Helena felt lucky that the damage didn't happen there. Though, there was four more hours before she'd have to meet him once more...

She knew that the detention being so early was a huge blow, as she hadn't eaten for days, now she'll have even less time to eat.

She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that Helena did not notice Katie waiting or her outside the classroom.

"Katie... I can explain -" she tried desperately.

"No," Katie said simply. Helena fell silent immediately at her words. "You don't need to. I was wrong to walk out on you like that... Besides, it wasn't necessarily your fault, was it?"

"No, it wasn't," Helena agreed. She seemed so humble, yet her heart leapt with joy! Oh how the day seemed so much brighter - so much more better. The thought of the detention left her mind completely. She was once more rejoined by her love! All those days locked away seemed pointless now the light had finally reached her. "You stopped them from entering the Tower."

"Yes."

"Why? You knew you were going to be punished."

"Sometimes, sacrifices are worth the risk," she replied softly.

"I have a detention tonight."

"So I've heard."

The sun shone brightly, basking the corridor with golden light. Helena could see her own reflection in Katie's bright, sparkling, oval-shaped electric green eyes, and once more remembered her true attractiveness. But the longer she looked at Katie, the more she realised that she look tired, overly-exhausted, and just a hint of fear.

"Katie... When were you tortured?"

"Oh. Yesterday. Why?"

"I was just wondering why you looked so tired," Helena answered truthfully.

Katie shrugged. "That'll be why, then."

The sun began to set, causing the golden light to be more orange than golden. Somewhere far off the distance, birds were flapping their wings in the April breeze, the wind feeling cool, yet pleasant, on their beaks.

The abrupt rumbling in Helena's stomach made the deep thought wash away, though she did not know what it was. Then, she remembered with a spark of electricity that she could finally eat and not be locked away.

x

After dinner, Helena felt more lively than she had done in the past few days, even sparing a few moments laugh as Katie entertained her with all the things that she'd missed.

"And people have been saying that you've left or something because they haven't seen you for a while. And I thought it was pretty stupid, because let's be honest, why would he let anyone just walk out?"

Helena laughed.

"I'm pretty sure at that point I would've walked out if I could've done."

Katie checked her watch. It's five to seven, you better go."

Helena took one last look at Katie - probably thinking that she wouldn't see her for a few days at least. She hugged her tightly, as she missed her warmth. Then, Helena left and took the long walk to what she knew to be her last few minutes of freedom.

x

Helena knocked on the door at exactly 7 PM - she could hear the clock tower chime from the Courtyard. Merely a second went by after she knocked, an all-too-familiar-voice spoke within.

"Come in," The Dark Lord said. It was weirdly calm. Very unusual - especially during these circumstances.

Helena entered, not really pondering on the thought. The room was the same as the other times she's been in here: apart from a portrait covered with a thick, black curtain, that certainly wasn't there the last time she was in here. It was even more stranger that it was hung above the Headmaster's chair. Helena wanted to find out what could be behind it.

"Good evening, Helena," said Voldemort, interrupting her deep thought of curiosity. "Please, take a seat." He signaled the chair in front of the desk. Helena thought that it was a strange invitation, yet she took the the seat anyway.

This is how it always starts, she thought bitterly as she sat down. This is all too strange. Too business-like. She tried to make sense of all of this.

"Today, Helena, you'll be catching up on all the work you've missed over the past 4 days. Do you understand?"

She feel obliged to answer correctly. "Yes, my Lord." Voldemort smiled.

"Good. First you'll do your Transfiguration, which should be easy enough as it's Vanishing Spells, though Inanimatus Conjuration is quite difficult. In Charms you're reviewing Summoning Spells - which no one really needs to go over anyway. Herbology isn't that important actually - just 12 inches on Chinese Chomping Cabbages. Then there's astronomy - I've been thinking about getting rid of that like I did with History of Magic - you have to talk about Io, Europa, Ganymedes and Callisto. There's also no Muggle Studies homework - perhaps I should get rid of that one, too. Professor Snape would also like 18 inches of parchment on Varieties of Venom Antidotes - also to make the Strengthening Solution potion. Though you may do your practical work for tomorrow. Of course there's my Unforgivable Curses homework you didn't hand in, no surprises there. Though, I'm pretty sure you have the idea of it. I would also like you to do an essay on why you decided to miss 4 days, especially in such an important year of school. Questions?"

"Yes. This there anything else you'd like me to do? My Lord?" she added. She said it sarcastically, yet Voldemort took her very seriously.

"Ah, yes. You just reminded me. We shall be doing - what's the phrase? - other practices over the Easter holidays," he said cruelly.

"Easter holidays?" Helena repeated, confused. Voldemort's smirk extended.

"Yes, Helena, the Easter holidays. Don't tell me you've lost track of time."

As a matter of fact, Helena did lose track of time. But if they broke up for the Easter holidays, then wouldn't Katie be going home tomorrow?

Voldemort seemed to have read her mind.

"I don't know why you're worrying about Katie. She's staying exactly where she is. Just like you, in a way."

Helena shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Voldemort then conjured blank rolls of parchment on the desk, along with a bottle of black ink and a feathered quill. Helena looked at them with a bit of distaste in her eyes.

"I don't know why you're looking at them like that. You're not leaving that chair until you finish all your work."

Helena wanted to groan so badly - but she wasn't going to give in so easily. Instead, she pulled the stopper off the ink bottle and dipped the quill into it.

x

The clock tower chimed midnight. She'd been in here for 5 hours writing endlessly... She had decided to complete Snape's potion essay first, as it was the longest. Though that took about 3 hours in itself. It took her really long as she was obviously not there for the lesson - plus she'd forgotten what she'd read in all of her books at home and what she had with her. Though, those were locked away in Ravenclaw Tower. She had no idea whether Katie would be there, as Voldemort had mentioned that she would not be going anywhere. Was she being tortured too? She shivered at the thought.

"Helena," Voldemort said softly.

Helena's head jerked up. She had not realised how long she stopped for.

"Yes, my Lord?" she said uncertainly.

"You've stopped writing."

"I paused to think of how it worked," she replied, obviously lying.

"Such lies, Helena... Lord Voldemort always knows."

All the blood from Helena's body stood still. She forgot about his Legilimency. She was too absorbed inside her own mind - her own work even - to pay attention to what she was saying. And she would be even weaker as she just realised how tired she was, even though she could not sleep until she finished it all.

Voldemort watched her carefully. He assessed that she was scared - but not of him, no. Of the shock. The electricity that struck her as how foolish she seemed to have become. Perhaps, she wasn't the one. She was too reckless, too careless. Brilliant, yes. Yet she doesn't think things through when her mind's filled. Far too ignorant, far too forgetful. Also, she was very distracted. He noticed that when he first started teaching her. Of course, she also lost track of time. But all of these did not outweigh what she could become. She could become great - serving under him and loyal to only him. It was a fool's dream, he knew only far too well. Yet, he had to try. But first, she has to be disciplined.

"What are you doing now?" he asked her.

Helena was startled at the sudden change of subject. "Transfiguration, my Lord," she replied promptly - though perhaps too quickly.

"And what have you done so far?"

"Potions," she muttered.

"So it's taken you 5 hours to do - what? - 23 inches?"

Helena blushed furiously.

"I'm a slow writer," she murmured - wishing him to not hear a word she said.

"Perhaps you would like an alternative detention - rather than improving your education."

"Improving my education?" she repeated spitefully. "That's unlikely - more like you're taking into account how fast it takes me to write an outstanding answer."

Helena knew just as she said it that she went too far.

"I didn't want it to become like this. But if you cannot hold your tongue against things you don't understand - then I'll be foreced to go further than simple stress. Perhaps the Cruciatus Curse will teach you some manners," he suggested viciously.

"No," said Helena, her throat dry, shaking her head. "My Lord - please - no."

"Far too late to be begging, Helena." Helena tried to get up and run far from the chair. However, before she could do so, Voldemort seemed to predict what she was going to do and he simply snapped his fingers together - and chains wrapped themselves around her wrists and ankles, so that she was bound to the chair.

She struggled as she panicked - she wanted to escape before matters are made worse.

"Shh... You're just making things worse for yourself." Helena stopped tugging on the chains - they seemed to get tighter. She could feel the blood pounding against the cold chains. The chains started creeping up on her, wrapping around her neck and trapping her there completely.

"You know, I'll never be able to finish all of this work if I'm chained up."

"Silence," he commanded, snarling as he said it.

Helena subdued immediately. Or either a Silencio charm was cast upon her. But she wouldn't talk, even if she wanted to.

Voldemort swung the chair around, so she was no longer facing the desk.

"Don't wake up the castle," he whispered in her ear. He took out his wand. Helena tensed up. "Don't be so tense," he told her. "Trust me, it's a lot more painful that way."

Trouble was, Helena did not trust him.

"Suit yourself. Crucio!"

Pain entered her like she'd never experienced. The pain was worse than being stabbed by 1000 white-hot knives. They pierced every inch of her body - no space left uncovered, no space filled with pain. She was screaming internally - she definitely knew it was a silencing charm at that point. Then, at that moment, the pain increased its intensity. It became so all-consuming that she forgot where she was. Her body tried to trash, hoping to get rid of the pain. Though the chair held her tightly and she had no where to go. Her skin was starting to get dug into by the chains, and blood trickled slowly down the chair.

Voldemort stopped. Helena was breathing heavily, as she was so exhausted. She was craving sleep deeply.

Then, Helena laughed at him. Voldemort seemed confused.

"Is that all you have?" she asked mockingly.

His eyes flared like fire.

"I haven't even started yet," he said coldly.

He then took a sharp knife out of thin air and stabbed her in the thigh.

Helena felt the knife pierce her, but not as painful as she expected it to be. Shock jolted around her body as though she did not know what had happened. Blood seeped through the edges of the knife and Tom Riddle went deeper. Pain pulsed through her body, her blood, even in her bones. Then, a dull throbbing pain erupted in her thigh and panic spread through her body like never before. Voldemort pulled the knife out - the coldness of it gone, though it was replaced by the warmth of her blood running out of her skin. The pain became practically unbearable and she thought she was going to lose consciousness, yet she could not go into the darkness like she desired. Instead, fear settled in and she began to shake wildly. She wanted to fight back, but she was bound there, helpless.

Helena groaned softly.

Voldemort laughed softly in her ear as she panicked. She was becoming more and more worried about how much blood she was losing. Voldemort decided to close up the wound before she lost any more blood - her face was as white as ice already.

Then, a muffled sound came within the chamber-like office. Voldemort's eyes darted suddenly from Helena to the concealed portrait above. Helena momentarily forgot that she was being tortured and curiosity returned to her. She heard Voldemort pulling back the piece of cloth hanging loosely over the portrait.

And there he was: Albus Dumbledore was sitting there quite prominently.

"Not torturing another Muggle-born, are you Tom?" he asked patronizingly.

Helena tried to crane her neck around, but the chains held her firmly still.

"Far from it," Voldemort replied stiffly.

"Looks like torture to me."

"She's not a Mudblood," he hissed.

"Prove it."

Voldemort simply spun the chair once more around. Helena saw the man; aging, his hair long and silver, and he had piercing blue eyes that Helena had the impression he was x-raying her.

"Of course," Dumbledore muttered. Voldemort smirked. He pulled the curtains closed once more. More muffling noises followed, though Voldemort silenced them by sending a Stunning curse at the painting.

"I don't understand," said Helena, her voice hoarse. "How does he know who I am?"

"You're very popular, Helena. Perhaps even infamous. That's all I have to say."

Voldemort began pacing around his office. Helena was bored. She wanted to sleep so badly, but something was stopping her. Something that was foreign to her body. She realised she was probably being kept awake by a spell, perhaps one she hated even more that the Killing Curse. Although, she felt like she that long forgotten the name...

"You think and worry too much, Helena."

"You would do if you live by yourself for five years," she replied coolly.

"Trust me, I've lived longer in independence. Yet, I am not scared of being so isolated."

"That's because you welcome it - you did it as a choice. I had no choice. You saw to that, my Lord."

"You should be thanking me for killing you Blood Traitor father and your filthy Mudblood mother."

Helena was furious at his comment, though she held her tongue. She now knew the consequences of talking back to the Dark Lord.

"So you've finally learnt to hold your tongue," he commented. "I'm impressed, although it took you long enough."

Helena stayed silent - she shall not give him that satisfaction. Not even when Voldemort tried extremely hard to provoke her, she will never trip at the trap.