RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 53

Draco paced the Malfoy manor, waiting for Tom's next orders. Bellatrix was laid out on the couch. He'd find it uncomfortable to look at her because of her position. It irked him.

"Close your legs, Bella." Narcissa said, as if reading Draco's thoughts.

She scowled at her sister.

"The Dark Lord won't notice me when he's got his eyes on the little mudblood, Emelia. Of course she won't be there for too long." Bellatrix replied.

"The Dark Lord instructed us to watch over her, not interfere." Draco responded.

Bellatrix thought for a moment.

"Let us go pay her a visit then?"

"You shall do no such thing." Narcissa interfered.

Bellatrix looked like she was ready to kill them both, but instead sent a deadly flare at them. All of a sudden, there was a sound of an explosion and dark black smoke was everywhere. A girl cried out.

"TOM!"

'Emelia.'

"BRING TOM HERE RIGHT NOW!" another voice boomed.

It sounded more deep and Draco thought he recognized it, but shrugged the thought off.

"Come out! Reveal yourself!" he yelled.

Emelia stumbled out from the smoke and Fred
followed in front of her. He put his hand on her chest, gingerly, to keep her back.

"How'd you get it in? HOW?" Bellatrix screamed. "The Dark Lord will NOT be interrupted."

"You will not hurt her because the Dark Lord, or whatnot, commands it," Fred looked back at Emelia, "Did I get that right?" he whispered.

She nodded.

"WHAT'S ALL THIS COMMOTION!" a voice roared. It was Tom's, nonetheless. He stormed out of a room and his face lightened when he saw Emelia, but he tensed up once he saw Fred.

'Levicorpus.'

Fred flew up in the air and his eyes rolled back in his head. Emelia was too weak to do anything and watched him float upside down in the air.

"Leave." Tom ordered.

Everyone shifted around nervously. Bella spoke up first.

"M'lord, is there anyone specifi—"

"YOU, GET OUT. YOU AS WELL, MALFOY. AND YOU NARCISSA."

They all scurried out, but Draco waited by the door. It closed fully and locked before he could put his ear on it and listen.

"Why have you come?" Tom asked Emelia.

"Put him down."

"Answer the question or I won't hesitate to jinx him."

She hesitated. Emelia knew that if she didn't answer he'd jinx Fred, but she didn't want to give up so easily.

"Put him down and then we'll talk."

He gave her a sultry grin and dropped him onto the ground. Thankfully, Fred fell onto the rug, but he still passed out.

"Now answer it."

Emelia pursed her lips.

"The ring."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I thought I took it back, but I suppose I forgot your knack of taking things which aren't yours. That includes my diary." he waved over to the green set of books which lay nearly on the book shelf. It was enchanted so if anyone, but him, touched them they'd obliviate the person.

"Why did it hurt me, Tom? I felt so vulnerable with you a-and you hurt me." she quietly sobbed.

He walked up to her and kneeled.

"I'd never hurt you, darling," he said and caressed her cheek. "But it isn't my fault if Voldemort does."

She looked up at him unfazed. Emelia knew what he'd been doing when it came to rebranding himself.

"I don't care, Riddle. Tell me what the ring was."

He silently cast a silencing spell so no one could listen in. Tom crept closer to her ear and whispered.

"Why, it's a Horcrux."

Emelia looked up in horror.

"Stop, Tom. The one thing I chose to read on the night I bumped into you, you chose to torture me with. Bloody sociopath."

He backed away and laughed out loud.

"And you still fancied me. But tut tut tut, Emelia. Did you forget who originally conjured a Horcrux?"

He looked accusingly at her, but in an innocent way.

"I didn't do anything," she said, but could she believe herself?

"Remember the ghastly teacher, Myrtle? What happened to her? I suppose she died on her own of natural causes..."

"Stop it! It was just a dream and I didn't actually hurt her. YOU confessed and came forward."

"I did it for a girl who shall remain nameless. Besides, you were simply just the test subject and trial run. It worked perfectly according to plan and I will live forever."

He stopped talking for a second and inspected her hand.

"It won't heal, y'know."

"I know," she said under her breath. "I'm under a lot of stress. So much. It's so much work to get out of bed and I-I struggle taking care of Ophelia."

"I won't pity you if that was what you were going for."

"No," she muttered. "I just expected Tom to be here for me. Not Voldemort."

"You DARE utter his name?" Tom's face flickered into the monstrosity Emelia had seen it be before, but when he finished speaking it went back.

He put his hand in his temple and rubbed it a little.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Even after all this time she still found some place in her heart to care for him.

"Yes." he mumbled and straightened up.

Slowly, she put her hand on Tom's cheek. His image flickered once more and Emelia did it. She kissed him. He didn't move away, but didn't know what to do. By instinct, he kissed her back. This time it wasn't rough like the old days. It was gentle and her lips matched his. Their pace stayed the same and when she stopped for air he looked down at her.

"If anything more happens to me then a part of me will always love you even if I'm Voldemort. Please don't leave me." he whispered.

She nodded.

In a way she felt responsible for making him like this. It was like her punishment, but at the same time why was it so rewarding when he cared for her?

"I won't."