Inception: Rise of the Heir
After the murder of Hepzibah Smith, Tom Riddle disappeared for ten long years. He sank deeper into the Dark Arts & pursued knowledge that others could only dream of, consorting with the darkest members of wizarding society. With his eyes set on North America, he has no idea that the magic he so desperately seeks will shape his life & his inevitable future for years to come. TomxOC
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except for my o/c's and my own storyline.
Tom ran his fingers carefully over the cover of the small book that he held in his hands, still unsure as to why it was there in the first place.
"Beasts & Creatures of North America." He let out a short laugh as he opened the book and flipped through the first few pages.
"This might have proved useful a few days ago when I encountered that wendigo in the woods." He thought to himself dryly as he flipped through a few more chapters, eventually closing the book, raising his hands to rub his temples in frustration. As he looked down he noticed a small piece of parchment had fallen out from between the books pages, resting innocently in his lap. Confused and curious, he opened it carefully, reading the neat, perfectly scripted handwriting that seemed to be addressed to him:
Tom
There is no friend you'll find that is quite as loyal as a book,
but we all know great literature doesn't always give up its secrets all at once.
Lyra
He stared at the parchment once more before he placed it down on the table before him, tapping his index finger restlessly on the cover of the second text she had given him. It was slightly larger, but considerably weathered, the leather so old that instead of feeling supple and smooth under his fingers, it felt like wrinkled sandpaper. It was bound by a golden pendant, which resembled an upside down crescent moon, two circles attached on either side of its downward facing horns, the moon itself sat atop a large sword with three handles which intersected through its center.
"Curious.." he thought as his finger traced the delicate ornament.
Tom unclipped the fastening and opened up to the first page, his brow furrowing in confusion as his eyes glanced over lines of strange runes he could not understand. He flipped through a few more pages delicately, tryin to preserve the integrity of the parchment and frowned as he came to the realization that the whole book was written in a strange language he did not understand. He closed the book in annoyance and placed it to the side.
Why had she given him these books? He had never received a gift in his entire life, aside from the occasional sweet and anonymous letters given to him by overeager female classmates of his. They were all the same, the girls full of nonsense, the notes filled with declarations of admiration, flattery and useless babble. But this gesture wore on him differently, the texts seemed to have been given to him for no reason he could think of and it left him feeling confused. He was unsure of what he felt at the moment as he glanced once more at the small piece of parchment before him, his eyes tracing over Lyra's elegant handwriting as he traced the letters with his fingers. Steeling himself from his emotions, apathy washed over him and he couldn't help but look back to what had transpired between them earlier.
"If I give her what she wants, then I'll have to continue to misapplicate my time here in this country, trailing her like a common dog while she chases her fantasies. But...if I don't give into her demands, then I may as well leave with the small amount of information I've collected and this venture will have proved to be a waste."
He knew the magic and information he sought was well protected by the smaller communities that lay scattered across the continent and without someone who knew where to look and who to properly acquaint him with, it would remain outside his reach.
Tom slowly closed his hand, crumbling the piece of parchment within his fist and grabbed the first book she had given him, throwing his jacket on silently.
"Sitting here will do nothing for me, I need fresh air. Perhaps a change in scenery will clear my head, so I can contemplate what to do next."
Slowly opening the door and closing it behind him, he passed the entrance to Lyra's room quickly, trying to stem his desire to open it and destroy everything that lay on the other side that had led to his muddled thoughts, his inner conflict. He made his way down the creaky wooden stairs and past the small bar, where a few wizards and witches sat enjoying their meals and glasses of spirits.
The cool crisp air hit his face gently as he made his way out into the daylight, the sun's rays blinding his eyes as he started to walk down the busy square towards the woods once more, the small book gripped tightly in his hand at his side.
He had sat at the base of the large tree for what felt like hours, reading and pouring through pages of strange creatures and beasts he had never read or heard about before, until he finally landed on a page that held some interest to him. Looking at the page context, he sat up sharply and he focused his attention on the beginning excerpt:
The Horned Serpent
Although there are several species found worldwide, the most diverse and populated groups of Horned Serpent remain largely in North America, living in varying bodies of water, their natural habitat. Horned Serpents have large horns on either side of their head, hence their namesake and emit a low musical note to signal danger. They are extremely intelligent with large fierce eyes and their horns are used commonly in wand cores. Certain species are said to have a large jewel in their foreheads, rumored to possess and grant powers of healing, invisibility and flight, which led to many European and Asian wizards in past centuries to hunt them down for potion ingredients, resulting in their somewhat near extinction. The only remaining Jeweled Horned Serpents are said to be found in Eastern North America, with sightings reported far and few in-between. It is a sacred and beloved creature, as one of the founding houses in Ilvermorny is named after a Horned Serpent who saved Isolt Sayre from certain death.
Tom looked at the illustration of the beast as he tapped his finger on the page.
"I wonder if this horned serpent is anything akin to the basilisk…"
He smirked as he thought back to the horrors the basilisk had unleashed upon the school after he had released it from the Chamber of Secrets.
"I should think not perhaps. No basilisk would ever be revered as anything other than a vile and evil beast. Death is it's only skill...it's only purpose."
He glanced once more at the illustration and closed the book gently as he stood up. The sun was starting to slowly descend in the horizon and although he was tired, he could not muster up the motivation to leave the woods, despite what had happened to him only a fortnight ago. The book had proven to be a great distraction, he had learned quite a bit about North America's habitat and the creatures that lurked around the wilderness, but it had done nothing to resolve the conflict and agitation in his mind. He started to walk further into the forest, trying to sort through his predicament.
He thought back once more to what had transpired between him and Lyra and felt anger at first, furious that she had threatened to break their agreement as a way to bend him to her will.
"I won't give her what she wants just yet. Not until I've found a way to give myself an advantage..."
Thinking back to the rest of their conversation he felt another strange emotion dispel his anger. The way she had spoken, how she had admitted to committing acts that were less than palatable herself and her understanding about the power it had given her. He had watched her face as he threatened her life and pushed his wand against her skin, yet she had shown no signs of fear or despair, something he was not accustomed to.
"You see Tom I do not fear death..."
"Foolish girl." He thought to himself. "To die is the ultimate weakness, it is far wiser to conquer death than embrace it. You think you understand everything, when in fact you know nothing."
He snorted in disdain. No one understood his views on death and he was sure no one ever could. Only he had been skilled and determined enough to ensure his everlasting immortality and he did not feel obliged to share that with anyone. It was a secret that he alone must know.
Despite his anger and the malevolence he felt towards her, there was also something else that lurked within him, some sort of semblance...respect for her determination, her skill. He never imagined he would encounter another who understood the dark arts as he did, embracing it instead of recoiling in fear. Someone else besides him who had opened up their mind and surrendered to the endless possibilities the darkness had to offer. She had spoken of her deeds brazenly and unapologetically to him, her eyes ablaze with hunger.
"I know what it is you seek...I myself have dabbled extensively in the dark arts and I understand the thirst for more."
He stared at her, murder in his eyes, but her words disarmed him briefly. For a moment he felt a slight tug of familiarity with the woman in front of him, as if he himself had spoken into an empty well and heard his own words echo back towards him.
It was perhaps this, coupled with her unexpected kindness and inadvertent vulnerability, that compelled him to divulge a better ingredient for her potion than what she had previously intended to use. He felt the words awkwardly tumble from his lips and he instantly felt the anger rise in his stomach as he realized what he had done.
As Tom was about to scold himself for his uncharacteristic behavior, he looked up to take in his surroundings, he had been so consumed in thought that he realized he had walked much farther than he had anticipated. The distant sound of rushing water nearby caught his ear as he spotted a small river in the distance, the sun blinding him, its rays reflecting off its crystal-like surface and he shielded his eyes, walking slowly towards it.
As he stood on the bank, he knelt down and dipped his hand slowly into the small ripples that licked at the bank around him, the water cool and refreshing. He watched as the turquoise stream tumbled and rolled over the small rocks that lay at the rivers floor, each a different size and color. The water had an almost hypnotic-like quality, calming and gentle as he felt his agitation dissipate and float away from him, his troubles no longer important. Rows upon rows of thick, tall pine trees lined the outer banks of the river, the soil wet and fragrant as it gave life to flora and wildlife all around him, the wind blowing through the leaves and grass a welcome sound. He closed his eyes as he took in the peaceful scene and leaned closer to the river, opening them slowly as he caught his reflection in the water staring back at him, wavering and unclear. While bent over, a bright glint of gold caught his eye and realizing it's source, he reached up towards his neck, taking the locket off from around his neck.
Holding it in his hands, he stared at the face of the locket blankly, rubbing his thumb over the multitude of green stones that were set into it. He felt the slow burn of his hatred rise as he thought about how many times the locket had changed hands before he had been able to claim what was rightfully his.
"Bourke bought it apparently from a ragged looking woman who seemed to have stolen it but had no idea of it's value-"
It was one of the only family heirloom's he owned, a daily reminder of how he was the last remaining member of his bloodline. His insides burned as he recalled how his mother was described to him, beaten down...poor...starving...
Tom felt ashamed of how pitifully weak she had been, how she had failed as both a mother and a witch, choosing death over her son.
"Open." he spoke firm and deliberately in parseltongue and waited as he heard a small click come from the locket. He opened it and stared into the empty contents absentmindedly.
A soft thrumming rang in his ears as his concentration broke, listening as the noise grew closer, the hum's vibratto getting louder with every passing second and he felt his body tense up, unnerved by the sound. He watched the water before him move unnaturally as he grasped his wand quickly and stood up, the tip of it pointed towards the river.
Before he could react, a large creature burst from the water before him and stood erect, its long serpent-like body poised and ready as the daylight radiated brilliantly off its blue and purple scales. Tom glanced at the beast before him, his eyes scaling over it's immense snake like body, until they rested on a pair of two large horns that lay attached to each side of it's head, accompanied by two slitted yellow eyes that stared back at him curiously. A gem the size of a chicken egg was embedded on its forehead, the sunlight gleaming off its gleaming, brilliant surface.
It thrummed deeply once more as it lowered its body and tremendous head, its cerulean head now eye level with his.
"A horned serpent...could this be possible?" Tom thought as he lowered his wand slowly and stepped closer to the large reptilian creature, its large yellow eyes fixed on him.
He spoke softly in parseltongue as he approached. "Why are you here?"
The serpent cocked it head and opened its mouth, its large forked tongue flicking in and out from within it restlessly, its voice a deep hiss. "It iss not often one hearss the language of itss ancestorss sspoken by man. How iss it you sspeak our language…"
"A gift, passed down by my own ancestors, I have spoken and understood it since I was a child." Tom said gently, eying the creature curiously.
"I had to ssee for myself who had spoken the wordss…" the horned serpent continued. "It has been many yearss ssince your kind has spoken with uss. We thought it mostly a legend…"
"We?" he said curiously as he cocked his head at the serpent's words.
"There are otherss." the creature continued as he turned his head, focusing a large amber eye on Tom. "But we conceal ourselvess from those we do not trust, many would hunt uss for their own personal gain.." It's enormous eye flicked upwards towards the gem on his forehead.
Tom narrowed his eyes as his eyes glanced up at the serpent's stone. "Your gem. Horned serpent's gems are rumored to have many powers...Is that true?"
The large beast blinked at him before answering. "Yess, but that dependss on how it iss used."
"What kinds of powers ?" He asked eagerly as he twirled his wand in between his fingers.
The horned serpent narrowed his eyes at Tom and thought for a moment before answering. "It iss said that powerss of invisibility and flight may be granted if harnessed properly...but I myself have never seen such thingss accomplished. But the gemss do seem to possess healing qualitiess...of that I am sure."
"How would you know that?"
The snake sniffed indignantly as he rose above Tom. "My kind has lived for centuriess, it would not have been possible without our gemss. They heal our woundss, our ailmentss, they do not prevent our death, but they allow uss to live unscathed, unmarred by those who try to cause uss harm."
Tom looked at the serpent arrogantly as he spoke in parseltongue once more. "How can I trust that what you say is true?"
"You sshould see for yourself if you do not believe me." The giant snake bowed his head down and moved closer towards him, it's pink tongue steadily flicking out of its mouth while it motioned towards the necklace that still lay in his hand.
"The locket?" Tom said as he looked down towards the glimmering piece of jewelry in his hand. "It's just an trinket, there's nothing inside."
"Nothing inside, but the outside iss another matter entirely."
He looked down towards the locket as he ran his hands over the stones that encompassed it's sleek golden face. "These stones...are these made from a horned serpents gem?"
He thought back to when he had first laid eyes on the old heirloom, in old Hepzibah Smith's drawing room, trying to recall what she had said.
"Pretty isn't it? And again, all kinds of powers attributed to it, though I just keep it nice and safe…"
His mind raced back to when he had first absentmindedly placed the locket around his neck, watching in the mirror as his vitality and handsome looks were restored instantly, clearing his face from all signs of exhaustion. "Could the horned serpents gem be responsible for fixing my appearance and not the locket itself?"
The creature looked at him blankly and bowed its head.
"How are these to work in their fractured condition? Would they not be more effective as a whole?"
"It makess no difference. A gem iss still the same, whether whole or ssplit."
Tom looked at the stones greedily as they sparkled in the sunlight. "How can I be sure they'll work?"
The horned serpent looked towards the water longingly and turned its head lazily towards Tom once more, it's tongue flickering impatiently. "You are full of questionss and I grow tired. Iss there no one you wish to help to test the gemss strength? Many are sick, many become ill..."
Tom looked up towards the creature and scoffed. "Why would I waste them on another?"
The serpent shook its tremendous head disapprovingly and slithered slowly back into the water. "How will you know if you do not?"
He stared at the beast as the water started to swallow it's serpentine body, slowly disguising it's mass beneath the turquoise blanket.
"Farewell young parselmouth. I do not think we shall meet again, nor do I think I shall ever meet another wizard who speakss my tongue. It hass been an experience I don't think I sshall forget…"
Tom nodded as he watched the horned serpents head disappear under the water and fade away until it had all but vanished. He stared at the locket in his hands once more as the sun started to descend into the sky, casting a purple and pink tapestry across the horizon. He thought back to the horned serpents words as he slowly pulled the locket over his head and tucked it neatly into his shirt.
"If what the serpent said was true, then the gems hold an inconceivable amount of value. But how to test them? How will I know the extent of their capabilities?"
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as a cunning thought crossed his mind.
"Lyra. I wonder if I were to use one of the gems in a potion, if it will heal and keep her affliction at bay? This is perhaps how I may gain my advantage..."
He would tell her exactly what she wanted to know to ensure she kept her end of their agreement, but if he could brew a potion that would not only heal her wounds, but keep her "condition" under control, she would have no choice but to oblige him, grateful for his help. Under these circumstances he would demand she give him full control over where they travelled to in North America.
"I always get what I desire. One way or another..." he thought to himself smugly as he pulled his wand out.
This chapter took me A LONG time to figure out, especially since we have such little information about North American beasts and creatures, as well as a lack of writing on how Tom riddle really reacts to things. I myself think Tom is an INTJ type personality and would think and over analyze things before he acted on them, remember he's not quite Voldemort yet. I'm treating them as two separate entities here, Tom Riddle does not disappear until Voldemort makes his re-entrance to the world. That being said, I'm trying hard to not place him OOC. There's a lot of speculation online and in forums that the gems in the locket belonged to a Horned Serpent, so i decided to try to work that into the story, it makes sense. Horned serpents not being basilisks, I decided to give them more of a wise and level headed personality, placing them in more of a gray area. Tom definitely would have been able to speak with them as he is a parselmouth and I couldn't imagine him being in North America and not coming across one of them at all. That being said, review , follow and fav if you like it! More chapters coming soon!