Readers POV:
You are Eva Orlov, Hogwarts' newest history professor-and you're not alone. Tom Riddle, enigmatic and brilliant, begins his tenure as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. From the moment you meet, an undeniable pull draws you to...
The flames crackle softly in the hearth of the big empty converence room, casting long shadows across the stone walls. I sit in my high-backed chair, fingers steepled under my chin, eyes half-closed as I contemplate the ever-growing web of influence I've spun. Each thread, a careful connection, a calculated move, drawing the wizarding world ever closer to its inevitable reckoning.
Eva's face flashes in my mind, disrupting the usual clarity of my thoughts. I grit my teeth, a muscle twitching in my jaw. Her presence is a distraction I cannot afford, yet one I find myself unwilling to sever. There is something about her—something that calls to the darkest parts of me, and I despise the hold she has over my thoughts.
Why her? Why should I, —Lord Voldemort—care about a mere teacher at Hogwarts? My mind is a fortress, impenetrable and cold. And yet, the thought of her lingers, gnawing at the edges of my sanity, like an incessant itch I cannot scratch.
A movement in the shadows catches my attention. Bellatrix Black steps forward, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes alight with a fervor that borders on madness. Ever since I met her in Hogwarts, I can sense her adoration, her obsession with me—a twisted devotion that I have cultivated for my purposes. She is useful, fanatical, and entirely predictable.
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"My Lord," she purrs, dropping to one knee before me, her gaze never leaving my face.
"The Aurors are becoming more brazen in their attacks. They grow bold, believing they can challenge your power."
I nod absently, my mind still drifting back to Eva. Bellatrix's words are of little consequence, the Aurors' actions are expected, mere trifles in the grand scheme of things. What bothers me is the way Eva had reached out to me earlier, through her feeble attempt at astral projection. Does she even think? She has potential, but it's untamed, reckless even. She seeks my guidance, my approval, but she doesn't fully understand what that entails.
"Let them try," I say, my voice smooth and cold. "Their efforts will only hasten their downfall."
Bellatrix smiles, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. She lives for this—the destruction, the chaos, all in my name. She is a tool, nothing more. Yet, her loyalty, her blind devotion, stands in stark contrast to Eva's conflicted heart. Bellatrix would die for me without hesitation, while Eva... Eva is more complex. Not like I would need any women to reach my goals, in fact, I don't at all.. but it is fascinating to watch how they think and act. Just a pastime.
"Has Lucius made his decision?" I ask, changing the subject. "He hesitates too much for my liking." I add.
Bellatrix's smile falters slightly, but she nods. "He has, my Lord. He will marry Narcissa, as you suggested. The Black family is fully in support of your cause. Narcissa, though..."
I raise an eyebrow. "Go on."
"Narcissa is loyal to the family, but she lacks the passion, the fire that burns within our bloodline. She will do as she is told, but there is no zeal in her heart."
