Lost Love

Task for Beater 1 (me): Write about the Bloody Baron

Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition, Round 10 for Puddlemere United.

Word Count without A/N's: 1,518

Prompts:

(word) history

(quote) "Proud people build sad sorrows for themselves." –Emily Bronte

(word) eager

This is also written for the Quidditch Pitch and the Drabble Club on Hogwarts Houses Challenges.

Quidditch Pitch Prompt: (sentence) He never stood a chance.

Drabble Club Prompt: (item) knife

Also for the Chamber of Secrets and the Quidditch Pitch on Harry Potter's World.

Chamber of Secrets: Write about the Founders or the Founders' children.

Quidditch Pitch Prompts: (weather) sunny, humid (genre) Hurt/Comfort

The Bloody Baron had never wanted to be a Ghost. Now, he had to live with the regret of his former love—Helena Ravenclaw. What person murdered his love?

He'd always loved her. He never stood a chance. At the moment of his death, he knew he'd be in for eternal punishment. (1).

He was much surprised to find out that he'd simply turned out a ghost instead. But still he was never happy with life.

Then, of course, he came asking questions. The Baron regretted ever telling Tom Riddle anything.

"You must be the Bloody Baron," a chilly voice said.

"What do you want?" snapped the Baron, turning around and facing the intruder. He was a Slytherin—a seventh-year by the looks of him. He was top of the year, and had a rather common name, but the Baron couldn't put his finger on it.

"My name is Tom," the boy ventured, "Tom Riddle. I sought you out because I am trying to discover all the secrets to Hogwarts castle."

"Well, Riddle. You found me," the Baron said shortly. "What is it that you wish for?"

"I was wondering if you'd tell me some of your history…with Helena Ravenclaw?" said Tom smoothly. (2).

"And why would I do that?" retorted the Baron.

"I spoke to Helena Ravenclaw—the Grey Lady—earlier," ventured Tom.

"And?" snapped the Baron. He hid his interest—it wasn't often that the Grey Lady spoke with a student.

"She told me her story," he said, "She told me about you."

"I do not speak of Helena," hissed the Baron.

"Of course, I don't want to invade on personal matters," said Tom, "I was merely curious…she gave me the Diadem."

The Baron looked at him in shock. "You? She gave you the Diadem? A mere student?"

"I think, Baron—you will find me more than a mere student," countered Tom, his voice constrained.

"You do seem to know quite a lot about the secret passageways inside of Hogwarts," said the Baron snippily, "And to even get Helena to talk to you—let alone give you something she'd never give me…what is it about you that I don't have, boy? Is it your charisma? The way your words flow?" his voice became bitter.

"You loved her," summed up Tom coolly.

"I loved her, and I killed her! I ruined everything!" said the Baron bitterly.

"Tell me," said Tom quickly.

"I cannot, my boy. It is too painful. It was long ago – back before when English was as it should be. But I can show you," said the Baron. With that, the Baron flew through the boy, passing the painful memory to him.

"Helena, please—return. Thy mother's on her deathbed…"

On her mother Rowena Ravenclaw's Request, he had gone to the currently sunny and humid Albania to get Helena to come home. He wasn't doing very well. (3).

"And she'll go to a better place," countered Helena viciously, "It's like thou has an OBSESSION with me. When wilt thou just leave me alone?"

"Her diadem—"

"Wilt make me one of the most recognized women in the world," said Helena bitterly. "Is it really hard to believe? Does thou know how hard it is being Helena Ravenclaw, the Daughter of a Founder? Everyone looks down on me, saying how I will never be as good as my oh-so-divine mother. It is time I get the attention I deserve."

"I'd give thou the attention that thee deserves!" protested the Baron, the man taking a step forward with arms outstretched. The young woman stumbled away from his reaching.

"Whoever said I wanted it from thee?" spat Helena, "I do not love thee, I shall never love thee! Get away from me, and stay away!" she shrieked.

"We art in the middle of nowhere," said the Baron, "There is none of the attention thou art seeing here!"

"Art thou daft?" Helena rolled her eyes. "I am running to the nearest Muggle town. According to the sign I have passed, it is a short walk away. Of course I can merely Apparate if I wanted to, but it is a Muggle town. I shall stay the night there before I Apparate to the nearest Wizarding town. Then—I will make my appearance. I shall have the Diadem."

"Thy mother wouldn't be pleased if I returned without thou," said the Baron, his temper starting to rise.

"Thou shouldn't have to worry, Baron," said Helena coldly. "I sent her my regards. How long does she have to live, anyway?"

"Thou has been taken by power," said the Baron in the same cold voice, "Where's the little girl I knew? The eager one that was always so excited to just…learn?" (4).

"That Helena…that Helena's gone, Baron," she snarled. "I must be on my way.

"I WON'T LET THEE!"

"I'll fight thee if I have to," Helena drew her wand, shooting a sudden spell at the Baron, who quickly dodged it. Helena made to slip away with her belongings and the Diadem as the Baron was distracted.

"Don't even try!" hissed the Baron, and before he could even think, his knife was out. (5).

"Put that down!" growled Helena, her face showing fear.

"I won't have thee escape my clutches this time – Helena Ravenclaw!" he hissed. Before he knew what he was doing, he hurled the knife straight at her.

He heard a loud thud. "No," he gasped. "No…what have I done…WHAT HAVE I DONE?" He held Helena's limp body in his arms as he sobbed over her. They say that you're supposed to take care of the ones you love. That made him a monster.

He'd killed the love of his life.

There was only one way to get rid of this regret.

He plunged the knife into his chest.

Tom Riddle blinked as he stared at the Baron. "I see," was all he said.

"Now you see how sad of a story it is," sighed the Baron, "What do you plan to do with Helena's Diadem?"

Tom turned slowly to the Baron, "I plan to hide it somewhere safe in the school."

"It would have been safe with Helena," said the Baron through gritted teeth.

"Don't you get Helena's side?" snapped Tom, "After she was murdered she wanted to get rid of the Diadem. She regretted how far she'd fallen."

"I haven't gotten the courage to go up and speak to her since the incident," said the Baron softly, "I've seen her around the castle, of course – but I've never spoke to her."

"Pity. It's not like you're getting any younger," said Tom disdainfully. "I must be going." The Baron watched slowly as the boy left.

After all, it's not like he's getting any younger…

As the years passed by, the Baron found himself getting more and more unbearable—but no one would know his pain.

Well, except that Riddle boy, but the Baron doubted he actually ever cared. Now known to the world by a different name—Lord Voldemort—the Baron was seriously doubting Riddle's intentions for the Diadem were out of pure honor for Helena. He'd used his infuriating charm to win her over.

The Baron doubted that Tom Riddle had actually known where Helga Hufflepuff's Room of Requirement actually was, but there was a small possibility—he did seem to know much more about Hogwarts than he should.

It took him two years, but he eventually worked the courage to glide up to the Ravenclaw Tower at night, sliding past the eagle knocker.

His heart leapt.

There she was.

"H—Helena?" he called softly.

The Grey Lady turned around. "Baron," she said coolly, looking him up and down, "Long time…no see." With that, she whooshed away.

"Wait!" he called, "I'm not asking for forgiveness for what I did. It's about your Diadem."

Helena turned back, "I am ashamed of what I have become, Baron. The murder brought me back to reality. It is all said and done. My Diadem is of no importance. He hid it. He hid it far away from me. Why should I care what happens to it? Why should I care what he did with it as long as it is away from me?"

"I think he's using it for his own doing. He might have hid it in Helga's Room—"

"I SAID I DIDN'T CARE!" snarled Helena. "All's said and done. Proud people build sorrows for themselves. May your guilt be taken from your shoulders, Baron, but if you want to ask more about the Diadem, you may go." (6).

"Is it possible that I can come up here again, Helena?" asked the Baron, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Perhaps we could talk some," said Helena coolly, arching her eyebrow. "But for now you must go."

The Baron left the Ravenclaw Tower with a feeling of satisfaction he hadn't felt for a thousand years. He might have another chance with his lost love. But what the Baron didn't know, was that his talk with Helena Ravenclaw just mere moments ago could just be what saved the Wizarding World.

Someone had to tell Harry Potter where the Diadem was.

Right?

A/N: Damn Ana, back at it again with the crappy QL entries written right before her extension runs out! Anyways, huge apologies to my judge :3 I deserve whatever low score you give me and I want to pretend this one never happened XD

Big thanks to Web (WritingBlock) for helping me with my story! :3

Footnotes: six, one for each prompt used.

Writing is hell for me right now. High school's dumping the hw on me too lol. Please don't ask about the Meaning of Life. Please. I have no ideas for the next chapter, I dislike everything I write, and I have to do hw anyways. Sorry :3 I hope someone enjoyed this! (or not? That's okay too!) :3

Please R&R :)

-Ana