A/N: Thank you for all of your reviews, Micchi-chan. We are nearing the end of the first book...
Disclaimer: I do not own "Harry Potter". I only own my OC's.
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Riddled Spider Web
The newly-formed couple was walking the second floor, Azure faintly realizing they had passed by a wall in which used to be a message in blood. Their friend had left them some while ago due to an "emergency". Both were aware that he was going to the dungeons where he kept Aragog.
To make things more difficult, the Headmaster had reinforced the curfew that began at nine on the dot, which meant Ru had to be careful or he would get caught by Prefects or teachers. Despite the students grudgingly accepting it, the curfew was the school's last preventive measure against the strange incidents that had occurred since mid-October: first-years and second-years getting attacked at night and not recalling anything about it, stray Bludgers seriously injuring students outside of the Quidditch training grounds…
The majority of them were Muggle-borns, including three that had been found Petrified on 27th May, 5th June and 9th June, respectively: the third-year Hufflepuff Leonard Fairchild, the second year Ravenclaw-Wilma Embers and the fourth-year Gryffindor Hung Chang.
At the same time, threatening messages had appeared on some corridors, all of them addressed to the "Enemies of the Heir".
She knew it was their doing, as in the students who bullied others because of "lesser blood status". Suspiciously, almost all of them were in Slytherin and gravitated towards Riddle. His two most frequent companions were Avery and Lestrange, the former being someone who tormented girls just for kicks...
Biting her lip, she recalled the duel against Avery in 24th November 1939. She had gone first, throwing an "Expelliarmus". He had easily avoided it and aimed a "Carpe Retractum", which she could not deflect. Gasping for air as the chain tightened around her neck, she quickly glanced at a calm face in the audience: Tom Riddle. Wand pointed out at the end of the chain, she yelled "Reducto", destroying it in pieces.
Furiously kicking the wand out of Avery's hand, she had grabbed his tie and punched him. He fell to the ground, muttering the words "Blood-traitor". If those Prefects hadn't stopped her from hitting him again, Avery's bruised ego would not be the only thing he had to heal.
Months later, she would repeat the second year. In March of 1942, she met Myrtle Elizabeth Warren. Once she learned about her classmate's situation, she decided to take charge; whenever a student's life had been endangered intentionally by other students – she never forgot a face or a name – she would become violent towards the culprits, not discriminating by gender, as certain annoying blondes could attest.
She hated bullying, period.
"If we are the Musketeers," Myrtle began to say as they passed by many portraits, some of the people depicted there gathering around and placing bets while they glanced at the face-down cards on the table. "Who would be Cardinal Richelieu?"
Azure blinked at the sudden question. Cardinal Richelieu was the foursome's enemy, but unlike Roquefort who was explicitly an enemy and later an ally of D'Artagnan, Richelieu had remained highly antagonistic towards the end of the novel.
Only the twit was perfect for the role. Richelieu had many contacts and was always plotting something to discredit the protagonists. Riddle was the same; he had a lot of influence and he was a true believer in blood purity. A member of the "Slug Club" she also reluctantly belonged to – although she never interacted with them in Professor Slughorn's parties, excusing herself with a "narcolepsy crisis" that she was sure Professor Slughorn didn't completely believe it –, he was the leader of his little not-so-much merry band of "friends".
She clicked her tongue at the last word. Minions would be the correct word.
"My first Potions partner," she almost spat. Yesterday, she had noticed the twit looking at her, the usual polite smile replaced by a predatory one. The message was clear: something will happen soon and you will not be able to do a thing to stop it.
But what? What could possibly happen? What is he waiting for?
Suddenly, flashes of a bathroom stall different from the others and of a dream replayed in her mind.
"Azure…hey, Azure!" The petite kept shaking her, but no sound came off the other's mouth. A trickle of blood began falling down her lips and nose. "Azure!"
She coughed and glanced at her trembling hand, eyes widening at the red liquid on her palm. "I want you to promise me…" She rasped, coughing more blood, eyes facing a horrified Myrtle. "...For the next days, stay away from that bathroom on the first floor. If you find yourself crying, do not enter that bathroom!"
"Forget about that!" Myrtle snapped, grabbing Azure's hand and pulling it. "We need to get you to Madam Burnett!"
"Listen to me! In my last dream...the Heir of Slytherin and I…we opened the Chamber," she said shakily, feeling the blood travelling down her neckline. "And you died on that bathroom."
Collapsing on the floor, she started convulsing, blood seeping from her again-opened scars on her wrists, her head being invaded by a series of memories…memories of a familiar handsome face smiling coldly at her, promises of death and suffering being whispered to her ear as she realized she would be forced to forget the truth about Hogwarts' prodigy…
Memories she was supposed to forget.
"R…Rid…" She tried to say, the words coming out as a strangled sound. Damn him!
"Azure" Myrtle cried and pointed her wand at Azure's body. "Anapneo!"
She coughed again, sensing the effects of the spell easing the block on her throat. Myrtle kneeled before her, bespectacled eyes full of concern. "Go back to your room and stay there!" Azure said between gasps while desperately grabbing Myrtle's shoulders. "You are in danger...please, just go...before it's too late."
"What are you talking about?" The petite asked weakly. "You're scaring me..."
Gritting her teeth, she managed to say, "He will kill you-"
"Petrificus Totalus."
As rigidness took over their bodies, she began hearing the sound of steps getting closer and cursed herself for her carelessness. The spider had made its move…and they had been caught in its web.
The girls' frozen bodies had fallen to the ground like flat boards. Ashlane had that desperate look he had seen countless times directed at the other's eyes who showed equal concern and alarm for the former.
He then pointed the wand at Mudblood's forehead before pausing in his intentions of Obliviate her. While the original plan was that they would forget about each other's existence, he had promised to the taller one that she would watch as he commanded the Serpent of Slytherin to kill the ignorant bespectacled girl, while the other girl felt nothing but helplessness. And Tom Riddle always kept his promises.
From what I had been told about this girl, she was constantly pushed around by her classmates until Ashlane interfered. One of them was particularly adamant in tormenting her…
"Avery," he addressed his "friend" who was harshly nudging the Mudblood's face with his shoe. "Who was the Mudblood's worst enemy before she met Ashlane?"
"Some Ravenclaw named Hornby…Olive. Olive Hornby," Avery replied nonchalantly. "Very fit for a fourteen, blonde, Half-blood. She was always making the Mudblood cry, calling her constantly 'Moaning Myrtle'. The Mudblood would lock herself in the girl's bathroom on the first floor for hours. In fact, she hated this school and attempted to off herself. She is nothing special as a student. Or even as a girl." He looked down at Ashlane with contempt. "Until the day we got this spanner thrown in the works."
Avery was the most knowledgeable when it came to intelligence on the school's female body. Beneath his "ladies man" mask was someone who tormented girls he was seeing or not. Usually, the girl was rational enough to keep her mouth shut, fearing to be cursed or worse. Sometimes Avery ended up cursing them…because it amused him.
"Now, not even that Hagrid is seen without being in the company of this couple," Lestrange spat, kicking harshly the plain girl's backside. "A Mudblood and a traître de sang together. C'est repugnant."
Tom dismissed this as another proof of how Ashlane had grown weaker than the last years. The hatred and the defiance were always there but she had made others an easy target. It would be a pleasure to watch how she slowly became overwhelmed by pain and grief at the loss of her "loved" ones.
He only needed someone secluded to test his theory – to simply Petrify Mudbloods was no longer enough for him if he wanted Ashlane to truly suffer by his hand and at the same time, create it. And her Mudblood was too much of an opportunity to not let pass by. He allowed himself a wry smile; that Muggle saying "know thy enemy" was accurate.
"Lord Voldemort?" Lestrange called respectfully. "What are your orders?"
Tom's smile widened, the thrill of the kill making his body tremble of excitement.
Now, how to make sure the Mudblood would go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, breaking curfew…
Then, he had an idea. And all he needed was that Hornby girl.
"Olive Hornby's memories are about to change a teeny bit...may I be of assistance?"
Unsurprisingly, Avery was the one who had answered; he had a quick-thinking Tom grudgingly admitted to "like" – in fact, he didn't like anyone or anything – making him a good pawn to use. He was as good as any Slytherin: cunning, ambitious and resourceful.
"Don't take too much or the suspicions will grow," Tom replied smoothly. "Collins 'partial amnesia' was quickly identified as a memory-altering Charm."
"Always worried. But you know how careful I am. I won't fail."
Failure is not an option, Avery, the Prefect thought darkly as his Knight left the corridor to carry out a very delicate task. Not for any of Lord Voldemort's followers.
He sent a curt nod to Lestrange, the latter pulling Ashlane's Petrified body out of the ground like a sack of potatoes. The Heir of Slytherin knew that despite this state, she was still conscious during the entire time, making this a lot more entertaining. "It will happen tonight, Ashlane," he whispered to his enemy, his fingers mock-caressing her tears. "And the only thing you will be able to do is to watch."
Turning to Lestrange, he ordered his Knight to take her to the Hospital Wing. "Make sure you're not seen," he warned the brunet, who bowed before doing as he had been told. Tom pointed his wand at the Warren girl. "Imperio." As the sweet-smelling aroma of the Curse hit his target, he started to mentally instruct the girl's mind, her eyes becoming glassy. "Finite."
The girl began walking towards the direction of the Ravenclaw Tower. Smirking, he went in the opposite direction.
Ashlane had sealed the Mudblood's Fate when she met her.
Please, review!