The Great Hall

"You know, conjured food and drink isn't very healthy, you know," Finn commented to Viper. "Since it's conjured, vitamins and everything aren't present in the conjured meal. Only thing it does is fill your stomach for a bit."

Eglantine grimaced. Obviously the Professor desired to become good friends with the potion's mistress, she thought. Slowly turning her head she gauged the younger woman's reaction.

Viper raised an eyebrow. "I beg your pardon? Excuse me, but, who are you?" she asked curiously, suprised at the appearance of a male member of the staff, especially when she noticed that he was closwer to her own age.

Finn dryly stared back at Viper. "I'm the guy who has been teaching Charms for the last four years, in case you hadn't noticed."

(Can we do that? Otherwise it won't fit my character's profile, and somewhat with that of my student character)

(Sure, no problem.)

Viper clucked her tongue in annoyance. "Well forgive me for not noticing all members of the staff. In fact, if anything it is your fault. I am the newest member of the staff and a proper gentleman would have introduced himself" she snapped.

She poured herself a goblet and downed it in one sip. "And as for the nutritional value of wine, I think I'll survive." she said dryly. "With the morning I've had, I think I deserve a little indulgence."

Finn couldn't help snicker slightly in amusement. "Oh, having a rough morning, are we?"

(Thanks, but I have to go to college soon, so I'm off. Bye)

(Bye!)

Viper sighed. "You have no idea! Two bloody Hufflepuffs broke into my office and started snogging!" she exclaimed, drinking more and more of her drink.

Finn laughed. "Not the best place to snog, if you ask me," he commented.

Viper raised an eyebrow. Never before had she ever really found a man worth the effort of matching wits so this was a real suprise. Intrigued, she decided to pursue the conversation. "What, does a reminder of me dampen the passion?" she asked, challenging the charms master, testing to see his reaction and boldness.

Eglantine pretended to become very interested in her muffin. She felt like cream being stuffed between two Oreo cookies...why had she not taken her earlier advice and skipped breakfast?

Viper glanced at Eglantine for a moment, who was obviously very uncomfortable. She wondered if she and the charms master were good friends, and if she had interrupted an interesting conversation. Despite herself, she also wondered whether or not he disliked her or if he, like Viper herself, was merely testing their opponent in this battle of wits.

((Morning after, continued form Personal quarters))

Kiara walked in to the Great hall and got a cup of tea, a night of sleep had done her a world of good, though her chest was still tight and sore from the day before.

Then an owl came into the hall and landed on her lap. It was from the ministry

"Already? They can be quick when they want to be"

Unfolding the letter she read it:

"Dear Headmistress Kiara,

We have reason to believe you are holding the now child Tom Riddle at Hogwarts school. It is the request of the ministry that you hand the child over to Ministry right away. A ministry Representative will be there tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm to retrieve him.

Hope you are well,
Hermione Granger-Weasley Head of magical Law"

Kiara rolled her eyes.

"Merlin this is just great" she said with a note of sarcasm in her voice"

Viper eyed the Headmistress with concern. She leaned over Kiara's shoulder to see what was causing her annoyance, reading the letter.

Viper scowled and rolled her eyes. "Nosy bitch." she paused and looked at Kiara. "Well if we have any hope of keeping the child here, I'll have to get started on the identity morphing potion. Does that plan still stand?"

Kiara sighed and folded the letter back up again.

"If it works... the ministry must have some type of automatic alert system for this type of thing. It's stupid though they do nothing when Voldemort is resurected or made immortal again. But as soon as he becomes a innocent child then they decided to budge in. The identity morphing potion would be perfect if the ministry didn't already know he was here, but now even if we do change his name and how he looks. The ministry will still see him as Tom Riddle former dark lord..."

Kiara stopped for a minute to think.

"Hmm do the identity potion anyway, If the ministry doesn't accept it there something I can stop them on.... They believe Tom Riddle is alone in the world, no alive blood relatives, but I am legally his next of kin. I have legal grounds to keep him here and there is nothing Hermonie Granger, or the minister himself can do about it"

Viper shook her head. "He will never live a normal life if his identity as Lord Voldemort is not forfeited. Starting over for him will mean nothing. He will be alienated and scorned. History will repeat itself."

Viper paused, contemplating how the Identity Potion could be used to the utmost advantage. "If I can do the potion before the Ministry arrives...it will change his DNA make up. The Slytherin blood will no longer flow through his veins...He will be unidentifiable. Especially if we form a backstory for him."

Kiara nodded.

"Make it as soon as you can, sooner the better. I'll have to tell Hermione Granger her automatic informing system is broken. Can't wait to see the look on her face"

Viper smirked. "Nor can I, Kiara. Nor can I." she stood to leave before a thought hit her. "Whose DNA shall I use though? Professor Delanquar has not answered my question as to whether or not I may use her and her husbands DNA."

Kiara shrugged, "I am not sure you'll have to ask her that, she may still be in her chambers"

Eglantine entered the Great Hall in considerable less pain than when she had begun her walk. Edwin had decided halfway there that he wanted to walk and so now with him toddling next to her, holding her hand, and her cane tapping against the stone, she was able to walk rather than stagger into the room.

There was the expected gasped and pointed fingers from the assembled students, but Eglantine assumed that if Edwin was going to live at Hogwarts, his new identity would have to begin immediately rather than slowly. After all, due to excessum, he was still bound to her, making it possible for him to be related to her.

Taking her seat at the Head Table, Eglantine set Edwin on her lap and attempted to regain her usual breakfast manner.

Kiara smiled when Eglantine entered the great hall with her new charge, yes she now believed 100% that they were doing the right thing in hiding him from the ministry. There was no telling what could happen if they didn't.

Leaning closer so Eglantine could hear her hushed voice she said

"Eglantine, I advise you to talk with Viper as soon as you can, the ministry is already sticking their noses where it doesn't belong".

As she said this she handed Eglantine the letter the Ministry had sent her.

"How did they find out?" she asked, placing a muffin on her plate. Edwin grabbed it, but was prevented from dissecting it by a careful hand. Eglantine took the muffin and broke it into smaller parts, placing one of them into the child's open mouth.

Viper had dashed into her chambers, searching for her old potions files. Fortunately, for once, luck was on her side and she found the exact file she was looking for. Victorious, she rushed into the Great Hall, taking her previous seat, pleased to see that Eglantine was now beside Kiara with the child.

"Professor.." Viper said a little out of breath from her long dash from her chambers to the Great Hall.

"Goodness!" Eglantine breathed, staring at Viper. "Did they catch you?" she quipped.

"Only way I can think of is the automatic informing system, he completely changed ages physically and mentally. When something that drastic happens to a well known wizard the Ministry is informed. Similar to the system here at Hogwarts when ever a child with magic is born in England their name is put on to a list of accepted students. When they turn 11 a letter is automaticly sent to them"

Kiara then thought of something,

"hmm.. speaking of the Hogwarts list.."

Snapping her fingers a large scroll appeared infront of her, Looking through the list she found the name she was looking for.

"Ah ha, I was right see Tom Marvolo Riddle Jr, You'll need to give him the idenitity potion for this and the Ministry records to change"

Looking up she saw Viper run in.

"What is it?"