A SERPENT'S VENOM
I
I had known Tom Riddle for as long as I can remember, however it was not till the summer of my sixteenth year that everything between us became… complicated. You see, I could never really escape from his sight, or better said, I could never bring myself to turn away my desire to be around him- offcourse I didn't realise that back then. Our time in Hogwarts and the war has definitely brought us closer that anything, yet ironically enough it was those two factors that almost destroyed us.
Shall I start my story then?
It was the morning of August 10, 1944, when the brick streets of London stretched the distance filled with debris. A few days before my visit, the area has been unfortunate to receive the destructive anger of explosives from the opposing side of the war. The authorities have been acting quickly with their duties, clearing the streets, saving those who survived and burying those who didn't. Outside my limousine window I can still see the black smoke linger around the tall buildings, embracing the city with its gloomy atmosphere. I watched in terror as constables lined a good dozen of lifeless bodies on the side of the street, most barefooted children that must have been playing when the bombing occurred.
"It would be over soon." I heard the driver whisper as if trying to comfort me.
"I hope so…." my jaw almost numbed from those words for I knew that there would be more people to be slaughtered because of one man's greed and cruelty before this war is finally over.
"My son wrote to me and said that I should expect his arrival by next week." the driver smiled at me through the mirror.
Arrival. Has he lost an arm? A leg? Could it be that he is suffering from an illness incurable by the nurses at his station that he must be sent back to his country because he is no longer useful? The word arrival contains a different air from the word home. Home always indicates joy but arrival? Now that's different…
Now that I think about it, I wonder when will Daddy come home?
"Well isn't that swell." I smiled back pushing my thoughts away before I could blurt it out and ruin the old man's hope.
I tore my gaze away from the uniformed driver to the building up ahead, Wool's Orphanage. With its high railings and dull building, it is by far the most depressing place I know. All walls were covered with nothing but tiring white paint that would make a person think they were in a mental institute. The food was as dull as the place, especially now that everything is rationed because of the war. However it was the smiling faces of young children that kept me coming back here hoping to satisfy each and everyone of their empty wishes, bringing fresh fruit, meat, new pairs of shoes, items of clothing and books just to keep them all in a state of joy.
A smile crept onto my face as I imagined all the small figures anxious to show me their new artwork or the plant they've been growing. However my smile disappeared when I saw Tom Riddle pushing the heavy gates open clearly with no difficulties in doing so. His figure has changed significantly from when I first saw him- it was when I started my charity work in Wool's Orphanage with my parents, I was nine. Tom Riddle has been widely recognized by his handsome face, wit and charming charisma, however those things never really warmed to me.
The limousine came to a complete halt when we finally reached the large wooden front doors of the orphanages. The driver lifted himself from his seat and came around to my door but before he could reach the handle I pushed it open. I hate being treated like everything must be done for me- I have a pair of hands for godsake, and I am more than capable of using them!
"Astrid!" greeted Mrs. Coles with notable enthusiasm once I had swung the car door shut, "How have you been?" she looked behind me as if expecting my mother.
"I'm good actually, I'm terribly sorry that my mother couldn't be here today, she's been feeling quite ill lately." I informed the headmistress but quickly added, "But she will be fine, sooner or later."
"That's good to hear. I mean its not good to hear that she's ill but its relieving that she will be getting well soon." she laughed at her own quite thoughtless reply, "Oh dear- you know what I mean! Do come in before I say another word that would belittle my intelligence even more."
Although it was faint I head Tom Riddle scoffed at the elder woman's remark about her intelligence. I turned to him with an aim to counter his unmannerly conduct but I was met by his ocean like eyes. He was approaching the front door slowly while still holding his stare as if battling a silent war- Look away already!
"Oh what a surprise, a truck load full of presents?" Mrs. Coles boasted eyeing the truck that was trailing behind my limousine- I had completely forgotten about it.
"A consolation from my mother, she and offcourse my father wanted to extend their sympathy and compassion to aid your distress."
"How very kind of them." Mrs. Coles replied smiling, she then turned to Tom and said, "Oh I'm sorry to ask you for this favour Tom, but will you assist these gentleman unload those boxes into the kitchen?" she asked before Riddle could race back to his room.
"Ofcourse." was all he said while looking at me. His lack of reply always annoyed me, how could that charisma be charming? I'm not even sure if you could call that charisma. None the less I replied with a smile followed by an empty, "Thank you."
Mrs. Coles indicated that we should start heading for the garden, as she started talking about the bombing a couple of days ago, I sensed a hint of terror in her voice, "We're so grateful we've been spared from those terrible things. The kids panicked when they heard the first set of bombs dropped, it was truly a terrifying experience."
"Why don't you relocate?"
"Oh no dear, we can't." she said as if lecturing me, her tone revived with courage, "There would be kids outside those gates that would be needing a place to stay. Just the day after the bombing, there were eleven children sleeping on the steps outside that door."
Eleven? In a matter of a day, eleven children lost their parents and more than a dozen dead from the bombing? How terrible…
"But they could drop more bombs."
"In the orphanage, we believe that they only bomb an area once." she whispered, aiming to redirect their conversation Mrs. Coles asked, "Astrid, do you not go to the same school as Tom?"
"Yes I do."
Why must she start asking about Riddle's relation with me, it always lead to one thing I hate discussing about.
"Hasn't he grown to a handsome young man? Young ladies have taken quite a fancy in him you know." she smiled deviously, "Just a week before your arrival, one of our generous contributors came to visit with their young daughter, and it was clear from the moment she saw him that she had fallen in love. She could not take her eyes away from him!" Mrs. Coles laughed heartily, "Oh young people."
"Oh really now?" I replied acting as if I was interested.
Out of all the woman in the world, you would think I would be interested in the subject consisting of that arrogant man?
"Are you not taken by him?"
I almost laughed, "Taken by him? God no!"
"You two would make quite a smart pair."
Oh god how far are we to the garden!
"Ofcourse we would," I replied sarcastically, "If you were hoping to find a crime scene!"
"Then tell me dear darling," her round figure stopped, she smiled and continued, "What was that little episode you two had just outside?"
DAMN YOU!
"It was an expression of hatred." I answered simply, "To battle a silent war is always the most successful way to establish who is superior to who."
I wish I didn't say that.
"It seems as if you two were expressing something more pleasant that hate."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," a deep voice echoed behind- it was Riddle, "Should I put these bags along with the boxes in the kitchen?" he asked holding two heavy brown leather bags.
I ran to him and immediately seized the item in his hands, "Oh, these are actually mine." I quickly turned to Mrs. Coles hoping she hasn't forgotten that I was to stay with them for more than a week.
"Oh I have forgotten." she slapped her cheeks soundly, "Tom, Astrid is to stay here for a few days, would you kindly show her to the spare bedroom next to yours?" Mrs. Coles smiled cheekily then added, "I trust that there should be no naughty business between the two of you pass bedtime."
NAUGHTY BUSINESS! What do you think I am? A tramp! I cannot believe this woman, and for a moment I thought I liked her…
"Oh but I thought the kids were waiting for me?" I replied innocently.
"Oh nonsense, they can wait longer." she smiled and waved but before she could wave goodbye, she added, "Oh Tommy dear, be a gentleman that you are and assist Astrid with her belongings." then before she was completely gone she yelled, "Take all the time you need!"
TAKE ALL THE TIME WE NEED TO DO WHAT! Oh merlin… If only I could curse this woman, I would. How can she always find the way to get the two us having to spend time together alone by ourselves? I hate alone time with Riddle.
Quietly and gently, Tom Riddle retrieved the heavy items in my hands with ease. I did not protest as it would again be the subject of another one of our episodes. This would delay our arrival out in the garden and for that god forsaken woman to think that something she was hoping to happen actually occurred.
"Shall we get going?" I heard him ask impatiently as he watched me standing there thinking of all the possibilities that Mrs. Coles may say to me once we reach the garden.
"Lead the way." I replied as I watched him walk ahead. It was refreshing to finally see him out of his uniform and into something more casual. His thin white summer shirt revealed his darker complexion; perhaps it was all from working in the garden in the afternoons. I must admit, I was quite impressed with his physique- something I never noticed before.
Being alone together led my mind back to Hogwarts when we always used to patrol the halls on Friday nights together, I-HATED-IT. It was always so silent, he never spoke but in situations he did, it was only to answer my question with a yes or no answer.
"Did you enjoy potions today?"
"Yes."
"Amortentia is quite interesting, don't you think? Its amazing what scent you really find attractive."
"Yes."
I was taken by surprise when Riddle suddenly started speaking, the mute can speak! "Do you bring those food and clothes to help or to show off your riches Goswick?" he continued further with his tone hinting disdain or jealousy, "Bringing brand new pairs of shoes to show that you are more than capable of producing new equipment even in the time of rationing."
I wish the mute didn't speak…
"I don't know whether I should take that as a question or an insult but if it were genuinely a question: yes I do bring food and clothes to help." Inhaling deeply I continued my retort staring at the back of his neck hoping to burn him, "But knowing you, it is probable that it is an insult and my only reply to that Riddle is: I did not come here for you, you have every option to ignore the help I offer you, yet you don't. So you are in no position to insult me in such a way when you yourself is at fault by interpreting my generosity for exhibition of wealth."
My temper rose at his remark, how dare he? Thank goodness we entered a flight of stairs, a good reason to stomp my feet on the floor hoping to release my anger rather than tackling him to the ground and cursing him to death.
"Ofcourse I'm at fault." he stopped on his tracks, smirking down at me, "Have you ever noticed how often at fault someone is through your eyes."
"That's because they are."
"Ofcourse, I was at fault when you were late for our first patrol together because I did not remind you of it earlier." Riddle turned around and continued walking up the stairs.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Do you really find it that surprising?" he smirked raising a brow as if trying to intimidate me.
"Are you going to take me to my room or are we just going to linger here?"
My remark seemed to stain his expression with loathing, I noticed his every slight movement. The tiniest motion of his eyes squinting to analyse my own expression of hatred towards him, I noticed the invisible slap on his back that seemed to cause his back to straighten to tower himself over my figure and the thinning of his lips that seemed suppress his anger. Immediately after all this, he turned his back towards me and continued on. I noticed as I walked behind that we were getting further and further away from the dormitories.
"Are you sure this is the way to my room?" I asked trying not to suggest anything other than confusion.
"I'm quite confident that it is."
"Quite?"
Before I realised, Tom Riddle had dropped my bags infront of a door, I looked at him questioningly, "That's your room." he said.
"You are well equipped with two hands so there is no reason why I should further assist you with your bags." he said coldly as if another personality of him had just taken over, "You have exhausted my lending hands, so if you don't mind, I would like to rest now."
"No actually I wouldn't. I would rather you gone out of my site." I retorted with the same cold and honest tone.
"One more thing," he paused for a second as if searching through my eyes, "do try to keep the noise to a minimum."
What did he mean?