Little Angel Tom

"...It was Christmas Eve, 1927, and you were born in the heavy snow. Your mother closed her eyes only after giving you this name..." The kind old woman reached out and stroked the exquisite, angel-like boy's hair, which was as soft as feathers, dark as ink.

Tom's dark eyes sparkled as he lay on the old woman's lap, listening to the story he had heard countless times. "Headmaster~ Why did my mother never wake up? Did she not like me, so she abandoned me?"

The old Headmaster sighed. Facing a three-year-old child, she couldn't bear to tell the little fellow what death was. "Little Tom~ She was your mother, how could she not love you? She just became Taurus in the sky~ Just like her name, Merope Gaunt, she will be watching you forever."

"Really~" The light in Tom's eyes grew brighter. He slid off the old Headmaster's lap, flapped his little legs, and ran to the window. He climbed onto a stool, reached out his fair little hands to the night sky, and called, "Mom~ I'm here! You have to watch me carefully!"

Gazing gently at the child's innocent actions, the old Headmaster prayed in her heart for the poor child, wishing God would bless Tom, allowing him to maintain a pure soul forever, just like the heavy snow on the day he was born—clean and pure.

"Alright~ Tom, come here quickly. It's time for bed. Do you want to hear another story today?"

Hearing the old Headmaster's call, Tom cheered happily. In the orphanage, he liked the old Headmaster the most. Unlike the disliked Mrs. Cole, who would pinch his arm when no one was looking, or the other children who would bully him.

"Headmaster, I'll grow up quickly and earn a lot of money to give it all to you!" Tom was led by the old Headmaster's rough, thin hand, tilting his little head with a serious expression. He had seen the Headmaster secretly share her food with others, only drinking water to fill her stomach. If she had money, the Headmaster wouldn't have to go hungry like this!

Suppressing the itch in her throat, the old Headmaster smiled lovingly. This little fellow was the best-looking, most well-behaved, and sensible child in Wool's Orphanage, and also the one who made her heart ache the most. He wouldn't complain to her when he was bullied.

If only that young woman were still alive...

"Okay~ The Headmaster will wait for you. We're here, lie down quickly. I'll stay here until you fall asleep."

Tom nodded his little head obediently and climbed onto the thin, hard bed. He took off his clothes and burrowed into the cold covers, shivering involuntarily. He smiled and bid the Headmaster goodnight. "Headmaster~ Can you tell me what my mother looked like again? I'm afraid I'll forget."

Reaching out to tuck the corner of the blanket, the old Headmaster chuckled and kissed Tom's forehead. "Of course~ I'll keep telling you until you remember..."

"Your mother, like you, had long, dark hair. Although she was very thin then, her eyes were full of love... 'Tom Marvolo Riddle, Tom, I love you,' were her last words. I think she must have been looking forward to your birth because she loved you very much, Tom..."

Tom closed his eyes in contentment. He didn't yet understand what love was, but he was still very happy. At least he knew his mother hadn't abandoned him here. Perhaps he would find other family members someday, and then he might understand what the Headmaster meant by love.

However, there was one thing he was sure of: he really liked this kind and benevolent Headmaster. He wished she could stay with him forever until he understood 'love'.

In his dream, Tom saw a woman, small and plain-looking, her eyes fixed on his face. It was a strange feeling, as if she were looking at someone else through him.