I woke up the next morning with the room enclosed in complete darkness.
The hearth had gone out sometime during the night.
The dim light that crept into the room from the slight partition in the drapes told me it was a little earlier than six in the morning.
I could feel my heart pounding against my rib cage, as I saw the room disappear before me.
I was now surrounded by flashing images, they were the same ones that I had seen on the train, on the way here.
I blinked back into the present and proceeded to climb out of bed and gather my things before going into the bathroom to shower.
I let the hot water steam up the bathroom before slipping my nightdress off and stepping into the shower stall, adjusting the water to a lower temperature before fully stepping into the water.
After the shower, I performed the quick-dry spell and began getting dressed only to realize I left my panties in my bag.
I grumbled under my breath, as I pulled on my black stocking, and garter belt before I slid my skirt on and my forest green, lacy, off-the-shoulder blouse.
Knowing fully well where we'd be going.
When I walked out of Tom was sitting in the dimly lit room. Reading a book, as he sat with nothing but his pajama bottoms on, in the armchair.
"Where will we be going to go first?" I asked, as I reached into my bag and pulled out my lace panties, and my black thick heeled boots with a silver zipper on the side.
"Mm? I'll go get dressed and then we'll discuss it." He replied distractedly, grabbing his clothes and making his way to the bathroom.
I nodded, waiting until he walked into the bathroom to quickly slip on my underwear on.
I could feel my face heat up as I imagined his face if he'd seen what had happened to me. I sat down pulling my skirt up to put on my boots, when I heard the door open before Tom stepped out, with everything but his shoes on.
I ignored him as I stepped into my boots, zipping them up. As I stood up, I slipped my wand into my left boot and let my skirt fall into place, ignoring Tom as I slipped my black cloak on, and clipped the web embedded choker onto my neck. It had a small teardrop-shaped gem dangling from it.
Tom had just opened his mouth to say something, when a sharp knock was heard on the door of the room.
"Did you remove the charms from the room last night?" I asked as I made my way over to the door.
"Just one, before I fell asleep. I left the silencing charm, the imperturbable charm on. I think we'll be keeping those on for the rest of our stay. They're rather necessary." He said, winking at me before a smirk spread on his face as he slid his socks on and stepped into his shoes.
I moved to open the door, rolling my eyes at his comment before opening the door.
"I-I brought you two breakfast." The elderly man said, pushing the tray in front of the room.
"How nice of you. Thank you. Just leave it right there." I said, moving so he could push the trolley inside the room.
He quickly pushed it into the room and left without a single glance back.
"How interesting. The old goon seems to have taken a liking to you. That's rather interesting..." Tom said, smirking as he made his way towards the cart full of food.
"Shut up and eat." I quipped, quickly grabbing the plate that has scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, and two pieces of toast.
"That's the one I wanted." He complained, grabbing the other one, looking at it with disdain.
I rolled my eyes and began eating quickly. I had finished all my food and downed a cup of coffee before Tom could even finish half of his food.
"Are you done? Let's go." I said, as he pulled his cloak on and slipped his wand into the pocket.
We slowly made it down the steps and walked out of the front door of the inn.
I quietly followed Tom out the front door of the inn.
I followed him as he walked purposely towards the edge of what looked to be thick foliage.
We walked silently into a secluded path that leads into a cluster of the dead, dried out trees, sealing most if not all the light that began to shine through the dead vegetation. I felt a brief wave of nostalgia as we walked in the uneven path.
We walked on the path for fifteen minutes or more, the only thing that sounded was the crunch of our shoes on top of the leaves.
Finally, the dead vegetation began to open in the path.
At the end of the uneven path was a rundown looking shack.
The few windows that it had were covered in what appears to be months if not years of grime. The stones that the shack itself was built of were worn and caused it to appear dilapidated.
In the front door of the shack itself had a dead serpent nailed to it.
I felt my stomach begin to roll as I saw the dead look in the serpent's eyes, its head being nailed next to its body.
Tom continued walked towards the beaten-down shack, purposely, and stopped briefly before raising his hand and giving a sharp knock on the hollowed-out door.
'Who is there? Leave! you're not welcome here! Leave this instant!' The voice hissed at us, as the door propped open on its own.
'No, thank you. I think I'd rather stay.' Tom replied. The elder man's eyes widening as Tom replied in parseltongue.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The man demanded, with a stutter.
"Your sister, Merope, was my mother. I want to know if she is dead. I want to know, who my father was and why he left her." Tom replied, his hands clenching and unclenching.
His anger getting the best of him, as he thought of his father.
A possible muggle or wizard who turned his back on him. Leaving him for dead. This fact bothered him more than the fact of his mother's disappearance.
"Your father is a muggle. My sister, Merope, grew infatuated with him, to borderline obsession. She gave him the love potion, married him and became with child, with who I am assuming, was you? She stopped giving it to him, and he left you two like a coward. He lives on the hilltop, in that direction. If you want more answers. I suggest you leave and go find them there because that is all I know." The bearded man replied.
'Who is the girl? ' Morfin asked in parseltongue.
'Someone you don't want to cross.' I replied with a hiss.
I took in the shack's appearance as I turned my back.
There were old pots and pans in the small kitchenette that was on the far-left side.
A fireplace lit the entire shabby place, a few feet from the door was a lopsided wooden table with three chairs around it.
On top of it was crawling with dirty plates of rotting food, and maggots crawling all over the place.
"It can't be." He replied, shock widening his traveling eyes, raising his wand in the air.
"If you know something I suggest you say it before I lose my patience with you," I said, slowly reaching for my wand.
He looked between us before he shakingly raised his hands in the air. "Sixteen years ago. There-there was a prophecy given. One-One that said that an heir to the Hogwarts four would be b-born, along with the Heir of-of Slytherin. One that said both would unite the bond once broken." He stuttered out.
Tom and I both looked at him, and then threw a look at each other.
"Obliviate," I said, flicking my wrist once.
I blinked once then abruptly turned and walked out of the shack, briskly pulling my hood up to conceal my face as I walked into the vegetation.
I was almost to the road near the inn when I was pulled to a stop by a firm hand around my upper arm.
"Why did you obliviate him? I could have easily killed him or at least stunned him. He now knows who we are. We have to go back and silence him." Tom said, seething.
"Petrificus Totalus," I said, flicking my wrist towards him.
He didn't react fast enough, and the spell hit him square on the chest. His eyes were blazing as he stared up at me.
"You were saying?" I asked, smirking as I looked at him.
"I have a mind to leave you here... until I get back from the Riddles," I added, half smiling at his blazing eyes, that seemed to turn a black from the fury he felt.
I could hear a rumbling sound as he stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury.
I smirked down at him in response.
"I am going to release you now. If you attack me, I'll do worse." I promised, looking at him through hooded eyes.
"Finite Incantatem." I whispered, flicking my wrist once, and beginning to walk towards the hill that was passing the cemetery, towards the manor.
I pulled my hood lower to conceal my face, as I began ascending the pebbled, uneven road. I could hear as Tom caught up with me, halfway up the steep hill. We walked up the rest of the hill wordlessly, well to others it was wordlessly.
'What are you planning to do to them?' I thought towards him, entwining my hand together with his.
'I don't haven't got a clue yet, I want answers, though. I want to get rid of a bit of my pent up anger.' He thought back as we were almost to the top.
I let him think as we both walked up the steep peak to reach a manor on its top. I could feel and see as we both moved in sync as we climbed up the steep uneven hill.
When we reached the top Tom raised his hand to knock before I placed a hand on his arm to stop him. I proceeded to lift my arm and flick my wrist in one swift movement.
'Aberto.' I thought, as I lifted my hand and flicked my wrist.
We both stayed quiet as the lock on the door quietly clicked unlocked. He nodded, as we slowly walked into the almost soundless house. Walking with soundless footsteps as we reached a room with a set of double doors, pushing them open.
There in the middle of the room stood three people, in what appeared to be in the middle of a deep discussion.
"Hello, Father." Tom sneered, catching them off guard when he spat the word 'Father' out with great animosity.
The man gapped like a fish at us before he recovered.
"Who the bloody hell are you? and how in the world did you two get in here?" The younger man asked.
Though it was clear he was Tom's father.
Tom's appearance was uncanny to the man's. The elder one was clearly handsome as well but he was much too old to be Tom's father.
All the men in the room had an uncanny resemblance that it was as if watching time speed up and be in the same place all at once.
"Do you know who Merope Gaunt is?" I asked, carefully ignoring his question.
"I wasn't talking to you, stupid insolent girl. Young man, I asked you a question. I expect you to answer me when I speak to you." He said, harshly.
"I don't respect blithering idiots who leave pregnant women on the side of the street to die." I retorted, my hand twitching to move.
He walked up to me, his hand in the air as if to strike me, as Tom stepped in front of me and pushed him back. Making the older man stumble back in shock.
"Do not raise your hand at her." He growled as he shoved him back.
"How dare you speak—!"
"I suggested you answer our questions before she loses her cool. She may look defenseless but she is far from it." Tom interrupted him, unblinking.
"Answer me," I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest, as I let my hood fall back.
'What are you doing? The ministry of magic can trace our wands. If something happens here they'll know who it was.' He scolded me through our bond.
'Who said I would use my wand?' I asked, smirking at him as he smirked at my response.
When none of them answered my question. I rolled my eyes at their lack of response and raised my hand towards them. Watching as the color drained from their faces.
"It's not nice to tease them, love." Tom chastised, walking up behind me.
I almost laughed at the name he called me, before turning towards the three.
"Mr. Riddle? Not you, Thomas. Do. you. know. who. Merope Gaunt. was?" I asked slowly as if speaking to a three-year-old in a mocking tone.
"Yes. I did. She was a nasty looking little thing. Had black flaccid, oily hair, traveling eyes, and was rather dwarfed in height. Her voice was nasal. I remember feeling an intense, rather obsessive, infatuation towards her. It was there one moment and then it disappeared." He said as if lost in thought.
His eyes glazing over as he stared towards the ceiling, lost in thought.
"I left because I didn't want anything tying me down to her. I don't regret coming back here. It was for the best." He finally said, smirking as he turned back towards us.
I felt my vision begin to tinge in red as I listened to his explanation. A pathetic excuse of an explanation, if one is being honest.
"So, you didn't care that your son, your own flesh and blood, would grow up in an orphanage, and that he'd grow up, practically starving, not knowing what love truly is, or that he had no knowledge what's so ever of his parentage? Or who they were?" I retorted, through unmoving lips.
"No, not at all." He replied, carelessly.
His selfish, careless attitude, along with his answers made my blood boil.
How could he be so heartless towards his own son? What did Tom ever do to deserve such treatment?
'Crucio!' I thought as I lost my patience, flicking my wrist towards him, watching in satisfaction as he dropped gasping in pain, and his limbs began to spasm.
"What is she doing to him?" The woman cried, fear evident on her stunning face.
"Witch! Stop! Leave him alone." She cried, running towards her son's twitching form on the ground.
I looked towards both watching as they dropped alongside their awful son. I raised my hand once more, flicking it to shut the doors.
"Silencio!" I called, as the silencing charm went up.
I flicked my wrist once more and watched as they all stopped twitching, breathing heavily as they laid on the ground, practically unconscious.
"Did that answer all of your questions?" I asked Tom, tensely.
He gave me a stiff nod before looking once more at their twitching forms.
'Most of them.' He commented dryly.
"Obliviate," I said, waving my hand into the air, towards them.
Using a false-memory charm, I put a distorted image of a cloaked figure standing in the room, torturing Tom's father, and turned on my heels to leave.
"I hope that gave you all the answers that you needed." I quipped as I removed the silencing charm with a wave of my hands, before stunning all three of them are.
"Almost all of them." He retorted as we walked back towards the inn.
The only thing he was wondering, was where his mother could possibly be. Or if she still lived...
I scoffed at the idea, rolling my eyes at him as I stomped down the steep hill, ignoring his pleading calls.
'Wouldn't she have kept him from living such a horrid life if she was still alive? What kind of parent knows their child is suffering and stands by watching, and not doing a thing about it?' I thought to myself.
Those were words I would come to regret later in life.