Author's Note: Hey there everyone! Here is the next chapter! I hope everyone enjoys it! Now, I will start to date all the chapters so you guys can get a better picture of when things are happening! I estimate Tom and Clara would be 36 in 1958. Riddle traveled between the years 1945 and 1970. I will be continuing the story on with inclusions of pieces of the past to allow more dots to connect as the story progresses! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! It would be very much appreciated! Thanks so much for reading and if you like please let me know! Any ideas or suggestions are welcome as well! Enjoy! :)


"I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses."

~ Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

June 1st, 1978

Asteria moved swiftly through the deserted street of Knockturn Alley. The peacefulness of being swallowed whole by the darkness set her at ease.

Quite interesting enough, the night that ironically illuminated from within her caused even the shadows to flee before her. Any weeds that managed to flourish between the cracks of the brick road started to darken to dust as she passed.

It was the first night of summer since she had graduated Hogwarts and she was finally able to dodge Dumbledore's all-knowing eyes. Asteria shuddered just at the very thought of the man, the way his moon like spectacles gleamed like they could stare right through her. The suspicion behind his blue eyes all too clear.

She pursed her peach stained lips as she finally allowed herself to pull down her hood, revealing her long, raven hair. Her olive complexion remained unpaled as she felt the tips of her fingers brush against the sign Borgin and Burkes, home to the most notorious dark magic in London.

She felt herself knock with one hand as her free hand found itself fidgeting in her hidden pocket, searching for a tiny doll. Asteria's golden eyes slanted with worry as she couldn't manage to feel the soft doll in her hands as she turned the pocket inside out.

"Dammit!" she hissed, unaware of the greasy haired man who just opened the door.

"Are you her, the one Tom was to send?" the man gruffled, probing Astoria to stop her now frantic search.

The nineteen-year-old cleared her throat, nodding as she extended her hand to shake the peculiar man's hand.

"I'm the one...I'm here for the necklace."

"Do you have the object I wanted in exchange?" the man pressed, an eyebrow raised in question.

Asteria smiled sweetly, never withholding the fluttering of her dark eyelashes for a more enchanting effect.

"Why, of course! Voldemort doesn't play around with matters such as these, darlin' ", her sweet southern twang just oozing from each syllable as she spoke.

She quickly tried the pocket on the opposite side of her cloak, her smile only growing wider as she pulled the doll out and into view.

As the man furrowed his brows in confusion, slightly thrown off by her foreign accent, he extended his wrinkly hand out for the doll.

"I do say! I never known such a man to take without even letting his guest in first...or even introducing himself for that matter!" Asteria declared with a chuckle, yanking the doll out of reach from the man.

"You've got quite the mouth, ill-mannered Yankee...call me Mr. Borgin not darlin' ...and make it quick girl, we haven't got all night!"

Asteria felt her lips curl in anger as her hand moved towards her wand, deciding against her better judgment she simply took a deep breath and followed Mr. Borgin into the shop.

"Voldemort, huh? That's what he calls himself these days?", he added as he awaited for her to enter before locking the door behind them. Asteria remained silent as she followed closely behind him.

Mr. Borgin continued to mumble to himself, finding himself irritated that Tom felt so self-important that he had his dark minions conducting his bidding nowadays. But, he was getting something that could revolutionize the alternative to the imperius curse, a very much legal alternative at that.

So, what did he care in all honesty?

Asteria found her eyes becoming delighted at the sight of such forbidden and dark objects. The sound of the wood creaking beneath her feet as they made their way towards the glass counter only enhanced the chilling effect she was so taken by.

The shop was dimly lit, and nothing she noticed that was sold here was to be found on her list when she attended Hogwarts. She saw a glass case nearby that held a withered hand on a cushion. Asteria found herself gravitating towards the odd hand, the grumbles of the shopkeeper faded slowly into the background of her mind as she drew near.

She couldn't help but graze the object lightly with her fingertips.

"Hey, brat! Didn't your mother ever teach you to leave stuff that isn't yours alone?"

Murmuring curses under her breath, she slowly retracted her hand away. Her jaw clenching tightly as she elegantly twirled around to face the man again.

The plastered smile she wore earlier made another appearance, knowing it would do her well to keep the appearance of being endearing.

"Mr. Borgin, I do apologize...I guess my curiosity just got the best of me. However, I do believe this doll would most certainly pay the price of my...enticement you could say."

Asteria made her way towards to glass counter that Borgin stood silently behind, the only noise that could be heard was the clinking of her heels on the old, wooden floor.

Clearing her throat, she presented the blank doll to him. Unwrapping her red apple colored nails from gripping the mysterious object to allow the funny man a peek.

"Now, I feel most obliged to warn you...voodoo is no free pass on the laws here. Well...it is in a sense, but the point is this magic comes for a price! Consider yourself warned, sweet cakes!"

Mr. Borgin scoffed, irritated once again at her choice of pronouns for him.

"This doll doesn't look like much, are you sure?"

"Dear Lord help me...this man has the audacity to question Tom Riddle…" Asteria blurted, her fury now getting the best of her. No longer was she amused with the obnoxious shopkeeper. "Now, I insist you give me the necklace I came for...or will I have to fetch the Dark Lord himself?"

The man gulped as he stared in sudden fright at the doll. Sighing, the man finally unlocked the sliding glass door on his side of the counter. He pulled out a tiny black box that appeared to have been collecting dust over the years. Borgin reached into his pocket to grab his wand. With a flick of his wrist the large lock that protected the necklace disappeared.

Asteria's golden eyes widened in awe as he revealed the true treasure that had been hidden away for so long. She took in the golden octagon locket, stunned that is was so large. The green stones glittered like stars, shaping into a serpentine-like S. There was no doubt this was the fine jewelry she came for.

Slytherin's Locket.

Mr. Borgin slammed the box shut, making Asteria snap out her trance. "I trust we have a deal?"

Asteria smirked, sliding the malevolent doll towards the man's reach. She quickly snatched the box before Borgin could protest.

"Of course, we do...and I trust that you will make sure this transaction will remain our little secret. If not, I will be sure to pay you another visit. And next time, I won't be so cordial."

Mr. Borgin grew red with fury in the face, stunned such a young girl could be so minacious. He had such a feeling of dread when this girl was around him, her infatuation of dark objects and magic disturbing him.

"Don't allow yourself to be so easily swayed, girl." he suddenly spat. "It will be your downfall."

Asteria laughed, unable to help herself. Despite her being consumed by power, her laugh sounded like chiming bells.

The astounded man blinked as the girl laughed all the way out the door, the sweetness of her laugh perplexing him. For such a dark natured girl, the laugh she had carried was a complete enigma.

One that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

O0o0o0o0ooo0o

August 23rd, 1958

When Mrs. Savoie had noticed the attractive man her daughter allowed into their home, her heart nearly quit with fright. Her brown eyes widened and the spoon she held in her right hand dropped to the floor, the chocolate cake batter splattered like marble art against the lower kitchen cabinets.

"Momma, look what the cat dragged in! I found a voodoo man!" the sun-kissed girl squealed in delight, paying no mind to how startled her mother was.

Clara scowled when she heard the girls language.

"Child, I've told you millions of times before, don't you dare use that term in this household!"

Asteria only rolled her eyes, annoyed at her mother's adamant fear of magic.

"Miss?", Tom interrupted. A soft smile grew across his face as his hand extended to seconds his soft lips met her bony hand.

Clara felt her free hand rise to her gaping mouth. A dashing shade of pink appeared across her cheeks.

"Mrs. Savoie...but, you can just call me Clara, honey." the flattered woman finally stuttered softly. Even more taken by his English accent.

"And you can just call me Tom. But, if you don't mind me saying, you look much too young to be a mother!" Tom fawned, the insincerity undetectable.

"My word Asteria, and you said the cat dragged this man in...child, pull Mr. Tom up a chair!" Clara declared, twirling around to get a rag to clean the cake batter remains away.

Asteria blinked, her golden eyes narrowing as she reluctantly pulled Tom a seat.

The dinner table was a black wooden circle. Only two chairs were present, but there was an empty space for a third.

Tom nodded to the girl in thanks, his charms on others never ceasing.

"I do apologize for the nonsense my daughter seems to be spewin'. She has a rather extensive imagination you see…"

Laughing, Tom shooed Mrs. Savoie. "Children will be children, right?"

Clara rushed to present Tom with a platter of freshly baked bread. The buttery aroma quickly began clogging his nostrils as he breathed in.

"I do can't help but wonder...what made you so interested in my daughter?", the woman asked, her eyebrow raised in a sudden spur of curiosity.

Asteria pouted, abruptly crossing her arms against her small chest. Her golden eyes beginning to darken, losing their natural gleam.

Tom Riddle stared at the child for a moment, growing more amused by her every second. The child had clearly been raised in a "no magic, no nonsense" type home. He quickly began chewing, the hot bread nearly melting in his mouth as he waited to speak.

Without a blink, he then beamed, "I'm a school teacher in Britain and here on a holiday...Asteria had very much intrigued me with her intellect when I was passing by. I was admiring the beautiful landscape you have and I heard her reciting Shakespeare lines...I guess you could say the teacher in me came out and I couldn't help but to introduce myself!"

"But momma he-!"

"That's quite enough! The man just paid you a compliment and you rudely interrupted him!" Clara hissed, her smile wavering for just a moment.

Tom chuckled when the girl's cheeks flushed in anger, "Your girl is absolutely impressive, what would you say to allowing me to conduct lessons for her this summer?"

Mrs. Savoie felt her eyes smile with excitement at the thought. Visions of her daughter accelerating even more than the other local children blinded all common sense she had. Just the spark of a chance her daughter could be preoccupied with something besides destruction would be a wonderful change for the home.

"How wonderful! That would be as sweet as sugar!" she finally announced, ignorant to the devious wink Tom flashed towards Asteria.

Being the same age as this girl's mother played a huge advantage in regards to eventually bringing Asteria back to London. This love-starved woman was melting like ice cream on a hot day in his hands. His next move in this game of deception was to gain the trust of the girl, something he considered would be very much difficult.