A Common Adversary - Tumblr Posts
hi, i’d like to introduce my fic
The anatomy of a young Dark Lord is complicated. That of a mysteriously-alive Obscurial, doubly so. In which Tom Riddle manages to trap himself in his own Horcrux, Harry Potter has a (mostly) cooperative sister and a parasitic magical force that’s trying to kill him, the diary falls into the wrong hands, and Lord Voldemort has a plan.
My current WIP (well, one of my current ones) is Running From My Destiny.
Genre: Drama, with some hints of Suspense and Mystery
Rating: M, for the later books and portraying Death Eaters up close
Where: FFN or AO3!
Update schedule: Saturdays, ~1-2 PM EST
It’s a (hopefully) new spin on a few popular fanfic tropes, the combination of which I’m pretty sure I haven’t stumbled across yet: Harry Potter has a twin sister, and he’s an Obscurial, and Tom Riddle screws up the Diary Horcrux, and gets stuck, awake for fifty years, because a student experimenting with Dark magic can’t possibly go wrong... can it?
Oh, and the sister has nothing to do with the prophecy, so there’s no double Chosen One or WBWL subplot, for better or for worse.
It’s intended to be a plot-driven, full canon divergence/rewrite, exploring magical lore, morality and the path to evil, taking canon too literally and featuring a scarier-than-canon Voldemort, with influences from child psych and attachment theory, and free will. A lot of the first arc will be devoted to the missing scenes in the Riddle-era leading up to Myrtle’s murder, also.
Everyone is sympathetic if you get to know them well enough, but not everyone is good, and that’s okay.
P.S. I also did this mostly-canon character analysis of Tom/Voldemort a few weeks ago. And here’s another one where I mostly complain that he’s a badly written villain and pull character motivations out of nowhere.
First Year related posts and excerpts here.
Second Year related posts and excerpts here.
Third Year related posts and excerpts here.
Fourth Year related posts and excerpts here.
What if after everything I’ve been through, something’s gone wrong… inside me? What if I’m becoming bad?
The anatomy of a young Dark Lord is complicated. That of a mysteriously-alive Obscurial, doubly so. Of course, Lord Voldemort has a plan; but Harry Potter has a nosy Slytherin sister.
FFN|AO3
ꪖ ᥴꪮꪑꪑꪮꪀ ꪖᦔꪜꫀ᥅ᦓꪖ᥅ꪗ
⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎… ⋙ █▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ↺1%
The Hospital Wing, white, clean, and scented with fresh linens and morning air, was nearly empty. It was a peaceful scene, the soft breeze blowing at the white, floor-sweeping curtains, the pale light twinkling on the shiny marble tiles.
A voice rang out, disturbing the halcyon atmosphere.
“Why are you still here?”
“I haven’t got anything better to do,” T. M. Riddle pointed out, a large grimoire propped open in his hands, and balanced precariously on his foot, which was crossed over his knee. His plain black robes gave him a scholarly air, accentuated by his habit of irritatedly pushing away the obsidian lock of hair that kept falling into his pale face and distracting him from his reading.
Ruby Potter turned her head, and glared. If she could, she would have made a rude hand gesture, but her fingers were still sore from the burns, peeling and flaking. Most disturbingly, the flesh there was turning crimson, as if her hands had been permanently stained.
“I wish,” she said, to no one in particular, “that you would go away.”
To tell the truth, she was sick of seeing his face in her dreams. They were not nice dreams, although Ruby thought it might be even more unsettling if they were.
“Life isn’t about getting what you want,” Tee responded almost instantly. “To answer your first question: I’ve been in that room all year and I’m tired of it, I can’t read in the library, because Remus Lupin’s glowering and passive-aggressive shelf-stocking is distracting, I don’t fancy the dungeons, and the Hospital Wing has the best light.”
He clicked his tongue, his face a mask of displeasure. “Satisfied?”
Both looked up as the door to the Hospital Wing swung open, two sets of footsteps ringing out across the floor. The first set belonged to a tall, elderly wizard in bright purple robes patterned all over with constellations, with a pair of half-moon spectacles perched on his long, crooked nose. The second also belonged to a bespectacled wizard, this one with hair that stuck out at all angles; notably, his school robes were too short for him and needed to be let out, since he had recently grown quite considerably.
“I hope Harry and I are not interrupting?” called Albus Dumbledore, his serene voice seeming to float in the air.
Tee had grown even paler. He shut his book with a loud snap, sending up a visible plume of dust, and scrambled to his feet.
“Of course not. I was just leaving.”
Dumbledore laid a hand on Tee’s shoulder, causing him to flinch. “Do stay, Tom. I wished to speak to you as well.”
⋘ 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡… ⋙
Harry: Oh, and I almost forgot. Ron was looking after Hephaestus— Ruby: You let Ronald Weasley look after my cat?
ꪖ ᥴꪮꪑꪑꪮꪀ ꪖᦔꪜꫀ᥅ᦓꪖ᥅ꪗ
Mordred, the inhabitant of Slytherin’s Locket, was defeated, but not before sowing his own legacy of chaos: forcing Ruby Potter to make a prophecy, grievously injuring Sirius Black, and destroying the artifice that keeps Hogwarts separate from the rest of the world. The Ministry of Magic crumbles further as Umbridge rises; a strange army emerges to snuff out the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry Potter is drawn to his fate; T. M. Riddle's remains uncertain. A confrontation approaches.
FFN|AO3
Chapter One: Trial By Fire
Tee repays a debt and makes a promise. The professors debate on the chaos of the world outside. Dumbledore sets Snape a task. Harry and Ruby try to get a grasp of the situation. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3
Harry didn’t think Neville, like a lot of people at Hogwarts, had ever gotten over Theodore Nott’s revelation, or the suspicion that Ruby had been the one poisoning everyone.
Well — that, and the fact that the events of a few weeks ago had been hastily covered up. There was no way to explain what had happened with Mordred without explaining that Voldemort had Horcruxes, and so, Dumbledore had left his explanation as vague as possible.
A few years ago, I stood before you, and said that dark forces were attempting to penetrate Hogwarts — the defences that surround us, as well as those within us. Since that day, we have faced many grave threats. And it was a grave threat indeed that we faced last night.
Dark forces are at work within this school. Voldemort’s forces. A servant of his was thwarted last night.
Harry recalled looking out across the silent, anxious crowd. His eyes had been drawn to the Slytherin table, to Theodore Nott, staring up at Dumbledore.
And everything in him had filled with hate.
This servant, this instrument of darkness, attempted to drive wedges between us, to weaken us. Know this — if we do not stand together, regardless of House, regardless of blood status — we shall surely fall.
Chapter Two: In Need of Assistance
Umbridge takes power. The Order sets up residence. Snape returns to his old master. Riddle and Dumbledore go shopping. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3
“—And you still wish to spy for me, to spy on the Order of the Phoenix, and more importantly, Dumbledore?” Voldemort leaned forward, his red eyes widening.
“I do,” said Snape unflinchingly. His expression, his manner, his mind — they all were the image of the same single-minded, transparent dedication Lord Voldemort so admired.
“Have you not developed a fondness for your Headmaster? You have known him for far longer than you knew me.”
Lifting his head to look directly into Voldemort’s eyes, Snape said: “I swore an oath, My Lord, an oath to you and you only. Now that the Ministry has forced Hogwarts to close for the summer, I may move about freely.”
Voldemort regarded him for a long time in silence.
“Good,” he said finally. “That is very good, Severus.” And then, “What of the boy?”
“Potter,” spat Snape with obvious distaste, “is hidden with the Order.”
Likely under a Fidelius as well as the blood protection. But that is not the boy I meant. Let us see: will he catch on?
Chapter Three: Sunlight and Secrets
Voldemort gives a performance review. The Order meets at 12 Grimmauld Place. Ruby confronts Tee. Sirius and the kids go to a street party. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore." Harry realised, with some discomfort, that the role of host had fallen to him. "Sirius's in the kitchen — I'll go get him. If you'd all like to, er, wait in the drawing room…"
As the crowd then moved in that direction, murmuring amongst themselves, Harry turned and started to go downstairs, only to catch sight of a figure in dark robes just behind Dumbledore continuing down the hall.
It can't be, he reasoned, as he went down the stairs. Him being at Hogwarts is bad enough; being around the Order of the Phoenix — who knows what he might repeat, and to who — never mind what he might do!
When Harry descended to the bottom of the stairs, Sirius was, not as he had previously said, trying to check the cutlery for curses, but instead sat at the kitchen table and gazing into space.
"The Order's here," said Harry, but Sirius didn't hear him.
"Sirius," he said, louder. "The Order—"
"I heard," said Sirius acidly. "They're here."
Chapter Four: Unwelcome Arrivals
Harry and Ruby return to Hogwarts. Two unexpected arrivals turn up at the feast. Dumbledore and Snape plot. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
"Oh, there you are," said Hermione, elbowing her way through the crowd. "Come on, we don't want to be late for schedules."
Hermione said schedules as if the schedules were tickets to a blockbuster film.
At least someone's starting off the year in a good mood, thought Harry as they filtered into the Great Hall. He tried to ignore the snatches of conversation.
"That Potter, he's probably up to no good again."
"Still think he isn't a Dark Lord?"
"I'll bet anything he's the one who destroyed the wards."
It was impossible to ignore — not with the staring and pointing. Harry's already low mood plummeted to the ground as he followed Ron and Hermione to the Gryffindor table. Professor McGonagall was already moving along the table, handing out schedules.
Ron uttered a low groan as if he had been wounded.
"What?" asked Hermione, already absorbed in colour-coding.
"Double Defence, first thing in the morning."
Hermione shook her quill at him, dripping cobalt blue ink. "Oh, get off it, Ron, he's only your brother!"
Chapter Five: Forcing Moves
Mafalda makes a shocking discovery. Harry and Hermione are suspicious of Bill Weasley's motives. Ruby consults Dumbledore. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
"You should go home and rest," said Tonks, her hair dark and lank, eyes wide with worry. She fiddled with the lid of the flask, screwing it back on hesitantly as if she expected Mafalda to need another draught.
"I'm fine," said Mafalda through her teeth. Now, a good amount of the Aurors were staring at them, peering curiously over the low tops of their open cubicles. She wished they would get back to their work; after all, it surely had to be more interesting than hers. "I just need to speak to Shacklebolt. Can one of you please go get him?"
Hassan crossed his broad arms, frowning. "What would you possibly need to say to Kingsley Shacklebolt?"
By the time he'd finished speaking, Tonks had already turned on her heel and left, presumably to find him. She had obviously assumed it was Order business.
Though her limbs were still weak, and her mind sluggish, Mafalda looked up at Hassan to respond: "More than you would assume, it appears."
A hysterical laugh nearly escaped her, and she pressed her hand to her mouth to keep it back.
His frown grew deeper. Hassan had just opened his mouth to speak when Tonks drew close again, Kingsley Shacklebolt striding after her. The latter nodded at Hassan as if to dismiss him; and Hassan slunk away, but, Mafalda noticed, still close enough to overhear if they spoke too loudly.
"What's going on, Mafalda?" asked Kingsley, and her head snapped up.
"I—" How could she? Who was she to deliver this news? How to even begin?
Start with the facts. Mafalda cleared her throat, her hands forming fists, the pain of her nails digging into the palm, anchoring her to reality. She willed her voice to be still.
no-context spoilers (ACA #6)
“Speaking nonsense, Potter?” asked Riddle, almost gloating. “You’re completely helpless … I could do anything to you and you wouldn’t be able to stop me, would you?”
He raised his hand, ropes shooting out the end of his wand again, but this time, Harry was too slow, and the binds shackled his hands and feet together, leaving him writhing on the floor, as helpless as Riddle had said. He shouted at him as Riddle stalked closer, but only incomprehensible babbling came out.
Riddle crouched down next to Harry, peering at him, a lock of dark hair falling almost demurely into his face. He felt the warm point of Riddle’s wand against his forehead, a tiny circle of phoenix fire.
“I could kill you right now, Harry. I could take your life. What will you do to stop me?”
Chapter Six: Death Becomes Her
Harry dreams of his mother's death. Dumbledore makes good on a promise. Tee and Anthony meddle. Ruby faces her Housemates. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
"Don't worry about it, Draco," said Theodore. "She's been funny since the incident last year."
You oily, greasy little sneak. Bile rose in her throat.
"By the way, not sure if any of you noticed, but there's something far more important than Quidditch this year, and that's O.W.L.s," said Daphne primly, and Ruby was grateful for the redirection.
"And some of us," she said, with a pointed glance at Crabbe and Goyle, "might need additional help."
"Oh, and are you volunteering as tutor, Daph?" asked Pansy, turning towards her with a simper. "That's so admirable. I suppose that's why you're the prefect."
"Durmstrang's level of teaching's far more advanced than Hogwarts'," Malfoy bragged. "I'm sure I must be at N.E.W.T. level by now. We started Conjuration fourth year."
Then I wonder who Crabbe and Goyle forced to do their homework.
"If only you could conjure a gag, to keep that running sore in the middle of your face shut," hissed Blaise through his teeth, his high-fashion-model features twisting in disgust.
"You sound like you're warming up to challenge me to a duel, Zabini," said Malfoy, spit flying from his mouth, "which is a really bad idea, because I'll have a lot to explain about your condition to Madam Pomfrey, and we'll both be expelled."
slytherins being slytherins
Chapter Seven: Little Shop of Horrors
Harry and Ruby consult Sirius and Lupin. On Halloween, T. M. Riddle tails the Ancient Runes lesson and uncovers a mysterious threat. Umbridge and Narcissa visit. Naturally, chaos ensues. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
Below them, the Great Hall had erupted into chaos, some students revelling in Umbridge’s fright, others clamouring and arguing amongst themselves, several shouting at Goldstein to shut up.
“Stop calling him a liar, I saw them too!” shouted Ruby, popping up from the Slytherin table to glare at everyone. The dark-skinned boy next to her was grinning ear to ear, looking around excitedly at the drama unfolding.
“Like anyone would believe her after what she did!”
“Well, they are probably telling the truth,” said a Ravenclaw, “that’s what you get for hanging around with a Potter, anyway!”
A redheaded boy at the Gryffindor table started to get up before Harry and the bushy-haired girl pulled him back down.
Tee chanced a look at Umbridge. She appeared to have been drained of all colour, her wet eyes wide, livid, and incredulous at her loss of control of the situation. The Potions Master’s schadenfreude seemed to have triumphed over his composure. Minerva looked even more annoyed than she had the entire evening as insults and jibes flew across the hall.
“Look, I just think we all need to calm down,” said a tall Hufflepuff in a diplomatic tone, standing and spreading his arms as if to steady a spooked horse.
"Don't worry about it," said Anthony, "I'm sure something insane will happen in the next few weeks and totally eclipse it." [ACA Chapter 5]
"SKKKKRSH!"
Daphne screamed, clutching at Ruby, who had backed into a display, sending its contents crashing to the floor. Tee whipped around, sick to his stomach, to meet a small, grey skeletal thing, rotted skin still clinging to its bones, limp clumps of blonde hair barely obscuring white, cloudy eyes.
"The sparks," Goldstein gulped out. "What about—"
...
"Incendio!" shouted Ruby, and the Inferius caught on fire with a loud, rushing BOOMF! "Anthony, stop trying to do the sparks!"
[Anthony] Goldstein stopped frantically fussing with his wand just as one of the Inferi swiped at him. "Petrificus Totalus!"
[ACA Chapter 7]
Chapter Eight: Tactics and Blunders
“Either you didn’t see them, or you’ve got a death wish. Anyway, the Aurors are looking into it already, what’re we going to do that they can’t?”
“For one,” said Hermione, from behind her newspaper, “they’ve finished the investigation.” Looking almost as severe as Professor McGonagall on a bad day, she folded up the newspaper and handed it to Ron.
Harry leaned forward, peering over his shoulder.
INFERI SIGHTING AT HOGSMEADE PROVEN TO BE A HOAX
Several Hogwarts students claimed to have encountered Inferi at a junk shop at Hogsmeade 31st of October; an Auror investigation proved this sighting to be a bad Halloween prank. Several charmed skeletons were found at the back of the shop, Stitches and Draughts, matching the eyewitness descriptions. With tensions high and the threat of the Dementors in very recent memory, the Auror Task Force explained, it is an easy, but unfortunate mistake. Graciously, the Minister herself—
“See!” said Ron, flushing with excitement. “I knew it!”
Anthony snatched the newspaper out of Ron’s hands, upsetting a tureen of cream of mushroom soup. His face grew redder and redder as he scanned the article, eyes narrowing.
Hermione exchanged a worried look at Harry.
It did seem a little… convenient, thought Harry, as he slowly watched the Prophet crumple around Anthony’s grip.
“You seriously believe this rubbish over me?” asked Anthony, in that same, icy tone. “Come on, we all know the Prophet isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
“Can’t disagree with that,” Ron muttered.
“Hermione?” asked Harry, hoping Anthony would listen to her if not to them.
Hermione, who still looked grim, nodded, and Harry thought he could almost see the gears whirring in her brain.
“Well, we know the Prophet isn’t trustworthy, so even if the Aurors did find something, they could hide it. But why would they want to do that?”
Now, Anthony looked subdued. “I don’t know,” he said, scratching the wooden table with a fingernail. The prefect badge pinned to his robes glinted in the dim light, and Harry noticed that the skin under his eyes was swollen and purple. “I have a hunch.”
Sirius broods. Mafalda sticks her neck out. Ruby and Anthony won't stop talking about the Inferi. Harry gets himself into trouble. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
Chapter Eight: Tactics and Blunders
“Either you didn’t see them, or you’ve got a death wish. Anyway, the Aurors are looking into it already, what’re we going to do that they can’t?”
“For one,” said Hermione, from behind her newspaper, “they’ve finished the investigation.” Looking almost as severe as Professor McGonagall on a bad day, she folded up the newspaper and handed it to Ron.
Harry leaned forward, peering over his shoulder.
INFERI SIGHTING AT HOGSMEADE PROVEN TO BE A HOAX
Several Hogwarts students claimed to have encountered Inferi at a junk shop at Hogsmeade 31st of October; an Auror investigation proved this sighting to be a bad Halloween prank. Several charmed skeletons were found at the back of the shop, Stitches and Draughts, matching the eyewitness descriptions. With tensions high and the threat of the Dementors in very recent memory, the Auror Task Force explained, it is an easy, but unfortunate mistake. Graciously, the Minister herself—
“See!” said Ron, flushing with excitement. “I knew it!”
Anthony snatched the newspaper out of Ron’s hands, upsetting a tureen of cream of mushroom soup. His face grew redder and redder as he scanned the article, eyes narrowing.
Hermione exchanged a worried look at Harry.
It did seem a little… convenient, thought Harry, as he slowly watched the Prophet crumple around Anthony’s grip.
“You seriously believe this rubbish over me?” asked Anthony, in that same, icy tone. “Come on, we all know the Prophet isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
“Can’t disagree with that,” Ron muttered.
“Hermione?” asked Harry, hoping Anthony would listen to her if not to them.
Hermione, who still looked grim, nodded, and Harry thought he could almost see the gears whirring in her brain.
“Well, we know the Prophet isn’t trustworthy, so even if the Aurors did find something, they could hide it. But why would they want to do that?”
Now, Anthony looked subdued. “I don’t know,” he said, scratching the wooden table with a fingernail. The prefect badge pinned to his robes glinted in the dim light, and Harry noticed that the skin under his eyes was swollen and purple. “I have a hunch.”
Sirius broods. Mafalda sticks her neck out. Ruby and Anthony won't stop talking about the Inferi. Harry gets himself into trouble. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!
Mafalda turned, and Tonks was nearly dangling out of the swing, her head tilted, eyebrows raised in concern.
“What happens to you?”
Tonks laughed softly, pushing off a little, the swing creaking gently back and forth. “I know us Hufflepuffs don’t look like much, but I can defend myself. I’m an Auror, you know, I’ve got three years of training.”
“I don’t mean you’re not capable, I just mean—” Stupid, stupid Veritaserum. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you when I inevitably make a mistake.”
A loud, sudden dragging sound told her that Tonks had pulled herself to a stop.
“It’s like when you fly up to the rings and throw the Quaffle,” she said, voice earnest. “You don’t think about missing the hoop, because you won’t.”
Now, a laugh escaped Mafalda.
“You’re not really trying to make a Quidditch analogy, are you?”
“You were a Chaser, weren’t you?”
Mafalda flushed, her hands growing warm against the cold metal chains, and hoped the moonlight would hide it. “You noticed me?” She’d hardly thought Tonks — a popular, charming older student — had been all at aware of her existence.
“Of course I noticed you.”
She held Tonks’s gaze for perhaps a little longer than she should have, something strange and warm snagging in her stomach, just in the place a Portkey would.
nothing to see here, just Lily haunting the narrative
People, of course, started whispering when he came in. But after years of that, Harry expected it. This was normal. This was safe.
For how much longer?
HIs mother had done it. She’d been the one to defeat Voldemort that night, the only one to truly harm him, set him back a decade. Ruby had come back from Godric’s Hollow talking about runes under a crib. In his dreams, he’d seen her whisper to an unseen presence, strange and frantic.
How? he thought, sinking into one of the overstuffed armchairs.
If only there was some way to talk to Lily — some way to find out what she’d discovered.
His thumb ghosted over the ouroboros ring Quirrell had given him, feeling the delicate detailing — the beaded eyes, the snakes’ scales. If it really was the Resurrection Stone in disguise, something he’d put out of his mind as one of Hermione’s more bizarre theories, and one she seemed to have long abandoned, there was some way he could talk to Lily anytime he wanted, couldn’t he?
But it couldn’t be. It was all another childish hope. How many times had he wished to speak to the dead, and the ring hadn’t answered?
Chapter Nine: Red Rum, Red Hands
Oh, he’s spotted it,” said Blaise from behind her, his voice giddy with anticipation.
“Who?” asked Parvati.
There was no answer, because Harry and Cedric both seemed to dive in unison, robes snapping in the wind after what must be the Snitch near the ground, far too small to see.
“Now, the technique Potter’s using’s called a Spiral Dive—” Blaise began.
“Shhh,” said Parvati, almost dangling over the railing. “They’re so close!”
The two Seekers were neck and neck, hands outstretched, pressing themselves flatter against their brooms—
Then they both pulled up. Hard. The Snitch must have slipped away.
“Well, wasn’t that hair-raising?” called Lee, and the stadium cheered in approval. “It’s still anyone’s game, sixty to eighty, Gryffindor to Hufflepuff — but Johnson’s currently doing her best to make that score even.”
The tension in Harry’s shoulders as he rose was clear even from far away. The Gryffindor stands yelled encouragement, but he seemed indifferent, unhearing as he watched the swarming chaos of red and yellow below. Cedric looked similarly contemplative.
And then, it happened.
Cedric dove.
“Diggory spotted the Snitch!” called Lee. “With Potter in pursuit — no, where’s Potter, why’s he just sitting there? Earth to Potter!”
“Why isn’t he following?” asked Parvati, the wind from Cedric plummeting blowing her hair back from her face.
She was right; Harry was just sitting there, casual as you please.
What if something’s wrong?
“Wronski Feint,” Blaise supplied. “At least, that’s what Diggory’s attempting. But Harry knows there’s nothing down there.”
Indeed, Harry’s face was tilted towards the sky, scanning the clouds with a tense, quiet determination.
Is that really what he’s doing?
Gryffindor plays Hufflepuff, but, believe it or not, Harry and Cedric's last match-up is far from the most exciting event this Saturday. Read from the beginning at FFN|AO3!