:_:
The first time he noticed it had been years after that fateful night in little Hangleton, he hadn't properly seen it, only a hazy outline in the corner of his eyes, a blurr of motion, had caught his attention.
It was a feeling of dread that clung onto him. That followed him deep into the night, long after he had washed his hands of the blood he had spilled.
Tom forgot about that encounter, as one does with all unexplainable things, it turned muddy in his memories until he wasn't even sure anymore if that had happened at all or if it had been a trick his mind had played on him, a simple illusion.
An after-effect of creating his first horcux even.
The next time he saw had been in a flash of green, he saw eyes settle on him, the same sickening shade of green, just as bright and unnatural, as the spell struck and vanished, so did the gaze that lingered on him. It had been a quick flash, the darkness that surrounded him felt heavy afterwards, not unpleasant.
He was familiar with the silence only death could cause, that he had caused. It was unnatural, wrong in so many ways and yet peaceful in a strange kind of way. A silence he'd never want for himself.
He started paying closer attention to it and once he noticed that being, he could hardly avoid it. He saw it in the reflection of spilled blood, smelled it in the rotten flesh of his victims. Heard it in the whimpers and the last dying breaths of the weak ones.
Death. For it could only be that, was baring itself to him.
It could not touch him. He had mastered it. Outwitted death. Done what no one before him archived, the impossible. Cheated his way out of its clutches and now he was beyond it, there was nothing that could drag him into the underworld.
:_:
He saw death. Once again the water was still, the inferni lingering close by without showing themselves just yet. Tom's greatest creation so far, it had been tricky to resurrect and create the lot of them. It had exhausted him for days, he had felt the strain for weeks afterwards. Another thing he had cheated death out of.
It was the first time that Tom saw the being, fully and perfectly clear. Where his reflection should be, was death, watching him. His own reflection no more, gone, drowned out with the rest of them as death took its place.
The being was clad in his robes, the same grey ones he wore. Tom tilted his head and the being mimicked his movements. He was smaller than he was, a head or two, between the two of them. His eyes still glowed a sickening shade of green, even in the dark and murky water.
"Who's face are you wearing today?" Tom wondered aloud, for surely this couldn't have been the being's true form. He must've fashioned himself this body from one of the many humans he had claimed.
He never received an answer.
There was something oddly fitting about this body, it looked almost angelic even, too sharp, too innocent, not at all what one would imagine death to look like. Hair like a raven's nest framed its pale features.
Death leaned closer, or was it, Tom, he couldn't be too sure as he almost touched the water. His every move got mirrored, his fingers grazed the surface of the water, right where the being's cheek would've rested. His finger sent ripples through the water. Death's reflection blurred and was once again replaced with his own one.
:_:
Death lingered close by, as Tom neared his destination, he could feel its presence growing stronger, like a well worn mantle it clung onto him, death and despair. Despair and death. It was by now a familiar feeling. A part of him.
The unlucky wizard knew what was expecting him, had known the moment he set on betraying him. He had doomed himself at that moment, for thinking him a fool, thinking he could steal from him and get away with it unharmed.
He was a merciful lord but even he reached his limits, there was only so much mercy he could show before people dared to believe themselves invincible.
Greggory Klein, a half-blood, that had sought him out years before in hopes of reaching fame and glory, was now quivering in front of him. He knew his fate and seemed to have accepted it, for he had his head hung low, where others begged, Greggory stayed silent.
He towered in front of him, the hem of his robes barely touching Greggory. " Did you think you'd get away with your deed, haven't I shown mercy to you where others mocked and ridiculed you? Wasn't I the one who made you what you are---and after everything you repay me like this"
"I thought---"
"Silence" he hissed, Greggory, sprawled out on the floor whimpering and trembling in pain. "Me--e--rcy"
He held the spell, watching with clear disdain as the man started groaning and writhing on the floor, like a pig.
"You have no one but yourself to blame for this" Time seemed to pass by too quickly, Greggorys movements got more frantic and once he was sure that he'd tether on the edge to madness did Tom stop.
His eyes caught death and instantly he felt excitement brimming through his entire being, almost too eagerly did he reach for his wand. The being watched his movements but once his hand took hold of his wand, did its eyes linger on Greggory, a strange kind of expression, it looked almost resigned. Melancholic even but surely that couldn't be.
"A present" he uttered, eyes lingering on death and as their gazes met, his lips split into a smile. Death titled its head, and for the first time perhaps did Tom feel seen for what he was.
Death strolled closer towards him, within moments it crossed the distance between them, it must've flown then, for it was passing him on the brink of a second. Tom faced death, even as his grip around his wand tightened. Death passed by him, without sparing him another glance.
Its attention was fully captured by Greggory and a part of him was envious of that attention, envious that someone as weak could be able to capture Death's attention when he stood right next to them.
Death was smiling softly, Tom only caught glimpses as the plumb lips quirked, its features softened as he knelt next to Greggory. It was wrong. Wasn't one of the endless suppose to be above humanity, above them all?
His view of Greggory was blocked by Death itself and Tom feared that moving would break this enthralling moment, he could almost taste Death in the back of his throat but it never came for Greggory. One moment passed, then another and Tom began to realize that Death was waiting for him to finish the job.
Tom had to be the one killing Greggory for Death to be able to claim him. He was the essential part of this masterpiece, the one that set everything into motion, that made or broke this.
He felt power beyond measure thrumming through his being, electrifying his nerves and burning through his soul. He never heard the spell leave his lips, a flash of green blinded his world for just a second and then it was over.
Death reached for Greggory, and as the world began to darken around him, it was gone and Greggory no more.
:_:
Death had many names and faces, some he was familiar with, others he had never heard of, he was looking forward to meeting it, either way.
Now that he had secured his immortality, there was no reason to fear it, he was above that. He---was, not the young, terrified boy cowering in the bunker. He was Lord Voldemort, victorious, powerful and immortal. He had seen Death many times, had faced it and escaped it each and every time, he had defied it and would keep doing so until the end of time and even afterwards.
He wasn't scared.
He was cautious for Death was cunning, it had dragged others into the Netherlands in the blink of a second, he could not drop his guard around it. No matter what.
And yet he was captivated by what he saw, what he felt, it was thrilling to watch Death claim another life, to be the reason for that death. He looked forward to each death in an almost giddy excitement.
His thirst for knowledge, for the unknown this being represented would not be stilled anytime soon. There was still so much he did not know, that was hidden from him but no more, he would reveal them all.
:_:
He did not like wasting magical life, for it held purpose but sometimes they left him no other choice. Amelia Bones was of that kind, with so much potential, he'd almost lured her in, almost ensnared her senses but that perfect illusion burst too quickly for her. It was a pity, truly, she could've achieved greatness, her work in the ministry could've been useful.
He gripped her hair and pulled her hair back, her defiant gaze met his, he tilted his head and smiled down at her, "Hello there, you see---" Tom said as he circled her only to crouch in front of her kneeling form, his grip in her hair never wavering. " I had so many plans for you but you had to slip away, did you? A pity--- truly"
"One day you'll drown in the blood you spilt "she spat.
"Maybe--- maybe not. Not that you'd know" He let go of her head and watched her fall backwards. He stepped away from her, his wand pointed at something further behind her. Their gazes met once again, her eyes wide in panic.
"Incendio"
Fire burst out of his wand and spread around the room, soon she'd be surrounded by the flames with no means of escaping.
She screamed as the flames began to lick at her skin and the dark smoke rose.
In the flames, he saw Death draped in flames and smoke. Its eyes lingered on Amelia Bones before its gaze turned onto him.
"Will I see you again?" Tom asked despite himself. His voice reached beyond the flames
"Soon we shall meet again" A voice like a thousand ringing bells, as harsh as the sea and as soft as rustling leaves, responded softly. Welcoming, it sounded like home, strangely. Like a friend long forgotten.
"I'll be looking forward to it"
:_:
It was an odd little thing, the diary. A figment of a soul, a small part of a whole, that at the end of everything would face him.
Thirty-seven odd years had the diary survived, having been kept save in various locations.
A group of humans, friends and foe, the order and the death eaters, fought against each other in a marble manor. It was during a desperate act to defend herself that Alecto Carrow, shouted fiendfyre, a burst of flames shot out of her wand and within moments they spread uncontrollably.
Death stepped through the flames, towards Alecto who had collapsed onto herself, tears, sweat and blood clinging onto her body. The bright green flames licked at her skin, dark smoke rose into the air, the curses thrown around got drowned out by desperate screams.
Alecto's eyes settled on him, Death leaned closer towards her until he sat on the stairs next to her collapsed form. She turned her head towards him as Death cradled her head and brushed away a few stray strands of her hair.
"Come---"
Her lifeless form sank into herself as she pulled herself up with it's help, she glanced behind her at her dead body, eyes wide, lips parted in surprise before they settled back on Death. Fear and wariness fought for domination.
" So this is it---" she muttered. The fire devoured everything around them, others joined her fate, Death would attend to them in a moment, for now, Death had only eyes for her. Her bright red hair pooled around her form.
"Not what i expected---"
"You haven't seen much yet--"
"There is more?" Her lips, painted a shade of red tugged up,
"so much more" Death offered with a smile as he led her away.
It was Fenrir Greyback that he turned his attention next to, Death's eyes lingered on the man's form, who resembled more a beast than a human by day. Greyback slipped out of Death's grip like water, Death came close enough to feel him, its fingers dragging alongside his skin, the warmth of its breath against the nape of his neck, as he ran.
His time hadn't come, not yet atleast.
"Soon" it promised him as he finally let go of him.
He only watched Alastor Moody from afar, never getting closer to him, as he watched the man pave his way through the flames, cutting through them as one would through water, his wand flickering and moving quickly and harshly in the air.
Nymphedora Tonks wasn't as lucky, her form flickered, her skin looked ashen, her hair had turned a shade of black and was pooling around her body like a halo, her eyes had changed to mimic his as soon as she set her eyes on Death.
She was gasping for air, her hand was covering her face, her wand had long since rolled away, it was too far out of her reach as she tried to desperatly reach for it in the dark smoke that surrounded her.
"It's time to go Nymphedora " Her brows furrowed, hand dropped as she fully turned to face the being. "Do I know you?"
Death shrugged lightly, "I know you, that should be enough for now" and then she saw, her hair turned a bright shade of yellow. Death offered her a quick smile which she returned nervously. She took a hold of it's hand. "I prefer to go by Tonks by the way"
"Tonks it is then"
She didn't even turn to look at her fallen body as Death led her away, her eyes widened as she spotted it's wings. " Faster than a broom, that i can guarantee you"
"Bet"
Many were injured, their eyes trailed its form in the dark as life slipped out of their grip, some would survive, others fight for a little while longer until it would return to claim them, for now, Death had someone else to attend to.
The fire had spread through the manor in no time, it was only a matter of time until the foundation would collapse and take everything and everyone else with it.
The diary stood unseemingly amongst many other books, some just as dangerous and magical but none as special. Its eyes lingered on the black book, Death's fingers softly trailed amongst the leather of the book. The fire was about to reach it.
Tom Riddle stood unaffected in all the flames, soon he'd burn aswell, in a world of colour he was the only thing monotone.
He blanched as soon as he set his eyes on it, his features paling even more.
Death offered him a reassuring smile, it was not returned. Tom staggered back, having recognized Death for what it was and what it represented.
"No--no---this can't ---we made sure of it--- you can't"
"And yet here I am, I'm sorry to say that your time has come"
"I won't---"
Tom reached for his wand, knowing that it was useless, but it seemed to reassure and calm him just a tad. A layer of sweat had settled on his skin. The leather caught fire.
"It's going to be alright" Death tried and saw that it would not work with Tom Riddle, he was too distrusting, too scared. Death wondered how he could ease his fear, wondered even if it could, someone so petrified of it would not embrace it with open arms.
Death offered him it's hand, Tom Riddle narrowed his eyes, his stance turned more rigid even as his robes caught on fire and Death blew out a soft sigh. Some humans were easier than others, he tried to be a reassuring face, a friend in the unknown. Some greeted it warmly, others accepted their fate in resignation and then there were some who did not resign at all, who fought until the end and even then kept fighting.
"We must leave now" Death stepped closer to Tom, there was nowhere he could run, as Death put an arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer into an embrace. Tom screamed, an agonizing and painful plead as the diary was fully engulfed in the flames.
"I can't die---" A soft whisper, almost a hiss. A pleading. He was falling apart.
"And yet--- here I am"
Tom dissolved. Death turned to leave.
It was not the last time they'd meet.
:_:
Tom followed Death, as it had once followed him, they were strolling down a well-used street, it was bustling with life. The muggles that passed them did not even spare them a second glance, didn't even recognize Death for what it was. They stayed ignorant.
It was a sunny day, the kind of day one would fight for a place in the shade at the sea in Hogwarts. When he closed his eyes he could imagine himself to be back there, under that big oak tree, hidden under its leaves from the sun as a soft breeze of air swept through them.
Death had craned their head back and was basking in the sun, a soft expression on its features. "It's a beautiful day"
He'd have to agree.
"What are we doing here?" he asked as he let his eyes trail through the muggle park they were heading towards to, they were surrounded by them. The loud chatter of muggle's laughter and shouts surrounded them. On the grass a group of teenagers were playing football, further ahead a dozen people were picnicking.
"You should get out more, it's nice around here" Death only kept strolling, leading them with the kind of confidence that let him wonder if he had been here before. They strolled towards a pair of muggles. A mother he assumed and her two children, one of them, a toddler, a small girl was sitting on the blanket, the mother and the son stood further away, throwing frisbees at each other.
Death kneeled in front of the drooling girl and picked her up, "I'm sorry sweetheart but this is all you get---"
For once Tom watched a Death that he had taken no part in, it was strange, this child--- he did not care for it, it was a mere muggle after all but it was innocent.
His eyes lingered on the mother who was still unaware of all this, soon her desperate screams would break through the peace and despair would settle over them.
"We can go now" Death was walking past him, the child he had carried moments ago gone.
Tom lingered for a little while before he followed.
"A mere child---what kind of mercy is this supposed to be? What reasoning could there be for this---"
"I'm not merciful or blessed. I'm just me. I've got a job to do and I do it....When the first living thing existed, I was there. Waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave." Death stopped had stopped in their tracks.
"And what then--- after you leave what is going to happen then?" An uneasiness grew in him.
Death shrugged lightly and started moving again, "That is none of my concern, and none of yours--- when the time will come we'll see about that--- until then I have work to do"
Disappointment rose in him and it made Death smile
"Is there anyone that does know?"
"God works in mysterious ways--- the kindly ones might have a clue but then again, I'm just guessing. Why Tom Riddle, do you think you'll see the end of the world?"
"You'd be surprised by the things I'm capable of" Before Tom foresaw it they came across another dying body. The girl took her last dying breath as they rounded the corner into the alley, her body lay at an awkward angle on the ground. What a pathetic way to die.
"Don't you get tired of it?"
"Once--- I did but I'm looking forward to it, to see the ones I once gave the gift of life, it's nice to catch up you know. You should give it a try once in a while."
"Why?"
"Why not"
:_:
"You have too many names, why isn't one enough?" Death remarked as Tom stepped past the body of the teacher, he hadn't bothered to remember her name.
"Charity Burbage" Death said moments later as if answering his unanswered question. Tom did not turn to face them, instead he hissed, "Nagini---dinner"
"You haven't answered my question" Death rose from its crouched position.
"You're one to talk, Tanatus or should I say Pesta?"
"I never gave myself these names, it was your kind that decided to lay all these names on me but you on the other hand decided to take upon a new name. Why?"
It was always an answer for an answer, rarely did Death give him something without demanding something else for it.
"Names have power, my old name did not suit me anymore so I left it behind ----what is it you call yourself then?"
Death shrugged, "I don't--- I never had to use a name, everyone already knows who---what I am without me having to introduce myself"
A name spiking fear through the hearts of everyone, something everyone knows. Lord Voldemort achieves a similar effect.
:_:
Death sat close to the fountain as it watched the wizards duel, a array of colours flying around the air at incredible speed, glass shattered, water drowned and a fire roared above them.
Tom was struggling, Death had watched him kill others before, no fight had taken so much from him as this one had. Albus Dumbledore was a worthy opponent, an equal in many ways. One of few. There was a grace to Albus Dumbledore, it had only grown with age, the last time Death had caught a proper glimpse of him had been years ago when it came for Ariana Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore had been young back then, brimming with life and a future full of possibilities. He had changed since then, he could see it.
Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide, and swallowed the jet of green light whole. He burst into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled, and flightless.
"Fawkes. You were fantastic, Fawkes."
Tom's head snapped towards Death, he was breathing wildly, there was something feral to him.
The spells died for just a moment as both humans comprehended what had just happened. There would be no death for any of them here. Death turned and left them behind.
Fawkes was reborn in a burst of flames and Death cooed at the small Phoenix as it opened its eyes once again. "Welcome back dearest" It was still wrinkly and a light shade of pink. Soon the feathers would start to grow back in and Fawkes would return to his old glory.
:_:
Albus Dumbledore had killed before, far less than Tom had, that was for sure but he played his parts in many other deaths, voluntarily and involuntarily. He seemed to be always connected in a way. Death caught glimpses of him as it came to claim another life. At one point in time, Albus Dumbledore held all of his hallows and Death wondered what Dumbledore would do, the possibilities were infinite but in the end, even Dumbledore could not resist the temptation. It seemed to be a part of human nature.
"Ariana---" Albus called out to him once again and Death answered, a soft smile on his lips. " Will you stay this time?"
"I can't--- you know I can't"
But Dumbledore already knew it, he also knew that he had done this to himself, he knew the dangers, he knew and yet he still had thrown caution away for once in his life for a mind of peace. To see her once again.
"I'm sorry---" Dumbledore looked severe. Ariana approached Dumbledore and cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. "I forgive you--- I do-- I already told you that a dozen times--- " She sighed heavily and that desperate smile slipped off her face.
"I wish we could be together--- I hate being apart from you--" As she said it she led Dumbledore's hand towards his wand, the elder wand. Dumbledore took hold of the wand and faced her. His lips quivered. " My dearest Arianna, you know I can't--- I cannot join you just yet"
Arianna smiled and nodded understandingly. "Soon" she promised.
:_:
The diadem was beautiful, it truly was. It hadn't lost its enthralling beauty in all these centuries but it was lacking now that it was not gracing Rowena Ravenclaw's head. What a sight they had made.
The soul piece inside was still even as Death picked the diadem up. " Don't hide from me"
A moment passed and then another. Finally.
"Why are you here" Tom's voice reached him and Death turned to face him, he looked older than the diary by many years, it was the eyes that were unrecognizable, a shade of red, that reminds of spilled blood.
"You know why Tom"
Tom stayed silent, even as Death put on the diadem with a smirk, "Does it suit me?, what do you think"
"How is this possible--we---"
"You did everything right--- don't look for any mistakes on your side, it's just I'm rather hard to avoid and you have a lot of enemies nowadays"
:_:
He had already lost two. Tom couldn't lose anymore. He couldn't.
"This will be the last one," He promised Death.
:_:
" Where does one get robes in that shade?" Death asked as they set eyes on Albus Dumbledore. Around them the inferni rose. Dumbledore whirled to face him and for a moment his bushy brows furrowed, his face turned severe before he sighed heavily, a hand brushing through his beard, the other pushing his half-moon glasses back up his crooked nose.
"Now that is a secret I intent to take into my grave"
" Pretty please?"
At the end, each of them stood alone, the sunless lands were far away and the journey was hard, most of them will be glad for the company of a friend and if it could be just that. What more could Death want?
"Maybe I can make an exception just once--"
Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way a stricken lament of terrible beauty... They fell silent. Fawkes's lament was still echoing over the dark grounds outside."
:_:
He had been too slow and Nagini too far away. He could not save her, a terrible yell tore itself out of his chest, glass shattered, and people screamed and whimpered in pain. In his anger, Voldemort destroyed everything in his path. His scream grew louder as he watched Death reach for Nagini. Their gazes met through the distance, a mocking smile grew on Death.
Voldemort saw red. He failed his promise.
:_:
The basilisk was wild, wilder than Nagini had been, he'd been reluctant to free it, there were many risks in doing so but in the end, he saw no other way.
He unleashed the sleeping monster within and with that chaos and destruction upon his world. With an ancient beast on his side many of the resistance gave up, and those that didn't faced an unfortunate end.
:_:
"You don't seem pleased to see me," Death remarked as it set eyes on Voldemort. Voldemort's eyes narrowed slightly lips tightened but he said nothing as he watched Death claim another one of his victims. There were so many.
"Why should I --- when you're desperate to get me in your clutches"
"I wouldn't say desperate--- besides--- weren't you the one that said he had nothing to worry about? Did you change your mind Tom"
Voldemort turned and apparated away at once, leaving Death behind.
:_:
Severus Snape had been an accident. The basilisk had grown restless and the potions master had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He died without before he realized what had happened to him, a flash of yellow and then there was a flash of green, eyes that faintly reminded him of something, or someone but for the life of everything he held dear, he couldn't pinpoint what it had been.
:_:
Death didn't linger anymore, Voldemort barely caught glimpses of it, no matter how much blood he spilt or lives he took. Death seemed to hold its distance.
"Have you finally given up on pursuing me?" Voldemort asked into the trembling face of Wormtail.
"M--my lo--ord?"
He collapsed moments later.
:_:
The next time Voldemort came across Death had been rather unexpected. No one had died, at least no one he had killed or was aware of. He looked untouched by time, just as he remembered it to be. The same piercing eyes narrowed down on him.
Voldemort tilted his head unflinchingly. He would not cover like others before him had. The gaunt ring sat snuggly around his finger and he flashed them Death as he made a welcoming gesture. He saw the way Death's eyes lingered on the ring or more importantly the stone.
"You found it" was the only remark Death made as it approached him.
"Who is it you came to claim today--- " He asked, he kept himself guarded but his curiosity got ahead of him. Death waved away his question, completely ignored it even. No one else would've dared to treat him like that. No one.
Death let its eyes wander in the great hall.
Voldemort gestured around him with a lazy gesture as if that would answer the question hanging in the air.
Hogwarts was unrecognizable under his watch, the great hall resembled a throne room more than a dining hall. He now held power beyond measure.
"I see--- so you did it--- at last"
"I did more than just that" Immortality. The taunt was hard to ignore. Death tilted its head, "So you did--- I should congratulate you---"
:_:
A starving beast was untamable. he should've seen this coming.
:_:
The basilisk went rogue. It didn't listen, it didn't obey.
It was starving, always starving. The sleeping spell Voldemort send its way was simply shaken away and for once the yellow eyes turned on its master. Voldemort raised his wand.
"You will obey me" he shouted but it fell on deaf ears.
:_:
The basilisk collapsed. Voldemort whirled to face Death, his eyes glowing a shade of red, his chest rising and falling quickly.
"You lost--- again---"
Death tilted its head, almost as if considering his words and Voldemort straightened himself up, his body was aching, every movement was straining but he wouldn't give in just yet. He'd fight, he braced himself.
Death approached Voldemort with the same reassuring smile he did everyone else and Voldemort must've recognised it for what it was. His eyes widened in fear but before he could react did Death pull him in for a kiss, a hand on the nape of his neck held him in place.
"Farewell Tom Marvolo Riddle"
Death whispered against his lips as he pulled away.
Somewhere behind him did another body collapse.