"To love me, you will have to gather all the broken and scattered pieces of my soul"
The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 12 Fractures
September 1, 1942
When Seth read in the Daily Prophet that a wizard named Morfin Gaunt had killed three muggles, he searched the local newspaper near London to find out who those muggles were. He vividly remembered telling Tom himself that he knew there was a Marvolo in the Gaunt line. Morfin was his son and Merope Gaunt his daughter, or Tom's mother in this case.
Where was the surprise to see that the Riddle family had been the victims. After the school's final events, Seth doubted that Morfin was really the murderer, despite his proclamation. When he saw Tom on the train, he knew he had done something. His aura gave off a certain strength that he had never felt in anyone else, but this strength did not seem natural, and something was wrong.
Tom was playing with a ring on his finger, turning it, absent-minded. This ring had a stone on it and exuded an energy of its own, which he had only seen on one other object: Dumbledore's wand. He frowned, because each wand had their own energies, but he never paid attention to them precisely because none were the same and this detail was trivial... normally. Seth closed the compartment door and did a secrecy spell, since the others hadn't arrived yet.
"Tom, what did you do?" Seth asked.
Tom's gaze hardened.
"Don't call me that! And I don't know what you're talking about.'' Tom hissed.
Seth went to sit across from him.
"Vol..." Seth paused, finding the name ridiculous. He decided that he would name only the first letter then. "V. I wasn't talking about the murders you did on your Muggle family; I really don't care. I'm talking about what you did to yourself."
Tom's expression changed, from surprise to suspicion, then to intrigue.
"Since when did you notice?" Tom asked.
Seth pursed his lips.
"Since Warren, in fact. I also sensed that you performed a ritual after she died." Seth said.
Tom was silent for a moment, seemed to be thinking furiously.
"You can feel the magic, it's true then. Mine… is it weaker than before?'' Tom asked cautiously.
Seth blinked and shook his head.
''Of course not. It's… different…'' Seth replied trying to find the words. "It's as if... you were somewhere else, without being elsewhere."
A subtle smile appeared on Tom's face before disappearing. He reached into his robe pocket for something and pulled out his diary before giving it to Seth. Seth's eyes widened in amazement, and he stood up before taking it in his hands. If it was possible to hold a wizard in the palm of your hand, this was it. He felt the energy, the magic, and the essence of Tom in this journal, as if his very entity was in it.
"Do you know what that is?" Tom asked.
"No…but it feels like I'm holding you." Seth said.
"You can also feel souls, then. What you're holding… is me.'' Tom said.
Seth hurriedly handed the diary back to him, as if he felt he couldn't hold something so precious.
''Your soul? Did you separate your soul? But…'' Seth said wondering why anyone would do something like that.
It wasn't natural, it was… awful, actually. Then he understood.
Immortality.
Tom was now immortal. Seth slowly sat back down, and the secrecy spell broke as Nott, who was talking with Yaxley and Black, entered their compartment.
"Walburga? You're not serious…'' replied Nott before sitting down next to Tom.
"She's pretty, but what an idiot!" Yaxley said as he took a seat next to Seth.
Black sat down next to Nott after closing the compartment door.
"What is this about?" Seth asked.
"Oh… our fathers decided to act this summer and sign our families' marriage contracts. Of course, we don't really have a choice… my future wife is Walburga Crabbe, can you imagine?'' groaned Orion. "And then you, with the parents you have, you can marry whoever you want. The witch who goes by the name of Vulken will be really lucky."
"I'm not interested in anyone, and anyway, I have plenty of time for that." Seth said with a wink.
Orion suddenly remembered that his father had confirmed to him that Seth was a vampire, despite Orion making the remark at the Malfoys' dinner. He had had so much fun with him during the international Quidditch match that some details about Seth had escaped him.
"I'm lucky, in a way." Corban replied, continuing the conversation. "Since I have a brother who apparently is more worthy of the Yaxley family than me. My father has already planned to marry that girl there… Zabini, to my brother Callum.'' Added Corban.
''And for me, it'll be Sophia Rowle…'' Nott muttered.
''What? The super sexy Ravenclaw going into her senior year? She is an outstanding duelist! You better tie your panties, Nott!" Ria Orion.
The others continued to talk and laugh as Seth and Tom exchanged looks. The last two Slytherin heirs were present in this compartment, and neither of them even thought for a moment of producing a future generation.
Tom and Seth had to go to another compartment since they were prefects.
OoOoO
October 18, 1942, One of the reception rooms, Hogwarts
Tom had managed to convince Seth to come to one of Professor Slughorn's parties, since he had something to ask the potions master and wanted to know Seth's opinion afterwards.
"Glad you could join us, Mr. Vulken. Tell me, have you been able to find out about your magical ancestors after all this time?'' asked Slughorn.
Seth looked around the table and noticed that they were all Slytherins. There were only seven of them around the rectangular table eating the cold, frivolous dessert that Seth did not touch. He hated ice cream.
"Even if I told you, it's not like anyone would believe me." Seth said looking now at the three scoops of ice cream that started to melt in their bowl.
"Oh, as long as it's not Merlin the Wizard, anything is possible! Explain yourself!'' Slughorn said cheerfully.
Seth looked at Tom who replied with a smirk. He sighed before answering.
"About a thousand years ago, Hogwarts was founded by four wizards and witches whom you know well. What you don't know is that Salazar had a half-brother, who was named Shilo. Shilo only looked at the beauty in women and not if they were magical or not… of course, he had children, one of which was non-magical. Although he loved the beauty of his Muggle wife, he didn't accept that one of his sons was…a squib.'' Seth explained. Everyone was hanging on his lips now and Horace was staring at him with wide eyes. "You see where I'm coming from… Shilo banished his son, isolating him on Vulken Island with the vampires from where he served as… a servant. What's next... is right in front of you. Being born a wizard, I had the right to have amazing parents, despite their… difference.'' explained Seth without mentioning any other details.
"Goodness." Horace said. "An heir to Slytherin."
Seth heard, again, being called a mudblood in a whisper by Rosier seated three seats away.
"Not Salazar, but by Shilo, yes." Seth replied, glaring at Rosier.
Rosier looked at him with a mocking smile. Seth was seriously getting tired of their purist attitude.
"But it's amazing! Can you speak Parseltongue?'' asked Horace. "Have you seen what Morfin Gaunt has done this summer? The Gaunt were the last of the Slytherin line, and Morfin spoke constantly in Parseltongue during his trial and incarceration. Fascinating, you see, and such a shame…'' answered Horace hurriedly, carried away by the excitement.
Seth looked back at Horace.
"Whether I can speak it or not doesn't matter, Professor, and will only attract attention I don't want." Seth said coldly.
"Oh." Horace said, visibly disappointed. The others looked at Tom as if they wanted to know more, if Seth was telling the truth. ''Nevertheless, this revelation was really interesting.'' mumbled the potions professor.
"It's a Muggle family that Gaunt murdered, isn't it?" Tom asked, changing the subject.
Horace cleared his throat and took a sip of his wine.
"Yes, indeed, on the other hand, the ministry did not want to reveal their identities, to avoid the curious ones. " Said Horace.
"It's not that surprising, considering what he's done before." Tom said.
"Well, you know better than half the professors." Horace laughed.
Tom smiled before continuing.
"Sir, is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?" Tom asked.
Horace pushed his dessert aside and opened the box Tom had brought him earlier. It contained large chunks of dried, sweetened pineapple.
"Tom, if I knew, I couldn't tell you. By the way, thanks for the pineapple. You were right. It's my favorite.'' Horace said before putting one in his mouth. "But how did you know?"
Tom shook his head slightly.
"Intuition." Tom replied.
Horace looked at the clock on the wall.
''Oh gracious, is it that time already?'' said Horace. "Leave, boys, or Professor Dippet will give us all detention."
Tom gestured to the others that they could leave. Seth remained seated and crossed his legs before taking the last sip of his coffee. At least it's something he liked when he couldn't take wine.
Horace had stood up and went to place his box of pineapples on a desk as the other students left the room. Turning around, he noticed that Tom had stayed.
"Looking sharp, Tom. We mustn't see you after hours.'' Horace said.
"We're prefect, and it's our round anyway, professor." Seth said further.
"Ah...Seth." Horace said frowning and looking at Tom again. "You wanted to talk to me, Tom?"
"Yes, sir." Tom said walking slowly towards him. "I can't think of anyone else to go to. The other professors, well… they aren't like you." Tom stopped. A table separated Horace from Tom. "They might misunderstand."
"Go on." Horace said before picking up the glass of wine from his desk and raising it to his lips.
"I was in the library the other night, in the restricted section. And… I read something rather odd about a very rare form of magic. Perhaps, you could illuminate me. It's called, as I understand it... a Horcrux.'' Tom said observing Horace's reaction.
"I beg your pardon?" Horace asked, noticeably in a shocked tone.
Seth frowned. He heard Professor Horace's heart racing.
"A Horcrux. I came across this word in a text. And… I didn't fully understand it.'' Tom said.
Horace didn't move for a moment, then cleared his throat.
"I don't know what you were reading Tom, but it's very dark magic, very very dark." Horace replied.
"That's why, it's you I came to see." Tom said.
Horace remained silent, then looked at Seth who was staring at him intently.
"A…Horcrux is an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul." Horace explained.
So that was it. Tom had made a Horcrux the day Myrtle Warren was killed.
"Sir, I don't understand how it works." Tom said.
Seth got up from his chair and walked over to them. Why was Tom asking Horace this question?
"You split your soul in two and hide part of it in an object. By doing so, you are protected, if you are attacked and the body is destroyed." Explained Horace.
"Protected?" Tom asked.
"The part of the soul that's hidden lives on." Horace said before pausing. "In other words, you cannot die."
"But separating your soul is horrible." Seth said in a whisper.
"How does one split his soul, sir?" Tom asked, ignoring Seth's remark.
"I think you already know the answer for that, Tom." Horace said.
"A murder." Tom said.
Pause.
"Yes. Killing rips the soul apart. It's a violation against nature.'' Horace said.
Seth took a step back and shook his head. He had already killed two wizards indirectly. Was his soul touched? Did vampires, being murderous in nature, possess a soul, and caused them to be torn from within as they killed? Did it just involve magic?
"Can you only split the soul once? For instance, isn't seven…" began Tom.
''Seven times? (…) Merlin's beard, Tom... Isn't it horrible enough to think you can kill just one person? To rip the soul into seven pieces…'' Horace said before pulling himself together. "This is all hypothetical… only academic?'
Tom turned to Horace after putting a hand on Seth's shoulder. Seth jumped.
''Of course, sir. This will be our…little secret.'' Tom said.
Horace made an uneasy face then looked at Seth.
"Are you okay, Seth?" Horace asked.
Seth thought he was going to be sick. He was thinking way too much, and questions were racing through his head. He nodded and left the room.
Tom joined him a few moments later. He cast the confidentiality spell. He leaned his back against the wall and tilted his head to the left side.
"No need to talk, V, I know exactly why you wanted me to know what you've done." Seth said going close to a window.
"Do you?" said Tom. "So, you know I always wanted to be immortal? That only death remained for me something that I had to overcome at all costs? That I knew you already were, that you had the power to give this immortality to whoever wanted it?'' continued Tom approaching him and speaking more and more harshly. "But...I didn't want to depend on anything or anyone, and I found...I did find how!"
Seth turned quickly, anger burning in his cheeks.
''You found? And you think separating your soul was the best solution?'' Seth said.
''Yes! Now answer my question: did you notice anything between my diary and me?" Tom asked.
Seth exhaled loudly and looked away.
"You committed a profanatory act and you would like to do it again? You said it yourself, you're immortal now. Why would you want to make one more? No… seven? But no! It's not okay!'' Seth said, outraged and not answering the question. Seth took a deep breath seeing Tom's impassiveness. "No, there was no difference. I told you, I felt like I was holding you in my hands. But nothing says it will be the same if you do it again!
Tom smirked.
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Tom replied.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Seth asked.
"Because you're the only one who feels magic that way, and since I couldn't hide anything from you…" Tom said.
"And why would you think I wouldn't tell anyone?" Seth said.
Tom laughed coldly.
"You would have done that a long time ago. Either way, you'd have way too much explaining to do about yourself." Tom said as he walked over to Seth. Tom's face was only three inches from Seth's. "These wizards have chained you in permanent exile. Every room you walk into, every hat you have to wear. The mudblood you're not, the fake nice boy you're trying to be, the predator moaning in its burrow. What rage you must feel choking on your sorrow.'' Tom said softly. He put his hand on Seth's cheek, who seemed mesmerized by his words. "I can trade this life of shame. I will give you this life that you desire. Help me achieve what I want, without questioning myself. We have plenty of time now."
How could anyone read their deepest desires? Tom's words vibrated in his head and all he wanted, despite the horrors Tom was planning to do, right now, was to kiss him. He placed a hand behind Tom's head and brought his lips to his.
Just like in the Chamber of Secrets, the same warmth began in his stomach. His mouth was divine. His smell of pines and leaves filled his nostrils. Despite everything Malfoy could make him feel, with Tom, nothing was comparable. Seth moved his mouth to Tom's left ear and sucked on the earlobe before sliding his tongue down his neck, then planting a kiss. Tom's heart was beating faster, and he felt his fingers clinging to his clothes. He was dying to drink his blood, and normally he would never ask permission when the situation allowed.
"Go ahead, I want to know… what am I doing to you, what you will be doing to me." Tom whispered in Parseltongue.
Seth's left hand threaded its way through Tom's hair, and he gently tugged at it as his teeth grew longer and his eyes turned inky black. Only a breath escaped Tom's lips as teeth pierced his skin.
'Mine.'
'Seth will be mine.'
'He will depend on me and will never want anything but me again.'
'His strength and powers will be mine to lead as I wish. Since I obviously can't kill him, he shall be in my grasp.'
'His nation, his life, his heart.'
'Mine.'
Tom's blood ran down his throat and his thoughts raced into hiss. Pleasure flooded his body from all sides and the electric energy of Tom's magic shot through his skin. He would have continued, if only to hear Tom's moans over and over again, or feel the incredible effects for hours, but Tom's thoughts were enough to make him stop. He ran his tongue over the wounds which closed and took a step back. He looked at him differently, not thinking that Tom had done all this for these reasons.
"Use me? I'm just an object for you then?" Seth asked before passing the back of his hand over his mouth.
Tom was breathing fast and staggered, but Seth held him back, one hand behind his back.
"You... you can see the thoughts in other people's blood?" Tom asked, bewildered.
"TSK! Honestly.'' Seth replied, suddenly letting go of Tom. Tom took a few steps back but stood. "I won't forgive you so easily, V. Just try to treat me as a friend, rather than an object." Seth added with a sigh. "I'm your only friend, a real one, and no I wouldn't let you down, nor would I ever betray you."
"Prove it." Tom said harshly.
Sweat beaded Tom's forehead. The effort it took to stand was beginning to make him tremble. Maybe he had taken more blood than he thought. Abraxas was much bigger and stronger than Tom.
"Go get a potion and go to bed, V." Seth suggested.
The dungeons were close, so Tom didn't have a great distance to travel. Sure enough, Abraxas turned down a hallway and saw them. He approached them and greeted them.
"Abraxas, can you…"
"No." Tom cut in sharply.
Tom took a heavier step towards the Slytherin dormitory. Abraxas frowned in confusion, following Tom until he disappeared down the next hallway, then turned back to Seth.
"Should I know anything?" Abraxas asked.
"Heh… if you knew, I think that you'd run away." Seth said shaking his head.
Abraxas gave a nervous laugh.
OoOoO
October 19, 1942, DADA class
Seth watched Professor Merrythought, chin in hand, talk about non-verbal magic without really listening. His mind kept returning to Tom's words from the night before. The latter was sitting next to him, turning this ring on his finger that Seth would like to investigate.
''Mr. Vulken. Why don't you show a demonstration of what I just said?'' Merrythought said crossing her arms.
She hadn't liked Seth since he'd talked about vampires in second year. Seth's wand slipped into his hand. This gesture in itself was wandless magic. He made a smooth movement as he raised and twisted his wand and the pencils on the desks flew through the air quickly, whirling around the room for a brief moment and returning to their owners' desks. He hadn't said a single word.
"Why did you ask Seth to do that?" asked Orion. "Everyone knows he can do non-verbal magic. Just seeing him go to the dueling group…um, professor." He added.
"What a way to brag, ugh." Weasley mumbled.
The professor sighed and told them to go to the next room to practice the theory she had just explained.
Seth wasn't surprised to see several of the Slytherins succeeding quite easily, as they were part of the dueling group, or Tom's knights.
During Transfiguration class, Seth paid attention to Dumbledore's wand. He then remembered a glaring detail: he had changed his wand between his second year and the third.
No one changes wands unless they win a duel, and the person Dumbledore fought was Gellert Grindelwald. He then decided that he would go to Egypt during the Christmas holidays. He might try to broach the subject of the wand with Dumbledore first.
The opportunity presented itself a few days later, when he was, quite often, at the top of the astronomy tower. The night was clear, and the moon illuminated the forest. Seth felt Dumbledore's magic draw closer and then heard his footsteps ascending the stairs of the tower.
"Seth. Always there.'' Albus said as he walked over to Seth's side and placed his arms on the railing.
"You'd be surprised how many young people come here for… hn." Seth said with a smile, thinking of the many times he and Abraxas just happened to come up the tower for many deviations.
"Oh, I don't doubt that for a moment." Dumbledore said with a slight laugh.
Seth twisted his own ring on his right middle finger, given to him by his father several years ago.
"Sir…I have a rather…personal request to ask of you." Seth said.
''Oh? Who tries nothing has nothing, what is it?' Albus asked.
Seth turned back to Dumbledore and cleared his throat.
"I'd like to hold your wand, sir, if only for…a few seconds." Seth said.
Albus looked at Seth with a look of confusion, then suspicion.
"It is, indeed, very curious that you ask that." Said Albus.
Seth dropped his wand into the palm of his hand and held it out to Dumbledore.
"I'm giving you the opportunity to inspect mine in return." Seth suggested. "To show you that I have only a magical curiosity...nothing more."
Dumbledore looked at Seth's black and silver streaked wand. He already knew about his wand because of Ollivander, but Seth didn't know that he knew. He took his wand out of his pocket and hesitated for a moment, but curious to see Seth's reaction, he handed it to him and studied him carefully. He only had time to see Seth's eyes widen for a moment before he immediately handed it back to him.
"Thank you…sir." Seth said hastily before putting his back in its case. "It was...it was Grindelwald's, wasn't it?"
Dumbledore returned his wand to the inside of his robe pocket.
"Indeed… I can't help but be curious about how you felt. Perhaps studying wands would be a good trade for you?'' asked Dumbledore.
Seth was taken aback by the question, he who had never really thought about what he would do after Hogwarts because he would be king of the vampires one day. He had been asked what courses he wanted to take and since he was probably planning to go into politics, he had left potion, among other things, to take ancient runes and arithmancy in advanced class. Now that Dumbledore's gaze was on him, he had to think of a reason why he had wanted to see Dumbledore's wand, and he knew just what to say.
''It's that...your new wand has always intrigued me since I felt something familiar. My wand… it has a thestral hair, too.'' Seth said.
All suspicion left Dumbledore's eyes.
''Indeed. They're the only wands in the world by the way.'' Dumbledore said almost inaudibly.
Seth looked at him and blinked, not expecting that response at all.
''What? But why?'' asked Seth.
"Oh, I'm not well versed in that, though…the wand I'm holding is particularly powerful, just like its previous owner was. Thestral hair was widely used hundreds of years ago, but none found a buyer. The manufacturers therefore simply stopped producing them and destroyed these wands, which were considered to be very unstable." Dumbledore explained. "Ollivander had kept one, made by his great-grandfather and is now in your possession."
Seth opened his mouth, then closed it. He thought about what Dumbledore had just said. He felt a mixture of pride and embarrassment when he realized what his wand meant. He was already unique, just like his wand.
"Thank you, sir." Seth said before turning on his heels and descending the astronomy tower, leaving the transfiguration professor with his thoughts.
