Title: The Catalyst
Author's Note: This is a not your typical time travel story. I've been envisioning this story for quite some time, just unsure how to go about it. So here's a stab. The characters will be close to the originals, but I'm not J.K. Rowling so keep that in mind.
This story is rated M for a reason, for it contains graphic gore, violence, language and sexual content. I mean people come on, it's a story centered around Tom Riddle, who is practically the sexiest psychopath ever created, well aside from Hannibal Lector.
I hope you guys enjoy this story and reviews are always welcome. I appreciate constructive criticism, just don't complain or rant about the skewed morality in this fic, considering you have been warned.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs only to its rightful owners. I own nothing except the character I created.
[[[[[[[[*]]]]]]]]
"We're conjoined. I'm curious whether either of us can survive separation." -Hannibal
[[[[[[[[*]]]]]]]]
"Blasted cretin, why is it I can never find what I need when I actually need it!" Ilthyia complained while tearing her clothes from the wardrobe.
Aurelia simply rolled her eyes, her sister always was one for the dramatics.
"And you wonder why your room always resembles a tornado swept through," she replied lounging on her sister's bed.
The other girl just throws her a contemptuous glance in response.
"Honestly Ilthyia, just call the blasted house elf and ask the cretin yourself. I'm sick of constantly walking all over your trash," Aurelia continued.
"Fine," Ilthyia bit out, "and my things are not trash you bitch," she ended
Aurelia merely smirked in reply.
"Twinkie!" Ilthyia screeched.
"Merlin, Ilthyia, your voice is making my ears bleed." Aurelia huffed while standing.
Immediately a small house elf appeared in the middle of the room. Shaking slightly, and eyes downcast, Twinkie shuffled her feet.
"Yes Mistress Ilthyia," she spoke timidly.
Suddenly Ilthyia strode over and slapped the small creature across the face. The house elf let out a cry and fell to the ground.
"Me sorry Mistress! Me sorry, Me not know what Twinkie did!" She rambled on.
"Oh shut up you disgusting cretin, I know you took it, you're always sniffing through my things, spreading your filth all over my room," Ilthyia spoke harshly while Twinkie continued to sob. "Stop crying, it's grating on my nerves," she finished heading towards her wardrobe.
Aurelia stared down at the helpless house elf before turning towards her sister.
"Would you mind your temper; I'd prefer my house elf doing her duties without injury." Aurelia said tersely. "After all, it's not the cretin's fault you're such a slob, I mean honestly, how do you expect to run your own household when you seemingly can't keep your room in order," she finished snidely.
"Oh shove off it Aurelia, your rigid perfectionism is so boring, not to mention annoying" Ilthyia replied with a huff.
Aurelia simply strode to the door glancing back at her sister.
"Well better perfectionism than a disgusting slob," she said with a smirk gaining a sneer from the other girl. "Hurry up, we have to leave soon, and I'd prefer not to be rushing to the train simply because you can't seem to find your robes. You've had all summer to retrieve them." She finished before walking out and closing the door.
Sometimes Ilthyia could be so agitating, but her charismatic charm often drew people to her. She was considered the queen of Slytherin. Fair skin and dark flowing hair, those hazel eyes always gleamed mischief and seduction. She was Black to the core. She was favored by all, despite her mean and manipulative ways, the only other who rivaled her popularity was their own adopted brother, Tom.
Of course Tom was a different story altogether. He was the definition of perfection, blue eyed, and black hair, he was like a dark prince. Every girl wanted him and every boy wanted to be him. The potential scandal of his background went unnoticed seeing he was adopted by the Black family. His half-blood status meant nothing, seeing how his academic promise and charisma made everyone fawn all over him.
Aurelia never quite knew what to make of the boy, he was her brother of course, but sometimes, those kind words and his sweet demeanor never quite reached those beautiful eyes of his. But he always treated her with the upmost respect, so she never had a reason to distrust him.
Entering her room, she stared at her belongings, maybe Ilthyia had a point, there wasn't an item out of place. She quickly sat down at her vanity and stared at her reflection. There needed to be something done about her hair. With a swift flick of her wand, her hair cascaded down in loose curls, and she tied the top half back with a dark green ribbon. Making sure there wasn't a strand out of place, she quickly got up and changed into her school robes before sitting back down at her vanity.
Her siblings seem to love Hogwarts, the politics and scandals, it was like their own personal kingdom, Aurelia though, well to simply put it, she was bored. Bored by the same vapid, chatty girls, the annoying little schoolboys, and even the Slytherin boys irritated her by their constant preening over her brother Tom.
The closest non-relative friend she had she supposed was Lilith Zambini, and even with her she had to handle in doses. Ilthyia was the one she was closest to. Though her lack of friends didn't dampen her mood, she concerned herself with her studies. The goal was to be intelligent enough to attract the right type of suitor and immerse herself in pureblood society, perhaps marry someone in politics.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she replied.
In her mirror she saw her brother Tom in the doorway, looking handsome as ever. He walked up behind her and leaned down.
"Apparently Ilthyia is throwing one of her hissy fits, she's practically screeching like a banshee." He said with a smirk.
Aurelia simply smiled.
"She can't seem to find her school robes, the poor house elf probably will be in hospital wing for a week," she replied with a laugh.
"She can be such a brat at times," he said while twirling a strand of her hand around his finger.
"Yes, but she seems to have much more of a personality than me, I find myself jealous at times," she replied glancing to the side, avoiding his gaze in the mirror.
"Give me your hand," he replied softly, to which she did.
Slowly turning her around, he caressed the side of her face.
"Ilthyia is like wildfire, beautiful afar, but an absolute nightmare up close," he said, inciting a small laugh from her. "I'd much prefer your company over hers any day," he finished softly, looking into her eyes.
Aurelia smiled in return.
"You always did know exactly what to say," she responded.
"Come on, it's time and we don't want to be late," he said before kissing her cheek, and turning on his heels.
[[[[[[[[*]]]]]]]]
The Great Hall was filled with the sweet and savory aroma of decadent food laid tastefully on the grand tables. Each year was hard to figure just what to eat and, as always, Ilthyia only went for the strawberries, claiming she didn't want to fatten herself up, yet Aurelia knew she only did it for the aphrodisiac appeal. Which never failed to work. Every year on the first day, the boys would all but slobber on themselves watching her.
Aurelia just rolled her eyes and turned to Lilith.
"It's disgusting, how easily us girls can turn men into their natural forms," Aurelia said with look of distain.
"You mean pigs," Lilith replied with a smirk. "How women find the worm between their legs so appealing I'll never understand," she finished.
"I'd imagine it's what it's capable of doing when it's being plowed inside you," Regulas Black said as he stood behind her.
"Honestly Brother, you can be so perverse at times," Aurelia spoke in return.
Regulas merely smirked in reply before casually dragging his finger down Lilith's arm. "Ay, but that's what makes the ladies so wet," he whispered loudly in Lilith's ear.
Immediately the girl batted his hand away.
"You are absolutely disgusting, as if I could ever be aroused by you, and stop touching me," she replied. "You're making me nauseous," she grimaced.
Regulas merely laughed it off before walking towards the head of the table to take his place by Tom.
"See what I mean," Lilith said while looking at Regulas as if something foul entered her mouth, "Absolutely revolting."
Aurelia couldn't help but agree. Even the most arrogant of the whole lot could be brought to his knees with just one look from Ilthyia, proving just how weak they were. The only boy that seemed to be immune to the female charm was Tom, though judging by the way he lounged back in his chair at head of their table, he seemed more like a king than a boy.
Tom caught her gaze and held it for a moment before turning to Abraxes Malfoy, and the two began conversing in obvious hushed tones. Plotting again are we? Aurelia amused herself with the thought. Though he wasn't sorted into Slytherin for nothing.
"Welcome back for another year at Hogwarts" the Headmaster's voice suddenly boomed across the Great Hall. "We are excited that….
Aurelia tuned Dippet's voice out, it was always the same speech after all.
Everything was always the same. And that familiar boredom started to crawl up inside her as the Headmaster continued to drone on.
[[[[[[[[*]]]]]]]]
Aurelia sat curled up on the chaise lounge reading in the Slytherin common room. Ilthyia was nowhere to be found, no doubt shoved herself in some bloom closet playing games with some poor boy's head. Lilith was with Claudette Parkinson huddled in a corner fawning over the newest Witch Weekly. Aurelia wasn't sure what to make of the two girls, she knew her friend tended to show her interest in other females, and yet Claudette was such a silly girl. Her family was certainly powerful enough, her older brother Antoin Parkinson seemed to possess an air of cruelty, which was a common trait it seemed among her brother's friends. Tom always seemed to be keeping them in line. Regulas, on the other hand, while certainly obnoxious at times, had a huge heart. He certainly could be manipulative, but she had yet to witness any cruelty from him.
"Aurelia," Tom's voice called out softly.
Looking up from her book, she found Tom in the corner playing Wizard's chess.
"Come play a game," he finished.
Closing her book, she got up and walked over there, sitting across from him watching him reset the board.
"I don't know why you insist playing this with me, you win every time." Aurelia expressed while moving her pawn.
Tom merely chuckled.
"You simply lose because of how impatient you get," he said lazily while making his move. "You have to think ahead, be aware of how the other thinks, what moves they will be prone to make," he finished.
Aurelia nearly snorted in response.
"Easy enough for you to say, you're practically a genius" she replied.
"I possess no more intelligence than you," he said. "I just happen to actually use my intelligence while you wine about your lack thereof" he finished with a smirk.
Aurelia stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh because that's such a mature response," he goaded.
"Oh get off your high horse Your Majesty," she said dramatically.
Suddenly Tom leaned over the table, his eyes piercing into her own.
"Now you should call me that frequently," he spoke darkly, though his eyes shined mischievously.
"I'd rather burn my eyes out," she said in return to which Tom laughed, leaning back into his chair lazily.
The two continued to play, and Aurelia found herself getting frustrated. Every move she made, Tom seemingly knew before she fully decided. He was just too damn good at Wizard's chess, and he knew it too.
"How do you like your classes so far?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"Tis alright I suppose," she replied monotone. "Slughorn seems to be in love with you, talks about you nonstop." She replied with a snort.
"Aye, Slughorn, I suppose he is" Tom said haughtily.
"I'd be careful if I were you," Aurelia said cryptically. "That huge ego of yours, might actually explode and your head along with it," she finished.
Tom just smirked, before smiling triumphantly. His queen smashed her king, scattering the stone across the board. Aurelia just sat there pouting. Suddenly he got up and was behind her. Leaning down he whispered in her ear.
"Haven't you realized by now my dearest sister," he breathed. "I will always win." He finished before laying a kiss on her cheek.
A shiver went down her spine, that familiar darkness she saw in him seemed only to come out to play in rare moments. Then he was gone, calling Abraxes rather aggressively and half the sixth year boys followed them out of the common room.
There was something comforting she found in Tom, a longing deeply rooted in her, for something she did not know. And while her family acted as if he was the golden child, she dared to believe that they did not know him at all.
[[[[[[[[*]]]]]]]]
