Chapter One: Life is Only Beginning
On a dark and clouded winter's evening, a woman was murdered in front of her two children. Her name was Natalia Westlock, a pureblood witch and a fine one at it. Natalia laid motionless on the stone cobbled floor as her dead eyes were almost watching her two children have their lives changed forever...
Five Hours Before
"Renee! Hurry up! Your stuff needs to be packed and ready!" Natalia called up the stairs whilst trying to make her son, Zach, look somewhat presentable. "I don't get it mother...Why are we leaving again?" A girl asked who was no older than seven, walking into the living room with a curious look upon her soft features. Her hair was brown with a small wave to each strand, her eyes were abnormal as it shaded the colour purple- like her father did. "I told you Renee. A man offered us help, he agreed to help us out with a brand new house." Natalia smiled almost as if she was Renee's age. A small gruff left Renee's lips as she kept a look out of the window, occasionally looking over to her mother and brother who seemed to be fighting. Zach, seemed to look a lot like Renee except he had his mother's blonde hair and her emerald green eyes, he was a smart kid but somewhat mischievous in some matter, Renee remembered her mother always saying to her and Zach that they would one day shine the colours of a Ravenclaw. Which even now Renee had no idea what her mother was talking about.
Once Zach was decent and Renee had finished complaining about some stranger coming to visit them, the clock hit nine and the sky turned black sending cold shivers down the two children's backs. Footsteps were heard faintly in the background coming closer to the house causing the children to hang onto Natalia's hands and even their mother had her heart stuck in her throat as her breathing increased and her hand's became rather wet.
Suddenly, a crack of lightning struck and the front door was caved in, they were met with a tall and rather strange looking man who seemed to give Natalia a toothy grin. "Hello Natalia...still up for the deal? Yes yes good. These must be the purebloods...yes they'll do nicely." His voice echoed through the house making Renee squirm and Zach holding his breath in fear. 'What's a pureblood?' He thought to himself clutching onto his mother for pure life.
Natalia nodded after what felt like centuries and then she spoke. "Y-Yes we're all ready...Tom." She replied trying her best to maintain her brave posture. "Good...shame about your husband...good man he was..." Tom spoke almost taunting Natalia who seemed to have tears in her eyes. "Leave Dad out of this!" Renee yelled almost instantly, but she soon regretted it when the snake like eyes met hers. "So...shall we go?" Natalia broke the silence almost with a nervous laugh but deep down, fear cut her to the cord. "Yes Natalia...all you have to do...is sign this contract and the house is yours..." The man spoke summoning up a contract almost out of thin air. Renee and Zach were both shocked at this and almost couldn't believe their eyes. They had both lived such normal lives that a bit of magic stunned them. "What does it say...?" Natalia asked trying to get a good look a the contract only to have Tom snap it shut again. "Do you not trust me Natalia? Do you not want the house for you and your pureblood children?" Tom asked sneering at the children but to his surprise Natalia grabbed the contract and shut her eyes hard. "A pen for you..." Tom smiled handing over a small little wand about the size of a pencil. Natalia thought about her options but then sighed heavily. She signed her name but received the opposite of what she wanted.
A cold shrill laugh escaped Tom's lips and he raised his wand at the mother. "Stupid girl, you don't ever learn!" He yelled only to feel a small thump on his ribs. "Don't talk to her like that!" Screamed Renee continually thumping him until Tom rolled his eyes and pushed her aside. "I'll deal with you later!" He hissed in her face almost making her whimper back to her brother. "As for you, Natalia...you face your end!" And with a cold evil laugh, he raised his wand again. "My children...I love you." Natalia whispered as a warm tear rolled down her cheek. "AVADA KEVADRA!" Yelled the man and with a flash of green, Natalia laid still, and her children responded to this with terrified screams and hot tears that could have caused a flood. "SHUT UP!" Boomed Tom twirling his wand around walking towards the children. "As for you both, I have no intention to mate with another...so I have to force my name onto another to carry on my name, in case something does happen...for I am now a weak man...been taken from my powers." He held the two little heads together who were now shaking, cold, sick and now tear stricken so he could place his wand on top of their heads. "By law and by magic, I strip you of your filthy name of Westlock and legally give you mine of Riddle. You two will be my predecessors and carry on my legacy." And with that Tom removed his wand from their heads and disappeared.
"Zach are you okay?" Renee asked after several minutes of silence and Zach nodded almost with very little energy. "Mommy...she's..." He whimpered trying not to cry again. "I know...I know." Renee whispered pulling her brother close to her. The sound of more footsteps came but this time it sounded like a stamped. An elderly man appeared before them accompanied by a woman who was wearing what looked like a Halloween costume. The elder man bent down to their levels and gave them a warm smile and offered his hand. "Dear children...my name is Albus Dumbledore...and I believe you two are scared." He spoke softly. Renee wiped her eyes and with one hand, she gently shook it. "I'm Renee...and this is my brother Zach..." She spoke timidly only to see the peculiar lady look at the body of their beloved mother. "Albus! It's her...dear sweet Natalia..." She gasped shaking her head in disbelief. Albus Dumbledoor stood up and motioned the children to do the same who immediately obeyed. "We'll give you somewhere to stay for tonight children." He smiled taking them by the hands. "What about mother?" Zach pipped up almost trying to go back for her. "We will fix something for her dear boy...that is my promise." Dumbledore nodded squeezing Zach's hand ever so lightly.
Once they arrived to their stop, it looked like a small dirty inn but everything seemed to be moving by itself. Renee looked curiously up at Dumbledore yet he remained silent. "Dumbledore! How good to see you!" Tom the innkeeper smiled approaching the two kids and him. "And who's the guests?" He continued but Dumbledore whispered in his ear and his smile faded. "These two are the ones?! Ah yes, you two best upstairs...all your stuff has been delivered...just the first room on the top floor." Tom ushered gently pushing the two kids up the stairs. Zach and Renee both looked back at Dumbledore who nodded at them. "You'll hear from me soon!" He nodded and with that Zach and Renee ran upstairs.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Zach asked perching on the end of his four poster bed. "I don't know...I'm starting to think we might be odd." Renee sighed rolling onto her side to get comfortable before throwing the duvet on herself. "What will we do tomorrow?" Zach asked snuggling himself down in the coziest bed he had ever experienced. "I guess we walk around unless Mr Bumble has to talk to us." The brunette yawned before switching off the light. "I miss mommy..." Zach sniffed getting out of his bed and climbing into his sister's. "I miss her too..." Renee muttered trying to fight back the tears that were forming as she wrapped her arms around her brother. Eventually, after several minutes of gentle crying, Renee and Zach fell asleep wondering what the surname Riddle could have upon them and the possible thought of...where would they go now?