Slytherin Boy Imagines

The Snake and the Fox - Tom Riddle

Word Count: 641
Warnings: None
Requested Story
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Tom Riddle sat in a corner of the grimy orphanage, the flickering light of a single bulb casting long shadows across the room. His dark eyes scanned the pages of a worn-out book on magical theory he had managed to procure during one of his secret trips to Knockturn Alley. The other children played noisily, their laughter grating on his nerves.

Tom had always been different. He knew it, and he relished it. His powers, though undeveloped, were a source of comfort in a world that otherwise felt cold and uninviting. The other children avoided him, sensing something sinister beneath his calm exterior. Tom preferred it that way. Solitude allowed him to focus on his ambitions.

One rainy afternoon, a new girl arrived at the orphanage. Her name was Elara Fox. She had striking auburn hair and a demeanor that matched Tom's in its quiet intensity. Elara carried an air of mystery, and Tom's curiosity was piqued.

Days passed, and Tom watched her from a distance. She didn't join in the children's games and seemed to be more interested in the dark corners of the orphanage, much like he was. One day, he saw her practicing something peculiar with her hands, a small flame dancing on her fingertips before she quickly extinguished it.

Tom's eyes widened. Another one like him.

He approached her one evening when the other children were asleep. She sat by the window, staring out at the rain.

"Interesting trick you've got there," Tom said, his voice low and smooth.

Elara turned, her green eyes meeting his. "What do you want, Riddle?"

"I want to know what you are," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Elara smirked. "Same as you, I suppose. Different. Powerful."

Tom nodded. "Have you ever heard of magic?"

Her eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Magic? Like in fairy tales?"

"No," Tom said, his voice steady and serious. "Real magic. Something ancient and powerful. Something we can control."

Elara leaned in, her curiosity overtaking her caution. "Tell me more."

Over the following weeks, Tom and Elara grew closer, bonding over their shared abilities and ambitions. They would sneak out at night to explore the nearby woods, practicing their magic and sharing their dreams of escaping the orphanage and making their mark on the world.

Tom taught Elara everything he knew about magic, and in return, she showed him how to use his powers with more finesse and subtlety. Together, they formed a formidable duo, their combined abilities making them nearly unstoppable within the confines of the orphanage.

Their friendship was not built on trust or affection but on mutual benefit and understanding. They knew they were different from everyone else, and in each other, they found a kindred spirit.

One night, as they sat by the fireplace in the orphanage's common room, Elara turned to Tom. "What do you want to do when we leave this place?"

Tom's eyes gleamed with ambition. "I want to learn everything there is about magic. I want power, Elara. Enough power to change the world."

Elara nodded, her expression mirroring his determination. "And I want to be by your side when you do. Together, we can be unstoppable."

Tom smiled, a rare genuine smile. For the first time, he felt a semblance of camaraderie, even if it was tinged with self-interest and ambition.

As the years passed and they eventually left the orphanage, Tom and Elara went their separate ways, but their bond remained. They both pursued their own paths to power, always remembering the nights spent whispering secrets and weaving spells in the dark.

In the end, their friendship was a testament to the power of ambition and the allure of the unknown. Two kindred spirits, bound by their quest for greatness, their destinies forever intertwined by the shadows of their past.