Eight - The Orb of Darkness
Tom sat on the roof of the Slytherin-tower, deep in his thoughts, when a huge eagle owl flew over him and dropped a parcel. Confused who it came from, Tom picked it up and gasped: On the envelope tied to the packet was the Riddle family-crest, a serpent wield around a sword behind a rose. He quickly cast a spell on the parcel to check it for hexes or other dangerous magic, but when he found nothing he opened the envelope first.
To Thomas Marvolo Lestrange:
Dear Tom,
It pains me greatly to have let you go under those circumstances. I want to apologize for my harsh and ignorant behavior towards you, after all, you are my beloved and only son and I love you dearly. I know that I will never be a proper father to you, partially because of my title as the Dark Lord, partially because your mother loathes me, to full right.
It is your seventeenth birthday in a few days and I want to make you a gift you can enjoy really: it's freedom - something I'd never grant a servant, but you are my own flesh and blood, my heir, and because of that, know that I will never hurt you, your lover and your mother again. I'll send you another present though, and I would appreciate it if you kept in touch. I AM your father and I love you, never forget that, Tom.
Love, your father,
T. M. Riddle
Tom stared at the letter in disbelieve. It couldn't be, HE couldn't!!! Never - he hates me! Footsteps behind him startled him and he turned around quickly to see Draco approach.
"Hi love - you alright?"
"Yes, why?"
"You look horrible."
"Do I? I'm really offended now!"
"Stop it - what happened?"
"I got a letter from my father."
"WHAT?! But he."
"Hates me? I thought so."
"What did he say?"
"That he loves me and that he won't hurt my mother, you and me ever again."
"Do you believe him?"
"I don't know - why should he lie?"
"Dunno - maybe a trap?"
"In a letter?"
"What about the packet?"
"It's my birthday present."
"You have birthday? You didn't tell me!"
"I have on September 21st, he's too early."
"Do you know what's inside?"
"I checked it on dark magic, there was none."
"Open it, then!"
"You sure? It could be hexed still, he's unpredictable!"
"You'll never find out, if you don't try."
"If you think so." he said and turned the parcel in his hands. It was about the size of a grapefruit and was round. He sighed and ripped the paper off:
It was a glassy black ball. The obsidian shape felt cold like stone, but soon a heat went from the inside out and the center of the black ball began to glow red. Dust swirled around Tom's fingers and formed little snakes, sliding around his hands. He looked at the thing in disbelief, until he grabbed the paper with one hand and put it around the ball in with haste.
"What is it?" Draco asked curiously, "It looks dangerous somehow."
"It is."
"But what is it? Do you know?"
"Yes. It's a rare magical object. It's called "Orb of Darkness" and absorbs all kind of magic, if it is ordered to do so - it even can swallow Avada Kedavra."
"Wow!"
"It has many possible options: it can serve as a far speaking mirror with another person who owns an "Orb of Darkness" or be used to protect somebody. It's only useable by its owner. Nobody can use it but me, and even if its safe in my trunk or in a Gringotts vault it will protect me if I call it. A nice present indeed!"
"But it is dark magic then?"
"No. It's called "Orb of Darkness", but it doesn't work with dark magic, but white."
"I see. So it's quite mighty?"
"Mighty? It's absolute power! How can he give it to me? It's the key to his power!"
"Key to his power? What do you mean by that?"
"His own magic is strong, but his strength was bound partially to the orb. Now he lost this part and can be defeated easily - but why."
"Do you think he is sacrificing himself for something? Or did he give up?"
"I really don't know, Draco. But we have to report it to Dumbledore at once!"
"Then you will bring his down-fall?"
"Yes."
"But he's your father!"
"He is genetically my father, but my REAL father is Severus. He raised and loved me like his own son, I'll never accept anybody else!"
"Oh - I knew you were close, but not THAT close!"
"We kept it quiet for our both sakes. There was too much at stake, like our safety and his reputation as an insufferable, greasy git!" he laughed at the last words and hugged Draco tightly, before he descended the ladder to their dorm and left the Slytherin-dungeons for the headmaster's office.
-
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, reading a letter from his cousin Archibald, when he heard somebody knocking against the gargoyle. He put the letter away and stood to open the entrance for Mr. Lestrange to enter, followed by an upset looking Mr. Malfoy.
"So, after you seated yourself, may I ask you for the reason of your visit. Tea?"
"No, thank you, Professor." Tom declined politely. He looked rather stiff, when he began to speak with a rational voice. "My father sent me a letter and an early birthday-present, Sir."
"Oh - I didn't know that. Well, if it had been dark magic, the wards would have blocked it out. So what exactly is it?"
"The letter is pretty normal for a father-son relation, that means odd for his usual attitude. The present", he stopped and cleared his throat, "is his Orb of Darkness."
Dumbledore stared at him in surprise and nearly spit his tea over his lap.
"You know what that means?"
"I suppose so."
"That your father gave nearly all his power away to you!"
"Yes."
"And is practically defenseless against our troops?"
"I'm perfectly aware of that, except he has another Orb."
"He hasn't. There is only one Orb of Darkness existing, and the Orb of Light is safe with me, I doubt that there is any power comparable with them."
"I know. So he capitulated?"
"Seems so."
"Then you will act quickly, I guess."
"The Order will be summoned at once. We will attack within the week. I'm sorry - there is no other way."
"Don't be - I hate my father."
"Then it's settled. Anything else?"
"No, headmaster. See you around."
"Thank you for the information, Tom."
"Nothing to thank me for, it's my duty."
"Don't see it so strictly. You are a boy, act like it."
"I guess I should, but it's hard sometimes. I'll inform Severus and Mum."
"Do that. The password to their chambers is "beautiful". Just be careful, don't enter the bedroom unannounced!"
"I know, they've not seen each other quite a long time, though they should be done by now!"
-
Tom had asked Draco to wait in the common room, when he entered Snape's private chambers. He knew how to find them due to the fact that Severus had thought it sensible to tell him where to find him in case of emergency. Now it had paid out, though it wasn't that urgent.
The boy climbed the stairs and opened the heavy door, before he knocked on the closed bedroom-door.
"Who is it?" his mother's voice asked from inside.
"It's me. I have some important news from Dumbledore, or rather my genetic father."
Severus opened the door, wrapped up in a white sheet. "Come in, boy. It makes no sense to hide the situation anyway." Tom smiled knowingly and stepped through the door.
His mother sat on the bed, dressed in a nightgown and smiling happily at him. Her eyes were tearstained, though.
"What happened, Mum?"
"I'm again a married woman - soon."
"Oh - that's great." he walked over and hugged her, before he gripped Severus chin. "And do you treat her right, hear you!" he said in mock sincerity, before he clapped his soon-to-be father-in-law in the shoulder. "Good match, by the way!"
They laughed, but after a while Bellatrix asked for "this important news".
"Father sent me his orb of Darkness."
They stared at him in disbelief, until Severus gathered his voice back. "He did WHAT?"
"He gave me his Orb."
"Why?"
"He said he loved me and I was his heir and so on."
"Does Dumbledore know?"
"Yes, of course. He checked it, of course. There's nothing wrong with it."
"But that means."
".that he will be dead within the week, I know."
"I see. He is your father, though."
"No - you are my father, emotionally at least! Sev?"
"Yes?"
"You are, aren't you?"
"Yes, Tom. You've always been a son to me!"
Behind them Bellatrix choked, barely able to hide her tears. They went back and hugged her from both sides. Severus kissed her cheek. "It will all be fine, have faith, my love!"
Tom smiled. "He's right, Mummy, you shouldn't worry too much!"
"I'm just happy, you two know?" she smiled, wiping away the tears, "Just happy!"
Tom sat on the roof of the Slytherin-tower, deep in his thoughts, when a huge eagle owl flew over him and dropped a parcel. Confused who it came from, Tom picked it up and gasped: On the envelope tied to the packet was the Riddle family-crest, a serpent wield around a sword behind a rose. He quickly cast a spell on the parcel to check it for hexes or other dangerous magic, but when he found nothing he opened the envelope first.
To Thomas Marvolo Lestrange:
Dear Tom,
It pains me greatly to have let you go under those circumstances. I want to apologize for my harsh and ignorant behavior towards you, after all, you are my beloved and only son and I love you dearly. I know that I will never be a proper father to you, partially because of my title as the Dark Lord, partially because your mother loathes me, to full right.
It is your seventeenth birthday in a few days and I want to make you a gift you can enjoy really: it's freedom - something I'd never grant a servant, but you are my own flesh and blood, my heir, and because of that, know that I will never hurt you, your lover and your mother again. I'll send you another present though, and I would appreciate it if you kept in touch. I AM your father and I love you, never forget that, Tom.
Love, your father,
T. M. Riddle
Tom stared at the letter in disbelieve. It couldn't be, HE couldn't!!! Never - he hates me! Footsteps behind him startled him and he turned around quickly to see Draco approach.
"Hi love - you alright?"
"Yes, why?"
"You look horrible."
"Do I? I'm really offended now!"
"Stop it - what happened?"
"I got a letter from my father."
"WHAT?! But he."
"Hates me? I thought so."
"What did he say?"
"That he loves me and that he won't hurt my mother, you and me ever again."
"Do you believe him?"
"I don't know - why should he lie?"
"Dunno - maybe a trap?"
"In a letter?"
"What about the packet?"
"It's my birthday present."
"You have birthday? You didn't tell me!"
"I have on September 21st, he's too early."
"Do you know what's inside?"
"I checked it on dark magic, there was none."
"Open it, then!"
"You sure? It could be hexed still, he's unpredictable!"
"You'll never find out, if you don't try."
"If you think so." he said and turned the parcel in his hands. It was about the size of a grapefruit and was round. He sighed and ripped the paper off:
It was a glassy black ball. The obsidian shape felt cold like stone, but soon a heat went from the inside out and the center of the black ball began to glow red. Dust swirled around Tom's fingers and formed little snakes, sliding around his hands. He looked at the thing in disbelief, until he grabbed the paper with one hand and put it around the ball in with haste.
"What is it?" Draco asked curiously, "It looks dangerous somehow."
"It is."
"But what is it? Do you know?"
"Yes. It's a rare magical object. It's called "Orb of Darkness" and absorbs all kind of magic, if it is ordered to do so - it even can swallow Avada Kedavra."
"Wow!"
"It has many possible options: it can serve as a far speaking mirror with another person who owns an "Orb of Darkness" or be used to protect somebody. It's only useable by its owner. Nobody can use it but me, and even if its safe in my trunk or in a Gringotts vault it will protect me if I call it. A nice present indeed!"
"But it is dark magic then?"
"No. It's called "Orb of Darkness", but it doesn't work with dark magic, but white."
"I see. So it's quite mighty?"
"Mighty? It's absolute power! How can he give it to me? It's the key to his power!"
"Key to his power? What do you mean by that?"
"His own magic is strong, but his strength was bound partially to the orb. Now he lost this part and can be defeated easily - but why."
"Do you think he is sacrificing himself for something? Or did he give up?"
"I really don't know, Draco. But we have to report it to Dumbledore at once!"
"Then you will bring his down-fall?"
"Yes."
"But he's your father!"
"He is genetically my father, but my REAL father is Severus. He raised and loved me like his own son, I'll never accept anybody else!"
"Oh - I knew you were close, but not THAT close!"
"We kept it quiet for our both sakes. There was too much at stake, like our safety and his reputation as an insufferable, greasy git!" he laughed at the last words and hugged Draco tightly, before he descended the ladder to their dorm and left the Slytherin-dungeons for the headmaster's office.
-
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, reading a letter from his cousin Archibald, when he heard somebody knocking against the gargoyle. He put the letter away and stood to open the entrance for Mr. Lestrange to enter, followed by an upset looking Mr. Malfoy.
"So, after you seated yourself, may I ask you for the reason of your visit. Tea?"
"No, thank you, Professor." Tom declined politely. He looked rather stiff, when he began to speak with a rational voice. "My father sent me a letter and an early birthday-present, Sir."
"Oh - I didn't know that. Well, if it had been dark magic, the wards would have blocked it out. So what exactly is it?"
"The letter is pretty normal for a father-son relation, that means odd for his usual attitude. The present", he stopped and cleared his throat, "is his Orb of Darkness."
Dumbledore stared at him in surprise and nearly spit his tea over his lap.
"You know what that means?"
"I suppose so."
"That your father gave nearly all his power away to you!"
"Yes."
"And is practically defenseless against our troops?"
"I'm perfectly aware of that, except he has another Orb."
"He hasn't. There is only one Orb of Darkness existing, and the Orb of Light is safe with me, I doubt that there is any power comparable with them."
"I know. So he capitulated?"
"Seems so."
"Then you will act quickly, I guess."
"The Order will be summoned at once. We will attack within the week. I'm sorry - there is no other way."
"Don't be - I hate my father."
"Then it's settled. Anything else?"
"No, headmaster. See you around."
"Thank you for the information, Tom."
"Nothing to thank me for, it's my duty."
"Don't see it so strictly. You are a boy, act like it."
"I guess I should, but it's hard sometimes. I'll inform Severus and Mum."
"Do that. The password to their chambers is "beautiful". Just be careful, don't enter the bedroom unannounced!"
"I know, they've not seen each other quite a long time, though they should be done by now!"
-
Tom had asked Draco to wait in the common room, when he entered Snape's private chambers. He knew how to find them due to the fact that Severus had thought it sensible to tell him where to find him in case of emergency. Now it had paid out, though it wasn't that urgent.
The boy climbed the stairs and opened the heavy door, before he knocked on the closed bedroom-door.
"Who is it?" his mother's voice asked from inside.
"It's me. I have some important news from Dumbledore, or rather my genetic father."
Severus opened the door, wrapped up in a white sheet. "Come in, boy. It makes no sense to hide the situation anyway." Tom smiled knowingly and stepped through the door.
His mother sat on the bed, dressed in a nightgown and smiling happily at him. Her eyes were tearstained, though.
"What happened, Mum?"
"I'm again a married woman - soon."
"Oh - that's great." he walked over and hugged her, before he gripped Severus chin. "And do you treat her right, hear you!" he said in mock sincerity, before he clapped his soon-to-be father-in-law in the shoulder. "Good match, by the way!"
They laughed, but after a while Bellatrix asked for "this important news".
"Father sent me his orb of Darkness."
They stared at him in disbelief, until Severus gathered his voice back. "He did WHAT?"
"He gave me his Orb."
"Why?"
"He said he loved me and I was his heir and so on."
"Does Dumbledore know?"
"Yes, of course. He checked it, of course. There's nothing wrong with it."
"But that means."
".that he will be dead within the week, I know."
"I see. He is your father, though."
"No - you are my father, emotionally at least! Sev?"
"Yes?"
"You are, aren't you?"
"Yes, Tom. You've always been a son to me!"
Behind them Bellatrix choked, barely able to hide her tears. They went back and hugged her from both sides. Severus kissed her cheek. "It will all be fine, have faith, my love!"
Tom smiled. "He's right, Mummy, you shouldn't worry too much!"
"I'm just happy, you two know?" she smiled, wiping away the tears, "Just happy!"