Demons Demons Everywhere

Professor Tom Riddle’s robes billowed out behind him as he stalked the Hogwarts’ grounds. It was such a pleasurable feeling not to have to hide himself in the moonlight. Being a Professor had its perks that much was for certain. He didn’t have to worry about people questioning him. And he most certainly didn’t have to worry about Dumbledore realizing exactly what he was doing. Albus was practically eating out of the younger man’s hand: Tom Riddle could do no wrong in the eyes of the dutiful Headmaster. And that was exactly the position that he needed to be in. He could manipulate the students from the inside without fear of discovery as well as control his followers outside the walls of Hogwarts with a little help from Valerian Maxwell and Morgana Scrivenshaft. Yes, Riddle had it all down pat. His plan was flawless and at this rate - he would have Hogwarts and the rest of the Wizarding world falling to his every whim within the calendar year.

Right now, however, none of that mattered to him. What really mattered was surfacing a student army that was not to be countered within the walls of his Alma Mater. He wanted his students to be prepared, they were the pawns in his game of global conquest. They were his to use to his liking. And right now, Riddle was hot on the pursuit of one of them. Ezio D’Orolione: He was the prize that Riddle had currently set his eyes on. Strong and willful, dutiful and dangerous, he sincerely thought that the young pureblood Ravenclaw would be a valuable card in the deck that he currently held. He would be a knight in the chess match. Someone to protect the Queen and the King.

Professor Riddle stopped for a moment, breathing in the scent of the air as he stood there. The wind ripped around him, causing his robes to billow out once more. He truly was a vision of power in these moments. He looked dangerous and yet somehow still in complete and utter control. Slowly, but ever so deliberately, his lips curled up into a smile that was both terrifying and unwarrented. He could smell the boy...he could smell the fear and the sadness that was coming off of his skin. He was practically following the scent of sweat and anger that young Ezio was giving off. Riddle could smell it thick in the air - as if the young D’Orolione boy was calling for him. He wanted to be found.

A yell roared through the forbidden forest, upon which Riddle stood at the edge, that strange smile never leaving his lips. He had found his target. Moving through the trees, he finally made it to the clearing where he now found Ezio, sitting upon the ground, heaving as he breathed. His eyes surveyed the situation, hovering upon the rabbit that was in the center of the clearing - now dead, apparently from a broken neck. He could only assume that in a fit of rage Ezio had killed the pathetic animal. Perhaps there would be use for him after all, ”I can assure you, Young D’Orolione that the answers you seek are more often then not not to be found on the dirty floor of a clearing in the Forbidden Forest.” The man breathed, his voice full of the sneer that was on his face, ”Stand up and get out of the filth.” He commanded waving his hand through the air. The sleeve of his robes billowed out again, making him look far larger than he actually was. 

Ezio raised his wand at the man who now stood above him, as if he thought that he could overpower the Dark Lord. Riddle couldn’t help but smile slightly to himself, his lips curling over his white teeth and coming across as more of a grimace and dangerous warning than anything else. The boy had approximately twenty seconds to put down his wand before Riddle snapped it into two and then found himself on the receiving end of a particularly awful and well-practiced torture curse. The man reached into the confines of his robe and drew out his wand - the white wood glistening in the light that was around them, ”You’re right, child. You know better than to draw your wand on a Professor-” The man breathed through his teeth, feeling strangely angry at the boy for his incompetence. Most people knew better than to raise their wands at the staff, let alone at the one man who could possibly destroy Ezio’s entire life with the flick of his wrist. 

If the young boy in front of him thought that it was that simple to find answers, than he was going to be severely disconcerted when he realized that the entire world was nothing but a struggle. Riddle knew that better than anyone - there was struggle and dangers in life. If he had given up so easily on finding out what he needed to, should he even desire to have the young Ravenclaw become a part of his army? But there was the topic of breeding to be considered, and Ezio himself was bred in Pureblood society, perhaps outweighing the fact that he was too easy to give up when the going got tough, ”You haven’t been looking hard enough,” Riddle growled as he twisted his wand between his long bony fingers, silently watching the boy that stood in front of him. Ezio was spinning a tale inside his head; he could practically feel the boy’s emotions coming out as he spoke of his dearest cousin. It was obvious that he wanted to protect her...but from his father? Now that was curious enough indeed. 

Riddle pressed his thin lips together in a line, trying to find the proper words to lure the young boy into the trap that he was already concocting in his mind. If Ezio was to join his army, he would have the son of an influential Italian family at his disposal and perhaps a man that would come in handy as time went on, ”Do you expect me to care about such petty family affairs?” Riddle asked, as if he was thoroughly bored with the concept, ”Or perhaps-” He raised his dark eyes so that he was looking at Ezio with an interested and diligent stare, ”You want....help.” The man stated flatly.