Seduced By Darkness

Note : Sorry everyone for the long wait .. well not that long but long for me ... lol but with Thanksgiving I was busy plus had family visiting, hardly got online to do much of anything let alone have time to edit this story. Here is chapter 19, 20 should be edited and posted either Sunday or Monday ... Enjoy ...

"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."
-- Marcus Aelius Aurelius (121-180 AD), Roman emperor, philosopher

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Chapter 19 : The Cemetary

Tom was arranging some papers on his desk as Lucius came into his study. “Has he summoned us my Lord?” Tom looked into the icy gray eyes of, what he could only call him now but a friend, his most trusted friend? He certainly wasn’t going to continue to be his Lord for much longer. “Lucius you need to break out of the habit of calling me My Lord, just call me Tom if you please, and yes he wants to meet us. Sittingbourne Cemetery is where we are meeting him and Bellatrix. Tell the death eaters that are here to guard the castle and to advise us if he comes here instead.”

“Yes, are you still planning on taking Claudia with us?” He asked. “Yes, I cannot leave her here, since he can get through the wards easily. I will go get her now while you talk to them.” He left and went up to his room. He found her dressed already. She had on black cashmere pants, a white shirt and a black silk robe. Her silky hair was tied back with a red silk ribbon. She looked at him anxiously when he came in. “Are you ready to go Love?” He asked softly. She nodded her head, not trusting her voice. Fear was gripping her heart, fear for him, herself, her family and her friends. He reached into his pocket and took out a wand, she recognized it as her own as he handed it to her. “You will need that. I want you to be able to defend yourself. Promise me that no matter what happens you will keep close to Lucius or me. Do not go over to your friends or family, you can do that once everything is over, do you understand me Claudia?”

“Yes.” She breathed and then threw her arms around him as she kissed his neck. “I am scared Thomas, I don’t want anything to happen to you or my family.” She shakily whispered. “Nothing will happen to me Love. If everyone does what they are supposed to then Voldermort’s death eaters will be outmatched and that will leave him for Dumbledore and Potter.” He took her face in his hands and gently kissed her. “Let’s go.”

Claudia, Tom, and Lucius apparated at the cemetery a few minutes later. Tom led them to the top of a hill in the center of the cemetery, in front of it was a clearing. Big oak trees and bushes surrounded them, shielding them from the graves. Dumbledore had been alerted to this meeting and the Order and Aurors should be ready to attack when Tom gave the go ahead. Voldermort had chosen the cemetery but Tom knew that he would choose a place such as this so it didn’t bother him. “Ah. Tom…my ungrateful younger self, his wife, and my former loyal servant.” Came the awfully high-pitched voice of Lord Voldermort. Claudia inwardly cringed but only looked coldly at the red eyed devil and that bitch, Bellatrix. Lucius had a smirk firmly planted on his mouth as he stared coolly at his former Lord and disdainfully at his sister-in-law.

“Let’s cut through the pleasantries and get to it. Why did you call me here?” Tom asked, his face a mask of utter calm indifference. “You know why. We can, of course, talk forever but the fact remains that I want my wand back and I want you gone. That is non-negotiable and you know this. You can do nothing but give in to me. I am stronger than you. You cannot kill me.” Voldermort then turned his snake eyes to Lucius, who remained coldly insolent. “Dear Lucius, I won’t kill you but it seems that you are in need of a lesson in obedience. By the time I am through with you it will be the last time you ever go against me.” Lastly he looked at Claudia, his mouth twisted into an ugly sneer and Bellatrix was nearly bouncing next to him in her excitement. “Ah, but you are lovely… yes… I wouldn’t expect any less but the most excellent taste from my younger self. I had planned on giving you to Bellatrix, as a gift you see, but I might not do so right away as I am curious to see why he’s become so smitten with you.”

“I don’t think that you will. You will never touch her, but you are right I cannot kill you.” Tom’s voice was hard and menacing. As soon as the words came out of his mouth they heard the yells of spells being shouted from all around them. Order members and Aurors had come upon the death eaters and surprised them. Voldermort’s eyes widened then narrowed when he realized that this had been a set up. He looked up a Tom in disbelief and fury, “How could this happen? You couldn’t have done this to me! That bitch has damaged your brain you fool! THEY are the enemy! You are nothing but a memory, a copy, how could you further betray me like this?” But he stopped looking at Tom and turned as he felt Harry and Dumbledore behind him. “As I said, I cannot kill you but Potter can.” Tom’s beautiful smile looked perverse because the look in his eyes was vicious. All thoughts of Tom flew out of Voldermort’s mind then, as the all consuming hate and obsession over Harry Potter hit him full force once more. He knew that he should deal with Tom first but he was sure that Bellatrix could handle it. He needed to get rid of Potter once and for all.

As Voldermort went down a slope to fight Dumbledore and Harry, Bellatrix stayed behind. She was determined to kill Claudia. The girl would not escape her tonight, but her progress was interrupted as an Auror engaged her in a duel. Tom, Lucius and Claudia were dueling with other death eaters. Tom was in back of Claudia, to her right. Lucius was in front of her and slightly to her left. Claudia’s back was to Bellatrix and thus she didn’t see as the woman disposed of her adversary and turned, pointing her wand straight at her.

Tom turned his head slightly and saw Bellatrix raising her wand in his direction, only to notice that she wasn’t pointing it at him. He looked over to his right and saw Claudia, who had her back turned to Bellatrix. It was as if the world sped up for him then. He yelled her name and then, “Behind you.” He yelled as he ran to her, from the corner of his eye he saw Lucius raise his wand and point it in Bellatrix’s direction. Claudia’s eyes rounded on him as she turned her head and saw why he was yelling. Before she could react she felt his arms going around her waist, he was lifting her as he turned her around. Everything stopped for her then and went in slow motion.

Her arms came up and around his shoulders as she heard herself scream, “No!” He had already turned her around, shielding her with his body, “Thomas don‘t!” she yelled again as she felt him falling into her. They were falling back, him on top of her. His hands came up and went around her head to prevent any injury from happening to her. The wind was knocked out of her as they landed in the soft grass with a loud thud, his body unmoving on top of hers.

“Expelliarmus” Lucius yelled and got Bellatrix’s hand which deflected the killing curse she had thrown at Claudia. Bellatrix’s eyes threatened to bulge out of her eyes with blind fury, she raised her wand once more to hurt Lucius, in her hurry she did not notice that someone had come up to her until she heard the spell. “Stupefy” It was said with such force that she was thrown back several feet and landed on a steel rod that was sticking out from an unfinished fence. The rod went through her heart, her eyes widened in disbelief as she realized that it was Neville Longbottom who had stunned her. She smiled faintly as he came to stand above her, a sad but determined look on his face, “Baby Longbottom...” She said between ragged breaths, “...You get revenge ... f-for your parents... a-after all... h-how does it f-feel?” Neville didn’t answer her, just stared as her eyes went blank and she died.

Claudia was screaming, frantic, not knowing if Tom was dead or alive. “Oh God, please... Thomas, THOMAS! Lucius help me... Thomas, God DAMN YOU Thomas.” She was scared and frustrated, he had her pinned with his body so she couldn’t move to see if he was ok. The beating of her heart was so frantic that she couldn’t tell if his heart was beating as well. “I’ve got a hell of a headache Love, you yelling in my ear does not help.” He said, his voice sounding groggy. She felt like fainting in relief. He lifted his head and she noticed that he had a gash on the side of his head, she realized that he must have hit himself when they fell. The tears were flowing freely as she tenderly reached up and touched his face, her lips and fingers trembling as she looked into his eyes. “You bloody bastard!” She said, her voice breaking, “Why did you do that? You are so stupid! You could have died! I almost lost you! I just hate you!”

He smiled tenderly at her, “As long as I know that you care, Love, that’s all that matters.” He responded, sounding amused. “This is n-not f-funny Thomas” She said between sobs. His eyes turned serious, “If you died, then I would already be dead, that is why I did it.” She cried harder as she leaned up and kissed his lips, his jaw, his nose, his cheeks, while saying, “I love you... I love you... I love you...” She whispered this over and over. Lucius was looking at them, the emotions that where coming out of both of them both felt so raw and palpable. He had to look away, their moment seemed too private, too special to even be witnessed. He stood a little way away from them to intercept anyone who would come and try to interrupt them before they were ready.

They hugged each other for a few moments just reveling in the fact that they were both alive and relatively unharmed. Tom suddenly sat up, bringing her with him. “He’s dead, Potter...” But he stopped and frowned, trying to concentrate. Her eyes widened frightfully, “Is Harry ok?” She tried to get up but he grabbed her arm to keep her still. He didn’t much like her concern over Potter of all people but he understood it as the boy was her friend. “He’s fine, I was going to say that he did it. He killed him, with Dumbledore’s help.” He helped her up, and hooked an arm around her waist. Lucius came to stand beside them as they climbed back up the hill to look over the clearing.

Most death eaters were not dead. The Order and Aurors took great care in disabling the death eaters but not killing them, thinking that prison time would be more punishment than death for most of them. Claudia’s parents tried to get to her, but they couldn’t get a good look at her as Lucius’s frame blocked her from their view. Ministry Officials went to them. “Mr. Malfoy, the Ministry of Magic must question you, err, Mister Riddle is it? And Miss Olmo” Tom looked up, “Mrs. Riddle, she’s my wife” Tom said, softly but forcefully. “Ah, is that so? Your parents didn’t tell me you got married dear, when was the wedding?” the Ministry Official asked, an elderly woman, “It was a small affair, nothing big…” The woman’s mouth dropped open and in a low whisper she said, “Did you elope? Is that why your father is shooting murderous looks at this young man? How romantic, young love, most adventurous. Come over here with me my dear as we cannot question you all together.”

Reluctantly, Tom let her go and forced his attention to the man who was speaking to him. It was obvious that by the man’s questions that Dumbledore had already spoken to him, so basically he was just re-verifying everything that he already knew. Tom was exasperated, what was the point of this? He looked over his shoulder toward Claudia and didn’t see her. Narrowing his eyes he scanned the area but couldn’t find her. A Slow simmering rage started to rise in him, as he suspected what had happened. “Are you done with your useless questions sir?” The official was taken aback but nodded. This young man was younger than him by at least twenty years and yet there was a power about him, a certain sophistication that made him seem very old indeed. So he didn’t dare say anything but nod at him and moved to let him pass.

Tom marched up to the Ministry woman. “Where is my wife?” His voice was low but deadly, she flinched and said, “Young man, the most curious thing happened. Her parents came and they were crying, well the mother and daughter, and the Dad, that’s Caleb, looked sad but happy. While they were hugging I turned away for a few moments to give them privacy and then they were gone. Just like that, I will tell you I had never seen anything quite like...” Tom walked away from her as she continued to ramble on. He marched up straight up to Dumbledore. Order members and Aurors that knew who he was watched him warily, they could see that he was angry, and as they didn’t see Claudia anywhere they had an idea why.

Dumbledore turned to face him just as Tom stopped in back of him. “What may I help you with Tom?” Tom’s eyes were hard as granite when he said, “The Olmo’s, where do they live?” Dumbledore regarded him quietly for a few moments then he took out a piece of parchment and with his wand wrote something on it. Noting Tom’s barely controlled rage he said, “Caleb must have brought along a Portkey. Here’s the address, you should have no trouble finding it. Oh and Thomas? They are her parents, while difficult, and truthfully what in-laws aren’t? She loves them so it is in your best interest to try to work things out with them.” Tom took the parchment and disapparated without saying a word in acknowledgement.

“Where is Tom?” Lucius asked, coming up to Dumbledore a few minutes later. “He’s gone to retrieve his wife. It seems that this time her parents have done the kidnapping.” Lucius eyes lit up in amusement. “This isn’t humorous Lucius. What if he does something to them?” Severus asked irritably. “He won’t. He will do all that he can so that it doesn’t come to that, for her sake.” Dumbledore nodded, “I think so too. Now Lucius, are you planning on seeing Draco tonight? If so I believe that he is with a friend, is he not Severus? You might actually have to go to the Olmo’s to retrieve him.” Lucius seemed confused at this and looked at Severus for further explanation. “He’s been dating the Olmo’s God-daughter, Keely Thornton. So it’s most likely that he will take her there tonight to see her God-Sister.” Lucius narrowed his eyes, “Was this planned? Did you both know that her father was going to take her like this?” Dumbledore shook his head, “No, but we suspected that he might. Which is why we think that when news reach Hogwarts that everything went well, that Miss Thornton will want to go to her Godparents and he will most likely accompany her. Severus can go with you as he knows where they live.”

“I think that we should help sort things out here before going there.” Severus said tersely. “Indeed, you sort while I sit and watch. I already know where they live but I am willing to wait a bit.” Giving him a severe frown the potions master walked away from him. Lucius only hoped that he was right about Tom keeping his self control. He didn’t know how far he would be willing to be pushed but he guessed not too far where Claudia was concerned.

***

“DADDY! How could you!” Claudia screamed as her hands went to her face in an aggravated gesture. “Thomas is going to think that I willingly left with you, and without telling him so.” Her mother’s arms came around her, “Honey its ok, he can’t hurt you now. We are here now, and we are just so thankful that you are safe, we‘ve missed you so much.” Caleb looked down tenderly at his only daughter, “We love you sweetheart and would not let anything happen to you if it’s within our power to prevent it. First thing tomorrow we are going to the Ministry to dissolve this marriage.” Claudia felt torn, she loved them and understood their worry and need to protect her but they were not letting her talk. “I love you both and I have missed you dearly but I have to explain something to you about Thomas and me.”

The doorbell rang at that moment, effectively stopping her upcoming explanation. They were all startled and just stared at the foyer. Her Dad told them to stay put as he went to see who it was. As he opened the door he came face to face with his daughter’s kidnapper, her husband. The young man was staring at him unblinkingly, his eyes cold and unreadable. “I have come for my wife.”