Tom Riddle and the Resurrection Stone

This is a ‘what if’ story, based on the power of nurture vs. nature.  If Tom Riddle had been raised with love, and taught young how to behave, perhaps history would not have had to dark ending it had.  Just a little jaunt into the alternate reality of life as it could have been . . . . .

Book One: Tom Riddle and the Resurrection Stone

Chapter One: A Fine Pure-Bred Family

                The Hershels were a fine wizarding family, very powerful and dedicated to the preservation of the wizard community.  They were pureblood, from two old families, the Hershel and the St. Thomas lines.

                Canus Hershel had married Adhara St. Thomas just out of their seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and they had lived happily together for over thirty years.  But, they had never been blessed with children.

                Attempts had been made, potions brewed, charms cast, hexes sent their way, but still they were childless.

                Finally, they had decided to adopt.

                Their decision had been made when one of Canus’ old school friends had told him about a boy in a London orphanage that he was sure had displayed magical talent.

                They Hershels investigated it immediately.

                They boy, a five-year-old with bushy black hair and most attractive features, had been living in the orphanage nearly since birth and the details of his parentage were sketchy.

                The Hershels fell in love and proceeded to go through the necessary muggle channels to make this their new son.  Tom, as he preferred to be called, had been a bit of a prankster at the orphanage, and Adhara took a firm hand in curbing this tendency, but she was carefully to punish only with love and to avoid squelching the boy’s playful nature.

                He grew to be a happy boy, with a great deal of natural talent and the Hershels showered him with love.

                When Tom was nearly seven, Adhara was found to be pregnant for the first time and the boy was surprisingly pleased.

                “I wished for a baby brother, Daddy.” He said as Canus sat him down to explain.  “I know they are a lot of work, but I didn’t think Mommy would mind.  If he’s not too much trouble, maybe we could have a sister, next.”

                Canus stared at the boy until a smile of wonder filled his face. This child was surely a blessing for them and their love for him grew.

                Nine months later, Wezen Ardol Hershel was born and Tom couldn’t smile enough.

                “He’s pure-blood, not like me, and he’s so perfect.  I’ll bet he’s a great wizard someday.” He said.

                “You are a great wizard already, Tom,” Canus said as they looked at the sleeping baby.  “Wezen is a miracle that you made happen.  There are more important things than being pure-blood.”

                “Really?” Tom asked.  His closest playmate was a boy named Darius Crabbe and he had told Tom that only pure-blood wizards were very powerful and that half-bloods, like Tom had been found to be, and mud-bloods were not real wizards.

                “Tom, you are more powerful at seven, then some pure-blood wizards will ever be, and with power comes responsibility.  You must remember to use caution with your power and always work for the betterment of all people, wizards and muggles alike.” Canus explained.

                “But, muggles are not equal to us.” Tom argued.

                “Muggles have every right to live and be happy.  We have a responsibility to protect that right from wizards who would do them harm.  No one is better than anyone else, even if they have more power.  You will learn more on this as you grow and then you can teach it to Wezen.” Canus said, as they looked back at the sleeping baby.

                Two years later, Adhara gave birth to a healthy baby girl and they named her Alludra.

                Tom was the happiest big brother, ever!

                At nine years old, Tom was now an accomplished flyer and had learned to do some simple potions.  He was itchy to start school at Hogwarts and had bragged to his friend that he was sure to be placed in Slytherin, since his mother by birth had been a descendent of the houses founder.  The boy pretended to be unimpressed, but after this Tom was often invited to the Crabbe house for dinners and taken to may special events.  The Crabbes also introduced Tom to other notable families, such as the Goyles, the LeStranges, the Blacks and a cranky old man named Orion Malfoy.

                These people were all from wealthy pure-blood families and they seemed set on convincing the boy that they were better than others and that he should aspire to be like them.  He got on well with their sons and daughters of his age, but Tom actually had more fun playing with a local girl from the seedier side of his own neighborhood, named Eileen Prince.

                She was amazing with her dark black hair and devious black eyes.  They managed to get in and out of trouble around town and, for a while, Adhara believed this friendship could work into a budding romance, once day.  But, Tom and Eileen were too smart to ruin their fun with thoughts of this sort.

So, what do you think so far?  Should I continue, or is it just too far-fetched to be believed?