I had only been at Hogwarts just over a week but I was already getting bored, the lessons here were so far behind what I had already covered most of the Professors were already giving me more advanced material for homework rather than what everyone else was getting. I was also missing my old friends I had owl'd them once borrowing Lily's owl Muffin but had yet to receive any replies. Hogwarts was still wonderful, I loved my new friends even if they didn't get on together. Regulus, Sirius brother had tagged along with Lucy and Sev once when we met by the lake and he isn't as bad as everyone believes, just like Lucy he is afraid of what his family will do they aren't as brave as Sirius was and couldn't face being disowned. I had also met Barty Crouch Jr. and he seemed slightly unhinged, I didn't like spending time with him but I did it for Sev. The Marauders were not too happy with my Slytherin company but for the most part their pranks were now less vicious and more funny, only one cruel prank had been administered and that was to Sirius's cousin Bellatrix who was even more unhinged than Barty. I had to admit that Hogwarts had something that Beauxbatons did not, and I couldn't put my finger on it.
It was a Sunday night and I was just finishing off my homework in Runes after already completing, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, DADA, COMC and Herbology. I had been up here for hours and was bored out of my mind, until an owl came barreling through my window dropping a letter into my lap before flying off into the night. I sighed before checking the letter for spells in case it was a prank note from my brother and his friends, when the results were clear I opened it. It merely said
Dear Rose
Meet me at the lake tonight at 8pm
Xxx
I had no idea what to do so I did the first thing that came into my head and that was to call for Lily, she was in my room quick as a flash looking exasperated 'Thank merlin you called, those girls were driving me insane!' she shouted as she slammed my door before plonking herself down on to my bed. 'Now what's wrong you look terrified' she uttered taking the parchment from my hand 'Oh my, who do you think it could be from' she asked shaking her head in wonder 'I have no idea, but I'm really worried it's a prank or something to get me into trouble' I replied thinking deeply 'I don't know, you've been getting a lot of male attention since you turned up. Are you going to go?' she asked 'I think I have to, I need to know who it's from and if its serious' I said before getting up and going towards my wardrobe 'Want any help' Lily asked gleefully eyeing my clothes 'I'd love some actually' I replied with a grin really getting into this, Lily helped me to straighten my hair before pining some of it back leaving a few curly tendrils to frame my face, before doing my make up very simply with bare eye makeup and rich red lips. She told me I looked like the muggle fairy princess Snow White from a muggle picture by a man named Disney, I was very confused so she just shook her head and continued shoving me into clothes until we found something we agreed on.
The outfit of choice was a gorgeous red dress that had a wraparound front and deep v front and back, while coming in at the waist and then out slightly til it hit mid-thigh. On my feet I wore a pair of DM's in case it was a prank and I had to run away, two birds one stone. Lily thought I looked amazing and was about to push me out of the door when we realized the Marauders would be in the common room and would stop me leaving, until Lily had the genius idea that I use my broom to fly down to lake. That way I could see who was waiting and if it was a set up, and escape easily if needs be. Lily agreed to stay in my room to make sure I got back safely, and she was going to stay over she we could talk when I get back. I took the leap of faith from my window my broom guiding and I knew it was too late to turn back now. I wondered who could possibly be waiting for me, and I had no idea who I wanted to be their either. I didn't even know if I wanted it to be a prank or not. As I got closer to the lake I saw a lone figure standing skimming stones along the water from this height I wasn't sure who it was especially because of how dark it was down there, I circled over again before landing behind some tree's on the lake's shore and walking towards the person standing there waiting.
I took a deep breath before walking out from behind the wooded area and towards the boy standing there, he had his back to me but was dressed in an expensive looking suit, I still couldn't tell who it was so I decided to go first 'Hello, you said to meet you here' I asked loudly so when they turned I could get away if needed, I wasn't getting a good feeling about this man, as he turned I was stunned. I had never met someone so handsome before. He was older, too old to be a student but not by much his skin was pale and almost glowed in the moonlight, his hair was dark I couldn't tell if it was black or brown and he had aristocratic features with striking emerald green eyes. He was tall but not as tall as my brother or his friends, I would say he was only around 6ft. But he exuded power, I could feel it rushing off of him in waves, his magic was almost as strong as mine when left uncontrolled. He smiled at me but it wasn't a pleasant smile, it was like one a predator gives its prey 'So nice to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you' he said in a strong voice that had almost a snake like hiss to it. 'Thank you, but I'm afraid I have no idea who you are' I replied gripping my wand behind my hand, ready to fire a spell at a moment's notice. 'Well let me introduce myself, you can call me Tom but others call me My Lord' he retorted his smile growing even larger.
I froze, what on earth Voldemort doing here, wanting to meet me 'What do you want with me' I asked trying to subtly move away until I felt a something cool and scaly touch my legs, I looked down to see a giant snake. 'Nagini will not harm you, until I tell her to, and the answer to your question is complicated, you've been told many secrets and many lies. I just wanted to see if the rumours were true' He responded moving closer to me. I was terrified, but I had no idea what to do, and his words were running through my head. 'What secrets, tell me now. You clearly know what's been hidden. And what Rumours?' I replied trying to keep my voice even so he didn't know how afraid I was. 'The rumour that a girl attending Hogwarts shows intelligence not seen since I was a student. If one shows such greatness I must clearly keep an eye on the situation. My followers were not getting information fast enough for my liking, and they didn't tell me just how exquisite you are' his monologue continued all the while I was trying to figure a way out of this 'Sorry to interrupt but I told my friend Lily I would send a patronous if all was well, so she doesn't alert my friends to me being gone. I wouldn't want her to sound the alarm' I informed him hoping I would not be caught out in this lie. 'Very well send your message I am looking forward to seeing the form your Patronus take'. I silently cast the spell and out of my wand appeared my patronus a large silvery wolf, 'Tell Lily I'm fine and not to worry. Use the code Maruaders Map to show I'm not under duress'. I only hoped Lily would get the message, I had no idea what would happen otherwise.
'I see your occulumency shields are strong and well-practised' He said to break the silence that had fallen over us 'Sadly I cannot say the same for those fools that approach us. The Patronus was a smart trick, I underestimated you Rose' he added on before stepping back and casting a curse at me before I could draw my wand 'sensus tempestatem' he yelled my shield wasn't strong enough to protect from such a dark spell, I screamed in agony, it felt like my mind was on fire, I couldn't move my body was frozen until I smashed to the ground. I could hear footsteps approaching rapidly. 'Til we meet again' he uttered before turning into black smoke and disappearing taking the snake with him. My screams were getting hoarse I could feel my throat start to bleed, as my body started to convulse caused by a spell I'd never even heard of. 'ROSE' I could hear my brother yell followed quickly by a 'we need to get her to the hospital wing' I remember no more because as I saw my brothers worried face I slipped into the darkness.
I woke up in a white room, and I had no idea how I got there, the last thing I remembered was finishing lessons Friday night and playing chess with Sirius. I tried to speak but no sound would come out panicking I tried to get up from the bed I was laying on and in doing so caused fire to burn through my body it was like nothing I had ever felt before. My movement set off an alarm and in rushed a woman in a healers uniform who introduced herself as Madam Pomfery before shoving various potions down my throat 'What happened to me' I enquired my voice sounding hoarse and nothing like it had before 'Will my voice always be like this' I asked in quick succession. 'We were hoping you would remember that Rose' said Dumbledore who had suddenly appeared by my side 'and your voice should go back to normal in a few days' added in Madam Pomfery. 'What's the last thing you remember child' he asked kindly, 'It was Friday night and I'd just had dinner, and me and Sirius played wizards chest, but it goes blank I don't even know who won' I replied tears forming in my eyes. 'Oh my, this is unexpected' Dumbledore said with a sigh, 'from the information we have gathered it appears that on Sunday night you went to meet a mysterious person down by the lake at 8pm. Around 8:30 Lily received a patronus from you asking for help, she got your brother and his friends and at around 8:45 they reached the lake finding you alone and screaming on its shores. No one has any idea who you met, and the parchment turned itself to ashes once Lily left your room. Do you have any questions so far' Dumbledore enquired. 'No, if no one knows what happened, and it sounds like it was my fault for agreeing to meet someone I didn't know' I replied sadly. 'Don't blame yourself my dear, it's only natural that you would have been curious enough to follow the note, and you told someone where you were going so it was easy to find you. And you even found a way to get help. However this method was quickly found out I'm guessing because your friends reached you very quickly.' He pondered. He left shortly after and I was told that when my friends came to collect me I could go up to the dorm.
James had cried when he saw I was awake before swiftly carrying me up to my dorm despite my protests that I could walk, my friends were all waiting in my room for me including Sev and Lucy. I was settled and eating chocolate before the questions started 'Do you remember who you met' James asked anxiously he was twitching, his hand was constantly touching his wand as if to remind him it was there and could keep him and me safe. 'The last thing I remember is playing chess with Sirius Friday night after dinner, but I can't even remember how the game ended just that it happened. Did anyone tell you what they think I was spelled with?' I asked curiously, 'Dumbledore said it was a spell called sensus tempestatem but I have no idea what it does' Remus replied giving my hand a squeeze, Lucy, Sirius and Sev paled drastically at that news 'What does the spell do?' Lily asked gently knowing that if only they knew it, that it was a dark spell. 'It's one of the darkest spells ever created, the only reason it's not an unforgivable is that so few people have the strength to cast it.' Lucius replied before being cut off by Sirius 'Its name roughly means mind storm, and that exactly what it does, it sets fire to your brain causing pain while wiping memories at the same time, and the caster doesn't even have to stay close, once the curse has been cast it's almost impossible to shield.' Everyone shuddered at that 'I don't think any student could of cast it, that means it was either a teacher or someone was in the grounds who shouldn't of been' Sev added on. 'Well when Lily came down and explained we looked on the map for you, and you were standing with someone name Tom Riddle, does that name ring any bells with anyone?' James asked. A resounding set of No's were said by all.
We sat in silence until I thought of something 'Why don't I tell Dumbledore the name and say I remember a man introducing himself but that's it' I enquired thoughtfully. 'It's worth a try, want to go now?' James asked getting up as though to help me. 'Might as well get this over and done with, I'll see you all tomorrow, I'm sure you've got to be up for classes' everyone grumbled but agreed and left with us only James staying with me to go and see Dumbledore. When we got to the gargoyle it opened automatically so we followed the stairs in his office. 'What can I help you with' he asked in his grandfatherly manner. 'I remember a name, he was man and his name was Tom, Tom Riddle' I replied watching as the colour left his face, 'are you sure' he asked urgently looking panicked 'Yes I'm very sure' I replied getting nervous. 'Go back to your dorms and stay there, Rose have someone stay in your room with you please. Now hurry I've got lots to think about' he stated dismissing us clearly. We went back to Gryffindor Tower and after James had settled me in bed he went to get Lily to stay with me. I sighed going before going to sleep, Lily was already snoring but I had too much to think about. The main thing being who was Tom Riddle and why did he curse me?
