Hope you enjoy this chapter, Tom Riddle's here! I've just finished chapter four which is being checked by my beta reader K. Chambers - so any mistakes are her doing :) Thankyou all for reading and I hope you enjoy life at Hogwarts. Please Review!

Imperius

The rest of that Summer continued much as my first night at Grimmauld place. My grandmother could always be found in her armchair by the fire, cigarette and whiskey alternating in her clutch. Each evening would bring tales of my mother's frailty of my father's fickleness and of my sister's desertion; the progression, just as the actual events, would find her in increasing disarray. At the end of every tale my grandmother would sit drunkenly gloating about our superiority. She had a commanding demeanour and I was taken in by her conviction; pure blood ancestry was my exclusive membership to a superior society. She emanated power and I was powerless to overcome it.

ooo

The door creaked open casting a dim square of light onto the cold dungeon floor. The light fell on Tom's armchair; he shifted, stirred by my arrival. He rose slowly from his seat. I let the door bang to a close. He didn't turn; he didn't make a sound. The silence was broken only by the raging fire which crackled passionately, forcing the ashes to dance above the grate. The noise was harsh, smothering hope like smog.

"Well?" Tom demanded.

A guilty pause. Feigning naivety never worked on Tom.

"Did you do it?"

"…No – I -…"

"No." There was a sinister suddenness in his tone; he didn't need to shout to command.

"…It was too much of a risk Tom," he stood facing the fire, saying nothing, "I just think it needs time."

There was a definite cruelness in his silhouette, his strong shoulders and angular jaw protruded harshly; I could see the muscles of his hollow cheeks raging, silent behind his unmoving façade. Framed by the flames he looked hellish.

"Was that your decision to make? He spat.

"But Tom if I were to get caught – if someone saw me…"

"Then I would deal with them."

"But that's the point, don't you see. You can't just go about killing whoever stands in your way; you have to have some control."

"I CONTROL! And you enforce. But, it seems that you can't even do that." He turned to face me; his eyes alight with a dark passion. He walked forcefully towards me; taking my wrists up in his hands he backed me against the dungeon wall. "What I am to do with you?" he sneered "If you where anyone else I'd have you killed." I cowered away from his hot breath. "But you know that don't you."

I relaxed into his hold as he let my wrists down. "I need to sort your mess out." Without another word he took up his cloak from the arm of the chair and thrust out of the door. The flames danced wildly in the grate, shaken by the terror of Tom's departure. I took a seat beside the fire, kept company by a bottle of whiskey.

He always forgave me. I think he liked performing his one act of kindness. I remember believing for a time that I controlled him, that I was the one with power. I felt in control, crying on cue and shuddering to his touch; but it was all wrong. In the end he won, and I realise now that he was winning all along.

Tom found me in a state drunkenness, my blond hair askew, falling about my slouched shoulders. My breath rose heavily as I lifted the glass to my lips before striking it down upon the table, an action which caused the acrid liquid to slosh over the rim. He took out two cigarettes lighting them both, I took one.

"You were right."

After a moments hesitation he crouched down beside me.

"I'm too hasty."

I stared at him astounded by his admittance.

"Dumbledore's watching too closely. He's never away from Dippet's side."

"Do you think he suspects?"

"No he's not a clue, old fool, but he's never trusted me, never since the Chamber."

He shuffled uncomfortably, before taking a seat on the sofa across from me. I poured him a glass of whiskey before continuing.

"All we need is a window Tom. Not long, an hour should do it."

He gulped down the sharp liquid and began to pace, turning with emphasis when he reached the edges of the sofa.

"When does Dumbledore teach? We can get to Dippet then." I suggested.

"If Dumbledore's teaching then Slughorn will be."

I paused. Tom took out another cigarette, I had to light my own this time.

"Maybe if you just asked him, you know how much he admires you."

"I can't just come out with it; it's a Horcrux not a bloody Reduction Spell." He uttered in complete exasperation.

"We only found out about them last week, I'm sure you can wait a while longer."

He spun round, eyes glazed white hot with rage, "Death doesn't wait! We have to seize life whilst we can. This could be great. This will make me GREAT!" He shuddered with fury as I shrunk back into the comfort of the furniture. Grabbing me by the shoulders he breathed, "that is what makes us so different, you are powerless, you are weak." He shoved me hard as he moved away.

Moments passed as he paced, gathering courage I advanced towards him. His back was turned to me as he glared pointedly into the flames; I touched his arm gently and felt him tense.

"I'm sorry Tom. I'll fix it."

Sometimes I forgot my place.

---

The plan was set. Things happened swiftly when power was in play.

The dining hall was alive with the sounds of incessant students, but as I looked at the circle of Slytherins surrounding me, no smiles creased their faces. The ceiling of the Great Hall was brooding murderously as vast black clouds rolled in our wake. Heads bent forwards, our hurried whispers had not gone unnoticed, and whilst we received Tom's instruction, Dumbledore stared piercingly in our direction.

"Avery, Rosier – you go first, go as soon as you see Dumbledore leave. Get him talking just until Dippet's headed up to his office."

He stared pointedly at the Death Eaters, willing them to understand.

"What shall we say?" Avery asked nonplussed.

"Tell him his beard looks good" Malfoy drawled, sarcasm roaming his lips.

Tom shot him a filthy look causing him to recoil slightly, "I don't care what you say; just get him away from Dippet. Now, Malfoy and Dolohov I need you to go and herd some first years up. Take them near the Transfiguration classroom, and make sure their screaming. We need them nice and loud for Dumbledore." Something flashed beneath his eyes, he was in his element. "Black" he looked at me gravely, "you know what you've got to do. Don't fail me. Lestrange will go with her." He paused to take a swig of gin, before staring fixedly at Dolohov, his face distorted into an ugly snarl – "I know you'll enjoy this job." They laughed wickedly.

I stared at the top table expectantly, willing Dumbledore to leave so that my work could begin. I was lost to patience when opportunity arose. Sure enough, within minutes Dumbledore stood to leave.

"Go, Now!" I hissed at Rosier. Tom looked excited as they hurried to their feet, Avery stumbling slightly on the hem of his robe. Malfoy and Dolohov rose slowly; Malfoy looking indifferent and Dolohov positively manic. He was a good brute. They left, leaving Tom, Amycus, myself and a lingering tension.

Tom looked at each of us in turn. "I need Dippet under the Imperius Curse." There was a gritty determination in his eyes, and as he gazed down at his plate of untouched food, a surge of warmth coursed through me for Tom Riddle.

Professor Dippet was striding down towards the entrance hall. We moved quickly, following him outside. There was no sign of Dumbledore and in the distance I could hear the distorted shrieks of fearful students. Avery and Rosier weren't as dumb as they looked. Professor Dippet hurried towards the noise, but we advanced quickly, Amycus shooting a Confunding spell in Dippet's direction. It knocked him in the back of the head, jolting him, stopping in his tracks he began to gaze around, disorientated, rotating on a clumsy pivot. Taking Dippet in his arms Amycus bundled him into an empty classroom, whilst I glared around, hastily muttering incantations under my breath. As I went to close the classroom door I saw a flash of dark robes and light hair retreat to the dungeons. Tom was out of the picture.

Once inside Amycus conjured restraints and bound Dippet to the floor. Amycus looked at me apprehensively. We both understood the consequences of failure.

Stepping over him I pointed my wand squarely at his face.

"Imperio"

---

Adrenaline coursed through my veins propelling me forwards, I raised my wand, jerkily forcing Dippet to his feet. Amycus grinned intensely at our victim, "Run him into the wall a few times for good measure."

Swinging my wand forward, Dippet collided into the wall with a sickening crunch. Blood began to gush from his nose, splattering red against the tiles. Amycus cast "Scourgify" his way and the blood ceased its escape. As soon as I was satisfied with the state of Dippet's blood soaked robes, I sent him to the dungeons, the only place, aside from the Hog's Head, that Slughorn could ever be found.

Thanks for sticking with it. Chapter fours up soon so please call again! Review Please.