Chapter 14: A struggle
It said that Salazar Slytherin had had a sister. It was even an old picture of her and the resemblance between her and Melinda was so great that no one could miss that they were related.
It was a long time ago now and barely a month left of school. Med it was also the worst time because of all the tests. The teachers seemed to love giving them lots of homework to manage. Tom didn't have the energy to do them and therefore just passed them on to someone else. Now there were others. He had collected several more followers by just staying in Knockturn alley on his leisure time
A couple of weeks ago he had realized how to get there without drawing attention and now he spent almost every weekend there. All he had to do is go down to Three Broomsticks, use some floo-powder and no one would ever know. It was either Three Broomsticks or the Hog's head. The hog's head was the most usual, but it wasn't rare that he went to Three Broomsticks.Now he sat in a couch with a book in his lap. Not far away, Cyngus and Abraxas sat. They had tried to take some distance from him. Not that he cared. Not really. They wore his mark and knew that there was no turning back. On the other hand, maybe they didn't know, but they would find out soon enough. Tom was going back to the orphanage when school finished, but he didn't intend to stay for very long.
"Tom, come on. The lesson is starting!" Abraxas called and Tom looked up.
His eyes were darker now and seemed to be redder. He liked it. It felt like him being himself.
"Coming!" he answered and got up. He put his book away and followed Abraxas. He didn't trouble himself with bringing his books, since he already knew that someone would take them for him.
He was going to class when he heard a whimper.
"Leave me alone. What have I done to you?" Tom heard and noticed a girl and by judging of the mark on her chest, she was a Ravenclaw.
"Don't you care about us, you filthy little mudblood."
Them Tom felt like ending the conversation. He didn't like to bully someone and besides, he was a prefect.
"Let go of her", he said and the both boys looked terrified when he approached them.
They didn't let her go, thought.
"Let go of her I said." This time the boys were quick to obey and let go of her."Are you all right? He asked the girl and she nodded, clearly petrified. "Don't worry; I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
She nodded again and ran off.
"That was unnecessary", he stated to the two boys and left.
He could hear them running after him.
"Tom, com on. It was a joke, don't take it so seriously", one of them tried.
"Still unnecessary. Now leave me", he said harsh.
"But Tom…"
"Go" Voldemort exclaimed and they flinched before leaving him alone.
Tom kept walking to the classroom and his books were as usual at his bench. It was an unusual boring lesson, since all they did was repeating what they had learned before. Tom was incredibly happy when it was over and even happier when he realized the school week was over. Someone had had the courtesy of bringing his books back to the common room and he slowly went there as well. He changed clothing and disappeared through the gates to the Hogwarts ground.
When the weekend was at its end, he returned. No one knew where he had been or what he had done, but Tom didn't mind. He was surprised when he glanced at the note-board
Because of an urgent staff meeting at the Ministry of Magic, all weeks lessons, have been canceled.
Albus Dumbledore, Deputy Headmaster.
Tom smiled, but realized it would be two meetings. The first couple of days half of the teachers would leave and then he rest of the in the end of the week.
He liked the idea and headed back to the common room, where a bunch of girls met him. Not that it was unusual, but today it felt very irritating and he was tired.
"No", he said and the girls groaned in disappointment and left. Tom sat down in a couch next to Abraxas and Cygnus.
"You still miss her, don't you?" Abraxas said and laid a hand on Toms shoulder.
"Don't care", was the answer and he pulled Abraxas arm away.
"Admit it", Cygnus nagged.
"Okey, okey, I miss her", he burst out.
He was happy to have Cygnus and Abraxas. They were the only one he could have a normal conversation nowadays.
"You've been absent thin last couple of months", Cyngus stated and leaned backwards.
"I know. I guess I got depressed when Melinda died and the fact that I can do nothing about Mark."
"It's okey. We understand", Abraxas said calmly. "What happened to the Tom we used to know?"
"He died along with Melinda. Then Voldemort was born. I actually think he's been inside me all along, but now he's almost taken over completely. He stroke back when I was weak and I don't think he'll ever let go once he's taken over completely."
"Lord Voldemort, our master, we know." You're just Tom and you have nothing in common. You're two people in one body. I think you forced you bad side forward when Melinda died to be able to handle all the sorrow", Abraxas said and Tom nodded when he understood that Abraxas conclusion must be correct.
An hour later Tom sat on his bed, writing a poem when he felt how wrong it was. He didn't write poems. Not even when he was just Tom. He knew that Voldemort was trying to take over, be he was not going to let go without a fight. Tom had had enough of Voldemort, but he was so strong.
Half an hour later he laid exhausted on the bed. Voldemort had won and deep down inside of himself he knew that he had stopped fighting. He already knew he had lost the battle.