Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

The Dark Side of Adrian

Although I wasn't convinced, Fred and George insisted that they had a reason for chaining me to Harry. "We had to keep the both of you out of the way", George said from where he was sitting on the floor in front of his bed.

"Why?" I asked as I did an open arm shrug. I was feeling a bit exacerbated. It's unclear if the cause is because I'm not used to being kept out of the loop or because I had just spent an excessive amount of time in the bathroom. That being the first thing I did once the magic holding Harry and me together wore off. The second thing I did was to hunt down Fred and George.

Sitting across from George with the Marauders' map spread out between them, Fred looked at me. "We get a lot more done when we're not worried about you spontaneously dying. It's the same for Ron and Hermione with Harry".

I frowned. So, ignoring the first implication of what Fred said. "Ron and Hermione are involved?"

Fred nodded as George answered, "They're going to be our lookouts".

Moving over to George's bed, I flopped down on the mattress stomach first. I was tired enough that I had to mull over what they were saying before it would make sense. Even though what my brothers were saying was relatively simple. "You came up with a plan". It was a statement but came out sounding like a question.

"We did", Fred answered in the affirmative.

I waited for him to continue. When he nor George did, I picked up my head to stare at him. "So, what is it?" Why were they keeping me in suspense? Building a sense of drama wasn't something Fred and George normally subscribed to. They prefer a quick punchline.

George fixed me with his version of a stubborn look. One that made his pupils appear smaller than they actually were. "It's better if you don't know". Which is a sentence that I always enjoy hearing.

Pinched the bridge of my nose, I said, "I think I'm in a little too deep for you two to exclude me". And that's without mentioning that we wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for me. Guilt gnawed at my conscious. Whatever plan Fred and George had concocted, I should be standing the front line to take on the mess of it as the responsible party.

Fred repeated George but added a little more. "It's better if you don't know because you're going to play decoy".

"The less you know about what Fred and I will be doing the better", George picked up where Fred left off. "Just in case you're not a good decoy".

Not a good decoy? Just George saying that was making me nervous. "That way, if Lockhart figures out that you're a fake he won't be able to get any information out of you because you genuinely won't know".

My spine stiffened and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. "You want me to distract Lockhart". Again, it wasn't a question. But it sounded like one.

Fred turned his whole body towards me. He waited until we had made eye contact. And once I was focused on him, he said, "I know you're scared, Holls. George and I don't want you to do this either. But Lockhart mistaking you as one of You-Know-Who's Horcruxes is something we need to use. We're not going to get an opportunity like this again".

George shifted where he was sitting so he was facing me too. "And we have to act fast, because who knows how long it will take for Lockhart to figure out that he got it wrong".

Looking away from Fred and George to create some sort of privacy, I tried to collect my thoughts. I comprehended what they were saying and knew they were right. Still, though. To have to be alone with Lockhart/ Riddle again… I shuddered as I suffered through visions of that night in Snape's classroom and of that night with Jessie's murderer. It wasn't their intention. But it felt like Fred and George were asking me to face my demons before I was ready to do so. Still, what was worse? Avoiding Lockhart for as long as possible and wait to be cornered again, or facing him and hopefully get rid of him? After a short moment, I found my Gryffindor nerve and looked at Fred and George once more. "How do you want me to distract him?"


Turning to an old bad habit of internalizing all my feelings, I worked to keep my face blank as I lead Lockhart/ Riddle to the seventh-floor corridor. If I were three years older, I'd demand a drink after this night. But sadly, I know I'm not lucky enough to get away with underage drinking. Once we were close to the tapestry of the trolls learning how to dance ballet, I turned to face Lockhart/ Riddle. "We have a deal, right?" I sought confirmation. "I show you where the third Horcrux is and cooperate, and you'll leave my family alone?"

Riddle's sinister gaze felt out of place in Lockhart's body. He rolled his eyes at me with an impatient air. "Yes, my dear. You behave like a good little Horcrux and I will spare your blood traitor family". Lockhart/ Riddle waved a hand at me to hurry up.

With stiff limbs, I faced forward towards a seemingly normal wall. Who would have guessed that You-Know-Who was snarky as a teenager? With a breath that was big enough to make my shoulders hunch up to my ears on the inhale, I started pacing in front of the wall. I need to find Ravenclaw's diadem, but not easily, I thought. I turned on my heel and continued thinking. I need to find Ravenclaw's diadem, but not easily.

"What are you doing?" Riddle snarled accusingly. Because how dare I have the gall to pace in front of a wall and waste his time. Then, I did something I never thought I would do; I ignored a psychopath.

Pacing in front of the wall for the third time, I repeated the same thought. I need to find Ravenclaw's diadem, but not easily. With that little ritual done, I paused in front of the wall and stared at it. Merlin, please. Let me have thought the right thought. Please let the room of requirement sense that I have an actual need. I could feel Riddle's borrowed eyes on me as seconds that felt like minutes ticked by consisting of me just staring at the wall. What would happen if I couldn't get us into the room of requirement? What was I supposed to do with Riddle then? I didn't know exactly what Fred and George were doing, but I knew they'd need more time. Maybe I could convince Riddle that visiting the shrieking shack was worth his while. Although, it had nothing to do with Horcruxes, and I wasn't too keen on leaving the castle Lockhart/ Riddle. Just when I started to think that it wasn't going to work, I nervously flicked my eyes in the possessed Lockhart's direction. He was standing with his arms crossed and an irritable expression was pressed into his flawless skin. But when I looked back at the wall a door made of a dark oak wavered into existence. Oh, thank Merlin.

Stepping forward I grabbed onto the handle and swung it open. Moving aside, I held it open for Riddle to enter first. Unfolding his arms, Lockhart/ Riddle let them hang stiffly at his sides as he stepped forward. "The Room of Requirement," he said as he surveyed the doorway as if he expected it to chomp down on him as soon as he was under it.

"Yes", I answered honestly, even though I wasn't sure if he meant his statement as a question. The more truthful I am with Riddle the easier it will be to get away with lying to him when I absolutely have to. Or, so I hope. "I don't know how many people know about it. It's mentioned in Hogwarts, A History. But it only appears when someone needs it".

Lockhart/ Riddle walked through the doorway. Which allowed me to take a brief second to muster up what I could of my finite amount of bravery before I followed him; closing the door behind me. Riddle stood in front of me as he took in the room of hidden things. And it was definitely a sight to behold. Stacks upon stacks of miscellaneous crates and trunks loomed over us. From where I was standing, I could spy a harp, more chandeliers than one person would ever need, and what looked suspiciously like a human skeleton. Possibly, not a real one.

"Of course, I know what the room or requirement is", Riddle snapped. "I've been searching for it since my second-year".

"That must mean the original you found it after he made you", I said. Maybe if I stroked Riddle's ego, I could turn his ire away from me. "I only know how to get in this room because of our creator's memories". It was a struggle to refer to You-Know-Who as 'our creator' with a straight face. It left a sour taste in my mouth; like spoiled dairy.

Riddle/ Lockhart hmmed in an unimpressed manner, but I read it as him being appeased. "Ravenclaw's diadem", Riddle said as he looked over his shoulder at me. "Where did I hide it? I feel something in this room. But I cannot decipher if it is you or the diadem."

I shrugged and prayed I wouldn't be punished for it. "I don't know. I only get flashes of your memory. I only know that you hide it in this room".

Clicking his tongue like was an irritable fly he couldn't get rid of, Riddle pulled out Lockhart's wand. "Accio diadem", he said. But nothing happened as evident by the fact that nothing came whizzing at our heads. Lowering Lockhart's wand, Riddle sighed. "Of course. I wouldn't be so careless as to make a Horcrux summonable. I must have charmed it", he muttered to himself. Pocketing the wand, Riddle ordered, "start looking".

Since this was exactly what I wanted, I gave Riddle/ Lockhart a single solemn nod before tensely walking past him to start searching on the right side of the room. Fred and George hadn't given me a way to know once they had finished with whatever they were doing. So, quitting time was left entirely to Riddle's discretion. Either we found the diadem or we didn't and had to turn in for the night. I would prefer for the latter to happen because that didn't involve handing over one Horcrux to another. But when Fred and George told me that we were going to use the diadem to our advantage, they said not to worry if Riddle/ Lockhart got his hands on it. So, in blind faith, I was trusting that Fred and George had contingency plans.

Pretending to search, I studied a stack of books that had embossed titles on their spines. They were all in languages that I didn't understand. Curious. But I moved on to a trunk that was to the left of the stack of books. Being raised by Arthur Weasley and all his misuse of muggle artifacts stories, I knew the possible dangers of seemingly harmless objects. Keeping an ear out for what Riddle/ Lockhart was up to, I knelt before opening the lid of the trunk. Inside was a bunch of clothes. Did someone lose their entire trunk? But as I dug through the clothing, I discovered that to not be the case. The clothes were all random. Some of them were robes that only an old person would wear. Some looked relatively new. When others had holes and tears in them. Not a single sock in the trunk had a match. Was this really the room of hidden things? Or the room of the lost things? Closing the lid, I stood and moved on.

This continued for a long while. Riddle/Lockhart and I remained on opposites sides of the room. Occasionally, he would yell. "Have you found it?"

And I'd work up the courage to yell back, "Not yet!" Of course, if I so much caught a gleam of silver, I was turning the other way. There was no benefit to me finding the diadem. At least, not as long as Riddle/ Lockhart was nearby. I'm not sure how much time was spent searching. I don't own a watch. But when I started to feel tired and my fear about being in the Room of Requirement with possessed Lockhart dulled, I knew at least an hour had to have passed. Studying a cabinet that I thought could possibly be the vanishing cabinet from the Half-Blood Prince, I didn't notice Riddle/Lockhart coming up behind me. If I set this cabinet on fire, could I prevent Bill from being mauled by a werewolf?

A hand wrapped around my upper bicep. Nearly jumping out of my skin, I barely comprehend what Riddle said. "We're leaving".

"Why?" I asked as Riddle/ Lockhart started pulling me towards the exit; stumbling over my feet in the process. It wasn't like he had given me any time to follow willingly. "Did you find it?"

The answer Riddle gave me wasn't a yes or no. In a low tone, he said, "someone is in my rooms".


My heart was racing as I found myself in a part of the castle that I normally don't visit. There weren't any classrooms in this area so there was never much of a point to come here. "Should I be here?" I asked Riddle/ Lockhart as he glared at a portrait of some witch from the seventh century. It was a challenge to keep my voice even and to fight the urge to shiver at the grip he had on my arm. "Snape was suspicious when he saw you in his classroom with me. He told McGonagall. It's going to look very bad if someone sees us together again". This warning was my attempt to get him to release me so I could scuttle back to the safety of Gryffindor tower. I was sure it was Fred and George that had tripped whatever alarm Riddle had placed on Lockhart's rooms. But I wasn't too worried about them getting caught. They had the map, for one thing. And they had said Ron and Hermione would be surviving as look-outs. I hadn't seen any sign of either of the two second-years when Riddle/ Lockhart had dragged me here. But if I couldn't see them that meant that Riddle probably couldn't either. And that was a good thing.

Riddle ignored me as he murmured to the portrait, "magical me". I had a moment of mild amusement. Of course, that would be Lockhart's password to his private quarters. But I was reminded of the precarious position I was in when the portrait swung open and I was pulled inside.

The furniture in Lockhart's rooms wasn't overly opulent. Which is probably the nicest comment I had said about Lockhart. There was an average looking coffee table and leather sofa in his sitting area. A small table was set up on the other side of the room facing a fireplace. In between the sofa and table was a door; leading to his bedroom, I'm assuming. What made the space's resident unquestionable Lockhart was the number of framed magazine covers and newspaper articles about himself hanging from the walls. Riddle/ Lockhart released my arm as soon as the portrait door swung shut behind us. Paying me no mind, Riddle headed straight for the sofa. Pushing one side of the sofa away from where it was next to a wall, Riddle moved tersely. Biting my lip, I started glancing back and forth from the madman to the only exit. Slowly I started inching towards it. I think we're approaching the expiration date on Fred and George's plan. Meaning, it's time to disappear. But before I could move close enough to the portrait door to make a break for it, Riddle/ Lockhart whirled around. "It's gone!" He announced; absolutely enraged.

I froze in place. "What's gone?" I asked, even though I had an idea. But if there's one thing I'm good at in this life, it's playing dumb.

Using a little too much force Riddle ran a hand through Lockhart's hair. "My diary. The object that contains my essence. The thing that gives me the power to control this sorry excuse of a wizard!" Riddle/ Lockhart locked eyes with me; treating me to an expression of unadulterated rage. A look that spoke of suffering and death. Think of a 'here's Johnny' look but with a closed mouth and you'd know what I was looking at right now.

My mouth hung open. "um…" I started to say. This was good right? I mean, I couldn't say that it was good. But if the diary wasn't here, then Fred and George must have been successful. "Alright". The words were coming out slowly as I scrambled to find them. "but you still have control over Lockhart's body. So, the diary must be okay". I reasoned.

Riddle stalked closer to me and I felt my hands start to shake as I was forced to recall that one detention with Snape. "Whoever took it would have scorched the flesh on their hands". I wasn't sure if Riddle was talking to me or if he had heard what I had said.

"Burned their hands?" I asked as worry started bubbling inside of me. Were Fred and George alright? "How?"

"Because, you stupid girl, I cursed the diary. Only a buffoon would leave an important object like that without any protection". Riddle clicked Lockhart's tongue as he continued to stare at me. I didn't know what he was seeing. But I think his thoughts were taking up more focus than his vision. "Only this body can touch it without consequence".

And now I really wanted to get back to Gryffindor Tower. "I'll help you look for it", I said quickly; turning to slip out of the portrait door.

But, of course, it couldn't be that easy. Once more, Riddle snaked Lockhart's hand around my upper arm and I was drawn back in. "I'd hate if you had anything to do with this, my dear", Riddle said in a dangerously low voice. He moved closer.

Oh, hell. I thought as blood pulsed through my veins and my eyes became the size of saucers. What had I done to raise his suspicions? "Why would you think that? I've been with you this whole time?"

Riddle hummed as Lockhart grabbed my other arm with his hand that was holding his wand; making it rather difficult for me to get to my own wand. In hindsight, I should've had my wand in hand the moment Riddle dragged me from the Room of Requirement. "That is true", Riddle admitted. I winced at the contact as the taste of vile started to build up in my mouth. Something told me that Fred and George never intended for me to be with Riddle/ Lockhart when he discovered the diary missing. If they were watching the map, they would know where I was. There was a limited amount of hope. However, this was still a position I was near petrified for being in. It was almost as if Lockhart was my own personal basilisk. "But I can't help but note that you were rather concerned about whoever it was that broke into my private rooms".

"Um…" Riddle pushed as I tried to form words so that my back and head were pressed against the wall. The back of my head thumped loudly against the stone as black spots danced in my vision. But I tried not to let on that it hurt. "I am worried. I'm worried for…. you". I forced out. "We do share pieces of a soul". My explanation sounded weak even to my ears.

The grip Riddle/ Lockhart had on my arms tightened to the point that my fingers started to tingle due to the lack of circulation. "It is strange as to why you suddenly sought me out to offer your help". Riddle pressed Lockhart's face close to mine. So close, that I wished the wall would give way so I could move further back. "After trying to avoid me for so long".

My lungs strained against my chest as I struggled to draw in air. "I-I wanted to protect my family". I stuttered; eyes watering.

"Yes", Riddle purred darkly next to my ear. Although the sound didn't match the sensation, I shivered violently. Like someone had just scraped their fingernails down a blackboard. "Your family. Quite a large one at that. Perhaps it was one of your siblings that were in my rooms tonight".

It felt like my heart had stopped beating as soon as Riddle made that leap in logic. "No". I tried to interject. Instinct flooded my body and seeing no way to keep up this quickly deteriorating ruse, I raise a knee; jamming it into the soft spot between Riddle/ Lockhart's leg. Riddle hunched over; one hand leaving my arm to go tend to that special spot. I turned to tear my other arm from him and run for it. It was my first time as Holly to make such an attack. And I must have not done it hard enough, or maybe I missed because I didn't gain a lot of ground. With power that outmatched the strength of my fourteen-year-old self, Riddle/Lockhart yanked me back into my original position against the wall.

Riddle took a few deep breathes to compose himself as he held me in place. "I wonder which one was it", Riddle continued as if I hadn't just assaulted him. "It couldn't have been the youngest two. Your sister is too meek to truly do anything daring". Which shows how little Riddle has paid attention to Ginny. Because I would never use Ginny and meek in the same sentence. "Not your youngest brother either. That boy wouldn't know the back end of a hippogriff to its front, let alone how to get through the portrait guarding my rooms. Perhaps, it was the eldest. The prefect. He would know how to contact teachers after hours in case of an emergency." Riddle paused, pulling back slightly to study my face. Whatever he saw there must have told him enough because the next thing he said was;

"No. I don't think it was just one of your siblings who would break into my rooms. It would be the identical brothers. The ones who have been guarding your every step until tonight. They are the cleverest out of your clan of blood traitors. Why I bet-"

I never got to hear what Riddle bet. "Crucio!" A new voice announced his presence with a furious snarl. In not even a second, Riddle/Lockhart dropped to the ground. His hold on my arms slackened and I was able to break free. Despite no longer being held in place I remained rooted against the wall as I watched Riddle/ Lockhart start to twitch on the floor like how I imagine a fit to look like. A tortuous yowl left his lips.

Stepping away from the portrait door and into my view was Adrian. He had his wand pointed at Lockhart and he wasn't blinking. Adrian's eyes brows were so slanted that every wrinkle on his brow was clearly defined. The corner of his lips was turned downward in such a way that it looked like they had been drawn that way. And his eyes; there was such unrestrained aggression in them that they appeared more black than grey.

Sweat started to gleam on Lockhart's skin as he contorted and withered on the floor. More sounds of distress left his mouth. It reminded me of those Halloween movies that had exorcism scenes. If only that were the case. Adrian gave no sign that he was close to easing off. And… I wasn't sure I wanted him to… "You think you would be allowed to get away with taking what doesn't belong to you?" Adrian growled. "To lay your filthy hands on a girl you have no business touching? That just because you're a teacher and celebrity no one would stand up to you if forced a student to enter your quarters?"

Adrian must have added a surge of magic as he spoke because Lockhart's limbs started to thrash out; banging against any surface they encountered. "Adrian?" I asked with a hoarse sounding squeak. Just the sight of him, although slightly horrifying, was enough to allow me to draw breath again. And with lungfuls of air, came a free fall of tears.

But Adrian had more to say. "You have no idea who you have crossed". Lockhart continued to flop around like a fish out of water. It was doubtful he could understand a single word Adrian said in this state. "You have no clue about what I am going to do to you. What I'm capable of doing".

"Adrian!" I sobbed. This time louder.

Adrian didn't break eye contact with his target. He couldn't without breaking the spell. But his voice adopted a softer edge as he directed his next words at me. "Holly, come away from there. Wait outside. I'll be along shortly".

I heeded his first request by tip-toeing around Lockhart/ Riddle's agonized form. Almost colliding into Adrian's side when I was in the clear. I chose to ignore my boyfriend's second request. "Adrian", I gasp as I latched on to the sleeve of his arm that wasn't holding his wand. "You're using an unforgivable. Please, stop!"

"He deserves it!" Adrian barked. However, he didn't pull away from me and took comfort in that fact.

"You think I care about that? It's an unforgivable. It's illegal! If someone sees you could get in trouble", I tried to reason. Lockhart continued to wither; scratching at his flesh hard enough to draw blood. I needed to speak fast. "I don't know what the punishment is for a minor using an unforgiveable but whatever it is, I don't want you to experience it".

"Holly, wait outside", Adrian repeated; his voice was rough and it made me fear for what he would do if I did listen to him.

"What if they make you serve time? You wouldn't be in school if you had to do that. We..we couldn't sit next to each other during classes or share meals. Who would I do my potions' homework with?". Everything I could think of came sprouting out of my mouth. "Please, Adrian! I don't want to experience school without you", I pleaded over my crying.

With a heavy sigh, almost as if it pained him to do so, Adrian lowered his wand. Lockhart/ Riddle stilled on the floor; panting and tremoring through the after-effects. With the turn of his head, I became to focus of Adrian's attention. "He deserves to die", Adrian stated.

I take a breath and hold it in, in an attempt to stop crying. "Maybe", I admitted quietly as I looked away from Adrian and towards the man who lay on the floor. I couldn't quite find the words I needed to express what I wanted to. Maybe I would after I no longer felt like cornered prey. Then I could tell Adrian that no matter how… evil Lockhart/ Riddle was, it wasn't worth killing him if it was our souls that would suffer for it.

Sighing again, this time like a man who knew he wouldn't win an argument against a woman; Adrian pointed his wand at Lockhart once more. "Incarcerous", he said, conjuring thick ropes that wrapped around Lockhart and bound his limbs together. "Silencio", a second spell followed Adrian's first. A moment of silence passed between us as we stared at the fallen teacher. Lockhart/ Riddle had regained some of his wits; as evident by the murderous glares he was sending in our direction. When that moment passed, Adrian said, "We can wait here. I sent Potter to get a teacher".

My head snapped in Adrian's direction. "Harry?" I asked. How would Harry be involved in this situation?