Enter the eyes of Cecilia, Tom Riddle Sr.'s girl, and how her world gets turned upside-down. One-shot. Enjoy!

I love Tom Riddle. We do everything together; he invites me to his large home out in the countryside, we take long walks, host parties, and the list goes on and on. Every time we are with each other, he makes me feel so incredibly special. The way he murmurs, “Cecilia,” into my hair makes my heart flutter. To top it all off, he has the most attractive features: dark hair, angular features (not to mention lovely cheekbones), and a most favorable body build. He’s the most amazing person on the face of the planet. I’m proud to say that he’s my boyfriend.

As I’m pondering these things, we are riding in a horse-drawn carriage down the lane. Tom is right beside me, holding my hand. He’s telling me jokes and I laugh merrily without a care in the world. This is what love does to you, I think to myself. There’s not a better feeling in the world than what I’m feeling right now.

We pass by a run-down cottage; I remember it from our last trip. Tom said that once the mad son cursed him with hives. He seemed deadly serious when he told me the story. I believe him, although how would that work? Magic doesn’t exist. Then he explains to me that magic must exist, or how would that freak make hives break out on him with a stick that looked painfully like a wand?

I shudder as I see the snake pinned to the front of the door. It’s absolutely horrid, although every time we go by this house, I can’t pry my eyes from it unless Tom covers them for me. Thankfully, this time he does, and I smile, feeling the warmth of his hand on my face.

“This will do. You can stop here, Phillip,” Tom informs the driver. The clop-clop of the horses’ hooves slow and Tom springs from the carriage. Offering his hand to me, he helps me down.

“Be back here at exactly four o’clock,” Tom tells Phillip sternly. “And don’t even think of coming late, because you know that dear Cecilia here can’t stand the sun for too long.” He dismisses his servant with a wave of the hand.

“Darn servants,” he mutters to me. “I don’t know why we pay them so much; most of the time they aren’t even punctual.”

I nod in agreement. Servants these days, they have no gratitude whatsoever.

We reach a tranquil lake: our favorite spot to bask in each other’s company. Our visits vary, but we always come here at least once a week. Whatever the time of day: sunrise, mid-afternoon, sunset, nighttime, is beautiful.

Tom has his arm around my waist as we sit down on the grassy shore. I love how he holds me with such protection and superiority. Smirking at all the jealous glances I get from the other girls is very much fun.

“You’re beautiful,” he tells me, slowly playing with my honey-colored hair.

Smiling, I blush with his compliment. “You’re the one who’s so handsome,” I say, giggling.

Tom shrugs modestly, a grin on his face. His fingers run over the sleeve of my dress and his eyes drift to my lips. This is the moment I love the most. He expertly holds my neck and waist and kisses me intensely.

It’s like magic. My eyes close as I melt under his touch. His hands creep up my neck and stroke the sides of my face. I can feel his tongue against mine and his breath on my lips. My heart hammers in my chest.

Breathing rather quickly, we stop, and he gives me a sly grin. Giving me a peck on the cheek, he gazes out over the water. “I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t here with me, Cecilia,” he declares. “If I ever abandon you, I must be out of my senses.”

Laying my head on his shoulder, I sigh contentedly, not knowing what atrocious event is awaiting me.

*

The next week, I am walking over to the Riddle house, since Tom didn’t send the buggy over to fetch me. It’s strange really, how he forgot that today was the day that he was going to show me a certain surprise. I hope that this whole thing is part of it.

Looking up at the drab sky, I sigh and keep walking, sensing that my shoes are getting caked with dirt and grime. It starts to drizzle just as I bypass the little shack with the snake fixed to the door with a nail. Willing myself to look away from it, I hear voices behind the house. One male voice sounds exactly like Tom’s.

Immediately picking up my pace, I lean around the corner of the house and see Tom, my Tom, with his arms around a scraggly girl. He’s looking longingly into her eyes, the look he reserves only for me. A cup lays on the brown grass a foot away from him. The couple seems oblivious to the rain drops now falling more heavily upon them.

My gasp jerks them both to the recognition that I’m standing there.

“Tom? What are you doing?” I shriek, not wanting to believe what is happening. “Who is she?” I point a shaky finger to the girl who appears a bit frightened by my approach.

Tom’s eyes meet mine, but his look vacant. His hair is dank on his forehead, but he still looks beautiful. “Cecilia,” his voice no longer says my name in the same way it used to, “Would you mind leaving us alone?”

“No.” I am more furious than I have been ever. “I want to know what you are doing with her and why.” My hands move to my hips. I am on the verge of tears.

Giving me a death glare, Tom commands, “Leave us alone! I don’t want you anymore; just go away!” He says this so shrilly that it startles me. That is the tone he only uses with his servants.

Without a word, I give him one last glare and turn my heel. My heart has broken in two. What happened to the whole line “I can’t live without you?” What a liar.

I stumble down the dirt road, my tears mingling with the rain on my face. Soon they turn to sobs of anguish and I trip over my own feet. Behind me, thunder is starting to crackle. I can’t get the look that Tom gave me out of my head. I don’t understand why he’s so attracted to that…thing. Staggering up again, I just collapse on the side of the road, hugging my knees.

That girl must have used magic to control him, I conclude to myself. Her brother has lost his head and judging by her appearance, she has as well. Now I believe in magic: the horrible magic that can turn any sweet magic, like the kind that Tom and I used to have, sour.

fin