the city. Anyways it’s not much of a concern; your message upon the Dataverse has a reply.”

Pulling the hat back down tightly onto the crown of my head; I focused on the senses that bridged my body to the construct that was currently housing my consciousness. I pushed into the Dataverse or the sensation of such that the Hat provided with its legilimency wrought powers. The message I was looking for appeared in front of my eyes like a light written conjuration. It was a subtle glow that was impossible to miss in exceptional handwriting.

I frowned thoughtfully, nearly dismissed it, but read it over again. Crude though it was several details did catch my notice. Crucial details. The mentioning of Harry Potter for one who nearly killed me permanently and a reference to a book that most certainly could not be me. More specifically it couldn’t because I had left no allusions to myself in the original post. ‘Loser with no nose’ was lost on me, beyond someone having taken spell damage, though villainy reference gave me a hint. I could swear that Gellert had been handled by Dumbledore, Ginny had at least been well informed in that regard. My other half’s demise had also been assured as far as the media was concerned. I knew better.

What if my Horcruxes hadn’t done their full job in protecting the body of Voldemort? What would a resurrection spell cost and what kind of damage would it incur? It was a curious thought based on a lot of assumptions. Finding out Dumbledore had existed here had been easy enough. But this was something else. A book or a series? That was concerning given they were centered around Harry Potter.

What would be my part in such a historical document? How much was revealed.

I shook my head, “Bookmark it, but don’t bring it up again in mixed company.” The hat nodded and deepened the gloom around my head in shade even as I looked to Crow out of the corner of my eye. I took a breath as I found the beginnings of a road, but my mind had other concerns to which I voiced, “If I could ask a favor of you Nealaphh, if you need to introduce me, introduce me as David Monroe. I fear I may have brought a reputation with me that would not be conducive to your plans or mine. Especially if we are to push the studies of this multiverse.”