Chapter ten - McGonnagle's second visit

                                    

                                          
It was two days until he planned on leaving for Hogwarts. Since his presence had been made known, he decided it would be best if he did not go. After all, he would only receive torment from both the students and teachers alike. He wasn't sure about headmaster McGonnagle. He still didn't trust her. She must have had some reason for asking him to come to Hogwarts. She knew as well as he did he should be much older than he was, and also that be was much more experienced than most average adult wizards so he clearly did not need Hogwarts and yet...she asked him anyway. Why did she do that? He had planned on asking her when he actually got to Hogwarts but since that clearly wasn't going to happen, he guessed he would never know. At least, that was his thought process until the front door squeaked open. He instinctively went for the revolver on his desk and he stepped out his bedroom door, his finger ready on the trigger. He heard McGonnagle's footsteps echo on the hardwood floors of the living room. He looked down the extravagant staircase and saw her, not exactly on her gaurd. 
"What are you doing here?" He demanded. 
McGonnagle looked up at him. "Oh, there you are." She said completely nonchalantly, as though there weren't a lethal weapon pointed directly at her heart. "We have things to discuss." 
James lifted his chin higher, but didn't waver the aim of the gun. "We have nothing to discuss. I have no desire to talk to you." 
"Oh, but we do, Mister Riddle. You never got back to me about whether or not you were going to Hogwarts." 
James had a sudden thought. He slowly lowered the gun. He hesitated before he spoke. "...Alright McGonnagle. Have it your way. We'll talk." 
"Good to see you can be reasonable." 
James walked down the stairs and motioned to the couch for them to sit down. He set the gun down on a coffee table near the couch, still within his reach, just in case.
"I have no reason to go to Hogwarts." He said as he sat down. 
"Of course you do." McGonnagle argued. "You have nothing else to do. And there you can legally practice magic." 
James silently cursed himself. He had forgotten about that. He moved his hand to his pocket and felt around until he felt the ring he kept on him at all times. He pulled it out and showed it to McGonnagle. "Would you mind wearing this for this conversation?" 
McGonnagle looked at him, a confused expression on her face. "Why?" She questioned. 
"Because frankly, I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone. If you put this on, I can trust you enough to answer any questions you have."
McGonnagle hesitated. She clearly did not want to put the ring on, most likely for fear of it being cursed, but she didn't want to make it clear to James that she didn't trust him. She took the ring and put it on her index finger. It was loose and wouldn't stay on unless she forcibly kept it there, but it would serve it's purpose. She was now wearing one of James' most powerful weapons. One he called 'the ring of truth'. The ring provides a psychological link between the person's finger, and their brain. The moment they make the slightest notion that they might have lied even the smallest bit, the ring sends a signal to the brain that sends a radioactive wave throughout their body, stopping their brain and heart and killing them instantly. This particular ring, however, has it's power lowered so that it will simply shock her. Killing the headmaster of Hogwarts at this time would not be a good idea but he still needed to worm the truth out of her in some way.
"Now, what did you want to ask me?" James asked, satisfied with his plan. The moment McGonnagle lies about anything, he would know. 
"Do you plan to go to Hogwarts?" She asked calmly. 
"Why do you want me to go to Hogwarts so badly?" James countered her question with a question. 
"Because I feel it would do you some good, to be around students your own age." She answered, losing her patience. She followed that comment with a surprised and alarmed yelp. 
The ring was doing it's job, exactly as it was supposed to. 
"McGonnagle." He started. "I know that's not the whole reason." He looked her dead in the eyes. 
McGonnagle pursed her lips, but remained silent. 
"Why do you want me to go to Hogwarts?" He repeated. 
McGonnagle hesitated. Then she finally spoke. "Because, frankly, I'm worried about you." She said. "You're growing up with no parents, no guardians. You're just a boy, you can't live by yourself." She hesitated one last time before she finished. "And, considering you were no doubt a trained mercenary, I thought it best to keep an eye on you." 
"And why keep that a secret?" James asked, eyeing her wearily. 
"Because I can't worry about every student like this. And I'm not really supposed to."
James thought for a second. She must have some ulterior motive...and yet...the ring didn't shock her. Heck, if it was a really far fetched lie, it might have even killed her, but it didn't even give her the slightest discomfort.
"Alright McGonnagle...I'll go."
McGonnagle nodded. "Do you have everything you need?" 
James shook his head. "I have no idea what the schoolbooks are, not to mention I need robes." 
"Do you have anything?" She asked. "Do you have a pet, a cauldron, a wand?" 
"I don't need a pet, I can find a cauldron somewhere in my father's house and I do have a wand. I just need to find it."
McGonnagle hesitated. "Alright. I'll have your robes and books sent to you, by tonight" 
James eyes her wearily again. "Why are you going to such great lengths to get me to trust you?" 
"I already told you, Mister Riddle, do I need to repeat myself?" 
James nodded once in understanding. The ring must be faulty, that can't be the case. He's the son of Lord Voldemort, nobody would worry about him. Finally he spoke. "Alright...first day is in two days, right?" 
McGonnagle nodded. 
"Ok. You can take the ring off now." He told her. 
She did and handed it to him. "I'll have everything sent to you by owl." She said as she stood up. James nodded and saw her to the front door. 
"I'll see you in a few days, Mister Riddle." She said as she walked out. 
"Likewise." He said curtly, nodding once. He shut the door and slumped against it. "I guess I'd better find my wand." He said to himself. 
He searched the whole house for it. He finally went down to the basement and searched frantically for it. Along the way, finding a cell phone that was enchanted to show both, a map of all the passageways in the castle, and safe routs to go in the forbidden forest, a taser glove, a glove that can make you teleport to the shadow dimension and come out wherever you need to in the normal world, a gauntlet with hidden throwing knives and finally, after hours of searching and collecting the random things he found along the way, he saw a tiny sliver of white that looked like a fang, and pulled it out. His wand was ivory white, because it was made from a bassilisk fang. It had both a unicorn hair and a phoenix feather for the core, making it exceedingly powerful. Not to mention it had a very sharp, pointed tip, able to be used as a mele weapon as well.
He used the rest of the day to gather everything else he would need and by the time he was done, he was exhausted. He was about ready to pass out on his bed when he heard a tap at his window. It kept tapping at about 5 second intervals. Finally he went over to his window and opened it and in flew a large brown and white barn owl, carrying a fairly large parcel. James was confused at first but then realized it must be McGonnagle sending the books. He opened up the parcel and found a note inside it atop the books and robes. It read- 
                          
Mister Riddle, 
You'll find everything you need in here. You'll get new robes when you're sorted so you only need one set for now. 
Sincerely, Minerva McGonnagle
Ps. Keep the owl, you'll need one.
                          
James looked over at the owl who was now getting comfortable on his bed. He scrambled over and shooed him away. He wrote a messy letter back to McGonnagle. 
                          
Professer McGonnagle,
I don't need the owl. But thanks.
-Riddle
                          
He tried in vain to tie the letter to the owl. In the end, he had to petrify the owl to get it to sit still. He unpetrified it, leaving it confused. He sent it out the window, pushing away a headache. He flopped down onto his bed, not looking forward to having to go to Hogwarts. But hey, at least there he wouldn't be constantly having to avoid people trying to arrest him, purely for his father's actions.