Chapter 5
The party was very boring indeed but as always he managed to get the spotlight, not like it was a difficult feat mind you with the likes who were attending it. It finally came to an end and he was the last. He flattered Slughorn first and it seemed to work quite well, just as he was about to continue, the door opened violently. Bellatrix was the one who opened it. She was standing there looking alarmed
"Bellatrix, Tom was discussing with me...."
"Horace, excuse my entry." She interrupted him "I need Tom for a very urgent matter" Tom felt his irritation rising, he has been planning the whole time for this only to be interrupted by her. He could only smile to Slughorn and follow her to see what she wanted. She seemed to feel his irritation, that was something that annoyed him too. That she has a better ability to understand his feelings despite him trying to hide them.
"Slughorn is an occlumens. You won't be able to obliviate him" She explained. Tom felt fear for the first time and not so much for the first time, a murderous intent rose within him. How did she know? He hurried to check his shields despite knowing how impossible it would be for someone to be able to slip by them, much less unknown to him, even Dumbledore couldn't. Tom's greatest fear was death, so horcruxes were naturally a very sensitive subject to him. Yet, he discovered something maybe just as terrible because it may simply lead to the same consequence, to have someone predict or know what you are doing. Was she a seer? He supposed it was his luck that Eccleshall seemed to favor him with whatever means she had.
"We will talk in my office" Tom wondered what are the chances to get away with murdering a teacher in her office. A fat chance, that he wouldn't risk without knowing how to create a horcrux. Something she stopped him from knowing, he thought angrily.
Once her office door closed, Tom clenched his wand in his hand. She ignored him before going to a secret opening under her shelf and getting something out of it, it was a bunch of papers. She turned to look at him and there seemed to be hesitation in her eyes about something before she seemed to take a decision and handed it to him. The first thing that struck him was her hadwriting. It was her notes, he started reading and the content suffocated him. It was about horcruxes. The exact steps on how to make one, much clearer than he would have hoped getting from Slughorn and raising his probability of success significantly, not that he ever doubted he would succeed even with less. No, no, what bothered him immensely was how she was able to know, to guess. It seemed to be a subject she searched herself, the notes seemed aged and in a corner of his mind he remarked that there were still notes on the shelf. This was too bizarre, Bellatrix Eccleshall was no mere lunatic. It was too much for him, he already got the notes, he wondered if he should just risk it and kill her. He would then get his horcrux and even if he risked Azkaban it may be worth it, he knew his ideas were not feasible but it still danced in his mind nonetheless. She, however seemed to feel his agitation and said
"I can make a vow. An unbreakable vow." This snapped him out of it and made him consider the situation carefully. A vow wasn't something to take lightly between wizards much less an unbreakable yet she decided to make one to a mere student. He decided to drop the act, it was meaningless at this point.
"And what would the vow contain?" He asked his eyes flashing red.
"I would swear to protect, be loyal and act in your best interests to the best of my ability" This was a heavy vow that in fact seemed to please Tom quite a bit. Eccleshall was a powerful witch, to have her swear this vow to him was of an immense benefit. However, while he had no idea why she would make such a vow to him, it did put him at ease even if he may not be able to get the full story out of her.
"Alright, let's do it then" She stopped for a bit before a hint of something appeared in her eyes.
"Not to you" Tom would have to say that he didn't understand what she meant.
"To Lord Voldemort. It's a more fitting name" Tom stilled, Lord Voldemort was the name he just made up himself hoping to get rid of his muggle no-one name. Nobody knew of it...yet. He didn't know how she knew of it either. This was starting to be an immense pile of things that he had no idea how she knew. It didn't cross his mind that there was anything strange with her wishing to use Lord Voldemort instead of his name as he and only he was Lord Voldemort. It in fact pleased him that she made the distinction.
"Alright, I would start then" He didn't leave her place to do anything else as he took the initiative to perform the vow to make sure of its legitimacy. He took her arm, his hand wrapping around the black lace of the dress, typically worn by pureblood women. He started
"Would you Bellatrix Eccleshall..."
"No" No? He didn't even start saying anything, what was she objecting to?
"Not Eccleshall"
"Oh?" He knew this was strange at the beginning of the year. His mind went back to the news about Eccleshall, was it a coincidence? After knowing more about her, he highly doubts it. It's no wonder she stopped him, the vow wouldn't have worked with a fake name.
"So would I get the pleasure to know your full name?"
"Lestrange. Bellatrix Lestrange" Alright, he was fairly certain this was impossible. The Lestrange had very few branches, so much so no illegitimate child could exist without scrutiny. Even peculiar, they rarely had women born in the family. Therefore, he was very certain that there was no Bellatrix Lestrange supposed to exist. Besides, she didn't have the features of a Lestrange but resembled a Black. Rudy didn't seem to have a clue who she was and she didn't pay him any special attention either. He shoved these doubts for later and proceeded with the vow
"Would you, Bellatrix Lestrange..." the vow continued with no indication of a fake name being used. He hid his surprise and continued the vow til the very end. He only relaxed after they finished it and it was active. He couldn't believe his luck. This all seemed too good to be true and like a strange dream he couldn't fully comprehend.
"Who are you, exactly?"
"Go now, it's already very late" She said, very evidently refusing to answer the question. Tom looked at her carefully before going out, he would need to organize his thoughts before having any more future interactions with her.