The Tale of Azure - Book I: Shades of Green and Blue

Chapter Eighteen: I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

A/N: Here we discover certain things about the plot of "Shades" and meet the instigator behind scenes. She is based on the Sinbad movie character. For those who watched the movie, you can guess who I am talking about. I have been dropping hints until now ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own "Harry Potter", "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them" or Sinbad.

Trigger warnings: torture (implied)

The Muggle flipped the journal on its back cover before quickly applying a tag over it. "So your name is Tom Marvolo Riddle?"

"Unless the matron of the orphanage's hearing was poor when she was told those words by the source, yes," he replied casually, a calm smile on his features. "Now, did I pass your test?"

"Excellently," she said before giving the journal and a pencil to him. "Would you like to sign it? The moment you name one thing you become its owner."

"That would be most favourable. Thank you," he answered and, opening the journal's first page, wrote "T.M. Riddle", tightening his grip on the pencil.

This name...I abhor it since I found out I was a wizard. When I surpass my Ancestor and Grindelwald, the world will never associate me with the Muggle name "Tom Riddle."

"You know, if you are unhappy with your name...you could always change it," the Muggle said thoughtfully when he returned the pencil to her. "Many people have done it throughout history. Gods and goddesses have epithets; poets, artists and authors do not always sign their real names. They use alias or anagrams."

Come to think of that, Rosier's late aunt was known for that. It certainly suited her moniker "The Witch of a Thousand Faces," he thought as he pocketed the journal. But what kind of name would it be worthy of a wizard such as me? Born with the purest blood in his veins...could only be a Lord.

However, the name must also contain some part of his identity or it will be meaningless. So...what did he have that was so different from all the others?

"Death..." He murmured under his breath.

"You want to be renamed 'Death'?" She asked, hiding her smile with her hand. "Isn't that a bit...redundant?"

No, you silly Muggle, he thought contemptuously, his dark brown eyes menacing, I do not want to become Death. I want to surpass it. I will not be bound by that Law that Ashlane keeps prattling about in her thoughts. I will become the one who flees from Death...for all eternity.

His eyes widened a fraction as he realized he had found his name, the name that everyone would know and instantly cower in fear.

"Well, it has been quite a pleasure, but I must take my leave. Good day to you, Miss Rivers." He gave her one last polite smile before walking to the door. Opening it, he stepped out of the bookstore.

"For you as well, Tom..." The voice of the shopkeeper said, now becoming a distant echo in his mind.

On the display mirror of a building that used to be a bookshop, he could see his reflection. If he recalled correctly, the building had been destroyed by the Blitz...

Wait. What am I doing here?

He searched his memories of today and found his answer: he had gone to Winstanley's Bookstore & Stationers, a newsagent located on 422 Vauxhall Road, London, England. There, he had purchased a single article: a black-leathered journal which he had instantly signed it as "T.M. Riddle". He had also renamed himself. In other words, he had abandoned his filthy father's Muggle name.