Chapter 22

"I'd much rather stay at Hogwarts than go back to that - to that -" "You live in a Muggle orphanage during the holidays, I believe?" said Dippet curiously. "Yes, sir," said Riddle, reddening slightly. "You are Muggle-born?" "Half-blood, sir," said Riddle. "Muggle father, witch mother." "And are both your parents -?" "My mother died just after I was born, sir. They told me at the orphanage she lived just long enough to name me - Tom after my father, Marvolo after my grandfather."HP2

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Evelyn didn't know much about the Muggle London. She studied the few maps she found at home to find her route from the Leaky Cauldron to her target.Finally she was ready to put her plan into practice. She wore weird clothes trying to look like the women from the muggle brochures she got from her uncle in Knockturn Alley, then on a sunny morning she sneaked out of the Magic London to step into the Muggle world.She avoided checking the reactions of the muggles she crossed in the streets. Her worry vanished when she stopped in front of a set of iron gates.She looked up at the sign. Whool's orphanage. That was the place.Evelyn inhaled deeply, then stepped into a poor courtyard and reached the steps that led her to the front door.She composed herself and knocked loudly.A thin girl in a simple gray dress opened widening her eyes. For a moment Evelyn thought of Myrtle and felt uncomfortable. "Hi" Evelyn said with a smile "I sent a letter to speak to mrs Cole. I'm here for Tom Riddle".The girl widened her eyes even more and Evelyn noticed that she also blushed."Sure... Come in" the girl stammered and stepped aside to let her in, her eyes lingering on Evelyn's clothes.Evelyn disliked the black and white tiles of the corridors, but was soon distracted by an old woman approaching her."Oh, miss Burke, I presume? Nice to meet you" she took Evelyn's hand, shaking it "I lead you to his room. I didn't warn him, just like you asked. And thank you for your donation. It won't be forgotten"."My pleasure" Evelyn said distractly, following impatiently the woman in that maze of identical doors and corridors, until she stopped in front of a door and knocked loudly.Evelyn noticed that the thin girl she met at the front door followed th as a shadow. For a moment Evelyn wondered if it was a bad idea making a surprise to Tom just to get a bad surprise.The woman opened the door without waiting for a reply "Tom, a visitor for you".Tom was lying on the bed with a book in his hand and jumped up with an angry face that turned into shock when he recognized Evelyn.She didn't get the chance to say hi. He approached her with few long steps and pulled her into the room, slamming the door in the woman's face."You? Here?" He hissed his eyes widened in surprise, catching her attention while she observed the small, empty room. Definitely too small for the Heir of Slytherin."I promised you that I wouldn't abandon you here" she said with a smile.He lowered his head and she noticed thay he was wearing the same simple grey clothes of the other orphans "You shouldn't see this filthy place. I didn't expect for you to come so soon"."So do you want to stay here for some more weeks?" She grabbed his hands "Tom, I've read some of the muggle newspapers and I don't feel safe it here for you. I spoke to my aunt and uncle and they are more than happy to welcome you at home. And I beg you, don't let me stay alone with them anymore. It's still anguishing for all of us".He looked at her with a softened face "So I can leave this place now?"."Yes. I already dealt with Mrs Cole too. You are free to come with me"."You did this for me?" He whispered softly.She nodded and he wrapped her in a hug that caught her by surprise."I help you packing your things" she offered to get out of that awkward moment."There's not much to pack. I already kept everything ready for leaving" he moved to his iron bed and pulled out his suitcase. He threw in it some clothes and books from the wardrobe, then took Evelyn's hand, leading her out of the room.He was clearly impatient to leave that unpleasant place. He didn't greet anyone, he only stopped when they stepped into the streets of the city."So we are free" he breathed deeply in relief "What shall we do?"."I wouldn't mind to explore the muggle London with you" she leaned on his arm with a broad smile."Alright. Let me drop my things at the Leaky Cauldron, then I'll take you to a tour in this muggle world".She agreed and enjoyed to step back into her world for a moment. Then Tom offered her his arm and led her in the muggle roads."Do I look like a normal muggle girl? I even asked advice for the clothes"."You are far too beautiful for being a muggle girl. You don't look suspicious, although you are walking with me" he nodded to his poor clothes."I think it's fair. I am walking with a handsome boy, who could be suspicious?" She smiled getting a smile back.Tom wasn't a patient tourist guide. There weren't many places he was close too and he believed most of the buildings and monuments were unworthy for the eyes of magic people.He stopped only to make her taste some muggle ice cream and buy a black notebook."Do you dislike our magic shops?" She asked watching him giving his last muggle coins to the shopkeeper."Call it a souvenir" he let the small notebook fall into his pocket "It will become something more valuable after I've used it".

In the evening they reached Diagon Alley, where they used some floo powder to reach Evelyn's house.Milly's parents warmly welcomed Tom as one of their family, although they couldn't hide how much they missed their lost daughter.Evelyn felt uneasy at the idea that they were talking right to the responsible for what happened to Milly.Tom had a room for his own, close to Evelyn's. She enjoyed watching him getting used to a magic house. But they weren't free enough as they were at Hogwarts. They had the house all for their own just few hours each week.Until one day Mr Selwyn came back home bringing news from the muggle world."The muggle war reached London. They bombarded it. I went to visit it with other workers from the Ministry. It was hell" he said with bewildered face.On the next morning Evelyn and Tom planned a trip in London. And when they stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron they saw the devastation with their own eyes.Tom went back to his hated orphanage. And they found only rubble."I was here" he commented bitterly staring at what was left of that place "I could have died because of these filthy muggles. Forgotten by the magic world".Evelyn grabbed his arm, her heart aching "I'm sorry, Tom. But I'm so grateful the bombs didn't harm you"."I'll take my revenge, Evelyn. I'll annihilated the muggles once and for all" he promised pulling her away from that destroyed world.

Tom had other plans for that holidays. After what he learned about his family from Evelyn and his adventures with the Chamber of Secrets, he wanted to visit his family. He made some researches about Little Hangleton and planned a trip."Why can't I come with you?" Evelyn complained when he repeated that he wanted to travel alone."I don't want you to deal with someone who stayed in Azkaban" he kissed her forehead "I'll be back before you'll miss me too much"."Don't use...your extreme ways with him, please. Your uncle probably doesn't even know that you exist"."Don't worry. I would never kill a pureblood, also if he would deserve it" he pulled her closer "Now let's stop talking about it. I want you to comfort me before I'll start the trip tomorrow"."We can't" she whispered blushing "My aunt and uncle are just downstairs"."That's why I already booked a room for two in the Leaky Cauldron. We are free to make all the noise we want there" he took out some floo powder from his pocket.Evelyn could just follow him through the flames of the fireplace.

Sunny days passed slowly. Evelyn had no news from Tom, he had promised he would come back as soon as possible, so she didn't understand why a quick visit to an unknown relative would take days. Unless something happened to him.The sun was replaced by rainy days, that fitted Evelyn's gloomy feelings.

One morning someone knocked on the door and Evelyn hurried to opened it, since she was alone at home.What she saw beyond the door shocked her.It was Tom.He was soaking wet from the walk under the pouring rain. She never saw him so miserable. It was almost hard for her to link the person in front of her to the elegant handsome prefect and model student she was used to know."Tom, what happened?" Her voice was weak."I have to talk to you. And at the same time I just want to stay alone" he said blankly."Step in. You'll catch a cold out there" she stepped aside to let him walk in but didn't dare to touch him, like he was the most dangerous and fragile creature.He didn't move much. He just stopped in the middle of the entrance hall and dropped his bag."Let me help you" she whispered forcing herself to come closer.He allowed her to unlace his heavy, wet cloak. He seemed far away, lost into his unreachable thoughts. Dark spots under his eyes showed that he lacked of sleep for days.Evelyn felt completely uncomfortable. She was glad he came back to her, but he wasn't him.She took away his jacket, revealing other old muggle clothes under it.Many questions were lingering from her lips."Tom..."."Don't" he hissed sharply.Her eyes widened in fear. She didn't dare to say anything else.Her eyes were attracted by something new hanging on his hand. A golden ring with a black stone that she had never seen before. And she didn't know he ever owned one.

She decided to leave him alone for a while, to let him recover from whatever he had.Minutes later she came back and he was still there, like sleeping standing."I brought you some clothes. You have to change now. I'll make some tea, so you'll feel better" she announced, getting no reactions. She left the clean clothes on the sofa and sneaked into the kitchen to boil some water. She bit her lips hard to keep herself from crying. She was haunted by the hot memories of the night together before he left. She took for granted that he would come back being that passionate again. Instead it was like having welcomed a stranger who looked like him, but in fact wasn't Tom. He was so unreachable she was scared.Evelyn breathed deeply to control her emotions, then picked a positive smile and brought a tray with the tea to Tom, who was still there how she left him.She approached him carefully and persuaded him to sit on the sofa next to her.Evelyn started to unbotton his shirt, feeling his skin deadly cold.She startled when his fingers abruptly stopped her and pushed her away.She froze, shocked for being rejected, but he surprised her more when he seemed recovered a bit to understand what he did and pulled her closer to him, pressing his cold lips on hers.The girl shivered from the contact with his cold body. She wanted to retreat but his arms wrapped around her pressing her harder against himself.His kiss was different. Passion was mixed with something else, something that scared her even more for its darkness.She didn't allow that kiss to go further. She undressed him and helped him wearing the clean and dry clothes, then gave him the tea.He drank very slowly, without making any noise.Evelyn observed him, her eyes falling easily on the strange ring he was wearing.

"So... Can you tell me what happened?" She asked shyly after taking the tea cup away from his cold, white hands.He swallowed her lowering his head"Was your uncle... Violent?" She tried to guess."No, he's back to Azkaban" he whispered simply."What?" She snapped "So you didn't meet him?"."I did" he replied "Not just him".Evelyn gaped and blinked until she recalled what he could mean "So you found also your father?".He jumped up stepping away "Don't call him that. He's nothing anymore"."So that's what shocked you?" She stood up as well "You should stay away from the mistakes of your family. Don't change because of the fury and the thirst of revenge you are feeling now"."But that's what makes me powerful, Evy" he glanced at her, his beautiful dark eyes transfigured into sparkles from hell."What do you mean?" She felt goosebumps and crossed her arms to encourage herself.He stared at her with a new emotion that woke him up from his daydreaming face "I'm ready to make a horcrux".Her mind seemed working bad. She tried to understand the meaning of those words but her mind refused to accept it."No, you didn't.." She whispered after what looked like eternity."It wasn't planned. But I couldn't help it. How would you feel if you find out that your father knew of your existence and willingly abandoned you?"."Tom, stop" she begged."Don't call me by that bloody name! You know what my real name is!" He snapped harshly.She widened her eyes at him "Changing the order of the letters doesn't mean anything, Tom Marvolo Riddle. I want you out from here now. Murderers are not welcome here"."You're mine, Evelyn. You don't give me orders" he hissed."Then force me not to. Use your dark magic" she challenged him "And you'll spend your days in a filthy cage of Azkaban. You lost me since you used that unforgivable curse. I won't report you just because you involved me in your previous crimes. But I don't want to deal with you anymore".His face was unreadable. She hoped for another burst of rage, but he just stared at her with a dry grimace.Then he moved around the room and picked his bag. The silence was a torture. Evelyn wished to tell him more, but she couldn't speak anymore.Tom gathered his wet clothes and put them into the bag, then like a wretched traveler, he walked to the door.He opened a door and gave her a last flat glance."It's not over, Evelyn. Don't forget that".Then he stepped out and slammed the door behind him.He was gone. And Evelyn was finally free to let her sad feelings flow out.

It's not over, he said. She knew she could never get rid of him, not with everything she knew about him.She imagined he was having wild fun with some other girls to comfort himself. While she was crying alone for most of the time, torn between the need of him and the feeling of all the mistakes she had done because of him.She wished there was some boy to comfort her, but she knew that Tom would have killed anyone who dared to touch her. She got the proof he was able to ruthlessly murder. Perhaps he would have murdered her too someday.Perhaps he was already thinking of that while possessing other witches.She just wanted to go back to Hogwarts. She hoped to find some help there.She wanted to forget.But owls incessantly brought her letters that reminded her that Tom was more powerful than her, that she wasn't free.She didn't dare to read them. The pain was already unbearable.Nights were the worst part of the day.Just hot sleepless nights and she felt suffocating.

......A/N

Somehow this chapter disappeared!I swear I didn't write any explicit nor smut nor too violent stuff so I don't know what happened 😅Anyway here it is.If you already read the following chapters please have the patience to read this one and link it to what you have already read 🙏

I'm sorry for being such a bad disaster with this muggle app 😅❤