Chapter 5
Tom Riddle was restless. Again he had sent Algernon to watch Narrelle and he had been gone far too long. He began to pace the common room for the seventh time, wandering from one side of the room to the other. The familiar anger was bubbling inside him again; he could feel it under his skin. Without warning he spun on the spot and muttered a single word. Holding his wand in front of him a cushion flew across the room and split open on the rusty metal chandelier. Feathers flew everywhere as thick as snow. "If only I could throw something heavier," he complained to himself. He did not dare of course, as waking up the entire Slytherin house would not improve his mood. Issuing a low growl of annoyance he slumped back down in the armchair by the fire.
He raised his wand again "Reparo," he said halfheartedly: the freshly settled feathers flew back into the air and into the cushion that fell back to the empty chair opposite as if it had never been moved. Tom knew that leaving the common room in a state would also lead to unwanted questions.
A creaking sound from behind him told him that someone had entered the room. "What took you so long?" He hissed.
"Peeves, that's what," Algernon moved into the light as he spoke waspishly. A dark bruise was forming around his left eye.
"You had better have a good excuse for this, did anyone see you?" Tom leaned forward in his seat the dangerous tone in his voice barely audible in the whispered words. "No, on second thoughts I'll deal with that later. How did she get on?"
A smug smile flitted across Algernon' face, "Oh, she didn't do very well this time." He tried his level best to look disappointed. Glancing at Tom he noticed his hands were clutching the arms of the chair, his knuckles turning white. All of a sudden he lost his confidence. "She…she got caught my Lord." His hands had started to tremble, Tom could be so unpredictable but now it was obvious he was livid.
"This had better not be because of you Rookwood," he spat.
"Oh no my Lord, Lynch found them, it had nothing to do with me."
"Then how did he know they were there?" He roared rising from his chair to once again tower over Algernon.
"Please my Lord, let me explain," Algernon sank to his knees. He knew that angering Tom was like giving yourself a death wish. Tom was a strong student and capable of almost anything. There was no doubt in his mind that one day Tom would be powerful and there was no way he wanted to be the enemy.
Tom grabbed a fistful of Algernon' robes and hauled him to his feet. "You have three minutes to tell me everything," pushing Algernon away he began to pace.
"I left here and bumped into Peeves. He called out and made me fall. No one else saw me because I left in hurry and, well, that old caretaker won't believe a word he says. Then I caught up with them as they found Lynch's office. They couldn't get in so Narrelle went through the window of the next room to get in. Then Hagrid came alo…"
"Hagrid?" Tom interrupted.
"Yes, Hagrid came and was talking to something. I couldn't see what from where I was hidden but it didn't sound human. It spoke of the monster and wanted Hagrid to release it. Then they left and Narrelle came back and then all of a sudden Lynch was there". Algernon broke off. Tom was no longer listening. In fact he was smiling.
"She may have failed her objective but she has shown she has determination and that she is not easily afraid. She has done well yet again."
"My Lord may I say something?" Algernon said quietly.
Tom scowled at him but nodded.
"Don't you think your judgement is a little clouded? After all, the girl means something to you."
"Are you suggesting that I am in love with her Algernon?" His mouth twitched with amusement.
"Well aren't you?" His words were almost missed as he uttered his mouse like whisper.
Tom chuckled, "Lord Voldemort cannot love. Narrelle Taylor could be very useful to us. She is not to be underestimated" Tom stopped smiling. "Now you are going to have to get along with her because I will not tell you again, she will be one of us." He turned away from Algernon and paused at the stairs down to the dormitories. "I have another job for you, I want to know everything about that oaf Hagrid. Follow him everywhere, understand?"
Hidden behind the curtains of his bed he lay awake. Images of Narrelle and her smile kept flitting through his mind. He had told Algernon the truth. He did not know how to love, but he was learning to.
November 19th came round so quickly Narrelle wondered where the last two weeks went. Everyone was exited over the Quidditch match that was due to begin at four o'clock that afternoon. Slytherin students had begun wearing their team's scarves of silver and green and cheering whenever they saw the team players in the corridors.
Narrelle went from lesson to lesson in a daze watching the hours tick by. This was going to be an easy match, she thought. There was no way Hufflepuff could beat their team. They just didn't have the brute force that Slytherin did.
"Miss Taylor would you kindly pay attention," Professor Crabstone snapped.
Narrelle jerked in her seat and found she was slumped on her desk, lost in her thoughts.
"Sorry Professor," she muttered going slightly red. Two of the Gryffindor girls in front of her giggled unkindly and she gave them a piercing glare that made them swivel back round in their seats so fast the one on the left almost toppled over. Narrelle smiled at Heather, sitting next to her, who was struggling not to laugh out loud. It wasn't that she was tired or too lazy to pay attention to the lesson, it was just the prospect of her being able to tell the future that kept her mind preoccupied. Surely she could see the out come of the match if she concentrated hard enough but so far nothing had come to her in the way of a vision. Sighing she tuned in to what Crabstone was saying.
"Now, from the notes I've just given you and the information in the library I expect an essay on Rogrebin by next Tuesday. Class dismissed."
Narrelle groaned, staring at the blank piece of parchment on her desk. She hadn't made any notes. Cursing herself under her breath she shoved her belongings back into her bag.
"Come on Nell, we want good seats," Heather took her arm and began to pull her from the room.
"What's the time? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"My you really are out of it. The match of course! it's half four."
"Now?" Narrelle rushed past Heather. There was no way she was watching this match from the lower platform seats. She charged out of the building and across the grounds with Heather at her heels. Joining the queue for the stadium she realized they might just make it to one of the top boxes.
Now severely out of breath she scrambled up the wooden stairs leading to one of the Slytherin tower boxes. Feeling as though her legs were going to give way, as they wobbled like jelly, she and Heather reached their destination and plonked themselves down into seats right in the front row. It wasn't long before the seats filled up and they were surrounded by chanting, excited Slytherin students.
"Narrelle," said a surprised voice "I didn't realize you'd be way up here."
"Tom" She said equally surprised "Excuse me," she said turning to a first year sitting next to her "Sit back there will you, to make space for my friend." She gestured to the remaining seat at the back of the box. Glaring at Narrelle, the girl grudgingly got up and moved out of the way.
Heather rolled her eyes and sighed. "Looks like I'm going to have to enjoy this by myself", she said to herself.
Just then the seven Slytherin players flew on to the pitch quickly followed by the Hufflepuff team in Quidditch robes of canary yellow. Narrelle could make out Osaris Simons and Secundus Samson, Slytherins two beaters, in their robes of green and white holding their bats out as they circled the pitch. Roland Waterman's voice rang out over the pitch magically magnified from the teacher's box where he sat wearing his Ravenclaw scarf and head boy badge.
"Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the year. Today Slytherin verses Hufflepuff." Cheers erupted from everyone in the stadium, but only the Slytherins were cheering for their fellow students; all the other houses were egging on the Hufflepuffs.
Madame Arch walked out onto the pitch carrying a large box containing the four balls. Placing it in the center of the grass pitch she carefully opened it. Undoing the catches for the two brown balls she stepped away quickly. The two bludgers shot up into the air, the professor returned to the box releasing the smallest ball, the golden snitch and then finally throwing up the large red quaffle.
"The game begins" Roland called out as captain Russell King of the Slytherin team darted forwards and snatched the quaffle out of the air. Ducking quickly he flew under the Hufflepuff players and threw it to one of his fellow chasers Lester Jones.
"And it's Jones in possession, he passes to Alphard Black" He continued. Alphard narrowly missed Thelma Trust, Hufflepuff chaser, as he hurtles towards the three golden hoops at the far end of the pitch. "Good save, Graham Harrison" The Hufflepuff keeper threw the quaffle as hard as he could in the direction of one of the Hufflepuff chasers. Russell was on his tail in a flash dodging this way and that trying to intercept the quaffle.
"I cant believe they let silly mudbloods play Quidditch" Tom spoke softly so as not to draw attention to himself. "I'm glad our Slytherins have more sense."
Narrelle nudged him hard in the ribs. "Don't talk like that Tom, not all muggle borns are bad people and obviously Harrison is a good player."
Tom glared at Narrelle but the continued commentating interrupted any retort. Glancing past Narrelle he caught the cold unfriendly eye of Heather. Sneering at her, he turned his attention back to the game.
"Albert Hewlett passes to Trust but wait, King's intercepted. King in possession and heading towards the Slytherin Goal posts… and…he scores, Ten-zero to the Slytherin team."
The Slytherin supporters burst into applause and whistles as Russell circled the pitch. Boos erupted from the rest of the stadium. Out of nowhere a bludger flew straight for Russell. Osaris, seeing it at the last moment, dived towards him but she was too late.
"Ooh and King's down," shouted Roland while peering over the edge of the stand to watch Russell King fall to the floor. He hit the grass with a dull thud as a medical team ran out and conjured up a stretcher.
Just as suddenly Eamos Packard, seeker for the Slytherin team, went into a spectacular dive. The crowd was captivated as he pulled up and continued to fly at break neck speed round the pitch.
"Packard's seen the snitch and is in close pursuit," Roland commented.
Narrelle squinted down searching for the snitch herself but from this distance she could not spot the golden speck. Tom pulled her back into her seat as she leaned dangerously close to the edge.
"Nelson Osborne is catching up," Roland said as the Hufflepuff seeker advanced on Eamos. "Will he get the snitch or will Packard?" All eyes where on the two seekers; Nelson was now level with Eamos. Suddenly Roland called out.
"And that's another ten points to Slytherin". Both Nelson and Eamos looked up to see their teammates and lost sight of the snitch. Frowning Justin soared upwards towards Algernon who was being congratulated by Lester, swerving to miss the bludger heading his way.
"I've got it," mouthed Secundus as he flew in front of him, swung his bat and belted the bludger towards Catherine Collins the third Hufflepuff chaser.
"Well done Louis, Collins didn't see that one coming". Howard Louis had intercepted it just in time, his younger brother George deflecting it back toward the opposition.
Eamos gave Alphard a high five as he flew past, still in search of the snitch.
"And it's Collins in possession, now Hewlett, Trust, Hewlett. Look at them run rings round the Slytherin chasers," the Hufflepuff team were dodging in and out of the Slytherins and passing so fast it was hard to keep up with who was who. "Trust approaches the goal posts and she….scores," The cheers were so loud they were like an explosion.
Way up high Eamos was watching Nelson's every move. Why should he waste his time searching when Nelson could do all that for him?
"That was a nice move Thelma, Nick Skelly just wasn't quick enough. The score is now twenty-ten to the Slytherins."
The Hufflepuffs scored another two times in the following five minutes bringing the score up to thirty-twenty to the Hufflepuffs. This infuriated the Slytherin team who seemed determined to get revenge. Bludgers were flying everywhere and there were several near misses for both teams.
Again Eamos went into a steep dive. He had spotted the snitch at the exact moment as Nelson and had his work cut out to get there first. He was virtually free falling when he pulled up hard to draw level with the fluttering yellow blur of Nelson. A strange semi silence had fallen over the stadium as both seekers concentrated on their target. Neither noticed the bludger hurtling towards them until it was too late. It struck Nelson Osborne full force pushing him into Eamos. Out of luck, Eamos stuck out his hand and clasped hold of the tiny golden ball, its wings beating desperately. They tumbled from the air and landed on the grass in a heap.
"Slytherin wins," Roland confirmed without emotion, "One hundred-and-seventy points to thirty." The Slytherin students burst into applause and cheers as the rest of the school groaned. They'd done it again.
Narrelle whistled loudly and threw her arms round Tom, "We won! We won!"
"Alright, no need to yell," he said sharply trying to hide a smile. Narrelle let go and sat back down. "We're going to win that cup again this year, I just know it," she beamed. Heather sighed again, she was pleased they had won but she was concerned for her friend. Narrelle may have missed it but she was sure she had seen Tom blush.
Back in the common room the celebrations had already started. Tom took Narrelle's hand to guide her towards Algernon, Folgrum and a number of other Slytherins. She pulled away and Tom scowled in a silent question.
"Just a minute, I'll be right with you," she said and gave his hand a quick squeeze before trotting down the carpeted steps towards a small crowd of students; among them were Heather and Evelyn. Tom glared over at them before striding over to his friends.
"How come you got back here so quick? We were right behind you," she questioned Heather.
"You were too engrossed with 'him' to notice I'd gone on ahead" She scowled over to where Tom was standing with the rest of the sixth years. "I did say I'd meet you back here but you obviously didn't hear me."
"I'm sorry, it was noisy coming back from the stadium. I had trouble hearing what Tom was saying. Look, please don't be mad, this is supposed to be a happy day, we won."
"I heard what he said up in the box Narrelle, about mudbloods" Her expression had changed to that of deep hurt. "I don't understand how you get along with someone so prejudiced."
"Because he's not prejudiced to her," Evelyn said quietly. Narrelle stared open mouthed at what she had just heard. Others from the group were nodding in agreement. "It's not your fault," Evelyn continued hurriedly, "And I don't expect you to take sides or stop being his friend over us, but when he says things like that in front of us or, worse, to us, we feel disgusted with him and ourselves."
"But you know its not true" Narrelle exclaimed, "We've been over this Tom, has difficulty accepting muggle borns but he has reason to." She couldn't blurt out about his father but she was sure they'd understand if they knew.
Evelyn cut her off, "And we've told you over, and over that doesn't make it right, he shouldn't take it out on us. You hardly ever stick up for us and besides, it's not just him".
"I do stick up for you, I told him to stop, but I can't control what he thinks and as for the rest, ignore them, we all know you're better than they are and that being muggle born makes no difference at all. Rise above it and try not to let them get to you. It's the only way. Now please can we forget this and enjoy ourselves. I've said I'm sorry."
"Its easy for you to forget" Heather spoke again but the fight had gone from her voice, she pushed her way through the small group to the small sofa in the corner.
"Look, you go have fun with them Nell, we'll be fine here, we're not welcome there." She nodded over to where Tom was standing with his friends and a selection of the rest of the Slytherins, gathered around the fire laughing and joking.
"Evey please!" Narrelle gave her a pleading look.
"I'm not mad at you and neither are they really, we just don't want more trouble. Not every one's like they are, so we can always go and join in with the more open-minded people. Go on now. I know you'd rather be with Tom". She turned from Narrelle and joined Heather. Olive and Alianora were there now too, although they were both from pure blood families like Ellouise and herself. She did want to join Tom but not at the expense of loosing her main friends. Still by the looks of things she didn't have much of a choice.
Tom had been watching the argument from across the room and he smiled to himself. If he could get her away from the mudbloods it would be perfect. He could not have her choosing their side, after all.
"Everything ok?" He asked resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes of course, what could possibly be wrong? We won!" She beamed at him as she helped herself to the pumpkin juice on the center table.
Tom smiled one of his rare smiles and Narrelle forgot all her worries. Before long it was dark outside and it was time for the evening feast. Slowly they filtered through the stone passage leading to the main corridor outside. Narrelle stayed with Tom and Folgrum as they approached the Slytherin table. Valetta crept up behind them catching hold of Folgrum.
"Hello" She beamed as she gave Folgrum a kiss on the cheek. "Now don't gloat, I have every confidence that Ravenclaw will beat you even if Hufflepuff didn't".
"Gloat? I'd never do a thing like that," Folgrum chided. "But I have to say I don't think your house will stand a chance and, even if you do win, we will have far more points. The cup is ours again". He wrapped his arms around her, still smiling.
"I shall let you off this time," Valetta said in mock horror. "But next time you insult my house I shall be forced to take action." They both burst into laughter and Narrelle joined in. If she and Tom could be that comfortable around each other all the time then her life would be bliss. With people like this for friends who needs Heather?
It was late when the party ended and they all crawled to their beds. Valetta had crept out as usual with the help of Folgrum. Narrelle hoped she would not be spotted on her way back to her common room.
Yawning widely she slipped between her covers and was asleep before her head hit her pillow, instantly transporting her into a world of dreams.
In her minds eye she was back at the Quidditch match, watching from high above as through she herself were flying. She heard the crowd shout as Slytherin scored a goal. Something was different though. It took a moment before it registered that this was not the same match she had seen today. The bright cloudless blue sky and warmth on her back telling her it was now summer. Blue and bronze robes fluttered below her as Septimus Weatherspoon streaked after a tiny golden blur.
"It's the match against Ravenclaw," she realized as the whole stadium exploded in cheers.
"Ravenclaw win the match one-hundred and fifty points to Slytherins ten." Shouted the elated voice of Roland Waterman as he threw his blue flag up in the air, cheering and shaking hands with the teachers he sat with. "Calculations show that the end of year Quidditch points stand thus: Hufflepuff with one-hundred points, Gryffindor with three-hundred and seventy points, Slytherin with four-hundred and seventy and, in first place, Ravenclaw with five-hundred and ten points." The crowd erupted into a fresh tide of shouts, whistles and cheers. "Ravenclaw win the Quidditch cup," Roland shouted louder than ever, still struggling to be heard.
Narrelle however heard only too clearly. Disappointment filled every ounce of her being as the realization that Slytherin would lose hit like bricks. A roaring filled her ears as she began to fall to the ground, eyes wide she started to scream as the green pitch rushed up to meet her. Just as she was about to thump onto the sun-baked grass, she woke with a start. Struggling with her sheets she fought to sit up.
"Nell, what are you doing on the floor?"
She looked up to see Heather looking at her with a frown, through half closed eyes. "Nothing Heather, go back to sleep, I just fell, that's all" Heather grumbled and rolled over, falling asleep instantly.
Picking herself up Narrelle climbed back into bed but she could not sleep again. Tossing and turning, she awaited the early hours of dawn. Was what she saw really going to happen? It could have been just a nightmare, surely? But then wasn't her exam dream a nightmare? That came true and this was so similar she could not shake the feeling she had seen the future again.
"Miss Taylor, if my lessons are so boring, you are excused" Irritation glittered in Professor Bloomsberry's eyes as she tapped her small foot on the concrete greenhouse floor. A few sniggers could be heard from the Gryffindor side of the long table that ran the length of greenhouse two.
Narrelle blushed and muttered an apology. That was the third time she had been told off and this was still the first lesson of the day.
"Now everyone, these Putrus Beans are used as dyes and can be important ingredients in some complicated potions. Can anyone here tell me which potions?"
Narrelle glanced around. The rest of the class had their eyes down, a few nervously looked around to see if anyone knew the answer and those who were certain they didn't shuffled their feet.
"Well of course you don't," she smiled, glancing at the confused faces of her fifth year students. Trick questions were rather a favorite in her classes, she liked to watch them squirm before watching the relief spread around the greenhouse when they were excused from answering. It was something that Narrelle didn't like about her Herbology teacher. Her thin eyebrows almost touched as she frowned.
"You are not expected to learn of these potions until next year, all that is required is that you know the dyes are powerful in disguises". She turned her attention the many pots that covered the table. Selecting one, she held it up for the class to see. "Now, as you can see, the plant itself is very difficult to see" she paused listening for the sniggers to subside. Narrelle could see why they were laughing, Bloomsberry was just holding a pot with soil in it, there was no plant, and there were no plants in any of the pots in front of them. She glanced at Ellouise on her right and found it hard to stifle a laugh of her own. Ellouise was peering at a pot her nose barely and inch away and she looked almost cross-eyed.
"Look everyone," she exclaimed startling Narrelle out of her fit of giggles. "If you look at them like this you can see something."
All noses bent down to peer into the pots and Narrelle could not suppress her laughter anymore.
"Miss Taylor" Snapped Professor Bloomsberry "What have I told you? Start behaving as a fifth year would or you shall be out of this class. As it is, five points will be taken from Slytherin. The entire left-hand side of the class straightened to glare at her for costing them house points.
"Sorry Professor Bloomsberry," she said defiantly, refusing to show her embarrassment once more.
"Now class, Miss Lawson is correct. It may appear that there are no plants in these pots but I assure you, there are. You see, they blend in very carefully with their environments so as not to be detected by insects or pests such as flesh eating slugs."
Narrelle snapped back into reality at the mention of slugs. Why on earth would they eat plants if they were called flesh-eating slugs? Ellouise tugged at her sleeve, "It's to do with the type of plant they eat, "she whispered. "Fleshy leaves are what they prefer, misleading name, that's all". Narrelle smiled at her friend, typical of her to know what she was thinking and have an answer.
"To see them clearly we need special lighting" Professor Bloomsberry continued. "Lumos Lomarus." Blowing gently on the end of her wand a bluish purple mist issued out of it and rose in to the air catching near the glass roof is spread out to form a cloud above them. The effect was beautiful, like nothing she had ever seen. Somehow the green-house appeared not only to be darker but to be filled with this strange light that was picking out details of their clothes that used to be white. Looking at her Slytherin badge, Narrelle noticed parts of the snake were glowing the same colour as the light, but more so were the plants. Suddenly every pot was filled with leaves and stems and pods all with the same glow.
"Wow" Narrelle exclaimed, it was so beautiful.
"Now class, settle down, we have work to do. Did you all pick up your phials from the front table when you came in?" Several of the group held up their ten glass tubes. "Good, good, right now can you all see clearly the tiny pods on the lower stems of your plants? These contain the dyes we need to collect. This can be tricky to do so I need you to pay close attention."
Carefully Professor Bloomsberry plucked one of the pods from her plant and held it between her thumb and forefinger. The pod was about the size of her fingernail and perfectly round. It glowed so brightly that the colour seemed to spread down her fingers.
"You need to squeeze them with just the right pressure, if you burst them too hard you will get covered with the dye and yes it's pretty, but it's wasteful and this is expensive stuff, understand? Right, a little dribble should be sufficient, hold it over the phial and let it run in, like that." The class could see a bright orange fluid in the tube, which she was holding up. "Place a stopper on the end and then, with a lot of concentration, levitate it very slowly and steadily into one of these holders," again she held up the holder so the class could see what she meant. "Remember, be very careful, it's your turn now."
One of the Gryffindor boys put up his hand "Miss?"
"Yes Mr Shaw," she said with irritation.
"Why does it need to be levitated?"
"That's a good question my dear," her hostility evaporating. " You see Galanthus, if you were to lift it, you would shake it. If you do that, even a little bit, the fluid will explode," she smiled suddenly "It wont hurt you, class, if you're careful, and the explosions will be small. Just be wary of small pieces of glass. Chop, chop, you have a lot to get through."
Again his hand was pointing towards the glass ceiling. At a gesture from Bloomsberry he asked his question.
"Why not use an unbreakable charm?" Galanthus piped.
"I want to exercise your skill young man, so I suggest you get on with it and stop wasting time." She turned to the whole class, "That goes for all of you and I shall be able to tell if you cheat."
Narrelle glanced nervously at Ellouise before reaching for her first pod. It took a while for her to get the pressure right and then to make them float smoothly but within half and hour she had filled at least four of her phials successfully. She was, however, covered in multi-coloured fluid. It turned out that each pod held a different colour fluid, which made the task far more enjoyable but having had a bad night was certainly not helping her concentration. Ellouise was still struggling to get the smooth floating accurate enough and had more than one cut on her fingers from broken glass.
"I just can't get the hang of this Nell, do you think Bloomsberry will notice if I filled them and you floated them?"
Narrelle smiled, "We can give it a go, I'd suggest the unbreakable charm but lets not risk anymore points from our house, ok?"
Ellouise smiled back and nodded. "These are so beautiful," Narrelle thought as Ellouise cursed beside her and another phial fell to the floor splashing her shoes green. Taking the opportunity she quickly levitated two phials, containing pink and blue fluid, carefully under the table. Nudging an empty flowerpot off the table she bent down. Casting a simple protection spell over them both, she slipped them into her pocket. If they really were expensive maybe she could sell it later, or use it.
Between them they had just filled and stored their final phial when Professor Bloomsberry called them to stop and go get cleaned up.
"See you later Ellouise, I've got to dash". Narrelle threw down her stained apron and rushed from the room. She had said she would go and see Professor Opal if she had visions again and she was convinced that she had.