Red Light Strict

A/N: I'm really sorry, but I've never ever translated so much from Hungarian to English as now. I hope you won't kill me because my not so good grammar, or the cliffie. I try to hurry and continue, but the stories in my mother language the firsts, so sorry. However have fun and please write some review. Thanks Lil-chan
A/N2: Thanks again to Vaire for her hard work. And though I don't abandon the story it's on a little Hold because I'm barely recovered for my shoulder operation which was in January but I couldn't use my arm till recently. But soon I start to translate the next chapter ^^


1. A certain Tom Marvolo Riddle

Beautiful, aristocratic feature, ebony, elegant locks, eyes shining like two perfect onyx, snow white skin, long, fine fingers, which hold the wand with pure excellence… a young, orphan boy… no, a man, whose looks as easily steals your heart as terrifies you to death. Sensual seduction and stony calculation.

Tom Marvolo Riddle

He always hated closed doors. But he loathed pitiful looks, his friend’s happiness, and his own loneliness. He hated his mother, his father and himself. His mother gave her life for a man, who never loved her. He couldn’t love that hideous little creature, who had given him life, however the man repudiated him too. In exchange he took the man’s life. As well as the life of the man’s whore and spawns’. He collected followers to drive away his loneliness and respect took the place of the pity. He escaped from the orphanage whenever he wanted and from his self-loathing he created a whole new person. A person, who will be feared by the world and whose name will be unspeakable because of the dread.

But he had to wait. He had to learn, get a lot of new experience in any form. He studied hard in the school, read tonnes of books on countless topics and learned everything through his unique intelligence and talent. Of course he had a lot of admirerers. The bigger half of the students of Hogwarts was looking for his favour and the teachers stated: He is the brightest student of the decade.

He could simply lure anyone he wished, only to much more easily throw them off when they became useless for him. The sex meant nothing to him, except the satisfaction of his physical needs. He couldn’t find anything good in the so called lovemaking, maybe because he had never experienced love. “His lovers” were faceless, he couldn’t remember them and hadn’t wanted to either. Some scent, a silky curl, maybe a pair of pretty eyes or sensual, moaning lips. These were his memories of the squirming bodies under him.

He had gotten everything he wanted and nothing could stop him. He opened his ancestors’, the Great Slytherin, infamous Chamber and they rewarded him! Because he caught the real culprit, right? The big, half-giant dolt. He always laughed when he thought about it, because nobody could arrest him and nobody had misgivings.

The dark satisfaction and hatred filled up his heart. His fate was sealed and he knew this. Unless he could win Dumbledore’s trust – the only man who always looks at him with distrust; the man who gave him the chance to break out of his disgusting cage; the brilliant wizard who everyone loved wherever he went; his middle-aged transfiguration teacher – maybe he wouldn’t be able to win it. Maybe he already couldn’t, because he committed his 2nd murder and he was only 17!

However he had to try. Hogwarts was the only place that he ever loved, his only home. The hope lived deep in his black heart yet. If he’d got a chance…He needed only one chance, the feeling of the trust! He needed them to believe in him, in him and not in the perfect student. He wanted Dumbledore’s trust. He wanted it so much, but he knew he would never get it. But his stubbornness didn’t give him peace. He had one more year and he had to try one more time. This was the last thing which he could hang up.

However there was two and a half months till September, the summer holiday started only a few days ago and he had to spend it in that bloody orphanage. Of course some of his mates proposed for him to stay with them, but he abhorred the thought of seeing the soap opera lives of some rich bastards. So he remained in that archaic ruined house, which gave him those horrible memories. Memories, which burned in his brain and only an Obliviate charm could erase them.

He was too old to enjoy the sisters and the brats “torture”, so most of the time he spent in his room and watched as World War II caused destruction, or the muggle solider, who sometimes stopped a suspicious person, mostly homeless men to make certain their identity. Though the war ended in London, the solider was still there to show the plebs the danger hadn’t gone away.

And this time the Magical World has a war too. Grindelwald seemed to be losing his power and dominance, but he didn’t give up the fighting yet. Tom, however, felt that Grindelwald’s star would burn out soon and in the same time a fearful, overwhelming feeling appeared in his heart. The picture of his own future.

If he could defeat the dark mage… Nobody would doubt in him and the deeply revered Albus Dumbledore would bow his head in front of his innocence too. But was he really an innocent? Could you call a killer innocent? A thief? But he had just wanted to get revenge for the life he was stuck with! Break out from the cage of pity to become free and the most powerful. The death of that girl wasn’t his fault, really. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then again that muggle… The man, who he looked alike and hated better than anything… He had to die, for the sake of His freedom!

Yes, he was innocent. He only fought for a better life and hadn’t been afraid of anything he had to do to reach his goal. But Dumbledore had never seen this, or never wanted to see, though he always watched him with those knowing sky blue eyes. The deputy headmaster always searched for the good in everyone, trusted in everyone, why was he the exception?

The long bearded man didn’t trust him when they first met either. He smiled at him for nothing, because in those twinkling eyes sat discredit and he couldn’t hide it from him. Besides Dumbledore had more than one time used Legilimency on him. Of course at first, he couldn’t feel it, however as his power grew, he figured out each time he looked in the eyes of the man, he poked around in his mind. So he learnt Occlumency for his own good. By himself, of course. The next was Legilimency, because he wanted to know the other’s thoughts.

His grades were excellent and he knew he would be the Head Boy. Who else could get the honourable title? His huge thirst for knowledge pushed him through reading almost all of the books of the library. However he was allured by the marvel of the Restricted Section: the types of dark magic, hexes and spells. The mysterious horcruxes. He hadn’t any clue what they could be, because the darkest book wouldn’t write about them in details either. He almost became obsessed and many times he skipped sleeping to search in the Restricted Section.

Finally his Potion Professor, Horatius Slughorn gave him the answer because of the influence of some urging and gifts. He was one of the favourites of the fat teacher and he suspected the man was attracted to him. Behind the old ribald jovial act and touches there wasn’t anything but pure desire. And he used this knowledge for his own goals of course. He learnt everything from the professor, whatever he wanted.

Only a week after the beginning of the summer vacation he made his first horcrux. He used his father’s death. The incantation was really painful and after that he tossed in his bed from the extremely high fever. While he was convalescing, he knew he’d made a good decision. He wanted to encompass Death and nothing and nobody could stop him.

He started feeling his power increase, however the feeling of being pent-up had grown too. Sadly he wasn’t well enough, hence he had to stay. In the orphanage they believed he had pneumonia, so someone always brought up the meal for him. Mrs. Cole’s order naturally. He only left his room at the most necessary times and he went back as fast as he could.

The next week however he went into the backyard of the orphanage to enjoy the sun under a tree with a good book. The other kids didn’t try to approach him, only some meaningless words and longing glance reached him. He was like a beautiful but dangerous animal for the other foundlings, which instantly attacked if you go near it. But you want to touch it. The foolish chits whispered behind his back, but he never paid any attention to them.
On the first Friday of July, on a hot, sweaty night he felt himself healthy at last to leave his prison and go for another venture in the world of enchantment. He missed the magic so badly, but so near to muggles he only could use little spells.

Every candle was turned off when he departed. He Apparated to Diagon Alley, which although during the daytime was an exceptionally crowded place, it was now deserted, just a few witches and wizards walked trough the street, but they didn’t seem very calm either. In the glow of the candles of restaurants their faces reflected nervousness, the people feared for a possible attack, since the war hadn’t ended yet.

His black cloak melted into the shadows as he noiselessly slunk through the street to enter into another world. Into a sleepless world with countless mysteries and miracles, that was as majestic in its darkness and filth-made dress as the most sumptuous empires.

The onyx eyes filled with ravenous desire as he reached the entrance of Knockturn Alley. In the exact opposite of Diagon Alley, this one-way maze shed the life from itself. So many struggling wizards and other weirdoes tried to get on with their lives by the eerie light of night blue flames. The people and other beings melted into one big organism, moving in seemingly perfect unison and with the same goal.

Nauseating smells, eternal darkness and almost impassable dirt. However those who could look beyond these things could get lost in the embrace of the Seducer of the Night forever. Those who were brave and clever enough to give into the darkest wishes of their heart could get literally anything. But the weaklings vanished and just a death scream or desperate rattle showed the end of Greed’s victims.

Tom slowed his movements. Finally he was without a reason to hurry, so he went still on the haze filled alley and hid his eagerness behind the masquerade of mild interest and politeness, as he watched the storefronts. He didn’t pay attention to the proposals that he got, because he didn’t need to sell himself. His body served only his purposes, but at that moment he was driven by his thirst for knowledge.

All of a sudden a handsome, elegant looking man stood in his way. He could see the aristocratic face nearly perfectly by the light of his wand. He wasn’t the only one who cast a Lumos because of the poor visibility. He hadn’t any doubt about the other wizard’s intentions. Deep, pitch black eyes observed him hungrily, which he found really exasperating. Irritably, he tried to avoid the stranger, but slim, strong fingers reached after his hand. He pointed his wand under the man’s chin without a thought and his midnight coloured eyes turned into crimson for a moment, which instantly deterred the other. The squeezing fingers on his arm slowly fell and their owner began to retreat then disappeared with a soft pop.

Tom continued his journey because he wanted to finish the trip before dawn and narrow alleyway seemed much longer than Diagon Alley. A foul looking old witch tried to sell a plate of dragon claws to him, but he sent the hag away with one pointed look. He started having enough of the crowd and the insulting mongers and the place didn’t seem so inviting and brilliant anymore either. The magic faded with every step and only the nauseating odour, the eternal perversity and impassable grime remained.

One more monger stepped in his way, leastwise he thought. The bony old man with his torn rags and missing dentures didn’t differ from the norm of the alley. He was a typical homeless man, his appearance was enough proof. However the eye, which he looked him over with… the pale eye didn’t reflect anything less than slyness and cool cunning.

“Why, you’ve already lost interest in our wonderful world, my dear friend?” The voice of the man seemed to belie his physique, it was strong and full of life.

“I am not your dear friend!” Tom hissed losing his patience.

“Anyone who enters this place is looking for the same thing: The Exit. The Exit from hopelessness.” The old chap continued calmly. “But have you found hope? No, don’t say a word! I see in your eyes that you didn’t! The illusion disappeared before your eyes and now you only can see the terrifying truth. However you’re looking for hope yet! Don’t protest!”

“Step aside!” snapped the boy.

“Not so violently, my young friend! I will show you something. A real miracle. A miracle which you’ll never forget and if you don’t pay attention will make you its slave. Ah! I’ve woken your interest! So you’re seeking knowledge? You came here to learn new things, then, you must follow me! I will show you something that you couldn’t see before. It hasn’t a pair in the world! Follow me!” The old man seemed to come to life as he didn’t get more protest.

His mind thought the old man’s words had been sheer nonsense, although his curiosity didn’t let him rest. ‘What if I can really discover new things? Or something useful for myself? What could it be? Some priceless magical artefact?´ He thought as he went after the antediluvian man with automatic steps.

He forgot every idea as he came to see where the man brought him. The first thing he noticed was the absence of darkness. As far as he could see everything was painted in crimson. There were different sized and styled buildings lightened by red lanterns and on the two sides of the road blood red lamps gave light too. Various women stood in front of the houses in little groups, but none of them were overdressed. Most of them wore only a frothy dressing gown and the gown showed almost everything.

‘So, here end the darkness! The red of the blood incorporate it! But no! This isn’t the colour of blood! This is too intense! This crimson pulsating means something else…But what?’ He had never seen anything similar and this only increased his thirst for knowledge.

He took a deep breath to calm his mind. He had to concentrate. He locked the world out, so he could observe it: the broad street with its red lamps; the houses swimming in red light and which had every window open in; the women, who seductively caressed themselves enslaving every eye; the men, who mostly in the safety of their cloak, picked out the merchandise; the intoxicant scent of perfume, which washed away the corkers and seized the senses; the heavy sighs and small screams, the voices of pleasure.

“What are you waiting for, my young friend? Here is the chance for you to learn! The world’s best teachers are standing before you! Don’t hesitate!” The old lecher’s excited voice cruelly crashed his thoughts.

“Shut up, gaga!” He hissed angrily, so the man really shut up.

All his being drank in the flavour of this strange empire. He already understood everything outside this place and wild excitement flared through his veins, when he thought of how many new things he could learn in this place. He wanted to tour the whole place, devour every woman’s knowledge and vanquish this world.

He took another deep breath. He must remain calm and think realistically, but it was really hard at that moment, because nothing was about reality. There wasn’t a place for argument in the kingdom of pleasure and the senses. However he forced himself to concentrate. He didn’t have much money… to buy only one of the women surely wasn’t enough. But he couldn’t go back with empty hands.

His feet moved of their own will and took him Merlin know where. He observed the lounging guests and the lust awakening merchandises. He wasn’t disinterested either, no matter how much he wanted to lean on to his brain, he couldn’t.

Some prostitute made a move toward him. They seemed to like the fact he hadn’t hid his face. They clung on to him, stroked his arms, chest and face and offered themselves up to him. In turn he only could shake his head and go on. He felt weak and fallible himself, and he hated it. And the hate helped to clear his mind. The hate always helped.

His feet carried him to a beautiful Victorian house, which stood in the middle of the street and strangely enough no woman sold herself before the building, then again, strong light passed by the wide-opened doors.
Suddenly, he noticed the old chap’s absence, however he didn’t mind because he didn’t need the man’s aggravating presence. He wanted to go into the house. It attracted him, more so than those women on the street. He stepped up onto the first step of the stairs, then the second but the next moment a figure flew through the door and crashed into him. He lost his balance and they both fell down the stairs.

The pain sharply cut through his back, which he had landed on, and his arms, which hadn’t come through without injury either. The air left his lungs with a painful moan, as he tried to stand up, but it was impossible because of the burden that weighed down his chest. Then he heard a soft, startled voice.

“Are you interested in me?”