Chapter Text
‘They're not red'
Theodore Riddle stared back at his reflection. A month ago Precious, the woman in charge of supervising the children at Croydon Group Home for Boys and Girls, started saying his eyes were red like the Devil's, something Theodore thought was a little hypocritical for an atheist to say. It didn't bother him at first, Precious always shouted lazy abuses at him, but then the other children caught on.
They're not red though? Theodores arms shook slightly as he lifted his stomach over the sink to see into the small rectangular mirror that was way too high for children, even him at eleven couldn't see straight into it.
He didn't understand, his eyes were just a solid rich brown, normal like a human. Theodore straightened his back so the light from the window glared on his face, though while in the sunlight they did appear to take on a reddish hue. But that's normal for brown eyes, isn't it?
*Knock knock knock* 'Theodore!' That was the voice of his best and only friend, Evangeline Ainsworth , on the other side of the bathroom door. 'Precious says it's time to leave for your therapy appointment.'
'Just give me a minute' Theodore called back, he looked back in the mirror to study his eyes some more, trying to pretend he didn't have that appointment today. Evangeline continued obnoxiously knocking on the door, already knowing Theodore was stalling like always before she just up and opened it with no regard for his privacy.
'Theodore! You have five minutes- what are you doing?'
'My eyes aren't red, are they?'
Evangeline sighed and gently grabbed his wrist, asking him to get off the sink. Theodore slipped off and let her drag him out the way to the front doors of the group home. 'I thought words could never get to you Theodore.'
Well, that is what he always says, why be hurt by words when fists and fear are so much worse? But Precious has got the entire group home calling him "which boy" and some of the older kids have even started to poke him with stakes they made from sticks for fun. 'I'm allowed some moments of weakness and this week has been especially hard.'
Evangeline smiled sadly at him but didn't say anything else, she knew Theodore is too stubborn to hear out any of her solutions like telling the Madam, the head of the group home. Theodore has this nasty habit of letting himself go through thorns, just running through with his head high instead of taking the hedge clippers that are being handed to him. Always too independent for his own good, it doesn't help he expects everyone to be the same.
As they moved through the thick halls full of rampaging children, Theodore kept a permanate sneer on his face to discourage the scamps from going near him. He didn't have a terrible reputation, but he was known as a antisocial loner and thankfully that was enough to keep the majority away from him. Theodore was never good with company, for as long as he's been living at group homes, since he was a baby, he was alone.
At first it wasn't by choice, a young child would never choose to be alone, but after so many years of freak accidents he had no control over tarnishing his file Theodore would rather be alone than risk being accused of another disaster.
The things he's been blamed for are completely ridiculous-mind boggling, Theodore seriously questions the intelligence of the people involved. Who in their right mind thinks a child is capable of blowing up BBQs or throwing dinner tables at people, that's the sort of things all his previous foster families have to say about him. He never did any of that, how could he? Most of these accusations were made when he was under nine years of age, and he hasn't been offered a home since, yet they all think somehow a tiny child had the ability to cause all that chaos.
But at the same time, Theodore couldn't wrap his head around it, how all those things would happen only when he was around and only when he was angry or scared, there had to be another explanation other than "ITS HIS FAULT!" but Theodore never found it. Everyone else was convinced he was an uncontrollable devil child, everyone except Evangeline, for some reason.
That's another thing Theodore couldn't wrap his head around, Evangeline, why she was always so comfortable and accepting of him. Ever since Theodore first saw her hiding behind the Madam five years ago when she was just six years old and new to being an orphan, Evangeline clung to him. Not in a bad or weird way, but in a friend or sibling like way, like a sister, and Theodore had always wanted a sister. That's the reason why she had never found a home either, Evangeline was great but because of their bond they're considered a package deal, and Theodore always felt so guilty because of that.
'So how are you feeling today Theodore?' The therapist asked, as she always did, like she expects a different answer.
'I'm here.'
'That's not a proper answer'
'It says everything you asked for.' Theodore crossed his arms, waiting for the next thing she throws at him. He did feel a little bad for being a snappy brat, but he's forced to be here and that's something he cannot tolerate.
'Ok' the therapist spoke like she'd run out of breath. Only five seconds in, that's a new record.
There was long silence with her just scribbling in her note pad. Theodore wished she would show him what she was writing down, not that he'd ever ask, but he only said a sentence yet she's here writing a novel just off that. Theodore briefly wondered if she was just writing "lord let this child be transferred" over and over again.
'I'm just going to get into it' The therapist said, slapping her pen in the crease of the notebook. ‘Any out bursts?’
‘Nope.’ The therapist raised her eyebrows but moved on.
‘Have you started any fires?’
‘No.’ Theodore lied, sort-of. A fire was set on Simeon, the group home's fifteen-year-old bully, but Theodore didn't do that, he was just the only one there when it happened.
‘Hurt any children?’
‘No.’ Another sort-of lie, but he never laid a hand on that kid, the boy just started squirming like he was being sliced up. Probably playing around with the whole "witch boy" thing Precious started. Theodore had to admit though, that kid is a good actor.
‘Talk to any snakes lately?’
Theodore stalled a moment before answering. ‘...yes’ The therapist leaned forward.
‘And have they been talking back?’
‘If I say yes will you peer pressure me into taking drugs again?’
The therapist took a long, through the nose breath. ‘Antipsychotics would really help you.’
‘None of the snakes have talked back this time.’
‘Ok.’ She sounds winded again. ‘But they've talked back before, do you think we could go over that? I'm interested in what they have to say, you've never told me’
Theodore held back a grown, this is stupid. ‘They're snakes.’ The therapist didn't blink or anything, she was just sitting there being creepy. 'Snakes don't have intriguing conversations, they talk about if there's any food around or they ask if I see them as food.' The therapist stared; her eyes were starting to feel like they were pinning him to the chair. 'Um, they have different words for things, like they don't call humans humans or birds birds.'
‘Tell me more about that, what do they call humans?’ She opened the note book again.
‘Inconsistent dodgy bipeds.’ Jesus Christ this is dumb. Theodore slumped down in the chair, feeling irritated he was about to explain the entire snake vocabulary to someone who thinks he's crazy because of it for an hour.
That was it, that was his therapy thing, it's over now. Wow, it really helped him, he especially liked it when the therapist tried to push those meds on him again when he was done, telling him the world he's created 'is very interesting, buuut-’
And Precious sucks. On the way back she took the bumpy dirt road because she knew he got motion sickness easily.
Driving into the parking lot of the group home, Theodore spotted a very weird man entering through the double doors. He was dressed like he came from fictional medieval times, but more colourful and ugly. His robes were bright purple because that's a normal colour to wear, and he had a matching cone-shaped hat with stars on it, and weirdly of all he was wearing purple heels so tall Theodore could hear them from in the car. His beard ran down past his chest-so he doesn't shave on top of everything, the only thing that looked somewhat normal was his half-moon spectacles that hung low on his nose. Theodore scoffed, knowing his luck this will be the guy who'll foster him this time.
Theodore sat at the dinner benches, munching on the breaded fish that goes with his fish and chips meal. Ever since he got transferred here from his last group home a little over a month ago, the kitchen served nothing but fish and chips for dinner. The first time he got served this he was excited. Finally! a group home that doesn't feed them exclusively from cans, but it turns out this is far worse.
‘How was your appointment?’ Evangeline asked.
‘We talked about snakes but not in a way I like.’
‘They're still talking to you?’
‘They've always have and will never stop.’ Not that Theodore minds. With a life as lonely as this who wouldn't mind a couple extra friends, sure they're pretty simplistic and are mostly focused on food and not being food but they're always there to talk to. It's great as well, Theodore could say whatever he wants to them without judgement or consequences, he could complain about being bullied and not get told to see the Madam about it or he can talk about how upset he's been lately and not get called a fag before getting punched. Snakes are easy company.
‘That's really not healthy Theodore.’ Like that, he can never just talk to people without being lectured or being told his brain is bad. A snake just continues the conversation even if it doesn't know what's going on.
‘I know.’ Theodore wished he was lying. ‘I'm working on it’ He did lie. ‘But right now, I think I just need to head back to my room for rest.’ Theodore excused himself and waved bye to Evangeline, he didn't like the look of concern on her face so he spared her a glance and nothing more.
On the way out of the caffeine Theodore passed by the Madam's office, there were voices coming out of it but the door was closed. Theodore stood up on his toes to peer into her door window, that weird old man was there. He caught the words "boarding school" and "train ride" but everything else was just mumbles. It's nothing.
Theodore made his way over to his room, number 26. It was pretty void of personal objects aside from his radio the Madam wished he would get rid of; she didn't like his awfully angry music he blared whenever the halls got loud. Right now everyone's at dinner so there's no need for it.
Theodore sat at his desk, his brain was taunting him with today's therapy appointment, telling him he'll always be crazy for as long as he's off those pills. He didn't like the pills though, they made him overly happy and he would hurt people or himself without even realizing it, until he gets dragged into the Madam's office for violent or self-destructive behavior.
If Theodore doesn't stop thinking about that he's goanna cry, to keep his brain busy he opened the drawer in his desk and took out his cup of rat skulls. The rats that use to live under the concrete stairs at the front left them behind, and growing up without many toys Theodore had always been fond of bones.
He got to work putting the cracked pieces together, using super glue to re-create the skull. He finished one then the door to his room was knocked on.
‘Come in.’ It was probably either the Madam or Evangeline coming to check if he was alright.
Theodore twisted in his chair when he heard the doorknob click, there at the door stood the Madam. A friendly tight smile twisted up on her face making her sagging wrinkles look like curtain drapes. She told him that a man was here to offer him a schooling opportunity and made room for the weird medieval wizard to walk in. A schooling opportunity? For what, that old medieval times circus thing? His grades haven't gotten so bad that the group home thinks he should give up school and settle on being a circus jester, right?
‘Hello Theodore Riddle.’ The old man said in a kind voice. He stuck out his hand for Theodore to shake and he tried not to grimace at the dry scaly feeling of the man's overlapping skin. ‘My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, but you can just call me Dumbledoor.’
‘Oh.’ That is the longest name Theodore's ever heard. ‘I only have the two names.’
Dumbledoor chuckled at him and asked the Madam if they could be alone, to Theodores's dismay she agreed. Theodore sat closer to the window, checking to see if the latch was unlocked as the odd adult stranger sat on his bed. He narrowed his eyes as the old man made himself comfortable, no one who dresses like that in public is sane.
‘When I saw you walk into the building, I was afraid you were going to be the one to adopt me.’ Theodore spoke just as Dumbledore opened his mouth, being an annoying brat will probably reduce his chances of getting kidnapped. Dumbledore smiled.
‘And why would you be afraid of that?’
‘You're too old and you dress weird.’
Dumbledoor just hummed with a small smile on his face before edging closer. ‘Well, you know by the Madam I'm not here for that. We were talking about you in that office, you have a very large file.’
Theodore slumped a little, he rubbed at his forehead that had developed a small stress pressure. What does this have to do with the schooling opportunity? Did this man come here to accept him for whatever random reason then saw his file and disrupted his peace just to say they can't take him because of it? Oh no, what if he's from boot camp? No, why would a boot camp send a guy that looks like this?
‘Relax your mind Theodore. I'm here to tell to why all those impossible things in your file have happened to you and the people around you, seemingly out of nowhere. There's a place for people like you.’
'And what would that be?' Don't say an asylum. Theodore wished he would just get on with it instead of saying everything word for word.
'Magic school.' Dumbledoor chuckled, putting up jazz hands. What is this?
'Oh shove off!' Did this creepy old man walk into group homes dressed as a stereotypical wizard to mess with disturbed children for shits and giggles or something?
'But it's true Theodore, oh so true. Magic is the reason why all those unexplainable things have happened to you.' Dumbledoor lost his smile when he saw Theodore still had on his "bullshit" face. 'I am the same as you, I too can make unexplainable things happen when I really want them to.'
'Alright.' Theodore snapped. 'Prove it, light that thing on fire.' Theodore, trusting his skepticism and wanting to mess with the man (maybe he's the disturbed one), pointed at his radio. Dumbledoor pulled out a stick from inside his sleeve, pointed it at the door and Theodore watched the lock switch to close.
'So the Muggles don't see.' Dumbledore winked. What are Muggles and how did he lock the door from here?
Theodore didn't have time to contemplate that for long as his radio caught fire, just like he asked. Theodore didn't question what just happen as he watched it burn, he took his hand off his forehead so he could stare at it straight on. His radio is on Fire. The one that was owned by Evangeline's dead dad!
Before Theodore could wake up and run to its rescue, the fire went out, just like that. What was even more unbelievable was that it looked brand new, cleaner than before, no burn marks, no sign of wear.
'I've read that you are fond of lighting things on fire when you're angry, not that you have any control over that, so I'm not surprised you asked for fire as evidence.' Dumbledore slid his wand back into his sleeve and clasped his hands in front of him. 'The magic school I told you about will help you control those magical outbursts of yours, less accidents.'
'So, my radio is alright, still working?'
'Yes.'
'Ok.' Theodore needed a couple seconds to process everything. 'What is the school called and where is it?'
'Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the Highlands of Scotland.' Dumbledoor took a beige letter from his robe pockets and handed it to Theodore. It had a red wax seal with a large H in the center and an eagle, badger, lion, and snake decorated around it. What does the snake represent?
'Witchcraft?' Theodore stared at the writing. Wasn't that an evil thing?
'Of course, Hogwarts isn't just for boys. In the wizarding world, men and boys are called wizards and woman and girls are called witches.' oh.
'Can my friend Evangeline come? Is she a witch or can she become one?' Theodore bounced slightly as he asked this. He's somewhat curious, though doubtful, but the man lit his radio on fire just like that. He would like to see for himself but if he has to leave Evangeline behind to go all the way to Scotland...
'I'm afraid not.' Theodores felt his heart plummet. 'You are the only magical child in this building and it is impossible for a muggle-a non-magical person- to become a witch just as it is impossible for a man to become a woman. Just so you know, makes it easier for everyone if Muggles and Magic don't mix, and that means you cannot let her know you're a wizard either. If you do, you'll have magical law to answer to.'
Theodore was upset he couldn't even tell her; Evangeline is his sister and he tells her everything. He pushed aside his dissatisfaction to ask a new question that had just popped up in his racing mind. 'Were my parents magical?' Theodore never thought about his lack of parents, he never cared about things he has no control over, but right now, if this man knows anything like he did somehow knew about him, Theodore needed to know this.
'...they were magical, yes.'
Why did they abandon him at a muggle group home then, not even left him in the magical world?
'Open your letter.' Dumbledore said, he didn't let Theodore ask anything more and he didn't explain anything further. 'It contains the list of supplies you'll need for your first year, I've already made an appointment at the desk to take you shopping for them in London.'
Dumbledoor wasn't even giving him the opportunity to say whether he wanted to go or not. Theodore didn't like that, he never said he was fine with leaving Evangeline, but for some unknown reason, Theodore didn't object to it.
While his head was down reading the letter, he heard Dumbledoor get up. What-so he's leaving just like that?
'Wait!' Dumbledore turned around, waiting for Theodore to continue. 'For as long as I've known I could do this I have been called crazy and a schizo, and I was put on medications for a while to stop it but it never worked. I need to know if my brain is bad or if this is real, I can talk to snakes. Is that something of magic?' Theodore shrunk down as Dumbledore's face darkened. When he first walked in here, he was jolly and annoying, why did that change in an instant?
'Yes, that is a rare magical ability, you are not crazy, and talking to snakes is not allowed at Hogwarts. I will see you in one month to take you to London.' And with that Dumbledoor left, he didn't let Theodore ask why talking to snakes is not allowed.
There's no way this is real. They drugged him, they hid the pills inside the breaded fish, it's the only logical explanation. Theodore scrunched his eyebrows and looked back at the letter, it said term starts as early as September 1 and the things they need are just bizarre. Dragon hide gloves? As in a dragon's skin? Do dragons exist or are they talking about, like, Komodo dragons? And a cauldron? Wand? Spell books? Aww, they're forcing him into one of those stupid pointed hats Dumbledoor was wearing, why?
No, no, this isn't real, that creepy man just likes toying with disturbed children. Theodore got up to turn on his radio, it's working, it's loud, the sound quality was better than before actually, but it got lit on fire. Theodore switched it off. Hallucinogenic, the fish had a hallucinogenic, natural or man-made that's the only reason he saw his radio light on fire.
'Theodore!' Evangeline called, giggling from his door frame with a big smile, the final light before night time made her shoulder length black curls shine, framing her pale face and blue eyes so they glowed. She rushed forward and grabbed his arm, in his other hand Theodore whipped the letter underneath his bed. 'Was that man a pedophile?' She nearly hissed the whisper.
Theodore only stared back at her as she giggled. 'No, he's a wizard.' He dead panned.
'Yeah, he sure was dressed for it. Why was he dressed like that Theodore?' Evangeline asked, suddenly serious. 'You didn't ruin some little kids' birthday, did you? Was that wizard man here to tell you what the cops said?'
'No, I don't go near birthdays anymore.' Theodore scratched his arm, thinking about his conversation with the man. It ended so quick. 'He told me I've been accepted to go to a different school.'
'Oh yeah? How far is it, and when and why did you apply?'
Theodore sucked in a breath at her second question. 'It's in the Highlands of Scotland and I applied because I got drunk, my mistake.' Theodore gave her a goofy smile which she reciprocated with a laugh.
'Ok, enough joking around, where are you going?'
Theodore frowned 'I wasn't joking about Scotland.'
Evangeline smile fell, her expression was one of shock and Theodore felt his whole mood drop. 'Why do you want to go to Scotland?'
Theodore scratched the back of his head and kept his hand there to play with his hair. 'I never applied; I was selected. I have no idea how they knew about me either.'
'But you want to go?'
Theodore took a few seconds to answer. 'He never gave me the chance to say whether I wanted to or not, he was out before I could even ask two questions about the school.' Theodore thought back to their meeting, regretting asking Dumbledore about his parents as that's when he started to look sullen. 'I don't think I would've denied the opportunity if he gave me the option though.'
Evangeline nodded her head slowly; she turned her eyes away before looking at him again. 'Why that school over the one we're attending?'
'For one it's not a state school, I think that says enough.' Please be the last of the questions. 'It will only be for a year, and I promise to keep in touch.' Unless all contact with Muggles is not allowed? Evangeline is smiling again thank Christ.
'I understand, if I was given an opportunity to get out of here and study in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, I would take it too.' Evangeline turned very stern and held up a finger to Theodore. 'But you are not allowed to forget me.'
'I don't think I could even if I got Alzheimer's Evangeline. You're my sister, one year away is not enough to make me forget about you, trust me.' Theodore felt like slapping himself when tears started dripping from Evangeline's eyes, but it's ok, she's still smiling.
Evangeline crashed into him for a bear hug and Theodore hugged her back hard enough to lift her feet off the ground, like he always did. This is going to be hard, no, how is he going to function without Evangeline?
'BED! BED! IT'S NINE O'CLOCK GET IN YOUR BEDS NOW!' Why does Precious work here?
Evangeline mumbled 'I hate Precious' under her breath before quickly running off, waving goodbye. Theodore wiped the few stray tears that fell from his face, quickly changed into his nightwear and jumped into bed just as Precious popped up. Her loud breathing was always so uncomfortable and gross as she waited like a vulture to see if he's out dead or still moving. Precious slammed his door shut, good, he passed her inspection. Theodore rolled onto his back.
He wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, not with the millions of thoughts he was getting, overlapping each other like water and getting jumbled as cords. When in one month from now, if Dumbledore turns out to be a worker from a mental hospital and used this story to make him come willingly to be locked up, Theodore's goanna kill him.