During the next month things passed rather rapidly.
Our hard studying seemed to be paying off though, which made me happier than before.
Things between Tom and I only seemed to get better and better. Though the meetings had seemed to almost disperse after the night of the ball.
We had become so busy studying that it became more difficult to gather with exams occuring every other Friday.
While at the library, Tom finally had revealed to me what he was looking for.
His family history.
He knew his mother was a witch, he knew he was the heir to Slytherin. But he wanted to know the name of her family, who still lived.
I believed he still had a bit of hope that his mother was alive, hidden somewhere in the world. Even if he never worded his belief, I could see it in his eyes as he eagerly scanned book after book in the library with me.
We were currently in the library surrounded by family trees and blood lines.
It was rather interesting until I saw something that made my blood run cold.
The Riel lineage began thousands of years ago. I followed the lineage with my eyes, as my eyes finished scanning the page I realized that not only was I in the Slytherin bloodline, but I was also a direct descendent. A great part of my families bloodline was missing though.
I sat mesmerized as I watched the branches in my family go into different directions, connecting all four of the founders, as I sat there following with my eyes.
Fortunately, my family's bloodlines weren't related to the Gaunt family, the last known living family to be alive within the Slytherin bloodline. Until now.
Tom and I weren't related, but as I had suspected, many of the gifts I had were due to other people before me having them.
I also found out that I was a direct descendent of Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and even Hufflepuff. The revelation sent my mind reeling, I was almost too lost in thought.
After a few minutes, I snapped out of it and took a slow breath before informing Tom of the information I discovered.
"Tom, I-I think I've found something important." I whispered, not taking my eyes off the parchment before me.
"What did you find...?" He asked, curiously yet with a cautious note in his unwavering voice.
"We're both direct descendants to the Slytherin bloodline, we're not related though." I whispered, as I tried to wrap my mind around it.
He nodded, unsurprised.
"I think I also know who your mother was, and her name." I added.
"Oh, and...that would be?" He asked, looking at my face.
"Merope. Merope Gaunt. It says here that she disappeared. From what people believe to know, she is dead. It isn't marked though. So, there is a chance that she may still be out there." I breathed, scanning the book that laid before me.
"Your mother was one of the last few direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin himself." I added, as I finished scanning the page.
"Hmm." He said, scanning the parchment and book himself.
"Where are you going to stay during break?" I asked, suddenly, looking into his eyes as he read over my shoulder.
"I was planning on staying with Lestrange, or Dolohov for the first week, then I planned on going on a trip." He said offhandedly, as he made quick notes on a piece of parchment.
"Where to?" I asked, feeling as if I knew his answer.
"London." He said, evasively.
"Little Hangleton...to visit..." I answered for him, blinking rapidly.
His eyes snapped to mine, before he briefly nodded in response.
"Don't kill anyone." I teased, smirking at him.
"Not kill..." He answered cryptically, smirking at me after a second.
I sat there quietly thinking. I had to find a way to figure out how to prevent him from doing anything that might change the future. When I realized what I had to do...
"I-I want to go...with you." I said, abruptly.
He turned to look at me, before raising a questioning eyebrow at me. His head inclining to the side as he studied me.
"You said you'd need help. I want to be the one to help you." I explained, watching his expression.
His doubtful expression changed into an amused one before he nodded once in response.
"Alright, fine. Just know, that I plan on going there and then somewhere else." He informed me.
"We'll leave back to London on the express Friday in the morning. Have everything you'll need, packed and ready to go. Then we'll see how it goes from there." He stated, calmly.
I nodded, almost smirking as I had already packed everything to go to the Black's residence.
"Aren't we going to stay where we said we're staying?" I asked.
"Yes, but we'll be arriving later. This is happens to be a priority." He said.
I nodded, gathering the books and parchment paper that laid before me and sliding them into my leather bag.
"Why are you leaving?" He asked, raising an inquisitive brow at me.
"It's dinner time, we've been here since after breakfast. I need to eat before my nose begins to bleed from lack of nourishment." I said, throwing my bag over my shoulder as I watched him gather his things toobefore gesturing for me to lead the way.
When we walked into the Great Hall, it was already half full.
I noticed James and Lily were sitting closer than usual together, causing me to smirk at them.
I sat down slowly, making sure to pull down my skirt a little before I complete sat down on the wooden bench.
"Where have you two been all day?" Bella asked me as I sat down.
"That's a nice skirt you're wearing, Annie, where did you buy it?" Cissy asked, overlapping with Bella.
"We were studying in the library. Hey, ugh, would it be alright if I showed up a week later than expected to your house?" I asked them, as I brought my goblet to my lips to take a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Oh, sure mother said that it'd be fine if you stayed with us. Either way, your room is set up already." Bella said, smiling enthusiastically.
"Gr-Great." I stuttered as I felt Tom's hand clamp onto my leg, and beg to trace my inner thigh with his fingertips, from under the table.
I tried ignoring the curious looks everyone was throwing me as I ate the food on my plate slowly, munching on every bite I took. I finished my food, I quickly grabbed my bag, and walked back to the dormitories, and into my room.
I quickly shed all of my clothes before slipping on my midnight blue night dress, slipping on my thick wool cloak and slippers before grabbing a book and head down to the common room.
I sat down in the chair that Tom usually sits in, crossing my legs as I put the book on my lap; the long slit in my night dress opening as I did so, causing the view to my upper thigh to be shown.
I began reading a muggle book I got in the library, The Flowers In The Attic.
I was half way through it when I heard six pairs of footsteps approaching the common room. I almost smiled as I realized who it could be.
"M-my Lady. Ou-our L-lord has requested your-your presence in our meeting place." Dolohov stuttered, as his eyes trailed down to my legs.
"My eyes are up here, you sleazeball." I barked, slamming the book closed and standing up.
I quickly went to retrieve my wand and slipped it in my regular cloak's pocket, quickly slipping my bra back on, changing my slippers to my ankle boots and making my way back down to where everyone waited, watching the direction that I came in.
"Bella walk with me. The rest of you go ahead and get going." I said, ignoring their surprised expressions as they began walking in pairs out of the common room.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Nothing, I just wanted you to walk with me without being thrown a million and a half questions as to why I did this, and why I do that." I whined, as we made it through the corridors. I watched as the castle walls disappeared behind us.
She laughed at my complaining, as we walked into the tress, stepping over tree roots and walking in uneven dirt as we walked through the opening and made our way to the waiting group.
I realized Bellatrix and I were the last ones to arrive to the clearing. It was so quiet that our giggles could be heard from across the clearing.
"How nice of you to finally join us, ladies." Tom commented dryly, as we stopped in between Avery and Dolohov.
I rolled my eyes at him as he walked in the middle of the circle, before his head snapped up and he looked over at me.
I froze where I stood in my spot between Bellatrix and Avery.
Present time disappeared before me, as I was pulled into a vision.
~Vision:~
I watched as two cloaked figures walked up a hill to reach a manor on its top. The way both figures moved in sync had me flabbergasted.
It was clear one of the figures was a male whereas the other was clearly female.
The taller figure raised his hand to knock, before the smaller one placed a hand on his arm to stop him. She proceeded to lift her arm and flick her wrist in one swift movement.
The Other figure nodded, as they slowly walked into the almost soundless house. Walking with soundless footsteps as they reached a room with double door, pushing them open.
"Hello Father." He sneered.
The older version of him gapped at him, like a fish out of water.
I blinked back into the present, feeling the familiar heat as it began to expel from my nose, the smell of rust and salt penetrating deeply into my sense of smell.
When I blinked once more I saw people above me, realizing a moment later I had collapsed and was laying in the moist ground.
I heard a sigh in relief as I opened my eyes and propped myself on my elbows.
"Hello, how are you?" I asked, looking up at the people surrounding me.
Tom being the closet one, seeing as he was squatting down next to me. He shook his head, amused.
"Are you alright, Soph?" He asked, looking at me up and down, checking to make sure I hadn't hurt myself.
"I-I'm fine, I think." I replied dazed, as he pulled me up off the ground, and stood me upright.
"Tomorrow is the day before we all go off on break. As informed you earlier today, we will each have something I want you all to search. Search for your bloodlines... this is of utmost importance." He spoke, his voice giving off a weird yet calm vibe as it sounded with the wind.
"Now, that we know what you need to do, I'll see you all as soon as the school semester starts back up. I expect a full report from all of you. This information is extremely important." He said.
"Go back to the common rooms. Don't forget about the party that is happening tomorrow night." He said, excusing everyone.
I watched as everyone slowly disappeared into the trees, lost in thought. What is going to happen during break? Are things going to change? So, far I didn't have the answers to any of these questions, but I hoped it wasn't long before I found out.