I'm reborn as Harry Potter

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***

Even though all the Eaters were gone, I began to feel even more tense. Now, apart from the House elf, it was just me and the Dark Lord in the house. And if he could feel as free as possible, I had to control the volume of my own breathing. I had no idea what Riddle was capable of, and I didn't want to test it.

He leaned back in his chair comfortably, calling the houseboy over and ordering him to pour him a glass of wine. Examining the ruby liquid in the glass, the Lord was in no hurry to let go of Dinky, seriously pondering something.

- Tell me, elf," he said, his voice full of dislike. It was as if he hated the very thought of dealing with someone like that. - There was another housekeeper here not so long ago. Whose is it?

- I don't know, Dark Lord sir," Dinky was shaking so hard that it seemed the whole room would shake from his vibrations. Still, he tried to keep my secret, for which I was very grateful.

- I think you're lying, elf. - Without changing his tone, Riddle said. - But you can't lie to me, can you?

- Dinky can't lie to a friend of Master Lucius, Dark Lord Sir, Dinky would have to punish himself.

- A friend," he made some hissing sound remotely like laughter, "yes, don't forget I'm Lucius' friend. And if I find out you're lying, don't worry, I'll punish you myself. You know how it goes, don't you? - He took his wand in his hand and twirled it defiantly in front of the houseboy's face. He began to shake even more.

- Don't punish me, Dark Lord sir, Dinky doesn't know what kind of elf it was, Dinky didn't see it, other elves often come here.

- Crucio! - Dinky collapsed to the floor and gave a thin squeak that made me bite my lip bloody. I wanted to run out and spit on all the conspiracy, but at the last moment I restrained myself. Forgive me, brave houseboy. - I just said I'd punish you for lying. You say elves come here often, but this is the first time I've seen anyone not one of your five in over a month. So who was it? Answer me! - A new portion of the unforgivable spell hit the lying housekeeper right between the shoulder blades, causing him to twist on the floor, choking on his own scream.

- But Dinky didn't see it," the little elf cried, and I felt a pang of helplessness in my eyes. - How can Dinky tell who it was if Dinky doesn't know?

- Good. - The soulless bastard didn't seem intent on giving up so easily. - Then list me all the wizards who have clearance in this house and can send an elf here.

I realised that was the end of it. Dinky could claim to the last that he hadn't seen any elf, because he really hadn't witnessed Dobby's appearance, but he wouldn't be turned away from a direct order from the one Lucius had told to help. The houseboy began listing all the family names he knew. There were over twenty families on the list, but I was waiting for a specific name, and the predictable reaction that would follow.

Dinky tried to delay this moment as much as he could, he didn't just list surnames, he tried to remember each particular wizard, and there were seven of them, for example, in the Parkinson family alone. And according to the housekeeper, each of them could send an elf to the Malfoy house if necessary. Watching Riddle's face, I realised that if Dinky now started listing more names of the housekeepers themselves, he would experience another unforgivable, only this time it was already green.

- In addition to old friends Master Lucius, Mistress Narcissa and Master Draco, access to the house had also recently been granted to Dark Lord Sir and Harry Potter Sir. All of these wizards can send a House elf to the house on some errand. - Dinky spoke fast and slurred, I had to listen to what he was saying, but I noted that he didn't hesitate at my name, just mentioning that I had access too. It was worth noting how good an opportunist Lucius was: to the Dark Lord and Harry Potter, no more, no less. All that's left is to give Dumbledore access, make a torture chamber for all non-wizards in the basement, and open a homeless shelter on the first floor.

- Harry Potter? - Riddle hissed, looking around the room in surprise. - How long had Lucius given him access?

- A fortnight ago, Dark Lord sir," Dinky said faintly.

- Very interesting," the wizard stretched out, "It seems that Lucius was not executed as I had hoped, but rather cowardly escaped. And he did it with the boy's help. That's a lot of coincidences. Or is this just another one of Dumbledore's tricks?

Riddle was talking to himself in a low voice, and I was amazed at how quickly he was coming to the right conclusions. I shouldn't have forgotten that this soulless creature was over seventy years old, most of which he'd spent perfecting not only his magical skills, but his mind as well.

Raising his head, Riddle surveyed the living room again, but this time he did so more carefully. Raising his wand. He took a wide swing and spoke loudly:

- Homenum Revelio!

A dense wave of air struck from his wand in all directions and began to gradually expand, covering every corner of the room. Without stopping in front of obstacles, the wave literally passed through them. When it reached my den, the wave passed through me, but I didn't feel any change. It seemed that the magic of the housekeeper was able to handle the ordeal.

I didn't understand why he didn't just continue torturing the elf, asking him for all the information about me. After all, in a few more minutes, Dinky would probably tell me there was an inconspicuous den where someone was hiding. But the Lord seemed bored with the houseboy's chatter, so he decided to look into the matter himself.

After waiting for the wave to pass through all the rooms and leave the mansion, Tom performed the spell twice more, directing it in different directions. After that he tried other spells, among which I recognised only Finite. When they didn't work either, he shook his head thoughtfully.

- Interesting, interesting. If Potter isn't here, why did his houseboy come, and with a note. Maybe it was a letter for me? - I shuddered. The last thing I needed was for him to start reading my mail. What if it was a letter from Fleur? Although, the idea of sending Riddle a note with a houseboy was rather tempting. - There's no doubt it's his elf. Only such a bratty boy could have an elf like that, completely unaware of the rules of decorum. Barty told me that the pup has a special mantle.....

Rising from his chair, the Lord began to use some new spell, which apparently could no longer pass through solid objects, so he had to go round every corner. I marvelled at his meticulousness. When he left the living room, he started to go around the other rooms as well, thankfully ignoring the den I was hiding in. Relaxedly exhaling, however, I was in no hurry to take any action. Riddle is looking for me in the house. Even though he's not entirely sure I'm here, that doesn't stop him from spending his time searching thoroughly. What would happen if he found me, I didn't want to think about.

I realised that while the Lord was making his rounds of the other rooms, I had a chance to leave, but the question of where exactly to go came up again. Just when I thought hiding in the Malfoy house wasn't a bad idea, I was on the verge of failing. At this rate, wherever I go, I'm bound to run into trouble.

Hmm, what if I go where I always run into trouble? As I thought about it, I realised that I couldn't think of anything better.

Turning my attention back to the living room, I noticed that Dinky was lying on the floor, and for a moment I was seized with real anger. Why is everything happening like this? I'm a bloody hitman, and with knowledge of future events! I was supposed to enjoy my life, to sort out all my problems in a week and relax on a tropical island with my own harem! Well, I don't need a harem because I have Fleur, but what went wrong with the rest of it? Why am I instead constantly in hiding, lying dead in a junkyard, with absolutely everyone trying to kill me, including the goblins I don't know very well. And now, as the crown of my entire local existence, I'm sitting in the den where the House elf lives, in the house of people I have less than favourable feelings for, and that same elf is lying on the floor suffering for just trying to help me. At what point did things go so wrong?

Pulling myself together, I decided to deal with the problems as they came, hoping that one day all these worries would be far behind me and I would just enjoy life with my Veela.

Not hearing Riddle, I called out quietly to Dinky, figuring the Lord was checking the rooms on the other floor. Sooner or later he'd reach the bedroom I'd woken up in, and by then I'd better be out of the house. Dinky didn't react at first, but soon Mitty appeared beside him, gently lifting the younger house elf and moving him silently into my den. With the arrival of the two House Elves, my hiding place immediately became crowded. Unwittingly, I noticed that this room resembled my closet under the stairs quite a bit.

Laying Dinky down on what looked like a bed, Mitty made a few passes with his hands and then turned to me.

- He's fine, Harry Potter sir, he's just nervous.

- Thank you, Mitty. Tell Dinky he's a very brave elf when he wakes up.

- All right," the local healer nodded, "but you need to leave now, or things could get much worse.

I couldn't help but marvel at this housekeeper's insight.

- You're right, but I can't leave. Firstly, I don't have my wand to apparate, and secondly, if I just disappear, Riddle might continue his torture with you, and I don't want to let that happen.

- Dobby will move you Harry Potter sir, he's hiding in the house, all you have to do is call out to him. And don't worry about the torture, we're used to it.

It sounded so ordinary that I flinched. How can you get used to torture? And what if at some point Mitty's skills weren't enough to treat the effects, what then? The wounded elf would simply be decapitated and his head placed on the mantelpiece? Even though I had no intention of following in Granger's footsteps by starting a major campaign in defence of house-elves, I feel it necessary to do what I can to spare these creatures from unnecessary violence. And I can do that now. At the very least, I can make sure Riddle doesn't torture them to find out about me anymore.

- Mitty, I'll show myself to the Lord so he won't touch you. Hide, and don't show your face unless absolutely necessary. If I manage to get away, he'll probably be furious, so stay out of his sight. I don't know if this will help, but I'm ordering you not to show your faces to the Eaters. Dobby," I whispered into the void, and my houseboy appeared beside me, making the already cramped room uncomfortable. Harry Potter and the three houseboys were locked in a cramped pantry, a perfect start to a joke.

- Master Ga-" I covered his mouth with my hand, afraid that Riddle would hear us.

- Shh, Dobby, it's all right. Say, have you got that wand with you? - The houseboy nodded and pulled out the Elder Wand from somewhere in the bowels of his bedroll. If at first I had any doubts about who one of Death's gifts belonged to, it was enough to take it in my hand. There it was, that wave of power travelling through the body of a wizard receiving a worthy weapon. It seemed that Dobby, as with Fawkes and Dumbledore, had made me the owner of the Elder Wand, since I was unable to use it myself.

- Dobby, on my command, you will transport me somewhere near where we first met. Understood? - He nodded again, not daring to say anything. Well done.

There was a small risk that Riddle would get to the local houseboys and try to find out where I'd gone, so I didn't say where I'd gone in front of them, just a description that only Dobby could understand.

Part of me whispered that I was doing something stupid, that I should just wait, but I knew that wasn't an option. The Lord wouldn't rest until he'd turned the house upside down. And even if he doesn't find me, he'll keep torturing the elves to get the answers he wants. If I show myself to him before I disappear, he'll probably leave the housekeepers alone, realising they can't tell him anything important anymore.

- That's it, let's go.

I exhaled and waved my wand, opening the door to the living room. Carefully stepping outside, I listened, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Dobby followed me, and Mitty picked up Dinky and apparated out.

Moving to the far corner from the entrance, I put my wand to my throat and used Sonorus.

- Hey, Riddle, Dumbledore said to say hi to you!" my loud voice echoed throughout the manor. I tried to add a little more confusion to the warm relationship between this sweet couple. Nothing happened for the first few seconds, and I was beginning to fear that the Lord might sneak up on me unnoticed, but soon a reply came:

- Potter! I knew you were here. - The hissing voice seemed to come from every corner. A wave of warmth came over me again, and I realised that Riddle had used the same spell to figure out exactly where I was. Mitty's cloaking magic seemed to have stopped working. - Enjoying the Malfoy hospitality? Stay where you are, I'll be right down.

- I'll be right down. Tell me something, if you've got some of my blood in you now, can I call you Tom Potter? - I tried to make him mad so he'd do something reckless. That's exactly what he did: he burst into the living room and, without aiming, threw an Avada that passed within three metres of me.

As I waved him off and dodged another spell, I squeezed Dobby's shoulder and felt the familiar tug in my stomach, pulling me away from the psychopath.