The Hogsmeade trip came on a Saturday. Courtney had agreed to meet Tom
right outside the Slytherin entrance. Tom got there as quick as he could,
and found himself there about five minutes early. He leaned against the
wall and waited patiently for her to arrive.
Courtney came right on time. She saw Tom and walked towards him. When she reached him, Tom noticed that her eyes were red and swollen, and that she was sniffing repeatedly. Tom caught her in an embrace and held her firmly there for a few minutes. Finally, Courtney stopped sniffling and looked up at Tom.
"I'm sorry 'bout that. It's just that I just got an owl from my parents, and a very dear family friend has died." She sniffed again, and then wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Oh. Are you OK?" Tom looked at her, not trying to disguise the deep sorrow he felt for her. "Do you still want to go to Hogsmeade? If you don't want to, I will stay here with you."
"I still want to go; I wouldn't want to ruin your day." She took his arm in hers and together they walked towards the carriages that would take them there.
Tom and Courtney talked the entire time. On the way there, Tom told her about his interests and his goals. Courtney, in turn, told him hers. They spent a majority of the time in a small pub drinking butter beer.
As he learned more about her, Tom like Courtney more and more. Just listening to her talk made Tom happy, but he knew he could never be fully happy until she was his.
When Courtney had finished telling Tom her dreams and whatnot, he spoke his thoughts aloud. "I know that we already talked about this, but I am wondering if you will go out with me.
"Just getting to know you better today has encouraged me to ask you to please reconsider you last answer." Tom spoke almost without knowing he had done it, and when he had finished, he wished he hadn't said anything on the matter, so great was the embarrassment he felt. So, naturally, he was very surprised at her reply.
"Somehow, I knew you would ask me again. I knew you would. It is such an odd feeling..." Courtney's voice trailed off as if she hadn't finished the thought. "But, I accept your offer this time! You make me truly happy, Tom." Smiling shyly, she leaned over and kissed him.
When she pulled back, there was a loud "Awww" from around them. Looking quickly around, the two realized that the entire pub had been watching them.
Both of them got up and left the pub, blushing beet red, though Courtney was giggling slightly.
After leaving the pub, Tom and Courtney wandered aimlessly around, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. The subject of Tom's goal of immortality came up once.
"So, have you learned anything new about how to become immortal?" Courtney asked.
"No...not yet. The book I am reading doesn't say, exactly. It mentions several times that each Dark Lord wasn't mentally strong enough, simply because there was that last step he couldn't take. It doesn't, however, say what that last step might happen to be." Tom sighed as he finished. "I am not giving up hope though."
Courtney nodded her understanding. "WE will have to find a book or SOMETHING that will tell us! The only place I can think of that might have a book like that is Knockturn Alley. I highly doubt that the library will have anything, even in the Restricted Section. It might be worth a try, looking in the Restricted Section might be." Tom nodded. She was right; it was unlikely that there would be anything in the library. But, how were they going to get into Knockturn Alley anytime soon? Tom voiced his question, still pondering it to himself.
"Oh, that is simple enough. All we got to do is ask Professor Dippet if we could schedule a trip to Diagon Alley instead of Hogsmeade. Then, while everybody is in Diagon Alley, we could sneak off into Knockturn Alley, and buy what we need, sneak back, and then, shop a little in Diagon Alley, and what do you know? We got everything we need as far as research goes." Courtney grinned mischievously, but Tom glanced at her doubtfully.
"It could work, but how about we check the library first? That way we would only be risking a detention, not suspension or expulsion." Tom made up an excuse. He doubted that Professor Dippet would allow them to take a trip to Diagon Alley. Courtney nodded reluctantly, and they moved on to different subjects.
As soon as they were back at Hogwarts, that day at dinnertime, Courtney and Tom headed towards the library, planning on checking the unrestricted part of the library everyday during their free time hoping they could find something.
They searched for an hour before deciding to give it up for the night. They compared their findings, but all either had found had been about the various witches or wizards who had attempted to become immortal.
"But there are thousands of books in here...it could be in one of them. We will have to try again tomorrow." Tom optimistically concluded their brief talk.
Try tomorrow they did. And all of their free time the next week and the next. They searched until, finally, at Christmastime; they decided to give it a break. Courtney was going home for the holidays and Tom didn't want to search by himself.
As the holiday break wore on, Tom went to the library only a couple of times to do research, and only then because he was bored and had nothing better to do.
On one of the occasions that he went to the library, he found a book that told him more about becoming immortal than he knew already, it told him, in fact, all he needed to know, and a little more. He quickly checked the book out and took it back to the Slytherin Common Room, where he sat down in a chair next to the fire and opened it to the first page to read it all the way through, having a feeling that it would reveal something to him that he needed to know on his journey to become immortal.
There have been several hundred witches and wizards in the magical world to attempt to become immortal in the time since the idea was created. None of the ones who honestly thought they could do it succeeded. Immortality, it may seem, is impossible. But is it?
It is hard to believe that somebody would just come up with the idea that life could go on forever, isn't it? Especially if they didn't truly mean that it could, or that there was even the slim chance or possibility. Nobody would make up something as absurd as that, and actually get the idea to stick with others. It is impossible. Therefore, to become immortal must be a possibility for all humans.
How do I become immortal, you ask yourself. You have read through books and books that told of numerous witches and wizards who attempted, but none prevailed, doubtless. How very close to wrong that is.
There has been a wizard who almost accomplished the goal of Immortality. The only reason he failed was because he was killed during the ritual; moments before he was immortal. The wizard called himself Merroc the Malice. The path he chose to take would have led him to greatness, had he been allowed to complete the ritual.
To become immortal, one must have a very strong heart. You must remember that in the lifetime of one who is immortal, they will see everybody that they know and love pass away, but they will also see the changes around them, the changes of the land and the development of the people.
The strength of your heart is tested during the ritual. If you are unable to complete that one requirement, you are not allowed to be immortal...there is only this one way, after all.
Sure, there is the Elixir of Life...but that only lengthens your life. You stop using it, and you live for a short while longer and then you die. The only way the Elixir can keep you from dieing is if you use it for the rest of eternity, but even then you are not immortal, you are simply prolonging life, not completely giving up any chance of Natural Death.
From there the book talked more and more about what it would mean to be immortal, the up side of it and the down side of it. Tom, not wanting to miss a single thing, didn't skip a thing. He read until 12:00 midnight, and then, book marking his page, he clambered slowly up to his dorm, where he changed into his nightclothes and fell into bed, asleep almost immediately.
He slept until just past dawn, surprised that he was no longer tired; he had only had about 6 ½ hours of sleep. He stretched, showered, dressed, then wandered to the Great Hall where he practically inhaled his breakfast, so anxious was he to read more of his book.
He entered the Slytherin Common Room in a rush, ran up to his dorm, snatched the book from his bedside table and ran back down to the Common Room. Settling back into the chair he had been in the night before, he continued to read.
The book talked a bunch more about the risks of becoming immortal but the joys that should override them. It also gave several warnings that it was possible, after a couple hundred years, that the one who was immortal would get tired of life and wish that they could die of old age. Once they preformed the ritual of becoming immortal, it is done for the rest of all time. There is no way to make it otherwise...the witch or wizard would have to have somebody kill them with a very strong killing curse. Tom smiled grimly to himself. No boring moments would come in his life of immortality. Every last second of it would be full of...of what? Happiness? Of extreme power? Why was it that he wanted to be immortal? It would be a waste if he didn't use his time doing something would ensure people to respect him. What could he do?
He answered the question almost immediately. It was obvious, what he would do. He would use his time killing and torturing people. He would make sure that his name was feared to be spoken upon the lips of every witch or wizard alive. Not just in England, but worldwide. He would not use his real name, but instead he would come up with one made from the re-arranged letters of his name, a name that he had already thought about. Lord Voldemort. If the letters of Tom Marvolo Riddle were arranged in just the right order, they spelt: I am Lord Voldemort.
His thoughts about what he would do stopped suddenly as he finally reached the part he had been looking forward to the most. How to become Immortal.
Courtney came right on time. She saw Tom and walked towards him. When she reached him, Tom noticed that her eyes were red and swollen, and that she was sniffing repeatedly. Tom caught her in an embrace and held her firmly there for a few minutes. Finally, Courtney stopped sniffling and looked up at Tom.
"I'm sorry 'bout that. It's just that I just got an owl from my parents, and a very dear family friend has died." She sniffed again, and then wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Oh. Are you OK?" Tom looked at her, not trying to disguise the deep sorrow he felt for her. "Do you still want to go to Hogsmeade? If you don't want to, I will stay here with you."
"I still want to go; I wouldn't want to ruin your day." She took his arm in hers and together they walked towards the carriages that would take them there.
Tom and Courtney talked the entire time. On the way there, Tom told her about his interests and his goals. Courtney, in turn, told him hers. They spent a majority of the time in a small pub drinking butter beer.
As he learned more about her, Tom like Courtney more and more. Just listening to her talk made Tom happy, but he knew he could never be fully happy until she was his.
When Courtney had finished telling Tom her dreams and whatnot, he spoke his thoughts aloud. "I know that we already talked about this, but I am wondering if you will go out with me.
"Just getting to know you better today has encouraged me to ask you to please reconsider you last answer." Tom spoke almost without knowing he had done it, and when he had finished, he wished he hadn't said anything on the matter, so great was the embarrassment he felt. So, naturally, he was very surprised at her reply.
"Somehow, I knew you would ask me again. I knew you would. It is such an odd feeling..." Courtney's voice trailed off as if she hadn't finished the thought. "But, I accept your offer this time! You make me truly happy, Tom." Smiling shyly, she leaned over and kissed him.
When she pulled back, there was a loud "Awww" from around them. Looking quickly around, the two realized that the entire pub had been watching them.
Both of them got up and left the pub, blushing beet red, though Courtney was giggling slightly.
After leaving the pub, Tom and Courtney wandered aimlessly around, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. The subject of Tom's goal of immortality came up once.
"So, have you learned anything new about how to become immortal?" Courtney asked.
"No...not yet. The book I am reading doesn't say, exactly. It mentions several times that each Dark Lord wasn't mentally strong enough, simply because there was that last step he couldn't take. It doesn't, however, say what that last step might happen to be." Tom sighed as he finished. "I am not giving up hope though."
Courtney nodded her understanding. "WE will have to find a book or SOMETHING that will tell us! The only place I can think of that might have a book like that is Knockturn Alley. I highly doubt that the library will have anything, even in the Restricted Section. It might be worth a try, looking in the Restricted Section might be." Tom nodded. She was right; it was unlikely that there would be anything in the library. But, how were they going to get into Knockturn Alley anytime soon? Tom voiced his question, still pondering it to himself.
"Oh, that is simple enough. All we got to do is ask Professor Dippet if we could schedule a trip to Diagon Alley instead of Hogsmeade. Then, while everybody is in Diagon Alley, we could sneak off into Knockturn Alley, and buy what we need, sneak back, and then, shop a little in Diagon Alley, and what do you know? We got everything we need as far as research goes." Courtney grinned mischievously, but Tom glanced at her doubtfully.
"It could work, but how about we check the library first? That way we would only be risking a detention, not suspension or expulsion." Tom made up an excuse. He doubted that Professor Dippet would allow them to take a trip to Diagon Alley. Courtney nodded reluctantly, and they moved on to different subjects.
As soon as they were back at Hogwarts, that day at dinnertime, Courtney and Tom headed towards the library, planning on checking the unrestricted part of the library everyday during their free time hoping they could find something.
They searched for an hour before deciding to give it up for the night. They compared their findings, but all either had found had been about the various witches or wizards who had attempted to become immortal.
"But there are thousands of books in here...it could be in one of them. We will have to try again tomorrow." Tom optimistically concluded their brief talk.
Try tomorrow they did. And all of their free time the next week and the next. They searched until, finally, at Christmastime; they decided to give it a break. Courtney was going home for the holidays and Tom didn't want to search by himself.
As the holiday break wore on, Tom went to the library only a couple of times to do research, and only then because he was bored and had nothing better to do.
On one of the occasions that he went to the library, he found a book that told him more about becoming immortal than he knew already, it told him, in fact, all he needed to know, and a little more. He quickly checked the book out and took it back to the Slytherin Common Room, where he sat down in a chair next to the fire and opened it to the first page to read it all the way through, having a feeling that it would reveal something to him that he needed to know on his journey to become immortal.
There have been several hundred witches and wizards in the magical world to attempt to become immortal in the time since the idea was created. None of the ones who honestly thought they could do it succeeded. Immortality, it may seem, is impossible. But is it?
It is hard to believe that somebody would just come up with the idea that life could go on forever, isn't it? Especially if they didn't truly mean that it could, or that there was even the slim chance or possibility. Nobody would make up something as absurd as that, and actually get the idea to stick with others. It is impossible. Therefore, to become immortal must be a possibility for all humans.
How do I become immortal, you ask yourself. You have read through books and books that told of numerous witches and wizards who attempted, but none prevailed, doubtless. How very close to wrong that is.
There has been a wizard who almost accomplished the goal of Immortality. The only reason he failed was because he was killed during the ritual; moments before he was immortal. The wizard called himself Merroc the Malice. The path he chose to take would have led him to greatness, had he been allowed to complete the ritual.
To become immortal, one must have a very strong heart. You must remember that in the lifetime of one who is immortal, they will see everybody that they know and love pass away, but they will also see the changes around them, the changes of the land and the development of the people.
The strength of your heart is tested during the ritual. If you are unable to complete that one requirement, you are not allowed to be immortal...there is only this one way, after all.
Sure, there is the Elixir of Life...but that only lengthens your life. You stop using it, and you live for a short while longer and then you die. The only way the Elixir can keep you from dieing is if you use it for the rest of eternity, but even then you are not immortal, you are simply prolonging life, not completely giving up any chance of Natural Death.
From there the book talked more and more about what it would mean to be immortal, the up side of it and the down side of it. Tom, not wanting to miss a single thing, didn't skip a thing. He read until 12:00 midnight, and then, book marking his page, he clambered slowly up to his dorm, where he changed into his nightclothes and fell into bed, asleep almost immediately.
He slept until just past dawn, surprised that he was no longer tired; he had only had about 6 ½ hours of sleep. He stretched, showered, dressed, then wandered to the Great Hall where he practically inhaled his breakfast, so anxious was he to read more of his book.
He entered the Slytherin Common Room in a rush, ran up to his dorm, snatched the book from his bedside table and ran back down to the Common Room. Settling back into the chair he had been in the night before, he continued to read.
The book talked a bunch more about the risks of becoming immortal but the joys that should override them. It also gave several warnings that it was possible, after a couple hundred years, that the one who was immortal would get tired of life and wish that they could die of old age. Once they preformed the ritual of becoming immortal, it is done for the rest of all time. There is no way to make it otherwise...the witch or wizard would have to have somebody kill them with a very strong killing curse. Tom smiled grimly to himself. No boring moments would come in his life of immortality. Every last second of it would be full of...of what? Happiness? Of extreme power? Why was it that he wanted to be immortal? It would be a waste if he didn't use his time doing something would ensure people to respect him. What could he do?
He answered the question almost immediately. It was obvious, what he would do. He would use his time killing and torturing people. He would make sure that his name was feared to be spoken upon the lips of every witch or wizard alive. Not just in England, but worldwide. He would not use his real name, but instead he would come up with one made from the re-arranged letters of his name, a name that he had already thought about. Lord Voldemort. If the letters of Tom Marvolo Riddle were arranged in just the right order, they spelt: I am Lord Voldemort.
His thoughts about what he would do stopped suddenly as he finally reached the part he had been looking forward to the most. How to become Immortal.