Chapter 5
August 1943
Tom was curious. People usually didn’t interest him in the slightest, maybe only if they had what he wanted but that didn’t happen often. She was different than anybody he has ever met before. From the moment she stepped into the ballroom with that godforsaken Dumbledore, his eyes were on her. Not because of her blinding beauty, that didn’t concern Tom, but because of the magic radiating from her. When he felt it, its sheer power mixed with the differing branches of sorcery, he got goosebumps. He watched her as she made her way towards Abraxas and his parents, seeming totally innocent. How could others not feel the maiming song of her powers, begging Tom to explore it, get to know every inch of it and declare it as his. He had to her closer to him and examine her mind. Who even was she? He never saw her at Hogwarts, but she looked approximately their age. He examined her conversation with the Malfoys, they looked rather shocked. Was she being rude to them? What was she like?
Tom had so many questions about her. His friends could probably hear wheels turning inside his head. Abraxas finally took her hand, although hesitantly, and began walking Tom’s way. They suddenly stopped mid step and the silver haired girl leaned into Malfoy to such proximity even Tom stopped staring for a moment. Was she a voyeurist of some sort, trying to snog Malfoy in a room full of people?
When Tom looked back up, Abraxas stopped smiling altogether. The pair stopped at the bar and stayed there. Tom waited no more and almost ran their way, the other four forgotten boys catching up to his stride. But before he could think of a smart way to start the conversation and maybe compliment the girl a bit to get on her good side (a little compliment went a long way with some people, Tom noticed), idiotic Lestrange just couldn’t help himself and had to say the most vulgar and rude thing to make fun of Abraxas. They bickered for a while, not even hiding the insults to the girl’s persona when all of a sudden, the mystery girl waved her hand a bit, which went unnoticed by everyone else beside Tom. He stared in amazement as Malfoys painful cries filled his ears. Wandless magic. She could do wandless hexes, painful ones. He had to learn how she did that. He had to get on her good side. She was annoyed before as the boys acted as she was not there, so he made sure she felt noticed. He silenced the boys and pleaded for Abraxas to introduce them. When he said her name, the mystery she was started making sense and began to be more complicated at the same time.
Anastasia. GRINDELWALD.
Tom paid no mind to his knights, only to her. She noticed his unnerving attention and look at him with the most puzzling look. He had to get into her head very soon or he will lose it. He made a horcrux for fuck’s sake, why was he so enamoured with the mystery of her and her power? She could get him to even better magic than horcruxes. She could teach him wandless magic and much more. Tom could drain her of all her knowledge and get rid of her once she had nothing new for him. The things her father was able to do…if she inherited even a fragment of his ability, she would be very useful to Tom.
But for her to collaborate, he needed to get her to like him. It didn’t unnerve Tom, he knew how to work with people and bend them to his will. She was just a young girl, his sharpest weapon against her was himself. He was confident of his looks and ability to act like the perfect suitor to her. He would suffer through her stupid rambling about gossip, take her on dates and pretend to like her. At least that was what girls her age usually wanted. He would make her so in love with him.
The first step was to be a perfect gentleman. When Abraxas failed to introduce him, he took his chance. Tom positioned himself right at her side and did the thing that would put him in good graces in her head. Ask her for a dance. It did not only serve his purpose to get closer with her, but HE was the first one to dance with the new mystery girl. The pureblood society noticed things like that. It made Tom the first one to claim her. Until he left her side, no one in his right mind would interrupt them. And of course she agreed, no one could decline the charming facade of Tom Riddle.
As they walked to the dance floor, Anastasie tried to make polite conversations.
“I am terribly sorry, but Abraxas never got to disclosing your name.”
“No, do not be sorry. It was rude of me not to introduce myself. My name is Tom Riddle.” He didn’t notice a reaction in her on his name. So not a blood puritist, are we? They finally reached the dance floor. He gently took her hand and put the other on her waist. Tom couldn’t help but notice her slight shudder. Good, she is reacting to my touch already. Must remember that for later.