Crimson || Tom Riddle [1]

𝖋𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐

1898

Aberdeen Dumbledore was not born evil. His descent began with a series of small, seemingly insignificant choices that, over time, warped his soul.

As a young man, Aberdeen had always felt overshadowed by his younger brother, Albus, whose brilliance and talent made him a favourite among their family and peers, even if he was a whole 11 years younger than him. Aberdeen, in contrast, was ordinary, his magical abilities competent but unremarkable. This festered within him, breeding resentment and jealousy.

Aberdeen discovered early on that he had a knack for understanding people's weaknesses and exploiting them to his advantage. His first foray into true evil was subtle: small acts of sabotage against those who dared to outshine him, whispered lies that set friends and colleagues against each other. He derived a certain pleasure from watching the chaos unfold, knowing he was the unseen puppeteer.

As his confidence grew, so did the scope of his manipulations. Aberdeen's expertise in legilimency became his most powerful weapon — and his ability to get information out of people. He would insinuate himself into the lives of those around him, using his skills to plant suggestions and bend their will to his own.

He was the cause of ruined marriages, destroyed careers, broken families, and many, many deaths, all while maintaining the veneer of a charming and respectable man. His greatest satisfaction came from orchestrating the death of the village's mayor, a man who trusted Aberdeen implicitly. The scandal that followed shattered the man's family and left the village of Mould-on-the-Wold in disarray.

Despite his monstrous actions, Aberdeen's family clung to the hope of his redemption. They believed that beneath the layers of darkness lay the brother they once knew, a belief that 17 year old Albus, in particular, held onto fiercely. But Arabella Chambers saw through the facade. She recognised the depth of Aberdeen's evil and knew that he was beyond saving. He was the perfect target for her.

The wizarding village of Mould-on-the-Wold was shrouded in an evening mist, the kind that clung to the skin and made everything appear ghostly. Arabella Chambers strolled through the narrow cobblestone streets, her senses alert for the presence of her next target. She had stalked Aberdeen for a while now and knew exactly where he would be at this time of night.

The air of the small tavern was thick with the scent of ale. Arabella spotted him at a corner table, a 28 year old man, a glass of firewhisky in his hand, watching the room with a predatory gaze. She made her way over, her movements graceful and confident.

"Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice smooth and inviting.

Aberdeen looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly before a smile spread across his face. "Not at all," he replied. "I'm always pleased to make the acquaintance of a beautiful woman."

Arabella smiled back, a calculated tilt of her lips. "I've heard quite a bit about you, Mr. Dumbledore," she said, her eyes locking onto his. "Your reputation precedes you."