"What happened to you Tom?" she asked, her voice crackling, as she panted from her position on the ground. Her breath came in heavy gasps, as she lay dying at his feet. His Death Eaters could not hide their confusion as they turned to look at their master. Now maybe they would learn why he had been so determined to attack a lonely old woman.
"DON'T CALL ME TOM!" he roared at her. She smiled. He scowled. He remembered that smile.
"Your right" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Tom doesn't exist anymore. Tom died the day he let me go"
He could not keep the surprise from his face.
"What are you talking about woman?" he hissed, grabbing her hair, and lifting her up so that he could face her. She smiled again.
"Have you forgotten Tom? Have you forgotten about us?" He let her go in shock, as she fell to the ground once more. He stepped back, shaking his head. "I haven't" she continued, her eyes drifting closed. "I never forgot... my promise"
Lord Voldemort watched as she took her final breath, lying still, that smile still on her face. His Death Eaters stared at him and without a word he apparated away. He stood at the top of the hill. He hadn't come back to this place in years. He fell to the ground, as memories he had long since forgotten pushed to the surface of his mind.
They stared at each other. He could almost hear her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for his choice. This was a test. He knew he mustn't let her down. But something stopped him. He couldn't do it. He tore his gaze from hers, looking down in shame. He could almost hear the atmosphere change. Slowly he lifted his head once more. He watched as her expression hardened. He watched as she stood taller, pushing past him. He watched as she walked with her head held high. He watched her walking away, his heart breaking in his chest. He watched as the only girl he had ever loved disappeared from his life, never to come back again. He had failed.
Now, he had killed her. She was gone. Forever. And it was all his fault. For the first time in fifty years, he was not Lord Voldemort, he was merely Tom, and in that moment, he never wanted that to change. In that moment, he felt regret. He felt pain. He felt sorrow. Miles away a strange Professor froze in the middle of her classroom. Her students looked at her in curiosity as her voice deepened, and her eyes glazed over, and she began to speak.
He made a choice
He lost his love
He murdered his own heart
Only when he feels true regret will he be given the chance
To change his life
To change the past
The chance to change the world
As the monster laments, time will renew
Time will renew
As the monster laments
Lord Voldemort sat at the top of the hill, the strange words echoing in his mind. A strange pain began tearing at his chest, a single tear falling down his cheek. It was as this tear hit the ground, the world began to shift.
It was as this tear hit the ground that 16 year old Tom Marvolo Riddle once again found himself in that hall. He found himself staring into her eyes. He felt the challenge. He smiled inwardly. Striding forward, he grabbed her, kissing her with all the force he could muster, claiming her as his, his thirst for power diminishing with every moment she was in his arms. He pulled away, ignoring the shocked looks of outrage on those he had previously commanded. She stared up at him, smiling. His heart pounded in his chest, as he kissed her again.
An old man, with long white hair, felt a smile cross his lips. So it had been done. So the choice had been made. And so beauty, had tamed the beast.