Seduced By Darkness

Notes : Hi Everyone! Sorry it took me so long to update but holidays ... Anyhow, here's the final chapter of SBD. I have truly enjoyed writing this fanfic and all your feedback which has been amazingly helpful to me. There is a sequel for this, which a few of my friends asked for and which is more of a bigger ensemble piece than this one, called "Seduction of the White Serpent"(I know, what's with all the 'seduction' stuff??? lol) which I am working on and will start posting in the next couple of weeks. So keep a lookout! Alright, enjoy the end... Ciao for now!

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
-- Winston Churhill

***
Chapter 23 : A New Beginning


The first two weeks back at school were somewhat surreal for Claudia. She would get up early in the mornings, which before didn’t really bother her much but lately she felt rather sick and weak in the mornings. She wasn’t too concerned, she was never much of a morning person, and usually breakfast never agreed with her too much anyway. But it was strange that by mid afternoon she usually felt energized and starved and not at all sick. However, she didn’t give this much thought. She was too preoccupied with her studies. She caught up easily enough since she wasn’t taking that many classes in her Seventh Year, but it was dealing with her friends that was a problem. This was particularly true when it came to dealing with Harry and Ginny. Ron, due to Hermione, pretty much treated her about the same as he always did and avoided speaking about the fact that she was now not only married but married to Tom Riddle. Hermione, bless her heart, was very supportive and she knew that she had quietly talked to both Harry and Ginny before she got back to school. Harry seemed to be more accepting of her marriage than Ginny though, a fact that she had expected even though she still hoped it could be avoided.

Claudia could not fault either of them, and especially not Ginny, for the feelings that they had towards Thomas. “Claudia ... For almost a year he told me lies, made me believe that he cared about me, even loved me and then he was ready to kill me to achieve his ends. How can you tell me that he isn’t the same? He was sixteen in that diary, now he’s twenty-five, I would think that he would have grown more heartless by that age.” Ginny said. There was a slight trace of bitterness in her tone. Claudia knew that Ginny was worried about her. She was also aware that she perhaps resented, with just cause, everything about Thomas but Claudia was not about to back down. She hadn’t done so for her parents and as much as she loved her friends she wouldn’t give Thomas up for them either.

“Ginny I know what he did to you. I know how he used you and carelessly threw you aside but he isn’t like that. At least... Not with me. I am so sorry that this is bringing back all those memories for you. I didn’t set out to even like him. In fact, I hated him and fought him, but the point is that now I love him and I will not leave him. You and Harry are my friends and I love you both, but like I told my parents… Do not make me choose between you and him because I will choose him. He’s my husband and that’s all I will say about it. Please stop trying to convince me to leave him because I won’t do it.” She turned sad and slightly angry eyes to the both of them and left.

Harry had been standing next to Ginny quietly. He didn’t want to say anything because both Hermione and Keely had already talked with him at length about Claudia’s feelings for Riddle. He had also talked to Professor’s Dumbledore and Snape and was satisfied that she wasn’t under some spell. But most importantly, he knew that Riddle loved her, and that the emotion was real. When they had been connected he had felt it. He understood why it was so hard for Ginny to accept this, so difficult for her not to be angry about it and just try to be happy for her friend even if she hated Riddle. Riddle had hurt her in the worst way. He had made her believe that he loved her, that he would always be there for her, that he cared and would never hurt her and then he turned around and tried to kill her. He used her and she had almost killed three people, which was something that she would never forget. Harry knew that memories of her first year still haunted her.

“Ginny...” He began. “No Harry” She said, turning angry tear stained eyes to his. “You don’t understand...” He sighed, “But I do understand, I found you that day, I went into his diary... I have a much better idea than anyone else what you went through. But I was also recently connected to him and I know that he loves her. I know that he’s keeping his promise to Dumbledore for her. What he feels is real.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Oh Harry, I love you, you know that. But I’m so ashamed.” Harry hugged her to him, “Ashamed of what?” She buried her face in his neck and then pushed back to look at him. “Because that what I am most angry about is not just due to my worry over Claudia and whether or not Tom will turn into Voldemort again. I am angry the most because he loves her. He really loves her and he would die for her. It’s stupid and selfish of me, I don’t love him you know, not how I love you. I never did but he was, I had thought, my best friend. I loved him like that.”

She walked a bit away from Harry before continuing. “I always wondered why I couldn’t make him change. Why in the end he had been so cruel with his words and then his actions towards me. And now, seeing that he is capable of loving someone it’s a bit too much for me to handle. To know that perhaps there was something wrong with me, and that’s why he couldn’t love me.” Harry frowned, not really liking the direction of her thoughts but understanding them. “Ginny, I love you, along with the rest of your family and friends. I just think that at that time in his life he wasn’t ready for love. Perhaps since he was older and was able to see what he had become he was ready for something beautiful in his life.” She sighed, “I’m so stupid. You are right of course, I was nothing more than a silly little girl. This is why I am so upset, I don’t want to feel this way. Because I know in my mind that it’s stupid to feel this way.”

“Ginny, you are one of the strongest people I know. You are far from stupid. You were naive at that time yes, but if anyone was blind and stupid it was Riddle, not you.” She gave him a small smile but it reached her eyes so he was happy with it. “Now let’s just agree that Claudia just needs our support, love and friendship. I highly doubt that she expects us over for tea.” He said with a wink which made Ginny laugh out loud and throw her arms around him. They kissed and then headed to class.

***

A few days later Claudia, Keely and Cora, Claudia’s mother, were done with all the remaining rooms that had yet to be decorated at Rosewood Manor. As all the guest rooms were already decorated they only focused on Claudia’s and Tom’s room and bathroom. Also on a study that was exclusively for Claudia, and her mother changed the furnishings in the Ballroom and Dinning Room. At the moment she was in love with her room. There was already a metal framed bed in the room, which due to the fact that there were no other furnishings in the room, gave it a rather cold feel. Since the floors where made of hardwood they decided to leave most of the floor bare since it gave the room a beautiful color, they put a stunning Oriental rug by the bed, it had a snakelike dragon for a crest. Then they gathered cream colored draperies loosely around the bed in somewhat of a romantic disarray giving the room a more theatrical feel. They gathered scrim loosely around the bed and then let it puddle on the floor. The scrim softened the walls and it filtered light around the room. Her mother insisted on placing wide, comfortable chairs around to the room so that she and Thomas would have a place to sit, read, or nap if they wanted. She then proceeded to place tall candlesticks on either side of the chairs, which she felt would bring soft and welcoming light into the room.

Their room was surrounded by windows, and her mother made sure that the curtains matched the draperies, with the same cream color. They parted in the middle at the point where the door to the balcony was visible. Her mother got a small table and comfortable wooden chairs for a corner of the balcony, she said it would be excellent for eating breakfast, a light lunch or dinner outside. “It’s so beautiful mom, and everything looks so warm and yet cool. Am I making sense?” She asked, smiling. “Perfect sense sweetheart, I hope that Thomas likes it. I chose these neutral colors because I didn’t want him to feel like this was a woman’s room. You know men sometimes get prickly about those things.” Keely giggled. “Would you two like to stay for dinner?” Claudia asked which made her mother smile, “I can’t tonight sweetie, I have to meet your father for dinner, how about if you stay Keely dear?” Keely nodded, “Sure, I will and then I will just apparate home later.” With a hug and a kiss to both her girls, Cora left.

“Come, let’s go downstairs. I think that there’s some left over cheese pizza. Thomas doesn’t like it but I do.” Keely laughed, “But aren’t we having dinner in about an hour?” Claudia nodded, “Yes but I am too hungry to wait.” Keely declined to snack as she didn’t want to spoil her appetite. “Claudia I just love your master bathroom. It’s so gorgeous and you have that terrace.” She said excitedly. The master bathroom floor was covered by soft multi-colored tiles. In the center of the room was a Jacuzzi-like mini pool. It was big enough for her to swim two strokes and about five feet deep in the middle. Off to the left was the shower which was made of white marble and gold plated handles.

On that same side and away from the shower was the first sink, which had all the things that Tom used, which meant that it was almost bare. In front of the pool were some veranda doors that led to a small, private terrace. There were chairs and a table there, along with rose bushes and tall trees that covered it from prying eyes. A small waterfall that fell into a fountain was the centerpiece of the terrace. That same waterfall led to the pool on the other side of the terrace which was the main pool in the Manor. To the right of the veranda doors stood the second sink and many drawers. They contained Claudia’s things. To the right of the sink was a wall where a wide window stood open, letting light filter through, there was a small vanity there for Claudia. On the right of that another wall which led back to the main part of the bathroom and against the wall to the left of the small pool a big round couch, filled with many multi-colored cushions.

“I agree with you Keely, I think that I could live in that bathroom myself. I love the Terrace too and the small waterfall there.” As they were chatting Thomas came in to the living room. He smiled warmly at Claudia, his eyes softening for a moment until he noticed Keely which made them harden almost instantly again. Keely wasn’t offended as Claudia had explained that he would not show to be too affectionate in front of her or others he didn’t trust. Claudia got up though and went up to him. She gave him a hug and a kiss, which startled him, most likely because Keely was there but he didn’t resist her. “Keely is staying for dinner and we finished decorating the Manor today.” He gave Claudia an affectionate squeeze but only nodded. “I will go and change then I will join you ladies in a few moments.” He turned and left, leaving Claudia smiling broadly. “That’s Lucius’s influence. What he just said now, isn’t it cute? Although he was quite the charmer before, only now he means it.”

They had a pleasant dinner, Thomas mainly listened to the two of them talk but every once in a while he would comment on their conversation. He found that he liked Keely, about as much as he liked Claudia’s mother. Both ladies were pleasant enough to him and loved Claudia. However his relationship with Claudia’s father had not improved. He conceded that it was partly his own fault as he made no real effort to get on the man’s good graces. However he already felt that he had done enough that was out of character for him for Claudia’s sake. He didn’t mind doing things for her, but he would be dammed if he did it for Caleb Olmo when the man even refused to call him by name. In turn, and just to irritate him, he had begun addressing him as Caleb, which the older man clearly hated. Tom was satisfied that he could say nothing on it because all the women would get on his case for not trying to get along with him.

Keely liked watching Claudia and Thomas together. Especially when Thomas wasn’t aware that anyone was watching him, or at least when he didn’t care to notice. She highly doubted that he was ever unaware of his surroundings. From the corner of her eyes she could see the love in his eyes for her God-sister. She was a bit stunned that Claudia ate so much, if Tom noticed he said nothing although he seemed slightly amused at Claudia’s seemingly endless appetite. After dinner Claudia walked Keely to the door, Thomas trailing a few feet behind them. Keely hugged Claudia and said goodbye to Thomas but before leaving she tugged on Claudia’s hand to have her follow her a bit to the outside. “Claudia, lately you have been having strange cravings and your appetite is so erratic. Some days you do not want to eat at all and others you eat as if you haven’t eaten in days. And you are drinking so much milk and orange juice, the juice I understand but you have never been much of a milk person. Plus you get sick in the mornings.” Keely bit her lips.

“What are you implying?” Claudia asked with a slight frown. “Well ... That perhaps you’re ... you know ... Pregnant.” She whispered the last word. Claudia’s eyes rounded and her mouth dropped open. Keely noticed with a bit of alarm how she had gone very pale and slightly staggered back. Thomas was there in an instant. “What’s wrong?” He said, as his arm circled Claudia’s waist to support her weight and he gave Keely a fierce look, as if he was certain that she was to blame for whatever was wrong. Keely almost gave an involuntary shudder at having his piercing glare directed at her. “N-nothing, I just got a bit dizzy. I am just so spent from today I guess, it was a long day.” She moved forward but he didn’t release her. So she hugged Keely as best she could and said, “Go home and don’t worry, I am alright. Goodnight.” Keely did leave but she was still worried. What if Claudia wasn’t pregnant and she had some kind of illness? She would talk to her Godmother if Claudia found out that she wasn’t pregnant.

“Are you sure that you are alright Claudia?” He asked, the concern was evident in his tone. “Yes, I just want to take a shower and then go to bed. I’m just tired.” He didn’t look too convinced but he said nothing and led her upstairs. In the bathroom she took a shower and washed her hair but before going out to the bedroom she went outside to the terrace and sat by the waterfall. She remembered how to do the spell to find out if a person was pregnant. She took a deep breath and performed it. After a few moments she felt a bit numb with the shock of it all. She was pregnant. Claudia was aware that sometimes Thomas did not perform the spell to prevent pregnancy, but she was still shocked. How would he react? Would he be happy about a baby, would he even want a child now? She was certain that at some point he would want a child she just wasn’t sure if he would want one now.

However, almost immediately, she gently placed her hand on her flat stomach and closed her eyes. “A baby, my baby… Mine and Thomas.” She felt an immense tenderness for her unborn child. Getting up slowly she walked towards her room, and silently prayed that Thomas would feel the same way. “How are you feeling?” He asked as soon as he saw her. His back was propped up on pillows and he was bare-chested. Smiling she said, “Fine, how do you like the room?” He elegantly shrugged, “As long as you are happy with it and it isn’t pink I am ok with it.” She laughed at his attitude as she climbed into bed. Claudia wrapped her arms around him and kissed him but almost as quickly she pulled away and looked into his eyes.

Thomas frowned, seeing a bit of fear and apprehension in them. “What’s wrong Claudia? You told me that you felt fine, did you lie? Do you need a healer?” She tried to scoot away from him but he grabbed her hands to keep her on his lap. “Probably.” She mumbled. He almost got out of bed when she said that, instead he put his hand on her forehead to see if she had a fever. “I am not sick Thomas but ...” He looked at her with a bit of panic and annoyance in his eyes. “If you are not sick then what is it? Say it because you are scaring me.”

She smiled, taking sympathy on him since she was worrying him for nothing. “Well, it’s just that ... I’m pregnant!” She blurted out. He just stared at her, an incredulous look coming into his eyes. He didn’t seem angry, upset, sad, or happy so she waited to hear him speak. “Are you sure?” He asked tentatively, still his voice did not give away his feelings on the matter. Swallowing hard she said, “Yes, I performed a spell and the way that I have been feeling lately. You know, with the cravings and the morning sickness and stuff.” He looked away from her face as his eyes rested on her stomach, his hand reached for her stomach but he stopped himself just before touching her. Instead, he picked her up and sat her on the bed as he got up and went to the balcony.

Her heart sank, was he upset? Well if he was he’d better tell her, she thought. “Thomas? How do you feel about this? You don’t want a baby? I know we didn’t plan this, I mean I think it was assumed that we would have children in the future and that this is kind of sudden but…” She stopped rambling when Thomas turned around to face her. He looked tired and sad, “The child will be a part of you, so how can I not want it?” He ran an agitated hand through his hair. “But it will also be a part of me. I make no excuses for the things that I have done, for the way that I feel about certain things but...I do not know how to be a father, or where to even start. You know what I did to my own, and I do not regret it but the thought of having a child is very foreign to me.” She walked up to him and took his face in her hands. “So was loving me but you learned to do that didn’t you? Things will work themselves out and our baby will be fine.”

“What if I don’t know how?” He asked, this time a bit unemotionally, as if it was his destiny, as if it was how things were meant to be. “Then I will help you, and Lucius. He loves his son, and Draco loves him. I think that if Narcissa weren’t so cold then he wouldn’t be such a git.” Tom smiled at her then he reached for her stomach again but this time he touched it. Claudia smiled at him and placed her hands on top of his. “I love you Thomas.” He raised his eyes to hers but said nothing instead he leaned down and kissed her. He wasn’t as optimistic about their upcoming child as she was because he wasn’t particularly convinced that he would do a good job. He destroyed lives, he didn’t create them and now that’s exactly what he had done. Of course that was due to Claudia. All the changes that he had gone through began and ended with her and he looked toward his future with grim resolution. He had a lot of to be thankful for, but he wondered if it was enough. If having her, this life, would be enough for him because he knew that if it wasn’t then he would lose her and he couldn’t see himself without her. One thing was certain, he was doubly determined not to make the same mistakes of the past, he would have all that he desired. As long as Claudia was by his side he could endure this life and make the best of it, and now with a child on the way he would be responsible for more than one life. So it was that for the very first time in a long time Tom looked forward to his future.

The End.....For now ....