"Dying is a Delicate Moment"
A fanfic by Agara
"Kill me. Kill me if you ever loved me."
And he kills her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN : AFTER HOURS
Song : After Hours by The Weeknd
10.11.1943 :
MAGICOLE SURVIVAL
SURVIVAL BOARD GAME
1943 EDITION
BY POLLUX PARKINSON
RULES
THE GAME IN BRIEF :
MAGICOLE SURVIVAL is the game of mental endurance, the one(s) finding the golden item becoming the eventual winner(s).
Starting from the "GO" space (Slytherin Common Room), join the team that has been assigned to you. For an optimal game, no more than five players per team.
Each team will be given an enchanted parchment, which allows the communication between the teams and the Game Master (myself, Pollux Parkinson). Each group will have to follow the instructions given on the parchment and move from one room to another according to what had been ordered by the Game Master.
Each player will be given, in the first room, 2 Cole's Cards. These cards can be used at any point in the game (for more information, see Cole' Cards Section below).
Main Quest :
In order to find the golden item, each team will have to participate in every task.
When you "land" on a room, an enigma or challenge will need to be completed to go to the next.
The golden item will be found in the last room.
Side Quest :
Each player/team will be given the opportunity to participate in a side quest. The side quest is not mandatory to win - but I've worked hard on it guys, so please try it -.
EQUIPMENT
1 parchment per team
1 quill
2 Cole's Card per player
Any other object is FORBIDDEN
SET UP
1. Players gather in the "GO" Space (Slytherin Common room).
2. Randomly assign each player to a team.
3. Each team goes to the first room, which will be directly given to them in the "GO" Space.
4. Each player draws their 2 Cole's Cards
COLE'S CARDS
Pumpkin Pastries : Useless
Draught of the living death : Allows you to stop one player from participating in a challenge.
Sugar Quills : Useless
Revelio : Allows you to see what you can't see.
Shield : Allows you to protect yourself from anything.
Wand : Allows you to get rid of what you want
In order to activate any card, you'll need to put it on what you want to use the card for and simply say "habilito".
PLAYING THE GAME :
The game unfolds in 10 steps.
If you get caught during the game, you can't tell, don't be a snitch.
SIDE QUEST :
At some step in the game, you will be offered the opportunity to go on a side quest. It is not mandatory to complete them to win the game. If you successfully complete the side quest, you will earn a clue to find the golden item. You can either go alone or with a player in your team.
PASSING "GO" :
If any player decides to quit playing, you will only have to go to the "GO" Space.
THE MASTER OF THE GAME CAN DO WHATEVER THE FUCK HE WANTS.
On the tenth of November 1943, something happened at Hogwarts.
Cole Woodcroft's birthday had always been a big deal at Hogwarts and especially in the Slytherin house. Each year, a huge party took place in the dungeons, in their common room. This year, however, was special. Firstly, Cole Woodcroft turned seventeen and was officially an adult. Secondly, it was his last birthday at Hogwarts.
During breakfast, each friend of Cole Woodcroft had received, along with their morning post, an invite to play a game. The invite was not usual, it had a copy of the rules for Pollux's game.
Pollux Parkinson had always organised Cole Woodcroft's birthday at Hogwarts. Each year, he set up a huge party in the dungeons, in their common room. This year, however, was special. And for the occasion, Pollux Parkinson went all the way.
Hermione and Cole were casually sitting on one of the couches, both with drinks in their hands and talking enthusiastically. The common room was packed as every student in there was waiting for the game to start. Hermione almost spilled her drink when Pollux sat between Cole and her.
"Pollux !" She complained while scooching to the right in order to let the older boy more room on the couch.
"How are my two favourite people in the world doing this fine night ?" Parkinson grinned. He put a chocolate frog out of his pocket and took a huge bite.
"Give me some." Cole ordered his friend with a smile.
"Fuck off." The other mumbled, his mouth full.
The two boys began bickering on the couch, Cole trying to get a hold of the sweet and Pollux almost shoving the frog in Hermione's face to keep it away from his best friend.
"It's my birthday you moron." Cole laughed. Pollux stopped moving and simply looked at him. He slightly cocked his head to the side, as if he was thinking about what he was about to do next, before taking another chocolate frog out of his pocket. Pollux dropped off the sweet in Cole's waiting hand and flipped him off.
The wait for the game became slightly too long for the other students in the room. They became calling Pollux's name and asking for direction on the game.
"Well, that's my cue folks." Pollux stood up and jumped on the first table he saw. "Attention everyone ! As everyone knows, today is my best mate's birthday." He faced his audience and continued "For this occasion, I decided to do something a little bit different. Let's play a little game, shall we ?"
Hermione and Cole shared a look, before getting up themselves and joining the rest of the students.
The common room was fully packed, around eighty students were gathered in front of him, coming from all houses except Gryffindor.
"I believe you all know the game Magical Survival. Well tonight, we are all going to play Magi-Cole Survival." Pollux emphasized the "cole" and the crowd laughed at the pun.
"It is a child game !" Someone intervened.
"Well, you haven't seen my version yet." Pollux smirked. "Come on, who wants to play ?"
More than half of the room clapped, showing their enthusiasm.
"Good." Parkinson smiled. "Those who don't want to play, there is alcohol at the back of the room, please enjoy yourselves until the game is over. For those who like a little game, I hope you have well read the rules I sent you this morning."
For once in his life, Pollux Parkinson had been organised. He had chosen a first-year kid with good handwriting, paid him to write the rules as he was dictating them, then duplicated this parchment exactly 81 times. Pollux had been full of pride this morning at breakfast as he saw the delighted faces of his fellow students as they read them.
Hermione felt a gaze on her. She discreetly turned her head to the right to find Tom by her side.
"Want to be on my team ?" He smirked.
"Why wouldn't you be on mine ?" She smiled, taking a sip from her drink.
"Now, it is time for me to get you into teams. I'll do it randomly, so don't start any strategies yet." Pollux smirked. "Any questions ?"
No one answered.
"Let's do this then."
TEAM 7
HERMIONE - SILAS - CASSANDRE - BELONE - EDGARD
After making the teams, Pollux had told them that each group had to go to a specific room in the dungeons. As the team seven entered their room, they saw a deck of cards waiting for them on the professor's desk. The rules said that to begin properly, each member of a group had to get two cards from this specific deck.
"I hope you understood all the rules, because I haven't." Edgard snorted.
"Haven't you played Magical Survival when you were little ?" Belone asked him.
"Yes, maybe once or twice."
"It's basically the same Edgard. But knowing Pollux, it's gonna get fucked up." Cassandre smirked. He walked past Belone and shot her an icy glance. "And we already have an advantage."
The other four looked at him, a puzzled look on their face.
"We don't have any Hufflepuff on our team." The youngest Parkinson finished.
"Let's pick the cards then." Hermione approached the desk and took the cards in her hands. Each member of the team took two.
Hermione looked at the bits of paper in her hands : a Wand and a Revelio. As she looked at what was written on her Wand card, she couldn't quite understand what it meant. She read it several times, yet the "allows you to get rid of what you want" still didn't make sense.
She put them in her purse and waited for the first clue to appear on the parchment.
"Look," Silas said showing the parchment with his right hand. The five of them approached the document in Belone's hand. It read : "Task 1 : Team n°7, go to the chams class."
"Well, this is quite forward. Isn't it supposed to be an enigma ?" Edgard noticed.
"Pollux created this version of the game. It's going to be stupid anyway." Cassandre said.
"Let's get to the library, then."
TEAM 5
TOM - ANTONIN - WALBURGA - LISBETH - PAUL
"Why do we have such a shitty team ?" Dolohov whispered to him. Tom laughed and stared at Lisbeth and Paul, the two Hufflepuffs.
"Please tell me we're going to try to lose them along the way." Walburga joined. "I can't stand Paul fucking Diggory."
"Who does ?" Tom smirked.
Tom looked at his cards, a Shield and a Pumpkin Pastry, while his team was going towards the next step after looking at their clue : "Task 1 : Team n°5, go to the runes' classroom."
Dolohov pushed the runes' door open and the five of them stepped inside. Another team was already in the middle of the latter, next to a large wooden table. Cole, Isodor, Cygnus, Eileen, and Thorus all turned around and looked at the newcomers.
"What are we supposed to do ? Fight ? Resolve an enigma ?" Paul Diggory spoke up, eager to do something.
"No." Cole simply answered. "Look at your parchment. By going into the right room, we apparently completed the first task."
"Hasn't Pollux told us he spent months creating this game ?" Isodor whispered.
Tom absently played with his ring as he paced around the room, waiting for a message from Pollux. He could hear in the background Paul Diggory talking to Antonin and the silence from his friend. Cole approached him and sat on the desk next to him.
"Enjoying your birthday Woodcroft ?" Tom asked, not looking at him. "I noticed that every prefect on duty tonight is currently playing the game. How convenient."
Cole chuckled at that. "It is convenient."
"What about Rusard ?" Tom wondered about what they did to the care-taker.
"You'd rather not know." The birthday-boy smirked. They stood in silence for a couple of seconds before the Headboy started talking again. "What did you do with them ?"
"With what ?" Tom genuinely asked.
"The tickets. For the World Cup."
"Well, I did what you advised me to. I used them wisely."
The two Slytherin smirked.
They were all waiting for a good ten minutes before Thorus spoke up what everyone was thinking. "Shouldn't we do something ?"
Tom looked around the room. He found it weird that Pollux had not contacted them sooner. He left Cole and approached the fireplace, started looking behind books and other small items. The others started doing the same.
"I recognize this table." Eileen noticed as she approached the furniture. "We have the same in the girls' dorm. Look there is the Slytherin's crest. It doesn't belong here. Pollux must have placed it here on purpose."
"Let's look underneath the table, maybe he put something there."
Everyone, except Tom and Doholov, ducked and looked.
"Accio clue." Dolohov cast. No results.
"There is nothing underneath either." Eileen said.
"Maybe it's simply on it." Cole whispered. The Headboy got closer to the table. It was a simple wooden table, nothing looking wrong with it. He took out one of his two cards and awkwardly put it on the table. Tom expected something to happen after Cole had put his Revelio on it.
"Habilito." The Headboy said. As a consequence, a bright light illuminated the table but quickly faded as the card disappeared.
Two boxes appeared. One with the number 5 and the other one with the number 2.
"Good job Cole !" Paul Diggory grinned. Tom tried not to roll his eyes. Tried. "So I guess we have to open the box to get the next clue."
"Good job Paul !" Dolohov mocked him as Tom snickered not far behind.
Walburga, already fed up with the game, suddenly rose from the seat she was currently longing in.
"The parchment !" She said. The piece of paper in her right hand, previously blank, was now covered in Pollux's handwriting. Team number 5 gathered and Tom snatched it from her hands.
"Task 2 : I speak without a mouth, and hear without ears. I have no body but I come alive with the wind. What am I ? Name me and you will get five tokens."
"I've told you there would be an enigma !" Paul laughed. Tom became a little bit more fed up every time he opened his mouth. He inhaled and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. Tom turned his head and looked at Cole. They exchanged a knowing glance.
"Do you have a riddle too ?" The HeadBoy asked him. Tom simply nodded.
"Do we have the same one ?" Cygnus wondered out loud.
Each Slytherin looked tense at that. They all knew no one would want to speak first, in case the other team would screw them over. But of course, Tom had two Hufflepuffs in his team and one of those Hufflepuff being Paul fucking Diggory.
"I speak-" As Paul let out the first words of the enigma, Walburga put her hand on his mouth.
"What is wrong with you ?" She yelled at him. "You can't give away our enigma ! Don't ever open your mouth again during this game, you twat."
Cole's team snickered and the latter took a step towards Tom. "At least now we know we don't have the same."
"So, any idea ?" Lisbeth asked the team. "What about the wind ? No, it's in the clue."
"I feel like every riddle has something to do with reflection. What about that ?" Tom suggested.
"No, I don't think so." Walburga intervened. She stopped for a while to re-read the enigma in her head. "Breeze ? No it doesn't speak. Oh. I've got it. Echo. As we know an echo is a reflection of sound. It speaks but has no mouth, it bounces back." She took back the parchment and started writing the answer on it. As soon as she finished, Pollux wrote back.
"Well done Team 5. Go pick up your tokens and the next clue"
Dolohov took the box in his hands and opened the top. At the bottom of it, laid the 5 tokens along with a white bean. Tom snickered.
"That's the clue ?" Antonin gathered the bean in his right hand.
"Of course it is the clue." Tom smirked. "The worst is that Parkinson thinks this is funny."
The four other students looked at Tom, waiting for him to explain what the bean meant.
"Let's go to the history classroom." The prefect simply said.
TEAM 7
HERMIONE - SILAS - CASSANDRE - BELONE - EDGARD
They decided on leaving the room with the box after resolving the enigma. They didn't want the other team to look at their next clue. Edgard opened it and they all took back their token.
"What's that ?" Hermione asked as she grabbed the piece of paper that was left. She could read "Pollux Haurus Parkison, 3rd Year, Detention Slip." She also recognized Merrythought's handwriting.
"Detention ?" Cassandre rhetorically asked. "Why am I not surprised ?"
"What's the reason ?" Edgard smirked.
"Made one of his fellow Slyterin's skirts catch fire at his failed attempt of making it disappear." Hermione laughed along with the others.
"Let's try to focus here." Silas scolded them. "Where do we go for detention ?"
"Trophy room." Edgard and Belone answered at once.
"Let's go then."
As they descended the two stories to reach the Trophy Room, Hermione walked by Silas' side.
"I didn't know you were friends with Cole." She told him.
"Our fathers both work at the ministry. We've been dragged to the same boring parties, you have to befriend someone to stay sane." He chuckled.
"You never actually told me what your father does at the ministry."
"He works under Pilliwickle."
"The new Head of Law Enforcement ? The one who took Doholov Senior's job ?"
"Yes… But don't get me started on those political schemes."
"Why's that ?" Hermione chuckled. "Haven't you chosen a side yet ?"
"Really ? A side ?"
"Of course a side Silas. There are always at least two. Which side are you on ? Or would you rather keep it for yourself ?"
"Which side are you on Grace ?"
"The winning side."
At that, Silas Burnstein smirked. Belone, a few steps in front of them, opened the Trophy Room's door. In the middle of it, stood a large table with 26 green cups in a pyramidal position, a locked box on it and ten tokens.
"That's my boy !" Edgard said as he understood what all of this meant. The others smiled.
In the middle of the table laid a single white parchment.
"Welcome to the third task. Butter-beer Pong. Now that you've answered the only theoretical question of the game, let's get you all a little wasted, shall we ?
The game is simple :
Each team will place five tokens in their cups. Then, you know the rules. You catch one snitch, you aim for a cup, if this cup has a token, you win it.
However, once a player had won his, he can't play anymore : he earned his place on the next task.
The snitches will be released once the ten tokens have been placed in the cups.
Beware, this is not only butter-beer. It's my own little cocktail."
"Let's start." Cassandre said.
"Yes, they will never know where we placed them." Belone smiled.
"But, this is not fair." Silas intervened.
Belone turned towards him and smirked. "Come on babe, you're with Slytherins tonight."
The Ravenclaw only nodded, took his token and placed it in the first cup. As Cassandre put his, the door opened and the opposite team entered.
Orion, Edmund, Elias Goyle, Warrington Peters and Gemma Montague faced them.
"Butter-Beer Pong !" Edmund shouted, his voice filled with happiness.
"Let's finally drink." Orion laughed.
Team number 6 read the rules.
"So let's place them, then." Elias proposed. A silence from Hermione's team followed his sentence. Gemma Montague cocked her head and closed her eyes.
"They've already placed the tokens." She exhaled.
"That's not fair !" Warrington groaned.
"Oh come on Peters, you would have done the same." Edgard replied.
The opposite team nodded as they were all Slytherin. When the last one, Edmund, placed his token in the cup, the two boxes opened and a dozen of snitches escaped.
Before the task even began, Edgard felt like using one of his Cole's cards. Hermione wondered if he had chosen Gemma Montague randomly or if he had a reason behind. The truth was that Lestrange took out his Draught of the living death card, put it on Gemma's chest and said the required habilito. A small light escaped the piece of cardboard. Gemma flipped Lestrange off as she was now incapable of participating.
"You twat ! I need to participate otherwise I'm out." She became shouting at him.
"Guess you're out then." The other boy grinned.
After Gemma had stopped pouting, the atmosphere radically changed, it became light. They were all having fun, drinking, trash-talking the other team, and drinking. Orion Black was the first to win his token and the entire room cheered for him.
"It is not because you used to sleep with Cole, that his best friend is going to give you a free pass on this one Gemma." Edgard smirked.
Hermione furrowed her brows at this new information and leaned towards Belone to whisper in her ear "They used to be a thing ?"
"A thing ?" Belone repeated. "Oh no Grace, they dated. For a long time. They broke up just before you arrived. I would have sworn that Cole had told you that."
Hermione smiled at her friend and caught a snitch to play.
Roughly half an hour later, everyone had won their token. Hermione had struggled, not being able to aim properly, but in the end she succeeded. The ten students were slightly feeling the effect of alcohol in their system. As both of their parchments filled with Pollux's handwriting, they all clapped.
"Well done to everyone who got their token. The others you suck, and you're out. Please join us in the Common Room.
For the winners, let's continue the game. Task four."
That was the only thing written down. The two teams looked at each other, wondering if they would get further information but all the snitches stopped moving altogether. Eyes were fixed on them, then one particularly shiny, began moving again. They all grinned.
ALL TEAMS
"It was our chance to get rid of Paul." Dolohov complained to Tom while they walked towards the fourth task on the Quidditch pitch. "Of course, he had to get it in the cup on his first try."
Tom couldn't agree more with his fellow Slytherin, Paul Diggory was just unlikable.
The field's grass was damp from the humidity. Tom internally cursed as he walked towards where at least four teams were gathered in the middle of the pitch. He couldn't stand getting his belongings dirty and by the look of his shoes, they were probably good to be tossed away.
From afar he saw Abraxas, Milton, Thorus and Isodor talking. He approached them with Dolohov by his side.
"Milton ?" Dolohov said in surprise. "I would have thought you to be already out." Isodor snickered at that.
"What are we waiting for ?" Tom asked.
"Apparently for the last teams to arrive. Some are already out from what I've heard." Abraxas answered.
"What about Grace's ?"
"Her team resolved the enigma. I was in the same room." Milton spoke up.
They heard two boys shouting. The lads turned around and saw Edgard his left arm around Edmund's shoulders, both of them grinning ear to ear. Not far, Grace was talking to a Ravenclaw. He expected her to join them, but she only smiled at his friend and joined Cole.
He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, she was carefreely laughing with the birthday boy and his friends.
"Excuse me !"
The students gathered on the field all looked at where the voice came from. Pollux Parkinson was proudly standing, a few meters above them, on the bleachers.
"Welcome back ! I hope you're all tipsy and enjoying the game so far." He shouted then looked at Cole, a little smile on his lips. The crowd cheered. "You can see that you're not as much as when you started. Two teams have already left the game, and several players didn't succeed in the last challenge. The pressure is on."
Pollux rose his arms in the air, in a T-formation, and kept going. "Welcome to the Quidditch Pitch you fuckers. The fourth task is a special one. I would like to thank Prof. Banner, our wonderful teacher of Care of Magical Creatures and Mrs. Salisbury, our favourite Head of Quidditch here at Hogwarts. They both gave me incredible assistance in order to organise this task."
The students all clapped their hands.
"Grace !" Edgard yelled. She turned around and saw him gesturing for her to come back. She put a hand on Cole's shoulder, told him something, and went by their sides.
"Having fun Hortense ?" Tom smiled playfully. He could see that she had drunk, her eyes were a little glassy and she had an easy smile on her pink lips. She gently lowered her head, as if she was embarrassed by his question, then met his gaze. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"The best." She said.
"Attention ! Yes Grace, your attention." Pollux reprimanded her. She rose her hands, flipped him off and Pollux started explaining the task.
"Tonight, in this field, there are eight nifflers. Each one has a token. You only need to get the token back."
"Too easy !" Cole said to his friend.
"Oh yes that's what you think. However, no spell will work. You need to catch them by hand. Furthermore, you can't take the token of any niffler. You need to find yours. They have a little necklace with your team's number on it. Good luck."
The lads and Grace stood there, not really knowing how to start this.
"Team 7 !" Edgard yelled to gather his team.
"What's up with you Lestrange ?" Grace mocked. "You weren't that into the game at first."
"Maybe not, but now, I want to win. We have to win."
Grace nodded her head as she laughed.
"Tom, if you mind, we're having a team meeting here." Edgard told Tom when Silas finally joined the other four members.
Tom shrugged and left to join his.
"I spotted one !" Lisbeth smiled. A small little beast ran past them. Lisbeth, Walburga and Paul began following it while Dolohov and Tom watched them.
"Aren't you going after it ?" Antonin asked him.
"Me ? Chasing after a niffler ?" Tom simply answered as Dolohov rolled his eyes and went away.
He looked around him, saw most of the players running around, sometimes screaming that they got the wrong one. Tom couldn't care less, he knew his team would find it so he went towards the bleachers. He leaned against the guardrail where he could see Pollux, on the other side of the bleachers, a drink in his hand and a cigarette on his lips. Tom lit one of his own.
"Grace ? Stop flirting with the other team !" Pollux shouted.
At the name, Tom turned his head to the right and saw her, a few meters away, on the pitch, Cole's arm around her shoulders and her head falling backward from laughter.
"Fuck off Pollux." Cole answered.
Tom took a drag on his cigarette and cocked his head to the left. It was obvious to Tom, it wasn't flirting. Grace was playing him, as she played everyone around her. She manipulated people, that was what she was really good at. While Tom kept looking at them, only one question came in his mind : Why would Grace manipulate Cole for ?
"Riddle ! You're not playing." Pollux yelled. Tom's head snapped up and he shot a wicked grin at the seventh-year.
"I subcontract."
Pollux only huffed at that and went to join the others on the pitch. Tom turned his head back to where the two friends were laughing a couple of minutes prior. They weren't there anymore.
"Looking for me ?" He heard from beside him. He didn't have to turn around to recognize Grace's voice and the evident smirk she must have bared on her face
"Not playing ?" Tom asked.
Grace only scoffed at that. She casually leaned next to him.
"What about a bet ?" He continued. "On the winning team."
"Oh Tom, don't make me think you still believe a team will win this game." She smirked. Tom couldn't help but smirk back.
"Which card did you get ?"
"I'm not going to tell you that Tom."
"Come on Grace, I thought we did not have any secrets for one another anymore."
Grace laughed and snatched his cigarette. She brought it to her lips and slowly inhaled. His eyes were stuck on her. Tom felt something passing by his legs. He looked down and saw a little niffler running away. As he rose his eyes towards the entrance of the bleachers he saw Abraxas Malfoy running after it. He unconsciously put his right hand on Grace's lower back and delicately pushed in order for her to get out of the way.
"Oy ! Tom" He heard Dolohov underneath, on the field. "I got it."
The sixth-year prefect withdrew his hand and looked down at his friend.
"You ?" Tom emphasised.
Dolohov looked at him and crossed his arms. "Well, Paul fucking Diggory got it. But it was a team effort."
"Do not worry. He will soon be gone."
Next to him, Grace looked at him. "Pardon ?" She asked him.
"If you were in my shoes, you would try to get rid of him too."
"Actually I wouldn't. I specifically asked Pollux to put him on your team." She slightly rose her voice.
"Why would you do that ?" Tom was not fully understanding what Grace meant.
"I did that because his father is in the new government as Head of Magical Transport. I did that because I thought you would spend the night trying to get him to talk about his father's job. I did that because that's why I am here, trying to find information, but I can't be the only one doing the job."
"Well, you should have told me then." He snapped. "I cannot read your mind Grace."
Not yet.
Grace froze. Tom watched her expression morph into something he had not expected, a smirk. He didn't say more, waiting for her to bark back but she didn't. She simply looked at him. The sound of a whistle broke the silence and they both turned towards Pollux.
"Time's up." Parkinson smiled. "Please gather."
Tom and Grace didn't move, their eyes were still locked on each other. Tom, towering over her, was waiting for her to make the first move to leave.
"Grace !" Edgard shouted from underneath. She slightly turned her head and looked at him. "Well done, good team effort. Nice of you to stand there and do nothing." He spat, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "We fucking lost."
"It's a game Edgard." Grace rolled her eyes.
"I don't give a fuck. I win."
"Apparently not today."
Edgard shut his mouth at the snarky remark then turned around and stormed off.
"Since when do you not care about losing ?" Tom wondered out loud.
"Who said I lost ?" On this, she took out the token with the number 7 written on it out of her inside pocket. She held it between her forefinger and her middle finger, a winning grin illuminating her entire face. Tom's brows furrowed, he couldn't understand how she got one.
"How ? You didn't play."
Grace only smiled, almost as if she was waiting for him to find out by himself. He thought about it, he remembered her talking to her team as the task began, then laughing with Cole and finally coming to join him.
"Cole." He answered his own question. "He gave it to you."
Oh. That is why.
Tom finally understood why Grace was flirting with Cole earlier.
"I find it quite enjoyable having someone do the job for me." She laughed.
"That is not your way of doing things."
"You're right. It's yours."
Tom nodded, a small smile on his lips, almost invisible. He pointed to the stairs with his right hand. "Shall we ?"
They arrived on the pitch and joined their own team. He could see from the corner of his eyes, Grace giving the token to Edgard and the huge grin growing on the latter's face.
"Please raise your tokens," Pollux asked. One of the teams didn't. "Well, team n°4, please join the common room." They obeyed.
Pollux approached the remaining teams and loudly clapped his hands. He had a wicked grin and a mischievous look in his eyes. "Well done." He simply said.
"What's the next clue ?" Someone from the crowd asked the game master.
"You see," Pollux was walking among the students. "I thought the first tasks would be much harder for you but it seems like you are really good players." He made a dramatic pause. "How about we change the rules a little ?"
Tom watched as the faces of the players went from normal to thrilled.
"I think you are too many. We should change that. You should change that. As you all know, in the original version of the game Magical Survival, only the entire team can be eliminated. However, in Magicole Survival, I do whatever I want, and I think it's funnier if you get to get rid of one of your players. So, make your choice. The next clue will appear once you're one down." On that, Pollux walked away, leaving behind the players on the pitch.
Tom found Grace's gaze and they only smirked.
"Tom !" Dolohov hissed. "It's our chance to get rid of Paul."
"No." Tom firmly replied.
"What ? Bu-"
"I said no Dolohov. We'll talk about it later." He cut him.
He then turned around and faced his team. Before anyone could speak Paul Diggory opened his mouth and started the longest monologue Tom had ever heard. He talked about democracy, team spirit and group dynamics. Tom tried to keep his hand from moving from their own accord and locking themselves around the Hufflepuff's neck. He only put them in tight fists and focused on keeping his breathing steady.
"Shut up." Walburga almost yelled. "You want democracy ? I'm voting against you. Who else ?" She looked at the team, looking for some kind of support. "Really ? No one ? Antonin ? Tom ?" Her eyes widened at the silence that followed. The Black finally turned herself towards Tom, expecting him to say something. "Fine." She finally concluded. "You know what, I don't need democracy." Walburga took out one of her Cole's cards. She showed it to the team and they all saw the word Wand written on it. As Black went to put it on Paul's chest, Tom stopped her in her tracks when he put out his own Shield card.
"Habilito." Tom snarled.
At this moment Tom had chosen to save Paul Diggory by using one of the most important cards in the entire game. He internally hoped Grace was right, for her own sake.
Walburga's face immediately changed as she saw Tom's move. "Fuck you." She spat. "I'm out."
She shoved the parchment in Tom's chest. He felt the piece of paper heating against his torso. He looked at it.
TEAM 7
HERMIONE - SILAS - CASSANDRE - (BELONE) - EDGARD
Hermione asked everyone to vote for the one person they wanted out. She only needed Silas to stay and she knew she could count on Cassandre to help her to that. He hated Belone. She had always been against Cassandre and Walburga and he was entirely certain that Mcnair had, at some point, talked Walburga out of this relationship. So Hermione knew Cassandre would vote against her.
Hermione leaned towards Silas and whispered in his ear "follow my lead." He turned his head and looked at her puzzled. She only nodded and took a step forward.
"Let's vote, shall we ?" She spoke up. "Who votes against me ?" No one said a word. "Against Silas ?" Belone and Edgard rose their hands. "Two against Silas. Cassandre ? No one. Edgard ? No one. Belone ?" Cassandre rose his hand and Hermione followed. Silas still looked at Hermione and when she slightly nodded her head, he also voted against the Slytherin. "Belone, you're out."
"What ?" The other girl spat.
"Democracy." Cassandre smirked.
"What the fuck ? We should stay among Slytherin." Belone approached Hermione. "Really Grace ? Did you just choose a Ravenclaw over me ? What is wrong with you ?"
"It's just a game Belone." Hermione simply answered.
Mcnair furrowed her brows and pushed past her to get back to the castle. The other four members stayed in silence before Silas warned the other that a clue just appeared on the parchment.
"I only appear when it's pitch Black."
Cassandre only laughed at that. "It's so easy."
"Do tell us."
"The astronomy tower. Stars only appear when it's dark outside. And everyone knows that the Black Family members are all named after stars."
Hermione smiled at him. From afar, she saw Walburga storming off away from her group. Tom had listened to her, he had kept Paul Diggory.
"Let's go then." Edgard began trotting toward the castle.
As they arrived on the fifth floor, Silas gently grabbed Hermione's wrist for them to walk slower.
"Grace ?" He whispered once they were a few meters behind the other team members. Hermione cocked her eyebrow. "Why did you save me ?" He kept going.
"Is that really important ?" Hermione smiled.
"Yes it is."
Hermione looked at him for a while. Silas could have been described as cute, he had golden curls gently falling on his forehead, two big amber eyes and freckles on his nose. Hermione genuinely liked him. So, for a brief moment, she considered telling him the truth.
"We have a friend in common." She replied, mischief visible in her brown eyes. Silas froze and flushed from his neck to his cheeks.
"I-I-I-" Silas stuttered.
"Let's go Silas, we have a game to win." Hermione softly cut him.
Most of the students were all joining their next room when everyone froze. The sound of heavy boots on the stone floors made everyone panic. The players all recognized this sound. They had heard it thousands of times over the last years. Mister Cytisus, the Herbology Professor had the habit of wearing large dragon leather boots, which with his weight, made the floors shake.
"Is it part of the game ?" Edgard hushed.
"I don't think so." Hermione replied. "Quick, hide."
Each student ran, as silently as possible, into the closest room. As Hermione began running towards one of the classrooms on the far left, she felt someone grabbing her wrist and pulling her inside another room. She looked up and saw Tom, his point finger on his mouth to tell her to stay quiet. Her gaze stayed stuck on his finger. Antonin Dolohov was sitting on one of the chairs, his face towards the blackboard. In the following minutes, Edgard, Edmund and Thorus joined them.
"Should someone cast a Silencio ?" Edmund whispered.
Hermione took out her wand and cast a wordless one.
"How long are we going to stay here ?" Edgard wondered out loud.
"I have no idea." Hermione answered.
"I hope no one got caught."
"I thought Pollux had planned everything." Dolohov mumbled from his chair.
Tom took out his parchment from his back pocket and read out loud what Pollux had just written to all the teams.
"Stay where you are. I will tell you when to get out. And if you get caught, don't be a snitch."
"Well, it appears as if we are stuck in here for a while." Tom sat down not far from Dolohov and put the parchment flat on the desk. Edmund and Edgard settled at the back of the room and began chatting while Thorus sat in front of Dolohov. Hermione approached Tom and sat on top of the desk next to his.
"I noticed you didn't get rid of Diggory." She started.
"You told me not to." He replied.
"Since when do you listen to what I say ?"
"Your last advice ended up being useful."
"Wait ? She told you not to get rid of him ?" Dolohov intervened. "Is that why we're still stuck with him ?"
"Eavesdropping much, Dolohov ?" Hermione snorted. Antonin just shot her a mean glance but chose on ignoring her remark.
"Don't you see she just wants us to lose ?" Dolohov kept asking Tom.
"For fuck sakes Dolohov, it has nothing to do with the game." Hermione snapped. Tom hadn't opened his mouth since the beginning of this altercation. Hermione felt as if he were quite enjoying watching the two of them bickering. "I put Diggory on your team."
"Why ?"
Tom finally stood up. "His father is the new Head of Magical Transportation Dolohov. It might be interesting for us to have a little chat with him."
"Then why, since the beginning of the game, have you been trying to get rid of him, Tom ?" Dolohov almost barked.
"Because she just told me." Tom snapped, his voice tight from the acknowledgment that he didn't know himself.
"So you listen to Hortense now ? Are you going to ask us to listen to her as well ?" Dolohov rose his voice.
"Dolohov." Tom growled.
"What ? You know what I think of her Tom."
"Everyone knows, " Hermione snorted, "you're not that subtle Dolohov. So for once in your life, shut it."
"Who do you think you are ?" Antonin snapped. "You arrive here like you own the goddamn place, you try to manipulate everyone with your tragic little backstory, you end up in our ranks, Merlin knows ho-"
"Stop." Tom cut him, his voice low and stone cold. Antonin looked at Tom and cocked his head.
"Whatever you're trying to do Tom, you're just wasting your time. She is going to end up playing all of us." Tom smirked at this. "You shouldn't listen to what she has to say. No one should trust her."
"Haven't it crossed your mind Dolohov that she is here because she knows how to play ? Politics is a game and she is one of the few who knows the rules. Instead of complaining all the time and wasting everyone's time, try to do something useful for once."
"You're losing focus Tom !" Dolohov almost whined. "Think with your brain instead of-"
Dolohov didn't have the time to finish his sentence that Tom had taken him by the collar. Tom was at least two inches taller than the other boy, but Dolohov had always been stocky. At this moment, Antonin looked like a scared child. His eyes opened wide and his Adam's apple was bobbing as he tried to gulp. Tom's fist became white from the intensity of his grip. The prefect slightly leaned towards Antonin's ear and whispered something. Hermione saw all colours draining from his face. Tom straightened his back and stared at him, he waited for Dolohov to slowly nod his head to let him go.
The door opened and the six people present in the room all turned around to witness Cole and Isodor entering.
"What are you doing ?" Cole asked.
"The game has restarted. Everyone has finished their fifth task, we were looking for you." Isodor explained.
Dolohov rapidly left the room, followed by the others. Hermione went to join them in the corridor when Tom took her by the wrist. She looked down at her hand and tried to free herself from his grip.
"I defended you Hortense but if you even think about playing me I will not hesitate. You know what I am capable of." Tom told her in a deep voice.
Hermione didn't feel like answering this threat. Tom had recently played the good guy with her, almost friendly, too friendly. Casual touches, compliments, jokes. She knew it was only a part of his plan but at this moment all of that was gone. She was standing in front of someone who had killed, liked it and was ready to do it again. Hermione's face must have shown uneasiness because Tom gently let go of her wrist, letting his finger caress the back of her hand and tried to soften his gaze.
She saw right through him.
(CASSANDRE) - (WALBURGA)
Cassandre lied to get out of the game. His team didn't even realise. He was a good liar after all, he simply said that someone had used a Wand card against him when he was the one who did. Would that be considered suicide ?
He didn't care. He had a reason for why he did it.
Cassandre was casually leaning against the wall in the fifth-floor corridor. He had his left leg propped against the wall. He watched from afar his team leave towards the next step. He quickly turned his head in the opposite direction. His curly hair was elegantly falling on his forehead. Once the corridor was empty, he pushed himself off the wall and began walking toward where he was looking. He kept looking around him to make sure no one followed him. His heart was hammering in his chest, he felt a lump in his throat. He arrived in front of the door. He fixed his tie and carded his finger through his hair to make it look nicer.
He gently pushed the door open and saw her, waiting for him in the middle of the room. She was basked in the soft light of the moon. Her eyes were soft as they laid upon him. A small smile grew on her lips and Cassandre restrained himself from capturing them with his own. She was as beautiful as ever. Her hair was falling past her shoulder in soft curls, her eyes, often described as cold and stern from other students, were nothing but warm and loving to him. They didn't talk, they just stood there admiring each other. Every time they met it felt like it would be the last time. They didn't need to talk to say what they had to say. They only had to look at each other and let their eyes make the conversation. Even though the situation was nothing but difficult, Cassandre felt as if loving her was the easiest thing he had ever had to do.
He finally reached her, his right hand coming to rest on her cheek. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips against hers. She stayed still for half a second before putting her hands behind his neck and giving herself to the kiss. As they parted, Cassandre let his forehead fall on hers. She began laughing and he joined her.
It was always the same. They would kiss and laugh and talk. The world stopped in those moments, it was just the two of them. Until reality was drawn upon them.
They were lying on the floor, Walburga's eyes stuck on the ceiling and Cassandre's stuck on her.
"What are we doing ?" She whispered.
"We said we would think about that later." He replied as he interlaced his fingers with hers. She turned her head and looked at him.
"I think we reached it."
Cassandre sat up and pulled at his hair. "Until your graduation, we're free Walburga."
"Free ?" She repeated and let out a disbelieving laugh. "We are not free Cassandre. We're constantly lying to our family, our friends, everyone."
"Well, I feel free when I am with you." He replied in a small voice.
"Cassandre…"
"Tell me then. Look me in the eyes and tell me you want me to go." He turned toward her.
"You know I can't."
"So why do you do that ?" He stood up and put his hands in his hair to tear at it. "Every time. You go back to this. Why can't you just let yourself enjoy the moment, Walburga ?"
"Because it feels wrong." She slightly rose her voice and stood in front of him. Cassandre froze and furrowed his brows.
"It feels wrong ?" He echoed, hurt evident in his voice.
"No-"
"You're messing with my head." He took a step back and saw her expression morph into sadness.
"I'm sorry Cassandre. But we need to open our eyes and acknowledge the fact that we are bound to fail."
"Not tonight. Tomorrow we'll go back to ignoring each other. But give me tonight. Let me tell you one last time that I love you."
She took a step forward. They were only inches away from each other, sharing the same air.
"Then tell me."
ALL TEAMS
Tom had watched Grace leaving the room. He was currently pacing, his gaze focused on his feet. His hands were slightly shaking from anger and his breath became ragged. Tom had felt a difference since he had made two Horcruxes. He was annoyed more easily and his patience was wearing thinner every day. While researching this dark magic, he had read about the possible side effects and accepted them. However, Tom finally realised that it would be harder to control than anticipated.
He took one last deep breath and went to join the others in the Great Hall. The four tables, usually placed in the middle of the room, were pushed against the walls and were covered with food and beverages. People were chatting in small groups, usually a drink in their hands.
"Want a drink ?" He heard someone ask on his right. Tom turned his head and saw Pollux in the doorway.
"Is it part of the sixth task ?" Tom simply asked.
"It's break time." He avoided answering.
Pollux cast a Silencio in the room and approached the professors' table. He loudly clapped his hand to get everyone's attention.
"Congratulations everyone. You've played hard since the beginning and I think you all deserve a little break. You'll find food and drinks on the table. Enjoy."
Tom went by the table and poured himself a glass of elf's wine.
"What the hell happened ?" Abraxas abruptly asked him.
"Hello to you too, Malfoy."
"Antonin is mad."
"Dolohov needs to know when to shut up." Tom coldly replied, obviously not in the mood to talk about Antonin's behaviour. Tom turned around and leaned against the table and looked around the room. "How's your team ?" He finally asked Malfoy.
"We voted Briggs out. Still have Lovegood though, I talked with him. His father works for the Prophet, he has told me a lot of things."
Tom nodded at that and let his gaze fall on Grace, laughing with Cole and Pollux then on Dolohov who was chatting with some sixth-year. She had not only put important people in his team, she had put them in each of the lads' team.
"We will talk about that later." He said as he looked at Abraxas, a small smirk on his lips.
From afar, he saw Edgard and Isodor joining Grace. He pushed himself off the table and went by their side. Edgard started congratulating Pollux on his game, Isodor and Malfoy eagerly joining the conversation. In front of him were standing Cole and Grace, laughing at some inside joke Tom couldn't understand. At some point, Pollux turned towards them.
"Quit it." He said with a smug smile.
"Stop fraternising with the enemy." Edgard lightly scolded Grace.
"Yes, stop flirting, Cole." Pollux added.
Isodor was loudly chewing on one of the sweets he had taken from the table. Everyone stopped to look at him. "That is really good." He said with a full mouth and a shrug. "What's that ?"
"French food. Ask Grace." Pollux answered.
Grace took the small sweet in her hand and made a small disgusted face. "Those are Calissons d'Aix. I really don't like them."
"Well I do." Isodor smiled. "More for me then."
Grace turned towards the table and gathered some food on a plate. Cole went to steal one sweet from her when she playfully slapped his hand. Pollux, who just witnessed it, opened his mouth to speak, malice in his eyes.
"So, what is the sixth task ?" Cole abruptly spoke up to pull the rug from under Pollux. The latter only answered with a sly grin. He went to the middle of the room and loudly clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. The students altogether lowered their voices and looked at the game master
"Having fun ?" Pollux asked the crowd which answered with cheers. "Please don't forget that you're playing a game after all." He became walking among the players, sometimes stopping to add a dramatic effect. "The sixth task is going to be a little different from the others. You won't have to resolve an enigma or use physical strength. You will only need to make a choice." He left the sentence hanging, a small smirk slowly drawing on his lips. "At the beginning of the game, I chose your teams for you. You had no say in it. Let's see how you would have built your own team. The only thing I ask for is five members per team. I'll add one more thing, your friends are not automatically the best one to team up with." Parkinson smirked.
"Wait," Warrington shouted, "we're twenty-three."
Pollux cocked his head to the side and smiled. "Well, I guess three of you are out." He jumped off the chair and went by the bar. He turned around with a glass in his hands. "And go on side quests for fuck's sake."
Tom felt Dolohov looking at him.
"What ?" Tom simply asked.
"Who do we want in ?" Antonin answered looking around the room.
Tom noticed Abraxas talking to Lovegood and nodded at him. He turned around and called out to Paul Diggory. "We made a great team so far Diggory, don't you think ?"
"Of course, we should keep the same one." The Hufflepuff smiled.
"We need two other players."
Tom knew who he wanted in his team, he had known since the beginning of the game. Almost every lad had taken their task seriously and had teamed up with useful players. Tom looked around the room and kept his gaze stuck on the one player.
"Are you serious ?" Antonin scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"What ?" Tom asked his friend wearily.
"Do we need her or do you just want her ?"
"Can you stop being a child ?" Tom snapped, shutting up Dolohov for good. "Grace !" He finally called her from afar.
Grace, at the moment in a conversation with Cole, spun around and shot a questioning look at him.
"Want to be on my team ?" He smirked. Grace approached and snickered as she recalled the exact same sentence he said to her earlier.
"Oh. Suddenly, you want me to play a game with you." She cocked an eyebrow and looked right at him, looking closely for any reaction from him following the jab. Tom decided on not replying to what he had just said. He simply held her gaze and waited for her to make up her mind.
"Fine." Grace finally spoke up.
"Who's going to be the final player ?" Paul interrupted.
"Milton should be on our team." She answered and smiled at Paul. A snort coming from Dolohov made her lose the smile and turned towards where the noise came from.
"Milton ?" Dolohov mocked her idea. "How about we forfeit the game right now ? We should take Edgard."
The two Slytherin turned towards Tom, as if they were waiting for the final decision to be made. He first looked at Antonin and knew that on top of suggesting Edgard as the last player to spite Grace, he genuinely thought it to be the good choice to make. Tom's eyes next fell on Grace, indifference visible on her face. Tom finally recalled what she had told him earlier.
"Oh Tom, don't make me think you still believe a team will win this game."
Tom internally smiled at her cleverness, she chose Milton to have the player to get rid off easily once the time would come. Milton was the easiest choice and she chose right.
"Mulciber." Tom called Milton. The latter almost arrived running by his side. Next to him, Dolohov rolled his eyes, almost as if he was anticipating Tom's decision.
The second the team was complete, the parchment in Tom's hand heated up.
"Children's Anthology of Monsters,A by Newton Scamander
Numerology and Grammatica, by
Madcap Magic for Wacky Warlocks, by J.K. Rowling
Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties, by Arthur Osborn
Quintessence : A Quest, by Violeta Stitch
The Standard Book of Spells, by Miranda Goshawk
Guide to Advanced Occlumency, by Arsenius Jigger
Abracadabra : An A-Z of Spooky Spells, by Catullus Spangle
Triwizards Tragedies, by Carlos Eduardos
Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts, by Phyllida Spore"
He showed the others the list and they all automatically went towards the library.
Pollux, as the sneaky Slytherin he was, had thought this through. He had not only asked for the teams to retrieve books from the library, he also made sure to make this task happen at the same time as Mrs. Vablatsky's round, the librarian. The four teams were in the hallway, all waiting for Pollux to give them the go. They all looked at each other, impatient, grinning from ears to ears.
What are you waiting for ? Pollux rhetorically asked them on each parchment. Without a second of hesitation, the twenty students silently dove into the library. The room was almost pitch black if it was not for the moonlight coming through the windows.
"I don't like that." Milton whispered to his team only to get shushed in return. However, nineteen students shushing at the same time only made more noise than Milton's little comment.
"Is someone in there ?" They all heard Mrs. Vablatsky's shy voice asking at the back of the library. This was it, the beginning of the task. The twenty students split up and began their search.
Tom went directly towards the Herbology section. He had left his team and had run to the far left of the library. He lit up his wand and used it to illuminate the books. He searched for Arthur Osborn's one. He skimmed through the books cover, up and down the huge shelves. As he finally took hold of the book, he heard footsteps not far from him. He quickly used a Nox and stayed very still. He could hear his own breath mixed with the steps coming closer and closer. Then, a slap. Or what seemed like a slap. Tom furrowed his brows at the sound and tried to get a glimpse of what was happening. "Habilito." He heard Abraxas Malfoy whisper.
"Really Malfoy ?" He heard Edmund mumbled. Abraxas and Edmund were standing in front of each other, Rosier's right hand clutching a card on his chest and Malfoy slyly grinning. Tom, from the look on Edmund's friends, perfectly knew that Malfoy had used his Wand card.
"I just want to win." Abraxas answered with a shrug. Edmund simply flipped the blond off and went to leave the library. As Malfoy turned around to keep looking for a book, he met Tom's glance. The prefect simply shook his head no in a disapproving way dragging out a low chuckle from Abraxas.
"I know there is someone in there !" Mrs. Vablatsky's voice resonated through their section of the library. The two Slytherin parted ways. Tom caught a glimpse of Paul Diggory, two books under his armpits.
When he felt safe enough to lit up his wand again, he did and began skimming again through the shelves. The one rule for succeeding this challenge was to be attentive and quick to respond. When Tom heard any noise, he simply put out the light and waited out. He did just that when he heard steps coming his way. He took a step back until his back was flushed against the shelf. He then heard quiet laughter coming from behind him.
"What are you doing ?" He heard Grace whisper.
"Come with me."
Tom got quite interested in the conversation taking place a row behind between Grace and Cole.
"What are you talking about ?" Grace quietly laughed. Tom could almost see the grin on her face and the twinkle in her eyes.
Is she trying to manipulate him ?
I know how to read the signs : the flirt, the sweet voice
I use that too.
"Pollux gave me a clue. We only have to go to Abe's." Cole murmured. "It's one of the side quests."
"We're in the middle of a task Cole. And we're not even on the same team."
"Who cares ? It's my birthday."
Tom wondered if she would leave with him. After all, Cole was her friend, it was his birthday. It would make sense if she did. However, something didn't sit well with Tom. He wouldn't allow that if he had a say in this decision. He would tell her that she couldn't leave the team. The team she agreed to be a part of.
"I can't leave my team like that." Grace acknowledged reluctantly. Was she really eager to go with Cole or was she only a really good actress ?
"Come on, they have Riddle. They'll be fine." A little silence followed Cole's sentence before Tom heard laughter once again. He imagined the small nod she must have given Cole and the huge smile slowly drawing on the latter's face.
"Leave now and meet me in ten minutes in the arithmancy classroom." Cole finished.
Before Grace could voice her answer, Tom decided he had heard enough. He pushed the shelf with his shoulders and made some books fall. As anticipated, Grace and Cole startled at the sound and left this section of the library. After making sure the coast was clear, Tom went where the two friends were talking. He put the books back on the shelves and smirked as he saw two items laying on the floor. He cast a lumos and crouched down to have a better look.
One Cole's cards, a draught of the living death, and a chocolate frog. He picked up the two, put them in his pocket and realised he had to act quickly.
He ran past the shelves, pushed the book he found into Paul's arms and took a grip of Isodor's shoulders as the latter was running past him.
"Use it on Cole." Tom ordered the blond Slytherin as he handed him the poison card he had just picked up.
"What ?" Isodor asked, completely lost.
"Use this card on Cole, Avery." Tom slowly repeated. Isodor didn't dare ask any more questions at the tone Tom just used. He only took the card, nodded his head and went away.
HERMIONE
Hermione was casually seated in one of the chairs. Her legs were propped on the desk and her eyes looking around the room. The door opened and Hermione jumped off the seat.
"You took your time." She said as she turned around. the smile she previously had on her lips quickly fell as she saw who entered the room.
Tom was leaning against the wooden door, his arms crossed upon his chest.
"Waiting for someone ?" He asked.
Why is it always him ?
"What did you do to him ?" She shot back. Tom lowered his head and let out a laugh. He pushed himself off the door and took a step forward.
"Why do you always think the worst of me ?"
Hermione saw what could be close to a grin as he said the last sentence. She simply cocked her head to the side and rose an eyebrow. This made him laugh again.
"Why are you doing this ?" Tom finally asked. Hermione furrowed her brows in response, not fully understanding what he meant. "With Woodcroft." He added.
Hermione was left entirely baffled. For the year she's been at Hogwarts in this timeline, she has learned to know a few things about Tom. First, it seemed that he always found his way into situations that didn't concern him. Secondly, he was almost certain that the world constantly revolved around him. And thirdly, Tom believed he was entitled to know everything.
But one other thing Hermione had learned in the past year with Tom was that sometimes it was easier to let him do the talk.
"What do you think is happening with Woodcroft ?" She folded her arms upon her chest, mirroring the position he was just in. She sat on the table and crossed her legs too.
"I think you are trying to get him to do something for you." He answered. He began pacing around her, his voice low and his signature smirk on his lips. "For me."
Hermione could only laugh. "We're only friends Tom."
"So ? Who said you cannot manipulate your friends ?"
"I believe we have a different vision of what friendship is, Tom." Hermione rose from her seat to leave the room.
He stopped her from moving forward by grabbing her left arm. "Do we ?" He simply asked her. The proximity of their two bodies made her realise she could feel his breath on her face, she could smell his scent, a mix of wood and musk. She shook her arm out of his grip and took a step back.
"Why do you have to always do that ?" Hermione shot at him.
"Do what ?" It was Tom's turn to sit on a table.
"Putting in your two pennies."
Tom chuckled at that and met her interrogating gaze. "Let's go. I guess the team has finished the sixth task." On that he got up and went by the door. He opened the latter and gestured for her to go out before him.
"I hope it was worth it Tom. Ruining our chance to get a clue that could help us win the game for a little discussion of no value in an empty classroom." Hermione mumbled as she went past him.
"We can still go on the side quest. I have never said we could not." Tom noticed.
"Tom, what was interesting in this side quest was spending time with my friend. Do you see him anywhere ? No, so I won't go on any side quest."
Hermione saw something flash behind his eyes. She couldn't put a finger on it, but he seemed to have realised something.
"Ok." He nodded his head. "Let's go then. Go find Cole and go on the side quest."
His voice was not cold nor stern, it only showed indifference.
"Fine. Let's go." She said in return. They kept looking at each other for a couple of seconds, none of them moving a finger, only keeping up their gaze and their heads high. They both started walking simultaneously. The tension that could have been felt minutes prior was slowly dissipating, until there was no residue left. At a junction, Tom a few steps ahead of her turned to the left.
"Do you even know where you're going ?" She called out to him. He stopped in his tracks and let out a soft exhale. When he finally turned around he simply said "no, not really."
They looked at each other for some time before Hermione began laughing quietly. She was herself surprised by that. But it felt good, really good. The situation was ridiculous, Tom was ridiculous with his lost face and the small smirk he usually had when he looked at her. Everything was ridiculous, so Hermione laughed. She went towards one of the paintings and casually began talking to it.
She remembered how awkward she first felt when she began talking to each painting at the beginning of last year. But as time went by, it had become easier and almost pleasant. As the memory flashed in her head, she quickly tried to put it away. Ignoring the problem was the only thing she could do at the moment.
Hermione could feel Tom's gaze on her as she asked for direction. Finally, the painting told her that he had heard some students talking about dungeons.
"Now, we know where we have to go." She told him. His eyes were still squinted as he kept looking at her. She could almost feel his mind rushing and his thoughts bubbling inside his head. "Once again, I provide." Hermione smiled, mimicking a little bow.
Tom's eyes opened as he heard the last two words. She watched as his face turned from intense thinking into complete awareness. He recalled the words she had said to him that night in the Chamber of Secrets. He recalled her enumeration of help provided to him.
"You are right." He finally acknowledged. Hermione startled a bit at the declaration. She perfectly knew he needed her but she wouldn't have thought him to confess. She only nodded and they both started walking towards the dungeons.
"How did you manage to stop Cole from coming ?" Hermione asked him.
"I used Cole's card." Tom simply answered. "The draught of the living death."
"How convenient for you to draw this card."
"Oh no, you do not understand. It was Cole's card. He dropped it. I simply picked it up."
She spun her head and saw the sly smirk he had on his face. "By the way, he dropped that too. Would you mind giving it back to him ?" He finished as he handed her a chocolate frog, a sly smirk on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes and quickly took the sweet out of his hand and securely placed it in her pocket.
They saw Dolohov from afar as they approached the potion's classroom.
"Where the fuck were you ?" Dolohov spat, more to Hermione's face than Tom's. "You've missed the entire eighth's task."
"Eighth ?" Tom cut his friend.
"Yes. After the library, Pollux told us to go to the DADA classroom and we had to-"
"The team won Dolohov, so why are you driving us up the wall ?" Hermione cut him.
The three of them entered the potion classroom and found Paul Diggory and Milton waiting for them. He was standing next to a large table where seven were arranged. At first glance, it would have seemed like they were placed in no particular order. The smaller ones were arranged in between taller vials, the colours were mismatched. However, something bugged Hermione, she had a sense of déjà-vu.
Tom directly went for the parchment and read out loud what was written on it.
"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Three of us will help you, whichever you would find,
Three among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, tequila in those you, you won't be fine.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you with your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however, slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
Choose the right potion and you shall pass. Choose the wrong potion and suffer the consequences."
Hermione restrained herself from laughing as she began reading the riddle. She had not only read it before, during her first year, but she had solved it. She began wondering how Snape, almost fifty years later, came out with the same riddle. She then realised that he had been Slughorn's pupil and that he must have taken it directly from him.
"What the fuck is that ?" Dolohov spat.
"Fucking Pollux." Tom followed quickly after. "He told us we wouldn't have any more riddles."
Hermione knew she had to fake thinking about it, so she took the parchment in her hands and began reading it slowly once again. She then stopped in front of the table. "I got it."
She slowly turned around to face the boy "There are only three potions though."
A silence followed this news. No one dared talk nor move. She quickly shot a glance at Tom and saw him already looking back. He was silently waiting for her to do what she brought Milton for. Eliminate him when necessary.
"Habilito." She sheepishly told the short boy as she put her Wand card on his chest. She expected Milton to say something, however, she only saw the disappointment in his eyes.
"I see." Mulciber finally spoke up, his voice thick. Tom, Paul and Antonin all watched him leave the room as Hermione kept her gaze stuck on the floor.
Hermione didn't wait for the other to speak. She picked up four vials and carefully gave one to each.
"And we are supposed to blindly trust you ?" Dolohov asked her. Hermione didn't even look at him, she simply stared at Tom.
"I provide." She told him. She saw the way his mouth slightly turned upwards. Tom down his potion in one go, without any hesitation. Paul shrugged and drank his too. The four players stayed in silence, all waiting for something to happen. However, nothing did. Hermione smiled.
She then brought her vial to her lips to drink the beverage, her gaze stuck on Dolohov as if to bait him.
"Stop !" Dolohov almost shouted. She lowered her drink and cocked her head. "Switch with me."
"Excuse me ?"
"If you gave me the right potion, there should be no problem in switching with me. Right, Hortense ?"
She looked at Tom, he was watching the altercation intensely. Dolohov ripped the vial out of her hand, replaced it with his own and drank it.
She waited.
Waited for the potion to react. And it did.
Dolohov began feeling something on his forehead and put his right hand on it. White pustules bloomed on his forehead and a couple of seconds later it read : CONSEQUENCES.
"You're so predictable Dolohov." Hermione smiled at him. She rose her glass and drank the right potion.
"I'm going to kill you !" Dolohov yelled, anger rising in his guts. Tom pulled him back by the shoulders.
"Calm down Antonin." He tried to calm him. "It is only a game."
"She fucking crossed me !" Dolohov kept yelling, shrugging out of Tom's grip "She crossed Milton. She is going to fucking cross you one day." On this, he left the room slamming the door behind him.
Paul quickly grabbed the parchment laying on the table and called the two other players.
"Meet me in the GO Space."
"Shall we ?" Tom asked.
The common room atmosphere was perfect. The music was delightful, the tables filled with drinks and food. The people were all chatting or dancing around the room. A small smile crept on Hermione's face.
"Finally !" She heard Pollux's loud voice welcoming her team. "The finalist, please gather in front of me."
Hermione, Paul and Tom joined Abraxas, Cole, Warrington and Edgard in the middle of the room. The other former players created a circle around them and all clapped their hands.
"Give us the clue Pollux !" Warrington asked.
Pollux grinned, looking directly at Cole. "Well, it's golden." The players rolled their eyes and Pollux kept going "it could fit in your pocket."
The clues Pollux was giving away were almost useless. He had this shit-eating grin plastered on his face while he looked at the seven finalists who were trying to find the golden item. Warrington looked behind the couches' pillows, Edgard was scanning the tables and the crowd was shouting ideas out of nowhere. Yet, Pollux's gaze had not left Cole.
Hermione knew something was not right. She then looked at Cole, who was laughing with Warrington as he looked on the mantelpiece. Still, Pollux's gaze had not left Cole.
Pollux wants Cole to win.
He wouldn't have put the golden item out in the open.
Hermione looked at Cole. She knew deep inside her that Cole must have the item on him.
"It might be edible." Pollux added another clue and at those words, everything clicked. She put her left hand above her pocket.
Pollux never intended for someone else but Cole to win. The other players never got a real chance. Cole was the only one who could have won the game. Well, he was supposed to.
She slowly put out the chocolate frog that Tom gave her. The chocolate frog he had himself stolen from Cole. The chocolate frog Pollux had given the birthday boy before the game even began. The chocolate frog that was golden, small and edible.
Hermione softly laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.
Pollux really is a little shit.
"What do you have in your hands ?" Edgard pressed as he saw her clutching to the sweet. The room went quiet and everyone turned to look at her.
"How did you get that ?" Pollux jumped off the table he was standing on top of and approached her.
"It's not mine. It's Cole's." She smiled. She saw the birthday boy across the room, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"Did Grace win ?" Warrington asked Pollux.
"Well-"
"I did not. I didn't open it. And to win I would have to open it, right Pollux ?" Hermione cut her friend.
"You are right." The game master smiled. "You would need to open it."
Hermione left Pollux's side and went by Cole's. She took his left hand, opened it and dropped the chocolate frog in his palm. "Happy birthday." She whispered. Cole looked at her as he opened the box, his eyes never leaving hers. Hermione heard the cheer coming from the crowd as a golden frog escaped its packaging.
TOM
After Cole had won, the party was in full swing. The lads and Grace were gathered next to the fireplace, enjoying a drink.
Tom was leaning against the wall, his legs crossed, turning his ring around his middle finger. His brain hadn't stopped rushing since the end of the game. He didn't understand something and it bothered him.
Since when does she not care about losing ?
She would have not given the frog away if it was not for something.
She plays. The only time she loses is when she has something in mind.
What are you doing Grace ?
"I got some good information from Lovegood." Abraxas told the others. Tom slowly shook his head and looked at the blond.
"At least someone got some." Dolohov pointed out, while glancing at Grace.
"Something to say Dolohov ?" She asked him.
"We didn't get shit from Diggory. Why did we even keep him then ?"
Tom watched Grace from the corner of his eyes, eager to know how she would explain herself. She finally cleared her throat and replied. "We could have sacked him so many times. Yet, we didn't. You know what else ? He had fun. He had fun with us. He trusts us." She took a step towards Dolohov. "From now on, if one of us needs information from him, he will give them willingly. So yes Dolohov, that is why I put Diggory on your team."
The two of them began bickering and Tom spaced out. He had had enough of this for the night. He looked around the room, at the students enjoying their nights. On the far right of the common room were Pollux and Cole, laughing around a drink. Cole had put one of his arms around his friend's shoulders and looked like he was thanking him. Parkinson then turned his head and directly looked at Grace, grinning and slightly shoving Cole in his ribs. Tom saw a light blush creeping up Cole's cheek and the embarrassment in his body position. Tom eyes darted from Grace to Cole several times before finally settling on the HeadBoy.
Oh.
Author's Note :
Hi guys, it took us global pandemic for us to finally finish this chapter.
To be completely honest, we've been working on it for 5 months (actually half of it was already written five months ago)
We've been through seven versions of it (four during the last two weeks which wierdly coincides with the beginning of the quarantine in France).
At first, the game was 100x complexier(?) (personal number, more Cole's Cards, side quests - they went on the side quest in one version but it was too angsty for now -, tokens everywhere, random new rules, spill and fill your guts, never have i ever) sooooo we tried to simplify it a lot.
We know that this chapter is not perfect and could be way better but if we have to make a slght modification w're not sure we will be physically do it. We're quite traumatised. We draw the line at 7 fucking drafts.
By the way, we would like to apologize for any mistake you may read in this ff. English is not our first langage and even though we speak quite well (we think ?) it is absolutely not perfect.
Hope you like it .
Lots of love;
-DDM's Managers