Many people, from the most learned potion masters to the lowest of squibs, agree that that those who are born under a love potion can never be capable of giving nor receiving love. No one would willingly damn their child to a life without love, so it was simply agreed upon through the various accidental births of those under the effects of love potions.
There have been speculation as to the effects of the various love potions, and there had been suggestions of such experimentation. All were quickly dismissed.
How unfortunate that there has only been three known love potions: Tears of Nightshade, Le ts'u'uts' Itchel and Amortentia.
All three of sufficient advancement and expense that the poor Merope Gaunt could never hope to make with what few ingredients she could grow on her own.
Yet it wasn't until a young Tom Marvolo Riddle's third year that he would realize he wasn't incapable of love because of a love potion. It was because he had not found the person of his devotion. For while many concoctions had been mislabeled as 'Love Potions', their effects had never been researched. And thus a child born of an infatuation tonic would be gifted with unwavering devotion to their true love. An unknowing shortcut to a most ancient magic.
In the most unlikely of people, he would see beauty and cunning; intelligence and bravery in one Elizabeth Myrtle Warren. Why she insisted on being called by her middle name, he would never know, but Tom couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
She was rough around the edges, but her drive for knowledge, no matter what was what pulled him in initially. A girl, only a year younger than him, capable of keeping up with his own private studies. A year later they had become friends, his fifth year he had finally worked up the courage to ask her out. He didn't need to be Tom Riddle around her as he had around all of the Slytherins, save Abraxas. To her, he was just Tom.
However, he now had something to lose. Fear began to creep into his soul, warring in his heart as the muggles war continued to rage outside. In his fear, Tom Riddle had researched a dark and cruel magic to stave away his one true enemy: Death.
And what better way to secure his future than a gift?
It started with a promise, that Tom would always protect Elizabeth, even beyond the grave.
With his mind set, he found the current object of Elizabeth's torment: Olive Hornby.
Tom knew that Olive had been jealous of the attention that Elizabeth had been receiving from him. He was well informed by the rumor mill of this, as any slight changes to his plans were sure to lead him to failure. It was a simple task of lying to the egotistical Gryffindor girl and lead her to the second floor girls toilets. All he'd needed to do was to entice her with the idea she'd get to kiss him and that he'd found Elizabeth's diary.
Foolish girl.
And so the first horcrux was made.
Tom and Elizabeth continued their education, Tom graduating as Head Boy of his year while Elizabeth had been Head Girl of hers. Tom had received many an offer from the Ministry of Magic, yet it was from his desire to be closer to Elizabeth that he had taken a job at Borgin and Burkes as she had recently taken a job at Flourish and Blotts whilst she researched her passion in magical law. They had been in love, Riddle splitting his time between her and his plans of reformation. They had shared a vision of a wizarding world where children wouldn't need to be scared of death, where all children could love magic for what it was and teach their children this same love.
And so, one night in winter, Tom would kneel on one knee before Elizabeth and propose. When she said yes, he would slide onto her finger the very ring he had taken from his grandfather. Their wedding had been a private affair, with only their closest friends attending. Elizabeth couldn't be happier being called Elizabeth Myrtle Riddle for the first time by her husband.
One day, Tom and Elizabeth sat in Riddle Manor (it was such a shame that you would let your inheritance go unused) when Tom received an owl. A look came across his face before kissing Elizabeth and telling her he had a job that would take him away.
That was the last time she saw her husband.
What had come back was not the bright and inquisitive man she had fallen in love with, who held a bratty air of superiority whenever he would perform such a tiny charm before her. What stood before her was a monster wearing her husbands face. He smiled and knelt before her, extolling how everything would be well. How all of their dreams would become a reality.
Yet these were not their dreams.
She had tried to keep in contact with the Malfoys, who had been the Riddles eldest friends. When Abraxas had invited her to the wedding of his son, she had attended. As they watched young Lucius and Narcissa dance in their wedding dress, Abraxas smiled grimly.
"What will become of our dreams when we are gone, Riddle?"
Elizabeth turned to her friend and saw a weary and tired man. Gone was the Knight of Walpurgis that she had stood beside, her brother in arms. Even now, in what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, her heart broke.
"I don't know, Abraxas. I just hope we find out before it's too late."
The day of October 30th, 1981, Elizabeth had learned of Voldemort's plan to kill the Potters. The night of October 31st, she would arrive too late to stop the monster that had killed her husband. She would have left then and there, but just on the wind was an infants cry. Rushing into the home, Elizabeth averted her gaze from James Potter. Making her way up stairs, Elizabeth saw the body of a devoted mother and the man who had killed her husband. Even now, staring down at his wand made her heart hurt. She turned to the young boy, Harry from the pictures on the wall she'd seen, and picked him up.
"Don't worry, little one. We can be alone together. I'll always protect you, I promise."
Elizabeth held the young toddler close to her in a hug before she summoned Tom's to her. She was a dark witch, but never would she let those evil Death Eaters steal her husbands most treasured possession.
"Let's go home, Harry."