Taking a break from The Boy Not Forgotten to do a oneshot on Voldemort. It involves a Crumple-Horned Snorkack- Enjoy!
The Only Thing to Fear
"Today, class, I will be introducing you to a boggart," droned Professor Beardface, gesturing vaguely at a wardrobe a few feet behind his desk. "Remember," here he stifled a yawn. "Riddikulus, and a wave. Take out your wands and line up in order of your last names from A to Z in front of my desk."
Tome stood up lithely and walked to a space about five feet away from the desk, figuring people could just organize themselves around him. He ignored a third year Gryffindor dropping her pen as he passed by, pretending not to see her blush and start furiously whispering to her friend a few seconds later.
Everyone lined up around Tom as though it was natural, and then people took turns walking around the desk to challenge the boggart. The first few people were nothing unusual- snakes and other various animals, or specific people (who were usually professors). Then they got to the 'L' students, and the butterfly turned into something strange- a large creature that looked vaguely like a rhinoceros, only purple and with one , slightly squashed horn between its eyes. It was a majestic creature, even when on its side and unmoving.
Tears gathering in his eyes, Xenophilius Lovegood raised his wand shakily. "Ri- ridikkulus," he barely whispered, but nothing happened and he ran out of the room. Tom took everyone's chatter to mean he was next, so he stepped around the desk, wondering idly what would happen when a boggart met someone with no fear. Would it finally show its true form?
Not today, apparently, for the boggart immediately turned into a mirror image of him. Eyes flashing with fury, Riddle raised his wand and hissed, "Riddikulus."
The class fell silent as they slowly realized what had happened- the boggart had vanished completely.
Tom took a second to compose his features, then turned around to his professor's slow, monotonous clapping.
"Ten points to Slytherin for the extra research," he said tonelessly. "Yes, the way to kill a boggart is to deny the validity of the fear it is using against you. The trick is being so firm in your conviction that the boggart becomes nothing since you consider your fear as such. Most people never manage it." Looking around the room, he realized there were five more people yet to face the boggart. "And fifty points from Slytherin for taking away a learning opportunity from your peers, Tom. Boggarts take time to find."
The students all returned to their seats, the Slytherins shooting glares at their Professor (they would never glare at Tom). Goyle turned to Tom excitedly.
"Wow, the only thing you're afraid of is yourself! I've never heard of that happening."
Tom nodded absently, trusting his natural air of superiority to be answer enough for his future servant. He knew better. He had seen the blank expression on the boggart's face, the glassy eyes. The way he started to fall forward in the split second before Tom completed his spell, his inanimate corpse unresisting to gravity's pull.
He now knew what his fear was. But no matter- there were books to be read, spells to try, dark rituals to improve upon. He was going to overthrow the wizarding world, and he would going to find immortality on the way.
END
Author's note: I was on the wiki for boggarts after writing this and found out THIS IS ACTUALLY VOLDEMORT'S OFFICIAL GREATEST FEAR and what his boggart turns into. I am a genius. Or prophetess, your pick.
Additionally, I love reviews. More than Romilda Vane loves anything male that moves.