-1
I walked on tip toes, following Tom at a ten foot distance. My brain told me that it was possibly one of the stupidest things I could have done, but my gut told me that I needed to know… I would no longer be kept in the dark.
Tom knew something about Myrtle's death, he knew something about the strange goings-on at Hogwarts… he had to.
Suddenly, Tom stopped. I felt my heart fly to my throat. He was standing in front of a door. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. I could hear scuffling from inside. Tom sighed and pointed his wand at the doorknob. "Alohamora!" The door burst open and I gasped.
It was Hagrid.
Inside the room was a huge boy, who looked rather scared; I knew him to be Hagrid… after all, who could miss him? Even as a third year, his tall stature set him apart. Everyone knew who he was. Hagrid seemed to be standing in front of a large box that was shaking violently… almost as if something was inside it.
My attention turned back to Tom.
"Now Hagrid, be civil!" Tom said, pointing his wand at the box. "I'm sure that it was just a bad mistake, letting it out for a while… but we need to show the girl's parent's the beast that killed the poor girl!"
"He wouldn't 'arm nuthin!" Hagrid bawled. Tom's eyes flashed.
"Stand aside, Hagrid." Hagrid didn't move. The box rattled; I suddenly had the strong impression that I had no desire to see whatever it was hiding in that box.
"You can't take Aragog! He didn't do nuthin!" Hagrid growled. Tom tried to get to the box, but Hagrid pushed him aside. There was a scuffle, and the box was turned over. A long, hairy leg poked out, and in a flash it scuttled out of the room; a huge spider-
And it was headed straight toward me.
I let out a silent scream and backed away hastily. The spider seemed to sense me in its haste; a long leg dashed out and stuck me across the leg. Instantly I felt my body topple over; I made the loudest sound as I fell into a suit of armor behind me.
Oops.
I couldn't concentrate- I saw Tom coming towards me; my head hurt a lot, the sword from the armor had hit me on the head… my sight went in and out of focus.
"Tal?" I heard. I grunted. "Tal, can you hear me?" It was Tom.
"Tom?" I asked softly. I felt my body getting lifted up. Tom had picked me up and was now walking down the hall with me in his arms.
"Looks like you took a fall back there," he chided. I shook my head.
"I'm fine- Ow." In shaking my head, an odd ringing noise had started drumming in my ears.
"That's what I thought…" he laughed. "But do tell me, what are you doing out of your commons?"
My blood went cold. My pulse quickened, and I hoped that he couldn't feel my heart beat right now, which was at 700 million beats per minute.
"I- I… I needed to know the truth." There. That's not a lie.
"It is a tragedy…" said a voice.
Not Tom.
Dumbledore.
"Hello Professor," I said meekly.
"I see both you and Mr. Riddle here have avid curiosities. Do not be ashamed-" for I had blushed. He shook his head. "Curiosity is not a sin. Be cautious, however. Tom, I heard some noise down the hall before. After you escort Miss Avery to… I assume the Hospital Wing- Would you please meet me in my office?" Tom nodded gravely and left swiftly.
"Tom, I can walk…" I murmured. Tom gently put me on my feet. "I have another reason for being out tonight." Tom's eyes pierced mine and a shiver ran down my spine. "I needed to see you. I needed to talk to you." I looked away. "I don't know what to think about us, Tom. You just hold so many mysteries, so many secrets I can't even grasp-"
"Then don't." I was confused.
"What?"
"Don't try to grasp them. Love me for who I am as you know it." There was a pause.
"I don't want a façade, Tom. I want the truth!" Tom pulled my head up and looked me in the eyes
"The truth is not as pretty as I know you want it to be, my Tal. Perhaps you are best not knowing."
"I'm not a little kid, I can handle it-" But his lips had crashed down upon mine before I could finish. Surprised, I kissed him back, months of pent-up longing erupting. His kiss was soft and passionate; it was gentle at first, and then rougher. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we disappeared into the dark hallway in front of us, now forever entwined.