Chapter 10 – Dark Secrets
Her flaccid body lay in a puddle of water that was spilling from the sink. Her clammy, black hair swayed eerily in the slowly moving liquid. Her face was pale and slightly bloated. Her broken glasses lay askew across her face, her haunted eyes wide, frozen with terror. In the dark, empty bathroom, chills crawled up Serena's back.
"Let's go get the Headmaster," Serena said, tearing her eyes away from the haunting scene. Eve nodded slowly.
"Come on Heather," Serena pulled her arm. Heather allowed Serena to pull her out of the bathroom, and they quickly ran to find the Headmaster. They bumped into Professor Slughorn first though.
"Professor!" Serena cried. He stopped and looked over at them, surprised at their commotion.
"Yes, my dears?" He asked.
"Professor, there's been another attack!" She cried. His face hardened.
"Where?" He asked them.
"The girl's bathroom on this floor," Heather said.
"It's Myrtle," Eve said.
"I think she's dead," Serena finished. Professor Slughorn nodded grimly.
"Alright, Heather, come with me to the bathroom. Serena and Eve you two go together and find the headmaster." He instructed. They nodded determinedly. "But please, for your safety, don't separate."
"We wont" The girls said at the same time. Then they split ways, Heather and Professor Slughorn walking quickly back to the bathroom, and Serena and Eve running, holding hands, to the headmaster's office. The halls were quiet, and Serena's frantic heartbeat sounded rather loud even in her mind. A chilly breeze seeped in from a cracked window, brining with it the cold scent of mid-December.
They reached the gargoyle that covered the entrance to it very quickly. They said the password, and quickly climbed the stairs. With a frantic knock on the door, the girls entered to find Tom sitting across the seat from the Headmaster.
"Tom!" She asked, surprised. He too looked surprised to see her.
"Serena, can I help you?" Headmaster Dippet asked her, bringing her back into reality.
"Yes, Professor, sir, there's been another attack!" She said. His eyes widened.
"Myrtle's dead," Eve said, adding to the headmaster's look of oh-shit. Tom himself even looked confused, glancing at Serena for confirmation.
"Is this true?" the Headmaster said, standing up as the girls nodded.
"Very well, Thomas, we can continue this later, but as for right now, I cannot agree to it. It is too dangerous."
Tom hesitated and glanced quickly at Serena.
"Sir – if the person was caught – if it all stopped – "
"What do you mean?" said Dippet with a squeak in his voice, sitting up in his chair. Serena and Eve looked at Tom, confused. "Riddle, do you mean you know something about these attacks?"
"No sir," said Riddle quickly. Dippet sank back, looking faintly disappointed.
"You may go Tom." He finished, rising. "Girls, I want you to come with me back to the bathroom where you found her. Thomas, go back to the great hall." They followed the headmaster out, Serena lingering behind slightly.
"What was he talking about?" Serena asked him as they walked to the door.
"I was just speaking with him about possibly staying here this summer instead of going back to the…"
"orphanage," Serena finished. He nodded stiffly. Serena put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's dangerous Tom," She said. He took her hand from his shoulder and squeezed it gently. Their eyes met, and Serena desperately wished the headmaster wasn't watching so he could kiss her. The headmaster coughed, and Tom dropped Serena's hand. She ran up to Eve and hooked arms with her, following the professor out, with a small, nervous glance back at Tom.
They finished telling him what had happened, on the way back to the bathrooms, collecting a few other teachers on the way.
They finally reached the bathroom and the teachers spoke in hushed voices as the Serena, Eve and Heather stared at each other with frightened eyes. After a little, Headmaster Dippet told the girls to go to the great hall for dinner with their defense against the dark arts professor. He would instruct them what to do when everyone was there. The girls nodded and followed Professor Sinclair into the great hall.
They reached the great hall and were glad to see familiar faces and hear noises other than the eerie silence of the halls. Serena glanced around the find Tom, but was surprised to not see him anywhere. Her heart beat faster, hoping he was ok. They hastily seated themselves next to their other friends and waited for the speech that was being prepared.
The room silenced as they noticed Sinclair standing at the head of the teachers table, looking particularly grim.
"My dear students," He started. "I'm afraid I have terrible news." The room braced, nightmarish thoughts forming in their minds. A speech like this could only bring terrible, frightening news. "There has been another attack on a student." The audience waited on edge. "And it has been confirmed that she is dead." There was an audible gasp. "Headmaster Dippet is busy taking care of things at the moment, but has instructed me that the students are not going to be allowed to leave the hall tonight." As he said this, the doors to the great hall shut and locked themselves.
"Prefects will be allowed to go to their dormitories to make sure there are no students there, and if there are, to bring them safely back. Only two will be allowed to leave at a time, so the others will be left in charge here."
There were many whispers and horrified faces as the Professor finished. The prefects moved to meet him at the edge of the doors. They were busily speaking when the door opened to allow entrance to Professor Dumbledore. They shut again, only to be opened shortly thereafter by the headmaster and the other professors. Two prefects left then to go check their rooms.
"Have you guys seen Tom?" Serena asked them, stretching her neck to see if she missed him somewhere.
"No, but shouldn't he be here?" Eve asked. Serena nodded, obviously nervous. Eve hugged her.
"I'm sure he's fine sweetheart." She tried to comfort her. Serena nodded.
"Yeah, he's fine," She said, trying to make herself believe it. The prefects returned a few minutes later and then two more left. Serena was getting unbearably nervous when the doors opened again, and Tom came in, running to the headmaster.
Serena stood up, but Tom was speaking animatedly to him and the other professors, and the headmaster, Professor Sinclair and a few other teachers quickly followed him back out.
Serena looked perplexed at her girlfriends. She was relived Tom was safe, but now curious as to what the commotion was caused about.
They waited, and waited, for what felt like an hour. Finally most of the professors returned with Tom. The Professors went to speak with the other Professors and prefects and after a while, Tom and the prefects left them to come see their houses.
Serena and many others stood up as their prefect came over to announce what had happened.
"The culprit has been caught," Caitlyn announced. A sigh of disbelief spread through the house.
"Who was it?"
"What happened?"
"When?"
"What was it?" Were questions that were rising throughout all the houses, it was suddenly really noisy as people learned what happened.
"Mr. Riddle caught the bastard and stunned him to get the headmaster. It's being taken care of, but we're allowed to go back to our rooms." Caitlyn finished. There was a gasp of relief. While they were talking, Serena turned to see Tom walking quickly over to her. She met him at the back of the hall where not many people were watching them.
"Tom!" She cried as he hugged her. She wanted to cry she was so happy he was alright and so happy the person had been caught.
"Are you alright?" She asked as he kissed her.
"I'm fine," He said. Serena was so happy she missed the strange glint in his eyes.
"I'm so happy you're ok!" She said, hugging him again. His arms wrapped tightly around her. "I can't believe you caught him!" She said.
"I know," He said.
"Tom, who was it?" She asked.
"I can't tell you yet," He said apologetically.
"What?" She pulled away. "You have to!"
"Serena," He said her name softly, "you have to go now or you'll miss your house. And I need to escort mine back as well."
"Tom!" Serena said, disbelievingly.
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright." He said, kissing her quickly once on the mouth.
"Tom!" She protested. He smiled at her, making her knees weak.
"Go with your house, we can talk later," He said in a voice of finality she didn't want to question right now. She bit her lip and returned to Eve and Heather, following her prefect back to her house. Tom made his way back to his house to take them back to their dormitories, feeling satisfied.
By the time they all went to bed that night, everyone knew what had happened and who the culprit had been.
"I can't believe it was Hagrid!" They all said.
"I know! He seemed so nice."
"He was kind of weird," Someone said.
"Yeah, but who would've thought he could've killed someone?" Heather said.
"It was his weird pet. He always had the weirdest animals."
"And he was half giant!" Someone added.
"And he didn't have many friends," Somebody else said.
"Merlin I can't believe we didn't realize it."
Serena went to bed, tired of hearing all the gossip. She laid down, her blankets wrapped tightly about her. She was insanely happy Tom was ok, and felt very proud that her boyfriend had been the one to catch him. She still couldn't believe it though. It was hard to imagine Hagrid as the culprit, but then again, he had admitted to owning a monster pet. She shook her head and forced herself to be content she was safe, her friends were safe, and Tom was safe.
The next morning, the uproar from last night's occurrences still continued. Myrtle's parents came and took her home with them, classes were dismissed for the day as a celebration from the awful attacks and that pretty much made everyone happy. Although it was hard not to be happy. There were no more attacks to worry about, school was canceled for the day, and they were safe. On the whole it had to be a great day, Serena thought to herself as she climbed back into the portrait hole after breakfast. She and her girlfriends pretty much just hung around all day, sleeping, reading, doing homework, basically whatever they wanted. Serena had plans to meet Tom after lunch and went up to her room to make sure she looked ok, after eating, and then went down to meet Tom.
She was supposed to meet him in the corridor on the fifth floor. Serena felt a little uneasy about going back to that corridor, because it was close to where the girl had died, but forced herself to go onward because she knew there was nothing to be afraid of now.
She found Tom waiting when she got there, and smiled and she walked over.
"Hi," She said, putting his arms around his neck and kissing him.
"Hello to you too," He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Tom, why did we meet over here?" She asked. "It's kind of creepy, don't you think?"
"That's the whole reason," He said. "We'll have plenty of privacy." She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"You were really brave down there," She said. "I heard about what happened."
"Yes, it was a bit scary," He sighed dramatically.
"I'm really happy you're ok," She said. He smirked before bending down to kiss her again. He pushed her against the wall, his tongue slipping into her mouth. They were lost in a heavy make out session for awhile, before they broke.
"I still can't believe Hagrid was the one, the "heir of Slytherin." She said, and then cocked her head, puzzled. "He wasn't even in Slytherin, was he?" Tom smirked again.
"No, I don't think he was," He said, his eyes flickering with something.
"Wow, it was terrible. I can't believe he did it. He seemed so nice," She said softly. "Really, I didn't even think he could do something like that." Tom played with her bra strap.
"But, he was, wasn't he? I mean, if he was responsible for the attacks…,"Serena murmured. Tom snorted.
"Do you really believe that oaf was the heir of Slytherin?" Tom asked her quietly. She looked at him, slightly confused.He bent her wrist back, pushing her arm painfully against the wall.
"Tom, you're hurting me," She murmured confused.
"There was no way in hell that oaf could have been related to the magnificent Salazar Slytherin," Tom said vehemently. Serena's eye's widened.
"What are you say- ?" She started.
"I'm the heir of Slytherin," He whispered, his voice little more than a whisper. Serena looked at him.
"Ha ha, that's very funny," She said.
"You think I'm joking?" Tom asked, his voice oddly quiet.
"Tom, you couldn't possibly be the heir of Slytherin," She said.
"Why not?" He asked her softly. She dropped her mouth.
"Stop lying to me," She muttered, turning her face away from his fiery eyes.
"Serena I've never lied to you," He said, playing with her bra strap again and she shied away from his touch.
"But you caught him," She whispered.
"I know. It was rather believable wasn't it. I was actually a little surprised myself at how well it went," He said, his pride soaking through his voice.
Serena looked at him, feeling her world crashing down around her.
"You don't believe me?" Tom asked her. She looked away. She covered her mouth with her hand and tears came to her eyes.
"I can't, she whispered softly. She slid down the wall, her legs giving out on her, and sitting between Tom's standing legs. He looked down at her as she sat on the floor, her hand covering her mouth and a tear trickling down her cheek.
"Let me prove it to you," he said. Serena looked up at him and shook her head, her eyes wide, her lips slightly parted.
"Get up," He said quietly, but sternly. She just looked at him. "Get up," He said more forcefully. "Much as I like the sight of you between my legs, Serena," He said, taking out his wand and pointing it at her. "Get up now, I'll not ask again."
Serena slowly stood up, cowering back against the wall.
"Come," He said, grabbing her wrist and leading her towards the bathroom. She would have protested more, but she was too confused and frightened to really do anything. They walked into the bathroom and Tom backed her against the wall by a sink.
"Tom, this is where she died," She said, her voice shaking.
"I know," He said smugly. And then he said something else, but he didn't really say it. He kind of hissed it, and he hissed it at the sink. Serena jumped when the sink moved aside to a huge hole in the ground.
"You're a parsletongue?" She asked him. He nodded.
"Go down," He said, indicating to the tunnel. She looked at the dark, wet opening.
"What's down there?" She asked.
"You'll see," He said, bringing his wand to point at her, the tip resting between her breasts.
"Are you going to kill me Tom?" She breathed.
"I want you to go down there." He said. "I'll be right behind you." Serena looked at him, his wand and the hole. She sighed and moved towards it. She didn't see any other choice.
She sat on the edge and gently let herself fall.
It was a long way down, on some sort of slide or something. It was dark and slimy and Serena finally fell onto the cold, damp ground.
Sounds of something crunching beneath her feet made her stand up quickly and it was only a few minutes she stood, shuddering in the dark when she heard someone else coming down the "slide".
She knew it was Tom, who stood up and dusted himself off.
"…always so fucking dirty down here,…" She heard him mutter.
"Tom?" She called softly, stumbling closer to him.
"Ah, Serena there you are," He said as she found him. He said a spell to "light" his wand and put an arm around her waist. Serena looked at him with frightened eyes and sparkling lips, wet by her tears. She pressed herself against him, feeling it was better to be closer to him than alone in the darkness. He looked down at her with a smug grin on his face. He had a huge urge to kiss her then, but decided to wait until she was in the chamber.
He pulled her along through the tunnel, the crunch beneath their feet seriously unnerving her. Finally they stopped before a 'door', if you could call it a door. It was metal and spherical and engraved on it were two entwining snakes with glittering eyes. Serena moved closer against Tom, and he proceeded to say something else in parsletongue. There was a slight noise and the snakes began to unwind and the door slowly opened.
Tom looked at her, indicating he wanted her to go first, and Serena gave him a scared look back before crawling through it. She walked through the opening, and carefully made her way down the slippery ladder. Her feet finally touched the ground and she stepped back, wiping her hands on her skirt as she had nothing else with her. Serena turned around to see where she had been taken.
The room was cold and damp, puddles forming in the corners. Serena looked down the grimy chamber and took a few steps on the stone 'path'. The stone floor led to a huge stone carving of a man, or something, coming out of the wall, facing the entrance. Serena unconsciously walked towards it, her feet dragging. She hugged her cold arms, which were freezing through her thin blouse. Her lips parted and her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.
"Amazing isn't it?" Tom said, coming up behind her. She didn't look back to acknowledge him.
"Welcome, Serena, to the Chamber of Secrets." He stood behind her now, a little to her side. "It took me a while to find it, but you can't imagine my sheer delight once I did.
When she didn't respond, he spoke again.
"So," He said after a little while. "What do you think?" He looked at her, his penetrating gaze forcing her attention.
"I don't like it," She said, trying to act strong. Tom laughed, coming over to her.
"It will grow on you," He said, stroking her hair. Serena shook his hand off.
"Tom," She said, placing her hands on his hips, "you've killed somebody! Don't you realize that?" The response she got was not one she had wanted. He laughed again, but it was a cold, mocking laugh.
"Ah, sweet, innocent Serena," He said, smiling at her. "You think that dirty mudblood was the only person I've killed?" Serena drew her hands back from him. "She wasn't the first, and she most definitely won't be the last," He said, his voice ominously soft. Serena shrunk from him.
"Why?" She asked, her lips shaking as she tried to hold back more tears. Tom smirked.
"Why?" He asked her. "Firstly, I don't like these mudbloods running around this school, but the simple answer would be power," He finished.
"There are other ways to get power than by killing people!" Serena said, placing her hands on his chest, trying to convince him. "You're the most powerful student here, I'm sure there are other ways – " She started. Tom took ran his hand along her side.
"I am the most powerful student here. I'm even more powerful than most teachers," He said.
"Then why – " She started.
"I deserve it, and I want it." He said simply.
"Tom, please, you don't have to do this," She said, her eyes pleading with him.
"You really are naïve aren't you? Power is there to be taken, Serena, and if you have the ability to take it, it's your right." Serena shook her head.
"Tom – " His eyes alighted with a new thought and he smiled.
"Do you want to see the monster?" He asked. Serena backed away and looked around the dark, empty chamber.
"It's here?" She asked, her heart beating frantically, her eyes darting around the room.
"Not exactly," He said. "I'd have to call it."
Serena's mouth fell a little, her panic rising.
"Please don't," She whispered, begging him and still trying to see if anything was there, sulking in the shadows. Tom chuckled.
"My, you are quiet gorgeous when you're frightened," Tom smiled, stepping close to her. She was breathing faster, and unconsciously stepped back as well, meeting a wall. Tom stepped closer again, and leaned one hand on the wall, standing in front of her. He took out his wand and traced her body with it, tempting, teasing, threatening.
"Are you going to kill me, Tom?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper. Tom smiled.
"No," He said. Serena swallowed and waited for a response as he continued running his wand over her body.
"What are you going to do with me, if you're not going to kill me?" She asked, nervous. Tom stopped, and sighed.
"Well, to be quiet honest Serena, I'm not sure yet," He said. Serena saw a glimmer of hope. "You seem to have captivated me in a most unusual, yet sinfully pleasurable way." Her glimmer faded and she had a feeling she would not like what was to come.
"So…"
"I've never really been interested in girls before. I mean, sure I noticed them, but they've just never seemed to have time to fit into my plans. You were an unexpected surprised, and I find you insatiably enticing." He said. She looked away.
"You're just going to keep me then, to fuck whenever you want?" She asked, her eyes turning back to him. He smiled.
"Pretty much," He said. "Unless you have a problem with that?"
"I could never sleep with a murderer," She said, forcing herself to stand straight. She stared into his dark eyes. Tom smirked.
"I don't think you really have a choice," He said. Serena shook her head.
"I could go to the headmaster," She said. "I could tell him who was really behind the attacks!" Tom smirked again.
"You could, but then I wouldn't count on that half-blood bitch you have as a friend to be around much longer," Tom said. Serena gasped. Eve! She turned away, hand covering her mouth. She could never do that to her.
"I can't do it, I can't be with you," She said, tears forming in her eyes.
"I will be the most powerful wizard in the world, Serena. No one will question my rule," He said, his hand closing on her wrist, squeezing it. She tried to pull away. "You should be proud I would be with you," He said, his voice more forceful.
"Well then, why me?" She asked, a tear streaming down her cheek. "There are plenty of other girls in…" Tom smiled.
"You're beautiful, intelligent," Tom whispered in her ear, "powerful, obedient, and…pureblood." His fingers caressed her neck, slipping down to her breast. A small gasp escaped her mouth. "You don't want to be with me?" He asked gently. Serena looked away.
"no," She murmured softly.
"Don't lie to me," Tom said, his voice still calm. Serena raised her head.
"I'm not," She told him. He smirked.
"Serena, even as we speak, your body's responding to me," He said as his hand had now slipped underneath her shirt.
"No it's not," Serena whispered, wishing that was true. Tom laughed.
"Oh Serena, give in to your desire," He said. "You're young and vulnerable, you need someone to protect you, to watch out for you." His voice was a dark, promise; pure seduction. "I could do that for you. Give in to me. It's so easy. I'll protect you, give you everything you'd want." Her breath caught as his hand moved underneath her now unhooked bra. "Be mine, Serena. Let me pleasure you, let me own you." She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall as Tom's lips found her neck and caressed it gently, his tongue burning, igniting her skin on fire. Serena shook her head, trying to clear it. She opened her eyes, trying to clear her mind, trying desperately to not let him seduce her.
"No Tom, stop, I won't," She said. He stopped and rose to face her.
"Serena, you made a deal with me at the beginning of school, and I believe I won."
"That's crap Tom," She said. His eyes darkened dangerously.
"I don't care. I want you and I'll have you, whether you like it or not."
"You would rape me?" She asked softly. Tom smirked.
"We both know it wouldn't be rape, Serena." She dropped her mouth, insulted at the truth of it. She knew she wouldn't protest if he kissed her, touched her, and she hated herself for it. She knew in her mind that he was a bad person, and this was wrong, but she wanted him badly, her whole body craved his touch.
Tom took the moment to say a spell, causing a large, black bed to appear close to them. Serena stood motionless, as if in a daze, and allowed him to carry her over to the bed and lay her gently on top of it. He shed his clothes quickly before sitting down on the bed with her. He kissed her softly, reveling in her soft, damp lips and though she hesitated for a few moments, but couldn't hold back anymore and kissed him back. His hands slowly made his way to her shirt and unbuttoned it as their kisses became more and more passionate. Her shirt came off and Tom's tongue slipped down to tease her neck.
"Tom, please," She breathed, trying one last time to turn back, even though she knew it was too late and wasn't even sure she really wanted to anymore. He ignored her and continued his journey down her neck, undoing her bra with his hand, and moving on to cover her breast with his hot tongue. Serena gasped and ran her hands through his hair as he moved to the other one. He gradually took off her skirt and silken underwear. He stripped his own boxers rather quickly before moving on top of her. He kissed her as he laid her on her back and teased her with his throbbing manhood. Her breaths came faster and faster and it wasn't long before Tom gently pushed her legs apart and plunged into her silky dampness. His strokes were slow and taunting, Serena arched underneath him. Gradually he increased his speed, his strokes becoming harder, more forceful. They reached the climax and with moans from both of them, he slipped out of her and sank onto the bed, next to her. There were a few minutes when neither spoke, both trying to catch their breath. Finally, he scooted close to Serena, and she rolled over and laid her head on his chest. They laid like that for awhile. Suddenly Serena realized where she was and what just happened. She sat up and covered herself tightly with the sheets. She looked at him, her mouth open.
"What?" Tom asked her, sitting up as well.
"We just had sex," She said, her innocent eyes wide. Tom smile at her, her hair falling around her face, her love-flushed cheeks, and her pouty lips. She sat, wrapped in the sheets, looking completely ravished and still completely desirable.
"I know, it was great too, wasn't it," He said, smugly.
"No, it wasn't, Tom, you took advantage of me," She said.
"You liked it," He said.
"Tom, this isn't good, I wasn't supposed to," She said.
"Serena, it's ok." He said. He got up, slipped on his boxers and sat back down on the bed leaning against the headboard. "Come sit here with me," He said. She looked up at him with doleful eyes and crawled over to him, cuddling into his lap. She dropped her head shamefully. She couldn't believe she'd given in like that, and actually slept with him. But then again, she has wanted him. She still wanted him. She laid her head against his chest while he spoke. "Relax Serena. You're fine, you enjoyed it, you're safe." He said, his voice soothing her. She sighed. It was too late for going back now. They sat that way a while before getting up and getting changed. Tom kissed her once more before leading her out of the chamber. They found themselves back in the bathroom and Serena made sure her clothes weren't that dirty. She fixed her hair and followed Tom into the hall. Her mood was quiet and she padded through the halls as if in a daze. They ran into some teachers and Myrtle's parents who congratulated Tom on his bravery. Serena couldn't stay listening to their praise and excused herself saying she was feeling ill. Tom smiled at her goodbye and she tried to smile back before leaving to her room.
She got into her room and sat on her bed, burying her face in her hands. A tear fell down her cheek and she realized her life would never be the same again.