Poison A Tom Marvolo Riddle Fanfiction completed

Chapter Ten - Denial

Tom and Cassiopeia were sitting in the far corner of the library, close to the restricted section and were reading books they had sneaked out of said section. They had covered the books with disillusionment charms so they wouldn't attract attention. Cassiopeia was drumming her fingers on the table while she was reading. Suddenly, without looking up from his book, Tom's hand snapped forward and pressed her hand against the table, stopping her drumming.

"Stop it, you're getting on my nerves", he commanded in a low voice.

Cassiopeia pulled her hand away. She ignored his irritation. "I think I found something interesting."

Tom looked up. When Cassiopeia didn't continue, Tom pressed exasperatedly, "Go on."

"Here it says that the procedure of creating a Horcrux is highly mutilating to the soul. The procedure won't go unanswered by the soul. Mainly, the mutilated soul will desperately try to heal and in the process will be flooded with an amount of emotions that is likely to overflow in the attempt to replace the part of the soul that has been ripped away. The soul gets so prominent in this procedure that the conscious decisions fall behind and have to give way to the utmost inner and unconscious emotions....," Cassiopeia's voice trailed away.

Tom stared at her in open disbelief. "That cannot be right," he hissed. "I have no emotions. I never had. You know that." His voice was getting ever so slightly piercing, "You know that."

Cassiopeia shrugged. "It's not me who wrote that." She shoved the book over to Tom, pointing at the passage she had been summarizing.

Tom glared at the page, taking in the words he couldn't believe. Then he shook his head.

"There must be another explanation. This book isn't right."

Cassiopeia shrugged again, "Maybe. But you can't deny that it makes sense even though you don't like it."

Tom stared at the page, cold fury slowly building up in him. Then he got up, grabbed his things and left the library without another word.

Cassiopeia stared after him. Under her breath she whispered, "Is it really that impossible?"

Somewhere deep inside she felt a feeling stir that hadn't been there before. It was hope. Hope, that maybe, one day, she still had the chance that he would finally care for her, at least a little.

Tom was furious; deeply furious. How could his own body betray him like this? He wasn't supposed to have any emotions, at least none like that. He had never felt any; he had never missed any. It wasn't right. Some first years stumbled across his path to the Slytherin dungeons. He flicked his wand and they bent over in pain. With another flick of his wand they started accusing one another not paying any attention to him. Tom smirked.

When he reached the dungeons, he hissed the password and entered. Avery and Lestrange were sitting by the fireside playing chess. They looked up but when they saw the look on his face they hurried to look down again. He obviously wasn't in the mood to be disturbed. Tom walked over to the two boys.

Twirling his wand in his hand he said, "Tell me something useful you did today." His voice was cold and sharp.

Avery and Lestrange exchanged looks.

"We....have been playing chess," Avery stammered.

Tom raised his eyebrows. "And what exactly do you think is useful about that?" he inquired, his voice getting even colder.

"Nothing...," Avery looked at Lestrange for support.

"We'll immediately go and find something useful to do," Lestrange jumped up from his seat and pulled Avery with him.