Tw: self-harm

September 3rd 1943

Nadine received a letter Thursday morning from her mother. The content was the usual, her complaining about Nadine's father and Nadine, and obviously her personal favourite. Making Nadine feel like she was the scum of the earth. The soon to be 16 year old was used to it, but it still brought her into a depressive state, not that anyone would notice. That would be hidden from the world, not shown to anyone. And Nadine didn't have a problem doing it, seeing as no one has noticed yet must mean she was an incredible actress, or the people around her didn't bother noticing, maybe it was both. A combination so incredibly dangerous, Nadine could do anything and no one would notice. She took advantage of that.

No one noticed the light behind her eyes dimming to the point where it was barely noticeable because she knew when to turn it back on, only letting it turn off when alone

She was sitting on the toilet, a letter opener she got for her birthday in her hand. Tears were streaming down her face as she cut into the flesh of her thigh, blood was trickling down the sides. "Nadine? Are you done soon, I really have to pee." The voice of her best friend made her eyes widen.

She took a towel and dried up the blood, "uh, hold on!" Her voice was shaky, but not enough for Leona to hear. Muttering a healing spell to close the wounds, she opened the door smiling at Leona.

Leona noticed her best friend's glossy eyes, but thought it best to leave it alone, not wanting to fight. Leona never mentioned how tired Nadine looked, only thinking it was a sleepless night due to a new school year. And even if she has noticed the other 'faults' her friend carried, she would never dare speak up, afraid of losing their friendship.

Tom was in his dormitory reading up on the so-called myth 'the chamber of secrets'. He was set on it being true, and Tom Marvolo Riddle was never wrong. "Not this again." Abraxas groaned, "it might not even be real, and if it is, you may not be able to open it."

Tom knew he would be able to open it, he only needed to locate the entrance of the chamber. He knew he was a descendant of the Salazar Slytherin.

He was of Gaunt blood from his mother's side. Merope was a weak witch, barely capable of magic, but Tom didn't know that. His father he didn't know. He hoped he was a powerful wizard, but his last name was pointing in a different direction. Riddle. What kind of powerful wizard had that name? Tom hated it, it sounded weak. And that is why his group of 'friends' called him Lord. From outsiders it would sound ridiculous. Lord. What self-centred idiot would call himself that? Tom was self-centred, yes. An idiot? Far from it, he was smart. You might think you know him, but he only lets you know what you want to hear, and being a legilimens made it 1000 times easier.

"Class starts soon." Was all he said before leaving the room.

Potions. His favourite subject, apart from the fact the professor was more joyful than a sunny day in June, he also bragged way too much about his acquaintances for Tom's liking. But he favoured the Riddle, and he knew how to take advantage of that.

The other factor he didn't always enjoy was, Nadine Winter. She was like a ticking time bomb near him, any moment she could go off. One minute she was the happiest person Tom has seen, the next she was the angriest. Tom liked her anger, just not when it was directed towards him.

Speaking of the devil. Nadine was walking next to a girl with big eyes he did not remember the name of. She had a bright smile brightening up the dungeon room, still something was off, but he could not put his finger on what seeing as emotions were not his strong suit. He knew what anger felt like, and disappointment, maybe excitement sometimes. Sadness and happiness he rarely felt. "Good morning, Riddle." Nadine chirped as she sat down. He only sent a nod back, confused as to why she was being friendly towards him.

"Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: The Draught of Peace, can anyone tell me what this potion does?" Slughorn announced to the class. "Mr Riddle."

"The draught of peace is a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation." He sounded almost bored?

"10 points to slytherin, fantastic Mr Riddle. Now be warned! If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so pay close attention to what you are doing. Now the ingredients are in the cupboard, may one from each pair get them."

Nadine was about to rise before Tom interrupted, "we do not want any accidents, perhaps it is best i go."

"I think I will be fine, Riddle. It's the least I could do." He noticed her coming back with only 4 ingredients.

"I do not know if you are incapable of math, but you are missing one ingredient." He thought she would be offended, but she just laughed.

"I know, but your friend took the last." She told him, pointing in Abraxas' direction. Tom huffed, walking over to his 'friend'.

Nadine continued drawing on the piece of parchment laying in front of her. An angel with a knife.

Tom had come back from Abraxas' desk. He looked over Nadine's shoulder as she drew the knife stabbing through the angel's skin. He found her a great artist, not that he would ever admit it, if you asked what he thought, he would say it looked awful. Nadine turned to look over her shoulder as she felt a presence behind her. "It looks ugly." He said and sat down.

I know, it would be better if the creature being stabbed was you.

He looked over at her, but she was still drawing.

She looked at him, " want to take a photo? It'll last longer." The urge to curse her was strong, so he let it. Blood dripped onto the parchment. She felt under her nose. The warm crimson liquid poured out of her nose.

"Oh dear, here here," Slughorn conjured a tissue for her. "Tom, will you take her to the infirmary?"

He nodded at the professor and helped Nadine up. "I can take her, Tom." Theon spoke up. Nadine let out a breath she didn't notice she was holding.

When they got to the hallway Nadine motioned for Theon to stop. Muttering a spell under her breath, the blood cleaned off and stopped dripping.

"How did you do that?"

She smirked. "Believe it or not, I'm used to stopping bleeds." Her eyes widened at her words.

"Do you get nosebleeds often?" He asked an eyebrow raised.

"Yes." It wasn't necessarily a lie, but the cause of her nosebleeds weren't natural.

"You will have to teach it to me sometime, my sister gets them all the time." He smiled. Nadine liked talking to the boy. Though they had only talked a couple of times, she enjoyed her time around him. "Should we get back to class?"

A grin formed on the girl's lips, before she shook her head and took a hold of his arm. "Come on."

In front of them was a portrait, Nadine went to tickle the pear, causing Theon to look at her funny, before a door was opened. He had never been in the kitchens before. "Miss Nadine!" A beady eyed elf hugged the brunette's feet.

"Doris! This is Theon, could we get a hot chocolate please?" Nadine came to the kitchens often. Whenever she felt down or didn't want to eat in the great hall she came here. When a second year Nadine stumbled upon the kitchens, she was crying her eyes out from a letter her mother had sent. Doris had comforted her and offered her all the food you could imagine.

They drank their hot chocolate and talked. "You said you had a sister, how old is she?"

A smile formed on his lips. "She turned six in June, she's a ball of light, always laughing at something. Can be quite annoying at times." He laughed. "What about you, any siblings?"

She shook her head, "no, only child." The light behind her eyes flickered at the thought of home. He furrowed his brows. It was quiet for a while. "We should get back, next class starts soon."

"Yes, what do you have next?"

"Herbology with gryffindor." She told him after a while of thought.