hello~
so I dunno about any of ye but I recently saw this fan edit of a fan-made movie about Voldemort's origins, the movie comes out May 29, it's called 'The House of Gaunt: Lord Voldemort Origins' and whooooo Tom looks so fine! 100% recommend checking it out
Tom decided to buy four books on top of the school book list and was practically vibrating with energy in his excitement to read them. One was about the complexities of Runes and their uses, another was about wards - something that greatly interested Ailill, a nice one about Hogwarts and its history, and finally a wizarding child storybook called 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard.' All rather nice choices that the older of the two knew would be completed in at least three days. As they were making their way to Knockturn Alley Tom finally asked his questions instead of rambling about the books he saw.
"So," Tom said. "How did you know that man's name? Because I've never seen him before around you."
"Oh, he was in that 'Sacred 28' book I was telling you about. His last name is pretty revered in it, notoriously a black magic family." Ailill told him with a mischievous grin. "I remembered his face and name and decided to fuck with him."
"I see," Tom nodded. "The look on his face was rather entertaining." He grabbed Ailill's hand in his own, intertwining his fingers with the other boy's.
"It was, wasn't it." Ailill squeezed Tom's hand fondly.
Knockturn Alley was damp and dreary colour practically sucked out of it. The walls were a mesh of suspicious-looking substances. The ground was uneven and cracked so unlike the one shining in Diagon Alley. Individuals were constantly looking over their shoulders, wary and paranoid. Some looked hungrily at the two boys while others were pitying them, believing the two youngsters to have stumbled down here by accident and will have to pay the price. Tom was as close as possible to Ailill not because he was worried or scared but because he could, he was in a 'scary' environment with strange people, to others it was only natural to seek comfort. While it's not like Ailill would deny him even if they were perfectly safe Tom had a reputation to uphold thank you very much.
Ailill looked exasperatedly endeared with Tom's clingy nature knowing the train of thought the other boy had, to some Tom may be an enigma but to Ailill, he's as transparent as fucking glass, he doesn't know how others can't call him out on his bullshit. So he let Tom hold his hand and lean into his body all while watching the trailing figures behind them, the shadowy frame inching a bit too close for comfort and no one was intercepting, not that he thought they would. When a shrouded hand aimed to nab the clothing of Tom, Ailill decided he'd been too lenient with the cunt.
He whirled around abruptly and stepped in front of Tom's confused stature. The stranger stopped with unnatural grace and tilted their head to the side mincing a confused gesture. Everything about them was covered, from their face to their toes all black cloth and velvet trimmings. The only thing exposed was their hands, bleached bone white with thin skin and yellow veins, they were slim and brittle looking but the subtle flexing of the tendons made Ailill doubt that.
"I'm going to have to ask you to move ahead of us," Ailill said, words all polite but with a biting warning.
"Oh?" The voice was chilling but oddly compelling. "Do pray tell me why."
"Well," Ailill smiled genially. "Your shadowing of us makes us uncomfortable. I'm sure you can understand. I'm afraid that when I get uncomfortable or my body perceives a threat the circumstances for the other party are rather unpleasant."
The dark vortex of a hole where the face is hidden inched ever so slightly closer in interest. "Was that a threat little one?"
"No threat," a glint in golden whiskey eyes. "promise is a more accurate word."
The two were at a standstill until like lightning the figure moved at breakneck speed trying to bypass Ailill for Tom that stood ever so close behind him. However, Ailill is expeditious if nothing else. Just as quick he called upon his core and with staggering force dropped it on the stranger. The mid-air figure was stopped in its place before smashed into the ground, the pressure of the magic left bones broken and cracking concrete creating splits. The individual's black hood fell and was revealed to be a teenager, they were outrageously beautiful and exceedingly androgynous. They had sleek pale hair like their skin and angular face, their most outstanding trait was their eyes, ruby red like blood once oxygenised. Ailill could tell they were hungry but figuring out whether that was digestive or carnal was something that he refused to do.
The...person on the ground was shuddering in what looked like concerning ecstasy. What a strange little creature. A bit weirded out Ailill turned to Tom and placed an arm around him ushering the other boy to start moving.
"W-Wait," breathed the one on the ground in elation. "Who are you? What's y-your name?"
A niggling feeling told Ailill to not give out his name, that it was dangerous. "That is none of your concern."
The pleasure hazed eyes started to clear up at that statement. Anxiety bubbling up, "no, please what's your name? I need it." As Ailill kept ignoring the one he just pummeled on the floor. "Hey! I said give me your naME!" The voice was hysterical, practically sobbing, not concerned about the people watching from the sidelines.
Tom was weirded out by the thing on the floor who demanded Ailill's name. It set a flare of possessive need burning in his stomach. He wanted to break into Ailill's chest and make a home there, broadcast to everyone that Ailill is taken by him and happy in such circumstances. As both young boys watched the blond figure scrabbling to get up and reach for Ailill, Tom was quite annoyed with it. He wove his arm around Ailill's waist and looking dead into the blond's eyes planted a kiss on the other boy's jaw. It wasn't too surprising to Ailill, Tom can be strangely tactile sometimes. The horrified shriek the creature gave was grating on the ears to the point where an older woman came up beside Ailill whispering to him,
"Just give a name, it does have to be your real one." Crow lines near her mouth tightened at the thing on the floor. "It's an efile, a creature born of a vampire and dark elf. If you show superiority over them they wish to take a name for courting purposes. Unfortunately, they're the kind of beings that don't take no for an answer, they will continuously court you even if you reject all their gifts. If they haven't got your real name they can't pester you too much. The only way for them to back off is to be bonded to another for 4 years and have consummated the bond. Even then they might still try their luck. They practically harass you into a relationship." She sneered down at the efile. "Despicable things."
"I see," Ailill assessed. "Thank you, ma'am, your knowledge was offered so graciously to us and we will be forever grateful."
The woman quirked an eyebrow at the formal speech but still soaked in the respect the boy offered up to her. It's unusual to find such sentiments down in Knockturn, it's all backstabbing and two-facing. No matter if it was a young boy giving her such revered words, they were welcomed.
"My name is Nox," Ailill told the efile. "That's all you get."
"It's not your real one though." it whimpered in distress.
"It's not." Ailill agreed.
"Then," it floundered. "How am I to court you?"
"You can't."
"Please," It pleaded. "I'd be a good court mate! I-I'm of good status and heritage, you would live a nice life with me."
"You say all this yet have not given your own name?" Ailill hummed judgmentally.
"Oh, Fe Hae, Heir to the Hae Coven," they said with pride lining their words.
"Well, Fe Hae, I'm sorry but you cannot court me as I am spoken for."
"What?" Tom hissed dangerously. Tom's magic was bubbling like lava in the air around him, absolutely murderous. People who were watching the entertainment before them started to fan themselves as the heat grew uncomfortable and the alarm bells people have inside them to watch for danger started to go haywire.
"Sir Nox is taken?" The efile questioned. "Do you have proof of this?" While he asked the question his eyes strayed to Tom liking the power the boy emitted just as much as he liked Ailill's.
"Oh shut up you annoyance!" Tom snarled viciously. He then turned to Ailill "By who?" he wasn't stupid enough to address the boy by name knowing that if he did the efile would run with it and they'd never be left alone.
"I need proof of courtship? I don't owe you anything Fe Hae." Ailill said annoyed with the creature. He then addressed Tom. "As for whom I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure you proposed courtship to me back at Gringotts, claiming you're sweet on me or was that fool say?"
With realisation lighting up his eyes Tom shook his head in disagreement. "No, no I-I'd still like to have my offer accepted."
"Then it is."
The efile looked between the two boys, "Um, I don't mind courting two people, especially if they're an already established couple."
"We're not courting you."
"Oh c'mon please, just a little first name, a real first name from you two and I'll leave you both alone. Yeah?" Fe Hae looked so hopeful it would make any person with emotions give in, Tom and Ailill on the other hand were living up to their stone-cold bitch reputations.
"No, now piss off. Ailill's spoken for."
A pause spread in the air before Ailill smacked his own face with his palm in vexation while Tom silently screeched at his stupidity. He was just too happy that Ailill accepted his courtship that he forgot to keep his name silent, he sort of wanted to gloat. A sly smile dripped off the efile's face,
"Ailill you say? What a beauty of a name, like its owner." The voice had changed from its once childish pleading to seductively coy. "And you, other suitor, perhaps you'd live to divulge your name too?"
"Absolutely not," Ailill said.
"I'll get it sometime," Fe Hae muttered. "For now however my darlings I must be on my way and prepare for a fruitful courtship amongst us! I'll send you letters and gifts lovers to be."
With a flourish, the creature was gone suddenly.
"Does he not realise we are children?" Ailill asked no one in particular.
"Clearly not," Tom said in distaste. "...I'm sorry about your name."'
Ailill sighed but only wrapped his arms around Tom and walked him down the alley not caring for the spectators.
"You will learn, Tom," Ailill said sweetly. "You are still young and impressionable no matter how clever. Time will pass and you will rise to new heights where in any battle whether it be power, wits, or arts you will win. You will be great."
The two spent the rest of their time in Knockturn alley exploring the questionable shops. They didn't buy anything, preferring to spend money on what they need first. After ambling around for a good two hours they decided it was time to get their wands. They left the alley and set out to find the wand shop, after doing a little asking around they got directions that led them to a small run down looking shop. It honestly wasn't that bad but it could use a touch-up of paint and perhaps a good scrubbing but other than that it was a mystical feeling.
The boys went inside the show to see a rather dark but warm atmosphere. Walls upon walls were stacked with boxes of varying lengths, colours, and more than likely weights. There was a desk sitting in the middle of the room when they first entered. A small bell lay innocently on the desk begging to alert someone of their presence so Ailill rang it. A muffled thump rang out along with a wisty 'one minute, please!'. Surly after a few seconds out came barreling a sprightly looking young man in his twenties.
"Hello! Yes, hello. Hogwarts first years?" The new man said.
"Yes, sir" Ailill confirmed. "Heading off this September we are."
"Ah, that's lovely then. Who will we be doing first?"
"Marvolo will be first."
Hearing his name, his new name, Tom stepped forward to the man as Ailill stepped back to watch the two.
"Hello Mr Marvolo," Blue eyes gleamed at him. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Um, if you mean my most dominant arm then that would be my left Mr…?"
"Oh how rude of me!" the man cried. "Ollivander, please call me Ollivander."
"Very well Mr Ollivander."
"So left-handed," Ollivander murmured to himself before shooting down the little corridor and plucking a box off the shelf. "Here, try this. Firwood, 10 inches with unicorn hair, rigid in nature."
Tom took the wand with concealed eagerness only for it to fade upon contact with the wand when the moment it touched his skin the lightbulb above shattered and Ollivander snatched the wand back with a 'nope!' This same process happened for several wands, Tom holds it, something shatters and the wand is snatched back. Ailill could see Tom getting more anxious, angry, and upset as time went on. Ollivander just stared at Tom for a few moments and Tom returned the stare face on, both just analysing each other. Stepping back slowly Ollivander blindly reached out his hand and grabbed a box before sitting it in front of Tom. Tom took the box and opened it,
"Yew wood, thirteen and a half inches with phoenix feather core," Ollivander said warily.
Tom picked up the wand and instantly fell for it, it was cool and warm at the same time. It felt comforting and powerful like how he feels next to Ailill. Tom felt like with this wand he could take on the world.
"A perfect match!" Ollivander smiled, pleased. "Yew wood imbues the user with incredible power, especially in the realms of dark magic, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the respective witch or wizard will be drawn to evil. Wands possessing a Phoenix feather core are not easy to 'domesticate', and getting one to switch loyalties is all but impossible. Your wand Mr Marvolo is meant for great things, let hope you too are meant for it."
"Thank you," Tom said earnestly. "I'll treasure it."
"I hope you do and that it serves you well. Now Mr…?"
"Ailill, sir." the other boy stepped forward as Tom slunk back.
"Mr Ailill, yes are we finding you a wand today?"
"Um, well I have recently come into a wand through inheritance, but I'm not sure if it's best I stick with it or if I should find another."
"Well that is tricky," Ollivander agreed. "The wand chooses the wizard not the other way around. Would you like me to look at it?"
"I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you did." Ailill took his wand out from where he stored it in his cuffed sleeve. Once it was out and presented to Ollivander it gleaned in the artificial light. The wandmaker's face paled rapidly upon seeing the wand and he held out a shaky hand to it.
"This is the...Elder wand?"
"Yes," Ailill said, categorising all the reactions the man displayed. "I had taken an inheritance test earlier today was found out this is rightfully my wand by bloodline. I performed a summoning ritual and it is now in my possession. Is there something wrong, Mr Ollivander?"
"No," the man croaked. "It's just this wand is rather well known for its less than savoury history."
"Oh? Do tell."
"The Elder Wand is one of three objects that make up the fabled Deathly Hallows," Ollivander started. "it was the first Hallow created, supposedly made by Death himself. It was bestowed upon Antioch Peverell after he requested, as his bounty, a wand worthy of someone who had outsmarted Death. It is said to be the most powerful wand that has ever existed, able to perform feats of magic that would normally be impossible even for the most skilled wizards, such as mending another wand damaged beyond normal magical repair. The Elder Wand is made of elder wood, and the core is the tail hair of a Thestral, a potent yet tricky substance to master; only a witch or wizard who is capable of accepting death can do so."
He took a deep breath as he examined the wand as the two boys listened closely to the story being told.
"Antioch did not possess the Elder Wand for very long: After killing a rival wizard in a duel shortly after getting the wand, Antioch drunkenly boasted of the wand's powers. He was murdered in his sleep that night and another wizard took it. The wand is notoriously known for its rather 'bloody trail through history'. No one has held onto the wand for a long period of time."
Ollivander handed the wand back to Ailill who took it curiously.
"To be honest with you Mr Ailill," Ollivander said. "I wish I could tell you that the wand and yourself are extremely incompatible and ill-suited for each other just so that maybe I can prevent you from having such a fate as well but I cannot lie when I see how well the wand takes to you. It sings in your hold like none I've ever seen, it moulds with your core to powerful extents, and the way it possessively holds your magic makes me believe that it would be rather hard for you to get the want to leave you."
"I see Mr Ollivander," Ailill said as Tom eyed the wand with interest and contempt, terrified that the wand would lead to Ailill's demise.
"I would offer to find you another wand but I truly believe none will be as suited to you as the one you currently hold. Should you proceed with it I would caution that you do not speak of its origins and maybe to some degree disguise it."
"And how do you recommend I do that?"
"We have some wand wraps, they are tailored wand sleeves that many who are more sensitive to magic use to not overwhelm themselves. It hides the outside of the wand in a soft cloth."
"Does it not make it hard to grip the wand?" Tom questioned.
"Not at all, it has no impact on your grip," Ollivander assured.
"I would like one then, please." Ailill requested.
"Of course." Ollivander handed Ailill a silk strip of silver cloth that once touched the wand moulded to the wood. With the wood now covered the wand looked fairly different compared to the once vortex black.
"How much for today, sir?" Ailill asked.
"20 gallons will do."
After handing out the money to the man, Tom and Ailill picked up their stuff ready to head out.
"Mr Ailill, may I ask your last name along with Marvolo's?"
Ailill turned to the man with Tom standing tall by his side, the two looking like the picture of power.
"My name is Marvolo Slytherin."
"And I am Ailill Peverell."