Unexpected Gift

Chapter 1

It was just a normal day in life of one Tom Riddle Jr. He got up at 7am and left for work at 8am as usual. His job as the shopkeeper of the Borgin and Burkes was also perfectly normal as well. He was recording the daily sales in the ledger when a ministry owl swooped in and dropped off a letter on the counter. The seal on the letter was certainly from the Ministry of Magic. The only time he had ever received a letter from the Ministry was when he graduated from Hogwarts with twelve NEWTs. This letter definitely differed from the congratulatory letter from two years ago. 

Dear Mr. T Riddle, 

You are requested at the Department of Underage Magic at Ministry of Magic as soon as possible. We believe that we may have discovered your cousin and please come and collect your kin at your earliest convenience. 

Mafalda Hopkins

Department of Underage Magic

Ministry of Magic

Tom re-read the letter to make sure he read it correctly. It was impossible. His brute of an uncle, Morfin, was in Azkaban. His father side of the family was dead. He had made sure of that back in his fifth year. So, who was this supposed cousin? There was only one way to find out. As soon as he got the permission from Borgin, He flooed to the Ministry. 

Meanwhile at the Ministry...

Harry or Hadrian was patiently waiting for his "cousin" Tom while the women in the department cooed over him. His cheeks were red from too many aunties pinching his cheeks. He endured it because he got lots of candy from them. It was to this sight that greeted Tom Riddle when he walked into the waiting hall. A five year old boy with a face so similar to his own wearing rags that he remembered he used to wear at the orphanage. The kid looked up when he heard Tom approached him. Up close, Tom thought the kid resembled him even more making him look like a mini-Tom. 

"Hello, my name is Tom Riddle. I received a letter from your department this afternoon." Tom greeted the lady that was fawning over the kid. 

"Ah, yes. I'm Mafalda Hopkins. I was the one who wrote to you. I have to say Mr. Riddle. I had my doubt, but the resemblance between you and young Hadrian is uncanny. It's unmistakable that you are related." The elderly lady looked at Tom with amazement. 

"If I may ask, how did this come about? I was not aware that I had any relatives left." Tom asked while studying Hadrian. The boy was currently peering at Tom while eating a sugar quill. Honestly, it may seem narcissistic, but Tom had to admit the kid was simply adorable. 

"There was a huge surge of accidental magic this morning in muggle London. The aurors found him when they went to investigate. The orphanage he was in burned down and his magic was the only reason he was alive. There were no survivors from the fire. We had him do the basic heritage potion to see if he had any relatives left and we found your name listed as his cousin from the both side of the family. It also listed Morfin Gaunt as his father and Mary Riddle as his mother. It seems you are related from both sides of the family. Morfin Gaunt is not in a condition to raise a child. So, we contacted you as you are the only relative he has left." 

 So, the boy was a bastard who was left at the orphanage. Just like him. It would be a shame to leave the boy at another orphanage. After all, Hadrian was of Slytherin's blood. It would come in handy later in the future. After filling out necessary paperwork, they were finally free to go. When they got home, Tom and Hadrian were greeted by the big snake resting near the couch. 

"Hello, master. You have brought me a sssssnack." Nagini hissed as she went closer to them. 

"Hi, sssssnakey. Please don't eat me. I will scratch your scales." Hadrian hissed back at the snake to Tom's amusement. 

"Hatchling ssspeaks. Good Hatchling. You may scratch my scales." Nagini moved closer to the child. The said child giggled and went to pet the giant snake. 

and that was the day Hadrian Gaunt entered Tom Riddle's life, changing the fate of the Wizarding World we know today.