AN: This story is the product of years of daydreaming and contemplation. It's the first fanfiction I've every written, and I'm hoping to do justice to the characters that have been constant presences in my thoughts for the past few years.
It's a tale of intrigue and adventure, and features a dark Tom Riddle and the woman who both fascinates and enrages him. Eventually the plot will provide backstory to/explains some events that happen in the books (years after this story is set).
Review are greatly appreciated. Happy reading.
"A toast to Katarina Markova, because if anything can surpass the beauty of Prague on a summer evening, it is her." Grindelwald beamed down at her, smelling rather strongly of wine. For a man with ambitions to rule the wizarding world, Gellert Grindelwald was truly incapable of holding his liquor.
The surrounding wizards raised their glasses, always quick to agree with anything said by their leader. Sycophants and fools, the lot of them, thought Katarina, smiling indulgently at Grindelwald. "You flatter me."
"Only because you are deserving of the flattery," he said, slurring slightly. With a less-than-charming smile, he brought her hand to his lips. Katarina longed to wipe away the moisture left by his mouth, but resisted.
Sipping a glass of champagne handed to her by one of Grindelwald's ever-present admirers, Katarina allowed herself to be steered around the party. As Grindelwald proudly introduced her to his most important followers, she couldn't help but feel like a new and beautiful toy in a child's collection. Better to be shown off than cast aside, I suppose.
With Grindelwald occupied by some new arrival to the party, Katarina allowed herself to take in the splendor of the gathering. Prague truly was a beautiful city, and the party overlooked the Vltava River. A thousand floating candles shone golden light over the gathered party-goers, all of whom wore their finest robes. With gold curtains, furniture, and champagne trays, the ballroom looked like it could have been belonged to King Midas. Restraint was not one of Grindelwald's strengths. In fact, it was beginning to seem to Katarina that Grindelwald's magical aptitude was his only strength.
Grindelwald's booming voice interrupted her thoughts. "Katarina, here is someone you simply must meet."
The person in question appeared to be a dark-haired wizard who had approached the group. He was tall and pale, with dark green eyes and high cheekbones. He appeared handsome and elegant, but it was his youth that caused him to stand out among the other guests. The boy couldn't have been older than Katarina, who had recently had her seventeenth birthday.
"Katarina Markova, meet Tom Riddle. Tom has been doing great things in Britain for my cause. He's started a recruitment program out of Hogwarts, and thinks he'll have several bright students ready to join our forces within the year. Truly incredible for one so young," said Grindelwald.
Tom bowed his head and smiled politely "What I lack in years I make up for in devotion, sir".
Katarina inwardly rolled her eyes at Tom's blatant insincerity, but Grindelwald did not appear to notice in his drunken state.
"Glad to hear it!" Grindelwald roared, seemingly having no sense of his own volume. He leaned conspiratorially towards Tom, who leaned away as much as he could without offending the older wizard. "I'm going to give you some advice, my boy, from an older wizard to a younger one. If you want to do great things in this life, stay away from women like Katarina. There's nothing like love of a woman to cause you to stray from your path."
Katarina laughed indulgently. "Please, Gellert, you make me sound like some sort of temptress."
"I can't fault you for your loveliness, my dear!" Grindelwald laughed and turned towards Tom. "All I'm saying is that a month ago I was wresting control from magical governments across Europe, and now all I want to do is throw parties to show her off!" He laughed loudly, throwing an arm around Katarina.
"I'll be sure to remember that, sir." Tom said mildly.
"Yes, yes, good stuff." It was quite clear that Grindelwald was now distracted, having seen some other new arrival. "Looks like Ernest Yaxley's over there! If I'm in luck he'll have brought some of his excellent firewhiskey… Tom, I can count on you to look after Katarina for a while, can't I?"
"With pleasure, sir." Tom replied.
"Good lad." Grindelwald rushed off in Yaxley's direction, without a backward glance.
A moment of silence followed as Katarina and Tom each examined the other. Tom's eyes swept over Katarina's floor-length gown, which shimmered like gold in the light of the candles overhead and hugged the contours of her body. A golden locket hung around her neck, obscured by her long hair hanging in mahogany curls around her face. Finally, his dark green eyes met her golden brown ones, which looked on at him in evident amusement.
Katarina spoke first. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Riddle. Gellert's spoken very highly of you."
The young man's answering smile verged on a smirk. "I hope I live up to expectations."
"Personally, I'm hoping you'll exceed them." The young witch and wizard paused, each smiling at the other as if to say, this should be fun. "Do you dance, Mr. Riddle?"
"Not if I can avoid it." He admitted.
"Would you like to get some air then? I know a balcony with a lovely view of the Vltava."
"Certainly, Miss Markova." Tom offered his arm, and lead Katarina off the dance floor.
Tom leaned against the cold stone wall of the old castle, a glass of champagne in one hand, watching Katarina as she perched precariously on the balcony's railing. In the moonlight, the bright shimmering of her dress had faded into a subtler glimmer, and her hair appeared near-black against her skin, which appeared almost as pale as his own in the moonlight.
"So what brings you all the way to Prague tonight, Mr. Riddle? Surely they have parties in England." Katarina queried, crossing one leg over the other.
"Grindelwald offered to introduce me to some of his allies. Opportunities like that don't come along all that often, so I told him I wouldn't miss it for the world. And please, call me Tom."
"Very well, Tom" Katarina let the name roll of her tongue, as if she were tasting it. "But if someone offers you the world, I suggest you take it. That offer's even rarer, and altogether more valuable."
Tom laughed, and nodded in agreement. "I suppose that's why all these people are here tonight. Everyone wants a slice of the world, myself included."
Katarina raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised by your honesty; most of Grindelwald's supporters profess their deep and undying devotion to his cause."
"Well, if he asks, you can tell him I waxed poetic on the joys of magical blood-cleansing." Tom said, dripping with sarcasm.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you to be careful who you're talking to?" Katarina asked.
"Something tells me you aren't one of the typical fools and flatterers found at parties like these." He countered. "Besides, I'd rather get my slice of the world directly, rather than waiting to be tossed the scraps."
"Aren't you a bit young for such ambitions?" asked Katarina, placing her empty champagne glass on the railing.
"Aren't you a bit young to be at this party on the arm of one of the most powerful dark wizards in the world?"
"Fair point." They eyed each other with a mixture of approval and apprehension.
Tom spoke first, driven by curiosity "Where are you from, Katarina? Near Prague?"
Katarina responded guardedly. "Opava. It's east of Prague. Why do you ask?"
"Your English. It's better than I'd expect, and I'd hazard a guess that you're exaggerating your accent, and could hide it entirely if you so chose." Tom looked expectantly at Katarina, waiting for her response.
Katarina's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're very observant. My parents had hopes that I would marry into an English wizarding family. They took steps to ensure I'd be prepared to do so, including instruction in English."
Tom looked as if he was about to respond, but was interrupted by the arrival of a lanky young man on the balcony. "Katarina! I must speak with you immediately!" He spoke with a thick accent, and appeared somewhat panicked, his hand running nervously through his hair.
"Certainly, Josef. You'll have to excuse me for a moment, Tom." Katarina followed Josef into the hallway, leaving Tom on the balcony.
Josef began to speak immediately. "Katarina, something has happened –"
"Not here, Josef!" Katarina hushed the worried wizard, leading him further down the hall. They entered a storage room, full of oak cases of wine and spirits.
"Katarina, we must leave immediately," said Josef fervently once the door was shut.
Katarina remained calm. "What's happened? Tell me everything."
"Someone has informed the Ministry of Grindelwald's whereabouts. Over a hundred wizards are headed here now to capture Grindelwald and everyone else they can. Albus Dumbledore is leading the attack!" Josef paused, looking worriedly at Katarina.
"Do you think they will succeed?" Katarina asked hurriedly.
Josef replied gravely "My guess is that they will."
"Who else knows of this?" Katarina asked intently.
Josef replied in hushed tones. "No one. I came directly to you, as soon as I heard the news from my cousin at the Ministry. But don't worry, Katarina. I'll keep you safe. I've made arrangements for a safe house in Poland; a friend's country home."
"Excellent." Katarina smiled broadly. "I knew your connections at the Ministry would be valuable. Unfortunately Josef, I cannot simply run away with you. As you know, I am a girl of great ambition. I have other plans, and the success of those plans relies on not leaving any loose ends."
Josef looked confusedly at Katarina. "Katarina, you are not making any sense. We've planned for this possibility! We planned to stay together! I thought…I thought you loved me."
Katerina looked at Josef with the smile of a predator about to pounce. "You thought that because that's what I wanted you to think, Josef. Don't feel poorly. If Gellert Grindelwald fell for my act, it's not at all surprising that someone as pathetic as you would as well."
"Why are you being this way, Katarina? We need to leave, now!" Josef cried.
"I'm sorry, Josef. Was I not clear?" Katarina drew her wand and pointed it at the wizard. "I'm going to kill you."
Tom waited only a few minutes before following Katarina and Josef into the hall. He was never one to let secrets lie, and Josef's frantic demeanor seemed to indicate that he had some clandestine information to unload. Tom walked a few steps down the hall towards the storage room Katarina and Josef had entered. He drew his wand to perform an eavesdropping charm, but stopped in his tracks as he saw a flash of green light around the base of the door, followed by the dull thud of something soft and heavy hitting the floor. A few moments later, Katarina exited the room alone, looking just as composed as she had when she entered it.
"Where's your friend?" Tom asked provocatively, glancing at the wand still held in Katarina's hand.
Katerina shut the heavy oak door behind her and turned to face Tom. "Josef's been a bit inconvenienced; he had to leave the party early."
"He was inconvenienced, or he became inconvenient?" Tom smirked.
"I have no idea what you mean." Katarina half-smiled, and although it was difficult to tell in the dim torchlight of the hall, Tom could have sworn she winked at him.
Katarina continued, "Unfortunately, I'm going to be have to leave the party early as well. It was nice to meet you Tom, and that's not something I can say sincerely of many people."
"I wish you wouldn't go so soon. You seem to grow more intriguing as the night goes on. " Tom said pointedly.
Katarina laughed. "I really do have to go. I will say this though, Tom, because I like you… Don't stay for dessert."
"Is that a warning?" Tom said, suddenly serious.
"It's a piece of advice. Do with it what you will." With that, Katarina turned on her heel and apparated out of the castle with a sharp crack. Tom stood for a moment staring at the spot where she had been. His thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash followed by screams in the main ballroom. The harsh cacophony of an erupting battle reached his ears, prompting him to take Katarina's advice and quickly apparate from the hallway. For once, someone seemed to know more than he did.
