Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: =blushes= wow, so many e-mails…well, this last batch has made it official. We have broken 200! I have 206 total, and 1 more review will make 50. X3 Which is way more than I ever thought I'd get for this little epiphany.
Go to my profile and VOTE for a pairing! I have ONE! And I KNOW there is more than ONE person reading this!? It takes not even 6 seconds!
Unless people don't want a pairing….
Sooo, been busy w/ culminating project thing, bleh is all I can say, but IT'S DONE! I plan on spending more time on writing this than my homework, so just hang in there for me!
-virtual cookies and glo stix to all those who have been here from the beginning-
Maniacal laughing from Tom and Sev was heard all around for the fate of anyone who disturbed the dark inclined feline. No one dared near the room for the rest of the day.
Time now is a few days later…
XxXxXxX
The newest presence in the home of Voldemort was quickly adjusted to. A set schedule was in motion after the first day, and everyone was a slave to it. Even Tom himself. If he didn't follow it, who would.
It was simple really. Wake up, eat, got to meetings with the "crew", watch idiots die, come back, and relax during a dinner served in the rooms before going to bed. It wasn't uncommon for Riddle and Severus to be seen together, or to see them go into each others rooms and not come out until morning. It was a fact though; everyone avoided the mysteriously dangerous cat that followed the pair anywhere they went.
The cat was the biggest topic of gossip among the Death Eaters since his "performance." Speculations were so outrageous (that he was death incarnate was one of them) that once Tom heard of them, anyone who said anything within earshot of the maniacal dark lord were quickly silenced for good. But only after being thoroughly humiliated in front of everyone.
XxXxXxX
It really was peaceful in Tom's manor. Well, compared to what he thought it would be like. And the man himself wasn't that bad, he just punished people who were overly stupid. The inner circle was trusted implicitly, but more so were the family Tom had never had growing up.
Lucius was always looking out for the younger one, like a big brother. Bella and Cissi, when she did come, were always making sure everyone was always at 100%.
In his time around them, he was still trying to figure out why the old codger had ever said they were "evil." Yes, there was the drive to get the muggleborns out of the system, after sitting around Sev and Lucius having debates about everything and anything (which would happen quite often at any given moment the two were together); it was clear they were diluting the magics that had once been pure.
It was a wonder that anyone could still cast a simple lumos with a wand! Looking back, to the era around Merlin, wandless magic wasn't as big of a shock. It sounded quite common.
During one of his explorations of the manor due to boredom and having incessant cat curiosity he stumbled across the library. Huffing a sigh at the completely useless room, he began to wander away when he realied he could actually read something out of the corner of his eye! Finally, he could attempt to do some research to possibly become human again. But there was a peculiarity. He could read one book, but the next one might as well have been in Japanese. Looking closer, they even appeared to have a similar looking spine.
Who was he to waste so much time doing nothing when he could be reading! Maybe one of the books would give him an answer…
He had given a few house elves a shock when he had been on one of the plush couches located in the library with a book spread out across his paws. They were in such a tizzy he had to leave because he couldn't concentrate with them around.
A few days later he surprise both Tom and Sev with his reading habit. They were in the hall and saw him walk into the library. Tom, not wanting to replace the numerous leather books, followed. They had stood there like statues of marble, just staring at him for half an hour. He ended up having to leave again because he couldn't concentrate. Snorting in annoyance, he brushed past them pulling them out of their shock. He would have taken the book with him, but they were magicked to stay within the library and gave a nasty little shock to those trying to leave with them.
What had surprised the men even more was the complexity of the book, an ancient tome on the eventual downfall of wizard kind because of the new blood. Even more surprising was that it was one of Tom's special books that were translated into parseltongue.
XxXxXxX
Time was slipping away. It is getting closer and closer to a time when people will start to panic about me. Well, more so than normal. Tom would begin suspecting me and Sev would be in even more trouble than normal. I refuse to put him in more danger because I don't want to leave.
Wait. Was it true?
Thinking deeply on my time here, I began realizing it was the safest and most relaxed I had ever felt. Even more than Hogwarts, where I considered my true home to be.
But why? Why here, why now? In this form, stuck with my mind, but not the correct body. How could I ever feel safe near the man who has tried to murder me? Delving deeper into my thoughts, I vaguely was glad I was already lying down for the night. Bringing the events that had happened in my life in chronological order to mind, I began sorting through. Maybe I had missed something. A lie perhaps?
I was mad at the old fool for one deception. Could there be more? Each lie and hazard he put me through came to mind immediately. From the beginning to now. Every year I was in danger some way or another. How could I forget? How did I not see the connection?
Maybe I was safer here. No one had to know, maybe no one would notice. My attitude didn't put me in the best light before I had disappeared…
I'll ask Sev what he thinks. It would be on his shoulders if I was found out. At least if I ask, he has a say in the danger.
XxXxXxX
Stupid. Insufferable. Idiotic. Brainless child! How long did he plan to stay hidden with Tom? Everyone would start panicking. Then he would get the blame. Because the spy is supposed to know everything… He would be the one blamed for the missing child.
Not that he wanted Zion gone.
Having a confidante for the first time led him to growing attached. The one thin he promised he'd never do. Yet the boy/cat found some way to destroy all of his shields and barriers. To get as close as Tom.
No. He wasn't going to think about it. He'd let the boy do what he wanted. Regardless of how dangerous. It was the least he could do after Albus put so many restrictions on him…
XxXxXxX
The hallways were mostly empty. A house elf or two would pass through occasionally, but for the most part it was quiet. Darkness had long taken its hold on the structure.
A shadow made its way through the halls silently. Casual robes flowing elegantly behind him. The shadows quickly swallowed him whenever they got the chance. Eventually he appeared outside a well worn door. Dark wood shining even in the dark. Going right in, he didn't bother to knock.
There was only one occupant. A large black cat was stretched across the foot of the huge bed. Intently staring at the fireplace, but not aware of his surroundings. It was a good thing this place was so well guarded.
The figure slowly walked over to the wild creature, making sure not to make any sudden movements. The entire time, the cat took no notice and was obviously not going to be in the present any time soon.
He carefully climbed onto the bed next to Zion. Laying down flush against the big fur ball. Zion was so lost in thought he never even twitched at the contact. But they both began to feel the combined body heat pulling them under.
It was like that how Severus found Tom and Zion not an hour later, both dead to the world at the foot of the bed.