Chapter 24

In which Thomas is having an existential crisis

Clarence Higgs was a handsome bastard indeed. The older brother of Terrence Higgs, a third year Slytherin who played seeker in the Quidditch team. Draco was looking forward to toppling him from his position this year. The handsome bastard smirked at her as she stared at him when they met for tea at the end of the day. Severus, playing chaperone by his lonesome, sat at the corner table with a scowl in his face, facing a stack of essays that he marked with vengeance. Harriet winced as he scrawled a particularly vicious red slash through the parchment that she was surprised the paper didn't tear

"How are you, My Dear?"

Her attention returned to the man in front of her, eyes narrowed. There was something different about the Thomas that she knew and the Thomas in front of her.

"I'm well enough, thank you. How have you been?" she asked as she sipped her tea daintily.

"As well as can be expected I suppose." he hummed and slipped some cookies to Quasimodo, who unashamedly wagged his tail at the attention.

He is really getting more confident and cheekier. but that meant that Thomas took such a good care of him.

"It is good to see you. I was quite …worried, when I didn't hear from you in the summer." she said thoughtfully.

"Ah, I was…otherwise preoccupied. But fear not, My Dear, I have returned to your side and shall not leave you to those bad wizards. I heard about your previous DADA teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. Aren't you glad that I made it on time to protect you?" his eyes flashed red momentarily.

"Err…I was never in danger. How are you here, though? Is this another possession? I must say that I've gotten used to seeing your back at the same time as seeing your face. This is quite refreshing." she waved at his attires.

she didn't know if it was Professor Higgs or Thomas, but he dressed sharply and looked rather dashing in the dark green robe he was wearing.

His eyes turned her words. "Refreshing? or is it pleasing to see Young Higgs' face instead of mine?" he asked harshly.

Harriet blinked at his words and scrutinized the face intently. "Why are you always fixated on age and appearance? Professor Higgs is handsome, but not exactly my type. Face is superficial, after all. It will change with time. Besides, I found his face a little mean, like he was having amusement on someone else's expense, and also condescending if the younger Higgs is anything to go by. If it wasn't because I recognized you, I wouldn't look twice at him."

"Oh…alright then," he said bashfully. "It was quite a shock when I found out that I was married to someone quite younger. 4 years difference is a lot, you know." he continued.

"4 years? Weren't you my Grandfather's classmate?" Harriet asked in confusion.

Severus discreetly rolled his eyes. So much for keeping the Dark Lord's existence as a soul shard a secret. Should have known that no matter which version he is, he still can't lie to Harriet.

"Oh, that's my creator. I am a…memory, you could say. Only that my creator sent me to keep you safe from danger and suitors. You're married, you know. You shouldn't be noticing boys around you." he chided.

"This far, the only person noticing boys around me is you, Thomas." She harrumphed in annoyance. "A memory? So how did you become Professor Higgs then?"

"I didn't become him, of course. I am possessing him. The memory in my container is quite large, so I am stronger than my creator. Younger too, so it may appeal to you more than the likes of Charles Weasley or that Gilderoy Lockhart."

Harriet learned that Thomas, in any age or form of existence, is a very jealous and possessive wizard.

"First of all, Thomas, Charles Weasley is younger than Professor Higgs, not that I'm interested for other than in professional capacity. Also, Lockhart? Really? I didn't like him. I wanted to feed him to Medusa so you shouldn't worry much." she sighed.

"Why are you calling me Thomas, anyways?" he asked, puzzled. "I asked Yaxley to put him next to Bellatrix Lestrange. Believe me when I say that's a punishment worse than death. Would you like to meet Medusa? I'm going to need to feed her soon and my creator has informed me that she'd like to meet you soon. Something about family dinner."

"Isn't that your name? Thomas Marvolo Riddle,Jr is the name written in our Betrothal Contract. Sure. I'm curious about her too." Harriet answered with a raised eyebrow.

"No, my birth name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, Jr. that's how I made my moniker, see?" he waved his wand to form his name and rearranged it to 'I am Lord Voldemort'.

"Oh, I forgot. My Great-grandfather said something about your Grandfather changed your name because you're a wizard? Something about Tom is such a plebeian name and too bad that he couldn't in good conscience put the Gaunt name in yours because your Father is a muggle." Harriet took another sip of tea.

"He is okay condemning me to a marriage with a stranger, but his family name is too good to be given to me?!" Thomas shoved out of the table and started ranting as he paced.

"He had the nerve! casting out my mother like that, but he changed my name as he like it?! what..."

Harriet tuned him out, not really wanting to get to his daddy, or rather, grand-daddy issues. She hummed as she selected a delicious looking finger sandwich.

"Are you listening to me?" Thomas snapped at her.

Harriet blinked with the sandwich halfway into her mouth.

"Of course, you were angry at your Grandfather." she flushed at being caught. "But Thomas, why does it matter? They're dead. You don't want me to call you Thomas? Is that the problem? Personally, I thought Thomas was a good name, but if you want to change it back to Tom, it's alright too. it was your name, after all. "

Thomas sighed and sat down in front of her, thinking carefully.

"Not really, no." He decided that he rather liked the way his wife called him differently from other people. "It's just…unusual. I've been called Tom for most of my life."

He looked down to The Thing gnawing at his shoes curiously.

"Also, why The Thing?"

Harriet sighed. "Didn't we have this conversation before? Quasimodo is your companion, you know, so that you don't become too obsessed with age. I read that you're in middling age for a Wizard, and there's a study that says that animal companions could really help with Midlife Crisis."

Thomas stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"Midlife Crisis?"

"You know, when you start having questions about your existence." Harriet waved her hand. "I mean, why would you get sensitive about your age? You were a face behind someone's head. I would worry about that before thinking of age."

"You're…actually right." Thomas said thoughtfully.

He wondered if his older-self had gotten senile before reaching his prime age. He had never felt this insecure even when he was in the same class as three of the cream of the crop of Wizarding Bachelors, or with their progenies after that. Why was he getting angry over someone his wife wasn't even interested in? For that matter, why was his sixteen years old memory-self felt the same insecurities, even at this moment, towards the face of the person he possessed no less. he pinched his nose at the beginning of a migraine. Merlin forbid he start asking about his purpose in life. (Dominating the sheeps of Britain, and then the World, of course, but now that he thought about it, why...)

"So? Quasimodo really helped, right? And I think he's good for you." Harriet smiled at him beatifically.

They fell silent as Thomas contemplated his life.

"So, when you're younger you write in a diary?" Harriet asked innocently.

"Hmm, yes. I was advised by someone to write my thoughts so that I can control my emotions better. Mostly, I wrote the names of those who offended me and crossed it when I exacted my revenge." He mused.

"Oh, so it was like the Death Note?"

"What is a Death Note? I have to say that the name has a certain appeal."

Severus felt like banging his head on the table. The Dark Lord was bad enough without getting more ideas from a muggle comic. Oh well, at least the Death Eaters are turning a new leaf. Who knew that killing or torturing someone generates so many troubles that are headache inducing? Now the Dark lord wanted a Death Note? he'd better warn Lucius.