Chapter One

Tom Riddle

Tom's POV

Tom Marvolo Riddle was the product of a web of lies. It was like a disease that would forever torment his life. Even at birth his entire world was a lie. His mother was a Pureblood witch whom was born into one of the most prestigious families in the wizarding world. They were of, what muggles would say, the aristocracy. Through his veins this extraordinary blood line was very much alive, yet so was that of his fathers… That disgusting mortal who regrettably helped with his creation.

In her younger years Tom's mother had fallen madly in love with a human man, a man whom did not return her feelings. Not even the least little bit. She was desperate for his affection however, and would do anything to be with him. So his mother concocted a strong love potion to set off their false 'happily ever after'. For years she secretly fed him the potion, ignoring the fact that her family had already excommunicated her for being with the man. Then she became pregnant. All those years her love had only grown for his father, while the man's love had remained potion induced. She had become too confident in the lie she had created. His mother had thought that once he saw that she was pregnant with his child, and remembered all of those wonderfully false years together that he could love her for real. She stopped slipping him her potions. The verdict was grim. Tom always imagined what a rude awakening it must have been for her. The man she had invested everything in, who she believed could love her, thought she was a despicable monster. He left her soon after. Abandoning his unborn child, and a wife whom had given up everything to be with him.

From there on their great love story became a tragedy. She lost her mind over that man. Slowly her health declined, and her depression deepened. By the time she had went into labor her body was barely able to birth the baby. Every last ounce of strength she had went into her bastard child, and soon after she died. Tom had been orphaned in a very human world. Naturally as custom the he was turned over to a local orphanage where he would spend the next eleven years believing that he was just as much of a mortal as any other child there. That was a lie he simply wished to be true.

In reality Tom's magical abilities began to surface rather early in his childhood. Tom had always suspected that he wasn't like all the other people that surrounded his young life. When he was around strange things occurred, unexplainable things that frightened those who were normal. Dishes would float into the air randomly, small fires would seemly appear out of nowhere, and sometimes when a snake appeared on the grounds he could communicate with it. For a while Tom had made it a priority to be normal and to make friends with the other children; however children are cruel creatures, and they would avoid him like the plague. They were too afraid to pick on him, but the loneliness hurt just as badly. He had grown up alone and wondering why he couldn't be normal.

They thought that he was possessed, a demon child, evil. Eventually Tom began to believe them. He started to play the role assigned to him, and chased a new objective: learning how to control his affliction. If he could only control these oddities, then he could be less afraid of himself and embrace whatever was happening to him. It took a few years but at the age of nine those strange powers of his were becoming easier to manage. Levitation of inanimate objects could be restrained, and he was able to produce fire on a whim. To Tom that was his best trick. Being able to produce fire at your fingertips was a fine power, especially since it scared everyone into letting you have what you wanted. They already feared him anyway, so to Tom it was simply a plus to be able to put that fear to use.

At age eleven Tom's entire existence would be transformed. A man named Albus Dumbledore would seek the boy out to tell him the truth about his abilities. He was an older man with an untamed red beard, twinkling blue eyes, and dressed in strange maroon robes. Albus was the first person to ever take genuine interest in Tom's powers. Tom was leery of his sudden concern. During that meeting Tom had set his entire dresser on fire, he wanted to gauge the man's reaction and test just how devoted he was to his cause. Albus hadn't so much as flinched, and—to Tom's surprise—was able to extinguish the fire with a simple wave of his hand. He had passed the test, and had sparked Tom's own interest. That night the boy left with Albus Dumbledore, and entered a world that he had always belonged to.

Learning he was a wizard was a strange concept at first, but as the years passed at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Tom was exceeding all his fellow students'—full blood or half. He was intelligent, witty, and charming among his peers of Slytherin house. Acceptance had been a challenge in his house. Typically Slytherin was exclusive to pure blood witches and wizards, and therefore was limited to a single mindset. They believed that lineage was everything, and that anyone born below their blood status was worthless. To survive a solitary lie became highly necessary; Tom couldn't admit to the blemish that was his father, and so he disclosed his family as pure bloods. It was much easier to get people to accept you if they believe you are like them. A lesson he had learnt many years ago. Eventually Tom's popularity increased, and he became generally well-liked by most everyone in the school.

His social life was kept to a bare minimum however. Tom had more important precedence to attend, such as his studies. He craved knowledge, believing that it was the key to everything. Day and night he would ravage the Hogwarts library, reading anything he could get his hands on. Tom would never forget the day he was permitted into the restricted section. He had charmed his way into getting a note from the potions instructor, Professor Horace Slughorn, to allow him into the restricted area. Slughorn had been all too happy to write that note for Tom during his third year, especially since it was strictly for research on 'potions'. The senile professor never once suspected Tom's curiosity about horcruxes. Yet another necessary lie. After a month of intense study, Tom had decided to try and create a horcrux of his own. It had been successful. This was perhaps the beginning of his long trials with the Slytherin house, and his progression to power. The chances of a third year being able to create something so complicated and emerged in dark magic was slim to none. It shouldn't have been possible, but Tom had done it. This kind of advancement showed promise. The Slytherin's flocked to him as their nature to survive surfaced, along with their recognition of power. Even then they were aware of how important of an asset he was.

At the beginning of the following year the idea of a new world order came to pass as a popular opinion. Purebloods everywhere had been in an uproar over mudbloods being welcomed into the wizarding world. How could the Ministry allow such obscenities to occur? These were filthy muggle born children who didn't belong in their perfect world. If the Ministry allowed them in, then mortals would want access to their world as well. They would be extorted by those ungrateful humans. Tensions were high, and pure blood families were horrified of losing their high-end statuses. They were desperate to stop this unseemly decision, and Tom Riddle just happened to know good opportunity when he saw it.

A band of seventh year preservatives had approached him with an arrangement that he simply couldn't refuse. They explained to Tom that they would have good positions working for the Ministry, and that they needed a predecessor to help with a premature activist group they had recently began. They needed someone trustworthy, reliable, and who wasn't afraid to get their hands dirty if needed—or more precisely someone who wasn't afraid to dabble in the dark arts. Seeing as how Tom had already created his first horcrux last fall, he was a perfect choice. Tom graciously accepted their offer. While those six seventh years worked on building their careers in the Ministry, Tom would began developing the group of young activists he called Deatheaters. It was a three year process for him to charm, and persuade a legion of more than twenty purebloods to help the cause. It was long hours of flattery and manipulation, but he had finally done it. Now during his final year at Hogwarts Tom Riddle would leave the school with a loyal, and devoted team because tonight was their inauguration ceremony.

The last three years hadn't been simply wasted on drawing people to the group. In his down time Tom had been studying some ancient, dark magic in the restricted section. Carefully he had been devising a curse he lovingly referred to as the dark mark. The dark mark would be a permanent inscription on the receiver's skin in the shape of Salazar Slytherin and his familiar. The inscription would infuse itself with its host forever bonding the servant and master. The intricate design of the mark was Tom's pride and joy. It would burn whenever he so decided to summon one of his deatheaters, and remain invisible to anyone who was not within the group. The best part about this mark was that it gave Tom complete control over anyone he administered it to.

Glancing to the starry night sky overhead Tom casually searched for the first sign of the upcoming meteor shower. Celeste's Shower was perhaps the key to the dark mark. The ancient magic that only appeared every fifty years was what would activate the mark's permanence. If he missed his chance tonight then he would have to wait fifty years for the next shower. Sliding his hand into the pocket of his slacks Tom was satisfied to feel the cold, metal box of needles against his fingers. Everything was falling into place. After tonight nothing would ever be the same for any involved. Ducking into the tree line of the dark forest Tom briskly closed the distance between him and the protection spell that was masking this little ritual.

Abraxas Malfoy was the first to greet him. Abraxas was from a very influential pureblood family. The Malfoy's were known for their extensive riches, and industrial investments in the wizarding world. Known for their impossibly blonde hair, and steel personalities the Malfoy family was a necessary ally for any developing endeavor. They had fortune, good press, and incredible ties with some very important wizards "Do you have them?" He asked as a thin platinum brow quirked upwards in expectancy. Abraxas' arrogance always irked Tom, but he refused to lose his cool with the spoiled brat. After all he would need the Malfoy's assistance in the future, and soon enough it wouldn't matter what he did to the boy. Once the fool takes the dark mark Tom would be pulling the strings, and poor Abraxas would be at his mercy.

"I have them." Tom replied tossing him the metal box. Abraxas caught it easily "Start passing those out." The servant nodded in approval, and then disappeared into the small crowd of people. As Malfoy passed the needles around Tom took up his usual position on a rock turned podium. Everyone that had attended the ceremony was murmuring softly amongst themselves, waiting for the typical flare of green sparks—which had always tipped off the meeting—to appear. For a moment or two Tom simply watched his followers. He was reading their emotions. Analyzing their movements and facial expressions for any subtle changes. Collectively the group seemed to be a bit apprehensive. It wasn't particularly unusual for them to be nervous though, after all if any one of them were to be caught out here at this time of night it would be grounds for being expelled. For most of them being expelled was absolutely shameful for their perfect pureblood families. Wouldn't want to upset mummy and daddy now would we?

Lifting his wand straight above his head Tom released the habitual display of shimmering green sparks, officially starting the meeting. Immediately the crowd dispersed and everyone took their places around the circle. Tom cleared his throat "Good evening." He greeted with a dashing crooked smile for special effects "Tonight we shall embark on the most substantial part of our young lives." Tom began satisfied to see his followers hanging off every single one of his words. "Tonight we will make a commitment, an absolute devotion to our most sublime cause. Tonight we will take a mark that will set us apart from the rest, and together we shall thrive. Let it be known that from this night on the wizarding world will forever be changed. Together we shall create a greater world that will exclude mudbloods, and ensure the purities of our magical bloodlines." Dead silence was all that could be heard from the group as they were entranced in the mental image Tom had just painted for them. People were just entirely too easy to manipulate. In the corner of his eye Tom noticed a white ball of fire appear in the night sky. Celeste's Shower was beginning "The ritual is starting!" Tom pointed to the rapid progression of shooting stars above them "Now, together let's build our heirs a world they deserve."

Each witch and wizard attending simultaneously pricked their fingers, drawing a single drop of blood. Then one by one they dripped their pure blood into the goblet stationed center of the circle. The shower had lit up the entire sky by now, and all one could see was a mass of blue fire and white star dust. Tom stepped up to the silver, emerald encrusted goblet, and touched the tip of his wand to the rim of the cup. Softly he began murmuring the ancient bonding spell. Huge, black pillars of smoked rose and overflowed from the goblet. Slowly, steadily like tar the smoke pooled to the ground, its tendrils individually seeking out a specific witch or wizard. Then the mass wound itself around their arms sealing the pact they had just made. There were a few screams of pain and terror as the mark was carved into their flesh and into their very souls, forever deeming them a servant of Lord Voldemort. Finally as he ended the chant the smoke receded, leaving in its wake a group of people who were mortified by what just occurred.

Once the initial shock had subsided Orion Black was the first to fire up "What in bloody hell was that?" He demanded jumping to his feet, and pointing an accusing finger at Tom "What are you pulling here Riddle?" Orion belonged to a line of purest whose sole purpose in this world was to maintain their stainless lineage. None of the Black family derived from mortals, and none ever would. For centuries they have kept their blood spotless from the sinful blemish of a half blood child, and this would continue for centuries more. They were a proud family, rumored to be linked to a lost royal blood line, and Orion was no exception. At times that royal heritage would turn its head, and something noble would come out of the boy. However, he would have to learn his place.

Tom sent him a sick, twisted smile "It would seem I have given you all what you wanted." He remarked his dark, obsidian eyes completely devoid of any emotion.

"What we wanted?" Orion bellowed as a look of hatred passed over his face.

"Yes." Tom repeated "What you wanted." For a moment the two of them had simply engaged in a battle for dominance, each trying to wear the other down with the weight of their stare. An unsettling tension wrapped around his other followers whom were too much of simpering cowards to try and help their friend. The worst part about having Slytherin friends was that they were only concerned with their own survival, and right about now Tom had horrified all of them into submission. Growing tired of this pointless game Tom decided to test out his new control "I suggest you sit down Orion." He warned, not an ounce of amusement in his voice. Yet that was all that need to be said. Just as Tom predicted, his statement sent the boy over the edge. Fist drawn tight Orion ran forward with every intention of knocking Tom's lights out. However mere inches away from his jaw, Orion's fist was halted mid-air and he was soon to realize that his entire body had been completely frozen in place. The curse was successful. "Now then Black, what shall we do about your insubordination?"

A/N: I typically do not write chapters this fast, but when you are snowed in and have nothing better to do, why not? Anyway I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, and please leave any comments below :)