Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Tom Riddle/Amy Benson
Warnings: alternate universe; het; self-insert as a canon character; mild language; magic sharing; and mentions of off-screen character deaths
Prompt: (Setting) Tom Riddle's Cave

Pure Ambition
005. A Dark and Dangerous Path

"What do you want, Riddle?" demanded Amy Benson with narrowed eyes. She had OWLs to study for.

He smirked down at her.

Amy's eyes narrowed in a glare. She hated being short. Why did she have to be so short?

His arms blocked her and his body was pressed against hers, keeping her pinned to the wall.

"You're mine," he hissed. "I don't share."

"Excuse me, you Nean–"

She was cut by his lips pressing against her. It was harsh kiss with Tom trying to stake his claim and Amy unwilling to be dominated by him.

"You've been mine since we were six," Tom whispered, ending the kiss. "I don't share. I will never share you, beloved."

Amy looked into his blue eyes. She knew that was true. "I'm not going anywhere," she told him.

Tom stared into her golden brown eyes. "I love you," he whispered before sliding his tongue into her mouth.

...

The first time she met Tom Riddle, she was six. Aunt Peggy and Uncle Steve dropped her off at Wool's Orphanage in London. Amy's blue eyes had widened when she caught the boy's name. It was a name she would recognize anymore – hell, most of her original generation would know that name Tom Marvolo Riddle.

This was not Amy Faith Benson's first go at life.

She had live before – until the age of twenty-five. Cancer was a bitch, and it ended her life before she really got the chance to life. When she found herself reincarnated in the 1920s in London, England, she decided she wasn't going to look the gifted horse in the mouth – too much. As a headstrong American woman being forced to life through the Second World War and the civil rights movements sounded horrible, but she could adjust. She had to.

Life as Amy wasn't bad. She was an only child with two parents. Her daddy was a solider in the Great War who worked at a factory while her mama raised chickens. Life was decent. Amy had a bed, and she ate three meals a day.

Unfortunately, that changed when daddy was injured at the factory. The money disappeared, reminding Amy of the luxuries she was used to in the future – worker's compensation, work-place safety, and so many other things that weren't even an idea yet.

Mama tried to find work, but it was difficult. With money being tight, mama had sent Amy to live with her sister, Peggy, and her new husband, Steve. Aunt Peggy and Uncle Steve made Amy sleep on the floor in the kitchen and made her complete a list of chores each day. It made Amy feel like she was Cinderella with her evil stepfamily – and at times, she pretended to be Harry Potter trying to survive the Dursleys.

When she was five, mama and daddy died. Aunt Peggy and Uncle Steve didn't say how or give her any details. They kept her around for a few more months before they decided she wasn't worth it.

Mrs. Cole showed her around the orphanage, introducing her to the various children.

"How's that?" Amy asked, pointing to a boy around her age with dark hair and pale skin.

Mrs. Cole froze, her lips pressing together in a thin line. "You shouldn't consider yourself with that boy," she said, her grip on Amy's hand tightened.

Amy frowned, trying to retrieve her hand from Mrs. Cole's. "Why?" she asked. "He looks lonely. Maybe we could be friends."

As soon as the words had left Amy's mouth, she found her cheek stinging and Mrs. Cole glaring at her. "Don't say such nonsense," the woman ordered her, her tone harsh. "That boy is nothing but trouble. You would do well to avoid him – like the other children. If you insist on being friends with him, you'll find yourself severely punished."

Amy glared at the woman. She hated being told what to do. "My mama taught me to make decisions for myself, you ol' troll!" she yelled, drawing attention from the various children and employees around.

Mrs. Cole glared down at the girl. "If you insist on being friends with him, then you should know you'll be rooming with Tom," the woman told her.

"Fine!" Amy shouted, crossing her arms. "I'll be best friend with Tom."

"Watch yourself, girl!" the matron said. "You're headed down a dark and dangerous path by befriend that boy."

Amy glared back. "You're a bitch!" she screamed.

Everyone around them turned to look at pair.

"What did you call me?" Mrs. Cole asked.

"A bitch!" Amy replied with a smirk. One thing she like about this time period was how curse words hadn't developed yet. "As in a female dog."

Mrs. Cole shook her head. "You'll regret the day you befriend Tom Marvolo Riddle," the woman told her.

Amy froze at the name. That was the real name of Lord Voldemort. Turning, Amy looked at the young boy. He didn't look anything like Tom Riddle from either of the Harry Potter movies.

As she looked at the boy, he stared back at her. After a moment, he motioned for her to come over, patting the spot next to him on the ground.

Her heartbeat skyrocketed as she walked over. What in the world was going on? Last Amy checked, she wasn't in Harry Potter, she was in 1920s London. Sitting down, Amy felt overwhelmed as she took in the sight of a young Tom Marvolo Riddle. He looked like a normal boy with his dark hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and handsome boyish features.

"I'm Tom," he told her, offering her a small smile. He looked cute when he smiled.

Amy returned his smile. "I'm Amy," she told him.

The pair sat in silence most of the afternoon, enjoying each other's company

True to her word, Mrs. Cole had moved Amy into Tom's room. The bitch simply tossed Amy's belongings inside. Amy glared as she picked up her clothes. Tom sat on his bed, watching.

"She's such a bitch!" Amy declared, folding her dresses.

"Why do you call her that?" Tom asked.

Amy shrugged, uncertain how to explain it was a future curse word – one that would have her original mom washing her mouth out with soap. "It's the worst thing I can think of," she said. It was partly true.

"Why not call her a witch instead?"

"'Cause witches are awesome!" Amy stated. "Magic is the coolest thing."

Tom frowned at her weird word choices, but he liked what she was saying. "Do you like magic?" he asked.

Turning to face him, Amy smiled. "I do," she admitted. "Sometimes I wish I had magic." As she spoke, Amy watched Tom. It was hard to believe this boy would grow up to become a horrible Dark Lord – and a terrible person who tortured and murdered others on a whim.

Tom's eyes brightened.

Amy looked around the small room, noting the single bed. She blushed. "Where I am sleeping?" she asked. She really didn't want to sleep on the floor, but she wasn't going to be rude and ask Tom to give up his bed.

His eyes darted around the room before settling on Amy. "I'll share with you," he said, patting the bed next to him. There was something dark and possessive in his tone that made Amy frown.

Her instants were screaming to go find Mrs. Cole and apology, but Amy ignored them. She had to be here for a reason. Maybe there a chance she could safe Tom from becoming Lord Voldemort. "Sounds great," she told with a smile.

Tom returned her smile.

...

After that first night, Tom attached himself to Amy's side, rarely leaving. He liked to reach out and touch her, usually take a hold of her hand during the day and pulling her close at night. Amy blushed whenever she felt Tom pull her close. She had never had a real boyfriend before – beyond dating Toby in middle school for three months.

Amy noticed that she slept well in Tom's arms. She couldn't remember a time she slept better – unless it was with powerful drugs with her cancer treatments. Each night, she fell asleep in Tom's arms, and she woke up that way every morning.

She was ten the first time Tom kissed her. She woke up to Tom hovering above her, staring down into her eyes. There was something dark in his blue eyes before he pressed his lips against hers.

"You're mine, right?" Tom asked, his tone sounding desperate. His words were whispered against her lips between kisses.

Amy frowned at the question. What did he mean by that? "I'll always be your friend," she told, "and I'll be by your side."

Tom frowned. "I want you to be more than my friend," he said. "I want you to be my wife."

Amy's eyes widened at his blunt answer. They were only ten! That was a little young to be talking marriage. "Maybe someday," she told him.

Tom frowned. "Why don't you want to marry me?" he hissed.

Flinching, Amy closed her eyes for a few seconds. As she opened them, she reached up to cup his cheek. "Tom, I'm ten," she reminded him. "I love you, you're my best friend. I don't know what the future will bring."

He froze above her. "Y-you love me?" he asked, his voice quiet and full of emotion.

"Of course, I do," Amy told with a smile. Her smile dimmed a little as she thought about Tom – both her friend and the lonely boy from Harry Potter. Was this the first time he had heard those words? Amy hadn't said them before today.

Placing her other hand on his cheek, Amy stared into his blue eyes. "I love you, Tom Marvolo Riddle," she whispered. "for now and forever. Nothing will ever change that."

Tom nodded, something filling his blue eyes. Leaning down, he caught her lips in another kiss.

Amy felt something fill her as they kissed. It started off with a small spark and it quickly grew until it consumed her. The feeling was overwhelming and Amy quickly felt herself losing consciousness. As she passed out, Amy heard Tom hiss something.

...

A few weeks later, Amy found herself following Tom as they left the group behind. Tom spotted a cave that he wanted to explore. He grabbed Amy, leading her away from the group. As she took in the sight of the cave, Amy felt her eyes widened. Was this the cave from The Half-Blood Prince where Voldemort hid one of his horcruxes?

"What do you think?" Tom whispered in her ear.

Turning to look at him, Amy bit her lip. She felt overwhelmed. "I think this could be a special place," she told him.

Tom smiled in response before pulling her into a kiss.

"I want to show you something," he told her with a grin.

Amy nodded.

Tom took a few steps away from her. He met her golden brown eyes before he turned to look at the cave with his back to her.

Amy watched as Tom summoned a ball of water. He turned to face her with a hesitant smile. He formed and shaped the water between his hands. Amy felt her breath catch in her throat. It was one thing to be friends with Tom Riddle, but it was another to witness him use his magic.

"It's magic," she whispered.

Tom's smile widened. "It is," he told her.

Amy watched him. "I wish I had magic," she said.

Tom waved his hands, the water moving to encircle her. "You do," he said. "You have my magic."

Amy frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked. She had never heard of anything like that before.

Tom looked a little nervous. "I've been pushing my magic into you since we met," he told her. "When you sleep, I give you my magic."

Her eyes narrowed. That was impossible. She couldn't remember anything about sharing magic from the Harry Potter books.

Tom walked over to her side, making the water part. "I decided to make you mine a few weeks ago," he explained. "I pushed all the magic I could inside of you because you love me. I want you to have my magic."

Tilting her head, Amy thought about everything he had told her. It sounded crazy, but parts of it made a little sense.

Tom cupped her face with both of his hands. "You belong to me, Amy Faith Benson," he told her, his tone possessive. "My magic fills you." His eyes narrowed, "It's only a matter of time until you're Amy Riddle."

"I've told you before," Amy began, "that I don't know what the future holds. I don't know if we will get married."

Tom's eyes widened. "You can understand me?" he asked, excitement in his voice.

Amy nodded, a sense of dread filling her stomach.

A dark smile formed on Tom's face. "You are mine," he whispered. "You can finally understand."

"W-was I speaking Parseltongue?" Amy asked, her eyes widened.

Tom's eyes narrowed. "You were speaking the language of snakes," he answered.

Amy sodded, falling into his chest as she grew overwhelmed and lightheaded. "I'm a Parselmouth," she whispered.

Tom wrapped his arms around, noting the words she was using. That first day they met, he knew there was something special about Amy. He was only beginning to understand that.

Count: ~2,200

This was written for

Build a Zoo Challenge
Lemur (Enclosure): (Setting) Tom Riddle's Cave