Chapter 3
"The Then to Now: Tom's Confession & Katrina's Sorrow"
It had been several months since school had first started, but already, there was an urge to get away. Katrina was the top student of all her classes, maybe even the most outstanding student to ever attend Hogwarts. She spent most of her time either in the library or sitting by the common room fire to study or do homework. It was a cold, miserable night of February the 13th, Saturday. Katrina hadn't spent much time with Tom or his friends, but had managed to keep up a social life. She closed her Advanced Potions book and sighed. Her homework was finished at last. The dancing flames from the fireplace cast shadows upon her tired, yet beautiful face. Her hair was drawn into a loose ponytail. She stared at the window, watching as rain drizzled down in slow sheets. She did this for a while before the common room door opened. A small group of three seventh year Slytherin girls walked in.
"Tom Riddle is so handsome." said a girl with dirt blonde hair and brown eyes.
"Yeah, he could have any girl he wants." said a girl with short black hair.
"He kissed my hand once." said a girl with brown hair.
Katrina pretended to be engrossed in a sheet of paper in front of her. The three girls sat on a sofa behind her. She listened to them drone on about Tom.
"I bet he's going to ask me to the seventh year's end of school dance." said one of the girl's. "Tom was checking me out today. He talked to and flirted a lot in the halls."
Katrina felt a bit strange. What was she feeling? Envy? Jealousy? Over who? Tom? She had found Tom quite handsome, but he never showed any interest in her as if he liked her. Tom was always gone, doing something with his small group of friends. Katrina wondered if she actually did feel something for Tom. He had been really nice to help her with homework or carry her books for her to class. He was always nice to her. She ducked lower in her chair and peeked at the girls. The door to the common room opened. In came Tom's group. Tom came in with the grace of a king, his pale face so handsome and calm like a gentle breeze. He saw the girls looking at him. Katrina stared at them, hiding in the shadows of her chair.
"Hello Tom." said the girl with dirty blonde hair.
Tom smiled at her, then her friends.
"Hello Becky, Natalie, and Gina." He said.
The girls giggled.
"So, Tom, tomorrow's Valentine's Day. Got any plans?" asked Becky, the girl with black hair.
"No." replied Tom in a cool, calm voice.
"You can spend an evening with us." said Natalie, the girl with brown hair.
Tom huddled close to the girls.
"You know, I like the way you girls talk." he said.
"Got anyone special you like?" asked Gina, the girl with dirty blonde hair.
Katrina sank lower and listened closely.
"Well, I'm not sure." said Tom.
"Come on Tom, you can trust us." said Gina.
"Well, she's in our house, has beautiful dark hair, and a wonderful mind." said Tom.
"Oh, who is she?" asked Natalie.
Katrina listened with all her might.
"Well, she's just this girl, no one special." said Tom. "But you may know her as Macy Packs."
The girls giggled. Katrina's heart sank to the cold stone floor. Macy packs? That chubby short girl with greasy black hair? How could Tom like her? Katrina quickly grabbed her books, shoved them in her bag, and stormed off to her private room.
The three girls watched Katrina storm off. Tom's emerald green eyes followed her out.
"What's her problem?" asked Gina.
"PMS case." said Natalie.
The three girls laughter followed Katrina to her room. She slammed the door, locked it, and threw her bag in the corner. She began to cry. Her room was small, yet comforting. It contained a four-poster canopy bed adorned with green and silver sheets and curtains, a dresser, a bookshelf, and a fireplace. Katrina kicked off her shoes, crawled into her bed, and cried. How could she fool herself that Tom Riddle, a handsome guy with a great mind, ever like a girl like her. She cried herself to sleep.
The sun spilled its yellow blood into Katrina's room. It seeped through her silver and green curtains and trickled down her face. She woke up slowly, her face pale from crying so much. She got up slowly dressed into a black sweater and black skirt. She checked her image in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face as pale as milk, and her hair a mess. She scowled at herself. She grabbed her wand and magicked her make-up on. Her face recovered an earthly glow. Her lips were a shade of pink roses, and her eye shadow a pale pink also. She brush her hair into it's smooth, glorious self. It had been a jungle of bushiness when she was a child to her early teens until one day, it smoothed out. Her teeth were once bucktooth until she used a spell to straighten them and make them smaller. She gathered up her strength and left her room.
The common room was filled with all the Slytherin girls and guys. Many girls were giggling madly while the guys adorned them with chocolates and flowers. It was Valentine's Day. Katrina ignored the happiness, her gloom from last night shadowing her from the wonderful glow, and crept to the Great Hall. She sat alone at the table and only ate a bit of toast. She felt like crying again. Macy Packs was probably receiving Tom's love right now. Tom was probably happy as well. How could Katrina believe that Tom liked her? She hated herself so much.
She was about to get up when a small, weary looking house-elf dressed in a small potato bag walked up to her.
"Is you Miss Katrina Smith?" asked the house-elf.
"Yes." said Katrina in a sad tone.
The house-elf took a velvet box out of his suit.
"A present to miss from your secret admirer." said the house-elf.
Katrina took the box and stared at it. It was a green, velvet box, like that for holding jewelry in. She sat back down at the table. Her fingers trembled as she opened it. Who could be her secret admirer? She gasped as she took a look at what was inside.
A beautiful necklace rested inside. It was single, golden-chained necklace. It had a large, gorgeous emerald incrusted with gold. Katrina took it out of the box and watched the light dance on the emerald's smooth surface. Boy, her admirer sure went out of his way to buy her this gift. It looked very expensive. Katrina put the necklace back in the box. Whoever her admirer was, he would make Tom so jealous. Katrina's spirits lifted up a bit and she dashed up to her room. She found a note shoved under her door.
"If you have received my gift, then can you meet me tonight at the astronomy tower after sunset?" said the note.
Katrina was breathless. She would meet her secret admirer tonight. She stayed in her room for a long time and went through her dresser to find something to wear. The sun began to sit low on the horizon as Katrina checked herself in the mirror. She had on a floor-length skirt the color of blood that ruffled around the edges. Her top was a v-top sweater that formed into bells at the elbows. She put on the necklace, which felt cool against her chest. She took a deep breath and stepped out of her room.
The walk to the astronomy tower was long and dreadful. Katrina had one hand over the necklace, clutching it as if it were her heart. The heels of her shoes echoed off the stonewalls as she ascended up the stairs. The cool air of the night kissed her skin as she came to the last step. The stars and moon above winked to her. The world around her was as silent as the wind that danced in the trees. Katrina walked over to the edge of the balcony and stared out to the lake, which looked like many diamonds dazzling in the glow of the stars and moon. Katrina waited.
The time passed and she began to lose hope that her secret admirer would ever come. She was about to leave when she saw a dark figure ascend up the stairs. Katrina quickly became alert. The figure stopped just at the last step and stared at Katrina. Katrina held her breath. The figure stepped onto the balcony. A cloud that had been passing over the moon drifted slowly, prohibiting any light from pouring onto the figure. Then, as if it were still there, the cloud drifted away. The light crept slowly up the figure's legs, waist, shoulders, then onto his face. A pale face, handsome face with deep, emerald eyes looked into Katrina's cinnamon eyes. His ebony colored hair was ruffled in the playful breeze.
"Tom?" asked Katrina.
Tom took a step toward her. His eyes never left hers. They were not the usual coldness, but warm. He looked both remorse and calm.
"Katrina." said Tom in a soft voice.
The way the moonlight danced on her was intoxicating. Tom couldn't help it but stare at her and take in her beauty.
"Tom, what are you doing here?" asked Katrina.
Tom snapped out of his state of hypnotism.
"Well, can't a secret admirer see his lady love?" asked Tom.
Katrina felt her heart leap.
"You're the one who gave me this necklace?" she asked.
Tom nodded.
"But, I thought you cared about Macy Packs." said Katrina, feeling a bit of gloom set in.
Tom laughed, a warm laugh.
"I was just doing that because I knew you were listening to me talk to those girls." said Tom.
Katrina blushed.
"The truth is, ever since that day you came into my train compartment, I haven't been able to stop thinking of you. It's hard to believe that someone like me could actually fall in love." said Tom.
He stepped right up to Katrina and took her hands in his. His hands felt cold against her warm ones.
"I must ask you, if you could ever love someone like me?" he asked her.
Katrina wondered what he meant by this. Of course she could.
"Yes." said Katrina.
She closed her eyes as they leaned in closer. Her soft, warm lips met his. The world around them seemed to stand still just for that moment. Katrina Anne Smith and Tom Riddle, together. If only the future were this perfect, this magical for both of them.
In the heart of London, a single, comfy home nestled between other homes rested. A man in his mid 40's and a woman in her early 40's sat in their usual chairs next to a roaring fire. The man was tall, lean, and bald. His eyes, the color of cinnamon, scanned back and forth as he read a book. His wife's, a short, lean woman with long, chocolate colored hair and misty blue eyes was concentrated on her needlework. A pearl necklace adorned her neck.
"How was work at the Ministry?" asked the woman.
"Good." said the man.
He put his book down and got up. The woman kept her eyes on he needlework. Her husband walked back in.
"These are for you, Lidia." said the man as he handed the woman a dozen roses adorned with sparkling dew drops.
The woman put down her needlework and took the flowers.
"Thank you, Charles." said Linda.
She got up and placed the flowers in a vase she made appear with a wand. The vase was put on the fireplace mantle where there were many picture frames. Her husband put a hand on her shoulder and looked at the pictures. There were many still pictures of a young girl with bushy hair and cinnamon eyes. They all looked a bit faded except for the one in the middle. It was that of a young woman. She was dressed in a long, silk blue dress. She was sitting in a bench under a peach tree. Her long, silk chocolate-colored hair fanned around her shoulders. Her soft cinnamon eyes were alive with laughter. Her dazzling white smiled sparkled in the sun.
"I miss my little girl." said Linda.
"I know, but at least Katrina is getting a good education." said Charles.
A sudden breeze from a window in the hall hit the couple. The flames of the fire in the fireplace flickered. Charles grabbed his wand out of his robe pocket.
'Who's there?" he shouted as his wife hugged him.
No answer.
"Stay here." he said to his wife.
He left the room and entered the hall. He stood just outside the door.
"No one here." he said.
Just as he was about to enter the room, a huge crack slashed the air. Linda watched as her husband, his cinnamon eyes full of shock and surprise, fall onto the floor. Blood began to poor from a wound in his back and head. Linda dropped her wand on the floor and put her hands to her mouth. A man dressed in a black trench coat stormed into the room. He had a metal object in his hand with two barrels at the ends. He had a black bag with him.
"Oh my G--..."
The pictures on the mantle were splattered in pools of fresh, warm blood. The woman's dead body fell to the ground with a deep thud. Blood stained the wooden floor below. The man with the shotgun walked up to the woman and ripped of her pearl necklace. Pearls scattered onto the floor, landing in pools of blood. The man ran out of the room, down the hall, and hopped out of the window. A wail of sirens filled the air. Charles and Linda Smith lay there on the floor, no longer a part of this world. Murdered like dogs by a robber.
"The Then to Now: Tom's Confession & Katrina's Sorrow"
It had been several months since school had first started, but already, there was an urge to get away. Katrina was the top student of all her classes, maybe even the most outstanding student to ever attend Hogwarts. She spent most of her time either in the library or sitting by the common room fire to study or do homework. It was a cold, miserable night of February the 13th, Saturday. Katrina hadn't spent much time with Tom or his friends, but had managed to keep up a social life. She closed her Advanced Potions book and sighed. Her homework was finished at last. The dancing flames from the fireplace cast shadows upon her tired, yet beautiful face. Her hair was drawn into a loose ponytail. She stared at the window, watching as rain drizzled down in slow sheets. She did this for a while before the common room door opened. A small group of three seventh year Slytherin girls walked in.
"Tom Riddle is so handsome." said a girl with dirt blonde hair and brown eyes.
"Yeah, he could have any girl he wants." said a girl with short black hair.
"He kissed my hand once." said a girl with brown hair.
Katrina pretended to be engrossed in a sheet of paper in front of her. The three girls sat on a sofa behind her. She listened to them drone on about Tom.
"I bet he's going to ask me to the seventh year's end of school dance." said one of the girl's. "Tom was checking me out today. He talked to and flirted a lot in the halls."
Katrina felt a bit strange. What was she feeling? Envy? Jealousy? Over who? Tom? She had found Tom quite handsome, but he never showed any interest in her as if he liked her. Tom was always gone, doing something with his small group of friends. Katrina wondered if she actually did feel something for Tom. He had been really nice to help her with homework or carry her books for her to class. He was always nice to her. She ducked lower in her chair and peeked at the girls. The door to the common room opened. In came Tom's group. Tom came in with the grace of a king, his pale face so handsome and calm like a gentle breeze. He saw the girls looking at him. Katrina stared at them, hiding in the shadows of her chair.
"Hello Tom." said the girl with dirty blonde hair.
Tom smiled at her, then her friends.
"Hello Becky, Natalie, and Gina." He said.
The girls giggled.
"So, Tom, tomorrow's Valentine's Day. Got any plans?" asked Becky, the girl with black hair.
"No." replied Tom in a cool, calm voice.
"You can spend an evening with us." said Natalie, the girl with brown hair.
Tom huddled close to the girls.
"You know, I like the way you girls talk." he said.
"Got anyone special you like?" asked Gina, the girl with dirty blonde hair.
Katrina sank lower and listened closely.
"Well, I'm not sure." said Tom.
"Come on Tom, you can trust us." said Gina.
"Well, she's in our house, has beautiful dark hair, and a wonderful mind." said Tom.
"Oh, who is she?" asked Natalie.
Katrina listened with all her might.
"Well, she's just this girl, no one special." said Tom. "But you may know her as Macy Packs."
The girls giggled. Katrina's heart sank to the cold stone floor. Macy packs? That chubby short girl with greasy black hair? How could Tom like her? Katrina quickly grabbed her books, shoved them in her bag, and stormed off to her private room.
The three girls watched Katrina storm off. Tom's emerald green eyes followed her out.
"What's her problem?" asked Gina.
"PMS case." said Natalie.
The three girls laughter followed Katrina to her room. She slammed the door, locked it, and threw her bag in the corner. She began to cry. Her room was small, yet comforting. It contained a four-poster canopy bed adorned with green and silver sheets and curtains, a dresser, a bookshelf, and a fireplace. Katrina kicked off her shoes, crawled into her bed, and cried. How could she fool herself that Tom Riddle, a handsome guy with a great mind, ever like a girl like her. She cried herself to sleep.
The sun spilled its yellow blood into Katrina's room. It seeped through her silver and green curtains and trickled down her face. She woke up slowly, her face pale from crying so much. She got up slowly dressed into a black sweater and black skirt. She checked her image in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot, her face as pale as milk, and her hair a mess. She scowled at herself. She grabbed her wand and magicked her make-up on. Her face recovered an earthly glow. Her lips were a shade of pink roses, and her eye shadow a pale pink also. She brush her hair into it's smooth, glorious self. It had been a jungle of bushiness when she was a child to her early teens until one day, it smoothed out. Her teeth were once bucktooth until she used a spell to straighten them and make them smaller. She gathered up her strength and left her room.
The common room was filled with all the Slytherin girls and guys. Many girls were giggling madly while the guys adorned them with chocolates and flowers. It was Valentine's Day. Katrina ignored the happiness, her gloom from last night shadowing her from the wonderful glow, and crept to the Great Hall. She sat alone at the table and only ate a bit of toast. She felt like crying again. Macy Packs was probably receiving Tom's love right now. Tom was probably happy as well. How could Katrina believe that Tom liked her? She hated herself so much.
She was about to get up when a small, weary looking house-elf dressed in a small potato bag walked up to her.
"Is you Miss Katrina Smith?" asked the house-elf.
"Yes." said Katrina in a sad tone.
The house-elf took a velvet box out of his suit.
"A present to miss from your secret admirer." said the house-elf.
Katrina took the box and stared at it. It was a green, velvet box, like that for holding jewelry in. She sat back down at the table. Her fingers trembled as she opened it. Who could be her secret admirer? She gasped as she took a look at what was inside.
A beautiful necklace rested inside. It was single, golden-chained necklace. It had a large, gorgeous emerald incrusted with gold. Katrina took it out of the box and watched the light dance on the emerald's smooth surface. Boy, her admirer sure went out of his way to buy her this gift. It looked very expensive. Katrina put the necklace back in the box. Whoever her admirer was, he would make Tom so jealous. Katrina's spirits lifted up a bit and she dashed up to her room. She found a note shoved under her door.
"If you have received my gift, then can you meet me tonight at the astronomy tower after sunset?" said the note.
Katrina was breathless. She would meet her secret admirer tonight. She stayed in her room for a long time and went through her dresser to find something to wear. The sun began to sit low on the horizon as Katrina checked herself in the mirror. She had on a floor-length skirt the color of blood that ruffled around the edges. Her top was a v-top sweater that formed into bells at the elbows. She put on the necklace, which felt cool against her chest. She took a deep breath and stepped out of her room.
The walk to the astronomy tower was long and dreadful. Katrina had one hand over the necklace, clutching it as if it were her heart. The heels of her shoes echoed off the stonewalls as she ascended up the stairs. The cool air of the night kissed her skin as she came to the last step. The stars and moon above winked to her. The world around her was as silent as the wind that danced in the trees. Katrina walked over to the edge of the balcony and stared out to the lake, which looked like many diamonds dazzling in the glow of the stars and moon. Katrina waited.
The time passed and she began to lose hope that her secret admirer would ever come. She was about to leave when she saw a dark figure ascend up the stairs. Katrina quickly became alert. The figure stopped just at the last step and stared at Katrina. Katrina held her breath. The figure stepped onto the balcony. A cloud that had been passing over the moon drifted slowly, prohibiting any light from pouring onto the figure. Then, as if it were still there, the cloud drifted away. The light crept slowly up the figure's legs, waist, shoulders, then onto his face. A pale face, handsome face with deep, emerald eyes looked into Katrina's cinnamon eyes. His ebony colored hair was ruffled in the playful breeze.
"Tom?" asked Katrina.
Tom took a step toward her. His eyes never left hers. They were not the usual coldness, but warm. He looked both remorse and calm.
"Katrina." said Tom in a soft voice.
The way the moonlight danced on her was intoxicating. Tom couldn't help it but stare at her and take in her beauty.
"Tom, what are you doing here?" asked Katrina.
Tom snapped out of his state of hypnotism.
"Well, can't a secret admirer see his lady love?" asked Tom.
Katrina felt her heart leap.
"You're the one who gave me this necklace?" she asked.
Tom nodded.
"But, I thought you cared about Macy Packs." said Katrina, feeling a bit of gloom set in.
Tom laughed, a warm laugh.
"I was just doing that because I knew you were listening to me talk to those girls." said Tom.
Katrina blushed.
"The truth is, ever since that day you came into my train compartment, I haven't been able to stop thinking of you. It's hard to believe that someone like me could actually fall in love." said Tom.
He stepped right up to Katrina and took her hands in his. His hands felt cold against her warm ones.
"I must ask you, if you could ever love someone like me?" he asked her.
Katrina wondered what he meant by this. Of course she could.
"Yes." said Katrina.
She closed her eyes as they leaned in closer. Her soft, warm lips met his. The world around them seemed to stand still just for that moment. Katrina Anne Smith and Tom Riddle, together. If only the future were this perfect, this magical for both of them.
In the heart of London, a single, comfy home nestled between other homes rested. A man in his mid 40's and a woman in her early 40's sat in their usual chairs next to a roaring fire. The man was tall, lean, and bald. His eyes, the color of cinnamon, scanned back and forth as he read a book. His wife's, a short, lean woman with long, chocolate colored hair and misty blue eyes was concentrated on her needlework. A pearl necklace adorned her neck.
"How was work at the Ministry?" asked the woman.
"Good." said the man.
He put his book down and got up. The woman kept her eyes on he needlework. Her husband walked back in.
"These are for you, Lidia." said the man as he handed the woman a dozen roses adorned with sparkling dew drops.
The woman put down her needlework and took the flowers.
"Thank you, Charles." said Linda.
She got up and placed the flowers in a vase she made appear with a wand. The vase was put on the fireplace mantle where there were many picture frames. Her husband put a hand on her shoulder and looked at the pictures. There were many still pictures of a young girl with bushy hair and cinnamon eyes. They all looked a bit faded except for the one in the middle. It was that of a young woman. She was dressed in a long, silk blue dress. She was sitting in a bench under a peach tree. Her long, silk chocolate-colored hair fanned around her shoulders. Her soft cinnamon eyes were alive with laughter. Her dazzling white smiled sparkled in the sun.
"I miss my little girl." said Linda.
"I know, but at least Katrina is getting a good education." said Charles.
A sudden breeze from a window in the hall hit the couple. The flames of the fire in the fireplace flickered. Charles grabbed his wand out of his robe pocket.
'Who's there?" he shouted as his wife hugged him.
No answer.
"Stay here." he said to his wife.
He left the room and entered the hall. He stood just outside the door.
"No one here." he said.
Just as he was about to enter the room, a huge crack slashed the air. Linda watched as her husband, his cinnamon eyes full of shock and surprise, fall onto the floor. Blood began to poor from a wound in his back and head. Linda dropped her wand on the floor and put her hands to her mouth. A man dressed in a black trench coat stormed into the room. He had a metal object in his hand with two barrels at the ends. He had a black bag with him.
"Oh my G--..."
The pictures on the mantle were splattered in pools of fresh, warm blood. The woman's dead body fell to the ground with a deep thud. Blood stained the wooden floor below. The man with the shotgun walked up to the woman and ripped of her pearl necklace. Pearls scattered onto the floor, landing in pools of blood. The man ran out of the room, down the hall, and hopped out of the window. A wail of sirens filled the air. Charles and Linda Smith lay there on the floor, no longer a part of this world. Murdered like dogs by a robber.