THC
House: Ravenclaw
Class: Head of House
Category: Drabble
Prompt(s) chosen: [Character] Helena Ravenclaw
Word count: 656
Notes: mentions of Helena's murder
Ambition overrides guilt
"It must be lonely being stuck here," Tom mused as he sat on the stone ledge near where the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw levitated. "I know I felt alone when I was stuck at the orphanage."
The Grey Lady didn't move, and she didn't speak. Tom took it as a signal to continue his plan. All he needed was the diadem and he needed her to speak so he could get it.
"You don't have to be afraid to speak to me. I know I come from the same house as the Baron, and I do apologize for him. We all aren't like that though."
Helena's image moved to face Tom. He could see the wall behind her bending as her image construed it. "I'm not afraid to speak."
Tom waited for her to continue but she just stared at him, "This castle is the closest thing that I have to a home. I just want to make sure that no one feels alone here."
"It is lonely," Her voice was timid, and he motioned for her to continue, "I wish I was able to move on, but I deserve to be stuck here."
"I don't believe that," Tom feigned understanding. He honestly could care less about her feelings, but he knew that people only opened up when they felt heard. "No one deserves to be trapped anywhere. Much less being trapped in this realm when you should be able to move on."
"You said you're an orphan?" Helena moved closer to Tom. He didn't like the closeness, how she seemed to inspect him, but he didn't make a move to back away. "I wish I had been an orphan; it would have been easier."
"Why do you say that?" Tom hated his father, but he would never wish to be an orphan on anyone.
"I betrayed my mother by stealing her diadem," Helena turned away from Tom so he couldn't see her face. "I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been so pressured"
"I know what it's like to be pressured by your family legacy," Tom went to comfort Helena before he remembered she was a ghost. His usual moves wouldn't work on her. "I wasn't born an orphan. I feel like it's worse now that they're gone since my father was a Muggle. I have to make people hear me for my mother's side to count."
"Even on her deathbed, she wanted to see me. I betrayed her and yet she still loved me enough to search for me."
Tom didn't care about all of this, but she had finally started telling what he needed. "Where did you go? If you don't mind me asking."
"Not at all," Helena moved to "sit" by Tom which resulted in her floating above the stone ledge. "I ran away to Albania. Unfortunately, my mother sent the Baron after me and when I denied his love, he murdered me. If only she had sent someone else, I may have died peacefully. The diadem is still there, hidden in the house that I used as my hideout."
"You must have hidden it well if no one has found it," Tom spoke softly, "Don't you wish it could be returned here where it belongs?"
Helena's eyes widened, "I suppose you are right."
"I wouldn't mind going after it for you. Maybe then you'd be able to move on since your guilt is tied to the diadem."
"That would be wonderful," Helena began to drift away from him, "I have a map from when I was alive that details the hiding spot. Follow me."
With a smirk on his face, Tom followed the ghost. It was so easy to play vulnerable people to get what he wanted. He could only imagine how much his power would grow once he obtained the diadem. Helena may have felt guilty about stealing the diadem, but he wouldn't— he didn't feel guilt at all.