tom-riddle-conoisseur

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Lord Voldemort would like you all to know that he has never, ever loved Harry Evans and will not miss him even a bit now that he has suddenly disappeared without any warning

He had never counted the number of caramel-coloured freckles on Evans's nose. Who does that? Only fools with more time on their hands and feeble hearts predisposed towards maudlin sentimentality.

He had never wondered if Harry Evans had freckles elsewhere on his body, too.

For him, who aspired to defeat Death, attain deityhood, and surpass all wizards in might, such frivolity is unseemly.

If one planned to be God, why waste time being Adam?

He had not spent sleepless nights contemplating whether Harry (who turned out to be a Parselmouth too) was kin or blood of his blood. Even if he were, what of it?

Only pathetic milksops, uncertain about their greatness and ability to forge their own destiny, yearn for somewhere they can belong... Lord Voldemort had been alone, a self-sufficient entity, an endless reservoir of magical power and brilliance, and had never needed to rely on anyone since the day he was born, and he has no plans of changing that.

He had never thought of smoothing Harry's rat's nest of hair. The boy's hair was a tragedy of epic proportions and beyond repair anyway.

He did not smell broomstick polish, treacle tart (which he considered an abomination among desserts), and ozone in his Amortentia Potion.

When the... dalliance started, he had never regarded it as more than a thought experiment. It was an itch he needed to get out of his system. After all, wasn't he being a 'normal' 16-year-old for once, rolling in the bedsheets with a pretty face, just like he was expected to? Why should this be anything more than that?

Even if they were jolly good most of the time, well, where Lord Voldemort was involved, a bit of rough tumbling would be unforgettable and exquisite. It is to be expected, as Lord Voldemort was excellence personified.

He was getting a sweet deal out of it. Harry's kisses, sometimes careful, tentative, and awkward, other times desperate and all-consuming like Fiendfyre, cleansed and healed him inside out, including his fragmented soul.

He had never wondered if he could install a piece of his soul in Evan's body, immortalise both of them. If a piece of his soul were to find a home, Evans would have made an adequate vessel.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

He was not in a lucid mind when these undoubtedly foolish thoughts pestered his mind. Coitus made one slow-witted, he supposed.

He had certainly not panicked to find Harry absent at breakfast one fine morning. He had not driven his Knights up the wall, asking them to search if that idiot had accidentally drowned himself in the Lake.

When weeks went by without any sign of the lanky, sweet-faced, green-eyed boy, he had certainly not missed him.

He had not Incendiod all tokens of Evans's affection—a green and silver handwoven shirt, a mountain of candies, and a Phoenix feather quill—as the radio broadcasted that blasted song by the Sphinxes, 'Your Love Is Like Crucio'.

He did not destroy all of his memorabilia (that he had left behind) in a bid to obliterate all traces of Evans.

He was certain the once smiling, goofy boy had, through some Curse undoubtedly, turned into a parasite that had infiltrated his system and refused to budge.

He had not lain awake deep into the midnight in his four-poster bed, patting the pillow beside him, being assaulted by a sense of sheer *wrongness* that it was empty. He did not feel hollow inside himself.

Lord Voldemort wanted the world to know that he had never, ever loved an impossible, incorrigible, and infuriating imp of a boy called Harry Evans.

Harry Evans can just go to Hell for all he cares.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

This is so Bellatrix Black coded

teri hatcher in soapdish (1991).

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Introducing my fancast for one Tom Marvolo Riddle- Jaeden Martell

In my HC, Tom Riddle was not really conventionally handsome , I.e- robust, and fitting the stereotypically masculine tall, dark and handsome archetype (although he's canonically very tall), but rather, eerily beautiful, ethereal like the stained glass angels in churches.

I was rewatching 'It' (2019) and also 'Defending Jacob' as well 'Knives Out' and thought this guy fits the pre-teen TMRJ in my mind palace to the T.

Chris Coulson was FANTASTIC as the teen and young adult Tom- charming, suave veneer, barely concealing his dramatic, unhinged self, but I do think Jaeden fits the passive aggressive, ethereally beautiful and feral pre-teen who probably gave Dumbledore some grey hairs very well.

He's just the right amount of magnificent and macabre, dainty and diabolical.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

HC: Tom probably prowled streets of London, both to get away from the cacophony consisting of Mrs Cole's shrewish shrill, Billy Stubb's donkeyish bark of laugh and the claustrophobia he felt in the dull, grey walls of Wool's. That, and it was a golden opportunity to have a refuge from the burned toast and tasteless lard. A disgrace in the name of food.

London's glacial temperature early in the morning made his teeth chatter, the rough pebbles cut into his feet giving him more blister. The smog made him cough till his eyes watered.

But it was a world bigger than the cesspit that was Wool's. A momentary escape. An assurance that he did not belong in that hell hole.

Also, he could merge with the crowd and exercise his magic to make notes fly from gentleman's pockets to his nimble fingers. He could nick a treacle tart from Simon's at White Haven without anyone being wiser.

And if Mr Floyd at Fleet Street found he was suddenly short of some cherrie pies?

Well, the old boy was getting on with his age wasn't he? Could hardly be trusted to keep a count of how many cakes were baked, how many were sold....

His pretty assistant what's her name, did tell him he had dementia to Tom's very sympathetic ears...

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Listen, I don't blame Harry for getting obsessed with fixing him and a wee bit starry eyed from Dumbledore's Pensieve if he looked anything like this

🖤 Tom Marvolo Riddle — commission for @wrengaunt 🖤

I’ve been itching to paint Tom for ages—and yes, Michael Bublé’s “Sway” was on an endless loop the whole time. Cheers for letting me have a go at him, mate. 🫂 Christmas has come early.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Alright, here’s the deal: just imagine a fic where they actually nail Tom and Harry’s dynamic — none of a watered-down, let’s-make-Tom-a-soft-boy. I’m talking real Tom Riddle—calculating, manipulative as hell, intimidating, but like…lowkey unraveling because Harry Potter waltzed in and flipped his world upside down. Tom’s over here meticulously orchestrating his dark plans, but Harry just exists, and suddenly all that control Tom’s so proud of? It's falling apart. And not in a “Oh no, I’m in love” kind of way. More like, “This boy has wormed his way into my soul, and I’m mad about it because how dare he make me feel this powerless.”

And Harry? He knows. Oh, he knows. He’s not playing dumb, but he’s also not just handing Tom the upper hand. Harry’s walking this tightrope between calling Tom out on his BS and having learned over time exactly how to exploit every one of his vulnerabilities. And Tom’s not even mad about it. He’s infuriated, but also? Obsessed. Addicted. He hates how much he needs it.

Like, give me scheming Tom who’s trying so hard to hold onto his dominance, only for Harry to casually dismantle him with a single bolder attitude. Let’s throw in some real tension, not just surface-level power struggles, but deep, emotional clashes where Tom’s the one falling apart at the seams, and Harry’s there, steady and solid, like, “Yeah, I see you. Every part of you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Because Harry? We know he also carries his cravings. Unspoken and quieter ones. A deep-seated longing and an unacknowledged desire to feel truly known and connected in a way that goes beyond the weight of any title. Someone who challenges and matches him at the same time.

And let’s be honest, this isn’t about softening Tom. It’s about stripping him bare. Making him real, raw, vulnerable in ways he despises but can’t escape. And Harry? He’s the catalyst, the one person who can see every crack in the mask and claim him—love him anyway.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

@tomarrymortmicrofics

Theme: Snarl

Words: 300

He wasn't breathing... he wasn't....

Tom's prodigious brain feels like mush when he looks at Harry staying unconscious even after five days after The Duel. Even now it struggled to process the events which led to Harry.... refusing to wake up.

Grindelwald had tried to inflict a Rib & Heart Crushing Curse on him but Harry, stupid and brave Harry, intercepted him by running into him. The curse hit a nearby 200-year-old tree, and it exploded.

In the ensuing scuffle, Grindelwald and Harry fall into the frozen Hogsmeade Lake.

They crashed headlong into it, leaving a gaping hole on the surface (and possibly somewhere in Tom's heart)

They disappeared, taking Tom's sanity with them.

The duo were discovered after a couple of days, both not dead yet but looking suspiciously like corpses, frozen to the bone.

Tom pokes his wand at Harry's unmoving face numerous times, and snarls, "Renervate!"

No answer. Figures Harry would be stubborn as always.

Tom was vaguely aware of his Knights trying to gingerly take him away, but he snapped at them, eyes barely moving from Harry's wan skin, which had now taken on an alarming shade of grey.

The once-pink lips were now frighteningly blue.

The only symptom he had not yet....gone, was the dull, weak, and sluggish heartbeat, so faint that Tom had to put his head on his chest to hear it.

And even that was slowing down, like it was too exhausted to keep beating.

Tom hoped Harry would wake. He must. He needed to.

Tom would not let him rest till he threw at least a dozen Stinging Hexes at him for being so moronic, such an impossible, thoughtless, incorrigible, idiotic, self-sacrificing fool of a boy.

Premise: Aftermath of the mandatory Grindelwald attacks Hogsmeade during Tomarry outing

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Also Tomarry vs Tomione ship wars are so pointless. More TMR content is a good thing yo!

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

Preface: I’m breaking this one down point by point, and then I am never responding to anything similar ever again. I will also not be posting anonymous responses to this. I hate being the middle man for a tumblr shipping war, so I’m not going to participate in that. If you want to respond, you can leave a comment or reblog it into your own page. 💖

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? 

The drama, the intensity, the wrongness, the clashing of opposites, the most extreme version of enemies to lovers…

This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. 

In some fics sure, yeah. But these are all really interesting - terrible, yes, but super interesting to dive into. There is a reason people like to read/watch psychological thrillers, horror, etc. I don’t feel like I should have to explain this very massive, common human drive, so I won’t. Go google it!

The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. 

Cool, you like these things too! And you’re completely allowed to prefer Hermione to Harry. Whatever you want to read.

Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. 

Strong disagree here - she did have that ambition imo, she just… wasn’t evil, and she became Minister of Magic in canon, so. Pretty ambitious and somewhat similar, just in the legal, ‘good’ way.

But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. 

Mm, no, she was a muggleborn, so in canon, a LOT of major shifts would have needed to happen for her to simply not be killed, or maybe tortured a hunch for fun, first, before eventually… being killed.

She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. 

Again, LOTS of things would have had to happen in canon for this to be even remotely possible. Unless you’re imagining some kind of AU where Tom Riddle is the same age as the trio, and they grow up together and can therefore influence each other on more equal footing…? But that’s Tom, not canon Voldemort, and you started this referencing Voldemort.

Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. 

Uh, would he? Assuming we’ve jumped over the impossible canon hurdles to get Hermione by Lord Voldemort’s side, by the time Hermione is even in the magical world, he’s been a bodiless spirit with a shredded soul for years. It would be a tall order for Hermione - or anyone - to make him more stable. I like arguing that Harry could sort of manage this in canon because of the horcrux connection, but that’s me making things up that are FAR from canon, and Hermione doesn’t have this. 

So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. 

Cool, your feelings are valid! You should probably stop thinking about Harrymort for your mental health. You can block tags/keywords/etc on tumblr so that you see less of it.

Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. 

Well, that’s not true, imo. Harry was the best at Defensive Magic, he was an amazing flier, he is brave and bold and puts his life on the line for others without question - even people who don’t deserve it and who tried to harm him, like Draco. Those are all extraordinary traits that maybe some people make the mistake of ignoring and underestimating. 

Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. 

If not for the horcrux, maybe not. But also, maybe. We don’t know what Harry would have been like if he grew up with a normal happy healthy family. Maybe he would have thrived in many ways, and he would have gleaned some interest. But even without that, see above comment to take note of some of Harry’s traits that he has despite growing up in an abusive home. Voldemort said himself that he values bravery. 

But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. 

None of this logic adds up to me. How can you say all this about Harry and not apply it to pretty much everyone else, including Hermione? Voldemort WAS far from empathetic. Canonically. And yeah, sure, no one would be able to fight forever. But if anyone has a fire that would last an infuriatingly long time, I’d argue that it would be Harry. 

My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . 

Obviously this depends on what the story is. If it’s a story that explores all those former themes, then it’s probably not a lovey dovey romance anyway. But there are definitely stories that don’t have all those dark subjects, and if someone wants to write a platonic romance where the word love shows up between these two, more power to them! But you don’t get to say everyone in the world can never do a single thing in their fiction. People can write whatever they want! And you get to decide not to read it! Everyone wins.

Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

I feel sorry for you. Where is your sense of curiosity, open-mindedness? Maybe you could never write these things convincingly, but some people are more talented than you (don’t take this too personally; no matter how good we are, there are always people more talented than us). It’s okay to not like things and to avoid them based on your comfort level/interest/etc etc, but just because you’re not looking doesn’t mean that such amazing jaw-dropping works that make you believe in the unbelievable aren’t out there.

💖

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

If there's something I learned in my time in the fandom, people like what they like. It's okay to have reservations against a ship but it's best of you keep it to yourself. If you absolutely... have to go to a shipping blog and ask writers and readers why they have an OTP that's your NOTP, least you can do is to watch your tone and keep it as non judgemental as possible. Demanding a detailed thesis on why someone ships another pair and not your favorite is rude af.

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

Preface: I’m breaking this one down point by point, and then I am never responding to anything similar ever again. I will also not be posting anonymous responses to this. I hate being the middle man for a tumblr shipping war, so I’m not going to participate in that. If you want to respond, you can leave a comment or reblog it into your own page. 💖

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? 

The drama, the intensity, the wrongness, the clashing of opposites, the most extreme version of enemies to lovers…

This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. 

In some fics sure, yeah. But these are all really interesting - terrible, yes, but super interesting to dive into. There is a reason people like to read/watch psychological thrillers, horror, etc. I don’t feel like I should have to explain this very massive, common human drive, so I won’t. Go google it!

The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. 

Cool, you like these things too! And you’re completely allowed to prefer Hermione to Harry. Whatever you want to read.

Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. 

Strong disagree here - she did have that ambition imo, she just… wasn’t evil, and she became Minister of Magic in canon, so. Pretty ambitious and somewhat similar, just in the legal, ‘good’ way.

But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. 

Mm, no, she was a muggleborn, so in canon, a LOT of major shifts would have needed to happen for her to simply not be killed, or maybe tortured a hunch for fun, first, before eventually… being killed.

She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. 

Again, LOTS of things would have had to happen in canon for this to be even remotely possible. Unless you’re imagining some kind of AU where Tom Riddle is the same age as the trio, and they grow up together and can therefore influence each other on more equal footing…? But that’s Tom, not canon Voldemort, and you started this referencing Voldemort.

Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. 

Uh, would he? Assuming we’ve jumped over the impossible canon hurdles to get Hermione by Lord Voldemort’s side, by the time Hermione is even in the magical world, he’s been a bodiless spirit with a shredded soul for years. It would be a tall order for Hermione - or anyone - to make him more stable. I like arguing that Harry could sort of manage this in canon because of the horcrux connection, but that’s me making things up that are FAR from canon, and Hermione doesn’t have this. 

So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. 

Cool, your feelings are valid! You should probably stop thinking about Harrymort for your mental health. You can block tags/keywords/etc on tumblr so that you see less of it.

Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. 

Well, that’s not true, imo. Harry was the best at Defensive Magic, he was an amazing flier, he is brave and bold and puts his life on the line for others without question - even people who don’t deserve it and who tried to harm him, like Draco. Those are all extraordinary traits that maybe some people make the mistake of ignoring and underestimating. 

Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. 

If not for the horcrux, maybe not. But also, maybe. We don’t know what Harry would have been like if he grew up with a normal happy healthy family. Maybe he would have thrived in many ways, and he would have gleaned some interest. But even without that, see above comment to take note of some of Harry’s traits that he has despite growing up in an abusive home. Voldemort said himself that he values bravery. 

But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. 

None of this logic adds up to me. How can you say all this about Harry and not apply it to pretty much everyone else, including Hermione? Voldemort WAS far from empathetic. Canonically. And yeah, sure, no one would be able to fight forever. But if anyone has a fire that would last an infuriatingly long time, I’d argue that it would be Harry. 

My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . 

Obviously this depends on what the story is. If it’s a story that explores all those former themes, then it’s probably not a lovey dovey romance anyway. But there are definitely stories that don’t have all those dark subjects, and if someone wants to write a platonic romance where the word love shows up between these two, more power to them! But you don’t get to say everyone in the world can never do a single thing in their fiction. People can write whatever they want! And you get to decide not to read it! Everyone wins.

Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

I feel sorry for you. Where is your sense of curiosity, open-mindedness? Maybe you could never write these things convincingly, but some people are more talented than you (don’t take this too personally; no matter how good we are, there are always people more talented than us). It’s okay to not like things and to avoid them based on your comfort level/interest/etc etc, but just because you’re not looking doesn’t mean that such amazing jaw-dropping works that make you believe in the unbelievable aren’t out there.

💖

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

I love characters who have not an iota of ethics, not a whisper of morals, not even a shade of scruples but is so whipped for their more idealistic love interest, that they begrudgingly, out of sheer exasperation and utter resignation born from love, allows them to be their moral compass.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Tom has a sound logic against falling in love... he loathes the word "fall"

He reasons... why is it people have to always fall in love. Why not rise, be uplifted, gain more power, transcend?

The word fall is enough to make him suspicious.

Falling indicates a fundamental lack of balance and grace. A weakness.

People born with silver spoons in their mouths and more gold in their vaults than grey matter in their head can afford to fall, as they will always land on a bed of feather or a satin cushion. They won't feel the impact when they slip. There will be someone to shield them from bruises, soften the blows.

They have a legacy and last names which guarantee them an apex spot in Wizarding society, a spot in the Ministry. They can afford to be poets and speak of love's ecstasy.

Tom doesn't want to fall. He knows if he does, no one will heed if he cries for help, if he smarts from the stinging pain. He was born alone and he has always been enough... for himself.

Tom wants to fly high, to ascend the heavens and conquer the skies as well as the world he inhabits. He will surpass every wizard living in might. He will reach the pinnacle of power, bring Wixen World to it's heyday.

Tom will be their God and Prophet and Sovereign and Saviour.

He won't fall. He can't afford to.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

When Harry found himself flung into the past, courtesy of tripping some bit of malfunctioning magic while repairing Hogwarts after the battle, he’d considered many possibilities resulting from his temporal displacement. He took into account his odd luck, his so-called hero complex, and the warnings about time magic he’d been given over the years. Given the givens, it was likely he couldn’t prevent his presence from having an effect on the timeline. But hopefully his awareness would help keep it from being anything world-ending.

At no point had he ever considered being on the receiving end of a terrifyingly earnest love confession from a twenty-two year old Tom Riddle.

“You can’t love me,” Harry insists, feeling a little desperate. “You don’t even know me.”

“Perhaps not, but you know me,” Riddle replies, gaze intent and hungry. “Do you have any idea how rare that is?”

He snorts. “Plenty of people know you–”

“They don’t. They know parts of me, or see what they want to see, or believe the performances I put on. But you,” Riddle says, tone hushed and reverent. “You know more than anyone else – the worst parts of me, and what I could become – and you’re still here. You haven’t left. You don’t even seem to dislike me.” 

Harry gives an ugly laugh. “Narcissist.”

“Don’t dismiss this,” Riddle says, a little anger finally starting to show. “I had resigned myself to being alone, because it was infinitely better than being with someone whose interest was so shallow and conditional.”

He can’t believe he's about to say this, but, “There are– will be others who, er, appreciate you.”

“Appreciate,” Tom hisses, voice dripping with contempt. “Would they still appreciate me if they knew the circumstances of my birth? That I was once Tom Marvolo Riddle, Borgin and Burkes’ sales clerk?”

And Harry finds it hard to imagine a Bellatrix that isn’t entirely, disturbingly infatuated with Voldemort, but aside from that and the violent insanity, her defining personality trait was being a blood purity bigot. It’s enough to make him hesitate, which Riddle seizes on as a victory.

“That's what I thought."

“I feel like you’re ignoring the most important point here, which is that I don't love you,” Harry shouts the last bit, hoping it’ll break through the other’s hardheadedness.

Riddle quiets for a moment, staring at Harry intently. “But you could.”

Harry deflates with a sad wheeze. “What?”

“You could,” Riddle repeats, voice growing firmer, more certain. “And you will.”

“You’re completely cracked,” Harry says in disbelief.

“I am persistent, and you are lonely and isolated by your circumstances,” Riddle says, walking towards the exit behind Harry, who tenses at the proximity. He pauses once he’s level with Harry, leaning in, breath brushing Harry’s neck as he speaks. “Eventually, I will win you over, Harry.”

Harry holds his shudder back until Riddle leaves, and locks the door behind him. Leaning his head against the door, Harry despondently wonders how things got to this point.

The worst part is he’s not sure Riddle’s wrong.

Promptober 2024: Persuasion, ominous, time travel AU

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

Tom is the heir of Slytherin, but he is a poor half blood. Dippet thought that Tom was muggle-born.

Yes? I mean someone can be the Heir of Slytherin and a poor half blood. It's not as incongruous as you think it is.

Being an heir to an Ancient and Noble House doesn't always come with material benefits and social mobility. Just because Harry received Heirship to House Black and was left Grimmauld Place and considerable amount of money by Sirius, doesn't mean everyone is so fortunate to go from rags to riches when they discover they are a descendent or Heir to a Sacred 28 family.

Nobility is not = wealth. Not a guarantee of it in the least.

Also, there's a dichotomy in how various half bloods are perceived in Wizarding World.

With the exception of some fanatic blood purists like Bellatrix, most people, even the more conservative factions of WW tolerate half bloods. At least the hate is not as vicious as towards Muggleborns.

But how half bloods will navigate Hogwarts and WW depends on a.) Their last name and b) Wealth or perceived status.

Harry, Tom and Severus are all half bloods.

But Harry, due to his Potter surname and generational wealth is at the apex of WW social totem pole while Tom and Severus languish at the very bottom and probably had to prove their worth and be subjected to anti Muggleborn and classicist taunts due to their Muggle last name and obvious poverty.

Remember, even with a Potter surname + resembling his Pureblood dad physically + considerable wealth, Harry faced taunts from Malfoy on his Mudblood mother.

Even though he hails from a Sacred 28 family, Ron had to deal with countless caustic remarks from Malfoy about his poverty.

Now imagine being half blood with a Muggle surname and being visibly poor at a time when society was more in your face and less subtle about blood purity.

What Severus and probably Tom had to contend with (at least until he found he was heir of Slytherin) will probably make your skin crawl.

Being a Half Blood is not the guaranteed get out of discrimination and social alienation card in certain Pureblood circles. Will hopefully make a post on this soon.

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

@tomarrymortmicrofics

Theme: Purity

Words: 300

When they were 8, Harry proudly handed Tom a bunch of peanuts he was given by Mr. Faber, the store owner, for being such dear and handling the customers when he was away.

"I wish they were diamonds," he grinned.

They were 17, standing outside the steel gates of the Riddle House, entirely dejected and thoroughly drenched, as it was raining cats and dogs.

His progenitor... Tom refused to refer to him as father, had gone white as a sheet seeing him, recoiling with sheer disgust. The family threw bundles of cash, begging them not to blacken their doorstep.

Harry had barely restrained him from snuffling the life out of them with one Avada. He was dragged out of the Manor, his prodigious brain in a whirl and refusing to function for once.

Harry looked at him, a dazed and heartbroken look in his eyes, and reached out to swipe at the inexplicably warm rainwater on his cheeks.

Harry stared at his wet fingers and clenched them into fists, and his eyes flashed gold.

Tom felt his jaw drop as there were four pieces of gleaming diamonds, sitting pretty on his palm.

Harry gave him a watery smile. "I wish they were peanuts."

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

The Black Sisters

[tom-riddle-conoisseur]

@tomarrymortmicrofics

Theme: Merriment

Words: 350

Time Travelling Harry and the Slytherins play Truth & Dare. Questions are asked about his first date and first love. Harry, bless him, who wasn't even aware that his first crush was not Cho Chang, ends up lying (and doesn't even know he's lying). Harry incidentally met Tom on Valentine's Day in COS.

"One word to describe your first date?"

"Disaster," Harry answered easily. He remembered how she ran out crying, leaving him sitting back at Madame Puddifoot's like a right fool.

The Lie Detector glowed silver, indicating he was telling the truth.

"Elaborate," urged Abraxas, gloating at an opportunity to laugh at Evan's expense.

"Um, well... I might have mentioned I was meeting another female friend of mine and she didn't..."

Harry was interrupted as the Detector glowed red.

Harry was dumbfounded. What on earth? He wasn't lying. He wasn't!

"He lies!" said Patricia Selwyn gleefully.

"What the heck did you do to sabotage your date?" Asked Riddle, his fathomless brown eyes gazing into his, a hint of gentle mockery in those obsidian depths.

"Who said it was me who 'sabotaged' it?" Harry snapped. To his relief, the Detector went silver.

Riddle fell silent, although those eyes glittered, their gaze never quite leaving Harry. After a while, he told his Knights, "Let's not gang up on the poor lad. We are all friends here, aren't we?

"Tell us about her. Was she pretty?" asked Claudius Lestrange.

"She was, um, very pretty, a regular showstopper," replied Harry. A few of the Slytherins frowned at the unfamiliar term.

Cho had been heartbreakingly beautiful indeed, not unlike the divine glass-stained angels at the Church, he often sought refuge in when the abuse got too much at the Dursleys. He had been in awe of her luminous pale skin and raven locks that sometimes appeared copper when the sunlight hit just right... 

It was a testament to what extent Voldemort had infiltrated his psyche that in his dreams nightmares, her ebony locks became curlier, her gentle smile turned just a shade malevolent, and her dark eyes held flecks of crimson. The divine curves transformed into sharp, thin, jutting angles. 

The Lie Detector burned red