Tom Riddle and the Pure-Blood Prince

[LJB85]

{I know i write an awful lot for Tom and not much for Eileen...but i am still in the first third of this....novel-length story. Next scene: is Just Eileen/Tom together!}

The day slipped by to the rhythm of a denouement as it drew to a close, in which Tom Riddle felt relief to see it end, for it had not been one of his best days at Hogwarts, despite the legendary chamber had been opened by him last night.

After lunch he had had Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures class, and that was all for Monday. He felt his usual coldness, and lack of affection brewing for his so-called friends whom he had socialized with mostly today. They were not as wonderfully enjoyable to him, in comparison to having Eileen Prince. Tom Riddle almost laughed aloud, as he sat in the Slytherin Common Room, gazing strangely into the fire thinking about Eileen, meanwhile surrounded by his entourage. He knew she had such a passion for him and a desire to please him. Her loyalty to him was humorous in a very dark sense to his point-of-view. Tom thought analytically, I am shaping her feelings, to make her potential to serve me.

The problem, that he is oblivious to is the depths of Eileen’s desire for him, that was ever-growing. Eileen was falling dangerously in love with Tom Riddle, but Tom was choosing to forget and ignore all the instances he saw that were indicating her love for him. Because of course, Riddle’s philosophy was that love had no power against the real forces that mattered in the universe.

A half-hour later, he was back in the great hall at six o’clock for dinner. By now, the entire school had heard fragments and pieces of the truth mixed with wild rumors, of what occurred that morning between Riddle and Dumbledore during a fifth-year transfiguration lesson. The dramatic rumors mixed with truth was fleeting back and forth over the four, long house tables. At the far left, the several Slytherins gave their story, and on the far right were the Ravenclaws also telling what they witnessed.

Tom was dreading Armando Dippit’s almost certain curiosity for what had transpired and the inquiry that was sure to happen soon.

So, when he saw the Headmaster briefly nod a curt greeting to Dumbledore, his heart was sinking into his stomach from nerves. What if, Dumbledore did change his mind and gave the full account? Meanwhile, Eileen Prince, was chatting with her one and only girlfriend who was a sixth year, whom she had nearly reached excellent terms with.

As he took bites of his baked potato, Riddle kept glancing every few seconds at the Headmaster standing in front of the staff table, and he watched as Dippit walked over towards Horace Slughorn. They talked together for a moment, and Riddle looked away, deciding that he really was off the hook.

But then a minute later, Professor Slughorn was confidently leading the way past the torches against the wall, with the pointed windows high above them, and Professor Dippit following in his tread. Neither of them looked angry, but still Riddle put his guard up, ready for difficult questions. He clenched his teeth, and automatically closed his mind, and subconsciously chose to employ his smooth-talking charisma.

Slughorn spoke first, “Don’t look so worried! You're in no trouble. We're here to congratulate.”

Riddle raised, an eye-brow in cool surprise, and he relaxed a bit.

Dippit looked down at him, his head to the side, inquisitively. He was a thin, older man, with beady-black eyes, and tufts of grey hair sticking out of his cap. He was wearing black wizard robes with white edges on the sleeves, and a high, white collar. He had an air of properness about him, but also a genuine sense of normalcy with a peaceful temperament.

“I apologize Mr. Riddle, as it seems you were, quite frankly…” he made a small guffaw. “Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dumbledore told me your interference with his demonstration was acceptable,” he said this all with a note of symapthy in the tone he directed at Tom Riddle.

“Well, great deeds do come of great causes, headmaster,” Riddle said with sheer confidence, clearly realizing he had Dippit’s respect. “There was no choice in that-“

Dippit nodded twice as he interrupted, “Too true, too true boy. Your deeds had cause. I heard from…most that you were justified in protecting yourself. However…” he suddenly added on a seious note, like he was offering advice. “Some students appear to be....I dare say, jealous of your aptitude,” he said then added more as if convincing himself, “There is no need to listen to their abominable misconstruing. Why I believe, you will become as great as Dumbledore, Mr Riddle!” Dippit said the preceding sentence with positive enthusiasm.

Riddle smiled mechanically and said with false warmness, “I thank-you for your compliment, sir. Dumbledore is an extremely talented-,” Riddle started, picking his words carefully.

“Of course, you hold him in high esteem. But how do you consider Dumbledore? A fond, mentor of yours, correct?”

A shadow had passed over Riddle’s face, for a full second there was a darkness, evident on his pale complexion.

Riddle had opened his mouth, about to lie, when Slughorn out of nowhere spoke, “We’ll finish supping up over dinner now, won’t we? Armando made a toast to your bright future and what you'll do to help magic-folk just before, Tom.”

The shadow reappeared somewhat, along with a startling knowledgable look in Tom's handsome features as he responded, “I do have some marvelous plans in mind….”

Slughorn, put his hand around Dippit’s shoulder and they were going back towards the staff table, when Dippit added, “We'll be sure to talk again! A model student like you."

Riddle just smiled oddly and continued eating, feeling better than he felt all day, his head teeming with energetic speed at the plans he had in mind. Five minutes later, he left to go to the library for some studying.

[LJB85]

Riddle was studying in the library for potions looking up the information that was his homework, which was to analyze ingredients. It included description and determining measurements and classiying them. As he had been in the library over an hour, quickly completing the homework he had been assigned that day.

He was in a dark corner in the back with only a light above his desk to the side, but which gave him a good view of the entire large room of the library. As most of the library was empty, except for a half-dozen people quietly studying, when he saw movement at the other end of the room, out of the corner of his eye, he looked up.

There was Eileen Prince, she entered and made a sudden turn through the jungle of rows of shelves. Riddle had important things to tell her, so as soon as he saw her, he efficiently put his books, parchments, and quill away.

Then he got up and followed, going for the exact row she had went in. He saw that she was not at the other end of the several yards of books. He turned back and went up and down the rows, casually searching for her, It seemed like he was hunting down his prey.

Eileen was concentrating hard, her dark-eye brows scrunched, leafing through books looking for more information on the dark arts, as she still had her curiosity peaked from the night at the library before Christmas.

Even though she could not go into the Restricted Section, she knew there might be some limited hints. She had become suspicious of Tom, so she was also going to do the research on the consequences of her “reward”. She wanted to be sure it would not backfire on her. Even though she was paranoid about his behavior, she still felt every bit of hope and desire for him she had before.

Finally she wandered over to the last shelf, in that area of the library against the wall. It was the darkest in this area. She went over to the corner, because she knew this area probably had the information on everlasting elixirs, that she remembered him muttering about.

As she soon found started reading, she discovered it was mostly about description of the everlasting elixirs, and not the effects, for very few wizards had ever ingested one. Some of the more simple ones were everlasting fire. It took the combination of many other primal elements of both magic and nature to create a more complex one. She saw there were elixirs specifically for eternal youth and beauty without immortality (this one appealed to her the most). But even some silly ones like eternal growth, eternal sleep, eternal gaze, etc.

As she read carefully about the most intriguing elixir, she heard somebody walking down the rows, but she couldn’t tell where. Eileen stopped reading, and looked around. She was not afraid, more offensive, thinking of the girls she did not like that she had to share her dormitory with. It was a sense of distrust she had with most people, and she did not want to have her back turned in the shadows of the library in the evening if, someone was sneaking up on her.

A dark figure came out of the other row in front of her and walked closer. A second later, out of the semi-darkness and the shadows Tom Riddle stepped into the light, looking straight at her. Eileen closed the book that was open in her hands, and put it back on the shelf (she would get it later). Then said, “Hello, Tom,” in an almost friendly way.

“We didn’t get…alone time earlier. But now is our opportunity. We'll leave here and go somewhere deserted,” he said quietly, and only a trace of his superficial glibness.

She followed Tom, when he suddenly started walking down the rows and back to the exit. Eileen was feeling apprehensive, but also excited as she usually did when it came to being with Tom Riddle.

[LJB85]

Within several minutes, Riddle lead her to the bathroom where he found the entrance into the Chamber of Secrets. He of course, had planned this as the best place to talk in private. Eileen sighed, and followed him into the hollowness of the bathroom, with it’s high ceiling.

At the other end there was a short figure of a girl, hunched over one of the the sinks. She was looking into the mirror, as tears fell down her face, mumbling to herself indiscernible words. As she heard someone come in, she automatically looked up, and the eyes behind her spectacles became wide with fright from what she saw in the reflection of the mirror behind her. She cried out, as if in pain, and turned on her heel.

Tom Riddle was there with Eileen at his side. He laughed high and cold, as Mrytle continued to sob, now more afraid than depressed.

“Get out of here mudblood! If you know what’s good for you,” he said in a disgusted tone of hatred.

Mrytle did not need telling twice, she had already sprinted out the door.

Tom continued to smile savagely, then said, “Silly little girl, I'll give her something to cry about,” he muttered more to himself.

Then he focused back on Eileen, he looked at her as if she was an object, appraising the possibilities he had already seen in her. “I asked for money or at least some valuables a couple of weeks ago. Do you have anything?," he asked cooly.

“No…but I haven’t even been initiated. Can’t it wait?” she said a bit defiantly with some anger.

Tom made a threatening move towards her. It was like he was closing in on her. “It can. But after your initiation, you have got to start working harder. You don’t have it, by the next meeting after that…” he paused.

Eileen thought he looked terribly intimidating. “What, Tom?” she said begging him to tell her.

“The whole group may attack you, if I order them to. Or-“

He made another step closer to Eileen, she was now leaning against the wall beside the row of sinks. “I alone will make you suffer ….in private, which is surprisingly worse.”

Eileen gulped and said, “I’ll have something for you. I will!” she said more to herself, desperately trying to convince herself in her mind.

Tom felt satisfied, and Eileen could feel that was so, because the hardness of his handsome features softened a bit, after her answer.

Eileen made a sudden movement to the side, trying to escape as she was feeling trapped once again. Tom saw it and with quick reflexes grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back against the wall, hard. Eileen smiled and looked nervously at Riddle, biting her lip.

“It will not be easy to pass the ceremony. The followers will want to bully you,” he stated this as a bland fact.

Eileen felt a surge of fear, rise up her stomach into her chest. Her heart beating fast, “But you’ll stop them for me. Won’t you protect me Tom?” she said, only half-hoping.

He sneered with doubt and raised his eyebrows a little, “If it’s useful to. But if not, I certainly won’t make them stop,” he said.

“Who are they?” she asked in wonder, eager to know.

“I can’t tell you their identities. You won’t know until you’ve made your vow…", Riddle said sounding superior."You will conceal your face with robes and a mask I'll give you beforehand,” he spoke authoritively.

Eileen looked Tom straight in his blue-grey eyes and took a deep breath, she was about to ask questions of where and when. But Tom Riddle answered the thought in her mind.

“Friday evening. Eleven o'clock. I'll accompany you to the Forbidden Forrest.”

Eileen felt her whole body fill with terror at the thought of acromantulas, werewolves, and all the other wild beasts that lived there. “But what about---th-the dangers?”

“I know the safest locations. Only initiations are held in the forrest, not the other meetings,” said Riddle.

“And the centaurs…they’ll attack us?,” Eileen said feeling rising panic.

“No. Once they were present, and all they did was look on because they don’t interfere with wizards’ lives….It will be quite a night for romance, Eileen,” he said with obvious humor.

Eileen picked right up on his saracasm, “You know it won’t. It’s dangerous. And that reminds me, it really hurt my feelings when you said you wanted to re-invent me!” she said.

“Why?,” Tom said in a deep tone. He felt inquisitive about this sudden revelation, and he wanted her to keep explaining.

Eileen for a moment, was shocked at how open she had been with her feelings. She was usually too embarrassed to admit, when she was upset. But then again, she felt close to Tom Riddle. Yet right now she was a mix of her love for him, with her own righteous anger.

“It was insensitive of you to say that you’ll change my appearance magically. Isn’t it good enough that I’m pure-blood for you?”

Eileen was partially revealing her attachment to him. Tom did sense this, but he felt no attachment to her whatsoever, nor any real caring for her being vexed by his plan for her reward.

He leered at her, looming ever closer. By coincidence, she had struck the right cord to get his full attention. Her mentioning her being pure-blood, reminded Tom deep down how he is not.

Eileen regretted being so assertive to him, especially when she was stuck in his grip. She was pinned to the wall, as she knew from her prior attempt that she could not escape.

"Of course it's enough!" he said aggresively. "Yet you still think that I, Tom Riddle care what you look like?," for once, he stated exactly what he was thinking.

"Yes, you do," Eileen whispered aloud, what she realized was merely a wish.

"No. Nor will I ever. I don't set store in that rubbish," Tom scoffed, shaking his head, speaking plainly.

Eileen was starting to cry from this revelation and Tom Riddle knew it. He observed for a few seconds, with a satisfied expression. He saw her face fall, in disappointment than to despair.

At just the right moment, Riddle changed tactics and manipulated her mind back to thinking of her reward,“But that’s what you want Eileen. To look beautiful. Your deepest desire,” he spoke softly, smiling at her.He was selling the idea all over again. Yet he didn't know that he was rubbing it into her heart, making deep impressions.

He gazed strangely at her, almost hypnotically. It was like he was putting her in a trance. He moved ever closer, whispering into her ear, “You’ll be my most faithful once I reward you. You’ll want me and nobody else.”

Eileen blushed crimson and her mouth was struggling not to smile as she still felt upset. But from those words he just spoke, Eileen was glad to sense the under-current of a promise of something much more intimate.

She was now vaguely aware that he was manipulating her, but still torn between too many emotions. So she had to be taken in.

“Okay, Tom,” she agreed complacently. She looked away from his startling gaze for a second, as the light in his eyes was scary to her. She thought for one second of telling him that she loved him, but decided to wait for another time. But she glanced back at him,and thought how wonderful it would be if he would kiss her again, or show any other affection.

He knew she was thinking how she wanted affection.
Being a good actor, he took a handful of her long, dark hair in one hand while embracing her lightly, and kissed the top of her forehead, “I won't be so…tender during your initiation....Good night and good luck,” he said charmingly. He then let go of her, and swept out of the room.

Eileen was now alone. She moved very slowly, as she was very confused and unbalanced. She turned around to look in the mirror at her reflection, pondering what was happening to her. Soft tears fell down her face, as she remembered how he had just admitted he cared nothing for her to become beautiful. Then she realized she might not ever be the same after the initiation, which made her even more afraid than the thought of the forbidden forrest and being bullied by the others.

But then she felt, revulsion at the thought that she was acting like Mrytle. She had to allow herself some self-respect. But of course, she loved Tom and she thought maybe when she got him what he ordered she could tell him… She convinced herself that that would be the best time, and she was filled with a true desire to succeed at her part of the deal they had made.

[LJB85]

{sorry this is really short....I'll finish this great scene coming later very soon...it's just I'm feeling tired, and I want to write this initiation night, a great turning point when I have more energy...probably within next 12 hours}

For the next few days Tom Riddle did not speak to Eileen at all. To her it seemed like he was purposefully ignoring her. But then she thought that could not be true, and that maybe he just wanted to distance himself because the intiation was coming. Eileen did not understand that Tom Riddle felt no attachment to her at all. But because she did love him, she logcially assumed he would eventually as well.

As eleven o’clock drew nearer on Friday night, Eileen was feeling a very strong sense of excitement mixed with nerves. It was very similar to the moment when she had first had a full conversation with Tom Riddle and she had felt a mixture of fear and awe. Eileen had no true understanding of how tonight she was going to meet a whole other side of him.

Tom Riddle emerged from the boys' dormitories and walked very quickly towards Eileen. There were only a few other people in the Slytherin common room, who did not see them in the shadows, as they were busy talking amongst themselves. Eileen smiled at the sight of him, walking so confident and proudly. But her smile faltered when Tom Riddle waved his wand.

She became invisible and felt the strange feeling of seperation and compression like she had the night he got the sample of her blood. Tom repeated the process for himself. and they slipped out of the Slytherin quarters and in ten minutes were out on the grounds.

It was a clear night and all seemed placid. There was no indication that it would snow or rain. Yet it was still January, and the wind was howling.

The trees of the Forbidden Forrest swayed in the wind as they reached the foot of it. Eileen did not feel brave enough to go in there at all, and only did it out of loyalty to Riddle. Tom Riddle, had absolutely no fear about going in and already had several plans if he came across a dangerous creature. A minute ago, he had pulled the invisibility spell off of her and himself.

For about fifteen minutes, they made their way thorough all the trees. The further they got in, the closer the trees grew to each other and the more brambles there were on the ground.

Eileen was following him, as he walked, erect through the forrest. He was alert, but he still stepped over all the bushes almost airily. Eileen, meanwhile was hunched over, struggling to free herself from the tangled vines, and thorn bushes. Her robes got caught quite a few times. Each time they got caught, Tom would just blast the twigs stuck in Eileen's skirt off with his wand.

Finally, they came to a fairly large clearing of a hill in the forrest. It took them a minute to climb. Eileen was feeling more terrified as they ascended it wondering what was there.

She saw about ten shadowy figures in the distance at the summit. She was eager to finally find out who the followers were.

“Put your hood on. I want to be sure they won’t recognize you and don't say anything,” he whispered in a screech, sounding harsh.

Eileen did so immediately, and then said “What about the mask, Tom?”

Tom sighed with exasperation then said, “There are no masks. I was just teasing you,” he said callously. Eileen frowned, and wondered why he wanted to lie about that.

Then Eileen felt even more fear, wondering what else he had lied to her about, and she realized there must be things Tom was not telling her, maybe even about this ceremony.

What she didn't realize is that Tom was keeping quite a few things from her, as well as planning elaborate stratagems. Her heart filled with horrible suspense at what would commence in about five minutes.

[LJB85]

She waited about ten yards away from all the others for about five minutes. Tom had conjured several things in the meantime and the followers were also presenting things. But Eileen could not tell in the dark whom these followers are, so she just stood in her robes and coat, in the crisp wintry weather, occasionally glancing up at the sky.

Finally, Tom said histrionically, “The initiation will begin. The new candidiate for followship in our circle will approach.”

Eileen took a deep breath and ran forward. She hesitated, as Tom had conjured a black ring of fire, around the circle of followers, in which he stood in the middle of. She wasn’t sure if she could safely pass through it. She waited several seconds to see if he would extinguish it magically. He did not, so she went through, and felt hot for a few seconds, as the ring passed through her middle.

There was some mild clapping, mixed with hisses. Eileen’s jaw dropped in shock.

She saw three snakes slythering around the inner-most circle. Then she looked to her side to get a look at the followers and she recognized Mulciber (a sixth year) and Macnair (a fourth year).

But after a few seconds, before she could examine everyone else Tom said, “Pass through the serpents. If you are treacherous they will attack, but if not, it is a sign you are worthy of my trust,” he spoke with an ominous chill, probably to entertain the others.

Eileen had already done something like this passing that snake in the library a couple of weeks ago, and was once again filled with the desire for Tom’s approval and had no problem picking the right moment to pass through the snakes, rotating in the inner circle.

As she crossed the threshold, she had eyes only for Tom Riddle, and she did not see the cauldron on a stump of wood with blood boiling in it. Before, every member had used the blood-tester briefly to get a few drops of their blood into it, including Riddle under their left-forearm.

Tom Riddle was standing behind her and he pulled her hood down, that was obstructing her face and said, “Welcome our newest member, Eileen Prince.”

There was more applause, mixed with hisses and muttering. Eileen distinctly heard several whispers of shock about her being a witch.

Eileen so far was not feeling so afraid, she was used to snakes. He thrust the skull he was holding in his hand, into Eileen’s hands from behind her. Tom said, lacking in affect, and unfeelingly, “Pluck the snake from the skull’s mouth."

Eileen bravely put her hand inside and pulled with her fingers a baby snake. “Turn around and put it in the cauldron,” he said in a whisper, that actually could keep everyone's utmost attention.

She did so, and finally noticed the cauldron propped up. The snake plopped onto the surface of the concoction in it, and immediately started biting it’s tail.

Tom meanwhile, had taken out the blood-sample he had gotten from Eileen and he poured the entire contents into the cauldron, a look of glee on his face, that was very disturbing to Eileen.

“The snake biting it’s tail symbolizes eternal service to me until her death, as long as I ask for it. Now…” he paused and took the skull from Eileen’s hand. He raised it a little and took out a shimmering opal from the socket of the skull’s eyes.

“She will see everything from the vantage point of the orders I give.” He dropped the opal into the cauldron with his right hand and it burst into powder and then he put the other opal in doing the same thing.

Tom had a satisfied expresion on his face, as some of the followers continued to talk and jeer. Then he put the skull into the potion, and it began to crack and crumble. “The new servant will drink this potion and we shall see the reaction drawn forth.”

Eileen did not really want to drink the potion. Her mouth screwed up in disgust and she was beginning to feel nauseous. Tom had his wand withdrawn from his robes and he conjured a silver goblet and dipped it into the potion.

“Take it!,” he hissed angrily at her. Shaking Eileen took the goblet and pressed it to her lips and took a small sip.

Tom said implacably, “Hurry up, Prince. I'm not pouring it down for you.”

She nodded and took a large swig and it went down her throat. It tasted like flesh and it was very warm and frothy. As it went down, it tingled her spine. Then it hit the wall of her stomach, like a tube and spread all throughout her veins.

Once she downed the whole thing, there immediately came upon her brown eyes a hazyness and her train of thought was no longer clear, as she felt like her memory was fuzzy.

After she drank the second goblet, her thoughts could only dwell on her devotion to Tom Riddle.

By the middle of the third she seemed to be babbling as she spoke, “Tom! Tom Riddle. I prostrate myself before you.” She was gasping for air, and it was obvious that she had desire for him. She looked totally enamored.

Avery and Rookwood, were looking at each other confused, as this type of potion normally did not cause these exact effects.

Eileen fell to her knees in front of Tom’s black robes as if it was the most wonderful thing. Tom could see that she was becoming completely subdued, willing to submit to him completely, as long as the effect lasted.

“Call me by title….Lord or Master,” he said with vile disdain.

“Yes my Lord! Yes Master! You alone are all the power I need,” she was speaking, again with rabid eagerness. It seemed she had no control over her emotions.

“Yes, I’m the greatest wizard and the most feared. You shall submit to my orders henceforth, understanding they are absolute,” he spoke with calm conviction.

“Yes my Lord,” Eileen said with passion and kissed the hem of his robes.

Eileen then burst forward and grabbed Tom hugging him around the waist, from her kneeling position. Riddle took a step away from her, feeling vexed from her affection and pushed her back in the chest.

Realizing she was going too far, Riddle decided to end this power display of how he could so cleverly manipulate this girl. “Who will consent to make the vow with her?,” Tom asked the crowd, whom some of them were laughing hysterically at Eileen’s rantings for him. None of the others had acted like that, when they were under the potion, yet they weren't in love with him.

A couple of the followers, eagerly signaled that they would like to do the honors. Perhaps so impressed by her loyalty towards him, they felt she would not break it.

Tom did not pick one of the willing ones though. He yelled, “Lestrange! Come here.”

Rabastan Lestrange slowly came forward and approached them after passing through the snakes. “I don’t want to make an Unbreakable with her. This would be my second,” he whined.

Tom argued vehemently, “I am the bonder. You swore loyalty to my countenance. You will therefore make this vow. If you disobey a direct order I issue you'll die from breaking it,” he said the last simply.

“Yes Master, I shall make it,” Rabastan answered weakly and lowered himself on the ground with Eileen and grasped her right hand. Eileen stared around confused, only concerned about herself in relation to Tom Riddle. Willing to do anything he said, but even more so than she would usually be, because of the potion.

Tom took a step closer and put his wand over their hands. Avery did not start until Riddle prompted, “Well Lestrange? You know the vows to deliver.”

He nodded and spoke, “Will you, Eileen Prince remain loyal to Tom Marvolo Riddle and his followers of the future Dark Order as long as they are here at Hogwarts?”

“I will,” said Eileen.

A flame materiaized out of the wand and coiled itself around their wrists'.

“And will you perform to your highest potential when performing on orders and services for the future Dark Order under Tom Marvolo Riddle?”

“I will,” said Eileen.

Another flame coiled around the first, forming a chain.

“Will you never divulge any of the secrets that may be revealed to you within the future dark order under Tom Marvolo Riddle?’

“I will, said Eileen.

Everybody, watched, astounded in the blazing light of the fiery vow forming. Then Tom said, “Rise Prince. Lestrange take your place back in the circle.”

Rabastan did as he was told.

Tom flicked his wand and the snakes were gone. Suddenly Eileen felt a definite change in the air, as the potion's effects were coming off of her gradually. It was as if all the followers were waiting for something else to happen.

Then he spoke with energy as he asked almost with a sweet temper, “What to do with this young witch now? You may all make suggestions,” he really did not want to do much more with her tonight, but he wanted to see the ideas brewing in his folower's imaginations.

He walked over to Macnair and stood very close to him and Macnair said, “Levitate her overhead!”

Tom just said, “Perhaps another night.... Any others?”

“The Cruciatus Curse!” Mulciber suggested ardently. Several others, including Rosier and Wilkes agreed. They seemed terribly excited to see it occur.

Eileen felt sure Tom was going to torture her with the curse, or allow another to.

But instead he said, “How many times must I repeat? I don’t administer that curse like it is an entertainment spectacle. The curse is soley used for punishment, as you all know and have received," he said chillingly.

At that thought, they all remained silent as Riddle continued, “We are not doing anything else to her, just yet. I have already given her an order…” he paused laughing wickedly, “We will see if she can follow through with things….this ends the initiation and our meeting.”

Although he had refused to use the torture curse on her, and even the levitating that Macnair suggested, it was not because he was showing mercy. But some of the followers, were already suspecting, that Tom had a discrete relationship of romance with her, which is of course not true.

Rather he was biding his time for several reasons. He thought as he disappeared down the hill, "They will all want to hurt her themselves. They will bully her, patronize and damage her first opportunity they get. They will all be in trouble as it will happen without Lord Voldemort's permission. She is mine to toy with and I will be the first to use Unforgiveables on her alone for my pleasure."

Everybody was treking back through the forrest, and the black fire was dispersed. Rookwood in possession of the skull and cauldron he had brought. Some of the wizards were eyeing Eileen hopefully, sizing her up. Eileen could tell some of them had some kind of crush on her. Nervously she sped-up, going down the hill, to walk with Tom, who had been leading the way.

[LJB85]

Eileen remained resolutely at Tom’s side, who had a lantern conveniently with him. Until they were once again deep in the midst of the Forbidden Forrest. It became so dark she could hardly see.

Her robes got caught on the bushes again. She tried for a few seconds to rip them free herself until she finally yelled, “Please help me!” He was now several feet ahead of her.

Reluctantly, he turned around, without raising his wand and said “Are you a witch or not? Do it yourself!” It felt like he had splashed a wave, of icy cold water in her face, as she was stunned by his coldness of tone.

But he was right in a way. So Eileen took her wand out and performed a spell with the incantation, “diffindo” to split the branches apart. It worked but rather slower than the way Tom had done it before.

She watched as Tom continued walking further away from her, and one of the followers passed her. As soon as she was free, she broke into nearly a run, trying to catch up with Tom.

She failed, and to make matters worse, got the heel of her foot caught in a small hole. She struggled to get out of it as she saw Avery, passing her. “Wait! Could you help me? Please?” She was really hoping against hope.

But to her surprise, he came forward and pulled her by the arm, helping her to break free. Before she could offer a word of thanks, Avery had within a split second gasped and looked around afraid. He then started jogging away, making loud crashing sounds over the foliage of the forrest floor.

She continued, this time going at a very slow pace, groping around in the dark until she remembered her wand again and said the incantation to light it.

In the small of her back, she felt an impatient desire to speed-up. But now she was alone and nobody could help her if she got caught in something again. Or worse, came across real danger.

She continued for less than a minute in the eerie silence of the wind whistling through the trees. She frowned, and clenched her teeth, blaming herself inside her head, How could I have let this happen!

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a light behind her. She thought it must be another of Riddle’s followers who was still lagging even more than she was. Then she saw two more lights. She did not want to talk to them, as she didn’t trust them but at least she wasn’t totally isolated.

Next thing she heard a cry like a werewolf. Eileen was frightened, but only for a second, because she shrewdly realized that they were just being stupid fools. Instead, she smirked at their stupidity, and continued on her way out.

But then she noticed the lights, each with a shadowy figure in it’s wake coming closer. She heard the pounding on the ground, of the figures running and then they suddenly stopped. Within seconds, Eileen instinctively knew she was being watched.

The lights continued to twinkle, but she ignored them. They followed her, even when she took a slight detour.

Suddenly out of the corner behind her (probably they had been hiding behind a tree or bush) they emerged all at once from different directions and darted forward. They leapt towards Eileen surrounding her like they had captured her.

Eileen asked in a steely voice, atempting calmness “What do you want with me?”

One of them lunged at her playfully brandishing their wand…Eileen jumped backwards. She regretted it instantly, because it revealed that she was harboring fear. The thought ran through her head on how she wished she was brave like Tom, who knew how to take control of any threat, whether real or empty.

She didn’t think they could get any closer but they did. Eileen could now see all three of the boy's faces, illuminated next to their raised wands. Eileen stared at them, as she took in their identitys wondering if they were really that threatening, or maybe they were just playing a childish game?

It was Macnair (only thirteen and shorter than Eileen), Mulciber (seventeen, only a little taller than Eileen but heavy and strong) and Wilkes (sixteen-years-old and a sixth year who was tall with a very thin frame). The looks on their faces, was becoming increasingly, unpleasant to Eileen.

Macnair said in a mocking voice, “Prince! What are you tryin’ to be Riddle’s pampered princess?”

Eileen scowled sullenly and started to defend herself, when Wilkes cut in and said to Eileen, “Your not interested in power or glory. Your just his mistress. Let’s go…she’s worth nothing.“

Mulciber had grasped his hands forward, as if he couldn’t restrain himself from excitement. In his right hand he had his wand aimed at her throat. The other, large hand wrapped itself lightly around the nape of Eileen’s neck. Eileen couldn’t help but shriek from being put in such a vulnerable position, with little warning.

Mulciber reacted to her shriek, showing all his teeth and knashing them, viciously. “The Avada Kedavra ought to shut you up. Yes and nobody will-”

Eileen pleaded emotionally, “Tom Riddle!” Trying to keep her mind clear she reasoned, “He ordered you not to use Unforgiveables on me. I’m sure you want to be in his favor…Don’t you?!”

Mulciber released his grip over Eileen, and then played with her hair, “Yes, but still…”

Wilkes interjected, “We can’t do anything with her tonight. Come-“

“I want to levitate her!” Macnair shouted gleefully, and sounding immature.

“Quiet!,” Wilkes hissed and then said, “I suppose we could.” Wilkes automatically raised his wand, but Eileen was too quick for him.

“Expelliarmus!” She muttered and he was disarmed. She then turned to disarm Mulciber, but he had already said, “Stupefy!” Eileen saw a jet of red light hit her, and she fell to the ground still alert, but unable to move.

Then the three future Death Eaters working together, raised her high over the ground and spinned and twirled her body. This only lasted for a minute, but it was enough to render Eileen unconscious. Then they let her fall to the ground, hard as they had let go of the charm holding her up.

Laughing cruelly, Macnair stepped on top of her, as the others proceeded out of the forrest. Wilkes said, “I’m not sure we should have done that. If Riddle finds out... He treats her different, he really likes her!,” he complained sounding paranoid.

Several hours later, Eileen awakened. It was still pitch-black in the forrest. As soon as she awakened she was completely aware of her surroundings. She decided to wait, an hour until a slate-grey color appeared in the sky.

Then she ventured back up, leaving the forrest, feeling worse than she had ever in her life. She was lucky to make it out alive, she thought bitterly as she came out of the forrest, and went across the school grounds, with the sun rising.

She planned on going to bed as soon as she got to her dormitory, as she did not want to deal with her feelings yet. Later she would tell Riddle. She wondered desperately if he could show, even a shred of sympathy.

But what she didn’t know is that Avery had seen what had occurred from a distance. He was going to tell Tom what he witnessed before the Hogsmeade trip today.

{Avery may seem nice here...but he is not good. He is sort of like Pettigrew...a weaker member, less confident. Yet unlike, Wormtail in being for one thing more intelligent. Avery fears being bullied even though he is not new}

[LJB85]

{Here is a little bit..sorry it's not that good}

Tom was waiting in the Entrance Hall just before noon for somebody before the weekend’s Hogsmeade trip. He crossed his arms, and detachedly leaned against a statue as he observed the excited students who were milling about waiting to pass the caretaker with their signed permission forms.

He could see several of his follower’s within the crowd. He spied on them. Listening to all he could make out amongst all the other chatter going on. Riddle could tell that Mulciber and Wilkes, whom were standing together looked to be in high spirits. He knew it had nothing to do with whether or not they had gotten their fun yet with Eileen last night. It would have to be more sordid topics like candy, butterbeer, the joke shop, etc. Then he spotted Macnair with a group of younger boys laughing uproariously about a cruel joke. Riddle could hear it was about a house-elf, a witch, and a giant.

The ancient clock, near the astronomy tower chimed that it was midday. Riddle had ordered him to come here at noon. If he wasn’t here within a minute, this individual was going to be very sorry, indeed.

But Avery, sprung up the stone steps leading from the dungeon, and halted right in front of Riddle as he said in a wheezing voice, “I saw everything that happened!”

Riddle felt pleased knowing something had happened despite his orders of not to do anything with her tonight. He grabbed Avery by the scruff of the neck and dragged him down the hall into a broom cupboard. He yanked Avery forward into it, and then Riddle himself stepped, in closing the creaking door behind him.

He surveyed Avery fiercely, who took a fearful step back. Then Tom said to him, “Speak, Avery. Give me your account!”

“Yes…my lord,” he said meekly. “The girl, I mean Prince. She got her foot caught in a hole or something….so I helped her out of it. But only because you had ordered me beforehand to see who would go against your orders of not bullying her. I was afraid they would see me, and I would have to then be disobediant to you. So I ran away and watched from a distance. Within minutes, they caught her…and…and”

“Go on. Keep going or else you know I’ll-,” Tom said raising his wand with ease.

“Yes! They called her names. It had something to do with you,” he blurted as it was all he could think of at the moment.

Tom was very intrigued by this and he used all his power of Legilmency to see what it was. “What names?” he said contemptuously.

“Um…I can’t recall,” Avery could but he was really too afraid, it might offened him as he thought mistakeningly like all the others that Tom felt affection for Eileen.

“Yes you can. I can see them in your worthless mind”, Riddle spoke calmly. “Yes…they said I was his mistress didn’t they? And that I wanted to treat her differently. I see…they’ll soon discover how Tom Riddle is not treating her softly at all.”

Avery continued his tale, “Th-then Mulciber wanted to kill her. There right on the spot. Wilkes said no. But Macnair suggested levitating.”

Riddle’s eyes flashed and glittered at the same time. He was fighting his anger with his feeling of satisfaction. Tom surmised cooly, “So it was Mulciber, Macnair, and Wilkes? And they left after they used the levitating charm?”

“Yes,” Avery murmered lamely.

Tom scrunched his eyebrows in cold fury as he considered what to do. “Go and get me all three of them before they leave. Take them to the Room of Requirement where I will be waiting! Now!”

Avery jumped and bolted out the door. Riddle watched him with a clear, calculating look on his face.

He then took the small and flat onyx stone from his robes that had a protean charm on it to contact all the members to meet at their most common location.

Riddle started treading swiftly up the stairs, planning just what to say to the three who had disobeyed him. But also making sure the entire group would suffer for the actions of the minority.

[LJB85]

{Just saying....this is not suitable for children. But does not go further than Jo's awesome writing style (i try to emulate) of uncomfortable topics...so i see no reason why it can't be on this forum}

He Passed the statue of Paracelsus, down the seventh floor corridor hardly taking notice of it. A few more moments later, Riddle was stationed across from the painting of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls how to dance where there was a blank stretch of a black stone wall.

Riddle thought standing in front of the empty wall, “I need a place to punish my followers. I need a place to punish my followers.”

Then a door materialized and Tom quickly looked around to make sure nobody was around and then went inside.

A wide smile played across his lips. His finely carved features,looked almost crude for hardly any of his teeth showed.

The room, as usual fitted his personality perfectly. It was very impressive and special looking, just as Tom considered himself.
Nearly full of darkness, lit only by candles. In the center was a couple of rows of uncomfortable chairs, and in front a raised platform.

Tom went across the room, to sit at at a throne-like chair on the platform and waited patiently, taking in what appeared for his delight. He considered devices that looked like they came from a medieval torture chamber to use on the follower’s today.

There were also items of dark magic including skulls strewn about. But what impressed Tom most were the silver serpents on the walls, reminding him he was Slytherin’s heir. Tom glanced over the collections of old artifacts on display beside the walls. He knew he would not like to use them for horcruxes, because all the powerful artifacts left by founder’s would not appear in this room.

The door opened and all of his follower’s came in at once, Avery at the back. Tom watched them all for a few seconds, carefully noting Avery’s duty to put the silencing and lock charm around the door as he always did at meetings here.

He felt a surge of annoyance toward Rosier and Lestrange who were greedily tampering with the ancient artifacts in the room. The others were talking together or eyeing the torture equipments with fear evident on their faces.

Tom thought with pleasure, “Ah..I have set the right mood. The element of fear always works. Avery won't be tortured, after all he did what I ordered. Just watching will make him comply.”

Then Riddle cleared his throat, and spoke, “I have much to say to you all concerning the newest member Eileen Prince.”

The several followers rushed to sit down at their usual places in front of Tom as he continued speaking, “Three of you have disobeyed the orders I gave at the ceremony last night. Those three are going to stand up and admit to the rest of your comrades your idiotic blunder.”

Wilke’s, tall frame was the first to rise slowly, without looking at any of the followers. Mulciber was next as he glared with his large eyes at the others, aggresively daring them to blame him. Almost at the same second Macnair was on his feet, scowling.

“Yes…Avery your memory is not failing you. I can see you reported accurately.”

Tom Riddle unexpectedly rose from the throne-like chair and looked down at the three culprits with an expression, that showed he was going to be completely unforgiving.

Tom rounded on Mulciber first, “Mulciber! You were about to use the killing curse last night on Prince, a pure-blood?…Yes I know all about that.” It would not have truly bothered Riddle to see a pure-blood killed, as no life really matters to him but his own.

“Yes, my Lord,” he announced for everyone to hear.

His eyes narrowed further, “I hear a note of pride. How foolish your hubris is,” he spoke with hostility and dislike as he continued, “to waste a pure-blood who may be helpful to my cause?,” he added playing up guilt and sounding somewhat sarcastic.

“I’m sorry, Master. Have-“

“That’s enough. You shall suffer in a moment,” Riddle snapped.

Riddle could of started using the Cruciatus Curse right there, but he wanted them all to wait. He enjoyed feeling the atmosphere of dread that filled the dark chamber, created by his diabolical mind.

“And Wilkes. Being the eldest, couldn’t you have exerted leadership? Yet you still agreed to listen to Macnair’s suggestion of levitating and carried it out.”

Wilkes frowned, biting his lip so hard it was almost bleeding. “I-I could of-“

“Yes done better,” he finished for him as he stepped directly in front of Macnair smiling strangely at him. “and our youngest member, Macnair. The one who so childishly demanded the use of the levitating charm,” he said derisively.

Then he paused listening to the room, where it was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The followers were all holding their breath, for what they knew would happen next.

Before Riddle started he said charmingly and with false kindess, “You all need to learn a lesson. Yes…I, Tom Riddle your Master will provide you with any victims you desire.” Then his tone became very clear and forceful, “But Eileen Prince is mine. Mine to exert power over. None of you will tell her of the punishment, I am giving out.”

After that he waited a few more seconds with his wand raised then bellowed at Mulciber, “CRUCIO!”

He instantly landed on his knees and then writhed on the ground. Voldemort watched, feeling very much justified in his actions. In his mind, he was absolutely entitled to do this, not a thought appearing in his mind to the contrary. He peered at his followers, who also had degrees of pleasure (but considerably lower than Riddle’s).

Riddle lifted the curse and looked down at Mulciber with pitiless eyes as he said insultingly, “I see ulterior motives. You’re a depraved imbecile, Mulciber for desire to do such promiscuous acts with Eileen. Yet you now, know you know not to act on them unless I decide it.”

Then he gave him another brief dose of the Cruciatus curse, and once it was over Mulciber said, “Thank-you my Lord.”

Tom Riddle had a hint of the red gleam in his eyes again, as he layed the Cruciatus onto Wilkes and then swiftly placed it on Macnair.

Riddle laughed syncophantically as he said heartlessly, “simultaneous infliction… Promotes camaradie. Or killing two birds with one stone.”

Once he relinquished the hold of the curses on Wilkes and Macnair, they continued to pant and hyperventilate for a minute. But Riddle took no notice of them.

“Now…What shall happen to the rest? Although you did not attack or terrorize. I am sure you all would have gone against my orders, given the chance.”

He strode over to where Lestrange was seated and entered his mind through Legilimency. “Yes you…Lestrange! Your dirty imagination is also harboring infatuation. Intimate relationships are not to be formed.”

“Yes Master!,” he pleaded.

But Voldemort had already lazily ficked his wand and whispered harshly “crucio!”

Once it was over, he was about to torture just one more when, Rookwood bravely asked from the other side of the row, “My lord I understand I should not ask. But I am most curious if you are jealous? Is is possible that you…l-love her?

This distracted Tom Riddle completely from finishing the task of making the whole group suffer. Voldemort drew a sharp wild, breath in as he surveyed the whole, his eyes blazing with intensity, “No. Let me make myself clear. She is not going to be treated differently at all,” he said in a colorless voice. He then gave a jaunty grin as he said, “But what a story it is Rabastan of when I first saw her potential.”

[LJB85]

So Riddle told them the whole story, from his point of view of when he first started talking to Eileen Prince. The group listened enraptured, many of them still believing that he did have an attraction to her, yet of course he did not. Perhaps Tom was secretely feeling desires to control, manipulate and to be intensely possessive of her, but that was all. There was certainly no love in the air.

Over the next week, Tom heard about the second attack of a mudblood by the basilisk. It had been covered up, as Dumbledore and Dippit did not think it wise to tell the whole school what was going on and luckily nobody had seen the petrified muggle-borns.

Inivisible, Tom listened at the foot of the gargoyles, guarding the staffroom to the professors discussing it.

“That poor boy and girl,” Professor Merrythought said with sad desperation. “Is there anything we can do?”

“The Herbology professor is making the mandrake restorative draught,” Flitwick answered in a squeaky voice.

“Yes, but who is attacking our students?”, Professor Merrythought asked, glancing at Dumbledore.

“I wish I had proof, Galatea. I believe, even if Headmaster Dippit doesn’t that the legend of the chamber is true. I'm almost sure it is the heir of Slytherin, unleashing it’s weapon to purge the school,” said Dumbledore pausing between sentences as he marshaled his thoughts.

Galetea Merrythought made a loud whimpering cry and said, “Already a Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff! It must be-“

“We cannot accuse…there is no evidence to who is behind the attacks,” Dumbledore said commandingly.

Tom stepped away from where he was eavesdropping. He was smiling that awful smile and there was a manic glint in his eyes, as his heart filled with pride because he was the Heir of Slytherin. He longed to tell them all, that it was him behind the attacks. He wished he could get recognition, but he knew he would have to wait. “One day the history of Howarts will be re-written. With I, Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort having a prominent place as the heir to the greatest of the four founders,” he thought as he swiftly went back to the safety of his common room.

__________________________________________________ _______

Eileen recounted to Riddle what happened to her after the Initiation ceremony during breakfast earlier, before the evening he had listened before the Staffroom. Eileen thought it safer to do in public to avoid Tom’s unpredictable temper and intimidation.

She squeezed in beside him on the benches and said gently, “Tom I have to tell you something important.” As soon as she said this, Avery and Wilkes looked up at her with curiosity from several feet down the table. “It’s a question about the Prefect duties,” she added rather loudly. Thankfully, the two followers looked away after that and went on with the last minute writing of their potions essays for Slughorn.

“Actually it’s not really about that.... Do you know what happened to me that night in the Forbidden forrest? I woke up hours later after being lev-“

“Eileen,” Riddle interrupted impatiently. “I heard all about it.’

“How?,” said Eileen completely dumbstruck, her expression confused.

“I have spies within my group, that I pick to watch particular members,” he spat at her, after pausing to take a drink of milk and a bite of toast.

Eileen just nodded, her expression wilting into disappointment, as there was no sympathy from him. She was not really surprised, as she was starting to notice that there were things Riddle was not going to tell her. If only she knew the ones that might effect her negatively.

A moment later Riddle spoke: “Next Monday, meet me in front of the statue of the one-eyed witch to show me what you have.... You are working on the deal I ordered you to fulfill?,” he questioned her with a note of warning.

“I’ve been able to get some stuff. But the money is harder to come by.”

Riddle smiled half-way and said, “I want the money more than other silly things you might offer. IF you don’t GET the galleons for me,” he spoke forcefully.

Eileen grabbed Riddle’s hand resting on the table and said zealously, “I promise, Tom. I’ll have it. Don't you realize, how...I'll do anything for you?!”

Riddle tensed from Eileen having the gall to touch him, with a disgusted look on his face. Then his expression changed into a smile, lighting his eyes, “I know you would Eileen."

[LJB85]

{You've got to read this...it is going to surprise you...I know it really needs to get going in plot!}

Chapter: A DIABOLICAL DILEMMA

A week later, Eileen was walking down the lonely side-way corridor near the third floor, the floor that the statue of the one-eyed witch is located. The wind rattled and whistled down the corridor from the windows that were open where a burly young boy was standing in front of them, enjoying the feel of the cold air, yet there was no sunshine as it was the evening. He couldn’t go out becuase the Headmaster temporarily was allowing nobody to leave the castle. The school had finally been addressed about the attacks. Dippit and the others wanted to make sure nobody was smuggling any items of dark magic in. Dumbledore knew that this could not be the case, and had told Armando, who still did not listen, as he took the legend of the chamber with a grain of salt. Yet Dippit knew deep down, it must be the Heir of Slytherin and his chamber, but if it was that he knew he could do nothing to stop them or find it, so he did not want to tell others the truth. Therefore, most the school had not found out about the Chamber of Secrets being re-opened was true…but that would soon change with the Ministry’s involvement and getting the Daily Prophet, who would believe Dumbledore’s account of events at Hogwarts over Dippit’s.

Once she got down the third floor, she saw Riddle near the end of it. She walked as fast as she could carrying a large package. Moments, later she fixed her hair as she presented herself in front of Riddle eyed the package she had almost greedily, but then his expression became sour. He swiftly muttered “diffindo” and the statue opened up. “You first, Eileen,” he said politely.

She took a breath and then went down, surprised by the chute of several yards that led her to what lied beneath. As she surveyed the atmosphere she jumped when she saw it was pitch-black within this secret passage, she had never been in. She wondered if it was a cave? Or a cavern? Whatever it was, Eileen shuddered at the thought of being alone down here with Tom.

She turned around suddenly to hear Tom clinkling down. He lowered himself methodically. Climbing like it was a ladder. Once down, he whirled around with his wand lit and raised.

Stepping over to Eileen, he said, “Were going a bit further in. But don’t be nervous, Eileen. We can enjoy ourselves being alone,” he said with mirthful sarcasm.
They walked for a few minutes, and then suddenly Riddle guided her sideways near the walls.

“Sometimes I come here when not in the library at night to do things and also…I’ll admit to you, hide things,” he stated lightly.

“What do you do?” Eileen asked tentatively.

“Perhaps brew a potion, I was intrigued by or…conduct business,” he said smiling to reveal all his white teeth, which Eileen could not make out, between her own and Riddle’s lighted wand.

His demeanor seemed to have changed. “So…unwrap the package you brought,” he suddenly stated, blandly.

Eileen quickly did so, untieing the string and setting it on the floor. Riddle knelt down with Eileen and eyed the assortment of objects. He picked up a plate and looked at in the light.

“That has been in my family for five generations and it does have an immense supply of magical powers in it,” Eileen nervously rushed, afraid he would get angry she was trying to keep talking, and maybe he would not frighten her like he usually did.

“Really?” Riddle said with some doubt, looking into both of Eileen’s eyes. “Well see.” He tried a few simple spells in which only one of them worked. Then did “specialis revelio” non-verbally.

Riddle put his hand over the heirloom, as his expression turned to mild disgust, pursing his lips. “There is no more than a few magical traces. Either this is a very old magical artifact, or you’re lieing. I tend to believe the former,” he said, his voice gradually going into a deep whisper.

Eileen trembled and opened her mouth to speak but stopped when Riddle continued with the next two. He roughly withdrew a metal carving of an elephant that was a few inches tall.

Riddle quickly performed the same magical tests, Eileen squeezing her hands in anticipation of how he would react next. But in reality, Riddle was not react. So far, he was not really surprised. He expected at least some failure for many reasons, some still not obvious.

Once finished, he suddenly threw the elephant across the cave-like passage, so that it landed silently in the heaps of dirt, far off in the distance.

“Tom,” she moaned. “My grandfather made that.”

“Look for it later,” he said antipathetically. “You’ll have a job of finding it though,” he said carelessly.

Eileen bit her lip and pondered how anyone could be so lacking in understanding or even just the simplest consideration that it was hers?

Finally after viewing the last object (a small picture) “A negligent amount again,” Riddle said, tossing it on the ground and standing up, which Eileen followed suit.

“Come on. What else, Eileen? Money at least right?”

Eileen nodded fervently and quickly took out of her inner-pocket of her robes a small sac.

Riddle eyed it greedily and then snatched it, holding it. Then taking a few out to make sure the galleons were real.

“How much?,” he pressed her.

“One hundered and fifty. All galleons. I got it at Gringott’s,” she said not sounding so nervous, almost proud.

“So you are able to evade even the Goblin’s discovering your real motives for going to Gingott’s,” he said with maybe a little approval.

“Yes, I knew I had to act-,“ she spoke as Riddle threw the money with a jingle in his pocket.

“Alright, quiet. I’m about to tell you something, Eileen and it just might shock you in surprise,” he added dramatically and continued, “to be so…naïve to not even realize.”

“Realize what, Tom?”

“What I’ve been doing. Even now you don’t notice?,” he stated in a deep and harsh, ambiguous tone.

Riddle stopped for a few seconds, then began to speak almost like he was just thinking aloud, “I knew I saw a potential in you that night just before Christmas. I knew I could easily get what I needed to see you do, and I was right. But now, don’t you see Eileen?,” he stopped, with a penetrating gaze as he smiled at her, thinking of the simple beauty of his plan.

Eileen shook her head and exasperated Riddle erupted, “It’s a ruse! A clever ruse.” He laughed gleefully for a couple of seconds.

Eileen eyes lit-up in surprise and her eyebrows went up.

Riddle glared at her, annoyed at what he believed foolish lack of judgment, “I thought you had brains to see, that if I really wanted your silly family heirlooms and wealth that I would have done more? At least monitored, even have you make a vow.”

“What?” Eileen gasped, and her mind worked quickly, reflecting backwards all the way to when she had first talked to him in the Slytherin common room.

Riddle looked deep into the brown sparks of Eileen’s pupils in her eyes, as he saw what she was thinking. “Yes Eileen. This was all a test I conducted. Remember Christmas night after the dinner with old Slughorn? Well, I made to get you away from the sordid socializing. So I meneurvered us, to go out on the grounds Eileen to break the so-called deal I made with you. Then later, I enticed you, feeding your appetite of ideals of romance?”

“Oh!,” Eileen breathed, “When you kissed me? But Tom, I know it was real. I could feel it.”

Riddle smiled, looking even more cunning as he said with a demon-like glint in his eye, “Well, believe that then. “ I told you of the plan, the little gimmick I created. Of course, it was inspired by your little monlogue to Slughorn.”

Eileen jaw dropped, as her stomach felt like it did as well. Tom was always listening…
“I continued forward with this simple ploy,” he stated with smooth deliberation. “I reminded you often to get me what I ordered, don’t you recall? It kept you on edge,” he said as he smirked from the humor he found in it.

“It did!” said Eileen rather indignantly.

“Now we shall move forward Eileen with the real matters at hand. Which is to say, I’ve seen worse attempts, but also better. And you did not satisfy the order, if it was real. But now will learn he said,” he said raising his wand, slowly, “you’ll know better next time, won’t you Eileen?” he said with artificial glibness.

Eileen felt sick, with fear and dread as she thought that it was really a trap, a dilemma and that he was probably going to use the cruciatus curse. She suddenly thought, even if I had not gotten anything, she would be in the same situation. Almost no matter how well she complied with his orders, she would be in the same boat. She realized how unfair it was, even if it wasn’t a genuine concern of Riddle’s. Tom Riddle was a diabolical mastermind, a brillaint strategist, and this was only a sample of his plotting.

But she still felt passion for him, and desired desperately some relief, yet of course she felt hurt and upset. She decided to show that first, “But th-then, you were lieing and I was did nothing against you, Tom! This is irrational,” she bravely added.

Riddle sneered and said, “This was completely controlled. I knew with exactitiude, pressing all the right buttons. I’m quite an actor,” he simpered egotistically.

“You…You. I believed you. You were so sincere,” Eileen stammered.

Riddle laughed, at her delusions of his character. If there was anything he was not, it was sincere.

“And when you said my family has money and power. You seemed to really want what I could offer!,” she tried to convince herself and Riddle.

“Yes, plundering after your silly heirlooms and tiny flows of money, is exactly what I must rely on,” he said with complete sarcasm. “You are not significant to me, Eileen! Like I, a future Dark Lord would hold you, a mere follower who has proven nothing to high-esteem,” he continued, brutally demeaning her, “Trite and insignificant is all you are…presently.”

“But isn’t our relationship, have even more to it than that! Aren’t I SPECIAL to you?,” she screamed almost the top of her voice.

“No…,” he said calmly. Then he said to comfort her, “Perhaps once you’ve proven a little and your given the Elixir I will,” he said and he winked at her. “Then you may even have another reward,” he said charmingly.

Eileen sighed, still feeling very tense and becoming emotionally drained from this shocking truth of her relationship.

“But for the time being,” he said becoming irked by her boldness. You do not yell when addressing me…and you are to address me as ‘master’ or ‘My Lord’ when alone with me.”

He waited for her to answer, “Yes, my lord.”

Riddle was breathing hard as he raised his arm and spoke, “Ready for your first experience with the Cruciatus curse?”

“No!,” she said her knees shaking, feeling terror.

Riddle swiftly smashed the plate on the ground with his wand and as he did so Eileen tried to treat, falling back on the ground.

Riddle came forward slowly and lowered himself over Eileen with menace. “master forgive me! I did not do anything!”

Riddle bellowed, “CRUCIO!” at her heart and she was writhing in excruiting pain.


Tom Riddle, consumed in his empty anger, that was like a bottomless pit. He stopped the cruciatus, as Eileen was reaching a form of breaking point.

“A little pause…Ah…yes. I have fantasized as I waited Eileen,” he said, breathing from some kind of stimulation he was getting.

He then leaned over her, almost on top as he looked deeply into her face. He did not admit, that the real reason for his ruse against her was so that he would corner her and she would have to accept this.

Once again, he placed the curse onto her, aiming near her bosom.

When it was over, Riddle said soothingly, “But I’m not being unscrupulous Eileen. I’m entitled to it. Now…are you learning to be obedient?”

Eileen did not answer immediately because she believed she had alreeady shown plenty of it and then said gulping, “Yes…My lord.”

Tom took Eileen’s hand and pulled her up off the ground, “Were done. Now let’s go.”

After a few minutes of walking back, Riddle stopped suddenly and put his arm around Eileen, for a fake gesture of affection he wanted to show as he did not want her to break away, or else she may break her vow, and he did not get enough of her yet, to see this follower of his die.

“I always keep my promises,” he said shining his wand in her eyes like a doctor’s instrument, and he saw the sparks in her eyes, were no longer lit with that light she had always had.

“So I’m still getting…my reward,” she said, feeling relief for him to finally show a gentleness again.

“Yes…I will get Rookwood to brew the Elixir of Youth for you, now."

“Okay, Tom” and he allowed her to say it, just because he knew there was only so much somebody as knew as her could bare. Eileen’s heart burst from the wounds she felt deep in her spirit, she was almost sobbing.

They continued walking, Tom actually held her hand. He felt no affection, but he liked that he had control over this girl.

As they neared the chute to climb back up it’s steep embankment Riddle said, “Never forget. I could do even worse things to you than even the cruciatus.”

Eileen did not answer, as she really wanted to avoid all those thoughts, especially now that she felt a little better.
As they quickly climbed out of the statue of the one-eyed witch Eileen appeared, disheveled and dirty, from the trip. Riddle, meanwhile only had a light sprinkling of dirt over his robes, more pronounced on the hem.

Riddle continued with her, no longer holding her hand, as they were walked along the corridors a moment later, with only a few minutes until they were supposed to be out of the halls to observe curfew. Eileen got another glimpse at the burly, large boy with shaggy hair.

“Do you know who he is Eileen?,” asked Tom, dislike etched in his voice.

“No..” she answered.

“It’s this stupid, half-breed oaf, Rubeus Hagrid he calls himself.”

“Oh…he’s not in Slytherin right?” she said hopefully.

“No, he’s a Gryffindor, and a big blundering fool as most everyone knows.”

Eileen did not question it, but rather trusted Riddle’s words.

Once they got in the common room, they departed each other for the night. Eileen thought thankfully that Tom does not know her worst fears, as she thought they would certainly be worse than the cruciatus curse.

[LJB85]

Chapter Eleven: An Ensnaring Incentive

Towards the end of the week, Slughorn sent out invitations to all the members of the Slug Club, including Tom Riddle and Eileen Prince, as well as many of the followers who happened to be in the Slug Club. All in all, there was about a dozen young witches and wizards who showed up, which comprised most of the Slug Club.

For the small sociable, as it was not quite a party, Slughorn had managed collecting through the Slug club members, their famous familiy and some of them came. But when Riddle arrived, alone but confident, he could care less to talk with the recluse, named Gabathun Hornby (related to Oliver Hornby), who created magical techniques for house-keeping. Riddle wasn’t remotely interested in this cousin of Oliver’s or for that matter, the current Captain of the Irish International Quidditch Team.

“Everybody enjoy yourselves,” Slughorn announced in a booming voice. “We usually have bigger parties here,” he said more to the two famous guests and Gabathun looked like he was quickly turning bored.

Tom Riddle, was also in a torpid mood in a sense. There was an agenda he wanted to accomplish tonight and for now he would have to wait. So, he quickly joined the crowd pretending to listen to the Irish Quidditch team captain, Patrick Connelly regale the group of a so-called “heroic tale” of his last match against Romania.

Tom remained quiet as most of the other people broke off into groups to socialize. He was very used to having people come to him by now and knew within moments there would be a group of his chums accompanying him.

As if magnetically attracted, Avery came forward holding a butterbeer and clapping Hornby around the shoulders. “Hey, Riddle Did you know about Hornby’s cousin? He tried to sell his magical cleaning supplies to muggles! Ha! Ha!

Riddle shook his head, as he undetectably to others clenched his teeth, not caring for this lame joke. Avery had some nerve to approach him so casually and to think he cared about the topic of cleaning supplies. Where was his respect?, Riddle seethed to himself.

Avery seemed to be slowly picking up on Riddle's coldness. Oliver just smiled sheepishly at Tom, looking nervous, and then he left. Perhaps he was perceptive enough to see that Tom wanted him to disappear.

“My apologies, Riddle,” Avery spoke with an odd reverence for such a casual party. Tom continued to appraise him coldly. Reading into Avery’s inner-thoughts, he commented “It is strange that Eileen Prince isn’t here.”

Riddle started to wonder where she could be and came up with a very likely possibility. Before Riddle had seen into Avery’s mind, Eileen had not been on his mind, unless you counted the fact that he was going to corner Rookwood later about the Elixir of Youth for her to take.

Tom then flitted over to where Rookwood was with Lestrange, who were having a conversation, unnoticed by the other surrounding people. Although Slughorn may have intended this Slug Club meeting to be a small, intimate gathering among friends, Riddle did not treat it as such. Instead, he spent the next fifteen minutes cornering some of his followers, dropping hints about how he expected them to act both in the club and outside it.

“Discussing Eileen Prince?” he asked with a cool harshness.

“Yes…we were,” said Rabastan languidly, averting his eyes.

Riddle almost guffawed at their stupidity in thinking of him as and her as romantic partners. They had better stop thinking that there is more to the relationship than servant and master, he thought. Riddle was not going to make a remark, when it burst out in spite of himself his true feelings towards Eileen, “She’s a very boring, shy little…brat.” He paused and said charmingly, “But she simply adores me.”

“Most girls fancy you,” said Rookwood flatly, and with definitive ease.

Tom unflattered, sighed exasperatedly and frowned slightly. After taking a drink of butterbeer Rookwood said, “But you always manage to scare them away the short time your with…w-“ Rookwood caught his breath, realized he may be going too far.

Riddle just inwardly cursed Rookwood for his insatiable curiosity about himself. Really, it was none of his business.

Dictating the terms of the conversation Riddle changed the subject, speaking in a whisper, “Remember I told you I wanted an Elixir of Youth to be brewed, Rookwood? I want you to start it now.”

Rookwood looked again, even more curious clearly thinking about how it must be for Eileen, but not daring to continue talking about someone his gang leader did not want to speak of to him. His mind back on the Elixir he gaped, “But-But it will-“

“Yes, take a few weeks, I know,” said Tom impatiently. “Come to the library after and I’ll…tell you how to go about it,” he finished as he glanced at the only two young witches of the party who were watching Tom, suppressing their giggles.

“Okay boys,” said Slughorn and he added to the two, “and girls.” Slughorn had arranged the chairs in a half-circle, and the remaining half a dozen individuals sat down in front of Slughorn reclined in his velvet pouffe and arm-chair.

“Tom,” said Slughorn casually pointing to the chair in the center. Riddle, used to this by now, was already swaggering over to it.

The girls nearby jumped and then pranced to the front as everyone else went to sit down. Silently racing, unnoticed by all but Tom Riddle who was the only who was aware of their competing for him. Riddle just ignored the girls with complete indifference. The girl who was behind at the last second discretely pushed and elbowed her friend and sat down in a huff next to Tom.

In another short moment, Slughorn sat down, disappointment etched in the lines of his face. His party had not gone as wonderfully and entertainingly as he had hoped, especially since the two prominent guests wanted to leave early.

“Well now, Tom. Thanks for sending me, three bottles of the finest elf-made wine. I must wonder how you can afford to spend on an old man like me,” he said as he poured himself a drink and then Tom a drink, but nobody else. Riddle of course, had gotten the wine from a follower who went into Hogsmeade, using the money he took from Eileen.

There was nervous titters of laughter throughout the room. The two girls did not laugh, but stared at Tom as if hypnotized by his handsome carved features. Riddle just nodded and did not answer this question of the money, as he saw no purpose.

Of course, Tom Riddle was what some might call the apple of Professor Slughorn’s eyes, as he continued like he ususually said, “Yes, you’ll go far, Tom.” Re-focusing briefly on the other Slug clubbers, Slughorn noticed the girl on Riddle's right, subconsciously picking up on her obvious desire for him he said, “Blood like yours, you could marry into the most prestigious wizarding family of your choice.”

Suppressing his aversion towards marriage, Riddle took a sip of the wine and then said with calm lightness, “I’m afraid I’m not the marrying type, professor.”

The girls were now blushing. Riddle did not even look at them, yet he knew that they must be doing that. He was not in the mood to play one of his manipulative “games” with them. As to, Tom Riddle relationships with girls he fancied him, was really just a game.

After an awkward silence, the girl across the circle from Tom, who did not get to sit next to him said, “What do you think of the attacks, sir? Is it definitely the heir of Slytherin and his monster?”

Slughorn, eyed everyone, as his expression wilted into a touch of sadness.

Riddle swallowed hard, turning slightly paler. He managed to completely control his wish that people could know it was him. Yet the desire to be held accountable was unbearable, as Riddle was so fiercely proud.

If only he could relieve himself from it. A tinny, bit of him wanted to be apprehended for the crimes, to get some satisfaction. But reason told him that in the far future, gone from Hogwarts it would be known.

“We must go by what Dumbledore says, in my opinion.” Slughorn spoke thoughtfully. “He believes the legend of the chamber to be true. The monster of Slytherin is making itself known, as for the heir of Slytherin…I have no idea.”

Riddle almost could not bare the suspsense and the storm going on inside every of him. Meanwhile, some of the followers, who long ago had suspected and been told about by their gang leader’s about his famous ancestor, determindly suppressed this. Avery faked a coughing fit, from nerves.

Then Slughorn clapped his hands, and yawning, as he wanted to pretend to be fatigued, “Good night! I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I know I did.”

Slowly the group left the room, Tom reluctantly left last. He was feeling irritated at all this romantic attention he seemed to be receiving. His thoughts concerned the affects of the Elixir. If even, the slightest error the results could be devastating. But that was more than okay, with Tom. It could be highly amusing to watch Eileen deteriorate, he considered.

[LJB85]

Rookwood was hunched over, waiting at the entrance of the library, Riddle inconspicously signaled him to come with him and they went to the back of the library where he had met Eileen a few weeks ago.

In the corner of the last shelf, Tom swiped a book out that he himself was very familiar with, as he had considered several years ago starting with the Elixir of Life, which took years to make and would require his own laboratory. But now of course, he knew horcruxes were a much better commodity for himself to be immortal.

“Here," Tom said thrusting it in Rookwoods hands. "Read the instructions several times …then it must be done with total precision, ,” said Riddle with rakish toughness.

“Yes…of course,” Rookwood whispered, as he started to leaf through it and found the Elixir of Youth.

Rookwood, tried to hide his reluctance towards brewing this extremely dangerous liquid, that even had the power to transform into a black stone to keep it on hand more conveinently.

“Gosh…seventy disparate elements. I’ll have to work whenever I can,“ said Rookwood, trying to hide his feelings to complain, that he must be assigned this most arduous task.

“Yes, you better. The work station will be safest under the statue on the third floor. It can be made within a few weeks Rookwood and that is when…it shall be done,” Riddle said speaking with quick-witted acuity.

“Yes, I’ll have it...but why make her such a special potion?” he questioned inquisitively.

Riddle said scornfully, “The elixir is for Eileen to to have genuine allegiance.”

There was of course, more to Tom’s thinking on it than making Eileen loyal, but he did not wish to delve into it with another of his minions. Riddle’s mentality was that Augustus’s sole duty was to undergo the process of creating it and not to ask questions.

Tom looked Augustus in the eyes, lingering with a serious expression. He saw in Rookwood’s mind that he was wondering why Riddle cared to make this potion for Eileen, if he didn’t have something important between them.

“I see... those thoughts Augustus…I don’t have ties with her in that ridiculous sense,” Riddle said, as he inwardly shook off his anger at being reminded how people thought he was doting over Eileen because there was love there.

With indifference Tom shrugged and said, “The affects are dangerous if you make a slight error and if she ever withdraws from it…oh well….guess she’ll have to depend on us,” he added smiling as he spoke quickly.

Rookwood laughed, deluded in the belief that he shared a two-way friendship with Tom Riddle.

Feeling more comfortable, Augustus confessed his complaints, “I will have to make this once a month. Once she takes this, she can’t stop and I’ll be-“

Lightning quick on the uptake, Riddle’s expression changed into a hint of anger, “Is this a poor excuse to stop complying with my-“

No, my lord!,” Augustus answered with terror. “Just why do it when it’s not to serve you?”

“I told you it’s for allegiance to me. Initially, Side-affects are similar to felix felicis. She’ll be elated and more than willing towards me,” said Tom, as he laughed lightly.

“But…” Rookwood began again, as he dropped his voice conspiratorally. “But what happens the day that she isn’t given it?”

Tom Riddle smiled gloatingly, tracing his fingers over his lips and said, “Put it this way…her life will be under great peril from the withdrawal…”

Tom, hearing somebody walk by, saw Eileen carrying a stack of books. Riddle immediately started to head in her direction, and Rookwood decided it would be wise to leave Riddle to speak with Eileen Prince alone.

[LJB85]

Undected by Eileen, Tom watched her in the shadows as she marched back over to the desk she was working at. She seemed feverishly interested in something. Her deep brown eyes kept skimming rapidly over the books spread out.

Riddle snaked up right behind her chair without making a sound and surveyed what she was doing.

After a moment Tom said pleasantly, “Ah…glad to see your keeping up on my family history.”

Eileen’s head snapped up in surprise, with that mixture of fear and awe evident on her plain features.

Eileen had just spent her whole entire evening of lesiure time searching for anything about the Riddle family, until she realized that not a single one of them must have been magic. She did not mind missing the Slug Club party, if only she could learn more about the boy she adored.

She then went plowing through old wizarding records to search for hints about Tom’s maternal side. Eileen did not mind at all. She loved to read and had a small library of classics and encyclopedias at Stonewall Estate, as well as being an avid researcher.

Tom Riddle swooped down beside her.

“You won’t discover my famous ancestor …I‘ve kept the evidence …I may not have much to say on my worthless father or my weakling of a mother, but yes, there is power in my past.”

As Tom, spoke over this it was bordering on an obsessive rant. Tom was gaining satisfaction from what he was to reveal to Eileen within the deserted corner of the library tonight. If he couldn’t get satisfaction, from telling everyone he was the heir who had opened the Chamber of Secrets he could at least reveal to his newest member the dark glamour of his family’s notorius past. He knew his followers, including Eileen would never be tell anyone he could be the heir of Slytherin, nor would there be any evidence while Tom was at Hogwarts.

Riddle plundered ruthlessly on with his monologue, “The blood that runs through my veins is none other than the greatest of the four Hogwarts founders….,” Tom paused for dramatic effect. “I’m the last living descendent of the noble, Salazar Slytherin. Slytherin prided himself on pure-bloods of course, seeking the most cunning wizards. Tom Riddle, that is to say I will prove Slytherin’s case over mudbloods and the other filth. I-“

“Amazing! You’re the last descendent. Who-,” Eileen said, speaking fast.

Riddle’s dark blue-grey eyes slanted. He said with frustration, “Stop interrupting and listen!”

Eileen knew it was unnatural anger. Like a switch had been turned on and then abruptly off.

He went back to his monologue, composing his passion over what he had unearthed just several months ago about his parentage, “I found through the geneology records that it was the Gaunts, was my mother’s maiden name. I have yet to meet them, but plan on learning why she died. I'm going to the Gaunt’s to commit to something,” he added evasively.

Eileen was staring dreamily at Tom Riddle. Suddenly he averted his eyes and looked away from her, his mind somewhere else. He was thinking of his plans to do that special, first murder to make his first horcrux after the school-year ended.

Eileen, meanwhile was so focused on Tom, when he could care less for her involvement with him in the grand scheme of things.

Her curiosity peaking, she was going to ask Tom what this thing was that he wanted to commit with his family was. Her mind being so innocent in comparison to Riddle’s, she imagined Tom would perhaps feel better, and be healed from what she thought was his regret over being an orphan, after seeing his relatives for the first time in his life. But she knew it would be futile to ask what it was, having learned of his penchant for secrets.

“May I ask about the Elixir you said Rookwood would brew for me?,” Eileen said politely.

Riddle looked at her slowly, and said in an empty voice, “Yes, it shall be ready in three weeks. You’ll take about an ounce daily.”

His demeanor flickered into eagerness and charm, “It’s very rare for potions to work on such a meager consumption. But it is wonderfully powerful, Eileen. I’m sure you’ll feel fulfilled once you have your heart's desire."

Eileen sighed. This potion was very unknown to her, and naturally she feared meddling with something she was ignorant about.

“Are you sure it’s safe? It sounds quite the contrary from being wonderful, it seems terribly powerful to me” Eileen replied candidly.

“I don’t see how it can be terrible when the only side-effect in the beginning is elation,” said Riddle pretending to sound unnerved by Eileen’s belief that it could be terrible. “Your very fortunate, Eileen to know me and your getting something that I know you want.”

“Well that is true, your right,” said Eileen softly, smiling.

A moment later, her smile faltered. “What about when the elixir runs out?”

Riddle laughed and said with an inscrutable expression, hiding what he knew about of it's affects, “You’ll never be without it once Rookwood masters alchemical transformation to make it into the stone. Then…Eileen. Then, you can drink of it forever.”

Riddle was being completely unrealistic and superficial here. He knew it was unlikely Rookwood would ever create the Elixir of Youth into the perfect form, of the black stone. But he knew it was the best reasoning he could use to pursuade Eileen.

“Oh alright,” she said and Riddle noted the tension falling off of her thin silhouette at her shoulders.

Riddle smiled, wide his eyes lit with energy. “Good night, Eileen.” He rose and left her there alone.

She slowly started re-shelving the books she had taken out, thinking of all he had told her. She was mixed with fear and anticipation.

Although the library was closing in five minutes, she rushed over to where she knew that book was that contained the instructions and information on the Elixir of Youth.

She felt a desperate sense of dread and fear, when she realized the book had been taken out. Logically, she reasoned it must have been Augustus Rookwood.

But then, Eileen’s fear was almost swallowed whole by her desire to see Tom, and for him to see her become beautiful under the Elixir. She was living in anticipation of the day he would perhaps see her as beautful, and she could then, measure up to him in terms of looks. Maybe, then he’ll become closer to me she reasoned.

[LJB85]

Chapter Twelve: Accosting and Acquittal


On a Saturday morning in the first week of February, Tom Riddle and Eileen Prince had prefect duties that involved mainly patrolling the castle. It had always worked that Eileen had one area and Tom the other. It was a habit of them to split up on duty like before, when they had not gotten to know each other well before now. Tom of course, enjoyed operating his duties alone.

He was patrolling the halls of the dungeons that led to the Slytherin common room, when he took a usual short-cut of his to get to the west end of the castle. Riddle made his way, striding with purpose through a hollowed door-way that led down a staircase to the lower dungeons. The one most students were too terrified to venture in, especially as Apollyon Pringle (the sadistic caretaker) liked to use them.

Tom stopped on the first landing and entered the dark abyss, that was completely empty. His footsteps echoed over the stone flagged floor, his lit wand shimmering over it. It was so silent and dark, most people would have felt tense, but Tom pereferred silence and darkness.

After a minute, he had almost reached the other end of the castle and the stair-case leading up to the light when he distinctly heard a door swing shut, and a voice. Riddle’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration, as he listened in to discover whom the voice belonged to, as he groped around with his only light of his wand to find the door.

“Sorry…but I gotta take care of yer down here. Don’t want nobody seeing you…Ara,” the voice was husky and gentle at the same time.

Just then, Riddle’s hand closed around the handle, and he pushed it open, eager to accost the person he knew it was. Entering the tiny room, as small as a dank cupboard he shouted, “Rubeus!”

It was indeed Rubeus Hagrid. The boy Eileen had seen and been told by Tom to be the big blundering fool of Gryffindor. Rubeus’s beetle black eyes seemed to flash with defiance as he asked, “What do you want with me now, Tom?”

Not moving any closer to Hagrid, Riddle crossed his arms lazily, and raised his chin up. Hagrid was a few inches taller than him, but that was certainly not going to stop him from exerting his power and control.

Speaking as if talking to someone slow Riddle said, “I’ve seen you with that acromantula before,” and he pointed a long finger to indicate it, lying in the box. “And you couldn't know I was present,” he said pausing in his explanation. “So as a prefect I believe that you have broken far too many school-rules, Rubeus. The point is, your in trouble all the time and it’s time it was reported."

“But she’s not dangerous! Aragog’s-“ argued Hagrid with vehemenence.

Riddle drew in his breath and said ina sultry, dull tone, “Regardless it still goes against the rules set down by Hogwarts,”

“What rule?” Hagrid challenged him.

“For one thing…students are allowed to bring a cat owl or toad. Nothing about a spider, you stupid oaf,” Riddle snapped, his face contorted with revulsion as he continued to look at Hagrid.

Riddle made a few steps closer to Hagrid. Instinctively, Hagrid knew that Riddle was aiming to snatch the box with Aragog in it. Howling, Hagrid dropped his beloved spider out of it’s box and onto the floor, and it scuttled away.

Riddle felt a surge of rage, as he was going to use the spider as proof. Before he could try an incantation to bring it back, Rubeus upset, channeled that into anger and lunged at Riddle, flailing his arms. They were both knocked on the hard floor, Hagrid on top of Riddle.

Rubeus threw a couple of hard punches at Riddle’s stomach, thinking it would knock him off balance and he could seize his wand. Riddle did not seem to register the pain, but continued to fight to get his control back. It was almost like he was immune to pain, as he didn’t even wince. Hagrid tried to grasp Riddle’s wand, but failed as Riddle yelled, “Incarcerous!”

Hagrid was now bound in ropes and Tom got to his feet, looking furious, but struggling to reach his normal level of control.

“Enough of this, Rubeus!,” said Riddle who was truly frustrated. “Stop struggling and obey me, and I’ll release you. As a prefect it is my job to apprehend you. Were going to Professor Dippit… but first-,” he said with a mix of arrogance and a note of warning.

He raised his wand, and eyed Hagrid as if summing up his possibilities. Then a gleam of inspiration, that made him look ugly hit Riddle, and in a flash he used a spell that caused a wide gash on Hagrid’s left cheekbone. Not explaining his reasoning Riddle, knelt down as a smile curled the corners of his mouth.

“One more time can’t hurt your dismal disciplinary record, can it Rubeus? But maybe, you’ll be expelled,” Riddle said softly.

Hagrid was breathing hard, and he looked like he was becoming increasingly emotional, ready to lash out again.

Releasing Hagrid, who jumped up immediately, Riddle pushed him forward, and then poked his wand in his back, as they left the room., “It is only a responsbility of mine report this aberrent behavior. We can’t have students like you, with dangerous secrets and illegal creatures. You should be ashamed of yourself, Rubeus.” Riddle was primarily saying this to make Hagrid feel guilty and to set him up properly to weaken him before they got to the Headmaster’s study.

In a few minutes they were nearing the corridor that led to the stone gargoyle’s of the entrance to Dippit’s quarters.

Riddle continued to berate Hagrid, trying to frighten him even more as he said in a whisper, “Nervous, Rubeus? Scared? I know the worst, imbeciles and miscreants like you, are punished by Apollyon Pringle. Do you know how?” Riddle laughed a dry chuckle at the thought of it.

As they were turning the corridor, Eileen Prince appeared to be patrolling her area of the castle. At the sight of Tom with that boy she had been told about, she hurried forward, clearly curious. Coming closer, she noticed Riddle leading Hagrid forward with his wand, and she tensed. To Eileen, it looked like this boy, was in some sort of serious trouble.

About to ask a question, Eileen opened her mouth but Riddle spoke before she could start, “Lucky I found him. He’s raising dark, lethal creatures in the lower dungeons, Eileen. I’m taking him to the Headmaster. You just…,” he muttered and then pausing as he was considering using Eileen as a further back-up. “Go and forget about. I’ll take care of it.”

Eileen did not look like she wanted to agree. But before Riddle could see this, he was already passing her as they walked down the corridor. Eileen stood there, contemplating how she should react. She decided that it was probably standard procedure to get the student in trouble their head of house. So she hurried back down the corridor in the other direction, towards Dumbledore’s office.

[LJB85]

Professor Dippit was pulling on his traveling cloak rushing to leave for an appointment with the minister of magic about the attacks, when there was a loud knock on the door. “Enter,” the old wizard said.

“Riddle…I’m sorry I have somewhere I have to be.” Dippit did not even seem to acknowledge that Hagrid was there. Hagrid was standing right next to Riddle though, his hands as large as saucers, balled into fists.

Riddle looked straight into the headmaster’s beady black eyes and he saw that it had to do with the Chamber of Secrets being opened, as this was on Dippit’s mind

“I have urgent news, sir…”

“Oh!” said Dippit becoming intrigued.

Riddle swallowed hard, his courage mounting and had the gall to burst out, “It might very well concern the prepetrator of these….heinous attacks.”

Dippit’s eyes became wide and he finally spotted Hagrid. “Do you mean you saw something from this boy you brought with you?”

“That’s right, sir. He’s using illict creatures as an accessory to his crimes to do his bidding,” Riddle spoke with a savage fervor, as if repulsed.

Riddle stopped to wait for the Headmaster’s reply, to this most unsettlings news, but none came. Instead Hagrid let out a roar of frustration and then said, “I never hurt any student! Aragogs done nothin’ neither!”

Dippit’s voice became uncharacteristically sharp, “Who’s Aragog? And what is your name, year, and house?”

Hagrid’s face fell, as he realized he should not have blurted out Aragog’s name. He looked down at the tiles of the floor and said in an almost defeated voice, “…Rubeus Hagrid. Gryffindor, third year. Ar-Aragog is my pet spider…and I don’t let him near anyone but me!”

“So you admit to owning creatures that aren’t deemed appropriate for a Hogwarts student,” Dippit spoke sternly. “Continue with your explanation, Mr. Riddle,” sounding much milder towards him than Hagrid.

“To be precise, it’s an acromantula Professor Dippit,” Riddle said dramatically and at these words, Dippit suddenly looked like he would explode, his face turning red.

"He's only a baby acromantula!...Professor," Hagrid said in a whimpering tone.

But Dippit semed to not care and was quickly coming to the certainty of Hagrid being guilty. "You shall have your chance to defend yourself, so quiet" he admonished to Hagrid.

“I saw it when patrolling on prefect duties and there he was, hiding the acromantula in the dungeons. I’ve been watching Rubeus for a while and I’ve heard plans to have more than an acromantula, sir.”

“What plans exactly?” Dippit asked in a squeaky voice.

Riddle knew that Hagrid’s dearest ambition was to raise his own dragon so he said looking straight at Hagrid, “He’s been doing his best to get his hands on dragon eggs. Rubeus knows all about where to find them. I’ve even heard him brag that he occasionally goes into the Forbidden Forrest and collects numerous other creatures.”

This was only partly true, but it did not matter to Dippit who was taking the story as being totally factual. It was because Riddle spoke with just the right pursuasion needed to convince the Headmaster.

Hagrid was becoming more and more nervous. He was restraining his vocal cords as hard as he could not to yell again.
Dippit had turned his head and was now eyeing, Hagrid with great suspicion. Taking in the full details of his appearance, Dippit said, “Where did that cut originate from, boy?”

Hagrid slumped his shoulders, thinking of what Riddle had done to him. Tom spoke first with cool confidence, “I think we can conclude it was one of the dangerous beasts he trains, Headmaster.”

Tom was going to use that cut, as he had planned from the moment he had done it, as a method of evidence that Hagrid had dangerous magical animals in his possession.

Dippit nodded, his wrinkles crinkling in apprehension. “I want to see everything you’ve got on you! Turn out your pockets,” Dippit demanded.

Hagrid hesitated, and then delved into his pockets of his crinkled, over-sized school-robes. He pulled out a number of miscellaneous objects, including a handful of seeds, a photograph of his deceased mother, Fridwulfa, and another of him with his tiny father.

Dippit walked over to the little table, Hagrid was throwing them on angrily. The Headmaster walked over to examine the objects, his hands behind his back. After a few seconds, he picked up a small knife.

“Why do you keep a knife, Rubeus?”

Hagrid managed to come up with a good answer, “For cutting up potion ingredients, sir.” Although that was actually a lie.

“I suppose that is a natural reason,” Dippit said and he sighed, feeling a bit more relaxed.

Riddle immediately intervened, “Headmaster, I’m sure you’re going to investigate Hagrid, more fully though? Perhaps his-“

Hagrid suddenly jerked his fist down on the table, knocking many of his own belongings off the table, and they rolled onto the floor, his strength increasing his voice roared like a lion, “I may have broken a few rules, Tom, but my heart in the right place! Unlike you hating anyone whose blood is less than pure. You-you,” Hagrid started to stammer.

“I will not have you insult Riddle in my presence. He is quite possibly the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever had,” Dippit said.

Tom thought how the contrast between them worked so perfectly to his advantage, as he gave a wry smile. Then he spoke, “As you can see, he has a terrible, uncontrolled temper. I don’t see how it can be tolerated much longer.”

“Yes, I agree. I will be keeping a watch on Rubeus for now on, like you had so wisely done."

Hagrid who was still feeling anger and needed to express it physically, but could not was now on the floor picking up the mess.

“He’s too attached to creatures. I suppose it is a sickness or something,” Riddle said logically in an even voice. He was trying to use phrases to make out Hagrid to be a bad seed.

Hagrid now looked like he was shaking with rage, he had just opened his mouth to argue again, when the door of the study opened and Dumbledore was in the room with Eileen Prince right behind him.

[LJB85]

{Finally I end this difficult chapter..that I was not my favorite to write}



“Dumbledore!,” said Hagrid triumphantly.

Hagrid was looking at him with shining eyes.

Riddle and Dippit turned on the spot to face Dumbledore, who came poking through the room wearing a pointed wizard’s hat, which made Dumbledore appear even taller. Eileen, who was of normal stature for a girl of sixteen followed, although she seemed shorter behind him.

“Eileen Prince, a prefect came to my office saying that Hagrid was harboring dangerous creatures in the dungeons. I rest assured that Hagrid has not been found guilty, am I correct?”

“We cannot prove, but I think Hagrid may have a hand in the culprit of the attacks. Riddle came to me with an account of Rubeus harboring creatures. Also, Rubeus Hagrid admitted to me here that he owns an acromantula,” Dippit said, speaking in an objective tone he had not used before Dumbledore arrived. “I’ve also heard from Riddle that Hagrid ventures into the Forbidden Forrest on occasion,” Dippit added in a dispassionate voice.

“Although Ms. Prince is sure that Hagrid is guilty, where is the evidence that the accounts of Hagrid being responsible for the chamber are the truth?” Dumbledore asked giving a significant look towards Riddle.

“Hagrid has a most peculiar wound on his cheek and I doubt it’s something-“

“That may be evidence, but it is only circumstantial, Armando,” Dumbledore said calmly.

Used to getting advice by Dumbledore, Dippit was not angry of the assessment of his surmise of the events. So Dippit sighed and said, “I still would like you, Professor Dumbledore to have a search of his dormitory and to place sanctions on Hagrid’s activities. He is no longer to be permitted in Hogsmeade or to go outside the castle at all.”

“I will make sure to handle it,” Dumbledore said calmly. After a moment Dumbledore asked, “I suppose that is all there is to say concerning this?”

“Yes…Mr. Riddle, the girl, and Mr. Hagrid may leave,” Dippit ended on a cold note, actually scowling at Hagrid who made the most noise leaving.

Dumbledore remained because the Headmaster wanted to talk privately with some advice about all the fishy activity going on and to hear Dumbledore say again that the Chamber of Secrets really must be opened.

[LJB85]

Chapter Thirteen: Exploiting Passions



Eileen had been given a small black onyx stone that would burn as a signal for when a meeting of the “Dark Order” was. It worked because it had a Protean charm. She could hardly wait for the first one, as she considered her initiation ceremony to not have been a real meeting to her. After all, she was not allowed to partcipate in the proceedings before the ritual to have her inducted. But now, she would get her chance.

She had also been informed that the next meeting would take place at a secret passageway on the fourth floor. She did not know, but Riddle liked to change the location of the meetings and the times, so that it would be harder for anyone to discover it. Even if they did, it was not illegal to hold a student organization at Hogwarts, and they would not be detected in open wrongdoing as some of the followers served as lookouts for every meeting.

A few days after Eileen’s birthday (which was February ninth, by the way) she felt a jolt of happiness when the little stone started burning. It was a Wednesday evening just after eight o’clock. She could hardly wait to get to talk to Tom Riddle. He had almost completely ignored her ever since the incident with Rubeus Hagrid. Eileen never found out if he was angry that she had got Professor Dumbledore or not.

She left her dormitory and crept out of the tunnel. Once outside the common room, she made sure to act nonchalant as she went up to the fourth floor, despite the fact that her heart was bursting with excitement.

Alongside the wall was a large mirror that Eileen observed from a distance people were muttering an incantation and disappearing behind it.

There were a few other boys who were standing like sentinels at locations all along the corridor, to report any warnings of outsiders.

Once she was standing in front of the mirror, a guard (who turned out to be Rosier) whispered harshly, “A Disillusionment charm gets you behind the barrier.”

Eileen did some quick thinking and recalled the charm, that she had only just learned to do this year. She whispered the incantation, tapping her wand against the mirror and then she slipped forward.

Once inside, she saw that there was a labyrinth of empty passageways bathed in a misty blue light. She could not figure out it’s source. The scores of passageways seemed all to lead to one destination in one direction, as the detours were only short hallways.

Within a few minutes, she unexpectedly came in front of a very large room where all the followers were congregated, with Riddle in front of the semi-circle of them.

Eileen, feeling dreadfully shy stepped within the circle as subtily as she could. But it did not matter, Riddle easily noticed her as he was in front of them all, but at least nobody else seemed to care. Eileen was relieved to see several seconds later a few more followers arrived. At least she was not late.

Evidently, Riddle had just paused in his speech for the followers present were applauding him with a racket that was certainly not polite to outsiders.

Although Tom Riddle had told only two that he was the Heir of Slytherin and had of course, admitted to none that he opened the Chamber of Secrets he said, “All I ask is to continue targeting imbeciles like Rubeus Hagrid. In apprehending that great oaf, it was easy to convince Dippit. Why? Because he too holds our beliefs against giants and half-breeds. So I worked the values to my advantage.”

More applause ensued. It seemed like everyone was treating Riddle like a hero. “Now…for the attacks that have happened at Hogwarts…” Riddle said loudly, and Eileen could of sworn she saw him wink at her.

Instantly, there was a hush over the semi-circle as some suspected that Tom may be involved in the attacks. But of course, the followers attitude was approving, to a level that made them ardent supporters. Tom, meanwhile was feeling a wonderful sense of release. If he couldn't admit to it, he could at least speak safely of it, devoid of risk amongst the future Death Eaters.

“You are all to feel glad…satisfcation, “ he said fiercly, beginning to instill fear. “The school is being purged of the filthiest blood. Of course, our adversaries, our enemies. Many of them reside in Gryffindor, living under the fool, Albus Dumbledore and they may single you out,” it was not true that Riddle considered Dumbledore a fool.

“Besides myself, as there is little chance I’ll be accused of the attacks being what is it? The Golden boy of Hogwarts,” Riddle laughed delightedly and smirked at the same time. Then he became serious once more, “If ever…I hear your accused…be confident that I, the master of this organization will seek you protection. I’ll arrange a set-up to make sure your cleared of being accused of the source of the attacks on mudbloods. Of course…you’ll loyalty will never waver and you will repay when the time comes. For I assure that when I am known as the Dark Lord over the entire wizarding world… we shall coerce, torture, kill the filth to the highest degree!” Riddle had just spoken like it was a political speech and he was certainly rallying his convention.

There were shouts and screams in response. Tom had manipulated their pure-blood supremicist mentality to fit his own agenda for himself.

“But I am going further with both experimentation and our target of victims. You…Lestrange are partially responsible for…discretely getting my influence into the Ministry of Magic, and even the international Wizengamot.”

Lestrange bowed and spoke in a humble voice, “Yes, My Lord. Only to serve you,” he added, afraid Riddle might suddenly accuse him of something like a libelous sedition against Riddle.

“Prove to me tonight that you can operate the so-called Unforgiveables…or surprise me. Show me something else practical of the Dark Arts. You have a half-hour. All of you know the drill. Start.” Riddle's role of activator changed. It was now like his authority was a teacher or as Riddle liked to think training his future army, that would deliberate one day under stealth.

People dispersed across the large room, that was ideal for making space to practice magic in. Eileen looked around frantically, scanning every face. Finally, she decided the one member she was least afraid of because he helped her that night after her initiation. It was Avery. She only hoped she had not under-estimated him.

“Partner up with me, Avery,” she said in an unusually bold voice.

He made no objections, but took his wand out and looked around the room. “Sometimes snakes are used…but Riddle wants us to go against each other,” he stated in a dry, ambiguous tone.

It was true. Everyone seemed to be dueling each other, each trying to overpower their partner.

Eileen with her wand out, and raised said, “It’s like we’re dueling, right?”

“Yes!,” he yelled impatiently. Riddle was quickly making his way around, giving each pair specialized attention and Avery did not want to get caught doing nothing.

Facing each other, Avery and Prince turned abruptly on the spot and walked away, taking the rule of three steps. They spun around and Eileen could not believe her luck.

Avery and Eileen each spent several seconds desperately trying to work either the Imperius or Cruciatus on each other. Thinking of the way Riddle loved to control her, she channeled it into herself pretending she was as powerful as Tom. Saying “Imperio!” for the fifth time, it finally worked.

It was obvious from the look on Avery’s face. He now looked blank as a souless, empty shell. Eileen knew Riddle would be at her group, (if he wasn’t watching from a distance already) and she had to tell him to do something deviant.

“Fall on your knees,” she first tried, as a simple test to be sure he was under it. Then she said in a loud whisper, “Stop breathing!”

Astounded, Eileen watched as Avery’s face became red from the shock his body was undergoing.

She raised her wand to lift the spell and realized she did not know how to lift the spell off. She yelled "Imperio,” but it did not work. She then finally realized what simple spell it was to detach the incantation of the curse.

Eileen herself had almost stopped breathing. She could not believe how she had almost been responsible for someone dieing. From the shock, she was caught off guard. Seconds later, Avery retaliated.

She did not know what he had hit her with. Avery had muttered, “Sanguia.” Eileen felt like she was being sucked down into a black hole and she was becoming subdued. She could feel her organs and blood mesh together, and she was on the ground seeing stars. She felt like she had lost all her wits. It was just her blood and guts.

Riddle had finally strolled over to them. She vaguely heard Riddle say as if his voice was an echo “ Magic used to manipulate corpses to do one’s bidding, Avery. I would have never guessed it to be knowledge that you could possess.”

Avery smiled, his eyes dazzled with light. Although an underhanded compliment, to Avery it was a complete compliment. “Thank-you Master,” he said.

Riddle then briefly looked up at the whole group, taking in everyone. For it was like he was omniscient or everywhere at once as he watched his followers. He had heard, Eileen moments before desperately trying to take the Imperius curse off him. Riddle had not cared to intervene.

Avery, his brown curly bangs, covering his eyes looked down at Eileen and then decided it was time to take the curse off her and lifted it.

It took Eileen several seconds to come back totally. She was very dizzy. Riddle picked her up (not roughly) by the fore-arm, and she swayed. Eileen interpreted it as affection or pity, but it really was not.

“Apparently your not as strong as I hoped, Eileen,” he said sarcastically, but Eileen did not realize that. He looked down at her with disdain, “You don’t do much on the Dark Arts? Resigned to just reading about it, are you?”

He was belittling her and he knew just what to say to incense her.

“No!…My Lord, please. I did the Imperius and…Avery couldn’t resist it,” she said in a small, constrained tone, terrified she would insult him.

“Let the experts, like me handle it. The only who would protect you, Eileen is me. Make sure to remember that,” he lied about wanting to protect her, making her feel guilty and he was almost mocking the idea of protecting her as he finished his encounter with them, “You must make progress.”

After a few more minutes of practice, in which Eileen did not do as badly as Riddle had purposefully made her feel she did, the meeting was over. Riddle reminded the group at the end that they finish with a mundane spell with their wand. The reason was, that if an outsider like an authority confiscated their wand, they would not see dark magic as the last spell performed.

Eileen thinking she was free to leave felt like she was returning to Hogwarts. For that hour, it had been as if she had been transported outside the school because the Headmaster and professors were not whom she answered to. Tom Riddle was the boss and absolute authority during meetings. She was also reminded of what Tom had first told her about magic in the library just before Christmas. She recalled a quote from the book she been tested on, “Infamous for their ability to torture the body, possess the mind and sap the spirit of it’s powers.” She was still fascinated by the Dark Arts and vowed within herself to impress Tom next time.

She was at the back of the crowd of over a dozen individuals (still all boys except herself) when Riddle who was lingering with Rookwood off to the side said, “Stay behind, Eileen.”

Stopping in her steps, her heart also seemed to stop from trepedition. And then her head began to swim with all the worst-case scenarios her imagination could come up with. Yet she had no idea what Tom Riddle’s rage could be like. Perhaps one day she will see it.

[LJB85]

I’m in the mood to write! I want you guys to please respond! This is a great turning point of part one of my fan-fiction!

Rookwood was standing beside Riddle. Rookwood looked mutinous, his sallow face clearly showing it. “Shall I present it, My Lord?” he asked plaintively.

“Yes, show her what you’ve been creating for her for the last three weeks,” Riddle responded cooly, toying his wand with his fingers delicately.

Rookwood withdrew a corked flask from his robes in one sweeping second.

Eileen smiled, her eyes sparkling with happiness because Tom had finally kept a promise. He had not lied. Little did she know, that the potion she was about to be given was something with a dark side to it and Tom Riddle knew all about it’s dark side. It was lethal, but not dark magic.

Riddle darted forward and took the flask from Augustus most possessively.

Then he turned to Eileen, looking at it her calculatingly.

Eileen nervously grimaced at him, and then inched closer to Tom, eyeing the potion.

Tom flicked his wrist with the arm holding his wand. A ruby-red goblet was conjured, floating. Tom pocketed his wand, then opened the flask. Once the potion was opened, all three of them heard a crinkling sound. It seemed like the potion emanated power.

He then grasped the goblet and poured a small amount of the contents of the flask in. Now the ruby-red goblet was gleaming from the iridescenent light of the potion. Eileen looked into the goblet and remarked, “It’s a beautiful potion, Tom,” and she looked him in the eyes.

Riddle answered calmly after a second, “A beautiful potion, for a beautiful girl.”

The potion really was beautiful. It was white, with tiny sparks of the rainbow of every possible color. It seemed to have a light of it’s own. But in reality it was a decieving appearance.

“Will she hurry up and drink it?,” Rookwood said, directing all his rudeness towards Eileen not Riddle.

Eileen immediately reacted, and took the goblet from Riddle and pressed it to her lips. Opening her lips to sip, she suddenly stopped and lowered the goblet away from her, like it was revolting.

“I spent three weeks. Three weeks of constant toiling making that,” Rookwood said bitterly. “And now she won’t have it!”

Tom glared at him, quickly loosing his wish for his follower to be present. “Leave us, Rookwood!”

Rookwood stayed rooted to the spot and Riddle spoke again, “I’ll remind her just how lucky she is once more and then she will consume.”

Rookwood raced away still in a flurry of resentment at being confined to this task. With the knowledge he would have to brew it again in at least five weeks time before the drinker runs out.

The room was once again silent. Eileen broke it and said, “I c-can’t take that. I don’t trust it,” Eileen felt her brown eyes fill with tears. Why was she putting herself through all this misery?, she thought.

“Why ever not, Eileen?” Tom questioned in an innocent tone, as if truly concerned at her apprehensions.

“Because I’m afraid it will hurt me,” she mumbled. Her hands holding the goblet started to shake, as she was losing control.

Tom took the goblet from her gently. He looked her straight in the eyes with a determined expression. There was no way he was going to permit her to post-pone taking the Elixir of Youth.

“Sit down, Eileen. Make yourself comfortable.”

Eileen sat. Her back against the wall.

Tom knelt beside her, as if proposing marriage.

“Tom your being …understanding. I’m so glad….,” she said in a wavery voice.

He put his hand lightly on her shoulder, “Your confused, Eileen. Afterall, your senses have been meddled with tonight. Don’t you recall being under the seminal Sanguia curse, which I myself invented?”

“Of course, but…this potion scares me.”

Riddle laughed. “It scares you?! How could it? Does this look, like dark magic to you? An answer, if you please. Does this look like dark magic?”

“No, not at all.”

“Exactly. Because it isn’t. You have been reading too much on that subject. It has influenced you and confused your perceptions of magic. Remember, I said the Elixirs result is that you’ll get your deepest desire,” he rationalized with her.

“Oh, right. You’ve been telling me that all along.” She now felt so stupid. He was giving her such excellent reasons.

“Only because it’s the wonderful truth. Think of it as a belated birthday gift from your master. Drink it and you’ll feel like a goddess and henceforth, you’ll be mine,” he finished his dark blue-grey eyes glittering with a seductive hunger.

Eileen smiled, her mouth wide open, “And I’ll want you even more?”

Riddle frowned, somewhat surprised she had stated that. He changed his appearance to looking pensive. “I suppose that could occur, Eileen….Just drink it up,” he added.

He pressed the goblet to her lips holding it for her. She drank the ounce, in one desperate gulp.

The confuion she had been feeling a moment before was disappearing. Replacing it was an acute awareness evident by her eyes, drinking in her surroundings and resting on Riddle. Her cheeks seemed to flush, and she began to breath like she was panting. She began to rock back and forth, as it was a way to let off the torrent of mania she was feeling in her heart.

“In a few days you’ll look different, better,” spoke Riddle. Eileen certainly heard his words, but it was the sight of him that was electrifying her with a passion she could not understand. “But I must say your not acting like yourself,” he added lightly, mocking the state she was in.

“Tom. Your…the object of my affection! I never told you, but can now. I feel Great! Like never in my life. This is heaven!-“ she was talking excessively. “Your eyes are so nice. You’re the brightest student and I-I”

“Stop it, Eileen!,” he snapped. “Quiet,” he added in his most dangerous voice.

He did not like how strongly she was reacting to the effects, which was similar to an extreme overdose of Felix Felicis for the first several minutes, until it settles in the stomach. He could not stand hearing such illogical bantering, even if it was now extremely obvious that the girl worshipped him.

“But Tom! I LOVE YOU!…I love you, sweetheart,” she said manically.

“What?”

“I love you always and forever will and I’ll do anything you say…“ She had a boundless enthusiasm and Eileen’s voice seemed to ring with emotion.

Riddle grinded his teeth, suddenly electrified with his own passion. He rasied his wand and slashed at the air, so that Eileen felt a stinging sensation, as if he had slapped her.

“Wake-Up! Stop this nonsense!”

Eileen cried and laughed at the same time and continued to talk with a zealous passion for him. Riddle decided he was not going to endure these initial affects that similar to Felix any longer.

He used “Petrificus totalus” nonverbally as a restraint to stop her from moving and talking. Eileen’s slim frame fell as stiff as a board on her back against the hard floor.

Riddle then waited several minutes, until he knew he could be sure the affects would have run their course. He paced around, fuming. He could not believe he had not seen this coming. The girl believed she was in love with him! It was disgusting, he thought.

A draft was in the room, as Eileen lay there frozen and cold. Her emotions welled up inside her and she was still distinctly aware of them. But being under the spell Tom had put in that restrained her, she felt pain. Pain because she could not express her passion for him. She came to terms with it though, and accepted it. She kind of liked him controlling her anyway.

Riddle finally lifted the spell off of her. Eileen rose slowly, still actutely aware, but no longer the way she had been ten minutes ago. He remained quiet, keenly observing her.

“I’m so sorry, I acted like that Tom. I beg your forgiveness. But I do love you so!,” she pleaded.

He did not speak immediately. But continued to stare at her. Slowly Riddle’s eyes scanned up from the floor until he looked her square in the eyes, as a method of intimidation. Eileen shuddered as she felt the atmosphere in the room change. She had a sinking feeling inside her that Tom was most displeased with her confession of her love for him.

“I’m flattered,” he said with heavy sarcasm. “Your delusion of grandeur. LOVE,” he spat the word love with hatred. “Do you want to know what’s real, Eileen?,” he burst out aggressively.

She nodded and whispered, “You don’t have to admit you love me too, Tom. I’ve already known.”

“You think so?,” he said doubtfully. “I’ll tell you something. I confide only to the most devoted. I’ll even tell a gullible, lustful brat like you, because you’re here to serve me.”

“Tell me what? Is this one of your secrets?,” she said hoping to learn more of him.

“It’s my best kept secret…you tell a soul and you’ll wish you’ve never existed,” he paused wanting to instill in her that this threat was absolutely viable.

“Let me show you, whom your dealing with. My true identity isn’t the name Tom Riddle.” He was beginning to speak like he had done other times, as if entranced and enlightened.

“That means nothing but the name of a man who left my mother before I was born. Was I to keep that wretched name? No. Not as the heir of the greatest ancient wizard, Salazar Slytherin. Not I, who whose future marks the most powerful sorcerer of all time!”

Eileen’s eyes glazed with insipiration. She agreed whole-heartedly.

Pulling his wand back out, he began to trace it through the air, forming three shimmering words.

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE

Then he waved the wand once, so that the letters scrambled into:

I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

The words burned and blazed with an intensity for a full ten seconds, as Eileen absorbed the image of them tranfixed. She felt terror and fascination simulatanelously.

Once they burned away, Riddle stepped right in front of her. He looked uncharacteristically ugly, even to Eileen. There was a red gleam evident in his eyes. She felt frightened.

“I want you to use this title when addressing me privately. Can you do me that, at least? Despite the fact that your a follower whose done nothing for your master, LORD VOLDEMORT!”

“Yes…Oh, please. Don’t do anything! I’m still afraid you’ll kill me!”

“I tell you this… most beautiful revelation and your worried about yourself? You coward! I expected more from you, Eileen…Say it. I’ll allow you to say it passionately. Yet, it’s not for you to feel that ridiculous delusion, it is about power!…Speak my true title.”

“I-I. It’s not about love. If that’s what you mean by delusion. I fear your true name,” she whimpered.

Riddle laughed high and cold. A laugh that did not conicide with his attractive appearance.

Still Eileen felt magnetically drawn to the power and his grip over her emotions.

“Excellent,” he spoke with satisfaction. “That’s the point, isn’t it? One day, the world will know the name, Lord Voldemort. They shall fear it too. Perhaps they’ll substitute with you-know-who…or he-who-must-not-be-named,” he thought, smiling awfully. “But you-“ he said fiercely. “will call me Lord Voldemort always when alone. We're alone now and I say to start proclaiming it unless you wish for some punishment?”

“No….okay. Lord Voldemort, have mercy on me.”

“Thank-you,” he said, of course devoid of true gratitude. “You dared ask for mercy? Lord Voldemort is never merciful, Eileen. You’ll have to pay for that moronic misconception. Bow down to me.”

Eileen did so, guility. Eileen shuddered and was shaking, hyper-ventilating. She loved this man and she could seek no love in return. But even if he did not love her, she could not burn out the fire inside her even as the cruciatus curse raked her core again, into her very bones.

Once it was over, in which he only used the curse once, Voldemort reminded her, “Expressing gratitude is always done by followers after.”

“Thank-you, Master….I mean Lord Voldemort!”

“Good…,” said Riddle who so proudly holds his mask-like title.

His features seemed to lift and become more normal again as he said, “Get up and get to bed, Eileen. I don’t need to hear the elixir made you ill when there is so much you can do for your master in the near future.”

Eileen was too shocked by the night’s events to answer him.

Later she layed in bed, with the strange elixir coursing through her blood-stream changing her appearance. She would still be the same physically, just more attractive once it was set. She reflected on how this had been one of the most memorable times ever with him. Indelible images formed of Tom, Tom Riddle…or Lord Voldemort. His handsome features she loved, turning into the red gleam and no longer handsome Tom Riddle. She still loved him and had hope. She had to try. She was not giving up on him. As she went to bed she dreamed of him, the name “Lord Voldemort” running through her mind like a mysterious song.


Feedback link Everyone:

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=88376&page=7

[LJB85]

Chapter Fourteen: Career Advice

In the first week of March, the fifth years of Tom Riddle and Eileen’s class were sifting through a barrage of leaf-lets concerning their future careers in the Great Hall.

Eileen was sitting further away from Riddle then usual, pouring over them and looking most ill-tempered. She could not figure out why she was feeling so moody lately. Her appearance had changed. She had color in her cheeks, thicker shinier hair, a better nose and face was even developing as the Elixir continued it's affects, almost stabilized. She was certainly still recognizable though to all who knew her before. The followers and her friends simply thought that she was in love. True, but love could never be normal or smooth when it was with a young man like Tom Riddle.

Tom was scanning his pile of career guides and quickly tossing them back on the table looking like he could not agree with any of the opportunities. Finally, he turned to look on at the others surrounding him, as everyone began to eat the food that had just appeared.

He listened intently narrowing his eyes and sometimes smirking at the girls across from them who did not notice Riddle. They were boasting about their plans. It all seemed so stupid from his perspective. Why would anyone want to spend their life as a healer, or a teacher, or anything? They knew nothing of real power, he thought. And he had the fleeting thought that the Hogwarts curriculum was more suited towards his own tastes and aspirations. In the field of dark magic. Tom suddenly thought as if being idealistic, "maybe there is a resoon to be attracted to teaching. If I became Headmaster...," he thought and continued to contemplate.

Eileen seemed to be thinking along those lines as well. She was not finding the enthusiasm she expected she was going to when she wanted to do something that involved potions, probably working in an apothecary.

Tom’s sharp blue eyes were suddenly on her, and Eileen who was always hoping they were, felt joy. She was debating in her head if it would be better if she somehow, secretly lived a life devoted to the dark arts because they were so fascinating to her.

Tom raised an eyebrow and said, "I see we're of the same frame of mind," he was commenting on what he had just seen in Eileen's mind. That she too, was aspiring towards what fruits dark magic could bring.

Mrytle was skulking around, coming up from the third-year section of the Slytherin table. She had a big frown on her face, as she glumly poked her way through the pamphlets now strewn all over the table.

She spoke loudly, but a quivering voice after reading one of them for several seconds, “I so wish that I could be an Auror. It would be fun to go into danger and I'd be in the news. But where would I find time? I could be in muggle relations. Do you-Do you think I could?”

The girls had finally realized Mrytle was talking to them, they just scrunched their noses at her and shrugged. “Did you hear me?!,” she sqwaked, suddenly becoming mad.

“What?,” said one of them in a foggy tone, as they had already dismissed Mrytle’s words.

The other girl said smartly, “Aren’t you that…- I mean, a third-year. Stop worrying….you still have a couple of years!”

“Yeah, she could. If she ever gets there,” Tom said to himself, as he had been listening as he ate breakfast. He did not mean anything deeper by it, it was supposed to be a private joke.

Mrytle looked around with her wiry spectacles. She was always so paranoid of others talking about her. Spotting Riddle, she glided to him, “Oh…You!” she shrilled. She gulped and started talking. Myrtle always felt braver when there were others around, she felt safe enough to rant at even Tom.

“I know what your thinking!”, she suddenly blurted out.

“Fine, Mrytle. Go ahead…and take a stab at it,” Riddle responded calmy, leaning back in to get a full look at her, sitting in a relaxed posture. He was quite acclimated with manipulating Mrytle’s feelings, and reasoning.

“Your thinking…um,” Myrytle said, delving into her convoluted imagination. “ thinking that, I’ll never amount to anything. That I’m a poor baby, who could never be a magical researcher or-“

“Not even close…” Riddle interrupted arrogantly, still holding an oddly pleased expression with dealing with her. “I’m wondering,” he lied sweetly, “why a little muggle-born girl would be worth talking to.”

Mrytle gasped in horror. “That is the meanest thing anyone said ever to me.” And stamping her foot, she ran away.

In a few minutes, she was back bringing a few other girls from other houses behind her. One of them a respected sixth-year Hufflepuff prefect.

Tom did not see this, as he was getting up to leave, just about finished with breakfast.

“I don’t believe it. Poor Mrytle. And I can’t imagine Tom Riddle telling her she has no future.”

The other girl intervened, “He must of. Look how upset she is…crying. But we didn’t see it, we can’t do anything, like take points.”

“There…Mrytle. It’s okay, the third girl in the group said, patting her arm.

Mrytle leaned against the girl, as if she was protecting her. She was acting like a small child.

The sixth-year Hufflepuff prefect said nicely, “Repeat what happened, explaining it in front of him,” she said suddenly smiling at Riddle, but stopping herself.

“He-He, said that I’m the worst Slytherin and that he can have any job he wants and I can’t have anything. He made me feel-, she hiccuped and then started to sob.

“Come on, Mrytle,” the girl prompted.

Tom, meanwhile was just looking with a mixture of his feigning of innocent slight confusion and interest, which someimes morphed into a poker-face, hiding what he was thinking. Eileen was observing the situation and was preparing herself in her mind to defend the man she was so devoted to.

“HORRIBLE!”, Mrytle burst out the most dramatically she could muster. "It’s awful to be a young third-year and have the best student in the school embarrass so others think I’m-“

“That’s enough now Mrytle. I see. Well, what are you to s-,” she rounded on her fellow prefect.

“First of all, I’m sorry this girl, whom I hardly know,... took our brief exchange the wrong way. Perhaps I could have been more cognizant that she’s sensitive. Then again, I truly apologize for this. It was not my intention,” Riddle sounded sympathetic, actually kind, but of course not the reality.

The Hufflepuff looked in Tom’s eyes, concentrating as she knew a bit of Legilimency. She could see it truly was not his intention, to bother her that day. But she could not breach the surface of his true falseness though.

“My goodness….Riddle is speaking the truth…just be make sure to treat Mrytle with extra care for now on,” she finished sweetly and actually gave him a glowing smile before turning away with her friends in her wake.

A moment later, Riddle was swiftly walking down to his first class of the day glad to be away from the crowds with the drama-queen nearly succeeding in getting him in a little trouble. He had not wanted the scene that just occurred to become a spectacle. Therefore, he had lied about that attention-seeking, pathetic creature, to use Riddle's description of Mrytle in his thoughts. Crimes of passion were not Riddle’s preference of motivation to seek out his victims, but targets certainly were. Mrytle happened to be just the person most needed to be disposed of, in Riddle’s view. She was not important in the faintest trace, but she was, in order to keep Riddle’s best advantage for himself the best muggle-born the school and himself needed to weed out.

Eileen, was feeling much better all of a sudden, looking forward to her career advice that was to be in just two days. It was like she was under an emotional roller-coaster in her life with Tom Riddle or Lord Voldemort taking over so gradually, of which she was oblivious to.

Waving a piece of parchment, she flew down the corridor before History of Magic after Riddle.

(Okay...It is important. Eileen even ties into the whole Mrytle thing I promise!)

[LJB85]

Eileen’s career advice session was a couple of days later on a Wednesday afternoon. She made her way from Ancient Runes class to Slughorn’s office, grasping her notebook nervously in her hands. A couple of boys who were not Riddle's followers that were salient in the crowd stared at her. It was true that Eileen was beginning to get a lot more attention now that she had the elixir that made her exceptionally attractive, but still recognizable.

She knocked on Slughorn’s door, but nobody answered. Grasping the doorknob, she walked in on her own accord. Nobody was present. Eileen gingerly sat down on the edge of the chair near the desk. Several seconds later, the little clock rang it’s alarm, set for half past two.

Hearing somebody’s footsteps from the back of the room that led to the Potion’s Master’s storage room, the rotund form of Horace Slughorn entered. “Good afternoon, Eileen. I hope a talented prefect like you, has some great ideas in mind regarding your future.”

“Er- I guess I do, sir,” she said hesitantly. Looking down, feeling a mixture of shame and confusion. She was now so interested in the dark arts. Something she felt was eating at her conscience because if her family knew they would be furious.

Slughorn spent an entire minute, easing himself into his chair and fumbling around. First for a box of crystallized pineapple, and finally a notebook from a file. taking a bite of his gourmet food, he then fished with his sugar-coated fingers through Eileen’s records. He slowly nodded his head, as he went through them making crunching noises as he ate.

“I see that your best commodity, is indeed potions. You could go into research with grades like that….or why not follow in your father’s footsteps and be a Healer?”

Eileen's mouth-dropped at the thought of her father, whom she loved. She had not thought about him much this term. Her thoughts were all for Tom. “Um-I hadn’t thought about being a Healer. But it is a-“

“Great way to increase your fortune. Pardon me, I meant your family’s. There is quite a bit of bribes going on at St. Mungo’s. Corrupt true, but if I had the opportunity I would….It’s your best bet, Eileen.”

Eileen bit her lip. There was just such a burning passion inside her to devote her life to dark magic, perhaps even working with Tom Riddle. She knew it may be just a pipe dream in reality, but she couldn’t help but fantasize.

“I was thinking along the lines of something new, professor,” she said glancing down at her lap, where she was twisting her fingers.

Slughorn’s face sagged and he let out a long sigh. “I’ve heard this so many times. The unconventional path. Few can pull it off, very few. Riddle seems to want to make his way most independently. But to be blunt you don’t have the confidence, not like him anyway.”

“Oh, yes! How did his career session go, Professor?” Eileen asked with extreme enthusiasm.

Slughorn looked more closely at Eileen, jumping in shock from her sudden outburst of emotion and finally noticed the changes in her appearance, but believed it inappropriate to say to a student that they looked prettier.

“That young man has a lot going for him, Eileen. It took some time to make him at least consider going into research. He’ll make out as a fine leader, but not before trying his hand at everything that proves advantageous. He has not made a decision yet, but I’m not worried.,” Slughorn finished, smiling.

Eileen had been listening, enraptured, to Slughorn account of the details of Tom Riddle’s career advice, which was just that morning. As she started to imagine what Tom would really do, dark thoughts began to surface in her mind. Images of Riddle coercing and manipulating people, just like he did to his followers. The thought of doing this to what her perception was normal people, outside Riddle’s gang horrified her. What if when he was known to be Lord Voldemort he hurt her family?

Slughorn was not doing Legilimency in the slightest at the moment. Rather he was taking in Eileen’s new appearance once again and trying to work through his mind how a girl could change so dramatically. Innocently, he glanced into her eyes and then her face. She looked like she was pouting, as she lay deep in pensive thought.

“Ms. Prince you look cross….did I offend you my dear?,” he asked kindly.

Coming out of her reverie and remembering her aspirations for her future career, her eyes sparkled and her face went back to complacence, “No, not at all. Tom is special, I know exactly what you mean by a leader. He has a wonderful way with people.” She involuntarily began to blush crimson.

Slughorn suddenly frowned and his eyebrows went up nearly reaching the top of his receding hair-line. He had just put two and two together, as he certainly was no fool, but sometimes it was harder than most for Horace to see the obvious.

“You’re close to Tom, on a personal level, Eileen?”

“…I suppose so, sir,” Eileen said gulping. She did not want to talk about this it was supposed to be private. She glanced into the teacher’s eyes as she answered his question.

“Have you been brewing yourself a potion to please him?”

Eileen’s eyes filled with terror. It was not the truth, but it was close. She shook her head, as her eyes continued to be stricken with fear. Nobody could discover the truth of their relationship.

After a silent moment, Slughorn decided to call an end to the meeting, " Well…this concludes our career consultation. To be frank, I’m a little worried for you, young lady. Don’t forget your hopes and dreams. You’re a talented student, and a prefect. I wouldn’t want to lose you.”

“No…er professor. I’m not about to do anything rash. Uh...I mean I'm not making love potions,” she mumbled, and a lump formed in her throat.

“I know you wouldn’t do that , never knew a Prince who was rash. You all so wisely weigh your options,” he complimented.

“Thank-you. I best get going or I’ll be late. Good-bye Professor Slughorn ” she spat out in an unfriendly voice.

Eileen rose in a hurry and dashed out the room, her bag swinging over her shoulder. The mention of her family made her feel so alone. It was like they were no longer a part of her identity.

{Eileen's family ties into the story later.....and I beleive Slughorn could of been this way althouh some may say he is not perceptive enough, I think he is. Think of the quote in HBP of the first potions lesson, "When you've seen as much obsessive love as I have" Slughorn could have seen Eileen obsessed with Tom. He does not know this here....but will slowly discover it.}