Means To An End || Tom Riddle Story

Fourteen

"Absolutely not," cried Cosette, outraged. "How could you even suggest something as vile as that?"

     "What?" asked Tom, completely not realizing the severity of his suggestion. "He said he promised on his life. I simply suggested he bound himself to his word."

     "That's not funny, Tom," spat Cosette.

     "I'm not attempting to be funny," he scowled.

     "No, Cosette, he's right," said Gabriel. Cosette whipped her head around to face her brother.

     "What?" she questioned.

     "Tom's right," he replied. "I should make an Unbreakable Vow. If that's what it takes to save Henry, I'm willing to do it."

     "No," rejected Cosette. "Gabriel, this is absurd. We will save Henry together, but there is no need to bound this with magic!"

     "Well, if I'm playing devil's advocate," said Tom, "making an Unbreakable Vow would give him more motivation, don't you think?"

     "What are you talking about?" she hysterically asked. "You're really suggesting that Gabriel make an Unbreakable Vow to save our brother and if he doesn't, he dies?"

     Tom shrugged his shoulders. He was acting so casual it was irritating her to the point of anger. "Do you want to save your brother or not?"

     "Not that way," she snapped, "Gabriel, we will work together on saving Henry, but I will not allow this."

     "But Cosette, Tom has a point," Gabriel interjected. "How can you help Henry living all the way in London? I can't just sit here and do nothing while father and Henry are out on a murderous rampage."

     "We will figure out another way, Gabriel," said Cosette dismissively. "I will not run the risk of losing you just because our brother has lost his way."

     "But this gives me an opportunity to prove that I can do this, Cosette."

     She shook her head. "Absolutely not. I cannot do this based off your word. So many things could go wrong."

     "So what do you need then?" asked Gabriel. "A plan? If I come up with one, will you consider doing this?"

     "Why do you even want to do this so bad?" she asked. "Why can't we just try to save him without bounding it with magic?"

       "So I can prove to this family that I'm not worthless!" shouted Gabriel. Tom closed the bedroom door and cast a silencing charm so they would not be overheard. "To prove that I actually can do something for this family. To give my life a purpose!"

     "What are you talking about? What do you mean to give your life a purpose?"

     "Oh come off it, Cosette. I'm the third born son. I am the least valuable to this family."

     "You are not!"

     "Yes, I am. Theo was the golden child. He was the chosen one since he was the first born. He held all the power until his death. Then it was passed on to Henry. I'm merely an inconvenience. Father does not need another son. I am the scapegoat child."

     "That's nonsense, Gabriel. I've always been the scapegoat."

     "Not since you left, Cosette! Father needs someone to abuse. You do not truly understand what has happened around here since you left."

     "You sound like Henry now," she said solemnly.

     "Cosette, do not blame me for telling you the truth..."