T W E N T Y - O N E
Horcrux

The world around me seemed to blur together in a sort of distant haze. I was aware of my place in sitting at the Great Hall for breakfast, yet I couldn't tell you what it exactly it was Lavender was ranting to Walter and I about.

It was the fourteenth of June already, I wasn't sure where the time had gone. How could five months have passed so quick? O.W.L.s. were coming up within the next week or so and I was positive I was going to fail.

Lavender had recently told me that without passing O.W.L. exams you couldn't move up to sixth or seventh year. Now, if I had known that perhaps I would have actually studied, or tried to pass some classes.

My only option left was to cheat on the exams, as I could not get kicked out of Hogwarts in the middle of this task. That would just be embarrassing.

I was drawn away from my thoughts by the Headmaster roaring out a loud, "SILENCE!" He boomed, causing almost all students in the Great Hall to jump.

Casually, my eyes slid to Tom who despite the events of last night looked perfectly calm. The headmaster beginning to speak was what drew my attention back to him.

"I have called you all here this morning to announce that due to the heroic actions of one student in particular, Hogwarts school will not be closing." The students all cheered at once, especially the Slytherin house each of whom cast admiring glances at Tom.

With a smile the Headmaster continued, "I am pleased to say that the culprit has been caught and is to be punished appropriately." More cheers erupted, "All the students who have been petrified will be given the Mandrake Restorative Draught!" Everyone hollered in glee, happy cries coming from family and friends of the petrified.

Professor Dippet smiled, hie eyes wandering over to the Slytherin table boring directly into Tom Riddle, a proud gleam in his eye. "I am proud to announce that none of this would have been at all possible without the courageous actions of one young man sitting here today, I ask everyone to please stand and give Mister Tom Riddle your applause!" Every single person in the Great Hall except for me stood, giving a round of applause to Tom.

Tom smiled coolly, taking in the admiration around him. The Headmaster motioned him up causing Tom to stand and stride his way up to the very front. All the Professor's minus Dumbledore clapped loudly, beaming with pride for the young man.

Once he was stood next to Headmaster Dippet he shook his hand, the Headmaster looking to him as if he were his own son. With a large smile, he presented a large shimmery-gold trophy to the school.

"I, Headmaster Armando Dippet, give Tom Riddle this award for special services to the school. Tom was brave enough to track down the culprit himself, saving countless lives in the process." Dippet smiled a thousand-watt smile, patting Tom on the back in the process.

A roar of cheers louder than ever enveloped the room, thundering in an echo. Females swooned over him, and males looked to him admirably. I watched Tom look through the crowd seemingly trying to find something.

His eyes finally met my own, boring in with an expression as if waiting for me to fawn over him alike to all the others. However, my expression stayed neutral looking to him as if he were boring, something he obviously did not like by the way his eyes narrowed.

Throughout the entire day, Tom was congratulated by many getting clasped on the back. Much to my annoyance he gave off more than his typical fake charm and care. Mainly, he was extremely polite to all the professors, taking time to thank each and every one of them. Of course all but Dumbledore fell prey to his charms, fussing over what an amazing young man he was.

He even went as far as to offer help to any student who seemed to be struggling in the slightest. Unlike all the others every time Tom came up to help me; because lord knows I don't know how to do anything, I ignored him forcing him to move onto the next person. I knew he didn't like this, as he gave me multiple looks, as if expecting me to run up to him and kiss his ass or something.

Rolling my eyes at the thought, I gathered my stuff unconsciously sensing the magic with caused the bells of the school to go off, running through the air. Lavender looked to me confused, turning her head.

"Why are you pack-" She was cut off the bell signalling the end of classes.

"That's why." I got up leaving to the common room, knowing Tom just saw that entire ordeal.

~

I sat on the comfortable couch of the common room, smack in the middle of Lavender and Walter. Lavender sat on my right, working on an essay for one of her classes and Walter sat to my left struggling to make an accurate prediction for Divination.

I let out a breath, bringing my feet up to rest on the coffee table. Crossing my arms, I leaned back closing my eyes. My breathing straightened out after a few minutes of listening to Lavender and Walter desperately scribbling words on their worksheets.

I was close to sleep, when I heard the common room door burst open. Of course considering this was the Gryffindor common room I was expecting a Gryffindor student. This was not the case.

"Riddle? What on Earth do you think you are doing?" My head snapped to the portrait hole, which closed behind the form of the one and only handsome Tom Riddle. "You can't just waltz on in here." It was a seventh year male Gryffindor student, who sat across from a sixth year female playing chess.

Riddle picked at his nails, before raising his head to coolly meet the gaze of the Seventh year student. "Well Gordon," Tom lulled, his British accent peaking at my ears. "I will have you know that I am simply in here for academic purposes." Gordon looked at Tom in disbelief, while I only slid further down the couch so only my head was within sight.

Walter and Lavender both looked to each other, before standing walking over to the situation like the mature prefects they were.

"Riddle." Walter addressed, nodding his head.

Tom nodded back before Lavender cut in. "What academic purposes do you have with being in here?"

"As it just so happens," Tom paused taking a look around the common room, soaking everything in. "My Potions partner; Rhiannon Lightly, is a Gryffindor student." I gulped hearing my name, quickly but silently jumping to a standing position.

Slowly, I made my way to the dormitory stairs ready to make my grand escape.

"And what; Mister Riddle, do you have to do with Rhiannon?" Lavender stuck her nose in the air, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest.

"Well Miss Rowle," Tom purred, his charming demeanor at an all-time high. "Rhiannon struggles in the majority of her classes, I; of course, always offer my help to her in class, but today she wasn't too keen on accepting." His eyes raked across the room yet again, curiously drinking in the red and gold theme. "I am only here to make sure she is caught up on all her assignments and studying. And also take her to the library in order to help her fully understand the curriculum." His charm unfortunately wooed both prefects, as Lavender gave him a small grin.

Walter only shook his head knowingly, making me roll my eyes at him.

"Well, unless sleeping was the assignment she's definitely not doing it." Lavender said smartly, causing Tom to roll his eyes and chuckle.

"Of course; sleeping." He muttered, shaking his head disapprovingly.

Well, excuse me; Judge Judy.

Walter pointed over to the couch where I previously was, "She's just over-" He stopped himself seeing me gone. "What in the world?" He asked aloud, looking around the common room the other two following in suit.

Tom being in the common room, gained a few on lookers as it wasn't every day a Slytherin was welcomed into Gryffindor territory. Quickly, I started taking the steps two at a time trying to get out of there.

"Rhiannon!" Lavender shouted, her footsteps coming closer. "Get back here! You need to do your class work!" She yelled, jumping on the staircase.

"No I don't." I shouted back, looking at Tom who watched me run away with a scowl. "Class is over, it's nap time!"

"You sleep like thirteen hours a day!" She retaliated.

It was true, but to be fair other than reading there wasn't much to around here. Sleep tended to be the hobby I did as my past time.

"You'll never catch me alive!" I wailed like a crazy person, immaturely swinging around the banister.

"You will fail O.W.L.s.!" She screamed back, zipping around the banister after me.

With my hearing I was able to hear something Walter said to Tom, before I zoned them out.

"Well," Walter sighed most likely looking to Tom. "That's how my day's going, what about you?" I almost snickered at that comment, racing into the dorm room.

As soon as my feet hit the wooden boards of the dorm room, I took a leap of faith to my bed.

Now, I wish this was the moment I could say that Lavender gave up and went back to the common room telling Tom I was not coming. But unfortunately my life doesn't work that way. Ever.

"GET YOUR BLOODY ARSE OUT OF BED!" Lavender was sitting on top of me in the bed, continuously hitting me with a pillow.

"I don't want to study!" I kept chanting back, covering my face from the pillow.

Just as she was opening her mouth to scream at me some more, our heads turned upon the door opening. Anamaria Valdez; one of our roommates stood there her mouth hanging open like a fish. She looked at both of us at a loss for words.

"Bad time?" She finally croaked out, unsure of what to make of this.

Lavender and I turned our head looking to each other, with a mutual agreement. Looking back to Anamaria we nodded our head in unison. "Yes." Our voices said at the same time.

"I'll just go then." She awkwardly walked out, shaking her head.

With a sigh, Lavender got off of me; me giving in jumping off the bed. With a large grin, Lavender began pulling me out of the dorm and to the steps leading to the common room.

"I cannot believe this." I muttered, watching Tom cockily smirk in my direction as Lavender dragged me to where him and Walter stood.

"Here." Lavender panted, pushing me at Tom. I stumbled falling into Tom, but he was quick to grab and steady me.

I brushed out of Tom's arms, feeling a small blush creep its way up my neck. Clearing his throat, Tom smirked down at me. "Come along, then. We don't have all day." He trotted out of the portrait, me dragging my feet following in suit.

The entire way to the library Tom was scolding me for not doing anything to prepare for O.W.L.s.

"I don't see you studying every minute of your free time." I scowled at him, just as we walked through the entrance of a relatively busy library.

"That's because unlike you, I don't need to study at all." He smartly remarked, making me narrow my eyes.

Tom sneered looking around at everyone. "I should have known all these simpletons would be last minute studying." He grabbed my arms dragging me away from the unusually crowded library.

"Ha. I'm not the only one." I snickered, making Tom snort as we made our way to the room of requirement.

"Yeah, but at least they're making an attempt. You seem to just lie around sleeping all the time." We were finally at the wall leading into the room.

"Okay, Mister let-me-lie-about-everything." I bit back sitting on the desk at the room.

"Excuse me?" Tom questioned, sitting in the chair across from mine. "I don't believe I have ever lied about anything." He rose an eyebrow, a perfectly innocent look plastered on his face.

"Drop the act, Tom." I deadpanned, causing him to sneer looking at me suspiciously. "I may seem stupid to you, but I'm not. I know it was you who opened the chamber, I know it was you who set the Basilisk, and I especially know it was you who killed Myrtle Warren." Tom's entire persona changed into something dark and dangerous.

He glowered at me, slowly rising from his chair to a standing position. "And how exactly do you know that?" He questioned, voice sharp with malice.

"I figured it out the second you said you were a descendant. All the pieces fit together, you Tom Riddle are a murderer." I stated calmly, looking him in his cold eyes.

Tom reared his head, slamming his hands on the table loudly. I didn't jump, only holding eye contact with him. "How dare you-" He hissed getting cut off abruptly.

"How dare me?" I rhetorically questioned pointing to myself, before standing up as well. "How dare you!" I roared, a new ferocity in my voice. "Tom, you may be strong, but you will never scare me! Do you not understand what you have done? You killed a fourteen year old!" I waved my hands around.

"It's you who doesn't understand," He hissed taking a step toward me, me only taking one back. "I am meant to do greater things in life. One of things is to purge the school of mud-bloods just as my ancestor Salazar Slytherin himself wanted." A sigh escaped me, and I pinched my nose between my two fingers in exasperation.

How do you handle a psychotic sixteen-year-old dark wizard who was quite frankly obviously going through some puberty issues?

"You know what," I said, making Tom tilt his head. "I am not dealing with this right now. I won't tell anyone, but I sure as hell hope you know what you did." I gave him a disappointed glance, leaving the room setting off down the corridor.

That went better than expected. Man, this task is fun; plus I got out of studying.

~

THIRD PERSON

Tom's cheeks flushed bright red in anger, something that had happened since was an infant. He knew that with the course Rhiannon was on, she wouldn't be passing O.W.L. examinations. Not passing O.W.L exams meant an automatic boot from Hogwarts.

Tom wasn't sure why, but the thought of Rhiannon Lightly not coming back was unsettling in his mind. However, he couldn't shake the fact that she knew. Rhiannon Lightly; possibly the only the girl he had ever shown any interest in whatsoever, and now she was being driven away.

Anger bubbled in him at the thought of that girl, that selfish, selfish girl whom unbeknownst to herself or him was stealing the one and only Tom Riddle's heart.

Tom himself was perplexed, he knew very well that she was definitely not the smartest. School wise at least. He would know considering he watched her for a majority of class time, half the time when he found her struggling he would silently help her.

Whether it be moving his paper into her view, casting a spell on her journal to keep her caught up on notes, or so much as giving her the answer during a test. Not that it made all that much of difference as he'd seen her test scores.

Tom Riddle didn't understand how she was so dumb, yet so smart. Rhiannon Lightly was the only person to figure out the truth behind the Basilisk. To his knowledge he had even managed to fool that dimwit Dumbledore, but not Rhiannon. Somehow she always knew.

Rhiannon Lightly was his own little puzzle he had been trying to piece together since he first saw her that day in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The biggest secret he got from her was she knew how to play piano; something he was quite curious to hear, and she actually had a New York accent.

Maybe she really was just an average American witch, but he highly doubted that. Tom knew there was something hidden beneath the golden hue which seemed to surround her beautiful person. His anger faded for a few seconds as he thought about the way she smiled when she blushed or the way her lip curled in concentration. The cute little quirks he loved about her.

And just for second he imagined what it would feel like for Rhiannon to be his. To be able to see her in the corridor and pull her to him in a passionate kiss. To be able to lay by the lake at night gazing upon the stars and giving each other small chaste kisses.

And for that second; Tom for the first time in his life felt truly happy. The image her dancing in his grasp. Then, the image turned red as he erupted into hot anger.
He gazed upon himself in disgust.

How dare he feel those emotions, think those thoughts!

He was not some hormone driven boy, he was to be the world's most powerful sorcerer. Tom understood that he was beginning to have a sort of infatuation with the girl and wanted to slap some sense into himself.

Emotions such as that were for the weak, they were a distraction. With that thought in mind Tom angrily strode through the corridors until he got to the opening of the chamber. Feeling in the pockets of his robe, he touched the diary with a sense of pride.

This was to be his first Horcrux.

Alike to being on a mission Tom went through the chamber, summoning his Basilisk which greeted him happily.

"Master, hello." The large snake hissed, earning a nod from Tom in return.

Setting his diary on the ground before him, Tom took a step back pointing his wand at the journal. "Quae te ad hoc constituitur, ut animam meam." He muttered a faint red glow emitting from his wand, surrounding the black diary.

With a deep breath, he prepared himself to endure the immense pain to come. Taking the faint red glow of his wand, he pointed it at the center of his chest where the soul was supposedly found. Just as he was about to begin, his mind flashed to an image of Rhiannon and him laughing together.

'No more emotions,' He chanted to himself, thinking this would remove his emotions for the girl completely.

Oh, how wrong he was.

"Beati a animam tuam, et unum ad occidendum et salva animam tuam." Tom said his spell in the perfect verse.

Tom gritted his teeth at the feeling of a very unnatural shifting happening from deep within. Using two hands Tom steadied his wand to his chest.

"Cum magica archangeli lucifer, ut donum Dei sancti nascimur infecti, innocentes et sanguis te resiliunt." Tom chanted gasping out, as an intense pain took over his body.

Bowing his head, Tom took deep breaths falling to his knees refusing to let his wand go. Most people would have given up already, falling prey to the pain. Not Tom, Tom Riddle was strong; he would fight until his very last breath.

Suddenly Tom's eyes burst open and he was seeing colors everywhere. He let out such a ferocious yell that made even the Basilisk itself flinch. Gasping for air, Tom knew he had to finish the ritual; no turning back now.

Just as he was ready to begin the next part, an image of Rhiannon took over his mind. This time it was of her complimenting his ivory wand, which scared so many people. "STOP!" Tom roared out through the pain wanting the images to just stop.

As soon as he had enough focus once more, he began the chant. "Vox fode in tuo animo, scindet te." As soon as the sentence left his lips, the pain momentarily went away.

Then, his wand began shaking a bright red light made its way from the back of his wand all the way to the tip. The light crawled out of his wand, and pushed itself into the very chest of Tom Riddle.

The Basilisk watched Tom with slight worry, before it once again flinched at the sound Tom made. His voice echoed around in torturous screams, as he felt his very soul tearing at the seams.

Dropping his wand, Tom grabbed at his face as a blinding light sprouted from his chest.

Tom's head swung side to side, his screams ripping through his throat. Suddenly, Tom's body stopped moving completely dead silence filling the open chamber. The Basilisk slithered closer to Tom, licking his face trying to wake him.

In an instant Tom's eyes flew open, and he gripped his chest in pain. Turning his head, he gazed upon his wand with determination. With a howl of pain, he ripped his hand away from his chest gripping onto his wand for dear life.

"Tolle animam sanguinis innocentis tenentur damnum pars in te est." Tom growled, his voice hoarse from the screams.

Pointing his wand toward the diary, a bright white light suddenly flew from his chest and into the diary. Unbearable screams of torment took over the groans, as Tom curled in on himself clutching his wand desperately.

Through the blinding pain, Tom saw multiple images cross the the threshold that was his mind. At first it was just bright searing colors, and then they took the image of something.

He saw a little girl's fingers playing the piano with amazing accuracy and precision.

He saw a boy who looked to be only a bit younger than himself, staring at something Tom couldn't make out.

He saw the image of two men he could not quite make out locked in a deadly duel.

A glimpse of an angel statue rang past his vision, seeming so real that he could almost feel the rain.

Fluffy white wings, encased in some sort of pure gold trimming was visible. The face of the girl the wings were attached to was barley visible, all he saw was the caramel mop of curls covering her face.

The image of the beautiful Rhiannon Lightly, stunned him into oblivion. Unlike before, he felt a stronger longing toward her.

Finally, he was able to catch of glimpse of pure golden eyes boring straight into his soul.

Tom came back from his high of visions with a gasp of air, and more screams of pain to accompany it. He didn't think on the images, labeling it off as hallucinations from the pain.

What he didn't know was that for the first time in his existence, Tom had taken a step into the out land of Pandora Claire's mind.

Tom's eyes went in and out of focus as he saw the blurry image of female holding him while he was just an image. He could hear the sugary sweet voice singing him to sleep.

"All your life you've never seen
a woman taken by the wind.
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?"

He could hear the soft feathery voice sending him into a peaceful sleep.

Unbeknownst to Tom, his now tarnished soul was trying to find something to fill the place of the missing piece.

The next best thing to fill that gap would be his soul-bounder.

"Custodi partem tuam leditur anima continebat quod latet." Tom finished the spell with his last breath, pointing his wand at the diary once more.

With a scream, Tom fell unconscious to the golden hue surrounding his mind.