Harry S. Riddle (Libro 1)

6

The oatmeal that the Hogwarts elves made was beyond delicious, but it didn't pass my throat. My first day at school was fine, I gained 15 points in potions, herbology was fun and Professor Flitwick was very nice to everyone. Except for the dispute between my classmates and that annoying Gryffindor girl - Granger, I think - everything was perfect, however, the meals, especially breakfast and dinner, were a very sad affair for me: they reminded me of Dad. I had never been away from him for so many days and the previous afternoon I wrote him a long letter detailing every aspect of my day, and then I regretted it.

"He won't have time to read it," I sighed into my oatmeal.  Neither time nor inclination,  a little voice in my head told me.

"What are you saying Harry?" —Alec asked me.

—Mmm-mm.

I wasn't going to reveal that fear to Alec, we weren't that close, plus we were at the Slytherin table, anyone could hear. Alec looked back at his plate, I tried to eat mine, failing.

—A couple of tablespoons more amice.

—I'm going to vomit, Pimpon.

—No Amito, you are sick, you need to eat. Come on, two more spoonfuls, one for your father and one for me.

I smiled, Pimpón was clever at making me eat. I also missed him and his bedtime stories. The night before I almost couldn't fall asleep, it would be one of my first nights not to fall asleep at nine or before and I was afraid that it would become a habit.

The chirping of the owls distracted me from my melancholy: the mail was arriving.

Villin and Hedwig, my owl, landed in front of me. I attended to Hedwig first, embarrassed and afraid to find my letter tied to her leg, but no, it was not my letter, my father had answered me. Smiling happily, I handed the two birds bacon and took charge of Villin, who was carrying a note and a package. I opened it with renewed spirits, it was a gold necklace with a strange and large medallion with the carving of a skull on a kind of sun that reminded me of the Caribbean. I loved it, I put it on top of my clothes and read the note.

Put this necklace on immediately, the medallion will protect you from most hexes and runner spells.

Protection? I examined the necklace again. Knowing my father, it was an object taken from a mystical cave in a mystical pyramid in a mystical country, all surrounded by mystical ancient curses. I wisely tucked it under my uniform. I managed to tear the envelope of the letter that Dad sent me before noticing that there was an unusual silence in the large dining room.

I looked around curiously, searching for the source of peace: the school was watching me, some standing, others horrified.

-That? —my voice echoed. The Death Eater children intrigued me, they were looking at me with pity and holding the newspapers in their hands. That had to have been my first suspicion, except that I was obtuse.

"Young sir," and Alec calling me that in the great dining room, handing me his copy of the Prophet, had to have been the second suspicion.

My name was in the headline:

Harry S. Riddle, son of you-know-who.

They had attached a photo of me in the charms class, I did well, although I didn't see any cameras in the class.

—How did they take this photo of me? —I murmured—. “Oh well, no way,” I smiled at Alec. I really thought it would take them longer to find out, I lost my bet.

—Who did you bet against?

-Against me. I owe myself ten galleons.

Alec laughed; I gave him the diary back and put Dad's letter in my pocket, rereading the note. I hoped Dad knew what was happening and that the medallion was his safety measure.