Summary: Everyone in the wizarding world has a tattoo the day they are born, telling them their soul-mates initials, but what happens when Charlie Weasley meets his soul-mate, Tom Riddle aka Lord Voldemort?
Cantil: Hello Everyone! Sorry it took so long, but here's the next chapter. Please let me know what you think.
Recap of Chapter 3: He wished he could tell Charlie he was really Voldemort, but he feared how Charlie would react. Would he scorn him? Voldemort knew Charlies parents had no doubt taught Charlie to hate him with a passion, and he wasn't willing to risk their relationship, not after he just found him.
Little did he know that Charlie would soon find out exactly who Tom was.
Tattooed Souls
Chapter 4
It was a few weeks later that Charlie practically skipped down the stairs into the kitchen, and stopped dead in his tracks. "What's Harry doing here, mum?" He asked curiously. Seeing his mothers look he quickly added, "Not that it's a bad thing that he is of course." He looked around for Bill and Fleur, but remembered that they had left for their flat last night. Something about finishing some "duties" or some rot like that. Charlie really didn't want to know what that was about.
"Charlie, it's almost the end of summer. Harry always comes around this time." She explained, patting Harry's shoulder comfortingly, earning a bright smile from Harry.
"Oh, right. I forgot." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, but as the morning continued he couldn't quite keep the smile off of his face. He was going to see Tom today and he couldn't wait.
Charlie felt really bad lying to his parents about where he was going, yet he knew that if they found out that Charlie had found his soul-mate they would want to meet them, and Charlie didn't want to put Tom through that, at least not yet. He smiled at the thought of the annoyed look that Tom would undoubtably have throughout the ordeal as Molly would practically molest him as soon as he walked through the door.
So he told his parents that he found a job at a diner somewhere in London, but wouldn't tell them where. When they congratulated him and celebrated with Butter Beer, he felt like he would be sick and barely stopped himself from bolting from the room, instead excusing himself and heading to his room for the rest of the night.
"You seem really happy today." Harry commented casually as the two finished up their breakfast, Molly starting on the dishes, and Arthur leaving for work, giving her a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
Charlie glanced up in surprise. "Oh. Yeah I guess" He kept his gaze steadily on his food to appear nonchalant about the topic.
"Is there a reason for it?" Harry asked curiously, and Charlie couldn't help but get angry at the question.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know I needed a reason to be happy. Don't worry, next time I'll be sure to come up with one." He snapped, flinching almost immediately at the way he said it. "I'm sorry." He apologized softly, looking down ashamed of himself.
"No I am. I didn't mean it to sound like that, it's just...well you usually don't seem like you're in a good mood when I'm here so I just assumed you never were."
Charlie could tell that Harry really wanted to know why he was so happy and to be honest, Charlie really wanted to tell someone. Someone who could keep his secret friend from his parents. He stood up without a word and motioned for Harry to follow him up to his room. Once there they both sat on Charlies four-poster bed, and cast a silencing spell on the room.
Charlie took a deep shattering breath before he felt he could talk. "I met my soul-mate." He blurted out quickly, his face reddening slightly.
"Really? That's great Charlie. Whats their name? When did you guys meet what are they like?" Harry fired off all at once, making Charlie struggle to keep up.
"Woah, one question at a time. We met at a local diner almost two months ago." He said with a smile. "He's the most amazing person I've never met. He's a good listener, seriously I could talk for hours and he would just sit there listening without complaint. He knows exactly what to say to make me feel better, no matter the circumstance. Not to mention he is breathtakingly beautiful, I could stare at him constantly and never grow tired of him- he..." Charlie's face had a far away look and he could have gone on for hours if Harry hadn't interrupted him.
"Alright, Jeez. I get it. You really like him, enough with the gory details. So what's his name then, lover boy?" Harry asked. Charlie hesitated for only a moment before pulling up his sleeve slightly to show his wrist.
"His name is Tom Riddle." He admitted, smiling down at the tattoo. Harry let loose a shriek of horror, his hands covering his mouth. Charlie watched warily as Harry stood up and began to pace the floor in a state of horrified shock.
"You realize what this means, don't you?" Harry's voice was shaking heavily.
"That I've found my soul-mate, yes. What's so bad about that?" He asked defensively.
"You don't understand-"
"No, you don't understand! You don't know what it's been like for me, wondering if my soul-mate was alive, even when I told Bill that they were. I didn't know I could be this happy until I met Tom." Charlie saw Harry's look of disgust and saw red.
"Look, just because you haven't got the nerve to ask Ginny out on a date even though she's your soul-mate, doesn't mean you can critique me and my decisions." Charlie panted heavily, yet felt a little satisfaction when Harry flinched.
"I will if it's with a lowlife like that! You have no idea, no idea who you're fraternizing with. This man isn't who he says he is." Harry really wanted Charlie to understand.
"Then who is he? Huh, if you know so much then, Who. Is. He?" Charlie demanded angrily.
"It's Voldemort!" Harry shouted loudly, Charlie stumbling back slightly.
"No," He frowned. "No, I don't believe you." He denied vehemently, looking down at his wrist that still glowed brightly, mockingly. He shook his head, not willing to believe Harry's words. His lies.
"It's true. Your soul-mate is Lord Voldemort, whether you want to believe it or not." Harry sneered. Charlie shook his head viciously.
"No, You're lying!" He yelled.
"Oh yeah? Why don't you go ask 'Tom' about it then. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to sum it up for you." Harry crossed his arms and turned away from Charlie so he couldn't see his hurt expression. Harry wished he didn't have to do this, but it was for Charlies own good. He deserved to know the truth, so he wouldn't be used by Voldemort, because surly that's the only reason the Dark Lord would keep Charlie around this long.
"Fine! I'll go now." Without another word Charlie left the room, slamming the door angrily. How dare he? Charlie fumed silently, barely managing to fake a smile at Molly before he apparated to Tom.
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The minute Charlie arrived in the main hallway he was enfolded into a tight embrace. He melted into the hug, all his troubles going away instantly. There was no way Charlie could believe that this man was Voldemort. Tom treated him like he would a lover and Charlie just couldn't picture him as someone who murdered people for fun.
"I missed you." Charlie breathed, his hold on Tom tightening, and his fingers dug into Tom's green dress shirt. He absolutely refused to let go.
Tom however, seemed to notice the distress in Charlie's voice, because he stayed silent and still while Charlie gained control of himself. "What's happened? What's wrong Charlie?" Tom asked in concern. His dark eyes revealed nothing to Charlie though. Charlie sighed, let go of Tom and stepped away.
He debated with himself on whether he should confront Tom or not. Do it Charlie. His mind whispered to him quietly. You need to know and if Tom has nothing to hide you can brag to Harry that he had nothing to worry about.
Charlie shifted nervously, and ran a hand through his red hair. "I-I wanted, no I needed to ask you something important, and you must promise me that no matter what you'll tell me the truth." He stuttered.
"I-Of course. Go ahead." Tom waved a hand for Charlie to continue and watched him warily.
"I told a friend about you, and he didn't react the way I thought he would," That's an understatement of the year, "It started a big fight and he said...He said...you were not who you say you are." He stopped, to catch his breath, his heart beating heavily against his chest.
"Who did he say I am?" Tom asked carefully, his voice dangerously calm. Charlie closed his eyes and shook his head. Tom walked up to Charlie and tilted his chin up, dark eyes meeting hopeful blue ones.
"He said that you were Voldemort. That's not true is it Tom? You're not him are you?" Charlie prayed that Tom wasn't, hoped with every fiber of his being. Tom grew distant and cold, and wouldn't say anything, confirming without words what Charlie feared most.
"How could you?" He cried. "I trusted you!" Tom remained silent, angering Charlie more. "Well, say something." Charlie begged him to say anything to deny it, but Tom, or Voldemort as he should now be called only looked away guiltily.
"What would you have me say? I spent many years searching for my soul-mate. I wanted to get to know whoever it was.I didn't mean for it to go as far as it did, but was unable to prevent it when I met you at that diner. You took something from me, something I'll never get back, and I don't want it back. Do you want to know what it is Charlie?" Voldemort asked, cupping Charlies chin tenderly.
"It was my heart, or whats left of it. Yes I lied to you and tried to keep my identity a secret, but would you have given me a chance if I would have walked up to you as my true self?" Charlie slapped Voldemort's hands away.
"No," He admitted, "I wouldn't have, but how are we to continue from this? No matter how I feel about Tom, it doesn't change that you aren't him anymore."
Charlie saw the slight hurt in Voldemort's eyes before it was covered with indifference. Charlie took a deep breath and said the one thing that would make Voldemort hate him. He couldn't be with Tom, or Voldemort, or whoever he was. His parents would never speak to him again and Charlie couldn't handle the looks of disgust they would give him.
"You, Lord Voldemort are nothing but an evil Dark Lord who kills and tortures for his own amusement. I won't stay with you nor would I ever stay with a murderer. You're dead to me" Charlie winced slightly before he managed to control his expression into one of disgust. He watched as Voldemort's face crumbled, before morphing into one of forced hatred.
"You mean nothing to me Charlie Weasley. Nothing. Get out and never come back." Voldemort turned away, but not before Charlie saw the pure heartbreak in the mans eyes. This look confused him and made him flinch, but he left without a single word, leaving Voldemort to his anger.
The next day Charlie was on his way to Romania with only a quickly scrawled note to his parents telling them he was safe, but told them not to look for him.
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Cantil: Hope you enjoyed. What did you think? Should I continue this?