Chapter 4
Emotions:
emotions are what guide us through our lives. They can cause us to take certain courses of action. Without emotions, we would not have motives to do certain tasks.
Harry briskly paced in the corridors of the third floor, his robes trailing behind him. He wanted nothing but to go outside for some fresh air to clear his racing mind. He almost felt like running at this point, yet he remained to strut his way outside. He finally stopped as he saw the cloudy nightsky.
She didn't get it. She really did not get it.
He knew that Violet has always been some sort of an idealist, dreaming of crazy possibilities that she will never see through. That was just a part of her personality that seemed to contradict her determined, albeit stubborn to the core, outlook. She had many paradoxes as a person. Yet every time he needed her, whenever he needed her, she had always been there for him. Always. There was never any doubt about her abilities to help him. Then why did he suddenly feel that she is not understanding the severity of their situation?
They were stuck in the past. In the damn past. The thought alone could make him freeze and tense up beyond any belief. Then why did that fact not seem to sink into Violet's head? She instead told him that now was their chance to finally take down Voldemort, their chance to change the future. That was well and all with Harry; he wanted nothing more than to do just that. Defeat Voldemort, change the course of things, and finally let this excruciatingly painful this war end in order to help all those whom he loved...But what about those people back home that they've left?
Just as he thought of them, he stomach lurched and he realized that he had walked all the way to the Courtyard. He stumbled a few steps until he found a bench and sat down. Even though he rather not open the wounds, Harry still let his mind wander to Hermione, Ron, Neville, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny...There, he felt a pang hit his heart as he thought of his fiery haired girlfriend. Then right after, his thoughts flashed to the beautiful, bushy haired Hermione. And then to the silly goof Ron, who was probably eating right now as he thought about him. He let out a small smile, remembering them. Lastly, his thoughts settled on the ever so stubborn Violet. He then looked up at the sky and took a deep breath in.
It wasn't her fault. She hadn't meant this to happen. She only wanted to see if she could somehow unearth the secrets of the diary that might have helped them. She was only trying to help him. And now, Violet felt that their only way to get back is to somehow defeat Tom Riddle in this time, and maybe, just maybe, it would throw them back into their own reality. It was not such a bad plan that she had. Taking down Tom Riddle would reverse the horrible actions that Voldemort had done. Isn't that what the whole point was? To destroy Voldemort at any cost, regardless of any sacrifices that one had to make?
Yet they had not even talked about it. They had not even had the chance to figure anything out, let alone plan anything. As soon as they had landed here, they turned to Dumbledore, who in turn enrolled them into this school term. They had not even processed where they were when they first met Tom Riddle. Hell, it had only been about five measly hours since they have been here. Five hours and they both had managed to fight, make up, fight again and run off.
His thoughts trailed off back to home. Harry realized that he had been home only five hours ago. He shook his head as if he was trying to shake the haziness away. Everything felt like it was going too fast. Being in the past, meeting Dumbledore, being sorted into Slytherin, and meeting the boy who was responsible for all his pain. It was too much to possibly take in a week, let alone five hours. He was barely coping with the fact that he saw his mentor, his almost like father figure, Dumbledore alive, and now he had to deal with being in the past with Riddle. It felt like it was going too fast because it is going to quickly. Doesn't Violet understand this?
But Violet must feel the same way as he did. Violet was only doing what they had all promised to do: eliminate the problem and then worry about the rest. Now, he suddenly felt guilty for attacking the one person who he had left by him right now. He felt guilty especially realizing that Violet is risking all that he is too, in order to help change the course of things. He felt himself sigh loudly. Then he heard small steps behind him.
"...Harry." She whispered when he turned and looked at her. Harry just simply nodded and motioned for her to sit next to him on the bench. When she sat down next to them, they both didn't say anything for awhile. It was getting cold out, and Violet crossed her arms, trying to stay warm.
"...I'm sorry." Harry said, still looking up.
"What?" Violet asked.
"I'm sorry for lashing out on you like that." Harry now looked at her through the thick darkness. "I shouldn't have done that."
"...It's fine." She shook her head, making out his eyes in the darkness. "You were frustrated and angry. I understand. I also provoked you with my stupid, insensitive comment."
"I know, but it still does not excuse my behavior. I was the one who instigated." Harry looked away again. "I forgot the fact that you, too, are going through the same things I am. We both are away from our friends...We are in the same position."
"That's true." Violet nodded, even though she knew he wouldn't see it.
"...I promise to be more supportive and open, as you have for me." He whispered.
"And I thank you for standing with me." Violet said. Then again, a comfortable silence fell upon them as they stared at the night sky that cleared up to uncover twinkling stars. But they were automatically alert when they heard a small noise behind them which caused them to jump up and face none of than Tom Riddle.
"I am sorry." Riddle spoke in the darkness, his form almost melting into it. "I did not mean to startle you both."
"It's okay." Harry said, letting himself outwardly relax.
"Forgive me, but it is past curfew." Riddle jumped right to the point. "It is against the rules for students to wander the castle afterhours. This means I will have to subtract 5 points each from Slytherin. Also, I must ask you to return to your dormitories."
"We were lost." Violet thought quickly, so it did not seem so suspicious. "This is our first night in this huge castle, and we took a wrong turn and lost our ways."
"Yes, we could not keep up with our other housemates after dinner." Harry went on with her lie.
"Ah, that makes more sense." They could not tell if he bought it or not due to his polite voice. "Let me guide you back to Slytherin's dungeons."
"Thank you, Riddle." Violet murmured as he began to turn around and she followed behind him as Harry trailed her.
As they all walked into the well lit castle, Riddle looked at them from the corner of his eye.
"I really hoped that Headmaster Dippet would have given you some sort of directions around the place." Riddle mused.
"Yes, but he was really busy, so we understand." Harry shrugged.
"Ah, yes, it seems so." Riddle nodded, perfectly absorbing every word. He was taller than Harry by many inches and even more so than Violet, who walked in between the two. He perfectly gilded as he walked, his back straight and hands folded behind. Riddle was one who held reserve, yet a powerful aura that can be sensed. "So, Headmaster Dippet mentioned you both were home schooled." This was not a question.
"Yes, we were." Violet looked onwards as she felt his stare.
"What made you change your mind and come to England?" He asked, his tone hinted curiosity.
"I have actually been here since I was twelve, and that is when I started to see our tutor." Violet thought up a lie, yet she felt her head starting to hurt. The thought made her eyes wide as she realized that Riddle was using Legilimency on her, yet she resisted his control.
"Then we started lessons together and we have been friends since." Harry must have caught on because his voice was slightly, yet unnoticably to Riddle, strained.
"And now you both have decided to come to Hogwarts." Riddle finally gave up after feeling their strong Occlumency reserve.
"After our tutor became ill, we decided that it was best if we come to Hogwarts." Violet nodded, now peering a glance at Riddle who seemed to hang on every word.
They both knew that their story would be suspicious to him. If he was the Tom Riddle that they presumed him to be, then he was so much more analytical and manipulative than he lead onto be. Right now, he was keeping false pretenses up in order to lower their guards as well as keep up his perfect Tom Riddle facade. No, they knew that as they were speaking Riddle was probably trying to break into their minds and would be surprised to see that he couldn't penetrate their walls. This would automatically make him interested in Harry and Violet more than anyone else in the castle. Which meant that Harry and Violet had gotten what they wanted...They had irrevocable peaked Tom Riddle's interest.
When they finally approached Slytherin' common room, Riddle turned around and addressed them after their silent walk to the Dungeons. There was not a soul in sight, so they figured that they Slytherins must be asleep, which seemed to fairly surprise them. Had they really been gone that late where everyone was off to bed? It appeared so because the common room had resonated no sound except the crackling of the fireplace.
"You both will see that arrangements for your arrivals have been made, and that your beds are ready." Riddle gestured towards the stairs which lead to the separate dormitories. "The boys dormitories are on the right whereas the girls are on the left. "Since I am Head Boy and a Prefect, I will need to remind you that neither gender can enter the other's room. Your rooms are also shared by four other students." Riddle politely went over all the rules that Violet and Harry had known since their first year, yet they appeared to be vigilant and nod at every rule. "Also, you will be given your schedule of classes by mail, and you will need to be at the Great Hall by 7:30." When Harry and Violet nodded, Riddle placed another fake, yet very believable, smile. "Now, I shall bid you goodnight for I have yet to complete my rounds." At this he stepped back, with poised routine, and went off his way.
When they had made sure that they were alone and that Riddle had left, Harry turned to Violet and whispered, "We don't even know what date it is today."
"Oh Merlin, you're right…" She slumped onto the leather couches as Harry sat in front of the chairs by the fireplace. "We should have just looked at the papers when we had a chance. Riddle had only dated the year too…"
"I guess we'll find out tomorrow when we get our schedule of classes." He grumbled with a note of disdain in his voice.
"Oh lord, I thought we would never have to say that again!" Violet complained, almost stomping the ground.
"Well, at least we can count on Dumbledore to make sure our classes are the same as Riddle's." Harry mused. "It'll help us get closer to him."
At this Violet leaned over and whispered, "Harry...Do you think it'll work?" Before Harry answered, he casted a spell that she knew was a Silencing Spell, so no one would overhear them even though they knew no one could possibly be around here, even Riddle.
"...I don't know." Harry muttered, looking into the fire. "He seems to be very...dangerously manipulative and analytical…"
"I think he will know if we are trying too hard to get close to him." Violet thought aloud.
"Yeah.." Harry nodded. "I think we need to let him come to us. And by the looks of it, he already seems to be….intrigued."
"You think so?" She asked, looking into the fire as well.
"The fact that the two of us showed up out of nowhere, both were home schooled by the same teacher, both happened to be sorted into Slytherin after two Hatstalls, also both of us happen to be very skilled in Occlumency maybe even in Legilimency, and also lost in the castle while talking in the dark…" Harry looked up at her as she stared back. "Yeah, I think we've managed to be as suspicious as possibly while getting his attention." At this a small grin appeared on his face as Violet followed as well. "Let's not forget the fact that one of us is American as well."
"Oh man, we really do seem shady to say the least." Violet sat back shaking her head while the small grin still played on her face.
"Yes, just a lil bit." Harry grinned.
"Well, at least we got his attention." Violet now looked into the fire again. Again, none of them said anything until she spoke up again. "So...what is our plan?"
Harry sighed, "I was hoping you had one."
Before she could say anything, they heard a small sound. Thinking that it might be Riddle again, Harry and Violet jumped out of their chairs and headed towards the stairs. They would not be helping their case if Riddle saw them talking again this late at night.
"We will talk whenever we have time!" Violet whispered, eyes still glued towards the entrance just in case Riddle walked in.
"Yes, I agree." Harry quickly said back. "Goodnight, Vi. I'll see you in the morning." She nodded as she patted his back and he left up the stairs while she did the same.
As Violet ran up the stairs, she realized that she had no idea where she would actually be staying. She turned to the first door and opened it to see that all the girls were already sleeping soundly in their beds. Then she turned to the next door only to see that the same thing occured: all the beds were taken. She felt herself curse at Riddle for not telling her exactly where her bed was located, so that way she didn't have to carry her exhausted body door to door looking for her bed. For a minute, she even wondered if Harry was having the same luck as her finding his room. But then she shook her head and decided that no one had worse luck than her and that he had probably found his way to his place, successfully. She almost groaned loudly before a thought occurred to her.
No, it couldn't. She thought walking to the fifth door. Before she pushed the door open, she looked at the knob for a second, and then quietly turned the knob. She noticed the fourth bed was empty and had a suitcase sitting on top of it. She smiled widely and felt a rush of love for Dumbledore since he had given her her old room and bed. She would have to find a way to thank him propusely again for always looking out for her and everyone else in her life.
She carefully tiptoed her way to the bed and looked at the suitcase. She whispered Wingardium Leviosa and lifted the suitcase up from the bed, and placed it on the other side. She furrowed her brows as she saw that there was a note on the bed addressed to her. She picked it up and realized that it was from Dumbledore, himself. She smiled again as she read the note.
Miss Violet Virk,
I hope that these clothes and suitcase will do for now. I will also be giving you your classes tomorrow. I wish you the best this following year.
PS, I hear the Transfiguration Professor is quite the teacher.
At this, Violet could almost see the old Professor's twinkling eyes and amused smile. She really did look forward on taking his class from any other. She set the note down and prepared for bed. But just before she was getting in, she heard a voice that almost made her scream. Instead she fell back into bed, eyes like a toad.
"Sorry, Violet." Margot giggled groggily, snuggled up in the bed beside Violet's.
"Oh Merlin! Margot, you almost made me soil my robes!" Violet hissed with her hand on her chest, her heart slowly calming down from the scare.
"I'm sorry." Margot still had a smile on her face. "What happened to you after dinner? Alphard and I lost you and Harry."
"Well Harry and I were all kinds of lost." Violet muttered to her while climbing into the warm bed. She now realized how cold she truly was, but did not have time to process it until now. "We saw you guys heading out and tried to follow you, but you guys were gone. And a group of Slytherin boys stopped us from heading upstairs."
"Wow, was it Riddle and his gang of hooligans?" Margot now propped up herself on one elbow, looking intently at Violet, and then face palmed herself. "Wait, how can I expect you to know anyone? You're new here." Before Violet could respond, she went on. "I'm talking about fifth year dark haired gorgeous dark prince of a guy. Tom Riddle." Violet felt herself swallow at the description as she realized that that is exactly who Riddle is. A handsome Dark Prince, and she inwardly cringed at being so cliche.
"Yeah, I met him." Violet nodded, averting her gaze while biting her lip. "You think he's good looking?"
"Anyone with eyes can see that he is Salazar's gift on earth." Margot said as Violet's heart lurched at the irony of Margot's words. If only she knew that that was exactly where Riddle was from. "But I find him more…." Margot searched for the words.
"Creepy." Violet looked over to her.
"...Yeah. That would fit." Margot shrugged. "He just seems too perfect." Violet almost called out Riddle's facade, but then bit her lip. "But he's always seemed nice to me. His friends are horrible though."
"I saw them...well, minus Riddle." Violet told Margot.
"What did they say?" Margot lowered her eyes.
"Nothing, Riddle stepped in before." Violet shrugged.
"Yes, that sounds like them. Listening to his every command." Margot grimaced.
"So, what do they do that makes you upset?" Violet asked, even though she could guess.
"Well, they don't say anything to me really." She said. "But they pick on everyone who isn't a Slytherin though...I think it may have to do with racism like who is a more richer family and purebloods, but I really don't know…" Violet seemed shocked to learn that Margot had gathered this fact even though it was way too early for anyone to know about Riddle and the Death Eaters hate on everything less than Purebloods. "They pick on my friend in Ravenclaw. Oh, and they tend to say some rude comments to Alphard here and there, but they mostly just ignore him."
"Why Alphard?" Violet knew they answer again though.
"Well, Alphard is nice to everyone. He talks to everyone and well loved among all the houses." Margot smirked, as if she were proud of him. "His cousins on the other hand are vile creatures in Riddle's posse."
"Hmm, I see." Violet nodded, but she ended up yawning loudly. She forgot how excruciatingly tired her body was.
"Oh, silly me!" Margot whispered loudly. "I forgot how tired you must be. Go to sleep and we will talk in the morning."
"Thank you, Margot." Violet smiled.
"Yes, get all the rest you can because you will need it." Margot remarked, falling back on her bed again. "You have to catch up on the three weeks on this term that you missed."
"Three weeks?" She almost exclaimed, and the other girls silently groaned in their sleep at her loud voice.
"Yeah, tomorrow it'll be the 28 of September. Well almost four weeks if you look at it..." Margot amused, while her voice trailing back to sleep. "Goodnight." She then she was out.
Violet looked up at the ceiling of her four poster bed and tried to absorb all that she had seen just today. Just hours ago, she had been what her friends and Harry, eating dinner and making jokes. And now she was here, re-enrolled into Hogwarts, running into Tom Riddle, who was the sole reason that she had been here. She wanted to scream and cry about all that her and Harry would have to face, but she realized that there was no use in doing so. In the end, Harry and she would have to still somehow take down Riddle and find a way to reverse all the horrible things he had done.
She felt herself ponder more and more, trying to fight the sleep that was quickly consuming her. She still had to formulate plans, she had to quickly decide what to do. Her and Harry had to make sure that no one was suspicious about their story and avert anyone's attention from them for now. The more she thought, the more she started to drive herself insane. Her head began to pound loudly in her ears, and she had a sudden urge to just scream again. But instead she took a couple of deep breaths calmed down. She couldn't just act like a petulant child who constantly complained; she needed to hone her emotions and become more rational. She took a few more breaths and closed her eyes. And then, her busy mind slowly became quiet, and she quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
