A/N: Hello. This is my first fanfiction I'm posting. It's just a one-shot about why Tom Riddle hung Billy Stubbs' pet rabbit. Please feel free to review and tell me what you think. I know it's probably a little rough, but hey! Like I said, It's my first one.
Disclaimer: I do not own any names in this story. They all belong To J.K. Rowlings.
Young Tom Riddle sat silently on the floor of the room he shared with two other boys, reading a book as he rubbed a bandage on his elbow. He felt the anger rising as he remembered how he received the scrap. All he had been doing was sitting in the garden with the small green snake near the bushes, enjoying a pleasant conversation when two other children came over and made fun of him…
"Oh look, Billy! Tommy's talking to the snake as if he could actually understand!"
"Oh goodness, Dennis! This is hilarious. Can you understand the snakey, Tom? Is he your wittle fwiend?" The child, Billy, cooed.
"Go away!" Tom hissed at the two boys. "Leave me alone. The snake hasn't done anything to hurt you. She's the only one who actually listens to me anyways!" Tom was shaking as the two boys continued to laugh at him. "Stop it!"
The older boy, Dennis, stepped up. "What are you going to do about it, Tom? Get your little pet to bite us?" He raised his arms and pushed the younger child to the ground.
Tom screamed out in pain as he landed on a sharp rock, crimson blood appearing on the ground. The matron, Mrs. Cole, appeared behind the two boys,
"What's going on here?" She questioned, looking back and forth between the three boys.
"Nothing, Mrs. Cole! Tom just fell. We were helping him." Billy said.
"They're lying, Mrs. Cole! They pu—" Tom was cut off by Dennis before he could finish.
"He was frightened by a snake and tripped. He must have hit a rock."
"That's enough boys. Go inside. Tom, go find Amy and ask her to help bandage you up."
Tom seethed. Again, these boys had gotten away with hurting him. He wouldn't allow this to happen again. He tossed the book aside and stood up. He made his way through the orphanage to a smaller building outside where he found Billy Stubbs playing with his rabbit.
"Hello Billy." Tom said coolly, standing behind him.
"Oh, Tom. What do you want?" Billy asked, slightly annoyed.
"I want your apology."
"What are you talking about Tom? I didn't do anything to you. Dennis pushed you!" Billy stood up his rabbit hopping off. There was alarm in his voice, causing Tom to smirk. There had been rumors around the orphanage lately. The nine-year-old Tom Riddle could make things happen. Strange things, at that.
"Oh, I wouldn't be worried about yourself, if I were you." Tom smiled at the boy and turned and walked out of the door. As he started to walk back towards the main house, he heard a high pitched scream coming from Billy Stubbs.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Cole would go out to the small building to see Billy crying. As she looked up to where Billy was pointing, she would see the child's rabbit, hanging from the rafters. And no matter how hard she tried, Billy was never able to tell her who had caused the rabbit's death.
Another quick A/N: I honestly don't know Tom's age when he killed the rabbit. I figured nine would be a good age. If you feel he should be younger/older, please let me know.