AN: Now I do not have a beta reader as he has a lot of work to do recently so please do not fame me for my grammar or spelling unless it is really bad. I do not own anything ect. Enjoy! Please read and review. This is about Merope and Tom Riddle's early days… and his fathers return to Hangleton.

Shadows

In floods of tears Merope fled from the London apartment, her heart could not take it any more and she knew no other way to end it than this. She hastened towards the Leaky Cauldron, shoving past unsuspecting muggles. Merope pushed open the door hastily to the pub and inside she found the exact person she was searching for.

The man was wearing a long deep blood red robe, his silver hair flowing and receding drastically over his head as it fell to just above his shoulders. Merope hurried forward and quickly occupied the seat opposite him.

'Baron, thank you for meeting with me,' she stammered, clutching her stomach gently as she winced in pain.

'This had better be good Merope, your father and I tend best not to agree on most things but I owe him a favour so what is it?'

'I need something,' Merope said quickly

'What is it you need, bare in mind my activities are already being investigated-'

'Please Baron, my child; please I need the final payment,'

'Payment, 'Baron said curiously 'what do you mean 'payment''

'Yes, you and my father came to an arrangement sometime ago over my particular duties-'

'My child, if you think just like that I can afford to hand out money to any random shit of a squib you are much mistaken,' Baron guffawed, taking a swig of his butterbeer heartily 'that arrangement was over a long time ago-'

'Baron, I have nowhere to go,' Merope begged 'my child, my husband he will leave me when he finds out,'

'Merope, what are you talking about?' Baron said suspiciously

'My husband, he is a muggle-'

'HE'S A WHAT,' Baron screeched, resuming a calm composure he added 'you can't be serious,'

'Please Baron, I need the money, I will do anything I need to find a place for Tom,' she begged

'Tom?' he replied 'whose Tom,'

'My unborn baby,' Merope muttered, she added slightly louder 'I can't go back to Hangleton, my father-'

'Your father is in Azkaban, Merope,' Baron explained solemnly 'idiot; he let himself get put in there,'

'My necklace, surely this necklace is worth something,' Merope said quickly 'take it,'

'Merope I cannot touch it,' Baron said frightened 'it does danger to a wizard not of the Slytherin line,'

Merope was becoming angry and finding her voice she said

'You of all people should know that is just an old wives tale!'

'Merope, calm down, please' Baron urged, becoming very aware that people were looking at him and this bizarre witch of a girl. 'I know a place, where-'

'Baron, my father he saved your life-'

'Yes well I would rather not remember that if you please Merope and don't think guilt tripping me will have any better effect at getting what you want,' Baron explained sharply. Merope doubled over; clutching her stomach she felt a lump rising in her throat.

'Merope, here,' and Baron threw across the table a small black book full of torn parchment pages and ink blotting. Merope took it slowly; wincing in pain she opened it carefully with her left hand and flicked through the pages.

'What will I use this for?'

'My dear Merope, in due course will that little black book be the most precious item your son will ever hold. I'm not the most astute wizard but I feel you about to give birth, your waters broke about 15 seconds ago,'

After that Merope passed out.

Merope awoke feverishly to find herself in grey surroundings, there weer a pair of drab grey curtains hanging over a muggy looking window. Next to the bed where Merope lay was a small desk area and two women were looking down at her.

'She won't last the night,' one of them said

'The important thing is we saved the boy,' the other said

Merope slowly turned on her side, with what little strength she had left and her eyes fell upon a bundle of blue and white and lifting her hand to the cot she pulled back the small folds of blanket and glanced down at her son for the first and last time, tears filled her eyes and then she was gone.