Chapter 2 – The Notion

Tom Riddle was the best Hogwarts student. He had the best marks and received an engraved trophy for Special Services to the School. He knew he would be admired if he just let people do it. If he could make tiny hints that being in his grace could make them better as well.

Following the Prince's advice shouldn't be hard, when Tom thought it over and over, toying with the idea. But first things first.

Tom visited the small village called Little Hangleton. Walking on the road which lead to a hideous shack felt oddly familiar. He couldn't understand it, but maybe it was some wizard thing? It have been familiar for his mother for sure.

Tom was about to knock at the door, but hesitated. There was a snake nailed to the door and it made him cringe somehow. While he didn't care about other people, because he had no reason to; snakes were always his friends. He had a unique ability to speak to them and they always helped him to scare off the fellow Muggles from orphanage.

He already disliked his remaining family who lived there. He just pushed the door open and it took a lot of will from Tom to not take a step back upon seeing a man who was standing there.

He was dressed in filthy, tattered clothes and his bushy hair mostly covered small, dark eyes, which stared in opposite direction. His teeth were missing and the stench was nauseating.

"What do you want?" hissed the man in Parseltongue, holding wand in one hand, and dagger in another.

"I merely wanted to visit you," answered Tom in Parseltongue. "No need to be so defensive."

The man lowered his hands and pocketed the dagger. He had some nervous ticks while speaking. Tom felt a new wave of nausea, seeing and smelling moldy food on the floor. The house was utterly disgusting.

"I thought you was that Muggle, you look mighty like that Muggle."

Tom raised his eyebrows, curious. "What Muggle?"

"That Muggle what my sister took a fancy to, that Muggle what lives in the big house over the way, you look right like him. Riddle. But he's older now, in 'e? He's older'n you, now I think on it... he come back, see. "

"Riddle came back?" His father was leaving nearby?

"Ar, he left her, and serves her right, marrying filth! Robbed us, mind, before she ran off! Where's the locket, eh, where's Slytherin's locket? Dishonoured us, she did, that little slut! And who're you, coming here and asking questions about all that? It's over, innit... It's over..."

Tom was irritated with the mindless babble this crazy man started. He wasted no time in stunning him. Then he took a good look around the house and after half an hour of fruitless search, he took a good look on unconscious body on the floor. There was a ring on his finger and Tom slipped it off, examining it. Upon hearing footsteps, he put the ring into his pocket and spun around, wand ready.

He faced an amused looking Prince with his hands raised up in a surrendering gesture.

"I can see that you have excellent reflexes," complimented Prince, lowering his hands. "Quite a mess, this uncle of yours and his house, isn't it?"

Tom just shrugged. "He claims that my Muggle father left my mother and returned here. I'm not sure what to do," he said, resigned a bit.

Prince tapped his lip piercing with his index finger. "I believe there will be no family reunion?"

Tom clenched his fists. The Prince had uncommon talent of appearing in the most difficult situations in Tom's life.

"I hate them," confessed Tom. "I hate my father and this utterly common name I have after him."

Prince shrugged. "So get rid of him, what's the problem? He's a Muggle and you're a very talented wizard. Muggles stand no chance against you."

Tom became frustrated. Was Prince mocking him? His tone was so careless as if he spoke about choosing a dessert.

"They will track me and…" Tom was lost in thought. Suddenly an idea appeared in his mind.

Prince just finished was Tom was thinking. "And you can take another wand and alter his memories. You're skilled enough to frame your uncle and no one will blame you."

"Can't you do that?" asked Tom, curious.

"Me? You must be joking. It's your filthy Muggle father, not mine. Do it now or leave before he," Prince nudged an unconscious man with his shoe, "wakes up. I bet Morfin Gaunt won't be very happy finding that he's missing a certain ring."

"I'll do it," said Tom, taking the wand from Morfin Gaunt's grip.

"Cheery bye," said Prince and left the house. Tom followed him, to see Prince hopping between trees, growing around the house. His voice was bright as he called: "Oh Pain, oh joy! Oh Pain, oh joy! Oh pain, oh joy, oh pain, oh joy, oh pain, oh joy!"

Then he fell silent and there was no sound of Disapparition. Tom peeked through the trees, but Prince was nowhere to be seen. What an eccentric man. What was he so happy about?

Without sparing Prince another thought, Tom gathered himself and marched towards Riddle Manor.

Thanks to TheStupidIsAlwaysPossible for beta reading!