It was the strangest feeling. All Tom could feel was pain, ripping through what felt like every fiber of his body. And yet, he was laughing. Tom Marvolo Riddle was laughing, a high cold laugh that sounded almost inhuman. That, he realized, was quite fitting, as he was no longer just another mere human. He had found the key to becoming more, so much more.

Tom had disposed of the girl, a mere tool to achieve his greatness, and used her death as a test case of sorts. It had worked beautifully. The power Tom gained by killing her had been channeled into the ancient ritual. With the secrets his research had unearthed, Tom had created a safeguard for his life. So, Tom didn’t mind the pain. In a strange way, he even enjoyed it. Feeling this pain made him feel strong, even though it felt as though he was being ripped open from the inside out.

Riddle laughed. He laughed at those too inept to learn his secrets, and too weak to face this pain. Soon, they wouldn’t matter. No one but him would matter. He would be the strongest soon. Never again could he be controlled, never again restricted. After all, he had killed once. He could do it again.