The Beginning of the End ? Tom Riddle

Chapter 33

" She's not there anymore Isla. Nagini's gone. She's not coming back." His voice cracked as he struggled to finish his sentence. I pursed my lips inward as I rushed towards the broken boy, using my arms to wrap him in a comforting embrace. He buried his head into my shoulder as if trying to hide from the cruel reality of the night.

I clutched his shoulder while my other hand held his head and you could hear him begin to cry. I looked up to the other three as they moved in to join. For several minutes, all that could be heard was the heartbroken sobs of a boy who had lost his first love.

I left Sean in my friends care, deciding I had to find Tom and see her for myself. Though before I left, I caught sight of what looked like a snake bit on Sean's hand. Goosebumps spread on my neck, though I proceeded out the door and down the hallway in disbelief.

" Tom." I leaned against Nagini's hotel room door. I decided to pull out my wand from my pocket once I heard no response.

"Alohomora." I quietly spoke the spell, watching the door unlock. I placed my hand on the knob before taking a deep breath and turning it. A gasp slipped from my lips as my eyes went wide at the sight of a massive Reticulated Python slithering up the bed post.

" Isla..." Tom began slowly from where he leaned against the wall.

" Is- Is it really her?" I asked as he nodded.

" And she's never going to change back?" He nodded again, gauging my reaction. I wasn't entirely sure what to think, yet alone say. Although I knew Naginis fate was out of my hands since she was a maledictus, I still felt guilty for some reason.

All along, I've always wanted what was best for her, that's what I want for each of my friends. But something about seeing her now, beside him, scared me. Tom Riddle has always been a dangerous and powerful wizard, lately I've just been learning how much.

I remained still as he glided towards me, circling behind me as an almost unsettling feeling came over me. He then leaned his head over my shoulder.

" There's nothing to be afraid of love." The chills I got from his voice and the snake hissing sent an opposite message. I knew it would be safer to shake it off and play it cool, so I did.

"I know, it's just such a drastic change, and I saw the snakebite on Sean's hand." I explained as he hummed in response, moving to stand next to me.

" Understandable, however under my command she won't harm you." I tried to suppress any surprise and anger from showing at his use of the word "command", but a glare slipped his way.

" Our agreement was that the death eaters were free to pursue an attempt to recruit Nagini to our cause in exchange for protection. She's well protected Isla, so the other end of the deal must be kept." My jaw clenched slightly at his tricky ways and sharp memory. Those were the terms of the agreement, and Nagini agreed as well.

" Damn you. You'd better hold your side of the bargain, Tom. This process has inflicted pain on more people than just her. " Sean sitting at the front of my mind as I threatened Tom, despite not holding much power against him.

" We should get some rest." He ignored me as I rolled my eyes, which caught on the massive snake.

" Is she going to be ok here?" I asked Tom, moving my eyes from the snake to him as he walked to the door.

" She'll be fine." He concluded shortly as I sighed, taking one last look at the python that was my childhood friend hours before. We walked back down the hall in the quiet of 4 am before reaching our room. We slipped under the covers as I proceeded to roll to my side, facing away from him. I took a few deep breaths as I tried to get my mind to calm down enough to rest.

Another minute passed without success before a hand encased my hip and rolled me over so I was facing Tom's chest. I glanced up at him to see a little smirk pulling at his lips. In response I let out a feigned huff and nestled my head into his shoulder, allowing my eyes to close at last.

...

"Ouch!"

I woke up with a jolt as I felt a pinch against my collarbone. I looked up to see Tom, who's arms were on either side of me, lean back before standing up.

" Did you just pinch me?" I asked with annoyance. I would never be a morning person.

" No love, I bit you. We're leaving for the Carrows mansion in half an hour." He replied in a calm manner, though my jaw hung slack at his confession. He proceeded to pull a blouse from my wardrobe and tossed it my way, which landed on my head.

This man will be the death of me.

I quickly threw it on and finished getting dressed in hopes of interrogating him further. His long strides across the wooden floorboards proved difficult to keep up with as I messily put my hair up, nearly tripping in rush.

" You said the Carrow Mansion. You know that's my family, so what business do you have with them, Tom?" I questioned him as he finally stopped to grab a button down shirt out of his wardrobe. He slid the shirt over his broad shoulders before turning to look down at me.

" I'm sure you know that your family is wealthy and influential, Isla. I'm aware that you see them in a negative light but understand they hold power." He explained, despite this my anger rose.

" I see you've forgotten about the scars that litter my back." I snapped as he finished buttoning his shirt, Egyptian azure eyes meeting mine once more.

" I doubt your younger cousins be attending." He concluded as if that made up for it. I scoffed as he walked towards the door, leaving me no choice but to follow after him. We made our way downstairs to the lobby where the death eaters and my friends were gathered. A rivalry lingered that was hysterical to watch. It was as if sharing air was offensive to the two groups.

My eyes found Nagini quickly, as a huge python was kind of hard to miss. Though looking around I realized the lady at the front desk and the bellhop seemed oblivious to the reptile. I shrugged it off, knowing Tom placed some sort of charm on them.

The lot of us made our way out of the hotel and onto the streets of Dublin behind Tom. We made our way back to St. Stephens Green, and walked down the pathways until we reached The Three Fates Fountain.

I smiled recalling the memory of tossing in pennies for luck whenever I was here with my parents as a child.

" This port key's a bit unusual, but it's best not to overthink it. Simply walk down into the water." Tom spoke to us in a quiet tone though there didn't appear to be any muggles around. I looked at him skeptically, seeing as it was unlikely there was a wizarding port key right in my hometown that I didn't know about.

I watched Xander step up on the stone ring and down into the water without hesitation. To my astonishment he began to submerge as if going down a spiral staircase, and within seconds he had disappeared.

" Huh." I spoke before taking a long blink. Tom rolled his eyes and the group lined up as we made our way into the port key until everyone was through. When we came out I instantly recognized our surroundings.

The seemingly never ending haze, the dense population of Sitka Spruces, and of course, the red sandstone mansion that stuck out like a sore thumb.