Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my imagination and whatever else is in this story that doesn't make sense. I was inspired by J.K. Rowlings wonderful world. Enjoy, and please read and review! I love reviews!

Spellbinding

Page 11

Wordlessly Severus moved closer toward the Dark Lord, and his sudden desire to help this frighten boy was greater than that devotion he shared with Draco.

Draco, was stubborn. And he already possessed a father's guidance, therefore he never cared for Snape's concern, or willingness to help him in his time of need and despair. Tom, on the other hand shared a sort of connection with the older man. Severus, understood the emptiness of being from this world and without a proper father. He also admired the boy's determination to defend the love of his life even if he knew he would very well die from loving her. Their kind, death eaters, did not love, just as the otherside simply did not hate.

With his teacup in his hand Severus, stood next to him. He knew the boy was truly terrified. But this was a bit disturbing on the mind, even for the likes of Severus.

He had often attempted to comfort Draco as a fathered when he had been chosen to carry out the orders from the Master. Severus stretched out his arm and grasped the boy's shoulder in an attempt to quiet his sobbing.

How strange was life? That now he stood here, once again with the weight of protecting another young wizard. Who strangely, was the master himself.

Tom had never once accepted anyone's affection other than Ginny's. As a student he often played favorites with his teachers, usually with a hidden agenda always at heart. It was usually to gain knowledge or some desired skill that was often considered beyond the norms of an instructor. For Tom Riddle there was never a desire for anyone remotely like a father, and he never accepted or needed guidance until now.

Severus lifted up the other teacup from the counter and held it for him to take.

"Drink it, it will help, you have my word. The sooner you calm yourself the sooner we shall begin your training, you must learn to conceal your secret. You must also master the veil of deception. If you truly mean to save your Ginny you must remain strong. For her, that is true love."

Tom sipped the tea cautiously, and allowed the strange brew to overcome his pounding fear. He stared absent mindedly into the cup as the Professor began to lecture him in the mastery of occlumency and when they would begin. He spoke of the Illusioners Charm, and the Professor emphasized the need to master both in order to protect himself against others. He was not to share the truth with anyone.

Tom began to feel the mixture from the warm brew in his cup burn in his blood, caress his skin. And the words that were being spoken by the professor were whispers very welcomed. His body trembled with ecstasy of the magic he'd have to master if he hoped to protect Ginny.

As the days went by, Many doors of knowledge became open to him. he soon learned to conceal Voldemort's appearance with that of his own, which was what he had hoped for. He had no idea how he could have ever faced Ginny looking the way he did.

He learned many things from the professor in a short time. Most of his knowledge with wand had become a bit rusty and somewhat forgotten after being shut away so long. But they quickly returned and he happily accepted new skills and advanced spells. He did not question or speculate on why certain spells had to be done with a particular fashion. He simply did as he was told.

Although deep in his heart, he knew it would be short lived, Snape had never had a more determined pupil.

"NO!" shouted Snape, he lowered his own wand and marched across the floor. "You must target your aim directly for your victim's heart." He walked over towards Tom, who was standing in the middle of the large room. Severus took the young man's hand and positioned it until it was at a perfect degree. "Now, do it again!" Said Snape. And it went on this way for hours. From morning until late into the night. Their breaks slowly became longer between sessions as Severus became more satisfied with his progress.

Their long hours and days away from the Manor had not gone unnoticed but no one would dare question anything of their time away. To satisfy the other death eaters curiosity, Tom would in the beginning go unmasked for a time, until they became more accustomed to seeing him as the younger Tom Riddle. He avoided the wide-eyed witch he'd come to know as Bellatrix as often as he could. And when she began to impose with his lack of attention for her. He assigned her to the task of watching the Prisoner's of the Malfoy Manor until further instructions were given.

Today, he stood in an archway. This particular Manor had become the temporary home for him and the Professor.

The Professor had told him that it could not be detected by anyone, say they be muggle or magic and that it was well protected. It was one of the many homes owned by Albus Dumbledore. Tom stood in the doorway and stared absently into the falling rain. The drops fell softly like musical notes upon the soil and the leaves of the trees. The memory of Ginny haunting his heart, just as the rain haunted the land. However, to think of her was soothing to him. He signaled for their messenger owl. He attached a letter to its claw and sent it out into the rain. His biggest pain was that he could not bare the idea hurting Ginny. The communication between them had become breathtaking and motivated him when nothing else seemed to matter. He told Severus that she still loved him, and that was all that mattered to him. And that sometimes it felt as if it were the only reason he existed at all. He begun secretly sending and receiving owls from her, since the start of school, it was against the Professor's wishes of course. But Severus, understood and saw to it that she received each and every one of his letter's safely as promised.