The Last Chance Of Tom Riddle

“Harry!” “Minister, be careful, dont burn your robes—the plant is poisonous.” Kingsley Shacklebolt tucked his hem, stepping over the scorched ivy vines that had buckled the parquet at the entrance to the room. “How did they leave?” Potter shrugged: “They just vanished. We had Apparition blocked, and the doors and windows were sealed. Unless they leaked into the sewers…” “If they leave British territory, we will be forced to suspend the operation,” the Minister announced with little enthusiasm. Harry looked at his boss in surprise. “Maitre Fabre, damn him! That rogue claimed we illegally removed his client from her place of detention and handed her over to a dangerous international criminal without her consent, putting her life at risk! My office is buried under protest notes from the continent. The Merovingians are furious…” “Actually, she covered for this criminal with all her strength and fled Azkaban!” Potter protested. “That is not a fact we can operate with,” the Minister cut him off. “The lack of proper supervision for prisoners in the absence of Dementors has attracted public attention more than once. As has the weak security of the school. I expect your report on both incidents, by the way.” Muscles clenched along Potters stubble-covered jaw: “Fine, Lady Aola is a separate conversation; perhaps the lawyer can frame her as a victim instead of an accomplice. But why cant we search for Voldemort?! He kidnapped children, put their lives at risk, and used Unforgivable Curses on Neville!” “The matter is being decided, Harry. I am doing everything I can. How is Professor Longbottom feeling, by the way?” the Minister changed the subject. “Very weak. He remembers little. fortunately. I was afraid we wouldnt find him alive at all. Luna hasn’t left his side.” “And the boys?” “Oh, I am afraid they actually rather liked all of it,” Harry replied without a smile. The Minister patted Potters shoulder: “They have someone to take after, dont they?” Harry was silent for a moment and then said: “I keep thinking, Minister. Why did he never even try to kill me? He could have. In fact, since the day I was born, that was all he ever aimed for. And the boys. both were in his power.” “The prophecy was fulfilled; you are no longer a threat to him. A new body… new opportunities?” Kingsley suggested. “His vengefulness and cruelty are well known to you,” Harry replied. “Perhaps Voldemort has a new plan and doesnt want to rush? Or do you suspect Lady Merovingians influence? After all, she didnt take a single one of Riddles supporters from Azkaban, though she could have opened every cell and caused such chaos.” “Milady said that in the locket that brought him back to life, a light fragment of his soul was sealed,” Harry said after a pause. “He had one of those?” the Minister asked in surprise. “Harry, I think we have them! Oh, damn… the signal is gone again!” came a voice from the bathroom. A thick black snake crawled toward the sewer grate, pushing it with its flat, wedge-shaped head to test its strength. It was held fast. Coiling like a spring, the snake struck it with its whole body, again and again, until the grate gave way slightly. Sliding into the resulting gap, the reptile crawled toward the bushes growing thickly by the roadside. It looked around. Carefully, it placed the stone it held in its mouth on the grass and transformed into a handsome, half-dressed teenager. A second later, a beautiful girl in a terry-cloth towel appeared before him. She blinked her long lashes and looked at the lad in confusion: “What was that?” “Emergency evacuation,” he smirked. “I didnt have time to understand anything. being a stone is so strange,” milady murmured. She looked down at her feet. Not only was she barefoot, but now she was naked as well! “Perfect,” Tom noted and shivered—the cold drizzle of rain immediately brought on a chill. Snakes sense smells with their tongues. even though his mouth had been occupied with his precious burden, he had still managed to catch a scent. But the aromas of the sewer were not at all what one wants to feel, especially after such amazing, long-awaited sex. “We need to leave,” he added, reaching out his hand to the girl. A second later, only a patch of slightly flattened grass, wet with rain, remained where they had stood. The Apparition jump spat Tom and his companion out onto a wasteland by the seacoast. A cold wind drove dark waves toward the shore, decorated with white foam, and whipped through the dried heather. The sky hung low, leaden-gray. Aola shivered and clapped her hands, setting up her tent. “Not the best idea,” Tom noted. “Well get dressed and fly out immediately,” she replied, pushing back the flap. “Its cold.” The Peris dwelling met Riddle with warmth and the familiar scent of Eastern incense. “How did they track us?” milady asked, tossing aside the wet towel and vigorously digging through one of her trunks. “A tracker. They might have put a tracking charm on you.” “They didnt perform any magical manipulations on me.” “It doesnt have to be that; it could have been a potion that only needs to touch the skin. Did anyone touch you before meeting me? And dont lie about the tree—the print of a hand stayed on your cheek for a good half hour.” “It was Ginny Potter. Also. Teddy Lupin; he was the one who opened my cell and removed the chains,” Aola replied without stopping her task. “He held my hands and kissed me. But he couldnt have. I dont think so.” “Kissed you? You?! A werewolfs pup?!” Tom was unpleasantly surprised. “When did you find time to bewitch him? I see you arent picky.” “And you are incredibly selective!” milady snapped. “Chauvinist!” “I knew it—while I was crushing manure under an old witchs supervision, you werent wasting any time!” Tom was shaking from a sudden surge of jealousy. A filthy werewolf brat had touched his woman! “And I am sure you werent wasting time while visiting your mother!” “Of course... I spent all those years doing nothing but cuckolding you with every stranger who stumbled into our Peristan! Especially with the Djinn — they are very hot guys! By the way, so you know, my great-grandfather was a Djinn. It turns out Peris can give birth to more than just humans. Actually, it doesnt matter, it will be a girl anyway… but magical abilities can vary. So for a creature like me, a werewolf pup isnt the worst match! And he is kind and caring, for your information.” “Then go to your kind and caring one,” the offended Riddle grumbled. “How can you be so jealous? I dont ask you what you had with Mrs. Lestrange.” “Nothing!” Tom snapped. “I dont sleep with servants.” Aola suddenly slapped her forehead, dropped a stack of clothes onto the ottoman, and hastily fished a silver filigree vial out of a box on the table, drinking half of it in one gulp. “Whats that?” Tom asked gloomily. “A contraceptive potion. I hope it hasnt expired.” “Afraid of getting pregnant by a fugitive criminal?” he inquired acidly. This act of hers suddenly felt particularly hurtful to him. He had once wanted a child from her. “By a stupid and quarrelsome boy, which you were and surprisingly still are! Youve only grown more bitter and callous. Get dressed! Teddy couldnt have put a tracker on me... he loves me. Ginny, however, easily could have, and I have no idea how long this thing will last.” Tom didnt move. This sudden quarrel had knocked the ground out from under his feet. Just half an hour ago, she had been so compliant, submissive, and tender, clinging to him. as if she truly needed him, his touch, his love. He had softened so much that he almost got caught again. and then, here it was: some Teddy and a hastily swallowed potion. “Tom, get dressed,” milady hurried him, slipping into her old-fashioned dress, warm and long. “No,” he said flatly. “I wont move an inch until you tell me what happens next.” “Next? We fly to the continent, we need to meet with a lawyer. calm the relatives. After all, I am a Duchess and have certain obligations to the clan... which I neglected because of you. From the first day we met, youve made me lose my head and do incredibly stupid things! Besides, I have to introduce you to the clan, since you belong to it now as well. You have no idea what a scandal it will be—I didnt ask anyone for permission for the union,” she finished cheerfully, as if the prospect of a showdown with her family seemed amusing to her. “I didnt mean that,” Tom replied. “Then what did you mean?” “What will happen next between us? This is your game, my lady... I have always just blindly followed the bait... I am still following... but I dont even know what you want, Aola? I have no idea. I didnt live up to your expectations and I likely never will. We lost an entire life.” Tom paused, gathering his thoughts. “And I dont know how to live further. I dont even know if you love me, or…” She froze, mechanically smoothing the crumpled hem of her dress, and looked at Tom with surprise. Then she approached and hugged him, pressing her cheek to his bare chest. “Your heart is beating so fast... How can you still doubt, Tommy?” She lifted her wonderful golden eyes, looking into his face. And then he felt a slight wave of dizziness, and the delicate scent of the Peri, not overcome by the trip through the sewers, grew stronger. and then he saw. And felt. And understood. Everything she could show him and give him. Every sensation, every memory—all the love she felt and all the pain, which, alas, are inseparable from one another. And for the first time in a long life, through a series of crimes, disembodiments, and resurrections, Tom did something he had never done before: he opened his memory and his soul, fused from two contradictory fragments by her efforts into a single whole, to Aola. Time froze, stopped... A moment stretched into eternity, and long years became instants. How long did they stand like that? Tom didnt know. When he came to, tears were streaming down his cheeks. This was the third and likely the last time Tom Marvello Riddle cried. She was crying too. “I dont know what happens next… No one knows,” milady whispered, pressing her wet cheek to his chest. “As long as that next is together with you.” Tom held Aola tighter. “Tommy, what did you do with that… what was his name. Draco Malfoy? It completely slipped my mind; I wanted to ask right away.” He made a gesture with his fingers, as if a little man were pedaling a bicycle. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Draco Malfoy and his honorable wife are traveling. On bicycles. They are going to Mongolia to meet their future daughter-in-law.” “What?!” “What? He was never of any use; you couldnt trust him with anything. He would just be in the way. I could have killed him, of course... but maybe Tseren-Shulam will instill a few useful skills in him?” “Hahahaha, I cant believe my ears! Are you serious?!” “Quite.” “But how? Doesnt Imperio need to be reinforced?” “A secret. If you are a good girl, I will tell you.” “God, that is charming… Congratulations, Tommy.” “For what?” “You finally have a sense of humor. By the way, an American archaeological institute is organizing an expedition to Colombia. Do you want to join me?” “Sleep in a tent, eat junk, dig in the dust, and feed mosquitoes at night?” “?” “Of course I do.”