The Era of Aria Snape

43

Chapter Forty-Three

TOM PULLED ARIA'S limp body from the dark water that lined the Chamber. "Dramatic for such an intelligent girl," He said as Aria began to cough, water spilling from her mouth as she was finally able to breathe again. "But then again, you are Severus's child." He snorted.

Aria took in another deep breath, trying to steady herself as she stood up from the damp stone beneath her. Harry... She scanned the area for him but he was nowhere to be found. Ginny lay where she had been previously, half-dead still.

She looked up at Tom, taking in his face, his skin and hair, and the grimace that his mouth had formed while staring at her weak figure. She failed to comprehend how the man-young, handsome, completely normal- was the Lord Voldemort. She questioned if it were true.

"Yes. I am Lord Voldemort. I have been meaning to make your acquaintance for quite some time now, Aria."

She took a wise step back at his confession. "How do you know me?" She breathed, careful not to slip into the water again.

"Dear Ginny Weasley has a certain, shall we say, infatuation with you-looks up to you. I had to do my research on the girl who she constantly wrote about. I was far from disappointed." A serpentine smile appeared on his face. "You are exactly what I need."

"Need for what?" She glanced around, frantically searching for some way to escape his lingering glare.

"You see, I am far too weak to dispose of Harry Potter myself and my Basilisk," a smirk, "Is easily thrown off. I need you to kill Harry Potter. Can you do that for me?"

Aria found herself unable to speak. She couldn't bring herself to deny the man before her, his lingering eyes so alluring, but every instinct she had was screaming against his request. She wouldn't be able to do it, anyhow. Kill someone? Never. She shook her head slowly, afraid.

"You can and you will." Tom snapped. He leaned down slowly, his handsome face softening as it reached hers, stopping only when their noses nearly touched. "Do this for me and you will receive everything you have ever desired. This is a test of loyalty to your Lord, do this, and you will become my most prized follower, my bride... And I will take you to your mother."

Aria released a breath at his words. Her mother. If anyone knew who and where the woman was, it was him.

"Together, we can dispose of all those who you loathe. That girl who bullies you. The Gryffindor scum who send you dirty looks, anybody you desire." He whispered seductively. "Your father will be so very proud of you."

My father...

She nodded, his words swirling around in her head as she accepted her wand from his hands, a lethal smile decorating his face. "Everything you want," He whispered, standing up and taking a step away from her. "The Basilisk will not harm you."

Another nod before Aria set off after Harry, her wand steady in her fisted hand as she followed the Basilisks trail of destruction.

She repeated what he had said to her.

If she did this, Matilda would get what was coming to her.

If she did this, all those Gryffindor scum would suffer for ever thinking lowly of her.

If she did this, she would become his most prized follower, she would have the power to do everything she wanted, receive everything she desired.

She would find her mother and make her father proud.

Aria had never heard more beautiful words. Tom knew where her mother was, he would take her to the woman and that thing that Aria felt was missing in her life would finally settle.