Chapter Thirty: One Too Many Blacks

Tom worked his jaw to the right as he overheard Dumbledore and Cordelia's conversation, his temper slowly taking over every second she talked to the old fool. The Dark Lord couldn't help but clench his right hand around the armchair's arm as he cocked his head to the right, pretending to be absorbed in what Natalie had to say about her views of the Tournament.

He waited a moment for her to finish a theory before sending her a charming smile and a fraudulent positive remark that made the woman blush and bow her head to scribble away with her quill.

Tom waited a moment to ensure Natalie was absorbed in her work before he glanced over his shoulder, his gaze quickly finding Cordelia's blue pools just as she glanced at him.

He didn't bother hiding his emotions, not caring about how intense the glare was. In fact, Tom revelled in the way a shiver rolled down Cordelia's back as she gulped, unsure of how to react to such an onslaught of anger and mistrust. The brunette boy couldn't allow his glare to last very long, noticing how Natalie's scribbles gradually began to slow.

A smirk overcame his face as Riddle briefly raked his gaze across Cordelia's form, ensuring she was more than influenced by his show of malevolent intentions. Finally, just as Natalie began to look up from her parchment, Tom shuffled a hand through his loose curls and turned back to the front, pretending to have been looking at her the entire time.

"Shit."

Cordelia's light mutter made Tom's smirk widen as he twirled his wand, satisfied at getting his message across. He hadn't realised he had caught her off guard, but the Dark Lord liked how much a simple glare could affect her if executed rightly.

"Well, Tom, I think that will be all. It was a pleasure interviewing you."

Riddle smirked at Natalie's words, nodding his head as he left his seat to stand and shook the reporter's hand.

"The pleasure was all mine."

The statement, paired with a charming smile, had the redhead reporter blushing as she pulled her hand away, turning towards her side to collect her roll of parchment. Tom didn't wait for her to turn back around, having already walked away by the time Natalie fetched her precious notes.

With no one to bother him and his knights already awake Tom only had one destination in mind as he walked out of the Banquet Hall, briefly glancing down the hall to ensure Cordelia had already left before he walked down a thin corridor towards the left.

It didn't take him too long to reach the Hogwarts boys' dorms, but Riddle took his time awakening Rodolphus and asking him to gather the knights, taking pleasure in the way the Lestrange heir jolted out of his bed and hurriedly nodded.

"What is the status of the Dumstrang boys?"

Theodore and Orion stepped forward at their Lord's question, their heads bowed and hands folded around wands as they replied.

Usually, it was Theodore who would reply, taking his time to go into detail about every aspect while also keeping the conversation relevant to his Lord's request. It had become a pattern of sorts for Theodore to do the talking when a mission involved him, thus Tom already knew the answer to his question when Orion began speaking.

"They aren't interested, My Lord. We have attempted to persuade a few, but have-" Orion paused, shivering as he realised the consequences of the next word "-failed."

Tom worked his jaw as he gazed down upon his two knights, flickering between the two of them before his gaze finally settled on Orion. If the circumstances had been different perhaps the Dark Lord would have been more lenient with the Black heir and commended him for his honesty, but to Tom, Orion's wavy black curls were far too similar to his sister's.

"Come forward, Orion."

The younger boy gasped at Tom's request but complied nonetheless. A shiver rolled down his back as Orion walked forward, stopping half a foot in front of the Dark Lord's form.

Tom took his time prowling towards the younger Black, releasing a light smirk every time a new shiver rolled down Orion's back. By the time he reached the pureblood boy, Riddle was sure Orion would run out of the room and never return.

It was understandable, after all, Orion was the only knight present who had never faced the brunt of Tom's violence.

The Dark Lord planned to change that today.

"Orion-" Tom chose to keep his voice light as he spoke, his tone almost confusable for praise.

"How is it that within two weeks you failed to convince even one Dumstrang boy?"

Orion chose to hold his own as he finally gazed into his Lord's eyes, briefly expressing his utter disappointment in not aiding his Lord.

"The Dumstrang boys refused to be distracted from the Tournament, My Lord. Their determination remained even after the champions were chosen, however, we have reached a large audience and with time-"

Tom cocked his head to the side, the subtle motion causing Orion to bow his head yet again and remain silent.

"So you not only failed at gathering more knights, but you made a mass audience aware of our organization and risked revealing us to the Dumstrang headmaster."

Orion realised his mistake far too late as his gaze snapped up to meet Riddle's hard brown eyes. The pure fear that swam through Orion's pools had Tom almost reconsider the punishment. Almost being the important word.

"Hold out your hand, Orion."

The grey-eyed brunette did as asked, holding out his left arm for the Dark Lord to do with as he pleased.

"Crucio."

Usually, the curse would be cast at the entire body rather than just a limb, which was more effective and had the victims suffer more. However, Tom wished for an effective yet subtle punishment, one that wouldn't have one of his most loyal followers on bedrest for the rest of the week.

Cursing only his arm would ensure that Orion could cover up the injury with claims of simple injuries.

However, the adapted curse was just as good as the original one and placed no hinder in the cacophony of screams Tom was used to hearing.

If it's not one Black, then at least I can have the other.

The chamber was void of its usual group of Slytherin boys, only being accompanied by two males. One was a snivelling blond pureblood looking to please his superiors and make a name for himself, and the other was a conniving brunette snake in every meaning of the word.

Abarax shivered in his spot as Tom sent him a once-over, his brown eyes holding a malevolent glare as he took his time cutting to the chase.

"Tell me, Abarax, have you found anything yet?"

The blond Malfoy heir gulped at his Lord's question, choosing to silently nod towards Tom as he bowed his head in respect and fear.

Riddle didn't take too kindly to not receiving a proper reply, but he chose to remain silent and instead abandon his seat on a random table to prowl towards Abarax. For a moment Tom didn't do much, simply standing in front of the blond boy and glaring at his long strands.

It wasn't until Abarax nearly broke his silence that the Dark Lord yanked on his precious blond stands, causing the Malfoy heir to snap his gaze towards Tom.

"And what exactly did you find?"

Abarax quivered as Tom walked a few steps backwards, still trailing his wand on the Malfoy heir as he began speaking.

"It wasn't much, my lord, but I noticed the boy's father was a close friend of Cordelia's parents however he stopped visiting them around the time of her birth."

Tom wrinkled his eyebrows at the statement, leaning back against a random table and letting out a contemplative hum that unknowingly sent shivers down Abarax's spine. The tyrant tucked his wand into his robes as he settled on a reply, ignoring Abarax's wary stare.

"What made the Ravenports cut off ties with the Blacks, and why is Antoine so keen on being around her?"

Abarax switched his gaze to the marble floor as Tom looked up, raising his eyebrows as he awaited a reply.

"I'm unsure, my lord, but I will do my best to find out."

The answer wasn't one that sat well with Tom as he walked forward, fishing out his wand and twirling it in his right palm before he stopped before Abarax. The Dark Lord took a moment to observe the blond boy's shivering body before he placed his wand under the blond's chin, making Malfoy meet his gaze.

"It won't do well to disappoint me, Abarax, I need answers, not speculation."

The Malfoy heir quivered in his spot as he continuously nodded, memories of Orion's punishment playing through his mind. Tom smirked at his scared form, turning away from the blond to gaze out the classroom's window.

"You may leave."

"Thank you, my lord."

Tom simply nodded, seeming lost in thought as he focused on the snow-tipped mountains. However, his focus was broken as Abarax moved away from the desks and approached the classroom's door, pulling it open in attempts to sneak out quietly.

"Abarax-"

Tom didn't bother checking whether or not Malfoy was listening, noticing the blond's reflection in the mirror as he turned around and replied with a yes.

"Do not let the boy anywhere near her, or it will be you writhing during our next meeting."

The threat hung in the air with defending silence as the Malfoy heir repeatedly nodded, his face turning almost as pale as his hair.

"Of course, my lord."

Tom didn't bother acknowledging his knight any longer than necessary as he flicked his gaze back to the mountains.

It was peculiar for him to despise the Ravenport heir so openly, yet that wasn't what made Riddle clench his fist as he glared at the window. Why was an insignificant pureblood princess suddenly oh so important to him? Why couldn't Tom simply revel in her foolishness to trust the French and watch as she took a wrong step?

Why, above all, had Cordelia suddenly become important enough to be included in his plans for Grindelwald. Plans that no one except the two of them was aware of. For once Tom Riddle was unsure of what exactly was transpiring, and he despised it. he despised it even more than the likes of Dumbledore.

"Cordelia, what have you done?"

He knew the question was foolish, for she neither had the intention nor the bravado to temper with his mind and body, but Riddle couldn't help but second-guess that thought.

For the first time in a long time, Tom allowed a sigh o escape his lips as he stared at the impeccably pure snow, contemplating matters that were previously unimportant. At that moment he didn't bother wondering about the future of his knights and his ambitions, all that ran through his mind was a certain raven-haired witch, and her bothersome effects on his sanity.

Was Cordelia Black truly as unaffected by him as she made it out to be?

Her interview replies made it seem as such, but Tom couldn't help but notice certain things about her that said otherwise. Certain moments, like the time in the classroom before their departure for Hogwarts where he played with her head and heart, or their little meeting in the forest.

Cordelia was an enigma, one that Tom couldn't help but waste hours pondering.