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A bit rated M towards the end. Feel free to skip if you don't like.
Chapter 12: The Same
[Tom POV]
It's finished.
All that's left now is setting the potion out to absorb the moonlight on the night of the full moon for its complete effect. Corking the colorless solution, Riddle tucked it away into the dark drawer of his desk and flicked his wand to clean the air and space. With the next wave of his wand, he vanished all the brewing materials and magically removed his clothes.
This was one of the many reasons why he desired the Head Boy position; on top of gaining favor from the Headmasters and staff it offers privacy: an individual room with its own attached restroom. The area itself was enough for him to transfigure the original bed into that of queen size while still accommodating a study desk, wardrobe and a small couch with a low coffee table. Compared to what he has endured for the past seventeenth years of his life, this was luxury he intended to take full advantage of.
Tossing his sweat stained clothes neatly in the laundry basket for the house elves, he stepped into the shower stall sighing with content as ice water drench his taut body, strained from hours of brewing. He had been up since Avery delivered all the veritaserum ingredients late that evening and needed to complete the brew to catch the full moon on time.
Finishing his shower, he cast a drying charm then a tempus charm to check the time. Majority of the castle dwellers were still under Hynos's spell, but in Tom's opinion it is the perfect time to conduct his own ambition. Apparently he was right on schedule and signaled all his Knights for a meeting in the Slytherin common room. Adorning a long sleeved dress shirt and sleek dark pants, Tom slipped out of his room.
It was nearly four in the morning, but none of his Knights dare question as they appeared. One by one they each bowed down on one knee, wand in their right hand across their chest and left hand behind their back. A muffliato charm was cast over the common room to prevent any awakened Slytherins from eavesdropping and to indicate the start of the session.
Sitting on the transfigure throne chair, the young Dark Lord addressed Roiser first, "Report on Dumbledore."
The ash blonde wizard still dressed in his pajamas under his dark robes began, "The Transfiguration Professor maintains his usual activities. He has not met with the Girl since their last encounter nor identified me and Lestrange as the culprit yet."
Strange...he should be making a move...
Tom twirled his wand between his fingers, "And the Girl?"
Lestrange stepped forward also in his dark robes, "Aside from her naive attempt to use the female restroom on the second floor, she has not shown any other abnormalities until yesterday."
Riddle fingers stilled his moving wand, "Did she show further interest?" What he really wanted to ask was: Does she know about the Chamber of Secrets? but caught himself in time.
"No, not at the present moment. Rather it's about the Potter brat."
Potter again?
The second reporter glanced at his former accomplice continuing, "I overheard Potter telling the Girl that Dumbledore wishes to meet with her. He has agreed to take her there after his Quidditch Practice on Tuesday."
So Dumbledore is making a move, just as I suspected.
"Why Rosier," Riddle pointed his yew wand firmly at him, "Care to explain why you left out such an important detail?"
Sweat broke out on Quillon Rosier's forehead and the rest of the Knights held their breath in fearful preparation, "...I—I didn't know. Please my Lor—."
The Slytherin didn't get a chance to beg for mercy as he is now on the ground, racking from pain from the Cruciatus Curse. His arms and legs curled up in deranged angles, screaming as if death was a better option.
Damn it! If Tom had not been keeping tabs on both the Girl and Dumbledore, he would not have known about it. Leave it to his incompetent minion to missed such important conversation! Though he would have loved to fully discipline Rosier as an example to the rest of his Knights, his next appointment was drawing near. He lifted the curse moving to Abraxas.
"Malfoy, any report on your mission?"
The long haired Knight came forth, "I require more time my Lord. There are rumors that it was last seen in the Wizarding Underground Black Market. I am in the midst of identifying who may have witnessed it."
"Inform me immediately if you acquire new leads."
"Yes, my Lord," Abraxas bowed and stepped back.
Tom stood up dismissing his Knights as Avery and Lestrange carried a struggling Rosier out of his sight. Checking around the Slytherin dormitory for any sign of students, he was pleased he wouldn't have to obliviate any wandering dunderheads today and crossed the common room once more. Making his way over to the girl's side of the dorm, he stopped at a specific door and knocked.
Ordering Abraxas to hack into the Ministry of Magic using the Malfoy's connection would have been a piece of cake were it not for the fact of locating any cases related to Squib. Except for a single office room near the basement of the magical building, the Ministry of Magic hardly kept any records on Squibs, wanting to disregard such possibility altogether from the Wizarding World. The almighty Malfoys, having been interested only in those of magic, wealth, and power, have no such need to build relations to those holding positions in charge of the filthy beings.
The young Dark Lord would have punished pureblood wizard severely for failing his task last week, but assigned Abraxas a different mission after he came back with a definite solution to the previous one. Apparently there was someone here at Hogwarts that was related to the person in charge of Squib Records:
Miss Crystinia Lora Ross, the annoying Head Girl who has been pressing undyingly for his affections the past three years, declaring her Love as many as thrice over. A beauty she was to all her rejected admirers as she excelled in her academics in hopes of gaining his attention, but other than her scholastic brain which made her a suitable partner in class and pureblood status, Riddle found her an utter nuisance, equating her presence to that of other dunderheads.
Knowing what would most please her, he located Crystinia early yesterday morning and approached while she was amongst her female companions. Giving the witch his most charming smile, he asked her to join him in a morning walk causing squeals of delight from her peers as they cheered on. Blushing deep red, the Head Girl took his proffered arm batting her eyelashes dreamingly.
Strolling where most students were occupied to inflate the witch's ego, Tom made sure to sugarcoat Miss Ross on her features and performances in class. She revelled in the surrounding attention and practically turned to mush as he listened curiously, yet uncaringly, to the Slytherin witch's responses and personal opinions on random topics.
The young Dark Lord saw her then, the pony tailed maiden, making her way slowly across the school courtyard. She appeared lost in thoughts, one arm across her waist holding the elbow of her other hand with a finger near her mouth. She was sighing outloud, walking unknowingly towards them. Having expected said Girl to freeze upon sensing him like she always had, he was irritated when she walked right past him as if he were air.
When Miss Ross tried extending an invitation to watch the upcoming Quidditch match together, he cut her off not wanting to respond, "Pleasant morning Miss Songly."
The petite maiden stiffened like a statue and Tom smirked internally at the fear he induced in her. Refusing to face him, the displeased Head Girl directed her anger at the Hufflepuff for not returning the gesture.
Her brunette eyes swept over his form before lingering on the blond with a nod. In a trying effort to get close to Tom, the Crystinia leans over to reprimand the Hufflepuff causing Miss Songly to pause before walking away.
The "Low Upbringing" statement was directed at Squib Girl, but Riddle became irate despite his calm external expression. It hit too close to home and he found himself immediately repulsed by the Head Girl and those of the higher class.
Damn all those witches and wizards using their power and wealth to further their selfish goals instead of establishing orders in the Wizarding World and strengthening the borders between Muggles and those of magic. If only they had then tribulations like his own would not exist!
Infuriated further when the dunderhead Potter interfered, inserting his biased opinion wherever he appeared, Tom knew it was an indirect challenge from the Gryffindor as the prat took off with the upset maiden. Making a mental note to deal with it later, he continued the supposed date with his goal in mind.
He only needed to knock once for the door to sprang open, hands jerking him quickly inside before sealing the door tight with a lock and muffliato charm.
Owner of such hands threw herself against Tom's chest, one arm circling him while the other felt up on his chest, "I fear you may have forgotten about our meeting. But I would have waited however long until you arrived."
Disgusted by the strong perfume wading into his nostrils, Riddle pulled out of her grasp and turned towards the couch, "Have you given any thoughts to our earlier conversation."
He sat down, hands folded in his lap and feet crossed at the ankle, "Can you do it?" Tom was asking if she could hack into the Historical Records of Squib to locate any files of Houa Songly, her Aunt as well any incident of the possibility of Squib obtaining magical capabilities.
"Let me ask you a question first." The Head Girl stomped over, sitting as close as she could next to him without actually touching, "Are you interested in the Vomit Girl?"
At his neutral expression she fired away, "That's it isn't it?! You fancy her, that's why you approached me yesterday to make her jealous! And now you want to use me to know more about her!"
She crossed her arms, enviness making her now pretty face akin to a goblin, "I won't do it!"
Pity; all those great beings and sorcerers ever lived claimed Love the strongest force in existence yet this is all it surmounts to: A dispensable emotion that changes with time and events over and over again. How can that which one cannot see nor touch command the force of nature and heaven when it is never constant? Tom had come to the realization long ago: It doesn't and never has...
Just use the imperius curse on her.
Riddle pushed that thought away. He couldn't risk the Ministry of Magic discovering an imperio student infiltrating the building. They would link it back to Hogwarts, prompting an all out investigation, not that the dark wizard couldn't cover it up or outwit them, but he didn't want Aurors regulating the schools. It would hinder his plans for the future immensely.
Placing one hand on the witch's left thigh that was bare due to her extremely short nightgown, he felt her body temperature rise up a notch as he turned her chin towards him with his other hand, "I am interested in the Vomit Girl…"
She averted her eyes with a hurtful expression and he brushed his thumb over her plump lips, "But not…" His next words were spoken cleverly, matching the gentleness of a lullaby, "in the same way that I'm interested in you, Crystinia..."
Her aqua eyes bored into his then and he closed the distance crushing her into the velvet cushions as they explored each other's mouth with clear expertise. Seemed the pretty heart breaker hasn't bluntly let down all her admirers like the rumor state. Moaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and finger her way through his onyx hair while tightened her legs around his midsection.
His hand on her chin moved to hold the edge of the couch while the other slipped under the flimsy nightgown to cup her breast. She broke the kiss in pure pleasure and thrust her core into him gasping, "Tom, oh Tom," as he pinched her tip.
Her hands began making a work on his button shirt, but he stopped her hands in firm clasp, "All good things come to those who wait."
She looked up in aching frustration as Riddle licked her lips whispering hotly in her ear, "I promised there will be more once you accomplish everything."
Faking a charmed smile, Tom stood up adjusting his hair, "Until then, I especially look forward to our next meeting, Crystinia."
The witch looked on with glossy eyes begging him to stay as he exited, not needing to hear her answer to know what her decision will be.
Water from the shower rained over him once more.
Men. Women. Whether Muggle or Witches and Wizard. They really are all the same…
TBC
For some reason this chapter wrote itself quite naturally. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Like the rest of you, I'm also getting impatient lol. We're almost there.