Prologue
Tom had just gotten back to england after being away on business. Everything was ready. He would be minister for magic in a few days time. The spring weather was a nice change of pace. Tom was ready to fall into a nice warm bath with his beloved wife Hermione. He walked the path to his home. The sun shone brightly. As Tom opened the door and looked at the carnage in front of him his blood turned to ice in his veins. On the grand entrance to the manor the walls were smeared with blood. It looks like there had been a fight. Hermione's hand mirror lay broken on the floor. The mirror was shattered. Hermione treasured that hand mirror. It had been a gift from her mother. It was gold and had jewels encrusted on the side. Tom heard a scream. Hermione! He rushed out to the backyard.
Hermione lay down in the grass. Blood was pouring from one of her temples. Her head wound looked bad. Tom rushed to Hermione's side.
"Hermione my love. What happened? How did this happen?" Tom asked.
He gripped her dress. Her white dress was soaked in blood. It stained Toms fingers.
"Its all your fault. How could you Tom?"
"I didn't do anything. My darling what happened?" Tom asks.
Hermione coughs up blood. She hacks hard. Her body is trembling with exertions.
"I didn't do anything darling. What is it? What's wrong?" Tom asks.
All of a sudden a shadowy figure appeared. Its eyes glowed red. Its ethereal form was black as pitch. It spoke in a hard gravelly voice.
"Tom Riddle, the soon to be minister for magic. You shouldn't have betrayed her Tom." The voice said.
"I didn't betray her. I have been true to her since we first started dating. What is this about? I demand to know." Tom says.
"Little Hermione here was concerned about your business dealings. Its a pity her life should end so soon. Such a clever witch. So much promise." The voice said.
"Who are you? You will not take my beloved from me. Hermione stay with me. Stay with me" Tom said.
Tom cast numerous healing spells. None of them worked. Tom grabbed Hermione. Blood was staining his fingers.
"You will not leave me. I command it. You will stay. You must stay. I cannot lose you. My love." Tom says.
Hermione's breathing was shallow. Hermione took off her cross necklace and handed it to Tom.
"Why are you giving me this? You are going to be alright. You have to be alright. I can't lose you. Not you. Darling don't leave me"
"Take my necklace to the church down on burch street. There is holy water and it is consecrated ground. There you can begin to plan. A plan to save me." Hermione says.
"Save you? Save you from what?" Tom asks.
Hermione stopped breathing. Her eyes went dark. Tom sank down to his knees. She was gone. A sob tore through his body. His beloved. His everything. She was gone. She was -
An ethereal ghost of Hermione apppeared. She was still wearing the white dress.
"I must go with him my love. I gave my word." Hermione says.
Her brown hair looked like a halo. Her body was see through. Tom reached for her. His fingers went right through her. Tom sobbed. Tears were falling down his eyes.
"Where are you going? Where are you taking her? I forbid it! Let her go! Ghostly abomination let her go!" Tom bellowed.
"I have to go with him my love. I pledged my soul to him for your safe return." Hermione says.
"Your soul? What are you talking about?" Tom asks.
" I made a deal with the devil. My life for your safe return." Hermione says.
The ghostly image turned into a man wearing a mask.
"I am the heir of salazar slytherin and if you know what is good for you you will let her go" Tom says.
The man hugged Hermione towards his chest.
"Now why would I want to do that Tom? I am above such things as blood purity." The ghost said.
The man took off his mask. There standing in front of him was a mirror image of himself. The same dark hair and pale face. The same green eyes.
"What are you?" Tom asks.
"In due time you might remember. For Now Hermione's soul belongs to me." The imposter says.
"Tom" Hermione screamed.
The imposter and Hermione disappeared with a flash. Tom clutched Hermione's necklace tightly in one hand and his wand in the other. He sobbed as wave after wave of sadness took over.
Tom wiped his eyes. He had to get to the church on Burch street. It was what Hermione had said to do. Tom apparated with a crack. Tom always hated the feeling of apparition. He stumbled forward and caught himself before he hit the ground. The church on Burch street was quiet. Tom walked up to the door and opened it. It opened easily. Tom walked up to the altar. At the altar was a bowl of holy water. An old man was sitting on one of the benches. The stared at him softly through his half moon spectacles.
"Who are you?" Tom asked.
"I am merely a guide." the man said.
"Wait I recognize you, its been a long time Dumbledore" Tom says.
The man stood up and walked towards Tom. He was wearing purple robes. His eyes shined kindly down at Tom.
"It seems you have gotten your dear Hermione into quite a pickle" Dumbledore says.
"I don't need your help old man" Tom says.
"I am afraid you are dearly mistaken. Let me see that necklace." Dumbledore says.
"No its mine! Its all I have left of my Hermione." Tom says.
"I will return it to you. Hand it to me." Albus says.
Tom reluctantly hands the cross to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore soaks the cross in the holy water. He takes out his wand and waves it over the necklace. He says a few spells.
"This should be better equipped to serve you for your journey ahead. It has the power of redemption. Use it well" Albus says.
Tom places the cross around his neck. The weight feels heavy since Hermione's departure.
"Come Tom, we have no time to lose. If we are to save Hermione we must leave immediately." Albus says.
With a loud crack Dumbledore apparated away.