RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 50

  Tom was at the Malfoy Manor when someone apparated behind him. He didn't bother to turn around as he knew who it was. The old werewolf.

"Greyback, you've been a very bad puppy, haven't you? I specifically instructed you to not harm her."

Fenrir didn't speak. He averted his gaze to the floor.

"You absolute OAF! That was my daughter you bit. Your services are no longer needed until you've learnt your lesson. Down to the dungeons, you go."

Greyback stayed put. Tom was angered.

"I see."

With a flick of his wand Greyback howled and lashed out. Tom knew he'd messed up. The werewolf ran at him, quickly, and gave him a nasty scratch on the face, but disapparated before Tom could do anything.

"BLOODY MONSTER!" Tom bellowed.

He was on the floor with his face covered in blood. The scar was thin, but blood still gushed out. He yelled for the owl.

"ABRAX!"

The owl, Abrax, hooted and came over.

"Accio pen and parchment!"

He wrote down a small letter to Emelia asking for help. Perhaps she'd realize he didn't want Ophelia to get hurt.

'Dear Emelia,

I must see you now. Werewolf got me. Help. Malfoy Manor.

Tom'

He rolled it up and threw it to Abrax.

"Take it to Emelia. Don't stop pecking her till she either replies or is on her way here."

The owl hooted once again and left with the parchment. Tom lay on the ground looking lifeless. No one was in the Malfoy Manor. They all stood guard around Knockturn Alley, waiting for his orders. Abrax flew out to Emelia's hotel at Marriott and scratched at the window. She didn't recognize the owl and let it in.

"What d'you have here for me?"

Abrax dropped the paper and looked at her as if it expected something. She opened it up and read it even when there wasn't much to read.

"This can't be. He sent the werewolf after her, but...what if he didn't?" she said to herself.

Before the owl could start pecking her she got out a quill and notepad.

'Dear Tom,

  I'll be there soon, but I hope this isn't one of your traps. If it is you will regret it and I swear that on my life.

Love, Em'

She flung it at Abrax who caught it in between their beak and they flew out. She grabbed her coat as it was freezing and got her wand. Emelia looked at the owl one last time before apparating to the Malfoy Manor. With the sound of a crack she was there.

"Em..." he called out from the ground.

She saw the near lifeless body in front of her and almost staggered back. He didn't lie. He was hurt with a cut that looked similar to Ophelia's.

"Stay still. I can't tend to you while you squirm."

She held his wrist and inspected the scar more. It was a deep purple shade with blood oozing out.

"Quick."

"Valnera Sanentur."

Nothing much happened, but he writhed in pain. After a few seconds he stopped and let out a breath.

"Feeling better." he said.

"You match Ophelia now," she stated. "Sorry."

It was a lame attempt to lighten the mood and he didn't laugh, but inside he was almost proud to be matching his daughter. It seemed like a shared pain between father and daughter.

"What did...Fred say?"

Emelia sighed.

"I'm not answering this. You need serious medical help now, Tom. This is out of my abilities."

He clenched his teeth together. While he was still in pain he wouldn't show it. Fenrir hadn't bit him so it's possible he'd survive with just a scratch.

'Perhaps it'll work' he thought.

"Say this," he told Emelia, "Sana Cicatrice."

She thought for a moment. Perhaps it was all a ruse and if she said that spell the Ministry would be alerted and she'd be an accomplice in this mess.

"No."

"Emelia, I'm not kidding. This isn't a joke, I'm bleeding and my face is scarred."

"What does the spell do?"

"It heals it, for God's sake. I'd do it myself, but then I'd be in immense pain."

Emelia pointed her wand at him. Maybe he wouldn't hurt her. He went to Azkaban for her, after all.

"Sana Cicatrice."

Almost immediately his gash started closing up, but it stopped all of a sudden. There was a thin line running down his face similar to Lupin and Ophelia's.

"There's nothing more I can do. I must leave now. I don't want to be here after you couldn't control your little dog and he went after Ophelia," her voice cracked. "She's a werewolf now, Tom. Even as a mere child she's now a werewolf."

"Stay."

Emelia wasn't going to be part of his little game anymore. She'd have to take the first step by stopping all contact to him. He was nothing without her and even if she was nothing without him she had Ophelia. Ophelia was all she needed.

"Goodbye, Riddle. I wish you the best."

She planted a kiss on his scar and he let her. Before he could say anything else she disapparated, leaving him sitting on the floor. Emelia looked like she was on the brink of tears when saying goodbye. Tom thought she'd fallen for her. Maybe he was right, but who knew? Emelia was just a lonely witch with a bastard child, after all.

"You have no idea how much pain you've caused me, Emelia." he said to himself.