Chapter 18: Favours
Tom
As I was finishing my pudding at the Slytherin table, Nott cleared his throat a bit too loudly. A second later I realised why. A distressed looking Slughorn walked towards the wooden double doors, leaving the staff table. His step was a bit too quick to seem casual, even though he obviously tried to collect himself. Which took quiet an effort, judging by the state he was in. Slughorn reached the end of the Great Hall and almost fell into a run.
My gaze went back to my pudding while my mind worked tirelessly to find possibilities for his behaviour. The most unsettling was that something happened to Medea, the second that the Chamber of Secrets had been found. But I had been very careful the two times I had opened it alone.
Fatigue washed over me on my way through the common room. I was calmer now after logic had won the battle in my head. Thinking only about the essay on the history of the belgian mountain trolls that was due the day after tomorrow, when Belvina Black approached me.
I fixed my eyes on her's and saw sincerity in it, and worry.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I...I." She took a deep breath and tried again.
"We were told that Medea should come back today, by Professor Merrythought."
"Oh, well, where is she then?" I said in a mocking tone.
Without saying anything she turned around and walked frustrated back to her armchair.
Sighing, I went to my dormitory and to bed.
Medea
"There must be something severely wrong with your pretty little head. Killing two people in cold blood." He spit the last two words at me, but I only stared at the table in front of me.
I was very much aware of the hard chair beneath and the grey walls surrounding me.
It was a cage, that the Ministry jad thrown me in, like an animal.
The middle-aged man who was sitting across from me obviously enjoyed this one-sided conversation.
"Let me guess, you didn't think the Ministry was clever and able enough to put serious protection charms around the castle ?"
Frankly, no. The possibility that they could link anything to me did not occur to me once. And yet, only seconds after I held the necklace in my hands at least ten men in dark cloaks surrounded me.
They had found the bodies almost immediately and checked my wand. There was no way I could have escaped.
My future was shattered.
I will be send to Azkaban, I thought. It was over.
A curious cold was spreading through my limbs, making them numb. I could barely breathe, it hurt too much.
"You will pay for what you have done." He was definetly enjoying this way too much.
I had saved any explanations for someone in charge, not wasting my time with the likes of him. Unfortunately, I didn't think of acting frightened or distressed when they had suddenly appeared. I was too angry.
A curt knock interrupted my thoughts and the hateful comments I had to bear.
The door opened and a man with blue eyes, black hair and a grave face came in. He was dressed completely in black, just like the last time.
"Leave us." He simply said and the man obeyed without a word.
For the first time in a little while I looked someone in the eyes.
"I want to talk to you about your situation."
The only answer I had for him was silence.
"You are very composed." His voice was calm, cold and calculating.
He took a deep breath and his eyes became a bit friendlier.
"My name is Livingston, I work at the Department of Mysteries and volunteered to bring you to St.Mungo's Hospital. I wanted to see you for myself, call it curiousity. And I want you to tell me what happened."
An 'Unspeakable' was interested in me, that sounded not particularly good. But then again, what choice did I have other than talk to him.
"I walked up to the castle and was attacked by two hooded figures. It was too much for me to deal with and I used the first curse that came to my mind to scare them off. I thought it wouldn't hit anybody. That person tried to deflect the curse, I think. Or maybe it was just panic, I don't know. But before the killing curse struck he cast a curse himself. Before I realised what happened the two were lying on the ground, not moving at all." I tried as best as I could to seem upset.
He simply nodded.
"Let us be frank. You used an 'Unforgivable' to kill one of your attackers and you finished the other with an especially dark curse. Then hiding their bodies in the forrest. You don't have to lie to me. It is not neccessary."
My story sounded made up, obviously. But it was the best I could come up with.
"This incident will not be made public, nor will there be an official investigation. The wizards who brought you here and the unpleasent fellow who kept you company won't remember a thing by tomorrow."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Why?"
A subtle smile crossed his face for a moment.
"You will in return owe us a favour."
"Us?"
"The Department of Mysteries. We are interested in what might become of you once you graduate. You are young, ambitious and have a taste for the dark arts. You could work for us one day, there are many possibilities for someone like you. Also, you killed two of Grindelwald's followers. To imprison you would be such a waste. I hope you will remember this. We will contact you."
He extended a hand to me and I shook it.
This was what it took to get away with murder. A favour and killing the right people.
"I have a request, there is something I would like to have."
Tom
The greenish glow in the Slytherin common welcomed me when I entered it after dinner. I sat down in my favourite armchair with a book and a cup of tea. It was rather quiet and only few people were ready to endure the chilly dungeon air. The crackling fire in the fireplace didn't improve the situation much, I liked it however. I had always prefered the winter and the cold air helped to clear my head. It was full of Medea lately. Turning to my book I lost myself in a story about a young man, a portrait and immortality.
The peace and quiet I had enjoyed was interrupted by Druella Rosier when she sat down close to me and attempted to start a conversation.
"Hello Riddle, what are you reading?"
She beamed at me and I had to fight the urge to curse her.
"Is there something you want from me?"
She blushed and wrung her hands.
"Well, now that you mention it. I...I was just wondering if you would attend Slughorn's Christmas Party as well."
"Of course." I answered without looking up from my book.
"Great. I am too. So maybe we could go together."
A sneer settled on my face.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Oh, well,..." She tried to stammer an answer.
"I will go with Medea, since she is probably back by then."
She swallowed and looked down at the carpet.
"Even if she isn't, I would never go there with you."
"Why?" She seemed to be angry and sad at once.
"One simple reason. Medea is my girlfriend. So even if I could stand you, which I don't, my loyalty lies with her. Period."
Her eyes suddenly darkened and I thought I could see hate gleaming in them.
The door to the common room opened and I could feel her presence before I saw her.
Her hair was glowing in the low light, her skin looked as flawless as porcelain.
After she had made a few steps into the room I saw that her lips were parted and her eyes looking eagerly around until they found me.
Every fibre in my body screamed and pulled me towards her.
I thought my chest would burst when her lips curled into a radiant smile.
I couldn't move, dazzled by the sight in front of me.
Heads turned and within seconds the whole room was staring at her.
But I didn't notice it.
I only looked at her.
While she was walking towards me, she took off the emerald-green traveling-cloak. A dark green dress was beneath it and brought out her eyes beautifully.
When she had finally reached me she just bent down and gave me a tender kiss. Her touch made my skin prickle and my body felt like it was burning up from within.
Medea
I was brushing Tom's cheek with one hand while I looked around and fixed my gaze on Druella for a moment.
I turned back to Tom and smiled when I could see the longing in his eyes mirroring mine.
I sat down on the arm-rest of his armchair and brushed a strand of his hair out of his face.
He took my hand and kissed it.
"Have I missed anything?"
"Nothing of importance. How was your..
shall we call it trip?"
A little chuckle escaped me before I answered.
"My father was injured, but he'll be fine."
"I'm sorry." He said in his polite student voice.
"I will therefore spend Christmas at Hogwarts."
His face lit up for a second before he tried to look concerned again.
"Well, I am glad that you have returned just in time for Slughorn's Christmas Party. I wouldn't have wanted you to miss it."
While I spoke my eyes were fixed on Druella once again.
"No, it is surely going to be an interesting evening.
