Tom Riddle and the Pureblood Prince

Fanimegirl: I forgot to say thanks last time for the review in July. I also can't wait till part four where she meets Tobias Snape. As you will see in the chapter below, there are hints that Eileen is going to meet Tobias soon! I hope you can review again.


Please review!


Chapter Forty-four: The Confession

A figure enigmatically fixed itself against a stone pillar overlooking the rocky countryside. Like a ghost it haunted the echoing, windy hills waiting for Eileen.

She did not see this hooded person on the way back. In a reverie that savored today’s afternoon with Hagrid a voice sounded, 'Near full grown! And Aragog’s lookin’ for a mate.'

Together they visited the Acromantula’s lair. The romp through the Dark Forest had been a nice diversion from classes, and even nicer that it wasn’t for the Dark Order.

Eileen was still shaken. The spiders had wanted to devour her for a meal! It was only thanks to being a friend of Hagrid that she was saved.

Their webs’ were gigantic, hundreds of feet of sinewy web as thick as cotton wool. But soon her mind would be off the spider’s webs and onto another web entirely….

The idea of Aragog looking for a wife reminded Eileen of something pertinent. To marry a Pureblood was the only way according to mother. But Eileen could only see herself linked forever to Tom – even though he kept it a secret that he was Halfblood. He’d be a demanding if not outright domineering sort of husband, but Eileen thought she could fulfill the role as an unusually dedicated and dutiful wife.

But then the more Eileen pondered this, the more the realization of the truth came. Tom Riddle would never pick a wife for himself no matter how wonderful the woman was. There was something too grand, even inhuman that superseded marriage when it came to Lord Voldemort.

And Eileen realized finally that maybe it wasn’t worth pursuing him anymore, that maybe going after somebody else was better. But who? Not a single boy in the castle caught her eye.

“We need to talk, Prince!”

Eileen’s head snapped up in alarm. Who would dare address her in such a cold manner but an adversary?

“What do you want with me Lestrange?”

“I have your tonic,” said Rabastan with a sly, knowing grin.

At the mention of the Elixir of Youth Eileen came closer. “You’ve got it?”

“You bet I do,” grunted Lestrange. He fumbled through the deep pockets of his robes. Lestrange had known doing this would be the best way to get Eileen talking.

“Rookwood just brewed it for you as usual.”

“I was running low,” said Eileen. “It’s a good thing you were here to give it to me.”

Eileen joined Rabastan, leaning against the pillar. She took a long drag of the Elixir smacking her lips.

“Sometimes I wonder why Tom wanted me on this.”

“To make you even more beautiful,” answered the boy. Eileen searched his face suspiciously. It had not been said with false flattery or any matter of duplicity. It seemed like a genuine, honest comment.

“Yeah, that’s it,” she concurred slowly. It would not be until years later that an older Eileen would possess the wisdom to surmise what a reckless undertaking it was to start on such a potion.

“We need to talk, er- Eileen. In private.”

“We’re alone. We’ll talk here.”

“No, we can’t. I don’t want to be overheard. It’s too-too important. Top secret. Nobody can know. I figured we’d go out to the Black Lake.”

Eileen looked at Rabastan and thought she could probably overpower him. She’d be safe enough with this fellow Dark Order member. If he attacked in any way Eileen was confident that that would be grossly underestimating her powers.

They meandered down the rocky ridge and found themselves at the boathouse. With wand outstretched the boy rigged a sleek hollow boat and undid the chain tethered to the post.

He jostled inside and Eileen followed suit. Within seconds the boat was gliding on its own no need for oars to row. From the boathouse and past Hogwart’s quaint wharf it went.

It was nightfall, and the stars glinted with a pale moon just rising over the dreamy, fantastical landscape of Hogwarts. Eileen took to stargazing. Stargazing was much more interesting than a Dark Order member. In truth, she never felt comradeship with any of them.

Lestrange was struggling with the words. He had to tell Eileen something and he didn’t know the right way to do it. Should he bluntly come out with it? No, that would be wrong. Rabastan wanted to do this the right way.

He decided to bring a change over his usual tough character. "How has it been since your father died?"

Eileen raised an eyebrow and looked galvanized. "You're asking me how I feel about it?"

"Yes," said the Dark Order member seriously. "I am."

"I have been at my lowest. But lately...," Eileen resisted being honest. She dare not tell Lestrange she'd become friends with Hagrid. Ultimately it would get back to Riddle. He had not forbidden associating with Hagrid directly. But eventually he'd probably discover it and Eileen would surely suffer. But it was worth doing, because Hagrid was a friend that assuaged her wounds regarding whoever it was that killed Graham. Her new friend was a wonderful distraction.

"Things have been better. I've changed my perspective. Life is short, you know..."

Eileen stared at the tiny waves of water, her skinny frame clinging to the side of the boat.

Rabastan still looked oddly thoughtful.

Finally the other occupier in the boat prompted him. "What is it? There is something you need to say...I know it!"

"I-I had a hand in Graham's death. More than that. It was me. I am his murderer."

Rabastan's face burned red with shame.

"You? But the papers claim it had to have been a St. Mungo's employee. You're just a student-"

"Just a student? I had orders. Abiding by them is law...." And he took on the air of annoying officiousness. "Lord Voldemort - our master ordered me to do it. I couldn't object!"

Eileen felt mysteriously befuddled at first. Her voice conspiratorially low despite the fact it was impossible anyone else could be listening. "T-Tom arranged this? He wanted to kill...my father?"

Eileen wept bitter tears. Her hands turned white as she grasped her wand under the cloak. Then ground her teeth in a rage.

The boat seemed to be spinning. Eileen's world had stopped suddenly and it all felt topsy-turvy. She wanted to be alone and she was stranded in the Black Lake with the man who killed her father!

Eileen slid her wand out and jumped up. The boat swayed unexpectedly but bound by magic, would not tip over.

"I-I'll kill you!"

Lestrange did not cower, despite having an unusually gifted witch looming above with the declaration of imminent death.

Hatred boiled inside Eileen to be looking at the face of this person. This was the face of her beloved father's murderer?

"I-I'll kill you now," said Eileen, still fuming with hatred. But she couldn't actually execute the Curse.

"Then kill me now," he said resignedly. It was also very brave.

This shook Eileen out of it a bit. "Kill me. It won't matter. We are bound to serve the Dark Lord to the death anyway. Sometimes I wish I were dead.....Sometimes I wonder if I was eleven or twelve again - would I have chosen so willingly to join the Dark Order with what I know now?"

Eileen felt a stabbing sense of jealousy and indignation. "If death is not the worst fate for you....Then I will use your confession as evidence for the Wizengamot! You may spend a lifetime in Azkaban!"

Lestrange laughed. "You cannot use this confession as evidence. You will have to go through Voldemort first. Besides this would be breaking the Vows. You will die for disobedience before you ever make it to the ministry!"

Eileen screamed, "NO! I will have you punished. You can't - HE won't get away with this!"

"There is not a shred of evidence Riddle was the ring leader, Eileen! And you know our Master ordered us all to never tell. Disobeying direct orders breaks a clause in the Unbreakable vow we all took at initiation....You go any further and you will surely die before you so much as a utter a word of the truth!"

Eileen screamed. The sound went nowhere now a mile out on the Black Lake.

She sat back down and stowed the wand away. She breathed hard as if just ran an exhausting race. "So it comes down to V-Voldemort. Lestrange you were just his instrument!"

"Of course I am! He is proud that I can cast the Avada Kedavra! It was my mission. I succeeded. His faith in me is stronger than any other member!"

Rabastan despite all this, was still very loyal.

"But do have mercy on me. Forgive me, I am not without conscience!"

But Eileen felt no pity for this young man just seventeen years old. So young and already done the most notorious deed. Murder.

"Riddle doesn't have remorse," muttered Eileen. "I finally understand him."

Lestrange snorted and grew cynical. "YOU understand him? Nobody can. The other boys are deluded."

Fiercely Eileen rallied at once. "I probably know him better than you boys!"

Rabastan said nothing. Eileen took the silence as a consensus. It was probable she knew something they didn't. She did have a different perspective being the one and only girl allowed in a club full of boys.

Lestrange still looked thoughtful and Eileen looked at him quizzically. For answer he shifted in his seat on the plank and spoke. "We resent how he he's different with you. Not better. You don't get better treatment. Just different. I'm sure he doesn't consider you a real member of the Dark Order."

Eileen's face fell with disappointment cause she knew it to be true. She was an outsider and had never really been involved. She felt like a pariah to all of society suddenly. She hated the confining aristocracy of the Purebloods and her mother's meddling wish that she marry a great Pureblood wizard. And she hated that she couldn't fit into Tom's world either. For Tom's world was a man's world. And in the Pureblood's world she had to be a woman who would marry. The Purebloods would only accept her as a witch who must follow a woman's trajectory through life.

There must be another place. From this moment Eileen started to question why she'd ever been born a Pureblood. Did she really wish to remain in the Wizarding World anymore? No. She wanted to hide from everyone and retreat alone into this black hole of grief. The murder of Graham Prince had simply been the catalyst that would throw her out of this world and perhaps to retreat into the obscurity of the muggle world?

"Surely, I am going to let our Lord know! I will tell him that I know it was you now! And when I do, at least I know he will punish you..."

"He might," said Rabastan. "But my conscience was punishment enough. At least I got this off my chest. When you go to Voldemort, Eileen remember this: The Dark Order is a brotherhood. Women have no place in it. I was wrong to tell you this. He wanted to keep it secret - He intended to keep this secret all along I think....You-you are merely a girl to him. He could dispose of you very easily...."

Eileen wasn't listening to this wise word of warning. In a heartbeat she pitched over the edge of the boat and plunged into the dark waters. She swam back to Hogwarts, all the while desperate to reach Riddle.




NOTE: Please review. I hope that was a good chapter.