Chapter 46:
The great doors of the main hall open before me. I have left Harry in the Great Hall with the promise he will not come after me. I do not entirely trust him not to follow through with it, but for the moment I have other vying for my attention.
By the lake a large, black-clad figure is looking. I move my eyes from side to side, but I can detect no other movement. We are alone. I turn a puzzled face in Tom's direction.
The surface of the lake is unimpeachable. It reflects everything in mirror-like perfection. There is no wind rustling the tress of the Forbidden forest, nor any noise emanating from the castle.
That in itself bothers me. I would expect nature to still herself against this evil presence, but to silence Hogwarts during term is a powerful thing. It only serves to strengthen my resolve that what I am headed for is right.
I stop my approach twenty feet from Tom. I square my shoulders and cross my arms. He adopts the same stance, his red eyes flashing dangerously.
"I have come, Tom." I say unnecessarily.
He does not seem to register that I have said anything. I have never, nor do I now, take well to being ignored. I take one very deliberate step forward. His eyes flicker.
"Good morning, Bena." he says.
I raise an eyebrow and nod my head. "Good morning as well."
"I expected you sooner." he drawls. I have no idea how he is able to affect a drawl out of his snake-like mouth, yet somehow he manages.
"My apologies. I was up in one of the towers when you announced your arrival."
"I worried you wouldn't come."
"Oh, Tom, you should not have doubted. I'm hurt by your lack of faith."
"You are rather reckless to openly mock me, Bena." he hisses.
I laugh despite myself. "What more have I to lose? You have called me out to my death."
His eyes narrow. "That is not certain." he says.
"No, you are right." I say soberly. "But, you must allow the thought."
He nods.
"Did you give your fond farewells to those you hold dear?" he sneers.
I nod.
"You must have locked your husband in his rooms. Tell me, how is it that the Old Fool has not yet figured it out that Severus working for me?"
"Are you certain it is not you who are deceived?" I am taking a risk rising to the bait.
"The thought has, of course, crossed my mind, but in his current position, Severus is invaluable to me. Besides, I have looked into his eyes. He cannot deceive me. Though frustrating, it is not his fault Dumbledore chooses to keep things from him."
I give an imperceptible chuckle, thanking all the gods I have heard of that I am as skilled in Legimens as is my husband. We regard one another in silence for awhile.
"Why now, Tom?" I challenge.
"Why not?"
"You didn't have to choose today to challenge me. There is no urgency to my death."
"Every day you have access to Potter and Severus is a day too long." he hisses, a flash of anger escaping. "Your level of influence, combined with your particular heritage make you dangerous to me, Bena."
He takes a step closer. "I ordered your death eighteen years ago, before I knew how vitally important you would become to me. Now that I do know, I wish it even more that Severus had not weakened in his resolve to carry out my orders."
"Severus was not repsonsible for my escape, Tom." I say calmly.
"No?" he says, sounding mildly surprised. "Good. Then we meet on equal ground."
He raises his wand to chest level, fifteen feet away.
I do the same.
The great doors of the main hall open before me. I have left Harry in the Great Hall with the promise he will not come after me. I do not entirely trust him not to follow through with it, but for the moment I have other vying for my attention.
By the lake a large, black-clad figure is looking. I move my eyes from side to side, but I can detect no other movement. We are alone. I turn a puzzled face in Tom's direction.
The surface of the lake is unimpeachable. It reflects everything in mirror-like perfection. There is no wind rustling the tress of the Forbidden forest, nor any noise emanating from the castle.
That in itself bothers me. I would expect nature to still herself against this evil presence, but to silence Hogwarts during term is a powerful thing. It only serves to strengthen my resolve that what I am headed for is right.
I stop my approach twenty feet from Tom. I square my shoulders and cross my arms. He adopts the same stance, his red eyes flashing dangerously.
"I have come, Tom." I say unnecessarily.
He does not seem to register that I have said anything. I have never, nor do I now, take well to being ignored. I take one very deliberate step forward. His eyes flicker.
"Good morning, Bena." he says.
I raise an eyebrow and nod my head. "Good morning as well."
"I expected you sooner." he drawls. I have no idea how he is able to affect a drawl out of his snake-like mouth, yet somehow he manages.
"My apologies. I was up in one of the towers when you announced your arrival."
"I worried you wouldn't come."
"Oh, Tom, you should not have doubted. I'm hurt by your lack of faith."
"You are rather reckless to openly mock me, Bena." he hisses.
I laugh despite myself. "What more have I to lose? You have called me out to my death."
His eyes narrow. "That is not certain." he says.
"No, you are right." I say soberly. "But, you must allow the thought."
He nods.
"Did you give your fond farewells to those you hold dear?" he sneers.
I nod.
"You must have locked your husband in his rooms. Tell me, how is it that the Old Fool has not yet figured it out that Severus working for me?"
"Are you certain it is not you who are deceived?" I am taking a risk rising to the bait.
"The thought has, of course, crossed my mind, but in his current position, Severus is invaluable to me. Besides, I have looked into his eyes. He cannot deceive me. Though frustrating, it is not his fault Dumbledore chooses to keep things from him."
I give an imperceptible chuckle, thanking all the gods I have heard of that I am as skilled in Legimens as is my husband. We regard one another in silence for awhile.
"Why now, Tom?" I challenge.
"Why not?"
"You didn't have to choose today to challenge me. There is no urgency to my death."
"Every day you have access to Potter and Severus is a day too long." he hisses, a flash of anger escaping. "Your level of influence, combined with your particular heritage make you dangerous to me, Bena."
He takes a step closer. "I ordered your death eighteen years ago, before I knew how vitally important you would become to me. Now that I do know, I wish it even more that Severus had not weakened in his resolve to carry out my orders."
"Severus was not repsonsible for my escape, Tom." I say calmly.
"No?" he says, sounding mildly surprised. "Good. Then we meet on equal ground."
He raises his wand to chest level, fifteen feet away.
I do the same.