So, it's been a long couple months, but I think we might finally be settled here in the Seattle region of Washington state! I would say we're 95% unpacked and that the stuff that's still in boxes is staying in boxes! Haha. He's told me not to get too comfortable, because he wants to either move closer to work after our year lease is up or completely retire and move somewhere cheaper! I hate moving, so both options are just...Grrr Argh! Lol.
I still need to find a job. I haven't been doing much except playing the housewife (cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, yardwork, dogs, etc...), which has been nice...that move was brutal on the body and I think I'm finally recovered! Except for maybe my knee. I have no clue what I did to my knee while moving! But I do need to find work...at some point.
And we've been exploring. We took the train and went to a Mariners game. It's hard after 40+ years as a Dodger fan to switch teams! We went to Ballard to see the salmon go through the fish ladder, traveling from the Puget Sound to Lake Washington...and then we watched the boats and ships go through the locks. I could watch the water all day! We also took a ferry from Seattle to Bremerton on the Kitsap Peninsula. We only went there to ride the ferry and be on the water, so when we got to Bremerton, we got off the ferry, then turned around and got back on. Next time we're bringing the car and the dogs on the ferry with us, then going for a drive around the peninsula! We've also been going to some lakes and hiking around. Now he wants to buy some kayaks! It does look peaceful on the lakes though...so maybe! And there's LOTS of beer up here. We've gone to no less than ten breweries since we've been here and we're looking for more!
I haven't done much writing. I've just completed C61, so I'm still good and ahead of my posting (C49 today)! But mostly I've been catching up on my shows...and starting new ones. Lol.
So, that's it in a nutshell. How about a chapter now?!
Chapter Forty-nine
"The Hermit"
Tom quickly explained using the Floo—not that he'd ever used one before—then took a handful of Floo Powder, threw it into the fire that was already burning there, and stepped into the flames that were now a bright electric green instead of a flaming orange and said, "The Hermit!"
Eyes wide, both Buffy and Edmund stared for a moment.
"Okay, you next," said Buffy, giving the boy next to her a nudge.
Edmund swallowed. "Do you think this is safe?"
Buffy shrugged. "Tom didn't seem worried," she said. "Of course, we won't know if he actually arrived at the pub on the other side safely until we go through ourselves. In which case, it'll be too late to change our minds...if we burn up."
Nodding, Edmund took a deep breath, then bucked up some courage, took some Floo Powder, and did exactly what the other boy had done—and then he was gone!
Biting her lip, Buffy glanced around, then did what the other two had—hoping that she didn't end up being turned into barbecued slayer!
On the other side, Buffy stepped through gracefully—then immediately tripped over something on the floor. It turned out to be Edmund and she was now sprawled on top of him.
Tom, standing over them, chuckled at the state they were in, then reached out and plucked Buffy off the other boy, then held out a hand to Edmund, who, looking sheepish at his fall, gratefully took the offer and was on his feet again.
While Edmund adjusted his glasses, Buffy brushed off her backside and glanced around. They were obviously in The Hermit, by the looks of the place. It was smaller than the Leaky Cauldron and even more dingy—but comfortable looking. At first glance, it appeared to be empty. No one was sat at the tables or at the bar. Then she noticed a woman sitting in a chair by the fire just behind her. The woman was reading a book and hadn't bothered to look up as they'd Floo'd into the room.
Was that the correct term? Floo'd? Buffy wondered as she stared down at the woman. The woman, covered by a ratty old blanket, appeared to be thoroughly engrossed in her book. Buffy watched as she turned a page and continued reading. After a few moments though, she sighed and waved her hand—causing a bookmark to appear on the page—then closed her book and looked up at them.
"Who're you three and what do you want?" the woman asked snappishly.
"Friendly," Buffy grumbled.
"Good morning, madam," Edmund said politely. "We're here to find someone that we've been told lives in Little Hangleton."
The woman harrumphed, then pushed her blanket off her lap and stood up. "And who might that be?" she asked, her eyes going to Tom. "You look...familiar, young man. Who did you say you were looking for?"
Tom stood up straighter and regarded the woman for what she was—merely a source of information. "We haven't said and...since I haven't been here before, any resemblance I have to someone is merely a coincidence," he said.
The woman hmm'd. "And you two?"
"Oh. We're just tagging along," Buffy said. "I'm Buffy and this is Edmund and Tom."
Tom frowned. He hadn't wished to give the woman any clues as to who they were. And especially not names.
Buffy looked around again. "Nice place you have here. It's very...cozy," she said. It was the truth. "We were told at the Leaky that we could come through. I'm sorry if we've disturbed you."
The woman sighed, then shook her head. "You haven't. Not really. My husband won't like the interruption, but..." She shrugged. "This is a pub."
"Indeed," said Tom as he glanced around—wondering why the place was empty.
The woman eyed the familiar looking boy—she was certain she'd seen him before—then let her gaze shift to include all three. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked.
Tom started to shake his head—he wanted to get on with their mission—but Edmund stepped in front of him and spoke.
"That would be lovely. Thank you," he said, smiling at the woman. He figured they'd get more help if they were pleasant to the woman.
The woman nodded. "Well then, come over to the bar and I'll pour you something. Beer?" she offered, eyeing them—they looked young. "Or perhaps Butterbeer?" She paused. "Or tea? I'll just put a kettle on."
"Tea would be nice," said Edmund.
Buffy resisted grimacing. "Butterbeer for me if it's no trouble."
"None at all," the woman said. "And you, young man?"
Tom shook his head. "Nothing, thank you."
After giving them their drinks, the woman gestured at a table. "You're welcome to sit down," she said—then disappeared through a door, leaving the three of them alone in the room.
"Do you suppose you look enough like your father...or other relatives...that she recognizes you?" Buffy asked after a few sips of her Butterbeer.
"How would I know?" Tom barked.
Buffy laughed. "Gawd! No need to take my head off, Tom!"
He sighed. He knew there was no need to snap at her, but he was tense and couldn't help himself. He should know better. He knew that Buffy would call him out on it if it annoyed her. She certainly didn't keep anything in.
"We need to ask for directions," Edmund put in. "My parents didn't give us anything, but names, so..."
Tom knew this too. As much as he'd like to keep their identities completely to themselves, it wouldn't be possible.
"Maybe we could ask someone else," suggested Buffy. "Like...out on the streets...ask a stranger...a Muggle." She whispered the last word.
Tom nodded. He liked that idea better. What were the chances a Muggle would recognize him? Unless he looked that much like one of his relatives that he couldn't hide it. Now he wished they'd thought to come in disguise. He would be willing to bet that Vin and Sophie could have helped them out.
"Oh! Maybe Edmund and I could ask around, so you won't be recognized," she said next—almost as if she'd read his mind.
Tom liked that idea. He could watch from a decent distance, then join up with them when they weren't with the Muggles. He decided to keep that last thought to himself. He knew Buffy wouldn't like his general disdain for Muggles.
"All right," he replied.
Buffy grinned, then downed her Butterbeer. "Alrighty then. Let's get this show on the road," she said, slapping her empty cup down on the tabletop, then rubbing her hands together.
~oOo~
Out on the street it took more effort than Buffy had expected it would—no one seemed to want to assist strangers. Several people just turned their backs and walked away and those who would talk to them were overly suspicious. Buffy just wasn't used to such unhelpful people!
In the end, however, they were given the directions they required—to two different places—and a warning that it was not safe to venture too close to the Gaunt Shack...that Morfin Gaunt wasn't sane.
And, because they were told that the old dilapidated house was located in the woods on the opposite side of the village, they decided to go to the Riddle House first.
Others had disparaging things to say about the Riddles as well. They were said to be haughty and pretentious snobs, who paid little mind to anyone in the village—other than to look down upon them. They were clearly disliked by the other villagers.
As the trio approached the hill that led up to the Riddle House, they realized that they couldn't have missed the mansion that was perched on top of it. It was quite prominent, easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, surrounded by a wide expanse of velvety green lawn inside high stone walls which kept out anyone who didn't belong—and that was everyone!
Walking up the path to a wrought iron gate, suddenly they weren't sure how to approach. They had no reason to knock on the door, but how else would they meet the Riddles if they did not.
And then they saw a woman out in the front garden, pruning a rosebush as two children played—causing Tom to stop and stare at them.
"Mummy, Tommy took my doll," the little girl complained.
The woman stopped what she was doing and looked at the children. "Thomas, give your sister her toy back!" she ordered with exasperation. "And Meri...do stop your whining!"
Buffy glanced at Tom and, seeing fury flash in his dark eyes, grabbed his arm and squeezed it—so hard that he winced, but at least she got his attention.
"You have siblings," she whispered.
"Apparently," the dark-haired boy ground out. "And they are acknowledged by our father!"
Buffy frowned. "Maybe he doesn't know about you," she said. "I mean, they've named their son Thomas. If he knew about you, why would he give his second son the same name."
Angry dark eyes still watching the woman and her two children, Tom frowned.
"Buffy's right, Tom," Edmund adds. "Who would give their two sons the same name?"
Edmund frowned. "Or perhaps...his father believed his first son deceased," he suggested—as sometimes subsequent children might be given the same name as another if a previous had died.
"Hmm. Maybe," Buffy said.
Without commenting, Tom continued to watch. He wanted to run forward and hex the lot of them. He wanted to see the woman who'd replaced his mother suffer. He wanted to see these two children, who had the life he should have had, abandoned and alone! He wanted...
Buffy gave him a gentle nudge. "Tom, do you want to approach them?" she asked. "We could still get some answers. At least let him know you exist."
Suddenly, Tom backed away, shaking his head. "No. I've changed my mind. I don't want to be here."
Buffy nodded. It saddened her, but she understood.
But Edmund frowned. "Don't you want him to know?" he asked.
"He's not even here!" he growled.
"He might be. Perhaps he's inside," Edmund countered.
Tom sighed. "I would like to go back to London," he said—then started down the hill.
Buffy nodded, then gestured for Edmund to go with Tom. She wanted to skulk about a bit—see if she could catch a glimpse of the man who was Tom's father. She watched the two children bicker for a short time, then be gathered up by the woman and taken inside. Buffy watched until they'd disappeared inside and then she followed, making her way to one of the windows.
Inside there was a man sitting in a large chair by a small fire. She couldn't really see him, but it was clear that he was reading a newspaper. Buffy wondered why a man that young—approximately thirty-five—wasn't part of the war effort, then supposed that money could buy one an exemption if you had enough of it.
When the woman and children entered the room, the man turned and greeted them, but she still couldn't quite see him. He picked up the little girl and kissed her forehead, then hugged the boy. It was clear that he adored these two children and it broke Buffy's heart to know that Tom had not received the same kind of love.
"Darling," the Slayer's fine-tuned hearing picked up. "I hope you've had your rest."
The man turned and faced his wife and Buffy gasped! He looked nearly identical to the Tom Riddle she knew! He hardly even looked a decade older! There was no mistaking that this man was her friend's father! Backing away, Buffy didn't even comprehend the response the man had for his wife. Instead, she hurried down the hill to join her two friends.
When she arrived at the bottom of the slope, she stopped short and plunked herself down beside Tom and put her head on his shoulder. For a time they just sat there—Edmund on Tom's other side.
"We should leave," Tom said after a while.
Silently, the three got up and started walking, further down the hillside and through the valley and village. When they neared the other side of the village, Buffy halted and nodded.
"We should at least go into the woods and see if we can find the Gaunt House," she said.
"You mean the Gaunt hovel," Tom corrected gruffly.
Buffy shrugged. "Does it matter?"
Tom shook his head. "I'm not sure it would be worth it. I think we've come all this way for no reason."
Looking sad, she reached out and hugged her friend. "I'm sorry," she whispered, clinging to him. She hated the idea that her pushing him to come here had caused him pain.
For a moment, Tom resisted her embrace, then his stiff posture soften and he held her to him, realizing that she was sobbing for him.
Over Buffy's head, Tom's eyes connected with Edmund's and, for a moment, he hated the other boy and his perfect life. But it was exceedingly hard to hate such a nice boy, one who didn't seem to have any negativity within him.
"Let's go home, Buffy," he said after a minute. He had to wrench his gaze from Edmund's. The other boy had made it easier for him by looking away first, but it was still difficult.
It wasn't very late in the afternoon when the three of them reentered The Hermit. The woman was once again sitting in her chair by the fireplace, reading her book. Again, she didn't look up when they came in and took her time finishing her page before acknowledging their presence. She didn't seem overly surprised by their subdued behavior, but didn't ask about it.
Before they could leave she sat them down and placed cups of tea in front of them—then let them drink in peace.
When they were finished and finally ready to go, she looked them over and said, "There's nothing for you here, Tom Riddle. Go back to wherever you live and forget about this place."
Behind Tom, Buffy gasped—but she wasn't able to say anything, because Tom took her hand and pulled her toward the Floo. They were done in Little Hangleton!
~oOo~
That was short. Sorry. I hope you enjoyed it though...and I would really appreciate any reviews/comments you might find it in your heart to give. Thank you!
