𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 ; 𝔄 𝔗𝔬𝔪 ℜ𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔩𝔢 𝔖𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔶

🀥 CHAPTER FOUR 🀥

ᯤ  She'll become loyal ᯤ

{Toms pov}

Tom didn't think anyone would be brave enough to tease him, but here she was. Morana Lestrange, a sixteen year old girl. With her wavy brown hair that fell all the way to her hips and her high cheekbones, hollow cheeks and the fullest plumb lips, she always painted red, he'd ever seen.

Obviously she attractive, there was not doubt about it. Everyone knew including herself that she was the now the prettiest girl at Hogwarts and to Toms knowledge she didn't wear any makeup. It wasn't just her appearance that intrigued him, Morana had a certain aura to her; he recognised it but couldn't put his finger on it since it was much stronger.

Morana wasn't only pretty but intelligent enough to have mastered legilimency at her age. Tom still hadn't fully mastered it yet and it angered him that she could do something better than him.

After Morana had left the table with Rodolphus, Tom calmed the urge to go after her a teach her just who he was. But he'd show mercy just this once by allowing Rodolphus to go with her and hopefully talk sense into her that he was not to be reckoned with.

He pushed his plate that remains full away from him. "Malfoy" Tom finally spoke "yes my lord?" He stared at the seat where Morana had sat. "Find out as much as you can about her from when she was in France." No one had to say her name to know who he was talking about.

Durella looked at her older brother, Adonis. She actually for once like a Slytherin girl and she'd never say anything to ruin any of Toms plans or go against him, she was smart enough to know not to. So she kept her mouth shut and head down.

"Yes my lord" Abraxas nodded almost robotically. "Don't let Rodolphus know what you're doing" Tom spoke before walking out of the great hall. He tugged on his robes, straightening it. As a Slytherin he always looked had the need to look the part, he always achieved it too.

Tom headed straight for the library at a quick pace as he gripped his bag. As soon as he entered Tom headed straight to the back where no one was. Tom had spent six years trying to perfect everything so no one had the upper hand on him. That included some of the most difficult things to master in the wizarding world not only nonverbal magic but wandless magic, which was only mastered the most skilled wizards and witches.

Tom wondered if Morana had also mastered it. Since she had mastered legilimency better then Tom, which angered him but he wasn't naive enough to ignore it. Tom had taken into account that Morana was better than him, and the only solution to fix that was to practice until he overtook her. Well people do say slytherines are determined to be the best.

Tom spent the next few hours practicing opening and closing his mind. The layers of his mind in a continuous pattern of building, maintaining then disappearing. He tried it a few times with his wand but found it surprising to his victims when he did it wandlessly, since they don't expect an attack.

After three hours he took a break as he grabbed his diary from his bag. The black leather still looking as it did they day he got it last year but it held much more then words, it held his plans and most importantly a piece of his soul. The diary was his first horcrux, he planned on making seven in total, he'd already sent his knight of a search for his next item he'd use as his second horcrux.

Tom had been think of the changes and length that he'd have to go to become the most powerful wizard. Obviously immortal; which he was already working on. Worshipers, people to follow him; his Knights. He'd need a name that one day people would fear, plus he didn't want to keep his filthy muggle farthers name. Tom thought he was better than it.

His thought were cut off when a blonde he recognised from his year walk up to him and cleared her throat as she sat on the arm of his chair. Tom paused and closed his diary to mark sure she couldn't see anything, he didn't let anyone read inside, including his knights who knew his plans anyways.

"Can I help you Whitney?" He voice blank as he turned to her. She stared at him as she trailed her fingers down his arms "I came over here to ask you that exact question Riddle." She smirked as she leaned down toward him, her blonde hair falling out from behind her ear. She seemed to be waiting for him to tuck it back but his hands remained either side of legs.

Whitney was an outlet for Tom, she occasionally pleased him when he needed it. Tom hummed taping his fingers against the arms of the chair. She stud to her feet while Tom spun the chair away from the table. Whitney slowly sunk to her knees, keeping eye contact as she unbuckled his belt. Before she could even get to pull the belt of the loop holes Abraxas and Adonis ran over "Riddle!"

"Merlin!" Whitney quickly stud up. "Goodbye Whitney" Abraxas ushered her out as he walked her away "I'm sure Nott's free" he smirked at her red face as he quickly turned back to Tom and Adonis. Riddle seemed regain himself quickly with his belt back to normal like nothing had happen.

"Sorry to disturb but we felt this news couldn't wait" Adonis nodded towards Abraxas, who began to speak. "You told me to find more information about Morana" Tom shook his head "you've found something already? It's been only been a few hours?"

Abraxas shrugged "Laurent Archambeau. Recognise the name?" Tom shook his head. "He's a powerful French wizard, he has a history for getting away with dark magic. I heard about him when we were researching horcrux, he owns two. I thought since he was French it would been no harm to see if he had any connections with the Lestranges based in France." Abraxas explained "Turns out he had bragged about teaching someone called 'Mor' while at a ball while drunk to a reporter, who put it in the paper. Then Adonis thought back to earlier at dinner-"

"Durella called Morana 'Mor'" Tom nodded remembering it. "So she was taught by French dark wizard Laurent Archambeau?" Tom repeated to himself trying to figure out why he cared for the information. "Yeah, turns out he's a pretty big deal over there" Adonis leant his palms onto the table. "That would explain how she is a skilled Legiliment. It's almost impossible to master without a good enough partner" Tom nodded to himself.

"And if this Archambeau is good at dark magic as the paper suggests then perhaps he taught Morana it" Abraxas ran his hand through he's blonde curls. "She could be a asset, no?" Tom remains quiet before shaking her head "She's not one that can be controlled and currently not scared into submission" Riddle leaned back into his chair "give it time" he nodded.

Tom grabbed his bag "she'll become loyal" and if not then she'd soon beg to differ when he becomes an all-powerful immortal feared and known by every wizard and witch. She'll wish to be at his feet.

Tom casts 'muffliato' around them before speaking again,"What I'm am confused by is why she would need the help from a renowned dark wizard to learn all she knows" Tom said more to himself then the two following behind, who shrugged anyway. It seemed Morana Lestrange was still nothing but a mystery. But Tom was willing to figure it out. Like Tom thought, he didn't think anyone was brave enough to tease him, perhaps that wasn't all bad. Tom Riddle finally had a challenge that was worth his time.

Morana was Toms little puzzle, and he was going to complete the full picture.

ᯤ

Hi everyone!
Still kinda laying down plot here and planning ahead.
I'm really excited for people to read this book though!
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it <3

Don't forget to vote and follow it really helps and encourages me to continue to write more!

- love Avery 🤍