Back To Better A Tom Riddle Fanfiction Sequel

Chapter 8

The sun was shining behind the dark curtains when Cassiopeia awoke the next morning. She felt much stronger than the night before. She sat up and with a lot of relief she realized that her head didn't hurt anymore.

Looking around, she took in the dark surroundings of the room. Everything was gloomy. With a little astonishment she realized that she had never been in any of the rooms of Tom's lair besides his study and the living room. Tom's lair had always seemed too dark and depressing, too much of a resemblance to the darkest parts of his soul that she had always preferred her own home, which she had turned into a light and inviting place over the years. She sighed. Judging from what Tom had said the night before, this place now was everything that was left to them. Unconsciously her hand travelled to her pillow to retrieve her wand but it wasn't there. Cassiopeia's gaze shot towards the pillow and then to the night case next to the bed. Her wand wasn't there.

With a swift movement she got up and turned to the door. The very same moment the door swung open. For a moment Cassiopeia and Tom stood there, simply looking at each other.  Cassiopeia caught herself thinking how incredibly handsome he still looked, and how terrifyingly much this handsome exterior opposed the ruthless darkness that was reigning inside. A small smile crossed her face as she remembered their conversation the night before. If any of this had been real, there was more inside of him than just darkness. And he had finally come to accept it. Then she remembered her missing wand and she frowned.

Even though she didn't feel any signs of legilimency, Tom seemed to know what she was thinking about. He pulled her wand from his pocket and with a few steps he was standing in front of her, offering her her wand. "I guess you were looking for this?"

Cassiopeia took the wand from his outstreched hand and relished the feeling of familiar warmth that instantly shot through her body. She nodded.

Suddenly Tom looked slightly uncomfortable and shifted his weight. "Well, I took it with me, just to make sure it didn't get lost, you know."

Cassiopeia raised her eyebrow just the slightest bit. "You were afraid someone might get it, here inside this fortress of yours?" She cocked her head. "Okay."

She carefully pocketed her wand before she looked back at Tom. "So what do we do now?"

He threw her a questioning glance.

"I mean, after all those years, you really expect us to live together in the same house, the whole time? Like no just coming and going, no more place to just disapparate to if things don't go the way you want them to? Me, really living with you in this....place?" She looked him straight in the eyes, trying to determine what he was thinking.

Tom didn't avert his gaze. He remained silent for a moment before he answered, "Yes, that's what I expect. One place, one... home."

Cassiopeia slowly nodded. "Fine, nice to hear after nearly forty years." She grinned. "And does that mean, one bedroom? Or is that too early?"

Tom grimaced. "You never stop being cheeky, do you, no matter how many times you die or nearly die?"

Cassiopeia just continued grinning at him, waiting.

Tom took another step forward and with a quick movement he pressed his lips against hers. Then he closed his arms around her and pulled her into an Apparition. When they reappeared in his bedroom, he whispered, "So, all in, this time. Just one bedroom."

*********

Grace was sitting in the library. She had chosen a table in the far corner, close to the restricted section. She stared at the book that was lying on the table in front of her but she wasn't reading. In fact she was busy trying to feel close to her mother.

As long as she could remember her mother had always spoken so fondly of Hogwarts' library. Judging from her stories it had been the place she had loved most and somehow Grace had hoped that going there and sitting right where her mother had used to sit would make her be close again. But unfortunately it didn't quite work. Grace tried to imagine her mother being her age but no matter how hard she tried no image was coming to her mind. It was strangely hard, trying to imagine her parents being her age. When had they first met? Had they seen each other on the Hogwarts Express for the first time? Had they already liked each other back then? How had they happened to end up together?

Grace shook her head a little. There were so many questions, yet so few answers. And somehow she had a feeling she would never get the answers she wanted because her father simply didn't seem likely to sit and talk about his days at school. It wasn't as if she hadn't tried. As soon as he had told her that she would be going to Hogwarts she had tried to make him tell her as much as possible about Hogwarts and about his memories. But he had been extremely evasive - just as usual.

Grace leaned back and with a loud thud she shut the book that was lying in front of her. She would have to find another way to find out. She shoved her things into her bag and got up. Moving as silently as a ghost she left the library, intending to go back to the Slytherin common room. She was just making her way there when suddenly, following on a sudden impulse, she turned in a different direction. Moments later she found herself in the Trophy Room, facing the long list of names of Hogwarts' Head Pupils. She let her eyes wander down the rows, primarily searching for the name of her uncle, Cepheus Houlton. But when she spotted his name it wasn't what caught her attention. Her eyes were suddenly glued to the two names some seven rows above. Cassiopeia Houlton and Tom Riddle the plate read. Riddle. She had never heard that name. Never had her mother mentioned it. And neither had her father. Was that his name? Surely her mother had called her father Tom, hadn't she? So Tom Riddle had to be him. Unconsciously her fingers brushed against the nameplate with her parents' names.

"My grandpa told me he knew your great-aunt."

Titus Avery's voice tore Grace from her thoughts and she gave a jerk, quickly withdrawing her hand, somehow feeling caught.

"Titus", she exclaimed. "I wasn't aware you were here."

Titus grinned apologetically. "Sorry. I just came by, saw the open door and thought I'd have a look what was in here." He gestured vaguely at the various crystal glass displays.

Grace quickly collected herself. "I came to see the name of my grandfather." She pointed at Cepheus Houlton's name. "And then I realized that obviously his sister was Head Girl as well." She paused. "You say your grandpa knew her?" She tried her best to make her voice sound just the right kind of bored to make him answer without raising suspicion.

Titus nodded excitedly. "Yes, when I wrote to him that I had met you on our first evening and that we were....well kind of friends..." He shot her a quick glance but Grace had turned back towards the list of names. "Well he sent me a letter telling me that he went to school with your great-aunt."

"Were they friends?" Grace asked, carefully masking her curiosity.

Titus shrugged. "Actually I don't know. He didn't write anything about that.  But, you know, that's not unusual. My grandfather normally doesn't talk much. Actually sometimes I have the impression that I am the only one in my family whom he talks to at all. Sometimes I'm not even sure he likes the rest of my family." His voice trailed away and there was a moment of silence before he continued. "But I could ask him about her, if you'd like to know."

Grace slowly nodded, her mind racing. Her father had told her not to raise any suspicion. But this wasn't raising suspicion, was it? She bit her lip. Maybe she should explain herself a little. "You know that would be great. My parents died so early and so did my grandfather. So I just happen to know so little about the family whose name I'm bearing." She gave Titus a small apologetic smile. "It really seems intriguing to be able to find out a little more. You see, my mother's brother is the only family I have left and he's from France, you know, he doesn't know very much about British wizarding families."

Titus returned her smile and nodded understandingly. "Let's go back to the common room and I'll write him a letter right away."

******
Author's note: Thanks so much for reading! Please vote and comment :) And thanks so so much for your patience...