the end, again - tom riddle

chapter four

A/N: Hello! I'm sorry this update is later, I had to write the majority of the chapter today because I didn't have time last week. I will try to update again soon, but due to the holidays this will probably be the last update until January.

Thank you for reading and if you notice issues please let me know.

Edited: 2/12/22

September 9th, 1951.

Mara would admit it, she overreacted a little. She couldn't blame herself though, because it was something she did often before the war at almost any inconvenience. Even now, she could still be plagued by the panic that overtook her good senses. Last night was a great example of that. She'd woken up this morning completely calm, and excuses already in her head. She'd sorted through the information he knew and used her wiggle room to paint herself in a good light. Honestly, she should have listened to Pansy a little harder when she said not everything was the end of the world.

But even if she eased his suspicions, she knew he'd never forget. And she didn't have a way home as of right now, and with the dueling club preventing her from ignoring him, she would have a hard time staying off his radar.

The universe, apparently, wasn't done fucking her over yet.

✧

"I need you to lie for me." Mara said while sipping tea in Dumbledore's office late that afternoon.

His office had many differences from the one in her time. Most obviously, this one was a teacher's office and his old one was the Headmasters. This one had hardly any portraits in it, and the furniture was rather uncomfortable.

There were also many similarities. He still had a bowl of candy laying on his desk, it was still painted a faint peach color and had random trinkets scattered about. This one even smelt the same as his old office.

It was giving Mara some serious déjà vu.

"I believe I am already lying for you. About multiple things." Dumbledore replied, slightly amused.

Mara sighed. "Yes well, add lying to Tom Riddle about my life from the past to your list. He's bloody gone up and ruined my week."

Dumbledore stiffened for a moment, and suddenly all amusement was gone. "He has seen your memories?"

Mara snorted. "No, I'm too smart for that. But he did say that he had some 'connection'," she rolled her eyes and put air quotes around the word "at the ministry. Said something about knowing I was a fake. And something about uncovering the truth, I think. It's all a bit blurry, really."

Dumbledore straightened his posture and looked down at her through his half-moon spectacles. Merlin, she hated being looked down on. "I hope you realize how serious this is, Miss Vaux."

Mara waved her hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. The timeline is in danger, yada yada yada. I have it under control." He raised a brown in question.

She scowled at him. "I do. I just need you to be able to vouch for me. Say I'm from the 2080's or some shite and there was some conflict that caused a war I spied in. Say I'm a heroin and misunderstood."

Dumbledore looked unimpressed, both at her choice of words and tone.

Mara took that as her cue. She chugged the rest of her tea down, ignoring the burning on her tongue, and bid him goodbye.

"Remember, 2080's and I'm amazing." she said over her shoulder as she closed the door.

Mara smiled to herself as she walked to her classroom. All she had to do now was lie to Riddle and then work with him tomorrow for the club. Easy peasy.