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"Tom, you're fine! Thank Goodness! Padma who had just entered her room with a crate full of antidotes saw Riddle wake up with a start.
He looked at her confused. He couldn't remember why she was here. He was just too enraged to care at the moment. How dare that little librarian attack him...He will end his miserable little life forever. He got up suddenly but just as he was about to leave Padma hugged him solemnly.
"I am fine. I shall return shortly. He said briefly to her as she pulled away and walked past her towards the door.
"Tom. He stopped as he heard his name. He turned to look at her tear stained face.
"I love you.
All his anger vanished at those words as he stood staring at the woman he had begun to feel affection for. She came closer and kissed him solemnly.
He looked into her eyes as they broke apart. What he saw stunned him for a moment. She did love him. The thought of his death had been excruciating for her. He wanted to reply in kind but he couldn't bring himself to. "I shall return with your present. He said after a moment and left her room leaving her a bit confused behind him.
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Tom woke up blinking furiously in the bright day light. He sat up immediately clutching at his chest but realized after a moment that the pain was gone. But where was he? He stood up looking around. He knew this place. It was Hogsmeade station. He had been here so many times, how could he not know? But what was he doing here?
"Lost, are you?
Tom turned to the familiar voice so suddenly he nearly tripped over his own feet.
"Neville... He couldn't believe his eyes. There he was, like he had always been. A big smile on his face and an intriguing look in his eyes observing him as Tom stood lost for words. Before he could stop himself, he had strode towards him and hugged him tightly. He stood clutching him firmly for a long time as tears leapt down his eyes. He couldn't define what he was feeling. The familiar fragrance of Neville's clothes filled him and he stood bathing in it.
"How...? He asked the moment he pulled away from him then realized it after a second. "Am I dead too?
Neville smiled. "I don't know, really, may be you are, may be not.
"It doesn't matter. Tom hugged him solemnly one more time before he wiped his face and braced himself. "You have no idea how much I have missed you and how long have I waited for this... He grabbed Neville's hands in his own and took them to his forehead as his patience broke. "I am so sorry...I never knew...If I did, I would have found a way to save you. I would have saved you...I promise you, I didn't know...
Neville freed his hands, looked into his tear filled eyes then held him by the shoulders. "I know...If you knew, you would have...
"Forgive me...please... Tom couldn't stop his tears as Neville's kind smile made his heart heavier than before.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Neville answered him firmly. He suddenly looked around as if he could see something Tom couldn't. He let go of him and stepped away from him.
"Neville... Tom stepped forward but Neville simply smiled and backed further away.
"Take care of my son...
Those were the last words Tom heard from him before everything surrounding him started vanishing and he started falling away to where he didn't know.
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Tom woke up with a start in the forbidden forest. He clutched at his chest tightly as he felt it throbbing with pain. His heart beat was racing completely out of his control. He dragged himself to a nearby tree as he felt ebbing away from all this. He sat up with his back to a tree trunk still clutching at his chest breathing heavily when he was suddenly pulled out of his universe.
He was so angry.
"Tom, you're fine! Thank Goodness!
He looked up at Padma. He couldn't feel anything but rage. He jumped out of her bed but the moment he did she hugged him.
"I am fine. I shall return shortly. He said briefly to her as she pulled away and walked past her towards the door.
"Tom. He stopped as he heard his name. He turned to look at her tear stained face.
"I love you.
Those were the last words Tom heard before he fell back into his own universe and couldn't focus on anything anymore. Finally, he gave up fighting the pain and passed out again.
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Riddle blasted off the door that read, Librarians' and he entered the room to find Seth throwing his things in his bag feverishly.
Seth backed away several paces from him feeling quite scared and bewildered at the same time.
"This is impossible. He said shaking a bit. He had dropped Tom's body in a clearing far into the forest. How had he returned in minutes? And that too completely unscathed. Riddle advanced on him fearlessly. He swished his hand and Seth wand flew out of his hand into his.
Riddle had read his mind the moment he had entered. He knew where Tom was. What he wanted to know was why had Tom come knocking at the death's door himself. What was he doing here in the first place?
"Let's talk, shall we? He raised Seth's own wand at him as he cowered in a corner. "Legilimens!
A couple of minutes later Riddle had seen everything that had happened here. So, Tom had come to ask Seth to call Robert out of the Malfoy's Manor so he could lead them inside to Malfoy. He had understood this was the only thing Tom could need from Robert. But that was stupid really. If he needed Robert, all he needed to do was ask him. He would come to Riddle's service at one call. There was no need to involve this oaf.
Riddle knew he didn't need Seth to lure Robert out of hiding. He could kill him off easily. He hadn't forgotten the pain he had to go through because of him. He stepped forwards at Seth's kneeling figure on the floor. One curse and he could help Tom get rid of his age old enemy once and for all. He took another step forward and raised his wand ready to curse him.
"Tom? What's going on?
Riddle lowered Seth's wand and turned to see Malcolm walking in observing the blasted off door. He walked past him to Seth who was kneeling on the floor in front of Riddle.
"What are you doing? He asked him quite scared. He had not seen him hurt either of them since a couple of years ago and that was the imposter who had taken his place. Somehow, he looked like the imposter today.
"I was about to kill him. Riddle answered with a smirk on his face as fear flooded Malcolm but he stood his ground nevertheless.
"Why?
"Why don't you ask him? He said deviously pointing at Seth who still couldn't get his focus back.
Malcolm looked at him. Seth still hadn't gotten over his hatred for Tom. He would have done something to get Tom angry like this. But Tom wouldn't kill him.
"You can't! I know you, you won't. Malcolm said firmly as Riddle's smile grew wider.
"Watch me! Riddle answered and raised his wand again towards Seth.
Malcolm stared horrorstricken. He knew he couldn't defend Seth. No one could rival Tom's powers if he had a wand. But he knew he couldn't see Seth die. He loved him more than his own life. He moved in front of Seth facing the raised wand.
"Go on then. Kill me first.
Riddle stared at the troll like figure of Malcolm. He had not expected such bravery from him.
"Why do you wish to die with him?
"Because I love him. Malcolm answered almost instantly gulping down. He could see Tom wasn't going to back out.
Riddle froze as he heard him. Just minutes ago he had discovered the he was the love of someone's life. He somehow understood how Malcolm felt. He sighed. How could he kill him now? He turned away from the two of them, repaired their door and turned back to them as they both stood with bated breath.
"Stand still. He ordered and both of them closed their eyes.
Riddle raised Seth's wand again towards Malcolm. "Obliviate! Forget everything that happened here and return to your library because you never left it. Malcolm looked at him quite confused then walked past him out of the door.
Seth stood with his eyes open quite shocked to see that Tom was going to spare their lives after he had nearly killed him. Riddle raised his wand again as Seth spoke up. "I am sorry...I was so angry...I didn't know it could kill you...I got scared...
"Shut up. Riddle replied quite frustrated. He was already having a hard time forgiving this idiot and he was reminding him of why he shouldn't. "Obliviate! Forget everything from the moment I first came to see you in the morning. Return to your packing.
Riddle threw Seth's wand on his bed and left as Seth returned to his packing.
He returned to his room. He knew Tom would be fine. If he was awake, so would Tom be. He will make his way back on his own. He pulled out a piece of parchment and quill.
"Meet me in the Diagon Alley. Riddle wrote the note. Wrote the name Robert on the back. Summoned an owl from the Owlery and tied the note to its leg before throwing it out the window. Now he needed to concentrate on the real problem. What should he get Padma?
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