The Birth and Death of Tom Riddle

Natalie waited nervously on the park bench. "He should be here any moment," speaking only to herself hoping the sound of her voice would calm her down a bit. So far it wasn't working.

Instead her thoughts drifted back to six months ago when she was sitting at the same park bench. Things were so different. She was mourning the death of her parents who had died suddenly in a car crash. After the funeral she had walked here. She wasn't going anywhere in particular, but when she felt as though her feet couldn't carry her any more, she found herself here. People in the park surrounded her, but never had she felt so alone. It was then that her life was about to take a completely different turn.

"Please miss, do not cry."

The voice sounded so calm and caring. It came from a handsome man standing next to her. He was searching in his coat pocket for something and soon pulled out a handkerchief, which she took happily. He found a seat next to her.

After some silent moments in which Natalie took the time to wipe her eyes and her nose the man spoke again.

"My name is Tom Riddle and it's not everyday that you see a pretty girl crying her eyes out in the park." He gave her a small smile. "Would you rather be alone?"

"Oh no please stay. You are very kind, Tom. My name is Natalie, Natalie Fantos. And to tell you the truth," she paused as the threat of more tears came to her eyes, "I really would rather not be alone right now." The smile she gave back to him was a lot smaller.

Natalie's eyes drew back to Tom. He really was very handsome. His black hair was parted on the side and his blue eyes almost sparkled in the sun. By the clothes he was wearing it was easy to tell he had money. Compared to the way she looked right now, he could be a king. She tried to tidy herself up a bit, putting lose hairs into place and straightening out her skirt.

Together they had sat on that park bench for hours. Natalie telling Tom all that had happened and Tom comforting her all that he could. They were almost inseparable after that. Tom had truly swept her off her feet. Even though the relationship had been a bit faster then she would have liked, the time spent with Tom was wonderful.

It was only now when things began to change. Tom came by less and less often. That was why she had set up this meeting today, and to make sure he would come, she told him it was important. So important that if he didn't come she would be forced to go to his parents. That always got his attention. Natalie never really met Tom's parents, but she knew all too well what they were like. A rude sort that didn't like anyone who wasn't like they were, only consorted with the rich crowd. It may have been the money reason or just for namesake, but Tom always did as they told him, never faltered, even if he disagreed.

It was now fifteen after one and he was late. Natalie began fidgeting with her fingers. She really had no intention to go to Tom's parents. All she wanted was him.

"Make it quick I have an important meeting to go to," Tom approached from behind her and sat on the bench.

"Tom! I'm so happy to see you. It's been a while and I thought that you might be mad at me or--"

"Stop rambling! Do you have something of importance to tell me or not?" His caring eyes were long gone now and all that was left were two cold blue eyes.

"Tom," her voice was wavy almost to the point of tears. "I'm pregnant." The words came out softly but with the anger on his face she knew he had heard them.

"Liar!" The words boomed out of his mouth. "You´re just a whore, that baby could be anybody´s."

The tears came freely now. There was no way to hold them back. "You know you are the only one I've been with. I love you Tom, more then you could ever know"

Tom's eyes darted around quickly trying to figure out something. "Then we will have it taken care of."

"Taken care of? What are you-"

Tom continued to speak as though she had said nothing. "A friend of mine knows a doctor. He would be able to keep it quiet. No one will have to know about this mistake."

"Mistake?" Natalie shook with anger "Our child is no mistake."

She wanted to hurt him as much as he had just hurt her. With nothing but her purse near by, she grabbed it and threw it at him. The contents flew out and spilled all over the ground. Noticing what she had done, she quickly started to scoop them back up into her purse. It was then that she saw Tom pick up one of her items that had fallen close to his leg. The one item she never wanted him to see because it would be the hardest to explain. He was now holding her wand.

"You're a, a witch!" He jumped up and threw the wand down as if just holding it would give him a curse.

Natalie quickly stood back up and tried to explain everything. "I just didn't know how to tell you. I knew you would be mad."

Tom was more then mad he was furious. He walked towards her and slapped her hard on the face. The impact sent her back to the ground.

"You tricked me with one of your--your spells. Do not ever come near me again or the whole town will hear of your sorcery. Burn in hell you whore, you," he gulped hard, "you witch!"

And with that he was gone. She climbed back on the bench, holding the side of her face in her hand. Again she was alone except for the small child growing inside of her.

Months have gone by and she was no longer able to hide her pregnancy. Natalie found work at a local diner. She saved what little she could in a Gringott´s bank account for her baby's future. Also, she started a journal. Putting in it all she knew about her family and Tom's. She never hid the truth because she knew how much pain hiding it could cause. Tom never did show up at her doorstep again. Natalie knew she should have been furious with him but the truth was, she wasn't. No one had ever been so nice and yet so cruel to her. All this gave her mixed emotions about the baby's father. There was hope, though small; that maybe after the baby was born he would come back to her. It was sometimes this thought that got her through the day.

When Natalie had left work for the day and started for home, her stomach had started to feel quite queasy. She just figured it would go away after she got home and got something to eat. About a block from work, her stomach lurched with pain. She reached for a nearby lamppost to steady herself. The pain was coming quicker now. She sank to the ground holding her stomach in her hands. Her eyes were closed tightly trying to get away from the pain that was ripping her up inside. It was then that she realized that she must have sat in water. The pain must have distracted her before but she could feel it now. Natalie put her hand down to move and when she brought her hand back up it was covered in blood. There was no water only a pool of blood beneath her. Her mouth hung open and the only sound to escape it was a scream.

"Oh my god, my baby! My baby! No, please don't take my baby! Take me instead!" Natalie screamed again before passing out on the street.

Natalie opened her eyes to find herself in a brightly-lit room. She tried to sit up but the pain was unbearable.

A nurse approached her and tried to calm her down. "It's ok, everything will be ok."

Natalie didn't feel ok. "What happened? My baby, is my baby alright?"

The nurse took her head. She tried to look confident but it wasn't working. "Yes, your baby is almost out." The worried look returned to her face. "It must have been stress or over exertion but your baby has decided to come early."

"But my baby will be ok then?" Natalie looked into her eyes trying to find out what she was hiding.

"Yes."

Natalie gritted her teeth as another wave of pain came over her. The nurse gripped her hand trying in vain to help.

When the pain stopped she pulled the nurse closer. "Tell me what it is. I have a right to know."

The nurse looked at the doctors who were franticly trying to save this woman's child. She then spoke softly, "Your body has received a lot of damage. It's not responding the way it should."

Before Natalie could say anymore she let out one last scream as her baby was finally delivered.

"It's a boy!" The doctor said as he gave him to the nurse she had just been talking to. The nurse quickly checked him and cleaned off his face and brought him over to see his mother.

"He's beautiful." Tears rolled freely off Natalie's cheeks. The pain was getting lighter and she thought that maybe the both of them would be all right.

"What would you like to name him?

She kissed him softly on the forehead. "Tom Marvolo Riddle." In her head she couldn't help but think that Tom would have liked that.

Natalie felt lighter than usual. The pain was almost all gone by now. The voices around her became a soft buzzing and then stopped all together. She felt so peaceful, so happy.

The doctors started yelling at one another. "She's bleeding again, quick!"

The nurse turned to Natalie but it was too late. Her eyes were vacant. She knew she was gone. The nurse grabbed baby Tom and left the room.

*

Summer 1944

Tom had found the manor in Little Hangleton with no problems. It looked old and uninviting, no doubt reflecting the inhabitants of the household. He could only see one thing in his way from the revenge he sought. An old crippled looking man who worked around the manor, tending to the flowers and shrubs. The man must have felt the eyes on the back of his head and turned around to look at him. Tom could see straight into his soul and found nothing. He turned away and started to walk down the street.

"It will almost be too easy." Tom laughed at that as he disappeared down the street.

*

Dusk fell upon the Riddle Manor. The three residents, Tom Riddle Jr., and his father and mother, had just sat down for dinner. They began talking about politics and church. None of them had noticed the young man who had walked past the window and was now making his way to the back door.

"So tell me father," Tom Riddle Jr. said as he placed his napkin on his lap, "how did things go at the council meeting this afternoon?"

The man straightened his back in the chair looking at the food in front on him. None if it looked appealing. "Well you know how Mr. Haggins is. Bloody fool can't-" His expression turned from anger to curiosity.

"What did Mr. Haggins do this time?" Tom Riddle Jr. put down his water glass and noticed his father´s eyes widen to the hallway behind them. "Father, what is it?" He turned around to see a young man walking into the dining room.

"What a lovely night. Wouldn't you say so Mr. Riddle?" The young Tom glanced around the table looking at the shocked and quite horrified faces.

"Excuse me young man but you do not belong here. Now leave or my husband will be forced to call the police." The elderly woman's voice was full of annoyance.

"I'm afraid it is you that does not belong here. Now if you don't mind I would like a private word with this man right here." Tom raised his wand towards the two older residents. Everyone knew what it was and the elderly woman tried to scream but it was to late. "Avada Kedavra!" A bright green light shot out the end of the wand and silence fell over the room. Tom Riddle Jr. began to stir and the wand moved to his chest. "I suggest you sit!" He sat frozen in place. "How did I know you would be so cowardice?"

"W-who are you?" The voice was barely above a whisper.

"Why, don't you recognize your own son? Not my choice of course. Or, are you that selfish that you do not even remember her?" His hand shook slightly but he quickly regained his composure. "Did you know she gave me your name? Such a filthy muggle name, but I decided to give myself a new name. A name that would strike fear, a name that would show how powerful I am. Do you know what my name is?" Tom Riddle Jr. was very pale and could only stare at the boy in front of him. "Oh, of course you don't." Tom's pulse began to quicken. "I have seen monsters and creatures you could not even begin to imagine and still nothing on this earth is as vile as you. But I have a new father figure to lead me now. I have Salazar Slytherin."

Tom Riddle Jr. fought through his fear, trying to grab onto any straws that he could to get him out of this. "She came on to me! If she wanted a relationship she should have been honest. She tried to use her wand on me what else was I to do?" He brought up his hands to almost plead with the boy in front of him. The boy that looked exactly like him at that age.

"Liar!" Tom yelled at his father´s face. He brought up his hand to hit him but stopped in mid air. His father shook uncontrollably in his chair. "No, no," his voiced calmed but he began to sweat with anticipation. "I am here so you can give mother a message from me. Tell her that Lord Voldemort sends his love. Tell her that all the filthy muggles will pay for the pain they have caused to those with magic. The time for understanding is over, now is the time for death. Avada Kedavra!" The bright green light shot out one more time and Tom Riddle Jr. was no more.

Lord Voldemort leaned up against the wall trying to breathe normally. He wiped the sweat off his brow. Pleasure like he had never known was coursing threw his veins. He smiled at this as he placed his wand back into his pocket.

With a grin on his face he said, "Yes, that was very easy."

The End