Tom Riddle X Reader - Chapter 97: Chapter 97

"Let me help you" - you stretched your hand towards his injured body, now on the gloomy texture of his hideout's floor.
But he wouldn't let you touch him, pushing your arm out of the way as he limped upwards "I'm fine"
"But I sho--"
"I said I was fine." - irritability glinted in his eyes
You backed up, letting him grab balance on his own, still making sure he wouldn't fall "Do you want me to--"
"Leave me."
"But--"
"LEAVE." - Riddle's voice shook as he sneered. His fists were clenched so tightly, his short nails dug into his flesh.
He caught sight of the shimmery look in your glare and his rage diffused. Then he noticed your briefly parted lips.
You were just caring for him - he realized
His eyebrows lifted as he exhaled and grabbed you in for a hug.
As he held you tightly to his heart, he gently squeezed before letting go, then looked straight into your eyes "I will end anyone and everyone who oppose us"
"Us?" - you repeated "Is there finally an us?"
"Do not make me change my words." - Tom softly said "Leave." - he barely muttered "Please."
You nodded, respecting his wish "Alright"
It was interesting how much he had changed since Hogwarts.
---
Months passed, and ever since that one battle, Tom had been oddly distant. There was something that bothered him but he wouldn't discuss it with you. Whenever you'd try to catch him here or there, he'd be so blunt, it'd feel as if you were talking to a wall.
And the rest of the death eaters would curl their lips and frown your way. None of them would trust you. At all. But none would try to kill you anymore either, not even Bellatrix.
But this would only happen whilst you were under the protection of the Dark Lord.
And if that would be gone - so would be you.
---
One day, you had gotten a letter. An owl delivered you a mustard yellow parched envelope with black ink engraved on the front. It was an invite to the Potter house that you made sure nobody else would see.
Still living a double life, and knowing you cleared your name with James Potter, you set out to visit them.
---
When Lily opened the door, looking as thin as ever, she immediately jumped in for a tight embrace.
"So happy you came" - her eyes wrinkled with delight
"Of course, you made it sound like an emergency."
When you walked into their living room, your eyes locked with firmly standing James, who appeared rather awkward in your presence as his arms fidgeted at your approach "Welcome. Please, sit down" - he pointed at the couch behind him.
You agreed, as Lily trailed you to the sofa too. Next thing you knew, you were all quietly seated for the next couple minutes as the grandfather's clock ticked loudly in the background.
"Nice walls" - your glance darted around the room
"Hmm?" - Lily stretched before catching your sight and realizing what you meant "Oh, right. Thank you"
Once it grew silent again, you folded your hands, leaning towards the couple in curiosity "So uhh... What was so urgent?"
James and Lily glanced at each other with wide smiles on their faces, as if it was really obvious.
"We're just waiting on someone" - James said
"Tea?" - Lily asked, pulling out her wand from her sleeve "Or would you like something else?"
"Oh, no thank you" - you waved your hand "It's alright, I shouldn't be here for lon---"
Lily's and James' door suddenly swung right open with a quick bang, as if it had been bursted open by a blast of wind.
James jumped from his seat, steadily aiming his wand as he carefully walked over to the now open door frame, peeked his head before exposing his body, and immediately got tackled by a dog. James fell down and the animal barked.
"Oh, god, Padfoot!" - Potter gasped as he had trouble pushing it away "Get off!"
After trampling Potter, the dog howled before it ran into the corner room, from which, after a few seconds, Sirius had returned in human form with a robe.
"You need to stop doing that, Sirius, you scared us" - James panted, adjusting his clothes
Sirius laughed until his eyes met with yours and his smile disappeared. His lips and jaw suddenly turned stiff as he reached out his hand for you to shake "..."
You smiled at him, peering into his grey eyes as you pushed away his hand and embraced him for a mellow hug instead, to which, he chuckled as he patted your back. He knew your heart no longer belonged to him so he knew there was no point in showing further affection.
"So." - Sirius clapped his hands as he let you go "Where is my godson?"
"G-god-s" - you murmured as you quickly glanced at Lily and then it snapped "OH!!!"
The Potters laughed at your thunderstruck squeal.
"Would you like to meet him?" - Lily smiled
Meet him.
"Yes!" - you cheerfully replied "He's your son!"
Lily grinned as she quickly leaped upstairs before returning shortly, holding a small, cradled child, wrapped in cloth. The baby seemed quiet, as if being on a verge of sleep.
"This is Harry" - she stretched him for you to hold
"Harry" - you repeated as you took him in your arms. Such a fragile life. Such an important life.
Little baby Harry's eyes met with yours and he let out a giggle as he stretched his tiny fingers towards your nose
"He's adorable" - you said, unable to stop grinning
"Don't hold him for too long" - Sirius teased "I still need my turn"
"Of course" - you gently rocked Harry before giving him over to Sirius, who let out a weird baby voice towards young Potter, and the baby continued to giggle.
"I love him to the end of the world" - Lily said as James lowered his hand on her shoulder for emotional support. She rested her hand on top of his as she looked back at you "Which is why we want you to be the godmother"
A quick strike of shock pierced through you as your eyes bloated "HUH?"
"Dumbledore wouldn't agree." - James stated "But after the battle we are confident with our choice."
"I've been saying that for months" - Lily declared "That you're a good person. Can't imagine what it's like. Spying for the American ministry and not being able to tell anyone."
"H-huh?"- your lids were so high up, some people could have thought you had an infection
"Well that's why you haven't told Dumbledore, right? And you've killed none of our own? Is because of some secret pact. And that's why Grindelwald's follower was always after you?" - Lily chuckled at your completely staggered face "Don't worry, your secret is safe with us. Cannot believe I... seriously thought -- you -- loved you know who..."
"What did I tell you?" - James kissed Lily's forehead "Brightest witch you are, my love."
"R-right" - stuttering, you gulped "Of course... I'm just astonished... you got that..." - in your head, you were stuttering because you knew this wasn't true but either way you were going to roll with it "How did you.. figure it out?"
"Well Remus explained it." - James replied  "He told us you weren't ready to clarify yet, after his attempt to convince us you've escaped went poorly. I had my doubts, I'll admit. But ever since the battle I grew more... clear minded."
"Oh..."
Remus told them a story to cover for you.
"Well I've always trusted you" - Lily added
"And do not worry." - James said "Peter doesn't know."
Right. of course. your mind flashed back to the moment where you tried to convince everyone not to trust Peter.
"He doesn't know about me ...spying...?"
"He doesn't know about your suspicions."
"You know, James, he really was the one who betrayed your wedding.."
A pause lit the Potter house as a small glint of dust shone on his glasses, hiding his serious gaze "Perhaps..."
Well at least he was no longer fully denying it.
"And Lily really is like a sister to me" - you tenderly smiled at her
She happily grabbed your hand "Well, would you have a drink with us now, sis?"
"Sure" - your smile radiated as you all sat down, watching Sirius gently rock baby Harry back and forth "So godmother, huh..." - you said
"Yes." - Lily flicked her wand and a variety of drinks flew over to the coffee table "That means if anything was to happen to me and James..." - The ginger stretched "You and Sirius would look after Harry. But I'm sure it won't come to that" - she smiled
And you couldn't smile back.
----
Once you returned to the Dark Lord, he caught you in the middle of his hallway
"Back now, are we?"
"Sorry?" - your hand trembled as being given the task of a godmother played over and over in your head.
Riddle grabbed your arm but it was more of an aggressive tug "Not revealing anything I hope. You don't want me to be angry with you."
"No." - you tried to pull back your arm but his grip was too solid "Release me" - you huffed
And he did, after seeing you struggle. He looked away from you, his eyes suddenly blank "Behave well"
You watched him walk away in awe as you rubbed the hand he had gripped, still feeling his hot touch
----
Months passed again, and you would visit the Potter house from time to time to catch up, see how they were doing. You made sure to help around whenever they needed it, and every now and then, you'd tuck Harry to sleep.
As those same months passed, Riddle would still be growing more and more distant, but very subtly. It would be small things he'd pick on, as if he had grown more irritated. Some days he'd close himself in his room alone and think over every possible way to win the war. Whilst he'd be shut in, he'd let his death eaters proceed with blood cleansing in the meanwhile.
---
And then the time finally came.
The day Albus Dumbledore would hold a very important, fatal job interview at Hog's head.
A fidgety figure had not entirely shown promising work and Dumbledore was doubtful to hire her until...
She stopped blinking and her body wouldn't move a muscle
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies..."
There was hassle behind the door
"What are you doing here?" - Aberforth glared into the man's brown eyes
"I was--"
"You've no business to be here!" - Aberforth grabbed the man's black robe and tossed him out of the inn, the man was unable to listen in on the rest of the prophecy...
"and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."
As the man's raven-black hair got lifted by the wind once he walked through narrow, dark streets, away from the inn, he was halted by a voice behind him.
"Snape."
The man turned around and locked eyes with you.
"Spying on me, ?" - he said blankly "Does the dark lord know you're here?"
"Doesn't matter" - you approached him "I'm not here for him"
"Do not waste my time as I carry urgent information."
As he turned, twirling his black cloak alongside him, your next words stopped Snape again.
"It's her son." - you told him, keeping him in place
He peeked over his shoulder before fully turning, puzzling your face carefully, taking interest in your words "What do you mean?"
"Lily's." - you replied "What do you think the dark lord will do when he learns that someone with the power to vanquish him has arrived?" - your eyes glistened "You know she won't let him kill her son."
"How do you know." - Snape said, suspicious of you
"You see this?" - you took out of your pocket a broken time turner "This is why I am here. This is my purpose."
Snape's head tilted, his lips were slightly parted as he silently tried to think over what you just had told him "Does he know---?"
"He knows about the time turner."
"In that case he will get the prophecy out of you"
"He hasn't---"
"Yet." - Snape said thoughtlessly "But the turner doesn't prove enough."
"Look..." - you exhaled "One day... there was this... wonderful, gifted Lily petal. It bloomed and evolved from love and care. But one day, when the clouds had overthrown the sun, the gift and the joy that came along - were gone. And so had the life of her - Lily. Only thing left of her --- was a scar. One that her boy had to bear all those years, growing up without a mother." - you whimpered, almost begging "Do not take her out of his life again. Please."
Snape was silently glaring, his face stiff but his eyes were soft.
"Help me protect her." - you told him
You could see pain in his eyes. He believed you.
"Noone will know." - Severus finally said
You smiled, relieved.
----
Shortly, someone had burst through Tom Riddle's door.
Riddle sneered at the intruder  "I am getting sincerely annoyed with the intrusions, Bellatrix. My patience is running low."
She bowed her head, panting "I'm sorry, my lord. But I have an important message"
"It better be worth my time"
Bellatrix stopped panting, grasping her thoughts together before finally saying "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies."
Riddle's eyebrows lifted in curiosity
As Bellatrix continued "I've overhead the prophecy from Hog's head, then followed and Severus." - she declared proudly "They planned not to tell. It seems they're not as loyal to you, my lord."
Tom's sight was uncanny as he folded his arms behind his back "Just as Severus was earning back my trust." - then his eyes lowered down ". Of course."
----
Tom Riddle, knowing now only the first half of the prophecy, soon figured out who it could be. Either a half blood, Harry Potter, or a pureblood, Neville Longbottom.
After giving it thought, Voldemort decided to go after Harry.
But Dumbledore already knew, having thought Snape was the traitor, and helped the Potters go into hiding, planting a bunch of protection enchantments around the house.
And Snape, after learning that Bellatrix told everything, fell on his knees in front of Dumbledore,  barely able to breathe as he felt like his heart would gallop out of his chest "Hide them. Hide them all. I beg you." - tears rolled down his pale skin
---
Voldemort seeked out and found Peter Pettigrew, where he cornered the marauder and threatened him as Peter squealed in fear.
"I don't know anything!" - Peter bellowed "I swear, they haven't told me a thing!" - he closed his eyes, terrified that Voldemort will kill him "Sirius! Search for Sirius! I heard he knows where they are!"
Riddle backed away, believing the petrified man. Tom's eyes glinted with red hatred. Sirius Black.
Ever since you convinced Remus and James to doubt Peter, they went with Sirius to trust with the guarded information.
Voldemort was going to kill him.
The Marvolo ring shimmered on his finger as he gave Peter one last disgusted frown before leaving.
---
In a silent part of town, in a quiet house, Sirius Black had been managing letters. When he went into the kitchen, a stinging pain jumped at his left leg and he suddenly collapsed on the floor. He noticed a snake launch at him again, blood spilling to the floor. As Sirius grabbed his wand, it was shot out from his grasp.
Sirius looked up, meeting eyes with the one and only Voldemort.
Voldemort praised Nagini in parseltongue, before glaring sharply at Sirius
"Looks like you will finally get to meet my parents" - Voldemort scornfully grinned "Just as I mentioned in Hogwarts. Your wish will finally be granted by me" - he opened his arms as his face briefly turned blank then twisted into hatred as he spitefully glowered "The merciful lord." - Voldemort took out his wand and aimed it at Sirius "But not before you will tell me... where they are."
"I will never tell." - Sirius frowned, coughing "You might as well kill me"
"If that's your wish..." - Voldemort lifted his arm as he signaled over for Nagini to encircle around Sirius. Nagini slithered over to the fallen man's neck as Voldemort summoned a binding spell to prevent him from moving. Nagini wrapped its body around Sirius neck, tightening the grip "I will watch the light leave your eyes" - Voldemort calmly said, taunting him.
"Stop it!" - a voice echoed between the narrow walls, capturing both of their attentions towards the source of the holler.
You stood there, almost crying at the sight of Sirius being strangled to death.