!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
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"If you fear pain, if you dislike pain, shun evil deeds in open and secret. If you're doing or planning evil deeds, you won't escape the pain: it will catch up with you—even if you try to run away."
Those words of wisdom were uttered by my conscience... Those words were the advice I gravely failed to follow... Little did I know that power could come from goodness but more did I believe that I could rein the world with terror... But what was goodness? Is it really my fault if I knew the word yet never knew its meaning? No... Just like a meal needs ingredients to be suitable to eat; like that, people around me contributed to who I became...
Yes... Evil does not become alive or actual until it is endorsed by will. Good did struggle to come forth... but malevolence was always all persuasive.
Lord Voldemort.... People fear to take my name. They never knew me... NEVER! Nor did they even ever try to know me...
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
"Are you okay Tom?"
I lifted my gaze to catch the sight of Zarken's concerned gaze. For some reason I felt hot and nauseated.
"I reckon I ate too much yesterday..." I groaned placing a hand on my forehead.
"You sure did! And I wouldn't blame you either... You are so skinny!" he cried and poked me in the stomach.
"Stop it Zark... I feel sick right now! Maybe I was allergic to the lobsters?"
"Yeah... Maybe... Why don't you go and see the nurse? I heard there's one in Hogwarts; Madam Pomp or something. "
"Right... See you at classes... What do we have first?" I asked rising from the table after pushing away a piece of toast.
"Transfiguration..." replied Zarken after pulling out a crumpled timetable out of his pocket.
"Okay, I'll meet you there. I reckon I can ask someone to show me the way."
After that I waved and went towards a prefect and asked directions to go to the nurse as well as the Transfiguration class.
"Turn right; follow the suits of amour and climb up to go to Madam Pomfrey. Transfiguration is at the West wing. Follow the statues of the sphinxes. Mind the stairs... They change at times."
"Thanks..." I said wondering why in the world stairs ever had to change.
And so I wandered off. In the blazing sunlight, Hogwart's looked more wonderful than ever... I looked around at the portraits which contained moving wizards and witches along with other things.
"Don't stare boy! It's rude! Besides I'm dressing!" spat an old shriveled up wizard when I stopped to look at him buttoning up his coat.
"Sorry..." I mumbled walking ahead but to my surprise, I suddenly felt like I was splashed by an icy cold waterfall.
"Ooof! What on earth?"
"Don't you know it's very horrible to walk into a ghost? And that hurt!" cried a voice and I gazed at a transparent figure in front of me.
"A-a-a-re you a g-g-g-host?" I gulped, feeling myself go stone still.
"Well of course! What do I look like? A dragon?"
I furiously shook my head, feeling afraid to annoy him further.
"Since you're new, I'll let you go. But never get in my way again," replied the ghost man and rose up until he disappeared.
I shrugged my shoulders smiling. All this was definitely too weird and too unreal for a boy like me, who had stayed in a muggle orphanage all his years.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
The directions were right and soon I arrived at the Hospital wing.
"Er can I see Madam Pomfrey," I asked, from a woman in a white gown.
"Yes child, what is it? I'm Madam Pomfrey," replied the lady motioning me to sit down.
"I feel very hot and squeamish..." I replied folding my hands on my lap. (At the orphanage I rarely got sick. I remembered the time I had a fever... No one had actually bothered to give me food for two days... I had kept myself alive by drinking water until finally, I ventured into the garden patch unable to contain my hunger... Ironically I ate lots of lettuce, tomatoes and carrots and proved to be really expensive to my benefactors.)
"Hmmmm you don't seem to have a fever...but—"However before she could complete the sentence, I felt my stomach pulsating and I rushed to a nearby sink and coughed as I vomited violently.
I heaved and Madam Pomfrey patted my back...Nonetheless, I wasn't bothered about the pain I felt in the stomach... My gaze was fixed on the basin where black murky fluid swam... My vomit looked like melted tar!
"Heavens! Heavens! Sit down for a moment dear... Here let me bring my wand out," she said and opened a small cupboard and took a short wand.
"Now this might hurt a little but it's for your own good..." she said and cried "IGNARIOUS!"
I doubled in anguish and fell on the floor; my body felt like it was contracting and I screamed as my spine ached.
Soon the agony left me as quickly as it came. I kneeled and placed my hands on the floor, sweating.
"You can go to your classes now dear... I extracted the venom from your body."
"VENOM?" I cried, reeling back in shock!
"Yes... Maybe you were bitten by some sort of a serpent. Do be careful next time." With that she dismissed me.
To my mind, Varnish's image came... Did Varnish bite me? No... He never did. Confused I headed towards the Transfiguration class. Something didn't feel right.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
"Hey Tom, we thought you wanted to stay permanently at the Hospital Wing..." laughed Zarken clapping me on my back. "Was she really that pretty?"
"Shut up Zark! She must have been in her early twenties, quite a plain face nevertheless."
"You both shut up! The Professor is coming!" hushed Rodolphus.
Everyone stood as the auburn haired wizard approached. He walked as if he was floating...
"Good morning everyone and welcome to Transfiguration. I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore, your teacher. ("Duh..." murmured Zarken)The Gryffindors have already met me though..." he replied glancing at Felix Potter. (Who at that moment stood taller and puffed up his chest in pride.) "And I want you all to perform to the best standard as possible," he finished.
We all sat down and Professor Dumbledore waved his wand. On my table a gecko materialized.
"Take out Miranda Goshawk's 'The Standard Book of Spells,' please..." he replied." And wave your wands reciting the spell on page fourteen."
"Dormi-musanda," I said tapping my wand firmly on the gecko. (Thankfully it was dead.) I concentrated as hard as I could at my task.
"ZAP!"
Yellow light flew out of my wand and the gecko was replaced by a lovely quill.
"Wow..." I breathed.
"That was brilliant!" exclaimed Professor Dumbledore clapping his hands. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix Potter looking extremely angry and a hint of jealously was etched on his face.
"Tom Riddle isn't it?" asked the Professor smiling and I nodded.
"How did you do it Tom? Have you done it before?" questioned Rodolphus.
I shook my head, feeling dumbstruck myself, at my first successful attempt.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*
The class got over and I rushed out grinning widely, momentarily forgetting my woes.
"Nice little show you put out there, Riddle," quipped a drawling mocking voice.
I didn't bother turning back, but walked straight ahead.
"What's the matter, Riddle? No super powers now?"
This time, Zarken crooked his head and glared at Felix.
"Leave him alone. He's not well."
"You mean; Riddle is the sickest looking boy in Hogwarts..."snickered Potter.
I pulled Zarken and Rodolphus by the elbows and walked on amidst a series of laughter and insults. Life didn't seem as marvelous as I supposed; on the second thought.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!
"Why didn't you simply go and punch him?" demanded Zarken crossing his arms, when we reached the Common Room.
"I don't believe in violence," I remarked. (I guess it is paradoxical that I was a good sport in Hogwarts compared to being Lord Voldemort... But that's just the way things were...)
"You're too soft!"
"I don't want to break any laws... I don't want to return to the hell I came from!" My nostrils were flaring and I was agitated.
"What's so wrong about the place you lived?"
"I lived in a Muggle orphanage for heaven's sake! How bad can it get?"
"No way!" proclaimed Rodolphus.
"That's the truth!" I retorted.
My two friends looked at me in disbelief. It was astounding for them to hear such a thing.
"But I thought you were a Slytherin?" inquired Zarken suspiciously.
"I am... At least Mr. Ollivander said that I am... But my parents are dead! I know no family, no home, no friends, no relatives, no one at all!" I yelled slamming my fists on the table. (A several heads looked up and the whole room began to whisper.)
"Did you know your parents?" asked Zarken more quietly.
"No... My mother died at child birth. I know nothing about my father, but I assume he's dead...He has to be since no one came to claim me..."
The two brothers gaped at me in silence.
"What if your father hadn't wanted you?" put in Zarken bluntly before he could stop himself and I saw Rodolphus jab him in the sides.
Pain stamped my face... A violent wave of trepidation swept over me... Suddenly I felt weak... I never really ever thought that I could be an unwanted child... Never... And now at the comprehension, I felt weak... as if someone had pushed me off a cliff to fall for eternity.
Tears were portentous to surge from my eyes and I got up and climbed the stairs hurriedly
"Let him go..." I heard Rodolphus saying to his brother and I felt more agonized than ever...
Upon reaching the room, I collapsed face wards on the bed and began sobbing uncontrollably... 'Why wouldn't anyone want me?' questioned my mind. 'Why wouldn't anyone want me...?'
This same question repeated over and over again in my mind, paralyzing me. I cried till the beat of my heart grew weary... But all of a sudden I heard a noise! Two hands smothered me and I felt myself clawing into the air...
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
A/N: To be continued as soon as possible. Thanks for the bit about Hagrid!!! *Smiles* A hearty thanks for all the reviews! Do keep on telling how you find the story.
"If you fear pain, if you dislike pain, shun evil deeds in open and secret. If you're doing or planning evil deeds, you won't escape the pain: it will catch up with you—even if you try to run away."
Those words of wisdom were uttered by my conscience... Those words were the advice I gravely failed to follow... Little did I know that power could come from goodness but more did I believe that I could rein the world with terror... But what was goodness? Is it really my fault if I knew the word yet never knew its meaning? No... Just like a meal needs ingredients to be suitable to eat; like that, people around me contributed to who I became...
Yes... Evil does not become alive or actual until it is endorsed by will. Good did struggle to come forth... but malevolence was always all persuasive.
Lord Voldemort.... People fear to take my name. They never knew me... NEVER! Nor did they even ever try to know me...
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
"Are you okay Tom?"
I lifted my gaze to catch the sight of Zarken's concerned gaze. For some reason I felt hot and nauseated.
"I reckon I ate too much yesterday..." I groaned placing a hand on my forehead.
"You sure did! And I wouldn't blame you either... You are so skinny!" he cried and poked me in the stomach.
"Stop it Zark... I feel sick right now! Maybe I was allergic to the lobsters?"
"Yeah... Maybe... Why don't you go and see the nurse? I heard there's one in Hogwarts; Madam Pomp or something. "
"Right... See you at classes... What do we have first?" I asked rising from the table after pushing away a piece of toast.
"Transfiguration..." replied Zarken after pulling out a crumpled timetable out of his pocket.
"Okay, I'll meet you there. I reckon I can ask someone to show me the way."
After that I waved and went towards a prefect and asked directions to go to the nurse as well as the Transfiguration class.
"Turn right; follow the suits of amour and climb up to go to Madam Pomfrey. Transfiguration is at the West wing. Follow the statues of the sphinxes. Mind the stairs... They change at times."
"Thanks..." I said wondering why in the world stairs ever had to change.
And so I wandered off. In the blazing sunlight, Hogwart's looked more wonderful than ever... I looked around at the portraits which contained moving wizards and witches along with other things.
"Don't stare boy! It's rude! Besides I'm dressing!" spat an old shriveled up wizard when I stopped to look at him buttoning up his coat.
"Sorry..." I mumbled walking ahead but to my surprise, I suddenly felt like I was splashed by an icy cold waterfall.
"Ooof! What on earth?"
"Don't you know it's very horrible to walk into a ghost? And that hurt!" cried a voice and I gazed at a transparent figure in front of me.
"A-a-a-re you a g-g-g-host?" I gulped, feeling myself go stone still.
"Well of course! What do I look like? A dragon?"
I furiously shook my head, feeling afraid to annoy him further.
"Since you're new, I'll let you go. But never get in my way again," replied the ghost man and rose up until he disappeared.
I shrugged my shoulders smiling. All this was definitely too weird and too unreal for a boy like me, who had stayed in a muggle orphanage all his years.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
The directions were right and soon I arrived at the Hospital wing.
"Er can I see Madam Pomfrey," I asked, from a woman in a white gown.
"Yes child, what is it? I'm Madam Pomfrey," replied the lady motioning me to sit down.
"I feel very hot and squeamish..." I replied folding my hands on my lap. (At the orphanage I rarely got sick. I remembered the time I had a fever... No one had actually bothered to give me food for two days... I had kept myself alive by drinking water until finally, I ventured into the garden patch unable to contain my hunger... Ironically I ate lots of lettuce, tomatoes and carrots and proved to be really expensive to my benefactors.)
"Hmmmm you don't seem to have a fever...but—"However before she could complete the sentence, I felt my stomach pulsating and I rushed to a nearby sink and coughed as I vomited violently.
I heaved and Madam Pomfrey patted my back...Nonetheless, I wasn't bothered about the pain I felt in the stomach... My gaze was fixed on the basin where black murky fluid swam... My vomit looked like melted tar!
"Heavens! Heavens! Sit down for a moment dear... Here let me bring my wand out," she said and opened a small cupboard and took a short wand.
"Now this might hurt a little but it's for your own good..." she said and cried "IGNARIOUS!"
I doubled in anguish and fell on the floor; my body felt like it was contracting and I screamed as my spine ached.
Soon the agony left me as quickly as it came. I kneeled and placed my hands on the floor, sweating.
"You can go to your classes now dear... I extracted the venom from your body."
"VENOM?" I cried, reeling back in shock!
"Yes... Maybe you were bitten by some sort of a serpent. Do be careful next time." With that she dismissed me.
To my mind, Varnish's image came... Did Varnish bite me? No... He never did. Confused I headed towards the Transfiguration class. Something didn't feel right.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
"Hey Tom, we thought you wanted to stay permanently at the Hospital Wing..." laughed Zarken clapping me on my back. "Was she really that pretty?"
"Shut up Zark! She must have been in her early twenties, quite a plain face nevertheless."
"You both shut up! The Professor is coming!" hushed Rodolphus.
Everyone stood as the auburn haired wizard approached. He walked as if he was floating...
"Good morning everyone and welcome to Transfiguration. I'm Professor Albus Dumbledore, your teacher. ("Duh..." murmured Zarken)The Gryffindors have already met me though..." he replied glancing at Felix Potter. (Who at that moment stood taller and puffed up his chest in pride.) "And I want you all to perform to the best standard as possible," he finished.
We all sat down and Professor Dumbledore waved his wand. On my table a gecko materialized.
"Take out Miranda Goshawk's 'The Standard Book of Spells,' please..." he replied." And wave your wands reciting the spell on page fourteen."
"Dormi-musanda," I said tapping my wand firmly on the gecko. (Thankfully it was dead.) I concentrated as hard as I could at my task.
"ZAP!"
Yellow light flew out of my wand and the gecko was replaced by a lovely quill.
"Wow..." I breathed.
"That was brilliant!" exclaimed Professor Dumbledore clapping his hands. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix Potter looking extremely angry and a hint of jealously was etched on his face.
"Tom Riddle isn't it?" asked the Professor smiling and I nodded.
"How did you do it Tom? Have you done it before?" questioned Rodolphus.
I shook my head, feeling dumbstruck myself, at my first successful attempt.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*
The class got over and I rushed out grinning widely, momentarily forgetting my woes.
"Nice little show you put out there, Riddle," quipped a drawling mocking voice.
I didn't bother turning back, but walked straight ahead.
"What's the matter, Riddle? No super powers now?"
This time, Zarken crooked his head and glared at Felix.
"Leave him alone. He's not well."
"You mean; Riddle is the sickest looking boy in Hogwarts..."snickered Potter.
I pulled Zarken and Rodolphus by the elbows and walked on amidst a series of laughter and insults. Life didn't seem as marvelous as I supposed; on the second thought.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!
"Why didn't you simply go and punch him?" demanded Zarken crossing his arms, when we reached the Common Room.
"I don't believe in violence," I remarked. (I guess it is paradoxical that I was a good sport in Hogwarts compared to being Lord Voldemort... But that's just the way things were...)
"You're too soft!"
"I don't want to break any laws... I don't want to return to the hell I came from!" My nostrils were flaring and I was agitated.
"What's so wrong about the place you lived?"
"I lived in a Muggle orphanage for heaven's sake! How bad can it get?"
"No way!" proclaimed Rodolphus.
"That's the truth!" I retorted.
My two friends looked at me in disbelief. It was astounding for them to hear such a thing.
"But I thought you were a Slytherin?" inquired Zarken suspiciously.
"I am... At least Mr. Ollivander said that I am... But my parents are dead! I know no family, no home, no friends, no relatives, no one at all!" I yelled slamming my fists on the table. (A several heads looked up and the whole room began to whisper.)
"Did you know your parents?" asked Zarken more quietly.
"No... My mother died at child birth. I know nothing about my father, but I assume he's dead...He has to be since no one came to claim me..."
The two brothers gaped at me in silence.
"What if your father hadn't wanted you?" put in Zarken bluntly before he could stop himself and I saw Rodolphus jab him in the sides.
Pain stamped my face... A violent wave of trepidation swept over me... Suddenly I felt weak... I never really ever thought that I could be an unwanted child... Never... And now at the comprehension, I felt weak... as if someone had pushed me off a cliff to fall for eternity.
Tears were portentous to surge from my eyes and I got up and climbed the stairs hurriedly
"Let him go..." I heard Rodolphus saying to his brother and I felt more agonized than ever...
Upon reaching the room, I collapsed face wards on the bed and began sobbing uncontrollably... 'Why wouldn't anyone want me?' questioned my mind. 'Why wouldn't anyone want me...?'
This same question repeated over and over again in my mind, paralyzing me. I cried till the beat of my heart grew weary... But all of a sudden I heard a noise! Two hands smothered me and I felt myself clawing into the air...
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* !*!*!*!*!*
A/N: To be continued as soon as possible. Thanks for the bit about Hagrid!!! *Smiles* A hearty thanks for all the reviews! Do keep on telling how you find the story.
