A/N: Tom tries the Killing Curse for the first time. Riddle Era.

Submission for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Transfiguration Assignment #5 - writing a story in which a character has to do something that's challenging to them.

The All-Era Endurance Test Competition: ROUND 3 - Riddle Era. Set at Hogwarts (Forbidden Forest). Unforgivable Curse - Avada Kedavra.

Ultimate Battle Competition!: Losers' Draw -[condition] no dialogue

The 50:50 Competition: Round 1 -Tom Riddle / Voldemort

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.


Tom crouched at the base of the tree, his ears open for the sound of any approaching footsteps, man or animal. Beside him, the restricted text lay open, the details of the spell he wanted to perform barely legible in the few beams of dying light slipping through the foliage above.

Ever since his professor had mentioned these spells in his Fourth Year, Tom had been fascinated with them. Spells deemed 'unforgivable' because of their nature, the way they took control from a person.

First, there was the Cruciatus Curse, which affected a person's control of their own nerves. According to the text, it felt like many hot knives piercing the skin and internal organs. The person would wish for death if the caster's intent was strong enough. That was intrigued Tom, but it wasn't enough.

Then there was the Imperius Curse, which took away a person's free will and their control over their own actions. One person's account said it felt like a soft cloud pressing on the person's mind, whispering sweet nothings into their ear. It could get others to do someone's bidding, even killing their own family and they would be unable to fight it (again, based on the caster's proficiency and desire). This was even more useful, but Tom would keep that one for later.

The one that called to him the most was the Killing Curse. It had no fancy names for it did was it said - killed a person in cold blood. The heart stopped, the brain died and the person wouldn't even know what hit them, dead before they hit the ground. The caster had to want to kill, had to throw away all morals and be willing to have that sin on their soul.

Tom almost chuckled, catching himself before he gave away his position and his waiting would be all for naught. Tom was more than willing to throw away his morals, just like the world had seemed to throw him away. This was the reason why he was in the Forest waiting. He was ready to show them what he was capable of, to show them that he was powerful and not just an oversight, a gutter child raised in the middle of nowhere.

However, the spell was proving more difficult than he anticipated. Sometimes there was mispronunciation, sometimes incorrect wand waving and other times, a green light would glow from the tip of his wand and then nothing. But he would try again.

A slight rustle broke his train of thought and he leaned a bit further into the shade as a small deer entered his line of sight. Time to try again.

He took a deep breath and said the incantation, enunciating every syllable as he pointed his wand.

A bright green light flew out his wand, just like the times he tried before, but instead of fading away, it hit its target. The deer's eyes widened and a soft sound escaped its mouth before it fell over with a dull thud.

Tom rose from his place and stepped forward, placing a hand on the deer's side. Though it was still warm, there was no reaction, no heartbeat and no breaths. The deer had died, just like that.

Tom smirked as he returned to his place and nestled back against the tree. The deer would possibly attract another animal and then he would able to try again, getting it right until he couldn't get it wrong.