Mind Games//Tom Riddle

Prologue

Darkness engulfed the vast forest as thousands of glittering stars gathered in the sky during the cold and damp evening. Large, deep green, coniferous trees surrounded the small shack in a blanket for miles and miles on end, keeping the place hidden from a bird's eye view. No one would be able to find it unless they distinctly looked up and down the rows of tightly knitted trees, no one except the owner itself. But, tonight was different from most nights. Not only had someone found it, but they had managed to bring along a companion to accompany them on the little field trip.

The quiet forest was disturbed by a loud cracking noise akin to a clap of thunder. A old wizard with deep purple robes seemed to appear out of thin air followed by a thump and a groan. The curious man peered through his half moon spectacles and gave a hearty chuckle at the sight before him. He watched as his young companion paled and turned a few unhealthy shades of green before promptly spilling his guts over the shrubbery. The boy mumbled under his breath and stood up. Collecting his thoughts Harry Potter sighed in confusion, "That was apparition?!" He placed a hand over his head and rubbed his temples for a moment before he gazed back up at his headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded and examined his surroundings.There wasn't much to see, as most of their surroundings were shrouded in a sheet of black velvet from the night. "Professor, where are we?" Harry questioned.

The professor responded by raising his wand, emitting a bright sweeping light. Their surroundings became visible. Trees stood tall and restless over their heads, disturbed by the brightness. Finally, Dumbledore looked down at his young pupil, and began to walk, waving his hand for Harry to follow, "We are in the center of the Albanian Forest, of course." They came to a stop in front of the small shack, which appeared abandoned and torn apart from the outside. "Professor, I don't understand-"

"Shh, Harry, do you smell that?" Professor Dumbledore responded. He raised his wand in front of him, and gave a small wave. It was then that a ripple appeared, revealing a shield barrier that had been cast around the perimeter of the raggedy shack.

The scent Dumbledore had asked about became more apparent to Harry. It smelt as if someone had just been baking chocolate chip cookies. But, they were in the middle of the forest, and that wasn't possible. As Harry took notice of the now visible shield in front of him, he began to understand that maybe something was being hidden, hidden by magic.

Dumbledore turned to Harry, "It's a protective charm, a very strong one but we should be able to get through just fine," He stated, before he turned back to the shield and began firing spells at it in a rapid pace. "Stand back Harry!"

After several minutes a crack began to form in the shield, and it soon became larger and larger until it was just big enough to fit the two of them. Dumbledore, slowly stepped through the barrier, followed by a now curious Harry. As soon as the two of them entered through the barrier, it began to reform, seemingly swallowing them up in the new territory. Harry jumped in surprise, his green eyes still glued on the mysterious protective shield. He turned sharply at the sound of crunching leaves. Dumbledore seemed to be walking once more. But, what Harry saw next left him the most surprised.

Where the once small beaten down shack stood was a large, looming stone mansion. The mansion was taller than it was wide, gloomy and uneven. The surrounding trees stretched out over the sides of the house, as if they were reaching out to give the mansion a hug. The home would be considered cold and harsh if it weren't for the large windows casting a golden glow onto the garden from within the home. The small garden contained a beaten down marble fountain which looked as if it hadn't been touched in ages. The water contained within was murky with plant decay and full of unidentifiable creatures that swished through the water. Long, wispy, bouts of ivy grew up the sides of the cold stone walls, encasing the home in eerie beauty. Nothing else could be seen by the naked eye, as most of the property was sunken in pitch black, with the exception of the light emitting from the tall front windows.