The Secret of Tom Riddle's Diary

Chapter Nine - Boxing Day

At six o'clock London time, a thoroughly exhausted Victoria was dropped off at the doorstep of Avery Manor. She took her dress which was now finished and her accessories to her room. Then, she marched herself straight to Tom's office. She knew that exhaustion was not a question.

"Come in, Victoria, dear," he said.

She opened the door and found him staring out the window as she entered. She curtsied before the desk and then spoke softly.

"I wondered if you wanted to hear what Death Eater gossip parents tell their sweet innocent daughters –" she asked.

He turned at her with a smirk.

"What did you learn?" he said. "I hope you start proving to me that you were worth the effort."

Her knees shook at the veiled threat in his words.

"I waited until everyone was drunk, and then I suggested that poor Uncle Rufus has been having nightmares. He is afraid that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is coming back."

Tom sat at his desk, took out his notebook and a pen, and waited patiently. Victoria started to explain what she remembered:

"My friends mentioned the Death Eaters in Azkaban. According to Nott, Bellatrix Lestrange was the Dark Lord's right hand."

"Certainly, she has one of the Dark Lord's horcruxes?" she asked very tentatively. "In her vault?"

Tom glared at her that she had dared too much with that suggestion. She decided to continue with what she was told.

"Crabbe and Goyle, Seniors were Death Eaters, Igor Karkaroff, Severus Snape, and Lucius Malfoy –" she said.

"Your Deputy Headmaster was a Death Eater?" he asked.

Victoria nodded. "No one at Hogwarts knows darker magic than he – that's the rumor."

"Was there any other gossip of importance? What color dress Narcissa Malfoy was wearing?" he asked as if she had said nothing of importance so far.

"Astoria said that her father had been present for the trials of Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch, Jr. Barty Crouch begged his father for mercy and received none."

He glared at her. "Don't you have something useful, girl?" he said.

"Don't you think it strange?" she said, fearing for her life. "That in our Wizarding world rampant with corruption that Crouch just sentenced his son to Azkaban, especially when he would have the access and ability to release him? The papers say he died at the same time as his mother –"

"But –" he finished for her. He turned to her with a fearful grin. "I bet he is still alive. He is a faithful servant, and when he comes back, he will ask him for help."

He nodded prowling around the room. He didn't thank her, but the lack of threats was thanks enough.

"I will look into this, Victoria –" he said. "Get some rest. You look awful. I will see you before you leave for Nott's house again for your briefing before Malfoy's Gala. Work on your homework –"

Victoria curtsied, and then walked as quickly as she dared out of the room.

Christmas at the Avery household would have been a strange affair for anyone that was present. Madam Avery left to be with some extended Muggle and squib family. Uncle Rufus was useless since he was under the Imperius. Tom had no interest in celebrating Christmas. But neither did Victoria. She did send a few presents to her six friends, and received some in return, but otherwise, she wasn't used to a big deal at Christmas so she didn't get too excited when nothing happened.