The Man Behind the Mask

Chapter 1 - Voldemort's Birth

"Yes, Tom, she's gone," Brutani Malfoy murmured softly, backing away at the rage in Tom Riddle's eyes. Malcolm Snape eyed the two for a moment in the hallway cautiously, wondering if Tom was going to duel in the middle of the night and get them in trouble.

Suddenly a noise filled the Hogwarts castle, Tom running desperately to the closest window. He found the dragon Artemis disappearing in the sky, roaring loudly. "Allura, NO!!" he shouted, his two friends pulling him back, trying to get him to calm down. "Keep away from me, you filth!" the sixteen-year-old wizard growled, each word filled with venom. Quickly the two ran out of the hall, giving Tom some peace. At the last sound of their footsteps, Tom sighed heavily and looked longingly out the window. "Please, come back ..." but the dragon was gone.

Tom Riddle fell on his knees crying. An image hard to imagine, but this was how much he loved his sister. It seemed like Allura was gone forever. Pictures of her filled his mind. The day she was sorted into Slytherin with him. Her eyes were an emerald shade of green - like his. Her hair, midnight black - like his. Everything seemed so familiar about her. Even her kiss felt like something he had lost before.

And now she was gone.

Through sobs he repeated the words to himself. "She's gone, gone and never coming back. Gone and never -" Tom stopped a moment, realizing something even worse than losing her. "Dippet put a Memory Charm on her. I knew it!" He stood up swiftly, regaining his arrogance again. Fire was still in his eyes. "They will pay," a cold, high-pitched voice came out of him. His fists were shaking with fury. He thought of the orphanage, where everyone had neglected him, everyone had bullied him. He thought of them nearly killing his owl, tearing up his books, his diary. He thought of his friends. It was their fault that Allura had gone; they had told Professor Dippet of their encounter. It was them that had betrayed him forever. And finally he thought of her again. How she was the only one that really loved him. How she was the only one that understood. How she was the only one that had agreed to join him faithfully. And yet, how she had left him with nothing. A broken-hearted, grief-stricken, dejected little nothing. Allura ...his temper grew even shorter. "THEY WILL ALL PAY!!" he shrieked, cloaking himself and dashing through the front door, leaving Hogwarts forever.

* * *

Tom sat down in the cave in thought, still catching his breath. He put his owl away from the view of the sunlight streaking over the hills so it wouldn't make any noise. The wizard grasped his wand tightly, thinking of the first person he wanted to kill - the man who had started this in the first place: his father.

It was his fault that Tom had this stupid Muggle name of his. "That's the first thing that will have to go. I'll change my name," he muttered. I need something that will make everyone fear my wrath. Something that will strike terror to the human heart, Muggles and wizards alike. He thought of his nickname at school, though he was still enraged at his friends about Allura, and wondered whether Lord Voldemort would be a suitable name. Tom grinned, liking the sound of it. He cackled in his new high voice that he enjoyed to speak in very much. "Perfect," he hissed, grinning evilly. "They'll never know what hit them. I'll kill Father first; he has to pay for all he's done. Then Dippet; I will make sure that he remembers for the rest of his life that he shouldn't mess with me. But I'll spare that fool Hagrid; he might come in use later with the creatures. I'll make sure they get whatever they wish. The dementors from Azkaban could be very helpful, and the giants - they hate humans anyway." His grin grew wider, thinking about what all this could cause, all the chaos running amuck, all the screams, all the innocent victims, all dying because of the great Dark Lord Voldemort. Tom's sadistic mind controlled his thoughts, making him think more and more of all the trouble he could cause, all the pain and suffering. "I must admit, it would be fun to get a little ... publicity," he laughed mirthlessly again, a few frightened birds flying off in the distance. Even nature seemed to be afraid of him, and he hadn't even started.

It came to him then. "Allura." Yes ... it will be perfect. Of course she'll join me; I just need her to remember me and all that we went through together. He thought silently for a moment, his heart softening slightly. She'll be safe with me. I will protect her. It would be perfect - Voldemort and Allura, the two greatest and most terrible Dark wizards of all time! His evil laughter filled the air, echoing for miles round. Tom's owl woke abruptly and tried to fly out of its cage in fear. More birds flew away in the distance. Deer and rabbits turned their heads frightfully at where the laughter came from, running away in terror. Voldemort's reign had begun.