Chapter 5: Choices

"Our story continues and I now skip to the middle of our first years. My time at Beauxbatons Academy was an enlightening experience in itself but what made my student years different from here or any other magical education was my equal training in doctorate level Muggle Sciences. I took classes for 9-12 hours each day thanks to the Time Turners as compared to my peers who studied 5 hours each day including weekends. I seemed to have an infinite capacity to absorb all knowledge and still have enough energy to pursue my own Muggle and magical research each evening in a special lab adjoining the Dean's (Professor Flamel) residential quarters. Needless to say, each teacher pampered me with attention, thinking I was once a Millennia kind of person. I was as fascinated by mathematically rigorous quantum mechanics as I was with abstruse runes.

My teaching was modeled exactly as promised by Professor Dumbledore. I met Tom each weekend at a small garden lab amidst fresh scents of growing leaves in serene Park Des Chaumont. On this particular afternoon, I had a live Tomato Plant and was observing the cell structure of its leaf when Tom apparated into the room.

I looked up from the Oculars and greeted him with a smile. I instantly saw that he looked tired and worried.

"Hi Tom, is everything all right?"

"Things are rocky at this moment. Life could be better."

"Why Tom? What is wrong? Is it academics? You know you can count on me for that!"

"Thanks Athena. It is not related to academics. It is something deeper. It is more about who I am and who I want to be. Last week I met Lucas out at Hogsmeade. He passed out last year and now runs a bar there. Spending time with him made me realize how short the time I have left with me is. I wish to be the most powerful wizard in English Magical History."

"You already are. They say knowledge is the greatest power. With me, you have access to the deepest secrets of the universe."

"Bah! What do those matters? Will they give me mastery over death? I want to be both powerful and immortal. Power over death is the ultimate power."

I looked at him with uncertainty, "Are you saying you are now regretting giving me the stone?"

Tom shook his head emphatically. "Athena, how could you even think that way? I knew the responsibilities that come with possessing that stone. I am not the type of person who would be spending time at the lab and knowing the secrets of the universe. I wish to conquer death on my own, rather than be saddled with a gift."

"Why are you so obsessed with death, Tom? Look at the beauty of life all around you. Even under the microscope, this young green leaf shows me wondrous mechanics of life. The chloroplast, stoma and nucleus together ensure life continues for this young plant. Come and share my world. Live your life under the bathing sunshine of knowledge that I will always share with you. After living such a deliriously happy life, death would be a mere blip in a long journey. More you think about death, more you will suffer when it comes. Just enjoy life with me."

"I wish I could Athena. I am just not in your mold. I am more like Lucas, dark and sinister. If you meet him, you will understand his influence over me."

"Whoever he is, Tom, he is not good for you. You are not smiling and your eyes have no light. Be with me. I love you, Tom. I will always nurture you."

Tom gave me a hard stare. "You are my sweetest friend, Athena and will always remain that way. However, I can't love even you. I did, do and always will love only myself. No other person even comes close to me. My type of personality can't involve anybody else and specially you in false hopes. I am sorry Athena. It is just who I am."

"I am glad you are frank enough to clearly spell it out. That still changes nothing. I will always care about you."

Thus saying, we continued our normal discussion on academics.

After this, he progressively reduced his visits. At the end of our 7th year, I could hardly recognize him. Red marks permanently marked his eyes. He ignored my suggestions of visiting St Mungo's. It was on our graduation night when we both graduated Egregia cum laude that we had our first major fight.

Tom met me outside Eiffel Tower's second level restaurant with his NEWT certificate and me with French NEWT certificate. Both of had had the highest percentage in the history of our respective schools barring the founders. I was on Cloud Nine. We embraced each other tightly.

"I am truly proud of you, Athena," he whispered.

"So am I about you. After passing our respective tests with Professor Kyoto, this was just a formality but this still took some effort on our part. I plan to take up advanced research on charms with the French Ministry. I will be paid a handsome weekly allowance. What are your plans?"

"I will be concentrating on Defense against Dark ARTS. Lucas will be leading me on a world tour to study Dark Magic across 6 continents and the defensive charms so far deployed against those. He is sponsoring every penny of this trip. People like him are rare to find."

"Is that really true, Tom? Why does he sponsor more than 200,000 Galleons even on a best friend without demanding something in return?" I asked him skeptically.

"He only wants to make me his disciple, which I already am."

"He specializes in Dark Arts, right?"

"He is more of a master in that niche. Just yesterday, he praised me profusely on my knowledge of the Horcrux. He said that I know more about it than anyone else but Salzar Slytherin."

"Why do you wish to know so much about such a dark subject Tom? It is not a spell that can threaten your life. It is just a terrible way to preserve your soul. What Defense do you plan against such an object when it poses no threat to you, other than simply destroy it?"

Tom's eyes bored into mine and his voice fell into a whisper, "How about creating one for myself to escape permanent death?"

I looked back at him with disgust and vehemence, "Tom, you have an unnatural fascination with death. If you wish for immortality, both of us can research it together each night after work. My research has focused on the grand beauty of life, not on death. I can however, for your sake, turn my attention to making another Philosopher's Stone. Life is a series of choices. You can choose to beat death with hard work and reaching the zenith of knowledge like Professor Kyoto or you can stoop to the levels of hell by making a Horcrux."

"Even allowing for our combined brilliance, it would take no less than a year to reach those heights of wisdom. I do not have that much patience. There are many sick people out there who commit crimes but go unpunished. I can become Devil's Agent on earth to punish these unworthy souls and gain immortality as a reward. When the intention is good, that's all that matters, right?"

"No, you are absolutely wrong, Tom. Only God has the right to give or take life. By murdering people to create Horcrux, you are doing a heinous crime and being born again in future also violates natural birth. I can see that this Lucas, whoever he is, has completely poisoned you. I will take care of him later but right now, I have something else to take care of. I must end your life now, for the sake of wizardry and humanity. If you continue your current journey, your death shall be crushing and painful. I will ensure you get a quick and painless death. Tom Riddle, I invite you to a till death duel." I took out my wand and pointed it at his chest.

Tom gave me the saddest smile saying, "You know Athena, the kind of person I am today and have always been after meeting Lucas, I would have loved to duel against anybody and inflict the worst pain, even my mother perhaps, but not you. Your immortality and my decision that day is a standard I wish to attain and you are the best person who gave my life a semblance of light till Lucas just awakened my true nature. Life is about choices and I chose darkness. Facing a pure light like you hurts me now. I don't even deserve death in the hands of my best friend because you can't kill me today."

"Tom, you mean…?"

He nodded sadly and apparated, leaving me in complete darkness in a city of lights in post war 1950 Paris, twinkling with lights from the Eiffel Tower Level 2 viewing gallery. I knew from then onwards our paths would be separate. I decided to focus on Magical World first and continued to work on advanced Charms research. It was the only place where I used my real name and Aurors now compulsorily study some of my research observations on the Blinds Charm, where people can flash the brightest light from the wand to disorient opponents without having a permanent damage on the human eyes. This involved complete Ophthalmology Research, Neurology, Advanced Optics and combat charms.

I moved on to healing and astronomy in the next 31 years, making a distinct name in each field I chose. In my heart, I still had a soft corner for Tom, but I decided to stay away from him. Our worlds were apart and unless he was in danger, I saw no reason to enter his life. We met again one day before your parents died.

My instincts screamed at me to be at Hog's Head that evening on 30th October 1981, to save Tom from unknown danger, his pride blinding him from it. We might have drifted apart but I still cared for him and I always will. I sat there with a big barrel of Butter-beer and followed up on my instincts.

No less than 15 minutes in, two masked figures arrived and sat down directly ahead of my table.

In a high pitched laughter, one of them spoke, "Dark Lord is rather lucky. No one in this generation can harm him and his only potential danger in the next generation will be wiped out tomorrow, thanks to Snape."

"Don't you think he is going overboard, killing a 15 month old boy based on a loony woman's Prophecy?"

"Prevention is better than cure, mate!"

"Should we go along with him? What if the danger comes from his parents?"

"He is much stronger than all of us combined. He can easily dispense with 2 people. Anyway, we can suggest him this when we are meeting him at Festival Gardens, Liverpool."

They finished their drinks and went away. I followed them quietly and using advanced magic, I aligned my movements with the taller man. We were now connected by an invisible rope. I was sure who they were referring to. I did not contact him but I kept abreast of his activities thanks to Order of Phoenix members.

I apparated to River Mersey. I recognized him instantly but felt a swelling pity for him. He had access to the best knowledge of universe but here he was, pale and surrounded by darkness and malice. Life was all about choices but he chose wrong by letting go of his best friend.

I was about 100 yards behind the circle of 20 followers he had and I was wearing a silk veil but he still recognized me-probably by instinct. He stopped speaking, looked at his followers and asked for privacy. Within minutes, they apparated away. I went to him and faced his eyes.

He sighed, "Athena, I never thought I would ever see you again in my life. It's good that you are here because tomorrow is the most important day in my life. What brings you here?"

"I am concerned about your life, Tom. After we met last time in 1950 era Paris, I have done plenty of advanced research including auras. Your current aura tells me you are in grave danger. Whatever you are planning, please drop it Tom. You may think we are in 2 different worlds but I will forever care about you."

"You are right, Athena. We do belong to different worlds now. I am not even Tom anymore. Your purity will be stained in my company. Please leave."

"I can take good care of myself, thanks. You will always be Tom to me. You are in greater danger here. Please Tom, can't you just trust me enough and drop it?"

"I will always trust you. I have no doubt that my mission tomorrow is dangerous. But I can't back down. I am Lord Voldemort to the world and backing down is an insult to my integrity."

"In that case, please grant me 20 hours before you start your mission and allow me to read your mind."

"20 hours Athena? Done. My best friend meets me after 31 years for my own good. This is the least I can do, in case we never meet again. As regards reading my mind, please go ahead. Even my worst secrets dissolve in front of your purity. Lucas has told me that I am his best disciple but half of my knowledge came from my years of association with you. You deserve to know each and every minute of my life. Take as long as you need."

I nodded and started tracing his life back from 1950 to his current mission and Peter's betrayal. Tears flew out of my eyes in horror at his turn of activities. He truly chose to immerse himself in the Dark World but some tiny part of him still appreciated my presence. I waved at him and apparated.

I apparated to Godric's Hollow and knocked at the doors of your parents. They opened with caution and were shocked at finding me there and pointed their wands at me.

James shouted, "Who are you and how did you find us?"

"I am Athena and I found you because you were betrayed. The person you know as Lord Voldemort has made it his mission to kill your son Harry after 19 hours but he gave me his word about not coming here sooner. I am here to act as a negotiator for both of your wellbeing. However evil he is, for certain reasons, he remains my best friend and I tried to convince him to abort this mission but he would not listen. This mission can put him in grave danger, presumably from either of you, because I do not expect a toddler to defy him. Needless to say, he is also an ace in combat. Either or both of you run serious chance of ending up dead and Harry will be helpless in front of him. For my best friend's sake and for your sake, kindly leave England and if required live as a Muggle in another continent. You can come back when things cool down and I will continue to try and make him see sense. I have enough wealth in both Muggle and Wizard money for you to live comfortably without earning a cent. I also have sufficient contacts with Magical World in other countries to get you a similar job elsewhere. Lily can teach you Muggle living methods and if this is what it takes to keep her and your son safe, you should embrace this option. This way, Tom and all of you will be safe. What do you think?"

James gave me a brave smile, "Thanks for the offer, Athena. If this was just the matter of Dark Lord and us, we would have gladly taken up your offer. I love my family well enough to even let go of my magical powers and leave my beloved country. However, even if you force the Dark Lord into submission with your power-you must have tremendous power to gain his audience, promises and come back alive- can you vouch for the actions of other Death Eaters? This is not just us. It is about the rest of Order of the Phoenix and many other potential wizard and Muggle victims. If those death eaters also give up, we will drop our combat."

"My power lies only with Tom. I have no control over anyone else. I just selfishly care about him, not anyone else. I will always do so till the day I die because he deserves it. I came here because he presents a direct threat to you and Lily, instead of anyone else."

"Why do you still love him, Athena? You know what evil he has done and you still want to protect him? What is the rationality behind your love?"

I sighed, "Women! No one can figure out who we love and why. Right Lily?" saying which I flashed a bright smile at Lily Potter. She smiled back at me and gave me the kindest smile.

James continued "Athena, we are in no position to leave. We have to take it for the group. He can't quit on his followers and we can't betray the people who have died on our side. These are the painful but hard facts in any war. All I can tell you is that neither Lily nor I shall cast any attacking spells on him. This is the only promise I can give you. He will not die in our hands; take that peaceful knowledge with you."

I broke down and tightly embraced both him and Lily. In a voice choked with tears I told them, "History may put you as two brave and bright souls but I know more. The two of you are the best people and wizardry world should be proud that you are here. Whatever happens tomorrow, please remember this girl from the other side (forced by external circumstances). If Harry lives to adulthood, I will make sure that he hears about your noble action in a future era. I must go now, goodbye."

Thus saying, I took their leave. I returned back to Liverpool and found Ton in ardent conversation with a Tall, strikingly handsome man in a dark cloak. Both of them acknowledged my presence with a nod.

Tom told me, "Hi Athena, finally I can introduce you to Lucas, your very Antithesis and my true master. You gave me the best in the world of good and from him and I learnt the best of bad."

His very dazzling smile sent tingles down my spine. I felt powerless ahead of his charms. Only turning back to face Tom steeled my own resolve. Tom was his willful victim. I did not wish to end up like him.

With a velvety voice he spoke, "No one is an antithesis. We all have shades of good and evil. It is purely our choice on which side we pay attention to. Tom and I chose the dark, you chose the light. You also could have chosen revenge like Tom but you chose beauty. Tom could have chosen the grand beauty of Natural Universe, but he chose dark feelings. We choose God or Devil. They have no power over us. All I ever did and still do is lay out the lucrative path to darkness and spell out the consequences and danger of choosing this path. Each path has its rewards and toils. At the end, it all balances out."

"You also manipulate young helpless souls. I should kill you right now."

"I can manipulate because they want to be manipulated. They grow weak from the hard slaps Life dishes out to them and my offers then seem the best way out in the short term. They do not have your patience and virtue to proceed and work hard towards the right path. You were always this strong. Even amidst the cruelest bully at your young age, I could never influence you to stray from knowledge. That is just who you are and that is why, despite having legions of followers, he still respects you from his heart, whatever little he has left after his lifelong cruelty. Knowing him, he would have gone to kill the Potter family now but he still would wait for 17 more hours because he gave you his word. Getting a word out of him is no less precious than a goldmine but you achieved that thanks to your purity."

I hardly had counter arguments against his charms and logic. He covered all aspects so there was nothing left in me but to admire his pragmatism.

Tom spoke up "Athena, you came here to tell me something?"

I sighed sadly "Yes Tom, I failed. I could not convince you to give up and I could not convince them to protect themselves and in turn you. I got an agreement from them but despite that, you aura still shows grave danger. Either they gave me a false promise, which is unlikely, or some source other than them can kill you tomorrow."

"I see. Very well Athena, at this time tomorrow, they, I or probably all of us would die. You tried to change fate but could not. I appreciate your genuine spirit of friendship even after all these years. I want you to remember something in case I do die."

Saying that, he embraced me tightly and whispered to me, "Thank You, my best friend. You will always be in some corner of my heart."

I bit back my tears and hugged him close to me. Lucas then smiled at me and I took leave. The next day after 8pm I stationed myself on the moor opposite your family home. I did all I could but I was just a helpless spectator.

I saw the entire incident which I will skip over quickly to avoid you unnecessary pain. Tom came with 3 followers and charged into your home. James could have taken his wand but he caught my sight and placed it on a kitchen table. He wanted it all to end quickly and Tom had no qualms to instantly end James. He then proceeded upstairs to a similarly wand-less Lily and asked her several times to move away from you but finally Tom lost patience and killed your mother. He then turned to you and you know what happened next and why. I saw Snape enter and cry uncontrollably when he saw Lily's body. My own tears were mourning Tom, despite all he had become. I then attached myself invisibly to Snape and saw him breakdown in front of Professor Dumbledore. After dealing with Snape, he came to me.

"The events of tonight would bring joy to a whole lot but for me and you, we will bear lifelong scars. I have lost 3 of my finest students. I loved Tom and would have always protected him, had he not chosen darkness. You also loved him because you always saw the selfless Tom in him and he also saw something pure in you that turned him human for a few brief moments. Despite all that Lucas would say, he does have a huge part to play in Tom's demise. He is just a sophisticated criminal. He should be kept away from people at all costs. I think Tom will be back someday but good always defeats evil. If he does return, please do not meet him. You can't bear the pain of losing him again. Please go focus on your magical research and then you can turn your attention to Muggle sciences as well. The world will always need your dedicated research."

All I could do was nod and apparated away.

Flash Forward to June 1995 after Tom was reborn. Dumbledore sent me a mental message just like I sent you one today. "I just confirmed Tom's rebirth in shocking circumstances after conversing with Harry. He is back to his old form. Like I told you, please don't meet him but you can always send him letters if you wish to. Somehow, Harry would spell his doom again. Try to make him see sense if possible. Your love can work wonders even though he can't feel any."

I wrote him a long letter that June. I will quote my vital memorable parts here:

Glad to see you back in the world of the living. We stand on even ground today, both having beaten death, irrespective of the means. Your foe earlier was not Harry but your own ignorance. Your massive ego blinded you out from the simplest protective charm a sacrifice can ensure. Now you can see the truth in my words-knowledge is power. I offer you all knowledge this universe has to offer and you can give up your old ways. As always, I care about you completely, despite anything you choose or become. I can't meet you again. Meeting and losing is too painful-Athena.

I wrapped up the letter in my signature pad and called upon my favorite snow owl pet, Bob and he promptly flew off to deliver it to Tom. 7 weeks later, he returned with a reply.

It is a miracle to receive so much affection when I am the most hated and feared wizard in history. You wake the long dormant and deeply buried human tendencies in me. There is no point in meeting me. What happened once can happen again but I can't think about that. My role in the world is to be an evil selfish wizard and that is my loyal choice. I can't be distracted by your nobility. Thanks for making my life beautiful in the brief period I went against my inner nature and chose your august company.

We went on normally but I still kept tabs on him with my sources. Just before he went to commence the Battle of Hogwarts, he used advanced thought charms to display his thoughts on my bedroom wall:

I am proceeding to what is possibly my final battle. I do not feel fear, just a sense of completion. Harry and Co, through sheer luck or superior intelligence have destroyed all but one Horcrux. I will never admit my feeling of doom to the world but every great wizard (good or evil) knows when his end is near. You were the one source of bright light for this creature of the dark. I will forever be thankful to you for that. My choice to turn this way was strongly influenced by the persuasive arguments by Lucas. I might die today but there is one wish I have left. Other intelligent gifted Wizards and Witches ought to be safe from the influence of Lucas or others like me would pop up and create chaos in our magical universe. A name which stands out to me from my sources is Hermione Granger, a girl whose intelligence and logical skills are the reason why Harry remains alive today and he could destroy all my Horcruxes. Protect her from afar. Thanks Athena, just for being who you are.

Love and Respect forever,

Tom (Who unfortunately chose to become Voldemort).

He perished forever that night, a logical conclusion to his chosen actions. I kept tabs on you and Hermione throughout the 3rd Wizard War and saw her rise to this current position of the country's first ever Lady Minister of Magic. People like Lucas can have enough influence to turn golden people like Tom to monsters like Voldemort. This brings me to the reason why I have told you my story. I do not expect you to respect him or forgive him. Even god can't do that. All I want from you is a bit of perspective.

Lucas has that level of influence his targets, all of whom are supremely gifted. From reliable sources I have learnt that his next target is Hermione Granger."

Harry gasped. "Yes", Athena continued. "He works on his victims at a very subtle level and slowly but surely irrevocably transforms all of them. Even all the support of their loved ones can't help them then. He plans to start during the England-Slovenia Quidditch Match. He can transfigure himself into any nobleman and gain access to her. Our current mission and Tom's dying wish is the same: protect Hermione from Lucas. We have to travel across Europe, identify him and then capture him forever in advanced force field spells before the Quidditch match. Are you ready, Harry?"

Harry pondered on the incredible story he had just heard. It involved the biggest nemesis of his life, who apparently was a victim of a smoother more vicious criminal. His current routine would be completely disrupted but his best friend's life was at stake. His choice was clear. He smiled at Athena.

"I am ready, Athena. Just tell me what to do."

"We train for next 1 week in force field combat charms. These are extremely difficult to execute and require superhuman concentration but are a jiffy once we get the hang of it. We then track him in Europe. Hermione and Draco must then take care of legal complications once we capture him. You can share this story but only in essential details with all your friends. To succeed in this mission requires all your concentrated effort. We also research his modus operandi in past 600 years incase either of us become his victim so that we can recognize our true selves. We reveal these facts about Lucas to all your core group and then you decide how much to divulge to the rest of the Order. Too little knowledge about Lucas leaves them vulnerable to his influence. Too much also hampers us because he is skilled in reading memories. We must be very careful."

Harry nodded and indicated his desire to Apparate back to the Burrow. A lot needed to be said and done and the first step had to be taken at the Burrow in presence of all their members.

A/N: Tom Riddle part of the story is now over. He had a brief appearance but the entire plot hinges on his one action. Dearest Readers, kindly review my story!