"The Minister is weak if he thinks the only way to keep us out is to post wards!" Voldemort boasted, waving his hands dramatically at his followers.
Look at them, Tom, look at them.
Oh, they were paying such close attention. It made Voldemort's heart flutter with happiness.
Well, not to that extreme, but he was happy, to say the least.
Elodie stood in the back of the crowd, watching with mild interest. He was pleased to see nothing had brought her memories back yet, and his servants were treating her better then expected. Many called her 'My Lady' and bowed when she walked past them. Perhaps they were more devoted to him and his cause then he thought.

"Tonight is a free for all," he chuckled, clasping his hands together loudly and rocking back and forth on his heels, "Get inside, take what you want, but no killing. All we want to do is scare them into agreeing with whatever we demand. Once tonight is over with, and they do not meet our demands, we will begin killing. But for now, save..."
His eyes had drifted over to Elodie, and she had a rather aroused look on her face. She licked her lips seductively and raised an eyebrow, running a hand up her side, looking like she was stretching, but he caught her hand pass over her breast. She smiled cheekily.
He cleared his throat, "Save your killing spells for the Muggles. I want a plan of attack formed by the time you leave tonight... You may use the basement as a base, for now."
His followers murmured words of thanks and departed to the lower levels, Julian and Adrian following.
Damn fool for a pretty face, Tom, damn fool for a pretty face.
So he had been told.

He would have ranted on about Muggles, and how much everyone should hate them, but Elodie just looked so good, it was hard to remember what he wanted to say. He beckoned her over, and she sauntered across the room slowly, a grin on her face.
"I rather enjoyed your speech," she informed him, running her hand up his chest and placing her lips very close to his, "I never knew you could be so... in control."
Oh, so she liked control? She was just too perfect.
"My dear," he purred, raising an eyebrow, "You have no idea."
She giggled and began kissing along his neck, nibbling lightly on his skin. He smiled, somewhat in disbelief, and cupped her backside, hoisting her up a little more to meet his lips. She giggled softly and wove her fingers into his hair, "You know all that stuff you said... Are you really stronger then the Ministry?"
"Of course," he scoffed, "A simpleton is smarter than the Ministry. Compared to them I'm a genius."
"You're my genius," she whispered into his ear as he carried her upstairs, kicking the door to his bedroom shut with his foot.
Gods, just one little speech and she was all over him.
"You're in a mood, aren't you?" he chuckled, dropping her as gently as he could on the bed, then taking a step back to look her over. She had worn the black dress, the one with the corset that he found so damn attractive. Although, it was going to be a little more difficult to take off, but he would manage.
He hadn't slept with anyone since he had slept with Elodie. More then ten years of not shagging anyone was killing him, and now that he finally had a woman, he wanted to relieve some... tension that had been building.

"You know what I think?" she mused as he dropped to his knees, slowly removing her shoes. He rolled his eyes, "What, love?"
"I think the Ministry has more defense then you anticipate."
He snorted into her leg and pushed her dress up to her hips, slowly kissing along her thigh. Her hands, once again, found themselves in his hair, and he sighed contently as she massaged his scalp. Grinning, he moved up her body, planting firm, hard kisses along the bodice of her dress, stopping near her chest to set to work on the corset.
"I remember something," she stated as he clumsily loosened the string.
Bloody strings were so small and so tightly done... How the Hell was anyone supposed to get them undone?!

"What do you remember?" he asked, humoring her as he finally got the first set of strings loosened, allowing him a better look at her cleavage. She moaned as his lips went to work on the top of her breasts, and when he looked up, he noticed she was chewing her lower lip, her eyes shut happily.
"Love," he pressed, grinding his hips into hers, "What do you remember?"
She gasped at the sudden contact, then smiled, "Something about the Ministry."
"Go on," he murmured against her skin, his fingers fumbling again over the strings. He had half a mind to just get it off with magic, but that would ruin the moment.
Oh, Gods, he still fancied her a little... Thinking about ruining the moment. How pathetic.
"There is a Department," she rambled, gasping when he bit down on her nipple through the coarse material, "A-And I remember not being allowed to go into it... The Department of Mysteries. Inside it is a room... A prophecies room."
His ears perked at the very word and he looked up her, "What's in this room?"
"Prophecies, what else?" she giggled, running a finger down his cheek, "Anyone who plays an important role in the future has one."

He froze in mid-kiss and sat up, looking her directly in the eye, "Since when has this been?"
"Since... Since forever," she laughed, shrugging her shoulders, "At least, from what I remember it's always been there. The Prophecies make themselves, and are placed in the room."
He quickly got to his feet and turned away, deep in thought.
Of course he was going to be important in the future... Perhaps he had a prophecy!
He looked back at Elodie and grinned, "That's my girl. Now... Stay here, I'll be right back."

Sneaky, Tom, sneaky.


Not sneaky, smart.

*-

"What is this called again?" Edward asked, frowning at the large contraption Gil was typing away on. The old man smiled, "A computer."
"We've had a few of them brought into the office," Hirman stated as he pulled up a chair beside Edward, "They're getting really popular with Muggles."
They had stopped in a large library in downtown Dover, and Gil had suggested researching houses in the area.
"He's You-Know-Who, so he may want a rich house," Edward mused, "Can you search houses over a certain price in the area?"
"Already done, my friend," Gil stated softly, his eyes skimming the small screen, "All of these are owned by Muggles..."

"Maybe he killed one and moved in?" Hirman suggested, shrugging, "I mean... It's possible."
"I don't think he wants a big house, actually," Gil mumbled, "He'd be known to people in the area if he owned an expensive manor, wouldn't he?"
"He'll need something secluded," Edward guessed, leaning on the back of his chair, "Somewhere where no one will ever find him."
Gil began typing things feverishly onto the Muggle contraption, and one lone house popped onto the screen.
"It's near the coast," Gil read, "Of course... No one wants a house directly on the cliffs... The storms can get pretty bad..."
"Unless the house is protected by magic," Edward finished, his eyes widening, "That's it... That's where he has her!"

"We found her!!" Hirman exclaimed loudly, standing up as quickly as he could. Several people glared in his direction and hushed him, causing him to grin sheepishly and apologize.
"What's the address?" Edward asked, grabbing a pen and getting ready to write it on his hand. Gil smiled, "I'll print it... We need a paper copy for the Ministry."
"Right."
Gil rose, walked over to a desk with another large contraption on it, and returned with a piece of paper. He handed it to Edward, "Now we've got a picture."
"It says residence is to a Tom Riddle," Hirman read over Edward's shoulder, "Is that him?"
"It used to be," Edward muttered, folding the paper and slipping it into his pocket, "Let me do this alone... I need to get Elodie back. I lost her, it's my fault."
"I'm not letting you face him alone," Hirman argued, stepping in front of him as he made his way to the door, "You're my best mate... It would be like I'm sending you to the slaughter house."
"I'm going alone."
"No... No you won't."
"Yes, I am!"

*-

"This is unexpected, I must admit," Elodie laughed as Voldemort handed her her coat, wrapping it around her shoulders and opening the door for her.
The pair had just spent the evening in a wonderful restaurant, and did a little bit of dancing. She never figured him for the dancing type, but there he was, leading her across the floor with ease.
Apparently, the Department of Mysteries had changed all of his plans, and he had left her to go inform his servants of the sudden change. He spent nearly a half an hour locked away in the basement, and when he returned, he was happier then he had ever been, and informed her that he was taking her out to dinner.

"I only want what's best for my smart little witch," he cooed, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist and leading her outside, onto the street, "Care to look at some shops?"
"I'd love to," she sighed, leaning into him and gazing at the lit up shop windows, fantasizing about the beautiful dresses in some of the pricier shops.
"I had a dream last night," she whispered, "It was about someone named Tom."
His face froze and he looked down at her, "Tom?"
"I think he was my boyfriend in school or something," she laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear, "We seemed close."

Elodie sat on the steps of the girls dorm room, her notebook on her lap as she scribbled away at some homework.
Tom had gone out for a little while, but he promised to see her if she waited for him in the Common Room.
However, there were so many people sitting on the couches. So many people who didn't want her there. Instead of sitting there, in sight, she tried to stay in the shadows, away from it all.
The Common Room door finally opened, and in stepped her Tom. His eyes locked onto hers almost instantly, and he ignored the giggling girls who waved at him as he strode across the room.
"Hi T-Tom," she greeted, closing up her books and setting them on the staircase, then rising. He smiled wickedly and scooped her up in a tight hug, swinging her in a circle.
"Tom!" she whispered playfully, kissing his cheek meekly, "P-People will see..."
"So?" he purred, "Let them see... I'm not ashamed... Are you?"
"N-No, Tom, never."


"Apparently I had a stutter," Elodie laughed, "I wonder why it's gone."
"You lost it when we started dating," he said flatly, "Something about me made you lose it."
"Then I'm thankful for you," she breathed, leaning up on the tip of her toes to give him a quick kiss. He smiled and rubbed the small of her back, forcing her to keep walking, "See anything you like?"
"A few things," she teased, looking directly at him. He caught her stare and laughed softly, "Besides me, love."
"A few dresses, I suppose," she declared, "Nothing I really need though."
"That's what I like to hear."
They walked in silence for some time, until Elodie spotted something.
A patch of greying hair, and a man with glasses came into her vision, and she frowned; he was familiar. Who was he?

"I see someone," she insisted, tugging on his sleeve and pointing at the man, "I know him!"
Voldemort's eyes followed her pointing finger and they widened, "No, no Elodie, you don't."
"I do... I've seen him somewhere," she stated, "His name... His name is... It starts with a G..."
"Let's go home, Elodie," he hissed quietly, steering her down a deserted alley and apparating them both home.

The name was on the tip of her tongue! If he hadn't rushed her off so quickly, she may have gotten it.
"Are you alright?" she inquired, "You seem a little... on edge."
"I'm fine," he snapped, "Just tired. I need some sleep."
"That Tom person looked like you," she said swiftly as he began to make his way up the stairs, "Are you not telling me something?"
"Tom was... my ... brother," he finally got out, "And he died a long time ago, before we starting dating."
"Oh. Are you going to bed then?" she asked, glancing at the clock. It was only ten at night; what was the rush?
"Yes, good night."

She watched him walk up the steps and vanish into the darkness.
Who was that man? He seemed so... familiar. Something told her she liked him. But if she did, why had Voldemort dragged her away!?
"I need a drink," she muttered, rubbing her forehead and heading for the kitchen.