My mother’s husband left me when I was an unborn child in her womb. What kind of a man does that? Isn’t much of a man at all. Does it matter that he was tricked into matrimony? My mother’s love for him must have been real for she lost the will to live when he left. She chose to die for a man who didn’t want her rather than live for a boy who could have grown to love her.
So it came about that the two people who were supposed to love me unconditionally decided they didn’t want to. That’s how I landed up in an orphanage.
Love is a strange thing. It left me an orphan.
I never did grow to love Love. Never had need of it. Now ‘Power’ – that is something else. Power is what gets my heart beating. Heady, potent, intoxicating, empowering. Power.
I am special – I always was. I knew that – even when I was all alone in that crummy little orphanage, even before I discovered I had special powers, before the white bearded man came to take me away to that special school. I knew I was destined to rule the world one day.
I went to the school. I won over all the teachers, except perhaps the white bearded man. I became the model student – a prefect, a head-boy. I looked and listened, asked and found, wheedled and charmed my way to seek knowledge. For knowledge is power. I learnt. I learnt all I could, secrets so sinister professors shuddered to tell, magic so potent no one dare try it. None but I. I was special. I was preparing… knowing that a time would come when I’d realise my dream – that of becoming the most powerful man on earth.
Friends, relatives, loved ones – they slow you down. I don’t want them, I have no need of them. I work best alone. But I have followers, plenty of them. They rush to do my bidding. Some come out of fear, some because they need protection and some because they want a share of my power. They swear fidelity unto death. I make sure they keep their word.
I have enemies too, I know that. Every great man does. I never forget one (I made sure my ‘father’ met his just deserts). I know they will be vicious and violent and unforgiving. They will try to kill me. But I’m ready. I’ll beat them yet. I shall be immortal. It is possible, you know. Everything is possible, if you know how. They seek my soul but never will they find it for mine is split seven times over and hidden away. Even if my body is annihilated, I shall come back, more powerful than ever.
I am unstoppable, unconquered.
I am Lord Voldemort.
Note: Just wondered what it would be like if Voldemort aka Tom Riddle ever told his story.
*************
Linking up to ABC Wednesday for the letter V, with grateful thanks to Mrs Nesbitt who get’s me writing every week.
Well, this made me cringe but so spellbinding too.
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That sounds like a compliment. Thank You :-).
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that name came right up, at my first glance of your entry…and thankfully i was right and is this story not your own !
Have a nice abc-day / – week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
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It’s just a re-telling from a different perspective. Thanks for dropping by, as always Melody.
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its always good to look at things from multiple perspectives, is it not? 😉
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I am glad that the sinister Voldemort is not the Lord of the world. There is always a Harry Potter around!
Have a great week!
Wil, ABCWTeam
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Yes me too. There always is a Harry for every Voldemort.
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lovely.
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Thank you Sasha.
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Totally digging your post today. I love Harry Potter.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
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I love Harry Potter too. Thanks.
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ALMOST feel sorry for him. Almost.
ROG, ABCW
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That was the idea Roger.
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Very well written.
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Thank you Rajesh.
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Great post that presents a different perspective, and it echoes a thought that always troubles me when I hear of mass-shootings where the shooters come from broken homes. It makes me wonder whether some of the blame rests with the parents too. A mother who wasn’t capable of taking care of a child but brought it in the world nevertheless, a father who disappeared after impregnating the mother…why is it that the parents of such children are never nabbed and made to answer some hard questions? Glad that Shailaja’s blog sent me here.
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Thanks for dropping by Anand. You’re right. The seed of a future anarchist is sowed in his/her childhood. The parents should definitely be held accountable.
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Well done, Tulika. I love Harry Potter. I loved the way you presented Voldemort’s story here. “Love is a strange thing. It left me an orphan.
I never did grow to love Love.”
The book is all about the power of love. The one thing Voldemort failed to learn and use.
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Yes right Vinitha. It was the power of love that finally defeated him.
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Hey, are you planning a sequel to the HP series? You could do a great job. Loved the perspective from the other side.
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Oooh that’s the best compliment I’ve had so far. Thank you Zephyr.
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Awesome! Almost like you interviewed him. 🙂
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That’s a frightening thought. I’d have all my attention on Nagini if I ever went to interview Voldermot and I very much doubt he’d open his heart to anyone. He was incapable of it I would think.
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This is such persuasive narration. I almost felt sorry for him, and then I reminded myself who he was, and where my loyalties lie. 😛 😉
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He did have a sad start in life but he always had evil in him even as a child.
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Loved this perspective…Tom Riddle grew with so much anger and hatred, of course he didn’t grow up to love Love! Brilliant! 🙂
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Thanks Aditi. You’re right. Who knows what he would have been had he been brought up in a loving home.
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Well done! I can believe this is what happened to Thomas Riddle. Knowing his beginning has me feeling sorry for him and understanding how he got the way he did. But, it doesn’t excuse him for being so evil with his power. Ah, if only someone had taken the time time hug and kiss him and sing a lullaby when he was a very young one.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
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Right. There is no excuse for evil and he was unapologetically so.
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I loved it. I am always interested in the stories that made the villains who they were.
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Thanks. Yeah just like the heroes, the villains have stories too.
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Wonderful!!!
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Thank you Ruchi.
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Wow!! THIS! This is excellent stuff! I ❤ HP!
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Thanks Sreesha. I love HP too. Each character is so real.
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Exactly!
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I have not read a single HP book but the narration here kept me hooked to the last. Amazing word power in this.
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Thank you Indrani.
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I really love this. Such an interesting take on the other side. I am going to tweet this and tag J K Rowling. Let’s see if she responds 🙂
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Thanks Shailaja. Tweeting is so not my style. Glad I have you for that :-).
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Ahh! The sinister Voldemort has his moment! Somehow, I think the villian in any story is the one his creator, the writer spends more time on. The more effective the writer is in portraying the terrifying aspects of the villian, the more heroic, the protagonist comes off! Loved He who must not be named’s autobiography 🙂
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That’s true – he has to be as powerful as the protagonist – well at least almost as powerful – for the story to be captivating.
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I can’t seem to leave a comment on your post for ABC-Wednesday… so i do it here
I love Pooh, his quotes are even simple as wonderful. !!
Have a nice ABC-day/-week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
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The backstory of troubled or troubling characters always make for interesting stories and this one was brilliantly weaved. It kept me hooked on until the end. I
googled Lord Voldemort as I haven’t read Harry Potter, waiting for few more years to read together with D (only if his other half genes do not prove to be successful in taking him, moving him away from books and reading).
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Thank you Anamika. I shall wait for you to fall in love with Harry Potter.
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