Riddle's Plea

Future-Past*

    We made our way out of the Room of Requirement, our voices quiet and footsteps light. The closer we got to Dumbledore's office I noticed Vienna growing more somber. "Are you alright?" I placed a gentle hand on her lower back, gathering her from her thoughts and causing her to give me a sad smile. I hated the sad smiles. "There are so many things I haven't told you." Her voice was just barely above a whisper as we walked. "I'm just concerned about Albus." I tried not to roll my eyes at the mention of the Crooked Nose Old Coot of a Professor but my will wasn't strong enough, earning me another smack from Vienna.  It wasn't long before we found ourselves standing in front of his office. Vienna took a deep breath before knocking twice on the  door and it was only moments later when a tired "Come in" was heard from inside. Hesitantly Vienna opened the door and walked in, the three of us following silently behind her. 

    Albus Dumbledore sat tiredly behind his desk, his eyes sad and puffy, the grey had seemed to become more prominent in his auburn hair and matching beard. The usual annoying twinkle that was in his eyes seemed to have faded drastically and even I was starting to become concerned about the Old Man's health. "Albus..." Vienna takes a few steps towards him, a hand outstretched, but she seemed to catch herself and stopped abruptly. "Vienna." He stands from his chair, practically limping around his desk and finally stopping in front of her. "I'm sorry." Vienna's eyes filled with tears and her breath hitched and I found myself walking towards her only to stop with a look from Dumbledore. "Vienna. You have nothing to be sorry for." A few tears escaped from her eyes and she shook her head with his words. "But I killed him Albus. I killed Gellert. All those people are gone because of me." Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh before gently bringing her into his arms, a few tears escaping from his own eyes. "It was what needed to happen. Your magic did what it was supposed to do. It protected you. It protected the people you care for. That is hardly not your fault Vienna." He releases her and holds her at arms length. "Gellert was a dangerous man. If he would have somehow managed to manipulate you into doing his bidding, we would have had to say good-bye to the world as we know it. You know this just as much as I do. You were not meant to help Gellert with his plans for corruption, you were meant to bring happiness and joy to someone who needs it most." Once he finished his sentence his eyes met mine before meeting Vienna's again. "That doesn't make it any better Albus. It still makes me a murderer." Dumbledore shook his head at her words and gave the top of her head a pat. "Do not dwell on this Vienna. You struggle enough as it is with all that you've been through. It will do you no good to think like that." Vienna lets out a defeated sigh before nodding and Dumbledore took a few steps away from her before glancing at the rest of us again. "So you finally told them." Vienna nodded her head and he gave her a more genuine smile. "I was panicking when I got back. It just kind of fell out. They took it rather well I think, despite the initial shock. Which by the way Albus, how did I get back to the castle? Also, do you know where my wand is?" 

    Dumbledore motioned us all over to some comfy looking chairs by the fireplace and we all hesitantly took a seat. "I'm afraid I did not find your wand Vienna. As to how you got back to the castle....I sent you back." Vienna's face fell and then turned into a mixture of confusion. "But how did you know that I could be sent back?" Dumbledore let out a chuckle before responding. "Well Tom of course." Olivia and Ab's confused eyes fell onto me, while my confused gaze was switching between Dumbledore and Vienna. "Of course Tom knew. Much help he was. He could have at least warned me that I was going to be kidnapped don't you think?" Dumbledore let out another chuckle, some of that annoying twinkle returning to his eyes. "Who's Tom?" Olivia's confused voice perks up, voicing the question that was rolling through my head. "Oh. Um." Vienna looked highly uncomfortable, directly avoiding my gaze and I couldn't help but feel a tiniest bit of jealousy. "Well. It's the older Tom Riddle. Not your dad Tom...you from my original time." My mouth fell open in absolute shock with her words. "The future-past Dark Lord me?" Vienna and Dumbledore both let out a chuckle at my shock. "Yes. You see when you sent me back...well the future-past you...you managed to somehow integrate a way so that you could check in on me. That's how I know I've been doing a good job. Every time I've stopped you from doing something horrible, his appearance has changed." It took a few moments for my brain to catch up but when it did that tiniest bit of jealousy had transformed into a raging dragon. "You've been sneaking around...with the future-past me?" I tried to keep my voice in check, but Vienna caught on immediately and gave me another cheeky smile. "No need for that Tom. He just gives me some helpful tips here and there about dealing with himself...or in this case...you." Beside me Olivia sputtered and Abraxas let out a hearty laugh. "Vienna that's cheating as well!" 

     There was only idle chit-chat afterwards, Vienna made absolutely certain that Dumbledore was going to be alright and me realizing that maybe the Old Coot wasn't so bad after all. It was after we had said goodnight to Dumbledore and were walking back to the common room that I questioned her reasoning. "Because Albus and Gellert used to be lovers." I had halted so quickly in my tracks that Vienna didn't even realize I had stopped and kept on walking. "What?" She spun around confused for a moment before her eyes landed on me. "Come on  Tom. Is it really that hard to understand?" I gave her what I thought was a menacing growl but she only just chuckled. "I'm tired. I want to go to bed so that I can dream about having my wand back someday." She pulled out he Elder Wand, giving it a look of utter loathing and causing me to chuckle. "Guess your going to have to keep the damn thing love."