RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 54

"I'm almost done."

Tom looked over at Draco who stood by the door with his arms crossed.

"I don't remember asking. Either you get it done and report back to me or...well you're no use to me," then he whispered, "it'll be no trouble discarding you somewhere."

Emelia stirred in her sleep and he looked at her. She was still weak from yesterday, but looked as beautiful as ever. Even with her hair a mess and eyeliner smudged.

"I just need some...time." Draco replied. Tom simply looked back at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm your age and I'm more accomplished than you'll ever be, but you're having trouble fixing a cabinet?" he sneered. "I assume daddy's money won't help you here, will it?"

"If you're so impatient then fix it yourself."

Draco realized what he had said. His lips shut immediately and for a second his heart stopped. All Riddle did was sigh.

"Foolish boy, I escaped Azkaban. They are on the look out for me," his tone changed to a more hostile manner. "You're only alive because of Emelia. I suggest you fix up your behavior and get the task done with."

'Because of Emelia?' he thought.

Tom went back to writing in his diary and Draco left. At this point Emelia was waking up. She stretched out everywhere on the bed and yawned. Hey eyes opened, but her vision was still hazy.

"Where am I?"

"Nowhere. Go back to sleep." Tom ordered.

"Where's Fred?" she asked.

"Don't mention his name."

"Where is he?"

"Look, if you want to leave then do it. You're at perfect liberty to do whatever you'd like, but at the end of the day you'll return here with puppy dog eyes. You'll beg for me to welcome you in and if I don't you'll go back to Fred or whoever you're in a love triangle with."

His anger had taken over and at this point Tom was just spewing random things. Emelia noticed the ring on him and saw how he was left unaffected. His hair was in a shamble, but still somewhat maintained. His hands were tapping on the journal with his quill.

"I read your journal."

"I know."

"You write a lot. I should be scared of you."

"But you aren't. And here you are, in my room. You should feel honored, if anything," he said seriously.

"There was one journal entry where-"

Almost instantly Emelia was cut off.

"We don't talk of it. You won't bring it up in front of anyone else and you especially won't bring it up in front of Lord Voldemort."

"Personally, this Lord Voldemort man is a weird bloke." she retorted.

Tom had to hold back his rage even if he found the joke a little funny.

"I still don't know where Fred is..."

She kept insisting upon finding where he was which bugged Tom. He wanted to write, but gave up.

"He's at his home. His memory is gone."

Emelia tensed up.

"What? Why would you do that? You genuinely have issues."

"Calm down, stop being so prissy. I only obliviated his memory by one or two days."

"This is weird."

"Hmm?" he questioned while starting to write diligently again in his diary.

"Us, like I'm not breaking up or whatnot, but you've got to admit it's so odd. It's so obvious that we don't belong together yet here we are. And I didn't even expect to be here like a little more than a year ago, but now I had your child and you're wanted."

"If you truly feel that way then you can leave."

His tone wasn't menacing. In fact, it was testing her. He was giving her a choice. Emelia could leave and indeed return with "puppy dog eyes" like he'd said and be embarrassed or she could stay and shut her mouth, but still be embarrassed.

"No, I don't think I will. But for now, I'll have to check up on Freddie. So maybe I will leave."

Tom's quill broke when he heard her say his name. He felt sincere rage and wanted to kill Fred. He had to control himself. Voldemort couldn't take over completely, no. He'd have to preserve some of himself to keep him sane.

"Go."

She shrugged.

"I said maybe."

"Goddamn it, make up your bloody mind," he yelled.

"I guess I will. Goodbye."

She gave a nonchalant wave and with that Emelia disapparated to the flat where Fred and her lived. She was feeling confident as if she'd had a whole vial of Felix Felicis and strutted down to her room. As the door creaked open she saw him resting in bed, but still conscious.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"M'head hurts like a bitch. Must've been plastered last night or something." he grumbled.

Emelia nodded and went to sit on the bed.

"Your mum is looking after Ophelia for a little. Reckoned I needed a break or somethin' like that."

He nodded and his arms stretched out, pulling Emelia into a tight embrace. She let him, but didn't hug him back. Her confidence was suddenly slipping away.

"You smell like the forest and fags. Hope you haven't been smoking again. Nasty habit, innit."

"I'd prefer you to not use that word."

"Why?"

"Jus' rude, you know. Never mind that."

Emelia got up from his hold and went to their fireplace. She had to see her daughter, Ophelia. Couldn't avoid all her issues forever. She wasn't Fred and Tom, after all.