"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or am I going to have to force it out of you?" Mildred spoke softly as she nudged Veronica in the arm playfully as they both entered the Great Hall for breakfast the morning after.
Although it hadn't been worse than the night on the fifth floor, Veronica hadn't felt more violated than she had done until the night before. He had kissed her; out of all the cruel, downright nasty things Tom Riddle had subjected her to, the worst thing by far was the kiss they shared. She would shudder when she remembered his searing hot lips pressing against her own, still the same dominating Tom Riddle even when he did something as innocent as kiss her. Once again, he had chipped away at her. What was he trying to do to her? Play with her sanity and logic? Because she couldn't for the life of her understand why he had done it, nothing gave her the slightest inclining of why he did what he did and that's what upset her the most, there was no motive or desire to do what he had done.
"I take that as a no then..." Mildred trailed off innocently as she swung her legs over the bench. Veronica took her seat beside her friend, avoiding any sort of eye contact with the rest of the Slytherins that were talking aimlessly over breakfast for fear she might lock eyes with Tom.
"All right Ronnie?" Frances Whitehouse called over the long table. Veronica looked up shyly and gave a weak lopsided smile before resting her eyes back down to her plate of scrambled egg on toast. "What's wrong with her? She looks like she's been dragged backwards through the forbidden forest." Frances joked quietly to his friends.
The small circle of friends laughed except for one; Alphard Black didn't enjoy the choice of topic for jokes but regardless of such, the throbbing pain in his skull didn't do well for his mood either. "Oi leave it her alone." He grumbled as he thrust his plate away, deciding that over indulging on bacon wouldn't be wise on his queasy stomach.
"Oooo!" The group of boys all chorused together in high voices as they saw him withdraw from the table. As he passed he made sure to clip Frances's head with the back of his hand.
"Ron... "Mildred lowered her head down to look at her friend with eyes wide with curiosity "Ronnie you need to talk about it." She said sympathetically.
Veronica perked her head up at that point. "Talk about what?"
"Well whatever's bugging you. You look like you've been up half the night worrying. Why won't you talk to me about it? Maybe I can help or even Alphard, you know he's worried about you just as much as I am."
"Why is everyone worrying over me? There's nothing to worry about!" Veronica snapped irritatbly.
"No, my apologies Ronnie, I didn't think it was such a bad thing to care about someone." Mildred retorted bitterly. Instantly a wave of regret hit her and she suddenly became apologetic, being abrupt to her friend was never in Mildred's nature, this being a key reason why the Sorting Hat had stalled when it toyed with the idea of placing in the Hufflepuff house over Slytherin. "I'm sorry." She said quietly.
Veronica lent over caught Mildred's gaze, lowering her tone she said, "I'm sorry I've been a shit friend lately, really I am. I'd tell you what's going but its a little... complicated to say the least." She forced a small chuckle for Mildred's benefit.
Mildred looked up, all frustration drained from her cheery face. She was always so forgiving of others. "Well, I'm glad you admit it" She smiled. "Just remember I'm always here if you need to talk, you don't have to shut yourself off from the world. If you're upset, I'd like to know about it, maybe I can help."
Veronica tried to believe her friends kind words but she could only laugh at them. Mildred or anyone for that matter wouldn't ever be able to help her.
"Of course I don't need reminding you idiot and I'll try and bare that in mind." Veronica reached over slowly and retrieved a triangle of warm buttery toast from a plate in front of her. She nibbled on it, trying desperately to dwell away the nausea in her stomach before she continued, "Anyway, why don't we do something later? I'm not patrolling tonight and it's the least I can do since we've not spent much time together lately."
Mildred pondered a moment in a childish way before a beaming Veronica a huge smile."I'm thinking Firewhiskey. Lots and lots of Firewhiskey."
"Firewhiskey?" Veronica sneered. "And how do you suppose we get that? We're underage remember. Plus I seem to remember a certain somebody couldn't handle their drink last time." She gave her friend a playful nudge with her elbow.
"It was my first time bloody drinking Veronica! What did you expect? And what about Alphard and his friends? I've seen them getting drunk plenty of times. They always seem to end up playing Wizard Poker in the Common Room after necking the stuff, surely they wouldn't mind getting some for us?" She spoke up eagerly.
Veronica suddenly felt a jolt in her stomach, Alphard was another person Veronica was avoiding like the plague. "Nah, Alphard wouldn't." She tried to sound casual and convincing.
"What are you talking about? Alphard is your cousin, he'll do anything for you!" Mildred argued. "Plus he won't try and cheat us out of a dodgy deal like other people will." Veronica now needed to think quickly as to save herself the prospect of having to confide in Alphard about her situation, she already held a head full of problems from the night before, adding Alphard and his emotional baggage to the mix would more than likely send her over the edge.
"Look I just don't think he will, he's a little protective of me drinking, he doesn't like it." She lied in a hushed tone.
"Oh." Mildred responded gloomily.
"Don't worry though I'll think of something." She forced yet another smile and decided that if anything, she ought to try and finish her single slice of toast.
It was at that moment when she sensed a change, like she had somehow developed a sixth sense. Looking up she managed to catch a glimpse of Tom Riddle, striding past the stretch of the Slytherin table, not caring to throw her a second glance. That instantly repelled any faint hunger pains she might have had and she too thrust her plate away the same way Alphard did with his own.
"Does Riddle have anything to do with your bad mood?" Mildred suddenly piped up as she watched Veronica follow Tom's body with her eyes.
"No." She said all too quickly that it sounded ridiculous even to herself. "Why would it?"
Mildred rolled her eyes and agreed it was best to drop the subject, it was clear that something had happened between the pair but it wasn't her place to pry.
"It doesn't matter." Mildred groaned as she stabbed her fork harshly into her plate of sausage and egg.
Tom hadn't been able to sleep the night before; the signs of exhaustion were clear upon his face. As punishment for his weakness he had submerged himself into something deemed a penultimate night of careful planning. It was now that he should continue Salazar Slytherin's noble work of ridding the school of all the Muggle-Borns, thus opening the Chamber of Secrets. A death of one Mudblood would be sufficient enough to split the soul, but a mass of them would only make it better. The reason why? He had found out he was a direct decedent of Salazar Slytherin. The very thought made him swell with so much pride that it served as back up to the reason why he thought himself so highly compared to his peers in the first place.
According to Hogwarts: A History; The Chamber was in fact a myth as no-one, not even the other house founders had managed to find it. But he had. A lot of deducing and curiosity had paid off as he had found the entrance. A small engraved snake that sat plainly on a tap in the girl's bathroom on the second floor was the gateway to the home of a monster. A monster? He sneered. It was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. The Basilisk a creature of power and control and only he, the last known heir of Salazar Slytherin would be able to control it.
Tonight would be the night. Tonight would not only purge the school into peril but it would be one great step into purifying the magical world. The prospect of becoming immortal upon the death of a Mudblood was on the tip of his tongue now, soon all the planning will be paid off.
The boys' dormitory was quiet that afternoon. The other boys' who shared the dorm with Tom had long since vacated, they were afraid of ending up alone with him. Tom who was now perched upon his four poster bed looked down at a little black leather book in his hands, turning it over to peer at any imperfections that he might have missed, he stared down at the gold leaf lettering on the bottom of the book.
Tom Marvolo Riddle.
He detested his Muggle father's name just as much as he detested anybody else who had dirty blood. Tom was such a commonly used name regardless of who it was he was named after. He would never rise to power with such a pathetic name, he needed to change himself. He had already decided to split his soul, now he needed to change his name. He wanted a name that one day; all wizards would fear to speak, that whenever the mention of such a name would send a icy cold shiver down the person's spine.
Staring at the lettering he decided some clever deciphering would be in order. Perhaps he could make a name within his own? Pulling out a spare piece of parchment from his trunk along with a quill and ink pot he began jotting down his full name, carefully pulling out letters and rearranging them.
Seconds ticked by unknowingly as Tom continued to scratch out feeble attempts and only to try again but like a flash of brilliance, he had finally decided on what not only looked fearful, but sounded it as well. Peering down at the newly improved name he grew a self satisfied smirk.
I am Lord Voldemort.
After tonight, he would no longer be Tom Marvolo Riddle, he would become Lord Voldemort.
Veronica had run out of ideas of who to go to once she had ruled out Alphard. She was considering speaking to Frances Whitehouse but after the remark he made about her over breakfast she would rather speak to Peeves the poltergeist. She was far from admitting defeat but at the same time she couldn't ignore the fact she was completely out of suggestions. But she couldn't let Mildred down, not when Mildred had already proclaimed how excited she was.
Mildred had told a few of the Slytherin girls that there was a little get together in their dormitory much to Veronica's dislike so not only did she have the pressure of Mildred on shoulders, but also other people.
"I told Faith Holmes and Emily Gordan to come up at around eight if that's okay? That gives you plenty of time to get the drink." Mildred smiled happily. "Oh and I think your cousin overheard me" She said in a quick hushed tone hoping her friend wouldn't hear but Veronica had already heard. She snapped out of her bubble of thought with an irritated look.
"How much did Walburga hear exactly?" She asked. Mildred looked pained as she looked up at her friend with a fearful expression.
"She kind of heard everything..." At that moment Veronica groaned angrily into her hands. "But it's okay though! She said she knew who to go to, to get the Firewhiskey!" She smiled weakly, trying to see light of the situation.
Veronica removed her hands and looked at Mildred, who at this point looked as though she regretted saying anything. "Go on then, who?" She asked in a voice that seemed far from interested.
"I think she said something about Flick...Fl-"
"Did she say a last name?" Interrupted Veronica whose body was now completely draped across her bed; her long silvery blond hair hung airlessly as she doodled on a spare piece of parchment with her quill.
Mildred paused a moment in obvious thought before perking her head up excitedly. "Yeah! She said Donahue!"
Veronica snapped up suddenly, the parchment and quill flying into the air, her eyes squinting with rage. "Flint Donahue? Walburga knows Flint Donahue?" She was beginning to rant. "After all the grief I got last year for him asking me out! She's there speaking to him! 'Look at Ronnie getting all cozy with the Mudblood! I always knew she would drag this family's name through filth.'" She imitated a rather unrealistic, but all the same, whiny voice of her cousin Walburga. "Ugh! She's such a two faced troll!"
"Ronnie I'm sure she said she knew of him, not that she knew him personally." Mildred reasoned but this had little effect on Veronica's mood.
"Now that's a lie. I wouldn't trust Walburga as far as I could throw her. Maybe I should tell Uncle Pollux about who his precious daughter speaks to." She seethed.
"Do you really think that's wise? I mean with all the stuff going off with both your families, do you really think he's going to be so welcome to hear that and especially if it came from you? Aren't they still furious at you still refusing the wedding?" Mildred asked.
Veronica had completely forgotten about that. Not only had she forgot about the wedding, she had forgotten about how the family had temporarily disowned her. "They haven't spoken to me since I left for the train..." She trailed off in a calm detached tone.
"That's..." Mildred pondered a moment to think of a suitable word. "That's pretty bad, I mean I can't go for more than a couple of days without getting a letter from my mum asking me if I'm okay." She said modestly.
Veronica assumed Mildred had felt bad about upsetting her, about reminding her of the heartache and grief her parents had inflicted upon her but in actual fact, She felt very much normal. It didn't sting her as much as it had done when she was growing up; she was immune to it all. Perhaps Tom Riddle aided her in worrying about other things.
Veronica knew she ought to go and pay Flint Donahue a visit. He was, after all, her final option as much as she dreaded asking him for anything.
