NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Shadows of the Past
The moon hung low over the Riddle Estate, casting an eerie glow on the once-grand manor. Its stone walls were weathered, the windows dark, save for the faint flicker of candlelight in the servant's quarters. Alex circled above in his crow Animagus form, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds below. He hadn't visited this place since he was banished from the family, and now, with Voldemort rising to power, he needed to see how his siblings were faring.
He perched silently on a gnarled tree branch overlooking the garden. From his vantage point, Alex could see Caroline's old swing swaying gently in the breeze. He thought of her laugh, a sound that once filled the air with joy, now hauntingly absent. His sister had been the light in his otherwise dark childhood—a light that was cruelly snuffed out too soon.
Movement caught his eye. In the garden, a familiar figure was tending to the flowers: Nanny McPhee, the family's loyal servant. Her hunched form moved with surprising grace as she plucked weeds and adjusted the petals of wilting blooms.
Alex fluttered down, landing softly on the edge of a stone fountain. Before he could announce himself, Nanny McPhee turned toward him.
"I know it's you, Alex," she said in her warm, no-nonsense tone. Her sharp eyes glinted in the moonlight. "You were always fond of that form."
Alex transformed back into his human shape, his dark robes blending with the shadows of the night. "Nanny McPhee," he greeted her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's been a long time."
"Too long," she replied, wiping her hands on her apron. "You've grown... stronger, haven't you? But you still carry that same sadness in your eyes."
Alex glanced around the garden. "How are they? My siblings?"
McPhee sighed, her expression softening. "They're alive. That's all I can say. Your brother is becoming more like your father every day—ambitious and cruel. But your younger sister..." She hesitated, her voice trembling. "She misses you. Even if she can't say it aloud."
Alex's gaze fell to the ground. "I wish I could see them. Speak to them. But I can't... not yet."
McPhee nodded knowingly. "Family is complicated. But remember, Alex, no matter how far you've strayed, you still have a place in their hearts—whether they admit it or not."
After a moment of silence, Alex thanked McPhee and made his way toward the cemetery behind the estate. The air grew colder as he approached the weathered gravestones. He stopped in front of two markers: one for his mother, Merope Gaunt Riddle, and the other for his sister, Caroline.
He knelt before Merope's grave, tracing the letters of her name with his fingers. "Mother," he whispered. "I don't know if I'm living up to what you wanted for me. But I'm trying... in my own way."
Moving to Caroline's grave, he placed a small charm he'd crafted—a tiny bird made of enchanted silver. "You deserved more, Caroline. I'll make sure he pays for what he did to you."
As he stood to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing. It was his father, Hades, his presence commanding yet strangely comforting.
"I wondered when you'd show up," Hades said, his voice like rolling thunder.
Alex turned to face him, his expression guarded. "I didn't expect you to be here, Father."
Hades smirked. "Even I have a soft spot for family, despite what you might think. I come here to reflect on what could have been... and to remind myself of my failures."
Alex crossed his arms. "And what do you see when you look at me? A failure, or something else?"
Hades studied him for a moment, his piercing gaze unwavering. "I see someone who has faced more than his fair share of trials. Someone who has been shaped by pain, but not consumed by it. You've done well for yourself, Alex."
The words caught Alex off guard. He wasn't used to his father's approval. "And yet, you banished me."
"Banished, yes," Hades admitted. "But not forgotten. You've always been my son, Alex. That will never change."
They stood in silence for a while, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Finally, Hades spoke again. "You should go. The path you're on is dangerous, but it's yours to walk. Just know that I'll be watching... from afar."
Alex nodded, his emotions a mix of anger, longing, and acceptance. "Goodbye, Father."
Hades gave a small nod before disappearing into the shadows.
As Alex stepped back into the open, he transformed into his crow Animagus form once more. But this time, instead of a single bird, his form split into a hundred crows, a swirling mass of dark feathers that filled the night sky like a storm.
From above, he took one last look at the Riddle Estate before flying off toward Kamar-Taj. His heart was heavy, but his resolve was stronger than ever. The past had shaped him, but it would not define him.