A few days before…
Tom furrowed his eyebrows as he watched OZ return without a letter. He knew Anna perfectly well; as soon as her letter arrives, she responds immediately, and if for some reason she was slow to reply, she would send a letter a few hours or a day later, but it had been four days, and no response.
Since he had that dream, it became impossible for him to concentrate and stay calm, but like all Slytherins, he must never show his emotions.
The entire common room of the snakes was silent because the atmosphere was too heavy to resist, so everyone left for their rooms, leaving only the group.
— Could it be that she forgot to answer you? — Avery asked when he saw the terrible look on his partner's face.
— Since Riddle and I shared a room, she never failed to answer unless it was one day — Malfoy replied, sitting and reading a forbidden book.
— Maybe she's sick and that's why she can't reply to your letters, —Walburga commented, for she knew very little about Tom's sister, only knowing of her existence through letters and a book he cherishes so much.
Tom didn't respond, his expression revealing nothing, but the storm in his eyes was clear. He closed his eyes for a moment while squeezing the bridge of his nose due to a headache he had, but just by closing them, several images came to his mind about that dream.
He abruptly stood up from his seat, causing his companions to fall silent. He said nothing and left the dungeons, but he just wanted a potion for his headache.
Just by remembering, he felt an immense pressure in his chest, and his emotions were as if all the negative ones were working as one, giving an inexplicable feeling.
He still remembers it as if it were all real, as if it all happened...
"A girl of about 14 or 15, her hair was short to her shoulders, her skin was pale and sickly, as if she would collapse at any moment, her lips had no color, and her eyes were devoid of life, as if she were just an empty vessel without emotions.
Tom only observed the girl whom he would recognize without any mistake; it was Anna.
He saw her locked in the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror with an expression of disgust and restrained fury; her tears were flowing down as if a water faucet had been turned on. He reached out his hand, trying to dry her tears, but it only went through Anna's body.
She looked at the potion she held in her hand, lost in her chaotic thoughts — I won't take it — She spat with hatred, clutching the flask tightly before drinking it without hesitation.
He didn't understand what those words were referring to, but he saw Anna cast spells into the bathroom, which he recognized were to silence so that no one would enter.
Was this a dream?
And if it was, it was so real that he wanted to know who had harmed his sister.
His senses returned upon hearing a muffled scream from Anna; she collapsed to the floor with a ghostly complexion. He knew he couldn't touch her, but his instinct made him run to her with a frightened face as he watched her suffer, but he couldn't touch her. It was stupid what he was doing, but even if it was a dream, it was heartbreaking for him to see her suffer.
His eyes narrowed as he saw blood flow onto the floor, the source of the wound being between her legs; there was too much blood for it to be normal.
— What have you taken?! — He asked, shouting towards her, forgetting that it was useless to speak to her — What was that potion?!
As if the person would listen, he watched as those brown eyes stared at him, whispering faintly.
— ANNA!! "
He still remembered those words whispered by his sister in his dreams.
— Don't leave me, please.
He stopped abruptly as he remembered something he had overlooked; in his dreams, she was dressed in the Slytherin uniform.
Is there any meaning to this dream?
— What are you doing here, young Riddle? — Dumbledore's question pulled him out of his tangled thoughts.
Without realizing it, he had ended up in front of the DCAO classroom.
— I'm in the wrong classroom, Professor. — He replied with a cordial smile.
— You knows it's too late for you to be around here —Dumbledore added, looking at the boy who had just moments ago been standing like a statue beside his classroom door with a complicated expression, as if something was troubling him, so much so that he didn't notice that he was standing there watching for a few minutes.
He blinked in confusion, summoned Tempus, and saw that it was only a few minutes before 10:00 PM.
— It seems you were lost in thought, young Riddle, not to notice the time.
— It was just something insignificant — He said, downplaying it, but deep in his heart, he knew that wasn't true — If you'll excuse me, I must leave before I get sanctioned for being out after hours.
Dumbledore just watched as Tom left at a quick pace; something told him the young wizard's words were lies. Tom Riddle was adapting faster than he thought, and that was good, but something told him that all of this would lead to a point of no return.
He dismissed his foolish thoughts; perhaps he was getting too old to think that way about an 11-year-old boy. But Tom was not just any child; at his age, he was more intelligent than any other child and more efficient at learning; he was like a sponge that absorbed all the knowledge offered to him and sought more, excelling in all his subjects.
But what worried him most was his ability to speak Parseltongue; only descendants of Slytherin could speak Parseltongue, and he happens to be one of the last in the lineage.
Dumbledore took a lemon candy and put it in his mouth, setting aside those negative thoughts for now; he now had work to do as a professor.
Tom arrived just in time at the dungeons before curfew. He didn't say anything when he arrived and just took a shower for a while, trying to forget that dream.
It's just a dream, a simple dream.
Upon leaving, he wrote a letter to his sister, hoping for a reply and to ensure she was well; meanwhile, he would have to figure out how to deal with his headache.
.
It was the ninth day since Anna hadn't replied to his letters, and he was flying out of there to come back; it was obvious from a distance that he wasn't well, making certain mistakes in classes, but he didn't care because he was more worried about Anna.
At lunchtime, only Tom and his group were silent as Riddle's dark aura sent shivers throughout their bodies. If a child could cause such an uncomfortable sensation, it would surely be worse when he knew more magic.
For someone who has murdered it is normal to give off that murky aura and Tom had done so a few years earlier when one day he saw Anna's head bleeding; that day he silently searched for the perpetrator and it was not difficult as he bragged about how he had thrown stones at his sister to the point of making her run away crying.
So he killed him that same night after leaving Anna asleep, breaking his neck and making it look like he had fallen down the stairs at night; it wasn't difficult to simulate an accident when he had read books on how to cover up a murder well.
Also, the police wouldn't investigate the death of an orphan, so it was one more reason for no one to suspect him. But some orphan children came to understand something behind his death, after all, not a few hours ago, he was bragging about how he had managed to hit Anna Riddle's head, and it was obvious who it was.
Of course, only a few managed to understand that, and the rest just thought he had slipped down the stairs.
— Riddle, look! — Aexclaimed Avery quietly as he watched OZ come in with a letter.
Tom also looked at OZ and, upon its arrival, immediately opened it without looking at the recipient. Reading it, he frowned, and then his face turned pale as paper.
He looked towards the professors' table, who were dining, his gaze fixed on the headmaster, who caught his urgent look, so he nodded and rose from his seat.
— I'll be right back — He said, getting up and following Headmaster Dippet to his office.
— Is something wrong, young Riddle — He asked upon entering.
— I received a letter from the orphanage saying I need to return urgently because something has happened to my sister — Tom informed him.
— That is indeed concerning for you, Riddle — The headmaster's serious expression worried Tom that he wouldn't permit him to go — By your expression, it seems you want to leave right now — He commented, and Tom nodded — I understand — He called a house-elf to summon Dumbledore, who arrived without delay.
— Take young Riddle to the orphanage urgently and see if you can help —He asked the DADA professor.
— Thank you, Headmaster — He thanked and bid farewell to pack his things.
He didn't return to the Great Hall but went to the dungeons to pack all his belongings and leave without delay, reading the letter a second time.
To Tom Riddle..
I am Sister Refugio, and I am writing to ask if you have been in contact with Anna. I am worried that she hasn't left her room for several days after something suddenly hit her so hard.
That day she went to her room to rest, but the next day, no matter how much I called her, she didn't come out, and I thought maybe she was in her self-study, as last time, so I didn't pay much attention, but these days I haven't seen her come down to eat...
If you know anything, please tell me or at least tell her to come down to eat...
Sincerely, Sister Refugio
He clutched the letter, worried about the blow Anna had received. If it were some of those stupid Muggles, he would make them pay. He didn't have time to change and went down with his trunk in a hurry to go to the DADA classroom where Dumbledore was waiting for him.
— Hold my hand firmly, young Riddle — Dumbledore requested, which he did without hesitation. — The Leaky Cauldron — He said and threw the Floo powder.
Upon arrival, Tom felt vertigo in his stomach and almost stumbled, but managed to steady himself.
— It's normal to feel that way the first time — He commented, seeing his pale complexion. — Since you want to get there quickly, we'll have to Apparate near the orphanage — He informed.
Tom just nodded; as long as he got there faster, this dizzy feeling was nothing. He felt the lurch in his navel and the discomfort, but upon opening his eyes, he saw the orphanage not far away and, without hesitation, ran towards it, opening the door forcefully.
— Tom! — Refugio called out, surprised to see him run towards Anna's room.
Upon reaching the door, he kicked it open forcefully, and his gaze searched for Anna until he saw her sitting with letters in her hands.
— Anna! — He went to her and hugged her tightly, as if he was trying to feel her beating heart and her warmth, trying to calm his mind that she was well and now safe and alive in his arms.
— Brother...
— Why didn't you answer my letters? Do you know how worried I was, thinking something worse had happened to you — Tom's eyes darkened at the mere thought that someone had done something to his sister.
— I don't know, I remember coming down to eat, but suddenly something hit me in the chest and... and when I came to my room, I felt very sleepy, and the last thing I remember is getting to my bed — She explained, worried by her brother's expression, so much so that tears streamed down her cheeks.
— Don't cry, Anna — He hugged her tightly, worried that she was crying because of him, only able to try and console his younger sister. But something came to his mind. — Who hit you? — He looked directly into Anna's eyes, searching for an answer.
— I don't know, I just felt something coming towards me, and when I turned, I was hit in the chest — She replied.
Tom looked into her eyes, which showed her sincerity. He just hugged her, but in his mind, he wondered what had hit her. He didn't know if that was good or bad.
— It seems she's fine — A voice interrupted their warm reunion.
— Sorry to worry you and make you come so quickly, Professor Dumbledore.
— It's my job, besides, the other professors were worried about your lack of concentration in class...
— Sorry for worrying you, brother — Anna apologized, seeing Tom's visible dark circles. — I didn't... —She stopped her words abruptly, feeling a sharp pain in her head and something warm flowing from her nostrils.
Both of them watched as Anna clutched her head with an expression of pain, and blood ran from her nose. Tom extended his hands as he saw her collapse.
— Anna!!
— Let me check her — Dumbledore immediately examined the girl who was pale in her brother's arms. — This... — The shock was visible on Dumbledore's face.
— What's wrong with her?! — That expression on his professor's face didn't bode well.
— I'm fine, it's just a headache — Anna spoke, attracting their attention. — It's happened before, remember, brother?
— She's just weak from not having eaten for several days, and perhaps the headache is due to some side effect. I can't say for sure unless a Healer examines her...
— It's nothing, it will pass, and most likely the strong pain caused the nosebleed — Anna excused.
Tom was still not entirely convinced by his sister's words; whenever he saw blood coming from his sister, no matter how small the wound, a terrible fear resided in his chest at the mere thought of something worse that could happen to her, and this was due to the trauma caused by his sister's near-death when she was just a baby.
— I must return to Hogwarts — Dumbledore informed, to which the siblings merely nodded without much importance, focusing only on each other.
As he left, his expression was so complicated that one might think something terrible had happened. He glanced at the two, who were hugging tightly with smiles on their faces. It was clear that Tom loved her very much, and the love was mutual, but the mere thought that this expression would change later on left him at a loss for words.
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