FAQ: Just a bit, while it Lasts

Here are some of the questions people sent me via PM and/or reviews.

1. Did Tom love Joelle? Did she love him?

Throughout the story it was important to me that the word 'love' does not occur in the common context. It simply does not exist in Tom's world - Tom's character and the way I interpret him is based on this. I have been doing research on psychopathy and sociopathy for years, everything I came across was more or less shaping this story, however, it's also been important to me that those two words (psychopath, sociopath) would not come up in the story, either. Perhaps Tom is a psychopath - or perhaps he is not. I don't necessarily like making a final choice for everyone, mind you, J.K Rowling never used any of those terms and my story is somewhat the chapters in between; they build up on what she provided. To still give a more or less satisfactory answer: Tom was as close to love as someone like him could get with Joelle. What can definitely be said is that he was unconditionally obsessed with her.

2. How did you imagine Joelle's looks?

I gave Joelle no official physical description because she was supposed to be everyone, the everyday girl. But I imagined Joelle to look somewhat like a darker haired Gene Tierney.

3. How did you imagine Tom's looks?

The performance of Christian Coulson from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is how I imagine Tom Riddle.

4. What inspired you to write the story?

Lord Voldemort is a character a lot of Harry Potter fans despise. He's the evil antagonist, but he has a story. I wanted to give him a story. It is my perspective on why he hates muggles, muggleborns and my take on reasons for his hatred for Dumbledore.

5. In the original plot, Tom opens the chamber of secrets in his 5th year. Why did he do that if his dislike for muggleborns has only started after Joelle's death?

Tom's dislike for muggleborns has not started after Joelle's death, it has already been there before that. Joelle's death is what inspired him to manifest his goals, however.

6. Why does Avery hate Joelle so much?

Being a half-blood, Avery had to face great prejudices while in Slytherin, shaping his character to become something greater. Since Joelle is a muggleborn witch, his prejudices towards her are based on that, too. He does not understand why a talented wizard such as Tom would ever choose Joelle, and of course he sees that some of his fellow comrades have a soft spot for her, too (Lestrange, Black). Avery is different there, as he states, not all men are crazy about Joelle. Joelle might be a likable character, but she was not supposed to be an all-loved Mary Sue. Avery was meant to give the story a bit more realistic dimension. Even though they don't get along, they started to somewhat accept each other towards he end.

7. How did the other men and especially Avery react hearing Joelle is dead?

Avery felt oddly mixed about this, Joelle had saved his life twice after all. Black and Lestrange were downright shocked, especially Black couldn't help but shed some tears, he did somewhat fancy her from afar.

8. Did Tom go to Joelle's funeral?

He was there but did not attend the ceremony. Dumbledore did, however.

9. Why did Joelle not return as a ghost?

Being a witch, Joelle probably had the chance to come back as a ghost. I don't see it being Joelle's choice to do that, though. There was a short poem I wrote in which Joelle shows up in Tom's dreams, telling him to come and see her once the time has come, but I took it out of the plot, I felt it was too cheesy.

10. Was the unborn male or female?

It would've probably been a baby girl.

11. Can you explain the concept of demons and dark magic in your story?

Dark magic, in my conception, is linked to sacrifice. If a witch or wizard uses a dark spell, they are calling upon demons to borrow some power from a sphere they don't normally have access to as their own power is limited. I have never written this chapter, but threw in hints that Tom and a demon once met for a pact. The concept of a pact is that one's soul is handed over to the devil but in return, one will receive access to a variety of skills and unspoken magic. Tom, in his nature, could never accept something to be above him. So since Tom split his soul, a part of the pact became invalid because only an intact soul is of use for the devil. The demons felt tricked, but since the pact was ignored by Tom, they had a right to overcome laws as well and interfere with Tom's life, taking what was most precious to him.

12. Why did Tom not kill Bryan after Joelle was dead? What held him back?

His promise to Joelle on her birthday that he would never kill Bryan held Tom back. Bryan has become the last remaining memory of that time for him, too.

13. Did Joelle die guilty of the murders?

Bryan and Dumbledore were able to clear her record, perhaps with some magic necessary. Who knows. But Joelle did not die guilty at last.

14. Who let Bryan out of the shed? Was it Tom?

No, Tom didn't. Bryan didn't get out until some of his colleagues from the department found him the day after. (I wonder who called them). Because Bryan was locked in, he was not considered guilty of the crime. It was easy for them to draw the conclusion that it was John once they saw the scene.

15. In Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Nott owns a very powerful time turner. Nott is also a character in your story - what if...?

No. But to be honest, I did consider it when I read the book. But at some point, the result would be the same. Only Joelle's death is how there can ever be peace between them. Tom is too consuming a character.

16. What was the symbolic of the black scarf?

In chapter two, Joelle wraps her black scarf around Tom as they build their very first snowman in the winter of 1937. She tells Tom to wear it when he goes outside to visit their snowman. The scarf was dear to Tom ever since, he even replaced it with the Slytherin scarf during his time at Hogwarts. Bryan found the scarf draped around the tombstone. Joelle, who 'melted' but somewhat became an eternal female snowman (angel tombstone), would be warm at last. This shows that Tom was there. And he did not forget.

17. Why did Tom not want Joelle to learn dark magic? After all, he thinks only dark magic is true magic, right?

There might be several reasons, but the most prominent one as to why Tom doesn't want Joelle to learn dark magic is because he adores her purity. (Which, considering she is a muggleborn witch sure is a paradox). He knows that dark magic would taint her and he doesn't want that. Another reason is that he cannot imagine Joelle to compete against him in the dark arts, he would probably find the thought disturbing that she could fight back. Tom does care about power and dominance after all.

18. What kind of roles did Tom's gang have in the story?

Black: Black is a rather friendly character, even though he is one of Tom's loyal followers. However, while getting to know Joelle, Black later realizes that the good is worth fighting for. My conception of Black is somewhat based on the little information I have of Alphard Black mentioned in the books; his true birthdate was never specified but it was suggested that it could've been around Tom's time. I believe that would've made him a part of Tom Riddle's gang while in Hogwarts; as it is mentioned that a certain "Black" was a part of it. Alphard Black is later disowned for helping Sirius Black with some financial aid, Sirius being earlier. Black's changing views on the world started to change while he was around Joelle, however, he lacked courage to truly abandon Tom, as he mentions in chapter 24: Dolls and Puppets:

"Don't, Joelle. I have no choice. Let's not spend our time believing we do."

Lestrange: Lestrange and Black are somewhat best friends, they represent the friendlier faces of Tom's gang. Lestrange is based on the looks that were suggested for him in the sixth movie: Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince. I don't necessarily know why, but Lestrange just seems a bit clumsy to me when I see his picture. That's why I gave him a clumsier personality that he, during the years, somewhat loses but can't completely get rid of. While talking to Joelle, his cautious and somewhat awkward nature still shines through - this, however, might just be the case because Joelle belongs to Tom, whom Lestrange respects deeply.

Avery: Avery is another occurring character that I really enjoyed writing about. He doesn't like Joelle, which was important in order to give the story a bit more authenticity. Avery wants to have more power, as Joelle very well addresses towards the end. Avery somewhat openly admires Tom for his standing as a dark wizard and he is envious of Joelle for the time Tom spends with her; he cannot truly understand why someone like Tom would waste their time with Joelle. Avery mostly works for his own goals, but he gets along with the others as long as they don't talk about Joelle. My conception of Avery is a mixture of the picture we see in the sixth movie and, strange enough, Amon Göth of Schindler's List. Fun fact: Amon is played by Ralph Fiennes, the same actor who plays Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movie adaptions. (It took me a while to figure that one out though, it was a funny surprise).

Nott, Rosier, and Mulciber: Like Lestrange and Black, Nott and Rosier are best friends as well. Nott is especially important as an informant, known for his investigative work during the story. For instance, he gives Tom valuable hints about the ministry's actions and he's also the one providing Tom with information on the blood statuses of witches and wizards. It is possible that Nott's father is the author of the Sacred-Twenty-Eight Directory; a book on British pureblood witches and wizards. This is why I made Nott the character in charge of information. Rosier is known for his ability to assist Nott and set up spells when needed, but not much else is known about him other than him sometimes taking care of Joelle. Mulciber, too, is a rather invisible character, not much is written about him. He, however, is actively participating in any kind of meetings with Tom and his gang which suggests a certain degree of loyalty.

19. JUST WHY?

I'm sorry!