Both obsessed/Tom Riddle (completed)

026 Lost and taken

Tom Riddle was not one to panic easily. Yet, the last two days had been unbearable. Ever since he was three years old, Ernesh had always been by his side. They had never been apart for more than a day or two, and even then, Tom had known exactly where Ernesh was. This time was different.

Ernesh had vanished.

The castle felt wrong without him. Tom retraced his steps relentlessly, scanning every corridor, every hidden alcove. He interrogated anyone he thought might have seen him, his calm mask slipping with every dead end. Though it had only been two days, his unease was suffocating.

By the third day, Tom was bordering on desperation. He found himself pacing the halls near the Great Hall, hoping for any lead. That's when he overheard them—two Gryffindor boys loitering near a statue, their laughter grating against his frayed nerves.

"...that snake deserved it," one of them sneered.

"Still locked up, getting what he deserves. Bet he won't look so creepy after a bit more fun," the other added, laughing.

Tom froze. His blood ran cold, then hot, a violent wave of fury surging through him. He approached them with quiet precision, his voice calm but deadly as he spoke.

"Who are you talking about?"

The boys turned, startled. One of them smirked, clearly not realizing the danger they were in. "What's it to you, Riddle? Your little pet isn't so scary now."

Tom's wand was in his hand before they could blink. "Tell me where he is," he demanded, his voice low and venomous.

The Gryffindors exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Tom's presence finally sinking in. When they hesitated, Tom's patience snapped. "Crucio," he hissed, and the boy who had smirked fell to the ground, writhing in agony.

The other stumbled backward, eyes wide with fear. "H-he's in the Room of Requirement! We—please, stop!"

Tom lifted the curse but only long enough to cast it on the other boy, his fury unchecked. Their screams echoed through the corridor, but he didn't care. They deserved it.

Once they were incapacitated, Tom turned on his heel and made his way to the Room of Requirement, his mind racing. If they had hurt Ernesh—

The door appeared before him, and he stepped inside, the air immediately thick with the stench of blood and cruelty.

The sight that greeted him made his breath hitch.

Ernesh was tied to a chair in the center of the room, his delicate frame slumped forward. A large bruise marred his porcelain-like forehead, its dark purple edges blending into the greenish hue of his skin. Tom could see that Ernesh's head had likely been knocked against the wall several times—his normally pristine hair was matted with blood.

Nearby, three Gryffindors stood laughing, their wands lazily pointed at Ernesh. One of them stepped closer, gripping a knife. With a cruel smirk, he slashed at Ernesh's arm, eliciting a faint whimper.

Tom froze, his rage boiling over as he watched the dark, viscous black-and-green blood drip from the wound. Ernesh, his head nodding weakly, was barely conscious. He hadn't fed in nearly three days. His body was shutting down.

Tom's grip on his wand tightened until his knuckles turned white. He stood at the back of the room, his mind a storm of plans. How to get Ernesh out. How to kill these Gryffindors. How to make them pay.

When the knife came down again, slashing another line into Ernesh's already battered arm, Tom's control shattered.

"Avada Kedavra!" he roared, his wand pointed at the boy with the knife. The green light shot across the room, hitting its mark instantly. The Gryffindor crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The other two turned, panic spreading across their faces, but Tom didn't hesitate. Another killing curse left his lips, then another, the power of the spells draining him slightly with each one.

When it was over, the room was silent save for Tom's ragged breathing. The three Gryffindors lay motionless on the floor, their lifeless eyes staring blankly.

Tom dropped to his knees in front of Ernesh, his hands trembling as he worked to untie the ropes binding him. Ernesh's head lolled to the side, his breathing shallow, his skin unnaturally pale.

"Ernesh," Tom murmured, his voice breaking. "Stay with me."

Ernesh didn't respond, his eyelids fluttering as he struggled to stay conscious. Blood continued to drip from his wounds, pooling on the floor.

Tom knew he didn't have much time. He needed to act quickly. Summoning all the magic he could muster, he performed a transformation spell, one he had practiced only in theory but never used.

"Serpens transformatio," he whispered, his wand glowing as he pointed it at Ernesh.

In an instant, Ernesh's body shifted, shrinking and elongating until he was a sleek black snake, his green eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The transformation would allow his body to heal faster, his natural magic aiding the process.

Tom cradled the snake in his hands, his touch gentle despite the fury that still burned within him. He stayed there for hours, his wand at the ready, until he felt the pulse of Ernesh's magic begin to stabilize.

When he was certain it was safe, Tom reversed the spell, returning Ernesh to his human form.

Ernesh's body reappeared in Tom's arms, his head resting against Tom's shoulder. His wounds had closed, though faint scars remained, and his breathing was steady once more.

Tom carried him to the bed in the corner of the room, laying him down carefully. Ernesh's eyes fluttered open briefly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he looked up at Tom.

"Tom," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I'm here," Tom said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Ernesh's face.

Ernesh's eyes closed again, his body relaxing into sleep. Tom sat beside him, his hand resting lightly on Ernesh's chest as he watched the slow rise and fall of his breath.

He would make sure nothing like this ever happened again. Anyone who dared to hurt Ernesh would pay the price—with their lives.

And as Tom sat there, his dark eyes filled with both anger and devotion, he vowed to protect the fragile, deadly creature in his care. Ernesh was his, and nothing would ever change that.