Tom payes a visit to Hepzibah Smith. How will that go? Only the epilogue left now.

Chapter 24: Gains and losses

It was almost morning when Tom finally came up from the basement and walked into the kitchen where both Cygnus and Abraxas were sitting. They were apparently up early today, despite having a good reason for it. Tom found it odd, bud decided not to say anything. He wasn't in the mood of joking comments right now.

"So you finally came up? We've waited for you the whole night." So that explained the thing. Voldemort thought it was something like that, but he had been too unsure to say anything. It wasn't like him to not say anything because he might embarrass himself in front of his followers, but he guessed it was the shock. He couldn't remember much of the night. Only that someone had come down around three and checked if he was okay. The man had of course been tortured for disturbing him, but for once, he didn't care. However, that wasn't unusual. He tortured and killed the ones he needed and didn't usually remember the name. It was unnecessary if they still were dead.

He sat down at the table and both death eaters made a move to stand, but Tom waved it away and they sat down again.

"There was nothing you could have done, was it?"

"No, my lord. We did everything in our power, but he had been dead for a while when we found him so it was pointless. I'm sorry." Abraxas looked down on the table, ashamed and Tom looked at Cygnus.

"Why did you think he was dead?"

"I don't know my lord. I guess it was just a thought. I'm sorry if I gave you false hopes. I didn't mean to."

"I forgive you, but only this time, okay?" Cygnus nodded silently at the thought of asking for forgiveness of his lord. It usually ended with torture and you had to make it up for months before getting a somewhat good treatment. Of course, this varied, depending on what you had done.

"Tom, can I ask you something?" Voldemort noticed the good transition of both toneand calling him by name again. Maybe it had just been politeness before since they didn't know how he was going to react. He had probably reacted positively and therefore they returned to use his incredible awful name. He couldn't understand why his mother didn't give him a better name, or at least died before naming him. That had been a way as well, but apparently he didn't always get as he wanted, which he thought was very frustrating.

"Of course." The answer was as neutral as it could be and Abraxas was visibly surprised. He had obviously expected him to get mad or something like that.

"How are you feeling?" Tom looked at him. That wasn't the first question he had expected to have. He decided to be honest for once.

"I'm not really sure. Disappointed I guess. At the same time, I almost expected this to happen. Maybe I've been thinking as Cygnus for a longer time, just not admitting it to myself. It was stupid to hope I guess." Abraxas nodded in sympathy.

"Tea?"

Tom jerked once more, but nodded slowly. Almost immediately, there was a cup of tea before him. Obviously, there was someone here that wanted his wish to be fulfilled as soon as possible. Somewhere he understood that they didn't do this because they were death eaters, but because they were his friends. Tom snorted at the thought and took a sip of the tea. It seemed to be some kind of mix because he couldn't decide what it really tasted.

Around ten and several cups of tea he remembered what he had planned to do this day. He had waited long enough now and hoped that he would find what he was looking for. Not that anyone could keep something hidden from him for a longer time, but still. Maybe it was worth waiting. Sure, it had only been a couple of days, but those days had been going really slow. Now it was time, at least. He should bring someone. The searching would go twice as fast even if the one he brought didn't work as fast and effective as Tom.

"Come", he said to Abraxas and Cygnus before standing up and apparated to his apartment where Nagini patiently was waiting for him. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good day to bring her. Well, it never was, but Tom made exceptions now and then to keep her satisfied. Though it was probably worth it when you saw the result even if he didn't want to tell her that.

The death eaters showed up the second after him. Both as confused.

"I need your help and at the moment, you're the only ones I trust. Bring your masks and come with me." They did as they were told. Used to not get any more information and Tom understood that it was very frustrating, but he didn't have time to explain everything. This was too important. As soon they were done, which was only a couple of seconds later, they apparated to Hepzibahs house. It was time.

Tom told Abraxas and Cygnus to stay outside until he called for them. He also explained that they were only there in case something went overboard and to help him look. Cygnus had complained over the dressing, but a threatingly look from Tom had silence him. At least for now.

Voldemort walked into the house without knocking and Hepzibah was surprised to say the least. Perhaps it was the fact that she hugged him, which made him smile, but he didn't know for sure. He had never liked her and was only happy over the fact that she would be dead in a couple of minutes.

"What a surprise, Tom. Come in, come in. I'm sorry if I have nothing to offer.If I had known I'd have guests I would of course had Hokey baking something."

"It's alright Miss. Hepzibah. I'm not here for the cookies. What I had planned is a bit more valuable." Smith looked very surprised, but sighed after a while.

"You want the cup and the locked, don't you Tom? Is it Mr. Burke that has sent you again?"

"You have no idea how right you are, even if half of it is wrong. You're right about the face that I want the cup and the locket, but I don't want to give them to Burke. No, I need them for my private collection.

"I won't sell them, Tom and you know that."

"I am aware of that and if I'd have any intentions of buying them you would have been told so before. I work in Knockturn alley. I don't make a fortune and I thought you knew that. No, I thought of a bit cheaper way to get them." Hepzibahs eyes shot open when she realized what he meant. Perhaps she was going to lose her most valuable things anyway. She was even more shocked when she saw Toms hand slide down to the pocket where he kept his wand, just to aim it at her.

"I was hoping we wouldn't have to do this, but we don't seem to have any other choice. It's your call. Tell me where they are and I might spare your life.

"You will never find them and you're not man enough to kill me." Tom started to become incredible frustrated, but was determined to not let her see that. At least not yet.

"You don't think I'm capable of killing a torturing?" She shook her head and Tom continued. "I've done it several times and I have no problem with doing it again. There is a certain curse I like very much when you talk about torture and I don't think I have to tell you which one I mean. She shook her head once again.

"No, you can't. Not you", she whispered. Her voice had cracked and you could see that she was terrified.

"I will give you one more chance to tell me where you've hidden them. You know what is going to happen otherwise." This time she didn't even bother to shake her head.

"As you wish. It's your call. Crucio!" The curse hit her in the chest and she fell to the floor with a terrible scream. Once down on the floor she continued screaming and during all commotion, the house elf came down the stairs. Tom reversed the curse and summoned Cygnus and Abraxas.

"Take her upstairs and try to get as much information out of her as possible. Make sure to get rid of her once you're done." The both death eaters bowed deep and pulled the sobbing Hepzibah upstairs. "And Abraxas. Try to keep her mind intact until you kill her. It's easier to get the information out of her then."

"As my lord wishes." Abraxas disappeared with another bow.

Tom walked over to the terrified house elf and lifted it in the air.

"You know where they are hidden, don't you?" No reaction. "Crucio!" He aimed the wand boringly at Hokey who reacted the same way as everyone else who was put under the curse.

He ended it almost as fast since he wasn't sure how much a house elf could handle.

"I asked you a question and I expect an answer to it. Understood?" This time he at least got a nod back. He was making progress and that was always something.

"Cygnus came running down the stairs and bumped into Tom. He muttered an apology and started to explain. It was exactly what he needed. He ordered Cyngus and Abraxas to let her rest for a while

Tom checked if the information was correct. Incredible enough it seemed to do that and he picked out the two boxes before telling Abraxas to kill her and bring the body down to the living room. A small spell on the house elf. A small modification on her memory and everything's done. Everyone would believe that the house elf had done everything and he would get away again. Think how easy things went by sometimes. Tom thought it could be like that always. He thanked Abraxas and Cygnus for their help and they were separated. They probably apparated back to Abraxas manor and Tom apparated to his apartment. He sat down on the bed and realized that it might would have been better if he had killed Hepzibah Smith himself. Then he didn't have to think about who he was going to kill now to make this work. But that was tomorrows problem. Despite it not even being afternoon yet, he was deadly tired and fell asleep almost before he had time to lay down in his bed. He fell asleep with the cup and the locket in his arms and with a smile on his lips.

TBC...