The Shadows of the Room

CHAPTER 2

QUESTIONS

Within minutes they were outside standing in the dark of night. They walked briskly to the road, and then Remus, stopped, surveying the empty street.

Tom waited silently, not trusting himself to speak, he didn't want to go with this man anymore; no matter how kind he had been all day. His body seemed to be screaming, telling him to run in every direction he possibly could, just so long as he got away. Belatedly, he realized that Remus knew he lived in an orphanage and no one would know he was missing until it was far too late.

"I'm not coming with you," he said.

Remus looked over at him and after a moment his face softened.

"You really don't know what's happening, do you?"

Tom didn't answer. He looked around the empty street, wishing fervently for his wand before turning back.

"What's wrong with my name?" he asked.

Remus shook his head. "Well, nothing's wrong with it," he said. "Your name is just... very important."

A thrill of foreboding rushed over Tom.

"Why?"

"...because that 'creature' that came to you..." he sighed, "well, it has the same name."

Unsure whether to laugh or not, Tom stared.

"You can't be serious?" he finally asked.

"I am."

Tom turned abruptly away and began walking, suddenly not caring where he would go. Within moments Remus stopped him.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Tom sighed. "I want to go to school," he said quietly, aware of how immature and childish it sounded to even his own ears.

"Which school?" Remus asked gently.

Deciding to throw caution into the winds Tom answered, chances were that he had never heard of the place anyway. "It's called Hogwarts," he said.

Remus' face abruptly broke into a smile.

Considering Tom's desire just to be in his dorm room again, he was practically shaking with apprehension as they drew toward the castle.

They had flooed from the back of a dingy little bar that Tom would have never suspected to house magic and came out in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. It was completely empty save for one man that Tom didn't recognize in the least. He stood towering above Tom with an odd expression, his olive skin pale, and his hair falling in almost greasy black locks down to his chin, hiding most of face. Tom swallowed.

"This is him?" the man asked in a quiet voice, their eyes never breaking contact.

"Yes," Remus answered. He placed a hand on Tom's shoulder. "This is Severus Snape, Tom. He's a Professor at Hogwarts."

Tom finally broke eye contact and looked at Remus.

"Are we going to the school now?"

The two men glanced at each other.

"There's just one thing... do you have your wand?"

Tom shook his head. "I have it taken away at the beginning of the holidays."

Suddenly a wand was in Severus' hand. He pointed it slowly at Tom chest, warning him almost.

Something was muttered under his breath and a gentle sensation rushed over Tom.

"What was that?" he demanded.

"A restriction spell," Severus answered. "It prevents a person from actively rebelling. I'm assuming it's our best choice against you," he tucked his wand away and turned to the door, "after all, you taught it to me."

Remus touched his arm.

"It wasn't him, Severus."

He stopped and glanced back. "We'll see."

Tom frowned but kept his mouth shut.

He had almost expected to be marched into the castle in chains. To his surprise however, they simply walked the short way to the school. Upon passing through the castle gates however, both men became noticeably tenser. Were they afraid for him? A hysteric bubbling suddenly rose in his chest and almost made him stop dead. Severus glanced at him and Remus stepped closer. They were afraid of him! Tom almost wanted to laugh. He didn't even have a wand, he was under a restriction spell, he had no idea what was happening! He felt the sudden urge to bolt back in the direction he had come, but as soon as he had thought it, the idea completely faded from his mind. Severus narrowed his eyes and looked down at him. The spell.

"It's okay," Remus whispered. Tom glanced down to find his hands clutched together, trembling. He forced his hands apart and let them hang loosely at his sides.

As they finally entered the large wooden doors of the school Tom had to hold back a shiver. He had dreamt of living in the school during the holidays before, but couldn't imagine why as his eyes fell upon the dark entrance hall laced with shadows and orange flame. He looked up seeing how the ceiling seemed to vanish into the darkness like an abyss, cold, and utterly, utterly empty.

"This way."

The walk through the deserted halls seemed to keep stretching on. If it was so urgent, why were they being so slow? Tom found himself hurrying as they tracked the familiar steps to Professor Dippet's office; the sooner they got there the better.

With a whispered password they entered onto the staircase that led to Dippet's office.

Severus knocked on the door but the voice that answered was not the one that he expected to hear. He grabbed Remus' hand before the door was pushed open.

"Where's Professor Dippet?" he asked.

"He's not here Tom. He hasn't been in quite a while. Let Professor Dumbledore explain it to you, okay?"

Hesitating, Tom nodded. "Okay." He caught Severus frowning over Remus' shoulder as the door was finally pushed open.

Remus entered before him, and Tom followed barely registering the different appearance of the room before looking behind the desk-- straight into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

Tom gasped and nearly fell back, landing into Severus.

"Oh god, what happened?!"

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Age," he said. "Now do sit down and let us discuss what has happened here."

"Where's Professor Dippet?"

Dumbledore didn't answer. "Please calm down Tom and have a seat."

He realized that he was still backed into Severus and stepped forward hastily, taking a seat in front of Dumbledore. Severus followed him in.

Tom looked around quietly, taking in the odds and ends that seemed to be placed all around the room. His eyes fell on a portrait of Professor Dippet in the far corner and the painting smiled at him.

He turned back to Dumbledore who was watching him, his eyes old with worry, and his beard fully white. Tom couldn't help but stare. What type of spell had gone so terribly awry to make him age so fast?

"Tom Riddle." Dumbledore said, as though getting used to saying the name.

"You're the new headmaster?"

"Yes, Mr. Riddle, I am."

Hesitantly he asked, "What happened to Professor Dippet?"

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back into his chair. "He passed away Tom."

It took a moment for the words to sink in. It couldn't be true; Dippet was... he had been the first person....

"Tom?"

He opened his eyes and found his vision blurred.

"How did it happen?"

"This comes as a burden for me to answer to you Tom, I never thought I would have to, but he died 27 years ago."

Tom looked over at Remus for some sign that this was a joke, but his face was terribly serious.

Tom shook his head. "You're confused," he said, "I just spoke to him three weeks ago."

"What Hogwarts year are you in?" Dumbledore suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Your year Tom, what year are you in?"

"What are you talking about? You know what year I'm in!" He leapt to his feet. "Why am I here? Please tell me! Why does that thing have my name?"

Dumbledore looked up at him calmly. "It doesn't," he said. "It goes by another name. Tell me Tom, do you recognize the name Voldemort?"

Tom's body went suddenly cold.

"How...."

All kindness was instantly gone from Dumbledore's demeanor.

"Have you ever used Dark magic?" he asked quietly.

Tom stared.

"Sit down."

He sat.

"Severus?" The man stepped forward with a small vile of clear liquid held out in his hand. The sense of panic rose like bile in his throat.

Tom glanced at Remus who was watching him, his eyes wide with surprise, and frowned. Remus shook his head.

"Do you know what this is Tom?"

He shook his head, judging it better not to speak.

"It's Veritaserum," said Dumbledore twirling the vial in his fingers. Why were they trying so desperately to intimidate him? "The strongest truth serum known, only--."

"Three drops are needed, I know." Dumbledore's eyes narrowed. "It's a coincidence," Tom hurried on. "The name, Voldemort, it's a coincidence." No one spoke. "I don't understand it, why didn't you bring this up earlier? That creature just comes from no where, and you're acting like he's such a threat, but I have nothing to do with him. Do you think I'm... I'm working for him or something?" he finished, confused.

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair.

"Take the potion then Tom, and prove us wrong."

Tom felt his heart flutter momentarily. "Is that all you're going to ask me about?"

There was a moment's silence.

"Everything related to Voldemort, yes." Dumbledore answered.

Tom reached forward, took the potion in his hand and pulled out the stopper. He glanced cautiously at the three men before taking a small sip of the fluid.

A not unpleasant feeling of complete abandon quickly rushed over him. He could hear distantly the sound of a voice asking him meaningless questions, which he almost sleepily answered.

"Can you hear me?"

"Yes," Tom answered.

"What is your name?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen years old."

"What Hogwarts year are you in?"

"I have completed my fifth year; I will start my sixth year in five weeks."

"Where were you before Remus found you lying on the street?"

"St. Edmunds orphanage. It was dark and I was in the washroom, when this creature appeared and sent me to Godrics Hollow."

"Describe this creature."

Tom took a soft breath, recalling the face that suddenly didn't seem so terrifying.

"It was tall, with red eyes, and slits for nostrils, its skin seemed ghostly, and it had a high voice that didn't echo off the walls like mine did."

"What do you mean his skin was ghostly?" another voice asked.

"It almost seemed like he wasn't there. When he came toward me, he wrapped around me like the dark."

Tom settled comfortably in the silence, not particularly caring if they asked him anymore questions.

"Do you know he has the name Voldemort?"

"Yes, Remus told me."

"Did you know of him before that?"

"No."

"...how did you choose the name Voldemort for yourself?"

"Salim helped me make it, using the letters from my full name."

"Does--Salim live in Hogwarts?"

"Yes, he lives in the dungeons, in The Chamber of Secrets."

Again there was a moment of silence.

"Tell me about the chamber of secrets."

Tom felt himself smile, recalling the first memories.

"I was on prefect duty, walking the halls, seeing if anyone was out at night. I heard a voice, it sounded lonely, and so I followed it. At first I thought that it was a ghost, but none appeared, and it seemed to move only through the walls. He was surprised I could understand him when I finally spoke to him.

"One night I heard him while walking to the dorms from the library with Arnold and Arnold couldn't hear him. The voice told me he was a snake. That night I went to find him, and after calling for him I heard his voice beside me.

"He led me to a place; the girls washroom on the second floor. Inside, I found the passage way into the chamber under a sink. The sink had a snake etched on the tap, I told it to open and it did.

"I could hear his voice echoing down the passageway, telling me not to look him in the eyes. I realized he was a basilisk. I was the first person to have talked to him in what must have been years. I came to visit him every week after that."

"So you let him loose on the school?"

"Yes, I didn't believe it would have any serious consequences. But it did, a girl died, so I told Salim he couldn't come out anymore, but I would still visit him when I got back from the holidays."

"...and what about Hagrid?"

"I had no other choice but to blame him. I knew he had been sneaking around, I knew he liked monsters, he was suspicious. They would have closed the school if I hadn't done it. They would have killed Salim if I had told them the truth."

The questions finally stopped and Tom sank down and down, blissfully into the emptiness around him.