Tom Stark-Malfoy

I start school in a week, so I'm moving into our dorms now. May I say that I'm glad my dad's rich, so I was able to have a room to myself in the Residential Hall. Merlin knows how many people have already asked me if I got lost visiting my parent. At first, I was furious, but I finally understood why and forgave them not long after.

It was lunch time and father already left to deal with something that came up about production, then I met another kid my age. Henceforth. . . like any other regular person feeling intimidated after being left alone with a whole bunch of people almost twice my size, I went to talk to him. I was initially glad there was a child genius around, so my presence wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb. But lo and behold, he wasn't a student, he was there with his mother who was unpacking her things in her dorm room, and he just went down to eat because he was famished.

*Sigh*

The embarrassment that crept up my cheeks couldn't be rivaled. It was from then on, that I promised myself I would never ȧssume the purpose of someone being anywhere no matter how likely the answer may be. His mom was kind though. And even if I despised her for treating me like a child, her cookies were good.

When classes finally begun, I was regretting. Regretting the day I decided to complete a bachelors before I attend Hogwarts. I should have stayed home and become a lazy bum. Taking 17-21 units a semester was. . . deadly. The many times I ran home after my exams were done, complaining about the incoherent phrasing of some questions, and cr-. . . despairing over my inability to complete some exams before the time limit were. . . shameful. So I'm glad only dad saw those unseemly moments of mine.

This period of cursing 30 page long essays, complaining to my father, and sneaking into Diagon Alley on lighter-load weekends continued on for four years until finally, it was the summer I get my letter. . . and here I was, in my blue toga and honors tassels, sitting in the ŀȧp of a gigantic teddy bear with a graduation cap on, having my pictures taken by Pepper.

"Come on Tom, would you just smile? It's the last one I promise!"

"No! You already said that 23 times! I was counting!"

"Come on sport, afterwards we can get icecream."

"Listen to your dad Tom, and we can finish faster."

"uughhh. Fine."

I flash a big irritated smile at the camera, doing my best to ignore the giggling of my fellow batchmates and one "best'' friend, Jack, real name Duncan Finn Ainsworth, who was once my comrade at arms in facing the demons of college life for these past four years, but is now my sworn enemy. Oh he will not gain blackmail from me, not today.

"Come on Jack, let's have one picture together for old times sake!"

"Jack darling, would you please pose with our son?"

Pepper begs with the same tone she uses to convince dad to do house chores. That tone that only mothers have, but she has surprisingly developed and mastered with flying colors.

It didn't take long before he was finally sitting on the bear's other leg, regretting the day he decided to barge into my life and force a friendship with me. So after a long day of pictures and celebrations, a promise that I will keep in contact with Jack, and a stomach full of seafood and pasta. I lay in my bed, looking out the window and think about everything I need to do next.

Holy Merlin I'm busy this summer.

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Don't get me wrong though. I didn't really become a lazy bum aside from my studies. I have responsibilities that demand me to tire myself to death. During the weekends I was not bombarded with ȧssignments, I would sneek off into Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley and look for everything I would need for the impending war. Basically materials (bought the vanishing cabinet and hid it our basement (at Stark Manor, Stark Mansion was still being built at that time), rare potions materials, etc.), blackmail material to influence politicians, and, information. And the information I found was. . . distasteful.

The very first thing I found out was that "I can't get a bank account at Gringotts." An ȧduŀt can register one for me though, but it has to be a legal magical guardian so that's out of the box. I have to wait until I'm 11 when the school I will go to will send in the request to make accounts for the incoming 'muggleborns'. *tisk*

But worst of all. I found many inconsistencies with my original timeline, my supposed future. For one, Pettigrew was dead, not just presumably dead, he was REAL dead. Apparently he got the Dementor's kiss and was famed as the worst Death Eater of them all. History books mention his many cruelties and strategies that devastated hundreds of families, both muggle and wizards combined. It took months, but after Voldemort went missing, they found him trespassing Harry Potter's new home. During his trial, he was administered Veratiserum and diagnosed mentally ill. His crimes however, were far too cruel to leave him alive, so he got the kiss.

[A/N: He trespassed privet drive in order to get baby Harry and revive Voldemort earlier than planned. But the blood wards prevented him from doing so and alerted the Ministry to action.]

I had to research him for years on end (both legal and illegal) to find this information, and it was worth it. One of the dead ends to his 'mysteries' was covered up so well, I almost missed it. But it was also because it was covered up so well that it stood out so vividly.

Portions of what he revealed in court were erased, but I still found them out after using Legillemency on a witness. I guess the ministry was to 'pure' to obliviate everyone, so they only erased the solid evidence. Either that or it was a case of negligence. My money's on the second though.

Nevertheless, he revealed things he shouldn't have, or what shouldn't have happened yet. Thankfully, he was only a foot soldier in his last life so it wasn't much, but it is still quite troublesome.

For example, he only knew a few parts of the prophesy (I don't think that would change things that much since I heard Uncle Severus knew the whole thing and was the one who reported it to Voldemort in the first timeline to gain his trust and be included in his inner circle), the main figures of the order (like. . . Dumbledore and Hermione, but he can't really kill them because. . . well Hermione is muggleborn and Dumbledore is Dumbledore. Neville's parents are surprisingly alive. I guess this goes to show how much he looks down on the boy. And, his revelation that Snape is an untrustworthy spy, terminated Uncle Snape's position as a double spy, but this gave way to him receiving a greater pardon and more trust from the order than the first time.), and . . . I don't know what else he would know.

He's a goddamn Gryffindor through and through for Pete's sake. They don't search for information and plan. They just barge ahead, hope for the best, and surprisingly make the outcome as optimistic as their brains convinced them it would be. I really don't think he knew much. His knowledge of the future might have given him the advantage he needs to temporarily become the Dark Lord's right-hand man, but his courage, big-headedness, and Gryffindor brashness probably is what caused the end of him.

So there goes my biggest worry. He caused some mess, but nothing irreparable. Now I'm not too sure If I'm lucky or unlucky. . . Most everything is still the same though. Potters are still dead except Harry, Weasleys are still abundant, Crabb and Goyle are good, Parkinsons, Bulstrode, (sadly) Nott, Abbott, etc. all flourishing.

Sirius and Aunt Bellatrix are in Azkaban. (I worried about her for a moment because she's the reason I went to America in the first palce) I couldn't really look deep into everyone's families, since only information from the Obituaries and about Political figures are at my easy disposal (and I'm not wasting my energy looking into everyone's situation. I have enough on my plate thanks.)

But, there is one thing I am truly worried about. My father isn't an active member in the Wizengamot. Also, mother no longer goes to her favorite boutiques and spas. I was once worried they died, but they don't have death certificates. And worst of all, I can't find any information about them after the end of the war. It was as if they simply disappeared.

So here comes my next plan. Since I can't find out anything about them through my "normal" methods. I must see for myself, what their situations are. I will go to the one place I always saw them. Before this whole mess happened. I will go home, to Malfoy Manor.

Right after my mandatory 3 week vacation in America that is, to not "forget my roots". Pure hogwash I tell you. My real roots are purely British you see.

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