RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 41

"You made it."

Emelia looked into the eyes of man who got sent away to Azkaban a little more than a year ago. The love of her life. Well, at least he used to be.

"Tom..."

He grimaced at the name and she wondered why. He'd been rotting in the cell yet managed to look amazing. He was a bit frail, but had retained his muscle and charm.

"How've you been? How'd you escape?", she asked.

Tom didn't say anything, but crept closer to her. She stood still, not sure of what was happening. He came close to her face.

"You are not like them, Emelia.", his face inched towards her and he whispered, "I know you're sick, hoping you'd fix whatever was broken. I told you I'd come back."

"I never knew somebody like you."

Emelia got shivers down her spine when his cold breath hit her face. All this time in Azkaban and he'd managed to keep his sanity it seemed.

"We were too close for them to handle. Darling, it's a blessing and a curse."

Inside her heart ached for him. The obscure man she'd walked past in the halls at Hogwarts to star crossed lovers. But she had a family.

"I can't."

She shook her head and backed away, but backed into the door. She was cornered.

"Since I've been gone, do you know how much I've missed you? I've got to know why you're with him. I'd rather lose my pride then lose you."

"Tom, I have a family."

"Ophelia."

"You can't see her, Tom.", she cried out.

"It is my child, is it not?"

Emelia looked at his hands which were against the wall where she was cornered. She saw her reflection in his eyes. She knew she'd have to do this for the sake of her family. Emelia grabbed the sides of his arms, gently, and stood on her tippy toes. A kiss was planted on his forehead and he let out his breath.

"I've missed your touch...do you know if you're coming back?", he asked.

"No...and I'm sorry for that."

He pulled away and glared at her with his stormy eyes.

"You're such a bloody tramp!", he screamed. He pulled out his wand and aimed it at her, but she dodged and thought of the one spell which came to her head. The anger was overbearing and he didn't realize she was advanced in spells, as well.

'Sectumsempra'

Blood started gushing from his body and he looked at her. His eyes seemed pleading now and she inched towards him. He was losing blood very quickly.

"I'm sorry, Tom. Sincerely sorry. In the night, I hear the voices of from the night in the prefect's bathroom. It would've never happened if you never talked to me. You walked around as if you didn't know me. How could you be so heartless?"

He muttered something under his breath which she disregarded. The blood stopped, his gashes closed up, and his scars started healing. She stood in shock for a second. He got up, but propped himself back in the chair and laughed.

"That was a good one, I'll admit. You can't use a spell, which I invented, on me...ruthless girl."

She couldn't help but to smile and he offered her his hand from the seat.

"I shouldn't, Tom."

Out of nowhere her favorite muggle song "Arms Tonite" started playing.

She was grinning and took it.

"I fell in your arms toniiight!"

She sung under her breath, off key. They danced together with the light music playing in the background. The sun was starting to rise and light crept through the blinds. It was so peaceful. Emelia did this with Fred, occasionally, but he'd rush off halfway through the song to work.

"It reminds me of when Draco was dying in my hands at school.", she said.

His grip on her waist tightened and she bit her lip. He was jealous, she could tell.

"I have Draco's puny father around my finger, don't you think that's cute? A grown man at the mercy of a 17 year old.", he said.

"Tom, the evil won't do you any good. You will crave more and more power, do you understand me? You'll become bored quickly."

"Then run away with me."

The music abruptly stopped and she pulled away to look him in the eyes. 

"Mister Riddle, I'm afraid I can't. Did you forget the child a-and the husband."

He looked at his wand and back at her.

"We could be king and queen. Everyone would go away instantly. Your shitty husband, the child you didn't want to have, and we'll have everything. Your life would no longer be boring."

She sighed. Emelia couldn't change his thought process. He needed her, but she had to be the better person and stay with who needed her.

"My child is amazing. I don't regret any of my choices. I'm sorry, Tom. I can't go with you."

His eyes narrowed at the door and he heard footsteps. Tom embraced her in a hug.

"Well, it seems like you'll have to", he said and then apparated.

Emelia saw someone bust the door open, but then her eyes rolled back into her head before she saw who it was.

"Tom Riddle we've caugh-!"