Masquerade (Discontinued)

Chapter XVII

Hogwarts, Unplottable Location, Scotland, Great Britain

Saturday the 19th of February 1999

2:00 PM

Tom stormed through the halls of Hogwarts, looking frantic. He knew he looked insane, but he was a man on a mission, and he wasn't going to stray from it.

"Professor! Professor Riddle!"

Tom spun around at the voice and he froze. Ariana looked up at him, worried.

"Ariana," Tom said, sharply.

"How's Miss Potter? It was a bit of a shock, seeing us, wasn't it? I mean, you haven't trained anyone since her sister. She must feel a little betrayed," Ariana said, and Tom swallowed hard, nodding slowly.

"Yes…she left me." Tom wasn't sure why he told her that, but he knew that he had to. The accusation was clear in his voice and Ariana became ashen.

"Why? You're training me! We weren't doing…she didn't think we were…I'm not your wife! You adore her. All you talk about is her and her sister!" Ariana crowed.

Tom nodded, his eyes wide and blank. "Yes. Miss Goode, I will be taking an extended sabbatical. I'm sorry to say that our apprenticeship will have to be terminated."

Ariana shook her head.

"Wait, Professor! No! I've learned so much from you, and I can't give that up. What if they come for me? What if they kill me because of my father?"Ariana asked, fear ripping across her face and Tom swallowed hard.

"I am sorry, Miss Goode. Tell Professor Delacour to meet me in the Headmaster's office," Tom said, quietly and he turned away, continuing up the stairs even as his student watched him leave. When he got to the Headmaster's office, and he said, quietly, "Lemon drop."

The gargoyle leapt out of the way and he went up the steps, quickly. Dumbledore stared at him in surprise.

"Tom, my boy, I'm surprised you're here. You're usually with Bella on the weekends," Dumbledore observed. He paused when Tom began to pace, shaking his head and worried, like he was a child once more. "Tom?"

"Bella…Bella's gone. I need…I need a sabbatical. I can't…I can't…Dumbledore!" Tom barked and he looked the man in the eye then. "I need to leave. I can't be here. Not until I find her. She left…she left, and I—"

His voice broke, and he shook. Dumbledore was reminded instantly of the little orphan boy that Tom had once been, and what a long way he had come. He had gone from emotionless to hedonistic to this person who was so in love.

"All right." As Dumbledore agreed, the door swung open and Colette Delacour stepped through the door.

"'Eadmaster what izit? Miss Goode said zat Professor Reedle requested me," Colette asked. She paused when she saw Tom, and the man collapsed into the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Tom is in dire need of a vacation," Dumbledore said, carefully. "He's overworked himself. I suppose he asked for you because he'd like to request that you teach all of his advancecd classes until his return."