Disclaimer: I don't own.

A/N: My God, I've fallen in love with this story all over again.

Pretending to Live

Chapter 16: First

I wiped the blood from the First Locket.

"Oh," I said, staring at it. It thrummed in my hand. He had been trying to make it into his first Horcrux...but it hadn't worked, very obviously so. In my vague, disconnected state I took a minute or two pondering why that was before I realized.

The First Locket was in my hand. Ravenclaw's Locket- the whole reason we had been sent here in the first place, the only thing that could prevent the deaths of billions of people- was literally in my hands.

I could leave right now with it and Riddle couldn't do anything about it.

I stood up, the Locket clenched in my fist. I was already cured. I didn't need him anymore. Why was I still here?

I turned and began to run, as fast as I could into the safety of the trees, towards the castle. I had to get to Draco and the others...use the Locket to get back to 1997...

And Riddle?

He can take care of himself, I told myself firmly. He's Lord Voldemort, after all...

Not yet, the small voice in the back of my mind whispered. Right now he's only a teenage boy- a teenage boy who has been very badly injured and who has been left in the Forest to die.

I stopped running.

"Don't you dare," I hissed. "I know what he's going to become! That's more than enough reason to leave! He deserves to die!"

You saved from the chandelier. Why are you changing your mind now?

"He killed those students!" I yelled into the empty air. "He let Grindelwald's army into Hogsmeade!"

To get what he knew would save your life.

Frustrated, I clapped my hands over my ears, as if to muffle this cursed voice that was sounding more dangerously reasonable to me. I felt like I was going crazy.

"He only wants me to make his Horcruxes," I said.

You know he made them alone, in the real timeline. He saved you.

"It's too late for him," I whispered.

"It's never too late."

My head whipped towards the way I came. I began to run.

"Tom!" I yelled, fighting through the underbrush. It was getting so dark now that I was afraid that I wouldn't find the place until I stumbled into the clearing for the second time.

"Riddle, c'mon," I said, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. "Riddle, you arse-wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP!"

Furious, I stood up and kicked his side with as much force as I could muster, but he didn't stir, even as I heard something snap. I don't know who I was most angry at- him or me.

"Don't tell me I have to carry you all the way to the bloody castle," I spat. He didn't reply.

I howled at the sky and collapsed to my knees, breathless. I stayed like that for a while.

I realized that I was still holding onto the Locket and slowly I held it up in front of my eyes. It caught the last rays of the sun and reflected back a hundred tones of silver.

Numbly, I unclasped it and put it around his neck. His eyelids flickered, but he still didn't move.

I pulled the Marauder's Map from my robes and scanned it for anyone nearby the Forest that might see us. Then I stood up and pointed my wand at Riddle.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

888

I need the place where we can rest. I need the place where we can rest. I need the place where we can rest.

A door formed in the wall and I turned its handle. Letting Riddle go in front of me, I shut the door and willed it to lock. There was a groan from behind me and startled, I accidentally cut off the Levitating charm and Riddle fell to the floor with a dull thunk.

I swore and rushed over to him. He was unconscious again.

"Sorry," I muttered, crouching down next to him. I put one of his arms around my shoulders and grunted softly as I strained to lift him onto the large white bed in the center of the room.

"Easy there," I muttered. His hair tickled my neck as I eased him slowly into a lying down position.

I collapsed into the armchair next to the bed. I was so tired. It was a lot to handle in one day, even notwithstanding my daily 'lessons" with Riddle.

I must have drifted in and out of consciousness in that chair for some time but the moment Riddle stirred I was instantly awake.

His eyes flickered open, although they were hazy. They darted around the room, analysing their surroundings until they finally came to rest on me.

"Ariadne?" He croaked.

"Hi there."

"Your hair's tied up."

Perhaps he was still a little confused. He looked around again. "What-"

"It didn't work," I said coldly.

Slowly, he registered what I was saying and instead of getting angry or questioning me like I had expected he would, he simply closed his eyes. In the half light of the room, he was oddly beautiful.

"It was painful," he said quietly. "Much more than I expected."

"I know."

He opened his eyes and they found me again. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to call you by your first name from now on," I said. "I think I've earned it. You put me through a lot of crap today, Tom."

He only stared at me. I stood up and began to pace around the room, feeling worked up despite myself.

"You weren't supposed to do this without me," I said. You made me choose.

I saw him try to sit up and then give a low, surprised groan of pain. He collapsed back onto the bed, breathing hard.

"My ribs," he said through gritted teeth, "I think they're broken."

"Don't move," I said, going over to the bed and sitting down next to him; he winced as I accidentally jolted the bed. I began to lift up the hem of his Oxford shirt and he said sharply, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" I snapped. "I suppose you just expect me to see through your shirt, do you?"

He gritted his teeth again as I lifted it high enough to see the large, ugly purple blotch just over his right side. I touched the area as gently as I could and he hissed, recoiling slightly.

"It's bad," I said. "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"Never thought you'd play the martyr, Ariadne," he hissed in between breaths.

"No, it really is my fault. I'm the one who kicked you in the ribs."

"You what-" Riddle roared and then gave a strangled moan of pain.

"I told you to stay still, Tom," I said and he twitched involuntarily at the sound of his name. "I think I can fix this."

"Episkey alone won't work, Ariadne."

"I know. Stay still," I warned him again, "I've never done this before."

"Bloody brilliant," he snarled. Ignoring him, I focused on casting a spell I remembered Dumbledore had taught me back in No 12 Grimmauld Place.

"Very good Ariadne!" Dumbledore said approvingly, wincing as his the bones in his arm twisted and fused back together.

"OH MY GOD SIR I AM SO SORRY ARE YOU ALRIGHT-"

"I assure you, I am fine," he said smiling as with one final crunch, his arm was fully mended. "You did very well! And only on your tenth try, too!"

"I think I'm gonna be sick," I muttered. "Why are we even learning this?"

There was an awkward pause as Dumbledore eyed the bandaid on my head from where I had slammed face-first into one of the talking cupboards, the rashes on my hands where I had accidentally picked up a Doxy nest instead of my hairbrush and the missing chunk from my singed hair from our duel yesterday. "Er...let's just say I have a feeling you might need it in future."

There was a rush of heat and pale blue mist as I finished the spell; when it cleared, Riddle's side was smooth and unblemished once more.

"There," I said, satisfied. "You're fine now."

He rubbed his side and sat up gingerly. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Where did you learn that?"

"Around," I said coolly. "Don't I even get a thank you, Riddle?"

"You're the one who broke my damned ribs in the first place!"

"And you're the idiot who deserved it!" I snapped. "What were you thinking, trying to make Ravenclaw's locket into a Horcrux?"

"That's my business," he said coldly.

"Not anymore." I hissed. "If we're working together, we're working together. If you're working with me, then work with me."

He glared at me as a turbulent silence fell between us. I massaged my eyes wearily with the palms of my hands. I felt a headache coming on. I was exhausted.

"Either using your mother's death didn't work," I muttered, "or the Locket itself is too powerful. In any case, I think that it would be safer to change both. Maybe use something simpler..."

"Care to give me any ideas?" Riddle said sarcastically.

"I'm sure you'll think of something," I replied. "But... In regards to the death...you need to kill someone yourself. That's what makes the soul split. I'm sorry; I should have realised."

"And you're going to help me with that, Ariadne?" He laughed mockingly. "Seeing as we're working together after all?"

"I will, Tom," I answered evenly. He stopped laughing and stared at me, the skin around his eyes whitening in shock. "I even know who I'll help you murder."

He didn't say anything, just stared at me as if he were seeing my face for the first time. And the silence between us stretched on.

888

"It's time," I heard Riddle's voice say. He sounded distant even though he was right at the door.

"Give me a minute," I said. I stared at my trembling hands a while longer.

"Ariadne-"

"Okay." I stood up; I walked over to him.

"Closer."

I hugged him and he stiffened.

"Too close," He said in clipped tones. I removed my arms from his waist. "Ariadne, pull yourself together."

"Sorry," I muttered.

He surveyed me intently. "Hold up your hands," he instructed me and I did as he asked. He removed the First Locket from his neck and put it into them. I jolted; it was burning.

He closed my hands around it with both of his own. We stood there in silence for a moment, our hands clasped together like a young couple taking their vows.

"Ariadne."

"Just do it."

Holding my gaze, he turned the locket in our hands and it felt like the ground had suddenly disappeared underneath me. I was shouting but I made no sound and there was nothing but the sensation of falling, falling...

"We're here," Riddle's voice said suddenly and I realized that the sensation had stopped. I broke apart from him and was sick on the floor.

"Scourgify," I whispered when I was done. I straightened up and saw that he was watching me.

"It's normal," he said, answering my unasked question. He turned abruptly and began to stride quickly in the opposite direction.

I followed him, looking around; we appeared to be in a deserted arched corridor that opened out to the Hogwarts grounds. The sun was setting, which explained the absence of students; classes were still on.

Riddle led me to the second floor; when we reached another corner I caught hold of his cloak and pulled him back. "Wait."

We stayed still, listening. The sound of a girl crying grew closer and I made Riddle crouch down behind a nearby armored knight as Moaning Myrtle ran past us, sobbing. A chill ran through me.

"Go," I said, "we don't have much time; she'll be there soon."

Riddle gave me an unreadable look and I ignored him; I ran to the recently vacated girl's bathroom and burst in.

"Hello?" I said. An answering clunk from one of the stalls was the only response; wand out, I opened its door. It was empty.

There was a low groan from the other stall and I slammed it open, pointing my wand at the person lying there.

"Avery?" I said incredulously and Riddle glanced my way.

"I put him there as a guard," he said, "Just leave him outside; I'll deal with him later."

"You?"

"My past self," he corrected.

"Right." I dragged Avery's body out of the room, concealing him behind one of the tapestries. Myrtle must've been in a right state, to knock him out stone cold like that.

When I re-entered, I turned to look at Riddle who was inspecting one of the taps in the center of the bathroom. He glanced at me and understanding, I closed the stall door and locked myself in. My heart was pounding as he began to hiss, softly at first, and then gradually growing in volume so that it reverberated against the stone walls of the bathroom as though there were a hundred snakes with him. I realized then that he wasn't speaking alone anymore, for there was suddenly another, much louder, answering hiss.

There was a thud. And then the sickening sound of something rough and dry and heavy sliding against the smooth tiled floor.

Riddle spoke to it, his voice becoming like a caress in the air. The Basilisk responded and then the temptation was irresistible; I put my eye up to the crack in the door.

I could only see the bright, poisonous green of its gleaming scales but it was enough to let me know that it was enormous. I couldn't see Riddle from this angle but I could hear him still talking softly to it.

The door creaked as I leaned against it and there was a flash of smooth, sinuous muscle as the Basilisk turned towards me.

I stumbled back away from the door and onto the closed lid of the toilet behind me. The sliding of scales on tiles became magnified in volume as it grew closer until I could see its shadow underneath the stall door

Slowly I brought my legs up so that my arms were wrapped around my knees. Tensed, I waited.

The Basilisk hissed.

Riddle said something then in Parseltongue and the Basilisk darted its head towards him. He repeated himself and the Basilisk began to slither back to him.

I had almost begun to relax when there was the sound of the bathroom entrance being opened.

"Are you in here again, sulking Myrtle?" A girl's voice said. "Because Professor Dippet asked me to look for you-"

Riddle hissed and there was a flash of movement. Then there was an echoing, ringing silence.

My hands were shaking and I clasped them together, as if in prayer. I bit down on my knuckles to fight my urge to scream.

There was a knock on the door. "Ariadne?" Riddle said quietly. "It's over."

I unlocked the door. Refusing to look at him, I walked over and stared at the lifeless body of Olive Hornby lying, still warm, on the cold floor.

She was quite pretty, I realized. She could have had a family...maybe she would have changed her ways and stopped bullying others, and maybe she could have had a very long and happy life...

"Ariadne."

Not anymore.

"You better start the ritual," I said. "I'll create the distraction, but you should hurry."

I met his gaze and he gave a short nod.

Levitating Hornby's body off the floor, I walked out of the bathroom. I used the Map to guide me to the bare stretch of wall I remembered visiting with Harry so long ago.

I was now proficient enough with my spellwork to paint, in foot high letters, the message that had haunted me for so long.

The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware.

It was sick to think that while then I had been horrified and disgusted beyond belief upon seeing it, now I was only grateful that it wasn't human blood I used.

I checked the Map again. There I was, running from the room where I had Defence Against the Dark Arts, having seen my Boggart for the first time. I saw Harry run after me. I knew that it was only a matter of time before he heard the Basilisk in the pipes and I headed off to the Great Hall, Olive Hornby's body floating eerily beside me.

I was early enough that the Great Hall was completely empty; I hid in the shadows cast by the pillars at the sides as I continued to watch the Map for cues. Harry had just caught up with me.

The hall slowly began to fill up with students. I stayed there for a long time; I watched the Riddle from the past sit down at his table and his followers surround him like moths lured to a flame.

I waited there until dinner was almost halfway over. I glanced at the map and saw that Harry and I were already at the wall with the writing in blood.

Riddle must nearly be finished with the ritual.

I glanced at the girl's body next to me.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. Then I stood up and levitated her body high, high into the air so that was almost obscured by the dark storm clouds of the enchanted ceiling. Thunder boomed and surprised, several of the students looked up.

Their screaming started just in time to mask Riddle's as his Horcruxes tore him apart.

I saw Harry and myself burst through the double doors of the Great Hall, saw the look of shock on my face and I let her body drop, landing onto the floor of the Great Hall with a dull crunch.

An immense feeling of déjà vu overcame me as wave upon wave of black clad students rushed to get out of the Hall. This time, I was with them, clawing and elbowing my way through the crowd. Once I was free from them, I ran back to the girls' bathroom, taking as many shortcuts as I knew to get back.

I burst into the room and saw that Riddle had collapsed to all fours, coughing and panting on the floor and smelling strongly of smoke. I moved to his side, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"It's done," he croaked. I followed his gaze to the plain black diary on the floor and I picked it up.

"Tom, we have to go," I said, glancing back at the door. "Can you take us back?"

He grimaced and stood up. He stumbled slightly and I caught him before he fell.

"My diary," he muttered.

"I have it."

"Hold on to me," he said and I did as he asked. He threw the chain of the Locket over us and turned it.

I braced myself against the falling sensation, my eyes screwed tightly shut until the sudden quiet informed me that we had arrived.

I let go of him. He collapsed into a chair and put his head in his hands, still breathing hard.

"Do you feel different?" I asked him quietly.

"I thought I would," he murmured. He looked down at himself. "But I feel the same."

I sat down in the chair opposite him; I stared at him for a long time. I tried to catalogue the tiny changes in the face I knew almost as well as my own now. Did he look paler? Did his eyes look more scarlet? Or was I transposing my own fears onto my image of him?

"There's something about being human," I said and he looked up, "that graces us with the ability to feel compassion. To be able to put oneself in another's shoes. To hurt as one hurts. And love, too. That's what makes us what we are, so fundamentally alive." I hesitated. "I look at you, Riddle-Tom- and I don't see that."

"What are you saying, then?" He sneered. "That I'm not alive? Not human?"

"I think you're pretending," I said quietly. "You and I both know that you weren't expecting to feel any different after Olive's murder. Do what you want to please everyone else. But I beg you, don't pretend for me, because it scares me to death."

He bared his teeth. "You think you know me, Ariadne?"

"Perhaps not, Riddle," I answered. "But I daresay more than most."

I stood up and handed him his diary. "Your second Horcrux will be next week. You'd better get ready."

"Ariadne?" He said as I was about to leave. I turned.

"I have no qualms about Olive Hornby's death. I have no moral turmoil. I did not know her. In fact," he said, looking me directly in the eyes, "I think that she is more useful to the world in death than she ever was alive."

He stood up, taking a step towards me. "You don't want me to pretend Ariadne? As you wish. But I warn you, you may regret your request."

"Thanks," I said, and fled.

A/N: I am ALL for character and relationship development. Riddle and Ari...I like their violence together, if that makes any sense.

Hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to leave a review—and have a wonderful day.