A/N: Hey, Part 2 of Voldemort's past is up. This chapter is called Ascent to Power. Look out for Part 3, simply entitled Lord Voldemort. Or Voldemort. Maybe Lord. Whatever.

Harry Potter and the Return of Lord Voldemort Part 23

Tom Marvolo Riddle glanced around the dark room nervously. The classroom was only lighted by a few candles, casting a creepy shadow over their faces. He shivered as he watched his "friends" faces. Ezra, a black boy was the leader. His sister, Eliza, was holding his hand and Riddle's. The other. Denny something-or-other, had his eyes shut tightly. And the pale blond girl, Sarah What's-her-name had her big brown eyes open wide.

These people caused the room to shake? Tom asked himself, glancing scornfully at them. They don't even look like they could make jelly tremble! "Alright," Ezra said, clapping his hands together, snapping Tom out of his reverie. "Let's try the spell we did last night again," They linked hands and slowly began to chant.

Tom closed his eyes and murmured the words. He felt his feet lift up the air. How did he know the words? Why did it feel as if they were burned forever in his memory? He didn't know the answers to his questions, so he just focused on the spell. He was distinctly aware of some commotion around him. Screaming and crying. He shut his eyes tighter.

He began to chant louder. Suddenly, he felt a hand sting his face. He eyes flew open. "Who dares—" he began, but stopped when he saw the state of the classroom. His eyes widened in a shock. Books, quills, papers, chairs and tables were strewn everywhere, like worthless playthings. In the middle of the classroom, a crevasse ran deep.

"Oh dear," he murmured. Eliza was trembling, her brown eyes wide with fear. The others looked just as shocked and dumbfounded as he.

"Nothing like this has ever happened before," Ezra commented, eyeing Tom suspiciously.

"Maybe four of you weren't enough for the spell's maximum power," Tom suggested. "Maybe you needed more,"

"Yes…" Ezra muttered, still watching him. "But none of our spells ever had effects before last night. The night you were very close by…"

"What are you suggesting?" Tom asked angrily. The others too were now watching him, sizing him up. "You think I'm responsible for all this?" Ezra sighed.

"look, we're all very tired," he replied. "Let's just go to bed and we can figure out what to do about this tomorrow,"

"But what about…that?" Denny asked nervously, running his fingers through his curly carrot-colored hair.

"Tomorrow," Ezra said. "We can figure out what to do then. And until we do,we were never here. Understand?" They all nodded. "Good. Now, let's go before some prefect catches us,"

* * *

Tom slept late Sunday morning. "TOM! GET UP!" Tom groaned and rolled around to see Daryl Mason, the boy who had replaced Hagrid in Gryffindor. Tom shut his eyes tighter and rolled around so as not to face Daryl.

"TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE!" Tom groaned and sat up.

"WHAT?!" the spitfire roared in anger. He despised being called by his full name, the name given by his father. Daryl shrank back meekly.

"Sorry," he apologized. "It's nearly noon," Tom was baffled.

"And I care why…?" he snapped.

"And Prof. Dumbledore is looking for you," Daryl smirked. Tom's jaw dropped. "Something about an earthquake,"

* * *

Tom ate his lunch quietly, watching Ezra, who sat at the Hufflepuff table. Hufflepuff, Tom sneered. Figures.

Tom hadn't gone to Dumbledore yet, and he didn't intend to. After lunch, he stopped Ezra by grabbing his hand. "Where's the book?" he hissed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ezra said.

"Don't lie to me," Tom growled. He grabbed Ezra's neck and pressed his thumb. "Where is it?"

"Lost," Ezra stated simply. Tom pressed harder. Ezra's eyes bulged.

"Where is it?" Tom asked quietly. Ezra began to choke. With one swift movement, he produced the book out of his backpack. "Thank you," Tom smiled, before strangling the other boy to death.

* * *

"Okay, Dumbledore," Tom smiled, walking down the slippery, steep steps to the Chamber of Secrets. He held the book in one hand, and a lantern in the other. "Let's see what you're made of,"

He placed the lantern down on the dank floor and blew away the dust on the book.

BLACK MAGIC

Tom opened the book and read the pages. He flipped open to the last page and grinned at the author's name.

Salazar Slytherin

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Part 3 is 'Lord Voldemort'