A Surprise Visit
Tom
Tom struggled to flip the page. He found that being a ghost- or rather a ghost with his aim was much harder than it seemed.
He was quite fortunate that the Room of Requirement sensed his pacing in the first place as he never remembered ghosts having used it in his time.
He remembered being able to sit for the first time in Merlin knows when, but the anger he felt at not being able to manipulate more… meticulous objects.
He huffed through his nose, the page finally falling to reveal new words and he devoured their words.
He’d first journeyed off to Hogwarts, for surely there within its magical walls he could access information that would aid in his endeavor.
That was the only reason he went there first of course, not because he would also find refuge on the grounds that had once housed him before…
On the journey there he had found that despite the distance, despite the lack of food and drink, his… “body” did not tire. Nor his mind really…
If only he could've been like this for all eternity. No want for mortal needs like rest and water while still being able to gain power and hold control over others.
But he could only have one at a time it seemed… well, he’d find a way to change that. He’d find a way to cheat death, and in a way most favorable to him.
He remembered what he’d vowed to himself as a teen, remembered what he’d said to Death for the first time only years after.
He had sworn never to see her again and yet, it seemed that was all he did.
It was the seeing of a hint of her dark wings or her growing smile from a distance or even feeling her presence that maddened him the most on his journey.
At least here he was free from her. For when had death befallen Hogwarts unless he’d caused it?
“Hello, Tom.”
He jumped from the Settee, book dropping to the floor and instantly he was angered to have reacted in such a way.
“You.” And her continued use of his filthy muggle name angered him still.
She grinned, “Yes, erm, Lord Voldemort was it? It’s me.” Her eyes twinkled, “How’ve you been?”
He narrowed his eyes at her, “Leave me be.”
Hateful words and all, her presence there was a question written all over his face.
She walked up to him, smiled down at him in his chair, and bent down to pick up the book he had dropped- never once minding its title or his disgust as she neared him.
“Here-“
He snatched the book from her hands, mildly surprised at the ease in which he held it but furious enough to not think more of it.
“And if you must know-“
“-I dont care-”
“-A student's cat has just died of old age,” she almost seemed to reminisce, as if the damned cat had died years ago and not just that day.
She grinned at him, eyes crinkling, unconcerned with his visible judgment. “Peacefully and in its sleep I might add…” His body began to shake with barely controlled rage, yet, she continued, “You know, my brother tells me he dreamt of tiny humans before-”
His chest heaved and his nostrils flared before…
“-Enough!”
She raised a brow at him in amusement.
“I've had enough of you,” he hoarsely whispered.
“Oh?”
“Yes. Oh.”
“Hm. Well, I suggest you get over that soon, Tom Riddle. You’ll be seeing me more often than you think.”
He seethed and stood abruptly to dwarf her.
He looked down at her kind eyes and raged at his uselessness, at his inability to hurt her.
“You've done your job hm? Carried the damn mog to hell have you? What need of you to torment me?!”
“Torment you? Oh Tom, I’d only meant to keep you company. Long periods of solitude can get quite lonely you know-“
“Lonely?!”
Her smile only grew, “Well, yes-”
“You think your company is preferable to- to loneliness?! Loneliness is bliss compared to you!”
She smiled sadly, yet smiled still. “Do you wish me to leave-“
“Of course I wish you to leave. In fact, if you could let that go on forever, that’d be much appreciated.”
She nodded, “I will respect your wishes, Tom,” he visibly calmed, “For now,” he tensed.
“We will meet again, for Death is inevitable, endless.”
He stepped closer in an attempt to intimidate her, but it only made him aware of her infuriatingly warm eyes. “Then I shall destroy you, Death, if that's what it takes. You will be endless no longer I assure you.”
She smiled before patting his shoulder, “You can kill me, Tom, but you’d never destroy Death.” And with a gust of barely felt wind she was gone, never giving him enough time to pry her hand off him.