The Towers that Eclipes Darkshire

[Tom Marvolo Riddle]

The castle had long since finished taking its final outward form, but I knew it was far from complete. That sense of growth though was I something infused it with to be forever evolving. Like a tree made of stone, brick and mortar it would forever be growing and evolving as long as magic and omnilium to be had as fuel for it. For as long as my will be done.

That had a good ring to it.

Hogwarts was once again my home truly, but more than anything my first aspiration had been attained in a timely manner at that. Though there had been several consternations to that plan alone was only a minor setback. The question that really had me questioning my abilities though was the summoning of two children who had been my ultimate undoing. Luck it seemed had them at the ideal point in their lives where they both recognized and still trusted me, though I suspect Ginny still had some idea that she was the Heir of Slytherin.

That was something I’d have disabuse her of such a notion. Carefully.

But there we here now, nothing I could do about that without risk of causing issues that were upcoming to my own rise to power. Nealaphh had been right that experimentation was the only score by which we could measure ourselves and the potential we wielded, but with two onlookers that was hardly an able skill especially when there was a need to use live test subjects. It delayed us by a day though been in itself profitable in refining Nealaphh’s needs of the Embassy to match and it also allowed me to assess the limits of my creativity.

Suffice it to say, bending reality to my whim was a minor task in the seat of my power, and the minds of two preteens and their endless suggestions added to the scope of the place, if only in minor details. It also wore them out thoroughly while distracting them from their own plights. A situation for which while I was cognizant of, did not wish to explore to its fullest depth. When they did begin to droop though it left me the final task of seeing to them to personal quarters I had constructed near my own to where I could observe them as needed.

But at the moment, there were out from underfoot and in no need to for me to mind them.

With a motion I sealed the door to anyone but them and myself, and more so I placed a monitoring charm should either or both wake lest their minds be poisoned against me by the events that would soon transpire. Events which I had been looking forward to since my companion of sorts had broached the topic.

There are a number subject for which we can appropriate in the village. The telepath evoked. Glancing in his direction, I saw the shadows shift, briefly with the flutter of wings, then filled with the humanoid form that I associated more closely with Nealaphh.

I grimaced and shook my head, “No I may need of that population and should it come back to us…” I said trailing off before I realized the obvious solution. I did not know of my compatriot’s humanity but I had apparently experience enough to recreate those two… Such a thing had to be repeatable. In which case it would give us more experimental material than I- we could ever want for.

A means of testing spells that had previously been only practiced in theory with no substance to prove the result. It would make this venture worthwhile.

Taking a breath, “Come, I need to show you what I prepared for us before we were interrupted earlier.” It took no effort to glide down the halls, each step as familiar as they had been fifty years ago. More so even, it was intuitive, as anything that was mine should be.

Passing by the Great Hall I led the way to a fireplace and took a scoop of the ash grey powder and tossed it into indent. Emerald flame erupted in a roar as I spoke in parsletongue.

“Open the Path to the Dungeons.” I hissed

With a beckoning motion to Nealaphh, I walked into the cool-heat.