Prelude
The night whispered to the cloaked figure as she briskly walked through the deserted streets. A wail escaped the bundle in her arms. A new born, wrapped in a blue tattered blanket, cried against the glacial night wind. She franticly tried to sooth the child as she hid in a narrow alleyway, whispering to it lulling words, gently, with an undertone of hysteria. Green flashes and blood curdling shrieks were evident in the distance. The woman's eyes widened and she silently cursed under her breath. She didn't have much time. He would realize she had left. He would, after reading her note, be on the warpath. No one would be safe. Not even his precious Bellatrix, The incredibly thick headed young witch was never far from Tom. Tom, her Tom. What had happened to him, she pondered as she ran down the steps of Nocturne alley. What had happen to the Tom she knew at school? The bright young wizard who would smile at her with his sparkling teeth. That would stare at her with his dazzling dark eyes that seemed to go on forever. That would ask her the simplest questions, just to hear her voice. That was the Tom Marvolo Riddle she had known. Not this man, not this creature that stalked the night cursing Muggle borns and declaring plans of world conquest. And that Tom was gone. Maybe she was fool for not seeing it sooner, for not perceiving the signs. Some Ravenclaw she had turned out to be. Professor Flitwick would be so ashamed of her. She could hear his voice now "Alditha, you silly girl. You know better than to trust outer appearances. They are easy to fake and hard to forget. So don't even pay attention to them." He would be so cross if he could see she had so blatantly disregarded his lesson.
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