Tom Riddle and the Pureblood Prince

Please review!


Continuation of….


Chapter Seven: New Year’s Eve Ball


Hundreds of ornamental baubles replaced the candlesticks under the sky in the Great Hall. Slughorn had made sure the Christmas evergreen trees remained. And furthermore, with Dippet’s permission, Slughorn hired a crew to erect a special, temporary edifice in the courtyard.

Once Christmas ended anticipation for the upcoming ball reached fever pitch. Students who had always been catty and flirtatious acted even more so.

Reception started at six o’clock and would last an hour until the grand opening. Riddle stood alone without his date. Eileen was late for reception. But luckily Riddle’s cohorts surrounded him as usual. He waited by a suit of armor, a medieval knight standing sentry at the entrance. This knight was busy singing, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

Riddle drowned it out, and instead listened to Walburga Black, Rookwood’s long-time girlfriend.

“You know Augie, I think it will be better than that Yule Hogwarts had two years go….Don’t you?” she crooned.

“I – Yes. Why not?” Rookwood answered.

“Mother went to a soiree in France. I declined my invite for this,” snapped the wealthy Pureblood witch superciliously.

Riddle raised a brow and looked down for a second, thinking. He was vaguely reminded of his strong resentment at not being raised in a Pureblood home. For one thing, it nettled him that he had no personal key into Gringotts. But there were other ways to rectify these things. His followers for one….

And a group of them were making their way over right now. And behind, several feet away in the periphery was a gaggle of girls, apparently their dates. They told the girls to wait whilst they shared something private with their “friend” Tom Riddle. And indeed they did have a momentous gesture planned.

It was the two Lestrange brothers along with Avery. Rookwood shifted on his feet nervously, with a look of great expectation. Riddle merely observed to see what would happen. For he was expecting something.

“My Lord – as your most loyal comrades – we wish to honor your coming of age with a gift.”

Riddle waited, raising his head up slightly.

And Avery took out a trim parcel in gold foil. He presented it to Riddle who took it. Slowly Riddle unwrapped his birthday present.

A look of pleasure came across his face. The gold wrapping revealed a handsome fob watch. Riddle studied it closely, holding it up and opening it.

Rookwood commented, with his date as the only outsider listening. “It’s tradition for Pureblood wizards to receive a pocket watch when they turn seventeen.”

“Yes. Thank-you,” said Voldemort calmly. “This pleases me greatly.” And in some sense it did truly satisfy him.

Riddle wound the watch deftly with his fingertips. The watch was carved on the outside with intricate designs. The face inside featured the planets and the moon cycles, and nearest stars. Riddle of course understood the mechanisms of how it worked to tell time, amongst other things the watch could do.

“Well congratulations, My Lord,” chimed in Avery. “And this party should be great.”

And it was indeed ironic that on the very day the worst Dark wizard of all time becomes an adult, Hogwarts was hosting a grand celebration.

From the main staircase in the distance, Riddle spotted Eileen Prince making her debut, descending the marble steps. At once Riddle snapped his watch shut and put attached it to his waistcoat under his robes. He made his way over to Eileen and waited primly by the statue of the giant boar.

All around them people started to rave, whisper and comment about how extraordinary Eileen looked. Even Riddle was stunned. It was a most remarkable transformation.

A Hufflepuff girl noted to her friends, “Prince was like an ugly duckling last year…Look! She’s turned into a swan.”

“Yes, she looks lovely” a different student simpered.

Riddle’s mouth parted slightly in shock. Eileen was simply gorgeous. She was resplendent in ivory satin robes, and crystal earrings drooped beside her black hair done-up in elegant ringlets. It was much better than Walburga’s ridiculous ivy wreath. For all her frippery and finery Walburga hadn’t done much with herself.

Riddle was suddenly seeing Eileen with news eyes. She was worthy, even a viable catch for him. He no longer held a single doubt at choosing her for his date. He’d make sure she was the belle of the ball.

Most ominously, Eileen wasn’t wearing the glittering green opal necklace; the very jewel Tom gave her last summer that had belonged to Riddle’s grandmother. Instead she wore a long pearl band.

Riddle gained his bearings and stopped gaping. He had a twisted, but very pleased smile on his handsome face. Tom of course had undergone a transformation, but it was one that could not be detected.

Eileen gushed to see him standing there, so proper and waiting all for her. He looked more dashing than ever. Tall, and donning black dress-robes with a high vicar-like collar that made his appearance ever the more impressive. A white bow tie at his neck and a white waistcoat below his slim waist where a silver pocket watch gleamed. He had done himself up with great finesse, and she could smell his rich cologne.

His dark eyes almost sparkled. But the glimmer was no more than budding desire.

“Ah, Eileen. Good evening.”

He took her hand gently and kissed it with devotion. Eileen mewled with pleasure at his slight gesture of affection. She felt like she could melt from happiness. And she loved the feeling of his lips brushing against her skin. Tonight for Eileen it was a real treat and an honor to be Tom’s date.

Riddle proffered his arm for Eileen to take. Arm in arm they strutted to the front of the queue, waiting to go in the Great Hall. It was nearly time. The Head Girl and boy would be making an entrance together and Riddle made sure to get in line right behind them. Nobody dared to object when Riddle cut ahead of everyone.

They waited for a few minutes, milling about with the others chattering from jitters and nerves at the idea of dancing with their partners. Some goblins marched around. They had been hired to help as well, but only after practically extorting Hogwarts to pay them a hefty sum of gold. The clarion call of trumpets played by goblins announced the onset of the ball. The high oak doors swung open, as if on it’s own accord.


NOTE: Please review. A lot will happen at the ball. And remember there is always the rating button :)