Chapter Eight: Tom's Loss
October 31st, 1981: Westbury Park
"We've been waiting forever! What took you so long?" Mrs. Granger screamed as she took her giggling baby away from the stranger and began to hug and kiss her frequently.
"I am sorry for the wait, Mrs. Granger, but let me assure you that you patience has allowed so many to benefit and live happy lives." She looked at Albus strangely, very uncertain of what he was talking about. After all, her daughter was only gone for an hour and a half, at the most.
"We were worried, sir." Mr. Granger smoothed his daughter's hair back. She seemed to be just as she left. "Thank you for returning her." Albus looked at the two sadly, remembering what he had to do.
"Well, I daresay I am quite busy, I shall leave you and your darling daughter for the night. I will see you in the future, some years to come." Albus, who was still at the door anyways turned around and began to leave, all while thinking about what he had done.
He floo back to his rooms at Hogwarts and let the first current of tears fall from his eyes. He walked down to Sarah's potions labs where he knew that she should still be at this moment and cast many spells. Before him lie the dead body of his beloved Potions' Professor and a large amount of poisonous potions. He had to make her death believable.
November 2nd, 1981: Hogwarts Grounds
"Sarah Riddle was a beloved teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She departed from our world due to a horrible accident, and she will forever be missed. Today we are here to appreciate all of the good that she has done for our world." Dumbledore took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears from his eyes. It appeared that all were in attendance. Tom Riddle sat in the chair nearest her white casket, an empty expression on his face.
"Her seventh year at Hogwarts, she addressed the student body and presented a case that no other Head girl had ever presented. She brought forth the brilliant idea to leave behind house differences and embrace what the students of Hogwarts share amongst each other. I believe that speech lead us to where we are today. We no longer judge one another; we are more compassionate and more loving. That is the type of person Sarah Riddle was, despite her upbringing, she always loved." Albus' tears flowed down his face in rivers, as they had been for the last few days. He finally stepped down from the podium and allowed Tom to address those who came for his wife.
"My wife was brilliant. She taught me to love and so much more. I truly don't know what I would be without her, but as Albus said, I don't know where the wizarding world would be without her. Just before her untimely death, she used her skills to save another's life. She spent countless hours brewing that potion, eliminating her own free time to do leisurely things. That was the type of person she was; always willing to put others ahead of herself. I am so thankful to have had her in my life, and many of you can say the same. She died doing what she loved. She was always a Potions mistress at heart, it seems only fitting that she died doing something she loved." With that he sat down. The guilt rolling around in Albus' stomach increased tenfold and he felt himself wanted to take it all back.
December 3rd, 1981: Tom's Office
"Good evening Albus." Tom's once cheerful and happy voice was now less vibrant and more sorrowful.
"Are you well, Tom?" Dumbledore too had lost a bit of the sparkle that resided in his eyes.
"Yes, I am doing well. Alexei just turned one and Rosalind has demonstrated magical capabilities. They have made this so much easier on me. Lena and Lucius are doing wonderfully as well. It just feels like a part of me is gone." He looked over at the aging man in front of him.
"Sarah was a special woman and although she is not here, she is always with you in memory. She would have wanted you to continue to love life." Albus felt worse and worse with each word spoken, but had to continue on, or that last fifty years would have meant nothing at all.
"She was, and I miss her so much. I wish I would have been able to say goodbye." Dumbledore was forced to bite back all the tears that threatened to cascade down his wrinkled cheeks.
"I understand. I just wanted to check on you. You are like a son to me, Tom. I want you to be happy." Dumbledore smiled and gave him a hug goodnight. He went up to his own rooms and cried himself to sleep. The least he could have done is allowed Tom the chance to say goodbye.
AN: I feel so terribly for Albus. I don't know how I would have been able to take Sarah away from Tom. But it had to be done and now he feels the remorse. Review... that is if you would like to.