Claimer: I do own this fanfiction however.
Chapter 5
His Second Chance
His whole world came crashing upon him. He died! He died! Everyone was happy! Bill was dead! His servants turned on him! But that wasn't the worst, he was dead and on top of it was the pitiful epitaph.
"No! This can't be!" he cried out in anguish and almost tears.
"Can't it Tom?" asked a grim voice behind him.
Voldemort turned to the spirit. That voice sounded too familiar to be true and he didn't want it to be. His luck was not in his favor.
Christmas Yet to Come grabbed his hood and threw it back. There was the one Voldemort ever truly feared! Albus Dumbledore!
"Dumbledore! Tell me this is just like with the Ghost of Christmas Present. That because I did a great sin to him I see you as him", said Voldemort with plead.
"No Tom. I am indeed Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Are you sorry for what you've done?" asked Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry you have a big name", muttered Voldemort sarcastically.
He meant this to be an insult, but the old coot's face broke into a wide smile. Voldemort hated it when he was so polite.
"You haven't changed at all since I died, but of course it was just last June. You're still stubborn", said Dumbledore, now his mood changed to seriousness, "Are you sorry for what you have done?"
"What do you think?" he hissed bitterly.
"Honestly Tom! Have you not seen what you have done", said Dumbledore seldomly.
When he received no answer, he waved his hands. Voldemort didn't want to see any stupid Christmases, but Dumbledore had power to show more than Christmas Days.
His first murder…
Tom Riddle Sr. and his family lay dead all with terror in their eyes…
Minerva was crying in her dorm…
His Uncle Morfin sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit.
A muggle man he never knew, but killed years later was being harassed for a crime he didn't commit by the villagers…
Dennis Bishop and Amy Benson suffering from the Cruciatus Curse…
Potter being abused by the Dursleys…
Quirrel's only remains were that of dust…
Mytle's remains being carried away by Healers…
Cedric Diggory laid dead in the Little Hangleton's graveyard…
Sirius Black falling into the Veil of Death at the Department of Mysteries…
Potter being possessed…
James and Lily Potter dead…
Albus Dumbledore dead…
Bill Weasley's gruesome face…
These visions rushed by in Voldemort's mind fast. He couldn't stand it!
"STOP!"
The memories stopped at a halt and Voldemort found himself kneeling down upon the graveyard's floor in front of Dumbledore.
"I'M SORRY FOR ALL I'VE DONE! TELL ME I CAN REDO LIFE AND FIX MY MISTAKES!" shouted Voldemort.
"I am sorry Tom", said Dumbledore placing his hand on his shoulder, "No body can change Time, but you can start a new leaf. Forget about Voldemort and become Tom Riddle. Be peaceful and stop the Death Eaters. Make friends and enjoy Christmas. I can get you a head start"
Voldemort looked up at Dumbledore who had that annoying twinkle in his eyes. The mist engulfed them and Voldemort lost consciousness.
He found himself on the scarlet couch in the Parlor of the old Riddle House. Voldemort wondered if it was all a dream, but he wanted to turn his life around anyway!
He got up and went into the kitchen, but got distracted by the beautiful mirror which was mysteriously wiped of all dust.
Voldemort was no longer Voldemort, but once again the handsome Tom Riddle. It was definitely not a dream!
His face broke into a smile and he searched his robe pocket. He pulled out some lemon drops.
Yep, it was Dumbledore.
He popped one in his mouth and rushed out of the side room of the kitchen. He ran to the front lawn where a young boy had gathered rocks and was in the process of throwing them into the windows.
"Hey you! Boy!" yelped Tom as he ran to the boy.
The boy didn't know that anyone lived or was in the house. He quickly dropped his rocks and put on an innocent expression.
"Tell me, what day it is?" he said while panting. The boy was surprised at this question, but answered.
"Christmas Day", he answered. He had started to notice the odd man's wizard robes.
"Great! The spirits did it all in one night!" cheered Tom. He ran down the driveway. The boy looked around to see if anyone else was there.
He didn't see anyone and he turned back to the man to watch him, but he was already gone.
Tom apparated to St. Ottery Catchpole. He knew the Weasleys' house was somewhere around here, named the Burrow or something. He saw a blonde dreamy girl on a verandah of a house nearby. He recognized her as a Lovegood.
"You there! Where can I find the Weasleys?" he asked the girl. She was awakened from her dreamy trance, pointed the way, and fell into her trance again.
He said "Happy Christmas" to her and then walked upon a beaten road for a while into the outskirts of town and then saw a large house that looked originally to be a pig pen, but now a home with many extra floors and extra chimneys sticking out here and there. The house only seemed to be together because of magic.
He trudged up to the door. He could still hear the remains of a party happening at the dark hour. He knocked at the door.
It opened a few seconds later to show Molly Weasley looking at him strangely.
"What is it Molly?" asked a voice from behind. Revealed beside Molly was Minerva. One look at Tom and she recognized him. The silver platter of Christmas cookies she was holding fell with a clatter to the floor as she held her face.
"Merry Christmas!" said Tom who was only amused.
And this is only the beginning, he thought with a smile.
Author's Note: Thank you all for your support and sorry for such a short story. Perhaps next year, I shall have a special edition with longer parts. I certainly hope you will enjoy my other stories and that you had a good holiday.