Chapter 2

The Last Gaunt

Almost ten years had passed since the Riddles had been woken up by a servant and discovering both Judy and Tom Riddle Jr just outside their doors. The owners of the house had been furious at their son for not telling them that they were grandparents. But none of that could be compared to what was in that letter. They badgered the woman holding their grandchild, but she never gave them anything more and had stayed with the Riddle family despite their manners. The Riddles finally given in to keeping the boy they had inherited.

One would have thought that the first scandal was only a spark compared to the wildfire that this one brought. The townspeople were delighted to talk about something new about the Riddles. An unexpected heir to the Riddle name. But they cared little for the boy, really, for they were almost certain that he would turn into something perhaps even nastier than the other Riddles.

But they did not see what was behind closed doors at the Riddle Manor. They did not know that the boy was always ignored by the Riddles and only cared for by their servants. They did not know that the only time all of them were together was at the dining room table. Tom Riddle Sn would shut himself up in his room and only come out for necessities. Thomas and Eleanor Riddle would continue with their lives, though they did their best to stay away from the boy as if he were a ticking time bomb.

Tom Riddle Jr was not even allowed to leave the manor's grounds without Judy or another servant. The townspeople thought that he would be home tutored just like his father, but Tom Riddle Jr would attend the public school of Little Hangleton just like a common boy. The teachers first groaned at the very thought of having to deal with a horrible Riddle in their classrooms but found themselves perplexed that the boy never interrupted them unless he raised his hand to ask an intelligent question.

"He first, was very shy around the teachers and students. Even the first time he raised his hand, it was timid and unsure. I'll never forget the look of utter shock on his face when I asked him what his question was. It was like he had never had any attention from an adult before! He even said 'thank you'! I couldn't believe my ears! A Riddle saying 'thank you'!" Mrs. Meadow told her friends.

Yes, Tom Riddle Jr quickly became the teachers' favorite student. He was very handsome like his father, but he was kind, quiet, intelligent, and NEVER misbehaved. Unfortunately, he never had any friends because everyone believed him to be fake and a teacher's pet. He was taunted and bullied the most by two boys named Adam Carter and Kyle White. They were the town bullies to all the children, but they had special time for Tom. They started calling him Tommy simply because they thought it was too much effort to say Tom Jr or Tom II. This name spread just as fast and he had been called Tommy ever since the age of seven.

The only person that never called him that was Judy Wilsmith. She was a maid, mother, and guardian to Tom. She raised him when no one would even pick him up when he was crying. She acted like a mother to him and taught him things like never believe that he was higher or lower than any of the people around him. She called him Tom and nothing else while the other maids and servants addressed him as 'Master Tommy' so they could talk about him without the confusion of his father's name. Tom often confessed to Judy why he had to be called the same thing his father. He didn't like any of the Riddles and would rather have a name of someone that didn't shun him. She would hold him in her arms every time he told her that. Judy also went everywhere with Tom. If she ever caught Adam or Kyle picking on him, she would make them regret it. But both the Riddles and the servants regarded Judy as they would a bun in a bar.

Rich, but lonely. Smart, but ignored. Talented, but hidden. That was Tom Riddle. Dark brown hair and eyes completely like his father and he hated that. He was almost glad to have a scar on his forehead, the one thing he had that his father did not. He also didn't know why he was so shunned by his own family until he once literally froze a new maid.

He told her to stop when she was running away from him in a frenzy. She had seen him make the letters off some book dance around him. He hadn't even realized it himself until he heard her scream. Terrified of being called a freak, he ordered her to stop and she froze in mid run. Just like time stopped. There had been other mysterious accidents, unexplainable things. Tom didn't know how they happened, or why they always seemed to happen with him around.

Luckily only Judy saw this and somehow made the new maid forget what she had seen. Then she had looked Tom in the eyes and asked him the details.

"I swear! I didn't mean to! But she saw me…do stuff! I only told her to stop and-," Tom was rambling on in a panic. What would Judy think of him now? A freak? A beast? Scum?

"You used magic," she finished. Tom stared at her. "What?"

"It's time I tell you who you really are, Tom. You were bound to find out some day anyway. You are a wizard, Tom, and you can do magic." Judy's face was so serious, Tom started to sweat. It was impossible in every book he had ever read, every logic ever taught, but somehow the impossibles made a truth, an explanation for all the odd accidents before.

"Is that why everyone hates me? Because I can do magic and they can't?" His brown eyes started to swell up in tears. Judy's heart broke at the very sight.

"Tom, you have been a very special boy since you were born. Your father and grandparents are Muggles. They are what we call people who have no magical powers. And sometimes, Muggles cannot understand our world and fear it. They also become jealous that they are not special like our kind."

"Our kind?" Tom sniffed, wiping his nose on his sleeve.

"Witches and Wizards," Judy nodded. "Your mother was a witch and so am I, Tom. She left me in your care when you were only a year old after she…died."

"Did she love me? Like you do?" He wanted to know that there were people out there, people who could like him and be friends with him. He wanted that more than anything. A friend.

"Yes, Tom. Your mother sacrificed much for you and always loved you dearly. I promise to tell you more about her when it's time."

"Time for what?"

"When your letter comes. For now, it's better if we keep this a secret, okay?" She placed one figure between her lips in a 'shh' gesture. Tom nodded, "I'm sorry. Sometimes I can't help it."

"I know Tom. You've got strong magic for your age, but we need to control it or the Muggles will find out. You have to promise me that you'll try to keep your magic a secret. Can you promise me that?" She asked him. Tom nodded, "I promise."

That promise was made after Tom's fifth birthday, even before he had gone to school. For many years he had kept that promise. No matter how much bullying he had to take, he wouldn't use magic. Only when he was sheltered away from prying eyes would he even attempt some magic. His favorite spot was behind the shed and large lilac bushes that blocked anyone's sight.

He discovered that he could control animals easily. He never harmed them, but it was really funny when rabbits would chase their tails like dogs and robins crawled like turtles on their bellies.

A month before his eleventh birthday in August, Tom was at his usual spot. But when he looked around, he couldn't find any of the usual animals. He did hear some noises come from not too far away though.

"Yeah! Get it, Adam! I wanna see if it will bleed green like they say!" That was Kyle's voice. Tom stiffened. He didn't want to get mixed up in anything if they were nearby. He turned to crawl away when he heard a small voice.

"Sssstop it! I'm not ssssome play thing! Ow! Sssstop it! It hurtsss!"

Tom had never heard a voice like that before. It was tiny but shrill and in pain, making Tom stop. They weren't just doing their normal bullying; they wanted their victim to bleed. Tom grabbed whatever courage he had and dived through the shrubs. Adam and Kyle looked over at him at his sudden entrance. Tom stared at the thing Adam was poking at with a stick.

It was a serpent…A pure white snake, but small and tiny. Tom's heart sank. Did he just jump out of the bushes for a snake? They were probably going to kill him, then the snake. Great act of heroism, Tom, just great, he thought to himself.

"Look who it is, Kyle! Our old friend, Tommy. Forget the snake, let's get the teachers pet." An evil grin spread over Adam's face as the two advanced on him. Tom held his ground.

"Leave! You both are trespassing on my family's land!" He ordered, sucking in all his courage.

"Like we're gunna listen to a teacher's pet like you. 'Oh Tommy, you're such a good boy! I wish everyone would follow your example!' BAH!" Adam changed his voice to mimic their teacher.

"Yeah! Bad enough you're a Riddle, but now you have to show everyone else in the town up!" Kyle threw in, getting within arm's length of Tom. He raised his fists to protect himself or at least look threatening. Kyle and Adam just laughed.

"Oooooh! We are so scared of you Tommy! What are you gunna do? Sick your maid on us? Must be nice to order her around like a dog." They sneered and laughed. Tom forgot his fears and grew angry. "Leave," he ordered in a small voice. They ignored him and Kyle went to punch him.

Crack!

Kyle let out a startled yell as a branch from one of the bushes nearby shot out and wrapped itself around his raised fist. Kyle tried to pull away frantically but it wouldn't budge.

"What are you doing?! What's happening?!" Adam looked just as frightened as Kyle and turned to run away but another branch shot out and hooked itself around his ankle, causing him to fall on his face.

"I told you to leave the first time. Don't say I didn't warn you." Tom's voice was the coldest he had ever heard and it startled him a bit. But he was just too angry at them to care. He was just so tired of these bullies…these MUGGLES. How dare they insult Judy like that!

Kyle started howling for help but Tom stopped him as another branch went over his mouth.

It wasn't until he had seen Adam cry that Tom realized he had broken his promise to Judy, even if he was defending her. The branches responded by going slack and the two boys ran all the way back to their homes, screaming their heads off.

Tom started feeling awful for what he did. He didn't care so much about Kyle and Adam, but he did magic in front of other people again. He sat on the ground and buried his head in his knees, groaning. He didn't look up until he felt something brush again him.

Don't cry, boy. They dessserved a good ssscaring.

"I'm not crying. And even if I was, it wouldn't be over them. They got what they deserved." Tom huffed, looking at the snake that was staring at him. A thought ran through Tom's head that was forgotten in the face of danger.

"You can talk?"

The white snake nodded. But you are the firsssst human to ever talk back to me.

"You're bleeding!" Tom realized, gently scooping up the small snake in his hands. Adam had drawn some blood after all. It curled up in his hands.

I'll be fine. It isss jussst a ssscratch.

"Are you sure?"

Yesss. We pythonsss are ssstronger than we look.

Tom stared at the snake. It was the size of his whole hand. He wondered how this snake would ever grow big enough to strangle a dog or something larger, like all pythons do.

Tom stood up. "Do you have a family somewhere that I can take you to?" He honestly wondered if the python was someone's lost pet. The snake stuck its tongue out in agitation.

I am no-onesss pet! I am wild from a long line of pythonsss. My name isss Lazaroff.

"Lazaroff?" A funny look must have appeared on his face because the snake nipped at one of his fingers. Tom nearly dropped the snake but held on. "Ouch! Hey, what was that for?"

Lazaroff isss a proud name for my kind! And if I had a name like Tommy, I wouldn't be talking. Lazaroff stuck out his tongue again.

"My name isn't Tommy. That is just some stupid nickname everyone likes to call me so that they don't get confused with my father, who has the same name." Tom told the snake.

Lazaroff tipped his head in thought. I underssstand. My mother'sss sssissster wasss named after her mother. Ssssshe alwaysss ssssaid that it wassss troublesssome for her.

Tom had some difficulty getting through all of Lazaroff's slurs but nodded. Tom heard the sound of someone approaching and swiftly stuck Lazaroff into his pocket. "Be quiet for a second." He told him, turning to see a servant running toward him.

"Young Master Tommy! We've been looking everywhere for you! We got quiet worried when we heard shouting over on this side of the house. Are you alright?" The servant slowed down to a trot as he approached Tom.

Tom just shrugged. "I think I heard Kyle and Adam from the village run by. Raving about some imaginary thing that spooked them, I suppose." He told him as casually as he could. He wasn't going to let the whole village think he was dangerous as well.

"Yes, sir… I suppose you're right. Come along, Master Tommy, you mustn't miss dinner."

Tom just walked on ahead towards the house again. Lazaroff wiggled slightly in his pocket. Tom did his best to make sure his pocket stayed in the servant's blindside so that he wouldn't see the lump in his pocket.

…

After another silent dinner, Tom bolted up the stairs in a rushed manor and closed the door behind him, locking it. It had a lock on it ever since his fifth birthday.

Lazaroff raised his head out of his pocket and made several angry hissing noises that Tom assumed were serpent swear words. Tom took him out of his pocket and placed him on his bed.

"Sorry Lazaroff, but the last time I brought an animal back home, they – well, they had a VERY exotic meal," Tom scowled at the memory of it.

Dissssgussssting, Lazaroff hissed in vile.

"You don't know the half of it. This one time-" Tom continued to talk to Lazaroff well into the night. By morning, Tom had even told Lazaroff about the fact that he was a wizard. (He took it well seeing as he had seen Tom do magic to save him.)

Lazaroff was sympathetic to him and even shared his past with Tom. (According to him, he was three years old so his tale was much shorter.) Tom felt like he finally had a friend. Though Lazaroff was a snake, he could still talk, (at least to him), and have emotions. But most of all, he wasn't fleeing at the very sight of him like his father. That had to of counted for something.

Tom was in a good mood as he walked down the steps to dinner. He had stayed up all night, but he didn't care. However, he was in such a great mood, he had forgotten all about Adam and Kyle. When he saw a disapproving scowl on Judy's face in the doorway, with her hands on her hips, it all came crashing back. He sharply turned to dash up the stairs but didn't take one step before-

"Tom Marvolo Riddle! Do you want to explain to me about what happened last night?" Her voice stopped him in his tracks. He took a deep breath, turned and faced her. He kept his eyes low.

"I don't know what you mean." He lied terribly. He could lie to just about anyone with ease, but Judy was another story. She marched up to him and bent down so that only he could hear her sharp whisper.

"What did you do to Adam Carter and Kyle White, Tom?"

"I scared them. They were-"

"From what I've heard, a great bit more than that! Tom! What were you thinking?! These Muggles around here love to gossip more than life itself! Do you even know how much trouble I had to fix to make them forget that little 'scare' of yours?"

"You did magic?" Tom looked up. He wished he had seen it. He had gotten more curious about the magical world each year, but Judy refused to tell him anything until his eleventh birthday for some reason. Each week that drew him closer to his eleventh birthday gave him a deep seed

ed wish that he could use magic to make the day come soon.

"Yes! Otherwise other wizards would have had to come fix this! Don't give me that look, Tom. That's not a good thing!" She hissed as his curious eyes got wider. She glared at him a little bit longer before sighing and her voice returned to normal. "Anyway, some of the other maids thought they heard a lot of hissing noises come from your room all night. Is the heater in your room acting up again?" She asked him, moving on to other matters.

Tom looked confused. "Hissing? No, the heater is fine." Lazaroff couldn't have been talking that loud. He was so tiny for a python after all and didn't hiss that much anyway.

"Hm, well it may just be a whole in the window. I'll check on it later," She turned to leave but Tom stopped her.

"Uh, wait Judy!" She turned and gave him a curious look. He lowered his voice so that he could ask her a question he had been dying to ask since he first met Lazaroff.

"Judy, can wizards and witches talk to snakes?" He asked in hush tones. Judy's bi-colored eyes widened in surprise.

"No. Not many wizards or witches have that ability in this age. Some can be very close to animals and control them sometimes, but never really talked to them. Snakes even less." She whispered back.

"Why?" Tom wanted to know what was so wrong about talking to snakes.

"Because serpents tend to be used by dark wizards, Tom. No one wants to go hanging around snakes for that reason. It could give the wrong impression sometimes, you know?"

Judy looked even more surprised when Tom scowled at the thought. "Snakes aren't evil or disgusting animals. They are really cool predators just like any other, but just because they were used by dark wizards, doesn't make them like them." Tom, still frowning, walked towards the kitchen to sneak some meat to Lazaroff. Judy stared after him. Why did she get the feeling like she had just insulted a friend of Tom's and he was defending the friend?

Chapter End~

(I didn't want Tom to change too much from original character. He isn't Harry Potter, but he's not evil. He's the heir of Slytherin, so he'll have darker moments than Harry did no doubt. I'm just trying to imagine what he would be like under different circumstances and less evil. Things will get more interesting and reveal more about his character at the same time. I've re-read the whole book already so I'm kinda story-boarding how this shall differ from the books. Please Review~)

(PS- I'm also working on making a picture for this FanFiction in photoshop. But it probably won't be posted until after Christmas)

Next Chapter: The Letters From No One