AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everybody!! I haven't been here for such a long time, too long to be exact.. well this story has been rewritten so many times because I can never get it right but now I'm sticking with it, and I'm giving you my word for it, I PROMISE. I want to reach the end of this story so much because I can never erase it from my head, i have too many twist and turns and so many good bits that i just want to get across to you guys out there and plus even if i want it out of my head, it won't go away no matter what I do!

Alright, this fanfiction is gonna occur the same time as the last book, I'm not gonna completely follow the last book but maybe I'll add some bits and pieces into this one. Can I just warn you that this story will get so mind twisting later on in the coming chapters. If you don't like mind puzzling stories then thats alright I'm not forcing you to read but i'll encourage you because I promise that the ending will be worth it. But if you love jigsaw puzzles then this story is definitely for you.

OLitPoH

I

Heart thumping, feet galloping and the roaring thunder that all seemed to go in a perfect rhythm awakened the sleeping metal guards of the Corridor of Armours. Tom darted across the narrow path with haste; he saw no breathing figure, no pair of curious eyes in sight, not even the dying flame of a candle light. All that there was in the elongated corridor filled with composed metal armours was the overwhelming sense of secrecy and solicitude.

The heavy pouring rain, the thunderclaps and the echoes of his steps could not overpower his audible throbbing heart; he heard nothing more but the rebellious hammering of its beat that seemed to make the air thicker and harder to breathe. Everything that was happening seemed so familiar to him yet so strange, the weather, his movements, the rhythmic sounds, his thoughts and the unveiling of the sorrowful event that was soon to come. He had long foreseen this night, he knew what woeful feeling it would bring his weary heart yet he could not help himself from seeing what lay in the thickest part of the Forbidden Forest.

"Please prove me wrong…. Tell me I've mistaken…"

As soon as the exit to the castle ground was visible, his steps accelerated, his green cotton two piece clothing pushed harder onto his skin along with his bare foot clashing agonizingly against the cold, uncomfortable, solid path. But after the calamity his barefoot suffered, he was granted to walk on soft grass after passing the almost magical portal to the extensive grounds of Hogwarts. He did not take even just a second to savour the new found satisfaction when he felt immediate contact with ample of rain drops jabbing his skin like heavy blunt daggers.

Shortly after Tom Riddle's exposure to the pouring rain, his entire body drenched not only in sweat and the showering rain but also the teardrops that fell unceasingly against his numbing cheeks. He ignored it. He was thankful that there was nobody there to see him break, he was glad that the darkness of the night masked his afflicted expression.

With every flashing light, he found himself coming closer and closer to the outskirt of the Forbidden Forest, yet with every heartbeat his anxiety became his fear, his pace declined and his pounding heart now sang at ease, does he really want to know what's behind those towering trees? Would it be bearable? Should he continue on running? IS IT EVEN REAL?

"Good God, Mr. Riddle, what on earth are you doing out here?"

Tom sliced the air as he turned around to face the voice that spoke to him, "Headmaster Dippet…." he addressed hoarsely.

"You shouldn't be out, its hours past midnight." he paused looking quite nervous, "I clearly gave directions that no students must be out in any part of the castle except their dormitories after nine."

Tom's gaze pondered on the tall man's figure, his perfectly round spectacles rested on the bridge of his nose askew, his nightcap hanged dishevelled on one side of his head, and his right knuckles whitened from the tight grip of his umbrella. Not quite listening to what he was saying, Tom still stood in the rain attentively.

"Are you listening to me boy? I'm telling you to get inside!"

Although the image of Dippet being in his night wear, bellowing at him whilst holding an umbrella was rare and comical, Tom's reaction was not at all relative to the situation, he stood frozen and rooted to the ground. His steady eyes wondered horrendously as he played the images in his head once more: the painful journey in the Corridor of Armours, the satisfaction of the soft grass beneath his foot, the pattern on which the raindrop followed, the flashing lights, his hesitation, now the appearance of Headmaster Dippet in a ludicrous state and the words he spoke was all too well co-ordinated. His relaxed upper face suddenly lit with horror, his brows clashed as his realization came to him in a strike……. "IT IS REAL!"

In a rapid speed Tom turned his back to his headmaster and faced the spectral Forbidden Forest, he gazed at it once more and immediately fled barefooted. He pushed aside everything, the bawling noises behind him, including his roaring headmaster that charged after him disadvantaged due to his old age. Finally he felt submerged in the thick air polluted with mysteries of the Forbidden Forest after passing its first line of trees. He turned his head sideways furiously waiting for something…… and there he saw it, the lively flame of a lantern accompanied by two familiar voices… Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House, Professor Slughorn and Divination Professor Alastriona Drummond.

"What are we going to do?" asked the feminine quivering voice, "What are we going to tell the students?"

Tom hid behind a tree fearing that if they caught him they would not let him see the shards of those emerald lively pools he loved.

Quietly Tom slipped from behind the large tree without his Professors noticing his movements. He hurried further inside the forest until finally he reached the part where the rain no longer showered him due to the thick layers canopy. He stopped when he reached a wall like structure of intertwined prickled branches. He's getting closer….. its just the rampart that stood between him and warmth he longed and hoped to feel. Without any ado, his feet manoeuvred by itself, sprinting to the nearest opening. He could see the illuminating lights from behind the barrier, shadows moving here and there and soft muffles that reached his inattentive ears. Just one more big step to go and that's it, his curiosity could rest but his mind and heart could never heal. The pounding against his chest became more and more fast-paced that the sound it made was no longer beat after beat but a steady tone.

The step was made…. he was there standing behind a moving crowd of five talking silently and in the middle of the crowd there lay the figure he was dreading to see. Tom Riddle advanced slowly and mutely towards the centre of the group, caring not about stares and questioning looks that wrapped around him as if he was a foreigner suffering from serious dose of abnormality. He was far too overwhelmed by the motionless, cadaverous and open eyed feminine figure before of him to reply to such reactions. Seeing her lifeless form, tears immediately ran across Tom's moist cheeks and his chest heaved so deep that it pained him.

"Astrid…."

"Astrid……"

He inhaled the deep essence of ancient books at rounded behind him before muttering her name once more as he opened his ghostly eye lids. With his long spidery fingers, he wiped the sweat that mounted on his bald head. The throbbing that pulsed beneath his skull slowly disappeared as the image of her lifeless body disintegrated. His pale and lanky form sunk deeper in the leather chair as he thought of his dream once more. Every night the same eerie nightmare would come to him, haunting him of those green eyes that always looked at him with either animosity or ardency. At the though of it he slammed his fist on the mahogany table before him. How ever did he bring himself to care, or even worst, to love?

"WORMTAIL!" he roared impatiently as he brought himself to his feet observing the many leather bindings that filled the extensive bookshelves around him.

Short after his call, the whimpering man stood beside him and replied cowardly, "Yes My Lord?"

Voldemort stood steadily still looking at a portrait of a brown haired woman that hanged in within the library walls of the Malfoy Manor, "Inform everyone that we will no longer stay at the Malfoy's, our new headquarters would be in the Forbidden Forest." he paused and soon continued with a smile thrust upon his thin lips, "The thickest part of the Forbidden Forest."

"I'm doing this to dishonour your memory…"

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