Chapter 4
“Tom Marvolo Riddle” the child uttered coldly freezing every cell of his body.
“Pardon?” he murmured weakly praying he heard it wrong.
“My name is Tom Marvolo Riddle” said the boy again frowning slightly.
So he heard it right. He was not imagining things. And now it becomes clear why the boy mirrored his childhood self. For several minutes Tom sat still without any movement. This couldn’t be happening to him. The past he was running away from all these years can’t come back like this. He wanted to run out of room, wanted to ask Mrs. Cole what kind of bewitchment it was, he wanted to flee in the safety of his home as far as possible from the child but he could do neither. Because all energy had left him.
“What happened to you?” The cold voice held a little curiosity this time. That helped Tom come out of his stunned phase.
“Nothing, I just…your name..” Tom didn’t know what to say. He was contemplating the idea to leave right now. But then he had to explain reason to that woman or have to freeze on the street. Also many questions will remain unanswered then.
“Tom is such a common name.” murmurs the child disappointedly as if talking to himself “they say I am named after my father. And middle name from maternal grandfather.”
Tom gasps again. He remembered the older Gaunt’s first name was Marvolo. That means Merope was indeed telling the truth about her pregnancy. But then why the boy is in orphanage?
“Where is your mother boy?”Tom couldn’t help asking that.
Little Tom casted a rather suspicious glance to Mr. Thomas. The man is acting very strangely.
“She is no more. Mrs Cole said she died here right after my birth.” He informed. And the man’s expression changed a little.
So Merope is dead. She will never be back in his life. But Tom couldn’t feel relieved. Couldn’t think she deserved the death with the knowledge that she died helplessly in an orphanage, living her son behind. Tom didn’t feel sad for her though but the knowledge didn’t let him be happy either.
“What was your birth date, err Tom?” with much effort Tom addressed the child with the name.
“31st December, 1926.” replied little Tom shortly. He doesn’t want to remember this was his birthday. Nobody here does.
So the child was born four months after he left Merope. That means he is eight years old today.
“So it’s your birthday today!” Tom’s voice softened unknowingly. “She forgot to tell me.”
“Why would she remember? Birth dates are only needed for school admission.” Says Little Tom harshly. It’s not that he hadn’t seen any birthday celebration. The students of school who have family do that and even in orphanage those who know their date of birth at least try to celebrate their own way but nobody ever wished him. Not that little Tom requires that though. It’s just the subject makes him uncomfortable and he doesn’t like it.
Tom sighs; his knowledge of birthdates contains big scale parties or a family dinner at the very least. But he should have remembered that’s not the case with an orphanage. And the thought kept troubling him. He looked at the boy again who has returned his concentration outside of window again, putting an arm behind head like exactly what Tom himself does to relax. There was no doubt this was his son. A child he never wanted. But as he came to know about his existence the fact couldn’t be ignored. Not after seeing the atmosphere where he is growing up. After all he was still legitimately riddle heir as Tom though under enchantment but had legally wedded Merope and never divorced. For all his disgust Tom was not illogical enough to think that the child was at fault for whatever his mother did. He even hadn’t seen his mother at all. In a way she had jeopardized not one but two lives. Tom couldn’t help but feeling bad.
Suddenly a shiver ran through Tom’s spine. Why did Mrs. Cole say this boy is strange? The child is a heir of that freak family too. What if he is also like them?
“Why don’t other children like you?” Tom asked almost desperately. “Mrs. Cole said.” He adds seeing the child turn to him.
Little Tom was surprised with the tone of this man. Why he is asking such questions? Who is he?
“They are annoying. I am different from them. So I keep them away.” Answered Little Tom carefully.
“Do you scare them?” asked tom in same desperate tone. For this was most important thing to know.
“When anyone disturbs me things happen to them. So they call me freak.” The man gives little Tom vibes that he has idea about him. So little Tom answered his questions .
Tom slumps his head on pillow. All his tiredness is occupying him. His head filled with heaviness. His exhausted body prevents him moving out of bed now. So as soon as the sun rises he will leave. Away from this place and this freak child of Merope Gaunt. He turns back to other bed and squeezed his eyes shut.
Little Tom watches as Mr. Thomas drifted off without bidding him good night. He lets out a snort of disappointment. However strange the man seemed he was one who was taking interest in talking to him more than anyone in the orphanage or in school ever did. But well he shouldn't feel bad because he is different after all. He turns his back to him and soon dozed off.