London, 31st December 1934
He was supposed to be at home. At the warmth of fireplace in company of parents spending the New Year's Eve like any other year. He was not supposed to be freezing on the snow covered London Street in the last evening of year. Yet Tom Riddle was there. Outside Little Hangleton first time in eight long years. Forget leaving little Hangleton Tom could even count the times he had left Riddle Manor in fingers in these eight years. He was just incapable of facing the world outside. All his confidence had been snatched away by that single person.
Tom clenched his teeth as he again thought about her. All these times he had wasted all energy in a futile attempt of forgetting that old tramp's daughter. The one who had snatched everything from his life. He lost his honor, family reputation, father's trust and Cecelia all because of that Merope Gaunt. And that bitch had the audacity to beg him to stay with her for the sake of her unborn child! No Tom didn't try to check whether she was really pregnant or not. The moment he was freed from her trap he had fled. He sighed remembering the day a broken Tom Riddle returned to Little Hangleton. Since the day he had become nothing but a pitiful burden for his parents. A joke in the eyes of villagers, a subject of rumors in the air of Little Hangleton. Thomas and Mary Riddle's pride, their prized son Tom Riddle had brought nothing but shame on family name. Tom knows Thomas Riddle still doesn't believe his son had been enchanted and didn't elope on his own. He knows his father probably won't forgive him. Only Mary Riddle's pleading had stopped him disowning his son. For his mother refused to let her son be destroyed further. Ever since Tom Riddle had lived as a shadow of himself. For his life will never be same as before. The proud self assured young man that used to rule women's heart had been long gone. The life's essence had been sucked by the witch.
Ceceilia had married a wealthy aristocrat few months after his running away. Tom doesn't blame her for considering him a cheater. How will she know what had happened to him when Tom himself didn't understand? Months spent with Merope were at the very best blur in his memory. But the very memory used to haunt him every night. Tom was unable to get one night's slumber without the nightmares, the scent of her hair, the touch of her skin, the song sung by her. It seemed every night he is back with her, being forced to touch her, to sleep with her, to do what he doesn't want. Innumerable time he had screamed awake and discovered himself sitting in pool of sweat. He had to consult psychiatrist for years yet he was unable to wipe out the memories. He was not able to go near any woman in these years. Probably he had lost trust in them. Merope Gaunt has damaged Tom Riddle to the extent that could not be repaired.
The carriage driver shook his head and apologized for inability to repair his broken wheel at night. With a jolt Tom comes back to present. He helplessly looks at lonely London Street. Snowfall had already begun. Tom tightens his scarf and looks around. There was no inn nearby. And for all his distress Tom is not ready for freezing to death on London Street. not yet
"Damn Marius!" Tom cursed under his breath. When the Attorney informed Thomas Riddle that an young man is interested in their small piece of property at outskirt of London city they didn't expect Marius Black would pursue to finalize the deal before new year. And it was only logical that the young son takes the journey to London in place of aging father in this time of year. And for Tom Riddle it was a chance, a chance to prove his capability again, a chance to regain trust in father's eyes, an attempt to get back the lost confidence. Hence Tom was here.
Meeting with Marius Black was unexpectedly lengthy and tiresome. At the first place Tom didn't expect the young man would be that much young. Marius didn't look like more than eighteen anyway. Secondly he was strangely naïve about handling papers. It took several hours to even make him understand basic things. Tom was quite curious about the family background of this Black for he first time was meeting someone with such surname but the youth was strangely shut about his family and Tom didn't pursue sensing that makes Marius uncomfortable.
It was already evening when the property hand over had been finally done and Tom got back his carriage. But nothing goes alright in his life that was proven again when the wheel had departed from the carriage. The driver apologized again and left for getting help before Tom could stop him and Tom was pretty sure he won't return before morning. The question is what would Tom do now? He was not familiar with this part of London. He doesn't know where to get a shelter for the night. It had to be worst New Year's Eve in his life.
Cursing under breath Tom steps towards the only building that stood nearby. A quite gloomy looking one even for this snow covered evening. But Tom really had no other option. Had he?
Before knocking the door The Riddle stops to read the Board that said.
Wool's Orphanage , Estd 1857

quite appropriate. isn't it?