The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Tired Delirium

1961

Neatly fitted shoes tapped across the tile floor of the entrance hall to Malfoy Manor. The rain had lashed down on Tom Riddle and his death eaters as they walked up the front path, soaking their clothes. Sheathing his wand after casting a drying charm, Tom tapped his shoe out of habit to knock off the last droplets. The wizards in Armenia had been greatly helpful and his army was growing stronger every day, it felt like his new world was within his grasp. His plan was like a thousand piece puzzle with no picture to work from. Each piece had to be found, bargained for, or forged. But his picture was growing and finally showing through. 

"Make yourselves at home in the sitting room," he said to the men behind him as he shrugged off his coat. "Avery grab the elf to get that—" 

A loud bang silenced the lot of them. Not one of them moved as Victoria's shrieking began to echo throughout the house. Thunderous footsteps ran over their heads in small quick steps. A child running. Lucius’ cries bounced off the dark green walls and down the stairs, only muffled by the closed door. 

"Lestrange, does that sound like my wife to you?" Tom asked as stamping footsteps went across the ceiling, shaking the crystal chandelier above their heads. 

"It does, my Lord," Obsidian said, fidgeting with the cuff of his shirt as his feet itched to move to the chaos. "I can see if I can calm her down if you want, my Lord. You're busy, let me help."

"Go," Tom agreed, brushing out the creases in his shirt as his stare kept snapping up to the thuds above them. "I'll pour you a drink." 

"Yes, my Lord," Obsidian bowed his head and took off into the house immediately at a quick jog. 

#####

"Lucius, get back here!" 

Victoria's fist hit the wall as her son sprinted across the landing. She could feel her hands shaking, her rage blinding at heights it had never reached before. 

"No!" Lucius yelled back at her, hitting the end of the hallway and turning to see where she was. "You're being scary!" 

Victoria was relentless. Her anger swimming in a magic infused hormone fog over her brain. She stormed across the landing before Lucius could decide which way to run next. Hand gripped around the back of his collar, Victoria yanked the boy back towards her. 

"Don't you dare run away from me," she growled into his ear as he kicked and screamed, trying to get away from her. 

"Victoria!" Obsidian's shout was the first she was alerted to his presence. Her yelling having covered up his footsteps. He grabbed her round the chest when she didn't acknowledge him, pulling so hard he lifted her from the floor. "Victoria, let him go." 

"Get off me," Victoria shrieked, thrashing in his arms as he ripped Lucius's collar from her hand. "Put me down!" 

Her heels skidded along the hardwood floor as Obsidian put her on the floor. She tried to wrestle him off but he was so much stronger than she was. Her anger fell in white hot tears as he pinned her to the floor, both her wrists gripped in his hands. 

Flashes of her father's glare went across her mind. Her childhood fear struck through her bones and welded to the stinging pain of her memory of returning to the Manor. Nothing felt safe. Even Obsidian’s hands felt threatening. She couldn't move. 

"It can't be you, it can't be you, " Victoria shouted through her sobs. She pushed against him so hard it hurt, her skin feeling like it might rip as he knelt over her. "I don't want you!" 

"You need to calm down," Obsidian shouted, trying to make himself heard over her cries. "Victoria, you need to stop, you're going to hurt yourself." 

"She told you to get off." His Lord's voice was threatening and cut through all the noise in the corridor. "You will do as your Lady commands."