A Riddle Tale

A/N~ OMG! That chapter made me cry when I re-read it and I barely ever cry as a result of fictional tales! Thank you to everyone who has, and will read it, I love you guys! Please read this chapter and tell me what to write next in this tale. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I own only the plot.

Last chapter:

'I know,' whispered Bella, who was also crying, ' I miss her too,' Lucius Malfoy walked in on them like that to tell them dinner was ready. He was so shocked to find the most powerful wizard in the world in tears hugging Bella that he actually pinched himself to see if he was dreaming. Tom Riddle straightened up and rubbed his eyes. He looked up at Malfoy who never had been told about Louise and shook his head.

'Dinner's ready master,' Malfoy said finally finding his tongue.

'I know,' Tom whispered running out of the room, going downstairs.

'Leave him alone, he's still mourning after all these years,' Bella told him seeing his face. 'It's best I don't tell you!' Bella excited the room with silent tears pouring down her face.

* * *
Chapter Two: Tears

Tom was not talking to anyone during dinner. His Death Eaters could see his redder eyes showing that he'd been crying. Bella had red eyes too. The only person who witnessed their little scene was Malfoy, who obviously didn't tell anyone what had happened. Tom was bent down looking at his plate through dinner. At the beginning, he came down and stood behind his daughter. He cut her potatoes up and made them mashed, so she would eat them. Everyone was watching him but he did not care. He took her peas and stuffing. He cut her meat in half and put the bigger half on his plate. She smiled gratefully up at him but did not realise her father was upset. She did however, notice he wasn't talking. He usually talked to her a lot in dinner but since he came down, hadn't uttered one word. Amber found his lack of interest in her very personal. She imitated him, bending down over her food like he did, eating and drinking only when he did, and not talking to anyone, even though she was usually a chatterbox. Finally Tom noticed this and asked, 'What on earth are you doing Amber?' She laughed, pleased that she actually got her father to talk.

'I'm being you, what's it look like?' She replied. Tom shook his head and returned to eating his dinner in silence. Amber was rather upset that her father was still blanking her, so she tried hard to fight back the tears and started to talk to him. 'Daddy I learnt a new word today, Yacht! It sounds like yought, but is spelt like yacht!'

'That's great sweetie,' Tom said flatly, even she, a four year old, could tell he wasn't listening. She finished her dinner silently then put her plate in the dishwasher. She returned to the table and decided that the only way her father would listen to her is if he could feel her. So she crawled under the table and emerged on Tom's lap. He didn't pay her anymore attention although he moved her head away so that he could continue eating.

'Tom, Please don't do this again. Your daughter needs you. Look at her, she is visibly upset that you're not talking to her anymore. It's not her fault. Don't be so selfish for once in your life!' Bella started off whispering but her voice grew louder and louder. Some of the Death Eaters had gasped when they heard Bella call the Dark Lord selfish. They thought he would kill her – well after he put the child to bed obviously. They were surprised at the reaction he did have though.

'Bella, please don't. You make me feel awful. I don't want to blank her, you know I don't. But I don't want to talk to anyone right now, can't she see that?' Tom replied his eyes still on his food. Amber heard what he had just said and understood she had to leave him alone. She got up off his lap and ran upstairs where they heard her door slam shut.

'That must make you feel a lot better Tom!' Bella snapped angrily, clearing her own plate. She too, ran upstairs. That made Tom feel even guiltier. He knew he should not take things out on the two females, but whom else could he blame it on? The Death Eaters were staring at him so he cleared his plate and walked out of the peach dining room.

'Have you ever wondered why Bellatrix calls him Tom, the name he hates but puts up with, but we have to say "My Lord" or "Master"?' Lucius Malfoy asked.

'Do you think those to are going out or something?' Barty Crouch asked.

'Definitely not!' Macnair exclaimed, 'Have you seen the way they are around each other? They're constantly having a glaring match and he snaps her head off at every possible moment!'

'Yeah, but that might just be an act, maybe they don't want it to be pub...'

'Why the HELL do you always blame this on me Bellatrix?' Voldemort's voice yelled.

'With you Tom, it's always me, me, me! You never care about me! I am suffering from this as well, but I always have to suffer in silence because you won't listen to it!' Bella screeched.

'It's my fault she's dead now is it?' He demanded.

'See, you think it all comes back to you. I never said Louise is dead because of you, Tom. It wasn't your fault. I will never say my sister is dead because of you because it's not true!' Bellatrix shouted.

'That's what your mother told me everyday! She said it wasn't my fault, Louise was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it was my fault Bella, if I hadn't told her to go out shopping she would still be here!' The Death Eaters heard Tom break down into tears.

'Oh Tom, of course you blame yourself. Why didn't you ever tell me? Listen, fate said that Louise would have to die. Even if she didn't go shopping, she still would have died, because she was meant to go that day!'

'No she wasn't! We were meant to have a long life together, not just two years marriage!' There was silence, and then they heard a little girl's voice.

'Daddy, why are you crying?' she asked.

'People cry when they are upset,' he told her.

'I'm upset, but I'm not crying. You upset me by not talking to me,' The Death Eaters expected Bella to say "I told you so" but she didn't. They heard Voldemort crying harder.

'I'm sorry Amber. I honestly didn't mean to hurt you. I really just wanted to be left alone but that is to much to ask for around here!'

'I don't want to leave you on your own, Tom! I know what your like, you don't care how many people you hurt. If I left you alone you would probably grab the nearest sharp thing and slit your wrists. You tried that before, remember. I was the one who suffered, you didn't even care that you had a daughter!' They could hear Amber screaming.

'SHUT UP BELLATRIX!' Tom roared. 'You act like I don't know how to look after her but inside you know she's the only thing I have left. She's all I have left of Louise and I know that you know I would never do anything to hurt her. And if you don't shut your trap right now I swear I will curse your arse to Manhattan so help me God!' The Death Eaters would have been in fits of laughter if they didn't know the situation was so serious. They could hear Tom crying still, and his daughter was crying in fright but now Bellatrix had joined in. Malfoy automatically got up to be at Bella's side because he was her brother-in-law. He realised now, that from what he just heard, the Dark Lord was his brother-in-law as well. He ran up the stairs and saw that the three of them were in Tom's bedroom. Tom was sitting on the floor with Amber on his lap. Bellatrix was lying on the bed sobbing into the pillow. No one had noticed Malfoy in the doorway. When Tom saw Bellatrix sobbing into his pillow he cried even harder, seeing the damage he had done to the person who kept he going for two years. 'Bella, Bella please, I am so sorry. I didn't mean it, honestly! You were scaring Amber I had to stop you,' He cried harder still, ' Your right, I'm not a fit father. You take her. Give her the life she should have, please Bella!'

'I never thought it would be like this Tom! Don't give up on Amber. I was just so stupid to think you weren't a good Dad. She loves you, anyone can see, and I shouldn't have said what I did, I'm so sorry Tom, Please forgive me, I forgive you!'

'I do forgive you Bella. I never blamed you, ever, for the things you said. You make me realise what responsibilities I have!'

'Daddy, Lucius is at the door,'

What do YOU want? Tom asked.

'I want my sister-in-law,' Malfoy said bravely, walking over to Bellatrix. 'Come on Bellatrix!' She did not move. 'Come on Bella!'

'No, I'm staying here with my brother-in-law who actually cares about me!' Bellatrix shrieked. The older Malfoy went red and stormed off, narrowly missing stepping on Amber's finger. Voldemort smiled at Bella in appreciation and stood up to join her on the bed. Amber knew it was late so she hopped along to her own room, leaving her two parent-like-figures alone. Tom got on the bed and hugged Bella to him, showing that after all these tears he still cared about her as much as he cared about Amber. They fell asleep hugging each other, protecting them from the spitefulness of the other.

* * *

Meanwhile downstairs Malfoy was being badgered about what happened. He remarked over and over again that they were just crying on the floor.

'Yeah but what was going on to make Bellatrix say she was staying with the brother-in-law that cared about her?' Snape repeated over and over.

Finally Malfoy snapped. 'For Christ's sake, if you really want to know Bella refused to come with me, and she claimed that the Dark Lord was the only brother-in-law that cared for her. Happy?' The Death Eaters were shocked at what he said. Saying that Lucius Malfoy didn't care about Bella was ridiculous, absurd!

* * *

It was early morning. The curtains were open but only a small amount of light came through. Tom looked up at his pale blue wall to see what time it was. There was no clock. He turned to wake up Bella, but there was no Bella. Instead, lying in her place as beautiful as ever, was Louise Riddle, is dead wife.

'Do not be afraid Tom, it is me! It really is me! Every leap year us angels are allowed to come down to Earth in someone's dream. Tom, listen to me. Please look after Bella, she is going through a hard time at a moment, you know it's almost been two years since my death and Bella is getting her divorce. She is mourning me so much and I need you to look after her. You will won't you?' Tom nodded. 'Tom, you have to look after our baby Amber as well. You may not have noticed, but she is missing me a lot too. Even though she doesn't remember me she still misses not having a mother. Promise me you'll look after her!'
'I promise!' Tom leant over and kissed the woman he never thought he'd kiss again. He didn't want to let go of her but he knew he had to. She did not want to leave yet so they lay together in each other's arms hoping that it wouldn't be long before they met again.

'I have to go know Tom, the Lord is calling me back to him. Goodbye until next to my love!' he waved and waved until he could not wave anymore and then he woke up and started crying tears of joy.
'What is it Tom?' Bella asked him.

'I just saw Louise again. And she still loves me, and one day we will be reunited, together, forever!' Bella did not care to comment that he'd probably go to hell because of the amount of wrong he had done. She just smiled at him and got up. 'Come on, let's go and make breakfast together, pancakes!' Tom exclaimed.

'Your on!' Bella replied, quite happy to pretend yesterday had not happened. They walked into the kitchen smiling with their arms linked together.

'Hey Bella, I saw you weren't in your room last night!' Dolohov chirped. Someone – probably Macnair – wolf-whistled.

'You would be right then Antonin!' Bella replied. More wolf-whistles. 'Hey Walden, stop whistling, you're not gonna make us kiss. We wouldn't in public anyway would we Tom?'

'Yeah, respect our privacy!' Tom argued.

'So you made up after your little argument last night?' Bella blushed when Barty asked that; she hadn't realised they heard!

'You bet!' replied Tom winking.

'Oh Tom, I don't think you should be talking about our little games in the night openly!' Bella argued.

'I'm sorry Bella, I just wanted them to know we still have fun,' Tom replied humbly.

'Ugh Tommy that is sick!' Barty exclaimed, 'You've got all sorts of mental images in my head now!' Tom smiled mischievously.

Taking advantage of Tom's good mood, Nott said, 'Look I bought this muggle radio in the market if you listen to it for a while Tom, you may here a love song you want to sing to Bellatrix!'

'Good idea Avery – I mean Nott. Why don't we all listen to the radio?' Everyone nodded or muttered yes so Nott turned it on. Tom laughed gently when he heard the song that had just started playing but nobody but Bella knew why. He thought it was highly appropriate:

I sit and wait Does an angel contemplate my fate And do they know The places where we go When we're grey and old 'Cause I have been told That salvation lets their wings unfold So when I'm lying in my bed Thoughts running through my head And I feel that love is dead I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm loving angels instead

When I'm feeling weak And my pain walks down a one way street I look above And I know I'll always be blessed with love And as the feeling grows She brings flesh to my bones And when love is dead I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm loving angels instead

'You're right Nott, this song is perfect for the love of my life,' Tom whispered when it ended. One thing he had learnt through this chapter is that people cry when they are upset – when he and Bella were arguing, when they are joyous and happy – when he saw Louise again, and when you truly appreciate something – when he heard that beautiful song.

'For the love of Christ Tom, it's just a song!' Avery said exasperated.

'I know, it is a beautiful song, and I am shedding tears because I appreciate it!' Tom sobbed. Avery sighed; he'd never understand his master!

A/N~ I think those will be the last tears shed for a while. Yes now Tom will be back in his big kicking boots! He will be more evil then you can imagine and he is right beside me telling me to shut the f*** up before he curses me to Manhattan so help him God! I am really proud of myself; two chapters up in one day and this one is quite long. :) Lotsa love Starrylibra x-x-x-x-x-x