"Tell me, Dolohov, do I look that horrible to you?" Tom thrust his wand forward with little force, sending the young boy flying backwards. "I look sick, is that it? Do I look like I will die?" His irises were a crimson red- looking as if he were about to cry blood.
Dolohov barely got back onto his feet, trembling with fear, before Tom pointed his wand at him, "crucio," he mumbled under his breath. Dolohov fell to his knees, convulsing violently. He screamed bloody murder, the horrible sound reverberating against the walls. His voice cracked in pain, yet the screaming did not stop. The other Knights who were standing witness winced, the sound of Dolohov's body crackling not escaping their ears. "Do I look weak, Dolohov?" Tom asked, his voice was sweet, his words dipped in honey. Yet, it was terror inducing
Dolohov scratched the hard ground, drawing blood to the bottom of his nails. "Please!" He screamed, salivating. "Please!" He continued begging, curling into himself. "I'm sorry!" He gurgled.
He thrashed around desperately, wiggling forward to the base of Tom's seat. He looked no better than a measly worm. "I am the one and only being closest to perfection, I am immortal, untouchable," Tom's voice was almost scarily calm; none of his anger could be detected hearing his words. Being eternally merciful, Tom finally lifted the spell. He could not be bothered to cover himself if Dolohov were to lose his intelligence; not that there was much to lose to begin with. "Theodore, take him away," Tom ordered the young, dark haired boy.
Theodore Nott scrambled up to Tom's feet, grabbing Dolohov by the collar and physically dragging him away. He dumped the older boy in a corner of the room, before retreating back to his ranks.
"Abraxas, speak," Tom prompted, his face taking on an impassive stare.
"Recently, the veil has been quite... volatile," Abraxas Malfoy explained tersely, having walked to the centre of the room. Tom stared down at the other boy, expecting an elaboration. "It has been acting quite strange; and some unspeakables have reported hearing voices. However, no new prophecies have arrived."
"What do they think is the cause?" He inquired, curious to the nature of the veil. Tom never missed on intel regarding the Department of Mysteries. Specially, in Tom's opinion, with the Department of Mysteries being the only respectable department within the Ministry of Magic. It was only his commendable luck that Abraxas Malfoy's father was currently the Head of the Department.
"They have not found out the cause just yet. Some speculate it may be extra-terrestrial activity, due to the sudden sounds; but others think it may be the signs of time travel."
"Aliens and time travel?" Tom's lips curled upwards in amusement, "very well, keep me updated. Sadaf," he beckoned a tall boy forward. He walked forward, staring to maintain eye contact with Tom.
Tom was sat at the forefront of the room, holding a bored expression. With one foot over the other and one hand holding his chin up, he was the epitome of intimidating. His throne-like chair placed on a platform over the others, perfect to look down upon the others. Yet, Sadaf Shafiq did not break eye contact.
"My Lord, it seems as if Grindelwald has established communication with Dumbledore," Tom raised his eyebrows, chuckling under his breath. Shafiq continued, "the two have been going back and forth with letters. I tried intercepting one, however-"
"The letter was likely spelled," Tom finished, "do not intercept any letters. Do not draw any suspicion to yourself," his eyes glinted red with annoyance.
The blue flame set right behind Tom's chair, roared, highlighted the black woodwork of the seat. It highlighted Tom's anger.
"Now, finally," he got off his chair, "Evan Rosier," he called upon his newest, and youngest, follower.
"Y-yes, my Lord! Um, the Gryffindors-"
"Step forward, Evan, no one here will hurt you," he teased. The boy blushed, but moved forward to the centre of the room anyway.
He fiddled with his fingers nervously, "Orion Black is interested in joining, my Lord..." he avoided eye contact, opting to stare at the ground.
Tom laughed, "bring him in, Evan. At your discretion, of course. All of you may leave; and someone carry that oaf out." Tom got off off his seat, staring at the flames while the Knights silently shuffled out of the room. Tom rarely punished the students older than him, but should anyone dare disrespect him- Tom's eyes flashed red at the thought.
Tom was above them, after all, he was better than them. In no universe, should someone superior have to be looked down upon by inferior creatures. The door slammed shut behind the last of the Knights of Walpurgis, leaving Tom in the oddly melancholic room. He sighed, before resigning himself to the Common Room aswell.
*
When Tom had awoken the following day, he was quite irate. The Common Room was in a flurry, with students rushing out here and there, all mumbling excitedly as she rushed out of the room. "Did something happen?" He questioned Abraxas, who was just about two seconds from bouncing off the walls.
"Dippet has asked all students to attend breakfast today, apparently he has an announcement to make," he answered quickly. "Theo!" The chipper Malfoy ran off to his friend, his attention span similar to that of a squirrel.
Tom exited the Common Room, heading directly for the Prefects' Bathroom on the fifth floor. He had only really brought his wand along with him, but he could really just accio his belongings when needed. "Pine fresh," Tom unlocked the room. He bolted the door shut from the inside, slowly removing each article of clothing.
He truly loved the peace and the silence that came from being by himself. At his presence, the water from the taps quickly began running, filling the tub efficiently.
He submerged one foot into the water, followed by the other, at complete peace with himself. He felt the water jets behind him go off, massaging his back gently.
"Accio uniform," Tom mumbled.
When Tom completed his bath, he dressed in his pristine uniform, careful to not crease the perfect pressing. He brushed his hair back, muttering a quick drying spell. His hair curled at the front of his head as it always had, inherited from his filthy muggle father just like the rest of his physical attributes. Tom exited the bathroom, "accio bookbag," he summoned, deciding to head directly to the Great Hall.
He was curious, curious as to what Dippet would announce. He wondered if the professors knew. If they had; he wanted to know how it had missed his notice. Tom tutted distastefully. The big buffoon Sluhorn had become unusually weary after Tom's question on Horcruxes last year.
When Tom walked to the Great Hall, his eyes instantly met that of two students stood before the teachers high table. Both were dressed in Slytherin uniforms. A girl and a boy. The girl bushy brown hair, tied to the top of her head. Her face looked bruised and battered, eyes sunken deep. Beside her was a tall boy, with olive skin and jet black hair. His facial features were sharp, Tom noticed as he took a seat. The boy had pointy ears, a long nose and an incredibly close resemblance to Theodore Nott. Tom tore his eyes off the boy with great difficulty.
The Headmaster seemed to be immersed in conversation with the two. The girl put her hands up defensively, as if to appeal to the Headmaster's words. The Great Hall was filling up in quick succession, its liveliness matching that of the first day of school. Many students were taking note of the Professors. "Woah," Theodore Nott slid into the seat beside Tom, accompanied by Abraxas Malfoy.
"She's a pretty girl," Abraxas commented, "and he is a- a Theo?" He looked at Theodore curiously, then back at the stage. Then, he looked back at Theodore; and then the stage.
Theodore frowned, "nope, I'm a Theo. He is not a Theo." Finally, Dippet seemed to relent to the words of the, very passionate, opposition. The two heaved with relief, making the way over to the Slytherin table.
The pair were making their way directly to where Tom was.
"Hi," the boy said, standing before Tom, "I am Theodore Granger." He smiled widely.
Theodore's jaw dropped. "Woah, so he is a Theo." Abraxas interjected stupidly.
Tom chuckled, offering his hand to the boy, "it's nice to meet you, I am Tom Riddle," he smiled charmingly, wrapping his hands around the other boys. The boy only smiled in response, dropping Tom's hand. But before Tom could push the conversation and interrogate the boy, the bushy haired girl appeared right next to him.
She looked Tom straight in the eye and grinned, wide. "I am Hermione Granger; and you are?" She asked, extending her hand.
Tom took her hand with a smirk. "Tom Riddle." At the moment their hands met, her magic seemed to zap at him, leaving his magic coursing rapidly through his veins. The hair at the back of Tom's neck spiked up.
"Pleasure," her smile grew, if at all possible. She held onto his hand for a split second longer, Theodore Granger engaged in conversation with Theodore Nott and Abraxas Malfoy.
