Pearl thought it would be better just to leave Ryan without speaking
to him. If she did, she knew she would give in and stay. But she couldn't
do that to Bridget. She wanted her to have the life that she had always
dreamed of. She wanted her to have a life of gold and no matter how much
she loved Ryan, she knew that he couldn't give her that life.
Pearl found Tom surprisingly easy to get along with. She prepared herself to fight every step of the way, but no matter what she suggested, he seemed to agree. Despite his position of power, she found him more relaxed than the Tom Riddle she knew at Hogwarts.
Bridget seemed to take to him right away. Pearl had spent the four years of her daughter's life, telling her how wonderful her father was and relaying stories and memories of their days at Hogwarts. Naturally, Bridget took to her father right away. And much to Pearl's shock and surprise, Tom became very affectionate with the young girl. She would ask him questions about Hogwarts and he would answer with ease. Yet, when Pearl brought up a subject involving their days at Hogwarts, Tom turned away fiercely. Pearl was determined to find out why.
"You will be staying in my manor with me," he told them as they prepared to leave the comforts of Pearl and Ryan's Hogsmeade home. Desperately, Pearl tried to think of a way to worm her way out of this mess. Already she was having doubts about her decision and she wanted very much to turn around and change her mind. But she knew she had sunk herself when she had handed him her engagement ring, a family heirloom from Ryan.
"Can I call you Daddy?" Bridget asked, her four-year-old mind not comprehending the disaster her mother had gotten them in to.
"No," answered Pearl at the same time Tom said, "If you want." Sharing an astounded glance, no words had to be spoken between the two. Tom went on to describe his manor where he lived and how his faithful Death Eaters lived with their families not far from the grounds.
"It's rather nice," he said, as if he were talking about a cottage they were spending the summer at. "I think you'll like it."
"I'm sure," muttered Pearl bitterly. She hated the sinking feeling that lay within her stomach, yet she couldn't help but argue with the nagging voice in the back of her mind. All throughout her years at Hogwarts, and even after she left, she had pined for Tom, wishing to be by his side forever and ever. She wanted to live with him and have a family. And here he was, offering to give her daughter the life that Pearl wanted to give her, offering to take them both into his home and look after them. So why did she feel so lousy?
The trip to Tom's manor did not take long, leaving Pearl to wonder where exactly it was. By the time they had left, it was dark and there were no lights among the streets. His manor couldn't have been far from Hogsmeade; Pearl predicted on the far outskirts of the all-wizarding village. At least she would still be close to home.
"Welcome to Grayson Manor," Tom said, getting out of the carriage. He had chosen to take the carriage, for fear of distraction. He waved his arm around and lifted Bridget out of the carriage. He held his hand out to Pearl but she ignored the help and jumped down on her own. Looking up in amazement she saw the largest manor she had ever seen before.
It had to have been at least five stories high. The shingles were the colour of grey, with a black roof. There were several windows decorating the outside walls, each one looking like another fierce eye. The doorway was met by a giant set of steps, which resembled a mouth, ready to swallow Pearl and her daughter. Pearl felt an immense feeling of guilt and regret.
Bridget, on the other hand, squealed in delight and rushed towards the doorway. Tom held his arm out, gesturing for Pearl to go first, and she did so, with caution. "Bridget, don't go too far ahead!" she called to her galloping daughter.
"Hilda won't let her go too far," Tom said. When Pearl questioned his words, he replied, "Our maid."
Of course, Pearl thought to herself. A house this large must have servants. Taking a deep breath, she continued her journey into the house, fear in her heart. However, a large woman with flaming red hair greeted her. She was wearing a maid's outfit and a smile that Pearl never dreamt she could ever see on the face of a servant dealing with Tom Riddle.
"Hello, dear, you must be Pearl. I'm Hilda, the maid. How nice to see a new face around here. It's been awhile since we've had any visitors." She shook Pearl's hand happily and urged them to come in. "I've almost cleaned up the kitchen so if you would like something to eat, I would be more than happy to make it for you."
"I'm hungry," chirped Bridget. Hilda turned her head towards the little girl.
"Aren't you a doll?" she asked, lifting her up. "What's your name?"
"Bridget," the girl answered, suddenly very shy. "And that's my Mommy," she pointed at Pearl, "and that's my real Daddy." She pointed at Tom. For a split second, Pearl watched as Hilda's face contorted, trying to understand how Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of the age could have a daughter so sweet. Pushing the thoughts aside, she ushered Bridget into the kitchen, Tom following. He had dismissed his Death Eaters and taken off his cape. Looking around, Pearl followed him. This wasn't like a castle, run by a fearful wizard. This was more of a home. And for all she knew, maybe Tom didn't want more supporters as much as he wanted a family, just like her.
Pearl found Tom surprisingly easy to get along with. She prepared herself to fight every step of the way, but no matter what she suggested, he seemed to agree. Despite his position of power, she found him more relaxed than the Tom Riddle she knew at Hogwarts.
Bridget seemed to take to him right away. Pearl had spent the four years of her daughter's life, telling her how wonderful her father was and relaying stories and memories of their days at Hogwarts. Naturally, Bridget took to her father right away. And much to Pearl's shock and surprise, Tom became very affectionate with the young girl. She would ask him questions about Hogwarts and he would answer with ease. Yet, when Pearl brought up a subject involving their days at Hogwarts, Tom turned away fiercely. Pearl was determined to find out why.
"You will be staying in my manor with me," he told them as they prepared to leave the comforts of Pearl and Ryan's Hogsmeade home. Desperately, Pearl tried to think of a way to worm her way out of this mess. Already she was having doubts about her decision and she wanted very much to turn around and change her mind. But she knew she had sunk herself when she had handed him her engagement ring, a family heirloom from Ryan.
"Can I call you Daddy?" Bridget asked, her four-year-old mind not comprehending the disaster her mother had gotten them in to.
"No," answered Pearl at the same time Tom said, "If you want." Sharing an astounded glance, no words had to be spoken between the two. Tom went on to describe his manor where he lived and how his faithful Death Eaters lived with their families not far from the grounds.
"It's rather nice," he said, as if he were talking about a cottage they were spending the summer at. "I think you'll like it."
"I'm sure," muttered Pearl bitterly. She hated the sinking feeling that lay within her stomach, yet she couldn't help but argue with the nagging voice in the back of her mind. All throughout her years at Hogwarts, and even after she left, she had pined for Tom, wishing to be by his side forever and ever. She wanted to live with him and have a family. And here he was, offering to give her daughter the life that Pearl wanted to give her, offering to take them both into his home and look after them. So why did she feel so lousy?
The trip to Tom's manor did not take long, leaving Pearl to wonder where exactly it was. By the time they had left, it was dark and there were no lights among the streets. His manor couldn't have been far from Hogsmeade; Pearl predicted on the far outskirts of the all-wizarding village. At least she would still be close to home.
"Welcome to Grayson Manor," Tom said, getting out of the carriage. He had chosen to take the carriage, for fear of distraction. He waved his arm around and lifted Bridget out of the carriage. He held his hand out to Pearl but she ignored the help and jumped down on her own. Looking up in amazement she saw the largest manor she had ever seen before.
It had to have been at least five stories high. The shingles were the colour of grey, with a black roof. There were several windows decorating the outside walls, each one looking like another fierce eye. The doorway was met by a giant set of steps, which resembled a mouth, ready to swallow Pearl and her daughter. Pearl felt an immense feeling of guilt and regret.
Bridget, on the other hand, squealed in delight and rushed towards the doorway. Tom held his arm out, gesturing for Pearl to go first, and she did so, with caution. "Bridget, don't go too far ahead!" she called to her galloping daughter.
"Hilda won't let her go too far," Tom said. When Pearl questioned his words, he replied, "Our maid."
Of course, Pearl thought to herself. A house this large must have servants. Taking a deep breath, she continued her journey into the house, fear in her heart. However, a large woman with flaming red hair greeted her. She was wearing a maid's outfit and a smile that Pearl never dreamt she could ever see on the face of a servant dealing with Tom Riddle.
"Hello, dear, you must be Pearl. I'm Hilda, the maid. How nice to see a new face around here. It's been awhile since we've had any visitors." She shook Pearl's hand happily and urged them to come in. "I've almost cleaned up the kitchen so if you would like something to eat, I would be more than happy to make it for you."
"I'm hungry," chirped Bridget. Hilda turned her head towards the little girl.
"Aren't you a doll?" she asked, lifting her up. "What's your name?"
"Bridget," the girl answered, suddenly very shy. "And that's my Mommy," she pointed at Pearl, "and that's my real Daddy." She pointed at Tom. For a split second, Pearl watched as Hilda's face contorted, trying to understand how Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of the age could have a daughter so sweet. Pushing the thoughts aside, she ushered Bridget into the kitchen, Tom following. He had dismissed his Death Eaters and taken off his cape. Looking around, Pearl followed him. This wasn't like a castle, run by a fearful wizard. This was more of a home. And for all she knew, maybe Tom didn't want more supporters as much as he wanted a family, just like her.