Black Riddle

Do not own Harry Potter obviously.

Chapter Four: Blood Promise

4-5 years old

"Oh my goodness, Tom! That snake just talked to us!" Alleria screeched pacing back and forth, rubbing her hands together. She had just awoken moments before, and was already wracked with fear. Her brother had carried her as discreetly as possible into their room, then gone to get a matron to clean up the picnic mess. When he had returned his sister had been cowering in the corner. He loved her, he really did, but this helpless thing was really getting on his fragile nerves.

"And?" Tom asked almost bored, leaning causally against the wall behind his bed. Alleria came to an abrupt stop, hands on her hips, staring wide-eyed at him.

"Normal snakes do not talk Tom!" Alleria insists very slowly and calmly as she can in her frazzled state.

"That's what people want you to believe. I've been talking to snakes since last year." Tom said with that bored tone still pervading his voice as he examined his fingers nails. This stopped Alleria completely and tears welled in her eyes. She turned quickly knowing her brother disliked her crying. Knowing he might be angry with her if he saw. Tom did see, but he didn't comment as pushing her farther would do neither of them any good.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Alleria asked when she finally got her voice under control. Tom sighed before getting up and going to his sister. Lightly he pulled on her arm for her to turn around, she didn't, tears still in her eyes; once again fearing her brother's temper. He had never hit her, it was true, he was her best friend, and she loved him, and she knew he loved her. Only he was harsher about life than she was. While she saw the light and sweetness of the day, he only saw the shadows. Tom sighed exasperatedly and tugged her harder. So much so she fell rather than turned into his arms. He caught and steadied her before gently rubbing her back.

"I didn't want to upset you." Tom lied coolly, he truly had just wanted to keep a secret from her. She didn't need to know everything about his life, even if she was his twin. Alleria believed him though and nodded.

"But how do you do it without being scared? That snake…he…he almost bit me. I thought I was going to die!" Alleria shuddered as Tom stiffened.

"He almost did what?" Tom asked acidly, his voice going low and dangerous. She knew that voice, and she knew nothing good would come from it.

"He almost bit me." Alleria squeaked unable to take it back once it had been said. Without another word Tom strode from the room ordered her gruffly as he shut the door.

"Stay here."

Alleria did what she was told and never knew that her brother tracked down that snake and killed it, using another secret he had kept from his sister. He had noticed a year before that strange things happened when he really wanted them to. He really wanted that snake to die, and it did without so much as a word, or motion. Tom had smiled to himself proudly, and then went back up to his sister placating her and distracting her from what he had gone to do.

Throughout the twins forth year Tom continued to use his new found power, and Alleria was still plagued by her visions. Strange things also followed her, but unlike her brother she saw them as miracles and not acts of power. Tom steadily began to stray from his sister, not much, but enough to make her miss the days they had only had each other for company.

Days when she didn't have to read his mood to see whether it was okay to talk to him that day, or if it would be better to go play with some of the other girls that didn't mind her presence. That was until a few days before the twins fifth birthday. Tom didn't know why, but for some reason he felt like his sister would not be with him for much longer. That soon she would leave him behind.

He soon realized what his fears might be pointing to when the orphanage went into a frenzy. A young rich couple was looking to adopt, unable to have another child of their own after their first born son. Their were rumors they wanted a girl and everyone knew it would be Alleria to go. Bright, sweet, and easy on the eyes she was the cream of the crop at the orphanage. Not that Alleria ever noticed. She went about her day playing dolls and spending time in her brother's new affectionate attention.

Tom knew he had to keep his sister from leaving him, so on their fifth birthday, the day before the couple was set to arrive, he pulled his sister into their room. Away from a party with Alleria's friends.

"You love me don't you?" Tom demanded holding his sisters' hands in both of his. Alleria nodded confused. What was wrong with her brother?

"Of course." She said after he kept looking at her. Was it not obvious that she loved no one in the world but him?

"Then make me a blood promise." Tom said his voice bordering on mad.

"A what?" Alleria asked truly confused. Tom pulled out a knife he had filched from the kitchen while Alleria jumped surprised.

"Mingle your blood with mine, promise me you will always be my sister no matter what. That if we are ever apart you will think of me. That you will never forget me." Tom said insistently.

"Tommy what is this about?" Alleria asked getting more frightened by her brother's severity.

"Just please Alleria!" Tom begged. This shocked her more than anything else. Her brother did not grovel, did not beg for anything, he got what he wanted with charm, not pity, or force when it was needed. Alleria taking in her brothers wide eyes finally nodded. Tom sighed in relief then taking the knife he cut his palm. The blood was red as it was supposed to be. It captivated him. Intoxicated him almost.

However, he was still on a mission. He gently took his sister's hand and did the same to her palm. Alleria hissed as the mark was made. The blood did not intoxicate her, in fact, it made her sick. She had seen too much blood in her dreams already. She said the words he brother had spoken and grasped his palm when he held it out to her.

Alleria did not know some day she would regret that single moment in her not know it was a curse, just as it was a blessing. Because as they shared their blood already so alike, their souls threaded together, creating a connection that could never be broken. No matter how hard one would try.

When the couple came they immediately took to Alleria, but it was not returned. She listened to them ramble about how she would have an older brother before she said she already had one. They laughed and said she didn't any more not that one, a different one. The friendly meeting was no longer friendly. A little girl and two adults that would have what they wanted at any cost.

"You're coming you little witch. You will tell Ms. Cole you want to." The husband roared slapping Alleria across the face so hard it stung. Alleria fell and hit a chair on her way down. She moaned as a purple and black bruise already began to form on her skin. They left her with a few more curses as she tried to catch her breath. She had to tell Tom.

However, she didn't know she was already too late. The couple had thought of a plan. They would use Tom to get to her. As Alleria lay weeping on the floor they bred lies of how much safer and happier she would be in their household. How she would visit him during the holidays, and she could call him anytime at their expense. Tom didn't want to believe it, but his love for her was still strong, there was a small goodness in him at that time, and he wanted the best for her.

When Alleria came in minutes after the couple had left he said.

"You're going Alleria."

She was pulled up short. She knew she had to tell him that they had hit her! Called her names and were not what they appeared to be to Ms. Cole and everyone else who cooed and were in awe of their elegance. But Tom was already telling her she would be happier as she struggled to find the words and to seal the deal he said almost cruelly.

"And I won't have to watch over you anymore." This stopped all the words pressing against the back of her teeth trying desperately to get out. She nodded like the good little sister she was, like she was supposed to. She did what she was told to do as she always had.

She agreed to go with the couple on the condition her last name would not be changed. She would still be a Riddle. When they came again after the formalities had been accomplished and the couple had passed with flying colors to take another child into their home they took her away from her brother in their fancy car. Alleria was still crying from her goodbye with her brother though she had never been in a car before though she had always wanted to be in one. The twins watched each other fade away as the car took her to a life she would not be happy with, nor safe in, for a very long time.

Tom wouldn't know for years just how bad his decision had been. That it may have been the turning point for him. That maybe if his sister hadn't left he wouldn't be the monster he someday would become. He didn't know that yet though. He was after all, only a five year old boy.

TBC. Last of the Re-write for tonight 3/17/15. More coming tomorrow keep an eye out if you want to read the edited re-write. Love you my ducklings