Fluke; Part 4
By Ginny :)
In case you were wondering, I've written the first part of my next 'Lily & James' series, called 'Lily and James; Mirror'd Illusions' .I'll be posting it as soon as this series has finished. Bunny Chan and I are still working on Even Angels Make Mistakes [for those of you who don't know, we co- wrote it under the name 'Bunny Chan and Ginny :)', and it's very strange, about Neville's poor Gardien Angel... although maybe you should pity Neville more, all things considered. Hmmm... ], but it's kinda hard to arrange times to talk about plot, etc, since she lives in Malaysia, and I live in London. However, part 3 is in production! Promise! Likewize, part 14 of Sunshine If Eternal is being written.
ANYWAY, JKRowling owns Tom Riddle and Myrtle.
Ginny :)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Fluke worked away day after day, at school work, homework, art
work, and of course, her picture for Tom, whenever she could.
It was turning out to be quite a picture. Fluke had grown to hate
it in one way, but had also to half fall in love with it. It was
different from anything else she'd ever drawn ... it was a powerful
image, nothing like the usual elegant unicorns, comely fairies
and delightful sprites she usually sketched. This had a... a...
something extra. It was more powerful, more vivid, more... more
enchanting, in that impossible manner that it used to fix itself
into your mind, and wove it's way into your thoughts, putting
all kinds of strange, twisted ideas into it.
Fluke wondered why Tom wanted this picture. The basilisk was so obviously full of intended evil. She couldn't imagine why anyone would want to see it... but once you had seen it, you became captivated, so that you wanted to see it again. It was confusing. There must be something behind Tom's wanting it that he did not want to admit.
Fluke continued to see Tom daily, each day they chatted, kissed, smiled and he acted as he had done. None of the cold urgentness showed itself, and Fluke began to wonder if it was all in her imagination.
She didn't like to ask what the picture was for, because every time it was broached, he would change the subject almost instantly. Fluke was curious, of course, but decided that it was better for all concerned if she just got on with it.
Of course, word soon got around the school of Fluke and Tom's romance. People did wonder about it... Tom was clever, handsome, popular and generally charming, as well as being able to pick any girl he chose to date out of pretty much the entire school ... and as for Fluke ... well, what did a boy like him see in a plain, talentless, silence-stricken girl like her?
Pitty, for one, was terribly jealous.
"What's he see in you?" she demanded, cornering Fluke one day in the Hufflepuff common room, Pitty's friends Freya Wykevski and Adeliza Blaize, standing nearby, hands on hips, giving Fluke envious stares.
"I don't know," said Fluke, in perfect truth.
"He's either blind, or barmy." Freya announced, matter-of- factly.
"Or both," nodded Adeliza, tossing her fair head.
"Or maybe," Pitty glared at Fluke maliciously, "you've been mixing up a love potion in your spare time?"
Freya looked scornful, "Don't make me laugh! A love potion! Her!"
"Well, it's possible," Adeliza looked at Fluke sideways.
All 3 exchanged glances. All thinking the same thoughts.
"Have you been making love potions, Fluke?"
"No."
"Whatever!"
There was a pause, during which Fluke rather wished that she was somewhere else, or, even better, that Pitty, Adeliza and Freya were somewhere else, preferably a long way off, and that she, Fluke, was still in the common room. That would be in an ideal world, though.
Pitty suddenly put on a jovial air, which Fluke had long ago learned to mistrust.
"I say, Fluke, you wouldn't make us some of this potion, would you?"
"I never made any. You know what my potions are like, I'd just--"
"C'mon, Fluke, you can tell us..."
"But I honestly didn't make--"
"Fine. If you don't want to help your best friend--"
"No, I don't!" Fluke snapped. She was surprised at herself, "I don't want to help you, and what's more, it's not even true!"
She pushed past Pitty, Adeliza and Freya, who looked amazed at Fluke's retaliation. She stalked off, glaring all the way.
"Sheesh! Touchy!" Pronounced Adeliza.
Now stricken with a near-terminal bad mood, Fluke made her way through the castle. Her annoyance was not decreased by being stopped by a Gryffindor 3rd year, Sauda Trelawney, who was frankly mental , and being informed that Tom Riddle was evil, that you could see it in his eyes, that the horror was drawing ever closer, and that she, Fluke, was going to die soon. Oh, and had she seen Trelawney's spare quill anywhere? Doom and woe, don'cha know.
Fluke informed Trelawney that she hadn't, that she was fine, Tom was fine, and that if she saw any death omens, she'd be sure to let her know as soon as possible.
No one ever listened to Sauda Trelawney. It was common knowledge that she was completely insane, and most likely, not worth listening to. Maybe she was jealous, too? Fluke half-grinned to herself. No one had ever envied her before; not once in her life. Well, it could only be a turn up for the books, really.
"Fluke!"
"What now?" Fluke spun round, a scowl on her face, expecting Trelawney or one of the Hufflepuffs. But it wasn't; it was Tom.
She blushed deep red.
"I'm sorry, did I do something?" He looked at her, as if worried. Her face softened.
"No ... nothing. I mean, I thought Trelawney or ... well. I'm sorry." She smiled at him a little hopefully. He smiled back at her. Butterflies reentered her stomach. She wished that wouldn't happen.
"Well, I forgive you." He gave her a joking wink, "For a moment there, I thought I'd done something wrong."
"Oh, no, not at all." She reassured him.
"I'm glad."
He gave her one of those kisses that always seemed to turn her
insides into
treacle.
"So, has that Sauda Trelawney been bothering you?"
"Yes, with all her death threats and predictions of doom."
"That can be almost incredibly annoying."
"I know," Fluke gave a slight laugh, "she's convinced that you're evil."
"I noticed. Every time she sees me in the corridor, she goes all ... funny," he imitated Trelawney's voice, "'Keep away, boy! I see evil in your soul! Keep away!' She's utterly barmey."
Fluke nodded, agreeing completely.
"Come to that," Tom said suddenly, "have you finished my picture yet? I need it-- soon."
"Yes, actually."
"Oh, good!" he smiled at her, and it was not a nice smile, "have you got it on you?"
"Yes. It's in my bag." That was perfectly true, and Fluke pulled it from it's usual confines, into daylight.
"Thank you," he took it from her, the fixed smile still on his face, as though it was cut out of stone, he leant forwards to kiss her. Their lips met... but Fluke found herself recoiling as though repulsed by something.
"What's wrong?" he looked at her, the twisted grin gone from his face, now all concern.
"I... nothing. Nothing." She looked away, embarrassed. But still had the fixed feeling that something was wrong... a feeling of intense unease...
"Fluke? Are you all right? Listen, I-"
She met his eye. Her stomach lurched. She didn't know why, but she felt something almost like a sudden thrill of terror. She turned on her heel, and... ran for it.
"Fluke?" He called after her, "Fluke, come back!"
He set off after her. Fluke ran faster, almost losing control of her mind and her body. She couldn't think. Everything was a blur. She just knew that she had to get away. Tom had the picture, she had to get away...
Fluke was not a good runner. Tom was. He caught up with her within a moment, and grabbed her arm.
"Fluke! Listen!"
She gaped at him, mouth open like a gold fish's, breathing hard, feeling panic drumming in every limb. The expression on Tom's face was ... unreadable. It scared her. She tried to get her hand out of his grip, but it was too tight, like a vice.
"Get off!" She was surprised at herself for the 2nd time that day. She thumped the hand, but it's grip remained fast.
"Fluke, listen to me, I need your help again, and I'm sorry--"
She was barely listening. She couldn't explain it, but there was something in his eyes, his face, that told her something was going to happen. He had planned it, and he would carry it out ... whatever 'it' was.
"Get off me! Get off!" Terror ran through every vein, and she didn't even know why--
He didn't say anything after that. He just let her struggle until all the energy drained out of her, and she collapsed, sobbing in a heap, held up by her wrist. Then he hoisted her to her feet, and held her in his arms.
Fluke was no even more confused then she had been before. His arms felt comforting around her, but...but she could hardly ignore what all her other senses had been screaming out not a moment before. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat with ever gasp she made.
"Shhh," Tom's voice was comforting, "calm down."
She gave a choking gasp, breathing too hard to answer him, tears of panic still in her eyes. Now she wondered why she had felt so scared a moment ago. She must be going mad. This boy was strange, yes, but he was also sweet, and he was the only person who had ever tried to be her friend, ever. More then a friend...
"Are you all right now, Fluke?"
She nodded mutely in reply.
"What's wrong? You can tell me."
"I thought... I mean... I... nothing."
"Really? Nothing?" his voice was disbelieving, but Fluke didn't answer him. He sighed.
"I can see that you aren't going to tell me..." he paused, "Fluke, will you come with me for a moment, please?"
"Er... all right." She answered, with some misgiving, but Tom's tone and touch had comforted her enough to trust him once again.
"Oh, good. I'm sorry if I did anything to scare you." He apologised.
"Oh ... that's all right..." She frowned a little to herself. He had her by the hand now, his grip no longer so tight, but comforting. They walked together along the corridors, ignored by the world in general.
Fluke was more then a little surprised, when he lead her into girl's toilets, but she continued to follow him anyhow.
Inside one of the cubicles, sat a girl, sobbing. Fluke recognised her vaguely, as a Hufflepuff girl from the year below, Myrtle Sullivan by name.
Myrtle looked up as they entered.
"Ooh! You're not allowed in here," she said, eyeing Tom with interest. Tom gave her a Look, before ignoring her,"You'll get into trouble," Mytle continued to Tom, before turning her gaze on Fluke, "And what do you want?" She stared at Fluke for a long moment, and when she didn't answer, Myrtle burst into tears, "You've come to tease me about my glasses, haven't you?"
"No," said Fluke, "I haven't, I promise, I--"
"What, then? No -- let me guess, it's my, my spots, isn't it?"
"No. Myrtle, look--"
"Come on," interrupted Tom, giving Myrtle a look of intense dislike, "Come over here, Fluke."
She obeyed. Tom was standing next to the sink, examining one of the taps with the keenest scrutiny. On the top of one, Fluke noticed a tiny snake, etched into it. A mini and less spectacular version of the Basilisk. Then Tom spoke...but not in English. Nor any other language that Fluke knew -- not that she knew many. It was strange... a kind of hissing noise. Like ... like a snake.
Fluke didn't know what he said, but instantly, the tap glowed a brilliant white light, and began to spin. Fluke gasped in amazement, as the sink, in fact, sank, leaving a large pipe-like tunnel exposed, easily large enough for a man to fit into. Fluke backed away.
"Tom, I don't think--"
But he had her by the arm again, and pulled her after him, as they entered the tunnel.
For some reson, a sentence entered Fluke's dazed mind...
The Chamber has been opened...
____________________________________________________________________________________________
There's probably only one -- possibly two-- more parts left to it after this, I'm afraid. And I'm sorry that I took ages to write this part, I've been really busy with shows and auditions and such- like. :) My thanks to hermione potter, my much- neglected beta reader for beta-ing this [because I know she'll leave a hinting review if I don't send it to her, tee hee]!
Please can you read & review? Cheers!
