Disclaimer: I don't own much here, except Jess. If I did, I'd be a heck of a lot richer and living on something other than Earl Grey and Ramen noodles. All rights go to the proper people. You know who you * points to author and publishers * are Summary: What if instead of Harry Potter, another found Tom Riddle's book? A/N : This is the first one to be published here. Go me! Many thanks to moonletters (wickedkiwi) for helping a useless newbie like myself. Anyhoo, R/R.

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Chapter 3

"Doing One's Duty"

February faded into March extremely quick, despite the overwhelming workload dealt out by all the teachers. Even if she was a workaholic lately, that didn't stop Jessica from thinking about Tom, about what happened on Valentine's Day; it kept her spirits up, needless to say. No matter how rotten her future was predicted to be, she was still working her butt off in Divination. Professor Trelawny was right that time, wasn't she? Maybe she'd be able to make another prediction-a real one. Who knows? Maybe she was just Nostradomus in disguise. Jessica hadn't written to Tom since that night, but she was certain he was thinking about her. 'I can't believe I let this happen,' she thought, scribbling a note to Terrie during DADA. But she wasn't the only one who was feeling different....

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Tom stalked around the common room lazily, remembering that night. 'She hasn't written since,' he thought. 'That could mean many things, though. She could hate me. She could be too busy. Maybe she's getting afraid of the book. Or me...' He shook his head. Why was he worried about some girl and what she thought of him? It didn't matter, she was just a tool. Or is she? 'Maybe she means more. ' It can't be! "I love her," he said aloud, the words tasting peculiar. He had thought long and hard on this, and he never thought it would happen. It could jeopardize his future plans! It could put him in an awful position--it would give him a weakness. 'And that is the one thing I do not need,' he thought, moodily flipping through a book laying on the table. Before this even started, he had committed himself first and foremost to doing his duty. Now...This girl...She really threw a wrench in the works. No, no, no. Not right. This would have to be dealt with. Not now, but...later. 'I still need her,' he thought. 'I still need the chamber opened.'

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The dormitory door burst open, the red-haired girl rushing in and tossing her books helter-skelter on the closest bed. 'Finally done with all those stupid essays! Now I can get back to Tom.' She caught her breath instantly, a horrible thought crossing through her burned-out brain. 'Maybe he doesn't want to talk? Maybe that night freaked him out.' There was another thing...why were his eyes that weird color? She made a mental note to ask him sometime, still pondering whether or not to write. In the end, she cast her doubts cast aside; picked up the nearest quill and started writing.

"Hi, Tom. Sorry it's been so long! Been overloaded with work for OWLs...you know the drill.Okay in there?"

"There you are! Jessica mi'dear...thought I'd frightened you off."

'Oh. Bad thing to say.'

"Listen...there's something I want to ask you...about that night...Valentine's...when you came out. Your eyes weren't...they were this funny orange colour. Why is that?"

Uh-oh. He had forgotten about that...Best she didn't know yet, though. Need more trust tests before he dropped that bomb...

"Oh, that? Just a glitch in the transforming process. Nothing to worry over."

'Tom, you are one smooth criminal,' he thought, 'A great liar.'

"Oh. Okay."

'Whew. At least that explanation satisfied her for now. Well...if you don't ask her now...' he thought.

"Jessica? Can I ask you a bit of a personal question?"

"Uh...sure."

"Is there anyone in particular you REALLY loathe? Anyone at all?"

'Why does he want to know that?' wondered Jessie.

"Can I ask YOU something?"

"Fire away, Jessie-dear."

"Is...is there a way to bring you back...forever?"

'HERE IT IS! I KNEW IT!'

"Yes, there is..."

'Hold your excitement, Tom...she can sense it...'

"But I'll need your full trust and assistance."

"What do I need to do?"

'This was it! A way to be able to see Tom all the time!'

"Do you trust in me?"

"Yes! Yes! Just give me the word."

"What you'll need to do is this..."

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It didn't seem too difficult, and it benefited Jessica right away...She ran to the common room of the Gryffindors, asking the Fat Lady for Hermione...

I hope this works...

"Who is it?"

"Oh, Hermione! Thank Merlin! There's been an accident in Myrtle's bathroom! Went haywire on Terrie, Myrtle did! Gave her awful fur all over her face. You've got to help, you're one of the best witches I know..."

Hermione seemed skeptical...

'Oh, she's looking at me funny...please work...'

"Okay...show me where she went."

'Yes! The deal is sealed, Tom...'

They ran down the corridor to Myrtle's bathroom. Hermione opened the door...Terrie was doing some pretty convincing shrieking....

"Hey, you liar! She's perfectly fi--"

'All ready Tom! Come and get it!'

A rush of feeling swept through her...Tom Riddle was possessing her! She walked up to Hermione and Terrie...simple knock-out spell....speak to the sink, open for me...And then...she awoke.Abruptly snapping out of the trance-like state, she looked around. Hermione was gone, but so was Tom.Terrie had awoken, as well.

"Good work, Terrie. This will work, I promise..."

"I don't know, Jess...where did she go?"

"Back...to the common room."

"Jess, I don't like this! Something's fishy!"

"Just...shut up! You don't know..."

She dismissed the other girl's pleas with a wave of the hand. But wait...Terrie couldn't back out! It was far too late for that...

'What if she tells?'

"Terrie?"

"Yeah?"

"Swear to me...You won't tell anyone about what happened here."

"Okay. I won't tell."

The terrified look in her eyes said otherwise.

"Go on back to your common room. I'm going back to mine."

Which was a lie. She couldn't sleep. Picking up the diary and quill she was instructed to bring, she began to write.

"Tom?"

No answer.

"I need to talk to you."

A small blotch appeared upon the page.

"That's good...There are things which I need to tell you."

"Like what? Why exactly did you need Hermione?"

"Well...I am a memory. You know that by now. I can only be made whole by...sharing another's body and soul. That's why I needed Hermione. She's still alive...if that's what you wanted to know..."

'Not in a day's time, though,' he thought to himself.

"Okay...but..."

"Is there anything you wish to tell me? Any doubts you might have?"

For a split second, she considered this...but remembering that night...the feel of his arms around her...having that forever...

"No. Nothing..."

"That's good. You know, you will be rewarded greatly when I return? I'll be here forever."

Wait, Jessica thought quickly. Tom Marvolo Riddle? Where had she heard that before?

Oh. Oh...Merlin's Beard....

"Tom?"

"Yes, Jessie-dear?"

"Are you...Voldemort?"

Uh-oh. Major Uh-oh. Well, she had already dropped the bomb for him.

"Jessica...I love you very much...don't think less of me, but I can see how you would. Yes. I am Lord Voldemort. "

"Oh...I just wondered...I...need to go..."

"Wait. Just think on it. You've already gotten this far into it. After a certain point, there's no turning back. Think of the rewards, Jessie- dear...you'll be able to get back all which you have lost, take revenge on those who have done you wrong..."

'He means mother,' she thought.

"...but more importantly...we'll be together."

'Curses,' he thought. 'There I go, getting weak and sentimental.'

"Let me sleep on it, okay? Or...whenever I decide."

"Alright. Sweet dreams, dearest."

Jessica didn't go back to the common room. She couldn't bare to leave this place; stewing over her feelings for Tom. 'Yes, I do love him...I'd do anything.'

Anything? Even cause harm to her friends? Even die?

'Well...I've got no home to go back to. No wonderful, loving family. No real friends. What's there to lose? Hey, Tom loves me. More than anyone else has, at least...So...I might as well do it.' Professor Trewlaneys voice floated in her mind. "...And you will find in your hands what you wanted all along."

The diary was still clutched in her hands limply...The sun would be rising soon. 'Yes. This is what I want...more than anything...'

"Tom?"

"Yes, Jessie-dear?"

"I...want to do it. I'll help you. Just say the word and I'm there."

"Thank you, Jessica."

"Thank you, Tom..."

She shut the book and reclined against the row of sinks...Finally...She belonged somewhere. Not in a mansion full of prim old ladies, not in a school full of young witches and wizards, not out on the streets alone...but in the arms of the Dark-Lord-to-be.