Inside My Mind (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter LXIV

Hogwarts, Unplottable Location, Scotland, Great Britain

Wednesday the 1st of September 1996

10:56 PM

"So…you're an orphan, huh?"

Tom froze where he stood. His eyes found hers and Bella almost took a step back. They were filled with an intensity that made Bella uncertain. His eyes were full of rage and his hands were clenched into fists. Bella stood her ground and looked up at him with a frown. He didn't move from his spot in front of the fire. The flickering flames made his face a shadow of sorts.

"Who told you that?" Tom asked in a low voice. Bella swallowed and she looked away from him and at the weapon covered wall. She stared for a long moment, not wanting to answer. She couldn't answer him. Not when he sounded so upset about it…

"Who told you that?" Tom shouted in rage. Bella cringed back and she took a step back. In all of her time knowing Tom, he had never shouted at her like that. They had argued and screamed but there was pure rage and hurt radiating off of him. He took a step forward and grabbed her arm, harshly and Bella's eyes widened as he squeezed.

"Lu-Luna," Bella whispered. Tom glared at her before throwing her back. She stumbled over her feet as Tom let out a shout of anger. He began pacing, ignoring Bella almost entirely.

"That little bitch! How dare she? How dare she tell you? What else did she tell you?" shouted Tom. Bella took a daring step forward and she looked at the man with something akin to pity in her eyes.

He was hurting.

And even though Bella was mad at him. Even though she didn't trust him, she couldn't…she just couldn't see him hurt. It hurt her for some strange reason. She didn't give it a second thought before she grabbed her hand and turned him towards her. He was looking down at her with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing, Tom. Nothing…it's okay…" Bella said, softly. He ripped his hand from hers with a glare and a short hiss. Bella blinked in surprise as he looked at the fire. He looked into the mirror above the fireplace and he almost cringed from the mirror, it seemed. His eyes softened into something like sorrow.

"Don't pity me," he said, sadly. Tom growled in anger and his fist slammed into the mirror, shattering it. The distorted versions of himself and Bella were reflected back into the room. He turned towards her with blazing eyes again.

"I don't pity you, Tom! I would never pity you. I empathize with you," Bella said, softly. And she really did.

She could understand…no she could start to understand why he had become a monster. Why he was the way he was?

"I don't care, Bella. It's the same thing for you, anyway. It doesn't change anything. It doesn't change a damn thing. I'll still be Lord Voldemort. I'll still be the monster. Just because I'm an orphan doesn't change one damn thing. I'll still be a murderer that you can't stand and I just don't give a shit anymore. You have no business knowing or caring that I'm an orphan. So, shut up and mind your business," Tom snarled.

Bella took a deep breath as she attempted to keep her temper in check. She couldn't blow up at him. He was hurting too much. She could see it in his eyes despite the fact that he didn't say anything. Tom wasn't one to show his emotions. He hid them behind callousness and anger.