Tom Marvolo Riddle

The Dark Mark, The Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort

The Dark Mark, The Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort

Tom sighed as he stared down at the image of Salazar Slytherin's mark.

There were no known books about Salazar Slytherin's followers but there were plenty on his mark. His followers names were either forgotten or never caught for the crimes Tom was sure they probably committed.

Tom knew his own mark had to be original, he could not copy Salazar's nor Grindelwald's but he did not think creating a dark mark would be so difficult.

"Tom, you seem perplexed." commented a friendly voice, the Slytherin Heir glancing up to see Horace Slughorn smiling down at him. Tom resisted the urge to frown, giving a small smile in response.

He was probably the only student who didn't care for Slughorn. He was a leech, riding the fame of his former students and gaining his wealth that way. Which would be fine if he wasn't trying to be close to Tom as well. However Slughorn had face in the wizarding world so for now, Tom wouldn't lose his temper and start tossing avadas around.

"It's nothing professor..just thinking about symbols. Like the snake for Slytherin House or the Badger for Hufflepuff. Symbols that have meaning." he said and Slughorn hummed, giving the boy a thoughtful once over. "Any particular reason why?"

Tom gave a charming smile and shrugged somewhat, out of character for someone such as himself but he had a different personality around the adults than around his close friends. They knew him best.

"My friends and I are kind of in a club. And I wanted a nice crest for it. I have yet to think of names but that part should be easier than this. I didn't expect how hard it would be." he sighed in a show of embarrassment and Slughorn gave a hearty laugh, clapping Tom on the back.

Tom went rigid in his seat, biting his tongue so hard he tasted blood, but tried his best to seem unphased by the unwanted touch.

"Oh you're young, everything seems easy at first. But, since you're in Slytherin and I know you adore snakes," he motioned to Nagini who was napping around his shoulders, "Why not incorporate a snake in the crest?"

At this Tom frowned.

He swallowed the blood in his mouth, glancing at Nagini for a moment.

"I could..is that not cliche?" he said, Slughorn shaking his head in amusement. "Yes but isn't that the fun of it? And, the snake doesn't have to be the main eye catcher. You can add onto it." he replied and Tom nodded once, his expression one Slughorn knew too well.

His mind was racing with ideas and he stood from his seat in the library, taking his book and vanishing his parchments back to his room. The Slytherin Heir turned to Slughorn and gave another one of his charming smiles, dipping his head slightly.

"Thank you professor. I think I have an idea of what I could do. Excuse me." he said and Slughorn waved him off, Tom turning and leaving the library much quicker than he meant to.

His tense shoulders slowly relaxed and he took a deep breath to calm his increasing anger, remembering the meditation tips from both Abraxas and Enceladus himself.

"Are you alright Riddle?" came a voice he didn't recognize and he looked up, surprised to see Athens Fawley. The tall, handsome boy was carrying some sort of plant and had apparently noticed Tom's mental talk with himself.