Author's Note: Here's Chapter 6, long overdue. My least favorite chapter of the story, as it depicts Mort in his most vulnerable moments. Sorry for the delay with my updates. For those who are interested, I have given details about the timeline of my stories being updated in my profile page.
As usual, reviews greatly appreciated.
CHAPTER 6
For the next two days, the three girls stayed in Mort's chamber. He had created separate rooms in the stone outer hall and enlarged the interior for each of them but Ginny had insisted on staying with Mort even after he claimed to have been healed. She didn't believe him when he claimed to be fine. So he had transfigured a chair into another bed.
Neville would join him early in the morning and leave late in the night to his own quarters. Draco was staying at Malfoy Manor as Hogwarts had been closed since the raid on Hogsmeade and the capture of students. Parents just didn't feel Hogwarts was safe enough. Mort shook his head when Draco relayed that piece of news to him. Hogwarts was the safest place in all of Britain, and the closing of the school meant it could function as a full-time Headquarters for the Order.
But Cho would look forward to Draco's visit eagerly. He was the only person to whom she would talk, and that too in silent whispers.
Hermione and Ginny got along well with both Mort and Neville, and the muggleborn would often badger Mort to teach her some of the more complicated magic, especially after seeing his skill with runes. Mort would comply reluctantly as even the bare idea of looking at runes often made his stomach churn. But he would accommodate Hermione's curiosity until Ginny would cart him back to his room to rest. Or rather, under the excuse of resting.
The first time she did that, Mort had argued, "I'm fine! I don't need to rest."
But instead of responding, the redhead dragged him to his room and closed the door. Then leaning forward, she grabbed his head and kissed him. "For saving my life in Hogsmeade," she whispered, drawing her head back slightly. Then she kissed him again, "For making the Slytherins treat me nicely." Then she kissed him again, "For what happened... recently."
Mort looked at her in a daze. He licked his lips in relish and complained, "You forgot the diary. That was the most dangerous bit."
Giggling, Ginny leaned forward, but Mort grabbed her head and kissed her, and instead of a quick kiss, he opened their lips and went in deep.
"For taking care of me," he whispered breathlessly after more than a minute.
"Oh, Mort," she moaned and plunged in again.
Savoring the taste of the redhead, Mort ran his fingers along her silky hair and smooth back. The girl collapsed in his arms and he held her tightly. He led her to his bed and the girl complied, but hesitated at the last second, "Mort," she whispered with a troubled look in her face.
"Hush," he replied. "Just lie next to me tonight. I want to keep holding you." And they slept beside each other that night, and the next, until the rescue party arrived.
It was Nagini who first brought Mort news of trouble stirring in the outer defenses of the manor.
"Beware, little massster," the serpent hissed, interrupting Mort as he showed the three girls how to cut gemstones finely using a wand. "There is trouble brewing outside."
"What's happening, Nagini?" Mort asked curiously, ignoring the startled looks from the three girls. They were too shocked to notice his Parseltongue in the Death Retreat. Shrugging at them, he waited for Nagini to respond.
"The spy has revealed his true colors. He has brought rescue parties to free the prisoners."
Mort jumped up and turned to the girls. "Get ready. There is a rescue attempt." Turning to Neville, he ordered, "You too, we might have to fight our way past the sentries." To Nagini, he asked, "How far are they? How many sentries are guarding the path between us and them? And the other prisoners… do they still live?"
"I shall lead you to them, little massster. You will face a few imbeciles, but nothing to worry about. The other prisoners are in the Death Retreat, and too far gone for you to risk the onesss in your care. Will you leave as well?" the serpent asked with slight hesitation, and to Mort's surprise, evident grief.
"How can you say that, Nagini? This is my home," he hissed firmly, touching the serpent tenderly. "And the Dark Lord is my family. But I will take the prisoners to safety."
"He will not be pleased," the serpent hissed.
Mort nodded. "That cannot be helped. I will face his wrath and punishment. But I cannot avoid doing this."
He grabbed Ginny's hand and rushed forward. Hermione and Cho followed behind, and Neville at the rear end. Nagini led them through a complex route, far from the Death Retreat, and Mort had to stun a few young Death Eaters on his way. It wasn't much of a challenge as their attention was fixed in the opposite direction.
Finally, he saw them. The Order of the Dragon members coming their way and led by the spy.
"Bill!" Ginny cried out, letting go of Mort and running to her brother's embrace. He was right in front of Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. In the distance, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Frank Longbottom had engaged several Death Eaters, allowing their comrades to proceed ahead.
"Thank Merlin you are safe, Ginny," her brother cried. Then he turned to Mort. "Thank you for looking after her."
Mort gave a curt nod. "You have them," he said coldly. "Now leave. The others are in the Death Retreat. You know where that is."
Ignoring Ginny's confused look, Bill gently pushed his sister to the one-eyed ex-Auror and shook his head. He said sadly, "Another team is going for them. Our mission is to take you with us. I am sorry."
Mort instantly drew his wand out and snapped, "You know what I am capable of, Weasley. Be glad that I am allowing you to leave with the prisoners."
Bill raised his hands and sighing, said, "I do know what you are capable of, Lord Apprentice, but you are not aware what Dumbledore and his new Order are capable of."
"What do you mean?" Mort asked with a growing unease.
Bill opened his mouth but instead of speaking, he turned and retreated to join the battle with the Death Eaters. Mort looked at him in confusion but Moody broke in, "He doesn't have the courage to say it in front of his sister. But if you care for this girl, then you will surrender to me."
"What?" Mort yelled in disbelief.
Moody grinned. "The purpose today wasn't to rescue the prisoners but to capture you. We knew you would keep the girl safe."
Mort watched in horror as Moody jabbed his wand at Ginny's back and ignoring her screams, held her tightly by the arm. He looked at the disbelief in Ginny's eyes as she searched for her brother helplessly, and then turned to Mort. She looked lost and scared.
But during that moment of indecision when Mort's attention was fixed on the girl, a red jet of light came at lightning speed from the tall and dark Auror and he felt everything going black. The last thing he remembered was Ginny screaming his name.
The Dark Lord was right. He succumbed to his weakness.
--
Mort woke up and blinked. His head was hurting. Without thinking, he croaked, "Cricket! Headache potion, please." Then he remembered the disastrous events that led to his capture and jumped up. To his dismay, his hands and legs were tied to the bed. He thrashed violently, screaming like one possessed.
"Silencio!" a voice called out and Mort's screams subsided, though his attempts to release himself did not.
"Your attempts are futile, young Mortimer. Finite."
Mort turned his head to the voice and saw the white beard of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, and knew he was trapped. If he was a prisoner of Dumbledore in Hogwarts, then perhaps not even his Master would be able to free him. With that thought, he ceased all motion and whispered hoarsely, "You will regret this, old fool."
"Come now, Mr. Thomas, or is it Mr. Riddle?" Dumbledore said musingly. "There is no need to be so melodramatic. I mean you no harm."
Mort snorted. "Then explain this," he hissed, glancing sideways at his binds.
"A mere precautionary measure," Dumbledore explained. "Do not worry. We will have them removed soon."
Something in the way he said 'soon' put Mort on an edge. He was wary of the old wizard. But he shrugged as best as he could while lying on the bed and closed his eyes. "Then we have nothing else to discuss until then," he said coolly.
He closed his eyes and emptied his mind, drowning out all other noises to try and not worry too much about his Master's reaction on discovering his capture. It was peaceful for a short while until he felt a sharp jab of pain on both his wrists. With a yelp, he tried to get up, and to his surprise, he was free. He looked around. Dumbledore was standing in front with a serene smile which seemed rather out of place to Mort. There were several others around him, but he didn't pay attention. He raised his right wrist and frowned. There was a black band around it. A similar band was around his left wrist as well.
"Magic Suppressors," Dumbledore explained. "I am indeed sorry to do this, my boy, but we cannot have you attempt to escape. They cannot be removed through any ordinary means - magic or muggle, so you will be best served in not even attempting to find a way."
Mort looked at Dumbledore blankly. "That is not all."
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "The bands are keyed into the wards of Hogwarts. If you go beyond them," Dumbledore paused, but the meaning was very clear to Mort, "Lets just say, I wouldn't recommend that. But you can roam freely in and around the Castle. It's a huge estate."
Mort sighed. He was trapped. "What is the purpose of all this? Am I a hostage for the Dark Lord? If so, then you are wasting your time. His life is worth much more than mine."
"No, my boy," Dumbledore said kindly. "You are not a hostage. No demands will be made for your return. I am truly sorry to restrain you like this, but you give us no other choice. But our aim is for you to join us. You will stay with us until you realize that you actually belong with us, not with the Death Eaters."
Mort looked at the Headmaster blankly. He had no idea what he was talking about. Mort never belonged with the Death Eaters. Nor did he belong with Dumbledore. He belonged solely with the Dark Lord, the man who paid attention to him as a lonely child. But he didn't say any of that. Instead, he shifted his attention to Bill Weasley.
"How is she?" he asked simply. He nearly frowned when Dumbledore's smile deepened at his query, but managed to keep his expressions blank.
The uncovered spy shifted uneasily and, Mort was pleased to see, turn red with shame. But he met the Apprentice's eyes resolutely and said quietly, "She is unhappy… but she is safe."
"You will be glad to learn that all the prisoners have been rescued," Dumbledore said calmly. "And some of them are being given the best treatment available, both physical and emotional."
Mort nodded. He fixed his judgmental gaze on the whole crowd, which seemed to be observing him with great interest, and said, "I have never killed before. But if ever I am free of this," he raised his hands and clanged his shackles together in a rage so terrible that it didn't even manage to reach his detached face, "I swear by everything I hold dear, I will destroy the one who threatened her that night." He looked dispassionately at a furious Moody, who instantly whipped his wand out but was restrained by Bill and Arthur Weasley.
Mort looked each and every person in the eye. The two Weasleys looked at him sadly, as if regretting their actions. Dumbledore seemed pleased. James Potter looked at him with slight suspicion but he also held a look of respect and admiration. Lily Potter, to Mort's dismay, was also present and looked at him with grieving and puffed up eyes. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Fabian Prewett, Julia Prewett, the Longbottoms and the other professors of Hogwarts looked at him with a wide array of emotions - from hate to pity, from fear to indifference. Mort ignored them all and zoomed straight to Severus Snape, who had his usual cold and detached face, which was mirrored identically by the young Apprentice.
Turning, Mort whisked out of the door and left the Hospital Wing. He wasn't followed. There was no need to. He was harmless and in no condition to escape.
He walked in a straight line, unheeding and uncaring. He had no idea of the route but somehow he managed to find an empty corridor, away from all the stares and whisperings. But the moment he took a step closer, a figure rose from the shadows. Mort blinked in disbelief. It was the Dark Lord.
"M-Master," he gasped in disbelief. There was no way he could have come to Hogwarts.
But the dark and menacing form of his Master gazed at him in quiet fury and disgust. "You have failed me, Apprentice."
"Master," Mort said unevenly, falling to his knees. "Please forgive me. I accept my punishment."
The Dark Lord disregarded his Apprentice's show of respect and repeated, "You have failed me, boy, and I do not have any punishment for you. You do not belong with me anymore." The Dark Lord stared deep into Mort's eyes and continued, "There is no room for any weaknesses by my side. You would place the lives of my enemies before my vision. You are a disgrace to me and I should never have taken you in. Return to those who abandoned you. Go, become somebody else's weakness." The Dark Lord turned his back to his Apprentice. "You do not belong with me."
"No, Master," Mort whimpered pitifully, covering his face with his hands. "Please forgive me. Don't leave me… Master, I…" he pleaded pitifully. "I cannot live without you. Please Master, do not abandon me…"
"You do not belong with me! Go, become somebody else's weakness…"
It was only when a voice shouted, "Riddikulus!" and the form of the Dark Lord instantly vaporized that Mort fell out of his stupor of misery. Wiping the tears off his face, he rounded on the assembled members of the Order woefully.
"You did this deliberately!" he accused sadly, getting up. "Are you happy now?"
Dumbledore opened his mouth but faltered. His only desire was to determine the fears of the boy, to use to manipulate him, but the pure anguish in front of him was too terrible to behold. He turned to the rest of his supporters and felt his own quandary mirroring off them. The boy loved the Dark Lord as a father. Everyone who saw Mort's grief was left astounded, unable to comprehend how someone could love a megalomaniac like Voldemort like he did.
Mort walked out in a daze. The Castle felt like a prison to him, which it was. He walked until he found himself beside a huge lake. He tried transforming into his eagle form, but failed. In frustration, he clawed at the bands on his wrists with no effect.
Finally having worked through some of his frustration, he sat down and stared at the setting sun. It was bright red while the skies were a deeper crimson. A grim breeze brushed against his face, but he didn't care. It was then that he realized he had been followed.
Three redheads came into sight and stopped near him. Lily Potter stood at a distance and allowed Arthur Weasley to approach Mort, with a plump woman at his side who was clearly his wife. Mort looked at them and turned aside.
"We… we wish to thank you, Mortimer," the female Weasley said hesitatingly, "for keeping our daughter safe. We saw the duel in Albus' pensieve, and Albus extracted some memories from Ginny too."
Mort looked at her coldly. "Were you aware of this plan to use Ginny as bait to get me?"
Her mother blanched at the accusation and shook her head vehemently, but Arthur Weasley lowered his gaze. His wife rounded at him instantly. "A-Arthur, you knew? You…"
"They didn't ask me, dear. They told me after Ginny and the others had been taken… Dumbledore didn't intend for so many to be captured… they only intended for Ginny to be the one… the DA acted foolishly… I couldn't tell you earlier… I couldn't believe it myself that Bill would..." he trailed off.
Mort sighed. "Then I will accept your thanks. But leave me for now." He looked away again and hoped desperately that Lily Potter would also leave. He couldn't bear the thought of a second rejection from the same woman - his birth mother. But she didn't leave.
"Mort," she said hesitatingly.
Mort didn't look at her. He fixed his gaze at the sunset. He heard her moving closer and sit beside him uncertainly, and felt tears come to his eyes. He shifted his back to the woman and said, "I understand. I won't bother Emily again." As he said his sister's name, his emotions gave way. He had truly lost everything. His eyes began flooding with tears and his back suddenly lurched.
"Oh, Mortimer," Lily said sadly, draping her arms around the crying boy and pulling him closer. "Don't be foolish," she scolded half-heartedly. "Why shouldn't you bother your own little sister?"
Mort paused. Blinking back his tears he tore himself from his unheeding mother's arms and stared at her in disbelief. "You would allow me to still know her, knowing that I am none other than the Dark Lord's Apprentice?"
Lily sighed. She patted his shoulder comfortingly and said, "I once made the mistake of treating an innocent boy with unjustified prejudice… no, I have known you for years, though mostly through correspondence. But I know how much you care for Emily. Why should it be a problem?"
"Because I am evil," Mort pointed out.
Lily swatted his head lightly. "Don't be daft, Mort. Nobody thinks you are evil. If they do, then they are fools. Bill and Severus have told everyone about you in much detail. There are many who respect you. Some fear you, yes, but most fear your attempt to escape. Some are still suspicious but for the most part…" she leaned forward and kissed his forehead, "Seeing how you stood up for the prisoners, you are well-liked. Understand this, Mort, Ginny is here, and so is Emily. Why do you want to leave? You belong here, with us."
Her words, meant to soothe his hurting soul, instead incensed him terribly. How dare that woman try to show affection to Mortimer when the very reason Mortimer came into being was her disaffection towards her own son. His fingers trembling, he pushed her away roughly and shouted angrily, "I belong with the Dark Lord!" and got up.
"I belong with the Dark Lord!" he repeated and ran as far as he could from his mother.
"I belong with the Dark Lord," he repeated like a mantra to keep him safe in enemy territory and walked heedlessly around the green grass.
"I belong with the Dark Lord!" he shouted as a figure approached him.
"Of course you do," a harsh voice spat out though Mort didn't pay any attention. The person whipped their wand out and pointed at an uncaring Mort. He didn't even notice the person's identity, while chanting his newfound mantra.
"Sectumsempra!" the voice said, and walked away.
--
Mort grimaced. His entire body was hurting. For a second, he thought he had foolishly used blood runes again, twice in a short time, but he couldn't recollect any memories of such a situation. In fact, the last thing he remembered was sitting by the lake with Lily Potter. He frowned. He could hear her voice. It was muffled and yet it sounded as if she was screaming.
"I don't care, Dumbledore," she was screaming. "You will remove those damn… things from his wrists now!"
"That is not an option, my dear…"
"He nearly died," she continued in a high pitch. "He nearly died! Somebody is trying to kill him and has struck once! You can't leave him defenseless!"
Mort frowned. Somebody tried to kill him? Grunting, he tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. With surmounting anxiety, he reached for his face and shuddered. It was plastered all over.
"He's awake," the welcome voice of Ginny Weasley whispered and he felt soft fingers clutching his own. "It's me, Mort. It's Ginny."
"Mort!" another female voice squealed and he felt the pressure of something dropping next to him on his bed. "Big brother!"
Despite the plasters, he smiled and despite Ginny's protests, got up. "Emmy!" he said groggily and it came out highly muffled. He reached forward and felt the small form of his sister huddle next to him.
"Careful, Emily," her mother said hastily. "He's hurt."
Mort frowned. Somebody tried to kill him… He recalled the events of earlier and shook his head. The Boggart wasn't the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord wouldn't abandon him so mercilessly. And he shuddered at his own loss of control, the person reacting to Lily Potter's words was not his Master's Apprentice. Had he lost control of his emotions to such an extent? The Dark Lord wouldn't be pleased. Then he shuddered. The Dark Lord wouldn't be pleased about several things. But still, he yearned to return home to his chamber in Riddle Manor.
With sudden determination, he reached for his face and tore the plasters, unheeding the many protests. It stung and he knew his skin would be very raw, so he tried transforming himself using his Metamorphmagi skill, unsure if it would work with the Magic Suppressors.
But it did work and Mort smiled inside his mind. It was an intrinsic skill he was born with unlike the Animagus transformation. Just like Parseltongue. Bringing his attention back to the people around him, he realized they were still protesting his removal of the plaster and also expressing surprise at his completely healed face.
"Mort!" Emily squealed while waving her hand in front of his face, and he realized she had been calling his name for a while.
Smiling, he put his arms around her and said, "Have you been a good girl, Emmy?"
"Yes!" his sister replied happily. "Are you going to stay?"
Mort darted his head up instantly to look at Lily Potter. She was looking at him hopefully. Without even bothering to look at Dumbledore, he turned to Ginny, who averted his gaze. Frowning, he squeezed her hand, and responded to his sister, "For now, Emmy, for now."
Then he turned to Dumbledore and said scathingly, "You employ different means, but in the end, how are you any better than the Dark Lord?" When Dumbledore gaped at him in shock, Mort continued, "At least, those who die for the Dark Lord are adults. They do so willingly. You would sacrifice innocent students just to get me? And you expect me to simply embrace you, old fool?" He stood up menacingly, beckoning Ginny to take Emily away from him.
"I am warning you now, Dumbledore, for the first and final time," Mort hissed. "Let me go… or the wrath of my Master will destroy the very foundations of this Castle, and not even I will be able to stop the blood of the innocents from flowing."
"And there you have your difference," Dumbledore said calmly. "He would take innocent lives, while I would protect them."
Mort threw his head back and laughed. "Just as you protected Dennis Creevey?" He looked at Ginny and his eyes narrowed. In a voice that was barely more than a whisper, he said, "Just as you protected Ginny?"
"We had full faith in you, my boy, to keep Ginny safe. It wasn't misplaced," Dumbledore continued in the same composed manner. "Dennis and the others were an unfortunate mishap. They shouldn't have been there at all."
Mort sighed. "We could continue all day and reach no conclusion. Will you remove these shackles from around my hands?"
"Not until you have realized that you truly belong on our side," Dumbledore said calmly.
Shaking his head, Mort walked towards the door, "Then I warn you, Dumbledore, beware the wrath of the Dark Lord. You might think him cruel, you might think him merciless, and when it comes to the liberation of his Apprentice, you would be absolutely accurate."
As he left the room, he heard a shuffle of feet, and Ginny ran after him.
Outside, she opened her mouth with grief-stricken eyes but Mort shook his head vehemently. "Do not blame yourself. Do not apologize. Just come with me." Taking her hand, he walked back to the lake.
For a long time, they didn't talk, merely enjoying each other's presence. The castle and its inhabitants seemed repulsive to both of them, and the lake seemed a much better alternative.
"Ginny, can you conjure a snake?" Mort asked suddenly after nearly half an hour of silence. He wanted to experiment his Parseltongue.
Nodding in confusion, Ginny brought her wand out. "Serpensortia," she said, conjuring an adder that hissed menacingly at the two of them.
Disregarding the snake's restlessness, Mort hissed sharply, "Do you hear me?"
The snake instantly froze and peered at Mort in surprise. "You ssspeak? What isss your command, worthy massster?"
"Go to the Forbidden Forest and search for Nagini. Bring her to me." Mort observed the snake slither away in content. His Master would have certainly sent Nagini to his aid, or she would have come of her own accord. He saw Ginny observe him cautiously and he placed his hand on her wrist. She was the only person he trusted implicitly in the castle to stand beside him through everything he would be facing in the coming days.
"GINNY!" an annoyed voice shouted from a short distance, followed by a tall lanky redhead, clearly a Weasley, and a shorter but more muscular redhead. "What do you think you are doing with that Death Eater?" The tall redhead came closer with his wand out, and attempted to drag Ginny away.
"Leave me, Ronald," Ginny snapped. "You have no right to tell me what to do."
"Of course I do," Ron said patronizingly. "I'm your brother. Who else would keep you from consorting with such foul," he spat at Mort, "scum."
Slap.
Ginny's hand left a deep imprint on her brother's cheek and she turned to the other redhead. "Do you have any comments as well, Mr. Potter?"
Mort's eyes widened. It took him a while to recognize his own twin. He keenly observed Jake Potter squirm uncomfortably as his gaze fell on Ron's cheek and Ginny's curled fist.
"You have the right to make your own friends, Ginny," Jake said finally. "But for Merlin's Sake, that's the Dark Apprentice!"
"Your point?" Ginny asked with narrowed eyes that bore holes into both of them.
"How can you trust him?" Ron blurted out. "He's You Know Who's Apprentice."
Ginny took a deep breath and walked back to Mort. She grabbed his hand and whispered, "Let's go somewhere we won't be bothered by brainless gits." As Mort got up, she turned around and screamed, "I trust him because he saved me… he fought Death Eaters and You Know Who to protect me… while my own brother and the rest of the Order used me as a bait. My own family threw me away to Death Eaters and Mort saved me! I trust him more than I can ever trust any of you again."
"Hush," Mort whispered, wrapping her in his arms. He shot an icy glare at the two redheads and said, "You have no business here. Leave."
"Not without my sister," Ron yelled obstinately. "Let her go, you foul piece of…"
"Ron!" Jake interrupted, looking at Mort tenderly comfort the redhead. Sighing, he said, "Let's go."
"B-But, my sister?" Ron protested.
"She's much better off with him than she would be with us," Jake said with a longing sigh.
Mort observed his brother reluctantly walk away with Ron. He caught the final envious look thrown at him by the boy-who-lived and frowned. With an iron determination, he said, "They have taken everything away from me, but I'm not letting them take you as well, Ginny. Ever."
"Little massster," a welcome voice called out, and Mort jumped away from Ginny in delight, turning to the approaching form of the cobra.
"Little massster," Nagini hissed fondly as she crawled closer. "A serpent is trapped in a Dragon's Lair."
"What would a serpent trapped in a Dragon's Lair do?" Mort asked Nagini as the serpent slithered up his legs and coiled around his waist.
The snake hissed appreciatively and coiled around the Apprentice's neck and shoulders. "A ssserpent trapped in a Dragon's Lair would pretend to be a young Dragon itself, little massster. And while the Dragon is unheeding, the serpent would note its weakest chink and ssstrike… or escape."
"I understand, Nagini," Mort hissed back. "Tell Master I am sorry… and that I will make the best use of this situation. Tell him… tell him that I miss him."
"He misses you too, little massster," the serpent hissed after several seconds of silence, continued, "But he would never admit that to anyone, not even to himself."
Mort nodded. Then he said, "There is something else a serpent can do in a Dragon's Lair."When Nagini looked at him curiously, he continued with a glint of steel in his voice, "A serpent can slither into the deepest corners of the lair that are inaccessible to the Dragon, and from there, it can destroy the Dragon! A Basilisk is, after all, a serpent itself."
"You have learnt well, little massster," Nagini remarked as she returned to the grass, emitting a strange sound that was much similar to a mirthful laugh. Mort's eyes gleamed with anticipation when he saw the spot where Nagini had slunk, to see in the grass an item that sent shivers down his spine. His face split into a wide grin with the realization that the Dark Lord hadn't abandoned him. For, in the grass lay the diary of Tom Riddle.