Harry Potter: The Magnus Riddle story

Chapter: Almost 100 years

The silence that hung over the hospital wing seemed interminable. Poppy Pomfrey stood to one side, hesitant to intervene, while Dumbledore watched Magnus with a mixture of compassion and concern.

Magnus, still lying down, closed his eyes for a moment. Dumbledore's words echoed in his mind: "Almost 100 years." Everything he knew, all the people he loved, were probably... gone. He felt the weight of this revelation, but he was also too weak to react in the way he would have liked. His mind was full of questions, especially about his friends: Natsai, Sebastian, Poppy, Anne and Omnis. But he knew he needed time to organize his thoughts. He felt a deep emptiness come over him, but he also realized that there was no time for regrets now. He needed to understand exactly what his situation was.

Magnus opened his eyes again and slowly turned his head to face Dumbledore.

Magnus tried to get up again, but his strength failed. He fell back on the pillow, panting. Before he could try again, he heard footsteps echoing through the hospital ward.

It was Poppy Pomfrey, who quickly approached and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

- Mr. Riddle, please don't try to get up. His body is not ready yet. - His voice was firm but carried a touch of concern.

Dumbledore came a little closer and put a comforting hand on Magnus' shoulder.

— I understand you have many questions, and I promise they will be answered. But now, you need to recover. - He smiled slightly. - Rest now. When you're ready, we'll have a lot to talk about.

Magnus didn't answer. He just lay down, staring at the ceiling with a neutral expression. But inside, he was broken. The idea that all of his friends were really... dead was a hard blow to bear.

Dumbledore gave Poppy Pomfrey a last look and left the hospital ward, leaving Magnus alone. Poppy stayed around, setting up some potion bottles and checking on Magnus, but she knew that what he needed most at the time was time to process everything.

Alone, Magnus closed his eyes, trying to find a remnant of strength inside himself. He knew that he had awakened to a completely different world. And, after all, he needed to figure out what he would do in this new time.

The hospital wing was silent, except for the faint clink of vials as Poppy Pomfrey rearranged them on her potions trolley. Magnus lay there, his thoughts a jumble, the faces of his missing friends flashing in and out of his mind like shadows from the distant past.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the infirmary. Magnus turned his head slightly, noticing a tall man dressed in a black robe that seemed to absorb all the light around him. The man had greasy black hair and a wary expression that he made no effort to hide. He stopped a few meters from the bed, watching Magnus with a mixture of discomfort and curiosity.

Magnus immediately noticed the man's intense gaze, fixed on him. The discomfort was evident, but there was something more. This man's eyes… they were not only wary, but also filled with an emotion that Magnus couldn't quite identify.

"Can I help you?" Magnus asked, his voice calm but full of curiosity.

The man hesitated for a moment, as if he was choosing his words carefully.

"I am Severus Snape, Potions professor at Hogwarts and head of Slytherin House." His voice was deep and full of respect, though his discomfort was evident. He looked away briefly, but quickly returned his gaze to Magnus.

Magnus tilted his head slightly, studying the man in front of him. Severus seemed to carry an invisible weight on his shoulders, something Magnus recognized instantly, as he had seen that same look on Sebastian before.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Snape," Magnus replied, just as calmly. Despite the inner turmoil he felt at the news that he had been asleep for almost a century, he made sure to maintain his composure. "I suppose you're here out of curiosity, right?"

Severus nodded slightly, but avoided answering directly. He was too busy studying Magnus. Those eyes... Severus couldn't look away. They were such a deep, brilliant green that they immediately brought to mind the eyes of Lily Evans, the woman he had loved all his life. It was almost painful to look at Magnus, with that strange mixture of resemblance to James Potter, whom he hated, and the memory of Lily, whom he loved.

Magnus noticed the discomfort in Severus's gaze and raised an eyebrow curiously.

—Is everything okay, professor? It looks... uncomfortable.

Severus took a deep breath, struggling to compose himself. He knew Magnus was not James Potter, but the physical resemblance was unsettling, and now, with those eyes, it was even harder to separate the two. He finally answered, his voice more measured:

— I'm fine, Mr. Riddle. It's just... it's a curious experience to meet someone who's been asleep for so long.

Magnus frowned slightly, sensing there was more to that answer, but decided not to press further.

"I see. I imagine it's strange for you, just as it is for me." He paused, looking directly at Severus. "But you don't need to treat me so carefully. I'm just a man trying to understand this new world."

Magnus's words surprised Severus. They were simple, but they carried a maturity and calm that he had not expected. Unlike James, Magnus seemed measured and introspective, which only increased Severus's discomfort.

"You're not... what I imagined," Severus admitted suddenly, before he could stop himself.

Magnus tilted his head again, puzzled.

—I imagine you've heard stories about me. Most of them are probably exaggerated or incomplete.

Severus nodded, but said nothing. He knew that stories about Magnus Riddle were legendary, especially in Slytherin, where his name was synonymous with power and ambition. However, seeing the man in person, so human and so different from James Potter, left him even more confused.

After a moment of silence, Severus finally spoke:

— If you need anything, Mr. Riddle, I am at your disposal. As Head of Slytherin, it is my duty to ensure that the students of my House are well... regardless of the time that has passed.

Magnus smiled slightly, appreciating Severus' formality.

— Thank you, Professor. Perhaps I need your help to better understand what happened while I was away.

.

.

.

.

.

The silence in the Hospital Wing was interrupted by Magnus, who, still watching Severus carefully, decided to break the tension in the air.

"So, Professor Snape," Magnus said calmly, his voice low and steady, "you seem to be a cautious man. It's a good trait, especially for a Slytherin."

Severus, initially stiff, relaxed slightly at the compliment. He knew Magnus wasn't trying to be condescending, but direct.

"Caution is essential, especially in times like these," Snape replied, his tone neutral. "And it seems you understand well what it means to be a Slytherin."

Magnus tilted his head slightly, regarding Severus with an appraising gaze, his green eyes shining with an intensity that made the professor uncomfortable.

"I understand," Magnus replied with a slight smile. "Ambition, intelligence, adaptation... The true essence of Slytherin is not about deception or manipulation, but about conquering while respecting our own limits."

Snape blinked, surprised by the definition. It was a rare perspective, and very different from anything he had heard in his life. He realized that Magnus was not trying to impress him, but simply speaking his mind.

"Few see it that way," Snape said, crossing his arms. "Most get lost in stereotypes or in a quest for power that lacks purpose."

Magnus nodded slowly.

— Exactly. That's why it amazes me to meet someone like you, Professor. Cautious, reserved, but with a sense of duty that one doesn't often see. You remind me a lot of an old friend... Sebastian Sallow.

Severus arched an eyebrow.

— A friend?

Magnus sighed and stared at the ceiling for a moment, as if searching for lost memories.

— Sebastian was a Slytherin with extraordinary skills in the dark arts. He had a good heart, but a determination so fierce that it drove him to dangerous limits. He would do anything for those he loved... even questionable things.

Snape was silent, pondering Magnus's words. He felt a chill, for Sebastian's description resonated deeply with his own life.

"And how did it end?" Snape asked, trying to hide his genuine curiosity.

Magnus closed his eyes for a moment, his expression softening into sadness.

— He paid a high price for the choices he made. But he never stopped being loyal. He never stopped fighting for what he believed in.

Snape looked thoughtful, his dark eyes fixed on Magnus. He saw something rare: honesty and thoughtfulness in a Slytherin.

"Perhaps... he and I had more in common than I realized," Snape admitted, almost to himself.

Magnus smiled slightly, noticing the vulnerability in the professor.

— Maybe so, Professor. And that's why I'm interested in learning more about you. I don't just see a Potions teacher; I see someone who has survived many storms. And that deserves respect.

Snape did not respond immediately, but the compliment took him by surprise. He was not used to being seen beyond his cold, calculating facade.

"Thank you, Mr. Riddle," Snape said finally, with a tone of respect.

Magnus nodded, maintaining a slight smile.

— You don't have to call me that. You can call me Magnus.

Snape hesitated, but eventually relented.

— Magnus, then.

The two stared at each other for a moment, and Magnus could tell that despite Snape's reserve, a bond was forming. Snape, in turn, felt that Magnus was not just a ghost from the past, but someone he could truly connect with—perhaps even learn something from.

Magnus crossed his arms as he watched Snape carefully. The conversation had taken an interesting turn.

"Professor, do you believe that all Slytherins are defined solely by their ambition?" Magnus asked, his voice quiet but filled with genuine curiosity.

Snape tilted his head slightly, considering the question before answering.

— Ambition is a defining trait, no doubt. But being a true Slytherin goes beyond that. It's about using your intelligence to navigate the world and adapt to circumstances, even when they're unfavorable. It's about survival, Magnus, and also about conquest.

Magnus nodded slowly, considering Snape's words.

— I agree, but I believe that being a Slytherin is also about making your own story. Not being defined by what is expected of you, but by who you choose to be.

Snape raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

— Choices, then?

Magnus gave a slight smile.

— Always choose. See, I never knew my family. I never knew why they abandoned me, but I never wished them harm. Instead, I chose to make my life worthwhile. I chose to walk my own path, without letting pain or resentment control me.

Snape was silent, absorbing Magnus's words. He saw a rare depth in this young man who had returned from a century of sleep.

"Admirable, Magnus," Snape said finally. "Most would have succumbed to hatred or bitterness."

Magnus shrugged, his green eyes shining with determination.

— Maybe, but I realized early on that I couldn't spend my life blaming others. Everything I've achieved, I've done with my own hands. And in the end, when I gained the power of ancient magic, I understood that true power isn't about controlling others, but about protecting what matters.

Snape felt a tightness in his chest at the words. The simplicity and depth of Magnus's insight disarmed him in a way few people had ever done.

"You're unlike any Slytherin I've ever met," Snape admitted, almost reluctantly.

Magnus chuckled softly, leaning forward in the Hospital Wing bed.

— Maybe because I never let Slytherin define me. The House gave me the tools, but I was the one who decided how to use them.

Snape thought for a moment before answering, his expression more serious.

— Perhaps you're right. Too often, we Slytherins allow ourselves to be consumed by our expectations—or by the prejudices of others. But you… you chose to be something more.

Magnus smiled again, but this time, there was a hint of sadness in his expression.

— I chose to. But it came at a price. In the end, when I realized that only I could prevent the destruction of the world, I did what was necessary. Not for the power, but because it was the right thing to do.

Snape was silent, respecting the weight of those words. He knew, perhaps more than anyone, what it was like to carry the burden of difficult choices.

"You may not have known your family, Magnus," Snape said after a moment, "but I believe you have honored yourself in a way few others could."

Magnus didn't answer, looking up, surprised by Snape's sincerity.

Snape kept his expression neutral, but felt a growing respect for that young man who had returned from the past. But he felt he needed to clarify the reason for his previous discomfort.

Severus took a deep breath before confessing, his tone laden with caution:

— Magnus, I have to admit something. The reason I was uncomfortable when I first saw you... was because you remind me of someone I once knew. A man named James Potter.

Magnus arched an eyebrow, visibly intrigued. However, discomfort was evident in his expression.

"Potter?" he repeated, the name feeling heavier in his mouth than he would have liked.

Severus nodded slowly, watching Magnus' reaction.

— He was a classmate of mine at Hogwarts. And while he was brilliant in many ways, James Potter... well, let's just say he wasn't exactly a model of humility or empathy.

Magnus looked away, thinking. He remembered the past, the times when, with the help of Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black, he had discovered who his mother was. He had known she came from the Potter family, but her indifference and neglect had built a wall in his heart.

"I know who the Potters are," Magnus said finally, his voice more measured. "Headmaster Black helped me find out my mother's name. She was Calliope Potter. But as you can imagine, she showed no interest in meeting me."

Severus watched Magnus carefully. He could see that despite his apparent calm, there was an inner conflict within the young man.

"So you never tried to... find her?" Snape asked hesitantly.

Magnus shook his head.

— There was no need. I can't miss what I never had. She left me, and that's all that matters. There's no hurt, just indifference.

Severus was impressed by Magnus' maturity in dealing with such a delicate subject. But the professor knew that things were never as simple as they seemed.

"Do you think this James Potter is related to you, then?" Snape asked, trying to change the course of the conversation.

Magnus gave a bitter smile.

- Probably. It's ironic, don't you think? My full name is Magnus James Riddle. Who'd have thought I'd end up with the same name as someone who probably hates everything I am.

Severus couldn't hide a small smile at the corner of his mouth.

- He would certainly have a hard time accepting that. James had a... rather limited view of the Slytherins.

Magnus let out a dry laugh, but his expression soon returned to seriousness.

- Professor, I have no interest in looking for my mother or any other Potter. My life was built by my own hands, and I don't want to depend on ties that never existed for me.

Snape nodded, understanding. He saw in Magnus an inner strength that few others had.

- I understand. But know that sometimes the past finds unexpected ways to catch up with us, whether we're ready for it or not.

Magnus looked at Snape, his green eyes shining with determination.

- If that happens, I will face it as I always have: with my head held high and with the determination of someone who knows that the only thing that really matters is the present and what we choose to do with it.

Snape remained silent, respecting Magnus' words. The unexpected connection with the Potters felt like a burden, but it also revealed something deeper about the young man's character.

"You're stronger than most, Magnus," Snape finally said, his voice sincere.

Magnus nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on his teacher.

- Thank you, Professor Snape. I believe that strength is simply a matter of choice. And I choose not to carry the burden of things I cannot change.

The conversation ended in respectful silence, but there was a new understanding between the two. Magnus, even in the face of the complexity of his origins, continued to walk a path of greatness. And Snape, although still intrigued by the young man, felt a genuine respect for his strength and determination.